On January 28th we will be welcoming in the first Full Moon of the new year in the sign of Leo! The January full moon is also called the Wolf Moon due to the howling packs of wolves that could be heard during this time in Winter in North America. It also goes by the name The Stay Home Moon which I just love, and The Ice Moon. All these names indicate to us that we are still very much in Winter. We can use some of this fiery and playful Leo energy to warm us up and stoke our creative fires! Leo is a playful and joyful sign which can help us open up to a feeling of lightness and new possibilities - combining this with the work we did at the Capricorn new moon will help us to get really clear on what we want from the year ahead. For this full moon we will have the Sun in the sign of Aquarius (the sun moved into Aquarius on Jan 19th) and the Moon in the opposite sign of Leo. We can shake off some of that grown up energy of Capricorn and lean into both the Airy and expansive nature of Aquarius and the light and playful energy of Leo. This moon is a great opportunity to ask yourself if you're taking yourself too seriously? When was the last time you belly laughed and were silly? How could you bring elements of fun and play into your life as we continue to navigate these challenging and uncertain times? Leo is often associated with our inner child, spend some time connecting to your inner child and inner maiden. What does she want to do? create? experience? What would you do if no one was looking? Leo is a fire sign, ruled by the Sun and epitomises self confidence, self belief and joy. Aquarius season is all about taking the visions and goals we had during Capricorn season and manifesting them out into the world. It's about sharing our gifts with the people around us, being the light that we wish to see. When we start to think about birthing our ideas out into the world we can often be met with fears, limiting self beliefs and a million reasons why we shouldn't follow our dreams. The inner critic takes over and our beautiful ideas, dreams and wishes go into storage for another year. Sound familiar? “There is freedom waiting for you, On the breezes of the sky, And you ask "What if I fall?" Oh but my darling, What if you fly?” - Erin Hanson Use this powerful Leo energy to give you the confidence to shine your beautiful light out into the world. Focus on Solar Plexus work during this full moon, it's in this chakra that we store our creative fire, our confidence and our self worth - it's often referred to as the seat of self. For the Capricorn New Moon, we asked you what your soul calling was, what you felt your soul purpose was. What's holding you back from achieving your vision? Remember to use the Full Moon to check back in with your new moon intentions and in particular look out for the shadowy parts of yourself getting in the way of your intentions. The shadow side of Leo can be an imbalance of the ego, it can dominate and lead to an overinflated sense of self. Reflect on the societal pressures to feed the ego, to dominate, to seek out power, fame and glory and see if you can notice this at play in your own life. Do you often compare yourself to others? Are you competitive? Do you feel like the only way to feel good about yourself is to diminish others? This is all the shadow side of the ego. The best way to override this is to come back to LOVE. Leo rules the heart and is an incredibly loving and generous sign. Check in with your heart and notice if it feels closed or open? Be a cheerleader of others, be happy for their success and delight in their happiness. "I cheer for people. I was raised to believe there's enough sun for everyone." - Tory L Eletto The WolfOur guiding animal for this Full Moon is the Wolf. The Wolf represents our Wild Woman nature, the part of us that won't be tamed, civilised or controlled. I recently learned that during the Cromwelian government in the 1650s, Oliver Cromwell ordered all the wolves in Ireland to be killed to signify the taming of the country. Prior to this, there were so many wolves in Ireland it was known as Wolf-land. The last Wolf is believed to have been killed in 1786. I found learning this absolutely devastating, particularly because of my Irish heritage and deep love for wolves. It's interesting to reflect upon the patriarchy's need to tame the wild and to civilise and dominate both nature and the feminine. As we reflect upon these disturbing times in history and also look to the current world stage can we awaken our own inner wolf and howl at the moon in defiance? When we connect to our inner Wild Woman, we shake off the need to be pleasing, to be polite, to be tamed. We shake off the need to be the same from one day to the next and start to become as mysterious and changeable as the moon. We start to tend to our inner world as much as we tend to our outer world. We arrive in our bodies, fully and without shame! "Healthy wolves and healthy women share certain psychic characteristics: keen sensing, playful spirit, and a heightened capacity for devotion. Wolves and women are relational by nature, inquiring, possessed of great endurance and strength. They are deeply intuitive, intensely concerned with their young, their mates, and their pack. They are experienced in adapting to constantly changing circumstances; they are fiercely stalwart and very brave. Yet both have been hounded, harassed, and falsely imputed to be devouring and devious, overly aggressive, of less value than those who are their detractors. They have been the targets of those who would clean up the wilds as well as the wildish environs of the psyche, extincting the instinctual, and leaving no trace of it behind.” - Clarissa Pinkola Estés, Women Who Run With the Wolves The MorriganOur guiding Goddess for this Full Moon is the Irish Goddess The Morrigan. She is the perfect Goddess to continue our Wild Woman awakening, especially as one of her sacred animals is the Wolf who she also shapeshifts into. She is also associated with crows, ravens and cows. The Morrigan is an ancient Dark Goddess and one who is steeped in mystery and magic. She defies being typecast and remains to this day illusive and fairly misunderstood - even the meaning of her name is inconclusive. Some say her name means 'Great Queen', others say it means 'Phantom Queen' or even 'Queen of the Dead'. The Morrigan is a name, a noun and a title. She is best known as a battle Goddess and Warrioress but there is also evidence of her being a sovereign Goddess of the land as well as a Goddess of fate and prophecy.
"She is blood and battle and death, The blade that cuts flesh from bone, That cuts the old from the new, That reshapes, remakes, redefines us. Blood is not to be feared; it is the current of life, Battle is not to be feared; it is the price of sovereignty, Death is not to be feared; it is the end of the old... And a new beginning, endlessly." - Pagan Portals, The Morrigan We will be taking a journey with The Morrigan with our Online Full Moon Circle on Sunday 24th Jan at 7pm(gmt) - if you would like to join us please email Michelle at [email protected] for information on how to book in. Alternatively, join our Patreon membership to enjoy monthly online women's circles, more info here: www.patreon.com/sistersofthemoononline
0 Comments
Welcome dear ones to 2021 and to our brand new theme for the year: The Wild Moon Series. Each New Moon we will be seeking inspiration from an Animal Guide, a Tree from the Celtic Tree Calendar and a Goddess. We are starting with the New Moon in Capricorn which takes place on January 13th at 05:00am(gmt) and we are welcoming in the guidance of Badger, Birch and Goddess Nicnevin. Capricorn season is a time to connect to the darkness of winter, to the dark Goddesses, the archetype of the Crone and the idea of learning to love the dark and all the wisdom it contains. What wisdom is waiting for you in the dark of the winter forest and how can you slow down enough to hear it? Just like the winter trees, can you strip back your layers and bare your soul without the distractions of busy summer months to cover you up. Who are you underneath it all? In modern society we have forgotten how to sit with silence, stillness, ageing, the dark and death - how can we learn to stop shying away from these incredibly magical times and use them to transform and transcend? Capricorn themes: Wisdom, Winter, The Crone, Soul Purpose, steadfastness, spirituality, dedication, mother earth, structure, silence, stillness, retreat. Capricorn is a feminine Earth sign, ruled by the planet Saturn. It's a cardinal sign and initiates Winter in the Northern hemisphere and Summer in the Southern hemisphere. Saturn rules organization, structure and practicality. Capricorn is the final of the Earth signs and therefore carries a mature and wise energy and the archetypal qualities of the Crone or Sage. Capricorn is represented by the constellation of the seagoat. As always, we can draw powerful messages from astrological imagery. The seagoat represents the combination of the earthly, practical life (the goat) with the soul life (fish tale). This provides us with the wonderful opportunity to reflect on the balance between our work life and our soul life before we head into 2021. Is our soul life something that we just squeeze in as and when we can? Or is it with us all day? What's our soul purpose and soul calling? Are we dedicated to it? Capricorns integrate their spirituality and soul purpose into their daily life. This is a beautiful quality and gives them this wise, grounded and magical energy. They also have the dedication and focus of the mountain goat and therefore are hard working and able to carry out their goals. Are we lacking in determination and focus? Due to Capricorn's placement in the Zodiac and it initiating winter in the Northern hemisphere, one of it's archetypes is the Crone, or the Elder. When asserting boundaries it can be really helpful to step into the power of the Crone and assert yourself. Think of all the wisdom that you have gathered over the years about yourself and what you need. You know what you're about, you know who you are and you know what you need, sometimes we just get too easily swayed by others. The Crone does not, her days of dedicating an ounce of energy to what other people think are behind her. How much does what others think of you affect the choices and decisions you make? How could you listen to your inner elder more and the noise of the outside world less? Connect to the wisdom of winter and the archetype of the crone, trust your deep inner knowing and guidance. Channel your inner Baba Yaga :) BadgerOur animal guide for this month is Badger. Badger spends a lot of time underground and is a fairly solitary animal so perfect for connecting to the season of winter and the Earth element of Capricorn. Badger spends a lot of time digging down into the earth, we can take inspiration from this and dig down into our own psyches. Underground, there are no distractions, it's dark and we can listen deeply to the messages of our soul. Capricorn asks us what our Soul purpose is, how can we use the darkness and quiet of winter to connect to our unique soul purpose and let that shape the year ahead? Badger is a burrowing animal and can help us to unearth treasures buried in the cold winter soil - call upon the spirit of this animal to help you find your way in the dark and to uncover messages and insights. The other aspect of Badger is that they never back down, this ties in really well to the aspect of Capricorn that is steadfast and determined. Badger invites you to hold your ground and stand powerfully in your truth. Badgers are fairly illusive creatures but often when encountered by humans they are aggressive and fierce and are known to attack or charge at people. Badger teaches us the importance of boundaries and defending them. This is particularly important at this time of year when we need to defend this period of rest and dreaming. BirchIn the Celtic tree calendar, the tree for January is Birch. Birch represents rebirth and regeneration. It's the first tree to sprout new growth after winter and is the first tree to grow back after a forest fire. It's a pioneering tree and was one of the first trees to take over the British Isles after the Ice Age. Birch is self-sustaining and adaptable. Birch is also called Lady of the Woods and has often been used to create magical items such as brooms. In winter, brooms made out of birch were used to sweep away the old year. Birch trees also shed their bark and so can teach us the importance of letting go of what no longer serves us as we head into a new year. Themes for Birch: determination, healing, peace, self reliance, rebirth, personal truth, ancestors, winter, new year. NicnevinNicnevin is an ancient Scottish Goddess shrouded in mystery and magic who goes by many names: Mother Nicnevin, Grandmother Witch, The Bone Mother and The Witch Mother. She is associated with Winter and Darkness and is said to fly through the winter night's sky as part of the Wild Hunt with her retinue of nymphs and witches. She is depicted in crone form wearing a grey mantle and carrying a magic wand but will also shapeshift into her enchanting maiden aspect as Queen of the Fae. Similar to the stories of the Cailleach she is linked with the shaping of the land and is believed to be as old as the land itself. She is often referred to as the Mother of Witches because of her particular interest in Witches and Witchcraft and the way she watches over Magical Practitioners. There are stories about her caring for the souls of women who were burned as witches during the Witch Trials and carrying them away with her to the Otherworld. We will be taking a journey with Nicnevin with our Online New Moon Circle on Friday 15th Jan at 7pm(gmt) - if you would like to join us please email Michelle at [email protected] for information on how to book in. Alternatively, join our Patreon membership to enjoy monthly online women's circles, more info here: www.patreon.com/sistersofthemoononline
For our final full moon of 2020 we welcome in the full moon in Cancer on December 30th. With this full moon taking place so close to the end of the calendar year we have a wonderful opportunity to really release and let go of all that no longer serves us and all that we don't wish to carry in to 2021. December's full moon is also called The Moon After Yule, The Cold Moon, The Long Night Moon and the Oak Moon. Cancer is a feminine water sign ruled by the moon herself so expect to feel ALL the feels in the lead up to this Full Moon especially as this moon lands in that weird crimbo limbo time. Self care, rest and nourishment couldn't be more important at this time. Cancer themes: home, nurture, care, nourish, motherhood, receiving, emotions, healing, belonging, intuition, the divine feminine, the lunar, the mysteries. For this Full Moon, we have the Sun in Capricorn and the moon in the opposite sign of Cancer. Capricorn invites us to look at our soul purpose and the balance between our spiritual life and daily life - we'll explore this more with the New Moon in Capricorn. The full moon in cancer can help us to see how much emotional baggage is standing in the way of us achieving our spiritual goals. Spend some time really sitting with your emotions and whatever is coming up for you during the lead up to this final full moon of the year and journal about your feelings. What patterns can you find within your emotions? What narratives can you see are on repeat? How much of this is your stuff or stuff that has been passed down to you? Can you cut the cords? This Full Moon falls so close to the end of the calendar year, really ask yourself what you don't want to carry with you into the new year. We can also ask ourselves if our attachment to safety and security is preventing us from moving forward and stepping into the unknown. Cancer is a very home orientated sign and the shadow side of this can be that this sign gets stuck out of fear. A key theme associated with cancer is CARE - it's really important to achieve balance between the care that we give to others and then making sure we care for ourselves. How good are we at receiving care and support from others? Winter is a time to let ourselves receive - receive rest, nourishment and restoration. It's a time to hug our energy in and create boundaries that protect this important time for our self to process the events of the year and also to allow our self time and space to dream the new year ahead. It's really important to re-establish our boundaries at the beginning of a new year. Reflect on your emotional boundaries at the moment, are they functioning? Do you need to assert new boundaries? Who and what is depleting your energy? Remember, if we want to achieve our soul purpose we need our energy to be directed in the most beneficial way. It's important to remember, in the midst of everyone posting about "new year, new you" detox plans and exercise goals that we are in the depths of winter and will be for some time. In the old celtic calendar, the first signs of Spring are celebrated with Imbolc on Feb 1st but even then there's an awareness that this is a subtle shift and there's still plenty of Winter time to go. We still have to get through the frosts, fogs and potential snow of January, February and March. So, an invitation is to think carefully before packing away all of your Yule decorations. Home is an important theme for cancer (crab shell), moon in cancer days invite us to look at how nurtured we feel. Think about the home comforts that are going to keep you warm and nurtured over the coming winter months. Continue to adorn your living spaces with fairy lights, candles, and soft and luxurious throws and blankets. “The ache for home lives in all of us. The safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned.” - Maya Angelou Self CareCancer rules the chest, lungs, stomach, liver and gall bladder. The cold, damp weather can leave us susceptible to coughs, colds and chest infections so again self-care is key. We need more rest in winter so make sure you're getting early nights and sleeping more. Gentle yoga practices like yin, restorative and yoga nidra are wonderful at this time of year as well as emphasising breathing practices to help your lungs. SUPPORT YOURSELF WITH ROSE ESSENTIAL OIL Rose is like the mother of essential oils. She will support you, comfort you and help you to let go of painful emotions. You can work with Rose essential oil energetically by holding a bottle of rose essential oil whilst you meditate or you can apply topically. Rose is a very strong oil so just one drop in some carrier oil will be sufficient. Taking this across the heart space will help to soothe emotions and replenish your heart chakra. Mother WinterOne of the archetypes associated with Cancer is the Mother - this full moon turn your attention to how often you let yourself be mothered. How often do you receive help, guidance and motherly affection? There is so much going on right now in the world around us and in our own lives as we navigate our way through unknown territory. It's so important to allow our self space and time to heal and process the trauma of the last year. How could you open yourself up to receive? This is wonderful time to connect to Mother Goddesses, especially mother Goddesses associated with Yule and the season of Winter:
An Cailleach, The Deer Mother, Frau Holle, Elen of the Ways, Frigga. Dearest moonbeams, we are approaching our final New Moon of the year and in keeping with the rest of 2020 we're finishing on a solar eclipse! It will be the 6th and final eclipse of 2020...and oh my what a year it's been! The moon will turn new on Monday 14th December at 16:17(gmt) in the sign of Sagittarius. We say goodbye to Scorpio and Samhain season and welcome in Sagittarius season, Yule and the end of the calendar year. Scorpio season can feel a little intense, so this shift into Sagittarius can feel a little bit like turning on the lights after a power cut. Sagittarius is a masculine fire sign, ruled by the planet Jupiter and the 9th house of Philosophy and long distance journeys. Jupiter is often referred to as the great benefactor, it is the largest of the planets and has the largest number of moons so has this beautiful expansive and abundant quality. Sagittarius new moon is a wonderful time to focus on manifesting your dreams, cultivating gratitude and joy, elevating your thoughts and honouring the light. Sagittarius themes: freedom, hope, truth, expansion, knowledge, abundance, joy, travel. philosophy, light, growth, limitless opportunities, adventure, curiosity, meaning, direction, focus, optimism. The image associated with Sagittarius is the Centaur holding a bow and arrow aimed at the sky and the constellation is the arrow. There are many messages we can take from this image, one of these is the message to look at the balance in our own life between our lower and upper chakras. Do we spend all our energy only on the lower chakras associated with this life and this life alone - our home, financial security, our sense of self and the day to day? How much time do we spend connecting with the higher chakras, looking to the stars? Asking questions about the universe and why we're here? Who are we underneath all the layers of daily life and responsibilities? Sagittarius is often referred to as the philosopher of the zodiac and they love to ask these kinds of questions. They have a childlike curiosity about everything and will always look beyond the ordinary. The symbol of the arrow can also remind us to check-in with our direction in life. Is the direction we are currently headed in in alignment with our true desires and our integrity? This moon cycle will carry us through the darkest time of the year so it's an important time to connect with Sagittarius' fire element in all it's aspects and welcome this element into our home. Sagittarius season is a wonderful time to connect with practices such as candle magic, hearth magic and fire ceremonies as well as decorating your house with lights to keep your spirits lifted during the winter. Here are some wonderful fire Goddesses to connect with: Brighid, Vesta, Pele, Hestia, Frigga, Durga, Cerridwen. This Sagittarius New Moon falls in the build up to Christmas so it's a really nice opportunity to connect to the abundance of this sign and live from a place of generosity, kindness and warmth. As we journey towards the end of the year a lovely practice would be to reflect on all that has taken place over the last year and really focus on the word JOY. Grab your journal and reflect on all the things that have brought you joy over the last year and allow your heart to be warmed by the many things you write down. The other archetype associated with Sagittarius is the traveller or the explorer. This doesn't necessarily mean physical travel but can also mean travelling with our mind. During the winter, a wonderful way to tune into this energy is to read. Expand your mind with books, podcasts, blogs and conversations. Use your journal to record the things you've been learning. Start or join a book or philosophy club. Enroll in new studies. The online world is your oyster :) Step outside into nature and carry that same Sagittarian curiosity with you. Marvel at all the seasonal changes taking place in your local area, look up when you'd usually be looking down, leave your phone at home or turn it onto flight mode :) Self care for SagittariusFollowing on from Scorpio and working our way down the body, Sagittarius rules the hips and thighs. On Sagittarius moon days it's important to look after these parts of the body. As the weather continues to get colder it's important to stay mobile in the hips by doing lots of mobility work as well as stretching. A leg massage would be ideal or using a foam roller for the thighs, IT band and back of legs to help release any tension.
ESSENTIAL OILS Due to the optimistic and joyful nature of this sign, uplifting Citrus oils such as Bergamot, Orange and Mandarin are lovely to use at this time of year. They also help fight against the fatigue we so often feel during the winter months too. Here are some festive diffuser blends for you to enjoy: Orange & Clove Rosemary & Orange Mandarin & Myrrh Bergamot, Orange & Frankincense Mandarin & Chamomile We really hope you've enjoyed this blog, wishing you a blessed New Moon Solar Eclipse. If you would like to connect to this new moon in a deeper way and with like minded women, don't forget you can join our monthly new moon circles. Head over to our Patreon for more information: www.patreon.com/sistersofthemoon |
Welcometo the sisters of the moon blog. Here we get to share with you moon magic, astrology insights, seasonal inspirations and much more. JOIN OUR FACEBOOK COMMUNITY
MembershipJOIN US IN THE LUNAR TEMPLE FOR 2022
E-ZineOnline CoursesWOMEN'S CIRCLE FACILITATOR TRAINING
Archives
May 2022
CategoriesFree Online Bookclub |