Leo Full Moon on February 9th, 2020

Let Out Your Roar!

I’m so excited about this astrology, that I’m offering a free Fire Ceremony to tap into this potent energy. Find out how to join here, or read on to learn more!

The next Full Moon is on February 9th at 2:33am EST at 20° in Leo.

A full moon is when the sun and moon are opposite each other, so while the Moon is in passionate, show-stopping Leo, the Sun is in rebellious, progressive Aquarius. Full moons are times to release things. This can be letting go of an old pattern or releasing your new idea out into the world, and this moon is great for both of these things. What do you need to release so you can shine and be in the flow? Leo is known to be a bit self-centered, but if tempered well, this energy helps us stand more firmly on our path and really let out our unique (and important) roar. Leo also craves praise and admiration for who they are and what they do, which makes me think of the conjunction going on between Venus, Lilith, and Chiron (more on that soon). The sun sitting in Aquarius is more focused on “we” than “me”, especially on a global scale. Leo and Aquarius play nicely together when we get in alignment with our life purpose and how we can be of service to others. Meditation Mount put the dance between these signs wonderfully here:

“Even as “the great illusion” of separation is exposed and the unity of everything is realized, individuality is not lost. As we shift our awareness to the vastly expanded field of soul identity, we see that we are participating in an ordered plan that is manifested through group consciousness... Group consciousness is governed by Leo’s opposite, the sign of Aquarius. Although Aquarius is located across the zodiac from Leo, the relationship between the two signs is not an opposition, but a continuum from individualism to inclusion in a greater whole.”

This is perfect on the heels of the New Moon in Aquarius that got us thinking about how we can live our purpose. Your intentions set at the New Moon are coming into even clearer focus now. And this is being helped by Mars in Sagittarius making harmonious aspects to the sun and moon, bringing focus, desire to set big goals, assertiveness, practicality, and open-mindedness. Make sure you focus this fiery Sag energy and then you can achieve anything.

Another helpful energy floating around is Jupiter in Capricorn sextile Neptune in Pisces. This brings luck and expansion into your work, especially if it’s of a helping or spiritual nature. This can be a restless, reforming energy, but channeled with that Capricorn dedication, it can be very powerful. Be of service and this partnership will give you strong intuitive guidance.

The card drawn for this Full Moon is Death, the card of endings and transformation.

Let it Go! This energy is ego challenging, really highlighting that opposition between Leo and Aquarius. How can you let aspects of yourself die so you can bloom into deeper service of others? You have to make room for new things to grow. This can be talking about relationships, habits, patterns, jobs, or your mindset. When the need for changes come, how will you respond? Will you plead, keel over, not look at it, or like the child in the image, face it with openness and curiosity? This card also makes me think of the giant conjunction occurring in Aries.

Venus, Lilith and Chiron are all hanging out in the early degrees of Aries creating an impulsive energy around love and the wounds we carry.

Yikes, Happy Valentines Day! Lilith in Aries is impulsive and even harder to control than usual. Tear down the old and build something new, something better, something freer. She thinks for herself entirely, but can be a force to be reckoned with when she doesn't get her way. Venus is amped up while hanging out with feisty Lilith in this forceful sign, making her more aggressive as well. This powerhouse combination will have us balancing our desire to lead and be lead, to be pursued and pursue, to be cherished and respected, to be the top or bottom. Our desire for Venus niceties, harmony, beauty and love, is bumping into Lilith's raw, hidden, subconscious desires.

Which energy do you relate with more, demure, gentle, sensitive Venus or powerful, seductive, secretive Lilith? The one you shun, is the one you need to get to know, cause she's in there. And Lilith wants us to accept our full self, with all our messy incongruities. Though this can be a challenging energy and feel a bit explosive (hey Aries!), this is also radically transformative. Deep down, we all want to be fully seen, and this combo will give us the courage to show up and speak up, because Aries is not going to let us sugar coat this. We're going to be loud and impulsive, and very focused on getting what we want. Aries is the start of something new and this is happening in the early degrees of this sign as well, adding to this energy of newness.

This is the start of something authentic and different. Lilith contains within her vast power to transform if we're brave enough to sit with her and peer into our depths. This is bringing us into balance in our femininity (whether male or female), and with how we relate to the feminine in others. This is the totality of women, the soft and the loving, as well as the fierce and the seductive. The gentle and the wild combined into one.

Chiron, the Wounded Healer, is standing next to them, drawing our attention to the wounds within this dynamic. How are we not being authentic? How has our heart and spirit been broken? And if we listen carefully, we can learn how to transform that pain into strength. To find out more about Chiron conjunct Venus, check out this article about how Chiron can unlock the wounds in our heart.

“We firstly ‘unlock’ our heart. Then, we heal what’s broken. And finally, we transform fear into love.”

“I have found this paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love” – Mother Teresa.”

Chiron and Lilith combined are also a powerhouse of transformation, both being outsiders in their own way and healing through unconventional methods. If you want to dive deeper, check out this intriguing article.

This Aries cluster is forming a T Square with the North Node in Cancer and South Node in Capricorn.

And this aspect isn’t just on the day of the full moon. These planets are hanging out and forming a t-square with the north and south nodes from 2/5 to 2/19, peaking on 2/12. This adds to the rocky potential, especially when it comes to our established patterns regarding home, family and comfort. We'll see how doing things in the established way isn't going to work anymore, pointing out how our love patterns and wounds are preventing us from having a harmonious balance of work life and family life. Maybe you tend to choose unavailable people that won't build the foundation you crave, or someone that has vastly different goals than you. Maybe you have so much wounding that you throw yourself into work, being unavailable for love. This aspect will make you notice where you feel unsatisfied and unfulfilled. We need to be cultivating inner peace, releasing the pain stored here and not acting out recklessly to get our needs for connection fulfilled while ignoring the underlying problems. This nodal placement asks us to find happiness in family and our spiritual connection, while honoring the totality of ourselves and our baggage. Seems fitting with this Full Moon, huh?

The Tarot card for this conjuction and t-square is Ace of Cups Reversed.

We need to be mindful of how we are dumping things out, especially our emotions and self-worth. Be careful about exploding at people or crying to your ex. This card suggests calling a friend or sitting with your journal instead. Be aware of how you give yourself to others. Do you take time to “fill your cup” or are you always pouring yourself out in service of others. If you feel you do this, you have to ask yourself why. Do you think you need to do this in order to be loved or be “good” or “nice”? If so, how can you tap more into your powerful inner Lilith? This card can also mean new beginnings, but not externally. This refers to new beginnings within ourselves. Think of that Venus/Lilith integration and the healing from Chiron. How can this shift begin in you?

Does this Lilith/Venus/Chiron conjunction intrigue you?

It's definitely got my attention!

I think this is a potent window for some deep transformation around the feminine wound (for men and women) and the baggage we carry from broken hearts. Do you accept yourself and your partner (or potential partner) for their feminine totality? Are you ready to explore the wounds you’re carrying and begin to let them go? Then I lovingly invite you to join me for a free transformational fire ceremony on the full moon to tap into this portal of energy and use it clean this wound and release what no longer serves. In this circle we'll explore:

• Breath Work

• Guided Meditation

• Fire Clearing

Sign up here to join me in circle!

In Summary…

Overall, this is a powerful full moon for transformation and stepping into our power. If we are tapping into our life purpose, there is so much energy supporting us right now. (Not sure what your purpose is? Book a Tarot Reading to get some clarity.) There is also potential for a powerful shift within ourselves around love and femininity (our own and others) and healing the wounds that lurk there. Be gentle with yourself for the next couple weeks. We're also in the shadow of the upcoming Mercury Retrograde on February 17th happening in Pisces. Things are going to be more feeling based than logical as we approach the retrograde, but if we allow ourselves to tap into our intuition and emotional intelligence, we'll swim through this energy much more gracefully.

Sending you so much love.

Join me for the Leo Full Moon Fire Ceremony here.

Imbolc Celebration Ideas

What is Imbolc?

Imbolc (IM-bolhk) is a Celtic holiday that celebrates the Goddess Brigid and the turn towards spring.

It's celebrated halfway between the winter solstice (Yule) and the spring equinox (Ostara) on February 1st, though the celebration technically begins at sunset on January 31st. Alternatively, people will celebrate it when the Sun hits 15 degrees of Aquarius. This is the time when the days are noticeably longer and you can feel that spring is on its way. This is also when lambs are born and the ewes begin to produce milk. It is thought that the word Imbolc came from the old Gaelic i-mbolc meaning “in the belly”, which can be a reference to the birth of lambs or have a correlation to the Goddess in her hibernation beginning to stir in the belly of the Earth. It could also be from the old Gaelic phrase imb-fholc which means “to wash” as in a purifying ritual.

Source: Ester Remmington

Imbolc celebrates the Celtic Fire Goddess Brigid and her aspects as the Triple Goddess of Hearth, Forge and Inspired Heart. As the Goddess of the Hearth, honor her by by clearing out your home both physically and spiritually and asking for her blessings of protection and health. She’s the Goddess of the Inspired Heart and blesses all creative pursuits, keeping that flame of inspiration strong. As the Goddess of the Forge she blesses the projects we make manifest into this world – both artistic and functional. She also has a bit of “an edge”, helping you cut away things that no longer serve and temper yourself in her flame. She is honored at sacred wells in Ireland, so working with both fire and water is supported.

As with many pagan holidays, it got swept up into the Catholic church as it sought to ease the transition for it's new converts and so Imbolc became Candlemas and the Goddess Brigid became St. Brigid with her feast day celebrated on February 2nd. To find out more about her transition from Exalted Celtic Goddess to Beloved Catholic Saint check out this article. As Maman Brigitte, she is also the only white Deity in Voodoo, the result of the cultural blending between Irish indentured servants and African slaves. She is truly a transformational Goddess! You do not have to incorporate Brigid into your practice to celebrate Imbolc, but she’s a great inspiration at this time of year.

Want to learn how to connect with this holiday on a deeper personal level? Read to the end to find out about my Imbolc Celebration Bundle and how to join me in circle.

Playlist for Imbolc

Clearing, Blessing and Protection of Home and Self

This is the time for some (almost) spring cleaning on both the physical and energetic level. Physically, this is a good time for a deep clean. We've been stuck at home, tracking in sand, salt and the latest stain of the cold. Take the time leading up to Imbolc to really sort out your space, donating things you no longer use. This is also a great time to rearrange your furniture to change things up and bring new life into your space.

Cleaning your house energetically is also a great way to prepare for Imbolc. You can use smoke (like the incense blend below), blessed water, or a special broom called a besom. The idea is to move stagnant energy and bring fresh protection in. If you have an alter with offerings on it or old magical tools (dead flowers, old herbs, last year's Brigid cross, etc), Imbolc is a great time to burn them or return them to the earth.

If you have protections around your home, this is a great time to redo them or set some new ones up! Creating a crystal grid, recharging protective stones, salt at the thresholds, witch bottles, or new Brigid crosses are all ways you can tap into the protective energy of the season. You can also bless your ritual tools for the coming year on this night. These are things such as candles, incense, salt, herbs, water, or tools for meditation, healing or ritual (cauldron, crystals, wand, singing bowls, massage or reiki table). You can do it yourself, or place them on a windowsill with an offering and ask Brigid to do it for you.

Imbolc Incense Blend for Purification and Protection

• Dried Pine Needles/Evergreen Essential Oil

• Dried Ginger or Oil

• Cloves

• Dried Chamomile

• Dried Rosemary

• Bay Leaf

Mix together in a bowl and burn on a charcoal puck in a cauldron full of sand. Use a fan or feather to waft the smoke into all corners of a physically cleaned home. As you energetically clear the space with the smoke, repeat “This space is cleared, this space is blessed.”

Send Winter Away and Wake Up the Earth

These ideas are fun for pagans both grown and small. A pretty seasonal decoration to make before Imbolc is paper snowflakes to honor the winter. On the day of Imbolc, you can throw them in a fire to encourage the end of winter and the melting of the snow.

Another idea is to make a Priapic (Acorn) Wand and take it into the woods to awaken trees and plants from their winter slumber. While you do this, collect acorns, pine cones and a couple early signs of spring (if you ask the plant nicely first). Only collect a flower or two if they are available and leave the rest for the hungry bees.

Set Intentions for the Coming Spring

Take some time during this season to really dream about what you wish to accomplish in the coming spring. Now is the time to get prepared to launch into action as we come out of hibernation. Get ready to welcome in a fresh start and let go of heavy beliefs that have been holding you back with a fire ceremony. Write down the limiting beliefs that you no longer wish to carry and throw it into the fire. Then set your new intentions, speaking them aloud, and asking any guides or deities you work with to help you make them manifest this coming year (since this is Brigid's holiday and she's the fire Goddess of Inspiration, she's a good one to work with for this ceremony).

Find what makes you feel inspired, empowered, and refreshed. Reconnect with old practices that you love, but have fallen out of habit with. This is also a good time to rededicate yourself to your path or dedicate yourself to a Deity for the first time.

Play with Fire

This is an ideal time to set intentions using candle magic, since Brigid is a Fire Goddess. Light a white candle for each goal you have for the unfolding year during your Imbolc ritual. Simply lighting candles to honor Brigid and the lengthening days is a great way to celebrate and if you have the ability (and the weather allows), a bonfire is even better! Scrying in the flames is another traditional Imbolc activity. Relax your mind and gaze at the flames, letting any shapes or impressions guide your intuition.

Prep Your Herbal Medicine Cabinet

While you're sorting and clearing your space, don't forget your herbal remedies! Check your stock, see if herbs are a bit past their prime, make sure oils haven't gone rancid, and tidy it up. Put a couple charged crystals such as clear quartz in the space to keep your medicine potent. If you make tincture, salves, or herbal blends, this is a great time to craft some, since Brigid is the Goddess of Hearth and the healing arts. Doing reiki on yourself and others is another way to tap into this potent healing energy as well.

Celebrate Inspiration

As the Goddess of the Inspired Heart, Brigid especially loves poets and storytellers. Try your hand at some creative writing through short stories or poetry to tap into her blessings. It's lovely to read stories about Brigid at this time as well. Whatever creative outlet you have, this is a good holiday to bless yourself and dedicate yourself to developing your craft and attracting your ideal audience in the coming year.

Divination

Fire scrying isn't the only Divination done at Imbolc. Weather prediction and animal messengers are also forms of divination used at this time. Interestingly Groundhog's Day is February 2nd, combining both of these methods. Coincidence? I think not. Notice any animal friends that show up for you on Imbolc and meditate on what they mean to you or look up their meaning online. You can also start a dream journal, use tools such as rune or Tarot cards, or tap into your innate intuition. Druidic Bards were thought to also be adept at divination, so Brigid's blessings of creativity extend to this skill as well.

Look for the hidden depth in your creative inspirations. What is it telling you?

Prepare for Spring

In some climates, Imbolc is the start of Spring, so if you're going to be preparing your garden before Ostara (March 21), then Imbolc is a good time to ask for blessings in your garden and on your garden tools and seeds. Since I’m from New England, Ostara is what I associate with new growth, while I think Imbolc is more about cleaning and readying, but in other climates spring will already be well on it’s way!

Source: Temiel

Welcome Brigid

One traditional way to honor Brigid at Imbolc is making a Brigid Cross and putting it outside on Imbolc Eve with offerings of milk and bread for the Goddess. To learn how to make a Brigid Cross, check out this video here. As you place it outside you ask the Goddess for her blessings of healing, protection, and safety for your hearth and home. The next morning, gather the cross and display it in your home or on your alter all year for protection. If the offering wasn't enjoyed by a hungry animal friend, find a place to pour the milk on the ground and hide the bread for a lucky passing critter. The offering also helps to begin forming a relationship with the reawakening earth spirits in your area. Other traditions for Brigid are making a Corn Dollie to represent the Goddess and putting her into a Bride Bed, wearing white, and little girls going door-to-door asking for blessings from the woman of the house.

Source: A Trip to Ireland

Tying Ribbons

Another traditional way to honor Brigid is to tie ribbons to trees near her sacred wells. The ribbons tied near wells are called clooties and they are left to honor to the Saint/Goddess or to ask her for healing. Leaving cloth or ribbon outside on the night before Imbolc to be blessed by Brigid is another tradition.

You can make this your own and tie ribbons (made of natural fibers) to trees in your area with blessings for the land or those that discover them written on them. You can also leave some outside with an offering to Brigid and then use them throughout the year for healing purposes, leaving them on your alter, tying them to your clothing or wrist, or decorating your space with them.

Imbolc Food and Drink

Traditional food for Imbolc is pretty simple (milk, oats, bread, and seeds), but you can add some flair and make it special. Why not make lavender blackberry milk and seeded oat bread? Here are some recipes I'm going to try this year.

Source: Gimme Some Oven

Blackberry Lavender Milk

Ingredients

1 cup blackberries, fresh or frozen*

1/4 cup sugar

2/3 cup water

1 tsp of lavender

¼ tsp of vanilla

2 cups milk (oat, soy, coconut optional)

Instructions

1. In a small saucepan, heat blueberries, sugar, lavender, and water over medium high heat until boiling. Reduce heat to medium-low, and let simmer for 10-15 minutes to reduce until it is thickens slightly. Remove from heat and strain through a fine-mesh strainer if desired. Add vanilla. Refrigerate.

2. Whisk together 1/4 cup blueberry syrup with 1 cup cold milk to serve.

*Why Blackberries? They are sacred to Brigid, and delicious!

Inspiration:

https://www.homegrownprovisions.com/lavender-moon-milk/

https://www.gimmesomeoven.com/blueberry-milk/

Quick Seed & Oat Loaf

A delicious and hearty "lazy loaf", freshly baked bread, no kneading required! Feel free to change out the seeds for what you have available. I used walnuts instead of poppy seeds, for example.

Ingredients

Source: Emma’s Little Kitchen

2¾ cups wholewheat flour

1 cup oats

¼ cup flax seeds

¼ cup poppy seeds

¼ cup raisins

¼ cup sunflower seeds

¼ cup pumpkin seeds

2½ tsp rapid rise yeast (1 sachet)

1.5 tsp kosher salt

2 tbsp sugar

1 tbsp cinnamon

1 cup (250ml) 2% or semi skimmed milk (can be plant-based)

1 cup (250ml) water

Instructions

1. Mix flour, oats, seeds , yeast and salt in a large bowl

2. Pour in milk and water, and mix thoroughly to make a sticky porridge-like dough

3. Smooth the dough into a greased, lined dough tin and place in the cold oven

4. Turn the temperature to 225F (110C), and bake for 45 minutes, after 45 minutes turn up the temperature to 350F (175C) and bake for another hour, until the loaf is baked through and makes a hollowish sound when you tap the bottom of the tin!

5. Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack.

Inspiration with some tweaks: http://www.emmaslittlekitchen.com/quick-seed-oat-loaf/

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Aquarius New Moon on January 24, 2020

On Friday, January 24th, 2020 at 4:42 pm EST, we have a new moon in Aquarius at 4º 22’.

Strap in, this could get bumpy!

The Sun and Moon sitting together in Aquarius, the sign of the rebel humanitarian, squaring off with Uranus in Taurus will bring some ground-shaking energy into our thoughts about stability. Luckily Mars and Mercury are teaming up to help us think on our feet. Venus and Neptune are hanging out, getting extra lovey and dreamy in Pisces, but are bumping up against Mars who has big ideas and wants to move on them, not cuddle and stare into each other’s eyes. The lingering transformational partnership of Saturn and Pluto in Capricorn is still asking us to dive deep and transform our ideas about structure and constriction (very timely with this New Moon energy). And Jupiter stops by to add a lovely dose of good luck.

Sun/Moon

During a new moon, the sun and moon are in the same place in the sky and this time we get a double dose of progressive, independent Aquarian energy. Aquarius is known as the humanitarian of the zodiac and excels at working online, networking and getting involved in social activism. This energy can also be a bit rebellious, but that's just because it values authenticity and innovation. It asks you to challenge your beliefs to find expansion and liberation for yourself and our planetary home.

Uranus

To make this energy even more rebellious, we have Uranus, the planet of change, in Taurus squaring the new moon. This will especially highlight how we can be more authentic and liberated in how we make, spend and save our money and where/how we choose to live. We might tend towards individualism, but the humanitarian energy of Aquarius will invite you to dream of something unconventional that can help the world (vertical hydroponic gardens, communal living, etc). There could be sudden shifts around your home and finances that might not be entirely within your control. If you know your astrological houses, check what house Aquarius and Taurus are for you to get more specific insight on where this instability will happen. Understandably, this energy can lead to uncertainty and anxiety. Be mindful of mood swings, arguments and strong urges to push others away in the service of individualism and independence. Expect the unexpected and listen to your intuition, not your anxiety.

Mars/ Mercury

To help us navigate this unpredictable windy energy, we have Mars in Sagittarius sextiling Mercury which is also in Aquarius. This team helps us think and act fast in the moment, making strong, decisive decisions under pressure. These two together have big ideas, Mercury's expansive mind in Aquarius fans Mars' fire in Sagittarius, helping us dream big and believe we can build it. If you're not too knocked off by Uranus being a trouble maker, you can really set some powerful, innovative intentions with this pairing. Visualize your dream future, and let your mind go wild.

Venus/Mars

Another touchy pairing under this moon is Venus in Pisces squaring Mars in Sagittarius. This is a bumping of sensitive heart vs determined head, and things could get messy. Venus has an expansive, universal love in Pisces that vibes with the humanitarian in Aquarius, but it's crashing into the focused Sagittarius Mars that has big goals and wants to make moves. This can cause friction within ourselves or with others, leading to impulsiveness and anger. Venus just wants to cuddle (and smother?) while Mars wants to go! Sexual tension can be a problem when these planets are squared, so be conscious of why you're connecting sexually and if it will really get your needs met. If you need emotional connection, ask for that instead.

Venus/Neptune

To make Venus even more snuggly and dreamy, it's conjunct Neptune in Pisces, supporting deep mystical connections. Beware of being overly idealistic and living in fantasy with this pairing though. If you're in a healthy relationship, this can be a great night of romance, but if unattached, don't be surprised if Prince Charming is a toad in the morning. Also softening things is Venus sextiling Jupiter in Capricorn, bringing levity, charm, and understanding. This can mean good luck in love and also money.

Saturn/Pluto

We still have Saturn and Pluto conjunct in Capricorn, encouraging success and evolution through hard work. This personal transformation isn't easy, but is worth it for the end result. Keep purging and processing what comes up, especially how you restrict yourself. There’s a lot of chaotic, oppositional energy going on under this moon, but if you lean into this conjunction, you can really use it to push through to a new way of being.

Tarot

The Tarot card I drew for this new moon is King of Wands. He’s the great initiator, a strong leader and innovator. He is confident fire energy embodied. If we can tap into the highest good of this moon, we can manifest greatness, and get other people excited to join our team and help up create this new reality. Yes, he can be excitable and impulsive, but at least he’s never boring! And neither is this new moon.

Questions to Ponder

How can you be more authentic?

Where do you feel the urge to rebel?

What things in your life (or society) need to be overthrown for more liberation?

How can you harness this powerful energy to bring about a deeper personal transformation?

Are your relationships serving your emotional needs?

Do you have the space to create what you want in your life?

What big ideas are rattling around in your head that could change your life or the world at large?

This is the time to set new intentions, but not take action quite yet. This powerful energy might scream for you to “Burn it all!”, but don’t, not yet. Your path forward will get clearer as the moon approaches the Leo Full Moon on February 9th. Then you can let everyone hear you roar.

In Summary

Though potentially chaotic and tense, this new moon is a great one under which to dream about your future and the impact you want to have on this planet. The expansive Aquarian energy the Sun, Moon and Mercury are hanging out in is grounded (or maybe earth-quaking) by changeable Uranus in Taurus and the transformative Saturn/Pluto conjunction together in Capricorn. Dreamy Venus and Neptune in Pisces is softening our hearts (into goo), while Mars in Sagittarius is getting all charged up! Be mindful that things are more challenging and confusing for everyone and be really conscious of what you're trying to get out of connections. A night of stimulating conversation or settling in with your journal would be a lovely use of this energy. Trying to solve relationship issues or having a one-night stand, maybe not so much.

Have a potent New Moon and an inspiring weekend! Blessed Be.

What's with all these Pagan Gods?

New to Paganism and all this deity stuff got you confused?

Working with deities is by no means necessary to be pagan or a witch or walk an Earth Centered path.

They can factor in as much or as little as you feel called to include them. I didn’t dive head first into working with them when I first started and it’s only because of direct experiences that I currently connect with specific Gods and Goddesses at all. Hopefully my experience can give you some inspiration so you can explore this aspect of paganism in your own way.

My Early Years

My spiritual education first began at St Bridget's Catholic Church (note the name for later). I was super Catholic growing up, as in member of the youth choir and youth ministry leadership council Catholic. I wasn't there cause “Grandma wanted me to get confirmed”, I truly wanted to be a part of a community of people seeking to know God and Jesus. And I did have a couple deeply profound experiences in that space, but as I went to college, I started questioning my faith and took a big step back from the church, even though I was at a Catholic college at the time.

I started reading things that got my mind wondering about Biblical history, like Ishmael by Daniel Quinn. I was focused on my biology training and was very science minded. I dated an atheist (interestingly from that same Catholic college) and soon I was convinced there was nothing beyond physical reality. The idea of chasing an afterlife felt weird to me and there being an all-knowing God that controls everything a little sick if we looked at all the suffering in the world.

Meeting Pagans and All Their Gods

Throughout my life, I always had a connection to nature, so when I began meeting Pagans and seeing their reverence for the natural world, I was intrigued. But goodness, Pagans had so many Gods and Goddesses! That was a hard sell for me. I have enough trouble with the singular God, now you want me to believe there are hundreds? It wasn't easy, but I decided I was going to roll with it and feel out the spiritual path regardless of all this crazy Deity stuff.

I figured that at the very least, these were archetypes that our ancestors connected to and maybe their stories have a lesson in them. Or maybe they can be a focus for meditation to bring out qualities I want in myself. Or heck, maybe they really do exist in some way and I can develop a connection to them. So I cautiously began exploring these different Deities with an open mind and discerning eye.

The Goddess

The easiest one for me to wrap my head around and start exploring was the Goddess, not a specific deity, just “The Goddess”. It felt refreshing and rebellious to have a feminine Deity after growing up with Yahweh, the Judeo-Christian God. I saw her as Mother Earth and overlaid the actual physical changes of the seasons onto this ubiquitous Deity that was continually referenced. We do literally come from Her on an atomic level and go back to Her at our death. Then I started hearing the songs to her and realized, this is exactly what most people were doing, with a bit of personification added in.

Art Credit: Abby Nguyen

“We all come from the Goddess

And to Her we shall return,

like a drop of rain,

flowing to the ocean.”

- Z. Budapest

Listen here

“I walk with the Goddess,

The Goddess, she walks with me,

She is the clouds up in the clear blue sky,

She is the ground beneath my feet,

She is the oceans and the falling rain,

She is the Spark that Lights my Way”

-Kellianna

Listen here

“The Earth is our Mother, we must take care of Her,

The Earth is our Mother, She will take care of us.

Her sacred ground we walk upon with every step we take.”

-Native American (Hupa or Hopi)

Listen here

I began to deeply resonate with this interpretation and I wasn't just “rolling with it” anymore. I became exposed to different Deities as I continued on this path and used this same process of being both discerning and open-minded as I came upon them. Some I didn't take to and others are now part of my daily practice. My two main Deities now are Brigid and Green Man and my connection came from direct experience, not a dictated faith like I was used to in Catholicism.

Green Man

My Green Man

I'm not sure what my first encounter with Green Man was, but it had to be after I became pagan. One memory is of being drawn to a metal relief of his leafy face that a friend owned. He ended up gifting it to me and it lives under my pillow in my van now. When I hike alone, I often feel (and crazy as it sounds, sometimes see) another presence in the woods with me, but not in a scary way. It’s comforting and friendly. I started leaving dead flowers from my alter at a specific tree in the woods behind my house and there was a gratitude and connection that we formed. That tree gifted me an amazing limb to use as a Maypole one Beltane. I started practicing with my fire dancing props to a song about him and I would feel a playful energy around me.

Currently, I connect to him in my prayers every morning and he always has strong, comforting, loving, playful presence. Now, if he's an actual entity or not, I can't be sure, but I know that when I connect to him, I feel supported and safe. Whether that's an aspect of me being highlighted, or truly his essence, it doesn't matter to me. I think the results are worth it either way.

Brigid

Art Credit: Temiel

I like to think that Brigid was always with me since I grew up at St. Bridget's Church. There's a lot of evidence that St. Brigid was probably the Goddess Brigid, just Christianized to make it easier for the Irish to convert. With my Irish roots, I had a natural affinity to this Goddess, and the first Imbolc I celebrated was memorable. I didn't really know how to celebrate Imbolc yet, so I simply meditated with the intention of connecting to Brigid, since she was the only thing I really knew about Imbolc. It was an interesting combination of both feeling like I was meeting her and at the same time embodying her. I had a beautiful prophetic vision having to do with future children (still yet to be seen) and as I was telling the friend I was meditating with about my experience, he said I had this new energy about me and that to him it felt like Brigid.

Since then, I've always felt a special connection with her. Even though Green Man was my first consistent relationship, she's come through in the past year to become my patron Goddess. Each morning in my prayers I ask her to bless and protect my space and to keep my hands and heart inspired. She has a strong energy, like a mentor that knows your greatness and won't let you make excuses to shy away from it.

So what do I believe now?

I'm not entirely sure. I still have my discerning yet open mind. I'm open to experiences. I frequently connect to Brigid and Green Man in prayer and meditation and I get good feedback. If it's me talking to myself in the guise of this Deity, I like how I choose to talk to myself in that form. I give myself good advice as Brigid and I'm very playful and loving as Green Man. Having this practice has done nothing but enhance my life.

Do you want to begin connecting to a specific Deity? I recommend learning about them, both other people’s experiences and their traditional history. Focus on them during meditation, lighting a candle for them or putting out an offering (incense, food, a stone, etc). And think of this as a budding friendship. Ask questions, be giving, share your thoughts and feelings. Don’t ask them for some big help right off the bat. You don’t usually meet someone and then ask them to help you move next weekend, right? Be mindful of that and let your connection unfold organically. I hope this helps you get a feeling for how you want to explore this aspect of Paganism if it calls to you. Message me if you have any questions.

Blessed Be.

Cancer Full Moon and Lunar Eclipse

On January 10th at 2:21pm EST, we have a full moon in the sign of Cancer and a partial lunar eclipse. Eclipse energy effects the next 6 months that follow, so these themes are things you'll be working on until the eclipse cycle in June and July 2020.

Cancer Full Moon

Lunar Eclipse

Home

A full moon in Cancer always draws our attention to our emotions and how we feel “at home”. Which is an interesting concept for me to reflect on as I start traveling again in my home-on-wheels. I'm currently writing this from my van while parked at a Walmart. I actually feel very at home here, typing on my pull out desk, sipping tea with a candle burning, but I know this situation isn't ideal for everyone! What makes you feel safe and cozy? What's important for you to be able to relax and open up?

Intuition

Cancer is ruled by the moon, so when the moon is in this watery space, all things lunar are highlighted. Intuition, dreams, emotions, subconscious, our deep fears and shadow work are all things to work on during this moon. A theme I've been seeing come up for a lot of people in 2020 is listening more consistently to their intuition. Starting a regular practice for yourself to go inward at this full moon would serve you well in the coming year. This can be meditating, writing in a journal, praying, taking a quiet walk outside, or using divination tools like tarot, runes or fire scrying.

Mothering

Cancer is also the sign connected to Mothers. Take some time to honor the mother figures in your life (call your mother!). If you have a challenging relationship with them because they didn't parent you in the way you needed, take time to think about how you can parent yourself now to fill in those gaps. This full moon will highlight for everyone where we need a big mothering hug, and ultimately, we're the best person to give that love to ourselves.

Be Gentle

Taking a nice long bath in mineral salts and calming herbs or essential oils can help you connect into this watery energy and release the things that block you from feeling and expressing your emotions freely. This isn't time to take action on these feelings (those the opposing planets, which we'll discuss next, might make you want to), but a time to let yourself feel and become aware. Everyone's going to be a little sensitive, be mindful and compassionate that others are also a bit delicate right now.

The Opposition

As with all full moons, the sun is sitting directly across the sky in the opposite sign of Capricorn, and it's not alone! Mercury is sitting in the same degree as the sun, and Saturn and Pluto are about to meet each other on the 12th and are just 2 degrees from this Sun/Mercury conjunction.

Sun/Mercury

The Sun is our sense of self and purpose, and its partnering with Mercury which rules our mind and communication. In Capricorn this is a very action oriented pairing. You're going to want to plan things and move forward with purpose, who has time for baths and meditating? And this is the very balance we're being called to find.

Pluto/Saturn

The coming Pluto/Saturn conjunction is also asking us to question our priorities around work and structure. Pluto is the planet of the underworld and transformation, and sitting with orderly, heavy Saturn in it's ruling sign of Capricorn is going to highlight some of the darker aspects of our aspirations. Mainly, how are we denying our emotional needs (or those of our loved ones) in the name of “progress”?

Tarot

This makes a lot of sense with the Tarot card I picked for this moon: Knight of Swords in Reverse. Sure, he's action oriented, powerful, intelligent. He also is disconnected from his heart, or even worse, blind about how much his emotions rule him, and finding logical justification for his “rightness” when he's hurt. He's pointy and defensive and brash, because he's not taking time to slow down and connect to his emotions in a healthy, mindful way. Saying “You're wrong!” is easier than “You hurt me” but this moon is calling us to breath, be brave and find that softening.

Allies

Luckily our Cancer moon isn't totally alone facing these powerful, heavy planets. Neptune is Trine the Moon in Pisces and this brings a desire to find a deeper spiritual connection and a higher meaning in life. If we can channel this energy well, it can bring us closer to the Divine by practicing compassion in the face of these challenges. The North Node is also in Cancer, meaning this Cancer energy is what we're bringing into our lives, and these heavy Capricorn themes are being transmuted. The North Node is opposing Jupiter (also in Capricorn), which on one hand brings luck to this endeavor, but there can be a desire to lean into spiritual perfectionism (“Good vibes only” mentality), so be gentle with yourself. Accept everything that rises up for you without judgement. Trust that it’s coming up for a reason.

This is a practice. Don't worry if you fudge it all up, you've got plenty of time to work out the kinks. Since this is an eclipse, honoring our own and others emotions with compassion instead of rigidity is going to be the theme for the next 6 months, and I think the world will be better for it.

Want more guidance?

Tarot is my constant companion through this crazy journey called life. My cards and I would love to help you make sense of it all too. Book a Tarot Reading or learn more here.

Capricorn New Moon and Solar Eclipse

Right in the middle of the holiday season on December 26 at 12:15am EST, we have a powerful new moon in Capricorn, that's also a solar eclipse.

New moons in Capricorn are great for setting intentions around business and budget, or anything else that needs a little dose of responsibility. This day is perfect to set your financial New Years Resolutions. To make this moon even stronger, it's an eclipse, meaning the energy of this moon is felt for 6 months, so make plans for the long run!

Also affecting this day are Mercury and Jupiter, both within 10 degrees of the sun and moon.

Mercury is all about communication and intellectual pursuits, and it's in Sagittarius, giving it the passion and focus this sign provides. Pursuits around philosophy, religion, and travel are especially supported. These can also be “intellectual travels”, exploring an idea and creating your ideals for yourself about how you show up in the world. Jupiter is also conjunct, but in Capricorn, which brings it's optimism, luck and growth to these new intentions, boosting their staying power and the positive effect they'll have on your life moving into the next six months. Jupiter's energy in Capricorn is great if you're self-employed or looking to take control of your destiny.

Another planet influencing this new moon is Uranus.

Uranus is the planet of awakenings and unexpected changes (as most awakenings usually are). Uranus is in Taurus, and it supports shifts away from the stable, expected, comfortable way you've been doing things. Big changes are possible as we shift into the New Year, as long as you set your intentions now.

Capricorn is a fatherly energy, focused on responsibility, maturity, stability, and legacy.

Some questions to ponder or journal are:

What can you do to build your legacy for yourself and future generations?

How can you commit to living in a way that makes our world a better place?

What sacrifices and commitments do you need to make in order to support these changes?

What mindset shift will make these changes easier?

Make sure you don't rely too much on external validation to make your goals worthwhile.

Yes, the wealth and glory are great, but you need a stronger why to keep you going through tough times. Also, even though these goals might be to provide a legacy for your family, make sure you connect and honor them in the now too. I think the holidays are a perfect time for this moon to appear, because we're forced to stop and be present with those we love.

Whether you're starting a new business that supports your dreams to make the world a better place, creating a yearly budget so you feel in control of your finances, or making big shifts in yourself and your outlook to take charge of your life – this energy is here to support you. Set your intentions for the next six months, make a budget or a vision board, and release the past year (heck, decade?) in a fire ceremony. Out with the old, and powerfully in with the new!

I hope you had a very Happy Holiday Season and this New Moon helps you charge powerfully ahead into the New Year!

Want more guidance?

I'm offering two ~*special*~ readings until January 6th to help you use the energy of 2020 to your advantage.

The Year Ahead: Break Down takes you month by month, highlighting your strengths, challenges and recommended actions. If you're into planning, this is the reading for you! My planner is full of monthly notes to help me stay on track with my goals. This is a full hour reading, and you will leave with a clear idea of what to expect this year, how to handle it, mantras to keep you focused, and the theme of this year overall. We'll be exploring 40 cards in this reading - and for only $50, you won't find a reading like this anywhere else.

If you're just looking for the overall themes of 2020, then a Year Ahead: Overview is right for you. We'll look at the theme of the year ahead, your biggest strengths and challenges, as well as a card for each season to help you focus your energy. This is great for intention setting and deciding where to put your focus. This reading is only $20 for 20 minutes, but it's something you will to refer to all year.

Click here to book your reading now!

Want more tips on how to manifest your best year?

Yule Celebration Ideas

Blessed Yule!

Yule, or the Winter Solstice, is the pagan holiday that honors the longest night and the return of the sun. Decorations include greenery that can survive the winter and things that look like the sun, such as lights , candles and oranges. Actually, many things we think of for Christmas are actually based on old Pagan traditions. So put up a tree, grab some mistletoe, and light some candles!

Yule Log

One way to combine the greenery of the season with honoring the sun's return is making a Yule Log. This is a log that you decorate with natural materials and display as a decoration or on an alter. Then on the eve of the Solstice, it's burned to bring light to the darkest night and welcome back the sun.

Any log will do, but traditionally oak is used to bring in strength and health for the coming year. Pine is used as well for prosperity and abundance. Whatever log you choose, make sure it’s very dry and well seasoned so it’ll burn.

Wrap a ribbon made of natural fiber around the log and tuck pine boughs, pine cones, holly, and other natural materials underneath it. Finding the materials can be part of your Yule tradition. Try to mainly take things that are on the ground already, but if you want some greenery, ask the tree and give it thanks before cutting any branches. You can also write your hopes for the upcoming year and tuck them in as well.

On the night of the Solstice, turn off all the lights as you prepare to light the Yule log. Be quiet in the darkness as you think about the year that has past. Light the log and as it begins to burn think about the hopes you have for the year ahead. It's traditional to light a candle from the Yule log and use that to light candles throughout the house, spreading the warmth of the returning sun.

For more details and to add an element of the Oak King and the Holly King, check out this article.

Bird Seed Ornaments

Another way to celebrate is to share our bounty with our animal friends as winter begins. One way to do this is to decorate an edible Yule tree. The simplest ornament to make is to coat pine cones in peanut butter and roll them in bird seed. Tie a ribbon or string made of natural fibers to the top and hang it outside.

This page has more ideas for edible decorations and how to make them kid friendly.

Orange and Clove Pomanders

Oranges symbolize the sun's return and the bright, zesty scent mixed with spicy cloves is a great way to brighten up this dark time of year. Simply poke the long end of whole cloves through the skin of an orange in a festive pattern. Stick a wire through the center of the orange, securing it on the outside of the bottom and forming a loop at the top to hang it. As it dries it will release its bright aroma.

For more details, check out this page.

Food

Holiday cookies are fun to make for Yule. Cinnamon cookies such as snickerdoodles have that warm seasonal flavor. Sugar cookies in the shape of a star or tree are also very Yule appropriate.

Winter vegetables like winter squash, brussel sprouts, potatoes, kale, and carrots are good to use in a Yule supper. This stuffed butternut squash makes a tasty and beautiful centerpiece for any meal! I also enjoy a good lentil and mushroom wellington, the flaky puff pastry with the savory filling is perfection!

Drink

Mulled apple cider or wine are tasty Yule beverages. Just simmer over low heat with cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, allspice berries and orange wheels (poke the cloves into the skin of the orange circles to prevent them from getting sipped!). A drink called Wassail is also traditionally made for Yule. You can find a recipe for that here.

Hope you have a beautiful, relaxing Solstice and the returning sun brightens your way!

"I've Heard it Said that People Come into our Lives for a Reason...

Bringing something we must learn
And we are led to those who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return.
Well, I don't know if I believe that's true,
But I know I'm who I am today
Because I knew you...” - For Good, Wicked

As I sat down to write my first blog post, For Good from Wicked came on and I was full of gratitude for all the people that have come into my life and helped me get this point of launching my website and my Online Coven: Spiral Within. To all the people that have inspired me and sat in circle with me, thank you! And here’s to the people that deserve an extra special thanks.

I first lovingly give so much gratitude to my web designer, accountability buddy, and great friend Stephanie Briggs. This site would not exist without her, on so many levels. Yes, she physically created it, but she also held me accountable throughout the process, giving me the deadlines and structure I so needed at that time (and I need all the time if I’m being honest). She gave me her experience and expertise on building a business in this field and how to speak to my clients authentically. Her astrology and Akashic records readings have helped me so much, both to know myself and to get focused on my business. Thank you Stephanie for all your hand- and space-holding though this process.

You can find Stephanie’s beautiful website for her business Heart Blossom here, and she’s available for astrology, Akashic records readings, and more.

I wouldn’t be half the witch I am today without knowing Lynn Woike. She hosted both our former coven and our Year and A Day training in her home, and though she would lovingly disagree, from my perspective, she’s been in the role of High Priestess too many times to count. Its a hat she’s so comfortable in, she doesn’t realize she’s even wearing it. A fellow traveler, she’s now exploring the US in her converted school bus, Karma, with her cat Pye. She inspires me so much with her generous, giving heart and endless knowledge of all things witchy. And her collection of vision board supplies is second to none!

She has a delightful blog and is available for Tarot readings and spell work though intention candles, mojo bags, and more! Her page is The Witch on Wheels, and it was also designed by the talented Stephanie Briggs.

I can’t forget my original High Priestess - the woman that first welcomed me onto this path, the magical, beautiful, strong Angela Luna! We met in massage therapy school and she invited me to my first gathering for Lammas over 5 years ago, and I was hooked. Her circles inspire my practice so much, led by intuition and inspiration, not beholden to rigid rules of how things “should be”. From past lives, through this one and beyond, I’m so grateful to be walking this path with such a magical lady as my inspiration and friend.

She has so many talents, but the one I’ll share with you is her beautiful music.

And I can’t forget my magical sister and basically twin (besides the hair) Amy Dubenetsky. We met on our first day of joining a new coven and have been building our awesome friendship ever since. Fire spinning, witching, massage therapy, ecstatic dance, and views on life and love are all things we share, as well as multiple office spaces and a house at one point! Growing with her has been an absolute pleasure and I can’t wait to keep inspiring each other.

She is an amazing massage therapist that specializes in craniosacral and reiki located in Glastonbury, CT and you can check out her business Body and Beyond here.

Another little magical being that deserves some love is the amazing Tori Cummings. Though we haven’t sat in circle, we’ve shared our healing with each other in many ways. Her yoga classes are so inspiring beyond just the physical and I use her hand and heart crafted wellness products every single day. Her drive and focus is so inspiring and empowering. She’s in her early twenties and already runs multiple business and is opening a wellness hub and yoga studio in North Brookfield, MA in January. Watching you grow is an honor love bug!

Check out her company Little Lotus Trading Co. and buy some lip balm. Seriously, its the best lip balm on the planet. I’m partial to the lavender flavor.

Some other notable souls that have helped me along the way are Kurt and Deborah Ravenwood. Thank you for believing in me and sharing your lovely home and work space. Deborah’s Emotional Archaeology, flower essences and book Silence were all inspiring, as well as her honesty and healthy boundaries. I can’t thank Kurt enough for all his help in various gardens, building my van and knowing the perfect time to invite me to Magdalene Circle. Thank you to everyone that attends Magdalene Circle at Ravenwood, especially Gloria Amendola for facilitating and creating such a beautiful space to exchange knowledge and healing. Thank you to Lisa Burch for inviting me to create amazing sound meditations with you and unlock more of my vocal healing abilities. And thank you Brittany Martin for being one of my first friends I could talk to about these topics without feeling crazy and for inspiring me to sing again. Singing this song with you was one of my favorite performances.

Thank you to the Occupy Movement, because if I hadn’t joined the Hartford branch, I would not have met any of the above people. Though none of the lovely people mentioned above were involved, the people I met there put me on this path, such as Diane, who is basically the Matriarch of my coven, and Debra who invited me to Pagan Discussions and to join my first coven.

Thank you to old friends and loves that “came into my life for a reason, bringing something we must learn”. Even if we no longer speak, “because I knew you, I have been changed for good.”

And last, but not least, I need to give a big shout out to the man that's chosen to walk (and drive his van) beside me, Adrian. “Because I’ve known you” I’ve grown so much. Seeing the reflection of myself in your eyes, witnessing the strength, stoicism and conviction you carry, and supporting each other’s dreams has made this relationship so impactful, important and inspiring. I can’t wait to see how we continue to grow together. Finding someone with all my “matching hashtags” has been a dream come true, my vegan, spiritual, van dwelling, Gemini, yogi!

“So much of me
Is made of what I learned from you.
You'll be with me
Like a handprint on my heart.
And now whatever way our stories end,
I know you have re-written mine
By being my friend.”