I love the Solstices, both Summer & Winter. They have become such resonant markers for me to celebrate and let go of a season past as I open up to and honor the new opportunities offered by ever-turning of the wheel of life. The Winter Solstice offers us a opportunity to stop, observe, take note, breath, offer thanks, let go and turn our attention toward the next cycle or phase we are stepping into. As we turn to face the Winter Season and welcome the rebirth of the Sun and the lengthening days, we send prayers and ask for help, protection, strength, clear intuition, healthy boundaries, resource and blessings… in what is to come during the dreamtime of winter.

Right now, I feel celebratory and ready to let go. Fall was very full for me. I gave birth to my second daughter, Ida (pic: nugget sitting on the right), and am taking some time away from my intuitive consulting practice to be with her. She is a delight and completely cherished – a very happy, chill and inquisitive baby (unless she is not.) She is also heavenly, juicy and large. And it is a ridiculous amount of work. * I mean, come on… unlike many of the folks in your life, she is not just acting like a baby so you will take care of her… she IS a baby. You HAVE TO take care of her. And that’s what life is all about for me right now – being there for my baby. So,  as I reflect on the theme that has been showing up for me during my mental wanderings (ie. during nursing sessions, long walks and obsessing over naps) is the idea of Friendship with Self. As Pema Chodran put it in one of her talks, I am interested in cultivating unconditional friendliness. That would make a huge difference in my life as it is right now – extending friendship to myself. More gentleness, less pushing, not taking on too much, more celebrating.

What are the themes that are appearing for YOU this time of year?

* understatement of the year

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Today, Saturday, December 10th, we enjoy a total lunar eclipse with the Full Cold Midwinter Moon. This fat & full Gemini moon loves to party…and gabb! Gemini is the sign of the twins, quick and lively, and is ruled by the planet Mercury (communication) so this moon is known for speaking it’s mind. Because full moons are celebratory events with lots of energy available – this full moon encourages rituals, wishes and altars involving communication, writing, and travel. Let your evening be fun & lively, while at the same time being MINDFUL and generous in your communication and listening.

• Be social, visit your friends, have the neighbors over for drinks! (Don’t stay home alone!)
• Hang wishes on slips of colored paper on your tree or bough for Solstice
• Get crafty with a group of friends! Let loose with the art supplies and have some fun.
• Be conscious about what you want to celebrate this year, and align your actions with that

TIP + Winter Altar - The Winter Solstice this year is on December 21st. This holiday, also known as Yule, is the longest night of the year and is a time to celebrate the rebirth of the sun & the Winter King. It is a time for quietude and firelight, when we naturally want to enter our cave and sink into the season of dreaming. Get started on your winter altar. This year, my family is celebrating the Winter King as “Old Santa” on our Winter Mantel.

The planet Mercury is still retrograde until December 13/14th, so you may want to take a chill-pill on anything requiring forward movement until the wind settles down a little. Just a thought…

Love,
+ heather

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I just wrote a whopping Mother of all Moon Tips email (see below), so I had to take a little breather before writing my This Week post on the blog. In fact, I’ve noticed on quite a few blogs I follow, that many folks are taking a little time off. I say, GOOD JOB!!!! I’m sure it is as hard for them as it is for me to stop doing everything I want to do, but as my Moon Tip below suggests, “Be conscious about what you want to celebrate this year, and align your actions with that intention.” (Obviously, that must be my higher self talking!) Suffice to say, there is a lot going on, both in my life and astrologically…. as I’m sure there is in yours! When I ask myself that question, what am I celebrating? The opportunity for new life, shows up. What does new life mean? The opportunity to push the reset button, to say “good job Heather, that was a great effort. Now, what do you really want to do?… that you haven’t even dreamed of yet!” That is what I am talking about. And that is what the first day of winter is all about. Time to enter the Dream Cave, litte bears! But before we go to sleep, there is a little more review to be done, and hopefully a LOT more celebrating before the new year arrives. Which leads me back to the question: what are we celebrating? A year well lived. With all it’s ups and downs, I am grateful for the opportunity to explore what life is offering me… when I allow it in. My prayer for today, the first day of winter, is to let go of my resistance to love. As I collaged in my Full Moon Gemini InSight collage…

Ok, that’s just a clip…my internet connection is slowing down, so I have to be going (thank you Mercury Retrograde… because I really want to be playing right now!) I’ll post my FULL Full Moon InSight collage later. Just for today….enjoy today.

xo heather

MOON TIP – Full Moon in Gemini

On Tuesday, December 21st the Winter Solstice is celebrated all over the world. This holiday, also known as Yule, is the longest night of the year and is a time to celebrate the rebirth of the sun & the Winter King. Unlike the Spring and Fall Equinoxes that celebrate coming into balance (day/night), the energy of the Winter Solstice promises new life with the return of the Sun (days begin growing longer). No matter what your current spiritual practice might be, this is the moment of new beginnings for all of life on Earth. As my friend Mary said in her Winter Solstice newsletter, the Winter Solstice is the time when we all get to hit the reset button.

Tuesday also brings the Full Cold Midwinter Gemini Moon. This fat & full Gemini moon loves to party…and gabb! Gemini is the sign of the twins, quick and lively, and is ruled by the planet Mercury (communication) so this moon is known for speaking it’s mind. Because Full Moons are celebratory events with lots of energy available – this full moon encourages rituals, wishes and altars involving communication, writing, and travel. There will also be a total lunar eclipse, so it is a powerful time to let go of what is not working through your rituals.

• Be social, visit your friends, have the neighbors over for pomegranate martini’s! (Don’t stay home alone!)
• Hang wishes on slips of colored paper on your tree or bough for Solstice.
• Get crafty with a group of friends! Let loose with the art supplies and have some fun.
• Be conscious about what you want to celebrate this year, and align your actions with that intention.

TIP + Have Fun. I know that sounds crazy, but the easiest way to enjoy the next few weeks is to remember that a little structure goes a long way (Sun in Capricorn.) Along with everything “Holiday-related”, make the time to go for your runs/exercise, eat some healthy food, take a leisurely walk outside, rest a little and take a conscious breath here and there. Keep it simple and I promise you’ll feel good about yourself every morning.

With the Full Gemini Moon, Lunar Eclipse, Winter Solstice, Mercury Retrograde, the Sun moving from Sagittarius into Capricorn, and the Moon moving into her home sign of Cancer… you may feel it. The important thing to remember is – take it easy. Don’t fight it – allow the energy to pass through you and release anything that wants to go…. aka BONFIRE TIME.

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Our Lady of Guada-hoopues!

I can’t stop myself with the Guadalupe Lovin! I created this piece for my best friend’s birthday. It’s one of my favorite crafty altar projects – what I like to call the “soft altar.” There is a little pocket on the front where she can place her wishes, lay it down on the altar, and pass it over to the big energy for the Goddess. It’s good to remind ourselves that we don’t have to hold every thing ourselves. Honestly, tis the season for passing the heavy lifting over to the Universe.

This week the planet Mercury (mind, communication, transportation & information) is Retrograde in Capricorn, so you may be experiencing a lot of REVIEW in the areas of: physical structure, goals, plans, real time, business, contracts, agreements, etc. As I have learned in the past, it’s best to hold things lightly and let the winds of change blow through your hair. Go slowly, make no sudden moves and notice what is arising. Things may change when Mercury goes direct, so give yourself the benefit of waiting until after Dec. 30th to say yes or no to what is arising. In the mean time, finish projects, reorganize, shui/release old stuff, receive healings & massage, and plan MORE time to get from point A to B.

The Sun continues to pass through Sagittarius so I have been enjoying exploring new things and trying something different. The other day, I chose to listen to music instead of watching a movie during my free time. (I am a creature of habit, so this was a big deal, strangely enough.) The album I was attracted to in the iTunes store was Cee Lo Green’s The Lady Killer. It was AWESOME von awesome. I was not only thrilled with the discovery, I’ve been giving it to my friends. And so you see, the journey of Sag can be at your finger tips… just try something new, even in the smallest way.

The Moon continues to grow through the signs of Aries, Taurus and Gemini… until she is Full on Tuesday, December 21 for the Winter Solstice – the Rebirth of the Sun! Make your altars because this is going to be a good one. This year’s Solstice also brings a lunar eclipse as the Sun enters the sign of Capricorn. The song lyrics that comes to mind is “Aint No Stoppin Us Now…we’re on the move!” Enjoy – and again, don’t take anything too seriously.

Lyrics | McFadden & Whitehead – Ain’t No Stopping Us Now lyrics

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