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

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

Do you know you?

credit: studio34yoga.com

Another new one
We've recently entered into the Gemini Lunar Cycle. I wonder if you can already feel it. There should be something bubbling or just starting to show its head. The new moon or dark moon as it is referred to, is the beginning of an entirely new lunar cycle. So our time has come to goal set and if not that at least lean in the direction of introspection. These days should be quieter and when in doubt listen to that small, barely audible inner voice that probably has wisdom for you.

Make nice with Mercury
This particular Gemini cycle is Mercury ruled, a planet we just met in that harrowing retrograde that is finally gone.  Have no fear our current dance with Mercury is all good, but just know that ways are being opened for us and our inner balance, growth, and learning can increase during the Gemini cycle.

Seeing both sides
And speaking of Gemini, yes I am sure we all know folks in our lives ruled by the twins, right? Well the gift that Gemini does bring to all (not just those born under that sign) is duality. We all have good and bad, light and shadow, positive and negative versions of ourselves.  During this time explore those within you and don't be quick to judge, just observe.  I believe that our inner duality when balanced produces our purest forms of genius, compassion, and divinity.  Unleash yourself unto yourself.

Knowing it
My own walk this cycle is knowing what I know. Not a maybe, not almost, but a serious, definitive, I do understand.  In fact I overstand.  Although there are things that I wear like a courage badge from Girl Scouts, I too have to remind myself, there are things that I do know and processing that knowing is a part of being obedient to spirit.  And self acknowledgement of knowing or even noticing what I know is such a big part of taking other steps forward.  So this cycle I take time to give a little nod to what they have given to me.

Your answers are there
See what Gemini has for you. Really seek that answer that is probably right in front of your face. Finding an intention to set is not arduous or stressful, it is what naturally comes to mind when you think of a goal.  Still yourself between now and the next few days, see what surfaces. You may be surprised.

Work in the Sign of Gemini

credit: keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk

Diversity & Change

New Ventures

Employment

Mental Health

Gemini Lunar Cycle Concept - Gaia/Earth

credit: mightykindness.org

Spiritual Understanding

Gently Share Wisdom

Love is Always the best Addition

All is as it should Be

Gemini Lunar Cycle Herbs/Essences

credit: pinterest.com

Clary Sage - Earth Element - Harmony & Balance

Marjoram - Air Element - Uplifting

Peppermint - Air Element - Release

Gemini Lunar Cycle Stone - Honey Calcite

credit: sacredmists.com

Amplifies Energy

Change a Scarcity Mentality

Physical Strengthening

Gemini Lunar Cycle Affirmation

Spirits, open me to the truths that lie within that I am to see, hear, and know,

Root me in my link to the source and that link will heal me, those around me, and this planet,

All of these are possible, but my spirit must be humble, my ears must listen, and my heart must be full of love and compassion

--Andrea

The secret to change

Dawn of a full moon
Not sure you feel it but we in the midst of the Gemini Full Moon and like the duplicitous sign of Gemini there are high and low points for us.  The moon became full yesterday morning EST and now we have heightened power at our disposal. We will see the best results if we formalize our works during this full moon, so incense, a candle, writing materials, guidance cards, crystals, and even herbs are all in order.  The more ritualized your efforts the better.

Power of two
A Gemini Full Moon is quite a treat and coming at this time of the year is just fortuitous, an early holiday gift.  Gemini, the sign that represents new-ness, employment opportunities, and mental health, is ruled by my personal ruling planet Mercury.  Now, hold up. For those of us whose lives were rocked by that last retrograde know that this full moon energy is the other side of the coin.

credit: innopsy.org

Headed for a detour
Mercury gifts us constantly with the ability to journey, communicate, dance through our lives and see trickery ahead, but one of the most precious gifts is change.  This is that amazing time in our lives when we face a choice and we (and only we) can make the decision about doing something differently.  Dearest Mercury opens the way for us to accept, embrace and embark on that CHANGE.  Change is not easy. Change can be uncomfortable. Change is often the unknown.   But mostly, change is the best things that are yet to happen to us.  Say yes, know change is needed and make that change.

 Be-ing change
For me, my task during this Gemini Full Moon has been about and will be about just being.  I stand here in my power, wield it responsibly, and know that my medicine is for me first and foremost.  My change is about knowing all things around me that I adore, admire, and accept are all connected to me.  I challenge myself to erase the lines of separation and know deep down inside that I have access to ALL.

Only change changes
What do you need to change? Are you resisting certain changes? Do you need to review some lessons in order to truly change? Please ask away.  The more open you are to hearing the questions during this period the more potent and magical the outcomes.  Below are steps that can put you on that path, but stray from this, these are just tips, not rule.

Full Moon Goddess - Ishtar

Concept - Boundaries

 

credit: landofgoddesses.wordpress.com

Give of myself vs. Giving up myself

Stepping back is acceptable

Respecting my boundaries teaches others boundaries

Candle Power

During this Full Moon time it is powerful to burn candles to cement that which you are working towards.  Below is information on the candle color that can be associated with the properties of Mercury, the ruler of Gemini.  Find safe candles, burn them as long and as much as you like.  Fire is creation tool, use it to ignite yourself towards your goals this Full Moon. 

 

Yellow

credit: fengshui.about.com

Mind Power

Change Manifestation

Mental Clarity

Personal Flexibility

--Andrea

Hearing the unspoken

credit: thinking-silence.deviantart.com

The moon has moved
As the moon has moved out of fullness and is starting to contract, even if just slightly, the Waning Phase is upon us.  Now many of us loose our steam during this last phase. I guess we think it's not enough time or even that any work done now is not effective: WRONG. This time, waning, can have some of the most powerful results in all of a lunar phase.

Sign and planet
As we wane it is in Gemini.  When Gemini rules the skies, although we fashion it to be a "sprite" like time, the true ruler is the planet Mercury.  Yes, that's right Mercury, but not in retrograde, that's another kind of goodness.  Mercury the owner of communication, cross roads and transitions can be intense to wield sometimes, but it always keeps us on our toes, grants miracles unimagined and forces us to keep humor in our lives. So let's humorously talk about what this waning phase has for us.

Did you not hear that?
This phase I want us to think about intuitive communication.  What is it? How do we use it? Are we even using it correctly? And lastly, how can we wield it during this waning phase.  First off, I propose intuitive communication to be the hearing of things that are unspoken.  It is a knowing of sorts.  So how can that be used? Use intuitive communication to receive answers, messages, and information that will help you and subsequently others.  Whether or not it is being used correctly is for you to decide.  Ask yourself, am I receiving the messages and if so what am I doing with them? All answers to these are within you, trust you will know the answers to your own questions.  Wielding intuitive communication while in the waning phase is hinged around knowing how to truly be silent at this time in order to know what it is you need to release.  And sometimes how to release it.  This quick prescriptive like formula for using your intuitive communication is a test sample.  I am tasking you with figuring out what intuitive communication is for you and how you plan to use it to release anything that is unwanted.

credit: rgbstock.com

Daily silence
My personal release will be around daily taking time to hear the messages for me, preferably early in the morning.  Then as I acquire  messages I have to trust in them and allow them to shift my life, right before my very eyes.  And most of this will be done in silence.  A tall order? Maybe, maybe not.  I look forward to the challenge to make this a daily ritual for this waning time and possibly beyond.

 What will you release?
Now how about you? What things will you use during this waning phase? Below are the ideas to use as a springboard from here to wherever you are going.  Take them, use them, change them.

Waning Moon Concept - Intuitive Communication 

Hear whispers and "Un"Verbal

Be open to day dreams and night dreams

Hear what is not spoken

Silence's messages

Waning Moon Affirmation

I joyously accept all of the messages that are for me,

I understand in releasing many gifts will come my way,

However I am rooted in knowing that being in silence 

is the key to receiving these gifts

--Andrea

Making my way into the silence

Gemini Fullness
Although we are close to the Winter Solstice, the moon has a few more blessings to bestow upon us. Today we reach the fullness of the moon in the sign of Gemini.  YAH!!! We all made it, thank goddess, but how shall we use this energy?  The full moon is a proper check in time. Consider it a self assessment of sorts.  And this full moon is dubbed the "Cold" Full Moon according to the Farmer's Almanac and right now cooling down on things is a good thing.

Mercurial messaging to us all
When Gemini rules the skies, although we fashion it to be a "sprite" like time, the true ruler is the planet Mercury.  Yes, that's right Mercury, but not in retrograde, that's another kind of goodness.  Mercury the owner of communication, cross roads and transitions can be intense to wield sometimes, but it always keeps us on our toes, grants miracles unimagined and forces us to keep humor in our lives.  Be sure in these long cold nights and sometimes days of this full moon, open to Mercury's magic, you may be totally astounded. 

Actively silent
With many shifts occurring in my physical and spiritual life I am mandating that I absorb the silence.  Even as I slide on into the holiday season I must say I am looking forward to calm, quiet, and rest.  A challenge it will be (in my best yoda-speak), but one I know will benefit me.  Not talking or processing, just simply listening.

Formalize your way
A big tip I learned a while ago was that full moon work should be more structured and deliberate.  Whatever you feel is needed, be it candles, paper, talisman, or incense, make it so.  The more formal you make your work during the full moon the more likely the spirit realm is to hear your requests.  That and the more likely we are to move our own spirits towards our goals.

Work in the Full Moon

 

Love, Attraction, Passion

Abundance & Prosperity

Space Charging

Courage of Heart

Gemini Full Moon Concept

 

Intuition and Self-Communication

credit: yummymummyclub.ca

My intuition will Expand

Constant Communication with Self & Others

Trust my Instincts & Hunches

Inner World Focus

Candle Power

During this Full Moon time it can be awesomely powerful to burn candles to cement that which you are working towards. Below is information on candle color that can be associated with the properties of Mercury, the ruler of Gemini. 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.

Yellow

 

credit: ebay.com

Manifests Change

Curiosity

A New & Fresh World

 

 

 

 

 

 

---Andrea/DaughterofWaters

In the time of Geminis

credit: characterfitnessblog.com

A hearty hello
Welcome wonderful Gemini Lunar Cycle.  As I sit here I am automatically happier, more energized and overall amped about this coming cycle and it's just started.  Yesterday, almost 24 hours ago to the minute, the moon made her way into the next lunar cycle and what a cycle it is.


Two sides of Gemini
Gemini time is filled with the duality and air based leanings that the sign possesses, but more importantly it is ruled by the planet Mercury, which is a master that is unparalleled.  Mercury, who we know of because of its retrogrades and it's namesakes, is often misconstrued, to say the least.  A planet that is the heart of all types of communication, Mercury is also the epicenter of trickery and mischievousness, which leads to much frustration at times.  Being born a Virgo and having Mercury as my ruling planet also I have had to make amends with Mercury and try to see things from his point of view, if at all possible.  So we can harness mercurial energy it just forces us to find, hold to, and be about our Personal Center.

The act of being still
For me this cycle is going to be quite a departure for me cause the only action I will be using is to recognize and then accept.  Seemingly easy, well NOT.  My personality always pushes for more movement and progression and now in order to progress I must be on a more still-based track.  I am excited and a bit anxious at the same time, but I have ultimate faith -which by my definition is an verb, not a noun.

Tools for crafting
Below is a set of perspectives to help you craft your personal works during this Gemini Lunar Cycle.  Be bold with yourself, strive for that one thing you thought impossible for now is the time to pull out that second part of yourself you rarely see.  Now is the time of Gemini so all the ethers are with us.

Work in Gemini

New Ventures

Mental Wellness

Smooth Transitions

Herb/Flower Essences for Gemini Lunar Cycle

Valerian

credit: herbalextractok.com

Azalea (Air Element) - Clarity

Clary Sage (Earth Element) - Retention

Valerian ( Earth Element) - Overcome Opposition

Gemini Lunar Cycle Concept - Balance through Harmony

Define Balance

True Knowledge of my Duality

No Good or Bad

Gemini Cycle Affirmation

I am committed to the work this cycle that will reveal

to me all of who I am at this current time,

I will recognize myself and accept all that I am 

without conditionals or hesitations,

This acceptance will allow me to manifest miracles

in my life like never before and I am truly ready

--Andrea/DaughterofWaters

Aligning with lined lunar-ness

credit: space.com

The time it goes down
Tomorrow at approximately 9:32am EST we will experience a Penumbral Lunar Eclipse, the last eclipse of this year.  And not to be out done, the moon becomes Full stage at 9:46am, minutes later.  Add all this up and we have total opportunity for anything from awesome power to sheer mayhem. 

And what of this eclipse
So first, what does that mean.  Well an eclipse  means that the three celestial bodies known as the Sun, the Earth, and the Moon are all in perfect alignment, which is a pretty rare event.  To line up the three sets of concepts below can really be a line of demarcation in our lives:

Sun-Creativity/Illumination
Moon-Feminine Power/Energy

Earth-Tangibility/Physicality

It's lovingly Lunar
The use of the terms Solar or Lunar before an eclipse has some to do with how they are aligned.  In a Lunar eclipse the Earth finds it's self between the Sun and a Full Moon.  Okay, hope you are still with me, LOL.  Another major difference for a Lunar eclipse is that all the work done is on your inner life meaning it's all internal transformations that can take place. So yes, more time for "our self", but this self time is such a line in the sand time.  I know I am looking forward to it to work out some personal changes I want that just have not been sticking at other times this year.  Below are questions that may add value to any work we do near or on (doing it as close to the time is a powerful step) this Lunar Eclipse.

What root causes have been stopping me?
 

Does anything in my past or ancestral past have a hold on me?

Do I have a good relationship with Karma?

What life patterns am I looking to hit the reset button on?

*Note-It is good to allow at least 2 weeks to really see manifestation in our daily lives of anything we work on during an eclipse.  Remember we are a constant creation, there is no DONE point :)

credit: 123rf.com

Gemini breaks through after the eclipse 
Please remember that the Full Moon in Gemini does occur directly following the eclipse so take advantage of that energy as well.  You will have more time to do work because work can be done over the three day period that is the day before, day of, and day after the Full Moon.  So in case you can not mark the eclipse, mark the time when Gemini brings an opening for work on diversity, change, new ventures, scholarship, and research.  A breadth of options, but all sort of in a trajectory that is similar.

 

--Andrea/DaughterofWaters