the creative minimalist

darren r hill : writer, minstrel and journal keeper

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Mid-May journal and ​planner review

It’s the middle of the month and a full-moon has just graced the heavens too. What better time to have a quick sojourn through my journals and planners and see what is going on. I also share a little of my current pen frustration.

I need to find a place for my pens. I have a scribble (note to self: what is the real collective noun for pens1) of pens that I use and need close to hand. I currently have them in a teal? Pen case, but there are really too many for a comfortable fit. In addition, and this is what really frustrates me, why is it that the pen I need or am looking for is always right at the bottom of the case. Every time I need a specific pen I have to pull all the others out to find it.

My life is passing by one pen search after another.

1 I Googled, but lost interest after I found out that Kringle was the collective noun for a group/pile of chewed pen lids.

Thank you for reading this post. Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
namaste
d
xox
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Disruption in the Creative Field Notes

This week has been busy. It started with a couple of days away at the office on Dartmoor. I love this these days away. The place is beautiful and it’s good to do some focussed work. But, it disrupts regular routines. The daily routines that are easy to keep at home.

A Change in circumstances can disrupt. My current moon intention/ritual is all about processes. I have been setting up routines to make sure I create and move other projects forward. Routines don’t do well with disruptions, so the days away were not overly helpful in maintaining them.

While away I took the above photo. I was intrigued by the two lines in the sky. One straight, one wavy, but both heading in pretty much the same direction. I like a good metaphor from the universe.

Creative field notes

Despite the disruption, I have a few creative field notes to record.
I redid, or recorded a new vocal for my song ‘love in a modern style’. I’m aiming to mix it in the next few days and get a version up on Patreon before the end of this ‘free’ month

Then there was more disruption. A song I hadn’t planned to do anything with began bouncing around my head. I couldn’t block it out. I sat down and began to record it in LogicProX. This track was unscheduled. Disruption of the organisation – creativity doesn’t always stick to schedules.

I am writing too. That’s been a while, so a relief.

I have been using ToDoist. It has helped give me an overview of things. I had to do a big brain dump to capture my to dos, projects and goals. Getting the song that was bouncing around out of my head allowed me to work on the song I was supposed to be doing. With everything else out of my head and into ToDoist, I seem to have found more space to create.

Thank you for reading this post. Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
namaste
d
xox
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New Moon Intention for May

This month the New Moon arrived close to the beginning of the month of May. I like it when things align. I did the thinking in my journal, or ‘out loud writing’ as I like to think of it. I then made the above spread using my pLAnarchy stickers in my Iconic journal.

It’s a general list of things I want to achieve. Once I have this list sorted, and I will by the next new moon, I’ll turn these New Moon rituals into individual creative projects. Until then, it is regular blog posting, pLAnarchy updating and new music on Patreon. This lunar cycle is about making sure I have the routines and processes working.

The idea of adjusting the routines and processes at the waxing and waning half-moons is one of the reasons I like using the lunar cycle as a creative plan template. Here’s to hoping I don’t need to do too much adjusting at the weekend.

Thank you for reading this post. Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
namaste
d
xox
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Grasping the nettles

The River Dart valley

In the religious world, the Muslim feast of Ramadan has begun. According to Islamic belief, Ramadan celebrates the first revelation of the Quran to the Prophet Mohamed. Possibly the most widely known observance of the celebration is fasting, although there are others. In popular culture, both Ramadan and Lent are seen as times of giving something up, yet both are about so much more. Both are spiritual disciplines that aim to gain something rather than lose.

As I type this I am fasting. Not because I have converted to Islam or because I delayed Lent, but because I have a blood test tomorrow (nothing serious). I like the idea of spiritual disciplines, of pilgrimage, of attrition. But just the idea. The actual hard work of the discipline I don’t find appealing. A little prayer, devotional reading and even spiritual journaling are all fine. Anything more is too close to flagellation for my comfort. It’s only been a few hours since I ate something but I am already thinking about cake. The irony is that I go at least six hours most days without eating anyway. I suppose, as they say, it is the thought that counts.

The main photo for this post was taken during a nice long walk yesterday. The views were stunning and the walk felt good. It felt like a nice gentle way to get some exercise and look after my body. Up and down hill after hill. Today though, I am not so sure. My legs are aching and I have realised that a walk every so often is not quite enough. It seems my exercise might require a little discipline.

The nettle is a useful plant. It has been used for many things. It can be used to make fibre and eaten for food, and has even been used for medicinal purposes. However, the nettles major claim to fame is that it stings. Touch a nettle to bare skin and you’ll be looking for a dock leaf or soothing balm.

The phrase ‘grasp the nettle’ feels apt for me at the moment. A little pain, a little discomfort… but the rewards should be worth it. I wonder how many nettles I need to grasp… or where are those gloves!

Thank you for reading this post. Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
namaste
d
xox
If you enjoyed this post please support my writing by making a donation of any amount.

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Journal and Planner Video Update

Journal and planner update

A journal and planner update video. It’s been a while since I gave an overview of what journals and planners I was using so here is an update. I have been quite productive recently, although as you can tell from the video, I’m not sure whether that’s the planners or just motivation.

I mention my music Patreon. This is now live, so if you’d like some free music for May, do pop over and take a look, here’s the link – This Temple Eden Patreon.

pLAnarchy.uk is my Etsy store and the sticker I mention should be there soon. Again, if you are interested please feel free to take a browse around.

And, here’s the video…

Thank you for reading this post. Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
namaste
d
xox
If you enjoyed this post please support my writing by making a donation of any amount.

Sign up for my (ir)regular newsletter to keep up to date with my creative adventures, including special offers, and join me on Instagram | YouTube | Twitter | Pinterest

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