With her new book Craft: How To Be A Modern Witch, Gabriela Herstik—one of our first ever Numinous contributors!—says it’s witches who really run the world …
Four year ago I got an email from a student at the University of South Carolina. “Let’s just say Columbia isn’t necessarily forgiving of those who chose to dress how they want and stand out,” she wrote. “My all black attire, bright red lipstick and half shaved head make me the recipient of many side eyes, but my own personal style has never faltered or strayed.” Her name was Gabriela Herstik, and she pitched a story for the Numinous on dressing to honor the Death Card in the tarot. And in doing so, became one of my first ever contributors to the site!
Gaby continued to write for me over the years, going on to become an official intern and one of our Moon Club Founding members. It’s been AMAZING to watch her career grow and blossom, as she graduated college, went to intern at Vivienne Westwood, and got her writing published everywhere from i-D to Broadly. She landed a column at Nylon called “Ask A Witch.” And when she told me this time last year that she’s been asked to write a book about modern witchcraft, it was as if the cosmos had fully aligned!
Gaby’s book, Craft: How to Be A Modern Witch, is out today. And her take on what makes a witch—”The witch is anyone who does things differently, by her own rules, attuned to her own self and magick”—reminds me of a line from her first email to me. “I’ve had to grow a tough skin to stay true to myself in parts of the south that don’t understand what it means to be different,” she wrote.
How to have a tough skin (boundaries, people) while keeping your heart wide open is one of the messages in her book. Here’s what else she told me about the witches who really rule the world, and how she’s honoring the lineage of witches who came before us …
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RUBY WARRINGTON: In the intro, you say it’s witches who really run the world. Who are some of your favorite inspirational witches, and why? GABRIELA HERSTIK: We do run the world! An empowered woman who knows her own magick has always been a threat to the patriarchy and I stand by that! There are so many amazing witches out there. I think the first time I was truly introduced to powerful witches were in Harry Potter. Hermione Granger, Luna Lovegood, Professor Trelawney, Professor Mcgonagall—they all inspired my magick.
So did Oprah. I’ve been following her and her “super soul Sunday” show for years with my mom, and her insight, wisdom and power have been inspiring me for over a decade. Sybil Leek And Doreen Valiente are both historic witches who have inspired my own practice as well, reminding me that my strength and power and witchiness are forces to be reckoned with and that using my writing is a valid way of spreading my magick. Yoko Ono, one of my favorite fellow Aquarians, has also inspired me to be revolutionary without shame, showing that love and peace should always be fought for with an open heart and compassionate mind.
Starhawk is a JeWitch who has helped me embrace my own inner priestess, and has helped me deepen my craft and practice—she’s amazing! Goddesses and figures like Hecate and Lilith have reminded me of my own darkness as a gift, and that my non-conforming nature is something to be celebrate, curated and cultivated more than it needs to be shamed!
RW: In your book, you identify “the one without children” as one possible marker of a witch. This is me Gaby! Does the fact I never wanted to have kids show I’ve always been a witch? GH: YES! A witch has always been someone who doesn’t abide by society’s (or in many cases the church’s) rules! You taking control over your own body and future by not having kids, (even though society tells us that we must follow the path of having a job, a spouse and children to be valid) means that you are claiming sovereignty over your future and self. You’re going against the grain and honoring your own needs, feelings and emotions, which in my opinion is the basis of magick!
A witch is empowered, not by an outside force, but by herself. And in a society that tells us we must conform to be worthy, doing what you want for yourself and your own sake isn’t only the witch’s calling, but it’s also revolutionary.
RW: Why is cultivating a Moon practice—like we do in Moon Club—the first step towards activating your inner witch? GH: Many of us naturally are enamored with the moon. She been there for as long as the earth (4.53 BILLION YEARS) which means that we are looking at the same moon that generations and generations of ancient (and modern) people have. The moon represents and rules over our emotional bodies, our intuition, our connection to the feminine; the subtle, all knowing, feeling part of ourselves that’s in everyone, regardless of gender. No matter where we live, we can look up and see the moon.
It doesn’t cost anything and it doesn’t matter what religion or spiritual path you follow—the moon is there, and she cycles through her 28 days all the same. Cultivating a moon based practice is an easy way to get in touch with the subtle aspects of our soul, and an even easier way to chart our own growth alongside that of the moon. Starting at the new moon, the beginning of the moon’s cycles, we focus on what we want to grow as the moon’s light grows or waxes, up until the full moon.
The Full Moon is a time of completion and manifestation, and after that when she starts to lose light or wane, we focus on what we want to release. This is such an easy way to start learning about your own cycles and energies, and for those of us who bleed, the moon also imitates our own cycles. The moon is just the most inspiring, beautiful, magical being. I love her and I don’t think I know a witch who doesn’t!
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RW: What was the most important step in you “coming out”and standing proud in your witchiness? GH: Believing in my witchiness and my power! As far as physical moments, shaving off half my hair seven years ago is what I credit as my initiation as a fashion witch. It’s the first time I used the power of glamour and rebellion to transform my style and it’s what really launched my exploration of personal style.
In a broader sense, writing this book has been the biggest step in coming into my power as a witch. At the end of 2016 I decided I was going to write about witchcraft less, but the universe had other plans for me! I’ve had many incarnations as a witch (the old saying “once a witch, always a witch” rings true) and a lot of them have not ended well. Not only am I breaking this karma by embracing the title of “witch” and helping other people find their magick, but I’m also transforming the karma of my ancestry in this life.
I grew up Jewish and am ethnically Jewish as well. I had over 70 members of my family in concentration camps, including my paternal grandparents. The fact I can openly talk about being a witch, the fact that I have made a career out of sharing this practice and belief system, when my family members were killed and abused for their religious beliefs, is not lost on me. Coming out as a witch in the public eye, has been a lot of things but the most important thing is that that I’ve learned is that this is who I am. This is where my power lies. This is my path and my magick and embracing it, sharing it with others and spreading wisdom is why I’m here!
RW: What’s the last spell you cast and what was the result? GH: The last spell I cast was at the New Moon for presence, gratitude, sex, abundance, magick and love—it’s still going (I’ve burned the candle every day since the last New Moon) but I’ve definitely been more in tune with all of those things. I did a spell last night using my rose quartz chakrub and sex magick to remove some blocks I have around my heart as “protection” and the result was some really intense, scary dreams that brought to surface some of my fears and areally intense feeling of centered peace this morning.
RW: What’s your favorite way to honor the lineage of the witches that came before us? GH: I love this question! My favorite way to honor them is to honor my own ancestry through working with fashion magick, since both sides of my family are weavers, seamstresses and in the garment industry. As far as the witches who came before me, being vocal about how lucky we are to live in a place and time where we can openly call ourselves witches and practice witchcraft is a huge part of my practice.
My work and passion is sharing information about connecting with witchcraft and magick and goddess. This work, including my blogs and columns and articles and my book, are all dedicated to the witches who have come before me. The legacy of the witch lives on in many ways, and she absolutely lives on in me. By shedding light on witchcraft, by making it accessible, by holding space in my heart for those whose shoulders I stand on, I honor this lineage of witches.
As we emerge from our wintry cocoon and head toward the Spring Equinox, how do we keep worldly ambitions aligned with our intuition? Greta Solomon shows us exactly how to support our soul goals by balancing hustle and flow …
Greta gets her hustle on
There’s never been a better time to be a self-driven woman with big dreams, and a big heart. In the past, we were taught to err on the side of caution when it came to career. When I left my full-time gig to go freelance in 2002, I was warned not to leave gaps in my resumé.
Now, taking a year out is seen as decidedly grown-up. It’s all about the side hustles, taking big leaps, and embracing the highs and lows of being your own boss.
But to truly succeed on your own path, is about more than simply “making it happen.” It also means being in the creative flow. Without mastering this, it’s easy to feel stifled and frustrated, as you try to muscle through inevitable blocks.
In the corporate world, we’re taught to operate in fight or flight mode. Success often means “putting out fires” and dealing with crises. Many of us have absorbed this mentality. That work is all about pushing, striving and achieving linear goals. That it requires stress and strain.
But to get your own business off the ground—and see it thrive—we need to exist in an Alpha brain state. The state of being alert yet relaxed, this is where you can access your intuition, and write, think and speak most freely.
Read on for my tips for dipping into your Alpha, and using your flow to fuel a successful business …
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1// Schedule flow time in your diary Meaning blocks of time where you deliberately do activities that create flow—ESPECIALLY when you have deadlines and tons on your “to-do” list. You could have a head-clearing walk, do a workout, or chop some veggies to make a big salad. Cooking, driving, running and showering help you get out of your mind and into your body. Listening to music at 60 beats per minute can also get you in an Alpha state, priming you to do your best work. Find what works for you.
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2// Make important decisions when you’re in your flow Five years ago, most of my writing skills training clients were sales teams in the corporate world. So, a coach advised me to call myself a “sales expert” and totally ignore the fact that I taught writing. This was VERY, VERY wrong advice, that led me away from my true path. At the time, I was juggling a new baby and a newly-published book. I was frazzled and couldn’t think straight. I recommend using your flow time to carefully consider your big career choices.
Greta in full flow
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3// Know your personality type, so you can do things YOUR way Do you know your Myers-Briggs personality type (you can take a free version HERE)? Having this info means you’re less likely to second guess yourself when it comes to the BIG decisions. For example, I’m an “INFP” type, which means I’m introverted, sensitive and rely on intuition to make choices. I’m unconventional and enjoy working alone, but my empathic nature means I also connect very well with people. Knowing my type has helped me to feel confident about building a business based on writing, speaking and coaching.
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4// Plan and plan some more—because creativity also needs a container But don’t just sit at a computer and make spreadsheets. Go on quarterly or yearly planning retreats, where you switch off from everything and map out your vision in both pictures and words. Creativity is truly your secret weapon when it comes to business success. After all, there are no new ideas, products or services—it’s all about your unique spin on things.
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5// Sometimes you just need to hustle hard It’s fine to hustle when you need to—when the deadlines are stacked up, opportunities are popping, and there are bills to pay. But do it consciously and mindfully. Keep your time in the Beta energy zone to a minimum. Then schedule plenty of time to rest and recover afterwards—as well as some space to just go with the flow!
Ultimately, there is no short cut to building your own business. But knowing exactly where you’re putting your energy and why, will help to prevent burnout. It’s about learning to protect your sacred creative time, so you can hustle with heart, and create a business that lasts.
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Greta Solomon is an author, creative writing coach, business writing trainer and former journalist for British newspapers and magazines. She is the author of “Just Write It! How to Develop Top-Class University Writing Skills” (McGraw-Hill, 2013) and the forthcoming book “Heart, Soul & Sass: Write Your Way to a Fully-Expressed Life” (pre-order it HERE from April 15th for fab bonuses). She lives in South West London with her husband and daughter, runs creative writing workshops for bloggers and the business world, and coaches people to bring their own books to life. Connect with her on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
In the first official installment of his monthly column, Queer Hero, Danny Brave shares his journey to discover the name that reflected his true identity. PLUS how you can cast your own name spell …
Over the course of my journey as not only a transgender man, but also as a shamanic healer, I’ve discovered the power of our own names (both given and chosen).
I lived most of my life being called Katie Greene, moving through several different iterations and identity crises, only to discover, or rather re-member, that I am Danny Brave. Now when I say “re-member,” what I actually mean is the opposite of dis-member: to put myself back together, to become more whole.
Read on to discover my name changing story, and discover how you can cast a name spell on your own life …
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Releasing my ancestral line In the Fall of 2015, “Katie,” first started to feel like it was not really me any more. After remembering the sexual assault I experienced as a child (read more about my sexual reclamation after incest HERE), the name was feeling more and more like a fake smile—something that I did often when I was living that identity. If you say “Katie” out loud, you’ll notice your mouth even takes the shape of a smile at the “ie” part.
After remembering what had actually happened to me as a kid, there was, not surprisingly, no more fake smiles left in me, and my full birth name “Kaitlin” began to feel more appropriate. This name felt darker, more serious, and more powerful—a reflection of my energy at the time. This was the name I was called when the abuse happened to me, and it facilitated me in re-membering and reclaiming some of the darkest moments of my life.
With “Kaitlin” in place, I started to search for a replacement for “Greene,” a name that belonged to my father and his father—a name that to me denoted false Irish family pride, toxic Catholicism, and all of the lies and abuse that had been passed down my ancestral line. This line would decidedly end with me, and it would end via the ritual of literally releasing this last name and claiming a new one for myself. This change-of-name spell happened gradually over a long period of time …
Was I “Brave” enough? “Brave,” first came to me in December 2015 at the Barnes and Noble in the town where I grew up, where one fateful night I noticed a little green book with the gold shiny words titled “Brave Enough” by Cheryl Strayed winking at me from the shelves.
Strayed’s memoir “Wild” had come to me a few months prior, shortly after the volcanic repressed memory eruption and was like a little twinkling ray of hope from God, a love letter to my soul. It was a story that had a lot of trauma, death, and addiction—that was totally true, and often brutally honest. In her memoir, Cheryl literally gives herself the last name “Strayed” and changes it legally to reflect more honestly whom she knew she really was. Someone who had, in more ways than one, strayed.
I opened “Brave Enough” and read: “Hello, fear. Thank you for being here. You’re my indication that I’m doing what I need to do.” I wasn’t leaving without the store without it.
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Dancing in my own words … “Brave Enough” came with me in my bag to India a month later, where I was attending a women’s dance-healing retreat, and a self-imposed writer’s retreat.
Every morning I would dance for 2-3 hours with a beautiful group of women, and every afternoon I would write alone, mostly poetry, and sometimes for hours and hours. It seemed like the energy of “Brave” had already started working on me, giving me the courage to re-claim my authentic voice, and I wrote and wrote about everything as honestly as I could handle at that time. I transmuted abuse memories that spontaneously arrived in the morning dance class, channeling those feelings and vibrations into words, vomiting the poison out of my system.
During my time in India, without thinking much about it, I switched my email address to reflect the last name “Brave.” My old last name just kind of slipped off—like the wind blowing a piece of fabric off of a rock. It was just so ridiculously obvious that “Brave” was my name, and that it now belonged to me.
As I prepared for the journey back to the States, I realized I could never go back to my parents’ home. No longer sharing a last name with any family member, “Brave” carried me onward, forcing me to individuate myself from my family and preparing me to stand on my own two feet.
Becoming Danny Brave When I started to realize that I was a guy (which is really a whole other story), I was initially so uncomfortable with myself and scared that I wanted to die. At the same time, there was an immediate ease with which my first name arrived—it was Danny. I just kind of knew, it was a lightning bolt that zapped the crown of my head in meditation.
But the name and my body and life at that time felt too at odds, and I was living too far away from where I knew I could feel supported enough to transition. Desperate for some sort of change, but not yet able to feel safe enough to fully step into Danny, I switched my first name again, this time to “Kate.”
I took a part-time gig as an assistant to a jewelry designer. “Ooo, I love your last name … I think that ‘brave’ means a female warrior” the woman I worked for told me. I Googled it and discovered that it in fact meant MALE warrior. “Oh dear god,” I thought with terror. I was being called out, pushed out of the closet, by my own last name! As I started to prepare myself to face the fact that I was not, and never have been, a woman, I knew that “Kate,” a female name and the one my dad would use whenever he yelled at me, would have to go.
When I showed up to my first trans-masculine support group, late and shaking, I simply said “I’m Brave.” As I would to the random barista, just to practice having a different name with no clear gender. Just to have to say it out loud to remember I was courageous, to cling to the one true part of me over which I had ownership.
The affirmation of my last name would eventually lead me to admitting to the real first one, Danny, a month or so later in my support group.
The vibration of Danny has lead me home to my ultimate truth: that of a flamboyant little gay boy who loved to play dress up, loved watching figure skating, loved to paint, draw, and dance. The real me, only now a man. Sometimes the most loveable parts of ourselves are the most hard-won.
I was recently joking with a new friend, saying to her that I gave myself the last name of “Brave” so that I would constantly have to strive to live up to it. “I don’t think that’s true,” she said. “Names are spells. You don’t even have to try, it’s just you now, and it’s how your life will unfold.” Looking back on this story, I can see that she was right.
How to cast your own name spell Your name(s) (past and present) carry a meaning and vibration that is worth exploring! Being curious about what is underneath your name may lead you to a deeper understanding of your family dynamic, about what remains to be healed within you, and about your life path and purpose.
The following exercises are for you to explore your true feelings about your name(s) so that you can either reclaim it with your own meaning, intention, or vibration, or maybe even choose a new one for yourself!
1// Call your own name Start with either your first or last name—whichever one you want to explore and play with first. Then, if you wish, you can follow up with your second name:
Close your eyes. Put your hand on your heart. Take a few deep breaths. Say your first name three times. What do you feel? Does this name feel like you? What do you feel in your body when you say it? What comes up for you? Honor whatever it is and trust your feelings. Know that if your name doesn’t feel like a match for the real you, there is one that is.
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2// Free associate You can do this with your current name, or play with a different one that you have in mind.
Take out a piece of paper and a pen. At the top, make two columns if you don’t have a middle name, and three if you do. Under each column, without thinking, write stream-of-consciousness based off of each of your names (if you are trans-identified, I recommend you do this with both your birth name and your chosen one). Then, take a moment to read your associations. Our names carry so much energy, don’t they?!
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3// Take an inner child name inventory You may want to use a pen and piece of paper for this one as well:
Consider or write down answers to the following: Was there a name that you really loved as a kid? Is there a name that you really love now? What did you name your pets, your dogs, your dolls when you were little? Is there a celebrity or friend whose name you admire? Is there a name you have always loved and wish that you had? What would happen if you tried it on for a minute, like trying on a new dress or shirt?
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4// Play with your gender identity Don’t take this one too seriously or freak yourself out—try to have fun and maintain an attitude of light playfulness! Now, let’s do some name-drag:
If you identify as a woman, imagine for a moment that you are a man. What would your name be? If you are a man, imagine for a moment that you are a woman. What would your name be? What does it feel like to call yourself by this pretend name? What spell would this name cast on your life?
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5// Know that you are worthy of your real name In the USA (in the larger cities in particular), we are so privileged to live at a time where we can exercise our free will to become more of the person that we really are. Know that if you are unhappy with your current name, or if you don’t feel like it is truly yours, you can, in fact, change it. The same goes for your life! If you don’t like it, you do, in fact, have the power to change it.
Beyond gender identity, I hope that you feel you are worthy of the real you. You deserve to love your name, which is to say, you deserve to love yourself. I know that if you follow your heart and trust your gut, you will find (or re-member) your real name.
**If you are a transgender individual living in the U.S., please visit my list of resources for trans individuals HERE
Danny Brave is a shamanic healer, writer, public speaker, and artist. In his private practice, he specializes in helping women and individuals assigned female at birth overcome the affects of sexual trauma. He conducts monthly LGBTQIA Shamanic Healing Circles at Brooklyn’s Maha Rose (sign up for the next one HERE) with the intention of creating safe, sober spaces for queer people to heal, and to amplify marginalized voices. He loves to paint, dance, and spend time in nature.
Get this week’s astro symbol for your sign in our Numinous weekly horoscopes by Sandra Sitron …
Pisces :: Pisces Rising A half-shell. So much opportunity is available to you now. Notice the gifts that you’ve been given in this life. Wrap them up and present them on a half-shell. Re-give them to yourself. Honor yourself as the pearl that you are. Because this is the truth that lies inside each of us. Finding ways to prove to yourself that you are special will help you find the expansion that you are ready for. This is a dreamy time. So be dreamy— journal, meditate and look for the magic that exists in every moment. Each of these actions will help you remember that you are a gift.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandrahere or follow her on Instagram.
Aries :: Aries Rising A stampede of horses. Gather your energy and drive forward. But don’t worry if you aren’t sure how or where to go. You are working out some kind of riddle, so don’t quit. Keep driving forward. Look for the small moments of harmony. Look for the beauty that already surrounds you. Don’t try to figure it all out right now, but continue directing your energy toward a goal. This is how you work through it.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandrahere or follow her on Instagram.
Taurus :: Taurus Rising Panning for gold. There is support all around you. You have to get focused and examine your resources. Resources come in unexpected forms— your friends, your partners, your community. You are wealthy. Do a thorough examination of your resources and support systems. To convince yourself that you are truly safe, old beliefs may need to be examined. Your dreams hold great meaning right now. Keep looking for the the answers on every level of mind.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandrahere or follow her on Instagram.
Gemini :: Gemini Rising A field filled with tiny yellow flowers. The flowers blend together and look like a streak of yellow splashed across the landscape. This is a good omen for your career. The yellow flowers are abundant and they symbolize happiness. Notice each individual flower. Take good care of all the details of your life— simple healthy routines will bring you great nourishment. But don’t lose sight of the big picture either. Notice how you can give back to your greater community. Acts of service on big and small levels will help you realize your career dreams.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandrahere or follow her on Instagram.
Cancer :: Cancer Rising Carving into a block of wood. Using the concentric circles in the woodgrain to create a work of art. You are centered in the middle of concentric circles. How can you use your awareness of the big wide world to help you feel centered and creative. Get out of your head and gain some perspective. Let yourself remember what is truly meaningful. Do something creative. These things will remind you that there’s more to life than just your current situation.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandrahere or follow her on Instagram.
Leo :: Leo Rising A herd of giraffes walk across the plain. Connecting with your family will help you feel like you know where you are going. Keep attending to feelings of love and harmony. Look for proof that you’re connected rather than separate. And notice that the more you get above it all by gaining perspective, the better you feel. Instead of being in reaction mode, focus on memories of love and hope for the future. Connect with these feelings through playfulness and enthusiasm.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandrahere or follow her on Instagram.
Virgo :: Virgo Rising Calligraphy on the page. You can communicate in a way that is beautiful and harmonious. You’ve grown so much and your mind is expanding. The good news is that you’ve been healing outdated thought patterns. Find a way to express yourself that is lovely and loving. When you approach your communication with a desire to create more peace in the world, you are gifted in return. In this way, you will always win. Leave pettiness aside and strive for complete harmony while maintaining the appropriate boundaries.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandrahere or follow her on Instagram.
Libra :: Libra Rising Seagulls scatter. You can rest. Get to your version of the beach. Watch the life that is going on around you. There are a couple of key things to remember. The first is that you have the resources that you need to do what you want to do. Even if it doesn’t feel like it. The second is that you need to take care of yourself and setting up a daily routine is a good start. The last is that if you strive for complete honesty in your partnerships you will remember to be honest with yourself.
Scorpio :: Scorpio Rising The fortress stands on the edge of a peninsula. A fort is built to protect a treasure. In this story you are the treasure. You are the shining star and you need to protect yourself. Protect your enthusiasm, your heart and your special way of being in the world. Everyone else sees the magic that you share, but sometimes it’s hard for you to recognize it yourself. You don’t have to hide any of this behind walls, but you do need to nurture and protect these gifts that you are meant to share. And when the time is right, let them shine out into the world with brilliance. Spend time in silent meditation to access these gifts fully.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandrahere or follow her on Instagram.
Sagittarius :: Sagittarius Rising A goat climbs the mountain. You continue to search for a way up. Your drive is strong and automatic. So let it be what it is— recognize that you are continuing to move forward and up. And meanwhile let yourself flow with your emotions. Take care of your inner child. Make sure she feels nurtured and safe. So that you can continue onward and upward. Don’t skip any steps, you need to tend to yourself on all levels of body and mind so that you can reach as high as you want to go.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandrahere or follow her on Instagram.
Capricorn :: Capricorn Rising Sledding through snow. Cut right to the point. Fly through your ideas like a sled through fresh powder. You are exactly where you need to be. Even if your mind is telling you otherwise, you are exactly on time. When you reach the bottom of the mountain you’ll want to run to the top and do it again. So enjoy this. Learn from what’s happening now. Let things be easier than you think they should be. See everything as a learning experience. Get your friends involved when necessary. And then fly forward quickly.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandrahere or follow her on Instagram.
Aquarius :: Aquarius Rising A telescope turns into a kaleidoscope. You can zoom in on the details. And then you can shift the focus and transform your viewpoint into magic. First it’s necessary to get realistic and grounded. Attend to your money and physical needs. And when that becomes too much, shift your mind to hope and possibility. Make your earthly plans with a sense of otherworldly magic. Believe that you can go achieve anything your heart can dream up. It’s safe to dream big.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandrahere or follow her on Instagram.
Looking to add some spice to your divination practice? Alessandra Calderin gives us a crash course in Sex Tarot 101, and uncovers how you can start casting cards between the sheets …
The Tarot is a mirror and a tool that reflects archetypal imagery that spans the spirals of the human experience. It allows us to connect to ourselves (and our Selves) because we intuitively understand these images. Sexuality is as primal and instinctual in us as the need to eat, sleep and breathe, and so the cards can reflect the ways in which our power, intuition, and connection manifest through our sexuality.
So WTF is a “sex tarot” reading?? There are so many ways to draw cards and create spreads to explore sex and desire! Here are 4 ways to get started …
1// Pull a “desire” spread. Pull cards asking what your subconscious desires are, what might be blocking them, and how to work through that block. The possibilities are endless!
Start with a simple 6 card spread:
Card 1: What is my heart’s desire? Card 2: What is blocking me from fulfilling it? Card 3: What is my deeper unconscious desire? Card 4: What is preventing me from seeing this? Card 5: How can I balance and integrate these desires? Card 6: What can I shed to make space for their fulfillment?
2// Do a sacral chakra reading. Explore the seat of your sexuality by diving into the 4 “sides” of this chakra. The more you look at the pelvis and your desire as linked to your creativity, the more you start feeling how they ebb and flow together, and the more tools you have to work through both.
Card 1: Front of the sacral chakra. How does your sexuality appear to others? What is your exhibition style? Card 2: Right side. How do you manifest sexuality and creativity in the world? Card 3: Back. What experience of your sexuality do you hold onto? Card 4: Left side. How do you receive creative inspiration, the desire of others, and pleasure?
3// Masturbate with the Majors. You can also use Tarot for masturbation and sex magic practices by meditating on the archetypes of the Major Arcana or court cards.
Choose whatever cards are ruled by planets or signs that show up strongly in your birth chart, where the Moon is hanging out, what astro season we’re in, or just pull a Major and start working with it at random. You might even choose one you have trouble with (like when I pulled Justice- I was bummed by how unsexy that card might be on the surface, but there was powerful medicine in that feeling and the resulting meditation!)
Most recently, for the Super Blue Blood Moon in Leo on 1/31 during Aquarius season, I meditated on Strength (because Leo rules it) and The Star (because Aquarius rules). I let those two figures guide me as I touched, explored, played with my hands and my favorite toy (Njoy Pure Wand). As I was getting ready to orgasm, these two images reassured me that my sexuality and desire were a gift, and sacred sources of feminine power.
4// And channel the deck’s sexiest cards to unlock pure magic! I could probably make an argument for the sexual energy of every card, but this is a good place to start. Explore how you feel about these cards and the kind of pleasure they channel, or isolate the pack and draw one as your teacher of the moment.
*She/He pronouns refer to the archetypal genders of masculine and feminine energy. These figures are figuratively gendered, but anatomically genderless.
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:: Strength :: In the Thoth, Strength is actually called Lust. Some interpretations say it’s the taming of desire, but I would say it’s more like mastery over desire. Taming connotes that there is too much desire and you need to control it. In this context, I see her as the master of her desire in a world that denies her that power. Your desire becomes sacred fuel the moment you master it.
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:: The Empress :: The Empress is receptive. She is how I learned to receive pleasure without having to think about reciprocating in that moment. She allows herself to be fully nourished, filled to the brim with love, pleasure, and affection, but she also rides and caresses like a goddess. She bestows the gift of her mouth upon you and it’s like drinking an unearthly elixir with her kisses and nibbles and expertly executed oral.
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:: The Emperor :: The Emperor might be a surprise for this, but as the Empress’s counterpart, he allows her to unleash. He’s like a very good Dom, providing the container for every expression of kink you might wish to explore safely. You want to be tied up, spanked, penetrated in out of the ordinary ways? He reads your body language, pushes the edges, and knows your limits before you even need to utter a safe word. The master of boundaries, he’s here to teach you how to consent so enthusiastically you forget what ambiguity feels like.
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:: The Moon :: The Moon represents the wild woman running naked in the woods and howling at the Moon- the deep waters of sexuality and mystery. She is a shapeshifter. A wolf. A mountain lion. She visits you in the dead of night and brings your to orgasm in the dream realm, and when you wake up the memory is hazy but you know something powerful has been touched inside you. She breathes underwater and is as mysterious as the bottom of the sea. You know her without words.
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:: The Devil :: The Devil can sometimes deal with a repression of desire, and to me has always had a BDSM vibe to it. I think this one depends on your relationship to that kind of imagery and sexual practice, but as a Capricorn (The Devil is ruled by Capricorn), and a big fan of power play, The Devil can sometimes be a freeing card. Reclaiming the divinity and balance of the shadow, of words like slut, whore, bitch, freak, breaks the chains that bind us to our own fear and repression. It’s a balancing act. The Devil reminds us that there are more layers and sides to it.
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:: The Lovers :: The Lovers feels like an obvious one because you have to love all the sides of yourself like a lover before you can love anyone else. Getting there is anything but obvious or easy, though. Use a mirror. Look at yourself. This is the real shit. The deep work. It takes a lot of unraveling and excavation to be able to love your body and yourself just as you are. Your best Lover will look back at you eventually.
:: Queen of Pentacles :: Queen of Pentacles is the master of the home and body. An independent woman, she knows what she likes and moves through the material world with the grace of an angelic ballerina. Queen of Wands is known to be the most sexual queen in the deck, but Queen of Pentacles knows pleasure like no one else. Part earth angel, part water nymph, she creates the primordial mud that those Dead Sea masks get their magic from.
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:: Knight of Cups :: Knight of Cups will go down on you first without being asked. Inviting this kind of energy into your bedroom, the person who will massage and caress you slowly, who dreams of drinking you like you’re water in the desert, is clutch in truly sinking into pleasure. Find you a man (or woman or non-binary) who can give it to you good.
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:: Page of Wands :: Page of Wands is bursting with potential energy, often creative and sexual. She’s ready and willing to try new toys and discover what she likes. She’s the teen who just discovered her clitoris and hasn’t been told there is something wrong with the amazing feeling that swims through her body when she touches it. She just got her period and is ready to finger paint with her blood. She will make out behind the bleachers and let herself love completely. She writes love songs and sings them without the slightest bit of embarrassment.
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:: Ace of Cups :: Ace of Cups is a pure gift of water, love, communication, and intuition. I often see it as an invitation to masturbate with more loving intention. To swim in your waters and to practice accepting the water gifts from elsewhere.
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:: 10 of Cups :: 10 of Cups is a literal orgasm. It could be something that feels as good as an orgasm, a self pleasure practice that’s out of this world, or a partner that takes you to the places of rainforest waterfalls and fireworks.
Alessandra is an intuitive healing facilitator, tarot practitioner, yoga teacher, writer, poet, comedienne and performer based in New York. She will be teaching her Tarot Immersive later this month and currently teaches yoga at Three Jewels, focusing her attention on energetic sensitivity and the pelvic floor. Explore her offerings at Boneseed, and follow her on Instagram.
#throatchakraproblems making it hard to share your truths? Here’s why Story Medicine is a way for us all to feel seen …
Photo: Caitlin Mitchell
When I first started regularly attending healing circles, I would always be holding my breath until after the “sharing” part. The part where, once everyone is seated and before you get into whatever teaching is about to happen, you’re invited to share with the group what brought you to the workshop, or some other detail from your life / healing journey.
Well, here’s an impression of me waiting for my turn—*sweaty palms, heart-racing, trying-to-work-out-what-I’m-going-to-say, if-I-can-get-it-out-past-the-lump-in-my-throat.* Sometimes, I would even fid myself choking back tears as I voiced whatever my “thing” was.
I know I am not alone with my #throatchakraproblems. When the importance of speaking up is not something you’ve ever been taught, if you haven’t been listened to when you do, or if you (or you mom or Grandma, for that matter) have ever experienced a period in your life where it hasn’t felt safe to use your voice, then there could be a serious blockage.
One that must be dissolved with love, become tears, before you can speak confidently from your heart again.
Which is what was actually happening in all those awkward moments. Why else would it feel so frightening to share my stories with these lovely humans, who had also just shared their stories with me? Each time I spoke, no matter how painful, I was chipping away at a lifetime (several lifetimes, actually) of the internalized belief that my voice, my story, did not count.
But the truth is, all our stories matter. They matter to us, because without the experiences we have lived we would not even be “us.” And they matter to others, because other people’s stories are how we fill in the gaps. Are a mirror in which to witness our reactions and judgements, and to become aware of our own blind spots.
And because of what I’ve learned about myself and others, about human nature, in those uncomfortable sharing circles, they’ve become my favorite thing. To the point I now co-lead workshops with Alexandra Roxo where the sharing part IS the workshop—where the stories are the medicine.
Our next Story Medicine circle will be in NYC on March 19. You can check out the details HERE.
Read on for five more reasons why we all need story medicine …
1 // All our stories need to be seen. We live in a world where certain people’s stories are deemed more important than others. Where some voices are louder, while others go unheard. But this does not create a full picture of our experience as one human family. Sharing our stories out loud, having our perspective, our suffering, our joy, be seen and heard by others, goes some way towards redressing the balance.
2 // Stories help us become whole. But not the social media kind of stories. We’ve learned that it’s good to be “vulnerable” and “real” online-but when you don’t know who’s listening and whether they are truly holding space for our highest good, it’s actually not 100 percent safe. As Brené Brown reminds us: “Our stories are not meant for everyone. Hearing them is a privilege, and we should always ask ourselves this before we share: ‘Who has earned the right to hear my story?'” We know this instinctively, and so we edit and hold back. At our ritualized Story Medicine circles, Alexandra and I create a conscious container for us to see and be seen in our wholeness. We banish judgment, and place the emphasis on deep, empathetic listening. This is where the medicine lives.
3 // Stories take away shame. It’s the stories we think make us “weird” that it feels least safe to share. In her work, Brené Brown teaches that this is because we’re terrified of being perceived as “other,” for fear of being cast out of our social groups. And yet when we practice Story Medicine, we begin to understand that nobody is weird, or other-because everybody is. We begin to understand that it’s our quirks and differences that make our human jigsaw puzzle so multi-faceted and beautiful.
4 // Stories help us heal ourselves. We all love the way movies paint a picture in our minds, transporting us to whole new worlds. But this isn’t just “escapism.” I recently learned from hypnotherapist Shauna Cummins that watching a movie puts our brain into the same trance state that shamans use. In this state, our “imagination” helps us access our own healing powers, in the form of messages from our subconscious. When we practice deep listening, allowing ourselves to sink deeply into the colors, textures, and emotion of other people’s stories, we go to the place in ourselves where self-healing happens.
5 // Our stories are our art. How we see the world is utterly unique to us. And like all the most moving works of art, Story Medicine allows us to see the world through the eyes of others. Broadens our perspective and helps us see into the shadows. But making art isn’t just for painters, and musicians! When we paint a picture with our words, our stories offer those listening a window in to our world, as we get to process the path we have walked and make our life into our art.
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Story Medicine is also the heart of mine and Alexandra’s teachings in Moon Club, and our Moon Ambassadors regularly host FREE Story Medicine meet-ups for members and their guests all over the world. Click HERE for more info and to join our growing tribe.
As we prep for the Spring Equinox’s explosive fire, the Sagittarius Waning Quarter Moon wants us to sit with over-the-top emotions, and let the flames of feeling lead to powerful change, says Jennifer Racioppi …
Waning Quarter Moon // March 9 2018 // 6:18am EST // 18 degrees Sagittarius
As the Moon wanes back to new, we find ourselves at the halfway point between the most recent Full Moon in mutable Virgo and the upcoming New Moon in mutable Pisces.
Mutable signs correlate with a seasonal shift; they help us transition from stable and steady, fixed influences, into new beginnings. So as we embrace the Waning Quarter Moon in mutable fire sign Sagittarius—and with less than two weeks before the upcoming Equinox—lean into the winds of transformation!
Let the power of fire purify your soul. Let go of what you don’t need and burn, baby, burn.
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// The Cycle // The current Waning Quarter Moon harkens all the way back to December 11, 2015. This late 2015 Sagittarius New Moon seeded events coming to fruition now. What’s culminating in your life now based on intentions set or decisions made then?
Beyond the lunar cycle, Mercury and Jupiter’s retrograde cycles are at play right now too. On March 8, Jupiter, the planet of good luck and good fortune, begins his retrograde journey in Scorpio until July 10. Jupiter retrograde in Scorpio will expose lies, and superficial tendencies that serve ego at the expense of soul.
Mercury, also in his retrograde shadow at this time, brings things to light that will require work and reevaluation during his upcoming retrograde journey in Aries from March 22—April 15. With Mercury soon to station retrograde, use this Waning Quarter Moon to really get clear on what you need to let go of!
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// The Transits // As Mars in Sagittarius squares Chiron in Pisces, the masculinequalities of action come up against the influence of allowing. This may present as a healing crisis through which a wound becomes a teacher.
Yet with Mars in an angle of tremendous support to Uranus, breakthroughs abounds. Expect healing to redirect your path. And with Pluto sextile the Sun and Jupiter, this Sagittarius Waning Quarter Moon suggests that you can discern fact from fiction. Hear. Listen. Absorb. Integrate. And most importantly, trust yourself.
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// The Square// With the Moon traveling through go-big-or-go-home Sagittarius squaring the Sun in soft, sensitive Pisces, this Moon might come with over-the-top emotions.
While the Sun in dreamy Pisces might shy away from anything aggressive or assertive, the Sagittarius Moon is bold and blunt. This Waning Quarter Moon asks you to do two things: sit with uncomfortable emotions and then find an outlet for excess energy.
There’s power in those emotions. Letting energy move through you brings the magic you need.
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// The Opportunity // As we approach the upcoming Equinox and first Mercury retrograde journey of 2018, this Sagittarius Waning Quarter Moon is a preparatory crossroads. Take in where you are. Stay conscious of what’s surfacing now, as it will likely play into the emerging Mercury retrograde curriculum.
Learning how to sit with emotions (Pisces) and simultaneously move through them (Sagittarius) will prep you for these cosmic transitions. Magic becomes possible as you treat this Quarter Moon crossing with the respect of a shamanic initiation.
Discern lies and shadow, and move through the illusions that limit your potential. You’ll emerge with clarity and readiness for the changes ahead.
For more Moon wisdom or to book a coaching session with Jennifer visit Jenniferracioppi.com. And to learn more about how to work with each Moon phase, check out Moon Club, our community of lunar-loving cosmic change makers!
Get this week’s astro symbol for your sign in our Numinous weekly horoscopes by Sandra Sitron …
Pisces :: Pisces Rising Brushing hair back from your face. Get ready. Try to see more clearly and move any obstacles from your way. You have a chance to bring your dreams into form. You are ready to take action on something that’s been building behind the scenes. Be spontaneous and playful with this full expression that you’re bringing out into the world.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandrahere or follow her on Instagram.
Aries :: Aries Rising A hard hat is needed at a construction site. Acquire the proper protection. There is some work to be done. It might be emotional work. There may be feelings coming up that confuse you. Not everything is as clear or conscious as you would like it to be. So find a practice that helps you feel safe while you journey through unknown emotional territory.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandrahere or follow her on Instagram.
Taurus :: Taurus Rising Rolling a pair of twos. Keep rolling the dice. You are taking risks and it’s a good thing. Put yourself out there. Try things you haven’t before. Get your friends involved and let them help you innovate. You need to shake things up and roll again. Keep trying so that you create a new way of life for yourself.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandrahere or follow her on Instagram.
Gemini :: Gemini Rising A glimmer of a flashing diamond. That glint of the diamond matches the glint in your eye. There is something that you can strive for. You can be determined. You can drive yourself forward and achieve. Now is a good time to take action in your career. Evaluate your goals and go after them.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandrahere or follow her on Instagram.
Cancer :: Cancer Rising Nine-foot waves roll in to shore. The roll of the waves evokes a feeling of grandeur, adventure and exhilaration. You are allowed to build yourself up, just like a cresting wave. Reach higher. Reach outside of yourself and search for fresh possibilities. What will inspire you now? Take a deep breath in and break out into a revitalizing adventure.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandrahere or follow her on Instagram.
Leo :: Leo Rising A hole in the trunk of a tree. Be honest with yourself. Is there something in your life that feels hollow? The only way to fill up this space is through openness, truthfulness and vulnerability. You don’t have to be strong all of the time. Now is a time to be exactly where you are and open up to others about how you feel. This is how you create a pathway to real connection.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandrahere or follow her on Instagram.
Virgo :: Virgo Rising Swallowing air. Air is the element that represents communication and connection. This symbol represents holding back something that you need to say. Or somehow blocking your need for connection. Reach out to others right now. Truly listen and be present. Share your thoughts and say what you need to say. It will feel so fresh and illuminating.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandrahere or follow her on Instagram.
Libra :: Libra Rising Riding the river rapids. The ride is just beginning. You are in movement and all you can do is make adjustments as you ride the rapids. You can’t exactly turn around now. So keep yourself afloat with smart decisions and constant adjustments. Be present to movement and navigate gracefully.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandrahere or follow her on Instagram.
Scorpio :: Scorpio Rising A golden ticket. This is when the fun begins. What will it take for you to feel like you’ve won the golden ticket? What will help you feel playful? Act like you are the child who lives in your heart. Remember her. Ask her what she would like to do for fun.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandrahere or follow her on Instagram.
Sagittarius :: Sagittarius Rising Leafing through an old book. Search the past. Find lost information that can help you feel inspired. It’s something that you already heard once, a long time ago. It’s something in your memory, or in your ancestors’ memories that you need to call forward. Go deep within. Retreat to find that gold from the past.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandrahere or follow her on Instagram.
Capricorn :: Capricorn Rising Choosing a flower for the bouquet. You are able to be logical and creative at the same time. First check out all of the options. Then start to make the arrangements. Move step-by-step, but allow your decisions to add up to beauty. Trust in the process. You know what you’re doing.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandrahere or follow her on Instagram.
Aquarius :: Aquarius Rising Chewing with gold teeth. You’ve got resources. You have enough. Try to see what is there and not what isn’t there. Remembering your resources will help you feel stabilized so that you take the necessary risks. You are solid as a rock. Solid gold. Now bite into life.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandrahere or follow her on Instagram.
Plunge into the pleasures of Pisces Season with mermaid beauty that sparkles and shimmers. Eunice Lucero serves up the top deep-sea picks to make part of your world …
Spectrum Collections ‘The Glam Clam’
Happy Pisces season, sirens! Now that we’re smack-dab in the middle of the spiritual, watery vibes, we can’t help but ride the waves of emotion as we indulge in a bit of escapism …
Queue the soul-soothing R&R, and add a dose of all things glistening, sparkly and low-key seductive—exactly what our fave beautiful, mythical sea creatures have in spades.
See which of these mermaid-inspired winners will have you yearning to be part of their world … at least for a few weeks!
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// HAIR // Mermaid hair is the stuff of legend: long, wavy, sea-drenched locks down to there, in the most ethereal of colors. While we’ll never understand how mermaid hair stays healthy in all that salt water (#DisneyMagic), try these picks to emulate the etherial look.
Mermaid No. 1 Shampoo & Conditioner, $48.Like the fresh, oceanside getaway of your dreams in a bottle—its delicious scent has notes of coconut, sea salt, orange blossom and warm sand, with botanical extracts and the finest essential oils to boot (cruelty-free too!)
// FACE // Shine like the deep-sea treasure you are in prismatic highlighters and jewel-toned shimmer shadows, set off against impeccably hydrated skin.
Leahlani Skincare Mermaid Mask, $38. Get those pearly shells on! Organic chlorella and spirulina give a one-two punch of anti-oxidant power to this Hawaiian-sourced superfood of a mask.
// BODY // The winter blues got you feeling like a fish out of water? Get back into your sexy groove with scrubs that slough off those scaly bits and a self-tanner that gives you only the good stuff.
Million Dollar Tan Mermaid Mousse, $26. A lightweight, evenly-spreading formula makes you the talk of the Seven Seas: its hydrating botanicals and buildable formula gives a believable, sexy bronze, all harm-free.
Nails Inc. Self Made Mermaid Duo, $15.This ocean-blue duo does all the talking when you can’t (like, you know, underwater). Fish-season tip: Use on your toes for an exceptionally Piscean pedicure.
Amidst the current Pisces planetary dream sea, the 2018 Virgo Full Moon cuts through the water and asks us to wake up to the practical supports in our lives. Build it better and you’ll be able to truly float, says Sandra Sitron …
Full Moon :: March 1 2018 :: 7:52 pm ET :: 11 degrees Virgo
Sliding gleefully down a waterslide. Full immersion when you reach the bottom. Once there, time stops. You sink and you soak. When you emerge you are exhilarated and joyful. You’ve taken the plunge. You have arrived and you are reconnected.
The watery plunge is a Pisces story of moving deep into a well of spiritual truth and self-discovery. It’s important to remember that none of it would be possible without the Virgo part of the symbol—the slide itself.
Virgo is in charge of the mundane, every-day aspects of life that allow us to be of service to ourselves and others. Pisces is what happens when we expand beyond the earth realm and dissolve into our psychic sensitivity, intuition, emotions and imagination.
To build a slide for yourself, you have to pay attention to the details. You have to stand with both feet on the ground and decide step-by-step what you are willing to accomplish. If you are going to step up to the Virgo challenge, you create healthy habits that will propel you along with a force as strong as gravity.
If you don’t do these things, the structure will fall apart and you won’t get to ascend. You won’t get to plunge and dissolve. You won’t transcend.
Energy runs high and big on a Full Moon and it’s easy to get ahead of yourself with overreactions, big emotions and powerful expression. But this Virgo Moon urges you to go small. Go in. Go for the detailed look. Survey your craftsmanship. Have you been attending to your vessel? Are your calculations working? Are you maintaining the daily structure?
With a mashup of planets Pisces planets currently murmuring a lullaby that soothes us into a technicolor dream scene, it’s hard to get your feet on the ground. Yet this Full Moon cuts in like a quick plunge into cold water. She shakes you awake and says, attend! Attend to the mechanics in your life that support you. Do it so that you can go even deeper into your reverie, because you will emerge assured that your spiritual journey serves on an earthly level.
If you are attending to these supports, then this Moon invites you to take a ride on the Pisces exhale. Use your physical earth-world alignment to propel you into a Piscean sea of soul-truth.
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Full Moon and a stellium of Pisces planets in a T-square with Mars Sanding down a table. You get an opportunity to mobilize yourself for some kind of improvement project. Put your effort in, but don’t expect the path to the finish line to be straight and easy. You may meander. You may make some progress and then take a step back to reassess. Keep plugging away.
Notice the moments when you’re working and your mind wanders. Hands busy, mind free to travel. There may be a special insight that comes through in these moments. Open your mind up to receiving new answers, but don’t just sit around and wait for them to float in. Keep busy and move yourself toward expansion.
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Full Moon trine Saturn Standing on a block of wood, waiting for your award. You have worked to get where you are. Let the accolades come in. Can you receive an award if you aren’t present for the experience? You have to accept that you have done something deserving. You have to convince that voice in your head that you are worthy. The good news is that this should feel easy to do right now. Soak it all in. On some level, you have been learning lessons and applying them. Even if everything isn’t Virgo-standard perfect, applaud yourself for lessons learned and accept the rewards that are being delivered.
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The study questions below are to help you get deeper into what the 2018 Virgo Full Moon means for you. Use them as journal prompts. For the most accurate reading, look to which house holds 11 degrees Virgo in your chart and use the question for that house.
New to your birth chart? Calculate your chart for free HERE
Aries or Full Moon in the 6th house What area of your life needs a detailed overhaul?
Taurus or Full Moon in the 5th house How can you revel in your senses today?
Gemini or Full Moon in the 4th house What lesson does your past have to teach you?
Cancer or Full Moon in the 3rd house What do you need to communicate more clearly?
Leo or Full Moon in the 2nd house Where does true security come from?
Virgo or Full Moon in the 1st house What can you attend to that will help you feel the most like yourself?
Libra or Full Moon in the 12th house What would Love have you believe?
Scorpio or Full Moon in the 11th house What helps you feel connected to your friends?
Sagittarius or Full Moon in the 10th house What’s your plan to reach your goals? Write it down.
Capricorn or Full Moon in the 9th house How do you need to be inspired right now?
Aquarius or Full Moon in the 8th house What are you ready to shed?
Pisces or Full Moon in the 7th house Which relationships require you to maintain better boundaries?
Your Numinous Tarotscopes March 2018 are here, cast by Melinda Lee Holm using the Starchild Tarot …
PISCES // PISCES RISING The Lovers Happy solar return, dear Pisces! You know I have your symbol tattooed on my finger, right? I have an absolute riches of Pisces in my life. We seem to be cosmically drawn together. This is surely due in part to your enviable ability to deeply empathize and identify with others. Sometimes, however, this gift can lead you to engage in some patterns of behavior that don’t serve your highest good or that of others. Therapists call these patterns co-dependency, but any pattern that has you consistently putting the needs of others before your own, leaving you feeling drained and unappreciated is one that could use a tune up. How are you staying small or silent to avoid conflict? Where are you leaking out personal power in the service of maintaining an uneasy peace?
This month, The Lovers is here to help you practice the art of being a great partner through being great on your own. The astrological correspondence of this card is Gemini, mutable Air sign ruled by Mercury, planet of communication. So The Lovers is not really about romance. Its teachings concern the art of being close to another, “twinned” even, while maintaining autonomy and individuality. When we diminish ourselves to make others comfortable, we are not serving anyone’s best interests. Our partners need us strong, healthy, and in posession of a unique perspective that can only be offered by a fully autonomous individual. They key here is communication. How can you open up to your partner to express your needs in a way that allows you both to maintain your sovereignty while affirming your dedication to your relationship?
Your stone for March: Sunstone
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ARIES // ARIES RISING Two of Swords If you liked the week of February 1st, I have great news for you, Aries! You get a whole month of it in March. The Two of Swords is back for you, giving you a great opportunity to deepen your understanding and mastery of this fundamental Air energy. And if the idea of reliving that week for an entire month makes you want to pull your hair out, fear not! You integrated the lessons you needed to learn from this card during that week (for a reminder, go back and re-watch the Tarotscope video for Feb.1). This month, the guidance is tailored to your firey nature and you have a whole month to soak it all in. Your tendency to speak and act quickly, sometimes impulsively, will be challenged by the contemplative demands of the Two of Swords.
March is your chance to take a step back. Get a good lay of the land. Your intellectual, rational, and communication abilities are heightened this month and you have a great opportunity to develop and master new techniques for decision making and conflict resolution that you can carry forward in your life. Indulge in intellectual exercises, practice bouncing ideas off of each other while you feel your physical and emotional body remain calm and collected. Branch it out and engage in some friendly debates. You’ll be pleased to find how much easier it is to reach agreement with others when you allow your Fire to be fed by the Air of thought and communication and not emotional conflict.
Your stone for March: Aquamarine
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TAURUS // TAURUS RISING Six of Crystals My dear Taurus, you have been digging in the dirt all year! March brings you yet another dose of Earth energy and this time you’ve come over the bell curve and back down the other side. Following February’s expansive push, we arrive now at the Six, the Tipharath of Beauty on the Tree of Life, the moment when we can see the fruits of our labor and begin to give back, to spread the spoils and see how our personal efforts can benefit the collective. This is a wonderful opportunity for you to expand your vision of what it means to live a comfortable life – and let’s face it, Taurus, being truly comfortable in all aspects of your life is all you’ve ever really wanted.
All month, I want to invite you to be a completely unapologetic optomist in terms of the material world that surrounds you. Tap into the beauty of the flow of resources and see how you can redirect them to where they can best be of service. Cook dinner for the homeless, drop off supplies at an animal shelter, treat a friend who has fallen on hard times. So often we get trapped in a loop of seeing the material need in the world as hopeless and dire. But when you choose to see the beauty in the material world instead of only the ugliness, you can begin to activate the profound power of the element of Earth to provide for you and those around you.
Your stone for March: Peridot
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GEMINI // GEMINI RISING The Hierophant Goodness, Gemini! We’ve had a couple of doses of Hierophant wisdom already this year, and now you are set for a whole month of it. Get ready to be filled with the gift of ancient wisdom, but also to be humbled. The Hierophant is the great teacher of the Tarot and often when we encounter great teachers, they challenge us to confront our beliefs in ways that can be uncomfortable. When you feel yourself resisting, that’s where you push further. This is a time when your ability to see and even embody both sides of a situation will be very useful. Get up close and personal with those places that get you thinking, questioning, pushing back, learning. Lean into discomfort.
Be sure to take time to digest and integrate what you are learning. Remember, The Hieropant is the spiritual teacher. These lessons will require meditation, reflection, and prayer to fully unfold and ripen. This would be a wonderful time to dedicate or deepen your spiritual practice to unlock levels of knowing and understanding not available to you before now. We start March with a Full Moon in Virgo on the 1st, so you have an excellent chance to dust off your witchery and put those crystals and candles to good work in a crown opening spell to kick off your month. Get out and get connected with nature, finish Autobiography of a Yogi, and most of all – listen. You cannot hear the lessons that are gifted to you if you are filling the space with your own voice.
Your stone for March: Lemurian Seed Crystal
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CANCER // CANCER RISING Nine of Wands We’ve got two planets headed into retrograde motion this month, Cancer, but that won’t stop you from striding forward in pursuit of your goals. With the power of Fire fueling you, your month will be supercharged with action, intuition, and magic. Get your to-do lists ready and your wish lists and vision boards polished up! Your ability to effortlessly tap into the cosmic stream of insight is amped. goals that have seemed overwhelming will suddenly become totally doable as the shortest distance between any two points magically appears before you. How will you know? Oh, you’ll KNOW, Cancer. The high practical wisdom of elemental Fire does not deal in subtlety. Intuitive hits will hit hard and lead you to places where you can accomplish a ton – if you’re willing to put in the work.
Let’s talk about it, Cancer. I have my Sun placed here too. We crabs can have a tendency to hide away in our shells where it is dark and cozy and safe. Even as we outgrow our shells we can resist coming out. (It just feels like a tighter hug, right? Right?… ) Now is the time to embrace the risk of vulnerability, to come out and face the tasks we’ve been avoiding, to really take advantage of this push. Yes, there is a chance of being hurt or disappointed, but the potential payoff is more than worth it. The numbered cards so often revolve around practical matters, and the Nine of Wands especially so. It’s time to take risks in the service of making major progress in our every day lives.
Your stone for March: Carnelian
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LEO // LEO RISING Oppression I’ve got a game for you, Leo. Treat this month like an Easter egg hunt or a spy novel or an epic video game. Always be looking for clues. Assume there is hidden meaning behind everything. Use your inherent connection to the Sun to shine a bright light into every metaphorical dark corner and find what’s been lurking there. March is your opportunity to discover and dig out ways you are holding yourself back, manifesting heaviness instead of expansion. We often think of oppresion as something that is put upon us from the outside world – and, yes, that is far too often the case in the world. But we also oppress ourselves in large and small ways every day. No more! Take this month to identify, correct, and reset.
The most common way we engage in self-oppression is through the story we tell about ourselves. What is in your story that keeps you small? Do you repeatedly say that you are bad at business, not good at finance, just not creative, not a very happy person, or inherently unlucky in love? Stop it. Right now. All words are magic words, Leo. The story you tell about yourself is a spell you weave that manifests the life that is possible for you. Get it right. And while you’re at it, get your house in order. Make sure that the physical container of your life is not sending subtle messages to you and the Universe that you are derserving of less materially, emotionally, intellectually, or spiritually.
Your stone for March: Herkimer Diamond Quartz
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VIRGO // VIRGO RISING Queen of Wands You did it, Virgo! You came through February, you did some tough work, and now you are rewarded with a blast of feminie Fire energy in March to expand into all that space you cleared out. Queens are the Water of their element, so in Wands we have the Water of Fire. You know how water has the ability to seep into every little crack and crevice, to soak in and become a part of what it touches? Think about what would happen if elemental Fire could do that. Envision that eternal flame of finely tuned intuition and instinctual action soaking its way into every tiny corner of your life, and then look up and see it happening all throughout your existence all month long.
How will you harness this molten magic, my dear Virgo? If I know you, you’ve got pen and paper at the ready to start making lists and checking them twice to find the exact right way. Take a step back, put down the pen, and take a moment to meditate on the intuitive aspect of Fire. Fire is magic, pure and simple. Just as our ancestors stared in astonishment at the first human-made flames, we too remain amazed at how Fire works to bring us intuitive hits, sparks of deep inner knowing, affirmations that seem to spring from thin air and let us know that our instincts were right all along. Keep your eye on that prize this month. Be guided by your gut and see what treasures lay in wait for you.
Your stone for March: Blue Kyanite
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LIBRA // LIBRA RISING Four of Wands Your project for March, Libra, is to actively create the stability you crave in life. After spending last month getting in tune with what you truly want to manifest, now you have the energetic support to actively create a base of stability to build on moving forward. This is a first level, so try not to be too precious about it. As with most things in life, this is a work in progress. Think solid outlines, business plans, and a budget and living situation that supports your vision. Grand schemes for building your legacy will come later. For now, take a good critical look at your life and see where there are patterns that are not in support of – or even in direct contradiction to – your vision of your Best Life and take action accordingly.
I wouldn’t be your friend if I didn’t come out and say this directly, Libra – your love of beauty is a GREAT place to start with this project. Yes, being surrounded by beauty makes you happy, and I support that. Draw it in! Just be sure that you are not undermining your own goals by living in the service of aesthetics. Could you maintain the same or better quality of life in a way that better serves your goals by reframing your ideas around beauty? To achieve the stability you want, everything in your life must be judged by whether it supports your broader vision. Your surroundings are a mirror of yourself. Be sure the reflection is accurate.
Your stone for March: Ametrine
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SCORPIO // SCORPIO RISING Page of Cups Oh, Scorpio, this makes me very happy. You are being coaxed out of the deepest emotional depths you feel so at home in to get a little emotional freshness and sweetness this month. The Pages ask us to forget what we think we know, what we’ve been taught, and – in the case of the Page of Cups – how we’ve been hurt. They beckon us to come explore their element with new eyes and open heart, to start over and build a new understanding. Does that mean that we lose all of the hard earned wisdom we’ve gathered? Not at all! It is simply time to set it aside and go back to square one to see if there’s anything we dropped along the way that we’d be best served by picking back up.
March is set to be a great emotional reset for you. Relax your tail, disarm your stinger, and allow your emotional programming to be washed and refreshed by elemental Water. Venture out of your safe zone, open up your heart and try like hell to trust in the power of vulnerability. In matters of the heart, make no assumptions, take things as the come, and accept all persons and situations as the unique entities they are. If something doesn’t go well, simply walk away. This is a time of exploration and experimentation. Think of the world as a vast open classrom or art studio, not a battle ground. Open your heart to your fellow students and collaborators.
Your stone for March: Kunzite
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SAGITTARIUS // SAGITTARIUS RISING Starseed Well it appears you really took my advice about digging in and getting serious about your life’s work, Sagittarius! You are now stepping into a completely new world, energetically speaking. Trust in yourself, trust in all the hard work you’ve done, in the wisdom you’ve gathered, and in the Universe itself to bring you what you need exactly when you need it. This month is offering you an invitation to begin a new level of existence and a great push forward in your personal evolution. The trick for you is going to be that this big, profound, high spiritual energy requires a good measure of wandering. You are not traditionally comfortable with being directionless, but if you want to make the most of this month, start cozying up to the idea.
If you frame it right, this can be a VERY welcome departure from last month’s seriousness. Trust in the work you did and allow yourself to play in this new space you’ve created. Babies grow and learn and develop through play. It can get a bad rap in the adult world as being a frivilous waste of time, but it’s how every single one of us formed our relationship to ourselves and the world around us. Take this month to play, Sagittarius. Really play. Head out into nature, read a decadent novel, take a class in something you’re a complete novice at, try new foods. Explore! We so rarely get a chance to reconnect with that spark of discovery we came into the world with. Drink it in.
Your stone for March: Moldavite
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CAPRICORN // CAPRICORN RISING Three of Wands After a year filled with deep inner searching and swimming around in the intuitive depths of the psyche, you are ready to step into the practical world this month, Capricorn. You are ready to make some moves, and with the power of elemental Fire at your side, what these moves are will come to you intuitively. Aren’t you glad you spent the past two months getting so deeply in touch your inner voice? You will have options presented to you this month, likely through collaborative efforts. This should be a welcome relief to your steady and perseverent nature. It can be frustrating for you to stay in the mystical realm too long, feeling like you are not making progress toward your goals, but it was necessary to prepare you for this moment.
March is all about action and opportunity, often created or stimulated by you. Do not be afraid to speak up and ask for what you want. Like the TSA tells us – if you see something, say something. If you see an opportunity in a situation, a place where you could be helpful while also benefitting, shout it out! Let people know when they are your ideal collaborators or when you have skills or perspectives that could serve their cause and your own. It can be scary to put yourself out there like this, I know. But you have done so much work on sharpening your intuitive powers AND you have Fire on your side. Trust your gut and go for broke.
Your stone for March: Malachite
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AQUARIUS // AQUARIUS RISING Four of Cups This month is going to be an interesting one for you, Aquarius. With your constant desire to live outside the box, the idea of stability – especially emotional stability – can be deeply unattractive if seen in the wrong light. I want to present to you a view of stability in the realm of Water that may be different from what you have been presented with in the past. Most of us were taught that emotional stability means making ourselves palatable enough to another person to stay in a long term relationshiop, ideally for life. Essentially, that we needed to learn to compromise. Now, compromise is not inherently bad, it’s actually very useful and necessary to living a full life. However, it is not the only requirement for emotional stability.
What is required is patience, kindness, tolerance, and understanding. And we cannot offer those wonderful gifts out to anyone else until we have offered and accepted them to ourselves. This month, I want you to work on getting your relationship with yourself into the best shape it’s ever been. Reach for new heights of intimacy and acceptance. Revisit old stories about your origin, your path, and your future and retell them in a way that is more supportive, more loving. Go get your annual check up, feed your body with care, take a look at your mental health. When you love yourself completely, you don’t even have to try to show that love and kindness to others, it just oozes out of you. Thus is your path to true emotional stability.
Amidst all the external noise, how can you tell what’s coming from the “real” you? Samantha Moyo reveals how to hear the voice of your soul and open a direct channel to the messages that count …
“You are gold, GOLD! Always believe in your Soul. You’ve got the power to know…” – Wise words from a 1970s Pop Guru.
Want more soulgasms? Connecting with our soul means more confidence, clarity, intimacy, sensuality, creativity, sexual empowerment, passion, heartgasms, tribegasms, naturegasms and if you’re lucky, multiple-orgasm orgasms! Want more of that? Of course you do.
I’ve included a ritual below to help you call the voice of your Soul back in, plus all the ways I know when it’s my Soul speaking to me—and my hope is that you reach the end of this article with the realization that you don’t actually need me to tell you jack shit, since your Soul has all the answers you could ever need …
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But first, I am because we are My last name, Moyo, means Heart/Soul in a few different African languages. I grew up in Zimbabwe where life was a combination of breath-taking adventures, community celebrations and sunsets … and moments of what felt like hell. Poverty, Mugabe’s dictatorship, inflation, family drama, fuel shortages and AIDS spreading through families like wildfire.
In a climate like this, you learn very quickly about the importance of human spirit; rituals, tradition and ceremony that connect you to spirit are introduced to a child from day one. And with this comes an understanding of the word Soul, as well as the Ubuntu philosophy, which says: “I am because we are.”
Concepts of love, oneness, tribe, and generosity of spirit are infused in the blueprint of my people, to the point these are not even topics of conversation. When things simply are, they go unspoken. Like the sacred love you have for a beloved after 30 years of marriage.
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The unspoken, hidden truth Some of my favorite childhood experiences were the times I’d spend with Grandpa in the garden. Hanging out with him meant sitting still, in silence, and staring at the plants and flowers. He’d sit there for hours and I’d challenge myself to sit with him for as long as possible. Little did I realize that Grandpa was teaching me to appreciate silence, nature, and the art of listening within. When we weren’t silent, he taught me African Proverbs.
In hindsight, all this time with Grandpa was teaching me to tune into my inner wisdom and read between the lines.
I remember from a young age understanding that we can see more than what others may see and we can see more than we share. That there seem to be unspoken truths to life that we all kept hidden away. Like the way my Soul could tell when an adult was lying about something to appease me, or knew that trying dangerous tricks on my bike and playing in the rain could get me ill (but still couldn’t stop me trying!)
The voice of my Soul in childhood was waaaaay less conservative than now. If my childish Soul could have her way, I’d escape the office daily to climb London’s scaffolding sites just for the fun for it!
Photo: Wilson, Namibia
A ritual to reclaim your soul Before learning how to know when our Soul is speaking to us, there’s some prep we’ve all gotta do, which is to reclaim our connection with Soul and learn how to tune in easily!
(*And by the way, I still lose touch with my Soul daily—like when I find myself practicing mindlessness in the form of social media scrolling, grabbing a sandwich with ingredients I “shouldn’t” be eating, or daydreaming about having a sacred sexual awakening with Cara Delevingne and Danai Gurira).
Here’s how to start:
1// Place thy ass on the floor / a chair
2// Smile and feel into the heart. If this feels weird, just think of a heart-warming experience you’ve had
3// Use “boyband-reaching-up hand gestures” to bring your soul into your heart (repeat x 8)
4// Close your eyes and sit in silence for ***as long as it takes*** with your attention on your heart space. (“You can’t hurry love, no you just have to wait!” said another pop guru).
5// Only open your eyes when you have felt your essence, your soul, your spirit, your passion, your glow, your fire, any hint of aliveness that feels greater than the incessant chatter of the mind. This feeling might resemble a moment of excitement, intrigue, elation, or joyful curiosity.
6// Take MORE time if it’s required. Kindness, compassion, and gentleness, are the way to this connection
**Bonus step: Book an appointment with your “Soul Doctor” Another way of reclaiming your soul connection is to prescribe yourself some Soul Medicine—meaning anything you can keep in your metaphorical tool kit for getting into your Soul space. Examples might be music, smelling essential oils, crystal bathing, nature walks, yoga, meditation, dancing, stroking your face. Anything that triggers the soft, raw, authentic You within you. Yes, you’ve got this! No health insurance required.
Photo: Jason Purple Photography
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But how do you know if it’s your Soul speaking to you? We are all receiving internal messages and ideas all of the time, and it’s super important to distinguish what is Soul, what is ego, what is influence from the external world, and what is just plain old crap.
For example, feeling horny one night I texted my ex because I thought my Soul was telling me we needed to have break-up sex! Errr, yeah, this was not the Soul, it was pure horniness / ego.
The reason I could tell is because my ex laughed at me and had not had the same message from her Soul! What I was experiencing was loneliness and some vulnerability, and framing this as my Soul speaking to me gave me a romantic way out. #soulnotsoul
Here’s how to know it really IS the voice of your Soul …
1// There are no maybes.Ask yourself three times if it is your Soul. Close your eyes, place your hand on your heart and ask, “is this my Soul?” Then pause for an answer and repeat three times. The “yes” has to be clear and be a full body “yes.” A hint of doubt is “no.” “Maybe” is also “no.”
2// Messages from the Soul are loud and clear. When they are ignored they keep coming back to you. So that thing that won’t go away—yep, it’s your Soul calling.
In August I was meant to go to Burning Man to host a gig with Carl Cox and then spend a weekend at a gathering at Harvard Divinity School. Two very important things for my work life. Then a message came through to cancel both trips. I tried to ignore the message but it kept coming back to me. My body was experiencing the message in every cell and it was clear I had to cancel the US trip. Cancelling was the best thing I did in 2017, as I ended up going on an unforgettable trip through Africa. My Soul fucking knew!
3// Your Soul is in it for the long-haul. Your Soul is non-biased and gives messages for your long-term wellbeing, not necessarily short-term. The messages can be obscured and may not seem urgent, but listening will help you make choices in the present that will benefit you further along in your Soul journey. Your Soul is a Compass that is Connected with the frequency of everything else in existence. It therefore has the coordination/timing of when you are meant to do certain things—exactly in alignment with the rest of world, for everyone’s greatest good.
4// It’s not all “me, me, me!” Your Soul is pure love so sometimes a message has other people or the planet’s requirements to share with you. Hence soul-synched people are always sharing, spreading and uplifting others. You’ll know you’re listening when you find yourself acting this way too! When we’re working from a Soul space we tend to be driven by purpose, and pleasure comes from the joy of contributing positively to our world. Yes, you become a bit of an urban-hippy and no matter how much you hide it, you may find yourself being super compassionate, giving, loving, in flow, while coming up with ways to help the homeless.
5// You’re in an “unfuckwithable” space.When your Soul is speaking you are in an empowered, clear, confident, “unfuckwithable” space. This means your Soul may be telling you to say “no” more often, cut out the haters, and protect yourself. Your Soul is wild and strong and has no filter. Your Soul is loyal, direct, and loving, but doesn’t take your shit.
Photo: Jason Purple Photography
The relationship with your Soul will be the one that brings all your dreams to life. Listen even when it’s hard. Listen even when it’s not what your want to hear. Listen even when it’s takes you out of your comfort zone. Then pass the learned wisdom onto the next person.
Nothing I have said is rocket science, and you will develop your own ways of knowing when your Soul is speaking to you. This is the only true knowing or knowledge there is to attain in life. And you can’t google that shit!
**Want to jumpstart your Soul connection? Dive into Samantha’s digital course for Community Building and Entrepreneurship HERE.
Samantha Moyo is a wellness inventor, speaker, and mentor best known for founding Morning Gloryville, the sober dance experience that changed the face of clubbing in the UK. With the ability to help anyone connect with their purpose, Sam works as a wellness consultant for those looking for playfulness, wisdom, strategy, or new networks. Follow her on Instagram and connect with her at [email protected]
