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SATURDAY SPELL

Incense Burning

Incense burning is another easy and beautiful way to infuse intention and to practice a bit of modern magic if you’re new to imbuing manifestation into your home. Next to candle making, it’s one of my favorites, and it’s a lot more accessible and less time consuming too!

What I like about the ritual of incense burning with a hanging burner as opposed to simply burning an incense stick, is that the process feels relaxing, centering and meditative which can help when you’re dispelling negative energy and trying to usher in some positive vibes!

Much like with candle making, you can choose what herbs you’d like to use, based on smell or meaning; it’s very personal, but I will share what I use often in my home regularly to shed heavy energy and call in lighter vibrations.

What You’ll Need

A Hanging Incense Burner (there are some beautiful ones on Esty – this one and this one are particularly gorgeous in my opinion!)

Herbs (these can be purchased at health food or spiritual stores or ordered online. This is a nice starter kit and has all the herbs I used below.)

Charcoal disks (I use these)

Matches or lighter

Here I used White Sage (cleansing, healing, removes negative energy), White Copal (connects to spirit realm, purifying, clears and calms spaces), Patchouli (boosts immune system, enhances mood, fights depression) and Sweet Myrrh (clears and balances emotions, cleansing and grounding)

Instructions

Place charcoal disk in the bottom center of the burner

Select which herbs you’d like to burn (only a pinch of each will do!)

Light the charcoal disk

Slowly and gently cover the disk with the herbs

Place the cover on the burner and allow herbs to begin to smoke

For a home blessing, walk around the house gently swaying the burner, repeating your mantra as you cover doorways, windows, corners (you can also isolate to one room or area if there some bad vibes just in one space)

I like to say: “I release all negative energy from this space. You have no power here. I release all energies that do not serve me, all fears that limit me. I welcome positive and radiant energy into this space. ”

This ritual can be done at any time; some do it at the changing of the seasons, at the beginning or ending of a lunar cycle, or just when you feel like the vibe in your home is stagnant.

I don’t believe there is a “right” or “wrong” way to practice any spiritual ritual, and I shy away from spiritual elitists who claim there is! You do you, and do what makes you feel good. Manifesting is all about energetic vibrations; you can’t force it.

If you give it a go, let me know how it feels!

xo

Rebecca

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Motherhood

Baby After Miscarriage

Tomorrow, Saturday, December 5, I will be joining Noelle Hatton of Mothering Every Mother, to discuss miscarriage and astrology and where the two intersect and what can be gained from looking at your and your baby’s natal charts.

Conceiving after miscarriage is a raw, beautiful and challenging experience.

I experienced four consecutive miscarriages after our second son was born, and having had no medical explanation (at that time) left me feeling overwhelmed, frustrated and absolutely heartbroken.

We conceived our daughter Gigi (now 4 years old) after these losses and my pregnancy and early months of parenting her were some of the most challenging I’ve had. The anxiety, guilt, fear and love are intertwined and can be conflicting at times.

“…there are some things in life that you are never able to truly put away, they are just wounds you learn to live with.”

I came to find out that I was severely vitamin deficient and that had likely been the medical explanation for my losses, but the experiences had nonetheless left me different as a woman and a mother. And I sought understanding – not necessarily closure, because there are some things in life that you are never able to truly put away, they are just wounds you learn to live with. But when you understand them, you can live with them with far more grace.

I went through my miscarriages during a Saturn transit for me; understanding that this was a period of challenge and restriction that promoted me toward growth, gave these experiences purpose. This transit was encouraging me to get clear on my own personal direction and self definition; it was a maturation of the lens through which I processed experience. It came back to my need to prioritize and re-evaluate where I was focusing my energies.

I went through my miscarriages during a Saturn transit; understanding that this was a period of challenge and restriction that promoted me toward growth, gave these experiences purpose.

In addition, seeing the charts of each of these beings that existed for short periods of time in our spiritual plane, did a lot for me to see where we were connected, how the energy I experienced when they were with me was expressed in their celestial fingerprint.

Astrology asks us to believe in reincarnation, that our souls return to continue their karmic duty, lifetime after lifetime, evolving and progressing a bit more each journey, bringing with us the skills we need to work through our karma. Many mothers feel that their baby’s energy stays close by, or even returns to them in a later pregnancy (I have had both of these experiences and will share more in later posts.)

Everyday I see my children, these beautiful beings who have chosen me to shepherd them through these formative years, instilling in them the values they’ll need to navigate the world on their own. I get to see how they self-express, evolve and challenge themselves. I may not have gotten to see the full expression of the babies who only stayed with me a short while, but their impact was no less.

When you have been through the loss of a pregnancy, nothing will replace that baby or the possibilities that were a part of their growing life. Nothing should. It took me a while to realize that miscarriage is so widely shared among women – one in four will experience pregnancy loss on their journey to motherhood. It seemed as though almost every woman I shared my losses with could respond in kind, or offer up a story of someone they are close to who had been through similar. But though it is common, doesn’t make it less difficult, important or heart wrenching.

So if you’ve been through loss, know you’re not alone and know that whatever connection you have to your baby is authentic, real and valid and there is a large, loving community here to support you, listen to you and offer you comfort and understanding.

Please join me and Noelle on Saturday (10AM EST/5PM SAST) if you can. If you’re unable she will be saving the Live to her Instagram profile.

Also enter to win one of TWO free mini readings with me I’m giving away to TWO mothers who have experienced loss. It will include a reading of your and your baby’s chart; details below and on my IG page to enter.

IG LIVE GIVEAWAY

TWO MINI READINGS FOR MOTHERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED LOSS

TO ENTER/DETAILS:

1.) Follow me @astrologicalmama and Noelle Hatton at @mothering.every.mother on IG

2.) Comment on my post and/or tag one person who would benefit from the IG Live or from a reading

3.) You DO NOT NEED TO ATTEND THE IG LIVE TO WIN!

4.) Entry is open INTERNATIONALLY (you must speak English to enter)

5.) Winners to be selected Saturday, DECEMBER 12

I hope to see you there, and/or connect with you soon!

xo

Rebecca

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Cosmic Cocktail

The Greyhound

It’s finally turned to winter here in the northeast, and it’s cold! I’m dreaming of warmer weather and wishing we could escape somewhere beachside… summer seems so far away!

Sagittarius is the sign connected with travel and I always feel that travel bug come on in the beginning of December (it doesn’t help that I grew up in Arizona and anything below 65 degrees is enough to send me into full hibernation mode or running for the airport!) So, if we can’t go to the beach, the best I can offer is a summery cocktail that brings an island-y vibe into your home instead!

Serves 1

1 1/2 Vodka *I got fancy and used Ketel One Grapefruit and Rose

Grapefruit Juice to fill

Lime wedge, for garnish

“Straightforward, classic drink.”

In a Collins glass filled with ice, pour in vodka. Top off with grapefruit juice and a slice of lime as garnish (I add a little fresh squeezed lime as well!) Violá! So simple, and just like that, you’ll feel (almost) like you’re relaxing poolside!

Let me know if this gives you the island-vibe you need to get through to the holidays!

xo

Rebecca

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Wednesday Wellness

Adaptogen Series Two!

Welcome back to the second post of the Wednesday Wellness Adaptogen Series!

Today I’m sharing the Lung Tea: CommuniTea from Anima Mundi Herbals. This adaptogenic Tea is supportive of overall respiratory health, specifically the lungs. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) believes the lungs are where we carry trauma, grief and emotional pain. Autumn is also associated with the lungs in TCM, making this tea a really wonderful choice for the next couple of weeks.

Health Benefits

With COVID-19 prevalent across the US and other parts of the world, bringing in herbs like Astralagus (immune boosting, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory), Nettles (manages blood sugar, flushes bacteria from the urinary tract), Ginger (antioxidant, anti-inflammatory), Reishi (boosts white blood cells, lessens fatigue) and Holy Basil (reduces inflammation) among others, this tea offers up a powerful boost to the lungs!

Additionally in TCM, maintaining consistently healthy energy through the respiratory system leads to clear thinking, openness to creativity, new ideas and clear communication. There is so much happening astrologically over the coming month as we enter the Age of Aquarius; our minds and bodies need to be ready as we individually and collectively move into the beginning of a new cycle. Cleansing our vital systems is one simple step to streamlining our energies and simplifying this process.

Preparation

The tea comes loose leaf, you can use a tea infuser, or organic, chemical-free, biodegradable tea sachets (I use these.)

Once steeped, add honey or agave if desired (I use local honey from a neighbor) and don’t feel bad enjoying with a cookie!

xo

Rebecca

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SATURDAY SPELL

Enchanting Candles

Making candles and imbuing them with intention is actually one of the easiest ways to manifest if you’re new to spells and intention and evoking the divine within.

Beeswax candles are made from the same base materials each time, and can be enhanced with meaningful herbs, flowers, colors and oils and then sealed with a manifesting mantra which will come back to focus each time you choose to burn it. 

It is really one of my favorite and easiest methods of magic at home and the kids can help with choosing herbs, colors and oils and choose a mantra for their own (of course exercise caution with the melted wax and any time you have a candle live burning around children.)

It is believed that in modern witchcraft, words are wands – what is your intention?

What do you need to manifes

What do you need to manifest?

Calm? Clarity?

Patience? Action? Passion?

It can be anything really. Spells are internally focused; one of the biggest misrepresentations of magic is that you can manipulate others with it; much like in our own lives, we cannot control others.

We can only decide how we will bring positivity into our own realms, how we will react to the things that happen to us, and whether or not we decide that we are not the sum of our experiences, but instead that we are the evolution of the lessons those experiences present to us.

Candle magic is very old in practice, but to keep it simple and accessible, I suggest starting with a straightforward base of ingredients and then growing into it.

Even if you don’t want to get into the spiritual side of it, beeswax candles are amazing on so many levels. 

They  actually help to clean the air in your house! They release negative ions which help neutralize pollutants in the air like dust, mold and smells. Soy and paraffin candles on the other hand, release toxins into the air as they are  chemically processed from oil to become wax.

As a byproduct of the beekeeping industry, beeswax requires no processing and is 100% natural and more sustainable to the environment.  They also burn slower because they are denser than soy candles, so they have longer life and more hours of use! 

What You’ll Need

  • For 16 Candles (For gift-making for the holidays! Divide portions for fewer candles.)
  • 16 Empty Jars  (you can use mason jars, or buy candle jars specifically; they are easy to find online)
  • 2 lbs Beeswax Pellets (I like to buy organic, sustainably and ethically sourced beeswax – here’s a great option. White or yellow pellets work equally well, but if you plan to color your candles white pellets take the color better)
  • 2 Cups of a Carrier Oil (olive oil or coconut oil work well and most people have some in their kitchen)
  • 16 Candle Wicks (hemp wicks are great; I used these because they were left over, you can find these here, they come with double sided stickers to help keep the wicks down)
  • Wick Centering Sticks (you can buy these, make them out of popsicle sticks, or get creative using chopsticks or anything else you can wrap the wick around and lay across the top of the candle!)
  • Sauce Pot / 4lb Pouring Pot / 2 Cup Glass Measuring Cup (it’s key to have the spout on the side to pour the melted wax)
  • Scented Oils (this is up to you; choose by pleasure of scent or meaning.) 
  • Herbs/Flowers (optional and again entirely your choice; there is no right and wrong. Choose what you like or for meaning: for example, Lavender is known to calm, ylang ylang is known to boost mood, hibiscus is known to lower blood pressure and relax and so on)
  • Also optional: Mica Powder (for color) and/or Semi-precious Gemstones (for meaning.)

Instructions

1. Fill up dutch oven or larger sauce pot halfway full with water; bring to a boil

2. Add wax and oil to the smaller sauce pot / 4 lb pouring pot / 2 cup glass measuring cup (if you’re using the measuring cup you’ll have to do this multiple times as the full recipe won’t fit in its entirety)

3. Place smaller sauce pot / 4 lb pouring pot / 2 cup glass measuring cup into the boiling water, allow contents to melt until clear.

4. While the wax is melting, center your wicks in your candle jars using the centering sticks and tape circles

5. Carefully pour the wax mixture into the candle jars leaving a little room at the top 

6. Add 10-15 drops of desired oil into each candle (unless you want them all to smell the same, then you can add your oil to the larger pot before you pour. If this is the case, use 25-75 drops depending on how intense you want the scent to be. Use quality oils; low end oils can lead to poor scent.) 

7. While adding your oils, this is the best time to imbue your candle with your intention/mantra. With each drop of oil repeat your mantra. For example, “I ask for peace and calm.” “May passion and drive come through me.” “May I find the clarity I seek.” This is the mantra you will repeat each time you light this candle. If you’re imbuing the candle as a gift, may I recommend something like: “May this candle bring you prosperity emotionally, spiritually, physically and financially; I wish this for you with good will and pure intention.” 

8. Allow the candles to set for about 20 minutes or so before adding whatever herbs/flowers you want to float in the body  of the candle.

9. Watch around the 30 minute mark as the top begins to set – this is when you want to add any elements you wish to be visible at the top of your candle (flower, stones, herbs, etc) it will be soft enough for you to set it in, without it sinking in. 

10. When the candle has completely set, cut the wick to your desired length. 

*If you want to add color, I recommend this mica powder or something like it. This can be added in at step 6, or mixed into the whole if you’d like all your candles to be the same color. 

Happy manifesting! Please share your creations…! Sagittarius season is SUCH a wonderful time to set intentions with Jupiter overseeing this period, so get hopeful and wishful and dreamy (Neptune is back on your side too these upcoming weeks!!)

xo

Rebecca

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Cosmic Cocktail

The Matador

Sagittarians are risky by nature, but it’s all in good fun and they’re usually just looking for adventure and a good story to tell! I, personally, have never met a Sagittarius who didn’t like Tequila, and so a good way to kick off Sagittarius season is with a good Tequila-based cocktail! 

Serves 1

1 1/2 ounces gold tequila

3 ounces pineapple juice

1/2 ounce lime juice

Combine all in a shaker filled with ice, strain into a glass filled with ice!

Olé!

xo

Rebecca

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Happy Wednesday Wellness

Adaptogen Series One!

This is the first of a series of posts on the different adaptogens I use, their benefits and how I incorporate them into my daily routine.

So what are adaptogens? Adaptogens are a specific group of herbs and a few mushrooms that restore balance to the body and work to support the way the body responds to and resists stress.

They work individually to each body’s unique specifications and increase the body’s resistance to physical, chemical, emotional and environmental stressors. 

I found my way to adaptogens when I was looking for more natural ways to manage my chronic migraines and it’s been an obsession ever since. 

According to Adriana Ayales of Anima Mundi Herbals, adaptogens “catalyze changes in the body, particularly in the neuroendocrine and immune systems.” This body system controls chemical communication in the body through hormone release which works with your nervous system. The ultimate goal of the nervous system is to bring balance to all internal systems and keep the body protected (the hypothalamus, the pituitary and adrenal glands are part of this process).

Problem is, well… Life. We are constantly bombarded by external and internal stressors that overwork our systems and we never really get to “turn off” our fight-or-flight and so we’re always on edge. Overadaption to stress and mismanagement of the internal flow of these systems leads to all sorts of ailments: insomnia, acne, disrupted blood sugar levels, oversecretion of cortisol… the list goes on.

So while we can’t stop what’s happening in the world around us, and we don’t all have time to meditate for hours everyday, adaptogens are an easy and natural way to address this overstimulation and bring back balance. Oh, and did I mention they’re non-toxic and have no significant side effects or contraindications?

And are you ready for the best part? Most of them you can add to your coffee! 

So the first two adaptogen supplements I want to share with you are a double set of collagen that I love (one from Anima Mundi and one from Moon Juice) and the other is Chaga (a treasure mushroom!)

Collagen

Let’s start with the collagens… Now, adding collagen to your morning coffee is no new thing, but these collagens contain adaptogens and that’s all the difference in the world, but only one small change you’d have to make! 

As we all know collagen is the mineral in our bodies that helps create strong bonds in connective tissues (like joints, ligaments and skin) but it depletes as a result of age and stress – this causes visible signs of aging (wrinkles) and physical discomfort (achy joints).

These two collagens are plant-based in both cases, top of the line, and you get the added benefits of the adaptogens, so you’re boosting collagen and fighting one of the causes of it’s depletion in one step: win-win in my book!

Collagen Booster Super Fruit Bliss (Anima Mundi – Plant-based) This collagen powder is mixed with Fo-Ti, Gynostemma, Mangosteen and others as well as the heralded Shizandra berry – all adaptogens known for their beautifying properties that nourish the complexion from within, not only because they are balancing of oxidative stress but also because they are incredibly high in antioxidants. The anti-inflammatory properties help with puffiness and redness too.

Collagen (Moon Juice – Vegan, traceable and unadulterated, bioactive, non GMO) In Moon Juice’s collagen (made from only three ingredients!!) you’l find the adaptogenic Silver Ear Mushroom, “the small molecular structure of which supports the skin barrier, delivers deep hydration and is one of the only vegan sources of Vitamin D” (this is sustainably sourced from China). 

Chaga

First off, Anima Mundi’s Chaga mushrooms are all organically grown and sustainably sourced in the USA (Washington State); this is important because Chaga is in danger of extinction and so finding s brand that supports ethically sourcing this adaptogen is SO important.

Chaga is amazing, it is clinically proven to reduce stress, suppress cancer progression, it reduces inflammation and assists with diabetic health. It helps with fatigue and increases mental clarity. POW!

I take one tablespoon of Chaga and one to two tablespoons of either collagen each morning in my coffee (I use a PowerLix Milk Frother to mix it all together) easy peasy and so yummy! It’s that simple  to include adaptogens into your daily routine and feel experience the benefits.

Let me know what you think, if you’ve tried any of these or another brand and what your experience has been like!

xo

Rebecca

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