Building Up to Sustainability

Welcome back!

Today I am writing from my bed, exhausted after having spent all morning and the last few weekends setting up my podcast and clipping reels for my socials. It's a gentle rainy day outside, and I've just enjoyed my lunch and some chai. Some time will have passed by the time this is published—which means….

My podcast launched on the full moon this Monday. I am so proud of the work I've put into this. I've wanted to start a podcast for nearly 3 years now. My podcast can be found on any major podcast streaming service—Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, and so on. You can find my podcast homepage here: moonlodgemystic.com/podcast It would mean the world to me if you listened and left your feedback.

Next month's episode will be released on Friday, August 7th. I'm going to be focusing on ethics in the spiritual community, offering insight from my professional background in human services. You may or may not be aware that spiritual professions are almost entirely unregulated, meaning there is no central ethical code or education that practitioners must adhere to in order to begin practicing. My hope is that this next episode will be useful to people seeking out practitioners and other spiritual professionals who may not have access to an education in ethical practices.

Until then, I've got some other announcements to make.

I am no longer working with the Dragonfly Healing Center. I am sad to say this, but I am committed to finding a space that is genuinely aligned with the depth and care this work requires.

You can still book readings with me through my website, and they will be conducted over phone or Google Meet. I will not be able to host guided cacao journeys until I find the right space.

The environment I work in matters—it shapes what becomes possible in the room. I will continue to share updates as they become available.

Launching my podcast was a lot of work, and I know that maintaining its release schedule will also require ongoing engagement from me. I've also reviewed and adjusted my social media strategy—I am now posting reels to Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. In order to ensure that I am able to give my best creative energy to both my podcast, my newsletters, and my social media presence, this newsletter will be moving to a monthly publishing cycle.

It matters to me that I not over-extend myself in my business. If I'm burnt out, then my customers will not receive the quality of service that they deserve. Nor will I be able to give my best to my family, friends, and community. I take pride in the work that I do and the level of presence I occupy in the world around me.

I think one of the most important questions people neglect to ask themselves is if the life they are building is sustainable. I know I am not the most polished when it comes to content creation, but I hope that by consciously choosing to approach my work this way I am helping reshape society into one that doesn't normalize burnout and stress.

With that, let's move into this month's lunar forecast.

This New Moon is conjunct retrograde Mercury in Gemini in the nakshatra of Punarvasu—an interesting contradiction. The new moon is dark, leaving us with no light to navigate the night, but Punarvasu is the "return of the light." Punarvasu is also ruled by Jupiter, who represents the light of enlightenment.

Here is what this looks like in the sky: at night the stars will be easier to see. In this case, Saturn and Mars become visible. I interpret this as them being revealed on the unconscious level—particularly suppressed frustrations and burdens. This is an opportunity to understand the source of your burdens and frustrations, to put it to words. I get the sense of a hidden anger or burden that finally gets to be understood.

Meanwhile, the Moon and Mercury will only be out in the daylight where they will be completely consumed by the Sun and its light and heat. This is a burning, purgative awareness. Gemini is the domain of exchanging information, communications, and mass media. While Mercury is retrograde, people tend to reflect on how information is organized around their experience. This reflection can lead to a huge shift in perspective—an awareness that will allow old narratives to be released and reformed, particularly those that have persisted since childhood or are connected to your family of origin.

All of this is necessary to create the space for growth and expansion. The Saturn-Jupiter dynamic is bringing many patterns and cycles that have limited people to an end with a precise kind of finality. This allows the light of Jupiter to introduce inspiration and upliftment. The Full Moon will bring more to the surface.

The Full Moon will be driving home the realizations of the New Moon. Sun and Jupiter are in exact conjunction in Cancer, while Moon in Capricorn is within 2 degrees of Pluto. This moon placement can make someone incredibly focused and productive, but the question is: are you building something or hiding from something?

Capricorn is allergic to vulnerability, and with Pluto involved there is a strong desire to feel powerful. Be careful of the temptation to avoid vulnerability or bury it under obligations and projects. Sun and Jupiter are really charging each other up in Cancer, beaming at the Moon and Pluto. This can show up as the kind of enlightenment and confidence needed to navigate vulnerability in a way that leaves one feeling secure and in control—which can be healing.

The previous month's advice about Mars aspecting Venus continues throughout this month, especially with Saturn aspecting Mars, which leads to feelings of being restrained or blocked from pursuing desires. Mars is liable to take out frustrations on Venus, who is sitting with Ketu in a kind of void. It's like it's hard to feel love or receive love right now, and Venus in Leo wants to be the star of the stage.

Venus leaves Leo a few days after the full moon, entering debilitation in Virgo through the end of this lunar cycle. Watch out for all the criticism that wants to come out towards your loved ones at that time. Try to choose encouragement over criticism. This is where the healing work comes in—using the confidence and security that Sun and Jupiter are offering to navigate these moments with compassion rather than reactivity.

Thank you for reading until the end. If my newsletter has helped you, please consider sharing this with your friends. You can also support me by booking services with me or purchasing an astrology report through my shop. Take care.

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