September Woo Corner and Other Stories
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4 min read Good mornin, my good people, and welcome to September! I know this list reaches into several corners of the world, so perhaps not everyone is having the experience the Americans are having- which is to wake up each day and say in the words of Dorothy Parker, "What fresh hell is this?" I hope you are well. I hope you can stay well. Sometimes it feels like that is our most challenging task- to insist on our own wellness and to nurture it with the stubborn audacity of a creature who believes their life has value. It does, you do, thank you for your service in caring for yourself. Please continue to do so. I use this monthly newsletter to sum up all that's come to pass the month before in the corners of the internet I whisper to, as well as to give you happenings, and of course- Woo Corner. If you're just here for the woo, go ahead and scroll down to the bottom. Otherwise grab yourself a beverage and stay a while, you are very welcome here. On the Podlycast:August aural wallpapers included:
On the Patreon:As a note for the future, myself and my wonderful lifelong friend Kristina "Nekyia" Canizares of Fit & Bendy are going to be co-hosting a retreat in January at Sweet Retreats in Mexico. Offering world-class mobility wizardry (seriously...Kristina is magic) and creative excavation (that's me, also magic) this retreat is called Aerial Serpent: Circus for Life. It's designed to equip movers of all kinds with the tools to train and create sustainably so we can stop getting hurt all the damn time. It will open to Patrons on September 8th, mark your callys if you fancy! August snacks included:
The next Charleston Artist Salon is September 12th If you or someone you know is local to this lowcountry and wants to be on the local mailing list, please send em here, they're very welcome. The local list will get a reminder closer to time about this excellent little petri dish, as well as other haps in the area. Boots on the ground is essential, let's see each other face to face.
The Audacity Project, Cycle 29 is enrolling to the public next week!The waitlist is enrolling now (if that's you, your discount expires soon, check your email!) You're already in the best place to learn about it, so there's no action you need to take. Cycle 29 is the second-to-last cycle of the project in its current incarnation. Cycle 30 will be the last of its kind, and is happening in the spring of 2026. You can learn more about the project at the link below:
And now without further ado: September Woo Corner:The first draw for September is the Knight of Cups- The Knight of Cups represents the strength and energy of water. He is not known for his stability, but he is known for his inability to be ignored. Emotionally rich and volatile, if this archetype can find his own inner convictions, he is intensely creative as well as alluring. He has the capacity to create great works of art and provide exquisite tenderness and care. On the shadow side, if he hasn't done the work to make peace with himself and his own emotions, the flood waters can be devastating. Who among us hasn't known a man that couldn't stomach his own emotions? The effects can be catastrophic. Without making peace with his depth of character, this archetype is unsteady at best, and self-destructive at worst. All his creativity and prowess can come to nothing but a list of unfinished projects and abandoned ideas. TL;DR: feel your feelings. Talk about them. Acknowledge them. Make peace with them, they're neither good nor bad they are just human side effects. It's fine, you are fine, and you are not bad for having bad feelings. You can't ignore them and expect peace. You can ignore them and expect a flood. Emotional intelligence is redemption for all. On the other side of this intelligence, great compassion is possible. But you can't hold someone else in compassion while you self-flagellate. Let's just say he has a lot of range. It can be wonderful, it can be ghastly. The choice lies with him and his willingness to face himself. Pull #2 comes from a wonderful gift from my friend Hilary Heuer (thank you Hilz!) that I received in the mail this week: The card reads: "It is the nature of the mind to live in the confines of its ideas until you encounter something never imagined some great profusion of the heart that suddenly enlarges reality and tasks you with being wholly alive" Do not make the mistake of believing that this "something never imagined, some great profusion of the heart" will have to come from outside of yourself. The call is likely coming from inside the house. It is perfectly understandable to retreat inside of your skull under duress, but I would not encourage living in there. Make no mistake- this is our task. To be wholly alive. It is a big ask. It is also more imperative than ever, while being harder than ever. Try your best to not let the flood build up. Emotional alchemy is the practice of not only feeling the caustic chemical of anger, but finding the love that is driving it. It is not an easy thing to do, but we can do hard things. The Knight of Cups already shows us what happens if we refuse this work. The rewards of doing it are worth the effort. Your life. To be wholly alive. What an assignment. I'm in. Don't go back to sleep. xoRachel |