Spring Equinox

The Spring Equinox is one of the four most powerful days of the year. It is the half way point between the solstices. This is a turning point to shake off the winter cobwebs and reawaken to the sun energy as we head towards Summer.

Equinox literally means “equal night” in Latin and we use it to mark the change of seasons. This transition from shorter to longer days and more direct sunlight is an opportunity to synchronize your energy with the prana (life force) that is being released as we head towards summer.

For centuries, Spring has been observed as a time of creating rituals, rebirthing, or detoxification. It is a time of clearing out and resetting your energy for the lighter months ahead. As spring arrives we awaken from our winter hibernation to plant the seeds of intentions for the months to come.  Spring equinox is a powerful time to cleanse ourselves and spring forward into action with our intentions and new habits.

In nature, Spring is a time of change, which makes it an easier time to clear out old habits to help us to prepare for our new intentions moving forward. It is a great time for goal setting, manifestation and taking a quantum leap forwards in consciousness.

Leverage the magic of the Equinox and celebrate this shift of season by letting go of something that no longer serves you and beginning something new that nourishes you.

Written by Erin O'Hara

Summer Solstice Significance

Something with extraordinary power and hard to deny, is the beauty of the kisses from the sun that dwells high up in the sky. The summer solstice, a time of abundance and light, may it fill every corner of your life making everything bright.

The summer solstice (22nd December) is the longest day of the year in the southern hemisphere.

Spiritually summer is a time where we flourish. The transformative effects of the spiritual pinnacle of the year, the Spring Equinox are felt in full force as we are urged to attain balance between effort and ease. By surrendering to the inevitable ripening that will take place from seeds planted long ago, you will discover that all will come to full fruition without struggle. It is a time to cultivate a practice of patience as life begins to unfold before you in its own divine way.

Welcome the fire of the sun into your life to eradicate and set free all of the things that no longer uplift you, that no longer teach you, that no longer enhance you. The summer solstice is a time to acknowledge the inner light in all those you cross paths with, recognising also that they are merely a reflection of yourself. It is a time to celebrate as one, to disconnect from the trivial and reconnect within to something that is far more precious and meaningful. 

Written by Nicole Ander

The Lunar Effect

The connection made between the moon and its effects on human and animal behavior, has been coined with the term the “lunar effect”. While it is a subject which has remained relatively unstudied, it is something there is no denying is significant to us. There are numerous articles out there which detail how the moon effects certain animals and insects; however, with regards to human behavior it is really something science is only just starting to scratch the surface of; with that being said, there are countless police stations and emergency departments who all seem to vouch for some particularly odd behavior around a full moon, hence the term ‘lunatic’ which was derived from the latin word lunar, meaning moon.

If the phases of the moon are not something you’re about to bury your head in a book and read about, then there are at least two moon phases that are worth acknowledging; the new moon and of course the full moon. As we peer into the depth of the night sky, we see the moon overhead; you may look above and only see a sliver of a shimmer or a big beaming beacon, both of which are just different phases that you have caught the moon in.

The new moon comes around every 29 days and occurs when the earth comes between the moon and the sun creating a shadow; you can expect to see a very delicate cresent floating amongst the stars at this time. Traditionally, a new moon signifies new beginnings and emotionally you will generally feel more uplifted and motivated; therefore, it’s the perfect time to start planting seeds for a new project, idea, or vision. It is a time where you should stop and take a moment to consider your wants and your needs and to harvest that extra motivation to get things started.

While the focus of a new moon generally revolves around outward development, the focus of a full moon is usually more introspective, emotional, and personal. The full moon appears two weeks following the new moon and is in the opposite point of its orbit; hence, here on earth we get to see her beautiful face fully lit up. It is a time when you can expect to see all the ideas and visions you created around the time of the new moon, begin to blossom and flourish. Emotions around the full moon can frequently feel more exaggerated and overwhelming, this can be due to the sense of wrapping up of events that comes with a full moon. With every end there is an opportunity for a new beginning, so take time to compare what you consciously and subconsciously yearn for. Instead of letting yourself get too caught up in this transition, just allow yourself to flow with it and use this time to set new intentions that are on a more intimate level.

You possibly don’t believe the moon has any effect whatsoever on us earthlings, yet still regardless it can be a really nice reminder to acknowledge what it is we do want, on both a superficial and a personal level. Studying how the moon effects human behavior can be tricky with so many variables coming into play but it can be interesting to observe for yourself any common patterns that arise around these times.

All in all, it is hard to believe that something as great as the moon, which controls the tides of the ocean, doesn’t have something to do with our emotions.

Written by Nicole Ander

Sadhana

“The one who does Sadhana builds himself such a powerful personality he can conquer anything!”- Yogi Bhajan

Our days are filled with distractions; there are always things to do and people to see but what about creating moments of stillness that we don’t try to fill with unnecessary “stuff”? These are the moments we need to make our own; the moments we need to utilize to feed our soul.

Sadhana is a spiritual daily practice; a self-discipline practice of the mind and body that is done daily in order to benefit the spirit. It is during Sadhana that we notice patterns that lead us astray from getting in touch with our true selves.

Starting a Sadhana practice doesn’t have to be complex; you may decide to start with 5 minutes of breathing followed by a few rounds of Surya Namaskar or perhaps you choose to practice a meditation that you resonate with. What you choose to do should be the same each and every day. Although the point of a Sadhana practice isn’t so much about exactly what it is you are doing, it is the devotion to the single practice you have chosen to do and to the time you have set aside to fill up your own bucket.

Set aside an amount of time that is manageable for you; it may be 10 minutes or it may be 2 hours, either way you will benefit. Make your Sadhana practice personal and stick to it! One of the key things is consistency.

Before starting your practice make sure that the environment where you practice is quiet, calm, well ventilated and at the right temperature for you. You want to avoid interruptions, so it is important to make sure that you are comfortable. Once you’ve decided what you will do for your Sadhana, try to perform it at the same time each day and in the same place. This helps your body and your subconscious mind to get into a rhythm and once you are in this rhythm you will be more likely to keep it up.

Habits take time to form and break. It is said that it takes forty days to break a habit and ninety to establish a new one, so sticking to and mastering a spiritual practice may take time but it is all about taking steps up the mountain, as opposed to trying to heave yourself up it.

Of course, don’t forget the point of your practice. You’re a unique being with your own world full of ideas, aspirations, and interactions; which are all easy to get caught up in. Develop your own Sadhana practice to untangle yourself and to re-connect to your true inner being.

Written by Nicole Ander

Tempted by Tarot

Once a card game, now a divination tool; it is unclear when this change occurred, as the history of tarot is rather hazy but it is believed these intriguingly mysterious cards came about in the late 14th Century.

A standard tarot deck will have 78 cards, 56 of which are called minor arcana cards that are divided into 4 suites and 22 major arcana cards, which form the foundation of the deck. Each card has its own meaning and with different spreads (layouts) the meanings of the cards can draw a whole new picture for you depending on where the cards are positioned.

Whether you believe that the cards you choose in a reading are just by chance or you’re adamant it is fate, either way, how you choose to interpret them and relate them to yourself or situation can give you a world of insight. I once read somewhere that it is like your subconscious mind brainstorming and I believe it's this brainstorming that allows you to get in touch with what is happening within at deeper levels; when you do readings for yourself, that is often what it feels like.

In a reading some cards will resonate with you more than others but as with anything you must just take what you can from them. Personally, I have often found that the cards that make the least sense to me at the time, end up making the most sense to me down the track; if I go back and reflect on a reading that I have done, I draw new conclusions with a refreshed perspective based on what has now been and gone, which I can then learn from for furture readings.

I know there is a bit of a stigma around tarot readings and some seemingly scary looking cards but at the end of the day if you get in touch with your intuition and you’re honest with yourself, then deep down what you need to know will already be there with or without the cards. Sometimes though it is nice to have a tool such as tarot cards, which suggest other avenues that you may not have considered or explored within your own mind yet. 

Written by Nicole Ander