One of my favorite concepts I’ve talked about with clients over the years is the idea of “using the left brain in service of the right brain”.
For those of you who don’t remember, or get confused, the left brain is the hemisphere that processes information rationally and linearly, and governs language, logic, and recalling facts. The right hemisphere allows us to see the big picture and understand nonverbal cues… it’s more intuitive, creative and holistic. Some of us feel we’re “naturally” oriented to one hemisphere in particular, but nueroscience has shown in recent years that both of them actually work together constantly.
All that said, I love the notion that our most creative, inspired ideas often arise from some serious book-learning or applied mental focus. Kind of like the “10-year overnight success” when someone has been applying major mental energy to writing and studying about a particular topic, which ends up creating an opening for a whole new discovery that shifts their consciousness… and maybe others as well.
I’ve experienced wonderful examples of that in my own life and work. I remember being deep into my research when I was working on my Master’s thesis years ago at a friends house. I looked up and saw that there was a ladybug infestation in one corner of the ceiling. It sounds gross, but here I was writing about the Divine Feminine and ancient goddess-worshiping civilizations, and all of these LADYbugs appeared!
They led me down a delicious rabbit hole of contemplating what it means to embrace the feminine qualities of creating community, embracing collaboration and cooperation, in the face of a patriarchal culture that glorfies dominance and the principes of command and control. A heady, but definitely meaningful exploration.
Similarly, I discovered early on that my Moon circles and other magical rituals were more powerful when I started with a clear intention and structure, rather than having a loose agenda and letting myself be led solely by my intuition. To this day, 30 years later, I use the same outline to create a strong container for whatever theme we’re focusing on, and I continue to be awestruck at the depth of emotional sharing and wisdom that bubbles up spontaneously from all of us in that space.
With my coaching clients, I offer a similar process… they send me a prep form before each call, outlining what they’ve accomplished since our last session, what they didn’t get done, what challenges and opportunities are up for them, what they want to focus on in the call and a few other questions. It provides a solid foundation for strategzing AND heart-storming and gives us a jumping-off point for our “intuitions to talk to each other” (another favorite phrase of mine).
I have so many other examples… what about you?
What are some times when you’ve tapped into your rational brain to conjur up some cool new creative ideas seeming out of left field?
The upcoming Sagittarius/Gemini Full Moon on May 31st offers us a perfect opportunity to dance with both energies. We’re in the Gemini season from May 20th to June 21st which encourages us to use our analytical, fact-finding ablilties to help us organize informtation and ask good questions (very left-brain functions), then communicate what we’ve learned.
Then when Sag sails in on the Full Moon (remember, that’s when the Sun and Moon are in opposite signs), it can expand our vision to see the big picture and provide flashes of insight as we allow our intuition and emotions free reign… recognize that right-brain energy?
Together, they highlight the dynamic tension between seeking information (Gemini) and discerning meaning from that information (Sagittarius). It allows us to translate feelings and spiritual/philosophical explorations (Sag) into words (Gemini). Likewise, this right/left brain, Sag/Gemini combo can help ground our “flights of fancy” and imagination into a practical reality by analyzing and articulating these grand concepts.
Kinda cool, how this Full Moon aligns so well with the right/left brain model, isn’t it?!
So I’ve collected a bunch of suggestions, events, and books for this month’s Deb’s Picks that capitalize on that creative Sag/Gemini Full Moon dance — enjoy.
Then, be sure to join us for our Sagittarius/Gemini Full Moon TeleMeditation this Monday, June 1st at Noon — click HERE for details on how to join us. Hope to “hear” you then!
(And after that, I’d love you to join me for my upcoming Gemini New Moon SisterCircle through the Wellness Universe on Mon., June 15th when we’ll be “Celebrating Women’s Ways with Words”. Hope to see you then.)
GROUND, ALIGN, RESET EVENT w/Barbara Biziou; Sun., June 7; 2-5pm NYC
Spend an afternoon with my dear friend Barbara and I guarantee you’ll experience the most inspiring, creative blend of left brain learning and right brain exploration into your intuition and inner visioning! She’ll offer grounding and heart-opening practices as well as a prosperity ritual, all within sacred space which she’s so brilliant at creating. I wish I could be there, but I’ll be at our grand-girls dance recital, so tell her I sent you!
THE ART OF JOURNALING
Journaling is the quintessential exercise for integrating Gemini’s love of writing and self-expression with the Sagittarius urge to search for deeper meaning and spiritual exploration. And I have sooo many resources and teachers to quide you, but I’ll just give you a few! First, if you click on the link above you’ll find a recent blog that offers sucn a beautiful overview of the benefits of journaling. Then if you click HERE, you’ll go to my old friend Lisa Gruenloh’s website where she offers a whole catalog of beautiful blank journals. I highlighted her “Purposeful Scribbles” community in my Deb’s Picks a few years ago.. definitely worth checking out.
THE ART AND SCIENCE OF FOREST BATHING (Shinrin-yoku)
As a tree-lover (see the last Deb’s Picks below!) I’d heard of this practice for a while, but then “officially” experienced it a few years ago on my annual retreat to the Kripalu Yoga Center. Originating in Japan, it’s not a literal bath, but rather a mobile meditation where you slow down and engage all your senses with the forest atmosphere to de-stress and reset your nervous system… basically, nature-therapy. I learned so much walking through the woods, listening to our guide desciribe the flora and fauna around us (fascinating brain food), then sitting quietly taking in all the sights and sounds (definitely soul nurturing). Click HERE for a great overview, where you can also explore Kripalu’s “Mindful Outdoor Guide Certification” course in July!
REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES book and movie
I was going to send you to the Wikipedia page for an overview of this very special movie, but I want you to go into it without knowing every detail! So, the links are to Rotten Tomatoes reviews which will give you a preview, but no spoilers. It’s a poignant story of deep healing with fascinating facts about the Pacific octopus and that’s all you need to know. Well, except for the fact the Sally Fields is the lead and I love her! Enjoy… and let me know what you think.
NATURE JOURNALING WEEK June 1-8, 2026
OK… I think this type of journaling deserves it’s own space — especially since I just discovered the above website that declared this special week, starting NOW! Reflective nature journaling combines mindfulness, art, and science to deepen your connection with the outdoors. And if you click HERE you can read my Deb’s Picks from several years ago that I devoted to my love of trees. It includes my favorite tree-sittting meditation — called “Earth-mending” — as well as a bunch of wonderful books you can read under your own favorite tree!
I hope some of these offerings have triggered memoriess of experiences in your own life when you’ve felt soul-nurtured at the same time your brain is learning new things! I’d love to hear about them, and as always, please do share any other events or resources that have resonated with you.
With sunny almost-Summer blessings, Deborah