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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April 2025: Tarot spread for the new moon in Taurus

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

Tarot spread and astrology and tarot forecast for the April 2025 new moon in Taurus

The April 2025 new moon falls in the sign of Taurus. The Taurus archetype is grounded and steadfast, calm and composed, firm and also somewhat stubborn. This is a sign that is practical and earthy, and is associated with material pleasures, desires, luxuriousness, and abundance.

Spiritually, the Taurus archetype teaches the principle of belonging through presence…our presence as sacred human beings…honoring the body temple…honoring the flow of life. This can be difficult given the society we live in, which praises the hustle over reverence and treats time as money rather than a finite resource that should be used wisely in the pursuit of the things that give us meaning.

The April 2025 new moon also brings into focus the ways in which you 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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The 100 day project days 31-40 plus communing with the divine feminine

It’s time for another update on my 100 day project — 100 Days of Art Journaling.

As the days roll on, it’s becoming easier and easier to show up to the painty table every day — on the busy days, on social days, on days when I have a lot of stuff going on, and on the more languid and lazy days. I show up. Even if it’s just for 15 minutes. I show up. And I am delighted!

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April 2025: Tarot spread for the full moon in Libra

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

Tarot spread and astrology and tarot forecast for the April 2025 full moon in Libra

The April 2025 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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