October Art Witch Journal: Creative Symbolism

Art Witch Desk covered in Art Supplies and Journals

Hello creative alchemists,

As the new moon rises and we step into October’s shifting tides, I welcome you into this month’s Art Witch Journal. This is our gathering place, a moment to pause, breathe, and align with the unseen threads that weave through art, magic, and daily life.

This season brings both balance and intensity: eclipses, equinox energy, super moons, and the steady hum of transformation beneath it all. It feels like standing at a threshold, one foot in shadow and one in light, asked to trust the flow while holding close what truly matters.

Wherever you are reading this in your studio, curled up with a cuppa, or catching a quiet moment between the busyness of life, may these words offer reflection, nourishment, and inspiration for your own practice.

Grab a cuppa and settle in.

Cuppa & Catch Up - Personal Reflections, Community Connections, and Studio Life

This past month has been a challenging one for me personally. I’ve been navigating a flare-up of symptoms that has kept me away from the studio, making it hard to show up for my own practice and live up to the routines I share here. Some days, simply being present with my art has felt like too much, and that has been a tough space to sit with.

On the practical side, I’ve finally managed to arrange community transport to get me to and from appointments in my wheelchair. The logistics have been tricky, but I’m hopeful that this will make life a little smoother going forward.

One bright spot has been the Gardening sessions at our Community Garden. These have been nourishing in more ways than one, feeding both my soul and my diet. There’s something deeply grounding about wheeling down to pick fresh produce and bringing it back to my apartment to cook on the spot. The chance to connect with other residents has been equally precious. Living with a disability and chronic health issues can be isolating, so this sense of community has been incredibly important.

I’ve also been planning a piece for the Merri-bek Summer Show. The theme is Love in Crisis. I had hoped to submit my Kintsugi of the Soul collection, but works must have been completed in 2025, so I’m now creating something entirely new. Watch this space!

I’m hoping to attend an Art Workshop at the local community house this week as well. Like the gardening group, it’s a space where I can connect with others, share ideas, and feel that sense of creative community that is so important. It’s one of the benefits of living in Women’s Housing; they recognise the value of community and connection.

On a more personal note, I had the joy of attending my granddaughter’s school play last week. It had been a while since I’d spent time with them, and it was wonderful to share in the fun and excitement of the production. With school holidays now underway, I’m looking forward to spending a couple more days with them later this week.

Art Witch Musings – Chapter Six

Navigating the Unseen: Symbols, Dreamwork, and Creative Alchemy

Even in months when the studio feels far away, the unseen currents of creativity are still flowing. Beneath the surface of everyday life, beneath the brushstrokes and the clay, the threads of the unseen hum steadily, insistently. They are currents older than time, older than thought, older than words. They move in cycles, in symbols, in the cadence of dreams, and in the alchemy of transformation. To step into them is to step sideways from the ordinary world and into a liminal rhythm where intuition, instinct, and insight are the only guides.

For me, these currents are both map and companion. Theosophy, the occult, and esoteric study are not dusty relics of the past, they are languages of connection, tools for navigating the invisible. They are lenses that allow me to read the patterns of the world and the symbols hidden within it. Although, I do not follow tradition blindly. I do not worship text over intuition, nor ritual over revelation. I enter these currents as a conversation: I bring my body, my energy, my attention, and I ask questions. Answers come not in lectures or words, but in images that appear in dreams, in repeated shapes, in subtle shifts of energy or light, in the pull of colour or texture.

Symbols are the language through which my work listens and speaks. A spiral scratched into clay, a streak of gold across a page, a thread twisted through fabric, they are both vessel and key. They hold memory, intention, and magic. I pay attention to how symbols appear, how they echo across media, across time, across the liminal spaces where my art breathes. In this way, my work becomes a spell of observation, a meditation, a translation of the unseen into form.

Dream work is central to this practice. Dreams do not simply inspire; they instruct. They guide the rhythm of the studio, the selection of materials, the shape of a piece yet unborn. Archetypes rise from the unconscious, bringing both comfort and challenge, and I engage with them as I would with a trusted companion. I transcribe, sketch, and mark their presence. I honour their messages by letting them shape the work without forcing clarity, without insisting on literal interpretation.

Spiritual alchemy informs every aspect of my process. Not the sort that promises gold or power in the worldly sense, but the inner alchemy of transformation, the transmutation of pain into image, fatigue into texture, isolation into communion. I work in stages of dissolution and recombination, layering and un-layering, allowing materials to speak their own truths. My studio is the alchemist’s lab; my hands, the instruments; my attention, the fire that transforms raw matter into something charged with meaning.

The sacred feminine flows through this practice as both lineage and guiding principle. I trace the unrecorded histories of women who practiced magic in secret, who wove spells into daily life, who left traces in textiles, herbals, and symbols. I do not attempt to reconstruct them; instead, I commune with their echoes, threading their presence into my work. It emerges in texture, in repetition, in rhythm. It emerges in the reverence with which I approach each material, each mark, each gesture.

Magic, in my practice, is inseparable from politics. To wield knowledge, to honour unseen forces, to embody a form of wisdom that refuses erasure, this is resistance. Every mark I make is a declaration that the unseen matters, that women’s voices matter, that disability, intuition, and devotion are not optional; they are radical. The magic of art is a reclamation of agency, a quiet revolution enacted in studio corners and liminal spaces.

Symbols, alchemy, and dreamwork converge to create pieces that are both talisman and testimony. Each work carries residue of the unseen currents, the layered conversations between self and other, visible and invisible, spirit and matter. A piece is never merely a painting or sculpture; it is a spell cast in devotion to insight, transformation, and the honouring of thresholds. It is a record of time spent listening, noticing, and translating.

Yet, even as the work takes form, the process continues. The studio is never silent. The currents keep moving. The symbols speak anew with every glance, every touch. I am always reading, always attuning, always engaged in the slow, recursive dance that is my practice.

This chapter of work, this weaving of occult, spiritual, and symbolic threads, is not an end, nor a revelation fully realised. It is a living continuum, a meditation, a conversation with forces that do not rush. It is devotion embodied, patience enshrined, and the subtle, profound acknowledgment that art, at its most potent, is not separate from life, magic, or the sacred.

To work in this way is to stand at a threshold. To be both maker and medium. To trust that the unseen will inform the seen, and that the act of creation itself is a spell that shapes not only the work but the artist, and perhaps, in some small way, the world around them.

Art Witch Desk with Oracle Cards, Journal and Cuppa

Artist of the Season – Faith Ringgold

Story Quilts, Resistance, and the Power of Visual Narrative

This season I’m honouring the extraordinary Libran artist, author, and activist Faith Ringgold (1930–2024). Born and raised in Harlem, New York, Ringgold grew up surrounded by creativity, her mother was a fashion designer, her father a storyteller and it was in this environment that her lifelong relationship with fabric, colour, and narrative first began. She went on to study art and education at City College of New York, later teaching while developing a practice that would weave together painting, quilting, sculpture, performance, and writing.

Ringgold’s work is uncompromising in its honesty and deeply generous in its vision. Her early series, The American People (1963–67), painted at the height of the civil rights movement, reflects directly on racial violence, social upheaval, and the fight for equality. Perhaps the most famous piece from this series, American People #20: Die (1967), is a searing portrayal of chaos, grief, and resilience. It remains one of the most striking works of the 20th century, a raw and urgent call to witness.

From the 1980s onwards, Ringgold turned increasingly to her now-iconic story quilts. Works like Tar Beach (1988) blend painting, pieced fabric, and hand-written text to tell stories of Black family life, dreams, and freedom. Quilting, historically dismissed as “women’s work”, became a radical medium in her hands, transforming domestic craft into political and spiritual art. These quilts are visual talismans, carrying both ancestral memory and imaginative flight. Tar Beach was later adapted into a children’s book, ensuring her vision could be shared across generations.

Her creative reach didn’t stop there. Ringgold wrote children’s books such as Aunt Harriet’s Underground Railroad in the Sky and My Dream of Martin Luther King, as well as her memoir, We Flew Over the Bridge. Across every form she touched, the same threads run through resistance, storytelling, visibility, and transformation.

For me, what makes Ringgold so resonant this season is how her art stands at the threshold of the visible and invisible. She gave form to what was often silenced or unseen, the lived experiences of Black women, the resilience of communities, the power of dreams. Her quilts and paintings blur the boundaries between art and craft, personal and political, memory and imagination. They remind me that art is both a ritual of remembrance and a spell of becoming.

Faith Ringgold’s legacy is a reminder that our creativity is never separate from our politics, our healing, or our spiritual work. Her practice shows us that we can take the most ordinary of materials, fabric, thread, story and charge them with power, beauty, and resistance. This season, I’m carrying her lesson that art can hold memory, demand justice, and imagine liberation all at once.

 Art Journal Prompt - Symbols as Thresholds

Exploring Your Dreams and Symbols Through Visual Journaling

This month, I invite you to explore the symbols that appear in your own life as guides and thresholds.

Think of Faith Ringgold’s story quilts, each image, colour, and fragment of fabric becomes more than material; it becomes memory, resistance, and imagination stitched into form. In your own journal, allow symbols to emerge in the same way: not as static images, but as living companions.

Begin by reflecting on a recent dream, repeated shape, or recurring image that has caught your attention. Don’t overthink it, it might be a spiral, a bird, a doorway, a piece of fabric, or even a phrase someone spoke.

On your page, translate this symbol into visual form. You could draw it, collage it, stitch it, or layer colours and textures until it takes shape. Let it repeat, fragment, or morph. Allow the materials themselves to guide you, just as alchemy transforms one state into another.

Once the image is there, sit with it and ask:

·         What threshold does this symbol represent?

·         What am I leaving behind, and what am I stepping toward?

·         How does this image balance the visible and invisible in my life right now?

Write a few lines alongside your work, not as an explanation but as a conversation, the beginning of a dialogue with the unseen currents moving through your own creative practice.

Remember: this isn’t about creating a polished piece. It’s about listening, noticing, and honouring the subtle languages that want to speak through you.

Art Journal Prompt

Little Witchy Things

Practical Magic for Daily Life and Creative Connection

As we move into this new month, I’ve gathered a few small practices to help you attune to the subtle currents of life and creativity. These are gentle invitations to notice, reflect, and bring magic into everyday moments.

One way to connect with the unseen is by mapping your currents. Pay attention to recurring symbols, sensations in your body, or patterns in your dreams. Capture them in a journal, sketchbook, or with simple shapes and colours. By observing these threads, you strengthen your awareness of the energies guiding your creativity and life.

Another practice is embodying intention in ordinary actions. Whether you’re washing dishes, brewing tea, or watering a plant, infuse the moment with presence, gratitude, or a whispered intention. These small, mindful acts transform everyday routines into threads of magic, grounding you in the rhythm of life and creativity.

You can also explore symbolic offerings. Choose a small object, a stone, feather, leaf, or ribbon, that resonates with your current energy or aspiration. Hold it, notice its texture, colour, and weight, and place it somewhere meaningful in your home, studio, or altar. Let it serve as a reminder of the energy you wish to cultivate this month.

Finally, listen to your dreams as collaborators in your creative practice. Before sleep, set an intention or ask a question. Upon waking, note any images, symbols, or impressions. Allow these messages to inspire your art, journaling, or daily reflections. Dreams are guides that speak in a language of texture, colour, and subtle energy, pay attention, and they will inform your creative path.

Art Witch Desk

Cycles of Craft - Libra Season, Eclipses, and Astrological Guidance for October

We enter Libra Season with a bang! The month begins under the Solar Eclipse and Spring Equinox on September 21 and 22, a powerful alignment that invites both reflection and renewal. The eclipse asks us to trust ourselves and our inner guidance, while the equinox brings the balance of light and dark, marking a perfect moment to plant seeds for what we wish to grow over the coming months. Together, these energies set the stage for intentional creation, grounding, and alignment.

On September 24, Mars enters Scorpio, bringing a deep, focused intensity to our actions and desires. Mars in Scorpio encourages us to move with determination, dive beneath the surface of situations, and confront what we’ve been avoiding. This energy can fuel transformation, but it asks for patience and trust in the process, rather than forcing outcomes.

Looking ahead, October 7 brings a Super Full Moon in Aries, illuminating our passions, courage, and personal drives. This is a moment of heightened energy and clarity, a chance to release what no longer serves and step more fully into your authentic power. Around the same time, Mercury enters Scorpio, sharpening intuition, deepening conversations, and encouraging us to communicate with honesty, insight, and emotional depth.

On October 13, Venus moves into Libra, softening our relationships and interactions with harmony, beauty, and grace. This energy highlights diplomacy, self-care in partnership, and the art of finding balance within connection. It’s a gentle reminder that nurturing others begins with nurturing ourselves.

Finally, the New Moon in Libra on October 21 offers a fresh start in alignment with balance, fairness, and creative partnership. This lunar cycle invites reflection on where harmony is needed in our lives and what intentions we wish to cultivate as we move toward the light half of the year. It is a time to plant seeds, both in art and life, trusting that what we sow now will grow into meaningful, radiant expression.

New Moon, Eclipse, Equinox

Oracle Insights - Tuning Into Your Own Balance and Intuition This Month

This month’s energies invite us to pause, listen, and find balance within shifting ground. For October, I suggest a three-card spread that mirrors the themes of Libra season.

The Spread

·         What do I need to surrender to right now?

·         What is seeking to be nourished or birthed within me?

·         Where am I being called back into balance?

When you lay your cards, sit with them as symbols and companions rather than rushing for answers. Note how they speak to one another, how they echo patterns in your dreams, your body, or your studio practice.

Keep this spread nearby throughout the month. You may find that the cards reveal new layers as the moon shifts, as planets move, as your own perspective changes. It is not a one-time reading but a map to walk with, a living dialogue between you, your intuition, and the unseen currents of October.

Oracle Card Reading

Seasonal Vibes & Studio Soundtrack

Music to Inspire Your Creative Practice and Inner Flow

This playlist is a kind of sonic altar, a collection of tracks that are guiding my heart, igniting inspiration, and holding space for the liminal, the slow, and the magical moments in my studio this season.

You’ll hear songs that echo both light and shadow, grounding rhythms and ethereal voices, songs that feel like dusk meeting dawn. They move with ritual, dream, longing, everything I need right now to lean into the unseen currents of creativity, trust, and transformation.

If you’re creating, walking, resting, or simply breathing, may these tracks feel like companions. Let them hold you steady, open space inside, and carry you forward.

Closing the Circle & Wrap-Up

Spring Equinox, Special Edition Blog, and October Studio Highlights

As we close this circle and step into the fresh rhythms of this new moon cycle, may you carry with you the balance, clarity, and courage to shape what’s next. October asks us to trust the unseen currents, tend to the seeds we’ve planted, and honour both the endings and beginnings that mark this turning of the wheel.

The Spring Equinox brings its own magic, a moment of perfect balance between day and night, reminding us that growth and stillness are equally necessary in our creative lives. If you’d like to explore the energies of Ostara more deeply, be sure to check out my Special Edition Blog Post dedicated to this seasonal celebration.

For more in-depth insights, you’ll find weekly Little Witchy Things and Cycles of Craft posts on Substack and over on the socials, guiding you step by step through the unfolding month.

And before I go, a little note from the studio, there’s currently a sale in my Redbubble store. If you’ve had your eye on my crow artworks, now’s the perfect time to bring one home, especially with Halloween just around the corner.

Until next moon, may your path be creative, your practice nourishing, and your days threaded with magic.

AI Image Disclaimer:

Some images in this post were generated with the assistance of AI. I use these tools to support my creative practice, particularly in ways that accommodate my chronic health and disability, helping me explore ideas and visual concepts when physical limitations make traditional methods challenging. These images are part of my process, not a replacement for handmade art.

Mabon: Welcoming the Autumn Equinox in the Southern Hemisphere

An Art Witch’s Mabon Altar

As the wheel turns and we step into the autumn equinox, or Mabon, we find ourselves in a moment of balance. Day and night are equal, a fleeting pause before the darkness slowly begins to overtake the light. Here in the Southern Hemisphere, autumn doesn’t always look like the classic imagery of crisp air and golden leaves, our climate and landscapes tell a different story. But the shift is still felt deep in our bones. The days become shorter, the air carries a different weight, and our bodies and minds begin adjusting to the seasonal transition.

The Energetics of Autumn

Autumn has always been a season of preparation. For our ancestors, this time was about gathering the final harvest, preserving food, and ensuring survival through the colder months. While we no longer need to store grains or cure meats for winter, we still experience a deep instinct to prepare. But instead of stacking firewood or preserving fruit, we turn inward, taking stock of where we are, what we need, and how we want to approach the coming months.

Physically, we may feel a pull to slow down. The pace of summer’s outward energy starts to wane, replaced by a need for warmth, comfort, and introspection. Emotionally, this can be a time of reflection, an opportunity to process what we’ve experienced and decide what we’re ready to release. Our creativity can shift too, moving from expansive, high-energy projects to more intimate, detail-focused work.

Creativity in the Cooler Months

For me, autumn and winter are deeply tied to my art journal practice. As the weather cools, I find comfort in working on individual pages, layering textures, words, and colours that reflect my inner world. There’s something about the ritual of journaling that feels particularly potent in the colder months. Art witchery and art magick thrive in this space, where creativity meets personal ceremony. This is the time to embrace the intimacy of creating just for yourself, without the pressure to share or produce for an audience.

Autumn Studio Tunes Playlist

As I settle into the slower pace of autumn, my studio is filled with the sounds that help me get into the zone. Music is such an integral part of my creative process, and in the cooler months, I find myself gravitating toward mellow, soulful tunes that nurture my introspective energy.

I've curated a special Autumn Studio Tunes playlist on Spotify to share with you, these tracks have been my go-to for getting into a creative flow this season. Feel free to follow and press play while you read, journal, or work on your own creative projects.

What’s on your playlist for this season? Let me know on the socials!

Art Witchery & Art Magick

This brings me to something I want to introduce more into my work: #LittleWitchyThings and #ArtWitchTips, simple ways to weave magick into your art practice. You may have seen some of these I have already started to share over on the socials. But what exactly is an Art Witch, and what is Art Magick?

An Art Witch is someone who blends creative practice with intuitive and spiritual work. Art becomes a form of spellcraft, a way to connect with unseen energies, process emotions, and manifest intentions. Art Magick is about infusing your work with meaning, whether it’s through symbolism, intentional colour choices, or the physical rituals you bring into your creative space.

Rituals for the Studio

You don’t need elaborate tools or complex ceremonies to bring ritual into your creative practice. Simple things can shift the energy of your space and deepen your connection to your work:

• Light a candle to set an intention for your creative session.

• Burn incense or diffuse essential oils that align with the mood you want to cultivate.

• Make an intention-infused cup of tea—stirring in energy for focus, clarity, or inspiration.

• Use sigils or symbols in your art to encode meaning and intention.

• Create a small seasonal altar in your studio with natural elements that reflect the time of year.

Closing the Cycle: Mabon to Samhain

As we finish this phase of #CyclesOfCraft, we now step into the next, Mabon to Samhain (March 20 to April 30). This period deepens the themes of transition and release. It’s a time to honour what we’ve created, reflect on what we’ve learned, and prepare for the darker half of the year.

Over the next six weeks, I’ll be exploring ways to bring more ritual into my creative practice, leaning into the slowness of the season, and allowing my art to hold space for the shifts happening internally. Whether you’re a painter, writer, crafter, or journal keeper, I invite you to do the same, find the magick in the process and let your creativity be a sanctuary.

#CyclesOfCraft

Mabon Art Journal Prompt

Mabon is a time of balance and gratitude, a moment to pause and honour both what we’ve gained and what we are ready to release. As we shift towards the darker half of the year, let’s reflect on this seasonal transition.

Prompt: What are you harvesting in your life right now? What lessons, experiences, or creative projects have come to fruition? As the wheel turns, what are you ready to let go of to make space for new growth?

You can explore this prompt through words, colours, symbols, or imagery that represents this seasonal shift for you.

Free Mabon Colouring Page

To celebrate the season, I’ve created a free Mabon colouring page with an Australian twist! Featuring a wombat, an Australian raven, and native botanicals, this piece is a way to honour the unique beauty of our autumn here in the Southern Hemisphere. You can download it here. and use it as a mindful creative ritual during this time of transition.

Mabon Colouring Page

Mabon Sale – 25% Off in My Redbubble Store!

As we welcome the shift in seasons, I’m offering 25% off everything in my Redbubble store for a limited time! This is the perfect opportunity to grab prints, stickers, and other art-inspired goodies infused with the magick of the seasons. Head over to my store to check it out!

How do you experience autumn? Do you find your creativity shifting with the season? Let’s chat in, and keep over on the socials, and keep an eye out for more #LittleWitchyThings and #ArtWitchTips coming soon!

25% off Sale storewide at my redbubble store

Leo Full Moon February 2025: A Time for Boldness and Creativity

Moonlight from the Leo Full Moon streams through an open window, illuminating an art journal, paintbrushes, a quiet moment of magic and creation in the night.

The Leo Full Moon is almost here, bringing its bold, creative energy to illuminate where we shine and where we might be draining ourselves unnecessarily. This lunation is an invitation to step into our authentic selves, embrace joy, and reassess where we are placing our energy. Before we dive into the astrology, let’s catch up on the last couple of weeks.

Personal Update: Navigating Energy and Embracing Rest

The past fortnight has been a bit of a struggle with the extreme heat making everything feel heavier and more exhausting. Alongside my usual physio and hydro sessions, I’ve had several medical appointments, which has left me feeling more depleted than usual. The challenges of chronic illness and disability are always present, and it’s a constant balancing act between fulfilling necessary commitments and honouring my energy limits.

This has meant that I’ve had to lean into rest a bit more than I usually would, adjusting my schedule accordingly to avoid pushing myself too hard. I have also been digging into some old self-care techniques I haven’t used for a while. It’s been a reminder that listening to my body is just as important as the work itself.

Studio Update: Creative Exploration and Progress

Despite the heat and my medical appointments, I managed to carve out some studio time, and I’m happy to say that I had what felt like a successful experiment with texture and layering for my piece in the upcoming Creativa exhibition with Collective 24. I shared a reel over on Instagram showing my process—playing intuitively with different materials and techniques, letting the piece evolve organically. It was a much-needed reminder of how important it is to embrace exploration in art, even when the energy is low.

I’m excited to keep pushing forward with my work, especially as we move into the next phase of my Cycles of Craft campaign.

Layers, textures, and a little bit of alchemy!

Artist of the Season: Vivian Maier – Exploring the Unseen Through Photography

Born on February 1, 1926, Vivian Maier was a self-taught photographer whose work remained hidden until after her death. Working as a nanny for most of her life, she secretly captured thousands of street photographs, documenting everyday life with an incredible eye for composition and human emotion. Her work was only discovered in 2007 when a collection of her negatives was auctioned off, revealing an artist whose talent had been invisible for decades. Find out more about Vivian here.

Maier’s story speaks deeply to the themes I keep returning to in my own work—visibility and invisibility, the tension between being seen and unseen, the narratives that go untold. Her work captures fleeting moments of life, the beauty in the ordinary, and the quiet presence of those often overlooked. As I continue exploring these themes in my own art, I find her story both inspiring and haunting. She was an artist who created for the sake of creation, leaving behind a body of work that speaks even in her absence.

Leo Full Moon Astrology: Balancing Self-Expression and Collective Needs

The Leo Full Moon is a time of illumination, creativity, and personal power. Leo, ruled by the sun, is about self-expression, confidence, and radiance. This lunation asks us to check in with ourselves:

• Where are we wasting energy that isn’t serving us?

• What parts of our lives feel uncomfortable, and what can we do to nurture ease instead of forcing constant self-improvement?

• What is out of our control, and can we release our grip on it?

Leo’s energy reminds us to take up space, to celebrate who we are without apology. But while Leo is about the self, the sun is currently in Aquarius, the sign of the collective. This full moon highlights the balance between personal needs and the greater good. It’s a dance between honouring our individuality and understanding how we exist within a larger ecosystem.

We might feel the tension between wanting to express ourselves boldly and the pressures of societal expectations. This is a good time to reflect on where we are dimming our own light to fit in or where we are overextending ourselves at the expense of our well-being.

Eclipse Season 2025: Preparing for Cosmic Shifts

Lunar Eclipse in Virgo – March 14, 2025

The Lunar Eclipse in Virgo is a full moon that calls for a deep cleansing and recalibration. Virgo energy is all about order, healing, and refinement, so this eclipse will illuminate the areas of your life that need attention, particularly around health, organization, and habits. It’s a time to release old patterns that no longer serve your well-being or your creative process. Whether it’s letting go of toxic work habits or clearing clutter in your physical or mental space, Virgo will guide you towards a more streamlined, balanced life.

This is a great time to reflect on how you’ve been nurturing your body and mind. Have you been paying attention to your self-care, or is it time to let go of habits that are depleting you? Virgo asks us to take practical steps toward self-improvement, so any work done during this eclipse will have long-lasting benefits.

Solar Eclipse in Aries – March 29, 2025

The Solar Eclipse in Aries brings a surge of fiery, bold energy that could inspire sudden changes or new beginnings. Aries, the first sign of the zodiac, is about taking action, being courageous, and embracing the thrill of the unknown. With this solar eclipse, the universe is asking us to look at where we need to be more assertive, take risks, and stand up for ourselves.

This is a potent moment for setting new intentions and creating a fresh start, especially in areas where you’ve been holding back. If you’ve been feeling like something in your life is stagnant or you’re ready to leap into a new direction, the Aries solar eclipse provides the perfect energy to break free of any lingering hesitations. It's a time to step into leadership, take charge of your creative vision, and assert your power in a way that feels authentic and aligned with your true desires.

Eclipses & Your Creative Practice

Even though the Lunar Eclipse in Virgo and the Solar Eclipse in Aries are still a month away, now is a good time to start preparing. The energy of eclipses tends to build up over time, so it’s worth starting to reflect on what you might need to release or what new intentions you’d like to set. This period offers us a chance to get clear on what we want to move away from and what we’re ready to move toward.

In the coming weeks, we’ll dive deeper into the themes of both eclipses and how they can influence your creative practice. We’ll talk about how to align with these energies in more practical ways and share some rituals and ideas to guide you through this transformative time.

For now, start considering what feels out of balance or stagnant in your life and creative process, and begin to gently let go of anything that no longer serves you. The time for big shifts is coming, and it’s a great opportunity to begin building the foundation for change.

 Art Journal Prompt:

Under the glow of the Leo Full Moon, reflect on where you are ready to shine. What part of yourself have you been dimming? Use bold colors, expressive marks, or even collage elements to celebrate your authentic self. How can you take up space in your creativity and life without apology?

#CyclesofCraft Update: Lammas to Autumn Equinox

Last week, we celebrated Lammas, the first harvest festival, marking the shift towards autumn. If you missed it, I shared a special edition blog reflecting on this seasonal transition. Now, we begin our slow movement toward the autumn equinox, though Melbourne’s late summer heatwaves are making that feel distant. The land is shifting, even if it’s subtle, and soon we’ll start to see the first hints of seasonal change.

Lammas is a time of gratitude, of acknowledging what we have cultivated, both physically and creatively. As we move toward the equinox, it’s a reminder that balance is an ongoing process, not a fixed state.

Witchy Rituals for Creative Flow: Tea Magic and Intentional Art

I introduced a new series over on Instagram last week, starting with a simple tea ritual: taking a moment before beginning an art session to prepare a cup of tea (or any drink), stirring with intention, clockwise to invite something in, counterclockwise to release. It’s a grounding practice, a way to shift into creative space with mindfulness.

The idea behind these little rituals is to weave magic into the everyday, to make space for intention and presence in our creative practice. Whether it’s lighting a candle before beginning a painting or using a specific scent to mark the start of a work session, small moments of ritual can help us transition into a more focused, inspired state.

There will be more of these small rituals and creative prompts coming soon, so keep an eye out for #LittleWitchyThings and #ArtWitchTips on Wednesday’s. I’d love to hear any little rituals you have.

 Redbubble Store Update: Shop My Art & Upcoming Sale

A quick reminder that my Crow Series and other designs are available in my Redbubble store. There’s another sale coming up—25% off from February 17-23—so if you’ve had your eye on something, it’s a great time to grab it!

I haven’t added new pieces yet, but I’m looking forward to bringing some fresh designs into the store in the coming months.

Final Thoughts: Embrace Your Power and Shine Unapologetically

As this full moon peaks, give yourself permission to rest in who you are, rather than constantly striving to be more. Take stock of where you’re directing your energy and whether it’s truly serving you. And, most importantly, be kind to yourself.

Leo teaches us to shine, to embrace joy, and to take up space. But it also reminds us that confidence comes from within—not from external validation. Take this full moon as an opportunity to step into your light, unapologetically.

Wishing you all a luminous and reflective Leo Full Moon.

Embrace Innovation and Creativity with the Aquarius New Moon.

Life Update: Navigating Challenges and Finding Inspiration

Life Update: Navigating Challenges and Finding Inspiration
It’s been a challenging cycle. My second nerve block this week meant plenty of doctor’s appointments and hospital visits, keeping me away from the studio. On top of that, Melbourne’s Summer has made things difficult. My little companion Morgana has been on a holiday at my sister’s, where she can enjoy some air conditioning. As much as I’m missing her, it’s just been too hot here for her.

I was also honoured to take part in the 101 Women Project, a powerful tribute to the 101 women killed last year by gendered violence. Dressed in black and wearing red veils, we stood in silence for 30 minutes on the steps of the State Library in Melbourne. From there, we processed single file down Swanston Street to Lonsdale Street before entering the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre. It was a deeply moving and visually striking display of art and activism.

Thank you to Fleassy Malay for organising this event and ensuring it was accessible for all participants. I also had the privilege of helping with the media release for the event, an honour to support such an important cause. Family and gendered violence, as well as the ongoing femicide epidemic in this country, need as much awareness as we can generate in the hope that governments will take decisive action.

On another note, I’ve been struggling with my visioning for 2025. My vision wall is still a work in progress, as the uncertainty of my health makes future planning a bit overwhelming. I’m trying to approach it with patience and flexibility, leaving space for hope and creativity to flourish.

Studio Update: Exploring Digital Art and Upcoming Exhibitions

With all the appointments this cycle, I haven’t had much time to pull out the paints. Instead, I’ve been diving into Procreate on my iPad, discovering how my collage and mixed media concepts translate digitally. It’s exciting to see the possibilities this opens up, and I’m looking forward to experimenting further.

I’ve also been researching ways to incorporate more texture into my piece for the upcoming Creativa exhibition with Collective 24. I’ve been working on the colour palettes for the marketing and social media promotions. We are in the process of setting the social media accounts, I hope to share them with you in my next blog post. It’s exciting to use some of the skills I’ve been learning here and on my own social media platforms. Speaking of which, I have just opened a Bluesky Social account! If you’re there, I’d love if you follow me, find me under Ange’s Studio, and I’ll follow you back.

On top of that, grant writing has been a major focus, as I delve deeper into my concepts around the seen and unseen realms of being a woman and living with a disability. There’s also a watercolour workshop from ArtisMagic.online waiting for me, I’m hoping to jump back into that soon.

#CyclesOfCraft Update: Lammas Celebrations and Creative Prompts

The wheel of the year is turning again as we approach the seasonal celebration of Lammas on February 4th. Keep an eye out for my special edition blog post next week, where I’ll share info, tips, and creative ways to honour this time of year.

In the meantime, let’s revisit this cycle’s art prompt:

Earlier this cycle, I shared an art prompt inspired by the Aquarius New Moon: "What bold visions or unconventional ideas are ready to emerge?" Reflecting on this, I’ve been exploring how Aquarius themes of originality and progress resonate with my own creative journey. As you revisit this prompt, consider these guiding questions:

• What unique perspective or idea have you been holding back?

• How can you show up more authentically in your creative practice?

• What does "progress" mean to you right now, and how can you embrace it?

I’d love to see what you create—don’t forget to tag me or use #CyclesOfCraft to share your work!

Aquarius New Moon Art Journal Prompt - #CyclesOfCraft

Artist of the Season: Alice Neel’s Visionary Portraits and Legacy

This season, I’m drawing inspiration from Alice Neel, a brilliant 20th-century American painter known for her striking portraits and commitment to portraying real life. Neel was an Aquarian herself, and her life and work reflected the humanitarian and innovative spirit of this sign.

Neel was a fearless champion of social justice, a Leftist, and a staunch supporter of Trade Unions. Her commitment to equality and human rights was evident not only in her art but also in her activism. At a time when women were not afforded the rights we have now, Neel boldly created work that celebrated individuality and diversity while challenging societal norms.

Her portraits often focused on women, marginalised communities, and her own experiences, capturing the raw and honest essence of her subjects. Two of her iconic works are:

• Andy Warhol (1970): A raw, vulnerable portrait of Warhol, capturing him shirtless with scars from a past assassination attempt.

• The Family (1970): A powerful piece that captures the dynamics of a family unit, emphasizing connection and individuality.

Neel’s fearless approach to art and life is a constant source of inspiration as I develop my own projects. If you want to discover more about this courageous women, start here.

Astrology Insight: Embracing the Aquarius New Moon’s Innovative Energy

The Aquarius New Moon is all about innovation, vision, and breaking free from the old to create the new. This is a time to think outside the box, embrace collaboration, and focus on how we can contribute to collective growth.

The world feels especially chaotic and unsettled right now, and that could be a reflection of recent celestial activity. The recent Planetary Parade and the appearance of a comet have stirred up energies, bringing transformative yet turbulent vibrations to the forefront. These cosmic events often manifest as upheaval here on Earth, urging us to reevaluate, adapt, and evolve.

Aquarius, ruled by Uranus, is a sign of forward-thinking and collective progress. This New Moon invites us to consider how we can innovate in our lives and contribute to a better future. It’s a time to set intentions not just for personal growth but also for how we can impact our communities and the world at large. Embrace your uniqueness, and don’t be afraid to share your unconventional ideas, they might just spark the change we all need.

Lunar New Year 2025: Insights into the Year of the Wood Snake

This Lunar New Year welcomes the Year of the Wood Snake. The Snake is a symbol of wisdom, transformation, and intuition. Combined with the steady, growth-oriented energy of wood, this year encourages us to shed old skins, embrace personal evolution, and plant seeds for long-term growth.

Here’s a quick look at how the Wood Snake’s energy might affect each Chinese zodiac sign:

• Rat: A year of steady progress but remember to trust your instincts.

• Ox: Opportunities for personal growth and transformation abound.

• Tiger: Creativity and intuition are heightened; follow your passions.

• Rabbit: A time to focus on relationships and emotional resilience.

• Dragon: Transformative opportunities; take calculated risks.

• Snake: Your year! Embrace your natural wisdom and intuition.

• Horse: A year for introspection and refining your goals.

• Goat: Focus on balance and nurturing your inner world.

• Monkey: Dynamic changes bring opportunities for growth.

• Rooster: A steady year for building foundations and connections.

• Dog: Trust your intuition and embrace new beginnings.

• Pig: A supportive year for self-care and personal evolution.

The transformative energies of the Wood Snake align beautifully with the themes of the Aquarius New Moon. Together, they encourage us to embrace change, innovate, and move forward with courage and intention.

2025 Year of the Wood Snake

Discover New Designs in My Redbubble Shop

If you’re looking for something special, don’t forget to check out my Redbubble shop. I’ve added some new designs as well as my classic Crow Series, perfect for gifts or a little treat for yourself.

Wishing you all a transformative and inspired Aquarius New Moon. Let’s step into this new cycle with courage, creativity, and a sense of wonder. As always, thank you for being part of my artistic journey.