March 2016 - the Numinous

MATERIAL GIRL, MYSTICAL WORLD: SHONA VERTUE

Posted on March 31, 2016March 11, 2019 by The Numinous

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!

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

My pampering
A bath with magnesium salts

My home
My pillow & my outrageous collection of crystals!

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

My food
Authentic Italian pizza & French Creme Bruleé

:: 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

Posted on March 31, 2016November 6, 2018 by Lindsay Mack

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!

Follow Lindsay Mack on Instagram @WildSoulHealing

:: 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.

Follow Lindsay Mack on Instagram @WildSoulHealing

:: 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.

Follow Lindsay Mack on Instagram @WildSoulHealing

:: 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.

Follow Lindsay Mack on Instagram @WildSoulHealing

:: 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.

Follow Lindsay Mack on Instagram @WildSoulHealing

:: 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.

Follow Lindsay Mack on Instagram @WildSoulHealing

:: 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.

Follow Lindsay Mack on Instagram @WildSoulHealing

:: 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.

Follow Lindsay Mack on Instagram @WildSoulHealing

:: 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.

Follow Lindsay Mack on Instagram @WildSoulHealing

COSMIC CULTURE FOR APRIL

Posted on March 30, 2016March 11, 2019 by Amelia Quint

Check out Amelia Quint’s round-up of cosmic culture for April, bringing you the most mystical new releases in music, film, and literature…

:: MUSIC ::

CHELSEA WOLFE

If you’re experiencing an inner underworld journey, channel Ishtar and listen to Chelsea Wolfe’s Abyss. According to Consequence of Sound, the album is a metaphor for descending into the subconscious. It’s also inspired by her experience with sleep paralysis – a condition that causes vivid, disturbing hallucinations on a nightly basis. That sense of the numinous comes across in her stark black and white artwork, ethereal personal style, and fuzz-driven music.

Chelsea Wolfe kicks off her tour in Las Vegas on April 24 with dates across the United States through June 7.

DESERT MOUNTAIN TRIBE

It’s Aries season, which means it’s the perfect time to roll down the windows, turn up the music, and take a ride. That’s what you’ll want to do when you hear Desert Mountain Tribe’s feisty, psychedelic brand of rock and roll. With titles like “Interstellar,” “Heaven and Hell,” “Leave It Behind,” and “Feel The Light,” it’s definitely cosmic in scope.

Their new album, Either That Or The Moon, is set to release April 3, and the band is touring the United States all month.

Desert Mountain Tribe

:: TELEVISION ::

THE PATH

Hulu’s new character drama, starring Aaron Paul of Breaking Bad fame, follows a husband and wife’s relationship as they are seduced into a fictional upstate New York cult. Trigger warning: the show’s tagline, “to belong you must believe,” may feel eerily familiar to those who have had negative experiences with organized religion or exclusionary spiritualities; however, it poses important questions that we, as mystics, need to address.

The Path debuts on Hulu March 30.

THE UNBREAKABLE KIMMY SCHMIDT

If you’re looking for high vibe Netflix bender material, look no further. Relentlessly optimistic, The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is the ultimate in positive entertainment. If you’ve been living in a bunker for the last year, the show follows Kimmy as she navigates life in New York after escaping a doomsday cult. Her unflappable spirit in the face of trauma – and everyday disappointments – will inspire you to keep going. The completely on-point social commentary and hilarious banter are the icing on the cake.

Season 2 premieres on Netflix April 15.

:: FILM ::

THE REVENANT

Put away your Gilbert Grape memes – Leo finally got his Oscar (with additional thanks to the moon and Mars in his sign of Scorpio on the big night). The intense Scorpio energy of his chart also helped him pull off a gripping performance as frontiersman Hugh Glass in 2015’s award season sweetheart, The Revenant. In the film, DiCaprio as Glass faces down a grizzly bear and, ultimately, nature itself. Is it allegory or coincidence? You decide.

The Revenant will be available on DVD and Blu-Ray on April 19.

CosmicCulture_TheRevenant — *The Revenant*

THE WITCH

I’d be in remiss if I didn’t recommend Robert Eggers’s The Witch, a stunning (and disturbing) depiction of a Puritan family who become cursed by a witch living in a nearby wood. It’s certainly not perfect, but the film is rich in folklore and got a surprising amount right about modern witchcraft – including psychic attacks, wild nature, and sacred sex. You can read my full review here.

The Witch was released on February 19, but is still in many theaters due to popular demand.

:: BOOKS ::

#HIGHERSELFIE

Can spirituality and social media coexist? In their new book, #HIGHERSELFIE, UK life coaches Lucy Sheridan and Jo Westwood say yes! Together they investigate why astrology, tarot, crystals and everything Now Age is taking over the blogosphere. Billed as a spiritual manifesto for Gen Y, the authors also offer up straightforward advice on how to avoid the “compare and despair” trap, let sh*t go, and generally stay on your ultralight beam.

#HIGHERSELFIE will be released via Hay House UK on April 5.

BECOMING WISE

In Becoming Wise: An Inquiry into the Mystery and Art of Living, Krista Tippett mines her experience as host of NPR’s On Being for spiritual lessons on the nature of existence. Her list of awards and credentials are impressive, but what’s even more so is the philosophical conversation she’s distilled into this book. She gathers powerful teachings from “across disciplines and denominations” into a 21st-century meditation on truth, beauty, and love.

Becoming Wise will be released via Penguin Press on April 5.

EARTHLY DELIGHTS: NO MORE GUILTY PLEASURES

Posted on March 29, 2016March 11, 2019 by Kate Horodyski

Be kind to yourself and indulge says Kate Horodyski, as questions why they must always be guilty pleasures… Artwork: Marcus Allen

A few years ago, I was flipping through a celebrity magazine, and on one of the pages, they’d asked different celebs what their guilty pleasures were. Most gave the typical answers like wine, chocolate, or online shopping, but one person, I wish I remembered who, wrote: “I don’t have any because I never feel guilty about my pleasures.”

The perfection of this caught me off guard, and it had such an impact on me. I’ve actually seen it quoted by a few different people since then, but the origin isn’t important. What’s important is how profound and amazing a concept this is.

Living things are hardwired to seek pleasure and avoid pain. Obviously, right? It’s a survival mechanism, but also, what would be the point of living if it weren’t for pleasure? Somewhere along the way (many would blame organized religion, but that’s a whole other topic), the idea arose that pleasure was to be avoided and that to “indulge” in pleasure must require a healthy dose of guilt.

The message this sends is that we can’t be trusted around pleasure as if it will derail us, or something. In this scenario, guilt acts to protect us from ourselves and keep us “safe and in line.”

I’d like to propose though, that instead of only occasionally indulging in pleasure, while also feeling guilty about it, we just fully own it and make our lives as full of pleasure as possible. I think if we made pleasure (which translates to happiness) a priority, the world would be a much better place.

Because we’re so stingy with it, we’ve come to associate pleasure with selfishness or greed. But if we were more open with it, we’d see that it’s the exact opposite! Pleasure is like rocket fuel for our lives and the more we embrace pleasure, the happier and more loving and generous we can be.

How do you feel after a day of hard work, having also denied yourself delicious food, rest, or play? Are you full of energy and ready to help others? Or do you want to simultaneously cry, sleep, and eat a tub of ice cream? Now compare that to how you feel after a day of chatting with friends, eating delicious food, being outside, and having some great sex (or whatever it is that you find pleasurable). You probably feel happy, at peace, and more open to helping others.

Pleasure doesn’t have to be an expensive or lengthy process (i.e. it doesn’t need to involve a trip to the spa or a five-star resort). It can truly be as simple as taking a few deep breaths, making yourself some tea, or hugging someone you love. The beauty of pleasure is its simplicity. Pleasure means caring about yourself and offering yourself the love that you deserve.

While I write this, I keep pausing to check in on my breath and any tension in my body. The more I breathe and relax, the more pleasurable anything and everything feels. Practicing presence is practicing pleasure.

I also believe that we should be able to eat chocolate, drink champagne, take mid-day naps in the sun, go for 2-hour massage appointments, and buy ourselves beautiful things. We are spiritual beings living in a physical world, and the best way to celebrate this is by diving head first into the pleasures that this physical world can offer. We are here to have fun!

Most importantly, I think it’s important that we don’t see these as guilty pleasures that we only earn by putting in a hard day’s work. I want us to see pleasure as our prerogative, our birthright, and a celebration of what it means to be alive. I want us to know that pleasure doesn’t have to be earned.

I used to take life so seriously and having fun just didn’t seem overly important. But life changed for me, not all at once, but gradually, when I changed my perspective on pleasure. It got a whole lot more fun and a whole lot more amazing. I’ve made fun and pleasure my spiritual practice, and I am never looking back.

COMFORTABLY NUMB: EAT THE PAIN AWAY

Posted on March 27, 2016March 11, 2019 by Kate Atkinson

Is our obsession with healthy food just another way to eat the pain away, asks Kate Atkinson? Images: Instagram.com/dishpigs

“Food, glorious food!
Hot sausage and mustard!
While we’re in the mood —
Cold jelly and custard! “

Lionel Bart, Oliver – Food, Glorious Food Lyrics, 1968.

Cut to the twenty first century: “I’ll have the burger please. Only I won’t have the bun. Or do you have gluten free bread? Wheat gives me hives. Does it have seeds in it too? Where was the meat farmed? Were the cows happy, like REALLY happy? I mean, ecstatic. Oh and can you make sure there isn’t any cheese on there? I’m allergic to dairy. My whole face turns bright yellow when I eat it. Actually I’ll just have some lettuce, thanks.”

To quote the Miranda July film title, this has begun to sound just a little like me and you and everyone we know. And apologies in advance to all my vegan, gluten-free friends out there, but can we just take a step back from obsessing over every morsel that goes in our mouth for a moment?

I’ll preface this by admitting I ate gluten-free bread the other morning (and full disclosure, it was really not as good as sourdough). Why? Because I’d travelled from the NY winter (read: seven layers of clothes + one extra layer of fat) to my home town of sunny Sydney, and found I was suddenly hyper aware of what I ate. But how many of us actually have a serious intolerance to gluten i.e. celiac? Why not just say we feel fat, and are convinced for some reason that “gluten-free” also means less calories?

Here’s some food for thought: are we depriving ourselves of the snacks we know and have always loved, inventing all sorts of conditions, because we’re ashamed to admit that actually we just really want to be perfect? Ashamed of looking stupid and being so susceptible to the unattainable ideals we’re pushed, since we all know perfection is impossible.

As ballet coach Thomas Leroy says to an emaciated Natalie Portman in Black Swan: “Perfection is not just about control. It’s also about letting go. Surprise yourself so you can surprise the audience. Transcendence! Very few have it in them.” And when it comes food, I think we should do likewise.

Back in high school, the pursuit of body-perfection meant doing star jumps in the toilet cubicles and puking when we thought no one is looking. Not me personally, but many girls I knew.

Now we’re all grown up, its our addiction to false nutrition bullshit that’s feeding the same appetite for fear. See the modern malaise of Orthorexia nervosa – literally translating as “proper appetite”, and a pathological fixation with eating only “healthy food,” that has aptly been described as “a disease disguised as a virtue”.

A condition in its infancy, Orthorexia is not yet recognized as a psychiatric disorder – but I see focussing so thoroughly on virtuous eating as just another way of distracting ourselves from our reality, and numbing what’s really going on.

I believe perfectionism is self-abuse of the highest order – and deprivation just another means of exercising control in a world of imperfect unknowns. On a parallel with OCD, it’s a way of ignoring our pain and conforming to perceived societal norms…but what for exactly? To maintain the body of a 12-year-old who’s never even menstruated, or, come to think of it, slept with a man who told them they had a great ass?

A friend of mine, Georgia Ashdown, has recently started a blog in Australia called Dish-Pig as a way of exploring women’s relationship with food. Her crowd are foodies, but they aren’t obsessive, and while they’re all about sustainability and conscious eating, they also champion the enjoyment of food in a progressive way. Think hot babes (US Vogue are fans) eating ACTUAL food, not cotton wool!

I think it’s time for a new language around food. Most women (myself included) have a long way to go in learning to truly love our own bodies. With so much social conditioning about we should look under our clothes, how can we not feel terrible when we see ourselves in the mirror naked?

By realizing none of this shit actually matters, because it really, really doesn’t. By remembering we are not the women being forced to marry suicide bombers in ISIS. By taking the time to tell each other how great our asses look. By realizing that it is totally normal and acceptable to pig out sometimes and not rush to justify it to others and ourselves. By no more comparing ourselves to celebrities or impossibly thin friends. By reading up properly on food, not just jumping on the latest fad diet when it comes along. By realizing that the people you want to look good for really DON’t care – they just want you to be happy in your own skin.

There are so many things in the world we can’t control. A talking head that no one can quite believe has been given an international stage. Gun laws that mean your four-year-old is able to shoot you. Climate change. Terrorism. Police brutality.

Can’t we just enjoy and be grateful for the simple pleasures we have?

To quote political activist and author Anne Lamott:

“I think perfectionism is based on the obsessive belief that if you run carefully enough, hitting each stepping-stone just right, you won’t have to die. The truth is you will die anyway, and that a lot of people who aren’t even looking at their feet are going to do a whole lot better than you, and have a lot more fun while they’re doing it.”

We are all enough. More than enough. So isn’t it time we ate enough, too, and stopped picking toppings off our pizza? It’s getting really, really boring.

A SENSORY EXPLORATION OF ARIES SEASON

Posted on March 26, 2016November 4, 2018 by Bess Matassa

Hello Aries Season! Explore the current cosmic energies with Cara George & Bess Matassa of Mojave Rising… Artwork: Paulius Zakarauskas

Aries season conjures the scent of gasoline, the sound of tires screeching, and the full-throttle feeling of all-or-nothing, pedal to the metal, ferocious selfhood. Yet under the hood of this badass muscle car momma is a curious kind of fuel: innocence. It’s the wide-eyed, open-hearted belief that we have the right to be exactly as we are and that every damn moment is a moment to begin again. We simply cannot stop our own becoming.

Keyword: Collision.

Lyrics: “Being is believing/Take your passion/And make it happen/I can have it all/Now I’m dancing through my life.”

Check out our full Aries Season playlist here, complete with unapologetic cock rock, pure guileless pop, and relentless disco beats.

Color palette: Emboldened, saturated hues that mix Mexico City with Nascar primaries. Explode into a technicolor spring bloom, as you find yourself at the starting line once again.

Style: A rugged, kinetic beauty that pairs motorcycle boots with chrome and solid gold accessories, and fashion that walks the line between in-your-face antics and stripped down minimalism: disco-fied jumpsuits, coral unitards, bare nails, and sun-streaked hair.

Scents: Clean, direct, and spicy sweet. Scorching summer sidewalk pavement after a thunderstorm, cedarwood meets pungent jasmine, classic men’s “fougère” barber shop scents, fresh cut grass, dirt, and matches.

Healing: Sweat-drenched body movement. Try a high-intensity hip-hop or pole class. Dance until you sweat and then dance some more. Or strap on your most comfortably sexy kicks and hit the city streets for some serious strutting set to your own soundtrack. Walk and walk and walk until you can feel every muscle in your body alive and electric. Buy yourself a coco helado along the way.

ARIES SEASON BY SIGN :: FLAVOR PAIRINGS

During this Aries season, the heavy hitting survival trio of Pluto, Saturn, and Mars are all stationing retrograde and with this comes a sweet, float-like-a-butterfly feeling of absolutely nothing more to prove. It’s a soul survival moment where we each stand so fiercely and earnestly in our disco dancefloor essence, that we begin to collide gently with one-another.

This makes it a month for fusion cuisine that celebrates singularly wild flavors as they collide and cross-pollinate on cutting boards, in ovens, and along sumptuous Vegas buffet tables. So leap into the frying pan and light a match.

Aries :: Aries Rising
Sink your teeth into flavors that feel good as they burn. Think chili pepper dark chocolate, salted caramel, sweet and smoky mesquite, and red hot candies. Or, visit your local ice cream truck, and celebrate your birthday month with open-hearted sprinkle combinations and badass bomb pops.

Taurus :: Taurus Rising
Turn up the heat with slow-roasted vegetables or pair bitter dandelion greens with sweet balsamic glaze as you infuse your earthbound sensibilities with a little tangy sharpness. Take your picnic on the road as you explore the concept of being nourished as you travel through life.

Gemini :: Taurus Rising
Visit your local farmer’s market or spice shop and experiment with choosing one special ingredient or spice variation to build a meal around. Or blend your own spice combo as you honor each distinctive element of a home-made curry paste or za’atar.

Cancer :: Cancer Rising
Think fresh bread with rosemary infused olive oil and sea salt. Or plan a progressive dinner party with friends where you sample a new dish at each house as you explore the notion of mobile shelters and the internal emotional landscape of each other’s homes.

Leo :: Leo Rising
Celebrate the sun-drenched, succulent flavors of ripe, roasted tomatoes and peppers, contrasted with the sensation of biting into the slightly tough skin. Think guacamole, sun-dried tomatoes, and nopales street tacos.

Virgo :: Virgo Rising
Dive into wild collisions of ingredients as you abandon your measuring cups and prepare a stew without even tasting it along the way. Or go back to basics with three ingredient meals. Trust in flour, water, salt, and your own immeasurable worth.

Libra :: Libra Rising
Practice dining alone and savoring the sensation of solitary feasting. Move into messiness as you leave the dishes for tomorrow or dig into difficult food like sloppy joes and chili cheese fries.

Scorpio :: Scorpio Rising
Sample creamy, fluffy flavors as you relax into a brand of power that feels exuberant and delicious. Think fresh, warm milk infused with punchy cardamom and rosewater, and the scrumptious sensations of cotton candy, flavored foam, and bubble gum.

Sagittarius :: Sagittarius Rising
Contrast your wildfire in a backyard barbecue, and fuse exploratory urges with committed pragmatism as you chop, drink, and eat the entire contents of a coconut. Search out “on-the-go” snacks that are also protein-rich and grounding; think primal strips or Vietnamese bahn mi.

Capricorn :: Capricorn Rising
Experiment with a long, slow, proper mirepoix as the foundation for a nourishing meal. Infuse potent flavors of the natural world like garlic, onions, and ginger, that blend these cardinal signs’ self-sufficiency with Aries’ vigorous joy. Push against limitation and celebrate a little healthy excess with a chocolate box or sumptuous buffet.

Aquarius :: Aquarius Rising
Sink your teeth into stick to flavors that pair unexpected Aquarian tastes with hearty Aries foodstuffs. Think a falafel sandwich with tahini sauce and pickled turnips, or a grilling party with your tribe complete with exotic veggies.

Pisces :: Pisces Rising
This month’s energy speaks to fresh translucence and herbaceous flavors that blend Piscean fusion with Aries particularity. Think cucumber water, flavored honeys, or rose kombucha. Or enjoy a lime and chili paleta as you celebrate mutable melting and the self-contained strength to savor it all on the way down.

MY MYSTICAL LIFE: SISTERS IN HIGH SOBRIETY, AND A VISIT WITH THE URBAN YOGIS

Posted on March 25, 2016November 3, 2018 by Ruby Warrington

High sobriety, a tasty new balm, a shout out for interns, and a visit with some yogis doing some good s*it

:: MONDAY ::
Plotting for our April 7th Club SÖDA NYC event in NYC with it-girl meditation artist Biet Simkin – and discovering a true soul sister in the process. As in, we’re both Aries with birthdays two days apart (and on either side of the April event – she’s 4/6 and I’m 4/8), with Fire element rising signs (Leo for Biet, Sagittarius for me), and emo watery moons (Pisces, Cancer). The event itself? A celebration of HIGH SOBRIETY, a subject close to my heart, that we’ll bring to life with a blissful guided meditation experience, a group discussion on ways to GET HIGH ON YOUR OWN SUPPY, and seal with an intention-setting ritual for the Aries New Moon. Find out more and snag a ticket here – they’re selling out fast!

:: TUESDAY ::
Is everybody reading Lauren Groff’s Fates and Furies? I guess I’m a little late to the party, and I wouldn’t say it’s gonna make my top 10 novels ever (which, to date, includes The Secret History, Glamorama, Super Sad True Love Story, and The Corrections – so, y’know, I can do DARK) – but one thing I love SO much, and which I’ve always wished more authors would do, is that early on Groff describes the main male character as: “A Leo, which explains him entirely.” And it totally does!

:: WEDNESDAY ::
Delivery of The Balm, the signature product from LA-based Nucifera – that comes with instructions to be applied abundantly “to your face, hair, scalp, skin, hands, feet, nails and more.” Intrigued by the “and more” part – my cat? Morning bagel? Lol, just kidding, but it DOES smell good enough to eat, formulated with a high grade blend of medicinal oils and scented with all our Now Age faves – Sandalwood, Patchouli, Palo Santo,and Frankincense. Delicious.

:: THURSDAY ::
Forgot to add this to our newsletter, but we are on the hunt for a DESIGN INTERN to help with flyers and general art-related tasks on the site. Our Numinous Presents event series is going from strength-to-strength, and it’s time for some assistance producing kick-ass supporting visuals and materials. Does this sound like you? Email me directly: [email protected]

:: FRIDAY ::
A visit with the incredible Eddie Stern at his new Brooklyn Yoga Club (which is decorated with stuff like the light in the main pic). Eddie is one of the main people behind Urban Yogis (see main pic), charity partner for our “Designer Yogis” sweatshirt line that’s launching on the site next week. Follow us on Instagram and sign up for our newsletter so you don’t miss the announcement, we have a feeling they’re gonna sell out FAST – another sneak peak below! We’ll be donating 10% for every sale to the Urban Yogis, a Queens, NY-based initiative to bring the tools of yoga and meditation to inner city communities to spread peace and positivity and reduce violent street crime. #highvibelife

SOBER CURIOUS: GET HIGH ON YOUR OWN SUPPLY

Posted on March 23, 2016November 3, 2018 by Ruby Warrington

Join The Numinous & Guided By Biet for SOBER CURIOUS, a social experiment to discover what it means to get high on your own supply…

“Numbing vulnerability also dulls our experience of love, joy, belonging, creativity, and empathy. We can’t selectively numb emotion. Numb the dark and you numb the light” – Brene Brown

There’s a reason sobriety is in, and it’s because it feels amazing. Blissful, even. Within days of alcohol leaving your system, you become aware of how much more at peace you feel in your body. A little longer, and you’ll notice how even a friendly text sends a tingle of physical pleasure along your limbs. Give it a few weeks, and you may find yourself breaking into spontaneous laughter at the sheer ecstasy of being alive.

This is what it feels like to get high on your own supply. But modern drinking culture makes it easier, often way too easy, to choose booze as our go-to method for feeling good (by simply numbing the “bad”). The price? We’ve all been there.

And so SOBER CURIOUS is a social experiment from The Numinous and Guided By Biet – a new space for the sober curious to investigate just how good life can get when we re-frame our relationship with alcohol. Far from “boring” (an accusation they love to levy against non-drinkers), what if choosing sobriety meant being “high” all the time?

This might not mean total abstinence from alcohol, either. The power of positive drinking can be a beautiful thing. A sacrament, even. But an occasional cocktail to celebrate life can also be a slippery slope into the kind of habitual drinking that becomes a substitute for sustained, self-generated joy; that dulls our awareness; that only exacerbates feelings of anxiety and emptiness; and that ultimately separates us from a true sense of self.

A proposed series of meet-ups, talks, workshops, and other events, SOBER CURIOUS could be for you if:

– You drink to feel good, but it often leaves you feeling worse (and it helps to talk about it)

– You want to drink less, but think this will mean the end of your social life

– You want to drink less, but think this will mean the end of DATING

– You want to cultivate a healthier relationship with booze

– You want to attend high-end, high-vibe events where alcohol is off the menu

– You love how good life feels when you don’t drink, and want to connect with other people who’ve discovered this too

– You want to experience getting crazy high on your own supply

Sign up for the Numinous newsletter to see how the conversation unfolds.

And a caveat: SOBER CURIOUS is NOT an addiction recovery program – although it may be a stepping stone to AA for some people. If you think you might need a higher level of support to address a drinking problem that’s negatively impacting your life, or in dealing with any underlying emotional issues that may be part of this, we also have the resources to connect you with people who can help.

WHY ARE ALL THE LIGHTWORKERS MOVING TO LA?

Posted on March 22, 2016November 4, 2018 by Fern Olivia

Check out all the lightworkers moving to LA! Fern Olivia breaks down why life on the Left Coast is calling…Photography: Nicolas Jandrain

So what’s the real reason behind the mass exodus from cities like NYC to LA? You’ve noticed it, right? How the lightworker tribe are all feeling the call?

Well, it’s no coincidence that people are packing up their overpriced apartments, saying farewell to the brutal winters, and moving to the magical City of Angels. In fact, many of the Numinati made the move years ago, and now more of our tribe are arriving in waves.

When I heard the call of my soul to move to Los Angeles, I had no idea that I would be part of a major movement. I was not consciously aware that there was a deep reason for the work I was being called to do here, nor did I understand the energetic force by which it happened at this particular time in space.

It all makes sense to me now. If you, too, have been feeling a voice inside calling you West, what I’ve learned since my move may explain why – and in a radical way.

In April 2015, I was visiting my girlfriends in Malibu and I remember the precise moment, sitting on the beach, my soul clearly demanded: “Come home.” I had never lived in California, nor had I ever heard a voice inside as strong as this.

But I was not afraid. I listened.

The voice continued: “Move to Venice in the Fall.” So specific and commanding, right? I dared not question it, even though I had only been to Venice a few times for Kundalini classes at Ra Ma Institute with Guru Jagat, and for nourishment at Moon Juice and Cafe Gratitude.

But over the past several years, I have recognized my intuitive gifts and learned that in order to stay in alignment, I MUST TRUST this deep knowing.

And something inside me insisted that this was exactly where I needed to be. So I set about transitioning all my yoga classes and clients in New York, seamlessly found a friend to take over my lease, and effortlessly slipped out of my old life to plant myself in Venice Beach – the epicenter of the Now Age. And now that I’m here, I feel grounded and aligned.

So, back to why are we being called to LA, why should we trust the pull, and what’s next for us fearless souls who have listened to our spirit’s deepest longing.

Here are FOUR reasons that may help it all make it crystal clear.

1. We are being called to return to our Aphrodite – our pure, liberated Feminine.

New York City is literally on a grid – when you see the city from the air, the avenues and streets are angular and the buildings are close together. It’s tough to see the wide open sky unless you’re at the top of a skyscraper or in the middle of Central Park. We pound our feet on concrete and have little connection to the bare, soft, fertile earth. For most of the year, our feminine form is bundled in layers, and the sun has only a small window to kiss our bare skin.

Living in any city, we’re disconnected from the Earth, Air, Moon and tides – which in turn influence our moon cycles, our creativity, and manifestation capabilities.

When our creative expression is stifled, we become tight, rigid, stressed, and stagnation takes over our physical bodies. Living this way demands we’re dominated by our masculine energy – and it’s hard to keep up. Our adrenals burn out. We grow tired of being Wonder Woman – one of Dana James’ female archetypes – in the city that never sleeps. Rather, our hearts are longing to dance under the moonlight. We know we will rise in our true power when we feel grounded with the earth under our bare feet.

2. We got chewed up and spat out, and now our souls are strong enough to handle the work ahead.

Our souls brought us to cities like New York to do some major work on our karmic path. Our soul contracts had very specific lessons and experiences to learn in order to do the light work we were born in this incarnation to deliver.

New Yorkers have grit. New Yorkers are tough. We had to be, to get through the brutal winters, hurricanes, floods, terrorism, city noise, and commutes. And our souls had to practice becoming strong enough to do the major work that we are about to do in LA – influencing some of the brightest, most powerful, creative, receptive people in the world to step up to change the future of our planet.

So what is this work? Our world is suffering from the bankruptcy of love – we are living in a time of immense poverty, suffering, terrorism, abuse, and fear. It is our work to bring light to this planet through our creative leadership. We must be strong and clear in our own bodies otherwise, this difficult work can leave us feeling hopeless and depleted.

But first, we need some time to play. To retreat. To rest, rejuvenate, and restore. Once we have brought ourselves back into balance, we will have the clarity and vitality to do some major work as the next generation of visionaries on this planet.

3. We’re feeling the pull of the 33^rd parallel (Allow me to explain…)

In heeding the call to LA, lightworkers are being called to congregate around the 33rd parallel – an energy vortex which happens to run through Venice Beach. You may know that in numerology, 33 is considered a Master Number and symbolizes the Christ Consciousness. The 33rd degree is highest publicly known degree for Freemasonry, and some say it signifies illumination and freedom from religious dogma. In Hinduism, Yoga Sutra 3:33 states: “Through keenly developed intuition, everything can be known.” And the Tibetan Book of the Dead speaks of the thirty-three heavens ruled over by Indra, and the thirty-three ruled over by Mara.

Furthermore, the latitude of the 33rd degree is shared with the ancient city of Babylon and by modern day Baghdad. The longest continually inhabited city in the world, Damascus, in Syria, is also on this line. The site of the first atomic bombing during WWII, in Nagasaki, Japan, also resides on the 33 parallel, and coincidently, so does the White Sands Testing Range in New Mexico, where the atom bomb was first tested. This geo-latitudinal line also passes through what is known as the “Bermuda Triangle” in the Atlantic Ocean.

So, clearly, there is something very powerful about the energy vortex around the 33rd parallel! And in essence, the quality of the 33rd parallel is that it shifts our energy more effectively and quickly. But looking at the history, it’s also clear that this has been utilized by some pretty dark forces – and now the lightworkers are moving to readdress the balance.

4. Our soul family is waiting for us.

To do the work we were born to, we need the support of our tribe. I’ve found there’s nothing more influential than a community of brilliant, grounded, strong, connected souls – our “soul clusters” as my dear friend Aimee Follette, chef and founder of Sun in Bloom, so perfectly calls it.

You know that feeling when you meet someone for the first time, but something inside you remembers them, as if you’ve known each other before? That feeling is real. Our souls have contracts with other souls – and we have these soul contracts with all the people we walk with, our parents, friends, business partners, lovers, and children.

The soul contracts of my New York life, including a controlling six-year relationship, showed me the work I needed to do: to heal deep-rooted karmic patterns of insecurity, self-doubt, and the inability to speak my truth. Many of us in New York experienced a similar struggle, freeing ourselves from lineages of insecurity, scarcity mindset, and fear of abandonment.

And having learned the lessons of city life, a tribe of stronger, fierce, liberated souls are reuniting together in Los Angeles.

Not feeling the call to move? That’s okay!

As explained by my teacher Harmonjot Kaur at Ra Ma Institute in Venice, it is important to understand that YOUR soul family will be found wherever you open your soul. “We are moving into a time where we stop looking outside for answers. Moving to LA to find one’s soul family simply because one identifies as a “lightworker” is a recipe for heartbreak I feel. Because wherever one is, that is where the soul family will show itself. And when we make expensive moves looking to satisfy from the outside what can only be satisfied from the inside, we really set ourselves up for great disappointment.”

There’s also a critical need for lightworkers to remain in New York City – since NYC is on an energetic grid that’s very powerful, meaning there’s an opportunity to amplify light work in the city.

And the truth is, we’re all designed to be more energized by different locations, explains Light Maker Cassandra Bodzak. “There are people whose energy field is actually more primed for NYC than LA, or vice versa, or for a different location such as Austin, Miami, or Boulder. You can even get a special astrology chart reading to determine which places on the earth will optimize your energy or deplete you.”

Another disclaimer from Harmonjot: The move to LA alone does not equal automatic self-discovery! “I’m reticent about encouraging people to move to Los Angeles because it’s touted as some kind of promised land. But many people have the illusion that their problems will be solved by coming out here. They likely won’t. Deep spiritual practice is what allows one to find the next step and the next place.”

So, my dears, wherever you feel the call, trust it. Trust your soul. Your soul family. Just as your future self is trusting YOU to heed the call. When you are living in alignment with your soul, you’ll feel home wherever you are. You’ll be in harmony with your body, and from this space of feeling healthy and in the flow, you will be your most creative self, and able to fully show up to do the work you were born to do.

BE AT PEACE: READING FOR THE LIBRA FULL MOON ECLIPSE

Posted on March 21, 2016March 11, 2019 by Hannah Ariel

The Libra Full Moon Eclipse of March 23 2016 is a cosmic opportunity to take control of our story and our view of the world, says Hannah Ariel.

“Have no fear of perfection, you’ll never reach it.” –Salvador Dali

Are we having fun yet? Each day since the March 8 Pisces Solar Eclipse we’ve been tested with every experience – to trust that is divinity at work every step of the way. We’ve been asked to ride multiple waves of consciousness at once, to yield to our experiences, and yet not be knocked about by all this transcendental energy into a confusing state of helplessness.

The past two weeks, each one of us has individually endured a very personal journey of self-discovery, as we made our way through the Piscean waters. We’ve been subtly guided to hold more faith in ourselves, in our own life path. And throughout this process, we’ve experienced flashes of visionary magic. All we believed was lost, all that has been obscured from plain sight, is now present.

As the Sun has just entered Aries, we now find ourselves emerging from a deeply mystical communion with this energy. And with a newly found sense of conviction, we are ready to move between worlds; to take a visionary leap from our inner depths, and out into the open with fiery inspired action.

This year, the Spring Equinox is more than just a marker of the seasons, bringing a potent opportunity to find center gravity between the Eclipses. We can always trust lunar eclipses, like those of March 8 and March 23, to bring massive revelations, this week’s Libra Full Moon Eclipse is exceptionally creative. When it comes to serving the future, right now it is about being in alignment – finding the pathway that will bring the many facets of your inner world, out into harmony with the world. This Lunar Eclipse in Libra is your time to Spring forth!

As soon as the sun entered Aries on March 20 it became important to acknowledge a point of view that is your own – a point of fearless enterprise within yourself. Inquire deeply into what this means to you, for the energy of this Libra Full Moon Eclipse is to bring this to life. Remember, the Solar Eclipse in Pisces fell on the South Side of the nodal axis, which meant it was possible to find ourselves going overboard, drowning in the collective, giving away our energy, losing proper boundaries, feeling all sorts of ecstatic highs and disorienting lows asking to be brought into balance.

Conversely, this is a North Node Lunar Eclipse, where anything we feel can actually be channeled, consciously and precisely, into actions that will create a more harmonious future. Going forward, our experiences will be infused with a great sense of relief that we are moving forward, we are finding ourselves with healthy revelations about our storyline. Simply by being true to ourselves.

With this eclipse we are reminded how powerful it is when we can truly meet our genuine self at a soul level, and, enchanted by what we find, move into the future with a sense of utter alignment.

“Textbook” Libra is always at work to experience a form of optimal harmony. Libra views life as a masterpiece, and strives for perfection. And if we are to be mindful of anything we’ve learned the past two weeks, spiritually speaking, our ideas of “perfection” often have little to do with our actual experience of life. Our experiences run far deeper than any such framework can imagine.

And so, this Lunar Eclipse is not quite about being aligned with what looks beautiful from the OUTSIDE but from what truly FEELS right for you from the inside. To draw from your own perspective, from your own insight, is the goal going forward. To find a truth within that everything else can spring forth from. THIS is where true harmony resides, and where life can begin to fulfill you. THIS is the spot to drop the anchor this eclipse season. This is where we have a chance at finding inner peace.

This is also the place where we learn how to truly fulfill our bonafide creativity, which this Libra Full Moon eclipse is also ALL about. Mercury will be conjunct the Sun in Aries offering us inspired, authentic ideas we can confidently move forward with as it will also be fueled by Mars in Sagittarius in positive aspect. Even more crucially, that recognize this is a Venus ruled Lunar eclipse – expect revelatory experience in regard to Venus matters of love, beauty and abundance, particularly the relationship between you and the way you view your life as a divine work of art.

Venus, the ruler of this Full Moon, will be conjunct Neptune just a few days prior. Although Venus has annually made a pass at Neptune since 2011, Neptune has now reached 10 degrees of Pisces for the first time in 200 years. 10 is a number of mastery; it amplifies our ability to use our creative powers to achieve harmony from within ourselves in relation to the world surrounding us. This is an incredible time to consciously give life to unexpressed dreams – the unseen dimensions of your personality that would like to receive more energy.

So get ready to let go of your fantasy of perfection, as this eclipse will shed light on any perspective that does not contribute to your growth. Jupiter in Virgo and Saturn in Sagittarius will also be squaring around this time– there is pressure to really work with what we’ve got, further encouraging us to let go of any fantasies of perfection and get grounded in the day-to-day. Especially in the way we relate to our spiritual self, and the path we are taking on this Earthly plane.

Also for reference, take note: this Eclipse is the last of a two-year cycle, the last Full Moon Eclipse having taken place in Aries on September 27 2015. Think back to what you were feeling compelled to act out on then. Any bells ringing? How is the energy of these events reverberating now? Events since then have all been at work to bring you to this point, to find our how you can begin feeling at peace with yourself.

FINALLY. As soon as we end one relationship we begin another, to ourselves, to our stories, to our lives. This Libra Full Moon eclipse is just the beginning of yet anther re-definition of how we learn to see our lives as a masterpiece, imperfections and all.

For a private reading with Hannah contact: [email protected]

MY MYSTICAL LIFE: ECLIPSE SEASON SICKNESS, AND A SUPER WITCHY WEEKEND UPSTATE

Posted on March 18, 2016November 3, 2018 by Ruby Warrington

Natural highs, a witchy break upstate…and have we all got Eclipse Season sickness?

:: MONDAY ::
Eclipse Season sickness, anyone? It seems like the current cosmic energies are manifesting in some serious purging – two juice dates cancelled yesterday down to people being sick, another friend’s evening ending with three hours in the bathroom, and today’s Skype date about a *very exciting upcoming collaboration (wooooooot!)* relegated to a regular phone call since she was feeling “under the weather” (as in – under the cosmic weather, right?!) My mom (witchy Pisces healer that she is) has always had a theory that colds or any kind of sickness involving mucus etc leaving the body is actually an emotional and energetic clearing. So if you’re feeling it too – social life on lockdown, lots of ginger tea, and just let it all out in the name of your Eclipse Season evolution, babe.

:: TUESDAY ::
A mind-blowingly on point astrology reading with Danielle Paige, author of this excellent piece on the energies of the current Eclipse Season – who, like many astrologers before her, told me that in creating the Numinous I have absolutely stepped into alignment with my soul journey. The message being: if you have a similarly “out there” project burning a hole in your back pocket, DO NOT DELAY any longer in getting it underway. You’re being called! Danielle is also all about the South Node – the part of a birth chart that points to any past life karma you brought into this incarnation to be healed. Mine is in Taurus, sign of Earthly attachments and indulgence, and since the Pisces New Moon Eclipse of March 8 was activating this point, it makes total sense to me that the past two weeks have marked a tipping point in me un-tangling myself from a complicated relationship with alcohol that’s frankly wayyyyy past its sell-by date. LOTS more on this to come, as I see my journey with this particular issue being reflected all around me – and I’m even planning an event for the Aries New Moon of April 7 where we’ll be discussing ways to get high on our OWN supply (no cocktails required). Sign up for our newsletter by clicking the banner below and be the first to get the deets.

:: WEDNESDAY ::
And….we are officially a .com! www.the-numinous.com to be precise. (Oh and I lost a big old bunch of emails in the handover – so if you were trying to get in contact Weds afternoon, your message is floating somewhere in the cyber dimensions and will need resending. Thanks.)

:: THURSDAY ::
In my old magazine editor job, my bathroom cabinet used to be CRAMMED with freebies – and ridiculous as it may sound, walking away from the constant stream of free products was actually one of the hardest things about leaving to go freelance / start The Numinous and step into my soul purpose (see: Taurus South Node problems). It showed how far I’ve come when a PR reached out recently offering some freebies from a brand she reps, and my first question was: “are they natural?” And an even BIGGER marker of my “progress” when I turned them down when she told me no! My reward from the Universe? She put me on to her colleague who looks after French hair care brand Christophe Robin, whose products are infused with “rare or ancestral natural ingredients” (and with no Parabens, sulphates and silicone – if not 100 % chemical free). The message? We get what we demand – and so, as consumers, let’s ALL demand less chemicals in our self-care products and watch the beauty industry at large recalibrate accordingly.

*Christoph Robin Purifying Shampoo, $34*

:: FRIDAY ::
Upstate house for the Pisces’s (husband’s) birthday weekend! A) the Universe has been sending me almost daily reminders to connect with nature during this particular Eclipse Season portal (see also Madeline Giles’s Angel Message for March), and B) we managed to find a super witchy-looking abode (see below) on Airbnb, and I basically couldn’t check in fast enough.

HOLY F*CK: IN SEARCH OF A SMILF…

Posted on March 17, 2016November 4, 2018 by Alexandra Roxo

“I want to date a spiritual guy who doesn’t LOOK spiritual, you know?” In the latest installment of her column Holy F*ck, Alexandra Roxo goes in search of a SMILF…

I was recently discussing relationships with my friend Loulou, and I admitted to finally being ready to surrender to my desire for a “spiritual partner” in love and life.

Lou, like many other friends of mine has a diff take on me about this. As I waxed poetic about Hawaiian yoga retreats with a lover she stopped me, saying: “A big block to finding a partner is putting a limit on who they have to be. Whether it’s the type of clothes they wear, or their career – let’s not throw spirituality into the mix, too.” And I toooootally get it. But if we share our spiritual work with our friends how can we not with a partner?

Over the last 15+ years of dating I’ve mostly stayed away from “spiritual types.” I’ve also spent years sneaking out of bed to meditate in bathrooms in the a.m. Praying silently over my food alone. But while keeping your practice sacred and personal can be beautiful, it can also get old. Most people I dated looked at my altars like I was doing voodoo. (Ok fine, there may have been a snake skin and some bones on there from time to time). A few even made fun of my “woo” at dinner parties – and, well, we DID NOT last.

In my show Be Here Nowish my character Sam goes to a Spiritual Speed Dating event at a place based on Maha Rose in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. After a few too many guys wearing patchouli offer to take her back to their place for an “aura photo” she says to her bestie Nina: “I wanna date a spiritual dude. But not a guy who looks spiritual, you know?”

Since I wrote this line I MEANT IT at the time, and have been casually “researching” this “species” ever since. My findings? There’s the spiritual guy who meditates, but still wants to call you a slut in bed. (Over it.) The spiritual guy who is spiritual by day and does molly all night. (I think this one is called “Burner”?) Then there’s the spiritual guy who dresses in all linen and calls your cooch a yoni. (I may be okay with this, but pls know I may giggle and will DEF group text all my friends about it.)

But I have faith that the “spiritual dude” who isn’t drowning in hemp and OM bumper stickers is out there – and here are 10 of my fave SMILFS to prove it! By SMILF I mean “Spiritual Masculine Identified Person I’d Like to…Follow!” Because following someone and their work and passions is a great way to “get to know them” right?

So thank you, SMILFS, for giving us hope in a world where finding someone vaguely attractive to date that also inspires your spiritual path can feel harder than doing 10 days of Vipassana followed by the Master Cleanse!

:: Kyle Gray ::
Okay, any man that works with Angels wins my heart. Enough reason to FOLLOW. Loulou just got me his book and I’m excited to read it. Not only does Kyle have the most adorable Scottish accent and is a one of few out queer spiritual teachers, but he is also covered in inspirational tattoos and obsessed with Vivienne Westwood.

:: Jesse Israel ::
I found out about Jesse through my friend Steph Simbari and her podcast with Elizabeth Kott “That’s so retrograde” where she talked to him about his project The Modern Man Experiment which I think is important work. Jesse also organizes HUGE and hip group meditations and things and I’m excited to see what’s next from him.

:: Nick Krieger ::
Nick is a trans/queer activist, writer, and coach with goals of de-colonizing and queer-ifying yoga. (Praise Goddess!) He won my heart with this article. He also wrote a book called “Nina Here nor There” about his journey with gender.

:: Light Watkins ::
I discovered Light when he taught meditation to someone I dated who then kept saying: “Oh Light this and Light that.” I may have unfollowed that person on social media, BUT in turn I followed Light! Besides his obvious physical beauty, Light brings Vedic meditation to the masses and has cute snapchats featuring his pug.

:: Michael Trainer ::
Michael founded the incredible Global Citizen project and has a new project called Peak Mind. I happened to go to his gathering in LA and witness his devotion to the Dalai Lama and how he is helping the planet with an open heart. Very genuine stuff.

:: Spiritual Stoner ::
I may have quit marijuana for now, but it doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate this guy. My friend Carlen Altman intro-ed me to his insta when I was in a “conspiracy theory/illuminati K-hole” last winter in NY. Radical Instagram activism is the real deal and his posts range from poignant anti-racism memes, veganism support, worshipping women as Goddess incarnate, conspiracy theory reveals…The kinda stuff I could geek out for hours on.

:: Michael Domitrovich ::
Michael claims to help make “The power of the Spiritual plane as accessible as a bag of chips!” That’s kind of light worker I gravitate towards- anyone who isn’t afraid to use junk food in a metaphor! He uses all kinds of modalities and teachings and does a lot of workshops in LA and NYC.

:: Ryan Cropper ::
Ryan does real fun work, deep but with just enough esoteric to keep things fun and not too woo woo: astral projection courses, shadow integration, memory improvement and more, all with a cute British accent and a great YouTube channel.

:: Patrick Beach ::
His Instagram feed speaks for itself. What else can I say about a shirtless hot man in various yoga poses? “Thank you” and “You’re welcome” are the only words I have.

:: Forrest 44 ::
Okay, so we may have no idea what this dude’s REAL name, is BUT his Instagram feed is full of Goddess and Nature imagery AND he makes beautiful crystal pendants and rings. Big blue eyes, crystal grids, and visionary art?! Sign me up.

For all of us single ladies I will leave you with the wise Miss Lou said as we finished our coconut “Cream Party” juices: “How about you just choose to seek out a partner who has a practice of love. They might get high from joy when watching their favorite sports team, connect to mother earth via love for their dog.”

I LOVE that, and she is right. However! I’m not giving up on my fantasies of meditating naked in Bali and getting matching Archangel Michael tattoos with someone yet. A girl can dream, right?

I want to hear your opinion! Are you looking for a SMILF? Do you have one to add here? Or are you in a spiritual partnership? Please write in the comments your story with any SMILFS! I’m going to go deeper into this next month and interview some of my fave conscious couples so stay tuned…

CASTING MY SPELL: CONFESSIONS OF A WHITE WITCH

Posted on March 16, 2016November 4, 2018 by Shaheen Miro

“I see writing as a spell, decorating my home as a spell, singing as a spell. Whenever I express myself I am casting MY spell.” Shaheen Miro shares what it means to grow up and embrace being a white witch…

I have always had an intimate connection to the unseen – as a child I could feel the pulse of magic in the world around me. I spent my time wandering through the shadows of trees, marveling at the menagerie of creatures forming, looming, and dancing on the ground around me. I gathered stones, flowers, and found objects to create charms for change and good fortune. I spent my time talking to invisible forces…the spirit of the river, the rocks, and my little calico cat.

A little fairy on the edge of dreamland, roaming between worlds, and unraveling mysteries, sometimes I found myself lost, and confused by things I could not put into words. The loneliness of abandoned buildings made my spine tingle, and spirits of the dead danced in and out of my awareness – difficult things for a child to articulate.

My mother and grandmother were my advocates. Strong, beautiful women with big hearts, strong hands, they were brave witches who honored this path, and these gifts.

And so we explored the tangles of nature together. Singing with the plants, and soaking up the light of the moon. My grandmother always spoke of angels as divine helpers who could be called upon at any time, and my mother gave me the gift of the Tarot as a small child – her way of helping me cultivate and hone my blooming psychic abilities.

To some, my story may sound fantastical, the musings of a child captivated by fairytale visions. But all myths are rooted in reality, and I’ve simply always been aware that magic is alive and well in the “real” world.

As such, I never “grew out” of my exploration of the mystical world. I learned to read between the lines, to see the space beyond the eyes. In every moment, in every situation, and in every person, I can see a bead of magic. How we are all made of the same light and shadows – divine beings on an arduous and essentially liberating earth-walk journey.

I have found magic in books, in stories, and in art, and my life has become a pilgrimage to reclaim the folds of the mystical world, while remaining grounded here in the physical. Because this is where magic has the most power.

To quote Stevie Nicks (a weaver of spells through songs): “The stars are apart of us.” Witches know the ebb and flow of the Moon, and we hone and honor this powerful tide of energy in the understanding that we are equal parts spirit and flesh. Our bodies know the grace of the seasons, and the tides of the Moon, and when we channel this energy we become super-powered.

As such, the Moon has always been my muse and my teacher. I spend time soaking in her milky light. I talk to her, expressing my deepest wishes, and my heaviest regrets. My mother and I wander out into the landscapes of the moon and light candles in honor of her light and glory. The moon has become a portal to our inner world, and even when we are apart we know that the Moon connects our souls.

How else do I live it?

There is nothing like wrapping myself in an aura of black chiffon, and letting my wings catch the wind as I spin and spin in the moonlight. A little white witch taking flight into the mystical; transcending my body, and moving through time. I feel alive in the cool hush of the night. Night sounds are prayers that awaken the soul. Witches know the night holds mysteries, and so they seek refuge in her subtle energy.

And the white witch knows the power of magic lies in the ability to evoke what is cradled within. Spells become nothing more than a rhythm of expressing and exploring intention. We mingle with, and call upon the latent potential of objects. Calling on the spirit of botanicals, igniting the influence of candles, and mingling with the essence of crystals.

The Shadow self has also become a teacher for me – for there are gifts to be found here, in the parts that are suppressed, feared, and therefore unacknowledged. When you reach into the dark, you can pull out treasures and heal what’s stuck. So when I encounter the dark, I try to communicate with it. To see what my Shadow Self has to say.

I call myself a White Witch, because I know I am the night and the day. I seek to understand the dark, rather than fear it. To do this, I must know and honor my intuition, seeking out the patterns of the Universe unfolding around me. In omens, cards, and tea leaves. And it’s when I ignore the messages that I find myself falling off kilter.

This is why owning the word “witch” is an act of power. Sometimes it can feel easier to grow numb to the whispers of the magical world. To put your head down, and do what you are told. To act “normal.” But you are not living if you are not expressing, and you are not expressing if you are not telling the whole story. So now I find my power in being “different” – and stepping into the flow of my eccentricities.

For me, witchcraft is a way of life, an inborn desire to truly live. This also means following my creative impulses as an act of scared communion. I see writing as a spell, decorating my home as a spell, singing as a spell. Whenever I express myself I am casting MY spell.

This applies to all the powerful ones, the thought leaders, the rebels, the eccentrics, the artists. The ones who operate in the Earthly realms from a deep seated desire to bring their inner world to life. Magic asked them to channel their vision into being. All they needed was to be their unique expression. And the world changed because of it.

Witches know they do not have to explain their doings. They just do what feels right. Whatever feeds their spirit. And since this takes real bravery, witches don’t do well with fear.

MY MYSTICAL LIFE: YOGI SWEATS, AND A SHAMANIC CLOSET CLEAR OUT

Posted on March 11, 2016November 3, 2018 by Ruby Warrington

Time for another shamanic closet clear out – PLUS sound baths, breathwork, and the latest in the plant-based revolution…

:: MONDAY ::
Skype date with beautiful yogini Shona Virtue (above) – a.k.a. one of the main reasons we are RE-LAUNCHING OUR YOGI SWEATSHIRT LINE! Shona picked up a couple of the original (v v limited edition, pretty much sold to friends-and-family only) sweats, and has been on at us to make more ever since. So we listened. And they’re going on sale reeeeeealy soon! The pic is a behind-the-scenes peak from our photo-shoot this week. Sign up for our newsletter to be the first to know when they go on sale – and maybe win one too!

:: TUESDAY ::
I hadn’t actually planned anything special for Eclipse night, and so I figured a last minute invite to a sound bath meditation hosted by Well+Good co-founder Melisse Gelula and her friend Summer Rayne (real name) sounded just about perfect. Plus the sound bath itself was being performed by Sara Auster – whose name had literally crossed my radar three times in the past week. It was beautiful, and a precursor to further group meditations in Summer Rayne’s Brooklyn apartment. So let’s just talk about the apartment for a moment…The girl is plant CRAZY, and has created an actual. Freaking. Urban jungle in her home. Full story (on her basically teaching me how to cure my “black thumb” – since I seem to kill anything green that enters my auric field) + pics to follow in a future post…

Sarah Auster sound bath crystal bowls My Mystcal Week on The Numinous — Sound bath good to go

:: WEDNESDAY ::
Psychic closet clear-out! I first enlisted the help of a psychic to help me to an energetic blitz on my closet a couple of years ago, and having moved twice since then things had been getting kind of messy again. Enter Colleen McCann, a stylist-turned-shaman, who essentially does this FOR A LIVING. To kick our session off she read my crystals (yes this is a thing), and used my birth chart details to map my Ba Gua – kind of feng-shui-meets-human-design (I know!!) to map the power places in my apartment / wardrobe. Then we hit the rails. Not enough red (my power color), and everything needs to be reorganized by clothes for my behind-the-scenes vs. front-of-camera life (to invite more “front of camera” opportunities in). To finish, Colleen ran her hands over every piece – and anything holding any extra dense energy had to go, to create space for more high-vibe alternatives. Including a pair of McQueen stilettos, beautiful but wicked painful relics from my “old life” (and which are currently sitting in the Eleven Consignment boutique on NYC’s First Avenue, just FYI).

My mystical week ruby warrington shamanic closet clear out with Colleen McCann Style Rituals on The Numinous — *VERY SPECIAL CRYSTALS in Colleen’s Shamanic “mesa” (medicine bag) + neon pink nails #materialgirlmysticalworld*

:: THURSDAY ::
JUST YES RAVI DEROSSI – the vegan restaurateur dedicated to bringing plant-based eating to the hipster masses. Like in his East Village tiki bar Mother Of Pearl, where vegan chef Daphne Cheng has just launched an entirely meat-free menu of bar snacks and small plates. I met Daphne there today to talk future Numinous projects (she also hosts supper clubs at her space Exhibit C – sign up for info about what we’ve got planned) and got to sample a ridiculous Edemame Spring Rolls and King Trumpet Mushroom Crudo. #plantpower #futuroffood

:: FRIDAY ::
Date-night with Erin Telford – because, Breathwork. I’ve written many times about how much I love this incredibly healing, vibe-raising, multiple-crygasm inducing pranayama workshop, but it’s not something I do on the regular. Rather, my body will just be like “GO. NOW” whenever some stuff has come up that needs to be breathed out. Like, y’know, the Friday night following a FULL ON Pisces New Moon Solar Eclipse…Click the pic below for Erin’s upcoming Breathwork schedule

SENSITIVE SOUL: WORK WITH YOUR PISCES MOON SIGN

Posted on March 10, 2016November 4, 2018 by Ash Bonelli

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

“My heart is ever at your service.” – William Shakespeare

If you were born with a Pisces moon sign, then this one is for you, dear hearts. Our moon is our emotional headquarters. It alerts us to our deepest feelings and we express it in our knee-jerk reactions. It shows us how we nurture and how we wish to be cared for in return. Our lunar landscape is an often private land that we only fully reveal to those we trust most and the Pisces moon sign is a particularly tender one.

You believe in compassion and kindness – often referred to as too sensitive and emotionally weak. You may have experienced people telling you to box up those gushing feelings as you walk through this intense world, or you will just get hurt even more. But suppressing your truth is never a good thing. You were born with a big, sweet, all feeling heart and frankly, more of which we so dearly need in our often detached world. You naturally radiate a light for humanity that allows others to easily trust you. Possessing the ability to really listen without judgment helps you to move through the world with intuitive ease.

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

You can be an idealist in love – because your heart space LOVES to love. Which also means harsh realities can really sting you deeper than others. You probably have the tendency to give “too much” of yourself, which in turn can set you up for other people taking advantage of your sweet little disposition. But since you’ve been blessed with an intuitive heart you have the ability to know when your tank is running on near to flat out empty. You have to give back to yourself so you can be recharged enough to give again.

Letting also comes naturally to you – letting go of that which you can’t control. It’s a slippery slope though with the Pisces moon sign though, because sometimes you let go too often. You may have the tendency to let someone off of the hook for something you need to confront them about, just so you can go on being the nicest person everyone knows. You’ll forgive before you rock the boat – but only to keep the peace. Working on discerning when it’s appropriate to move on because the situation really isn’t worth fighting over, and situations that require some discussion, examination, and / or healing.

Below are some wellness suggestions to assist as you get to know your delicate Pisces moon sign.

:: GROUNDING PRACTICE ::
The Pisces moon sign can sometimes have a bit of a savior complex. You feel your feelings so deeply – often along with everyone else’s. You hate to see someone suffering so you will go to great lengths to help out however you can. This is beautiful but not if it comes at the expense of your quota of support for your own soul.

Create a grounding practice by learning to say “no” more often. Actively notice how often you feel depleted and see if you can cut back on the areas of your life that are draining you. Are you overcommitting your time? Do you say yes to things just so you won’t hurt someone’s feelings? Write a list of all your activities for each day for a month and put a checkmark by the ones that made you feel down/sluggish. See if you can cut those out.

Sometimes we get into such a comfortable habit that we don’t even realize it’s an issue until we literally see it on paper. You also want to set up healthy boundaries. One way is by being selective about the company that you keep. If they don’t bring positivity to the table and you just feel heavier after visiting with them, then their energy are toxic for you. Time to weed the garden! You want only roses of hope in that yard, and it’s up to you to plant wisely.

:: SHIELDS UP ::
Your heart experiences life via feelings, and those feelings become your thoughts, so the last thing you want is everybody else’s negativity clouding up your judgment. Being a natural sympathy sponge you want to be mindful to ward off any vibes you don’t need in your bubble!

Each morning, either in bed before you start your day or while taking a shower, imagine shimmering golden light surrounding you from above your head to below your feet. Let the feeling of completeness engulf you. Take enjoyment in your breath and try not to think of anything other than your own personal ease and calm. Take at least one minute to do this practice.

This is so simple and effective because when you start to feel something negative in your day you can come back to the sensation of serenity that you created earlier. If it really is the bad vibes of other people or places then this centering practice should suffice. If you are still feeling off kilter, these could be your own genuine feelings. In which case it’s up to you to feel deeper into your situation and tend to the issue as needed.

:: ESCAPE ARTIST ::
The Pisces moon sign can sometimes avoid confrontational issues in order to keep things copacetic. While sweet in theory it’s bad energy to carry. Plus it can create a karma ripple you certainly don’t want showing up later. So you need to create boundaries by proactively planning ahead if you are entering a situation that could turn negative.

Practice what you would say. Visualize the upcoming conversation, but try a different response each time. How do you physically feel with each answer? The one that closes you down and makes you curl inwards is the one you don’t want. The one that gives that sensation of light, expansive openness is the winner.

If it’s a situation where the gross feeling option is the right thing to do, then take time to find a way to move forward in the kindest way possible. Sometimes you have to rip the band-aid off to let the wound heal. Know in your heart that you are doing the right thing and let the feeling of truth be the balm to any fear that arises.

:: RESTORATIVE YOGA ::
When thing get too much and it’s time to get back to yourself, you need the desserts of the asana world in your life. I suggest doing these poses when you feel sad, depleted or stressed to revive your spirits and help your heart feel nourished from within.

Supported Bound Angle Sitting in easy pose, draw the soles of your feet together to touch. Take a block under each knee. Take your hands behind you and slowly lay down on your back. Take a folded blanket and place it under your head (if you find that to be more supportive). Let your arms relax to your sides with the palms up. Relax your whole body and rest for five minutes. To finish, bring your feet as wide as your mat and let your knees fall in. Rest here for a few more moments.

Supine Twist Come to your back and draw your knees into your chest. Take a deep inhale and on the exhale drop both knees over to the right. Take your arms out to the sides like wings. Take your gaze to the left. With each inhale allow your spine to lengthen and your belly to fully expand. On the exhale allow your body to twist deeper. Stay here for two minutes and then inhale the knees back to center. Exhale and repeat on the opposite side. In this detoxifying twist, use your breath to emotionally release anything holding you back from moving forward with your goals.

Legs up the wall Come over to a wall space and sit down next to it with one hip against the wall. As you start to lay down on your back simultaneously begin to walk your feet up the wall until the legs are straight towards the ceiling – and your body is on the floor at a right angle to your legs. The knees can have a slight bend and if you want extra support take a block or blanket under your hips. Your hips and seat should be touching the wall so inch your way as close as you can. Just rest your arms out to your sides or on your belly/heart. Close your eyes and feel yourself relaxing. Stay here up to 15 minutes.

Keep space, move with grace & continue your healing work. From those places, your Pisces moon sign will feel content.

Month: March 2016

MATERIAL GIRL, MYSTICAL WORLD: SHONA VERTUE

TAROTSCOPES: APRIL 2016

COSMIC CULTURE FOR APRIL

EARTHLY DELIGHTS: NO MORE GUILTY PLEASURES

COMFORTABLY NUMB: EAT THE PAIN AWAY

A SENSORY EXPLORATION OF ARIES SEASON

MY MYSTICAL LIFE: SISTERS IN HIGH SOBRIETY, AND A VISIT WITH THE URBAN YOGIS

WHY ARE ALL THE LIGHTWORKERS MOVING TO LA?

BE AT PEACE: READING FOR THE LIBRA FULL MOON ECLIPSE

MY MYSTICAL LIFE: ECLIPSE SEASON SICKNESS, AND A SUPER WITCHY WEEKEND UPSTATE

HOLY F*CK: IN SEARCH OF A SMILF…

CASTING MY SPELL: CONFESSIONS OF A WHITE WITCH

MY MYSTICAL LIFE: YOGI SWEATS, AND A SHAMANIC CLOSET CLEAR OUT

SENSITIVE SOUL: WORK WITH YOUR PISCES MOON SIGN

@NUMINOUS_BOOKS