We're nearly one month away from National Novel Writing Month and I'm still debating on whether or not I'm participating in NaNoWriMo. I've only done it once before, a few years ago, and maybe wrote 10,000 words. So I failed reaching the 50,000 word count, but just writing as many words as I did is an accomplishment to me. I'm a blogger, poet, sometimes short story writer, so long fiction is a challenge. I know I need the practice so I'm seriously contemplating digging in and getting something, anything written this November.

Are you making the commitment to write a novel in 30 days? If so, I've put together a few ways you can start prepping for the big day. Let's get into the writing zone and do this!

Create a writing altar for daily inspiration. I like to place candles, crystals, beautiful fabric, and photos of my muses in my altar. Going to that sacred space infused with things that inspire me fuels my creativity and helps me get my pen flowing. An altar is a personal thing, so what you place there is entirely up to you, but some ideas: feathers, photos, figurines, poetry, tarot/oracle cards, candles. Use your altar to make notes about your story and characters.

Plan a retreat. You can create an amazing writing retreat within your own walls. Set aside a weekend or full week of structured days and stick to the routine, just like you would at a retreat. Go to the same inspirational space each day, whether it's your home office, rented office, or favorite coffee shop. And most importantly, carve out time, preferably 2-3 hours, of focused novel planning and practice writing time. The other hours can be used to fill the inspiration well, meditate, take a rose-water bath - whatever helps you de-stress and boost your creativity.

Read your favorite book. There's nothing like breaking out my favorite books for a little writing inspiration. Spend a Sunday morning lounging in bed and reading your favorite work of fiction. Read for pleasure, but also for research. Notice how the author uses her words, how the dialogue is written, how the plot unfolds. Take notes.

Take a class. See if your local university offers writing classes to the public or choose a class from one of the many offered across the web. Women on Writing has loads to choose from. 

Go for a walk. Did you know Charles Dickens was known for going on lengthy walks during dinner parties? He would invite his guests to take a long walk before sitting down for dinner. The walks left Dickens invigorated and filled with creative ideas. His guests on the other hand...not so much. The fact is, daily walking can boost your creative muscles, especially if you walk to no particular place with no particular thing in mind. Meditative walking. 

Books and links to help you prep:
The NaNoWriMo blog and prep page
No Plot? No Problem! by Chris Baty
Book in a Month by Victoria Lynn Schmidt
The 90-Day Novel: Unlock the Story Within by Alan Watt (more than 30 days, but great outlining and novel-building advice)

So, how about it? Want to make the commitment? 
I hereby commit to writing a novel this November during @NaNoWriMo. #NaNoPrep (click to tweet) 

Hello love blossom!

I won't lie, instant gratification is nice. I do adore a real life book, but it's so easy to pop onto Amazon and download one for the Kindle. I've lived without a microwave for over a year (!), but sometimes miss the ease of heating up leftovers with the click of a few buttons. Patience is definitely a virtue and I think I have quite a bit of it, but like most people, (remember Veruca Salt from Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory?) I want (fill in the blank) and I want it now!

That extends to happiness, health, and a good dose of creativity. Fortunately, there are some ways to instantly gratify those needs, and they're mindful practices too, so you don't have to feel guilty. :) Incorporate these for an insta-boost!

Drink Green Tea
By now, you've probably heard that green tea is full of antioxidants and carries a multitude of benefits. Yep, drinking the green elixir can prevent heart disease, reduce cholesterol and high blood pressure, increase memory function, and provide a calming effect. Some studies even suggest green tea can help destroy cancer cells. Research is still being conducted, but regardless, having a cup or two a day is good for your health and your happiness.

Stretch
The first thing I do each morning before getting out of bed? Stretch. And not just any stretch - I "bake all sides," as we call it in Nia, roll around, warm up my spine, and get all the fuzz out. It feels soooo good. Roll from side to side, circle your wrists, stretch through the length of your arms and legs. Whatever feels tense, gently move it, stretch it, get into your body and what feels good. 

Meditate

Breathe Deeply
Do you ever stop to see how you're breathing? Is it from your chest or belly? If you're breathing from your chest, make it a habit to become more aware of how you're breathing and move the breath from your chest to your stomach. When you breathe in, your lungs should fill with air causing your belly to expand, and when you breathe out, your stomach should contract. Just like a balloon. 

When I practice deep breathing using this method, I instantly feel calmer and refreshed. I can feel my lungs expanding with breath and life and that feels good. Take a slow, deep breath through your nose. Watch your stomach expand. Now let it go through your nose or mouth and feel the ease wash over you. Once you've had a few deep breaths, return to normal abdominal breathing to see what it feels like. The more you know how it feels to breathe from your belly, the more chest breathing will feel stifled and awkward.

Go for a walk
As a writer, I spend most of my days sitting in front of the computer, sometimes just staring at the screen. Although sitting and staring provides creative results sometimes, it's more likely that I'll have an "aha" moment if I'm in the midst of doing something else...like walking. 

A recent study by the American Psychological Association suggests that going for a walk may lead to more creative thinking than sitting. In fact, "Of the students tested for creativity while walking, 100 percent came up with more creative ideas in one experiment, while 95 percent, 88 percent and 81 percent of the walker groups in the other experiments had more creative responses compared with when they were sitting."

And plenty of other studies have been conducted as well, all pointing to the fact that aimless walking leads to free-flowing thoughts. But don't take science's word for it: Charles Dickens was an avid walker and said creativity was, "gained by walking dreamily in a place, it cannot be gained by walking observantly.”  
Tchaikovsky also walked two hours every day to keep his creativity flowing.

So head outside and "dreamily" walk. A novel idea could be waiting for you.

Help someone
Nothing feels better than lending a helping hand. In fact, benevolence is one of the best ways to ease an aching heart. Feeling down about something? Volunteer at the soup kitchen or animal shelter. Just want to offer your time and gifts? Bake your neighbor a cake and invite her to tea. Helping and giving don't have to be extravagant; it's the little things that leave your heart feeling big. 

Make a gratitude list
I'm not going to reiterate why gratitude lists work wonders because you've probably heard it a million times by now. So just go get your paper, some colorful markers, and make a list of five things you're super duper grateful for. Don't think too much. Just write.

Smile/Laugh
Wake up and smile, smile while meditating, laugh for one minute (even if it's forced at first you'll really be laughing by the end of the minute), watch a comedy, browse Awkward Family Photos, smile at passersby. And when you're feeling bummed out, force a smile. Even a tiny one will light up the happy parts of your brain and make you feel happier. 

Six years ago I sat in traffic in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Everyday is exactly the same.

Wake up, scarf breakfast, sit in traffic, work, sit in traffic, eat dinner, go to bed.

I'd sit in bed and write in my journal about how I felt lost. How I felt like something was missing. When I was younger things seemed so magical. Where did the magic go?

I stared out my office window, wrote poems like this...

even after the dreams and wishes
and glitter and unicorns
and the lacy white veil touching your lashes
there is a black metal filing cabinet against the wall
there is the telephone ringing, ringing, ringing
and sobs and paperwork and flat tires
there is cold, hard reality
and it's all meshing with
the purple castle in your mind
inside there are crushed velvet sofas and stars 
but there is also an electric bill
on the kitchen table

I cried all the time, fought with my boyfriend, secretly wished for a way out. In a way, through my misery, I manifested the life I have now.

Sometimes it takes a breakdown for a breakthrough.

Like the man in the poster, I felt totally UGH!

Then one spring afternoon my boyfriend said, this isn't going to work. And I cried for two days straight. Then I put on my big girl panties and decided the whole debacle was exactly what I needed.

I remember going to the bookstore and The Anti 9 to 5 Guide: Practical Career Advice for Women Who Think Outside the Cube by Michelle Goodman jumping out at me. That was the beginning of my awakening.

But it took time. The journey back to myself, to the magic, took nearly three years. I still worked, I still questioned whether I could create an amazing life. I read a lot of books and wrote down my dreams and wondered what the heck I was doing. Was I lost? Was greatness not meant for the likes of me? Why was I still doing the same old stuff in a different town?

I asked myself why a lot. Why does life have to be this way? Why do I have to go to a day job and do boring work? Why can't I travel the world or live on an island or make money from writing? And after I asked myself those questions over and over again, the answer came...

You don't and you can.

Don't get me wrong, my life was pretty good. I had a wonderful partner, a nice home, a well paying job, an adorable dog. But I didn't want pretty good. I wanted great. 

Maybe you feel the same way. Maybe you feel lost emotionally, like you've misplaced your spirit or your voice or that something's missing. Maybe your life is pretty good, but you want extraordinary. You want to feel something, live out loud, no regrets. 

Two things:
1) An extraordinary life means different things to different people. Traveling the world and living on an island isn't necessary. 
2) Everything outside of yourself probably looks nothing like your dream life. In fact, your dream life probably seems impossible. I sat in traffic and pretended passing fields were ocean waves. I thought, yeah right a lot. 

But the life you dream of doesn't start manifesting on the outside. It starts on the inside. It starts in your imagination and how you speak and what you write and in how you see yourself and what you believe can happen. The inside is where you find your voice, your spirit, the magic. 

And over time, as you discover more of yourself and you listen to your spirit's needs and you ask a lot of questions, the inside spills over into the outside. 

If you're feeling blah, bored, not like yourself...if you're wondering where the magic went, don't give up hope. This is your "desert" time. Now's the time to walk, explore, question, dream, believe. Now you must envision your greatness, water the seed, keep watering it, keep learning, keep wanting, and then watch the seed bloom. 

I'm working on a six week e-course to aid you on your journey and to help you manifest exactly what you want in life. I can't wait to share it and see what amazing, beautiful things happen in your life. More info to come, and if you're subscribed to The Sacred Middle, watch for a special announcement email and offering.

Woohoo! Now go out there, darling, and start living your beautiful life!

Boy, what a week it's been! I planned on writing and publishing this many days ago, but life happened, as life does. Hubs and I had to make an impromptu trip to Manila to visit the doc at Veteran Affairs; he's been feeling under the weather for about two weeks and we wanted to make sure it wasn't something serious. Unfortunately, we still don't have a concrete answer as to why he's feeling bad, but his blood work came back all right, so at least that's some good news.

While in Manila I had to make a stop at Starbucks and grab a venti chai tea latte. I savored every bit (no Starbucks on the island). I was hoping they'd be serving the pumpkin spice lattes, but I guess it doesn't make much sense to offer them in a country that doesn't experience autumn weather.

Anywho, for this week's post I thought I'd do something a little different, something fun: tarotscopes (tarot horoscope)!

So I'm pulling my Gaian Tarot deck out of its red silk pouch and randomly choosing a card for each sun sign. 

Aries
Nine of Air

You might be experiencing much sorrow and grief, sleepless nights or a head full of negative voices and questioning critics. Whatever the case, don't exhaust yourself with "could have's" and "should have's". Ground yourself in meditation, let go of sorrow's heavy weight, and seek your highest self for guidance.

Laughter and playfulness is coming your way! Just as the child is delighted by his first encounter with the dancing flames, you're ready to experience something new and make things happen. Your mantra for the month: "Why not?" 

This card brings to you the gifts of healing, creativity, and the integration of light and shadow. As such, it calls you to combine diverse elements to create something new. If you find difficulty in balancing two polarities or a conflict of opposing sides arises, take the middle road and seek a unique resolution.

The Seeker (The Fool) represents new beginnings, adventure, and taking risks. Are you longing to escape, seek adventure, try something new? Don't let fear hold you back. Ask yourself what journey you want to begin today and move in that direction.

Now is the time for mindful living and grounding yourself in the present moment. Look around at the abundance surrounding you and offer prayers of gratitude. If you're feeling restless or lacking, ask yourself what your spirit needs to feel truly prosperous, then give thanks for what you already have.

The Guardian brings clarity to every situation. She is direct, candid, and gets to the truth of the matter. She brings you the gift of clear communication and asks that you speak the truth with bold integrity. Don't shy away from making difficult decisions this month. Cut away extraneous details and get to the truth, even if it's painful.

The Explorer of Earth is realistic, practical, and intuitive. She connects to her spirituality by spending time in nature and has learned much about living green, simple, and sustainable. Follow her example by taking care of yourself this month, eating a wholesome diet and getting plenty of exercise. She also advises to track your money and monitor its in and outflow. Reuse and recycle rather than making new purchases. 

Pause for a moment and take out your map. Now's the time to strategize, plan and prepare to move in a new direction. Consider all the routes available to you and ask yourself, "What lays beyond the edges of the map?" You may need to think outside the box (or the map!) Your affirmation for the month is: I make my plans, but leave room for serendipity.

This card speaks of an apprenticeship and working with mentors to learn your craft and manifest your vision in the world. What is your soul purpose, your heart's work? Do you have a mentor to help you achieve success? Can you be a mentor to someone?

Like sparkling meteors putting on a show in the night sky, inspiration is streaking across the galaxy of your heart. Are you missing it? Putting it off? Act quickly before it fades and make your dreams a reality.

Is there someone in your life having trouble setting limits or boundaries? Maybe you're the one who needs to take a leadership role and define some limits. Ask yourself what needs more structure in your life and how you can create more stability. 

The Sun is the symbol of radiant joy! Your spirit is full of energy, enthusiasm, generosity, and health. It's your time to shine so step into the flow of creativity. Open your heart to life's pleasures. Celebrate , play, sing, dance, and let yourself shine on!