Celebrated on February 1 or 2

Imbolc is the cross-quarter Wheel of the Year point following Winter Solstice. Also known as Brighid’s day or Candlemas, it marks the starting point of spring. Here you begin to subtly notice that the days are lengthening and, depending on the area you live in, you may actually start to see signs of spring. Here in Georgia where I live, the daffodils consistently open sometime around Imbolc, although this year they may be later because of a colder winter. When they do start the daffodils begin the steady wave of beautiful bloom that lasts through the glorious spring.

For others in colder climates, Imbolc may simply bring the promise of spring as the light of the sun slowly begins to increase. Tune in this year to the subtle shifts you notice in the air and light around and after Imbolc. What does it signal internally for you? What things do you get a renewed urge to do?

Imbolc is the time to call forth the idea seeds that have been germinating in the inner realm and that are now stirring with life, ready to grow during the upcoming cycle. A great opportunity exists during Imbolc to ceremonially create a “treasure map” or a creation journal, a collage of pictures and ideas that represents what you want to manifest in your life this year, a visual reminder of the creations that are ready to sprout, grow, and bear fruit. Or you may want to engage in some other creative project to make use of Imbolc’s powerful creative urges.

Use Imbolc’s energy of renewal for spring-cleaning of both home and body, to purify from the darker energy of winter. This point on the Wheel represents a potent time for creativity, invoking a muse, or starting a new project or initiation cycle.

Imbolc, means “in the belly” and is associated with ewe’s milk, the lactation that begins for the baby lambs at this time of year. The Celtic Fire Goddess Brighid brings healing, purification, renewal, fertility, and creativity at Imbolc. If she interests you, take a few minutes and Google her to find out more information. She is a wonderful Goddess to work with at this time of year, and she will bring you many gifts and blessings. Candlemas was the name given to Imbolc as the old ways gave way to the Christian tradition. The ceremonial candles for the year were customarily created at Imbolc.

Personal/Professional Creation Ideas to Activate Imbolc

Choose one or perhaps two depending on your available time. For more information on calling in Sacred Space, see p. 215-223 of Natural Rhythms ™.

~ Connect with the Goddess Brighid if she interests you and ask her to assist you with inspiration for your creative pursuits.
~ Set aside time for the spring-cleaning of your home/office and releasing what you no longer need.
~ Begin a cleanse for your body if it feels appropriate for you.
~ Do traditional crafts for this time of year by creating your intention candles for the year. Infuse your candles with energies for things such as abundance, fertility, inspiration, clear communication, etc.
~ Initiate projects that need to be taken on during the growing cycle.

To Learn how to use this window to boost your business,
Sign up for this Complimentary Training:

“How To Use The Extra Solar Power of Spring to Grow Your Business”
February 1, 2012 from 3-4:30 PM EST
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Window: December 23- 25

Element: Earth

Capricorn, an Earth sign, creates the tenth astrological gate of awareness, teaching the value of structure and form. This archetype exhibits the characteristics of administrator, mature adult, wise one, disciplined teacher, hard working leader, good provider, and practical businessperson. Ambitious, responsible, effective, efficient, and goal oriented, it brings new structures into earthly form. Capricorn creates structures and systems designed to last and to support the generations to come.

Capricorn New Moon
Responsibly create structure and form. Design and administrate systems. Develop procedures. Handle business and financial affairs effectively. Apply discipline to the physical world. Teach systems and structures. Create goals. Provide support for family and children. Make serious commitments for success. Work effectively taking grounded steps toward your business and financial goals. Take care of your body.

The most powerful action you can take during this time is to create a grounded plan for the year and do a personal activation ceremony to anchor your plan!

Personal Action Suggestions:
~ Create your personal blueprint for the year ahead.
~ Listen to your body wisdom by placing your awareness into your body (your personal earth).  Ask it what it needs to be more vibrant for the upcoming growing cycle. Write down what your body says and make plans to set into motion the requests.
~ Make notes on any items that need to be accomplished in order for your home, car, and garden to function effectively.
~ Create financial goals and a month-by-month strategy.
~ Go for a walk outside and talk to the Earth. Ask how you can be more honoring of the environment and of the earthly things in your life. Spend time in nature.
~ Responsibly tend to all areas of your life.
~ Honor the cycle of growth and the full, ripe, organic time for something to happen.

Business/Professional Action Suggestions:
~ Create a solid business plan and strategy for the year ahead.
~ Write out business goals in a step-by-step, month-by-month plan.
~ Review your business systems to increase their effectiveness and modify if needed.
~ Put your business financial goals in writing, for both expenses and income.
~ Plan your work and then work your plan.
~Fertilize the soil of your business with your awareness, time, and attention.

If setting goals and creating a solid plan, to ensure more effective results, is something you need to focus on plan to join me for “Create A Dynamic Year 2012” Jan 8, or work with the replay.

When you register by December 23, you can Elementally Clearing Your Money Matrix as a BONUS (a $250 Value).

Hurry, there is only few days left to take advantage of this great BONUS! REGISTER HERE!

The solstices and equinoxes mark the extreme light, dark, and balanced points of the cycle of the sun. In the Northern Hemisphere we have the shortest day and longest night on winter solstice, and then the days slowly begin to lengthen again. This is important to you for several reasons:

1) After winter solstice the subtle growing light starts a fresh growing cycle for a new year. The more you align your creations with this growing cycle the more it boosts your ability to bring your personal and professional creations into form. You are aligning your creations with the increasing sunlight. Think about what that does for plants. It is the sun that springs the plants and seeds to life and it will do the same for your creations.

2) The days leading up to winter solstice are the darkest of the year and the darker days urge you to sleep and dream more. This is an important time to tune into the guiding messages you hear for your life. Pay attention to your dreams, and spend some time in reflection and journaling about what you want to grow in the year ahead.

3) Concentrating on reflection and creation between now and the first few weeks of January will make a big difference in your year. That is one of the reasons people make new year’s resolutions. A more effective thing is mapping out your creation plan. There are several tools on the website that can help you do just that, a creation journaling video, a post about directing your creation energy, a program I’ll be doing Jan 8 “Create A Dynamic Year 2012“, and a Free Online Winter Solstice Tele-ceremony and meditation. (You can sign up for the event at the bottom of this page.)

More About Winter Solstice and the Capricorn Sun

Winter Solstice means “Sun Standstill.” Solstice marks one of the most important points on the Wheel of the Year, functioning as a seed point for the solar cycle, just as a new moon does for the lunar cycle. Its impact functions in your life for a full year, a complete growing cycle.

During this darkest phase of the year, you are called to reflect on the past year, giving gratitude for all your blessings, and to dream and create the next stage of development for your desires and goals. How you begin this cycle influences the entire upcoming year.

Capricorn energy brings the need for solid, stable plans and structures. Its purpose is for you to design and create a solid plan for the upcoming growing cycle in every area of your life. During the next few weeks you need to be sure you create your foundation for the year ahead. It is important to dream your new growing cycle into being as a blueprint for what you choose to create.

This blueprint represents which life aspects you choose to place your intention and focus on during this growing cycle. As you create your blueprint, you don’t have to know how each item will come into being, you need only to connect to the blueprint, energize it, allow the elemental forces to inform you around it, and be in alignment with the rhythmic cycle.

The more your blueprint aligns both with you personally and with caring for the Earth, the more effective it becomes. Intentions aligned with caring for the Earth are in harmony with the natural world and therefore have more support from nature. Utilizing the rhythmic timings by energizing your desires with both Winter Solstice and the Capricorn Sun will powerfully impact your experience in 2012.

REMEMBER, only apply energy to what you want to grow. How you phrase your dreams, desires, and goals is very IMPORTANT. When you state what you “do not want” you bring that into being because that is where the energy is flowing. You want to clearly state what you choose to bring in, and to determine the action steps that you will need to make. Then, release attachment to the outcome.  That way Spirit, as it flows into our world of form, creating with the elemental forces, can work on your behalf.

As you align your dreams and desires with the unified field of all the elements (Earth, Water, Air, Fire, with Spirit flowing through all) sometimes an element needs to be strengthened, or an aspect of your mental beliefs or your old emotional program needs to be cleared. Just like growing a garden in your yard, sometimes rocks and roots need to be removed or fertilizer, water, or more sun need to be added so that your flowers and veggies may thrive.

Personal Creation Ideas to Activate Winter Solstice
IF YOU ONLY DO ONE PERSONAL CEREMONY ALL YEAR THIS IS THE ONE TO DO ~ Do this either in the Winter Solstice window or on the New Moon in Capricorn (Dec 24).
At any point during this process you may choose to call in Sacred Space, p. 215-223 of Natural Rhythms ™.

~ Create a yearly completions and blessings list from last Winter Solstice to this one.
~ Create a detailed one-year plan in life areas:
Personal
Health and Well-being
Financial
Social: Family, friends, partners
Career
Creativity
Home
Spiritual
Contributions to the Community or Collective (Give Back)
Green Dreams (Ways to be more Earth Friendly)
Other
~ Create a vision dream board for the year.
~ Elemental Journaling: Bring to this session a representation of each element. A stone or rock for Earth, a bowl of water for Water, a feather for Air, a candle for Fire, and your dream board and plan for Spirit, along with your journal and a blank piece of paper. Take the time to listen to each element and their message to you for the year in relation to all that you are bringing in.

Points for the Sun in Capricorn Window (Dec 22 – Jan 20)
~ This time of year creates the foundation for the growing cycle of the year ahead. Tend to the soil of your life.
~ Take any solid grounded steps that are needed for the functioning of your year plan.
Examples: Get your insurance, wills, and other foundational pieces in place. Create your yearly financial plan of both expenses and income.
Financial Affirmation: “I am Divine Power freely flowing through focused intention and grounded loving action in all my financial affairs.”
~ Make sure your home and office are in order for the new growing cycle. Handle any completions that still need to be done as soon as possible.
~ Develop procedures and administrative systems.
~ Attend to your physical world: body, home, garden, car, etc.
~ Apply discipline and structure where needed.
~ Plan well and then work your plan.

Winter Solstice Tele-Ceremony & Meditation

Join author, Lisa Michaels in a FREE tele-ceremony and meditation to honor this sacred time of year.  

Use this potent rhythm, as the darkest night brings the gentle birth of solar light, to activate your desires personally, professionally, and collectively.

Find out details about working with the Capricorn New Moon which falls on Dec 24.

Phone & Webcast

December 21, 2011 ~ 7pm Eastern Time

Sign up below to join us for this inspiring event.

Sign Up Below for this FREE Winter Solstice Tele-Ceremony & Meditation
December 21, 2011 ~ 7pm Eastern Time

Window: November 9-11

Element:
Moon Taurus – Earth
Sun Scorpio- Water

Taurus Full Moon
The earthy full moon Taurus, with the sun in watery Scorpio, brings creational magic. This juicy lusty combination of signs brings a connection to pleasure, beauty, and intimacy that expresses physically and emotionally. These two signs can unite in many different ways from tantric lovemaking to joining the power of the water realm to magnetize your desires to fully come into physical form.

No matter how you choose to work with this powerful combination, they bring the ability to connect the watery feeling source with the physical realm. This creates a potent window to feel the fulfillment of your dreams anchoring them solidly on the Earth.

If you want to see some amazing Taurus/Scorpio artistic intimacy and magic watch this performance by artists Nicolas Besnard & Ludivine Furnon (Silver Medalist in Paris at the 31th Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain) performing at “Benissimo” Live TV show 2010. Click Here to Watch!

If you want to see your desires in come fully into form this is a window of ceremonial opportunity to allow the magical creational forces of nature to powerfully assist you.  Remember to give thanks and only energize what you choose to have come into form.

Ceremonial Ideas to Work with Taurus Full Moon/ Sun in Scorpio
Choose one or perhaps two depending on your available time. For more information on calling in Sacred Space, see p. 215-223 of Natural Rhythms.

Personal Suggestions:
~ Open to express your sensuality and create beauty.
~ Work with your co-creational journal or dream board, collage and energize what you are ready to have come into form. Remember that some things you want to bring in require a gestational time on the inner (just as a baby does in the womb) before they are ready to birth or emerge into the outer world.
~ Spend some time really listening to your inner guidance in every area of your life. This is a very important time to connect to elemental wisdom by working with each element (see directions below) and to listen internally to your feelings and guidance.
~ Review your year and ask yourself where you were successful with bringing in your creations and where you can apply yourself more fully.
~ Tune into the relationship between your feelings and ability to magnetize your desires and what is showing up on the earthly level of your life. Ask Taurus and Scorpio if there are ways you could improve your capacities?
~ Sit in the light of the moon and open for insights.

Business/Professional Suggestions:
~ Honor and give thanks for your business/professional growth, development, and abundance over the last year. Determine the details o f what you would like to bring forth during the next
year.
~ Tune into the relationship between your feelings and ability to magnetize your desires in your business/profession and what is actually showing up on the earthly level. Ask Taurus and Scorpio
if there are ways you could improve your capacities to draw in what you are choosing to bring forth?
~ Create a list of anything else you need to come into place for a strong business foundation, and take solid steps toward building that foundation.
~ Either review or create your business financial goals, expenses, income, and investments.
~ Earth moon’s create a great time to develop new strategies for step-by-step business growth for the upcoming growing cycle.

The grand opening of our brand new creation shop has 35% off our personal and business programs!

Celebrated: October 31

The four cross-quarter days of the wheel of the year, such as Samhain, were considered very important by the ancient people who worked with the wheel. Many cultures have a sacred time during this cross-quarter point of Samhain (Sah-win, Sah-ween). It is also known as Halloween, All Souls Night, All Hallows Eve, with the Day of the Dead, or All Souls Day on Nov 1 or 2.

The medieval Irish word Samhain, means summer’s end. It is the last of three harvest festivals, as the growing season in North America comes to a close. This cross-quarter day begins the turn toward winter. The cross-quarter days fall between the solstices and equinoxes and signal the turn toward the next season. To understand the cross-quarter days more fully, go to www.naturalrhythms.org and download your free copy of Chapter 2 of Natural Rhythms™ by Lisa Michaels.

There is a very good article with more details about the ancient point of Samhain on http://www.loc.gov/folklife/halloween.html.

This time of year when so many cultures honor the dead arrives just as the deepest darkness of the year begins in the Northern Hemisphere. The six weeks from Samhain to Winter Solstice creates the darkest time of our year. The solar “Sun God” traditionally is thought of as going back into the womb of the “Goddess” to gestate there, until his rebirth at Winter Solstice.

This creates a window that ends the old growing season before the new one starts again. So some  connect to Samhain as, both the end and beginning of the new year, and to others, it was the end of the old year and the new one began at Winter Solstice. Either way the “veils between the world” of life and death were considered thin here and traditionally you honored those who had crossed through death to the other side.

The ancestors are honored and celebrated with photos displayed and the lighting of candles on their behalf. These departed loved ones were also sometimes contacted for communication during this time. So take time here to appreciate all your ancestors, loved ones, and mentors on the other side, and all that you have harvested as this growing cycle comes to a close.

This window begins the inward turning time of the year. The time to reflect within in order to determine what you are ready to release or let go of and what you choose to bring into the next growing cycle. The action of reflection here forms a very important part of the creation cycle. In order to create the “new” most often something also needs to be “let go” of and the reflection to know what that is, as well as being willing to release is essential.

If you like any type of divination, this is one of the most potent times of the year to do it because the veils between the worlds are thin. So get out your cards, runes, or other tools and ask for guidance for the coming year.

If you want to see your desires in form this is a window of ceremonial opportunity to allow the magical creation forces of nature to powerfully assist you. Remember to give thanks and only energize what you choose to have come into form.

Ideas to Work with Samhain

Choose one or perhaps two depending on your available time.

Personal Suggestions:

~ Honor your ancestors and those who have transitioned that you love.
~ Tune into what you need to release and have a “letting go” ceremony or a big give away of things you no longer need.
~ Connect to anything you want to bring into form, energize the feeling of it’s completion, and give thanks.
~ Work with your co-creation journal or dream board, collage and energize what you are ready to have come into form. Remember that some things you want to bring in require a gestational time on the inner (just as a baby does in the womb) before they are ready to birth or emerge into the outer world.
~ Spend some time really listening to your inner guidance in every area of your life. This is a very important time to connect to elemental wisdom by working with each element (see directions below) and to listen internally to your feelings and guidance.
~ Review your year and ask yourself where you were successful with bringing in your creations and where you can apply yourself more fully.

Business/Professional Suggestions:

~ Tune into what you need to “let go” of in your business/professional life in order to bring forth the next level of growth.
~ Take time to connect to your inner guidance around what is next to be created in this area of your life.
~ Honor and give thanks for your business/professional growth, development, and abundance over the last year. Determine the details of what you would like to bring forth during the next year.
~ Spend time in reflection around your business. Determine what needs gestation in order to full come into form in the next growing cycle.
~ Honor your business “ancestors” and do some divination for your business.

If you would like more support for your business growth with the elements then register for my complimentary program “Expert Success Secrets” Here.

Harvest blessings and love, Lisa

PS…I love hearing how you are using this time of year so feel free to leave a comment.

Autumnal Equinox, also called Mabon, occurs each year somewhere around September 21st or 22nd. This year the exact point falls on the 23rd. It sits directly across the Wheel of the Year from Spring Equinox and here again you find light and dark perfectly balanced. As the halfway point from Summer Solstice to Winter Solstice, Autumnal Equinox brings the awareness that change is in the air. At this time of year, you are called to let go of the growing phase of the cycle, allowing it to fall away just as the leaves begin to fall from the trees.

The Earth’s seasonal cycle can be likened to your daily cycle. One seasonal cycle to her is equivalent to one of your days. Spring represents her morning, summer her noon and afternoon, autumn her evening, and winter her night and deep sleep. She then wakes in the spring and begins her “day” all over again, just as you do. This time of year feels like dusk, as the sun begins the setting process, and things start to wind down.

Since equinoxes represent a time when the light and dark exist in sacred balance, it provides you with an opportunity to tune into the balance of your life. As the sun moves into Libra, it also brings the teaching of balance. As teacher of balance in relationships it shows you how to honor another’s point of view, balance opposites, and consider options.

During this window you can evaluate things that may need your attention in order to come into greater harmony and alignment. Notice if you need to balance anything in your life to more effectively bring your desires into being? Perhaps you need to balance your active outer world actions with more quiet restful energy or balance your time indoors with more time spent in nature. Or maybe you need to focus your actions to get some energy flowing. You can simply ask internally what is it in you that needs to be balanced at this time so you can begin making the necessary changes.

In addition to working with balance during this second harvest time you want to honor and celebrate all that you have brought forth during this growing cycle. Appreciation of all that has come forth provides you with energy to go forward in your creations.

Once you have fully honored your success then you can notice what its time to leave behind or let go of. You can ask yourself, “What things in life do I need to release so that they can find a new home or to a new life?” This creates a great window to give away unneeded items and release old unproductive ways of doing things.

Personal Creation Ceremonial Ideas to Activate Autumnal Equinox

If you need more information about calling in Sacred Space, see p. 215-223 of Natural Rhythms™.

~  Create a simple ceremony where you review your creational plans. Tune into each of the following areas and see what it needs in order to be further activated and energized. Journal your answers, connect to the elements below, and then energize your desires with playful action.

Personal
Health and Well-being
Financial
Social: family, friends, partners
Career
Creativity
Home
Spiritual
Contributions to the Community or Collective (giving back)
Green Dreams (ways to be more earth friendly)
Other

Points for the Sun in Libra Window (Sept 23 – Oct 23, 2011)
~ Add more balance to your life.
~ Look at your creations from all sides.
~ Appreciate your relationships.
~ Value the point of view of others.
~ Enjoy your social skills and social gatherings.
~ Be a good host/ess, partner, and companion.
~ Value your relationships as a path to the Divine.
~ Read the Conscious Heart by Gay & Kathyln Hendricks.
~ Practice your mediation skills.
~ Help balance the extreme polarities currently expressing in the world.
~ Deepen your relationship to peace.

Direct
August 28, 11:04 PM EST

Virgo, an Earth sign, creates the sixth astrological gate of awareness, teaching the significance of dedicated work. It understands and honors patterns, timings, rhythms, and cycles. It accesses the Priest/ess with to honor the sacred in the natural world through ceremony and ritual. Virgo is organized, practical, dependable, productive, and a hard worker with a tremendous capacity for handling the details of the earthly realm. A sign deeply committed to doing its sacred work by being in service to the world around it.

This new moon provides you with one of the three earthy new moons of the year. It forms  a time for solid planning and grounded action. Write your goals down in detail. Make plans for the final months of the year.

Take some time during this new moon window to sit in meditation, asking where it is in your life that you need to more deeply connect the sacred to the earthly physical realm.Take notes about what you receive as you tune into this Virgo energy. Follow up on the insights you receive.

Virgo New Moon

Organize your life. Handle details. Perform ceremonies. Connect to the sacred in every aspect of life. Increase productivity. Activate your sacred work. Be of service. Develop an exercise or health program. Tie up loose ends. Be useful. Connect to the patterns, rhythms, and cycles of nature.

It is time to review your solid grounded creation plans! What needs to be completed to have more order in your life? All Earth new moons are useful for solid grounded steps toward your goals.

Choose the one or two ideas most aligned with you to work with.

Personal Action Suggestions:

~ Appreciate your body and give it what it needs to thrive– good food, exercise, touch, and some fresh air.
~ Spend time in nature by gardening, going for a walk, or planting a tree. Give thanks and appreciation to the element of Earth as you connect with her.
~ Make sure your financial goals are in writing.
~ Handle unfinished household or gardening chores.
~ Start a new eating or exercise plan. Virgo is one of the best new moon’s of the year for this.
~ Organize and create new systems for more order.
~ Create a ceremony for any area of your life that needs boosting.

Business/Professional Action Suggestions:

~ Make sure your living will, your regular will, and your insurance is up to date.
~ Put systems in place for emergencies or update the one you have.
~ Make sure your valuables are inventoried, at home and work. Make sure they are organized so you can find them easily.
~ Create a list of anything else you need to come into place for a strong business foundation, and take solid steps toward building that foundation.
~ Evaluate your business management systems.  Are there areas to strengthen?
~ Either review or create your business financial goals, expenses, income, and investments.
~ Develop new strategies and systems for step-by-step business growth.
~ Connect with ways you can bring the sacred into your work place more effectively.

To Watch a Virgo New Moon Presentation and do a Meditation Click Here

I would love to hear your stories of how the elements have supported your financial flow so please leave a comment.

Listen to Leslie Clayton’s business story
in Air below if you haven’t heard it yet.

Abundant blessings, Lisa

Sign Up today to join me for the Modern Day Money Goddess
in Atlanta October 1 & 2
or Online on October 22 & 29.
And receive an extra $250 bonus program “Clearing Your Money Matrix”

Register now to receive the Early Bird Special Pricing (We’ve just extended the Early Bird Price for In-Person and the Extra bonus until Midnight Eastern Time Sept 1).

Click Here to find out more.

Element: Earth

From the expansive fire sign of Leo, the sun now moves into the hard working and detailed focused earth energy of Virgo. If there is a time each year to take care of the details of getting organized, creating new systems, or getting a routine going, this is it.

Virgo loves order so the more you can handle completions and getting things around you in order the better. The sun will support your actions for those types of activities during this window.

It also creates a good time to do anything in the earthly realm that can use a more organized, grounded, and effective approach such as; taking care of your body, handling your finances, or simply cleaning out your house and giving things you no longer need to charity.

As the archetype of the priestess and priest, Virgo loves connecting to the sacred by honoring the seasons and cycles of the natural world. This would make a wonderful time to plan a ceremony for a life passage, the next turn of the wheel of the year, or simply because you want a deeper connection to the sacred in any area of your life.

Another key component of Virgo is being of service. If you have wanted to help out with a charity or non-profit this would make a good time to set that in motion by getting started adding your assistance.

The physical world holds the relationship to your finances. Three times a year, when the sun or new moon are in Earth signs, it is extremely helpful and important to focus on taking solid steps toward your financial goals. This quarterly energy of anchoring helps you to stabilize and support the other elements, so that they all work together effectively throughout the year toward your prosperity.

Virgo loves saving money through detailed price comparison and coupon clipping. It works hard toward a managing a budget and staying organized with its economic flow. Allow this sign to carefully support your financial goals this month.

Creational Ideas for the Sun in Virgo Window
~ Prepare your garden for fall planting or fall clean up.
~ Organize anything that needs it in your home.
~ Create a more effective routine to do anything.
~ Take note of what your body needs for you to take better care of it.
~ Clean out your car and get it serviced.
~ Review your finances and make sure your budget is in order.
~ Make sure your will, living will, and all forms of insurance are handled.
~ Handle the details of your life and business.
~ Create your business organizational plan for the next year.
~ Tie up loose ends by completing anything in your business or home life that needs it.
~ Increase productivity in any area.
~ Connect more deeply to the sacred.

Leave a comment of any ways that YOU use the Sun in Virgo Window

Celebrated on August 1 with the exact astrological point between Summer Solstice & Autumnal Equinox occurring this year August 7.

The seasonal cycle called the Wheel of the Year, contains the major points of the solstices and equinoxes and additionally four more points that fall in-between. The additional four days actually begin the turn toward the new season and they are called cross-quarter days.

This week we experience the cross-quarter day that begins the turn toward autumn (in the Northern Hemisphere). Sometimes with the cross-quarter days there was a traditional day they were celebrated on and then the exact point where it fell between the solstice and equinox. In this case the cross-quarter day named Lughnasad or Lammas, (which falls between Summer Solstice and Autumnal Equinox) traditionally celebrated on August 1, is exact this year on August 7.

Lughnasad, originally named after the sun god Lugh, is the cross-quarter Wheel of the Year point following Summer Solstice. Also known as Lammas, it marks the starting point of the turn toward autumn. To understand the cross-quarter days more fully, read Chapter 2 of Natural Rhythms™ by Lisa Michaels. Download your free copy in the starter kit.

Lughnasad is the first of three harvest festivals celebrated each year as the growing season begins to produce bountiful crops. Celebrating the harvest was an extremely important part of life that was deeply connected to the land and the growing cycle. Gratitude for the blessings of fruit and grain that would carry your community through the harsher days of winter expressed a heartfelt appreciation for the core of nature that sustains life.

The relationship between the abundant Earth Mother and the Solar Fire God is vital to the survival of the species. Those who honor of the Wheel of the Year connect to this primal understanding, showing their gratitude and giving blessings back to the land. Just as any other being appreciates your gratitude when they have bestowed you with a gift, Nature also loves receiving your power prayers of thanks.

Lammas actually means “loaf mass” and was named from a Christian mass for honoring the grain that we grind into flour and then transform into food for our bodies. This process of transformation provides you with a wonderful example of how you can integrate all of your experiences, regardless of how they felt at the time, into food for the soul, food that wisdom rises from in order to nourish your life.

This year during the week of Lughnasad take a look around your life and notice where integration and the blessings of transformation may be showing up for you. Be sure to give thanks, celebrate the bounty of your harvest, and work with this powerful window to enhance your creations.

Personal Creation Ceremonial Ideas to Activate Lughnasad

Choose one or perhaps two depending on your available time. For more information on calling in Sacred Space, see p. 215-223 of Natural Rhythms ™.

~ Ask yourself what you have to be thankful for in life and in relation to your creations. List all those things in your journal. Also ask yourself what desires have come into form that are now ripe and ready for picking.

~ Notice if there is a place in life where you are releasing the grain from the chaff or pounding your creations down so they rise again in a fuller form.

~ Lammas serves as a good time of year to pay attention to which part of the transformational cycle your creations may be in and perhaps honor them in ceremony.

~ Honor the abundant Earth Mother in some way. Thank the Corn Goddess for her fertility. Create an altar with corn, bread, flowers that bloom this time of year, grapes, and seasonal produce.

~ Create a ceremonial meal with seasonal vegetables, grains, and fruit. Serve it with corn bread or freshly baked bread. Finish it off with blackberry cobbler. Be sure to set a beautiful table and express your gratitude fully before and during your ceremonial meal.

~ After working with each element around your harvest, create an art piece to represent their messages from this point on the Wheel.

~ Elemental Journaling: Take the time to listen to each element and their message to you about producing a good harvest.

Give thanks to Earth and ask “What do my creations need from you at this time to produce a bountiful harvest?”

Give thanks to Water and ask “What do my creations need from you at this time to produce a bountiful harvest?”

Give thanks to Air and ask “What do my creations need from you at this time to produce a bountiful harvest?”

Give thanks to Fire and ask “What do my creations need from you at this time to produce a bountiful harvest?”

Give thanks to Spirit and ask “What do my creations need from you at this time to produce a bountiful harvest?”

If you have the Elemental Forces of Creation Oracle, you may want to draw cards for additional guidance from each element and/or add insight from other decks.

Now ask the unified field of all of the elements and Spirit for a unified creation message so that your creations may flourish.

Sending you beautiful harvest blessings for Lughnasad.
Much love, Lisa

Please leave a comment I would love to hear about what you are harvesting in your life!