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Today, I’m going to highly recommend that everyone take a great, big time-out. It feels high time to get more in tune spiritually, physically, and emotionally. Protecting our overall health and well-being from burnout seems to be the order of the day. Because frankly, we’re being inundated from intense negative, toxic energy on all sides. It has been an onslaught since January of this year, and I think most of you know what I’m talking about. It has been relentless, and in order to keep fighting the good fight, it is imperative to keep our wits about us and our strength up. Sloshing around in the cesspool with people that prefer it will not help us in the long run. We need to band together and recharge in healthy ways so that we can be sharp. Notice how a certain group of individuals keep making really sloppy, careless, big mistakes because of this? They’re never taking a breather. I’m going to keep it short and sweet and to the point.

Take Time for Healing

Take care of yourselves and those close to you (that are good for you to keep close). Set up strong boundaries with those who aren’t. Partake in as many pampering activities as you can on the weekend, and those that you can feel great about. Many neighborhoods are holding Earth Day cleanup activities this weekend–get involved and take pride in doing something loving for our Mother Earth. She needs it right now, believe me. Relax with a healing podcast, like this latest episode of, “Women Who Howl at the Moon.” Local Tarot Reader and Counselor Susan Sigl joins us to talk about the concept of the wounded healer, for her new book. Take refuge in anything kind you can–giving and receiving. By all means, if you need to take a couple of days off from the news, do so. Channel the energy of the New Moon on Sunday. Then you can take a deep breath and deal with it on Monday. Blessed be to you all.

If you are “lookin’ for love” and feel like you need the physical release of sex, perform this spell

and you will find a lover quickly. This ritual should be performed on the first new moon night

 There’s a New Moon just around the corner–Monday, September 2^nd, to be exact. It interestingly falls on Labor Day, or “do not Labor Day,” as I’ve always referred to it. This will fall in line with back-to-school or continuing education for some, ushering in the start of fall for others, and the final stretch seeing us through until the end of 2024 for all. So what does all this mean, exactly?

Getting Organized with Virgo

 Well for starters, the sun has astrologically shifted to Virgo, which makes it the perfect time to get all your ducks in a row and get organized. Finish up those outstanding projects on your to-do list, for Pete’s Sake! Please note that I am saying this as much to myself, as to all of you. I’m personally making up a point to tie-up summer lingering loose ends that need some completion. I’m nearly there, and even if I don’t get everything done that I want to by Labor Day, I’m confident I’ll meet my goals by the end of the month.

The Friday before the new moon—Venus’ Day—is the perfect time to create a new opportunity and clear away relationship “baggage.” Place a bowl of water on your altar. Light two rose- scented pink candles and a gardenia or vanilla-scented white candle. Burn amber incense in between the candles. Sprinkle salt on your altar cloth and ring a bell, then recite aloud:

Hurt and pain are banished this night;

The Friday before the new moon—Venus’s Day—is the perfect time to create a new opportunity and clear away relationship “baggage.” Place a bowl of water on your altar. Light two rose-scented pink candles and a gardenia or vanilla-scented white candle. Burn amber incense in between the candles. Sprinkle salt on your altar cloth and ring a bell, then recite aloud:

Hurt and pain are banished this night;

Nature is the ultimate creator. At a nearby gardening store or hardware store, get an assortment of seed packets to plant newness into your life. If your thumb is not the greenest, try a wildflower mix or poppies, which are extremely hardy and will grow quickly and spread, beautifying any area. They reseed themselves, which is a lovely bonus.

On a new moon morning, draw a square in your yard with a “found in nature” wand, a fallen branch. Apartment dwellers can use a planter on a deck or a big pot for this ritual. Each corner of the square needs a candle and a special stone. I get my stones at new age bookstores, which often have the shiny tumbled versions for as little as one dollar. Mark the corners as follows:

If you are presenting your paintings to a curator or pitching your book to a publisher, you can wear a talisman of your own making to ensure a positive outcome. Many performers, athletes, and musicians have lucky pieces of clothing or some token that gives them the courage to put themselves forth in the best possible manner. I have lucky scarves that I have woven with golden thread and scented with my personally auspicious aroma of vamber.

To maximize the power of the talisman, consider the following suggestions, which I have used to great success. Keep in mind that this will work even better if you place the item on your altar to imbue it with the right energy. On a new moon night, or at least seven days before you perform or present your work, place your lucky scarf, glove, sock, or kerchief on your altar. Now, here is where a bit of candle magic comes in. Light a green, red, or blue candle, depending on your intention. Green is for abundance, red is for fame, and blue is for creative vision. Burn the candle for one hour every evening. When the big day comes, you will be ready.