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

Mercury Retrogrades 2025 - Make a Strategy

Forewarned is Forearmed The planet mercury will go into a retrograde period March 15th and will stay that way until April 7th, 2025. These dates are just an approximation and some of us have begun to feel the effects as early as March 8th. So to help us all be a bit more proactive this post includes retrograde dates for all of 2025 as well.

Slowing it down A retrograde is when the planet is supposed to move in a certain direction and how we see it moving is a different direction.  When this happens to the planet Mercury, all forms of communication are off kilter.  So that means snail mail, email, cell phone, land lines, speaking to others, and speaking to yourself are just off. And don't even think of signing a contract or wonder why negotiations are not going well...Not to mention travel as well, so don’t be surprised about delays. If things seem to be going oh so wrong, sit back, relax and let things ride out over the next few weeks. Don't take things or people personally (especially yourself).  Most importantly, remain open to the communication you do have which is with yourself.  This relationship (the self one) has the potential to grow at leaps and bounds during the retrograde.

To Know Before The retrogrades in the coming year will happen three times and it's an opportunity to show ourselves, ya know what, we can do this.  Even as the God of Communication (the planet Mercury) does his usual trickery, we can move forward, albeit at a totally different speed.  Remember retrogrades can be felt up to seven days before its onset and sometimes seven days after it goes direct.

• March 15–April 7: Mercury will be in retrograde in Aries and Pisces 

• July 18–August 11: Mercury will be in retrograde in Leo 

• November 9–29: Mercury will be in retrograde in Sagittarius and Scorpio 

Heed these things

Word to the wise, do not negotiate or sign anything, be it contract, big deals or heck even a napkin deal.  Why you ask, well because more than likely there will be miscommunication or misunderstanding.  And for all of us thinking about buying a new, "supadupa" tech gadget, please don't or if you must get a sale price, and keep all receipts.  The return process or malfunction is basically inevitable.  Listed below are a few tips for dealing with retrogrades and you can also make up your own.

Mercury Retrograde Tips

Have more patience

Take more time to work internally on myself 

Revisit old, solid relationships 

Focus on things that will not waver 

--Andrea

Diving Deeper Within - Pisces Lunar Cycle

Plunge into Pisces

Let's welcome the power and possibility of the Piscean lunar cycle which will begin at approximately 7:44pm EST on Thursday February 27th. This cycle for us can be a barrage of experiences, moments of great lucidity, and a host of aha times. Yet, there is one catch, isn’t it always though? Since Pisces is ruled by the fair ruler Neptune, this is not child’s play. We will all have to have our evolved game faces on and ready for challenges as they come. So...take a deep breath....then dive into this cycle that will be full of so much....for the entire planet. This new moon  in Pisces arrives at a time in nature when Spring is just starting to stir and wake up. Let us open ourselves to the gift of Pisces and more importantly Neptunian energy.

Nearer to Neptune

The true core of Piscean lore is based on the ruling planet Neptune.  Neptune, a force at times hard to harness, rules the unconscious realm, altered states, deep waters, and duality, just to name a few.  I see Neptune as the ocean floors of ourselves.  We know part of ourselves exists, we know it is valuable, but very few of us are willing to take the time to dive down there to find its treasures, no matter how much we may need to do so. For Neptune is the King of revealing things that have been hidden. A representation of the deepest part of the Ocean, this planet is the realness, no faking accepted.  At this point in our evolution we are either going to grab for what we want or shrink back into that old self.  Now, this does not have to be a jerking, whip lashing ordeal.  If we set our minds to it, humble ourselves to the experiences and stay open, Neptune can bear great gifts.

Neptune, now what?

So, how to proceed? Well, proceed as we always do, one foot in front of the other, one breath after the other. Knowing this lunation will be challenging in ways we never expected is a heads up and having that warning should at least give a few more seconds to cope when things get turned upside down suddenly. And they will, believe me, they will. Accept our roles as evolving, karmic beings and know that what we get from the cycle can be like a slingshot, propelling us forward.

The Moon Meaning

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).

Create your Path

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 this this new moon.

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

Work in the New Moon

 

Fasting and Cleansing

Removal and Clearing

Preparing for the New

Acceptance of Introspection

New Moon "Grounding" Oil Blend

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)

Pisces Lunar Cycle Totem-Swan

Concept-Grace

I am learning to accept Grace

Develop my Intuition

My Faith is Changing me

Acceptance of Healing and Transformation

---Andrea