As we stand on the edge of a new seasonal cycle, the Ace of Swords wants us to get ready for the lightening bolt and act on creative inspiration, says Lindsay Mack.
Month: August 2017
NUMINOUS TAROTSCOPES: SEPTEMBER 2017
Cast and channeled by Lindsay Mack using the Starchild Tarot
VIRGO :: VIRGO RISING
Queen of Wands
Happy turn around the sun, sweet Virgo! You are celebrating your birth month with one of the most exciting and beloved cards in the Tarot, the Queen of Wands. Ruled by the dual elements of fire and water, Queen of Wands is all things. She is the witch of the deck, the alchemist, the sexual goddess and the spirit of creative genius. She is a direct channel to Divine, she trusts her intuition, and allows her creativity to flow from her like rainwater. She is quiet about it, too. Indeed, Queen of Wands doesn’t need to talk about these aspects of herself — she just is, beaming her magic out into the world with every step she takes. You are being asked to embody Queen of Wands energy this month, sweet Virgo, allowing yourself to walk through the world radiating these qualities. Rather than wholly relying on your beautifully honed intellect and ability to analyze, you’re being invited to allow your inner knowing to guide the way even more deeply this month.
This shift in energy will organically lead you to some totally new experiences in September and beyond. It is making way for new collaborations, new ideas, inspirations, moments of brilliance and a greater felt experience of total empowerment and personal magic. This card’s reach is transformative. Your only job is to be willing, loves. Willing to allow this alchemical energy into your life, willing to let it sit at the table of your heart. It will be helping to literally redefine your sense of self, and your beliefs about what you are capable of. Leave room for mystery this month. Embrace wabi-sabi in all things. Push against your comfort zone, trust yourself in crucial moments, let the fire and water within you, the passion and the deep knowing, dance as one. The result be will amazing.
Cast by Lindsay Mack using the Starchild Tarot. Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Lindsay here and follow her on Instagram.
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LIBRA :: LIBRA RISING
Ten of Cups
Rejoice, dear Libra! Do a little dance and get excited — you are moving through the amazing Ten of Cups this month, an energy that you have earned with your hard work, one that is enormously deserved.
Ten of Cups is romanticized for a reason — it’s pretty spectacular. It represents the joyful end of an emotional cycle, typically one that has been rife with inner turmoil. The journey in the Cups from the Ace to the Ten is an intense one, filled with many lessons. In the Cups, we learn to move through great loss, we learn to trust our intuition (even through the din of fear and huge emotions), and we open ourselves to love, to the perfection of the beauty all around us. Ten of Cups is the payoff to this struggle, and it can come into our lives in many ways.
Ten of Cups can be an experience of getting everything we want, our dreams coming true, and living happily ever after, but that’s not always the case. What Ten of Cups gifts to us, above all things, is the opportunity to genuinely love, accept, and appreciate the present moment, giving thanks for all that we do have. You have the opportunity to taste the fruits of trust and peace in your life, Libra — even if you aren’t where you’d like to be, even if you don’t have your beloved by your side yet, even if you are still learning, still figuring stuff out. Wherever you are is perfect, and you get to practice leaning into that, regardless of where you are in your life, which will only make you more available to greater joy and more blessings. This is the true gift of Ten of Cups, and — dare I say it — the key to a happy life. It’s an invaluable lesson. Be here for it.
Cast by Lindsay Mack using the Starchild Tarot. Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Lindsay here and follow her on Instagram.
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SCORPIO :: SCORPIO RISING
Knight of Wands, Rx
Knight of Wands reversed has a very important message for you this month, Scorpio: have more fun. This archetype is letting you know that life has become too starchy, too devoid of play and spirited joy. September will be your opportunity to change that in a lasting way. Much is spoken of your intensity and sexual energy — you are also spectacularly hard workers. When that fixed sign work ethic drifts too far left of center, it can turn life into one big responsibility, with no moments left for relaxation, or restoration, not to mention fun. Be willing to look deeply at your beliefs about play. Is it just for kids? A waste of time? Does it make you anxious, believing that your time could be spend on more productive things? If so, it’s time to recenter from the foundation up. You not only need moments of unstructured creative time, but you also need to shake things up with some fun. Whether that means working on a side project, playing on a basketball team, taking a weekly class, or taking up ballet, it doesn’t matter. Empower yourself to shift your relationship to the value of fun, whatever that means to you.
Knight of Wands is a being that moves through the world with the desire to bring great joy to those that he comes into contact with — he wants to have an impact, wants to be seen and remembered. You are giving this gift to yourself this month, Scorpio. Show up for yourself on a new level, and be willing to get really uncomfortable with how much fun you allow yourself to have. The benefits of this shift are invaluable. It will infuse new life into your work, will open your intuition, and will reconnect you with your loved ones. This month, commit to the hardest work of all: play.
Cast by Lindsay Mack using the Starchild Tarot. Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Lindsay here and follow her on Instagram.
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SAGITTARIUS :: SAGITTARIUS RISING
Two of Swords, Rx
September is all about self care for you, Sagittarius — both making it a priority in your life, no matter how busy you are, and upgrading it to a new level going forward. Two of Swords is a very powerful and important energy, one that offers us a crucial barometer around our brain chemistry, mental well being, and energetic boundaries. When we receive it in a reading, we need to clear, take space, process things mentally, and return to our center. This card employs a fierceness of spirit around self care that, unfortunately, can be misunderstood all too easily as someone who is too cold, too distant and stand-offish. Two of Swords, however, invites us to pay it no mind — she encourages us to take the space and time we need without explanation.
Put simply, loves, you need to take some space and it’s not happening. There is a need for greater gentleness around the nervous system that’s not being honored. So, what do you do with this information? Inquire around where and why that might be, and make changes accordingly. It’s not because you did anything wrong, or you aren’t paying attention — quite the contrary. It’s most likely because many of you are in deep process, evolving along with everyone else on the planet, and what used to work for you in terms of self care now needs to be expanded and reevaluated. It’s that simple. Whether it’s bodywork, more time in nature, upping your hydration, tweaking your diet, or just more restorative time in general, Two of Swords is calling, and it is crucial to heed her invitation. Make zero apologies. Do not explain yourself when you need space. Trust your intuition around social media, your phone, or the company of certain people in your life. Take the space, and see how much more supported you feel.
Cast by Lindsay Mack using the Starchild Tarot. Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Lindsay here and follow her on Instagram.
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CAPRICORN :: CAPRICORN RISING
Page of Swords
I have three words for your September, Capricorn: Go for it! Whatever you are envisioning, planning, creating or dreaming of, go for it. Divine timing is on your side to make almost anything happen this month. Gather your courage, center yourself, and seize the chance to birth your next great project, task or idea into the world. Committing to these energies may stretch you to your limits in many ways — but what excites you more than that, Capricorn? What thrills you more than a juicy challenge, and a chance to work hard on something that stimulates you? Page of Swords coming together with Virgo season is going to unfold like a dream come true, offering the perfect support system for you to birth these ideas into the world. Take advantage of it.
Page of Swords is a powerful archetype, ruled by air and earth. He is someone who has done the work mentally and energetically to ready himself for something new. His hopes are high, his vision is clear, he feels good, and he is chomping at the bit to have his “shot.” He has knowledge he wants to share, thoughts he wants to communicate, people he deeply wants to serve. The air/earth combination aids him greatly in being able to accomplish this, grounding his visions with enough practicality to make them feasible. In other words, Capricorn, go for it. You are ready. You have moved through the big contractive energies of the last several months, learning your lessons, trusting in timing, learning the art of leaving room for mystery — now you get to move forward, armed with the wisdom gained from the last cycle. If you are feeling scared, ask for support around your next big steps. If you’re willing to be bold and brave, you will have everything you need to make it happen.
Cast by Lindsay Mack using the Starchild Tarot. Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Lindsay here and follow her on Instagram.
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AQUARIUS
Two of Wands
September promises to be a very delicious month for you, Aquarius, ripe with potential opportunities and exciting choices. Two of Wands is an energetic fresh start, and represents a time when the possibilities of our life expand enormously. We begin to have options where we didn’t before, and our interests may be aroused in many different directions. Your sacred opportunity this month will be to make some very important choices around your next steps. This might feel tough in moments, because any path that Two of Wands offers brings something amazing. It’s really a win no matter what, which is is an awesome situation to be in.
Two of Wands is about letting our hearts be guided by the wisdom of our experience, a choice that is largely guided by an earned instinct. You are changing, Aquarius. You have been through a deep journey in the last year, and some of that is beginning to shift. The skies have been very changeable for you this year, bringing you into some powerful lessons and, in some cases, extraordinary change. The path ahead is clearer, brighter, more rich with possibility. Any rut that you’ve been in, energetically or otherwise, is most definitely coming to an end. Life is going to start getting a lot more exciting, the future opening up in some amazing ways. You may feel like you’re at a crossroads of sorts this month, Aquarius, but it won’t be a painful one. The toughest part of Two of Wands is figuring out where to point our compass because every option feels wonderful.
If you can gently temper the excitement you may feel with a little reflection, it will help enormously. You will make the choice that’s best for you, Aquarius. Trust your heart, and give yourself time to drop into what your soul is really longing for.
Cast by Lindsay Mack using the Starchild Tarot. Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Lindsay here and follow her on Instagram.
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PISCES :: PISCES RISING
Five of Cups
You are moving through Five of Cups this month, Pisces, and I won’t lie to you: you’re going to be swimming in some deep waters. But when has that been a problem for you? You are the most experienced deep divers in the Zodiac, regularly swimming into parts of the heart and caves of the soul that many never visit in their lifetime. You are being invited to embrace this part of yourself — it is one of your most awe-inspiring superpowers.
Five of Cups is a kind of emotional contraction, a lesson we move through in order to more deeply trust in the temporal nature of our emotions. Being in Five of Cups can often feel like we cannot see the way forward, that we will be stuck in a situation forever. This card can arise around a totally innocuous inner experience, or it can be as blunt as grief over the loss of a loved one, heartbreak, or a flood of old emotions returning. In the traditional Smith-Rider-Waite card, we see a man grieving over three spilled cups, his back turned to the two full cups behind him. The medicine of this card is inviting you to turn to the “full cups” in your life — what awaits you, and lives on the other side of your emotional experience. There, a treasure awaits, one that will contain what you need in order to move forward.
These treasures are earned through the power of your soul work, Pisces, and enrich every part of you. They strengthen your gifts, expand your intuition, and bless you with greater wisdom and deeper knowing. September is one of those months, one that will invite you to dive deep, and certainly one that will yield its weight in expansion, inner richness and golden wisdom. Trust it, and take the leap.
Cast by Lindsay Mack using the Starchild Tarot. Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Lindsay here and follow her on Instagram.
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ARIES :: ARIES RISING
Akashic Records
September is your month, Aries. The path ahead is bright, clear, and practically golden in its potential. Take advantage of it fully, leaning into every bit of the magic and alchemy that await you in the upcoming cycle. You are moving through the Akashic Records card in September, and put simply, it’s a really, really big deal. This card showing up in a reading is extraordinarily rare, and the medicine it brings is highly advanced and deeply effective.
The Akashic Records themselves are a kind of Universal file folder of divine information. When we tune into the Akashic Records, it is said that we can gain wisdom and answers around anything in the Universe that has ever been, or ever will be. You are in this kind of powerful energy this month, Aries, and it is guiding you toward your next big expansion, both as a collective sign, and as individuals. Know that you have the power to shift your karma this month, to change the direction of your patterns — the potential is endless, and promises to be incredibly magical.
The month ahead will be full of spectacular blessings and opportunities to expand exponentially, but you have to work. You have to show up, doing your part. Whatever you bring forward, Divine will double it. This is the month to say “fuck you” to fear, to doubt, to past pain, to old traumas that have been holding you back. Show up, shine your light, share what has been in your heart, and take the next step in your soul’s evolution. It’s going to take everything you’ve got, but you’re up for it. Rather than thinking of it as an intense or draining time, think about yourself as a kind of athlete, training for the Olympics. You are ready for this — you can do it.
Cast by Lindsay Mack using the Starchild Tarot. Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Lindsay here and follow her on Instagram.
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TAURUS :: TAURUS RISING
Five of Crystals
You are moving through the advanced medicine of Five of Crystals, or Pentacles this month, sweet Taurus. It is here to let you know that what you want — what you’ve wished for and longed to manifest — is coming. It is on its way, being hand delivered to you, and you are being asked to be trusting and patient with its arrival time. It’s tough, but you can do it.
Five of Pentacles is an advanced energy because it typically asks us to move through a challenge of some kind. It will also ask us to stay very centered through the unfolding of it, rooted in our truth. It doesn’t matter where this card shows up in your life, it’s job is to test your trust, and to help you relax into this moment, unknown as it may be. Empower yourself to stay as cool as you can. Five of Pentacles never lasts long, and it’s usually totally up to us as to whether it’s a slightly uncomfortable experience, or a dreadful experience. Your choice, loves — choose wisely.
Fives in the Tarot are always contractive. They literally squeeze us in order to expand us, readying us for a birth of some kind. When we resist a contraction, we are just uncomfortable for a longer period of time. When we give into them, surrendering and honoring the lesson, we make room for new. Five of Pentacles is often unfairly thought of as a card of money trouble, which is such a limited view of it. If it does affect your abundance this month, Taurus, it is only an energetic sign that you are expanding, preparing to receive more. Get curious around what you might perceive as setbacks and delays. They really are bringing a gift. Once trust in the timing is infused, everything you’ve been waiting for will flood right in.
Cast by Lindsay Mack using the Starchild Tarot. Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Lindsay here and follow her on Instagram.
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GEMINI :: GEMINI RISING
Transformation/Death
You are cycling through the Death card this month, Gemini. September promises to be a deep time of powerful renewal, incredible lessons, and — of course — releasing what no longer serves your life. Whether this sacred death is a external one (marriage/relationship, job, apartment, a big move), or an internal one, space is being made for something new to grow. Trust it with all your might, sweet ones. There is nothing to fear from this card, I promise you. As much as you might not want to say goodbye, the thing you are releasing can serve you better in another form. Death never comes unless it’s truly time for that aspect of your life to go.
Ruled by Scorpio, the Death card never bodes an actual, physical death. The Death card is about an energetic death, about spiralic change and the turn of the wheel of life. It is in a snake shedding its skin, in the changing of the seasons — the last golden leaf falling from a barren tree, preparing at last to rest for the winter. It is the transmutation of one thing into another, and the honoring of that process. We eat food, then we become food. The weeds in our garden can become sacred compost, fertilizing the new, encouraging it to grow. This card brings transformation to all who are touched by it, letting us know that an old part of us must die away in order for us to move forward, growing as we need to be. Because this card represents an ego death, it can be intense for us to move through it. Honor any discomfort that may come up for you around it, perhaps even grieve it in your way, but no matter what this is coming up around, it is making space for something amazing to come in. Trust and release.
Cast by Lindsay Mack using the Starchild Tarot. Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Lindsay here and follow her on Instagram.
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CANCER
Four of Cups, Rx
September is a kind of review for you, Cancer, one in which you will be called upon to be very present around your emotional boundaries. What you say yes and no to this month will be of the utmost importance to consider. Your reserves will be precious, so it will be crucial to make sure you are moving forward with something only when you truly feel good about it. Saying yes when it’s really a no can have some consequences this month: think getting sick, feeling drained, etc. You all have so much light to share, but your nervous systems need a lot of down time to regenerate after being out in the world. That’s okay — just honor it. Four of Cups is a sign that that honoring is not happening as it needs to. Now you have to check in around why that might be.
Four of Cups reversed is a powerful energy, and one that can be challenging to anyone with a heavy fear of missing out, whether it be on experiences, opportunities, or relationships. It comes at a moment when we are emotionally full, and in order to digest our feelings and experiences, we need to take a gentle break around mindless intaking. We have to integrate. Honor your need to take this time, Cancer. If you continue to drink while you’re still hungover, you’ll always be sick. Honor your instinct and your truth, allowing your words to be a reflection of that. Trust that you can miss nothing that is meant for you, giving yourself the gift of pausing long and hard before you commit to anything this month. September is a reset, and a chance to heighten your integrity and personal commitment to your self care. Embracing it will bring in more abundance than you could ever imagine.
Cast by Lindsay Mack using the Starchild Tarot. Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Lindsay here and follow her on Instagram.
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LEO :: LEO RISING
Nine of Swords
You are moving through the medicine of Nine of Swords this month, Leo — diving deeply into a powerful invitation to face your fears and find a sense of personal equilibrium in a time of uncertainty. Indeed, nothing in the tangible realm will necessarily be in flux, or creating an external source of fear — in other words, the fear brought up in Nine of Swords may be coming solely from your own mind, but that doesn’t make it any less legitimate. The experience can be uncomfortable, no matter what. The work you will be welcomed into this month will be to pull up a chair to your fear, invite your doubts and “what ifs” to tea. To listen to yourself, and inquire around what might be happening in your mind that you don’t necessarily want to hang out with all the time. Honoring this invitation will be a deep liberation to your spirit, empowering you to not only face what scares you, but to befriend it. Once we face a fear, it becomes an ally, one that can provide enormous strength and self compassion. Trust what it’s bringing, and allow it to really transform you this month.
Often, Nine of Swords arises in a reading when we are about to do something exciting, awesome, or expansive. The brain can get frightened of losing control over us, and can pump out all kinds of fears, doubts, terrors, “what ifs,” and nightmares, all to keep us in familiar territory. It will be crucially important to ask yourself if you are in one of those times in your life, Leo. If so, Nine of Swords is, dare I say it, a very positive card bringing a very important message for you. Face your fears, and find excitement and empowerment on the other side of the journey.
Cast by Lindsay Mack using the Starchild Tarot. Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Lindsay here and follow her on Instagram.
A TAROT PRACTICE TO HELP YOU NAVIGATE SEPTEMBER 2017
As we slip into the subtle fall energies of Virgo Season, it’s time to assess our relationship to the earth element and to our core beliefs, says Melinda Lee Holm. Let a tarot practice steer your ship as you navigate September 2017.
A shift in seasons brings profound change this month, as we celebrate personal and community connections, mirror the balance of the cosmos in our earthbound lives, and call in a strong challenge to our beliefs about what is true and eternal.
Let your deck lead the way into fall …
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:: 9/4 Labor Day- 10 of Pentacles ::
While many of us associate this day with one last beach weekend, it was created to honor the courageous men and women who organized labor. We owe our weekends, 8-hour work days, overtime laws, and restrictions on work done by children all to the Labor movement and its belief that a healthy and happy workforce is the cornerstone of a properous community.
The Tarot teaches us that the greatest form of earthly abundance is found not in a single wealthy figure, but in a wealthy society. The 10 of Pentacles represents the highest material aspirations of the minor arcana. We see a thriving community represented in three generations of citizens and two white dogs in a well-groomed city.
Only through valuing every member’s role and contribution can the health and wellbeing of all be maintained.
Calling in the 10 of Pentacles:
- Eat maple syrup on pancakes, yogurt, or oatmeal – energetically it promotes wealth and longevity
- Throw a block party or BBQ to connect with your neighbors and community
- Shop local
- Give Malachite as a gift – it’s a powerful stone of prosperity
:: 9/10 World Suicide Prevention Day- The Ace of Cups ::
The world can be a very tough place for many people, unbearably so for some. Today we actively send our love and compassion to those who are struggling and those who have been affected by suicide.
The Ace of Cups is the primal power of Water, the element of emotion. Love is the root of our human experience of emotion, and the centerpiece of the Divine gift of an emotional body. The Aces all represent the pure unadulterated state of their element, the most exalted sense of what they represent.
What could possibly be more exalted in the emotional realm than pure unconditional love for our fellow humans?
Calling in the Ace of Cups:
- Wear or carry a Rhodonite, the stone of outward-directed love and compassion
- Drink Rose tea to open and expand the heart
- Donate gently used clothing to a shelter – or better yet, sign up to volunteer!
- Check in with those you love and let them know you care
:: 9/22 Autumnal Equinox, Sun Enters Libra- Justice ::
As the days and nights equalize in length before the night begins to take over, this cosmic event triggers a shift from the productivity of summer to the harvest of fall, in preparation for the winter.
Justice teaches us that just as truth, fairness, and order, in society and law, require careful weighing of information, achieving fairness and order in the Universe requires a constant careful balancing of energies. To enjoy the long days of summer, we must survive the long nights of winter. To have stamina to be active, we must set aside time for rest.
Calling in Justice:
- Carry Tiger Eye to promote energetic balance
- Eat salty/sweet food combinations like prosciutto wrapped melon or potato chips and ice cream
- Wear mixed metals – Wearing both the silver of the moon and gold of the sun connects us to the balance of the celestial bodies that influence us most
- Donate to the ACLU
:: 9/28 Jupiter Opposition Uranus- The Tower ::
Jupiter opposition Uranus happens only once every 12 years and comes in pairs or trios due to apparent retrograde planetary motion. This is the second opposition in our series of two for 2016/17.
Expansive Jupiter in this aspect to rebellious Uranus brings periods of great change on an individual level, sometimes in sudden and uncomfortable ways. But this does not have to be a traumatic time. If we open ourselves up to radical change, we can make the most of this transit.
The Tower is generally seen as one of the most frightening cards in the deck – visually and energetically. It represents major change and teaches us to let go of ALL preconceived notions of the true nature and identity of ourselves and the world around us.
While it may be hard to see in the moment, these changes will always be in service of our highest good. We don’t usually think of The Tower as something we seek to call in intentionally, but with this transit, it is best to get ahead of the game and go with the flow of this potentially challenging aspect.
Calling in The Tower:
- Drink coffee – coffee beans are used in spellwork to clear negative thinking and assist in breaking through internal barriers
- Carry or wear Herkimer Diamond to connect to Divine wisdom and strength
- Clean your space with pine-scented cleanser, or bring pine branches into your home to promote a clean break from past beliefs and a strong fresh start
- Burn a black candle – black candles are very effective for clearing energetic blockages and can be a huge help in loosening your attachment to any of your own personal Towers that are ready to come down
Want more tarot magic? Book a session with Melinda here, and make sure to follow her on Instagram and Facebook.
THE SAGITTARIUS WAXING QUARTER MOON WANTS YOU TO EMBRACE THE LIMBO
In the aftermath of mega-transformative Eclipse Season, the Sagittarius Waxing Quarter Moon wants you to face the challenge, adapt to change, and persevere courageously, says Jennifer Racioppi. Artwork: Seana Gavin
:: Waxing Quarter Moon :: August 29 2017 :: 4:19am EST :: 6 degrees Sagittarius
The Great American Eclipse initiated one of the most powerful lunations of the year, and this week’s opening square wants you to evaluate your progress, reconcile any discomfort, and anchor into your most refreshed life vision …
Opening squares (aka Waxing Quarter Moons) happen at the halfway point between new and full moons and help you integrate (and deepen) intentions set at the time of the new moon.
This isn’t always easy, of course. Ideas and plans often don’t magically manifest without some massaging in between (especially when eclipses bring things up from the depths of the shadows, unleashing emotions and life scenarios that feel destabilizing).
This particular Waxing Quarter Moon presents an exceptional opportunity to courageously overcome challenges. Assess your conviction. Then, get grounded and brave so you can persevere and manifest.
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:: The Sun ::
With the Sun in the organized and disciplined sign of Virgo, its root word stemming from Virgin, you’re asked to return to yourself, and find your way back to humble service, clean eating, and robust self-care.
Over the next few days, the Sun in Virgo will oppose Neptune in Pisces, asking you to unleash your spiritual super powers and use them on behalf of your healing. Get organized and rooted because with even more change coming, you want to feel grounded and stable.
But most importantly, it’s a powerful time to heal …
:: The Moon ::
The Moon in freedom loving Sagittarius trines Venus in Leo, activating fire’s courage, devotion to the truth, and ability to communicate bluntly and rawly.
Now is the time to ask yourself: if I were 5% braver, what would I do? What would I say? How would I approach my life?
While Mercury continues to travel retrograde, consider the difficult questions and begin to understand where you hold yourself back. Start to connect the dots so when Mercury stations retrograde on September 5th, you are ready to move forward with a well-strategized plan of attack.
:: The Square ::
With the Sun in fastidious Virgo squaring the Moon in boisterous Sagittarius just one week after the most recent solar eclipse, all while Mercury continues to travel retrograde, it’s time for reconciliation and evaluation.
Both Sagittarius and Virgo are mutable signs that prepare you for change. In the midst of upheaval, use this conflict and halfway mark as a time to check in with how far you’ve come and recommit to your cause.
:: The Message ::
Put your feet on the ground. Breathe deep into your core. Release the fear, the anxiety, the not knowing. Feel your heartbeat, the rhythm within.
Let the Sun in earth sign Virgo help you to root. Let the Moon in fire sign Sag assist you to find your courage. And then prepare. Come the Full Moon in Pisces (next week!) you’ll understand with so much more clarity where you want to head from here.
Trust that as the galaxies work through their cycles, you move through yours. As above so below. In this time of cosmic upheaval, trust that you are being guided towards a conscious decision that will indeed take you precisely where you are meant to go.
For more Moon wisdom or to book a coaching session with Jennifer visit Jenniferracioppi.com. And to learn more about how to work with each Moon phase, check out Moon Club, our community of lunar loving cosmic change makers!
NUMINOUS WEEKLY HOROSCOPES: AUGUST 28-SEPTEMBER 3 2017
Get this week’s astro symbol for your sign in our Numinous Weekly Horoscopes from Sandra Sitron, a.k.a. Strong Eye Astrology …
Virgo :: Virgo Rising
Bottles moving along a conveyer belt. Repetition. Through continuous practice, you have the ability to refine and improve your technique. Finding ways to improve is fun for you. If you can let yourself be very present in the moment, you will find that you are totally in sync with whatever it is you need to do right now. The repetition of your efforts becomes almost like a finely tuned dance. You can become so present that it may feel as if time stops. Stay focused, grounded, and clearly dedicated to the tasks ahead.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandra here or follow her on Instagram.
Libra :: Libra Rising
Elephants running in a herd. An unseen force is operating deep within you. Become very observant. Let yourself have the time and space you need to feel the depths of emotion pull at your heart. Allowing the unnoticed emotion to come up will temper it, so that you are supported by a rush of energy instead of being trampled in a stampede of emotions.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandra here or follow her on Instagram.
Scorpio :: Scorpio Rising
Clouds that look like flowers. You are searching for new ideas. Look for inspiration everywhere. Let one idea morph into another, just as the wind pulls a cloud into an entirely different shape. Don’t become too attached to any one idea right now. Let them flow. Watch as they change and develop right before your eyes. Feel the power of your mind as you allow the fresh stream of inspiration to drift in.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandra here or follow her on Instagram.
Sagittarius :: Sagittarius Rising
Dipping water out of a well. Understand what your resources are so that you can activate them in your career. Staying aware of your resources (whether those are social, intellectual, technological, financial, emotional, or spiritual) can help you feel optimistic as you make decisions. Take time to research and organize so that you have a solid foundation as you move forward in this moment of career expansion.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandra here or follow her on Instagram.
Capricorn :: Capricorn Rising
A pig roots around, looking for truffles. It’s time to do some searching and exploring. Truffles are an expensive delicacy. What high-value reward are you searching for? Before you begin to explore, decide on your desired outcome. What is your vision? Think about what you want to achieve and how you want to feel in the process. Once you have that goal decided upon, enjoy the process of learning and expanding as you look for different ways to achieve this outcome. Be playful.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandra here or follow her on Instagram.
Aquarius :: Aquarius Rising
Reaching for another person. You have an opportunity to create deep intimacy. Intimacy can feel vulnerable because we must really learn how to trust. But once established, intimacy can be an incredible relief. When you are truly intimate, you don’t have to worry about being judged. It’s a huge energy saver. It may be time to consider how you create intimacy and if you’re ready for more.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandra here or follow her on Instagram.
Pisces :: Pisces Rising
The horizon line. A boundary. Depending on the weather, sometimes a horizon line is clearly defined, sometimes it’s hard to see. This is a moment for you to define your priorities and boundaries when it comes to relationships. Get clear. Depending on your emotional weather, this is not always the easiest thing to do. But healthy boundaries in relationships is what allows them to flourish without the hindrance of anxiety or resentment. Begin with the idea that it’s not up to you to carry emotional responsibility for anyone. Go from there.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandra here or follow her on Instagram.
Aries :: Aries Rising
A pumpkin grows in the field. Because of its large size and many seeds, the pumpkin is a symbol of plenty. Abundance. But to help along the development of this massive vegetable, the farmer must take gentle care— monitoring the soil quality, pests, and weather. Likewise, your abundance currently comes from your ability to tend to the details. Pay attention to your sleep, nutrition, exercise, organization, time management, etc. Get all of the mundane systems of your life in order so that you can enjoy a delightful harvest later on.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandra here or follow her on Instagram.
Taurus :: Taurus Rising
An alien language. You must translate something that’s far outside your field of experience. It’s time to get creative. Reach as far as you can. Expand your brain. The universal language that you can use as your Rosetta stone is Love. Begin by learning about love and you will be able to effectively translate anything that comes your way.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandra here or follow her on Instagram.
Gemini :: Gemini Rising
Lying on a raft, floating down a river. Surrendering to the flow of emotions. Surrendering to dreams and imagination. Who is your inner child who needs nurturance now? How old is that little one? Take them on an adventure in the river. Play games and tell stories. Listen. This is how you move the raft forward along the river of emotions.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandra here or follow her on Instagram.
Cancer :: Cancer Rising
Playing a game of jacks. An ancient game. Versions of it are played all around the world. Do you remember what it’s like to play just for the sheer joy of playing? In Ancient Greece, children’s games like this one used to be invented as offerings to the Gods. Elevate the act of play to a spiritual level. Make everything into a game. This practice will help you make new mental connections and lighten your mindset.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandra here or follow her on Instagram.
Leo :: Leo Rising
The very top of the mountain. Set your sights on your earthly goals. Look for the path that will lead you up to the top of the mountain. There is hard work ahead. But the work you do will help you feel more stable. Look for ways to improve your finances and resources. It’s time to climb.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandra here or follow her on Instagram.
NUMINOUS TAROTSCOPE AUGUST 24: PAGE OF WANDS
As we move out of August’s deep transformations, the Page of Wands invites us to take a breath of fresh air, tie up loose threads, and bring our passion into alignment, says Lindsay Mack.
8 REASONS WHY YOUR PERIOD IS A FEMINIST ISSUE
In the face of enormous political and social challenges to our bodies and souls, the time for period pride is right now, says Cora founder Molly Hayward. Here’s why your period is a feminist issue and how to harness the power of this change-making cycle … Main Image: Zoe Buckman
Now, more than ever, the claim to our bodies in all their messy, beautiful, real complexity is imperative.
From debates over period product ads in the subway system, to parts of the world where girls are exiled from school due to lack of sanitary supplies, our monthly life-giving cycles are in the news. Which means the time for period pride is now.
And as we reclaim the Numinous parts of the menstrual experience (consider the sky-high rise of Moon circles and Moon magic), our generation is reigniting the conversation about what our periods mean, how they can bring us together, and why we must harness their full power.
To understand the potency and potential of this change-making cycle, we sat down with founder of organic tampon subscription service Cora, Molly Hayward. Her mission? To charge the experience of womanhood with respect and reverence for our periods. “We see a world where women can live fully-embodied,” says Molly. “Your period is an essential part of human life.”
Want to reclaim your period as a feminist issue? Read on for 8 reasons why bleeding is beautifully badass …
It’s in our blood.
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1// Because moon power burns as brightly as solar power.
In a relentlessly solar-powered world with an emphasis on egocentric, “yang” action and force, the yin cycles of the Moon provide a subtle counterpoint that teaches us to value our internal processes, and our alignment with the natural world that surround us. “Our cycles are a practice in the wisdom of life/death/life,” says Hayward. “Women experience this truth every month in their bodies.”
This kind of wisdom allows us to understand how endings fuel unexpected beginnings, and how we are powerful participants in something much greater than ourselves. “[Through my cycle], I began to see myself, and all women, as the bearers of the wisdom that everything in life has a cycle,” notes Hayward. “Ideas, institutions, plants, animals, and humans, all have to die to allow for the birth of new ones. This is powerful wisdom for our society today.”
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2// Because badass boss ladies bleed.
As we tune in to these rhythms that often fly in the face of the ceaseless cult of cutthroat corporatism, we can change the way work gets done from the inside out.
When we repress our cycles and “skip” periods (using birth control pills, for example) because we believe must “keep up” with the pace of masculine career achievement or avoid discomfort in some situation (during sex, on vacation), we are voting yes to a work environment and world which thrives on gender inequality and denies our internally-facing wisdom. Periods of retreat from “go” mode can actually inform and fuel our creative process in the world.
When we bring our full bodies to the boardroom table, we can change the way that work gets done.
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3// Because period exile is an education issue.
The statistics are startling. 300 million girls and women worldwide use rags, plastic, sand, and ash to manage their menstrual cycles. 1 in 4 girls in India drops out of school once she reaches puberty. “While I was traveling in Africa,” says Hayward, “I met girls who would stay home from school during their periods because they couldn’t afford period products and then learned that millions of girls around the world stay home from school during their periods because they don’t have a way to manage them.”
With a 90% decrease in dropout rates worldwide when girls have access to sanitary products, it’s imperative that we support girls and women worldwide to bleed with dignity, safety, and adequate supplies.
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4// Because healthy bodies bleed.
Whether it’s deliberately augmenting or suppressing our cycles so we don’t have to deal with the “mess,” or obliterating our cycles entirely as the result of compromised eating habits or over-exercise, our bleeding bodies are barometers for our overall health.
“In addition to the way periods of have been negatively perceived, there are so many other aspects of women’s bodies that are shamed and stigmatized,” says Hayward. “Our mission is to bring women and society to a place of understanding, acceptance, and respect for the awesome power of our bodies.”
And as we commit to celebrating our healthy bodies, we also begin to question the harmful synthetics and chemicals that enter them through conventional sanitary products. “I hated the idea that so many women were unknowingly exposing themselves to these potentially harmful substances for several days every single month for decades of their lives,” Hayward comments.
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5// Because period sex should not be taboo.
As we move through our monthly rhythm, we have the delicious chance to connect with all aspects of our desire and nature. Each of us responds to the distinctive phases of our cycles with different moods, cravings, and sexual needs.
We deserve to feel sexual pleasure when, where, and with whom (consensually of course) we damn well please. Each month, our periods are gateways to a shifting, sensual landscape. Get curious about exactly when you’re most turned on and claim this pleasure, no matter the time of the month. Partners who love you, should love your body in its entirety.
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6// Because periods are a rite of passage.
Periods connect us to a magical, matrilineal line. They are part of both our ancestral histories, and the history of our own lives. Remember when you had your first period? Maybe you felt shame or confusion. Maybe no one was around to help you make sense of this powerful rite of passage.
Puberty, maturity, aging, the mystery and magic of both fertility and menopause … as we pass through the seasons of our lives as women, we have every right to bow down at the altar of our beautiful bodies during their complex cycles of change.
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7// Because there’s no shame in getting messy.
Ever been told that you’re “too much?” That your emotions take up too much space. That you’re unruly. That you’ve gone overboard. Our periods are part of our carnal bigness, and shame around their messiness keeps us from inhabiting our fullest range of emotions and potential.
“Periods are a natural biological fact of womanhood,” affirms Hayward. “Access to safe and healthy menstrual products is a matter of human dignity, in addition to being critical to girls’ and women’s ability to stay well, attend school, and participate in the formal economy. These things are in turn tied to our equal standing in society- not to mention being basic human rights.”
Quite simply, periods connect us to our humanness. And we deserve to be fully human.
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8// Because there’s strength in synchronicity.
More than just a college co-ed curiosity, there’s scientific proof that when we assemble in close community, we often sync up our cycles. And while each one of us can tap into the particularities of our own rhythm and our wisdom, there is powerful medicine in communal cycling. As we share the experience of being in our bodies, we share the stories of how these bodies move through the world– our overlapping wants, needs, fears, and aspirations.
Women who bleed together can change the world together.
We produced this post in partnership with Cora, a monthly subscription service for premium organic cotton tampons with BPA-free applicators that honor our bodies, while providing performance and convenience. For every subscription purchased, Cora also provides a month’s supply of sustainable pads to a girl in need in a developing country so she can stay in school during her period.
A SENSORY GUIDE TO VIRGO SEASON 2017
Virgo season 2017 is a time to lay claim to your most pristine values, and show up with utmost integrity says Bess Matassa. PLUS a solo wedding celebration for each Vesta sign … Homepage art: Lexi Kendall
Lay out your laciest lingerie, private dancers. The zodiac’s mystic mami of self-possessed sexuality invites us to bow down at the altar of our beautiful bodies in all their intricate integrity, and to delight in the divine essence of our own, solitary unfolding.
This unmarried siren of self-containment lives with fierce fealty to her internal code, and simply will not give it away for free. As she sifts, assesses, and refines, the zodiac’s everyday alchemist moves in rhythm with the world that surrounds her, working her mettle to transform her metal into 24-karat gold.
It’s a season for deciding exactly what you will stand for, and what you won’t fall for anymore, vestal vixens. Descend into your very own witchy desert land, and marry yourself to the wind and the night and the shifting sand. Wed yourself to the wildest, untamable places inside yourself. Pledge allegiance for life.
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The keyword: Integrity
The song lyrics: “I’m starting with the man in the mirror/I’m asking him to change his ways/If you want to make the world a better place/Take a look at yourself and then make a change”—Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror”
Check out Bess’ Virgo Season Playlist, complete with witchy women, singular anthems, and ladies of the canyon.
The color palette: 1970s land art and film noir: tumbled stone silvers, cameo creams, copper wheatfields, and herringbone patterns.
The style: Georgia O’Keefe’s open-air Santa Fe atelier meets Elizabethan regality—high ruffled necks, gilded patterning, buttons on sleeves, impeccable tailoring, open-toed sandals, and broad-brimmed hats.
The scents and flavors: careful concoctions, earth goddess essences, and sovereign tastes. Baguettes and subtly spiced soups, herbaceous pestos, harvest grains, dried apricots, frisée, strained labneh, and lavendar pillows.
The healing: everyday alchemy, considered corporeality, and self-governing sexuality. Food and beverage pairings, lingerie shopping, ayurveda, ritual baths, ant farms, and herb gardening.
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Sensuous Invitation of the Month: Solo Wedding Ceremonies for Your Vesta Sign
The zodiac’s unwed woman is inherently tied to asteroid Vesta, whose streamlined acts of devotion teach us how to activate singular focus and creative containment.
This month, marry yourself to exactly what lives inside of you with a solo wedding ceremony fit for a badass bride …
New to your birthchart? Discover your Vesta sign by looking at your birth year and month HERE.
Vesta in Aries
Virgo season invites you to temper some of your usual no-holds-barred aggression with more calculated maneuvers. Wedding Party: Tossing the bouquet. Strategize your leaps as you catch petals with both ease and assessment. Wedding Anthem: “You Shook Me All Night Long,” AC/DC.
Vesta in Taurus
Virgo season invites you to let your work in the world feel both pragmatic and pleasurable. Wedding Party: Cutting the cake. Let determining the contours of your feast fully fuel your self-sufficiency. Wedding Anthem: “Let’s Get it On,” Marvin Gaye.
Vesta in Gemini
Virgo season invites you to release into body knowledge and speak straight from your gut. Wedding Party: Toasting. Carefully planned words meet instinctual, emotive sharing of what lives in your heart. Wedding Anthem: “Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours),” Stevie Wonder.
Vesta in Cancer
Virgo season invites you to let your own past lives lead you home to your core beliefs. Wedding Party: Photo booth. Delight in candid, historical snaps that capture the nostalgia of this very moment. Wedding Anthem: “December 1963 (Oh What a Night),” The Four Seasons.
Vesta in Leo
Virgo season invites you to assess your creative contribution so you can fully ignite your eternal flame. Wedding Party: Conga line. Hone some structured dance moves without losing one bit of the party. Wedding Anthem: “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” Cyndi Lauper.
Vesta in Virgo
Virgo season invites you to soften your inner-critic without surrendering your high-quality standards. Wedding Party: Tailoring the gown. Cloak yourself in careful couture that’s both intricately crafted and drop-dead gorgeous. Wedding Anthem: “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It),” Beyoncé.
Vesta in Libra
Virgo season invites you to romance yourself fully without needing a partner, and fall back in love with your private dreams. Wedding Party: The honeymoon. Re-up your faith in fairytale fantasies and endlessly unfolding beauty. Wedding Anthem: “Wonderful Tonight,” Eric Clapton.
Vesta in Scorpio
Virgo season invites you to let your intensity inform your integrity as you unapologetically claim your power in the world. Wedding Party: Bachelorette Weekend. Channel the stripped-down wilding of a “don’t ask don’t tell” weekend in Vegas. Wedding Anthem: “Lady in Red,” Chris De Burgh.
Vesta in Sagittarius
Virgo season invites you to wed yourself to pure wildness and channel your intrepid inner voyager who knows no bounds. Wedding Party: Destination wedding. Channel the wide-open spaces of solo tripping. Wedding Anthem: “Footlose” Kenny Loggins.
Vesta in Capricorn
Virgo season invites you to unabashedly celebrate your desire for structures that endure. Wedding Party: White wedding. Channel long-standing traditions and regal ritual. Wedding Anthem: “At Last,” Etta James.
Vesta in Aquarius
Virgo season invites you to crack open the status quo and re-envision what it means to be committed to your cause. Wedding Party: Civil ceremony. Draw clear boundaries between church and state as you birth your humanitarian visions into being. Wedding Anthem: “Respect,” Aretha Franklin
Vesta in Pisces
Virgo season invites you to revel in your need for retreat as you get in touch with your own secret touchy-feelies. Wedding Party: Elopement. Pull a delicious disappearing act and relax into checking out. Wedding Anthem: “I’ve Had the Time of My Life,” Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes.
Bess Matassa is available for private readings and astro-themed events. Connect with her at Mojaverising.com
NUMINOUS WEEKLY HOROSCOPES: AUGUST 21-27 2017
Get this week’s astro symbol for your sign in our Numinous Weekly Horoscopes from Sandra Sitron, a.k.a. Strong Eye Astrology …
Leo :: Leo Rising
Giraffes moving across the plains. This is an active time for you. It may be time to stick your neck out for a cause. You may need to increase your movement and fluidity. Giraffe as a spirit animal brings medicine of far-reaching vision and psychic ability. Keep searching for a higher purpose or cause that can keep you moving forward. You currently have an opportunity to learn about who you are and where you are going. Look to your intuition to help you navigate as you move across the plains.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandra here or follow her on Instagram.
Virgo :: Virgo Rising
A pot of rich, hearty stew. In a stew, everything is mixed together. Have you been shouldering too much responsibility? Have you been taking it all on? It may be time to separate out what is your responsibility and what is someone else’s. Meanwhile, find ways to nourish yourself— physically, intellectually, socially and spiritually. This is your chance to connect with your higher self, strengthen your intuition, and let go of limiting unconscious beliefs. Take good care of yourself so that you can do this important work. You’ll need to feel rested and energized as you move into the more active season that lies ahead.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandra here or follow her on Instagram.
Libra :: Libra Rising
Handfuls of crystals. As you gather fragments of crystals you are symbolically gathering your sense of self. What is “self?” It may be time to ponder your image of your self, your concept of your higher self, and your vision for your future self. Another interpretation of crystals is that they can represent crystallized emotions or beliefs. As the New Moon occurs in your house of fixed beliefs, this may be an opportunity to reevaluate some of the concepts that you hold- maybe it’s time for new ideas or perspectives?
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandra here or follow her on Instagram.
Scorpio :: Scorpio Rising
A spiky hat. What are the spikes on this hat? Protection, maybe. Possibly a way to make yourself seem bigger, taller, fiercer. This New Moon occurs in your area of career and vocation. Do you need to set new boundaries in your work? Do you need to see yourself as a bigger force in your career? There is a lot of action on deck for you when it comes to work and career. Get ready to move into it with activated warrior energy.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandra here or follow her on Instagram.
Sagittarius :: Sagittarius Rising
A game of “Hungry Hungry Hippos.” Remember that old board game “Hungry, Hungry Hippos?” The hippos pop forward to eat as many marbles as possible. They are ravenous. Where is your ravenous energy coming through right now? This is a time to reinvigorate how you search, hunt, and discover. Most of this devouring energy comes through in your search for a new philosophy and meaning. You may need to travel physically or explore mentally to create a new mission statement for your next season.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandra here or follow her on Instagram.
Capricorn :: Capricorn Rising
The drawbridge is pulled up. A definitive end is arriving in some area of your life. This may be an end to an inefficient system or a chance to let go of an outdated belief. It may be time to let go of a relationship, habit, or behavior. Whatever it is that must be let go of, consciously step toward this opportunity for release. You are moving through a cycle and you must let go so that you can begin again. Allow yourself to fully feel all of the feelings that arise when letting go.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandra here or follow her on Instagram.
Aquarius :: Aquarius Rising
Folding clothes. This New Moon occurs in your area of relationships. How can you pay more attention to caring for your relationships? Folding clothes is a routine thing, we all have a certain way we do it and it can be pretty much automatic. In your relationships, what do you do automatically? What are your unconscious actions and reactions? Are those working for you? Or is it time to reset some of these automations so that you can enjoy healthier relationships? Pay attention to every potential crease in your relationships and take some time to freshen any outdated behaviors.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandra here or follow her on Instagram.
Pisces :: Pisces Rising
Trying to catch tadpoles. Scrambling. Chasing. Lots of activity. Tadpoles are a symbol of transformation. As you stretch yourself to try to get a grasp on things, remember to be patient. You’ve got a lot on your plate right now and the new development will come at the exact right moment. In the meantime, take good care of body, mind, and spirit, so that you are prepared for the next phase.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandra here or follow her on Instagram.
Aries :: Aries Rising
Deep bowls of food in a buffet. Indulge. This New Moon offers you an opportunity to reassess how you experience joy. There is a banquet of experience available to you. You can sample different varieties of mirth, fun, creativity, and expression. Remain aware of pure, true, joy. Dip in to experience it. Why is this important? Because it feeds your soul.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandra here or follow her on Instagram.
Taurus :: Taurus Rising
Tobogganing down a hill. Building momentum thanks to a reduction in friction. What are the forces that are propelling you forward? And do you feel like it’s possible to steer in the right direction? We all build momentum in one direction or another. How is your current direction feeling for you? This New Moon occurs in your area of home and family. These are important forces in our lives. Sense of family can either stabilize or confuse. Sense of home can be grounding or constricting. As an adult, you get to decide how you attend to the direction and momentum that these foundational forces are creating.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandra here or follow her on Instagram.
Gemini :: Gemini Rising
The wingspan of a hawk. You are ready for a new span of conscious awareness. It’s time to learn. Seek meaning. Seek enlightenment. Look for meaning in the micro and the macro. Soar high above your everyday difficulties to get a glimpse of the bigger picture. Devote yourself to learning more about what the truth of your world is. It’s time to expand your mindset.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandra here or follow her on Instagram.
Cancer :: Cancer Rising
Pulling cards out of a file. It may be time to sort and organize things in your life. Are you clear about how you are getting your basic needs met— food, water, shelter? If you have gone through an agitated or traumatic period in your life, this symbol can show that it is extra important to feel settled and stabilized. Take stock of what resources are available. Get the basics sorted and taken care of.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandra here or follow her on Instagram.
Supercharge your Eclipse Season transformation with a powerful virtual Astrology + Breathwork practice led by Sandra Sitron and Erin Telford. August 21 2017. Details + sign-up HERE.
THE 2017 LEO SOLAR ECLIPSE WANTS YOU TO LET LOVE DRIVE
Ready for a radical reset? The 2017 Leo Solar Eclipse wants you to drop the ego, fire up your heart space, and turn your true love into empowered action, says Sandra Sitron … Main Image: Spectra Art Space
New Moon Solar Eclipse :: August 21 2017 :: 2:30pm ET :: 28 degrees Leo
An eclipse is like a huge inhale. A complete exhale. And then stop. Hold your breath. At the next inhale it seems as if even your cells spin in a different direction.
At the next inhale everything will be different …
Eclipses are about reset. Something must be let go of. Something new must begin. The way that you recalibrate yourself now— both in your private inner world and outside in the public world, matters. The effects of this reset may not be fully felt for six more months. But the calibration is happening now.
During this Leo New Moon, the Sun and the Moon line up, as they do at every New Moon. But now they are also in direct line with the Earth. The Moon’s shadow falls over the Sun. The Sun appears darkened. The light of the core energy source is “extinguished.” In the void of light, new seeds can be planted. A new code can be written.
The Leo New Moon Solar Eclipse wants you to drop your ego and let true love shine out of your heart center.
Leo is the sign of fiery love. All fire signs take action- fire only exists in the activity of the dancing flame. Leo shows that it’s not enough to just love. It’s necessary to bring your love into action.
It’s time to put love in the driver’s seat. Go somewhere. Do something. Use ALL of the four elements to manifest change in the world. Use your words (Air element), use your action (Fire element), use your resources (Earth element), use love and prayer (Water element).
The path forward is not simple. A paradigm shift is never easy. The energy of this New Moon is high. There’s a shortage of patience and a high potential of being triggered.
You need a plan, so you can move in alignment with your intention. How do you want to act? How do you want to be? Decide how you will take care of yourself, how you will confront your beliefs, how you will take action in the coming months, and how you will follow through on this plan.
Let the calibration and reset that is available for you now be fully intentional.
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New Moon conjunct Mars
A bunny dives into a hole.
Fight or flight. The bunny flees instinctually. What do you do instinctually to keep yourself safe? Do you hide out and keep silent? Are you a fighter?
Mars brings the energy of action and aggression to this Moon. At this time of heightened fire energy make sure to keep yourself safe, but don’t let that stop you from taking action. Meanwhile, make sure to monitor your aggression.
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New Moon conjunct Mercury
A tidal wave.
We are thinking and communicating A LOT during this New Moon, and our thoughts have their own momentum, like a tidal wave. Break up the momentum by noticing the unconscious beliefs that fuel your thoughts, feelings and behaviors. It’s important to know which beliefs are running the show.
Ask yourself what belief is underneath an uncomfortable feeling. At what age did that belief get formed? Can you have compassion for the part of you that formed that belief? Can you replace the belief with a new one?
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New Moon inconjunct Chiron
Missing puzzle pieces.
This New Moon will bring opportunities to confront old wounds. Notice where you get triggered. Notice where you need to heal. It may all seem futile.
How can you solve the puzzle if pieces are missing? With enough attention, effort, and creativity nothing is impossible. Keep coming at it from different directions and you may find the healing you are looking for.
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New Moon in a Grand Trine with Uranus and Saturn
The pillars of the temple.
This aspect is the New Moon’s saving grace. We are staunchly supported by the Great Awakener Uranus who may introduce a new paradigm, and Saturn who may provide the structure to implement it.
The only danger is that too much harmony can result in complacency. Stay mindful of a tendency to think that someone else will “take care of it.” Say a prayer to invite forward positive change and deliberate integrity within yourself and within the world.
These potentials are activated. The only thing left to do is take action on them.
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The study questions below are to help you get deeper into what the 2017 Leo Solar Eclipse means for you. For the most accurate reading, look to which house holds 28 degrees of Leo in you chart and use the question for that house.
***New to your birth chart? Calculate yours for free HERE …
Aries or New Moon in the 5th house
What new creative practices will you put into action now?
Taurus or New Moon in the 4th house
Do you feel safe enough to be yourself? Why not? What do you need in order to experience more safety, comfort, and nurturing?
Gemini or New Moon in the 3rd house
What do you need to be thinking about in a new way?
Cancer or New Moon in the 2nd house
What will remind you of your self-worth?
Leo or New Moon in the 1st house
What new changes are you inviting forward?
Virgo or New Moon in the 12th house
How can you tune into your intuition this week?
Libra or New Moon in the 11th house
What can you do to build your network? Challenge yourself to take some action steps.
Scorpio or New Moon in the 10th house
What are new risks you can take in your career? What kind of expansion might taking these risks bring you?
Sagittarius or New Moon in the 9th house
What is your mission statement?
Capricorn or New Moon in the 8th house
What are you willing to release? Write it down. Burn the paper.
Aquarius or New Moon in the 7th house
How can you be more diplomatic?
Pisces or New Moon in the 6th house
What new healthy habits are you ready for?
Supercharge your eclipse season transformation with a powerful virtual Astrology + Breathwork practice led by Sandra Sitron and Erin Telford. August 21 2017. Details + sign-up HERE.
MOONERS & SHAKERS: THE MOON CLUB MEMBER PRACTICING ‘NOW AGE’ AYURVEDA
After a lifetime of health challenges, Sahara Rose was ready to get healed. Little did she know, she’d become a healer herself. Meet the Moon Club member practicing ‘Now Age’ Ayurveda that blends ancient wisdom with up-to-the-minute innovation …
Health crisis as dharma discovery …
“I suffered from chronic digestive issues and a hormonal imbalance, and no doctor could figure out the root cause. I was told it was something I would just have to deal with, and that I’d have to take multiple pharmaceutical pills to mask the symptoms.
Deciding to become my own investigator eventually brought me to Ayurveda. I became fascinated by this ancient science and ended up traveling to India to study alongside doctors and practitioners for over two years, which culminated in the publication of my first book, Idiot’s Guide to Ayurveda. Crazy! I realize now that my health issues were given to me to allow me to become a better healer.
I believe the purpose of obtaining health is so you can utilize that energy and strength to go out there and fulfill your dharma—your life’s purpose. My mission is to give people the tools they need to find their creative flow and blossom into the butterflies they already are.”
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Ayurveda is the knowledge of life …
Originating in ancient India 5000 years ago, this sister science of yoga has truly passed the test of time- it isn’t another fad diet or trend. Ayurveda literally means “the knowledge of life” in Sanskrit because in order to have health, you must have full knowledge of your life- mind, body, and spirit.
In the West, we tend to just look at symptoms isolated from one another, like a stomachache or losing your period, without looking at the bigger picture.
So many people, like myself, have jumped from one diet to the next (I’ve been raw-vegan, paleo, keto and everything in between) and Ayurveda offers a solution: there is no one diet for all people or even just you because YOU are always changing—with the season, where you are in your cycle, your environment, your stress levels, your age …
Through Ayurveda, I’ve learned how deeply everything is interconnected. As a practitioner, I ask people just as much about their dreams as I do their digestion because the two go hand-in-hand. Did you know that dreams of fleeing and flying are related to bloating, gas and constipation? Seriously, it’s crazy.
The mind and body are interconnected, and every single part of us has its own intelligence.
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When two worlds collide …
I feel like I have one foot in ancient India, one in modern Santa Monica—and I love it!
The ancient provides us with wisdom, insight, depth, and clarity. The modern provides us with technology, innovation, efficiency, and research. We need the two words to collide in order to move forward in this world with authenticity and understanding.
I’m currently working on a project with mentor Deepak Chopra to use scientific research to prove that the Ayurvedic practices like customized nutrition, yoga, and meditation are beneficial for your health. While we undoubtedly experience the benefits in our bodies, legitimizing the effects in this way can allow insurance companies to recognize them as a true source of healing.
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Follow your “bliss” body …
In Ayurveda, we don’t have one body—we have five koshas: physical, energetic, mental, intuitive, and bliss bodies. Each body is equally important and we can’t access the next unless the one before it is balanced.
I see a lot of super “spiritual” people disassociate with the physical body but this is our first home! I’m all about enjoying my physical body—feeding myself good food, ecstatic dancing, tantra, yoga, movement.
Our pranamaya kosha is our energetic body—essentially the vibes we give off. It’s our responsibility to keep our vibes high because this is the energy we are putting out in the world as we co-create our reality!
Our mental, manomaya, bodies are our construct of who we think we are. It’s the ego-created self that keeps chattering, interacts with the world, and figures out how to pay our bills. A lot of people get stuck on this one.
Our intuitive, vijnanamaya, kosha gives us our ability to pick up on things before they happen. When magical coincidences keep on occurring, that’s when we are operating from this place.
Lastly, we have anandamaya kosha- bliss bodies. Because above all, we are supposed to enjoy our time here on this planet serving our missions and experiencing life, complete with all the cool oceans and trees and things to do and people to interact with.
Life is not meant to be hard. When you’re living in your dharma, you’re in a state of bliss—even when you are working. When we’ve reached anandamaya kosha, we realize that everything in the universe has a place and all is divinely timed. We are guided on our missions and all we have to do is silence the chatters of our minds to truly listen.
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The Moon Club inspiration …
I bought my year-long subscription literally knowing nothing about it—I just knew I had to be a part of it.
Through a mutual friend, I connected with moonie Sah D’Simone and felt like he was my twin brother in a past life. Months later, through that chance encounter, I ended up at a conference where I met Deepak Chopra—which truly changed the course of my whole life …
For me, Moon Club is about like-minded souls crossing paths so we can live out our karma together. The GREATEST resource we have is each other. Each person was brought here for a reason. Each of us has so much to offer.
Friend a random person; send someone a DM and tell them you love their style; start a conversation about the universe … I’m sure that person will dig it!
Synchronicities are awaiting each of us if we just connect with one another, and Moon Club is an incredible place to start.
Sahara Rose is the best-selling author of the Idiot’s Guide to Ayurveda, a wellness blogger and host of the Highest Self Podcast. Follow her on Instagram and discover your Ayurvedic mind-body type with her free quiz.
**Want to start manifesting your own dreams? Sign up for Moon Club and join our tribe of cosmic change makers at Moonclub.co. Sahara will also be leading a virtual workshop for our Moon Club members on August 29.
GO FIRST! 7 WAYS TO LEAP INTO FEARLESS VULNERABILITY
As Leo Season builds towards its fiery Eclipse finale, don’t wait another second to make an unapologetic leap into your power. How? Simply “Go first” says Mercedes Kiss …
You see those mid-summer waves rising high in the distance and crashing to the shore, tenaciously, without apology? That’s Leo energy standing tall, asking you to meet her height, to match her show-stopping power.
If we channel Leo energy into a real-life lady goddess running through the surf, she’d look strikingly similar to the muse for this article: 90s pro vollyball phenom Gabrielle Reece. Despite practicing this ethos for a long while, the actual term “Go First” was brought to my attention most recently by Reece in her interview on The Tim Ferriss podcast.
“Go First” is a mantra to offer kindness (courageously) by harnessing our power of vulnerability (fearlessly).
Here are 7 ways to become lionesses of light, as we leap into fearless vulnerability and “Go First” …
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1// Smile because they’re there.
You see them coming from a block away … a person … walking their dog … towards you … on the same side of the street. The debate starts in your mind: Do I look away? Search my bag for a nonexistent chapstick? Fake frantically typing a text?
If it were 3,000 years ago and you were in that exact same spot, chances are strong you’d be scavenging for berries or bugs, and the sight of another human would be HALLELUJAH-RAISE-YOUR-HANDS-TO-THE-SKY glorious!
Go first instead! While you certainly shouldn’t risk your safety and maniacally pounce on said dog walker, you should certainly honor your shared humanity with eye-contact and a genuine smile, simply because they’re there.
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2// Reach out and touch (somebody’s hand).
According to research led by Apple, Americans access their smartphones 80+ times per day. But our ability to PHYSICALLY connect is fundamental to our sanity. So listen to the wise words of Diana Ross and “Reach out and touch somebody’s hand, and make this world a better place, if you can.”
Go first! At your next rooftop pool party, play a little game called “How Hard Can I Channel Miss Ross?” Stack on those sparkly bangles, slide into conversation like you’re on the Studio 54 dancefloor, and make your rounds. Reach your hand and yourself out there. Your moxie is what good parties are made of, and what people will remember.
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3// Be attracted.
Every morning we make a choice: put on the glasses with dark grey lenses that turn the world into a sad fog OR the glasses with rose-colored lenses that make the world look dayyyum fine (bonus points if they’re heart-shaped).
The latter turns us into love-machines: attracted to the spiraling Fibonacci pattern of a sunflower, the bursting-ripe tomatoes on a roadside stand, the sweat dripping down a frosty La Croix in the scorching sun, and certainly to the shy smirk of your cute waiter/waitress.
Go first! Whether you’re single (or not), extraverted (or not), share a heartfelt compliment by telling someone they have breathtaking eyes, wicked cool style, or a delightful aura. They will feel fantastic. You will feel fantastic. It’s a win-win-rocket to the karmic stratosphere!
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4// Boo boos and tattoos.
Remember when you were born? Guess what you weren’t wearing? Any makeup (much less clothing). And everyone thought you were perfect. Then, somewhere along the journey, we discovered creams and colors to shield other people from seeing us. Honestly seeing us. Joys and triumphs and hellish heartbreaks- such are the things that a full life is made of. And they are often written on our skin.
Go first! Revel in the stories your body tells. Wear the bathing-suit glimpsing at that scar; sport the sandals showing off those nine toes. Celebrate your patina in your own magical way.
Pick a day this week where you say into your mirror: “This is my face. This is my gorgeous face.” Then honor your face with some SPF, leave the rest bare, and depart. If anyone at work has the gall to ask, “Where’s the mascara?,” you’re equipped with the most powerful, two-sentence response.
5// Do I want to live in the arena?
In the words of Brené Brown, channeling Teddy Roosevelt’s “Man in the Arena” speech, “Dare greatly!”
This is no easy feat. We all feel the presence of critics in our lives- the loudest, of course, being our own internal judge. And we allow them the power to block us from our loftiest ambitions.
Go first! See the critic as nothing more than a beefed-up bouncer standing outside of the disco dance arena of your dreams. He might seem big and scary, but he’s simply a veil of smoke between you and your hottest hustle.
Throw him a polite smile as you strut on past, because the arena awaits you! Who cares if you get messy while you’re in there; you’re living loud and proud and having too much fun to hear his nonsense.
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6// A lion-hearted love letter.
Often, our deepest and truest feelings are the hardest to utter face-to-face. If we let them slip through the safe grasp of our inner world and out into the air, they have to face being accepted or rejected by someone else.
But acceptance and rejection are bi-products beyond our control! They shield us from granting our emotions full formation and clarity. Our lion heart yearns for expression above all else, and it grows stronger not through validation, but by purely being set free.
Go first! Let the cat out of the bag and put your purrs to paper. Write your truth in a lion-hearted love letter … let the pen roar without filter, suppression, or critique. It’s up to you, and not a measure of success, whether you sign, seal, and deliver this note to the object of your affection.
7// Pride #1 vs. Pride #2.
The lioness is queen of her kingdom- capable of tackling any Saharan obstacle with her singular strength. Yet she travels, hunts, and lives in prides. She knows that her greatest victories will be won with help from her fellow felines.
Go first! Ask for help. What are you struggling with at the moment (extra gold star if it’s something you thought you’d already mastered)? Seek the guidance of friends and gurus (your Pride #1), stripped free of your armor (your Pride #2).
Vulnerability is often mistaken for weakness, but turn the tables and make it a catalyst for unleashing fiercer and fiercer layers of your self!
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Mercedes Kiss is a Boston-based designer, writer, and holistic health coach. After rocking her 20s as an architect of fancy buildings, she jumped tracks and became an architect of the soul. Follow her on Instagram and discover more about A STAND OUT, her sparkly biz devoted to serving a growing tribe of babes through high-vibe articles, personalized wellness coaching, and a line of hand-crafted organic skincare.
NUMINOUS TAROTSCOPE AUGUST 17: WHEEL OF FORTUNE
The Wheel of Fortune asks for the ultimate surrender, as we approach the Great American Eclipse, says Lindsay Mack …
HOLY F*CK: HEALING THE CORPORATE WORLD WITH MICHAEL VENTURA
Think you have to drop out of the mainstream to tap into soul-deep healing? “Real world” mystic Michael Ventura chats with Alexandra Roxo about infusing the corporate landscape with cosmic creativity …
“Yes, I’d have a hard time smudging the conference rooms of some of our clients without getting some serious side-eyes, but we can ‘smudge’ in different ways … ” – Michael Ventura
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During the height of my Saturn Return at age 29, I felt like the world was caving in on me and I sought a LOT of healing assistance. Peyote. Ayuasca. Reiki. These were dark days for me, and served as my own initiation into the underworld, into becoming a healer myself, and as a woman.
When I stumbled upon Michael Ventura during this time, I had no idea what to expect. I went into this dark ad agency late at night, empty except for a treatment table and a tall bearded man.
In the years I worked with Michael, he helped heal my own relationship to masculine energy, and my grudge against the patriarchy and my own dad, in addition to giving me courage to see myself as a healer and step into that path.
Michael models something I preach about in Moon Club and aspire to myself- by day, he runs a creative agency in the “regular” world, and by night he does magical healing work on the top floor.
Through these double worlds, he’s helping to create a new world where instead of us all quitting our jobs to become healers and yoga teachers, we bring conscious healing work to all the industries that need it.
I sat down with Michael to chat empathy, healer archetypes, and changing the corporate world from the inside out …
Alexandra Roxo: You are the CEO of a creative agency that works with mega brands and you are also a healer! What are your thoughts on the different types of healer archetypes that are awakening within so many people as they bring those practices to a diversity of industries?
Michael Ventura: One of my teachers once told me, “We don’t need more monks in monasteries, we need monks in our cities.” I’ve always loved this notion and have hung onto it.
I wholeheartedly believe that as our own intuition and gifts are awakened, we have a great opportunity to help bring our full self to the communities we serve. For me, bringing myself to a board room is no different than a treatment room. I am the same person. I have the same tools in my toolbox.
Yes, I’d have a hard time smudging the conference rooms of some of our clients without getting some serious side-eyes, but we can “smudge” in different ways. With different tools. As we learn and increase our capacity to work with energy, to work with people, and to work with the elements, all of this becomes part of our daily expression of our self.
As the saying goes, “not all heroes wear capes,” and to the same effect, not all healers need candles and sandals to work their magic.
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AR: I always describe your work as energy work that combines Reiki, shamanism, and Chinese medicine. What kind of traditions and modalities did you study?
MV: I often refer to my work as “indigenous medicine.” My practice has roots in both traditional Chinese medicine as well as the Mesoamerican shamanic traditions of the Nahuatl indians.
But what’s also true is that part of my work is derived from that which is most indigenous to my own spirit. As I have refined my work over the past decade, I have come to trust my oldest, innermost voice, and to use that trust to help expand the work I offer.
Whether we are in the mountains of Peru, the river lands of China, or simply in the depths of our own spirit, there is powerful medicine waiting to teach us. We don’t always need to travel around the globe to find ourselves. Sometimes, our true self is right here beside us, waiting to open up and teach us something new.
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AR: I used to be very private about my spiritual work while working in the commercial directing space, but now I’m more open. How do you bring your energy work into the advertising world?
MV: Interestingly, what’s happened a lot over the years is that a mutual friend of mine and the client’s will come and see me for a session and then share their experience with the client in casual conversation. I often then get an email or text that says something like “I’m with so and so and they told me you do energy work. I want some!”
To me, those are great moments where worlds collide. And that’s how it should be. We are all living in a real world and have real lives and are trying to not just get by, but to thrive. If I can be of service to someone in that way, I can sleep well at night knowing I did something right with this existence.
More practically, I also find that some of the work we do for clients allows us to bring a sense of integrity, wellness, mindfulness, or simply kindness into their brand. And while some organizations just aren’t ready, I encourage our team to use those projects to help put more fuel in our collective gas tank to do more with the communities we serve. In some long karmic loop kinda way, I have to believe that it’s all worth it in the end.
AR: Do you think everyone has an inner “healer” archetype that wants to come out? Or just some of us?
MV: Everyone is a healer. 1000%. I have no doubt. It is just that many of us lose touch with – or never explore that side of – ourselves.
The capacity to heal comes from YOU. I’m just a pair of old jumper cables helping you to get your car running smoothly again. I recently read a quote from a Chinese medicine practitioner who said that he calls everyone he treats his “student.” He said that every session is an opportunity for them to learn more about themselves, for them to learn how to heal themselves. I loved this idea and think it’s absolutely true.
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AR: You’ve created a beautiful deck that displays what you call the “archetypes of empathy.” How did you create these archetypes and how do we embody them?
MV: Over the span of about 6 months, myself and a group of colleagues here at Sub Rosa (my design firm) explored behaviors that allow us to understand each other. We looked at our own habits as well as those we worked with and admired.
We started to see a variety of themes emerge. Once we felt like we had found a strong group of seven behaviors, we utilized a spectrum of questioning called the “whole self” that’s based on the chakras, among other things. These archetypes explore the physical self, the emotional self, the aspirational self, and others.
Each archetype helps us see the world from a different vantage :
The Sage: Be Present. Inhabit the here and now.
The Inquirer: Question. Interrogate assumed truths.
The Convener: Host. Anticipate the needs of others.
The Alchemist: Experiment. Test and learn at all costs.
The Confidant: Listen. Summon the ability to observe and absorb.
The Seeker: Dare. Be confident and fearless.
The Cultivator: Commit. Nurture and intentionally grow.
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AR: I’m feeling a personal move from the “alchemist” archetype (major curious human who will try anything) to something new. Do you think we move through different archetypes as we grow?
MV: Actually, I believe that all of us embody all seven of these archetypes – just not in equal measure. Some we feel very comfortable with, but others are daunting. That’s the point. The cards and the questions within them are meant to help you “limber up” a bit and stretch your perspective in order to make you a more well-rounded empath. Your desire to shift to another archetype is totally normal. You are all of them. Keep trying different ones on and you’ll see how all of the perspectives start to emerge from within yourself over time.
AR: What’s the role of self-work in your healing practice? What does being devoted to your path mean to you?
MV: In the past decade, I’ve observed that more and more people are realizing that the best service they can provide to others is to start with healing themselves. Years ago, many people would be mortified if others knew they were seeing a therapist or a Chinese doctor. People’s reactions would immediately go to “what’s wrong with them that they need someone like that.” That era is long gone and self-work is no longer taboo.
But the pendulum can also swing in the other direction. It’s not uncommon for me to hear about someone doing an ayahuasca ceremony, followed by a week of intensive Rolfing, then doing a 10-day cleanse of some kind, then this, then that. It’s important to walk the spiritual buffet line from time to time, see what’s on offer and what you’re called to, but it’s also important to commit and focus on the things that work. To go deep and not be tempted to just try the next thing that comes through the door.
For me, the balance of freedom and discipline in all of this self-work is where the real medicine resides.
Listen to Michael and I chat more on his podcast Applied Empathy, buy the cards for your next date or dinner party, and book a session with him in NYC here!
ADORNMENT AS SPIRITUAL PRACTICE: COMMUNING WITH JOY SMITH
Channeling the Divine through the decadently bejeweled, artist and mystic Joy Smith is raising the mystical-material vibration ever higher with her transformational talismans.
Sculptress and seer Joy Smith believes that adornment is an intimate conversation—between the creator, the wearer, and the Divine.
Inspired by nature’s potent mysteries, and the light of Divine beauty that resides in every being, the artist’s ethically sourced, recycled gold pieces spark an emotional exchange between the the universe and each of us.
For Smith, connection to the Divine is always available, and through our talismans we can bring our personal conversation with the heavens all the way down to Earth.
With her newly-launched Light Sessions, Smith is raising the material-mystical vibration even higher. During these custom experiences, she uses song, meditative chants, and Reiki to channel a one-of-a-kind talisman that supports your distinctive transformation and growth.
Spirit is absolutely everywhere. Why not dress her in radiant gold?
(Hint: Start decking out your Divine with some inspo from Joy’s jewel-drenched Instagram feed!)
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Ruby Warrington: What are your own personal talismans?
Joy Smith: I wear pieces according to what I need—so I can beam my light out everywhere. I have different pieces that embody different feelings for me.
For example, I have a custom piece I made for myself that’s super special. In Milan, on a retreat with Deborah Hanekamp, we hiked to a pagan ritual place, where I found what looked like a piece of a ceramic vessel glinting in the grass. I could feel that it was infused with a spirit that wanted to help me with my healing work, and so I set it into a ring, which I wear when I’m creating pieces, and during my Light Sessions.
Even talking about it takes me back to that place. In the future, I’d like to go on pilgrimages to sacred sites to source similar pieces as part of my work.
RW: Your pieces have a strong spiritual essence. What’s your relationship to organized religion?
JS: The dogma of different religions can get messy, but the essence of spirit is what’s precious to me. I connect to the idea of the Holy Spirit, which I think of as our connection to the Divine—the spirit in us. My work is about activating that in others. I’m also super interested in world religions. I see the common thread and that’s fascinating to me. All the stories are the same, just different characters.
Having grown up Catholic, I still connect deeply to the iconography. I see the etchings in my designs as radiating light, and my goal is to elicit the idea of “heaven,” which I define simply as the place where great spirit lives … bliss.
RW: What do you see as the intersection between spirituality, craftsmanship, and art?
JS: I never thought I’d make jewelry. I knew I loved art history, and wanted to be a painter. I also connected to artists, as I felt they were connected to something spiritual with their work. I wanted that connection to come through in my work, too. I also love fashion because I see the spirit of the designer in it. It’s like art to me.
I fell into jewelry through the sculpture of making it. I initially wanted to be a fine painter, but didn’t think I was good enough and I couldn’t relay my message effectively at that time in that medium. Now, I express myself spiritually through my pieces as they relate to how I feel on the inside. I want them to be infused with feelings of beauty and light, and for this to be reflected in how I adorn myself on the outside.
I believe God, spirit, etc., created us as an expression of the beauty of the Divine. I make it a point to meditate and pray before I make my work. When we work in this way as creators, that’s spirituality to me.
RW: What do the concepts of God and the Divine mean to you?
JS: I believe God and the Divine are forms of the highest spirit, a spirit greater than ourselves that also lives within us and is part of us. That guides and protects us and loves us unconditionally. Neither are religious terms for me- I see them as a universal Spirit.
My own spiritual breakthrough came in my early twenties, when I had a very severe panic attack, and found myself debilitated by anxiety. My first teacher asked about my spiritual practice, and she gave me my first spiritual book, Marianne Williamson’s A Return to Prayer. I still read it every day. It helped me remember how to pray—how to connect to God—in a spiritual way.
RW: “Light Language” is such a glorious phrase—tell us about learning to speak this language, and how clients experience it during your “Light Sessions.”
JS: “Light Language” is how I describe my conversation with the divine, something that comes out in channeled melodies, or prayer. The term came to me via my guides during an Akashic records reading—and this really is how I feel about my conversations with God. The Light Language also comes through as automatic writing, which I carve into my talismans and artwork.
I came up with the Light Sessions since my work can be very solitary and I knew I wanted to connect with people on a deeper level. And my Light Language becomes vocal, as if I’m speaking in tongues, during one-to-one with my clients. I see it as the language of love, as expressed in my creations.
The Light Sessions are about channeling creations for transformation. We talk about stones and the style of the piece, and then my clients give me their intention and lay on my table, and I’ll either sing melodies of prayer or do Reiki and channel messages that come to me.
Afterwards, we create an intention candle together and they go home with their candle to pray / meditate with their intention in mind, and I go home and channel that energy while creating the piece for transformation. The plan is to also make this available to couples as a custom ring engagement ceremony.
RW: Who is the “Communion Woman”?
JS: Women who wear my jewelry have a strong sense of self. The common thread is that they have a connection to spirit, and that they’re all powerful in their own right. A lot of my clients have often been through a lot emotionally.
Having experienced challenges in their lives, they have been led to work on themselves spiritually, in order to connect more deeply to themselves and to the Divine. They’ve already found this connection, and want to explore more deeply what it means for their lives. A lot of their work is in service of the greater good. They have that depth.
Discover more about Communion by Joy’s sumptuously sacred jewels HERE, and book a custom Light Session with Smith in LA.
