Happy New Moon! Today our beloved moon is in the Earthy sign of Virgo, not to mention our solar eclipse takes place today as well! During this transit, important issues of practicality, organization, cleaning up your diet, your home, and healing your soul and body are at the forefront of our attention. Eclipses occur when The Sun and Moon are in line with Earth. A lunar eclipse happens only at Full Moon, making the moon appear blood red at midnight. A solar eclipse happens only at New Moon when the moon gets between the Sun and the Earth. Because the moon is relatively small, solar eclipses are rarely total. Eclipses in many ancient cultures were seen as signs of bad omens that brought about death and destruction. This solar eclipse will be the last of 2016.

Eclipses generally shake things up and bring about change, if there is something in your life that needs to change for your highest good it may happen, even if that is not what you want. You can never completely control the energy, A Solar Eclipse works like a very amplified New Moon, so it is meant to bring new things. The Virgo new moon is an excellent time to offer healing to others., It's time to clean up our act and to turn our attention to matters of our health + hygiene. The practical aspects of Virgo cleans house, and she is ready to set things in order.

Purifying and organizing are key factors of focus. It's time to take responsibility in cleaning up the messes we've been leaving behind (literally and figuratively) Virgo New Moon brings some painstaking attention to detail, and house cleaning truly is an excellent way to work through Virgo transits. During the Virgo new moon, women are mentally very active, however there may be tendencies to focus on excessive criticism of oneself as well as others. Emotionally, this is an inward time. Use this time to reflect on personal relationships, so meditation is key!

SOLAR ECLIPSE

Solar energy enhances the energies of father, protection and external expression. A Solar Eclipse not only affects the energy of the Sun, but also the Moon. A Solar Eclipse occurs when the New Moon is between Earth and the Sun. The Moon's energy is very strong because it is extremely close to the Earth during this eclipse. The Sun's energy is also very powerful as it embraces the Moon, showing only a glowing ring of bright light during the peak of the event, while this eclipse will be witnessed mostly across Africa and Asia, it will be felt on a global scale.

"During a Total Solar Eclipse, the Sun's light, associated with warmth, life force, and creation is temporarily blocked out. During these moments, feelings of lack, fatigue, anxiety and a disconnection with life/life force may occur. Again, this is only for a brief time as the New Moon totally blocks out the light of the Sun." - Kristi H of Healing Crystals

During the total Solar Eclipse, if you are feeling a bit more sensitive to the energy of the Sun than usual, you can use some of these recommended crystals to keep your energy intune with that of the Sun during the eclipse.

SOLAR GEMS:

CITRINE :IS PARTICULARLY HELPFUL IN ASSISTING WITH ABUNDANCE AND PROSPERITY. IT ENHANCES THE ENJOYMENT OF LIFE AND INCREASED SPIRITUAL GROWTH. CITRINE ENERGIZES AND INVIGORATES, INCREASING MOTIVATION AND PHYSICAL ENERGY. CITRINE DISSIPATES NEGATIVE ENERGY.

Our Citrine crystal meditation can be found HERE

Topaz: represents life giving energy. It promotes well being, strengthens optimism, reduces fear of lack, and enhances the feelings of abundance and prosperity.

Sunstone: warms the heart and lifts/rejuvenates the spirit. Sunstone is often used for protection, grounding and enhancing life force energies.

For those who may have feelings of increased anxiousness, or are in need of some extra grounding energy try Howlite or Black Tourmaline.
Howlite: Reduces anxiety, tensions and stress. Howlite can be used to facilitate awareness, encourage emotional expression and also assist in the elimination of pain, stress and/or rageHowlite will calm and soothe your emotions.

Rainbow Moonstone: moonstone is a stone of intuition and insight, Moonstone helps us to connect to all the different cycles we experience in life. Moonstone will help to balance the emotional body, especially any aggressive tendencies in males or females. These stones are very soothing, especially when placed under the pillow.

Black Tourmaline: Black Tourmaline is the premier stone of protection and grounding, as it possesses a psychic shield which deflects and dispels negative energies, entities or destructive forces. It is the Stone that has such power to absorb and repel negative energies from our Auric Field, meridians, and Chakra System.