Some things don’t make sense right away, like recurring dreams or calculus or advice from your parents or why your life took this turn and not that one. This time-meaning delay is particularly present with messages from spirit or intuition.

That happened to me with a moose.

During the holidays I walked through a big department store that had literally a dozen Christmas-themed areas full of decorations and delights, each section with its own colour story: winter whites, antique golds, traditional red and green, luxurious aquas, playful pinks, back-to-nature neutrals. One unexpected motif appeared in each theme and consistently caught my eye: the moose.  Moose sculptures were everywhere – some small, others as big as me. There were white moose, gold moose, green moose, pewter moose. I couldn’t take my eye off them. It was the weirdest thing. It’s not that I found them attractive, but somehow I found them compelling. I took a few pictures, hoping that would satisfy my yearning, but days later returned to buy one for myself. All gone. I’ve thought about it many times since. What was it about the moose?

Fast forward to mid-January when I get a loving Desire to Inspire package from Christine Mason Miller.  I wasn’t able to attend the book launch in Santa Monica, so she was kind enough to include the lovely collection of business cards and postscards she gave out at the event. And there’s one from Pixie Campbell that I notice right away. With a moose. Yes, a moose. And an explanation of moose medicine.

“Moose carries medicine for those seeking to go to the murky depths to return with intuitive wisdom. It symbolizes the primal feminine and contains the ability to open up unique and sacred energies, while teachung is to draw life and nourishment up from our deeper selves.” Pixie Campbell

Thank you, Pixie.

Thank you, Moose.

Thank you, Spirit.

It all makes utter, complete sense.

I made this page with a little pocket in my journal so I can carry Pixie’s wisdom with me. And the moose.
Who knew you could carry a moose in your journal?

PS. I’m currently taking Pixie’s SouLodge program. It’s seasonal, sacred and special. You might want to check it out.

Every season has its gifts and some we relate to more readily than others. I’ve always been a spring kinda girl. I love beginnings. I love the fresh start and the fresh air. I love the promise of tulips peeking through the earth and saying hi. I love open windows and singing birds. I love clearing away winter’s debris and feeling new again.

But winter? Winter I find harder to love. It’s cold. It’s dark. It lasts forever. And emotionally, it’s the down note, the dark side, the turning in and dialing down. Living in it right now highlights the time in my life too, a time when for the past long while it has felt like things were moving and shifting deep down in the earth, things I couldn’t do anything about, things I had to wait to see and to understand.

Waiting.

That’s a big part of winter.

I’m not a fan of waiting. I like to dive in. I like to plan the next adventure. I want to taste the next thing. I’m a doer, a driver. When there’s a lull, I look to see where I can pick up the pace. But sometimes, that’s not what’s needed. At all. There’s wisdom in winter.

Fighting the seasons – of the year and of your life – simply doesn’t work. When you resist the tide, all that happens is you get tired.

Winter arrives in her own time and she stays as long as she damn well pleases. In fact, when I think about her like that, I like her more. I love a strong woman who knows her own mind!

And when I stop for a moment, I remember that I like turning in. I love quiet time with a book or my journal and a nice cup of tea. I love having a lazy breakfast with my honey or curling up under a big comforter and sneaking in extra sleep. I love stopping by the pub on a cold, snowy day and sitting by the fire. I love chunky big scarves and rich, hearty soups. I love being gentle with myself and taking time to breathe.

Maybe wintering isn’t so bad after all.

I may not be a rock star but having lesson with makeup artist Anna Conte from Civello Rosedale made me feel like one. I fell in love with Anna a decade ago when she did my brows in preparation for my wedding. There is something about this lady.  She radiates this deep grounded confidence that just envelops you when you’re in her presence. And she knows her stuff. Wow, does she know her stuff.

Two things inspired me to work with a makeup artist. One is that I’ve been thinking a lot about how we stay connected to who we are in the now.  When was the last time you thought about how you wear your makeup? I’ve probably been wearing my eyeliner the same way for *cough* years! But is my face the same? My style? Secondly, I’m doing more and more video and I wanted some tips on how to really look fresh and polished as I film programming for Creative Living TV!

Anna was very clear; the first thing is to be really loving with your skin. I felt like I was having a mini spa treatment as she cleansed and moisturized the palette we’d be working on, hehe.

The one big tip that Anna asked me to pass along is that it is worthwhile to invest a little extra to have a skilled professional shape your brows.  I remember the first time she did mine; I couldn’t believe the difference! I felt so glamorous and so pulled together. This is something I’d love to do regularly!

Throughout the lesson, Anna explained the what, why and how of every step. She would apply the concealer, foundation, blush, eye shadow, etc. on one side, and then I’d make an attempt on the other side. It was fun and comfortable.

Anna highlighted things that were good particularly for me but also shared her thoughts on current trends. One thing I really appreciated was her philosphy of creating a classic, clean look and then inviting in a little taste of the season – like the lovely gloss she tried on me or the deep coral lipstick we played with. (It  looked great!)

It’s quite an incredible experience to have someone really look at you, noticing the shape of your face, the colouring of your skin, the curve of your brow. It can be a little unnerving but Anna’s way of being both knowledgeable and completely non-judgmental makes it feel really lovely and safe.

Style can be a powerful form of self-expression, but we can also get trapped in our habits, stuck in the way we were instead of rediscovering who we are. This lesson was an opportunity for me to take a fresh look and see this woman smiling back at me.

If you are in Toronto, you can find Anna at the Civello Rosedale. She also blogs at Cocamia and can be found on twitter @cocamia.

And a special shout-out to Monica Terralheiro who was so lovely and treated this lesson as a photo shoot so that I’d be able to share the experience with you all. Thank you, Monica!

When Rachel W. Cole interviewed me for her Well-Fed Woman Series, the first question she asked was, “What are you truly hungry for?” Connecting to my deepest hungers, I was struck once again by the vulnerability of desire.

A while back I started a “Desire Book.” You could call it a prayer book or a collection of letters to the Universe. I thought it would be a safe place to develop a regular practice of tuning into and expressing my desires.

I never used it.

Or if I did, it was so polite, so reserved and so timid! But look at the cover I put on it – “Fierce Desire.” I have fierce desires. Why were they so hard to express?

And unexpressed desires are powerful things. They poke and prod at you. They make you uncomfortable and moody.  They show up in all sorts of unhealthy ways. That’s why it’s way better to keep the energy moving, to be real with what you’re feeling and to express what’s in your heart and soul.

So I made a fresh start. I named the new section of my journal, “Raw Desires” and I gave it a few guidelines to create an environment where those raw desires can find their way to the page.

Making Room for My Desires

• In this book I create a safe and sacred space where I am free to simply want what I want.
• All desires expressed within are free from judgment.
• Each of these desires is really a request, even if I don’t know how to ask for it. Universe, please hear the question anyway.
• Universe, please understand that I only know what I know. If you see something way more awesome that fits the bill, please send it.
• I infuse each of these desires with deep, deep love.
• I acknowledge, celebrate and am grateful for every blessing in my life and every blessing I am yet to receive.
• Universe, I trust that you will get the message, even if I get the words all wrong.
• Thank you.

What do your desires need in order to come out of your heart and into the world?

This article was originally published in my newsletter. Sign up and have creative living inspiration delivered to you twice a month!

Inspired by just how many people I met at the World Domination Summit, who, like my dear friend Jenn in her hammock, sometimes need a break from all of that energy and stimulation, I invited some wonderful creatives, introverts and highly sensitive people to share their wisdom on managing big events like conferences. In Part I, Jennifer Lee, Jolie Guillebeau, Laurie Sutton and Rachelle Mee-Chapman shared their tips and strategies. Today another group of wise women lead the way. Thank you so much to these brilliant contributors!

Jennifer Louden…

I have yet to attend a learning gathering (except the retreats I create and even those can have too much to offer) that are fully consumable by most people – in other words, you have to leave some goodies on your plate. You won’t be able to know what so make a promise to keep checking in with yourself, with your body, with what you need vs. what you think you should do or else you will miss something. I left early on Sunday from WDS and drove home although that meant missing the closing – my body said done and I listened.

Plan ahead how you will eat if you have food issues, like I do. Mark Silver and I promised each other to stay gluten free and low sugar. It’s so easy for me to get into glutton mode and then not enjoy myself because I’m having an allergic reaction.

Don’t plan on working during a conference or retreat. Mindfully close down your work before you leave. Don’t leave stuff dangling because it will hang over you and you’ll be distracted. Also, I don’t do any social media, email or even calls during events. I do text my sweetheart and daughter – and that’s it.

Jen Louden is learning how to Savor & Serve. She convenes retreats, has written 6 books with almost a million copies in print, and walks around astonished most of the time.

Rachel Cole…

Stay in choice. You are always in choice and no one, no other attendee, or the conference planner can take that away from you. There are no ‘have to’s’. You don’t have to attend every talk or break-out session. You don’t have to sit up front or sit in back. You don’t have to mingle during breaks or go to lunch with anyone else. You don’t have to go out at night. If you find yourself talking to someone who drains you, excuse yourself. You can choose to do whatever you need to do to manage your sensory input.

You only need to look to yourself for the answers. Others, especially those who are not highly sensitivity, can make you feel like your experience is wrong or less than…when in reality, no one’s experience is better or worse. Trust yourself. Take care of yourself. Celebrate how you experience the world.

When you take good care of yourself and make empowered choices for yourself the universe responds with waves of YES.

Rachel W Cole is a fiercely loving, uber-creative life coach who helps people get clear about what they are truly hungry for and then get well-fed.

Joy Agcongay…

I am an HSP and strongly introverted. I’m also a marketing consultant.

I’ve learned the hard way (e.g. catching colds, needing a LOT of downtime) that I need to take care of myself, especially when attending intensely social situation like conferences.

I try to go into a conference carrying plenty of self-compassion and permission to be OK with who I am, not who I think I should be. I look at the schedule to get a sense of rhythm: how many breaks and how long, and whether there are sessions that I might be able to skip if I get overstimulated.

I also give myself permission to not have to meet every person, or even every person I should meet. I generally set a goal of connecting with X number of people going in. For me, that number is usually <5 since I want to make connections that will last beyond the conference.

I choose after-hours socializing carefully. If I’m not too tired, I check in with myself: Do I really want to do this out of the love of participation (yes) or the fear of not belonging (no)?

When I need a break, I find a quiet corner. Or leave the physical space altogether and walk to the nearest park, garden, museum or place of worship. I’ve even found myself in a bathroom stall for quiet and mitigating overwhelm!

By carving out a bit of sanctuary in the cacaphony, I’ve been able make meaningful connections and actually enjoy myself. Imagine that!

Joy Agcongay is a gentle marketer for overwhelmed entrepreneurs, aspiring homesteader, assistant bee rancher, chicken/cat mom and creativity retreat junkie who loves to travel to quiet, sacred spaces.

Natalie Currie…

I’ve been to three conference events in the past four weeks! I love being surrounded by creative change-agents, gaining new insights and connecting the dots. That can all be a little draining, as well. As a coach who uses a brain-based approach, I know that time to process information (e.g. so what? now what?) is much more valuable than attending another networking event or packing in more content than my brain can handle.

Conference schedules don’t often allow time for my morning practices, which includes meditation and yoga. Walking meditation is my quick-fix-antidote to the “conference overwhelm” that I’ve personally experienced and I’ve seen in other creative-introverts. John Medina, author and developmental molecular biologist wrote about the role of exercise on learning in, “Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home and School” (http://www.brainrules.net). Rule #1 is that exercise increases brain power. As Medina describes, “Physical activity is cognitive candy”. A brief walk, in particular in a green space in the morning and again after lunch is usually all I need to clear my mind. In this refreshed state, I can take in more information. More importantly I have more energy to focus on making meaningful connections with my tribe.

As a workshop facilitator, life and executive coach, Natalie helps individuals and teams who feel overwhelmed create rich, sustainable lives in connected communities.

Kate Swoboda…

My conference/workshop/lots of people around tip: Feel your breath, and feel the silence. During our first morning at WDS, I felt jarred. My mornings are usually slow, quiet, and deliberate. At WDS, I needed to get up and get moving, and was immediately in an environment where people were interacting with one another. By the first break, I felt overwhelmed, so I slipped outside. I sat apart from others, and tilted my face to the sun, and just… breathed in the air. I noticed the silence. I slowed down. When others were talking, I tried to notice the silence and gaps between their words. I let the energy of rejuvenation come into my body through my breath. If you are quiet enough, you can hear the “hum” of energy that is in silence. I invited that in. (I live in Northern California, where it is legal to talk about things like this.) I call practices like this “Stillness Practice,” where my aim is simply to create stillness within me. It’s a practice–not a one-stop fix-it shop–so this was definitely something that I revisit whenever I’m in a space where I know that there will be a lot of activity.

Kate Swoboda is a Life Coach, speaker and writer who works with changemakers.

A Note from Jamie…

I’m so thankful for the shared wisdom of our creative community! Thank you once again to each of the contributors.

I hope in each of these suggestions, something spoke to your heart. I’ll look forward to seeing you at a special event, a workshop or a conference. Maybe we’ll give each other big hugs and hang out in conversation. Or maybe we’ll give each other a smile, a knowing look and head off to the hammocks.

Read Part I in this series here.

Photo courtesy of Armosa Studios

As a someone who lives on the cusp of introvert and extrovert, big events like the World Domination Summit are both a thrill and a challenge. Luckily, at a conference about non-conformity, no one bats an eye if you spend time in a hammock instead of networking! But even this very understanding environment, it takes a bit of pluck to give yourself the loving care you need when it seems like everyone else is joining the party!

It’s taken me years to feel comfortable opting out when things become too much (or better yet, before they become too much). I’ve worried people would find me unfriendly and I just hated the prospect of missing out on anything, especially building friendships. But I’ve also learned that if I don’t take my time to walk and breathe and process and be quiet, I really do miss out. Nothing sinks in and I actually become less friendly and less available because I’m totally tapped out.

When I take care of myself well, I can be really present with people and have lots of love and listening to offer when we’re together. And I’m getting better at trusting that I won’t miss out, that what’s meant for me is there for me. And I am totally okay with being wired the way I’m wired. In fact, I just tell people I need the downtime or the quiet and almost all the time, they totally get it! In fact, I talked to so many people that were going through the same thing that I invited some creative introverts and highly sensitive people to share their best tips for self-care during events like conferences – and got so many great responses I’ve created two posts!

I hope this conversation inspires you to step into these kinds of experiences with confidence, knowing it’s okay to do what you need to do and you are not alone.

Thank you so much to all of these wonderful contributors!

with love,

Jamie

Jennifer Lee…

Take breaks when you need to. It’s okay to skip out on presentations if you need some quiet time to recharge or to integrate your learnings. I used to force myself to power through each and every talk and breakout session so I could “get my money’s worth.” But I wasn’t really taking anything in when I was actually zoning out or feeling zapped.  I’ve learned it’s better to step outside and enjoy some fresh air, journal, or eat a snack. I often times will go back to my hotel room at breaks, slip under the covers for a quick nap or just to surround myself with quiet calm. At WDS I loved the hammock lounge. It was the perfect place for this HSP/introvert to recharge. You can see me getting my hammock time in this short and silly video.

Also letting yourself play hooky from the “main event” means you might even bump into the perfect person to sit down with and engage in a deep and meaningful conversation together. Those rich and heartfelt connections are usually what make these type of events so worthwhile for me.

Be gentle and compassionate with yourself and listen to what you need.

Jennifer Lee, of Artizen Coaching, is a certified coach, writer, and artist and author of The Right-Brain Business Plan.

Jolie Guillebeau…

First, I’m very careful to pay attention to my body. I keep a water bottle in my hand and a granola bar in my bag, and I never let myself get too hungry or thirsty. I’m also the first person to head back to the hotel and go to bed. I’m useless and weepy without enough sleep.

But the thing I’ve discovered that helps me most is knitting. Having a simple knitting project keeps my hands busy which seems to keep me present and in tune with my physical self, and it also helps me through those awkward introvert moments. I can duck out of conversations gracefully by concentrating on my stitches, and occasionally when I’m overstimulated, knitting is a quick escape.

Jolie Guillebeau is a story-teller, knitter and painter, who lives in Portland and keeps a stash of chocolate covered jellybeans in her bag. She’s willing to share if you’re sitting next to her at a conference.

Rachelle Mee-Chapman…

Ah, conferences. A chance to meet people you’ve only known on-line. Profitable contacts. Helpful tips. New information. And all that glorious, inspiring energy!

It’s enough to make a High Sensitive Person shake in their boots.

HSP’s and introverts need to take special care at conferences – lest the noise, the small talk, and the non-stop information overload their super-senses. And this, my tuned-in friends, is why you need a room of your own.

I know it’s expensive. I know it’s tempting to grab a roommate. But unless you can bunk with someone you know (and mesh with) really really well, don’t do it. You’ll need the sanctuary of your room to be quiet, get still, and reboot. At the end of the day, come “home,” take a long shower, put on your comfiest loungewear and pour yourself a big glass of water. You might try editing down your scrawled notes from the day so you can stop trying to hold all your new ideas in your busy mind. Or maybe a few yoga poses are in order. Call your family, rest your aching feet, and just watch Glee on your laptop. Do whatever helps you refill and recharge so you can get the biggest bang for your conference buck in tomorrow’s sessions.

When conferences get overwhelming, listen to your inner mama. She’ll probably tell you to, “Go to your room!”

Rachelle Mee-Chapman helps people create right-fit spiritual practices at Magpie Girl: Care for creative souls.

Laurie Sutton…

The best choice I made at WDS as a “socially challenged” person was to just allow myself to be as I am. I have a thing about personal space, and can only tolerate crowds of people for so long before I need room to dance, as it were. So during breaks, I wormed my way thru the crush of happily chattering souls at the front door, crossed the street to the park for some quiet time, and spent a few minutes in meditation. I accepted that it’s okay to be on the edges but still part of the gathering, and stopped feeling bad that I’m not exactly a social butterfly. This softened sense of acceptance allowed me to go back in and converse with others more freely during the breakout sessions, and melted my resistance and false assumption that there’s only one way to behave at a conference. The resulting relaxed ease that I felt made it possible for me to speak to the folks I truly felt moved to connect with, particularly the speakers and workshop leaders. And I came away from WDS with a new sense of capability, and anticipation of more involved participation in these gatherings as I grow into my freedom.

Laurie Sutton is a jewelry artist, adventurer and introspective writer, embarking on her first online creative/business venture at watersedgecreative.com

Tomorrow get conference tips and streategies from Jennifer Louden, Natalie Currie, Joy Agcongay, Kate Swoboda and Rachel Cole.

Julie wrote to me and shared her powerful experience with Soul Reflections and I simply had to share her story with you. As 2010 starts to draw to a close, I know many of you are starting to envision what’s next. Soul Reflections is a collage and journalling workshop that helps you tune into what’s stirring in your heart so you can set your compass towards your true desires. Thank you, Julie, for sharing what Soul Reflections has meant to you. Jamie

Julie’s website: www.organikal.com
Julie’s blog: juliegibbons.com
Julie on Twitter: @JulieGibbons

What are you creating in the world?

You know, I’m creating my beautiful life! I hope that doesn’t sound contrite, but I’m not sure how else to answer…

Back in March last year I decided to quit my day job – working with my husband on his online business. Since then, I’ve been turning over many ideas, primarily involving my organic lifestyle website, and although I’m actively doing that on a weekly basis, I’ve been spending the last six months and more working on trying to figure out what I truly want from this beautiful life. I’m not entirely sure what it all amounts to, to be honest!

I’m finding the magic in each day, in very small – and sometimes very big ways. I’m learning and listening and giving thanks for all the awesomeness I’m privileged to come across.

How has experiencing Soul Reflections helped?

I started Full Moon Dreamboarding and journalling earlier this year and it has – alongside some other significant sharing and learning with a circle of very smart and creative women – has just turned my life upside down and inside out, in the most glorious of ways!

Moving on to to take the Soul Reflections workshop was a no-brainer, I’ve been seeing so many revelations and results from the other boards and journal entries that I couldn’t not do it. It was an amazing experience, from start to finish. Even the meditation I did beforehand was massively powerful – I cried joyously (an almost unheard of event) for ten minutes! Listening to your voice, Jamie really was like having you in the room with me and I felt genuine love and support. That was really valuable, given that when I checked in to get in touch with my feelings at the start of the exercise, I was most definitely feeling apprehensive and vulnerable.

The two Quick & Dirty exercises were an absolute revelation – so very quick and impossibly insightful that I was jumping up and down after them, shaking with excitement! They were so much fun to do into the bargain! I’d have been tempted to move past these warm-ups but they worked so well, that now I’m planning to repeat them more often.

I was completely absorbed creating my Soul Reflections board. It felt like an act straight from the soul of me – from my very essence. Very definitely sacred. The energy was palpably different from that of the preparatory work. I did spend a wee bit overly long doing it, but oh, there was so much flowing and I felt so emotional but also safe, warm and protected throughout.

And it didn’t just work on the day with the specific answers I was seeking – I’m seeing its influence manifest in the ever-increasing “D’oh” moments that are happening even weeks on.

What have you learned about yourself through Soul Reflections?

When I first completed the board I had a set of answers that suited me well, but what I didn’t realise was just how much it would really stir my soul. I’ve recognised and been able to touch the truly wild and powerful version of me: the part of me that was locked up and didn’t feel quite good enough. I’ve been reminded to listen to the particularly vibrant female energy I have access to at this new middle age.

What would you like to celebrate?

Within a couple of weeks of completing Soul Reflections I had launched my new blog www.juliegibbons.com. I’m using that as a place to celebrate the creative me! I’d no idea I needed this place to be honest, thinking that all of this analysis and reflection should be focused on earning an income! But we each of us need oil to keep the machine going, and it turned out this is my magic oil!

I also wouldn’t wish to forget to celebrate all the women who conquer their fears and celebrate their own creative spirit every single day – and the magic that is the interwebs for allowing us to connect! For without all of you, I’m sure I’d still be locked in a somewhat confused and angry place.

To find out more about Soul Reflections or purchase your own copy, click here. I have created an e-version so you will be able to download it right away and get started. This would be a great thing to do on the upcoming Winter Solstice, which also happens to be a Full Moon! What a creative guide to take with you into the New Year!