Mars in Leo and the Miley Cyrus VMA performance

And the debates keep on about Miley Cyrus' risque behavior. I can't say as I wasn't really expecting anything different! I mean I fully remember watching Madonna's performance of "Like a Virgin" and maybe dry humping a stage is a little more tame these days; but then a few years later we had Britney, Christina, and Madonna kissing one another, and now everyone's a twitter about Miley shaking her lack of junk in a man's crotch among the other lewd gestures she made. Oh the day's of Hannah Montana are fading fast. But it was all for the entertainment. Maybe it just wasn't GOOD entertainment! Then I remembered Mars was moving into pretentious Leo. Let's not just look at the positive sides of Leo, shall we? Besides being confident, creative, and sincere; Leos can be overly dramatic, selfish, stubborn, and self-centered. It's like her song says "It’s my mouth I can say what I want to". And THEN, I looked at Miley's chart and saw that she was having her Mars return!! But rather than delve into what a Mars return is, I'll save that for another post; for Miley this movement of Mars into Leo brings it into her 9th house of understanding and also media information. Which she's definitely getting a lot of publicity! Natally her Mars is in her Cancer 8th house of transformation, and she might have been playing it a little safe. But now it looks like all bets are off and she'll be living out loud!

Mars brings about our passions for our ambitions and in courageous Leo we'll be able to step outside our comfort zone a little! It gives us some time to take care of our to do list and have a sense of pride in what we accomplish until October 15th when Mars moves into Virgo and we look at things more practically and put ourselves through our own critique. Mars squares Saturn on September 9th and we'll need to stay on task and try not to get in our own way. Even if it means we can't have something NOW. Mars will try to push us forward while Saturn has a double and triple checking our judgement and faith. Later that week on the 14th as Mars trines Uranus, which might lead to a break away from any insecurities that could be around.We'll be able to pursue things with a new outlook and will be able to take more risks! Leo wants us to feel we can do it and have it all; Saturn is going to remind us to be focused while Uranus will give us the creative willpower to be who we are! We may just be able to have some sort of reawakening of ourselves to live, love, and create!

Things can be pretty dynamic while Mars is in Leo! Personally I'll have Mars conjunct Venus on September 10th and then my Ascendant on the 27th and I'll be manifesting my butt off while Mars is in Leo.. literally too because I need to get back into my regular workout routine and stop being so sporadic with it! Of course Mars' transit through Leo will all affect us differently, so if you have your chart find which house Leo sits in and how this might bring about some powerful changes for you. If you need your chart you can pop over to astro.com and enter in your birth info and it'll generate your chart for you! Then you can just google search "mars leo transit + your house #" and you should get some good information. Cafe Astrology is a great source! Of course, you can always contact me at facebook or email if you'd like me to take a look at your chart as well or if you are needing some help finding more of the info yourself! I'll be glad to help! :)

Have a fabulous day and Many Blessings!
Andi

Celebrate Imbolc ~ Inspire Yourself!

Happy Imbolc!! This is actually one of my favorite holidays. Well, actually I enjoyed it a lot more when I lived up north as it really was a time where you knew that you were half way through Winter. Especially when Groundhog's Day would be so close and you'd be hoping that he didn't see his shadow and Spring would come early. And it looks like this year it's happening as Punxsutawney Phil didn't see his shadow! But not so fast, technically the start of Spring is March 20th when the Sun moves into Aries at the Spring Eqiunox (Ostara). Which even if he did happen to see his shadow and there would be 6 more weeks of Winter, it's still about the same amount of time anyways!!

Imbolc is also known as Candlemas, Brigantia, Lupercus, Disting and various other names for different countries and traditions! All the celebrations revolve around the banishment of Winter. Brigid, Brighde, Brigit, or Brede; among other spellings, is the primary Goddess associated with this holiday and her name means "bright one". She is a triple Goddess in that she has the qualities of Maiden, Mother, and Crone. She is the Goddess of inspiration, creativity, poetry, prophecy, healing/medicine, fertility, fire, smithcrafting, and other crafts. I like to think of her as a can do crafty Mom! Brigid's Crosses are popular to make at this time and actually are very easy, click HERE to learn how! Traditionally they are made to protect the house from fire, but they also associated with keeping away disease and negativity and for protection in general. I actually posted a pic earlier on Facebook of the Dalai Lama holding up a Brigid's Cross while he has been visiting Ireland!

At this time it is good to welcome change! Get yourself out of old ruts and shake up your routine! It might not be the time to delve into Spring cleaning just yet, but you could change some things up such as painting a room, buying some new curtains or bedding, or even some organizational items. This is a time to be celebrating the things that are yet to be born and are waiting to be awakened from Winter's cold slumber. So with that, here is a candle spell for inspiration!!


✪ Spell for Inspiration ✪
Items needed: 3 candles; 1 to represent the Goddess (dark blue or silver), 1 to represent you, and 1 for the inspirational focus. See my post on Manifesting with Candle Magick for a listing of candle colors!!

Arrange the candles in a triangle with the inspirational candle at the top, the Goddess candle to the right (the active side; as She will help guide you to your goal!), and your candle to the bottom left point (the receptive side). Light your candles in the reverse order as placed; left (you), Goddess (right), inspiration (top). Take a moment to focus on your goal and then say the following:

"Candle bright, burning fire.
Shine within me and inspire.
Listen to the words I speak,
and clear a path to what I seek.
Let my wishes all come true,
as they burn so bright with you!
For the good of all with harm to none,
as I will, let it be done!"

If you are looking for inspiration for writing or other craft work, try doing some while the candles are burning! The energy will be amplified if you start putting some of the work in immediately during the spell itself. Continue to let the candles burn down for as long as possible, preferably completely. But if you can't, take any remnants and either bury them in some dirt, throw them in a body of water, or just toss them in the trash!



I hope this holiday blesses you with an awakening inspiration and transformation! And if you would like me to personalize some spellwork for you or would like me to take a look at any pressing matter you might have or you would like to enjoy some healing, take a look at my services page or send me a message at my email or facebook and I'd be happy to assist you!

Many Blessings!!
Andi

Full Moon in Leo

Leo Fairy - @ Etsy by Fairies By Nuria

The Full Moon in Leo occurs at 11:38 PM EST on Saturday and is the first Full Moon of the new year! With the energy being on the Leo/Aquarius axis the feeling of creativity within ourselves that we can share with others is brought to light! The ruler of Leo is, of course, our life force the Sun. Leo rules the 5th house; our house of creativity, among other things. It's one reason I picked the picture to use. I LOVE Etsy!! There are some awesomely creative artists on there! And sooner or later I'll be putting up some of my work there; both artwork and magickal items that I make such as incense, herbal body sprays and perfumes, household sprays, etc. Aquarius' rules the 11th house; our house of friendships and hopes and dreams. The traditional ruler of Aquarius is Saturn which also is the ruler of Capricorn.

And so the The New Moon in Capricorn that occurred on January 11th, gave us the need to find direction and security in our emotions. Now that we're at the Full Moon we are at a culminating point of feeling that the way we express our individuality will directly affect the way we feel about ourselves in a way that also reflects our self confidence to others... But that's not always so easy to come to terms with at times either and we all have our own doubts with the hopes and dreams we wish to achieve. So what better time than the Full Moon to cast a spell to cast out our doubts! Saturday is ruled by Saturn as well, and since Saturn can be a little restrictive in nature, usually spells are done in a way of binding or banishing. You see how everything just seems to fall into place together? Such is the way of nature! And so, here we are with a spell to get rid of self doubt and to pick ourselves up with some confidence. Of course, you can alter it if you like!!


✪ Spell to Cast Out Self-Doubt ✪
Items needed: a red or pink candle (for self love), white candle (for cleansing), black candle (for banishing), salt (preferably sea salt), sugar, 2 pieces of paper, and 2 heat resistant bowls.

*Before the actual working you may wish to take a bath and place some salt in it as well to draw out any negativity, or a shower and visualize the water bathing you in white light!

Arrange the 3 candles in a triangle with the red candle on the left side (the receptive side), the black candle on the right side (the active side), and the white candle at the top of the triangle (the divine). Place the 2 bowls between the top candle and side candles.. this sorta makes a star out of the items! In the bowl on the left, place some sugar; in the bowl on the right, place some salt. Make sure you keep a little of the salt and sugar handy for the next part!

Take one of your pieces of paper and write down all your doubts and fears. Really get it all out there of what you're scared to achieve, any insecurities you feel, etc.. Place this in the bowl of salt. Take your other piece of paper and write down all that you're wanting to achieve, your positive attributes, etc.. Place this in the bowl of sugar.

Now take the paper from the salt, sit and think for a moment of the feelings and really FEEL the energy that comes from this worry, fear, anxiety... then say: "I bind my low self-esteem and doubt. With these feelings, I can do without. Take this negativity away from me. And as I will, so mote it be!". Light the black candle and burn your paper of doubt and fear in the salt bowl and toss some more salt into it to cast out your fears!

Then take the paper from the sugar and sit and think about how much you're appreciated by others, the friendships you have, the creativity that is within you and the hopes and dreams you want to achieve. Bring this energy into you and feel yourself expand in hopefulness! Then say: "I bring to myself creativity and love. With blessings from the divine above. These changes that I need to see. And as I will, so mote it be!". Light the red or pink candle and burn your paper of hopes and dreams in the sugar bowl and toss some more sugar into it for sweet blessings!

Take a moment to watch these 2 candles burn and feel yourself letting go of the fears as they're replaced with of feelings of love, hope, strength and the desire to achieve the best that you can! Hear the roar of the mighty lion!!

Now light the white candle and continue to feel, and visualize yourself as confident, creative, and successful. Then say: "For the good of all, with harm to none. As I will, let it be done!".

Continue to let the candles burn down for as long as possible, preferably completely. But if you can't, take any remnants and either bury them in some dirt, throw them in a body of water, or just toss them in the trash!



I hope this Full Moon brings you closer to your dreams and strengthens you belief in yourself!! And if you would like me to personalize some spellwork for you or would like me to take a look at what you can expect over the next moon cycle, take a look at my services page or send me a message at my email or facebook and I'd be happy to assist you!

Many Blessings!!
Andi