The Hoodwitch Witch tips & weekly horoscopes 11/1-11/7

Artwork by @pastelae

Written by: Jessica Lanyadoo

 

Witch Tips:

This week is marked by the emo Full Moon in Taurus on the 3rd. Full Moons represent the end of a cycle, an opportunity to shed the old and make room for something new. The challenge is that endings are scary, and they can bring up dramatic feels and the parade of anxious thoughts that often follow them. The Eclipses that happened last August are over, but they’re still actively influencing us. We’re still dealing with the after-effects of our shadow issues, and it’s either deal or have your buns handed to you. This isn’t the time to turn away from the rough stuff. Taurus is a material girl, and she needs us to deal with the material world. This energy is about the material ways that we show up or hide and the consequences incurred from each.

Instead of lamenting all that is wrong in your life or with the world, try to answer this question: what are you willing to give up to get what you want? Whether you’re looking at societal issues, your love life, or your relationship to something as personal as food, this is the time to own up to how you are (or aren’t) living in accordance with what you truly value. Because of the Sun trine to Neptune and Venus sextile to Saturn that are happening from the 2nd-4th, there will be energetic support for you dealing with things in a sustainable way without compromising on your values. The trick with astrology is that it won’t do the work for you – to get the rewards of the good transits, you’ve gotta shake your tail feathers and make it happen. Luckily all signs are pointing to the embodiment (Sun) of empathy (Neptune) and kindness (Venus), in the here and now (Saturn) if you do the emotional labor needed to get there.

Venus is forming a dynamic opposition to Uranus on these same dates, with it’s strongest day of influence during the Full Moon. This is great news for growth, but not so much if you’re committed to keeping things stuck. This opposition can bring surprises and unexpected changes to your relationships, so be ready for things to get a shake down! Remember that instability isn’t ‘bad’ and security isn’t ‘good.’ Security can become a rut, and instability is an inevitable part of progress. Be open to change this week, even if you don’t know exactly where it’s taking you.

ARIES

March 21-April 19

Its possible to be present for other others’ sad feelings without being weighed down by them, Aries. The trick is to be present and bear witness, not to step in and fix things. Your impulses incline you to get in there and get busy, but sometimes the kindest thing you can do for yourself or another person is just show up. Practice being receptive this week; watch your reactions run in circles within you until they tire themselves out and settle into clarity.

­TAURUS

April 20-May 20

When you don’t honor your own needs, you end up in confusing and dissatisfying relationships, Taurus. Your connections are in need of some major attention, but there’s not a great mystery at play here, even if it feels that way. Your choices and actions brought you to this place, and if you don’t like it, it’s on you to make some changes. There’s no need to lose energy with blame and guilt; learn from your blind spots and mistakes and keep on keeping on, my love.

GEMINI

May 21-June 21

You’re likely to be confronted by feelings that you’ve been putting off for a while, but resistance will only make it hurt more. Fear basically exists for two reasons – either because you’ve got issues, or because you’re confronting a danger. It’s important to know which is which so that you can approach your feels appropriately. Don’t get caught up in your fears and lose track of yourself, Twin Star. Be kind without enabling yourself this week.

CANCER

June 22-July 22

You can love and care for a relationship until you’re blue in the face, but that doesn’t mean that it’s destined to work out. Sometimes your best efforts bring you to a wall, and while it’s disappointing, it doesn’t have to be bad, Moonchild. Follow the energy in your life. If you’ve been beating you r head against a wall, no is the time to yield. Not getting what you want isn’t a failure; it’s evidence that the Universe is redirecting you, my love.

LEO

July 23-Aug. 22

When you turn against yourself and start questioning everything, not only do you feel awful, but also you get no closer to answers that you can rely on. It’s wise to move slowly this week as you’re going through a lot, and though technically it’s no problem for you to figure it all out, your feelings are likely to add complications that create confusion. Make room for the messiness of your feels so that you can make use of the best parts their wisdom, my love.           

VIRGO

Aug. 23-Sept. 22

If you’re feeling exhausted and burnt out, take the time to get grounded this week. You have a lot that you need to get done, Virgo, but if you’re running on empty you’ll end up making weird mistakes that annoy you to no end. Make sure that your actions reflect your priorities and if you find that they don’t, strive to realign yourself. Think of your life as a pyramid that needs a sturdy foundation in order to keep its shape. Manage your basic needs and let things fall into place from there.

LIBRA

Sept. 23-Oct. 22

Change can be terrifying but it is the one constant in life. Instead of resisting the stream of changes that you’re being required to make and participate in, try going with the flow. You don’t have to know what’s coming next in order to be safe, and you don’t need to be safe in order to be happy. It’s hard to know what to trust when you’re scared, so strive to calm your nerves before you take action, this week. Stay true to your heart and you can’t go wrong, Libra.

SCORPIO

Oct. 23-Nov. 21

This week’s Full Moon in your relationship house is a great time to call in your energies, Scorpio. People make a big deal of how scary your sign is, but in truth all of your intensity is motivate by your drive to have more passion and ardor. Make sure that your relationships reflect the self-love that you mean to embody, and if they don’t start by making changes with you.  You don’t need to learn things the hard way; change your participation and the whole dynamic changes with you.

SAGITTARIUS

Nov. 22-Dec. 21

It’s been a hard road, but you’ve come so far; now it’s time to let go of something in your life that you’ve outgrown. The problem is that you’d rather have fun than mess around with problems that can wait. Honor your potential and don’t just do what you can get away with, ‘Tarius. The potent energies that are running through your life can be used for transformation, but your hand isn’t likely to get forced this week. Make your choices wisely.

CAPRICORN

Dec. 22-Jan. 19

Sadness is not a roadblock, meant to stop you in your tracks. Sad feelings are just that – they’re part of the ebb and flow of being a person. This week is likely to bring you some beauty and life affirming experiences – you deserve it, Capricorn! If you feel the underside of all that light it’s not a sign of the tides turning. Don’t struggle against your emotions or try to shut them down; nurture your feels in ways that support you this week. Embrace wholeness, tender one.

AQUARIUS

Jan. 20-Feb. 18

This week is very Dorothy with the red slippers in the Wizard of Oz – the answer is within you, Aquarius; all you gotta do is click those heels. You can fixate on all the things that have gone wrong or sideways on your path, but the truth is that it’s all happened so that you would see yourself more clearly. You don’t have to do be perfect or have it all figured out right now. All you need is to be true to yourself, plain and simple.

PISCES

Feb. 19-March 20

It’s time for some self-protection, Pisces. Human life is a material condition, and it often requires material maintenance. Slow down and get in your body this week. Locate yourself in time and place, aligning yourself with the skills and resources available to you right now, from where you’re at. If you don’t pair your striving with repose you’ll end up burnt out before you get where you want to be. Nourish yourself and you’ll find that things open up for you, my love.

The Witch Wave Podcast Features Bri Luna of The Hoodwitch

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Our lovely friend Pam Grossman just launched her AMAZING new podcast today, The Witch Wave! and while in New York, I had the pleasure  to visit Pam in Brooklyn to  discuss modern witchery, art, beauty, and everything else in between.  We've shared the very first episode (above) give it a listen +  add some magic to your day! 

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WITCH TIPS + HOROSCOPES 10/18-24/2017

photography by Scarlett Hoof Graafland

Written By Jessica Lanyadoo

WITCH TIPS

This week, the big news is the New Moon in Libra on the 19th. This is an excellent time to reset, refresh, and realign yourself.

New Moons mark the start of a new cycle for your potential and personal development, while Libra is the sign of partnership, diplomacy, and the drive for fairness. To be honest, the world isn’t fair, and that’s nothing new. We are seeing more world events as they happen in real time than ever before, and we’re inundated with more messages from advertisements than ever before. We live in a “like” culture, and this is Libra’s Kryptonite. Don’t lose track of yourself, dear heart. Whether someone likes you or hates you is their cross to bear, not yours, unless you take it on. You don’t need to get validation or permission to be yourself. There’s a shifting of the tides happening within each and every one of us, and the more authentic and present you are for it, the more graceful this shift will be.

From the 18th-20th, the bright-light Sun will sit opposite revolutionary Uranus. This transit will be exact with the New Moon, radicalizing your whole emo experience. This is an excellent time to throw off limitations, access more options, and try new approaches. You don’t need to be perfect or even feel confident; you only need to try. Don’t lose energy obsessing on an unknowable future or on picking apart your allies and enemies – it won’t heal your pain or generate more justice, it will only dilute your energy.

Get right with yourself this week. Cultivate ownership of all your parts, and leave space for growth, no matter how deep your learning curve is. Allow for the diversity of the human experience. A person doesn’t need to agree with you on all things in order to be ‘on your side.’ This is a time that you can achieve greater freedom, so use your energy wisely, my love.

ARIES

March 21-April 19

The Libra New Moon in your relationship house comes with a punch. The tension between your desire to be intimate and your drive to do things your way is real. You can do whatever you want, but that doesn’t mean that you’ll like what happens if you do. Sit with your impulses long enough to understand what you really need. Relationships without compromise are kind of a fantasy; be willing to bend so that things don’t break this week, Aries.

­TAURUS

April 20-May 20

When people tell you to ‘just be yourself’ or ‘trust your instincts,’ it’s hard to know which self you’re supposed to trust and which instincts you’re meant to honor? It’s time to slow down and get grounded, Taurus. If you’ve lost track of what’s motivating you, this week may bring you some drama to unravel. Handle what you’ve got instead of taking on something new. Pace yourself so that you can act on self-knowledge instead of pressure. You’ve got this, Taurus.

GEMINI

May 21-June 21

Relationships aren’t meant to be easy all the time any more than they’re meant to always be hard. You’re on call to show up for the complications of compromise, Twin Star. In order to make healthy concessions, you need to first know yourself though. Whether you’re negotiating your needs and responsibilities with your boss, your bae, or your relationship to social media, know your values and make sure your actions reflect them this week.

CANCER

June 22-July 22

Not knowing what comes next can be exhilarating or exhausting. Decide today that you’re willing to make the most of what you have in the here and now, Moonchild. There’s so much intense uncertainty in the world and so much that’s out of your control. Don’t lose your energy obsessing on what you can’t know. Focus on what’s currently happening, and make the best choices you can. You don’t have to be perfect, you only need be whole.

LEO

July 23-Aug. 22

You would have so many fewer problems if you would just be a bit more direct, Leo. You can worry over the right way to package what you think and feel, or you can just be honest. You don’t get to both control or manage how other people feel about you and also be authentic at the same time. If you choose to be true, the people and situations that remain in your life will be good for you. If you speak out of both sides of your mouth, you’ll get a false sense of peace, this week.

VIRGO

Aug. 23-Sept. 22

Other people’s opinions are important, but when you don’t know what you think, too many ideas can serve to make you feel confused and unsure of how to make sense of it all. Take time to sit with your ambiguities and disappointments this week. I’m not encouraging you to wallow but to instead stay present with your feels and show yourself the kindness of honoring them. Doing this will help clarify what you truly need so that you don’t go putting band aids on bullet wounds, Virgo.

LIBRA

Sept. 23-Oct. 22

There’s only one New Moon in your sign per year, and it’s happening on the 19th of this week. This marks a powerful turning point for you, Libra, and it’s on you how it’ll go. If you’ve been dragging your feet on making changes, this is the time to spring to action. You can expect your relationships to challenge you to step up. Don’t hide from your life, my love; as the saying goes, they call it the present because it’s a gift. Make the most of yours.

SCORPIO

Oct. 23-Nov. 21

Jupiter in your sign can be an exciting time in which you feel your luck shift, and a sense of optimism may overtake you. More likely, though, it will simply expand whatever you’re feeling. If you’ve been struggling mentally, it’s time for something to bend or break, my love. Invest in your wellness by taking creative actions, spending time with people who want the best for you, and letting yourself have your feels. Healing comes from getting real, so try to show all the way up, Scorpio.

SAGITTARIUS

Nov. 22-Dec. 21

Explore what you’ve got without adding anything new to your plate this week, ‘Tarius. You have so many resources and so much potential; don’t squander it all by allowing yourself to get caught up in distractions. Check your dreams for inspiration and direction. If what you think is important isn’t informed by your deepest feels, life tends to be hollow. Take a chance on what you most deeply desire instead of settling for what it seems easiest to get this week.

CAPRICORN

Dec. 22-Jan. 19

Not getting results right away is frustrating, but it’s not a sign, Cappy. This week you’re likely to be dealing with a mixed bag. You’ve grown and changed and in some ways are doing better than ever. In other ways, you may find yourself regressing into anxiety and impatience. Make space for your feelings without overindulging them to a point of self-sabotage. Sometimes, you’ve just got to gently pick yourself up and do the work, my love.

AQUARIUS

Jan. 20-Feb. 18

How is it that you’re both ready to take the bull by the horns and totally confused about what to do next? This week, what you decided not long ago is likely to be challenged by either new information or old insecurities. If there’s no rush on decisions, grant yourself the space to figure out what you really feel before you strike forward. If you have something pressing to deal with, try not to do it from a place of fear. You don’t need change as much as you need improvements, my love.

PISCES

Feb. 19-March 20

Your mind may be racing, and distractions may come at you from left field; don’t let that deter you! All you have to do is follow through, Pisces. You’ve done so much hard work to get to this point, and now it’s on you to carry on in spite of the chaos of the moment. Even if your feels flare or relationships throw curve balls at you, you’ve got a plan to carry out. Stay centered in your ambitions and take them on little by little every day, until you get where you intend to be.

Divining Through Disaster

 Photography by: Maimouna Guerresi

Written by Jaliessa Sipress

Recently, a lot of people’s realities have been turned upside-down; whether through “natural” or man-made disaster or through events that blur the line in-between. Disaster is something most of us live under the threat of everyday. It bubbles underneath our feet and seethes under our skin. It is what keeps us up at night and often impacts our day-to-day decisions. Its intensity and presence ebb and flow but the threat will always remain. Turmoil in this world is consistent but when the building pressure peaks, people start to panic, and they begin to forget.

As witches, misfortune is a part of our lineage. The fear, pain and suffering of those around us prescribed as side effects of us being privy to our own power. Our aptitude to tap into our natural abilities and form deep connections with our bodies, the bodies around us and the body of the earth are all things that make us dangerous because these acts can never fall under anyone else’s dominion. We listen and flow with the earth and her shifts and changes. We practice remembrance and manifestation in accordance with her seasons. We understand that we are of her and can harness her power and this is why we are feared. But the earth is a witch, too. She casts spells of beauty, love and abundance and she, too, is targeted for being angry and vengeful when she tries to heal herself. And this is why we must carry on. This is why we must acknowledge the power of the witch, the strength in our audacity to be our own temples and our own healers. Our abilities to make altars out of debris and never be without our magic because it lies within us.

To divine through disaster is to not ignore it. A lot of the craft is centered in the simple act of noticing. We watch and wait and participate in the art of divine timing. We are here to nurture the collapse of all that ails us, to live in harmony with our fear and loss. We must remember that our ancestors birthed our path to freedom and it is our duty to lead the way for others. Witches work is the work of the people. It is the work we do to stabilize and satiate and educate and support those who have forgotten the power within them.

During times of turmoil, it is our duty to remember and share our knowledge of how to work and heal with water, soil and ash. We must pass on ways to regenerate with what remains when human inventions fail. We are the ones who have to figure out why the world is still turning and we must take note of where our magic fits into the maddeness. We have to keep fighting, casting and believing the way we have been but with steadier consistency and ferocious fervor. Witches have to hold it down. It is our job to lead the way, to teach others how light comes from darkness and to hold onto our beliefs and our beloveds until the walls fall down around us.

Photography By  Photo credit: Maimouna Guerresi