In October

Follow @theclearingpod on Instagram for podcast videos and extras • Watch The Clearing Podcast episodes on YouTube • Listen to previous episodes here • Begin or renew an annual subscription this month, and you’ll be automatically entered into a prize draw to win my writing essentials - see below for this month’s haul! • My next book Tending: How Care Binds the World is out in March, and you can pre-order it here.

I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about one particular tarot card recently, The Star. I pull tarot cards every morning, not because I’m trying to divine my future, but because they help me think about my state of mind today. And the Star confused me at first.

In the tradition started by Pamela Colman Smith, she’s depicted as a naked maiden standing with one foot in a pool of water, and one foot on the land. She holds two vessels from which she’s pouring more water, again some into the pool, some onto the land. It’s daytime, but above her head the stars are prominent - it’s often thought that the constellation is the Seven Sisters, although other readers think they represent the chakras. Over her shoulder, there’s an ibis in a tree, a symbol of the Egyptian god Thoth, patron of writing and wisdom, and weigher of souls.

At first, The Star unnerved me. She seemed so calm, so utterly unguarded and unhurried. And yet she was perpetually pouring out her water without a care in the world. It couldn’t last, but she didn’t seem to know it. The whole image made me anxious: someone should intervene! Someone should tell her to stop pouring!

It doesn’t take a psychic to understand my reaction to The Star - after all, I have often poured until I’m empty, too. But I wondered what a more positive reading of this card could be. The clue lay in the background symbols: that ibis, representing the connection between writing and a greater purpose. The Seven Sisters: a firmament of equals, a place to find connection. Supported as she is, one foot rooted firmly on the ground, the Star has water to spare. She pours to feed the pool, and in return, the pool feeds her. She is infinitely resourced.

I came to understand that The Star - for me, because tarot cards are deeply personal - represents creative practice done well. Devoid of force or falsity, its capacity is unending. It is circular, connective, fluid. This is how I feel when I work on the projects I’m inspired to write. No matter how many hours I put in, I have energy to spare. And yet projects that aren’t intrinsic to my practice quickly exhaust me. They don’t feed me. The flow is all in one direction, from me outwards.

I’ve thought about this a lot as I’ve recorded the latest season of my podcast (by far the best yet, by the way - we’re really finding our form). So many of the highly creative people I’ve interviewed get a bit itchy when it comes to the idea of rest. They can’t bear the idea of leaving their work behind. And it’s tempting to therefore say that they’re not very good at taking a break, and need to learn to slow down. But I don’t think this is true any more. Instead, they’re reaching for the thing they need: for creative work as pure as water. They know it will revive them.

If you haven’t listened to my podcast yet, why not try recent episodes with Caitlin Moran, Pierre Novellie and Elise Loehnen?

What I’ve been up to

I’m not quite sure where September went, to be honest. Well, I suppose I do.

I spent some time away from home, writing and gathering with family to remember my Mum, which I wrote about here.

I also spent a week on a stand-up comedy course, honing my stage skills - I recorded an audio diary of my week as a subscriber bonus episode here. (Fear not, I won’t be appearing on Live At The Apollo any time soon. The comedic world can rest easy.)

I also signed 2,500 pages to be inserted into the US edition of Tending - and I’ll be doing some UK ones very soon.

I launched Season 3 of my podcast, with episodes from Elise Loehnen, Joseph Coelho, Caitlin Moran, Pierre Novellie and Barbara Carrellas - such wonderful guests! I had the best time recording them, and there are many more to come. (I also noticed we have 98 5-star reviews - thank you to everyone who’s left one! I’m honoured.)

I sent out newsletters on what I’ve been reading lately and a creative prompt on our relationship with paper.

It was my birthday and I went out for pizza. Bert started his GCSEs. I completed a really good jigsaw but there was one piece missing, and I’m still not over it. And I had to buy new drinking glasses because mine started randomly exploding (true story).

And finally, we revealed the beautiful UK cover for Tending! Here it is, alongside its American sibling. (You can pre-order here if you’re so inclined - thank you so much to all of you who have already!)

So that’s where September went, I guess.

New/Renew Subscriber giveaway

A new box is ready to give away to one lucky person who starts or renews a year’s subscription in October. This one contains a signed copy of Wintering, a refillable ink pen, Writer’s Blood ink, Blackwing pencils, a mini Moleskine notebook, some worm tape, and a copy of Sabrina Huang’s Cloud Labour (because it was great and I had a spare!) - plus exclusive Clearing postcards, bookmarks and stickers. We’ll pick a winner at random at the end of the month.

Congratulations to Steven, who won September’s new subscriber draw!

Coming up

Book Club

This month’s group read is Goblin Market by Christina Rosetti - some delicious faerie fun for the run-up to Halloween. We’ll be kicking off next week, so this is your signal to secure your copy if you’d like to read along.

In the meantime, we’ve had such an interesting discussion about Joan Barfoot’s Gaining Ground in the chat group - there’s still time to take part! And Pushkin Press have kindly given us a copy of the book to give away - drop a comment here if you’d like a chance to win (even if it’s for a friend), and we’ll select a name at random.

This month’s online retreat

September’s online retreat was a back-to-school joy, encompassing a little paper-folding and reflective prompts on mycelial connection.

This month’s retreat takes place on Saturday 17th October. We’ll be summoning our ghosts - the things that haunt us, the dreams that elude our grasp, and the ancestors who stand at our shoulders, urging us on. Do join us for a two hours of rest, reflection and immersion in a delightful community. You can find more information on The Retreat here.

October notions

Keeping an eye out for mushrooms.
Finally getting into The Office and Parks and Rec, just a few years too late. I wanted to be sure, you know?
Little Moons mochi balls. I’m obsessed with the pistachio flavour, but also I just bought a bag of the malted chocolate mini balls, which are not going to last very long.
This interview with James Acaster on Hattie Crisell’s In Writing podcast made me think about storytelling in a different way. Which I loved.
I’ve reached the age where I’m worrying about my protein intake. Are you worrying about protein too? Getting enough seems like an impossible feat, and I will not be resorting to those horrifying milkshakes.
Make these ramblejack flapjacks. You won’t be sorry.
Kristin Hersh on tour!
Can I face making chutney this year? Not sure. Might just eat up the current stock and make a fresh start next year.
Coni Curi’s Wild Earth tarot deck.
Planning silly food for Bert’s annual Halloween party. Bring on the Mummy Dogs and the Oreo Bats! (Yes, I have a special Pinterest board devoted to it.)
Nigella on Bakeoff! New season of Ludwig! New Taskmaster! And now also New Zealand Spy, a beautifully staged Bond-spoof that makes a star of its setting. I now want to go to New Zealand.
Am I watching too much TV? Probably.