Black Moon Blessings, You'll Need Them!

We all know that the New Moon was on September 1, and coincided with a penumbral lunar eclipse. Get ready for another new moon on September 30, called a Black Moon because it's the second New Moon in a month!

Having two New Moons in the same month is generally known as super beneficial, as amplified feminine energies bring us into a time of great awakening and clarity. Of course, all New Moon's are great times to go within, plant seeds of intention, and let go of things that no longer serve. The Black Moon can provide us with a powerful blossoming of intentions planted prior to this phase, but it's also a time of some intense tribulation.

This second New Moon is in Libra, our sun sign of the month, conjunct Jupiter at 4 degrees. This signals party-time, my friends! I mean, hallelujah, after all this heavy stuff with the Saturn square Neptune we've been dealing with, we get a little break, right? Libra conjunct Jupiter is happy time, making it easier to find joy and have a great time with others! The sextile to Saturn in Jupiter-ruled Sagittarius gives a nice opportunity to turn new friends or flirts or acquaintances into long lasting ones. Oh, wait....Saturn is still square to Neptune, and we just can't seem to shake off their negative effects. We have all this positive energy generated by the Black Moon, but are still unsure about how and where to expend it.

This Libra New Moon/Black Moon is also square to Mars and Pluto in Capricorn. New Moons in cardinal signs (such as Libra) often signal anger and power struggles. Our challenge is to intuit where the initial struggle is coming from - an outside source, or your own internal shadow? You may discover that it's your own manipulative or controlling tendencies at work, so be careful!

Jupiter tends to exaggerate situations, blow things out of proportion, and the Libra New Moon conjunct Jupiter, sextile Saturn, and square Mars and Pluto will create some over the top emotions and encounters for sure. Get yourself out there and deal with it - you'll be glad you did!

Shine On, Harvest Moon

""Harvest Moon"

Come a little bit closer
Hear what I have to say
Just like children sleepin'
We could dream this night away.

But there's a full moon risin'
Let's go dancin' in the light
We know where the music's playin'
Let's go out and feel the night.

Because I'm still in love with you
I want to see you dance again
Because I'm still in love with you
On this harvest moon.

 ------Neil Young



Happy September, everyone, and welcome to what we refer to as the "dog days" of summer. Those hot, hot days before it finally cools off, when we all wish it were October, already! That said, we just might wish this part of September away, due to the intense, and somewhat intimidating, astrological forecast for this Full Moon / Penumbral Lunar Eclipse cycle. A Penumbral Lunar Eclipse is the most subtle of the eclipses (the others are termed "full" or "partial"), because the Moon is passing only through the outer edge of the Earth's shadow, and if you're not looking for it, can be easily missed. If you're interested in the special attributes of this month's Moon, here's a lovely article about it from Treehugger about it, and an audio recording of the song by Neil Young, the lyrics of which are posted above.

So, we can be assured that the West Coast won't be able to see this particular Penumbral Eclipse on September 16th (only Europe, Australia, Africa, and parts of South America will be able to view it), but that doesn't mean we won't feel it. If you read our last post, you'll know that Mercury is in retrograde. Add to that the fact that this Moon's eclipse happens in the sign of Virgo, and that we're still dealing with the Saturn square Neptune aspect from earlier this year. Toss in the fact that this Eclipse is squaring Mars, and we've got quite a tempest on our hands.

While feelings of depression, loss, and belligerent anger are part and parcel of where we're at astrologically now, there are bright spots of hope we can grasp onto, until this period is over in the next couple of months. It's advised to still rely on the basics - start new projects or state intentions on the New Moon, finish and/or harvest those intentions on the Full Moon. Also, remember to formally let go of what doesn't serve at the Full Moon, as well. Mercury conjunct Jupiter is favorable, and will help you overcome fears and insecurities (feelings most prevalent during Mercury Retrogrades). A little later,  there will be another boon for those of us sick of this morass that the Saturn square Neptune has gotten us into. From Mystic Mama,  "But in the midst of all this challenging pattern, the eclipse is conjunct the North Node. There is an opening here, to use this potent energetic pattern to its highest frequency." That means using your creativity well this month - make art, make love, make some positive energy! If you're feeling angry, channel that into fueling hard physical work (training? Pilates?) or a creative project (writing? painting? decorating?). Similarly, if you're feeling angsty, use that as fodder for internal work - look inward and work toward any type of metaphysical work you're interested in.

It will be interesting to see how we all do during this period. Feel free to leave a message about it in the comments, and be assured, we will make it through! Hope to see you at Hoopla's Autumnal Equinox Celebration, on Sat., Sept. 24, from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm, where we'll be hosting Shaman Carol Woodliff, who will be leading an Earth-based blessing ceremony, and a special prayer circle for the protectors at the Sacred Stones site at Standing Rock.

New Moon/Solar Eclipse, Or, How I Spent My Summer Vacation

 

 

Actually, I guess we should title this post "How I Spent My Year", since we've been dealing with the effects of a Saturn - Neptune square since the end of last November. If you've been feeling like you've been lumbering around in a dark room while being covered in gauze, you'll look forward to this ending at the end of September. There'll be just one more hurdle, ok, two hurdles if you count Mercury Retrograde, and that will be the Full Moon/Lunar Eclipse set for September 16.

 

On Thursday, September 1, we'll all experience a New Moon and a Solar Eclipse in the sign of Virgo. A doorway is opening, through which we'll be able to catch a glimpse of what's in store for the rest of the year. It will be at this time that we can really understand where exactly this new cycle is going to take us. In the meantime, we have to get clear about what we want and about which direction we want to head in. Many have interpreted the meaning of this New Moon Solar Eclipse to mean a continuation of the "fear mongering" that has lingered since last year, easily seen in our political campaigns and playing out on social media. They predict that during this moon cycle, you must take extra care against depression and worry.

 

Like any New Moon, a solar eclipse signals the end of one cycle, and the beginning of a new one. This is the perfect time to end old, bothersome behaviors, or at the very least, question them. This is the time to search for new and innovative ways to make progress in your personal evolution. Don't get caught up in the final, dying aspect of the Saturn-Neptune square - to free yourself of fear, guilt and worry you must get back to basics. In other words, make your new goals practical, simple and defensive. Because of Mercury Retrograde, accomplishing your new plans may take a lot of work, so you need to learn to say no and mean it.  Positive thinking can overcome your fears and insecurities. This brings hope and self belief, a line of sight to your brighter future!

 

Blessings to all during this difficult, albeit hopeful, time!

 

 

 



New Moon/Solar Eclipse, Or, How I Spent My Summer Vacation

 

 

Actually, I guess we should title this post "How I Spent My Year", since we've been dealing with the effects of a Saturn - Neptune square since the end of last November. If you've been feeling like you've been lumbering around in a dark room while being covered in gauze, you'll look forward to this ending at the end of September. There'll be just one more hurdle, ok, two hurdles if you count Mercury Retrograde, and that will be the Full Moon/Lunar Eclipse set for September 16.

 

On Thursday, September 1, we'll all experience a New Moon and a Solar Eclipse in the sign of Virgo. A doorway is opening, through which we'll be able to catch a glimpse of what's in store for the rest of the year. It will be at this time that we can really understand where exactly this new cycle is going to take us. In the meantime, we have to get clear about what we want and about which direction we want to head in. Many have interpreted the meaning of this New Moon Solar Eclipse to mean a continuation of the "fear mongering" that has lingered since last year, easily seen in our political campaigns and playing out on social media. They predict that during this moon cycle, you must take extra care against depression and worry.

 

Like any New Moon, a solar eclipse signals the end of one cycle, and the beginning of a new one. This is the perfect time to end old, bothersome behaviors, or at the very least, question them. This is the time to search for new and innovative ways to make progress in your personal evolution. Don't get caught up in the final, dying aspect of the Saturn-Neptune square - to free yourself of fear, guilt and worry you must get back to basics. In other words, make your new goals practical, simple and defensive. Because of Mercury Retrograde, accomplishing your new plans may take a lot of work, so you need to learn to say no and mean it.  Positive thinking can overcome your fears and insecurities. This brings hope and self belief, a line of sight to your brighter future!

 

Blessings to all during this difficult, albeit hopeful, time!

 

 

 



New Moon/Solar Eclipse, Or, How I Spent My Summer Vacation

 

 

Actually, I guess we should title this post "How I Spent My Year", since we've been dealing with the effects of a Saturn - Neptune square since the end of last November. If you've been feeling like you've been lumbering around in a dark room while being covered in gauze, you'll look forward to this ending at the end of September. There'll be just one more hurdle, ok, two hurdles if you count Mercury Retrograde, and that will be the Full Moon/Lunar Eclipse set for September 16.

 

On Thursday, September 1, we'll all experience a New Moon and a Solar Eclipse in the sign of Virgo. A doorway is opening, through which we'll be able to catch a glimpse of what's in store for the rest of the year. It will be at this time that we can really understand where exactly this new cycle is going to take us. In the meantime, we have to get clear about what we want and about which direction we want to head in. Many have interpreted the meaning of this New Moon Solar Eclipse to mean a continuation of the "fear mongering" that has lingered since last year, easily seen in our political campaigns and playing out on social media. They predict that during this moon cycle, you must take extra care against depression and worry.

 

Like any New Moon, a solar eclipse signals the end of one cycle, and the beginning of a new one. This is the perfect time to end old, bothersome behaviors, or at the very least, question them. This is the time to search for new and innovative ways to make progress in your personal evolution. Don't get caught up in the final, dying aspect of the Saturn-Neptune square - to free yourself of fear, guilt and worry you must get back to basics. In other words, make your new goals practical, simple and defensive. Because of Mercury Retrograde, accomplishing your new plans may take a lot of work, so you need to learn to say no and mean it.  Positive thinking can overcome your fears and insecurities. This brings hope and self belief, a line of sight to your brighter future!

 

Blessings to all during this difficult, albeit hopeful, time!

 

 

 



The Planets Are In Fine Formation This Month

 

 

 

Veteran and novice astronomers are very excited this month - not only do we have five planets* visible in our night skies this month, the Perseid meteor showers are scheduled for tonight and tomorrow night. While this is an unusual occurrence, topping it all off will be a Mercury retrograde on August 30.

So, when is a retrograde not a retrograde? When it falls in the sign of Virgo, that's when. Star scholars believe that when this happens, as it will at the end of this month, it signals a cruise on the Love Boat, because of Mercury's proximity to loving Venus and magnanimous Jupiter. Jamie Partridge, the Astrology King, opines that "travels, studies and business deals can be undertaken with more confidence than during other Mercury retrograde cycles. Mercury direct does point to some minor adjustments or renegotiation but the fixed stars involved point to profit and even marriage." Well, well - we'll still be wary of communication gaffes, misfortunes with computers and such, and starting any type of new relationship.

We should be cautious with our communications and plans but life must go on. Here is a list of the healing crystals we recommend for getting through this Mercury Retrograde, in no particular order:

1. Aquamarine
2. Angelite
3. Blue Quartz
4. Hematite
5. Aqua Lemurian Quartz
6. Fluorite
7. Amazonite
8. Blue Lace Agate
9. Blue Scapolite

Mercury will be in retrograde through September 22.




*Planets seen in the night sky during August are Venus, Jupiter, Mercury, Mars, and Saturn.

Midsummer Solstice And A Full Strawberry Moon!

This year, the Summer Solstice will happen on Monday, June 20, at 3:34 pm, Pacific Daylight Time. The Solstice means the time that the sun literally stands still, at the northernmost zenith as seen from the Earth, and it's the longest day of the year. If that wasn't enough, we also get a bonus full moon on the same day! We haven't had a Solstice with a full moon in 70 years, so it's a rare occasion.

June's full moon is traditionally referred to as the Strawberry Moon. Not because it's pink, but because that was its Native American name. It's also called the Rose Moon in some cultures. I can't think of a more romantic thing to do than pick sweet, ripe strawberries under a beautiful full moon, can you?

To have the Solstice and a full moon together on the same day is auspicious, as the full moon amplifies the attributes of the Solstice, just like a Quartz crystal will amplify other stones' beneficial properties. During our last post, we urged you to be cautious with your words and ideas. This month, because the full moon is again in exuberant Sagittarius (but just barely, it slips into Capricorn just an hour later), we think that you still need to be cautious, but if you work very hard, you can turn those ideas into reality. The Solstice itself, however, adds a mixed layer of masculine and feminine energy - the full moon is the Goddesses time, and the Summer Solstice is the time of the Sun God. This is the time for complete harmony. This is a potent mixture of yin and yang and it's more than likely that we'll all stand revealed in the light.

It's time now to be fully authentic - to be your highest you - and to completely let go of the weight you've been carrying around that no longer needs carrying. Cast out the baggage, June is a time of rebirth, of reawakening. This moon is a light upon our path, and if we are aware of our surroundings and constructs, we can negotiate our path with success. Listen to your spirit, your intuition, they're your guideposts along with the light. We liked astrologer Rick Levine's admonishment to Sun Sign Leo for the month (which can apply to all other signs), "Wisdom is knowing which road is the right one. Integrity is taking it."

We're hosting a Midsummer Solstice Celebration tonight at Hoopla! Emporium, featuring Shaman Carol Woodliff; Tarot reader Sonia Chernobieff; Doreen Virtue certified Fairy Oracle reader Alyse Korn; and a pop-up appearance by Kristen Urlacher of ArtCrush Gallery! Festivities start at 6:30 pm - Carol will lead us all in a short, earth-based blessing ceremony, and there will be tasty food and drinks available. Come join us and have a bit of fun! We plan to walk up the street around 9:00 pm and celebrate Pizza Of Venice's third anniversary with more food and their own craft beer!


Light and love to all our readers!

Full Moon, Blue Moon, Retrogrades, And Fairies!

Lots of things swirling about these past few weeks, what with the five planet retrograde going on, and now we've got what we like to call a "situation". Saturday's full moon, in Sagittarius this month, is directly conjunct with Mars. Add the fact that this is a "blue moon" (the third of four full moons in a season, or the time between an equinox and a solstice), and that Mars is going "red", and you've got a big situation!

Luckily, Mercury will station direct on the 22nd, so communication, at least, will free up a bit. That doesn't help a whole lot when you've still got Mars in retrograde until the end of June. The interaction between Mars and Sagittarius this month is troubling, and the key words for this time should be "be watchful, be aware, be cautious". All the bottled up frustration of normally forthright, assertive Sagittarius may manifest inward, since outlet is thwarted by the retrograde motion. This may cause a blowup of uncomfortable proportions - the Full Moon in Sagittarius conjunct Mars Retrograde heightens our awareness of this frustration and provides a channel through which we can express our rightful, righteous anger. Unfortunately, Sagittarius is not a sign known for great tact or diplomacy, so anger here may not serve any healthy purposes and instead just add to the tension. As with our keywords for this full moon, it's a good idea to be circumspect now. Remember that with Mars retrograde, this energy is high but not well aimed and can misfire.

With all this rather unsettled energy in the air, it's time for Hoopla! Emporium's semi-regular Full Moon Celebration. Come by the store at 6:00 pm on Monday, May 23, for a short cleansing and blessing by Shaman Carol Woodliff, and a wine tasting with our friends at OddBallGrape.com! We'll have a discussion on the meaning of the 5 planet retrograde, how retrogrades affect you, and what you can do to protect yourself. Our friend Sonia Chernobieff will be here reading Tarot cards for the occasion. She's also taking appointments for Tarot readings at the store, too, so you can call and make an appointment with her!

 

 

On Saturday, May 21, Hoopla! Emporium is hosting "The Enchanted Forest - Fairy Garden 101", which features local garden designer Stephanie Clements. For only $25.00, you and one child can learn how to build a water-wise fairy garden using succulents from local company, Dominus Plantarum, and fairy garden elements provided by Hoopla. Fairy Lydee will provide entertainment, Maureen Koran is providing fairy cupcakes, and Doreen Virtue certified fairy oracle reader Alyse Korn will be here, too! Be sure to register quickly, as space is limited to 20 paid adults, and it's filling quickly! There will be plants available for purchase from Dominus Plantarum, and a special pop-up appearance by Athene Raphael, who makes the most adorable floral crowns and headwear for babies. The fun starts at 3:00, and goes until 6:00 pm. We hope to see you at any (or all) of these events!

 





 

 

Happy May Day, Or, The Magic Of Beltane!

All of us remember the Maypole, right? As a child, I was always fascinated by pictures of this festive event. Pictures of bucolic, fair-haired ladies dancing barefoot, weaving brightly colored ribbons around an upright pole, while the men of the village looked on. Turns out, this May Day is an ancient Celtic pagan tradition that was cleaned up by the Christians hundreds of years ago, much like Oestre traditions became Easter traditions.

According to the Elephant Journal, Beltane "is a holiday of union, between man and woman, God and Goddess—a celebration of the divine balance in the union of Divine masculine and feminine. Because once upon a time, the two were honored as sacred parts of the one Divine balance." In Celtic, Beltane means "bright fire". Pagans acknowledge Beltane as the time the God and Goddess reunite, after a long, cold winter apart. I think you can guess where "fire" comes in, and the Beltane rituals have long been a celebration of symbolic totems and rituals honoring sex, fire, fertility, and abundance.  

The Maypole is, in itself, a symbol of the God - the divine Male - and the women, weaving those ribbons around it, symbolize the Divine Female, or Goddess, wrapping themselves around him. As Spring blossoms, the world comes alive in color to celebrate their love. Flowers bloom, trees grow and animals return. This was once the full acknowledgment and celebration of the fertility of Spring. From The Elephant Journal, "Fire jumping took place over the town fire—for the unmarried men in the town who would leap the fire to wish for a wife, the women leaped for blessings of fertility, couples jump for luck and fertility in their marriages. The May Queen and King of the Forest, or Green Man, would be chosen from among the unmarried young adults in the community, to embody the original God and Goddess, and they were the leaders of the celebrations and fun. Their entourage would follow the couple in service, everyone dressed in costumes and adorned with flowers, leaves, antlers and other nature adornment, until the couple retreated to the forest to take part in their sacred sexual union underneath the night sky." It's also said that those who were conceived during Beltane have the ability to see fairies!

In Irish Gaelic Bealtaine is the name of the month of May, while in Scottish Gaelic Bealtuinn is  May Day. Historically, Beltane is associated with the Celtic God Bel, also known as Balor or Belenus—The God of Light and Fire who was also associated with the Sun (akin to the Greek Apollo). I think it's fascinating that this tradition almost exactly matches the Indo-European/Iranian tradition of fire jumping at their Spring celebration, or Chaharshanbe Suri. This is a ritual performed during their New Year, which coincides with the Vernal, or Spring, Equinox.

What can you do to bring this special celebration into your home? Make a Maypole! Construct a small one from common household items and decorate it with colored ribbons and snippets of fabric, or, if you have a large backyard and don't care what the neighbors think, make a full-sized one! This is also a great time to clean your home - this is where the tradition of "spring cleaning" came to be! You can burn lilac and frankincense incense, or use a sage smudge stick, to cleanse, too. This an ideal time to set intentions, especially if you're looking for love, a child, or abundance in your life. Find a quiet place to meditate, and visualize your life as a garden that you populate with what you're intending. Think about what you need to do to bring these visions to reality. This is the time when the womb of the Universe is fertile and ready for your intentions to take root, like the soils of Earth are ripe for planting, the powers in charge are waiting for you to take action on your path to your own Highest Good. 

As you celebrate this day, be inspired by Nature - Beltane was honored by the ancients as a way to remember that even time stops to make space for lovers to find each other again after the long, cold night of winter. Here's a fun video showing The Circle Sanctuary's Beltane celebration: for video click here. Remember, if you need any celebratory products, such as sage bundles, crystals, incense, essential oils, or flower crowns, Hoopla! Emporium can help. Blessings to you as you celebrate the coming of Summer!

Oh My Stars, It's Retrograde Season!

 

Yes, indeed, friends, it's Retromageddon in the heavens, and on Earth this translates into "you can be all, or nothing, it's all on the table and your resistance is futile"! This month, we have five planets in retrograde - Jupiter, Saturn, Mars, Mercury, and Pluto. What does that mean for you and yours? Read on to find out!

Jupiter, that huge, gaseous planet, was named for the king of the gods (Latin - in Greek, Zeus), and as such, is the planet of plenty. Jupiter is the thinking-person's planet. As the guardian of the abstract mind, this planet rules higher learning, and bestows upon us a yen for exploring ideas, both intellectually and spiritually. It's been in retrograde since January, and stations direct on May 9. Because retrograde means going backward, some may have been experiencing a feeling of being tested, perhaps in the area of self-control. However, this is mainly a beneficial retrograde, suggesting a period of increase in areas of wealth, travel, love, and/or breaking addictions.

Saturn, lord of time and Karma, is also Jupiter's father in the Roman tradition (Zeus' father, the Titan Cronus, in Greek mythology). Saturn stationed retrograde on March 26, and will station direct on August 15. This retrograde, Saturn is in Sagittarius, which means that we'll all be slowing down to contemplate just what we believe in, and that we may become pressured by circumstances to fully commit to where we're going, or, conversely, pull back. Whatever we decide, know that although the work involved in making these decisions will be hard, at the end you'll be able to put into practice what you've learned. The tag line for this period would be "timing is everything".

Mars, lord of war, stationed retrograde yesterday, April 17, and will station direct on June 29. Mars typically personifies vitality, motivation, and the desire to act, but when retrograde, his normal outward nature is turned inward, and informs us to be our most authentic selves. This is a period of review, reassessment, and internal inspection, again, as in Saturn, leads us to question our beliefs. How are your beliefs enhancing your life? Are you being guided by your spiritual consciousness, or are you allowing other peoples' dogma to limit and restrict you? All food for thought during this most introspective of times.

Pluto, Roman god of the underworld (Hades, in Greek mythology) stations retrograde today, 4/18. A tag line for this period would be "keep your wits about you", but this should be a positive experience in general. When Pluto is transiting retrograde, we are urged to let go of attitudes, thinking or communication patterns, security drives, rigid emotions; a time to undergo an internal form of house cleaning. It is a good time to research into our own Souls in order to determine exactly what we do or do not need, again, like all three of the above planets. Pluto retrograde is a good time for internal cleansings, detoxifying diets, Eastern disciplines that put you in touch with the inner self and even intense psychological reforms. Never had a Reikki session? Now's the time to do it! There is also an aspect of danger to those afflicted with diabetes, or similar issues with blood sugar, and are advised to be watchful.

Mercury, the Roman god of messengers and communication, stations retrograde on April 28. At this point in time, there will be five planets in retrograde, something that hasn't happened in 10 years! Mercury retrograde normally means that Murphy's Law holds sway, that anything than can go wrong, will go wrong, particularly in the areas of machinery, travel, and communication. Hold that thought, though - because this time around, our Mercury retrograde is being softened by Taurus, the lover of all things beautiful. Often times retrogrades are said be the time to avoid starting anything new—jobs, or relationships. This three to five week period is all about review, and that is precisely why while starting something new may not be a good idea—going back to something old is always encouraged. There are no coincidences during retrogrades—the biggest challenge we face is simply to follow the direction that our hearts are pulling us. A good tag line for this would be "love is all that matters". The questions you're asking yourself as a result of the other retrograde planets find a possible answer here, because Mercury in Taurus can assist in identifying that which is of true value to you.

 

To top off all five planets going retrograde, there's a full moon in Scorpio on April 22. The planet ruling the sun sign Scorpio is Mars, in retrograde during this full moon, and is also the second full moon in Mars this year. This is a time of extremes, so success here could be all-or-nothing, or the survival of the fittest. It's time to strengthen our physic immune system, echoing lessons from Pluto, above. This full moon points to a fear of negative karma and fated events holding you back from making progress. This impact of Saturn square North Node on the full moon is reinforced by having five retrograde planets during this moon phase. It's not all bad, though - it does present an opportunity to rise above fear and prejudice by focusing on your maternal, caring and instinctive side. Being inclusive instead of separating people into groups in not the easy way forward. It is the only way forward to avoid your fears turning into reality.

All in all, this is a tremendous time in all our lives, and much good could come from this seemingly stark astrological prognosis. It's never a bad thing to examine your motives, to see where you've gone, and verifying where you want to go. Crystals that could aid you during this period of planetary retrogrades are (in no particular order) Emerald, Blue Lace Agate, Rainbow Fluorite, Black Tourmaline, Amazonite, Aquamarine, and Hematite. Essential oils that could also help are lavender, to relax you, and peppermint, to sharpen the mind. Luckily, you can find all the crystals mentioned, as well as the essential oils, here at Hoopla!

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!

Researchers Say Eating Chocolate Every Day Can Have Serious Health Benefits

Wait, what? You had us at dark chocolate, but we'll take the good news! See this article for more information. Meanwhile, we're so glad that we carry AlterEco Chocolates from up north in San Francisco! Not only are the products made from fine quality, fair trade, dark chocolate, they're also made with coconut oil, not palm. That's important to us, since the use of palm oil seriously impacts the world's rainforests and robs habitat from many creatures that live there, specifically orangutans. Make a conscious choice this Easter - AlterEco, always no soy, no GMOs, no emulsifiers, no artificial flavors, and gluten free!