WITCH TIPS AND HORROR-SCOPES 10-31- 11-06/2018

WITCH TIPS

Written by Jessica Lanyadoo

Happy Halloween to everyone who celebrates! Feliz Día de los Muertos! To honor the dead is to honor life. Whatever you celebrate, this powerful time is a reminder to honor the Spirit world and those who have passed on – and to do so with respect, intention, and a loving heart.

On the 31st Venus retrograde will form an opposition to Uranus, setting the stage for social and romantic upsets and surprises. Around this date, try to have experiences with others for the sake of adventure and joy. The only thing you can count on under the influence of this event is that you can’t count on much. Relate to others without attachment, and if you can’t do that, be self-protective about how you relate at all. What you feel, learn, and even what you yearn for are all opportunities to better understand yourself. This is a moment that calls for you to investigate your values and whether or not your choices reflect them.

On the 5th the Sun will form a harmonious trine to idealistic Neptune. Pay close attention to your dreams around this date, and do something kind for others. This transit can increase your empathy or simply be a time for daydreaming. Do something that is bigger than you. Smile at a stranger. Take a play from the imitable Rachel Cargle and send $5-10 to a friend, and tell them how proud you are of them. Or, just get involved in something that you believe in and that will help the world at large.

Finally, on the 6th Uranus retrogrades back into Aries, where it will stay until March 2019. This is its last round in the sign of the individual and the perfect time to reflect on who you’re choosing to be. If you’re not living authentically, this can be a time of upsets as you have to feel the brunt of those compromises. Be weary of self-righteousness or defensive power plays; own your choices or change them up. You are entitled to act any kind of way, but you are not free from consequences. Freedom isn’t free; it comes with responsibility to yourself and to the larger world around you. You are free to bow out of society, ghost on your friends, or be a pushy jerk, but you’re not free from the impact that makes on others and thereby you.

Astrology teaches the interconnectedness of all people and things, as well as intentions. What you do, even in the private space of your own mind, is connected to your ancestors and to generations to come. When your individuality is expressed at the expense of the community, things tend to get complicated. Uranus governs rebellious, radical, and progressive energies, and Aries is a very me-first sign. Find your voice in the upheaval of the world, in efforts to make it a better place.

PS:

It’s election day in the USA on November 6th : VOTE VOTE VOTE! 🖤

ARIES

March 21-April 19

The reality is that you’re scared, and that fear doesn’t breed productivity or inspiration. Find your light, Aries. Instead of fixating on how much is in front of you, look up and concentrate on your calling or ability to do something about it. Align yourself with a motivating factor, and stay lit up by it. If you must act, direct your efforts toward creating something of value instead of running in circles. Strive to make a difference, this week.

TAURUS

April 20-May 20

Things are changing pretty quickly this week, and while it’s not bad, we all know you don’t love change. You may be overwhelmed by uncertainty, but don’t assume the worst, dear Taurus. You have the tools and resources to make the most of the situation you find yourself in, but it’s on you to remember to use them. Make choices that reflect your truth, not your scarcity issues; don’t let upsets inspire you to miss out on opportunity, my love.

GEMINI

May 21-June 21

If you allow yourself to act out of impulse, you’re unlikely to like what you get. Instead of rushing change, tolerate the feelings that come up for you about where you’re at and what it’ll cost you to get where you wanna be, Twin Star. This week will present you with all kinds of choices, and the only thing that’s for sure is that you have to change. Determining what is or isn't an improvement requires sitting with things. Whether or not you commit to doing that is up to you.

CANCER

June 22-July 22

There’s a bigger picture that you can’t see just yet, but it’s out there, Moonchild. You may find yourself getting caught up in power struggles or having to make concessions that you’d really rather not have to make. Don’t worry so much. If you’re acting in concert with your values and beliefs, you may not love what happens in the short term, but you’ll be pointing yourself in the right direction for the long-term. Believe in yourself, my love.

LEO

July 23-Aug. 22

If you don’t have to fight, don’t do it, Leo. there’s chaotic energy all around you, and if you match it with your own intense energies, you’ll only add fuel to the fire. This week is going to test your ability to stand your ground when you’d rather pop off. It'll be well worth your effort. Let others reveal themselves to you, and really listen to what their actions say about who they truly are. Don’t be in such a rush to direct things that you miss out on the basics.

VIRGO

Aug. 23-Sept. 22

If you’ve been running yourself ragged, this week it’s time to reign it in, Virgo. When you’re over-stimulated, you tend to react with more criticism and less clarity, so remember to breathe, dear one. You need to make some clear-headed decisions now, and you'll find that other’s are invested in what you do – for better or for worse. Clarify what you need so that you can determine the difference between a good opportunity on paper versus a good opportunity for you.

LIBRA

Sept. 23-Oct. 22

When the people around you are going through it, it can be hard to know how to best show up. Embody empathy instead of pity, compassion instead of servitude. This week will test your ability to show up in a way that helps. This may require that you put your judgments or your needs to the side for a minute. Give only what you can in a healthy way, Libra. Show up authentically, and know that just the act of being there is often what’s truly needed.

SCORPIO

Oct. 23-Nov. 21

There’s no rush, dear Scorpio. So much is changing within and around you that you may be feeling restless and eager to shake things up. Be weary of the impulses that tell you it’s now or never, or that it's your way or no way at all. Compromise isn’t a weakening of your position. When it’s done with integrity, it’s a testament to your strength. Find approaches that support you and the world around you this week.

SAGITTARIUS

Nov. 22-Dec. 21

You can do it all, but you can’t do it all at once, Sagittarius. This week your enthusiasm and your energy level are not quite on par with each other. It’s OK to have vision and inspiration and to also pace yourself in how you execute your plans. It’s hard to know how to pace yourself; go to slow and that feels like a risk, and if you move too fast, you’ll feel overwhelmed - either way you have risk. What’s most important now is that you’re clear, not that you're there first, my love.

CAPRICORN

Dec. 22-Jan. 19

It’s fantastic to be driven by a sense of purpose, but inevitably, on any path uncertainty is something you must deal with. Don’t throw out the baby with the bathwater, Capricorn. This week may find you wrestling with curve balls or simply questioning yourself. Stay true to your sense of self, and if you don’t know quite what that means, take a step back from being so industrious and investigate it. Getting right with yourself isn’t a detour; it’s a shortcut.

AQUARIUS

Jan. 20-Feb. 18

Growth and change, even when they yield improvements, are upsetting as they destabilize the status quo in your life. This week is likely to shake things up, and though it may be a bit uncomfortable, it’s absolutely not bad, Aquarius. Make it your goal to better understand your resistance to change. Some of the feels that are coming up for you may not make perfect sense in your situation, and that’s OK. Sometimes you need to go through it to get to it, my love.

PISCES

Feb. 19-March 20

There’s a fine lie between being busy and feeling like you’re drowning in it. Look at your commitments, and be honest about what you’re actually locked into, and where there’s flexibility. There needs to be a reshuffling of your day-to-day life, and that’s much harder to do when you're overwhelmed. You have a right to determine your limits and manage your time; it’s your job to exercise it, dear Pisces.

WITCH TIPS AND HOROSCOPES 10.17-23.2018

Written by Jessica Lanyadoo

We are living through a time in which we will either be transformed by acts of kindness, empathy, and unity, or we will succumb to the worst elements of society: fear, blame, and punishment. The transit of both Saturn and Pluto in Capricorn (until mid 2020) marks a turning point in humanity, and here’s a consistent component to every downturn in human history: fear. Fear of others, fear of survival, fear of judgment, and fear of difference. The only pragmatic way to battle this is by working together for a common goal, to commit to embodying our humanity, especially when scared or triggered. When we feel down, we can get stuck in paralysis, or worse, it can transform us into petty tyrants who feel entitled to everything because nothing feels good.

Don’t be that person. Don’t sink to the lowest level. If life is a game of rock, paper, scissors, rock doesn’t beat rock. In other words, cruelty doesn’t beat cruelty. Judgment doesn’t beat judgment.

 Venus is still Retrograde (October 5th-November 16th, 2018), and this means we're at a particular stage in our journey where we’re meant to look at our values, women’s rights and place in society, money, gender, and of course, love.

This week we move into the sultriest season of the year – Scorpio season! On the 23rd, the Sun moves into Scorpio and instantly forms an opposition to explosive Uranus. This means that you can expect the unexpected around this date and that the energy you experience around this date will inform what’s to come this Scorpio Season. You may feel a tension between what you want and what you possess, or you may have a conflict between the various things you're willing to do for your desires. This transit brings about excitement, distraction, and innovation, and it heightens your restlessness and impulses. If you’re prone to irritability, you may feel extra annoyed, and if so, you’re probably bumping up against limitations. This is a good time to explore the concept of freedom in your life and to make the space to be true to yourself – at least in your thinking.

When we unpack all of the details, the planets' placements distill down to this: it’s time to practice kindness in your thinking, words, and actions. Notice when you’re being a jerk to yourself by minimizing or dramatizing your situation (they’re pretty much heads/tails of the same problem). Understand that your relationship to yourself is the foundation upon which you build everything and all that you do. Be patient as you learn new things about yourself, the world, and your role in it. This is the time to take responsibility for what you obsess on and to strive to keep it constructive.

When you feel anxious, gratitude is the key. It aligns you with what you have, and the attention you affix to your abundance is what makes your life more bountiful. This allows you to be generous with yourself and others, to actively support the world around you in small or big ways.

Don’t recoil from discomfort; it’s a teacher that you have much to learn from. Your life is so deeply valuable, and you make a difference. Treat the present like the gift that it is. Honor it today, try again tomorrow, and repeat.

ARIES

March 21-April 19

The role that fear plays in your life is really important, sweet Aries. Find ways of respecting your fears without indulging them and making them worse this week. Allow space for what you don’t know to unfold, and try to parse out what feels bad from what is actually bad for you. Here’s some homework for you: ask for help when you need it, take breaks to check in with yourself, and no catastrophizing! Strive to manage your feels with patience and strength.

TAURUS

April 20-May 20

When you’ve accepted too much mixed input, it can lead you to feel confused, demoralized, and unsure of what to do with yourself. This week calls for patience, Taurus. It’s unclear what’s coming for you, and you may even be forming a new understanding of past events. When the past and the future are both out of your hands, all you have is the present. Put all of your self-care tools to work, and strive to do your best in the here and now, my love.

GEMINI

May 21-June 21

The ego needs balance. When you feel good about yourself, it’s easier to be clear about your aims, to direct yourself in a way that works, and even to be responsive to the world around you. When you feel utterly down on yourself, you can get stuck in inactivity, or worse, act out of integrity because of how bad you feel. Seek balance so that you don’t find yourself needing to work off an ego hangover. Transform that ego into a friend you can rely on this week.

CANCER

June 22-July 22

Make it your mission to find evidence of your own strength, Moonchild. You are a force to be reckoned with! This week it’s time to stop comparing yourself to others, to where you want to be, or to where you once were, and it's time to embrace the person that you are in the here and now. It’s only by embracing this moment and your place in it that you can determine which are the healthiest boundaries. This will in turn free you up to do what you’re meant to do.

LEO

July 23-Aug. 22

When you can’t figure things out, it’s often a sign to slow down. The path to growth and expansion sometimes involves retraction. In order to have the life you want to live, you have to first strive to become the person you want to be. This week is about that striving. Don’t look so far outside of yourself that you miss out on the most simple and impactful source of change – you. Gather your strength, and with it will come your sense of purpose, Leo.

VIRGO

Aug. 23-Sept. 22

Open up and let go, Virgo. There’s no stopping progress, and that’s as it should be, even if it doesn’t feel like it. This week will challenge you to become the person that you want to be, but the weight and stories of the past will try to keep you as you were. Be sincere, Virgo. Even if things move slower or in a more circuitous way than you’d prefer, this is the time to be present and to focus on your efforts and not fixate on the outcome.

LIBRA

Sept. 23-Oct. 22

When you hurt or your heart is heavy, it’s easy to lash out, shut down, or generally be out of sorts in how you relate to yourself and others. This week your job is to practice kindness and empathy. Go beyond the surface of your situation, and embody the openness and support that you believe everyone deserves to be afforded. You need to let go of something, but you don’t need to do it today. Be patient with your process, Libra.

 

SCORPIO

Oct. 23-Nov. 21

There’s no way to grow without outgrowing some things, Scorpio. As you expand into the person you mean to be, there are inevitably people, attitudes, and attachments that you will have to shed. This week is likely to bring you the chance to put into practice some wisdom you’ve earned, but it may come at some personal cost. Do what’s right, even when it’s scary, my love. You can’t lose anything of value when you’re following your truth.

SAGITTARIUS

Nov. 22-Dec. 21

FOMOS is real, but it won’t help you get very far in life. Try to not get so turned around that you lose track of what you care about and why, sweet Sagittarius. This week will present you with choices, and if you aren’t clear about your motivations, you may get overwhelmed and not know which shiny thing to chase. Stay true to your heart. Align yourself with what brings you joy and does the most good, and you won’t miss out on anything that you need.

CAPRICORN

Dec. 22-Jan. 19

Abundance isn’t about having lots of things. To have true abundance, you need to actually feel it. When you focus on what you might lose, it’s almost like you never truly have a thing. Look around your life, Cappy, and consider the bounty that you have. Be grateful for your health, the love, your possessions, or whatever you value. Next, align yourself with the knowledge that you can improve those things over time. Enjoy what you have in this moment, my love.

AQUARIUS

Jan. 20-Feb. 18

You don’t need to know what comes next, or why that thing happened yesterday; the story may be compelling, but it’s not as important as how you choose to respond to it all, Aquarius. If you can move away from thinking that things have to happen tit for tat, you can actually be more efficient with how you use your energy. You determine your actions, and you decide how you to engage with your obsessions and your dreams. Don’t look for blame, look within.

 

PISCES

Feb. 19-March 20

If you’ve been burning yourself out lately, it’s on you to name your limits and enforce them. Stop waiting for others to agree with you or see things from your vantage point. It’s OK to go your own way, even if that means walking alone for some time. You have agency, and this is the time to use it; deal head-on with your fears and hopes, both for your life and for the world around you, Pisces.

XO

MUST BE THE SEASON OF THE WITCH: MABON BLESSINGS

The theme for Mabon and the Autumn equinox is "Giving Thanks". Mabon is the Witch's Thanksgiving, this is a time where the Sun's path crosses over the equator, traveling south. We now celebrate the darkness as the whole world honors equal night and day. The summer is gone. This was the time when the ancients and our ancestors gathered fruits and vegetables from the gardenin preparation for the winter. this is a time to give away what welonger need. We now must reap what we have sown from the spring equinox. Many people find this to be the perfect time for storing their own fruits and vegetables by canning, pickling, and other storing methods . With the fall comes cooler, crisp air and the dulling of colors. Everything is now turning with the season, there is a restlessness in the air and the harvest moon is round and almost wheat colored, glowing from the sun.

The flaming color of the leaves is a reminder that life burns most intensely just before it dies. Mabon is the time where we can reflect and remember those friends and relatives who may have died in the past year,as we watch the falling leaves. We give thanks for the abundance in our lives, as the sun is about to enter Libra, the cardinal air sign of balance.

"We celebrate the time of lengthening darkness when the night equals the day by putting to rest all the activities of the summer." R. Barrett

Autumn Altar:

Now is the time for rest and relaxation, celebrate the Sabbat (sabbat means "to rest")  by creating your own autumn altar in grapevines, gourds, cornucopias, and brightly colored fallen leaves.

• Candles: Brown = Stability, Focus, grounding

• Orange= Vitality, Energy

• Yellow= Warmth, Friendship, Creativity

• Feathers

• Stones: Smoky quartz, Bloodstone, Carnelian, Quartz, Garnet

RITUAL 

Most modern witches celebrate the Sabbats on the exact dates to align themselves with the powerful symbolic and astrological energies that are inherent in each event. However, for others that are juggling jobs and families it means that they may need to plan their festivities within a few days as a matter of convenience. But on the day of the Sabbat it's important to take just a moments out of your busy schedule to honor Mother Earth.  Spend time meditating on what you have accomplished in the past months, and write out a list of all you have to be thankful for. Gratitude is powerful medicine! keep your list posted where you can see, just in case you start feeling "Grinchy" as the coming winter months begin.

JOURNAL EXERCISE: 

Some season questions to ask yourself during the Autumn Equinox: 

• What is your personal harvest and what have your brought into manifestation this year?

• How can you honor the Earth that sustains us all? 

"At Sunset say farewell to the powers of the sun. Give Thanks and praise for the heat and light that helped the crops grow and nurtured your body. Think of all you have nurtured since spring. Name what you brought to fruition by the workings of your hands and the blessings of the Goddess. Appreciate what you have and celebrate having tasted the fruits of your labors by dancing, naming, eating, your personal harvest. Let yourself really have it!" - R. Barrett, Dianic High Priestess

Tea of Dreams for The Harvest Moon

image sourced via pintrest

Written by Lisa Stardust

 The Harvest Moon is a celebration of past efforts, serving as the culmination of the past year, as it’s time to pick crops for the new season. Falling close to the Autumnal Equinox, the Harvest Moon is the first Full Moon of the season, creating abundance, as we reap the benefits of our past efforts. Change is in the crisp autumn air, as we honor Mother Earth for her laborious work in cultivating fruits, grains, and vegetables for all living beings. 

With the Moon in the sign of fiery Aries, we must consider our innermost passions during this luminary, focusing on implementing change and growth for the new season. The Harvest Moon awakens our dreams and inspirations, forcing us to let go of past fears and move towards individuality. Luna serves to wake us up, as a response to the ever-changing world, the spark to initiate the new version of the past vision, allowing us to plan the future. 

Before moving forward, enjoy the fruits of your past labors during the Harvest Moon, by ingesting power and magic, as you become one with your intentions. Enjoy a spicy tea blend which will awaken your senses and exhilarate your mind, as you manifest your seasonal goals. Use Pepper and Ginger to ignite the passion of Mars (the planetary ruler of Aries), Cloves to purify and cleanse, Pumpkin Seeds and Mandarin Peels for abundance, and Tea Leaves for courage, under the orange glow of the Harvest Moon. 

*The Harvest Moon occurs September 24th at 7:53PM PST and 10:53PM EST. 

Ingredients: 

-Mixing Bowl 

-3 Peppercorns 

-1/2 Teaspoon of Ginger Powder, or Ground Ginger 

-1/2 Teaspoon of Pumpkin Seeds 

-3 Cloves 

-Mandarin or Orange Skins, using only 1 small zest from the skin of the fruit 

-1 Teaspoon of Green or Black Tea Leaves 

-Teapot 

-Tea Strainer 

-Tea Cup or Mug 

Directions to Make Tea: 

-Take a mixing bowl and blend all the spices together in bowl. As you add each ingredient, think of your desires. While mixing in pepper and ginger, think of your passions. As you add the cloves, envision what you wish to release under this Full Moon. While adding the pumpkin seeds and mandarin (or oranges) speak aloud what you want to grow. Finally, while mixing in the tea leaves, close your eyes and give yourself the courage to implement your intentions and to manifest your visions. 

-Grind all ingredients together in mixing bowl. 

-Bring water to a boil in teapot. 

-Pour water over strainer in tea cup, giving life to your dreams. 

-Steep tea for 2-4 minutes, depending on taste and desired potency. 

-Drink the tea, feeling the fire ignite your soul, as the warmth fills your stomach, giving you the energy to manifest your new seasonal dreams.

WITCH TIPS + HOROSCOPES 09.19-25.2018

Written by Jessica Lanyadoo

There’s so much going on this week. We move into Libra season on the 22nd, and we have a pivotal Full Moon in Aries on the 24th. Even though we’re moving into a Venusian season, this week is marked by the heavy hand of Saturn. This is an excellent time to own how far you’ve come and to take stock of the work still in front of you. Mars also plays a big part in this week’s forecast. 

This Libra Season comes with its challenges as heirarchical Saturn and demanding Pluto sit in literalist Capricorn. Pay attention to the space between what you wish was and what in fact is. Don’t rely on aesthetics to make your life thrive. You may have to bring a greater level of diplomacy the difficulties that you’re facing, and a good way to start is by listening at least as much as you speak. Around the 23rd Mercury forms a challenging square to Saturn, and that can lead to some pretty pessimistic thinking. The trick is to refine and edit rather than judge and condemn. Have patience for your process and for other people’s processes. Relationships may be hard to deal with around this date, but luckily, on that same date, Mercury is also forming a harmonious trine to Mars, which will help you to bear whatever difficulty you encounter. The challenge here is to prevent your ego from convincing you that there’s only right and wrong. Learning, growing, and building your life are all parts of a process, and that process will have it’s ups and downs. Don't get so caught up in your learning curve that you miss out on what the lesson is. 

On the 24th we have a complicated Full Moon at 2 degrees of Aries, also called a Harvest Moon. This will bring things to a head as you’re likely to be confronted with some very real-life consequences within your relationships. While you may have to confront what isn’t working, don’t lament it. You can only cope with what you’re willing to acknowledge, and this is the time to do just that. Unpack the past so that you can plant anew for the future – you're well-informed by where you’ve come from. Take responsibility for your part; what you choose to do and what you consent to participating in is of the utmost importance now. Because the Sun and Moon will both be 

forming a square to Saturn, there may be a depressive element to this Full Moon. Be honest about what you’re scared of, and be kind, my loves. Saturn can incline us to be hard on ourselves and others, so in the warm words of Ottis Redding, “try a little tenderness.” Luckily, Mars is forming a dynamic sextile to the Moon and a trine to the Sun as well. This will add a warm kick in the butt, as it will generate a sense of resiliency. Be an agent for change, and take control of your life, one good choice at a time. 

ARIES 

March 21-April 19 

The Full Moon in your sign on the 24th marks a powerful shift for you, and what exactly that means is kinda up to you. If you're only open to things going one way – your way – you’re likely to be pretty frustrated about now. If you struggle against the reality of your situation, you’re not going to get very far this week. Try to be interested in why you’re fighting and if it’s working. You get to be however you want to be, but that doesn’t mean you’re free from consequences, dear Aries. 

TAURUS 

April 20-May 20 

There is no force more generative and useful than love, Taurus. You have been growing and changing, and within that, your relationships are likely to be changing too. Instead of seeking stability, seek wholeness. Instead of holding on to the situations that brought you here, be willing to step into new dynamics and have new experiences. The only constant in life is change; make the best possible choices within your current circumstances this week. 

GEMINI 

May 21-June 21 

You’re making connections that can bring you far, but it’s important that you sit with your ideas before you run with them. Anything worth doing is worth doing right. This week you may be presented with the opportunity to do something that feels good in the moment, but is only maybe good for you short-term. The best way to evaluate opportunity is by knowing what your goals and values are. Define the latter, and you’ll have no trouble clarifying the former, Twin Star. 

CANCER

June 22-July 22

It’s OK to disagree with others, and even to disappoint them, but you need to be prepared for their hurt feels. It can be hard to tolerate that others are suffering when you feel wronged or see things totally differently than they do. This week will test your empathy and your boundaries. Everyone deserves the space to have their own perspective; make room for others to have their own experience, even if it contradicts yours. Difference doesn’t have to diminish you, my love.

LEO 

July 23-Aug. 22 

What you do has consequences, Leo. Your intentions are of course meaningful, but what you actually do in the end is what you’re on the hook for. Take stock of your life this week, and make sure that your actions are compatible with your goals. If you have you been indulging your impulses in ways that don’t actually serve you, you’re likely to have to deal with that this week. Listen to others, and show up with humility in your relationships, my love. 

VIRGO 

Aug. 23-Sept. 22 

You don’t need a hero. You don’t need perfection, or answers, or to have it all. You need you. You need to stand by yourself when you’re freaking out. You need to try to make choices that you believe in, to be flexible when you get new information. You need to be okay with failing at some of the things, some of the time. All you need is to be a good, reliable resource to yourself. Life, success, wellness – all of those things organically emerge from a solid friendship with yourself. 

LIBRA 

Sept. 23-Oct. 22 

It’s hard to have perspective when you’re holding things too tightly to your chest, Libra. You may have to deal with anxiety or low self-esteem this week. Fear is compelling; it tells you that it is keeping you safe and alerting you to danger. This week, you’re likely to be full of feels but not necessarily clear about what they mean. Don’t 

take things at face value; try to decipher what you’re scared of and the story you tell yourself about those fears, my love. 

SCORPIO 

Oct. 23-Nov. 21 

You don’t have to know what you want; you don’t even have to know where you’re going. What you do need is to be interested in finding out the answers. Be open to new questions and unexpected solutions. Seeking is a process that takes you down unknown pathways. You'll be asked to put down your expectations so your arms can be open wide to what you find. You haven’t been here before; be open to exploring, even if it feels vulnerable, Scorpio. 

SAGITTARIUS 

Nov. 22-Dec. 21 

Emotions are high this week, and it might make you feel a little extra jumpy. In your discomfort you may want to do something impulsive in efforts to move things along, but it’s unwise. Sit with your feels, Sagittarius. How you manage fear, uncertainty, and vulnerability are important parts of your humanity. Strive to better understand yourself and your reactions. Find new and better ways of engaging when you’d rather distract or disengage my love. 

CAPRICORN 

Dec. 22-Jan. 19 

It’s easier to talk about fearing failure than it is to be open about your fear of success. If we’re being honest, the more you have, the more you have to lose. The more you want it, the more vulnerable it feels to not have it yet. Try not to recoil from your most complicated or nonsensical feelings about your progress this week, Capricorn. Own your messy parts so that you can find ways of transmuting their powers into energy that fuels you. 

AQUARIUS 

Jan. 20-Feb. 18 

A life lived without turmoil is boring, but living life inside the eye of a hurricane isn’t sustainable either. Mind the madness that you’re willing to interact with this week, Aquarius. Some of it you have very little control over, but much of it you do. What other people think, do, or feel is not necessarily your business. Curb your obsessive thinking and any kind of compulsive distractions that capture your attention, and focus on the change you want to build in your life. 

PISCES 

Feb. 19-March 20 

Following your heart, having excellent boundaries, doing the right thing in a given situation – all of those things are good for you to do; they align you with your own integrity, and they keep your side of the road clean. What they don’t do is assure you of any particular outcome. Make sure that you’re not acting in conditional ways (consciously or unconsciously) and setting yourself up for resentments. Do only what you can do without bitterness, precious Pisces.

WITCHTIPS & HOROSCOPES 9-12~9-18/2018

Written by Jessica Lanyadoo

This is a week for change, growth, and the unexpected. Don’t jump to conclusions or rush to complete matters that are still developing.

On the 12TH Venus will form a disruptive opposition to rule-breaking Uranus and a creative sextile to law-building Saturn. The potential here for growth (positively) or distraction (negatively) is huge. This combination can inspire you to expand beyond self-imposed limitations or even the limitations of your circumstances. Think about new ways of relating to the people and things that you value. Venus governs your finances and relationships, so especially look at those areas of your life for both surprises and innovative solutions. You will be able to create new structures that better serve you, but none of this will happen on its own. The key here is not to get caught off guard (by the upsets that Uranus will inevitably bring) and lose sight of the bigger picture. You’ll have the chance to see things differently or to obsess on how others are seeing things. Choose wisely.

From the 12th-17th, Mercury will first oppose Neptune, then trine Pluto and sextile Jupiter, and friends, that’s a whole lot of Mercury. The best-case scenario here is that you find new, more effective ways of coping with anxiety, indecision, and uncertainty. This will require you to stay with your unpleasant feels when they come up and to earnestly seek new responses. The risk, however, is that you hit a wall of anxiety and then create a story about it. Watch out for reactive feelings that you confuse for reliable information. No matter how intuitive you are, this week is likely to muddy the waters a bit. Slow down, reflect on your intentions, and evaluate your instincts, feelings, and cold hard facts. This will help you to fortify your insights and make use of your logic; most of us are more fluent in one form of processing than the other, so if you think of this period as your chance to strengthen your internal resources, you’ll get the most from it.

Finally, on the 18th ambitious Mars will form a challenging square to freedom-obsessed Uranus. The energy around this date is going to be frenetic, as both of these planets are individualistic, impulsive, and quick to fight. In fact, you’re more likely to be irritable or

agitated as restrictions chafe and people with power trigger you. Life is not an ad for Las Vegas. What you do now can’t be undone and will not stay confined. What you do now will either create more freedom or create more problems, so tread lightly, my loves.

The theme for you to grapple with this week is intention. You don’t need to know all the details or feel at ease all the time, but you do need some clarity of intent. Find the goals that motivate you – to be kind, to be at peace in your own skin, to make a certain dollar amount, whatever – and orient your actions to reflect them. Practice being present with your thoughts and feelings as they race in circles, but don't chase them down dead-end rabbit holes or self-destructive alleyways.

ARIES

March 21-April 19

You’re ready to make it happen, Aries, but the trick is to pace yourself. Your inner voice is trying to get your attention, but intuition doesn’t necessarily come with an instruction manual. Slow down, get centered, and remember why you set out to do what you’re doing. You’re capable, and you’ve even got the inspiration. Strive to cultivate the kind of abundance that you can share. Whether you’re up or you’re down, you don’t have to do it alone, my love.

TAURUS

April 20-May 20

It feels so good to have it all figured out, but all things change. You may be holding on to what worked for you last year (or even last week) when it clearly isn’t working for you anymore. Don’t worry so much over what you “should” do. All you need to concern yourself with is what’s true and real for you. Find your center, and sit with it, Taurus. You’re growing, and that is likely to kick off some earthquakes in your world. Pay attention to what’s shaking loose this week.

GEMINI

May 21-June 21

Without being emotionally centered, it’s hard to figure out where you’re going and how to get there. This week you’re meant to be in motion, but if you’re not moving towards a clear goal, how will you know what choices to make along the way? People and situations around you aren’t exactly stable right now, and that’s an opportunity. Prioritize finding what’s right for you and making changes that reflect that. You’re almost there, Twin Star.

CANCER

June 22-July 22

Sometimes you have to let go in order to hold on. This isn’t the time for making assumptions or being glib. Look carefully at yourself and the people around you. Pay attention to the gap between what you say and what you do, and then do the same when looking at others. No one is perfect and that’s okay, but a person’s intention means a lot. Tighten up your relationships by looking at the truth, even if that means acknowledging some uncomfortable stuff, Moonchild.

LEO

July 23-Aug. 22

Your patterns will follow you anywhere you go, so wherever you end up finding yourself time and again is on you. Your greatest challenge this week will be to avoid making decisions from an agitated place. Yes, you need change, and yes, it may need to be somewhat dramatic, but anything worth doing is worth doing right. Instead of making change to create new problems, strive to solve the old ones first. Find the potential for joy and then act to expand it, Leo.

VIRGO

Aug. 23-Sept. 22

The thing about trust is that it’s earned; over the course of time, you prove yourself to be reliable or not. When you don’t trust yourself, it’s really hard to move forward with any kind of confidence. This week it’s wise for you to look at your proven track record. If you have kept your word and protected yourself in the face of danger, it’s time to cultivate more faith. If you’ve abandoned yourself in your own times of need, then it’s time to get real and get to changing, sweet Virgo.

LIBRA

Sept. 23-Oct. 22

Your growth is in your own hands, Libra. You’re ready for change, but it’s important that you don’t push yourself to be somewhere that you’re not. Create your life from the inside out and not the other way around. In other words, identify your needs, adopt healthier boundaries, and follow through with your stated intent. If you can be reliable to yourself, it doesn’t matter what anyone else is doing. Step up and do you, my love.

SCORPIO

Oct. 23-Nov. 21

Sometimes your fears are useful, sometimes, not so much. If you indulge your knee-jerk reactions, you can’t extrapolate the wisdom from your worries, Scorpio. Take a moment to consider your patterns this week. Consider the times you were freaked out by things for no real reason, and other times that your fears turned out to be correct. Seek wisdom from your experiences with yourself, and build your confidence from there.

SAGITTARIUS

Nov. 22-Dec. 21

In real life most stories don’t have a tidy beginning, middle, and end. Our stories loop in surprising ways and directions, and there’s no point in trying to fight them. There is a bigger picture to what you’re going through, even if you can’t quite see it now. Feel your feels, take care of your here and now, and keep on moving, Sagittarius. You won’t get further by trying to tell yourself a tidy narrative about what you’re going through before it’s ready to be told.

CAPRICORN

Dec. 22-Jan. 19

Happiness – like fear or angst – is a fleeting emotion. When you seize upon your feelings, you’re not present; when you try to escape or hold on, you’re not in a state of flow. You can’t figure this out, Capricorn. It’s not your job to know what happens next or to be right all of the time. Retrain your vision inward this week. Where are you now? Try to stay with that. Take the steps

that are immediately in front of you, and let the future unfold in its own time.

AQUARIUS

Jan. 20-Feb. 18

When things are going your way, it’s easy to be magnanimous. It’s when you feel scared that the true test of your character emerges. Explore the limits of your generosity this week by giving freely of yourself, but only as much as you can give without resentments. If you’re expecting more compassion or support than you’re willing to offer, you’re in trouble, my love. Seek balance by adjusting either your expectations or your output this week.

PISCES

Feb. 19-March 20

You can’t please everyone, Pisces. This week notice how, before you check in with yourself, you try to accommodate others. Investigate the tension you create within yourself as you rush to tend to other people’s desires. Compromise is fantastic as long as you don’t have to abandon yourself to get there. Seek balance and patience as you navigate the space between your needs and the needs of others, my love.

WITCH TIPS + HOROSCOPES 09.05-11.2018

Photography by Philipe de Sablet

WITCH TIPS

Written By Jessica Lanyadoo

This week, there’s a changing of the guards as Mercury, Venus, and Mars move into new signs (on the 5th, 9th, and 10th respectively). These shifts can mark a time when things either get deeper and more fertile, or more spread out and chaotic. The mental energy of Mercury in Virgo and Mars in Aquarius drive us to find answers, while Venus in Scorpio seeks depth. The things you have control over are what you choose to give your attention to and the quality of your consideration. Try not to spread yourself too thin or to lose sight of the bigger picture, my love. Depending on your nature, the little things can be either a distraction or what you need to dedicate more attention to. When in doubt, seek balance.

Around the 7th, the Sun will sit opposite anxiety-provoking Neptune. This transit confronts us with what we don’t know, and because of that it can provoke anxiety, exhaustion, and demoralization. This isn’t a great time for seeking understanding, but it’s an excellent one for seeking beauty, empathy, and spirituality. The potential here is that you find grace instead of answers, but the danger is that your impatience or your feelings will generate so much unrest that you create mountains out of molehills. Remember to breathe, and that this – like all other transits – is a chance to grow and to heal. Bring your presence to the parts of yourself or your day that feel too hard to bear, and show them kindness. There are other days for commitments and answers. The 6th-8th is for reaffirming your relationship with yourself as a foundation for how you relate to the world around you and the people in it.

There's a New Moon in discerning Virgo on the 9th. This week marks a shift and an opening. This is an excellent time to redefine your relationship to your body in efforts to make it a healthier one.

Take a moment to look in the mirror (or if vision is an issue, replace all of this advice with feel/touch). Don’t look for marks on your skin or signs of perfection or imperfection. Be interested in your face. Really look at it, and really get to know it. This body is yours. BS beauty standards of the moment will inevitably pass out of fashion. What you look like is interesting, but in the grand scheme of your spiritual wellbeing, it doesn’t mean much. You are not your face, but your face is you. Be kind and supportive to it. Be interested in what you look like without criticism or judgment, and if that's hard to do, just have compassion for yourself. Make friends with your beauty and your ugliness. Embrace the skin you're in, my love.

ARIES

March 21-April 19

You can take on other people’s traumas and dramas, but that won’t help you or anyone else one bit. It is far more important to show up and be present than it is to try to fix things for others, dear Aries. This week your relationships are in a subtle but deeply important state of flux. How you proceed will lay the framework for what’s to come, so tread with compassion, not pity. Bear witness to your loved ones in a way that makes them feel seen, rather than making them feel like your project.

TAURUS

April 20-May 20

Are you a good friend to yourself? No matter how reliable your willpower is, even you have limits, Taurus. This week you’re likely to find that you’ve taken on more than you can handle in an emotionally present way. While that’s inevitable at least some of the time, it’s important that you respond sagely this week. Try your best to engage in healthy self-care habits so that even if what you really need is to check out, you can do it in ways that won’t create extra problems for you in the morning.

GEMINI

May 21-June 21

Everyone is going through it, and this makes it even harder for you to resist distractions. Things are changing, Twin Star, and it’s not clear in what way or where it’ll take you. You can hold on tight, totally let go, or try to ride the current, but it’s time to make a choice. This week’s New Moon is an especially fertile time for you to pick a lane. Align yourself with what you need so that you can respond with intention to what you’ve got, my love.

CANCER

June 22-July 22

Your circumstances are likely to kick up some uncomfortable feelings this week, and it’s wise to sit in those emotions. If you rush away in effort to fix something that isn’t broken, you’ll end up further from well-being and more confused to boot. You have such an easy time sharing that strength of character with others; practice embodying it for your own sweet and salty self, Moonchild. Sitting with difficulties may feel like inactivity, but it’s really a much-needed kindness.

LEO

July 23-Aug. 22

You’re ready to make some bold moves in the direct of what you want, but it’s important that you do it with care, Leo. If you push too hard or too fast, you’re likely to kick up resistance. Strive to act in concert with the people around you and in the environments in which you seek safe harbor. This isn’t about compromising your vision, but it is about adapting your needs to consider and reflect the needs of others too. You can have it all but not all at once, my love.

VIRGO

Aug. 23-Sept. 22

If you can put aside your resistance to being changed, your fears of being wrong, and your desire for it all to “make sense,” you’ll quickly gain the very clarity you seek, Virgo. Your problem isn’t one of understanding, it’s one of motivation. If you can clarify what you want to get from your goals, your plans themselves will more gracefully crystalize for you. The hardest way isn’t the best or the only way. Seek your simplest foundational truth this week.

LIBRA

Sept. 23-Oct. 22

You’re on the right path and pointed in the right direction, but that doesn’t mean that you’re getting exactly what you want. It’s confusing, but don’t fixate too much on the prize while you’re in the middle of the game. It’s important that you allow for your ambitions to shift as you move through your process; as you gain momentum, you’re likely to find that you are changed by the journey you’re on and what you uncover of yourself on it. Take it one day at a time, my love.

SCORPIO

Oct. 23-Nov. 21

The struggles you’re engaged in are not meant to oppress you; they’re meant to help you gain clarity. Sometimes knowing what you don’t want is as powerful as knowing what you do want. This week, you will have the choice to fall back on your old foolishness or find a new way. The former is easier in the short-term, but it ultimately puts off the inevitable – change. Breathe and seek the most peaceful path instead of the “best answer”, dear Scorpio.

SAGITTARIUS

Nov. 22-Dec. 21

Ready, set, go! Get ready for a burst of energy, sweet Sagittarius, and make sure you consciously direct it. There’s what you want right now and then what you want down the road. Make sure that you’re not sacrificing your future for some momentary or fleeting gain in the present. You can have it all if you creatively pace yourself and your commitments. Strive to strike a balance between the big picture and the myriad of little things demanding your attention, this week.

CAPRICORN

Dec. 22-Jan. 19

When you’re right with yourself, it’s so much easier to manage the inevitable compromises that you need to make in life. This week you're likely to feel guided in a new or different direction than you expected to be, but try to go with it, Capricorn. Staying the same is only a good thing for a period of time; growth requires change, and change yields instability. Embrace the process, even as you’re still developing your vision for where it’s taking you.

AQUARIUS

Jan. 20-Feb. 18

Uncertainty is no fun, but it can also be a really fertile state. Seek the potential in what you don’t know, what has yet to develop, and what is possible but not guaranteed. As Mars enters your sign this week, you’re likely to have a boost of energy, but that isn’t the same as clarity. Get intentional so that you can leverage your motivation into inspired action, Aquarius. You’re ready to step into the unknown to co-create something better.

PISCES

Feb. 19-March 20

There can be a fine line between deferring to others and considering their needs. This week, you may want to make a change that adversely impacts the people around you. This may or may not be the right thing for you to do, but for sure you need to approach things with careful consideration. While you can’t please all the people all of the time, you don’t get a pass for your own inconsiderate behavior either. Do your thing and bear the consequences, Pisces.

WITCH TIPS + HOROSCOPES 08.29-09.04.2018

Written By Jessica Lanyadoo

WITCH TIPS 

Let’s talk about the world and astrology. The slow moving outer planets define the events that are impacting us globally. They describe the conditions and developmental lessons that shape a generation. Quite frankly, they don’t get enough airtime in pop astrology because they’re harder to unpack and often reflect more serious themes, but they’re wildly important.

We’re living in a time when humanitarian Uranus is transiting through materialistic Taurus, when demanding Pluto and conservative Saturn are moving through structure-bringing Capricorn, and idealistic Neptune is transiting through escapist Pisces. The upshot of this is that you and me and everyone you know are on call to revisit who and what we value, and to make sustainable, structural changes and choices around those values. We're being challenged to expand our sense of empathy and spiritual awareness in the exact moment at which it would be easiest to check out and evade our problems.

In a larger, more societal sense, we are facing the same challenges. The greatest enemy to democracy and human sovereignty is not the powers that be – it’s the apathy of the people. Neptune in Pisces can empower people to rise up and act in accordance with what we most deeply believe, or it can tempt us to get lost in distractions. Saturn and Pluto's transit through Capricorn represents a period of time when society's hierarchical systems  are being challenged. They're either going to bend to the will of the people or break it. People and institutions with power rarely want to give it up, but that doesn’t mean that they won’t have to. Capricorn is a sign that responds to reputation-based pressure. When enough people organize to voice an opinion, change is inevitable. The trouble with these two planets is that they won’t change easily, and they force us to confront our shame and our fears of failure. This is hard work, but it can be deeply healing. At this time, sharing your power is the strongest thing you can do. These energies can easily make people feel victimized and threatened, and that’s what leads to the worst kinds of selfishness. What we need now is empathy. Dr. Cornell West famously said “justice is what love looks like in public.” With Uranus in Taurus, we are ultimately answering the question of who and what has value to us as a society. We are all implicated in this, and what each and every one of us does has meaning now.

Violence, hatred, gerrymandering, systemic oppression, and repression of peoples – these are all symptoms of some people thinking they’re more important than others, or worse, not thinking of others at all. It’s time to make room for the needs of the many over the wants of the few. We all deserve dignity, safety, and sovereignty, and we are at a time when we can demand reform from governments, corporations, and even institutions, and expect material change.

The community you live in counts. More and more we are seeing the ills of the world reflecting the pain of isolation. Do you make eye contact with your neighbors? Do you fear people who have much less or much more than you? People who speak other languages? Those who have sex differently? 

This is your horoscope: You are powerful, and you are utterly powerless. It’s hard to be human, but it’s also a gift. How you make use of your gifts is your choice, but now is a time in society where it absolutely matters. Learn.

Concern yourself with the conditions that others are living in. Concern yourself with people who are differently abled, come from different places, or have different values and resources available to them. This may seem like it’s not about astrology, but I promise you that it is. It’s where we’re going, my loves. We will either get there together, or we will end up where we’ve been led, and the future will be so much brighter when it’s led by the people for all the people. This is a fertile period in both a global and a personal sense; rise up to meet it.

ARIES

March 21-April 19

How do you gauge success, Aries? I don’t mean to ask how your parents, your friends, or even society determines what success is. How do you know when you’re doing well? It’s important that you have your own standards and ways of evaluating your progress. This week will find you asking some essential questions, and as cheesy as it sounds, the answers are within you. Question everything as you strive towards your goals, my love.

TAURUS

April 20-May 20

You can justify your anxieties all you want, but how exactly does that help you? You may find your fears very compelling, but that doesn’t make them right. You’re in a tug-of-war with yourself about something, and if you don’t acknowledge it and investigate what you’re really concerned about, you may find yourself caught up in some seriously paranoid thinking, Taurus. Ground and center yourself before you go chasing conspiracy theories this week.

GEMINI

May 21-June 21

If you allow yourself to slow down and notice it, you’ll see that you’ve come a long way, baby. Take stock of where you’ve come from in efforts to contextualize where you’re at, Twin Star. It’s not enough to grow; you need to take time to acknowledge and celebrate your development. Part of being responsible to yourself is honoring your own progress. Enjoy the fruits of your labors this week, even if you still have a great deal of work in front of you.

CANCER

June 22-July 22

Exhaustion or feeling overwhelmed may lead you to misunderstand the intent behind others’ actions. Things are likely not as they seem, Moonchild, and that’s not good or bad – it’s interesting. Try to get grounded before you get investigative, and get investigative before you come to any hard and fast decisions about your relationships, my love. This week is all about the way you do the things you do, so take a deep breath and explore.

LEO

July 23-Aug. 22

You don’t need a change of scenery, you need an upgrade. Instead of rushing into change because you don’t like where you are, try to carefully consider what you’re doing before you simply relocate your problems, Leo. If you allow yourself to be too responsive to your fears, you’re more likely to be running from something than pursuing another. Manage your situation, and make solid plans from that place this week, even if that slows down your progress.

VIRGO

Aug. 23-Sept. 22

Not knowing can be magical and exciting, or it can be the absolute worst. There’s so much that you can’t know right now and even more that’s out of your control. You're going to have to manage the feelings that induces, and it may feel like just another confusing piece of the puzzle. Strive for acceptance and not answers this week, Virgo. Focus your energies on what you can manage and influence, no matter how small those things are, my love. 

LIBRA

Sept. 23-Oct. 22

Don’t lose sight of the big picture, Libra. You may find yourself so worried about what’s immediately in front of you that you stop looking around. This strategy will bring you nothing but stress, and what’s worse is that it will limit your capacity to enjoy what you have as well as what you see as possible. This week is all about perspective; adjust yours so that you can experience the abundance inherent in your situation, even if it’s hecka difficult, my love.

SCORPIO

Oct. 23-Nov. 21

Feeling scared and stressed can interrupt creativity. Don’t allow yourself to obsess on or over-invest in your stressful thoughts this week, Scorpio. When things aren’t as you want then to be, you're likely to get frustrated and do something self-sabotaging, so here’s a Pro Tip for self-care this week: tend to your feelings before you seek resolution to your problems. Find acceptance of where you’re starting from before you go trying to change it.

SAGITTARIUS

Nov. 22-Dec. 21

What’s the sweet spot between your sense of freedom and your need for security? This week, you may find yourself struggling with the conflicting desires to either throw it all away or build it up to another level. The key here is to intentionally respond to your situation instead of emotionally reacting to it. No matter what you do going forward, you’re going to need to make some compromises. Consider which concessions will make you happier in the long run, ‘Tarius.

CAPRICORN

Dec. 22-Jan. 19

As you grow into yourself, you have to check your ego to make sure that it’s growing with you – not in size, but in depth. It’s all about balance, Capricorn. You have to be able to take as much as you give, or you’re likely to build up resentments or insecurities that destabilize you and your whole operation. Find people who you believe are good models of behavior this week. Seek inspiration from people who’ve done it before you or who are doing it better than you right now.

AQUARIUS

Jan. 20-Feb. 18

When you leap off a cliff, it’s hard to see the ground clearly when it's rushing to meet you. So much of life is all about perspective; when you’re leaving a room, it can look so different than when you first entered it. What you’re currently looking at in your life may be intimidating or frightening because it’s new, not because it’s bad. Don’t confuse the anxiety of change with some sort of intuitive flash that things are going poorly. You’re on your way, Aquarius. Don’t allow the fear of the unknown to tell you anything different.

PISCES

Feb. 19-March 20

Gracefully engaging with frustration is a meaningful skill to have. When you make your plans based on best-case scenarios, you’re setting yourself up for a fall. It’s time to advance your ambitions this week, and it’s likely to take some serious patience and reorganization. Cultivate tools that help you to express and experience your upsets in healthy ways so that you don’t unintentionally trip yourself up out of impatience, my love.

FULL MOON IN PISCES

"A promise to control the tide is always a lie. The resolute is more persistent than the best of intentions."

- Claudia Mauro

A Full Moon that occurs between August 24 and September 22 will be in Pisces. This moon is useful for magic pertaining to:

Expansion of Consciousness

Mysticism

Understanding and exploring dreams

Divination

Clairvoyance

Escapism "getting away from it all"

Relaxation

Healing the feet

Focusing on balancing bodily fluids.

The full moon in Pisces on August 26th  is a  powerful spiritual psychic moon and a great opportunity for divination work: reading tarot/ interpreting astrology. However, Pisces is an inner energy, so focusing on solitary rituals  would be appropriate, or a small, closely knit group of good friends, rather than a large gathering. During this moon's transit there is an awareness and appreciation of beauty and art, as well as strong, heightened creativity.

Intuition is at it's peak in this sign and realization of life's lesson's or truths sometimes are unveiled. It's easy to swim around lose yourself in emotions now, or to escape in books, or other entertainment of a fantastic nature. As the moon starts to float towards Aries, the mood lifts and becomes more cheerful and outward. 

 

RITUAL 

Crystal Bath Meditation for the Pisces Full Moon

 Written  by Lisa Stardust

The Pisces Full Moon, occurring August 26th at 4:56 AM PST and 7:56 AM EST, serves as a wonderfully mystical time to heal the self, as well as deepening our intuition and spirituality.   

Often, we forget to take care of ourselves—which is hard with our daily routines. This Full Moon in watery Pisces may leave us drained, unable to access our personal powers, if we do not take care of ourselves, leaving our batteries empty, in need of a recharge. The Pisces Full Moon serves as an ideal time clean your most important instrument—the body, through a magical and transformative crystal bath. 

Under the Pisces Full Moon, create a healing crystal bath, filled with essences of Pisces—dandelion and wild violet flowers to calm the body, Selenite crystal to replenish the mind, Amethyst crystal to dispel negativity, and Rose Quartz to recharge your spirit with positivity in healing salt water, focusing on both the crown and solar plexus chakras, thus opening up the gates of astral energy in the body, awakening psychic abilities and protection.

Attuning the mind, while connecting the body, mind, and spirit into one harmonious instrument through cleansing your personal energy and awakening your senses and intuition, allowing you to access your inner magic and power.

Ingredients

• 1 Selenite Crystal
• 1 Amethyst Crystal
• 1 Rose Quartz Crystal
• 1 Cup of Wild Violet Flowers
• 1 Cup of Dandelion Flowers or Herbs
• 1 Cup of Epson Salt, Pink Himalayan Salt, or Kosher Sea Salt

Directions

- In a big mixing bowl, blend the Wild Orchid and Dandelion Flowers and Herbs together, adding in the cup of Epson, Pink Himalayan, or Kosher Sea Salt. 

- Run bath water, adding the ingredients in the bathtub, as the water fills the tub. 

- Place the Selenite crystal in your hand, holding the crystal 5 inches away from your body, start scanning  your at your crown chakra, working your way down to the foot chakra, using the Selenite to pull the negativity out of your energy field, allowing the body to calm before entering the bath. Selenite dissolves in water, be cognizant not to do this step in the bath and leave the crystal away from water. 

- Enter the bath, as you lay down enjoy the warm water and absorb the flowers and herbs in your skin, while letting the essences calm your mind. 

-  Place the Rose Quartz crystal on your solar plexus chakra, located beneath your navel. Rose Quartz will clear out the chakra, unclogging poor self esteem, creativity issues, and anxieties—replacing with self-empowerment, personal innovation, and serenity. 

- Place the Amethyst crystal on your crown chakra, on the top of your head, for protection and relaxation, which will heighten your psychic frequency and intuition. 

- Close your eyes while soaking in the bath for 15-25 minutes, letting your body absorb positive vibrations and let go of negativity. When you leave the bath, you will feel revived and attuned to a higher energetic vibration. 

WITCH TIPS & HOROSCOPES 08.22-28.2018

Artwork by Manzel Bowman

WITCH TIPS

Written by Jessica Lanyadoo

Welcome to Virgo Season! This week marks a time to shift gears from the mishegas of recent weeks into a slightly more introspective time. It's time to check in with your body and ensure that you’re treating it as your BFF instead of a casual acquaintance. If you have more screen-time than me-time, this is the perfect season for a cleanse. Tend to your daily habits, the stuff that's easy to miss in the business of living a hectic life. Slow down a bit and connect to the grounded embodiment of Mercury (now no longer Retrograde, thank all that is good and holy!) that is unique to the sign Virgo. Take stock of how your plans are coming to bear in your life. Make adjustments, follow through, and solidify your ideas based on the data you’ve collected so far this year. Life constantly presents us with new visions and opportunities for growth and change; Virgo Season is a beautiful one for getting serious about what you do and making sure that it’s paired up with who you want to be.

On the 26th, we have an intense Full Moon in Pisces and a compulsive Venus square to Pluto. The potential here is great, but it comes with some risk, too. There is an energetically powerful Kite (an aspect that involves an opposition, a Grand Trine and two sextiles) happening with this Full Moon. Saturn, Uranus, and the Sun are all in a Grand Earth Trine, while the Moon, which is opposite the Sun, will be forming sextiles to both Saturn and Uranus. All of this presents us with amazing potential for seeing things clearly and making plans for your future that are wisely informed by both your past and your present. 

The tricky part comes from the Venus/Pluto transit; these two planets are likely to stir the pot, as they’ll trigger jealousy, vengefulness, and fears of abandonment. Don’t look for evidence that something is wrong; if you’re going to Sherlock Holmes a thing, do it without an agenda, or don’t do it at all. The Pisces full Moon is a chance to let go of illusions that have kept you separate. Connect your thoughts to your feelings, your feelings to your delivery, and your delivery to how others receive you. Understand that you can’t exactly let go of the past. You can let go of your attachment to it, but your past is yours. You will always refer back to it, and that’s as it should be. It’s OK to be imperfect, to not know what comes next, and to have mixed feelings about it. Don’t be so quick to find the answer that you rush past the process. This week you don’t need proof, you need faith, dear lovers.

ARIES

March 21-April 19

In order to move beyond your own limitations, you must first be confronted by them. This week is complicated, and you can expect the full Moon on the 27th to kick up some surprising feels. Don’t resist it, Aries. If you’re willing to let go of what no longer serves you, you can make way for something new. Yes, you may have to suffer through some grief in the middle, but feelings come and go. Don’t let the tough ones stop you from growing to your full potential.

TAURUS

April 20-May 20

You’re making choices, and even if you feel mixed about them, they’re yours. It’s time to create something that you value, Taurus. What you do now will have roots and grow into something much bigger than you, so make sure that you believe in what you’re doing, or at least leave enough wiggle room for adjustments. You’re pointed in the right direction. Just don’t let your desire for certainty rush you past this very important stage of development, Taurus.

GEMINI

May 21-June 21

It’s easy to have balance when everything is going your way, but when circumstances destabilize you, that's when you need it most. When you feel inundated this week (as you are likely to), it’s a chance for you to be kind. Choose to take care of yourself by responding to your stressors one at a time, instead of allowing yourself to get overwhelmed by everything. Do what you can at this moment and let the rest wait for you until you’re ready for it, Twin Star.

CANCER

June 22-July 22

It doesn’t need to be perfect, or even what you think it ‘should’ be, in order for it to be exactly what you need. This week will confront you with a pretty simple situation that feels really complicated. Don’t confuse potential with reality or the past with the present, Moonchild. Accept things as they are in the present moment, and do what you need to in order to grow. Nothing stays the same, nor is it meant to. Actively co-create your life, my love.

LEO

July 23-Aug. 22

Love has a funny way of changing a person. This week your relationships will expose an important point of development. If you find that you're unhappy or that your needs aren’t being met, it’s wise for you to pay close attention to that. You’re at a point where the truth of what exists between you and others is being revealed. Receive what you’re being shown and believe it. If you’ve been phoning it in with your people, they may hold you to task. Either way, it’s time to face your relationships, Leo.

VIRGO

Aug. 23-Sept. 22

Find life-affirming ways of being with your emotions. Sadness sucks, but it happens for a reason. If you’re willing to investigate your feels, you can determine what you’re really sad about, but if you can’t sit with them at all, how will you ever know? This week’s full Moon in your relationship house is supposed to be emo, so don’t resist it, Virgo. Show up for the messiness of how you feel so that you can better co-create what you need.

LIBRA

Sept. 23-Oct. 22

When you don’t have what you want, it’s tempting to make negative assumptions about what that means. The truth is that your story is still unfolding, Libra. You are a work in development, and its beautiful and uncertain and yours. Find a spark of desire within you, and then pursue it. You don’t need to be anywhere but here. Do your best with what you’ve got instead of wasting your energy on wishing you had something else, my love.

SCORPIO

Oct. 23-Nov. 21

If you’ve taken on too many commitments or too much emotionally, this week’s full Moon is likely to make you feel super burnt out. Try to find a balance between what you need to get done and what you need in order to feel right in your skin, Scorpio. This week is not meant to challenge you to do more at a quicker pace. It’s meant to challenge you to do more things in high quality ways. Let go of control or the desire to prove yourself, and try to find wellness in your process.

SAGITTARIUS

Nov. 22-Dec. 21

It can be a fine line between showing up for others and taking on their problems. This week you're likely to be called in to be there for someone you care about, and it may seem impossible to help without getting too deep with them. How you participate is a reflection of your own boundaries. Do your best to honor your relationships, but only give what you can without resentments this week.

CAPRICORN

Dec. 22-Jan. 19

The time it takes to get there may be paved with ‘what ifs’ but don’t let it bother you; you’ve got this, Capricorn. This week you need your ego to help you move your life forward. This requires that it’s in reasonably good shape – not too big and not too small. Work on your sense of entitlement to make sure that it reflects what you actually believe – not your baggage. Peace lives in the place between knowing your value and never placing it over others in order to feel okay about yourself.

AQUARIUS

Jan. 20-Feb. 18

As you grow, you’re inevitably going to outgrow some people, situations, and things that you’ve been identified with. Things are changing for you, Aquarius, and while it’s not clear what exactly comes next, it’s looking really good. Make the best possible choices based on who you want to be and where you hope to land this month, even if that means spending more time alone or participating in the world less.

PISCES

Feb. 19-March 20

The Moon is full in your sign on the 26th, marking this as a powerful time for you to do emotional work on yourself. Emotions will be running high this week, but the thing to remember is that this is a time for closure. You don’t need to justify or defend yourself. Believe in yourself enough to validate your own feels and needs, even if others don’t understand it. You’re ready to make some deep changes in your life, but you need to start with you, dear Pisces.

WITCH TIPS & HOROSCOPES 8/15-21/2018

Written by Jessica Lanyadoo

WITCH TIPS 

This has been a tumultuous time, and emotions are running high. This week there are two major themes that may seem contradictory to each other, but they’re not. This week's  astrology is demanding that you use your ego energies to support social, spiritual, or creative causes that serve the whole. It’s time to take responsibility for what you do, no matter how you feel.

Mercury goes direct on the 18th, so you can expect a smoothing out of communication to happen in the days following. On the 12th Mars retrograded back into ambitious Capricorn, joining demanding Saturn and Pluto there. This transit will last until September 11th, and it delivers an important shift that's worth taking note of. These planets are all retrograde, and we know that this means it’s a time to review, reflect, and reconsider. Mars is a passionate force that governs where you’re going and what you’re doing to get yourself there. It’s related to the ego, fighting, and fornicating. Your ego isn’t “bad.” It’s only when it’s repressed or over-expressed that it leads people to act out of turn and out of integrity. This transit means that it’s time to look at your choices squarely: if your actions don’t reflect your morals and goals, your ego needs adjustment. Some of the worst behaviors come from pain, so remember that you don’t get to act out against others just because you’re hurt. If you’re going to fight, fight for what you believe in, not just in an attempt to have your voice heard over the chorus or to have your ego validated.

This is a time for working with the powers-that-be – the government, your family and work, and the infrastructures in your life and in the world at large. The upshot here is that we’re all on call to consider how our participation impacts the whole of society. Action without integrity or consideration for others is poorly starred.

Spirituality is not just about crystals and horoscopes. It’s about your Soul. It’s about seeing and valuing the humanity in others, not just energetically (though certainly that!) but also in deed. This is a time to ask yourself what, or more poignantly, who you feel called to stand up and advocate for. On the 18th justice-seeking Jupiter forms a harmonious trine to empathetic Neptune. The potential here is for a mass shift in caring. The potential is that we'll use the interconnectedness of the world to actually help us to become closer instead of more isolated. Learn something about someone else’s perspective. Consider how you can orient your time, care, resources, and skills to be a part – no matter how small – of the solution to some problem that is bigger than us all. Spiritual integrity requires some form of service. If you’ve been too caught up in materialistic goals or purely self-promoting actions, take a breather and consider how you can be of assistance this week. Giving, when done in balance, feeds everyone. You don’t have to do everything or even something big. But doing nothing isn’t the answer either. The world needs healing through actions motivated by compassion, empathy, and love.

ARIES

March 21-April 19

If you allow yourself to be goaded into reacting, you’re more likely to act in ways that you later regret. This week you’re likely to feel tested by your emotions and your situation, and that’s alright. The best thing to do is to seek the middle ground – not so that you necessarily make middle-ground choices but so that you have a clear sense of where the middle even is before you rush into things. Act in ways that will mobilize you towards a future you want to live in.

TAURUS

April 20-May 20

There’s so much moving in your direction and in your life right now, Taurus. It will be easy to get really overwhelmed this week, so here’s my advice for you: practice knowing the difference between anxiety and intuition. Your instincts are a reliable resource, but when you’re not taking care of your body, they’re harder to access. Cover the basics: drink all the water, breathe deeply, eat healthy foods, and sleep as much as your body needs, my love.

GEMINI

May 21-June 21

Here are some self-care steps to help you help yourself: first you’ve got to be willing to sit with yourself in order to know what needs attention. Next you’ve gotta be willing to change. Finally, you’ve got to stay the course, even when it’s rough or confusing. This week your distractions will do you a great disservice if you allow them to. You shouldn’t need to be there now in order to have faith that you’ll get there. Just focus on the steps in front of you, Twin Star.

CANCER

June 22-July 22

If you make the mistake of allowing other people to define your worth, your right to take up space, or what you’re capable of, this week may be a hard one for you. Create space to meditate on what you’ve been bringing to the table and whether or not it is authentic for you. You’ve got three heavy hitters retrograding through your relationship house, and that means it’s time to reflect on how you’re choosing to participate and who you’re aligning yourself with.

LEO

July 23-Aug. 22

Post-Eclipse feels are still pretty intense, and this may go double for you since that whole event happened in your sign, Leo. Instead of trying to make things happen, it’s time to feel into what is. You’re not supposed to be on all the time. Take the space you need to catch up with yourself emotionally this week. It’s important that you determine what you need before you rush in trying to find a fix. Self-care isn’t a detour from the path; it is the path, my love.

VIRGO

Aug. 23-Sept. 22

Everything is all mixed up in your mind. You’re overthinking things, having a hard time sitting with your feels, and not sure which of the overwhelming number of your cares deserves priority from moment to moment. It’s a lot. Show yourself some compassion this week. Seek to change your approach instead of to analyze the answers into submission. It’s OK to take a break, and it’s OK to not know what’s best. Through it all, approach your troubles with kindness, Virgo.

LIBRA

Sept. 23-Oct. 22

You may be feeling frustrated as stressful to-do’s pile up in front of you this week with no clear path in sight. As events test your willingness to earnestly try, it’s wise to watch out for feelings of being trapped or hopeless. There are almost always more than two options of how to play a thing out. Seek possibilities instead of answers, collaborators instead of saviors. It’s time for you to use the many resources you’ve cultivated, Libra.

SCORPIO

Oct. 23-Nov. 21

Your sign is one of the most sensitive of the zodiac. When things are intense, you get hit directly in the feels. You may need a time-out this week so that you can emotionally recuperate from some stressful events or just the intensity of the world. The point is that you don’t need a reason to prioritize getting right with you. In order to be the person you want to be, you must do the things that you know support you so that you can act from your best self, Scorpio.

SAGITTARIUS

Nov. 22-Dec. 21

No matter how material your problems are, at least part of the solution needs to be spiritual. Find your highest truth, and leave the low-hanging fruit behind, dear Sagittarius. In the confusion and chaos that life inevitably brings, it’s so much easier to make good choices if you’re clear about what’s motivating you in the big picture. Align with your convictions and beliefs, and allow those principals to direct what you do in the here and now, my love.

CAPRICORN

Dec. 22-Jan. 19

It’s time to nurture your projects, Capricorn. You’ve created a solid game plan, and now it’s time to consider how you’re going to execute it. Make certain that you’ve scheduled in self-care as part of your work strategy. This may look like bubble baths, breathing through stress, unplugging for a little while every day, or just remembering to enjoy your food. The point is that you absolutely do have time to be better to yourself, as long as you prioritize it.

AQUARIUS

Jan. 20-Feb. 18

You’ve got lots of emotions running through you, and while they themselves are perfectly valid, the sense you're making of them may not be. No matter how crappy it is to sit in your feels, please try. The way out is in. Your insides need some space to be messy, so don’t rush in the clean up crew (aka try to logic your feels into submission). Understanding others’ motives won’t replace the need for you to be honest about your own. Do your part, even if it’s super uncomfortable, Aquarius.

PISCES

Feb. 19-March 20

You need change, that’s for sure. What’s not exactly clear is whether you should tear it all down and rebuild or take a more patient and conservative approach. Explore your impulses and needs without the pressure to make a fixed decision, Pisces. You can’t please everybody, but you do have responsibilities to honor. Strive to find a healthy balance between obligation and freedom this week. You’re ready to move on, one way or another, my love.