Art Journal with the Moon for January 15-21, 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.

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 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.

Claiming my Inner Witch with Capricorn and the Crone Archetype

Monday

The waxing crescent moon moves into the sign of Aries today. It is also having a happy relationship with Pluto and Uranus, an intense relationship with Neptune and a tense relationship with Venus. 

Aries, being a fire sign, ignites a sense of boldness, assertiveness, and initiation. When the moon is in the sign of Aries like it is today, it can stir up strong emotions and a drive to take action, particularly in areas where we need to assert ourselves or take the lead.

For highly sensitive people, this Aries energy can be both empowering and challenging. It offers an opportunity to tap into a wellspring of inner strength and assertiveness that might not always be readily accessible.

Setting healthy boundaries is crucial for highly sensitive people. Growing up in a patriarchal society or having a history of trauma can make this particularly difficult. Highly sensitive individuals often absorb emotions and energies from their environment, making it essential to establish clear boundaries to protect their energy and maintain emotional well-being. The challenge lies in overcoming the conditioning or past experiences that might have led to a tendency to prioritize others’ needs you’re your own.

Creating a page in your art journal while the moon is in Aries can be a powerful way to explore your feelings about setting boundaries. This activity can serve as a safe space to express and process your thoughts and emotions related to speaking up and advocating for yourself. You might choose to use bold colors and assertive strokes or symbols that represent strength and protection. As you create, reflect on what boundaries mean to you, how you can implement them in your life, and the areas where you particularly struggle with boundary-setting.

This form of creative expression can help you understand your feelings about boundaries, why they might be challenging to set, and how you can harness the moon’s energy to empower yourself. It’s an exploration in assertion, helping you to recognize your needs and the importance of respecting them.

In your art journal, draw, paint or collage an image that represents a healthy boundary you want to set in your life this week.

Tuesday

Today the waxing crescent moon is in the sign of Aries. It is also having a tense relationship with Mercury and Mars.

Aries, a fire sign, already brings an energy of assertiveness, enthusiasm, and sometimes impulsiveness. When the moon in Aries interacts tensely with Mercury, the planet of communication, it can lead to emotional expressions becoming more heated or misunderstood. You might feel a rush of ideas but find it challenging to communicate them effectively or sensitively. With Mars also in the mix, known for its fiery and aggressive energy, there’s an added intensity to emotions and actions. This combination can lead to feelings of frustration, impatience, and a quick temper but also stronger feelings of passion and purpose.

Let’s use this opportunity to focus on themes of communication – how you express yourself under stress or when feeling passionate. This page could include fiery colors like reds and oranges to represent Aries and Mars, with symbols or abstract representations of speech and expression for Mercury. As you work on this page, reflect on how you handle conflict, how you express your passions, and how you can communicate more effectively even when under pressure. This isn’t just about creating art; exploring it first in your journal helps you understand and navigate your intense emotions when they arise.

In your art journal, draw, paint or collage an image that explores how you want to communicate when you’re feeling intense emotions.

Wednesday

Today the first quarter moon is in the sign of Aries. It is also having a tense relationship with Pluto and a happy relationship with Venus.

The first quarter moon occurs approximately a week after the new moon, representing a critical point where the initial intentions and ideas set during the new moon begin to take shape and face their first obstacles.

Emotionally, the first quarter moon is often associated with a sense of urgency or a need to act. It’s a time when the initial excitement of the new moon begins to meet the reality of manifestation, often leading to a sense of tension or conflict as challenges arise. This phase encourages us to push through resistance or barriers that may appear, requiring determination and resilience. It’s about harnessing the dynamic and proactive energy of the moon to overcome any hurdles and continue the journey of growth and manifestation.

The first quarter moon phase, symbolizing the push through obstacles and the implementation of intentions set during the new moon, offers a valuable opportunity to bring your internal parts (like your childhood parts, your ancestral parts or your past life parts) into alignment with your intentions.

Aligning your parts means recognizing and addressing the needs, fears, and desires of each part until they are ready to work harmoniously towards a common goal. This is crucial because unacknowledged or conflicted parts can subconsciously sabotage your efforts to achieve your goals. For instance, a part of you might be eager to manifest your new moon intentions but another part might hold back due to fear or past negative experiences.

The first quarter moon is ideal for acknowledging these fears and working to reassure and integrate your hesitant parts. Aligning your internal parts during this moon phase helps ensure that you’re not held back by subconscious patterns or past conditioning. It’s about bringing understanding and cooperation among all parts of your psyche, helping you move forward more unified and focused on your goals.

In your art journal, draw, paint or collage an image that represents all your inner parts having their needs met and working together in harmony.

Thursday

Today, the first quarter moves into the sign of Taurus. It is also busy having a lot of relationships with other planets. It’s having a tense relationship with Pluto, a happy relationship with Mercury, Saturn and Mars and an intense relationship with Jupiter. 

The first quarter moon is a time of growth and building upon the intentions set during the new moon, often requiring some effort and overcoming of obstacles. In Taurus, this phase is infused with a sense of stability, patience, and a focus on comfort.

Emotionally, this is symbolic of a desire for security and a steady approach to facing challenges. Taurus, an earth sign, emphasizes practicality, so seeking tangible results from your efforts can also be a theme to explore in your art journal. Spiritually, this period can be about nurturing your goals with perseverance and a solid plan.

For your art journal, consider creating a page that explores the theme of growth and stability. Emotional and spiritual growth, while beneficial and transformative, can sometimes be destabilizing. As you delve into deeper layers of your consciousness and confront unresolved emotions or past traumas, it can sometimes activate your nervous system, leading to feelings of anxiety, restlessness, or emotional upheaval. This is a natural part of the healing process, of course. Bringing hidden issues to light can initially be unsettling before it leads to greater peace and understanding.

To soothe an activated nervous system during such times, your art journal can be a nurturing and calming tool. Engaging in artistic expression allows you to process emotions non-verbally, which can be particularly soothing. Try using calming colors like blues, greens, or earth tones in your journal because these can have a soothing effect. You can paint or draw with these colors, focusing on the process rather than the outcome, which can be meditative and calming.

Drawing mandalas, which can be circular, symmetrical designs, can also be very calming and centering. The repetitive nature of drawing a mandala can help quiet the mind and bring about a sense of inner peace. Incorporating elements of nature into your journal, like leaves, flowers, or landscapes, can help you feel more grounded. Nature is inherently calming and can help reconnect you with the earth’s stabilizing energy. Dedicate a page to the things you are grateful for. Focusing on gratitude can shift your perspective from stress and anxiety to appreciation and calm.

As you work in your art journal under the Taurus moon, think about the areas of your life where you are seeking to grow and experience more stability at the same time, and how you can patiently work towards this in a practical, steady manner.

In your art journal, create a page that is calming and soothing.

Friday

The first quarter moon is in the sign of Taurus. It is having a happy relationship with Neptune and an intense relationship with Uranus.

With the moon in a harmonious relationship with Neptune, a beautiful theme to focus on in your art journal is the idea of tapping into your intuition and psychic abilities. Neptune’s influence can deepen your connection, enhancing your sensitivity to subtle energies and unseen realms.

Create a page dedicated to exploring and expressing your intuitive insights. Start by choosing colors and imagery that resonate with intuition and psychic perception – maybe to you that means working with deep purples, blues, or shimmering silvers or maybe it means working with earth tones. Trust your creative nudges. You might want to paint or draw an intuitive scene that comes to your mind, focusing what emerges naturally without overthinking. As you create, let your hand move freely, allowing your subconscious mind to guide your artistic expression.

Painting and drawing by following your creative nudges without judging or editing yourself is a liberating and expressive experience. When you engage in this kind of artistic creation, you allow yourself to explore and express whatever comes up naturally, without the constraints of self-criticism or the need for perfection.

In this process, you focus on the act of creating rather than the outcome. It’s like letting your intuition and inner feelings guide your hand. You might start with a color, a line, or a shape that just feels right in the moment, and then let the artwork evolve organically from there. As you continue, you might find that your emotions and subconscious thoughts begin to express themselves on the page, often in ways that surprise you.

The key is to let go of any expectations or preconceived notions about what your art should look like. This means not worrying about whether it’s “good” in a traditional sense, but rather embracing whatever form and direction your creativity takes. It’s about being in the moment, experiencing the flow of your creativity, and enjoying the process of making art.

By not editing yourself, you create a safe space for your true self to emerge and be seen, even if just by you. This can lead to a greater understanding of your inner world and feelings, and often results in art that is uniquely personal and meaningful.

When you’re done, reflect on the image, colors, shapes and symbols you see in your art and think about what you created. What message might your art be conveying to you?  Reflect on your past psychic experiences or moments when your intuition was particularly strong. Write down any insights, feelings, or visions that come to you while you’re playing in your art journal under the moon and Neptune.

In your art journal, create a page by following your creative nudges without judging or editing them then reflect on the page you created.

Saturday

The first quarter moon moves into the sign of Gemini. It is also having a happy relationship with Pluto and a tense relationship with Saturn.

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 is a potent time to act as your own messenger, seeking guidance from those who have gone before you or spiritual entities that guide you. The energy is ripe for messages to flow more easily, for intuitions to be sharper, and for us 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 and the spirit ally or ancestor you’d like to connect to. 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 the ethereal 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 find clarity through connection.

In your art journal, draw, paint or collage an image that represents a question you’d like to ask one of your ancestors or spirit allies.

Sunday

The gibbous moon is in the sign of Gemini today. 

The gibbous moon phase is a time of anticipation and refinement. This phase, occurring just before the full moon, is symbolic of that sense of readiness you feel when you’re close to seeing your dreams or goals realized. It’s also symbolic of the stage in the creation process where you’re editing, revising, fine-tuning, and making the final adjustments before realizing your goals or the intentions you set during the new moon.

Fine-tuning your intentions to ensure they align with your deeper self is about making sure that your goals and aspirations truly resonate with your innermost values, desires, and essence. This process involves a deep self-reflection where you examine not just what you want to achieve, but why you want to achieve it and how it fits with your true self.

It’s about connecting with your core – the part of you that holds your true passions, values, and beliefs. It’s asking yourself whether your intentions bring you genuine joy, fulfillment, and a sense of purpose, or if they’re simply ticking boxes set by others.

Fine-tuning also involves being honest about whether your goals are realistic and attainable, and if they contribute positively to your overall well-being and personal growth. It’s about adjusting your intentions so they not only bring success or achievement in the conventional sense but also nurture your soul, enhance your emotional and spiritual well-being, and help you grow as a person.

Create a page in your art journal that explores the theme of fine-tuning your intentions and ensuring they align with your true self or your higher purpose. This page could be a visual representation of your journey, showing the path you’ve taken and the final steps you’re preparing to take. Use imagery that symbolizes growth, evolution, or a journey – like a road leading towards a destination, a seedling growing into a tree, or a puzzle nearing completion.

As you work on this page, ponder the adjustments or refinements you can make to your current intentions or goals to ensure they are in harmony with your deeper values and spiritual beliefs. This can be a mix of drawing, painting, and even writing, where you can note down thoughts or revelations that come to you during the process.

Some questions you might want to reflect on include:

What are my core values and how do my current intentions align with these values?

How do these intentions contribute to my personal growth and well-being?

Think about whether your goals help you grow as a person, enhance your well-being, or contribute to your overall happiness and fulfillment.

Do these intentions reflect my true desires or are they influenced by external expectations?

Question if your goals are genuinely yours, or if they are shaped by societal norms, family expectations, or peer pressure.

What emotions do I feel when I think about these intentions?

How will achieving these intentions impact my life and the lives of others around me?

This art journaling exercise can be a powerful way to connect emotionally and spiritually with the energy of the gibbous moon. It helps to focus your mind and spirit on fine-tuning your path, ensuring that what you are about to bring to fruition is truly in alignment with your authentic self and spiritual journey.

In your art journal, create an image that represents an adjustment you’re making to your new moon intentions so they better align with your true self.

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

with love,

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