Creativity, Enchantment, Excitement and Gate 41 Line 6

I brought my sister to a creativity workshop with Elizabeth Gilbert in Vancouver!

The group felt like a perfect balance of people like Nellie (corporate vibes) and people like me (personal development enthusiasts)🤪

Here’s one gem I took with me:

Towards the beginning of the weekend, Elizabeth invited us to write an “enchantment list”, carefully defining the distinction between enchantment and excitement. Enchantment is when it simply feels good to be alive on planet earth, excitement overstimulates your nervous system, gets you high and thus produces cycles of craving.

I had a challenging time creating my enchantment list. I found myself stuck in my head trying to think of things that feel good but not TOO good. I can’t say chocolate or cuddles- I guess I love the smell of the air in rural Washington? That’s something I enjoy but don’t crave.

During the final Q&A, a woman who seemed to be around my age took the mic and expressed a sentiment similar to what I was contemplating. She asked, “Is it okay that I still desire more excitement?”

Elizabeth (who I believe to be a 6/2 Mental Projector) then clarified that while her personal journey has led her to a space of choosing serenity over excitement, she would never tell a young person to live this way. Unless you’re the reincarnation of an enlightened master, you can’t start there. Liz expressed that she was grateful for her younger self’s hunger for experience. God says, “Go try everything and when you’re tired, come to me”.

I thought about my design mercury 41 (gate of fantasy, pressure to have a new experience) in line 6, in my undefined root. In line 6, this is about earned wisdom through experience— ultimately, a seed of wisdom potential that can only begin to flower when one has transcended the perpetual craving for novelty.

Much to the irritation of my undefined root, this is a maturity that cannot be rushed. It’s a spirit awareness that cannot be perceived when overpowered by earthly desires.

When I accept the limitation that some wisdom simply isn’t available to me yet, I can begin to make contact with the wisdom of the present moment.