Full Moon Blessings to you all with this energising Virgo moon, the last full moon of Winter. We have the contrasting qualities of a dreamy Pisces Sun and a grounding earthy Virgo. Together they bring creative energy which is strengthened by the Venus presence adding more inspiration and compassion where required. Make use of the Virgo qualities to organise, clear out and get the essential jobs done to allow yourself to be in a much better place for Spring arriving just around the corner. The astrologers are encouraging self-care, working on our shadows and using a mindful approach to our daily tasks that help to keep our world clean, nurturing and in order.
Feeling the need for a deep clean? Are there any areas that despite extra time at home we've been avoiding de-cluttering or passing on? Then seize this opportunity to clear the energy and freshen up with this methodical Virgo energy. Virgos are great at breaking down big tasks into manageable pieces and we can start small and get satisfaction from clearing the dumping drawer or bag hidden in the cupboard. See it as making space for new and exciting things to develop in your life.
Simone Butler, author of Astro Feng Shui recommends placing a ceramic bowl of lemons in the central area of your home. This area is related to our health, a strong Virgo quality, and therefore it needs to present a clear and vibrant energy. She explains by having yellow in this area we help to create balance in our health, and with the earth element of Virgo bringing in a natural connection is beneficial too. A vase of daffodils here in the UK sounds like a quick way to achieve that or as Simone suggests the bowl of lemons to bring in vitality and freshness. Let's add in a lemon essence oil and enhance the experience to even more of our senses.
April Elliot Kent is recommending we have a more mindful approach to the daily tasks that we all need to do as part of our existence with this moon cycle. By being conscious and giving them our full attention we will find a spiritual connection in them and they will cease to become just another chore on our to do list.
Suthesh is very good at this. He can become completely immersed in a house painting task or on preparing vegetables for a meal. Time stands still for him during these tasks, he will be fully focused and concentrating on only what he's doing. This is something he's been encouraging the yoga community to do for years and I feel it has great benefits when we do find that peace in our daily lives. My artwork is like that for me, I can become so focused on what I'm doing the hours pass so quickly but I feel greatly satisfied from what I've created.
During lockdown I've heard people say that they find preparing meals relaxing. That's the joy in being able to have fresh foods and prepare them to nurture our mind and body. As a society we've spent a lot of time and money designing gadgets and tools to make these jobs 'easier' and quicker and give us more time, and yet the mindful peeling and slicing of veggies is part of the day when we are brought out of our over thinking brains and back down to Earth to be grounded and process what we need to. I think more people would need less stress busting strategies if they gave themselves this time in the day and embraced it fully as April recommends.
" Virgo is the sign of habit, but equally the sign of ritual. Ritual is not magic; it is ordinary, everyday action performed with magical intention. It is the union of practical and spiritual, Virgo's practicality and Pisces' sensitivity. It is honouring spirit through the offering of our humble earthly abilities- modestly, with love and devotion."
" Ritual is ordinary action carefully performed with extraordinary intention. It is how we honour the invisible with visible gestures." April Elliot Kent
The body part associated with Virgo is our gut and as mentioned earlier we have the Sun in Pisces connected to our feet. The important digestive system which helps us to not only process the foods we eat but the information our body receives. A balanced yoga practise is constantly massaging our gut and abdominal organs helping it with both of these tasks. For a restorative posture to support this I recommend a seated forward bend, placing a bolster or pillow on your legs so you can sink deep down into the posture and notice what comes up or release through it. To connect to your feet in this posture you could use a belt around the balls of the feet and play around with pressure and then releasing. Like the playful movement used in baby yoga, when the Mum uses her hands to push into the baby's feet, have fun with it and notice our foundation, as we all too often neglect them.
Cathy Pagano talks about self-care and forgiveness being a focus of this Full Moon in Virgo.
" It is the full moon that forgives us all our mistakes, all the pain and darkness in us, all our self-loathing. Because Virgo sees the lessons learned and can integrate them into a new wholeness. Virgo can knit all those parts into a new pattern. The darkness isn't bad - it's just dark. Once you can acknowledge it and work with it, you can see the old pattern and let it go. "
Cathy says "Channel your inner mother and take care of the new life you have birthed. The world needs each one of us to help heal it. "
I fully believe that. It's the small steps forward with a conscious decision that send out positive messages to the wider world. Each of us plays a part and each of us has to decide whether we add to the chaos sometimes presented to us by the media or choose a different path, the peaceful one to help find the balance we're all seeking from within.
" For the part can never be well unless the whole is well." Plato
Dana Gerhardt is sharing a Tibetan breathing technique that would be useful for anyone feeling overwhelmed with the current crisis in Europe. Well worth a read as always.
Thanks for reading :)
Wishing you all a smooth transition into Spring,
Blessings
Sarah