SO REFINED: READING FOR THE VIRGO NEW MOON ECLIPSE

The Virgo New Moon Eclipse is an invitation to refine and redesign your world from the inside out, says Sandra Sitron. Artwork: Anastasia Borowska

Virgo New Moon Eclipse 2016 illustration girl The Numinous

We have a New Moon Solar Eclipse at 9 degrees Virgo on Thursday, September 1st at 5:03 am ET

The New Moon is a chance to start fresh. And THIS New Moon coincides with a Solar Eclipse, which also speaks to new beginnings. At the time of a Solar Eclipse, we collectively experience a massive reset. If we want to follow the flow of this energy, it is a time to be quiet and feel into where we are ready to make a fresh start.

Occurring in Virgo, the cosmos suggests that this fresh start may be in the area of Self-Improvement. Virgo refines, refines, and refines some more. And Virgo practices. With each new approach Virgo makes practical adaptations and adjustments. Because Virgo is an Earth sign, the focus here is on improving anything that is of the material world. Our health. The environment. The work that we do to sustain ourselves.

I have the sense that this Virgo New Moon Eclipse as being like the moment just before conception. No plans have been made. The DNA has not yet been arranged. We are in the space between breaths; a moment that is at once empty and full of promise. Virgo is so practical, so earthly, and so full of thoughts. This New Moon offers a chance for the thoughts to stop and a door to open. So where does the doorway lead?

As you ponder this question, allow yourself as much space as you need. Know that you can change everything or nothing. Give yourself the gift of agency and of vision. Start asking yourself questions and writing intentions. Know that anything is possible. When you write an intention, imagine how it would feel if that intention were actualized. Muster up this feeling with high-emotion and sit with it momentarily.

These questions may help prompt Virgo New Moon intentions…

– What adjustments do you want to make in your habits?
– What adjustments do you want to make in your schedule?
– What adjustments do you want to make in your work?

If your body could talk, what would IT say to you? What does your body need? Write a letter addressed from your body to yourself. And now ask…

– What is the smallest change you can make to improve your health?
– What would support you most in creating positive changes in your life?
– What is one thing you can easily shift to make your life more efficient?
– What is one thing taking up your time and energy that is not a priority? Can you change it?

***

The Stellium in Virgo
The concentric circles of a ripple in water.
The Moon joins the Sun, North Node, Jupiter and Mercury, all clustered in the sign of Virgo. A grouping of planets and points like this is called a Stellium. A Stellium creates a powerful focus of energy. This energy says: In this fresh start we reflect (Mercury Retrograde,) we expand (Jupiter) and we align with our purpose (North Node). Underlying all of this, we are making practical adjustments that bring us closer to our Earthly ideals (Virgo).

The symbol of the ripple in water shows us how powerful and focused this energy is. What intention caused the ripple in the water? How far will it reach? For there to be a ripple in water, the water must be still. Virgo energy is hardly ever still. Mutable Virgo energy is represented by the spiral—continuous adjustments to thoughts and actions. Part of Virgo medicine is the practice of mindfulness. Stilling the waves of the mind through meditation is a critical piece in the Virgo story. This stellium helps us create mindfulness and set focused new intentions for reflection, expansion and alignment with purpose. Then we can watch the ripples change our lives.

***

The New Moon is in a T-Square with Mars, Saturn and Neptune. A T-Square is an aspect pattern (two squares and an opposition), that looks like an arrow in the sky. It is tension that provokes action. By design, it helps us motivate. The stimulus to motivation is the challenge.

The New Moon Square Saturn and Mars
An arrow flies into the wind.
The arrow in flight is us being brought to emotional action. We can no longer deny our needs. We can no longer deny who we are. We must come to some sort of confrontation with the wind. We are moving through the wind and yet it pushes against us, restricting and blocking. Through the restriction we grow stronger. We need the restriction. We need the confrontation. We need to move through it so that we can finally see the truth.

The New Moon Opposite Neptune
A jigsaw puzzle falls to the floor.
We see the truth but then it vanishes. Or we create a picture of the truth and then realize that it was not real. We need to look and look again. We need to pick up the pieces and decide how they fit together. Maybe they create a different picture than the one we thought we saw. We need to do the work of fitting the pieces together one by one so that we can move toward the big picture that we desire.

This aspect tantalizes us with fantasy. Fantasy is how we manifest what we desire. Yet fantasy is also a construction of our subconscious. If we fantasize without practicing mindfulness, we will falter. If we create stories that are based on unexamined and outdated subconscious beliefs we will be continuously starting the puzzle from scratch.

***

So in the dark of this Virgo New Moon eclipse, sit and quiet your mind. Create a fantasy that reflects your truth. This will be your vision. Put it together piece by piece. Watch as the arrow gains strength and speed. Watch as the ripples of your intentions cause positive change. Pause in this moment before conception, practice stillness, and then use the below mantra for your sign to practice the art of refinement.

Aries :: Aries Rising
“My habits feel healthy and mindful. I enjoy efficiency in my daily life.”

Taurus :: Taurus Rising
“I am a conscious creator. I live a joyous and abundant existence.”

Gemini :: Gemini Rising
“I create a warm and loving nest. I nurture myself and I feel supported.”

Cancer :: Cancer Rising
“I am curious and playful.”

Leo :: Leo Rising
“I feel abundant and easeful. I believe in my inherent worth.”

Virgo :: Virgo Rising
“I fan the fire of my individuality. I am just as I need to be. All is well.”

Libra :: Libra Rising
“I am always connected because all of life is connected.”

Scorpio :: Scorpio Rising
“I encourage my hopes, dreams and aspirations. I envision a bright future for the collective.”

Sagittarius :: Sagittarius Rising
“I align easily with my purpose. I am moving forward.”

Capricorn :: Capricorn Rising
“I seek new philosophies.”

Aquarius :: Aquarius Rising
“I trust that I am safe to feel my feelings.”

Pisces :: Pisces Rising
“I am supported in relationship.”

SOLID PROGRESS: SATURN DIRECT FOR YOUR SIGN

As motivator Mars joins Saturn direct in Sagittarius, Shari Zollinger shares some insight for where each sign will begin to see solid progress…

saturn lapel pin saturn direct by Shari Zollinger on The Numinous
Saturn lapel pin by Hood Rat Rough Diamond on Etsy.com

SATURN DIRECT IN SAGITTARIUS (8/13/16—12/20/17) :: KEYWORD – “MOMENTUM”

In the late summer of 1938 three young, French nationals, Genevieve and Bernard de Colmont and Antoine de Seynes, arrived in America to take their kayaks down the Green and Colorado Rivers (a feat that had never been attempted before). This French Trio brought with them state-of-the-art kayaks, cameras, camping gear and, because they didn’t trust American drinking water, all the beer they could carry. This was no small feat, as they would have to paddle down 900 miles of very rough water. Three months later they rowed into Lee’s Ferry, Arizona river-worn but transformed by the experience.

Saturn turned direct in Sagittarius on August 13. Do you feel a new sense momentum? Retrogrades often remind us to slow down, practice patience, to revise our to-do lists and check our supplies, twice. And with Saturn direct and moving again, warmed also by the energy of Mars in Sagittarius, the time is ripe to set sail on an adventure/venture that’s been some time in the planning. Like the French trio, the time has come to point our paddles downstream.

Saturn direct in Sagittarius is not however, about doing things fly-by-night. Preparation is extremely important, as Saturn wants to methodically build the right foundation, to make sound calculations, and to consider any and all costs involved. The French trio was well prepared for their journey; dear readers you must do the same.

Sagittarius housing both Saturn and Mars insists that the intention with any ventures put into motion now is to grow, expand, and learn. It’s time to take that class, to fly to Indonesia for a yoga teacher training, to learn a language, start a non-profit, activate a latent passion. But by all means ground each activity with common sense, a good plan, sturdy walking shoes, and plentiful supplies of your beverage of choice.

Below, a Saturn direct in Sagittarius reading for each sign…

Saturn direct august 2016 on The Numinous
The French trio, Genevieve and Bernard de Colmont and Antoine de Seynes, ready to set off on their trip

Aries: MOMENTUM and HIGHER GOALS
How do I incarnate a dream? Master fantasy author J.R.R. Tolkein took the world he created so seriously he developed a language for its characters. Although you may not be creating a language you are encouraged to take your visions and dreams seriously enough to let them spill wondrously, and almost fully formed, out into reality.

Taurus: MOMENTUM and OTHERS (Intimacy)
We know our Taurus friends to be enduring lovers. During this Sagittarius season take your love-style to the next level by considering this juicy word: interdependence. Blending with others in your life will have you smiling and learning in deep and beautiful ways.

Gemini: MOMENTUM and RELATIONSHIPS
There is no truer test of the solidity of a relationship than when you travel together, especially internationally. Dearest Gemini, go there with your lovers and closest collaborators and take on the test of your commitment to each other. Hint: travel with books and b-line it to a beautiful body of water.

Cancer: MOMENTUM and WORK
Focus, direction and goal setting at work make it much more enjoyable to meet friends after work for sweet down-time and sparkly conversation. And when you’re truly invested in ALL the things that contribute to your wellbeing, you’ll find yourself with boundless energy for being of service in the world.

Leo: MOMENTUM and CREATIVITY
Think of food as the Muse dear Leo, and you as its apprentice. Dream up new recipes, seek out exotic cuisines, let your Muse take you to happy soul-inspired meals and even late night binges watching with Anthony Bourdain’s Parts Unknown. All in the name of sheer, unbridled pleasure.

Virgo: MOMENTUM and HOME
In The Wizard of Oz, a girl and her dog end the movie with your new mantra Virgo: “There’s no place like home, there’s no place like home.” Find a luscious pair of soft, ruby-colored slippers and dig deep into the magic of your private sphere—the secure bedrock of your grandest plans.

Libra: MOMENTUM and COMMUNICATION
Learning what to say and when to say it is your daily practice right now, and has you craving good ole fashion conversation. Finding your voice is imperative and although it might be a little squeaky from underuse it’s a tool that gets stronger the more you use it!

Scorpio: MOMENTUM and MONEY
Do I believe I have something valuable to contribute to the world? Yes I do! The world right now dear Scorpio being your vibrant, local community. The mantra think global, act local is yours for this transit. Your innate talents + manifestation gives you a successful glow.

Sagittarius: MOMENTUM and SELF-IMPROVEMENT
What do you want dear Sag? There are an abundance of opportunities but I’d consider focusing on the long game. Dust off the passport; pull out your suitcase for you may be taking a solo, soul-searching trip in the next month or two. A much-needed check in with self is the right ticket.

Capricorn: MOMENTUM and SOUL
You are ready to take your spiritual life to the next level. A died-in-the-wool pilgrimage is in order even if you never leave your home. Honing this numinous part of yourself, could also find you working your solid magic on or off the yoga mat. Write down your dreams.

Aquarius: MOMENTUM and COMMUNITY
What is the sweet cause you are cheerleading and feel most passionate about? Use your innovative magic to whip a grassroots idea into shape and see it ride off into the sunset, banners waving. The disempowered are relying on you. It’s time to take your ideas to the streets!

Pisces: MOMENTUM and MY CALLING
The big picture talent of Pisces comes out and takes its place as part and parcel of your life’s work. Finally your unique vision merges with what you consider to be your sacred calling. The details come into focus and you find yourself magically incarnating one solid brick at a time.

To book a session with Shari or for for more information please find her at Sharizollinger.com

STRONG EYE ASTROLOGY: WEEK OF JULY 25—29

A symbolic reading of this week’s cosmic climate for your sign, direct from the third eye of Sandra Sitron—a.k.a.Strong Eye Astrology

strong eye astrology leo symbolism sunflower on The Numinous

Leo :: Leo Rising
Noticing all the tiny seeds inside a sunflower. Can you count the grains of sand in the world? Can you count the stars in the sky? This week has you vacillating between feeling so in love with the bigness of the universe and feeling frozen in the details. Hold true to the knowing of your infinite self. Ride the wave even if it feels as if it isn’t going anywhere. The more that you pay attention to that flame of intuition deep inside of you, the better you will be able to decide what to do. Travel and exploration are about to become less erratic, giving you time to catch your breath and make necessary internal changes. In the coming months, you may be more focused on your finances. These shifts are beginning this week and it may feel dizzying momentarily, the way it feels when you’ve been spinning in circles and then suddenly stop. Give yourself a moment to catch up with your new tempo. Be wary of self-criticism. Simply allow. Find a cozy seat in the sun and count the seeds, pondering the perfection of life.

Virgo :: Virgo Rising
A bird taking flight. Like the bird, you may feel as if you can shift into another plane of experience. From the land to the air. From the mind to the heart. From frenzy to stillness. From upheaval to understanding. Over past weeks, your deepest waters have been churned. Meaning, some major emotions have been coming to the surface. Now you have a moment to process. You are shifting into fluency with some of the issues that have been rising up. You are moving to a plane of deeper understanding. In the coming weeks, your greatest gift and challenge will be your mindset. Whenever your brain tells you that you are separate, remind yourself that you are connected. Be analytical and refine your world, yet do it from a place of acceptance. Allow the new understanding that you are acquiring to fly from your heart to your mind and back again.

Libra :: Libra Rising
A river, current moving quickly. You are zipping into motion. It’s lovely when the lists get made, the ideas get shared, and the people come together. Rally your team. Find the power of your master-mind group. Share those ideas. Flow fast like the river and pick up leaves and sticks and feathers along the way. Carry and be carried. Co-operate with the weather and the topography. And then, at mid-week the massive changes that have been rocking your relationship realm slow down and start to be processed more internally. The top of the river stills and underground springs bring in new cold, fresh, pure water. At the end of the week your river pools into a lake and you float. You drift as the understanding of the past month sinks into your bloodstream and your cells. The pain is processed and understood and transferred into the symbolic realm of your subconscious mind. The symbols of the subconscious mind rise up for review, are pondered and dissolve back into the primordial lake of your being.

Scorpio :: Scorpio Rising
Seeing the depth of an ocean in the eyes of another. You. Them. As you share a gaze, your reflections repeat infinitely in each other’s eyes. The understanding of humanity that you have been working for over the last two+ years has come to a point of crescendo. Through the realest of real experiences, you have been digging to learn all about human motivation, human pain, human merging. It’s been real. It’s sometimes been down-on-the-ground-big-tears-and-pillow-punches real. A lot of it has been centered around your #1 way to learn— relationships.
Now all of those intense emotions find themselves outlet in your career and in your health. What can you do with what you’ve learned? What do you do with your greatest gift— being able to hold space while others shy away? And how do you take care of yourself? Get a grip on your body. Hold your own space as you hold space for others. You’ll have a little time here to reflect and soon the intensity will ease off. So take the cue to position your watery body in the physical world. Make manifest.

Sagittarius :: Sagittarius Rising
Hay drying in the sun. Make hay while the sun shines. Take action early in the week. Get out there and maximize the resource that you have available—the Sun is shining and the grass is abundant. Action and expansion are what will make you feel in alignment. What is the “hay?” Seeking new philosophies, physical or mental explorations, break-throughs, actions, travel, relishing in the abundance of nature, following the path of truth, forming opinions, taking risks. In other words, shooting your arrow and following to see where it lands. At the end of the week, don’t discount your creative urges. Follow them like a beacon of light. They will lead you to internal break-throughs.There is also some friction around this time that causes you to examine your subconscious stories. If you feel paralyzed by a decision, it’s a clue to go deep into your beliefs around that topic. What is really holding you back? By the weekend, thoughts move to your career, so it makes sense that you’ll be doing your explorations first. You will be entering a phase of more responsible and analytical thinking about work. This “small-picture” way of thinking isn’t always comfortable for you. Prepare yourself by fostering an optimistic mindset and go make that hay.

Capricorn :: Capricorn Rising
Eating flowers. Nourish yourself with kindness, compassion, and gentleness. You are so often on the go, working, building and climbing. This is your time to learn about gentleness, and let that flow into loving-kindness for yourself and others. Early this week focus on nourishing and supporting yourself in your grounded way. This kind of self-care prepares you for merging in union with another person, which is another part of the current theme. Around the end of the week you may experience some frustration around being unable to take action in your greater community. Or it could be that intense feelings are overflowing. Is there something that you are finally able to grieve? Keep eating those flowers, feeding yourself beauty and grace. By the weekend, thoughts move to the bigger picture and things become more clear.

Aquarius :: Aquarius Rising
Skipping stones. A lot of things in your life are catching air. Air is connective- bringing together people and ideas. This week you are actively learning about a relationship. There is some easy energy here— just as long as you stay open-minded. The moment you shut down or try to maintain the status quo is the moment you lose out. Keep skipping. Stay in movement. At the end of the week, there may be some friction in your career. Try to aim for “assertive” and “boundaries.” At the same time, the door opens for you to shift your earliest beliefs about learning, thinking and communicating. You could be attracting powerful, genius-level downloads, (aka inspired ideas.) The question is— will you notice? It will be super subtle. Pay attention to your dreams. The Inventor archetype is strong within you, but she will be going incognito for a few months to do some very important inner work around how you think and communicate. Don’t lose her trail!

Pisces :: Pisces Rising
Swimming laps in a pool. Back and forth. Back and forth. This is your moment to add structure and repetition to your repertoire. Urge yourself to form healthy habits. You are supported in making changes. If they are the right changes, you can get them to stick. You need to be gentle with yourself as you form the new habits that you need. Put in place special buffers and transitions. You aren’t always great with “hard and fast” habits, so focus on moderation and flexibility. Create habits that are firm but fluid. You are so good at adapting that it almost makes sense for you to focus on the structure around how you create the habit then the habit itself. Utilize the power of your incredible subconscious mind. The tool of hypnosis is wonderful for this. At end of week a desire to explore or do something rash, may lure you away from your methodical habit building project. Keep swimming back and forth and as you nourish your physical body you will naturally build health that allows you to explore and make mental leaps into new territory.

Aries :: Aries Rising
Walking on a long hike. You are making progress and taking action. This is a time for your creativity to flourish. Try to receive recognition for your self-expression. Take just a little solo time to center yourself in your spirit—what do you want to create? Early in the week, you have energy, so use it to do things that are simultaneously joyful and expressive. Mental stimulation abounds, so keep a journal of great ideas as they flow in. At end of week the tone becomes more inward, you will be working with your emotions. There may be relationship friction as you reconcile your own needs with those of another person. This is a good time to remind yourself of the concept of ego. Around Friday, start asking yourself where you can let go of ego in your decisions and reactions. By doing this, you open up a lot of mental space for yourself. You are entering a chapter of internal personality shifts. This will be a slightly less erratic time and the changes will be more subtle then they have been. So listen to your inner self with a trained and sensitive ear. Walk on your path in a contemplative state, checking in periodically to see where you ready to grow.

Taurus or Taurus Rising
Snow angels. Get down on the ground and make magic. This week your home and family take on great importance. Your foundation takes on great importance. Early in the week focus on centering yourself and nourishing your inner child. As you do, you may find that you make a subconscious break-through. Something about how you take care of yourself and how you feel safe cracks open and you gain new understanding. This is the magical part. This is the part where you transcend and shift from a space that was in the fog to one that is out in the open. This is when you make an angel appear out of the snow. It’s especially important that you nurture your innermost self, because you may find that a relationship needs your attention by the end of the week. And relationships are best attended to when you are secure and self-love is abundant. So fill up your cup. Remember the concepts “patience” and “flexibility.”

Gemini :: Gemini Rising
A bullfrog’s call. Shout it out. Communicate. The group needs your knowledge. We need to know where you are. You may find yourself inspired by your larger community, so connect. Push your thoughts toward the future, your own or the collective’s. This is where the fertile swamp of ideas awaits, dear froggy. Then just pluck inspiration out of the air like flies. What evolution is coming next? You’ve tackled land and water, what plane of existence awaits? This is a mentally active time for you. Learn fast, contemplate and communicate. Just make sure that you don’t hop around too much. At end of week there is friction that inspires you to improve the practical aspects of your life. Take care of your body and bring your daily habits into alignment.

Cancer :: Cancer Rising
Holding a beating heart. You are meant to take action that comes from a heart-centered place. You are the one holding the heart, so you hold the responsibility to make a change. This change has to do with work and security. If you are unclear about what this change is, connect with your intuitive heart-center to find out. Name your feelings. Understand where they come from. Focus on nurturing yourself, so that you are strong enough to work and build. You have a strong urge to build, but when you try to create a structure, especially at work, the result may be erratic right now. This may feel frustrating. By the end of the week, the shifts you want to make become less erratic but more mysterious. You’ll have to dig a little deeper to see what needs to change in your career. Keep coming back to groundedness. Keep coming back to security. Hold your heart firmly and remind yourself that you are safe. Bear witness to your innermost workings. Build from a place of internal alignment. Open to your own inner wisdom.

To book a reading with Sandra email her at hello@strongeyeastrology.com or visit Strongeyeastrology.com

JOURNALING BY SIGN FOR THE CANCER NEW MOON

Deep, sweet healing is available under the July 4 Cancer New Moon—on a personal and a collective level, says Ruby Warrington. PLUS a New Moon journaling exercise by sign…

cancer new moon bedroom journaling on The Numinous

 

 

Buckle up, bust out the tissues, and get ready to feel some serious feelings under the cashmere blanket cover of the July 4 Cancer New Moon. But rather than a hair-raising roller-coaster of emotion, forming part of a tender, loving trine to Neptune in Pisces and a newly direct Mars in Scorpio, this feels more like a loving embrace of the most sensitive, idealistic aspects of our beings—both individually, and as a collective.

And MAN does the world need this all-enveloping, watery hug right now—which is not here to drown us, or invite us to get swept away on on a tide of sentimentality. Rather, here comes a clarion call to see past the drama, the blame, and the collective pain so many have been experiencing, and simply feel all that is ready to be healed.

The Moon is at its most potent in its home sign of Cancer, the nurturing care-taker of the Zodiac, where it is being charged by the life-force energy of the Sun. Joined here by PR planet Mercury, and Venus, planet of peace, love and beauty, not only is this stellium sending us a beam of pure hope; voicing our vulnerability and caring so much we cry won’t look weak during this Moon cycle—it will reveal us at our most beautiful.

Cosmos willing, we’ll see the same from our world leaders too—since the Cancer New Moon, along with her stellar backing singers, is opposite a retrograde Pluto in Capricorn, shining a light on just how ugly things get when it becomes all about the power plays, at the expense of truly empathetic, authentic leadership. A taste of which we’ve been getting already.

And so the bigger opportunity now is for us all to use whatever influence we wield—in our own lives, within our family constellations, and with whatever voice we put out in the world—to transmute anger and defensiveness to pure, unadulterated compassion. To an mother’s unconditional love. And from this place, to harness the fiery power of Mars direct in Scorpio to assist the downtrodden in rising, Phoenix-like, from the ashes.

Oh, and you know that expression about drinking your cares away…? Not even the most kamikaze-strength cocktails will be able to mask the outpouring of emotion (that which we care about) that must accompany this healing process. If anything, we can all expect to be crying into the guacamole way before Monday’s Cancer New Moon rises.

And so instead, we invite you to turn your back on the BBQs and the inevitable, albeit beautiful, public crying this July 4. To carve out a day for some Cancerian self-care, to retreat into your shell, and to engage in the below journaling exercise—which is designed to help each sign plumb the depths of what personal healing is available beneath the benevolent beam of this Cancer New Moon, and during the next two weeks of this Moon cycle.

If you find yourself stuck drop back into your gut—using the keyword as an anchor for your musings. And above all remember to feel it all, to keep feeling, and then to feel some more.

ARIES :: ARIES RISING
My deepest family or ancestral wound is… The personal power I have access to when I move beyond this is… So, what healing modality is my intuition guiding me towards this Moon cycle? What shift could this create in my career, and in my being a role model for others? Keyword: Mother

TAURUS :: TAURUS RISING
What am I most reluctant to voice right now? To whom? How might my connections and close relationships move forward this Moon cycle if I could just find the courage*? What wider impact could these honest conversations between me and my collective have on the world? Key word: Vision
*NB you can

GEMINI :: CANCER RISING
What do I value the most about myself? My greatest talent is… How can I bring more of this to my day-to-day during this Moon cycle? Of what service could this ultimately be to others? What new levels of depth would this bring to the legacy I am imprinting on the world? Keyword: Abundance

CANCER :: CANCER RISING
The creative project I am ready to invest in this Moon cycle is… What is the love note I need to receive from myself this week to get started? Why is it difficult to write? How does this shift when I see myself through the eyes of my dream lover? When I express my creative gives, how does this shift my relationships with others? Key word: Vitality

LEO :: LEO RISING
Where and with whom in my tribal system do I need to exercise more compassion this Moon cycle? This will also be healing for me because… What are the limiting beliefs I hold about my my personal power? Seeing beyond these, how am freed to be proactive in doing my dharma? Keyword: Integrity

VIRGO :: VIRGO RISING
My role in the group currently is… To what extent does this allow me to flourish as a creative being? And what part of myself is being stifled? The conversation needed this Moon cycle for me to express my true gifts begins with… In what ways might my relationships, in love and business, flourish as a result? Keyword: Innovation.

LIBRA :: LIBRA RISING
My greatest ambition for 2016 is… How can I expand on this vision to also be of service in the world? What limiting belief am I holding about my capacity for attracting financial abundance? Who in my family tree am I most inspired by career-wise? This moon cycle I will connect to their energy by… Keyword: Reputation.

SCORPIO :: SCORPIO RISING
Five new ways I can find creative inspiration this moon cycle are… My dream travel location would be… What does my highest self find so fascinating about this place, and its culture? What emotional need does this speak to in me? Speaking from this place, my message for the world is… Keyword: New horizons.

SAGITTARIUS :: SAGITTARIUS RISING
The great mystery I am being called to investigate this Moon cycle is… Five ways shining a light on this area will improve my family relationships are… What in my own life could be healed as a result? This will make me feel more confident in my ability to experience abundance because… Keyword: Obsession.

CAPRICORN :: CAPRICORN RISING
In my close relationships I am always the one who… How can I experiment with being more authentically myself this Moon cycle? Three things I would like people to know about the real me are… In what positive ways might this shift the way I am perceived by the people in my life? Keyword: Respect.

AQUARIUS :: AQUARIUS RISING
I have been neglecting my overall wellbeing lately by… How has this impacted on my ability to truly value myself? What ambitions have I achieved in the past as a result of instilling healthy habits and routines? What new way can I find to connect to my higher self this Moon cycle? Keyword: Efficiency.

PISCES :: PISCES RISING
When I am in my creative flow I feel… But the limiting beliefs I hold about my creative self are… What actions can I take this Moon cycle to challenge myself creatively? In an ideal world, in what ways would this transform the way others see me? Keyword: Play.

5 SIGNS I NEEDED A SPIRITUALITY DETOX

When your practice becomes a crutch it could be time for a spirituality detox, says Victoria Cox. Artwork: Elayne Safir

Elayne Safir

I’ve been fascinated with the esoteric side of life since I was a little girl, but in recent years I’ve been delving a little deeper. Kundalini yoga, tarot, energy healing, astrology, crystals, meditation. You name it, I’ve probably tried it.

And lately I began to notice that whenever life got more intense, I would lean a little harder on these practices.

I’d pull a tarot card every day (okay, sometimes several), check five or more astrology sites religiously, and my morning meditation schedule became a non-negotiable. To the point I began to wonder if, instead of utilizing these practices to gain a deeper meaning of life, I was using them to numb out. After all, I was no longer experiencing the blissful results and striking insights I’d encountered initially. Simply put, the whole thing was starting to make me feel neurotic.

So, what was a girl to do?

In a twist of irony, my question was actually answered during an energy healing session. After listening to me whinge about how I was working so hard on myself yet my anxiety levels were creeping higher, I was informed I was being put on a month-long “spirituality detox.” In short, it was time to cut the woo-woo and get grounded.

Here are the five signs that showed me I was in need of a spirituality detox. If anything sounds familiar, you might decide to join me…

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A daily practice becomes a daily obsession
For me this was Kundalini meditation. At first, the results were impressive; I was calmer throughout the day and found myself less likely to get sucked into life’s dramas. Yet, as external challenges mounted, I became more rigid about my practice. I had to do it no matter what.

There were mornings where I woke up tired yet pushed myself through the practice, counting the seconds until I was finished. My morning “meditation” was beginning to feel more like bootcamp, and I was no longer enjoying it. As a result, the benefits I’d experienced when practicing from a place of reverence, began to ebb away.

Pursuing spirituality for personal gain
Over time I’d acquired a toolbox of sorts to deal with life’s rough patches. If was feeling anxious, I journaled about my feelings. If I was feeling uninspired, I meditated. If I wanted to create something new in my life, I would use visualization techniques.

These tools were extremely helpful in getting me through hard times, but I was starting to use them in the good times too, to satisfy my ego desires—opposed to spiritual yearnings. And then when life didn’t go exactly the way I wanted it to, I became angry. I realized that in using these practices this way, I was buying into the idea that the the Universe somehow “owed me”—and was mystically designed to reward selfishness, when actually the opposite is true.

Self-helping vs. self-medicating
I noticed a pattern of behavior that went something like this: waking up after a boozy night out I’d feel a familiar sense of self-loathing about having drunk too much. To alleviate these feelings, I would head straight to a yoga class to clear my head.

Feeling better about myself, I would then come home and have a glass of wine—undoing all the good work I’d done in class! I was essentially using my practice as a quick-fix means to feel better in the moment while ignoring the real issue (why I’d drunk too much again)—instead of a way to learn about myself on a deeper level.

Searching for the next spiritual fix
Living in New York, there are a classes and workshops offering every spiritual answer under the cosmos. Energy healing; Chakra cleansing; Past-life regression. You name it, it’s here. While this is wonderful in many ways, I noticed how the sheer abundance of choice made it feel like there was always one more thing to try.

I began to convince myself that I needed to do every treatment, attend every event. I was treating these revered spiritual arts like a mass consumer, always looking for more instead of stopping and simply asking myself what I was trying to heal.

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Spiritual neurosis
I discovered that my motives were becoming completely anti-spiritual, as I indulged in a sort of metaphysical materialism. Over time my beloved practices had morphed from a source of comfort into a supposedly mystical way to manifest my worldly desires.

Instead of wanting to go to a sound-bath at the end of the week to relax, I felt I had to go—or I would be missing out on some great revelation about myself. I wasn’t. I was living my life wrapped up within my ego’s neuroses instead of living from my heart.

***

Once I saw clearly how I was misappropriating my spiritual practice, I asked my energy healer what I needed to do.

Her prescription?

No mind-altering substances (i.e. alcohol) for 30 days. Stop reading or engaging with all esoteric information. Cease all meditation. Stop all energy practices or group healing

Instead?

Spend time on grounding activities such as house-cleaning. Practice intense cardio exercise. Sleep and rest. Spend time in nature. Take plenty of salt baths to detox the body and drink lots of water.

Initially it seemed like too big of a pill to swallow. But as I deleted my astrology and tarot apps from my phone I already began to feel lighter. When my alarm went off at 7am for my morning meditation I almost squealed with pleasure at the thought of sleeping for an thirty extra minutes. I relished the empty weeknights where I didn’t have some class to attend.

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I knew it was the right thing to be doing simply because it felt so damn good. I felt like a child taking a month off from a very strict boarding school. Admittedly the hardest part for me was not drinking alcohol; I didn’t partake during the week, but I’ll be honest and admit that I still dabbled, albeit lightly, some weekends.

And once the thirty days were up? There were some practices, such as Kundalini yoga, that I was dying to get back into—simply because they made me feel better. But there were others, like my incessant tarot card pulling, that no longer held any appeal.

Most importantly, my experience taught me far more about myself then I’d learned in my obsessive pursuit of all things Now Age. I learned that the spiritual path is a long and meandering one; that there are no quick fixes or shortcuts.

Most importantly it taught me to listen to my heart instead of my head, and to always ask myself if what I’m seeking is in service of enlightenment or egotism.

Have you had a similar experience to Victoria? Share your thoughts with the Numinous tribe Instagram and Facebook, or in the comments below…

SENSITIVE SOUL: WORK WITH A CANCER MOON SIGN

Tips and practices to help understand and work with your Cancer Moon sign from Ash Bonelli. Artwork: Prince Lauder via Behance.net

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The Moon represents the inner subconscious world that we usually only share with those we love and trust. It can show us our needs and how we care for others—and as such, our Moon sign (where the Moon falls in our birth chart) shows the style in which we express this softer side.

Work out your Moon sign, when you do you chart for free here.

The inner world of the Cancer Moon sign is a gentle, vulnerable and emotional landscape. The Moon rules the sign of Cancer so she feels quite at home in this sign making it easy to fully express her archetypal nature. When we think of the crab itself (the symbol for Cancer), we see the hard protective shell on the outside but know there is nothing but softness on the inside. A small being that carries its sanctuary on its back so it can feel at home wherever it goes.

These themes symbolize the Cancer Moon sign. You can put on a brave face, but deep down you feel EVERYTHING. You usually cry easily and really experience the emotions of any particular situation or environment you happen to be in. This Moon is very in tune with its intuition, thoughts and feelings—so much so you sometimes forget that not everything is always about you. Being sensitive is great, until it isn’t and you become resentful and hide away in your shell. There is a fine balance to be found with the Cancer Moon sign.

Taking care of others usually makes you quite happy, but when it goes unappreciated or the care isn’t returned you can get quite hurt. And so Cancer Moons are often working on expressing their needs. Working on being vocal about this is really important, as you can get so lost in taking care of others that you end up with the short end of the stick.

Fear of getting hurt is very real for you for you, mainly since being hurt in love, for example, you may feel it more deeply than others. Honestly, unless you live under a rock, you will be familiar with this pain and what it can do to you. So this is a genuine fear, but not one that should stop you from receiving love.

Often times the Cancer Moon sign is associated with the mother, and rightfully so—since both Cancer and the Moon represent this energy. But not every Cancer Moon sign wants to be a parent. The mother archetype is actually about nurturing and caring for others, offering tender love and support, and this can be applied to anything in life. Your career, your pets, your friends, your home or your hobbies. You can channel this inner need to love into anything and it will be fulfilling, just as long as you let others love you back so there is a sense of balance in your life.

Below are some suggestion to connect more to your sweet Cancer Moon sign, and make the most of its intuitive expression…

:: ACTIVE LISTENING ::
The Cancer Moon sign has a tendency to feel first when engaging with others. This can go badly if you what you intuitively pick up about someone is incorrect, which can shape the relationship in the wrong direction. You can get your feelings hurt because you feel you know what they “really meant.” But assumption is really dangerous, since it can lead to un-founded resentment which can turn into distance.

This can be easily avoided if you work on listening to what they are actually saying, rather than simply feeling into their energy. If assumption-based feelings occur take the time to ask questions to gain further insight. Use your nurturing nature to engage in a more open conversation. This way you aren’t incorrectly just reading (or rather feeling) between the lines.

:: SANCTUARY ::
All Cancer Moon signs need a place to retreat. They need a space to feel safe and secure where they can let all of their emotions out without judgement. This doesn’t need to be an entire home or apartment either. It could be one room, or even a space within a room. Maybe a meditation pillow with a small altar if this practice speaks to you.

It could also be a certain location, such as your favorite park or beach. For some it could be a place from your childhood. The Cancer Moon sign can be very nostalgic so places that awaken happy memories really warm your heart.

:: NURTURE ::
Find something to nurture in your life that isn’t another person. The need to express care is innate, but you can get burned out if this means attracting energy vampires. Needy people love the sweet lunar crab, for you will always try to help solve the problems they should be dealing with on their own. And so learn to be selective.

Finding a hobby that will reward your nurturing with feelings of worth and accomplishment is such a good idea. Think gardening, or cooking, working with animals, or becoming a beekeeper. What do you want to be good at that requires time, nurturance and patience? Find something that makes your heart feel good and you will bring some emotional balance back into your life.

:: INTUITIVE PROTECTION ::
Being that you are such an intuitive, maybe even psychically gifted person, you need to work on protecting your energy. Otherwise it’s likely people will energetically take from you until you are totally drained. This can make you feel vulnerable in an unhealthy way.

Begin by taking time each morning to visualize yourself being cleansed by white healing light. Just a simple shower before (or even during!) your regular shower. Then imagine a bubble of light surrounding you, which people can only enter into when invited by you. It can be any color that you love.

These are your mental and energetic guards for the day ahead. You could also burn some sage in your space before your start your day or make a healing spray with essential oils to mist yourself with. Anything that  creates an energetic boundary between you and the world will help.

Also, be present to when you feel depleted. What was going on? Who were you around? Sometimes the best defense is creating literal space between you and the people or situations that take advantage of you.

Above all, may you find comfort in your innate ability to be vulnerable—and use it to show others the strength in letting down our guard in a world that needs it more than ever before.

A SENSORY EXPLORATION OF CANCER SEASON

A luscious monthly exploration of the cosmic energies for Cancer Season by Cara George & Bess Matassa of Mojave Rising

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Cancer season coaxes us into the nocturnal realm of hothouse flowers, deep sea skinny dipping, and the glow-in-the-dark feeling that we belong to ourselves completely. It’s a season for standing so profoundly inside our own hearts that what we feel becomes identical to what we believe we ARE—and this belief becomes the unstoppable tidal force that parts the seas of self-doubt.

So break your own heart wide open this month, and take the full plunge without even testing the waters. Mine the juicy, radical tenderness that arises from this emotionally risky business to construct a pathway all the way back to the house of your dreams. Slip out of those old clothes and back into your own skin. It’s time to get soaking wet.

The keyword: Submersion.

The lyrics: “I love it in your room at night/You’re the only one who gets through to me/In the warm glow of the candlelight/Oh, I wonder what you’re gonna do to me” – The Bangles, In Your Room

Check out our playlist, complete with classic crooners, languid ladies, and aural journeys to the interior.

The color palette: a cocktail of crepuscular shades that conjures everything from impressionist water lilies and opalescent conch shells to strangely striped scarabs sporting wicked sapphire and violet backs.

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The style: South of France artist’s atelier meets beach blanket bonfire. Undone wavy locks or messy upswept braids paired with glam 50s pinup one pieces, sexy lace-edged smocks and low slung trousers with stacked raffia wedges or slip-on mules, and explorations in inner/outerwear with lingerie inspired pieces and ruffled accents fit for romancing your own heart.  

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The scents and flavors: deliciously briny, fermented infusions and memory palettes—think everything from kimchi, pickles, olives, and sardines, to grandma’s holiday fruit cake and perfumer Christopher Brosius’ “Archetype” series, which pairs scents with emotional narratives.

 

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The healing: explore creative boundaries through exercises in sweetly risky exposure—sharing your private writing with trusted girlfriends, signing up for a full-on open mic night, hosting a dinner party without tidying up one bit, or even constructing a terrarium that symbolizes the slow unveiling of your loony inner lifeworld. (NB: perfect timing for our Re-Write Your Love Story women’s retreat!)

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SENSUOUS INVITATION FOR CANCER SEASON :: FRAGRANCES (by sign)

With all the recent mutable astro energy now getting a heavy hit from Cancer’s cardinal action, and Mars stationing direct in fixed Scorpio, it’s a month for recommitting yourself to your most private visions—and beginning to wear these fantasies on your sleeve. Become intoxicated by your own secret scents and leave a beautiful trail wherever you go!

:: ARIES ::
Cancer season invites you to explore the exhilarating internal action that’s possible when you courageously commit to a feelingSwap out the potent colognes you spray directly onto your skin and experiment instead with stepping into the mists of a room spray that conjures landscapes built for dreaming and scheming. Think star-studded mountain campfire scents, fresh linens, or meadow flowers. TRY: Somerset Meadow by Crabtree & Evelyn.

:: TAURUS ::
Cancer season invites you to scuba dive down towards a different kind of emotional security that doesn’t have to manifest in the material world. Probe the waters with classic beach scents redolent of salt, suntan oil, and oceanic breezes that remind you of the strength of your flippers, no matter the turn of the tides. TRY: REPLICA Beach Walk by Maison Martin Margiela.

:: GEMINI ::
Cancer season invites you to temporarily fold your wings as you probe the poetics of your inner life without having to constantly externalize or testify. Get back to the basic contours of your own heart with simple, herbaceous blends and lively florals like basil, lavender, lilac, and lemongrass. TRY: Lime, Basil & Mandarin by Jo Malone.

:: CANCER ::
Cancer season invites you to voyage into the loonier side of the crustacean’s energy with experiments in witchery, weirdness, and self-possessed wilding. Sport a highly proprietary blend of essential oils that mixes dirty, earthy organics with spicy spirituals—think patchouli, sandalwood, burning leaves, incense, and oud. TRY: Patchouli 24 by Le Labo.

:: LEO ::
Cancer season invites you to delight in the curious sensation of actually climbing back into the safety of your clamshell as you learn when to retreat and engage in some solo play. Sample the scents of home with classically comfortable vanillas, candied, playground edibles, or blossoms and botanicals reminiscent of your childhood backyard. TRY: Candy by Prada.

:: VIRGO ::
Cancer season invites you to recommit to your creative force as you revel in building and birthing wondrously imperfect artistic endeavors with your own hands. Celebrate craftswomanship and construction with woodsy cedar, pine, and birch tar accords, and resins, leather, and medicinal notes that conjure the earthily generative spaces of tree houses, libraries, and apothecaries. TRY: Opone by Diptyque.

:: LIBRA ::
Cancer season invites you to experiment with irrational and visionary vibrations as you trade mental acuity and constant assessment for the full-throttle sensation of no longer fighting your gut feelings. Infuse your usually crisp, clean florals with intoxicating blooms and indolic, over-the-top scents, or sample spicy blends of cinnamon and pepper. TRY: Opium by YSL.

:: SCORPIO ::
Cancer season invites you to unclench your fists and unlock your secret diary as you start sharing your inner world with trusted confidantes. Dose yourself in emboldened, exuberant scents that conjure the sun-baked celebration of secrets revealed—think tropical fruits and flowers, gourmand scents, the clarity of citrus accords, and even in-your-face drugstore indulgences. TRY: Sensuous by Estee Lauder.

:: SAGITTARIUS
Cancer season invites you to bring it all back home as you practice recommitting to inner visions as much as outer adventures. Engage in some armchair olfactory voyaging by discovering your dream travel destination’s local scent landscape, and decking out your bedroom in candles and oils that conjure this topography—think anything from Big Sur juniper to Turkish coffee. TRY: Gypsy Water by Byredo.

:: CAPRICORN ::
Cancer season invites you to let your hard-built structures benefit from some saltwater softening as you honor what it would mean to come a little undone (without falling apart). Dose yourself in easy, breezy romantic scents or sample “chypre” fragrances that infuse your woodsy self-sufficiency with a little wet moss. TRY: Citron Citron by Miller Harris.

:: AQUARIUS ::
Cancer season invites you to pair your far-flung, forward thinking visions with curious explorations into your roots as you probe past legacies and lineages. Discover vintage scents like Jicky, Shalimar, Anaïs Anaïs, and decant them into glamorous mid-century perfume vials. TRY: Chanel No.19.

:: PISCES ::
Cancer season invites you to infuse your usually transcendent, boundaryless emotional climate with some highly personalized desire as you practice fighting for your own feelings and learning when to say no. Dab badass, musky, animalic scents into hidden places between your breasts and behind your knees as you recommit to your fierce, untamable feeling nature. TRY: Sahara Noir by Tom Ford.

CURIOUS COMMUNICATOR: WORK WITH A GEMINI MOON SIGN

Tips and practices to help understand and work with your Gemini Moon sign from Ash Bonelli. Artwork: Prince Lauder via Behance.net

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The Moon represents what we need in life to feel safe, secure, and how we need to be nurtured, and understanding your Moon’s requirements can help you connect deeper to your more private self. When you have a bad day or are just feeling “off” you want to tap into your Moon. She is the cosmic mother and learning more about the sign where she sits in your birth chart, can reveal so much about your internal landscape.

Work out your Moon sign, when you do you chart for free here.

The Gemini Moon sign is forever curious. She wants to learn about anything and everything. This Moon loves to engage and communicate, since Gemini is a mutable air sign that needs mental stimulation and variety. When things become stagnant the restless demons set in—and so keeping things moving in life is key.

Depending on the rest of your chart, these behaviors/tendencies may express in a need to always have light and breezy conversations. You enjoy gathering data, processing it and then moving on to the next interesting person, subject or experience. This flitting about keeps things upbeat and interesting yet can have a downside.

The Gemini Moon sign is learning to also go deep. It’s about finding some balance between superficial experiences and really getting to know yourself and others on a more intimate level. Because of this Moon’s voracious appetite for new information, you can come across fickle or insincere if this expression is out of balance.

This analytical moon usually symbolizes a gifted speaker, writer or teacher. Since you are always gathering information you put it to good use by sharing it with others, and this exchange of thoughts, ideas and insights can be quite soothing for you. The give and take is the thrill that propels you forward to find more.

This is a delightful quality that makes you fun to chat with, as well as being able to turn a negative emotional situation into a happier one. The Gemini Moon sign is clever and witty, so having an innate emotional tie to these abilities can bring true fulfillment through expression.

Just make sure to keep the input and output in check or you will never be able to get to your deeper self. There can be an avoidance of darker undercurrents if you don’t allow yourself time to really feel your feelings, which may mean missing out on the beauty of vulnerability.

Below are some suggestions to bring some balance back to your energetic moon as well as ways to emphasize it. These are meant to empower and bolster your emotional wellbeing to be at your best!

:: FOCUS ::
Zero in on a project that you have to stay committed to—anything that will require you to stick to it long enough to actually become proficient at it. Since Gemini is placed in the linguistic camp you could learn a new language. Mercury being Gemini’s ruler is associated with dexterity so you could learn to play an instrument. The other benefit of this for you emotionally, is that once you’ve mastered this new interest you then get to share it, creates a beautiful cyclical effect for your heart, and your Gemini Moon sign.

:: BREATHWORK ::
Learning to control your responses in more hectic situations could be very healing—and one way is with the simple art of breathing. Try practicing the 2:1 ratio breath, in which increasing the length of your exhalation helps to relax your parasympathetic nervous system. Start by breathing through the nose in your natural way without counting. Then after a few rounds begin to breath in for a count of two, and exhaling for four. Work your way up to deeper breaths from there, and try doing 10 rounds the next time you begin feeling the frazzled.

:: MINDFULNESS ::
In the simplest terms, this simply means being aware and in the present moment without judgement—actually quite hard, since the Gemini Moon sign is often stuck between wondering what the future holds and dwelling on the past. Finding a meditation practice that works for you is key, and if sitting still is just too much for you try doing a walking meditation, which will burn up any restlessness through mindful movement. You could also try Qi Gong—which covers practices from the gentle Tai Chi to the more fierce option, Kung Fu. Potentially a healing double whammy, helping you to focus and be more in the moment while still satisfying the need to learn and grow.

SELF-ENQUIRY BY SIGN FOR THE GEMINI NEW MOON

A reading for the Gemini New Moon – PLUS the essential questions for each sign to journal with, to make the most of the cosmic energy…By Hannah Ariel

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“Wisdom lies neither in fixity nor in change, but in the dialectic between the two.”
–Octavio Paz

Gemini is easily misunderstood. We use words like “tricky” and “flighty” and “fickle” to explain this sign’s ability to weave in and out of worlds of ideas, concepts, and even illusions. But replace these words with ARTFUL, playful, adjustable, and you get a picture of the kind of magical thinking, the sheer ingenuous creativity that is Gemini.

With the moon in Gemini, we are naturally oriented to move between intellectual realities—and yet for all our mental processing, the conscious expression of this astrological placement would be to arrive at something that resembles a decision; a perspective; a point of reference.

This year’s Gemini New Moon (June 5th at 15 degrees) is an opportunity to get CLEAR about what to do next, particularly in regard to our personal CREATIVITY. Our relationship to our creativity and our relationships to the people who either bring the juiciness out or just suck the fun out of it will also be highlighted.

Prior to the Moon and the Sun joining forces, Venus will have been moving alongside the Sun in Gemini all week to clarify a connection between what we think we want, what kinds of interaction our personality craves, and if we are living this truth.

Venus in Gemini isn’t as sentimental as it is logical. Information is valued. Ideas are valued. The sensible application of the two is valued. At this time, it will seem like simple logic to do away with what no longer tickles your fancy. Seriously. If you’re not being stimulated, excited, and delighted, then it’s a time to think about why, and which part of your personality is being ignored.

This Gemini New Moon is also precipitated by a GRAND MUTABLE CROSS. What the heck is that? Why does it matter? What will it mean?! Well, to get technical about it, this cross is a squaring of energy—a confrontation so to speak—of four planets in all four mutable signs: Sun/Venus/Moon in Gemini in opposition to Saturn in Sagittarius meets Jupiter in Virgo in opposition to Neptune in Pisces. PHEW!

This configuration is not meant to confuse but to bring you closer to what is, what isn’t and what will continue to be true for you. A Grand Cross asks us to deal with conflicting realities head on to create one NEW one. Unsettling? Sure. Scary? No. Just be prepared to make BIG decisions this summer…decisions that will carry you into a whole new creative cycle.

In beginning this self-enquiry, included below are some questions to aid you in a journaling ritual this Gemini New Moon. Engage. Keep it real with yourself. And keep in mind, with Neptune about to go retrograde June 13, your answers may not appear logical to anyone but you—so simply follow your OWN intuition.

This your opportunity to clear the decks, to create as much clarity as possible, and make room for some brilliant breakthroughs.

*These are suggestions for your SUN SIGN. However, if you know which house in your chart the New Moon will take place in, take this into consideration too.

**As much as Gemini rules writing and self-reflective journaling it also rules conversation. Cerebral discussions, heart-to-hearts, and astrological and/or tarot consultations of all kinds are favored right now. The key is to make this energy work FOR you, so don’t get dragged around by the universe. Get in the middle of it. Think about it. DO something about it.

:: ARIES :: 
Where am I channeling my mental energy? Where am I getting lost in mindless chatter? How can I speak more of my truth? What mental myths need to be dismantled? How can I see the bigger picture, and why it is so important for me to trust my intuition right now?

:: TAURUS :: 
How am I spending my time? How can I re-organize my priorities to align with my values? To what extent am I aware of my financial reality, and do I recognize where I need to depend more on my own resourcefulness?

:: GEMINI :: 
Am I always tapping into ways of doing my own unique thing? Where am I shutting down in fear of being heard or seen? Who am I placing too much value in? With Sun/Moon/Venus in Gemini, it’s time to learn and love all of YOU.

:: CANCER :: 
What needs to be retrieved from my imagination? Where is my lack of faith? When did I stop believing in the impossible? Where am I living in a state of mistrust?

:: LEO :: 
Who truly inspires me? How can I be an inspiration to my friends? Where can I take the lead more, and when do I find myself blindly following along with others?

:: VIRGO :: 
Who am I finally and fully expanding into becoming? Do I see the beauty in the big changes and encounters that life has gifted me with? What am I taking for granted? Is it time to release my grip on something or someone?

:: LIBRA :: 
Where are the holes in my own belief system? How can I patch them up? What new lessons does my life want me to incorporate? Where do I stand on forgiveness?

:: SCORPIO :: 
When was the last time I let myself fall in love? Do I continue to value what the experience of love honestly offers me? When was the last time I gave myself permission to feel grounded and whole?

:: SAGITTARIUS :: 
Am I living up to my word? What have I become responsible for? Where can I lighten up my load? With Saturn in Sagittarius you may be taking on more than you need to. Consider: what structures serve me and which can I release?

:: CAPRICORN :: 
In what ways do I consider myself to be spiritual? Do I know how to take a time-out and spend time alone with myself? How does it feel to be in my body these days? Am I truly thriving and enjoying my day-to-day?

:: AQUARIUS :: 
What can I use to express myself creatively? How can I update my personal toolbox? Do I trust myself enough to truly honor and express my unique gifts? Who invigorates the deepest parts of me? Where am I being drained?

:: PISCES :: 
How can I feel more securely connected to my roots? Am I allowing myself to fully let go of memories and people who haunt me? What takes up space in my heart—and what can I let go? How am I sacrificing myself to please others?

To book a reading with Hannah Ariel contact: [email protected]

RELEASE AND RENEW: A DARK MOON RITUAL

Transform the unhealed and unloved aspects of yourself this Dark Moon, says Shaheen Miro

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Before the birth of each New Moon, the sky grows rich and velvety—it is the night of the Dark Moon. We enter the infinite darkness of the Crone Goddess. She is the keeper of the mysteries, the underworld, the expansive void that tingles our psychic receptors.

The Dark Moon is the gatekeeper between the waking world, and the rich, fertile land of inner transformation. She holds the key to the soul’s mysteries. Penetrating the surface of superficial life, the Dark Moon awakens our zest for life, our sensual nature, and our most inspired magic.

When we tread into the Land of Darkness, we delve deeper into our own soul. Riding on the dark wings of the Owl we sweep further into the enigma of our Shadow… to where our unloved, unhealed, and unacknowledged parts silently wait. But answering the call of the shadow awakens our tenacity and power. We show up bigger and brighter in the world, as we learn to express our most mystical self.

So lay down your hurts at the altar of the Dark Moon. Spin your woes into strands of gold. For healing only comes when you go into the places that hurt.

:: A Dark Moon Ritual for Purging Pain and Restoring Vitality ::

You Will Need:

Your Statement of Release. This can be a written statement, or an intention you carry in your head.

A black candle.

A black scarf.

Some Dragon’s Blood, or other rich, earthy incense.

Walnut flower essence. (Black walnut is a powerful tree for severing ties with the past, as well as with things that hurt you, especially unhealthy relationships—walnut Flower Essence has a similar releasing power)

The Ritual:

Set aside the night of the Dark Moon (the night before the New Moon) to perform your ritual. This ritual will result in a bath, and if you can perform the entire ceremony in your bathroom that’s perfect. If not, find a space where you will be uninterrupted and then carry on into the bathroom.

Darken the ritual space (or simply turn off all lights). Lighting the black candle, make a declaration of intent. Such as:

“I enter the Dark Moon Kingdom with reverence and respect. With perfect love and trust. With bravery and complete surrender. I visit the garden of lost soul fragments, seeking bones discarded by choice or force throughout my life. I honor these parts, I sing to them, I quicken them back into life. Enfold me in the arms of rebirth and regeneration. So Shall it be.”

Holding the candle, walk in a widdershins (counterclockwise) circle to stir banishing and releasing magic. Begin where you like, but the West is the power spot for soul work and metamorphosis. Walking the circle summon protective energies. Let the Dark Moon energy settle around you, creating a zone for inner work. Include your bathtub in the circle if you can.

Seat yourself in the circle’s center. Begin breathing deeply, in and out. Slip into a light, relaxing trance.

Now light the incense, letting the snake of smoke waft through the circle filling the atmosphere with sacred protective energies. As you continue to breath, go deeper into your center. Repeat the above invocation.

Now allow yourself to gently crack open, traveling down the path to your pain and heartache. Feel how your body has become dense with the garbage you have accumulated, staying mindful of the intention you came to release. When you are filled to the top with heavy, sticky feelings, begin to release them into the dark void.

Repeat the Statement of Release as they slip out—reading something you have written or simply speaking from your heart. Become vulnerable to the receptive energy of the Dark Moon. Give her your pain and trauma. You are ready to purge, move forward and heal.

Be here as long as you like. Let your body respond as it needs. Shake, cry, curl into a ball, slip into silence. Whatever spirit moves you to do is perfect. The Dark Moon will move you through this experience of release.

The Black Walnut Bath: 

Fill your bath tub with warm water. If your bath is in another room, gather your accouterments, and see your circle move with you into the bathroom. You can recast the circle if you like.

If you don’t have a full tub, fill a bowl big enough to submerge both your feet.

Pour a few drops of Walnut Flower Essence into the water. Visualize or feel the water being infused with the dark, generative powers of the Moon. See it become an inky black sky. The great void of transmogrification, where there is nothing to fear.

Now wrap your eyes with the black scarf to disrupt your sense of sight. Then slip into the bath. Relax into the embrace of the dark. You are in the alchemical waters of healing. The vessel of rebirth, the womb of the Dark Moon.

Do you feel any resistance? Is there still lingering pain in your body and spirit? Is your heart heavy? Are your wounds still bleeding?

Allow the remaining feelings to fill you up until there is a sense of surrender. Now release them into water. Speak your Statement of Release again to the Goddess, asking the Dark Moon to take it all away…to return it to the void. Speak out loud, and speak from your heart.

Fully release and float in these healing waters as long as you need. When you are ready, let the water drain. Unveil your eyes. Thank the Goddess for her counsel. Release the circle clockwise. Then blow the candle out, or allow it to burn down.

The Healing Aftermath:

Major blocks of energy and pain have been purged. You have asked for the guidance and protection of the Dark Moon. Her energy and influence will curl through your spirit and move through your life in synchronistic ways. Honor her process, and yourself by being compassionate. Rest, eat something rejuvenating. Sleep as long as you like.

You may feel spacey for a few days as your soul parts knit back together. You have undergone a type of psychic surgery. Go as deep into this process as you like. You have just scratched the surface. Meet the Dark Moon each month with a new pain to lay to rest. Healing is always an expansive, ongoing process.

Seeking spiritual guidance or doing divination with a favorite intuitive, friend or oracle is also welcomed during this process. They may help you see how the pieces are coming together. How life is heading in a new direction. And never forget to ask for the guidance and protection of your Spirit Circle: Your Guides, Angels, and Ancestors.

SENSUAL AWAKENING: WORK WITH YOUR TAURUS MOON SIGN

Understand your Taurus Moon sign and maximize your self-care practice to be the best YOU, says Ash Bonelli. Artwork: Prince Lauder via Behance.net

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The Taurus Moon sign is the symbol of sensuality. The full embrace of our five senses. Our moon sign symbolizes our heart, our deepest needs, our ideal environment, as well as the things in life that make us feel secure, safe and loved. We feed our moon and our moon feeds us. Understanding this side of yourself can help you feel more balanced, stable and centered.

The moon is considered to be exalted in Taurus—meaning the moon loves this sign and can operate quite well here. She gets to express her desire for security through earthy realms that satisfy our more human needs. As such, if you have a Taurus Moon sign, you like to stop and smell the roses and have the ability to feel comforted by the simple joys of life.

Work out your moon sign, when you do you chart for free here.

The Taurus Moon sign also needs and seeks out stability in all areas of life. It can be quite unnerving to you if you find yourself in a whirlpool of whipping emotions. Even if it doesn’t have to do with you in particular, just being around energy like that can take you off-kilter. You like to operate in a way that feels safe and comfortable.

You usually don’t rush into emotional situations without careful thought or even planning. The Taurus Moon sign likes to see what organically develops and prefers to allow time and space for trust to blossom. If you find yourself being forced into a situation that you feel you are not ready for, then those around you should get ready for some serious stubborn responses. This moon will emotionally resist just to prove a point because moving too quickly can threaten the sensitive heart of a Taurus Moon sign.

This moon can also be prone to overindulgence for pleasure’s sake or external soothing—such as emotional eating. A real love of healing touch, delicious tastes, and lovely landscapes are most certainly not a bad thing. It only gets unhealthy when you begin to use sensual pleasure as a band-aid. The Taurus Moon sign is stellar at finding pleasure in simply being human, but the real beauty is to enjoy it without getting totally lost in it.

:: CREATE INNER STABILITY ::
Accountability. Sudden change can be psychically toxic to this moon, so making your own plans and sticking to them helps keep your core more centered. Often not so simple in our fast-paced, always shifting world. Work on creating some habitual patterns with intent. For example, head to the market every Sunday to buy yourself fresh flowers for the week. You get the dependability of your routine and the sensual pleasure of the flowers themselves. Start an exercise regime that feels good to your body and stick to the goals you set. The more you can rely on yourself, the more your emotional body will open up to the vacillating currents of life.

:: CALM BEFORE THE STORM ::
Try this mini meditation when life does throw you some curveballs. The Taurus Moon sign doesn’t enjoy change, since they work hard to develop stable systems that work for them. Yet we all know that life moves to its own beat. When you find yourself freaking out, take the time to stop and do some deep breathing. Then really ask yourself, “Is my immediate reaction equal to the outcome of the change in front of me?”

We live in such a high-stress society that our nervous systems are always in “go” mode, making us more susceptible to react rather than respond. And for the sweet and stable lunar Taurus it can be even more difficult. We first breathe to balance the body, and then we create open space to allow the inner dialogue to occur.

:: MANTRA ::
“I am collected regardless of external uncertainty.”

:: SENSUAL BALANCE :: 
Seek out the pleasures in life without totally leaning on them for emotional stability. Ice-cream will eventually let you down. Sad, but true. Especially if you’re one those people that beats yourself up after eating a whole tub. Our bodies are amazing machines, and deserve to be taken care of. If you find yourself returning too often to something that’s not the most healthy option, take time to consider why. What are you trying to avoid, hide or ignore?

If you can’t dig deep enough to scoop up the root consider exploring this with a therapist.  I’ve seen many clients with this moon placement who use food in particular as a form of comfort, yet secretly hate this about themselves. I’ve even seen the opposite occur, where the denial of pleasure becomes a form of stability. Either way, these are vicious cycles that are usually signals that some psyche work needs addressing. It’s nothing to be ashamed of—everybody is going through something, and we are on this earth to help each other through it.

:: EARTHLY DELIGHTS :: 
This is a creative moon that needs to feel connected to its earthy roots. Think gardening, getting your hands dirty, and really feeling the earth. As well as working with pottery, clay, sculpture, mixed media, paper mache, etc, it’s about creating something that feels good in your hands and takes time to master. Go for long walks outdoors, collect beautiful flowers that you can press later for safe keeping, or go to artistic events that inspire you.

:: MOVEMENT :: 
The Taurus Moon sign is what’s called in astro language “fixed,” which can be embodied by traits such as being stubborn, lethargic or possibly lazy. Keep in mind that Venus rules Taurus, and she really does enjoy lying about being fed grapes from time to time. With that said, the body needs a fair amount of movement. Try vinyasa yoga, ashtanga yoga or a barre class, all practices that work through repetitive motions, allowing for heat and stability to build. A double whammy for you too, because you get the consistency of a set routine while allowing for more expansion in your head and your heart.

A SENSORY EXPLORATION OF TAURUS SEASON

A luscious monthly exploration of the cosmic energies for Taurus Season by Cara George & Bess Matassa of Mojave Rising

Image: Astromatcha
Image: Astromatcha

Taurus season coaxes us off the battlefield and into the boudoir as we relax into wanting what feels good to want – while already having everything that we need. This Venus-ruled bovine beauty reminds us that Venusian pleasure seeking is never frivolous, and that fully inhabiting our desire is the gateway to an unshakeable belief in our own value.

It’s a month for languishing in the simple “this-ness” of things as you sink your teeth deeply into what you love. Your diamonds don’t need to be appraised. Your love needs no justification. And baby, you’re always, absolutely, worth it.

The keyword: Succulence.

The song lyrics: “They say our love won’t pay the rent/Before it’s earned, our money’s all been spent/I guess that’s so, we don’t have a plot/But at least I’m sure of all the things we got” – I Got You Babe, Sonny & Cher.

Check out our playlist, complete with country crooners, slow jams, and classic rock.

The color palette: Think beautifully basic yet voluptuous hues that mix Dallas rodeo with a feast in the Scottish highlands: camelback and denim blue paired with crushed grape, burnt copper, and emeralds.

Rodarte 2016
Rodarte 2016

The style: Comfortable luxury that molds to the body like a second skin: jeans and a silk blouse, linen dresses, leather jackets, faux fur in pale pink and tan.

Klydie Thomas
Klydie Thomas

The scents and flavors: Ripe, rich, and classically decadent. Freshly grated truffles, high-quality olive oil and creamy burrata or St. André cheese, full-bodied floral essences, mulled spices, slow roasts, and tobacco.

 

Sabatino (olive oil shot)
Sabatino (olive oil shot)

The healing: Taurus Season is about straightforward, sensuous engagement with the abundant world. Lay your body directly on the dirt in a park or botanical garden and trust in the hard ground and juicy sunshine’s capacity to deliver exactly what you need. Select fabrics that beg for tactile engagement and literally dive into them. Take a scent making class, celebrate with an elaborate tasting menu, or enjoy a night of poker or blackjack as you place bets while knowing you’ve got nothing to lose because there IS no limit on your value.

Sensuous Invitation of the Month: COSMIC MANICURES BY SIGN

By the end of April we’ll have five planets retrograde in earth and fire signs, and there’s no better moment for digging into our interior dirt and engaging in some emotional landscaping. This month asks nothing less from us than our radical faith in the earth’s endless cycles of sensuous generation and mercilessly loving deaths, and reveals to us that we always instinctively know when it’s right to root down and when it’s time to tear away with our gorgeously manicured hands to create anew.

Nails by @ciaomanhattan2012
Nails by @ciaomanhattan2012

:: TAURUS ::
Savor a brand of solidity that’s also buoyant and responsive. Try scented polishes that move you towards a dynamic sensual engagement that’s anything but dull, or experiment with how much nail art each digit can handle until they’re bursting with life.

:: GEMINI ::
Take a break from your endless information gathering as you settle into sweet sensations without having to ask why. Play with iridescent, prismatic shades that are also textured.

:: CANCER ::
Birth your inner fantasy life into the physical world. Ground your little mermaid visions with incandescent shell toned nails or midnight colored blues and violets, or meditate on a desirous inner vision of your nails and team up with a talented artist to bring it into being.

:: LEO ::
Marry your urge for illuminated recognition with an abiding trust that you’re always already enough exactly as you are. Affix luxe diamond and ruby nail gemstones, or sport a “fuzzy” coat that appears so fluffy that you could sink comfortably into your own nail bed.

:: VIRGO ::
Soothe your mutable Earth sign’s impulses towards ordering and discerning with a fixity of feeling that takes the world at face value. Try classic, metallic glittery shades or solid gold.

:: LIBRA ::
Pair your brand of high-minded, idealistic love with a more carnal flavor that doesn’t need to strive to capture the goods. Play with acrylics and release into the “realness” of the fakeness as you celebrate the infinite value of artifice and ornament, or try “opposite” colors on different nails.

:: SCORPIO ::
Relax your urge to penetrate to the depths and instead relish the simple goodness of the luscious, flowering surface of things. Celebrate the steady unfurling of spring blooms with fresh green and pale rose shades, and choose a signature shade on your ring finger as you wed yourself to your own worth.

:: SAGITTARIUS ::
Sample an earthen rootedness that seeks depth over breadth. Fuse your Amazonian streak with bonfire colors and animal print decals, and practice blending into your animal pack with browns and russets that are equal parts expansive and fixed.

:: CAPRICORN ::
Engage in a different brand of “building” that allows the world to do its work upon you. Revel in the slow unfolding of a paraffin wax treatment, or activate your refined, sophisticated flavor of sensuality with a “velvet” manicure.

:: AQUARIUS ::
Drop back into your body as you swap out endless futurism in favor of the delectable present moment. Pair your eccentric, cerebral edge with Taurus primitivism by trying tropical neon nail art, or keep your nails clean and bare to get ready for dirt digging.

:: PISCES ::
Practice “landing” as you learn to value the material as much as the mystical. Commit to a monochromatic mani in a bright kelly green or chartreuse that marries your deep sea diving to the color of land vegetation.

:: ARIES ::
Fuse your action-oriented potency with a yin vibe that knows when to hold ‘em. Choose an in-your-face shade and then dial the color back just a notch; turn saturated magentas into peachy pinks or glossy corals that are equal parts emboldened and receptive.

HEART WARRIORS: WORK WITH YOUR ARIES MOON SIGN

Understand your Aries Moon sign and maximize your self-care practice to be the best YOU, says Ash Bonelli. Artwork: Prince Lauder via Behance.net

Prince Lauder on The Numinous

“Yell if you need to. Need if you need to. Just don’t be scared. Just don’t not live while you are here.” – Cleo Wade

Warriors of the heart come close and listen with open ears. Having your natal moon sign in Aries gives you the torch to be the leader of your own path. The Moon represents our own emotional landscape within the birth chart. It highlights how we nurture, how we express our feelings, and what we need to feel safe in this life. And it’s important to learn how to properly feed this part of ourselves.

An Aries Moon sign goes after what it wants without immediately thinking about the needs of others, because this sign expects everyone to do just the same. Go for what you want, take as much as you need. It’s the thrill of that chase that Aries loves. It’s not that this sign doesn’t care for others, though. Quite the contrary. They will fight for those they love, rally behind a belief and inspire the masses. The Aries Moon sign is filled with passion for all it desires, and wants badly to strike when the iron is hot.

Work out your moon sign, when you do you chart for free here.

This is an outspoken moon. A real straight-no-chaser. You want to be seen and heard for who you really are without the looming fear of being judged. You are confident enough to keep going even if others don’t like what you are saying or doing, though. Alas, you can get a bit cranky if you feel someone else is constantly getting their feelings hurt over your vivacious candor. People in your circles need to know that you are sugar in the raw.

You don’t sweeten the pot but you do tell it like it is. You support others by being real with them. You are strong and independent and people gravitate to that energy. You feel supported when people bring that passionate energy to the table as well. You want honest emotional dialogue that may even be a bit edgy.

Because you are naturally so strong you have the ability to help others get stronger. You are brave and courageous and inspire those you care for or just engage with on a regular basis to find that strength within themselves. You act as the safe island in the center of the storm. Teaching others to be self-approved is very empowering and quite a gift to share. The world needs to learn to be okay in its skin, and your Aries moon sign means you were born with this ability. Not that you don’t have weak moments, but all that fire allows you to shake it off quicker and get back to business.

Below are some ways to bring forth the beauty that is your Aries moon sign, so you can feel more in tune with yourself while helping others benefit as well.

:: HEALTHY COMPETITION ::
Aries is ruled by Mars, the god of war. You thrive on competing with others and if you don’t find a way to release that fire you burn up emotionally. This can make you react aggressively and start fights unnecessarily. It will soothe your heart to find a healthy outlet to express any excess competitive energy.

This could be through a favorite sport or a hobby where practice makes perfect. Keep in mind the Aries moon sign gets bored easily if they lose interest in something. The fire goes out quick if the interest wanes, and so you must choose something that will perpetually challenge you.

:: GET VULNERABLE :: 
Because you are so fiery, you may stay away from situations that require tenderness or vulnerability. Putting yourself in situations where you must embrace your softer side could be really beneficial. Try something that actually scares you. Not in a dangerous way of course, but in a way that deep down you think you might fail at.

If you find yourself struggling at something, ask for help. Actually, give yourself the time and space to be upset over something. If you are disappointed because you didn’t achieve what you wanted, let yourself feel it, process it and then move on. If you fall you can get back up and start again (one of your specialties) but the “pause and feel,” is where your work is. Allowing yourself this, you will begin again even stronger than before.

:: VOLUNTEER ::
Inspire others through service. You have the bravest heart, and we need your heart to guide us into a stronger collective space. You have the power to lead by example and if you know it’s unhealthy to not let out all of that inherent dynamic energy why not share it for the good of all?

You’ve been blessed with an innate resilience that takes others most of their lives to accumulate. You can show your tribe how to battle the right way. For love instead of hate. You are the lunar symbol of initiation and can see the spark of a good idea. You can gather others to embrace the start of something amazing. You can connect with something bigger than yourself and then everyone has the opportunity to succeed.

:: PATIENCE::
Because you are quick to go where your heart points you have the tendency to be impatient. It would serve you well to slow down and process the things that propel you in life. I would suggest Hatha yoga or Tai Chi. You need balance poses and slower movements synced with your breath. The challenge, which is a must for you, is in how well you can move like honey while being graceful and strong.

What we experience with our bodies has a huge impact on our minds and hearts. For example, focusing on taking a difficult shape/posture while maintaining composure can help us be a little more humble in our daily lives. Being such a quick-trigger can sometimes get you into trouble. Therefore, having an art in your life that teaches you to pause will help transform your emotional impulses.

Dear Aries moon sign, you are the pioneer of the emotional heavens. Let that light shine bright enough for us all to keep our heads held high.

MATERIAL GIRL, MYSTICAL WORLD: SHONA VERTUE

We spoke to Shona Vertue, poster girl for our Designer Yogis sweatshirt line, on seeking inner peace and harmony in our inner cities… Portraits: Cameron McNee Hair and make-up: Andjelka Madic

Shona Vertue white vinyasa sweatshirt on The Numinous
White Vinyasa shirt, $70

“Okay, I no longer have nature all around me. How can I still be healthy, and still be present?”

Meet Australia-born yogini and personal trainer Shona Vertue, who decamped to London’s urban jungle in January 2014. A move that’s propelled her career to new heights – but where she’s also had to seek new ways to find the sense of inner expansiveness she got from regularly being out in nature back home.

It’s a situation faced by so many city dwellers (whether we recognize it as a problem or not) – where days can become weeks can become months without so much as an open sky to help connect us back to an understanding of ourselves as all connected by and to the Cosmos.

Shona’s solution? “I spend all my money on crystals for starters, like crystal retail therapy,” she jokes, telling how she recently realized it wasn’t her laptop but a two-kilo rose quartz she likes to keep close that was making her bag too heavy to lug around.

But seriously: “finding the sense of connection to myself that I used to get from being in nature, means closing my eyes a lot. It takes daily meditation,” she says. Which currently means sitting cross-legged in bed for 15 minutes every morning on waking. “I keep my Native American flute alarm clock going while I meditate because it transports me to another place – the Grand Canyon or something!” she says.

Shona Vertue black chakra sweatshirt on The Numinous
Black Chakra shirt, $70

It’s a conversation that makes Shona the ideal poster girl for our new Chakra and Vinyasa sweatshirt collection, which we’re selling in aid of Urban Yogis. An initiative out of Queens, NY, the program helps empower young people who’ve been affected by violent street crime to share the tools of yoga and meditation in their local inner city communities, as a way of cultivating peace, acceptance, and awareness.

“Awareness” being the basis of the Buddhist teachings that Shona studied in-depth back home in Australia. In essence, Buddhism is about becoming aware of how and why you are suffering, and then treating the cause of your suffering rather than just the symptoms.

“This is based on the belief that once we strip away the layers of suffering, at the core of every human being is an innate state of bliss that we all have access to at any time – if we choose,” explains Shona. As many readers will have experienced through their own yoga and meditation practice, and spending time in nature. Practices and experiences which can be made to feel like luxuries, available only to a privileged few – but which are actually all our birth right.

Inner peace – isn’t this what anybody who identifies with the term “seeker” is really looking for? We salute the awakened souls, like Shona and the Urban Yogis, who are dedicated to lighting the way.

Shona Vertue black and gold Vinyasa sweatshirt on The Numinous
Black and gold Vinyasa shirt, $70

:: MATERIAL GIRL ::

My label
Dharmabums – they are ethical and sustainable!

Leggings, $90 AUD, Dharma Bums
Leggings, $90 AUD, Dharma Bums

 

My shoes
New Balance

New Balance on The Numinous
Paradise Awaits sneakers, $79.99, New Balance

My fragrance

Anything with Geranium and Sandalwood

radha.roll-on
Radha Fragrance Oil, $36, The Goddess Line

My jewels
Anything silver with Moonstone

Moonstone ring, $200, Pamela Love
Moonstone ring, $200, Pamela Love

My pampering
A bath with magnesium salts

My home
My pillow & my outrageous collection of crystals!

Raw Rose Quartz, from $6, The Hoodwitch
Raw Rose Quartz, from $6, The Hoodwitch

My food
Authentic Italian pizza & French Creme Bruleé

Pizza by Roberta’s, Brooklyn
Pizza by Roberta’s, Brooklyn

:: MYSTICAL WORLD ::

My awakening
Morning meditation with affirmations – an absolutely non-negotiable practice.

My sign
Cancerian

My mantra
“Every morning we are born again; it’s what we do today that matters most.”

My healer
I’ve most definitely had more than one in this lifetime. At the moment it’s Francesca Zampi.

My reading
Abraham Hicks, Paulo Coelho & Timber Hawkeye

My transformation
I’m still trying to break the cocoon open, but at least I can feel my wings.

My mission
This lifetime? To realize my secret powers and help others find theirs…

Shona Vertue white Chakra shirt on The Numinous
White Chakra shirt, $70

TAROTSCOPES: APRIL 2016

Cast by Lindsay Mack using The Starchild Akashic Deck

 

 

:: Aries/Aries Rising :: Queen of Crystals

Happy birthday, Aries loves! Queen of Crystals is a divinely sensual, maternal energy – both Earth and Water, mother and lover.

For Aries, this month will bring much healing, releasing and re-nourishing, both in the physical body and the auric field. Aries’ nervous systems and adrenals are pretty fried from the last few months, and April will offer a sweet homecoming to restore them from the ground up through the nourishment of Planet Earth. Even if you’re still busy this month, look out for the organic invitations for you to stop, inhale and get in touch with your body.

Aries literally cannot be outside enough this month, as was true with March’s download as well. Walk barefoot as often as possible, allow there to be physical contact between you and the planet’s surface. Travel somewhere new; pay attention to the animal totems, flowers and medicine all around you. Eat locally and flood your body with sacred food and drink. Breathe deeply and become present. Allow this time to be a detox and an upgrade to your whole system.

From here on out, especially with all of the planetary shifts taking place, you must truly utilize the nourishment of nature in your daily self care routine dear Aries. This is a life shift, not just a passing monthly invitation, and one that Aries must choose. Rooting into and expanding a relationship to nature is going to help birth your next big expansion, part of which is enabling you to hold the intensity and shifting happening on the planet and not let it drain you of your resources. Once you’re no longer running on empty, it will create space for so much beauty to flow in.

Getting back to the sensual is also very important for Aries this month. A deeply sexual sign, you need a healthy access point to this flow at all times, and stress can limit this. Believe it or not, even something as simple as a mindful walk in the park can open this place up in Aries. A wellspring of healing and regeneration is available for you this month. Lean into the flow of the Queen of Crystals, and it will be life changing.

Follow Lindsay Mack on Instagram @WildSoulHealing

 

:: Taurus/Taurus Rising :: Eight of Cups

Last month, Taurus was “awakening” with the Judgment card – and now that you are awake, you can no longer continue engaging with what you know doesn’t serve your highest good. For Taurus, April will be a month of sacred and powerful endings, in which you’ll be invited to walk away from all that doesn’t honor the truth of who you are. You’re not just leaving something behind – you’re actually moving on.

There are big shifts in karma and destiny available to Taurus this month; huge and beautiful upgrades are possible. But it needs to spring forth from you and your decisions alone. Do you want to keep spiraling in and out of what you know does not work, and perhaps never did? You alone possess the courage to step forward into the wild unknown, the landscapes of your life that you are not even aware of yet. This month, the door will be open for you to take that first step.

Eight of Cups is a card of transformation that arises from willingness. We must be willing to walk away. We don’t need to be gung ho, we don’t need to be ready, we don’t need to like it. We just need to have the willingness. If we can consider the possibility of moving on from what we’ve worked hard for, but doesn’t truly serve us, we will have room to receive something better. Even if we don’t know what we are walking toward, we need to start with that decision to move on. This is the step that will change so much for you this month.

For Taurus, this transition might be big or small. Whether it’s a relationship, your job or your beliefs about your body, space is possible. But, remember: the Eight of Cups is an empowerment card. YOU do the walking. It is only when we walk away from what doesn’t serve us that what DOES has space to drop in. When we stick around in relationships, situations or jobs that drain our soul essence from us, there is no room for anything to crowd it out. We just keep circling the drain. All of that can end for you in April, sweet Taurus. Take the first step, and just keep walking. Soon, a new world will be in front of you.

Follow Lindsay Mack on Instagram @WildSoulHealing

 

:: Gemini/Gemini Rising :: Nine of Wands

Loves, you are at a crossroads. Do you keep pushing, grasping and draining your energy, or do you ask for more help, take more breaks and rest more thoroughly in your life? I recommend the latter path, and this month will provide the opportunity for you to really transform your life by choosing wisely.

Last month, you got to ride the waves of the energetic climax that was winter shifting into spring. This month, you get to master the reins of your energy, and control how thinly you are spreading yourself. It is possible for you to totally crack open this month (in an amazing way) and change the way you communicate. If you’re vulnerable enough to ask for help, to add people to your team, and to be truthful with your spouse/partner, co-workers, friends or children about what you need from them in terms of support and aid, it’ll be a game changer for you. Not only because you’ll be giving the people who love you the chance to hold space for you, but because you’ll prove your brain wrong: you don’t have to do it all, and it’s also wise not to. If you ask for support now, you’ll be so grateful that you did down the road.

Nine of Wands is an energy of choice, in many ways; we can go one way or another, as expressed above. It is very often described as being a climax – and you’re almost at the finish line, with some very important obstacle to surpass. For Gemini this month, it is this call for transparency and what it is you really need that is the mountain to climb. Nine of Wands can also hold this quasi-Shakti energy, a burst of intensity and pressure that can either overwhelm you or rocket you forward with energy to spare. Its totally up to you, the key is to just communicate whatever you need.

Finally, you are also being called back to your organic sensuality and sexuality this month. Play, dance, and infuse lightness into your life as often as you can. It is so important to ground your energy down so you can be in that easy vibe. Allow there to be less work and more play, even if you don’t feel its possible. Let yourself be surprised.

Follow Lindsay Mack on Instagram @WildSoulHealing

 

:: Cancer/Cancer Rising :: Knight of Wands

Buckle up, Cancer, this month is taking you for a wild and awesome ride. The Knight of Wands builds on the momentum sparked by the Six of Wands, the energy you were surfing last month. There is SO much movement for you in April, all really birthing you into your next big steps, personally and professionally. The key is to trust it, and to try to keep up.

You’re changing, Cancer. You’re coming out of your shell more and more, saying “yes” to all of the encouragement from the outside world to do so. Feeling more comfortable with this exposure, even in little ways, will be a huge part of this month for you. Expect some really big evolutions in your professional life, especially if you are moving into doing more of your soul’s work on the planet. In April, it would be possible for you to move mountains with all of the energy available to you, so job changes are 100 percent possible, if that’s what you want.

Knight of Wands is a powerful energy for a sign like Cancer to be hanging out. It blends the elements of Air and Fire, and has a kind of a firework kick to it. It’s also an energy that’s very much “in process,” learning how to handle all of the energy it possesses. It’s going to keep encouraging you to grow, move, expand and be more visible in your work and life. Don’t be afraid! Step into what you’ve been dreaming of. Be ballsy. Use the energy of the Knight to propel you into the next level of your life.

Cancer will be balancing a flow of creative explosions and some exhaustion in April, which is totally appropriate. Take it easy and gently, be kind to yourself and find pockets of rest and breathing room in the wild ride of the Knight. You can call on your innate Water element to balance out all of the Fire and Air if things get overwhelming.

You are getting everything you asked for and then some this month. You can trust it! There is no other shoe, no rug that’s going to get pulled out from under you. Surf the waves and remember to have fun – enjoy this time!

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:: Leo/Leo Rising :: Knight of Cups

There is an intoxicating energy in the air for Leo this month, but you should take care to not get too swept away by it before you make decisions. April’s invitation to Leo is to travel beyond the realm of logical head or desiring heart, to the place of the soul’s deepest knowing, before making any choices.

The month will be full of beautiful offerings and opportunities, and you will be able to navigate the month gracefully if you make sure to only say “yes” to what is actually aligned for you. Be willing to travel deeply within, past logic or desire, to the soul’s truth. Listen deeply. This is the truly sacred and pure place that the Knight of Cups comes from when not swept away by emotion. If you accept the invitation to go above and beyond emotion or logic, there will be so much personal expansion and alignment as a result. A lot of inner doubts and indecision will fade, as well.

It is also wise for you to ground yourself consistently, and to bring a gentle inquiry to some of the bigger energies of the month. Allow yourself to go slower than you normally would, and enjoy the ride. And by the way, the Universe isn’t trying to throw cold water on your dreamy Knight of Cups fun, Leo. It is merely trying to get you more aligned with your deepest wisdom. The soul knows the truest truth, and to get to that deep place, we actually have to travel past both the head and the heart.

To be able to say an empowered “yes” or “no” to something that doesn’t ultimately serve us (especially if its something we think we might desperately want) is an amazing and empowering act. It gets us more intimate with our deepest selves and our intuition. If you are willing to move through this month mindfully, there is deep treasure to be gained – not only in terms of your personal energetic balance, but with your confidence in yourself and your intuition. Go deep before you commit, Leo – keep your feet on the ground, and see how far you fly.

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:: Virgo/Virgo Rising :: Ten of Cups

April is such a well of sweetness for Virgo. The work you’ve been doing so tirelessly and thanklessly has been paying off (whether you’ve been aware of it or not), and this month there is finally a yield on all of your efforts. Last month, Virgo was moving through the energy of the Strength card, and it cracked you open to your power in a huge way. Strength helps us to look our deepest, darkest places in the eye, so that we can be free of the false fear we carry around the unexamined parts of our lives. If we can look at fear face on, it no longer has control over us.

You needed to do this, Virgo, because you’re here to be of service and its time for you to wake up to your power and your innate intuition. So March was rough, but I can tell you that you passed the “test” with flying colors. The labor is over, and now you get to enjoy what you’ve birthed. Ten of Cups is a card that radiates deep love and gratitude. It is a harvest of what we have sown with the choices we’ve made on our journey.

As such, this is an incredibly important month for you, Virgo, because it will seal in you a full cycle of growth. You’ve been contracting and moving through so much intensity – this month brings the expansion, the flow and the ease. It brings the joy and the light. It brings the rest. It brings answers. You will see the “why” for all of your work, and if you’re awake and willing, it’ll blow your mind in such a beautiful way. April will truly peel back the curtain and welcome you into a world of understanding and discovery around your inner work.

So ENJOY this month in whatever way befits you. Whether this means some sweet rest or a lot of social time, give yourself whatever you need after this time of hard work. Shower yourself with gratitude, too! You deserve it! Be sweet, soft and kind to your body and your heart, let that crack you open in a totally different way. This is the end of a powerful and important cycle in your growth and evolution, Virgo. Celebrate every moment.

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:: Libra/Libra Rising :: Queen of Cups

Libra is in for a deep and dreamy month, aided by the beautiful flow of the Queen of Cups. She is bringing an invitation that will add tremendous clarity to your life and your inner self. Libra, the time has come for you to stand in the light of your truth without questioning or doubt. Your brain might swing you back and forth, but you can build a trust in yourself that is unshakable now.

To do this, you must be clear on why you hold doubt in the first place. Do you believe you’re capable of missing something, or of making an irrevocably bad decision in your life? If you do hold these beliefs, just cradle them gently and bring inquiry to them. Hang out with them for a while, anchored by the watery, intuitive depth available to you by the Queen of Cups. These beliefs may be real, but they are not necessarily true – and worthy of your attention to clarify the difference. With this, you will be able to honor yourself and your choices in a whole new way.

To slice through this uncertainty, you must be willing to dive; and the Queen of Cups will take you there if you choose to go on the journey. It’ll be a powerful month of psychic expansion and potent dreams for you, Libra, all helping you to stand in the light of your clear truth. Use this energy beautifully in meditation, in dreaming, in walking, in pausing before you speak, in expanding your intuition, in becoming more quiet. This may also be a month where you are alone more, or desire to be alone more. Try to honor it, embrace it fully and completely. Live on magical time.

It’s not often that Queen of Cups comes for a visit, so try and be present with her. Let her work on you from the ground up. You might not love every moment of April’s dreamy invitation, and may experience a desire to be more active and head centered sometimes this month. I recommend that you surrender to the flow of the moment, and bask in the beauty of the watery depths. You’ll be so grateful that you did.

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:: Scorpio/Scorpio Rising :: Two of Wands

FINALLY, a little relief for Scorpio this month! Scorpio is out of the contraction of old traumas and healing work for the moment, and will be spending much more time back in their personal power. This is actually helping to alchemize and direct all of the work you’ve done into something useable and useful to your path. It’ll be a wonderful month for you, and one with the potential for a lot of passion and inspiration.

Two of Wands is an amazing energy. You are suspended in a moment full of excitement, wonder and clarity. You are directing your focus, and essentially anything is possible. The world is in your hands. Psychic energies run high, and you have tremendously clear access to your ancestors. Scorpio will benefit greatly from tuning in with your invisible tribe of guides as often as possible, so that you can be directed on the next steps of you path. So get super clear on what you want and leave all of the rest behind.

As with last month, this is still an excellent and aligned time for you to quit projects that don’t serve you. Cut cords and bow in gratitude. It’s the same with relationships. You will know who I am speaking about, if this relates to you. If your heart says leave, do it. This month is also VERY sexually potent for Scorpios. It’s part of how you channel and hear your guidance, so the timing couldn’t be more perfect.

Remember that your sign IS the birth/death cycle incarnate. You are 100 percent meant to survive and thrive through every intense shaman’s “death.” These huge contractions are not meant to slow you down or pull you off your path: they ARE your path. The more you embrace this, the more you will thive. All of this old intensity and trauma has been arising so it can be cleared away, enabling you to arise in a burst of beautiful, healthy fire. The Two of Wands brings so much healing, movement, evolution and balance to your door this month. Use it. Welcome it with open arms.

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:: Sagittarius/Sagittarius Rising :: Wheel of Fortune

Sagittarius, this is an incredibly important month for you. SO important that you’re essentially being asked to do nothing. No big decisions, no huge leaps, just staying incredibly present. For this month all you desire is being baked in the oven, so to speak. It’s almost done, but its not time to take it out just yet. So concentrate on getting the recipe perfect, then walk away and surrender it. You’ve done your part, now let the Universe do its part. This tandem action is the heartbeat and life force behind the energy that is here for you this month.

Wheel of Fortune is a macrocosmic card, guiding the flow of the whole month for you. It’s a gentle, complex and subtle energy, calling us to both be co-creators in our destiny and to surrender to the divine flow of our life. Tricky, but an amazing feat. Believe it or not, there is no bad or negative turn on the wheel. Everything in life is medicine, so every turn on the wheel brings a different color, flavor or situation. If it brings one piece of wisdom for you this month, it’s to: BE PRESENT.

You’re actively creating what you’ve been asking for in April, so be here for it. Show up. Don’t half ass the baking process, so to speak. You cannot get a finished product if you aren’t there to put the pieces together. So be here now. There really is no future; we are birthing it in every moment. For you, Sagittarius, this idea is the key to your month. Just know that whether it looks like it or not, the energy of the month is calling you home to yourself, calling you home to the moment you’re currently in.

Being here in this moment is the key to allowing our destiny to unfold as it’s meant to. Things are coming that you need to be able to receive, so do the work in this moment to create the space for them to drop…by doing nothing at all. Just be here for whatever arises in the moment, even if it seems unrelated. This turn on your wheel will amaze you by the time the month is out.

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:: Capricorn/Capricorn Rising :: Transformation

Capricorn is moving into a totally new paradigm this month through the portal of Transformation, or the Death card. It’s a new state of being, understanding and experiencing, one that will really change your world. For Capricorn, this work is deeply important – as it’s about allowing old ego-based ideas, patterns and beliefs to fall away, birthing you anew into the next phase of your life.

Let’s first start with this: the Death card doesn’t bring any kind of foreboding, or any prospect or prediction of true “death.” It doesn’t mean that you or someone you love will be hurt, or that something you love and hold dear will be ripped from you. It’s a beautiful, helpful card – you can let your nervous system relax upon seeing it. It’s only here to do good work on you.

After all, there is no waste in nature; every “death” is compostable, given a new purpose and function, with what is dying away becoming sacred fertilizer for the new stuff we want to manifest and nurture in our lives. This is the cycle of all life. The only thing that perceives a problem in the Death/Transformation card is the Ego, so if you have a tough time this month, that’s actually a beautiful thing. The Ego doesn’t fight unless we are walking into a truly aligned and expanded place, so take it as a sign of great progress if that’s what’s happening for you.

The Death/Transformation card is here to help you compost something that’s no longer serving you. Very often, this is an internal thing. It’s related to an old set of beliefs, an old idea of what something is or should be, etc. It could mean a physical shift, too. Again, this doesn’t mean an ending or a leaving behind something we love. What this energy does is help the new seedlings in your life grow and be nourished. Trust this, and allow the macrocosmic energy of the month take what is no longer serving you. Allow it to take you through this sacred cycle.

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:: Aquarius/Aquarius Rising :: The Sun

This month is so, so, so beautiful for Aquarius! Having moved through the intensity of the Five of Cups last month, you’re heading into the expansion part of that contraction. The Sun is enabling you to see the “why” of that time, shining light and illumination on the answers you seek. Life is clear and things makes sense. Expect joy, movement and flow to be the cornerstones of your month.

Like so many of us, you have been moving through a lot of surrender. It’s been a little more intensife for you guys though, simply due to the fact that you aren’t like everyone else. You’re here to hold a certain level of space, and you have been energetically encouraged to take up that space as freely and as magnificently as possible. The planet needs Aquarians to be in their genius, to be the artists, intuitives and lightworkers you are.

To do this, you guys needed to simplify. You needed to get back to truth, emotionally speaking. You needed to seek, to heal yourselves and to shed what didn’t serve. You needed to explore and master the idea of loss, to shatter the notion that anything that was yours could be taken from you. In one way or another, subtle or not so, you have been stepping back into the purest surrender, allowing the Universe to direct you. April is about receiving the richness for all of that work. You were asked to wait, to hang on, to surrender and to slow down. Now you will step up into the why around all of that. A very exciting moment!

The other thing here for Aquarius this month is movement. Be prepared for some major moving around – and if you’re not actually moving spaces, I recommend that you move your body as much as possible. Channel and focus it into art, making things and being aligned with the work you love. Circulate the joy and the answers you receive this month back into the world – as you heal yourself, you also heal others.

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:: Pisces/Pisces Rising :: Page of Swords

It’s a big month of manifestation and focus for you, Pisces. What an awesome shift from the energy of The Hierophant last month! You’ve cleared up so much space, whether you’re aware of it or not. Now your feet are on the ground, your mind is open, and you’re ready to go. Page of Swords is here this month to guide you to just do the work. Do NOT worry about how anyone receives it or what anyone else is doing. Just go with your flow and do your sacred thing. So much energy wants to be birthed through you now – let it. Be fearless.

You might still be a bit shaky from the big energies of last month, so honor that. Allow your nervous system to relax, but still jump into the water with both feet. It is extremely important that you utilize all of the contraction and energy that’s been building in you through March in a way that’s helpful to others. Circulating it back out is very important. Your ideas are amazingly aligned, so believe in yourself and just make them happen.

The Page of Swords represents the eager, fearless student who wants to take on the world – and very well may! It’s a beginning time, a process of planting seeds and coming out into the world more than staying in. Honor your ambition, nerve and optimism, and again, don’t worry about the outcome. Your job is to just serve. Show up on this planet and serve. If you’re doing it out of competition, you’re fall flat. If you’re doing it out of spite, you’ll fall flat. If you’re doing it out of a desire to be of service, for the love for what you do, and because you know you cannot live if you don’t birth this idea out into the world, you will fly higher than you ever imagined.

Part of the medicine of the Page of Swords is having your feet on the ground and your head clear, so harness your focus on that. Let people say whatever they say. Just do your thing and keep your eyes on your own paper. Those who are meant to follow or go with you will do so. It’s your job to take the first step. Do the work you’re here to do; everything else will follow.

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