The moon and the academic mood

 The moon and the academic mood

This was written on the last page of my notebook when navigating fieldwork and writing papers during the 4th year of my PhD. "It's okay to be like the moon!"

Image Description: This is a handwritten reflection on the pressures of academia and the need for self-care. It has words and images of the different phases of the moon. Under the drawing of  a full moon, are words, "There are phases of sudden bursts of creative ideas and the zeal to think, write and reflect..." Next to the drawing of a waxing crescent are words, "some ideas are like this slender crescent, which may be barely visible." Under a third quarter moon are words, " the ideas that are almost concrete, but delayed due to so many other things." Next to a waning crescent are words, "some thoughts take shape, but just wane because I get stuck." Next to a new moon are words, "then there are phases when I just don't feel like doing anything. the moon can afford it, but Can I?" Next to an eclipsed moon are words, " Sometimes eclipsed and eclipsing! It's okay to be like the moon!"