Settle in for A Snake of A Year

A Way to Return

As in all things I am never really predictable, least of all to myself. So after a much needed break, I am back. And honestly it was not just what was going on in the world or even in my own life, I believe it came to a point where I needed to define for myself why doing this work was important and how doing it enriched or added to my life. I know that value now far better than I ever did. So I am looking forward to journeying with you all. And now I think we have a little lunar talk to get to, seeing that the Lunar New Year is just around the corner let’s get into it! 

To Begin Again

Preparing for a new lunar year can be daunting or tiring, but having a self made guide book for yourself will allow you to navigate the coming Lunar Year in unparalleled fashion. The significance of the Lunar New Year is that there will be 13 new moon cycles with which to dream, learn, give, receive, and hope all over again. There are roughly four days remaining where we get the opportunity to ask questions, hear answers, listen for indicators, and conjure up the future that is upon us. Know we are the masters of our destinies. And the other very practical note is that if we don't have a clear plan of where we'd like to go, how do we know when we have reached it?

A Snake’s Surprise

Slithering this way is the Year of the Snake (also called the Serpent). This is a Wood Snake year and can be represented by the colors Green, Yellow or Red. Not to be overestimated, this year will be pregnant with possibilities as Snake packs a punch that is riddled with creativity, passion, and power that is hard to match at any other time. For you see the best gift given by dear Snake is the ability to transmute ANYTHING, that’s right anything (no matter if it’s person, place or thing). The beauty and the curse of Snake time is that it is a heavy spiritual reality to wield, but the rewards are overwhelmingly worth it. If there is an inkling to do something, then do it, it’s Snake Time. If you get a rush  of an emotion that was out of nowhere, trust it, it’s Snake Time. And even if you believe that which is impossible, know it will manifest. You see all of these are reminders that Snake Time is here and she will gift us as much as we allow her to, but we must remember it comes at a price.

Wooded blessings

Before I forget, I am choosing to focus on the Green and Wood as other attributes for this Snake year. The significance of the words Green and Wood mean that much of our focus will be on grounding and centering ourselves in a very Earth based space.  There will be stability, prosperity, nature, renewal and the ability for things to become evergreen in our lives, if we are open and willing to work towards it. Surely these are trajectories we can all use.

It’s Habit Forming

Set time aside each day (same or different times isn't relevant) and make sure you are making note of what issues, ideas, concepts. or images come up. Often times people want to make large proclamations and stands on what their year will be about and yes that is one way to set your Lunar Year off, but more often than not we are given a skeletal idea of the year and then it's up to us to see the specifics as they come. It takes work but I find that we are able to harness and utilize our spiritual connection/powers better that way.

Setting it Up

I want each of you to decide how best to set out the year for yourself. Ritual and ceremony only heightens our link to the spirit realm so whether with ourselves or with others we must bring in this Lunar New Year in a way that makes us comfortable (food, music, gathering, elemental objects, etc). The power lies not in what we have around us, but rather the energy we activate.

Make it So

Below are general areas that often help as a springboard for portions of our life that we want to emphasize in a given Lunar Year.  Figure out the who, what, when, why, and how and have it ready with you when you begin doing work for the Lunar New Year. Also intuit and mantra for the year, either from a guidance card pull or an overarching theme for your path this Lunar Year.  I have found that manifestation springs forth from the ability to conceive it, write it, speak it, and share it.  All of this together makes up for some powerful mojo that will help us navigate through the next 13 moons and beyond. I look forward to hearing what this has sparked. Remember caring is sharing!

Lunar Year Totem - Snake 

Cosmic Consciousness

Eat, Ingest, Integrate & Transmute

Transformation is always by request

Be wary of resistance to Change

Release the Skin that no longer serves me

Move freely into the newness that awaits

Lunar New Year Elements

Let these objects guide you towards what is in store for you this lunar new year. Other things may also appear for you and this is just as appropriate. Marking the lunar new year allows you to goal set and take ownership of the power you have within yourself. Happy Lunar New Year!!

• Journal

• Sacred Space (altar, ritual space, a place in nature)

• Sage/Cedarwood smudges or dried herbs to burn

• Written intentions for the year

• Green, Yellow, Red candles (all shades)

• Spiritual tools or books that are guiding

--Andrea

 

The Healing of Harvest

CIO.com

The time has come at 9:30am EST we entered into the Autumn Equinox: meaning day and night are equal lengths and provide for us balance that occurs only twice a year. Use the weeks near it to bring about acceptance beyond belief. 

The time is harvest. In the agrarian life autumn is a time of harvest. And yes when we think of this time of year there comes to mind pumpkins, apples. straw, and everything orange, red and yellow. But these are not the true boons of autumn, but rather a mere commercialization of a larger more powerful time. To me harvest is one of the best times to clear out completely. No stalk, stem, or leaf shall remain. It is also a time to really view what work has been done. So, no we don't need false congratulatory ceremonies for ourselves, but more of a deep quiet understanding of our individual and collective big pictures in life. See the growth, see the maturation, and see where perhaps things did not manifest. Let autumn's balance reveal the enormity of who we are, where we are, and pull back any veils we've been using on ourselves.

The time is fearless. For me this autumn is my opportunity to see my contracted and expanded selves. I am using this time to hone in on fears or doubts, face them head on, move past them and then watch them in my rearview mirror. There has been a need for some of my gifts and frankly I have shirked them for many reasons (all seem like a good idea, but not legitimate), but no longer will I give into the shadow side of myself. This is my season of yes and I accept. Also I want to make sure I too am not ghosting myself spiritually and really standing in my power to accept what the ancestresses/ancestors have for me. If COVID has taught me anything it's tomorrows are all gifts.

The time is intentional. On a cross quarter day like the Autumn Equinox I say to us all take advantage of the great power and thinning veil between spirit and physical worlds. Today is the start of something amazingly beautiful and we all have the chance to begin again. Set forth intentions (big or small) and see how they manifest over the season. And none of these have to be large or internet posts. I find my deepest self understandings come in the quietest of whispers that are fleeting and I often can not repeat their true meaning. Be good to yourself this season and also to others. Wishing us all a most fruitful Fall season.

Autumn Totem - Wild Boar

Totem Meaning - Confrontation

spiritanimaltotems.com

Move through conflict with speed and power

Thicken my skin

My strength will reveal my treasures

Face the unfaceable

Protect and uphold Family

Autumn Concept - Loss

designpress.com

Loss is not loss if I find the gift beneath it

An ending is just before a beginning

Acknowledge my losses to be empowered from them

I have oneness with all that there is

Embrace equanimity

Autumn Foods

BT.com

Root Vegetables

Cold Weather Greens

Raw Seeds/Nuts

Spices 

Sweet and Heavy Fruits

Autumn Flower - Sunflower

coloradowallpaper.com

Fertility

Health

Wisdom

--Shamanic Drea

Balance beyond belief

What we lived
2020 has already been one for the books, but we are all charged with completing this mammoth year. I know we have a bit of trepidation with elections, a second virus wave, and possible shut downs ahead. I felt like it only makes sense to try to decipher what is ahead. Of course this is not looking into a crystal ball trickery, but rather ancestral wisdom looms over my head just as it does over yours. In this post I will lay out one way to view all of this and suggest a way to decode what lies ahead.

What we do

Navigating the remainder of this year is about knowing what type of energy has already been put out into the world with COVID, injustice and large amounts of global deaths. Once we know we must accept all that transpired thus far and digest it in order to transmute this surge of negative and positive experiences. Even as I write this I too struggle with parts of this prescriptive plan of moving from this moment.

What we need

Ok let's chunk this into smaller parts. Simply stated the pandemic has changed our lives in an instant and spiritually this has been a huge undertaking to pivot, adjust, protect, root and ground ourselves. Having said that I personally felt that leaning into my ancestors and their experiences and ways of living is one of the things that really got me through the darkest days (since I live in North New Jersey which was a part of the eye of the virus initially). Once I was able to identify that this wasn't new and that there was a blueprint of some sort acceptance became an option for me. Now digestion, well that one was a bit more difficult.

What we know

Digesting all of this comes with such grave aspects of knowing that there really is meaning in ignorance is bliss, but since I lean towards learning every time, I had to just take whatever came with the knowing. Again my ancestors provided me with insight that what we are experiencing is not new and is a pattern of human behavior when there is lack, inferiority, and emptiness in their souls. Also the ancestors taught me that there was nothing anyone did to deserve this fate and that somehow calmed me in the harshest of the storm.

What we will
Lastly, (and where I currently find myself) is the place of transmutation. The phenomenon associated with taking the horrible and making it useable is a tall order on any given day, but during or after a pandemic is quite heroic humanity and spiritual might. So I will say this, ancestrally speaking, this is where our greatest and best good lives dwell and if we swim through all of our spiritual muck to reach the point of peace, understanding and balance what we access is much like that of walking a tight rope with a monkey on our heads. PURE BALANCE.

What we are

Now many of you may ask how do I lean into, reach out to, or even access my ancestors. Well it is much simpler than you think. For me, a practitioner of an earth based spirituality, I believe our ancestors are always around us we just block ourselves from seeing them.

But for a beginner or even a naysayer here are a few things that help me access them.

Ancestor Connection

Make their favorite food and eat it, you can even have a small spirit plate that you leave for them while eating

Set up an ancestral altar with pictures, objects they like and candles to light the way for them (be careful, use safe candles or faux candles)

Do a meditation on them and really concentrate on connecting to them in order to receive messages they have for you

Engage a family member in a conversation about the ancestor so you can remember their personality, traits, wit, and wisdom

Go to a favorite place of theirs and spend some time there just being there and staying open to any understanding that you may receive

Celebrate a holiday or favorite time of the year that your ancestor liked, you can do it like they did it or add something new to it that is your own flavor

Staging for my Success

Beginning begins
To begin again, that is what we have. No matter how fracking wrong a lunar cycle can go (and we have all had some really bad ones) have deep wisdom in the fact that there is the opportunity to do it all over again. At 1:38pm EST yesterday the moon made its way into the new moon in Gemini. Now both of those will be explored, but first let's see what all the hype is over a new moon.

Newness renewed
So, a new moon is also called the dark moon cause when we look in the sky we see no moon at all, but it just means where we are is far from the moon and it is not visible. She is still there, trust me. When this time is upon us there is a natural contraction of energy and a journey inward for unabridged introspection is one of the best things we can do for ourselves. Do work at this time that is about cleansing, clearing, removal and grounding. All of these are things we can benefit from at this time, but I suggest you try just one of them. Sometimes our overzealousness gets the best of us and we are not as productive as we think. And the last thing that the new moon represents is a time for intention setting for the entire lunar cycle (the next 28.5 days).

Mercury manifests
Gemini, that sign of duality, diversity and change, its power is derived from its ruling planet Mercury (which will be retrograding during this cycle, but we'll dish about that in another post). Mercury, that great communicator and also trickster, is the planet to ask for help on your journey. It has the power of efficiency and superior articulatory skills (whether audible or not). Use this time to accept weakness in order to move beyond (and weakness can be large or small), push yourself as I intend to push me.

Check myself
Now my intentions this lunar cycle is to work to better communicate what I have been given with others. Often times I hesitate to share, for one reason or another, but this new moon will be about accepting what I have and have not done in order to be open to where I will be going. Although all of this is not tangible, I am so encouraged to do this work because I am finally at a stage where I know I am mastering my spiritual path, rather than apprenticing it. For me there will be stillness, reflection, lots of writing and practicing (with myself and others). I will continue to say YES to new roads.

Rituals created
For those out here who have never done new moon work it is not formulaic or set. Allow yourself to be guided in how and when to ritualize and mark this new moon. One thing to keep in my, try to get your initial work in within the next couple of days. Then you have the rest of the lunar cycle to tweak, change and notice. A couple of ways to use the info below is to use post it notes to surround yourself with messages. Or you can keep a new moon journal where you can write and reflect about this cycle and the cycles to come. I offer the guidance tools below to you, me, and all of this this new moon.

Work in the New Moon

Fasting and Cleansing

Removal and Clearing

Preparing for the New

Acceptance of Introspection

Lunar Cycle Animal Totem - Deer

Animal Totem Meaning - Gentleness

credit: nd.gov

Return to my Wilderness

Cherish Family & Ancestry

Hear the Inaudible

Embrace the power of Gentleness

Lunar Cycle Bird Totem - Cardinal

Bird Totem Meaning - Upholding the Self 

credit: nps.gov

Renew Vitality

Listen to message from the Wind

Uplift Creativity and Intuition

Watch My Diet

New Moon "Grounding" Oil Blend

credit: homemadelovely.com

Utilize the new moon to harness the power of aromatherapy. Creating an oil blend that is used during the cycle will give you a way to reconnect and remember. A small and quick gesture can last a long time. Find a small glass bottle to store in a cool and dry place in your home. Use a base oil (grapeseed, sunflower, safflower). Use as often as needed and feel free to refill if you must. 

5 parts Patchouli (Grounding - Earth Element)

3 parts Orange (Happiness - Fire Element)

3 parts Lavender (Centering - Air Element)

New Moon's Magic

These are short and quick ideas to keep in mind when doing the work to set for this lunar cycle and beyond. On those days this cycle when everything is falling apart, take time to come back to this post and see these few words. Magic is in the power we allow to inhabit us for it is and always was inside of us.

Be Committed, Patient, and Open

I am creating a Roadmap for my Life's Success

I Transform by Accepting

--Shamanic Drea

The sparkle is Spring

Credit: HartlepoolMail.com

Change has come
For most of us overnight the world has seemingly changed. Especially in the midst of all of this I want us to take a moment, lean into the realities the ancestors have for us, and go within to find our power and be guided into the next iteration of who we are in these times.  And trust, it is not lost on me that all of this is occurring in the season of Spring.

Season's blessings
Spring, a season associated with color, the return of the Sun and many beginnings must always be acknowledged as a time for growth. This growth has to be from the inside out or else we miss the things that are truly for us.  During this time of worldwide coping purposely align yourself with like minded persons and tap into that action of renewal. The regenerative force that is Spring does NOT happen by osmosis, we must be willing to accept the gifts this season has for us. Are you ready? 

Silence seeker
For me this time has been full of embracing stillness. Although many of us are urged and even sometimes pressured to feel like we need to engage in projects, new skills and outreach to new audiences I simply have not been moved. To actually complete this blog and contemplate future ones has been a task because on most days I just want some stillness. My balance this spring will be about how to seek silence then emerge and create. Then take time to complete that cycle all over again. As much as I am hampered to be in I know that my guides are giving me this time as a gift and I hope I am open enough to accept and utilize it.

Surfing this Change
Since many of us have been ordered to stay at home take the time to think about what you already have as a resource that can help you navigate for today and tomorrow. Marking the beginning of a shift in energy is to your benefit. By saying to the spirit world I recognize the changes that are around me you open so much to you and others. Below are spiritual and guiding tools to use this Spring. They are sketches of a blueprint, please feel free to use them, not use them or spring board from them. Most importantly, be intentional about what you want this Spring. That intent will take you farther than you know.

Spring Animal Totem - Turtle

Meaning - Ancient Wisdom & Grounding

Credit: SpiritAnminals.com

Longevity & Rootedness is a choice in my Life

Seek my inner counsel in turbulent times

Slow & See Opportunities

Go Within to mature my Ideas

Nature has the perfect Tempo

Spring Concept - Create Harmony through Balance

Credit: WalkingBalance.com

I Own, Accept and Love all of Me

There is never positive or negative, just what is

I can Balance my life in the midst of Storms

Spring Foods

Credit: Hip&Healthy.com

Spices (Ginger, Lemon, Tumeric)

Dry Grains (Corn, Barley, Millet)

Astringent Fruits (Apples, Pears, Berries, Prunes)

Lean Proteins, Egg Whites & White Meat

Bitter Vegetables (Brussel Sprouts, Cabbage, Asparagus)

Raw Honey

Spring Mantra

credit: SadhanaShakti.com

During renewal, ancestors lead me to the depths of me,

Allow me to access the power of silence & spirit there,

Ground me in knowing I have and am all I need.

--Shamanic Drea