Play: New Moon in Leo
Nurture your creativity in harmony with the seasons
Dear Ones,
The hummingbird is finally flying close to the porch, drinking from the feeder above my head, stopping to flap its small wings just in front of me. Deciding I’m not a threat, it proceeds to take another perch and drink the sweet nectar. It is exquisite.
And so are you.
Leo season is here in all its glory, asking us to shine without apology. It wants us to be bold and take up space, even when we’re scared. It knows our unique joy is needed in this world; the way you sparkle is like no one else.
Remember your radiance.
It’s a phrase that came to me years ago, in the middle of a bitter winter heartbreak, stomping through the snow in Idaho. I felt anything but radiant or warm. But I repeated the phrase with each heavy footstep through the drifts and I began feeling an inner glow.
That’s what your heart light can do.
This month’s affirmation from the Creative Contemplation journal is:
“I seek delight and wonder, experiencing life with an innocent and open heart.”
Our theme is play, which can be as simple or hard as we make it.
But first, back to our light.
Leo is ruled by the sun, the life-giving source of power on this planet, our very own star. Its rays of light can burn, its heat become unbearable. Sometimes, we need protection from the very thing that we depend on to sustain us.
Yet.
The sun doesn’t adjust its light or power to meet our requests for lower temperatures or fewer sunburns. It doesn’t mind times of drought or extreme heat. It just shines, day after day, steady and without apology.
Can you imagine if the sun was a people pleaser like so many of us are taught to be? If it scaled back its powerful rays when someone complained or got burned from too much exposure? Life would cease to exist. All of the vitality we enjoy would fall away.
What are you failing to bring to life by dimming your light?
I had the privilege of collaborating with
on this letter and our upcoming workshop, Sunday August 13th at 4 pm to honor Leo season and create from the heart. (RSVP here). contributed to this month’s Leo-themed playlist, mood board, and wrote a beautiful blessing at the end of this letter. Keep reading for more insights and prompts to help you deepen your creative practice this season!Creative Inspiration
I asked for a Masterclass subscription for Christmas last year, and the first course I started was RuPaul’s class on Self-Expression and Authenticity. Honestly, when I think of sparkle or extravagance and expressing ourselves creatively, I’m not sure anyone does it better than drag queens!
I loved reading this article that explores the history of drag in the U.S.- it is not surprising to me that this form of expression was tied to early liberation movements or that it’s still being suppressed today.
Our light can make others uncomfortable. The power we have within ourselves as creators and makers of art is threatening. What can we learn from the courage and bravery of those who refuse to be boxed in by society or abide by social norms?
“Call in your royal heart
Tell it bravery cannot be measured by a lack of fear
It takes guts to tremble
It takes so much tremble to love”-Andrea Gibson
This is one of my favorite lines from
’s poem, “Royal Heart.”How can we be loyal to our royal hearts? Andrea Gibson’s poetry and newsletter give me courage when I need it the most. Courage to be fully human, to stretch the limits of my heart, to let the light shine through all the cracks when it can’t stretch any further, breaking open.
Tarot Reading
Four of Wands, The Emporer, The Devil
I let the messages come intuitively again, a practice I’m starting to enjoy. The first card that came to mind was the Four of Wands. As a fixed fire sign, Leo is about sustaining the early sparks of Aries season. It’s the warmth of the hearth and having enough firewood prepared to keep our light burning. I love that this card’s word is participation. We have to participate in bringing our dreams to life by taking consistent action to sustain the passionate fire of creativity.
The second card that came through was actually the Emporer, which is traditionally ruled by Aries. I love the imagery of this card because in order to shine our authentic light, we have to rebel against limiting structures and expectations. We have to have the courage and audacity to chart our own path, which may upset the apple cart and that’s okay.
There’s also a message here about power-
How can we acknowledge and own our power responsibly, without people pleasing? How do we use our strength and our light for the greater good without compromising our unique gifts?
The last card that came through was the Devil. The brighter the light, the bigger the shadow. This message reminds us that breaking free from playing small requires that we integrate and make room for our shadow.
What is the sun illuminating that we’re still wanting to hide? How can we see those parts of ourselves and others with compassion? Can we stop blaming the sheep in our midst for being sheep and instead realize we are only victimizing ourselves by staying with the herd?
Playlist
This is a collaborative playlist so add your own songs and let’s do a little disco dance together!
Mood Board
Here’s a sneak peek of the Leo mood board! If you’d like to add your own pins for inspiration, use this link.
Creative Prompts
Is there a favorite childhood movie you can rewatch? If one comes to mind, what did you love about it as a kid? What themes or scenes stood out to you the most? How does it change when you watch it again?
Part of stepping more boldly into our light requires release. Write down old thoughts, projects, or situations that you’re ready to let go. If there are objects that represent them, give them away, if you can. Hold a small burning ceremony and symbolically allow the past to fertilize your future.
If you had an unlimited supply of confidence and courage, what would you do? How would it change the way you inhabit your life? Spend some time feeling into that version of you (that exists now!) and tap into the power of following your heart.
New Moon Blessing
I know where my light comes from. I share intimacy with this divine Source and honor the brilliance that wants to be expressed through me. But first, I invite the child within to share with me important wisdom from my past, hopes and desires that I buried in case of disappointment.
Various versions of myself step forward and reveal the contents of my heart and my mind. I listen intently and observe the cages others have put me in. The cages I have built for myself. As I unlock the memories and insights that bring me closer to my light again, I transform my doubt into my destiny. I was created for this.
All our love,
Mariah & Kamila
P.S. Writing these letters is my favorite labor of love. The best way to support keeping them free for everyone is by upgrading your membership (the cost of one un-fancy coffee a month!) or making a one-time contribution through Venmo @thebarefootbeat or Paypal.
If you’d like to co-host or be a special guest on an upcoming new moon workshop, please let me know.
As always, we’d love to hear what resonated with you in the comments below.
Beautiful!