Practical Magic and Full Moon Greetings!

Greetings Star Seeds!
 
This is a potent time for visioning and imbuing our daily lives with some practical magic. The sun’s entrance into Virgo on August 23rd is accompanied by the light of the Pisces full moon which will shine her blessings upon us on Sunday Aug 26th. Full moons are portal times which bless us with opportunities to release and let go. They are times of completion before a new lunar cycle begins again. Virgo, symbolized by the Virgin, is a mutable earth sign ruled by Mercury. It offers us the gifts of practicality, precision, analysis, integration and organization. Think systems and practices that can support us in our daily lives.

Neptune ruled Pisces, a mutable water sign, is Virgo's axis and bestows upon us connection to the invisible realms. It is the place of dreams, visions, ancestors, intuition, psychic energy and mystery. The symbol of the two intertwined fishes reminds us we are in flow with the oneness of the universe, lest we get homesick for the beyond. Together this union of the sun and moon in mutable signs holds the energies of adaptability and change. As we move into shifting tides and summer winds down, making way for autumn, and back to school days, both Mars and Mercury have turned direct, allowing for some forward momentum in our lives.
 
I offer some ways to honor the energy of this time. As always, please take what resonates.

1. Start a dream journal.
2. Let go of judgement and criticism and develop a practice of compassion toward self and others. Include nature and animals as well as other humans!
3. Honor a fantasy or dream and apply a practical approach. Ground your visions into daily actionable tasks.
4. Grieve the losses. Let your emotions flow.
5. Observe any tendencies toward perfectionism or escapism. Practice this contemplation with compassion instead of judgment.
6. Write an affirmation to release an addiction, suffering or victim energy and ask your angelic helpers for support.
7. Donate to organizations that support clean water, healthier oceans and saving whales and dolphins.
8. Connect with your ancestors for guidance. Ask them for help with spiritual solutions to practical problems and practical solutions to spiritual problems.
9. Be present to signs from the Divine. Don’t limit the form or shape they will arrive in.
10. Use your intuition. Pay attention to your gut instincts (Virgo rules the abdomen).
11. Visit Mama Ocean, offer her a blessing. Put your feet in the salt water and imagine you are being bathed in starlight. (Pisces rules the feet).
12. Put your crystals in the full moonlight for cleansing.
13. And my favorite…Get into the zone with a moon bath.

 
I am honored to welcome the words and practical magic of Mistress Samantita to my blog. Stay tuned for future collaborations and co-creative offerings in Earth based practices for healing.
 
Mistress Samantita Moon Bath Ritual

You can get as elaborate as you need to in creating a ritual moon bath. Or you can skip all of it except for the intention.  Here are a few ideas to inspire you. Take only the ones you need...
 
For an herbal moon bath you can collect herbs from your own wisdom and/or ancestry. (My favorite from Mesoamerica are basil, rosemary, sage, and ruda.*) Always thank any plant you invite to work with you. Bring a pot of water to boil. Bundle your herbs with string or lovingly remove the leaves from the stem. Take water off the stove and place the herbs in the water. Sing to the pot of herbs, say your intention, or simply thank Pachamama for her gifts. Cover the herbs for a few minutes or a couple hours. I sometimes let them steep in the moonlight the night before. If you do not wish to bathe with the herbs themselves you can strain them out with a cheese cloth or a sieve.

You can take the painstaking step of collecting rainwater, river water, ocean water. Or simply take a moment to give thanks to the water filling up your tub. 
 
Light candles. Gather your sacred crystals to add into your bath tub. Add vibrational essences, essential oils or your steeped herbal water. You can burn incense.
Some of my favorites are copal, piñon, or sage. Or you can simply bring your favorite robe and a glass of cold water to drink. 

​It isn’t a ritual moon bath with out your heartfelt intentions. So now that you are ready to bathe, take a moment to welcome your self to the moment, welcome your guides, create sacred space. Let yourself speak your truth: your intention. As you bathe allow the medicine of your own making do its magic. 

Bless this scared moment of respite. Allow Sister Moon to whisper to you what you most need in the moment.

​When you feel fully restored, exit your bath. Some traditions say to not dry yourself and allow the water to soak in. Other traditions say to wrap yourself in a cloth and sit for a moment. This is integration. Sit in stillness or choose movement. You can journal or listen quietly to the moon. Give yourself what your soul craves most. 
 
Finally, there are many ways to dispose of your water. You can simply release down the drain. You can save a jar of your bath water and offer some to a tree or a house plant. You can take it to the crossroads and throw over your shoulders but don’t look back. Whatever you do, do it with reverence as you have completed a ritual moon bath and returned the energies back to Pachamama. 
 
*These herbs should not be used if pregnant or nursing. 
 
With infinite love, gratitude and full moon blessings,
Claudia and Mistress Samantita (Instagram @misstresssamantita)