Celebrating the Autumn Equinox – Art Journal with the Moon for September 16-22, 2024

In this post, I share a summary of the moon for the week of September 16-22, 2024 as it moves through the zodiac and interacts with the planets. I also share suggestions for celebrating and aligning with the autumn equinox in your art journal.

The Moon This Week

The full moon lunar eclipse in Pisces is happening on Tuesday, September 17, 2024. It’s a highly emotional, intuitive, dreamy, spiritual full moon and one I think will be magical to work with in your art journal. It’s also the autumn equinox on Sunday and in this post, I share my suggestions for celebrating it in your art journal. 

I’m also going to share a summary of the moon’s energy this week, giving you an overview of what to expect as the moon moves through different signs and phases. However, if you’re looking for more specific ways to work with the moon’s energy each day, be sure to follow me on Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok. There, in my videos and reels, I share daily art journal with the moon prompts that guide you in doing deep inner work or practicing manifestation magic in a creative way with the moon. You can also sign up here, to get reminders in your inbox of the moon’s energy for the upcoming week and how you can work with it in your art journal to practice folk magic, tend to your soul or do your deep inner work. 

The week kicks off with the gibbous moon moving into the sign of Pisces on Monday which is the perfect energy to align with the upcoming lunar eclipse in Pisces. Reflect on any old patterns, beliefs, or habits that no longer serve your soul’s growth. You might start by writing down any fears or doubts that have been holding you back, allowing your emotions to flow onto the page without judgment. Then, create imagery or use colors that represent release and healing—like water washing away old energy 

On Tuesday, the full moon lunar eclipse in Pisces is sure to have you feeling emotional, intuitive, dreamy and deeply desiring to connect with your spirituality. I share all my thoughts on the eclipse and how to work with it in your art journal here.

The moon moves into the sign of Aries on Wednesday but it’s having a tense relationship with the planet Mars. This energy may trigger feelings of frustration, impatience, or even anger as you feel pulled between wanting to charge ahead and the lingering effects of the eclipse, which may still feel intense or unresolved. Try finding a balance between acting impulsively and responding with intention.

With an Aries moon having a happy relationship with Jupiter, Thursday brings the courage to move forward. Aries is bold and courageous, and Jupiter amplifies this energy. Reflect in your art journal on where in your life you feel the need to assert yourself or take action in your life or set boundaries to help you move forward.

On Friday, the moon is in the sign of Taurus. This brings a soothing, steady energy that helps you feel more grounded and connected to the physical world. In your art journal, you could explore themes of stability, comfort, and abundance. 

Saturday’s lunar energy supports you in feeling stable and insightful. Write about your values, the things that matter most to you, and how you can express them clearly and confidently. 

The week wraps up on Sunday with the autumn equinox. To celebrate the autumn equinox in your art journal, you could start by creating a gratitude page that lists all the things you are thankful for this year, using rich, earthy colors like gold, deep red, orange, and brown to represent the harvest season or read more suggestions below.

Remember, the moon’s energy is here to support you in embracing who you truly are. By art journaling with the lunar energy this week, you’re not only connecting with the rhythms of nature but also nurturing your soul and manifesting the changes you really want to see in your life so you can more fully align with your true self.

Now let’s talk more about how to celebrate the autumn equinox in your art journal. 

A Season of Transformation

As the autumn equinox arrives in the northern hemisphere, the world begins to shift – a turning from light to dark. The days grow shorter and the nights stretch longer. The sun’s light softens and there is a sense of quiet magic in the air.  It’s an in-between time – a time of transformation and change.

Things can feel up in the air and unsettled but also mysterious, as if there are secrets in the dark waiting to be revealed.

The trees begin to surrender their leaves, letting them fall to the ground in shades of amber, crimson, and gold. The plants pull their energy inward, their flowers fading, their roots reaching deeper into the earth, finding strength in stillness. The animals sense the shift as well. Birds gather, preparing for long journeys ahead. Squirrels hurry to collect the last acorns, their tiny paws busy with the work of preparing for the coming cold. Insects move more slowly now, savoring the last days of warmth, seeking shelter where they can find it.

There is a deep wisdom in this season, a knowing that echoes in the rhythm of your own heart. Autumn asks you to do what the earth is doing — to slow down, to turn inward, to honor both the light and the dark within you. It invites you to reflect on what is ready to be released, like the leaves falling from the trees, trusting that letting go creates space for new growth in time. If you’re lucky, maybe you’ll get a chance to feel the crisp air on your skin, smell the scent of woodsmoke and damp earth, hear the rustle of leaves underfoot, and know that you, too, are part of this great, sacred cycle. Listen to the whisper of the wind in the branches, the call of the wild geese overhead, the crackle of leaves underfoot, and remember that in this time of turning inward, you are invited to find the beauty in the balance and the magic in letting go.

The Emotional and Spiritual Qualities of The Equinox

The autumn equinox, or Mabon, is a significant point on the Wheel of the Year when day and night are in perfect balance. As the sun moves into Libra, a sign that embodies harmony, relationships, and fairness, this moment invites you to reflect on balance in your own life. It symbolizes a time to give thanks for the harvest—both the literal fruits of the earth and the personal growth and achievements you have gathered throughout the year and over the summer when the energy was playful, abundant and adventurous.

It’s a time to pause and acknowledge where you’ve come from and to prepare for the inward journey as the days grow shorter.

This is the season when I spend a few months planning and visioning the year ahead. It’s also a time to honor both the light and the dark within yourself and in the natural world. It is a period of reflection, where you might consider what you need to let go of and what you want to bring into greater harmony. Libra’s energy wants to help you find balance in your relationships and in your life so as the sun moves into that sign, that’s where some of your energy will be – evaluating, considering and noticing where balance is in your life and where it isn’t.

To celebrate the autumn equinox in your art journal, you could start by creating a gratitude page that lists all the things you are thankful for this year, using rich, earthy colors like gold, deep red, orange, and brown to represent the harvest season. You could also reflect on the duality of light and dark, giving and receiving, growth and rest.

You might also include an art ritual to honor the transition from light to dark. Write down what you’re ready to release as you move toward winter’s introspection—old habits, patterns, or beliefs that no longer serve you. Consider painting or drawing these on a page, then symbolically wash over them with watercolors, or cover them with leaves, representing the act of letting go.

Also, take time to think about where you want to invite more balance into your life. Are there areas where you’ve been giving too much or not receiving enough? Is there a part of you that needs more nurturing or more discipline? 

Working with the Energy of the Eclipse in Your Art Journal

One suggestion for honoring and celebrating the autumn equinox in your journal is to create an autumn altar page.

Think of it as a sacred space where you can focus your intentions, connect with the season, and honor the energies of autumn. An altar is used for spiritual reflection, setting intentions, and honoring natural cycles. An autumn altar is particularly helpful for expressing gratitude for the harvest (and not just the physical harvest but also the emotional and spiritual wisdom you’ve harvested this year), finding balance as day and night become equal, and preparing for the introspective months ahead. It is also a good time of year to connect with or honor your ancestors.

Begin by choosing a central theme for your page. Is there someone specifically you want to honor? Do you want the page to mostly be about gratitude or do you want to add a bit of everything autumny onto the page (even invent your own words like autumny)? You get to do this however you want to.

Draw or collage symbols of the season—acorns for potential and growth, apples for wisdom and abundance, and pumpkins for prosperity. Use earthy tones like deep reds, browns, and golds to reflect the colors of autumn leaves. You might also incorporate images or drawings of animals associated with this time.

Include signs and symbols that align with the season. You could draw the scales of Libra to represent balance and fairness, or the cauldron, which symbolizes transformation and renewal. Add elements like dried herbs, flowers, or pressed leaves to bring a physical connection to nature into your journal or draw or collage images of the plants. Include sacred symbols like pentacles or a sigil you create yourself.

Consider adding a small section to write down a prayer or intention, something you wish to release or embrace during this season. This could be words of gratitude, something you are ready to let go of, or what you wish to cultivate in the coming months. 

You can also use this altar page in your journal to connect with your ancestors. Adding an ode to your ancestors as part of your autumn equinox celebration is a way to communicate with them, to acknowledge their presence in your life, and to invite them to be with you at this special time of year. It’s like sending an invitation from your heart, saying, “I see you, I honor you, and I welcome your wisdom and guidance.” By placing their names, images, or symbols that represent them on your altar page, you are creating a space for their energy to enter and be felt.

As the season shifts and the days grow shorter, the veil between the worlds is believed to thin. This makes it easier to feel the presence of those who came before us, to hear their whispers and to sense their guidance. It’s a time when we naturally turn inward, reflecting on where we come from and honoring those who walked this earth before us. Ancestors don’t have to mean blood relatives. In a broader context, your ancestors can include anyone whose life and spirit have influenced you or your path. They can be chosen family, mentors, teachers, or even figures from history or myth who resonate with your soul.

Doing this now in your art journal, as we approach Samhain, helps build that connection and energy. It prepares you to feel their presence more deeply and to listen for their messages as the veil thins further. It’s a way of honoring the unseen support that is always around you, preparing to connect more closely, and creating a sense of warmth and welcome for the spirits who wish to guide and protect you – and trust me, there are always loving, wise spirits wanting to support you in any way they can.

Two Powerful Ways To Work with This Season Together

I have two fantastic ways for us to work with the autumn energy in our art journals together! You can either join me for the next Witchy Wednesday Art Circle or sign up for my 30-Day Wild Witch Activation happening right on the eclipse—or even better, join me for both!

Witchy Wednesday Art Circle is a weekly online gathering where we align with the moon and nature’s cycles, practice folk magic in our art journals, and use the MAP Method to clear subconscious blocks that stand between you and your dreams. These gatherings are designed to help you tend to your soul, practice magic, or process any emotions you haven’t had time for earlier in the week.

We finish with a Moon Mapping session, where we use the MAP Method (Make Anything Possible) to release old memories and overcome limiting beliefs that hold you back.

This week, we’ll draw, paint, or collage an altar to our ancestors, inviting their guidance and support at this magical time of year. It’s a beautiful way to connect with the energy of the season and express your creativity while honoring those who came before you.

Don’t worry if you don’t have an art journal or art experience—this is all about the process, not the final result. You can use pencil crayons or markers on any paper you have! You’ll leave feeling lighter, clearer, and ready to take confident steps forward, with a deeper understanding of your own unique magic.

Our Next Gathering

Wednesday, September 18, 2024

Register Here 

The second way to join me is in my 30-Day Wild Witch Activation, which begins on October 2nd, the new moon in Libra — a powerful time for new beginnings. It also happens to be a solar eclipse, making it an even more potent moment for transformation. The activation will take us on a journey of self-discovery and empowerment, ending on Halloween, a time when the veil between worlds is thinnest. If you sign up this week, you’ll get $50 off if you register before Friday.

As a special BONUS, you’ll also receive an invitation to my Witches in Pajamas Halloween Party! This exclusive online gathering will be from 7-9 pm MT on Halloween night, where we’ll dive into some fun and meaningful divination practices in our art journals, connect with our spirit allies and ancestors, and receive messages that align with our soul’s highest vision. We’ll take time to honor and connect with the ancient ancestors who resonate with our path and purpose.

 If you’re ready to release the old and embrace your true magic, register below.

Register for the 30-Day Wild Witch Activation Here

with love,

Pinterest Pins