Astrology is an ancient practice of mythology and divination, which we can use to interpret our individual selves and shifts in humanity at large. This cosmological art helps us to make sense of seemingly random events, patterns, and energies, which we experience collectively as human beings. We all know that the Moon pulls on the tides. Since our bodies are comprised of mostly water, it’s no wonder that all of planets and their shifts seem to affect us also.
We are all impacted by the collective unconscious. According to the stars, we are just now entering a new age in humanity. If we look at a timeline of human history, a new age begins each time Saturn and Pluto form a conjunction in Capricorn. The next time this will happen is 2020. It’s difficult to deny that the current paradigm is coming to an end. It’s clarifying and comforting to map out seeming chaos and uncertainty, and discover the patterns of planetary influence and their meaning. It connects us to the profundity of human experience when we see that we are reflected in the stars. It helps us develop greater awareness around who we are and what we feel.
The following calendar maps out upcoming transits so we can tune into the cosmic influences. It can help us determine how best work with the energies that arise. This calendar also contains recommended herbal remedies for each of the major planetary transits. The suggested herbs have been determined using the ancient practice of Medical Astrology, a tool that links human anatomy and physiology to plant and fungi spirits.
As these ancient practices become increasingly popular in modern times, we are learning to join heaven and earth. We are discovering powerful ways that we can relate not only to our bodies, hearts, and minds, but also to the Earth, its seasons, and our collective unfoldment.
The suggested herbal remedies in this calendar are brought to you by medical astrologer Emily McDonald of Ethos Rising.
SPRING 2018
April 15 – New Moon in Aries
Good time for: Beginning projects and relationships, Recharging, Laying careful foundations, Rallying courage, Breaking through ruts
New Moons are a time for fresh starts and setting intentions. Falling into complete darkness, the New Moon marks the beginning of a new lunar cycle—when the Sun and Moon meet at the same degree. It presents a clean slate that helps us recharge and begin again. What projects or relationships do we now want to initiate and complete over the next six months?
Aries is the first sign of the zodiac, associated with trailblazing and initiative, so an Aries New Moon emphasizes the feeling of freshness. Since this Full Moon conjuncts revolutionary Uranus, while Mars (Aries’ ruler) conjuncts Pluto and Saturn, we are finding new ways of orienting to ourselves. Like butterflies, we are emerging from our cocoons—undergoing personal transformation, with power and suddenness, and also deliberation. Uranus rules the future, while Saturn makes sure we lay careful foundations, so whatever seeds we plant now have great potential for the long haul. We’re blending ingenuity, integrity, boldness, and risk-taking, as we pioneer new paths forward.
Supportive Remedies for Aries New Moon:
Aries rules the head, brain, and adrenals, while the Moon rules our bodily fluids, emotional memories, and biological rhythms. A Moon-Uranus conjunction can instigate changes in biological rhythms, such as menstruation and appetite. Now is an excellent time to work with adaptogenic herbs to support our equilibrium.
Chasteberry (Vitex agnus-castus) – balances pituitary hormones, assists in transformation
Ashwaganda (Withania somnifera) – promotes tissue regeneration, imparts vitality
Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum) – balances cortisol, bestows compassion and clarity
April 17— Chiron Enters Aries
Chiron is the Wounded Healer, while Aries rules the head, our masculine selves, aggression, and initiation. Chiron in Aries is a time to join body, mind, and spirit, and to discover more holistic ways of healing. It is also a time to heal our aggression, psychological traumas, and grief, and to connect more deeply with our vulnerability, both individually and as a collective.
Supportive remedies for Chiron in Aries:
Aries rules the head, brain, and adrenals, while Chiron opens our deepest wounds. Now is an excellent time to work with herbs that soothe pain from long-standing emotional turmoil. Flower essences could be particularly helpful with this transit.
Self-heal (Prunella vulgaris) – promotes tissue healing, supports psychological wholeness
Linden (Tilia americana) – relaxes tension around the heart, evens the breath
Hawthorne (Cratageus monogyna) – brings blood to the heart, imparts courage
Recommended Products from Resident Alchemist’s Kitchen herbalist Emily Berg:
Rose Open Heart by Anima MundiEssential Rose Brighten Mood Mist
Read more about Chiron moving into Aries here.
April 29 – Full Moon in Scorpio
Good time for: Intimacy, Deep psychological work, Shamanic rituals, Alchemy
Full Moons are a time to let go and release anything that no longer serves us. They’re a moment of culmination and fruition as the Moon reaches maximum brightness—falling directly opposite the Sun. The Full Moon exposes the night, tapping us into magic, hidden dimensions, and our unconscious minds.
Scorpio rules sex, death, rebirth, shamanism, and our darkness, so a Full Moon in Scorpio is a potent time for deep psychological release. We are now working consciously with our painful memories and traumas, as we allow ourselves to feel all that arises. Since Jupiter is in Scorpio for its yearlong transit, this Full Moon brings extra emphasis to our shadow work—ensuring that we face ourselves fully, and further develop a sense of worthiness. This way we can move ahead with greater emotional maturity—more available to love and intimacy, without projecting our inner turmoil onto others.
Supportive Remedies for Scorpio Full Moon:
Scorpio rules the reproductive organs and energetic transformations, such as birth and death. The Moon oversees our bodily fluids, emotional memories, and biological rhythms. During this time, it would be powerful to work with herbs that alter perception and facilitate shifts in our consciousness.
Damiana (Turnera diffusa) – brings blood to genitals, builds stamina
Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) – stimulates pelvic circulation, encourages lucid dreaming
Thorn Apple (Datura stramonium) – psychoactive stimulant, facilitates reawakening
Recommended Products from Resident Alchemist’s Kitchen herbalist Emily Berg:
Plant Alchemy’s Love Stoned Tincture for heart-opening
Read more about Scorpio’s Full Moon here.
May 15 – New Moon in Taurus
Good time for: Slowing down, Connecting with the sense pleasures, Yoga, Sensual arts
New Moons are a time for fresh starts and setting intentions. Falling into complete darkness, the New Moon marks the beginning of a new lunar cycle—when the Sun and Moon meet at the same degree. It presents a clean slate that helps us recharge and begin again. What projects or relationships do we want to initiate and complete over the next six months?
Taurus rules sensuality and self-worth, and the Taurus New Moon is an opportunity set intentions around how we take care of our bodies and hearts. How can we nourish ourselves more? Perhaps we can slow down, feed our sense pleasures, and work on trusting ourselves more deeply. We might go on a long walk, relishing in nature and our surroundings. Our mantra could be: I belong here by my very breathing. I am okay exactly as I am. We may consider making a new commitment to eat more mindfully while also thoroughly enjoying our food. Yoga, dancing, singing, flower arranging, cooking, and other practical arts are energized by this New Moon, as we delight in the Earth’s beauty at the height of spring.
Supportive Remedies for Taurus New Moon:
Taurus rules the neck and throat, while the Moon rules our bodily fluids, emotional memories, and biological rhythms. Now is an excellent time to work with nutritive herbs to support grounding, presence, and acceptance.
Nettles (Urtica dioica) – delivers nutrients, invigorates the senses
Rose (Rosa spp) – redistributes energy, opens heart and mind
Red Raspberry (Rubus idaeus) – soothes oral cavity, strengthens generative force
Recommended Products from Resident Alchemist’s Kitchen herbalist Emily Berg:
Know Yourself Cards for clarifying intentions
House of Intuition Candle to hold new intentions
May 15 – Uranus Enters Taurus
Uranus rules revolution, while Taurus rules the earth. As Uranus shifts into Taurus for the next seven years, we are beginning a great collective shift, revolutionizing the way we relate to resources, food, farming, and the earth. Mushrooms rule this period since they live in the soil, communicate in sophisticated systems, and hold the potential to revolutionize both the environment and our minds.
Supportive Remedies for Uranus in Taurus:
Taurus rules the neck, throat, and recuperative forces, while Uranus rules the endocrine system. Now is an excellent time to work with remedies that deepen our intimacy with the Earth. Mushroom infusions would be particularly helpful with this transit, for reasons mentioned above.
Chaga (Inonotus obliquus) – enhances immunity, grounds, and calms
Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus) – neuro-protector, facilitates learning
Cordyceps (Cordyceps sinensis) – stimulates energy, provokes sexuality
Recommended Products from Resident Alchemist’s Kitchen herbalist Emily Berg:
Lun Soul Drops for tuning into the Divine Feminine
Phoenicia Honey Co’s First Aid Local Honey for loneliness and self-worth
May 29 – Full Moon in Sagittarius
Full Moons are a time to let go and release anything that no longer serves us. They’re a moment of culmination and fruition as the Moon reaches maximum brightness—falling directly opposite the Sun. They expose the night, tapping us into magic, hidden dimensions, and our unconscious minds.
Sagittarius is the sign of philosophy, adventure, travel, and nature, and a Full Moon in Sagittarius brings emphasis to these areas of life. On this Full Moon, the Sun and Moon form square angles to Neptune. We are softening our philosophical outlooks and becoming more spiritually minded and compassionate. With a Grand Trine (or equilateral triangle) formed between Venus, Neptune, and Jupiter, we are supported in loving more fully and unconditionally. We are forgiving ourselves and each other, while releasing dogma and solid beliefs. Meditation and retreats are particularly potent around this Full Moon, as the planets encourage expansion and integration of our bodies, hearts, and minds.
Supportive Remedies for Sagittarius Full Moon:
Sagittarius rules the hips and thighs, while managing integration of our nerves and hormones. The Moon oversees our bodily fluids, emotional memories, and biological rhythms. Neptune is associated with the pineal gland and removes blockages between cerebral hemispheres. This Full Moon is an excellent time to work with herbs that integrate heart and mind.
Kola Nut (Cola vera) – stimulates nervous system, awakens heart mind
Blue Lotus (Nymphaea caerulea) – heightens spiritual senses, brings tranquility
Sage (Salvia officinalis) – calming to heart, clears emotional obstructions
June 13 – New Moon in Gemini
New Moons are a time for fresh starts and setting intentions. Falling into complete darkness, the New Moon marks the beginning of a new lunar cycle—when the Sun and Moon meet at the same degree. It presents a clean slate that helps us recharge and begin again. What projects or relationships do we want to initiate and complete over the next six months?
Gemini rules communication, the mind, and the intellect, and a Gemini New Moon helps establish new patterns in these domains. On this particular New Moon, Mercury (Gemini’s ruler) forms an exact sextile to Uranus. The planet of revolution is offering his gentle support as we establish fresh starts around speech and communication. Today, we can make new commitments to ourselves around how we relate to our own minds—how we speak to ourselves and which thoughts we’re willing to feed. This Moon and its surrounding transits hold the potential to interrupt our habitual thought patterns, so we can establish new neural pathways along with gentler, more loving ways of communicating with ourselves and each other.
Supportive Remedies for Gemini New Moon:
Gemini rules the shoulders, arms, hands, and the energetics of breath. The Moon rules our bodily fluids, emotional memories, and biological rhythms. Now is an excellent time to work with herbs that coordinate balance of the breath.
Mullein (Verbascum thaspus) – strengthens the lungs, imparts confidence
Milkweed (Asclepias syrica) – alleviates inflammation, releases dependency
Rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea) – improves oxygenation, illuminates and clarifies
***
Read more by Juliana McCarthy at Ethereal Culture.
