The Empress and 21 Things on My Desk
musings on creative clutter and your tarot card for the week of Aug 25
Hey Friends!
Let me tell you something about me. I hate overly tidy, Pinterest-worthy workspaces. Maybe you know the type. Lots of open space. Too much white. An overpriced scented candle and a succulent in the corner. Only one or two notebooks (who tf can get by with so few???) and absolutely no clutter.
This is not what my desk looks like.
You may recall from a recent post that I felt invigorated after organizing my desk, and, later, my entire writing room. While it may sound like I’m contradicting myself, I assure you my desk is organized. It’s also covered in trinkets, papers, nostalgia, and a multitude of clashing colors.
There is no room for succulents, and I’d never keep an open flame near all the paper I have on my desk. The first rule of my life is that I must always be in arm’s reach of a pen and paper. And when I’m in the shower or traipsing through the forest, I tell Siri to take a voice memo.
Some might call it cluttered. I call it inspiring.
My desk is fertile soil for idea cultivation. I won’t post a picture of it. Frankly, I’d feel less exposed posting a photo of myself in my underwear. My desk is private. It’s my sacred space.
But I will share a list of what’s on it to fuel your imagination. For reference, I have a small Uplift Desk positioned in the corner of my writing room with a walking treadmill. My monitor — an ancient acer that uses a VGA cable bc I haven’t found a replacement that works as well — floats on an Uplift arm to maximize desktop real estate.
Here’s what I got:
Macbook Pro laptop, space grey, attached via cables to the aforementioned monitor and a very loud, clicky mechanical keyboard I adore (Das Keyboard, ICYI). I type a lot, and I type hard. This is the only keyboard that’s lasted longer than a year. It comes in non-clicky, too, but I love the sound!
Jelly Comb ergonomic Bluetooth mouse. Not great. I have a new mouse on the way — whatever Wirecutter recommended.
Vintage Jim Henson Baby Bear from Sesame Street. My Mom’s best friend from high school designed puppets for Jim Henson and I believe this bear is from a childhood visit to the studio or something like that.
Glass globe paperweight from China. A gift from my acupuncturist’s visit there.
My ancestry DNA reference number. Can’t think of a better place to keep it.
Mini figurine of Baby Yoda. One of many placed throughout the room.
My Great-Grandma’s funeral card from 2004. Laminated, featuring Jesus giving the sign of benediction.
Chunk of black tourmaline. Obviously.
Jar of homemade calendula-lavender salve, from homegrown calendula. My hands get dry.
Short stack of papers that require attention and/or filing, including documents from my eye doctor, the State of Maine, and USPS.
Witchy-themed notepads gifted to me from a friend. One is a long, shopping list-style pad currently filled with fall garden ideas. The other is a crystal ball and moon pad with a short to-do list.
Lisa Frank bag (gifted by the same friend) featuring the leopard seal and filled with colorful gel pens.
Two regular-size post-it pads, blue and pink.
Small lined notebook with astronaut turtles on the cover, gifted by Mom.
Large unlined notebook that contained some of my most treasured mind maps and brainstorms.
Small wooden pen holder and shallow dish set from Uplift. The pen holder contains a scissor, an adjustable fly swatter, and a set of Sharpie neon retractable highlighters. The dish holds USB dongles when not in use, but right now only contains a screw. I think the screw is from when I had to do a hard reset on the desk control box. It’s fine.
Memento mug from a neuroscience workshop in Chile circa 2007 filled with pastel, ice cream-scented Mr. Sketch markers and a paintbrush.
Small stack of BEHR paint cards, all white. They’re supposed to be for the trim outside the house, but I was recently informed we can buy Sherwin Williams for the same price.
Water bottle on a coaster. Hydration is sexy.
Latest issue of National Geographic — a dream publication and one of the only subscriptions I maintain.
Copy of Strunk and White’s Elements of Style. Because writing.
That’s it. Let’s move on to the tarot card I pulled for you this week.
The Empress
Much like my cluttered desk, The Empress represents fertility and creativity. Not only fertility as in pregnancy and motherhood — though this can be the case in certain readings, and it’s a positive omen if you’re trying to conceive — but being ripe with potential.
The Empress can represent motherhood in the traditional sense, and also Mother Earth energy. She’s your greatest supporter and biggest cheerleader. She urges you to get out there and achieve your highest potential.
If you have big dreams, it’s time to act on them. The Empress is one of the most powerful manifesters of the tarot, so it’s an ideal time to create the life you want to live. Don’t worry about what others say, or what social norms dictate. The only way to make your dream a reality is to take deliberate steps toward your end goal. Go out and do it now.
Do you want more personalized insight or intuitive advice on a specific issue? Book a tarot reading with me:
Thank you for being here, and have a great week!
XoLauren
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