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Art Journal with the Moon for July 24-30, 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 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.
When you’re ready, sign up for my free Creative Moon Cycle Guide and every new moon I’ll send you a beautiful booklet that guides you to work with the upcoming lunar cycle in your art journal to heal your emotional wounds or practice magic and create the changes you want to see in your life.
Grow Bigger and Brighter Like the Moon
This week the moon is growing in light and so am I. I’m resonating with the waxing moon in a way I didn’t expect to. After the Cancer new moon and the deep dive I did in my emotional realms to tend to some broken heart memories and connect with Great Mother, I feel stronger and more hopeful. This is saying a lot considering the world we live in these days and considering the fact I’m a late bloomer who has stumbled more times than she succeeded.
The world faces a lot of challenges and struggles, leaving many of us feeling overwhelmed and uncertain about the future and I’m no exception. In the midst of such turbulence, it can be incredibly challenging to maintain a sense of hope, positivity, and the ability to dream of better possibilities. The emotions I encounter on this journey are like a rollercoaster, ranging from grief and loss to anxiety and fear, while still trying to follow my dreams.
For highly sensitive people, navigating uncertain times can be particularly intense and overwhelming. As empaths, we have a heightened sensitivity to emotional information, absorbing energies from the environment, other people, and even the collective consciousness. Grief and loss are natural responses to the changes and losses we experience, whether it be the loss of loved ones, familiar routines, or the life we once knew. These emotions can feel heavy and overwhelming, making it difficult to see a clear path forward – especially since we’re navigating our own emotions and the emotional information around us. Maintaining hope and positivity can feel like an uphill battle – but I choose to keep taking one step after another up that damn hill and this particular moon is making me feel happy that I do.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not taking steps forward thinking things will only get better and better. I know that’s not the case. There’s a lot of mess our world is sorting through. I’m taking steps forward because I want to focus on the good that is here among the chaos and uncertainty.
I developed this skill of resilience and determination the hard way, by falling repeatedly and having to pick myself back up. I’ve come to learn it’s not about looking for a future without setbacks, disappointment, or heart breaks. It’s about gathering more tools in my emotional and spiritual toolbox and learning how to care and nurture myself through the hard times because there will always be hard times.
I identify as a late bloomer. I was lost for so long in my life – even when I thought I wasn’t. I’ve come to learn it takes me longer than most to get where I want to go.
I see late bloomers as people like me who find their path and purpose later in life. They experience setbacks like trauma and difficult childhood experiences that lead them off course (if there is such a thing). It takes them a long time to heal from the past enough to finally know themselves and follow their dreams. At least, that was the case for me.
Fortunately, despite obstacles, late bloomers find the courage, resilience, and determination to rise above adversity. Our journey is one of continuous learning and self-exploration and I don’t suspect it will ever stop. What sets us apart is our tenacity and willingness to persevere, even when faced with doubts or uncertainties. We approach life with an open mind, a sense of curiosity, and an unwavering belief in our potential. Okay, let’s be honest. The belief in our potential wavers a lot but we always come back to ourselves eventually. We’re tenacious like that.
There are a lot of areas in my life where I have not achieved the success I wanted to – yet! And that’s the golden word isn’t it – YET!
This moon that is growing in light and power this week feels like a reminder that it’s never too late to reclaim my power.
After experiencing a setback, it’s natural to feel defeated and question my worthiness or capabilities. I start to internalize negative beliefs about myself, such as not being good enough, deserving of success, or that only bad things happen to me. These beliefs can weigh heavily on my spirit and make it challenging to move forward. But it happens. I feel lost and discouraged sometimes.
The gibbous moon is a time when the moon is nearly full, signifying that our goals and dreams are close to fruition, yet not quite there. Similarly, this phase reflects the critical point in the creative process where the results are near, but I must stay steadfast and empowered.
Reclaiming my power means acknowledging that I hold the ability to shape my reality, regardless of setbacks or external circumstances. It’s about embracing my inherent worth and strength, even when faced with challenges. This empowerment is not about controlling external events but rather, taking ownership of my reactions and mindset. There’s only so much I can control. I can’t always control the results, the timing or the world but I can control my inner world.
In the face of self-doubt, cultivating a positive and empowering belief in myself becomes a magical force. Setbacks and not seeing the results I want to see do not define my worth or the potential for my dreams to come to true. Every challenge I encounter is an opportunity to rise stronger and wiser, shaping me into a person who is capable of manifesting their dreams – or at the very least, have fun while she’s trying to.
As we approach the gibbous moon, I’m trying to remember that the creative process is a journey, not just a destination. I’m going to focus on celebrating my progress, no matter how small, and honor the dedication and effort I put forth. I’m going to try my best to cultivate gratitude for each step I take, knowing that every experience (even the yucky, messy ones) contributes to my growth.
If you haven’t been seeing the results you want to see in your life yet, hang tight. Sit with your art journal and the moon this week with me and let’s see if we can help our inner light shine a little brighter and grow a little bigger just like the moon is doing even as she is surrounded by darkness.
Monday
The moon is in the sign of Libra today. Libra is ruled by Venus so the moon is carrying a little of that planet’s energy in the evening as well.
Libra is an air sign. It is fluid and dynamic. It brings energy that is soft, beautiful and artistic. It likes to help you be sociable and enjoy friendships, gatherings and groups. It also likes to keep things balanced and looks for equality in relationships. It brings an energy of acceptance and understanding but it can also be too outwardly focused or, in other words, have you focusing on other people’s needs at the expense of honoring your own feelings and needs.
Let’s magnetize the helpful energy Libra brings.
Think about one of the beautiful relationships you have in your life – you know, one of those relationships where you feel accepted for who you are. One of the relationships in your life that is easier and smoother than other relationships in your life.
What do you like about that smoother and easier relationship?
What does equality look like in that relationship?
What does having harmony in that relationship feel like to you?
In your art journal, create an image that celebrates a relationship in your life that brings harmony and ease.
Tuesday
The moon moves into the sign of Scorpio today. Scorpio is ruled by Mars so the moon is carrying a little of that planet’s energy as well.
Scorpio is a fixed water sign. It brings energy of containment, introversion and defensiveness. Scorpio energy isn’t the best for showing our true feelings or being vulnerable since it prefers to hide and protect but it is helpful for finding safety, being cautious, reserved and helping you to heal and transform your secret or repressed emotions. In fact, emotions are of great importance to Scorpio energy so don’t be surprised if you feel extra sensitive or more easily triggered when the moon is in this sign.
Scorpio energy also helps you dive deep into your emotional and spiritual realms which is a necessary quality for healing and transformation.
In your art journal, draw, paint or collage an image that represents some challenging emotions you’ve been feeling lately.
Wednesday
Today the moon is in the first quarter phase. Only half the moon seems to be lit up in the night sky during this phase. This is the phase in the creation cycle where there is a tendency to give up or doubt the process. Challenges or obstacles may come between you and your goals and your job is to remain committed despite whatever gets in the way. This is the time to observe your self-talk and heal whatever shadows surface. Make sure you are taking actions and making decisions from your Spirit or your inner wisdom rather than listening to your insecurities and doubt.
Emotional and spiritual themes you can explore in your art journal for the first quarter moon include themes around commitment, doubt, insecurities, body image, self-esteem, your inner critic, your passion, purpose and bigger reasons for being.
Take a moment to think about your new moon intentions again. Imagine what it will be like if your new moon intentions became a reality in your life?
What changes, big or small, will happen in your life when your new moon intentions become real?
What will it feel like to experience those changes?
What choices can you make this week to help your new moon intentions become a reality in your life?
In your art journal, create a vision board representing a decision you’re ready to make that will support you in achieving your goals or support your new moon intentions becoming a reality in your life.
Thursday
The moon is in a happy relationship with Neptune today.
Neptune wants to help us connect to source energy and experience what its like to reach our divine potential, feel unconditionally loved and feel our interconnectedness. It also wants to open our psychic gifts, help us receive divine inspiration and dissolve barriers so we experience wholeness and unity. It also wants to help us expand and use our imagination and see the unseen or know the unknown.
It’s a planet of intuition, psychic abilities, imagination, spirituality and dreams but it can also represent our delusions or our desires to escape, including our desire to escape our uncomfortable feelings.
Because it’s in a happy relationship with the moon, the moon gets to reflect back to us all this goodness. It’s a good day for tuning into your emotions, tapping into your creativity, trusting your intuition and using the power of your imagination to create the changes you want to see in your life.
It’s an energy that helps us connect to one another on a deep soulful level and our ability to comfort, soothe and care for the people we love is enhanced. It’s a good day for tuning into your emotions, tapping into your creativity, trusting your intuition and using the power of your imagination to create the changes you want to see in your life. Let’s play with that soulful, imaginative, dreamy, divine, unconditionally loving, psychic, intuitive and caring energy.
In your art journal, draw, paint or collage an image celebrating your emotions, creativity and intuition.
Friday
The moon is in the sign of Sagittarius today. Sagittarius is ruled by the planet Jupiter so it’s carrying a little of that planet’s good energy as well.
Sagittarius is a fire sign. It is expressive and positive and humorous, optimistic, adventurous, experimental, adaptive, passionate and fun but it can be focused on too many things. Sagittarius energy likes to help us grow and enjoy ourselves through experiencing all life has to offer. It focuses on personal growth, freedom, expansion, lived experience, learning through trying and doing and embodiment. It’s a curious energy that asks questions and looks for answers.
Let’s use this Sagittarius energy to think about the possibilities of today.
If today could go better than you expected, what would that look and feel like? When you go to sleep tonight, what would you celebrate and be grateful for?
In your art journal, create a mood board that represents all the things you are grateful for today.
Saturday
Today the moon is in the gibbous phase. This moon phase is when the moon seems almost full. In the creation process, it’s a great time to clear any trapped emotions or energy so that all parts of you, even the hidden wounded subconscious parts, are on board with your goals or your new moon intentions. Some of those blocks include ancestral memories stored in your body, past life memories or energy and emotions you unconsciously absorbed from other people. You are most likely carrying subconscious beliefs or stories that no longer serve you so it is helpful to spend time in your art journal tending to those.
Themes you can explore in your art journal for the gibbous moon include, clearing ancestral memories, your family tree, past life memories, co-dependency, the heart chakra and daily habits and routines.
Take a moment to think about your new moon intentions. Do all parts of you believe you are worthy of moving your life in the direction you want to go? Are all your younger inner parts on board with your goals?
Emotional blocks from our inner world exist and one of the most important steps in my moon magic is tending to my inner parts and I encourage you to make it one of your as well. These inner parts, often rooted in past experiences, might resist or feel fearful about the path you wish to take. Understanding and supporting these younger inner parts is crucial to overcoming emotional blocks and forging ahead without resistance.
Inner parts carrying past criticisms or limiting beliefs might lead to self-doubt, making you question your abilities and worthiness to achieve your goals. When inner parts are resistant to your new moon intentions, they may manifest through procrastination, keeping you from taking necessary steps towards your dreams. Inner parts seeking safety might drive you to strive for perfection, leading to a fear of making mistakes or taking risks. Inner parts that harbor unresolved traumas or past disappointments can lead to self-sabotaging behaviors – and we all know how frustrating that can be.
When emotional blocks arise, you might experience a sense of stagnation, frustration, or being stuck in a cycle of unfulfilling patterns. You may feel torn between your desires and the overwhelming emotional resistance from your inner parts. It can create an internal tug-of-war, which is stressful, frustrating and when it lasts too long makes you feel stuck and discouraged.
Working with these inner parts to help them move through whatever memories, beliefs or emotional baggage they are carrying is relatively easy once you get used to it. Just like any skill, it takes practice and the more you do it, the better you get at it. Today I encourage you to locate an inner part that does not like your new moon intentions, feels threatened or scared of them or is causing some sort of resistance that is showing up in your life.
I loosely follow a process similar to the process Richard Schwartz outlines in his book “No Bad Parts”. I say loosely because when I’m working in my art journal, I don’t like to get precious about things. I like to play and stay curious. I want to do emotional work but in a way that feels manageable to me and my nervous system. I take it slow and easy because some inner parts carry trauma and if you’re not familiar dealing with your traumatized parts, I suggest working with a trained professional first. But, if like me, you have a lot of practice with these things and you want to support your inner parts on a more regular basis, try this activity in your art journal. It goes a little something like this.
Start by cultivating self-compassion towards the emotional blocks and the parts that are resisting. Understand that these parts emerged to protect you, even if their strategies may no longer serve you. Engage in an internal dialogue with these parts. Gently inquire about their fears and intentions, fostering understanding and connection. If you’re feeling like you don’t like the inner part or the feelings that are showing up, then you’re not moving from compassion and curiosity.
You’ll want to tend to the parts of you first that are feeling judgmental, impatient or frustrated. It’s just like being in a relationship with a friend. Your friend isn’t going to want to be vulnerable and honest with you and unburden herself emotionally if you’re sitting across from her feeling angry, resentment, judgmental or unforgiving. To truly be there for her, you would first have to do the emotional and inner work that you would need to do to show up for her in a compassionate, loving or at the very least curious way.
When you are ready to meet your resistant parts, behaviors, beliefs or emotions with compassion, provide nurturing and comfort to these inner parts. Offer reassurance that they are safe and protected, and that you are here to guide and support them. Work towards building a collaborative relationship with these parts. Negotiate with them to find a shared vision that aligns with your dreams while addressing their concerns. If emotional blocks seem overwhelming, consider seeking the guidance of a qualified therapist, to support you in the integration process.
Pursuing your dreams in the face of emotional blocks is brave and beautiful but it also takes inner work and healing. By compassionately addressing the concerns of our inner parts and fostering a sense of safety, you will create inner harmony. Your parts will become aligned with your goals and the internal struggle will dissolve.
In your art journal, allow a younger inner part of you that is afraid of your goals or your new moon intentions to express their feelings in your art journal.
Sunday
The moon is in the sign of Capricorn today.
Capricorn energy is receptive and nocturnal in nature. It is also pragmatic, deliberate, persistent, disciplined, and conservative. Capricorn energy likes to focus on practical and useful actions but it can be emotionally restrained or reserved.
When the moon is in Capricorn, it’s a good time to look at your boundaries and limitations and understand how they affect your goals.
Capricorn is ruled by Saturn so the moon is carrying a little of that planet’s energy as well Saturn brings wisdom about time, endings, limits, responsibility and maturity. Saturn is associated with discipline, responsibility, and lessons learned through time. It urges us to make mature and conscientious choices in our pursuit of dreams. The planet’s energy encourages us to set clear boundaries, prioritize our values, and commit to the long-term journey towards our goals.
Capricorn also carries the energy of our ancestors. Some of the archetypes associated with Capricorn include the Crone and Hecate.
What I love about the Capricorn moon and the planet of Saturn is the way they invite me to pursue my goals and dreams with emotional maturity, realistic expectations and grounded determination. They encourage me to embrace patience, perseverance, and adaptability and remind me to approach challenges with a level-headed attitude and respond to setbacks with grace and a growth mindset. It involves setting realistic goals, acknowledging my limitations, and being compassionate towards myself when faced with obstacles. When I cultivate emotional maturity, I maintain balance amidst success and failure, remaining steadfast on my journey, no matter the external circumstances. It’s a much more peaceful way to live then the emotional highs and lows I used to experience.
Let’s bring all the Capricorn moon and Saturn together by creating a page that weaves together their symbols and energy. Gather symbols and images that represent emotional maturity to you. Draw or collage images of Saturn, the planet’s rings, and the Capricorn constellation.
Arrange these symbols thoughtfully on the page of your journal while you reflect on what embracing emotional maturity while you pursue your goals or dreams means to you. Add colors, affirmations, and heartfelt words that resonate with you.
In your art journal, play with symbols, colors and imagery of Capricorn and Saturn while you reflect on what pursuing your goals or dreams with emotional maturity means to you.
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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