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.

GODDESSES OF THE WEEK : COVEN OF ASHES

Photo by @levan_tk

Name: Coven of Ashes

Location: Los Angeles

Astrological Sign/rising:

We are legion. 

Which Goddess or Goddess Archetype do you most identify with and why?

We tend to identify with dark goddesses like Lilith, Kali and the Great Whore ofBabalon. We identify with them because they’re representative of the fierce feminine, creation, destruction and primal energy.

How do you get in touch with/unleash your inner goddess?

We are a troupe that is known for bloodletting, flesh hook pulls and our Butoh performances. Also our connection to our mind, body and altered states of consciousness. Thefierce primal feminine energy is released through us, charging our rituals with a heavy, vulnerable energy. Our blood is an offering, a purging and a symbol ofour bodily autonomy. 

What is your Goddess superpower?

To transcend planes of existence, reach beyond the veil and embody the dark feminine divine. 

What are some important words of wisdom that you'd like to share with other Goddesses out there?

Get in touch with your shadow self. Healing comes from the ability to look in the darkest parts of yourself, acknowledge them and transcend. Do not be afraid of what lies in your shadows. Blood magick is an important tool should you choose to use it, but please be responsible and educate yourself about blood borne pathogens and the risks involved. 

if you would like to learn more about Coven Of Ashes, and their performance rituals  check them out here:

 Facebook: www.facebook.com/covenofashes

Instagram: @CovenOfAshes

WITCH TIPS & HOROSCOPES 7/4-10/2018

Artwork by John Deckmann

WITCH TIPS

Written By Jessica Lanyadoo

Self-care is not a detour from where you’re going. It's the way forward. Tending to your inner world is the foundation that you need in order to sustain your efforts. 

It’s time to prioritize hope, my loves. In the words of John Lewis, “We may not have chosen the time, but the time has chosen us.” 

Fight your inner demons; fight your fears that tell you not to even bother trying. Fight to be a person that you respect and feel good about. Stand up for those who need your help, for the vulnerable and the struggling. Action is the antidote to anxiety. You don't have to do all the things – you can't, you still have to live your life - but you do need to do some of the things. Add your light to the shadows; illuminate your problems so that you can bring healing to them.

 The subconscious mind is a tricky thing; it holds on to things that you don’t want or don’t know how to process. It is the part of you that remembers what your conscious mind just can’t. This week you’re likely to feel anxious over things that are deeper than what you see happening on the surface. It may be tempting to turn away, but it’s not wise or kind. This is not the time to forget who you are or what you’ve set out to do. The unknown is scary, but it’s also ripe with potential. This isn’t the time to check out; it’s time to honor your heart. Hope is easy enough to access when life is going your way, but when you’re struggling is when you need it most.

 On the 5th the vibrant Sun will form a harmonious trine to expansive Jupiter and the planet of communication, Mercury, will oppose the irritable planet of fighting, Mars. The combination of these two transits indicates that you take care not to egg on your most aggressive or arrogant impulses. It’s possible to convince yourself that something is true, but that doesn’t make it so. Don’t jump to conclusions or pick fights with people who don’t see things the same way as you do. This can mark a time of rapid growth. You may have to deal with major bullying from yourself or others, or you may just feel pressed by your circumstances.

On the 8th we have a Sun trine to empathetic Neptune. This transit can increase your sensitivities, your sense of empathy, and your compassion for others. It can also make you feel entitled, as it can incline you to only value your own perspective or pain. Make a point to do something for someone else on this day – Neptune is the planet that thrives when you pay it forward.

Finally, on the 9th Mercury will form a challenging square to Jupiter. This can be a time when you learn something new, or you may spread gossip because you’d rather talk than listen. Much like the Mercury/Mars transit earlier in the week, this one can trigger fighting words and snap judgments. The best thing you can do around this date is to really listen. Pay attention to what people are doing as much as they’re saying – it’s all information that you deserve to have because at the end of the day, the truth is true whether you want to face it or not.

 Growth requires instability. This summer brings us Eclipses and Retrogrades, and with all that comes major shifts for you, me, and everyone in this big, beautiful world we share. Change can be scary, especially when there are no assurances that things are going to be better, but there’s no need to panic. Eclipses are an opportunity to transform and heal. Retrogrades are a chance to look within and reassess what you’re doing and why. This astrology is urging you to grow, not in leaps and bounds, but in deep and moving ways. Life is meant to be lived. You are meant to try, especially when it’s hard. It’s good to question things; whether we’re talking about the people you love, the law of the land, your own assumptions, your habits, whatever. Seek new perspectives moving forward; new takes on old problems may be just what you need, my love.

ARIES

March 21-April 19

You have a gift to share with the world that is unique to you, and it’s time for you to challenge yourself to bring it, Aries. Set the intention of showing up for the people in your life or your larger community this week because you’re likely to find that the more you give, the more you’ll have to give. Acts of kindness, no matter how random or small, will remind you of who you are but also of who you can be. Strive to embody your potential, my love.

TAURUS

April 20-May 20

Don’t act out of fear, Taurus. There’s a time for reflection and a time for action, and sometimes it’s hard to know the difference. Carefully consider your plans before moving forward with them this week. If you push too hard, you may put events into motion that you’re not ready to handle. Inactivity is not the answer but neither is rushing in. Instead, move forward with intention, and you'll be able to propel yourself to exactly where you need to be.  

GEMINI

May 21-June 21

You’re not meant to be anyone but yourself, Twin Star. Life is full of necessary compromise, and not all situations are for all parts of you. That said, when you try to be someone that you’re not, you only succeed in misleading others and harming yourself. It’s important that you know yourself well enough to know your own limits. Strive to honor the truth of who you are in situations in which you’d usually phone it in, my love.

CANCER

June 22-July 22

The role that anxiety plays in your thinking is worth considering, Moonchild. Instead of trying to figure out why you’re worrying, strive to soothe yourself this week. There’s enough stress to go around, and you don’t need answers as much as you need care. Do the basics: remember to breathe, to drink enough water, to eat, and to move your body. Help yourself and if you need to, ask for support too. Self-care is not a detour from where you’re going, my love.

LEO

July 23-Aug. 22

You can’t always know your place in the world, but that shouldn’t make you lose track of your value. This week your uncertainties threaten to rattle your foundations. The worst thing you could do is try to convince yourself or anyone else of your worth. Have faith in yourself without needing to defend or justify merit. Honor your worthiness by picking yourself up, dusting yourself off, and choosing to live your best life, moment by moment.

VIRGO

Aug. 23-Sept. 22

It’s not enough to think positive; you have to be willing to feel into it, too. This week will bring you to the end of a cycle of development. This may be a subtle thing, or it may feel like a massive shift. In either case, you’re likely to feel uncertain of what comes next or where exactly you’re meant to go from here. Be patient, dear one. Try to pair kindness and creativity with discernment and common sense, and then let life play out from there, Virgo.

LIBRA

Sept. 23-Oct. 22

Stress is an inevitable part of life, and there’s a reason for it. Feeling frustration or overwhelm is when it’s easiest to disassociate or look the other way, but that's when you need you the most. This week you’re not likely to have your people available to lean on, which can make matters feel worse than they are. Find your inner light and resiliency, and share it with others. To paraphrase Amber Ibarrache, when you can’t take it anymore is when it’s time to be giving. Don't recede, my love. 

SCORPIO

Oct. 23-Nov. 21

Fear is invasive. It tells you that it’s trying to keep you safe, and it can make sense of anything it wants you to believe. But if any induced impulses are to be approached with caution, it’s those that come from fear. This week is likely to kick up some major worries, and it’s in your best interest not to take them at face value. As they say, action is the antidote to what ails you. Take steps, no matter how small, to move your life forward or to maintain what you’ve got, Scorpio.

SAGITTARIUS

Nov. 22-Dec. 21

If you can pace yourself through your desires, you’ll be able to create sustainable changes instead of exciting distractions. This week is all about change, and the more intentional you are about what you’re doing and what you hope to get out of it, the better your outlook will be. True strength means knowing when to push your goals forward, knowing when to hold back, and knowing when to ask for help or walk away. You don’t have to be perfect, but it’s time to show all the way up, ‘Tarius.

CAPRICORN

Dec. 22-Jan. 19

When things don’t go as you’d like them to, it’s easy to get the sads and to stop trying, but that doesn’t advance your life at all, Cappy. The key is to honor your feels without giving up. This week, your best move is to let your problems instruct you to look at what isn’t working and what you most want. It’s time for you to get to work, but before you can do that, you need to get decisive. Identify your greatest desires by the very things that are upsetting you the most.

 

AQUARIUS

Jan. 20-Feb. 18

When you struggle against your present conditions, you only succeed in making things harder on yourself, Aquarius. This week is likely to test your ability to accept where things are at, but accept you must. If you don’t start where you’re at, it’s really hard to take the right first steps. As I often say, acceptance is not consent, it’s awareness. Empower yourself to make the changes that need to happen, even if you’re only at the planning stage for now.

PISCES

Feb. 19-March 20

You don’t have to take on the stresses of the people around you in order to show them kindness and loyalty, even if they really want you to carry the baggage. This week is the time to use the tools you have for having healthy boundaries and staying grounded. Take on only as much as you can handle in a healthy way. It’s far better to do your best at less than it is to half-ass it at full capacity. Empathy is a very Piscean gift, but it requires that you manage your self-care religiously, my love.

FULL MOON IN CAPRICORN 2018

Written by Lisa Stardust

The Capricorn Full Moon on June 28th utilizes both earth and water elements, making it a great time to diligently nurture a new dream while letting go of an old vision that no longer suits you. The Capricorn Full Moon is a time of death, rebirth, and change through hard work. These energies all work together as long as we commit to our higher selves.

The following simple spell blends the elements of the watery Cancer sun and its opposing earthy Moon. This symbolic activity of nurturance will inspire your growth in the moon cycles to come. 

The recipe that follows incorporates many elemental ingredients. Moon water is water that has been charged with the energy of the Moon, connecting us to the lunar power and energy from the Full Moon which can add magic and power to any intention and spell. Capricorn, being an earth element is related to growth and earthy ventures. The snake plant is the plant represented by Capricorn for its independence, requiring water only every 2-3 weeks. This is good because it will help you can conserve the Moon water month to month. Writing a letter of intention with a clear mind, while visualizing your dreams, and connecting to both elements will help you to truly bring in the new and release the things that no longer serve you.
 

Ingredients:

Water

Snake Plant seeds or any seeds for plants you identify with

Soil

Handwritten letter of intention
 

How to make Moon Water:

Take a glass container or cups filled with water.

Set your intention while holding the water, to get your energy on it.

Under the Full Moon, visualize your intentions and let the light of the Moon radiate its energy in the water.

Let the water sit near the window or outside, so it consumes the lunar energy.

Directions for nourishing your plant:
 

Make Moon Water to use to make the plants grow throughout the upcoming months.

Write a letter of intention.

Place the letter at bottom of soul in pot or outside.

Place Snake Plant seeds in soil or in earth outside, above or to the side of the letter. Note that you can use any type of seed! Feel free to be creative and find the plant or flower you connect with the most.

Water the seedling as needed, using the moon water to nourish your dreams, and give life to your new hopes while letting go of the past. Allow quiet time to meditate and restructure your visions as you move step by step towards them.

Remember to speak to your plant while you water it and even throughout the day as you do your daily activities. You can even discuss your intentions aloud with the plant as you work to manifest your next big dream!

WITCH TIPS AND HOROSCOPES 6-27- 7-3/2018

Written by Jessica Lanyadoo 

Witch Tips

On the 27th the Moon will be full at 6° Capricorn at 9:53pm, and the Sun in Cancer will be opposite Saturn in Capricorn. Full Moons are always a momentous time when feels come to the surface and demand to be dealt with. It’s when we’re meant to release what isn’t working, a process that can be painful but is also cathartic and totally necessary. We’re currently in Cancer Season, making it the time for family, and for reunion with the heart. Full Moons are oppositions – they happen when the Sun is exactly opposite the Moon; the Cancer/Capricorn polarity is an opportunity for the healing of our broken family of humans, or the hurtful dynamics in your own family. It’s time to consider the needs of the whole and to honor all children and all families, in small or big ways. 

This Full Moon is likely to be hard, and it might bring up emotions that make you want to shut down. When you’re in pain it’s tempting to want things to be black and white, but the truth has layers. Saturn is the planet that governs depressive thoughts and feels and it gives us a heavy load to carry. You may need to take a break to nurture your heart or gain perspective, but Cap/Saturn has a tendency to go rigid and procrastinate or degenerate into guilt and blame. Stay connected to your heart, to empathy, and compassion. We're all going through this astrology together. If you’re going to fight, fight for what you love. It’s a time when you can better understand the hierarchies impacting you and decide to move in the direction of change. Capricorn and Saturn bring consequences and reality checks, and they confront you with limitations (real or imagined).

Mars has gone Retrograde in Aquarius for the first time since 1971, and it will stay that way from June 26th through August 27th. Mars is the planet that governs fighting, fornicating, and the concept of masculinity. Rage, flaring tempers, self-defense, competition, and ambition are all in Mars’ wheelhouse. Mars is the warrior, while Aquarius is the sign of 'We The People.' The last time that Mars went Rx in this sign, we in the USA had Nixon as president, and hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets to protest the Vietnam War. The country was divided on a number of issues, and people were engaged in acts of liberation and war.

On a personal level, the potential of this transit is to radically reassess what you’re doing, and to make necessary changes. Retrogrades are always the time to review, reflect, and reconsider; and Mars is a fiery planet that governs where you’re going and how you’re going to get yourself there. Aquarius is concerned with forward motion as well, but in a very different way. This is the sign of invention, of the future, and its energies are individualistic. This sign can be humanistic in its drives, and it's not concerned with walls or nationalism. Aquarius wants you to direct your anger towards efforts that impact the collective, and for compromise to be a means towards greater freedom.

This is a time when you may have to fight for what you think is right, but heed this warning: Mars retrograde can lower your vitality, and bring frustrations and obstacles to your efforts. The key here is to not burn yourself out, especially while Mars moves through quick-witted Aquarius. Mars will Retrograde (aka move backwards) into Capricorn where it’ll stay from August 14 through September 11th. This will mark a transition into addressing what is and isn’t working with the structures in your life and in society itself. 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 will be poorly starred. If you’re going to fight, fight for what you believe in, not just to have your voice heard over the chorus, or to have your ego validated.

Love, as simple or cheesy as it sounds, is the answer. It’s an action and a force for change. Let it fuel you to confront the realities of your life, relationships, and our world. Things may be hard right now, but the astrology gives us the tools to work on them, to bring justice and compassion to the fore. To do this you must seek the wisdom of your heart, and the teachings of history, whether you’re looking at your own patterns, or human history itself. This may be a serious period of action and consequence, but it’s also one for building emotional maturity and strengthening your internal resources, and then sharing them with the world. Take a deep breath and do the work, lovers.

ARIES

March 21-April 19

Sure, if you push hard enough you may get your way, but you won’t win any popularity contests, Aries. Instead of forcing your will on others, take a beat and consider their needs. If you can access compassion for another’s perspective, even if you don’t agree with them, you can start working toward successful communication. Collaboration may be annoying, but it’s the surest route to your success.

TAURUS

April 20-May 20

It’s time to check your ego, Taurus. Whether you think you’re the worst or the best, when you can’t stop seeing yourself at the center of things, you’ve lost your way. Take a pause and check in with what you’re doing, but more importantly, what’s motivating you. If your driving forces aren’t clear, you won’t be happy with whatever happens – even if you get what you’re gunning for. Tighten the reigns on your desires this week, my love.

GEMINI

May 21-June 21

Where your mind goes, your energy will follow. This week will test you, but luckily it’s a test you can for sure pass. Decide to let it go, Twin Star. Instead of running over details that you can’t control, align yourself with your own center of strength. You can’t control or fix much in the world, but you can participate to the best of your ability. You only have to do your best, not the best; make peace with the good, the bad, and the complicated of what you are so you can move on, my love.

CANCER

June 22-July 22

This week’s full Moon in your relationship house is a chance for you to reaffirm or reconsider the loves of your life (this may be your romantic or platonic loves). You get to decide who you're intimate with, who you trust, and how much. Even when your options feel painful, they’re still your choices to make. Honor the needs of your heart without idealizing your situation, Moonchild. It’s time to face reality and to honor what you know to be true.

LEO

July 23-Aug. 22

When you choose to prioritize what gives you life, you’re basically putting yourself in a position to thrive. When you allow yourself to get attached to how things need to go or how they appear to others, you lose track of those good vibes, and you also lose your way. This week, it’s time to focus on what’s working in your life, Leo. Attention and love are not equal any more than getting “likes” equals self-esteem. Realign with your sense of purpose, regardless of how it looks to others this week.

VIRGO

Aug. 23-Sept. 22

When something worked at one time, it’s tempting to hold on to it for dear life, even when it’s no longer working in the same way for you. The path to balance or inner peacefulness requires that you’re willing to change yourself or your actions, depending on the needs of the moment. Check ways in which you may be caught up in a rigid cycle with self-care or self-maintenance, and make some necessary adjustments, Virgo. Be here now, even if here and now is a little tricky.

LIBRA

Sept. 23-Oct. 22

Reflection isn’t really a passive process; it’s an act that requires bravery and humility. This week it’s time for you to be honest with yourself, Libra. You’ve been running your life in certain ways that are no longer working, and it’s important that you don’t wait until your hand is forced before you make changes. Show up and strive to be decisive; what you choose now isn’t written in stone, but it is important for your future. Do what needs to be done, my love.

SCORPIO

Oct. 23-Nov. 21

Pull it together, friend. Stress is contagious, and this week you’re on call to manage your own. Try to remember why you’re engaged in the struggles and goals that you are so that you don’t forget your heartfelt motivation. When you lead with your heart, you're less likely to get distracted by petty concerns and other roadblocks to achieving excellence. This is your story; don’t let any one person or situation define it for you, Scorpio.

SAGITTARIUS

Nov. 22-Dec. 21

Having too much on your plate means that you end up doing everything at less than your capacity. If you take a long-view of your life, you can adopt the perspective that allows you to better pace yourself, Sagittarius. This week you may be feeling totally overwhelmed, and your best move is to treat it as a call to better prioritize what needs to get done and when. This isn’t about doing less; it’s about being more efficient with your energy so you can do better over the long haul.

CAPRICORN

Dec. 22-Jan. 19

It’s your time to shine, Cappy. This week the Moon is full in your sign, and the Sun is opposite your ruling planet: basically it’s coming up Capricorn! Whether you’re struggling to put your life together or things are going well for you, it’s wise to pause and take stock of how you got here. Own your achievements and the effort it took to attain them, or conversely, where you may have taken a wrong turn. Strive to replace guilt or pridefulness with humility and self-awareness.

AQUARIUS

Jan. 20-Feb. 18

The sads are all around, and it’s hard times for sure. Do you best not to turn away from upsets this week, Aquarius. Attempt to understand what you’re really upset about, and from there, explore the best possible solutions available to you at this moment. Hopelessness is debilitating, so deciding to take action, no matter how small, will help empower you to see more options and even be more comfortable in your own skin. You’re absolutely on your way, Aquarius; don’t give up now.

PISCES

Feb. 19-March 20

As things change and grow around you, so too must you change and grow. This week you can choose to hide in your old ways, but it won’t do you much good. Choose how you wish to be instead of waiting for circumstances to force your hand, Pisces. Trust in yourself, and have confidence in your ability to make things happen. Nothing has to be perfect, and you can take as much time as you need, but know that you have the vision; all you need to work on is the follow through.