How wonderful are the first signs of Spring? Feeling the hint of warmth in the air, the freshness on the breeze when you open the windows for the first time since closing them for the long winter, seeing that first bud on the tree…..all warms the heart. Here are some tips on cleansing the body, mind and soul during this time of year.
Body
Spring is a great time of year to detox. Whether you attempt a juice cleanse, some other form of fasting, or if you simply start eating healthier by choosing whole foods and cutting out processed foods, you will begin to feel a lot better. Maybe you will start to have a better night’s sleep, which could lead to having a little more energy. More energy could lead you to the gym, or just going on a walk in the evenings. Getting more exercise gets the lymphatic system moving,, which helps you to flush out toxins from the winter months.
So many good things can come to you when you make simple, healthy changes to your diet. I like to add a lemon wedge to a tall glass of ice water and drink several of those throughout the day. The lemon helps to alkalize the body, which reduces inflammation and lowers risk of other diseases. If you have issues with inflammation, consider looking into foods that are alkalizing, and try staying away from those that are acidic.
Mind
Now that Winter is coming to a close and we can start coming out of our shells and begin to experience more of life once again, it’s also time to learn something new. Engage your mind with an online class, get a book filled with puzzle games, find a new board game to share with the family, or just go outside and read a new book. It’s a great time to turn your mind back on and grow as a human.
Open yourself up to experiencing new things, as well. Take the family on a day trip to a museum, go for a drive out in the country to clear your head, or take those steps you need in order to advance your career. Whatever it is, find ways to open your mind further and do less of what we all do in the colder months……vegetate in front of the television.
Soul
What do you love to do? Think of three things you love doing, such as a hobby, or some other activity. Now ask yourself how often you allow yourself to do those things that you love. Is it often enough? Do you do them at all?
I answered these questions a little while ago and I was astonished to find that I wasn’t allowing myself the time to do the things that I love. How silly is that? Many of us have this idea that we must get our work done before we play. And when there is too much work to do, however you define work, then the playing gets pushed to the side.
This Spring, make a real attempt to get out there and do the things that you love. Even if it doesn’t feel like you deserve to engage in things that are fun, still do them. It will help you feel full on the inside, it helps to nourish the Soul. When you feel fulfilled and nurtured, you are doing your Soul’s work and as a result, more great things come into your life.
]]>As the spring season arrives, our natural inclination is to spend more time outdoors and rejuvenate our bodies. Give in to this urge by not only tidying up your home, but also by cleansing your body from within. Incorporating herbs into your diet, whether through tea or tincture, can strengthen your immune system, assist the liver in daily detoxification, and improve overall energy levels. Though the liver is constantly detoxifying, a specially formulated blend of herbs can enhance this process and leave you feeling revitalized and refreshed.
Some herbs that you might find helpful are:
For your convenience we have already combined these helpful herbs into our Herbal Detox Blend, and it comes with full instructions. Making and drinking this herbal infusion can help improve digestion by cleansing the liver and blood, ridding the body of the toxins that build up over the winter months.* This nourishing herbal blend can be used year round, but is most potent in the springtime.
In addition to our Herbal Detox Blend, we offer our Detox Tea. Enjoy this blend of healthful herbs, including dandelion, peppermint, and licorice, that can help provide a gentle way for the body to cleanse itself. It is a mild-bodied tea with a sweet peppermint flavor and earthy undertones. A delicious way to feel naturally refreshed on a daily basis.* Caffeine-Free.
Our holistic therapeutic products are meant to be used alongside traditional medical treatments prescribed by your doctor. Please consult with your doctor before using this product. Keep out of reach of children.
*This statement has not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
The past few days I have been part of a morning ritual where a group of people and myself meet up at 6 am for 20 minutes. In that 20 minutes we discuss one major arcane card, call in the elements, do a small movement meditation, and call in a guide. In the last few minutes, we write a prompt for the day. A few days ago, we got to The Lovers card, and I have not been able to stop thinking about it since. The Lovers card is the perfect embodiment of duality, the idea of the card being separate but equal. It is the card that I feel relates to the nature of humankind, light, and dark, love and hate, a symbol of opposites. The Lovers card is the perfect example of the two holidays Lupercalia and Valentine's Day, opposites on the same spectrum.
Lupercalia is an ancient Roman fertility festival celebrated between February 13- 15. Since this festival is so old it is impossible to say how the celebration started. The modern-day symbolism of Valentine's Day is at least somewhat based on Lupercalia.
Looking at the way each festival has been celebrated we can see the similarities and the differences between them. The Romans would start Lupercalia with a sacrifice, usually of a goat. I have seen a few mentions of a dog being sacrificed as well but I don’t know how accurate that is. The festival continued with men creating whips out of hide from the sacrificial goat. They then dipped them in the blood and went into the streets, whipping women and crop fields to bring forth fertility. Supposedly after they were done, the women would then put their names in a large urn. The men would pick a name out of the urn and pair up with the woman they chose. The festival then turns into a sexually charged fertility rite. Some of these “couples” would stay together until the next year, and some would end up getting married.
The act of pulling a name out of a hat and then coupling with that person reminds me of passing out Valentines cards during school in a way. It makes you wonder if that was one of the ways Valentine cards started.
Surprisingly, Valentine's Day did not celebrate romance until the 14th century. Valentine's Day was named after St. Valentine who was martyred about 270ce by the emperor Claudius II Gothicus. According to legend, he was executed after it was found out he was marrying couples under Christian terms. The emperor, fascinated with military perfection, had outlawed marriage, wanting his soldiers to remain single so they could focus more on their duties than their wives. Since this was a pagan society, he was told to renounce his faith and he refused and thus was executed.
Just like the Lovers card teaches us about the dual nature of self and life, the dual aspects of love, passion, and hate. During this time of marketed love, try to remember the duality of love and passion. Take time to honor the spirit of love, passion, hate, and war, how do they help us grow? What do they mean to you? What does that mean to you when you hear sayings like “all is fair in love and war”? Write down everything you can and take some time to contemplate what this time of duality means to you and how you can bring it into your daily life. Remember to take some time for yourself to practice self-love, self-acceptance, and growth.
Likewise, during this time take some time to understand your inner passions. Think of the concept of passion and hate, how similar and yet different they are. Writing about these concepts in the morning and creating a prompt for the day is a magical practice. Sometimes the simple and basic things can be the most magical.
Valentine's Day does not always have to be about the practice of love as we view it. Acknowledge your passion and how you plan to show and express it. Passions, both of love and hate, are ways to live by.
What will you acknowledge this Valentine's Day?
Samhain, Halloween, All Hallows Eve marks the start of what many wiccans call “The dark of the year”. This is winter, the time of rest and renewal, the time for everything to sleep for a brief period before it all awakens again at Imbolc. There are many names for the same night, the same festival with different faiths marking its passing. Carved pumpkins and spooky decorations adorn houses, people delight in horror movies and jump scares. Children run up and down the streets begging for candy. Over the centuries, this sabbat has become a melting pot of customs and traditions. So much so that sometimes it is hard to tell the modern from the ancient.
Samhain springs originally from the ancient Celtic Druid rituals that marked the two liminal times of the year. Beltane, and Samhain. The exact midpoints between summer and winter, the time of change, a time not quite one or the other. From these springs the belief that the veil is thinnest because it's not quite there, but it is there. That those who usually could not, can freely walk the earth. Jack o-lanterns carved originally from turnips, would stand outside houses to scare away evil. Oracles were consulted to try to catch a glimpse of what might be coming with the new year. Trick or treating may have its origins in many ancient customs such as villagers dressing in animal costumes to scare away evil influences. But its modern application of candy collecting was ‘invented’ in the 1920s to try to stop children from causing too much damage at Halloween.
There are many beliefs woven around Samhain, the most well-known being that it was one of two times of the year that the veil between the worlds is the thinnest (the other being Beltane). Many hold that this is the time when those who died during the year finally pass through the veil. Others hold that this is the best time to reach out and communicate with loved ones who have passed, since it is easiest for them to join us on this night. A coven I was part of had the tradition of writing on a leaf the name of a loved one who had passed during the year. Those leaves were then tossed into the ritual bonfire to say a final goodbye.
On a personal level though, how do we use this energy of change that is so ripe at this time of year? How do we encourage the thinning of the veil to reveal to us what we need to know?
Tonight (and the days either side of tonight) is best for Divination. Either seeking out someone to do a reading for us or doing one of our own. The lowered barrier between the two worlds not only allows those who have left us to pass over, it also allows our Higher Self to speak into our lives with crystal clarity.
Honoring our ancestors on this night helps us to reconnect with our roots, to remember where we came from and what our calling is. One of the simplest ways to do this is the custom of the Dumb Supper. Simply set an extra place at the table and invite those who have passed to join your family for the meal. During the meal, talk about those who have passed, happy memories you have of them, family legends that may have been passed on. Samhain is a time to keep loved ones alive by speaking their names.
Something I like to do is sit with a candle in the middle of the night and speak the names of those Ancestors. Sometimes they speak back, sometimes they don’t. What is important is that I have honored and remembered them.
Samhain is also the perfect time for us to set aside what is done. Allow it to pass from our lives with thanks for what it may have taught us and then to turn and welcome in the new. This can be done in many ways. Some write it down and then burn the paper, some simply sit in meditation and allow things to be released. If you like to include physical movement with ritual, then you could face west (the traditional land of the dead) and speak aloud what you are inviting to pass from your life. Then turn to the East wherein everything is born, open your arms to embrace the new and invite that into your life.
However you choose to mark this night, do it with the knowledge that for the next three months, it is a time of quiet. A time to slow down the mad hurry of modern life and take time apart when we are able. Time for self-reflection, for healing, for welcoming a deeper connection with our own hearts.
When we look deeply into the traditions that we have honored for generations it becomes clear just how much our ancestors try to keep us engaged and how truly dedicated we are to keeping them around. The practices of Italy are old, some of them seem to be recreations of older rituals. Take The Cult of The Dead in Naples for example, The Cult of The Pezzentelle Souls which seems to have started around the late 16th century. The women of the area would go to Fontanelle Cemetery to worship and honor “The Lost Souls”. They would spend time there connecting and honoring the dead, bringing them offerings that have been traditional in Necromancy within Italy and Greek legends like milk, honey, wine, grains, but especially water. It was important to bring the Souls water, more so than anything else because they said the “refreshment”, (Refrigerium, Refrische), was the water given to The Pezzentelle Souls to help cool them while they burned in purgatory. This was not as simple as going to a grave and giving the dead a glass of water in a pretty glass, no, this was a complex ritual that started before any offerings were given.
There are multiple ways to go about these rituals. The most familiar is the Women, since this is mainly “Women’s Work”, would go to the ossuary and say a devoted Neapolitan prayer to the Souls and before leaving take the Capuzzella (Skull), home with them. When they returned home, they would pray to and for the Pezzentelle Soul then go to bed where they would be placed in a trance to communicate with the Souls of Purgatory. Another tradition is that the Pezzentelle visits the devotee in their dreams first and tells them what they need and where their Capuzzella is found so they may go to it, clean and polish it, and give the Pezzentelle blessings and offerings.
As one built a close intimate relationship with the Soul they would give offerings like saint cards, rosary beads, oil lamps, candles, and water. The devotees would also, of course, ask for blessings and material objects to help better their lives. If the devotees' needs were not met, then the Capuzzella would be taken back to the ossuary and left there with no offerings since they did not meet the wishes of the devotee.
When the bond between the “adopter” and the Pezzentelle grows, the devotee would take the Capuzzella and build a Scarabatola around it at the ossuary. Placing a white handkerchief under it and adding a rosary around it as a symbolic “refreshment” an offering, also telling of the Souls status and importance. The Scarabatola is a wooden box, usually with beautiful woodwork and engravings. The offerings and refrische were placed on top of it.
I find everything about this tradition to be fascinating and beautiful. One of the most interesting things to me is the fact that all the main contact the devotee would have with the Pezzentelle is through dreams. It is like other Necromantic practices around the world and fairy traditions. Such as the practices of communicating with the Lare and the Lasa, they are spirits of Italian descent. One is said to be spirits of the land and the other are ancestral sprits of the hearth and home. The way to commune with them is first to build a shrine and give plenty of offerings of honey, milk, and wine. Another similar offering that is said to be a tradition in some of the most ancient of sources in the Greco-Italian world. After your shrine is built, go to bed and you will dream of one or both spirits. They will show themselves to you, teaching you secrets of the craft of the wise and telling you how to honor them. Usually after this step is when you can begin working with them regularly.
There is evidence of many Cults of The Dead, such as The Anima Sola in South America, which has similar practices and customs of devotion as the Pezzentelle Cult. There is a legend that says the worship of Dea Jana (Diana), travelled to Portugal, and in Evora there was a large temple dedicated to her worship. The worship of Diana became connected and intertwined with the legend of a Deified Witch named Bruxa Evora (Witch Evora). The legend of this witch travelled all the way to Brazil and other parts of South America. Diana was the Goddess of Witches, witchcraft, the wild, the night, and so much more. She was even seen as a psychopomp in a few legends, which made sense due to her hunting nature. One of the many ways women would say Diana contacted them was in their dreams. In the middle of night, she would take them to the woods and teach them the secret arts of the craft, healing, casting with Plants, and speaking with the dead.
A Goddess who I feel strongly needs to be mentioned in this article is the sadly almost forgotten Libitina. The Etruscan Goddess of the Dead and Funerals, her temple was used as a funeral home and was where all the sacred tools for burial and grave work were held. She is one of the first visions of the Grim Reaper and Angel of Death. Libitina was envisioned with black rope covering her face, she had huge black wings that would help her hover and circle over her prey before she would strike. I have been unable to find any evidence of her being connected to either of these cults directly or sites of worship. But that means nothing to me since all her myths and stories have been lost. Unless we can uncover something that says she is not, I feel strongly that she is connected to the cults of the dead. Another Goddess of the dead that is worth mentioning, is the Italian/Etruscan Goddess, Mania. Goddess of the Dead and mischievous spirits, mother of the Manes and spirits known as lemures. The Manes are spirits of the dead that usually were worshiped as a group, rather than individually. They were seen as Ghost, sometimes beneficent, other times they were feared and worshiped just so they wouldn’t hurt or mess with the living. Still to this day these spirits are revered and honored to keep them happy, if the Spirits are happy and content then they are more likely to help the living with their requests.
As we look deeper into the many Cults of The Dead, we will find many similarities. The practice of Necromancy is not as far from our daily lives as we think. Think of Saint worship, you are ultimately calling on the dead and praying to them so they may help you in return. Death is a huge part of life for a lot of Italians, mostly Neapolitans. Fontanelle Cemetery is not the only place in Naples where the Cult of The Dead is active. The church Maria delle Anime del Purgatorio ad Arco is still a highly active spot for people to come pray and leave offerings to these souls. This is a tradition that will live on forever, especially if the ancestors have anything to say about it.
If you decide you would like to work with the Spirits of the dead like the Pezzentelle or any other, there are a lot of different prayers you can find to call on them. The website Italian Folk Magick by Mallorie Vaudoise, (https://www.italianfolkmagic.com/) has a beautiful traditional Neapolitan prayer that can be used at the cemetery. I am a huge believer in our guides leading us to what will suit our needs. Speak to your guides and ancestors and they will show you a prayer you can use to call on them. Or they will visit you in your dreams and teach you how to begin this type of worship and ritual.
I hope this opened a whole new but old-world view for you. Things that might seem to be dark and unusual are all remarkably close to our ancestors and lineage traditions. That is what makes the world and all the cultural aspects of it so beautiful. Opening ourselves up to our ancestors and the Spirits of the dead is a sacred practice that we should never let die.
Vivian is offering a live online class October 21st called Working with the Ancestors 101. There will be a recording available if you can't make the live class.
]]>Triskaidekaphobia – Fear of Friday the 13th. We hear about it every time another Friday the 13th rolls around (up to three times a year depending on the year). It is a big superstition in the US that it is unluckier than any other day of the year. People that take note of such things become much more careful, often avoiding things that they are not usually worried about doing. Many people even skip work on the 13th, preferring to lose money rather than venture out. If the day truly was unlucky then surely staying home is just as dangerous.
There is no proof at all that there is a rise in accidents and general bad luck on this Friday over any other day of the year. Just like we blame Mercury Retrograde when things break, it is most likely simply because we notice it more than we normally would. Why do people believe in this superstition? No one is sure; my guess is it is simply out of habit. So where is it rumored to have started?
There are several origin stories; Western Culture tends to view 12 as being complete. 12 months of the Year, 12 zodiac signs, 12 inches in a foot, 12 labors of Hercules, 12 tribes of Israel, 12 Gods of Olympus. So, if 12 is complete, then 13 is obviously too much and unlucky … or so the logic seems to go. According to Norse mythology twelve gods sat down to a feast only to have Loki, the god of mischief and disorder, invite himself to join them. While creating his usual mischief at the meal Baldr the favorite of the Gods, died. In the bible, Judas Iscariot, the betrayer of Jesus was the 13th guest at the last supper. In 1907, T.W. Lawson published a novel called Friday the 13th about a stockbroker taking advantage of superstition to create a panic on Wall Street. Let us not forget the many Friday the 13th Horror movies that have also contributed to this legend.
But what has happened on Friday the 13th, that is verifiable fact?
1307: King Philip IV of France had hundreds of the Knights Templar arrested and imprisoned on Friday the 13th of October. Many were later executed. This event is often pointed to as the most probable origin of the Friday the 13th myth.
1940: September, the Germans bombed Buckingham Palace.
1964: March, Kitty Genovese was murdered in New York.
1970: November, a Cyclone in Bangladesh killed over 300,000 people.
1972: October, the disappearance of a Chilean Air Force plane in the Andes (later to become the movie “Alive”)
1996: September, Tupac Shakur died.
2012: January, crash of the Costa Concordia cruise ship off the coast of Italy, which killed 30 people
Certainly, unlucky for the people involved, but given the population of the Earth and how many times similar events have occurred in human history, perhaps not events that can be blamed on a single unlucky day.
So, feel free to pet that black cat or have a peacock in your house, then cross your fingers to ward off ill luck on Friday the 13th, October 2023. I would not walk under a ladder though, too much chance of something falling on your head any day of the week.
Mabon, the Autumnal Equinox, is one of two times during the year when day and night are equal. It is a time of balance, of harmony and equality. It is also the time when farmers gathered in the second harvest, the heavy crops like pumpkins, the harder fruits like apples. Other crops had been stored, animals culled or readied for winter and houses prepared for the upcoming cold. Although, with how the climate has changed, it can be hard to see that in today’s weather.
Mabon is a time to give thanks for the abundance that surrounds us; physically, emotionally and spiritually. Because it is a time of balance, we need to acknowledge both the gains and the losses of the previous year. It is the perfect night to reflect on the last turn of the wheel. Where did we grow and conquer old patterns and habits that we wanted to put aside? Where did we fall back into well-established paths that we wanted to break free from?
On a purely physical level, we can honor Mabon, the Earth Goddess and the harvest by leaving out simple offerings, sharing the bounty of the earth with the smaller souls that live alongside us. Leaving out apples and nuts for the squirrels, making sure there are wintering places for the bees and the butterflies. Doing what little things we are capable of to preserve life around us over the coming cold.
On a personal level? Mabon is the time to set intentions that involve decrease, or reduction. This is the time of year to end relationships that do not support and nurture us. It's time to pause, to look at our daily habits and set aside the ones that are unhealthy or self-destructive. If you want to give up smoking, or change your lifestyle in any way, Mabon is the time to set those changes in place.
Between now and Mabon, I will be spending some time each day reflecting on the past year. Looking at what I have learned, where I have changed, then carefully weighing the balance. On the night of Mabon, I will light some candles, (three is always a suitable number for balance), white, black and orange. White for the light, black for the dark and orange for the riches of the harvest.
As I light each candle, I'll review the results of all that reflection. I will give thanks for all the growth in my life (the white candle) then I will offer up what I want to decrease in my life going forward (the black candle) then I will set intentions and give thanks for the abundance that I have been blessed with, (the orange candle). Then I’ll simply sit with the candles, I know that while I wait Spirit will guide me on the next steps. Maybe it will be where I could give more, maybe it is something I missed that I could put aside or bring into my life. Who knows.
Just like every moon phase, the blue moon contains a spiritual energy of its own that we can harmonize with. The more we are able to move in tune with the prevailing energy of the time, the smoother our path to wherever we want it to lead to will be. This helps us bring about the changes we want to make in our lives.
Just how often are we doing something if we do it once in a blue moon?
About every 2 and a half years … which is the simplistic answer. To add more detail, there are three types of blue moon.
A calendrical blue moon occurs when there are two full moons in the same calendar month. The second full moon is known as the blue moon.
An astrological blue moon occurs when there are two full moons within the same astrological sign, e.g., July 23-August 22 is ruled by the sign Leo, the second full moon in this sign would be the blue moon.
A seasonal blue moon happens when there are four full moons in a season rather than three in the space between the equinox and the solstice (or the solstice and the equinox). In this case, the third full moon is known as a blue moon.
No, the moon is not actually colored blue at this time.
What is the spiritual meaning of a blue moon?
A typical full moon is a time of manifestation, a time to allow growth and to celebrate cycles. Add to that the energy that comes with whichever astrological sign the moon is in at the time. This is the highest energy phase of any moon cycle and one that is felt by just about everyone on earth. Ask any police officer or ambulance driver and they will tell you that full moons are the busiest nights.
A blue moon is just like a full moon, only more so. The energy is even more impactful and very much focused on expansion and manifestation. This is the perfect time for spell work, for planting intentions, for connecting with your intuition. If you wanted to put a magical bomb under your goals, the blue moon is the night to do it.
If you have been feeling low energy or lacking enthusiasm, the night of the blue moon has the perfect energy to charge you up again and allow you to find the drive you need to dive back into those projects.
What are some things you can do with the blue moon energy?
Make moon water!
As simple as setting out jars of water and letting the moonlight charge them up. Moon water can be used for scrying, for magical cleansing, and even for amping up your morning coffee.
Charge up your crystals
Many of us set our crystals out to cleanse and charge under the full moon. The blue moon will help amplify the energy of those crystals, especially clear quartz and moonstones.
Gratitude
The full moon is the perfect time to pause and reflect on the month that has just passed and to simply give thanks for every lesson learned and crop harvested. The blue moon allows us to focus on that energy of expansion and see where those lessons might be leading us, or exactly how to use that harvest to empower our lives.
Connection
The blue moon is the perfect time to simply sit with it quietly and allow our higher selves to connect with us. To reach out and connect with the Divine Feminine and simply allow that energy to fill our lives.
However you decide to acknowledge the blue moon, when it is done with love and intention it will add its rare magic to anything in our lives we need it to, empowering us through the coming cycles.
Mercury Retrograde. Two words that strike fear in the heart of anyone who knows even the barest smidge about astrology. A time of chaos, when things randomly break, and we are told to do nothing. Don’t sign anything, don’t buy anything, just lock your doors and windows (and hope the AC doesn’t break), hunker down and wait for it to go direct again (see end of post for retrograde dates 2023-2024).
But is it really that bad?
As with all energy that affects the Earth and the residents of it, Mercury Retrograde is not bad, or good, it simply is. Just like we change our clothes and our activities to account for the seasons; when you are energetically aware it becomes part of life to be aware of the waxing and waning of these energies and as much as possible adjust our lives accordingly.
When a planet ‘goes retrograde’ it shakes up the energy we are used to living with and offers us a chance to go back. Just like Venus Retrograde can often bring old lovers back into our lives, with Mercury Retrograde we have the chance to revisit and redefine past happenings.
Mercury being the planet of communication and all things outward and forward looking is about constant change and motion. When it Retrogrades, the Universe is simply offering us a chance to sit down, to be still and to look within. What do you want to say to yourself that you have not had time for? What do you already have around you that you haven’t taken time to genuinely appreciate and be thankful for? Instead of buying that new thing, pause and value the things you already have in your life.
This period is designed to allow us to go back, to pick up old projects we may have abandoned. To restart projects that we thought we had failed at. Mercury switches up its energy to allow us to Redefine, to Reconsider to reclaim what we had given up as lost. Often, we find that things that seemed impossible while Mercury was direct now come together easily as if someone else were guiding our moves.
There was a time when our lives were patterned by the seasons. Spring was a time of planting and preparing, Summer was the time of growing, the time to fix and repair. Autumn, we harvested the labor of the last two seasons and restocked. Winter, well that was the cold time, the time to be inside and working on all things inward. Introspection and quiet resting activities were the order of the day. Modern life, however, forces us to move at full speed all the time, there is no real ‘resting season’. Mercury Retrograde offers us the chance – 3 or 4 times a year – to simply slow down a little. To let go of what we cannot control and to regain what we may have cast aside as ‘too hard’.
Rather than fearing this time, perhaps mark it on your calendar and plan your energetic spiritual work accordingly. This is the perfect time to simply be mindful, to practice self-compassion, to move with intention through your day. Check in with your intuition at every opportunity and allow it to guide you towards the perfect projects for you.
Ultimately, Mercury Retrograde is here to teach us that we can’t control everything, and that there is a liberating freedom to be found in not trying. Use this time to embrace that freedom, to stop trying to control and simply flow where the energy is guiding you.
Mercury Retrograde Cycle: August to September 2023
On August 3, 2023, Mercury enters the Retrograde Zone (pre-retrograde shadow) at 8° Virgo 00′
On August 23, 2023, Mercury stations and turns retrograde at 21° Virgo 51′ Rx
On September 15, 2023, Mercury stations and turns direct at 8° Virgo 00′
On September 30, 2023, Mercury leaves the Retrograde Zone (post-retrograde shadow) at 21° Virgo 51′
Mercury Retrograde December 2023-January 2024
On November 25, 2023, Mercury enters the Retrograde Zone at 22° Sagittarius 11′
On December 13, 2023, Mercury stations and turns retrograde at 8° Capricorn 29’Rx
On January 1, 2024, Mercury stations and turns direct at 22° Sagittarius 11’D
On January 20, 2024, Mercury leaves the Retrograde Zone at 8° Capricorn 29′
Mercury Retrograde in Aries: April 1-25, 2024
On March 18, 2024, Mercury enters the Retrograde Zone at 15° Aries 59′
On April 1, 2024, Mercury stations and turns retrograde at 27° Aries 13’Rx
On April 25, 2024, Mercury stations and turns direct at 15° Aries 59’D
On May 13, 2024, Mercury leaves the Retrograde Zone at 27° Aries 13′
Mercury Retrograde in Virgo & Leo: August 4-28, 2024
On July 16, 2024, Mercury enters the Retrograde Zone (pre-retrograde shadow) at 21° Leo 25′
On August 4, 2024, Mercury stations and turns retrograde at 4° Virgo 06’Rx
On August 28, 2024, Mercury stations and turns direct at 21° Leo 25’D
On September 11, 2024, Mercury leaves the Retrograde Zone (post-retrograde zone) at 4° Virgo 06′
Mercury Retrograde in Sagittarius: November 24-December 15, 2024
On November 7, 2024, Mercury enters the Retrograde Zone (pre-retrograde shadow) at 6° Sagittarius 24′
On November 25, 2024, Mercury stations and turns retrograde at 22° Sagittarius 40’Rx
On December 15, 2024, Mercury stations and turns direct at 6° Sagittarius 24’D
On January 2, 2025, Mercury leaves the Retrograde Zone (post-retrograde zone) at 22° Sagittarius 40′
Source: Café Astrology
Norse Mythology divides the Deities into three clans, the Aesir- associated with war, wisdom and sovereignty. The Vanir, who rule over nature, fertility and magic, and the Jotun, the race of giants. After the great war between the Aesir, and the Vanir, the two tribes exchanged hostages in a peace treaty. Freyr was one of these hostages and was eventually accepted to be as much Aesir as he was Vanir.
Widely associated in Norse Mythology with peace and prosperity, Freyr was considered the source of happiness and abundance. Those who worshipped him could expect to receive blessings and riches from him. As the god of peace and harmony he was believed to prevent wars and sow friendship and harmony in the world. He also holds the honor of being the patron of temples and sacred places, making him the deity that received the most sacrifices. He is also considered the ancestral kind of Sweden.
Most often worshipped and offered sacrifices as the god of fertility, it was believed that Freyr ensured a good harvest each year. As God of the weather, he was looked to to provide the best conditions for the crops to grow so that there would be plenty throughout the year. But more than just crops, he was also the one that watched over the fertility of the livestock, and the people who worshipped him. Those who offered him sacrifices believed that he would bring their marriage partner to them, as well as ensuring that they had children who thrived into adulthood.
Because he rules over the areas of peace, prosperity, fertility and weather, Freyr quickly became one of the most widely worshipped and influential gods in Norse Mythology. Son of Njord and twin brother of Freya, goddess of love, he was widely believed to bring happiness and abundance to all who worshipped him.
Freyr’s feast is usually celebrated on August 1st, coinciding with the celebrations of Lammas, the feast of the first harvest. This aligns with his role as the deity of fertility and abundance. We can wrap that energy of abundance around us daily with a practice as simple as a quick prayer of thanks to him for all the wealth we have in our lives.
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What is a retrograde exactly? I hear you ask. Planetary retrogrades are optical illusions. They happen when the planet in question appears to reverse its normal course and travel backwards across the sky. While the planet is in retrograde, whatever its usual outward effect on our lives appears to turn inwards.
This means that for Venus retrograde, relationships are in focus. We may find ourselves reevaluating our values and what we want in a relationship. Rethinking some of the people in our lives, even our work, our callings, and our life goals come under scrutiny.
July 31st, Venus will enter Leo, where it will do most of its backwards traveling. This will have the unfortunate effect of bringing out the darker side of the vibrant Leo energy; a desperate need for attention. This can lead us to indulge in attention seeking behaviors that we usually would not even think of engaging in.
Until July 31st though, Venus will be traveling backwards through detail-oriented Virgo. Habits our lovers have that we would not normally even blink an eye at, could suddenly become like nails on a chalkboard to us. There could be a tendency to be over-critical and notice every tiny flaw in ourselves and our partners. This is also a really bad time to decide to try that new hairstyle or way of dressing. Save the big makeover until Venus goes direct again.
During Venus retrograde it's usually ill-advised to start a new relationship. Sure, it can happen, but our view of the other person may not be entirely correct at this time. It is also not the best time to have your wedding or engagement. Things will tend to go wrong. Examination of existing relationships can be forced upon us by Virgo energy at this time. Any flaws that we may have been ignoring in our relationships have the potential to be written large in front of us where we can no longer ignore them. Strong relationships will only grow stronger, the retrograde energy merely refines them, drawing the people even closer. Weak or abusive relationships, however, tend to show the cracks in their foundations and crumble.
This is also a time of revisiting old relationships, with past lovers more likely than ever to come out of the woodwork and back into our lives. Be very aware that what might seem like a magical rekindling could quickly tarnish once Venus goes direct again.
Venus retrograde tends to last around a month and a half (give or take a day), and we get to revisit them every few years. This is our time to review our lives, to consider what it is we truly value and hold dear. We get to consider the direction our lives are taking and if we are truly achieving what we want to achieve. Retrogrades are a time for reflection, not for acting. To think over our choices and really define what love means to us.
Some good questions we could ask ourselves about (and maybe journal the answers) are:
What is it about the green world that draws us in and connects with us deeply? There is something about the realness of the plant world, how they relate to our truths and bring them out to be revealed, loved, and handled. Plants and plant spirits have a way of connecting and opening us up even when we feel we are not able to. Just like ancestral spirits and spirit guides, plant spirits work with us in a natural way.
Plants are a part of us, and we as spiritual living beings have plantcestors as well as ancestors. Our ancestors knew that plants were connected to us and were sacred children of mother earth. That’s why plants were treated with the utmost respect, in some traditions they were given offerings and honored as well as received as offerings for special occasions or specific deities. Plants spoke to the wise ones; plant spirits came to the healers and the Seers and taught them the sacred information needed to perform miracles of all kinds.
In every region of the world, you will find plants that are used and honored in rituals. There are multiple reasons for this, both spiritual and mundane. Other than accessibility to the plants, certain plants often resemble the part of the body it can heal. It’s interesting to see the connection between the plant spirits and humans, we must really think about it because back in the day there was no room for trial and error. The healer had to be certain that what she was about to give to her patients was truly going to help and not harm unless that was the goal! Since there were no books and internet or classes to teach these healers, they had to learn from the source…. the spirits themselves.
Spirits, plancestors and ancestors, were the original teachers. They would come to the women and men who had gifts, those that were different than other people. The spirits would teach healing, magic, and ways of calling on the spirits as well as how to communicate with spirits in dreams or at times of solitude in the woods. Each spirit initiates contact differently, some will show in dreams, some will begin to speak to you while either in meditation or just a calmed state of mind. The same is true of plant spirits. If we look at poisonous plants as a family, only will we have different things come to mind as opposed to plants for healing, but we will also all connect to each plant differently because the spirits speak to each of us in our own way.
At first glance, the poison plant realm seems associated with a specific type of work, in all actuality that is not the case. Looking deeper at the poisonous plants, we begin to realize that there is so much more than meets the eye. Plants like Mandrake, Henbane, Datura, and Belladonna all have strong associations with astral travel, shadow work, the darker aspects of life and death, necromancy, and baneful magic. Most people believe that the poisons are for negative workings only, in my practice that is far from the truth! I have used them in baneful magic but when I’m working with the spirit, I am most likely working towards growth and change.
The amount of time I have spent working with poisonous plants, and plants in general, has shown me a few things. Each poisonous plant holds a different shadow for me. Each poisonous plant understands one of my traumas and faults and they are willing and able to help me overcome them. Poisonous plants are always teaching me, even if it is a plant I have never worked with as a spirit ally, they will still come into my dreams and show me the way.
When you are building a relationship with any plant spirit the best start is to spend time together. If you are in a place where you can start a garden, that is the ideal way to start. If you don’t have the space the next best thing to do is get the dried plant so you can keep it near you. Failing that, print a picture of the plant and hang it up near your bed or keep it with you. No matter which way you choose, your connection with this plant will slowly grow. You may even start to feel psychic downloads coming from them. Keeping a journal, especially in the early stages, helps us learn how the plant communicates with us.
In time the spirit might start asking for offerings or a sacred space. When you work with a spirit, no matter what spirit it is, only do what you feel comfortable with. If the spirit is asking you for something that you don’t feel comfortable with then politely decline and offer an alternative. You must remember that these are still spirits, so you can and should set boundaries.
The plancestors are exactly what they sound like, the ancestors of the plants. Everyone has plantcestors, they are plant spirits that have had a role in your family’s history or are an important plant from the region your family is from. Plants have always played a role in the livelihood of people; from medicine and makeup to food and shelter, plants played a key role.
Everyone is encouraged to start working with their plantcestors. If you are unsure which plants belonged to your family, then begin where you are now, and where you know your family has lived. Follow this as far back as you can, researching the plants from each stage, eventually the plants will begin speaking to you.
The most sacred of beings on the planet, plants will continue to flourish no matter how humankind tries to destroy them.
No matter how you decide to work with plants, the important part is to remember how vital plants are to us and show them the respect they deserve!
Would you like to learn more about the sacredness of plants and how to forge a working relationship with the Plantcestors? Sign up here for Vivian's class on Italian folk magic and Poisonous Plants. Class begins July 15th.
A common use of essential oils is for anointing. The pure oils are diluted with a carrier oil and then applied to the body. This allows us to turn the essential oils into perfume and surround ourselves with the scent and energy of our desired mixture of oils throughout our day. Each oil carries with it a unique energetic signature, its own magical purpose. Some, like Patchouli, draw in abundance, others, like Neroli help us heal on an emotional level and Rose lifts our spirits, allowing us to see things in a more positive light. Combining different oils allows us to mix the various properties to arrive at a blend that will harmonize with our spirit and allow us to carry our magic with us throughout the day.
My favorite perfume, and one that gathers a lot of compliments, is actually Zinzeudo’s ‘Attract Money’ oil blend. This blend combines Patchouli, Amber and Cedarwood for a lovely earthy scent that not only attracts abundance, but is very grounding, connecting us to the energy of the Earth and helping me stay focused during the day. Something extremely helpful for a sometimes-scatterbrained air sign!
Deity has used scent to signal their Prescence over and over throughout history. This is something I have experienced myself on two separate occasions that occurred years apart. Both times the scent was something akin to roses, only not roses, it was deeper, sweeter, more captivating, and yet, decidedly floral. It was one of those scents that sticks with you but defies description. The first time was at a Christian gathering, the person speaking called it the scent of the holy spirit. The second time was in a Wiccan Circle, there it was called the scent of the Goddess. Exactly the same unearthly, captivating, embracing scent. This is my own personal proof that there is just one God, we all simply see them just a little differently.
So how do we use scent to make our daily lives just that little bit more magical? The same way we do any magic, be intentional. Don't just splash on mass produced commercial perfume (although there are some lovely ones) pause at the start of your day and ask yourself “what do I want to surround myself with today.” then select essential oils that evoke that energy and wear them instead.
Yes, that may take a little longer at first, but over time you will amass a collection of personal oil blends, each one perfect for a different situation that you can wear as you need to.
An important safety note: Pure undiluted essential oils should not be applied directly to the skin, there is a risk they can burn. Also, because essential oils are highly concentrated, applying them to the skin without first diluting them can cause them to build up in the body and potentially cause negative health effects in the future. The safer way to wear oils is to dilute them in small bottles of carrier oil (Jojoba is most used) or add drops of the oils to body butter, or to aromatherapy jewelry. This enables us to safely surround ourselves with the scent and energy of our preferred oils.
]]>If you read as much as I do, then you know in a certain fiction series it is described as “desire made real’. Magic is usually something we perform to manifest our desires. We step aside from our normal routines; we make a ritual of gathering the components and crafting the spell. Then we take time out of our normal life to tie everything together and release it into the Universe and thus, magic is born.
This ritual process often brings beautiful results, not only in manifesting what we were working towards, but also in our lives. Strengthening our relationship with ourselves, with our guides and deities. But, what if instead of a special ritual, magic was simply who we are. What if it was simply part of everything we touched and everything we did?
Once we understand that we are our most powerful magical tool, making each moment of our lives an act of magic becomes part of us. Something done intentionally, but without really thinking about it. We begin to see the energy flows that gently guide and nudge us every day towards the life we want to manifest.
Sometimes these flows are unimportant things, nudges to open the windows in the house to allow the outside to flow through and freshen things up. Sometimes they are larger things, the warning that crawls up our spine guiding us to wrap that energy around us as a shield against whatever it is we may be facing at the time. Sometimes, it’s the small voice in the back of our head that whispers “hush, just listen”.
Everyday magic is so simple that many of us never even see it. It’s the timeless act of listening, to our intuition, to the world around us, to the energy that we have and moves with us each day. All it takes is knowing that everything we do echos along these energy waves, and then acting based on knowing that, and knowing what we want the result to be. We want our house to feel brighter, to have a better energy flow running though it? Dust. As we dust, we see not only the dust being removed from the physical surface, but we also see the energy lifting, stirring from the places it was laying stagnant and beginning to flow and move through the rooms.
When we want to manifest love in our lives, rather than complicated love spells we can choose to remember that energy is magnetic. Like attracts like. When we want to attract something into our lives, we can weave a complex spell, or we can simply work on radiating what it is we want to attract. If we want love, then it's as simple as learning to love. Accepting people for who they are and loving them for it. If we want abundance, then it’s a matter of seeing the abundance we have in our lives every day and giving thanks for it.
There will always be special occasions when we need to go apart from the world and attend to pulling together the components and energies for an actual spell casting ritual. Living our magic, though, allows us to infuse every part of our lives effortlessly and intentionally. These thousands of tiny daily acts are what will fill our lives with magic and help us flow through and around any obstacle.
]]>The best way we can prepare to work with the incoming energy is to take time out before the day to meditate on where we are on our personal journey. To ask ourselves how our relationship with ourselves is, do we love ourselves? Or do we merely tolerate who we are? Are we living our truth and our worth, or do we try to stay small and unnoticed? The most important question to ask ourselves is are we ready to truly embrace love and give it space in our lives?
This will set the stage allowing us to move forward into the new energies that follow the Solstice feeling renewed, and clearer in our minds and hearts about what we most want to create in our lives. This allows us to use this fresh energy to refine, to heal, to strengthen our relationship with ourselves and our feelings of worth bringing everything into alignment with our most authentic selves.
This is a time to get truly, brutally honest with yourself. What are we ready to let go of? Not what we think we might, if we absolutely must, but we are ok with keeping thank you very much. What are we truly done with; the pattern that plays over and over that we would give anything to be free of; the addiction that we just can’t shake; the feelings of worthlessness and loss. Are we ready to let go of it, or is it still comforting in some way? It is ok if it is, it just means we have more we need to learn before we can release it.
Try this exercise in the week leading up to the Solstice. Step aside from the world for an hour, turn off your phone, TV, radio, light some candles and your favorite incense and sit down with two pieces of paper and a pen. We’re going to write two lists.
1/ What are you willing to put aside (thoughts, behavior patterns, beliefs) so that you can create more room for your desired reality?
2/ What positive behavior are you willing to embody to make it part of your life?
It doesn’t matter how long those lists are, they could be one item each. What matters is that we spend the time getting in touch with ourselves and be truly 100% honest with ourselves.
The energies around a solstice can help bring our deepest and truest desires to the surface. Whether it is things we want to put aside, or things we want to attract, or both! Our part is to be honest with ourselves in recognizing these things.
Once you have your lists, on the night of the Solstice, (I would do this as the sun is setting) light a candle and take up the list of things you want to leave behind with the closing of the day. Read it through, then burn it. As it burns, see these patterns and things fading from your life and having less and less importance to you with each new day.
Then take the list of what you want to create and pin it where you will see it every morning. Read this list every day and purpose to embody that energy as you go about your day. The more you embody the energy of what you want to attract, the more of it you will naturally draw to you.
The more energy we put into crafting ourselves and our lives into the shape we want them to be, the closer we will naturally draw to that goal. Using the powerful energies of the ebb and flow of the seasons to aid us in this lifelong journey just makes sense.
]]>Many people use the terms Spirit animal and totem animal interchangeably, not realizing that there are some significant differences between the two. While both are the spiritual essence of animals, and come to us as needed, that is where the similarity ends. A Spirit animal comes to us when we need it, sometimes called, sometimes not, and leaves again when its job is done. Some First Nations peoples believe that we each have not just one, but nine totem animals.
Our totem animal forms a soul contract with us before we even choose to be born into this life and walk alongside us our entire lives. We do not choose our totem animals like we do our spirit animal guides; we uncover the contract that we agreed to between lives. That contract does not expire until we do, so while we often uncover more animal guides as we learn and grow and our circumstances change, those that have already gathered around us will not leave. I started with three wolves that I first saw as a young child, as time went on more revealed themselves to me. Nowadays, I have three wolves, an owl, a snake, and a spider.
We are not limited to the known natural world either. It is common for people to have mythological animals as totem animals. Just because they don’t exist in our world in the present day does not mean that they don’t have power and wisdom to offer us. A Dragon can guide and protect us as well as teach us the value of saving, and how to accumulate abundance. A Unicorn can show us the value of healing ourselves and others, and how to keep our energy pure and childlike.
In my own meditations I have reached out to the animal world and so far, been gifted with the presence of six animal totems. This leads me to believe that those nations had it right when they said we each had nine. Is that nine separate species, or nine animals? Does it matter? I think each of us will have as many as we need to safely navigate our lives and learn the lessons that spirit has for us to learn in this incarnation. Whether that is nine, or ninety, the animal spirits are there, like Deities, or guardian angels, to surround us, protect us, and offer us wisdom and guidance.
Why do we want to build a relationship with our totem animals? When we reach out to them, and are attuned to their energies and their qualities, we can draw on those abilities as we need. For myself, being attuned to the spider and the snake enables me to draw on ancestral wisdom and divine guidance more easily when doing readings as both those animals have those connections. In times of stress or danger, we can wrap the abilities of our animals around us to enhance our own perceptions and abilities.
So how do we find out who our totem animals are? Sometimes they will be revealed to us during times of trial and hardship. Although that is hardly the ideal way to find out they are there. Most often, a guided journey to the world tree will reveal to us at least one of our Totem Animals. We can undertake this journey on our own, or we can ask someone experienced to guide us. Once we have met them it is up to us to forge that relationship, meditate with them, keep their image close, study them in myth and reality to gain insight into who they are and how they act. Your totem animal will rarely be a surprise to you, on some level, you will know that this spirit has been with you since birth and is simply choosing to reveal itself now that you are ready to meet.
Lisa is a certified Power Animal Practitioner, able to lead you on a guided journey to meet at least one of your totem animals.
The mythology of a culture, any culture, has always reflected the beliefs and customs of that culture. One of the roles of myth is to explain why things are the way they are. Because myth reflects the human condition, it is no surprise that gay, transgender and gender fluid deities are represented in nearly every pantheon around the world. From Agni of Hindu Mythos to Zeus in the Greek, human virtues, faults, failings, and sexuality have been reflected in our gods and our myths.
After digging through many lists and myths and winnowing down the choice, here are ten that caught my eye.
Zeus: Considering that 95% of Greek myth starts with “and Zeus liked what he saw and decided he would have it” any list about deities and sexuality would not be complete without him. While he is famous for morphing into many different forms and fathering dozens of demigods on mortal women, when it came to selecting his cup-bearer Zeus chose Ganymede, a mortal man known for his beauty. This myth explained the Greek practice of older men selecting younger men and mentoring them while keeping them as lovers. (no one said that all the practices of mythology were still socially acceptable today.)
Apollo The Greek sun god had many lovers, both male and female. As well as his many female lovers, Apollo was also lover to the Macedonian Prince Hyakinthos. After he died, Apollo had him immortalized in the hyacinth flower.
Dionysus: God of wine and song, and the god of transgender and intersex people. Dionysus had many lovers of both genders, some of his most well-known are Adonis, and the satyr Ampelos.
Atum the very first deity in Egyptian creation mythos, Atum was considered both male and female. On their own they produced two children, Shu and Tefnut, the well-known Mother-Father pair of Isis and Osiris appeared several generations later.
Hapi: While generally referred to as male in mythology, Hapi was always depicted with false breasts and beard. It is believed that this was to represent both male and female creative power in their ruling over the Nile which was the life blood of Egypt.
Vishnu/Mohini Vishnu, in Hindu myth is regarded as protector of the world. They are also depicted as Vishnu the male and Mohini the female, making them very much gender-fluid.
Bahuchara Mata: Bahuchara Mata was traveling with her sisters and threatened by the marauder Bapiya. After she and her sisters self-immolated their own breasts, Bapiya was cursed with impotence until he began to dress and act as a woman. Today, the Hindu goddess is worshipped as the originator and patron of the hijras, trans and intersex Bangladeshis considered in the faith to be of a “third gender.”
Bhagavati-devi: Bhagavati-devi is considered today to be the goddess of cross-dressing, and more than 5,000 male worshippers dress as women each year for the ritual Chamayavilakku festival in Kollam. Temple leaders say the tradition has been in place for hundreds of years.
Our gods have always reflected our own thoughts, desires, and beliefs and reflect the society that penned the myths. Historically, these myths, no matter what the society that spawned them, have always emphasized inclusion, and celebrating our differences and the strength that brings us as a civilization. If nothing else, they teach us that every part of the human condition is natural and should be acknowledged.
]]>Smoothies are utterly ideal for hot weather. They are cheap to gather the ingredients for … many of which are pantry staples. They are healthy and nutrient dense, filling, quick and easy to prepare, and they are endlessly customizable.
I like to use spinach as a base for mine … wait! I hear you say, spinach in a fruit smoothie? Why yes. Trust me, you cannot taste it. Whole Milk, nuts for an extra burst of protein, Flax Seed, for Omega 3’s and fiber, and Greek Yogurt. While you can use ordinary plain yoghurt, Greek yogurt will give you more protein for the same volume of yogurt. On top of this add about a cup of frozen fruit. Which type of fruit? That is entirely up to you!
When it comes to customizing this to your taste the options are endless. Jen prefers Oat Milk; I have tried Almond milk, but I did not like the taste, so I use Cow’s Milk, or Muscle Milk (extra protein). Nuts, this is for protein and fiber, so it really depends on what you prefer. I love walnuts in my smoothies, some prefer almonds, others omit the nuts altogether. The fruit … I love blueberries (frozen Wild Blueberries, they have more taste than the frozen Blueberries). Jen likes a mixture of Strawberries and Bananas. Again, it’s a matter of personal preference. I wouldn’t recommend apples, they just do not blend well, and citrus fruits may curdle the milk. Berries, Pineapple, Banana, Peaches and Mangoes are all good choices here.
Magically speaking, this is a very grounding, soothing drink, with its base of spinach and milk it is heavy in the mother energy that many of us crave
Basic Recipe
The basic energy of the smoothie I prefer is:
Jen’s Variation would use these energies instead.
Another popular nut choice would add this:
Many of us forget that our personal energy, and the energy of our homes is just as important to clean as our physical surroundings. We are inundated daily with energy from people, from things like our phones, and from less tangible sources like advertising and music. This all gets added to the energy of our environment and ourselves. Purposefully cleaning that energy is one of the keys to lowering the stress level in our lives.
Here are some simple ways you can cleanse and protect your energetic surroundings:
Black Crystals: Carry a piece of Black Crystal. Any of the black stones, such as Black Tourmaline, Shungite, Onyx, Apache Tears, or Smoky Quartz, have shielding and protective properties. They all vary slightly so it's just a matter of holding each one until you find the one that “fits” you.
Smudging: This is a practice in Native American culture, as well as other cultures around the world. It involves lighting a smudge stick, commonly made up of dried white sage or other types of sage and herbs. Light the stick, or bundle, and as it smolders, gently wave it around your body, letting the smoke cleanse your energetic field. You can also smudge your home or any space that holds stagnant energy. Other commonly used smudges are Palo Santo, Sweetgrass and Juniper, each has slightly different properties so it's easy to select the one that is perfect for you. Get in the habit of smudging after being around a large group of people, or when you feel in a bad mood or have low energy.
Florida Water: Adding this to your mop bucket, or the sprays you use to freshen the air in your room adds a layer of energetic cleansing every time you spray. It also makes a lovely light perfume that helps to cleanse your aura every time you apply it. Add it to your bathtub at the end of a long day to help wash your aura clean while you soak, drop some in your washing machine with your clothes, pour a little in your dishwasher. Anywhere you use water as a base for something, you can add just a cap full of Florida water for an energetically cleansing punch.
White Light Shower: Whenever you shower, take a moment after washing to close your eyes and just allow the water to rain down onto you. Picture this water becoming a bright white light that washes your Aura clean. When you look down at the drain, see the swirling water taking with it all the dirt and chaos that inevitably sticks to us as we move through life. This can help us to shake off minor cases of the blahs, and to simply remove stress that we know is not ours. This technique is easily teachable to children, as well.
Grounding and Shielding: Another technique is to simply use the Earth’s energy to ground you and to shield you from unwanted energetic influences. Imagine yourself standing outside in a clearing at the base of a mountain on a beautiful sunny day. Take a few deep breaths as you imagine pulling the grand, stable energies of the mountain into your body through your crown chakra (top of head) or your heart center (whichever feels better to you). As this powerful grounding energy is flowing into your body, allow all negative thoughts and feelings to be released through your feet and into the earth. When you feel you are cleansed and feel safe and secure, thank the Earth for its restorative powers.
Ways to cleanse our energy are as varied and unique as we are. The key is to find a method that works for you and fits your lifestyle. Then tweak and adjust until it becomes something that is simply part of your everyday life. Cleansing becomes an effortless piece of magic that gives you a firm foundation for everything else you need to achieve.
We hear a lot about Deity, God, the Universe, Universal Energy, Love, Jehovah, Allah, and we tend to view this energy as more masculine in terms of gender. This is that one Divine energy that we know is responsible for all creation. The energy that is incomprehensible to the limited human mind. So, we as humans divided it up into smaller parts that we could understand and relate to. The mother, and the father.
Personified in the Greek Pantheon in the forms of Zeus and Hera, they became Odin and Freya in the Norse. Orthodox Christianity gave us Jesus and Sofia, wisdom personified. Catholicism morphed them into Jesus and his mother, Mary. In many Christian sects she has been replaced entirely by the gender-neutral Holy Spirit. Together they perform vastly different, but complementary roles. From the masculine side we get the driving force behind creation, we see will, thought, ideas.
The feminine side, however? This is form, the gentle, loving hand that shapes creation, that holds us close and keeps us safe. What we often term guardian angels, or spirit guides is the mother heart of Deity gently ushering us back to safety. When we reach within to comfort and heal our inner child, we are allowing that same mother hand to scoop us up and soothe our own deep-seated wounds. When we parent our inner child with words of love and affirmations of strength and success, we are standing in for the Mother Goddess and allowing her to write those self-same words on our souls.
The Mother heart of God is the unconditional love that always, always accepts us and holds no ill will towards us, no matter what we may have done. When we step into her arms, we find only loving acceptance and healing, not blame, not finger pointing, or guilt apportioned. simple complete love and acceptance, and should we want it, guidance to help us not repeat the same mistake again.
The Mother heart of God is the simple, all pervading, all prevailing unconditional compassionate love that empowers us to accept ourselves exactly as we are. And to admit to ourselves the simple truth, we are the Divine made manifest, we are each one of us, a physical representation of Deity here on earth to learn and grow and become more. More what? simply more.
Where do we find her? How do we connect with this facet of the Deity? Simply reach within. When you pause to take that deep breath when you are stressed, when you are sitting quietly meditating. Focus within, on your heart center. As you breathe slowly, deliberately, sink into that space. At its core you will find a place of incorruptible stillness, untouched by anything that is happening around you. This is the Mother heart of God and it exists at the center of all of us. It is our very real connection to deity, to the universe, to each other, and it is always there. When we need it, we just need to reach within and allow it to expand and infuse our entire being with the compassion and strength that we need in each moment.
Beltane is, first and foremost, a fertility festival. While a prime focus of fertility is procreation, as an energy it encompasses so very much more. Every inspiration, idea, and goal is a celebration of this fertile energy. Beltane is also the time of year when the veil is at its thinnest, just like its twin celebration of Samhain in the autumn. However, while Samhain’s energy is about drawing inwards and beginning a period of introspection and self-healing, Beltane is focused on reaching out, on growth, goals, connections and manifestations. Both are perfect times however to draw apart from the world, even for just a few moments, and consult with the divination tool of your choice as you set your goals for the next six months.
So how can we touch the Beltane energy and use it to empower our lives?
Meditate: Because this is one of the two times of the year when the veil is thinnest, it is also the time of year it is easiest to hear and communicate with our ancestors and guides. Setting aside time to simply be with this energy of growth and allowing ourselves to receive from them the pictures of what our lives will be like when we allow ourselves to bloom completely and fully. When we set aside fears and ego concerns and simply grow, reaching for our goals, hopes and dreams like there are no obstacles. Listen for the small words of guidance that offer us the next step to take to bring those dreams into reality.
Focus: Fertility. This is so much more than procreation. Every new idea, every meal we cook, every project we complete is fertility made physical. Fertility is every single breath we take, every inspiration we receive. It is the goals that we set and the steps that we outline as the way to reach that goal. Fertility is also the energy that helps us take each one of those steps as we carefully nurture our goals from their conception. Through their gestation and then to the time they are born, fully formed and take their place as part of the fabric of our lives. What do you want to achieve? What tangible milestones can you set for yourself that you know you can reach with just a little effort? Now is the time to plant these seeds and allow things to grow and bloom.
Write: Every goal is simply a dream until we give it form. Sitting down with pen and paper and beginning to jot down the small words that come through is one of the best ways to start building that new reality we want. With each word, we are pulling more of the fertile fire of Beltane into our lives. We are nurturing the soil of our soul and coaxing it to send forth the flowers that are the result of growth. Perhaps more importantly, we are gently and lovingly weeding that garden. Removing the rocks and stones that are the obstacles we may have placed in our own path. Nothing can grow unless we clear a path for it, this means setting aside what does not fit our vision. Sometimes this can be painful, but it does not all have to be done in one day. This is an on-going transformation that we set in motion at Imbolc and have been building on, day by day ever since. With Beltane, we select the seeds we want and breathe life into them.
Reflect: We can ask ourselves these questions, or, we can ask our guides, our tarot cards. Whatever form of divination you prefer (fire scrying would we utterly perfect for Beltane) These five questions can aid us in tapping into that energy and allowing it to take shape in our lives.
However we choose to welcome this fire into our lives, Beltane is the turning point between the hoped for and the manifested. It’s our job to direct it towards the inspirations we want to bring to a vibrant life.
]]>Spring is in the air and many of us are feeling the urge to not only be outside in the fresh air, but to start switching our diet from the heavy comfort foods of winter to the lighter fare of the first fresh greens of Spring. It is natural that after a winter of stored food the body starts to want fresh food, with its higher load of vitamins and essential nutrients. It is looking to restore what may have been depleted during the colder months. Ok, so this is not so much of a concern in the modern world when we have the luxury of eating the same food year-round regardless of the season. However, its instinct to crave what is in season around us and eating local means that the food we consume is fresher and has a higher nutrient content.
One addition we can make to our diet to support our body’s systems and our overall wellness is herbs. The right herbs, as tea or tincture, can encourage our immune system to kick into higher gear, it can help the liver in its daily work of cleansing and detoxifying the body, and it can give you an overall boost to your energy. Sure, the body is in a constant state of detoxifying itself, that is what the liver is designed to do. The right blend of herbs can support this process and make it even more efficient, leaving you feeling lighter and more energized.
Some herbs that you might find helpful are:
For your convenience we have already combined these helpful herbs into our Herbal Detox Blend, and it comes with full instructions. Making and drinking this herbal infusion can help improve digestion by cleansing the liver and blood, ridding the body of the toxins that build up over the winter months. *
Our holistic therapeutic products are meant to be used alongside traditional medical treatments prescribed by your doctor. Please consult with your doctor before using this product. Keep out of reach of children.
*This statement has not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
The Aries sun encourages us to focus on ourselves and our soul mission, whatever form that takes for each of us. Libra moon balances this inward focus by reminding us that we are surrounded by other people, their energy, influences and sometimes distractions. No matter how much we might want to doggedly stay on our own path, sometimes we need to take a small detour to accommodate others.
Full moons are always about release and forgiveness, and true to its symbol of the scales, the Libra moon is about equal parts of both. It can help us to clarify in our minds our picture of the relationships in our lives. Which ones enhance us and our mission, which ones detract from it. Which relationships help us heal and grow and which ones hold us trapped in that same cycle over and over.
True to its balancing nature, the Libra moon ass us to first find that serenity and peace within us. Libra’s calm energy governs the tools that we can use to create and sink into this calm, while teaching us that it is ok to not always feel centered and grounded. It is important to acknowledge these feelings of imbalance and use the tools that work for us to regain our center, if possible, before interacting with other people.
As we move through the three days of this full moon, let's purpose to check in with ourselves, to ask “how am I feeling in this moment?” The fiery energy of Aries can bring frustration, restlessness, and anger bubbling to our surface at a moment's notice. This can make us feel unbalanced and unmoored if we don’t pause, acknowledge it, and then reach into our toolbox for whatever helps us release that energy and regain our calm center.
Something as simple as pausing and taking a few deep breaths could be all that is needed to help us reconnect with our essential selves. There was a reason our grandmothers always said, “count to ten when you are angry.” Perhaps a walk barefoot in the grass would work better in some situations. Regaining that connection with the solidity of the Earth often makes it easier to regain that connection with our own solid center.
Perhaps most importantly, this full moon, no matter how you approach the shifting energy within yourself and others, do it from a place of compassion. This is not about finding out who is at fault, or for blaming ourselves for anything. It is about using the balancing energy of the scales to center ourselves and touch every part of our lives with unconditional love and acceptance. When we accept what we think of as our flaws, they become our strengths and our points of growth and healing.
]]>Reiki Healing is a non-invasive form of healing that gently works on the body's energy field and aids the body in healing itself. Animal Reiki uses the same Reiki healing energy to help animals rebalance on physical, mental, emotional, and energetic levels.
This form of reiki is always done via distance (A photo of the animal can help with the connection). My higher self reaches out to the animal’s higher self and invites them to join me in an astral space constructed for this purpose. The animal does have the ability to refuse the invitation, if this happens then I respect their wishes and try again another day. Moreso than reiki with a human, animal reiki requires building a bond of trust. Animals have enough trouble making themselves understood by us, sometimes a total stranger saying ‘talk to me” can be overwhelming.
Once the animal is comfortable, I allow the energy to start flowing, while explaining to them what exactly I am doing. In my experience, once they allow the process to start all animals can relax and enjoy the energy. They also begin to open up about what they are feeling, what symptoms they may have, and what help they need. Unfortunately, they do not construct entire sentences, more disjointed words, and thoughts. It becomes a matter then of putting the pieces together with the animal’s human parent and working on a plan for future treatment.
Things like simple stress over moving, or another animal entering the house are easily helped. I encourage the human parent to spend time with them, explaining what is happening and why. Allowing the animal to be extra “clingy” for a while as they adapt to the new circumstances and surroundings. Exactly like you would with a small child that is trying to adapt to new things.
Sometimes the words that come through, combined with physical symptoms the animal is displaying indicate a potential medical issue. I am not a vet, nor am I at all qualified to diagnose or treat anything. What I do is impress upon the parents that they need to take their animal to the vet for a full checkup. Reiki does not replace conventional medical care, rather it works alongside it, helping the body fully utilize veterinary medications and therapies to enable the animal to heal and be back to full health in the shortest time possible.
When Jen’s cat Jingle started losing weight, she asked me to do reiki on him to see if that would help. Because I interact with Jingle every week there was no issue gaining his trust and he came willingly into the astral reiki space I had set up. After setting up a flow of very gentle soothing energy I asked him what was wrong. His response was “fire” and “hungry,” repeating both words several times. I recommended that Jen take him to the vet for a checkup as this, to me, pointed to something physically wrong. After a few blood tests the vet determined that Jingle’s thyroid was working overtime. His metabolism was running hot, and he was burning through food faster than he could eat it. After getting him on thyroid medications, Jingle is now calm again and beginning to gain weight back.
Our animals feel the exact same stresses that we do over life changes like moving, new people or pets in the home, aging, and things we might not think affects them, like our routines or jobs changing. Reiki for animals can help ease them through these transition times and offer them extra comfort and reassurance on top of the love we already lavish on them. If you would like more information, or would like to book a session, feel free to reach out to us and learn more about Animal Reiki here.
Pluto moves incredibly slowly through the signs of the Zodiac, affecting major changes as it transits each one. On March 23rd, Pluto will enter Aquarius for the first time since 1777. Last time this happened we saw a near complete upheaval of society, The estate-based feudal system ended, Church and State separated, human and civil rights were set in place, and freedom of trade became the norm. While this change was in process though, we also saw the malefic side of Pluto with some royal houses taking brutal action against their own subjects, the upheaval of the French revolution. It's no coincidence that 1776, when we would have first started feeling the shift in energies, marked the start of the American revolutionary war. This one act of defiance has echoed through history, having a global impact on the structure of the world with the right to self-governance now the accepted power structure. We can see these events echoed in the upheaval in Russia and Iran today, and the shifting social balance in America.
Pluto is about power, transformation, regeneration and ending anything that can impede growth. Aquarius is the sign of the rebel and is all about change and innovation. It is also very much a sign of humanitarianism and of social justice. These two together can be a recipe for powerful worldwide change. While the two travel together we can expect to see a shift in just who holds the balance of power in the world. While it has until now been a very top-down approach, Aquarius-Pluto will upend that to a bottom-up approach over the next twenty years. It will also shine a powerful spotlight on corruption and toxicity that affects the greater good of the population, bringing many things to light so they can be removed, and the collective energy redirected. Aquarius being the sign of the inventor and freethinker, we can also expect to see many innovative ideas and advancements in science and technology over the next twenty years.
What can this mean for us on a personal level? Many of us will find reason to become a lot more serious about social structures, politics and the reform of these areas to allow greater equality for everyone. We may see some dramatic upheavals within our own personal networks of friends and business contacts. Each of us may be asked to confront our own personal issues surrounding control and power related to individuality and our place in our friendship groups, and our associations.
All this change of energy makes this the perfect time to closely examine how we view ourselves, what worth do we place on ourselves. Is self-love something we practice, or do we just fool ourselves into thinking we do? The topics within ourselves that we could be asked to reevaluate will not be comfortable, and they will have the potential to shake up our entire belief structure. Especially where it is centered around our self-worth and what we are capable of and our true value. Some will shy away from doing this work in favor of staying stubbornly right where they are, this is a valid choice. Others will dive right on into those murky waters and brave the nightmares that lurk within knowing that the short-term trauma this may cause is well worth the eventual outcome.
The one thing we can be sure of is that no matter what form this transformation takes on a personal level, we will be provided with all the resources and support we could ever need.
When we are aware of the energy that moves around us, we begin to naturally pattern our lives with the cycles that it moves in. We become more aware of the points in the cycle that mark beginnings and ends, highs and lows.
One of the first things we become aware of is that during the year, different actions become easier or harder depending on the season. In the summer, it becomes more difficult to focus on introspective activities because the energy at that time is one of action, of doing. The colder, slower energies of winter are perfectly aligned with pausing and looking inwards, with self-care and healing. In the autumn we want to see what we have; we want to gain rewards for the work done and look back at what we have achieved. In spring however, it is a time of planning and planting, of setting goals and looking forward.
With Ostara around the corner many of us are feeling the energy of spring. A restlessness, a craving for fresh green food, a need to be looking forward and making plans. Maybe not doing it just yet but wanting to plan out the steps we will take. The equinox itself marks the time when day and night are equal, it is also one of only two times in the year when the sun rises in the due east and sets in the due west. The equinoxes are the two points in the year when everything, including eggs on their points, is perfectly balanced.
Perfectly poised between the cold depths of winter and the long hot days of summer, the Spring Equinox is the time to pause, perfectly balanced between both and take a breath. Take a moment to celebrate ourselves and the internal healing work we did over the winter. Give thanks to the Universe for guiding us safely through the storms we have weathered and the lessons we have learned. Then look forward, what from these lessons are we taking forward into the Summer? What are we planting in our lives to nurture and bring to blossom?
Moreso than the New Year, this time is aligned with fresh starts, with casting off self-destructive habits and with setting our new course. It’s time to bloom, breathe, create, procreate, and reap the sweetness of what we have manifested, as we are brought even closer to the light.
Perhaps the simplest, but most personal Equinox ritual we can perform this Spring is to set aside time on the 22nd of March to reassess our life. If we deliberately open the doors by listing even one minor change we want to see in our lives. That not only draws the change closer, it also sets in motion the energy that enables us to make larger changes. One change might seem insignificant at first, but one change sets the foundation that we can then use to build the major change we want to see.
Is there something you want to leave behind? Now is the time to wish it well and purpose to move forward. Is there something you want to bring into your life? Write it down, break it down into small effortless steps that you know you can take one at a time. It might seem like a tiny thing when compared to the larger change you want to see. Just remember, every journey is made up of thousands of individual footsteps, reaching our goals is no different.
Spring is a time of new growth, abundance, and healing. A time of setting plans in motion and beginning to manifest what we want to see in our lives. Along with that manifesting comes reaching for the tools that empower us and enable us to do this work. One tool that many pick when starting any new venture is crystals. These small, often brightly colored stones each radiate their own unique energy that we are able to allow into ourselves. In spring, carrying green crystals can be like holding physical pieces of this manifestation energy. Carried with us, these stones happily add their positive energy to our lives.
Three that I would recommend at this time of year are:
Green Aventurine is a reaffirming stone, especially during times of change or upheaval and can be the emotional anchor we need to remain stable and firmly grounded
Thought to be the luckiest of all crystals, Green Aventurine is especially powerful in manifesting prosperity and wealth and increasing our luck in games of chance. This beautiful stone aligns conditions, drawing opportunity to it. It can also enable us to release old patterns, habits, and disappointments so new growth can take place. It brings optimism and a zest for life and allows us to move forward with confidence and embrace change.
The soothing energy that it emits helps to balance the emotional body to guide us toward inner harmony. It can calm nervousness, anger, and irritation, and helps dissolve the everyday stress of a hectic lifestyle. Green Aventurine soothes emotional wounds and allows us to recognize the issues behind illness or imbalance, depression, or defeat, and to ease the release of unhealthy relationships, patterns, and heartache. It encourages us to view hardships in life as impermanent and as opportunities for growth in a new direction.
Associated strongly with the base chakras, Bloodstone is both grounding and protective. It can heighten intuition, stimulate dreams, increase creativity, and encourage selflessness. It calms and revitalizes the mind, dispels confusion, and enhances decision-making while reducing irritability, aggressiveness, and impatience.
It is great for anemia and detoxification of the liver, intestines, kidneys, spleen, and bladder. Its powerful healing properties can aid in stimulating the lymphatic system, encouraging healing of inflammation, and infections.
A stone to heal the heart, Green Opal is at its best after grief or trauma. Gently encouraging us to rebuild, the nourishing soft greens remind us of the tenacity and strength we thought we had lost, and our innate ability to continue growing.
Green Opal has the ability to bring us back to center during overly emotional moments, without dismissing the validity of what we are feeling. Nurturing and calm, Green Opal helps us understand that no matter what is happening around us, we will be okay.
Zinzeudo has a wide range of each of these stones. view our collection here.