andrearanae

[andrearanae]

https://study.com/learn/lesson/khonsu-facts-symbols.html#:~:text=Among%20the%20many%20Egyptian%20gods,or%20travels%2C%20across%20the%20sky.

Egyptians worshipped the moon god, Khensu, for healing and fertility, and was prayed to by farmers to help their crops. In Greek Mythology the moon is named mene, which translates to menstruation, showing a correlation between creation to the moon.

[andrearanae]

Update

I decided to add some personal affirmations to each image that correlate with the phases so that people have more to take away, as they read each affirmation and subconsciously manifest/ground themselves while viewing my work.

[andrearanae]

Here is my current artist statement

My art is driven by a fascination with harnessing the moon's energy for healing and insight. I explore the moon's feminine symbolism, guiding emotions and intuition in a 28-day cycle. Through unique symbolism for each phase, I prompt viewers to reflect on their connection to the lunar cycle and to nature. The digital double exposure layering technique visually explores themes, drawing inspiration from Leandro Katz's work. Influenced by the moon's reflection of the sun, my art symbolizes introspection in our personal realms, spotlighting themes in relationships, goals, dreams, and self-discovery. Each photo is infused with layered affirmations, harmonizing with the lunar cycles to guide us through emotions, connect us to nature, and encourage more intentional living.

[andrearanae]

Moon project update

We are currently entering the waning crescent phase of the moon cycle. This will be the last phase I shoot for my project as we are nearing the next full moon and fresh start. I have good photos of all of the phases and have been out shooting related nature imagery and looking at different things I have already shot earlier this semester that relate to the ideas I have studied about the moon. I am currently trying to figure out how to layer/merge the photos but am struggling to figure out if I can do it in Lightroom. I need to get help to figure out the student adobe account because I cancelled mine to use the student one but cannot get it to work. I attached a recent photo I just edited of the waxing gibbous phase, right before the last full moon. Some of my photos are still on my camera and I need to transfer those and start editing.

[andrearanae]

HW Week 7

I have been shooting the phases of this cycle since the new moon on the 14th, and now have a good picture of the waxing crescent, and first quarter moon. I also already had the full moon picture from the blue supermoon that I wanted to use, but I will need to shoot the waxing gibbous within the next two days, then the waning gibbous around the second, and last quarter on the fifth, then lastly the waning crescent around the seventh or eighth. In between these phases, I will be shooting related imagery to the phases based off of all my research and where I am personally within this moon cycle. I will have about a week or two then to finish editing and be done by the 28th.

Here are some pages from the moon journal I got a couple of years ago which I based my understanding of the moon. I just rediscovered it after having misplaced it in moving.

I also saw a lot of relevant work in NYC at some of the galleries and museums we went to that were inspiring for me and my project. Here are some photos of those artworks.

[andrearanae]

HW Week 6

-The moon's energy can be harnessed through meditation, journaling, making moon water, with herbs, crystals, symbols, and anything that helps direct intention.

-Your zodiac sign may influence the ways that you work with moon energy as the elements coincide with certain rituals such as the fire signs finding most power in burning their intentions or water signs through charging their water, while an earth sign may tend to use plants, and an air sign may use feathers or cleanse with smoke as a moon phase ritual

-Being born on the new moon usually makes for a more innovative, creative, and maybe kind of impulsive type of personality as this phase is about new beginnings and ideas. This is the phase of planting the seed, slowly, and deliberately. 

-The waxing crescent is about taking action, the first steps that get the ball rolling. People born in this phase help water others' ideas as an ambitious leader.

-1st quarter is about kicking up the action, and as half the moon is lit we can see the duality of how far to go and how much has been done. Important to ground the self in this cycle.

-Waxing gibbous is about polishing, refinement, and evaluation. The people born in this phase are calm and the spirit is in constant evaluation and evolution. 

-The full moon embodies a hardworking spirit, free of baggage and full of excitement. It’s a powerful energy that creates a polarity of emotion and logic which pulls back and forth. People born in this phase shine bright as they reap the rewards and fruition of the cycle. 

-In the waning gibbous, there is a focus on release, shedding, and may lead to rumination sometimes, but this is a time of fine tuning and there is still much potential from the full moon energy being turned to self awareness. 

-last quarter moon shows another battle of duality, and focuses on letting go. These people are loyal and hold on to things with nostalgia, yet have to learn to let go as heading into the dark new moon of the unknown. All or nothing mentality, but sometimes it is good to live in the gray area.

-A waning crescent is about imagination, going inward, and having a vision. These people may be more isolated as the moon cycle is ending with this small sliver of light left, anticipating the new start.

We humans function based on the circadian rhythm, trying to perform at consistent levels day in and day out, mostly because this works well with our capitalist society and essentially set up for the patriarchy 

Women or those with periods have another clock to pay attention to called the infradian rhythm which is a menstrual cycle, averaging about 28 days, same as the lunar cycle

Men's hormones function based on the solar cycle

There are 4 main phases of the moon, same as the menstrual cycle which has the menstruation, the follicular phase, ovulation and the luteal phase 

Lunar bodies (people with menstrual cycles) end up depleting our energy, creativity, productivity, immunity, libido, and many other things trying to live like a solar body, so paying attention and honoring the phases of the moon and our cycle can help with balance

These phases also relate to the seasons

Follicular/ waxing moon/ Inner spring: Time to let things blossom and eat fermented foods or sprouts (Estrogen and energy growing)

Ovulatory/ Full moon/ Inner Summer: Let go of what doesn't serve you and eat berries or citrus as estrogen is high

Luteal/ Waning moon/ Inner Fall/Longest Phase: Get organized and eat leafy greens, nuts, seeds, cacao.

Menstrual/ New moon/ Inner Winter: Introspection, rest, and planting seeds. Eat nutrient dense foods high in iron as well as herbal tea.

Nonbinary or trans people or those in menopause can still focus on the cyclical energy to rebalance hormones and connect to the feminine energy (The gender neutral archetype of femininity that is within all of us)

https://stardust.app

-Stardust is a free cycle tracking app that integrates science, ancient wisdom, astronomy and artificial intelligence to help you find contentment, manifest goals, and befriend your body

-The app is made up and made by women who are nurses, sexual wellness coaches, a hormone coach, and astrologers. 

-The women made sure the app protects privacy, especially after Roe v. Wade was overturned. They also use the app themselves and understand the importance of privacy

-I use the app myself and find it very interesting to see the overlap of each moon phase with my cycle and love how the app gives some knowledge about that yet also works as a self care app.

I have learned a lot through these podcasts of which some I had listened to in the past already but just needed a refresher of, and I actually had my interview with Ronya at Apothecary Essentials and More a couple days ago. The interview went really good and ended up lasting a whole hour, but there was never a dull moment as she shared many of her own beliefs with me and we really dove into some other topics as well, all of which really relate however in the sense of healing. I need to listen to the audio recording again to take notes since I wanted to really be present in the conversation with her, so I did not jot anything down during the actual interview and we talked about a lot so it's hard to recall everything. I am glad I got to talk to her and even her assistant who also identifies as a witch and knows a lot about moon rituals.

[andrearanae]

Interview schedule

I will be interviewing Ronya from the local metaphysical shop that I have been going to for the last few years. She has told me that she works with moon practitioners who have a practice for each phase and that she herself has her own practice specifically for the full and new moon. I am looking forward to learning more about her practice this Wednesday at 4:30.

[andrearanae]

The Fact of the Matter

Listening to this podcast and the way that they were questioning this man about the validity of what he says concerning the yellow rain was essentially a form of exploitation and the interviewers completely missed the point. They seemed to not even acknowledge his story, already having planned their counter to his statements. The man was immediately told that it was most probably just bee poop, not chemical warfare, and he went on to respond with how he thought that they were genuinely interested in his story and that the only reason he agreed to participate was because he thought this. The girl who was translating agreed with the man, stating that they were uninterested in trying to defend their story, as they thought they would just be listened to, heard, and have their story finally be documented. Rather, their story remains untold, as the interviewers were so focused on the semantics of the situation instead of focusing on the loss and pain in their story. There was no empathy from the interviewers and the real truth being taken from the story was in the fact that Radiolab had already orrganized where they wanted the story to go.

[andrearanae]

After having gone to Pauline Sharp’s social justice talk about the big red rock, I feel that I know more about Kansas's history. She herself is a Native American woman whose parents were part of the Kansa tribe, also known as Kaw nation. When I arrived I was handed a photograph with a boulder on it, beautiful, but I was kind of confused at first. As Pauline started to explain its importance, I was able to look deeper into Kansa culture and Kansas’s roots. The boulder had traveled long ago from the melting glaciers and ended up in the Kansas River, where the Kansa people would go to worship the rock. This rock is seen to be a great symbol of strength and endurance and was treated like a grandfather, wise, healing, and full of spirit from all of the prayers said over it. Then, when white settlers kicked the Native Americans off their land, the boulder was confiscated and placed in Lawrence, KS, where it was dedicated to an old white man, the founder of Lawrence. After 94 years, and through the help of Pauline Sharp and the Stuck Between a Rock and a Hard Place organization, the boulder is now being returned to the Kansa tribe on the little bit of land that they have now, and will be surrounded with the natural elements of its original place in the Kansas river. I found it interesting how the people say “we belong to the rock”, and admire the connection to nature. This fight is a symbol of all of the generational trauma the Kansa withstood as colonizers stole their land and exhibits how the fight continues to this day. I am glad the Kansa tribe is reclaiming their rights in this way, and hope to one day admire this rock and be able to appreciate its journey.

[andrearanae]

Blue Supermoon

[andrearanae]

The Moon and Me

The sun illuminates half of the moon at all times, but how much we see from Earth is based on our orbit

There are 8 phases that include the new moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, last quarter, and waning crescent.

As the moon twists and rolls, we sometimes get a glimpse of the far side of the moon

The moon is the ruler of our dreams and subconscious mind

Moon phases played an important role in ancient cultures that believed it to be a powerful tool to navigate life

The monthly cycle of moon phases is similar to that of a menstrual cycle

The moon has been worshipped since long ago and is believed to govern all important changes

Ancient cultures believed the moon to be where our souls ascend after death

The moons is connected to life's basic rhythms of the universe

The moon affects the tides, and as humans are 90% water, it may affect our human bodies as well

Understanding the phases can help regulate emotions and sleep patterns

According to one of the oldest healing systems, Ayurveda, the moon can soothe and calm the human body

My project The Moon and Me is based on the themes that the Moon's patterns and rhythms are reflected all throughout the universe and our lives, that ancient cultures have worshiped and lived by the moon for hundreds of years, and that the moon can be a tool to help to navigate life and our emotions through each phase. I am going to capture these ideas with my digital camera and plan to use a double exposure layering technique to represent each phase. I feel connected to this topic as I have always been drawn to the moon as an emotional support, using its energy to heal and transmute, and I want to learn and understand why/how it does so.

[andrearanae]

Response- In, Around, and Afterthoughts

I would assume that Martha Rosler may think of Shelby Lee Adams’ photographs from Appalachia to be controversial based off of the power imbalance or dynamic that usually persists as photographers will sometimes exploit those in poverty, sometimes knowingly or even in some cases through the best of intentions. She touches on this issue found within documentaries in In, Around, and Afterthoughts (On Documentary Photography) where she states “I think I understand, from the inside, the photographers’ involvement with the work itself, with its supposed autonomy, which really signifies its belongingness to their own body of work and to the world of photographs. But I also became impatient with this perhaps-enforced protectiveness, which draws even the best intentioned of us nearer and nearer to exploitativeness.” (Rosler 187). This points out the fundamental difference between the subject and one curating the photos and narrative alongside her other statement concerning the poor that reads “What do we discover? That the poor are ashamed of having been exposed as poor, that the photos have been the source of festering shame” (Rosler 187). In Adams’ photos, the Appalachian family is visibly impoverished as seen through the clothes and lifestyle shown in the photographs. Having watched the documentary, I know that the photographer had grown up in a somewhat similar lifestyle that brought personal connections with the family and culture. It all relies on context in a way, and whether the images are curated or at what level of which they are. Martha Rosler comments on pushing stereotypes saying “Images can yield any narrative—and all meaning in photography applies to only what resides within the four walls of the framing edges” (Rosler 189). Thinking back to how most of the Appalachia photos were composed and considering how the subjects were placed, Rosler may consider the series to be an exploitation of those in poverty through a display of their primitive lifestyle that could further confirm the stereotypes of the Appalachia people. Through further investigation into his works, however, she may see the situation differently as Adams’ goal is to give representation to a real lifestyle and really debunk those stereotypes while trying to really engage and capture the raw essence of their culture. Yet still, we're really only seeing a very narrow view of Appalachian lifestyles, not inclusive of those living a more modern lifestyle nearby, which is a point that Rosler may consider.

[andrearanae]

Homework 9/7

-Ronya, owner of Apothecary Essentials and More

-Moonstone

-Pix Apothecary

[andrearanae]

[andrearanae]

Thoughts on Themes

After discussing project topics, I now feel that I am most inspired to do my project about the moon cycle. I already have ideas brewing about what I can do to really capture the essence of living in sync with the moon cycles. I can already envision the layout of my project and know that I will be using my Canon AE1 film camera to capture it. I was considering using a double exposure method to show the connection of human emotions to the moon, as I did experiment with that process some last semester. I am now going to begin research about different cultural perspectives on our spiritual connections to the moon. I think that what's great about this project and theme is I cannot rush the process. Not only because of the developing aspect but because I cannot rush the moon cycle.

[andrearanae]

Brainstorming

The first idea I had for this documentary series was to capture the viewer. We artists spend lots of time looking at the art, but in a way, we are looking into a reflection as art kind of mimicks society. It would be interesting to explore what the art sees, or rather the reaction and or connections by people to different works, showing the effects while also displaying the cause or inspiration that is us. Then I thought about going down the route of music where I could either demonstrate the creation of, since my boyfriend makes music, and/or the essence or feelings that music can invoke within us. I love music and think that interpreting sound into visual documentation is very beautiful. My last and strongest idea is that of which I would follow the moon cycle for, capturing each phase and representing those cycle's stages in correlation to our cycles and patterns in life emotionally and spiritually. If we can understand the moon's cycles of cleansing, planning, and gratitude, then we can live in harmony with our emotional cycles that align with nature.