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

WITCHTIPS & HOROSCOPES 07-13.2018

 Written by Jessica Lanyadoo 

On the 7th there is a powerful New Moon in Scorpio that delivers deep healing potential. This New Moon brings with it a powerful intensity that can shine new light on old problems or simply bring something to the surface that you’ve been avoiding. Don’t shy away from intensity; it’s exactly what you need to feel in order to heal. New Moons happen when the Moon and Sun meet in the sky at the exact same degree, and they happen once per year in each sign. When it comes to the Moon, the only way out is in, so stay with whatever comes up for you this week instead of trying to explain it away or ignore it. Scorpio is a deeply emotional sign. Expect to be confronted with feels that you’ve had shame around or on topics that are somewhat taboo. It’s good to look at your shadow, even if it feels bad. Your shadow is a part of you, and only by accepting and owning it can you transform it. That’s exactly what this lunar shift is here to help you do.

Be willing to use your feelings as information. Here are some questions to explore, as honestly as you can. Now is the time to heal your wounds.

New Moon Homework:

- What have I been avoiding?

- What people, situations, or attitudes am I holding on to that I know aren’t working?

- What am I willing to release in efforts to be more whole?

- Where have I held others or myself to excessively harsh standards?

- Can I give myself permission to make mistakes? Furthermore, can I commit to a living amends?

As Jupiter, the planet of luck and benevolence leaves Scorpio on the 7th and enters Sagittarius, we have the potential to let go of some of the pain that the past year has unearthed. Beginnings and endings are irrevocably linked up with each other. The healing that Jupiter provokes tends to be quick, but it may not be thorough.

Jupiter is in its native placement in Sagittarius, and it’s here for the first time in twelve years. This shift is a powerful one. It opens the door to strangers, it opens minds, and it yields an increased potential for understanding others, especially those who have cross-cultural experiences. This transit will last about a year, and it marks a time of increased growth. The only trouble is that not all things should grow. The downside of this energy is that it can compel you to jump to conclusions, to sacrifice common sense to your impulses, and to err on the side of extremes. While this can help us to better understand each other, it can also lead to cross-gendered mansplaining, aka soapboxing. If you’re in a rush to convince others of your views, you may not be doing a great job of listening. This is a period where we can find new ways of communicating and learn a ton, but this will require listening at least as much as you speak. If you feel called to teach or travel over the next year, it’s likely to be an expansive experience.  We are moving into a time when you get to rewrite your story. If you do this at the expense of the truth, justice, or fairness, you will find that you are restless and hungry. You are not better than anyone else, and you are not worse. When your version of the truth justifies cruelty or condemnation of others, you’ve veered off a dangerous edge. We still have the heavy hitters of Saturn and Pluto in Capricorn, and Uranus in Taurus, so it’s not sunshine and rainbows quite yet, my friends. Beware of the pitfalls of extremism; if your version of utopia is at the expense of other people’s wellness, then that vision is at the expense of both the collective and your own Soul. Confront your shadow with kindness. Shine light into the darkness, and don’t recoil from what you see. Embrace yourself so that you may heal, and then use the resiliency of your own healing as a resource that you can share with others. Good intentions, thoughts, and prayers are only the first in the many steps needed from each and every one of us.

Xo

ARIES

March 21-April 19

You can find your best self, inner peace, or the path forward, but it won’t happen by avoiding your stresses or by overwhelming yourself to the point of paralysis. It’s time to take stock of the big picture: look at your goals, and look at how far you’ve come. Don’t be in such a rush to fill in the details that you do so before you're clear about your modus operandi. Believe it or not, you can put some things down now in order to more effectively deal with them later.

TAURUS

April 20-May 20

You’ve got all of the tools you need to get up and make it happen, but right now that’s not the best course forward. This week’s New Moon in your relationship house is a great opportunity to slow down and get grounded, Taurus. Things are changing, and it won’t do you well to have knee-jerk reactions. Take the time you need to consider your past. Commit to learning from your experiences rather than dooming yourself to repeat them, dear Taurus.

GEMINI

May 21-June 21

When things slow down is when you start to stress out. Don’t confuse the space in which to create infrastructure with being stuck. Sometimes the movement in your life is meant to be internal, and sometimes it’s about productivity and action. Slow down and regroup this week, Twin Star. Realign your plans with your circumstances. Be willing to make carefully considered changes based on the information that you have now, my love.

CANCER

June 22-July 22

This week’s New Moon is likely to put you right in your element, sweet Moonchild. Show up emotionally for yourself and the people in your life. Allow the wisdom of your heart, including all that you’ve learned and lost, to inspire you to hold space for others and for yourself. You’re in a unique position to honor your feels and to support others too. Align yourself with the generosity of spirit that helps you to not only have peace within yourself but to also generate it in the world around you.

LEO

July 23-Aug. 22

Letting go is hard work, even when that letting go is absolutely the right thing to do. This week is likely to kick up some seriously sad feels, but that doesn’t mean that they’re bad feels or an indication that you’re off track. Don’t confuse what you’re feeling with a green light or a red light. Your feelings are a response to your situation right now in tandem with the baggage you came here with. Be patient and kind as you work through them, Leo.

VIRGO

Aug. 23-Sept. 22

You don’t need to know what’s coming next in order to be safe. This week you’re likely to feel your control issues are triggered. Instead of taking those feelings at face value, try to investigate them. Why do you want control? And truly – of what? Dig deeper into your reactions so that you don’t end up relocating messes instead of cleaning them up. Even better, try not creating them in the first place. Change yourself before you go trying to change others, Virgo.

LIBRA

Sept. 23-Oct. 22

Embrace what you have with both arms, Libra. This week, the power of gratitude will help buoy you along. Take pains to appreciate the air you breathe, the food that nourishes you, and all the other little things that are so easy to take for granted. Finding balance isn’t like finding the perfect pair of jeans. It isn’t waiting somewhere for you; you have to make it happen. Counterbalance the tough stuff by paying greater mind to the abundance in your life.

SCORPIO

Oct. 23-Nov. 21

The New Moon in your sign on the 7th marks a powerful shift for you, Scorpio. This can be a time when you feel overwhelmed and shut down, or you rise to the occasion by using the tools and inner resources at your disposal. Be your own best ally, my love. Show up for yourself, wherever you’re at, and put into practice your hard-earned wisdom, even if your feels would have you regress back into old habits. You’ve got this.

SAGITTARIUS

Nov. 22-Dec. 21

Don’t get so caught up looking around for excuses that you check out from the story as it unfolds. You are here now, and you have a part to play in the events of your life. Don’t forget why you’re in it, Sagittarius. Reconnect with your sense of purpose, and let that guide you – not being right, not rushing to the part where you understand the big picture. Get accustomed to uncertainty, and strive to pair it with faith and patience this week.

CAPRICORN

Dec. 22-Jan. 19

Your fears are likely to catch up with you this week if you’re not careful, my salty friend. Instead of losing yourself in a soup of what ifs, start with accepting where you’re at, including the parts that are yet unknown. You can only make plans based on the information you have, so start there. Don’t overwhelm yourself by taking on too much. Dont' try to cultivate a long-view when so many details are blocking your view. Do only what you can today, and handle tomorrow when it comes, Cappy.

AQUARIUS

Jan. 20-Feb. 18

The New Moon on the 7th may fill you with a sense of purpose, or it may highlight that you’ve strayed from having one. You may have to take a slow road forward, but that doesn’t mean that you won’t get there. Find strength in your vulnerability and a purpose that can propel you to whatever comes next. This week is bound to reveal something that you’ve been trying to avoid dealing with, and while it’s not fun, it was really a matter of time, Aquarius.

PISCES

Feb. 19-March 20

You seriously need a break, Pisces. You are likely to have people around you with lots of demands this week, and it’s on you to articulate and honor your own limits. It’s not true generosity when you don’t give it with an open heart. Saying no to a person is not the same as denouncing them; give yourself the same latitude as you would offer to others. You get to do what works for you in a healthy way, even when it’s a bit complicated. Prioritize self-care, my love.

Happy New Moon In Scorpio 2018

Blurred Lines: Manifesting with the Scorpio New Moon

Written by  Lisa Stardust

The Scorpio New Moon, occurring November 7th, serves as a time to heighten sensations, allowing us to swim in the deepest depths of our souls imaginable, through the magical power of the orgasm. Tantric Magic can help us manifest our dreams through the flow of energy.

Scorpio is a transformative sign, with  a restorative vibe, which can allow people to heal and transform under its influence. Use this luminary to open your mind through Tantric Magic. Alchemical power is transformational. There’s no better way to elevate our magic and mind than through sexual experience, which according to Tantra is a heightened state of sacred-spiritual awareness, by opening up our heart, sacral, and crown chakras.

Let’s talk about sex, bb!

Sexual energy is the source of life and Tantra is a vehicle that may be used for cultivating and transforming it for personal, spiritual, sexual and non-sexual healing and growth.

Tantra allows us to clear our minds and rid our bodies of emotional pain, fear, shyness, and feelings of inadequacy. Tantra can help us liberate, “rewire,” develop, and learn to control our chakric energies, allowing us to open to heart-centered love and be the recipient of sexual healing. 

Tantra has the potential to transform and expand our perception of and relationship with ourselves, our lovers, and the universe. It opens the doorway for more self acceptance, love, connection with universal energy, and a broader, fuller, deeper experience of life. Being at one with our bodies and minds will help guide our intuition and clear your chakras, which allows us to be more connected to the spiritual plane, thus, heightening our magical powers.

Before we begin with the two Tantra exercises, think about your intention. Mediate for a few minutes on what you wish to bring into your life under this luminary. Also, think about what no longer serves your higher good. Once you have envisioned your desires, you can begin the techniques below. With your intention in mind, start these exercises. Then, when you are done, with your intention still present, you may pleasure yourself. Your orgasms will be bountiful, and you will have a pleasurable correlation between your body and New Moon intention, allowing you to achieve your goals.

These exercises serve as a way to detox the body by engaging the powerful sacral chakra, through the tingling sensations of an orgasm,  which will allow personal healing and transformation. This newfound clarity will purify the body. By achieving a clear mind, your inner vibration will rise, allowing your highest self to radiate in your magic.

Spinal Cord Breathing vitalizes the spine, increases flexibility, improves natural flow of cerebrospinal fluid, stimulates the adrenal and thymus glands and relaxes the back so you can sit more comfortably in prolonged meditation. This technique may be practiced standing with a straight spine or sitting with a comfortably straight spine in a hard, straight backed chair without leaning against the back of the chair.

- Exhale and relax.

- As you inhale, gently arch your lower back, tuck in your chin and bring your fists to your shoulders. Let your chest and ribcage spread open and as you push air out of your abdomen, retract your shoulders and fists, bring your shoulder blades together, press your neck back and gently clench your teeth.

- Exhale as you push and curl your lower back and head forward and arch your back like a cat as you bring your elbows forward, your forearms together, fists to your chest (fingers facing your chest) and try to touch your chin to your chest.

- Repeat 36 times.

Tongue Extenstion engages the respiratory, pelvic floor, and diaphragm. It oxygenates and strengthens the tongue.

- Exhale and compress your abdomen bringing your navel toward your spine.

- Exhale again, forcing out the residual air and thrust your tongue forward out of your mouth.

- Continue to hold your breath out and extend your tongue as much as possible to the left, up, right and down 6 times while rotating your eyes in tandem. Reverse direction. Be advised, you may feel your perineum located between the genitals and anus moving in tandem with your tongue.

- When your out of breath, inhale strongly. As air rushes in your body, it will also oxygenate and strengthen your tongue and tendons and promote strong energy flow up through the central channel.

*The Scorpio New Moon occurs November 7th at 8:02AM PST and 11:02AM EST.

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

WITCH TIPS

Written by Jessica Lanyadoo

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

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

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

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

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

PS:

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

ARIES

March 21-April 19

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

TAURUS

April 20-May 20

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

GEMINI

May 21-June 21

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

CANCER

June 22-July 22

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

LEO

July 23-Aug. 22

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

VIRGO

Aug. 23-Sept. 22

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

LIBRA

Sept. 23-Oct. 22

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

SCORPIO

Oct. 23-Nov. 21

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

SAGITTARIUS

Nov. 22-Dec. 21

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

CAPRICORN

Dec. 22-Jan. 19

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

AQUARIUS

Jan. 20-Feb. 18

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

PISCES

Feb. 19-March 20

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

WITCH TIPS AND HOROSCOPES 10.17-23.2018

Written by Jessica Lanyadoo

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ARIES

March 21-April 19

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

TAURUS

April 20-May 20

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

GEMINI

May 21-June 21

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

CANCER

June 22-July 22

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

LEO

July 23-Aug. 22

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

VIRGO

Aug. 23-Sept. 22

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

LIBRA

Sept. 23-Oct. 22

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

 

SCORPIO

Oct. 23-Nov. 21

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

SAGITTARIUS

Nov. 22-Dec. 21

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

CAPRICORN

Dec. 22-Jan. 19

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

AQUARIUS

Jan. 20-Feb. 18

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

 

PISCES

Feb. 19-March 20

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

XO

MUST BE THE SEASON OF THE WITCH: MABON BLESSINGS

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

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

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

Autumn Altar:

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

• Candles: Brown = Stability, Focus, grounding

• Orange= Vitality, Energy

• Yellow= Warmth, Friendship, Creativity

• Feathers

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

RITUAL 

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

JOURNAL EXERCISE: 

Some season questions to ask yourself during the Autumn Equinox: 

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

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

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