moon cycles
Astrology Forecast January 23 – 29, 2023
After all the cosmic upheaval of last week’s planetary shifts, you may be pleased to know that this week starts out on a much calmer note under a Waxing Crescent Pisces Moon.
A waxing crescent moon phase is a hopeful and positive time to recover, restore and rebuild, and in Pisces this becomes an especially healing energy to release what does not serve us. Fully embrace this harmonious, restorative, liberating vibration today and tomorrow, because on Wednesday the fiery Aries Moon will spur us back into action.
The Aries Moon will offer a great time for the rest of the work week until Friday for brainstorming, making big plans, putting new ideas into action, and energetic negotiation. The Aries Moon conjunction with Jupiter in Aries on Wednesday bodes especially well for potential financial gains, ambitious action, and enhanced social influence. Wednesday morning will therefore be the best time this week for promoting your services, selling your products, and striking those deals!
Venus will be moving into Pisces on Thursday, turning our focus to magic, fantasy, and all things metaphysical. Our intuitions will be on higher alert, and following those random hunches could pay off handsomely over the next four weeks!
The weekend unfolds under a Taurus Moon, where we can choose to tackle the clutter at home, or simply drop on the couch and catch up on all those binge-worthy TV shows we’ve been wanting to stream. Or perhaps a more sensible mixture of both?. Either way, the weekend is for regrouping, restoring, and relaxing, so make the most of the homely vibes of Taurus comfort and security.
Only You Can Achieve Your Goals
The indigenous peoples of Canada traditionally believe that those born under the Budding Trees Moon (which occurs in the spring months of mid-March to mid-April) have incredible potential to excel in whatever goals they choose for their life. However, it is also said that some of these blessed individuals may be unwise in their expectations of their own abilities, which may slow their progress, or even prevent them from moving forward at all.
It is further believed that this may also happen if they tell a friend or family member what they are hoping to achieve in life, and them not being supportive. Instead of encouraging them, and expressing their faith in their abilities, they might instead call them an unrealistic dreamer or sceptically say they will believe it when they see it. Yes, sadly, it is usually those who are supposed to be our primary support system in life who tend to not believe in us, and least support our dreams.
There is much wisdom in the teachings of the ancient aboriginal peoples. Yes, we can achieve whatever we set our mind to, and anything is indeed possible, but we must also be mindful of our expectations. It does not matter what the goal itself is; what matters most is our own expectations of being able to achieve it.
If we do not believe in our own abilities to achieve even our most modest goals, we will continuously suffer from self-doubt, feel overwhelmed, and never feel worthy enough.
No matter what we choose to aim for in life, it is simply that: a choice. Your choice. No one can stop you, except yourself, and nobody else can get into your head to put you down, unless you let them. No matter what choice you are making, you must also stand behind it every step of the way.
Energy Work With Lunar Herbs
The Moon is traditionally associated in healing and metaphysical practices with several flowers and plants, specifically herbs. Many of these herbs are silver, grey, or pale blue, as well as green, much like the Full Moon itself. Many of these plants are also associated with water, or grow near it.
There are several ways to use herbs in your practice, such as ingesting it in teas or other edible formats, and burning it as incense to purifying ourselves and our living spaces.
During the peak of the moon cycle when it is at its strongest during the Full Moon, is a powerful time to reflect on our emotions, the subconscious, healing, and parts of the body associated with water (blood, digestive system, reproductive system). We can enhance this powerful lunar energy by drinking an appropriate herbal tea, or burning an incense blend consisting of lunar herbs.
Different herbs are associated with the different energies of the lunar cycle. If you are working through some difficult emotional baggage, try lavender, wild rose, lotus, poppy, or kava-kava.
Since the Moon encourages healthy consumption of water and moisturizing, herbs like aloe vera, coconut, chickweed, or marshmallow and aniseed roots act as both natural refreshers and soothers. They are excellent to ensure healthy water absorption, and gels made from aloe are well-known as natural moisturizers.
If you wish to deepen your levels of compassion and understanding during a moon cycle, try mugwort, wormwood, or passionflower. Many of these herbs are edible and delicious. Just be sure to double check first, before adding them to your salad or your teapot!
The Transformative Power Of The Moon
Does your energy change for better or worse when there is a Full Moon? Every person has some notion of what a Full Moon means to them.
When the Moon is full, it has an energy pull and charging capability that is unlike the new or quarter moons. During a Full Moon, I usually find it difficult to sleep – no matter how hard I try. The energetic pull is powerful. This is when my mind is most active.
A Full Moon is in fact the best time to open yourself to receive healing or spirit messages, to recharge your energy, or set intentions for manifestation to transform your life for the better. Crystals can also be put out under the Full Moon to charge them up and bring new life to them.
The Full Moon is a time to breathe in the good, release what does not serve you, and allow the Moon’s energy to take lighten your worries and lessen your burdens. A simple clearing ceremony becomes ‘super-charged’ under a Full Moon. Write down what does not serve you: your hurts, your disappointments, your anger and so on. Then burn this list outside, under the Full Moon, while asking the Universe, Source, God, Spirit, the Divine to cleanse the energy from your being.
I live close to a lake and when the Moon is full, no matter what time of year, it reflects off the lake in its various hues and colors. I always take a walk to the lake to allow this energy to feed my soul. It uplifts my spirit and makes me smile. Gazing at the beauty of the Full Moon brings new energy to you if you do it properly.
The next time there is a Full Moon, venture outdoors, look up and contemplate her beauty and power. Ask yourself, how do you feel standing there under the Full Moon? Ask yourself what you want to accomplish or change in your life? You need not do anything further. The manifesting and healing powers of the Moon will carry your intentions forward.
Make Your Own Magical Moon Water
The Moon, our closest celestial body, is strongly associated with the element of water. One way we can harness its powerful energy is by making moon water. Moon water is a powerful tool for energy cleansing and balance, and for strengthening spiritual connection.
The energy charging of moon water can be done at any time, but it is most ideal with the Full Moon. All you need is distilled or fresh water, a container, and a strong sense of intent.
Choosing the right container for your moon water is key. Think about what you plan to do with it: bathing, drinking, watering plants. If you are going to leave the container outside and overnight, consider a mesh or other permeable covering or lid so nothing except moonlight can get inside.
You can also include lunar affinity crystals, such as moonstone, clear quartz, or opal in the making of moon water. You can leave it in the container where it will receive an optimal amount of moonlight, then retrieve it in the morning.
Also, consider the astrological placement of the moon when making your moon water. For example, if you are setting an intention for extra insight and focus in your business or career, then a Full Moon in hardworking Capricorn is an ideal time to make some moon drinking water for the office.
As with any spiritual practice or manifesting ritual, stating your intentions clearly and firmly beforehand is vital. Remember to also extend gratitude to the Moon for her power and positive energies.
Astrology Forecast February 14 – 20, 2022
It’s all about love and romance this week, as the Moon moves into Leo on Valentine’s Day and stays there until it culminates in a Full Moon on Wednesday! The Leo Moon brings with it an air of confidence and self-expression.
Personal desires, flirtation, passion, romantic, relationships, and friendships, as well as contemplating what we truly value in life, will rise to the surface in the coming days.
Mercury in Aquarius, will further heighten our ability to be friendly and intuitively aware in our interactions with others, and some of us will even be able to truly turn on the charm today!
The Leo Moon opposite Saturn in Aquarius tomorrow might place a depressing damper on our mood after yesterday’s love fest. We may even feel unhappy and dissatisfied, question our relationships. We might also feel abandoned or lonely.
If you find yourself in this state of mind on Tuesday, try to work through your feelings before Wednesday, as the Leo Full Moon may further inflame a negative state of mind with moodiness, dissatisfaction, and irritability.
On Friday the Sun will move into soul-based Pisces and completely shift our focus from the external to our inner being. As the last sign of the zodiac, Pisces is a culmination of all we’ve experienced over the last twelve months and a time to go deeper and embrace our spiritual power and heart’s desires. We’ve spent the first part of the year looking at things outside of ourselves, and now we’ll be turning inward to see what personal and spiritual changes are forming.
Saturday and Sunday’s Libra Moon will aid us in determining how our inner desires are reflecting to the outside world, and how to approach things with more balance and ultimately, success.
Astrology Forecast December 13 – 19, 2021
It will be a free-for-all today as Mercury moves into Capricorn and Mars dances into Sagittarius! With both of these personal planets changing into different signs at the same time, we may feel a bit conflicted, as Mars in Sagittarius wants to play, while Mercury in Capricorn reminds us there’s lots of work to do! Finding a balance between the two can be tricky, so good luck with that!
The Aries Moon square Pluto in Capricorn will also not be helping the situation today, as this constellation can cause us to be passive, dreamy and distracted. Be careful not to lose yourself in wishful thinking or imprudent daydreams.
Fortunately, we can get a lot more done tomorrow and Wednesday with the Moon traveling through grounded and determined Taurus. Then we can relax and have fun as the Moon moves through Gemini Thursday through Saturday, culminating in a Gemini Full Moon, also called the Cold Moon. This Full Moon is great for releasing old ideas or seeking new ways to address old issues, whether they be health-related, how to make more money, or how to fix that annoying drip in the bathroom sink.
Also, beware the Gemini Full Moon’s potential for making us moody and irritable. Avoid conflict with loved ones this weekend, as peace and harmony may be hard to come by under this lunar influence.
Venus will turn retrograde on Sunday and travel backward through the end of January 2022, taking us on a journey down memory lane and asking us to reevaluate our priorities, what we love, as well as what we envision for our lives, and why.