last quarter moon ritual
when you mix together the energy of pisces, sagittarius, autumn (and literally everything else going on in the world) we get left here...
Today we are joining together for our ritual of the month. If you’re new here, every month we choose a seasonal, cyclical, earth based event to create an intentional ritual around. This is a time for us to ground down, reconnect, process, reflect and set our intentions based on the energy around and within us.
Before we get started - a big announcement, ICYMI -
we are hosting our first in person Intuitively Wild Event, in collaboration with Rose Hill Farm and the chefs at Eliza.
While, yes, we love doing these rituals together virtually, we’re ready to do them together IN PERSON, with you.
And that’s why we’re so excited to invite you to…
SEASONAL SHIFTS — A Ceremony And Dinner —
head to this instagram post or directly to the website to learn more.
Okay, now let’s dig into this months ritual…
This month our ritual is for the last quarter moon on February 20th.
If you want to hear about this ritual in more detail, stay tuned for this weeks podcast. If you want to join in on creating this ritual with me, head to this weeks youtube.
The last quarter moon comes right before the new moon, right before we retreat into a time of darkness.
The illuminatory, revealing light of the moon is decreasing, bringing us deeper into the new, unknown and unseen.
With the encroaching darkness comes the increased energy to go into our own depths. The last quarter moon asks us to start to slow down and put the breaks on.
Right now we are in Pisces seasons, which means the sun is in Pisces for about a month. The moon, however, changes signs every 2.5 days, and the moon during this last quarter moon is in Sagittarius. Therefor our inner, emotional needs are more closely linked with the energy of Sagittarius right now.
You may feel a desire for an adventure, for knowledge, for growth.
You may feel more open minded, talkative and curious, or perhaps argumentative, fixed sited and stubborn.
Sagittarius holds both.
Tend to your emotional needs by soothing the fire in your soul when needed, and sparking it when needed.
This energy aligns with the human design gates present (as it always does since they are linked to astrology). The gates present during this time bring out the energy of action, desire, creativity. The gates active are in our sacral centre, igniting our life force energy and vitality.
This is a time to pay attention to what you are lit up by. And, even more importantly, to pay attention to what in your life burns you out or helps sustain your energy, even as it dwindles.
THE RITUAL
🕯️ We begin the ritual by lighting our candle and stating our intention. Feel free to shape this however feels good for you, give yourself permission for it to be intuitively guided and from your heart.
An example you can use is - I welcome into this space my true hearts desire, my guides and all the elements of nature. I am open to what I need to hear, release and receive. With that, the circle is open.
Once you have opened the circle through your intentions, begin to set up the space. We open the circle first, since setting up the space is part of the ritual.
However, you may want to already have in mind what you want to set your space up with or already have your altar set up depending on convenience, flow, timing and preference.
ALTAR SUGGESTIONS
Your altar can be as intricate or simple as you would like or have access to.
***At its core (by my definition), our altar is a way for us to contain our ritual and a connection point to ourselves, the earth, and whatever guides or spiritual entity we resonate with. It is a physical representation of the importance and intentionality we place on this time and it helps contain the energy created throughout. ***
water - This element is particularly potent at this time since we are in Pisces season, a water sign. Try to get water from a fresh water source near you, perhaps a spring, lake, ocean, or snow. This symbolises the constant and natural transformation of water and it's ability and willingness to ebb, flow, and grow. Since this is a time of releasing, at the end of the ritual pour your water out outside. This allows you to let go of whatever energy you are meant to and not bring it with you into the next cycle.
air - My incense suggestions for this ritual are sage, lavendar and rosemary. These herbs support releasing, calming and forgiveness and help balance the softening energy of this time with the possible fire evoked from sagittarius.
fire - A candle, of course. Whichever feels grounding and meaningful for you. Since the moon is in Sagitarrius, we may be feeling heightened fire energy. Make sure to keep this energy balanced within you, really paying attention to how your energy feels and spending extra time sitting with your candle.
earth - We definitely want to bring in as much earth element as we can to help ground our energy. Pisces and Sagittarius can get very caught up in their minds, whether lost in the clouds of their dreams or envisioning new adventures and ideas. And the crescent moon, being associated with Autumn, is connected to the air sign. So we need more earth to bring it all into balance. I recommend bringing as much nature into your ritual as possible. Grab your crystals, herbs, dried flowers, go outside and collect pieces from nature... Anything that helps you feel grounded and centred.
spirit - This crescent moon is a time when our connection to our guides may be becoming more easily accessible. The moon is our direct connection to our emotions, and in many ways our intuition. Our connection to our intuition, spirits, guides, god, the universe etc... is so unique and personal. I want you to write a letter to whatever that connection is for you and place it on your altar for a full moon cycle. If you do not know who you would want to write to, ask the question - what does spirit mean to me? or what does my intuition have to say to me about my spirituality? what is a message I need to hear?
HERBAL COMPANIONS
Feel free to use these herbs in whatever way you desire. You can use one or all of them in a remedy such as a tea, tincture, or body oil. You can buy them in a candle, or perhaps do some research on them and see what sparks your interest.
Milky Oats - clears out the old, stuck and unneeded and replenishes our physical, mental and emotional bodies.
Yarrow - a wildflower that soothes any reactivity in our body, mind and spirit. It is known as the protector and warrior plant, here to soften your spirit and strengthen your roots.
Turmeric - associated with Sagittarius, turmeric boosts energy by nourishing and replenishing your whole system. It helps you remain deeply rooted in who you are and grounded in the present moment.
YOGA THERAPY TOOLS
Grounded sun salutations -
Come to place your knees on the floor, sitting your sits bones down on your heels. Make sure there is no pain in your knees - feel free to place extra mats or blankets under your knees.
As you inhale start to rise off your heels and lift your arms over head, as you exhale, slowly lower your forehead to the ground as you bring your hands to your side. This can bring you to child’s pose, or you can keep your butt up off your heels.
Inhale and come back up, exhale and back down.
Feel free to pause in one position or the other.
Assess how your energy is and if it feels good to go slow, or to move faster. This may alert you to the balance between the elements within you right now. Either way, continue to prioritise your breath.
Repeat for at least five rounds and when you are complete, come back to the beginning position.
Place your hands on your heart with your eyes closed and take a moment to notice how you are feeling and the energy swirling within you.
Contemplative Journaling -
Grab your journal and write at the top - how am I feeling?
Begin a stream of consciousness journal session purely about how you are feeling. Do not edit yourself or think it through.
And, do not stop. For at least ten minutes write about how you are feeling.
Once you are done, read it over and write out at least five words that summarise what you wrote.
Take time to process this. Are you surprised by these emotions? What is this revealing to you? What are these emotions telling you about your needs and state right now?
REFLECTIONS
The new moon is associated with the winter season, therefor the last quarter moon is associated with autumn. So, much of what we discuss during autumn is relevant during every time the moon moves through it's last quarter phase.
Start to reflect on -
What you are ready to release right now?
What themes have been popping up over the last moon cycle, the last few weeks?
What did the full moon earlier in the month shed light on?
Are there any patterns popping up that you are ready to let go of or transform?
How do you need to prepare yourself for your inner winter come the new moon next week?
Living cyclically with the moon is another way to honour the seasons and cycles we move through on a regular basis.
This can be a time where we feel we are at a cross roads - needing to make a decision about what we are going to commit to and what we are going to let go of or choose new.
INTENTIONS
Through your reflecting - what has been revealed to you around what it is time to release?
Who do you need to forgive?
What do you need to accept?
How do you need to transform?
Let that lead to your intentions.
As you may remember, our intention for Imbolc (set during our January ritual) is around soft devotion. We are still in that portal, so that may influence your intentions for this crescent moon as well.
For Intuitively Wild, our community intention is - I am willing and ready to release and leave behind what is no longer serving me to make space for what is asking for my devotion.
mantras to play with
I am willing to change. I am open to forgiveness. I am ready to release. I embrace the discomfort of uncertainty with an curious mind and open heart.
words to connect to
forgiveness, release, open hearted, willingness, reprioritising
CLOSING
At the end of your ritual, place a hand on your heart and acknowledge yourself - for all of your growth, for your presence, for your devotion to yourself. Acknowledge what you are releasing, and promise to stay connected to all that was revealed to you during this ritual. Take time to really connect within.
When you are ready, snuff out your candle and say a closing intention such as - thank you guides, nature, intuition, my heart for leading me through this ritual. I promise to stay open and connected. The circle is now closed.