The May 20 New Moon eclipse (4:47 p.m. PDT) brings a powerful opportunity to clear your mind and harness the power of your intuition.

For this ritual, you will need: A blue candle, notebook and pen.

Light the candle in your Knowledge gua (to the left of the front door as you enter). Thank your spiritual guides for being present.

Take your notebook and write at the top of the page: “Embracing My Truth.” Then, ask yourself: Is there anything I’m doing or thinking that is not in alignment with my higher truth? It may relate to your job, marriage, health habits or communication with a friend. Make notes on this for a few minutes. Be honest with yourself. If something isn’t working, admit that you just can’t do it that way anymore. You don’t need to take any action at this time. Just be with the awareness. Then, give thanks to your guides for helping you with this issue and blow out the candle.

Listen to your thoughts and feelings throughout the month. If you are angry or frustrated, acknowledge your feelings without forcing yourself to do anything about them. Continue writing in your journal. You may be surprised at the ideas and solutions that occur to you! If you feel guided to do so, make appropriate changes. You are likely to receive further information on your issue around the June 4 Full Moon eclipse.

The April 21 Taurus New Moon (12:18 a.m. PDT) is a grand opportunity to allow more wealth into your life. Wealth is not just money, of course–it’s also well being, at which Taurus excels. But if you’re in need of some green stuff in your life, try this ritual at the New Moon, and see what blessings unfold for you in the following two weeks.

Grow Your Abundance

You will need: a green or flowering plant, a small piece of amethyst, a hundred dollar bill (or whatever denomination you have access to).

Find a place to sit in your Wealth gua (far left corner of your home), with the plant beside you. Put the piece of amethyst on top of the bill, take a deep breath, and exhale slowly onto the crystal. Visualize money flowing into your hands.

Then say the following words:

Cash and crystal, on you I blow
My blessings and hopes, a seed to sow.

Bring money to me – let it flow
Like abundant rain, then make it grow.

Give thanks, then bury the crystal in the plant and leave it in your Wealth gua (or put it in the yard outside that gua). Water and care for it well. Put the hundred dollar bill in your wallet, and carry it around for two weeks. Break it at the Full Moon, gratefully affirming your wealth.

Watch my new mini-video to see how I helped one woman spiff up her Wealth gua!

Here we are at the March 22 Aries New Moon–which coincides closely with the Equinox, or astrological New Year. It’s a powerhouse time to set new career intentions or reinvigorate your existing goals. This Astro Feng Shui ritual will help light a fire under you by pumping up your life force.

You will need: A red candle, a goblet of water, a pen and paper.

Position your candle at a comfortable and safe spot in your Career gua (near your front door). Set the goblet of water nearby. Light the candle and focus on the flame to center yourself. Take some deep breaths and consider your immediate goals for your career. Imagine an inner Sun in your solar plexus, with a fire burning in the center of it. On the inhale, fan that fire and drop into it any negative thoughts, emotions, or images that are standing in your way from experiencing a healthy career or from moving forward. On the exhale, transform all that’s been incinerated into light that radiates out of every pore.

Continue this breathing pattern until your thoughts and feelings have been neutralized. (If you know the Breath of Fire, which involves taking rapid breaths into your belly through your nose, you can include it). When you feel complete, bring your awareness to your heart and feel appreciation.

Dip your fingers into the goblet, and flick a little water onto your solar plexus area, to affirm your cleansing and renewal. Then, write down what you wish to achieve within the next 30-day time frame. Keep it realistic; if you shoot too high and your subconscious mind rebels, you may set yourself up for disappointment (i.e. “I now win $100 million in the lottery.”)

Here are a few realistic examples: “I now welcome 10 new paying clients who are greatly benefited by the services I offer.” Or, “I now find the energy and resolve to create a terrific website.” Speak the words aloud and give thanks that it is done. Fold the paper and slip it under or near the candle (remember to blow it out later). Happy New Moon!

The Pisces New Moon (Feb. 21, 2:35 p.m. PST) packs extra punch this year. Neptune, the Pisces ruler, has recently entered its own sign for the next 14 years, and the New Moon triggers this auspicious occurrence. Though Neptune is visionary, it can also make you feel like you’re lost at sea. This ritual will help align you with your Higher Self or Source to find your way–and boost your spiritual, mental and physical health.

Pisces is connected to the Health gua, or center of your home. Put a healthy new plant in a ceramic pot somewhere in this area, or set out a bowl of fresh yellow lemons. Cleanse, sage and sweep this region thoroughly. Then, perform this ritual from my book, Astro Feng Shui: Making Magic in Your Home and Life, either the night before or evening of the New Moon.

You will need: A dark glass or ceramic bowl, water from a spring, lake or other natural source, a fresh-cut twig, yellow candle, nature-themed music and your favorite incense.

Water scrying is an ancient divination technique for penetrating the depths of the subconscious mind and/or getting messages from the beyond. This ritual should be done at night. People used to scry on the surface of a lake by the light of the Moon. In this ritual, we’ll be scrying indoors using water from a natural source. Ideally, this should be rainwater or water collected from a lake or stream, but bottled spring water will also work.

At the New Moon, light your yellow candle in your Health gua, and find a comfortable spot to sit and scry for a half hour or so. Light your favorite incense, and put on music that reminds you of nature. Place the candle near your scrying bowl to illuminate your task. All other lights should be kept low.

Formulate a question about something that’s been troubling you. This may concern your health or another topic. Take a few deep breaths to center yourself, then stir the water with your twig. Once it becomes smooth again, stare at the water’s surface. Soft-focusing your eyes may help you “see.” Continue staring, holding your question in mind, until you see an image or a shape that speaks to you, or you receive a strong feeling message. Let your intuition interpret this message. Be patient, to see if another message wants to appear. When you feel complete, blow out the candle and give thanks for the inspiration you’ve received, however subtle or mysterious. Watch your dreams for further revelations about what your message might mean.

RITUAL FOR THE AQUARIUS NEW MOON

Calling The Angels

The powerful Aquarius New Moon falls on Sunday, Jan. 22 at 11:39 p.m. PST. As noted in my recent post at www.astroalchemy.com, this New Moon coincides with the Chinese Year of the Dragon, as well as warrior Mars turning retrograde. It’s time to harness angelic help to break free of the past and manifest our goals!

For this ritual you will need: a white or silver pillar candle, a silver box, an angel figure or picture, a paper on which you’ve written your needs, and soft music.

We’re entering the angelic realm at this New Moon, where we ask for help in making our wildest dreams come true, or in handling our most pressing mundane concerns. Purify yourself before this ritual by bathing in scented salts or oil, then dress in flowing white or pastel garments. Sit in your Helpful People gua just to the right of your front door as you enter (which you have already cleansed and de-cluttered), put on the music and light the candle. Ask the angelic realm to be present at your ritual. You can call on particular guides like Archangel Michael or Gabriel, or an ancestor who serves as a guardian angel for you. Gaze at your angelic image as you tune in to that realm. Then, read your list, asking for the specific aid you require. This maybe something like, “Please protect me in my upcoming journey,” or “Please bring
me $1200 by the end of this month.” You can also ask for help for other people.

When you’re complete, put the paper into the silver box, and blow out the candle. Thank the angels for the fulfillment of your wishes.

RITUAL FOR THE CAPRICORN NEW MOON

Tooting Your Horn

The Capricorn New Moon (9:30 p.m. PST on Dec. 24) initiates a new cycle for your work and higher calling.  With all the planets in forward motion from Dec. 25 thru Jan. 22, it’s a great time to launch something new, or renew your commitment to the work you love.

It’s time to activate your Fame gua – the area of your home directly opposite your front entry. Add some red or fiery elements to this area, or a symbol of the work for which you’d like to become known. Then, perform this ritual as near to the New Moon as possible.

You will need: Access to a computer, or pen and paper, and a red candle.

Being recognized for your accomplishments, talents or opinions can bring up insecurities. The New Moon period that covers the next month is about putting yourself out there despite any fears. You may want to start on a small scale. At the New Moon, commit to doing one of the following:

* Write a letter to the editor of your local paper about a timely issue that matters to you. Be bolder than usual in the way you express yourself.

* Do a blog or Facebook post, expressing a potentially controversial opinion about something, or tooting your own horn in some way.

* Approach an authority figure about hiring you, or buying, publicizing or representing your work. Express confidence in your abilities.

At the New Moon, light a red candle and affirm your courageous next step, along with the results you’d like to see in terms of acknowledgement and recognition. Then, follow through, do what’s required to manifest your intentions, and see what happens!

SAGITTARIUS NEW MOON RITUAL: Treasure Mapping

The upcoming New Moon/solar eclipse (Nov. 24 at 10:10 p.m. PST) packs extra punch for visioning your goals. Even if you’re not sure what you want your New Year to look like, working with images can reveal your subconscious desires.

You will need: magazines, a poster board of any size, glue stick, scissors, glitter glue (the ones for fabrics work best) or other decorations. If you’re going to frame your creation, choose the appropriate-sized frame and board.

Treasure-mapping is a perfect activity for a Sagittarius New Moon, which is about looking at the big picture of your life. Also called a vision board, a treasure map magnetizes new possibilities into being. You can make one for something specific—such as a new home, relationship or job—or simply for something you want more of, such as peace, love or health.

First, decide which goal to focus on. Then, peruse magazines for corresponding images and words. Rather than letting your logical mind prevail, allow the unconscious mind to participate. Breathe deep, let go and ask the Archer for guidance. Even if an image doesn’t seem to relate to the theme, yet it speaks to you strongly, tear it out. Choose more images than you will ultimately include. Once you have a pile of images and words, begin arranging them on the board in ways that feel right. Then, paste them down with glue stick. If desired, add affirmations with a felt-tipped pen.

When you’re complete, you can outline images with glitter glue or paste down other items. Then, post your creation someplace you’ll look at it daily, like the refrigerator or over your desk. Your subconscious mind will attract what you’ve pictured; be patient, though, as the process can take time.

We enter a powerful portal for change  as the Sun and Moon join in magnetic Scorpio (10-26-11, 12:56 p.m. PDT). It’s time to leave the past behind and start anew. This ritual from my book, Astro Feng Shui: Making Magic in your Home and Life, will help you do just that.

Bury the Past

You will need: A shovel or spade and a place in which to dig. An item that
symbolizes what you are releasing, a piece of paper on which you have written your intentions, and matches or a lighter. Do this ritual at night, either in your backyard or a public place like a park or even a graveyard, which nicely fits the Scorpio theme of death and rebirth.

Scorpio demands a sacrifice before bestowing its blessings. Therefore, at this New Moon you will be letting go of something or someone to which you are attached—or even addicted. This could be a lover who isn’t good for you, a food or drink you think you can’t live without, or an old attitude about money that’s standing in the way of your wealth.

Decide which block you are ready to sacrifice, and imagine how you will feel once you’re free of it. Once you’re clear, write down what you are releasing, and what blessings you’d like to trade for it (Scorpio loves to barter).

Find an item that represents what you are releasing (such as a bag of potato chips, or a picture of your former flame). Once you’ve found a spot that feels right, dig a hole a few feet deep and sit next to it, with your item and paper in hand. Call on Pluto, the ruler of Scorpio, to aid your quest. Tell him your sorrows, your difficulties with this attachment or addiction, and how much you need relief. Pour it all down the hole. Shedding tears will fertilize the rite.

Now read what’s on your paper, set it on fire and throw it in the hole. Once the paper has burned down, say goodbye to your symbolic item, add it to the grave, then fill in the hole. Give thanks to Mother Earth for composting your offering. And, thank Pluto for giving you the strength to let go of the past and transform your life.

Uniting with kindred spirits is the theme of the Sept. 27 New Moon (4:09 a.m. PDT). Here is a ritual from my book, Astro Feng Shui: Making Magic in Your Home and Life, to enhance your love connection to yourself and others.

You will need: A yard of pretty pink fabric and a yard of pink ribbon, five small pieces of rose quartz, a bottle of rose essential oil and a pink candle.

As an astrologer, I often hear from folks who long for a lasting romance, yet a lack of self-love prevents them from attracting a loving partner. Therefore, I’m not offering you a traditional love spell for this New Moon, but an opportunity to connect with a deeper love. As astrologer Caroline Casey puts it in her brilliant book, Making the Gods Work for You, “Love unites us with the community, whereas romance addiction isolates us; we seek total fulfillment through another and, consumed in small dramas, neglect to give our gift to the community.”

Cut the fabric into five pieces, about 5” by 5”. Then, cut the ribbon into five, 5” pieces. Light the pink candle in your Love gua (far right corner from the front door), and anoint it with rose oil, along with the stones. Place each stone in the center of a square of fabric, and tie it with a ribbon. Put one bag on your Love altar, affirming love for yourself. Blow out the candle or let it burn down.

Give the other four bags to people you love, telling them how you feel. Include your mate, if you have one. If not, give three of the bags to people you love, and put the fourth in the Love gua along with your bag. Give thanks to Venus, the goddess of love, for sending you all the love you need. You may feel inspired to do loving things for others over the next few weeks. Take advantage of the chance to generate good karma.

Photo by Tish Sjoberg

RITUAL FOR THE NEW MOON IN VIRGO

From Astro Feng Shui: Making Magic in Your Home and Life by Simone Butler, available on amazon.com.  

 The Sun and Moon join in virtuous Virgo on Aug. 28 at 8: 04 p.m., PDT. Because the New Moon trines potent Pluto, you’ll have an influx of transformative energy to empower your ritual for greater well being.

You will need: Sage leaves or packaged sage tea, a yellow candle, lavender essential oil, relaxing music.

First, make sure your Health gua (the area at the center of your home) has been thoroughly cleansed and prepared. Then, boil water, pour it over the tea and let it steep while you do the relaxation exercise. Place the cup in your Health gua, and light the yellow candle. Then, put on your relaxing music and position yourself comfortably in a prone position on a couch, bed or the floor. Anoint your upper lip with lavender oil so you can inhale its relaxing qualities.

Give yourself about ten minutes for this simple but amazingly powerful process. Take a few deep breaths, then direct your attention to your feet. Hold your focus there briefly while you feel your feet relax. Then, as you move upward, do the same for each body part, in this order: Ankles, calves, thighs, pelvis and belly, lower back, middle back, upper back and chest, back of the neck, back of the head, top of the head, forehead, eyes and behind the eyes, nose, mouth and jaw, tongue, throat and behind the throat, tops of the shoulders, upper arms, lower arms, hands. Continue breathing deeply and slowly throughout this exercise.

When you have finished, rise slowly and take your cup of tea. Sit in or near the Health gua, and think about your New Moon intentions for greater health, relaxation or work fulfillment as you sip your tea. Gaze at the candle as you meditate on the improvements you wish to make. You may also write your intentions down, and place them near the candle. Repeat the focused relaxation process any time you feel stressed. Doing this practice for even five minutes can make a big difference for your health and well being.