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Art Journal with the Moon for July 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.
My Thoughts on the Moon This Week
Happy new moon in Cancer my friends.
Astrologically speaking, the New Moon is a time of new beginnings, fresh perspectives, and setting intentions. It marks the start of a lunar cycle and provides a fertile ground for sowing the seeds of creativity. When the New Moon occurs in the nurturing and sensitive sign of Cancer, its influence amplifies our emotions and intuition. The sign of Cancer also carries themes around home and family.
Under the influence of Cancer, our intuition is heightened. It’s a good time to set intentions around your home and family and dive into your emotions which is the journey I take us through in the Creative Moon Guide for the Cancer/Aquarius Lunar Cycle that I delivered to inboxes today. I actually focused specifically on healing broken heart memories and connecting with the Great Mother archetype for emotional healing in that particular Create Moon Guide. If you don’t yet receive these free creative moon guides but you’d the next one, click here.
This particular new moon has some intensity to it and that intensity will flavor the energy of the next couple weeks. The reason it is a little more energetically busy than usual is because this week the lunar nodes change signs and Venus goes retrograde in the sign of Leo. I won’t talk about Venus going retrograde this week but just know every time the moon has a relationship with Venus over the next 40 days, it will be drawing down this energy.
I do, however, want to say a little more about the lunar nodes.
The lunar nodes changing signs creates a new background lunar influence for the next 18 months. They are especially relevant during eclipse season which happens every spring and fall I believe. I myself am not as astrologer. My spiritual practice simply involves art journaling with the moon so understanding the astrological experiences the moon is moving through is important to me but I have to learn from astrologers what it all means. I want to share with you here what I learned as I educated myself about this big shift.
This particular shift of the lunar nodes was especially important to me as my biggest emotional and spiritual lessons in my life happen to be in my 11th house which is the house of friendship and for me, is in the sign of Aries. We’ve already experienced an eclipse in this new lunar energy and during that time one of my best friends moved away. Eclipses bring major beginnings and major endings so I was blown away by how accurate the astrology became for me. It really shouldn’t have surprised me though. Ancient astrology keeps blowing me away by its accuracy.
The lunar nodes, consisting of the South Node and North Node, represent past lessons and life purpose.
The South Node represents our past experiences, conditioning, and spiritual and emotional patterns carried forward from previous lifetimes. It signifies our comfort zone, talents, and abilities that we have already mastered. It also indicates tendencies and behaviors that may hold us back when we rely on them too much. The South Node invites us to acknowledge our past, understand its influence on our present, and discern which patterns need to be released or transformed for our growth.
As it moves into Libra, the focus turns towards relationships, balance, and harmony. The South Node in Libra invites us to reflect on past relationship dynamics, patterns of compromise, and a desire for peace at any cost. It calls us to examine codependent tendencies, seeking validation externally, and the need for external harmony. It encourages us to release any imbalances in relationships and find our individuality within the context of relationships or partnerships.
To understand how this applies to you personally, you’ll want to see the astrological house the sign of Libra lands in your birth chart and the areas of your life that are focused on in that particular astrological house.
The North Node represents our soul’s evolutionary direction and purpose in this lifetime. It highlights the qualities, skills, and experiences we need to cultivate to move forward on our spiritual path. The North Node challenges us to step outside our comfort zone, embrace new experiences, and expand our consciousness. It offers opportunities for growth, self-discovery, and the realization of our true potential.
With the North Node shifting into Aries, it calls for the embrace of individuality, self-assertion, and self-discovery. Aries encourages us to step into our own power, take initiative, and forge our own path. The North Node in Aries invites us to be courageous, authentic, and true to ourselves, even if it means challenging societal norms or facing resistance. It invites us to cultivate a sense of self and embark on a journey of self-discovery and personal growth. It also focuses on taking action and moving forward boldly. Aries signifies a need to prioritize our individuality, self-expression, and the courage to stand on our own. It invites us to step into our authentic power, assert our needs, and forge our own path.
Again, to understand how this applies to you personally, you’ll want to see the astrological house the sign of Aries lands in your birth chart and the areas of your life that are focused on in that particular house.
Emotionally, the lunar nodes changing into these signs may bring up the exploration of relationships, finding healthy boundaries, and learning to assert ourselves authentically. Spiritually, it encourages us to find harmony within ourselves, embrace our individuality, and cultivate self-reliance. These themes challenge us to find the balance between self and others.
To navigate the energies of the lunar nodes in Libra and Aries, you’re going to want to reflect on your relationship patterns and maybe even explore your experience with setting healthy boundaries. You can also think about what embracing your individuality in relationships means to you, asserting your needs, and cultivating self-reliance, while still finding ways to be in relationship with the people you love.
This shift in energy with the lunar nodes happens on the same day as the new moon in Cancer.
You don’t have to do anything about this lunar energy but it is helpful to understand the way the moon is being influenced in the background for the next 18 months or so and just be mindful of those Libra and Aries themes which is why I wanted to share it with you.
In the spirit of the new moon in Cancer, this week in my art journal with the moon prompts, I’m focusing on healing memories of a broken heart and connecting with the archetype of the Great Mother. I hope you enjoy the journey and whether or not you actually have time to pull out your art journal and create, spend a quiet moment each day just tuning into the lunar energy and imagine what you would paint or draw in your art journal if you could.
Monday
It’s a new moon in Cancer today.
The new moon is the darkest of the moon phases. I like to think of this phase as an empty garden plot filled with rich black dirt just waiting for me to plant a seed in. It is a time to go inward, be still and dream up what you next want to create in your life. You can help yourself get unstuck by using this time to get clear on what it is you really want, look forward, plan and think about what success means to you – especially in the area of your life that the new moon was focusing its energy in.
This particular new moon is in the sign of Cancer. Cancer energy is nocturnal in nature. It is sensitive, sentimental and carries the wisdom of cycles. It is connected to your ancestors, your roots and your feelings of home. It walks alongside your subconscious realm. It is the wise and whole mother within who knows how to wrap and protect and care for all your inner parts. It is calm, compassionate and nurturing but it is also emotions that move up and down and all around. It wants to help you meet your emotional needs and teach you have to feel emotionally safe. It can help you change and transform your inner landscape but it can also amplify your defensiveness or resistance.
To personalize this new moon even further, let’s get specific and see the area of YOUR life that this new moon energy is focused on.
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. I also show you how to calculate your birth chart using the whole sign house system here. When you create your birth chart in this way, you will see your rising sign is the zodiac sign that occupies the first house in your birth chart.
If your rising sign is Aries, then the new moon is inviting you to connect with the archetype of the Great Mother and heal a memory of a time your heart felt broken when it comes to your family, your ancestors or your home and living situation. Think about these areas of your life and consider what intentions you want to make in order to heal that memory with unconditional love, understanding and compassion.
If your rising sign is Taurus, the new moon is inviting you to connect with the archetype of the Great Mother and heal a memory of a time your heart felt broken when it comes to learning, the way you communicate or express yourself, your relationship with your siblings or peers, or your experience with the goddess and nature or moon-based rituals. Which one of these topics feel 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 heal that memory of a broken heart with unconditional love, understanding and compassion.
For Gemini people like me, the new moon is inviting you to connect with the archetype of the Great Mother and heal a memory of a time your heart felt broken when it comes to your relationship with money, your income or your livelihood or your assets and the things you own. Which one of these topics feel 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 heal that memory of a broken heart with unconditional love, understanding and compassion.
If your rising sign is in the sign of Cancer, the new moon is inviting you to connect with the archetype of the Great Mother and heal a memory of a time your heart felt broken when it comes to your identity, your relationship with your body, your appearance or your relationship with your spirit or your true essence. Which one of these topics feel 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 heal that memory of a broken heart with unconditional love, understanding and compassion.
For Leo people, the new moon is inviting you to connect with the archetype of the Great Mother and heal a memory of a time your heart felt broken – especially a memory that lives in your subconscious mind or includes secrets or something you hide from yourself or others. Choose a memory then consider what intentions you want to make in order to heal that memory of a broken heart with unconditional love, understanding and compassion.
For Virgo people, the new moon is inviting you to connect with the archetype of the Great Mother and heal a memory of a time your heart felt broken when it comes to friendships, groups, community or your hopes and wishes. Which one of these topics feel 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 heal that memory of a broken heart with unconditional love, understanding and compassion.
If your rising sign is Libra, the new moon is inviting you to connect with the archetype of the Great Mother and heal a memory of a time your heart felt broken when it comes to your career, reputation or ideas of success. Which one of these topics feel 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 heal that memory of a broken heart with unconditional love, understanding and compassion.
For Scorpio rising sign people, the new moon is inviting you to connect with the archetype of the Great Mother and heal a memory of a time your heart felt broken when it comes to your faith, spiritual practices, international travel or future success. Which one of these topics feel 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 heal that memory of a broken heart with unconditional love, understanding and compassion.
For Sagittarius rising sign people, the new moon is inviting you to connect with the archetype of the Great Mother and heal a memory of a time your heart felt broken when it comes to your psyche and your emotional or mental well-being or any debt you have accumulated (your own or your ancestors) or your relationship with money you’ve shared with someone else or your relationship with taxes. Which one of these topics feel 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 heal that memory of a broken heart with unconditional love, understanding and compassion.
If your rising sign is Capricorn, the new moon is inviting you to connect with the archetype of the Great Mother and heal a memory of a time your heart felt broken when it comes to a close, intimate relationship, your marriage or a partnership. Which one of these topics feel 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 heal that memory of a broken heart with unconditional love, understanding and compassion.
For Aquarius rising sign people, the new moon is inviting you to connect with the archetype of the Great Mother and heal a memory of a time your heart felt broken when it comes to your daily work routines, a relationship with a pet or your health and wellness. Which one of these topics feel 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 heal that memory of a broken heart with unconditional love, understanding and compassion.
Finally, for Pisces people, the new moon is inviting you to connect with the archetype of the Great Mother and heal a memory of a time your heart felt broken when it comes to your children, your hobbies, your sex life, your relationship with pleasure or your relationship with creativity or a creative project. Which one of these topics feel 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 heal that memory of a broken heart with unconditional love, understanding and compassion.
In your art journal, create an image that reflects your new moon intentions.
Tuesday
Today the moon is still in the new moon phase but it is now in the sign of Leo.
Leo is ruled by the sun and brings qualities of passion, self-expression, and playfulness. Leo, symbolized by the regal lion, invites us to embrace our inner strength, step into the spotlight, and express our authentic selves with confidence and enthusiasm. The moon in Leo invites you to step into the spotlight, express your emotions boldly, and reclaim your personal power. This is especially helpful when you’re healing memories of a broken heart, which is the emotional theme we are focusing on this week as we art journal with the moon.
Experiences that leave us feeling broken-hearted can often leave us feeling powerless and depleted. However, it is essential to remember that we always have personal power waiting to be reclaimed.
Reclaiming your personal power means recognizing and embracing your innate strength, authenticity, and ability to create positive change in your life. It involves acknowledging that you have control over your thoughts, emotions, and actions, and that your experiences do not define your worth or determine your future. Reclaiming your personal power is reclaiming your sovereignty and taking responsibility for your own happiness and fulfillment.
When you are not standing in your personal power, you may feel disempowered and helpless, as if life is happening to you rather than through you. You might allow others to make your decisions and set boundaries for you. You might even let them step all over your boundaries or be unaware that you even have any. You might seek external validation and approval to feel worthy or confident. You might compare yourself to others and feel inadequate. You might suppress your true thoughts and emotions to avoid conflict or maintain peace. You might feel overwhelmed by fear, self-doubt, or a lack of self-belief.
I know I’ve experienced all of these after my most devastating heart breaks.
Let’s connect with the energy of the moon in Leo in our art journals to reclaim your personal power.
Select colors that evoke strength, resilience, and healing. Gold, vibrant oranges, fiery reds, and warm yellows can represent the Leo energy, igniting your inner power and courage.
Using a pencil, lightly sketch the outline of a lion’s head on a blank page in your art journal. Start with a basic circle shape for the head and add guidelines for the facial features. Don’t worry about perfection; this is a creative and expressive process. Color the lion’s head with shades associated with Leo and the sun or colors that symbolize standing in your power.
Trace over the lines with a fine-tip black marker or pen. This step will make the lion’s head more defined and bold, emphasizing its presence and strength.
When you’re done, reflect on the image you created and think about how the symbolism of the lion makes you feel.
In your art journal, draw the head of a lion and color it with colors that to you represent standing in your power.
Wednesday
The moon is in a square, or in other words, a tense relationship with the planet Jupiter today.
Jupiter is one of the more brilliant planets in the sky, only surpassed by Venus. Jupiter brings radiance and luminosity as well as harmony, well-being and kindness. It promotes justice, law, forgiveness and moderation. Jupiter is considered beneficial to life. It brings abundance, growth and balance. It is a symbol of honor, generosity and charity. I likes to help you expand and grow.
The tension created by the square between the moon and Jupiter can create inspiration, motivation and joy. It’s good energy to be in to stretch yourself, take a risk or leap of faith, trust your intuition and push yourself forward in the direction you most want to go.
What direction do you most want to go?
We’re still in the new moon energy so setting intentions is still a helpful thing to focus on today.
What brings you the most joy and fulfillment in life?
What dreams have you put on hold?
Which long-held dreams or aspirations have you tucked away due to fear, self-doubt, or external pressures?
Are there any of those desires you want to move towards now?
Close your eyes and imagine yourself already in the place where you most want to go. What does it look like? How does it feel?
Cut out images or words from magazines that symbolize your desired destination or the qualities and experiences you wish to cultivate along the way. Arrange them on your art journal page in a collage that resonates with your vision.
Use colors and textures that evoke the emotions and energy associated with your desired destination. Experiment with different mediums such as paints, markers, or pastels to embellish your collage with designs, words or magical symbols.
In your art journal, create a vision board that represents the direction you want to move towards in your life.
Thursday
The moon is in an intense relationship with Venus today. I call it intense because astrologically speaking they are close together and this amplifies and intensifies the energy the moon is reflecting down to us from this relationship with Venus.
Venus wants to bring fertility and growth. Venus loves the idea of reigning more beauty, grace, softness, love, friendship, harmony, passion, sensuality, intimacy and happiness into your life and relationships. The energy of Venus also brings playfulness, pleasure and joy. Venus wants to help you enjoy your life. Venus isn’t great at making you get your work done or motivating you to put effort into something but Venus does love to help you express yourself artistically and with love.
The moon is intensifying all this goodness so it’s a great day to focus on love, affection and pleasure. Venus wants us to see what its like to thrive not just survive.
What does thriving look like to you?
Does it seem possible to you?
If so, which details in your everyday life would be the same and which ones would be different?
In your art journal, draw, paint or collage an image of what your life looks like when you’re thriving.
Friday
This moon phase is when a silver sliver of the moon begins to appear in the night sky. The moon is moving from being dark, still and invisible to growing and coming into full power.
I like to think of this phase as the time when the dream seeds I planted during the New Moon are just starting to form shoots or tiny roots. I might not be able to see my prayers being answered or my dreams manifesting but I can have faith that despite the limited capabilities of what my physical senses can pick up, Spirit is conspiring in my favor and there are invisible forces at work in my life helping me to grow, heal, evolve and create.
In my art rituals, this is the time when I’m meditating on the intentions I set during the New Moon. I’m revisiting my intentions and trying to call them up in my imagination again and trying to tap into the emotions those intentions evoke within me. I’m feeding my dreams with the power of my imagination and my emotions.
How far can you stretch your imagination today?
How much goodness can you imagine growing in your life today?
How many invisible forces can you imagine are helping you today?
How many invisible actions can you imagine your angels and spirit guides are taking to help you reach your goals and manifest your new moon intentions?
In your art journal, create an image of your spirit allies helping you reach your goals.
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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