Aries Full Moon Messages & Herbs

It’s been a minute since I’ve had the opportunity to write about my moon impressions. You know, life :). I’ve been very focused on dance lately. With fall coming, dance classes always pick up and I’ve found myself busy again.

I’ve also found myself with a new perspective on my dance work. For the longest time, I felt as though I was trying to figure out how to do the work that I feel called to do (help women transform, find their inner confidence and begin glowing inside out) in addition to the other things I felt like the Universe kept asking me to do (like teach dance and keep MOVE Makeup alive). But lately, I’ve had revelation after revelation that teaching dance and even the makeup line are ways that I am doing that transformational work, I just hadn’t fully realized it and it does admittedly look different than what I imagined.

This is relevant for this Aries Full Moon for a lot of reasons. One, Aries is all about newness. It’s childlike energy that just believes that it’s going to win. It can’t imagine that it won’t – Aries doesn’t even know that games can be rigged or that there’s even been a chance at failure. For Aries, it’s all rah rah, roses and rainbows. So me having this new way of seeing my dance work is very Aries like. I’ve even enrolled in a class that is helping me create an online version of dance classes that weave self-empowerment and “sexy confidence” into them. So Aries is handing over to me an opportunity to go all in, with every expectation of success and no thoughts at all to what might not work out.

I’ve been putting that energy to use also, checking in with each low thought and reminding myself that it just *could* work out and why not try.

Another thing I’ve noticed personally with this full moon is that it’s not super active like other full moons typically are for me. I’m not feeling an urge to GO and DO and BE OUT and ABOUT. I did have a surge of socialness where I wanted to be around people, but that wasn’t the same energy as let’s DO something. I’m actually feeling quite passive in that sense. I’m feeling introspective and contemplative. I’m feeling as though things are gently clearing out and that there isn’t much for me to do. That it’s more important for me to be aware and ask for help with the clearing and then just keep going with my regular routines.

Another way to say it is that I’m not feeling much urgency. I’m not even feeling much bursting of emotion or need to react. I was actually expecting that for this full moon, so I’m pleasantly surprised. When I’ve looked at the astrology though and read through my favorite sources, it all seems to be saying that same thing I’m experiencing. That there isn’t much outward action in this Aries moon. That things will float in as the days pass and then later down the road, it’ll be time for action.

I’m ok with that :).

Herbs wise, I have to admit, I’ve been pulled away from my astroherbalogy studies lately and haven’t had a chance to do much with astroskincare either. BUT I am planning to write up the astroskincare guide for Scorpio energy coming up on my patreon (www.patreon.com/leahpattersonwellness).

I have given some thought to the way I’m going to be using herbs to support myself with this transit though. Since I DO want to harness the Aries energy and how it’s been clearing for me around freely interacting with people, I’m going to be drinking more energy boosting and brightness bringing herbs. Ones that bring clarity and lightness. Off the top of my head, I’m thinking about hibiscus because it’s such a bright herb and rhodiola rosea because it is such a clarifying herb – both as teas. If I find myself feeling the stress of things, I’ll rely on oatstraw to pull me back to calmness and get me balanced back out.

What I find really interesting is that in this particular Aries Full Moon, I’m not connecting with any of the typical Aries anger. Aries can be so quick tempered and easily set off. I’m not feeling any of that at all in this transit. Now this could definitely be attributed to my own growth 🙂 or it could just be the astrology of the moment. If you do find yourself caught up in the quick temperedness, calming herbs like chamomile, passionflower and lemon balm would be really helpful.

What’s been your experience? Are you feeling especially riled up and angered or are you feeling really in touch with newness and excitement and possibility?

#Astroskincare Moon in Cancer

I’ve decided that I’m going to write up my astroskincare shares here and then share them to social media – this way, it’s findable again. There will always be gems in each share to look back on and it’s nice to have that option right? So here we go with this newness :).

The moon has moved into Cancer today and that can mean a lot of things for your skin, depending on the state of your skin. If you’ve been following my astroskincare writings, you know that I base your astroskincare profile on the 3 signs that create your dominate personality – your sun, moon and rising sign. Depending on where you are experiencing the most issues, you’ll see correlating skincare concerns flaring up as well. It’s really fascinating!

So it’s important to have this bit of information to evaluate for yourself how to work with your skin in these different moon phases. I just recently recorded a class all about how to understand astroskincare 101 – you can check it out at my patreon at the 3rd Tier.

Looking at the moon phase of Cancer, this is a water sign at the beginning of the zodiac wheel. So this would be a great time to do treatments that are nourishing, moisturizing and soothing. Especially if you are dealing with issues that have just come up or come up periodically, treating your skin now in this way would prove very effective.

#Astroskincare Indications + Herbal Suggestions

If your skin tends to be itchy, thin and prone to redness and inflammation, soothing treatments would be indicated now. You’ll want to use nourishing masks that are nutrient rich with soothing ingredients that act gently. Herbs-wise, chamomile would be great to use as a toner and within a mask. It is naturally soothing and balancing. You could also add a nutrient rich herb like nettles in your mask or incorporate it as an everyday tea for a moon cycle with the intent for it to nourish your skin especially.

If your skin is excessively Cancerian on the other hand – bloated, stagnant, excessively oily – treatments that balance this in the opposite direction can be helpful. Treatments that increase circulation gently and detoxify would be indicated. Lemon Balm in a mask or incorporated into a moisturizer can help immensely with this – increasing circulation gently and helping the skin to clear. Burdock and Dandelion are good internal herbs to take over a moon cycle as teas to get things clearing and detoxing as well.

Emotional Indications + Moon Messages

The biggest thing to be aware of when the moon is in Cancer is the heightened emotional state you might find yourself in. Cancer is the sign of nurturing and thinking of the other person and how best to soothe their emotional state. What this often does though, is leave Cancer feeling bereft because this consideration isn’t necessarily returned from the other person. So looking for where this dynamic might be playing out in your life over the next two days so that you can be curious instead of reactive will be helpful. It’s a great opportunity to 1. evaluate if you’ve been giving too much and 2. evaluate where you’ve been expecting your cup to be replenished – perhaps you’ve looking in the wrong direction.

Leah Patterson is a transformation & wellness mentor, salsa dance instructor and green witch that provides women who identify (sometimes secretly) as living with high functioning depression and/or anxiety with the guidance they need to create an overall lifestyle of mind, body and spirit balance. She works primarily with dancers – professional, amateur and hobbyists – using holistic beauty, wellness, movement, and mindset as her tools of transformation, facilitating major breakthroughs and rock-solid self-empowerment for her clients. Visit her website www.leahpatterson.com to find out more about her and to schedule a complimentary Activate Your Power Session if you need help breaking through your barriers and doing the phoenix rise!

New Moon in Cancer/Total Solar Eclipse – Moon Messages, Herbs and #Astroskincare

I’ve had the hardest time sitting down to write about this New Moon in Cancer. It’s a Total Solar Eclipse as well. I think what’s happening for me is this need to be perfect – to present myself in the most perfect way. It makes a lot of sense considering *me* and specifically considering that Cancer is my ascendant sign, my first house, the way the world sees me and the way that I feel I need to be seen.

It’s basically about showing up.

So of course, with this solar eclipse I’d be feeling extra pressure about showing up the “right way”.

This eclipse energy has already been tough. I spent the weekend struggling with feeling completely lost, inadequate and hopeless – like “what is the point of tyring again? – please remind me.” That was coupled with fleeting moments of inspiration and possibility and feeling like maybe I’m figuring it out, mixed in with feeling not enough and yet again like I’m getting the short end of the life stick – period.

And all of that was making the idea of showing up – of being even more of my public self – really difficult, even as I was watching a webinar that would help me do that in my work with even more confidence.

So the promise of the eclipse to just roll in and chop off the dying parts, though it may be painful, feels like a sweet relief. I’m most definitely looking forward to whatever pressure is released by this energy busting things open.

So what about Cancer in general?

In general, Cancer is the sign of deep emotions, but not the kind that are internal and introspective – instead they are the kind that are all entangled in the external, tied in with how others are engaging with you and how you are responding. Cancer is the big nurturer, mother earth, the best friend, the truest confidant. This is the person that will take care of you when you are sick, cheer for you when you are down and send you a care package in the mail just because. Cancer really cares about you.

And so this is what’s being illuminated for everyone right now in this new moon – great new opportunities to get and give that type of nurturing and the light shone on places where you may be giving too much of that nurturing to the point where the shadow side of Cancer wants to rear it’s head.

Shadow Cancer is moody, jealous, resentful, and petty. Shadow Cancer can get stuck in their own version of the story, especially if they haven’t shared that they feel slighted. They can become the exact opposite of how they just were OR worse, they can begin to cling and push. So they can become super clingy while also pushing you further and further away with their moodiness.

So look for those tendencies within yourself and when you notice them within others, check in with yourself to see where you might be contributing and where they might be an opportunity to shed your own light and resolve the situation.

Herbs for the Journey

blooming blur bright chamomile — Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Particularly because this is such an emotionally volatile time for me, I’m going to be relying heavily on my herbal allies. Sometimes the simple act of making a cup of tea for yourself is enough to create space for a new feeling to emerge.

Chamomile is associated with the waxing phase of a Cancer moon and for me it’s really perfect. Since Cancer is my ascendant sign, it brings in that Leo/personality/identity energy, so a watery emotionally soothing herb like Chamomile that is still bright like the sun (think of Chamomile flowerheads) is a beautiful synergy. I’m going to be using the tea to calm my turbulent emotions that want to jump to conclusions (crabby Cancer) and allow myself to be light-hearted and easygoing instead and also NOT worried about whether I’m being perceived negatively or choosing the “wrong” things to focus on (Leo energy in grand form).

In your search for herbs that can nourish you right now, I would look for ones that calm the body systems that respond to upset (digestion soothing herbs, nervous system quelling herbs) and herbs that nurture and nourish you so that you have the wherewithal to act on all of the newness that this new moon is offering.

It really does depend on what you notice is missing or stressing you out in your life. If you need help sorting this out, I’m happy to do so. Just email me and we can set up a consultation.

#Astroskincare Beauty Rituals

green succulent plants — Photo by Daria Shevtsova on Pexels.com

I have made peace with the fact that I’m mostly always in need of nurturing :-). That’s ok, because I’ve learned how to provide it for myself and one way I do this is through my beauty routines. Luckily with the moon in Cancer, this is a beautiful time to indulge in nurturing and nourishing treatments.

I’m very big on masks being a perfect combination of treatment and nourishment. I encourage you to treat your skin and your psyche to some luxuriating time over this next week with a nourishing face mask. Here in the states, the 4th of July holiday usually results in a bit of time off – use some of that for yourself to indulge (you absolutely deserve it ;-)).

Special Gift for You: DIY Holistic Skincare Mini-Course

A few years ago, I created a DIY Holistic Skincare Mini-Course with all of my top tips for creating a personalized holistic skincare routine. I’ve dusted it off to share with you in the hopes that it’ll inspire you to indulge in a skincare routine made just for you.

You can get access to it here :).

Sagittarius Full Moon Messages – Intuition, Herbs and Skincare: I/O Beauty

accuracy action active activity — Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

So I’m exploring this new theme – I/O Beauty aka Inner/Outer Beauty. I think it speaks well to all the things I’m about. Your inner beauty can be accessed by tapping into your outer beauty and your outer beauty can be an expression of your inner beauty. I’ve worked with the theme before when I first changed the name of my Facebook group for my makeup line MOVE Makeup to Clean Beauty for Empowered Women. I talked more in terms of letting your inner sparkle shine on the outside and enhancing your natural glow. The concept though is very much the same.

Often we need some catalyst, some igniting of our inner beauty – which then results in a luminous outer beauty, a true phoenix rising, lotus blooming type of moment. It’s why I chose my logo in fact. The fire is the phoenix, rising from the ashes, blooming from the lotus.So what does this all have to do with the messages of the Sagittarius Full Moon? Well, from my research and personal observations, this moon is all about dreaming big and *remembering* what your big dreams are. But not just that – it’s also about letting them form into something new and letting them be reborn, free from all the attachments that made sense before, but really don’t now.

Like my focus on sparkling and glowing earlier. For right now, igniting is enough. Igniting is much more true to where I am now – no longer as hesitant to appear unrefined and instead transparent about the fact that I’m feeling my way through things. If you know me, this might seem surprising because I tend to always appear as though I’m completely transparent. Trust me though, there are layers. And this full moon is about exposing more layers and inviting you to shed them.

That’s what it’s been all about for me at least. I’d been riddled with self-doubt for the past two weeks and in these past few days, have finally been seeing the light and understanding what opportunities these anxieties and uncomfortable feelings really are.

This isn’t usually hard for me. So that just speaks to how powerful the transformation potential really is.

And finally, if you are able to let the unnecessary burn away and keep sifting through all the ashes of the wake, all of your new doors will start opening AND you’ll see them AND you’ll have enough renewed spirit to actually whistle your way through them with wonderment (quite Sag-style) instead of just peering through with one foot on both sides – effectively stalling yourself out.

It feels exciting to me and that’s a good thing :).

Herbs for the Journey

Herbs wise, the energies I’m feeling to work with are keeping things light and easy during this Sag space. It’s actually quite interesting that this full moon period will travel through 3 signs – Sag, Capricorn and Aquarius – so being able to maintain some balance through those energy shifts would be helpful as well.

Sagittarius energy can ramp up my natural tendency to anxiety and so Lemon Balm as well as Chamomile are two of my go-tos. They both tend to provide a good energy of balance. Lemon Balm helps to still keep things light, not just mellowed out and Chamomile is a really great balm for any anxious energy. They both are calming herbs for the digestive system as well, where a lot of anxiety and stagnation can show up.

Another interesting consideration for Sag time is using herbs to stoke your creative fires and engage your Sacral (2nd) Chakra. So those would be spicy and astringent herbs like cinnamon, cayenne, black pepper, and even peppermint for a milder version.

If you’ve been feeling like you need some inspiration, incorporating any of these might get you into action.

Skincare

So for the skincare! For the past month or so, I’ve been writing about what you can expect skincare-wise with each change of sign. I call it Astroskincare. I like looking at the moon signs particularly because the moon is all about your inner emotions. Often times, what is showing up on our skin is what we are feeling inside. It truly is fascinating!

So for Full Moon in Sagittarius, one thing you might notice, especially if you have a lot of Sag in your natal chart, is a lot of inflammation and redness right now. You might be feeling itchy and prone to breaking out. Your skin might feel just simply irritable. So in your case, soothing treatments would be called for – things to calm the skin down. Soufflé-type mask treatments would be a great treat. That’s basically whipping (blending in a high power blender) any butter like shea or cocoa butter and applying it with a few drops of a nourishing essential oil (lavender is always a great choice). Rose water and essential oil and jasmine would also be wonderfully soothing.

If you find that you are on the side of experiencing stagnation, oiliness, large pores and even dull skin, this Sag energy would be great for you to take advantage of too Astringent, acne/toxin/blemish clearing treatments will have an extra boost right now. Clay masks, therapeutic toners and enzyme exfoliation treatments would be great! Microdermabrasion and dermaplaning would be highly effective if done during periods like this, so think about that when you are scheduling them :-).

So I do have a new Patreon that I started specifically to share about Astroskincare things, though I’m sure the rest of my witchy world will intermingle there as well. The Patreon is just basically another way that you can show support for what I do. I truly appreciate it and will make it a fun bustling place, as we get it going. I have a vision I’m holding for it! I’d love for you to check it out here. Thank you!: https://www.patreon.com/leahpattersonwellness

Scorpio Full Moon Messages and Herbal Fortitude

Where this Scorpio full moon was difficult for some, for me it was magickal. Scorpio is all about reaching into the depths of your emotions and allowing yourself to be transformed. It’s about facing your deepest insecurities, fears, self-doubts – and transmuting them into the gifts of your personal power and strength. It can be painful as long as you resist, but can be so beautiful and rewarding as you ease into surrendering and remembering. Thankfully for me, I’ve been doing quite a bit of shadow work, asking myself the bigger questions behind what’s appearing and reminding myself of the choices I have and of the false beliefs that are still ingrained. That work isn’t always easy work and so for the few days around the Scorpio full moon in particular, I made a lovely herbal brew to assist.

My herbs for my brew:

Tulsi: I added Tulsi to remind me that sweetness comes. Tulsi is an herb of wisdom, as it’s considered a holy herb in some cultures. Yet its sweet taste is like a bit of heaven or paradise, showing that with wisdom comes access to true peace. It reminds me very much of the Innocence card in the Osho Zen Tarot Deck.

Alfalfa leaf: I included Alfalfa leaf to be nutritive and life giving. Alfalfa has one of the highest concentrations of important vitamins and minerals and so is considered a great restoring tonic for the body.

Burdock: Burdock, I added, to encourage going to the depths and rooting up and out anything that’s not needed anymore. Burdock is a liver and blood purifier, helping the liver to do it’s job better and aiding in the cleansing of the blood in general. It’s a root herb, so provides energetically a deep, long lasting healing that builds over time. Shadow work often requires time and commitment to going deeper and deeper as necessary to bring on each layer of healing.

Nettles: Nettles is another nutritive herb, one I consider a mama herb. Nettles feels like a mentor and teacher that shows you that though life can sting and can seem like it’s against you, it truly is for your best benefit. The medicine within it is what can truly heal you with time. Each sting is just to bring your attention to your present and to allow you to take part in and welcome the nourishment available.

Red Raspberry: Red Raspberry is a personal herb that I add to most mixes, just like lemon balm. It’s an herb of hope and of nurturing a fragile, cherished hope that I have. I add it to remind me to nurture and protect my hope and continue to feed it my faith. Physically, it’s wonderful for the female reproductive system, strengthening and toning those organs and therefore that depth of feminine energy (Scorpio in a full moon is deep feminine energy at its height (or depth depending on which way you look).

Had I some Mugwort, I would have definitely spent a few evenings with that tea, welcoming any dreams that might pave the way for more transformation and understanding of the events and opportunities of my life.

In any case though, because my energy was pretty balanced and on the positive through this phase, these lighter herbs did me extremely well <3.

What were you working with this Scorpio Full Moon?

I’m currently offering these cool mini-astrological/herbal skincare profile assessments that take into account your personal astrology for dealing with a particular skincare concern. If you are interested in learning more about that, email me and let’s talk!

Taurus New Moon: Opportunities and Herbs

The moon passed into its new moon phase yesterday in the sign of Taurus. Its been an interesting transit for me. My own moon cycle corresponds 20190504_105751 with the white moon cycle, so that I’m usually just starting to bleed around the new moon, this time a few days before. So personally, I’ve been very tired and my energy has felt slow and heavy. I even went through a few days of feeling particularly unattractive, frumpy and awkward. The moon was in Aries at this time, so asking me to go go go, when I really felt like sitting still and indulging in intentional laziness. That probably accounts for the mix up of feelings. I did feel the rush of new ideas though – I’ve been receiving a LOT of clarity on my professional next steps and this Thursday I had a really wonderful soft *relaunch* of my makeup line through an event at a friend’s hair salon. It went amazingly well, even though my own energy wasn’t as rah rah as usual. We can thank Aries :-D.

So getting to the new moon has been a welcome pause and opportunity to play with the idea of reward, deserving, entitlement and certainty. And rest and play as well :).

What I’ve been feeling most in this new moon energy is a reminder that I DO deserve the best, that I CAN ask for it and expect it (even from myself ;-)) and that I HAVE PERMISSION to say “no thanks” to anything less.

This is really important to the potent manifesting energy of Taurus, May and new moons. If there is ever a time to not accept less and to not try to convince yourself that you can make do with the piss poor version of what you want, it’s now. Now is the time to claim what you want with certainty. Taurus requires an investment in certainty because the work of Taurus can take some time to come about. May is a growing month so things are taking shape and becoming. It takes faith to let them form without fussing over it and going back and forth in your belief. It takes faith to allow it to happen and not try to make it happen.

Another thing about this period, because it’s still beginning, is that you can’t know exactly what it’s all going to look like at the end. You can’t even really concern yourself with the end and making sure it’s a *sure bet* because Taurus is not stressed about that. Taurus sets sights and then gets to work, knowing that the work is going to produce seeds.

And because Taurus is so sure about the work it does producing, Taurus is not stressed about taking ample time for breaks and indulgences and happy moments along the way. This is a really important part as well. Taurus is not shy about loving the finer things and needing beauty and tangible foundational evidence around that evinces what it knows to be true. It’s not quite in a Capricornian status exemplifying way. It’s more in an earthy, “I get to be fully immersed in what pleases me” type of way. Taurus is all about the balance because Taurus knows it puts in the good work and so it deserves the good reward.

Herbs to anchor it in

So to anchor all of this in, help me remember and help me chill when needed, these are my allies for this new moon period.

Rose

My lovely rose. Rose is helping to remind me that I deserve all the sweet things of life. Period. Just because I am. It’s also a good herb to foster sweet connections and compassion in understand others and allowing them to be who they are. Since Taurus is about bringing in stability, sometimes that means letting people go who can’t add stability to your life and to do that, you may have to allow them to be who they are and accept that with sweet compassion. Last night, I used rose water in my bath and it was quite magickal. I’ve written some more about Rose in my Libra Full Moon discussion here.

Sage

Sage is a plant of wisdom and truth. It also helps you speak your truth. And in a season where clarity will be most helpful with manifesting exactly what you want, I’ll be using Sage to help me be clear, honest with myself and others and vocal about it when necessary. I have a happy, hardy plant of garden sage that has persisted through the winter and is ready to be pruned with all of this new growth energy. Using those cuttings in teas and meals (and possibly a tincture or oil infusion) will be great reminders to have courage in welcoming the truth, embracing it and sharing it when necessary.

There are a number of other plants that you could use to bring in and anchor these energies for yourself. It all depends on what things you are dealing with at the moment and how your own personal energy works. Knowing your astrological profile helps immensely with this. If you need some help figuring this out, just reach out in the comments or via email and I’ll point you in the right direction.

I’m offering a fun new service that looks at your astrological profile to determine your skincare needs. The witchy aesthetician in me is very excited. If you are interested in learning more about that, definitely reach out via email. I’d love to chat about it!

My Libra Full Moon Lessons: Insights and Herbs

I started writing this at the Full Moon in Libra on March 20th and came back to finish it for this full Moon in Libra on April 19th. The full circle is amazing to behold! These themes that moved into the light around the 20th have been playing themselves out on the big screen of my life all this past month and are reaching endpoints leading into new beginnings.

full moon illustration — Photo by Alex Andrews on Pexels.com

I took my moon & astrology studies up a notch this cycle and looked at what parts of my natal chart were in Libra, since this past full moon was in Libra. A fun, important fact is that the Spring Equinox was on this day as well.

So in general, I feel like this period from full moon to new moon and then full moon is going to be about integrating relationships and finding the balance between what *you* want and what’s best for the collective (Aries/libra … selfish endeavors/justice for all). Even more so though, because of the Spring Equinox, it signifies brand new beginnings, things coming back to life, renewal and hope as well.

Standout Concepts

Some of the concepts from my studies that made the most impression were about choosing what to put your energy into, not just because you feel compelled to be nice or see things through just because you started them, but because you know that this thing really has the legs to stand on and become something for real – for you especially.

Full moon in Libra/sun sign in Aries explains why this makes sense. Aries is all about self. Tha sun energy is going to overlay everything that the moon is driving you towards. So yes, you’ll engage in work that is for the collective good and feels good to you, but ONLY if it makes sense to you and ultimately drives a personal motive forward.

Another theme that stuck out was the interplay between the divine masculine and divine feminine because of other aspects of the full moon’s chart. How it played out for me was in gaining another level of understanding about myself as a divine feminine in relationship to my divine masculine counterpart. This was a difficult transit, so it played out in the type of uncomfortableness in relation to another that leads to major growth if you allow it.

That leads me into talking about where Libra lies in my birth chart and how these themes have been playing out since the Pisces new moon.

Pluto retrograde in 4th house in Libra

With this placement, a big part of my life journey is about developing a strong self-esteem that comes from within instead of through external input. Cue my lifelong journey with depression and anxiety. The 4th house is the house of family. Pluto in Libra is all about deep transformation through peaceful, amicable ways that invite everyone in. Natal Pluto retrograde is about deep transformation as well, through learning how to understand what you control and what you don’t and making peace with that. Pluto in the 4th house is all about angst and a deep sense of longing for love from outside of oneself, often because of childhood experiences; the true answer as an adult is learning to love yourself fiercely and repeatedly.

Natal Retrograde Pluto is the epitome of the deepest form of transformation. Those born with this placement feel the world’s ills on a personal level, and feel compelled to change themselves in an attempt to transform society’s inadequacies and idiosyncrasies.

http://www.horizonsmagazine.com/Astrology/RetrogradePlanets.html

Pluto in Libra in a nutshell:

Style: Peaceful and idealistic;

Top qualities: Adaptable, diplomatic and analytical;

Challenges: Hesitant and worrisome;

Advice: Grace can sometimes be confused with naivety;

Celebrities: Amy Winehouse, Marion Cotillard, Nicki Minaj, Ryan Gosling, Paris Hilton.

https://i.thehoroscope.co/pluto-in-libra-how-it-shapes-your-personality-and-life

So in this full moon, this theme got a good airing out. I found myself triggered to struggle with my self-worth and having new, very subtle revelations about how I perceived everything.

North Node in Libra in 5th House

This placement matches the lessons brought up with my 4th House in Pluto placement – mostly because this placement deals with what I’m growing into based on what I grew out of and how I have been applying that as an adult. I will explain :).

The 5th House is about pleasure, your children, your passions, how you stand out in the world. It’s associated with both the Sun and Venus. Libra is again about the balance of everyone, whereas my South node (the opposite of the North) in Aries is about what’s best for self. So karma/past lifetime wise, I’m very comfortable choosing things that are best for me BUT in those past lifetimes, my choices might have *only* been best for me, not for anyone else at all. In this lifetime, Libra chooses what’s best for the whole BUT with this particular full moon – it’s what’s best for the whole *while* keeping yourself firmly in mind as well. There’s a balance between what’s best for the whole and what’s best for you.

And all this is focused in the house that resonates most strongly with the inner child and all the things she did or didn’t get growing up. Romantic love, exciting & fulfilling work, material possessions, fun and good times – all of this is 5th House stuff. So if my 4th House placement is asking for a lot of personal growth around self-worth, self-love and deserving happiness as a theme in my life, it will definitely be worked through and visible in the aspects of my 5th House.

As an aside, this particular Libra placement really matches my Aquarian tendencies (I’m an Aquarius sun and moon baby). The added element of Aquarius is that there is even more detachment than there would be with Libra. Libras enjoy and feel really comfortable with others. Aquarians feel much more internally awkward with people and could easily choose not to be in the small talk/no agenda meetings of life.

And so this full moon touched on those issues as well – my comfort with self-imposed isolation and my conscious efforts to break up that pattern, evaluating what I was secretly, subconsciously telling myself was and wasn’t possible, the ways that I self-sabotaged subconsciously because of old, hidden beliefs. The nuances have been really subtle but very profound.

Herbs for this Part of the Journey

Of course, there are many ways to support myself in this integrations and uplevels that the Universe is offering me through these experiences. As a moon herbalist, these are some of the ways I am using plant magick.

Rose Rose is associated with the Libra full moon phase. Therapeutically, it’s used to calm conditions of the body, from nerves to inflammation. It is a very balancing plant, bringing things into harmony. In skincare, it’s soothing, hydrating and gentle and is often used for mature and sensitive skin. All of these associations make sense when thinking of it being associated with the full moon of Libra. Libra is the sign of balance and at times, achieving this balance can be nerve-wrecking. Rose helps it to be easier and helps one to balance more effectively *I* needs vs. *we* needs. I’m using it to help me continue to make peace with the fact that achieving the balance of my various life goals is not without its challenges and that challenges are ok and to be expected. I’m also using to help calm my nerves and soothe my anxiety.

Jasmine Jasmine is associated with pleasure, ease and sensuality. It’s associated with the dark moon in Libra, when things are being incubated and in rest mode, preparing to emerge again. Jasmine helps one to stay connected to their spiritual truths as an anchor through their relationships with others. It helps with any tendencies to choose romanticism and the needs of the significant other over what’s best for oneself. When this herb is able to bring you into balance, your ability to be a conduit of incredible incarnations of spiritual pleasure are heightened. Jasmine is used to treat liver conditions like hepatitis and cirrhosis and can be stimulating and relaxing as needed. Both of these, calming the *fire energy* within the liver and providing a balance of focus, give the physical clues to how it works energetically to bring about the spiritual and emotional balances. I’ve been using the incense and oil to remind me that I have a choice in how I want to show up for my relationships and how I want to use my natural abilities within them. It’s helping me manage my own energy resources.

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Aries New Moon Messages & Herbs

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The Aries new moon was just a few days ago, April 5th. Typically the Aries new moon is a fiery, forward motion time where you can put your goals into high gear. Aries energy is all about starting and starting NOW. That energy, coupled with a new moon is really potent and powerful.

It’s really easy to get caught up in all of the things that you could push forward on because in Aries energy, everything seems freakin’ A possible. Aries energy sees no barriers, no pitfalls, no obstacles that are too difficult to overcome.

Aries also has no concept of rest, pacing, priorities or long term commitment. That’s just not Aries. For Aries, if it’s on the radar, it’s possible.

And that I think is the medicine of this new moon for me and anyone drawn to reading this. Learning how to discern what things on the radar are actually soul urgings and not just ego ideations. Sure, all things could be done – but which ones really *need* to be done – on a soul level?

Just a bit ago, I had a conversation with a friend that offered to help me with a project. But this friend is a big thinker – a very Aries kind of thinker. This friend takes a small idea and turns it into a huge production. Energy and resource management mean nothing to this person. In their mind, it’s all worth it in the end. Aries can see themselves as a bit of a martyr for the vision at times too.

Within the conversation, I almost got caught up in his big vision and felt myself struggling with whether my idea was too small and I was just holding myself back with old patterned thoughts.

It makes complete sense that a new idea would easily be getting transformed into a huge idea in Aries energy. But what I had to realize was that I already had some new ideas brewing that I wanted to put my energy into and those ideas are soul urgings. I also had to realize that it is important to me to manage my energy and that it’s ok for me to not want to go into hustle all day every day mode (very Aries like). I want long-term energy and taking on all the things is a sure-fire way to burnout quick.

And so ultimately I had to remember to not get caught up in the wild energy of an Aries new moon but to, instead, anchor into my bigger drives and personal mission.

So, in addition to the mental work – thank goodness for herbal allies too :).

Herbal Allies

I always fall back to my favorite lemon balm. It’s quickly become my best plant ally and teacher, whereas it used to be red clover that I had that affinity to. What lemon balm does is help me to stay level headed. How it brings balance by lightening the heaviness of overthinking and depressive thoughts is exactly what I need. The way that it embeds a knowing type of hope within is perfect, especially for those of us with a propensity towards depression and anxiety.

Two other herbs I will be working with are oats and nettles.

Both oats and nettles are mama herbs for me – herbs that nourish and support and ultimately boost you up. They give you the nutrients that you need to sustain and eventually flourish, basically providing what you need for the long haul. That’s a much needed thing for when Aries energy putters out. Things will inevitably start to run cold, as that’s the cycle of life. Life gets in the way and all of a sudden, what you were so excited about loses its luster as your confidence wanes and your attention falters.

Making sure that you stay strong in mind, spirit and body is important and the special gifts that both oats and nettles give to get you through the lackluster moments of seeing your vision come to fruition.

All three of these can easily be taken as tea and that’s probably the form I’ll be using most, with a bowl or two of oatmeal for breakfast perhaps as well :).

How will you use them?

An Infusion and Some Night Tea

I made a burdock, dandelion, milk thistle & chickweed infusion last night to drink over the next few days while the moon is in Capricorn. The moon is waning and the celebration of spring coming, Imbolc, was just yesterday. So my mint/lemon balm tea is a little nod to hope and lightness as well. I ended up adding a celestial seasons lavender and lemon tea bag because it has a lot of goodies in it. Good herbal times :).

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Moon Phases, Herbs, Tarot Cards, & Empowerment

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The moon is going into Capricorn tomorrow for a few days. Since the moon is in its waning phase, it’s a good time for detoxing and releasing, especially things that are weighing you down and making it harder to achieve your goals (emotional baggage that locks up your mind for instance). Capricorn is the work work work sign that is not going to let emotions get in the way of progress.

I always think of the Hierophant Major Arcana tarot card in the sense that right now favors convention and tried and true over *feeling your way through it*. I also think of the Hanged Man specifically for this phase. Sometimes you have to make sacrifices for your own greater good.

Diuretics, astringents and root herbal teas and concoctions might all be really good choices for you right now, depending on what you have going on.

I may turn to my beloved Lemon Balm to shed the sadness and brighten my light, Burdock and Dandelion to anchor and support me in what needs to be done, and Chickweed if I had it, to get rid of excess.

*These are of course my own musings. They may not resonate with what you’ve learned, read, studied or done yourself. I’m ok with that .***

Just getting back to my studies and happy places .