Sweet The Sting : Nettles Plant Profile

Often when I think of Nettles I am drawn back to a beautiful memory from my time living in Maine.

I was visiting Avena Botanicals when the herbalist and owner Deb Soule stepped out from the garden with a jar full of fresh Nettle tea. Deb glows with an inner radiance and she smiled commenting on how much she enjoyed her Nettles in the morning. We all agreed that Nettles was an abundant medicine that more folks would benefit from using. And then we went back to washing roots and enjoying the warmth of the growing morning light with the scent of Nettle tea in the air.

Now, I didn't grow up with Nettles in my backyard and didn't have to worry about falling into its sting when out on walks as a kid. When I think of Nettles I find myself drawn into feelings of gentleness. And while the sting of Nettles has left many wary of the plant, the affect of Nettles as an internal remedy is so nourishing that the simple act of drinking fresh Nettle tea can be a clear invocation of gentleness. Combine it with other herbs like Milky Oat (Avena sativa) and you're brewing up a hug in a mug (recipe below). 

I explore both the sting and sweetness of Nettles in my plant profile. What are your favorite ways to use Nettles? Let me know in the comments below. If you're looking for all my plant profiles click here and you can learn how to connect with any plant with the Plant Ally Project. Enjoy!

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Common + Folk Names : Stinging nettle, wild spinach, bee sting nettle, devil’s leaf, hidgy-pidgy, hoky-poky

Planet : Mars

Element : Fire

Signs : Aries (Guardian), Scorpio (Guardian + Remedy), Capricorn (Remedy), Pisces (Remedy)

Moon Phase : Waxing Quarter Moon

Parts used : Leaves, seeds, roots, and young tops

Habitat : Just about everywhere.

Growing conditions : Grow in wet, rich soil – think compost heaps and old manure.

Collection : Cut three to four inches off the early spring plants. Seeds can be collected in the early fall when plants are brown. 

Flavor : Salty, slightly bitter

Temperature : Cool

Moisture : Dry

Tissue State : Cold/Depression, Damp/Stagnation

Constituents : Amines (acetylcholine, histamine, serotonin), ascorbic acid, flavonoids, minerals such as iron, potassium, calcium, silica, vitamin B, C, E, K, silicon, manganese, zinc, magnesium, chromium, protein, tannins. 

Actions : Alterative, antihaemorrhagic, antiallergenic, anti-rheumatic, anti-inflammatory, astringent, blood tonic, circulation stimulant, decongestant, diuretic, expectorant, haemostatic, hypoglycemic, hypotensive, immune-stimulant, nutritive, vasodilator, thyroid tonic, antiseptic

Main Uses : Herbalist David Hoffman has a wonderful quote about Nettles that I heartily agree with: “When in doubt, Nettles.” A wonderfully nutritive herb, Nettles has a nourishing effect on the entire body with a broad range of uses. 

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Nettles has an affinity for the blood. It moves stagnant blood, improves circulation, and is a rich source of iron. The herb is also useful in reducing blood sugar levels and balancing blood pressure. Use in cases of anemia and general weakness and debility. The herb helps alleviate heavy and prolonged periods, nosebleeds, and to stops excess bleeding both internally and externally. Nettle also has a strong relationship with the kidneys, stimulating sluggish kidneys, moving stagnant water, and generally cleansing the fluids of the body.

During pregnancy, Nettles, in combination with other herbs such as Raspberry Leaf (Rubus idaeus), is a wonderful daily multivitamin for parent and growing fetus. Use in postpartum, too, especially if there has been blood loss. Nettles has an amphoteric affect on the milk supply meaning that it increases milk if there is too little or reduces it if there is too much. 

For reproductive systems in general, Nettle root has been used to treat prostatitis, vaginitis, and vaginal discharges. If infertility is an issue, Nettles is almost always useful for nourishing and revitalizing the body attempting to conceive. If low libido, erectile dysfunction or general sexual anxiety is present, Nettles helps to resettle and center the nervous system (combine with Avena sativa for an especially nourishing brew). Use during menopause for nightsweats - take as a tea before bed combined with Sage (Salvia officinalis). The root reduces prostate enlargement.

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Nettles are a strengthening herb to use when a person’s constituent is weak or weakened – when anemia is present or with a weak digestive system and especially during convalescence. Helps increase energy and overcome fatigue. Restores a worn-down emotional system. Nettles strengthens the kidneys and adrenal glands, activates the metabolism, nourishes the liver and blood, and improves elasticity of veins. The diuretic and anti-inflammatory actions of Nettles are useful in treating rheumatism and gout. The herb enlivens the immune system and has been used traditionally in the treatment of cancer. Overall, Nettles are great spring medicine - they help to brush off the heaviness of winter and enrich our bodies with an injection of Vitamin C amongst other nutrients. Include the tea in your morning routine and cook the young greens like spinach for your spring green meals. 

As an anti-allergen, Nettles strengthens the outer membranes of cells which makes them less vulnerable to inflammation and allergic reactions. Nettles are used to treat eczema, hayfever, asthma, acne, and food allergies. Warm Nettle tea helps the body to release excess mucus from the lungs and colon and stops the cycle of mucous membrane hyperactivity.

Use externally as an oil or wash for bedsores, diaper rash, burns and wounds, brittle nails, and to treat the sting of Nettles itself. Traditional use includes hitting arthritic joints with fresh Nettles to alleviate pain and stiffness. Matthew Wood uses Nettles topically for muscle weakness of the inner thighs (especially for the middle-aged and older) to great success. I have found Nettles to be good (both internally and externally) for growing pains of all sorts, emotional and physical.

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"No plant is more useful in domestic medicine."
- Hilda Leyel -

Magickal Uses : Protective powers employed to reverse curses and return negative energy to the sender. Use as a protective powder around the boundaries of the house and to keep away ghosts. Tossed into a fire it averts danger and combined with Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) it turns away fear. As a “carnivorous” plant it is used in purification baths to eat harmful energies. Used in wash to consecrate athames.  Lucky for fishing. Silver Ravenwolf suggests an association with the Greek Goddess Hekate and the Egyptian Scorpion Goddess Selkhet.

The Nettles Personality : The Nettles personality struggles to live in the moment. They are often dazed, brain-fogged, and worn down. Many are simply going through the motions of their day, the little pleasant details of life are simply a blur, and pass by unappreciated. There can be a lingering feeling of sadness, wariness, and uncertainty. The blur and sameness of it all can make a Nettles person feel like they are boundary-less but not in an expansive and blissful sort of way. They can get walked all over by others and begin to feel resentful for not being appreciated. Fortunately, Nettles helps to bring us rapidly back to the moment (think about how their sting does just that when you accidentally stumble upon them). For the muddled and unmoored a healthy re-centering can go a long way in helping them to feel better. In addition to re-centering, Nettles also helps us to set boundaries with our selves which, in turn, allows us to set healthy boundaries with others. With the heat and stimulation of Nettles, the fog can lift and the excitement of life come rushing back in.

Contraindications : Do not take root during pregnancy. Nettle Seed can be too stimulating for some. Avoid overstraining the kidneys by using Nettles for 3 weeks on and 1 week off. 

Drug interactions : Use with caution with blood thinners.

Dosage : Leaf: 1 teaspoon per of 1 cup of water. 3 -  40 drops (1:5, 60% alcohol extract).

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Remedies + Charms

A General Sense of Wellbeing Tea | Alexis J. Cunningfolk

Combine equal parts of the following:

• Oats (Avena sativa)

• Nettles (Urtica dioica)

• Chamomile (Matricaria recutita)

Let steep for 20 minutes and then add in a generous amount of your milk of choice for a nourishing and relaxing brew.

Menopause Nightsweats Tea | Deb Soule
from The Roots of Healing

Combine equal parts of :

• Sage (Salvia officinalis)

• Nettles (Urtica dioica)

Prepare as standard infusion and enjoy 1 hour before bed.

Electuary of Nettles | Elisabeth Brooke
from An Astrological Herbal for Women

Beat some dried nettle leaves into a fine powder and pass through a hair sieve to remove any large particles. To 25 g (1 oz) of powder, add 75 g (3 oz) clarified honey and mix well in a mortar. Store in an earthenware pot.

Dose: 15 g to 25 g (1/2 to 1 oz) to purge the body of phlegm.

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Envisioning Healing : The New Moon in Aries

Where I place my attention
sets the stage
for the action of my life.

- juliett jade chi -

With the magick of the Spring Equinox coursing through our veins, the first New Moon of the season is in Aries. As the first sign of the zodiac, Aries the Ram can be a force to be reckoned with. It is a sign of the individual, helping us to find the “me” after the period of Pisces “we” that we’ve been in. We can take action in order to manifest our dreams of the New Moon in Pisces.  The New Moon in Aries challenges us to create what we've been called to bring into the world. The lunar energies are focused on you and your unique powers and gifts! The Aries New Moon tells you to set your heart as a compass and go out to find your horizon.

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Any Moon in Aries is a great opportunity to recognize places of stagnation in your life. Where are you feeling knotted and blocked? What relationships have you tangled? How do you need to move in order to no longer feel restricted? As the guardian of the eyes, Aries helps us to see what is really going on in our lives. If you’re someone who struggles to put your needs first, the New Moon in Aries can be challenging. But that’s a good thing because we have needs that require our attention. I believe strongly that to recognize your needs and learning how to answer them is one of the best ways to see and have compassion for the needs of others. When our needs are met, we’re no longer operating from a deficit and can be more generous as healers towards our families, lovers, and community. 

So take up the horns of the Ram and use some of this mighty Aries energy to bust through the walls and barriers holding you back from experiencing all that is you!

Nettles (Urtica dioica)
New Moon in Aries Plant Ally

As herbalist David Hoffman says, “When in doubt, Nettles.”

The herbs of Aries move stagnation and Nettles is a fantastically energizing herb. Nettles has a strong affinity for the blood, helping to move stagnant blood through improving circulation and enriching the iron content of our blood cells. The herb also works intelligently with reducing blood sugar levels and balancing blood pressure. Nettles are a nutritive herb, too, rich in vitamins and minerals which helps with general weakness and debility.

Nettle also has a strong relationship with the kidneys, stimulating sluggish kidneys, moving stagnant water, and generally cleansing the fluids of the body. As an anti-allergen (perfect for this time of year!), Nettles strengthens the outer membranes of cells which makes them less vulnerable to inflammation and allergic reactions. Nettles can be used in cases of eczema, hayfever, asthma, acne, and food allergies.

Traditional use of the herb includes hitting arthritic joints with fresh Nettles to alleviate pain and stiffness. I have found Nettles to be good (both internally and externally) for growing pains of all sorts, emotional and physical, which further aligns with Aries guardianship of youth and the young. Nettles helps to recenter the excited and “ready-to-go” mind that the energy of Aries brings into a focused power.

Flower + Gem Essences for the New Moon in Aries: Milky Oat (Avena sativa), Beech (Fagus sylvatica), Holly (Ilex aquifolium), Impatiens (Impatiens glandulifera), Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata), Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis), Jasper, Bloodstone, Rose Quartz.

Essential Oils for Aries: Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), Black Pepper (Piper nigrum), Ginger (Zingiber officinale), Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis), Chamomile (Anthemis nobilis).

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Healing Vision

Begin in a sacred way (read the New Moon in Aquarius post for further inspiration). You will need a handheld mirror for this rite, but you can improvise with any reflective surface that you can see yourself in.

Place the mirror before you, with the reflective part turned away from you and facing out into the world. Cover your face with your hands and contemplate the healing you desire. Observe what arises, but do not attempt to hold on to any of it. Let it pass through your mind unhindered.

With your healing desire firmly fixed in your mind’s eye, recite three times the following charm: 

Unmask the hidden
Remove the blindfold
I seek healing freedom
My path to behold

With the reflective part still turned out from you, hold the mirror to each of the four directions, then below and above you. Finally rest it at your heart. The mirror is seeing what you need to see in order to heal, for the outer world reflects our inner needs.

Take another deep breath and then turn the mirror towards you so that you see yourself in it. Soften your gaze and look at your reflection as you continue to breathe slow and deep. Observe whatever thoughts, feelings, and visions arise within you. If you so desire, perform the oracle for further insight.

When ready, look again at your reflection and say:

I love you, {your name},
I deserve all of my healing and more
I see my path
and hold the desire to explore.
Blessed be.

Keep the mirror on your altar on carry it with you to look at and recite the closing charm as needed until the next New Moon.

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Oracle

With a divinatory tool of your choosing ask the following question. You can also ponder it during meditation or through journalling.

What barrier blocks the view of my healing path?

Additional queries to consider:

• What relationships tangle me unnecessarily and hold me back from healing?

• What needs of mine do I ignore?

Tarot Cards of Aries

Every card within the tarot deck has an astrological association. The following correspondences follow the system laid out by the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. You can add these cards to your altar as part of your New Moon in Aries magick or use them in readings to help with determining celestial influence or timing (i.e. this will come to pass at when the Moon is in Pisces).

• The Sign of Aries: The Emperor

• Mars in Aries: Two of Wands

• Sun in Aries: Three of Wands

• Venus in Aries: Four of Wands

• The Fire Signs of Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius: Ace of Wands

Find all of the New Moon Healers Project posts right over here. Be sure to share your insights and experiences in the comments below or via instagram with the tag #NewMoonHealersProject.

Need more astroherbology in your life? You can learn more about the astroherbology of Aries by reading my in-depth profile on the sign. For those of you ready to learn how to work your magick and create your herbal remedies by the cycle of Moon and star, you're invited to join The Lunar Apothecary.

Blessed New Moon, wise healers.
May your healing be healing to us all.
May our healing be healing to you.
Blessed be! Blessed be! Blessed be!

Witchcraft + Weeds: Healing + Magickal Practices for Spring

Later this month is the spring equinox which marks the turn of the year from the dark half to the bright half in the northern hemisphere.

Days will grow longer from here until Midsummer and the sight and scent of new growing things abounds. Every turn of the season invites us to shed the old and take up the new so that we may be better able to be present in the moment as well as prepare for what lies ahead. As an herbalist and witch, my seasonal celebrations revolve around weeds and witchcraft, and I’m going to share some of those traditions now with you!

The Spring Equinox marks the transition of the Sun from the last sign of the zodiac (Pisces) to the first (Aries). We leave the dreamy waters of the fish to the fiery-headed realm of the ram. The energy of the earth is stirring after winter's slumber. From the diffusive way of Pisces, energies within and around us begin to move inward and up. Take pleasure in the delirious scents of flowers in the air. Laugh loudly to clear out stagnation in your lungs. Swing your arms up to catch the wind. Light sacred fires and revel in the new promise of spring. 

Weeds

Body System Focus : Lungs, Lymphs, + Blood
or Breath Deep + Move

Within the four elements system of traditional western herbalism (I write more about TWH energetics over here), the season of spring is the transformation of water into air or cold into heat. Within our bodies the settled cold of water gives way to the energizing energy of air. It is time to move from a place of winter stillness to the awakening dance of spring. We seek out plants and ways of being that clear out the excess of phlegmatic energy of late winter so that we can strengthen the blood-building sanguine season of spring. Our weedy plant allies of early spring are typically mineral and vitamin rich, clearing to the blood and respiratory system, and toning to the lymph nodes. If you find your energy is still cold and damp from the winter, consider Aries herbs and healing ways to help you find your spring fire.

Spring weeds are abundant sources of healing nutrients that our waking winter bodies crave. Walk through a wild place or a city park and you’ll come across at least one healing weed (such as Dandelion Taraxacum officinale) that would do well to be in your spring rotation of plant allies. Enjoying foraged weeds as food and medicine is an amazing way to connect with the season and practice self-care. If you want to learn more about the healing properties of weeds, I highly recommend checking out The Wise Wisdom of Weeds: 13 Essential Plants for Human Survival by Katrina Blair.

Cleavers (Galium aparine) : My backyard fills up with Cleavers come spring and I couldn’t be happier for it! The naturally sticky herb is a great mover of stuck energy and fluids. From constipation to fibroids, to kidney and gall stones, and old blood, Cleavers moves out congestion. They are mild tasting and an easy addition to tea, but work best when juiced. 

Plantain (Plantago major) : A well-known topical remedy for insect stings and rashes, Plantain can also be used internally for digestive complaints such as IBS, excess gas, and stomach ulcers. Like many spring weeds, it is clearing to the respiratory system, helping to clear out old coughs and sinus congestion. 

White Clover (Trifolium repens) : White Clover is a nutritious and sweet tasting herb that can be easily incorporated in teas. It has a clearing energy and while Red Clover is especially attuned to the lower half of the body, especially the womb, White Clover has a greater affinity for the upper half of the body. It is great for clearing out old coughs and head colds still lingering from winter. Add it to facial steams and herbal baths to help connect your body to the revitalizingenergy of spring.

Yellow Wood Sorrel (Oxalis stricta) : Also known as Sour Leaf, the leaf is pleasantly flavored and helps to soothe upset stomachs. The flowers are a beautiful edition to salads. The sour taste of the plant lets us know that it is most likely nutritive, cleansing to the liver, and a digestive tonic. Now, a whole salad of only sorrel leaves is not recommended as the high oxalic acid in its leaves can cause nutrient deficiency by preventing calcium absorption, but a few leaves in a tea or salad is perfectly fine.

Wild Mustard Flower Essence : I love walking through the forest of Wild Mustard that pops up on hillsides and empty urban plots throughout my city. It is a resolutely cheerful flower and in addition to adding the spicy leaves to a stir-fry (yum!), you can create a flower essence with its blossoms to help you shake off persistent gloom. It’s a great essence for folks who especially struggle with believing that the sun will ever return during these lingering grey days of early spring. 

Witchcraft

Spring promises new beginnings, fresh starts, and new dreams to manifest. Spring is a good time for revolutions on personal and cultural levels, and as Witch folk and magick-makers, we can tap into this flow. I think of the spring-related protest slogans I’ve seen over the years from “They tried to bury us but they forgot that we were seeds” or the classic “Sisterhood is Blooming - springtime will never be the same” by the Chicago Women's Graphics Collective. If you were to create an inspiring slogan for your personal spring season what would it be? Below I’ve written about the three paths of spring magick that I practice to connect with the energy of the season and live my magick.

3 Paths of Spring Magick

Waking Up : We wake up to the new season of spring from the restorative slumber of winter. Rituals include waking up the house and garden with pots and pans clanging, spring yipping, and joyful song; greeting the Sacred Youth of Spring who finally reemerges from their winter retreat; banishing unwanted energy; washing your body with spring herbs to awaken your soul shrine to the promise of spring; blessing your apothecary and/or sacred space for the beginning of the new season of growing; dream rituals of Pisces and new beginning rituals of Aries; creating your own herb harvest ritual for the beginning of the spring harvest season.

Waking Up Meditation : Visualize pulling off layers of colorful blankets, emerging from your winter cocoon into your spring state of being.

Making Space : We make space for the new energy of spring to enter our lives and homes by clearing out physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual clutter. Rituals include washing floors and windows; spring cleaning and rearrangement of sacred altars; donating unwanted items (especially those that you keep out of a sense of guilt or obligation); divination to help guide you to what you should be making more space for in your life; self-blessings to make space for all of you to show up in your life; blessing new bottles, jars, and other apothecary equipment for the new season.

Making Space Meditation : Lay flat on your back (or in an alternatively open position that is comfortable for you) and breathe deeply while visualizing a bright light glowing around you, protecting you from that which does not serve you and attracting that which benefits you. Resist visualizing specifics - just allow for the idea good things coming your way to be your focus.

Inviting In : We invite in those things which we hope to grow in the coming season. Rituals include magnet spells to draw towards you your goals and desires; soul-return rituals; choosing to work with a specific deity, ancestor, spirit or guide for the coming season; working with a plant ally; making an enchanted honey pot to attract abundance and love to you; hanging wind chimes and ribbons in windows and from trees to call in helpful spirits and energies; leaving offerings to land spirits.

Inviting In Meditation : Visualizing a goal or energy that you want to call to you, open your arms wide and then pull them towards you, embracing that which you seek. Let your hands and arms brush over your whole body so that which you are calling to you becomes grounded in your being. Repeat nine times to seal the spell. 

White Clover Window Wash

After the dark of winter, I love the early light of spring. While every sabbat is an opportunity for a big house clean, I make sure to clean the windows at the spring equinox to let in the happy, healing light of the season. Making an herbal wash to help accomplish this task imbues the act with greater magick. White Clover flowers and leaves are protective and lucky which are two energies that I happily welcome into my home.

To prepare your wash pick nine Clover blossoms and three three-leafed clover leaf clusters. Add to a heatproof container (preferably glass or ceramic) and cover with hot water. Let steep overnight (preferably on the spring equinox itself or the nearest new moon) and strain. Add this water to your window cleaning solution. Whatever of the White Clover water you don’t use, be sure to offer it back to the earth.

I clean my windows first in a widdershins (or counterclockwise) direction and then in a deosil (or clockwise) direction to banish the old and welcome in the new. Often I accompany this with song welcoming in the elements and abundance of love, peace, and joy in the coming season. It's a simple ritual, but my home always feels more magickal and ready for spring when it has been completed. 

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What are your favorite healing and magickal practices for spring? Let me know in the comments. You can also check out the rest of my seasonal apothecary series:

• Summer Wellness Apothecary

• Autumn Wellness Apothecary

• Winter Wellness Apothecary

Becoming Dreams : The New Moon in Pisces

Who can read the dampened leaves
in the tea bowl of the world
when the wind has sipped
the rain away?

- Karen Ethelsdattar -

The New Moon in Pisces is a time of rooting dreams from the realm of the in-between to our shared reality. Dreams are potent agents of change - but in order to make full use of their power we must be able to ground and root them so that they may grow. I love the energy of the New Moon in Pisces - the veils between waking and dreaming part just enough so that we're able to interact with our dreams in a new way. If you have a dream of practicing full time as a healer, now is an excellent time to pull that dream closer towards you and ground it in sacred earth so it may manifest. But you can pull any dream closer to you. Dreams which support your work as a healer such as the dream of financial stability or the perfect office space are great to focus on. Maybe the dream is the ability to connect with the pleasure of your bliss with ease every day. Or you have a dream of speaking with your plant allies in clear and understandable ways.

No dreams are too dreamy for a Pisces New Moon. And that is one of the biggest gifts of this New Moon - we are encouraged to dream big and wild and with abandon. Better yet, we are encouraged to become our dreams. It is good then, in the work of becoming waking dreams, that we have plant allies, ways to create change through ritual, and the power of divinatory introspection. Because though we are the only ones who can become our individual dreams, all of us are dreamers dreaming together.

Angelica (Angelica archangelica)
New Moon in Pisces Plant Ally

Angelica is a Guardian herb of Pisces, meaning that it promotes the healing qualities of the sign. I like Angelica when a energetically watery remedy is needed, but it needs to be warming instead of cooling. As a warming and oily herb, Angelica helps to move oils and fats through the body more effectively, including their metabolism and break-up of excess fluids. With its affinity to Pisces, the herb also works on the lymphatic system, clearing out congestion through its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory actions. The herb is also a diaphoretic, opening the skin and improving peripheral circulation. 

Angelica calms both the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, finding balance between the two. I have found that folks who get stuck in the world of dreams or have a hard time accessing dreams need some extra support with their nervous system. Angelica calms anxiety (including the anxious worry of whether one will be able to manifest their dreams) and helps to rebuild the protective sheaths of the nervous system as part of its ability to move oils effectively through the body. As a brain tonic, Angelica improves mental clarity, uplifts the mood, and stimulates the imagination.

Continue reading the full Angelica Plant Profile.

Flower + Gem Essences for the New Moon in Pisces: Rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus nauseosus), Rock Rose (Helianthemum nummularium), Purple Monkeyflower (Mimulus lewisii), Clematis (Clematis vitalba), Southern Cross (Xanthosia rotundifolia), Amethyst.

Essential Oils for Pisces: Lamon Balm (Melissa officinalis), Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens), Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), Birch (Betula lenta), Jasmine (Jasminum officinale) , Pine (Pinus sylvestris).

image via 贝莉儿 ng

Becoming A Dream

Begin in a sacred way (read the New Moon in Aquarius post for further inspiration). If you are able to, perform this ritual outside on the bare earth with a bowl of water. If performed indoors you may choose to have a bowl of earth in addition to a bowl of water - but these can easily be visualized if not available. If using a bowl of water and earth, make sure that there is less water than earth so that the bowl of earth does not become oversaturated.

Choose a dream or desire to focus on. It should be something which feels just out of reach.  

Hold the bowl of water in your hands (or visualize a bowl full of water in between your hands). Say:

 I call to me the dream of {speak your dream clearly and concisely}.

Take a moment to settle into the feeling of your dream. What would it feel like to make it real? By feeling this dream you are pulling it towards you. Breathe in deep and embody these feelings. Visualize the dream taking up space within the water. Put the bowl of water down and place your hands upon the earth (or hold or visualize a bowl of earth). Say:

I call to me the earth's power to root and grow my dream of {speak your dream clearly and concisely}.

Take a few centering breaths here. Let your energy sink into the earth. Feel the solidity and structure. Feel the possibility and power. Visualize the first step you need to take to manifest your dream. It is not necessary that you know how a dream will be accomplished, but only necessary that you know the next step to take. If you are having difficulty determining this, perform the oracle before this rite.

When you feel that you and the earth have opened up to receive the dream seed, pour the water onto the earth, reserving a small amount to use to anoint yourself. The dream passes through water and into earth to be made manifest. Seal the spell by anointing your belly button (your original root) with the water left in the bowl. Say:

The dream awakens and becomes me. So mote it be!

It is important to do the first step that you visualized by the Full Moon in order to help manifest your dream. If you have used a bowl of earth in this rite, be sure to give it to the earth outside within the next 24 hours. 

The World Spirit Tarot

Oracle

With a divinatory tool of your choosing ask the following question. You can also ponder it during meditation or through journalling.

What is my most desired dream of healing?

Additional queries to consider:

• What dreams do I ignore because they seem to big or unattainable?

• What dreams have I already made manifest?

Tarot Cards of Pisces

Every card within the tarot deck has an astrological association. The following correspondences follow the system laid out by the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. You can add these cards to your altar as part of your New Moon in Pisces magick or use them in readings to help with determining celestial influence or timing (i.e. this will come to pass at when the Moon is in Pisces).

• The Sign of Pisces: The Moon

• Saturn in Pisces: Eight of Cups

• Jupiter in Pisces: Nine of Cups

• Mars in Pisces: Ten of Cups

• The Water Signs of Pisces, Cancer, and Scorpio: Ace of Cups

Find all of the New Moon Healers Project posts right over here. Be sure to share your insights and experiences in the comments below or via instagram with the tag #NewMoonHealersProject.

Need more astroherbology in your life? You can learn more about the astroherbology of Pisces by reading my in-depth profile on the sign. For those of you ready to learn how to work your magick and create your herbal remedies by the cycle of Moon and star, you're invited to join The L unar Apothecary.

Blessed New Moon, wise healers.
May your healing be healing to us all.
May our healing be healing to you.
Blessed be! Blessed be! Blessed be!

Tarot as Your Best Friend : A Simple Guide

I recently taught a mini class on self-care with the tarot.

I shared one of my favorite techniques for accessing a powerful and personal sacred space at any time and any where through the tarot. The class started off my early spring teaching season (I’m teaching again in person - yay! - be sure to reserve your spot) but it also got me thinking on other easy self-care tarot techniques that I could share with all of you, my amazing far-flung internet family. Because, apparently, I’m just writing about self-care these days (even my tarotscopes are checking in with me about it). Actually, a lot of folks are writing and teaching and sharing about self-care these days and I love it. It is so much easier to take back the streets and topple empires when you’ve had some lunch ahead of time. I thought about how else tarot can be used as a tool of self care and, thus, the following spread was born.

The Best Friend Tarot Spread is the you-affirming, pep-talk, I-love-all-of-you, empowering, weirdness-adoring and sovereignty-recognizing sort of hug-in-a-spread we all need right now.

It’s also really easy to cast because, bless, I don’t always have the energy after a long day to pull out my cards and tell myself an in-depth story. Which brings me to another element of my self-care tarot magick - ease. Let’s make it easy for ourselves for no other reason than we deserve things to be easy sometimes.

The easy part of the spread comes from the fact that it uses a mad-libs or fill-in-the-blank style interpretation guide which allows the cards to deliver their message as your esoterically-inclined best friend. So let's begin!

Make yourself some tea, coffee, hot cocoa, iced lemonade or delicious drink of choice. Put on something comfortable and find a cozy spot to cast cards. Center yourself and shuffle your deck in the usual way. 

For the Best Friend Tarot Spread you’ll be casting three cards. Instead of the cards answering a particular question, they will be filling in the blank of the following sentence (aka best friend style pep talk):

You have the incredible gift of {card 1}.
Remember to {card 2},
so that you can {card 3}.

Now, you can choose the cards at random or you can turn the deck face-up and choose whichever three cards jump out at you (If choosing face up scares you a bit, you should go for it. Get your vulnerable on and sink into your power). I also suggest only using the Major Arcana for the spread if you’re experiencing some big life feels and need deep support. For those of you on my Magick Mail list, you’ll receive a keyword guide for the Major Arcana next month that you can use to help you complete the sentences.

If you have a friend that needs some cheering up, offering to do this spread for them can be a tender way of showing support. 

That’s it. Sweet, simple, and you-affirming. If you're looking for more tarot inspiration, head this way. Be sure to share the pep talks you received in the comments below and remember to be gentle with your heart - just like your best friend would.