It’s been a little over a year since I took an early retirement from my corporate career, and as is typical around milestones, I’ve been reflecting on this journey — the burnout that started it all, and the emotional transitions and mental shifts that I’ve encountered along the way. And while I do not regret my decision to quit the corporate world in the slightest, there are still some things that, despite my emotional and mental preparation, took me unawares.
Plus an astrology and tarot forecast, journaling prompts, and Womanrunes reading for the Aries full moon.
The October 2025 full moon falls in the sign of Aries. The Aries archetype is known for its bold – often rash – action, for going where angels fear to tread. As the first sign of the zodiac, it represents the active core of our spiritual journey on earth, and teaches us to act in accordance with our ideals. The Aries archetype teaches us to be unafraid to march to our own drumbeat, to assert our willpower towards the attainment of our desires, and to embrace beginner’s mind and the innate trust and explosive power {conviction + action} that is needed to start something new.
Spiritually, the Aries archetype teaches us about action. And as most of us know, it’s easier to talk about the things we want to do than to put in the work and actually do the thing! Aries teaches us that courage is the key to unlocking the full potential of this spiritual principle. And that comes from connecting your head to your heart, focusing your will, and taking consistent action towards your dreams.
This full moon also highlights our creativity and creative expression, and directs our attention towards the activities and pursuits that bring us joy.
Plus an astrology and tarot forecast, new moon ritual, and herbal lore for the Virgo new moon solar eclipse.
The September 2025 solar eclipse falls in the sign of Virgo. The Virgo archetype is logical and practical, with an eye for detail and the steadfastness to go after their goals. This is a sign that thrives on meticulous planning, on honing skills to perfection and gaining mastery over their chosen vocation.
Spiritually, the Virgo archetype teaches the principle of devotion. One way to understand this principle is by looking at it through the lens of one’s devotion to their craft. While all the buzz seems to point towards profiting from your passion, there are numerous examples of famous writers and artists who held down a day job for most of their lives. Franz Kafka was an insurance clerk, Harper Lee was an airline ticketing agent, Mark Rothko was an elementary school teacher and Paul Gauguin was a stockbroker. They could all have given in to the dull drudgery of making a living, but they didn’t — and the world is much richer for their devotion to their craft.
We have the second eclipse of this season, with a partial solar eclipse that will be visible from New Zealand, a thin strip of Australia’s eastern coast, various Pacific islands, and parts of Antarctica.
An intuitive painting exploration, plus a creative practice invitation for you.
When I first started painting intuitively, I used music as a tool to quieten my mind. Trance drumming, and artists like Wadaruna and Deya Dova were my favourites to paint to. The rhythmic, hypnotic beats would help me to empty my mind and get into an almost meditative state while I painted.
Slowly, I moved to a playlist of upbeat songs, which helped me to connect to my body, responding to the music and to what was happening on the page. During this phase of my journey, I would often dance around the studio as I painted — especially when I felt myself tightening up, trying to control a painting, or getting stuck on what my next move should be.
The September 2025 lunar eclipse falls in the sign of Pisces. The Pisces archetype is highly intuitive and very open to the flow of creative imagination. This is the sign of creative dreamers, mystics and visionaries, which makes this full moon an excellent time to flex your intuitive and creative muscles.
Spiritually, the Pisces archetype teaches the principle of unity, of recognizing the divinity within you. One way to understand this principle is by looking at creation. The creator {God, Universe, Source, however you wish to name it} created this earth, the rivers and seas, the trees, birds, insects, animals, man. Similarly, man has the ability to create, and to create consciously. It is this ability that points to the spiritual truth of Pisces, that we are spiritual beings having a human experience {with the emphasis on our humanness in all its frailty and beauty}. It is by accepting responsibility for consciously creating, which isn’t always easy, that you connect most deeply with the creator. Needless to say, empathy and compassion are the cornerstones of the Pisces archetype.
This full moon kicks off eclipse season, with the longest total lunar eclipse since 2022. The eclipse will be visible in most parts of the world, including Australia, Asia, Africa, Europe, Pacific, Atlantic, Indian Ocean and Antarctica.
Cozy witch books have an irresistible charm, don’t they? They bring to mind spells and covens, small town witches and secret family potions, old grimoires and ancient magic. But the witchy reads I love most aren’t just soft and comforting, they have an edge…a bite. They’re the kind of autumn witch books that feel like soft woolen sweaters and pumpkin spice lattes, with a shimmer of danger and a bite of feminist fire.
If you’re looking for witchy novels with a gothic atmosphere that balance comfort with thrills, here are eight spellbinding choices to slip into this season.
Plus an astrology and tarot forecast, new moon ritual, and herbal lore for the Virgo new moon.
The August 2025 new moon falls in the sign of Virgo. The Virgo archetype is logical and practical, with an eye for detail and the steadfastness to go after their goals. This is a sign that thrives on meticulous planning, on honing skills to perfection and gaining mastery over their chosen vocation.
Spiritually, the Virgo archetype teaches the principle of devotion. One way to understand this principle is by looking at it through the lens of one’s devotion to their craft. While all the buzz seems to point towards profiting from your passion, there are numerous examples of famous writers and artists who held down a day job for most of their lives. Franz Kafka was an insurance clerk, Harper Lee was an airline ticketing agent, Mark Rothko was an elementary school teacher and Paul Gauguin was a stockbroker. They could all have given in to the dull drudgery of making a living, but they didn’t — and the world is much richer for their devotion to their craft.
Ikigai is often touted as the Japanese philosophy for finding your purpose, expressed through a colorful Venn diagram that helps you explore the intersection of what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for.
But what if I told you this was a lie?
The first lie: Ikigai isn’t a deep philosophy about purpose, it’s a simple word that’s rarely used in Japan in casual conversation.
The second lie: Ikigai has nothing to do with finding a lofty life purpose or figuring out what you can be paid for.
Instead, the true meaning of Ikigai is a feeling — a sense that life is worth living, rooted in the small daily joys and experiences that make you think, “Damn! It’s good to be alive.”
The August 2025 full moon falls in the sign of Aquarius. The independent, free-thinking Aquarius archetype encourages us to examine our inner wild self and celebrate everything that makes us unique. It is the archetype of the reformer, the idealist who strives for tolerance, unity, and a better and brighter society. And despite these rather lofty ideals, the Aquarius archetype isn’t afraid to get in there and get its hands dirty.
Spiritually, the Aquarius archetype teaches us how to be true to our own voice, to listen to and follow the calling of our own heart and soul. By learning how to tune in rather than out, by being true to the things that make us unique, we undertake the journey to individuation.
July has been a month for comfort reads. Cozy books, where nothing really bad happens. I’ve had enough of grief and loss, death and despair in real life, with the passing of my beloved cat, Loki at the start of the month. I couldn’t bear it in my fiction too.
So I wrapped myself up in simple, cozy stories of charmed books, the magic of small communities, romance amid magical geographical disasters, and the unraveling of a centuries old fairy curse.
