August 2025: Tarot spread for the full moon in Aquarius

Tarot spread and astrology and tarot forecast for the August 2025 full moon in Aquarius

The August 2025 full moon falls in the sign of Aquarius. The independent, free-thinking Aquarius archetype encourages us to examine our inner wild self and celebrate everything that makes us unique. It is the archetype of the reformer, the idealist who strives for tolerance, unity, and a better and brighter society. And despite these rather lofty ideals, the Aquarius archetype isn’t afraid to get in there and get its hands dirty.

Spiritually, the Aquarius archetype teaches us how to be true to our own voice, to listen to and follow the calling of our own heart and soul. By learning how to tune in rather than out, by being true to the things that make us unique, we undertake the journey to individuation.

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July 2025 reading wrap up

July has been a month for comfort reads. Cozy books, where nothing really bad happens. I’ve had enough of grief and loss, death and despair in real life, with the passing of my beloved cat, Loki at the start of the month. I couldn’t bear it in my fiction too.

So I wrapped myself up in simple, cozy stories of charmed books, the magic of small communities, romance amid magical geographical disasters, and the unraveling of a centuries old fairy curse.

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July 2025: Tarot spread for the new moon in Leo

Plus an astrology and tarot forecast, new moon ritual, and herbal lore for the Leo new moon.

Tarot spread and astrology and tarot forecast for the July 2025 new moon in Leo

The July 2025 new moon falls in the sign of Leo. The bold and dynamic Leo archetype infuses us with a passionate zest for living. It is the archetype of the fiery creative who is confident and unafraid to stand in the spotlight. But this infectious dynamic can also succumb to its shadow aspects of overbearing pride, drama and arrogance.

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In memorium: Loki

To live in this world
you must be able
to do three things:

to love what is mortal;
to hold it
against your bones knowing
your own life depends on it;
and, when the time comes to let it go,
to let it go.

— Mary Oliver, excerpt from In Blackwater Woods

My brave warrior Loki lost his two-year long battle with cancer and crossed over the rainbow bridge on 1 July 2025.

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July 2025: Tarot spread for the full moon in Capricorn

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

Tarot spread and astrology and tarot forecast for the July  2025 full moon in Capricorn

The July 2025 full moon falls in the sign of Capricorn. Symbolized by the mountain goat, which maintains perfect balance while it climbs over precarious rock ledges, the Capricorn archetype is one of disciplined and dogged determination towards the attainment of our worldly desires.

Spiritually, the Capricorn archetype teaches us about integrity and helps us to harness the ability to plan our work, and stick to it, no matter what. In these times of 24×7 consumption culture, it’s easy to be addicted with shiny object syndrome and forget about our goals and plans. Capricorn teaches us about the meaning of integrity: to align ourselves with our highest ideals and actualize our potential.

This full moon also has a rather transformative energy. It can unlock a moment of sudden clarity, one that shifts our perspective, releases an old block, or helps us break a repetitive pattern.

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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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