#ancient-trees

[sxpxrmxrgxr]

[maiji]

Hi Maiji! My Lenormand question: what could I do to spark some creative energy when I feel like I'm running on fumes with all my projects?

Numbers: 8, 32

Thank you for this question, I really feel this in my creative and multitasking soul! Also, I know you're familiar with this deck and its symbols already ❤️ so you may have some thoughts once you see the cards pulled, and again some of these ideas are likely not totally fresh or new. But hopefully there are some ideas that may shine today under a new light, and be helpful in some way!

#8 was The Mice, and #32 drew the Key!

The Mice can represent things, often little things, that eat away at us, steal our resources (energy?), wear us down. Meanwhile, The Key can be a sign of something that needs our attention.

For anyone reading this, this is an example of a case (that can come up quite a bit, to be honest) where the cards drawn don't seem - at first glance - to provide a path to answers as much as they seem to be simply describing the situation or problem you already know. Which can initially be like "Wow! Amazing! Such immediate relevance!" but then the next feeling can be, "OK, that's great that it's obviously reflecting my issue/concern back at me, but what can I do about it?"

In instances like this, I personally find it helpful to remember: the reason it may seem so stunningly relevant in describing the issue at hand is because of ourselves. It's so clear to us because it's what been weighing on our mind, possibly blocking us from seeing solutions. So the next part is where it gets trickier - and funnily enough in the context of this question, calls on us to stretch our creative muscles to dig deeper. To hunt for potential insights, to try to look at things from different angles. Which, as an activity in and of itself, can sometimes be helpful just to get you going in terms of considering something else, and then to start noticing those things and those opportunities as you go throughout your day.

The Key can also represent a key. A solution, or a missing piece to unlock a puzzle. I wonder if we can look again at the symbols and associations of The Mice to find some ideas, or at least something to help us shift our perspective.

The Mice can also represent things that need to be repaired/fixed - something to be taken care of. Maybe the Key is pointing out that if these things can be addressed, that could be a solution - hopefully something more long term than a band-aid. Some other thoughts:

Mice are small but numerous, and sometimes it feels like our problems are that way too, that they keep growing and proliferating and building up.

But is that purely the domain of negative things? Could positive things not do that too?

Is creativity only something that can be done in massive sustained bouts? Is creative energy only something that exists in giant fireworks? Or can our creative sparks and moments and work also be like little mice? A little nibble here, a little nibble there. Letting all the little things build up and gnaw at what may seem like an immense pile over time, and recognizing that there's power in that too.

Maybe they'll hit a tipping point and snowball, but if not could this be workable too?

Perhaps we can look at how we are tackling our projects - not just from the tasks we are doing, but the emotional investment we are pouring into them. Can we ease the power, passion, focus? Not that this means diluting it, but spreading it out and being gentle with ourselves (as the very cute small furry creatures we can imagine ourselves to be), so that we don't burn out?

In my overview document, I note that the meaning of the Mice cards in Lenormand is rooted in a particular perspective. In Chinese culture, rats and mice are seen much more positively. There's a reason the first sign of the Chinese/Eastern zodiac is a rat/mouse! It's a clever creature that can size up the situation and untie tricky knots. Actually, as you may know, the way the rat/mouse got into first position was through a bit of offloading of work. Depending on the version of the story, the approach varies, but usually it tricks or piggybacks off of the efforts of another animal. Not saying that I'm condoning cheating or tricking other people, but I wonder if there are things you could do to "trick" yourself into being able to feel like you're making more progress, to make "work work" feel more creative or support/feed creative labour and be more fun, or assessing the work so that something you're doing could be used for/to further multiple projects.

And the ability of mice to hoard things is also seen as a positive - creating an abundance of wealth, maybe storing up an abundance of ideas that you can return to later. Or just recognizing maybe we need to save for that rainy day when it comes to our creative energy as well. If you need to rest, recognize that too.

Earlier I mentioned the Key can represent a missing piece. If we took that idea literally, and extended it to an actual puzzle - a game - is some kind of diversion in order? Our brains do a lot even when we're not actively thinking about a project. From personal experience, I've definitely had a lot of times where I just took a "vacation" - stopped working on something, let the juices percolate in my subconsciousness and the seeds sprout without me constantly working the soil... and then one day it manifests, and I'm at it again with refreshed insight, inspiration and enthusiasm.

One last thought - rereading my overview document, I notice I commented that "ancient Chinese keys are pretty utilitarian and mundane looking". It does remind me of my own feelings about how creative work can feel like a slog when you're doing it, and sometimes that is the reality that I cannot escape from. But I also reminds me I can be practical about that - after all, the key is in my own hands. If everything I turn to is becoming 100% a slog, that's probably a sign that this is not sustainable. At the very least, a good nap is probably in order, and perhaps a bigger break or a reset of some sort.

I hope there was something to spark an idea. Sending you a lot of good wishes for creative energy!

---

Thanks for requesting a limited time free reading to celebrate the new edition of the Fortune Lenormand oracle/art deck!

Want to dive deeper?

Fortune Lenormand oracle/art deck - there's a free downloadable overview of card meanings!

humangray.com/lenormand - more info and resources/links!

(Note: these readings are being done with my old card deck from the original printing. There's not much difference with the new edition available in the link above - the biggest one is that the new edition has a custom box ooh ahh!)

[theticklishpear]

uh. Brain-swapped dragon gets mistaken for the idiot wizard who got him stuck that way, is drafted by unsuspecting villagers to avert interdimensional catastrophe by slaying.. his dragon self? Also the wizard's bff is a jock princess* outcast by a society of nerds. *(not actually a princess) #ExplainYourWIPPlotWeirdly

Night of Musing

Goddamned beautiful. MORE INTERDIMENSIONAL TOMFOOLERY!

[oldgrumpycosplay]

ancient-trees replied to your post: “I am dreading this breast plate for Faramir. I know it doesn’t have to...”:

Good luck! I am still trying to work up the courage to start on Thranduil's...

Yes!!! Do the thing! I bet that's going to look gorgeous! Damn good, bloody good, damn good job

[tith]

1, 2, 9, 24, 53! (Or some of those if you don't want to answer 'em all. That is a LONG list of questions to choose from, hah)

1. Tell us about your WIP!Oh gosh which one lol The main one is about a young woman who leaves her home in search of a wizard to cure her sick father and ends up getting caught up in an effort to save the world from a demon army (and ultimately, end the rule of a malevolent god who’s actually the cause of the demon army). Ends up involving a fun cast of other characters, a bunch of dragons, and a lot of weird magic shenanigans. Unfortunately going through a big overhaul right now, so I can’t get more specific lol

2. Where is your favorite place to write?I love writing in libraries. Something about it forces me to be productive without letting me get distracted. The only issue is that sitting on the floor in a library is rarely as comfortable (physically or.. mentally) as sitting on the floor at home. 

9. Favorite/least favorite tropes?Favorite: jerk-with-a-heart-of-gold type characters, will they/wont they couples that are built on very strong friendships (where it wouldnt be disappointing if they dont end up together because they’re still such good friends), really cool magic stunts of all kinds but especially the vaguely creepy ones. Least favorite: Cliche villains in general (anyone who has to laugh evilly to make their point is right out. good antagonists shouldn’t think they’re villains!!! ugh) and also the habit a lot of authors have (especially older fantasy authors, but I’ve seen it other places) of saying “She would have been beautiful if not for her [insert stereotypically unattractive feature here].” If I see one more heroine who would be attractive except for her big nose/strong chin/whatever I may scream. 

24. Do you remember the moment you decided to become a writer/author?Nope, not at all. I’ve been writing since I was very small (starting with the tales of my barbies/action figures/stuffed animals/imaginary friends, later warriors fanfic starring an all original cast, eventually branching out to making my own cliche fantasy worlds). I guess I sort of always assumed I’d be writing as well as doing whatever my money-making job was, and that someday I’d end up publishing something. 53. What is the first line of your WIP?Currently “The plains were peaceful.” Sorta uneventful on it’s own. 

[arionwind]

ancient-trees replied to your post: 5, 18, 22, and 24 for the Identity ask!

We don’t have cranes (which are also awesome), but we have blue herons. There’s a nesting colony a few miles from here.

That sounds really pretty!  Wild birds are excellent in general, we need more of them here.  Or rather I would like to have pretty herons and suchlike to watch here, but I would not wish Kansas on such majestic creatures.

[syverce]

ancient-trees

replied to your

post

:

Party now has a planehopping ironclad ship. I...

Surprise?

Well the barbarian is a privateer originally, so this is the Very Special Personalized Loot he’s getting (the necromancer has a sword he pulled out of his enchanted prosthetic eye that’s possessed by a ghost that’s such a Big Deal it makes him uncomfortable to address).

The cleric doesn’t have anything yet because I have no fucking clue what to give him.

[oldgrumpycosplay]

ancient-trees replied to your post: “Breastplate side by side. Not bad…especially since you can’t see...”:

oh man, that looks awesome!(...due to taxes and family stuff I still haven't done any more on mine yet.......)

You gotta focus on the most important things first! Then when you have the time and whatnot, you'll be making badass breastplates!!!