Austin Coppock and Chris Brennan have described this era of Saturn in Capricorn as one of “credit where credit is due” and “reaping the fruits of your labors” … or, alternately, putting in the work for which you will ultimately be paid. This has certainly been true of my experience so far.
In the second week of December, I found some hidden reserve of motivation and kicked everything in to high gear. I did a photoshoot with a friend, trading modelling time for a custom pendant for a stone she had just acquired. I made so much jewelry for Christmas presents it’s not even funny. I found the strength to formally sever my ties with the HSA, following debacles that I may or may not yet discuss.
In the first weeks of January, I set myself to re-mastering lapidary stonecutting, producing the first several pieces in a series of labradorite cabochons set in sterling silver. At the same time, I also redoubled my efforts to finish editing and printing my debut novel, The Mark of the Wolf. By the end of January, I had finished the wax for the art-trade pendant and had ordered the print proofs for the novel.
In February, I made the final edits to The Mark of the Wolf and began shipping my Kickstarter backers their rewards. I’m still working on that, but every little bit is a weight off of my shoulders. I paid my debt to Bune, who helped boost my income over the last three months. I have cast and finished and delivered the pendant for my friend who modelled for me, and can now with clear conscience begin sharing the images we made. At the same time, I cast up a beautiful amber pendant that I’ve been wanting to make since I got that lot of raw black amber back in, what, October? I’ve even gotten that D&D game off the ground, the one I’ve been trying to recruit players for literally a year.
Today is the first of March. Last night I submitted my paperback for mass distribution. Tonight I’ll do the same for the hardback edition of The Mark of the Wolf. Then I’ll just have the rest of my kickstarter rewards to ship out, and I’ll be able to fully commit myself to promoting the novel and finishing the sequel, already in progress.
My goal for 2018 is to clear my plate of as many existing projects as possible. To pay my debts and free up my mind so that I can pursue my larger goals with greater fervor and fewer distractions. Highlights of the remaining to-do list include:
- Finish delivering my Kickstarter rewards.
- Hammer down a first draft of The Rise of the Necromancer, sequel to Mark of the Wolf.
- Go back over my occult-themed photoshoots and put together a coherent collection.
- Design a graduation ring for a friend from college about to get her masters.
- Design an engagement ring for a different college friend about to get married.
- Finish re/processing my photography from the pre-Lighroom era.