Post-Eclipse & Pre-Holiday Self-Care

Sometimes a Moonletter doesn’t need a moon phase. But just in case you're a stickler, tomorrow is the First Quarter….and it seems like the perfect time to take....

A moment of self-care to nurture the soul. 

How are you feeling after the new moon? A little stirred up from the spin cycle that is the beginning of a new series? 

Even if you aren’t a selenophile (moon-lover, moon-chaser) - as we head deeper into the bustle of the holiday season, and the chaos of wrapping up the Gregorian year (deadlines, anyone?)–– It’s the perfect time to take a moment to nurture the self. Create a space to breathe. 

So that you might pour from a full cup as you gather with your chosen family. 

It’s easy to get swept away in all the external needs of this season, making it all that much more important to check in with ourselves. 

When it starts to feel as though you need to “steal moments” it’s a good sign that it’s time for a ritual like this. 

Self-Care for Surviving the Holidays

One foot in the past year, one foot reaching towards the year to come, we stretch across the longest night of the year, the solstice, the merriment. Whether introverted or extroverted, there’s lots of energy expenditure at this time of year. 

Fill my cup, fill my soul.  

Ideally, you’ll need 1-2 hours for this little ritual.  A notebook, pen, and some chamomile and rose & hot water cover the rest. 

Begin with a releasing bath or shower. Not unlike the Claiming Space ritual from the August Moonletter (also found in AP Astrology’s Leo Edition of the AstroEdit) 

Using whichever option is available to you, we use the movement of the water to become present in our space. Observe thoughts that come up and take the time to check in with yourself.  You could use the common 7-pillars of wellness to check in if you want to be thorough. 

• How am I feeling about my work life?
• How am I feeling about my personal life? 
• How am I feeling about my spiritual life?
• How am I feeling about my health? 
• How am I feeling about my personal relationships?  Family and friends? 
• How am I feeling about my finances? 
• How am I feeling about my recreation and hobbies? Am I creating enough space for play?

As you check in with each area, when you encounter blockages or resistance, allow the water to wash it away. Imagine loosening your grip on whatever has bubbled up, and letting it wash away with the water. If you are doing this in a bath, I like to queue up my release for when I drain the tub, cycling through all I’m letting go as the tub drains. 

When you finish the shower, turn on the kettle, and grab a notebook and pen. 

Restful Love Tea

Prepare a cup of tea to steep with 

• 1tsp chamomile (or one chamomile tea bag) 
• 1 tsp rose petals
• a mug that you love
• honey, if needed, to taste

Sometimes the real beauty is in simplicity.

Rose and chamomile are not only wonderful magickal plant allies – easy and accepting to work with and offering particularly nourishing energies but, in a tea they offer up exactly the kind of physical support we want in a ‘fill your cup’ ritual.

Rose, is a potent antioxidant, Rose tea is particularly rich in gallic acid. This antioxidant compound accounts for 10–55% of the tea’s total phenol content and is known to have anticancer, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic effects. 

Chamomile also has some nifty support to offer, notably it’s proven anti-inflammatory and relaxing effects. 

Note of common sense:  don’t drink the tea if you are allergic to the ingredients. While fairly safe, just, ya know, use common sense. Start small. Know how you react. 

Prepare your tea, asking chamomile to lend its aid for rest, peace, and relaxation.  Sprinkle rose in, inviting it to support the love, healing, protection you are providing yourself at this moment. Pour the water over the herbs - filling the cup with your healing intentions.  Filling your emotional cup. Filling your heart. 

Continue the ritual

Grab your journal and pen, and write about your intentions to care for yourself in the coming weeks, across the solstice and full moon, all the way out into the new moon of the new year on Jan 2nd.  Give yourself the space for a foundation of inner peace. Write about what this means to you and what this space feels like with your five senses.  “I hear” “I taste” “I say” - and so on.  Engage as many facets of this as you can. We’re casting a protective circle around your energy to carry you through the season. 

Write for 5-10 minutes while the tea steeps, creating a vivid image of the space in your mind. 

Drink your tea and revisit what you’ve written, adding to it as needed.  Sipping the tea as the seal of intent. 

You are nurtured. You are whole. You are worthy. You are healing. You deserve this space you have created. You deserve this moment. 

And as you finish the tea...know that this nurturing stays with you. 

Whether or not you can grab the time for the full ritual, or just work in pieces as you can - know that carving out the time is worthwhile (and allowed, and deserved). 

Everyone will thank you for it, even if they don’t know. 

Because we always know when someone is pouring from a full cup, don’t we? 

Hold your magick in high regard this season. Cast a circle around your space. 

If anybody gives you guff about it, send ‘em my way. 

The December Full Moonletter is already in the works - and it’s going to be extra special.  Landing just before the Solstice and Yuletide celebrations, this moon offers the perfect release and shedding opportunity we need as we roll into 2022. I want to make sure you feel extra equipped to hold your magic for all of the upcoming year -- so stay tuned! 

Until the next Moonletter - stay in your power, friends. 

 

 

p.s. - I'm all-in on planning some powerful content for the upcoming months, with all sorts of treasure in exploring the intersection of plants and Tarot.  But if there's something you've been itching to see - let me know! I'll do my best to work it in for you.