March 25, 2024
Full Moon/Penumbral Lunar Eclipse in Libra 🌕 ♎
Sun in Aries 🌞 ♈
Eclipse greetings, sweet Human Beings❣️
Last week, I stood in awe of the large-scale, dreamy painting of Venus Discovering the Dead Adonis before me. The painting now sits unframed on a large easel in the conservation lab at its home, The Cleveland Museum of Art. This painting is a wonder to behold, and I am highly drawn to it. It calls to me. Venus is one of my ruling planets, and I crave the beauty of the arts in my life.
Before I left my career at The CMA, I inquired about viewing the painting in the conservation lab that is undergoing restoration. I thought I'd missed the opportunity when I suddenly left my job. However, my husband later confirmed with the conservation team that they would still welcome me in the lab. Over a year later, the visit was scheduled, and I spent an enlightening hour with the painting and a few others undergoing conservation.
Adonis lies naked and lifeless on his back, his chiseled alabaster form exposed to the elements, revealing his head, arms, chest, and wounded torso draped over a boulder. The boulder is concealed by the richly colored red fabric of his clothing, creating a striking contrast in form, color, light, and shadow. Venus hovers over him, her expression a mix of shock, longing, and grief. Her right arm flails, exposing her breast, while her long curly golden locks are adorned with a crown of light pink roses. Adonis, her beloved, is dead, impaled by the boar he hunted, which is being restrained in the painting by a rope held by two angelic putti (cherubs).
The two figures of Venus and Adonis stand out in contrast to the dark and dreamy background. Their pale figures are surrounded by a darkening sky over a dimly lit mountain range in the center background. Another dark human figure hovers over the right side of Adonis, with Venus on his left. At the top of the painting, I see an arm, chest, and parts of the face of another putti hovering directly over Adonis’s lifeless body. Two dogs in the bottom right corner are attentive to Adonis, and a small dove is in the upper left corner.
The museum's lead paintings conservator illuminates the left side of the painting with a bright light and points out where the boar is now revealed due to his conservation efforts. He also mentions that in previous conservation work, the boar was concealed behind a darker layer of paint, carefully removed before he began inpainting. Inpainting is a painting conservation technique that involves applying paint to areas of paint loss without covering the original paint layer.
The artist who painted Venus Discovering the Dead Adonis in 1650 remains unknown, and the painting now rests in the skillful hands of the conservator some three and a half centuries later. In his second year of conserving this piece, he applies meticulous research, skill, and mastery. This painting is one of many he has worked on during his long career at The CMA. I am amazed by his expertise and dedication, as is the entire museum community.
In the same lab, different conservators work on other objects simultaneously. I also had the privilege of viewing familiar paintings in the lab, such as Sunflower, New Mexico by Georgia O’Keeffe, which is about to be loaned out for an exhibition at the Mattatuck Museum, Water Lilies (Agapanthus) by Claude Monet, which is being moved into another gallery for a focus exhibition, The Monkey and the Cat and Virgin and Child by Pintoricchio. This painting also took my breath away. It is undergoing a significant conservation effort by one of the museum's newer conservationists. I was moved by the soft and delicate image of the Virgin and Child surrounded by a serene landscape.
The frames conservator who escorted and guided me through the labs, also conserves the frame for the Virgin and Child. In his lab, he explained the challenges of conserving such an ornate and detailed frame from that era. My husband, the museum’s Cabinet Maker, works closely with him and the entire conservation team on many projects, which is a highlight of his work at The CMA.
It is truly a privilege to have access to the conservation labs. Last week, I was given a rare treat that made for a most inspiring morning spent at the museum. I also visited the latest photography exhibition, Barbara Bosworth: Sun Light Moon Shadow, inspired by the upcoming total solar eclipse. This striking photography exhibition features photos all taken here in NE Ohio. Cleveland is in the path of totality for the upcoming solar eclipse in Aries on April 8, 2024.
Moments like these, filled with beauty and creative inspiration, counterbalance the harsh realities of humanity and the current state of our planet. Actively seeking out beauty holds great significance for me. Born with the Sun in Libra, the sign of the scales, I have an innate desire for balance, equality, and beauty in all its forms. While I aim to embrace life's many paradoxes, I often seek equilibrium by embracing opposing energies. This rings especially true for art and beauty's role in my life. I deeply long for it, particularly since the loss of Sierra.
There are many approaches to how I seek to balance life's numerous hardships. I counteract grief and sadness with joy and laughter, a lesson I learned only after many months of sorrow. I balance humanity's ugly truths with the beauty of music and art, the busyness of life with still and quiet meditation, and the stagnation of depression with movement and exercise. I balance my daily life indoors with long walks outdoors, planting in the Spring, and tending to these plants throughout the warm seasons. When I feel too rigid, I seek a water source to learn to flow and float again with the currents. When I feel alone, I seek out community. When I'm too much in my head, I settle my awareness on the earth and my body. This ongoing process helps me understand what I need by paying attention to my body's signals at any moment, day, or week.
Today marks the penumbral lunar eclipse in Libra. Last night, while I slept, the Earth's shadow partially covered the full moon's light. This is the first of two eclipses in this spring's eclipse season. On the new moon in Aries, there will be a total solar eclipse in Aries in two weeks. Astrologers reveal the many ways eclipses affect us here on Earth. I like to see it as an operating system reboot, similar to what we experience on our computing devices. Our operating system shuts down and restarts while installing upgrades, and it reappears to us as looking different. Sometimes, the changes are dramatic and immediate; other times, they occur in the background and go unnoticed. I believe eclipses have a similar effect on us. They may force us into sudden changes, or we may only realize how we've changed well after the event.
My eclipse season plan is to pay close attention to my body's signals, move slowly and patiently, make very few plans, be flexible and adaptable, and stay well-grounded and present in my body. I encourage you to develop a strategy for navigating these eclipses based on your current needs. Above all, practice radical self-compassion, let go of harsh self-talk and judgments, and fill your heart with love, gratitude, and beauty.
No matter the challenges I face in this lifetime, I know deep in my heart that life is magical and beautiful. The pain I feel helps me appreciate the beauty even more. Planet Earth, my home, provides me with everything I could ever need or imagine. It is filled with wonder and beauty. Beauty is everywhere as long as I am attuned to witness it. I feel lucky to be here having this human experience.
Thank you for meeting me here. I appreciate your beauty and light and send the sweetest Spring full moon blessings to you and all beings and souls.
Jennifer 💫💖💫
Art Features 🎨
Venus Discovering the Dead Adonis, c. 1650. Italy, Naples. Oil on canvas; framed: 213.5 x 268.7 x 8 cm (84 1/16 x 105 13/16 x 3 1/8 in.); unframed: 184.4 x 238.8 cm (72 5/8 x 94 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Mr. and Mrs. William H. Marlatt Fund 1965.19
Virgin and Child, c. 1490–1500. Pintoricchio (Italian, c. 1454–1513). Tempera and oil on wood; framed: 75.5 x 60 x 11 cm (29 3/4 x 23 5/8 x 4 5/16 in.); unframed: 45.5 x 34.2 cm (17 15/16 x 13 7/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, The Elisabeth Severance Prentiss Collection 1944.89
Water Lilies (Agapanthus), c. 1915–26. Claude Monet (French, 1840–1926). Oil on canvas; framed: 204.9 x 430.3 x 6 cm (80 11/16 x 169 7/16 x 2 3/8 in.); unframed: 201.3 x 425.6 cm (79 1/4 x 167 9/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, John L. Severance Fund and an anonymous gift 1960.81
Planetary Bodies 🪐
Full Moon/Penumbral 🌕 Lunar South Node Eclipse in Libra ♎ today, March 25, 2024
2024 Libra Full Moon & Lunar Eclipse by Donna Woodwell, Headmistress of The School of Magic + Mastery
2024 Libra Full Moon Lunar Eclipse by Kathy Biehl of Empowerment Unlimited
Mercury in Aries ♈ stations retrograde ⬅️ on April 1, 2024
Waning half-moon 🌗 in Capricorn ♑ on April 1, 2024
Venus in Pisces ♓ moves into Aries ➡️ ♈ on April 5, 2024
Chiron Cazimi 🔆 in Aries ♈ (conjunction with the sun) on April 8, 2024
New Moon/Solar North Node Eclipse 🌑 in Aries ♈ on April 8, 2024
Eclipse season affirmations: I trust in my intuition to guide me towards growth and transformation, stepping into my personal power with confidence and authenticity. I rely on my inner knowing to guide me into physical, emotional, and spiritual balance. I release old patterns of indecision and embrace the courage to take bold actions in alignment with my true desires. I nurture harmonious relationships while honoring my individuality and assertiveness, finding balance between self and others.
Current Offerings - Planet Prana Meditation Space 🕉️
OFFER ENDING SOON! The 2024 New Client Intro Offer ends on 3/31/24. I invite you to START HERE by practicing simple and accessible meditation techniques. Join us live on Zoom every Monday and Wednesday at 12:30 PM for a mindful lunch break and to practice with a supportive community. If you prefer flexibility, you can also practice on-demand. planetprana.com/start-here
Substack Community 🖋️
It seems appropriate to share these writings on menopause during this full moon in Libra. I am always open to reading and learning about this under-researched and undervalued pivotal time in a woman's life, especially as I navigate menopause in my own life.
CAN YOU HELP ME MEET MY GOAL?
I aim to find 1000 people interested in subscribing to this work at a rate of $55 per year. This demonstrates our belief as creatives that artists and writers can and should earn a living wage and shows the world that we value their contributions. I support the creative community by allocating at least 5% of my income to support other artists, writers, makers, creatives, performers, etc. I will keep at least $2750 within the creative community if I achieve my goal. Additionally, I make every effort to continuously encourage, support, share, and promote the work of others.
$55 per year seems like a lot, but it works out to around $1 weekly.
Wow! That sounds incredible!!!