The 10 of Wands wants you to get gutsy, trust your intuitive hits, and then spark up your fullest fires and take action, says Melinda Lee Holm …
Month: April 2018
HOW BODY POSITIVITY CAN UNLOCK YOUR INTUITION
After a lifetime of food issues, Jillian Murphy discovered that living fully in her own skin was the key to her magic. She shares how body positivity can unlock your intuition …
“Before you can hear, much less follow, the voice of your soul, you have to win back your body.” – Meggan Watterson
I remember the day I first abandoned my body.
I was 8 years old and visiting the mysterious temple my mother escaped to every evening when my dad got home from work—she called this evasive place of worship “the gym.” It was a Saturday open house and I was an immediate convert. The place was magical – dusty rose carpet, slick chrome and mirrors, George Michael pumping through the speakers, and LYCRA. So much lycra! (It was the 80s, k?)
I could tell right away that this was the place for me—a space of transformation, potential, and movie-worthy —this was a place where life happened. I grabbed a pop and a hotdog and then I naively hopped up on the scale where they were weighing everyone. And that’s where “It” got me.
As I scarfed my lunch, the two staff members in charge of weighing me began sniggering. Whispering about something clearly “adding 5 pounds” while looking at my body.
I wasn’t exactly sure what was going on but I knew the joke was on me. And I knew it was bad. Bad enough to remember but never ever talk about, until 25 years later, when I finally started to heal my relationship with food and with my own shape and size.
>>>
Coming face to face with “it” …
“It” is not that creepy clown from the Stephen King movie you’re picturing. No, no, the “It” I speak of is much worse—its name is diet culture and it spews a thin-is-best, fatphobic, classist, able-ist, racist, gender-biased rhetoric where the gold standard of beauty, body, and more recently “wellness,” is blatantly clear, objectively unhealthy, and unavailable to most.
Beyond the gym, there were many other moments when “It” got me, some that obvious, highlighted in Technicolor and frozen in time—a mental photo album created to prove my lack—while others were so subtle I internalized them without realizing, recognizing the damage only in hindsight.
From health messaging at school and dieting advice from teen magazines, to negative looks from boys and the admiration of “beautiful” girls in front of me, the signs were everywhere.
Once, I remember hearing an older male cousin condescendingly laugh about the shape of a specific woman – stating that “to be attractive to men your shoulders needed to be at least “X”cm wider than your waist. Though I thought it harsh, I internalized the comment as though it were about me. In a diet culture with rigid beauty ideals, no woman is left unscathed.
Everywhere, the message I absorbed was: you are not good enough. More specifically: your body is not good enough.
Even more specifically: your body is not good enough and, as a female, it’s your personal responsibility to take charge of your weight and beauty and behavior and do what it takes until you fit the ideal lest you remain unworthy forever. Also, hot sticks of processed meat are un-ladylike.
>>>
Your intuition lives in your flesh …
It might look like a criticism, a comment, a side-eye (sometimes much worse), and it makes you gasp, the foul gas of “you’re not good enough” filling your lungs and seeping into your tissues. From that day on, the myth of diet culture is no longer just a story around you, it is a story about you.
You disconnect. You abandon your physical self. You override your female knowing that your curvy, lumpy, bumpy body is beautiful and normal and you do your best to crush the voice that says “I’m hungry” or “carbs would be nice” because that voice is clearly an idiot that doesn’t know bikini season is coming up.
The result? Food issues, yes. But diet culture doesn’t just destroy our relationship with food and distort our body image—it separates us from the most powerful ally we have—our inner knowing.
Your intuition lives in your flesh and speaks to you through your body. She is nourished by pleasure, abundance, approval, and desire.
When she has been dampened and starved into submission, you are left living a storyline that keeps you doubtful, unsteady, competitive, and unsure. An ideal that keeps you distracted from your most important work in the world and suggests your worth is up for debate.
>>>
Amplify the whisper …
When we discourage (read: flat out ignore) the whisper of biological feedback that tells us we need more calories or carbs or a day of rest—we simultaneously diminish the whisper that helps us discern and decide in all areas of our lives.
These whispers are one in the same. Learning to hear and trust the signals from our very intelligent, self-regulating, female appetites is a super-powered short cut, reconnecting us to our broader inner knowing. It amplifies the whisper.
I lost so much time sacrificing my wellbeing and connection to self in the pursuit of worthiness via weight loss and superficial beauty. I made bad decisions. I was distracted. I lost time. I learned slowly that, in order to write a new storyline for myself, I would need the power of my intuition and that the first step in rebuilding a connection with my soul voice was winning back my body.
>>>
Here’s how to start amplifying the whisper and winning back your own body …
1// Give up the pursuit of weight-loss. The pursuit of weight loss is THE thing that disconnects us and keep us looking outside of ourselves for shoddy solutions. Weight-loss attempts fail over 90% of the time, long-term, and the collateral damage is your relationship with food and your connection to your inner knowing. Start by pretending that you aren’t in control of your weight (because you really aren’t) and that your only goal is to feel vibrant and energetic and joyful in your body.
2// Counter the deprivation narrative. Tuning into our hunger and reliably feeding our bodies is the first step in repairing the collateral damage of deprivation and moving towards a more intuitive relationship with food.
Start the process of consistent nourishment by connecting with your hunger signals. See if you can rate your hunger on a scale of 0-10 (0 = not hungry at all, 10 = “hungry,” low blood sugar, shaky). Can you notice the subtle differences between a 4 and a 7, or do you regularly swing from overstuffed to starving?
3//Discover your delicious. The basics when it comes to nutrition and movement have been well understood and unchanging for generations – move your body regularly, get fresh air, drink water, eat lots of plants and unprocessed foods – not too little, not too much, and honor your mental/emotional need for pleasurable, celebratory foods.
Now, from this magical place—without all the rigid rules, “shoulds”, and fears—what do you feel like eating? How do you feel like eating it? How do you want to move your body and for how long?
*Note: There is a good chance you have NO IDEA. Start by asking the questions and experimenting. Follow your curiosity and see how it goes—maybe you hate plain raw carrots but you love them roasted or with dip (Hot tip: DIP IS DELICIOUS). Allow yourself to try new things and neutrally observe how your body feels.
4// Fully live with the beautiful bod you’ve got. When your physical appearance stops representing your entire worth and is, instead, just a fun outward expression of your personality, the game changes. Start living the life you aspire to have when you are in the perfect body and watch the shift!
Make a list of all the activities you are waiting to do when you lose the weight, get more toned, have your nose fixed, are more perfect, etc. Make the list as exhaustive as possible. Next step? Start doing all of those things IMMEDIATELY. Wear the red lipstick, rock the shorts, eat the gelato, show your navel, go on the date, try the tap class, climb a mountain, go back to school. Do it all!
Dr. Jillian Murphy is a registered, licensed Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine. She has dedicated the past 8 years to studying intuitive eating and body image, and works with diverse, smart, health-conscious, women who are DONE WITH DIETING, and looking to get out of their heads and re-connect with their bodies. Follow her on Instagram, listen for more wisdom on her Podcast, and join The Food Freedom/Body Love Collective, her monthly membership space that provides you with the tools, strategies, support, and community you need to live healthfully in the body you are IN!
10 REASONS TO CELEBRATE YOUR SATURN RETURN
Yes, really! Your Saturn Return is a GIFT, says Sandra Sitron. Here’s how to work with this cosmic rite of passage …
Yikes, the dreaded Saturn Return. The moment in our lives when Saturn, the karmic task-master, returns to the same place it shows up in our birth chart—often bringing with it an epicccccc cosmic wake-up call.
Like an SAT test from the Universe, we experience a Saturn Return at ages 27—29, and ages 54—58—a.k.a. your classic quarter and mid-life crisis years! Depending how aligned we are with our true path, and where saturn is in our birth chart, this can a period of deep, dark existential self-enquiry—often accompanied by game-changing life events.
But the good news is our Saturn Return ALWAYS brings huge opportunity for personal growth—particularly when it comes to getting us back on track with our SOUL PURPOSE.
Which is why our resident astrologer Sandra Sitron has teamed up with transformational coach Dana Bilicki to create the SATURN RETURN WORKSHOP! A 7-week digital deep-dive designed to help you understand and work with the unique gifts of your Saturn Return, this is a MUST—whether you’re in the thick of it, have a Saturn Return around the corner, or want to make sense of your Saturn Return as the lessons have played out over the years.
To give you a taster, Sandra has 10 Reasons to Celebrate Your Saturn Return (below) … She’ll also be hosting a FREE live webinar on how to navigate your “cosmic rite of passage” on 4/11 at 2pm EST. Click HERE to register!
You learn not to care (as much) about what other people think.
Everyone says that after the age of 30 you just don’t care as much what other people think, and astrologers often attribute this to your Saturn Return. The changes that happen during this time help you stand up a little bit straighter and feel a little more confident (btw, Saturn rules the spine). The growth that happens during this phase teaches you that your worth comes from within and it doesn’t matter what other people think. All that matters is your own self-respect.
You learn not to compare yourself to others.
Saturn teaches us that everyone has their own timeframe and their own unique goals. Events may happen at the Saturn Return that are unexpected and cause you to reassess. Things start to look less black and white. This offers an amazing chance to switch into a new paradigm and take yourself out of the old habit of comparing yourself to your classmates at school. Surprisingly Saturn, the stern, authoritative teacher, can help you become more gentle with yourself, by reminding you that life is complicated and everything is not as it seems. There’s no reason for comparison.
You start to think about time differently.
Instead of feeling like you have to have it all sorted out by age 30, you discover that there’s actually way more time. Some people report feeling way younger after their Saturn Return than they did when they were 29. Saturn encourages you to age gracefully and enjoy your golden years. Once you pass your first Saturn Return, you realize you’ve got more time than you thought to experiment, goof-off and explore.
You become more aware of your thought patterns (a.k.a. self-limiting beliefs).
We rely a variety of “false” beliefs when we’re kids, because we just don’t have all the facts yet. For example a kid whose parents got divorced may think she caused the split, so as a result she may decide “I’m not good / lovable enough.” Of course, from an adult perspective, that’s not what happened at all. But the child can subconsciously hold onto that “false” belief for years. Luckily, the Saturn Return brings an extra dose of logic and maturity, helping you become more aware of these kinds of harmful thought patterns. The transit is the perfect time to upgrade to a healthier way of thinking.
You become more aware of your coping mechanisms.
In the same way Saturn helps reveal the honest truth of how you are thinking about things, Saturn also shows you what habits keep you from feeling all your feelings. Most of us have got something we reach for when the going gets tough: food, alcohol, drugs, sex, work, shopping, video games, etc … Sometimes, these compulsive actions are so effective we don’t even realize we’re using them to shield us from our true emotions. But at the Saturn Return, coping mechanisms either stop being as effective, or they become more uncomfortable. And this is definitely something to celebrate, because now you get a chance to ask yourself: “am I sad? am I lonely? am I angry?” And begin to work out why. It might be difficult to feel those tough emotions initially, but with practice honoring your emotions will free up a ton of energy!
You get to be the boss.
At your Saturn Return, you start to see yourself as more of an authority. Maybe you become more of an expert in your field, a manager at work, or a parent at home. But even if you don’t actually become an authority in the most obvious sense, you certainly start to feel more of a sense of authority come from within. You start to trust yourself more.
It’s your cosmic rite of passage.
And as such, for many people, the Saturn Return can bring in big life events that help you grow up real fast. Some people solidify a relationship (marriage, moving in together.) Some get their first solo, grown-up apartment. Some have a kid or take a step up the ladder at work. Saturn teaches about progress, so it definitely makes sense that you could reach a new milestone at this time.
You learn the value of hard work.
Saturn, that scrupulous cosmic teacher, is pushing you to buckle down and get to work. So you do. You dig in. In some area of your life you push yourself. And if you do the work, rest assured, it WILL pay off. Saturn rewards effort. Sometimes during the Saturn Return it feels like you’re banging your head against the wall. But that’s a mirage. Eventually, this effort pays off. You may also notice that you start showing up on time more at your Saturn Return. You might find that you volunteer for a leadership or management role. This is definitely the primo moment for the Universe to give you more responsibility, and this will undoubtedly result in a sense of pride and accomplishment. Definitely worth celebrating!
You end up with more energy.
One of the best thing to celebrate about your Saturn Return! All of the changes during this transit are designed to help you clear out the parts of your life that are no longer efficient. Unnecessary beliefs, behaviors, patterns, relationships, commitments—anything that’s taking up too much energy has got to go! Freeing you to come out the other side with more energy to live your purpose.
Goals, goals, goals …
The confidence that you’re building at your Saturn Return helps you think about your trajectory in a more clear-cut way than you may have before. You may become even more directed and better at planning than you were before. This is definitely a benefit that usually rides the tail of your Saturn Return. Your return is meant to help you steady yourself, trust yourself and know yourself better. When it’s over it’s that much easier to set workable goals for the ideal future that you desire.
Got questions about your Saturn Return? Don’t forget to join Sandra and Dana for their FREE LIVE webinar Wednesday April 11 at 2pm EST! Click HERE to register!
NUMINOUS WEEKLY HOROSCOPES: APRIL 9-15 2018
What’s this week’s cosmic symbol for your sign? Check out our Numinous weekly horoscopes from Sandy Sitron …
Aries // Aries Rising
Spools of thread and ribbon. It’s time to make something new. A new creation can be a risk. Determine where you are ready to take a risk and go for it. It will help you feel reborn. You’ll see yourself in a new way. You can decorate yourself and even expand upon a new persona. Use your spontaneous sense of creativity as a guide and have fun.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandy here or follow her on Instagram.
Taurus // Taurus Rising
Hidden crystals. You can find a way to go deeper in. Way down underneath the layers of your body and into the center of your heart. You might have to slow down a lot to do this. If you’ve been craving new structure, a new plan, a new way— you’ll find it by going inward. Get some good solid alone time and listen to your heart.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandy here or follow her on Instagram.
Gemini // Gemini Rising
Puffy clouds. Look for a new way of thinking to help you break through. Use your imagination. Have you been actively doing that lately? Do you remember what imagination is? It will take you up to a new jet stream of consciousness. If you’re looking for innovation in any area of your life, your imagination will lead you there.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandy here or follow her on Instagram.
Cancer // Cancer Rising
A dolphin swims right below the surface. It’s waiting to come up for air and leap out of its environment. You may also be leaping out of your environment. Focus on setting new intentions for your career so that you can have more fun. This is your time to change it up. Be intentional about how you want to leap. Make a plan.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandy here or follow her on Instagram.
Leo // Leo Rising
A blade of grass. Usually a blade of grass is one amongst many. But this is the one that got singled out. Are you ready to be singled out? It will work best if you believe in yourself. If you understand that your story resonates with many other people in the world. You’re not alone so you don’t have to feel isolated on the hard days. But you can be a leader if you want to be.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandy here or follow her on Instagram.
Virgo // Virgo Rising
Scratching words in the sand. Whatever you write in the sand will be washed away soon. Nothing is permanent. If you try to hold on tightly, you’ll get stuck. Don’t get stuck. Perfectionism can keep you on lock down. Self criticism will lead you no where. Take risks because everything is always changing.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandy here or follow her on Instagram.
Libra // Libra Rising
Making pies, rolling out the dough. Follow a recipe in your relationships. Form your actions and communications consciously. Map out simple steps that help you process your feelings in your relationships, so that no emotion gets stuck or stagnant. Keep it fresh. Follow the steps of communication that work well. Then put your relationship in the oven and let it bake without worrying or overthinking.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandy here or follow her on Instagram.
Scorpio // Scorpio Rising
A waterfall. A waterfall is inspiring, but on a practical level it’s pretty mundane. It’s just water and gravity meeting together. What simple habit are you ready to begin that could end up inspiring you profoundly? A daily practice of gratitude will help you feel cleansed. A meditation routine may break you open. Find the practice that’s right for you.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandy here or follow her on Instagram.
Sagittarius // Sagittarius Rising
A spider in a web. Although spider can be intimidating, she is the great weaver. This symbol is about your creative energy. If it doesn’t light up your creativity, is it worth it? You are driven by meaning, purpose and higher learning. Keep your eye on the bigger goal, but use the fire of creativity and self-expression as the catalyst that helps keep you going.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandy here or follow her on Instagram.
Capricorn // Capricorn Rising
A penguin in Antarctica. This is a dedicated animal, spending its entire life working for its offspring, devoting itself to family. It’s time for you to nurture. Nurture your inner child or nurture someone in your family. Love. Go inward and feel all the feelings. Don’t move forward from here without setting new intentions for how you want to love yourself and others.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandy here or follow her on Instagram.
Aquarius // Aquarius Rising
Playing checkers. You’re making moves. The outcome depends on if you are seeing the whole picture. You may need to study the board. Take time to learn, don’t just go through the motions. Get curious. You may need to take a class or expand your mind so that you feel good about your next move.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandy here or follow her on Instagram.
Pisces // Pisces Rising
Holding out your hand. It’s time for you to receive. Don’t block this. You deserve to feel abundant and flourish. What’s your history with receiving? Are you comfortable with just being and allowing? This isn’t about laziness, this is about trust. Hold out your hand and be patient. In the meantime appreciate where you are now and be present.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandy here or follow her on Instagram.
THE CAPRICORN WANING MOON WANTS YOU TO TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR TRANSFORMATION
The sobering glow of the Capricorn Waning Moon asks us to befriend our shadow side, release addictive patterning, and align with our highest destiny, says Jennifer Racioppi …
Waning Quarter Moon // April 8 2018 // 3:17am EST // 18 degrees Capricorn
Are you ready to take charge of your transformation?
Next week’s New Moon in Aries offers tremendous potential to blast off in new directions. As we build towards this energy, the Capricorn Waning Moon asks us to release our shadow and get ready to open up to all this new potential.
First, we’ve got to assess what’s no longer needed. Conjoining Pluto, this Moon urges us to befriend denied aspects of Self and surrender the extra baggage.
With Mercury in the midst of his retrograde journey, use this Waning Moon to get clear on what no longer works for you! Release what stands in the way of creating what you desire.
Look for what’s coming to completion and make a choice …
>>>
//The Cycle//
This Moon harkens all the way back to the New Moon in Capricorn on January 9, 2016. Think back to the intentions you set at the start of 2016. What’s culminating now that correlates with the beginning of the new year in 2016? What did you manifest then that you no longer need now?
Intentions often take an extended gestation period, and aspects of life coming to fruition now may correlate to this New Moon from over two years ago. Simultaneously, it’s essential to release what you no longer need (whether you consciously want to or not), to make room for a new level of maturity that’s emerging.
>>>
// The Transits //
With Saturn, Mars, the Moon, and Pluto all conjoined in Capricorn, this powerful combination puts pressure on you to befriend the truth and let go of addictions. Saturn represents purpose, Mars action, the Moon emotional needs, and Pluto represents shadow. Look at lies and addictions with clarity.
Luckily, Jupiter, the planet of growth and abundance forms a productive and supportive sextile to the Moon in Capricorn, signifying that good luck comes in the form of honesty!
>>>
// The Square //
With the Moon traveling through work-oriented and ambitious Capricorn while squaring the Sun in assertive Aries, now’s not the time to resist change.
This Capricorn Waning Moon has the power to not only reveal secrets but to also disintegrate shame in the process. With the Moon conjoining Pluto and squaring the Sun, the ego not only has to confront issues it’d prefer to avoid, but simultaneously needs to integrate learnings.
*Warning: this tough medicine requires you to participate in your transformation. The good news though is that Jupiter is there to support you!
>>>
// The Opportunity //
This Waning Moon offers up tough love, and asks us to release any blocks that hold us back from thoroughly enjoying our success.
Look to addictions and get honest about what you no longer need. Consciously think positive thoughts, get rip-roaring clear on what you need to release, and align your mind with your highest destiny!
*Want to celebrate this Waning Moon’s clarity and consciousness, Numi style? Join us this Sunday, April 8th for Moonrise Kindom, a one-day urban retreat dedicated to deep connection and conscious un-cocktailing!
And for more Moon wisdom, or to book a coaching session with Jennifer, visit Jenniferracioppi.com.
NUMINOUS TAROTSCOPE APRIL 5 2018: 2 OF CRYSTALS
The Two of Crystals (Pentacles) asks us to ground down, hone our focus, and plan to build it beautiful, says Melinda Lee Holm …
THE BEST RED LIPS FOR ARIES SEASON
Want to ignite your Aries season with sustainable fire? Eunice Lucero reveals the best red lips to power up for a consciously gorgeous month ahead …
We’re in the full flow of Aries season, Numiverse! A.k.a. the only time when red means anything but “stop,” urging us to get in gear to fulfill our goals for the astrological new year ahead.
We’re paying homage to the month of the ram with a roundup of pure, sustainable, and purposeful lipsticks and balms guaranteed to fire you up and get your point across—all in the sign’s signature power color, of course.
**Bonus: We’ve paired each look up with a natal Aries planet! But regardless of your personal planets, read on to get your red on …
>>>
1// Sun in Aries: RMS Beauty Wild With Desire Lipstick in Firestarter (fiery red orange), $28. Feeling hot, hot, hot? Naturally, and with good reason: This certified organic feisty red orange has a luxe satiny finish, perfect for getting your word out in style. Its wildcrafted ingredients also speak to the unbridled passion and ambition you have coursing through your veins.
>>>
2//Moon in Aries: Burt’s Bees Satin Lipstick in Ruby Ripple (jewel toned ruby red), $9. Your feelings have an unmatched emotional pull, so why not gift them with the powerful vessel they deserve? Voice it out and gild those lips in a deep, moody, gem-inspired red fit for a goddess, in a formula that’s 100% percent natural and provides 8-hour moisture. #NoCompromises
>>>
3//Aries Rising: Axiology Natural Organic Lipstick in True (classic vermillion red), $30. Your Aries Rising definitely loves making a loud-and-proud statement. A classic true red lippie is the most straightforward accessory for your passionate, goal-oriented personality—and one that’s 100% vegan and natural, and cruelty-, palm oil- and gluten-free is a rare bullet we can get behind.
>>>
4//Mercury in Aries: Beautycounter Red Color Intense Lipstick (creamy medium orange red), $34. There’s no risk of misunderstanding what you say, as your message is potent and your communication style direct AF! This already-ethical, safety-first brand takes it one step further with a lipstick that’s a call to arms for Congress: the anniversary edition bullet supports Beautycounter’s cry for better health laws for the personal care industry.
>>>
5//Venus in Aries: Lune+Aster PowerLips Quickstick in Date Night (deep neutral red), $24. A romantic who never shies away from your passions, you also know that the sexiest aesthetic touches always include a bit of spice. A dark neutral red in a vegan, paraben-free infusion, inspired by modern go-getters (“Date Night”’s muse is Cameron Hardesty, head of merchandising at Urbanstems) expresses your business-always-meets-pleasure credo—in a handy stick formula, no less.
>>>
6//Mars in Aries: Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Lipstick in Aries, $26. You’re feelin’ yourself this month, and those enthusiastic sparks of creativity are no coincidence. Blessed with intense physical energy and a headstrong drive to go with it, pity the toxic soul that dares to stand in your dreams’ way. No holds barred here: this all-natural, bespoke fiery red orange stick is totally on-brand for winners like you.
>>>
7//Jupiter in Aries: Aveda Feed My Lips ™ Pure Nourish-Mint ™ Lipstick in Goji (vibrant red), $24. Born leaders like you need no introduction, but a bright, inspiring red can’t hurt the case, right? Whether it’s life-coaching or putting up a new business, give that positive, entrepreneurial spirit a boost with cosmetics that echo your innate optimism and transparency, like a 95% naturally derived lipstick chock-full of organic botanicals.
>>>
8//Uranus in Aries: French Girl Organics Le Lip Tint in Terre Rouge (terracotta red with a copper sheen), $16. That crazy-electric burst of inspo in the middle of the night? Yeah, you’re ready to put that into action very soon, and nothing can stand in your way … most especially a fussy routine. You’re resourceful and energetic, so a sheer, wear-anywhere tint (made of pure organic essential oils, shea butter and natural oxides, natch) is just the low-maintenance glam you need to fit your frenetic, boho-chic vibe.
>>>
9//Saturn in Aries: Ecco Bella Flowercolor Lipstick in Claret Rose (shimmery red-brown), $21.95. No lip service for you! Capable and confident, you demand clear-cut results and not just blind action—which is why a clean, no-nasty formula in a work/play hue of reddish brown is just the thing. We love the smooth, creamy payoff we get from this vegan, naturally-preserved and gluten-, petroleum- and fragrance-free lippie.
>>>
10//Neptune in Aries: 100 Percent Pure Fruit Pigmented ® Lip Glaze in Pomegranate (deep pinky red), $26. Not everyone can get away with inspired conviction without getting the dreaded roll-eye, but you do with ease and a trademark shimmery charisma. Not only is this semi-sheer, romantic berry red shade vegan and fruit-pigmented, it’s a unique red that’s as nuanced as your visionary beliefs too.
>>>
11//Pluto in Aries: MAC Viva Glam Sia (warm, matte vivid red), $17.50. You’re all about the power of change and transformation, whether brought on by an unapologetically sexual red lip, devoting yourself to a higher calling, or supporting a cause to kill off a stigma. Either way, this is the iconic pick that checks all those Plutonian boxes.
>>>
12//Chiron in Aries: Ilia Lipstick in Perfect Day (soft, warm coral red), $26. Although going easy on yourself is oftentimes easier said than done, it pays to remember that you are not only enough—you’re downright awesome, perceived flaws be damned! A flattering, gentle coral red helps put you in the best light whenever you need a quick ego lift; its clean, organic ingredients also offer up a guilt-free swipe.
APRIL GODDESS GUIDE: OSTARA
With the cosmos bursting into Spring bloom, it’s prime time for channeling Ostara, says Rebecca Farrar. Find out where you’re ready for renewal, with her April Goddess Guide …
Ostara, aka Spring Equinox in the Pagan tradition, is named after the Germanic goddess of spring, fertility, and the dawn. Also spelled Eostre, which is where our words for “East” and “Easter” both come from, her name means “to shine.”
And while Ostara and the zodiac sign Aries come from different traditions, her symbolism has become intertwined with Spring renewal practices in the West, and both archetypes help us welcome the new season with gusto. One myth recounts that Ostara found a bird dying from the cold and changed it to a rabbit to keep it warm (Easter bunny anyone?)
Astrologically, Ostara is currently hanging out at one-degree Sagittarius, offering regrowth that expands our current sense of vision. She’ll be retrograding through July 9th back through Scorpio and joining Jupiter, reminding us that the shadow aspects of ourselves still need digging before our new story can fully emerge.
In our personal natal chart Ostara represents where and how we are renewed. In the shadow expression, she may represent the places we avoid darkness or shadow in favor of new beginnings.
As a harbinger of spring, she is a pioneer who welcomes us into the dawning of ourselves personally and collectively.
>>>
Find out where you’re ready for personal renewal, rebirth, or even perhaps a full-blown reboot …
**To find Ostara in your chart, go to astro.com, enter your birth information, choose “Extended Chart Selection,” scroll down to “Additional Asteroids,” and type in 343.
PRO-TIP: If the asteroid is next to your Sun, Moon, Rising, or Midheaven, the archetypal energy of renewal and “dawning” will take on an even more potent, personal meaning for you.
1st house// Take time to explore or revisit your personal mission or create a new exercise/physical health routine.
2nd house// Finances, a sense of security, or earning power may require you to reshape your goals.
3rd house// Learning and education are emphasized- try out a new class, perhaps one related Spring themes.
4th house// Work with ancestors, heritage or emotional inner security as a way to revitalize your family connections.
5th house// Find a renewed desire towards your personal creativity or even performing in the spotlight.
6th house// Adjusting day-to-day habits and routines can help you find a personal sense of rebirth.
7th house// Be on the lookout for new business partnerships or perhaps revamp your love life by seeing it with new eyes.
8th house// During a season with fewer inward hours, vulnerability could offer a new way to access your depths.
9th house// Plan a trip, or explore other ways to find renewal by creating a sense of adventure.
10th house// Your “legacy” may take on a new meaning during this phase- explore it by finding common threads between all of your skills and talents.
11th house// Feeling stuck around a sense of community may invite you to dive into new groups or alternative networks.
12th house// Try a new meditation or explore playing instruments to access flow-state potential for a much needed rejuvenation.
>>>
And no matter where the asteroid is in your chart, here are ways to work with Ostara this Aries Season … (I for one will most likely be listening to Celene Dion’s “A New Day” on repeat while eating eggs!)
// Style // Go for flowy tops and skirts with sun rise, sherbet colors like corals or orangish hues.
// Food // Eat eggs dishes- quiches, frittatas, omelettes, etc.
// Workout // Yoga sun salutations facing East at sunrise.
// Home // Put flowers in the sunrise area of your home or add something bright to the Eastern-facing part of your space.
// Healing // Get enough Vitamin D from the sunshine, Light Therapy, or flower essences. And practice strong self-care and self-parenting by paying extra close attention to your inner child needs.
NUMINOUS WEEKLY HOROSCOPES: APRIL 2-8 2018
What’s this week’s cosmic symbol for your sign? Check out our Numinous weekly horoscopes from Sandy Sitron …
Aries // Aries Rising
The petals of a sunflower are vibrant and connected. You are yearning to reach higher and have the brilliance of your yellow petals reflect the light of high noon. In the process of growth there are obstacles. Talk to your inner critic so that it doesn’t control the conversation. See the obstacles as friends. See the growth as expansive. You are reaching higher and you are seen. Focus on heart and hearth, especially when it comes to career. You have one path of growth and it reaches straight upwards.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandy here or follow her on Instagram.
Taurus // Taurus Rising
Wrinkles on an elephant’s trunk. Your wisdom runs deep. There are patterns being triggered that you have experienced before. Why not walk through those patterns slowly and create a detailed review? Think on the past. What are you ready to see that you haven’t seen? Choose the path of wisdom. Align to a higher vision of yourself and others. Be flexible when you can.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandy here or follow her on Instagram.
Gemini // Gemini Rising
Wolf fangs on a grey day. A great power is building within you. You may need some time alone to reflect. Don’t be afraid that the sun won’t come back. Although this is a short solitary moment of determining your truth in relationships, you are a wolf and a wolf has a pack. Your community gives you the vibrance that you need to make important decisions. Spend time alone reflecting. But remain connected with your community for inspiration.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandy here or follow her on Instagram.
Cancer // Cancer Rising
A heart throb. The heart beats automatically. If you keep moving automatically, you’ll find that what you’re doing eventually feels aligned. There are some diplomatic snags in the road that you can easily work past. Push yourself to open up in relationships. Love even more. Don’t hold back. You are putting yourself out there in more ways than usual. Take good care of yourself in the process and create healthy boundaries. Let your loving heart lead.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandy here or follow her on Instagram.
Leo // Leo Rising
A special recipe. Taking good care of yourself is crucial and fruitful. Health comes first. If you can, listen to the needs of your body. Tune in. You are allowed to be sensitive. Practice being receptive. If you change some health patterns, it will result in your feeling more inspired overall. Find your special recipe for health that can lead to inspired success. Pay attention.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandy here or follow her on Instagram.
Virgo // Virgo Rising
Whisper in the tall reeds. Let yourself be quiet. Listen for the whisper that you wouldn’t normally hear. You are learning to be more yourself. Your unabashed, unique self. But you have to be quiet, wait and listen to know exactly what that means. It’s time to forge new patterns through the tall reeds. You can’t keep tromping on the same old path. Listen closely for directions from your spirit.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandy here or follow her on Instagram.
Libra // Libra Rising
Cut flowers scattered on dirt. There’s only one way to grow a garden. You can’t pretend the garden is fertile by covering the soil with fresh cut flowers. You have to tend to your emotional garden closely and tenderly. Give yourself enough sunlight and water and the flowers will grow naturally. Rushing won’t help you feel better. Your relationships and/or emotional health are asking you to slow down. Nothing will be lost if you listen.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandy here or follow her on Instagram.
Scorpio // Scorpio Rising
A game of badminton. Get involved in your community, but don’t get too competitive. This is a friendly backyard sport. Push ideas around. Share. You will learn something if you can open your mind and let go of ego. Learning is the goal. Release your expectations for yourself and you’ll have more fun. And when necessary, make sure to move your body so that you get out of your head.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandy here or follow her on Instagram.
Sagittarius // Sagittarius Rising
Holding a door open. Chivalry of any kind will help your heart feel full. Be generous. The more giving you are, the more you will feel robust. And that is helpful if resources feel scarce. Take a load off your mind by remembering that abundance is within you and nothing external is the source of your supply.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandy here or follow her on Instagram.
Capricorn // Capricorn Rising
Handfuls of diamonds. This stone is incredibly resilient. Cut through whatever isn’t working. Show up for yourself. But don’t cut away carelessly. It’s important to show up, be firm and sparkle. Find a way for the shine to dazzle through the effort. Being extra tender with yourself will help when it seems like nothing else will. Your diamonds are currently being freshly polished.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandy here or follow her on Instagram.
Aquarius // Aquarius Rising
The elf tries to make the shoes. The world of imagination, emotions and fantasy is at the forefront. There is room for even more magic in your life. Your subconscious symbolism is ready to be reworked. One of the ways to get there is through meditation. Walk towards any challenging emotions. You have assistance that is there for you, as long as you don’t fight yourself and your own feelings. Look for new ways of thinking.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandy here or follow her on Instagram.
Pisces // Pisces Rising
Solving a rubik’s cube. You are ready to work on a puzzle. Issues with friends or community may feel unsolvable, but if you relax, inspiration will come through. Remember what your resources are, so that you feel comfortable putting yourself out there. The puzzle is solvable. The key is in your sense of internal safety and stability.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandy here or follow her on Instagram.
NUMINOUS TAROTSCOPES: APRIL 2018
Your Numinous Tarotscopes April 2018 are here, cast by Melinda Lee Holm using the Starchild Tarot …
ARIES//ARIES RISING
Four of Swords
Happy Solar Return, dear Aries! You, and the wheel of the zodiac itself, have completed another circle around the Sun and you are ready for a healthy dose of realignment. Four of Swords is a classic solar return card, encouraging us to take a close look at our patterns in the realm of Air and see if there is anything hanging out in there that is impeding stability in the realm of thought and communication. Don’t be afraid to look reeeeeaaaaal close—this can be a ‘Princess and the Pea’ situation. But while that fable implies a state of pathological sensitivity, your sensitivity to tiny bits of sand in the mental cogs is more akin to superhero perception. When something rubs you the wrong way this month, perk up, tune in, and dig it out!
With half of the month spent under the spell of Mercury’s retrograde motion, this interior examination will take on a positively epic tone. Messages can come from the least likely sources, so be extra vigilant and keep a laser focus on determining whether every little thing is an agent for harmony or discord in your elemental sphere of Air. Remember—the more pebbles your clear out, the more room you’re making to invite new patterns of thought, communication, and intellectual framing that can truly elevate your experience of your life. If this is a milestone birthday year, all of this applies tenfold. The passing of time tends to knock us out of complacency and into greater alignment with our Higher Selves. Take that baton and run like hell.
Your stone for April: Tiger Eye
>>>
TAURUS//TAURUS RISING
Wheel of Fortune
Patience, my dear Taurus, is a virtue with which you are well acquainted. When you have your eye on a prize, you have an enviable talent for biding your time as you put all the parts in place to achieve your goal. You have a strong streak of perfectionism in your life and work and are willing to put in the time to get things done right, rather than rushing forward to plant your flag. This month is going to test you in this realm. While you are more than willing to take time, you are much less willing to give up control. The Wheel of Fortune is here to remind you that no matter how hard you work, how far ahead you plan, or how great of a team you assemble, the Universe sometimes has other plans.
Breathe, Taurus! You can bet that the plans of the Universe are in better alignment with your personal expansion and growth than the ones you’ve laid out yourself. With Mercury retro the first half of this month, I have a hunch that you’re going to get some small doses of this energy in the form of shake ups in practical plans as well as a much bigger, deeper, scarier, and more profoundly liberating twist later in the month. Be especially mindful of falling into victim mode. No one is out to get you, least of all the turn of the Wheel and the pull of the Universe. Let go of outcome attachments, take your hand off the e-brake, and enjoy your ride in the passenger seat.
Your stone for April: Rhodonite
>>>
GEMINI//GEMINI RISING
The Tower
My goodness, Gemini, you are on the receiving end of an enviable one-two punch from the Universe these past couple months. Last month you were gifted downloads of sacred Divine wisdom from The Hierophant and this month you are being gifted with the revolutionary shift of The Tower! Wait, did I just say “gifted”? With THE TOWER? Yes, ma’am (or sir), I did. This is one of those card that you talk about first when it comes up in a reading, no matter where it’s laying in the spread. It looks scary. People fixate. But the only thing to fear when The Tower comes into your life is your own resistance to change and attachment to the past. Get ready to watch situations, relationships, patterns of thought, and structures of your life that you thought were eternal and unchanging crumble to the ground – in a good way!
Ok, I can’t lie, Gemini, I used the punch metaphor up there for a reason. This stuff is not generally pleasant. Even when the towers being knocked down are seriously impeding our development as spiritual beings (ideas like – women make terrible leaders, creative work isn’t real work, the world is an inert and unmagical place), it is still incredibly jarring to have our truth rearranged right before our very eyes. This month, be very kind with yourself. Prioritize your self care – whether for you that means 2 hours of daily yoga and a juice cleanse or eating gluten free pizza on the couch in front of a Law & Order SVU marathon. DO YOU. The Tower is going to feel like you’re knocked off of center, so connecting deeply with parts of yourself and your life that feel like home is going to be key.
Your stone for April: Ocean Jasper
>>>
CANCER//CANCER RISING
Perspective (Hanged Man)
The insights will come in hot and heavy this month, Cancer, if you do the work to put yourself in a position to receive them. The Perspective card (the Hanged Man in most decks) is all about expansion in our view of the world, ourselves, and our place in the world, but to get the full dose of the medicine, we must put ourselves in positions and situations that offer us a different view of the energetic landscape than we are used to seeing. Fortunately, Mercury is going to keep bringing us messages about the past for the first two weeks of the month, which will be a wonderful catalyst for these shifts in perspective. I see your April energy being neatly divided into two sections – first a shift, then expansion.
For the first two weeks of April, focus on pushing yourself to see things – everything – differently. Take a new route to work, eat a food you’ve never tried, comsume media created by people with points of view different from your own. Once Mercury stations direct on the 15th, you can begin to really integrate all of this new perspective into real expansion, becoming wiser and stronger as you grow beyond your current spiritual, energetic, and emotional containers. By the end of the month, you’ll be a naked hermit crab, rummaging around for a new shell – right back in your comfort zone, but on a higher, more attuned level!
Your stone for April: Cinnabar
>>>
LEO//LEO RISING
Strength
Leo, I was so happy when I pulled this card for you! You did so much hard work on yourself last month and now the Universe is reaching out a hand. The Strength card is all about the power of co-creation, the magical possibilities that open up when we recognize and embrace that we are all one and all drawing on and feeding into the same energy source. You’ve unburdened yourself from self-imposed chains. If that work of the past month left you feeling drained, rejoice and take the next four weeks to drink in and embody the Strength available to you now. I feel this is a rare time when the energy of this card is more quiet and restorative than motivating and active.
Watch for messaging that provokes a deeper loosening of mindsets or relationships that tend to make you feel small. It may be that you now have the Strength to gently release these things or you may finally be strong enough to make a shift in your own thinking and feeling that changes the dynamic. Either way, work to maintain a constant awareness that you are not in this alone. This would be a great month to spend time in nature, strengthening your connection with the Earth, or gazing up at the stars, contemplating the fact that we are all children of the same great Source. When at work or socializng, notice which people and situations make you feel powerful and supported and seek to grow their presence in your life.
Your stone for April: Petrified Wood
>>>
VIRGO//VIRGO RISING
Ten of Crystals (Pentacles)
Build. It. UP, Virgo! Following last month’s reign of Fire, you’ve got a big, healthy dose of Earth energy to get those plans and intuitive hits grounded in reality. The Ten of Pentacles is a beautiful gift of a card that indicates the arrival of a period of accelerated growth in material circumstances. Does that mean you’re going to get a big fat raise? Maybe! More likely, it means that moves you make to secure your material world will work out in your favor more than you expect, especially when they are rooted in an effort to strengthen the material stability of your community as a whole. The Tens are big. Think major magic in the growth of your business, a rise in the value of your home due to successful sales by your neighbors, and an overall ability to polish up your own personal “Midas touch.”
Hey wait, but we’re not supposed to start anything while Mercury is retrograde, right? No, silly! While we would be well-advised to wait on signing new contracts and generally giving extra care and clarity to communication in general, anything ongoing is fair game in my book, extra points for ventures wrapped up in people or situations from deep in your past. There is an aspect of this energy that is a culmination, a maturation, and anticipation of a new beginning – the Tens all look ahead toward circling back to the Ace. If you have Scorpio rising (or are a Scorpio with Virgo rising) this month will prove especilly fruitful for maturing business plans that open doors to new oppurtunities. Look to your community for support.
Your stone for April: Mookaite
>>>
LIBRA//LIBRA RISING
King of Cups
Ok, Libra! You’ve had a fairly practical year so far, Tarotscopically speaking, and now you can kick back and ride the waves of emotion. Feel all of the feelings, staring straight into the face of your raw emotional being. Given your sometimes extreme dedication to peace keeping, this may seem like a dangerous prospect – what if you see something in there that makes you sad or angry? How will you handle potential sources of confrontation? – this month, you have all of the support you need to safely wade into the emotional depths. The King of Cups is the master of navigating rough emotional waters, and with this guidance, you too can master the art of feeling deeply without reacting.
My guess is, you’re going to get a lot of practice the first couple weeks of the month, with people popping up from the past to come see how they can fit into your new matrix. Don’t get thrown off your game. Ride those emotional waves until the seas calm before making any decisions about how or even whether to respond. Everything that comes up is here to serve your emotional development. Like all cards that come at the end of a series, the Kings anticipate a return to their origin as Pages. Keep an eye out for how these lessons of the King may ignite a spark of ingenuity in how you hold your heart. This month is not the time to put these new Watery plans into action, but simply to catch a glimpse of them bobbing around on the horizon.
Your stone for April: Prehnite
>>>
SCORPIO//SCORPIO RISING
Ace of Crystals (Pentacles)
Get ready to climb up out of the watery depths and onto an island of your own making this month, dear Scorpio! The Ace of Crystals is here to bring you the power to create your own personal slice of grounded bliss. Your fluctuating moods can make it difficult to circulate socially at times, unless you are in the company of other like-hearted divers. Use this energy to build a clubhouse for you and your nearest and dearest, even if the membership list stops after your name. Sometimes solitude is the greatest company. Whatever you do, make absolutely certain that everyone and everything involved in your plan feels utterly and completely like home.
In practical terms, this could mean building an actual home, but I doubt it given the current retro cycle. I am seeing this Ace of Crystals moment as more metaphorical, existing in the space in between, one foot in the real world, creating a feeling of material space, the other in the ether, existing completely outside the “real” world. So, basically, RIGHT in your comfort zone, Scorpio. I can see you nodding your head in agreement, already fantasizing about the design and implementation of your personal island, making the guest list and checking it twice, knowing full well that only those who are on the list will be able to see it anyway. But those who are not will sense the boundary and sashay away and THAT is maybe the shiniest gift the Ace has for you.
Your stone for April: Clorite Phantom Quartz
>>>
SAGITTARIUS//SAGITTAIRUS RISING
The Star
Out of the Starseed and into the Star! All of that open-souled wandering has led you right into the heart of the eternal Divine feminine, Sagittarius, and I am THRILLED for you to roll around in this energy all month. The Star represents the very earliest inklings that humans had about Divinity, a larger consciousness, an ancient Universal benevolent presence. Star symbology follows us throughout history, through every culture. We are all bound together by The Star. Traditional interpretations of this card tell us that it indicates hope—and I agree!— but it’s where that hope comes from that really lights my heart on fire. Hope based on faith is wonderful. Hope rooted in an ancestral knowledge of our origin in and continued dedication to an eternal Divine Feminine is GOLDEN.
I want you focus all month on basking in this power. Get together with those people in your life who seem to effortlessly possess the power of The Star, the ones that make you feel calm and cared for, who are tapped into ancient wisdom and allow it to flow freely and relatably out into the world, the ones who revel in deep conversations in pajamas and sheet masks. Have you noted that I have not used gendered language around their identities? All genders can carry the torch of The Star. We can all aspire to exude Divine Feminine consciousness, regardless of gender or sexuality. So gather your people, get powered up, and let that Star light shine out and inspire others to join you.
Your stone for April: Chrysocolla
>>>
CAPRICORN//CAPRICORN RISING
Queen of Swords
If you’ve got something to say, Capricorn, now’s the time to get it out. And with your aversion to conflict, I am guessing there’s a statement or two getting eager to see the light of day. With Mercury retrograde for the first half of the month, there is a strong likelihood that you’ll have something to clear up with someone or something from your past. Depending on where things are aligning for you personally, astrologically, energetically, it could be distannt past or just in the past few months. What seems certain is that some situation that has been bothering you for some time will reach a breaking point and need to be talked about in the open. This does not, I repeat DOES NOT mean that you will find yourself in a yelling match or even a heated discussion in the next month. It simply means that you will find the words to express what you have not yet been able to express. This is very good news!
The Queen of Swords, being the Water of Air, brings an emotional intelligence to this communication project that should soothe both you and the receiver. Your prudent nature is a great asset to you here, as you have the time to identify your message, choose your words, and refine their tone before delivering. I advise that you spend the first half of the month identifying what message or messages you need to communicate, then deliver in the second half of the month after Mercury stations direct to avoid any crossed wires.
Your stone for April: Blue Lace Agate
>>>
AQUARIUS//AQUARIUS RISING
Five of Wands
Well, Aquarius, I hope you like a good show! While all of the fives get a well-earned reputation as bringers of chaos and probable frustration in their element, the five of Wands stands alone among the bunch as the most promising of entertainment. Why is this? Because chaos of action is funny when you let go of expectations! It’s literally what physical comedy is based in – people trying to accomplish specific tasks and failing. And chaos of intuition, the other main apsect of Fire, is comedy gold as well. Ok, ok, it does not feel like it AT ALL when it is happening in real time in your own life, but that’s what I am here for – to give you a heads up so when you encounter it you can see it more clearly, recognize it, and point and laugh.
If you have older siblings, you are well prepared for this month. The Universe is basically your older sibling or cousin, waiting around every corner to scare you and make you drop your stuff, changing the rules of every game to make sure you lose, dipping your hand in warm water while you sleep. And just like when you were a kid, the frustration all these things cause can be instantly alleviated by simply refusing to take them seriously. All month long, when the Universe gives you lemons, draw silly faces on them and glue them together into crass sculptures, metaphorically speaking of course. You can go from being the butt of the joke to sitting front row center at the best show in town through a simple shift in perception.
Your stone for April: Purple Jade
>>>
PISCES//PISCES RISING
Ten of Swords
If you have kids, I am going to apologize in advance for this reference, Pisces, but I can’t help it. Your April has my heart twirling on an icey mountain top belting out LET IT GOOOOOOO! You’ve made it! All of these swirling thoughts and messages that have lifted you up, kept you down, and mixed you up have reached their climax and it’s time to set them all aside and see what you’ve become. The power of Air has carried you to places you thought you’d never reach – high and low – and now this month you can take a moment to asses what’s serving you, what’s not, and what you want to take with you when you make the inevitable journey back to the Ace.
So how do you know what to let go of? Let your mind do the talking. I spend a lot of time advising people to stop thinking so much and listen to their heart or their gut instinct. Not this time. Think away! Your powers of analysis and interpretation are heightened this month, Pisces, so take advantage and tap into the energy to sort through all you’ve gathered. Mercury’s retrograde motion during the first half of the month is going to give you even more to sort through than you had before, so be patient and perseverant in your task. Take notes, talk things through with a trusted friend, make lists, meditate on it, put everything in spreadsheets if it helps. The rewards will be well worth the work.
(Confidential to Pisces: I still can’t sing that song at karaoke because I can’t get through it at home without crying. Not ashamed.)
Your stone for April: Black Tourmaline
