☾✩☽ Guest Luminaries ☾✩☽
Sophie Strand is a writer based in the Hudson Valley who focuses on the intersection of spirituality, storytelling, and ecology. Her first book of essays The Flowering Wand: Rewilding the Sacred Masculine will be published by Inner Traditions in Fall 2022 and is available for pre-order. Her eco-feminist historical fiction reimagining of the gospels The Madonna Secret will also be published by Inner Traditions in Spring 2023. Her books of poetry include Love Song to a Blue God (Oread Press) and Those Other Flowers to Come (Dancing Girl Press) and The Approach (The Swan). IG ☞ @cosmogyny
Greta Morgan is a musician, writer, teacher, and lover of the natural world. She has been touring and releasing albums with various groups since age 16 and is currently building a body of new musical work inspired by a year spent wandering, mostly in silence, during the process of healing a neurological voice disorder. She is a live musician in the band Vampire Weekend and also composes for film and television.
IG ☞ @gretamorgan
☾✩☽ Astrological Resources ☾✩☽
Here is a selection of some of our favourite Astrologers you can tune into across 2022.
↠ Blue Rose School https://www.andrewsmith.ie/introduction/
↠ Mystic Mamma https://www.mysticmamma.com/astral-insights/
↠ Chani Nicholas https://chaninicholas.com/about-chani-nicholas/
↠ Virginia Rosenberg https://virginiarosenberg.com/about-virginia
↠ Lorna Bevan https://www.hareinthemoonastrology.co.uk/lorna-bevan
↠ Paramatma Siri Sadhana https://spaceweathertransmissions.com/paramatma
↠ Matthew Stelzner https://www.youtube.com/channel/
↠ Jennifer Racioppi https://jenniferracioppi.com/
☾✩☽ Other Recommended Resources ☾✩☽
↠ Find out more about Sophie Strand on her website
☾✩☽ Cosmic Intel + Teachings ☾✩☽
Full moons are a time to look at everything in full light and make changes as needed. They can represent endings, completions or something coming to a ‘peak moment,’ The lunar qualities of emotions and instincts reach their peak at a full moon. The energy of a situation is at its fullest potency and potential. We fluctuate with the moons energy and the Full Moon is time of release. La Luna affects the gravitational pull of tides, birth rates, can regulate menstrual cycle, sleep, moods, plant growth, Emergency Room, Crime Rates. Every 29.5 days the Moon reaches its full phase and so do we…..
The Moon in astrology is associated with the feminine and in particular the Mother archetype. She rules the emotional body connecting us to our instinctive wisdom and our most basic needs. She helps protect and guide us by gifting us with information about our feelings and about the wellbeing of our nature. She enables us to penetrate our deepest recesses in the personal and collective unconscious and our roots in the past, our ancestral inheritance.
We are in a time of collective and personal awakening to what has been in the shadows, oppressive and imbalanced across our implemented systems as well as our personal realities. The process of awakening can be painful, because new realities precipitate trajectory shifts. In the process of things dismantling, disassembling, and crumbling, we can feel unstable and this is why change is often so dreaded. But we are the change makers of this time, and we are here at this time for a reason. We each carry our own truth, but a universal truth is that we’re all here ultimately to learn to love and be loved.
Full Moon in Libra
Get ready for some springtime magic, because on April 16, the season’s first full moon will blossom in the skies and light up the weekend with its lunar power. Also known as the Pink Moon, the April 2022 full moon rises in the realm of cardinal air sign Libra, which is associated with partnerships, social connections, and balance. This brings some much-needed diplomacy and perspective to the me-first energy of Aries season, making it easier to compromise and see things from other points of view.
This lunation also peaks alongside a once-in-a-lifetime alignment between lucky Jupiter and spiritual Neptune in Pisces — which comprises part of the current Pisces stellium that’s dominating the skies — and this casts a mystical and sensitive haze over our full moon experience.
Tues 12 April 2022 - a once-in-a-lifetime spiritual jamboree
A peak manifestation moment is coming April 12, as fortune-finder Jupiter meets numinous Neptune at the exact degree of esoteric Pisces—their first union here since March 17, 1856! Fast-forward to April 12, 2022 and the Jupiter-Neptune conjunction is a prime moment to stop and drop into your desires.
Although these two planets link up approximately every 12 years (the duration of Jupiter’s orbit), they only meet in Pisces (the dreamy, enchanted water sign that is so very important to both of these celestial bodies) every 165 years.
So what should you expect? Understanding the symbolism of these planets moving through Pisces, it’s highly likely that the Jupiter-Neptune conjunction will launch a mystical-slash-creative renaissance on both micro (personal) and macro (societal) levels.
Matters relating to beliefs, perception, spirituality, and artistic exploration of the psyche will be amplified. Likewise, this is an excellent time to explore your own relationship with spirituality. How does your soul express itself on a daily basis? Is it through art? Music? Journaling? Or simply sitting with your thoughts in a quiet and peaceful environment in order to better process the extraordinary amount of extrasensory data that inundates your subconscious every waking moment? What does it mean to connect with your intuition? How does your imagination inform your creative practices? This is an excellent opportunity to set intentions, start that meditation practice etc.
The energy here is pretty serious — so serious, in fact, that Stardust says this is the best day of your entire lifetime for manifesting your dreams. Get out that manifestation journal, try out the 369 method, or just spend the day putting forward the energy you want to receive back from the universe in the future. It can't hurt.
Opposition
With Full Moons, we are working with a Sun/Moon opposition. Oppositions mean duality, opposing values, habits, perspectives, and needs. Oppositions help us recognize the delicate balance that's needed in our lives and in our relationships in particular. They show us where we are lacking as well as what our strengths are. The sun in astrology acts like a spotlight, roaming through the terrain of each zodiacal sign. The monthly full moon acts like a counter or balancing light.
About Libra
Libra is ruled by Venus, the Goddess of Love and Collective Expression. Venus is anchoring more coherently as her Ancient Mysteries are awakening. A full moon in Libra will illuminate themes of balance, partnership, beauty and harmony, which are ruled by Libra. Heightened emotions, romance, fertilization, relationship drama and epiphanies are also themes.
This particular luminary asks us to look at the dichotomy between the Aries Sun and the Libra Moon. This can ignite a tug of war between the self (Aries) and the other (Libra). If there was a mantra for this Full Moon it would be:“We are all in this together.”
Axis (The Dance of the Opposites) Aries + Libra
When the Full Moon is in Libra, the Sun is always in the opposite sign, Aries, so we are dealing with Aries-Libra polarity. The Aries-Libra polarity is a relationship axis, where Aries represents “self,” and Libra represents “other.”
The Aries archetype focuses on our own identity, whereas Libra, its opposite, shines a light on who we are within our relationships, bringing the “me versus we” axis into focus
Aries And Libra – Me vs The Other
Aries is the first sign of the zodiac, and it is a symbol for “Me”.
A healthy focus on “Me” is vital to our survival. You need to put your oxygen mask on first before helping others.But too much focus on “Me”, and we never grow up. Without a partner, without a “mirror”, we get stuck in our bubble.
The fear of losing our identity can make us afraid of relationships, and even when we get involved with someone, we tend to dominate them so we can get things “our way”.
Merging
Libra is the sign of “The Other”. Having relationships with other people – any type of relationship – is a vital survival skill. In fact, historians say that Homo Sapiens ‘won’ the evolution game thanks to their ability to establish social networks and having “good relationships skills”. However, too much focus on our partners (Libra) and we lose ourselves, and stop trusting our instincts (Aries). When we rely too much on other people, we develop co-dependency issues. Of course, a healthy balance between Me and the Other is key.
This Full Moon urges us to strike a balance between meeting our personal needs and attending to the needs of a significant other and between independence or autonomy and dependence or companionability.
The full moon in Libra asks us to embrace compassion and justice as a path toward healing.
AS ABOVE
Astrology is an ages-old symbolic language, healing art, and wisdom tool of navigation.
Pink Moon: Full Moon in April 2022 | The Old Farmer's Almanac:
So what exactly is a Full Pink Moon? Well, the astronomical offering is named after a pink wildflower, also known as Creeping Phlox or Moss Phlox, hence the nickname 'pink moon'. The plant itself blooms in early spring all over the United States and symbolises rebirth and renewal.
Paschal Moon
This is also the Full Moon before Passover and Easter, which are Holy Days in Judaism and Christianity. Therefore this Moon holds the resonance of Resurrection and the liberation experienced when you rise from the ashes.
Synopsis
Aries Season, a time of birth and new beginnings. Aries Season introducing us to our first human lessons - to become aware and claim our identity. We tune in to our existence through our connection with the fire of Spirit. Pioneer + Trailblazer
The Moon is in Libra, and Libra is the sign of harmony, balance, equality, relationships and others. The Full Moon in Libra opposite the Sun Aries will create a conflict between our need to be in relationships and our need to be true to ourselves.
The sun is in the opposing sign of Aries, reminding us of the importance of our autonomy and the importance of taking care of self . It’s a time to dive into the relationships in your life— what relationships no longer serve, where are boundaries and new agreements needed, and ultimately it is a reminder that what is in your highest good is always in the highest good of others. Keep in mind that most of the people we encounter in this life can be mirrors, reflecting back to us the things that we need to work on or celebrate within ourselves.
SO BELOW (EARTH MEDICINE)
Ancient Wheel
In Ireland, the ancient ones measured their cosmos in wheels, spirals, in the movement of the stars, and the rising and setting of the sun and moon. They were deeply connected to the land, the seasons and the cycles of the natural world and honoured these portals with ritual and ceremony
Celtic Tree Astrology is derived from the beliefs of the ancient Druids
Druids were Celtic priests who attached great importance to the forests and they revered the sacred knowledge held by trees. They believed the entire universe existed in the form of a tree, with its roots representing the past, its trunk representing the present and its branches, reaching to the heavens, representing the future and the afterlife.
Celtic astrology is based on the lunar system which is based on the thirteen cycles of the moon with each cycle linked to one of the sacred Celtic trees. The Druids believed that the time of a person’s birth played a vital part in the formation of their personality and that they would go on to develop certain characteristics.
Alder ~ The Trailblazer (March 18 to April 14)
Romantic, Brave, Generous
You are a natural born leader. You are a mover and a shaker, and your positive energy means people want to be your friend. You are charming, outgoing and mingle easily with a broad mix of personalities. You have the ability to get along with everyone and people love being in your company. This may be on account of your self-confidence that many wish they had. It is irresistible and other individuals perceive this quality in you in a flash. You have a fiery passion and are always moving. You hate to waste time and dislike superficiality. Most compatible with Oak or Birch.
Willow ~ The Observer (April 15 to May 12)
Calm, Intuitive, Sympathetic
You are a naturally honest, generous and sympathetic person who does not do drama. You tend towards love, peace and serenity. You are highly intelligent and understand the hidden depths of people and the universe and have a realistic perspective on life. You are known equally for your kindness and politeness and never wish to cause offence. Having a wicked sense of humour, you love to joke around with friends. People are happy when they are around you. Most compatible with Birch and Ivy.
☾✩☽ Moon Medicine Rituals ☾✩☽
Create an altar. Create a sacred space in your home - see our guide in aftercare.
Connect with the Moon. Whether or not you subscribe to astrology, the moon is always in the sky, and attuning yourself to the moon's cycle can guide self-care.
New moon: At the beginning of the lunar month, the moon is a new moon. Metaphorically, it's a time to plant the new seeds of goals, intentions, and actions.
Waxing phase: Her growth from new moon to full moon is the waxing phase. This the Warrior Phase—where we gain momentum in our actions.
Waning phase: The Sage Phase happens as she wanes from full, —where we gradually power down, restore ourselves, and integrate lessons learned.
Dark moon: The last few days before the new moon is called the dark moon. Here's when we retreat to our proverbial caves to rest and reflect, preparing for a new cycle ahead
Cleanse. Sage your Home, Bedroom, Chariot & Office. Energetically cleanse the energetic wombs of your life, where you find yourself “creating”.
Observe. Select a journal, and record your dreams, thoughts, insights, experiences and observations.
Collect items: pen, paper, tarot cards, candles, incense, herbs, symbols to represent Luna: mirror, mother, water, seashells, etc.
Have Patience. Have patience with yourself and the journey you’re embarking. Allow yourself the emotional space to process, release, learn, develop and heal.
Lavender Oil. Have lavender in your home, bed or altar. Lavender can bring stillness, and calm an overactive mind.
I Feel. Acknowledge your emotions and journal with what emerges.
Breathe Deeply. The pull of The Moon can bring up strong sensations and emotions – and sometimes this is uncomfortable. However it’s a prime opportunity to feel more and allow the emotion to unfurl. A very practical and grounded way to do so is to focus on the breath and breathe a little deeper than you would normally. Place your hands on your Womb and Heart and take a few deep breaths and feel.
Go For A Moon Walk. Walking in the lunar light in nature can be particularly magical.Watch how the trees move and interact; with The Moon, the wind, with you, and listen, really listen in to the sounds of nature. Moon Bathing can be a truly magical and intimate experience.
Take A Loooong Luxurious Bath. The Moon affects the tides, the Oceans, the water in our body.
To get in touch with this aspect of nature within and around us – take a long bath.Add in Epson Salts, your favourite essential oil, play some soothing music, light candles and relax.
Tending to your Temple: BodyLiving consciously starts with taking care of your body; the temple that houses you, here on this planet. So, scan yourself from head to toe. How does your body feel? Give yourself all the O2 and H2O your body needs.. Your body will thank you for that.
Ground, Ground, and Ground
The magnetic pull of The Moon is strong so Grounding is super important. If you do nothing else at The Full Moon – ground. It’s especially helpful just before bed as being rooted in the body aids a better sleep.
Beannachtaí 💚
from Kathy and all at The Trailblazery xo