9 SIGNS YOU’RE HAVING A WELLNESS OVERDOSE

Paralyzed by Tarot-noia, astro dates, and constant cleanses? You might be having a wellness overdose, says Mercedes Kiss …

wellness overdose mercedes kiss ruby warrington the numinous material girl mystical world a stand out
Collage by the author

With planet of spiritual abundance, Jupiter, now in insatiable Scorpio, it could begin to feel like we’re caught up in a zodiac discotheque of wellness … knocking back the ‘booch and dusting all your friends in Astragalus to keep the party going strong.

But watch your step in those Bulletproof platforms, disco minx, because too many sips on this cosmic mix could tip your Health Hustle into the Overdose Zone.

When it comes to wellness, here are 9 ways to tell you’ve gone from “Hot Stuff” to “Le Freak” …

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1// You intro yourself as an 80/20-Intermittent-Fasting-Lacto-Keto-Paleo-Vego-Juicing-(Nutso)
What started as a simple way to alert restaurants of your dietary preference has ballooned into a multi-hyphened food-entity.

The labels began as a way to help you to become THE BEST YOU. The problem is, so many of life’s glories—adventure, experimentation, spontaneity, surrender—require busting through those Bulletproof walls.

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2// You’re stuck in analysis paralysis
You went to the drugstore for eye drops.  After sitting on the itchy carpet comparing ingredients lists for 45 minutes, and diving deep into online review forums, you ultimately leave empty-handed (deeming it utterly irresponsible to put such chemically-laden toxic waste on your precious peepers).

When every purchase has become a debilitating tug-of-war between this-or-that-or-DIY, I dare you to just pick something by the count of three. If you hate it you can return it … but, babe, your free time isn’t meant to be spent under nasty drugstore fluorescents.

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3// You’re so “cleansed,” your digestive tract sparkles brighter than Martha Stewart’s silver
Yes Martha is the original #girlboss and nearly everything she does is “a good thing.” But constant cleansing is not.

I certainly champion for a diet loaded with green leafy veg, where snacks aren’t shackled in crinkly plastic bags. But adopting the philosophy that certain foods are “clean” and others “dirty” can make a mess of both mind and body. The stress we place on ourselves for crushing that WHOLE movie theater box of Sour Patch Kids can be just as gnarly to our overall health as its nutrient (non)density or caloric hit.

wellness overdose mercedes kiss ruby warrington the numinous material girl mystical world a stand out
Collage by the author

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4// D stands for Detox, Dharma, Dulse … and Debt
After a recent super-natural shopping spree of powdered adaptogens, a highly-touted jade yoni egg, and a year’s supply of organic Jojoba oil, I crashed down with an ego-breaking thud when I checked my bank account.

Take a lesson from a gal who’s been there: all the green products in the world aren’t worth finding your finances in the red.

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5// E stands for Exercise … but also Exhaustion and Escape
I love running for long stretches out in nature with fabulous company … like Blondie or Donna Summer’s greatest hits! But I knew I needed to ask myself why I was craving those daily 2-hour jaunts when no amount of sleep left me feeling rested and I was procrastinating on other obligations.

The warning signs were obvious but I pushed to the physical and emotional breaking point before admitting, “I’m a savage for sweat who’s literally running away from reality.”

So sure, go after the high. But listen to your body’s wisdom and keep your intentions honest.

wellness overdose mercedes kiss ruby warrington the numinous material girl mystical world a stand out
Collage by the author

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6// You have more dates with your colon-hydrotherapist than with your lover
Or your acupuncturist/Reiki Master/cryo chamber, and your best-friend/sister/mom …

Checking in with your tribe can bring tremendous satisfaction and healing all its own. The relief sought from your bevy of external therapies could mask other areas of life, and the relationships that really count, being swept under the rug.

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7// The stars. Must. Align
Your astrology newsletter said the 1st would be a “compromised day for business relationships,” so you called in sick to work. The 14th is forecasted to be lucky for romance, so you triple booked Tinder dates (swipe right! – swipe right! – swipe right!).

The zodiac is many things: magical, intriguing, guiding, telling. But it is not a guarantee. We might be handed a roadmap with highlighted routes, but it’s up to us to fill up the tank and drive responsibly.

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8// You’ve turned into “Sage On The Stage”
You find yourself in a social situation (a catchup over hemp milk lattes or dinner at that new “farm-to-upcycled-tablecloths” joint), and suddenly you morph into Gwyneth Paltrow meets Tony Robbins meets Anderson Cooper.

Sharing your wellness wisdom is a noble cause. Just remember, Your Highness of Health, that friends are equals and not a paying audience. They want to hang with you, not necessarily your monologue on ceremonial Matcha.

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Collage by the author

9// “Wellness” just isn’t juicy enough
Do you ever say a word so many times that it loses all meaning? It dissolves into syllables, then elemental sounds, then POOF! It’s gone.

Wellness is, well, one thing … and it doesn’t get to the heart of all we sumptuous creatures crave. With expansive Jupiter stoking our transformational fires through November 3 2018, how about we also go after GREAT-ness? FIERCE-ness? Some Scorpio SEXI-ness? When it comes to disco-diva FABULOUS-ness, I’ll take a strong hit everyday.

Mercedes Kiss is a Boston-based designer, writer, and holistic health coach. After rocking her 20s as an architect of fancy buildings, she jumped tracks and became an architect of the soul. Follow her on Instagram and discover more about A STAND OUT, her sparkly biz devoted to serving a growing tribe of babes through high-vibe articles, personalized wellness coaching, and a line of hand-crafted organic skincare. 

HOW TO DEAL WHEN YOU GET YOUR DREAM JOB … AND YOU HATE IT

What do you do when your “dream job” turns out to be a nightmare? Jamie Graber tells Ruby Warrington how she finally realized it was okay to just walk away …

Jamie Graber life coach The Numinous

When Jamie Graber launched Gingersnaps Organic, the NYC restaurant and juice bar that became a favorite of raw foodies, celebrities and media alike, it felt like her dharma. Born and raised in NY, she felt it was working for Rawvolution on the West Coast that had helped her heal from a collage eating disorder, and finally develop a healthy relationship with food. Now she was helping others learn about the healing joy of food, too.

As a venue for regular high-vibe events (like Jamie’s weekly salons on the teachings from A Course in Miracles), her business also became a place to curate a community of like-minded seekers, while a move to a chichi West Village location in 2015 sent the signal that business was booming. A book, Juice It, Blend It, Live It, published later that year, cemented Jamie’s position as a leading figurehead of New York’s healthy eating scene.

So when she made the snap decision to shut up shop this summer, friends and industry figures alike were left reeling. What business disaster or personal tragedy could be behind her sudden move?

In reality, it had been a long time coming—even if Jamie herself didn’t see it. On the surface, she had built a life and a career that looked like a dream come true. Behind the scenes however, the relentless daily grind of managing a restaurant business had left her strung out, back in her eating disorder, and feeling like a prisoner in her own life. And yet, “I never even entertained the idea that I could just walk away.”

Sitting down to chat about her transition to a full-time coaching business this fall, she told me how: “part of the problem was that Gingersnaps had become my identity. Closing it would mean starting over, on every level.” Because where do you go, when the career you thought was everything you wanted, turns out to be the opposite?

Jamie Graber life coach The Numinous Gingersnaps Organic
Outside Gingersnaps West Village location

I found myself asking this question before I left my “dream job” on the Sunday Times Style magazine in the UK. And I’ve also found myself asking it since creating The Numinous, at times when my passion project has begun to feel more like a ball and chain. My point being that co-creating (with the Universe) a career that truly lights you up is a constant work in progress. Not to mention a privilege that deserves your full commitment.

As our own lives and needs shift, so will the work we find inspiring. And as we grow and develop as individuals, so will what we have to offer. When it comes to our profession, this will likely require multiple course-corrections as we seek to stay true to our path—even if it means “giving up” things we feel we’ve worked so hard for.

For anybody facing a similar career-crisis, Jamie’s story brings up several key areas for some honest self-enquiry. Read on if you’re ready to quit hitting snooze on living the life of your dreams—you owe it to yourself and those you seek to serve …

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QUESTION: DOES MY WORK MAKE ME FEEL POWERFUL?
“Looking back, I can see how I created a business where I wasn’t feeling powerful, because I didn’t actually want to be making food. Could I make the food? Absolutely. But I am not a chef. I’m amazing at tonics, I’m amazing at smoothies. But what people wanted to order at my restaurant was not necessarily that. What Gingersnaps was known for was not really what I wanted to be doing.”

QUESTION: IS WORK STRESS HAVING A KNOCK-ON EFFECT ON MY HEALTH?
“And then the eating stuff came back. In 2016 I had a book out, and it was all juices and smoothies. Writing it meant I gave myself the excuse to go on all liquids, because I had to recipe test. That summer, that is all I had. I probably lost 20 lbs. Eating disorders are all about control, and I felt completely out of control at Gingersnaps. So I chose to control my diet instead.”

QUESTION: WHO IS YOUR ‘SEEING IS BELIEVING’?
“I met my coach, Lacy Phillips from Free and Native, at a lecture. She wasn’t all sparkles. She talked a little bit about the darkness, and I liked that. In our first session, she asked me, ‘Who is your seeing is believing?’ And I told her ‘No-one.’ She asked again, ‘So you don’t see anyone doing what you’re doing that you can aspire to be like? Amanda from Moon Juice? Marcus from Juice Press?’ Again, I told her, ‘No.’ I realized that what I was doing did not exist as my dream job.”

QUESTION: WHAT IS IT THAT TRULY LIGHTS ME UP?
“So I wrote a list. What is it that lights me up? What is it that makes me happy? And then I wrote another list of the things I was doing every day. And it became very, very clear to me, that these were two completely different lists. That even in my best-case scenario, even on my very best days at Gingersnaps, this was still was not it. When Lacy asked me, ‘so what if Gingersnaps is not it?’ I realized for the first time I could actually just walk away. It felt like a 50lb weight had been lifted from my chest.”

Jamie Graber life coach The Numinous

QUESTION: WHAT IF IT WASN’T ABOUT THE MONEY?
“When I told my landlord, he offered me a 50 per cent rent reduction for six months. For a restaurant in New York’s West Village, that is a substantial amount of money! I could have taken this as a sign to stay, but actually it meant nothing to me, because it wasn’t about the money. I realized I wasn’t doing it for the money—and that wasn’t even important to me. It was when it became a really solid no.”

QUESTION: ARE YOU IN IT FOR YOUR EGO?
“Part of the problem was, Gingersnaps had become my identity. Lots of celebrities were doing our cleanses, and as the owner of Gingersnaps I got invited to everything, you know? I was going to have to deal with the fact that I would have to start over, in a sense. I had to really wrap my head around the idea that I no longer had an answer to, ‘so, what do you do?’”

QUESTION: WHAT DO I LOVE ABOUT MY CURRENT JOB?
“One thing I did enjoy on list of daily tasks, was talking to the customers. It would wind up coaching them, and I loved seeing the change I could have on people. That I could get them to see things differently. Ironically, food was rarely part of those conversations. I think what I really wanted was a community, and a learning space. After all, I was a philosophy major at college. Clearly, this was where I was supposed to be going.”

QUESTION: WHAT WORK DOESN’T FEEL LIKE WORK TO ME?
“I actually have a lot of guilt now, because the work I do doesn’t feel like work. We live in this paradigm where work and play are separate, which reinforces the subconscious belief that we’re not supposed to ‘enjoy’ our work. My husband reminds me that the fact my work no longer feels like work is because I’ve finally aligned with what I’m supposed to be doing. And I think that’s so important. Really recognizing that our work can absolutely be something we truly love to do.”

A Certified Reiki Healer, Certified Yoga instructor, Gabrielle Bernstein Spirit Junkie Coach and Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN) graduate, Jamie now works with clients on a one-to-one basis. Discover more about her and her work at Organicallyjamie.com.

SCORPIO SEASON 2017: HEALING FOR YOUR LILITH SIGN

Scorpio season 2017 invites us to dive deep into the shadows, so that we can emerge reborn, says Bess Matassa … PLUS primal thrill-seeking for your Lilith sign.

Scorpio Season 2017 Kai Weissenfeld Bess Matassa The Numinous bondage fashion
Image: Kai Weissenfeld

Welcome to the jungle, carnal starlets. The zodiac’s bestial baroness pulls no punches and takes no prisoners as she brings us down to our knees and into the heart of blood, sweat, and tear-drenched magic.

This muscular mami wants you to feel every last sensation as you gnaw the sweet meat right off the bare bones. The unexpected treasure, primal thrill-seekers? When we smoke it out of the closet and burn it all the way down, we’re left with rock solid, gold-soaked selfhood that can never be taken from us.

So go hard. Go deep. And let it bring you on home. Get down and dirty and wash it crystal clean of apologies and shame. It’s all a part of it and it’s all a part of you. Lust after it. Long for it. And know that you can survive every last loss and learn to long for it all again.

Your love is deeper than the ocean and you’re ready to shake it all the way down to the molten-hot core …

The keyword: Intensity.

The song lyrics: “Welcome to the jungle/You learn to live like an animal in the jungle where we play/Watch it bring you to your sha na na na na knees, knees”—Guns N’ Roses, Welcome to the Jungle

Check out Bess’ Scorpio Season 2017 playlist, complete with erotic rockers, carnal crooning, and night movers & shakers.

Saint Laurent AW17 Scorpio Season Bess Matassa The Numinous
Saint Laurent AW17

The color palette: unearthed geodes and glow-in-the-dark noir. Blood rubies, neon magentas, black vinyl, and liquid gold.

The style: Miami Vice meets the Roman bacchanal. Think sweat-drenched skin, waterproof bodysuits, strong shoulders, serpentine bracelets, and thigh-high, razor-sharp boots.

scorpio season 2017

The scents and flavors: midnight snacks and deep-diving treats: carpaccio, ghost chili, indolic fragrances, rock candy, and smoked everything.

The healing: harder, deeper, longer. Tantric sex, scuba diving, escape room adventures, blindfolded hide-and-go-seek, shibari bondage, and strength training.

bondage fashion scorpio season 2017 The Numinous Bess Matassa
Image: Nicolas Guerin

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Sensuous Invitation of the Month: Primal Thrills for Your Lilith Sign
Although traditionally ruled by lord of the underworld, Pluto, Scorpio shares a deep affinity with the full-throttle passions of lusty Lilith. This shadowy woman harnesses her harlotry to probe the potency of animalism and the so-called forbidden.

While we sometimes shy away from bringing the “drama,” this season asks us to step directly into the wrestling ring and to fire up our operatic vocal chords, because a life worth living is worth living down to the bone. So belly up to the bar and take a bite out of everything with a primal sensation built for your sign …

New to astrology? Discover your Lilith sign HERE.

Lilith in Aries
Scorpio season invites you to hone your fighting skills to battle for your deepest desires. Primal Thrill: Power up with the badass maneuvers of Mixed Martial Arts.

Lilith in Taurus
Scorpio season invites you to sit with the less comfortable sensations and let the dirty work transform you. Primal Thrill: Dive into the torrid, exfoliating sensations of a sweat lodge.

Lilith in Gemini.
Scorpio season invites you to reveal the messier pieces of your story as you sing your fullest, most carnal song. Primal Thrill: Celebrate beastly revelations with mix & match animal prints.

Lilith in Cancer
Scorpio season invites you to enter another’s emotional landscape with both curiosity and appropriate boundaries. Primal Thrill: Penetrate the corners of human consciousness with a psychological thriller.

Lilith in Leo
Scorpio season invites you to mix your poptastic penchant for sun-kissed optimism with some darker explorations. Primal Thrill: Collide with the highs and lows of experience-rich opera tunes.

Lilith in Virgo
Scorpio season invites you to play with stepping away from towing the line as you expose the full range of your capabilities for the world to witness. Primal Thrill: Revel in both the painstaking behind-the-scenes detail and embodied empowerment of tattoo art.

Lilith in Libra
Scorpio season invites you to take your partnerships even deeper as you risk the harder aspects of intimacy. Primal Thrill: Take a loving leap with high-flying sky diving.

Lilith in Scorpio
Scorpio season invites you to explore your urge to possess, and let ungripping become your sexiest form of self-expression. Primal Thrill: Bare it all and tenderize your trust issues with Shibari bondage.

Lilith in Sagittarius
Scorpio season invites you to adventurously probe your inner emotional landscapes. Primal Thrill: Saddle up for wild rides with a Dallas-rodeo-style mechanical bull.

Lilith in Capricorn
Scorpio season invites you to let it go and let it flow as you sample new flavors of power that come from surrender. Primal Thrill: Settle into the rollicking sensation of releasing the wheel with an upside-down rollercoaster ride.

Lilith in Aquarius
Scorpio season invites you to mix your intellectuaism with some carnality as you let your freak flag fly. Primal Thrill: Feast on the communal strangeness of Burning Man-style gatherings.

Lilith in Pisces
Scorpio season invites you to recommit to holding every last sensation tenderly, without your empathy becoming a liability. Primal Thrill: Let yourself get carried by the crowd at a heavy metal concert.

Bess is available for private readings and astro-themed events. Connect with her at Mojaverising.com

THE 2017 LIBRA NEW MOON WANTS YOU TO LIGHT IT UP

The 2017 Libra New Moon asks us to clarify our awareness, witness what’s out of balance, and let ourselves fully see the illuminated path towards change, says Sandra Sitron.

sandra sitron ruby warrington 2017 libra new moon strongeye astrology the numinous material girl mystical world jon hernandez moon club
Photo: Jon Hernandez

New Moon :: October 19 2017 :: 3:12pm EST :: 26 degrees Libra

Crimson, vermillion, and pale pink. A flamingo stands in a marsh, deftly balanced on one leg. Soon, the bird dozes off, nestling into flame-colored feathers, becoming even more balanced as consciousness fades to sleep …

This Libra New Moon is a balancing act. As the only sign of the zodiac that is a machine (not an animal or person), Libra shows that when the scales are equally weighted, harmonious stillness is the automatic result.

In the focused silence of this moon, we find out what areas of our lives need calibration. The relationships that are off-kilter. The life areas that may spiral out of control if left untended.

This process may feel overwhelming. So slow it down for a second. Take a deep breath of relief. This New Moon is not trying to add another thing to your to-do list. This New Moon does not need you to “get it together.”

For those of us who are always working hard to stay balanced, this might seem strange. It’s the paradox of this New Moon, especially when the Moon’s opposition to Uranus, the Great Awakener, shows us where harmonious stillness does not abound.

But watch the flamingoes. Curiously, the birds are more secure in their stance when they are balanced on one leg. It’s a more stable position! The act of balancing requires less effort.

While balancing might seem like more work, once you have achieved it, everything becomes easier … 

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New Moon opposite Uranus
A million leaves fall from the trees, dancing yellow shapes fluttering through the air.
The clear outlines of the trees are revealed in the autumn, the season of reflection and processing. Reflection results in clarity. Why do we need to have clarity now? Why can’t we continue in the dark?

Moon opposite Uranus tells us that there is no more time to not see. This is the time to break open into awareness. What needs to come into balance? What needs to change in the old systems? What are we ready to revolutionize?

Anything out of balance must fall away.

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New Moon inconjunct Chiron
Peeling back the layers of the onion.
The revolution isn’t going to happen without digging up the old wounds. This aspect isn’t easy but hop to it anyway.

Let yourself be ready for change. Let yourself be ready for balance. Remember that you are on a journey and this is one phase. This is another moment to peel back the onion of personal and collective healing. Don’t stop now. The old way is no longer comfortable.

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New Moon conjunct Mercury and Jupiter
A visit to the oracle.
Mercury is clarity and Jupiter is assistance. We are cosmically supported in our revolution towards greater balance and harmony.

Ask yourself, “What do I need to see that I’m not seeing?” If you have to face buried feelings, thoughts, and patterns that are holding you back from effortless balance, summon Jupiter’s support.

Engage in self-care practices like meditation, yoga, breathwork, EFT (tapping), self-hypnosis, art-making, journaling, and connecting with supportive advisors and friends.

Jupiter is bringing in boundless energetic support, so meet him halfway!

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The study questions below are to help you get deeper into what the 2017 Libra New Moon means for you. Use them as journal prompts. For the most accurate reading, look to which house holds 26 degrees Libra in your chart and use the question for that house. 

Aries or New Moon in the 7th house 
How can you be more giving AND ask for what you need in your relationships?

Taurus or New Moon in the 6th house
What is a quick and easy change you can make to create more balance in your health?

Gemini or New Moon in the 5th house 
If you could take a reading of your personal “laughter meter,” would it be Low, Medium, or High? If it’s too low, what can you do to bring more joy into your life?

Cancer or New Moon in the 4th house 
Imagine your most supportive friend. What insight would they give you about an issue in your life?

Leo or New Moon in the 3rd house 
Curiouser and curiouser. How can you be more intentionally curious? Instead of going down the internet rabbit hole of unintentional clicks, how can you actively learn in a way that is invigorating?

Virgo or New Moon in the 2nd house 
What affirmation will remind you that you are safe?

Libra or New Moon in the 1st house 
How does meditation help you find balance? What is the best form of meditation for you right now?

Scorpio or New Moon in the 12th house 
How can you practice connecting with your intuition this week?

Sagittarius or New Moon in the 11th house 
When was the last time you remember being very open to change? Is there something from that experience that can help you now?

Capricorn or New Moon in the 10th house 
What will it take for you to realize that your diligent work is amounting to something?

Aquarius or New Moon in the 9th house
What is your personal mission statement?

Pisces of New Moon in the 8th house 
What are you ready to clear from your life?

Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandra here.

MOONERS & SHAKERS: THE MOON CLUB MEMBER ROCKING THE MUSIC INDUSTRY

As the Weinstein scandal exposes deep-rooted sexism in the creative world, Moon Club member and electro pop maven Kaerhart is rocking the music industry with guts, intuition, and uncompromising vision … Photos by Jennica Mae. 

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Breaking up the “old boys club” to a brand new beat …
The Harvey Weinstein scandal has dug up a lot for me personally. I almost quit music entirely after a very traumatic experience and it breaks my heart to think that any other woman could be subjected to this.

One of my artistic project’s main objectives is to bring together talented women so we can collaborate, support one another, and use our voices to create communities where we feel safe and heard. I see a lot of communities like this forming in LA right now and it is truly amazing. The more we are bringing each other up, the more we are able to overcome the obstacles that a male-dominated industry presents.

As women increasingly fill high level positions in the industry, we will start to break down the ‘good ol boys club’ mentality and give way to a safer space where sexism has no place. 

kaerhart drain my love ruby warrington the numinous material girl mystical world moon club alexandra roxo mystic tribe

Letting the pain spill into art …
When I wrote my debut single, “Drain My Love,” I was in a really turbulent headspace. I had been suppressing my emotions, not wanting to face them, and pretending like everything was ok when it wasn’t.

With “Drain My Love,” I finally gave myself the permission to let go. I had felt emotionally ‘fucked up’ for so long and just needed to let it all spill out in order to heal the pain. My hope is that the song provokes others to do the same.

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“Making it” means trusting your gut …
I’m not sure if you ever really feel like you have “made it” as an artist. There’s always room to grow, other limits to push yourself towards, and new parts of yourself to explore and discover.

Everyone you meet, from producers, to A&Rs, to friends, and even your own parents, will have an opinion about the music you are making or the music they think you should be making. Your art and vision will be judged every which way regardless of what you create.

There have been times when I could have compromised who I was or my values in order to get ahead in the industry. But I always knew I had a purpose that was beyond just attaining success.

You have to listen to your own voice and go with your gut each and every time. As long as you can stand behind your work, regardless of what others think or say, that is ‘making it’ to me. 

kaerhart drain my love ruby warrington the numinous material girl mystical world moon club alexandra roxo mystic tribe

The Moon Club tribe …
Moon Club has really helped me to find my tribe- not just online but in Los Angeles as well. I have met some of my best friends and biggest supporters through this community.

And beyond the community itself, coming back to the ancient wisdom of flowing with the Moon’s cycles has helped me to deepen my spiritual practice and feel more in touch with my intuition and Mother Earth.

Kaerhart is an LA-based electro pop music artist, intuitive numerologist, and co-founder of the apparel brand Mystic Tribe. Check out her debut single “Drain My Love” on Spotify and Soundcloud, and follow her on Instagram. 

**Want to start your own revolution? As the New Moon cycle begins this week, sign up for Moon Club and join our tribe of cosmic change makers at Moonclub.co. 

WHY DANCING IS THE ULTIMATE WITCHY WORKOUT

In his latest column, resident fitness witch Russ Marshalek shares how to make your next dance party a witchy workout—whether you’re dancing solo or with friends …

Photo: George Bohunicky

Last weekend, the Scissor Sisters’ Ana Matronic threw a rave for hurricane relief with her activist group W.A.F.T (Witches Against Fascist Totalitarianism).

What are a bunch of witches doing throwing parties and DJing? While using the adjective “spiritual” to describe a dance party might seem cliche, sweaty, unconscious movement to raw primal beats IS a magical thing.

Dancing raises our energy, loosens inhibitions, connects the physical body with the earth, and creates a feeling of “in-between” where anything can happen and creation is limitless. And a great DJ commands a crowd and uses song selection to cast a spell.

As Alkistis Dimech of Sabbatic Dance told me in an interview on the New Jack Witch blog, “For me, [dance] is to do with crisis and transformation. I hurl myself into the unknown, I encounter the ‘other’ in my body. In this way I remember and invoke the witches, demoniacs, ecstatics, hysterics, whores, the mothers who came before me.”

Ultimately, it’s the alchemy of all of this—joy, pleasure, connection to body and spirit—that makes dancing the ultimate witchy workout. An act of spiritual rebellion. Particularly in these times when legislation on and regulation of the body, particularly the female body, is at an all-time dangerous high.

This is reflected in the “radical softness” movement that empowers sensitivity and the body, and in media like Brit Marling’s stunning reflection on dance as resistance on Netflix’s “The OA,” and in the canonical “body as a tool of magic” essay Forging The Body Of The Witch.

So if your dancing body can be a weapon of resistance—be it against that jealous witch in the corner or the modern fascist regime—how can you put it to work? Read on for the Numinous rules of rave …

Ana Matronic and friend at the W.A.F.T Witches Howl hurricane relief rave

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DANCING AT A PARTY

So you’re out dancing. This is the physical work, congrats! There are a few ways you can subtly alter your reality or tweak your consciousness to bring a ritualistic element to your night out.

1) When you first enter the venue, set your eyes on the dance floor/dance area. Imagine it being circled in a ring of white light, ideally one white candle at a time encircling the dance floor. Guess what? You’ve just done a moonshine version of casting a circle! Expect to feel more protected and in control of your dancing body from just from this simple act. (If you can, on your way out, imagine the lights going out one at a time, or fading away.)

2) At the start of the night/party, set an intention, however major or minor, for something you’d like to achieve relatively soon. This could be as simple as finding your favorite flavor of seltzer at the store tomorrow, or more complex, like getting a new job. As you dance, imagine all your movements infusing  that goal with positive energy, grounding it in the here and now.

3) Close your eyes. No, really, close your eyes. Allow yourself to merge with the beat of the music and become one with it. This is harder than you think, and a rapture that seasoned ravers have come to treasure as a way to touch the ekstatik (which, coincidentally, is also the name of the next New Jack Witch dance party!)

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DANCING ON YOUR OWN

1) If you live by yourself, great. If not, kick everyone out for the night, or shut yourself in your room. Take off your clothes. Turn off the lights. Sit with yourself for a moment. Think of something you need release: a care, a concern, a shitty thing your boss said, a voice inside your head saying heinous shit about yourself. Meditate on this for a moment, and recall how it made you feel. With this in your mind, say aloud “Do. Not. Need”. Believe it and feel it in your core.

2) Now, feel your feet touching the floor, whatever that surface is for you. Let yourself feel your feet, the ground, your spine, your body. Take one or two slow forward folds. Then, with your intention firmly set to rid your body of whatever needs to get the fuck out, crank up some music and let your body move. To paraphrase Twin Peaks’ Agent Cooper, don’t plan it, don’t overthink it, just do it, allowing the music to flow through you and your body in whatever ways feel right in the moment. Allow any emotions that surface to pass, acknowledging them but not dwelling on any feeling overlong.

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CHOOSING YOUR MUSIC AND YOUR MOVES

Depending what you need and how you’re feeling, one song might be perfect, or nowhere near enough. I’ve chosen 4 songs, one for each element, as a guide …

For instance, for Earth, try rolling around on the ground. For air, make wispy moves. Fire can be big, bold leaps, suited to the drum beats of the track chosen here, and water should be fluid, rolling your shoulders and limbs like a stream (but not necessarily gentle).

Air: Sky H1, “Huit”—think wispy moves and swirling shapes.

Water: Apollo 440, “Liquid Cool” —get fluid, rolling your shoulders and limbs like a stream.

Fire: A place both wonderful and strange, “Hex and the City”—go for some big, bold leaps.

Earth: Corbin, ICE BOY—try rolling around on the ground.

Again, these are just suggestions. Ultimately, this is about you and your body, and what it needs and wants to express. When you’re done moving, sit quietly with yourself for a moment, and offer up a silent thank you to the Gods, Goddesses, and spirits guides that have been your silent dance partners.

HOW THE PATRIARCHY MADE YOU FEAR FRIDAY 13TH—AKA “GODDESS DAY”

In the Goddess calendar, Friday 13th is the luckiest day of the year. Lucy North shares 10 simple rituals to reclaim the power of this sacred date with the Divine Feminine …

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Photo: Pansy 

One of the biggest “cosmic jokes” the patriarchal system has pulled on the Divine Feminine is the demonization of the number thirteen. Skipped in airplanes and hotels the world over, it’s become the scariest number within mass consciousness.

Possible justification for this comes from speculative claims that both The Last Supper and the Crucifixion allegedly happened on Friday 13th. But the patriarchy has always had it in for Friday 13th—and this is likely a cover up for something that runs much deeper.

Not only did the number 13 happen to be the luckiest number in the Goddess calendar, Friday 13th was the luckiest day of the year!

In Pagan times, the year was not divided into 12 months but 13. The new month began every 28 days, in accordance with a woman’s menstrual cycle and the New Moon. This was the Goddess calendar. Then the church got involved and … “rejigged” things. Looking to move power away from the Divine Feminine, it added two or three days onto each month and got rid of the 13th month.

February is the one month of the year that still only has 28 days, and this is out of respect to our original Girl Friday: Freyja, the Pagan Goddess of erotic love. Yes, Fri-day is also named after her (hello, date night!) So, this Friday 13th, let’s reunite with our Goddess roots—and honor this sacred day with some of the following rituals …

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1. Invoke the vibrant confidence and freedom of Freyja and smile at 13 women who you wouldn’t normally smile at or acknowledge.

2. How about doing something really wild—and going to bed really early! Freyja was instinctively connected to the rhythms of our planet, as all Goddesses are at heart. Being completely in sync with the earth, let’s go to sleep at sunset and get up at sunrise. For new Yorkers, this currently means tucking up at 6.20pm—and getting up at 7.30am. (Tip: Do this for one week and watch your life change. Your soul will love it.)

3. Patriarchal religions have drummed it into women that the only archetypes available to us are “virgin”, “whore”, “wife” and “mother.” No more! Write a small list on four pieces of paper under each of these archetypes. Now write out some of the emotional words associated with being or not “achieving” this archetype. Burn the paper.

4. Freyja’s nickname was Frigg—still a term for female self-pleasuring in the UK. There is actually a name for the fear of Friday 13th—”friggatriskaidekaphobia.” It has Freyja’s nickname in it, so the fear of this day is directly linked to a fear of women pleasuring themselves! So, let’s write this word out on a piece of paper—and burn that too.

Author Lucy North in Goddess mode …

5. It’s only patriarchal religions that have associated virginity with purity. In Freyja’s day, virgins were seen as dangerously vibrant—ready to burst forward with forthcoming sexual energy. If there has ever been a day dedicated to sacred self-love, a Kundalini wake up call, or divine sexual union, this is it.

6. After today, our next Friday 13th will be in April 2018. In tune with the seasons, dedicate a moment today to thinking of something that you want to incubate and work on over the next six months. It might be a new project, a new way of thinking, or a life goal. Put in place a plan for how this can come to fruition, in time for April’s Friday 13th—when Freyja’s energy will be rising with the vibrant reawakening of Spring!

7. The number 13 was also the number of witches in a coven. Text 12 of your friends—and wish them a Happy Goddess Day!

8. Take a moment to take 13 deep breaths. With each in breath, breathe in the positive energy you wish to receive on each of the next 13 lunar cycles. Allow the out breath to represent the releasing of all that is no longer serving you. Like the tides of the ocean that come in and out of the shore, allow your breath to rise and fall like waves. Be at one with the rhythms of the moon, the ocean and your own divinity.

9. Many of the flowers dedicated to Freyja within Pagan folklore are not in season right now. But google-search images of snowdrops, Cowslips, Wild Daisies, and other flowers, such as the Harlequin-bonnet Columbine and the Scarlet Pimpernel, and you’re good to go! Send a quick sketch or drawing of one of these flowers as a gift to a male friend or colleague, your partner, your son – or a friend’s little boy. The celebration of Friday 13th is not just for women—it’s for ALL genders! And drawing and painting is a fantastic meditation practice. Even is it’s a doodle on your iPad!

10. Freyja’s sacred tree was the Linden Tree (known as the Lime in the UK). If you have one near you, this weekend is definitely the time to go pay it a visit and give it a hug!

Lucy North is a writer, meditation teacher, and artist. She will be running a Women Who Run With The Wolves healing circle on tomorrow evening (Saturday October 14th) at Maha Rose in Greenpoint Brooklyn. Click HERE to reserve your spot.

NUMINOUS TAROTSCOPE OCTOBER 12 2017: THE EMPRESS

The Empress card wants us to get grounded, get sensual, and to settle into receiving, says Lindsay Mack …

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 CANCER WANING QUARTER MOON WANTS YOU TO TAKE A STAND

The 2017 Cancer Waning Quarter Moon asks us to tap into our intuition, activate our inner warrior, and fight for our right to come back home to ourselves, says Jennifer Racioppi …

2017 cancer waning quarter moon jennifer racioppi ruby warrington the numinous material girl mystical world
Art: Seana Gavin

Waning Quarter Moon :: October 12 2017 :: 8:25am EST :: 19 degrees Cancer 

As the Moon makes her way back towards new again, the waning period is a time to let go, release what’s no longer working, and tap into your subconscious spiritual needs.

This particular Cancer Waning Quarter Moon occurs just days after Jupiter, the most massive planet in the solar system, moves from Libra into Scorpio, where he’ll stay until November 2018.

Jupiter in Scorpio assists with psychological and subconscious excavations, while Cancer is the sign ruling our subconscious emotional body. This is a week to allow yourself to feel all the feels. And then to use this Waning Quarter Moon to listen to your intuitive voice, and stand up for yourself and your heart’s desires!

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:: The Moon ::
With the Moon in sensitive Cancer, now’s the time to come home to yourself, make peace with your emotions, and build internal security.

However, as the Moon opposes Pluto in Capricorn and squares the Sun in Libra, this process might feel tinged with anxiety. How to work with this energy? Read on …

:: The Sun ::
As the Sun sextiles the North Node in Leo, you are being supported to rise into the highest calling of your life. NBD, right?! With the Sun squaring both the Moon and Pluto, the path doesn’t feel straightforward. It might even feel contentious …

The solution? Remember that this is all cardinal energy, which initiates action, so don’t be shy! Despite the Sun being in peaceful Libra, it’s essential that you act right now in alignment with your own needs, and not of those of others.

:: The Square ::
The Sun/Moon square is helping you get clear about what needs to be released before the October 19 Libra New Moon.

Because of the Cardinal T-Square in the sky (involving the 3 cardinal signs of Libra, Capricorn, and Cancer) we can look to the 4th “missing” sign for answers: Aries encourages active movement and courageous leadership, so use these qualities to support you as you work with this contentious energy.

:: The Message ::
To deliver on the promise of this Cancer Waning Quarter Moon to come home to yourself, you must activate the Aries within. Call forth your inner warrior. Use this exercise of powering up to release any tension in your body.

Don’t be afraid to take a stand. On this Cardinal Waning Quarter Moon, you must!

For more Moon wisdom or to book a coaching session with Jennifer visit Jenniferracioppi.com. And to learn more about how to work with each Moon phase, check out Moon Club, our community of lunar-loving cosmic change makers! 

YOUR TOTAL GUIDE TO JUPITER IN SCORPIO 2017-2018

Ready yourself for some intense deep dives, intimate collisions, and necessary transformations. Numi resident astro babes Danielle Paige, Rebecca Farrar, Frederick Steinmann, Jennifer Racioppi, and Bess Matassa help you navigate the 2017-2018 Jupiter in Scorpio cycle … Photos by Tejal Patni

jupiter in scorpio 2017 2018 danielle paige frederick steinmann jennifer racioppi rebecca farrar bess matassa mojave rising ruby warrington the numinous material girl mystical world tejal patni
October 10, 2017 :: Jupiter enters Scorpio :: 9:20am ET
November 8, 2018 :: Jupiter enters Sagittarius :: 7:38am ET

Danielle Paige
“Get out your scuba gear …” 

It’s time to take soul contracts to another level! Jupiter’s transit through Libra set the stage with relationship 101 and now you’re ready to get out your scuba gear and go deep into the heart of your inner truth … Scorpio lives to feel total intimacy with another soul, but it’s only when we develop intimacy within ourselves that we can reach this with another.

Jupiter’s grand plan to expand wants to search and discover all that it can. As such, half of this energy is yearning to open with no limits, while the other is focused diving deeper and deeper within. It’s within this polarity that passion is born … 

This transit will help us expand (Jupiter) to where our heart’s deepest desires align with our soul path (Scorpio). Because both Jupiter and Scorpio can be prone to excess at times (both like to devour in different ways), as the transit increases into 2018 you may feel an overwhelming internal need to investigate until you are blue in the face.

This will be a real test of balance, between going deep and uncovering the rhythm of your journey, yet not getting lost in the stories. As you plunge into unconscious territory, there is no beginning and no end.

It will be up to you and your boundaries to “know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em, and know when to walk away.” 

To find out more about how this will play out in your personal birth chart and to dive deeper into your soul contract, connect with Danielle on Instagram, her website, and in her private Facebook group for women.

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Rebecca Farrar
“Birth truth from the shadows …” 

This planetary shift offers us an opportunity to truly explore our darkness and the places we prefer to hold in the shadows, both collectively and personally. Scorpio asks us to dive deep into our psyche and our soul, and Jupiter asks us to use these deep dives to propel us towards an ideal society.

It’s time to birth a new moral stance on society’s power struggles. My hope is that we can use this cycle to empower all levels of society by fully acknowledging our shadow and the damage overconsumption has caused our planet, considering universal income, and envisioning a version of society that uplifts oppressed populations.

For more cosmic musings, check out the “Wild Witch of the West” on Instagram and Facebook. 

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Jennifer Racioppi
“Extra-strength orgasms & subterranean healing … “

As the largest planet in the solar system travels through sexy Scorpio, get ready to bring your libido up a notch, reveal secrets, and touch on taboo topics.

While this will be particularly strong for Scorpio Suns, Moons, and Rising signs, no matter what your astrological makeup it’s time to embrace the depth this transit offers and come out on top.

While traveling through Scorpio, Jupiter will make a luscious trine of manifestation to Neptune, supporting gains in our spiritual practices and psychological explorations. This may manifest in the increased popularity of medicinal plant-based ceremonies—yet remain mindful of addiction, this is not the time to flirt with substance abuse of any kind.

As Jupiter aspects Pluto in Capricorn on January 15, we’ll have the tenacity to go the distance on behalf of our dreams. And later in the cycle on November 1st, the planet will encounter wounded healer Chiron in a supportive angle of manifestation.

Get ready for some subterranean healing!

For more Moon wisdom or to book a coaching session with Jennifer visit Jenniferracioppi.com

jupiter in scorpio 2017 2018 danielle paige frederick steinmann jennifer racioppi rebecca farrar bess matassa mojave rising ruby warrington the numinous material girl mystical world tejal patni

Frederick Steinmann
“Learning to live with the art of dying …” 

By definition, growth is uncomfortable. Like plants, we have to internally or externally fight against gravity in order to break out of the ground. If we can focus on becoming a flower, we have the opportunity to harness Jupiter in Scorpio’s beneficial expansion.

With Scorpio, every transformation necessitates a death or sacrifice. If we sacrifice what is no longer needed, we can create space for something new to grow. It’s time to choose what you throw into the fire and open yourself to regeneration.

On a broader scale, as Jupiter aspects the U.S. birth chart around November 8th, there could be the opportunity for elected officials to break out of the political deadlock and do what is truly best for the country.

As Scorpio also has to do with investments, this cycle could also bring opportunities for entrepreneurs and inventors.

Sacrifice is not always feel easy, but it may feel more optimistic during this time. And if we align ourselves with higher principles and ideals we can be assured a glorious rebirth. This journey will allow us to receive more creativity, more magnetism, and more opportunities to help other people through their death and rebirth process.

Discover more about Frederick Steinmann’s practice HERE, and check out his Youtube channel. 

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Bess Matassa
“How deep is your love?”

It’s flower food season, cosmic botanists, and Jupiter in Scorpio wants you to dig your hands all the way down into the rich, dark chocolate earth and fully feast on the cycles of longing for, having, losing, and learning to love once again … 

Scorpio’s flavor of water energy is the liquid that calcifies into ice castles and amber-encrusted possessions. Yet this “fixed” sign’s highest octave of expression is the willingness to ungrip, open our palms, and let intimate collisions with our most intense desires melt us down into pure gold.

Infused with Jupiter’s swirling nomadic desert energy of freewheeling expansion, it’s a moment to take whatever you’ve been squeezing your heart around out into the high noon sun and finally let it thaw. Let it saturate the parched earth, and feed the juicy fruit salad and riotous tropical blooms that are yet to come. Know that you can absolutely handle the seasons of your life. 

Jupiter in Scorpio Mantra: “When I plunge directly into my longing, my passion purifies me.”
Theme Song: Pat Benatar’s Shadows of the Night 
Style: Bond girl meets 90s club kid. Think bronze bangles, plunging necklines, cat eyes, and luxe loungewear mixed with the Spice Girls’ ecstasy of sky-high platforms, feather boas, and neon animal prints.
Flavors: Midnight snacks and challenging sweets like rock candies, gemstone colored jello, and tasty leftovers revealed in the glow of the fridge.

Want more juicy cosmic insights and sensory explorations? Arrange an astrology reading or private event with Bess here and follow her on Instagram. 

HOLY F*CK: DATE NIGHT AS SPIRITUAL PRACTICE

While our solo work is oh so vital, Alexandra Roxo tells us that colliding with another can take us even further. Date night can even become your soul’s mirror …

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Whether you’re in partnership or single, when you’re able to clean the dirt of old stories and receive your truth, you can let your relationships be a clear mirror for your soul.

And a date is a perfect way to see where you are on your journey on any given day, in any given moment …

It can be with your husband. A stranger. A boyfriend or girlfriend. If you walk in with intention and clarity, you can see how much you are accepting all of yourself: where you are tight and holding, where you are closed, where you have grown. Treat it like a ritual. A ceremony.

Whatever stories cloud your mirror, here’s how to start to scrubbing and seeing yourself without the scar tissue, warning labels, and caution signs …

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3 DATES + A HOMECOMING 
After some soul searching and radical up-leveling at Burning Man, I returned to L.A. and decided to hop back into the dating scene to see what I attracted …

Date 1: Sacred Sluts & Shadow Work
My first mirror was a director, Reiki healer, and angel speaker, who told me stories of BDSM clubs in Europe, had erotic poetry on the walls, was kinda Goth, had been to Burning Man, and fed me banana pudding.

I was staring at a mirror of an old version of self, the hipster meets healer meets artist who likes to party but talks to Angels. But the difference was that this man was accepting ALL these parts of himself, especially his kinky side. Though I am happy the “hipster me” was put to rest, colliding with him made me realize that I was still struggling to mix my BDSM side with my Mother Mary side, my Goth side with my sacred side.

I left the date, cried for two days, and never heard from him again.

But what I’d learned was that it was time to accept and love my Sacred Slut, Radical Queer, Kinky Freak … who is also creative, deeply spiritual, pious, artistic, and a Spiritual Teacher.

I felt like a part of me had come home out of the shadows … 

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Date 2: Wood Chopping & Clear Channel Intensity
I arrived at a beautiful house, and a man began to chop wood and made a fire for us in a ceramic fire pit.

As he then lead us through breathwork and we journeyed through the elements, I wondered if he’d Googled me. Did he know I loved to practice ritual?! It didn’t matter. It felt good nonetheless.

As we laid on an oriental rug by the fire, turned on our sides and gazed into each other’s eyes, my body shivered and shook. And then we danced. We prayed. We sang. We painted.

WOW. This is how I LIVE. Ceremony, ritual, intensity, intention. And because my mirror had been foggy and not reflecting out my whole self, I had rarely been met by the people I dated in that fullness.

Seeing the beauty of my life reflected in this person was moment was a gift and a miracle for myself. My fave books on his shelf, my anthem “Higher Love” playing, an arrow tattoo on both of our left ribs.

I understood that I wasn’t seeing my wounds anymore because I was accepting myself. With all my flaws and stories. And so he was able to be a clear mirror for me.

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Date 3: A Man Named “God” 
I didn’t think my new picture of myself could get any sharper. But as we change, our mirror changes too. After doing a 3-day intimacy intensive, something shifted in me, and my capacity and definition of intimacy and love expanded even further.

During the following week I met three men whose names meant “Who is Like God,” and decided to go on a date with one of them. 

This person was consciously devoted to spiritual practice, and our date became a moving meditation of connection, not even a date at all. Few words were needed. Clothes stayed on. But we went into ecstatic states.

He saw where I was holding back and invited me to share my Fullness. I saw where he wasn’t trusting himself and I helped him to trust.

We spent our time in a fluid dance together, a type of date I never thought was possible! Putting it into words seems silly. Like describing the shape of raindrops. Or trying to gift someone a jar of laughter.

And this is where my soul is now. 

alexandra roxo date night the numinous ruby warrington material girl mystical world holy fuck moon club

4 STEPS TO TURN YOUR OWN DATE NIGHT INTO SOUL WORK 

STEP 1. Work on radical self-acceptance. This means stop trying to change and fix yourself. Be willing to see yourself fully so you can be met in your Wholeness. With all the mess.  All the trauma. Cellulite. Credit card debt.

Write the Mess a Letter: What do you HATE about yourself? What is hiding in the shadows that you think isn’t socially acceptable? Bring it all up to the surface and then LOVE it so so so hard. Write it love letters. Affirmations. Make it an altar. Buy it an outfit. Treat that part of you like a Queen.

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STEP 2. Resource yourself. If you’re single, get clear about what is of value to you and bring it to yourself until you are completely “resourced.”

Fill Your Own Cup: You want safety? Make a list of what makes you feel safe and do those things. You want someone who texts back? Start being more consistent with your own communication skills. You want more sexy fun? Bring it to your SELF. Fill your own cup.

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STEP 3. Be clear about what you want. Own it. Claim it. And be ready to attract a few “Mirror Cleaners” —a.k.a. free teachers! Just be safe and take care.

Say it Out loud: Clear shame about what you want by telling yourself aloud. You want your hubby to role play doctor with you? Or your date to meditate with you? GREAT. Get comfortable with it by writing it down, saying it aloud to yourself, and lastly, sharing with friends—but only when it feels solid for you.

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STEP 4. Be ready to step into practice. When you are on “the path” EVERYTHING is practice. This doesn’t just happen in yoga or kundalini class or meditation time. LIFE becomes your daily yoga.

Gauge Your Presence Level: Start giving yourself a 1 to 10 in terms of Presence Level on every coffee date, work meeting etc. Then at the end of the day ask yourself “How could I have gotten more present?” Did I need to scream, nap, dance, cry? Bring more rage? More warrior vibes?  Start practicing.

And most of all, remember that “the work” of being fully met doesn’t have to be laborious (and it doesn’t have to conform in the least bit to society’s ideas about partnerships or an outcome driven process—years of birthdays and cuddling and make outs and camping trips are all extra).

The GIFT is being met in a moment. And then being able to see the reflection of how far you have come.

Alexandra is a writer and spiritual teacher who works with clients one-on-one in person and remotely. Join her in LA next week on 10/11 at Free People Santa Monica for a Practical Love Magic Workshop, and on 10/14 at Saje Wellness for Love, Sex, and Other Things (use CODE Alexandra for $10 off!)

NUMINOUS TAROTSCOPE OCTOBER 6 2017: THE DEATH CARD

Transformation, or the Death card, asks: what needs to die, in order to step into your fullest self? asks Lindsay Mack …

THE 2017 ARIES FULL MOON WANTS YOU TO TRUST YOUR DESIRE

The 2017 Aries Full Moon asks us to gather our courage, make peace with our past, tap into our truest desires, and then leap into action, says Sandra Sitron …

sharina mae agellon 2017 aries full moon the numinous sandra sitron ruby warrington material girl mystical world
Photo: Sharina Mae Agellon

Full Moon :: October 5th 2017 :: 2:41 pm EST :: 12 degrees Aries

Can you trust your own desire? Take a moment to deny the complicated context of the situation at hand. Forget about the pros and cons … What do you want? 

A Full Moon offers the potential for integrating two opposites; this current cycle is about integrating “balanced reason” (Libra) and from this state of mental harmony, taking “definitive and spontaneous action” (Aries).

So lift yourself out of whatever dilemma or decision is at hand. Step back. A pearl of clarity is available. A fresh and spontaneous perspective can be yours.

And then gather your courage, draw from your confidence, and from a stable and balanced center, make your move. This is a chance to drag yourself out of whatever mental game of ping-pong you’ve been playing and take action. To take action, you need to align with what you want. To decide. Lead. Choose. 

Full Moons bring a high-energetic release that may feel like a celebration, an outburst, or both. As this Moon, Sun, and Mercury also point towards Pluto, this formation triggers deep dives into the shadow of our psyche, cathartic healing, and transformation. 

Open space to feel some old emotions that may have been blocked; those feelings may still need to energetically move through your body before they can dissolve. Release the past and welcome the future so you can move through this Full Moon in a way that’s empowered and decisive instead of unconscious and reactive.

Above all, don’t worry about what anyone else needs. Cultivate a balanced Libran mind … so that you can make the decisions you need to step closer to yourself. This gives your Aries “I am” experience an opportunity to flourish.

Your point of power lies in your ability to courageously feel what needs to be felt and to define your vision.

By doing this you are already one step ahead. You are meeting up with your future self … 

>>>

Full Moon opposite Mercury
The lightning bolt makes contact.
Zeroing in. A lot may rise to consciousness right now. Sometimes that’s overwhelming … the influx of so much awareness all at once. ZAP.

Are you feeling awake now? Are you seeing what there is to see? Is it blinding you? We are experiencing a collective awakening and at the same time, just as many people are turning a blind eye. You can’t always control your own personal state of ignorance, but you sure as heck can try to see what you haven’t been seeing.

It’s time to raise your understanding. Allow this to happen even if it means you can’t ever be exactly the same as you were before you knew. Sometimes this is a really good thing.

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Full Moon square Pluto
Dipping your head under the surface of the water.
It’s time to transform. Entirely. Move into a new element. This can be shocking. This can be enlivening. This can be necessary. This can be frightening.

We all have a certain need for predictability and when we go through a transformation, that need is compromised. So remind yourself that there is predictability to transformation. And that the end result will be growth. There are stages that you move through when you experience a change—denial, bargaining, anger, grief, and acceptance. Let yourself go through these stages.

Allow the emotional movement. Embrace the space and sweetness that comes from stretching your heart open to feel your feelings fully.

>>>

The study questions below are to help you get deeper into what the 2017 Aries Full Moon means for you. Use them as journal prompts. For the most accurate reading, look to which house holds 12 degrees Aries in your chart and use the question for that house. 

Aries or Full Moon in the 1st house
If I am crystal clear about my desires, which people/projects/requests do I need to say yes to, and which ones do I need to say no to?

Taurus or Full Moon in the 12th House
What old pattern is ready to be healed?

Gemini or Full Moon in the 11th House
How much do I value the support of my friends?

Cancer or Full Moon in the 10th House
How can I take a clear, decisive step forward in my career goals?

Leo or Full Moon in the 9th House
Where will I go (physically or mentally) to explore and expand my horizons?

Virgo or Full Moon in the 8th House
What am I ready to release?

Libra or Full Moon in the 7th House
What would it mean to be truly diplomatic in my relationships?

Scorpio or Full Moon in the 6th House
What healthy new habits am I ready to create?

Sagittarius or Full Moon in the 5th House
What is a way that I can bring more joy into my life?

Capricorn or Full Moon in the 4th House
What will I do to help myself feel emotionally secure?

Aquarius or Full Moon in the 3rd House
Am I open to new ideas? How can I invigorate my mindset even more?

Pisces or Full Moon in the 2nd House
What do I need to do now to create a stronger base of financial security in my life?

Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandra here.