Deep building involves necessary frustration and disappointment.

Everything feels uncertain at the start. Your ideas, the paths to accomplish them, the search for who will co-create with you. Self-confidence levels can fluctuate, sparking self-doubt.

Eventually, you may hit a “nice” plateau, coast for a bit, and gain some ease. Only to maneuver through another cycle of uncertainty and shifting tides.

These cycles reflect unending change – the little feathers – molting talismans of conditioned success or growth that loosen from your grip and are taken to the wind. They fly and float, elementally guided beyond anyone's control.

The force of change does not conform, and is not compliant. It can't be bullied by surface goals, desires, expectations or assumptions.

At critical points in the creative act, you are first invited to:

• surrender something that you’ve coveted

• shift or pivot onto another unmarked path

• decide to forge forward when others predict misfortune

If you refuse to willingly release/shift/decide, something is always (forcibly) removed.

Choice is the difference between a moment of pain experienced and released, or an extended period of excessive (often needless) suffering.

Using wind – your own breath – to create inner stability helps lessen the feeling of uncertainty that often edges into burn-out.

Speeding up isn’t the best option when wanting to dissolve the grip of tension. Slowing down, then stopping fully to apply focused rest interrupts anxiety.

Paying great attention to your breath helps you notice how your internal winds are blowing. These winds hold your unique thoughtflows, emotions, and body senses – the deepest layer of your little feathers.

As you fulfill your breath, you grow stronger, much more healthy feathers that will withstand the initial stress and velocity of flight required for inner transformation.

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Photo · Evie Shaffer