CategoriesMercury Retrograde Moon Phases
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Your Astrological Journey

Welcome to this fortnight’s blog on the fascinating world of astrology! Astrology is far more than zodiac signs; it’s a personalised map of the cosmos at the moment of your birth. It’s your very own cosmic blueprint, guiding you towards self-discovery and spiritual enlightenment. So let’s delve into the magic of astrology, how to decode the secrets of your birth chart, and the empowering wisdom that astrology unfolds.

What is Astrology?

Astrology is a captivating blend of science and spirituality. At Quest, we celebrate the profound wisdom that the stars and planets offer and are delighted to have our amazing astrologer, Maggie offering readings to you, our wonderful customers. Astrology provides us with a personalised map of our cosmic identity, revealing insights into our personality, relationships, and life purpose. As we explore the intricacies of our birth charts—the unique alignment of celestial bodies at the moment of our arrival—we unlock the secrets of our individual journey. Whether you want to navigate the secrets of zodiac signs, harness lunar energies, or seek guidance in retrogrades, astrology has the answers.

Your Astrological Blueprint

Imagine the night sky as a snapshot of the universe at the moment of your birth. Your astrological birth chart is your personalised map of the positions of the planets, moon, and sun at that precise moment. You may already be aware of your zodiac sign, but did you know that the twelve zodiac signs, have their own distinct personality traits and characteristics? For example, Aries are renowned for being bold and adventurous. Cancerians, nurturing and empathetic and Scorpio’s as mysterious. Your sun sign (zodiac) is the North Star of your personality, whilst your rising (ascendant) and moon signs add depth to your astrological portrait. Your rising sign reflects your outward demeanor and how others perceive you, while the moon sign unveils your emotional landscape—the hidden realm of dreams, intuition, and your innermost desires. To find out more about your rising sign and moon signs, why not book yourself a reading with Maggie or get yourself a copy of Yasmin Bolands ‘Moonology’ – available at Quest.

Navigating Relationships

Astrology doesn’t just help us on our own journey; it’s also a really useful tool in helping us to understand the dynamics of our relationships. Astrologers use the art of Synastry, to compare two birth charts. This enables them to reveal the cosmic compatibility between individuals. Discovering how the alignment of your sun, moon, and rising signs interact with those of your loved ones, provides a cosmic road map that helps you understand each other on a much deeper level. Perhaps your fire sign ignites the passion in your partner’s earthy nature, or your air sign aligns harmoniously with their water sign’s emotional depth. Astrology empowers you to embrace the strengths and navigate the complexities within your relationships. It allows you to foster a deeper connection grounded in cosmic understanding.

Retrogrades and Cosmic Lessons

Mercury retrograde—a phrase that might send shivers down your spine! While it’s often associated with communication hiccups and technological glitches, retrogrades are important cosmic checkpoints. They urge us to pause, reflect, and realign. When planets go into retrograde, it’s as if the cosmic gears shift into reverse, inviting us to pause, reflect, and reassess. Mercury retrograde, notorious for communication issues, encourages us to revisit plans, fostering better clarity and understanding. Venus in retrograde prompts a review of relationships and values. It urges us to strengthen connections and to let go of what is no longer serving us. When Mars is in retrograde it can slowdown assertive energy, guiding us to strategise rather than act impulsively. These cosmic phenomena are not omens of doom, they are simply cosmic checkpoints, prompting personal growth and mindful decision-making. So let’s learn to embrace the retrogrades as opportunities for self-discovery, personal growth and introspection.

Harnessing Lunar Energy

The moon, with its ever-changing phases, holds a mystical sway over our emotions and spiritual energies. Aligning your energy with the lunar cycles can enhance your manifestation practices, meditation, and self-care rituals. Tune in to the new moon for fresh beginnings and the full moon for releasing what no longer serves you. The moon’s ever-changing phases create a cosmic rhythm that influences our daily lives. The lunar cycle consists of eight distinct phases, from the waxing crescent to the waning crescent, each carrying its unique energy. Many find that their energy levels, emotions, and even sleep patterns ebb and flow with the moon’s phases. Understanding and attuning to the lunar cycles allows us to harness these powerful celestial energies.

Your Cosmic Adventure Awaits

We hope you’ve enjoyed this blog and learnt a little about how astrology extends beyond your zodiac sign. Whether you’re a seasoned stargazer or a cosmic novice, astrology invites you to explore the depths of your being and the interconnectedness of all things. May your path be illuminated by the radiant glow of the cosmic tapestry, guiding you toward self-discovery, spiritual growth, and a deeper connection to the cosmos.

We’ve Got You Covered

We’ve got plenty of goodies to get you started on your astrology journey. Below is just a small selection of some of the goodies we have available in store and online. If you can’t find what you are looking for please give us a call on 01372 878 606.

Upcoming Workshops and Events

Looking for courses to help you on your spiritual journey? We can help! Please see below a list of workshops and events happening over the next few weeks. We are currently planning 2024, so bare with us.

CategoriesEnergy Clearing & Feng Shui Moon Phases Tips & Advice
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Full Moon

Ah, the full moon—the celestial jewel that graces our night skies with its radiant glow. Its allure goes beyond its luminous beauty; it touches something deep within us, awakening a primal connection to the cosmos. For centuries, people have honored this enchanting celestial event with rituals that range from the simple to the elaborate, all in a quest to harness its mystical energy. With the next full moon arriving on 31st August, today we’ll dive into the captivating world of full moon rituals, exploring their origins, significance, and explain how you can create your own magical moments under this full moon’s radiant light.

The Origins of Full Moon Rituals:

Full moon rituals have a rich and diverse history, rooted in ancient traditions from cultures around the world. They often stem from the belief that the full moon is a powerful symbol of transformation and completion. In many cultures, it marks a time of heightened energy and spiritual significance.

Honoring the Cycle of Life:

One common theme in full moon rituals is the idea of cycles. The moon, with its phases waxing and waning, mirrors the cyclical nature of life. Full moon rituals are often a way to acknowledge these natural rhythms and connect with the ebb and flow of existence. They can serve as a reminder of the impermanence of all things and the ever-present opportunity for renewal and growth.

Setting Intentions:

One popular practice during full moon rituals is setting intentions. This involves taking some time to reflect on your goals, desires, and aspirations. Under the full moon’s radiant light, you can write down these intentions, infusing them with the moon’s energy. This ritual is a way to focus your energy and intention on what you want to manifest in your life.

Cleansing and Releasing:

Just as the full moon shines its light, illuminating the darkness, it’s also seen as a time to release what no longer serves you. This could be negative emotions, old habits, or anything that’s holding you back. Some people perform rituals like burning a piece of paper with what they want to let go of written on it, symbolising the act of releasing.

Connecting with Nature:

Many full moon rituals emphasise a connection with the natural world. Whether it’s taking a moonlit walk in the forest, meditating under the stars, or simply gazing up at the moon, these rituals invite you to be present in the moment and appreciate the beauty and wonder of the universe.

How to Create Your Own Full Moon Ritual:

The beauty of full moon rituals is that they can be highly personalised. You can create a ritual that resonates with you and reflects your spiritual beliefs and intentions. Here are some steps to get you started:

  1. Choose a Location: Decide where you want to perform your ritual. It could be in your garden, by a body of water, or even in a quiet room at home with a clear view of the moon.
  2. Set the Mood: Create a serene atmosphere with candles, incense, or calming music. You want to be in a relaxed state of mind.
  3. Reflect and Set Intentions: Take some time to reflect on what you want to achieve or release. Write down your intentions or thoughts in a journal.
  4. Perform Your Ritual: This could involve meditation, visualisation, chanting, or any other activity that resonates with you. You might want to incorporate crystals, herbs, or other symbolic elements.
  5. Express Gratitude: Finish your ritual by expressing gratitude for the moon’s energy and any insights or clarity you’ve gained.

Full moon rituals are a beautiful way to connect with the cosmos, honour the cycles of life, and set intentions for the future. Whether you’re a seasoned practitioner or a newcomer to the world of lunar rituals, the magic of the full moon is available to all who are willing to embrace it. So, the next time you find yourself bathed in the gentle glow of the full moon, consider taking a moment to create your own magical ritual and let the moonlight guide your intentions and dreams.

We’ve Got You Covered

As always, here at Quest we have all your essentials covered. We’ve selected a number of our favourite lunar products below, but if you are after something more specific, please do get in touch.

Upcoming Workshops and Courses

CategoriesEducational Moon Phases Tips & Advice
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The New Moon

Welcome to this fortnights blog…the New Moon. Together, we will explore the magic of the lunar world and learn how to harness the New Moon’s energy (the next New Moon occurs on Wednesday 16th August). 🌑✨ Whether you’re an avid lunar expert or a curious soul, our blog will guide you through the lunar phases, and the beauty that emerges when we learn to let go and allow space for new beginnings. Let’s go…

The Lunar Cycles

Lunar cycles, also known as lunar phases or moon phases, are the recurring patterns of change in the Moon’s appearance as observed from Earth. These cycles are driven by the Moon’s orbit around the Earth and its changing position relative to the Sun. The primary lunar phases are New Moon, Waxing Crescent, First Quarter, Waxing Gibbous, Full Moon, Waning Gibbous, Third Quarter, and Waning Crescent.

The cycle starts with the New Moon, where the Moon is positioned between the Earth and the Sun, making its far side visible and its near side hidden from view. As the Moon orbits the Earth, more of its illuminated side becomes visible, leading to the Waxing Crescent, First Quarter, and Waxing Gibbous phases. The Full Moon occurs when the Moon is on the opposite side of the Earth from the Sun, fully illuminated in our night sky.

Following the Full Moon, the Moon’s illuminated portion gradually decreases, leading to the Waning Gibbous, Third Quarter, and Waning Crescent phases. The cycle then completes as the Moon returns to the New Moon phase. The entire cycle takes approximately 29.5 days, known as a synodic month.

Lunar cycles have been observed and used by various cultures for millennia to track time, plan agricultural activities, and celebrate religious and cultural events. These cycles also influence tides on Earth due to the gravitational pull of the Moon on our planet’s oceans. Understanding lunar cycles connects us to the cosmos and offers insights into the rhythmic nature of the universe.

Tell Me About the New Moon Energy

The New Moon is a captivating celestial phenomenon that marks the beginning of a new lunar cycle. During this phase, the Moon is positioned between the Earth and the Sun, with its illuminated side facing away from us. As a result, the New Moon appears dark and virtually invisible in the night sky, blending into the backdrop of a million stars.

This phase is a time of hidden potential and fresh beginnings. It symbolises a blank canvas waiting to be painted with intentions and aspirations. Cultures around the world have attributed significance to the New Moon, using it as a point to set new goals, make resolutions, or embark on new ventures. It’s a time of introspection, where one can reflect on the past and contemplate the path ahead.

New Moon Rituals

Lots of you lunar followers will probably have your own well established New Moon rituals, but for the beginners out there, here are just a few of our favourites:

  • Set Intentions: Clarify your goals and desires for the upcoming lunar cycle.
  • Cleanse Space: Purify the area where you’ll perform the ritual using incense or sage.
  • Gather Supplies: Collect candles, crystals, herbs, and any tools that resonate with you.
  • Create Altar: Arrange your items in a sacred space as a focal point for your ritual.
  • Meditation: Begin with a grounding meditation to connect with your inner self.
  • Light Candles: Ignite candles representing different aspects of your intentions.
  • Affirmations: Speak positive affirmations aligned with your goals aloud.
  • Visualise: Envision your goals manifesting in detail, engaging your senses.
  • Write Intentions: Jot down your intentions on paper and keep them in a visible place.
  • Release: Let go of any doubts or fears, trusting the universe to support your journey.

You can choose as many of these as you like. You might find some resonate more than others. Just remember, the most important part, as always, is your intention! Always be as clear and as concise as possible.

We’ve Got You Covered

At Spiritual Quest we’ve got a number of products to support your New Moon rituals. Here is just a small selection. Do take a look at our website, give us a call or pop in to see more of the goodies we have on offer. Use the code moon2023 on any online or in store purchase to receive a free Moonstone tumblestone between now and 31st August 2023.

Upcoming Courses/Workshops

Here are a selection of courses and workshops. If you are interested in any of them, please click the images and you’ll be directed to the necessary pages.

CategoriesMoon Phases Spirituality Tips & Advice
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Lunar Living

How do you go with the flow of the moon? Well, on the 30th April we have a new moon in the zodiac sign Taurus, this will be the second new moon of the month, it is called a “black moon”. New moon energy is all about planting the seeds, so it’s time to focus on what you want to manifest and set your intentions. As the new moon will be in Taurus, we will have a look at the energy Taurus brings us and combine that energy with the phase of the moon so you can harness this energy in the best way.

Taurus is the 2nd sign of the zodiac and is ruled by the feminine planet Venus, the planet of love. Taurus brings strong, sturdy, reliable and protective energy. This new moon is going to encourage us to re align ourselves with what we desire in our life, questions to ask yourself will be “Does the life I desire align with my beliefs and values? “What negative blocks have I got that is stopping me from reaching my full potential?” “Do I truly believe that I am worthy of the life I desire?”. These are very important questions to ask yourself, in order to manifest your desired life you need to believe you are worthy of it and I mean truly believe. If you feel it is not aligned with your values and beliefs, you need to either re evaluate your values and beliefs or what it is you are asking the Universe for. When you think of your desired life does it light up a spark inside you? Does it resonate with who you are? When it lights up your soul thinking about it, sit with them feelings and believe it is yours already and hold on to the feelings it gives you, the more you feel it the more you believe it and the more you believe it the more you attract it into your life.

Get a pen and paper its prompt time! Start to write down what you want to manifest on paper, writing this down allows you to physically see what you are manifesting, and also physically send it out to the universe to deliver back to you! You should start to feel all the positive feelings it gives you whilst doing this, and don’t forget to show your gratitude for the universe/higher source for where you are right now in your life and where you will be in your life. Once you have written down what you want to manifest you can fold your piece of paper towards you and keep it safe (I normally keep it under my pillow for the night and then place in my journal to reflect on at a later date)

Once you have written your manifestations down you can do a little energy clearing exercise to release any negative blocks and any negative energy. Stand with your feet firmly on the ground and say “I declare my body grounded to the earth right now and so it is” Now visualise a magnet in your stomach and say out loud “I call all of my energy back home to me that may have been taken without my permission” and visualise your energy being attracted back to the magnet in your stomach. Now visualise butterflies surrounding you landing on your body and say out loud “I release any negative blocks and energy that is holding me back and I send it back to where it came from wrapped in love & light. Visualise the butterflies taking this away from you. Finally, visualise a white light inside and surrounding your body and aura and say “This is my energy shield, nothing shall have access to my energy without my permission”.

Remember to stay true to yourself and when you feel like nothing is happening come back to the energy clearing exercise, and to your manifestation letter and allow your self to sit with the feelings it gives you! Remember to BELIEVE in yourself and know you deserve the life you desire!