PLANNING is a place where a lot of inner stuff can get triggered.
Most dreams need plans. Most plans need to be revised over time. There is a lot of planning and re-planning involved in creative dreaming.
Because our dream is our soul calling us towards our true self, this is all going to be "next level stuff" so we don't start out already knowing HOW.
We're not SUPPOSED TO KNOW HOW!
AND it's just so unsettling to not know how.
So, the planning can be tricky.
Every new moon we do the New Moon Intention Setting Ritual to make space for your soul to show you your path for the next month. We make space to reflect on how that went last month, learn from our process, and apply our learning to how we approach the next month. This can help you make considerable progress over time.
Because my dreams include my business, the Creative Dream Incubator, I also plan out every month more from the Outer Work perspective.
AND I let the New Moon Intention Setting and the Monthly Planning impact each other, they are not separate, just two different ways of supporting myself in doing the things I want to do.
So, this week I am going over April's plan, finishing up what I can, and making May's plan.
As I do this I notice...
A part of me is judging me for not having an ambitious enough plan for April and then also not doing everything on my un-ambitious plan.
* I'm going to put aside my feelings about AMBITION and all the ways it's tied to the dreams that capitalism tries to sell us and how the older I get, the less ambitious I am, and I am very happy about this.
This shame feels heavy and thick in my chest. Clinging to my chest but also dripping down into my belly.
Hey shame, since you’ve shown up in this way I assume you want to talk?
No I don’t want to talk, I want to just be here, shaming you in the background.
Why in the background?
So that I can keep doing this for a long time. I work best in the background.
Is it because, with attention and awareness, you shape shift?
Yes.
And you don’t want to shape shift right now?
No.
Why not?
I want to make you feel bad for what you did.
Why?
So that you never do it again.
Can you be more specific about what you want me to never do again?
Be too unambitious in your goal setting and then fail to meet those too-small goals.
And why are you so upset that I did this?
Because you are holding yourself back, things could be going better for you if you got your shit together.
Having my shit together means setting ambitious goals and then meeting them every time?
Yes.
Do you see the health struggles I’ve had this last month, and even going back to this whole year?
Ummmmrhgh. Ummmm. That makes me feel uncomfortable.
How come?
I don’t want to know about that.
Fair enough, but my health has a HUGE impact on my productivity, you understand that right?
I do! That’s why I don’t want to know. It’s so stressful.
OH. Yeah. I hear that. It’s very stressful.
Good, we agree about something.
We do! But I think you may not understand that… the health issues are here. This is reality. And I am doing what I am within reality. And you, when you want to shame me for these things, are making it so much harder. Like - I just can’t operate the way I do when I DON’T have health issues, when I DO have them. Do you see that?
Oh! I wasn’t seeing that. I think I see it now. Do you mean you wish you were more ambitious and productive?
I think ambitious is something we need to table for now. I do wish I was more productive, I love all of my ideas and want to be acting on them faster but I really honestly absolutely can’t. I am actually trying to look at ways to change my routines and systems and structure and figure out how to do the things I want to do, but I need SUPPORT. Not shaming! Shaming makes everything worse! Don’t you see that?????
Shaming is the only tool I have.
That can’t be true.
Can’t it?
Shame is not a tool. And if you want to talk about being productive then you need to look at what happens when you shame me. It’s not ONCE made me more productive.
No, I guess it usually makes you sad and you move even slower.
Right.
My health is so upsetting to me. And I get so much judgement from the outside world about not being able to keep up. I don’t need it from inside me too!!!!!
Wow, you’re right.
Shame, you really don’t do anything except slow me down and make me feel worse. If you want to help me be more productive then let’s look for SUPPORTIVE and KIND and HELPFUL ways to do that.
I want to do that. I don’t know how. But I want to learn.
That's the kind of work we do in the Un-Sticking Station.
It's natural to have all sorts of uncomfortable emotional reactions to planning and figuring out how to take steps towards our dreams.
Unfortunately, if you don't have a plan for how to face those feelings - you end up putting your dreams aside because that seems like the only way to feel better.
So, membership members - keep the Un-Sticking Station in mind!
And remember that taking the time to sit with these feelings when they come up is actually a SHORTCUT.
Creative Dream Incubator Coaching Membership members:
Come to the forum to share your thoughts or start a conversation about whatever you're working with.
Do the Hello Day Energy Clearing + Intention Setting Practice (from Dream Book 2026)
Get your next Dream Book lesson or get a weekly journaling + alchemy kit.
Go the Library of Creative Dream Alchemy to find a practice that fits for where you are or use the Dream Lab if you're not sure where to start.
Check out the calendar of upcoming calls. Make a plan to join us live or catch a replay.
If you're not a member - find out more + join us here!
