Blue Moon this month 31st July 2015

We have a blue moon this month. A blue moon occurs when two full moon occur in one calendar month. This July we had a full moon on 2nd July and are due another on 31st July 2015. This is a very rare event as we haven't had one since August 2012 and the next one is not due until 2018. We will actually have two blue moons in 2018, in January and March but this is obviously a very rare occurrence. The next year of double blue moons is not until 1937!

Beautiful pic is from earth sky.org, check out their website for lots of amazing astronomical facts!

Obviously as our calendar is a man made way of measuring the days in the month, there isn't really any spiritual significance of us having two blue moons in one month. However I still think it is an interesting fact to note and cool for you if July is of significance to you to have two full moons this month! I think we can all agree that the full moon is always something to offer gratitude for and if we get two moons in one month then by my book that's cause for extra gratitude!

Blue moon blessings to you, AstarteAlison xxxxx

I wish for you a day full of joy and happiness. Positive inspirational quote

I wish for you a day full of joy and happiness, a day when you feel like blowing bubbles just for the sheer joy of seeing them float into the sky, carrying your dreams toward the heavens *´¯`•.¸¸. ♥ *

Expect your prayers to be answered in wondrous ways.Sarah Ban Breathach.

Expect to have hope rekindled. Expect your prayers to be answered in wondrous ways. The dry seasons in life do not last.  The spring rains will come again.  Sarah Ban Breathnach.

Very uplifting words from the wonderful Sarah Ban Breathnach. She is the author of the book 'Simple Abundunce', helping you to always look on the bright side. Ironically after writing that book Sarah Ban Brethnach underwent a lot more hardship herself and faced financial ruin at the age of 61 after a lot of very poor business decisions. She writes about it in her book 'Peace and Plenty', and shows us that there is always a way out of the darkness however dark that path might look at the time. Just because yesterday was a bad day it does not mean that tomorrow will be.

Abundant blessings in all areas of your life, AstarteAlison

New Moon Affirmation. On accepting the challenges ahead of us in life and practicing Gratitude

We have a new moon today and with it comes an apology from me for not posting in ages. Too much going on I won't bore you with but hopefully life will get on bit more of an even keel now.

So we have a new moon and with it always the hope of new beginnings, fresh eyes on the world, new ways of thinking, amazing opportunities and challenges to be faced. It is an exciting time in the lunar month I always find, as well as sometimes for some an unsettling on, coupled with the time of the full moon I often think this is the most turbulent time, it is how we use this time to our advantage that is the key here really. I have to admit I often do struggle at these times as I do suffer from migraines at the time of the new moon and full moon but try to push through. This is a time of challenge, we all have our challenges to face, the key is how we deal with these. Practicing mindfulness and gratitude are great ways of doing this. Concentrating on the here and now and being grateful for what you have right now, the little things, is a great way to take your mind away from the worry of any larger issues that may be causing you pain. 

What plans do you have for this new moon, do you have any projects you would like to get started on? I plan to book my craft fairs and festivals for the summer over the next few days so that is something to look forward to.

New moon blessings to you,

Alison

Super New Moons in January February and March. Can you feel the increase in energy?

How has this moon phase been for you? I've taken full advantage of the New Moon this January and gone full on into creating my new website, it is something I have been meaning to do for a long time and have been putting off. As many of you know I suffer from migraines and this puts me off starting big jobs like this knowing that it may be hard to finish them but I decided that I just had to go for it. Our waxing moon has really been in my favour these past few days and I have been able to work really well and have got so much done. I'm very chuffed with myself!! I am also feeling a great deal of gratitude for the wonders of the universe that we inhabit and it's ever changing nature. 

Even my daughter who is not particularly into this sort of thing commented that the moon must be giving her energy as she was feeling it too! She is busy with a heavy work load from school at the moment and so it really helped that the waxing moon was giving her the energy to get through it.

It was a super new moon this January so that may have something to do with it. This means that our new moon was closer to the earth than she normally is. A super moon has to be within 361,836 kilometres or 224,834 miles to be defined as a Supermoon.  At the time of the super moon the effects that we normally feel at the new moon will be accentuated. This super new moon also brings wider ranging tides than normal. The tide rises higher, which is called a Perigean spring tide and also plunges much lower.

  
More information can be found on super moons here: What is a Supermoon?

Our February new moon will also be a super new moon as will be the new moon in March of this year. February's new moon occurring on the 18th will be the most 'super' of the three as it is closest to the lunar perigree. Perigree means near our earth. The new moon on February 18th 2015 occurs at 23.47 UTC and the lunar perigree occurs eight hours later. Our moon in March will arrive on the 20th, approximately fourteen hours after pedigree. 

We will therefore be in for a real treat in February. I'm looking forward to making even more progress on my blog and website then!

If you would like to take a peek at my website it is http://www.astarte-moon.co.uk or you can click on the shop button at the top of the page here. I would love to know what you think, any improvements I could make etc. I'm still learning my way around the new programme. Steep learning curve but I'm getting there!!

Brigid's Imbolc blessings positive inspirational quote. Follow the Brigid bliss.

Imbolc blessings to you and all those you hold dear, wherever you are, all around the world.

May the Goddess Brighde be in your hearts and her love bring all the goodness of the first awakenings of spring to you and those around you. Brighde, Brigit or Brigid was celebrated as the Goddess of Fertility, may she bring prosperity, fertility and happiness into all aspects of your lives. Brigid was said to be the mother of the God Yule, she is nursing him now at Imbolc as he grows strong. She is known as the fire goddess and many celebrations centre around fire building and the lighting of candles. Brigid is one of the few Pagan goddesses who still survives to this day, she was adopted by the Christian church and was worshipped as Saint Brigit,  although she was de canonised in the 1960s, she is still venerated in Ireland. 

Embrace the spirit of Brigid and bring her love and joy into your lives. Our earth is awakening, allow yourselves to awaken and blossom, you will be amazed at the wonderful happiness that lies waiting ahead of you. Follow the Brigid Bliss. 

Brigid's blessings to you, AstarteAlison

As we look to the New Year, Hold on to what is good. Inspirational New Year Quote 2015

As we look to the New Year, Hold on to what is good, Let go of what is bad. It really is that simple. Mandy Hale.

New Year Blessings to you all, hope that 2015 brings you a year full of health and happiness. This is wonderful advice from Mandy Hale. The New Year is a good time for looking at what we do and don't need in our lives. I'm not one for a big new year's resolution list but it can be a good time to just take a bit of time to reassess and look at what is working and what is not. Make a few changes, make a new years resolution list if that is what works for you but only if you know it is a realistic one that you can stick to. Keep the good and let go of the bad and look forward to a wonderful 2015 full of bliss and all that you deserve.

Much love and rainbow hugs, Alison xxxx ☽✪☾

On Combining Christmas and Yule, Winter Solstice

How do you combine Christmas and Yule in your family traditions? Do you celebrate both traditions?

In our family I have only been a Pagan for approximately four years. My teenage daughters therefore in regards to Paganism, how can I put it; 'gently support' what they term their Mum's 'hippy ways'! They love what I do and I know a lot of it is rubbing off on them but they in in no way put them selves in my camp it just wouldn't be cool! Perhaps if I had become a Pagan whilst they were toddlers it might have been different. I look wistfully every year at the mothers and their very young children all dressed up with flowers in

their hair at the maypole in Glastonbury for Beltane!

Christmas is therefore a very big event in our house. Although adults really now my girls adore Christmas and get really excited which I love. I have no problem with celebrating Christian holidays alongside Pagan ones and have not let go of a lot of my Catholic upbringing. I believe in religious tolerance for all religions, every religion has something to offer and we can never say one is better than another. Personally I like to draw from many different religions in my personal beliefs. For me Paganism is about worshipping our Mother Earth not about whose religion is the better one.

My Yule Altar

So to celebrate Yule at the Winter Solstice this year I will be lighting candles and having a private mediation, welcoming the return of the sun. I struggle with the long dark days so will be very glad that our sun is returning to light our earth. For that I give gratitude to our wonderful Mother Earth Gaia. I like to bring the outside into the house at this time of year so have made our mantlepiece into an altar to honour our Mother Earth, the Goddess Gaia. This is following ancient Pagan customs of bringing greenery such as holly ivy and mistletoe into homes for good luck, more on ancient customs can be found here

Our Pagan Christmas tree

Although our Christmas tree is festooned with baubles and memories of holidays past I also like to Paganise it a little with ornaments I have made and pentacle charms. Perhaps you can have a go at making your own pentacle charm to go on your Christmas tree this year? Pentacle charms like the one depicted here are still available in the Astarte Moon Shop  as well. 

Yule Pentacle charm-Astarte-Moon Shop

Blessings of love and light for the return of the sun at Yule to you, AstarteAlison

Tomorrow begins with a brand new light. Thoughts on Gratitude.

Embrace your dreams through all of the night, tomorrow begins with a brand new light.

As you fall asleep, think with gratitude of the day that has been today. It may have been a good day, it may not have been the day you had hoped for. Somewhere within that day there will have been things that you can be grateful for. Think of those things as you fall asleep, dwelling on the positive to help you through the night. Tomorrow is always a brand new dawn with its own hopes and dreams, whatever has happened the day before, a new light will make everything seem different. 

Blessings of new light to you, Alison

"You are emerging from the cocoon of your former self. Marianne Williamson Positive Inspirational Quote

"You are emerging from the cocoon of your former self. There are no limits to the extent of the transformation that's possible for you" Marianne Williamson

This is a wonderful and truly inspiring quote by the fabulous Marianne Williamson. She teaches us that it is always possible to change, change is within us and it is never too late to do so, we just need the courage to take those initial steps towards transformation, to shrug off the chains that may be holding us back and move forward towards our dreams. Whatever the terminology we use, the Lightening Process, NLP, mindfulness, all of these are designed to bring about the change from within but first we need to want to change. Are you ready for change, are you ready to take that first step?


Marianne Williamson is also author of the book 

The Gift of Change: Spiritual Guidance for a Radically New Life [Paperback]

Marianne Williamson. 
In this lovely book Marianne talks about change and how we should embrace it. Our lives should be flexible and we are encouraged to find our own path that is truly right for us.

 "Marianne Williamson delves deeply into the rule of change and transition in our lives in this inspirational book, reflecting on the paradoxes that inevitably pervade our experience as she helps us find our way. Williamson examines the paradox of what we gather on the path of life, as our most difficult times sometimes bring about the most wisdom. She then investigates our inherent resistance to change and our recklessness around it. Finally, she focuses at length on the paradox of existence – being firmly rooted yet flexible in our lives.

Providing seven practical principles to support us through the transitions and changes we experience in life, Williamson ensures that whatever change you are facing – whether it's a relationship ending, the loss of a loved one or embarking on a new career path – you can learn to stop resisting the change itself and move into the future gracefully. The Gift of Change also examines the roles of openness and letting go, grieving and forgiveness, and love and fear. Marianne Williamson delivers hope and healing as she brings us to a place where we can truly live in the freedom of love." Amazon.co.uk

So let your light shine, you are brilliant and amazing and others around you will appreciate that light and allow their own light to shine.

Click on the link below to take you forward to find out more about the Gift of Change from Marianne.

Bright blessings of transformation to you, Alison

A Pagan path with Gratitude for all creatures on our Mother Earth, Gaia.

We are not the only creature on this planet with emotions, feelings and a family life.

Isn't this a beautiful picture? Just reminds us of the importance of all the wonderful beings who inhabit our Mother Earth alongside us. We sometimes have to be reminded that we are not the only ones who to whom things such as family and feelings are incredibly important. Following a Pagan path means to me that all creatures are important on this earth we call Gaia and I constantly offer Gratitude for each and every one of them.

Gaias blessings, AstarteAlison

Happy World Animal Day! A dog wags it's tail with it's heart!

Happy World Animal Day!

A dog wags it's tail with it's heart!

My photos in Spirit and Destiny Magazine. Article on Spirit Rescue, helping a spirit cross over.

Very excited that my photographs have been published in this month's Spirit and Destiny Magazine! For those of my lovely readers in the US and anywhere else not in the UK this is a lovely magazine brimming with lots of info on all things Spiritual: Pagan, angels, chakra healing, crystal healing, horoscopes, psychic, mediumship, you name it they cover it basically.

Anyway a very good friend of mine Sarah Jewsbury is a very talented Medium who has a column for them and performed a Spirit Rescue. They needed a photographer and she recommended me. Now I am not a professional photographer at all so the whole thing was very nerve wrecking but enjoyable at the same time! I felt very privileged to be a part of this wonderful process and to work with such lovely people. To be featured in the wonderful Spirit and Destiny is a great honour and to see my photographs in print is very exciting! It was a very interesting story about this spirit Catherine who had attached herself to this house and to the client due to the fact that she couldn't move on so Sarah performed the rescue to help her do so, to cross over. She did this with the help of a spirit guide. You can read the whole story in the magazine which is just out now. If you would like to find out more about spirit rescue I'm sure Sarah would be happy to talk to you. 

Bright October blessings to you,

Alison xxx

Gratitude quote from Michael Bernard on being grateful for what you already have.

I love this wonderful quote on Gratitude from Michael Bernard. "Nothing new can come into your life unless you are grateful for what you already have. Michael Bernard"

Rescuing one dog may not change the world but it will change that dog's world forever. Another Gratitude lesson from our canine friends.

Rescuing one dog may not change the world but it will change that dog's world forever. Our pet's truly show us the meaning of Gratitude and sometimes it is humbling to see how grateful they are for our presence in their lives. They do not ask for much yet are so grateful for what we give them and are so happy to see us, we have a lot to learn from this.

This beautiful dog is Wendy, a rescued street dog from Serbia that my my Mum brought over. The flowers around her neck were because she was in Glastonbury celebrating Beltane! A million miles away from that existence she endured for so long, she is still so very grateful for every day I'm quite sure. The picture below shows her at the shelter in Serbia before she was brought over to England. Gratitude blessings to you all, Alison

Full Super Moon Harvest September 2014 a cause for Gratitude and why is it Orange?!

Well our moon for September 2014 is currently waxing at 83% of her fullness at the time I write this and I can feel her energy ever building. I haven't been lucky enough to see her on the last few nights as it has been cloudy here in England so I'm hoping for a few clear nights as we reach the nights of her fullness. 

This September moon is the moon closest to the Pagan festival of Mabon. Therefore a lot of the names that have been given over time to this full moon are to do with the harvest that takes place around this time of year. Mabon is the second harvest in the Pagan wheel of the Year, we shall see the last one being the traditional one of Samhain or Halloween. Common names for the September moon therefore included Harvest Moon, Barley Moon and Corn Moon.

It is often thought that this harvest moon is a particularly orange colour, is there any truth or science behind this fact? When we see the moon rising it looks much larger to our eyes as we are seeing it against the background of other objects. Due to the fact that we are looking at the moon through a greater amount of atmospheric particles including pollution the moon will take on an orange or reddish tint. The atmosphere will scatter the blue particles but allow the red component of light to travel direct to our eyes. Thus we see a larger looking red/orange Harvest Moon rising in our skies on the evening of the September Full Moon. 

This September Harvest Moon is of course the third in the trio of Super moons that we will have seen in 2014, therefore it's orange glow will look even more spectacular as it will appear slightly larger.  It will not be as large as the Supermoon that occurred in August. That super moon was the largest of the year because the moon was the closest to us. Supermoon's can appear up to 14% brighter and 30% bigger. Supermoons occur because our moon does not follow a circular path around our earth, it follows an elliptical one. Therefore at its furthest away it is 405,000 km away, this is called an apogee, and at its nearest it is 363,000, this is called a perigree. When the time of the perigree aligns with a full or new moon it is called a super moon. Much more information on why Supermoon's occur and how they might affect us can be found here:What is a Supermoon 

Other names for the September Full Supermoon include Mulberry Moon, Leaf Fall Moon, Kindly Moon and Little Chestnut Moon.

The September Mabon moon is all about achieving balance in our lives. We are nearing the Autumn equinox. Look to any areas of your lives that feel our of kilter right now, what do you need to do to bring that balance back? This is also a time of Gratitude. It is a time when we say thank you to our Mother Earth. She has provided us with a lot over this past year asking for nothing in return, the least we can do is offer her our gratitude. It is up to you how you do this, you may like to get together with family and friends or simply spend some time in nature offering up your silent thanks to the Mother Earth that feeds us and keeps us alive.

Do you have a favourite for the September Mabon Moon? I'm going to go with Blackberry Moon this year as the blackberries are early and there are already so many of them in my garden..delicious!

Full Mabon Supermoon Harvest Moon blessings to you,

AstarteAlison

To love unconditionally, to be happy and grateful for the little things in life, we humans have a lot to learn from our pets.Gratitude quote

To love unconditionally, to be happy and grateful for the little things in life, we humans have a lot to learn from our pets.

Gratitude blessings to you, AstarteAlison

When a new day begins, dare to smile gratefully. Gratitude quote. Steve Maraboli

When a new day begins, dare to smile gratefully. When there is darkness, dare to be the first to shine a light. Steve Maraboli

Love this gratitude quote, it can often be hard to be the first to shine a light when all around appears to be darkness. However daring to shine that light and smile even when you really don't feel like it can often so lift your spirits and affect those around you. Practising gratitude is a fabulous way to lift your spirits on a daily basis, especially on those darker days. 

Blessings of gratitude to you, Alison xxx

Our pets often teach us the wonder of unconditional love. Gratitude pets quote.

Our pets often teach us the wonder of unconditional love. Often our best friends in the whole world our cats, dogs, fish, guinea pigs, and rabbits give us so much love and so much to give gratitude for. They are there at the end of a hard day to just listen and be there for us, always happy to see us. Do you have a pet who is special in your life?

This is my daughter and her cat Izzi, we have two cats at the moment and have had two dogs who are now over the rainbow bridge, all have filled our lives with wonder and have given us so much to feel grateful for. Blessings, Alison xxx

Full moon July 2014. Blessing Moon. Hay moon

Our Moon is full this month on the 12th July.  For the full list of times for the full moon in your particular time zone please see the post I wrote a couple of days ago. Here in England we seem to be having a few dry days so hopefully that will make for some good full moon viewing!

As usual I have written a few words about the full moon names. I will try not to repeat my previous posts!  Most to the names follow what is happening in the weather at this time of year. The native american names for the full moon are often the most descriptive giving us an idea of what was happening in their lives at the time of the July full moon. 

Here is a list of the Native American full moon names for the various tribes:
Abenaki –Grass Cutter Moon
Algonquin –Squash Are Ripe Moon
Cherokee –Ripe Corn Moon
Choctaw –Little Harvest Moon, Crane Moon
Comanche –Hot Moon
Cree –Moon When Ducks Begin to Molt
Dakota Sioux –Moon of the Middle Summer
Haida –Salmon Moon
Hopi –Moon of the Homedance
Kalapuya –Camas Ripe (the bulb of the camas lily was a staple food to the Kalapuya)
Lakota –Moon When The Chokecherries Are Black
Mohawk –Time of Much Ripening
Ponca –Middle of Summer Moon
Potawatomi –Moon of the Young Corn
Shoshone –Summer Moon http://paradelle.wordpress.com

You can see from this list how important a crop corn was to the Native American tribes. This was also seen in other cultures, although now we have a variety of other crops available to us. Colonists to  America called the full moon in July the Corn Tassel Moon. 

The full moon in July is the closest moon to the Pagan feast of Lammas or Lughnasadh. This marks the festival of the first harvest. Lammas or Lughnasadh (Loo-nahs-ah) falls on the 1st August. It is a cross-quarter holiday festival which lies between the Summer Solstice (Litha) and the Autumnal Equinox (Mabon).  Traditionally it was a time for giving thanks for all that our Mother Earth, Gaia has provided; with a particular focus for the grain that has been grown that would sustain people during the long cold winter months. When you look upon the full moon therefore try and offer gratitude for all that our mother earth has provided for us. Lammas or Lughnasadh is also seen as a fertility festival as the earth is ripe with her fertility at this time of year, this is an excellent time for attracting luck and fertility in all areas of your life. Why not have a go at writing your own blessing to read out, either aloud or just to yourself at the time of the full moon? If you would like to share I would love to hear from you.

Full blessing moon love to you, AstarteAlison xxx