dive into the dark: 3 shadowy journal prompts to help you work with may’s full moon in scorpio
Astrologically (and in general), it’s been a hell of a year. It seems that shift, change, and general chaos have been the norm, and with this month’s full moon taking place in the dark, mysterious sign of Scorpio, we are likely in store for a serious unveiling in many ways. In this post, I’ll be sharing three journal prompts that guide you to get in touch with your shadow self and harness the transformative power of this May’s full moon.
Full moons signify a time of completion, culmination, and in some cases, release. If you used the fertile energy of the new moon to set intentions, it is around the time of the full moon that you would start to see those seeds finally begin to sprout. Also a powerful lunar phase to work with for manifestation, the full moon is marked by heightened intuition, intense emotions, and personal illumination.
So, what does all this mean as related to this month’s full moon in Scorpio? Let’s refresh ourselves on the essence of this watery, intuitive sign.
death, rebirth + transformation
Scorpio is a highly-intuitive, fixed water sign that has a very underworld-esque vibe. Ruled by Mars (and depending on who you ask, Pluto), Scorpio can be characterized by the following:
deep transformations, socially + personally
intuitive, sometimes psychic abilities
emotional depth + intensity; loyalty
the dark, murky unknown of the subconscious
mysteries, secrets, + deep, hidden desires
repressed emotions or needs; obsessions
themes of death, loss, + rebirth
revenge + aggression
sex, passion, + sensuality
ferocity + determination
It’s an intense, often dramatic sign— but don’t let these powerful themes scare you. The nature of Scorpio reminds us that we can persevere through serious change, and grow tremendously in the process.
On a personal level, this full moon in Scorpio is an invitation to unleash your inner emotions + face the shadows within so that you can learn to love your whole self, illuminate a path forward that is aligned with your true desires, and move through fear to strengthen your self-connection + intuition. We’re being called to do some serious shadow work, and journaling is a great way to do that.
→ Before we really dive in, though, it might be helpful for you to take a look at where Scorpio resides in your own birth chart (if you don’t have yours already, you can get one for free over at Café Astrology). Which house does Scorpio live in for you? Do you have any Scorpio placements? Consider where Scorpio has dominion in your chart; this is where the full moon will impact you the most this month.
journaling as a shadow work ritual
The journaling prompts I’m sharing with you here today are deeply rooted in shadow work, a fitting practice to work in harmony with this month’s intense full moon in Scorpio.
“Shadow work” as a phrase might make you roll your eyes or recoil, if you’re tired of seeing every spiritual page online going on about it. But it truly is an important practice that, although sometimes painful or uncomfortable, can lead us to give some love to the parts of ourselves we tend to hide away or disown.
In simple terms, shadow work is just that: doing the emotional work necessary to make peace with your shadow self— your triggers, weak points, and the parts of you that you (or society) has deemed unlikable, unhealthy, too intense, etcetera.
The point of shadow work is not to erase the “bad” parts of who you are. Instead, the point is to integrate with your shadow in a healthy way that makes you aware of these qualities, enabling you to develop a deeper sense of self awareness. Shadow work can lead you into deep emotional healing that allows you to transform into the next best version of yourself, and that’s one thing this full moon is encouraging us to do.
Journaling can be a powerful ritual and a sacred experience; it’s one of the few times in life you can say whatever the fuck you want, no matter how crass, cringy, strange, or angry. To explore the following prompts, I invite you to set yourself up in a space where you feel comfortable, relaxed, and supported by your environment.
Light a candle if that’s your thing, grab a pen + journal (or open your voice memo app), and do whatever is in your personal practice to set the scene for safe self-exploration. Let’s dive into the dark, shall we?
three journal prompts to help you work with the full moon in scorpio
We are working with the raw, invasive intensity of Scorpio, so please be advised that these questions might not take it easy on you. They are designed to encourage you to really sink into the depths within to better understand yourself, love yourself, and fortify your self-connection to move forward with confidence and acceptance. Remember: your shadow deserves just as much love as the light.
May these prompts serve you well!
Which parts of yourself are you prepared to let die in order to give life to your authentic self?
In what ways are you still untrusting of yourself + others? How does this hold you back from fully experiencing self-transformation?
Think about any passionate emotions that you attempt to contain, or any obsessions you have been feeding. Where do these habits have the potential to drain your personal power, or affect your boundaries? How can you redirect your passion into self-care + creative expression?
Did any of these prompts resonate with you? I hope so. It’s my wish that you’ve found this journaling ritual supportive in your full moon in Scorpio festivities, and that any discoveries that came up during your work enable you to shed your old skin with confidence + move into this next era of you with ease.