WITCH TIPS & HOROSCOPES 1/8-15/2018

Astrology by Lisa Stardust

This week brings intense change our way, as we move forward while sorting through post-eclipse energies. We have survived the first eclipse of the year, and now we are ready to set forth into our new visions. It might not be a cake walk though, as there may be some tears and fears along the road to growth this week. These momentary setbacks may be frustrating at first, but if we choose to let go and run free in the rapture while embracing transformation, we can reach a heightened state of beauty and spiritual development. 

We start off the week with a powerful connection between the Capricorn Sun and transformative Pluto on January 11th. Both planets serve to alchemize the soul together, moving us toward personal evolution. Pluto is the Lord of the Underworld, and known to cause havoc on those are not willing to grow. Pluto asks us to shed any excess we may be carrying, and rebirth our body, mind, and spirits in place of new revolutionary views.

Illusive Neptune is very active this week. Known as “the divine discontent,” Neptune forces us to rely on our spirituality and psychic abilities to navigate us through the fog which permeates the sea air. We all may feel lost, stuck, confused, and extra sensitive while we try to implement our newest visions of self. This may be challenging on January 13th, when insightful Jupiter (who is traveling in philosophical Sagittarius) clashes with dreamy Neptune (who is surfing in the Piscean seas), causing us to rethink our goals. The flip side to this transit is overconfidence. Our dreams will be tested against reality three times this year: January 13th, June 16th, and September 21st, giving us many chances to see if our fresh insights will stand the test of time in 2019.

Winged messenger Mercury and authoritative Saturn connect in Capricorn on January 13th, asking us to proceed into the future with caution. The following day, on January 14th, Mercury and Neptune softly kiss under the First Quarter Aries Moon, letting us contemplating options to expand our imagination, hopes, and aspirations.

The First Quarter Moon on January 14th resolves the residual energy from January 5th’s solar eclipse. However, it also starts the story of the lunar eclipse occurring January 20th PST and January 21st EST. As one chapter ends, another begins this week.

With all the Neptunian energy floating around us, it’s essential that we take proper care of ourselves. We may be the victim of psychic attacks and projections, as we're more vulnerable in absorbing the negativity of others due to Neptune’s energy. Try to carry rose quartz and amethyst for protection. Take Himalayan salt baths to rinse your auric field, and smudge personal spaces to banish any toxicity in the air.

 

Aries

March 21-April 19

This week stirs up mixed emotions for you, Aries. Known as the warrior of the zodiac, you often assert your power to win your desires and January 11th will have you doing just that. When the Sun and Pluto align in the career sector of your chart, you will hit the pedal to the metal and use your ferocious energy to achieve your goals. Brace yourself though! Just two days later, on January 13th, you may encounter some obstacles on your journey forward. Expansive Jupiter and illusive Neptune are causing inner anxieties to rise, possibly creating personal setbacks due to trepidation. Expressive  Mercury and austere Saturn connect the same day, forcing you to commit to your new professional vision, even if you are feeling lost in the fog. You will find the answer to your personal quandary on the 14th, under the First Quarter Moon, when you are given the opportunity to incorporate creative visions with your work (due to the compromise Mercury and Neptune make together). The cosmos are allowing you to manifest your dreams into reality. Channel your inner warrior and don’t let fear hold you back. The only one who stands in your way, is you.

Taurus

April 20-May 20

Past circumstances  may have  left you feeling as though life has been an uphill battle. You've learned a lot of life lessons until this point and now have the inner dynamism to take a stand, particularly on the 11th, when the Sun and mighty Pluto strike back against those who have caused you harm. However, think twice before expressing your feelings, as your words may hurt rather than heal relationships. While you want to let your hurts be known, it may cause others more pain than you realize, which will only bring your tender heart more anguish. Don't despair sweet Bull, the 13th brings support through close friendships! Never underestimate the love that comes from community. You'll be in the mood to surround yourself with positive people. However, you  will have to work on building the right boundaries with your peers, in  order to ensure mutual respect. With your phone buzzing non stop, it’s important to implement such perimeters. On January 14th, be sure to set aside some quiet time to contemplate the dramatic events of the week under the First Quarter Moon. Mindful meditation throughout the week will help mend your wounds and restore inner peace.

 

Gemini

May 21-June 21

Love is a battlefield  this week, Gemini, as issues within relationships come to a head and erupt with passion. You are being taught major relationship (and life) lessons by  transformative Pluto on the 11th, followed by Mercury and task master Saturn on the 13th. This cosmic nudge is just what you need to cut the cord on relationships that no longer serve your highest and truest self. It’s always hard to move on from people you hold dear, and the 13th brings such challenges your way- as Jupiter and Neptune may have you romanticizing the past. The First Quarter Moon on the 14th helps you connect deeply with your intuition, allowing you to see who you've outgrown. Use this energy to harness your strength to cut ties, it may be hard at first, but you'll ultimately become independent of the constraints which hold you back. Your heart may ache, however, you are evolving and moving towards your higher self.

 

Cancer

June 22-July 22

This week calls for extra self care. You may  be provoked to give your counterparts, frenemies, or even enemies extra attention on the 11th. Shortly after, you'll want to curl up into a cocoon. To avoid feeling triggered, take a step back from the drama and reapply focus to yourself. Direct your energies on the most important person in your life—YOU! The solution is simple— find a new way to approach any situations that are rocking your boat. This may entail changing your attitude and adjusting your emotions through achieving a higher, more attuned mindset. Never underestimate the importance of positive thinking! It will lift you up and reset your attitude, it even softens the blues. The First Quarter Moon on January 14th may stir up residual emotions for you. With your heart and mind connected, you will only feel love for yourself, no matter how many sticks and stones are thrown your way. You will emerge stronger and tougher, ready to take on the world.

 

Leo

July 23-Aug. 22

Frustrations in the predictability of day-to-day activities force you to reconnect with a forgotten dream. Your innermost desires are coming out, making you lust after a vision you once held dear while letting go of any illusions you have created for yourself. As the Sun (your planetary ruler) links up with powerful Pluto on January 11th, in the house of daily affairs, you're asked to let go of past idealized goals, and replace them with new attainable visions. January 11th is a life changing day for you, Leo. You are not only releasing some serious emotions, but also learning to live your truest life on your own terms. You may begin to realize the dreams you thought you wanted, don’t align with who you are today. On the path to personal evolution, your job is to break down psychological roadblocks, which may prove to be challenging on the 13th as you may be tempted to indulge your sentimental sweet tooth. Try to muster the strength within to move forward and embrace your higher self under the First Quarter Moon January 14th and all will be well, little lion.

Virgo

Aug. 23-Sept. 22

Shakespeare wrote “all the world’s a stage” and we are all “merely players” in this game of life. The 11th allows you to slip out of your daily persona and become the most extreme version of yourself. Good or bad, you will apply  flair to attaining your goals, as you step into the role of a lifetime—the most authentic version of yourself! The Sun and Pluto collide, sparking a passionate love affair with yourself. It's a great time to include some sex magic to your repertoire, to help manifest your goals. The 13th brings confusion and delusion your way, as you are caught between two juxtaposing energies throughout the day, potentially causing your confidence to take a dive. While Jupiter and Neptune add doubt, Mercury and Saturn help anchor any clouded views that may have come into play, allowing you to see through the fog of self doubt. Look out for the 14th, as the energy may compromise your mind, leaving you confronted with hard inflated  truths about yourself. The First Quarter Moon elevates your spirit to embrace these different elements of your life. Remember, you are taking on a new role, which may be challenging; be extra gentle with yourself.

Libra

Sept. 23-Oct. 22

Last week’s eclipse may have hit you in the jugular,, causing heartbreak. You may still be shell shocked from all the changes thrown at you. Unfortunately, this week isn’t much different. The Sun and Pluto connect on January 11th, bringing transformation and growth to you. However, you will only be able to move forward if you choose to revamp your innermost convictions. Jupiter and Neptune will cause you to question your desires, just  as Mercury and restrictive Saturn challenge your blossoming soul on the 13th. Your faith may be tested, however, you still come out on top with a little cosmic help on the 14th. Use  the First Quarter Moon energy to submit to a higher power, and allow yourself to experience and move through growing pains on your way to self discovery.

 

Scorpio

Oct. 21-Nov. 21

With last Saturday's eclipse energy still lingering in the air until the 14th, you have the majority of the week to harness your investigative mind and understand situations recently revealed. Understanding the motives of those who have caused you turmoil will be the focus of the Sun and Pluto connection on the 11th. This week you may choose to put your communication skills to good use by influencing the public with your powerful voice. One thing is certain, the Sun and Pluto are merging together, heightening your instincts and need for solid facts. Your pursuit of the truth and ability to get to the bottom of things may lead others to confide in you on the 13th, causing relationships to kick up a notch and intensify. The First Quarter Moon brings solace to your mind and wisdom to your spirit, as you see clearly (for the first time in a long time). This energy will enable you to feel empowered and stronger than ever, as you allow half truths to be swept away by the Neptunian waves, refreshing your soul with a welcome dose of clarity and authenticity. Rest easy, Scorpio, while other's may think they're pulling one over on you, your investigative skills will prevail this week and truth will find its way to the surface—even if you have to dig it out yourself.

Sagittarius

Nov. 22-Dec. 21

Your stability may get shaken up, as the Sun and Pluto revolutionize your values, compelling you to overhaul preconceived ideals in place of new morals. This may come with challenges that force you to evolve your life, even if you are not ready. You may  feel uprooted, however, try to take comfort in knowing that you are spreading your wings.  The ultimate goal of Pluto is to cause metamorphic shifts, which will only help your personal growth. Winged messenger Mercury and structured Saturn bring refreshing logic to your journey, allowing you to put down your arrows in search of enlightenment. This process will feel easier for you when insightful Jupiter and spiritual Neptune collide, quenching your thirst for divine knowledge on the 13th. The 14th of January awakens your soul, as Mercury and Neptune show you the divine truth you seek, allowing you to disconnect from the material world into an altered state of happiness through spirituality. The First Quarter Moon gives you the chance to let go of fears and seek the inspiration you long for within yourself.

 

Capricorn

Dec. 22-Jan. 19

The Dark Moon  eclipse on January 5th motivated you to evolve your world through altering  your current circumstances. This week you’re a force to be reckoned with, as Pluto joins your Sun on January 11th, granting you super cosmic solar power! Pluto is rejuvenating your will and values, while lending the potential to transform your beliefs. You are now a chameleon of the darkness, birthed  from the Dark Moon. The chains and shackles which  have held you back, now fall to the floor, as you walk away free from the past and into the future. Mercury and Saturn also connect with your Sun on the 13th, letting you see and run from any oppressive behaviors that are holding you back. However, extravagant Jupiter and illusive Neptune may stop you in your tracks, adding uncertainty and anxiety. Monday’s First Quarter Moon and Neptune’s splashes around  your Sun, with Mercury’s support,, give you the power to implement success, while breaking down barriers and power struggles (with others and yourself).

 

Aquarius

Jan. 20-Feb. 18

This week fills your loving cup with a new dream, one which will elevate your spirit and change you to the core—starting with the Sun and Pluto healing subconscious fears on January 11th. You are now regenerating your emotional responses by filling your chalice  up with love  for the outside world. This rings especially true on the 13th, when Mercury and Saturn squash negative thought patterns and childhood traumas. Your spirit is undergoing a great resurgence, clearing away blocks of past life karma in one full swoop. You will feel an energetic shift on the 13th, when Jupiter and Neptune square off to dissolve past karmic debt, while manifesting new hopes, visions, and principles. The First Quarter Moon illuminates your ideals, while allowing you to let go of your innermost fears and guilt, moving you towards a place of happiness.

Pisces

Feb. 19-March 20

Underlying issues between you and the collective come to a boiling point on the 11th, potentially shaking up your friendships. You have escaped frustrations in the past by swimming away from situations and people who have caused you pain, however, Friday forces you to really look at those who you collaborate with as the Sun and Pluto reveal their truest intentions. Some may be wonderful, while others may be seedier than expected. You are ready to release those who do not support you, making way for the light to shine bright on you and those who have your best interest at heart. The 13th will make you feel as though you are ready to start fresh, as Jupiter and Neptune offer hope for the future. Mercury and Saturn ask you to take a break from social gatherings, suggesting solitude as medicine for the soul, as you meditate on relationships. You may feel once bitten, twice shy on the 14th, under the First Quarter Moon, due to Mercury and Neptune’s influence confusing boundaries and exposing phobias. Honor your ancestors this week and lean on them for answers, they will provide you with the insight and guidance you need to move forward.

Emotional Healing Under the Cancer Full Moon

By: Lisa Stardust

The Cancer Full Moon occurs less than 24 hours after the Winter Solstice, illuminating the sky with light right after the darkest and longest day of the year. With the juxtaposing energies at play, we will experience spiritual and emotional awakenings as we honor the rebirth of the Sun and the Full Moon at the same time.

The line between the spiritual and psychical world will be thinned, as the Moons glow will enlighten us all to the secrets of the universe, allowing us to see clearly, without hesitations. The veil between realms will be thinner than usual, turning on our intuition and raising vulnerabilities to psychic attacks, emotional meltdowns, exhaustion, and anxiety. The most sensitive tipping point occurs at the exact time of the Full Moon, which is why emotional healing and protection is essential during this particular luminary. The Grand Water Trine occurring the day before the Full Moon (during the Solstice) will make us extra absorbent, by picking up the energies of others (by way of sentimental Venus and delicate Neptune).

The Cancer Full Moon gives us the opportunity to mend loose ends and close chapters in our lives, as we head into new season and year. As the second Full Moon in Cancer this year (the first one occurred January 1st) we are emotionally releasing all the upsets, grief, anger, and pain we have felt since New Year’s Day 2018, giving us the strength to enter a new season and new year with a clean slate.

Creating a purifying salt bath (to purify our aura), filled with eucalyptus (to aid in healing emotional ailments), lavender (to help us relax), rose quartz (to mend our hearts and confidence), amethyst (to revive and treat our emotional upsets), and moonstone (to evoke the Moon Goddess in balancing out our best emotions) will boost our auric field and attune our inner vibration, allowing us to release old sentiments by cleansing our body, mind, and sprit under this luminary.

*The Cancer Full Moon occurs December 22nd at 9:48AM PST and 12:48PM EST

Ingredients

-Moon Water

-6 drops of Eucalyptus Oil or Eucalyptus Leaves

-4 Lavender Oil or Fresh Lavender

-Rose Quartz

-Amethyst Crystal

-Moonstone

-Himalayan Sea Salt, Epson Salt, or Kosher Salt

Directions:

-Place rose quartz, amethyst, and moonstone in a cup of water. Charge a cup of water under the Moon’s glow during the day. You can leave the cup by the window sill to absorb the lunar energy.

-Run a warm bath.

-Put a cup of salt in the bath.

-Place 6 drops of eucalyptus oil or leaves in bath (the number 2 is the numerological number of the Moon, therefore, we are using even numbers to honor the Moon Goddess).

-Place 4 drops of lavender oil or flowers in bath.

-Add the rose quartz, amethyst, and moonstone to water.

-Enter bath and close your eyes, meditating on the stillness of your mind and the warmth of the water.

-Put on soothing music, lay in the bath. Let the water heal your mind, body, spirit, and heart by washing away the pain and frustrations you feel within.

WITCHTIPS & HOROSCOPES ~ 11.21-27.2018

“Illuminated” by Victoria Siemer

Written By Jessica Lanyadoo

This week promises to be intense. Emotions are running high, and the restlessness that comes with fire and air is nothing short of combustible.

The Moon is Full at 0 Gemini on the 22nd at 9:39pmPST, and the Sun enters Sagittarius on the same day, marking an emo entry into Sagittarius Season. This may hasten a time of conflicts, as feelings are running high and mouths running faster.

Be careful not to speak every thought that comes into your head. Some things are better expressed when you’re not so activated. That said, in the words of Fox Mulder, the truth is out there, and this transit is likely to bring it to surface.

Be willing to change your mind, ask questions, and learn. If you’ve been holding back on being honest with loved ones, this is likely to be a really hard time to keep up charades. Because Jupiter, Mercury Retrograde, and the Sun are all in Sagittarius, the chances that you put your foot in your mouth (or that someone else is ungracefully blunt) are high. On the downside, this Mercury Retrograde can make miscommunications a serious risk, while on the upside, you may finally get something off your chest that has needed to be said for a long time.

On the 25th the Sun and Jupiter will meet in the sky, and on the 26th Mercury will retrograde into a square with Mars. These overlapping transits will bring up irritability, impatience, and the potential for arrogance, soapboxing, and conflict. Instead of getting involved in ego battles, have a strong enough sense of self to know that differences don’t always amount to right and wrong. Manage your reactions so that you can be intentional with your responses, and choose your battles wisely. On the 27th we’ll have three transits: Mars forms a stabilizing sextile to Saturn, Mercury will conjunct Jupiter, and the Sun will conjunct Mercury. This is the perfect recipe for taking things too personally, jumping to conclusions (and then running with them), and forming opinions that are hard to break.  The best approach to take to your relationships is one of investigation instead of instigation. Strive to understand yourself, speak your truth, and let others do the same.

It’s important to note that this week’s Full Moon is happening during Thanksgiving in the USA, a deeply problematic holiday that has its roots in violence, colonialism, and genocide, but that we celebrate as a time of gratitude. Thanksgiving always happens during Sagittarius Season, and Sagittarius is the sign of both truth and of propaganda. The propaganda that we've been fed is one of breaking bread and mutually beneficial agreements, but that was not true then and is still not true. Gratitude is beautiful and is an invaluable tool for healing, but so is listening to true stories and working toward reparations for systemic injustices. If you celebrate Thanksgiving, please consider doing these three things:

• Listen and learn. Educate yourself, and support Native Americans by uplifting Indigenous voices.

• From NonProfitAF: "Find out whose land you are on, and honor it. Remember that every inch of the US land was acquired illegally so that’s the deficit that organizations need to understand as they begin working with tribal people and entities.” If you don’t know whose land you are occupying, here’s an awesome map where you can enter in your city in the US or Canada and it’ll tell you, along with links so you can learn more about the Nations or tribes whose land you are on."

• Donate to organizations like www.iitc.org an organization of Indigenous Peoples from North, Central, South America, the Caribbean, and the Pacific, who work for human rights, environmental health, treaties and food sovereignty.

ARIES

March 21-April 19

The role that fear plays in your life is an important one to manage. When you’re not sure of where things are going, you can get controlling or pushy, but do either really serve you? Have faith in yourself Aries. You don’t need to have everything go your way – you only need to believe in your capacity to cope. Reconnect with your fire, your strength, and take stock of how far you’ve come. Don’t fight your inner demons; accept, love, and thereby heal them this week.

TAURUS

April 20-May 20

Letting go is not easy to do, especially when you’re unsure of yourself. This week will kick up something intense that you’ve been putting off dealing with, Taurus. Instead of getting distracted by the narrative, try to focus on acceptance. All you need to do is accept your situation; if you can do that, you can determine what you need in order to move on in the best possible way. Don’t let the sads stop you from taking care of business, my love.

GEMINI

May 21-June 21

You don’t get to know when or how, but you must believe, Twin Star. This week you have the chance to do things differently, to train your mind in more productive directions, and to lean on your healthiest habits. Or not. You have agency, and that doesn’t mean it’s easy, but it is all yours. Don’t let fear of failure stop you from striving to be whole. Don’t let the parts you don’t yet understand compel you to believe that you never will understand. Keep trying.

CANCER

June 22-July 22

You can make great progress this week, but trust me when I say this: less is more, Moonchild. It’s time to move the needle on some very stuck personal dynamics – either with other people or yourself (or both). The trick is to go deep and subtle instead of surface and dramatic. If you try to change too much too quickly you’re likely to regress into some demoralizing patterns. Practice embodying your healthiest boundaries, my love.

LEO

July 23-Aug. 22

Don’t fight yourself, Leo. When you are obsessive or punishing in your thoughts, you end up skewing your perspective on everything. Strive to take authority over where you allow your thoughts to linger this week. When you find that your focus is on something that's harmful, try to make the decision to flip the script. You are potentially going to have to cope with some difficult emotional content, and as much as that sucks, it’s how you respond that’s important. Do your best.

VIRGO

Aug. 23-Sept. 22

Reason has its place and its value, but sometimes your emotions creep in. When they do, they're better dealt with a tender hand than a sharp tongue. This week’s full moon is going to pull up all kinds of feelings, and if you try to contain or control them, you’re likely to have an outburst rather than experiencing the peace you’re after. Get grounded, Virgo. Find ways of contributing to your situation that take into account what you can emotionally handle.

LIBRA

Sept. 23-Oct. 22

Selfish is only a bad thing when you’re taking something that doesn’t belong to you. You're allowed to be in disagreement with others, to see things from your own vantage point, and to come to your own conclusions. When people want you to see the world the same way they do and to come to the same conclusions as them, that’s a reflection of them – not on you or the situation at hand. Strive to be comfortable with differences of opinion this week, sweet Libra.

SCORPIO

Oct. 23-Nov. 21

This week – as the saying goes – you’ll catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. You can push and pull at others all you want, but it won’t get you as far as letting them do what they’re going to do, how they’re going to do it, Scorpio. Allow others to reveal themselves to you, and allow yourself the space and time to emotionally process what you’re being shown. The path to independence isn’t greater control of others; it’s controlling yourself.

SAGITTARIUS

Nov. 22-Dec. 21

When you’re emotionally exhausted, you need to subtract stressors before you add solutions. Create space in your week to unplug, ‘Tarius. Lock yourself in a room for a couple of hours without your phone, without your work, with just your feelings. Maybe take a nap! The point is that you need repose to help you pursue correct action. When it’s go-go-go, you end up running over or past really important things.

CAPRICORN

Dec. 22-Jan. 19

The more you struggle, the worse it’ll be, Capricorn. You are not in control, you’re not the boss, and it’s not all up to you. People have their own paths, and it’s not your job to manage or manipulate any step of any other adult's path. Instead of justifying why you're entitled to your reactions, pay attention to them, and be interested in what they reveal to you about yourself. You have a right to all of your feelings; what you’re gonna do with them is what’s important.

AQUARIUS

Jan. 20-Feb. 18

The middle is not a static place; it’s a space the pendulum swings through as much as one where it stops. The extreme parts of your nature are demanding, but are they helpful? As they shift, so does the space in which you can be comfortably moderate. Be wary of all-or-nothing thinking this Full Moon week, as emotions are likely to be running high. You don’t need to water down your truth, but you don’t need to use it as a spray hose either, Aquarius.

PISCES

Feb. 19-March 20

This isn’t the time for stoicism, Pisces. Fear is a great instructor, but this week it’s likely to be teaching you how to relate to it in a healthy way. You are not alone. Whether you want to reach out to people, cats, God, or the ocean, this week it’s your job to connect to the love that is all around you. You have resources available to you, but you have to lift your head to look around and see the help before you can accept it, my love.

WITCHTIPS AND HOROSCOPES 11/14-20/2018

Witch Tips

Written by Jessica Lanyadoo

This week marks a meaningful changing of the guards. On the 15th Mars enters into the sign of Pisces in a dynamic move, bolstered by a sextile from Uranus. This makes it an excellent time to consider your boundaries. When it's done with authenticity, how you express yourself is a vulnerable act. This transit of Mars is a reminder to embody that vulnerability – not as a weakness but an asset that allows you to have greater empathy for yourself and others. This can mark a time of spiritual progress, creative advancement, and a bit of slowing down in material gains. Be interested in what shifts for you now, as Pisces can provoke confusion and distraction if you’re not careful. On the 16th Venus stops it’s retrograde motion, and Mercury takes up the torch (for more on Venus Retrograde listen to episodes 14 and 20 of Ghost of a Podcast).

This Mercury Retrograde transit will only last until December 6th, but what it lacks in length, it makes up for in brain fog. When it comes to retrogrades, the rule is review, reassess, and realign. Look at your attitudes, beliefs, and even your relationships. Venus and Mercury are both related to relationships. Venus governs the sensual, romantic, and creative elements of them, while Mercury is all about texting, talking, and the platonic side of connection. It’s wise to take stock of that platonic part of your world through this transit, but not to the exclusion of your other plans. We’re likely to see lots of miscommunications and similar annoyances, so do your due diligence and double check your work, reiterate what you understand, and make room for inevitable misunderstandings. Stay rooted in what you can do based on what you know now.

Finally, on the 19th Mars will form an irritating square to expansive Jupiter. These two planets are likely to kick up some drama (and even fighting) if you're not careful, as both of their energies can induce entitlement. Beware of your self-absorption, and strive to afford others the same liberties that you feel you deserve. If people are especially annoying to you around this transit, it’s wise to take the high road. Keep an expansive view of your situation so that you don’t end up fighting someone down from their own perspective. 

Your way is not the only way, dear one. Your truth is not the only truth. With the shift of Jupiter into Sagittarius, and now Mars in Pisces, we run the risk of confusing our heartfelt beliefs with gospel. This is an excellent time for growth, but don’t let it be at another’s expense. Instead of losing energy on disagreements, advance your agenda by supporting the people, causes, and projects that you believe in. Use your power to promote what you love, and leave what you hate to itself, my love.

ARIES

March 21-April 19

When you’re frustrated, it's time to either get still or get cracking. Make sure that your action is paired with wisdom this week, Aries. If you react impulsively to your strongest feels, you may not take the time to properly understand what they’re trying to tell you. Yes, this is a good time for change, but not just any change. Do the work to remember what you want, and pair that self-knowledge with action. Make improvements, not distractions, my love.

TAURUS

April 20-May 20

Not knowing what comes next is unnerving, but it’s not evidence of things getting worse. Instead of indulging your fears with catastrophizing thoughts, try to keep yourself in the here and now. You can put one foot in front of the other, so just do that. Tend to the small things, and you’ll get to where you need to be in the big picture by-and-by. That change is in the air is irrefutable, but that’s all that’s certain. How you respond to it is a matter of free will, Taurus.

GEMINI

May 21-June 21

Anxiety is not instruction, and it’s not intuition – it's just fear. Find new ways to position yourself to old worries. You are growing, and that means it’s time to outgrow some habits that have long been ineffective. This week, the things that aren’t working in your routines, attitudes, or lifestyle are going to feel uncomfortable to you. Tend to your feels with patience, and seek simple solutions to even the most complicated of problems, Twin Star.

CANCER

June 22-July 22

You can’t know what’s going on for others, and as important as that information is, it shouldn’t be the benchmark of how you determine your own wellness. This week will test your ability to manage your self-care independently of your relationships. Strive to honor your feels without constantly checking in with others for validation. Your experience is yours alone. Take stock of where you’re at, and take responsibility for how you respond to your life, Moonchild.

LEO

July 23-Aug. 22

Instead of obsessing over all the details and working yourself into frenzy, it’s time for a little acceptance. If you can start where you’re at – no matter how or why you got here – you can start to unpack, reorganize, and manage it, Leo. This week is an excellent time to establish your boundaries, but if you attempt to do this before you determine what they are, you’ll just enact the psychological equivalent of shoving all your dirty clothes under the bed. Create meaningful changes, my love.

 

VIRGO

Aug. 23-Sept. 22

It’s on you to exercise your freedoms, Virgo. Stop waiting for someone to give you permission to be where you’re at and to do what you feel called to do. It’s time for you to act from a place of empowerment and self-reference. It’s wise to pair your own drives with the needs of the people around you so that you don’t kick up opposition to your plans. Just don’t confuse acting in concert with others with allowing them to write and direct the music for you.

LIBRA

Sept. 23-Oct. 22

Your fears are justified, but that doesn’t make them useful. This week will deliver opportunities to be brave, dear Libra. Find ways you can show up, goals that motivate you, and things you can be grateful for. There's no way of knowing what comes next, but you can manage your feels in the here and now with grace and intention. In doing so, you're preparing for tomorrow by getting right with yourself today.

SCORPIO

Oct. 23-Nov. 21

Letting go is hard work; it requires you to lean into uncertainty, stay present with your feels, and resist the urge to move to the next playing field. Instead of pushing beyond what you’re ready for, take a moment to tend to yourself, Scorpio. This week will bring up a lot of intense feels, and the best thing to do is be here for it. You don’t need to be anyone but yourself, and you don’t need to do anything but your best, my love.

SAGITTARIUS

Nov. 22-Dec. 21

If you allow anxiety to drive you, you’re likely to get into power struggles that are not about what they seem to be. Instead of seeking power, seek the truth. Instead of seeking answers, seek the nuance. You are capable of achieving real clarity this week, but it won’t come by pushing your agenda. Listen to what’s being said and what isn’t being said, ‘Tarius. Pay attention to what people’s actions communicate, and take stock of what your own behavior implies this week.

CAPRICORN

Dec. 22-Jan. 19

You don’t have to resonate with the stress around you, Capricorn. You don’t have to take on the pain of others in order to show them your support. Use your powers of discernment wisely this week. You can too easily abandon yourself in efforts to get along. That won’t do you much good, and it ultimately won't help you invest in other people. You shouldn’t make yourself smaller in order to get love and support. Be here for the complexity that is an inevitable part of your relationships.

AQUARIUS

Jan. 20-Feb. 18

It’s time for some serious reflection, Aquarius. What you care about, how you move forward, and why you do whatever comes next are all very revealing about you. If you find that your actions aren’t reflective of your true values, it’s time for a serious change. You don’t need to be able to see the future in order to prepare for it, my friend. Get present, get honest, and get organized. You're on your way up, and you need only make self-appropriate choices from here.

PISCES

Feb. 19-March 20

Letting go can be downright terrifying. It’s hard to know what you can rely on when you aren’t confident in yourself. This week Mars moves into your sign, making this the perfect time to work on your relationship to your own self-worth. Your ego should be strong enough to refer back to and use in uncertain situations, but it shouldn't be so big that it has you thinking your experience is more important or relevant than anyone else’s. Seek balance within yourself, sweet Pisces.

XO

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

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.