Moon Magic in March

Thank you for taking the time to read my ramblings and feel free to get in touch at triplemoonnet@gmail.com

Moon Magic

Rituals have been created around the phases of the moon for thousands of years. Each phase of the Moon has a different energy or quality and New and Full Moons are generally regarded as the most powerful.

Full Moon Rituals are generally centred around celebrating what has become whereas New Moon Rituals are generally centred around setting intentions for future manifestation.

Think of the occasions where you have been caught by the majesty of a full moon, maybe on a drive home as night falls or you may have woken up to moonlight beaming into your window, either way it never fails to move the soul and capture the imagination. The Full Moon embodies self-expression , illumination and celebration. This is the peak of the Moon phases where we can reflect on how far we have come, rest, have gratitude and honour our accomplishments. I see the full moon as a point of personal reflection on whether I have learnt anything valuable in the previous month and to focus on any achievements, however small or banal. Is it a good time to let go and to gather and be with your tribe. You can also meditate under the full Moon to ground yourself and use the moon's power to illuminate things that may need addressing.

The New Moon is dark because the Moon is so close to the Sun that the illuminated side of the Moon is not visible, although this phase often feels solitary it is a good time to set your intentions or start a new project. The New Moon promotes new growth and therefore is a good time to plant seeds and set intentions, as the moon grows in light, so will your intentions and seedlings .

With simple actions you can create your own moon rituals which could be as simple as lighting a candle, sitting in contemplation , gathering around a fire under the moonlight or even moon bathing. Any action has the potential of becoming a ritual when you add the power of your intention .

Next Full Moon – Traditionally called the Pink Moon on 6th April

Next New Moon – 20th April

Subscriber - Prize Winner

The winner of last months Living Magically subscriber giveaway was the beautiful Scarlett from Bristol. Look out for the Belthane (May Day) giveaway in the next edition and make sure you subscribe by clicking the blue button at the top of the page. As a subscriber your details will never be shared with outside parties and you will just receive one email a month to let you know that the latest edition of Living Magically is available to view.

Crystal Magic at Home

Crystals make a wonderful addition to the home, try to keep your crystals dust free and make a point of charging them up on a full moon or in sunlight (never unattended in sunlight though!!) because they can become dull and listless over time. If you are bringing new crystals into your environment always cleanse them first as they can retain residual energy which has the potential to interfere with your own environment.

Crystal Balls The sphere is the most symmetrical shape and crystal spheres radiate energy in all directions which accounts for their popularity. They are commonly used in energy healing, cleansing, crystal grids, meditation, and massage. Holding a crystal ball during meditation can help to expand your consciousness.

Crystal Clusters contain multiple crystals and generally fill spaces with light and positive energy. They work particularly well in environments where there is a high volume of people gathering or passing through. Crystal points act as amplifiers, so the multiple points found on clusters are synonymous with creating open dialogue and a sense of community.

Crystal Points. The common form for a crystal point is a simple termination although variations include double-terminated points (points at both ends) gemini (twin) crystals, tabular (flat) points, window crystals (with a diamond shape on the point), and channelling crystals.Points are helpful in breaking up energy blockages and anyone can use a point for healing or to unblock energy simply by rotating a quartz point over an area that needs healing or feels congested, pointed away, it draws energy off the body, pointed inward, it channels energy inward.

Holding a crystal point in your hand when you meditate can help you to focus .

Crystal Eggs are Egg-shaped crystals associated with new beginnings, fertility, and youthfulness, the energies can be enhanced by the healing properties of the crystal it happens to be made from. Crystal eggs are traditionally used in fertility and reproduction rituals as well as on wiccan sabbats such as Ostara. A crystal egg can help in breaking negative thought patterns and behaviours.

Herb of the month – Rosemary Rosemary is an important magical herb and has been used for cleansing and purifying since ancient times. In Old World witchcraft, Rosemary is burned to purify a room or ritual space before magical workings and is sometimes burned with Juniper to cleanse negative energy from an environment after prolonged illness or bereavement.

A Rosemary ritual bath is said to remove worries and invigorate the spirit.

Rosemary can be used to focus attention and it is believed that the scent from a sprig of rosemary can actually improve performance in tests and exams.

Rosemary was worn by medieval brides and carried by wedding guests as a token of love and virtue. As Rosemary sprigs are pliable when fresh they can be woven into garlands and wreathes for home blessings and hand fastings.

The Magic of Colour -

In last month’s edition I talked about Chakras which have a strong association with colour. It is widely accepted that colour has an impact on people and can be used as an effective tool in living more magically.

Here are some common associations with colours that may be of interest.

RED is the colour of passion and energy and associated with power and people who are motivated to take action. You may choose to wear red to project a sense of strength and leadership. The colour is associated with sexuality, desire and passion and sometimes danger. I would wear Red to give me a sense of heightened power especially if I wanted to make a strong impression, such as at a job interview or when delivering a presentation.

Orange is the colour of enthusiasm and emotion which exudes warmth and joy . As a youthful and energetic colour, orange is associated with vitality, energy,fun and creativity. It is the colour of the sacral chakra which focuses on physical comfort and sensuality and a good colour to wear to social events as it encourages social communication and creativity.

Yellow is a colour of positivity and represents energy, joy, and happiness. It is associated with trust and optimism. Yellow is the colour associated with the solar plexus and therefore relates to self-esteem, personal power and resilience. Yellow can be used improve focus and is believed to assist learning as it affects the part of the brain that stimulates perception. It is a good colour to wear in examinations and tests.

Green is the colour of harmony, health and generosity. It is a relaxing colour that revitalizes the body and mind and balances emotions. It is associated with growth and prosperity and the heart charka. Green is the colour of universal love, rest, and peace and is a good colour to choose for negotiations and in situations where there is potential for conflict.

Blue is The colour of trust and loyalty and is regarded as relaxing. Deep blue triggers clear thoughts while light blue aids concentration. Blue has a calming and relaxing effect on our psyche and repels confrontation. Turquoise blue represents clarity and enhances empathy and compassion while boosting positive mental energy and clearing the path to spiritual growth. Any shade of blue is a good choice to wear when clear communication and clarity is needed.

Purple is the colour of spirituality and imagination and is associated with wisdom and spiritual growth. A regal colour, purple is associated with luxury ,mystery, intuition, fantasy, and magic This is a good colour to wear for deep contemplation and meditation.

Pink is a powerful colour and regarded as the colour of unconditional love, it represents love compassion and bringing joy and warmth into our lives.

Pink has a calming effect that represents the feminine, romance, sweetness, innocence and tenderness.

Grey is the colour of neutrality, compromise and control, it is neutral, conservative and unemotional making it stable, reliable and calming. It has a peaceful, relaxing and soothing presence.

Black is the sum of all colours of the spectrum. Black is a colour of power and can be used to communicate clarity, sophistication, glamour, emotional safety and efficiency. It is also associated with grief, mystery, death, the occult and power. Because it absorbs energy, black can be seen by some as intimidating.

White is the colour of purity and innocence and associated with cleanliness, simplicity and perfection. It also promotes open-mindedness and self-reflection. It is a positive colour, helping you find peace and tranquillity.

Brown is the colour of stability and reliability and is associated with nature, it’s a trustworthy colour which is dependable and helps with grounding. The neutrality of brown means it is associated with justice, safety, stability, seriousness, support, warmth and calm.

1-30 April - Stress Awareness Month

Stress Awareness Month has been held every April since 1992 to raise awareness of the causes and cures for our modern-day stress epidemic. Most importantly it’s important to talk about stress, and its effects and open up about our mental and emotional state with friends, families, colleagues, and professionals. https://www.stress.org.uk/national-stress-awareness-month/

Combatting Negative Self-talk

Most people don’t notice, but as we go about our daily lives we are constantly thinking about and interpreting the situations we find ourselves in. It’s as though we have an internal voice inside our head that determines how we perceive every situation.

Psychologists call this inner voice ‘self-talk‘, and it includes our conscious thoughts as well as our unconscious assumptions or beliefs.

With stress and anxiety Self-talk is often skewed towards the negative, and often it’s very unhelpful.

If you are stressed or experiencing depression, it is more likely that you interpret things negatively. That’s why it’s useful to pay attention to the things you tell yourself, and when necessary challenge some of the negative aspects of your thinking.

You can test, challenge and change your self-talk.

You can change some of the negative aspects of your thinking by challenging the irrational parts and replacing them with more reasonable thoughts.

With practice, you can learn to notice your own negative self-talk as it happens, and consciously choose to think about the situation in a more realistic and helpful way.

Disputing your self-talk means challenging the negative or unhelpful aspects. Doing this enables you to feel better and to respond to situations in a more helpful way.

Learning to dispute negative thoughts might take time and practice, but is worth the effort.

Whenever you find yourself feeling depressed, angry, anxious or upset, use this as your signal to stop and become aware of your thoughts.

Use your feelings as your cue to reflect on your thinking.

A good way to test the accuracy of your perceptions might be to ask yourself the following questions.

There are four main types of challenging questions to ask yourself:

1. Reality testing

• What evidence do I have for and against my current thinking?

• Are my thoughts factual, or are they my interpretations?

• Is there a risk I am jumping to negative conclusions?

• How could I find out if my thoughts are actually true?

2. Look for alternative explanations

• Are there any other ways that I could look at this situation?

• Is there something else could this mean?

• If I was in a positive frame of mind, how would I perceive this situation?

3. Putting it in perspective

• Is this current situation as bad as I am making out to be?

• What is the worst thing that could actually happen? How likely is it?

• What is the best thing that could happen?

• What is most likely to happen?

• Is there anything good about this situation?

• Will this matter in five years’ time?

When you feel anxious, depressed or stressed-out your self-talk is likely to become extreme, you’ll be more likely to expect the worst and focus on the most negative aspects of your situation. So, it’s helpful to try and put things into their proper perspective.

4. Using goal-directed thinking

• Is thinking this way helping me to feel good or to achieve my goals?

• What can I actually do that could help me solve the problem?

• Is there something I can learn from this situation?

Accepting that your current way of thinking might be self-defeating (e.g., it doesn’t make you feel good or help you to get what you want) can sometimes help you to look at things from a different perspective.

You can conquer your negative self-talk by challenging yourself with these questions every time you catch yourself thinking something negative to yourself.

April - Cupboard Top (Altar Magic ) As you will have read previously I don’t enjoy the term altar but I think there is genuine joy to be found in creating/ enhancing your own scared space to reflect your magical self.

To mark the coming of spring I am using yellow as this colour is associated with growth, and hares that are associated with fertility and new beginnings. Please share your magical spaces on triplemoonnet@gmail.com

The Last Word – Living Creatively

Whilst writer Elizabeth Gilbert is best known for her memoir Eat, Pray, Love, I have just read and really enjoyed this book, Big Magic – Creative Living Beyond Fear.

The book is about fear and the importance creativity plays in enabling people to live their best lives. I really wanted to share this extract from her book because I think it’s such a great metaphor for anyone who suffers or has suffered with fear and anxiety .

Blessed Be- Lou x

The Road Trip - An invitation to Fear from Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert.

“Dearest Fear

Creativity and I are about to go on a road trip together. I understand you’ll be joining us; because you always do. I acknowledge that you believe you have an important job to do in my life and that you take your job seriously. Apparently, your job is to induce complete panic whenever I’m about to do anything interesting – and, may I say, you are superb at your job.

So, by all means, keep doing your job, if you feel you must. But I will also be doing my job on this road trip, which is to work hard and stay focused. And creativity will be doing its job, which is to remain stimulating and inspiring.

There’s plenty of room in this vehicle for all of us, so make yourself at home, but understand this: Creativity and I are the only ones who will be making any decisions along the way.

I recognise and respect that you are part of this family, and so I will never exclude you from our activities, but still – your suggestions will never be followed.

You’re allowed to have a seat and you’re allowed to have a voice, but you are not allowed to have a vote. You’re not allowed to touch the road maps; you’re not allowed to suggest detours; you’re not allowed to fiddle with the temperature. Dude, you’re not even allowed to touch the radio.

But above all else my dear old familiar friend, you are absolutely forbidden to drive.

Then we head off together – me, creativity and fear – side by side by side forever, advancing once more into the terrifying but marvellous terrain of unknown outcome.”