Ladies who launch.

I'm sitting on the floor in Carrie Mallon's office here in Salt Lake City. Her cat, Lulu, is purring loudly on her lap, and the sun is shining almost lazily outside while birds chatter. It's nearly June 21st, the summer solstice, and pleasant attitudes exude from everyone as we visit some cafes and walk amongst the blooming neighborhoods- summer is here.

I relish in this awareness of a sweet moment, where the two of us can share a creative space and also celebrate the fact that we worked really hard on this tarot deck. I bet anyone who reads this could use a reminder that they have acomplished something terrific with their own will, be that making a glorious dinner or earning a degree. Even watering all the plants in their fantastic garden which took hours and hours to cultivate is a task worthy of celebration. Behind most feats that take concentration, are hours of dedication, often to earning a living, yes, which in turn allows us do the things we love. I am thankful to the people in my life who have guided me and journeyed along the way, since they are huge players in my game.

In two days the deck will launch on kickstarter. I hope you'll come along with us! This deck has seen me through losing a job, living with my folks, moving to new york, and moving back to southern California- all transitions that have helped me grow into the woman I am today (Which is a woman i am proud to be!) It has taught me the value of patience, trust, enjoying my own creative imput, and the serendipitous relationships that manifest in our lives. All hail our journies to getting HERE right NOW.

I hope you enjoy this deck. Here is a video Carrie made to show the cards and how they will feel in space and time. Happy solstice and see you soon!

I'm a mother fucking woman, damnit!

It's been a long and whirly month, with lots of insights and pleanty of pitfalls. But today is March 1st and it's the start of women's history month. I am reminded so hard by my dear friends that being a woman is a gift, and a contant process of unfolding.

I think so many of us (women and men) are conditioned to think that depression is bad, that our bodies defy us, that we have to always be ON, and that our looks need to be aces, too. Otherwise, who would want us? ...we say to ourselves. Who will love us? ...we wonder....

My lovely photographer friend, Brianna Shrader, wrote an article about the concept of doing something "like a girl" and how that's seen as a bad thing. Why does it have to mean weak, or less than, or floppy? I think today's society is changing that to mean strong, and capable, and loving, but I know that old programming is so ingrained into my own hard drive that I forget how I am holding myself back. And I hold myself back all the time!

Another friend, a kick ass tarot reader, Carrie Mallon, wrote a post about her personal road map to finding "home" where you feel strong, at peace, and connected to yourself. She explains how she must forge through "deserts of depression", swim in "seas of self doubt", tirelessly searching for home, and then finding that peace come for a minute, then she's lost again.

I love both of these woman because they have taught me both sides of the spectrum, and being strong means loving all parts of you.

Give Yourself and others Permission to BE WHERE YOU ARE.

Life is happening right now, and you can either enjoy it, or wish it was different. So enjoy it. Let it be what it is. Look for the flowers in that desert, and surf the seas of self doubt with a silly dance. It's your time, it's your journey, and the gifts you bring back from these experiences will give life to others as you share it. You're a rockstar.

Roadmap art by Carrie Mallon http://carriemallon.com

You are a creator, and this is YOUR STORY, DAMNIT.

If you want to do something, ain't nobody gonna hold you back but you. This includes making art, writing a book, getting strong muscles, trying out a new sport, asking out someone you have the hots for. Yaaassssssss, you can do it! Brianna is a cheerleader to the max, and she taught me to be my own cheerleader, too. Funny thing is, when you start cheering on yourself, you can't help but want to cheer on others!

Work it.

You must love and understand both parts of you. Have that conversation with yourself though tarot cards, art making, or with a friend, in order to understand where you need to balance yourself in order to grow.

Because it's all about growin', folks. We are on this planet with all these plants and animals, growin' in tandem and it so. damn. cool.

Last note: I'm doing a Year of Making for myself, where I'll make somthing new everyday. It might be a painting, and little sculpture, and stamp, whatever. It's an internal exercise since I've gotten real weird about making personal work. Like real weird y'all. Wanna join? Join my newsletter and I'll be sending out little tidbits and sending encouragement.

LOVE YOU!

Check out Brianna and Carrie on Instagram

@carriemallon @briannacaster

Annie is an author and illustrator with books available on Amazon and local book stores. She is open for commission, too! She lives in California, and loves tea, bike rides, reading, and exploring new places.