January 2020 New Moon Blog

Today is not January 1st, but I am finally ready to begin my New Year. Over the past several months, I have been following the moon and today is the first day of the lunar New Year. I have been paying more attention to the phases of the moon, particularly to the Full and New Moons of each month. It just feels right.

There is something primal and meaningful about noticing the changing faces of the moon. As modern society gets farther away from the natural world, noting the passing of time by the waxing and waning of the moon feels profound. The moon has influence over bodies of water and effects women’s menstrual cycles and ocean tides. Many societies pay attention to the moons as times for plantings and harvesting. I am learning more about the Divine Feminine and the mythology of Goddesses associated with the Moon. Recently, my paintings have started to include the moon.

To honor this newfound interest of mine, I am hosting monthly gatherings for women. We meet each month on the new moon. So far, we have met twice, once on the Winter Solstice and once on the first new moon of 2020. My wish is to create a safe and inviting space for women to gather in community, to share their truths and explore their creativity together in a non-judgmental way. My training as an art therapist has provided me with the skills to lead groups and focus on inclusivity and acceptance rather than competition. Being in community and respecting each person’s contributions or desire to remain as a silent witness is powerful.

We use the technique of SoulCollage®. This is a simple yet profound way of creating art that everyone, regardless of experience, can participate in. All that is required is the ability to choose images and use scissors and glue sticks. To join our monthly groups in NYC, go to the workshops page of my website https://www.carlarosearttherapy.com/workshops