Art Journal with the Moon for May 6-12, 2024

In this post, I share how to art journal with the Taurus new moon to reclaim your worth and follow your creative dreams. Scroll down further and you will also see a summary of the moon’s energy from Monday – Sunday with daily prompts you can explore in your art journal so your deep inner work and magic is in alignment with the moon.

Work with the Taurus New Moon to Reclaim your Worth and Follow Your Creative Dreams

This week we greet a new moon in Taurus.

Last week, I shared some great suggestions about how to align with the archetype of Taurus so you might want to look over that post as well before you sit with your art journal and the new moon.

In this blog post, I share how you can work with the Taurus new moon in your art journal to reclaim your worth and follow your creative dreams. Don’t forget, you can work with this energy for the two weeks of the waxing moon as well. Finally, as always, when you scroll past all that goodness, you’ll see I describe the comings and goings of the moon this week as well as the daily prompts you can use to art journal with the moon and align your emotional healing with lunar magic.

Before I talk about all this though, don’t forget, if you want to stay updated on how to work with the magic of the moon in your art journal, sign up to my mailing list. Every Monday, you’ll get reminders of the moon’s energy for the upcoming week and how you can work with it in your art journal to practice magic, tend to your soul or do your deep inner work. You can sign up here.

As a child, I lived at a time when women’s roles were changing. My mother had more educational and professional opportunities than her mother and those opportunities continued to expand when it was my turn to choose what I wanted to do with my life. The definitions of femininity were changing in the seventies and eighties for my mother and they continue to change for me now. Despite this, none of us felt free to pursue our creative dreams.

I don’t know if my mother’s mother had creative dreams, but I do wonder if being the mother of 15 children was not so much a choice as an expectation handed down by the religion she belonged to. I believe my father’s mother would have been an amazing writer but the 13 children she raised also kept her too busy to indulge in such daydreams.

When you have the soul of an artist, how can you claim your worth if you don’t feel free to pursue your creative dreams?

It has been a long hard journey for me to pursue my creative dreams. There’s so much that seemed to need to come first – before me and my creative dreams.

I was so busy caretaking everyone else and nurturing their dreams, or trying to, that I didn’t give my creative dreams the time and energy they deserve. There were also a lot of practical things to consider like earning a living and putting food on the table and I didn’t have the capacity or the self-esteem to believe in myself at the same time as acknowledging my responsibilities.

And sadly, I know many people can relate to this. Our creative dreams become just that – dreams without any solid foundations.

I’ll be turning 50 in a couple weeks and it is only recently that I’m taking my creative dreams seriously! I’ve been inching my way towards this for a few years but it’s only lately I feel like my creative dreams are growing strong roots in my life.

When you finally take your creative dreams seriously and start to pursue them, your actions, decisions, and beliefs shift in meaningful ways. You begin to carve out dedicated time and space for your creative work, treating it like a priority rather than an afterthought. You start making decisions that align with your vision, even if they require sacrifices or changes in other areas of your life. You might invest in tools, courses, or resources that support your growth, believing in the value of your creative pursuits. Imagine that!

Your beliefs about yourself also evolve as you commit to your dreams. You develop a stronger sense of confidence and self-worth, understanding that your creative talents are valuable and worth nurturing. You might not fully believe it yet, but you give yourself enough grace to try. You start to entertain the idea that maybe your work can have a meaningful impact. You start living with intention, embracing your potential, and moving forward with purpose towards a life that has meaning to you.

We deserve the ability to reclaim our worth by following our creative dreams.

I don’t care if your dream is to speak in front of a room full of people and be the storyteller you secretly have longed to be or to finally write that book that’s been nagging at you since you were eight years old, whatever your creative dream is, the Taurus new moon is a great time to set seeds of intention that move you closer towards realizing it.

As an earth sign, Taurus is grounded and practical, which encourages you to focus on what truly matters to you and take steady steps toward your goals. The new moon phase represents new beginnings and is ideal for planting seeds for future growth. When the new moon occurs in Taurus, it’s an opportunity to reflect on what you genuinely value and to commit to investing in it.

Taurus and Your Sense of Worth

Taurus energy also emphasizes self-worth and abundance. It inspires you to believe in the value of your creative talents and recognize that they deserve your time and effort. The combination of the new moon’s fresh start and Taurus’s determined energy helps you take practical steps towards realizing your creative goals, whether that means dedicating more time to your art, investing in tools or education, or simply 

believing that your creativity is worth pursuing.

Your dreams don’t have to be BIG and BOLD, they just have to be YOURS.

Venus is important to this new moon as well and Venus’s energy emphasizes harmony, creativity, and the appreciation of beauty, making it an excellent supporter of creative dreams.

Imagine thinking your creative dreams are a worthy of your sacred time and attention? Imagine believing they were a worthy endeavor.

What I love about bringing Venus into the mix is that Venus is great at reminding us to embrace the journey and not just focus on the outcome.

Venus also encourages collaboration and harmonious relationships, which can be beneficial for creative projects that require input from others or benefit from community support. It helps you build supportive connections that uplift and inspire your creative work.

In Your Art Journal

Let’s use this great energy to take one step closer to your creative dreams even if it’s just an itty bitty baby step.

Start by reflecting on what you truly want to achieve creatively. Focus on what brings you the most joy and fulfillment. Ask yourself what kinds of projects make you feel alive and excited, and what your dream creative life looks like. For instance, you might imagine yourself painting vibrant landscapes, writing a novel, or crafting handmade jewelry.

It’s essential to explore what resonates most deeply with you, even if it seems far-fetched or impractical.

When you set your imagination free, where are you creating? What are you creating? Are you sharing your creations or are they just for you?

Consider why you’re drawn to these creative dreams. Is it because they allow you to express your emotions, connect with others, or make something beautiful?

Identifying the reasons behind your creative dreams will help you clarify your goals.

Go Deeper

Reflect on any challenges you’ve faced in your creative journey and think about how you’ve overcome them.

What have these challenges taught you about your creative strengths and weaknesses?

Think about people who inspire you or who have achieved the creative dreams you’d love to achieve. Their example can provide perspective and guidance on what’s possible and what steps you can take.

When you’re ready, in your art journal, begin by writing down your intentions clearly and positively. For example, instead of writing “I want to stop procrastinating,” you could write, “I will dedicate time each day to my creative practice.”

After writing your intentions, visualize what achieving them would look and feel like.

What emotions would it bring?

What impact would it have on your life?

Use this visualization to inspire drawings, doodles, or collages in your art journal that represent your creative dreams. Feel free to use colors, symbols, or images that resonate with your vision.

Next, consider adding practical steps or goals that will help you move toward your intentions. Break down your larger goals into smaller, actionable steps that feel achievable. For instance, if your intention is to finish a creative project, write down the specific actions you need to take.

Keep it Going

Finally, revisit your intentions regularly. Use your art journal to track your progress, reflect on your journey, and adjust your intentions as needed. This practice will help you stay focused, motivated, and connected to your creative dreams.

Whether you find the time to play in your art journal under the Taurus new moon or not, I hope you give yourself a moment or two to think about what your creative dreams are and why you deserve to pursue them.

 

with gratitude,

 

The Moon This Week

If you want to work with the moon to do your emotional work or deepen your creativity, here’s a summary of the moon’s energy from Monday – Sunday with daily prompts you can explore in your art journal.

Monday

Today the balsamic moon moves into the sign of Taurus. It is also having a tense relationship with Pluto and an intense relationship with Mercury.

The balsamic or waning crescent phase of the moon, just before we plunge into the darkness of the New Moon, is a deeply spiritual time, ripe with opportunities for introspection and release.

Emotionally, the balsamic moon phase is like your spiritual guardian, whispering, “It’s okay to let go.” It’s not the time for launching new projects or making big decisions. Instead, it’s a time for tying up loose ends, letting go of what no longer serves you, and giving yourself permission to rest and recharge. The balsamic moon phase is a little like a detox for your soul.

Spiritually, this phase is your invitation to dive into your inner world and tend to what emotionally and spiritually needs tending to. It’s like a spiritual retreat, allowing you to explore your dreams, fears, and the stories you tell yourself. This energy encourages you to let go of old emotional baggage and release patterns that might be holding you back. It’s an opportunity to make peace with the past and create space for new beginnings.

Imagine you’re decluttering your emotional closet.

What do you need to let go of?

What emotional weight is dragging you down?

In your art journal, draw, paint or collage an image that represents what you want to release before the new moon.

Tuesday

Today we greet the Taurus new moon. It is having a happy relationship with Saturn and an intense relationship with Venus. 

The Taurus new moon reminds us to focus on enhancing the quality of your life, emphasizing pleasure, leisure, and enjoyment. It’s a time to prioritize quality time with loved ones and pamper your senses through tactile experiences like listening to beautiful music, savoring delicious flavors, or enjoying the luxury of art and beauty.

Taurus, a sign known for its loyalty, also brings a sense of stability, patience, and steadfastness to this new moon. This energy encourages you to approach life at a slower pace, emphasizing planning and preparation before taking action.

The influence of Venus, the ruling planet of Taurus, adds a sensual, tactile quality to this time, highlighting the importance of connecting with nature, enjoying good food, and appreciating the finer things in life. However, with Venus currently hidden by the sun until the end of July, there’s an aspect of introspection, where the focus is on dealing with private, sacred matters in the sanctuary of your own space. This is a time for more intimate settings.

During this new moon, there may be elements that are hidden from view, suggesting a need for patience as you uncover what is not immediately apparent. The embodied and tangible approach of Taurus invites you to explore the world through your senses rather than your logical mind. By going slowly and embracing the physical experiences that bring you joy, you can gain clarity and insight into how to create more pleasure, leisure, and enjoyment in your life.

I share many suggestions to work with the Taurus energy in your art journal here or spend time reclaiming your worth by setting intentions for your creative dreams as I described above.

To personalize this moon even further, let’s get specific and see the area of YOUR life that this moon energy is focused on.

To figure out what area of your life this 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, the new moon is inviting you to set intentions around what brings you pleasure, comfort or stability when it comes to money, assets, income and your livelihood. Think about these areas of your life and consider what seeds of intention you want to plant during the new moon in order to experience more joy, comfort or security when it comes to your finances, possessions or livelihood.

If your rising sign is Taurus, the new moon is inviting you to set intentions around what brings you pleasure, comfort or stability when it comes to your identity, body, appearance or your spirit. Think about these areas of your life and consider what seeds of intention you want to plant during the new moon in order to experience more joy, comfort or security when it comes to your vitality, personal expression, identity or your relationship with your body.

For Gemini people like me, the new moon is inviting you to set intentions around what brings you pleasure, comfort or stability 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 more joy, comfort and security.

If your rising sign is Cancer, the new moon is inviting you to set intentions around what brings you pleasure, comfort or stability when it comes to your friendships, community or your hopes and wishes. Think about these areas of your life and consider what seeds of intention you want to plant during the new moon in order to experience more joy, comfort and security in your friendships and community or your hopes and wishes.

For Leo people, the new moon is inviting you to set intentions around what brings you pleasure, comfort or stability 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 living with more joy, comfort or security looks like in these areas of your life.

For Virgo people, the new moon is inviting you to set intentions around what brings you pleasure, comfort or stability when it comes to your faith, spiritual practices, international travel or future success. Think about these areas of your life and consider what seeds of intention you want to plant during the new moon in order to experience more joy, comfort or security in your spirituality or travel dreams or your goals for the future.

If your rising sign is Libra, the new moon is inviting you to set intentions around what brings you pleasure, comfort or security when it comes to your relationship with death, taxes, your psyche or any debt you have accumulated. How will experiencing more joy, comfort or security help you clear any energetic, emotional or physical debt you may be carrying (your own or your ancestors’)? What would experiencing more joy, comfort or security in your emotional or mental well-being look like? 

For Scorpio people, the new moon is inviting you to set intentions around what brings you pleasure, comfort or stability when it comes to your close, intimate relationships or partnerships. Think about your marriage or partnership or best friend relationships and consider what seeds of intention you want to plant during the new moon in order to experience more joy, comfort and security in the closest relationships in your life.

For Sagittarius people, the new moon is inviting you to set intentions around what brings you pleasure, comfort or stability when it comes to your daily routines, daily work tasks, pets or your health and wellness. If you were to experience more joy in these areas of your life, what would that look and feel like? Consider what seeds of intention you can plant during this new moon in order to experience more joy, comfort or security in your daily routines and work tasks, your relationship with your pet or your health.

If your rising sign is Capricorn, the new moon is inviting you to set intentions around what brings you pleasure, comfort or stability when it comes to your children, hobbies, pleasure or your creativity. Think about these areas of your life and consider what seeds of intention you can plant during the new moon in order to experience more joy, comfort or security in your parenting life, a creative hobby that’s dear to your heart or those activities in your life that bring you happiness.

For Aquarius people, the new moon is inviting you to set intentions around what brings you pleasure, comfort or stability 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 seeds of intention you can plant during this new moon in order to experience more joy, comfort or security in one or all of these areas of your life.

Finally, for Pisces people, the new moon is inviting you to set intentions around what brings you pleasure, comfort or stability around learning or teaching, communication, your siblings, the goddess or moon or nature-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 seeds of intention you want to plant in order to experience more joy, comfort or security in one or all of these areas of your life.

In your art journal, draw, paint or collage an image that represents your new moon intentions.

Wednesday

Today the moon is still in the new phase as it moves into the sign of Gemini. It is also having a happy relationship with Neptune and Pluto and an intense relationship with Jupiter and Uranus.

In ancient astrology, when the moon is in Gemini, it takes on the lively and curious energy of this air sign. Gemini is known for its adaptability, quick thinking, and communication skills. The moon, representing our emotions and inner world, takes on these qualities, encouraging flexibility and openness to change.

The air element in Gemini brings a transformative energy that can usher in periods of change and growth in your life. Air represents movement, intellect, and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances. When the moon is in Gemini, it calls you to be more flexible in your approach to life, helping you navigate changes and transformations with ease.

This energy can encourage you to explore different perspectives and to remain open-minded, especially during times of inner transformation or when your external world is in flux. It invites you to navigate transitions with grace by embracing new ideas, adapting your plans as needed, and being willing to go with the flow.

Navigating these changes with self-care and compassion means recognizing that transformation can sometimes be uncomfortable or challenging. The moon in Gemini suggests finding solace in activities that soothe your mind, like journaling, reading, or having heartfelt conversations with loved ones. Be gentle with yourself during times of transition, allowing space for your feelings and acknowledging the importance of rest.

Being in tune with the Gemini moon energy encourages you to embrace change with an open heart, trusting that each transformation brings you closer to your true path.

In your art journal, draw, paint or collage an image that explores a transformation or change that is happening in your life.

Thursday

The moon is still in the new moon phase and in the sign of Gemini. It is also having a happy relationship with Mars and a tense relationship with Saturn.

When Mars is in a happy relationship with the Moon, 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.

This Mars-Moon aspect 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 helping you use your deep feelings as a catalyst for taking action towards your dreams.

In your art journal, draw, paint or collage a page that represents an action you can take to make your creative dreams a reality.

Friday

The moon is still in the new moon phase as it moves into the sign of Cancer today. It is also having a happy relationship with Mercury and a tense relationship with Neptune.

Like the moon, the sign of Cancer is connected to our emotions. It’s also like the thoughtful friend who always remembers your birthday and shows up with tissues and ice cream when you’re feeling down.

Emotionally, Cancer is all about family, home, and those cozy comfort zones. It’s like a warm blanket that wraps around you, offering a sense of security in an uncertain world. Cancer’s energy can also be a bit moody and prone to emotional waves but overall it’s a time to honor your feelings, even the messy ones, and to nurture your inner landscape. 

Spiritually, Cancer invites you to dive into your own psyche, to explore the depths of your emotions, and to connect with your intuition. It also encourages you to seek solace within yourself and to create a safe inner haven.

Today, in your art journal, create a visual representation of your emotional sanctuary.

This sanctuary can take any form that resonates with your soul. Imagine a place that embodies what calm and safety mean to you. It could be a lush garden with the soft rustling of leaves, a cozy room filled with your favorite books, a serene beach where the waves gently lap at the shore, or even a mystical forest with a protective light surrounding it. The key is in the details that make this space uniquely comforting to you. Visualize the colors, sounds, textures, and scents that fill this place and make it inviting.

In this space, add elements that hold personal significance. It might be a comfortable seat in a corner, a symbol of protection like a shield or a light, or items that evoke happy memories or feelings of peace. Personal touches make your sanctuary more real and emotionally resonant.

Your sanctuary should be a place of absolute security. If it helps, imagine protective barriers, like a fence around your garden or an aura of light, that keep this space safe and private. This is your haven, away from the chaos of the outside world.

When life becomes overwhelming, retreat to this sanctuary in your mind. Here, you can process your emotions freely, find a sense of calm, and gather your inner strength. It’s a place for you to heal and restore yourself without any external interference.

Your sanctuary can also be a place for seeking clarity and guidance. Ask yourself questions and listen for the answers that come from within. Often, the insights you gain here are reflective of your deepest subconscious wisdom.

Your inner emotional sanctuary is a space where you can cultivate inner peace and resilience, making the challenges of the real world more manageable. In this sanctuary, you’re not just finding an escape; you’re actively engaging in your emotional well-being and healing. In your art journal today, explore what your perfect emotional sanctuary looks like. What colors, textures, and images resonate with the idea of emotional security for you? Allow your art to be a reminder that you carry your safe haven within, no matter the storm outside.

In your art journal, draw, collage or paint an image that represents your inner sanctuary.

Saturday

The waxing crescent moon is in the sign of Cancer. It is also having a tense relationship with 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.

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, draw, paint or collage an image that represents a small gesture or subtle shift in your daily routine that you commit to taking to support your creative dreams.

Sunday

The waxing crescent moon is in the sign of Cancer. It is also having a happy relationship with Venus, Uranus, Jupiter and Saturn and a tense relationship with Mercury.

When the waxing crescent moon is in the sign of Cancer, it brings nurturing, emotional depth, and a focus on home and family. Cancer’s influence is often associated with comfort, protection, and emotional security, inviting us to connect deeply with our emotions and seek solace in familiar environments.

The moon’s favorable relationships with Venus, Uranus, Jupiter, and Saturn during this phase enhance its positive energy. The happy relationship it is having with Venus encourages a harmonious flow of love and creativity, enhancing emotional connections and inviting you to appreciate beauty and pleasure. It brings a gentle, loving energy that can improve your relationships and support emotional healing.

The happy relationship the moon is having with Uranus introduces a touch of innovation and spontaneity, suggesting that positive change and surprises can arise from unexpected places. It helps you embrace new ideas and perspectives, offering the potential for breakthroughs in how you relate to yourself and others.

The happy relationship the moon is having with Jupiter expands your emotional capacity, fostering optimism and growth. It encourages you to have faith in the future and helps you see the bigger picture.

Lastly, the happy relationship it is having with Saturn grounds the moon’s energy in practicality and stability, offering emotional resilience and wisdom. Saturn’s influence can bring a sense of structure and discipline, guiding you to build stronger emotional foundations and reinforcing the importance of long-term commitments and responsibilities.

Together, these relationships create a supportive environment that encourages emotional growth, fosters meaningful connections, and helps you adapt to change with grace. It’s a moon that can help you nurture your inner world, embrace positive change, and find joy in the journey of personal growth.

In your art journal, draw, paint or collage an image that celebrates the personal growth you went through so far this season.

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

with love,

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