Happy Sunday, Moonbeam!
In this letter, we’ll explore why and how to use images in our moon work, especially during the new and full moon.
Have you heard the saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words”?
If you’re subscribed to Letter to a WeatherVane, you’re probably already familiar with the Lunar Journaling Kit, where I always include a page for new and full moon collages.
Whether or not you’re new to collaging, I felt it was time to delve deeper into this subject so you can use these journaling pages more intuitively, especially if you haven’t yet felt comfortable starting. As we move through Cancer season - a deeply intuitive, emotional time present in all of us - it felt like the perfect moment to write this letter.
Why do I collage during the new & full moon?
There are many reasons and benefits for collaging in general, but I’ve discovered that creating a collage and journaling practice during certain cyclical checkpoints, like the new and full moon, are particularly potent and magical.
Let’s explore why, shall we?
#1 The moon as portals and mirrors
Images help me reflect and translate this inner terrain without the pressure to immediately form words. My mind needs time for processing, and when I force myself to find clarity or quick answers, I shut down. I don’t work well under pressure.
This happens to many of us, especially if we’re neurodivergent or visual learners. We often need extra space and time to digest what’s unfolding, both internally and externally.
Does that sound familiar?
When we do moon work, which often operates on a subconscious level, we enter a realm where symbols speak louder than logic. And symbols can be more easily accessed through images, creating a visual language that can later be translated into words: → intentions → goals → actions → culmination.
#2 Images speak when words don’t
Following from above, our analytical, practical minds (where words “live”) often struggle to navigate the subconscious, emotional realm. We’ve been taught to prioritize this linear, logical side while neglecting the artistic, instinctual part of ourselves.
When I first started moon work, I often felt stuck and frustrated. So much of what’s taught is filtered through an analytical lens, but that lens doesn’t speak the moon’s language. That energy lives in the liminal, the intuitive, the emotional realm.
Everything began to shift once I allowed myself to explore in a more creative and intuitive way. When I give myself permission to sit with the unknown, images often come in, and these images speak from the places beyond words.
And in that space…That’s where I find what I actually need.
#3 The moon as a moment of introspection
Taking the time to flip through magazines or scroll through Pinterest, Pexels or Unsplash, whether for an hour in one sitting or in small moments over a few days, becomes a practice of emotional and energetic self-check-in.
🤫 The quiet secret of this practice: The images I’m drawn to are often a mirror of what’s stirring within me, on a subconscious and emotional level. This becomes an act of introspection: the art of looking inward.
I see this as maintenance. Just like planes go through inspections between journeys, I also need regular check-ins with myself.
Would you step onto a plane that hasn’t been properly maintained?
I wouldn’t…
So, when I feel resistance to taking that pause, I think of a plane, and it reminds me that this work matters.
In a world that never stops, these moments of introspection aren’t a luxury; they’re a necessity. They let us go beneath the surface and slow down, cooling our internal engines and gently refueling.
#4 Needs before desires
Everything mentioned so far ties into this one 👇
If we write our new moon intentions without sitting in the unknown for a while first, we’re likely acting from the head, not the heart or body.
The moon speaks through the heart and body. It whispers what we need, not what we think we want. When we bypass those deeper needs, our goals can feel disconnected, and our actions become uninspired or unsustainable.
Whether we like it or not, needs come first. And I don’t just mean physical needs, but also emotional, mental, spiritual, and environmental needs.
Collaging helps uncover those hidden needs.
Once those needs are clearer, I can set more aligned intentions, realistic goals, and take actions that are actually nourishing.
The full moon then becomes a checkpoint:
“Are my needs being met?”
“If not, what’s getting in the way?”
And again, a full moon collage can help you answer these questions visually, without needing to find the right words.
My new & full moon practice and tips
Here’s my personal moon collage practice, split into two parts:
Preparation
Look up new/full moon dates and mark them in your planner or calendar.
Collect magazines with rich imagery, or start a Pinterest board.
Make time in your schedule for creative rest around those moon days.
If using digital images, make sure you have a color printer.
Gather scissors, glue, and collage supplies (optional: markers, washi tape, etc.).
Use a dedicated cyclical notebook or journal for your moon collages.
Instructions
On the day of the new and full moon, have dedicated time for your moon collages. Depending on your mood or availability, you can spread this out throughout the day before, the day of, or the day after the new/full moon, as the energy is these moons is still palpable.
♦︎ On or around the new/full moon (day before, day of, or day after: the energy is still strong), set aside quiet time.
♦︎ Make sure you won’t be disturbed for at least an hour.
♦︎ Set a timer for 20 minutes. During this time:
Flip through your magazines or browse Pinterest.
Tear out or save any images that speak to you, and don’t overthink it.
(Tip: Canva is great for digital collages.)
♦︎ When your timer rings, stop collecting and begin arranging.
Set a new timer for 15 minutes.
Cut and paste your images into your journal (or arrange them in Canva, print them, and glue them in).
♦︎ Sit with your collage and ask:
What do I need right now?
♦︎ If no answer comes, that’s okay.
Let the images sit with you over the coming days.
Sleep with them.
Look at them.
Let your intuition and dreams bring clarity.
Give this practice time, specifically if you’re new to this kind of intuitive work. One moon cycle may not reveal everything, but over time, you'll find your way into your subconscious, your body’s wisdom, and your heart’s knowing.
If you don’t have a dedicated notebook yet, or feel unsure about where to start, feel free to download and use the Lunar Journaling Kit, which I send out each month with the WeatherVane Forecast (it’s free for subscribers!). 👇
This kit includes space for your moon collages, intentions, and reflections, and can become a gentle companion through each cycle.
Here, in moon work and cyclical living, there is no space for perfection, so allow yourself to let that go. You don’t need to have the right images, words, or answers.
You just need a little stillness, some scissors, and a willingness to listen to the quiet voice within.
🪄 That’s where the magic begins.
I hope this letter inspires you to get your groove going with moon collages!
Ps: 🙏🏻 If you enjoyed and/or recognize yourself in this letter, then please feel free to share it with others and to click on the ❤️ button on this post so more people can discover it on Substack.
🌬️ Sending you magic & healing your way,
-Vane