The Hierophant asks us to create a container for magic to happen, and dive into our mystical studies, says Brandon Alter …
Mystical
IS VISITING MEXICO CITY’S SONORA MARKET SPIRITUAL APPROPRIATION?
On a solo journey of spiritual self-discovery in Mexico, Danielle Dorsey decided NOT to visit the famously witchy Sonora Market. She explains why …
Mexico City’s Sonora Market was up there as I had compiled a list of the city’s witchiest landmarks to visit during my two-week stay. The sprawling bazaar is famous for being the largest market dedicated to witchcraft in the country, offering patrons everything from tarot readings to limpias (or spiritual cleansing), banishments, love potions, and more. Earlier in my spiritual journey, I likely would have sated my curiosity and went, but the more I learned about the market’s offerings—which range from healing arts to the darkest magic imaginable—the less inclined I felt to go.
One obvious reason to take precaution before visiting the Sonora Market is its location. Nestled in the historic La Merced neighborhood, the market and its surrounding areas suffer from higher crime rates and poverty. Although generally safe during the day, those who stand out as tourists are more likely to be targeted for theft and scams.
Along with candles, herbs, and other trinkets for your spells, you’ll also find vendors selling animals in various states—taxidermied, encapsulated in liquids, or even alive (and often malnourished). Each vendor is its own business, so supporting a tarot reader who happens to be working there does not necessarily equate to endorsing animal abuse, but still I felt cautious about the volatile energies that might be encountered in such a space.
For all intents and purposes, the Sonora Market is an energetic vortex, where one can cleanse themselves of suffering at one booth and then curse someone at the next. For anybody not familiar with how to protect themselves with such conflicting energies at play, it could be easy to fall victim of a psychic attack.
I spoke with Shannon O’Neill-Loyola of Radical Reiki, who currently lives near Mexico City and has familial ties to the region that trace back for centuries. She told me that, “Aside from the fact that there’s dark magic, I won’t go because of the polarization of forces that occurs there. It attracts so many lower entities and earthbound souls who will do anything to latch onto anyone who has an opening in their auric field. People go there out of novelty, and with a superficial view of magic, and don’t realize how impactful these rituals and ceremonies are. Ultimately, this shows a lack of respect, and people who visit as ‘spiritual tourists’ don’t realize that they may leave with attachments.”
Offerings on display at Mercado de Sonora. Photo: Maurice Marcellin
Another reason I decided to pass on the Sonora Market is my wariness of casual tourism through others’ sacred belief systems. One of the best things about social media and the internet are their ability to connect us to cultures and people all over the world, but it’s also easy to trick ourselves into believing that we are more familiar with these practices than we actually are. We might mistake watching a video of a sacred ceremony with being qualified to host our own, even though we have no ties to that culture or deeper understanding of what it represents. Not only is this appropriative and intrusive, it belittles the spirituality of those that we are borrowing from.
When you take into account the different intersections of privilege and the historical oppression of certain cultures whose rituals are now being profiled by Vogue et al., it becomes even more vital that—if and when we participate—we make an effort to do so with intention and respect. That might mean sacrificing an Insta-worthy picture of creepy Santa Muerte statues and respecting the merchant’s request to keep your phone in your pocket. It might also mean that if your Spanish isn’t advanced enough to have a genuine conversation about someone’s offerings and what they can do for you, it might not be the right time to visit.
A good rule of thumb for distinguishing cultural appreciation from appropriation, is that appreciation typically includes an invitation to participate. If you’re truly interested in learning from Mexican brujas or brujos, you’ll have to foster a genuine relationship and prove that your interest stems from more than simply colonizing their beliefs. This might be difficult to achieve if you’re only visiting for a week or two. There’s also a chance you could approach somebody in a completely respectful manner, and they still won’t be interested in mentoring you. Remember that no one owes you their labor, spiritual or otherwise.
However, this doesn’t mean that spiritual enlightenment isn’t awaiting you in Mexico. If you’re looking for spellcraft items, you’re likely to find a few botanicas in just about any neighborhood market or tiangui, which are weekly pop-up markets that occur all over Mexico City. I also recommend a visit to White Willow Cafe in the Roma Norte neighborhood, which hosts weekly tarot and other mystical workshops.
Mexico is a country with a rich history and the same wisdom you are seeking from a bruja or brujo can also be found by simply tuning into the energy of the land. I was surprised at the downloads that came through during a few minutes of meditation at the ancient ruins of Teotihuacan, located just an hour outside of Mexico City. I had a similar experience in Frida Kahlo’s house and was struck with visions as I toured her bedrooms and kitchen, leading me to spend some time journaling in her garden. Even during long bus rides, I found myself bulldozed by spiritual insights while my eyes drunk in the gorgeous countryside.
If you do decide to visit Mexico City’s Sonora Market, take appropriate measures to protect your energy. As with anything else, do research so that you can be sure of what services you’re asking for and don’t get taken advantage of. Meditate and ground yourself before embarking on that trip. Slip a black tourmaline or obsidian crystal into your pocket to ward off negativity and envision yourself in an impenetrable bubble that one must be invited inside.
If, like me, you’d rather be safe than sorry, there are plenty of other ways to find spiritual healing in Mexico without putting yourself at the mercy of such potent energetic forces and engaging in spiritual appropriation.
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Danielle Dorsey is a content creator, publicist, copy editor, social media coordinator, and event planner. Read more from her at Danielledorky.com and follow her on Instagram.
BEST OF THE NUMINOUS 2017
It’s been one hell of a ride. From crystal dildos and wombifestation, to becoming a spiritual activist, our Best of The Numinous 2017 charts a truly transformative year …
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1// Andre J on Self-Expression as a Self-Love Practice: Gender trendsetter and spiritual mentor Andre J shared how a lifetime of fearless self-expression has been the ultimate self-love practice …
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2// Use Your Birth Chart to Meet Your Shadow Self: In a year where we faced our collective shadow on oh so many levels, we learned how to come face-to-face with the skeletons in our cosmic closets …
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3// How to Master the Art of Wombifestation: With the focus on ways to shift to a more feminine paradigm, Latham Thomas revealed the real secret to the law of attraction …
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4// Date Night as Spiritual Practice: As part of her popular Holy F*ck column, Alexandra Roxo shared how to make date date a mirror for where you’re at on your spiritual path …
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5// Healthcare Vs. The Wellness Industry: As the wellness industry came in for yet more criticism, we asked: what’s worse, a broken healthcare system or the elitist wellness industry?
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6// What’s Your Asteroid Goddess Sign? As the Divine Feminine demanded to speak up and be heard, Rebecca Farrar showed us how to harness the full feminine force of the stars …
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7// 7 Things I Learned Starting a Crystal Sex Toy Company: Adding to the conversation about self-pleasure as a healing practice, Chakrubs founder Vanessa Cuccia shared the deep spiritual lessons of her entrepreneurial path …
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8// Shaman Durek Says Spirituality Is Just Common Sense: On a mission to put shamanism in the hands of the masses, Shaman Durek explained how loving integration of our darkest places unleashes the power to heal ourselves …
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9// Mooners & Shakers Anniversary Edition: As we celebrated our one-year mooniversary, we celebrated the loving, empowering, and fearless community that is Moon Club …
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10// Did You Know You Have a Tarot Type? With Tarot becoming more popular than ever, Hayley Ed Houseman shared how to discover your tarot type, and start casting spreads that speak straight to your spirit …
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11// How the Patriarchy Made You Fear Goddess Day: A.k.a. Friday the 13th. Lucy North shared the real meainng behind this “spooky” day, along with simple ways to reclaim its feminine power …
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12// 9 Tips for Running a Spiritual Business: Teeing up her new “Ask a Spiritual CEO” column (launching Jan 2018), Maha Rose founder Lisa Levine shared how to mix some magic with your business mojo …
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13// Why We Have to Get Real About Diversity in the Wellness Industry: Fundraising for her new Harlem, NY, location, SHAKTIBARRE co-founder Corinne Wainer confronted the issue at the heart of her biz head on …
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14// Dreaming About Sex With Straight Dudes … When You’re Queer AF: With gender and sexuality politics front and center, what were her dreams about having sex with straight men trying to tell Wolf Medicine Magic?
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15// Why You Need to Discover Your “Ikigai”: With more people than ever questioning our contribution, Sushma Sagar shared the ancient Japanese art of Ikigai, or how to discover your life purpose …
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16// 8 Ways to Be a Spiritual Activist in 2017: In a year of protests and political resistance, Numi founder Ruby Warrington shared timeless insight into how peace begins with each and every one of us and the daily choices that we make …
THE SECRET MYSTICAL HISTORY OF PLAYING CARDS
Did you know a regular deck of playing cards holds the keys to your life path? Alexander Dunlop explains how the secret mystical history of playing cards also explains our fear of the number 13 … Images: Farhan Siddicq
Allow me to lead you down the Rabbit Hole for a few minutes …
What if I told you the ancient Book of Life was hidden in plain sight as, of all things, the classic deck of 52 playing cards? And that we can trace this Book all the way back to 5,000 BC.
Historically, it’s interwoven with the mystical traditions of Kabbalah and Hermetic philosophy. And remember, books didn’t have bindings back then. Written on scrolls and individual pieces of parchment, they were still called “books.”
Now consider this: There are 52 cards in the deck and 52 weeks in a year. 4 suits and 4 seasons. And, when we add up the face values of all the cards including the Jokers, we get exactly 365 1/4, which is our calendar year.
So, what we’ve actually got in a deck of playing cards is a little Book of symbols that represents the seasons and the cycles of our planet … a Book of our life here on Earth.
Now, here’s the deal (pun intended) with how this relates to YOU.
Based on the numbers of our date of birth, we each have 13 Personal Cards in a deck. We calculate these 13 Cards based on numerology and astrology, and each of these 13 Cards, plus a supporting Moon Card, represents different aspects of our life.
With this information, a simple deck of playing cards can reveal our Soul’s blueprint, or life journey. And when we know this Blueprint, it’s like having our own personal User’s Guide for how to win at life.
THE BLUEPRINT … (find a link to start looking up YOUR cards at the end of the post!)
0. Moon Card
This is the energy that nurtures and supports us in life. For example, my Moon Card is the 3 of Spades. It means that creative artistic expression rejuvenates my spirits. And when I need a boost of energy, it’s a good idea for me to surround myself with great art.
1. Birth Card
This is the light we shine in life. It’s kinda like our Sun Card. And when we know this Card, we know our Life Purpose. For example, someone born to play the Ace of Hearts, like Lebron James, is here to master the passions of their heart. And Lebron has definitely Aced the game he loves (basketball) and become a philanthropic Ace as well, giving back passionately to his community.
2. Mercury Card
This Card reveals how your mind works, which is great. But most people over-identify with the energy represented by this Card. I know I did. I was very much stuck in my mind, until finding the Book of Life helped me consciously align myself to the Life Purpose indicated by my Birth Card.
3. Venus Card
This is the Love Card. And if someone has this Card as their Birth Card, then you’ll have lovely chemistry between you. For example, my Venus Card is the 5 of Diamonds, and once I knew that, I consciously chose a woman as my romantic partner who has my Venus Card as her Birth Card. Score!
4. Mars Card
This is your masculine side. And when someone else has this Card to play, it can mean that sparks fly between you. It might mean a challenging connection, but it could also mean you would have great sex together.
For example, in the movie Wonder Woman, Gal Gadot has both a Venus and a Mars connection with her co-star Chris Pine. So, the energy between them on screen was one of love but also sexual tension and competition, as they each energetically challenged the other to step up their game. That was good casting!
5. Jupiter Card
This Card is an energy that expands you and brings you abundance in life. For example, Angelina Jolie has the Jack of Spades as her Jupiter Card. The Jack of Spades is, among other things, the Actor’s Card. And she has definitely found abundance in life as an actress.
Then too, someone who has your Jupiter Card as their Birth Card would be a good potential business partner for you. So, if Angelina Jolie wanted to start a business, someone born to play the Jack of Spades as their Birth Card would be a good business partner for her.
6. Saturn Card
This Card represents how we learn our life lessons. And if we don’t heed the lessons of our Saturn Card, our health suffers.
Hillary Clinton has the 9 of Diamonds as her Saturn Card. This is the Card of loss. It doesn’t necessarily mean she would have lost the election because of it. But loss is her teacher in life. Her Soul’s Blueprint is written for her to experience loss. And for her personal growth, she must learn to let go of her attachment to whatever she lost, so she can grow from it, personally.
7. Uranus Card
This Card reveals what kinds of unexpected and pivotal shifts will occur in our lives. It’s really good to know this Card, so we’re not blindsided by a shift that might appear tragic. Instead, we can welcome this shift when it occurs in our lives.
8. Neptune Card
This is what we dream about in life. This Card is the subject of our recurring daydreams. For instance, if the Ace of Diamonds is your Neptune Card, it means you will fantasize about starting your own business.
9. Pluto Card
This Card illuminates the shadow side of our psyche. It’s what we irrationally and unconsciously fear.
For example, Donald Trump has the 2 of Hearts as his Pluto Card. The 2 of Hearts is the Card of emotional connection and intimacy. It would mean that he is irrationally afraid of emotional intimacy. And we know from many interviews that he is a loner who doesn’t trust anyone.
And, in my coaching work too, I’ve seen that people who have the 2 of Hearts as their Pluto Card have this same issue of learning to open their heart to real intimacy.
10. Princess Card
This Card reveals the reward we can expect in life for playing our cards right. It’s a gift that comes to us freely as a gift of grace.
For example, Warren Buffet has the Jack of Diamonds as his 10th Card. This is the Card of generating wealth. And he has certainly generated massive wealth. But what we may not realize is that his wealth came to him as a gift of grace. He seems to realize it, which may be why he’s decided to give it all away.
11. Prince Card
This Card reveals exactly what we must take personal responsibility for in our lives. But it’s something that we may resist or avoid because we feel like it’s a burden.
12. Queen Card
This Card reveals what we must embody to fulfill our lives. It’s the energy that we must perfect if we want to complete our Soul’s destiny.
13. King Card
This is the 13th and final Card in our Life Path. And this Card reveals how we come to hold commanding authority in our lives.
For example, Oprah Winfrey has the Queen of Hearts as her 13th Card. And she clearly stepped into her power and authority as the Queen of daytime talk shows. She became the Queen of people’s hearts, and continues in that role philanthropically.
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And so it is that we all have 13 Cards to play in life. But it’s the 13th Card that reveals how we wear the final crown of authority in our lives. It puts a new perspective on our collective fear of the number 13.
Our collective fear of the number 13 seems to represent an unconscious, irrational fear of being a fully empowered master of our own lives.
It reminds me of Marianne Willamson’s observation: “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.”
And that’s the hidden truth of our fear of the number 13: we fear our own extraordinary power.
But once we see our 13th Card clearly in the Book of Life, we can start to demystify our power, so we no longer fear it; instead, we can accept it and embrace it. It’s how we start to activate our Soul’s Blueprint, which is how we bring forth the best version of ourselves.
To learn more about Alexander and his work and to get started looking up your personal Cards for free click HERE. And to look up all 13 Cards in your Life Path, check out Alexander’s new book Play Your Cards Right: A Sacred Guide To Life On Earth.
Alexander Dunlop is a Self-Actualization Consultant. He empowers you to express your authentic Self, so you shine your brightest light and make your biggest impact. In his professional practice, he coaches clients worldwide, leads classes internationally, and provides professional certification training for students wishing to master the game of life. Alexander is a Harvard graduate and former Wall Street Consultant. He lives in Brooklyn with his soulmate and two children.
THE 2017 PISCES FULL MOON WANTS YOU TO DREAM ON
The 2017 Pisces Full Moon wants you to tap into the creative power of your dreams, and wake up to the magic that already surrounds you, says Sandra Sitron.
Full Moon :: September 6 2017 :: 3:04am ET :: 13 degrees Pisces
You are picking flowers. Juicy petals flutter to the ground. More and more petals. They come in all colors like a fan of paint chips arranged by category, number, and increasingly contrived moniker. The flower petals are so delicious they could offer you nutrition for days. You chew and chew and still can’t get enough of their gummy colors.
It’s a dream and you wake up. The flowers are no longer edible and the colors fade away. What is a dream? A trip to another dimension or a subconscious construction?
With the dreamboat 2017 Pisces Full Moon opposite the meticulous Sun in Virgo, we’re asked to explore the intersection between effervescent vision and corporeal reality.
This Moon’s message is that if you remain aware of the power of the Now, you can transcend your mundane problems and make contact with an otherworldly dimension. Once you get there, it’s easy to remember your soul’s true state of love and connection.
You just have to let yourself live in the dream. Look for the magic in every moment …
Wash the dishes and feel every drip of water that runs through your fingers. Ride the subway and become acutely aware of the sounds the train makes as it pulls into the station. Transcend to an ultra-reality of higher sensory perception. Once you do, another version of this earthly reality will present itself.
The normal will morph into the magical. What you thought was an everyday occurrence, like picking a flower in a field, will easily become an enchanted encounter. This energy has the power to make your river of reality evaporate into a misty spiritual awakening.
It’s hard to stay grounded with a Moon like this one. But that is what you must do. Because this Moon opens a portal between reality and fantasy. Pump up your awareness of your everyday experiences so they become technicolor moments. These meditative moments will allow you to channel endless streams of creativity. Get yourself so neatly positioned in the moment that you bust right out of it and into infinity.
You are magic and every mundane breath you take can lead you to a fantastical awakening …
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Full Moon Conjunct Neptune
Children in costumes.
Playing make-believe. Activate your imagination. This aspect brings a big opportunity for magic, synchronicity, and intuitive connection. Slow way down to benefit from this transit. Allow yourself to be sleeping and dreamy. This is a great moment to strengthen your connection with your higher self.
With this aspect, it may be challenging to come up with concrete and logical ideas. But creativity is enhanced. Take advantage of this opportunity for more right-brained thinking, and don’t be too hard on yourself if you’re feeling foggy or confused.
Full Moon Inconjunct Venus
The runt of the litter.
The runt needs just as much love and nurturance as any other puppy, but luck is working against it. This Full Moon brings some frustrated energy when it comes to love and relationships. Keep focused on the lesson and the learning that can come from any challenge. Remember that maintaining a loving relationship with yourself is of utmost importance.
Full Moon Sextile Pluto
A clearly defined ritual.
Transformation is certain. The path to growth is clearly supported. The secret is to look at your shadow. Honor your full experience and don’t try to sugarcoat anything. Let yourself feel all of your feelings, while at the same time taking full responsibility for them.
The 2017 Pisces Full Moon is in a harmonious aspect with transformational Pluto, and this can help you release and let go in just the right way. Create a ritual that allows you to mark your passage into a new phase.
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The study questions below are to help you get deeper into what the 2017 Pisces Full Moon means for you. Use them as journal prompts. For the most accurate reading, look to which house holds 13 degrees Pisces in you chart and use the question for that house.
***New to your birth chart? Calculate yours for free HERE …
Aries or Full Moon in the 12th house
What does your higher self have to say about an important issue in your life? Start a conversation; ask: “What do you want me to know?”
Taurus or Full Moon in the 11th house
Are your beliefs and values reflected in your community? Why or why not?
Gemini or Full Moon in the 10th house
What are your career goals? In what area are you ready to step up and take more responsibility?
Cancer or Full Moon in the 9th house
When will you explore something new this week? This could be a spiritual, mental, or physical exploration.
Leo or Full Moon in the 8th house
What are you willing to let go of? What kind of ritual can you create to allow this to happen?
Virgo or Full Moon in the 7th house
What needs to be communicated in an important relationship?
Libra or Full Moon in the 6th house
What new habits for health and wellness are you ready to create? What will help your being to thrive?
Scorpio or Full Moon in the 5th house
How can you surprise yourself with your own creativity? How can you open this portal with laughter?
Sagittarius or Full Moon in the 4th house
What message does your Inner Child need to hear to feel more safe and nurtured in the world?
Capricorn or Full Moon in the 3rd house
What outdated belief are you ready to reframe? What internal stories are ready to be re-written?
Aquarius or Full Moon in the 2nd house
What are your resources? Make a list.
Pisces or Full Moon in the 1st house
In what area of your life are you ready to take action and put your full self forward?
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandra here.
NUMINOUS WEEKLY TAROTSCOPE: JUNE 15—21 2017
The Knight of Swords brings rapid, targeted action, and a week to manifest some magic with our moves, says Lindsay Mack …
NUMINOUS WEEKLY TAROTSCOPE: MARCH 3—9
The Knight of Cups is an invitation to live with ease and grace, and to inquire how each action can align us with the divine, says Lindsay Mack…
USE THE NUMEROLOGY OF 2/2 TO SPREAD LOVE
The numerology of 2/2 is a launchpad for love—but it also asks that we be patient, and put what “we” need first, says Felicia Bender…Artwork: Marietta Varga
Be careful what you wish for because the power resides in connection and there is no better time than now—the first few weeks of the Trump Presidency—to take advantage of the energy that 2/2 is throwing down for all of us.
The numerology of 2/2 can serve as an energetic launching pad for all things LOVE. On the microcosmic realm this includes friendships, partnerships, family love, and intimate partnerships. And on the macrocosmic realm this encompasses our relationship to each other on a Universal and soul level—through our connected consciousness and core desire to “love and be loved in return.”
As a repeating number, this holds particular resonance. On this day, if you choose (and often even if you don’t consciously choose!) to be open and receptive, the energy here supports the revealing, or establishment, of soul connections and/or “contracts” that are initiating and being played out.
This is also a message that we are supported by more than we can see or comprehend while here on terra firma. The numerology of 2/2 offers an opportunity to open the heart, discipline the emotions, and opt for diplomacy over a win-lose scenario.
Overall, the message for us on February 2 (in 2017 and every year) is a reassurance that even though it may look at though we’re all going to Hell in a handcart, the chaos is necessary for whatever restructuring is taking place. It is hard. It is uncomfortable. Some might say it’s devastating and appalling. Yet the energy here is all about patience and right timing. Be patient and the timing will reveal itself.
3 Ways To Keep Use The Numerology of 2/2 To Be A Compassionate Rebel
- Remember there’s power in numbers. (And I don’t mean just Numerology!) If this election has taught us anything—no matter how you voted—it has put us on the fast track to understanding that we can’t exist as “an island.” We need each other. We are imminently more powerful when we work together for a common cause, no matter what that cause might be. This isn’t the time for the “lone wolf.” When two or more people meet for a common goal, the influence and power rises exponentially.
- LOVE is love is love is love. Lin-Manuel Miranda sets the tone and the theme for 2/2 and beyond.
- Patience, like it or not, is a virtue. The energy of the number 2 is all about right timing. It’s emotionally attuned. It’s far more concerned with what’s right for “us” versus “me.” Its energy supports mediation, diplomacy, and loving kindness. It allows and nurtures process. And while there is a certain “fire” burning politically throughout the world right now, the numerology of 2/2 reminds us there is much going on “behind the scenes,” so to speak.
The power resides in coming together and standing strong and peacefully in solidarity. The key is in taking concerted action in tandem with a diplomatic approach to formulating real solutions to the myriad issues at hand—with the clear understanding that these solutions and their implementation will take time, thought, diligence, and cooperation.
NUMINOUS WEEKLY TAROTSCOPE: JANUARY 27—FEBRUARY 2
The Knight of Cups, reversed, is asking us to speak less and enquire more—before we jump to any conclusions, says Lindsay Mack…
BACK TO THE FUTURE: READING FOR THE AQUARIUS NEW MOON
The Aquarius New Moon is here to help us chart a course into the future, says Sandra Sitron…
New Moon :: January 27 2017 :: 7:08 pm EST :: 8 degrees Aquarius
Be ready. You are winding up for the swing. This is your time to come into alignment with your values and vision. Focus your intentions for innovation, change, and a more loving society.
On Friday, the Sun and the Moon meet in the sign of Aquarius. This is the Aquarius New Moon. Aquarius energy is airy and determined. Light and changeable, yet persistently moving forward. Aquarius represents the greater community and our dreams for the future. This is a visionary time. During this season we will take our positions in the social and political arenas. Friday’s New Moon is the point at which we take the seed of our intention and plant it in our subconscious.
Think of this New Moon as your planning stage. Gather your vision for the future. It must be detailed and clear. You have a responsibility now to set the vision. It needs to be a shift. You must lean into a new approach. Make an adjustment. Surprise yourself. We are in a tumultuous political time. You are being called to take a position. The New Moon in Aquarius is helping you envision that position.
How you interact with the changes that are coming will be completely your choice. If you feel called to step forward then do so. If you feel called to stay still and hold space with love in your heart, then do that. You have other options too, you can either ignore what’s happening, or ride someone else’s wave of fear unconsciously. It’s entirely up to you. Right now you get to envision how you want to be.
Be proactive in your approach. Notice each and every emotion that flows through you and validate it. This alone is a major upgrade. We spend so much time unconsciously trying to not feel our feelings. When you honor your feelings you heal the world. On Friday, make a vision board. See yourself positioned in your future dream society. What does it look like? What are the predominant feelings? How are you connecting with others? Hold this vision strong. Feel yourself there. This is one of the most powerful things you can do.
The Aquarius New Moon is making no major aspects, and only two minor aspects. This is a rare configuration which elevates the emotionality of the New Moon. Think of this as airy emotional energy that is slightly un-tethered. Aquarius has two speeds. The first is completely detached. The second is an erratic swing between very high emotional intensity and then whoosh— it’s over. Detachment follows. This is high energy that’s very unpredictable.
You can ride the wave of these emotions to see where your psyche is ready to have it’s software updated. If your MO is to keep the lid on your emotions and go through the motions, you may not have much luck with that this weekend. The lid is coming off. This is a good thing. It will help you get to the root of your feelings and experience cathartic release.
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The Moon and it’s Message
Drawing a map.
This is your chance to fill in your vision. Make it practical and hopeful. Take back control of your vibration. Through the practice of vision, align with the vibration that you want to hold. Use your creative ability to draw your boundaries, determine the topography and orient yourself.
New Moon Semi-square Saturn
Swimming underwater and watching the bubbles from your snorkel rise to the surface.
Give yourself a tool or a structure that will help you navigate emotionally. Feelings may take you deeper. You may be going deeper into your emotions then you are used too. You may feel out of your element. You are supported. You have the tools that you need. Use your new knowledge of the world to plan appropriately. Find stability.
Full Moon Semi-square Venus
Breaking bread together.
Nourish yourself and feel loved. Play, frolic, laugh, restore and enjoy. Socialize. Make sure to give yourself the emotional support that you need so that you can feel abundant, worthy and peaceful.
T-square with Uranus, Jupiter and Mercury/Pluto
The wolf pack’s howl.
The Aquarius New Moon is ruled by Uranus. Uranus (change agent), is instigating a T-square with Jupiter (expansion) which is pointed toward Mercury and Pluto. In this scenario, Mercury and Pluto together symbolize the collective pain body. The old wounds that lodge in our consciousness and come out through our culture’s norms and language are getting an electrical shock. The entire group (Aquarius) is planting a seed intention for how we want things to go down. There’s a collective howl as some rush to cover up the wounds and maintain the status quo, while others are diving in deeper to tear off the bandage. The Great Awakener is on the scene. We are urgently being prodded to choose our positions and intentions.
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SUMMARY
The Aquarius New Moon has got your back. She wants you to know that it’s not too late. That everything is perfectly aligned. She is sending you loving thoughts for you to carry into the future. But you must carry them. Don’t put down you parcel. Don’t rest. Don’t turn off and deny yourself. There is such a thing as walking into battle with love in your heart. This is like parenting. A good parent is present for the easy stuff and hard things. A good parent leans forward and lovingly teaches. Sometimes they are firm. Sometimes they are emotional. But they keep showing up. You are being called to step into a role of love. Lead through example.
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For more personal insight into the Aquarius New Moon, journal with the below study questions for each sign.If you know what house of the zodiac 8 degrees Aquarius falls in your chart, read for that house too.
Aries or 11th house
How might you bring more community into your life?
Taurus or 10th house
What’s your vision for your career? How do you want it to feel?
Gemini or 9th house
How would you best express your mission statement right now?
Cancer or 8th house
Where in your life are trying to control an outcome? What would happen if you just let go?
Leo or 7th house
What’s your vision for relationship? How do you want it to feel?
Virgo or 6th house
What is blocking you from practicing healthy habits? What is one healthy habit you would like to form?
Libra or 5th house
Tune into the things that bring you joy. How can make more space for these things in your life?
Scorpio or 4th house
What’s your vision for your home and your relationships with your family members? How do you want it to feel?
Sagittarius or 3rd house
Can you think about one issue in your life from a new perspective?
Capricorn or 2nd house
What thought is preventing you from feeling worthy and deserving? How could you view that experience positively?
Aquarius or 1st house
What’s your vision of your personal power? How can you express your gifts, talents and individuality?
Pisces or 12th house
Where can you bring the feeling of hope into your life? How might you do that?
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandra here or follow her on Instagram.
LIKE A LULLABY: READING FOR THE CANCER FULL MOON 2017
The Cancer Full Moon opens a portal of transformation, if we can process our feelings, get inspired, and stay present in the now, says Sandra Sitron.
Wolf Moon :: January 12 2017 :: 6.36am EST :: 22 degrees Cancer
This Moon is like a lullaby. She sings, “Find the softest part of your psyche. Open there just a little bit more. Somewhere there is a vulnerable part of you that is ready for a change. It’s time to heal. Shed a protective layer. Turn a wall into a ladder.”
You are in a moment of incredible growth. The Cancer Full Moon is offering you an opening. It’s transformational. The Cancer Full Moon is opposite the Sun in Capricorn. Capricorn is ambition and Cancer is nurturance. The Moon is the ruler of Cancer and she is nice and comfy in her sign right now. Yet this energy can feel so loud. Emotions come to their full blossom or their full boil. And the Cancer Full Moon chart is packed with heightened astrological energy. Let’s delve in…
***
The Moon and It’s Message
Pine trees in the moonlight.
Trees standing straight and tall, like you. The trees house an internal drama. There is a veil of peace and serenity, yet within each tree is a Universe. Cells multiply. Moss grows and birds sing. Sap flows and insects die. For the tree, time is different. Maybe it’s more like a series of rings and less like a straight line. Your message is to root yourself down and hold yourself up. Remind yourself that nothing is as it seems. The Cancer Full Moon wants you to remember that everything is more complex and more simple than you think. Capricorn Sun is Father and Cancer Moon is Mother. Hold yourself like a baby and let yourself truly experience the mysteries of the world. On this first Full Moon of the year, you are an infant. Let yourself be in awe of the enigma.
***
Moon Inconjunct Saturn.
Scaffolding.
The Moon is in her own sign and inconjunct Capricorn’s ruler, Saturn. Your feelings may get hurt. The squishy, vulnerable parts of you may feel like they are spotted by everyone. You can’t hide. Your old stuff is ready to be drawn out and healed. But the process may be downright frustrating. Find a structure for your emotions. Here’s one:
Step 1: Forgive yourself. If your emotions are causing behaviors you aren’t too proud of, accept it.
Step 2. Define your feelings. What is this feeling called?
Step 3: Identify the pattern. When was the first time you felt this way (high school or before)? If you can’t answer that, try this one. Name three character traits of the person(s) involved. Who else in your formative years also had these traits? A parent? Yourself?
Step 4: Go back and hug the child/teenager part of yourself that needs the hug. You are an adult now. You can nurture that inner child and tell them it’s going to be okay. Sit the little imaginary version of you on your lap and rock them.
Step 5: Process. This could mean different things… journaling, apologizing, writing an affirmation about how you would like to feel, or talking about it.
This 5-step process can be used whenever high emotions feel frustrating. Keep at it. It brings together the nurturing nature of the Moon and the structural energy of Saturn and the Capricorn Sun.
***
The Grand Cross Pattern
Stuck in a doorway.
The Grand Cross pattern is made up of Sun and Pluto opposite the Cancer Full Moon and squaring the opposition of Jupiter Uranus. Two oppositions. 4 squares. It looks like a giant square in the sky with a cross in the center. It’s a cardinal grand cross. The cardinal energy is initiative. Cardinal means “hinge,” which describes walking through a doorway into a new beginning. A new door opens. But the grand cross itself can feel like stuck energy. It’s like you being pulled in four different directions. Whatever portal you need to walk through on your healing journey, this is you standing in the doorway.
You’ve got your arms and legs outstretched and clutching to the door-jam. It may feel scary. It may feel like there is something on the other side that you shouldn’t see. Something will either push you through or you will retreat. Who’s to say which is better for you at this moment? The important thing for now is that you honor your experience in this moment. Your arms and legs are the grand cross. There is a sense of being pulled in many directions. How do you stand in the middle of this storm? How do you hold your center? How do you breathe through it? You need an anchor. It needs to be spiritual. It needs to be inspiring.
Which brings us to our next clue…
***
Venus Conjunct Neptune
A magic wand.
Venus is exactly conjunct Neptune. These two are buddying up and creating a Thor’s Hammer aspect pattern with the Moon and Jupiter. Don’t underestimate the powerful energy that you are emitting at this very moment. You’re sending out vibrational beams that are attracting more of the same to you right now. Find a way to funnel your energy. Make yourself into a magic wand.
Enchanting, lovely Venus and Neptune together can help you to transcend. If the balance is out of whack for you right now, you may find yourself locking into the lower vibes of Neptune—drugs, alcohol, bewilderment. Keep yourself inspired. The verb “to inspire” means both to fill with an animating, quickening, or exalting influence, and to draw in air.
Do both. Focus on your breathing. And then find something that inspires you by engaging your sense of purpose. Use this inspiration to funnel your thoughts and emotions. This is how you activate the power of the magic wand that the Cancer Full Moon chart is presenting you with. How to connect with your higher-self. Probably you do this through meditation. Maybe you listen to inspiring music. Maybe you create something. You will have to get out of your typical thinking-cycle for a handful of moments. Keep leading yourself away from the swirling thoughts. You will keep returning, but you can keep leading yourself away. Focus on the moment. Like when you’re making your coffee in the morning. Or washing your hands. There is so much magic in the moment. The “now” will help you move through the doorway to the next stage of your healing journey.
***
Summary: This is a powerfully energetic time. Allow your feelings. Get ready to change and heal. If you feel stuck, pulled in four different directions, vulnerable, or confused—that’s okay. You will move through the doorway by processing your feelings, inspiring yourself and staying present in the now.
The below suggestions are for self-inquiry by sign to help you work more deeply with the energies of the Cancer Full Moon. For a more accurate reading, check where 22 degrees Cancer falls in your birth chart, and also read for that house…
Aries or 4th house.
In what area of your life do you wish for more security? How old is the part of you that wants security? Can you give more empathy to that part of you?
Taurus or 3rd house.
What would you like to be able to believe in? What is stopping you?
Gemini or 2nd house.
What are you building in your life? What is your most valuable asset when it comes to this task?
Cancer or 1st house.
What would you like to say “Yes” to? What would you like to say “No” to? What is blocking you from asserting your desires?
Leo or 12th house.
Ask yourself, “what feeling am I not allowing myself to acknowledge?” What comes up?
Virgo or 11th house.
What are your hopes for the future? Who in your community will support you?
Libra or 10th house.
What are the structure or systems in your life that you are ready to simplify?
Scorpio or 9th house.
Can you make a commitment to explore a new place or philosophical idea this week?
Sagittarius or 8th house.
Where in your life can you let go of control? What does the idea of spiritual surrender mean to you?
Capricorn or 7th house.
Who do you think you could be more open with? How might that change the relationship?
Aquarius or 6th house.
Is something stopping you from feeling grounded? If so, what?
Pisces or 5th house.
What can you do to bring more playfulness and lightness into your life?
TRUTH BOMB: READING FOR THE GEMINI FULL MOON 2016
The Gemini Full Moon brings an opportunity to upgrade your belief system to mirror your truths, says Sandra Sitron…PLUS in-depth Full Moon study questions for each sign.
Gemini Full Moon :: Tuesday December 13 2016 :: 7:06pm ET :: 22 degrees Gemini
Tend to your words. Make them your garden. Your words will nourish you and help you connect to your truth. If you don’t fail them, they won’t fail you. They will be the sacred fertilizer of your wisest moves.
The Gemini Full Moon will raise questions of integrity. Who do you say that you are? How do you use your words? Do you speak carefully, judiciously selecting which thoughts you will bring to life with language? Or are you unfiltered? This Moon will help us orient ourselves to the truth within, and give a microphone to the voice of wisdom. Because of the nature of any Full Moon, this time can also show us how our use of words can go disastrously wrong.
So mean what you say, and say what you mean.
Have you ever had a conversation take you down a wrong track, so that you end up saying things that left you worse off than if you had never said anything? These moments create opportunities to notice patterns. Pay close attention to you emotions as you speak or write. See how your words can change how you feel? Notice the patterns in your own thinking or patterns that come up in conversations.
Gemini rules thinking and communicating on an elementary school level. Gemini gave us our first friends and our first sentences. It rules primary connections, mental and social. And the stuff you learn when you’re a kid gets so ingrained. If your mom said “I’m sorry” instead of “Excuse me” when navigating through a crowded grocery store, you’ll probably speak that way too. The language we learn as children literally forms how our brain works. It’s foundational.
Sagittarius, where the sun sits opposite this Gemini Full Moon, illuminating its lessons, rules thinking and communicating on an elevated level. You’ve made it to college. Words become philosophical and wisdom-seeking. Sag is your study abroad trip to see how other cultures think.
With the Gemini Full Moon opposite the Sun in Sagittarius, we are being called to monitor the basic thinking behind our emotions (Moon), and step it up a notch so that we can live more fully in our essence (Sun). We are being called to think, speak, and live in the full integrity of who we are. We are getting a chance to re-write old thought patterns and operate from a philosophical foundation instead of a habitual one.
***
The Moon And It’s Message
Tying the boat up to the dock.
Bring your ship ashore. Find solace in what you know to be true. Your spirit. Your heart. Your essence. The waves keep coming, but they are part of the sea, they are part of life. You are ready for more structure. More of an understanding of who you are. It is time to plan a new trip. You can come back to the map and delineate a new destination. Let the light of understanding flood your mind so that the waves of the emotional sea feel like an adventure rather than an obstacle.
Moon Opposite Saturn
Wood stacked in preparation of a fire.
It’s time to build a structure. Structure must begin with a solid foundation. If you want to build a good fire, you always have to stack the wood in the right way. If you don’t, the fire won’t catch. Push yourself closer to a plan. It will help with your thinking and your progress.
Moon Trine Jupiter
Unwrapping the gifts.
Support beams down from on high. This is the stamp of approval. Trust that your intuition will lead you in the direction of expansion. All you’ve got to do is trust, and the assistance will flow in. The gifts are already there.
***
Go deeper with your Gemini Full Moon self-inquiry, with these study questions by sign. For a more accurate reading, see where 22 degrees Gemini falls in your chart and also read for that house.
Aries :: 3rd house
In what area of my life would a dose of curiosity and lightness be helpful? Do I feel safe to be filled with wonder in my career? In my relationships? Why or why not?
Taurus :: 2nd house
Finish the sentence “Money is…” fifteen times. Write it down in list form.
Money is _______________
Money is _______________
Money is _______________ (etc.)
Notice what different words and ideas come to mind when you contemplate what money means to you.
Gemini :: 1st house
What beliefs need to be released for me to re-gain the confidence to express myself with joy and conviction? How is this manifesting in my self-talk?
Cancer :: 12th house
Write a letter addressed to your Higher Self. Write down your questions about your life. Using your non-dominant hand write the answers.
Leo :: 11th house
How can I make more space for my hopes, dreams and aspirations? What is my brightest future vision for the collective? How can I spread this idea?
Virgo :: 10th house
What conversations need to be had to make adjustments in my career? How could I be thinking differently about my career?
Libra :: 9th house
What new philosophical or spiritual horizon am I feeling called to explore? Is change hard or easy for me? What has been my past experience of big change?
Scorpio :: 8th house
What am I ready to move on from in my life? What kind of journalling ritual would support that “letting-go” process?
Sagittarius :: 7th house
What relationship in my life feels a little “sticky.” What past experience does this feeling remind me of? What conversation needs to be had?
Capricorn :: 6th house
Wh are two simple adjustments I can make in my daily schedule or workflow that will create more efficiency in my life? How can I hold myself accountable for sticking to this?
Aquarius :: 5th house
What are easy ways that I can add more creativity and self-expression to my life? Why is self-expression important to me?
Pisces :: 4th house
What are my true feelings about: work, money, relationships, sexuality, health and spirituality? In which areas am I inspired and empowered to shift my feelings?
STAY AWARE: READING FOR THE PISCES QUARTER MOON
The waxing Pisces quarter moon is asking us to stay true to our most ideal future vision, says Jennifer Racioppi. Artwork: Bethany Harper-Walsh
Pisces Quarter Moon :: December 7th 2016 :: 4:02 am ET
We set our intentions with the New Moon, bright eyed and excited for a fresh new beginning. Yet, like clockwork, one week after the new moon we experience the waxing quarter moon—creating a square (90 degree angle) between the Sun, which represents our identity, and the moon, our subconscious and emotional desire.
This monthly occurrence signals the need for an adjustment. In astrology, a square is like a stepping stone, providing us the opportunity to overcome an obstacle on our path to manifestation.
So what does this Pisces Quarter Moon mean for us?
***
:: THE SUN ::
The Sun is currently in hopeful, expansive, and indulgent Sagittarius, on his way to meet up with serious Saturn—while the moon is traveling through the spiritual and emotional sign of Pisces.
Sagittarius represents limitless expansion. Yet just three degrees from Saturn, the planet of discipline, also in Sagttarius, we can expect a sobering vibe, asking us to stay diligent with our bottom-line focus. Saturn wants us to decipher and consolidate our Sagittarian vision, and making an exact conjunction with the Sun on December 10th, Saturn’s influence feels heightened right now.
:: THE MOON ::
Yet, the moon in Pisces is seeking spiritual expansion, perhaps even an escape. Any time the moon is in Pisces, we may feel the urge to retreat into movies, music, literature, even a joint and a glass of wine. But this is a time to confront the desire to abandon your truth. Instead of escaping, allow your spiritual practice elevate you.
:: THE SQUARE ::
The Sun in brazen Sag square the sensitive Pisces quarter moon creates a steamy combo (we are talking about fire and water after all!). Sagittarius, an outspoken sign, and Pisces, a sign that can sometime struggle to find its words, can work together to create a mood of expansion with undertones of spiritual freedom. Instead of escaping, let’s put our attention on spiritual expansion as a way of elevating our life goals.
:: THE MESSAGE ::
As the moon waxes (grows), so does our focus on what we desire. So stay true to you. Manage your need for safety and security without abandoning yourself or your ideals! The Square between the Sun and the Pisces quarter moon asks us to look at our vision for our future, and then assess the work we must do to accomplish this. To be bold, be brazen, and be spiritually aware.
Here’s to your manifestation!
For more Moon wisdom or to book a coaching session with from Jennifer visit Jenniferracioppi.com
MATERIAL GIRL, MYSTICAL WORLD: MELINDA LEE HOLM
With her custom jewelry prescriptions, Melinda Lee Holm combines her twin passions for crystals and the Tarot—with the wider mission of awakening her clients to a life of personal evolution…
The Numinous: What card and stone best represent your current life #goals?
Melinda Lee Holm: The Empress and Pyrite. The Empress rules over a richly abundant world that she has created for herself by caring for everything around her with love and encouragement. She is the giver and the protector of life and she revels in her gifts by beaming love out all around her. I dressed as The Empress for Halloween this year, and am focused on actively working to embody her to create a world where we are all loved and treasured for our gifts and we are all safe and cared for.
This election threw me into despair and leaning harder into The Empress is helping to guide me as I step up to act to protect the rights and safety of women, people of color, immigrants, LGBTQ people, Muslims and the poor. And Pyrite is the gas to fuel this action. It supplies confidence, willpower, and motivation and it enhances our innate powers of manifestation. I invite everyone to print out a picture of The Empress and place her in your home as an inspiration and carry a piece of Pyrite!
TN: What came first, jewelry or Tarot, and when did you first combine the two?
MLH: Tarot came first. I grew up in suburban MN and I was 13 when I got my first deck (the Thoth deck), the accompanying book, and a book on witchcraft. It changed my life. When I started doing readings for myself alone in my bedroom, I remember having this immediate access to a meditative, connected state. I would close my eyes and focus on visualizing white light shooting from my third eye and would be physically rocked by the sensation of being flooded with this magical connection. Looking back, I see baby me doing these vibration-raising rituals and I am so proud of that kid. I had a pretty rough childhood and finding this solace helped me survive with my soul intact.
20 years later I had a friend suffer a sudden and tragic loss. I went to my cards seeking guidance on how to help and as I turned over the cards, a strong aesthetic theme emerged. I felt called to make a necklace with natural stones in colors and numbers corresponding to the cards, and with energies for emotional healing and spiritual connection. As it turned out the colors and numbers were favorites of the loved one who had passed. It was incredibly moving. I knew it was the beginning of something great.
TN: Why does every modern woman need a talisman?
MLH: Because self-adornment is an ancient sacred act. By wearing a talisman, we connect to our lineage of ancestors who adorned and anointed themselves with oils, scents, clothing, and jewelry imbued with magical power and purpose. In our contemporary culture, we are removed from this process and instead offered mass-produced items we have little to no energetic connection with. Wearing a personal talisman is a silent yet radical act of self-assertion and reconnection with the earth and with our ancestors.
TN: What themes are most common among your clients, and what stones do you use to address them?
MLH: The culture we live in means there are a lot of blockages around communication and balancing work and play, especially for women. So I often use Aquamarine to open clear communication with oneself and others and to soothe anxiety, Green Tourmaline to re-connect with the heart, and Garnet to ignite a passion for building dreams in a realistic, grounded manner.
I also work a lot on balancing the elements, which isn’t something I set out to do. For example, if someone has a ton of Fire and Water going on, but little Earth or Air, they are likely to feel exhausted from a lack of grounding, and frustrated and possibly even despairing that their message is being misunderstood. In this case, I would pay close attention to the elemental attributes of stones. There are so many levels to a reading. It’s what makes my work incredibly interesting and fulfilling.
TN: What’s your favorite way to cleanse and charge your crystals?
MLH: I’m a huge fan of Selenite, a purifier and spiritual activator that I find to be extremely effective. I have big slabs of it in my studio and every jewelry piece I make gets a nap on the Selenite before it goes home. I also keep a piece with my personal jewelry. My pieces are also blessed with Palo Santo as I ask them to work with the client’s guides, angels, and ancestors to carry their energy to where it is most needed.
For my personal collection of crystals, I do a water rinse once a month on the Full Moon and then roll the cart (it’s a big collection!) over to the window to soak in the moonlight overnight. I also give them a really good smudge when I do my weekly house cleansing.
:: MATERIAL GIRL ::
My label
I’m living for everything Michele Alessandro makes for Gucci. If I could buy it all I would, but instead I admire it from afar and buy vintage. I’m crazy about vintage clothing for stylistic and environmental reasons.
My shoes
Oxfords and sneakers. I’m tall, I have foot issues, and I’m a HUGE fan of a butch shoe look.
My fragrance
Tea rose oil – opens the heart and smells amazing.
My jewels
I’m constantly making myself things depending on what I’m feeling, but I always wear the gold Sigil necklace from my collection, piles of rings, and a piece of Black Tourmaline somewhere to keep my energetic field clear.
My pampering
A soak, a scrub, and a hot stone bibimbap at the Korean spa.
My home
A purple house filled with crystals, art, music, and animals in beautiful Los Angeles.
My food
All of it. Everything. I love food. That hot stone bibimbap at the spa may be my favorite, but it would be really hard to choose.
:: MYSTICAL WORLD ::
My awakening
It’s ongoing. I think we all need to focus on being in a state of constant spiritual awakening until we’re dead. Not doing so assumes we’ve gotten as close as we can or as we care to the Divine. I’m greedy. I want as much expansion and evolution as I can get in this lifetime.
My sign
Cancer Sun, Virgo Ascendant, Taurus Moon, year of the Fire Snake.
My mantra
“This time will pass”—it works to soothe during the lows, and as a reminder to really be present and soak in the highs. It relates very closely to the Wheel of Fortune card, which offers an additional comfort of being looked after by the Universe.
My healer
As with all of us, ultimately myself—with and assistance from guides here on Earth and in the Spirit realm.
My reading
I always go back to Angela Davis, Joseph Campbell, and many, many metaphysical texts.
My mission
To empower and inspire as many people as I can to commit to a life of constant personal evolution.
Discover more about Melinda Lee Holm and her work, and schedule a Prescription Adornments consultation at Melindaleeholm.com
5 GENDERS: THE STORY OF THE NATIVE AMERICAN TWO-SPIRITS
Prior to Christian intervention, fluid gender identities of the Native American Two Spirits were seen as a gift from the gods, says Pearson McKinney…
It wasn’t until Europeans took over North America that natives adopted the ideas of gender roles. For Native Americans, there was no set of rules that men and women had to abide by in order to be considered a “normal” member of their tribe.
In fact, people who had both female and male characteristics were viewed as gifted by nature, and therefore, able to see both sides of everything. According to Duane Brayboy, writing in Indian Country Today, all native communities acknowledged the following gender roles: “Female, Male, Two Spirit Female, Two Spirit Male and Transgendered.”
He goes on to describe how: “Each tribe has their own specific term, but there was a need for a universal term that the general population could understand. The Navajo refer to two spirits as nádleehí (one who is transformed); among the Lakota is winkté (indicative of a male who has a compulsion to behave as a female), niizh manidoowag (two spirit); in Ojibwe, hemaneh (half man, half woman), to name a few.”
As the purpose of ‘Two Spirit’ is to be used as a universal term in the English language, it is not always translatable with the same meaning in native languages. For example, in the Iroquois Cherokee language, there is no way to translate the term, but the Cherokee do have gender variance terms for ‘women who feel like men’ and vice versa.”
The Two Spirit culture of Native Americans was one of the first things Europeans worked to destroy and cover up. According to people like American artist George Catlin, the Two Spirit tradition had to be eradicated before it could go into history books. Catlin said the tradition: “must be extinguished before it can be more fully recorded.”
And as Brayboy also notes: “Spanish Catholic monks destroyed most of the Aztec codices to eradicate traditional Native beliefs and history, including those that told of the Two Spirit tradition.” As a result, Native Americans were forced to dress and act according to newly designated gender roles.
One of the most celebrated Two Spirits in recorded history was a Lakota warrior fiercely named Finds Them And Kills Them. Osh-Tisch (see main image) was born a male and married a female, but adorned himself in women’s clothing and lived daily life as a female. On June 17 1876, Finds Them And Kills Them earned his stripes when he rescued a fellow tribesman during the Battle of Rosebud Creek, an act of fearless bravery.
It’s an example of how in Native American cultures, people were valued for their contributions to the tribe, regardless of the gender attributes they exhibited. Parents did not assign gender roles to children either, and children’s clothing tended to be gender neutral. There were no ideas or ideals about how a person should love; it was simply a natural act that occurred without judgment.
Without a negative stigma attached to being a Two Spirit, there were also no inner-tribal incidents of retaliation or violence toward the chosen people simply due to the fact they identified as the opposite or both genders. If anything; “Traditional Native Americans closely associate Two Spirited people with having a high functioning intellect (possibly from a life of self-questioning), keen artistic skills and an exceptional capacity for compassion,” writes Brayboy.
Once outside religious influences brought serious prejudice against “gender diversity,” openly alternative or androgynous people were forced into to one of two choices. They could either live in hiding, and in fear of being found out, or they could end their lives. Many of whom did just that.
Imagine a world where people allowed others to live freely as the people nature intended them to be, without harm, without persecution, without shame. Imagine a world where we are truly free.
This article originally appeared on Bipartisan Report. For further reading visit Indian Country Today.
