Moon in Virgo

My dear friend Sharon, woman of many talents (writer, shiatsu therapist, astrologist, former Wicca practitioner) did my chart last week. Of course I've always known I'm a Leo and as long as I can remember my mother brackets all news with "well, mars is in retrograde, so..." but discovered that I have a moon in Virgo - which explains my previous professional success in cubic worlds requiring attention to detail and a fastidiousness unheard of amongst generic leonines. Also, Virgos can be quite hard on themselves. Since Valentina's birth I can't seem to give myself a break on any one thing I used to do. Finding time for writing has been one of many postpartum challenges. With pregnancy came a surge of creative energy - last year I drafted nearly 30 stories and painted about 10 canvases. I'm trying to get back to writing now but it's all just shit. Mostly I whine like I'm doing right now. Nothing comes and if it does it bores me to hell. I fear the worst. So, friend Sharon and I are meeting weekly to write, sit in a cafe and encourage each other to do what we are not doing at home when we should - putting pen to paper.

The annual Feria de Libros is coming up at the end of April. To my horror and others delight, the US embassy wants to have our groups' full participation like last year. We'll publish an anthology of short stories, do readings at the booth and lead a workshop/speech on how to start and maintain a writers group. While others in my writers group have updated their bios to include prizes in writing contests entered, scholarships to prestigious writing programs, finishing a screenplay etc, I have nothing to add. Boo hoo. People keep saying "but you had a baby!" - as if that is accomplishment enough. The Virgo pouts.

Here's a photo from a one day writer's retreat we had about a month ago at Joanna's opulent home in Olivos - a wealthy suburb north of BA. We spent a glorious 5 hours beneath an giant avocado tree writing, recommitting ourselves to goals and eating well - as always. It was the longest stretch of time I'd been away from the baby. It both broke my heart and lifted my spirits.