Full Moon in Gemini | Saturday 12/18 2021 8:35pm PT | Winter Solstice 12/21!

"Over this Full Moon, be open to bits of information, inspiration, and brilliance coming your way. Gemini’s energy has the power to give you a flash of insight contained in a single moment. That flash can be the very thing you need to change your world." ~@SpiritDaughter

"My relationships bring me joy and happiness, and I approach them with kindness and patience.
I accept recognition and acclaim for my ideas, work and contributions.
Creativity, inspiration and passion run through me effortlessly.
Joy and excitement guide me to fulfilling my dreams.
I allow myself to rest, sleep and self-care.
May I release all energies that are less than love."

Full Moon in Gemini 12/18

"Ruled by Mercury and the element Air, Gemini’s energy moves quickly. It affects our nervous systems, our minds, and our vibrations. It can cause our thoughts to race, our toes to tap, and our worries to soar. It can also open our minds, bring us new perspectives, and help us rewrite old stories. This energy moves like a butterfly through a garden, briefly kissing each flower but connecting with them all. If we’re willing to flow with this energy, it can give us just what we need to break through old patterns and outdated thinking into a new reality.

Over this Full Moon, be open to bits of information, inspiration, and brilliance coming your way. Gemini’s energy has the power to give you a flash of insight contained in a single moment. That flash can be the very thing you need to change your world. It may be an unexpected realization, a single phrase from a mentor, or even an inspirational quote that pops into your world. This Full Moon, be open to small bits of information coming your way that may at first seem insignificant but have the potential to be exactly what you need to change your perspective.

Enjoy this time. Gemini is a joyous energy that lightens the mood of even the darkest of times. Feel the inspiration raining down from the cosmos and use it to see a new future full of unknown stories ready to propel you to the next level. Be receptive to anyone who crosses your path in the seventy-two hours around the Full Moon. They may just have a pivotal piece of information for you—perhaps something that will help you understand your journey, foster a release, or shed light on an old pattern. Communicate and connect with those around you and share your process of evolution as we complete another year."

~@SpiritDaughter

Crystals for the Full Moon in Gemini

One of the simplest ways we can benefit from crystal energy is through crystal palm stones. We also call them crystal touchstones. A crystal palm stone is a polished round-shaped gem that fits perfectly in the palm of your hand. You can use them for healing, meditation, and even just relaxation. Sometimes, holding one or in your back pocket is enough to calm you.

Blue Apatite

blue apatite crystal palm stones
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Harness your imagination and creativity with  blue apatite. This deep blue crystal connects us to the deep waters within us. Known to dissolve negativity and doubt, it is an excellent stone for a humanitarian, or those seeking to do good for the world.

Connected with the throat chakra, Blue Apatite can enhance subtleties and sensitivity around communication in all forms. Work with this stone during dream states to solve more perplexing and problems or patterns.

Black Moonstone

iridescent black moonstone crystal palm stones
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Moonstone is a stone for new beginnings and helps to improve inner growth and inner strength.  It stabilizes the emotions and provides a calming effect.

Moonstone enhances intuition and promotes empathy, while also helping with lucid dreaming, especially at the full moon. Moonstone balances male-female energies, and promotes inspiration, success and good fortune in love and business matters.  

Rose Quartz

rose quartz crystal palm stones
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The essence of love, it is the most important crystal for opening the heart chakra to all forms of love—family, platonic, romantic. It restores trust and harmony in relationships, while bringing deep inner healing and reassurance. A soft pink stone of infinite peace, it encourages self-love, self-trust and self-worth.

Rose Quartz is especially healing to the emotional body, and soothes and heals in times of grief. It is calming, reassuring—good to use in trauma or crisis. Working with Rose Quartz makes you more receptive to love. It invites love vibes into your life and is like a warm, fuzzy hug.

Winter Solstice 12/21

"Winter Solstice is the great stillness before the Sun's strength builds, and days grow longer. It can be a time to rest and reflect. In Latin, solstice is made of two words: sol– meaning “the sun” and sistere meaning “to make stand.” Winter Solstice is one the most powerful points of the year as the axis of the Earth pauses, shifts and moves in the opposite direction. For three days around the solstice points we experience the power of the standstill point and the shift of direction.

The sun standing still is a powerful metaphor for the energy available to us at the Winter Solstice to change the direction of our lives with intention and build on this energy as we enter into the new year. After experiencing the longest night and darkest day, the nights grow shorter and the days grow brighter until the Summer Solstice.

For today let yourself rest in the peace of darkness, knowing the changing of the season, and the return of brighter days is ahead, be reminded you are always connected to Source, and your inner light never dims. Don’t pressure yourself to make changes right now or be in action in world … let the energies of new life and inspiration build slowly within you and by spring you’ll be bursting with new energy and ideas. This is the nature of things… the cycles and rhythms of personal growth and change, as you consistently nurture yourself with compassion, allowing for rest and reflection, great joy will be your harvest in 2022."

~Chloe Rain, ExploreDeeply.com

Celebrate the Winter Solstice with simple traditions:

With the Solstice we celebrate the return of the light, and honor our own inner darkness and light. We reflect on the similarities between the cycles of nature and our own personal cycles and evolution. However you choose to mark the end of the year, the coming of the new, and the rebirth of the light—whether pausing in quiet reflection, or celebrating with community, know that all over our planet, there are many lights shining brightly! Here are three festive ideas for connecting with the spirit of the season, and a special fire ceremony for releasing the past and welcoming the return of the light.

Make Orange Pomanders
This is a simple craft, and an ancient tradition, that smells amazing and connects us to our wondering, playful inner child. Start with firm oranges and a jar of whole cloves. Use a zester or peeler to carve designs in the oranges (optional). Then poke the cloves into the fruit and you’re all set. (You can use a toothpick and pre-poke holes to make this easier). Place a few of your creations in a bowl as a fragrant centerpiece, or hang smaller fruit as ornaments on the tree. They also make sweet gifts!

Spend The Night By Candlelight
Silent night, holy night...At the solstice we acknowledge the sacredness of the dark--Switching off all the electric lights and having dinner, drawing or reading, playing board and card games by the light of flickering candles and warm lantern light makes every activity extra special, and also makes the long, dark night more real. It also helps everyone appreciate the modern conveniences we take for granted! This is a good way to get in touch with our natural human relationship to the world, and understand in a bodily sensory way, the importance of the sun and the magic of this time of year when the light returns.

Make Some Wassail
This traditional warming drink is perfect for sipping during a solstice celebration (and it makes the house smell incredible). Simply combine 2 quarts apple cider, 1 1/2 cups orange juice, 3/4 cup pineapple juice, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice, 2 cinnamon sticks, a dash of ground cinnamon, and a dash of ground cloves in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer for 20-30 minutes. Discard the cinnamon sticks, pour into mugs and serve.

Fire Ceremony for Release and Rebirth

The winter solstice is a time to honor and acknowledge the endings and beginnings in our lives, in a ceremony or personal ritual that both honors the past and clears space to welcome the new energy of the coming year.

This can be done as a personal ceremony or with a group. Begin by giving out small pieces of paper and pencils so each can write down what they want to release. When all have written down what they wish to release, all can gather around a fire, and each can in turn come to the fire and throw their paper in.

After all have gone, you may want to end the ritual by going around the circle and each person sharing something they are grateful for, or you may want to make some celebratory noise by banging on drums, shaking noise makers, and using your voice to send your prayers off into the Universe with a celebratory song!"

~adapted from Mothermag.com and Chloe Rain at ExploreDeeply.com

Celebrations can be reminders of our inner light, and the Divine Light that guides our way in times of darkness. Rituals remind us of the ever-flowing, universal life of which we are a part. May you be refreshed and strengthened by your connection to the infinite.

Abundant blessings to you in the coming year!

The Shortest Day by Susan Cooper
And so the Shortest Day came and the year died
And everywhere down the centuries of the snow-white world
Came people singing, dancing,
To drive the dark away.
They lighted candles in the winter trees;
They hung their homes with evergreen;
They burned beseeching fires all night long
To keep the year alive.
And when the new year’s sunshine blazed awake
They shouted, reveling.
Through all the frosty ages you can hear them
Echoing behind us — listen!
All the long echoes, sing the same delight,
This Shortest Day,
As promise wakens in the sleeping land:
They carol, feast, give thanks,
And dearly love their friends,
And hope for peace.
And now so do we, here, now,
This year and every year.

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