Pruning to Bloom: What Orchids Taught Me About Creative Rest
What Are We Waiting For?
Last week we moved houses, and I inherited, among other treasures, multiple established orchid plants.
Excited, I decided to clean up the non-flowering ones to prepare them for the growing season. I pulled an orchid out of its pot and found something surprising: the root ball was completely tangled and chocked with dead roots.
At first glance, the plant looked fine.
But below the surface? So many of the roots were decayed and lifeless. They weren’t just lying there quietly — they were actively choking out the new green shoots that wanted to grow.
Tangled Roots, Tangled Creativity
Isn’t that what happens in our lives too — especially in our creativity?
We carry old disappointments. Habits and busyness that leave no space to breathe. Inner critics that whisper we’re not enough. Even our art gets tangled when it’s tied to perfectionism, comparison, or pressure.
And all of it begins to choke out our creativity.
We know what we need to do, but few of us have the courage to do it. Pruning feels risky. Painful. But it’s the only way to make space for new life.
Why Wait?
So here’s the question pressing on my heart — and maybe on yours too:
✨ Why wait?
Why wait to release what’s stifling your art?
Why wait to let go of the baggage that keeps you tangled?
Why wait for your soul to heal, for your creativity to breathe again?
What is choking out your new growth and creativity?
A Sacred Space for Renewal
Friend, you don’t have to keep carrying what’s choking out your creativity.
This is why I created the Creative Soul Retreat in Thailand.
It’s a sacred pause. A tender space of pruning, rest, and renewal. Here, the noise falls away and you’ll have room to breathe, create, and be fully present.
✨ What this retreat can give you:
Rest in the beauty of northern Thailand
Release from the heavy stories and habits that no longer serve you
Renewal through watercolor, gentle reflection, and community
Freedom to create from joy, not pressure
This is space for your soul and your creativity to bloom again.
✨ Why wait? The invitation is here.
Join Me in Chiang Mai, Thailand
Join me in Chiang Mai, Thailand for much-needed soul rest and some gentle pruning.
📅 November 4–9, 2025
👉 Learn more + reserve your place at the retreat here.
With you in the pruning and the blooming,
— Kristen
