Overcoming Creative Resistance + April Newsletter
Upcoming (free!) workshops + sacred aromatic rituals to support your creative adventures ;)
Some Quick Housekeeping
We have some wonderful opportunities to work together this spring:
Spiritual Leadership at the Threshold — April 16, live online workshop
The Living Web: Restoring Soul Coherence in a Fragmented World — April 22, FREE online workshop (Yes, on Earth Day!); save the date, will share the link here soon
Wild Alchemy Practitioner Program begins May 16, 2026
Plus, for the sacred aromatic lovers…the Scents for Spring Collection is here. And I’ve just opened a few spots for bespoke botanical fragrances.
And, if you’re not yet subscribed, now seems like a lovely time to join our community :)
Spring is always a time of new beginnings (and the endings that go with them), but this one feels especially active to me. As if there’s a cosmic memo: Stop waiting around and do the thing!
“The thing” being your soul’s calling. The dream you’ve been incubating. The gift you’re here to share.
But — this can seem like way too much pressure! Especially when a lot of us are also in “what-is-even-happening-right-now” mode. So…
The real invitation of this season is to start taking baby steps towards living each day in a way that feels just a little bit better.
✨Gentle joy.✨
This cosmic opening is going to last awhile, so you don’t need to rush into things you aren’t ready for.
You do need to start believing that your dreams and visions are worthy of pursuing though ;)
What is it that you’ve been wanting to create in the world?
Maybe you’re more ready than you thought. Maybe the world is more ready to receive it than you realized.
*Here’s one of my favorite prompts for exploring themes around desire and creativity: If you knew what you created would be received with joy, what would you offer?
I love this. So often told to create for the sake of creating, to let go of outcomes, and to not care what other people think.
This is all good and true. And — we are all connected! Humans are communal beasts! Of course we care what other people think. Of course we enjoy having our soulful offerings celebrated!
Asking this question helps us shift into a more expansive, generous consciousness when it comes to our dreaming.
It doesn’t mean everyone will love everything you do, but it does give our psyches freedom to play in areas we often limit ourselves.
What are your dreams? I’d love to see them in the comments.
*I originally heard this from the amazing Tiffany Carole. So grateful :)
On Creative Resistance
In order to create, we need to understand why we don’t create. And the energy of this season is also asking us to get really honest about what’s been stopping us from stepping more fully into the paths we dream of walking.
Here are just a few of my self-sabotaging loops — curious if you experience any of these, too.
I’ll start with a really personal example…
I’m teaching a spiritual leadership class on April 16th (you can register here — it’s going to be awesome). I’ve been doing this work for decades. This sharing is exactly what my soul wants to offer and what I truly believe the world needs.
AND. As soon as I published the date, my old over-preparation pattern emerged: I immediately felt like I needed to go read every single book on leadership just in case I was missing something…(Like I’m really going to put all of the history of leadership — and old bro-style leadership at that — into a three-hour workshop???)
So that’s the first pattern: Thinking you’re not ready when you really are way more prepared that you realize.
We all experience this, though it can show up in different ways for different people. If you feel like you need:
More money
More time
More training
More inner healing
To get healthier
To deal with your home first
To fix your relationship first
To finish up a different project first
For things to “settle down”
Or a billion other thoughts like these….
Then it’s a good idea to see if th thought is true (it probably at least partially is!), or if it’s actually a very sophisticated way of procrastinating what your soul wants to experience.
There are sooo many more ways we resist taking action on our dreams (which is why we actually have a whole deep dive practicum on the sneaky ways resistance and self-sabotage can show up for us and our clients in this training).
Here are a few more — which sound familiar to you?
You don’t want to choose — Maybe you want to do everything. Maybe you’re afraid of choosing wrong. Maybe nothing is just perfect. So you delay. And then delay some more.
You feel fragmented — Part of you holds the dream, and another part doubts its value. (Hint: We don’t begin when we’re “whole” — we become more whole by beginning.)
Your dream actually isn’t your own — You’re loyal to another person, community, teaching, belief system, or organization and it’s their dreams you’re trying to build.
You distract yourself with the little stuff — Because it’s so much easier to commit to the next little project with instant pay off than the big, amorphous dream you don’t quite trust will work out.
And you talk yourself out of it — It’s not actually valuable. Won’t matter. Someone else could do it better. Or…how could you possibly dream of creating something so lovely when the world is falling apart?
Not every dream we dream is meant to be brought into form. And sometimes, a vision actually is better held by someone else. And quite often, we actually do need a bit of preparation and support to get started with our biggest creative endeavors and soul-aligned offerings!
But I know that when we can shed some of that gunk in the way — the old beliefs and patterns, the stories we inherit about value and agency, the unique ways resistance shows up for each of us — we start to see what we’re here to do more clearly.
When we remember the beauty and possibilities that enticed us into this life, we start to believe we can actually create something meaningful — from a home to a poem, a personal prayer to a global movement.
This is the exact process I’ve been cycling through for the past few years.
I received a divinely inspired vision for a longterm spiritual practitioner training. Something that actually prepares people to access their inner wholeness and share their gifts with the world — and help others do this too.
But the original download was clouded by all the gunk that wasn’t mine! Lineages and loyalties and sneaky energetic sabotours…
The earlier versions of this program never quite made it out — and thank goodness. The program needed to wait until I’d done enough of my own clearing to see what was actually mine to offer.
Once I cleared the gunk — through ritual, prayer, surrender, plants, energy work, and sooooo much time on the land — then I had the privilege of seeing all the stuff that was actually mine.
The result? The longterm program finally came into form — and it takes you through this exact process I went through in order to come into soul-level coherence, and then create from this place.
It’s called the Wild Alchemy Practitioner Program.
This is a yearlong online training in soul-centered healing, spiritual leadership, and the art of transformation — running May 16, 2026 through May 16, 2027, in a small and intimate cohort.
It’s built for practitioners, healers, coaches, guides, and serious beginners who know this is their path. People who want to work at the soul level — and who are ready to do their own deep work in order to hold that space for others.
The heart of the program is soul restoration: a methodology that weaves spiritual coaching, energy medicine, imaginal practice, and ecological wisdom into a grounded, ethical framework for transformation.
The result is soul coherence — the ability to embody and live out your soul’s blueprint for this lifetime. Inner freedom, creative capacity, and heartfelt meaning naturally arise from this place.
You’ll develop skills across four pillars:
Working with the human — deep listening, transformational questioning, navigating resistance, holding ethical and empowering containers for short- and long-term work.
Working with the energy body — soul restoration, clearing entanglements, discerning and releasing foreign energies, plant and crystal allies.
Working with spirit and the imaginal — trance facilitation, ancestral and past life work, ritual creation, partnering with the spirit world ethically.
Building your practice — your unique medicine, ethical scope of practice, and how to share what you do in a way that actually resonates.
…All in partnership with the Earth, the plants, and the spirits of the natural world.
AND — because this is a practitioner program — you’ll learn to guide others through every part of this process. For those drawn to client work, it will transform what you’re able to offer.
And even if client work isn’t your path, these are deeply human skills. If you have relationships with other humans, you’ll find them useful ;)
How to apply
Applications are now open! The process includes a short written application and a brief interview call with me — not a test, just a chance to make sure this is the right fit and to meet each other before the journey begins.
Full curriculum, structure, FAQs, pricing, and application link are all on the program page →
There’s also a PDF curriculum overview if you want more deets before deciding →
The earlybird rate closes May 1st.
Not sure if it’s right for you? Apply anyway! I’d rather have a conversation with someone who isn’t quite ready than have the right person talk themselves out of it.
Sacred Aromatic Support for Your Creative Becoming
Back to our creative resistance…
Y’all know I turn to sacred aromatics for support with just about everything.
Because this is vibrational medicine. Fragrance attunes us to the possibilities we wish to create.
All aromatic plants have gifts in this realm — and some are especially attuned to the creative spark within each of us. Here are a few of my favorites:
The Flowers
Floral essential oils and absolutes are wonderful for creative expression. Many floral oils have an affinity for the sacral chakra. As blossoms open to warm weather, these oils help our creative centers open to inspiration.
Neroli—Relieves anxiety around creating while deepening our connection with our higher selves . . . even Leonardo da Vinci is said to have breathed in the perfume of neroli while he worked.
Ylang Ylang—Brings us directly into our creative centers with its seductive fragrance. Especially useful for sensual creations—culinary endeavors, body products, and natural perfumes. Find our community call with ylang ylang here.
Geranium—Eases perfectionistic tendencies, irritability, and frustration. This is the oil you want to help move through resistance to creative action.
Rose—Opens the heart center, allowing us to trust and love with abandon. Use rose to merge the love in your heart with your creative impulses—a powerful combination. (Psst: We’ll meet with Rose for our Taurus Season ceremony.)
Jasmine—Shares a joyful energy that removes inhibitions and increases self-confidence, allowing you to more fully invest in your creative expression. In Taoist alchemy, jasmine helps us more clearly see our own beauty, which in turn helps us see the beauty in our own creations.
Citrus, Spice, and All Things Nice
In addition to the florals, citruses and spices can also enhance our creative works. Here are three of my personal favorites:
Patchouli—Another wonderful oil for connecting us to our sensual, creative selves. Patchouli also introduces an earthy element into the creative process, helping us ground our inspiration in physical form. In Taoist alchemy, patchouli also has an affinity for the extraordinary meridian that governs creative manifestation ;)
Sweet Orange—Orange is the color of creativity, and sweet orange carries this resonance perfectly. Plus, as a citrus, it uplifts us as we work, reminding us to take joy in the creative process.
Ginger—Energizing and warming, ginger is perfect for those who have a creative vision but lack the motivation to see it through. Ginger essential oil helps us take optimistic action in our creative work. In Taoist alchemy, ginger nurtures our souls. It helps us feel so loved and supported, that our creations are more easily birthed.
This is just a tiny selection of the many essential oils that can assist us with releasing our creative energy this season. Let your own creative impulses guide you to the perfect oils and blends for your unique creative spirit!
Or for fun, we can co-create a custom ritual oil to support your creative path.
A little graphic you can save with the floral oils, because why not?
Aromatic Rituals
Rituals help facilitate the transformation of intention into manifestions — a divinely creative act. Here are three aromatic rituals for your spring creations:
Heart-Centered Ritual
For any heart-centered creation.
Add three drops sweet orange, two drops patchouli, and one drop rose to an essential oil diffuser. Run the diffuser throughout this entire process.
Take a meditative seat and breathe deeply until you feel centered in your body.
Bring awareness to your root chakra. Affirm, I am grounded and supported by the earth.
Bring awareness to your sacral chakra. Affirm, I joyfully allow the creative impulses within to flow into form.
Bring awareness to your heart chakra. Affirm, With an open heart, I infuse my creations with love.
Continue to diffuse these oils throughout your creative session.
Ritual to Break through Blocks
When you need help moving forward and just getting started.
To a 1oz glass spray bottle, add: 2 drops ginger, 2 drops geranium, and 2 drops neroli. Fill the rest of the bottle with spring water.
Shake and mist yourself and your space.
Speak these words as you mist: I call upon the benevolent spirits of ginger, geranium, and neroli. May these plant guides clear any fears I have around expressing my creative truth. I gratefully receive their blessings of creative inspiration and motivation.
Magical Paint Water
When the canvas calls — playing with color shifts our energy just as the aromatics do. Even if you don’t consider yourself a painter, it might be time to stretch yourself and play with color and aroma ;)
Take a meditative seat and breathe deeply until you feel centered in your body.
Ask your intuition, Which essential oil or oils wish to support my creative process today?
Allow the answers to arise. Trust what you receive.
Fill your painting water vessel and add 2-3 drops of your oils (hydrosols are also great for this).
Whisper an intention for your painting into the oil-infused water—perhaps May this work of art carry the essence of divine love or May the truth in my soul take form in this painting.
Use this magical water throughout your painting process, recharging with oils and intentions as needed.
News & Announcements
Upcoming Workshops
SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP AT THE THRESHOLD
How to Cultivate Creative Agency, Vision, and the Capacity to Guide Others
LIVE 3-Hour Online Workshop | April 16th w/replay | Only $37 with Earlybird pricing!
Current models of leadership tend to attract dark triad personalities. It is our task to co-create a new model of leadership that keeps us connected with the beauty of being human in these metamorphic times. Join me to explore just what the means and how we do it!
» Register Now (earlybird ends April 8)
The Living Web: Restoring Soul Coherence in a Fragmented World — April 22, FREE online workshop (yes, on Earth Day!)
There is a reason you can do years of deep work and still feel like something is missing: it’s because you are working from a fragmented signal. In this workshop, we’ll explore what it means to shift from fragmentation (within self, with Earth, with the cosmos) and into wholeness. This is soul coherence and it’s the calling of our time.
This workshop is FREE! It’s an Earth Day offering to bring us into coherence with not just our own souls but the greater soul of the Earth herself.
Save the date — link coming soon :)
The Wild Alchemy Practitioner Program begins May 2026
Interviews are happening now! Learn More + Apply so can you can grab the earlybird rate.
This year’s program is $2000 less than it will be in future runs, and it won’t happen again until 2028. If you are ready to step into the life your soul is here to live, do not wait on this.
Botanicals & More
Scents for Spring: Seasonal Botanical Perfumes Are Here
Spring is here and with it comes new life and fresh scents.
From sweet cherry blossoms to balsamy fawns, soft florals and starlit skies, this set of spring aromas will meet every mood to carry you through our new season. Smell unique. Make magic.
NEW! BESPOKE FRAGRANCES
After years of requests, I’m finally opening spots for custom perfume and anointing oil creations. I’ve laid out the entire process here — please take a look and let me know if you have any questions!
ONE-ON-ONE SESSIONS OPENING SOON
I’ll be opening a few spots for personal healing sessions soon. These come around a few times a year and tend to sell out quickly. Get on the waitlist here.
Juniper Stokes is a botanical perfumer, soul alchemist, intuitive astrologer, and rewilding guide through mythic landscapes of the nature, spirit, and the cosmos. For over 25 years, she has been guiding soulful humans back to the heart of who they are and why they’re here.
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So much of this speaks to me. I have just come to understand the undermining of my dreams. Procrastinator extraordinaire. Always trying to perfect everything rather than just putting it out there. I'm on a better track now, but still find small reasons (not excuses this time) to delay.
I can appreciate what you are offering. I have all the nudges telling me "Ooo, try it...just to have that background," yet I have so many incomplete workshops, projects, and certifications fighting for calendar space.
Bookmark me for a later season of annointing once I complete my first retreat! That will be my gift to myself. 💜