Grab the gift of Grace!

Summer kissed

This morning I wake with joy in my heart because Father Summer has made his entrance in the Northern Hemisphere. It's official, the Sun has returned once again. The solstice began Friday June 20th at approximately 10:42pm EST in the Northern Hemisphere.  It is the official start of the summer, but it is more than a mere seasonal shift. And yes, the days may be hotter and we will perspire, but the trade off of sun, warmth, and blue skies is all worth the bit of sweat that may come my way.  Most importantly, we have entered yet another season during this year and that means another opportunity to set longer, more structured spiritual goals for ourselves.

Let light lead

The Summer Solstice represents the time of year when all things are growing, blooming, and stretching out in their  own way. With the extra light we will have access to stretch and grow ourselves. I believe summer comes to illuminate (with all of that extra light) the unseen, help us focus on the harder aspects of ourselves, and celebrate the milestones we have reached unknowingly. The fires of summer awaits us all.

Grace is giving

With all of this added humph I suggest we harness that sun-kissed energy and boldly burst through our own barriers by accepting the grace that awaits. And grace is not just going easy on ourselves or others, but true grace which forces us all to dig deep to see what we are denying or refusing to accept from the spirit world, be it a new attitude, new look, opportunity or way of seeing ourselves. But yes grace does require courage for once we truly accept it, we will be forever changed and that is the beauty of grace. With grace we become something totally new and different. This task during summer will be easier for some than others, but it's not a competition, it's a chance for true change. Take the time, find your GRACE!

Jump from here

Below are a few tools that can help in accessing and processing your Grace this summer.  Take this totem, this concept and this affirmation and use them as a jumping off point for your works.  Oftentimes we wonder how we start, here is a starting point.  Take time over the next few days to meditate, write, dream and ponder. As always answers are there, we just have to recognize them.

Summer Animal Totem - Swan

Concept - Grace

credit: nativeamericantotems.com

Surrender my being to the Power of Spirit

Relationship between Grace & Illusion

Accept the Future

The State of Grace

Summer Concept - Healing and Transformation

Trust Spirit’s Protection

Lean into my Faith & Acceptance

Acceptance of Healing is a Verb

I will be Changed

Summer Mantra

I stand ready to accept the transformative healing that awaits me this season.

Bless me and my path as I walk further, closer to my truest self.

--Andrea

A Journey Inward for Rewards

 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 11:01pm EST on May 26, 2025 the moon made it's way into the new moon in Gemini. Now both of these facts 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 because 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, has its power derived from its ruling planet Mercury.  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), and push yourself as I intend to push me.

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 mind, 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 us  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: pinterest

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: hellofearless.com

Renew Vitality

Listen to message from the Wind

Uplift Creativity and Intuition

Watch My Diet

New Moon "Grounding" Oil Blend

credit:daxinglassbottles.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

Stopping on a Dime or an Eclipse

An eclipse defined

So now let's do a bit of deciphering and figuring. Overall Eclipse energy is stronger because it is the alignment of three celestial bodies that affect us: the Sun, the Moon and the Earth.  An important property of a Solar Eclipse is it really can transform our material circumstances, such things as abundance, self identity, housing, employment, etc.  In order words all things that are focused outside ourselves.  Please note Eclipses always travel in pairs so this Solar one is the second part to the Lunar that occurred just a few weeks ago. When an eclipse occurs there is perfect alignment between the Sun, Moon, and Earth. In a solar eclipse the Moon falls in line between the Earth and the Sun and is a good time to focus on material circumstances such as location changes, self identity, or personal power.  Eclipses are gateways for great change and it's a time to use energy to discover the root causes of things.

Seen Alignment

On this day in places around the globe were blessed with this Solar Eclipse. Meaning that the Moon will move between the Earth and the Sun, casting a shadow and blocking out the Sun's light. Simple enough explanation, right? Well the spiritual implications could not be more fortuitous for us. Eclipses hold great power and knowing what is possible makes room for such great progress and evolution on just this one day.

Work near Solar Eclipse

Time of Great Change

During this brief time know that each second holds great possibility and if we use it then we have evolved just a bit more

Power Portal

Eclipses hold great spiritual power that we can access at this time, be ready to accept that which is for you and only you

Meditation & Reflection

Take moments to reflect and listen following this Solar Eclipse, take the next 2 to 3 weeks to see what manifests and reflect daily

Past Life/Soul Retrieval

An eclipse can reveal portions of ourselves that have been disconnected, use this time to welcome back portions of yourself that left due to trauma or pain, if need be seek professional assistance

Solar Eclipse Herbs/Flower Essences

Bay - Fire Element - Overcome Opposition

Honey - Earth Element - Calming

Marigold - Fire Element - Renewal

Solar Eclipse Affirmation

On this day allow all the shadows to appear so I may confront them, see them for what they are and move beyond them,

Blessed am I to encounter the power of the eclipse, I am open, I am clear, I am love,

May my ancestors and guides lead me to the truth that has been here all along.

--Andrea

Spring into Spring

Just the beginning

...Spring is here. As this day begins in the Northern Hemisphere we have passed another milestone in this year. The Spring Equinox is upon us and so are many new opportunities.  Be sure to mark this day, not only for the seasonal shift that is occurring in nature around us, but more importantly the spiritual spring board that is here for us to keep evolving.

Oh so new

Spring, a season associated with color, the return of the Sun and many beginnings must always be acknowledged as a time for growth. For us this growth has to be from the inside out or else we miss the things that are truly for us.  During this time of the year purposely be outside more, notice the growth of flora and fauna 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? Am I?. Now that our days are longer and our nights are shorter, let's illuminate our love and compassion as we connect to other people, places, objects, beings, and nature.  We should give often and frequently.  Please understand that this is not about material giving this is about giving pieces of ourselves in small and large ways.  Remember when we share we are giving to ourselves through others. Think about that one for a moment.

Cues give clues

As we enter a new season I suggest we look to nature for cues and clues. Cues and clues can often be found in ideas like a totem, a concept or even a simple mantra. I have gathered a collection of these tools we can use as we navigate what we want to manifest in this new season. Review them and see if they provide you with insight and even if they do or do not let them be the springboard that catapults us all forward into the next iteration of ourselves. As we enter a time of rebirth of our natural world I ask us all to harness that same energy and dare to do something different this Spring!

Spring Animal Totem - Hippopotamus

Meaning - Power

Initiations & Apprenticeships

Let water heal and bless me

Begin a new life cycle

Immerse myself in art and healing

Spring Concept - Change

Change begins with a small, small seed

Have fear of Change and do it anyway

Change can be discomfort

The unknown is a part of Change

Change is the only constant

Spring Mantra

 Place on my path this Spring the power to see the change that is for me,

And with this Change I will challenge myself to evolve especially at times with it is NOT comfortable,

All the while knowing that the Change that I am forging at this time will bless me, those around me, and this planet

---Andrea