A Hobbit house from the Lord of the Rings movies, built into a green grassy hill with a round door. A dirt trail leads to the door and lush greenery surrounds the entrance over a bright Summer sky.

Taking the Side Quest

When was the last time you accepted a side quest? This term is believed to have originated from tabletop role play games back in the 70’s, and is still largely used in the world of gaming. It refers to a task or adventure that is optional for players, and may or may not contribute to […]

Two young girls pose with one hand pointed at the sky for takeoff! The backdrop is a clear blue sky and they are dressed up with pilot caps and goggles, as well as cardboard wings shaped like a plane.

The Power of Play

All work and no play leads to burnout. When we try to do it all at once, and all the time, we quickly realize a sustainable pace is vital to growth. After all, many seeds in our gardens will take most of the year to grow. So why then do we neglect the undeniable importance […]

A surrealist pop art depiction of a woman curled up inside a seed. She is buried in dirt and surrounded by roots while Proteo and begonia flowers bloom from her back toward the blue sky. This is an original work by artist Janalee Robison.

May Newsletter

We Were Seeds – Janalee Robison, Digital Painting, 2021 My inspiration for this painting began with the quote “They Tried to Bury Us, They Didn’t Know We Were Seeds” by the Greek poet Dinos Christianopoulos. These powerful words started to form imagery in my mind of a vulnerable figure pushed into the dark earth, only […]

A variety of freshly picked vegetables on a wooden table including squash, carrots, potatoes, and tomatoes.

Eating with the Season

Nature is the perfect inspiration for guidance on sustaining life, and we benefit from it every day with the food we eat.  While we always look forward to the Autumn harvest and Winter holiday feasts, for now we are inspired by picnics and brunch and fresh meals. The weather is getting warmer and warmer, and […]

A woman stands with her eyes closed under a pile of neutral colored clothing that has been draped over her head and torso.

A Sustainable Cycle

Do we ever truly recover from burnout? When we have extended ourselves beyond our normal boundaries and simply have nothing left to give, what does recovery truly look like? This week, we’re talking about the cycle of recycling: a beautiful and sustainable way to make sure that we get the best out of life, and […]

A trowel and small rake stand in a patch of freshly tilled dirt. Sun shines on greenery in the blurred background.

May The Flowers Be Within You

When you think of a cycle, what comes to mind? We so often find ourselves in cycles of fear and self-destruction that we need to be reminded that not all cycles have negative effects. Realizing that you’re functioning within one is not inherently a negative thing. Yes, it can be scary and difficult when it’s […]

A close-up of a person wearing yellow rain boots while standing in the mud

Learning to Love the Mess

“Good daily habits lead to good days, good weeks, good years.” – Becky Hammon Overthinking is fertilized by inaction. It threatens to choke our seeds, robbing them of potential. The time we spend questioning ourselves and worrying about things that are out of our control is better spent in your garden of creativity. No action […]

Duft by Hannah Höch. This painting is of a side profile of a woman surrounded by flowers. Her eyes are closed and head is tilted downward as she holds an armful of flowers with an almost delicate embrace.

April Newsletter

| Duft by Hannah Höch | Hannah Höch (1889-1978) was a German photomontage artist and painter. She was the only woman member of the Berlin Dada group and exhibited at the First International Dada Fair in 1920. By the time she painted Duft (Fragrance) in 1937, she was facing grave personal and professional challenges.  The […]

A woman riding a bike in front of a white brick building. The words "Spring Forward" sit in a large font on the upper right.

The Seasonal Cycle

“The truly creative mind in any field is no more than this:  A human creature born abnormally, inhumanly sensitive.”  – Pearl S. Buck Burnout is inevitable, and it is not our enemy. We as women inherently know that it is unsustainable at best to function with the ways of the world. We are taught to […]

A photo of Mindy Carpenter within a gold frame - she sits smiling at the camera and holding a handful of paint brushes. Her art is in the background, a charming painting of flowers and butterflies over a dark blue background.

Calling All Graphic Design Visionaries!

“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.”  – Maya Angelou Dearest Virtuosas, we are thrilled to finally announce our collaborative project for 2025! Virtuosa Society and Carpe Diem Papers are collaborating on a yearly planner for creative women, organized by seasons to support natural productivity inspired by nature’s rhythms. […]

latest posts

the vs

journal

Your home for inspiration, events, and embracing a seasonal perspective.

This journal is brand new, but you can check out our archives below. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay updated on upcoming weekly posts.

YOUR INBOX IS ABOUT TO BE MORE INSPIRING THAN EVER.