Q4 - Balancing It Out

[Carrie]

update to message #17: 7/18

[Carrie]

update to message #17: 8/18

[Whitney]

Update to Message # 26: 3/ 12

[Whitney]

Update to Message # 26: 4/ 12

[Lisa Marie]

I'm in for 5 books at this time......(it may be more :)

Generating Cycle: 🌲 → 🔥 → 🌱 → 🔧 → 🌊 → 🌲 → …

Wood: Water nourishes Wood, the element of spring. It is associated with birth, growth, movement, wind, and the color green.
🌲 Read a book set in spring, about new birth (literally or figuratively), or involving wind or movement.
🌲 Read a book with green on the cover or in the title.

Fire: Wood fuels fire, which is the element of heat, summer, nature at its peak, growth, passion and hate in human relationships, and the color red.
🔥 Read a book that takes place in summer, a romance, or a book that examines hate or prejudice.
🔥 Read a book with red on the cover or in the title.

Earth: Fire creates Earth (Ash), which is connected to harvest time, nourishment, fertility, mother-child relationships and stability. It is represented by the color yellow, like the sun and ripened crops.
🌱 Read a book about cooking, or a book that features parent-child relationships.
🌱 Read a book with yellow on the cover or in the title.

Metal: Earth contains Metal, which is connected to autumn, gravity, minerals within the earth, heavenly bodies, electrical conductivity, and magnetism. It has structure but can adapt new forms by melting.
🔧 Read a book where set in autumn, or where gravity, minerals, or heavenly bodies play an important role.
🔧 Read a book with white on the cover or in the title.

Water: Metal can carry Water, which is connected to Winter. It is the source of life, flowing, yielding but powerful, silent and still, It is connected to the colors blue and black.
🌊 Read a book set in winter, where water or ice play an important role, or a book set on water.
🌊 Read a book with blue or black on the cover or in the title.

Controlling Cycle: 🌲 → 🌱 → 🌊 → 🔥 → 🔧 → 🌲 → …

Wood: Metal penetrates Wood, which represents plants, trees, and basic bodily functions such as respiration, heartbeat, etc. It is associated with the East, the planet Jupiter, and symbolized by an Azure Dragon.
🌲 Read a book where the East is important in some way, including the planet Jupiter, or a book with dragons.
🌲 Read a book with plants or trees on the cover, or a book involving the heart or lungs.

Earth: Wood can break the Earth, which is connected to the change of seasons. It is said to be patient, reliable, logical and governed by duty to others. It is related to the taste of sweetness, the planet Saturn, and birds that prefer the comfort of the earth.
🌱 Read a book about change, about the rights or freedoms of others, or a book about sweets.
🌱 Read a book that features Saturn, birds, or the change of seasons.

Water: Earth absorbs Water, the fluid that maintains the health of every cell. Water is quiet, cold, and represents the resting time of winter. It is considered the most feminine of the elements and is very powerful, moving around obstacles in its path. It can nourish and cleanse, but at times can be very dangerous.
🌊 Read a medical book, or one with health advice, a book about feminism, or one that takes place in the North.
🌊 Read a book with water on the cover, or a book about some kind of catastrophe.

Fire: Water quenches Fire, which is associated with the South, the planet Mars, and the sense of taste.
🔥 Read a book that includes the South or Southern Countries, or the planet Mars,
🔥 Read a book which includes the taste bitter, or about a character's bitterness.

Metal: Fire can melt Metal. Its color is white, and it is determined, forceful, unyielding, and reserved. It represents the West, the planet Venus, and is associated with the taste of spiciness.
🔧 Read a book involving the West, or where a character has persistence and determination to achieve a goal.
🔧 Read a book where the planet Venus plays a role, or involving something spicy.

[Chalmation]

Updated message #9

2/6

[Whitney]

Update to Message # 26: 5/ 12

[Lina]

New update:
🌱🌊🔥🔧🌲

⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️

General Stats
28 Signed Up
📚 64/354 books read (18.1 %) 📚

☯️-Novice: 18
☯️-Apprentice: 3
☯️-Mentor: 4
☯️-Expert: 3
☯️-Master:

⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️

Balance is the perfect state of still water. Let that be our model. It remains quiet within and is not disturbed on the surface. - Confucius

[Carmen]

Update to message #12

PROGRESS: 8/10

[Chalmation]

Updated message #9

3/6

[Lilili]

Hi, updated msg 11:
Completed!

Progress 10/10

Thank you very much, have a nice day everyone! :-)

[Carmen]

Update to message #12

PROGRESS: 10/10

Thanks for this great challenge, Lina!

[Denise]

update to msg. #10:
10/20

[BarbaraBrubru_gingertiger]

Update to message #19: 10/10

[Whitney]

Update to Message # 26: 6/ 12

[Ciara]

Update to message #14: challenge complete! I read to all 20 prompts! Deatils under the spoiler.

(view spoiler)[Wood: Water nourishes Wood, the element of spring. It is associated with birth, growth, movement, wind, and the color green.
🌲 Read a book set in spring, about new birth (literally or figuratively), or involving wind or movement.
Dearest - Jacquie Walters
🌲 Read a book with green on the cover or in the title.
Model Home - Rivers Solomon

Fire: Wood fuels fire, which is the element of heat, summer, nature at its peak, growth, passion and hate in human relationships, and the color red.
🔥 Read a book that takes place in summer, a romance, or a book that examines hate or prejudice.
Colored Television - Danzy Senna
🔥 Read a book with red on the cover or in the title.
Erasure - Percival Everett

Earth: Fire creates Earth (Ash), which is connected to harvest time, nourishment, fertility, mother-child relationships and stability. It is represented by the color yellow, like the sun and ripened crops.
🌱 Read a book about cooking, or a book that features parent-child relationships.
I Keep My Exoskeletons to Myself - Marisa Crane
🌱 Read a book with yellow on the cover or in the title.
A Novel Obsession - Caitlin Barasch

Metal: Earth contains Metal, which is connected to autumn, gravity, minerals within the earth, heavenly bodies, electrical conductivity, and magnetism. It has structure but can adapt new forms by melting.
🔧 Read a book where set in autumn, or where gravity, minerals, or heavenly bodies play an important role.
The Empusium: A Health Resort Horror Story - Olga Tokarczuk
🔧 Read a book with white on the cover or in the title.
Clean - Alia Trabucco Zéran

Water: Metal can carry Water, which is connected to Winter. It is the source of life, flowing, yielding but powerful, silent and still, It is connected to the colors blue and black.
🌊 Read a book set in winter, where water or ice play an important role, or a book set on water.
Playground - Richard Powers
🌊 Read a book with blue or black on the cover or in the title.
We'll Prescribe You a Cat - Syou Ishida

Controlling Cycle: 🌲 → 🌱 → 🌊 → 🔥 → 🔧 → 🌲 → …

Wood: Metal penetrates Wood, which represents plants, trees, and basic bodily functions such as respiration, heartbeat, etc. It is associated with the East, the planet Jupiter, and symbolized by an Azure Dragon.
🌲 Read a book where the East is important in some way, including the planet Jupiter, or a book with dragons.
The Fox Wife - Yangsze Choo
🌲 Read a book with plants or trees on the cover, or a book involving the heart or lungs.
All Fours - Miranda July

Earth: Wood can break the Earth, which is connected to the change of seasons. It is said to be patient, reliable, logical and governed by duty to others. It is related to the taste of sweetness, the planet Saturn, and birds that prefer the comfort of the earth.
🌱 Read a book about change, about the rights or freedoms of others, or a book about sweets.
Nightbitch - Rachel Yoder
🌱 Read a book that features Saturn, birds, or the change of seasons.
Weyward - Emilia Hart

Water: Earth absorbs Water, the fluid that maintains the health of every cell. Water is quiet, cold, and represents the resting time of winter. It is considered the most feminine of the elements and is very powerful, moving around obstacles in its path. It can nourish and cleanse, but at times can be very dangerous.
🌊 Read a medical book, or one with health advice, a book about feminism, or one that takes place in the North.
The Final Girl Support Group - Grady Hendrix
🌊 Read a book with water on the cover, or a book about some kind of catastrophe.
Gold Fame Citrus - Claire Vaye Watkins

Fire: Water quenches Fire, which is associated with the South, the planet Mars, and the sense of taste.
🔥 Read a book that includes the South or Southern Countries, or the planet Mars,
Trust Exercise - Susan Choi
🔥 Read a book which includes the taste bitter, or about a character's bitterness.
Good Girl, Bad Blood - Holly Jackson

Metal: Fire can melt Metal. Its color is white, and it is determined, forceful, unyielding, and reserved. It represents the West, the planet Venus, and is associated with the taste of spiciness.
🔧 Read a book involving the West, or where a character has persistence and determination to achieve a goal.
Misinterpretation - Ledia Xhoga
🔧 Read a book where the planet Venus plays a role, or involving something spicy.
Changeless - Gail Carriger (hide spoiler)]

[Carrie]

Update to message #17: progress 10/18

[Lina]

So many of you are already making great progess (we have almost reached 1/3 of books read!) and we already have 6 people who have turned to Balance Masters, while Barbara, Carmen, Ciara and Lilili have already completed their challenges. Congratulations!

🌱🌊🔥🔧🌲

⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️

General Stats
28 Signed Up
📚 113/354 books read (31.9 %) 📚
Challenge Completed: 4

☯️-Novice: 14
☯️-Apprentice: 4
☯️-Mentor: 3
☯️-Expert: 1
☯️-Master: 6

⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️

Balance is the perfect state of still water. Let that be our model. It remains quiet within and is not disturbed on the surface. - Confucius

[Whitney]

Update to Message # 26: 7/ 12

[Jennifer]

Updating message #33

6/10 completed

🌲 Read a book set in spring, about new birth (literally or figuratively), or involving wind or movement. Rising Out of Hatred: The Awakening of a Former White Nationalist DONE



🌊 Read a book with blue or black on the cover or in the title. The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America DONE

[Chalmation]

Updated message #9

4/6

[TerryJane, Challenges]

Update to Message #15 : 14/20

[Caraina]

Update to Message # 8: 10/10 books completed

[SarahKat, Buddy Reads]

Update to Message 6:

6/8

🌱 Earth 🌱

Taste: Sweet
Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage (cover)

Symbol: Yellow Dragon or birds that prefer the comfort of the earth
Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey

[Carrie]

Update message #17:

12/18

[Anna]

Update to message 30 - 8/10

Generating Cycle:

🌲 Read a book set in spring, about new birth (literally or figuratively), or involving wind or movement.
James Herriot's Treasury for Children: Warm and Joyful Tales by the Author of All Creatures Great and Small
🌲 Read a book with green on the cover or in the title.

🔥 Read a book that takes place in summer, a romance, or a book that examines hate or prejudice.
A Pocket Full of Rye
🔥 Read a book with red on the cover or in the title.

🌱 Read a book about cooking, or a book that features parent-child relationships.
🌱 Read a book with yellow on the cover or in the title.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder

🔧 Read a book where set in autumn, or where gravity, minerals, or heavenly bodies play an important role.
Stuff Matters: Exploring the Marvelous Materials That Shape Our Man-Made World
🔧 Read a book with white on the cover or in the title.

🌊 Read a book set in winter, where water or ice play an important role, or a book set on water.
Hercule Poirot's Christmas
🌊 Read a book with blue or black on the cover or in the title.
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

Controlling Cycle:

🌲 Read a book where the East is important in some way, including the planet Jupiter, or a book with dragons.
🌲 Read a book with plants or trees on the cover, or a book involving the heart or lungs.

🌱 Read a book about change, about the rights or freedoms of others, or a book about sweets.
🌱 Read a book that features Saturn, birds, or the change of seasons.

🌊 Read a medical book, or one with health advice, a book about feminism, or one that takes place in the North.
🌊 Read a book with water on the cover, or a book about some kind of catastrophe.

🔥 Read a book that includes the South or Southern Countries, or the planet Mars,
🔥 Read a book which includes the taste bitter, or about a character's bitterness.
The Dollmakers

🔧 Read a book involving the West, or where a character has persistence and determination to achieve a goal.
The Land of the Elephant Kings: Space, Territory, and Ideology in the Seleucid Empire
🔧 Read a book where the planet Venus plays a role, or involving something spicy.

[Denise]

update to msg. #10:

15/20

[Chalmation]

Updated message #9

5/6

[Whitney]

Update to Message # 26: 8/ 12

[Jennifer]

Updating message #33

7/10 completed

🔥 Read a book that takes place in summer, a romance, or a book that examines hate or prejudice. The Reformatory DONE

[✨ Brianna Raquel ✨]

updated msg 20, 20/20

[Whitney]

Update to Message # 26: 9/ 12

[Denise]

update to msg. #10:

16/20

[Lina]

Great progress again everyone! (I was travelling, which is why the update was delayed.) We now have 10 people who have turned into Masters, while Brianna Raquel and Caraina have also completed their challenges. Congratulations!
In total, we have read 49.7 % of our pledged books!

🌱🌊🔥🔧🌲

⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️

General Stats
28 Signed Up
📚 176/354 books read (49.7 %) 📚
Challenge Completed: 6

☯️-Novice: 11
☯️-Apprentice: 1
☯️-Mentor: 3
☯️-Expert: 3
☯️-Master: 10

⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️

Balance is the perfect state of still water. Let that be our model. It remains quiet within and is not disturbed on the surface. - Confucius

[TerryJane, Challenges]

Update to Message #15 : 20/20
Complete!

[Sarah]

Message 22 Updated

10/10

CHALLENGE COMPLETED

[Carrie]

Update to message #17: 14/18

[SarahKat, Buddy Reads]

Update to Message 6:

8/8

🌱 Earth 🌱
Associated with: harvest time, abundance, nourishment, fertility, mother-child relationships, stability/reliability, logic, governed by duty to others
The Land of the Undying Lord by J.T. Wright ("Land")

Direction: Center
Middle of the Night by Riley Sager ("Middle")

[Lina]

New update, 4 more people have completed their challenges! Congratulations Sarah, SarahKat and TerryJane (I feel weird about congratulating myself haha).
In total, we have read 57.6 % of our pledged books!

🌱🌊🔥🔧🌲

⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️

General Stats
28 Signed Up
📚 204/354 books read (57.6 %) 📚
Challenge Completed: 10

☯️-Novice: 9
☯️-Apprentice: 1
☯️-Mentor: 3
☯️-Expert: 3
☯️-Master: 13

⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️

Balance is the perfect state of still water. Let that be our model. It remains quiet within and is not disturbed on the surface. - Confucius

[TerryJane, Challenges]

Lina wrote: "(I feel weird about congratulating myself haha). "

Well, I'll do it then, and I won't feel weird about it.

Congratulations, Lina! 👏👏👏 And thanks for the challenge idea and leadership as well. 🤗🥰

[Lina]

TerryJane wrote: "Lina wrote: "(I feel weird about congratulating myself haha). "

Well, I'll do it then, and I won't feel weird about it.

Congratulations, Lina! 👏👏👏 And thanks for the challenge idea and leadershi..."

Thanks, TerryJane! :)

And I am glad you had fun with the challenge. Always happy to do my part. This group is so much fun. 🥰

[Whitney]

Update to Message # 26: 10/ 12

[Carrie]

update to message #17: 16/18

[Denise]

update to msg. #10:
18/20

[Shari]

Update msg #23:

Progress: 13 / 12 COMPLETED 12-18-24

[Denise]

Update to msg. # 10:

20/20

COMPLETED

[JennH, Cheerleader]

Update to message #16

29/20

Challenge completed.

[Whitney]

Update to Message # 26: 11/ 12

[Whitney]

Update to Message # 26: 12/ 12

Challenge Completed! :)

[Carrie]

update to message #17: 17/18