The Creative Thaw
A six-week co-working ritual for artists and dreamers
— Coming Soon —
Creative Thaw: Six Mornings of Late-Winter Ritual for Writers, Musicians, and Artists
Sundays, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. EST, Feb. 8-March 15
Join me on Zoom for six weeks of accountability and community. This Sunday morning space is ideal for creative, sensitive dreamers who:
Feel stuck in their creative process
Need a gentle, fun rhythm to shake off the winter blues
Want to be in community of creatives and connect with like-minded folks
Wish to find the joy in creating again, rather than the “should”
We begin February 8.
$20 Early Bird pricing until February 5 with the code EarlyBird (normally $25).
Every year, I try to stop hating winter. I make bucket lists, mood boards, stock up on teas, order more warm things. By February, I’m exhausted from the effort.
There’s no built-in recharge to this season. In summertime, I can relocate to a sunny hill, stretch out on a blanket, and five minutes later I’m full of ideas, and the energy and motivation to pursue them.
This is not the case in wintertime, and I get impatient with it. But my resistance to her does not make her move along any more quickly, so I keep putting in the effort to embrace her lessons and her offerings.
I may have made some progress. I’m no less likely to bitch about the cold, but I have landed on some rituals that are helping me move in rhythm to the season rather than resisting it entirely.
Above: Some of the rituals in question
Here’s what’s working for me this year:
Allowing sleep
As much as I can, which requires some sacrifices in the forms of late-night hangs and TV marathons, as well as plenty of self-compassion when I sleep in later than I mean to.
Inviting warmth
Candles at all times, heating pads, cozy blankets, hot tea. My current obsession is licorice tea from Churchill’s.
Acknowledge the cycle of the seasons
Things happen more slowly in the winter. It’s a season for rest and warming foods, a time to cultivate coziness and allow space for self-reflection and self-love. We are planting the seeds for our harvest later this year. This is not the time to go full-speed ahead. Slow down, cowboy.
Minimizing screen time
Although I’m back to scrolling Pinterest sometimes and asking Google random questions mid-movie screening, my New Year internet detox has had a lasting effect and I’m spending less time glued to screens. It’s a hell of a habit to break, but the result is just as rewarding as you’d expect.
If you’re interested in refining your relationship with screens, your phone, and the internet, I’ll be hosting quarterly detoxes designed to help you do just that. Subscribe to stay in the loop about that and other upcoming events and offerings.
Maximizing analog activities
Less time on screens means more time to really show up in the present and engage all my senses in tangible activities. Cooking is a perfect example (here’s a recipe for stuffed cabbage we recently enjoyed making and eating), as are puzzles, listening to records, flipping through design books, or learning a basic embroidery stitch and putting flowers on all of your shirt collars.
Oranges
That’s all.
Meeting new people
This year I’m making a point to have real conversations with more people I don’t already know. Almost every time I make the effort to connect with someone new, I feel a little more at home on this planet.
It feels increasingly important to be present with one another, even if it’s just keeping our heads up and looking someone in the face to say hello. We need each other right now.
Gentle, realistic practices
Forever I told myself I wanted to get up at 7:30 a.m. and start writing. Being an early morning writer sounds incredible. But I am not an early morning person, so this almost never happened. Which meant I started each day falling short of my goal and feeling defeated and disappointed. Then I thought… what if I just say I’ll write before noon? Maybe at 8 sometimes, maybe at 11 on other days. That is achievable, and now I almost never miss it.
Introducing the Creative Thaw: Six Mornings of Late-Winter Ritual for Writers, Musicians, and Artists
If you’re craving your own gentle practice, this offering is for you. Creative Thaw is a six-week co-working ritual designed for dreamers, independent thinkers, and creatives who seek community, consistency, and accountability.
We’ll meet on Zoom each Sunday morning at 11 a.m. starting on February 8 through March 15. In this safe, accessible space, you’re invited to connect with others, share your goals, celebrate your wins, and work alongside one another for two hours at a time. No requirements, no expectations. Just a gentle structure, friendly faces, and plenty of cheerleading to support you as you make space for your creative voice.
This is ideal if you:
Feel stuck in your creative process
Need a gentle, fun rhythm to shake off the winter blues
Want to be in community of creatives and connect with like-minded folks
Want to find the joy in creating again, rather than the “should”
You can learn more and sign up for the Creative Thaw here.
This is a $25 investment, but you can save $5 by using the code EarlyBird through February 5. If cost is a factor for you but you would find this useful, please let me know by responding to this email.
It’s harder to find victories in the cold, dark days of winter. Knowing there are other dreamers chugging alongside you can help keep the fire lit. Let’s get to kindling, baby.