The 9 of Swords invites us to face our shadow work and let it lead us towards the light of non-judgement, says this month’s reader-in-residence, Mademoiselle Danielle … Cast using the Dark Days Tarot by Wren McCurdo
Numinous
CHOOSING COMPASSION IN A CALLOUT CULTURE
A former social media “comment crusader,” diversity and inclusion specialist Aaron Rose is committed to moving beyond the “us vs. them” callout culture. PLUS Aaron shares 7 ways to upgrade your spiritual activism by choosing connection and compassion over fear …
With 15 years working as a facilitator, educator, and consultant in the field of “Diversity & Inclusion,” my overarching mission is to heal our world’s generational patterns of separation so that we can all thrive as our authentic selves. Though always important, this work has of course taken on even more urgency in the escalating polarization following the 2016 election.
But in the last few years I have had to rethink some of how I was originally trained to approach this work. Namely, that relying on a callout culture of shame and dehumanization—however subtle or justified—as motivating tools of change, will never resolve the isolation and exclusion we ultimately seek to address.
Historically, my work focused on explaining the history of institutionalized oppression and practicing “dos and don’ts” for interacting with different groups. The premise—albeit often unspoken—was that we were there to help the privileged people understand how to treat the marginalized people better. Many people did indeed leave feeling more informed and better prepared to work with people different from themselves. However, when others would express feeling upset, confused, or silenced, I knew something was missing.
Many of my colleagues wrote this off as collateral damage—some people would just never get it, they said. And if a white man left feeling upset, maybe that was a good thing, because lots of people have been upset for a long time. I understood the logic, but this theory of social change felt incomplete to me. It’s a dynamic that has become all too familiar in social media interactions in which people are called out for offensive or exclusionary behavior and summarily “canceled” or rejected without any space for recourse or repair.
Back then, my life mirrored my work. I genuinely saw light and potential in everyone—and wanted to help us all understand each other better. But, truthfully, I usually meant, you (a person with historically more access and power than most) needed to understand me (a trans and queer person with experiences of violence and marginalization).
My approach was that of a pretty typical East Coast liberal. I would passionately launch into Facebook comment monologues, determined to get people to understand how they were hurting others, while distancing myself from people based on their presumably more privileged identities. My tone was condescending at best, and vitriolic at worst. I wanted people to understand the harm they were doing, and I wanted it to stop. Now.
Deep down, I, like so many others, felt scared and misunderstood. In most of the jobs I’d had as a young adult, I’d experienced harassment and discrimination—from prying questions about my transgender identity, to constant misgendering, to sexual harassment and violence—and the pain of my own marginalization kept me in a defensive stance.
I was quick to judge people’s politics, and even quicker to let them know about it—when separated by a screen and a keyboard. In most cases, there was little hope for redemption once someone had acted in a way I deemed oppressive, racist, heterosexist, transphobic, or more. But for all my accusations of division and dehumanization, I too was compartmentalizing people, saying things like “I could never be real friends with a straight guy … he just wouldn’t get me.” It hadn’t occurred to me yet that maybe I didn’t really get him either. I had never thought to ask.
While doing the work of humanizing historically excluded minorities, I had been unwittingly dehumanizing others. It seemed natural to view my work as an us vs. them quest to change some people’s minds on behalf of others. But I’ve come to understand that this approach will only continue to amplify the feeling of uneasy disconnection that characterizes so much of modern life, particularly online: the fear of being judged, the fear of being harmed, the fear that saying the wrong thing will result in excommunication.
The work that many pioneering LGBTQ people, people of color, women, and other historically marginalized people have done to legitimize the acknowledgement of our individual pain and institutionalized discrimination is important and invaluable. That kind of self-expression and community accountability is indispensable. But if simply being able to recite our personal and collective histories of oppression back and forth to one another with flawless terminology was going to create true progress, we would not be in our current accelerating state of political polarization and identity-based isolation. If we truly want a more just and connected world, we all have to go a step further.
Today, I no longer take to social media with fear and contempt to catalogue the ways in which others are letting me down. I’ve shifted my focus from what we’re tearing down to an approach that does not calcify divisions but instead catalyzes connection. This does not mean releasing people from accountability or never speaking up against injustice. It simply means setting the intention to treat no human being as if they are disposable, even if they are failing to honor our humanity. It means creating the conditions in which we can, as adrienne maree brown writes, “default to trust on a community level.”
Below, I share 7 ways we can be stewards of this paradigm shift:
1// Heal yourself to heal the world. Your work starts with you – owning your story, and releasing the blocks that stand between you and truly recognizing yourself in another. Regardless of your identities, our conditioned social autopilot reinforces the idea that connecting with people from different backgrounds puts us at risk in some way. For those of us (read: all of us!) who have felt minimized or unsafe because of who we are, leaning into even more discomfort can feel scary. But the more we connect with our own sense of humanity, the more we can extend that to others.
**Action Step: Take some time to meditate on welcoming feelings of safety. The more you cultivate a feeling of security within yourself, the more you will be able to welcome others into your world. You are safe, you are resilient, you are here to thrive and make space for others do the same. This meditation is one of my favorites. You can also check out my meditation series here.
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2// Redefine how you love. We are all called to love each other now as if our lives depended on it. Because they do. Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke often about agape love as the driving force behind all his work. He said, “And this is what Jesus means … when he says, ‘Love your enemy.’ And it’s significant that he does not say, ‘Like your enemy’ … There are a lot of people that I find it difficult to like. I don’t like what they do to me. I don’t like what they say about me and other people … But Jesus says love them. And love is greater than like. Love is understanding, redemptive goodwill for all men, so that you love everybody, because God loves them.”
**Action Step: Practice silently blessing every person you encounter and wishing them peace and happiness. Your world will begin to transform before your eyes, from the inside out.
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3// Meditate for real. Meditation creates space between external stimuli and our responses, allowing us to act as we choose, versus on autopilot. In the same way that we cannot change our world unless we face the truth of it, we cannot embody a new energy of love unless we retrain our nervous systems. Meditation is the path to this change.
**Action Step: Practice the Buddhist metta, or loving kindness, meditation. A common mantra is: May you be happy, May you be healthy, May you be safe, May you live a life of peace. Extend this blessing first to yourself, then to those you love, then to the world around you, and finally to the people who you find it hardest to love. This practice is a gift you can give yourself anywhere, anytime.
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4// Know our history, know yourself. We make it a lot easier for others to trust us and give us room to grow when we show up fully. In the context of identity and social change, this means understanding our world’s historical patterns of exclusion and violence. Acknowledge your part and make amends, for yourself as well as your ancestors. Understand both your access and power, as well as your history of pain and struggle. Recognize that we all have inherent biases, and be prepared to acknowledge them as they surface. Learn bystander intervention protocol and be ready for action.
**Action Step: What are your identities? Where do you fall toward the margins and where do you have more access? Explore Kimberle Crenshaw’s work on intersectionality to develop a deeper understanding of how our combination of identities shape our experience of the world.
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5// Release perfection, embrace integrity. We will all make mistakes along the way. Doing this work is about integrity: staying in alignment with your values and maintaining your sense of wholeness in the process. No one comes from the same perspective, and many of us do not have an academic foundation in theories of oppression and liberation. Despite our commitment to love, none of us will have the perfect word every time.
**Action Step: How will you respond when you or someone else messes up? What are your go-to phrases for communicating when a boundary has been crossed? How will you apologize and repair? Practicing ahead of time allows our brains to find the right words when our bodies are in fight or flight.
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6// Reframe callouts as opportunities for connection. When someone tells you your words were offensive, it’s easy to get defensive and push back. And to build a culture where everyone can thrive, we need to reframe how we perceive negative feedback. Humans don’t often take the time to let somebody know they feel hurt unless some part of us cares about being understood by the person who hurt us. Framed this way, each callout is a gift in service of our collective healing and evolution. Show the same investment in the connection by showing up to learn and repair together.
**Action Step: Practice responding to call-outs with grace and integrity. Pick your go-to phrases. Some options: “Thank you for letting me know how my words impacted you. I’m committed to building a community where everyone feels welcome.” “I hear what you’re saying and I will shift my words in the future. I’m sorry I used that hurtful language.” P.S. You really have to mean it, so align your energy with your words before pressing “share.”
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7// Redefine the personal vs. political binary. Who actually benefits from the idea that there is a difference between the personal and political? Certainly not you and me. Taking responsibility for caring for all life on Earth is the most profound investment we can make in our own self-care.
Action Step: How can you realign what is best for you as being what is best for all sentient beings? For example, is your meditation or intention-setting practice exclusively about your individual life? Set intentions not only for personal wealth and happiness, but for white people’s capacity to release our dependency on white supremacy, for example. For the renewing of our healthy relationship with planet Earth. For men’s commitment to repairing the wounds of the patriarchy. And for ongoing guidance about your role within the larger process. The support is there. You need only to tap in and ask.
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Aaron Rose is a writer, speaker, and diversity & inclusion coach. In his spare time you can find him waxing poetic about quantum physics, boy bands, and healing intergenerational trauma. Follow Aaron online at @aaronxrose and learn more about his work, including his upcoming healthy masculinity intensive for conscious men, at www.theaaronrose.com.
NUMINOUS WEEKLY HOROSCOPES SEPTEMBER 3-9 2018
Get this week’s astro symbol for your sign with Sandy Sitron’s Numinous Weekly Horoscopes …
Virgo // Virgo Rising
Making a campfire. Put your body into the work. The more active you can be, the more you’ll ease your mind. Look at what you can build. A campfire symbolizes focused energy to nurture and sustain. Build something practical for yourself and others. Keep your hands busy. Focus on action.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandy here or follow her on Instagram.
Libra // Libra Rising
A caterpillar makes its way across the forest floor. There are many moving parts. Before you can transform, you must spend time on the ground. Think of where you are as one leg of the journey. The goal is transformation. Soon you’ll become the butterfly. For now raise your awareness of yourself and keep putting one foot in front of the other.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandy here or follow her on Instagram.
Scorpio // Scorpio Rising
A group of crystal points. You can be strong, you can be sharp and you can transcend. Become more clear and directed. You have friends who can help you see your true self. Surround yourself with people who lift you up. Put the pieces in place that will help you catch hold of your new vision. Capture the higher vibration.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandy here or follow her on Instagram.
Sagittarius // Sagittarius Rising
A large wave. Is it a tidal wave or is it all the momentum that you’ve been building? You can interpret the current energy as something that’s about to take you under, or exactly what you’ve wished for. It’s your choice. Let the waves flow. Welcome any adjustments that need to be made. Take the opportunity to feel like you’re on top of the world.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandy here or follow her on Instagram.
Capricorn // Capricorn Rising
A rainbow stretches across the sky. There’s a new destination appearing. It’s not easy to map. It might be something that is more philosophical than real. It’s your pot of gold. The values and inspirations that keep you going, even when rain clouds gather. Stay focused on your highest ideals and everything else will fall into place.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandy here or follow her on Instagram.
Aquarius // Aquarius Rising
A spear. You fly through the air like a spear and you land directly in the heart of the matter. You don’t want to miss your mark. You want to go into the center of what’s important. There’s no time for small talk. Drive straight into the heart, the center of emotion and love. Describe your real emotions so that you create intimacy.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandy here or follow her on Instagram.
Pisces // Pisces Rising
The shadow of giant wings. There is a glimmer of a higher perspective. It’s possible to take flight. Lift your mindset and arrive at a more logical, objective and diplomatic way of thinking. Alternatively, this symbol can also represent a feeling of being hunted. Are you giving your power away? You don’t have to be the prey, but you don’t have to be the hunter either. It’s time to work equally and together.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandy here or follow her on Instagram.
Aries // Aries Rising
A horse and carriage racing at top speed. If you have a moment to catch your breath, pause and look at how much ground you’ve already covered. You’ve gotten a lot done. But now there are more details to attend to. Work and take action. Move quickly. Get the details all sorted out. The more you can achieve, the more you’ll feel like you’ve gotten ahead. Just make sure to take breaks and drink water.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandy here or follow her on Instagram.
Taurus // Taurus Rising
Looking through a telescope. You can examine yourself with an imaginary telescope. Focus and magnify. See yourself in the brightest possible light, taking up space. Shine bright. Be creative and have fun. You can share your grand vision with the world. Turn the dial of the telescope so that your image of yourself becomes bigger.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandy here or follow her on Instagram.
Gemini // Gemini Rising
Garden herbs. Sustenance and medicine all at once. Go into the garden of your soul and see what you’ve been cultivating. Do you have any medicine for yourself? Do you have any food for your inner child? Growing plants from seed takes time, attention and resources. Give yourself time, attention and resources. This is a moment for healing.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandy here or follow her on Instagram.
Cancer // Cancer Rising
Wearing a crown. It’s time to become informed. You can be the one who has the pertinent information. The leader must know what’s going on. You must have the overview so that you can make important decisions. Gather as much information as you can. Think about things from many different perspectives. Ask questions and decide.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandy here or follow her on Instagram.
Leo // Leo Rising
Going into a hole in the ground. Go underground. Examine your roots. Find out what would help you feel stronger and more secure. From a solid footing, you can expand. Now is the time to examine your security and your support system. Remember your resources. Be practical. Connect with the Earth and get grounded.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandy here or follow her on Instagram.
NUMINOUS TAROTSCOPES: SEPTEMBER 2018
Dive into this month’s medicine for your sign with our Numinous Tarotscopes September 2018, cast by Melinda Lee Holm. Artwork: Devany Amber Wolfe.
VIRGO // VIRGO RISING
Knight of Swords
Happy Solar Return, Virgo! You’ve got a lot to say this month, both internally and to the world! The Fire of conviction is burning within, bubbling your emotions to a fever pitch and compelling you to let it all out. The Knights are passionate, at times to the point of being impulsive. And with your ruling planet of Mercury, planet of communication, entering your sign on the 19th, you should be positively effervescent in your expression. Allow your thoughts and words to flow freely and openly, just make sure you maintain your connection to the heavier elements of Earth and Water to mitigate any sharp edges that may come as an unintended outcome of such fast-paced intellectual outpouring. The last thing you want is a lesson in the potential of wounding inherent in the suit of Swords.
And while we’re talking about the power of Air, I’d be horribly negligent if I didn’t take this opportunity to remind you that all words are magic words, so choose them wisely even as you race to keep up with the speed of your thoughts. This is an excellent time for you to focus on making some adjustments to patterns of speech and mental frameworks to make them support your goals more strongly. Talk a lot about how much you hate your boss? Replace that with a statement about how much you look forward to the day when you have a boss you admire or when you are your own boss. Lather, rinse, repeat. Make your birthday gift to yourself a whole new set of spells that call in the experience of life you desire.
Virgo stone for September: Blue Lace Agate gently opens perception to allow access to both see and communicate truth, both inwardly and outwardly, deepening compassion for self and others.
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LIBRA // LIBRA RISING
Eight of Cups
After all the building and planning and making and growing of your life these past few months, you’ve got a little time to settle into how all of this impacts your emotional life, Libra. Change, even the most exciting and hoped for change, is stressful to our bodies – spiritual, emotional, and physical. Once we settle into the new structure of routines and habits, we need to take time to focus on how to best structure our emotional lives to ensure we can maintain a good relationship with our new circumstances. Water is one of the heavy elements. It can take some time to catch up once Fire and Air settle down and things start to feel routine again. Listen to your heart and give it time to express what it needs to stay full and bright.
I’m sure you have a LOT to do this month, Libra. There’s no way you came out of an Emperor month feeling like you’ve got loads of spare time on your hands. You can still carve out a little bit every week – bonus points for every day – to experiement with adding little things to your routine to help maintain a lasting emotional stability. Maybe daily affirmations are your thing, maybe a cup of chamomile tea before bed calms you like nothing else, maybe you need to schedule in time to read or paint or write or sing – whatever it is, take the time now to figure it out and start building the habits. Your long-term happiness depends on it.
Libra stone for September: Emerald cleanses and energizes the heart physically, emotionally, and spiritually. It is an excellent stone for all aspects of heart health and emotional development.
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SCORPIO // SCORPIO RISING
Knight of Wands
Well, Scorpio, I hope you spent last month digging DEEP into that Seven of Cups energy! If you did, and you got very clear about what your heart truly desires, you have an incredible opportunity to throw yourself into getting it this month with everything you’ve got. Knight of Wands is the Fire of Fire of the Tarot family, gifting us with an almost superhuman level of energy, drive, and animal instinct that is essential for going after something big, something we maybe didn’t even think we were allowed to wish for. What is it that is gnawing at your gut instinct as you read these words, urging you to pull the thread? What deeply held desire has gone neglected for too long?
I cannot overstate the importance of seizing this moment, Scorpio. Fire of Fire burns powerfully bright, but it cannot sustain itself for long. These moments are gifts and it is our choice to be gracious receivers or to deny the gift out of fear, humility, or even laziness. Resist the urge to linger too long in the depths, questioning your emotional response. This is the time to embrace that Scorpionic connection to the wisdom of Death and release any lingering doubts that are holding you back. Your soul’s passion is begging to be let loose to lead you to a time of renewed conviction that you alone have the power to make your dreams come true. Heed the call and stoke the flames. This month is a sprint. Make it count.
Scorpio stone for September: Ruby is the stone of passion. It infuses the energetic body with the courage and strength needed to follow your true path and pursue your highest aspirations with optimism.
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SAGITTARIUS // SAGITTARIUS RISING
The High Priestess
This month will be spent getting your temple in order in preparation for the coming harvest season, Sagittarius, and I have a hunch you’ll be looking at quite a bounty. The High Priestess does not show up for the small stuff. When she comes knocking – or, better put, when you receive her invitation to knock on her temple door – it is an indication that something big is underway. You’re now being gifted the ability to carve out a little world of your own, a temple, to make it sacred, apart from space and time, and to travel effortlessly between your personal sanctum and the outside world. It’s perfect work for this time of year, a sort of spiritual nesting as we approach the Autumnal Equinox.
This month, I want you to point that gorgeous idealistic gaze directly at your home enviroment. What household cleanups, repairs, or projects have gone undone for too long? Is there any way you can make your physical surroundings more comfortable, more suited to you? It is difficult to sink into the deeper spiritual work when nagging material world concerns populate your temple space. If you can’t get everything done, designate a specific area and get it cleared out and leveled up. Populate it with trinkets, and magickal items to elevate your devotional practice. Allow your temple to be the mirror that see your true image reflected in. When you do, the distorted image you see relected in our imperfect society will fall to the background, allowing you to fully embody your innate Divine form.
Sagittarius stone for September: Moonstone heightens intuition, introspection, and protection of individuality. It helps us to maintain control of our personal temples of home, body, and spirit.
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CAPRICORN // CAPRICORN RISING
Five of Swords
Dear Capricorn, I would like to invite you to enjoy a quiet month filled with nourishing food, plenty of rest, and loving, supportive friends. Generally speaking, you are transitioning from achievement to chaos in the realm of Air. This is not a time for big ideas or attempts to talk or think through really anything of great importance. When this anarchic breeze blows in, it’s best to keep your head down, put one foot in front of the other, and stay on the path you know best – and enjoy it! It’s rare that we are called on to do less, to take a break in any area of life and just rest and be. Let this month act as cosmic pause button on all the things you believe you have to “figure out” in order to move forward.
So, what can you do when you can’t use that seductive power of Air to run your life? You get down with the other elements, especially Earth and Water. This should be music to your ears, my cardinal Earth sign darling. Dig your heels in, don’t do anything you don’t feel like doing (within reason, of course), and feel absolutely no pressure to explain yourself. The message probably wouldn’t come across as intended anyway. Channel your inner luxurious recluse. Spend a day alone at the spa, see a matinee, take a long hike in the woods. Whatever makes you feel like your heart is taking the lead and reinforces your connection to the Earth under your feet.
Capricorn stone for September: Smoky Quartz carries the gravity of our planet in energetic form. It connects us to ourselves and the Earth, helping us to feel grounded as it gently pulls psychic static from our field.
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AQUARIUS // AQUARIUS RISING
Seven of Crystals
I suspect you may be feeling a little impatient about seeing actual results from the work you did last month, Aquarius, and I’m here to talk you down with my dear friend the Seven of Crystals. Sevens ask us to find where we are doubting ourselves, the Universe, or both in their elemental realm, and here we are looking to weed those pesky doubts out of the Earth. Anxieties about whether our work is paying off in tangible ways is common and understandable. Earth is the slowest moving element. We spend most of our time in the lighter elements, dreaming up ideas, taking action to bring them to life, and then we have to wait for their manifestation in the material plane to take form.
Rest assured, Aquarius, your work has not been for nothing. The seeds you planted are quietly and resolutely outgrowing their outer husks and making their way to the surface where they will begin their journey toward the Sun. I know this is a jarring and potentially frustrating change of pace. When you find yourself antsy for something to do, some action to take, water the seeds. Love them, care for them, pour your heart out and offer it up to their growth and development. And when you come up against that nagging anxiety in the back of your mind, the voice that tells you that you are wasting your time, that you can’t make it work, that it was a dumb idea anyway – love that voice too. Soothe it and put it to bed.
Aquarius stone for September: Howlite relieves stress and opens connection to the eternal Divine. It brings an atmosphere of acceptance and contentment with one’s circumstances and surroundings.
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PISCES // PISCES RISING
Four of Swords
Now that your heart has been thoroughly rinsed and renewed, Pisces, it’s time for a little check in on how your views and thoughts meld with how you live and communicate day to day. Periodic assesments of whether our head is in alignment with our heart are essential for finding stability in the realm of Air, that lightest and most difficult to contain of elements. Lightness is a great place to focus – this can be a gentle and enjoyable experience. No need to get into judgment or mourning of things, ideas, or patterns that no longer serve your highest goals. This is simply an opportunity to gently sift through the contents of your mind and to let anything heavy fall away.
I strongly suggest you not make any big life changes this month. There can be a strong urge to make bold moves when we first realize that something is not in alignment with the life we seek to live. It is intoxicating to step into your own power of clear sight. However, this energy is with you all month long. Things can shift around quite a bit in that time. Plus, this whole operation is more about your internal intellectual framework and how you present that framework to the world than it is about the container of your life. If you already had a change in job, living situation, or relationship in the works, that is another story. But resist taking action on an internal shift that comes up this month. Stay the course and let it all unfold.
Pisces stone for September: Fluorite is a stone of insight through clarity. It helps to clear the mind, allowing for greater focus and decision making, and opening the door to the wisdom of the higher self.
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ARIES // ARIES RISING
Page of Wands
Ok, Aries, what did you learn last month about the power of your own instinctual knowing and ability to create? What conclusions did you come to about how to best use this power, its potential, or your relationship to it? Any hard and fast rules you came across? Any nuggets of eternal wisdom to frame your personal gift with Fire? Throw them out. All of them. Or rather set them aside, locked away for safe keeping. You won’t be needing them for now. The Page is here to disrupt anything you thought you knew about Elemental Fire and to open new doors of exploration and experimentation in this realm of action, magic, and creation. Cleanse that magic wand, clear yourself of all expectations, and get ready to play.
Welcome this energy with open arms and this can be a wonderful month of expansion. Dig in your heels and you’re likely to have a frustrating four weeks ahead of you! Think of it this way – you don’t have to be married to any of these new ways of handling your native element that come up. You’re not signing any contracts or setting anything in stone. This is simply a time to be open, to say yes. Pages represent the Earth of the Tarot court, they bring us back down to basics, slow us down, give us time and space to explore in an energetically safe environment. It is a beautiful gift to step into the shoes of the novice. Accept it graciously and use it wisely.
Aries stone for September: Honey Calcite inspires action and dedication while maintaining a light-hearted atmosphere. It provides the perseverance needed to make a creative spark become a full blazing fire
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TAURUS // TAURUS RISING
Eight of Crystals
My dearest Earth child, here we are again. This time focusing on building a beautiful, lasting stability in your material world. After the refining moment of the Ace last month, you’re in a great position to work with this energy. Thinking about everything that came up regarding your home life, your physical surroundings, your feeling grounded (or ungrounded), your method of interacting with our society’s version of the currency of Earth – money, find what feels like home to you. Dig deep into the ground beneath your feet and find exactly what it is that keeps you stable. We live in a time when many of us have more options than we ever have before. It can be overwhelming. Now is the time to whittle your life down to the essentials that will serve you best in the long term.
Finding this type of stability requires us to seek and confront our true nature, our deepest core of Self, that eternal piece that holds us steady while our bodies and circumstances shift around us. This is soul work, Taurus, pure and simple. Your inherent desire for security and predictability in your surroundings is essential to your nature. You are being called to step into alignment with this aspect of your Self, to ensure that you are nuturing this need for many years to come. This doesn’t have to be difficult. It could be as simple as finally acknowledging that you like to always have fresh flowers in the house and committing to make that happen. Find your Earthly bliss!
Taurus stone for September: Danburite connects the heart to spirit realm, bringing the calming and loving energy of the Divine down into our daily lives, calming and reassuring us in our Earthly pursuits.
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GEMINI // GEMINI RISING
Queen of Cups
Get ready for a month of nurturing and emotional excavation, Gemini, all courtesy of your inner mother. The Queen of Cups is here to lead you by the hand to a safe place where you can step outside of yourself to be the loving caretaker you have been waiting for. I have a strong suspicion that taking inventory of your internal communications last month dredged up more than a few emotional rough spots. As we pass from Summer into Fall, you have the opportunity to mend your bruised heart in ways you have never been able to before – or more likely, ways you didn’t even know you needed. This is excellent timing. When the seasons tip and we begin to head toward the nesting of winter, you will be in great shape to move from damage repair into some more forward moving modes of development.
Spend time alone this month, but try to keep it purposeful, rejuvenating even. No wallowing. The Queen of Cups encourages deep and long dives into our innermost depths, but she does not tolerate indulgent self-pity. Imagine her as a kindly grandmother, always there to clean up a skinned knee with tender care, but just as quick to send you back out finish your chores once you’re taped up. Coming back up for air is the most important part of any dive into our emotional waters. Take a long bath, get serious about journaling, pour your heart out to yourself as you never have before. And then take a deep breath, lift your head up, and get back to it.
Your stone for September: Rhodochrosite teaches us the art of self-love. It opens a channel within that allows us to love ourselves as we desire to be loved, to be our own best friends and caretakers.
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CANCER // CANCER RISING
Perspective (Hanged Man)
It’s time for a change of scenery, Cancer, and I don’t just mean sitting in a different spot in your living room. The scenery I am talking about is more energetic, spiritual even, the stuff we can’t see but that alters our perception of our surroundings immensely. This month you are being asked to see things in a new way and the more you can push up against the edges of that, the better. You had a month of digging in the Earth in August and now you can spend a little time up in the clouds, surveying the new lay of the land, getting a broader picture of what is possible and within that, what is desirable. And since we are in the Major Arcana, we are looking at all realms of life – emotional, spiritual, creative, intellectual, and material.
How many different ways can you find to force a shift in your perspective? What would it look like to try on a new emotional perspective? A new instinctual perspective? Can you borrow another person’s experience for a time? Use your enviable powers of empathy to walk in another’s shoes without ever moving a muscle? This may sound like an invitation to get into astral travelling (which I wholeheartedly encourage if you can accomplish it), but it can be as deceivingly mundane as watching a movie about a person completely unlike yourself or reading a book by someone you normally wouldn’t. The important thing is to keep your heart, mind, and eyes open to new experiences.
Cancer stone for September: Blue Apatite is a stone of profound psychic opening. It can act as a key to opening levels of knowledge and wisdom and as a catalyst for exploring past lives and energetic influences.
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LEO // LEO RISING
The Magician
Is it your birthday AGAIN, Leo?? A swell of personal power to manifest your dreams and desires is headed your way to carry you into the Fall. You have the magic of the elements tingling at your fingertips, waiting to help you connect the kernel of intention in your heart to the blueprint of the Universe. The Magician ignites personal power – power that originates from within and that is used to control, alter, or expand the personal sphere. True magic(k) is a tool of self-mastery. It has no place or interest in manipulating the free will of others. If this is sounding a bit heavy, it’s because it is! There is a great deal of responsibility that comes with the gift of The Magician.
The trick with this energy is that if you’re not very specific with your words, thoughts, and actions, you could send an unintentional signal to the Universe, one that manifests something you don’t want or need. So be extra mindful this month with the messages you are transmitting. Take a few minutes each day to set your intentions – for the day, week, month, year, and even longer. Write them down, say them out loud, carry stones in your pocket that emanate an energetic quality that supports them, light candles and give offereings for them, and for the love of the Divine, mark the New Moon on the 9th and the Full Moon on the 24th with a manifesting and releasing ritual, respectively. Harness this energy in alignment with your true path and you could be feeling the benefits for a long time to come.
Leo stone for September: Labradorite is the Magician’s stone, activating powers of personal magic, self-mastery, and manifestation. It elevates one’s personal vibration to ensure purity in conjuring.
THE 2018 GEMINI WANING MOON WANTS YOU TO CHOOSE CLARITY
The 2018 Gemini Waning Moon asks us to cleanse, clarify, and use honest assessment to clear the decks for a new cycle, says Jennifer Racioppi …
Waning Quarter Moon / September 2 2018 / 10:37pm EST / 10 degrees Gemini
As La Luna wanes back to new, she travels through Gemini and makes a 90-degree angle to the Virgo Sun. This point in the monthly lunar cycle asks us to check in and consider what’s served its purpose and is ready to be laid aside as we begin to train our sights on our next lunar manifestation.
With Mars now direct, and Saturn also about to station direct on September 6th, we currently find ourselves with exceptionally productive potential. And with the Gemini Waning Moon’s ruler, Mercury, now direct and finally clearing his shadow at the time of the Quarter Moon, we have the green light for communications of all kinds.
Following the cosmic challenges of the past eight weeks, this could feel like a welcome relief! The Gemini Waning Moon not only marks the halfway point between the Pisces Full Moon and the September 9 Virgo New Moon, but on a deeper level, it asks us to make sense of all the places we’ve been before we begin to move forward …
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//The Cycle//
While this Moon marks the halfway point between the recent Full and upcoming New Moons, it also marks a culminating moment going back over two years. Think back (or actually look in your cal or email inbox) to June 4, 2016, when we experienced a New Moon at 14 degrees Gemini. This New Moon seeded what we are seeing come to fruition in our lives now.
Choices made then have profoundly informed where we now find ourselves. Who was in your world? Where were you situated? What were you working on? And what intentions from June 2016 are coming to fruition now? What do you still want and need?Spend some time considering the connection between your present-day reality, and events of June of 2016. Acknowledge the chapter that’s closing, and the fresh beginning you are about to step into with September 9th’s Virgo New Moon.
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//The Transits//
With Mars and Mercury now direct, and Saturn about to station direct too, forward movement is upon us. However, Venus, the planet ruling love and beauty, stations retrograde on October 5th.So pay close attention to what’s emerging now, as the Gemini Waning Moon foreshadows the Venus Retrograde curriculum.
With Mercury currently in a sextile (supportive aspect) to Venus, and Neptune opposing the Sun and squaring the Gemini Waning Moon (more challenging energies), moments of discomfort could birth intuitive hits about the lessons in love and abundance that you’ll be gifted during the upcoming Venus Retrograde.
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//The Square//
Mercury rules both Virgo and Gemini, and these mutable signs tend to live in their heads so you could feel a wee bit mental during this Moon. But rather than living in your head, capitalize on the Gemini influence and journal. Think back to 2016, and consider what choices you made then that influence where you are now. If needed, make lists. Be mindful of rumination. Then get out of your head and into your heart.
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//The Opportunity//
The Gemini Waning Moon is closing an old chapter. So give yourself time and space to appreciate where past challenges have brought you to today, and let your head lead you back to your heart. Getting honest with yourself about your exact wants and desires now will also support you as we move toward next week’s Virgo New Moon. It’s a special one, so you want to be READY!
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For more Moon wisdom, or to book a coaching session with Jennifer visit Jenniferracioppi.com.
NUMINOUS TAROTSCOPE AUGUST 30 2018: 4 OF CUPS
As a soul-shaking summer draws to a close, the 4 of Cups invites us to make gentle space for processing heavy emotions, says this month’s reader-in-residence, Mademoiselle Danielle … Cast using the Dark Days Tarot by Wren McCurdo
VIBE HIGH WITH A CRYSTAL POLISH FROM THE NUMINOUS X LOVE BY LUNA
Create a manicure to deepen your meditation practice and get “sober curious” with a custom crystal polish from The Numinous x Mystic Mani …
When Love By Luna reached out to see if The Numinous would be interested in co-creating a signature crystal-infused polish for their Mystic Mani line, it was a “hell yes”! The result is a cosmic purple polish designed to help you create a manicure to max out your meditation practice and get “sober curious.”
Inspired by Pantone’s 2018 Color of the Year, Ultra Violet, the deep, mystical purple correlates with the crown chakra, making this a highly meditative shade. Thought to help activate higher consciousness, dissolve blockages and create balance, you still have to do the actual work of befriending your thoughts and practicing equanimity in the face of adversity, but in today’s hyper-triggering world, we’ll take all the help we can get …
The color also reflects the blend of micronized amethyst and obsidian infusing the polish. Known as the “sobriety stone,” amethyst promotes clarity and tranquility, while obsidian is a protective stone that encourages honest introspection.
PSA: this polish will NOT stop you from downing 3 glasses of rosé when you’d planned to have a night “off” (only you and your desire to experience a more … clarity and tranquility can do that). But allow having it flash on your nails as you reach for the glass to invite a moment to pause and reflect.
Best of all, The Numinous x Mystic Mani crystal polish is perfect for when you want the benefits of crystal healing but have nowhere to stash your stones—as now you can “wear” your crystals everywhere you go, including into the gym or yoga studio!
This limited-edition crystal polish is the first Mystic Mani collaboration from Love by Luna and will only be available for purchase 8/28 through 12/31 2018 at www.lovebyluna.co.
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Priced at $18/bottle USD 10% of all sales will be donated to LIFE Camp, Inc., a Queens, NY, anti-violence and youth mentorship initiative.
NUMINOUS WEEKLY HOROSCOPES: AUGUST 27-SEPTEMBER 2 2018
Get this week’s astro symbol for your sign with Sandy Sitron’s Numinous Weekly Horoscopes …
Virgo // Virgo Rising
Horses trampling down a path. The horses stomp on blossoms as they walk, releasing flower essences into the air. You can get where you want to go if you stop and smell the roses. You need to connect to your body, earth, nature. Remember, there is a path. You’re on it. You don’t need plan B and plan C. Just keep moving and keep connecting to the moment.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandy here or follow her on Instagram.
Libra // Libra Rising
Pieces of cotton float on the breeze. A dreamy, gauzy time. If you let yourself drift, finding the right direction becomes easy. If you let yourself be pushed by the breeze, you can use less energy. Find the path of least resistance. Release control. Instead of worrying about where the breeze will carry you, fill yourself with wonder. The journey is special.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandy here or follow her on Instagram.
Scorpio // Scorpio Rising
Digging until you reach water. There’s more to the story. There’s more than meets the eye. If you keep digging, you’ll understand your own motivations and you’ll be able to unpack the situation with clarity and perspective. Look deep within for emotional understanding. This will help you prioritize your next steps.
Sagittarius // Sagittarius Rising
Crystalline shapes. Geometric forms with sharp edges. You can get to where you want to go by being razor sharp and getting right to the point. Don’t avoid. Hold your integrity, just like a high quality diamond. You know what you stand for. Stay firm and align with your values.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandy here or follow her on Instagram.
Capricorn // Capricorn Rising
Wearing sunglasses. Be incognito. Avoid the spotlight and pay attention to how everyone else is getting things done. You have a lot to learn. Position yourself as a student and you’ll expand much more quickly than you would if you were trying to be the teacher. You won’t be holding back forever. Study up so that you are well prepared for a leadership role.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandy here or follow her on Instagram.
Aquarius // Aquarius Rising
Sugar cubes. Dissolve into sweetness. You don’t need to control anything. You don’t need to keep your shell up. You can forge a connection that is sweet and honest. A relationship that is intimate and trusting. If it feels safe to do so, pour sugar onto your relationships. As long as the gesture is genuine, it’ll result in healing.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandy here or follow her on Instagram.
Pisces // Pisces Rising
A quilt. The stitches go back and forth, binding two separate pieces together. You can find compromise. You can find the words that bring you together. It might be a slow process and it might take work. But if you keep your attention on connection, your stitches will be even and true. Through compromise and dialogue you can turn the past into something new.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandy here or follow her on Instagram.
Aries // Aries Rising
Biting down. You want to take a bite out of life. Start with the small bites. You have a lot of energy to organize and make things happen. Don’t delay, but keep it simple. This is the time to work. Focus on service. How can you use your energy to best be of service to your community? The world needs what you have to offer.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandy here or follow her on Instagram.
Taurus // Taurus Rising
A bunny peaking out of its burrow. Muster up your courage. It’s time to be brave and go after all the fun things. Hop and play. Eat and enjoy. Live life to the fullest. There might be a risk that you need to take, and you might need to make yourself more noticeable. Don’t be shy. You’ve got a lot of creativity to share.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandy here or follow her on Instagram.
Gemini // Gemini Rising
Setting the table. Make your preparations. As you carefully lay out the flowers and linens, you prepare to nurture yourself. Create an environment conducive to self-care. Hold space to feel your feelings, so that you have enough stability to hold space for others. Make this process into a ritual that you can repeat on a daily basis.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandy here or follow her on Instagram.
Cancer // Cancer Rising
A snowman. A snowman starts life as a little snowball. Begin with whatever it is that you are curious about. Build from there. Continue layering on more knowledge. There is an order to your education. As you go, you’ll unlock new levels of interest. You’ll continue to find inspiration and the goal will take shape. But for now, just start with a snowball of curiosity.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandy here or follow her on Instagram.
Leo // Leo Rising
Gathering bouquets of flowers. There is so much abundance. Let your arms spill over. Share generously. Revel in the flow of money, revel in your ability to be giving. Build up your sense of gratitude and appreciation so that you can feel abundant down to your very core. Keep a gratitude journal to help yourself remember.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandy here or follow her on Instagram.
THE 2018 PISCES FULL MOON WANTS YOU TO SET SAIL
As practical earth energy meets deep emotional waters, the 2018 Pisces Full Moon invites us to let intuitive waves wash us onto solid, new shores, says Sandy Sitron …
Full Moon // August 26, 2018 // 7:56am EDT // 3 degrees Pisces
When a tidal wave washes onto the shore, it changes the landscape. Seashells and debris from the ocean floor are deposited, while the old familiar spaces are rearranged. Boundaries between land and water blur.
On Sunday, August 26th, the watery 2018 Pisces Full Moon strikes a pose opposite to the Sun in earthy Virgo. Earth and water meet. The result offers a choice.
Do we float out into the emotional stratosphere and avoid reality? Conversely, do we get so caught up in our practical needs and mundane existence that we repress our feelings—viewing them as only a hindrance to productivity? Or do we build our earthly lives in alignment with our feelings and intuition?
A Full Moon is an opposition. Two opposite signs are illuminated—Virgo, representing compartmentalizing and organizing, and Pisces, showing us how to dissolve the boundaries.
During Virgo season we have an opportunity to solidify our earthly base. To get grounded. Organize, cleanup, structure, and rearrange. We can streamline and refine our workflows. We are called to take care of our bodies, to connect with nature, and to appreciate the moment. We make ourselves of service. We get to work. We focus on the task at hand.
And yet this weekend there is an offer on the table. An invite has landed on your doorstep to take a ride on a tidal wave.
If you accept, you’ll have to let go and surrender to emotion, while trusting somewhere in the back of your mind that your Virgoan preparation has created a solid enough container for you to completely let go.
Taking an emotional journey can at moments feel like you are being tumbled under water. But maybe you can catch the wave just right and crest high above the horizon line like a surfer. The emotional wave can bring freedom. A new intuitive perspective is available. When we are guided by our intuition, we can break into surprising new territory. The grind begins to feel like flow.
However, it can be hard to go with the current if we feel inherently unsteady. While drifting in the Pisces sea of feeling, Virgo energy can help us stay rooted in the moment. The key is to stay attuned to the body. Pay attention to your physicality and your breath. Meditation is the ultimate tool for at this 2018 Pisces Full Moon. Through attention to the micro (breath and body) the part of you that is pure consciousness can flow into the macro Piscean realm of heightened awareness.
There’s a lot of momentum to this Moon, as it forms a kite with the Sun, Uranus, and Saturn. The energy of a kite takes the solid base of the current earth grand trine (Sun in Virgo, Saturn in Capricorn, and Uranus in Taurus, all at 2 degrees on 8/26) and pushes it into flight. The push is toward emotion and intuition. What have you been building? What are you refining? And now, how do you want it to feel?
This momentum can help us build lives that are fully in alignment with our feelings and intuition. Our empathetic understanding of ourselves as part of something greater. It doesn’t have to happen fast. Nature moves slow. But we can use the energy of this Full Moon to tune into our feelings.
What path will your intuition light up for you? Open yourself to the waves to find out …
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Full Moon in a kite formation with the Sun, Uranus, and Saturn
Walking along a snowy mountain path, close to the edge.
You are going somewhere. The outlines of the journey aren’t crystal clear. There are moments when it’s hard to see the exact path, but you are still climbing. If you can look up, past trepidation, you might catch quite a view. Spiritual perspective is available, so nudge yourself toward it.
This perspective might filter in through fantasy and dreams. Ideas could drop in while you’re taking a shower or walking the dog. Let yourself be surprised. Because of Uranus’ influence, the path might take surprising turns. If you follow it without compulsively reaching for the map, you’ll open up space for creativity and change.
Saturn’s appearance in the kite formation is represented by the mountain. You’ve been building something all along. Yes, there are surprises and changes because of Uranus. But you are working with a solid base. The mountain is there. All you have to do is climb and trust your path.
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Full Moons are a time to gather. Use the below conversation-starters to help you journey deeper into the 2018 Pisces Full Moon together. Look for the house containing 3 degrees Pisces in your chart for the most accurate insights. Don’t know your chart? You can enter your birth details HERE to calculate it for free.
Aries // Aries Rising // Full Moon in the 12th house
“My last vivid dream was telling me …”
Taurus // Taurus Rising // Full Moon in the 11th house
“The thing that excites me most about my future is …”
Gemini // Gemini Rising // Full Moon in the 10th house
“I feel so proud of myself for …”
Cancer // Cancer Rising // Full Moon in the 9th house
“The teacher who has had the greatest influence on me lately is …”
Leo // Leo Rising // Full Moon in the 8th house
“The boundary that will allow me to let go fully is …”
Virgo // Virgo Rising // Full Moon in the 7th house
“I feel compassion in relationships when I …”
Libra // Libra Rising // Full Moon in the 6th house
“I am streamlining my life by …”
Scorpio // Scorpio Rising // Full Moon in the 5th house
“Being seen feels good because …”
Sagittarius // Sagittarius Rising // Full Moon in the 4th house
“The self-care practice that makes me feel safe is …”
Capricorn // Capricorn Rising // Full Moon in the 3rd house
“I am having lots of ideas about …”
Aquarius // Aquarius Rising // Full Moon in the 2nd house
“The craving I am ready to satisfy is …”
Pisces // Pisces Rising // Full Moon in the 1st
“Putting myself first would mean …”
VIRGO SEASON 2018: WORK YOUR PERSONAL MAGIC
Virgo Season 2018 will teach us the meaning of hard-earned, earthy worth. Bess Matassa introduces the key aspects of the season … PLUS Numinous resident astrologers Bess and Sandy go deeper on the themes in our all new Astrocast podcast
Step into the witchy sanctuary of your inner knowing. Virgo Season 2018 invites you to move to the rhythm of a more private dance, and wed yourself to an unshakable code that gives nothing away for free. It’s a subtle, soft-lit season for exploring your most elemental self, for divining your personal emotional weather patterns, and for rising to meet the moment with whatever resources you have on hand.
With Saturn and Mars stationing direct in Capricorn, and a tasty Grand Trine happening between the zodiac’s earth Goddess power trinity (Sun in Virgo, Saturn in Capricorn, and Uranus in Taurus), it’s a moment for embracing magical realism. How can you reframe the constraints and contours of the right here, right now, as the solid gold containers that support your creative liberation?
Venus also begins a slow roll through the leather and latex of intimately intense Scorpio this month, bringing a reminder that pleasure and pain don’t have to be polarized. That when we release judgement about our carnal cravings, a dose of friction can feel really good.
So plunge your hands into the rich chocolate earth, and bow at the altar of your own flesh and bones. Remember that your beautiful body is made of exactly the same stardust and precious stones that built the whole Universe, and that when the conditions are precisely right, there is magic to be mined in every moment…
Listen to the full Virgo Season 2018 report from Numinous resident astrologers Bess + Sandy HERE and get more on the season’s 4 key astro events from Bess below …
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Sun and Mercury in Virgo (Sun in Virgo 8.23-9.22; Mercury in Virgo 9.5-9.21) // Signature Scents
After the over-the-top glamorama of Leo Season, Virgo Season 2018 reminds us that divinity is in the details. While Virgo’s ability to parse out and assess can sometimes come across like crystal-cut critique, in its highest octave of expression this season urges us to embrace the full range of the tastes and particularities that make us human. Explore your own distinctive essence and sport it close to the skin with a signature scent. What is it that only you can contribute to this scratch and sniff world?
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Mars and Saturn station direct (Mars direct in Capricorn 8.27, enters Aquarius 9.10; Saturn direct in Capricorn 9.6) // Shoulder Pads
Mars and Saturn’s forward movements mark a moment of cosmic mojo, as we power up to face what frightens us and get schooled in the sweaty sweetness of the long haul. With Mars also entering Aquarius mid-month, braving your body against the bedrock of limitation will liberate future visions that are built on solid ground. Let constraint feel creatively juicy, as you play with shapes fit for ruling your personal corporate kingdom.
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Grand Earth trine between the Sun in Virgo, Saturn in Capricorn, and Uranus in Taurus (8.23-8.26) // Classic Hollywood Sirens
Virgo Season 2018 hosts a majestic meet-up between the zodiac’s luscious earth babes, and the invitation is to lotion up your life, and feed your senses with second and third helpings of everything delicious. In this energy, you have nothing to prove, so allow yourself to move more languidly through the world. Pamper yourself silly, be perpetually ready for your close-up, and channel the fine art of receiving with a nod to Classic Hollywood Sirens.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDbPYoaAiyc
Venus enters Scorpio (9.9) // Björk’s Human Behaviour
As Venus begins its long sojourn through the Scorpionic underworld (where it will remain until October 31st, after stationing retrograde on October 5th), we’re asked to get ripe and real about our carnal cravings and our desire for intimacy. This transit plunges beneath the surface of superficial love affairs to rock us to the red-hot magma core. Think soul-shaking, transformative partnerships, to a soundtrack of triple Scorpio Björk’s classic crash course through the human experience. Welcome to the romantic jungle.
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Read more from Bess on the styles, scents, flavors, and sounds of Virgo Season HERE.
NUMINOUS TAROTSCOPE AUGUST 23 2018: 6 OF CRYSTALS
As we dive into the measured medicine of Virgo season, the 6 of Crystals (Pentacles) invites us to find a balance between giving and receiving, says this month’s reader-in-residence, Lindsay Mack …
Lindsay’s Soul Tarot School is now open for enrollment too. An 8-week deep-dive into a lifetime’s Tarot wisdom, learn to read the cards for your own soul’s evolution an take your practice to the next level. Class begins October 4—check out all the details and reserve your space HERE!
SUNFLOWER BEAUTY FOR LEO SEASON
Wanna hang on to the Leo Season vibes a little longer? Eunice Lucero shares her top Sunflower beauty finds to have you shining on long after the Lioness has left the skies …
Leo Season brings the passionate, slightly #extra drama of Sunflower mythology.
According to Greek myth, the nymph Clytie, scorned lover of the Sun god Helios, resorts to staring at her ex for nine days without food, water, or clothing, in a show of unabashed lovesickness. She pines longingly as he rides by in his chariot, till she dies and is then transformed into a flower—the Sunflower.
Unlike its sad heroine, Sunflower seed oil is no martyr. Long celebrated in beauty circles for its moisturizing, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant benefits, as well as its heart health and energy boosting properties, Sunflower beauty provides a rainbow of good stuff both inside and out.
What better way to cap off the high summer than with smoother, more nourished skin and hair, increased vitality, to get you looking and feeling at the top of your game come fall?
**We’ve listed Sunflower beauty suggestions for each Leo placement, but these confidence boosters are for everyone. Curious about what planet and /or House Leo rules in your chart? You can do your birth chart HERE for free.
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1// Sun in Leo / Leo Ruling the 5th House: Languidly stretching out those last vestiges of summer is probably high on your agenda. Stay on the safer side with Badger Tinted Unscented Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 30, $15.99, 2.9oz, a certified organic natural sunscreen that also prolongs a sun-kissed complexion, while leaving no residue. Set off your late summer glow with Clarins 4-Colour All-in-One Pen, $30 (below), a fun lip-and-eye pen, in warm, desert-inspired shades.
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2// Moon in Leo / Leo ruling the 4th House: RMS Luminizer X Quad, $48, is a subtle yet high-impact shimmery highlighter, just be what an expressive, behind-the-scenes goddess like you needs to navigate the limelight. The silky payoff also speaks to your inner loyalist, who values quality output above all else. Alternatively, use a sponge to apply a few drops of calming vegan Pacifica Super Flower Rapid Response Face Oil, $16 (below), for a glow that puts even Mother Moon to shame.
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3// Ascendant in Leo / Leo Ruling the 1st House: A glorious lion’s mane deserves to be showcased in its highest, flashiest expression, i.e. thick, full, and brimming with a healthy-looking sheen. Rinsing with Andalou Naturals Sunflower & Citrus Brilliant Shine Shampoo, $9.95, a vitamin-laden shampoo containing fruit stem cells, will keep your locks in tip-top shape. There’s also no mistaking that classic magnetic leonine sex appeal, particularly when punctuated with RMS Lip Liner in Dressed Up Red, $20, a traffic-stopping lip liner sure to get your roars heard.
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4// Mercury in Leo / Leo Ruling the 6th House: Most times, an infectious enthusiasm and zest for life is enough to bring on your signatire blush of excitement; other times, faking it is the next best thing. Enter W3LL People Nudist Multi Use Cream Stick, $23.99, a no-nasty, natural-looking, sheer multi-stick that evokes a warm, satiny flush in seconds. Alima Pure Eye Primer, $20 is a vegan, gluten- and fragrance-free eye primer also keeps your shadow vibrant, for a more convincing twinkle in your eye.
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5// Venus in Leo / Leo Ruling the 7th House: Indulge in a seriously luxurious bath session with Leonor Greyl Huile Secret de Beauté, $66, a romantic hair-and-body oil with sunflower, apricot and almond, takes the edge off working your queenly duties (or running your empire) 24/7. Use as a pre-wash treatment or a styler on hair for sleek, frizz-free tresses. For the face, use as a skin moisturizer, then follow up with Alima Pure Pressed Foundation with Rosehip Antioxidant Complex, $34, a mineral pressed powder that leaves a beautiful, velvety smooth finish that’s selfie-ready.
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6// Mars in Leo / Leo Ruling the 1st House: Never one to shy from the heat of the matter, Le Labo Coffee Body Scrub, $44, is a robustly tactile body scrub that will appeal to your down-and-dirty aesthetic, which also skews rather minimalistic. Coffee and sunflower seeds exfoliate without the drag and help promote cell renewal, while priming you for the next step: a refreshing, straightforward (and nasty-free!) shower experience withLe Labo Mandarin Shower Oil, $30, to further energize and help you conquer the day ahead.
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7// Jupiter in Leo / Leo Ruling the 9th House: Goop Luminous Melting Cleanser by Juice Beauty, $90, is an award-winning gel cleanser with a generous blend of oils and butters to gives you the clean, wholesome pampering you deserve. Take the self-care party one step further with Juice Beauty USDA Organic Treatment Oil, $42, a potent certified organic anti-oxidant face oil, ideal for soothing and revitalizing dry spots and keeping your optimistic radiance on point. Shining for others means shining first for oneself!
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8// Saturn in Leo / Leo Ruling the 10th House: White & Elm Deep Pore Oil Cleanser, $18, will satisfy your skin OCD by drawing grime from your pores simply and efficiently. It also multi-tasks as a makeup remover and acts as the first step in a double-cleansing method, which is awesome, since you have that whole global takeover thing to oversee. Follow up with Elemis Superfood Day Cream, $45, a pre-biotic moisturizer that not only gives your skin a healthy dose of “supergreens,” but also balances its flora and which, like you, are big on protection.
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9// Uranus in Leo / Leo Ruling the 11th House: Your unconventional approach to beauty has you experimenting with creative new formulations on the reg. You favor those with a green angle, which speak to your humanitarian spirit—so Youth to the People Superfood Peptide Eye Cream, $35, an eye cream that blends scientific breakthrough with healthy superfoods is a no-brainer. Top things off with RMS Lip & Skin Balm, $25, an all-encompassing healing balm that satisfies your dramatic, ever-changing moods.
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10// Neptune in Leo / Leo Ruling the 12th House: Your super creative, theatrical approach to life has you gearing towards the Golden Age of Hollywood and all its trappings—so make Hi Wildflower Botanical Matte Lipstick in Mala, $27, a vampy, screen-siren red lip, a staple in your boudoir. Then have Vapour Organic Beauty Spirit Solid Perfume, $40, a sexy, enigmatic scent, pull your captivating femme fatale persona together.
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11// Pluto in Leo / Leo Ruling the 8th House: Your ego overcomes any adversity thrown its way, particularly when it demands a change in approach—which you’re always willing to take on with an open-mind. Sylveco Smoothing Facial Scrub, $25, is a moisturizing facial scrub, that leaves a delicate film after rinsing, making it perfect for skin that has renewed itself time and again. W3LL People Expressionist Mascara, $21.99, offers a “boundary-breaking” mascara formula, with a botanical blend and unique brush that will also appeal to your Plutonian laser-focus.
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12// *Bonus placement—Chiron in Leo: A few uses of Kiehl’s Sunflower Color Preserving Deep Recovery Pak, $25, a deep-conditioning, silicon- and paraben-free hair mask, and you’ll be confidently hair-flipping that crowning glory in no time. You can also boost your boldest self-expression with Paula’s Choice Skincare Perfect Cleansing Oil, $21.25, a renowned cleansing oil that’s got many an editor’s seal of approval. Bonus: a spritz with Pinrose Sun Saint Eau de Parfum Travel Spray, $24 (no sunflower oil, but with loads of fun!), a positive, summer-drenched fragrance, will help give you the elusive laid-back flamboyance you desire, all year long.
NUMINOUS WEEKLY HOROSCOPES AUGUST 20-26 2018
Get this week’s astro symbol for your sign with Sandy Sitron’s Numinous Weekly Horoscopes …
Virgo // Virgo Rising
Playing dice. You need to take a gamble. Think of it as a game. Allow yourself to have fun in the moment and just go for the option that feels best. You can’t control the outcome, but you can finesse the experience. So go with the roll and keep your mindset positive. After all, you’re here on Earth to play.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandy here or follow her on Instagram.
Libra // Libra Rising
A puffy cloud of cotton candy. The world can become less real and more fantastical. Cotton candy is a little bit unreal— a fantasy food. How can you make your everyday experience more out-of-this world? Leave reality and drift into the star-scape. You don’t need to make such a big deal out of all the earthly details. Dream instead.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandy here or follow her on Instagram.
Scorpio // Scorpio Rising
Following the scent. Follow your nose. Where does your trail end? Where does it lead? What are you looking for? Are you merely following the scent or are you also determining the destination? Why not do a little of both? Set your mind on the feeling you want to embody, and then follow your path as it lights up ahead of you. You’ll get there in good time.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandy here or follow her on Instagram.
Sagittarius // Sagittarius Rising
Pushing a path through tall grasses. Clear the way. You have come so far. You have journeyed long. You may not see the destination but you are in a position of leadership. Make the moves you need to make, especially when it comes to your career. This is an activating time so don’t hold back. You can meet your goals.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandy here or follow her on Instagram.
Capricorn // Capricorn Rising
Ice skating. If you take away distractions and remove any friction, you can fly across the surface of the ice. This symbol represents speed and clarity. Move quickly and go after what you want. Be more philosophical so that you smooth out the mental pathway. This will help you stay on target. Have fun exploring your terrain. Push any nonsense out of the way and cut across the ice with a clear direction.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandy here or follow her on Instagram.
Aquarius // Aquarius Rising
Sprouting seeds. Start fresh. This is a time for renewal. Let go of the past and offer yourself a rebirth. Maybe you do so through ritual or emotional release. Maybe you release the past with the help of therapy or energy work. Remember that starting fresh is an option when you are present in the moment. Every moment is new.
Pisces // Pisces Rising
A flower blooms. An opening is available. Open your mind and heart to the potential of connection. You have more petals to peel back, more layers to release. Everything has a season and there’s no reason to force any of this. But if you can relax and trust, you’ll find that you’re more available in your relationships.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandy here or follow her on Instagram.
Aries // Aries Rising
Sprinkling fish food into the pond. Tend to the details. When you take good care of yourself and others, every moment becomes more special. Don’t just go through the motions. Pay close attention to your movements and actions so that you’re operating with a sense of service instead of obligation. When you treasure each moment, everything that you do becomes an offering.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandy here or follow her on Instagram.
Taurus // Taurus Rising
Candy necklaces. It’s time for some sensuous decoration. Bedazzle yourself with jewels. Live larger than life. Every bite you take is like eating sweet diamonds. You sparkle inside and out, so revel in your royalty. Let your inner queen and king arise. There’s no time to play it small. Let the world know who you are.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandy here or follow her on Instagram.
Gemini // Gemini Rising
Baby blanket. What’s your snuggly quilt? What helps you feel comfortable and safe? It’s time to destress. To retreat into a safe and comfortable zone. Keeping a hard shell exterior takes energy, so go somewhere where you don’t need to be on the defensive. Let yourself melt. Let go of the struggle so that you can truly rest and restore.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandy here or follow her on Instagram.
Cancer // Cancer Rising
The noisy ecosystem of the marshlands. Croaks and chirps echo out into a cacophony of sound. You have a lot to say. Share your message. Find your own vibrant ecosystem. What kind of connection do you crave? What discussion would lighten your mood and help you shift your mindset? Connect with like-minds. Share your thoughts. Keep the vibration high while you do so.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandy here or follow her on Instagram.
Leo // Leo Rising
A family heirloom. You have a legacy. We all do. You have history. We all do. Connect with your roots. Remember what you have. Meditate on how far you’ve come. You are stable and secure in deep and powerful ways. The ideas is to align with that depth. Visualize the root of your soul, the place that is unshakable. Your higher self holds a record of your true security.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandy here or follow her on Instagram.
THE 2018 SCORPIO WAXING MOON WANTS YOU TO MAKE MAGIC
In the wake of a heavy-hitting Eclipse season, the 2018 Scorpio Waxing Moon beckons us back into our magic, and reminds us of the potent divinity in pure desire, says Jennifer Racioppi …
Waxing Quarter Moon / August 18 2018 / 3:48am EST / 25 degrees Scorpio
With some of the sweetest transits of the summer upon us, the 2018 Scorpio Waxing Quarter Moon brings a heavy dose of magic.
Ready to dig in? August 18th’s early morning opening square ushers in divinity, and reconnects us to the healing that happens when we embrace our deepest desires …
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//The Cycle//
This Waxing Quarter Moon comes on the heels of the August 11 partial Solar New Moon Eclipse of Leo. This eclipse asked us to launch a vision that will carry us through the next 19 years. NBD, right?!
Given the intensity of the summer transits thus far—3 eclipses and 6 major planets in retrograde—the universe has been priming us to leave old patterns in the past and to begin to reach out for something new. The most recent eclipse provided the perfect opportunity to plant the seeds for a fresh beginning. What was stirring for you last weekend? How can you keep watering the seeds?
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//The Transits//
With Jupiter, the planet of good luck and good fortune, in an exact trine to Neptune at the time of the Waxing Quarter Moon, truthfully, ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.
One of the sweetest aspects of 2018, and which will last through August 23, Jupiter trine Neptune (a water trine) brings deep healing and mystical potential. Further, with Mercury simultaneously stationing direct after a multi-week retrograde cycle, be prepared for your intuition to feel vibrantly lucid. Tap in and listen.
To sweeten the pot even more, Mercury sextiles loving Venus at the same time. Put your mind towards what you want to create. Now is the time to attune yourself to your deepest desires.
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//The Square//
The Sun in fun-loving, fiery Leo, makes a challenging angle to the Moon in penetrative, watery Scorpio, both at 25 degrees. Yet, together, fire and water create steam.
While squares usually suggest curveballs and challenges, this one brings with it a deep sense of playful intimacy. Leo, after all, brings a heavy dose of fun, while Scorpio goes deep. Given the five-star aspects surrounding this waxing square, all signs point to this mash-up bringing a heightened creative and sexual tension that you can feel all the way to the bedroom—whether you’re playing solo or with a partner(s).
In terms of healing, this is also a potent time to dive into your shadow work. The Scorpio Moon won’t let you off the hook, while the Sun in Leo brings the courage to face any demons.
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//The Opportunity//
This Waxing Quarter Moon brings with it an aura of holiness. Use it to get clear on your vision and take time to really commit to your goals.
Sanctify your time in such a way that you have space to digest what it is you really want. Be mindful of your speech. Journal out your difficult emotions. Commit to shining a light into your darkest shadows.
Don’t back down. Take a stand. And with your stake firmly in the ground, have some fun with it! With the Sun in Leo, Mercury stationing direct and sextile Venus, and Jupiter trines Neptune, the weekend has the feel of an astrological holy day. Embrace the intensity and dare yourself to enjoy it!
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If you’re in NYC this weekend, join Numinous founder Ruby Warrington for her Sober Curious Writer’s Group + Community Brunch at Divya’s Kitchen—safe and supportive space to journal and commune on the 2018 Scorpio Waxing Moon!
NUMINOUS TAROTSCOPE AUGUST 16 2018: KING OF SWORDS
As Mercury prepares to station direct, the King of Swords urges us to speak a powerful truth that starts in the heart and rocks the world around us, says this month’s reader-in-residence, Lindsay Mack …
Lindsay’s Soul Tarot School is now open for enrollment too. An 8-week deep-dive into a lifetime’s Tarot wisdom, learn to read the cards for your own soul’s evolution an take your practice to the next level. Class begins October 4—check out all the details and reserve your space HERE!
