This is the first morning is weeks I have been able to work uninterrupted by some external force. Although I am terrified to speak about the proverbial sword hanging over all our heads, as if acknowledging its presence conjures a spell for the rope to snap. Doors ring, bell break, cats cry, babies meow and the rube goldberg machine of derailed plan takes motion. I wake in the morning with a plan to be reminded that making a plan is only ever a hypothesis.
I plan dates
I plan calendars and time
I plan for outcomes and points to plot on the map
I am planning for a summer sabbatical, something I sit down to plan but the oxymoron of planning hits me. I plan for space and for time and wonder if I actually have to plan at all. OR if I must plan so meticulously to safe guard the space of creation.
I plan to write a book but haven’t planned for research, I call librarian friends and they unfold archives of past plans and the territory writers have traversed. There plans never went as planned, I plan to follow their plan.
What I know about being a chaos demon, gremlin of unplanning and a Sagittarius sun/moon is that my habit is not to plan, equally as unknind. Learning self compassion from sketching. From whispering intentions and holding sticky notes in front of my face like a dog with a bone I pledge to walk the path but also pledge to get distracted by glimmers in the woods ahead.
What I know so far about my summer sabbatical is i want space. I initially said no new things but the spirit of creativity came knocking and is said to deliver a book of essays. I thought it was no new clients but my dream projects arrives. The discernment between jumping for the sake of jumping or jumping because actually it didn’t feel like a jump but instead of a trust fall into the parts of my work that give so much back to me.
So my plan for a summer sabbatical is relational. Is restorative and reciprocity. It is planning for the hypothesis but not planning for the outcome. To pledge to the curiosity of exploration and imaginition instead of abusing myself that I couldnt imagine another world in time for the sword to fall.
In planning for a summer sabbatical I sat down and asked myself “what do I want” over and over again.
Here is the summer sabbatical plan, so far
From June 25th - September 4th I am gifting myself the space I have wanted to take, not because I planned really well for it. But because if I don’t I know no plan will unfold the way I will plan for.
No new podcast episodes
No new content (unsure what this means for this space specially right now – because ultimately this space is not content to me, but for certain no free IG coaching + tik tok Q+As)
Yes to evaluating new clients based on what I want to do, not what I can do.
One day a week for writing
One day a week for research (research, includes fairy walks, swimming and library archives)
No real rules
Create what I want to create
Experimentation is key
I think of Sister Cortia Kents rules “Find a place you trust, and then try trusting it for a while”
If you would like to help support my work, my writing and my summer sabatical consider beocming a paid subscriber. Paid subscribers will have access to the essays I am working on over the summer as I work to write and publish my first book of essays 💖
Word of mouth will always be the most special, if you cannot monetarily support me right now consider sharing your fav post or quote with a friend or on sosh meeds 🥰
Findings 🗺️
Reading Dr Saundra Dalton Smiths book Sacred rest rn and 🤯
Toronto folks Lisa’s Poetry in the park workshop series is live!
Getting ready to teach the marketing workshop of “how to make art business” this weekend and LUVING Lexi’s latest blog post in income claim marketing and ooo babyyy (if it makes you feel barfy, same same)
- delivering this reminder on my FYP 🙏📖
Preparing and research for
1000 words of summerADDING A NOTE HERE! I am looking to speak to folks that have an academic or just furious passion for jewish folklore! Hit reply on this email or pop in the comments so we can chat thank you 🥰
1:1 Rates are going up in July $150 —> $200 After a years of working with clients 1:1 and witnessing their incredible results unfold (like watching them stick that price tag on with CONFIDENCE, articulate their worth and bring their ideas to life), I have decided to raise my 1:1 rates. In July my rate is going to $200/hr, if you buy a session between now and June 30th you can reserve a session at $150/hr (if you have and q’s hit “reply” on this email 💕)
big love and many blessings for the time between and creativity used for good
phoebe 🌸