August 2018 New Moon In Leo Partial Eclipse - The Crossroads

Led Zepplin's song, "Stairway To Heaven" gives us all a glimpse on how this New Moon and Partial Solar Eclipse will affect us. Here are the words in the son that particularly pertain:

"If there's a bustle in your hedgerow
don't be alarmed now, it's just a spring clean for the May queen.
Yes, there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run
there's still time to change the road you're on.
And it makes me wonder....."

Yes, indeed, we all do wonder just where we're headed, how we're evolving, how we interpret life, and if we're on the right path. We also wonder, if we acknowledge we're on the right path or going in the right direction, what the ultimate culmination of our efforts will be. Luckily, this New Moon in the regal sign of Leo will give us the light and energy we need to do so. Conversely, the wild energy surrounding this New Moon/Eclipse can bring things to light that we've been ignoring, burying, or otherwise felt confused about.

As the last eclipse of the season, it will stimulate creative development and expression as part of a rebirth. The sign of Leo is known, of course, for grandiose posturing, but in this lunation, Leo is portraying the loving nurturer. This is due to the New Moon's proximity to the fixed star Merak, in the side of the constellation of Ursa Major, and the asteroid Pallas. Also, because of its conjunction to Mercury in retrograde, the major themes will be thinking, contemplation, deliberation, discussion and debate.

Speaking of retrograde Mercury, there are several other planets in retrograde - Jupiter, Saturn, Pluto, Mars, Uranus, and Neptune. Their influence on this New Moon/Eclipse doesn't go unnoticed. According to the Astrology King, "it suggests disagreements and arguments about ideas and beliefs about power and control issues between people, groups of people and nations. Asteroid Pallas conjunct the eclipse will focus debate on feminism and politics." Mars and Mercury will station direct by August 27.

As a whole, there is a strong vibrational energy surrounding this New Moon and Solar Eclipse that will show things in greater clarity. It's an illuninator, shedding light on areas of our lives that have felt confusing and obscured, as mentioned above. In order to take advantage of this opportunity to illuminate our own individual paths, it's recommended that you take steps to energetically cleanse yourself and your space. You can accomplish this with burning sage or palo santo, using a sound bath, or a combination of both. Crystals to use for this lunation are Jasper, Pyrite, Carnelian, Citrine, and Tiger's Eye. After cleansing, bring in positive energy with incense, or a ritual of cord cutting and blessing. For instructions on how to do this, see this page.

Enjoy this New Moon and Solar Eclipse - it'll be visible in the northern parts of the U.S. only, unfortunately, but its effects will be felt worldwide, and last for up to six months. Until next month, blessed be!

New Mooon In Aries Could Signal Need For Space Clearing, Quick!

Hold onto your hats, folks, the New Moon will phase in on Thursday, April 7, at 4:23 am, and we're looking forward to this being a new start, astrologically speaking. Aries is at the beginning of the zodiac wheel, so it could be said that this New Moon is the start of the astrological year. That means that if you didn't feel the impetus to commit to any changes back in January, you have another opportunity to make them! This New Moon will also be a Super Moon, a time when the moon is as close to the Earth as it could possibly be, and some think that this makes its powers extra potent.

This New Moon will also be travelling in close proximity to Uranus, and that means that there will be some extra kick to those making plans to break out of old patterns and/or habits. Make good use of this time by being bold, taking initiative, and moving away from where you're comfortable, because change only happens when you're well away from where you were. Be careful, though - because there's so much energy pushing you, you'll certainly be required to do the requisite follow-though! You'll be working hard at this, but it feels so good to make positive changes and leave old, perhaps toxic patterns/places/people that are no longer serving you.

Speaking of things that no longer serve, the New Moon is an ideal time to let them go. As great as it is to make new intentions, we can't just keep piling them up - we have to also clear space for them. We suggest doing this by making a list of behaviors, places, people, that you'd like to give up, for whatever reason. Truly let them go by ritualistically writing them down, then read your list to someone who cares about you and will hold space for you while you read. You don't need to discuss the items written down, this is not the time for that. After you've read your list to a trusted loved one (significant other, friend, relative, it doesn't matter), do a breathing exercise. Sit as if you were going to meditate (which, I suppose, this is), close your eyes, and picture yourself lighter, without the weight of those things you've let go. Breathe deep breaths, slow and easy, and see yourself expelling those things. After just a few minutes, you'll feel lighter and brighter! Don't throw away your list, either - safely burn it and sprinkle the ashes (no live embers, please) into your garden, where they will do some good.

Clean up your spaces and your person with a good sage burning, too, because negative energies can seep into places at any time - cleansing after a cord-cutting ritual is necessary. Starting from the back of the space, light the sage and walk   the room covering as much of it as you can. Using a feather or feather fan, waft the sage smoke into the corners of the room up to the ceiling. Make sure to go into every room as you move from the back of the house to the front. When you’ve reached the front, walk out the door and sage around the door and frame. Afterwards, light frankincense or Copal incense or resin incense and travel over your space again. This will help ward off any lingering negative energy, and attack it on a deeper level.

We had planned to do a New Moon Celebration and full BS Bonfire with Kristin Dwan, but we've had to cancel it. Kristin caught that nasty flu that was going around a couple weeks ago, and is still recuperating. We'll let you know as soon as possible if we can move this to a Full Moon celebration, but it might conflict with a Fairy Garden workshop we're doing later this month. Watch our Facebook page for further information, and happy New Moon to you all!