So I meet semi-regularly with an expandable/shrinking group of artist 
friends. We’re artistic advocates for one another’s work. As supporters of the creator within, we don’t necessarily even like the other’s work (we cleared that one up yesterday)…that’s not what we’re about. We’re advocates of the artistic process, conspirators of each other’s creativity. We’re a support group for the fantastically fabulous artist and the barely limping along one. Like a modern day la boheme, we’re outcasts and believers. It takes courage to create. We need each other.
We’re also feeling the effects of the Pisces Full Moon Eclipse.
Yes, some of us were limping along. In one long run on never-ending sentence, articulating exactly which creative block we’re working with this week was the big challenge. Like a Dairy Queen drink…well it’s all so blended.
My problem was one of perspective, how to see the forest for the trees, a typical Virgo-Pisces dilemma. The busy-ness of the mutable energy (change, adaptation) combined with the endlessly initiating cardinal energy in my chart has me feeling overscheduled and not having enough time, even if overscheduled means the three hour long process of making dinner with my family – which I thoroughly enjoy, when I remember to. My mind was creating this “big deal” about being too busy with the very things I enjoy, so I stop enjoying them (Saturn ruled fifth house in Aquarius). This is a chronic problem.
As our resident Capricorn pointed out with her signature Israeli accent: “I’m listening to you and thinking, how wonderful. You’re spending time with the kids and your husband, putting on music, cooking a good meal.” She laughs with that twinkling Capricorn laugh.
We decided that naming the busyness aloud might help clear the mind’s attachment to overwhelm. (Of course, lurking in the background always: the artist chomping at the bit, but when do I GET TO WRITE? The artist gets nasty when she doesn’t get to write for a whole two days. She starts spitting fire in uncomely directions. She suffers from ADD, artist deficit disorder – glazing over in everyday conversation – she dreams of being at the keyboard, imagining the blog eat blog world she’s missing.)
As usual, the Goat clarified the creative conundrum:
“I watch my son, who is this amazing musician and I see how clear he is. He’s amazing, he’s just taking off. As adults, we’ve got so much clutter in our minds. It really is a problem.”
-And-
“I look back at some of the art I created when I was young. I was so blown away, like wow – did someone else do this? It’s that good. I can’t believe how good I was.”
Is this apparent busyness a case of too much clutter keeping us from our 
vibrant creativity? And if so, will Saturn’s entry into Virgo help us organize ourselves? Clearly we need a central unit organizing unit, maybe, ahem, even a system.
Ironically, our resident Pisces said to me before the meeting, “get a label maker and you’re a hero.” She was referring to her temp job organizing (and labeling) other people’s chaotic lives by…creating less paperwork. How Virgoan.
As our Pisces began talking circles about the conundrums in which she’s swimming, the Fishes swam ’round. It was hard to define the real question, the beginning or the end, as it all flowed from the endless Ocean. When the interrelatedness of Pisces, the teeming, overflowing unconscious seeps into the consciousness, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Everything’s so connected. As she began unpacking baggage, we carefully, concernedly offered assistance in the form of pointed questions.
“So can you give practical examples of this?”
I had the impression she was overstuffing the suitcase.
And it was our role to fold it up and neatly place it in a luggage compartment overhead.
Is anyone else seeing the forest for the trees?
Hi, Jessica — A couple of thoughts…loved the Mom who admires her musician son for his clarity about his art becase this reminded me how grateful I am for the presence of my musician son in my Virgoan universe.
Also when “busyness” anxiety threatens to overwhelm, I try to still myself for a bit, without judgment, and let the “big rock(s)” come into awareness. This is in reference to the story about how if you have a pile of sand and a pile of rocks and a bucket, if you try to fill the bucket first with sand, you won’t be able to fit many big rocks but if you put the big rocks in first and then pour the sand around, you can fit much more in the bucket. But big rocks can often be very small, simple things which when given attention, change the entire chi and energy within me. Usually they are never what I think is the most pressing and important so it does require nonjudgment. For example, I have been feeling the “busyness” and confusion over forest for the trees intensely the last 7 days or so and it wouldn’t go away, so I sat for a while and realized my “big rocks” were picking the remaining blackberries on the vine and (don’t laugh, I am a Virgo!) putting away all the clothes strewn throughout the house and laundry room.
The lunar eclispe was beautiful and so strange, too. I was able to lie in bed and watch the moon change colors and move across the sky. So much going on in the celestial skies while the world slept. 🙂
I totally agree, Lise. Great imagery.
In our group, we remind one another that taking small, simple steps create sanity. Taking a short walk, writing down our thoughts first thing in the morning, going on a date with our “artist” every week is the “daily and doable” foundation of our group – based on Julia Cameron’s books.
As JC says, “My quota must be daily and doable. Just a little done daily, adds up to quite a lot.”
And yes, doing the laundry, picking blackberries are apart of living creatively, wholly and congruently!
The list thing helps too – after naming my overwhelm as actual events or actions to another (as I just did when my sweet friend called a mere minute ago) I discovered I was breathing easier.