In this mini-excerpt from her memoir, Messy Bitch Magic, author Ani Ferlise makes her self-pleasure practice a part of her rock solid, 4-hour morning routine …
“The anus is a portal to GOD!”my teacher’s voice bellows through my computer speakers, waking me from a sleepy haze. I slink from my desk onto the floor, covered in what are supposed to be lavish sheepskins but are actually yards of scratchy, questionable “material” from the glamorous “Joann Fabrics.”
It’s 4:45 a.m. I am up early ‘cause I’m next-level priestessing by embodying the Divine Feminine and training to be a spiritual sex and love coach.
I am in what I call the “magic room” of my new house with Rune. The magic room is a space all of my own with altars, flowy drapes, candles, and sheepskins (aka the hairy, itchy, dirt-cheap fabric that I may or may not be allergic to). Bouquets of dried flowers hang from the ceiling.
It is here that I start my mornings with my rock-solid, four-hour routine. I meticulously light my candles. There are about twenty of them, and they each have a different significance. I whip out my “rewiring the mind for success” journal prompts and write the same things over and over again, channeling all of my energy into changing my brain so I can stop sabotaging myself, heal up, and lean into my pleasure and my power. Again.
Once my brain has been reset, I sit in front of two mirrors and start a breathwork practice. Deep, slow, inhale in the mouth; long, extended exhale without a pause after. Then I begin my daily self-pleasure practice. No porn, no thoughts or fantasizing; I’m just supposed to breathe, feed my body pleasure and then, when I orgasm, send out a prayer for what I need.
The pseudo-sheepskin and fallen dried-out flower petals itch my thighs as I lay there spread eagle, staring blankly at a whitewashed picture of Mary Magdalene on my mirror altar as I furiously masturbate—I mean self-pleasure—in a hazy, glazed over state.
That’s right. Ya girl got her shit together. I have a magic room. I’m a good partner. I’m building a business. I’m softening and healing. I’m facing my shadows. I’m learning. I’m blessed. I’m grateful. I’m amplifying my pleasure.
I also (still) fucking hate my fucking life.
I “cum” and it feels like my pussy sneezed.
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Messy Bitch Magic by Ani Ferlise will be published on February 28, 2023. Learn more and pre-order your copy HERE.
What happens when Crown Chakra Escapism meets Root Chakra Deprivation … Sue Hunt explains how to break the Root/Crown binary on the way to Integrated Being
Her crown chakra is lit I’ve found my teacher! (said after taking one, three-day online course with them) With so many students, they must be legit—I’m in
“Spiritual success” is often equated with divine powers, psychic downloads, and awakenings that are all related to our upper energy centers and are thought to demonstrate a high level of spiritual prowess. The Root/Crown binary pushes many seekers to chase this sellable vision of “spiritual evolution,” and to disassociate with our Root issues in order to pursue this dream of spiritual success.
Even the phrase “We are spiritual beings living a human experience,” used as commonplace vernacular nowadays, attempts to create hierarchy within our own self-understanding. We set off chasing the spiritual carrot while devaluing our lived human experience—even while many long-standing ancient teachings actually state that this human incarnation is not meant to be bypassed or seen intellectually as “less than.”
Chasing this “Fake and Awake” way of life looks exactly as it sounds: we chase prescriptive end goals of happiness, peace, and fulfillment, while ignoring the real, moment-by-moment work that produces these states not as achievable aims, but as byproducts of dealing with the intense, transformative work of looking at our Root issues.
Packaged in phrases and concepts like “activation,” “law of attraction,” and “manifestation,” this Fake and Awake Myth implies that we can somehow leap-frog over the messy, uncomfortable work of being human to reach a static, elevated state of perfection.
We especially see this in our modern “guru” archetypes. Our vision of a “spiritually advanced” teacher often conjures an image of a being cloaked in white, covered in mala beads, and preaching about vegetarianism while countless students gather at their feet. This person is seen as “evolved,” with an open crown chakra that can “stream truth.”
Many of us approach our gurus, life coaches, and self-help experts with an insatiable hole of Root Deprivation—coming to them to uncover a missing sense of purpose or to manifest “abundance.” As a result, we often bypass these teachers’ humanity and relationship to their own “Root,” and the extreme effort and years of hardship that went into cultivating clarity within.
Whether through gurus and teachers, or programs promising quick-fix intuitive downloads, we often end up chasing an extractive version of Crown energy—seeking to get some of that authenticity for ourselves. But true Crown energy is about cultivating a pure state of receptivity, opening ourselves to be stripped of the meta-dialogue that creates obstacles so that we can dissolve and disintegrate Karma. In this model, there is “nothing” (pure consciousness) to gain and “everything” (egoic thoughts) to lose.
Trying to “get something” from these spiritual teachings and practices only reinforces our Root Deprivation and blocks our ability to connect with the pure receptivity of an integrated Crown.
Before enlightenment, chop wood carry water; after enlightenment, chop wood carry water.
This brilliant Zen saying asks us to come down from the podium and remember that spiritual growth, in its most realized form, is a never-ending process with legs out in the world. Why don’t we hear about the Buddhist master who reached enlightenment and decided to remain a farmer, and would not accept gold for his teachings?
When we dress up our spiritual seeking with a shiny pink bow, we keep asking for “more” and chasing the next “high”—instead of choosing to resiliently engage with the daily, behind-the-scenes work of our lives on a moment-by-moment basis. When we view the movements of our lives here on Earth as the teachings themselves, we no longer need to label parts of human life as “less spiritual,” and our work needs no pedestal.
We realize that spiritual development can spring from inner simplicity that discerns rather than dissociates, and we open ourselves to having our misperceptions removed, rather than trying desperately to seek enlightenment through engaging with yet more spiritual tools and teachings.
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PERSONAL INQUIRY PRACTICE: ROOT DEPRIVATION + CROWN ESCAPISM
Interrogating how the Root/Crown binary shows up for us means noticing where we are obsessed with an over-intellectualized version of spirituality that seeks enlightenment as “success.” In tandem, it means looking at how we seek to fill our Root Deprivation hole from a more superficial outside force rather than our own organic, loving, and integral attention and self-respect.
The stuff of our lives, as they are right now, is precisely where we can access stable, objective Root energy—the ground of our being. To access this stable energy, and move towards giving and receiving with greater awareness, begin by turning your attention to how the Money/Sex/Power Root Deprivation Trinity shows up for you.
Start by exploring the realms of Money/Sex/Power in your own life:
Money + Root Deprivation
Within the Root/Crown binary, money is a relatively taboo topic—viewed as either the root of all “evil,” or as a necessary resource that gives us greater freedom and power. Within non-binary worldview, by contrast, money contains a neutral charge and is often an extension of how we run prana and circulate energy. When we examine our unchecked Root Deprivation, we can envision money as simply part of a cyclical energy flow.
Free write all of your associations with money. Let it be a stream of consciousness to allow your psyche to make the big overarching connections. Reflect back upon this stream of consciousness to find a pattern, noticing your personal definitions, cages, and strings attached to money. These patterns are your projected frequency around money.
Sex + Root Deprivation
Within the Root/Crown binary, sex energy is limited to a body-specific desire and physical act. In non-binary worldview, sex energy moves beyond the physical to connect us to the initiatory spark of all creation. Root Deprivation arises when we reduce this energy to the physical act, craving sex acts to bring us “back into our bodies,” and expecting others to receive us when we haven’t first cultivated the capacity to receive ourselves.
Free write about your usage and understanding of sex energy—making it a stream of consciousness to allow your psyche to make the big overarching connections. Reflect back upon this stream of consciousness to find a pattern, noticing your personal definitions, cages, and strings attached around sex. These patterns are your projected frequency around sex.
Power + Root Deprivation
Within the Root/Crown binary, power often becomes entangled with both money and sex, and with heteropatriarchal, hierarchical societal models where we either maintain power “over” others through domination, or “under” others through martyrdom and victimhood complexes. In non-binary worldview, we maintain awareness of our underlying motivations and are able to catch ourselves when we’re tempted to seek “energetic returns” from the power positions we take. Root Deprivation arises in this realm when we find ourselves using others to bolster our own influence.
In this free-writing exercise please explore all of the places you feel Powerful and Powerless. Dig into the circumstances around each of these feelings and notice any personal patterns that emerge within the embodied feelings of Powerful and Powerless. Tap into your personal and professional life to bring these lived moments into your conscious awareness.
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ROOT/CROWN ESCAPISM CHECKLIST
Alongside our investigation of Root Deprivation, we must also work to examine escapist versions of Crown energy that prevent us from dealing with our actual Root issues, making us unavailable to a purer form of Crown receptivity. Take an inventory of the Crown Escapism Archetypes listed below, noticing which might arise in your personality aspects, and pair this section with a review of the Fake and Awake myth above.
1) The Intellectual: Over intellectualizes EVERYTHING—emotions, easy decisions, relationship dynamics—and beats interpersonal situations to death by continually “discussing” them in their own mind or with others. Strokes the ego by being the smartest and most well-spoken in a situation. Lots of lip service and very little action.
2) The Seeker: Reads every book on the market, name drops, uses big spiritual words, and likes to cite all of the study programs and teachers they follow. Quotes lots of fancy “texts” with very little embodied experience or nuanced understanding, hiding avoidance of personal messiness within the well-adorned identity of being “on the path.”
3) The Commercial Mystic: Looks the part with flowy clothes and tattoos of spiritual iconography. Art-directs picture-perfect “rituals” and uber spiritual gatherings for social media. Signs up for expensive manifestation courses, claims to be constantly “tapped in,” and frames each Root-deprived side-hustle as another “epic download.”
4) The Skeptic: Always questions, in search of hard and fast “facts” that are rooted in the finite predictability of the material world. Needs over-simplifications and straightforward definitions. Has difficulty mobilizing creative energy and trusting parts of themselves beyond logic. Ignores the emotional and spiritual layers of life, lacks the levity of playfulness, and is quite pessimistic in outlook.
You might find it quite embarrassing to identify with any of these archetypes out loud. But the more clearly we commit to seeing these tendencies within ourselves, the more we can both tend the Root Deprivation that lurks beneath and access a receptive Crown. In its most potent form, aligned Crown energy is completely action-less: we can’t “do” Crown energy. And simply noticing where we attempt this helps us get closer to this action-less, purely receptive state.
And here we are, at the threshold of breaking the Root/Crown binary and priming the internal structure for receptivity. Hold on love; your life and your imprint on others and society is about to do a dramatic about-face into a space of service from a deep well of self-fulfillment. By stopping the grasping and learning how to hold the frequency of receptivity in the realms of Money/Sex/Power, you are on the path towards becoming an Integrated Being.
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Transitory Nature: Breaking Binaries for Integrated Being by Sue Hunt is out now with Numinous Books. Get your copy HERE.
As long-time followers of The Numinous will know, this platform has been in a period of profound transition since summer 2019. If you’re new, you can find a series of posts HERE that explain the reasons for this. Now, as our global community moves through its own period of retreat in response to the coronavirus pandemic, I will be taking this time to focus even more deeply on laying the foundations for what comes next. Much continues to shift, and service will resume in due course. The following writing is an invitation to use this period of enforced exile from everyday life to become equally present to what is unfolding for you at the deepest level. It is also a reminder that self-isolation isn’t selfish—and that learning to be fully with yourself is perhaps the greatest gift that you can bring to the collective in these times.
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“Present.”
Whenever somebody has asked me how I’m feeling lately (like they really mean it, as is our new normal) this has been the word that most sums up my current state of mind.
I am present with my anxiety. I am present with my not knowing. I am present with my wellbeing in this moment. I am present with my gratitude for all the little things, and I am present with my privileged, survivor’s guilt for all the big things I am able to take for granted. I am present with the reality that should either of my elderly parents in the UK contract Covid-19, I may never see them again. I am present with it all. Because there is nowhere else to be.
There’s a saying in yoga circles: “hold the pose.” And this has been the mantra flashing in neon in my mind as our world has contracted, feeling simultaneously more connected and more isolating with each passing day. A directive levied at students struggling with the discomfort of maintaining a posture, the challenge is to remain still, balanced, and focused, even as muscles burn, everything shakes, and the mind screams for release.
What we are cultivating when we hold the pose, is patience, resilience, and steadfastness. A core of inner durability that becomes impervious to the shocks and triggers of the external world. Not that we don’t feel them, and not that our material safety is not compromised. But through it all, we are able to depend on ourselves to remain resourceful and intact. In turn, our energetic frequency becomes an unspoken signal to others that they can depend on us. In the words of my friend Worthy, this is how we let others know: I safe you.
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In the days of coronavirus, holding the pose for me has meant resisting the urge to play out worst case scenarios on a loop. It has meant steering clear of the noise and clamor and opinions of social media and instead committing to one carefully timed dose of “real news” per day. It has meant noticing my addiction to busyness creep in as a trauma response and disrupting this with pockets of time to just be still and to feel.
It has also meant being okay with thinking I’m not doing enough to “help.”
Because the instinct, in times of crisis, is to ask: what can I do? Especially as a healthy, relatively wealthy, low-risk individual currently residing in the city (NYC) with the highest infection “attack rate” in the United States. This question has tormented me for the past two weeks, listening to the subway trains rumble past on the Williamsburg bridge, carrying already overworked and underpaid service workers and medical staff to their jobs on the front lines of the outbreak.
It has stalked me as I have intuitively closed off from my social media “community,” even as I have watched friends and colleagues issue forth endless online offerings and missives of support. It has weighed heavy on me, as I have succumbed to my instinct to retreat even deeper into my already introverted shell, to a space inside where I now realize I have found comfort in self-isolation my whole life.
The irony being that to stop the spread the virus, the first and most “helpful” course of action—in order to prevent more deaths, and to help the economy recover as quickly as possible (although it is likely that the ways we work, live, and support one another will be forever changed)—is doing nothing, being nowhere, and retreating within.
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Yes, we need to pressure our governments to step in with unprecedented aid. Yes, we can also donate whatever financial resources we have to spare. No, it is not our individual responsibility to fret over the wellbeing of each and every person being affected. And, yes, while we need each other more than ever, we also need time and space and peace and quiet, to process and assimilate our individual feelings about what my mother (a psychotherapist) reminded me is: “a sudden and extreme demolition of life as we have known it.”
One which we have had no psychological preparation for, leaving us “stunned,” she went on in an email to me last night. “Withdrawal in an attempt to assimilate an understanding of circumstances beyond our control and which up until now have been unthinkable,” being another necessary next “action.” The same way that animals, in times of distress, retreat from the world as a form of self-protection, “we must conserve our own energy to make sense of and process what has come about.”
Processing our emotions is a silent, felt, bodily, and highly individual thing. No listicle with “tips for successful self-isolation” can tell you how to do it. No online seminar with this or that thought leader will give you the playbook on what you, and you alone, need right now. If anything, over-consumption of external “advice” (no matter how well meaning) can become a distraction from this process and course of anxiety. What’s needed is the space to conduct an internal process of self-soothing, of grieving, and, ultimately, of acceptance.
The message? Please give yourself permission to be feeling whatever you are feeling, and to need whatever you need. Please do not feel pressured to “join in” with online activities and gatherings if you feel it may be a drain on your inner resources. Please do reach out to the people in your life who feel safe, and stay in regular contact with them, ideally with voice calls. Please let others know you are here for them if needed. And please wait to be asked for help, before rushing in to offer assistance before you have steadied yourself.
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Which brings me back to the practice of presence.
Learning to be present, with ourselves and with all that makes up our inner and outer worlds, is a foundational principal of the spiritual human experience. It’s why “holding the pose.” It’s why meditation. It’s why ritual and sacrifice. It’s why vipassana. It’s why the Buddhist “dark retreat,” a 30-day period of total self-isolation in a space completely absent of light, is considered the ultimate preparation for navigating the “bardo”—the liminal space between life, death, and rebirth, and a space we are moving through as a collective right now.
It’s also why Sober Curious. So much of my own ability to be present has come from the process of removing alcohol from my life. From opting out of a substance and a drinking culture that offers a seductive and highly-glamorized escape from reality, to learning to stay with each and every one of the uncomfortable feelings I used booze to numb out from. What I have learned, more than anything, is that time will always take its own time. And that all we can do when we are in it is breathe and hold the pose.
I’ve also learned that, in times of discomfort, asking questions and listening deeply to our own inner knowing, is often more helpful than looking for answers on the outside. Some questions to ask of ourselves in these days, and to discuss among those we hold dear, might be:
-What is this enforced putting down of “stuff” making space for in our lives?
-Who and what is truly important to us?
-What gifts do we now have the opportunity to give oxygen to and allow to flourish?
-What does it mean to mourn and how can we support each other in our grief?
-What kind of a world do we want to be part of when we emerge from this into the What Now Age?
The truth, in a sea of experts, is that only nature has the answers to how this crisis will unfold. That only history will show us the deeper meaning of this pandemic, and its role in our collective evolution. In the meantime, it is our job to practice being present with what is. And to trust that without “doing” anything at all, we are already playing our part.
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Meditation: Get an accountability buddy (game-changer) and text each other each time you complete your daily sit.
Book:Tribe by Sebastian Junger. A reminder that not only are humans built to thrive in times of adversity, but that throughout history global catastrophes have brought us closer together.
People: Find your “pod.” Think of the 3-5 people you feel you can trust the most, and maintain regular, offline, contact with them through text and voice calls. Prioritize these connections over wider social media communities.
Therapy:Open Path Collective is a non-profit offering affordable ($30-$80 per session) online therapy for people of all races, religions, sexual orientations, genders and gender expressions, countries of origin, ethnicities, and abilities.
Food: Soup. Meditative to make, easy to digest, and a great way to use up random refrigerator leftovers.
Watch: The sky, the birds, the trees. Nature documentaries. Anything that makes you laugh.
Listen: My Sober Curious podcast with Toko-pa Turner on Practicing Belonging—a timely conversation for how to be with and come home to our whole selves.
When in shock or panic: Put your hands on your body and sit quietly until you feel yourself come back. Practice deep, even breaths, by imagining you are blowing bubbles.
If you want to support those who are being immediately affected by the coronavirus pandemic you can donate to the Global Giving Coronavirus Relief Fund HERE. As well as sending doctors, nurses, and other frontline responders to communities in need, your donation will help the most vulnerable members of society, including those with pre-existing medical conditions, older adults, individuals experiencing homelessness, refugees and migrants, wage workers, and those with inflexible jobs.
A lot has changed since the original publication of Material Girl, Mystical World in May 2017 … which was kind of the point.
When I began writing Material Girl, Mystical World in early 2015, I didn’t realize it would be a book about a personal transformation—a transformation that has been unfolding ever since. I was a different woman when it was commissioned, by the time I had finished writing it, and when it was finally published in May 2017. Once you stop resisting their tug, this is how transformations go, continually unfolding until life becomes unrecognizable.
When they told me the paperback would be published this fall, I questioned whether it still felt like my story (which of course it is, and always will be). I had continued to change and evolve, as the work I chronicled in the original manuscript continued to do its work on me. And world events were also reshaping the world around us in unprecedented ways—did any of us think, and act, and see anything the same these days?
Reflecting on these shifts, I asked my publisher if I could write a new conclusion for the paperback, and they agreed. The resulting essay is published below. I invite original readers to reflect on how they have continued to evolve as a result of awakening to a more numinous outlook, and for anybody new here to consider what this might mean for you.
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New York City. November 11, 2016
Two days after the 2016 US presidential election I hosted a gathering titled “Thank Goddess.” It was a launch event for fellow author Rebecca Campbell’s new book, Rise Sister Rise. When we came up with the name, we, like liberal-leaning “feminists” everywhere, were pretty certain we would also be celebrating the election of the first female president of the United States.
I had envisioned us referencing this as yet more evidence of the rise of the Divine Feminine (the subject of Rebecca’s book), as we high-fived a collective WIN for the sisterhood. Instead, forty women filed into the yoga studio on the Lower East Side with faces drained of color. A haunted silence hung over our circle. It felt important to be together, but, still barely able to process the news, nobody really knew what to say.
Rebecca and I were cohosting with our mutual friend, Madeline Giles, who ended the session with a signature Angelic Breathwork healing session. Along with the rest of the group, I lay down on my yoga mat and began to engage the stimulating three-part breath. But this time, when the tears came, there was no cathartic release. Instead, I sat up afterwards feeling disembodied and even more confused. Struggling to address the group to close, the lump in my throat was like a hot coal, my whole body reverberating with the static of our collective anxiety.
What the actual fuck was happening? And where on Earth did we go from here?
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The hardcover edition of Material Girl, Mystical World was released six months later, and in the original conclusion I wrote about all the ways in which my life and my world were transforming as a result of the tools, philosophies, and practices I’ve covered in its pages. How my periods had regulated for the first time in my life, and how I’d healed my persistent IBS (having finally addressed the emotional issues that had been gnawing at my gut for years). I also shared how I viewed myself as a “recovering fashion industry victim,” and now bought 90 percent of my clothes second hand—the ultimate “sustainable” fashion!
I also mentioned that these external changes were really just the fluff since I could see how adopting a more numinous outlook was also making me kinder, more compassionate, more giving, and less self-absorbed. How it had completely transformed my relationship with my mum. And how seeking to truly know, accept, and forgive myself—how to unconditionally love myself—meant I no longer felt the need to accumulate stuff to make me feel good—as what was beginning to feel really GREAT was the idea that, in some way, whatever I did with my days was contributing to the greater good.
And, almost three years on from that Thank Goddess event, it is clearly evident that my own healing path reflects a collective awakening of sorts. That my confronting my personal demons has been part of a larger unmasking of “evil” forces operating behind the scenes—from political corruption, to the roots of the institutionalized racism that remain embedded decades on from the civil rights movement, and the largely unchecked exploitation of the natural world. My friend, Sushma Sagar, a former Marketing Director for Kate Spade turned energy healer, once described her own healing as a process of “un-brainwashing” herself, meaning it entailed confronting whatever subconscious beliefs and associated behaviors had been keeping her locked in cycles of pain. Pain that she, like myself and so many of us, self-medicated with cocktails, fancy clothes, drama-filled relationships, and an endless quest for career status.
Would our world look any different today had we elected a female president in 2016? If anything, without the collective wake-up call/“un-brainwashing” that has accompanied the Trump presidency, it seems as though the aforementioned societal woes would have been left to fester in the darkness even longer. And, as painful and confronting as this process has proven for many, I believe it has also been part of an overall raising of consciousness that began with the new age movement of the 1960s and 1970s, and which has sped up and gone viral thanks to our twenty-first century technologies.
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The term “new age” was coined with reference to the dawning of the Age of Aquarius, a 2000-year-plus astrological era we began transitioning into globally in the middle of the last century. Moving us out of the preceding Age of Pisces, an era in which religious fear-mongering and hierarchical power structures reigned supreme, this new age heralds the rise of “Aquarian” values such as humanitarian efforts, power to the individual, freedom of information, and rebellion against the status quo.
I coined the term Now Age because, well, this new Aquarian age is happening NOW! Which also means anybody born between the 1950s and the 2050s are what I call the generational “pattern breakers” karmically tasked with ushering in this new evolutionary paradigm. Yes, that likely means you. And yes, that means that part of your purpose here on Earth is to help birth a more open-minded, less dogmatic, and overall more equally opportunistic Aquarian era.
And you thought my book was going to tell you all about what crystals to buy, and where to get the best tarot readings. Sorry! I kinda tricked you there with the hot pink cover and all the talk about “high vibes.” I have been known to refer to The Numinous as a “Trojan My Little Pony”—all rainbows and sparkles on the outside, concealing an army of freedom fighters within. As we witness the outdated systems of the Piscean Age begin to topple and fall, what will be your contribution to bringing the Now Age into being?
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In Material Girl, Mystical World, I describe the shamanic view of humankind as “a giant people patchwork, with each and every one of us a vital stitch helping keep it all together.” Well, this is when you get to weave your story into the mix. What this means is, I hope you will feel inspired by this book to begin, in earnest, the thorough and searching process of un-brainwashing yourself, and a simultaneous investigation into your truth and your path. Meaning the path of your ultimate freedom, fulfillment, and empowerment, and, as a result, the path of your dharma.
You can begin by getting to know your birth chart (using The Numinous Astro Deck if it speaks to you). Of all the tools mentioned in these pages, astrology remains my preferred method of recognizing my inherited and/or subconscious patterning, behaviors, and beliefs—all the better to rewrite the script! And of course, do the yoga, the meditation, and the green juice (yada yada), but THEN pay attention to the wider changes you will very likely find yourself feeling called to implement as a result.
I often describe the practices and healing modalities covered on The Numinous as “the missing piece in the wellness puzzle”—because, guess what? In my experience, when you clean up your diet and begin to take better care of the physical, you will automatically be asked (by the Universe, Source, your higher Self, etc.) to pay more attention to your mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being, and to make any necessary adjustments to your priorities accordingly. And I guarantee that any discomfort you experience initially will be offset by a level of fulfillment, a depth of intimacy in your relationships, and a sense of meaning and purpose for your life that you may never have known.
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Eddie Stern, my philosopher friend whom I introduce in the chapter on yoga, wrote a piece for The Numinous about the Hindu concepts of sakala, the reality we experience “with form,” and nishkala, the reality that is “without form.” In other words, our outer, quantifiable world (body, possessions, money, social media, even the Universe) and our inner, unquantifiable realms (knowledge, love, compassion, dreams, hopes, and potential). The Material and the Mystical. The here and now and . . . the numinous. “In yoga,” he wrote, “knowing who we are is the solution to all misery. For when we don’t know who we are, we are limited by the external things we measure ourselves against (sakala). We measure, we compare, and we are miserable in doing so, because we always come up short. Yoga teaches that when we truly know who we are, we are immeasurable, pure consciousness (nishkala).”
In other words, it is in seeking to know the unknowable, to connect to the truth of our numinous nature, where our unlimited potential— and our true freedom—lies. And if I could wish anything for you, me, and (why not?) for all humanity, it is for us to be free.
Your Numinous Weekly Horoscopes from Sandy Sitron have a symbol + reading to help you set your intentions with the Gemini New Moon …
Photo: Paul Gilmore
Gemini or Gemini Rising Jumping on a trampoline. Thoughts may be jumping. You are all over the place, really. But with the right intention, you can begin to use this energy to help you leap higher than ever before. Keep it fun. This is just a pleasant backyard game, but if you get your timing right, you might leap up above the rooftops.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandyhere or follow her on Instagram.
Cancer or Cancer Rising A school of fish. The normal approach is to think, discuss and then act. See if you can work more intuitively and spontaneously. Feel into your decisions this week as if you are participating in a synchronized dance. Go with the flow and you might find that you are surrounded by reassuring support from others.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandyhere or follow her on Instagram.
Leo or Leo Rising Construction equipment. You have some heavy lifting to do. Instead of moving each brick with your bare hands, upgrade to some new equipment. With the help of community or technology you can accomplish much more. If you innovate, you can broaden the scope of your project. It’s time for bigger and better results.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandyhere or follow her on Instagram.
Virgo or Virgo Rising The tallest plants in the garden. Reach a little higher and grow a little taller. This might be uncomfortable, but stretch as far as you possibly can. Right now you are driven to succeed. You must climb with ambition. Once you reach the height you are trying to achieve, you can reassess your approach. But for now, push.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandyhere or follow her on Instagram.
Libra or Libra Rising Hiking poles offer support. Yes, it’s possible to scramble up the mountain without a pole. But why not give yourself an extra assist? The best support you can give yourself right now is to be very clear about what you value. When you stumble, your values will be there to remind you to keep going and help you stand tall.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandyhere or follow her on Instagram.
Scorpio or Scorpio Rising A big bird in a small tree. There are times when you have to test a new environment. Maybe you’ll fit perfectly in the tree, or maybe the branch will break. Vulnerability, intimacy, self-worth and trust are all ready to be examined. Think about your history of trusting others.The moment is ripe to take a chance on uncertainty.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandyhere or follow her on Instagram.
Sagittarius or Sagittarius Rising Sorting silverware. Do you really feel like you fit in? Or are you a spoon surrounded by forks? The first step is to stop judging yourself. Feel at home with who you are. Then you can look around and decide if these relationships are working. Some rearranging needs to happen so that you can be comfortable in your surroundings.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandyhere or follow her on Instagram.
Capricorn or Capricorn Rising A magic wand. It’s time to transform the mundane into the magical. Change your daily chores into fun activities. When you invigorate the way you think about your everyday actions, you’ll find that you can be content with what you have. Wave a magic wand and cast a spell that makes your responsibilities fun.
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Aquarius or Aquarius Rising A marching band. You need an entire marching band to announce your presence. What are you fired up for? If you aren’t fired up, it’s time to get excited. If you are fired up, it’s time to deliver on your promise. Make it fun and creative. It’s time to stage a big entrance and receive lots of fanfare.
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Pisces or Pisces Rising A kitten mews. Is there a part of you that needs some gentle tender care? Slow down and ask yourself if you are lonely or tired. Do you need some kind of physical or emotional sustenance? It’s okay to prioritize yourself and give yourself that care. The outside world can wait. Go within and notice what you need.
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Aries or Aries Rising A rainbow stretches across the sky. There are a myriad of colors available. A large spectrum of possibilities. Now is the time to consider your options and widen your viewpoint. You may stumble upon a new way of thinking that helps put everything in perspective. Practice keeping an open mind and you’ll find beautiful surprises everywhere.
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Taurus or Taurus Rising A camel in the desert. Set intentions for how you will feel secure. The one thing that is certain is that life is always changing. So security is a kind of mirage. What idea or intention will help you feel secure? Is it your self-worth? Your friendships? Your money? Your great ideas? Help yourself feel truly confident.
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Gemini or Gemini Rising Kindling for the fire. Yes, you can say it all, do it all and be it all. You’re moving quickly. That’s appropriate and you can continue to shine. Hurl more wood on the fire and dance like a luminous flame. My only caution is that you check in with yourself during this activated time. Nourish your soul through conscious self-inquiry. That will help you burn bright.
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Cancer or Cancer Rising Dipping doughnuts in coffee. You may feel soggy or foggy and that’s okay. Release your attachment to any outcome and focus on the present moment. Where is the sweetness? If you can highlight some sweet sensation or thought, you’ll have everything you need. Dunk yourself into this liquid moment, and don’t worry about the future.
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Leo or Leo Rising Mirrors in the funhouse. There’s always enough to go around. Scarcity is a distorted funhouse mirror. It’s time to examine your perception of reality and upgrade to a new way of thinking. Break the concave mirror with one swift kick, then race to the room with the infinity mirrors. Learn to see your worth magnified infinite times.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandyhere or follow her on Instagram.
Virgo or Virgo Rising Cryptic equations on the chalkboard. The answer is right in front of you. There are clues around you that can help you understand how to position yourself in your career. You just need to find the right formula. Connect with a mentor who can help. Trust that your issues are solvable. The more that you study the puzzle, the more likely it is that you will unlock the answers.
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Libra or Libra Rising Research data. This is all an experiment so collect the data objectively. The more you try to succeed the more times you will fail. So do both. Succeed and fail. Love your ability to fail with every cell of your being. It’s part of the expansion process. Try. Study the results. Try again. You are participating and progressing.
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Scorpio or Scorpio Rising Walking under a waterfall. A waterfall is powerful. The force of the flow could be crushing. Put yourself through the full force of your emotions. When you finally make it through to the other side, you’ll find that something has been healed and cleansed. This emotional expression will buff your hard edges and smooth things out.
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Sagittarius or Sagittarius Rising A squirrel eating nuts. Simplify. Especially when it comes to your relationships. Squirrels seem single-minded as they search for nuts all day long. In your conversations you need to show up knowing what you want and then follow through. Other people will try to make things complicated. You need to keep it simple.
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Capricorn or Capricorn Rising Every “i” dotted and every “t” crossed. Let yourself off the hook. You don’t have to get everything right. The urge to improve every facet of your life is overwhelming. Instead of getting caught up in perfectionism, take a step back. If you try to fit everything into a box you’ll become overwhelmed. Be judicious and work on one thing at a time.
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Aquarius or Aquarius Rising An airplane pulls a sign. Show up for yourself in a big way. What is the grand gesture you need to make for yourself? Could you write a love note to yourself in the sky, for all to see? Your inner child needs to know you care. Make this self-love moment playful and over the top. Set a new standard that reminds you how truly valued you are.
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Pisces or Pisces Rising Throw a rock into a lake. Find a way to symbolically release your conscious and subconscious burdens. Some of them you’ve picked up recently. Others you’ve been carrying since childhood. These burdens haven’t made you more responsible, they’ve merely taken up energy. Use ritual to release them. Create a ceremony and actively shed those old burdens.
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Aries or Aries Rising A boomerang. Every time you spin out, return to where you started. This refers to your thought patterns. The mind is active. Find a way to make use of this mentally activated time without getting overwhelmed by it. Meditate to make more mental space. When you get lost in your thoughts, return to what you know is true.
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Taurus or Taurus Rising Give the dog a bone. This could be a time for rewards. This could be a sensual time filled with enjoyment. Give yourself a treat that you can truly relish. If you want this feeling, you’ll have to invest in it and make it happen. If you don’t make the effort to enjoy, you’ll miss the treat. Slow down and enjoy your senses of sight, smell, taste and touch.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandyhere or follow her on Instagram.
Your Numinous Weekly Horoscopes for the first week of Gemini season are here! Sandy Sitron has the symbol + reading for your sign …
Photo: Ferenc Horvath
Gemini or Gemini Rising Blackberry bushes. Patience is needed. The fruit is there, just within arms reach. And you must navigate the thorns to retrieve it. If you go too fast you’ll come out empty handed and broken. So be deliberate and go luxuriously slowly. The abundance you are looking for is all around you, just be strategic and keep your eye on the prize.
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Cancer or Cancer Rising Coral reef. You can’t chart a straight line through a coral reef. You need to swim through nooks and crannies. The path is organic and indirect. You might find a small cave you would like rest in for awhile. If you have a situation that needs resolution, focus on something else instead. The answer will come to you in an indirect way.
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Leo or Leo Rising Astronaut jumps. Your passion for reaching higher heights is ready to be unleashed. Gravity pulls us down and keeps us grounded. That’s fine. But what if your goals had no gravitational field? What if they were limited by nothing but the atmosphere of your imagination. Tune into your passion and follow it to the moon.
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Virgo or Virgo Rising Crumbling soil between your fingers. What are the resources you are working with? How fertile is your soil? You are about to start building. You are creating new patterns and intentions for your career. So look at the soil. Appraise your skills while you make your plan. The steps you take now are instrumental in growing your garden.
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Libra or Libra Rising Playing a wind instrument. If you funnel your breath through a flute, you can create graceful music. The right instrument will help you transcend the mundane and reach new heights of beauty. What will allow you to do more with less? Can you make simple changes that exponentially increase your contribution? It’s time to take what you’re doing to the next level.
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Scorpio or Scorpio Rising Buoys in a lake. Take time out to recognize those solid relationships that simultaneously anchor and uplift you. Is there ever a limit to the gratitude that can be shown for relationships like these? Give freely in your compliments and recognitions of these people. The process will help you feel closer to yourself.
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Sagittarius or Sagittarius Rising Rocks at the base of a waterfall. These stones are worn smooth by the force of the falling water. Your relationships are the result of all of the little moments. The words that you have exchanged. The emotions you have shared. It all counts. Assess the grooves that have appeared in your partnerships (family, romantic, friendships or otherwise). What needs to change?
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Capricorn or Capricorn Rising Tunnel through a mountain. In order to build a tunnel through a mountain, you must make sure that the structure you are building has integrity. Without integrity the entire mountain will collapse. This metaphor relates to your daily life. If you don’t have healthy habits and self-care built into your day, you won’t be able to achieve your goals. Take care of yourself.
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Aquarius or Aquarius Rising Butterflies. Our brains are trained to see the limitations of our reality. As children we need to learn certain limits so that we can survive. “The stove is hot.” “Look both ways before you cross the street.” But now you need to decide which limitations are ready to be discarded. A caterpillar is limited by gravity, until it becomes a butterfly. The same is true for you.
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Pisces or Pisces Rising The pied piper. It’s easy to follow along blindly. But now is the moment to be deeply honest with yourself. There are feelings that need to be acknowledged. There are practical things you can do to help this along. Spend time alone. Contemplate nature. Journal. Meditate. Talk about your feelings. Eliminate distractions. You’re ready for clarity.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandyhere or follow her on Instagram.
Aries or Aries Rising Cotten candy at the county fair. How do you cultivate hope? What are the special ingredients? There must be a little bit of fluffy optimism. But at the core of optimism is a belief. A belief is what holds this sweet and airy confection together. Spin a cloud of hopefulness around yourself. You can create it with a little sugar and a helpful positive belief.
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Taurus or Taurus Rising A trail in the jungle. You can make your home anywhere. Home comes from a sense of belonging and belonging starts in your own heart. Walk through the jungle in your imagination and sense the abundance of life. This feeling is real abundance that can support you anywhere you go. You belong and you have enough. Use your imagination to feel it.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandyhere or follow her on Instagram.
What is the spiritual side of abortion? Why the 2019 Alabama abortion law brings up important questions about what it really means to be “pro-life” in the now age …
“We must give every person the best chance for a quality life and a promising future.”
This is the #WTF closing line from Gov. Kay Ivey, the WOMAN who signed this week’s controversial Alabama abortion law, in her statement about the act. For me, it sums up everything that is so utterly illogical about this move—because on no level whatsoever, does the Alabama Human Life Protection Act actually promise mothers and the families who may be affected by it a “quality” life or a “promising” future.
On an entirely practical level, Alabama is the 6th poorest state in the US, with 17.2% of Alabamians living below the poverty line (the national average is 14%). Given that the people most likely to be affected by this law are also the poorest, many souls entering the world as a result of this bill, will be pre-destined for a life of poverty-induced suffering.
On a broader scale, over-population is one of the main drivers of climate change (see yesterday’s IG post on over-production / over-consumption). The future is already looking pretty grim for future generations, as we begin to experience what is only the tip of the (rapidly melting) iceberg when it comes to the devastating extreme weather events that are set to become our new normal.
And on a more numinous tip, the more unprepared, unsupported, and unwilling mothers, the more children with more generational trauma keeping them locked in cycles of suffering—and the LESS fully autonomous women, bringing our Universal, life-force, mother energy to other areas of life (something I discuss at length in Material Girl, Mystical World).
Fuck! It makes you wonder WHY Republican law-makers are so anti-abortion—the answer to which appears to be the religious roots of the pro-life lobby. Ban contraception, abortion (oh, and homosexuality while you’re at it), and more Catholic or Christian babies means more power (literally, more people taking up more land + resources) to the Church. Which brings us full circle, to a completely outdated and reactive response to an underlying xenophobic fear of our inevitable cross-cultural evolution.
I had my abortion at age 24, and I am so fucking thankful that a) being British meant I got easy access to a free procedure, no questions asked, and that b) I knew from age 5 that I didn’t want to be a mom, meaning it was not a tough decision for me to opt not to have my baby. I have thought about them sometimes, questioning whether it was selfish of me to deny another soul a life—something that came up when I did a family constellations therapy session with Marine Seleneé.
Marine believes that each and every soul, whether carried to term or not, has its own karmic role in our lineage—and that those we “abort,” as well as those who miscarry—are doing their own work. In my case, I truly believe that I am a “pattern breaker” for the woman + mother wounds that have been carried down my family line (why I knew so young that motherhood was not for me), and that my unborn child played their own role in ending this cycle of trauma.
This week’s move of Mars (conflict, courage, progress) into Cancer (motherhood, women’s issues, lineage), sets the stage for a passionate, angry, and deeply HONEST, response to this latest outrageous violation of human rights. Consider: what does it REALLY mean to be “pro-life” in the now age? How can you enact this in your day-to-day? Questions we all need to be asking ourselves on a level that goes beyond the surface, and gets into the womb of the matter.
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Donate directly to women seeking abortions in Alabama state at yellowfund.org.
Our Numinous Weekly Horoscopes from Sandy Sitron have this week’s astro symbol + reading for your Sun and Rising signs …
Photo: Nathan Anderson
Taurus or Taurus Rising Petals in the wind. It’s time to release. Survey your life and take stock of what you’re holding onto. We hold on because we know that it’s safe. We are comforted by the familiar. But right now it’s time to let go, especially when it comes to old relationship dynamics. Look for ways to break the patterns. This can be beautiful. Like a shimmer of petals on the wind.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandyhere or follow her on Instagram.
Gemini or Gemini Rising Piano keys. Beauty is the result of practice. You are developing new muscles. Find a system and follow it. Simplify your life. Go step by step. Your attention will wander. Bring it back and continue to improve. If you can manage to do this without self-judgement, you will feel as if you are playing a beautiful song. Keep your attention focused in the moment and you will feel centered.
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Cancer or Cancer Rising Helium balloons. It’s time to rise up above it all. Helium is lighter than the surrounding molecules, so it floats. To do this you can’t pay attention to other people’s emotional reactions. You need to focus on your own creativity and contribution. Don’t get sucked in. Just keep floating up above it all. This is easier if feel generous about your contribution. Let your feeling of generosity uplift you.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandyhere or follow her on Instagram.
Leo or Leo Rising Tadpole on the brink of transformation. What needs to change for you to feel accepted? You may yearn to feel more accepted in your family, community or career. This feeling you crave starts from a deep sense of self-acceptance. It’s time to fully embrace who you are. You are on the brink of a transformation and it begins with your sense of belonging and feeling at home in this world.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandyhere or follow her on Instagram.
Virgo or Virgo Rising Horizon line. The horizon line is both defined and undefined. Real and imaginary. You are doing mental gymnastics as you study your thought patterns and explore new mental frontiers. Our thoughts and beliefs broadly determine our life experience. Sometimes we need to change how we think so that we can change our lives. Be brave and proactive as you redefine what you believe.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandyhere or follow her on Instagram.
Libra or Libra Rising A feast. One way to increase your sense of security is to honor what you already have. Play the gratitude game. Give thanks for your resources everyday. Whatever they may be. If all you have is the air that you breathe, start there. Giving gratitude is a form of generosity. It is a way of saying, “I am full and I give back energetically.” From this place your resources will replenish.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandyhere or follow her on Instagram.
Scorpio or Scorpio Rising Light on a riverboat. This symbol says that you are moving through shadows and you are in emotional territory. You will soon cross the river and arrive at dry land. The best thing that you can do is to sit with the emotions and feel them fully. When you get to dry land you can process the experience with more logic. This emotional journey is helping you become your most authentic self.
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Sagittarius or Sagittarius Rising Grecian columns. You are seeking inner stability. You are defining your inner pillars of self trust and self worth. You can do this through meditation. When in doubt, look for your resilience within. This is an spiritual and emotional connection with your strength. Meditation is a practice that helps you increase your emotional resilience. It is the columns that support your structure.
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Capricorn or Capricorn Rising High flying hawk. You need more perspective. You are ready for change and you need to find a new way of doing things. Before you can get into the nitty gritty of what that looks like, you need to fly high above and connect with the big picture. What do you believe? What are your values? What is your vision for your life? Connect with a sense of hope and you’ll know what to do.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandyhere or follow her on Instagram.
Aquarius or Aquarius Rising A wild boar. In this image you are rooting around in the vegetable garden, finding and devouring fresh food. You need to get grounded and connect with your wildness and your desire. From there you can put energy into achieving your dreams. You need passion to make success happen. Connect to the wild earth and find your center. When you feel grounded you can build.
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Pisces or Pisces Rising Over the edge of a waterfall. Let the momentum take you. There are times when you need to go with the flow. Where is the river pushing you? Let yourself rest and receive. This advice makes sense as long as you are tuned into your values. If you can make choices that are aligned with your values and at the same time go with the flow of your intuition, you will feel alignment.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandyhere or follow her on Instagram.
Aries or Aries Rising A buzzing bee hive. You need your community. This is a time of letting go and releasing control. That’s really hard to do. Remember that your actions don’t define you. There is nothing to prove. You are valuable no matter what you achieve. Let go of the struggle and your desire to be number one. This will open you up to more intimacy and a real feeling of connection and trust.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandyhere or follow her on Instagram.
Check our Numinous Weekly Horoscopes from Sandy Sitron for this week’s astro symbol for your sign, following the refresh of the Taurus New Moon …
Photo: Boris Misevic
Taurus or Taurus Rising A coral reef. There is a wide variety of experiences that you can have. The world is abundant with many types of species and habitats. Try on different attitudes. Examine your expectations for yourself. Some of them are outdated. You may be able to explore new ecosystems and shake things up. The past does not determine the future. If you’ve been waiting to begin, the time is now.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandyhere or follow her on Instagram.
Gemini or Gemini Rising Hypnotic music. Go on an inward journey. Your dreams and your intuition have special messages. Pay more attention to your inner truth than you do to the nightly news. You have the wisdom inside of you. Sometimes it’s confusing to tell which voice is intuition and which is fear. Listen closely and learn to determine the difference. You are ready to learn more about your own inner truth.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandyhere or follow her on Instagram.
Cancer or Cancer Rising A game of pool. It’s good to assess all of the possible moves, this is a game of strategy. What strategy would help you win right now? Get a higher perspective. Think bigger than you ever have. You might not see all of the details, but you can muster up the courage to think you might win. Connect with other people and ask them to help you find a new way of looking at the situation.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandyhere or follow her on Instagram.
Leo or Leo Rising Caterpillar. Keep scooting along and eventually you will transform. Your job is not to understand when or how. The technicalities might even frighten you. Instead, follow your instincts. Take the many steps you need to take. Don’t question who you are because your essence is not dictated by your outside appearance. When it comes to your career you are about to become a butterfly.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandyhere or follow her on Instagram.
Virgo or Virgo Rising Pasta shapes. You have lots of options. If you are feeling a little bored, it’s time to change it up. But you don’t necessarily need to change the whole dinner. Just choose a new shape of pasta. Meaning, don’t feel like you need to start from scratch. Reexamine your motivations and values and discover if there’s a way to change the attitude with which you are approaching difficult issues.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandyhere or follow her on Instagram.
Libra or Libra Rising Floating in a raft. You might feel like you are out to sea, but you are perfectly safe. Instead of thinking about how unstable the raft is, focus on wonderful it is to have something to hold onto. You have what you need. The only thing missing is self trust. Dig deeper into your personal reserves and connect with your inner security. You just need confidence and then you can tackle any obstacle.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandyhere or follow her on Instagram.
Scorpio or Scorpio Rising Flying squirrel. There’s a new way to navigate challenging relationships. Before now you’ve been walking and jumping. But now you are learning how to fly. Take it seriously. It’s not easy to pivot to a whole new modality. You need to learn how to hold your ground and communicate effectively. You might need to discover compromise. Balance is your goal.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandyhere or follow her on Instagram.
Sagittarius or Sagittarius Rising An antique broom. Your daily routines, habits and schedule could use a refresh. You don’t have time to play small or be slightly disorganized. You need to clean up. Don’t start by assessing. Just jump in and start working. This is how you’ll gain momentum. And once you get into the flow, you’ll start to feel like your mind is being cleared by the work you are doing. Take charge.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandyhere or follow her on Instagram.
Capricorn or Capricorn Rising Surprising fireworks. You should surprise yourself with your own creativity. Give yourself opportunities for spontaneity and self-expression. See if you can get into the zone. Whatever you create will illuminate a new path. Playfulness and generosity are good words to live by this week. Usually, it’s easy to go for days without something exciting happening, but not now. Set off some fireworks.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandyhere or follow her on Instagram.
Aquarius or Aquarius Rising Feather falling. Feathers are cozy and insulating. Change your perspective so that you can bring more of this energy into your life. It’s okay to retreat. You may need to make a warm nest and settle in. Notice what comes up when you take a step back. What subtle feelings are ready to be released? This is your chance to connect with yourself in a new way. Make a home for yourself.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandyhere or follow her on Instagram.
Pisces or Pisces Rising Light at the end of the tunnel. A new path forward is illuminated. Don’t take it for granted and don’t ignore it. You are ready for a mindset shift. Go look for new information. If you find an insight that strikes you, hold on to it. Memorize it. The ideas that you have now will have a huge impact on your future direction. Be open to change and break up the monotony of outdated ways of thinking.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandyhere or follow her on Instagram.
Aries or Aries Rising A private garden. Help yourself feel centered and stable by giving yourself a little privacy. Take time to feel grounded. Slow down just a little bit. Your breath can be wonderful tool to help you connect with your body and the present moment. You will build upon this feeling of security in the future, but begin by slowing down. That will help you feel connected with your internal resources.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandyhere or follow her on Instagram.
Full Moon // April 19, 2019 // 7:12 am EDT // 29 degrees Libra
Rose bushes tantalize with sweet smells and bright colors. Underneath the surface are an army of bloodthirsty thorns.
Visualize this lunation as if it represents the diverse ecosystem of a rose bush in bloom. Many pathways available, many roses to be smelled, many insects, and small animals to encounter. There’s a headiness as the perfume intoxicates, and a pain that lingers when you are pricked. You can have the best time revealing in the beauty or you can get stuck in the thorns.
On Friday April 19th there is the second Libra Full Moon of 2019. This one is asking us to get it right. There’s not much time to waste. It’s time to spark the flame of your desire, go for it, and bloom big! That’s what you’ve been working on this Aries season, even though part of the time the process was foggy, slippery, and subconscious.
And this fiery evolution of the self has been punctuated by the need to be clear, communicative and reach toward another person in diplomatic action. You’ve been asked to set boundaries that help you be more of yourself, alone and in partnership. That’s the thorny truth of what this pair of Libra Full Moons are asking you to do.
The rose is the perfect metaphor because it is peaceful and beautiful, like the Libra archetype. But it is also clear about its boundaries, the way both Libra and Aries must be to create truly balanced partnership. The rose is also the symbol for the open heart, and to be truly open-hearted you must have pointy thorns to defend yourself. That saves you energy and makes openness safe and sustainable.
The overall message of this Full Moon is to work on your self awareness so that you can communicate and enjoy both individuality and balanced partnership.
I’ll be honest, the delivery of this message is not super gentle. This Full Moon might try your patience. It might ask you to find a new path through the thorny brush. You might get some scratches. But it’s all worth it if it helps you practice self-awareness.
During this lunation there is a lot of pressure. At its best, this pressure will ask you to change. The way to handle it is to be consciously open to a mental, spiritual, and even physical upgrade. Ask for a fresh perspective. As the Sun transits close to Uranus, this upgrade might come through sometime next week.
If you are subconsciously afraid and not truly open to change, you will just feel the pressure of the grand cross that’s formed between the Nodal axis, Pluto, Saturn, the Sun, and the Moon. That pressure invites regression to old behaviors that don’t serve you anymore. It might feel majorly limiting and frustrating.
Being open to change is a state of mind.
At this time, any old patterns will catch you up in the briar patch of thorns. You need new perspective and change is supported. Meanwhile, true expansion is likely with a supportive assist by Jupiter. Jupiter is your cheerleader, reminding you that …
-You can find a new way of saying yes to who you are and what you need.
-You are ripe to open up to another person and communicate your truth.
-The old way is ending and the structure for a new way is being created.
Revel in the fact that life in the rose bush is far from boring. You are under pressure, and it might hurt a little, but the chance to blossom and show your truth has never been so vibrant!
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Moon sextile Jupiter A graceful willow. The willow goes with the flow. There is no breakage because there is no tension. So the branches flourish and grow lush The flexibility results in strength. You have access to support without trying. There is friction and tension at this Full Moon to be certain. But remember that sometimes you get further by going with the flow instead of hustling. Look around to see where you want to reap rewards with less effort.
Moon opposite Uranus Lightning bug. Keep your eyes peeled for surprising flashes of illumination. You don’t need to know where it’s going to come from. And it would be impossible to anticipate. But if you look for it, you won’t miss it. The brilliant light can show you a new path to follow.
Moon square Pluto, Saturn and North Node Putting an irrigation system in place. You need to find a new way forward and you will need to work to create it. Without ingenious new solutions, you will dry up. you might find buried root systems that block your path and the task might take months longer than expected. but keep trying to remove the old obstacles and welcome a new way to nurture yourself and others. You can figure this out.
What you really get from a near death experience is a numinous new perspective on life, the Universe, and everything, says Worthy Stokes …
The last thing I remember before leaving my body was the U2 song playing on my iPod shuffle: It’s A Beautiful Day. I was out for a morning jog wearing headphones and stopped at a crosswalk to wait for the signal to change. When it turned green, I turned up the volume and raced straight into Death.
A van had run a stoplight, and at the very moment it crashed into me, the world disappeared. Instead of memories of my skull breaking against pavement, I remember only that song and an image of wide, open sky. Thus, U2 serenaded my departure from this life; the ensuing brain trauma erasing everything except for Bono’s voice. So, when I tell the story of my Near Death Experience (NDE), I always think of him.
Five years have passed since my harrowing return to my body, during which time the nuts and bolts of universal intelligence have emerged in waves and codes. During this time, seven spiritual teachings have emerged — to inform my life and work here on Earth
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1. Consciousness is not religious, humans are. When I dropped into the vastness of the primordial, cosmic soup, I came face-to-face with infinity. I was lucid in my perception of an elegant, fluid order, and, at the same time, the experience felt wholly incomprehensible to my human brain. I felt neither shock, or distress. I floated about leisurely, as I noticed, rather abruptly, that religion simply does not exist beyond the human mind.
Having previously “believed” in Buddhism, I came back into my body with a transfigured cosmology for which I have no translation. My faith rests instead in a mysterious beauty that remains unencumbered by mortal bias, dogmas, or doctrines—all of which, I see now, are highly destructive to human beings. Religion perpetuates guilt. Consciousness activates possibility.
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2. Death is a choose-your-own-adventure experience.If you like Jesus, he’ll be there. If you love practicing meditation, maybe you’ll see a monk. If you are tired of patriarchy, perhaps a fierce Goddess or tree spirit will greet you. For atheists or stoics who think this is nonsense, the journey into Death is destined to unfold in a way that is relaxing, uneventful, and not at all weird. Each of us naturally transitions from one state of consciousness to another without the slightest bit of pain—which brings me to the idea of Hell, which isn’t real, so everyone can relax. There is no darkness in that final exit, and if there is, it’s probably because you wanted it that way.
3. We are all as connected as we are separate. There is an individuated blueprint in each of us describing multiple portals to other dimensions, but how this system mechanically functions is beyond us. Invisible points of contact, layers of free will, shifting realities, and elements of destiny all move and meld in ways that are too complex for us to ever name. In the popular TV series about NDEs (OA), there are gestures coupled with movements to be found in the afterlife, which combine in an eerie combination of breath and choreography.
This hints at an interlocking system we all share and must sort out together, because each of us carries a vital piece of the puzzle that doesn’t fully work until connected with others. In other words, the success of our collective matrix depends on its parts functioning as coherent, interactive particles engaging consciously. So yes, your healing journey is valuable to all of us. My NDE showed me that we are linked, and we are separate. We have shared paths, and we engage singularity. We are interdependent, and we are alone.
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4. Some things do not heal. Consciousness is not just for manifesting a Ferrari or a mate or healing a primal wound; it is not a spoon we can learn to bend with our minds. We do not have as much control as we wish we did, and we do not get to know why some things heal and others don’t. Asking why X still hurts (despite having done all the Work), as so many of us like to do, leads nowhere. Let’s ask each other instead, “What happened? What can happen next?”
Our job here is to hold each other’s fragility, alongside qualities of strength, power, purpose, and possibility. Even after having seen in my NDE how vast we all are, and how very little control we have in our lives, I returned with a belief that wanting to heal something was enough. Over time, I learned I was wrong. I learned instead to make peace with hundreds of things I cannot fix. Now, I pay close attention to what IS possible here, in the realm of the living. I find enormous solace in my understanding that on the other side, there is no pain.
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5. Transformation is your birthright. We have the right to change what we do not like, need, or love, in this wakeful, transient life. Further, we are spiritually and neurologically wired for transformation. I’m not saying transformation is easy, and I am also not saying it’s going to be an affordable, realistic, or linear process. Nor is it a test or an experiment. There are no grades, or getting it “right” or “wrong.” Showing up and exploring is what counts. Dreaming, breathing, building, evaluating, noticing, and repeating what works. Getting into your carpe diem flow while motivated by visions of awesomeness is a very good place to start. Find mentors, make revisions, and don’t be afraid to color outside the lines.
Photo: Ameen Fahmy
6. We need our people guides more than our spirit guides.We are each like turtles bringing houses of consciousness from oceans of possibility to this shared, changeable world. Like turtles, we carry pieces of our primordial homes on our backs, which means we are all, always, “at home.” From this space, we can choose to be fiercely, tenderly present for each other, right here and right now. Yet I see countless seekers hitching rides on decorated spaceships to visit fancy vortices in search of “answers” and healing. The irony is we already boarded the most cosmic spaceships of all, our bodies, and we traveled a very long way to reach this life. Meeting each other in the flesh is a fantastic, holy, and healing event, in and of itself.
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7. Being human is the ultimate spiritual path.As spiritual beings, we are elements of unified consciousness, and as physical beings, we are connected by way of our neurobiology.Being human and being here in this life IS the ultimate path; regular meditation or devotional practices that nourish our relationships with each other are simply ways to maintain our connection with the Divine.
The task at hand, truly, is to care for each other in the physical domain, as creatures who age, break, triumph, and fail, through moments of tragedy and ecstatic, heart shattering joy. There is no need to look beyond this reality. Presence is what we are, and life inside of these beautiful days IS the messy, sacred experience we came here for. When we look outside of ourselves for truthful meaning, we shut down access to the very miracles we seek.
Fed up with the beauty industry’s impossible standards, Giselle La Pompe-Moore set out to heal her relationship with her skin at soul level. She explains why skincare is a spiritual practice …
Giselle La Pompe-Moore
Have you ever thought about your skin beyond aesthetics?
We can spend hours in front of the mirror analyzing every pore and perceived flaw, but we rarely see beyond this. But on a deeper level, our skin is a barrier between our internal and external worlds. Something both public and deeply personal at once.
This skin allows us to experience the universe around us, to touch and be touched in return. This is why skincare is a spiritual practice.
The color of my skin was different from most of the people I grew up with, and from the women I saw in the media. I loved my skin, but as a black woman I always felt like an “other.” Was always comparing my skin to that of somebody else. The black women I DID see on TV and in magazines seemed hyper-real, with flawless, perfect skin. In an attempt to replicate this for myself, I pursued a career as a beauty editor, drowning myself in products.
Over the years, I began to notice that while creams and treatments can heal the skin externally, they do nothing to address feelings of not being good enough, of shame, and of endless comparison.
And so I took a step back to shift my focus from how skin looks on the outside to what it reflects about our inner life. To investigate the impact of spiritual tools, such as reiki, meditation and tarot, on our relationships with the skin we are in.
Now working as a healer specializing in skincare, I’ve seen how acne, psoriasis, dermatitis, and eczema have impacted the way my clients move through the world. I’ve listened to stories about what they’ll do once their skin is “healed, better, or different,” while denying themselves of the life they could be living right now. I’ve also learned that our skin is the physical embodiment of our innate self-worth.
Whether you’re working through a skin condition, are struggling to accept your physical appearance, or want to add some spirit to your skincare, here are the tools that I’ve used on myself and my clients to help shift our skincare mindset …
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1// Give yourself a crystal facial massage Crystals can work wonders helping to set intentions around your skin—and one way is with a crystal facial massage. Here’s how to do it:
Choose a crystal that symbolizes your skin intention. Pink Transparent Calcite (for non-judgment and comparison), Apatite (willpower for shifting your skin mindset) and Malachite (forgiveness, committing to this journey) are some of the crystals I’ve prescribed to clients.
Get comfortable, cleanse your space, and connect to the crystal. Hold it in your hand and feel its energy. As you hold it, visualize your intention. If it’s to help you to forgive yourself for the unkind words you’ve said about your skin in the past, imagine this forgiving energy passing through your body. Then ask the crystal to offer you support and guidance in achieving this.
With the crystal in front of you, start to massage all around your face in upward and outward strokes using a face oil. With each movement, feel your intention sinking into your skin at the same time.
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2// Journal to go beneath the surface A lot of our limiting beliefs about our appearance reside deep below the surface. Use journaling to investigate your relationship with your skin and unearth subconscious beliefs.
Here are a few questions to start with:
-How would you describe your skin? Think about the language you use, is it positive or negative? -What does the word ‘comparison’ bring up for you, in relation to your skin? -What memories do you have where someone made a comment about your skin or appearance and how has this had an impact on you? -What has your inner critic said to you today? Do you believe what it told you? How do you usually talk to yourself when you’re in front of the mirror?
Through journaling, I realized that I used only negative words to describe my skin and would skip past the features I liked. So I decided to start accentuating the parts of my face that I did love, like my lips. See what comes up for you and what tools you can use to release and heal these limiting beliefs. I’ve used tapping (Emotional Freedom Technique), binaural beats and visualization in response to what I uncovered in my journal, and written letters to my skin.
Giselle guides a client
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3// Synch your skincare with the Moon The phases of the Moon phases can provide a mirror to examine our self-image triggers, and a framework for charting our inner work and emotional landscape over a period of time. Here’s how to incorporate each phase into your skincare routine …
New Moon. Use this time of new beginnings to set an intention for your skin. It could be to reconnect with your skin. Start with self-massage, simply feeling the skin beneath your fingertips. This is also the time to add any new products in to your beauty routine.
Waxing Moon. Check in with the intentions you set at the New Moon, examining how you’re feeling about your appearance now, and thinking about how you can move closer to growing your intentions and reconnecting with your skin. Your skin is also the most absorbent and receptive to nutrients now, so add in a serum with hydrating properties or a nourishing face mask.
Full Moon. Take a moment to celebrate yourself, thanking yourself for all of the work you’ve been doing to shift your skin mindset. There can be heightened emotions and energy at this time, so make sure you’re filling your cup back up with restorative baths or an Ayurvedic abhyanga massage.
Waning Moon. Use this phase for journaling and exploring the limiting beliefs that might have come up for you over this cycle, reflecting on what you need to release in order to grow. To support this internal cleansing and shedding, use an exfoliating body scrub, try body brushing, or add in a detoxifying charcoal soap to draw out impurities and toxins.
Dark Moon. Give yourself a break! It’s easy to end up with spiritual overload, I’ve been there many times – digging into shadow work, past life astrology, and the deepest crevices of my psyche all before lunch ain’t easy! Allow yourself this time to restore, heal, imagine, and to press pause.
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4// Use the tarot to talk to your skin The tarot is a powerful tool for working on your mindset and self-worth, and I use it daily for both myself and in my rediscovery: skin sessions. You can start with a single card pull, asking the deck to show you how you can work on your self-image. Use the cards to start a conversation with your skin and listen to what it needs.
Example: In the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, the Two of Swords depicts a blindfolded woman with two swords crossed over her. The moon is above her and a body of water lies behind her. This card is all about taking the time and space to be still and look inwards. To embody this card, think about how you can create a boundary that allows you to dive into your own self-care. Allow this stillness to offer you intuitive guidance as to where you’re in need of healing and any areas of low self-worth. Use this as an invitation to see through your third eye rather than your physical eyes.
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5// Meditate for both mind and skin Meditation is a powerful tool for shifting our skin mindset, and for relieving the stress that can trigger or aggravate neuro-inflammatory conditions such as acne.
In sessions, I guide my clients through a skin-focused meditation, which fosters gratitude, forgiveness, acceptance, and kindness, and includes a simultaneous facial self-message that creates physical connection with the skin.
*You can download a version of this meditation HERE. You’ll need cleansed skin, a comfortable space, and a facial oil in easy reach, then plug in and tune out.
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Giselle La Pompe-Moore offers one-to-one rediscovery: skin sessions that guide you to shift your skin mindset to a path of acceptance and gratitude. Her rediscovery: soul sessions incorporate reiki, tarot, and meditation. Both are held either virtually or in-person in London. She also hosts monthly Mirrorscope skin healing circles.
Seeking to reawaken her innate magic, Ani Ferlise enrolled in Priestess School. She shares how you can embody this ancient vocation …
Graell Corsini and The Goddess Temple of Ashland
Four years ago, I was feeling alone and unfulfilled. I was dissatisfied with the way I’d spent my college years, and I was frustrated with what was expected of me. And so, seeking more of the magic I had always felt in my heart, I left New York and moved to small, magical, Ashland, in Oregon—and it was here I first heard the word “Priestess.”
I had found my way to Graell Corsini, a loving, fiery, pixie Priestess, and founder of the Goddess Temple of Ashland. The Temple itself, a beautiful dome, is surrounded by gardens, flowing mineral springs, beehives, and tall oak trees. Inside, you are greeted by a wood stove and an altar, decked with Samhain decorations and offerings. Immediately on arriving here, I felt something nostalgic and familiar awaken inside of me.
I began my working for Graell at temple “melissae,” cleaning the temple, organizing, sprucing up the altars, and clearing the space. One year later, I asked Graell if she would be willing to do a one-on-one apprenticeship with me and teach me how to Priestess for myself. Over the course of a few short weeks, I immersed myself completely in this ancient vocation.
What I learned totally blew me open, while new insights continue to unfold every day. This is what I have learned so far about the Priestess way …
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A Priestess brings magic to the mundane Graell told me how part of her practice was to make places more beautiful than when she arrived. If she goes into a bathroom that’s dirty, she cleans it. Graell sees this act alone as a living prayer, bringing the sacred to something so everyday. That’s just one example. Taking a shower can become an energetic cleanse, with lavender or rosemary soap, as you visualize the heaviness of the day going down the drain. Cooking can become kitchen witchery when you say, “Thank you for nourishing me,” as you stir intention into your split pea soup with a wooden spoon. The way you Priestess will be as unique as your fingerprints.
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A Priestess honors the darkness along with the light Focusing only on the light is a major imbalance in the spiritual world—for we are made of love, light, AND a deep, deep darkness. We are all born from the darkness. The womb-space, the unknown, the place of rebirth. We confront our darkness every day, and to deny this is to deny yourself of your humanity. The deep, dark unknown must not only be looked at but loved. To honor the darkness, the unknown, the places that scare us in ourselves and in life, is sacred.
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A Priestess does not have to be perfect to be in service We are all capable of manipulation, of stretching the truth a little too much, of judgements, of ignorance, and more. We are always going to be exploring our motivations. Being of service doesn’t require ridding yourself of these human parts. The Priestess approach is to muster up your strength, vulnerability, and courage, and instead of trying to rid yourself of imperfections, to nourish and be gentle with yourself, so that you are overflowing with love. Everything that is not in alignment will then flow out of you naturally.
The Temple
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A Priestess creates sacred space Holding sacred space is a beautiful opportunity with a lot of responsibility. This space can be energetic or physical. You can push your cart into the cereal aisle at the supermarket while a toddler is throwing a tantrum, and you can ask the mother how she’s doing. Or you can be in ceremony, looking each person in the eye, letting them know that you hear them. You never know when the opportunity to hold space will show up!
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A Priestess nurtures self always Being a Priestess means creating a (literal) sacred space for you, too. This space is used to pray and to nurture yourself—a place, when something is too big for you, to give it over to the Higher. Natural disasters, terrorism, and societal injustice, are impossible to take on by yourself, nor are you supposed to. You are here to do your part, and whatever is beyond you needs to have a place to go. So create that space. Organize, clean, and beautify it, so you can show up AND feel held.
Whether it is a home altar, a spare room, dresser drawer, or even your car dashboard, use whatever is accessible. My altar has each of the elements represented, and I use the Wheel of the Year for my inspiration. I keep it beautiful and divinely scented with flowers and plants based on the season, with candles and oils to match, and with crystals and incense to set the tone.
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A Priestess celebrates life with ceremony Every life event can have a ceremony or ritual. Going through a breakup? Moving into a new home? Feeling grateful? Needing to cut ties from a person? Yearning to honor a loss? Ceremony is key to bringing the mythic to the seemingly mundane. Ritual is an invitation for the sacred to come in. While there’s nothing like having a trained guide for major life gateways, there are many opportunities to support yourself during times of transition. For example, if you just experienced a break up, take a cleansing bath with rose quartz, and drink a heart-opening and nourishing tea like Damiana.
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A Priestess is a part of nature When you begin to pay attention to the transitions of the seasons, the shifting of the Sun from sign to sign, and the phases of the Moon, it’s hard to understand how we are supposed to operate separately from nature. Like the Moon and the tides she turns, our lives ebb and flow. From socializing to solitude, from sadness to joy, from confusion to certainty, and from giving to receiving—a Priestess understands that we too are constantly cycling. Be gentle with your tides.
My life has changed significantly since becoming initiated as a Priestess. I came to Graell searching for meaning, and what she taught me is that we find this in making the world better than when we find it, in ways big and small.
Ani at Priestess School
Embracing the magic in the mundane lights a fire in my heart like nothing else has. Turn toward those who have walked this path before you, for more guidance on living a sacred life. If you have any questions, you can find me at kozmicryder.comor @kozmicryder on Instagram, and Graell Corsini at the Ashland Goddess Temple and at priestessgraell.com.
After discovering that there was nothing “wrong” with her body except conventional health messaging, Jillian Murphy shares her manifesto for a more inclusive wellness industry …
Photo: Samantha Santy
I had put on 40lbs in my second pregnancy and they seemed to have nestled in for good. I was eating well and moving my body religiously but I just couldn’t lose the weight.
Every well-intentioned health care professional I worked and interacted with as a naturopath was happy to offer up advice about what must be wrong with my adrenals, thyroid, hormonal health, sleep patterns, food combining, mindfulness, sugar intake, etc. etc. etc. and I had worked on it ALL. But to no avail, and I was exhausted from the effort.
Frustrated, I hired a body image and emotional eating coach and, after explaining my long and convoluted health and weight story to this new mentor, she told me something I was wholly unprepared to hear:
“There is nothing wrong with you except for your belief that your body is wrong. You are exceptionally healthy: you don’t have a food problem and your body is exactly, happily, where it needs to be.”
It was one of the strangest, most revolutionary things I’d ever heard. It simultaneously crushed and liberated my soul. Crushed, because, OMG! All the lost time I’d spent trying to “fix” my body. Liberated, because I’d finally been given permission to shed the physical expectations of our culture and just live my life.
The mere suggestion that my body weight and shape may not dictate my health nearly blew up my brain. It set into motion a 7-year journey of critical thinking, self-discovery, and research that would ultimately serve to heal my relationship with food and my body and revolutionize my understanding of health.
What I realized was:
Conventional health messaging flattens beautiful, complex, and biodiverse individuals into 2D facsimiles. Squishes us into mathematical equations, diets, and wellness checklists that promise abundant health and complete control over our bodies.
This messaging makes us believe that if our bodies don’t fit, we are at fault – too lazy, not enough willpower, intelligence, or effort. And in our attempts to conform, we offer up our emotional and spiritual wellbeing, our peace of mind, and sometimes our sanity.
Now, we in the wellness industries are being called to dismantle and challenge outdated, oppressive, and limiting beliefs about food, movement, weight, and health. To present a model for inclusive wellness that is respectful of ALL bodies; critical of information that leaves us feeling confused and in lack; and that offers alternatives to restrictive and prescriptive health ideologies that ignore the lived experience and values of the individual.
This is my manifesto for a more inclusive wellness industry ….
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1// Pursue physical health without compromising your mental, emotional, and/or spiritual self.
When we exercise though our body is asking for rest; when we cut carbs or calories despite our body begging for sustenance; when we skip dinner out for fear of not having the “right” food options; when thinking about food and health consumes our every thought – we sacrifice our sense of peace, connection, and joy in the pursuit of physical “health.” The outcome is a feeling of depletion despite doing “everything right.”
The shift: Put physical health back in its place, as one piece of the health puzzle and not the whole picture.
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2// Respect and appreciate the diversity of human bodies.
All bodies deserve access to quality healthcare and health resources without judgment or shame. Current body type and weight ideals are problematic and unscientific (including the Body Mass Index or BMI). They negatively impact our relationship with food and movement, and encourage the stigmatization of all but a small percentage of bodies deemed “appropriate.” Those in bigger bodies are judged harshly and mistreated in every sphere of society, from the workplace to medicine.
The shift: We must shed the belief that losing weight is the #1 path to health and wellness and work instead to pursue behaviors that have been proven to have a positive impact on health – whether we lose weight or not – while developing a much broader and inclusive definition of bodies we deem healthy, attractive, and worthy.
Photo: Samantha Santy
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3// Define “health” and “wellness” for yourself.
These terms are social constructs that differ across communities and cultures. It’s also important to recognize that many people don’t have the privilege of prioritizing wellness, even if they want to. We can own our own investment and interest in health and wellness without projecting it onto others. Imagine how many hours a day/week could you free up if you let go of food, body control, and worry.
The shift: Consider what aspects of health and wellness actually light you up. Can you think of moments when you’ve judged the health and wellness choices of others? Begin to think about how our narrowly drawn ideas about these concepts impact the overall health of our society.
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4// Become the leading expert on YOU.
We have been taught that we must rely on externally devised, highly moralized food plans telling us how much to eat, what to eat, and when to eat. The Now Age way is to turn to models for nourishing ourselves that put us back in touch with our innate ability to regulate food variety and quantity. These models consider the needs of our physical bodies, while also taking the mental, emotional, social, cultural, and spiritual aspects of food, movement, and health into account.
The shift: Promote eating based on our bodies’ internal cues instead of following fad diets or parroting somebody else’s food rules. (ED: read Jillian’s tips on using body positivity to unlock your intuition).
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5// Cultivate a sense of purpose and worth beyond your physical form.
The exhaustion, digestive issues, inflammatory processes, and body concerns I see in so many of my patients are one part physical, two parts spiritual/emotional. We feel disconnected and the stress of floating through the world unsure of where we belong, what makes us worthy, and what our purpose is shows up as dysfunction in our thought processes and bodies. We then cling to the rituals, routines, and ideologies of wellness and weight that serve as the ultimate distraction.
The shift: Replace diets and health “regimens” with rituals that connect you to the moon, meditation, talk therapy, dance parties, ditching toxic relationships, eating mindfully, speaking up, saying no, walking in nature, swimming in the ocean, lighting a candle, giving back. Anything that reminds us that our worth is inherent, we are more than our bodies, and we are connected to everyone and everything.
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6// Work to change the systems in place that deeply affect the health and wellness of our culture and community.
Socioeconomic status is the leading determinant of health. Accordingly, we must work to shift these issues on a systemic level if we truly care about our health and the health of those around us. There are systems in place that can’t be “love + light”ed away, and we all have a responsibility to pull apart our own oppressive beliefs and work toward amplifying the perspectives of those who experience this system differently.
The shift: Realize that representation matters – if we want to feel normal and acceptable in our various forms, we need to SEE those forms and diverse paths to health. Start with your social media feed by including a wide range of body shapes, sizes, races, abilities, and gender expressions, and enter into those spaces with the intention of listening. As you learn, commit to engaging those who share your social identity in conversations that question your current health and wellness beliefs. Be an active catalyst for change.
