The Cold Moon in Cancer

Astrology by Lisa Stardust

December 29th brings the last Full Moon of 2020 in the sign of tender Cancer. This luminary will bring a big emotional ending to 2020, by clearing up and releasing matters that haven’t been addressed throughout the year. The Cancer Full Moon is an important time for releasing and letting go of all of the negativity from 2020 (which as we all know is much needed) as we enter 2021. 

Being that this Full Moon will occur in Cancer, we can expect repressed feelings to come to the surface which will push the floodgates open. Add in “Great Awakener” Uranus and healing centaur Chiron (“the wounded healer, who ironically could not heal himself”). 

We will be forced to see things that we hadn’t before (all of which we didn’t see coming). This eye opening Full Moon will urge us to reflect about what we are giving to others versus what they’re giving to us. There will be a lot of tears. Keep in mind that crying is actually good for the body and soul. It releases pent up anxieties and frustrations, as well as endorphins and oxytocin (feel good chemicals in our bodies). Therefore, it’s important to unlock your feelings and let all of your emotions flow out. 

The Full Moon will push us outside of our comfort zones. It’s important to take care of oneself during this luminary. A soothing and healing bath will help us feel better about our situations and relationships. Also, give us more self-love — which is what we need right now. 

*The Cold Full Moon occurs on December 29th at 7:28PM PDT and 10:28PM EDT. 

Full Moon Ritual: 

Ingredients:

½-1 Cup of Dried or Fresh Rose Petals

½-1 Cup of Lemon Verbena or Lemon Peel 

½-1 Cup of Epsom Salt 

¼ Cup of Milk 

3 Cups of Water 

Directions:

Place all ingredients in a mixing bowl. Bring water to a boil in a pot. Let the water cool and then drain all the ingredients out. Dispose of them. Add the milk in the cool water. Use the water in a bath or pour over your body from the shoulders down in a shower. 

The Realms of Truth and the Strawberry Full Moon in Sagittarius

By: Lisa Stardust

The Strawberry Full Moon, occurring June 17th, offers us a time to connect to our inner truths on a deep level. The past and upcoming week’s cosmic energy is intense. During this luminary, we will have a momentary reprieve from the confusion and power struggles that have been permeating our auric fields and allow ourselves to evolve our thoughts.

The Sagittarius Moon will align with the asteroid Ixion (who rules over futurity) and softly connects with passionate asteroid Eris. Fair minded Juno and lovelorn Sedna (two other asteroids) will both form a frustrating aspect with the Moon. All together,  this means that we will be cosmically tasked to assert our will and fight for our dreams—no matter what obstacles stand in our way. The only caveat, is that Neptune, who is extremely active in the sky, may create confusion around what our truest visions are. This also can mean self-deceit, which may create inner conflict, as we are not being honest with ourselves. However, there’s hope for us to reach our most idealized potential.

The degree of the Full Moon sits on the Galactic Center, which will help us understand and manifest our innermost desires. The Galactic Center falls in the middle of the entrance to the Milky Way. Sagittarius, who is the protector of our galaxy, stands on all fours at this celestial point with a bow and arrow ready to shoot at any given moment. As the defender of the galaxy, Sagittarius is touted as the high minded philosopher known to understand all worldly truths. This is because it’s important for the armed sign to know when and how to sling its arrows. The Galactic Center is a degree and place of insight. It’s the transmitter of “Divine Consciousness.” It’s a place of freedom. It’s where our hearts soar and where we can be the purest form of ourselves, with no restrictions and judgements.

Under the Strawberry Full Moon, in the sign of honorable Sagittarius, we will use smoke scrying to connect with the “other” world and find our inner truths. We will be able to decipher and clarify what we want as individuals. Only then, can we fight for our dreams.

*The Full Moon occurs June 17th at 1:30AM PST and 4:30AM EST.

Directions for Smoke Scrying

• Meditate on your goal or intention.

• Take a smudge stick and light it.

•  Place in a bowl or cauldron.

•  Let the smudge stick burn.

•  Follow the smoke with your eyes as it fills the air.

•  Watch the smoke dance in the air and its shadows on the wall.

•  Make note in a  journal about the messages are receiving messages from spirits.

•  Interpret the images once you receive them from the universe.

•  Use the images to help understand your truest intention and objectives to manifest under the Full Moon.

Divining Through Disaster

 Photography by: Maimouna Guerresi

Written by Jaliessa Sipress

Recently, a lot of people’s realities have been turned upside-down; whether through “natural” or man-made disaster or through events that blur the line in-between. Disaster is something most of us live under the threat of everyday. It bubbles underneath our feet and seethes under our skin. It is what keeps us up at night and often impacts our day-to-day decisions. Its intensity and presence ebb and flow but the threat will always remain. Turmoil in this world is consistent but when the building pressure peaks, people start to panic, and they begin to forget.

As witches, misfortune is a part of our lineage. The fear, pain and suffering of those around us prescribed as side effects of us being privy to our own power. Our aptitude to tap into our natural abilities and form deep connections with our bodies, the bodies around us and the body of the earth are all things that make us dangerous because these acts can never fall under anyone else’s dominion. We listen and flow with the earth and her shifts and changes. We practice remembrance and manifestation in accordance with her seasons. We understand that we are of her and can harness her power and this is why we are feared. But the earth is a witch, too. She casts spells of beauty, love and abundance and she, too, is targeted for being angry and vengeful when she tries to heal herself. And this is why we must carry on. This is why we must acknowledge the power of the witch, the strength in our audacity to be our own temples and our own healers. Our abilities to make altars out of debris and never be without our magic because it lies within us.

To divine through disaster is to not ignore it. A lot of the craft is centered in the simple act of noticing. We watch and wait and participate in the art of divine timing. We are here to nurture the collapse of all that ails us, to live in harmony with our fear and loss. We must remember that our ancestors birthed our path to freedom and it is our duty to lead the way for others. Witches work is the work of the people. It is the work we do to stabilize and satiate and educate and support those who have forgotten the power within them.

During times of turmoil, it is our duty to remember and share our knowledge of how to work and heal with water, soil and ash. We must pass on ways to regenerate with what remains when human inventions fail. We are the ones who have to figure out why the world is still turning and we must take note of where our magic fits into the maddeness. We have to keep fighting, casting and believing the way we have been but with steadier consistency and ferocious fervor. Witches have to hold it down. It is our job to lead the way, to teach others how light comes from darkness and to hold onto our beliefs and our beloveds until the walls fall down around us.

Photography By  Photo credit: Maimouna Guerresi