Knight of Stones
On Productivity and Burnout
The Underappreciated Opossum appears in front of her flourishing flower garden, standing near a tour of carefully stacked Aventurine Stones. While opossums are best-known for playing dead when under threat, they should be known for working smarter, not harder. Opossums not only help rid the garden of unwanted ticks, snails and insects, they can eat venomous snakes and are often symbols of resourcefulness and adaptability. It’s telling that the Opossum is in front of a garden, which can only be accomplished with maintained dedication. The garden in full bloom is a testament to both hope and hard work; likewise, the Aventurine stones are symbols of opportunity and prosperity.
If You’re Feeling Blocked
Notice the opossum: it faces away from the garden, seemingly uninterested in enjoying the beauty it helped create. This Knight carries a warning: overworking yourself without pausing to appreciate the results can lead to burnout. If you’re feeling exhausted, stretched too thin, or emotionally detached from your work, it might be time to step back, rest, and recharge. The Knight of Stones urges you to prioritize self-care and reassess your boundaries. Ask yourself:
Am I mistaking busyness for productivity?
What am I neglecting in my pursuit of work?
What small joy can I allow myself today?
If you're exhausted, give yourself permission to veg out and enjoy the fruits of your labor. Creativity thrives when you’re rested and balanced, not when you’re running on fumes. The Knight of Stones reminds you that true productivity includes moments of rest. By giving yourself space to recover, you’ll return to your creative work with renewed energy and inspiration.
Creativity Exercises
Veg Out Vision Board: Create a vision board filled with images, words, and colors that represent rest, relaxation, and things you enjoy outside of work. Let it remind you that downtime is just as valuable as productivity
Flower Power: Fill a page with a single flower, starting from the middle and working your way around in a spiral.
Garden circles: Draw 10 circles on a piece of paper, randomly sized and placed. Turn each circle into a different flower, either coming out from the circle or caught within a circle. Add leaves and stems.
Celebrate One Thing: Identify one thing you’ve recently accomplished, no matter how small. Create a reward, certificate, poster or trophy that describes or symbolizes the accomplishment.
Nature’s spell: Visit a botanical garden or public garden. Take a photo of every different plant you see. When you return home, name each plant yourself and create a descriptive spell and witch’s brew using the various plant parts for something you want to happen.