Venus Retrograde Archives

THE 2018 AQUARIUS WAXING MOON WANTS YOU TO MAKE RADICAL PROGRESS ON YOUR DREAMS

Posted on November 14, 2018November 15, 2018 by Jennifer Racioppi

As the new year draws ever closer, the 2018 Aquarius Waxing Moon wants us to step into our fullest power and make a radical stand for our mission-driven dreams, says Jennifer Racioppi …

jennifer racioppi ruby warrington the numinous material girl mystical world 2018 aquarius waxing moon victor rodriguez — *Photo: Victor Rodriguez*

Waxing Quarter Moon // November 15 2018 // 9.54 am ET // 23 degrees Aquarius

As the Sun moves through the fixed water sign Scorpio, and the last of the leaves find their way to the earth to decompose, the 2018 Aquarius Waxing Moon highlights transformation—especially as it relates to you rising on behalf of your mission-driven dreams.

With the Sun setting earlier and earlier, and 2019 becoming eerily closer each passing moment, the current astrological dance calls forth these transformations. Even for those on the other side of the world, where the Sun waxes instead of wanes, the essence of Scorpio season prevails; signifying a time to release limiting beliefs that hold us back from stepping into our full power.

The Aquarius Waxing Moon coincides with the end of Venus’ retrograde journey and the beginning of Mercury’s final backward spin of the year—stimulating radical action on behalf of your most heart-driven goals. Given that Mars’ and Venus’ respective retrograde cycles have commanded heavy doses of emotional sobriety, 2018 closes out with all of us feeling way more conscious and aware! Especially when it comes to understanding the extent to which we still live in a racist world, the fragility of our environment, and some of the bypassing undertones that infiltrate spiritual communities.

This Waxing Quarter Moon boldly highlights both how far we’ve come AND how much further we have yet to go …

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//The Cycle//
This Waxing Quarter Moon marks the halfway point between the Scorpio New Moon and upcoming Gemini Full Moon. On the most basic level, it asks us to recommit to the goals and intentions we set just a week ago when the Sun and Moon aligned at 15 degrees of Scorpio.

From a more nuanced perspective, however, this Waxing Moon directly relates to the energy of the Lunar New Year, and the New Moon in Aquarius on Feb 15, 2018. Aquarius, the sign of futuristic visioning, represents dreams, ideas, and collaborations. What were you dreaming of 9 months ago? Now’s the time to assess the progress you have (or haven’t) made on behalf of your deepest heart’s desires.

Then, ask yourself this: Are my goals helping to bring this world to a better place? Am I (sincerely) leading with love? Am I striving to create more equality, inclusion, and justice? How can I make my personal growth journey more socially aware so I can contribute on a higher level to society in general?

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//The Transits//
This Waxing Quarter Moon also conjoins Mars, who has spent an extended period in Aquarius due to his retrograde journey—the sign that represents progressive, global, values. Mars’ retrograde cycle happens approximately once every two years and asks us to eradicate self-serving ambitions. Since the Waxing Moon and Mars both trine Venus as she wakes up from her retrograde cycle, this particular cosmic moment highlights the need for societal change even more.

Venus has two phases, an “evening star” position, and a “morning star” position. When she’s in evening star, she rises as the Sun sets and is in her receptive position. When she’s in her morning star position, as she is right now, she rises before the Sun and is in her most fierce, righteous, phase. Venus, now awakening from her retrograde journey and rising before the Sun, pushes us to go after our values, beliefs, and dreams.

And given that she’s receiving a beam of support from both the Moon and Mars as she stations direct, it’s time to own humanitarian values—fully commit to your determination to make positive changes in the world. Venus, after all, relates to love. In her morning star position, she stations direct in Libra, a cardinal air sign that fiercely stands for justice. Use this to your advantage, and go after radical progress on your dreams!

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//The Square//
With the Sun in Scorpio squaring the Moon in Aquarius, we could find part of ourselves stubbornly resisting progress. Both Scorpio and Aquarius are fixed signs after all, and neither readily acquiesce. “Radical change” might feel impossible—if even desirable! With Mars in the mix, we might feel moody, possibly even a little aggressive/passive-aggressive. Depending on the level of consciousness we bring to the day, we might even feel defensive. On the plus side, Scorpio, beckons profound truth, while Aquarius is a sign that pushes us into alignment with our values. With positive self-talk and a righteous commitment to our values, we can find the necessary conviction to step out of our demise and into our resurrection.

The best approach? Use the friction of the square to give yourself a reality check. If you find yourself feeling defensive, name it. If you feel angry, express it. Then tap into the energy of Venus stationing direct and commit to your becoming. Make a vow to offer your journey and growth to the betterment of the world. Choose to face your future, as opposed to your past and your pain.

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//The Opportunity//
This Aquarius Waxing Quarter Moon, packed tight with nuanced astrological meaning, punctuates a long and winding road of retrograde challenges. Thankfully with Venus on the eve of her direct station, forming an ideal angle to both the Moon and Mars, we can use this opportunity to go high and trust in a radical leap forward.

Review the progress you’ve made over the last nine months, or since Venus went retrograde on October 5th. Or even since the Scorpio New Moon that happened last week. Use this as a springboard for your next big leap. As the Sun wanes and nature decomposes, trust that it’s leading you to your rebirth. This energy will magnify even more in the days following the December 21 Winter Solstice. For now, stay in your strength, and remain committed to the life you most want to live.

2018’s cosmic curriculum commanded maturity. The heavy retrograde activity overhauled mindless ambition, highlighting vapid behaviors, and asking all of us to embrace emotional sobriety and get to work on behalf of the world. Now’s the time to embody what you’ve learned. We are all in this together!

Discover more about astrologer and success coach Jennifer Racioppi and her work HERE and follow her on Instagram.

THE 2018 LEO WANING MOON WANTS YOU TO CAST THE SPELL

Posted on October 31, 2018October 31, 2018 by Jennifer Racioppi

With Venus and Mercury shifting gears, and Halloween adding a heavy dose of magic, the 2018 Leo Waning Moon invites us to surrender to the mystery, and conjure connection with the invisible, says Jennifer Racioppi …

jennifer racioppi ruby warrington the numinous material girl mystical world 2018 leo waning moon — *Photo: Pierrick Van Troost*

Waning Quarter Moon // October 31 2018 // 12.40pm ET // 8 degrees Leo

With the 2018 Leo Waning Moon happening on the day the veil between worlds is the thinnest, we can expect things to feel fun, with a heavy dose of spooky.

How apropos for the Scorpio Sun squaring playful Leo? Meanwhile, with Venus Retrograde still in full effect and simultaneously in direct opposition with Uranus, unleash your desire to change your identity (dress up anyone?) Enjoy the mysteriousness of the day …

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// The Cycle //
The 2018 Leo Waning Moon serves as the midpoint between the hunter Taurus Full Moon, and the upcoming Scorpio New Moon on November 7th. This critical turning point of the lunar cycle asks us to let go of what’s no longer working while simultaneously bringing outcomes to seeds planted with the August 2, 2016, Leo New Moon.

Check-in; what’s coming to fruition now that connects to dreams set in motion and actions taken then?

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// The Transits //
With Venus retrograde moving into Libra, and Mercury moving into Sagittarius, our spiritual world may feel impacted. Especially with Venus opposing Uranus, an astrological configuration that often suggests a change in a relationship (perhaps even an ending).

Today’s transits ask you to go with the flow and roll with any abrupt switches in direction. Additionally, given that it’s Halloween, there’s real opportunity to connect with the other side via ceremony and prayer (and your inner witch).

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// The Square //
With the Sun in sultry Scorpio squaring the Moon in light Leo, we have a classic case of water (Scorpio) vs. fire (Leo). While we all know that water can extinguish fire, let’s not forget that when the two combine we get steam, too.

My suggestion? Aim for steam. Lean into Leo’s natural optimism and ability to magnetize joy. Even with abrupt changes afoot, allow yourself to feel lighter through the release of what’s no longer relevant.

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// The Opportunity //
Today offers the strong potential to conjure, create, and align, while paying homage to those who have passed away. Even with Venus opposing Uranus, a transit that connotes the need to release what’s no longer working, you can sincerely connect with your spiritual self.

If something, or someone, exits your life today, let it go! And allow the depth of who you are to shine through. Then enjoy the night of play!

Discover more about astrologer and success coach Jennifer Racioppi and her work HERE and follow her on Instagram.

THE 2018 CANCER WANING MOON WANTS YOU TO FIGHT FOR YOUR FEELINGS

Posted on September 30, 2018September 30, 2018 by Jennifer Racioppi

As Venus prepares to travel retrograde, the 2018 Cancer Waning Moon marks a powerful moment to integrate our feminine and masculine, and embrace the fierceness in putting our feelings first, says Jennifer Racioppi …

2018 cancer waning moon jennifer racioppi ruby warrington the numinous material girl mystical world timothy paul smith — *Photo: Timothy Paul Smith*

Waning Quarter Moon / October 2 2018 / 5:45am EST / 9 degrees Cancer

The 2018 Cancer Waning Moon invites a poignant pause. With Venus moving towards her retrograde station and descent into the darkness, the Cancer Waning Moon asks everyone, regardless of their gender orientation, to adopt the feminine qualities within.

This can be an aggressive position for Venus when she embraces her warrior aspects, and this Moon’s relationship to Venus profoundly amplifies our powers of intuition, empathy, and feminine moxy. As we prepare for her retrograde journey by surrendering what is no longer aligned, feminine values and voices will rise …

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//The Cycle//
The Waning Quarter Moon falls at the halfway point between the recent Harvest Aries Full Moon and the upcoming Libra New Moon. This halfway point asks us to actively release our blocks to success. What’s standing between you and the fruition of your most heartfelt intentions and goals? Consider what you can let go of, and burn it, baby.

From a long-term perspective, this Waning Quarter Moon brings intentions set with the Cancer New Moon on July 4, 2016, to fruition. What are you cultivating in your life now that relates to what you hoped and prayed for on the New Moon in July 2016?

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//The Transits//
This Moon occurs just three days before Venus, the planet of love and beauty, stations retrograde. Venus will travel retrograde from October 5th- November 16th. Unlike Mercury, who goes retrograde 2-4 times per year, Venus only travels retrograde once every 18 months. As one of the most potent transits of 2018, this brings with it strong and necessary medicine. Her retrograde periods support realignment with feminine values.

This Waning Cancer Moon forms a perfect manifestation trine to Venus at the degree of her station, 10 degrees of Scorpio. The water trine deepens emotional introspection, and supports inner alignment in preparation for the upcoming retrograde cycle. And with Mars simultaneously clearing his retrograde shadow (finally) at 6 degrees of Aquarius, he makes an air trine to the Libra Sun.

This combination offers us profound resources that we can use to harmonize the masculine and feminine, both within ourselves and for the collective.

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//The Square//
This cardinal square between the Libra Sun and Cancer Moon instigates an in-depth look at personal values. Fairness (Libra) squares safety and security (Cancer). As you prep for both the Venus retrograde station, and October 8th’s Libra New Moon, let the cardinal focus empower you to stand strong in your values. Now is not the time to let old limiting beliefs and insecurities stand in your way.

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//The Opportunity//
This Waning Quarter Moon amplifies feminine prowess. The Sun in Libra, who is ruled by Venus, prepares us for Venus’ descent into her underworld. Venus, who represents love and beauty has two sides— she the goddess of love and the goddess of war. The feminine, after all, protects what she loves.

We can expect this lunar moment to elicit deep emotional connection. Use it to your advantage. Prepare yourself for the upcoming Venus station and Libra New Moon by standing up and fighting for what YOU believe!

For more Moon wisdom, or to book a coaching session with Jennifer visit Jenniferracioppi.com.

LIBRA SEASON BEAUTY: APPLY IN TWOS

Posted on September 26, 2018September 27, 2018 by Eunice Lucero

Ruled by pleasure-seeker Venus, Libra energy invites us to connect with both our inner and outer allure. Let Eunice Lucero‘s top beauty duos for Libra Season kick-off a month of perfectly-paired pampering …

ruby warrington eunice lucero beauty duos for libra season 2018 the numinous material girl mystical world province apothecary — *Province Apothecary Jade Facial Roller*

With the Sun now in the beautiful, billowy sign of Libra, the astrological weather forecast is for more diplomatic, harmonious times (side-eyeing you, retrograde season).

Ruled by Venus, Libra Season activates our urge to indulge and treat ourselves, and with the recent Fall Equinox marking the official reaping of the past year’s harvest, we’re invited to take a pause and celebrate how far we’ve come with some well-deserved pampering.

Let this roundup of luxurious duos help you lean into the beauty gods and goddesses within …

**We’ve listed beauty duos for each Libra placement, but these pairings are for everyone. Curious about what planet and /or house Libra rules in your chart? You can do your birth chart HERE for free.

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1// Sun in Libra / Libra Ruling the 5th house: Province Apothecary Dual-Action Jade Facial Roller, $44; Rejuvenating + Hydrating Face Serum, $26. Little luxuries that offer sophisticated upgrades are what feed your soul—particularly if they look as good as they feel. This two-step, on-trend facial roller helmed in jade, the ancient stone of beauty and money, helps reduce fine lines, promote circulation and aid lymphatic detox. Supplement it with a pure botanical antioxidant serum either before or after your mini-rolling ritual, just in time for your birthday celebrations.

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2// Moon in Libra / Libra Ruling the 4th house: Lenajapon LJ Moist Shimmer Clear CC Day Serum, $55; LJ Pearly Powder Moisturizing Beauty Face Powder, $55. You put the social in social justice, seeking fair-mindedness in all forms. Your diplomatic nature will resonate with products that mirror a sweet, emotional spark that’s always shimmering below the surface, like this shimmer serum and powder duo that both imparts moisture and a natural, goddess-like glow.

ruby warrington eunice lucero beauty duos for libra season 2018 the numinous material girl mystical world lenajapon — *Lenajapon Duo*

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3// Ascendant in Libra / Libra Ruling the 1st house: When Rose Coconut Gentle Exfoliating Scrub Mask, $14; When Glamour Base Mask, $28 for a set of 5. Looking the part is half the battle; for your charming, and yes, appearance-conscious approach to facing the world, it’s never just a frivolity. You move through life with a tasteful, refined eye, and making sure your look is on point is a daily priority. A luxurious facial scrub made with natural coconut powder and French rosewater helps gently slough off impurities, while a bio-cellulose, all-natural, collagen sheet mask gives a smooth, flawless makeup base.

ruby warrington eunice lucero beauty duos for libra season 2018 the numinous material girl mystical world when rose coconut mask — *When Rose Coconut Gentle Exfoliating Scrub Mask*

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4// Mercury in Libra / Libra Ruling the 3rd or 6th house: Alder New York Texture Powder, $27; All Purpose Comb, $10. You have the gift of gab—making you a facile communicator who loves a two-sided, good-natured debate. You can easily see both sides to a story and love witty repartee that doesn’t take away from the topic at hand. Clean, uncomplicated, and genderless beauty touches on this appreciation for inclusivity; a dry shampoo and travel-friendly comb also give you some glam on the go for your mercurial travels.

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5// Venus in Libra / Libra Ruling the 2nd house or 7th house: Amaranthum Gentle Hydrating Set, $187. Elegant, cultured, and sensual, your penchant for artfully crafted experiences extends to everything you can see, feel, hear, taste, and touch. This cleanser-and-essence power duo honors your love of all things feminine and romantic, while upholding your need for integrity—it also effectively clears pores and locks in hydration.

ruby warrington eunice lucero beauty duos for libra season 2018 the numinous material girl mystical world amaranthum — *Amaranthum Set*

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6// Mars in Libra / Libra Ruling the 1st house: Elate Essential Mascara, $28; Elate Liquid Eyeline in Origin, $25. Making a point without ruffling feathers is your calling card, even when things get heated! A sense of diplomacy serves as your baseline when getting things done, even as you’re girlbossing your way to the top. Punctuate your eyes-on-the-prize mentality with a crisp, sexy cat-eye, from a line that delivers awesome pigments, but which also has a heartwarming credo: They’re currently 75% waste-free, with goals for 100% in the next 4 years.

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7// Jupiter in Libra / Libra Ruling the 9th house: Everyday Resting Beach Face SPF30 Anti-Pollution Sunscreen Serum, $30; Club BFF Natural Rescue Balm, $15. Your gracious, warm-hearted persona will appreciate paraben-free beauty that also packs a punch, and this anti-aging sunscreen serum is the Holy Grail. A blend of beloved superfoods (kale, spinach) is mixed with antioxidants and anti-inflammatories, all while shielding against UV rays (it also has anti-blue light technology, for protection against your iPhone and laptop glare!) Compliment with a petroleum-free, all-purpose balm.

ruby warrington eunice lucero beauty duos for libra season 2018 the numinous material girl mystical world everyday club bff — *Everyday Club BFF Duo*

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8// Saturn in Libra / Libra Ruling the 10th house: Amour New York Hemp & Gold Hand Cream, $39; Hemp & Gold Foot Cream, $28.50. A polished, dignified, earthy sense of beauty and a knack for tact are the gifts you bring to the table. Your hardworking, exacting manner finds the perfect outlet in the realm of intellect and relationships, giving you an edge in both business and love—a cohesiveness you thrive on. A premium hemp-infused, non-greasy foot cream cares for your peds, as you (diplomatically) climb the corporate ladder, while its matching hand moisturizer makes sure deals you shake on are good.

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9// Uranus in Libra / Libra Ruling the 11th house: Ethique Tip-to-Toe Shampoo & Shaving Bar, $15.50; Bombshell Gradual Tanning Bar, $32. Breaking free from traditional habits, especially in favor of innovation, is your loudest battle cry; revolutionizing old relationships (whether with people, things or the world in general), a close second. A completely no-nasty, Certified B-Corp, sustainable, Leaping Bunny-certified offering that urges you to #giveupthebottle by using bar products instead tugs at your environmental heartstrings, while satisfying your need for being on the new new.

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10// Neptune in Libra / Libra Ruling the 12th house: Lacfin Composited Revive Facial Sheet Mask, $34.99 for pack of 5; Anti-Aging One Step Revive Cream, $39.99. Blessed with an artist’s soul, you’re the sensitive flower child whose poetic, idealistic touch becomes obvious when caring for partners or other people. Tuning inwards to tend to your practical needs first—you can’t draw from an empty well—is the karmic lesson on your plate this lifetime. Small acts of self-love, like pampering your skin with the world’s only cream with Micro Collagen Technology, and using a safe, EWG-verified (!) mask, can keep your hippie heart happy as well.

ruby warrington eunice lucero beauty duos for libra season 2018 the numinous material girl mystical world lacfin — *Lacfin Anti-Aging One Step Revive Cream*

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11// Pluto in Libra / Libra Ruling the 8th house: bāsd Indulgent Crème Brûlée Coffee Scrub, $19.99; Indulgent Crème Brûlée Body Lotion, $24.99. Lie your tendency to nitpick at perceived flaws to rest with a decadent body duo that invites you to make nice with your complexion. The natural, organic coffee scrub exfoliates to reveal fresher, smoother skin, while also improving microcirculation. And its follow-up body lotion, which boasts five hard-hitting moisturizers, seals in nourishment to satisfy the over-thinker in you.

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12// *Bonus placement—Chiron in Libra: Way of Will 01 Natural Deodorant Spray in Peppermint + Lavender, $12.75; 27 Cool Fix Energizing Spray Clear Your Mind in Peppermint + Lemon, $19. Free your mind … and your relationship insecurities will follow! Well, a high-vibe practice like yoga, meditation or reiki and crystal work can help temper these love demons, at least, and help you realize a codependent attitude only serves to hold you back from your highest potential. Amp up the serenity in your practice with athletic sprays that have your best intentions in mind, for a truly synergistic flow.

ruby warrington eunice lucero beauty duos for libra season 2018 the numinous material girl mystical world way of will — *Way of Will 27 Cool Fix Energizing Spray*

LIBRA SEASON 2018: EMBRACE THE BEAUTIFUL MESS

Posted on September 23, 2018September 23, 2018 by Bess Matassa

Libra Season 2018 brings an opportunity to embody our contradictions and make peace with the parts of ourselves we may prefer to disavow. Bess Matassa shares the key astro happenings for the month to come.

Rainbow face The Numinous Libra Season 2018 Bess Matassa — *Photo: Matheus Ferrero*

Unleash your lightsabers and clarify your castles in the sky. Libra Season 2018 marks a potent moment for reconciling our contradictions, so we can learn to dance a new and delicious tango with our wildest dreams.

Represented by the zodiac’s only inanimate object, the scales, Libra gifts us with a mirrorball perspective that can see for miles. This sign is sometimes positioned as a romantic dreamer, but the energy we move through collectively during Libra Season is about letting the air move freely around us, testing the temperature and humidity before we attempt to alter a single thing.

With Pluto stationing direct in Capricorn on September 30, and Venus starting her retrograde roll through Scorpio October 8, the temptation might be to quickly “tidy-up” any messiness. But this is actually a season for deeply integrating whatever you see as your contradictions, and for remembering, that even when we feel most estranged we’re all in this human experience together.

So sidle up to what’s true for you, right here, right now, as if it were your most adored lover. And then ask what seems farthest from you to cuddle up closer, too. In the words of Friday Night Lights’ Coach Taylor, “clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose.” We can dream this dream together when we first dare to stand completely, and unashamedly, face-to-face …

Listen to the full Libra Season 2018 report from Numi resident astrologers Bess + Sandy HERE and use the below dates from Bess to get the quick and dirty on the season’s 4 key astro events …

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Pairs figure skating The Numinous Libra Season 2018 Bess Matassa

Sun in Libra (9.22-10.22) // Pairs Figure Skating

Libra Season teaches us to embrace what we think of as our polar opposite, and to delve into the dynamism of blending shades of grey to meet our very own middle. Celebrate complimentary combos with everything from peanut butter and jelly, to jeans and white tees, to the catch and release of Olympics pairs figure skating. The latter matches brute force with high-artistry, and sends us reeling for the winners podium based on our ability to both follow and lead.

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Mermaid underwater The Numinous Libra Season 2018 Bess Matassa — *Photo: Vincent Anderson*

Chiron Retrograde Enters Pisces (9.25) // Mermaid Chic

Chiron is the zodiac’s neverending wellspring of emotional tenderness, reminding us that our secret shames are actually our superpowers. With Chiron in Pisces, the feels are all too real, and we may find ourselves perpetually poised to dissolve into saltwater tears. But the cosmic siren ultimately reveals that when we commit to diving deep with both our pain and pleasure, we can hold more than we ever imagined. Loosen your grip on a buttoned-up self-concept with ombré locks and iridescence, as you fluidly navigating every last deep-sea feeling.

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The Numinous Libra Geology Grand Canyon Season 2018 Bess Matassa — *Photo: Joe Gardner*

Pluto direct in Capricorn (9.30) // Plate Tectonics

Pluto is the zodiac’s most potent transformer, while Capricorn represents the glacially-paced mountains of competence and self-sufficiency. Together, these forces are asking us to consider the macro-level shifts we’re ready to affect in our emotional patterning. This is way bigger than our individual lives, and connecting to this karmic consciousness can actually come as a source of major relief. What patterns are you ready to rupture that can help to liberate your entire soul lineage? What have you inherited that you know in your blood and bones is not yours to carry? Connect to these megawatt rock movements with a little dip into middle school geology class.

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Night shadows The Numinous Libra Season 2018 Bess Matassa — *Photo: Larm Rmah*

Venus retrograde in Scorpio (10.5-10.31) // Pat Benatar’s Shadows of the Night

Whenever a planet travels retro, we’re asked to invite it to an overnight slumber party that brings us into more intimate communion with it. As Venus governs pleasure, beauty, and all forms of relationship, use this time to explore any tender spots around issues of self-worth. And while Scorpio is usually thought of as go deep or go home, full-throttle lava flow, Venus’s slow roll through this sign in October re-acquaints us with the sweet refuge of our inner dark places. Tread softly through what scares you, and support yourself the same way you would a beloved.

THE 2018 GEMINI WANING MOON WANTS YOU TO CHOOSE CLARITY

Posted on August 30, 2018August 30, 2018 by Jennifer Racioppi

The 2018 Gemini Waning Moon asks us to cleanse, clarify, and use honest assessment to clear the decks for a new cycle, says Jennifer Racioppi …

2018 Gemini Waning Moon The Numinous Jennifer Racioppi — *Photo: Qi Bin*

Waning Quarter Moon / September 2 2018 / 10:37pm EST / 10 degrees Gemini

As La Luna wanes back to new, she travels through Gemini and makes a 90-degree angle to the Virgo Sun. This point in the monthly lunar cycle asks us to check in and consider what’s served its purpose and is ready to be laid aside as we begin to train our sights on our next lunar manifestation.

With Mars now direct, and Saturn also about to station direct on September 6th, we currently find ourselves with exceptionally productive potential. And with the Gemini Waning Moon’s ruler, Mercury, now direct and finally clearing his shadow at the time of the Quarter Moon, we have the green light for communications of all kinds.

Following the cosmic challenges of the past eight weeks, this could feel like a welcome relief! The Gemini Waning Moon not only marks the halfway point between the Pisces Full Moon and the September 9 Virgo New Moon, but on a deeper level, it asks us to make sense of all the places we’ve been before we begin to move forward …

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//The Cycle//
While this Moon marks the halfway point between the recent Full and upcoming New Moons, it also marks a culminating moment going back over two years. Think back (or actually look in your cal or email inbox) to June 4, 2016, when we experienced a New Moon at 14 degrees Gemini. This New Moon seeded what we are seeing come to fruition in our lives now.

Choices made then have profoundly informed where we now find ourselves. Who was in your world? Where were you situated? What were you working on? And what intentions from June 2016 are coming to fruition now? What do you still want and need?Spend some time considering the connection between your present-day reality, and events of June of 2016. Acknowledge the chapter that’s closing, and the fresh beginning you are about to step into with September 9th’s Virgo New Moon.

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//The Transits//
With Mars and Mercury now direct, and Saturn about to station direct too, forward movement is upon us. However, Venus, the planet ruling love and beauty, stations retrograde on October 5th.So pay close attention to what’s emerging now, as the Gemini Waning Moon foreshadows the Venus Retrograde curriculum.

With Mercury currently in a sextile (supportive aspect) to Venus, and Neptune opposing the Sun and squaring the Gemini Waning Moon (more challenging energies), moments of discomfort could birth intuitive hits about the lessons in love and abundance that you’ll be gifted during the upcoming Venus Retrograde.

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//The Square//
Mercury rules both Virgo and Gemini, and these mutable signs tend to live in their heads so you could feel a wee bit mental during this Moon. But rather than living in your head, capitalize on the Gemini influence and journal. Think back to 2016, and consider what choices you made then that influence where you are now. If needed, make lists. Be mindful of rumination. Then get out of your head and into your heart.

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//The Opportunity//
The Gemini Waning Moon is closing an old chapter. So give yourself time and space to appreciate where past challenges have brought you to today, and let your head lead you back to your heart. Getting honest with yourself about your exact wants and desires now will also support you as we move toward next week’s Virgo New Moon. It’s a special one, so you want to be READY!

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For more Moon wisdom, or to book a coaching session with Jennifer visit Jenniferracioppi.com.

HOW TO MAKE AN ABUNDANCE ALTAR IN YOUR WALLET

Posted on April 15, 2017 by Ruby Warrington

As Venus goes direct, get active with your money manifestation and create an abundance altar in your wallet, says Ruby Warrington…

Several years ago, I found myself scouring Shopstyle in search of the perfect wallet. I was looking for one that was red, gold, or green, three colors that would make my wallet a money magnet. I had learned about this theory from my friend Gala Darling, and as an entrepreneur living in NYC (huge rent! no regular income!), I was like, “what the hell?”.

It took another year or so for me to find a red wallet that also fit my personal style—one by Philip Lim that was even embossed with a subtle dollar sign. Flawless! Whether it’s played any role in my never missing a rent check as I’ve juggled building this platform, writing a book, and launching Moon Club, I can’t really say. But what I do know is that a recent Skype meeting with a woman known as The Modern Money Witch (a.k.a. Lara-Rose Duong) took the concept of using your wallet to actively attract cash to a whole new level.

And OF COURSE she reached out to me during Venus retrograde! The planet ruling love and abundance has been in a backspin since March 4, 2017 (resuming direct motion today, April 15!), during which time all things concerning love, money, and self-worth have been up for review. And according to Lara-Rose, love is money. It’s the grown-up symbol for the nurturing (food, shelter, hugs) we receive as “love” when we’re babies.

*Lara-Rose Duong, a.k.a. The Modern Money Witch*

Step one in Lara-Rose’s system for receiving more money in your life is to create an actual abundance altar in your wallet. Fun! And what better activity to get active with your manifestation process?

Here’s a step-by-step guide to creating an abundance altar in your wallet:

1. Take everything out of your wallet and smudge it with smoke from white sage or Palo Santo.

2. Hold your empty wallet with both hands and set an intention. Something like: “I am open to receiving abundance so that I may share it with the world,” would work great. Say it as you hold your wallet.

3. Choose a space for your abundance “altar” in your wallet—it can be an individual pocket or an entire section.

4. Place items in your abundance altar. Some classic things to include: an image of Lakshmi, or other abundance icon (I chose a card of prosperity Goddess Abundantia); a piece of citrine, a silver dollar, or an abundance spell, sealed with a pentagon sign. Feel free to choose items that are meaningful to you.

5. Also include a paper money offering to your abundance icon. This bill is not to be spent, but can be refreshed annually on a date that resonates with you (like the Spring or Fall Equinox, Beltane, or your birthday).

6. Toss our old receipts, business cards, etc., and return only the items you absolutely need to your wallet. Commit to regularly clearing out any unneeded items to keep energetic pathways of abundance clear.

Discover more about Lara-Rose Duong and her work at Lararoseduong.com

This post first appeared as part of my new weekly column over on Horoscope.com! Check out what else I’ve been writing about here.

THESE CARDS ARE YOUR TAROT GUIDE FOR VENUS RETROGRADE

Posted on April 6, 2017 by The Numinous

As the planet of love, beauty, and relationship prepares to re-enter red-hot Aries, Maria Soledad has a tarot guide for Venus Retrograde…

Sunday, April 2^nd :: Venus Retrograde Enters Pisces ::

Saturday, April 15^th :: Venus Stations Direct in Pisces ::

Friday, April 28^th :: Venus Direct Enters Aries ::

Venus retrograde is all about falling back in love with your truest desires …

A retrograde means Rediscovering, Retreating, Recharging, and letting ourselves look twice before deciding. This pause is not because we’re second guessing or doubting ourselves—it’s bonus time to relax and clarify our intentions.

Think of Venus Retrograde 2017 as a luxurious retreat in Bali where we have the extra time to recreate our love stories effortlessly and easily. It’s a time to give ourselves the luxury of remembering buried dreams, and to bring them back to life with a refined vision.

Planetary cycles are opportunities to work with archetypes, and the tarot deck gives us direct access to these symbols. So let’s dive into the unconscious and use the wisdom of the Major Arcana to navigate this dreamy season …

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:: Venus—The Star ::
The Star arcanum reminds us that we are channels in service of the divine and that we must manifest this divinity on earth. This is pure Venus retro energy … RE-membering and RE-fining your worth, accepting that you deserve and want recognition for your precious gifts, and shining brightly!

The Star empowers us with Divine Feminine energy that lets us shine with certainty and receptivity. This card guards and takes care of our survival instinct so we can shift our focus from doing battle with the ego to planting seeds of our true creations and letting them burst into glorious blossom.

You can work with the Star through your second chakra, just below your navel. Visualize your unique flame like your own personal oven in your perfect kitchen. Feel your lower belly filling with the fruits of your wisdom and a craving to devour the world!

By working with the Star we ask our inner Goddess to let our lives be in total communion with existence. Oh my! Do you feel it? You can feed the world!

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:: April 2nd- 15th. Venus Retro in Pisces—The Hermit & The High Priestess ::

The sign of Pisces is a combo of The Hermit and The High Priestess, fusing the masculine and the feminine, embracing it all, and allowing this totality to wash away any connection to ego or trauma.

Both of these cards are about Retreating and finding ourselves through solitude, so we can arrive again in the world with our fire reignited (pure Aries power!)

*The High Priestess: We are in The High Priestess when we fall back in love with ourselves and the pure ecstatic joy of simply being alive. She reminds us to give ourselves the luxury of listening to each one of our heart beats, and that it’s a privilege to manifest the divine in a human body.

When you can relax into the full certainty of who you are, you can leap into the unknown carrying only your essence—a totally Piscean release!

*The Hermit: Activating this wisdom is all about letting ourselves feel a little scared when we think about the deep, dark place where we might have left a dream long ago. Only by going to that place and truly passing through it can we finally trust, let go, and let Goddess.

The Hermit is the positive crisis before the super sunshine that reminds us we are already perfect, and that we don’t need anything more than what we already have to travel into new worlds.

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:: April 28-June 6. Venus Direct in Aries—The Chariot ::
The Star’s journey through The High Priestess and The Hermit has assured us of our infinite store of internal goodness and our faith in our path. Now, we can emerge ready for some fiery action.

It’s time to bring all our awesomeness back out into the world!

Aries is masculine to Venus’s Divine Feminine, and when we think of masculine energy we can think of aggression. But empowered masculine energy is pure Inspired Action—action that’s dictated by the soul and performed from the heart.

The Chariot (Aries) knows exactly where he’s going and sets his GPS, but the Earth is what’s carrying him, with The Star (Venus) lighting the way. Channeling The Chariot means taking a deep breath before acting, and asking yourself each time what you are ready to give and receive in every situation.

Coming out of this Venus retrograde period, may you feel ready to embrace the world as your playground, and allow it to take you on an unpredictable, infinite, and joyful journey.

Sounds exciting, huh?!

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Want to ground this energy in your daily life? Put it into practice with these rituals …

-SING!!! Go back in time and do a shuffle of those songs that you used to sing out loud—whether this ends up with you crying in the shower or laughing out loud while walking.

-“Be water my friend!” I quote my beloved Bruce Lee here. Run a bath and fill it up with the intention of pure self-love.

-Go back in time and remember your little self playing “grown up.” Dig in … what did you want to do or be? Ask yourself in front of the mirror if that’s still true and if it is, ask yourself if you have allowed it to happen.

-Dare yourself to play. Send a written letter by mail to someone from the past just saying thanks. Tell someone you don’t know you are happy for being alive. Smile at cats. Buy yourself toy rings and jewelry and make a treasure chest and hide it.

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Maria Soledad is a human/actress extraordinaire, exhilarating evolutive tarot reader, astrologer fantastique, meditator goddess, and absolute artist mon amour. Follow her on Instagram, book a tarot reading, and make sure to check out her next signature manifestation meditations on April 11th and April 25th at Jill Lindsey in Brooklyn, NY.

HOLY F*CK: HOW HEARTBREAK CAN BE THE MOST POWERFUL MEDICINE

Posted on April 1, 2017 by Alexandra Roxo

When Love is our teacher heartbreak can be the most powerful medicine, says Alexandra Roxo in her latest Holy F*ck column…

So maybe just maybe some mega shit has been hitting the fan during this Venus Retrograde? Or perhaps it’s minor pieces of shit for you. Little annoying pieces of shit you thought were gone…but are still stinking up the place? Perhaps it’s around romantic love, rejection, partnership. Or perhaps self love, worth, value.

Chances are you’ve been stung. But guess what??! This means your heart is open—that it’s accessible, soft, tender, growing, reshaping, adapting, expanding. THIS IS A GOOD THING. Heartbreak can be the most powerful medicine.

Committing to living with an open heart it is not an easy road. It can mean letting your heart break and break and break, but each time it breaks it swells and becomes bigger and messier and wider and has the capacity to hold more.

This is the way of Love. (Cue Rumi.)

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CRUCIFIED BY LOVE

Love has always been my personal teacher of choice. When I was 20 and all my friends had gurus, I was secretly writing the words “AHEM PREMA” (I am divine love) on my hand and telling folks, “Love is my guru!” I’ve been obsessed with Love for as long as I can remember. I’ve been in Love MANY times and rejected MANY times more, and still I keep on going for it.

How do I define Love?

Love is that which we were made from and that which we will return to. The primordial ooze in us. The ever present God-Goddess sparkle living in each cell. Which we feel when we”fall” in Love. Really what I believe happens is that this “falling” is us OPENING to the Love that already exists within us. What if you could feel that without an other person? This is what I’m talking about!!

And because I also never quit being curious and doing things that scare me, I signed up for a two-day intensive last week called “The Yoga of Intimacy” with Londin Angel Winters and Justin Patrick Pierce (who also may be the hottest couple on the planet. Major #RelationshipGoals.)

Arriving at a beautiful inn in Topanga I prepared myself to be “crucified by Love.” (My ideal Saturday!) Standing across from a man whose name I didn’t know, who wasn’t “my type,” I let Love show me where I was guarded. And I let it make me feel safe enough to pull down the walls and completely open to said stranger.

I looked into his eyes and cried. I shared my depths. And it felt as powerful as an Ayauasca ceremony. If not more powerful! With eyes open and locked onto someone else’s, instead of eyes closed solo-style like in plant journeys, I couldn’t escape my demons or pain or shut down or dissociate. Justin said it perfectly … “If you think ayahuasca is crazy, try love.”

I could literally NOT form a sentence afterwards. As a writer and wordsmith I was kinda freaked out by the temporary mush in my brain. But I was assured that this meant I had surrendered to the pure-as-hell-delicious Shakti/Divine Feminine energy that resides outside the mind.

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99 HEARTBREAKS & I DON’T WANT TO SOLVE THEM

At the workshop, I also had to go on a practice dinner date with an older doctor from Beverly Hills who talked like I imagine Freud would have sounded. I did NOT wanna get vulnerable with him but I did, and I broke into tears across the dinner table as I revealed to him my deepest desires. He was beyond grateful that I showed him my Heart.

As I cried and told him of all the times I had broken my heart, he said “At the end of your life would you rather have loved and had your heart broken 99 times and on the 100th found someone special, than hidden your heart and not loved at all?” It was true. And all 99 times of heartbreak are heart opening and “special” in my book.

Two days at this intensive rocked me to my core. It was SO terrifying to let go and let Love do its thing. Yet I felt more delicious than I had in ages.

SO HOW CAN YOU WORK WITH LOVE’S MEDICINE?

When Love becomes a skill and a medicine, you can hang out with a close friend and feel deeply nourished and fed when you leave them, like you just got 10 hugs and a bowl of soup from your Grandma.

Or you and your Lover can be in a constant state of divine communion, and one glance feels like 1,000 gourmet raw chocolates for your soul.

A solo Love practice means at a stop light in the car you can feel the depths of Love swimming through your body and yoni, and you have the power to release a warm honey glow throughout your body that feels like you are cumming. Try walking into a meeting from that place!

Here’s how to start …

– Love and be loved. Identify the 5 ways you feel most Love(d). I do this with all my clients. Perhaps it’s petting your cat. Or watching your fave film. Meditating. Chanting to Goddess. Get to know the direct path to your Heart, if you don’t already, and start feeling the Love vibes often by using those tools.

– Connect to humans/animals. The internet doesn’t count unless you are one-on-one on Skype with someone. IRL is the best way to go. Make this a priority. It is the remedy against overeating, loneliness, indulging in bad habits, overworking … I’m talking real connection! Even one solid hug and “Good Morning” from a roomie is something.

– Let your heart get naked. This is where you get vulnerable. If you can practice this daily, you’ll either deepen your already existing partnerships or tenderize the nest of your heart to get it ready to let love in. Call a new friend and share something intimate. Write a poem and share it online. Ask someone for help. Practice vulnerability and practice receiving some Love. (Like let the guy at Trader Joe’s help you to your car already!)

– Feel, feel, feel. Sounds obvious, right? But how often do you feel your feelings in the moment? Practice vocalizing your pain. Frustration. Sadness. As you’re experiencing it. Let yourself feel the depths of your yearning/your rage/your sadness/your joy DAILY.

– Daydream. Do a little bit of daydreaming each day. Imagine your lover caressing your neck. Imagine your lover giving you that “I wanna fuck you” look across the room at a crowded party. If this sounds cheesy to you then work on the vulnerability of your heart.

Whether you are in partnership or flying solo, you can play with Love every day. You can become more and more conscious of living in your full beauty and radiance and sexiness the more and more you release the fear of getting hurt. You can just open. The pain becomes part of your practice too and, trust me, you even start to love that! WHAAA?!!! Can it be?!!! Yeeeep.

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Londin & Justin’s next intensive is September 16-17th, and I’ll def be there crying and loving and embodying all the Shakti I can, Goddess willing. You can discover more about them and their work Londinangelwinters.com

WHY THESE ARE THE PERFECT TAROT CARDS FOR APRIL 2017

Posted on March 29, 2017 by Melinda Lee Holm

Want to map out a magical month? Swap your iCal for a tarot deck. Melinda Lee Holm helps us navigate the wild ride ahead with the key tarot cards for April 2017…

This April, it’s all about letting go of control and riding the emotional waves to abundant new shores. With Mercury going retro just before Venus stations direct, April has some wildly shifting energies in store for us. Fortunately, the Tarot is here to help us navigate the vibes!

Meet this month’s guides for cultivating presence, serenity, self-love, and nurturing …

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:: 04/01 April Fool’s Day – The Fool ::
As adults, we’re expected to be experts in our work and pragmatic in our personal lives. The lack of control that comes with April Fool’s day tricks is not something we’re always comfortable experiencing. Yet embracing this carefree energy can be exactly what we need to reinvigorate our beings.

The Fool is the zero point of the Major Arcana. Having no experience, he moves freely through life with a pure and open heart until he builds enough wisdom to know that wandering through life with a pure and open heart is the soul’s highest aspiration! With all of the turmoil in the world, we can allow him to guide us to moments of grace and love that are suspended in the present moment—and to learn to laugh at ourselves!

Calling in The Fool:

Take a class where you’re a complete beginner.
Practice conscious breathing to stay in the present moment.
Drink Earl Grey tea—the bergamot in it promotes joy and soothes stress.
Wear that wild dress you got for a special occasion that hasn’t yet come.

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:: 04/09 Mercury Retrograde – The King of Cups ::
Mercury retrograde periods have a bad reputation for causing trouble with communication and travel. But there is another level to thi energy that can allow us to sink deeply into emotional and intellectual reflection, and the King of Cups is a great ally in both cases.

In the Smith-Waite deck, the King of Cups is seen seated on a throne made of stone, floating on the waves of the sea. The King is undisturbed by the waves of emotion passing beneath him. He remains calm and alert, gazing out over the open sea. During Mercury Retrograde, call on the King of Cups to help you to stay calm, flexible, and aware.

Calling in the King of Cups:

Practice loving communication in all interactions.
Maintain a sharp awareness of the external world, even when internal reflection gets deep.
Wear lavender oil—the smell can calm and soothe you and those around you.
Carry a relic of the sea with you—a small shell, a pebble—to remind you of your ability to ride the waves with grace.

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:: 04/15 Venus Direct in Pisces – 8 of Cups ::
The past 6 weeks of Venus retrograde have been ripe for insights into our old romantic patterns. Now with Venus resuming direct motion in her exalted sign, we’re pushed to realign with our hearts and dream big for the future. The 8 of Cups is the perfect guide for us as we review info gathered during the retro period, get clear about our passions, and adjust our emotional patterns.

The card shows a figure dressed in red walking into the wilderness away from a set of carefully stacked cups. This movement away from an established, known emotional pattern into the wild unknown—by a figure clad in the color of passion—is a wonderful inspiration for our realignment. Let go of attachments based on habit and forge a new path forward.

Calling in the 8 of Cups:

Wear comfortable clothing made of soft fabrics like silk or bamboo—in red whenever possible!
Take a walk alone in the wilderness to reflect on your true passion.
Carry Rhodochrosite for self-love and Black Obsidian for letting go.
Eat foods made with basil—the heart shaped leaves will emit gentle love energy from within.

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:: 04/22 Earth Day – The Empress ::
With the EPA and our environment under great threat from the current administration, celebrating this day is more important than ever. The Empress is the perfect patron saint to keep you sane and tapped into the earth’s power.

The Empress corresponds to the Goddess Demeter, the Great Mother of the Greek pantheon. She is loving and nurturing, creating abundance all around her through the force of her glorious heart. And like most mothers, she is also fiercely protective. Even if you can’t attend a march or other Earth Day event, you can call on The Empress to empower you to care for our planet with love, and to protect her with a ferocious heart.

Calling in The Empress:

Plant a tree.
Bring a trash bag on a walk through nature, cleaning up what others have left behind.
Carry Rose Quartz or Aventurine, stones of love and abundance.
Wear bright floral print or jewel tones to celebrate the glory of the natural world.

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Want more tarot magic? Book a session with Melinda here, and make sure to follow her on Instagram and Facebook.

THE TRUTH ABOUT SOULMATES

Posted on March 17, 2017 by The Numinous

Think love should be like a screening of “The Notebook”? The truth about soulmates is dutch ovens, stretch marks, and past life pacts, says comedian and energy healer Jessica Brodkin. Main Image: Mariano Peccinetti.

Want to learn the truth about soulmates? Then listen to a psychic healer who’s had two divorces and a broken engagement. Trust me—I’ve met a lot of soulmates. But after massive heartbreak, and seeing my own clients through theirs, the same patterns and solutions have begun to emerge.

And I’ve discovered that real soulmates aren’t like the people you see in The Notebook. They’re more like my Mom and Dad, who believe they are soulmates…and who make fun of each other. “I must have been a real jerk to your father in a past life to have to put up with him now,” my Mom frequently quips.

With Venus retrograde until April 15^th, we have an opportunity to re-examine our relationship with love, and to determine what is and isn’t working for us. Here are the five things I wish I’d known about soulmates ten years ago…

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1. Your Soulmates are Not Just Your Lovers
I think of incarnating (being born into your current life and body) as traveling with a plane full of your friends to Cancun, with only a few vague plans. “Marissa—see you on Tuesday in Tulum. Mark—save the last night for me, we’re going dancing and I wanna make out in the sand. ”

As someone who has always believed in past lives, I was one of those creepy kids who remembered how I died. I have a strong conviction that we travel throughout our lives with some of the same people in order for our souls to grow. Your mother, your siblings, your nephews, your boss, and even your roommate can all potentially be your soulmates.

Reading List: Carolyn Myss’ Sacred Contracts, and Michael Newton’s Journey of Souls.

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2. The Person You Think is Your Soulmate is Probably Healing Your Parental Issues
If you feel that your partner is tormenting you, he or she is probably helping to heal your parental issues. According to a lot of psychological theories, we choose partners based on the hurts we either experienced or witnessed as children.

In the summer of 2015, my then husband and I were planning on having a child. Two healers had something to say about this—the first that things weren’t going to work out as planned, but I wasn’t ready to hear that my marriage was going to end soon. However, the second healer convinced me to do a detox in order to have a healthy baby and halfway through, I realized I could not have a baby with this man. His issues, and our issues, were unresolved stuff from my childhood. He was definitely one of my soulmates, if not necessarily “the one”…

Reading List: Harville Hendrix’s Getting the Love You Want.

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3. Love the One You’re With
We all like to think we’re royalty, but we’re more like Princess Fiona—expecting some charming prince or princess, but falling in love with Shrek instead. While Fiona became a green ogre in order to love him, when I got married and ruined my credit rating. Which is to say, your soulmate may not come in the package you expect, and he or she may be more into dutch ovens than you’d like.

What if the imperfect partner you have right now is your soulmate, and what if soulmates didn’t have to be forever? All of our partners are teachers—and some are here to show us our shadow side. If we abandon our current partner without doing the inner work they ask, we’ll find ourselves repeating our relationship patterns over and over again.

Reading List: Deepak Chopra’s A Path to Love.

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4. Love Yourself, Too

There’s nothing more important than loving yourself. Trust me—I’m trying to get a crystal sex toy company to sponsor my radio show. This isn’t about arrogance, or attention-seeking behavior. It’s about accepting yourself where you are, and seeing the perfection in your imperfection. So love yourself so a partner can meet you where you are in life—the partner in your life is always a vibrational match for how you feel about yourself right now.

Write a gratitude list of all the awesome things about you. Talk to your stretch marks and scars, and tell them that you love them. Think of all the fun you had creating them! Practice self care. What makes you feel like a queen? What brings you bliss? Follow that joy.

Reading List: Gala Darling’s Radical Self-Love and Louise Hay’s How to Love Yourself.

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5. And Finally … Trust Your Intuition
I once went to a psychic who told me I had a ghost baby living inside of me…and that I needed to pay her $700 to have a ghost abortion. I told her that for $700, I was going to keep the ghost baby. When I was in the middle of my divorce, another psychic told me that a new suitor was my twin flame (a.k.a. super soulmate). After being stood up multiple times, I started to think differently.

If I could give only one message to people who feel any sort of fear or insecurity about their love lives, I would say “Don’t go to psychics!” Even though I’m also a psychic and medium, I work primarily as a healer because I want my clients to develop their own intuition instead of relying on something outside of themselves.

People usually go to psychics to calm their fears. But one of the most difficult (and beautiful) parts of being human is to embrace your life despite those fears. To live your life, and love with reckless abandon. If your heart gets broken you will survive, eventually heal, and then learn to love again!

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Jessica Brodkin is a Reiki energy healer and stand up comedian based in New York City. She is an MIT and Johns Hopkins graduate who worked for the Central Intelligence Agency for 11 years, and has been featured on the cover of the New York Post, and on TruTV, AMC, and SiriusXM radio. She also has a weekly radio show on Journey Into the Light. Follow her on Instagram and discover more about her energy healing here.

A GUIDE TO VENUS RETROGRADE FOR YOUR SIGN

Posted on March 7, 2017November 5, 2018 by Danielle Paige

Does the sound of another retrograde have you reeling? Chill! Venus Retrograde 2017 is a time for rediscovering where our true love lives, says Danielle Paige … Main Image: Carlos Bongiovanni

Saturday, March 4th :: Venus Stations Retrograde :: 14 degrees of Aries

Sunday, April 2nd :: Venus Re-enters Pisces

Saturday, April 15th :: Venus Goes Direct :: 26 degrees of Pisces

Lovers. Love. Sex. Money. The Feminine. Self-worth. Intimacy. Values. Relating. Giving. Receiving. Ahhhhh yes … all of the above is up for RE-discovery, right now.

While our first reaction to the word “retrograde” might be to let out a sigh of frustration, these cycles are actually moments of deep review. Think of this as an opportunity to work with your shadow side, heal those parts that need to be integrated or purged, and upgrade your patterns.

But of course, it’s not all sweetness and light—doing shadow work prompts us to address things that have been pushed under the rug. There will be breakups and there may be confusion in your current relationships. Whether you’re pretending you have a perfect relationship when you know it’s not truly nourishing your soul, or are stuck in the same relationship patterns over and over, it’s an optimal time to get real about what’s no longer working. And with this realness, eventually comes clarity.

Ex-lovers? Venus Retrograde energy always tends to dig up the past in order to end old cycles, so don’t be surprised if old flames pop back up. New relationships? This can definitely be a time where people enter your life for karmic work. Be aware that “karmic” doesn’t always mean roses and sunshine! These will be relationships that force you to confront parts of yourself that you’re suppressing.

However, the energy of Venus is two-fold. While she symbolizes how we connect with others, each relationship has everything to do with what we VALUE, since we often project our core desires onto others. Remember to keep this broader message of Venus Retrograde in mind. Ask, how are you working with your feminine energy? Does it need more balancing? What’s your relationship to money like? Are you having a hard time discovering your core desires and values? Now is the time to dig deep into your heart and explore all of these themes—without judgement!

And please, don’t force it. Simply remain mindful that after Venus goes direct, you may start to see things differently. Whatever happens during this time, trust that your heart always knows the way home!

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Wondering where to start? Discover your Venus sign by looking at your birth chart and following the guide below.

mariano peccinetti ruby warrington the numinous danielle paige venus retrograde 2017 — *Collage: Mariano Peccinetti*

:: Venus in Aries :: Venus Retrograde is encouraging you to reconnect with your courage and independence in a balanced way, instead of just diving in head first. You are good at pushing others to find their independence but sometimes that means you forget about yours—reconnect with your courage and your truth!

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:: Venus in Taurus :: Venus Retrograde is encouraging you to connect back with your own sensuality and your core values. You are good at sustaining others in love but have you forgotten to sustain yourself as well? Take your time in love—you’re meant to go at your own pace.

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:: Venus in Gemini ::Venus Retrograde is encouraging you to communicate your needs clearly, but to do so in a way that moves beyond the surface and gets real. It’s easy for you to skim the surface but what happens if you get a little deeper? You move beyond the shadow energy of Venus in Gemini and you may actually find something that doesn’t bore you!

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:: Venus in Cancer ::Venus Retrograde is encouraging you to nurture yourself as you would a child. You spend so much time taking care of others, and with this Venus energy redirected, it can help you better care for your own feelings. You are the mamma bear of love but don’t forget that mamma bears need love too.

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:: Venus in Leo ::Venus Retrograde is encouraging you to shine your love and light on the world in a way that motivates others, instead of only making it all about yourself. You have such an ability to show others the way—use it to serve, inspire, love, and cheer people on and raise them up! In doing so, you raise your vibration as well.

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:: Venus is in Virgo ::Venus Retrograde is encouraging you to clean up your diet, health, and routine so that you can be of service to yourself in a way that you haven’t before. You are dedicated with your love, so make sure you are dedicated to yourself as well.

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:: Venus in Libra ::Venus Retrograde is encouraging you to find the right relationship for your soul, not just any relationship. Libra enjoys partnership and can often lose themselves in one. Instead, this is a time to really get connected with what you need and desire in a divine partnership that lifts you up rather than simply fills a void.

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:: Venus in Scorpio ::Venus Retrograde is encouraging you to connect deeply with those around you. Surface relationships are not your thing so if it’s not activating your heart then it’s time to go deeper or move onto something else. Out of all the Venus placements, you know when to purge a relationship or when it’s a call for deeper intimacy—trust that you know what to do!

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:: Venus in Sagittarius :: Venus Retrograde is encouraging you to spread your wings! Go on adventures either with your lover or by yourself, because you never know who you might meet. This is the Venus sign that says “yes” to expansion. Have you been stuck in a rut? It’s time to explore and let your passport lead the way…

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:: Venus in Capricorn :: Venus Retrograde is encouraging you to find your own inner authority. You are always very good at helping others rise to the top so now take the time to plan out your next steps for inner and outer success. In your uphill climb, remember that slow and steady wins the race for you.

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:: Venus in Aquarius :: Venus Retrograde is encouraging you to play up your intelligence and your uniqueness. Often times, you may subconsciously hide these qualities because it challenges societal expectations, but thisVenus Retrograde is the time to tap into all that makes you, you! This is your path towards the free-spirited love you so desire.

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:: Venus in Pisces :: Venus Retrograde is encouraging you to make sure you’re seeing love clearly. Pisces energy can sometimes focus solely on the good parts and ignore the red flags in relationships. Instead of focusing so much on others, this is also good time to be sure you are seeing yourself clearly as well. Are you ignoring your own inner flags? Refocusing on your own process will help you find more clarity in love as well.

Speaking of feminine energy—is a vacation in Greece calling you? Discover more about Danielle’s upcoming Greek Goddess Island retreat (only 2 spaces left) and all her astrological services HERE.

10 WAYS TO WORK WITH VENUS RETROGRADE

Posted on July 23, 2015November 4, 2018 by Kimberly Peta Dewhirst

The planet of love, money and luxury goes retro this week. Star Sign Style’s Kimberly Peta Dewhirst has 10 ways to make this Venus retrograde work for you…Images: The Bedroom by Tasmin Jade Donaldson via Behance.net

Romance, fashion, friendship, affection, intimacy, sweet moments and all the girlie things (think: sugar, spice, all things nice), are ruled by the goddess / planet Venus. The same goes for money and your bank balance, and all things sensual (beautiful scents, pleasing art scenes and landscapes, valuables, material wealth, riches etc.)

And she’s all set to do an about turn – a.k.a. begin a retrograde cycle – from July 25 – September 6.

Before you freak out at the sight of the “R” word (man has Mercury retrograde got some explaining to do), Venus retrograde could actually be a good thing for your relationships, your indulgences and your bank balance.

While Mercury rules all things communication related (technology, social media, commerce), it makes sense that the confusion that accompanies this planet’s retrograde phase can throw us some seriously frustrating curveballs.

But with Venus retrograde, we can expect our sensual nature to be activated and investigated, as we are asked to contemplate, reflect on and review what and who we love, how we show affection, flirt and attract a mate. Also, our relationship to money, our sense of self-worth, and attitudes to abundance.

One word of warning, however. If you hear people complaining during a Mercury retrograde phase that they messaged the wrong person and lost their mobile phone, during Venus retro listen out for and beware making outlandish declarations of love, and avoid extravagant purchases made on a whim.

Here are ten ways to make this Venus retrograde phase work in your favor…

1. Reassess What Beauty Means To You
Venus rules how we dress up and beautify ourselves and our surroundings – in fact, you can look to your Venus sign for clues on your personal style. When Venus retrogrades you can remodel your choices, and this is a great time to create a mood or inspiration board to redefine your personal tastes.

Do NOT however book in for a drastic haircut or get the decorators in just yet – this is the contemplation stage. Wait till Venus goes direct to make any major changes (dates below).

2. Review Your Finances
As Venus rules over money, the retrograde period is prime time for rebalancing your books. But hold off implementing any financial overhauls – this period is for reevaluating your commitments, tying up loose ends, and revisiting old debts. It could be a great time to go and get a refund and have people pay up, or likewise to reimburse or repay any debts that have been hanging over you.

3. Resist The Lure Of Luxe
Just as buying electronic equipment isn’t advisable during Mercury retrograde, you’re better off waiting to buy any luxury goods and beauty related purchases now. Avoid large expenditures where fashion and frivolities are concerned – this is not the time to pull together a capsule wardrobe of ‘investment’ pieces, and definitely not on credit. Your instincts about what’s worth the splurge could be off during this period, so stick to window-shopping.

It could however be a great time to manifest and attract some beautiful vintage or second-hand pieces into your life – think flea markets, and antique fairs. One mans trash is another’s treasure, as the saying goes, and people could be reviewing their valuables during this time.

4. Research Your Purchases
One way to use the Venus retrograde to you advantage when it comes to shopping, is to know the true value of what you’re buying and make an informed choice. It can be a great time to barter and bargain, as long as you’re the one in the drivers seat (and you’ve researched the returns policy).

5. Retreat From The Dating Scene
Projects, relationships, people and businesses all carry an astrological imprint, and a relationship commenced during Venus retrograde could get off to a repetitive or exasperating start. At best you could have a long, drawn out honeymoon period, while a suitor could seem far more magnificent, charming and fabulous than they really are. Then, when Venus resumes normal function the rose tinted glasses come off.

If you do meet somebody, don’t trust the heat of the moment during the Venus retrograde. Instead, enjoy the flirtation stage and plan to commit when the planet goes direct.

6. Re-evaluate your relationships
If you’re in a relationship however, Venus retrograde offers you an opportunity to resolve any issues with your partner and recommit – if you’re wed you may even decide to renew tour vows!.Reaffirm your love, rekindle and reignite the romance, rejoice…and reproduce! Now is the time to reassemble the jigsaw of your relationship to create a more beautiful picture.

7. Remember The Good Times
Venus retrograde speaks of past relationships coming out of the woodwork (that goes for both romances and friendships), and reminiscing together actually be therapeutic, especially if you’re ready to go back and dig up treasures from the past. Ensure a reexamination is positive by appreciating the good times, even if you acknowledge that you aren’t right for each other now. Seek gratitude for the happiness you experienced in that moment. But if you DO decide an old flame could be reignited, the Universe could well support you now.

8. Revisit Your Passions
Venus favors feminine hobbies, and you may rediscover a love of jewellery making, beauty and fashion, make-up and hair, baking, flower arranging and interior decoration now.

With Venus retrograde in the creative sign of Leo (the majority of the time) the energies throughout the retrograde period are particularly supportive for recreation and play. The Numinous Temple of Venus is a perfect place to explore this energy, and you can check out all the upcoming events and workshops here.

9. Rethink The Sweet Stuff
Sounds silly but if you suffer from sugar cravings, Venus retrograde could be just the time to tackle your habit! Venus rules over cakes, biscuits, sweets (candy) and chocolate. There are so many documentaries on the hazards of this highly addictive substance (I’m talking about the refined white stuff – not sugars found in fruit), and once you research and reeducate yourself on this subject, this could be a supportive phase to regain control over a sweet tooth.

10. Reinstate Femininity
Invite the divine feminine into your world and cement its presence with this Venus retrograde. Dedicated some quality time to friendships with the women you love, taking time to really appreciate their soft yet strong attributes – embrace womanhood and what it means to be an empowered female today. Regroup or plan a reunion with your girls, recollect and celebrate them and why you value their friendship. Repair and patch up relationships that are lacking.

Your star dates as follows…

• Venus enters the shadow period Sunday 21st June
• Venus goes retrograde – Saturday 25th July
• Venus goes direct Sunday 6th September
• Venus is out of the ‘retrograde zone’ by 9th October 2015 – phew!

Author Kimberly Peta Dewhirst would love to hear your stories to support her growing understanding of the Venus retrograde period. Email: [email protected] with your birth data (time, date and place of birth) and details of your Venus retrograde experiences. (All information will be kept confidential)

Numinous community art project and interactive altar The Temple of Venus is a space dedicated to celebrating and healing anything that falls under the remit of the Goddess planet, and is open until August 19.