Art Journal with the Moon for February 12-18, 2024

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.

The Moon This Week

That was a powerful new moon last week. What was your experience with it like?

I knew the new moon in Aquarius was going to be a wild ride, but I had no idea what that meant exactly or where it would lead me. I just had a sense of its relevance and intensity.

What ended up happening surprised me – but looking at my birth chart, it really shouldn’t have.

Check Your Chart

With the new moon, the Aquarius part of your birth chart received a lot of action and support last week because the moon, the sun, Mercury and Pluto were hanging out in that constellation of stars and bringing their gifts and magic into that area of your life. This week, the Aquarius part of your birth chart and the corresponding areas of your life that are affected by this Aquarian energy continue to receive more love and support. Mars and Venus are joining the party and bringing their gifts and magic there as well.

Aquarius is in my ninth house which, in ancient astrology, means the areas of my life that have to do with international travel, faith, spirituality, philosophy, expanding my horizons and teaching and publishing. I’ve been focused on publishing themes in my art rituals as I’m finally feeling ready to complete a couple book ideas I’ve been working on for a long time but the new moon art ritual I led during the online Held by the Moon gathering sent me in a different direction.

Art and Ritual Lead to Alignment

During my Held by the Moon gatherings and especially the ones where we practice a moon ritual in our art journals together like we did on Friday, I leave space and time for each of us to play and create in our art journals. As we were doing this, I went on an unexpected inner journey. It felt like my heart busted wide open and these beautiful emotions welled up inside me. The passion and the deeper reasons for why I write my books, lead my online courses and do the work I do came pouring out.

I saw myself as a wildfire of passion moving swiftly across the landscape with a desire to light a spiritual fire and set magic and wonder ablaze whenever and wherever I can.

I realized I love inspiring people to connect with the Divine and I’m passionate about helping others maintain long-lasting, deeply meaningful and collaborative relationships with the Divine through art and ritual. I also realized I have always had a deeply meaningful and personal relationship with the Divine. I never had to search for it. It was just always there. I came into this world feeling closely connected to the Divine.

I wasn’t always conscious of it and when I was disassociated and disconnected from myself, my relationship with the Divine existed but it was a little different than it is now. At that time, I wouldn’t have been able to articulate what it was. It just was.

The knowledge and realization of this has left me a little dumbfounded. I didn’t know this about myself in the way I know it now, but it is indeed true. I am driven by a passion to inspire meaningful relationships with the Divine. Faith and spirituality are my soul’s calling. I like helping people experience the Divine through art, the moon and ritual which feels sacred but in a playful way and carries a childlike element of creativity to it but nevertheless, I am far more spiritually serious than I realized.

It feels like meeting a part of myself that I sometimes judge, sometimes feel apologetic for, sometimes want to reject but ultimately know to be true. I’m a deeply spiritual person with a deep faith and connection to the Divine.

The Power of Moon Rituals

I feel like all this healing and peeling back layers of who I am NOT forces me to see who I really am and sometimes that surprises me.

This happened because moon rituals, even playful ones you do in your art journal, connect you to the natural world and its cycles where change and growth naturally happens. Rituals, including art-based ones, serve as potent moments of reflection, intention-setting, and release, fostering profound inner transformation. By aligning your personal rhythms with those of the moon in your art journal, you tap into a greater flow, one that moves you closer to your authentic self and the Divine.

The inner transformation you experience from your spiritual practices is essential because it involves shedding layers of conditioning, limiting beliefs, and unhelpful patterns that have accumulated over time. This process of introspection and renewal allows you to peel away the aspects of yourself that no longer serve you, revealing the core of who you truly are. It’s a little like removing clouds that sit in front of the sun; as these layers are cleared, your true nature shines more brightly.

This alignment with the Divine and your soul is not just a spiritual concept but a lived experience that welcomes a lot of good into your life. It brings a sense of peace, purpose, and clarity, guiding you in making choices that resonate with your true self. It fosters a sense of harmony within and with the world around you, enhancing your relationships, creativity, and your overall well-being.

When moon rituals are coupled with a healing modality like the MAP Method, which is something I like to do in my Held by the Moon gatherings, the potential for inner healing is amplified. The MAP Method works on the neurological level to help rewire your brain, dissolving negative beliefs and patterns in a gentle yet profound way.

I find pairing emotional and nervous system care with spiritual growth to be helpful for highly sensitive people like me. We tend to experience the effects of our spirituality across all aspects of our being; emotionally, psychologically, and physically.

It’s nice to have all layers tended to and nurtured when your spiritual practices cause you to grow and transform.

The Transformation Continues

I’m afraid we’re not done growing and transforming in the Aquarius parts of our lives. With Mars and Venus moving into the sign of Aquarius this week you can look forward to helpful energy continuing to align you with your soul and your true self in those areas of your life.

Mars will help you see what kind of action steps you can take and which decisions you can make that will set you up for success and allow you to follow through. Venus will bring an open-minded energy that will help you understand and respect different points of view. Venus will also help you connect with people who give you a sense of belonging without the need to conform or lose your sense of self.

Following Through on Your Creative Dreams

I’ll be working with this energy in the next Held by the Moon gathering which will be held on Friday from 11 am – 12:30 pm MT. Our theme is Following Through on Your Creative Dreams with Mars in Aquarius.

The energy Mars is bringing to the Aquarius parts of your life may ignite a desire to take steps forward towards your creative dreams. If all your inner parts are in alignment with your creative dreams, you may do this with relative ease and flow. If, however, not all your inner parts feel safe to move forward, the experience can be a bit more challenging.

When you’re experiencing a conflict between different parts of your inner self, especially regarding your creative dreams, it can feel like an internal tug-of-war.

Part of you might be bursting with ideas and a desire to create, while another part holds back, feeling doubtful and afraid. This conflict can lead to anxiety, restlessness, or a sense of frustration or dissatisfaction.

You might notice behaviors like procrastination, where you find yourself doing anything but the creative work you aspire to do. There could also be moments of self-sabotage, where you talk yourself out of opportunities related to your creative pursuits, or you might start projects with enthusiasm only to abandon them when the critical inner voices get too loud.

This internal struggle can manifest in physical symptoms as well, such as trouble sleeping, changes in appetite, or a general feeling of being stuck or immobilized. The excitement of creativity is countered by a fear of vulnerability, leading to a cycle where you’re caught between wanting to move forward and being pulled back by your protective parts.

This conflict creates a stalemate that hinders your ability to follow through on your creative dreams, leaving you feeling divided and unsure of how to proceed.

The inability to follow through on your creative dreams can be understood as a conflict between different parts of your inner self. You might have one part that is passionate and driven about pursuing your creative dreams, eager to express itself and explore possibilities. However, there might be other parts that hold back this creative pursuit, such as a part that fears failure and rejection, or a part that carries beliefs about not being good enough, which were possibly formed from past experiences. There might also be a protective part that tries to keep you safe from potential hurt or disappointment by avoiding taking risks or stepping out of your comfort zone. I see these parts as inner child parts, past life parts or parts connected to your ancestors and the ways in which they experienced the world.

Working with Your Inner Parts to Move Forward

To tend to these inner parts struggling to follow through on your creative dreams, in this Held by the Moon Gathering, we will work with art, the moon and the MAP Method, approaching your inner parts with curiosity, compassion, and openness.

We’ll work with your subconscious mind to acknowledge each part’s presence and understand its concerns and motivations. The goal is to build a trusting relationship with these parts, showing them they are heard and valued, and reassuring them that they don’t have to carry their burdens alone. By doing so, you can help these parts relax and release their grip, allowing your creative and passionate parts more freedom to express themselves.

Ultimately, we hope to achieve a balance and harmony within your inner system, where all parts feel safe and supported so that you feel excited and ready to move forward with your creative dreams.

If you have a creative dream you’re pursuing this year and you like the idea of helping your inner parts feel aligned with it or you just love to hang out in sacred space with your art journal and the moon, click on the link below to join me.

Learn More or Register Here

Monday

The waxing crescent moon moves into the sign of Aries today. It also in a happy relationship with Mars and Pluto and an intense relationship with Neptune.

When Mars is in a happy relationship with the Moon like it is today, it supports us to take action on our creative dreams. Mars, symbolizing our drive, ambition, and the way we assert ourselves, harmoniously interacts with the Moon, which represents our emotions, intuition, and inner world. This happy relationship between the moon and Mars can be particularly empowering for those who are highly sensitive and creative, as it combines the Moon’s deep emotional sensitivity with Mars’s action-oriented energy.

For highly sensitive people, taking action on creative dreams can sometimes be hindered by emotional overwhelm or sensitivity. However, today Mars and the Moon offer a gentle nudge, encouraging action that is in harmony with your feelings and sensitivities. It’s like having a supportive coach who understands your emotional landscape and still motivates you to pursue your passions and projects. This energy can help in channeling emotional energy into constructive action, making it easier to bring creative visions into reality.

The relationship the moon is having with Mars today asks you to consider how you can align your actions with your emotional needs and creative dreams. It’s about finding a balance between doing and feeling, ensuring that your actions reflect your true inner self. For those who often find themselves stuck due to fear or emotional blocks, this can be a good time to tend to the inner parts of you who need compassion, support and care to finally get on board with your creative dreams or it can be a good time to find the courage to act in spite of your fears or doubts, using your sensitivity as a strength rather than seeing it as a hindrance.

Ultimately, it’s an opportunity for emotional and creative growth, helping you use your deep feelings as a catalyst for taking action towards your dreams.

In your art journal, draw, paint or collage an image that represents taking the next step towards your creative dreams.

Tuesday

Today the waxing crescent moon is in the sign of Aries. It is also having a happy relationship with the planet Mercury.

Aries is ruled by the planet Mars so the moon is carrying a little of that planet’s energy as well.

Aries energy in its 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.

For highly sensitive people, setting boundaries is crucial for protecting your energy and ensuring you have the space and tranquility needed to focus on your creative dreams. The moon’s energy in Aries offers a supportive push to speak your boundaries and follow through with them so that your precious time and energy is given to the people and things that matter most to you – including your creative dreams.

It’s a reminder that asserting yourself and claiming personal space is not only necessary but is a step towards fulfilling your creative potential. The moon in Aries is a good time to reassess how you allocate your time and energy, making sure you are not only accommodating others but also prioritizing your own needs and goals.

What does setting boundaries to protect and pursue your creative dreams look like?

What do you need to say and to whom do you need to say it to?

In your art journal, draw, paint or collage an image that represents speaking up and setting a clear boundary with kindness and assertiveness.

Wednesday

Today the waxing crescent moon moves into the sign of Taurus. It is also having a happy relationship with Saturn, an intense relationship with Jupiter and a tense relationship with Venus, Pluto and Mars.

Emerging from the darkness of the new moon, the waxing crescent moon symbolizes the first visible evidence of your intentions and desires beginning to take form. It’s a time of promise and potential that whispers of growth and possibilities yet to unfold.

For those of us who are highly sensitive and carry creative dreams, the waxing crescent moon offers a gentle, supportive energy. It’s the universe nodding in encouragement, urging you to trust in the validity of your dreams and the importance of nurturing them.

This phase of the moon is about taking the seeds you planted during the new moon—those quiet intentions set in sacred space—and tenderly helping them into the light. It’s a reminder that even your biggest, wildest, grandest dreams start small, and that every first step must be taken in faith because you can’t yet see exactly where you are going or where your creative dreams will lead you.

The waxing crescent moon is a good time to revisit the intentions you set during the new moon. Ask yourself: What steps can I take, however small, to bring my dreams closer to reality? This moon phase encourages you to take action, even if it’s just a small gesture or a subtle shift in your daily routine, to affirm your commitment to your creative dreams.

This is also a time to nurture your inner light, to be kind to yourself as you navigate the vulnerabilities that naturally come with having a creative dream and try your best to move towards it. It’s not an easy thing to do and there are bound to be challenges along the way. The waxing crescent moon’s energy encourages you to move forward with gentleness and determination.

It’s a time to weave your creative dreams into the fabric of your daily life. In your art journal, under the waxing crescent moon, you might create a visual reminder of your new moon intentions or explore through drawing, painting, or writing, the steps you feel called to take next.

In your art journal, draw, paint or collage an image that revisits the intentions you made during the new moon in Aquarius.

Thursday

The waxing crescent moon is in the sign of Taurus. It is also having an intense relationship with Jupiter and Uranus and a tense relationship with Mercury. 

The moon in the sign of Taurus brings grounding and comfort. Taurus is ruled by the planet Venus, so the moon is drawing down a little of that planet’s magic as well.

Taurus, an earth sign, is known for its connection to the physical senses, stability, and a deep appreciation for the beauty of the natural world. The emotional and spiritual properties of the moon in Taurus are all about nurturing a sense of peace, security, and well-being in our inner lives. It encourages us to find harmony in simplicity, urging us to connect with the earth and the rhythm of nature as sources of healing and rejuvenation.

For highly sensitive people who carry creative dreams, the Taurus moon offers a reminder to slow down, allowing you to breathe more deeply and connect with the steady beat of your own heart. The moon in Taurus supports you by grounding your dreams in reality, encouraging patience and persistence. The energy of Taurus reminds you that great creations take time to manifest and that the journey is as important as the destination.

High sensitivity often comes with its own set of challenges, such as feeling overwhelmed by the world’s noise or battling self-doubt. The moon in Taurus helps to steady these fluctuations, offering a solid foundation from which to approach your creative work. It’s an invitation to indulge in self-care, to nurture your body and spirit, and to seek out environments that replenish your energy so that you can return to work on your creative dreams feeling refreshed, inspired and positive.

While the moon is in the sign of Taurus, you might find it especially beneficial to connect with nature, perhaps by spending time preparing seeds for the garden you plan to plant later in spring, walking in your favorite forest, or simply sitting outside and letting the earth’s energy soothe your spirit. Engaging in creative activities that involve the hands, like sculpting, gardening, or cooking, can also be a way to harmonize with the Taurus moon’s energy. These activities not only ground you but also help manifest your creative dreams into tangible forms, step by patient step.

In essence, the moon’s passage through Taurus is a gentle reminder that true strength lies in steadiness and that nurturing your inner world is as crucial as pursuing your dreams and goals. It’s a good time to embrace the slow and steady path, to trust in the process, and to remember that your sensitivity is a gift that enriches your creative dreams, offering depth and insight that are truly unique.

In your art journal, create a page that represents the comfort or beauty you find in nature.

Friday

The first quarter moon moves into the sign of Gemini today. It is also in a happy relationship with Pluto, Mars, Venus and Neptune.

In ancient astrology, the moon in Gemini carries a connection to Mercury, the fleet-footed messenger of the gods. Mercury had the unique ability to move between the worlds – from the realms of the divine to the earth and even to the underworld. This made him a bridge, a communicator between gods and humans, as well as between the living and the spirits of the departed. When the moon, symbolizing our emotions and intuition, is in Gemini, it illuminates this Mercurial theme of communication and connection across realms.

Emotionally, the moon in Gemini stirs a heightened desire to communicate, not just with the living but also with the unseen – our spirit allies and ancestors. Spiritually, this can be a good time to act as your own messenger, seeking guidance from those who have gone before you or spiritual entities that guide you. The energy allows messages to flow more easily, for intuition to be sharper, and for you to be more attuned to signs or symbols that the universe might offer.

To harness this energy in your art journal, consider creating a dedicated space or page for dialogue with the unseen. Start by setting an intention to connect with a specific ancestor or spirit ally. Use imagery that reminds you of them or symbols associated with Mercury. Write down questions you’d like answers to or simply allow your hand to move freely, channeling any messages that might come through. Let your art journal act as the sacred space where you and your spirit allies can meet, communicate, and exchange wisdom. Remember, this is a personal journey, and whatever emerges on the page is meant for you. Let the moon in Gemini inspire you to bridge the worlds and deepen your connection to your spirit allies and the energies that are here wanting to lovingly support you and your creative dreams.

In your art journal, write a letter to your spirit allies asking them for help with something you are currently struggling with then draw, paint or collage an image that represents how you imagine they would answer.

Saturday

The first quarter moon is in the sign of Gemini. It is also having a tense relationship with Saturn.

The first quarter moon represents action and decision. This phase occurs when the moon is halfway between the new moon and the full moon, representing a point of tension between the potential planted during the new moon and the culmination that the full moon brings. It’s the difference between the seeds of intention you plant and the actual outcomes or results you experience.

The first quarter moon also represents a push for growth, a call to overcome challenges, and an urging to make tangible steps toward realizing your dreams and intentions.

For highly sensitive people who carry a creative dream deep in their hearts, the first quarter moon is both a challenge and a beacon of support. The energy is building. It’s a period that can stir up inner turmoil, as the pressure to act and the fear of failure become more pronounced. However, the energy of the first quarter moon encourages you to break through barriers, whether they’re external obstacles or internal doubts, pushing you to take concrete actions toward making your creative dreams a reality.

The first quarter moon also asks you to balance your rich inner world and your sensitivities with the external demands of bringing your creative projects into the light. The first quarter moon’s energy supports you in taking bold steps, even if they’re small ones, reminding you that every action taken in pursuit of your dreams is valuable and meaningful.

It’s a good time to actively engage with your art, to experiment, and to take creative risks you’ve been contemplating. It’s a call to move beyond your comfort zone and to trust in the unique perspective that your sensitivity brings to your work. This can also be a period of heightened intuition, where you’re encouraged to listen closely to your inner guidance and let it inform your creative decisions.

The truth is your sensitivity enriches your capacity to create and to connect with the world in profound ways. As much as your sensitivity is a gift, it can also bring challenges. The first quarter moon reminds you that challenges and discomfort are often precursors to growth and achievement. Embrace your vulnerabilities, recognize them as sources of strength, and allow them to propel you forward on your creative journey.

In your art journal, draw, paint or collage an image that represents breaking some obstacles or challenges you’re facing as you move toward your creative dreams.

Sunday

The first quarter moon moves into the sign of Cancer today. It is also having a happy relationship with Mercury and a tense relationship with Neptune.

Mercury is the messenger of the Gods. It is concerned with communication and connection. It influences transportation, commerce, language, writing, speaking and education. It also represents the mind. When it’s happy it is helpful to the mind and learning and inspires curiosity, ingenuity and business. In a happy state with the moon like it is today it brings helpful thoughts, good communication, ease with technology, curiosity and success in business.

It’s a day where your right and left brain are harmonious and respectful of each other. You’re more likely to trust your intuition or follow your creative impulses. Because the moon rules your emotions and dreams it’s also a day where you’re more likely to communicate how you feel in a way that others will respond to in a caring or helpful way.

In your art journal, create a page that represents carrying helpful, loving thoughts towards yourself and your creative dreams.

Have fun with your art journal and the moon this week.

with love,

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