Aries' Season

♈ ARIES

As we enter the season of Aries, it is believed that the universe will be affecting us with energies that will cause us to act boldly and embrace challenges. We will be more in tune with our inner drive, and abilities to initiate and take risks will be enhanced. If you are receptive to them, you might be imbued with courage and determination. If you are resistant to them, you might be conflicted with impulsiveness and restlessness. If you are completely blocked out, you might not notice them at all. And if you don't pay enough attention, you might miss opportunities for daring new beginnings.

Motivational Quote: "Fortune favors the brave."

For context and more of relevance, please read about The Zodiac.

The Elements In The Zodiac

As we go into the Zodiac signs, a significant distinction to make, that can set apart or bring together different signs, as well as grant more perspective on everything, is the element that they are associated with. They encompass certain traits that contribute to the qualities of each sign and what they bring to a person, time, or place. The elements are Fire, Earth, Air, and Water. 

• Fire
Fire essentially stands for dynamism. Fire impulsively, reactively or proactively, does it.
It is the domain of action.
As fire signs we have: Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius.

• Earth
Earth essentially stands for matter. Earth tends to the details of concrete reality, grounded in what is, prudently examining and/or altering it.
It is the domain of practicality.
As Earth signs we have: Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn.

• Air
Air essentially stands for concepts. Air figures out how and why, along with other factors of relevance.
It is the domain of technicalities.
As Air signs we have: Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius.

• Water
Water essentially stands for flow. Water comprehends, connects, fills, and refreshes, giving life.
It is the domain of humanity.
As Water signs we have: Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces.

So we can take a look at ourselves, or at a situation, and see which elements are abundant and which are absent, which are repressed and which are dormant. Rarely are all four in perfect balance, nor should that be the aim. But we can take note of where our shortcomings and blindspots are, in general or within given contexts, and see where to delegate, be assisted with, or put in more effort.

The Roles of Relaxation & Delight

Speaking of waste… Of course, we’d like to be productive. And of course, many of us are born into environments that pressure and demand of us to always be on the go, lest we fall behind, barely taking any breaks. But this overlooks one important fact: you are an organism, not a machine.

Beyond what you do outside of yourself that is evident and inside of yourself that is more subtle (which also tends to be minimized and disregarded), you must give yourself time to just be. Otherwise, not only will you suffer, but also your work will.

You must relax. Sorting out your thoughts, deciphering your feelings, having epiphanies, and coming up with the best solution to a problem. All of this happens most optimally while you aren’t pushing yourself to execute some other task. When you can relax and let things come and go around, allowing your brain to do both its unconscious and its conscious processing, giving up control (or the illusion of such) so that it can deliver something novel or at least outstanding. Deny yourself that and you will turn into a factory that does mediocre cookie-cutter production at best or have a disastrous assembly that won’t even meet any standards at worst.

And what about delight? How much more of you is on when you can genuinely experience joy, enthusiasm, and fascination? And how much of that transfers onto what you’re doing? Ever heard of something being judged as empty or dead? Well, it is not necessarily an exaggeration. Whether in craft or performance, more gets passed on and achieved if you aren’t completely miserable.

Being able to relax and delight yourself is, then, part of your job as an artist. More so when you aim to specifically transmit those states, but also when working on other types of pieces that might seem or be opposite to these. Because it is through these states that you can most fully channel and capture any condition. Yes, even for the most stressed or numb moments, some level of relaxation and delight is required to pull it off masterfully.

So next time anyone, including yourself, tries to deprive you of that, be aware that you’re depriving yourself of what would have you do your best.  

How Finding and Manifesting Yourself Matters

As we go through life, we pick up and absorb bits of this and that. We make them pieces of ourselves and let them carry us further. However, if we’re not careful, we may end up living a life that is not quite our own.

You see, just because you were able to incorporate something into yourself it doesn’t mean that it is what suits you the most. And maybe, for a while, it got you through without issue. But ultimately, is it what will take you the furthest you can go?

We try on other people’s lifestyles. The way they move through life. Their recipes and their remedies. Their solutions along with their excuses. And they could work, but only to an extent. Eventually, you hit a cap and realize that, while this is working for you, it is not working as well as it does for somebody else. This seems to suit them perfectly, but not you. So it is time to pause and rewind. Go back to the point before you took that on. 

You may have often heard the encouragement to find yourself, cheesy as it sounded, which was then replaced by an encouragement to create yourself, as though it was the more practical and productive approach - and rendered the other pointless. Yet, it isn’t pointless at all. Because where you build matters. If you are ‘creating’ yourself up on and out of something that you are not, then you’re artificially fabricating a persona rather than growing in your authenticity. And at some point, it might be so heavy and suffocating to you that you will be forced to find yourself after all, a self that would then be even more buried underneath piles and piles of quick grabs. It's that or be doomed to an existence that seems bleak and bland.

Sitting with yourself could seem like a waste, but it is essential and fundamental to manifesting what you have to offer, radiantly so. You ought to get to know yourself. What do you genuinely like and what do you genuinely dislike? And why. What energizes you and what drains you, what comes effortlessly and what is a burden, what is most endlessly fulfilling to you and what is a passing fancy? These and more questions can set you on the path of self-discovery.

That said, you still ought to figure out how much you must devote to it. Some people are more inclined to continue digging, leaving no stone unturned, and arrange their lives around that, while others don’t have to search that deep to remain real and true to themselves. It could be anywhere from untangling all the hidden secrets kept in human nature to simply ensuring that your principles and values align properly.

Finding yourself to manifest yourself then puts you at an advantage, for you are working with yourself and not against yourself. And the traits that set you apart and make you stand out are more accessible and put to more use.

From a Seed to a Full-Blown Tree

What are you, in particular, capable of? While it is true that all of us have at least something of value to bring to the Earth, it is also true that within us lie different gifts. And we’re given a lifetime to discover and uncover what they are to make them a part of all else. Playing a role in the ecosystem.

It goes back, to your parents and their ancestry. It relates to numerous factors during your formation in the womb. And it continues on from the moment of your birth. What made you exactly? And what turned out from that? You are both your nature and your nurture. And that, for better or for worse, can be a highly specific result. You may be anything from the most awaited savior to the most catastrophic menace. Perhaps a step in evolution. Or someone who can, directly or indirectly, awaken and foster more advanced qualities in others.

Undeniably, whether we notice and acknowledge them or not, multiple forces, in and out, are at all times influencing and impacting our development, affecting us in ways that may or may not be reversible. It becomes who you are, temporarily or permanently. As what you must be to survive or even thrive. Maybe what you inescapably exist as. 

You may realize that your needs and wants aren’t so predictable after all. Yes, there are basic things we all need and many things we all want, but it can get more detailed than that. And when that happens, it can be a hassle to explain them, let alone justify them, to those who do not (or cannot) relate. The formula works for them, so why doesn’t it work for you? Well, maybe because you’re built and wired differently, to serve a different purpose - one that is worthy too.

Like any other being, you’ve got your limits. We might not like to admit this, but we do. Some are imaginary. Some are self-imposed. Some are imposed by others. And some are very real, no matter what. Furthermore, some serve you and some don’t. Making these distinctions and identifying what your limits are can help bring you more into alignment with what is meant to flourish out of you.

You’ll encounter obstacles obstructing your better and greater version. And when that is the case, you must overcome them, go around, get through, or even demolish them. So that you don’t stagnate. Or what is worse, die from a lack of life. Meaning, your growth was so stalled that the flow throughout you was impeded. 

If all goes well, though, you could be one of the fortunate ones who achieve their full potential (or close to it) as a symbiotic organism within a larger organism. And what a grand blessing that would be to the world! 

Unfortunately though, when people are short-sighted and narrow-minded, they are prone to miss or even shun this possibility. Instead, attempt to force conformance to a mold that was never made for you. Robbing you and those around you of what would have been your most splendid, possibly unique, contributions.

Content Consumption Guide

At this point, there is already plenty around here to browse through and dive into. It can be overwhelming, exhausting even. So a guide is due!

Before you continue consuming the content stored and displayed on this site, you can go over and consider the following:

• All the content on TintySun, in one way or another, ultimately ties back to the mission of “Unbridling & Sustaining Artistic Abilities”. So if you’re wondering why a piece is here and what its purpose is, it is essentially that.
• Not every related keyword is included in an article, but they’re still quite searchable through the more central ones.
• Posts are tagged, organized into categories and subcategories, which are accessible via the various menus plastered all around. (And more to come.)
• Mainly, this place is meant for artists and art enthusiasts. However, the definitions of such aren't strict at all. It might be for you too.
• What is covered can go from basic to advanced, from vague to specific, and from general to specialized. But in any case, having other sources of information is still encouraged.
• A release may not bring you something you don’t already know. But if that’s the case, you can take it as a reminder, a confirmation, and/or an emphasis. Or even simply as something that puts into words (and/or other mediums) what you already know.
• Certain posts are spontaneous, made and published within the moment, but a large amount of them were done ahead of time and scheduled to automatically publish on their own at a given date (with or without revisions the day before).
• Posts will be brought up again when, for any reason, the topics addressed become relevant once more and it's worth revisiting them.
• Minor and major changes might be made to existing posts. An “edited” sign may or may not appear, depending on significance.
• Finally, you must be discerning. See for yourself where what is explained or described applies or is applicable.

If you have any questions, you can also send them in.

Birthdays

Here we go again!
Happy Birthday to all in advance in case I miss it.
(But let’s try not to.)

Spring Once More

Spring arrives once more...
Do you know what that means?
It means we move forward.
New and different awaits.
And better be ready for it.

I’m Sorry if I don’t Seem Very Professional

Lately, especially with younger generations, and more with artists, strict etiquette and formalities aren’t demanded or even expected. Quite the opposite, a more laid-back and personable approach tends to be preferred. However, having and showing a degree of respect and consideration for one another can’t go wrong (it’s twisted if it does). So, basically, don’t worry too much and just be humane. Keep being professional in terms of your competence, reliability, and what you deliver. Being stable and secure matters more than appearing “serious” when building long-term. 

Could We Collaborate?

Chances are that you come from different backgrounds, different walks of life, and maybe that’s part of the magic that brings you together and that you can manifest together. However, it does come with the fact that you might not be on the same page right off the bat. You may be used to something and they may be used to something else. But as long as there are good intentions behind it and you give each other grace, you’re on your way to a mutually beneficial meeting in some middle. Ultimately clicking well. Unless you just aren’t compatible enough, requiring compromises where there shouldn’t be. If that’s the case, make peace with it and drop it without needless hostility. Maybe you’re not meant for this, yet meant for something else.