I gave a notebook to a lover who has never journalled in his life. Eloquent, witty, incredibly intelligent, always with something to say. But journalling? Nope, not a chance.

Six weeks later, I asked how the journalling thing was going: good, something feels like it's shifting, but I'm barely scratching the surface.

He shared how he was grateful for the gift, as it was something he would not have started doing himself, but also felt something within baulking at the sincerity of journalling.

A private creative act that simply invites you to drop the act and be honest with where you are at - your innermost thoughts, and the terror of uncovering your true feelings.

What first struck me though: "baulking at the sincerity".

Did you baulk at my sincerity when we first met?

No.

I sincerely believed him. Sincerity is disarming.

What disarms the self-protective armour of cynicism and defensiveness is open-heartedness.

To be open-hearted asks of your vulnerability.

Your vulnerability to rejection, to hurt, to pain, to all the sensations we deem unpleasant.

Your willingness to be vulnerable then, calls for your courage. Your courage to touch what is heavingly heavy, numb and locked up inside of you, and allow it to not only be there, but have it expressed outside of you.

This is the part that we experiences glimpses of in body sensation, unsaid thoughts, a mild mood, resulting in uncomfortable bracing, or the sheer avoidance of what we said we want to create more of.

𓂃 ོ☼𓂃

Courage is rooted in cor, the Latin word for heart.

In astrology, Leo is related to the heart. There is a particular quality of innocence I associate with Leo, and yet I recall how Leo is related to the Lion - king of the jungle (or rolling grasslands) - the regal, fierce, wild creature does not need to roar to make it's heart known.

What does it take to make your creative heart known again?

This is one question for the current times we're in: as Jupiter is renewed in the heart of the Sun in Leo as the Moon grows full in Aquarius right by Pluto - there is a vision being illuminated, where your willingness to traverse the underworld journey expands the power you are reviving for your heart-full participation in shifting collective reality. How are you getting ready to depart from the known to trek into unmapped futures?

What have you marginalised in your own life that you are prepared to bring into centerpoint of your heart again?

Your heart - and what is created from this sincere space - is what is being invited into the larger conversation on what it means to be human in a world craving something real.

𓂃 ོ ☼𓂃

As part of Prana House's 20 Year Wellness Festival after the Leo solar eclipse, I am hosting CREATIVE EXPANSION - a somatic workshop on courting your courage and alchemising survival-based patterns around your creative self-expression.

As Jupiter in Leo expands our belief in our own creative possibilities, this is a potent transit to orient towards our vision through playing our own creative game in life.

Guided by Somatic Experiencing® principles, this 75-minute introductory workshop will explore gentle somatic practices to greet our creative hearts and experiment with the playfulness and radiance of Leo energy. We will explore connecting with our innate strength to welcome in more vitality, courage and joy into our lives.

Sunday 16 August
1pm - 2:15pm
Prana House, Thornbury

Early bird pricing of $30 available until 6 August ☼

Book your ticket here or find more info here.

♥︎ Rachel