Between the Moon

On today's episode we explore the Taurus-Scorpio axis in astrology and ground it into the context of seasonal cycles, creativity, the houses in the birth chart, and personal lived experiences. I am delighted to have Bronwyn Simons Astrology back for our ongoing conversation of the Lunar Currents series! Learn about the interplay between "roots" (Taurus) and "blooms" (Scorpio), and how these are not separate entities but parts of a continuous process of fertility and growth related to creative practices, personal journeys, and the cyclical nature of life. We both give examples of the alchemical experience of integrating these seemingly opposing forces and how this also relates to the houses in the birth chart.Bronwyn and I also discuss the challenges of harmonizing seemingly opposing forces, particularly in relation to health, spirituality, daily life, family, and creative pursuits — and why every full moon plays a big role in the alchemical process.This episode explores themes that we will personalize and go deeper with in our upcoming workshop: Stars and Roses: Astrology and Creativity for MaytideWORKSHOP LINKFriday, May 2, 1 -2:30 Pacific Time and by replay.You can join us by registering here: https://astrologygoddess.mykajabi.com/offers/gLqLsZoL/checkoutOr, the workshop is FREE for all our beloved paid subscribers on Substack. Become a paid subscriber today and you'll automatically be registered for the workshop!We would love you to join us for this hands-on exploration to celebrate the Taurus cross-quarter holiday (known to some as Beltane or May Day), one of the most fertile and creative points in the Wheel of the Year.Bring a journal, your birthchart, and something to write and draw with.If you love this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify or refer a friend - thanks so much for listening!Links and Mentions* Upcoming workshop: Stars and Roses: Astrology and Creativity for Maytidehttps://astrologygoddess.mykajabi.com/offers/gLqLsZoL/checkout* Book of Houses by Robert Cole and Paul Williams* Bronwyn Simons and the Esoteric Zodiac on substack * Previous episode about the Harvest Cycle and the Lunar Cyclehttps://themoonismycalendar.substack.com/p/10-decoding-the-lunar-and-harvest-78cThanks for reading Between the Moon! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themoonismycalendar.substack.com/subscribe

Today's podcast is a solo episode about the role of gestation in creative cycles while exploring the nature of simultaneous and sequential cycles and how lunar tracking and plants help us deepen our trust when faced with the unknown.Listen and explore:* the role of gestation in creative cycles* how cycle can be both simultaneous and sequential* the differences between trust and faith* themes of the pisces new moon* accessing imagination and fertile visions* pacing with plants to connect creativity with seasonality* a personal story connected with the lunar gestational cycleLearn how lunar tracking and plant kin help us deepen our trust while experiencing the gestational phase. I hope this episode helps you become inspired and feel more connected with your unique creative cycles, especially if you are feeling stuck.creative cyclesCycles are waves when you unfold them, and part of lunar tracking is to learn to ride your our energetic waves. This isn't about getting it perfect or hacking your life to always be productive, rather to be in-season with yourself and the world around and within you.gestation: development over a period of timeMost everything has a gestational period, which is like the hang time between something ending and beginning. It's a phase. And it's energetically connected with the sign of Pisces and the activities of the 12th house.“The twelfth house is about getting ready. You do this by letting your dream vision permeate every cell in your body the work of germination is to really let that vision soak into all the different areas of your life, especially your internal life, and darkness and quiet.”simultaneous cyclesThe experience of simultaneous cycles is found in the overlap and coexistence of past, present, and future. Simultaneous cycles expand our awareness into pattern recognition which exists outside of linear time. A simple way to experience the fractal nature of time is singing happy birthday!! This is a ritual that is a part of simultaneous cycles that include:- the solar cycle and the return of the personal new year - the life cycle connecting back to childhood and the repetition of cyclesIn astrology/astronomy, “returns” are when a planet comes back around to the same position where it was during a given moment. A lot comes up during returns like solar returns (aka birthdays) because it is a touchstone and offers a chance to be in the space of overlapping cycles.If you follow astrology then you can probably name several significant collective returns happening right now (Venus Rose Cycle Return and the US Pluto Return to name a few). The trick is to notice what is surfacing from the past in the present moment, to make a choice about the future — not just re-live the cycle like a broken record. This is why lunar tracking is so vital and can help illuminate our experience of overlapping cycles!!sequential cyclesIn sequential cycles, everything has a beginning, middle, and end. This is a more linear way of experiencing a cycle. For example, the lunar cycle starts with the new moon, waxes to fullness, and then wanes to new again. In that sequential order. Sequential cycles are expressed through the signs of the tropical zodiac and the three modalities:Cardinal signs = BeginningsFixed signs = Middles Mutable signs = Ends (moving between different states to change out of the old and into something new: here, the end becomes the beginning)Mutable signs are the death and rebirth doulas of the zodiac.They are the most liminal and able to be in a place of not here nor there. A third space born out of a relationship between two things.Pisces is a mutable water sign. It expresses the dreams of the artist and the prayers of the spirit worker. Pisces is the point where the mouth and tail meet. It's the invisible bridge between waking and sleep.lunar gestational cycleIn many ways the lunar gestational cycle is a hybrid cycle: both simultaneous and sequential. It echos backwards and forwards in a simultaneous call and response to the moon in the same sign yet different phase. It is also sequential in that moving forward at 9 month intervals.I share a personal story about the upcoming Full Moon in Virgo and working with this particular gestational cycle.New Moon: Sept 14/15th 2023First Quarter: June 13/14th 2024Full Moon: March 13/14 2025 ← upcoming eclipseLast Quarter: Dec 11th 2025)) If you love this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify - thanks so much for listening! ((Thank you for being here, your presence is a gift!!AprilSHOWNOTES / LINKS* Join the New Moon Workshop in Pisces: GESTATE March 1, 2025 10-11am Pacifichttps://themoonismycalendar.thrivecart.com/new-moon-workshop-in-pisces/* Subscribe on Substack: https://substack.com/@betweenthemoon * The New Moon Calendar Journal is available in the shop! This simple and beautiful circular calendar and journal establishes the new moon as the starting point for each monthly cycle. It provides a structure for connecting to your inner wisdom and natural rhythms. Order your copy with code MANYMOONS for $5 off while supplies last!https://themoonismycalendar.com/new-products This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themoonismycalendar.substack.com/subscribe

On today's episode I have the pleasure of speaking with the founder of the Way of Yin, Kris González about the lunar new year and how we can learn from the wisdom of the snake to know when to use energy and when to conserve and reserve.I loved this conversations and I could honestly listen to Kris talk forever — her voice is so calming and so grounding.As she writes in the newsletter that inspired me to reach out to record this episode: “2026 will be the Year of the Full Fire Horse, bringing major transformation and change. As a result, 2025 is a year of transition. We must be careful not to burn out. It's important to nurture and take care of ourselves in 2025 to endure the fire ahead. I hope this season brings you deep rest, a touch of magic, and time to spend with the people and activities that keep your spirit alive.”Kris takes us on a journey through the elements starting with water with a special emphasis for women in their metal years (think Queen of Swords). She really helps connect the dots of how the energy of the elements comes alive in our lives at every phase.In this episode you'll learn about how the five elements give insight into the many ways life is sustained and maintained with extra special importance of the kidneys. At the end I weave it all back into the moon and how this all connects with the lunar cycle.For those of you who don't know her yet, Kris is a dedicated Chinese Medicine Practitioner and Herbalist, passionate about the Nourishing Life Tradition (養生 yǎng shēng). She founded The Way of Yin, a lifestyle education company focused on bridging the wellness gap in reproductive health through timeless wisdom.Her courses integrate insights from Chinese Medicine Gynecology, Reproductive Medicine, The Five Elements, Herbalism, and Longevity Practices. Kris aims to share the profound wisdom of East Asian Medicine, particularly in the realm of the Womb Continuum.The Way of Yin offers guidance to help you journey with more ease and grace, all while embracing nature's wisdom and helping you connect to your body, cycles, and rhythms.)) If you love this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify - thanks so much for listening! ((LINKS* Kris González, L.Ac ∘ Chinese Medicine Practitioner

Welcome back to Lunar Currents, a special feature of the Between the Moon podcast with your host April McMurtry of THE MOON IS MY CALENDAR and award-winning predictive astrologer, psychic medium, mentor, and astrology teacher Bronwyn Simons.Today's episode is like 3 mini-episodes in one! To begin with, Bronwyn and I discuss practical wisdom for developing and sustaining a lunar tracking practice and why it is so important for these times.We also share some personal experiences with our Progressed Moon Signs (link below to look up yours) as an example of tracking our awareness with a particular cycle that brings us into deep relationship with each of the signs.And then we play a little guessing game with two of the planets who are preparing to make some big moves next year. The suggestion we offer to track when the moon moves from Pisces to Aries each cycle is one way to get a sense of the upcoming conjunction of Saturn and Neptune. Join our Mercurial minds as we explore how Standing on the Seawall is more than just a metaphor for the interplay between these planets as we navigate unprecedented times in deciphering illusion and reality.Here is a timeline of dates for the the interplay of Saturn and Neptune as they approach a new synodic cycle at the Big Bang Degree of 0 degrees Aries in Feb 2026.Saturn & Neptune both in Pisces: March 2023 - March 2025Saturn in Pisces, Neptune in Aries: March 2025 - May 2025Saturn & Neptune both in Aries: May 2025 - Sep 2025Saturn & Neptune return to Pisces: Oct 2025 - Jan 2026Neptune enters Aries again: Jan 26 2026Saturn enters Aries again: Feb 13 2026Saturn/Neptune conjunction at 0 Aries: Feb 20 2026Saturn & Neptune both in Aries: Feb 2026 - Apr 2028Dates drawn from the Lady Cazimi article linked below.)) If you love this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify - thanks so much for listening! ((The New Moon Calendar Journal is available in the shop! Order your copy today.This simple and beautiful circular calendar and journal establishes the new moon as the starting point for each monthly cycle. By using a circular calendar you perceive time in relation to nature more clearly, and patterns in your own experience become more apparent. It provides a structure for connecting to your inner wisdom and natural rhythms.LINKS* Join me for a Calendar Countdown for the New Moon after Solstice. Sign up for my newsletter:https://themoonismycalendar.com/moonletters-sign-up* Calculate your Progressed Moon Tutorial: https://themoonismycalendar.com/articles/find-your-progressed-moon-sign* Link to order your copy of for lunar tracking:https://themoonismycalendar.com/new-products* For more in-depth analysis of the planetary interplay check out the article by Steph Koyfman - Reality Undefined: The Saturn/Neptune Years (2023-2028)https://www.ladycazimi.com/blog/saturn-neptune-conjunction-pisces-aries* We mention AI art and our visions of reality towards the end of the episode, and I just came across an episode of the All My Relations Podcast for anyone who might not be aware of the devastating impacts of data and the heat it produces to engage with AI and all the devices that are a part of daily life. The conversation is super smart and funny/not funny at the same time!https://www.allmyrelationspodcast.com/podcast/episode/7b45f1e5/indigenous-ai-revolution-or-colonizer-b******t This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themoonismycalendar.substack.com/subscribe

On today's episode Bronwyn and I discuss how astrology can help us become more focused and grounded in our body and spirit to meet the moment. We look at how working with the moon can help us emotionally prepare for some of the more dramatic shifts coming next year.Some things that are happening right now may feel way too big to take in all at once, like the election and the uncertainty of what that hold for the climate, women's rights, immigration, and international relations.Why this matters? From now through next year the generational planets including Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto are all changing signs. Working with astrology can help us see where the arc of our own lives touches the greater arc of history. Bronwyn goes into specifics about this in the episode so definitely listen to the end!In our conversation we discuss the incredible value of lunar tracking and being present with our hearts, emotionally prepared, and clear about our role during these pivot points. There is a layering effect that happens in the personal and the collective.This episode is a little taste of what we will share on our community call on Tuesday Nov 12th: Distilling 2024 and Reviewing the Transits and Moon Cycles of the Year. Join us here: https://astrologygoddess.mykajabi.com/offers/SpzpwaQH/checkoutYou can join us for FREE! If you purchased the New Moon Calendar Journal last year or have pre-ordered yours for 2025 just send me your order number and I'll give you the code to register us at not cost.This is a supportive way to digest and integrate some of the changes from this year to feel more fortified to meet the challenges for next year.All of the planetary changes will create a big shift in the cycles and the energy that is present. Especially moving from Pisces to Aries.It's the most extreme transition in the zodiac to go from the ending to the beginning.From the dream realm and land of spirit to direct action.For example: Saturn will finish his journey through the whole zodiac and move from Pisces into Aries. As Bronwyn shares in the episode:What we hope to distill from any planets transit through Pisces is the spiritual fortitude and structures to then move wisely into the action and initiative that is required in Aries.We're taking the spiritual and creative structures that we've been nurturing over the last couple of years and distill and carry those forward into action taking and Aries style structures that we will be creating for the next two and a half years, starting midyear next year. So the Saturn and Pisces question: How can I create more spiritual integrity in my life … becomes: How can I take that integrity into action and initiative?Thank you so much for listening - looking forward to seeing you this Tuesday!Warmly,AprilCalendar pre-sales will begin shipping in the next couple weeks!!! Use code: LUNARFLOW for 10% off when you purchase your copy of the New Moon Calendar Journal in the shop: https://themoonismycalendar.com/new-productsImage of sun and moon trees from Manuscript by Franciscan friar and alchemist Jean de Roquetaillade in 1350. Get full access to Between the Moon at themoonismycalendar.substack.com/subscribe

Hello dear listener,As you know, the lunar cycle helps us pay attention because it's always changing. Lunar tracking shows us how to find our own rhythm and energy amidst the fluctuations. It reminds us that we don't have to fix ourselves - and can actually help us feel empowered to be more in-season with where we are at currently. On today's episode I have the pleasure of speaking with published author and coach Vanessa Wright about ways to feel empowered and flow with life's challenges and how pausing can lead to transformation. She shares about how her practice of lunar tracking and purposefully seeing joy supported her through perimenopause to menopause, and the lasting effects this had on her creativity and view of cycles and seasons.In our conversation Vanessa describes her experience of returning to her ancestral lands in Italy and a powerful Moonstory that marks a major turning-point in her journey. Moonstories are what I like to call the moments in our lives when the presence of the moon was witnessing us at a pivotal crossroads. In these moments, we can feel like we are actually not alone and may receive new insight to continue on our path. I loved what she shared and I hope it inspires you to notice your own Moonstory moments. We muse about the reliability of the moon - especially when things can feel unmoored or like everyone else is relying on us and we need something that can hold us - in this case during big life initiations like menopause. This is a great episode for moms and people in caretaking roles who want to feel more inspired to find five minutes a day to connect with themselves to reduce stress and invite more awareness and magic. There are some incredible insights we shared about not having to do it “right” with the moon, but being curious and noticing patterns to sense our own energy. Join us as we explore practices that are replenishing, but aren't always the same - as we cycle through different stages of life. Vanessa is a certified life coach, writer, seasoned homeschooling mom, and speaker dedicated to empowering midlife mothers through her FLOW method. She helps women reclaim their energy, creativity, and joy by fostering sustainable self-care practices. In this episode she gives us a glimpse of her FLOW self-care method and the benefits of awareness at each stage of life.Feed your body, mind, spiritLove yourself and lean into your season of lifeOwn your time and spaceWeed out what's not working and welcome something new. Vanessa is a former contributor to the popular The Homeschool Mom blog. Since 2017, she has served as the special projects and content associate at Big Life Journal. Vanessa loves journals, stickers, pens, 80s/90s music, and reading five books at a time. She resides with her family in Raleigh, NC.Website: www.vanessanwright.comInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/vanessanwright/Also mentioned: I shared a template for color-coding activities based on a book called 10x Is Easier Than 2x: How World-Class Entrepreneurs Achieve More by Doing Less (ifykyk). LUNARFLOW: code for 10% off when you purchase your copy of the New Moon Calendar Journal in the shop: https://themoonismycalendar.com/new-products Get full access to Between the Moon at themoonismycalendar.substack.com/subscribe

In today's episode we explore some of the themes, symbols, and approaches to practicing self-study in relationship with cycles for the upcoming eclipses. Show notes below and image sources …Themes in this episode include:* Regular rhythmic repetition of eclipses* Nodes as crossroads, meeting place, relationship between the luminaries* Dream recall full body chills* Offerings for gateway gods* Nodes: where we encounter the mystery* Surrendering to the sacred, and/or analyzing the details* Pisces/Virgo axis* Themes of dreams, spirituality, creativity* Making offerings (is there a right way?)* Protocols for working with Spirit* Leaving space for grace and opening* Rearrangements in physical and energetic realms* Exploring different configurations* Uncertainty, disruptions, unsettling quality, fears of lack* How much instability can any infrastructure take?* Contemplation of fulfillment and sensation of longing* Compassion and bathing in forgiveness* And more…Pardon me while I take a side quest and study medieval calendars for the rest of my life, lol. So many fish that got away!!Lunar nodes are a point in space where the orbit of the moon crosses the path of the sun. This alignment happens about every six months like clockwork. These nodes change signs about every 1.5 years. They are always in retrograde motion, moving “backwards” through the zodiac. Right now they are in tropical Aries and Libra, but this one is crossing the line ahead into Pisces.Phases of the moon are gradual.Eclipses are sudden.How do you want to be in relationship with this cosmic alignment?The Metonic cycle or enneadecaeteris (from Ancient Greek) is a period of almost exactly 19 years after which the lunar phases recur at the same time of the year. Look back to fall of 2006 for the echo of this current eclipse season.Have a question or comment? Share on the Substack post for this episode.Love this podcast? Leave a rating or write a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify - it's such a great way to support this work.Thanks so much for listening! Get full access to Between the Moon at themoonismycalendar.substack.com/subscribe

In today's we explore the myths, magic, and misinformation about the so-called Lion's Gate. This cosmic portal is said to occur on August 8th each year, but what is it really referring to? Join us to unravel this phenomenon and find enchantment without needing to invent a “Galactic New Year” out of thin air. Themes in this episode include:* Origins of the Lion's Gate Myth * Flooding of the Nile* Dog Star Sirius* Cosmic Technologies of Timekeeping* Manifestation Practices* Self-study in Relationship with Cycles* Longing for Authenticity* Fixed Fire Season of Leo* And more…Top searches for the Lion's Gate craze as of this recording …Shownotes: Register for Birth Chart Basics Free Class with Bronwyn Simonshttps://astrologygoddess.mykajabi.com/natalchartForecasts in your inbox from Bronwyn here:https://astrologygoddess.mykajabi.com/Image from Sirius and the Flooding of the Nile: this week on the Storyteller's Night Skyhttps://www.interlochenpublicradio.org/news/2019-08-26/sirius-and-the-flooding-of-the-nile-this-week-on-the-storytellers-night-skyMore on the Constellation: Sirius and Orion's Belt Constellation from EarthSky: https://earthsky.org/constellations/canis-major-the-greater-dog-sirius/Article by Celeste Mott The Lion's Gate Portal: Tracing the Origins of a New Age Myth “Prior to the late 90's, nobody appears to have heard of the Lion's Gate (besides as one of the seven gates into Old Jerusalem). A search of peer-reviewed articles returns no results with that search term, indicating a lack of academic or folkloric interest in the subject. Searching by date, there are only three results for "lion's gate portal" between 1980 and 1999. Between 1999 and 2010, we have four pages of Google results. Today, Google returns over 87,000 results for the term.” Source reference https://www.celestemott.com/blog/2021/8/7/the-lions-gate-portal-tracing-the-origins-of-a-new-age-mythArticle in Women's Health Mag UK with numerous false and unfounded claims: Lion's Gate Portal 2024: How to quantum leap your manifestation powers during this cosmic vortex“On the 8th of August, we celebrate a cosmic alignment between Sirius, the Sun, the Earth and the ‘galactic centre', which is the central point of the Milky Way. This date is known as Galactic New Year and is thought to be the day when Light Codes are strongest.”https://www.womenshealthmag.com/uk/health/a61710431/lions-gate-portal-2024/Learn more about Islamic roots and Astrology from Historian Ali A. Olomi Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/headonhistory/postsPodcast: Head On History CurrentlyNerdy.comhttps://www.instagram.com/aaolomiLeo constellation and astrological sign image from Britannica:https://www.britannica.com/science/constellationLeo (lion), watercolor and ink on paper, from a manuscript created in Ulm or Augsburg, Germany, c. 1464; in the J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles.and Leo the Lion, with the constellation Leo Minor, as it appears in Urania's Mirror, a set of cards by Sidney Hall depicting the constellations that was published in 1825. Image via U.S. Library of Congresshttps://earthsky.org/constellations/leo-heres-your-constellation/Thanks for listening! Have a question or comment? Head over to Substack to share on the post for this episode.Love this podcast? I bet you would love to subscribe and write a review - it's such a great way to support this work! Get full access to Between the Moon at themoonismycalendar.substack.com/subscribe

“When ideas are suspended in a place of possibility for too long, they either need to come down to earth or be set free.”Today's episode will help you understand what kind of gardener you are when it comes to creative projects.We explore our relationship to the seeds we want to bring through a whole harvest cycle and practices that help keep the creative channels from getting clogged. Having a creative practice is like planting a garden; some seeds seem to sprout over night and other takes years, generations, or even lifetimes. Bringing awareness to how we tend to them informs each new season and solar cycle.Clearing physical clutter creates breathing room to allow space for each idea to take form. Applying an understanding of cycles to your relationship with creativity and can help you figure out how to process unfinished projects.Hopefully you find this episode super generative and fruitful! If you do, please leave a review while you're feeling inspired and consider subscribing on your favorite platform!!If you're listening somewhere other than Substack, here's where I publish the podcast in case you want to view the images or leave a comment: https://betweenthemoon.substack.com p.s. I recorded this episode while sitting on a rock in the mountains, so you may hear some wind in the background. May this wind give your seeds wings!!Between the Moon is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts as they are released, it's easy to become a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Between the Moon at themoonismycalendar.substack.com/subscribe

“A river of material flows through us.When we share our works and our ideas, they are replenished.If we block the flow by holding them all inside,the river cannot run and new ideas are slow to appear.”― Rick Rubin, The Creative Act: A Way of BeingToday's episode explores reasons why we get “backed up” and seasons of having “the runs” - creatively speaking.The poop metaphor came out of a writing course I took recently that offered a way of understanding creativity akin to a daily physical need. It a visceral reminder not to belabor the act of writing, speaking, drawing, designing, painting, creating… just s**t and get off the pot.Easier said than done.Lately I've had too many ideas without a way of relieving myself and so this episode is honestly a way for me to loosen things up and take some of the pressure off. There's no straining here - I even chose to not edit the ummms our of this one.So here we go - let's consider the energy of our own creative cycles in relationship to:* where ideas come from and where they go* outlets and containers for creativity* noticing times of gestation* tracking times of output* looking to the harvest cycle as it relates to the energy of the Leo archetype* remedies for creative constipationSpirals at the center of the seedPomegranate seed reference image mentioned in this episode: Punica granatum in Köhler's Medicinal Plants 1897 by Walther Otto MüllerThe process from draft to completionThis is the Harvest Cycle Artwork series that I created last year for the 2024 Lunar Wall Calendar. In the episode I share about why I left this particular one until the very end.Thanks for reading and listening!Between the Moon is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts it's easy to become a free or paid subscriber. This helps egg me on to create new content.Before you go, leave a comment about your own experiences with cycles of creativity and what you do to keep from getting backed up because I'm sure you have some ideas that would be helpful to hear!! Get full access to Between the Moon with April at themoonismycalendar.substack.com/subscribe

In today's episode Bronwyn Simons and I explore how the three signs of spring relate to creativity and the tropical zodiac. We share personal experiences of the creative cycle as understood through the lens of the zodiac and the phases of the moon. Astrology teaches us to notice how energy starts, sustains, and shifts throughout each season. This conversation is about the story of spring told by #1 Aries who starts the fire, #2 Taurus who sustains the idea to bring it into form, and #3 Gemini shifts into new possibilities.Between the Moon is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.The Three Signs of Spring each have a unique approache to harnessing and directing creative energy. In the episode we offer examples of ways that each sign supports the one before and the astrological sign that follows. Notice the energetic signature that Aries, Taurus, and Gemini bring to YOUR cycles of creativity.Aries - Cardinal Fireinspiration strikesan idea sparks the creative firetakes action to begin!... and then runs out of steam...Taurus - Fixed Earthslows down and stabilizescreates a process and a containerdigs in and gets to work!...and then gets stuck...Gemini - Mutable Airgets curious and expandstalks to their muse and does some researchcross pollinates to bring in fresh ideas...and then has too many options and enters the next season...It's so much fun to bring art and astrology closer together. If you're like me then you probably want to keep playing with these ideas and apply them to your process…You're in luck! Come play with the planets and your birthchart in an experimental masterclass called Cycles of Creativity Masterclass! Together we will explore the archetypes of each of the eight planets and how they relate to the creative process. Friday May 10, 2024 from 2-3:30 PM Pacific - replay will be available.We will show you how this sequence factors into the way artistry and expression unfolds in your life. You will personalize this flow by designing your own template for creativity based on your birthchart.Let's share creative practices in community to feel more connected and inspired!Also mentioned in this episode is the Creative Fire by Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés. This series of three lectures is a gem and can be found on the Sound's True website. Thank you for reading Between the Moon. This post is public so feel free to share it. Get full access to Between the Moon at themoonismycalendar.substack.com/subscribe

On today's episode I have the pleasure and honor of speaking with beloved author Benebell Wen about her process and inspiration for writing her most recent book: I Ching the Oracle - A practical guide to The Book of Changes. Benebell shares about the the spirit intelligence of the I Ching (as it differs from other tools for divination) as well as the creation myth that connects with the binary code of yin yang. She also talks about the distinction between the "broken" and unbroken lines that form the trigrams and 64 hexagrams of the I Ching. I loved listening to her stories about how she intuitively worked with the I Ching as a mode of communication with ancestors (her grandmother) before confirming that this was a part of its shamanic origins all along. In this playful conversation, Benebell shares a correspondence between the eight trigrams and the eight phases of the moon. This insight into the lunar phases serves as a reference for understanding the energetic qualities and polarities of the trigrams and their three lines of code as they relate to the lunar phases. I am grateful for how she illustrates this correlation between Fire, Thunder, Wind, Water, Mountain, Earth, Heaven, Lake and the 8 phases of the moon because when you are learning something new, it helps to have something familiar to connect with (like the moon). This was so eye opening for me - and I hope it helps create new neural pathways for you as well! We also touch on the lunisolar calendar and timekeeping as it relates to cycles. She shares about the specific hexagram that corresponds with this year of the Wood Dragon, and speaks a little bit about the qualities of that particular hexagram and what that may foretell about the energy of the year. This is just the tip of the iceberg of a vast subject, so I invite you to receive the generosity of all that Benebell shares through her work. If you love this conversation and want to support this podcast, please leave a 5 star review - thank you! Links: Benebell's Website: https://benebellwen.com/ Free Companion Course for I Ching the Oracle: https://benebellwen.com/i-ching-the-oracle/a-companion-course/ I Ching and the 60-Year Lunar-Solar Calendar Cycle Post about how 2024 corresponds with hexagram 43 when you superimpose the lunar-solar calendar over the I Ching https://benebellwen.com/2024/01/05/i-ching-and-the-60-year-lunar-solar-calendar-cycle/ Asian Wheel of the Year: Lunisolar Astrology: https://benebellwen.com/2022/10/28/asian-wheel-of-the-year-the-lunisolar-agricultural-calendar/ Website. http://www.benebellwen.com YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/c/BenebellWen Twitter. https://twitter.com/benebellwen Instagram. http://www.instagram.com/bellwen Chocolate Dragon Cafe (in Oakland - not Berkeley like I say in the episode): https://www.chocolatedragoncafe.com/ Book: The dragon : nature of spirit, spirit of nature / Francis Huxley THE MOON IS MY CALENDAR 2024 Moon Calendars available in the shop https://themoonismycalendar.com/

In today's episode with Predictive Astrologer Bronwyn Simons - we explore structures of time and the natural impulse to reinvent, and in this vein we delve into reimagining and reinventing the Wheel of the Year. We look at the "why" of the energetic correspondences between the lunar phases and the solar stations over the seasons and how we might bring more inquiry and creativity to this relationship. There's a big shift coming, the undertone humming vibration of Pluto is moving from Capricorn to Aquarius this Saturday January 19th and will take us in a new direction for the next 20 years! This conversation sheds light on how we are currently straddling the worlds of what we have inherited (social structures, legacy of time aka Capricorn) and what will serve humanity moving forward (aka Aquarius) so that we can live in more harmony with life's cyclical nature in new and innovative ways. Doors are opening soon to Lunar in Nature: Reinventing the Wheel very soon, so hop on the waitlist if you haven't already! https://astrologygoddess.mykajabi.com/lunar-nature-waitlist This is a solilunar mystery school that invites us to learn and vision and create and experiment, to honour tradition and hold space for innovation, to live into and deeply embody Lunisolar cycles for a whole expansive and beautiful Year together. If you love this conversation, please like and subscribe so that it can reach more people who will benefit from the topics we explore. 

Today's episode shares a meditation for settling the nervous system to find a sense of inner calm supported by the cyclical nature of life and the moon. The new moon offers a time to reset and bring awareness to the inner cave. That hidden place where the moon goes each cycle and is no longer available or visible to the outer world. Be guided by the moon to slow down and deeply listen. Listening to the whispers of the intuition. This meditation draws on the wisdom of nature to connect with all of life through the expansion and contraction of the breath. If you love this meditation, please consider leaving a glowing review and subscribing to the podcast. Thank you for being here, your presence is a gift!

On today's episode of Lunar Currents Bronwyn and I explore the unique qualities of solar and lunar consciousness and how many of us have been trained to be more solar without knowing the difference. We even catch ourselves trying to understand and talk about aspects of the moon on the sun's terms! Practicing self-study and lunar tracking helps loosen this and be able to see from another perspective completely. This conversation is a candid and though-provoking musing that covers a lot of fertile ground. There is a whole wisdom transmission happening between the spoken words.  Notice if you can sense it. Links mentioned: Lunar in Nature Waitlist https://astrologygoddess.mykajabi.com/lunar-nature-waitlist 2024 Astrology Forecast and Planning Retreat Use Discount Code: LUNARCURRENTS for $27 off https://astrologygoddess.mykajabi.com/a/2147720910/iqyGRbij Maeg Keane: The Sun, Our Unfixed Star Looking at solar consciousness from the lunar perspective Shout out to ⁠Alexandria, A Woman with Flowers⁠ for flower attunements!

Lunar Currents is a moonly conversation with April McMurtry and Predictive Astrologer Bronwyn Simmons about embodying the living sky, exploring how astrology helps us enter into the mythic nature of our life story, and musing on our relationship with time, creativity, intuition, and many other magical connections. This episode explores the significance of the eclipse season (October 14th solar eclipse in Libra and Oct 28 lunar eclipse in Taurus) as well as what the lunar nodes may be showing us about the longer arc of our life story. We dive deep into the themes and Bronwyn offers a simple and profound technique for personalizing the degrees of the eclipse towards the end of the show. Links from the episode: Bronwyn Simons Astrology website: https://astrologygoddess.mykajabi.com/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/moon.wisdom/ The Moon Is My Calendar Website: https://themoonismycalendar.com/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/themoonismycalendar/ Anne Ortelee Pinball Approach https://anneortelee.com/the-pinball-approach-to-understanding-your-natal-energy-flow/

Today's guest is my dear friend and colleague Liz Childs Kelly. Liz is a writer, host of the Home to Her podcast, Sacred Feminine researcher and educator, community builder and initiated priestess in the 13 Moons Lineage. This episode celebrates the 1 year anniversary of the release of Liz's first book: Home to Her and the recent launch of the Home to Her Academy. Together we discuss our relationship with time, the moon, lineages, praying the rosary, creativity, trust, the sacred feminine... and so much more. Liz speaks to the challenges of using the word "feminine," which has many negative associations due to gender stereotypes and historical marginalization of female-identified bodies. She also reflects on how yoga and mantra practice has helped her connect with the sacred feminine, despite upbringing in conservative Christian tradition. We examine the irony of decontextualizing spiritual practices from our own lineage, acknowledging the complex history of conquest, trauma, and genocide that exists within this European heritage. We also share about our relationship with self-study in relationship with cycles and the importance of developing a subtle awareness through lunar tracking on the New Moon Calendar Journal. You can purchase you copy of the 2024 edition in the shop: https://themoonismycalendar.com/ Links and mentions: Liz's website: https://www.hometoher.com/ Honoring the Wisdom of the Sacred Feminine Home to Her Academy: https://www.hometoheracademy.com/ Way of the Rose: https://wayoftherose.org/ The work of Lynne Twist https://soulofmoney.org/

In today's episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with my dear friend and colleague Wilka Roig. Wilka and I met about five years ago, and the synchronicities of our connection continue inspire awe in me:) I am grateful to get a chance to share this conversation with you - it's so profound and explores our relationship with dreams, endings, the lunar cycle, eclipses, and redefining grief. Wilka is a transpersonal psychologist, she is a death doula, a grief counselor, a dream worker, an educator facilitator and an artist in many mediums. She's the president of the Foundation in Central Mexico for the work of Elisabeth Kubler Ross (EKR México Centro) as well as an end of life doula and instructor and the co-chair of the BIPOC Advisory Council for the International End of Life Doula Association, or INELDA. Wilka is a coordinator for curriculum and faculty for the Institute of International Studies with the Institute for the Study of Birth, Breath and Death. And she's also been a part of reviving green burial practices in Mexico. I hope you enjoy this conversation and that it sparks your own curiosity about your relationship with endings and beginnings! Links mentioned in the episode: Visit Wilka's website to learn more about her offerings with Dreaming, Healing, and End of Life: https://wilkaroig.com/ Death, Dreams and Yoga: https://www.ccld.community/events-1/death-dreams-and-yoga Institute for the Study of Birth, Breath, and Death: https://birthbreathanddeath.com/ Center for Conscious Living and Dying: https://www.ccld.community/ The Institute Ireland Trip June 13th – 22nd 2023 https://retreats.behumanitarian.org/product/exclusive-ireland-retreatjune-12th-22nd-2023/ Elisabeth Kübler-Ross Foundation México Centro http://ekrmexico.org/

In today's episode we explore parallels between the lunar cycle and the harvest cycle. Let's feel into how the phases of the moon inform and map onto the twelve houses of the natal chart. I give a taste of each of the houses and how they may connect with the phases- this is all just the tip of the iceberg! Working with the moon is working with our inner landscape. Working with the Harvest Cycle is working with the movement of the sun through our birth chart throughout the solar year. The lunar cycle is like a mini-year. Both wax and wane, grow and release light and life. Listen and learn about what is possible when we weave these two cycles together. May this episode bring you into closer relationship with being in season with yourself. If you love these theme you are invited to join me for the Harvest Cycle Incubator: https://themoonismycalendar.com/harvest-cycle-incubator Mentions: Book of Houses by Robert Cole and Paul Williams The Moon is my Calendar https://themoonismycalendar.com/

What if the grips of winter were the gifts of winter? What if our human rhythms were more like the rhythms of the seasons? In today's episode I am joined by filmmaker and nature practice teacher Natasha Deganello Giraudie. She is a dear friend and colleague and someone I've had the pleasure of connecting with through being guided by the moon, seasons, and nature. Natasha has worked with the New Moon Calendar Journal for the past six years as an integral part of her work and personal practice. We talk about her creative process in bringing Opening to the Medicine of Winter to life and what is possible when we develop a deep trust of our intuition. Natasha mentions a book called “The Book of Houses” by Robert Cole, Paul Williams which is an amazing tool for connecting us with our own personal harvest cycles. In our conversation we explore the theme of how to become more receptive and available to the gifts we know are there for us during the cold dark months of winter. I love all the insights Natasha shares about our well being, the earth's well being and the well being of future generations… especially in the way it relates to anchoring into rhythms and going against the grain of the discordant environments that rupture this rhythm. I have the pleasure and honor of being a part of Opening to the Wisdom of Winter and sharing my winter, new moon, and eclipse stories. Don't miss the chance to explore these beautiful themes in community in Opening to the Medicine of Winter with a diverse group of women from a variety of perspectives and backgrounds to help us experience the more of the nourishing, soulful side of the cold season. Visit bit.ly/medicine-of-winter-nature-practice to find out more about Opening to the Medicine of Winter which begins Nov 27, 2023. You can find Natasha's work on her website: www.rosaguayaba.earth and on instagram: @rosaguayaba www.instagram.com/rosa.guayaba

You are invited to come dance with Venus as she weaves her beauty in the sky and on earth. In this solo episode I explore the dates and themes of the eighth year rose that is completing with formation of the upcoming star point on October 22nd, 2022. As you listen you may notice the vibration of abundance and love that Venus transmits. The orbit of Venus is rhythmic and creates a rose or a five-pointed star by returning to the same points over and over throughout our lifetimes. These points of the Venus Rose are formed each time Venus aligns with the Sun and Earth every nine months or so. The points also shift ever so slightly around the zodiac, and we are about to experience the movement from Scorpio into Libra and what this could bring up. The Venus cycle plays a significant role in timekeeping for many cultures around the globe. Her dual nature from morning star to evening star and back again has been predicted and written about by Mayan astronomers as well as on ancient cuneiform tablets of Babylonia dating back to the first millennium BCE. Venus and the Moon also interweave their cycles together and offer context for practicing self-study in relationship with cycles. Mentions in this episode: Venus Star Rising by Arielle Guttman The eight year lunar cycle is called an Octaeteris in Greek. Your natal moon phase tutorial on the blog: Natal Moon Phase themoonismycalendar.com/articles/natal-moon-phase-tutorial Join me and Susan Lipshutz, LCSW this Saturday Oct 22nd for an online gathering workshop called Venus Gateway: Anchoring the Jewel of Your Heart themoonismycalendar.com/events/venus-workshop-and-gathering If you are interested in learning ore about personalizing the Venus cycle, check out the upcoming course Know Your Venus themoonismycalendar.com/know-your-venus Thank you for listening!

In today's episode I'm sharing a very special conversation with Megan McGuire aka @forest.whisperer. I remember seeing an Instagram post that she made a while back with Moon names, and this list really spoke to ancestral connection to land and place and seasonal activities especially to parts of Europe where some of her ancestors are from. This episode is in honor of what's often referred to as the Harvest Moon - or the full moon closest to the Autumnal Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere. And as you'll hear, there are many other names for this seasonal moon. I got to know Megan more through this conversation and really appreciate the work that she does that is about connection, reconnection and belonging and exploring mythic time and creating Bioregional wheels of the year. Megan is a biologist and she works for the federal government and designs ecosystem restoration projects to rehabilitate the Mississippi River that her ancestors have long cherished. She lives on Dakota land in the Twin Cities, Minnesota and her ancestors were Polish and Finnish and German, Irish, French possibly English and from the Saulteaux and Wyandot tribes. She is also a mother and a permaculture gardener and works with ritual in daily life and I love how she talks in this conversation about weaving that in otherwise mundane activities in a very easeful and creative way. I love this conversation. I hope you do too! Visit Megan on Instagram @forest.whisperer and her website: www.mythictime.com. Mentions: Farmer's Almanac began publishing names for full Moons in the 1930s based on what Colonial Americans adapted from Native tribes including the Algonquin people on the Eastern Coast. These names have become widely known, but even though they now seem standardized, they are not universal. Venerable Bede was an English monk at the monastery of St Peter in the Kingdom of Northumbria who lived in the 7-8th century. He wrote On the Reckoning of Time which references calendars and lunar time.

In today's episode, I have the pleasure of sitting down with Susan Lipshutz from Everyday Medicine Woman to discuss and explore the themes of Virgo season and this particular Virgo New Moon. We look at the personal and universal expressions of the archetype and address some of the labels and stereotypes of the Virgo energy. When considering the inquiries for this mutable earth sign in combination with the upcoming Mercury Retrograde, you might consider asking: What's the health status of my relationships? What do we need as a remedy for what's going on? What wants to support the healthier practice of my life? Susan and I also do a kind of planetary roll call of checking in with Mercury and Venus in particular towards the end of the conversation. You can find Susan at her website: www.everydaymedicinewoman.com or on Instagram @susanlipshutz. Susan Lipshutz, LCSW has been a pioneer trailblazer in the field of Integrative Psychotherapy, women's empowerment and soul level mentoring for over 35 years. Consultations are tailored to the needs of the individual offering a blend of her training in a wide range of clinical therapeutic approaches with a deep exploration that widens our understanding of the greater self via an astrological, spiritual and mystical perspective. Devoted to building meaningful communities that reawaken and integrate the sacred feminine into daily life, Susan invites a reclaiming of each woman's ancestral wisdom, inner guidance and innate understanding of true beauty via a weaving of practices and teachings inspired by many years of dedicated work with global wisdom keepers and evolutionary teachings.

In today's episode I have the pleasure of being in conversation with mentor and modern mystic Ishita Sharma. Ishita Sharma serves as a mentor, mirror and activator to those who wish to better our world starting from within. She was born in Haridwar in northern India and came to the US as a teenager and began to study as a physicist, then turned to architecture and design, evolving into a multidisciplinary artist. Through it all, she felt that she was looking for an even deeper framework to explain what felt obvious to her: that we are all connected. In 2016, she established Come to Center to share the joy and freedom of living an awake, connected and fulfilling life. She holds space for life in all of its abundant complexity, from the highest joys and miracles to the deepest suffering and sorrows. Her work points people back to their own inner harmonic and wholeness. Today, Ishita works with contemporary visionaries, spiritual seekers and healers, therapists and coaches, CEOs and incarcerated youth to create futures that are free of past limitations to help them embody power, pleasure and show up in service, while rising beyond ego-centric paradigms. Ishita's work is the expression of her deepest realizations, and an invitation into your own. Her unique approach integrates non-dual awareness with its embodiment, subtle energetics and relational dynamics to free the core of personal and systemic hindrances. In this episode we explore the mechanics of anchoring into presence and noticing our habits of attention to become more skilled at navigating our relationship with ourselves and others. To learn more about Ishita's offerings including Murmurations and Basics visit cometocenter.com

There are so many gems in this conversation! Today's guest Bronwyn Simons shares her journey over many, many moons of coming to align her work and life with the Moon and astrological wisdom. In this episode Bronwyn walks us through the Eight "Lunar Keys" that she developed to connect with the eight main phases of the moon. These simple and profound inquiries offer a beautiful framework and insight to support the practice of self-study in relationship with cycles. You will also learn the benefits of committing to being in relationship with the Moon on a deeper and more personal level, as well as the mysteries and lessons of the missing half of the moon cycle. Enjoy! Bronwyn Simons is an award-winning predictive astrologer, psychic medium, dream traveller, mentor, and astrology teacher with a worldwide client base and a busy consulting practice. Her style is practical and embodied, with deep roots in the mystery of the Otherworld. After 40+ years of study and practice, she is truly a master of the esoteric arts. Connect with Bronwyn on Instagram @moon.wisdom Visit Astrology Goddess website to learn more about upcoming classes and offerings Sign up for Bronwyn's Newsletter and access your New Moon Playbook as a gift Mentioned in the episode: Lunar Gestational Cycle New Moon Calendar Journal (free download of current cycle) Lunar Cycle Quest If you like this episode, consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts so more people can hear about it!

In this episode from the archives I am joined by Alexandra Pope, and Sjanie Hugo Wurlitzer, authors of the book Wild Power and co founders of the Red School, whose mission is: To activate vitality, creativity, and leadership, through the magic of menstrual cycle awareness and a conscious menopause. They envision a world in which the cycles of life are revered and respected as quiet orchestrators of our lives – instilling a deep reverence for the planet and everything on it. We're also gifted with the presence of my dear friend, colleague, and collaborator Sita Rosalie Davis. She is a lead facilitator and trainer at THE MOON IS MY CALENDAR and has translated and printed the Spanish version of the new moon calendar journal since 2019. Sita and I have an ongoing practice of cycle check-ins in our work and are so grateful for this opportunity to speak with Alexandra and Sjanie about navigating the cycles of the inner and outer seasons. Links Red School: redschool.net IG @red.school THE MOON IS MY CALENDAR: themoonismycalendar.com IG @themoonismycalendar oneearthhealingarts.com IG @sita_oneearthhealingarts

On today's episode of Between The Moon, I have the pleasure of speaking with Meegan Painter from Seven Ravens Studio. Meegan is an artist and a seventh-generation Californian and somebody who I have known for many years. We spoke in the fall of 2021 after she had said yes to collaborating on the wall calendar that features her ecological mandalas. These mandalas depict webs of connection and relationships within ecologies. You will hear her deep love of these landscapes, plants, animals, and creatures that are all interconnected. Meegan's work has always been about storytelling and uncovering hidden connections. I hope that you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. To learn more visit https://themoonismycalendar.com/ Connect with Meegan: https://www.sevenravensstudio.com/ Follow Seven Ravens Studio: https://www.instagram.com/seven_ravens_studio/

The origin of the name Between the Moon comes from the latin word Interlunium inter- meaning ("between”, “among") + lūna ("the Moon"); a period of darkness during the time of the new moon. This relates to the pause between the old and new when the moon is invisible - hidden in plain sight. Between the Moon opens the space for what is no longer and what is not yet. This liminal space of in-between and how we navigate the unknown through self-study in relationship with cycles. The moon is an amazing guide for how to value rest as integral to life. The moon is not always full and visible, but practices regular retreat. For me this became the lesson of: You don't have to wait to get sick to slow down. This podcast is my effort to create a container for the unfolding of a renewed relationship with our cyclical nature as beings on this beautiful life-sustaining planet, and to repair this relationship within ourselves. To learn more visit https://themoonismycalendar.com/