We are in a powerful portal of rebirth, cacao family! This week we honor three pivotal transition points: the New Moon in Aquarius, the Chinese New Year of the Wood Snake, and the stirrings of Spring with Imbolc.
Continue reading to discover more about these powerful days and a cacao ritual to bring it all together.
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Portals of Rebirth: New Moon in Aquarius + Chinese New Year of the Wood Snake + Celtic Imbolc
Chinese New Year of the Wood Snake
Wednesday, January 29th is the Chinese New Year as we close out the Year of the Wood Dragon and welcome the Year of the Wood Snake. The Wood Snake signals transformation and grounding. While the energy of the dragon could be wild, unexpected, and tumultuous the snake invites us to integrate this energy with reflection, response (versus reactivity), and grounding.
This is an excellent ally for the times ahead as we are encouraged to gather our internal/external resources and stay grounded amidst collective changes. In addition, the snake signals the shedding process of transformation so it’s a great time to consider what in your life needs pruning and letting go. It can also be useful to reflect on the uncomfortable shedding process endured by the snake. We recognize that transitions and endings can be painful or uncomfortable, and we are reminded of how important it is to find balance and self care during these transformative times.
New Moon In Aquarius
Also on this date is the New Moon in Aquarius. Aquarius is ruled by the planet Uranus, which is characterized by qualities of change, innovation, and freedom. Aquarius is informed by these qualities to be the eccentric archetype of the humanitarian, freedom fighter, and evolutionary that is interested in advances for the collective good.
At each new moon, we’re invited to plant seeds of intention that can blossom both with next full moon in a couple weeks and also more fully, through the next six months of completing this lunar cycle (that comes to fruition when the full moon is in Aquarius). We’ve also recently transitioned into the Age of Aquarius (where innovative energy is driven towards our collective good) from the Age of Pisces (where we contemplated our place in the psychic-spiritual-collective consciousness). As we contemplate the collective themes alive in the world, this is a great time to consider how you feel connected to the energy of Aquarius and how this informs what kind of role you want to play in the times ahead.
Imbolc
Finally, on Sat Feb 1st we celebrate Imbolc, which is the midway point between Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox. Imbolc heralds the return of the light and the first stirrings of Spring for the Northern Hemisphere. On this day it’s customary to open all the windows and light a candle in each room of the house. You may notice the stirrings of energy in the world outside, as well as in your inner world. Life and light returns in a cycle as it always does and ever shall, and we’re invited to clear away the stagnant energy and invite in fresh vitality with approaching Spring.
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Cacao Ritual for Reflection + Rebirth
Materials: Cacao, Journal, Foraged Nature Items, Cauldron (a fire safe vessel, such as cast iron)
Prepare your cacao with loving intentions. Call in the elements and helping guides (including cacao spirit!) that support you in your journey. Request their insight into these themes for your life.
As you drink your cacao, you’re invited to reflect on the above energetics, and contemplate the following questions:
- What gifts and challenges am I integrating from the previous year?
- What am I ready to shed as we enter new cycles?
- What intentions am I planting both for the next two weeks and for the next 6 months?
- What is my relationship to the archetypes of Aquarius, Snake, and Rebirth?
- What signs of life, hope, renewal are beginning to stir within me?
Save your final sips of cacao for an offering.
Go on a nature walk. Observe stirrings of the seasonal shift. Listen for any messages/insights.
Gather items (with permission from the plants/land) that represent the following ideas we’ve been exploring:
- what you are releasing (that can be burned)
- what you are seeding (that can be buried)
- who you want to be in the coming times (to go on your altar)
Then, we will harness the elements to support this transformation. (If you do not have access to any of these elements in a safe way, you’re invited to use your imagination or intuition to improvise another method).
- Burn in a cauldron or fireplace the item that represents what you’re releasing.
- Bury in the earth the item that represents what you’re seeding.
- Place at your altar the item that represents who you are becoming.
Seal this ritual by leaving a cacao offering at each stage. (You can pour over cacao when done burning & burying, and leave in a little vessel on your altar to the version of yourself you’re stepping into.) Do so with a prayer from your heart, acknowledging the ways cacao midwives us through such portals of rebirth.
You can complete by reflecting on these additional journal prompts from the second portion of the ritual:
- What items did I choose to represent each theme, and why?
- Releasing, Seeding, Becoming
- What else did I discover on my nature walk?
- How does cacao support me through transitions?
- How can I maintain/deepen this relationship in the coming times?
