Let us not forget the Leap Year

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Look what leaped in?

Once every four years we are gifted with an extra day, some extra energy, an additional chance to get it right! Well on this coming Wednesday, that opportunity comes up yet again.  I prescribe we think less of a Leap Year as the year of governmental leadership, but rather it's the year we take that necessary step towards our empowerment.  Having said that, let's check where things are "lunarly" this Leap Year.

 

Watch as it waxes

At this point in the cycle we have moved out of the New Moon space and we should all be diligently working towards our intentions.  This phase of the moon is called "Waxing", meaning we are actively building and constructing our paths each and every moment.  No second guessing, just movement and strides right now.  This Leap Year is aligned with the Waxing Half Moon in Gemini, which some of us may know is Mercury ruled.  Yes, Mercurial energy can be tricky, but knowing that fact puts us in a position to know how and what to ask for.

In & out, the beauty of breath

Now, this Leap Year I suggest we think about this one concept -  Air.  Let me explain.  The sign of Gemini, although ruled by the planet Mercury, is also in the domain of the element of Air.  Air, the breath, the wind, the mind, quite plainly put, the Inspiration.  This element is essential to most life forms on the planet and we as humans are no different.  Air is the creation of the concepts we accept, protect, and utilize in our lives.  It also is that breath that we wield that at any given moment can change a situation, just by being cycled.  So, this Leap Year, in this Waxing Moon phase, take the time to inspire you personal journey; INSPIRE yourself.  Make the impossible, not only possible or plausible, but Performed or even Perfected!  Mark this Leap Year as the year you took your life by the reins and lived it like no other.

What will inspire your Air?

To stimulate us during these coming auspicious hours of Leap Year magic, choose from some of the Air inspired elements to sprinkle that extra something on your efforts to create the magic that life has to offer. All of these below can be purchased or even made at home, search the internet there are endless ideas and recipes, it's what speaks to you.

Elements of the Air

Incense Sticks or Cones

Herbs on Charcoal 

Votive Candles with Essential Oils

Spray Mists with Essential Oils

--Andrea/DaughterofWaters

Dip into the waters deeply

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Making it here anyway we could

We have pushed, pulled or punched our way to yet another lunar cycle.  This new moon is in Pisces, the sign that has the potential to be the cosmic man or woman.  At a time in nature when Spring is just starting to stir and wake up we are gifted with Pisces, but more importantly Neptunean energy.

Blessing from the deep

Neptune, a planetary energy impossible to capture, is that piss or get off the pot kind of urging.  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 shirk back into that old self.  Now, this does not have to be a jerking, whip lashing ordeal.  If we set your minds to it, humble ourselves to the experiences and stay open, Neptune can bear great gifts.

Just saying yes

My focus this lunar cycle will be on submerging myself willingly.  That's right I am giving into it, without resistance.  That which is for me, will be for me.  The places where i am to be, I will be.  The experiences I am to have, I will have.  Long gone is that fear of "what if" I have replaced it with "I am obedient".  Now, not looking for a perfect scorecard in this effort, just the deeper knowing that Neptune allows me to access.  And with this deeper knowing seeing myself as one drop, dipped into a lake of life.

What will you do?

Below are concepts and facets in the Pisces (Neptune Ruled) Lunar Cycle that should help us dive deeply for those dark messages that await us.

Work in Neptune

 

Deep Waters

Psychic & Mystical Journeys

Reveal the Hidden

Pisces Lunar Cycle Totem-Snake

Concept-Transmutation

Life-Death-Rebirth

Release my old Skin

Transmute to accept Power

Pisces Flower/Herb Essences

Lemon-Clarity

Rosemary-Transformation

Vertivert-Strength

Pisces Cycle Affirmation

Open me to the transmutative powers of the divine,

Keep me rooted in a willingness to experience all things whether comforting or discomforting,

Most of all invoke on my path this cycle a dance of freedom that is full of creation energy 

--Andrea/DreaofWaters

Shining the healing from inside to out...

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Made it back the middle

Yes! We are here! At that Full Moon time again.  Although the moon looks full it will become it's fullest sometime during the day on Tuesday February 7th.  So, we all have time to digest what is before us, set our strengths to HIGH and make it all happen.  Going to set it all up for us...let's see...here we go!

The light of Lions

This Full Moon is in the luscious, lovely, and lavish sign of Leo.  Now, before we jump out the gate with our assumptions of Leo (me included), after careful thought and understanding I realized that Leo is such a beautiful ally for all of us, not just for those born under the sign.  The power that thrusts, pushes, and drives anything related to Leo is the SUN, that wonderful agent of warmth, smiles, rays, and hope.  Think for a minute...how have you felt on the first sunny day after a week of grey days? AMAZING, right?  Want to know why? Well the Sun has the ability to illuminate all things and this lighting of the way is directly related to healing, transforming, and forward movement.  We need the Sun in our lives just as we need the moon, it's an essential tool.  So capture the rays this Full Moon, conjure up the self, space, or life you want.  Ask the masculine energy of the Sun to protect, provide, and parent you to the you that is to be.  Do not accept less than your desires.  Have the courage of a Lion to roar your way through whatever intentions you are asking for during this Sun blessed Full Moon.

The lost key found

This Full Moon I am accepting me, right where I am, just as I am, because I am.  I am committed to getting off the conditional track I often run when I am challenged (you know that "if I could just, then I would").  And the really ironic thing is that this is not the first time I have come to this point, it also may not be the last time, but I am happy to be right here as I am knowing that this fantastic feeling is always available to me.  The more I learn the more I realize we all have exactly what we need, it's the accessing it that's the key.  So, this Full Moon I am taking my key and placing it in the keyhole and turning, knowing full well that the UNKNOWN is beautiful, heart swelling, and destined.

Set out what to illuminate

Below are areas or domains that are good to work on during the Full Moon.  Select from this list or a derivative of it.  Also strike out on your own, it's lunar time so go inside figure out what you want to work on and DO IT! There's nothing else to it.  Do not let the magic of this full moon pass you by. 

Work in the Full Moon

Love, Attraction, Passion

Abundance & Prosperity

Space Blessing

Courage of Heart

Spirituality & Inner Awakening

Candle Power

During this Full Moon time it can be awesomely powerful to burn candles to cement that which you are working towards. And since we are dealing with the Sun and the concept of Illumination can be of assistance, take advantage of the light.  Below is information on the candle color that can be associated with the properties of the Sun, the ruler of Leo. Find safe candles, burn them as long and as much as you like. Fire is a creation tool use it to ignite yourself towards your goals this Full Moon.

Orange

Confidence

True Courage

Self Awareness

Creativity

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--Andrea/DreaofWaters

Imbolc, our Mid Winter Rebirth

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This morning as I began preparing my personal rituals I was going to do for Imbolc, I thought wait....Maybe folks would like to know this information as well, so here it goes...

Imbolc is a Gaelic celebration that was, and for many still is, a festival of the hearth and home, and a celebration of the lengthening days and the early signs of spring.  It serves as a midpoint for many between the dark, internal, and womb like energies of winter and the lighter, crowning, and re/birth energies of spring.  In the earth based lores it is the halfway point between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox.  Fire and purification are an important aspect as well.  So candles and fires can be a part of the celebrations.  Makes total sense, since with spring comes more light of the days and our spirits.

As a part of my coming rebirth (what I am marking this Imbolc) I am claiming the new me that has been on deck for what feels like a hundred years.  But I must be honest and say that even though I have been frustrated, at a loss for words, and even a couple of times doubled over in tears up to this point, I know it has all been for a greater, stronger, more focused me.  I wouldn't change a single moment, action, thought, word, or understanding.  Transformation of the self is not for the faint at heart.  Neither can it be ushered in by a personal assistant.  We must do the work in order to reap the benefits.  It's a simple equation, although we make it hard at times.  

Below I laying out some representations of what that midpoint can represent.  Each of us have images in our mind of what these symbols are.  I challenge all of us to see beyond the mere words and give meaning to the symbols.  Does this move you?  Do you need to develop something else? Decide for yourself what you will do with this information and how you will use it to assist your personal goals.  Maybe daily, maybe hourly, or maybe always.  Ritual is a lot of things, but for me it is mainly personalized.  Make these symbols real for you, be it a deity, a food, a saced text, or even a family ancestor.  We give energy to that which we believe.  So figure what you believe.

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 Imbolc Symbols

Deities

Virgin/Maiden Goddesses

Concepts

Growth & Renewal

Fertility

Herbs

Coltsfoot, Heather, Iris

Incense

Basil, Cinnamon, Myrrh

-Andrea/Drea of Waters