Hey witches,

Has anything been coming up for you this month? With all of these eclipses — the first one was on July 12th, the second on July 27th, and the latest and final one of the group is today on the New Moon in Leo — there's been a lot going down, even just feelings-wise.

This season has been no joke for me — lots of shifts and changes are taking form and I've been a little overwhelmed, but excited.

This New Moon (on 8/11) is all about connecting to your spark, what you're passionate about, and giving yourself space for moving and shifting your energy and being in your element. Where do you want to shine and open your heart more in your life?

I'll be setting my intentions for this moon with a side of fire (like that fiery Leo energy!) — think burning palo santo or herb of choice, lighting some candles, and/or cooking something on the bbq. 

Read on for tomato toast, Goop haters, and a tarot card for this New Moon!

Cook

Barley cooking

It's the hot, swampy days of August that make most actives feel difficult, but cooking especially. Luckily we have gorgeous summer produce that doesn't need much coercing to taste good. 

I'll be making and re-making: 

Tomato toast with burrata & pesto (see above)
All of these sauces
Peach & Tomato Caprese Salad 

Garlic Chili Soba Noodles with Veggies

Romaine Salad with Farro, Chickpeas, Tomatoes and Yogurt Dressing

Read

Article: How Goop’s Haters Made Gwyneth Paltrow’s Company Worth $250 Million // by Taffy Brodesser-Akner

This is super interesting as someone who once considered myself a GP hater. I also loved what the author has to say about wellness:

“The minute the phrase 'having it all' lost favor among women, wellness came in to pick up the pieces. It was a way to reorient ourselves — we were not in service to anyone else, and we were worthy subjects of our own care.”

Article:  The Goddess Diana as Feminist Icon // by Rebecca Farrar

I love a goddess archetype. 

Article: Aquarius Lunar Eclipse // by Shakirah Tabourn of The Strology

"Eclipses are cosmic realignments. They accelerate the pace of transformation with karmic and fated events to keep us on our soul path." (Realllly feeling this truth.)

Post: Magical Self-care for Travel 

Try

Tarot card for the New Moon in Leo:
King of Cups Rx 

The King of Cups is a healing presence who has deep intuitive wisdom, a high EQ, and doesn't fuck with with emotionally-charged thought spirals and arguments. When he's reversed, I think of the wounded healer* — or someone who helps others with the thing they personally struggle/have struggled with.

What issue have you done some real freaking work on? What are your trigger or weak points that you're trying to heal? Can you process these and work through them enough to be able to share your story? 

Owning your shadow and your story can be just what another person needs to see in order to start their own healing journey. We don't have to have it all figured out to make an impact. 

TRY: In this Waxing Moon phase (meaning the moon is growing from the barely-visible New Moon to Full), let's examine our emotional world and find where we've grown and accepted ourselves. Can we find a way to express the things we've struggled with and learned? Share your story with a friend, in a private Facebook group, Instagram story, or on a freaking stage. Put it out into the world in a way you're comfortable with and then let it go. 

*Represented by Chiron in your natal chart, for astrology-minded peeps.

Listen

Podcast: Human Design with Jenna Zoe // Expanded with Lacy Phillips

Podcast: Hypnosis 101 with Grace Smith // One Part Podcast

Song: Oh Yoko!

Make

A Home Apothocary

Which is really just a fancy way of saying: Upgrade your spice rack and/or herb collection. I was keeping a big basket of herbs for infusions/teas in my pantry and it was a damn mess. 

I decided to put all those jars that I've been collecting to use and create a space that was beautiful and functional. It makes me happy every time I look at it. A few tips for making your own:

+ Clear off a couple of shelves in a bookshelf, pantry, or closet
+ Transfer your herbs, flowers, and spices to jars
+ Label everything clearly
+ Leave some white space, if possible
+ Keep an herbalism reference book or two nearby
+ Some great starter herbs: nettles, peppermint, lemon balm, red raspberry leaf, chamomile (I love Flower Power in nyc or Mountain Rose Herbs online)

xo, Leah