Eight of Stones:

On Repetition, Constraints, and Pushing Boundaries

A pair of cunning foxes are in a large, cave-like den, climbing a structure built from eight Carnelian gemstones, carefully balanced into a perfect tower. Foxes are incredibly intelligent creatures, able to strategize with each other and solve complex puzzles, and the Carnelian stones are balanced in a way that can only be achieved through patience, care and a masterfully steady hand. The Carnelian’s greatest energy is courage, making it a powerful stone for people working to conquer their greatest fears, push boundaries, or fight against oppression or injustice. It’s also known for reducing stress and increasing the flow of spirit and energy. Eights are the number of boundaries, limitations and constraints and Stones hold the power of wealth and resources, so the Eight of Stones might indicate that you’re pushing the bounds of your wealth or feeling constrained by resources. But pushing boundaries can lead to growth, and constraints are just creative challenges that lay the foundation to innovation. What are your strengths? What are your constraints? The Eight of Stones is an indication that you might need to master a certain skill, and the only way to do it is through repetition and practice and more repetition and more practice. You’ve learned all the broad strokes of your craft, but now you’re getting into the nitty-gritty details to really make your unique work shine or level up in some way.

If you’re feeling blocked:

The Eight of Stones asks you to reflect on perfectionism and self-doubt. Are you suffering from imposter syndrome after years of effort? Are you so focused on striving for perfectionism that all you see are flaws? Do you lack the motivation to repeat something until it’s flawless, or is your studio filled with a thousand versions of the same thing? Repetition certainly builds skill and discipline, but are you allowing for experimentation and adaptation? Are you stuck in repetition, or bored by it, but unable to tell yourself when it’s time to move on? It’s important to always strive to be better, to grow, to learn more, to do the things you need to do to stay in balance and alignment with your calling and your spiritual self, but do not let the idea of wanting to be better overpower the knowledge that you are already enough or erase the journey of how far you’ve already come. Perfection in science or engineering is objective, but perfection in art and design is subjective. You might be feeling frustrated with your progress and stuck in one place. Move. Shift your focus. Play more. Give yourself more flexibility.

Creativity exercises:

Write a series of six-word memoirs about your life and creative journey

Choose a simple natural object — a rock, a leaf, a flower — to make with the medium of your choice 10 times in 10 or 20 minutes. You don’t have to make all the drawings the same; you can make small changes to the shape, perspective, shadows, etc. Then 30 minutes or an hour making just one.

Create something with the theme of boundaries

Go on a scavenger hunt and collect 20 photographs of “perfect imperfections” in the textures, patterns, and scenery around you