Soon after the Sun moved into the sign of Leo this last month, I attended a powerful creativity workshop. We cleared emotional blockages and released limiting beliefs that keep us from being fully creative. We had fun exploring a variety of forms of artistic self-expression including music and dance, painting, improvisation, and poetry.
What I discovered for myself is that creativity is not limited to the conventional forms of art. It plays an important role in whatever we do in life: in our work or career, our everyday routines, as well as being expressive and having fun!
In astrology Leo is the sign most often associated with creative expression. Leo is the fire sign that represents the divine spark of light within our heart center. When we are connected to that divine light within us, we are inspired to use our will and personal power to be creative, to express ourself in a unique and individual way and make our mark on the world. We are enthusiastic, spontaneous, and joyful!
When interpreting any astrological sign, it is important to examine the sign that is opposite it on the chart. Leo opposes Aquarius. What struck me during the workshop was how Leo and Aquarius work together, hand in hand, when we are truly creative. They are two sides of the same coin. Employing both can propel us farther and into new forms of self expression and creativity.
Aquarius helps us think outside the box, to be unconventional in our approaches. It helps us recognize patterns and make connections we otherwise would not see. When we work with Aquarius, we engage our higher mind. We can connect to the Aquarian “mind of God”, from which information and insight are downloaded at lightening bolt speeds. We receive new ideas, become innovative and more inventive.
Aquarius is an agent for change. It shakes us up and out of our traditional and customary ways of doing things. It dislodges us from our routines, gets us out of a rut, and helps us break free. When we create change in our lives we open the door to greater creativity. We begin to see the ordinary in a new light and from different perspectives. We even see things we hadn’t before!
When we step outside our familiar routines we experience life in new ways. We discover new ways of doing things. As we step outside our comfort zone and try new activities, experiment with unusual combinations, or see new patterns, we expand our range of creative self expression. Try taking a different route to work this week. Wear an article of clothing in a new color. Change your daily exercise by walking on a new trail or in a new park. Eat dessert first. Use your non-dominant hand to eat, write, draw or paint. Have fun!
Notice how you look at the world, what you see, and how you feel when you step out of your routine. Are you more engaged with the world through your senses? Notice the new connections you are making, or patterns you are seeing, perhaps for the first time. How are you inspired to share your visions, your insights? Play with a form of self-expression that gives you the most pleasure and joy. This is how you energize and re-create yourself.