Litha Celebration Ideas

What is Litha?

Litha is the celebration of the sun at its peak strength at the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year on June 21. This is the time for flower crowns and picnics, enjoying the warmth of the Sun and bounty of the Earth. Let out your inner child and cultivate a playful and open energy.

It was a major holiday in Norse traditions and is still celebrated with feasting and fires in many Scandinavian countries and across Europe. This is a time of joy as we enter the abundant growth phase of the agricultural year. The seeds have been sown, the flowers are blooming and the first harvest will soon be upon us (celebrated at Lughnasadh on August 1st). Take a moment on this day to connect with the sun and everything beautiful that is growing in your life. Want some ideas on how to do this? Then keep reading!

There is a bittersweet energy to Litha, for while we're celebrating the Sun's strength, from this day on it grows weaker and weaker. In the mythology of the Oak King and the Holly King, while the Oak King enjoys his strength, the Holly King is also born today and grows stronger until he overtakes him on Mabon. There are many different interpretations of that story, some having the Holly King win on Litha and rule the waning half of the year. Whichever interpretation you use, it reminds us to honor what we have in the moment, because the Wheel of the Year is always spinning, and life is always changing

Decorations

• Sun symbols

• Bonfires, candles, fire images

• Wildflowers, daisies, sunflowers, oak branches

Activities

Connect with the Sun

One of my favorite ways to celebrate Litha is to watch the sunrise and sunset. Find a hill that faces east for the sunrise or west for the sunset and meditate as you witness the sun's emergence (or setting) at it's full strength. Try to quiet your mind and notice if you get any nuggets of inspiration as you watch the sun. I like to envision the light of the rising sun connecting to my heart and the light growing stronger inside as it rises in the sky. Part of my daily prayers is to honor the sun and Litha is a great time to start a sun devotion. Here's how I connect to the sun:

To the Sun above, Father Sky, thank you for your warmth, light and illumination.

You are the spark that sustains life, your light is turned into food, and this I am light made alive.

I am made of you and thus, I am you.

May I shine bright like you, sharing my warmth and light freely as you do.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Hail and Welcome Sun!

Another way to connect with the Sun is to charge up magical tools in the Solstice sunshine. This is especially powerful for any manifestation tools. The Sun is the masculine energy and so anything you want added power, strength, confidence, and endurance infused into is a perfect item to charge. Crystals, mojo bags, a sigil, a piece of jewelry, herbs or infusions are all great things to set out to absorb this peak solar energy. Don't forget you're magic too, sunbathing and absorbing the Sun's power into yourself is also a beautiful way to work with this peak energy.

Light a Fire

Bonfires are a traditional way to continue carrying the Sun's light into the evening. Let the wood soak up the Sun's rays during the day and then light it as the sun is setting. This fire is potent, and you can use it to raise your energy and burn away what no longer serves you. Dance around it clock-wise, gazing into the flames and letting the fire speak to you. You can practice fire scrying, a divination method that uses flames to give us messages. A traditional way to celebrate Litha is to leap over the bonfire for good luck. Make sure this is safe before attempting!

Want to include fire but don't have an outdoor space to do so? Candles are just as good. You can even do some candle magic to specifically imbue an intention for the coming months. Set it in the Sun for a bit durung the day and then light it as sunset. You can meditate with is and also try fire scrying.

Honor the Masculine

If you are trying to connect more with your masculine energy, Litha is a perfect time for that. Doesn't matter if you're male, female or non-binary – we all have a masculine and feminine side. If you need more focus, confidence, power, strength, or endurance, create an intention bag as stated above and infuse those qualities. Commit to a daily practice, sign up for a martial arts or fitness class, or begin taking herbs like maca to enhance vitality.

Masculinity gets a bad rep these days, but there is so much good in healthy masculinity. It is the structure and safety for the feminine to bloom within. Without form the feminine dissipates and loses its potency. The masculine creates the space for the intuitive, creative feminine to dance. If you find that you have blocks to the masculine, I invite you to explore that on Litha. As someone who grew up Catholic and connecting with a very specific flavor of the Divine Masculine there, I found that getting to know the Green Man has been very helpful in me exploring a broader understanding of the masculine energy. To learn more see my post here.

Gathering Day

As this is the peak growth of many herbs, Litha is also known as Gathering Day and is an ideal time to collect herbs for magical uses throughout the year. Saint John's Wort, Mugwort, Chicory, Vervain and Yarrow are thought to be especially powerful when harvested at this time. Use these herbs medicinally or magically to create protection spells, amulets or wards. Once gathered, let them soak up the Sun's light before hanging them somewhere shady to dry.

Celebrate Love

If you are in a relationship this is a perfect day to get handfasted (pagan marriage rites) or renew your vows. If you're not ready to take that leap yet, it's still a beautiful day for a romantic picnic. Take time to tell your beloved all the reasons why you love them. Be playful and let your inner child be seen by your love. Pick flowers and adorn your partner. This is a potent day for sex magic if you practice that.

If you are looking for love, there's a Swedish practice that says if you place seven flowers under your pillow on midsummer eve that you will dream of your future spouse. I also recommend laying in the Sun's light and dreaming of your ideal love. Feel the warmth of the Sun warming your heart as you enjoy the daydream of a perfect day with your future love. Candle magic and solo sex magic are also potent practices to use on this day to attract a new love to you.

Inner Child

Something about the start of summer brings me back to the joy of childhood. School is out, the days are long, and this was the best time of year for play and adventures as a kid. Tap into your inner child by dusting off an old hobby from your childhood. What brought you the most joy as a kid? Climbing trees, catching frogs, dancing and singing, playing games with friends, art – whatever it was, find space to enjoy that on this day. If you have children around you, watch how they play and get inspired. Notice how a tall tuft of grass can amuse a child, how they giddily chase a butterfly, how they sing freely and dance however feels good – without fear of judgment. How can you bring more of that play into your everyday?

This is also a great day to honor the children in your life. Celebrate them, tell them how special they are to you, and do things to make them smile. Even if you don't have children yet, I encourage you to bless the descendants, the ones who will inherit this Earth. It's common to pray to our ancestors, but I also include those who have yet to come into my daily prayers. Here's an example:

To the Descendants, those who will come next, I honor you

Thank you for the constant inspiration to build a better world.

May I work today to create a home worthy of your inheritance.

Hail and Welcome.

Play with the Fairies

Shakespeare's Midsummer's Night Dream is a great example of the connection between Litha and the fae. While Beltane is more closely associated with the fae, they also like to visit on this day too. If you work with the fae or the nature spirits of the land, this is a great time to leave out offerings. When you set them out, take a moment to sit and listen. Feel around you energetically and you may notice their playful energy flitting about. If you would prefer these sometimes mischivous creatures to not come into your home (as things sometimes start to go missing...) you can made wards with iron you charge in the Sun and place at doors and windows.

Honor Mother Earth

While the Sun gets a lot of attention at Litha, don't forget to connect with the abundant Earth all around you. Mother Earth is in her early pregnancy from her dance with the Sun God at Beltane, and she is richly growing all around us. Notice the berries ripening on the vine, the flowers that have passed and are now seeds beginning to form. As you lay out absorbing the Sun's rays, also take a moment to ground into Mother Earth below. As you feel the Sun warming you, know that is how Mother Earth feels as she is kissed by his rays everyday. You are the child of Earth and Sky, feel that beautiful space between that you get to occupy. Give thanks to Mother Earth for the beauty and bounty she shares with you.

Protection Magic

Since the Sun is associated with the masculine energy, this is a perfect time to make protection wards or amulets. A simple way to do this is to create on intention bag. Research crystals and herbs that connect with your intention and lay them in the Sun to gather it's energy. Then place them in a bag and carry it with you to bring the strength of the Sun with you throughout the coming year. I particularly like yarrow and hematite for these bags for courage and grounding – but find what stones and herbs speak most to you.

Get Outside

Plan a picnic or cookout for this day and celebrate this beautiful weather with family and friends. Take a hike on your favorite trails, sit by a beautiful body of water, pick wildflowers and create a beautiful arrangement for your alter (always asking permission and giving thanks when you do). Paganism is a spiritual practice than is grounded in the experiential natural world around you. It's not about doing things in a prescribed way or going to a magnificent church to find the Divine. Our Divinity is all around us, we just have to listen and make space for the connection to occur. So go get your butt outside and worship with your presence and admiration.

Fortify your Goals

While many of the ancient pagan traditions have to do with farming, we don't tend to live as closely to the land as our ancestors did. So while you may not be blessing your fields for an abundant harvest, you can still bless your goals and projects, whatever they may be. Take time to journal about what you are growing this season. Make your goals very clear. Then think about how you can tend to thoe goals as you would a garden. Do they need to be fertilized with some new ideas? Do you need to weed around them to create more space for them to grow? Do they need pruning because they've gone in too many directions and aren't producing well so scattered? Envision your goals growing to fruition, ripening and being harvested. How do you feel when you see them achieved? You can create an intention bag as stated above and place it to your heart and pour into it all that joy and success you feel at achieving your dreams.

Bless the Water

One of the understandable fears of the ancient pagans was drought. You can tend your fields as much as you like, but without rain, a harvest could be destroyed. If it rains on Litha, while you may not get to sunbath, you can dance in the rain! Welcome the water and encourage it to keep the land refreshed this summer. If its a sunny day, go to your favorite body of water and give gratitude. Here's an example prayer:

To the waters of life

May you flow freely this season

Quenching our thirst and renewing the land

I welcome the rain and the life it brings

Thank you, thank you, thank you

Wear a Crown

Flower and leaf crowns are a classic way to celebrate Litha with people in many European countries still wearing them to this day. A wonderful way to help Mother Earth and create a base for your crown is by cutting down invasive bittersweet vines and weaving them into a circle. From there you can pick wild flowers and leaves to adorn your crown. If you don't have access to fresh flowers or want to create a crown that will last, you can get fake flowers from a craft store and attach them with wire or hot glue. If you make one out of flowers, it's traditional to place it under your pillow at night to have dreams of your future (especially in love).

Recipes

Strawberry Shortcake

Strawberries are at their peak ripeness at Litha so its a perfect time to enjoy a strawberry shortcake! Try this recipe from Nora Cooks.

Protection Tea

Mix equal parts dried Fennel, Ginger, Saint John's Wort, Nettle, and Mint in a glass jar. Place out in the sun at the height of Litha to absorb the suns rays and/or make sun tea. Serve hot or iced.

Lammas Celebration Ideas

What is Lammas?

The sun is shining, the weather is warm and the crops are ready to be harvested. Welcome to the height of summer! Lammas or Lughnasadh (Loo-nah-sah) is the first of the three harvest festivals on the Wheel of the Year.

Lammas is traditionally celebrated on August 1 or when the sun reaches 15° Leo. It's one of the four cross quarter holidays which are not associated with a solstice or equinox, but were very important historically for Celtic people. Seasonally, this is the time when we're getting our first big batch of goodies from the garden, so we celebrate the hard work and sacrifices made and give thanks for the abundance the Earth provides. Lammas is also the last holiday in the light half of the year, with the Sun succumbing to darkness at Mabon, so it's a time of enjoying the warmth and long days while we still have them.

Historically, this holiday celebrates the Celtic God Lugh, which is where the name Lughnasadh originates. As Lugh is famously good at everything, this holiday was celebrated with sports, competitions, music, storytelling, and trading. It's said that in honor of his foster mother, Tailtiu, who died of exhaustion while clearing the fields of Ireland for agriculture, Lugh began the Aenach Tailteann. This was a tribal gathering where arguments were set aside for feasting and a celebration of athletics, akin to an Irish Olympics. It was held during the last two weeks of July until the celebration of Lughnasadh on August 1st. These games began somewhere between 1600 BC and 1829 BC. Marriages and contracts were also formalized during the celebration.

With the introduction of Christianity, the name became Lammas, meaning "loaf mass" and was when the first loafs of bread from the harvest were blessed. This theme continues today with products from wheat, barley, oats and corn being made, offered and eaten (or drank in the case of beer). These are left as offerings to the Goddess in appreciation of Her bounty. Another tradition that survived and became a part of Lammas was climbing hills and mountains, and throughout Ireland people still make "pilgrimages" to this day.

Playlist

Decorations

• Sheaves of grain

• Local flowers

• Fresh produce

• Bread in baskets

• Sun symbols

Activities

Host Your Own Aenach Tailteann

As Lugh was known to be basically good at everything athletic, celebrate him and re-create a mini Aenach Tailteann with games that show off skill and athletic ability. Historically the games included spear tossing, fencing, and wrestling, but Corn Hole, Can Jam, and even beer pong would work as more modern versions of these games. Feel free to get silly, try a three legged race or create an epic scavenger hunt. As singing and storytelling were also aspects of the ancient games, why not have a karaoke competition? Let your imagination run and find ways to celebrate the areas you excel!

Host a Symbel or Brag

Combine some Celtic and Heathen traditions and do a symbel by bragging (stating an accomplishment) or boasting (stating what you plan to accomplish) for all to hear. Take turns sharing your successes and aspirations around a fire, toasting each person after they share. This is traditionally done with an animal horn full of mead, but a cup of ale or any beverage works too. Drink hearty to your success!

Abundance Magic

This is the time to celebrate the abundance in our lives and put out the intention to keep it going through the rest of the growing season. One way to do this is by simply sitting in meditation and visualizing yourself taking each step needed to reach your goal. You can also write on a small slip of paper “I have $___ in my possession” and keep it in your wallet. Tuck some dried goldenrod into the paper for a more potent spell. This is also the perfect time to give gratitude for any abundance spell that have come to fruition or to reinforce long-term spells that have yet to appear.

Go on a Picnic

What better way to enjoy the beautiful weather and bountiful harvest around us than with a picnic! Try to source all the goodies as locally as possible to really tap into the abundance available this season. Including some fresh baked bread and beer is especially seasonal as this is historically the first harvest of grains, so all their products are prized this day. Eat and drink in the name of the Goddess and God, by beginning with a prayer of thanks for the bounty laid before you. For extra credit, hike up a mountain to recreate the ancient tradition of hill climbing on Lammas. Mountain top picnic? Sounds perfect to me! Make sure you leave some of your feast for our animal friends as an act of gratitude and appreciation for the natural world around us.

Gather Goodies

The natural world is showing off in full at this time, with flowers, magical herbs and wild edibles galore! Pick a bouquet of wild flowers and include a few sprigs of wheat to display on your alter. Create a flower crown. Go foraging for wild edibles and herbs to use in your magic for the day (I recommend yarrow, golden rod, oak moss and vervain for seasonal magic of protection, strength, abundance and love). Make sure you connect to each plant as you harvest it and ask permission and give gratitude.

Build a Bonfire

The cross quarter holidays (the ones that aren't a solstice or equinox), are known as fire holidays, and this one is no different. As this is also Leo season, which is a fire sign, gathering with friends around a bonfire is astrologically supported as well! Sacrifice bad habits and unwanted things from your life by throwing symbols of them into the fire. If you gathered fresh stores of herbs this summer, throw the old dried ones into the fire with gratitude and the intention of releasing the old to make space for what the rest of this growing season is bringing for you. Dance around the fire, walking in a clockwise or deosil direction while focusing on the abundance you're cultivating.

Solidify your Love

During the Lughnasadh celebrations of Aenach Tailteann, couples often were married in front of the gathered tribes. If you're coupled and ready to take things to the next level, you may choose to try a trial marriage for a Year and a Day (basically neo-pagan engagement), get hand-fasted or renew your vows. If you're single, its a lovely season to ask your crush on a date. A picnic, bonfire, and a hand gathered bouquet are all rather romantic and Lammas approved.

Connect with Nature

Spend time in nature and connect to the Sun before it dies at Mabon. Hike a mountain and do your ritual at the top. Go camping. Take a trip to the beach and sunbathe. Have a meal outside. Invest in some comfy lawn furniture and read a book or simply meditate. Take time to appreciate the Sun and the Earth and all the bounty their combined energies produce. Give deep gratitude to the Earth for her bountiful harvest at this time.

Enjoy Crafting

Lugh is the artisan god of the Celts, so spend time doing your favorite type of creating. Take photos of your work and share it with friends and family so they can celebrate your artistry. If you want some seasonal craft ideas try making a wreath, sun wheel, or pentacle out of grain and seasonal flowers to honor the harvest. Corn dollies and wicker men are also made at this time to celebrate the harvest and honor the Gods and Goddesses that make it possible. If you host a bonfire, burning a wicker man made of natural materials is also traditional.

Bake Bread

Either alone or with friends, bake bread to celebrate the first harvest of grain. As you knead the bread, think of what abundance you would like to reap throughout the rest of the growing season. Keep scrolling for a Lammas bread recipe and other tasty seasonal goodies to add to your celebration.

Recipes

Lammas Bread

Any bread is Lammas Bread, but if you want to get extra fancy, check out this recipe for Sourdough Braided Bread with Calendula & Sunflowers by Nitty Gritty Life.

Fire Roasted Corn

If you’re hosting a Lammas bonfire, why not use it to cook a seasonal tasty treat!

Peel back the husks just enough to remove the silk, then replace them back around the cob. Soak the entire ear for at least 30 minutes so the husk is moist and steams the corn inside instead of burning immediately. Rake some coals to the side of the fire and place the corn above on a rack or beside the coals, turning every 5 minutes for about 30 minutes or until the corn inside is soft. Let the corn cool until you can handle it (or use potholders) and then peel off the husks. Slather it in your favorite topping and enjoy!

Lammas Libations

Beer, Mead, Whiskey! These are the traditional drinks of Lammas, but if you’re looking for a non-alcoholic beverage, why not harness the power of the sun and make sun tea! You can use any tea bag or herbal blend you fancy or make a combination of Lammas specific herbs such as Chamomile, Meadowsweet, Calendula/Marigold, Yarrow, Vervain, Sunflower petals, or Roses. Place the tea in a large jar and fill it with water. Place it in the sun for 3 hours and then serve over ice. If you want to sweeten it, only do so after you take it out of the sun.

Meet Brigid: Goddess of Imbolc

In the middle of winter, just as you can begin to sense the days are getting longer, the Goddess Brigid stirs. February 1st/2nd is the ancient Celtic holiday of Imbolc (IM-bolhk), one of the four cross quarter holidays in the pagan wheel of the year that fall between the solstices and equinoxes. These holidays were of more importance to the Celts than the solar holidays and Imbolc was the celebration of the great fire Goddess Brigid and the start of spring.

To help you understand a bit about deities and how to begin working with them, I wrote a blog post detailing my journey that you can read here. I don't want you to blindly believe everything I say about any deity. This path is about exploring and discovering what makes sense for you. Maybe that will be Brigid, maybe not. If you feel uncomfortable diving into working with her as an actual Goddess, you can simply see her as an archetype or an inspiring story.

Source: Temiel

Brigid is personally my main Goddess. My first interaction with her was as the Catholic saint, since I grew up going to St. Bridget's Catholic Church. Looking back, I feel like my upbringing in that faith was guided also by her hand.

Since then I first got to know her in her original Celtic form by celebrating Imbolc. My first Imbolc celebration I meditated on her and I was shocked that I felt her presence so strongly during that solitary ritual. She felt like a gentle guide, yet full of inspiration and passion. Now as a fire dancer, writer, and more recently a bit of a homemaker – I feel her fiery presence in so much that I do. She is included in my morning prayers, her cross is a protection in my home, and I tell the story of the amazing, transformational, resilient Celtic Goddess, Catholic Saint and Voodoo Loa whenever I can. I hope she inspires you as much as she has inspired me.

Who is Brigid?

"It is tempting to view this tender goddess of the early Spring only as: a wide-eyed, golden-haired girl, encircled by children. But behind her girlish innocence is the power of a once-great ancestral deity, Brigid, whose name means “The Exalted One,” queen and mother goddess of many European tribes. She is also known as Brigid, Bridget, Brighid, Brighde, Brig or Bride and some scholars consider her name originated with the Vedic Sanskrit word brihati, an epithet of the divine.

The 10th century Cormac’s Glossary describes her as the daughter of the Daghda, the “Great God” of the Tuatha de Danaan. He calls her a “woman of wisdom…a goddess whom poets adored, because her protection was very great and very famous.” Since the discipline of poetry, filidhect, was interwoven with seership, Brigid was seen as the great inspiration behind divination and prophecy, the source of oracles.

She is said to have had two sisters: Brigid the Physician and Brigid the Smith, but it is generally thought that all three were aspects of the one goddess of poetry, healing, and smithcraft. Elsewhere she is described as the patron of other vital crafts of early Celtic society: dying, weaving and brewing.

A goddess of regeneration and abundance, she was greatly beloved as a provider of plenty who brought forth the bounties of the natural world or the good of the people."

Excerpt from Donna Woodka

I see Brigid as the Triple Fire Goddess of Hearth, Forge and the Inspired Heart. She rules both the external flames that warm the home and temper raw metal into tools and art, and the internal fires of creativity. She is protection, inspiration, divination, abundance, guidance, fertility and healing. In my experience, she feels like a supportive mentor that always pushes you to be your best self because she believes in your greatness.

She is also adaptable. When Christianity came to Ireland, she found a way to slip into the new faith and keep her sacred fire burning for centuries. The Feast Day of Saint Brigid of Kildare is also on February 1st, the same day as Imbolc. To learn more about her fascinating history as Gaelic Goddess turned Catholic Saint and the traditional ways she was honored, check out this article.

She is also the only white Goddess to make it into the Voodoo pantheon. As enslaved Africans and Irish indentured servant lived together in Haiti, the Celtic Goddess Brigid morphed into the Voodoo Loa Maman Brigitte, death goddess and wife of Baron Samedi. In the Voodoo tradition she is foul mouthed and drinks rum infused with hot peppers while lovingly guiding the dead into the next realm.

Her ability to smoothly integrate into new religions is a testament to her resiliency. She has a power to captivate the heart and mind of those who meet her, so much so that they find a way to weave her into their spiritual traditions.

As she is the Goddess of poetry and inspiration, another beautiful way to get to know her is through some verses written in her honor.

"Feel Me now as Maiden.
I am the initiator.
I am the twinkle of an idea.
I am the spark that activates and inspires.
I am the light that illuminates manifestation.
I bring the energy that encourages the sleeping Winter world to begin to stir.
Feel My presence.
I am the spark of life in all things."

Excerpt by Wendy Andrew

"She is known as Brigid Bright,
Goddess who shines against the night.
At Cille Dara, at the setting sun,
Her sacred flame is kept by one.
Nineteen times the earth turns round,
As sacred springs come forth the ground.
Twenty times the sun has burned,
And now the Goddess has returned.
Alone she tends her thrice-bright flame,
Born of her heart that bears her name.
The Dagda knows Brigid as Daughter,
Triple Blessed by fire and water.
Poets call her name to inspire.
And healers oft gain from her fire.
Wayland too would know her well
As hammer and anvil ring like a bell.
A sorrowful cry did she give meaning,
When first she brought to Eire keening.
Oh Sacred Fire against darkest night,
Burn for Brigid, for Brigid Bright!

Fire in the head...to quicken us.

Fire in the cauldron...to heal us.

Fire in the forge of the heart...to temper us."

By Hedgewytch

Source: Ester Remmington

How to Connect with Brigid

• Feel Her Fire - whether a candle or bonfire, one of the best ways to honor Brigid is with flames. Light a candle for her or kindle a fire in your hearth or fire pit. Scry into the flames and open yourself up to new inspiration and insight.

• Wax Poetic - get creative, especially with your words. She was beloved by bards, poets and storytellers, so let your creative juices flow!

• Wade in the Water - Brigid is also connected to sacred wells, so it a good time of year to visit your favorite watering hole and leave an offering of some herbs, flower petals, or tying a (biodegradable) ribbon to a nearby tree with blessings written on it. Drawing yourself a bath with salt and your favorite relaxing scents like lavender and chamomile is another good way to connect with her watery side.

• Decorate your Hearth - Traditionally the hearth is the floor of the main fireplace where most of the heating and cooking would take place. Nowadays the symbolic hearth can be either the main fire place or the stove. If you’re a bit of a kitchen witch and spend most of your time cooking and concocting, you can place a Brigid Cross above your stove. If you’re more likely to curl up in front of the fire with a craft or a good book, I’d make the mantle seasonally festive with some spring flowers.

• Read my Imbolc Article - and get more inspiration here!

13 Days of Solstice

As we approach the longest night, it’s fun to find ways to make the season a little more festive. If you’re looking for ways to add a more nature-based and magical element into your holiday season, these 13 ideas are a great way to do just that. The holiday season isn’t always an easy or joyful time, especially if you don’t have a strong faith to lean on. Making your own traditions that reflect your love of nature and the changing of the seasons is a great way to add some fresh energy into a season that can sometimes be challenging.

If you’re in Southern New England, I would love to brighten your solstice season with a Winter Solstice Sing Along & Sound Meditation Gathering on December 23rd. Scroll to the end of this article for more information.

Day 1: Learn about your Roots

If you're looking to add a little paganism into your holiday season, a great place to start is by exploring what your ancestors did before Christianity took over. Since I'm of European heritage, I'm familiar with those practices, but the solstice was acknowledged around the world, so no matter where your ancestors are from, they probably did something special to mark the occasion of the sun's return after the longest night.

The Norse honored Odin on Yule or Jol. Odin was described as a wanderer with a long white beard and shares many similarities to Santa. Norse children would leave their shoes out by the hearth on the eve of the winter solstice with sugar and hay for Odin’s eight-legged horse, Sleipnir.

In Rome they celebrated Saturnalia as the rebirth of the year from December 17th to December 24th during which ordinary social rules were turned on their head. “Men dressed as women and masters dressed as servants. The festival also involved decorating houses with greenery, lighting candles, holding processions and giving presents.” More information here.

How did your ancestors celebrate? Are you going to incorporate any of their traditions into your solstice celebration this year?

Day 2: Make an Orange Pomander

Oranges symbolize the sun's return and the bright, zesty scent mixed with spicy cloves is a great way to brighten up this dark time of year. Simply poke the long end of whole cloves through the skin of an orange in a festive pattern. Stick a wire through the center of the orange, securing it on the outside of the bottom and forming a loop at the top to hang it. As it dries it will release its bright aroma. Hang it from a Yule tree or any place that needs some festive cheer.

For more details, check out this page.

Day 3: Decorate a living Yule Tree

Another way to celebrate is to share our bounty with our animal friends as winter begins. One way to do this is to decorate an edible outdoor Yule tree. The simplest ornament to make is to coat pine cones in a mixture of peanut butter and oats and roll them in bird seed. Tie a ribbon or string made of natural fibers to the top and hang it outside.

You can also make an edible garland by stringing together fruits such as apple, pear, grapes or orange chunks, raisins, cranberries, plain popcorn or Cheerios, or in-shell peanuts. Use a thread with natural fibers and the string can be repurposed by birds in the spring to make their nests. Do not use fishing wire, as it can harm birds.

You can also make bird seed ornaments that you can either hang on your own tree or give as gifts! This page has more ideas for edible decorations and how to make them kid friendly.

Day 4: Homeless Gifts

If you walk or drive through an area with a winter homeless population, it's great to make some little care packages to carry with you during the holiday season. Things I like to include are some socks and gloves, Hot Hands, lip balm, chocolate, granola bar, peanut butter cracker packs, can of soup, tea, and a $5-$10 gift card to a cheap, easily accessible restaurant (Dunkin Donuts, Subway or fast food), all in a zipper plastic bag with a handwritten note. If you don't encounter the homeless population regularly, you can donate to a food pantry or find a charity that is distributing gifts to children in need. For more ideas of things to include, check out this article.

Day 5: Make a Yule Log

One way to combine the greenery of the season with honoring the sun's return is making a Yule Log. This is a log that you decorate with natural materials and display as a decoration or on an alter. Then on the eve of the Solstice, it's burned to bring light to the darkest night and welcome back the sun.

Any log will do, but traditionally oak is used to bring in strength and health for the coming year. Pine is used as well for prosperity and abundance. Whatever log you choose, make sure it’s very dry and well seasoned so it’ll burn.

Wrap a ribbon made of natural fiber around the log and tuck pine boughs, pine cones, holly, and other natural materials underneath it. Finding the materials can be part of your Yule tradition. Try to mainly take things that are on the ground already, but if you want some greenery, ask the tree and give it thanks before cutting any branches. You can also write your hopes for the upcoming year and tuck them in as well.

On the night of the Solstice, turn off all the lights as you prepare to light the Yule log. Be quiet in the darkness as you think about the year that has past. Light the log and as it begins to burn think about the hopes you have for the year ahead. It's traditional to light a candle from the Yule log and use that to light candles throughout the house, spreading the warmth of the returning sun.

Day 6: Bake Solstice Cookies

Cookies and Yuletide are natural friends, but if you're looking for a pagan spin, there are lots of ways to witch it up! Trees, stars, and suns are all great shapes for the solstice. Also, adding a citrus element helps to brighten the recipe and reminds us that the sun grows stronger each day onward. Then make little packages of cookies to share with friends and family. Check out these orange cardamon sugar cookies for some inspiration!

Day 7: Send Holiday Cards

If you're crafty, get down with your bad self and hand make some cards. If that is not your strength, purchase cards made by a local artist and fill the inside with a list of all the reasons you love and value your friendship. End it with a blessing for a Happy Solstice and New Year such as this:

“Sending warmth and love on this Solstice Night

May the coming year be happy and bright”

Day 8: Adorn a Branch

Go for a walk and look for some beautiful natural objects (pinecones, dried leaves, bittersweet berries, tinder conch mushrooms, fallen birch bark) to create a beautiful and unique art piece. Also look for a pine bough that still has some needles, but any stick will work. Then tie ribbons, strings or fishing wire to the objects and hang them from the horizontal stick at various lengths. You can give it a festive feel and hang small ornaments among the natural objects as well. These make great DIY gifts!

Day 9: Go Wassailing

Wassailing is often synonymous with caroling, going door to door singing songs, except wassailing has a distinctly boozy flavor (with a drink sharing the same name!) But the original form of wassailing was to sing to apple trees to ensure a good harvest in the coming year. People would visit the apple orchard and pour wassail on the roots, leave some wassail soaked bread in the branches, and then make lots of noise to scare away evil spirits.

While I hardily encourage you to sing to an orchard if you have access to one, this practice can also be done in a garden or a natural place that you especially enjoy visiting during the warmer months as a way to “tuck it in” for the winter. Bringing some traditional wassail or hot cider to share with the trees is a lovely addition. My favorite solstice song to sing to the forest is Silent Night, Solstice Night.

Silent night, Solstice Night
All is calm, all is bright
Nature slumbers in forest and glen
Till in Springtime She wakens again
Sleeping spirits grow strong!
Sleeping spirits grow strong!

Silent night, Solstice night
Silver moon shining bright
Snowfall blankets the slumbering Earth
Yule fires welcome the Sun's rebirth
Hark, the Light is reborn!
Hark, the Light is reborn!

Silent night, Solstice night
Quiet rest till the Light
Turning ever the rolling Wheel
Brings the Winter to comfort and heal
Rest your spirit in peace!
Rest your spirit in peace!

If singing to the forest isn't your cup of hot cider, then you can do a quiet walk and meditation, giving a prayer of gratitude and protection to the forest, orchard or garden through the winter.

Day 10: Anonymous Giving

Do an anonymous act of kindness! Pay the bill for the person behind you in the drive thru, cover the tab for a young couple out to dinner (especially if they have a noisy child!), leave gift cards for your neighbors. Make sure this is anonymous and they don't know who to thank, as it will cause the ripple of good deeds to expand.

Day 11: Intention Lanterns

For this crafty magic, all you need is a white paper bag, sand, a marker and a tea light candle. On one side of the bag write the good things you intend for yourself in the coming year, and on the other side write good wishes for others or the world. Hold the bag to your heart and visualize these intentions coming to pass for yourself and others. How would it feel? What would your life or the world look like on a day-to-day basis? What would shift? Fill the bottom of the bag with sand, place the tea light inside, place your lantern outside, light the candle and enjoy the glow of your intentions coming to you.

Day 12: Make Magic Cider

Mulled apple cider is not only a tasty Yule beverage, but with the right intention you can turn it into a magic potion. The combination of cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, allspice berries and grated nutmeg carries a potent magical energy of protection and prosperity. To make this magic brew just simmer the cider over low heat with cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, allspice berries, and grated nutmeg. You can add orange wheels as well to honor the return of the sun (and poke the cloves into the skin of the orange circles to prevent them from getting sipped!).

Begin to stir the cider in a clockwise or deosil direction and envision your intentions for prosperity and protection in the coming year. See yourself looking at your bank account with your ideal total in it, taking that vacation, getting the promotion, buying the house, whatever your abundant dreams contain. Feel the joy and see what that prosperity allows in your life as you stir all those good intentions into the cider. If you’re sharing it with friends or family, envision them prosperous and protected as well. Before you drink your first glass, share what you’re most grateful for in the past year. Having gratitude for the abundance already in your life helps to attract even more in the future.

Day 13: Sing Solstice Carols

You can find many traditional Christmas carols that have been modified with a more nature-based theme. Singing familiar songs, but with lyrics that are more aligned with your current beliefs is a great way to get into the holiday spirit while remaining true to yourself. My two favorite Solstice Carols are Silent Night, Solstice Night and Joy to the World. Santa Clause is Pagan Too is a funny neo-pagan original.

Explore the playlist below of solstice themed songs and find your favorites.

Want to get even more festive?

If you’re in Southern New England, join me for a Winter Solstice Sing-Along & Sound Meditation Gathering on December 21st from 4-9pm. This will be a meditative evening of fire and song. Click here for more information on how to join.

And don’t miss these other offerings…

• Intuitive Tarot Course - A three month journey into self discovery and deepening your intuition that also happens to teach you the meaning of all 78 Tarot cards - with no memorization! Begins January 2nd.

• Tarot Gift Cards - give the gift of guidance to those you love!

• Astrology 101 - Give your favorite astrology fan the gift of unlocking the secret language of the stars! In just seven concise pages, they will be able to pull up their own chart, decipher the symbols, and even start to figure out their life path and shadow work journey in this lifetime. This is a perfect last minute, $10 gift for any astrology fan in your life.

Yule Playlist:

Samhain Celebration Ideas

What is Samhain?

An unmistakable chill grips the air, sweeping the ever increasing amounts of fallen leaves into a swirling dance. Samhain, the last of the three neo-pagan harvest festivals, is upon us.

In the wheel of the year, we are approaching Samhain (pronounced SAH-win) the midpoint between the autumnal equinox (Mabon) and the winter solstice (Yule). The exact midpoint is in early November, but the celebration is usually fixed on October 31st. In opposition to Beltane, our celebration of light, this is a celebration in the face of the darkness that has begun taking over for the end of the year.

Much like with Yule and Christmas, traditional elements of Samhain have survived its merging with the Christian All Saint’s (or Hallow’s) Eve, or as we call it today, Halloween. We know this because more than any other Celtic holiday, this is the one that survives in writing the most. The fact that a great deal of folklore set on or around Samhain shows how important of a time it was for these early societies. Samhain was the festival celebrating the beginning of winter. The revelry included bonfires, veneration of the dead, horse races, divinations, and copious amounts of drinking. Also this was considered the start of the new year, because in Celtic tradition each day began at sunset the day before, and so the year begins in darkness as well.

This is also the time that the veil between our world and the Otherworld is the thinnest. This affords easy passage for the souls of the departed into our world, along with hosts of other supernatural beings. Taking extra care to protect yourself in this time isn’t a terrible idea, but it is also a great time to open yourself to this influx from the other side. Now that the earth has shared the last of her bounty with us for the year and we must fend for ourselves more in the colder months ahead, this is the perfect time to reflect on what we have lost.

Looking for more support through this season and the rest of the Dark Half of the Year? Learn more about my virtual coven Spiral Within and see if joining an active community of fellow Earth-Loving Seekers is for you.

Playlists for Samhain

Decorations

• Late Harvest Crops especially Pumpkins and Apples

• Acorns and Found Seeds

• Autumn leaves

• Besom broom

• Cauldron

• Jack-o-Lanterns

• Skulls, preserved animal remains, dead flowers, other symbols of death

Activities

Host a Dumb Supper

Host a dinner for the dearly departed. You can do this alone or with friends and family. Prepare family recipes, traditional foods from your heritage or the favorite foods of your dearly departed. Set an extra place at the table and invite the ancestors in lovingly. Go around and share gratitude for everything they did to allow you this life in this time, and then eat in silence and feel into their presence. Listen with your heart for any messages from them. Once the dinner is finished. share stories of the departed and bask in the warmth of their memories as we begin heading to the darker months. Put their plate outside after the dinner is finished to return it to the earth and feed our animal friends.

Light a Candle for the Ancestors

Gather tea light candles and fill a wide bowl or cauldron with sand or use a heat safe tray to hold your candles. Dim the lights, cast a circle and light a central candle saying. “Hail and welcome to the ancestors and beloved departed. May the light of these candles guide you to us and its warmth give you comfort.” Light a candle from the central flame for each ancestor you desire to honor saying “I invite (name) into our circle tonight. Hail and welcome!” Once you have invited the ancestors and dearly departed, sit in silence and bask in the glow of the candles. You can use this space for divination with cards, pendulum, or fire scrying with the candle flames, or just meditate and open yourself up to their guidance. Let the candles burn down on their own and then thank the ancestors for visiting, wish them well on their journey and lovingly ask them to leave your space as you open your circle.

Ancestor Alter

Dedicate a space in your home to your ancestors. Gather photos and heirlooms from ancestors with whom you wish to connect. If you don't want to call in any known recent ancestors (which can be the healthiest choice depending on their level of wellness in life), gather things that represent your heritage, such as maps, photos of the land, or pagan/cultural symbols. Leave offerings for your ancestors by burning incense, lighting a candle, praying, singing or leaving some food or drink (especially their favorite foods or culturally appropriate choices).

Visit your Ancestors

Visit the cemetery where loved ones reside and leave an offering and/or light a candle for them. If with family, share stories about them. If alone, open yourself up to feel their presence and talk with them.

Share Stories

Get together with family and ask questions about your ancestors. Get them to share stories and describe what the people who came before you were like. You can even record these sessions so you can share them with the next generation and beyond. Notice patterns, inherited skills, and family traits. Fill out a family tree with notes about each person's personality and interests and see how those traits are passed down.

Carve a Jack-o-Lantern

This modern Halloween tradition has old Samhain roots. While pumpkins are from the Americas, historically jack-o-lanterns were carved out of beets or turnips in Ireland. They were both a welcome light to the beloved dead and a fearsome face to scare away any mischievous spirits that wandered by. Carve your own and light them up on Samhain Eve to guide your ancestors home.

Releasing Rituals

Now is the time to let go like autumn leaves all that no longer serves us. The trees show us how beautiful releasing can be. What are you ready to release? Take some time to journal about what need to be cleared from your life. These can be relationships, obligations, or personal patterns. Then do a fire ceremony in a cauldron or fire pit by writing on fallen leaves each thing you're releasing this Samhain and tossing them with intention into the fire. You can also toss in some dried rosemary, cinnamon and cloves in for an extra magical boost.

Rest

We are sliding into the darkest part of the year. Once the final harvest is complete, most of the leaves have fallen and the first early frost has killed the tender plants, the Earth begins to rest. And you can too! You may notice that you're sleepier this time of year as the cold and darkness creep in. That's perfectly normal! Give yourself plenty of cozy blanket time. Pour a cup of tea, draw a bath, curl up with a good book. Allow the slow down. Just as the seeds tucked into the earth seem lifeless, they are still full of potential. They are just waiting for the perfect time to stretch and grow, and now is not that time. If you are feeling the call to rest, listen and take care of yourself.

Soak Up the Beauty

This season more than any other encourages us to pause and enjoy the fleeting beauty of nature and tap into moments of transient bliss. These vibrant colors won't last for long, so we need to catch the splendor of autumn while we can. Prioritize sunny days and warm weather, taking time for even a short walk around the block, if not an epic full day hike. Collect beautiful leaves, seed pods, acorns, and other signs of the season for your alter, giving thanks to the land for it's beauty and bounty.

Celebrate the Witches New Year

In the Celtic calendar, Samhain is the start of the New Year, so let loose! This holiday was celebrated with copious amounts of drinking historically, so throw a party, dress up, and celebrate, because in Witches years 2020 is over!

Scorpio Shadow Work

Samhain is at the height of Scorpio season, so deep self-examination is very fitting for this time. The dark half of the year invites us to explore shadow work, the aspects of our unconscious that we aren't fully aware of, but that totally run the show secretly. As Carl Jung, expert on the unconscious says, 'Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.'

One of the ways this shows up is through how we talk about others and ourselves, both externally and internally. In my virtual coven, Spiral Within, we’re about to start No Shit Talk November. How we use our words illuminates so much about what’s going on under the surface and I can’t wait to explore my unconscious right alongside you. Just planning for this challenge has already begun a deep shift within me. Learn more and join the coven and the challenge here.

Explore the Underworld

Persephone, Inanna, Hecate, these Goddesses that travel to the underworld are powerful at this time. The Sun God has died and is currently in the Underworld as well, so there is also a masculine example of this energy. Connect with these deities and ask them to help you discover what is hiding in the underworld of your subconscious. What things have you hidden from yourself that need to come up and out into the light of day? As the light continues to wane, we're called into a deeper examination of ourselves. This retelling of Inanna’s descent into the underworld to meet her sister Ereshkigal by Chani Nicholas is a beautiful illustration of the healing that can happen when we bring presence and awareness to our unconscious and the tough emotions that live there.

Called one day by her sister, Ereshkigal, goddess of the underworld, Inanna descends to her realm. Ereshkigal is the opposite to Inanna’s beauty, glory, and adoration. She is the sister betrayed. Feared. Unloved. Alone. Rejected. Her pain has distorted her. Her hunger for love left unjustly unfulfilled. Ereshkigal is the aspect of Inanna, the aspect of us all, that lives just under the surface waiting for our consciousness to open to its call.

When she reaches her sister in the underworld, Inanna is met with a death stare that annihilates her. Her corpse is then hung on meat hooks, left to rot where no one can reach her. The only beings that come to her aid are two magical helpers who appease Ereshkigal by witnessing her pain, acknowledging it and mirroring her struggle back to her. These beings echo Ereshkigal’s cries and wails. For the first time Ereshkigal is relieved of her pain because she is related to. Accepted. Given some compassion for her struggle. In return for this kindness she gifts them Inanna’s body and the goddess is reborn. Ascending to the Great Above, Inanna is renewed, but is never the same. Now fully awakened by coming into contact with the pain of her other half, Innana is, for the first time, a Queen truly worthy of her crown.

Ereshkigal is the deep reservoirs of power that lay within the unconscious. We cannot come into contact with our full potential until we are willing to descend into our underworlds, reckoning with the truth of what has happened to us. The struggle of marrying the unconscious and the conscious, the Queen of the Great Above, and the Queen of the Great Below, is a process of transformation so intense and painful we can only do it in the underworld. We need deep caverns, incubators, and safe places to grieve and reunite with ourselves.

Full article can be found here.

Food and Drink

Family recipes, traditional food of your heritage, beloved dead's favorite meals. Or you can get into the autumn theme and try these spiced apple cider and pumpkin bread recipes. And remember, spices have magical properties. Why not tap into the energy of these spices and add them into your recipe with intention?

• Cinnamon – prosperity, protection, love, divination

• Clove – protection, purification, prosperity

• Anise – luck, protection, divination

• Nutmeg – love, protection, divination, persuasion

Hot Apple Cider

INGREDIENTS

• 4 ½ cups apple cider

• 1 tablespoon orange juice

• 1 whole cinnamon stick

• 3 whole cloves

• 1 whole star anise

• 8 ounces bourbon, whiskey, dark rum, or brandy

• 4 slices navel orange, for garnish

• Optional cinnamon and sugar, to rim the glass

INSTRUCTIONS

Place the apple cider, cinnamon stick, orange juice, cloves and star anise in a small pot and bring to a boil. Lower to a simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and strain into a pitcher. 

If you plan to rim the glass with sugar do that now.  In the glass, add 2 oz bourbon and 1 cup of the cider mix. Garnish with an orange slice and stick of cinnamon and serve warm.

Source: Vindulge

Pumpkin Bread

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon ground flaxseeds

• 2.5 tablespoons water

• 15 ounces (1 1/2 cups) canned pumpkin puree

• 1 1/4 cups brown sugar

• 1/2 cup canola oil

• 1/4 cup soy milk

• 1 3/4 cups all purpose flour (or gluten free all purpose flour)

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

• 1/2 cup pepitas

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and grease a loaf pan.

• In a small bowl, combine the ground flaxseed and water. Set aside to thicken; this is your flax egg.

• In a large bowl, whisk together the pumpkin, brown sugar, canola oil, flax egg and soy milk until smooth.

• Add the flour, then sprinkle the baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves on top of the flour. Stir with a large spoon or spatula, gently, until just combined. Do not over mix.

• Pour into the prepared pan and sprinkle the pepitas on top. Bake for about 1 hour and 15 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

• Let it cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes, then transfer the loaf to a cooling rack. Slice carefully right away, or let cool completely for easier slicing and serving.

Source: Nora Cooks

Magical Butternut Squash Soup

Ingredients

• 1 large to 2 small butternut squash (Abundance, symbolic of the harvest)

• 1 cookie sheet worth of cherry tomatoes (protection from negative energy)

• 2 carrots (Masculine Energy)

• 1 onion (Protection)

• Garlic (2-however many you want cloves) (Luck)

• 1 qt veggie stock

• Olive oil (Olives: peace, sacred to Athena)

• Sage (Cleansing and protection)

• Thyme (Healing, protection)

• 2 bay leaves (manifestation, protection, healing)

• Nutmeg (spiritual connection, psychic powers)

• Cayenne pepper (Strength)

• Extra creamy oat milk (Oats: Fertility)

• Brown sugar (to taste)

• Lime juice (to taste) (Lime: Luck)

• Salt (Protection, purification)

• Pepper (Protection)

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 425 F 

• Peel and dice butternut squash, toss in olive oil, garlic power, powdered sage, salt and pepper

• Halve cherry tomatoes, toss in olive oil, garlic power, salt and pepper

• Roast butternut squash and tomatoes for 35-45 minutes or until fork tender (tomatoes may take 30-35 minutes, keep an eye out for burning)

• Dice onion and carrots, saute them in olive oil with salt, pepper, bay leaves, thyme and sage (Ideally fresh herbs but dried will totally work). When onions and carrots are cooked add garlic and saute until browned (about 90 seconds)

• Add Stock, scrape bottom of pan to deglaze with stock, then bring to a simmer

• When squash and tomatoes are done roasting add to soup and puree with emulsion blender (or put everything in blender, blend and put back in soup pot) REMOVE BAY LEAVES FIRST

• Bring back to simmer and season with nutmeg, cayenne pepper, brown sugar and lime juice to taste. (if the soup needs salt I like to add soy sauce for added flavor depth)

• Add oat milk for creaminess and enjoy!

Recipe by Kate - Spiral Within Member

Join the Coven

Looking for more support through this season and the rest of the Dark Half of the Year? Learn more about my virtual coven Spiral Within and see if joining an active community of fellow Earth-Loving Seekers is for you.

Mabon Celebration Ideas

What is Mabon?

Mabon is the Autumn Equinox, the balance point between the Light and Dark Halves of the Year and the second of the three harvest holidays.

Bring to your mind all the traditional aesthetics of fall, harvest, and the meal of Thanksgiving, and you’ll have a good start to understanding Mabon. Positioned right at the midpoint between the summer and winter solstices on September 22, 2020, the Autumnal Equinox is a time for sharing the earth’s bounty, expressing our gratitude and providing for others as we slide into the Dark Half of the Year.

The name Mabon, much like the holiday itself, is a more modern creation, coined in 1970 after Mabon ap Modron from Welsh folklore. Even though it is a rather new official holiday in neo-paganism, it's become one of the 8 spokes in the Wheel of the Year and it has a beautiful function as the threshold between the Light and Dark Halves of the Year. The days grow shorter, the nights longer, and now they meet in perfect balance for the first time since Ostara. Light and dark, masculine and feminine, they come into balance for this brief time, before the inevitable dominance of winter. Typically pagans come together for a big meal, as this is the time for sharing our bounty with each other. Reflect and find balance, both in yourself and with those around you. Finish tasks you’ve put off, repay debts, and begin to prepare for the end of the year. Here are some ideas for how to get into the Mabon spirit.

Playlist for Mabon

Decorations

• Gathered leaves, seed pods, and dried plants found on a nature walk

• Wreath or crown of autumn leaves to wear during your celebration

• Basket or cornucopia full of freshly harvested produce

• Tie yellow or golden ribbon (sun symbolism) around sprigs of dried yarrow or cinnamon sticks to hold onto the last rays of the sun.

Activities

Share a Meal

Prepare a meal of Thanksgiving, using the food of the harvest. One of the easiest meals is to make a seasonal Stone Soup with everyone bringing one type of vegetable that came from a local farm. As each person adds their cut up veggies into the pot, they offer a blessing to be stirred into the soup finishing with:

“Surrounded by good company and good cheer,

May our abundance flow into the dark half of the year”

Make sure you stir it clock-wise or deosil to infuse that intention in (as counter-clockwise is used to release). Make sure you go around the table and share what you're most grateful for this year before you dive into your meal.

Give Back

Make offerings to the land as thanks for the bounty she provides. Save some of your Mabon meal to return to the Earth in gratitude. As you put your plate out, take a moment to place your hands on the Earth and thank her for all the bounty and beauty she shares with you.

Go apple picking or harvest fresh produce from your garden, and leave some of the bounty outside so our animal friends can also enjoy the harvest too.

This is a great time to donate our time or money to a charity we hold close to our heart. You can also create homeless kits with hand warmers, tea, lip balm, chocolate, and your favorite snack to keep in your car so you have something ready if you encounter someone needing warmth in the cold months.

If you want to super charge your abundance through some magical giving, check out the Abundance Model. Implement the Magic Money aspect for Mabon and send out waves of gratitude!

Prepare for Winter

Take the time to prepare for winter, both physically and mentally. As this is the end of Virgo season, it's a good time to finish up any lingering projects that need to be settled before winter. Tidy the garden and the yard, organize the garage and shed, open all the windows and air out the house as you do a deep clean.

If you tend to suffer from seasonal depression, stock up on Vitamin D or look into purchasing a sun lamp. Planning a mid-winter trip somewhere warm can also help.

You can prepare mentally by choosing a class or activity to keep you occupied through the winter. Look into starting a dance class or martial arts, learning a new craft, or signing up for an online course.

As this is the beginning of Libra season, lean into your nourishing friendships and strengthen them while the weather is still good for reliable travel. Plan some seasonal fall fun with your ride or die crew.

Practice Gratitude

Give yourself space to meditate on all the things you learned during the Light Half of the Year since March. This is a great time to explore radical gratitude and think on the things that originally were painful, but now that you’re on the other side, you’re actually thankful you experienced.

Make a gratitude list, post it on your social media, and tag friends as a gratitude challenge. Do candle magic to send blessings to those who have helped you through this time. Celebrate the people that matter most in your life. Write heart felt Thank You cards for all the blessings they bring. Even write them to people you no longer speak to and burn them if sending isn’t an option. Sometimes our most challenging relationships are where we learn the most.

Find Balance

Get real with your time and energy and if you're feeling a bit out of wack, find ways to come back to center. This can be physically like getting a planner or using to do lists or spiritually by meditating on and working with a deity that has the qualities you wish to bring into your life for more balance. Over worked? Work with the sensual feminine like Venus. Unmotivated? Call in some action oriented masculine like Mars or Mercury.

If you’re into yoga, use this day to practice balance poses, such as tree, dancer, crow, flying lizard and headstand.

Mabon Food and Drink

Apple Bread

This delightfully seasonal bread is allergy friendly being both gluten-free and vegan. If you’re staying away from carbs a Butternut Squash Soup would make a lovely alternative dish.

Cinnamon Swirl:

• 2 tablespoons brown sugar

• 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Apple Bread:

• 2 tablespoons ground flax seeds

• 6 tablespoons water

• 2 cups gluten-free flour blend

• 2 teaspoons baking powder

• 1 1/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon

• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1/3 cup sugar

• 1 cup plain, unsweetened applesauce

• 1/3 cup melted coconut oil

• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

• 1 cup chopped apples

For Topping (Optional)

• 1 tablespoon turbinado sugar

• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 325°F (165°C).

• Grease a 5″ x 9″ (1.5 quart) loaf pan.

• Prepare cinnamon swirl by mixing brown sugar and cinnamon together. Set aside.

• If using, prepare the topping by mixing the turbinado sugar and cinnamon together. Set aside.

• Prepare your flax eggs by whisking together ground flax seeds and water. Set aside to thicken.

• In a large bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt together.

• In a small bowl, mix the sugar, applesauce, melted coconut oil, vanilla, and flax mixture together.

• Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and mix well to combine.

• Fold in the chopped apples.

• Pour half of the batter into greased loaf pan.

• Sprinkle cinnamon swirl mixture evenly on top of batter.

• Pour the remaining batter on top of the cinnamon swirl layer.

• If using, sprinkle topping evenly on top of batter.

• Bake for 50-55 minutes or until a tester comes out clean.

• Allow the loaf to fully cool before slicing.

Source: Delightful Adventures

Pomegranate Apple Cider Spritzer

The most classic drink for Mabon is red wine in honor of Dionysis or Bacchus, the Gods of Wine and Grapes, who is celebrated this day. For those of us not indulging in alcohol, pomegranate juice is a fun alternative to commemorate Persephone’s decent into the Underworld at this time of the year. And apple cider, hot and spice or cold and refreshing, is always a safe bet. Can’t decide? Have some fun with it and combine the two into this tasty spritzer.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup (120ml) pomegranate juice (fresh or bottled)

• 1/4 cup (60 ml) unsweetened apple cider

• 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice

• Optional: 3 ounces (90ml) vodka

• ice cubes

• 1/3 cup (155ml) club soda

• sprigs of rosemary for garnish (optional)

1. Place a few ice cubes in a shaker. Pour in pomegranate juice, apple cider, lime juice, and vodka. Shake vigorously.

2. Strain into two glasses and top each drink with half of the club soda. Garnish with fresh sprigs of rosemary.

Source: Healthy Nibbles and Bits

Want to go deeper?

Join Spiral Within: The Dark Half of the Year

If you’re craving a deeper, longer connection, a supportive community of other Pagan seekers, and a safe space to dive into your subconscious this Dark Half of the Year, my virtual community Spiral Within might just be the perfect fit! This self-guided exploration on a private app is a beautiful container for personal growth and deeper spiritual connection on your time. For all the details, click here. But hurry! Enrollment to Spiral Within ends September 23rd.

Things you’ll receive in Spiral Within:

• One-on-one Tarot Readings every other week

• Astrology Guidance

• Full and New Moon virtual circles

• Classes with Guest Teachers such as Ancestral Healing, Intuitive Painting, Moon Manifestation, Meeting your Spirit Guides and More!

• Guided Meditations

• Thoroughly researched Correspondence Lists of herbs, foods, stones, oils, deities, activities and more for each holiday

• Sabbat Circles to celebrate each holiday through ritual and seasonal magical crafts

• Journal Worksheets to explore the themes deeper

• Abundance through Gratitude Article and more for each holiday

• Offerings 101 Lesson to help you magically express your gratitude and more magical teachings each holiday/month

• Virtual Community hosted on Heartbeat.Chat to connect with other members anytime

• Lifetime access to Spiral Within at no additional cost after the first 6 months (meaning its not a membership site you have to pay for indefinitely, I want you here!)

Do you struggle with completing programs?

Know you have some Shadow Work or subconscious patterns to explore, but having trouble teasing it out?

Or maybe you’re an external processor and benefit from talking things out more than writing in a journal.

Then Shadow Journey may be right for you!

Want to learn more? Click the link below for all the details and to book an Exploration Call.

The Dark Half of the Year

Welcome to the Dark Half of the Year, when night overtakes day and we enter the cold, hibernation time. The vegetation dies and the Earth slumbers, as we retreat indoors and find ourselves alone with our thoughts more than we previously had been. Historically, these were the lean times, when our ancestors made their harvest stretch until the sun returned in the spring, bringing with it new life again. The energies, archetypes and deities associated with this time naturally embody that serious, wise, and internal energy that the season reflects. These energies are not scared of death, in fact they are the most comfortable with that energy of all the archetypes. This no longer means purely physical death in our modern society, but the death of the things that hold us back from being our fullest self. They can be habits, self-talk, relationships, or beliefs. In the darkness we can surrender and let it go. Grieve the loss, enjoy the spaciousness, find our new normal and emerge in the spring ready to expand and manifest our dreams.

Who are these deities of the Dark Half of the Year? Let's explore the Holly King and the Crone. And remember, work with them to the level you feel good about. You don't have to believe they exist in any form, other than as archetypes in our mind. They are symbols first and foremost. If you begin meditating on them and feel a deeper connection, enjoy exploring what is there, but don't force anything.

Meet the Holly King

The Holly King is the embodiment of the responsible masculine. He is paternal and wise, and isn't afraid to teach you a lesson. He's the grandfather who has endless wisdom, but no time for your excuses. At Mabon, he takes his place as Lord of Darkness, not because he particularly likes that title, but because someone needs to rule this time and who better for the role. He begins his rule by slaying the Oak King, the other embodiment of the masculine and truly of himself. He kills the carefree, playful, virile youth and becomes the stable, wise, and sober role model we need to get through the hard times.

His energy is felt in other more serious Gods, such as Odin, Saturn, Hades, Pluto, and Kronos. He's also associated with Santa Clause, where he brings joy and comfort to children on the darkest night, so he's truly not all tough lessons (although if you've been bad, there is the threat of coal!).

How to work with him:

• Journal about your connection with masculinity in this form. How do you interact with authority? Do you feel like you embody his energy well? Do you have resistance or baggage associated with this energy?

• Keep a planner or running to-do list. Make your word and commitments sacred. Honor him by embodying your responsible side.

• He rules transformations and new beginnings, so set goals and make resolutions

• Keep a sprig of holly on your alter

• Call upon him during meditation and explore what messages come through

Meet the Crone

In the familiar triad of Maiden, Mother, Crone, the dark half of the year is ruled by the transformative Crone. At Mabon, the Mother slips gracefully towards her menopausal time, ending her fertility with the final harvest at Samhain. She then travels to the underworld to find the Oak King and revive him, and at Yule she lays down to rest and dream through the winter months as she transforms back into the young Maiden again at Ostara. The Crone is not afraid of death, the underworld, darkness or the subconscious shadow realm, in fact she rules them. She bravely walks were others fear to go and that is where she learns her most valuable lessons.

The Crone is embodied as Hecate, Cerridwen, Cailleach Bear, Hella, and Morrigan. She is both protective and fearsome, because she no longer fears the darkness and will force us to see the patterns within ourselves that need to die. She calls you to rest and to dream. To let go and let die. To come back to the primordial womb and transform and be reborn anew with her in the Spring.

How to connect with Crone energy:

• Listen to your elders. Help a Crone during this time of year and let her tell you stories.

• Keep a dream journal and interpret them daily.

• Give yourself time to intentionally rest.

• Learn about the Crone Goddesses and meditate on one that calls to you. Do you get any messages?

• What are your feelings about death? Are you afraid? Do you live life avoiding death and pain? How do you feel about aging?

• Burn a black candle to honor the Crone energy within yourself

The Value of Darkness

The term “Dark Half of the Year” can have an ominous feeling to it. Our society has disowned darkness in so many forms, skin color, nighttime, the unknown. Even new age communities espouse “Love and Light” and “Good Vibes Only” as mantras that suppress the darker aspects of life. This kind of thinking is what creates the divides which shadow work seeks to heal. Putting a moral or value judgment on any aspect of ourselves only serves to fragment us further. Bad things will happen. We will feel uncomfortable emotions. People will be jerks. Do we cover it up and run away from it with “Good Vibes Only” or do we face it boldly and let the experience move through us and transform us into a fuller, more compassionate, expansive version of ourselves?

Darkness is the womb. We all formed in darkness, only emerging into the light once we were ready to breath on our own. The seed is held in darkness through the winter, kept safe until the time is right for it to soften and break open in the soil's warm embrace. Before there were stars and or even a Universe, there was darkness. The contrast to light, the thing before time began. Be still. Be quiet. Be present. Be held. That is the darkness. Let it creep inside of you, let it float buried things to the surface. In the stillness feel each thing you're presented and decipher it's meaning and purpose without the use of your oh-so-rational eyes.

Inner vs Outer

The Dark Half of the Year is about the inner transformation. It's going within and seeing what lives there. The Light Half of the Year is about connecting with the external world and manifesting your dreams. And these two phases flow into each other. We need to check in and clear out our subconscious so we have a unified will with which to manifest, and we need these external experiences to highlight what areas still need some internal work.

The Value of Contraction

In our externally focused, constantly busy world, rest and reflection aren't prioritized, but it is in the pagan Wheel of the Year! This isn't idle time though. This is deep transformation work, and it requires quiet and time to relax. This is the time to cut away the old and make room for the new to grow in the spring. It's the time to think about your priorities and make sure you're truly aligned. It's the time to find your true North again, away from the expectations of others. Contract, come back, spiral within.

Want to explore the Dark Half of the Year in a virtual community of Earth-loving, transformational people?

Then Spiral Within: The Dark Half of the Year is perfect for you. Click here to learn more and join.

Sagittarius Full Moon Lunar Eclipse on June 5, 2020

Paradox Abounds

Full Moon Lunar Eclipse at 3:11pm EDT at 15º33’ Sagittarius

Full Moons are when we receive the bounty of our intention, but I have a feeling what we're receiving now doesn't feel like what we intended. It doesn't mean it's not valuable. Emotions usually run high at a Full Moon, since the Sun (self) is opposing the Moon (emotions), but mix in an eclipse and Mars in Pisces in a square to the Sun and Moon and we have a recipe for some big feels and explosive moments.

At a Sagittarius Full Moon we balance the philosophical, deep dive of Sagittarius with the inquisitive, light, friendly Gemini Sun. While Sagittarius has many beautiful qualities like a love for travel and learning, it also has a shadow. It can become a zealot, overly focused on the “right way” of doing things. It's optimism, while usually refreshing and inspiring, can become a bit toxic if a “Good Vibes Only” message is being preached.

Of course our emotional side wants to bask in this bright energy, but the world and astrology aren't playing nice right now. The Sun in Gemini is being that obnoxious Devil's Advocate Gemini is so good at being (I'm a Gemini, I know that must be annoying). Our conscious mind is spinning with questions and paradox and we're overloaded with information.

Oh and remember this is a Lunar Eclipse, meaning the light the Sun is shining onto the Moon gets interrupted by the Earth passing between them. Seems poetic with what's going on in the world right now that the usually friendly combination of Sagittarius and Gemini gets interrupted by the reality here on Earth. Eclipses amplify the energy of the moon and usually affect us for six months. This one is different, because it's the first in a series of three eclipses, with a Solar Eclipse on June 21 and another Lunar Eclipse on July 5. This second Lunar Eclipse will supersede this one, so this eclipse is only dominating for the next month (thank goodness!). Think of it like the initiation period before we can start the next phase. We have to release and transmute to be ready for what's coming next.

This Lunar Eclipses highlights what needs to be released from our life, as it's in the same sign as the Lunar South Node. We're transitioning from the Cancer/Capricorn Lunar North/South Node axis to the Gemini/Sagittarius one and this is our little teaser of a Sagittarius release before we have one final Cancer Solar Eclipse (June 21st) and Capricorn Lunar eclipse (July 5th). So, what needs to be wiped away for you to be more in alignment right now? This is especially related to beliefs (Sagittarius) and thoughts (Gemini) that no longer serve you. This will be an important phase for us individually and as a human family, but man, it's not going to be easy.

Mars

And we haven't even gotten to how Mars, our ego and masculine principle, is freaking out in Pisces. So while our emotions want us to be “right and good” in Sagittarius, and our brain is exploring the Gemini “what ifs” and paradox, Mars is overwhelmed in Pisces by uncomfortable emotions and not knowing how to process them. Mars is how we take action in the world. It's how we show up as a leader and a warrior. He's about forward motion and logical plans, but everything happening right now is tripping him up. He doesn't do well with “feelings” and now he's standing off in a square to both the Sun and Moon wondering why everyone's so emotional and feeling more than a bit defensive himself. Okay, let’s be real, he’s freaking pissed.

By this point, many of us have done Shadow Work (check out my Illuminate Your Shadow 5 Day Challenge on Instagram if not) and know that suppressing our emotions makes them toxic. Suppression breeds separation, from others and within ourselves. Suppressing your emotions because it's what you're “supposed to do” creates discord in yourself. This is parts of the paradox, Sagittarius wants you to be “good” but Gemini wants you to see all sides, and Mars is confused and defensive. Instead of ignoring your personal discomfort, running away from it, distracting yourself or blindly adopting what others say you should feel or do, step back and listen. Sorry Mars, it might not be the best time to take action on these weird feelings, but just sit within the discomfort. Challenge yourself. True change starts within.

And this message is for everyone. You are not exempt because you blacked out your Instagram and shared some posts from Black influencers. You can't erase the damage the legacy of white supremacy has done by being a performative ally. This Gemini energy is demanding we hold both thoughts that, sure, we do things that are “good” and also, we haven't done nearly enough, but I know that paradox is hard. Don't try to erase feelings of guilt or confusions by doing things to show how woke you are. If you can't readily say, “I could do more”, you need to figure out why you need to feel like you're “good”. Is there a fear of admitting you don’t know what to do? Or admitting that you’ve made mistakes? I am assuming most people that end up reading this see themselves as an ally and not racist. That's a good start. But can you handle thinking that you might be doing things, unintentionally maybe, that still perpetrate racism? We ALL need to do more, myself definitely included. Complacency and silence are also damaging.

How's your Mars energy feeling after that? If it's a bit bristled, good! Examine those sensations! Right now we need to purge and the only way to do that is to actually feel our feelings. Fortunately, Mars is going to get some help with this from the Moon and Neptune snuggling in close on either side, but that won't be until next week on June 13 at the Last Quarter Moon (more info in my free Moon Cycle Planner). Until then, know that everyone is more sensitive and defensive right now.

Love relationships are especially challenging since retrograde Venus is also in this square next to the Sun in Gemini. While heart-to-hearts with your lover may become a minefield of touchy wounds and painful words, poetry and writing in a journal will be so healing right now. We also have Neptune in Pisces approaching Mars and mildly adding to this square's energy so be careful about being a bit delusional or extreme in your emotions. You may find yourself attaching to an illusion that you're 100% a good person, but again, that belief blocks you from the deeper growth and work you could be doing. As Neptune rules disease, this aspect also isn't super good for people gathering in crowds to express their anger right now. Let's all send prayers of protection and health to everyone on the ground protesting with Black Lives Matter this Full Moon.

Also quick note, with this Mars square, of course there will be protests and anger. This is totally in the chart. I’m not going to tell you how you “should” process your feelings other than try to stay as safe as reasonably possible. Wear a mask, be alert, and know that everyone is on edge and things can escalate quickly. Expressing anger and grief is important and I could never fully comprehend the depth that BIPOC are hurting right now, so do what you need to do to let your pain move through you and be expressed.

Venus and Lilith

Okay, let's reset by taking a deep breath in and sighing it out, relaxing your shoulders and your jaw. With all that going on, today is a good day for some self-love and self-care. The Sun and Venus were exactly conjunct on June 3rd, when the planet of love teamed up with the sun's fire to burn away what no longer serves her. If your relationship survived the fire, congrats. This may be a time to connect physically, but don't have any tough conversations just yet. Let's find some independence and separation in our togetherness as Venus finds her footing again. In a few days Venus will be reborn as the morning star, which some say is an omen of war, but is definitely an invitation to more self-care and getting your needs met. Now it's time for her to be bold and prepare to share what she's learn in the fire.

Bringing a extra dose of strong, powerful Goddess energy to this conjunction is Black Moon Lilith sitting in Aries in a close sextile to the Sun/Venus and trine to the Moon. She is coming in like Kali as both the destroyer, but also the agent of rebirth and change. There is no denying the Dark Goddess is pissed. The Feminine Scorned knows all too well the pain of subjugation, and in Aries she brings the fire. Lilith is the anti-victim, she might have abuse thrown at her, but she doesn't sit back and take it. She is liberatory, she seeks freedom, she is not dominated by anyone. She is adding her strength to this time and she is marching in the streets right alongside the BLM protesters.

Mercury/Uranus/Chiron

One other aspect to examine is Mercury and it's connection to both Uranus and Chiron. Mercury is getting ready to go retrograde on June 18th, meaning we are right in the beginning of the Retrograde Shadow. This is the area of the chart where Mercury will appear to be moving backwards through during it's retrograde. So, expect these themes to come back up again, especially around communicating your feelings as Mercury is in Cancer. Uranus in Taurus is sextile Mercury so we may see some revolutionary new ways of communicating coming up. Explore spoken word, poetry, song writing, or start a journal or blog. This could really amplify your stability moving forward, there's a lot of energy around words coming up as we approach 2021 so that might prove to be lucrative. At the same time, we have Chiron in Aries in a square to Mercury, so our wounds around communication are also exposed. Revisit the paradox of being authentic versus being “perfect” and challenge yourself with the knowledge that to be truly great and fully yourself, some people won't like you. And that's okay.

Summary

In perfect Gemini fashion, we have so much paradox. On one hand, be authentic and honor your feelings. On the other, get your ego out of the way and let the changes begin within and without. Be open to sharing your truth, but be brave and know you may face disagreement. This is a time for listening, to others and your inner voice. Meditate. Breath. Explore. Question. Challenge yourself. In summary, our illusions (Neptune) and egos (Mars) are bumping into our emotional need to be “good” and “spiritual” (Sagittarius Moon) and the paradox of Gemini seeing all angles (Sun and Venus). Hopefully we can communicate (Mercury) in new revolutionary ways (Uranus) and use this time to clear away the blocks and old wounds around speaking our truth (Chiron) so we can begin to change the world for the better.

We got this.

Gemini New Moon on May 22, 2020

No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world.

- Robin Williams

Breathe Easy

New Moon at 1:39pm EDT at 2°04’ Gemini

After the intense Scorpio Full Moon on May 7th, this New Moon in Gemini is a welcome breath of fresh air. Gemini is a playful, communicative, inquisitive sign and it likes to keep things light. And not only do we have the Sun and Moon together in Gemini, retrograde Venus and Mercury are also conjunct and the Lunar North Node entered this sign in early May. Expect lots of new ideas and conversations. What we begin now will grow with the North Node for the new two years. To add even more wind to these sails, retrograde Saturn is in Aquarius and very closely trine the Sun and Moon. The ideas that are birthed on this New Moon will have some major staying power! Only challenge is the square between Neptune in Pisces and the Venus/Mercury conjunction, potentially making things a bit cloudy and unrealistic.

This is a great day to call up a friend that inspires you and supports your ideas. Actually, it's a great day to call five friends! Chat away, but make sure you're engaging in conversations that uplift you and bring you joy. Find space for play and silliness. Gemini loves to learn new things, so explore a topic that interests you. Be open to different perspectives. As the sign of the twins, Gemini lives within duality. Stay inquisitive, but also speak your truth. Balance an open mind with discernment and your moral compass.

Be aware of what you feed your mind, both from external sources and your internal monologue. Are you consuming high-quality, reliable, inspiring information? How do you speak to yourself? I'm running a free 5 Day Illuminate Your Shadow Challenge on Instagram, so if you want to examine how you talk to yourself and release negative patterns for this New Moon, pop on over to my Instagram (and follow for more astrology and Tarot nuggets!).

One thing Gemini has to work on is balance, so while you may want to run in 5 different directions, try to give yourself time to rest. The trine with Saturn will help here. The plans set into motion now have the long-term vision and commitment to success that Saturn is known for. This is especially great for ideas that help others or use technology in new ways, as Saturn is hanging out in Aquarius. Expand your mind and think outside of the box!

This Saturn/Moon/Sun Air Sign Party also lends itself well to sharing wisdom. If you have something to share with the world, now's the time! Or you can use this time to find a mentor or expert that you can learn from. This pairing supports rebuilding and reviewing (retrograde Saturn) to make changes that will make your life or business stronger and more productive. Saturn is keeping this Gemini energy a bit reined in, focusing it into realistic goals for the future, instead of scattering into too many directions. This is a time to strengthen your foundation. Loyalty and devotion are Saturn qualities, and though it's not making aspects to Venus, it's a great energy to have with her drifting backwards in her retrograde journey. This is a good time to commit to communication with your loved ones.

Speaking of open communication, that's also what the Venus/ Mercury conjunction is supporting. Mercury is in it's home sign of Gemini, bursting with ideas and longing for conversation, and hanging with Venus has it wanting to connect intellectually with those we love. Unfortunately we have Neptune in Pisces in a square to this conjunction, which will make things a bit foggy. This can bring confusion, deception, and misinformation on the Mercury side and insecurity within relationships and with our appearance on the Venus side (no quarantine bangs!). We might over-idealize romantic notions, leading us to disappointment. What I see here through all of this is a lack of clear communication. If you don't lean hard into sharing your truth, if that's a challenge for you, then Neptune's influence might throw you. Neptune can also point to escapism though substances, so any attempts to avoid the connection that this Moon is coaxing, probably won't end well. A way to help prepare for this is to join the free 5 Day Illuminate Your Shadow Challenge on my Instagram and unlock the subconscious patterns that could hold you back from sharing your truth.

I also have my Moon Cycle Planner available if you want to follow the New, Full and Quarter Moons this cycle. Each phase has journal prompts, activity ideas and astrology nuggets. Get it here!

This moon reminds us that life doesn't have to be taken so seriously. Communicate and learn. Be flexible, explore child-like wonder, spontaneity, and new beginnings. Have fun!

Four Planets Retrograde May 2020

Pluto, Saturn, Venus and Jupiter

Radical Reflection

By the end of this week, four planets will be in retrograde. Three of them, Pluto, Saturn and Jupiter, are slow moving outer planets that regularly go retrograde. Each of those planets individually doesn't necessarily impact us in a big way personally, besides the days around their direction shift, but with 3 at once and Venus joining in, things could feel weird. Specifically much more introspection, not feeling super productive, and lots of shifts.

What does retrograde mean?

Every planet in our solar system at some time appears to be moving backwards in the sky from our perspective on Earth. Appearances can be deceiving though, because in actuality they're maintaining their forward motion and speed in their orbit. This illusion of backwards motion is because we're orbiting around the Sun at a different speed than the other planets. Imagine you're in a train looking out the window. Your train passes another train going at a slower speed, and it appears as though the slower train is actually moving backwards, though you're both moving forward. This combined with the placement of the planets in their orbit around the sun relative to us, causes what we view as retrogrades.

In the days and weeks leading up to a retrograde (or a planet moving direct again), there can be some disorientation in the area that planet rules. This is called the Shadow Period, because the planet is going forward through the sky in the place where it's about to go backward (or returning forward where what it just went backward when going direct again). Right before the planet switches directions, it begins to slow down and this period can be the wonkiest of the entire retrograde. Just as the planet's reversal is due to our perspective, so too can retrogrades be about our perspective shifting in the areas of our life the planet rules. The easy way to understand retrogrades is that the energy of the planet is focused inwards on ourselves instead of externally out into our world. So how will all these retrogrades affect you? Let's break down each planet and then put it all together.

Pluto Retrograde: April 25 - October 4 in Capricorn

Pluto goes retrograde yearly and spends four to five months traveling backwards. That means it's retrograde about 40% of the time, so this isn't uncommon at all. Pluto is known as the planet of transformation, destruction, and rebirth and when it's retrograde the changes are occurring within us. We are called to dive below the surface into our subconscious and examine our deeply held beliefs. We can release what no longer serves through deep reflection. This can be a challenging process, but the more we can surrender to it and let go, the deeper the transformation.

Have you heard of shadow work? Pluto loves that unconscious digging, bringing our darkness into the light to be fully seen and no longer hidden or denied. The more we've stuffed into our subconscious back pocket, the harder this purge can be, but it's so important. Pluto especially likes making us look at themes of power, fame, wealth, dominance, and influence. These aren't inherently negative things, but they can definitely be used for harm or we can deny our desires for them for fear of being judged. Since Pluto is retrograde in Capricorn, the sign of authority, structure and responsibility, you might also find yourself contemplating the way society, big businesses, and governments need to change and how you will interact with them going forward. As this is a long retrograde (over 5 months), this probably won't feel like a sudden revelation, but something you're slowly working on and repeatedly noticing as a theme.

Pluto spends a long time in each sign, and the last time it was in Capricorn was from 1762-1778. Anything radical shift in governments and authority during that time? Oh just the birth of the United States of America! Things are sure to be eventful until Pluto enters Aquarius in 2023.

Saturn Retrograde: May 11 - September 29 in Aquarius/Capricorn

Saturn retrograde is another regular occurrence, happening each year for approximately 4-1/2 months or about 38% of the time. Saturn is the planet of structure, disciple, order, and responsibilities, and during a retrograde it's the time for us to look at how we're implementing these themes in our life. Saturn is like a stern father, making sure we learn from our mistakes and hold to our responsibilities while urging patience and self-restraint. You might be thinking more about limitations and restrictions, especially with the current world lock-down, as well as rules, structures, foundations, and traditions. It's also known as the mentor planet, guiding you to discipline and showing you where there's more work to be done. This retrograde begins in progressive Aquarius, then in July Saturn travels back into practical Capricorn. This can cause exploration of systems of authority, first on a humanitarian level, then a practical one. There is a chance the minimalism of this time in isolation might carry over in ways that help our planet, blending the limitations of Saturn with the global perspective of Aquarius.

As we came up on Saturn's retrograde, you might have become very aware of your responsibilities, potentially feeling them as burdens, especially if you're not deeply connected to the purpose behind them. Lack of motivation is a typical symptom, so be gentle with yourself. As we settle into the new normal for the next 4ish months, we'll have more space to review our responsibilities and make sure we have a good “why” behind them. This isn't a good time to take on more work, unless you're making space for thing that are more aligned. Don't add - restructure and reduce. Let yourself simplify and slow down. Be okay with delays. This is like a slow burning Mercury retrograde when it comes to productivity, as editing our current projects or returning to old projects is a good idea, but starting brand new major projects isn't recommended.

You may become aware of boundaries (or the lack thereof), and find yourself questioning why things are that way. This can lead to a deeper sense of personal responsibility, seeing how we can do things differently in the future. Saturn rules karma and can sometimes be a harsh teacher, forcing you to look at things you would rather not see about yourself as it pertains to responsibility. Saturn asks you to get serious about whether you're actually working towards your goals, or if you're a bit off the mark. What's your current trajectory? Its time to recalibrate now. How does structure enable your freedom? How can you be more in alignment with your goals in your daily life?

Venus Retrograde: May 13 - June 25 in Gemini

Venus goes retrograde every 19 months for a total of six weeks or 42 days. This means Venus is retrograde the least of any planet, spending only 7% of the time going backwards in the sky. That mixed with the fact that she's a personal planet means we feel these effects much more acutely than the other retrogrades this week.

Venus is the only planet named after a Goddess, and she rules love and luxury, showing us what we value in life. When she goes backwards, our love life and finances can get a bit weird. This is especially felt in love connections: current relationships are challenging, old lovers slip into your DMs, and new loves are not always what they seem. Don't make any big decisions in your love life, whether it's endings or beginnings. Take things slow. This is also not the time to make dramatic changes in appearance (no quarantine bangs!). Old flames coming back can bring closure and give you a chance to rethink how you acted in that situation. This is a time to release baggage, not create new luggage, so don't run back into your ex's arms.

This retrograde is happening in the communicative sign of Gemini, so expect lots of conversations about love and finances coming up. Not only is Venus in Gemini, but Mercury and the North Node are already hanging out there and the Sun is about to join them. Get used to the phrase “We need to talk”! This is the time to explore how we communicate in our relationships and with ourselves. If we have a hard time speaking nicely to ourselves, it makes it hard to be nice to others (or receive their love). Don't hold back from speaking your truth and sharing your values. While challenging, if you can make it through this time, you'll come out so much stronger (or clearer on why you need to part).

Remember, retrogrades shift our focus internally, so this is also the time to explore self-love and how we value ourselves most of all. Venus rules everything femme, beauty and sensuality, yes, but when the Evening Star travels backwards, disappears and reemerges again as the Morning Star, she enters the realm of the dark feminine, our shadows, our wounds, our rage, and our shame. This is also an exploration of our relationship to the feminine, so wounds from lovers or our mothers might come up to be healed.

Venus was connected to the Sumerian Goddess Inanna and when Venus goes retrograde it was thought Inanna was traveling into the underworld to meet her dark sister Ereshkigal. This journey is commonly seen as the exploration of our shadow self. Chani Nicholas beautifully explains the Inanna myth in her article from the last Venus retrograde in 2018:

“Called one day by her sister, Ereshkigal, goddess of the underworld, Inanna descends to her realm. Ereshkigal is the opposite to Inanna’s beauty, glory, and adoration. She is the sister betrayed. Feared. Unloved. Alone. Rejected. Her pain has distorted her. Her hunger for love left unjustly unfulfilled. Ereshkigal is the aspect of Inanna, the aspect of us all, that lives just under the surface waiting for our consciousness to open to its call.

“When she reaches her sister in the underworld, Inanna is met with a death stare that annihilates her. Her corpse is then hung on meat hooks, left to rot where no one can reach her. The only beings that come to her aid are two magical helpers who appease Ereshkigal by witnessing her pain, acknowledging it and mirroring her struggle back to her. These beings echo Ereshkigal’s cries and wails. For the first time Ereshkigal is relieved of her pain because she is related to. Accepted. Given some compassion for her struggle. In return for this kindness she gifts them Inanna’s body and the goddess is reborn. Ascending to the Great Above, Inanna is renewed, but is never the same. Now fully awakened by coming into contact with the pain of her other half, Innana is, for the first time, a Queen truly worthy of her crown.

“Ereshkigal is the deep reservoirs of power that lay within the unconscious. We cannot come into contact with our full potential until we are willing to descend into our underworlds, reckoning with the truth of what has happened to us. The struggle of marrying the unconscious and the conscious, the Queen of the Great Above, and the Queen of the Great Below, is a process of transformation so intense and painful we can only do it in the underworld. We need deep caverns, incubators, and safe places to grieve and reunite with ourselves.”

We need to speak this pain when retrograde Venus is transiting Gemini. Share your shadow work, look for people to mirror your pain back and to be your ally as you go into the dark. We could see an increase of people processing their shadow work and sharing the full spectrum of the feminine experience through poetry, essays and inspiring videos. Maybe that person is you.

Similarly to the structure of Saturn, this is a good time to make a budget and get some structure around your finances while Venus is retrograde. Be wary of big, expensive purchases or redecorating. There's a chance that once Venus moves forward again, you'll have some buyer remorse. Also, remember transformative, shadowy Pluto also in retrograde? What deeper issues about power and control in your love life need to be examined? Be open to new insight on this idea. Why do you crave what you do in love? Are there any patterns that repeat that you need to see your part within?

Jupiter Retrograde: May 14 - September 12 in Capricorn

Jupiter goes retrograde every thirteen months and spends four months traveling backwards, meaning it's retrograde about 30% of the time. Jupiter is the planet of expansion. While retrograde, its less focused on external expansion and instead turns inwards to expand you spiritually and emotionally. Philosophical reflection and introspection on your happiness, growth, and success is highlighted during this time. How aligned are you with your values? Where can you expand your personal practice? Its also currently conjunct Pluto (as it is most of 2020). Pluto is the planet of power and transformation so expect some major shifts in your beliefs around authority. You are your own authority. How can you step more into your power?

Retrograde Jupiter calls us to examine our worldview, rewarding big-picture thinking. What is your true passion and purpose? You may find yourself redefining what it means to be happy. This can be a time of deep spiritual and philosophical growth on a personal level. If you realize you've wandered from your guiding values and principles, now's the time to make adjustments and reconnect to your inner guides. Jupiter is the guru, seeker and teacher, and during it's retrograde it reminds you that ultimate truth can be found within. Go deeper into the unknown.

One thing to be careful of when Jupiter is involved is excess in any form. Jupiter amplifies whatever you have going on, whether for good or ill, so be mindful about what you're cultivating during this time. For instance, the last time Jupiter went retrograde in Capricorn was the summer of 2008, when the subprime mortgage crisis reached critical levels (expansion of bad loans, consumerism, and house sizes). Make sure your desires are in alignment with your higher purpose!

The Jupiter-Pluto conjunction is a major feature not only of this retrograde period, but of 2020 as a whole, as they are exactly conjunct an unusual three times in a row on April 5, June 30, and November 12, though only the June conjunction finds them both retrograde. This combo typically causes big, radical expansion of things that need to change. Big issues get bigger and unavoidable. The dominos begin to fall and major shifts occur. When they are retrograde, these shifts are occurring within. But don't be fooled, while it may be personal, these changes hugely impact the collective and set us up for even bigger shifts as a whole. These expansions aren't all bad. This pairing can also make you more focused, driven, generous, and spiritually expansive.

What themes are emerging?

Retrogrades are always about turning inwards, so introspection is definitely a theme. There's a lot of focus on making sure you are in alignment with your goals both on a practical level (Saturn) and a philosophical level (Jupiter). The heavy Capricorn energy with Pluto, Jupiter and eventually Saturn has us analyzing how we interact with authority, structure, government, rules, and our career.

Capricorn and Saturn both have very paternal vibes, so we might be bumping up against the patriarchy and ways its no longer serving us (Pluto transformation). Saturn and Capricorn are both rather restrictive so we may see a consolidation of resources and contraction, even as we seek expansion. In fact this time of limited consumption of fuel, food, and external entertainment might be something we carry forward as a way to live more in alignment with our spiritual ideals.

We are going though a big personal shift to get us ready for a larger collective shift that is coming once the planets go direct again, followed by Pluto and Jupiter being conjunct for their final time on November 12th and then Jupiter and Saturn both transition into Aquarius and meeting up on December 21st. The stage is being set for some major shifts, this is the time to personally prepare yourself for them.

Another theme during this retrograde period through June is the major Gemini vibes with Venus, Mercury and the Sun all transiting this sign. This is helping us find our voice and express what we need to feel loved and supported through this challenging time. Another notable aspect in Gemini is the North Node, which just switched from Cancer to Gemini on May 5th.

The Lunar Nodes will be in Gemini and Sagittarius for the next two years, so this intellectual communication train ain't stopping anytime soon. When the North Node is in Gemini we're invited to embrace our voice, learn new things, strengthen our bonds to our chosen friend-family, explore our slice of the world (local travel), and be open to different perspectives.

At the same time, the South Node in Sagittarius has us releasing rigid dogma that's out-lived it's purpose and surrendering the need to control the future while grounding into the present and not losing sight of what's in front of us in favor of philosophical theory and “best practices”. Long-distance travel is also not supported during this transit, which is not a surprise given the state of the world at the moment.

On the horizon we have a few more retrogrades on their way with Mercury going retrograde in Cancer on June 18th until July 12th and Neptune turning retrograde in Pisces on June 23rd until November 28th. To stay up to date on New Moons, Full Moons and other astrology nuggets, join my Inner Circle and receive my free ebook Secrets to Manifest Your Dreams by popping in your email below or by clicking here.

Hope you navigate these retrogrades with grace, leaving this period more deeply in alignment with your purpose, full of self love, confidently sharing your truth and ready to face any big shifts coming our way. If you want assistance finding your way, you can book a Tarot Reading with me here. Use the code $10OFF to save $10 on your reading. This coupon is valid through the coronavirus pandemic because we all need a break and some loving guidance right now.