Emerge: New Moon in Sagittarius
A guide to nurture your creativity during Sagittarius season
Welcome. Creative Contemplation is our monthly practice of connecting to the energy of the seasons to nurture our creativity. Each new moon letter includes creative prompts, a tarot reading, a special playlist, and a vision board to help guide your path. Read the whole series here.
If you haven’t already, download the accompanying journal with our monthly new moon themes, affirmations, and creative prompts for free here.
Hello.
This letter is dedicated to those who suffer and those who are oppressed. I’d like to begin by offering this Buddhist Metta Prayer of Loving Kindness.
May all beings be peaceful.
May all beings be happy.
May all beings be safe.
May all beings awaken to the light of their true nature.
May all beings be free.
Sagittarius season is here (November 22- December 21st). Like a lighthouse seen from afar, we’re being called to trust in the warmth of our hearts, guiding us forward. Symbolized by the archer, this mutable fire sign is future-oriented, aiming for possibilities yet out of reach.
With clear intention, purpose, and the willingness to shoot for the stars on a moonless night, Sagittarius season can help us cultivate enough faith to let our arrows fly.
Last month’s Creative Contemplation theme was Plunge, a call to dive deep and commit to our creative practices. Now that we’ve plumbed the depths for buried treasure, it’s time to resurface and become bearers of light.
The last of the fire signs, Sagittarius draws on the initial spark of Aries season and the sustained heat of Leo. It reinvents itself with a willingness and eagerness to be reborn after the death represented by Scorpio.
Our affirmation for Sagittarius season is, “I am renewed by the audacity of hope, on the darkest nights I believe in the Light.”
A seeker of capital T truth, Sagittarius is after truth that transcends linear time.
It knows the sacred is in the profane and marries our wild, animal nature with spiritual wisdom. It is capable of straddling both the physical and otherworldly, it delights in speaking bluntly and cutting through the bullshit to get to the heart of the matter.
Ruled by Jupiter, the planet of growth, expansion, luck, and good fortune, this plucky sign is willing to take risks, think and act outside the box, and believe in a brighter day. It’s after worldly knowledge infused by real-life experiences engaging with people and places from around the globe. It celebrates diversity, adventure, and forging new paths.
A few questions to contemplate this month are:
How can our freedom liberate others without limiting how they choose to be free? How can our willingness to take risks and seek wisdom benefit both body and soul? How can we be audacious in cultivating hope?
We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope. -Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
What does all of this mean for our creative practice?
Keep reading for this month’s tarot reading, collective playlist, vision board, new moon blessing, and creative inspiration and prompts for further exploration.
Creative Inspiration
I had the immense pleasure of watching American Symphony and can think of no other film that captures the ability of the human soul to create light in the midst of pain. Husband of
, Jon Batiste’s music is full of joy and resilience; theirs is a story of faith in each other and life, despite external circumstances. It’s a celebration of the power of music, and love.Continuing on the theme of music, I’ve loved listening to The Resistance Revival Chorus over the years and think it’s a timely reminder that our “joy is an act of resistance.”
This rendition of “Everybody Deserves to Be Free,” reminds me of everything we have overcome together, (including a global pandemic) and the strength of our bones to carry on and sing.
Lastly, I wanted to share a meditation introduced to me by Pema Chödrön in her book, “When Things Fall Apart.” The practice is called tonglen and is the act of breathing in the suffering of others and exhaling peace and love, as explained in this article.
Tarot Reading
While Temperance is traditionally the card representing Sagittarius, this month, it was The Moon in reverse, The Star, and the Page of Wands that had messages for us.
The Moon in reverse symbolizes a need to resurface from the watery, emotional depths of Scorpio season. It reminds us to come up for air and not allow ourselves to drown in despair or waste our lives on illusion- searching for buried treasure where there is none.
It offers us a warm place to dry off and room to share our tales of the deep. What did we encounter there? What magical or ferocious creatures did we meet? How has the deep changed us? How can we alchemize our experience of death and come back to life?
The Star reminds us that when we’ve lost everything- when there is no truth to be found in our external environment, we still have our inner light. Even if it is not a roaring flame, we can choose to rekindle it, breathing new life into our hearts with courage.
The Star is the moment after The Tower- a time of stripping us back to our essence, of letting go of pretense, and remembering that however vulnerable we might feel without the safety and security of what once was, now, we are at least free.
The Page of Wands symbolizes a moment of delight and pure expression. It shows us the array of possibilities that open when we lean into our joy. When we dare to believe without knowing the future. It’s unafraid to try, explore, and go for pure adventure. It’s early in the stages of learning and characterizes a sense of eagerness and readiness to experiment.
In a few weeks on the Winter Solstice, I’m hosting a tea + tarot gathering and would love to have you join me for an hour of connection and reflection. Give yourself the gift of sacred pause. Let’s find a moment of stillness together. Tickets can be purchased here and are free for paying members of Heartbeats. A replay will be available.
Playlist
Warm, a little bit jazzy, contemplative with just the right amount of spice, this month’s playlist is a cozy mix to revitalize your Spirit. I’d love to hear your Sagittarius songs so don’t forget to add them here to our collective playlist or leave a comment with your suggestion and I’ll include it!
Vision Board
Here’s a sneak peek of the Sagittarius vision board. If you’d like to add pins for inspiration, use this link. Let’s see what we can create, together!
Creative prompts
Play with the tension of light and dark. Where can you add darkness to light? Where can you add light to darkness? Experiment with the concept in your next creative endeavor and see where it leads!
Contemplate the role of music in your life. What do you listen to when you need to cling to hope? When you need to be held by gravity? How can music nurture your soul and creativity while the nights lengthen and again when the light returns?
What is the next audacious step you can take to achieve one of your goals? What does shooting for the stars look and feel like in your life? What would you aim for if you knew luck was on your side?
Who inspires you? Think of an underdog or someone who’s overcome significant obstacles to achieve their definition of success. What can you learn from them? Let your light be fueled by the light of others who have gone before. Write down a list of people (mentors, writers, artists, ancestors, etc.) you can turn to when you need help renewing your faith.
New Moon Blessing
May you be buoyed by the beat of your heart and the whisper of Spirit by your side. May your inner light shine for its own sake, drawing the light of others near. May your dreams be illuminated by the footprints of those who have gone before, may the light of the stars remind you that nothing ever really dies.
All my love,
Mariah
Join a creative, collaborative community
Nurture your soul with a sacred pause on the Winter Solstice with tea + tarot. Free for paying members of Heartbeats. Event tickets/info here.
Say hi in our weekly chat thread and introduce yourself.
Participate in a monthly art share for artists of all backgrounds. Show us your best, bad art!
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So much goodness in one post, thank you 🤩
Thank you for this most beautiful and timely post. I love the connections you made from the most moving American Symphony to the music and tarot reading. Blessings to you and all who gather here for a moment to pause, reflect and nuture our creative souls.