The Numinous

GEMINI SEASON 2017: A YA ADVENTURE FOR EVERY SIGN

Posted on by Bess Matassa

Join Mojave Rising on a sensory exploration of Gemini Season 2017—and channel the Mercurial vibes with a classic YA novel for your sign … Homepage artwork: Local Priest

Gemini season inspiration The Numinous Mojave Rising

Let the dazzling city sprawl before your ruby slippered feet! Gemini energy invites us to crack ourselves wide open to every possible pathway as we stand on the threshold and just let it all curiously unfold. The zodiac’s winged teenage wonder offers us every shade and flavor of the rainbow for the sampling. So slip into your high-tops and hit the streets as you listen and look and learn without prejudice. Say yes to “both and” and trust that it ALL can actually be true. Free your mind, and the rest will most definitely follow …

The keyword: Possibility

The song lyrics: “Depending on you see a thing/The ship is free, or is it sinking?/Depending on how you see it/You cage your mind, or you free it/Depending on how you see the times/The world divides or it closely binds”-—Deee-Lite, “Good Beat”

Check out our Gemini season playlist, complete with synth pop, backyard jams, and curious crooners.

 

House of Holland spring 2017 Gemini season color palette The Numinous Mojave Rising
House of Holland SS17

The color palette: mood ring swirls and iridescent shifts: prisms, bumblebee topaz, glitter flecks, soap bubbles, and diaphanous blue butterfly wings.

The style: street smart androgyny meets Rainbow Brite’s prom. Multicolored high-tops, metallic blazers, sparkly backpacks, delirious prints, razored haircuts, angelic ruffles, plastic bangles, and snap bracelets.

Gemini season style The Numinous Mojave Rising

The scents and flavors: cheekily youthful and deliciously varied. Tapas and mezze platters, kitchen sink ice cream sundaes, candy grab bags, street cart eats, bodega treats, and lunch box snacks.

The healing: locally grown and mentally acute. DIY crafting, puzzles, game nights, stepping out in a new neighborhood and of course, gab fests with friends.

Gemini season inspiration The Numinous Mojave Rising

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

>>>

Sensuous Invitation of the Month: Classic YA Novels
Ruled by Mercury, Gemini season invites us to play with shifting perceptions and keep our perspectives fresh, sharp, and deliciously innocent. Our Mercury sign reveals both how we communicate and process information, but also our overall “worldview”—the window we look out of and how it affects the landscape below.

Below, your sign-by-sign guide to getting scholastically dreamy while tucked into a teenage hideout where it all seemed possible …

**New to your birth chart? Discover your Mercury sign here!

Mercury in Aries
Gemini season invites you to delight in your penchant for mental combat and quick conclusions, while staying open to collisions with the world that shake up your viewpoint. YA Novel: The Song of the Lioness Quartet. Clashing identities, fierce femininity, and the classic quest.

Mercury in Taurus
Gemini season invites you to infuse some of your slow and steady practical thinking with diverse approaches. YA Novel: The Babysitter’s Club. Pragmatic problem solving and financial know-how meet slumber party fun and group consciousness.

Mercury in Gemini
Gemini season invites you to notice when all the mental chatter and informational intake distracts you from your gut perceptions and individualistic perspective. YA Novel: Sweet Valley Twins. Hallway gossip, cheerleading squads, and finding distinction within partnership.

Mercury in Cancer
Gemini season invites you to return to past memories from a fresh angle and explore which of your core beliefs still serve you. YA Novel: Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. Religious heritage, family roots, and the challenges of leaving the nest.

Mercury in Leo
Gemini season invites you to rediscover a sense of playful expansion in your daily dealings with the world, and to loosen your ego and open yourself to “foreign” languages. YA Novel: Charlie & The Chocolate Factory. Golden ticket specialness meets the scrumptiously strange lands of vivid imagination and lickable wallpaper.

Mercury in Virgo
Gemini season invites you to honor your desire to hone your skills and become an expert, while releasing your grip on always needing to get it “right.” YA Novel: From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. Forbidden field trips, experiential learning, and museum mystery.

Mercury in Libra
Gemini season invites you to use your capacity to understand both sides to mediate between perspectives and challenge everyone’s thinking. YA Novel: To Kill a Mockingbird. Ethics, stepping into each other’s shoes, and the search for courtroom justice.

Mercury in Scorpio
Gemini season invites you to discover the deep joy in penetrating beyond the veil and investigating the mystery, no matter the stakes. YA Novel: The Hunger Games. Primal perceptions, mental endurance, and survivalist viewpoints.

Mercury in Sagittarius
Gemini season invites you to try on different versions of the truth curiously without having to commit. YA Novel: Weetzie Bat. Punk-rock LA, political progressivism, wishful thinking, and unexpected conclusions.

Mercury in Capricorn
Gemini season invites you to let your old-soul thinking and “real” world perceptions. YA Novel: The Catcher in the Rye. Coming-of-age realizations, necessary lessons, and the courage to rediscover what really matters.

Mercury in Aquarius
Gemini season invites you to revel in out-there perceptions and challenge group consciousness to summon your true tribe. YA Novel: The Outsiders. After-school rebellion, outlaw risk taking, and the search for true belonging.

Mercury in Pisces
Gemini season invites you to let magical thinking pave the way to concrete action. YA Novel: Alice in Wonderland. Strange trips down the rabbit hole, mental expansion, and the ability to mindfully mix fantasy and rationality.

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

THE AQUARIUS WANING QUARTER MOON WANTS US TO GET READY FOR BREAKTHROUGH

Posted on by Jennifer Racioppi
In preparation for the 25th’s New Moon, the Aquarius Waning Quarter Moon asks us to look back before we charge into the future. Revisit and restructure so you can get ready to radicalize, says Jennifer Racioppi. Artwork: Seana Gavin 

seana gavin collage jennifer racioppi ruby warrington the numinous aquarius waning quarter moon

Waning Quarter Moon :: May 18 2017 :: 10:46 pm EST :: 28 Degrees Aquarius

Marking the halfway point between the 10th’s Full Moon in Scorpio and the 25th’s New Moon in Gemini, the Aquarius Waning Quarter Moon reveals that it’s essential to look backward before charging forward.

Think back to February 2015’s Aquarius New Moon. This current Quarter Moon brings those past intentions and actions into greater focus. Try to decipher what’s culminating in your life now that relates to seeds planted then. 

Simultaneously, on the day after the Aquarius Waning Quarter Moon, we will experience the second of three trines (a positive golden aspect) between Uranus, who represents revolution and freedom, and Saturn, who offers a heavy dose of structure and discipline. The first of these three trines happened on December 24, 2016, and the final will occur on November 11, 2017. This positive aspect suggests an innovative breakthrough in the structures of life. Use it to your advantage! 

:: The Sun ::
With the Sun at the tail end of steady, stable, sensual Taurus, and primed to enter quick witted and communicative Gemini on the 20th, we sit on the heels of change. As we take in the last moments of Taurus and prepare to switch zodiac signs, the Sun forms a T-square with the nodes of fate. This evolutionary configuration asks us to take stock of where we are in relation to our desires, goals, and dharma.

When the Sun moves into Gemini, it’ll be time to get into the flow of socializing, communicating, and networking. Right now, however, we have the opportunity to assess, systematize, and steadily focus our attention on where we are in relationship to our desired outcomes, and to make changes accordingly.

:: The Moon::
The future-oriented, humanitarian driven Aquarius Moon conjoins the South Node before moving into Pisces hours after this square. With the Moon in this delicate position, squaring the Sun and opposing the North Node of Destiny, forgiveness becomes paramount. As you assess your progress, have a forgiving heart. Tenderly release expectations that have not come to fruition. You need to make room for the bigger and better things just around the corner.

:: The Square ::
The Sun in Taurus squaring the Moon in Aquarius asks us to look at any friction between our desires for practicality, and our needs for innovation and humanitarian drives. The Sun in Taurus favors the tried and true path of tradition. However, the Aquarius moon wants progress, change, and forward momentum.

Since this waning square also involves the North and South Nodes, it’s essential to lean more into Aquarius than Taurus. Remember, one day after this Quarter Moon, Uranus and Saturn trine, which promotes progress and innovation. Shortly afterward, the Sun moves into social Gemini. So let progress lead the way!

:: The Message :: 

Revaluate. Plan. Innovate. Release. Surrender. Trust. With the Sun squaring the nodes of fate, and the Aquarius Moon directly conjoined to the South Node, this Quarter Moon drives us to evaluate how are doing so we can lean more fully into our progressive ideals.

This turning point of 2017 asks us to let go of what no longer serves us. Is there anything you need to release that stands in the way of receiving your intended goals? Are you ready to cultivate the prosperity and joy from all of your hard work? Under Taurus Sun’s influence, letting go is hard. But don’t let that stop you. Use this Waning Quarter Moon to make progressive adjustments.

Allow friction to propel you forward … 

For more Moon wisdom or to book a coaching session with Jennifer visit Jenniferracioppi.com. To learn more about how to work with each Moon phase, join our community of lunar lovers at Moon Club!

THE 2017 NODAL AXIS SHIFT: A TOTAL GUIDE

Posted on by The Numinous

On May 9th, the Moon’s nodal axis moved from Virgo/Pisces into Leo/Aquarius, where it will hang out for the next 1.5 years. What’s the cosmic message? The 2017 Nodal Axis Shift signals serious heart work and a major soul upgrade, say Numi astro babes Jennifer Racioppi, Danielle Paige, The AstroTwins, and Bess Matassa …  Main Image: Hotel Saint Cecilia 

jennifer racioppi the astro twins the astrotwins tali edut ophira edut danielle paige mojave rising bess matassa ruby warrington the numinous 2017 nodal axis shift

May 9th, 2017 :: North Node Enters Leo/South Node Enters Aquarius 

Danielle Paige 
It’s time to rise up … you have big work to do in your heart! 

Every year and a half the North and South Nodes of the Moon change signs, ushering in new collective growth that’s connected to our deeper purpose and energy evolution. The Nodes in our personal birth charts are significant to our soul’s purpose. However, we are also influenced by the collective energy of the current nodal axis shift.

In the days surrounding this shift, it’s not uncommon to feel the changing of the tides so to speak. You may feel like you’re sifting through deep emotions that are rising to the surface again. This is a final cleanse for the old behaviors to make their way out. Ride the waves of the Virgo/Pisces energy and you will soon find yourself in brighter light with Leo/Aquarius territory.

With the North Node moving into Leo, you are being asked to move away from sitting on the sidelines. You are being asked to shift away from continuously searching in your mind because you have big work to do in your heart! It’s time to rise up in your creativity, rise up in your leadership, and rise up in doing what you love because in doing so you inspire others to live fully, boldly, and enthusiastically from their heart as well. It’s time to be fully present in your heart. It’s time for you to shine!

To find out more about Danielle Paige and how she can help you find your soul’s purpose, click here.

>>>

Jennifer Racioppi 
Wake up your inner strength. 

With the nodes of fate moving off the Virgo-Pisces axis, and into the Leo-Aquarius axis, we are shifting our focus from service (Virgo) and spirituality (Pisces), into leadership (Leo) and innovation (Aquarius). The north node represents our highest destiny, and now that it moves into Leo, bold, self-assured courage leads us forward (hopefully) in progressive directions. With the upcoming Pan-America total solar eclipse happening in Leo on August 21st, we will also see how this plays out on a global scale. In our individual lives though, it’s essential to wake up our inner strength and align with the highest version of Leo/Aquarius– heart centered, joyous and community-driven ideals. Here’s to the Now Age!

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

>>>

Bess Matassa
The delicious challenge of simplicity.

Oh, little glitter kittens and sparkly disco biscuits … Leo’s energy often conjures images of endless summer and all-night tropical dance parties fueled only by our own bronzed legs and infinite capacity to shake a tail feather and raise our cups to the stars …

And yet inside of Leo’s luxurious leisure suit lies the deceptively simple call to become more of what we already are, while letting the world respond on its own terms. How do we trust so deeply in our own glowbug status that we can give it away and turn it loose without losing one ounce of our own firepower? How can we let every single other being’s own temperature and rhythm shine on and on without it threatening our own heat source one bit?

This nodal shift asks us to stand so directly and fully inside our own light that we can let the ego slip and slide and shift and explore. It’s a ghostwriting kind of cosmic event, where we give ourselves so fully to the expression of our creative, singular message that we don’t even need to sign our name.

Nodal axis mantra: I warm myself by a bonfire that never goes out.
Theme song: Eternal Flame
Style: 80s high school dance- tender pink lip gloss, fluffy touchable locks, shoulder ruffles, ankle length skirts, and kitten heels.
Flavors: Classic snack sets and sun-kissed palette cleansers with nothing to prove: vanilla/chocolate swirl, peanut butter & jelly, chips and dips, mango lassis, and Caprese salad.

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

>>>

The AstroTwins 
The United States has North Node in Leo in the country’s chart, so this will be a nodal return for the nation! And the last time the North Node was in Leo, Bill Clinton was on trial for impeachment (1998). We’re interested to see if this is a trend that repeats …

Get more wisdom from The AstroTwins at Astrostyle.com and follow them on Instagram and Twitter. 

WTF IS “HEALING CIRCLE CHIC”?

Posted on by Ruby Warrington

No more skinny jeans and tight waistbands. These days I prefer to let it all hang out, with some healing circle chic … Main image: Francis Catania

In my favorite drop-crotch pants

Skinny jeans, RIP. It’s official, the long-time reign of spray-on skinnies is officially ovah. Having been gradually edged out over the past few seasons, recent strolls around my hood in Williamsburg show the pendulum has finally swung. Long live the mom jean! And my belly, for one, is breathing a HUGE sigh of relief.

I actually stepped away from skinny jeans in a major way after I launched The Numinous, and began a deeper investigation of the modern spirituality scene. As a fashion writer in London, I’d amassed quite a collection—spray-on drainpipes by All Saints, hip-hugging micro flares by MiH, at least five pairs by J Brand. And peeling them off at the end of the day sometimes felt like being released from a Victorian corset. I actually think my skinny jeans habit might also have been a contributing factor to ongoing digestive issues during that period. For real!

But as days in high-pressure editorial meetings and nights spent trawling the celebrity party circuit gave way to Full Moon circles and sound bath sessions, more and more often the skinnies were relegated to the back of my wardrobe. Drainpipe denim and gong healing workshops do not make for happy bedfellows. As anybody who’s tried sitting cross-legged for extended periods in a pair of size 27 Cheap Mondays will know!

Free People Full Moon Ritual Ruby Warrington The Numinous
Rocking some Healing Circle Chic at at Full Moon ritual for Free People

Instead, I found myself seeking out clothing for my bottom half that allowed ample room for movement. For deep belly pranayama breathing. And which would not mean spending an entire Zen Buddhist meditation workshop trying to detach from thoughts about the pain of stiff denim cutting into my abdomen, hips, or the creases behind my knees. What I have come to term: healing circle chic.

My go-to look these days is a variation on yoga pants + sharp-shouldered blazer x chunky leather shoe situation (my friend Gabby Bernstein once coined my look “rock n roll yogi”!). But truth be told, even the yoga pants can get to feel kind of restrictive. As for the thong panties they require, let’s not even go there. My actual fave is a pair of drop-crotch Indian pants, with a loosely elasticated waistband positioned somewhere low down on my hips. Ahhhhhhh.

All the better for “letting it all hang out”—in a physical and an emotional sense. Because what I’ve also come to realize is, the more energy spent angsting over a waistband that feels too tight, the less headspace for deep and meaningful conversations with your higher self. The kind of conversations that are pretty much a non-negotiable for living your most cosmically aligned, high vibe life. Those loose-flowing robes favored by all the religious gurus? I totally get it now!

Celine SS17 The Numinous Ruby Warrington Healing Circle Chic
Celine SS17

Other faves for summer ’17 will be bias-cut slip dresses (for curves without the corset effect), kaftans (of course), and billowing outsize shirts, a lá Celine (above). Anything without a waistband, basically! (Which is ironic, btw, since also switching to a plant-based diet as part of my “spiritual awakening” means my stomach has never been flatter). And yes, of course I still do denim. In fact, I recently found a pair of vintage Levis mom jeans reckon I could sit for a 10-day silent Vipassana in.

This article has been adapted from an article that ran as part of Ruby’s Style Goddess column on Horoscope.com

READING FOR THE 2017 SCORPIO FULL MOON

Posted on by Sandy Sitron

The 2017 Scorpio Full Moon is an invitation to let go of control and upgrade your relationship to your personal power, says Sandra Sitron …

Scorpio Full Moon Moon Club Sandra Sitron The Numinous
Join our monthly virtual Full Moon ritual when you sign up for Moon Club! Moonclub.co

Full Moon :: May 10 2017 :: 5:43 pm EST :: 20 degrees Scorpio

The 2017 Scorpio Full Moon is a mama cat pushing kittens forward with her nose. You, little kitten, are getting nudged. Gently guided toward the game, the snack, the nap. O, abundant world! You have everything you need. That’s the first thing this moon wants you to know.

And now you are growing into a tiger … and the moon keeps nudging you forward. As a tiger you aren’t afraid to go all-in. You know how to fight, to feast, to make love. You can go to powerful extremes. But the moon keeps nudging you along and now you reach the height of bravery. You become brave enough to let go of control … and in doing so find that you are stronger than before. And the moon keeps pushing you forward to a wild and spiritual surrender so that you can continue to evolve. Transcending even your own ego.

The 2017 Scorpio Full Moon is opposite the Sun in Taurus. The invitation is to find your footing. You are learning that you are stable. The Taurus Sun has got you covered when it comes to stability, resourcefulness, and a strong sense of your personal value. But the Scorpio Moon is asking you to take a leap.

Scorpio is the sign of emotional union. Scorpio rules merging, bonding, two becoming One. Two understanding each other’s deepest motivations and feelings. Because this is all very intense, by default Scorpio can be expressed through power and control. It’s initially scary to merge with another person! So the lower vibration of Scorpio tries to do so without surrendering any power.

The evolution of Scorpio describes learning how to let control die away. Releasing. Purging. Letting the urge for power fade. This is the journey to the higher expression of Scorpio. A continuous practice of letting go. A continuous practice of reaching toward another person with understanding, while refusing to attach to the outcome.

The Scorpio Full Moon may test your relationships. You may find yourself thinking: “I need to do something about this! I need this to go a certain way! I need you to act a certain way!” And then breathing out: “I don’t need to control anything. I release any desire to pressure you to do/say/be anything. I make myself right sized. This leaves me with the energy to live my own life in the most fulfilling, happy and bold way.”

Continue to release during this moon phase. Open yourself up. You can’t control it all. Sometimes you need to let go and walk into the fire of change. There’s nothing you need to hold on to; you have everything you need for the journey. It may feel as if you’re being stripped bare at moments. But that’s exactly how you will know your strength. Just let go.

>>>

Moon sextile Pluto
A white dove flies overhead on an autumn day.

Peacefully letting go of a season. Harmoniously closing a chapter. The Scorpio Full Moon is making a pleasing aspect to Scorpio’s ruling planet Pluto. Scorpio and Pluto are in charge of the cycle of life. Birth, sex, death. Getting comfortable with the cycle of life requires getting comfortable with change. This easy aspect allows emotional ease and fluidity around transitions. Use this energy to help yourself release in any way you are ready to.

>>>

Sun trine Pluto
The elephant looks in a mirror.

Another pleasant aspect between a luminary and the planet of evolution. Look closely at yourself. It may be that you feel called to take an inventory of your life. What is ready to die away? What no longer serves you? What relationship, responsibility or belief no longer matches your image of who you are?

The trick with this symbol is that the elephant is BIG. It can seem immovable. But as it looks in the mirror, it’s doing an assessment. Even the most stubborn habit, pattern or belief may be ready to move now. No matter how massive or rooted it is. Allow the Sun trine Pluto aspect to assist in your release process. Ritual is a way to clue your subconscious mind in on the changes you are ready to make. The subconscious reacts splendidly to the symbolism of ritual. Create a personal releasing ritual that will allow you to let go completely.

>>>

Moon trine Neptune
Fairy dust.

Trust your intuition as you move along your path. If you listen, you will know exactly what to let go of during this powerful moon phase. You will know exactly how to let go of what’s no longer serving you. Neptune can carry you through the veil that separates logic from the intuitive realms. Let yourself be carried on a stream of fairy dust. To prepare yourself, begin with deep relaxation and quiet time. Ask for your mind to open up in new ways. Ask for guidance. Allow creativity and intuition to come forward

>>>

Use the following invitations by sign to journal more deeply on the message this Scorpio Full Moon has for you. For the most accurate reading, look at your birth chart to see which house holds 20 degrees Scorpio and also read for that house. ***Don’t have yours? Do your chart for free here. 

Aries or 8th House
The Scorpio Full Moon is in your area of evolution and union. What does control mean to you? Where are you ready to practice letting go of control?

Taurus or 7th House
The Scorpio Full Moon is in your area of relationships. How can you let go of a specific outcome in a relationship? How would that bring you more energy?

Gemini or 6th House
The Scorpio Full Moon is in your area of health and habits. What habit needs to be transformed? What emotion is keeping you tied to the old way?

Cancer or 5th House
The Scorpio Full Moon is in your area of joy and self-expression. What part of you is blocked from self-expression? Is it time to let go of that block?

Leo of 4th House
The Scorpio Full Moon is in your area of home and family. How can you let go of control when it comes to your family? How would that bring you more energy?

Virgo or 3rd House
The Scorpio Full Moon is in your area of communication and learning. Where do you feel stuck right now? What new way of thinking would help you move forward? What old idea needs to be let go of?

Libra or 2nd House
The Scorpio Full Moon is in your area of abundance and self-worth. What block to your self-worth are you ready to let go of?

Scorpio of 1st House
The Scorpio Full Moon is in your area of identity. How can you let go of control when it comes to how other people perceive you?

Sagittarius or 12th House
The Scorpio Full Moon is in your area of intuition, compassion and spirituality. How can you get the support that you need to deepen your intuition?

Capricorn or 11th House
The Scorpio Full Moon is in your area of friends, community and the future. What new vision are you ready to welcome in? What old vision needs to be released?

Aquarius or 10th House
The Scorpio Full Moon is in your area of career and the public sphere. What do you need to let go of when it comes to your career?

Pisces or 9th House
The Scorpio Full Moon is in your area of philosophy, beliefs travel and higher learning. Are you aware of a belief that is ready for an upgrade?

Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandra here and follow her on Instagram.

THE SPIRITUAL MEANING OF YOUR SUGAR ADDICTION

Posted on by Emma Whitehair

Can you balance unhealthy compulsions without losing your appetite for pleasure? Emma Whitehair wrestles with the demons of alcohol, love, and sugar addiction, and asks herself: “What are you really hungry for?”

what are you really hunger for ruby warrington the numinous emma whitehair food addiction

“Could I continue to sink my teeth into life with enthusiasm while learning balance around an unhealthy compulsion?”- Emma Whitehair

Ughhhh … Krispy Kremes. Never something I’d choose to put in my body. So why, when a colleague turned up with a box full of them, did my inner werewolf rear its head? A demon who was frothing at the mouth to demolish the lot, while my sensible side tried to argue the case to “go-halves” on one.

The demon won, leaving me to contend with a toxic dose of self-loathing. 

My sweet tooth kicked in with a vengeance when I quit booze over a decade ago, and I felt that this new appetite was part of my continued search for escapism and relief. Love, too, came under this dopamine-inducing umbrella. My hunger for gratification also showed up in romantic fantasies of that one magic person who’d be capable of making me happy forever after …

However, unlike sobriety, going cold turkey on sugar (and love for that matter) didn’t feel like the right approach. Isn’t fruit sugar? Not to mention nutrient rich blackstrap molasses and antibacterial raw manuka honey? Where to draw the line? I’ll admit that my justifications sounded a bit like the arguments I used to have against quitting booze. “I just want to be able to enjoy a nice glass of Rioja with tapas, or champers at a wedding.” I know where those odd glasses can lead me though—the tail end of a two-day bender.

With an addictive personality, could I become moderate in this one area? And how not to lose my wildly passionate side and my appetite for pleasure in the process? I set out to discover if I could continue to sink my teeth into life with enthusiasm while learning balance around an unhealthy compulsion …

>>>

:: BELLY BACTERIA BALANCING ::
My first step was to go into my gut. An overgrowth of yeast in the digestive tract can manifest as fatigue, a foggy head, anxiety and, most noticeably, sugar cravings. Overdoing it with alcohol, refined carbohydrates and sugary foods commonly causes this problem. Perhaps this was my werewolf’s lair?

I consulted Nutritional Therapist Claudia le Feuvre, who placed me on a course of Dida supplements and probiotics to tackle any pathogenic bacteria and to re-inoculate my gut with antimicrobials.

A few months later, I noticed my urge to bury my head in a bag of Haribo had disappeared. I now had the confidence that the issues were not tied to gut health. It was time to take my journey even deeper.

>>>

:: IT’S ALL A METAPHOR ::
Claudia prescribed a reading list as a key part of my healing, and I consumed each title with gusto.

After living with the patriarchy for thousands of years, we’ve literally been starved of our divine feminine. The result? We’re now going wild with addictions and disorders as we fill our bellies to fill the emptiness in our hearts. Women Who Run with the Wolves and Eating in the Light of the Moon both have this concept at their core, and show how cravings can be metaphors.

The Gift of Our Compulsions inspired me to meet my compulsions with curiosity rather than resistance in order to get at what lived underneath them. By cultivating detachment from my thoughts, feelings, and sensations, I could witness my cravings.

When I declare ‘I’m hungry,’ I am identified with this experience. Whereas ‘this is hunger’ creates space for me to relate to what’s really happening, and ask if the statement is true. And in most cases, it’s not true at all. It’s more like ‘this is boredom/procrastination/loneliness,’ which I can either try to remedy or simply observe without needing to ‘fix.’

>>>

:: A SESSION WITH THE SPIRITUAL NUTRITIONIST ::
The final part of my work with Claudia involved a 1-2-1 session where she called upon her spirit guide to help us “recode inner conflict” and used kinesiology to identify a potent mantra.

During our session, my arm suddenly gained strength from the words: “I am in tune with my body’s nutritional needs, and have no hunger for food beyond them.” This was then used as a mantra in a kind of Psych-k self-hypnosis meditation, where after about 10 minutes Claudia was shown by her guide, with a shiver through her body, that our work was done.

Although, I didn’t feel a bolt of lightning during the session, it’s like a spell has been broken. I feel relaxed around my usual triggers, and noticeably more tuned in to the intuitive whispering of my body.

Now, when I get the urge to eat when I’m not hungry, I often seem to instinctively know what tactic will help me ride it out. A few deep breaths, a drink of water, or a big stretch is usually all it takes.

what are you really hungry for emma whitehair ruby warrington the numinous food addiction sustici
Art: Sustici

:: THE FAST OF ENLIGHTENMENT ::
My newfound gut feelings also told me that the next step in this journey was to introduce a fasting practice to help me regain a sense of the true nature of my body’s hunger. Fasting is the most natural way to rest the body, giving it the chance to do the “housework” needed to repair cells and cleanse the itself, while improving immunity.  

When I started losing my appetite for a meal in the evening, I took it as a sign that my body wanted the benefits of some regular light fasting. So from around 5pm to late morning, I often stick to water and herbal tea. And although I sometimes go to bed feeling hungry, intuition tells me my digestive system needs this rest. I’m now sleeping more deeply and I wake feeling light and much less hungry than if I have a meal the night before.

I’m also committed to fasting at least a couple of days per month, usually over the New Moon—my version of the “Lunar Diet.” Near the Full Moon I often crave extra calories because of my cycle, whereas during the New Moon I feel more like hibernating. It’s also the ideal time to go inwards and set intentions for the coming astrological season.

>>>

:: WHAT AM I TRULY HUNGRY FOR? ::
Using tactics to pause when I’m tempted to grab a substitute for what I really need has been a total (third) eye opener!

It’s given me the sense that my appetite is primal. We’re first comforted as babies through sweet breast milk and so sweetness will always be associated with mother love. An absence of that kind of nurturing can show up in dysfunctional relationships with comforting substances like sugar, alcohol, or the dopamine hit you get with the first flush of ‘love’.

So what to do in the present about a void from the past? Some sweet ass self-loving of course! We all have the chance, right now, to be the parent we needed growing up. Allowing feelings that have been buried in the past to move through us is how we evolve …

My epiphany about my constant low-level hunger? There’s fulfillment to be found by relishing my appetite, rather than chasing gratification. It’s summed up in this quote from one of my all-time favorite movies, Take This Waltz: “Life has a gap in it. It just does. You don’t go crazy trying to fill it like some lunatic.” I simply need to accept, and even celebrate, the fact that there will always be this hunger within me.

So when Krispy Kreme (a.k.a. my Soul Challenge on this journey) announced their new flavor (Hershey’s Cookies ‘n’ Crème, in case you were wondering) by sending a truckload to my office, I met my inner wolf with curiosity. I saw that she wasn’t a “demon” at all, and just a part of me wanting to be comforted. “Be moderate in order to taste the joys of life in abundance,” says Epicurus. So I enjoyed half a donut. Leaving enough room to still be able to taste the sweetness of life.

>>>

Emma Whitehair is the founder of London based boutique lifestyle PR agency, WHITEHAIR.CO, which specialises in fashion, beauty, and wellbeing communications. 

HOLY F*CK: STYLE YOUR CROWN CHAKRA WITH A HAIR SHAMAN

Posted on by Alexandra Roxo

The higher the hair the closer to Goddess! Alexandra Roxo chats with hair shaman Andi Scarbrough about gem combs, crown chakras, and beauty work as ministry.

holy fuck hair shaman andi scarbrough crown works gem combs ruby warrington alexandra roxo the numinous

 

“Your hair becomes an offering to spirit to catalyze the internal change”- Andi Scarbrough 

Hair identity is a HUGE part of our self-expression, especially for women. Our hair reflects our cultural and ethnic background, the subcultures we are a part of, and even our spiritual and political beliefs. Hair has both been part of sacred and ancient rituals, and has been used to repress and humiliate women. Through all of it, our locks have held incredible power.

But like most things sacred , hair rituals have been commodified. We see a Super Cuts on every corner and the mass homogenization of hairstyles that’s been dictated by celebrity and popular culture more than anything.

So what about reclaiming HAIR as another sacred as hell space for ritual, transformation, ceremony, tribe, and lineage? Stylist and hair magic maker Andi Scarborough is doing just that!

>>>

I’ll admit, I was nervous (aka panicked) about letting someone cut my hair. But when I arrived at Andi’s salon, she scooped me into her chair with a quieting presence. As she began to run a rose quartz comb through my frizzed out mop, I felt myself loosen. I realized just how tight the control I had around my hair was.

As she gently asked me a few questions, I found myself revealing my whole “hair story” to her. I shared all the times I was ridiculed and the shame I still carried. All the times I had tried to tame this hair and the point when I started making my hair red.

As she counseled and intuited my hair story and my hair needs, the tears began to flow. As she snipped, she reminded me of all the old Loves, the stories, the pain, everything that was releasing with the hair falling to the ground.

I cried for the rest of the day. I was shedding. I let myself shed the old layers. I let myself release.

Post cut, I sat down with Andi to hear more about her work … 

hair shaman andi scarbrough crown works gem combs ruby warrington alexandra roxo the numinous holy fuck
Rose Quartz Gemcomb- to purchase your own contact [email protected]

Alexandra: How do you describe your work?

Andi: Women’s Health just quoted me saying “I believe this work is a sort of ministry.” Part of me still thinks this is hysterical! I had an experience when I was a little girl where a woman faith healer came to the church and told me that I would go into ministry. Then, I promptly left the church.

It’s funny to me how your purpose finds a way through you, no matter what you try to do instead. Your ministry is the vehicle that you use to deliver your message and in that sense, mine is a beauty ministry.

My work is about clearing out the shrapnel from the crown chakra. That clearing allows you access to the divine wisdom you already have. You don’t need a guru. You don’t need any of that. It’s about remembering the god source within.

Alexandra: That’s beautiful. I love that.

Andi: This is the part where I do feel like it becomes more of a ministry, rather than energy work.

Alexandra: After your work clears the crown chakra, how does it help align people with their soul curriculum?

Andi: I was talking with a client recently about her curly hair. She was telling me how she straightens her hair because she wants it to be more manageable. So, I asked her “What part of you feels like you’re hard to manage?”

It’s interesting because the way you do one thing is the way you do everything. The way you choose your hair color or your hair texture are all echoes of the stories that are already in place. We’re only choosing what we think is available to us.

Alexandra: I can talk about my hair without it being emotional, but the actual physicalizing of the experience brought things up that were very emotional. When you were doing my hair, I felt safe enough to share my hair stories and history- it felt like a ritual and like a therapy session.

Andi: Like ceremony. We do our hair so that we can be seen the way we think we need to be seen, and it’s the piece that we correct externally. It’s like makeup over a blemish. Rather than clearing out whatever the clog is, we wanna just sort of gloss it over and cover it up and make it look sort of nice from far away.

But our hair is actually a time capsule. You’re literally carrying around a diary of every experience, every hormone flux, everything you’ve eaten, everything you’ve not eaten, every time you were sick. It’s all physically there with you.

Alexandra:  Wow, yeah. I never thought about it quite like that.

Andi:  That’s why you get haircuts when you have big life stuff happening, or you want big life stuff to happen.

Cross culturally, the hair symbolizes so much. Whether it’s the Native Americans wearing their hair long and braided to ground them back into Mother Earth, or not cutting your hair in Kundalini so that you have a longer antennae to spirit, or in the way it’s cut in some Tibetan rituals and Hindu rituals. It’s a sacrifice. One of my favorite examples of this ritualistic aspect is when girls go to college. Often, they’ll sacrifice that high school long hair as they step into womanhood.

Your hair becomes an offering to spirit to catalyze the internal change, or to let spirit know how serious you are about the internal change.

hair shaman andi scarbrough crown works gem combs ruby warrington alexandra roxo the numinous holy fuck
Hair Shaman Andi Scarbrough

For appointments with Andi in LA, please call 310-751-4484 or email  [email protected]. Due to the sensitive nature of this service, online booking is not available. More information and service pricing is available at www.andiscarbrough.com. And be sure to follow @crown_works for hair rituals, treatments, and processes!

WHY THESE ARE THE PERFECT TAROT CARDS FOR MAY 2017

Posted on by Melinda Lee Holm

Stressing out about scheduling the month ahead? Put your planner aside & lay out the perfect tarot cards for May 2017, says Melinda Lee Holm.

rider-waite rider waite melinda lee holm ruby warrington the numinous tarot cards for may 2017

May is a fertile season for embracing your power and exploring duality! Throughout this month, we will be asked to examine what kind of power we value, how we can expand our vision of our own power, and how to embrace, honor, and cherish aspects of ourselves that seem in opposition to one another.

Meet this month’s guides for creating, manifesting, and coming into balanced relationship with all that is …  

>>>

:: 5/01  International Workers Day—7 of Pentacles :: 

The month kicks off with May Day or Beltane- a traditional northern European holiday celebrating the coming of Spring with rituals of fertility, abundance, and heaps of flowers and foliage. In 1904, it was also designated as a day to demonstrate for laborers’ rights.

The Rider-Waite image of a worker tending the vines is a perfect guide for honoring both the abundance of nature and the beauty of labor. Pentacles are the suit of Earth- that wonderful grounding element that connects us to the physical world and our animal natures. In the 7, the work has been done, the soil turned, the vines tended, and the result is a healthy crop of pentacles. Clad in marigold and sky blue, the figure revels in his power of creation in partnership with the Earth and the intuition that led his hand.

Calling in the 7 of Pentacles: 

  • Get your hands dirty! Gardening connects us to the fecundity of the Earth and to labor. 
  • Work hard, but don’t overdo it – end your work day at a reasonable time. 
  • Light a candle in an earthy scent like tomato vine or moss. 
  • Eat fresh, locally-grown fruits and vegetables. 

melinda lee holm ruby warrington the numinous tarot cards for may 2017 7 of pentacles seven of pentacles rider waite rider-waits

>>>

:: 5/03  Mercury Stations Direct- The Magician :: 

Rejoice! Mercury stations direct on the 3rd, bringing to a close 3.5 weeks of (often unexpected) insights about the recent past (and a lot of panic about glitches in technology). Now, armed with all of the new information we’ve dredged up, we can get start pressing forward with newly laid plans by calling on the Tarot’s great manifestor- The Magician.

In Golden Dawn teachings, The Magician is associated with the planet Mercury, so there is a natural alignment here that can really help push things along if we listen closely to the messages received during retrograde. Drawing on the power of the Earth and the Heavens, The Magician taps into his natural attunement with the Universe to vibrate his vision into existence, opening infinite possibilities. With a little guidance, you can step into his enchanted shoes!

Calling in The Magician: 

  • Use your magic words! Write down goals in the present tense as if they have already been achieved.  
  • Wear Pyrite jewelry – the stone is a master of manifestation. 
  • Dress for your dream life.
  • Eat foods seasoned with cinnamon – the spice accelerates mastery and magical abilities. 
rider waite rider-waite melinda lee holm ruby warrington the numinous the magician tarot cards for may 2017
Check out Melinda’s custom pieces of Tarot-inspired jewelry ! Pictured above: The Initiate in Pyrite.

>>>

:: 5/14  Mother’s Day- 6 of Cups :: 

Whether you are a mom or share a connection with a biological or chosen maternal figure, this is a day for honoring and appreciating the feminine nurturers around and within us. We can often get stuck in a role of mothering or being mothered, and have trouble balancing our giving and receiving. This Mother’s Day, we call on the 6 of Cups to remind us to care for our care givers, and to take in the love we need to replenish ourselves as caregivers.

The 6 of Cups carries the energy of emotional harmony and balance. The figures in the card are out of balance proportionally, but the larger figure seeks to restore harmony by giving a flower-filled cup to the smaller figure. All of the cups bear a single white flower, which strongly resembles an enlarged jasmine blossom- the flower of purity and sensuality. The lesson here is that true and pure beauty is found through actively balancing the relationships in our lives.

Calling in the 6 of Cups: 

  • Perform random acts of kindness – and receive them gracefully from others!
  • Carry a Chrysocolla, the Goddess stone, to replenish the energy of the Divine Feminine. 
  • Wear jasmine perfume. 
  • Care for your mom or moms, biological, legal, or chosen. 

rider waite rider-waite melinda lee holm ruby warrington the numinous 6 of cups six of cups tarot cards for may 2017

>>>

:: 5/21  Sun Enters Gemini- The Lovers :: 

Twin season! The Sun’s entry into Gemini brings openness and flexibility to any stale routines, and teaches us to see all sides of an issue and not to press too hard for a solution that isn’t working.

The myth of Gemini follows a pair of twins with the same mother, but different fathers. Since one has been fathered by the god Zeus, he is immortal. When his mortal brother dies, he begs his father to keep them together and Zeus obliges, making both twins immortal, living together for eternity in the constellation Gemini, separate but perfectly paired. In our mortal lives, Gemini teaches us to allow conflicting sides of ourselves to co-exist in harmony. We can be a business mogul AND a dreamy poet, a driven creator AND a grounded homemaker. To find how to live in this duality, we look to The Lovers.

The Lovers shows two figures standing beneath a bright angel. Early interpretations positioned this card as indicative of romantic love, but modern Tarot scholars view the card’s energy as one of perfect pairing and ideal relationship- whether romantic, professional, or creative.  The core of the wisdom here is to see that excellence – in relationship or in ourselves – can only be achieved when each part is celebrated for its individuality and not consumed by the whole.

Calling in The Lovers:

  • Wear contrasting colors. 
  • Make an exquisite corpse drawing or poem with a friend.  
  • Explore foods with savory/sweet combinations. You can start with cayenne spiced chocolate or prosciutto wrapped melon and go wild from there! 
  • Include others in activities you would normally do alone like reading with a friend, or walking with a group … 

rider waite rider-waite melinda lee holm ruby warrington the numinous tarot cards for may 2017 the magician

>>>

Want more tarot magic? Book a session with Melinda here, and make sure to follow her on Instagram and Facebook. 

THE LEO WAXING QUARTER MOON ASKS US TO CONJURE ABUNDANCE

Posted on by Jennifer Racioppi

Finally! After the relentless work of retrograde season, the Leo Waxing Quarter Moon brings some positive mojo. Step up and step out dressed in pure joy and abundance, says Jennifer Racioppi. Artwork: Seana Gavin 

jennifer racioppi leo waxing quarter moon the numinous ruby warrington waxing quarter moon collage seana gavin

Waxing Quarter Moon :: May 2 2017 :: 10:46pm EST :: 12 Degrees Leo 

On the heels of Beltane, a pagan holiday celebrating the earth’s fertility, the Leo Waxing Quarter Moon arrives to bring some serious positive mojo back to our game …

Finally … it’s time to conjure abundance! 

Loaded with retrograde activity, 2017 has brought massive reconfigurations of life. The year opened on Mercury retrograde. February ushered us into eclipse season– an intense time of change. And then just as we digested the eclipses, Venus stationed retrograde on March 4th (only recently turning direct on April 15th). On April 9th, Mercury stationed retrograde too (it will station direct on May 3rd, just following the Quarter Moon).

After all the hard work we’ve done this year, the Leo Waxing Quarter Moon signals a time when we can start to consider what’s next. We are spiritually ready to make good on what we’ve unearthed from within. And, fortunately, the time has come to execute!

Hell YES! 

>>>

:: The Sun ::  
Midway through steady, stable Taurus, the Sun sextiles Neptune in Pisces. A sextile suggests resources that are available to us, and this particular combo combines earth and water elements to deliver soothing healing qualities. Think of a luscious detoxifying mud bath that leaves your skin feeling soft and smooth. Allow yourself to sink deep into your skin and relish in feelings of spiritually aligned embodiment.

(Hint: Cosmically supported, feel-good vibes abound!)

:: The Moon :: 
The Moon in playful Leo signals a time to step up and step out in joy and abundance. Immediately after the Sun and Moon square, the Moon begins to move into an applying trine with Saturn and Uranus, creating a legendary grand trine in fire. And all of this is happening between a fertile New Moon (which happened on April 26th in Taurus), and May 10th’s Full Moon in Scorpio. This bewitching combo signals power, strength, and favorable blessings!

:: The Square :: 
Waxing Quarter Moons urge us to course correct, handle curve balls, and eloquently redirect our focus as needed. The Sun in Taurus squaring the Moon in Leo asks us to look at any friction between our desires for practicality and our needs for fun. This Waxing Quarter Moon also refers us back to intentions set on August 2, 2016, when the New Moon occurred at 10 degrees of Leo. We should see things sprouting now that are related to plans made and desires stated then. Keep on the lookout, and don’t be afraid to pivot if necessary!

:: The Message :: 
Keep going! So far, we’ve worked hard in 2017 to come to a genuine place of truth within ourselves. Our egos have had to shed misaligned notions so we can step forward into a deeper resonance with our truth. Given that this Waxing Quarter Moon occurs one day before Mercury stations direct, this potent lunar moment offers a compelling opportunity.

Get ready to embrace the upcoming influx of abundance ahead of us.  With the Sun waxing towards the summer solstice here in the Northern Hemisphere, it’s time to actively create, pursue our dreams, and conjure our desires.

For more Moon wisdom or to book a coaching session with Jennifer visit Jenniferracioppi.com. To learn more about how to work with each Moon phase, join our community of likeminded spiritual activists at Moon Club!

NUMINOUS TAROTSCOPES: MAY 2017

Posted on by Lindsay Mack

Cast and channelled by Lindsay Mack using The Starchild Tarot.

TAURUS :: TAURUS RISING
Ten of Cups

Happy birthday, sweet Taurus! You couldn’t ask for a better card to kick your new year off with than the Ten of Cups. Ten of Cups is a harvest of the heart, an unfolding of our deepest wishes. Even in small ways, this card bodes a manifestation of great happiness and personal fulfillment. It is time to birth something new, to be open to major life upgrades. To truly embrace this beautiful energy, you will need to stretch out of your comfort zone a bit, and really ask for what you want. This process will be a little different for each of you.

For some, it might be time to practice deep gratitude for all the gifts and blessings you already have. This alone can be a huge leap of faith, because it requires us to release the belief that if we aren’t pushing or striving, nothing will change — which is not true. If you see yourself in that belief, Taurus, I promise that acknowledging the abundance of what’s already here will bring nothing but more goodness into your life. For some of you, it might be time to look around you at what needs upgrading. Are you seeking a great love or a nurturing community? If so, honestly look at how often you step out into the world, making yourself available to that. If you’re seeking light and expansion, how might you step out of the dark in order to receive it?

This month might be time to significantly raise your rates, speak your truth, quit your job, or start a new relationship. It all depends on how willing you are to honor your present circumstances, shifting anything that’s not in alignment. Lean into this energy, soaking up all of it’s goodness with a celebratory spirit. You deserve every moment of loveliness that it will bring.

Cast by Lindsay Mack using the Starchild Tarot. Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Lindsay here and follow her on Instagram.

>>>

GEMINI :: GEMINI RISING
King of Cups

King of Cups is inviting you into tenderness this month, Gemini. If you have something on your heart, you are advised to share it. If you have a longing, feelings for someone, a wound, or a confusion that you’re holding onto, you are advised to share it. Some truly profound gifts will be able to flow to you this month as a result of speaking your deepest heart’s truth. You may finally get clarity, understanding, illumination or closure around something that has been causing you pain.

You may be able to begin a forgiveness process, to spark a relationship, to deepen an interaction — a profound liberation of the soul, all from simply sharing your inner experience. This is how King of Cups is flowing through your month. It is inviting you to honor your emotions and express them clearly, even if you find it particularly difficult or scary. King of Cups is a master of emotion in the best possible sense. He is able to share himself and receive from another in equal measure. When we get this card, it means that it’s time to level up in a very intimate way. It is time to share more of our deepest selves, to shed emotional weights that we are no longer meant to carry.

Speaking our truth during shaky moments enables us to step out into the world with our hearts soft and open, willing to receive all that life has to offer us. It is the most effective way of communicating to the Universe that we would like more honesty in our relationships, more commitment from those around us, and more soul centered connections all around. Be a mirror for what you desire, Gemini. Soften into your truth. Communicate what’s on your heart, and it will have a profound ripple effect on your relationships, your emotional well being, and your life path, all for the better.

Cast by Lindsay Mack using the Starchild Tarot. Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Lindsay here and follow her on Instagram.

>>>

CANCER :: CANCER RISING
Nine of Wands

You will be mastering the art of grace under fire this month, Cancer. Nine of Wands is a very powerful card, one that may propel you into lots of projects and exciting work in the coming weeks. This card demands that we rest and review in equal measure to our work, creating an interesting dynamic. The awesome opportunities and collaborations coming your way this month might be just as exhausting as they are exhilarating, so it will be essential to strike a sacred balance of give and take within the month of May.

One of the ways you can best facilitate this balance is by asking for help when you need it. A major teaching of Nine of Wands is to gently transition out of being an island, something that you can be prone to unless you’re careful, Cancer. Make sure you stay very honest in your communication throughout the month, and ask for the support you require in order to keep pace with your life. After each big expansion of energy this month, it will be important to take a breather in the wake of the activity to prepare for the next big hurdle.

This space will offer you the chance to refill your personal well, and to reflect on whether you would like to repeat the experience. You get to do a lot of work in the realm of empowered choice this month, loves — don’t be afraid to bow out of something if it’s truly not in alignment for you. Mainly, however, you’re going to be invited to keep up with the pace of your life, which is most certainly going to speed up in some great ways. Take advantage of every moment. Trust the process, ask for support, take breathers when you can, and enjoy the overflow of abundance in your life.

Cast by Lindsay Mack using the Starchild Tarot. Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Lindsay here and follow her on Instagram.

>>>

LEO :: LEO RISING
The Sun

You’re on a roll, Leo! The Sun card in your pull for this month is a sign from the Universe to keep going; you’re on the right track. Take this as a beautiful confirmation of your hard work. Continue to walk forward, releasing what no longer serves and stepping into all that you are manifesting. Focus on repetition of the mundane. If you’re writing a book, for example, write every single day, regardless of whether you feel it’s good or not. Resist the desire to complicate or shake things up in your creative life too much.

This month is about cultivating an inner steadiness, moving from apprentice to master in some way. If you can continue to chart the course you’ve set for yourself, there will be an incredible payoff. The only thing to do is to keep moving as you have been, to chop wood and carry water, kicking ass and taking names as you do so. The Sun is an amazing energy, one that promises a reset, a rebirth, and clarity around what was once confusing. To this end, Leo, you’re being invited to trust yourself more deeply than ever before. Whether you know it or not, you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be.

Once you stop wasting energy on doubting the reality of your life, things will really start flowing! You have the potential to make some huge strides this month, but only when you are willing to consider that you already have everything you need. You are enough. It is up to you to level up and to honor the value in sacred repetition and inner trust — returning again and again to the drawing board until you’ve birthed whatever you’re working on. This practice will help you see the light in a space that was once just dark. You got this — just keep going.

Cast by Lindsay Mack using the Starchild Tarot. Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Lindsay here and follow her on Instagram.

>>>

VIRGO :: VIRGO RISING
Eight of Wands

Get ready, Virgo — things are about to start moving fast in the best possible ways. Eight of Wands can come in like a speeding train, propelling us into the next phase of our lives, seemingly overnight. What you’ve been dreaming of and wishing for is about to truly bloom open, fully manifesting itself in your life. The time is ripe, the path is clear and you are ready, whether you know it or not. It is time to take action.

If an opportunity comes your way, seize it and know it will take you far. If you have something to offer, to share, to say, the stage will be set for you to do so. You’ve put in the work, and you’re about to be rewarded for it. Get ready to move with this powerful pace! You’ve been in a bit of a holding pattern as of late, Virgo, something I’m sure you would agree with all too heartily. You have been asked to be patient, to honor divine timing, to keep stirring the pot on what you’ve been brewing. It’s all been in alignment, because the delays are about to vanish. Everything is going to be moving in a much clearer and smoother way, and you will be able to take full advantage of this flow in your life.

The big key to navigating Eight of Wands energy this month is to remember that this is what you asked for. You set some powerful intentions, dreamed really big, and the Universe heard you. Step up to your vision. Take care of your body and nervous system this month, say no to anything that might be a distraction. Channel this raw power into useable energy, keep busy and productive, and you will have an enormous amount of abundance to show for it.

Cast by Lindsay Mack using the Starchild Tarot. Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Lindsay here and follow her on Instagram.

>>>

LIBRA :: LIBRA RISING
Temperance, Rx

The month of May will present an incredibly important cycle of inner work for you, Libra — a deep spring clean for the soul. Before you can move forward in your life energetically, you will be invited to review a few things one last time before you’re ready to clear them away. Honor this — trust the process and the timing. It is a good thing, even if it might not feel that way. You are not falling behind or being delayed, merely being invited to check under the bed and in the cracks one more time before you step away from them permanently.

When we receive Temperance — a card of rebirth and soul surrender — in a reversed position, it means that we still have a little more work to do in the Death card, which is the card that precedes Temperance in the Major Arcana. You are still rebirthing, still leveling up and still moving forward in a very expansive way, just releasing a bit more before you can fully step up to that new place. As you prepare for this evolution, your job this month will be to embrace the releasing work — everything you’ll be letting go of this month cannot come with you on the rest of your journey.

Unworthiness, self sabotage, old addictive patterning no longer have a place in the driver’s seat of your life. It is time for them to get into the backseat, for you to say yes to your soul, embracing truth rather than fear. If you resist, it’ll just take longer. If you surrender, practicing presence in the face of any shadows that come up in order to be cleared, there will be a liberation. Birth, change and expansion lie on the other end of the tunnel, Libra. All you have to do is walk through it one last time.

Cast by Lindsay Mack using the Starchild Tarot. Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Lindsay here and follow her on Instagram.

>>>

SCORPIO :: SCORPIO RISING
The Hierophant

This is a big month for you, Scorpio, all around upgrading old belief systems to follow the point of your own wise compass. It is time to take a deep inventory of where, if at all, old inherited beliefs are guiding your choices, instead of your truth. Look at your expectations of yourself around family, obligation, work, money, the whole nine yards. Are you placing your choices in the hands of someone else? Does your present state match the truth of your soul? If not, it’s time to make a change.

The work around this area is coming up so you can be liberated into a more aligned life — there is some major soul excavation to be done here. The Hierophant card will be helping you, highlighting any places where an untrue belief has taken root in your life. Your work this month will be to gently and repeatedly pull the old belief up from the dirt, planting new seeds of truth that will blossom in the garden of your life, nourishing you from the soul up. Within the energy of The Hierophant, you have the potential to make enormous internal shifts, which will then bring about welcome change in your external life. Inner work to facilitate outer transformation — that is what the invitation of May is all about.

You are learning that you are all you need to create expansion in your life. You’ve had the tools, power and gifts all along. The door has always been unlocked and open, ready for you to walk through. You don’t need permission. You don’t need a master, guru or teacher to tell you “when.” It’s always been you. If there is any part of you that doesn’t believe that, then right on — you’ve just uncovered the work to be done.

Cast by Lindsay Mack using the Starchild Tarot. Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Lindsay here and follow her on Instagram.

>>>

SAGITTARIUS :: SAGITTARIUS RISING
Seven of Wands, Rx

What is a warrior without her sword? What is a fighter without the fight? Where do we put our power and fire when there is nothing to defend against? This month, Sagittarius, you get to answer those questions. You are being invited to elevate the frequency of your inner fire, shifting it from fight to flow. You might experience some momentary setbacks, delays and frustrations this month. This is all to facilitate the releasing of old defenses, some so deeply buried they may feel prehistoric. Indeed, loves, your sign is arguably the most advanced of the fire signs, and thus, you have some of the most advanced and challenging work to do around your fire.

The repeated invitations into vulnerability — a space you’ve been called to many times over the last year — have all been building to this. Seven of Wands asks us to defend and move through setbacks. When reversed, it asks us to surrender. Rather than defend against anything, allow your walls to drop and the heart to soften in moments when you feel stuck or defensive. Instead of forging ahead, charging at a block, drop your weapon and look at the situation closely. In that space, you will find an inner fire within you that can never be extinguished, one that doesn’t need a challenge in order to burn brightly.

The gift of an unshakable trust will start to bloom within you, and you may find your attention being drawn more to the present, to to the gifts of patience and surrender. This is the essence of the medicine that Seven of Wands reversed is bringing you, Sagittarius — a powerful dose of peaceful warrior energy. All will happen in it’s due time, and within the space between what you desire and what you currently have, there are profound lessons to be honored.

Cast by Lindsay Mack using the Starchild Tarot. Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Lindsay here and follow her on Instagram.

>>>

CAPRICORN :: CAPRICORN RISING
Four of Crystals

Heed the call to go within this month, Capricorn. Decline the RSVPs and simplify your schedule. Your soul may be longing for a little space and time away from people this month, so give yourself what you truly need without guilt or explanation. Four of Crystals, or Pentacles, can manifest itself as a need to strengthen our energetic boundaries, to go deeply into ourselves to clarify our next steps. This card’s essence offers us the chance to purge and release anything we may be carrying that’s not actually in alignment for us.

Taking this time and space is going to help you to remember what’s really important. It may not look that way on the outset — you might resist this inner call at first, feeling that you “should” be showing up, doing more, ticking things off your to-do list. Honor your truth. Go within to get clear, not only on your next steps, but on what you value and where you’re placing your energy. You will be richer for it than if you denied yourself what you really need — a tune out in order to tune in.

Four of Pentacles is sometimes unfairly labeled as a card of materialism or greed. The image on the Smith-Rider-Waite seems to suggest this: on it, we see a man clutching four golden coins, dressed in finery and a crown. That is not your truth for this month, Capricorn — Four of Pentacles showing up in your monthly pull has nothing to do with wealth or financial patterning. It DOES have everything to do with making room for the new, as well as releasing any habits that are keeping you busy just for the sake of being busy. May is the perfect time to review your priorities. What do you want to spend your precious energy on? Go deep within and find out.

Cast by Lindsay Mack using the Starchild Tarot. Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Lindsay here and follow her on Instagram.

>>>

AQUARIUS :: AQUARIUS RISING
Three of Wands

If you’re bored, Aquarius, then do something about it. If you’re stifled, stiff, trapped in the same boxes you’ve been in for years, step out and try something new. If you’ve been longing for a sign or a reminder, this is it. You don’t have to throw the old boxes in your life away, but you can change what you bring to them, what you’re learning about, and the routine of your life. You can do this at any moment, something you’re being invited to remember this month. When we pay attention to our inner lives, the external will shift and transform to match it.

If you can empower yourself around your current circumstances, you simultaneously prepare yourself to leap into the new. This is the sacred energetic dance of the Three of Wands, which has arrived in your pull for the month with this very invitation. It is time to say yes to a new adventure, loves. Your soul is itching for new landscapes to see, horizons to explore, information to absorb. It might be time to go back to school, move to a foreign country for a year, or change your job entirely. Your spirit is hungry for something fresh and stimulating, so be sure to feed it as often as you can.

The tricky thing is that it’s not fully time to release the old, which is good practice for you. You’ll be stepping into the new as you outgrow your current circumstances, crowding out whatever you’re ready to let go of. This balance will help to foster inner trust, as well as assist in helping you to not make impulsive decisions from a place of boredom. Just remember not to rush the daydream phase — stoke the fire of your wishes and visions, then make your first move.

Cast by Lindsay Mack using the Starchild Tarot. Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Lindsay here and follow her on Instagram.

>>>

PISCES :: PISCES RISING
Akashic Records

This is a deeply powerful month for you, Pisces. Akashic Records is a rare and beautiful energy to receive in a monthly Tarot pull such as this. It is going to be guiding you to some very magical places in your expansion over the next cycle. Akashic Records is inviting you to drop into your dharma, Pisces — who are you (really), and what are you truly here to do? How are you meant to be of service? How are you being asked to show up in the world? The answer to these questions might look different from what you want, or what you might initially think.

You’re being asked to dive down past your preferences and limitations, open and available to see the bigger picture of why you incarnated here on this plane. The information you gather in the Akashic Records will be crucial for potential transformations you may make on your journey this month. This card will take you into some deep waters, but you’re used to swimming in depths such as this. You’re being invited to clean up even the smallest splinters of ego around your soul path this month, surrendering any aspects of your life that feel blocked and stuck. You are making room for sacred abundance to flow into your life, for God given gifts to come through you so you can help and serve others.

This level of dharma can only be attained upon surrendering to a higher level of truth within ourselves. What is the very thing you avoid looking at, Pisces? This is the key to not only your service, but that which you desire on this plane. Your soulmate, a career change, a conception, an expansion in intuition — all possible this month through this inner shift. You are the treasure you’ve been seeking, Pisces, so dive deep.

Cast by Lindsay Mack using the Starchild Tarot. Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Lindsay here and follow her on Instagram.

>>>

ARIES :: ARIES RISING
Ten of Crystals

Ten of Crystals, or Pentacles, is a glorious energy for you to be moving through this month, Aries. There will be much to celebrate, and it will behoove you to keep your focus trained on the present, and out of the future in order to be here for it. It’s not the easiest time for your sign right now, loves. You may be feeling ready to go, full of vigor and energy, but it might seem that the Universe keeps trying to slow you down. This duality is uncomfortable, but totally appropriate. The Retrogrades are bringing you into review, which is very important, while the building energy within you is asking to be channeled toward deep work, self care and joy.

This “push/pull” frequency is pretty intense, but Ten of Crystals is (thankfully) coming in for some big love this month. Your invitation in this card will be to honor all of your hard work, recognize how far it’s gotten you, and rejoice in all the abundance it’s brought into your life. Ten of Pentacles signifies major blessings, a glorious experience of truly recognizing that a lasting foundation has been laid with our repeated work and efforts. Now, you get to bask in the glow of it before you move onto the next great conquest. Of course, it won’t all be rainbows.

Will there be moments of discomfort this month? Yes. Will you occasionally forget about the joy and slip into worry and anxiety? Of course. Why would you believe otherwise? Anytime we reach a new level of soul joy, of goodness and abundance, the brain inevitably freaks out and invites us into contraction. No matter. You can find rest in discomfort. You can embrace joy no matter what. Celebrate all you are, all that you’ve worked for, and all that’s to come. Stay in truth and every moment will be a gift.

Cast by Lindsay Mack using the Starchild Tarot. Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Lindsay here and follow her on Instagram.

WERE YOU BORN UNDER A BAD SIGN? HOW TO WORK WITH CHALLENGING ASTROLOGY

Posted on by The Numinous

Born under a bad sign? Frederick Steinmann says so-called difficult placements are actually opportunities for greater awareness, acceptance, and transformation. Images: Veda Wildfire 

veda wildfire frederick steinmann ruby warrington the numinous born under a bad sign planetary states rulership detriment exaltation fall venus in aries 2017 steinmann astrology

Venus entered Aries on April 28, and the planet of love’s journey through this bold, assertive (and sometimes brash and selfish) warrior archetype is not always … smooth. In the sign of Aries, Venus is in its “detriment”- indicating one of the 4 states possible for each planet when placed in different zodiac signs (“detriment” and “fall” being more challenging, while “exaltation” and “rulership” the easier placements).

Rulership: Planets here are “at home” in their environment and easy to express.
Exaltation: A step beyond rulership, planets here have a chance to achieve their highest expression.
Detriment: The opposite of rulership- planets are in slightly uncomfortable territory, and the energy may need to become unblocked or unstuck.
Fall: The opposite of exaltation—energy is lessened and may need some invigoration in order to achieve expression.

For example, in Aries, Venus wants what she wants, now, and on her terms. Fiery Aries is quick with passion but not with compromise. Venus in its detriment could learn a thing or too about love from Venus’ ruling sign, Libra (the opposite sign to Aries). Venus in Libra naturally knows how to pause and apply strategy instead of just a quick reaction.

When in their detriment or fall, planets are challenged to adjust, to learn, and to further refine the energies symbolized by that planet. Below, a guide to these cosmic challenges …

>>>

**Discover your challenging placements by calculating your birth chart. No challenging aspects? You can still use the dates below to work with these energies throughout the year as the planet indicated spends time in that sign! 

:: THE SUN ::
Rulership: Leo // Exaltation: Aries // Detriment: Aquarius // Fall: Libra  
The Sun is the single most important point in a horoscope. He vitalizes Earth and the rest of our solar system, and relates to our “individuality”- who we are beyond our thoughts and emotions.

Detriment in Aquarius (2017 Dates: January 19-February 18)  
Aquarius energy is connected to the concept of humanity as a whole, but can sometimes struggle with the messiness of the individual. Aquarians circulate the solar force within the group by “fixing their will” in the service of group ideals. The Sun in Aquarius placement is all about learning how to balance group ideals with individual creativity, and sometimes learning to say “Yes, I really matter!”

Fall in Libra (2017 Dates: September 22- October 23) 
Because of their penchant for pursuing the perfect relationship, Libra Sun signs’ individual vitality can become diffused. Librans can learn how to vitalize themselves by developing some Aries energy in relationships. A good way to start is by noticing: “where am I holding back from asserting my individuality and just strategically reflecting what the other person wants to hear.” Assertion of individuality will rebalance vitality and allow space for creative expression.

>>>

:: THE MOON ::
Rulership: Cancer // Exaltation: Taurus // Detriment: Capricorn // Fall: Scorpio 
The Moon is the second most important point in the horoscope, and represents emotions, imagination, memories, and how we are nurtured.

**2017 Dates: Because the Moon changes signs every few days, check Planet Watcher for the current placement. We’ll have a Full Moon in Scorpio on May 10th, a New Moon in Scorpio on November 18th, and a Full Moon in Capricorn on July 9th.

Detriment in Capricorn
The Moon and achievement-conscious Capricorn are both related to security but they have opposing views. The ambition and drive to achieve success in society are energetically opposed with the Moon’s nurturing function (just think of those countless burnt out corporate ladder climbers!) Capricorn moons will benefit from reevaluating safety and security needs, scheduling time for self-care rituals like massage, and just feeling their feelings.

Fall in Scorpio
In fixed signs, the Moon wants to hold on to inherited patterns of nurturing, and in fixed Scorpio the art is in learning to let go. Scorpio Moons are nurtured through in-depth sharing that leads to transformation. Learn to honor your watery depths by getting in touch with more difficult emotions. You might try Jungian therapy, group counseling, or another form of therapy where you can share, transform, and release old habits.

veda wildfire frederick steinmann ruby warrington the numinous born under a bad sign planetary states rulership detriment exaltation fall venus in aries 2017 steinmann astrology

:: MERCURY ::
Rulership: Gemini & Virgo // Exaltation: Aquarius // Detriment: Sagittarius // Fall: Pisces & Leo 
As the ruler of thought, reason, and communication, Mercury is an androgynous planet that picks up masculine or feminine energy depending on the sign or relationship to other planets.

Detriment in Sagittarius (2017 Dates: November 5-January 11 2018, retrograde December 3-22)
With Sag’s philosophically expanded worldview, Mercury placed here can tend towards exaggeration, embellishment, boastfulness, or the zealous view that one’s personal opinion equals a universal outlook. To work with this energy, it’s important to notice when you’re blowing things out of proportion and to practice more discretion in speech.

Fall in Pisces (2017 Dates: February 25-March 13)
With the overemphasis on words and rational thought in Western education, Mercury in Pisces may feel that their imagination or creativity is “silly.” The key here is learning to believe that compassion doesn’t always need to be verbalized- a loving presence or hug can work. Emotional communication is a valid form of communication. Dream interpretation or a study of symbols like the Tarot could help bring out the best in this Mercury.

Fall in Leo (2017 Dates: July 5-July 25) 
Leo represents creative expression and Mercury placed here sometimes thinks they are an instant prodigy! In order to achieve the highest form of expression, this Mercury could use a dose of Aquarian objectivity to integrate their vision into society. Developing a meditation practice with a mantra like “thoughts are things, I am not my thoughts” will help with this process.

>>>

:: VENUS ::
Rulership: Taurus & Libra // Exaltation: Pisces // Detriment: Scorpio & Aries // Fall: Virgo 
Venus is the goddess of love, beauty, and harmony. She also rules the Law of Attraction- how you value and feel about yourself ultimately manifests in both your relationships and your bank account.

Detriment in Scorpio (2017 Dates: November 7-December 1)
In Scorpio, the challenging call is to transform the Venusian areas of love, relationships, and money. Learning to value your own and others’ resources appropriately is a lesson for this Venus. Another challenge comes from dealing with intensity and learning when to say no to excitement and emotional thrills that may lead to financial or emotional problems. Find your own value and trust in the process of regeneration.

Fall in Virgo (2017 Dates: September 19- October 14) 
Virgo is a mutable sign associated with the process of improvement, and when attached to Venus this can manifest as sharp criticism and endless “fixing” in relationships. Learning to dissolve some of your hyper-awareness through loving self-acceptance (the Piscean end of the polarity), and editing internal and external critique is key.

veda wildfire frederick steinmann ruby warrington the numinous born under a bad sign planetary states rulership detriment exaltation fall venus in aries 2017 steinmann astrology

:: MARS ::
Rulership: Aries & Scorpio // Exaltation: Capricorn, // Detriment: Taurus & Libra // Fall: Cancer 
Mars rules the primitive side of our natures through the “4 Fs”: Feeding, fighting, fleeing, and … reproduction. The god of war is eager to penetrate the environment. A person’s humanness has a lot to do with Mars management- whether they are impulsive and brash or able to direct their will consciously and compassionately.

Detriment in Taurus (2017 Dates: March 9-21) 
When Mars is in Taurus, the desire for sensual experience is strong, and the challenge lies in overcoming and disciplining the heightened five senses. The drive and primal motive will be towards more concrete expressions of Taurus like money and sex. This placement will have to learn more about the unseen value of experience and presence. Try exercises like conscious, meditative eating where you pause gratefully for 5 minutes with a meal in front of you before diving in. Notice and observe what comes up without judgment.

Detriment in Libra (2017 Dates: October 22-December 9)
While Mars is all about fighting and assertion, Libra is about initiating relationships and this combination can lead to passive aggressive behavior. In Aries, it’s easy to fight our enemy but Mars in Libra has to sit at the table with them and negotiate. This Mars placement is learning how to evolve from an impulsive to a refined human being. Learn to balance instinctive reactions towards your partners’ moves with healthy self-assertion of your own desires.

Fall in Cancer (2017 Dates: June 4-July 20)  
Mars will always act out to assert himself as separate, and in Cancer the tendency towards cohesion and bonding leads to a conflict. Mars in Cancers act when they feel safe with their tribe and outside of this familiar context, the impulse to assert the self is repressed. This is a sign where Mars is learning courage. Courage comes through assertion of individuality in the world beyond the tribe (the Capricorn end of the polarity). Practicing action-oriented activities like martial arts will help build the confidence to express your desires!

>>>

Fred Steinmann is a New York-based consulting astrologer who advises entrepreneurs, creative professionals, leaders of thought and industry, and all those searching for clarity, guidance, direction, and inspiration during uncertain times. He bases his practice on training and study in Ageless Wisdom, and astrological techniques grounded in 10+ years of professional experience advising clients and colleagues on Wall Street.

THE TAURUS NEW MOON WANTS YOU TO TRUST IN YOUR VALUE

Posted on by Sandy Sitron

The message of the 2017 Taurus New Moon is to connect to your inner stillness, be present for beauty, and trust in your true value, says Sandra Sitron  …

Binta Dibba for Nakid Magazine by Bethany Vargas Taurus New Moon The Numinous
Binta Dibba for Nakid Magazine by Bethany Vargas

New Moon :: April 26th 2017:: 8:18 am EST :: 6 degrees 27 minutes Taurus

Slow. Peaceful. Still. Serene.

The moment of thisTaurus New Moon opens a portal for you to connect with your inner stillness (aka inner serenity, the quiet mind, your essential nature, your higher self). When you access your “inner stillness,” you may notice a sense of true security. In this headspace of harmony and peace you have no insecurity. You trust in your value. You trust in abundance.

This portal is open for you. Move into it through meditation. Create space and stillness. Be patient. Be present to the beauty around you. Focus your attention on being grounded, registering the sensations in your body, and connecting to your inner worth.

Taurus is a powerhouse sign. On the Taurus New Moon, the Sun and the Moon meet here, to represent a new beginning. We can take this time to send our wishes to the moon. What new beginning are you ready for in your life? Craft your intentions now.

It’s especially powerful to center your intentions on Taurus themes, which focus on the physical body. The stimuli that makes the physical body feel good. The food, shelter, and water the physical body needs to exist. Money. Anything that is sustainable or of value that will keep the body going for a long time. Anything beautiful that the physical body will appreciate.

This Taurus New Moon entices you to find inner stillness. What does Taurus have to do with inner stillness? Taurus rules the body. When you can become completely grounded in your body and aware of the information that is coming in through your senses, you have acquired one way to arrive in a meditative state. You are present.

Inner stillness helps you discover other Taurus themes. It makes you aware of your inner worth and your inner value. Your security. Your sense of abundance. Your inner harmony. It brings your values into perspective. Inner stillness is grounding and secure.

There is a vibration of Taurus that can be completely concrete and stubborn. At this Taurus New Moon, it’s time melt any stubbornness and transmute it into stability. True stability creates space for security and openness.

As you create stillness within yourself, you are tilling fertile soil in which to plant your seeds. Your Taurus New Moon seed intentions should bring forth lovely blooms of abundance, harmony in relationships, security, physical health, and beauty. These themes can be very powerful for you now.

>>>

Moon semi-sextile Mars
The next move in a game of chess.
This aspect urges you to take action. Mars is in the zippy sign of Gemini, cajoling along the slow-poke Taurus New Moon. They may not agree on the correct speed. But they can decide to take concentrated, deliberate action. And that action can be potent. Center yourself and then move your chess pieces deliberately. Take your time. Make it happen. This is not time to push forward hastily. You can take slow and powerful, grounded actions that are based on your values.

>>>

Moon trine Saturn Retrograde 
Drinking your green smoothie.
The Taurus New Moon is in a wide trine to Saturn. Saturn’s energy here can help you find the structures that work best for you. What are your systems for optimal health and wellness? What are your best systems for quieting your mind? For exercise? For learning? For communication? For managing your finances? This is positive energy that will help you get everything into alignment. Think about what kind of support and structure you need and call it in.

>>>

Use the questions below to dive deeper into the lessons of the 2017 Taurus New Moon. For a more accurate reading, calculate your chart for free here and see what house holds 6 degrees Taurus…

Aries or New Moon in the 2nd House
This New Moon takes place in your house of security, money, values and worth. What support can you ask to receive?

Taurus or New Moon in the 1st House
This New Moon takes place in your house of identity. How are the circumstances in your life teaching you about who you really are?

Gemini or New Moon in the 12th House
This New Moon takes place in your house of the subconscious mind. What advice would your higher self give you about an issue in your life? Write down your issue, then write your higher self’s advice.

Cancer or New Moon in the 11th House
This New Moon takes place in your house of friends and future. What vision will you craft? What do you desire?

Leo or New Moon in the 10th House
This New Moon takes place in your house of career. Where can you push yourself a little further out into the limelight?

Virgo or New Moon in the 9th House
This New Moon takes place in your house of exploration. What do you need to see that you aren’t seeing?

Libra or New Moon in the 8th House
This New Moon takes place in your house of emotional union. What feeling is ready to change form? Write yourself a letter from that feeling. Let it tell you everything it needs to say.

Scorpio or New Moon in the 7th House
This New Moon takes place in your house of primary relationships. How will you let yourself get closer to another person? What will you say to encourage closeness?

Sagittarius or New Moon in the 6th House
This New Moon takes place in your house of health and habits. What is one small thing you can do every day to connect to your body? Can you thank your body for that connection?

Capricorn or New Moon in the 5th House
This New Moon takes place in your house of creativity and fun. How are you yearning to express yourself?

Aquarius or New Moon in the 4th House
This New Moon takes place in your house of home and family. What will you do to welcome in a new feeling at home?

Pisces or New Moon in the 3rd House 
This New Moon takes place in your house of learning and communication. Do you believe that a breakthrough comes to you or that you have to invite it in? What would you do to invite it in?

Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandra here.

SPIRITUAL SHROOMING: MY UNLIKELY AWAKENING

Posted on by The Numinous

Strung out on repressed feelings, a health crisis and mental break became an unexpected awakening for Meg Hartley, care of some spiritual shrooming…

how i lost all my fucks meg hartley ruby warrington the numinous spiritual shrooms mushroom tripping

“During my four-day break with the mundane, I connected to a bigger part of myself, which also happened to feel like an infinitely more stable part of myself”—Meg Hartley 

When I was 19, I wasn’t in a good place. I had lost my mother to suicide four years prior, and my once-successful “smashing down” of feelings had relentlessly resurfaced into every part of my consciousness.

I usually avoided the pain by staying busy all day, then intoxicated into the evening via copious amounts of marijuana or whatever else was floating around the dorms: ‘shrooms, ecstasy, and lots and lots of cheap alcohol.

But late at night, when I’d try my hardest to sleep and fail miserably, I couldn’t hide from the pain. I had taken to scratching at my skin until it bled because it hurt less than the storm that wailed inside. It was like there was so much unprocessed pain my mind didn’t know where to start. Agonizing thoughts just whipped around in my head, out of control and going nowhere.

I’d soon learn about meditation and mindfulness, which gave me a life raft to embrace during these times. But before then, I’d go home to Alaska for summer break and have a four-day experience a psychologist called a “mental break” and a philosophy teacher called “a preview to awakening.”

But to me, it simply felt like a very long dream that showed me true happiness was a real possibility … even for me, which seemed impossible at the time. This set the scene for my subsequent spiritual exploration and gave me a reason to commit to my emotional healing.

>>>

The year was 2002. My first year of philosophy classes in college had finally given form and texture to vague spiritual ideas I’d always had intuitive knowings about. The ideas that this life is an illusion, that humanity is currently experiencing a shift in consciousness, and that we’re each here to learn specific things, were presented by different religions and philosophers from all over the world.

This deja vu sense of remembering (that my teacher said was normal, but which sure felt like magic to me!) combined with all the partying left me ungrounded, spacey, and generally disinterested in “mundane” everyday life. I wasn’t aware of it at the time, but I also had a B12 deficiency that was hitting mental health symptom levels. In addition to this, there was a cyst growing on my pineal gland, which is known to augment spiritual experiences.

And so, not yet privy to the drawbacks of being ungrounded, and unaware of this explosive combination brewing in my brain, I celebrated my return home by eating yet more ‘shrooms with a dear friend.

The experience of taking psilocybin is different for everyone, but in my experimental days it was something that I regarded with reverence––like a really fun church. During every trip, the idea of “God” or a benevolent bigger something, seemed obvious and present to me. There was silliness and hilarity, but also times where I would leave my friends to go sit with my favorite tree for hours, my head filled with streaming thoughts that were ontological in nature- the answers to all of life’s big questions, more ideas I’d later study in ancient texts.

And this time, for four days after the mushroom trip ought to have ended, my thoughts remained consistently in the ontological realm––a far cry from my daily headscape at the time, which was mostly centered around losing my v-card and being “too fat.” 

In stark contrast, everything I encountered had meaning on top of meaning, and life felt so beautiful that I cried happy tears. From the inside, the experience felt like a blissful and meditative state where therapeutic dreams met real life. Colors became more vibrant as I released dark twisted pains from deep within like a long and satisfying belch.

how i lost all my fucks meg hartley ruby warrington the numinous spiritual shrooms mushroom tripping
Meg with a handmade lithograph about her experience

Of course, it’s not “normal” to weep from joy at the sight of a mountain that’s there every damn day, or to stare at everyday items babbling about “the language of the Universe” and “signs.”

Everyone in my world thought I had lost my marbles. When I finally noticed this reaction in others, I very suddenly snapped out of it, shocked at their concern and upset about making an ass of myself. That clouded my vision of the experience, as social acceptance was the form of surrender I was most familiar with at the time. But I now look back on it as being as helpful as it was hugely bizarre: the juice was totally worth the squeeze (it can be freeing sometimes to have people think you’re a little nuts, anyhoo!) 

I was immediately changed, and the depression didn’t return for many years (not until my B12 levels hit a fantastic new low and a whole new set of challenges revealed themselves). It was like I had been dusted from the inside out, I felt clear and centered in a way that I had never experienced. I carried on with the drug experimentation for a couple more years and nothing like that happened again- something that brought both great relief and a fleeting sense of disappointment.

>>>

During my four-day break with the mundane, I connected to a bigger part of myself, which also happened to feel like an infinitely more stable part of myself.

And that connection––and many times just the memory of that connection—brought a cherished light into the darkest nights of my soul. It also provided the motivation for my subsequent spiritual and emotional journeys: remembering that mental landscape, and knowing that if I stayed on the spiritual path then that sense of peace and connectedness would eventually feel like home.

>>>

Meg Hartley is a neurodivergent writer with additional bylines at Huffington Post, Ravishly, SheKnows, Leafly, TinyBuddha, and others. Check out more at CreativeMeg.com and @heymeghartley on the socials. 

PLUTO RETROGRADE 2017: A GUIDE FOR YOUR SIGN

Posted on by The Numinous

The planet of power, transformation, and absolute intensity can make us want to run and hide. Fear not, says Patricia Clark Hippolyte! Pluto Retrograde 2017 is a super potent moment to embrace our shadow side and let it out into the light…

half woman half skeleton pluto retrograde 2017 The Numinous

Thursday, April 20th :: Pluto Stations Retrograde :: 19 Degrees of Capricorn

Thursday, September 28th :: Pluto Goes Direct :: 16 Degrees of Capricorn 

All retrograde cycles allow us to return to the scene of the crime, so to speak. “Why am I dealing with this again?!” you may wonder. That’s the point of a retrograde—any issue that comes up for you will have to be dealt with three times over before you can learn the lesson.

Picture it this way. You’re driving along and go over a speed bump. Then, you put the car in reverse and go over it a second time. And then, you put the car in drive and go over the bump a third time. Simple enough! Except when it’s a Pluto retrograde. This presents a considerably more challenging situation…

Pluto can have bad reputation in the cosmos. But this relates merely to the “lower octave” of the planet’s energy. For example, we’d all like to think we take the higher ground, but we also all have stress, jobs, family, and partners that wear on us. And sometimes we make decisions from a place of insecurity, and end up living a life of deceit rather than face the shit storm. Life is not as pretty as we’d like it to be. We don’t want to admit that it’s complicated and messy so we lie: to ourselves, and to others. This is unrefined Pluto energy.

But Pluto doesn’t lie, people do. You’ve heard the saying “the house always wins”? Well it’s the same with Pluto. This planet’s influence can lead us into shadiness OR it can invite us towards transformation by asking us to step into the darker version of ourselves, the shadow self.

With Pluto transits, it can feel as if the elephant in the room can no longer be avoided. And if you’re willing to surrender to Pluto’s challenges, you can harness his transformational edge. Pluto protects us, keeps us on our toes, and magnetizes us to objects of desire. And after Pluto has taken you down, down, down, there is an immense potential for personal growth.

Cause without the darkness…there is no light, right?!

>>>

To discover what lessons Pluto retrograde has for you, check out where Pluto retrograde is backing up in your birth chart right now. This means look to the house with 16—19 degrees of Capricorn. 

When Pluto transits a house, it makes for some interesting transformations relating to that particular area of life. Think change, regeneration, and perhaps a little bit of secrecy and subversion. Pluto digs up what we’ve buried. But don’t worry—these changes are inevitable and necessary. Embrace whatever is surfacing!

>>>

:: Capricorn Rising—1st House :: Changing how you see yourself and reshaping your personality. Getting a grip on unconscious drives and urges to control people, situations and, well, … EVERYTHING!

>>>

:: Sagittarius Rising—2nd House :: A value system overhaul—both psychologically and materially. Don’t buy the McMansion just yet. You may yet discover it’s not what “luxury” truly means to you.

>>>

:: Scorpio Rising—3rd House :: Intensified thought processes and conversations. Be wary of black and white attitudes that bypass the gray, and rule out the opportunity for productive discourse.

>>>

:: Libra Rising—4th House :: Grappling internally with problems from childhood and family … it’s always Mom, isn’t it! On the outside, changes in your relationship to home—repairing your living space or moving entirely.

>>>

:: Virgo Rising—5th House :: Intensified relationship patterns—either the beginnings of a magnetic new relationship or the break down of old patterns in a current relationship. If you have children, there may be some power struggles!

>>>

:: Leo Rising—6th House :: Transformation of your health and daily routine—physical regeneration through good dietary choices or a possible breakdown of poor dietary habits.

>>>

:: Cancer Rising—7th House :: Embarking on an “amazing ’til it isn’t” relationship or being challenged to change your present relationship. Seeing power plays in partnerships for what they really are.

>>>

:: Gemini Rising—8th House :: Be careful with any joint possessions or other people’s resources—think your spouse’s or employer’s. Also a time to get familiar with any unmet desires.

>>>

:: Taurus Rising—9th House :: A great moment for absorbing and learning from experience, and gaining new knowledge. What beliefs have you been blindly holding onto, and where are you getting woke?

>>>

:: Aries Rising—10th House :: If you know where you’re at with your career, there’s a good chance of success at this time. If you’re uncertain, there’s a high chance of a total change of path.

>>>

:: Pisces Rising—11th House :: A perfect time to seek out more like-minded friends who will aid you in your transformations. It’s also a good moment for prioritizing actions that truly give back.

>>>

:: Aquarius Rising—12th House :: A game of psychological chess with yourself! It’s time to deal with old patterns and behaviors that worked in childhood but don’t translate now (read: no more tantrums on the floor!)

>>>

Patricia Clark Hippolyte has been seeing stars for well over two decades. With international private readings and intensive three-day courses, she reveals astrological ciphers that help people work with their current and future planetary involvements. Though the stars often shine a painfully bright light on the realities of daily life, remember: starlight is better than no light at all.

@NUMINOUS_BOOKS