Nov. 12, 2019: Full Moon in Mercury Retrograde

Tuesday, November 12, 2019
Full Moon in Taurus
Neptune Retrograde
Uranus Retrograde
Mercury Retrograde

A full moon in Mercury Retrograde. Fun, right?

My mantra for Mercury Retrograde is: stay low, stay quiet, go shopping.

By “shopping” I mean at thrift shops or sales, where you can get good deals. Not big ticket items.

Most of the time, Mercury Retrograde leaves me feeling like the character in the painting “The Scream.”

It is a time to resolve issues from the past. I’m always tickled at the impulse to hunt down people I knew and lost touch with; a few days ago, I heard from someone I knew over twenty years ago, with whom I reconnected two or three Mercury Retrogrades back, but hadn’t heard from since.

Mercury goes direct on the 20th. Just do the best you can, every day. Try not to be too hard on yourself.

Breathe.

Nov. 5: Tending the Dead — The Lost

image courtesy of bergedder via pixabay.com

What happens to those who die with no one to mourn for them?

Tonight’s ceremony is to honor those who are forgotten and/or lost.

They deserve care and dignity.

Nov. 4: Tending The Dead – Souls Preparing to Incarnate

image courtesy if Activedia via pixabay.com

I still wrestle with the concept of reincarnation. Technically, it is part of my path. I have many questions.

However, wherever I am on the spectrum that particular year, I take time tonight to honor those preparing to reincarnate.

 

Nov. 3: Tending the Dead – The Animals

image courtesy of free photos via pixabay.com

This past year, I lost Lucy, our beloved rescue, adopted last summer. We still mourn her.

Far too many friends and colleagues lost beloved animal companions.

Far too many animals die of neglect or are killed in shelters.

Tonight, I honor the animals who died, both those I knew and those I didn’t.

Nov. 2: Tending the Dead — The Children

image courtesy of hairobe via pixabay.com

Today is the day I honor the children who died. Some of them will be children I knew, or those lost by friends and acquaintances.

The other children honored in tonight’s ceremony are those who died in the concentration camps at the border. They must not be forgotten.

While I work with my elected officials to end these camps, make sure no more children die, and that those responsible are held accountable, I will also take time to remember and honors those individual children by name.

Nov. 1: Tending the Dead – Honoring Those I Knew

image courtesy of klimkan via pixabay.com

The Day of the Dead is traditionally celebrated today. I’m lucky enough to have a working fireplace, and that’s where I display my Day of the Dead decor.

For the rest of the ceremonies over the next few days, I generally do them either at midnight going into the day or at 3 AM of the day, two times when I feel the work is particularly strong. I generally prefer 3 AM, because it’s quieter and I feel more connected.

Tonight is the night that I honor the friends, family, and acquaintances I know who died since last Samhain. I allow myself to miss them. I remember the good times. I’m glad they were a part of my life.

Oct. 31: Tending the Dead – Ancestors

image courtesy of klimkin via pixabay.com

On my website, Cerridwen’s Cottage, I have a section on Tending the Dead, which is a series of rituals I do when the veil is thin for several days around Samhain. The rituals are a little different every year, but the information on the site gives the basic structure.

This year, things are complicated, because Mercury turns retrograde today. Most of the time, when Mercury goes retrograde, I don’t perform magic, and only the most basic ritual of gratitude. I focus on the daily advice Tarot card readings and my daily meditation sessions.

Having Mercury Retrograde fall during this time is a complication.

The best way I have to deal with it is to keep things simple. Keep your casting simple, keep your words simple. Make sure you are clear and there’s no wiggle room. Focus on healing and gratitude. Don’t ask for information; it’s likely to be skewed.

I always do a tarot reading for the year on Samhain, using an Action Card and an Energy card (two different decks) for each month. I’m concerned that today’s will be skewed.

At the same time, the researcher and note-taker in me is interested to see how it stacks up.

Tonight, Samhain, is the night I honor my Ancestors. I’ve done some genealogical research, and there are several of the women in my lineages to whom I feel particularly drawn. I also honor my father, who died when I was ten, tonight, and the relatives I actually knew.

I do this as part of my Samhain ritual.

Tonight’s will be much simpler than usual, but still with intent. I have company this year, and will be sharing the ritual with that individual, who is someone I’ve known for a long time and trust.

Wed. Sept. 18: Saturn Goes Direct

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Wednesday, September 18, 2019
Waning Moon
Pluto Retrograde
SATURN DIRECT TODAY
Neptune Retrograde
Uranus Retrograde

Saturn is set to go direct today, but what does that mean?

Different things for all of us, depending on our charts.

Saturn is a planet of life lessons. For me, when it is in retrograde, things are up in the air, and any obstacle I didn’t appropriately deal with in the previous Saturn retrograde cycle comes back and kicks me in the ass. I’m still struggling in my second Saturn Return as well, so the past few months, I’ve felt pretty pounded.

Heap the other retrogrades on top of that, and to say I need a nap is an understatement.

Jupiter going direct in August helped lift some of that pressure. When Jupiter is direct, homelife and work life tend to be on a more even keel, and I’d really like that. With both Jupiter and Saturn retrograde, the changes I know I have to make have been blocked. Everything is harder.

It eased a bit when Jupiter went direct, although what I thought I was working toward turned out to take a different turn. Which is okay. I’m redefining what I want and need out of my work.

With Saturn going direct today, I hope some more obstacles will be removed to the progress I want and need to make in the next few months. Pluto retrograde is usually a positive for me (revelations of what’s hidden). Neptune retrograde is slowing down my creative energy, but I’m dealing with it. Uranus retrograde also makes everything slower and harder, too, as far as projects. So, this stack of retrogrades has made everything I need to do take ten times longer and make me work ten times harder.

The positive in this is that when I hit obstacles in this stack, it makes me re-evaluate. Some of the directions I thought I wanted to go in spring are proving to be the wrong choice for me, some decisions were made out of fear and panic rather than weighing the options and the needs. The obstacles are giving me the chance to change direction before I get mired.

But the level of exhaustion and self-doubt and despair it causes at times make this a difficult transition.

Breaking big projects down into smaller tasks, while still keeping an eye on the long term are helpful.

One of these days, I’ll stop being so exhausted, and then I can really get into gear.

Let’s hope the forced time into inner work pays off when it’s time to act.

How does Saturn Retrograde affect you? When it goes direct, what shifts for you? I’d love to hear in the comments.

Sat. Sept. 14, 2019: Full Moon

image by mac8oppo via pixabay.com

Saturday, September 14, 2019
Full Moon
Pluto Retrograde
Saturn Retrograde
Neptune Retrograde
Uranus Retrograde

The last couple of weeks have been difficult, to say the least. We lost our beloved rescue cat Lucy, to an inoperable liver tumor. She was only with us for 13 months.

I would not trade a minute that we had with her. She was a joyful, sweet soul.

But the anger mingled with the grief cannot be ignored.

I suspect the person who rehomed her knew she was sick, and didn’t tell us. That makes me angry. The vet never caught it until it was too late. That makes me angry.

It also brings up the question: is anyone actually out there and do they listen?

One of the reasons I dislike the Big Three religions so much is that “faith” means keep believing, keep working, keep hoping even if you get nothing in return.

I need a spiritual path with more reciprocity.

It gives me a lot to think about, with few answers. But at least I’m asking the questions.

What has this full moon brought up for you?

Fri. Aug. 30, 2019: New Moon Plans

Image by xusenru via pixabay.com

Friday, August 30, 2019
New Moon
Pluto Retrograde
Saturn Retrograde
Neptune Retrograde
Uranus Retrograde
Sunny and pleasant

How was your experience last night?

Could you feel the moment when you released your block? Could you sense it shattering or moving away, or sinking into the earth? What was that experience like for you?

Did it help you sleep?

Or did it give you a sense of loss?

There’s nothing wrong with feeling the absence of a block, even if it prevented you from making progress. It was a part of you. It’s not there any more. You’ve made room for something better, but there’s still an emptiness. A lightness, I hope, a sense of relief and anticipation.

Today, take some time to think about what you want in this new cycle. You don’t have to make an immediate decision. You can even decide to take an entire cycle off and not make a decision.

You’ve made room. Enjoy the emotional space.

Take your time to decide what you want to do to improve your life.

If you decide to stay fallow this cycle, take a few minutes to acknowledge that every day and enjoy the emotional space.

If you decide on something specific, start working out a few steps to take between now and the full moon to get things going.

We will reconvene on the full moon (September 14) to see how we’re doing.

In the meantime, enjoy the journey.

 

Thurs. Aug. 29, 2019: Dark Moon Release

image courtesy of MatteoBergamo vis pixabay.com

Thursday, August 29, 2019
Dark Moon
Pluto Retrograde
Saturn Retrograde
Neptune Retrograde
Uranus Retrograde
Rainy and warm

The 2020 Spell-a-Day Almanacs have shipped. I just turned in an article for the 2021 Witches’ Companion. So I thought it should get back to posting on the blog, when and where appropriate.

Dark Moon. It’s a time of low light, at least as far as the moon is concerned. But it’s also a day of huge power as far as releasing what we no longer need, pushing or cutting away what no longer works.

The day before the dark moon is my lowest energy day of the month. It’s hard to do anything, to focus on anything.

But the dark moon itself feels powerful. I am motivated to clean, both on physical and emotional levels, in preparation for a new cycle.

How will I deal with that today?

Tonight, in my before-bed meditation, I won’t even light candles. I will sit in the dark. I will release something specific (that I cannot discuss publicly) that is blocking me from moving forward the way I need to. I will push it from my life so that tomorrow, I can make a fresh start.

There are plenty of cutting away rituals and separation rituals. Over time, I am sure we will discuss them. But tonight, on this particular night, I want a quiet separation, not something dramatic.

Remember, even when you release energy, you should still ground before and after. Grounding helps keep you steady, and prevents stuck energy from giving you dis-ease.

Tonight, I will sit.

Tonight, I will follow my breath.

Tonight, I will relax into the release.

 

Ostara 2018

Tues. March 20, 2018
Waxing Moon

In spite of the constant onslaught of storms, today is the Spring Equinox, otherwise known as Ostara.

A day for rebirth; in the Northern Hemisphere, the beginning of Spring (hopefully).

Not so here, on Cape Cod in a physical sense.

However, we have more daylight (always a good thing, especially during power outages). The cats are losing their winter coats. They’re also more playful and interested in what’s going on outside.

The bunnies are around (they took refuge on the deck in the bad weather). The squirrels are busy finding the last of the nuts they buried, and rearranging the tulip bulbs. If past years are any indication, the tulip arrangements will be lovely, albeit in odd places.

It’s time, again, for the wheel to turn and for there to be positive change.

Personally, the last year and change have been difficult. I suspect I’m in my Saturn Return again (it was early the first time). I have a lot of obstacles to surmount in the coming months, but I feel more optimistic about them than I have lately.

The writing is going well (most days), the websites have moved hosts and most of them are live. Cerridwen’s Cottage is up on the new host, with its new design, although not all of the content has been loaded yet. I’m keeping up my daily yoga and meditation practices, and my seasonal alignments. I’m more aware of the shifts in light and temperature and all the rest, more in rhythm with it. Intentionally so.

There is plenty that still needs to shift, that needs a bit of a push so that it shifts in the way I want and need it to do, rather than just shifting to shift, and staying stagnant.

I am NOT looking forward to Mercury Retrograde starting in two days. But I hope my coping skills have grown since last time. I hope that, by being careful and thoughtful, I can face the M.R. obstacles with more grace.

I will plant today, lettuce and tomato seeds, and perhaps some pumpkins. I will plant and nurture, both inner and outer worlds.

Blessed Equinox!

May you have a beautiful day to dawn a beautiful cycle.

Thurs. Dec. 21, 2017: Winter Solstice

Thurs. Dec. 21, 2017
Waxing Moon
Uranus Retrograde
Mercury Retrograde
Sunny and cold
Winter Solstice

Winter Solstice is one of my favorite holidays, especially now that I live in a house and have a fire place.

I observe a tradition that the group with whom I worked in New York City observed – we let the sun set completely on Solstice, without turning on any lights, until it’s completely dark. Then, we light the Needfire first (here, it is the fireplace; in New York City, if outside, it was the Sacred Hibachi, or, if inside, the candles floating in the cauldron). We speak a blessing about the return of the light, and then we go around and light all the other candles, put on the tree, etc. throughout the house.

It’s lovely, quiet, and, truly, magical.

I like to joke that I celebrate everything from the end of October through the 6th of January. I have many happy memories of St. Nicholas Day, and Christmas, and all the rest. The fact that I mark Solstice doesn’t negate those good memories, and I build on them.

I wish you blessings and abundance and all that is good.

Have a wonderful holiday.

There will be a new full moon meditation on Cerridwen’s Cottage for January 1, our next full moon.

Blessings and peace.