Uranus Jupiter conjunction
Cape Cod writing group recollections during the Uranus Jupiter conjunction!
In the build up to the recent Uranus Jupiter conjunction of 21st April 2024, the idea for this blog post came to me in a dream. The idea was also very much triggered by my recent experiences in some Irish writing groups I joined this last winter in West Cork.
In my two and a half years in the USA I had been part of a memoir group in Truro, Cape Cod, and also the Provincetown Playwright’s Lab which was interconnected to the Provincetown Theatre, but was run separately as a totally autonomous group.
When I joined the Provincetown Playwright’s Lab (which incidentally I only joined because there was no choir nearby and I craved a regular cultural event to look forward coming into the winter months!) I spent the first few weeks learning patience. It quickly became apparent that as a “newbie”, and Irish to boot, I had to earn my stripes and be known, liked and trusted by the group before being asked to read. The format of the group was that we met every second and fourth Saturday of the month in the foyer of the Provincetown Theatre between 2pm and 5pm with a short break mid way.
The general format was that the playwrights would come with their works in progress (aka their plays) and ask the actors and actresses in the group to read the various parts, with some minutes spent afterwards giving constructive feedback. The time slots were generally 10 to 15 minutes per playwright, including feedback.
There was one particular fellow who always but always arrived seriously late, then always but always went way over time in his allocated slot! Nevertheless he was an amazing playwright and I found myself intrigued by him as a person and wanting to get to know him.
Coming into the cold winter months, I made a point of always turning up, even when I didn’t feel like it, and soon found I was thoroughly enjoying myself and getting to know other members. As other playwrights got to know me, I started being asked to read various parts and soon found myself having a whale of a time putting on whatever American accent was required for the part I was reading!
I was intrigued to discover that the group put on a 24 hour play weekend, where several mini plays are written during the 24 hours, and then acted in a collaborative fashion, so I decided to put myself forward for that too. That weekend was an absolute blast, and to my delight I found myself on stage (in the iconic Provincetown Theatre no less), cast in the role of the mature Irish mammy in our mini play, even if only for ten minutes!
The amazing playwright and myself slowly got to know each other, and as I got to know more about his passion for writing, I grew to have a deeper understanding of what drove him to drive all the way from Rhode Island to join us.
He was merely seeking kindred spirits, as indeed was I.
Almost a three hour drive for him, no less. Each way. Yes, really.
And so from the Provincetown Playwright’s Lab then emerged opportunities to participate in staged readings in other playwrights groups around Cape Cod with the result that I then also wrote my own play called “Letters to Saturn”. The play was dreadful, but I didn’t care, what mattered was that I was being creative and showing up.
And from there came participation in monthly Mosquito Slam events held throughout Cape Cod, where even more creative friendships were formed.
Through my artist’s residency in the Commons, Provincetown, I then discovered a memoir group which met every Monday morning in Truro, about an hour away. Even more heaven! I joined and immediately had yet another creative outlet. Again I learnt to bide my time and be accepted before reading what I had written.
From this emerged regular literary dinners at various houses where I was welcomed with open arms, along with a subsequent invite to read James Joyce “The Dead”. The group felt honoured and privileged to have me there, but I assured them that I felt far more privileged to have been given the opportunity to read my favourite short story of all time to such a wonderful audience.
Moving to the West Coast to develop my astrology practice…
It was a very difficult decision to then move to the West Coast of the USA in December 2019 as I knew I would sorely miss these two cultural groups on which my life had so solidly rested during the winter months. But I needed and wanted to continue to grow and develop my astrology practice and so I moved.
And so what are my deepest cellular memories of these wonderful groups where deeply heartfelt and soulful friendships were formed in such a short space of time? These memories were formed because I showed up. I participated. I was consistent. Even when I did not feel like it.
Showing up folks – That changes everything. It’s that simple.
Equally, these groups were consistent in themselves in how they showed up.
Lookout for my next blog post which will be about my very different experiences in West Cork writing groups.
When being creative – show up.
When you have no inspiration – show up anyway.
Commit to the creative process, even if you have no idea where you are going. That does not matter. Trust the process.
Do take time over the coming weeks to reflect back on the electrifying and titanic changes invoked in your life during the recent Uranus Jupiter conjunction. Ask yourself, what changes were forced on you? What happened out of the blue? Where in your mind body soul and spirit did you feel this electrifying charge to be your pure authentic self like never before?
For me it was committing to moving to Portugal – more of which anon.
Thank you for reading my blog post “Cape Cod writing group recollections during the Uranus Jupiter conjunction of 21st April 2024”. If you would like to know more please do not hesitiate to contact me on info@marthaclarkeastrology.com, or book a free call with myself or learn more about my upcoming Intensive Astrocartography Course.