June 2025: Tarot spread for the new moon in Cancer

Plus an astrology and tarot forecast, glimmer ritual, and herbal lore for the new moon in Cancer.

Tarot spread and astrology and tarot forecast for the June 2025 new moon in Cancer

The June 2025 new moon falls in the sign of Cancer. The Cancer archetype is emotional, intuitive, nurturing and healing. It also symbolizes “home” and all the things that home represents – not just our physical home, but also our emotions, energy, body, and the spiritual hearth of our souls.

Spiritually, the Cancer archetype is one of compassion, of recognizing that people, in general, act to the best of their abilities, limited by their education, upbringing and current awareness. The Cancer archetype knows that love and forgiveness, where possible, are the best way to respond to destructive behavior – along with firm boundaries, of course.

This new moon can also usher in a new cycle of change, encouraging us to release old patterns, blocks, and goals that may be going nowhere. That is the only way to let in some fresh energy and vitality — and this new moon definitely encourages that. What excites you? What feels vital and juicy at this time? Focus on that, letting anything that is holding you back from following those clues fall away to the wayside.

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Recurring symbols in intuitive painting: uncovering insights and messages

Recurring Motifs in Intuitive Art: Uncovering Insights and Messages

Some days, I wish I had done my 100 day project in one art journal. It would have made it easier to see the variety and kinds of paintings I’ve done over the days. And it would definitely have been easier to see the colors, symbols, and marks that show up over and over again.

Instead, I’m flipping over the pages in four different journals, looking over the paintings that I completed during my 100 day project, 100 days of art journaling.

When I started this project, I had one simple goal: To show up at the painty table for a minimum of 15 minutes for 100 days. I didn’t expect to maintain an unbroken streak — I never have been very good at being that consistent with anything except reading! — but I surprised myself by doing just that.

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June 2025: Tarot spread for the full moon in Sagittarius

Plus an astrology and tarot forecast, journaling prompts, and Womanrunes reading for the Sagittarius full moon.

Tarot spread and astrology and tarot forecast for the June 2025 full moon in Sagittarius

The June 2025 full moon falls in the sign of Sagittarius. The freedom loving Sagittarius archetype is in a constant search for inspiration, new avenues of exploration, and adventure. This is a sign that gets bored of the status quo easily, and needs the rush of a new quest to keep them on their toes.

Spiritually, the Sagittarius archetype teaches us to cultivate our own personal relationship with the divine. Contrary to what most religions and a lot of spiritual teachers say, you don’t need an intermediary between you and Source/God/the Universe. You have that connection available to you at all times. Learning to tune in and trust that connection is where a lot of us seem to stumble, though.

The June 2025 full moon also brings into focus the ways in which we communicate and the power of owning your voice. This isn’t always an easy thing, to speak your truth. There’s a lot of anxiety that it can bring up, around how you are perceived; how your words translate; and what people may think of you. It can lead to fears of being “found out” or ostracized, neither of which is a rational fear!

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Book review: Tales from the Dawn-Lit Mountains by Subi Taba

From the back cover: A village is haunted by an insidious spirit tiger. A bee sting reminds a Nocte boy of his brother’s beheading and transforms him into a deadly headhunter. A Donyi-Polo priest must continue practising his animistic rituals to preserve the fading vestiges of his indigenous religion. The curse of a high priest follows the thief who stole the forbidden sacred ornaments…These stories offer an alluring escape to the land of the dawn-lit mountains, Arunachal Pradesh, bringing us face to face with the real and the magical.

Arunachal Pradesh, a land of mystique and mysticism, India’s remotest state and the first on Indian soil to greet the rising sun. Perhaps that’s how it got its moniker as the land of the dawn-lit-mountains.

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May 2025 reading wrap-up

Do you read when you are stressed and anxious, your mind racing over a myriad possibilities, most of them bleak, bereft of hope? And if you do, what kinds of books do you like to read during such times? Do you seek to escape into a different world? Or do you just need some words on a page to engage your brain so that it isn’t obsessively worrying about something?

This month, I discovered which kind of reader I am.

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May 2025: Tarot spread for the new moon in Gemini

Plus an astrology and tarot forecast, writing ritual, and herbal lore for the new moon in Gemini.

Tarot spread and astrology and tarot forecast for the May 2025 new moon in Gemini

The May 2025 new moon falls in the sign of Gemini. The Gemini archetype is very curious, an excellent communicator, and a disseminator of knowledge. It is the sign of the writer, of those who tend to think deeply, are highly perceptive, and prefer to learn from experience.

Spiritually, the Gemini archetype is about courageous conversation, be it with another person or with the Universe. Gemini adds its vibration to the advancement of culture and civilization through dialogue, be that via books or blogs or letters.

This new moon is a potent time to plant new seeds, nurture cherished relationships, and potentially enter into collaborations or partnerships.

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Unexpected life lessons from an ugly painting

What ugly pages have taught me about art…and life

We’re at the home stretch of the 100 day project, just a few more days to go! I’m torn between wanting to continue this streak, and feeling like I need to celebrate simply showing up ever day for over 80 days.

Most days, the art has flowed freely and beautifully. I quickly find myself in flow state, not knowing just how much time has passed since I started painting.

But there are days when I struggle — with the composition, the colors, the mess on the page. And I usually love the messy stage; that’s where the possibilities lie when you are painting intuitively! On the days when nothing seems to go right, though, I feel like just tearing the page out or turning it over and starting anew; to abandon the mess I’ve created on the page.

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May 2025: Tarot spread for the full moon in Scorpio

Plus an astrology and tarot forecast, journaling prompts, and Womanrunes reading for the Scorpio full moon.

Tarot spread and astrology and tarot forecast for the May 2025 full moon in Scorpio

The May 2025 full moon falls in the sign of Scorpio. The Scorpio archetype is known for its intense power and its ability to transform, much like the butterfly emerging from its cocoon, ready to fly. The Scorpio archetype isn’t afraid of the birth-death-rebirth cycle, for it is only when parts of us die and are reborn that we can fully transform.

So perhaps it’s not surprising that spiritually, the Scorpio archetype teaches us to surrender — to align our human will with divine will. It can teach us that sometimes our human trials can reveal a need for deep healing. This is not always easy to live with or to understand, especially when the need for healing arises from trauma, and yet on the other side of working with and healing trauma there can be deep and valuable transformation.

This full moon also presents an excellent opportunity to spend time with friends and communities that nurture you and help you grow. If you’ve wanted to attend a workshop or plan an event or outing with friends or colleagues, this will be a great time to put those plans in action.

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Feeling resistance in your creative practice? Here’s what it might really mean

Understanding why resistance shows up in a daily art practice, and how to overcome creative resistance.

How to overcome creative resistance, make art even when you don't feel like it, and maintain a daily art journaling practice

It’s been a while since my last 100 day update, but as of this writing, I’m at an unbroken streak of 67 days of art journaling! This is a first for me, and if I’m being honest, I didn’t think I would manage such a long streak.

If you’ve been a part of my world for a while, you know that I’m a big advocate for an almost daily art practice. For me, that has meant showing up to the painty table 4-5 times per week; my longest art streak tops out at 15 days.

So 67 days — that’s huge!

There have been days when I haven’t felt like painting, when creative resistance shows up loud and clear, and I just want to take a break for a day. But the thought of that unbroken streak pulls me to back to the art table. That, and my curiosity to see if I can make it to a 100 day streak.

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April 2025 reading wrap-up

all the books I read in April 2025, including new releases

April seems to have lasted forever! The mercury’s rising, and with it, so has my desire to enclose myself in an air conditioned room with good books for company. And boy, have I read some really interesting books this month — across genres. My favorite fantasy genre features strongly this month, along with contemporary fiction, a cozy mystery, and a collection of short stories.

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