April 2023: Tarot spread for the new moon solar eclipse in Aries

Plus some journaling questions, an astro-tarot forecast and an exploration of the the Sabian symbol for the new moon + solar eclipse in Aries

Tarot spread for the April 2023 new moon and solar eclipse in Aries

The April 2023 new moon solar eclipse falls in the sign of Aries. The Aries archetype is known for its bold – often rash – action, for going where angels fear to tread. As the first sign of the zodiac, it represents the active core of our spiritual journey on earth, and teaches us to act in accordance with our ideals. The Aries archetype teaches us to be unafraid to march to our own drumbeat, to assert our willpower towards the attainment of our desires, and to embrace beginner’s mind and the innate trust and explosive power {conviction + action} that is needed to start something new.

Spiritually, the Aries archetype teaches us about action. And as most of us know, it’s easier to talk about the things we want to do than to put in the work and actually do the thing! Aries teaches us that courage is the key to unlocking the full potential of this spiritual principle. And that comes from connecting your head to your heart, focusing your will, and taking consistent action towards your dreams.

This month also marks the start of eclipse season, with a rare hybrid solar eclipse that will go from an annular eclipse to a total eclipse before going back to an annular eclipse in some parts of the world. The eclipse will be visible in Australia, the Pacific Ocean, East and South Asia, Antarctica, and the Indian Ocean.

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How to make a mixed media collage art doll

Create a whimsical paper art doll using collage scraps in your stash!

How to make paper art dolls using collage and mixed media techniques

You know those old art journals, back from when you were just starting on your art journey, that you keep hidden away in a dusty corner because looking through your initial attempts at painting feel cringe?

Pull those out. Flip through them. Feel the cringe. And then feel the satisfaction and pride of seeing how far you’ve progressed!

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April 2023: Tarot spread for the full moon in Libra

Plus some journaling questions, an astro-tarot forecast and an exploration of the Sabian symbol for the full moon in Libra

Tarot spread and astro-tarot forecast for the April 2023 full moon in Libra

The April 2023 full moon falls in the sign of Libra. The Libra archetype is closely associated with justice and maintaining balance in social interactions and within the self. They are the true diplomats among the zodiac archetypes, and focus on fair dealings in all their relationships.

Spiritually, the Libra archetype teaches the principle of intimate balance, of the ability to remain centered and true to yourself no matter what may be going on around you. This is a skill that can be particularly helpful for those of us who turn up our noses at societal expectations as we dance to the tune of our own drum beat. Being able to remain centered is also an important skill to have if you’re surrounded by toxic people – and in these times, even toxic politics! One of the easiest ways to remain centered is through the breath, and by being able to distinguish between the things that are in your control, and those that aren’t.

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How to use washi tape in your art journal

Pull out your favorite washi tapes and make an art journal page with me!

How to use washi tape in your art journal

If you’ve been following me for any length of time, you probably know that I almost always paint intuitively. It’s very rare for me to plan a page in advance. But, I also like to challenge myself, because that’s the best way to learn and grow!

So for this particular piece, which I did for an Instagram challenge called Seek, Gather, Create, I went in with a bit of planning. I knew some of the elements that I wanted — maps, a moon, some masking tape — based on the challenge prompts. But instead of putting it all together intuitively, I decided to come to the page with a broad idea of what I wanted to paint.

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March 2023: Tarot spread for the new moon in Aries

Plus some journaling questions, an astro-tarot forecast and an exploration of the the Sabian symbol for the new moon in Aries

Tarot spread and astro-tarot forecast for the March 2023 new moon in Aries

The March 2023 new moon falls in the sign of Aries. The Aries archetype is known for its bold – often rash – action, for going where angels fear to tread. As the first sign of the zodiac, it represents the active core of our spiritual journey on earth, and teaches us to act in accordance with our ideals. The Aries archetype teaches us to be unafraid to march to our own drumbeat, to assert our willpower towards the attainment of our desires, and to embrace beginner’s mind and the innate trust and explosive power {conviction + action} that is needed to start something new.

Spiritually, the Aries archetype teaches us about action. And as most of us know, it’s easier to talk about the things we want to do than to put in the work and actually do the thing! Aries teaches us that courage is the key to unlocking the full potential of this spiritual principle. And that comes from connecting your head to your heart, focusing your will, and taking consistent action towards your dreams.

The March 2023 new moon also highlights the concept of home. Where we lay down our roots, the people we consider family, and more importantly, this body that we inhabit, which is our home on this planet that we call home.

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Junk journal with me: Seasons of life

Art journal or junk journal with me

I started junk journaling in December last year, and I am IN LOVE! There is something so freeing about creating art in a junk journal — it invites experimentation and play, you don’t take yourself so seriously, and at the same time, you put more of yourself into the art. It’s — strange!

I never really thought I pressured myself in my art journal, but now I see that I approached my journals as Art. I took myself more seriously, by which I mean I was afraid to experiment, try new things, make messes, and play. I knew what worked, and I stuck to it.

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March 2023: Tarot spread for the full moon in Virgo

Plus some journaling questions, an astro-tarot forecast and an exploration of the Sabian symbol for the full moon in Virgo

Tarot spread and astro-tarot forecast for the March 2023 full moon in Virgo

The March 2023 full moon falls in the sign of Virgo. The Virgo archetype is logical and practical, with an eye for detail and the steadfastness to go after their goals. This is a sign that thrives on meticulous planning, on honing skills to perfection and gaining mastery over their chosen vocation.

Spiritually, the Virgo archetype teaches the principle of devotion. One way to understand this principle is by looking at it through the lens of one’s devotion to their craft. While all the buzz seems to point towards profiting from your passion, there are numerous examples of famous writers and artists who held down a day job for most of their lives. Franz Kafka was an insurance clerk, Harper Lee was an airline ticketing agent, Mark Rothko was an elementary school teacher and Paul Gauguin was a stockbroker. They could all have given in to the dull drudgery of making a living, but they didn’t – and the world is much richer for their devotion to their craft.

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Painting with children

Painting with your toddler is one of the most interesting ways to jazz up your art practice!

Why you should paint with children

One of the most fun collaborations that I did last year was to paint with my 2-year old niece on video call! I showed her some of the paint tubes that were lying on my painty table, and she dictated all of my color choices, as I threw down paint, made marks, and combined colors that I may not have used on my own.

This is the final piece from that first collaboration. When the little toddler and I finished painting together, the page was filled with colors and marks — a vivid explosion of blues, pinks, purple and green, along with some really bold crimson.

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February 2023: Tarot spread for the new moon in Pisces

Plus some journaling questions, an astro-tarot forecast and an exploration of the the Sabian symbol for the new moon in Pisces

Tarot spread and astro-tarot forecast for the February 2023 new moon in Pisces

The February 2023 new moon falls in the sign of Pisces. The Pisces archetype is highly intuitive and very open to the flow of creative imagination. This is the sign of creative dreamers and mystics and visionaries, which makes this full moon an excellent time to flex your intuitive and creative muscles.

Spiritually, the Pisces archetype teaches the principle of unity, of recognizing the divinity within you. One way to understand this principle is by looking at creation – the creator {God, Universe, Source, however you wish to name it} created this earth, the rivers and seas, the trees, birds, insects, animals, man. Similarly, man has the ability to create – and to create consciously. It is this ability that points to the spiritual truth of Pisces, that we are spiritual beings having a human experience {with the emphasis on our humanness in all its frailty and beauty}. It is by accepting responsibility for consciously creating – which isn’t always easy – that you connect most deeply with the creator. Needless to say, empathy and compassion are the cornerstones of the Pisces archetype.

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