<p>Thank you <a target="_blank" href="https://substack.com/profile/183983096-jacquie-verbal">Jacquie Verbal</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://substack.com/profile/119390947-rachael-t">Rachael T</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://substack.com/profile/142902137-jack">Jack</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://substack.com/profile/327105490-sierra-jeter">Sierra Jeter</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://substack.com/profile/284462471-summa">Summa⭐️</a>, and many others for tuning into my live video! Join me for my next live video in the app. LOVE YALL!</p><p>Week 10 was about self-protection and what happens when creativity finally starts moving and the body, mind, and spirit are all online at the same time.</p><p>Across <strong>Dangers of the Trail, Workaholism, Drought, Fame, and Competition</strong>, we stayed with how protection isn’t only about guarding against harm. It’s also about learning how to hear divinity, tolerate alignment, and remain present when pleasure, creativity, and momentum show up.</p><p>If you’re wanting the deeper layers: the neuroscience, the metaphysical pov, and how dark feminine energy and beauty are woven through this—those conversations live in the After-Party Notes for paid subscribers.</p><p><p>The Dark Divines is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my art, consider becoming a paid subscriber.</p></p><p><strong>Dangers of the Trail</strong></p><p>This conversation starts with something most people don’t expect: what happens when creativity finally starts flowing and you don’t know how to tolerate it. We looked at vices not as moral failures, but as the ways people interrupt alignment the moment divinity, pleasure, or creative momentum shows up. There’s a deeper question running underneath this one about discipline, devotion, and why being in flow can feel more dangerous than being stuck.</p><p><strong>Workaholism</strong></p><p>This conversation centers one of the most praised vices we have. Workaholism doesn’t look like a problem when it’s being rewarded, affirmed, and used as proof of worth. Especially under capitalism. Especially for creatives.</p><p>We started pulling apart why this vice is so hard to name, how it disguises itself as discipline and ambition, and what it actually costs you creatively when output becomes the place you hide. The idea of sobriety around work comes up here in a way that challenges a lot of conditioning, and it opens a much bigger question about what you think safety and success are supposed to look like.</p><p><strong>Drought</strong></p><p>This part of the live stays with seasons where nothing is coming up, without rushing to fix them or frame them as failure. Droughts, plateaus, and pauses were treated as information, not emergencies.</p><p>In the live, I shared a practice I personally use when I’m in a drought to help unlock the page without forcing output or letting everything spiral in my head. We also started reframing how people think about plateaus in creativity and career, especially the idea that stillness can actually generate momentum later.</p><p>I go much deeper into reframing droughts as <strong>creative fasting</strong> in the After-Party Notes, including how these seasons can be used intentionally instead of feared.</p><p><strong>Fame</strong></p><p>Fame is a completely different desire than success, and a lot of people do not know the difference. That confusion is one of the biggest reasons people struggle to express their creativity, because what they are actually chasing is being seen, being chosen, being validated, and that comes with a level of perception and judgment most people are not prepared for. We talked about the pitfalls that come with fame, why it can make creating feel unsafe, and why it is so important to define success for yourself instead of letting visibility become the thing that decides your worth. This part of the replay is for anyone who wants to create and still feel happy, safe, and free while doing it.</p><p><strong>Competition</strong></p><p>We ended with a conversation that surprised a lot of people. Instead of treating competition as inherently good or bad, we explored how orientation matters—creator versus competitor—and what happens when attention shifts away from the work itself. Hearing different perspectives in the room changed how this landed, especially for people who have been taught that competition is the only way forward.</p><p>💡 <strong>Main Exercise + Tasks for the Week</strong> Below you’ll see images for this week’s tasks and exercises. I’m choosing to include these as images so I can conserve my energy and continue putting depth and care into the After-Party Notes without burning myself out.</p><p>You’ll also see the <strong>Workaholism Quiz</strong> here. Take it and let me know what you notice.</p><p>🪞 <strong>Weekly Check-In</strong> Below you’ll see images with the check-in questions for the week.</p><p>Take your time with Week 10. Self-protection isn’t something you rush through or perform correctly. It’s something you practice by staying with yourself when creativity starts to open, when pleasure is present, and when things feel possible again.</p><p>If you want to keep going with me and sit a little longer with what we touched on here, the After-Party Notes are there for you. That’s where I let myself move slower and go deeper with the work.</p><p>I’m really proud of you for continuing this journey with me. I loved this session more than I expected to, and I’m looking forward to seeing what comes up as we move into Week 11, where we’ll be exploring <strong>Recovering a Sense of Autonomy</strong>. I hope to see you there.</p><p></p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://lotuslaloba.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_2">lotuslaloba.substack.com/subscribe</a>