Altered.

Issue 25, looking up

It’s Paige here with this week’s newsletter. I wanted to talk about the cosmos — not as a guide to your future (though I’m all for that), but as the ultimate creative playground.

Astrology is one of the earliest ways humans made sense of the world. It invites us to look to the stars, find meaning in the chaos, and draw inspiration from the unknown.

Whether you believe the universe has a plan for you or not, there’s something undeniably creative about the act of looking up, noticing connections, and staying open to endless possibilities.

For me, creativity is more about curiosity than conclusions. It’s less about finding answers and more about asking questions. Not everything needs to be explained to be understood. Sometimes the mystery is where the magic lives.

Rick Rubin puts it best:

"The magic is not in the analysing or understanding. The magic lives in the wonder of what we do not know."

In that way, astrology can be a powerful tool for creative exploration. It’s also a reminder that creativity, just like life, isn’t just about you. Everything is connected. There are no truly new ideas — just fresh interpretations and new ways to express universal truths.

Every idea comes from something. A connection, a pattern, an interpretation of what already exists. This is the essence of creativity: noticing, reimagining, and making something your own.

If you’re ready to embrace your place in the universe, you might like these:

🌌 What color is the universe?
If you were wondering, it’s called Cosmic Latte, and yes, it’s beige — but that doesn’t make it boring. New York based astrologer Daniela Karpenos took this as inspiration for her brand where she shares horoscopes and more. Check it out here.

🌟 Navigate the stars.
Explore the galaxy with 100,000 Stars, an interactive digital map. See how tiny we are in the grand scheme of things — and let that fuel your next big idea. Start exploring.

✨ Cats of the cosmos.
VintageFantasy is a creative project by Boy Fantasy, transforming old print media into modern art. Their instagram page shares astrology memes and vintage horoscopes, like these Martin Leman illustrations from the 1980 book Star Cats. Take a look.

So your challenge for this week: let your curiosity guide you. Look up, connect the dots, and embrace the wonder of what you can’t explain. It just might lead you to your next creative project.

If you're feeling inspired, check out our Amateur Astrologer challenge below.

Have a great week,

Paige

Alter. Amateur astrologer

You’re about to become an amateur astrologer creating your own system of star signs. No birth charts or planetary knowledge needed — just your imagination.

practice

🤟