Passing Through the Portal
Scorpio Eclipses have a rep for being like broken glass. But this one felt right on time and totally in tune.
In this email: The Cosmic Weather | Eclipse Anatomy | Event Listings for May & June | VIDEO: The May Sky | FREE Online Workshop | *NEW* WhatsApp Groups |
Hello you
I can’t believe it’s been over a month since I last wrote a proper email to you. It was beginning of Aries season when I last sat to write at length… and SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED since then. Both personally and collectively.
So how was it for you? April? Aries Season? This eclipse portal? Mercury retrograde….?
It’s been quite the time for us all, as society, culture and the economy seems to be oscillating between incredibly staccato progress, and archaic regression. I don’t feel I want to contribute much to the coronation discussion/debate beyond the observation that everything about it seemed to sum up the general collective energy we’re in right now in the UK (and perhaps the majority of the westernised part of the planet) - a disorienting and unpredictable dance between some sort of intention to create change, evolution and fresh perspective; yet simultaneously being strangled by old narratives, experiences and habits, generally borne out of fear.
Life reflects art / reflects news etc.
My life update is fairly huge, and also shares a lot of these progress/regress themes. I arrived back in Cornwall, my home for the past 5 years, on April 1st. In barely two weeks I emptied my house and sold about 90% of what I owned, and on April 11th started moving myself back to Brighton, a city I last lived in long ago in the faraway lifetime of 2006, when I was a wide-eyed 25 year-old at the beginning of her fashion career.
In a lifetime of impulsive, intuitive decision-making, the call to announce a yard sale across social media was one of my more Scorpionic moments (what was I thinking?!) totally befitting of the absolute bolt of intuition that led me to decide rather suddenly to bring the curtain down on my Cornwall chapter. The cathartic purge of my life and material goods that ensued has been at once freeing and expanding, and also searing in grief and sadness. Watching people crowd my drive, clutching my worldly possessions and carrying them off into the Newquay sunset was one of the stranger days of my life, but one that felt curiously natural and right, although incredibly challenging on the nervous system. I’m so grateful to my wonderful friends for showing up and supporting me through those liminal moving days - you know who you are.
Having given up my home and most of what I owned, I have moved to Brighton, a city I know well and that holds familiarity, family, and some of my dear friends, and yet a place that remains distant enough to me to feel like the clean start that this turbulent chapter of life demanded. I moved in with a family (not mine!) and for the first time in my adult life I no longer have my own home; I’m back to living in a room again, with a bed, a desk and dressing space altogether in a little microcosm of self that reminds me of my teenage bedroom, the rooms in my university houses, or in the flat share in Islington that was my last stop before I moved to Brighton first-time round, back in the era of bootcut denim, combat pants and All Saints.
My first full moon post-relocation felt like a perfectly timed portal: here’s the Scorpio Full Moon rising over Brighton’s elegantly wasted West Pier on Thursday evening
THE COSMIC WEATHER
As ever, I’ve been struck by just how much astrology has held and guided me through a truly tough transition. Leaving behind the place and person I thought was my forever; letting go of neighbourhood and community I have so valued during these demented pandemic years; accepting the gradual fading and dissolution of my side-project Rock & Ritual; leaving the home that held the final memories of my precious kitties; downsizing and effectively downgrading my life, stripping it back and emptying it out; all feels intense, dramatic, and as a few people have noted (with eyebrows raised or perhaps pity etched on their faces) - BRAVE.
And that’s ARIES energy. Ignition, risk, fearlessness, just getting s*it done and moving mountains with resilience, fire and and fierceness of soul. It’s what April was all about. I have no Aries placements in my chart, which creates more space for me to work with it’s energy without being focused on specifics. And my God did I dig deep and roar through this fire season. Assisted by the double new moon - the bookend of fresh starts and the sacred pause in between, I was able to find the inner resources to drag the move and the purging over the line if not without emotion, then definitely without fear. I produced the hell out of the last 6 weeks. My 25 year old junior producer self (and her boss) would be proud.
And now the winds have changed and the prevailing astrology is holding space for Taurean themes of HOME. It’s perfect vibes for rooting, grounding into a new space and city, adapting to being part of a new family whilst simultaneously reconnecting with my own; building new community and taking time to get organised, deal with the messy financial fallout of recent times, and most of all, practice GRATITUDE, that critical aspect of Taurus season. What do you truly VALUE?
Uranus continues to be highly active across the Taurean part of the sky, bringing themes of change and the unexpected into matters of abundance, comfort and resource - you can x10 this for whatever part of your chart contains Taurus (mine is my 4th house - home & family!), and combined with Friday’s huuuuugggggge purge-fest full moon eclipse in Scorpio, it’s been a time that one could (with restraint) describe as ‘edgy.’ So if the last few days have felt wavy, wobbly, teary or otherwise smashed up and shredded around the edges, know that the tone of voice is changing, and whatever needs to be released is now at the surface (if it hasn’t already been pumped out fully - eclipses are usually start rather than end points so be patient, precious one!)
Scorpio deals with purging (what a word! Its’s my fave right now) regeneration, releasing the old, opening up the wound and pouring that painful but healing salt right down to the root. Ouch, but oooooooh. The pain and the pleasure. Scorpionic energy wraps around the most uncomfortable themes - shame, grudges, guilt and rage, so eclipses in this sign can have that broken glass feel. Initially, utterly hideous. BUT - as all of us proud Scorps know, it’s in that depths and the darkness of that the magic happens (in eclipses the light literally goes out) and as our eyes adjust to the shadow and accept rather than fight it, we often find that we can see more clearly than in the brightest daylight. Whatever needs to be swept out of your life can’t possibly hang on under this cosmic meteorology, and it’s advisable to get in flow and LET GO before the waves drag whatever you’re gripping clean out of your hands, taking a few fingernails with them.
ECLIPSE ANATOMY:
To reflect more accurately on the eclipse in your own energy and correlate it to your life experiences, grab your chart (there’s a link HERE) and have a look at 14* Scorpio.
The house that it’s in will tell you the area of life where the big purge is most ready to happen for you. Cross-reference the chart below for house themes and symbolism.
Don’t forget that eclipses are quantum portals - a fast start to a 6 month cycle. Whatever is coming up is a journey that’s just getting going, that’s why it’s often useful to look at astrology AFTER the peak event itself.
You can also have a look to see if you have any planets or placements at 13-15* Scorpio - these will have been conjunct the eclipse and so it’s themes will also have directly illuminated the archetypes of the planet you have in that area.
For example, the eclipse was conjunct my Sun in my 10th house, helping me to see that it’s a time of release, purging and regeneration in what I bring to the world (my Sun) when it comes to my career (10th house). It was also directly opposite my Chiron at 15* Taurus in my 4th - guidance to purge soul/old/ancestral wounds (Chiron) and seek out alternate perspectives or places stories in matters of home & family (4th house).
TELL ME WHAT’S HAPPENING FOR YOU!
You can also have a look for any placements at 13-15* of the other fixed signs: Taurus placements are OPPOSITE the eclipse, and Leo or Aquarius placements are SQUARE to it, so these will all create a more intense experience of this astrology.
To learn more about ALL of this language of the sky, you can join my online STAR NOMAD course of if you’re in the Southwest, come to the STAR NOMAD immersion day in Newquay on 4th June.
There’s a rawness, a relentlessness to this spring frequency, but off the back of eclipse season, the portal is softening. There’s still one more fresh start and bone-shaking shift to come (see you on 19th May) but generally speaking, it’s now safe to exhale.
We’re also in a really INWARDS time, where the eclipse frequencies and Mercury’s short but decidedly salty retrograde (also through Taurus) are suggesting an inward, introspective mood is going to be of greatest service. Sidebar for anyone still insisting Mercury RX is the cause of all contractual failure and tech breakdown - it’s not. My feeling is always that things crumble and dissolve during the triannual retrograde seasons only when we push against the prevailing energy. Get in flow, and harmony is restored. Thus, I am just about to head out to the gym rather than continue my existential battle with Apple over the Macbook implosion which has dominated my last 10 days!
So the broad strokes of May’s energy is that we’re starting on the inside, reflecting and still operating from a retrograde review perspective. The second half of the month offers a 180* shift as Mercury goes direct, Jupiter enters Taurus with a most welcome sprinkle of his winning lottery-ticket optimism, and the new moon in Taurus wraps up the season of the 2nd house (abundance, value, self-worth) with a final bang (Mars and Pluto are gonna be making some noise around this time - it’s eclipse-lite).
And then - Gemini season. Grab your party shoes and prepare for a little lightness. It’s rare that twin time is a season I look forward to, but then this is a rare year in all the ways, both personal and astrological. So I’m excited for Gemini to bring us some new toys.
** for more info on the cosmic weather, check out the video later in this issue **
I’d LOVE to hear how you are doing and how this eclipse season and weird, slow burn Aries season showed up for you. Feel free to comment on this post and I’d love to chat through what’s happening in your world and share in this community so we can all learn from each other!
I’ve got SO much to share as I get grounded and back to work in full - well I will have, when my Macbook is fixed!! I know this is a HUGE newsletter so do use the menu at the top of this essay to cherry-pick your way through, and I’d love to draw your attention especially to my WhatsApp announcement groups, the quickest way to stay up to date on events and ticket releases for my soundscapes, trainings, retreats and the rest.
love, Janie xx
On a field trip to see the bluebells at Stanmer Park this week, Betty & I pulled THE EMPRESS as our theme card for our May 19th event in Brighton. Couldn’t be more perfect! The Empress embodies the divine feminine and nature’s abundance. Hello new moon Taurus!
EVENT ANNOUNCEMENTS
I made the headline big for a reason. Despite the huge life upheaval I’ve been steering myself through, I haven’t really stopped working at all (hey, Capricorn rising)!
But it’s been chaos and crazy mileage, so thankfully things are settling back into some sort of groove now. After some serious screen graft this week, I have all May & June events loaded, live and ready for your bookings, with July and maybe even August coming next week. I’m getting hella ahead of this iCal, as I really need to get on with my book and finishing up online courses for you.
Altarwork and tarot before our sound journey at Flow State Studio in Hove last month. The next session here is on May 19th.
You can visit my website to browse the big picture of what’s happening and where HERE.
The quick hit is that May is all about my new home BRIGHTON, with a little splash of the old smoke, LONDON.
In June I’m kind of all over the place but will be back in CORNWALL a lot.
In July I’ll be in PORTUGAL for most of the month. If you are in the market for a gorgeous retreat, I’ll be joining Betty HERE for a blissful and transformational 5 days just north of Lisbon from July 4th-9th, and we will be holding ceremonies in the Ericeira area in mid July too.
August is about UK festivals, family (standing by for the arrival of my second niece!) and some exciting events all across the country. But mostly being an Auntie.
September is a bit of everything - CORNWALL, DORSET, BRIGHTON, LONDON …. until equinox, when I head back to INDIA for a full season and my new shala, training courses and retreats. So much more to follow about this but if you fancy a trip to Goa this winter, watch this space!
Meanwhile, online COSMIC ALCHEMY 1:1s (hybrid astro, tarot, sounds, all the things) are available throughout the summer - and I’m manifesting the kids at the Apple Store come good for my poor Macbook tomorrow to make sure I’m all set for these again after the long weekend!
Here’s a few highlights for you:
MAY 13 /BRIGHTON - SOUND IMMERSION - a workshop day for anyone wanting to bring sound healing power to their practice. Designed for yoga teachers, space holders, massage therapists, available for all.
MAY 19/BRIGHTON - BREATH & SOUND ODYSSEY co-hosted with my gal Betty Lewis-Griffiths
JUNE 4th/NEWQUAY - STAR NOMAD ONE DAY ASTROLOGY IMMERSION WORKSHOP
JUNE 5th/NEWQUAY - HORIZON’S EDGE - A special soundscape celebrating my fave full moon of the year (I see you, fellow Sagittarius Moonfolk!) at the most magical venue, The Zen Den
14th JUNE/LONDON - ASTRO GONG: CHIRON - deep diving into the archetypes of the wounded healer, an astrology and sound integration
21st JUNE/NEWQUAY - SOLSTICE. The Watergate Bay sunset and a dreamy drumscape and sound journey is the only backdrop you need on the longest day
PICTURED: last weekend’s SOUND IMMERSION session in Bristol was just a beauty of a day. Thanks to all of you sorceresses for being there. Next one of these one day sound healing immersions is in Brighton on May 13th.
THE MAY SKY
Some of you may have caught me on an Insta Live with the lovely Rachael, founder my London studio home Fire + Alchemy last week - this was the first of a series of monthly astrology lives with F+A summarising the upcoming month’s skies and energetic happenings. Make sure you’re following me and F+A on Instagram to catch the next one.
Meanwhile here’s a fresh and more detailed recording all about what’s happening out there in the astrological charts this month. SPOILER: it’s a month of two halves!
I’ve done these monthly astrology guides before and you guys seemed to like them, so I’ll be doing one in the first few days of each month going forward and the full version will be behind the paywall here on Substack. Which of course right now, you can ALL access!
Themes I cover in this video:
· RETROGRADE SLOWDOWN – an inward phase
· LUNAR ECLIPSE IN SCORPIO – duck for cover! (5th May)
· JUPITER IN TAURUS – a welcome boost (16th May)
· NEW MOON TAURUS – clean the slate (19th May)
· MARS IN LEO – confidence builder (20th May)
· GEMINI SEASON – change the narrative (21st May)
*BIG* GRATITUDE
I’ve given every single subscriber here on Substack a free full access month - you’ll have received an email about this! If you are a paid subscriber (thanks you beauty) you now have next month credited. If you are a free subscriber, you are now paid up for this month, so will be able to access my full archive as well as new videos and online events coming up.
This is a THANK YOU from me to you for still being here even though I have been really absent from writing and sharing online sessions during this protracted moving phase. It’s been super difficult to deal with life’s challenges lately and find time to write/record, so at a certain point I had to accept that I was going to have to deliver below the standards I expect of myself.
It’s all part of operation BETTER BOUNDARIES but has not been a comfortable time, and I’m so aware that some of you have been waiting for quite a while for content and resources from me.
I’m going to be MUCH more present from now on! And I hope you’ll stay around after the free month is up as I have big plans to expand this Substack into a beautiful platform for you to access lots of recordings, videos and tools to support yourself with sound, cosmic practice and neuroscience.
I have a couple of days booked this week for recording, and am hoping for some good enough weather to get the gongs out in nature for some open air recording time too - so stand by for some fresh new sessions, including….
An Online Sound & Astrology Workshop… 16th May
I’m planning to do an online LIVE workshop (sound bath and astrology) in the evening on TUESDAY 16th MAY - when Jupiter enters Taurus and Mercury goes direct. A kind of pre-season Gemini preview. It will be free to paid subscribers so for now at least that’s ALL OF YOU LOVELY FOLK and I’ll email you the access info in a standalone post so you can find it easily.
Meanwhile - THANK YOU for your patience, and for being here. Those on my online courses - I’m emailing you separately!
WHAT’S APP GROUPS
A NEW WAY TO GET QUICK EVENT INFO
Over the years I’ve really struggled with communication overload. From the dark days in the fashion world when at one point I had three mobile phones (three!!) and a BlackBerry (remember those?) to more recently struggling with mega resistance to Instagram DMs becoming a primary channel (it’s soooo hard to find people in my inbox when I don’t know their handle!) I seem to be in a perennial fight with myself over how best to run effective communication across Silence & Noise.
Mercury’s retrograde has been through my 3rd house of communication, so I’ve spent the last couple of weeks mulling over how to improve my communications and get back to people faster. The question I get asked the most is “when is the next event in my area happening” so I wanted to do better with answering that. I also want to be able to let people know about events without writing massive newsletters to you, as I want this Substack to be more feature and content-led rather than excessively about events and ticketing.
One of the things I learned in India was that despite my resistance to people having what I considered my private mobile number, WhatsApp actually worked super easily out there in terms of events. Whether or not we like Meta and what Zuckerberg stands for, more or less everyone has WA and it just makes sense.
SO…
I’m launching a couple of groups on WhatsApp.
One is called Silence & Noise South West. The other is called Silence & Noise South East. See what I did there?!
These groups are where I will drop date and ticket info about events and I can quickly get info out to attendees, as I’m noticing that my emails STILL end up in junk mail too much of the time. I’ve decided to make two groups so you are only receiving notifications for the part of the country that is relevant to you - although of course you are welcome to join both if you like.
I’ll be sharing more ‘global’ info on trainings, retreats, online events and anything that crops up that doesn’t fit neatly into one area to BOTH groups, so nobody will miss out.
For now these groups will be one way, they are not intended to be chat groups but simply a quick-scroll information tool. I want to keep them slick and minimal - literally nobody needs more notifications! But we’ll see, maybe it will make sense to open them up more. We’ll go with the flow.
You can join below (you’ll need to click the links on your phone rather than on desktop), and remember you can leave any time you like or do what I do with many groups I’m in, and stay in but keep them muted or archived to minimise notifications and stay up to date on your own terms.
HERE ARE THE LINKS:
SOUTH WEST EVENTS (covers Cornwall, Devon, Dorset & Bristol)
SOUTH EAST EVENTS (covers London & Brighton)
Remember you can only scroll back to the date you joined the group so don’t delay, be an early adopter and let’s see how it goes. I’ll start dropping events in there in the next few days.
Take good care as we surf these eclipse waves, and see you very soon
Janie xx