Moon Lists
Even if you think that astrology is bogus or that charging crystals, burning sage, and reading tarot is all way too woo-woo for you, Moon Lists will strike a genuinely beneficial chord in your life—no chanting or frolicking under a glowing crescent required. Launched by Leigh Patterson, the brains behind creative studio Lucca, it’s part interview series, part guided journal, and part online community. Together, the pieces combine with a central goal of encouraging self-reflection and introspection as a means of reaching a more meaningful way of being. “I strongly believe that an awareness of the self at present is a necessity for navigating life as an awake, empathetic, connected person; I see Moon Lists as a tool for helping to develop that muscle,” explains Leigh.
The idea for the project came about in 2014, when Leigh read a story featuring National Geographic photographer Sam Abell. “In the interview, he writes about a monthly ritual he shared with his wife, where every month on the full moon they would ask each other a set of questions about the last four weeks. I thought this was such a beautiful idea and wrote to Abell, curious to see his list of questions and requesting permission to recreate the concept in my own way. He kindly obliged.”
For Leigh, the concept took shape in the form of writing up a list of prompts, sending it to women who inspired her, asking them to fill it out based on their last month, and posting their responses interview-style on the Moon Lists website. From a floral artist to an olive oil connoiseur to a ceramicist to a model, the participants were all uniquely gripping and provided honest and intriguing peeks into their lives. (Recently, Leigh expanded the interviewees to include a wider range of women who aren’t influencers or public-facing individuals, starting with a family friend who is about to start the sixth grade.) Unsurprisingly, a healthy community of readers was quick to grow, but Leigh realized she wanted to transform the project into something everyone could engage with in their own unique way. Thus, Moon Lists the workbook was born.
Meant to be used however and whenever you see fit, the gorgeously designed book includes a variety of list-based prompts that ask you to meditate on your last week or month. “There is no right or wrong way to approach it,” notes Leigh. “I encourage flipping through the whole thing and starting on a page that sticks.” Sample prompts include MYSTERY: What happened that doesn’t have an explanation?; NOSTALGIA: What was felt more deeply because it took you back to your past?; and DISCARD: Something you decided to rid from your life, or perhaps that you are particularly happy to see come to a close. Some are light and airy, while others will ask you to really dig in and examine what is and is not currently serving you. All of them will make you think.
Whether you choose to approach your journaling solo or decide to discuss it with a partner or friend is up to you. So long as you feel a shift within yourself, no matter how significant or subtle, that translates into a positive shift in the way you interact with the world, you’ve nailed it. “Less navel-gazing, more understanding,” says Leigh. “That’s the aim.”
Words: Ariana Marsh
Photography: Cydney Cosette Holm
moonlists.com
