The need for freedom. For working out the kinks in our existing life structures that inhibit rather than support our essence, or for overhauling them completely in all but the most foundational pieces. For living our passions, expressing our unique creativity in ways that breathes new life into ourselves and in turn, the world and all of Creation around us.
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For getting to know more intimately the juxtaposition of many seemingly contradictory energies, themes, desires, and needs, all with the end goal of Union, Unity, Freedom and Justice for all Beings; for marrying the unmarriable, integrating that which seems impossible, and finding the balance point between that allows for the One Truth, One Mind, and One Heart to operate as one more fully on Earth (which requires many truths to be recognized and honored while simultaneously living our own!). 
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​This all sounds like a tall order, but it’s the way of the Saturn-Uranus square, exact today for the second of three times during 2021. These themes, along with themes of Rewilding, Grounding, making major changes with brave and bold yet sensical moves over time, are the overarching call of the Cosmos in the ever-unfolding saga of Life On Earth. We have moved into times in which we must heed the call of what makes us come alive, to revisit themes from the deep past and honor traditional ways of living and structures that served us well that societal structural disconnect has severed us from. (If you think about the way indigenous cultures have lived the world over before colonization – a universal love of the land, an honoring of all its beings as sacred, an inherent knowing of much deeper cyclical cosmology and honoring of the cycles – Mitakuye Oyasin, pronounced “mi-TAH-kwee AH-sin” the Lakota Sioux phrase meaning “All My Relations” that acknowledges the interconnectedness of all things – you begin to get the idea). 

​Uranus continues to do its sacred shake-up work in Taurus, the realm of all things earthy, sensual, artistic, and valuation-related, with Saturn now retrograde in Aquarius at their second of three meetups (hence bringing back of old ideas and concepts around structures and mores that are beneficial to all of society, and a perhaps a call back to ancient traditional wisdoms kept by cultures far more attuned to the sacredness of the land than most in the modern Western world can comprehend). We might find ourselves pulled between what’s societally accepted as “normal” in our day and age, or in any given social norms that surround us, and finding our own unique path within it. 
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​A personal example I can share is in the way that my own values system – the things I want, the things I’ve discovered I actually need, and how to work the balance while living nomadically (and very, very happily) has shifted during this period, having left the UP of Michigan where I lived for nearly forty years to begin a new wanderer's life in the desert Southwest. During my trip, I visited places old and new, hiking and camping at the Badlands in South Dakota, exploring the Central Rockies with glorious hikes and day trips throughout the Carbondale/Redstone/Marble area, and have since landed in Flagstaff, Arizona, with some wonderfully sweet and soulful friends as a base from which to transition into van life by years' end. 

I recently returned from a week and a half of camping in the mountains of Arizona - a period that has been profoundly life-changing for me for many reasons. After having left behind a life of Western “stability,” amenities, and “conveniences” is multifold, even being a skittish, retreating Cancer Moon creature-comforts homebody living out her Sag wildness, I can tell you this: I have discovered that I value the wild earth beneath my peacefully sleeping body snug and warm in my (obviously) drafty but cozy tent, the wind rushing around me at all times; the at-times unbelievably hot sun, the pattering of rain, right down to little bugs drawn to my lanterns at night outside – along with the occasional nighttime critter visitor hungry for food and adrenaline rush of unknown sounds in the middle of the night that used to leave even me feeling vulnerable and full of dread – and even inside my tiny living spaces, more than any Western conveniences could ever give me.

Old ideas shattering; paradigms that once served us and saved as a safe and right evolutionary space begin to crack even more deeply, showing that what once was can no longer be if we are to step into who we are to become as destiny unfolds. The old must fall away as we are called to create more life-affirming structures within our belief systems, lives, and society at large.

If we’re feeling the call to revolutionize our lives in the direction of more authenticity, freedom of self-expression, living, and BEING – maybe even shunning ideas around “hustle culture,” money, status, and the like – how can we move into greater alignment with our essence while having our needs met in daily life?
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We are called to be exactly as we are as we continue to grow, learn, and find new ways to support each other that uphold our authenticity and create social structures within which everyone can thrive (I would argue that this authenticity is the crux of our growth, and do believe that we are continually presented with opportunities to shed that which has never really been “us”).
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No one person can ever be as another entirely, nor do we need to be. As Rick Levine said so wonderfully and clearly about the Aquarius archetype, it’s “Together but not the same.” Or, to quote the great Hunkpapa Sioux chief and holy man Sitting Bull, "It is not necessary for eagles to be crows." 

As Mars begins to make its way through the robustly expressive sign of Leo through the end of July, we’ve got an enormous opportunity to heed the call of robust and brave self-expression that makes us who we are. At the same time, we might find ourselves wondering exactly how to go about that self-expression. How do we communicate what’s most potently, unwaveringly on our hearts and minds that must be poured out into something beautiful, raw, poetic, life-changing (that does not mean it has to be complex or “perfect,” but rather, authentic, cathartic, and transformational for the one creating it). As Mars forms a quincunx to JUPITER in Pisces and Mercury forms a quincunx to Mars, many of us will be called to BIG, bold creative endeavors at this time, whether it’s something that will go on to touch hearts in the collective beyond what we could understand now, or for the purpose of bringing more joy, life, and fun into our own lives – and by doing that, we are naturally turning the tide in creating a more joyful, vibrant world. 
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These themes, along with shifts in how we use and perceive technology, are all manifestations of the Saturn-Uranus square. And last weekend’s separating SUN-NEPTUNE square is also embedded in the energetic imprint of this alignment, the middle chapter in the unfolding of this potent cycle. Letting go, acquiescing to things far bigger than ourselves, perhaps in ways that send torrents of emotions or other unnerving or numinous energies coursing through us and out into the Cosmos, is required for our next steps forward. Compassion, forgiveness, holding space with those who are grieving – I’m thinking people from every walk of life who have been colonized, subjugated, brutalized, suppressed, discriminated against or treated poorly in any other way especially – will help us walk the walk in creating that more equitable world that Aquarius is all about in its highest vibrational expression. 

I write this at a table at an outdoor café’s busy parking lot, watching people of all walks of life roam by, contemplating my own path and deep creative endeavors. I have a stopover home with friends, but with the goal of transitioning to van life before years’ end. I drift here and there, finding new and different places to work, dream, scheme, and contemplate; hiking the woods, camping long-term miles out of town, leaving offerings of water, tobacco, song, and energetic healing blessings and honoring the First Nations people of the land and all spirits and ancestors of place as I go. I write this coming off of my first-ever original music composition drafting ceremony and session yesterday, as energies move through me that are unlike anything I have experienced in my life. I am learning to become the Hollow Bone through which Source can express all the things I came to express – not knowing where the river will flow to, only that it flows, and that I am to give life to something new, and beautiful, and life-affirming as it does.

I am giving way to forces that have been knocking on the door of my consciousness for years now. It is time. Are you feeling the call to action (and ironically, perhaps towards letting go of the illusion of a different sort of control to achieve your goals) in ways that feel foreign, supercharged, or just plain confusing? Trust that more clarity will come as the days go on, and especially after Mercury goes direct at 16 degrees Gemini on June 22.
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​Whatever you feel called to do now, know that we are in deeply transformative processes, and that we will be revisiting that which we set into motion due to Mercury’s current retrograde cycle.

How are you experiencing these powerful energies as we make our way through the last of this summer's eclipse season energies? Many blessings to you, Dear Ones - may grace, ease, and joy in the unfolding of the path ahead be yours!

​ONE-ON-ONE SESSIONS AVAILABLE!

If you feel called to receive more support and guidance through one-on-one healing modalities to experience greater healing, peace, clarity, and joy via holistic and spiritual modalities - energetic healing, intuitive/psychic issue clearing, astrological consultations, card readings, and more - it's an honor and a joy to hold space for personal healing in this way.

Please email jhowell1221@gmail.com or call (906) 399-6326 to schedule.

It’s almost Halloween, darlings – the greatest time of the year! (…Arguably, I guess.) And as much as I love the many aspects of our modern spin on Halloween in all its festivities and trappings, I love the deep, provocative, and pivotal energies of Samhain and what it represents even more – honoring the passing of the old, celebrating the past year’s harvest, honoring the ancestors, dancing within the liminal spaces that lay wide open for profound transformation and empowerment, as bittersweet as they can be.
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It’s because of that love, and my passion for sacred ceremony and living life aligned with the cycles of the seasons, that I decided it was time for some astrological real talk.

​If you’re like me and a) love the Halloween/Samhain time of year and b) want to take your ritual practice deeper, bringing even more powerful energies for spiritual connection, healing, and whole-self transformation into that sacred space, having a more comprehensive understanding of the seasonal shifts and dance of the Sun-Moon cycle is a crucial part of experiencing these heightened states of awareness. It’s here that we raise energy and weave more conscious magick into being, feeling our communion with the All – an experience that brings a greater sense of wholeness and empowerment no matter the deviations in our belief systems.

As a Hygge-loving ski fanatic of a Winter Solstice baby who's forever enamored with the hushed stillness and sparkling sweetness of winter, it’s taken me nearly thirty-seven years to realize and admit that in some ways, I love what I’ve taken to calling “Falloween” even more.
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But a tried and true Scorpio Rising, I am and will always be – not so much in having a fascination with “scary things” and horror, but in seeking and reveling in all things…mysterious. Numinous. Intense. The night in all its soothing darkness, while the majority of the world lies sleeping and my thoughts are free to roam as they will without the constant distraction of messy energies and the goings-on of the “Muggle World”. Ah, the wondrous “Thin Veil” half of the day - where anything and everything between the worlds (and within ourselves) is more accessible and easy to understand for beings like me.​

The Scorpio archetype: that which must be felt rather than seen outright, unraveling the layers of any given thing to discover what lies hidden beneath illusions wrapped up in the physical world. And when channeled maturely, these forays bring incredible insights, empowerment, and transfiguration.

​This lens through which I experience life gives me the predisposition to dig deeply to uncover what lies below so it can be faced, transmuted, and released; and then, I rise, transformed as physical and spiritual being while I set off on the spiral dance quest to assist others in doing the same in one-on-one energetic healing work and intuitive/psychic issue clearing sessions.
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A part of that cosmological orientation towards life, then, includes being completely enraptured by all things Halloween, and this liminal time that puts us in touch with its energies. This time of year that holds such intrigue for so many, and serves to bring us deep within to commune with Mystery in all its forms – the glow of pumpkins and scary stories, and costumed fun and trickery followed by treats on an autumn eve. The night seems to wrap around us like a starry blanket, carrying us across the threshold of the Dark Half of the year.

But for as much as I love deep autumn and Scorpio season – and I will keep celebrating Halloween as a holiday at least somewhat separate from the cross-quarter holiday of Samhain for the fun of it – there’s something that’s become increasingly sad and uncomfortable for me since I began studying astrology. And that is the fact that our collective celebration of Halloween in the Northern Hemisphere on October 31 doesn’t line up with true seasonal Samhain.

As an empath with a big love for the cycles of time and seasonal shifting/alignments, and someone who takes "getting it right" very seriously, not only do I see the cyclic mismatch “on paper,” but I feel the off-ness of the dates not being aligned. It’s…uncomfortable at best, creating quite the cognitive dissonance and making me want to shout my astrological nerdings from the rooftops.

I find myself asking who threw off our scent from the natural cyclic unfolding of things, these precise moments of alignment that so powerfully connect us to Life unfolding around us, the Earth, ourselves, and why? What would be the purpose for such a thing? How can being so disconnected and out of touch with the cycles of life around us have taken over, when our ancestors lived in  deeper alignment with the Earth, her seasons, and the energies/needs/drives and desires arising therein?

Technological advances. Perhaps ulterior motives from those in positions of power who sought to control the people by throwing off their sense of time and demonizing anything more consciously Earth-connected, like Pagan rituals, as “not being of God”, when it was never really about God anyway – it was about control.
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I have deeper thoughts on this, but I digress. The point is, we can reclaim the power of these cycles by doing a little research, tuning back in to the cycles of the season on this beautiful planet, and using our intuition to guide us in what feels most "on" for us.

If you’ve read this far, great, and congrats! I’d be lying if I said the academically heavier stuff wasn’t next, but hang in there – it’ll be worth it (I promise), and I’ll do my best to speak it in English.

Though astrology seems to be something abstract and “out there,” it’s actually quite terrestrial. The energetic frequencies we receive on Earth might originate from the cosmos, but astrology is the art and science of understanding how those frequencies affect the ever-changing circumstances on the planet now.

Astrology is Earth-based, perspective-based. We find ourselves in alignment with celestial frequencies emitted by the planets, and as those planetary frequencies converge (harmonics, music!...just music that we can’t hear with our physical ears unless you find a sweet NASA recording that’s converted them to within the range of human hearing, like this one), we move through the issues that come up annually, plus the changes happening daily. The continuous ticking of the planetary clocks, seemingly driven by some mind-blowingly precise spiritual source is so “to the minute” and spooky-uncanny when it comes to anything and everything that it makes even the most experienced astrologers' heads spin when the data on the page aligns just so with what’s happening around them.

As Above, So Below; As Below, So Above.

There’s no way, then, that there wouldn’t be great power in cultivating an awareness of the moments of true seasonal shift and aligning our awareness with it as opposed to taking the easy route and simply “going with the flow” of societally-decided holidays like Samhain/Halloween only.

The twelve signs of the Western astrological Zodiac are born of the seasons. The Mesopotamian founders of what has evolved into Western astrology devised the sign designations and divisions that we use today. This system of equal division gives us a balanced framework within which to mark time, putting us in touch with the changing energies of life around us and within us for those who choose to seek and integrate this knowledge consciously. We begin with the Sun’s ingress into Aries at the Spring Equinox, traveling through the cycle of waxing and waning energies to the Sun’s ingress into Pisces as the twelfth and final sign, then back to the fiery “Big Bang” energy of Aries once more.
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An interesting point to make is that, though the Western astrological system places the “new year” at the Spring Equinox, other systems do not. The Celts viewed Samhain as the new year – born out of the death of the old and subsequent darkness while the year is still waning – while others see the Winter Solstice/Yule as the true point of annual new beginnings. Yet another way to divide time for those who go by the Celtic Lunar Calendar – celebrating only the four Celtic Fire Festivals of Imbolc, Beltaine, Lughnasadh, and Imbolc – is to observe the new year at Imbolc, the festival out of the four that’s most aligned with the new moon's energies.

​The Wheel of the Year can be perceived as revolving solely around the apparent motion of the Sun. There are those who view both the quarter and cross-quarter holidays this way, and those who do not.
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Before diving into that, I’ll say that I’ve spent time exploring the energetic resonance of various possibilities within different seasonal calendar systems. From both an intellectual and spiritual point view, I feel each has their own qualities and merits depending on each person’s paradigms. This exploration of marking time continues to be an ever-evolving exploration for me, just recently having gained even more knowledge of ways to observe the cross-quarter points in this excellent presentation by Serena Roney Dougal, an expert on the Celtic Lunar Calendar.

If we take the purely Solar approach, the exact date and time for Samhain this year is late afternoon on November 6 (U.S. time) through November 7. This is when the Sun arrives at 15 degrees Scorpio, the moment of cross-quarter exactitude.

However, we do not exist in a space where the Sun alone holds the power keys to influence our lives. In addition to the movement of all planets and other heavenly bodies, energies emitted from stars, etc., the Sun and Moon are perpetually linked with one another. And though it’s true that the Moon reflects the light of the Sun, it is her light and influence - her perpetual waxing, waning, birth and death and rebirth - that holds most powerful sway over our emotions, daily points of focus, and the ticking of the linear time clock in all its manifestations down to the minute on her travels through the Zodiac each month.

Though other influences certainly play a role, the Moon continuously unconsciously influences our choices and the outcomes of everything.

She who swells and pulls the tides back from their love affair with the shore; She who is the outward heavenly embodiment of the sacred feminine mysteries as we experience them in these raw and precious bodies. She whose light brings lunacy, illumination, culmination, yet luminous soothing healing when we moonbathe, basking in her glow at the full moon phase to heal, balance, and ward off our crazies.
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It is for this reason that I align my celebrations of Samhain and each of the cross-quarter points with the cycles of the moon.

​If we view time within the framework of the Celtic Lunar Calendar and observe the Celtic Fire Festivals either on their own or in tandem with the quarter points of the solstices and equinoxes, then aligning our observances with key moments in the lunar cycle is of the utmost importance. The Celts were a lunar society that worshipped the Goddess, understanding the interconnectedness of all life and the sacred role of the Divine Feminine – and the land and her sovereignty, too – in all ways.

Through this lens, we would align our Samhain celebrations in at least one of two ways (dates vary year to year):

• The annual Scorpio New Moon (lunar Samhain, akin to Lunar Beltaine, which sits opposite it on the Wheel of the Year), happening November 15, 2020, at 12:07 AM EST (23 degrees)
• The annual 4th Quarter Moon in Leo each November, at nightfall, happening November 8, 2020 at 8:45 AM EST (16 degrees)

​The first, to the best of my current understanding, is in alignment with Goddess traditions of celebrating ritual in alignment with the new and full moons, depending on the holy day. The second is a method of aligning even more fully with the waning energies of the year – the last quarter moon, as the sun sets, during Scorpio season. 

One of the more fascinating and beautiful things about astrology and divisions of time within it – as well as different methods for analyzing time cycles and personal evolution within the birth chart in working with clients – is having the chance to explore different divisions of time to see what is revealed therein. Just as there are different ways to divide the sections of the birth chart where different parts of inner and outer life experiences unfold, we can, and should, do the same with other methods of analysis.

It matters not if we choose to use astrological systems such as Vedic or Chinese astrology, Tropical or Sidereal astrology, or ways to mark time within the changing of the seasons – there are infinite ways to explore time, like a kaleidoscope of perspectives that each shine their own constellations of Light and insights for those who seek them. Different systems will resonate with each person differently, and that's as it should be - hence the existence of so many!
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We each need to follow what feels right for us, for we are each as infinite as the myriad of astrological influences that express themselves through us. Like snowflakes, no two birth charts are alike. By honoring our uniqueness and individual energetic blueprints, we honor the whole, stewarding what we came here to steward for fulfilling our purpose on Earth.

​There’s yet another possible way I intend to explore when it comes to Samhain (and conversely, Beltaine on the opposite end of the spectrum). If we look at the Wheel of the Year as representative of the Sun-Moon cycle, Samhain would then be observed at the Balsamic Moon on November 11 (6:26 PM EST, 4 degrees Libra). In theory, this system works if we view the Winter Solstice as the new year, but it is theory – one that I plan to explore the energies of this November. 

Though I’ve gone on about “right alignment” when it comes to celebrating Samhain, as you can see, when you get down to it, within the timeframe of “rightness,” there actually isn’t just one “right” day and time for celebration. That’s the riddle of it, and the profound beauty of it, too - another piece of The Cosmic Joke in action, perhaps. “Right” is a ballpark, and a critically important one. But within that, we get to explore, play, and uncover the mysteries of the Multiverse for ourselves, and perhaps most importantly, within ourselves, as we are God/Goddess ever-evolving on these journeys through the Cosmos.
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That is my humble offering, and perhaps for some of you, will bring a new beginning in your perceptions of the unfolding story of Earth and your own life story – a miraculous cocreative tapestry in which you play an inextricable part.
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Play on, Dear Hearts, and let me know what you find along the way!

© Jennifer Elen Brid, 2020. Unauthorized use or duplication of this material without express and written permission from the author/owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to this writer with appropriate and specific direction to the document containing the original content.
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• ​April 3: Out Of Bounds Venus (4/2 – 6/1) moves into GEMINI through 8/7; MERCURY conjunct NEPTUNE. Open flow of communication, creativity, Divine inspiration, mixed with fear and confusion, and the need to transmute these energies to attain higher states of consciousness and manifestation. Go with the flow. 

• April 4: The first of three JUPITER-PLUTO conjunctions is exact at 24 degrees Capricorn (upcoming dates 6/30/2020 and 11/12/2020)

• April 4 - 8: The LIBRA SUPERMOON FULL MOON brings themes of balance, cooperation, and negotiation to the fore. Coinciding with MARS squaring URANUS, shake-up’s in relationships and the balance status quo are to be expected. Illumination of what needs to change to bring greater equilibrium into our lives. People-pleasing tendencies of Libra need to go straight out the window at this full moon, as CHIRON sextiles CHIRON too, showing where we must stand up for ourselves to reclaim sovereignty. Self-preservation and protection in a way that brings true balance gives us a chance to work our courage muscles. Themes of justice and fairness; the need to find common ground and level-headed solutions.

 

• April 10 - 11: VENUS sextiles CHIRON, bringing potential for healing in relationships and self-worth through the acknowledgement of core wounds. MERCURY sextile SATURN aids in clearer, more confident communication and the solidification of agreements, especially with MERCURY’s move into ARIES on the 11th. 

 

• April 14 - 15: The SUN squares PLUTO and JUPITER, bringing power struggles within and without. As MERCURY conjuncts CHIRON in Aries and VENUS conjuncts VESTA in Gemini, we’re called to step into our power, embodying Light and Love in the most potent of ways. Think Holy Fire, Dragon Fire, emanating out in the face of all challenges, and you’re on the right track. Radiate unapologetically, owning your sovereignty!

 

• April 18: MERCURY sextiles VENUS and MARS, bringing great potential for inspired communal shift, innovation, and change. Channel passion into action!

 

• April 19: The SUN moves into earthy TAURUS through May 11, attuning our senses to a slower pace and the essence of Earth and nature’s cycles unfolding. Focus on wealth and resources, craftsmanship, and all things of good, tilled earth.

 

• April 21: The SUN squares SATURN, bringing stubbornness, frustration, and illuminating the need for radical changes in current structures. Social revolution at the ground level, issues with authority; the need for patience and tenacity, for doing what we can with where we’re at, and the resources we have available.  

 

• April 25 - 26: PLUTO STATIONS RETROGRADE at 24 degrees 59’ Capricorn through
  10/4, as MERCURY squares PLUTO Rx/Jupiter. Penultimate moments of change and catharsis. The need to ground into personal power; face fears head-on; exploring the roots of trauma, wounds, and where we have given away our power in the past. Psychological, emotional, spiritual deep-dive. Be mindful of abusive tendencies arising in self and other. Do no harm, but take no sh*t. And as the SUN conjuncts URANUS, the need for liberation and likelihood of radical change abounds. Mother Earth is speaking – open up your Heart and senses, and receive her love and messages.

 

• April 27: MERCURY moves into TAURUS through May 11, bringing calmer minds more attuned to methodical, rational processes. A wonderful time for speaking, singing, creating, tending to the throat and Throat Chakra. Commune with Wild Earth, planting, gathering, receiving wisdom therein.

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• April 28 - 30: MERCURY squares SATURN and conjuncts URANUS, bringing challenges in communication, contracts, and authority figures. From this perceived impasse, incredible change is possible. May bring breaking points in agreements that are no longer for the highest good. Stand your ground, doing what you can with the position you find yourself in. Freedom, freedom – how can you liberate yourself long-term? Patience, smart moves, and no giving in to frustration. This too shall pass!

© Jennifer Elen Brid, 2020. Unauthorized use or duplication of this material without express and written permission from the author/owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to this writer with appropriate and specific direction to the document containing the original content.
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​​**Do you feel called to explore deeper life themes and personal potential, to receive greater support in navigating the challenges of this time with more peace, grace, and ease? I offer one-on-one sessions via phone and Skype/Zoom, to help you step more fully into your greatest potential with energetic healing sessions, intuitive counseling and issue clearing sessions, astrology consultations, and more. Please email jhowell1221@gmail.com or call (906) 399-6326 to learn more, or to schedule your session.**
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The potency of April's astrology is remarkable. With a myriad of celestial energies coalescing, we are called to step into a place of empowerment through the summoning of courage, answering the call to unity, and embodying Love like never before.

FIRE and AIR dominate much of the month, bringing intensity, inspiration, and passion. As a start, the SUN in Aries through 4/19 creates the backdrop for April, as well as MERCURY's entry into the sign on the 4/11: I AM consciousness. The Fighter. The Survivor. Summoning the flames, wielding the torch, casting that which would threaten our Hearts, Minds, Bodies, Spirits back to the shadows. Pure, unadulterated Holy Flame, come to life through the Soul Spark that resides in each of us.

With CHIRON already in Aries through 2026, the passage of the Sun and Mercury through this sign bring incredible moments for healing core wounds and reclaiming our sovereignty amid fears that swirl in the time of COVID-19. 

As George Washington said in the channeled message I shared in my last blog post, "You can - and you will - do this. You already know how."
 
A timely message, from a spirit who most certainly knows how to lead their troops not only to safety, but into entirely uncharted territory in birthing a nation against all odds.

We begin with VENUS, the Goddess of Love, Balance, and Harmony. She moves into GEMINI today, where she'll stay until August 7 due to her turning RETROGRADE from mid-May through late June. This sets the stage for events already unfolding re: the changing nature of our social landscape in the face of a pandemic, finding innovative ways to collaborate and stay connected despite physical distancing, and the likelihood of summer plans not moving forward as intended. This also points to the need to reconfigure our relationship structures in general re: stepping beyond judgment to understand new points of view (which connects to the Sagittarius Lunar Eclipse on June 5 in a big way), and exploring our current values system as it pertains to new information that comes to light.
 
What's more, Venus is OUT OF BOUNDS until 6/1, meaning that she's operating outside of the norm within the scope of all she represents. This bodes well for breakthroughs in communication (and using our intelligence to come out on top of COVID-19 together), engaging with society in ways we haven't done before. Breaking free from relationship constraints; artistic and creative breakthroughs; unique and unusual expression in fashion and personal aesthetics.
 
Between the influence of VENUS, MARS making its way through rebellious, ingenious AQUARIUS, and SATURN in Aquarius - and a SUPERMOON on 4/7 in LIBRA, a sign that Venus rules - Air is fueling Fire fiercely. Change, collaboration, and solidarity abounds, giving us an impassioned push to think on our feet and brainstorm creative solutions.
 
And thank goodness, for as the month goes on, many challenges await: navigating the flair of tempers as old wounds are triggered, facing fears, grief, vulnerability and ideas around mortality in ways that many in the Western world have not done before; collective trauma; feelings of limitation and "stuckness" as we continue to navigate a time when we might feel as if there's one foot on the gas, and another on the brake. One moment brings tremendous breakthroughs; another might bring feelings of defeat and despair.
 
But through it all, one thing remains: the wisdom and intelligence of the Soul, the tenacity of the human spirit, and the call to step into our power as sovereign beings to bring about a better world. 

JUPITER meets with PLUTO in the first of three conjunctions in 2020 at 24 degrees Capricorn. Rich opportunities for growth and expansion lie in facing our fears, going deeper than feelings of helplessness or despair to get to the HEART of the matter: what the underlying purpose of what's unfolding might be, digging deeply to find our Truth and Callings, and looking the old structures and programming in the eye, saying "I see you. I call your bluff. Now, this is who I AM, and the Divine Truth and I AM embodying here and now." Claiming personal sovereignty; feeling the power of our Earthy Mother thrumming beneath our feet straight into our Roots and Hearts. Remembering who we are and what we came to do.

This conjunction brings the strength of The Mountain, of old wisdom that resides in the bones of the Earth and indigenous traditions, including the wisdom and healing of plants, rocks, and gemstones; the need to tunnel deeper, deeper to find the riches buried below. It may be helpful to tune into the Telluric energy currents (Earth-based energies), your own Kundalini flow, or Dragon energy to tap your strength and potential, and tunnel to the heart of The Mountain to access gifts that lie waiting. 

The events transpiring now will absolutely shape our generation, and events now in motion will shape our world well beyond that.
 
Physical abundance and prosperity will also manifest in unprecedented ways for those aligned with these energies, who set their Hearts and Minds to it. Putting in the ground-level effort, doing the inner work, and allowing the Highest Good to unfold by riding the wave of Source energy that streams through us - a surefire recipe for MIRACLES!
 
As PLUTO STATIONS RETROGRADE on 4/25, more overhauls are coming that take the lid off of what's been lying below that has kept us from stepping most fully into our power until now. Healing crises are not uncommon at this time, and can feel downright visceral and scary moving through them. But as someone who is quite Plutonian/Persephone in nature, I say this: there is nothing we cannot face and come out stronger, clearer, and more empowered for it. Collectively, we are The Phoenix Rising, and sometimes things must crumble so they can be rebuilt more solidly than ever.
 
The Sun moves into TAURUS on 4/19 and MERCURY follows suit on the 27th, bringing greater Earth energy and more initial stability. The TAURUS NEW MOON on the 22nd (Earth Day) brings challenge, as it’s conjunct URANUS and squaring SATURN/PALLAS ATHENA. But themes of radical change re: our relationship to wealth, resources, Mother Earth, sensuality, all things from the good, tilled earth are up for new beginnings, and new levels of personal grounding and stability are available to us if we align and do the work.
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​© Jennifer Elen Brid, 2020. Unauthorized use or duplication of this material without express and written permission from the author/owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to this writer with appropriate and specific direction to the document containing the original content.
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Greetings, Dear Ones! It's been quite a while since I've posted on this blog, since the majority of what I've posted in recent months has been on my Facebook page. But tonight, I'm back posting my first-ever channeled message from two guides I was surprised to connect with (but maybe shouldn't be!) at this time - George Washington and Benjamin Franklin. 

I sat down today intending to write an astrology forecast for the month of April. But before I began, I chose to tune in to see if any guides or ascended masters had thoughts or guidance to share. And that's when I saw with crystal clarity the image of George Washington leading his troops in crossing the River Delaware. 

I am no stranger to intuitive visioning work. In fact, I had been cultivating this ability for many years, but have never felt moved to share in this way, nor have I received messages to be shared with the collective so clearly and concisely. 

These two legendary figures have been spirit guides of mine for a long time, appearing at times when the need for reclaiming my freedom, and/or the need for rewriting aspects of my own soul contract (or assising others in my soul family in fulfilling aspects of contracts we had made prior to incarnation), is greatest. They are strong and honorable, and resolute in their desire to share messages with those who feel called to connect with their energies at this time of change and challenge. 

Upon receiving their messages, it's so fitting that these guides came through with messages for April - a month that brings a LIBRA SUPERMOON FULL MOON on the 7th, a sign often associated with world leaders, diplomats, generals, and those who seek to find balance and common ground. In addition, a freedom-bent MARS IN AQUARIUS transit squaring URANUS in TAURUS, with SATURN in AQUARIUS moving nearer to a square with Uranus. These aspects, along with the JUPITER-PLUTO CONJUNCTION on the 4th, make for:

• An intense need and desire to overhaul old systems and structures to the benefit of all people
• Seeking common ground despite personal differences in beliefs and ideology
• The need for steadfastness, courage, and patience in the face of fear, grief, and uncertainty; doing the work we are called to do day in and day out diligently, resting  as needed, but not quitting
• A need to dig deeply within ourselves to find the strength, tenacity, Truth, Love, and Light that is inherent in each of us in order to shine more brightly and step more fully into our empowerment and purpose 
• The acknowledgement of walking the Earth together, seeing her sacredness and bottomless abundance and Love; connecting with the wisdom of the land upon which we tread, treating it as the sacred ground that it is; for some, a return to Plant Knowledge and the healing capacity of sacred herbs and the traditions of our physical/soul heritage, whether it be physical or metaphysical in nature

April's more detailed astrology forecast is coming soon! For now, I share these messages from two of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America, with Gratitude and Love.

The messages are clear, and beautifully coalesce with the astrology of April - a month full of potent astrological influences that have the force to shape not only a generation, but the beginning of a whole new era on Earth. Though we are called to move through moments frought with stress, challenges, and potent choice points in many directions, the potential for uniting for a common cause is more available to us - and in ways never seen on Earth before - in unprecedented ways. 

May Love and Light guide you as we make our way through these times, and may you and those you love be safe, well, and ever in the arms of the Angels and all those who support from the Heavenly realms beyond, and Sacred Earth below. 

With bright blessings, 

Jennifer Elen Brid

© Jennifer Elen Brid, 2020. Unauthorized use or duplication of this material without express and written permission from the author/owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to this writer with appropriate and specific direction to the document containing the original content.

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​Like  what you see here? Visit the Jennifer Elen Bríd Facebook page for weekly oracle card readings, astrology updates, and more!
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So begins the story of Bilbo Baggins and the wild hero’s journey that was thrust upon him in Tolkien’s tale The Hobbit—a journey whose twists and turns would change the fate of Middle Earth forever.

For those new to the story, Bilbo Baggins, an unassuming hobbit (quirky halflings) leading a “normal” life in Bag End, was fatefully drawn into the maelstrom of the unfolding story of The One Ring by the wizard Gandalf The Grey as he’s caught up in a quest to reclaim the Dwarf kingdom in The Lonely Mountain containing jewels and treasures of old, from Smaug, a fierce and cunning dragon whose arrival brought terror and destruction.
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It’s a tale of sweeping proportions that lays the groundwork for the Lord Of The Rings saga, within which Bilbo is called on a quest that challenges his paradigms and sets into motion events that cannot be undone, for better and for worse, and ultimately for the good of all.

​The journey of Bilbo Baggins is as “June 2019 Sagittarius Full Moon” as it gets. There are a multitude of astrological factors at play that speak of the need to leap, the thrill of new adventures, the disillusionment that can come after the fall; the “no more bullshit” (Saggies also have the gift of telling it like it is, yeah? 😉 ) call to courage and bold moves forward that the current MARS/MERCURY and SATURN/PLUTO/nodes opposition between Cancer and Capricorn is igniting within us.

Add this to the JUPITER-NEPTUNE square that’s exact for the second of three times today between Sagittarius and Pisces, and the SATURN-NEPTUNE sextile that’s exact on Tuesday, and we have a potent potion brew of life-altering potential, incredible change, and bittersweet unfoldings that help us lay the foundations of whole new lives as events accelerate.

The full moon, which occurs at 25° Sagittarius at 4:30 AM EDT, is conjunct THE GALACTIC CENTER – the rotational center of our galaxy that includes a supermassive black hole and complex radio (X-ray) source within Sagittarius A, giving off a trillion times more energy than our own Sun. The Galactic Center radiates energies of profound wisdom and truth, holding ascension keys that can help set us free and go deeper into manifesting Heaven on Earth - a world more filled with personal integrity, intuitive knowing, "big picture" vision, and greater love and compassion for all beings.

This full moon also brings us across the threshold into eclipse energies, as this summer’s two eclipses approach in July—a solar eclipse at 10° Cancer on July 2, and a partial lunar eclipse at 24° Capricorn on July 16.

Those with personal planets or points within five degrees of 25° Sagittarius might experience life-altering events, revelations, or culmination and release with this full moon, with powerful effects also manifesting for those with planets near 25° of the mutable signs of Gemini, Pisces, and Virgo.

​A mutable fire sign, Sagittarius is the sign of wisdom, philosophy, adventure, exploration, and epic journeys. It seeks to expand horizons, searching for the big-picture connecting pieces that help us make sense of the larger purpose of events and our own existence. It’s “go big or go home” when Sagittarius energy dominates, drawing us out of our comfort zones and into The Great Unknown for thrills and edification. It can also be the epitome of The Fool’s Journey, as we Saggies (yes, I speak for myself!) are notorious for “leaping before we look,” rushing headlong into adventures that leave us careening off the cliffside with not much to cushion the landing that awaits at the bottom.

​As with many of us now, Bilbo Baggins is shaken from his quiet, comfortable life and finally acquiesces to the call of adventure and the wilds, leaving behind the creature comforts of his home and safety of the Shire on a quest full of unknowns and potential peril. No one, not his Dwarf traveling companions nor the wizard Gandalf, could predict what would await them on the road—only that the rewards of a successful quest would be sweet and far-reaching, and that the dangers would be equally as fearsome.

There is a clear connection to the archetype of The Fool in the tarot here—embarking on a journey where the outcome is unknown, but the impulse and soul calling to leap is far stronger than the fear and hesitation to stay behind in the comfort of known territory and circumstances. With Jupiter squaring Neptune—and with NEPTUNE STATIONING RETROGRADE on June 21—unforeseen factors and circumstances out of our control could lead to disillusion and disappointment as we hope for long-term outcomes that may not manifest. But it’s equally as likely that the dissolving of blocks and barriers to right next steps and penultimate “heart awakenings” and softening of emotions can lead to blissful beginnings and healing experiences, no matter what transpires in the end.

If you feel called to make a leap of faith this week, bear in mind that the Soul and Higher Self may be guiding you to move into a situation that is for your highest good, whether the ending is as you had hoped for or not. For it is often in the journey that the greatest riches and lessons can be received.
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Trust that any disappointments stemming from big moves made this week are sure to bring long-term growth, and perhaps ultimately paving the way for even greater realization of our dreams and desires that are more aligned with our highest good. Look for greater shifts and changes coming to life between late September and late November, when the final Jupiter-Neptune/Saturn-Neptune aspects occur, and when Neptune stations direct. 

In looking at the astrology of this full moon and the Solstice week ahead, I can’t help but think of The Singing Moon card from The Green Wheel Oracle card deck by Danielle Barlow.
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This card speaks of once-in-a-lifetime chances to make powerful changes, but also alerts us to the fact that events we set into motion will likely have far-reaching consequences. 

As the Jupiter-Neptune and Saturn-Neptune alignments become exact, the Summer Solstice energy builds to a climax, and MARS reaches an exact opposition to PLUTO on the 19th, the call to action in parts of life that may stir feelings of vulnerability—but with great heart-rewards and the breaking down of walls that are ready to crumble—become inevitable. Visceral, primal forces are at work here—heightened sexual energies, intoxicating desires, the need to stand up for one’s boundaries, the need to stare down great fears and call on our own Dragon and Fire energy to accomplish what’s before us.

​Bilbo not only found great freedom and newfound courage and comrades on his journey to The Lonely Mountain, but suffered the bittersweet fate of losing companions and enduring epic battles with Orcs, goblins, trolls, and Smaug the Fire Drake himself. And his finding of The Ring Of Power enacted a twist of fate that brought edification and suffering of even greater proportions to Frodo Baggins, as the ring and fate of Middle Earth fell into his hands. He returned to the Shire forever changed, grieving the loss of friends but wiser and more worldly for it - and in the end, unknowingly having secured the peace and sanctity of Middle Earth from the forces of evil as fate did its sacred work through him,  even in his so-called follies.

As I write this in the shelter of a friend's house in Copper Harbor, Michigan, the rhythmic wash of waves onto the shore ebbs and flows in the background. Gale warnings and icy freezing spray warnings are out for ships, with the windows rattling and a draft sweeping into this little home on the shores of Lake Superior - the coldest freshwater lake in the world.

Ebb and flow, to and from, the frigid waters rush ashore and back again, with the landscape of the lake ever-changing as whitecaps froth and dance - sometimes choppy, sometimes calmer, but always unsteady, unpredictable, encompassing a raw grace and beauty and passion that evokes emotion and numinous experiences that cannot easily be put into words. Those who live in this land know that the power and primal will and forces of this lake cannot be overcome. We acquiesce to her, Gitchee Gumee, as the Anishinaabe indigenous peoples of this land have called her since ancient times - she who heals, she who cleanses and gives life, and she who can take it away and wreak havoc for those who do not respect her ferocity and flow.

As someone living the effects of this year's Jupiter-Neptune square fully, I can't help but feel these energies viscerally being on the lake - an energy that so closely embodies that of the rolling sea and the need to give over any illusions of control to her, to allow emotions to surface, to flow with grief and despair and allow the hope and promise of miraculously brighter days to be received within our beings as wounds are healed - in the cold, dark belly of Midwinter.

We are in Part One of this aspect now, with this square having reached exactitude on January 13. The next and final chapters coming on June 16 (18 degrees) and September 21 (16 degrees). Those with personal planets within a few degrees of 14 Sagittarius/Pisces will be most affected, and those with planets at 14 degrees Gemini/Virgo will also experience the impetus for change and growth brought by these energies in a different way.

As Jupiter, the planet of abundance/sights set high/big dreams/optimisn and goodwill makes its first of three tense alignments to Neptune (Poseidon, or Manannan Mac Lir, the Irish God of the Sea, to name two archetypes) we're in penultimate times of change and newfound possibilities. Squares between planets create incredible tension - energies that seem wholly incompatible as they crash together and leave us experiencing conflict and frustration. We reach a breaking point and things come to a head. We can no longer continue living as we were, and yet, the way forward seems impossible, jagged and frought with drama, if not almost entirely unclear. And "unclear" is an apt descriptor for the involvement of Pisces and Neptune anytime if there ever was one, especially when squares and oppositions are involved.

The dissolving of once-solid circumstances is a classic Neptune/Pisces experience, and is an especially prominent feature of the astrological landscape this year. We thought we knew the path ahead, but the path may have been washed out from beneath us; a foundation crumbled; what we thought was a viable option is no longer possible for reasons out of our control. Opportunities we expected to come to fruition slip through our fingers, and we're left doubting what we once thought to be true, had faith in, trusted the Universe to provide for us. Depression sets in; despair, even, feeling as though solutions are too hard to achieve and too far out of reach. 

Jupiter brings the chance to experience renewed faith and beautiful new beginnings on its travels through the Zodiac. But sometimes those opportunities don't look or feel good in the onset. In fact, they can manifest as "blessings in disguise," with the loss of a job, home, loved one, or other circumstance that requires us to stretch our faith and grow in ways we'd never thought possible.

Jupiter also brings us into alignment with frequencies that can help us reach new heights, gain greater wisdom and knowledge, and travel far and wide, whether it's by setting foot in foreign countries or expanding your horizons through personal study.

The dissolving of the old, leaving us (seemingly) empty-handed with old foundations crumbling - sounds like a recipe for disaster on first glance, doesn't it?

The truth is, it's anything but that. 

If my time delving deeply into spiritual growth and astrological studies has taught me anything, it's that no matter the outer appearances of what's happening in my life, there certainly don't seem to be "coincidences" or painful misfortunes that happen for no good reason. In fact, when I resolve to get to the root of the issue - the deeply embedded "why" of what's manifested - incredible healing and realignment with Love, Truth, and Joy are sure to follow, even if it happens one small but significant step at a time (most often, it does).

Jupiter brings the Midas Touch and glorious miraces, make no mistake, but its plug-in to the Neptune/Pisces archetype heighten the most difficult aspects of that energy, along with creating an illusion that solutions are impossible because our desire for change and the fulfillment of desires is so strong. We might find ourselves wanting it ALL, and wanting it NOW. The hunger for what lies "out there," "over there," can be overwhelming, but ultimately a most powerful catalyst for finding workable solutions for those who put their minds to it and seek support and inspiration in the process.

If you find yourself feeling hopeless and that your desires are impossible because they seem out of reach, take heart - the Universe is giving you an opportunity to "level up" in ways you never thought possible before. And the totality of the astrology of "now" solidifies my trust and knowing in that truth, despite my own challenges this winter.
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We have one powerful set of energies assisting us in anchoring this ever-in-flux energy now, and that's the ongoing group of planets transiting CAPRICORN. Brought to the fore with this month's CAPRICORN SOLAR ECLIPSE on 1/5, we've been working with themes of building, creating, grounding, and stabilizing. That ecilpse set the tone for not only annual and 2.5-year new beginnings, but the beginning of a new 18-year era for those with personal planets near 15 degrees Cap.

In keeping with these themes, SATURN, the ruling planet of Capricorn, plugs directly into the Jupiter-Neptune aspect by way of a sextile to NEPTUNE (exact dates Jauary 31, June 18, and November 8, 2019). This gives these dreamy, less stable energies a place to root in. We might experience this as the ability to see more clearly through the fog, to tap into Earth wisdom, determination, and maturity to see visions through. This synergy of celestial energies will help us stick to the bottom line and what matters most, to support us and our desires to be fortified and grow strong in times of change through November.

It is no exaggeration to say that we are in monumental times of change, perhaps unprecedented in our lifetimes, as we're called to release the old, indulge ourselves in deep dreams of what we wish to see manifested in our lives the most, and then go forward within and without, doing all that we can to create it. We are wholly supported by Heaven and Earth in doing so if we are willing to put in the effort, have patience with ourselves, and hold self-love, strength, and our sovereignty as key priorities.

And when URANUS moves into TAURUS on March 6, get ready for another wave of potent revolutionizing of our earthbound potentials. 

© Jen Howell, Bright Star Astrology & Healing Arts, 2019. Unauthorized use or duplication of this material without express and written permission from the author/owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to this writer with appropriate and specific direction to the document containing the original content.    

Mercury stations retrograde tonight at 8:19 PM EST at 16 degrees Aries, and goes direct at 4 degrees Aries on April 15. I wanted to share some wisdom for this cycle from a more intuitive perspective with a Womanrunes reading, to draw us more deeply into ourselves and our inner knowing. 

I cover some points about this Mercury Rx that weren't covered in the Weekly Horoscope videos, hence a bit longer video than other times. I hope this reading gives you insights and perspectives that help you navigate this cycle with more grace and ease as you move through clearing, healing, and reorienting/revising processes about to be set in motion!

Many blessings,

Jen

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Key questions for contemplation at this year's equinox might be:

• What dreams am I carrying that are ready to spring into life within me? And what inner/outer impediments are keeping me from fulfilling their manifestation? Issues that might present themselves in the collective are impulsivity, anger triggers, jealousy, karmic issues related to love, money, self-worth, and pleasure. 
• What old themes are emerging in my life for reassessment around these issues, or my perceptions of Self and life in general? (Make time to meditate on these from March 22 - April 15 especially). Am I willing to welcome these experiences as teachers on the path? Am I willing to revisit old daunting issues with courage, knowing that greater strength and expression of I AM consciousness await as I move through challenges to my autonomy?
• Can I feel gratitude for that which is already growing or fully bloomed as I work toward new goals? Gratitude and honoring our accomplishments so far is powerful medicine for moving forward with greater trust in the process of life, and thanksgiving for gifts already received.
• Am I willing to be flexible enough to sow new seeds and flow with the need to make changes to what's set in motion now, carrying this awareness through the season?
• How can I release patterns of impatience, impulsivity, and toxic anger in ways that block my progress? ​

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I hope this post finds you well, and feeling more grounded, nourished, and even slightly more stabilized as the Virgo Full Moon reaches exactitude tonight at 7:52 PM EST at 11 degrees. 

Here's a Womanrunes reading for the full moon - wisdom shared from a symbolic, intuitive perspective to help us navigate the immensely watery Piscean energies at present with greater mindfulness and self-love. 

To learn more about how this week's full moon is bringing change for your Sun and Rising Sign, watch Bright Star's weekly horoscope videos here. 

Much love and many blessings,

Jen