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Hi there and welcome to week 4 of September's Muse challenge which is all about four of the main phases of the moon, and we have arrived at the last phase for week 4.
- New Moon - New Beginnings
- Waxing Moon: Time for Action
- Full Moon: Completion
- Waning Moon: Conscious Endings
Week 4 | Waning Moon: Conscious Endings
The Balsamic Moon, also known as a waning crescent, is the last phase before the darkness of the New Moon, which starts off the whole cycle again. Waning refers to the decreasing of the moon’s light, inviting us to surrender and soften, to renew, withdraw and rest.
After the energetic activity of the full moon, the Balsamic moon phase bids us to turn inwards and reflect on what has come to pass during the moon cycle to just gone. It’s a time to contemplate on the month that has been, to be grateful for the things that we received, to release any negative thoughts or feelings you may have picked up during this time, or simply to reflect on your life in general. As the waning moon begins to darken, it is also a good time to start preparing for the intentions you want to set when the new moon arrives once again, a great time to declutter, decrease, cleanse and heal.
Keywords;
- contemplate
- rest/restore
- feeling grateful
- releasing/letting go negativity
- ending (breaking a bad habit)
- cleansing
- heal (finding closure)
- declutter
Prompts and Affirmations:
Themes you can explore in your art journal during the balsamic moon phase include; intuition, spirit signs, dreams, synchronicity, subconscious healing, unconditional love, self-love, being grateful for what you have.
Here is an inspiration board that contains some quotes and prompts (taken from Pinterest) that you might like to include in your page this week:
Art Inspiration: and another board that might give you some art inspiration as well. All images from Pinterest.
Challenge for Week 4
Create a layout about the waning crescent moon, it can be as in depth as you like, or not. Perhaps you may simply want to create some art and not think too much, so that is certainly okay as well.
Your layout however will need to have these components in it:
- create a circular shape to mimic the moon’s round shape, once again this needs to be the main focus of your layout
- add a *crescent shape within this round shape, it can be orientated any way you like and it can be any colour you like (*make sure it is in the opposite direction to the one you used in Wee 2)
- create some type of art on top or around the crescent shape, use the inspiration board above to get some ideas
- you need to use a phrase, prompt, affirmation or word that associates with what the waxing crescent moon phase is all about, you can use any of the keywords or prompts/affirmations shown up the top of this post or use your own.
My layout:
I fell in love with Jane, one of Rebecca McMeen's art dolls and knew I had to use her ghostly looking face somewhere on my page! lol! I was inspired by the art shown in the art inspiration board above, top row, third from the left, showing the girl with her 'spirit' animals. I also used the very first image as inspiration to add some pine forest trees to my moon art as well. I didn't have a wolf but added a fox for Jane's spirit animal.
I added some text around the moon shape, using the words from the Waning Crescent Moon Phase quote on the prompts inspiration board above, first one on the second row. On the darker side of the moon I added some personal journaling which is hidden from view as well. 
Credits in gallery
You may create any style of layout (ie. clean and simple, artsy, pocket style etc.) you wish, with or without a photo. This is for everyone, so have fun and see where the inspiration takes you. Please make sure to read the challenge rules in pink above!
The challenge would also suit doing it in sections if you want to do it that way, but perhaps divide your page into 4 squares rather than 4 vertical rows. Please post your layout to the Art Journaling Gallery HERE prior to Midnight EST Sunday Oct 2nd, 2022 and then post it in this thread by copying the code (at the right of your gallery image) from the box under "Share BB Code".
We will draw a winner at the beginning of next month for a coupon!! Every layout you create is equal to one entry in the random draw. So if you create 1 layout you are entered once, if you create 4 layouts you are entered 4 times.
You can use any products in The Lilypad store or retired products from current Lilypad designers, (just make sure you follow our gallery guidelines).
I would also like to take this opportunity in thanking everyone that has joined me this month, your layouts have all been so very uniquely creative and stunning!! I have really enjoyed looking at all of them, you are all so very talented!!
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