👻~Happy Samhain!!~🎃

Upcoming Workshops!

Join us November 2nd, 9th, 16th, and 23rd from 4:00pm-5:30pm to change your life going forward. Perfect timing for all of those family events coming up. ;)

Have you ever gone so deep in your yoga practice that you fell into the silent darkness within at the end of a flow? Do you want to know how to access that feeling more often with more depth?

The Element Series: Accessing the Quantum Body is a transformative four-part workshop series designed to harmonize body, mind, and spirit through the lens of the four elements: Earth, Water, Fire, and Air. Each session provides a holistic approach to health, drawing inspiration and activities from Kundalini Yoga, Indigenous Philosophy, the Tarot, Astrology, and Elemental Theory. These lessons will help you access deeper levels within your inner self and live a more calm, peaceful, and connected lifestyle.

The series integrates lectures, movement, exercises, meditation, breathwork, reiki, drum, and sound healing techniques to provide a comprehensive experience crafted to restore balance and foster deep healing. Aster, a local mystic, earth-medicine healer, and psychic channel, has over two decades of experience working with the elements and over a decade of using this knowledge for healing. He will guide you through each element’s energies and how to incorporate their teachings. 

Each class will be broken up into three main parts to stimulate mind, body, and spirit:

1. Education: A lecture-style introduction to the Element and Chakra to help you learn about the energy center. Learn what blocks each center and how to balance it by integrating cross-cultural philosophic knowledge. 

2. Somatic Activities: Exercises to establish a deeper connection with each center and element. 

3. Guided Meditation: Spiritually activate your relationship with the Element of the day and follow up with questions and conversation afterward.

It is recommended to complete the full series as the lessons build on each other, and true balance is only achieved through integrating all four elements; however, feel free to come to the classes you feel most called to attend. These classes can and should be taken multiple times to deepen your practice as the repetition of accessing this spiritual space will create strength and flexibility, just like physical exercise. Sessions the community enjoys may become regular offerings in which to continue practicing. Come help build a center for spirituality in Old Town Alexandria! 

Michelle and Aster combine forces to share spiritual insights, cultivate personal growth, and teach you how to work with plant spirits in your daily life. Always community focused, they encourage deep conversation and ensure understanding within the Circles. As a bonus, each participant will go home with a magical goodie provided by Michelle & Aster!

The focus of each event will shift, and new plants will be introduced monthly. For November, we will explore the magical herb mugwort, and its association with the dream world. Well known for its ability to assist us in dream recall and lucidity, this plant is perfect to start an understanding of herbalism. Come learn about the subconscious mind, dream analysis, and explore the awakening of The High Priestess archetype. 🌙

November Tarot Energies

November Reading: The Nine of Pentacles & Five of Swords

November’s energy highlights the relationship of mental states on our material world. When the Nine of Pentacles and the Five of Swords appear together, themes of gains, losses, and the interplay between our inner and outer worlds emerge. These cards, ruled by Virgo (Nine of Pentacles) and Aquarius (Five of Swords), form a quincunx in astrology—a challenging and dramatic angle. This tension reminds us that while our material reality is created through our efforts, our mental reality sets the tone that we receive it. Your mental state directly impacts how you receive the facts of material reality. Two people may see the same incident but pending on their state of mind they will often see two different things. What changes the story?

(I also find it incredibly interesting that the American presidential race may be represented here. A win and a loss, as no matter who wins, there will be a side at a loss. Perhaps we’re seeing the representations here the feminine winning and the masculine at a loss through the protagonists of each card? Time will tell. Make sure you vote and make your voice heard.)

The Nine of Pentacles represents material gain, independence, and the satisfaction of hard-won success. She stands in a space of comfort and appreciation, embodying the pleasure of enjoying opulence and ease. With the number nine—a symbol of completion—she signals that you’ve reached a high point in your journey, harvesting the rewards of the pentacle suit, which is grounded in material and physical endeavors.

In contrast, the Five of Swords carries the energy of loss, doubt, and mental conflict. This card often appears when unresolved battles or internal struggles cloud our outlook. It can represent self-sabotage or a hollow victory, where “winning” may feel unfulfilling, as lingering tensions remain unresolved.

When these two cards appear together, they suggest that unresolved doubts and past struggles might be preventing you from fully savoring the success you’ve achieved. While your physical reality may be stable, your mental reality could be holding you back from truly appreciating it. This reading serves as a reminder that your outer environment and your inner thoughts are separate yet deeply intertwined, each influencing the other.

To move through the material world with ease, avoid the trap of comparison. When we start comparing our “garden” to others, doubt seeps in, and we risk underestimating our own achievements. Imagine dancing freely in the universe’s ballroom—if you glance at another, you might lose your footing. Pouring yourself wholly into your own dance allows for more freedom, ease, and appreciation. This duo whispers, “The more you release doubt, the more you can appreciate.” In this sense, appreciate has a double meaning: both cherishing what you have and experiencing it growing in abundance.

Stop doubting Start becoming

Questions for Reflection:

How might mental doubts be slowing down your material progress?

In what ways could your thoughts be preventing you from fully entering the “garden” you’ve worked hard for?

Could comfort be keeping you from expanding further?

Is tension around a certain subject creating lack or disappointment in that area?

Are you doubting that your efforts will have any payoff?

Remember: Failure only exists in the realm of thinking; in the realm of being, it’s simply a part of growth. Every setback offers insight and understanding, even if small. Is it truly a failure if it brings wisdom? Progress is progress, however subtle, and in appreciating each step, you’ll find yourself more at peace in the dance between your inner and outer worlds.

Stay Blessed,

Aster

Listening to: Disease by Lady Gaga

Honoring this Scorpio Moon Baddie. They say that you are drawn to artists who share your moon sign and let me tell you this song is giving. me. LIFE!! She’s really leaning into her Gemini Rising with this music video, and her Aries Sun being ruled by mars shows the state of war she often feels within herself. Loving it.

Reading: The Road to Eleusis: Unveiling the Secret of the Mysteries

A fantastic read that covers the possible overlap of mysticism and altered states of consciousness at a temple in Eleusis in ancient Greece. Written by three people: a mycologist, a chemist and a historian, this is a deep dive of the Eleusinian Mysteries and is especially recommended for those that work with Demeter and Persephone, or Kore. Covers theories of what may have happened at at the Temple and I found the whole thing to be enlightening and enjoyable. These kind of rites need to be resurrected.

Watching: Agatha All Along

The Season finale was last night. It had been TOO long since we had a witchy series, but being given one with Queer representation, OUTSTANDING casting, and the ability to deliver camp, quality story, and accurate portrayal of Tarot was just a win, win, win. Seriously though, I may have to start using that Tarot spread from Lilia’s episode. I of course paused the episode and tried it out immediately and was read to filth. 10/10