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Transform Into Your True Self with the Moon in Autumn – Art Journal with the Moon for October 7-13, 2024

In this post, I share a summary of the moon for the week of October 7-13, 2024 as it moves through the zodiac and interacts with the planets. I also explain embracing the transformative energy of autumn, as reflected by the moon’s interactions with Pluto and Mercury, to do deep inner work, release what no longer serves you, and step into your personal power.

The Moon This Week

This week, I want to dive into how we’re in the season of autumn, a time that invites introspection, deep reflection, and transformation. Autumn is a season where nature itself mirrors the cycle of death and rebirth as the trees shed their leaves and the earth begins to rest. It’s an invitation for us to do the same—to release what no longer serves us and make space for the new. This is a time for connecting with the underworld, honoring ancestors, and doing the inner work that leads to growth and transformation.

Before we get into all that though, I want to also 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 magictend to your soul or do your deep inner work

The week kicks off with the waxing crescent moon in the sign of Sagittarius on Monday which is the perfect energy to consider what new beginnings your release work made room for. Typically, new moons are about new beginnings, fresh starts, and planting seeds for the future, but this recent eclipse was more about endings and release. Now that we’ve gone through this period of deep release, the waxing crescent moon is inviting us to begin imagining what the newness in our lives can look like. With all that clearing and transforming behind you, you’ve made space for something new. This is the perfect moment to visualize and consider what you’d like your next chapter to be. 

On Tuesday, the waxing crescent moon is in the sign of Sagittarius and it has a happy relationship with Mercury. It’s a time to set your sights on the bigger picture, to ask yourself where you want to go next, not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually. Sagittarius encourages us to dream big and believe in possibilities beyond what we can see in front of us. Mercury helps you break down those grand visions into practical steps. This planet supports planning and strategizing, so if you’re visualizing your future, Mercury’s influence will help you define the specific details of what you want to manifest and how to get there.

On Wednesday, the waxing crescent moon moves into the sign of Capricorn and the energy it reflects down to us becomes grounded, practical, and focused on building toward the future. This moon invites you to take the ideas and dreams you’ve been nurturing and begin to bring them down to earth. Capricorn’s energy helps you focus on what is achievable and what you need to do to make things happen. It’s not about rushing or forcing things, but about steady, intentional progress. The waxing crescent moon is all about building momentum, and with the support of Capricorn’s grounded influence, you can start laying down the practical steps needed to move forward.

With the first quarter moon in Capricorn having a happy relationship with Saturn and Venus, Thursday brings a reminder to infuse your plans and dreams with love, joy, and a sense of connection. It’s not just about the work or the goal and the end result—it’s about making sure that what you’re building aligns with your heart and values and that you’re making time for love and joy. The path forward can be both fulfilling and meaningful.

On Friday, the first quarter moon moves into the sign of Aquarius. The moon is Aquarius is driven by a sense of compassion and a desire to help others. It is committed to the principles of human dignity, equality, and respect for all individuals. It’s a good day to explore how your personal spiritual journey can contribute to the collective well-being. It’s also a great time for envisioning new possibilities, not just for yourself but for the wider community. Spend some time in your art journal today imagining what a better world looks like in the future for your community.

Saturday’s growing moon in Aquarius is having a happy relationship with Jupiter. Aquarius is about thinking for the collective good and imagining new ways of doing things that benefit everyone. With the moon having a happy relationship with Jupiter in Gemini, this energy is amplified with a focus on communication, learning, and technology. In your art journal, work with this energy by exploring how technology and innovation can improve the world if harnessed in a way that honors the earth, her creatures and the people who call her home. What if our collective well-being was the priority? What does spiritual innovation mean to you?

The week wraps up on Sunday with the first quarter moon moving into the sign of Pisces and having a happy relationship with Mercury as Mercury moves into the sign of Scorpio. I talk more in depth about the moon reflecting energy from Mercury while it’s in the sign of Scorpio below but for now consider how this lunar energy becomes dreamy, intuitive, and deeply connected to your inner world. The happy relationship between the moon and Mercury allows for clear, intuitive communication and deep reflection. It’s a time when you can trust your inner voice to guide you toward emotional clarity and spiritual insight. It’s a great day to enjoy a little divination in your art journal.

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 work with the energy of autumn and the moon to transform into your true self.

Autumn and the Moon

When we look at the energy the moon is reflecting from Pluto and Mercury in the next while, the energy it will reflect whenever it is having a relationship with either of those planets aligns beautifully with these spiritual autumn themes.

Before I get too deep into it though, let’s remember that when we think about the energy the moon is reflecting down to us every day, it’s not just about the moon itself. The moon is like a mirror, reflecting the mood and energy of the other planets it interacts with as it moves through the zodiac.

Every time the moon forms a relationship with another planet, it’s reflecting the themes and energy of that planet according to what’s happening for that planet at the time.

It’s kind of like when a friend stops by for coffee and you hear all about the drama they are experiencing at work but then their tone and mood changes when they’re talking about a new hobby they’ve taken up that they’ve fallen in love with. Depending on what your friend is feeling and talking about, they’re pulling in and expressing different energies from their life and if you’re highly sensitive, you’re going to feel those energy shifts and you might even naturally connect with the energy of the people she mentions without even meaning to. The energy of those other people in her life are just being drawn in from the conversation. The moon is a lot like that. It’s reflecting whatever mood or energy the planet is in.

For example, when the moon forms a relationship with Pluto, it picks up on Pluto’s deep, transformative energy. Pluto is the planet of shadow work, transformation, and the underworld, so when the moon reflects that energy, we might feel more introspective or drawn to face hidden parts of ourselves. It’s a time when you may feel more intense emotions or be guided to confront things you’ve been avoiding.

Similarly, when the moon interacts with Mercury, it reflects Mercury’s qualities of communication, thought, and planning. Depending on what sign Mercury is in, this can affect the way we express ourselves or think through problems. For instance, if Mercury is in a water sign like Scorpio, the moon might reflect a more introspective, emotional energy, guiding you to think deeply and communicate more intuitively.

This is why it’s helpful to pay attention to what the other planets are doing. Each time the moon has a relationship with one of them, it’s as though the mood of that moment is colored by that planet’s energy. By tuning into these relationships, we can align more closely with the natural flow of energy and use that understanding in our magic, emotional healing, or creative work.

Pluto’s Journey

Pluto, which has been journeying through Capricorn since 2008, is all about deep, transformative change. It asks us to face the shadows within ourselves, to confront what we’ve buried, and to come out the other side transformed. As Pluto nears the end of its time in Capricorn, there’s still a bit more work to be done—things that need to be said, organized, or finished up. This is the energy of wrapping up a long, intense journey of personal transformation, which aligns perfectly with autumn’s themes of introspection and release.

Mercury is now in Scorpio, a water sign that’s all about getting to the heart of things. While Mercury spends several weeks in Scorpio, its energy will be reflective and unafraid to confront uncomfortable truths.

Scorpio is about seeing beneath the surface and bringing to light the hidden, darker aspects of life.

This makes it an excellent time for planning and setting things up before Mercury goes retrograde in Sagittarius later in November. Mercury in Scorpio will help us cut through the distractions and focus on what’s truly weighing on us, what’s keeping us from moving forward. It’s the perfect time to get real with ourselves about what we need to release to create space for growth.

When the moon interacts with Pluto or Mercury during this time, it reflects this energy back to us, reminding us to embrace the depth and intensity of the work we’re doing. It’s a time for quiet reflection,  for letting go of old patterns, and pondering what we next want to create in our lives.

The moon, Pluto, and Mercury are all asking us to be honest with ourselves, to confront our shadows, and to take the steps necessary for deep, lasting transformation.

This ties together beautifully with the spiritual goals of autumn, which are all about releasing, transforming, and preparing for new beginnings.

Now I want to share a little more about Pluto because I think this wrapping up energy that it is in is important to consider for yourself – what does it mean specifically for you? Which areas of your life was Pluto bringing deep transformation to and when it moves into the sign of Aquarius, which areas of your life will it now be bringing deep transformation to?

My Experience with Pluto

Since 2008, I’ve been on a personal journey that mirrors the energy of autumn—a descent into darkness for transformation and rebirth. This journey has aligned deeply with Pluto’s long transit through Capricorn, which has been taking place in my 8th house, the house of death, rebirth, and deep psychological transformation according to ancient astrology. Looking back, 2008 was the year that set in motion a series of events that felt like walking through my own personal underworld. Friendships, my health, and my very sense of stability seemed to unravel one after another, leaving me with no choice but to face the darkest parts of myself.

Pluto, the planet of transformation and the underworld, has been guiding me through this shadowy realm, much like the goddess Hekate leading souls through the deepest parts of their inner landscape. What I’ve come to realize is that this journey wasn’t just chaotic or random—there’s been a divine orchestration to it all. Even though healing has often felt like being torn apart, overwhelmed with grief, rage, and pain, it has also been freeing, life-affirming, and ultimately, leading me towards a deeper understanding of my own magic and power.

This Pluto transit, which is now coming to an end because Pluto is moving out of my house of psyche, has taken me to the very root of my personal darkness—something I couldn’t face until now. It has led me back to traumatic events that occurred when I was just four and five years old, events that I buried deep inside and never fully confronted. It feels like the culmination of years of shadow work, as if the past decade-plus of hardship was preparing me to finally open Pandora’s box of memories and pain. Although I am only just beginning to confront these buried parts of my psyche, I am filled with awe at how perfectly timed this journey has been, aligned not only with my personal astrology but with the season of autumn and the energies of death and rebirth that this time of year represents.

As I’ve walked this path, sometimes feeling crushed by the weight of grief and rage, I’ve also been learning the profound lessons of surrender, release, and transformation. It’s as if every step was divinely orchestrated, and though I couldn’t see the big picture when I was deep in the pain, now I can look back and see how it all fits together.

The more I practice magic in my art journal with the moon, the more I feel its power in my bones. I can sense the forces of love and magic supporting me through this transformation, reminding me that even the darkest journeys lead to the most profound healing.

Endings and Beginnings

My healing journey has not been easy. There have been times when I didn’t think I’d make it through to the other side, when the darkness felt overwhelming. But now, as Pluto’s transit in my 8th house concludes, I can see how necessary this descent has been. It’s a process of death and rebirth, a shedding of old layers so that I can step into my true power, aligned with my soul and ready to move forward with greater strength and wisdom.

The alignment with the current season, the energy of autumn, has only deepened my understanding of the cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth. Just as the leaves fall and the nights grow longer, I have learned to honor the darkness within, knowing that it is part of the natural cycle of transformation. This is a time for clearing, releasing, and making space for the new, and I am deeply grateful for the magic that has carried me through this journey.

Right now, I feel like a completely different person, but at the same time, I also feel like I’ve finally connected to who I’ve always been deep down. I’m still me, but without the masks. Without the co-dependency, the over-giving, or the constant ignoring of my own needs. I no longer feel disconnected from my feelings or trapped in an ongoing trauma response. I’m no longer living with chronic stress, anxiety, or unhealthy coping mechanisms like addictions or emotional eating. Social anxiety no longer dominates my life.

Of course, I’m still carrying some things, like mistrust of people. After experiencing betrayal as deeply as I did when I was four and five, it makes sense that this would still be something I need to work through. I still need to face the grief of losing my innocence, of having something stolen from me that should never have been taken. I also still struggle with my relationship to money and my sense of personal power. But when I look back, I can see how much I’ve purged, released, and rebirthed during Pluto’s transit through my eighth house.

As I mentioned earlier, in ancient astrology, the eighth house is all about death, rebirth, transformation, and deep emotional and psychological healing. It governs matters of shared resources, trauma, and the unconscious parts of ourselves that we often avoid. When Pluto moves through this house, it forces you to face your shadows, to break down the old, unhealthy patterns, and to rebuild yourself from the ground up.

If Pluto is entering your eighth house, I want to reassure you. Yes, it’s intense, but imagine standing at the gates of the underworld with Persephone and Hekate beside you, choosing to walk through your own darkness. It’s a journey into the deepest parts of yourself, but you do it knowing that you’ll come out on the other side as a truer, lighter version of yourself. One that’s no longer burdened by the masks, the pain, the wounds, or the fear.

Autumn Healing

As we enter the season of autumn and the month of October, the energy shifts in a profound way. This time of year, especially as we approach Samhain, is all about descending into the underworld to confront the deeper, darker parts of ourselves and our memories. It’s a season that asks us to face the shadows we often want to avoid but that are crucial to our transformation and growth. 

This is the season to honor your inner Wild Witch—the part of you that knows how to walk through the darkness, face the shadows, and emerge stronger and wiser on the other side. The Wild Witch archetype is deeply connected to this time of year, guiding you to trust your instincts, release what no longer serves you, and reclaim the parts of yourself that we may have buried or neglected.

Working with this Energy Together

If doing this deep inner work feels overwhelming or if you’re craving support from others who understand the power of this journey, I invite you to join me at Witchy Wednesday Art Circle. This is a weekly online gathering of highly sensitive, magical creators who are committed to doing the inner work of healing and stepping into their power. Together, we use creative practices, magic, and the MAP Method to explore our inner world, release what holds us back, and support each other through this transformative time.

There’s nothing quite like being part of a community of gentle souls who are doing this work with intention and magic. If you’re ready to dive deep, join us—let’s walk this path together.

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

Theme  = Shadow Magic

Date – Wednesday, October 9, 2024

Register Here 

with love,

Dana da Ponte

 

 

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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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