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Art Journal with the Moon for April 17-23, 2023
This is a summary of the moon’s energy for the upcoming week and the inner work and magic you can do in your art journal to make the most of the opportunities the cosmos is gifting us with.
Every week the emotional and magical opportunities the moon is sending you are different because the energy she is drawing down from the planets and stars changes moment to moment. Planets and stars and moon phases and moon signs each carry their own unique energy .This is my weekly update (Mon-Fri) of the moon’s comings and goings to support you in aligning with her energy.
Get your art journal or a scrap of paper you see lying around, your art supplies or those pencil crayons you have hidden away somewhere and have fun. Spend 10 – 20 minutes focusing on the themes the moon is supporting you to explore that day while you play with colors and shapes and watch what happens over time.
It’s amazing what a little consistent creative time can do.
A Few Thoughts About the Upcoming Lunar Cycle
Welcome to a wild lunar cycle my friends.
Before I even get into the details of this exciting lunar cycle, I am going to get down and personal for a moment. Bear with me. This just feels like something I need to share with everyone who is following the lunar cycles alongside me.
As you may or may not be aware, I’ve been loosely following the cycles of the moon for over twenty years and in the last ten years I’ve been following them a lot more closely. In fact, the moon became the focus of my professional, creative and spiritual life. For me, so much of my life centers around the moon.
I started to notice the positive effects of this on my magic and conscious creation practices early on. Following the cycles of the moon and using the new moon to plant my seeds of intention and the waxing moon to grow those seeds and using the full moon to release or help my spirit shine more fully in this world and using the waning moon to release more deeply, let go, forgive and do shadow work has allowed me to get clear on who I am and create the changes in my life I wanted to see.
I then started to notice the positive effects my lunar magic was having on my nervous system. Being so attuned to the moon (and cosmic cycles) started to make me feel held and safe in a way that my body responded to. Even my relationship with the Great Mother and my angel Cassandra couldn’t speak to my body and my nervous system the way the moon did. My physical body needed to feel attuned to another physical thing like nature and the energy of the moon. These effects are more difficult for me to communicate or explain but it’s very much like receiving a critical nutrient or vitamin that my body never had before.
I was born in an anxious body by a mother whose own mother carried trauma from her childhood and raised in an anxious environment plus, eventually, I also had my own sexual trauma added to it. My body was in a chronic state of tension and anxiety for most of my life. It only learned a calmer more settled way of being in the last few years and being physically, emotionally and spiritually attuned to the moon and co-regulating with the moon has been one of the ways my body learned to feel safe in this world.
These are very good things but the most recent effect of my relationship with the moon is one that is the most surprising to me and I’m crying as I write this because of what it actually means to me. Now, this positive effect from being attuned to the moon and her cycle is happening for a couple more reasons as well – not just because of my relationship with the moon but it seems deeply symbolic and spiritually meaningful and significant to me. Before I explain it though I need to provide you with some context.
From what I’ve learned, people with MCAS or Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (like I have) can fall under two categories. Either they have had it since birth and it is genetic (and it gets triggered or made worse by trauma and life circumstances) or they develop it for various reasons. I am in the genetic category as I have experienced symptoms of it my entire life. It became much worse over time because of the stress my body was in from being in a chronic state of anxiety, the sexual trauma I experienced and from not having the knowledge of what my body can and cannot eat (it’s a very specific and odd list of foods).
One of the symptoms I had that no doctor ever cared about nor found concerning was that I never had regular menstrual cycles. My menstrual cycles were erratic, unpredictable and I would go for months and months without a period even in my early teens, twenties and thirties. I was not overweight during those years and there was no explanation given for it but there was also no one who suggested I should be curious about it. I would mention how odd I found it to doctors and friends and family and I would only receive blank stares in response. I chalked it up to that’s just the way my body was. I should have realized it was indicating how unwell my body was even at the young age of 14.
I was emotionally disconnected from my body and constantly being triggered into a disassociated state so I was not attuned to my how unwell my body kept growing over time. Of course, living without the knowledge that something is wrong and not being connected to my body enough to realize the more subtle problems it was having was like a snowball rolling down a hill attracting more and more snow to it until it grows to a massive size. Ten years ago, my body could no longer manage all the problems it was dealing with nor could it handle all the things that were hurting it – things I knew nothing about like the effects anxiety and my trauma was having on my nervous system and gut and the effects eating the wrong foods was having on a body that cannot tolerate many things.
Oh the life I could have lived knowing what I know now!
My body kept gaining more and more weight and getting sicker and sicker not because I was making unhealthy choices but because I had no idea what it needed. It has very specific and unique needs.
But I digress. Back to the fact I had irregular, unpredictable periods.
That was how it was for my entire life until recently. I finally have the knowledge I need. I changed my eating to meet my body’s unique and specific needs. I healed past trauma. I no longer experience panic attacks and I significantly reduced anxiety and, thanks to the moon and the MAP Method, I learned what living in a calm regulated nervous system feels like.
Which all adds up to the fact I now have a regular, predictable, monthly menstrual cycle!!! What?!
I didn’t even know this was possible for me.
And guess when my menstrual cycle comes?
At the new moon!
I’m just flabbergasted. I truly didn’t think having a menstrual cycle in synchronicity with the moon was something my body could do.
It not only feels like physical healing. It feels deeply significant on an emotional, spiritual and ancestral level as well. I see it as healing the effects patriarchy has had on me and my female ancestors.
The awe and reverence I have for the moon and the magic she has brought into my life is the energy I am carrying into this particular lunar cycle.
This lunar cycle is an eclipse but it’s happening at the very last degree of the sign of Aries which makes it extra potent Aries energy plus it’s the second new moon in Aries.
One way of contemplating how the Aries is affecting you is to think of your relationship and/or experience with your dynamic and directive qualities or in other words, your relationship with the Divine Masculine. As a collective we can consider instead of the toxic, wounded masculinity and patriarchal mess I grew up in, what would living in a healed masculinity look like?
I imagine there would be less power over women and more shared power dynamics in our families, homes and communities. I imagine I would feel safe to step into leadership and I would embody a strong felt sense of my inner power. I would be supported enough to feel confident, determined and decisive. I would know my physical, emotional and spiritual boundaries and I would feel safe enough to speak up for them and assertively make sure the people around me honored and respected them as well.
My body and my spirit would be seen and treated as sacred by myself and everyone else in my life. I would stop shrinking and I would happily take up space in this world. I would respect my opinions and openly share what is in my heart because I would feel safe enough to do this. I would be the leader of my own life. I would act when it is time to act and step forward in my life with confidence knowing I could trust myself and the direction I want to go – even when it does not fit the ideas or expectations that the people in my life put on me. I would live, as I learned from Cyndi Brannen’s book, “Entering Hekate’s Cave” with an open heart AND a strong spine.
As you read about this lunar cycle and work with its energy in this Creative Moon Guide, bring that powerful, dynamic, directive energy with you. Think about the Aries part of your birth chart. What areas of your life is Aries wanting to bring these qualities to? In what areas of your life are you being asked to master this dynamic energy? In what areas of your life are you being invited to step into leadership? How capable do you feel to be direct with others in these areas of your life? How capable do you feel to get things done in the areas of your life where Aries is in your birth chart? How capable do you feel of following your personal goals and personal passions in these areas of your life?
This is an important exploration because this eclipse is kicking off a new eclipse cycle. The last eclipse cycle was happening along the Taurus/Scorpio parts of your birth chart so it was bringing great beginnings and great endings to those areas of your life over the last 18 months or so. The new eclipse cycle will last until about January 2025 and it’s activating the Aries/Libra parts of your birth chart and bringing great beginnings or great endings to those areas of your life. Understanding what areas of your life the moon will be activating every time an eclipse happens until 2025 is helpful because it’s a longer lasting lunar event. It doesn’t just affect you over the next 28 days. It affects you until 2025.
We will be exploring this in more depth and working with this new eclipse cycle in your art journal and with the MAP Method to understand where this energy is affecting you personally and what areas of your life will be implicated until 2025 in my next Tuesday Live Online Class so please join me there if you’re interested. Click the image below to register or learn more:
Monday
The moon is void of course from the early afternoon to late evening in the mountain time zone.
This sometimes happens when the moon is moving from one zodiac sign to another or when it’s not making any aspects with other planets – I think of it as though the moon is just hanging around alone and in the in-between space – no longer where it was but not yet where it will be. The moon likes reflecting energy down to us but when it’s void of course there’s nothing substantial for it to reflect so its reflecting that emptiness back to us.
When the moon is void of course it is a good time to rest and relax and look inward. If you can prevent it, don’t start anything new or sign anything important when the moon is void of course since the energy it carries speaks of not having the momentum to carry it through to the end or in other words, whatever you start when the moon is void of course won’t go anywhere or won’t go where you thought it would.
It is a good time, however, to connect with your subconscious mind and your intuition.
Let yourself be curious for a moment and consider if you have any younger parts who are uncomfortable with emptiness or the unknown.
Do you have younger parts that like to take control and feel worried when it’s time to surrender and trust?
Think about a situation in your life right now where it would be great to surrender to a higher power and trust you will be taken care of.
In your art journal, draw, paint or collage an image that captures a situation you’d like surrender to a higher power.
Tuesday
The moon is in the sign of Aries today.
Aries is ruled by the planet Mars so the moon is carrying a little of that planet’s energy as well.
Aries energy in it’s most helpful form supports you in setting healthy boundaries, in knowing who you really are and feeling connected to your inner power.
Aries is action, quick responses and impulses. It values action, leadership and assertiveness. When the moon is in the sign of Aries as it is today, it can bring abrupt energy that is blunt and harsh – maybe even sometimes aggressive but it also helps to light a spark in your spirit and connect you to your passion and enthusiasm.
Think about what makes you light up.
What makes you feel alive?
Have you been doing what makes you feel alive lately?
In your art journal, draw, paint or collage an image that celebrates what you are passionate about today.
Wednesday
If you are in the mountain time zone, happy new moon and solar eclipse! Other time zones experience the new moon tomorrow.
If you are on my mailing list, you’ll receive the new Creative Moon Guide for the Aries/Scorpio Lunar Cycle in your inbox today. I go into more detail about the new moon there. Watch out for it. Open it up and savor all the goodness I included for you.
To personalize this new moon, let’s get specific and see the area of YOUR life that this new moon energy is focused on.
Seeing this is an eclipse, you may want to set your new moon intentions on April 22 or 23 instead of directly in that unpredictable eclipse energy. People feel differently about the eclipse and setting intentions during one so trust what feels right for you. I’ll explore and contemplate my new moon intentions during the eclipse but I won’t do my moon ritual in my art journal until the energy has settled down a bit and I’ve had a chance to integrate it in my body.
To figure out what area of your life the new moon wants you to focus on, you simply need to know your rising sign. Once you know the area of your life the Aries new moon is affecting, you can consider what you what new moon intentions you want to set to move that area of your life forward.
To figure out what area of your life the new moon wants you to focus on, you simply need to know your rising sign. If you don’t know your rising sign (it’s different than your sun or moon sign), then you can read more about it here and you can calculate what it is here.
If your rising sign is Aries, the new moon is inviting you to set intentions about bold new beginnings when it comes to your identity, body, appearance or your spirit. Think about these areas of your life and consider what intentions you want to make during the new moon in order to invite bold new beginnings in your health, personal expression, identity or your relationship with your body.
If your rising sign is in the sign of Taurus, the new moon is inviting you to set intentions of bold new beginnings when it comes to your subconscious mind and those things you hide from others and most importantly those things you hide from yourself. During this new moon set intentions around the kind of shadow work or brain rewiring you’d like to do and the results you’d like to experience from that deep inner work so that you can experience bold new beginnings in your life.
For Gemini people like me, the new moon is inviting you to set intentions of bold new beginnings when it comes to friendships, community or your hopes and wishes. Think about these areas of your life and consider what intentions you want to make during the new moon in order to invite bold new beginnings through in your friendships and community or your hopes and wishes.
If your rising sign is in the sign of Cancer, the new moon is inviting you to set intentions for bold new beginnings when it comes to in your career, reputation or ideas of success. During this new moon, visualize your intentions for moving forward in your career, the kind of success you want to achieve or the kind of reputation you want to build and what bold new beginnings will look like in these areas of your life.
For Leo rising sign people, the new moon is inviting you to set intentions for bold new beginnings when it comes to your faith, spiritual practices, international travel or future success. Think about these areas of your life and consider what intentions you want to make during the new moon in order to invite a bold new beginning in your spirituality or travel dreams or your goals for the future.
For Virgo rising sign people, the new moon is inviting you to set intentions for bold new beginnings when it comes to in the area of death, taxes, your psyche or any debt you have accumulated. How will bold new beginnings help you clear any energetic, emotional or physical debt you may be carrying (your own or your ancestors’)? What would a bold new beginning in your emotional or mental well-being look like? What bold new beginnings can you imagine around these areas of your life?
If your rising sign is in the sign of Libra, the new moon is inviting you to set intentions of bold new beginnings when it comes to your close, intimate relationships or partnerships. Think about your marriage or partnership or best friend relationships and consider how a bold new beginning will help the closest relationships in your life.
For Scorpio rising sign people people, the new moon is inviting you to set intentions of bold new beginnings when it comes to your routines, work, pets or wellness. If you were inviting a bold new beginning in one of these areas of your life, what would that look and feel like? Consider what intentions you can make during this new moon in order to invite a bold new beginning in your routines, your daily work tasks, your relationships with your pets or your health.
For Sagittarius rising sign people, the new moon is inviting you to set intentions of bold new beginnings when it comes to your children, hobbies, pleasure or your creativity. Think about these areas of your life and consider what intentions you want to make during the new moon in order to welcome bold new beginnings in your parenting life, a creative hobby that’s dear to your heart or those activities in your life that bring you joy.
If your rising sign is in the sign of Capricorn, the new moon is inviting you to set intentions of bold new intentions when it comes to your parents, your ancestors, your childhood or your home and living situation. Think about these areas of your life and consider what intentions you can make during this new moon in order to invite a bold new beginning in one of these areas of your life.
For Aquarius rising sign people, the new moon is inviting you to set intentions about inviting a bold new beginning when it comes to learning or teaching, communication, your siblings, the goddess or moon or earth-based rituals. Which one of these topics feels most important for you to focus on during this new moon? Choose one of them and consider what intentions you want to make in order to set a bold new beginning in one of these areas of your life.
Finally, for Pisces people, the new moon is inviting you to set intentions about inviting a bold new beginning when it comes to money, assets, income and your livelihood. Think about these areas of your life and consider what intentions you want to make during the new moon in order to invite a bold new beginning in your finances, possessions or livelihood.
In your art journal, create an image that explore your new moon intentions.
Thursday
The moon is in a happy relationship with Jupiter today.
Jupiter wants to bring harmony, well-being, kindness, justice, abundance, growth, expansion, good luck and balance to your life. The moon is supporting Jupiter’s desire to do this in your life today.
The moon is the queen of the night. She wants to illuminate the darkness, bring about change, be a mirror to reflect us back to ourselves and awaken our receptive and intuitive powers. She represents your body and emotions and reminds you that life is an ever-changing cycle of birth, death, decay and rebirth. She wants to bring kindness, nurturing, novelty and adaptability.
Together, the moon and Jupiter are shining more peace into our lives today. They’re helping us feel open-hearted and generous. They’re supporting us in focusing on what connects us to each other and what brings us together. It’s energy that helps us feel calm and safe and willing to see and receive the goodness other people want to share with us. It’s energy that reminds us what’s good in our life.
One of the best ways to work with this energy is to drop into your heart and choose something in your life to feel grateful for.
Choose that one thing now and focus on it for a moment until you notice a calming, an opening or a small shift in your heart center.
In your art journal, create an image that represents what living with an open heart feels or look like to you.
Friday
The moon is in an intense relationship with Uranus today.
I call it intense because the moon and Uranus close together astrologically speaking and this causes them to combine their energies.
Uranus wants to bring unexpected changes into your life to inspire you to awaken or grow emotionally and spiritually but this doesn’t always happen in a gentle way. Sometimes these changes are welcome and wanted and sometimes you don’t feel ready for them – although ultimately I believe on some spiritual level you probably do. Uranus wants to overturn things in your life that have lost their usefulness -even when you’re not entirely ready for that change.
In this tense kind of relationship with the moon, Uranus might be affecting your emotions and impulses by making you feel uncertain or restless.
Some areas of your life that may be triggered by this energy is your relationship with women and those who significantly identify as such, your childhood relationship with your mother or the main caregiver in your childhood or your relationship with your body.
Think about your past relationships with women or those who significantly identify as such? What kind of relationships have you had with women in the past?
Think about your childhood relationship with your mother? Is there anything about that relationship that would like to be tended to today?
In your art journal, draw, paint or collage an image that explores and celebrates your relationship with the significant women in your life.
Have fun with your art journal and the moon this week.
with love,
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hi i'm dana...
This is a space where art and spirit come together. On the blog, I share art rituals for working with the magic of the moon. I also work with the subconscious mind to lighten your emotional load and follow your creative dreams.
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