Virgo Vibes
The new term is here. With Mercury about to station direct and the new moon switching focus forward, it's time to breathe a little more easily. What's left on YOUR desk after this humid, foggy summer?
In this edition: Retrograde Reflections | Sounds in Nature | Final UK Events | Autumn Plans & Online Courses | Virgo New Moon Ceremony
And just like that, summer is over.
I know - brutal truth, right? But not half as ragged and treacherous a truth as the astrology of summer 2023 has been. A guest in one of my circles this week described their summer as being dragged through a hedge backwards continuously for three months. It’s a pretty fair assessment of the cosmic weather from where I’m standing.
August for me involved a new baby (not mine - rather the cosmic Lionsgate arrival of my new niece), a deeply affecting family funeral, a savage burnout, completing my first my book (the HARD way), 10 festival performances, a business collapse and closure, my first haircut in two years and around 3760 miles - yes I set the trip meter.
I also had 2 weeks offline, although definitely not ‘off’ work or life, just taking time to focus on one thing at a time and get real about the impact my dreadfully porous personal boundaries were beginning to have on my sanity.
Perhaps that’s why I got so much done.
And yet also, had some of the most excruciating mental paralysis phases I can remember in a decade or more.
August was HARD. On top of a pretty gritty July. And that’s just an individual experience. I’ve been hearing from clients, colleagues, friends and family and in every circle I’ve held lately that this last month has been a wild one, and I couldn’t agree more.
How was it for you? Drop your thoughts in the comments and let’s chat.
It’s when things get really DEEPLY sticky that I find the eternal art and science of astrology really does offer incredible support. Or at least, explanation. Validation. Clarity. Hope that things can and will evolve away from the eye of the storm.
ABOVE: enjoy some thematic listening !
This summer has seen a retrograde mash-up that is rare indeed. We currently have six planets retrograde. SIX. And for a moment last Sunday we were just a couple of hours short of seven, as Venus exited retro and Jupiter dived in just hours apart, meaning that both were in ‘retroshade’ (read: not full tantrum but plotting in the corner). It’s been wild indeed. And SLOW.
Very, very slow.
So much retrograde energy can only mean an invitation to reflection, time spent navel-gazing into the rearview mirror. Retrogrades, as those of you who read me often will doubtless have heard me eye-roll many a time, are in my opinion undeserved of their bad rep for chaos and disorder. They are really all about going over old ground, taking a second pass at an old experience to see if time and wisdom may throw up new fruits for harvest. They only play dirty when you ignore them and keep bashing on the doors of the future without a backward glance.
However, with SO much retrograde energy underfoot, it’s hard not to feel almost at a standstill, if not dragged through that proverbial hedge somewhat unceremoniously. And it’s equally hard not to feel as though everywhere you look there are landmines underfoot. Six planets is loads. Just too many areas of life in awkward, uneasy pause to find the gas pedal or the path through.
I’ve found the summer energetics a heavy, muddy, an unedifying kind of brew. Sort of like a lukewarm tasteless stew in the middle of a heatwave. But it’s not all bad. The glacial pace has FORCED pause, assessment and tangible change.
I’ve found myself really, truly looking at the mess of collapsed boundaries and people pleasing that has led me back to burnout. It’s been ugly, but I’ve made progress. I’m learning to say NO, and asking for what I need instead of what I think other people want. Thanks Saturn.
I’ve also spent a hella load of time on my last relationship. Trawling old photos and messages. Reading old journals. Being angry. Crying. Accepting that I haven’t really moved on or processed anything. Exactly 365 days after the breakup, I still feel the same. So I got a new therapist and started writing letters which we dissect in my sessions. I’ve moved from visceral anger to searing grief. Ugly, slow progress. Yay Venus.
What about you? Here’s a bit of a rundown on the themes of the retrograde bandwagon. What has shown up for you?
As always, check the transit houses on your natal chart for direction. Par example. If you’re a Capricorn rising, then Pluto RX is going to be a first house party for you, with Saturn doing the dirty in your 3rd house and Uranus likely in your 5th.
No clue what all this means?
Book 1 :1 Cosmic Alchemy appointment with me or start with a FREE Discovery Call to get a steer on what a 1:1 will give you. Clue - deep insight into your natural patterns and cycles, plus your personal timelines and energetic SWOT analysis.
Read down to explore the big themes that have been in the pot.
An almighty stew indeed.
RETROGRADE CRIB SHEET
MERCURY asks us to look at how we have been dealing with our word. Lies are exposed, misdemeanour seen in a spotlight under his sharp review. Just ask Donald Trump. Where have you been less than impeccable with your word and what are you going to do about it?
JUPITER invites a consideration of where we have perhaps over-pushed, dreamed to big, or overstretched. It’s not a buzzkill so much as a chance to steady the ship and get dreams and manifestations back on track, rewired for success. What projects have you started but left broken down on the roadside this summer?
SATURN reminds us that the river can only flow when it’s banks are strong. Where have we let ourselves down with flaky commitment, flailing boundaries and uncertainty in our own ability to deliver confidently. Saturn retrograde gives you time to tap back into that inner CEO and get back in the driving seat of your life. How will you grab the wheel?
URANUS prepares us for a handbrake turn, perhaps the one we have been waiting for, secretly craving under the covers of comfort. In retrograde he offers fertile ground for the sparks of rebellion and release that make room for wholesale burning of everything you thought you knew or wanted. Where are you ready to turn left and how are you clearing space to make the move?
NEPTUNE is famously hard to read even straight up, so in retrograde we know that anything is possible and everything is an illusion. It’s a great time to look into your own spiritual or consciousness practices. Maybe something that didn’t stick before is ripe for a revisit, or the scepticism or busy-ness holding you back from connecting at a higher level of awareness is a little softer now. What tools will you reach for to help you break through the noisy confusion of being human and touch something more…. cosmic?
PLUTO has been busy as hell this year and as he dances back through the late degrees of Capricorn there’s a sense of history repeating itself when it comes to us leaning back into safety and security over the opportunity to blast through fear into our true purpose. Cannonballs ready. What old codes, programming or practices are turning your head once again? And how are you going to find the strength to ditch them once and for all?
And breathe.
Ready for some GOOD NEWS?
Me too.
The new moon in Virgo is a good egg, as my grandpa used say. Landing at 21* Virgo in the early hours of 15th, she’s the chillout room wedged between the grungy dirty drone of summer’s rock festival and the glitterati all-drama mirrored dancefloor of the incoming eclipse season (yes indeed - check that horizon for incoming traffic…)
A chance to take five and get a pint of water and some green juice down you before it all kicks off again.
Down below there’s some ritual guidance and a video ceremony for you lovely paid up people.
[All of you are lovely, of course. But paid people get the video].
NEON DRESS: NEON IN NATURE
On the day Venus went direct and Jupiter took a dive, I was playing at a brilliant local festival with a GIANT heart.
NEON in NATURE was the most high vibration conscious festi. All about community, open hearts, quality sounds and PURE JOY.
I loved listening to the amazing Sofia Grant play this live at the event and I think you should check her out too:
NighthouseUK curated the Woods Stage and put together an array of mega local bands that I loved meeting. Sekinue was amazing. What a voice, AND a harpist. Wow. Also really enjoyed these guys:
The festival was a fundraiser - volunteer-run with 100% of proceeds supporting incredible projects focused on climate and community; changing people's lives and fighting for a better tomorrow. They are Temwa in Malawi, Choose Love in Turkey, Care International in Ukraine, #TOGETHERMEALs in Brazil and Nepal and Earth Percent.
Truly the power of creativity as a force for good.
After a summer of feeling ultra displaced, I met more people in 24 hours at Neon than I have connected with all summer. People creating apps about binaural beats. People leading safe passage foundations in Cyprus. People bringing climate change to the heart of music. This progressive space of thoughtful conversation and social justice is where the conversation is happening. So grateful for the invitation, and excited to see what we can co-create going forward.
One of the attendees at my set in the woods was fellow sound healing practitioner, beautiful Hayley - find her at https://www.instagram.com/crystalsandsound/ and SOUTH COAST FOLK - go check her out! She took some videos of my set - not of me or the kit, but of nature, the conversation between the sound bath and the sky, the forest, the earth and the sun. I love it and I’ve made it into a little 6 minute meditation for you.
Thanks Hayley for the videos and for coming not just to Neon but for right away booking yourself and friends onto my sound bath the very next day so we could keep talking.
This is what community and connection is all about.
Thanks Cam for making it all happen.
https://www.instagram.com/cameronsaul/
https://www.instagram.com/togetherbandofficial/
A SIX-MINUTE FOREST SOUNDSCAPE
(headphones on please kids)
ABOUT AUTUMN
This is turning into a long letter. I’m thinking that going forward I really do have to get some consistency on here (SATURN - I hear you). Life has been chaos and confusing and in fairness I’ve been on the road since April. But I feel a phase of Capricorn rising incoming off the back of this earthy, organised new moon vibe.
I think it looks like a Substack column once a week. A single theme feature on sound, sound science, neuroscience, astrology, reiki or something else specific to my toolkit. For paid folk only, I guess.
A big stream of consciousness like this probably monthly, for everyone.
And having the opportunity to have the gongs and my instruments permanently set up in my own shala means I’ll be able to record sound and meditations for you ALL THE TIME. I haven’t had my own space since last December and it has been frustrating not being able to record for you whenever I feel the urge.
So I think this new shala will be an important change that allows me to make this Substack what I always dreamed of - a beautiful online community owned by us the people not them (Meta). A place about creativity, science and spirituality, all in one messy but delicious Nutribullet.
THANK YOU for being here.
If you like reading, please subscribe or gift a sub to your people.
Catch Me If You Can
[ shots from our Magic of Nine workshop on 09/09 @ Zen Den Watergate Bay. The Autumn Equinox event will weave similar experiences of creative crafting, sound healing, quantum meditation and more ]
Even I realise that my summer schedule has been haywire. Messy. Undeliverable. I do like a challenge, and although I’ll certainly NEVER. DO. THIS. AGAIN. I have learned bucketloads this summer, mostly about that Saturn retrograde and people pleasing via determination to fulfil every single booking having a boxing match with reality in my calendar.
I just love playing my instruments, singing, and I love the power of sound. I love the healing potential and what we don’t even know we hold in every breath, every beat of our body. The intuitive hits, the fuck-YES moments. It’s magic.
And I’ll drive another 1000 miles to share it.
NEXT YEAR.
For now, I’m done. Just three sessions left and if any are near you I so hope you’ll join me because honestly nothing tastes as good as the soundspace feels.
SURREY - 14th Sept @ Quinettes Barn, Farnham
BRIGHTON & HOVE - 16th Sept @ Flow State Studio, Hove
NEWQUAY - 23rd Sept @ The Zen Den, Watergate Bay
T-21 Days / (nobody’s counting, right?)
[ this old abandoned hotel in Agonda is my fave. Can’t wait to shoot there properly this season]
I don’t think I mentioned that I’m done with the UK for now….
I feel like all I’m talking about is India.
But for whatever reason, it’s the right time and place.
Do you have yours?
Doesn’t have to be physically moving countries. But where do you feel ok? Better. Alive. Free. Free-er? Useful questions to explore.
I feel best in India. I always have. I don’t know why and I don’t have the bandwidth to unpack it all right now. But I just seem to work better there. I can breathe. I feel ok. I don’t want to scream all the time. My skills and attributes make sense there in a way they don’t here. So I’m going for it with all engines on. Goa is ‘shanti’ and I am rocket fuel, but I feel like we can make it work.
Opposites attract, right?
Anyway. I’ll be heading back to Agonda - a village on the Goan coast - in a couple of weeks. For a while. Indefinitely, maybe.
And there I know there will be space for the endless projects and plans that have been strangled and scuppered in the cost of living crisis and eternal gloom of England. I’ve found it intolerably and inconceivably hard to move things forward here. Courses I started recording in December, believing with my whole heart would be done by January, fell into stasis here. Endless tech issues, broken laptops, lost files, dropped connections, stagnation and exhaustion. But I can feel it all bursting to life again.
Have you experienced this? Right place wrong time? Right person wrong place? Wrong everything right idea? I’d love to know.
So, from October, I’ll be focusing on Substack consistency as well as relaunching and completing:
STAR NOMAD - teaching you to be your own astrologer
INNER ORACLE - guiding you to trusting your own intuition through cards
and the one that has really been brewing….
SOUND ALCHEMY -
inspirational sound healing science & study for everyone
practitioner training from beginner to experienced
advanced level mentoring containers
membership based daily sound meditation app
Coming in October, I promise. Thanks for waiting while this intense cauldron simmered down into something I could understand.
Suddenly, after quite the search, I’ve found the label for that special sauce.
Stand by.
NEXT: VIRGO NEW MOON CEREMONY
Want in? I’ll be sharing this to paid up subscribers in advance of Friday night’s new moon. You can upgrade anytime, and cancel anytime.
Included: group tarot pull; guided sound meditation; journalling prompts for activating the new moon mood; astrology forecast for the next few weeks and probably some chat about crystals, rituals and what to dress your new moon altar with this weekend.
