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September 2 through September 8, 2024

Monday's Virgo new Moon sets the stage for progress over the next two weeks, spurring us on to dive head first into new projects and dreams. With the Moon in Virgo on Monday and Tuesday, these are the best days of the week to get things done, as a productive vibe hangs in the air. Mars will enter Cancer on Wednesday and travel through this emotional sign for the next two months. Because Mars is the planet of outer action and Cancer is a sign of internal processing, we may find it difficult to move in any tangible direction during this time. The good news is that Mars will find a way to transform us from within, which is sure to manifest outer growth and progress in the process. The Moon will dance through balancing Libra Wednesday through Friday, allowing us to restore order to anything in our world that is out of sync. It's also ideal for nurturing our closest relationships. The Moon will spend the weekend in Scorpio, encouraging soulful and spiritual activities as the main theme on Saturday and Sunday.

How to Create a Full Moon Tarot Altar Every Witch Way, by Lilith Dorsey

(Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal.)

The time of the full moon is a highly magickal time. As this celestial body shines her glory down upon us, it gives us a great opportunity to both create sacred spaces and perform tarot readings. One great way to do this is to craft a Full Moon Tarot altar.

This altar will allow you to utilize your witchy strengths to create the most powerful altar personalized just for you and your cards. An altar, for the purposes of this discussion, is a temporary space set up for sacred work, honoring, and spiritual practices. Here you can light candles, leave offerings, say prayers or petitions, and last, but not least, do tarot readings.

The Moon card in the tarot is an incredible one. It shows us dreams, magick, and hidden messages. When we look up at the moon, we can instantly feel our connection to the cosmos. Our spirit soars large, while our bodies in comparison may feel small. This creation will help you connect with and amplify the powers of the Full Moon.

Start the creation of your tarot altar by making sure the space is physically clean. Wash, wipe down, dust, or cleanse the space in whichever way feels right to you. Dirt is known to attract negativity and breed problems, and the less of it you have in your space the better. Once the area—be it a table, space on the floor, box, or wherever you choose—is fully cleansed, then you get to choose an altar cloth or covering. Since this tarot altar is being created for the full moon, consider choosing a natural cloth, colored blue or white, the colors most often associated with the moon. Use this cloth to cover your chosen space.

Next, choose the Moon tarot card from your favorite tarot deck; if you like, you can choose several. Place this card or cards into the center of your space. This will be the focus of your energy as you set up this space. Look at the imagery. Feel its energy extend past the boundaries of the card. Next, think about what type of Witch you are and how you want to showcase your strengths here on this Full Moon altar. All good altars utilize all the elements in their creation, but depending on what you like this is your opportunity to personalize it so it will function most effectively for you.

A great thing to use on your Full Moon Tarot altar is moon water. This is best made in advance by leaving a clear glass jar filled with spring water outside overnight during the full moon. If possible, place it somewhere where the moon's rays will be able to bless and touch it. In the morning, take the jar back into your home and it is now ready to use. (Making this magickal water may hold a special appeal for water witches.) It can be used to clean the altar before you start, used as part of a magickal bath ritual for the full moon, or placed in a glass and added to the Full Moon Altar space. If you don't have any made ahead of time, you may wish to add a glass of plain spring water, which will magickally bring joy and success, or sea water, which is very cleansing and healing. Place the water glass to the right of the moon card that you have put in the center.

If you identify as a Crystal Witch, there are many ways to utilize crystals on the altar. There are many crystals that are associated with the moon; here are some to start with which you can start:

• Moonstone: This stone even has moon in its name. It connects the user with the Moon on a deep and sacred level.
• Amethyst: Amethyst is a stone of clarity, spirituality, joy, and self- awareness. Amethyst will help you to connect with higher realms, and also grant you insight in all situations, making it perfect to use for divination.
• Selenite: This stone is named for Selene, the Greek Goddess of the moon. It is helpful in matters of emotions, passion, love, and magick.
• Labradorite: Known for its ability to transport the user to otherworlds and universal energy, this makes it ideal for use on your tarot altar.
• Lapis Lazuli: Lapis is a stone that is used to stimulate your psychic abilities. A stone of great magick it is a favorite of many different types of witches.

These crystals can be placed in your tarot bag, on top of your tarot cards on the altar before and after you give a reading, or arranged on the altar as a crystal grid. A simple grid can be made by placing your crystals on the altar according to the cardinal points—north, south, east, and west. This will help to attract energy and assistance from every direction. Alternatively you can place a series of crystals around the altar in the shape of a circle. This sends energy out into the universe, while also creating an insular atmosphere of healing and wholeness. You can use a single type of crystal for this or a combination of many different ones.

Earth-focused witches may enjoy using crystals on their altar, but they also might wish to include actual earth in the form of a small jar of dirt. This could be dirt from their ancestral home, which would amplify the energy of those who have gone before; dirt from the crossroads, which would expand opportunities; dirt from the bank, which is said to help with financial matters; or whatever you choose. This type of witch may also consider themselves a Green Witch and want to include live, freshly cut, or dried plants on the altar. Some great choices would be: mugwort, which is a favorite of witches for psychic power and ability; basil, which is used to remove enemies and provide protection; and lavender, which is great for cleansing and blessing. Or, you can choose whatever moves you and you feel is connected to the energy of the moon. These can be located to the left of the center card to represent the visible world moving into the realm of the invisible.

Chaos Witches may wish to add things they have been gifted or found on the altar; if they are connected to the Full Moon, even better, and if not, don't worry—chaos is everywhere. The same is true for Fairy Witches, found items or plants like dandelions that are sacred to the Fae can be added to the space at this time. Witches in a coven may want to add their coven symbol or items crafted in their tradition. This is like having a part of your path and your coven with you in this space.

The final pieces necessary to complete the elemental foundations of the altar you are creating are fire and air. Fire witches will welcome the chance to include a candle on the altar; this can be blue or white. If you like, you can carve the candle with the astrological symbol for the moon, or other symbols. This can be placed directly in front or you on the altar. Air can be represented here in the form of incense. You can purchase ready-made incense for the moon, or use one composed of herbs and scents associated with this heavenly body, like rose or myrrh. Place the incense on the far side of the space opposite the candle. Next, place your Tarot cards on the altar. Light the candles and incense, take a deep breath, and call in the energy of the moon. You can do this formally by calling the names of lunar goddesses like Selene, Artemis, Luna, Hecate, Cerridwen, and the rest. Welcome and thank them for gracing your space. Alternatively, you can use a blessing of your own choosing. Now the area is ready to do your Full Moon readings. When you are finished, extinguish the candle (remember to never leave a burning candle unattended). You may leave the elements in place as long as you like, but when you are finished with it, dismantle the space. Dispose of the biodegradable items and water outside on the earth, and return the other items to the usual place they are stored.

Creating this type of Full Moon altar is a powerful way to explore your witchy talents and connect them with your tarot practice. Feel free to repeat it monthly as the moon shines high in the sky, or as often as you desire. For more great rituals and workings, please check out my book Tarot Every Witch Way, which includes hundreds of tips and activities, like culinary recipes, immersive meditations, effective spells, engaging crafts, insightful tarot spreads, and more.

Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal. Copyright Llewellyn Worldwide, 2024. All rights reserved.

I have a question about my path with abuse. I grew up knowing about the divinity available, but I was paralyzed by fear and pain because of the sexual abuse I experienced. As this is sadly a common experience among women, I decided to volunteer for a related organization. What is it about women who experience this trauma as opposed to those who do not? I somehow feel I chose this challenge to overcome in order to redeem deep pieces of power I have lost - possibly in past lives. What do you believe about sexual abuse in connection with spiritual growth? Do you think it would be wise to do soul retrieval through regression to past lives where I may have also been abused? Thank you! I will be grateful to hear whatever you receive on this. God Bless!

- Katherine

Dreamchaser:

Katherine, I am sorry that you had to withstand the trauma you did when you were young. It did, however, turn you into who you are today, so it was a definite soul choice of yours before you came to this planet.

Before we come here, we choose our path, our lessons, our families, our names and every other detail and aspect of our human lives. Everything that happens to us is part of a divine plan for our soul so that we can learn what we need to learn to finally ascend. So yes, Katherine, you chose the sexual abuse you suffered as part of your life lesson. You are learning, evolving and moving forward. We are not meant to go BACKWARDS.

We leave a piece of us in each life I think, but on the other hand, we also bring pieces of wisdom, power and knowledge into following lives. For example, when we take a vacation, we leave a piece of ourselves there in that place, but we also come back full up with THAT place and memories that will last forever. We do not necessarily need or want to go back and retrieve pieces of our soul. Whatever parts of our soul we have with us are the parts that we need. If your soul is missing something, fill it up with meditation, prayer and LOVE (not just the romantic kind).

Trauma/abuse, be it sexual, physical, mental, emotional or any other kind, happens to each and every human being on this planet. Not ONE person can leave this life without feeling that some person or thing on this planet victimized them in some way. We have two choices. We can choose to allow things to take us down and destroy us, or we can choose to use what happens to us for good somehow. In ANY situation, we can choose love or hate, positive or negative, fear or faith, etc. I would hope that we choose to embrace our lessons and learn from them and use them to help others, like you are doing NOW with this organization.

I cannot tell you whether "Soul Retrieval" or "past life regression" should or should not be used. They are much like plastic surgery, in my opinion. If you think it will help you, then feel free to try it. Just be very careful regarding who is performing the procedure. A friend of mine went for a "Soul Retrieval" recently and she said she started to worry when the woman started humming the theme song to "Lassie" as her "sacred spiritual song for ushering in spirits." Make sure you ask the person for references and then check them. Never, EVER, let just anyone work on your soul. That is HIGHLY dangerous. A good rule of thumb would be, "when in doubt, opt out."

I wish you wholeness.

*****

Astrea:

The question you really seem to be asking is much broader than what has happened to you in your own life.

Why is there suffering in the World? EVERYONE SUFFERS, and we all measure our own happiness against our suffering. There is evil and suffering in the World because that is the NATURE of life on EARTH. I do not believe there can be any Great Universal Intent to make us suffer from sexual abuse or anything else. Evil occurs along with Good in Nature. We have to accept what is.

Your Capricorn birthday is part of the reason you have been forced to accept this abuse. I find that, for whatever reason, Earth Signs experience more of that kind of trauma than other signs, and of the three Earth Signs, Capricorn seems to be the most vulnerable to that sort of experience. I think it's wonderful that you can rationalize that you CHOSE these experiences, but I don't believe that you really did. I know that Capricorn women are stronger than lots of other people, and perhaps that's why you can SURVIVE something like this so well. Your personality, however, does NOT DRAW that to you! You never invited the sexual abuse.

The person or people who did these things to you took advantage of your generous nature and terrorized you so that you wouldn't tell. Perhaps that was a random event in your life, which is every bit as possible as a choice you might make before you came to this incarnation for that to happen to you. Perhaps that person had an EVIL SOUL, and did this for some sick kick. I do NOT think you were a willing participant before, after, or in ANY DIMENSION. I find it hard to believe that anyone, man or woman, would choose that. The BEST thing about that experience is that it is NOT HAPPENING NOW, and you have found a way to heal from it and to help others.

There is NO GOOD REASON in this or a past life for that to happen to any person. Abuse can't be explained away with "Karma." SOME THINGS JUST HAPPEN TO PEOPLE. Some people make poor choices, but no one chooses to suffer on purpose. Our Benign Universe would never dictate some of the things that we have to put up with.

ALL people experience the highest highs and the lowest lows in life. Men have abuse issues too. Women who don't experience the trauma of sexual abuse experience trauma in different ways. In everyone's life, no matter how perfect it might look from the outside, there are traumatic experiences, along with the good ones we create for ourselves. Our job as HUMAN BEINGS is to learn how to cope and deal with what we encounter in Life.

Astrea:

Many times in life we hear, "You will always have what you NEED, but not necessarily what you WANT." Your spirit must have needed to experience the feeling of leaving your human body, and the suggestion in the next chapter of Sylvia Brown's book was all it took to get you there.

Even though you hadn't read it yet, your SOUL recognized the title of that chapter as something it had been seeking, and your soul, knowing that you had that reference to read after your experience, got with it and out you went!

While I don't usually recommend her books, Sylvia Brown has a wide reaching and powerful effect on lots of people. A Gemini like you would be able to relate easily to her writing and put it to good use. Synchronicity - you gotta love it!

I like your description of "getting caught." That's exactly what it feels like, isn't it? One minute you're free and hovering above the room, and the next minute, ZAP! back down into your corporeal form you go!

As a little kid, I loved that "feeling of return." With practice, most of the time we can control that event, but sometimes, when our physical ears hear a distracting noise or something else occurs to knock us back into reality, back we go. With practice you will be able to control your return better.

I find it interesting that you were visiting your mother-in-law and not someone in your own genetic family. Evidently, you and your husband got married for reasons that are even deeper than love. His family's interest in "psychic stuff" will nurture your children in such matters and help them to grow into their own abilities.

You'll never have to be concerned that when your daughter visits them, she'll be discouraged from exploring her own psychic life and power. My parents encouraged me to develop my psychic senses in a time when it wasn't nice to even discuss such things in public. Heck, it's STILL not considered a great topic at the dinner table in some families!

Your kids will get to talk about it ALL and ask questions and read and study. This is going to give them such an edge in life! Talk with your husband about how you want to present this to your kiddos, so that you are united in your approach and ready to tell them their experiences are all natural and okay.

A word or two of warning: Geminis often have difficulty staying grounded in REAL LIFE. Don't get so strung out on your ASTRAL life that you neglect what you're doing here on Earth.

You are at the beginning of a long journey to learn where your power really lies. Try to be patient with this process and take your time.