Honoring the new moon through reflection, shadow work, and mandala art

The new moon in Scorpio, November 19 to 21, 2022, arrives in a season when we naturally go inward. The days are shorter, the nights seem to stretch out endlessly, and the darkness feels extra dark. This time of year mirrors an invitation to look at the dark areas within us, the parts of ourselves where we feel vulnerable, unsteady, or hidden.

I am on a wellness journey that is taking an integrated look at my life. I am tending not only to my physical health but also to my financial health and overall well being. As part of this process, I am exploring my past and present addictions. Overeating, stress eating, overworking, over accommodating, saying yes when I mean no, weak boundaries, the old pattern of not feeling enough. The list is long and familiar.

This process, known as shadow work, aligns beautifully with Scorpio themes of deep emotional and transformative work. Shadow work is the practice of gently turning toward the parts of ourselves we usually avoid. These may include old fears, hidden beliefs, unhealed wounds, or recurring patterns that operate quietly in the background of our lives. Shadow work is not self blame or self punishment, and it is not about fixing something that is broken. It is a compassionate inquiry, a way of shining light inward so we can understand ourselves more fully and reclaim the energy we once used to hide.

Luminous Mandala Activity

Looking back at my childhood, I can see how my relationship with my father, stepmother, and stepsisters created a lingering feeling of not being worthy or good enough. It shaped a drive to prove my worthiness again and again. As strong emotions rise to the surface during this Scorpio season, I am giving myself space to meditate, journal, and create mandala art, knowing that these practices help me stay grounded while I move through the deeper layers.

This mandala begins on a black piece of paper, echoing the dark sky of the new moon in Scorpio. Using my stencils helps me put down the basic design quickly and with ease. For this piece, I used the Four Gates mandala stencil paired with the solar plexus chakra stencil. The solar plexus supports self esteem, self worth, and confidence, which are central themes in this particular healing process.

Choosing a Chakra to Focus On

As you create your mandala and explore your shadow, you may want to work with a specific chakra to support your process. [Buy Chakra Mandala Stencils Here] Each chakra offers guidance for different areas of healing and self-discovery:

• Root Chakra: Focus here if your work is around feeling safe, grounded, or improving financial security.
• Sacral Chakra: Use this energy if you are addressing creative blocks or working through emotional patterns.
• Solar Plexus Chakra: Helpful for building confidence, self worth, and self esteem.
• Heart Chakra: Turn to the heart if you are working with grief, guilt, or opening to self-compassion.
• Throat Chakra: Support this chakra when you feel unheard, unable to speak your truth, or struggle to express yourself.
• Third Eye Chakra: Focus here to strengthen intuition, clarity, and inner guidance.
• Crown Chakra: Use this energy if you are seeking connection with the spiritual, guidance, or a sense of purpose.

Choosing a chakra to center on can help guide your focus, your intentions, and the energy you bring into your mandala practice.

White and pastel colored pencils create a luminous glow on the black paper. I reached for a yellow colored pencil, the color associated with the solar plexus chakra. I traced the stencil lines and allowed the yellow color to create a warm glow.

As I worked, my thoughts moved from present day work stress to memories from childhood, and then a realization surfaced. I no longer have to be the good girl, the good daughter, the good student, the good wife, or the good employee. The words, I am free to be me, rose clearly in my awareness. I felt an unexpected sense of freedom. In these last years I have come to understand that my worth is not tied to how I look, how old I am, how much money I have, or what I accomplish. My inherent worth has always been there.

As you work on your mandala, listen to the thoughts and messages. Make note of your insights, inspirations, and words of wisdom.

Adding a final layer with a white paint pen brought the mandala to life. The bright, luminous lines feel strong and steady, a reflection of the clarity that came forward.

Shadow work requires care, gentleness, and rest. It can be emotionally demanding, and I have needed time to slow down, drink lots of water, and simply be. You may find that you need additional support from a trained therapist or other healing professional as you navigate your own process.

It is not all heavy or hard. After the soul searching, the release of old emotions, the integration through journaling and mandala making, and the rest that follows, there is often a profound sense of lightness. I feel freer than I have in a long time.

I know this is not a one and done process. Healing and understanding unfold in layers. I am grateful for the astrological wheel because it gives us seasons to explore every part of the self, even the ones we tend to avoid.

As this new moon in Scorpio settles into the sky, it brings a tender invitation to look inward with honesty and compassion. Shadow work is not about forcing change. It is about listening gently to what has long been waiting for your attention. The mandala practice helps to hold these moments with clarity and grace, creating a container for release, insight, and renewal.

In the weeks ahead, notice what continues to rise, what softens, and what asks for space. Trust the natural rhythm of the lunar cycle to guide your process. The journey does not end here. Every phase offers a new perspective, a shift in light, a different way of seeing yourself.

Until the next lunation,
Kathryn Costa
Instigator of Soulful & Creative Living
True North Arts

Keep Exploring

Dive deep into the Journey of the Four Gates – Download your FREE copy and discover a soulful framework for creative self-reflection.

Love following lunar cycles? – Learn more about the Traveling by Moonlight series and how each moon phase inspires creative ritual and mandala art.

Mark your calendar – Find upcoming New and Full Moon dates here to stay aligned with the rhythm of the moon throughout the year.

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