The Beauty Witch: AUGUST

Sun kisses bestowed upon us
by the great lion in the sky
as we bask in the last moments of fullness
to savor every delight
inhale every perfume
and await the turn of the wheel once more

August marks the last of Summer as it greets the first of the harvest festivals. The days are still long and hot, but whispers of change cannot be ignored. There is a primal urge to stretch our arms out wide to grab it all before it’s gone, and hold tightly each bloom before we must bid it adieu. Though Autumn is still down the road, it can be sensed: we begin to feel the quickening ever so slightly, like a little shiver up our spines. That would be the Big Cat, Leo, coming center stage now, with his ebullient brightness demanding you take notice. He lights the way, really, toward the path of action we might envision for Fall, and excites us with possibilities. Can you feel it? The lion is playful and strong, not to mention enthusiastic, and much needed after the emotional month we’ve just had, giving us one last fling of fun before Virgo takes over and forces us to get serious. The zodiac works brilliantly in that way, always providing the environment so that we can carry on. Harkening back to our school days, it’s exactly the energy right now of that last blast of Summer holiday before classes begin. Don’t let it pass you by – time to drink the nectar of every fruit, surrender to each warm breeze, and dance barefoot in the grass ‘til you absolutely drop!

August 1^st brings us the premiere of the witchy harvest festivals, the celebration known as Lughnasadh, signaling the beginning of the Sun’s descent into the darkness of Winter. As it still holds court high in the sky, the fruitfulness and abundance of the Sun is honored, though in ancient times there was also a tension present, because the harvest still needed gathering and storing for the dark season ahead. This translates for us now as the heightened awareness that there are still things to be done before Winter sets in, and opens the door to the flurry of activity that abounds in Autumn.

Our high-spirited Leo New Moon greets us on August 11^th at 5:58am EST, arm in arm with a solar eclipse. Though it occurs in the sign of the lion, it is actually the tamest of the Summer’s eclipses, so you can easily enjoy your leisure time. With Mercury still in retrograde there could be some confusion, possibly mixed with a bit of boastful communication, but so long as you keep your footing it will fall off you like fur that’s shedding. (Just don’t antagonize any big cats. That will be problematic.)

This New Moon is void-of-course (again!) so best to simply enjoy the vivaciousness of Leo while graciously inviting joy and warmth into your being, directing it outward and bestowing it upon others. There is no greater opportunity than now to absorb solar life force, both physically and energetically. One teeny little catch though: with all this blindingly sunny radiance comes inherent dryness, and a tendency towards parched skin, particularly when accompanied by arid indoor air. Smart witches know when it’s time to feed the entire body (face included!) with rich, quenching moisture that drinks into those fine lines and dry patches, leaving skin luminous and luscious!  I’ve conjured a divinely scented blend with star quality for you to use liberally during the height of dry weather, anytime of the year, and whenever you need a little boost of big cat confidence.

Children of The Sun Beauty Oil
Yields 8 ounces

2 oz. borage seed oil
6 oz. sunflower seed oil
1 teaspoon vegetable glycerin
13 drops sandalwood oil
6 drops jasmine oil

*note: sandalwood is endangered, so make sure you source sustainably from Australia and New Zealand.

Combine the borage and sunflower oils together in an 8oz. amber glass bottle.  Add the sandalwood and jasmine oils, and gently swirl clockwise until blended. Place in a window to absorb the New Moon energies, and the next morning’s sunlight. Massage into your body and onto your face throughout the new-to-full Moon cycle.

Borage seed oil is one of the most richly emollient oils out there. It works wonders on dry, parched skin, helping to nourish, repair, and protect. Also known as Star Flower, borage gives you the courage to enter into a new cycle.

Sunflower seed oil is also a highly nutritious and effective moisturizer, bringing cheerful energy straight from the sunflowers. Full of brightness and fertility, it can help you in making dreams a reality.

Sandalwood and Jasmine are daughters of the Moon, bringing a celestial balance to the potion, along with tremendous wrinkle-fighting abilities. Together they carry the magic of healing and protection, and have a very strong ability to attract, particularly where money matters are concerned.

Vegetable Glycerin is a water-soluble humectant which draws in moisture and acts as a sealant, allowing the rich oils to absorb more deeply into the skin.

Beauty Witch Tip: Drop in small pieces of rough amber, sapphire, and moonstone before you set the potion in the window. Together they add solar and lunar energies, while moisturizing the skin and boosting circulation for a megawatt cosmic glow.

~

As we sashay through the month, it gets even better: Mercury finally goes direct on August 19, giving us all a collective sigh of relief. Remember, my Loves, that there is a shadow of five days, so keep on top of things (and steer clear of contracts) until after the 23^rd, the same day that the Sun enters Virgo, making it much easier to tend to the details. Even better news? Our planet of action, Mars, goes direct just days later, on August 27^th! Now we can begin to get things moving again!  If you have dominant fire in your chart (as I do), these past two months have been unbearably slow. And though that time has certainly been useful to review and reassess, if you’ve been itching for the electricity to return (as I have), now it begins. 

Let’s not forget our Full Moon in Pisces lighting up the evening sky on August 26: she reaches her peak at 7:56am, so the night before will be quite powerful. Known to witches as the Corn Moon, we have another nod to the idea of harvesting what we’ve planted. And, for the first time in two lunar cycles, it is once again a strong place from which to manifest. Think back to intentions you set at the Pisces New Moon back in March. Have those wishes come to pass? If not, can you see why? Perhaps you need to take more action on the physical plane. If so, the stars have your back right now.

This is also a very fruitful time for expanding creativity, and for fine tuning your intuition. Have a good soak first in your Moon Spirit Bath, then light your candles, burn your incense, and go deep within to see your imagination swelling. Let your mind paint visuals of dreams coming alive right in front of you, and ask for the honed intuition needed to follow the most rewarding paths.

When you’ve finished, celebrate with this delicious, dreamy elixir to strengthen you during this Full Moon. It is infused with protection, heightened psychic awareness, creativity, and, as always, the beauty magic of heaven and earth.

Lunar Visions Elixir
per serving

1 pint blueberries
3 large sage leaves
2 tablespoon chia seeds, soaked overnight
1 cup unsweetened almond milk
juice of ½ lemon
seeds of 1 vanilla bean or 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 tablespoons raw coconut nectar, or to taste

Combine all ingredients in a high-speed blender, then give it a whirl until the potion is very smooth. Pour into a gorgeous glass, and garnish with a few berries, a slice of lemon, and a bit of sage if you like. Sip slowly, allowing the nutrients and energy to fill you with the strength and vibrancy needed for full lunar power.

Blueberries are superfoods loaded with antioxidants, which fight both disease and visible signs of aging. Ruled by the Moon and water, they offer protective energy to both our magical workings and our bodies.

Sage is a Piscean culinary herb, beloved for its vibrations of health and longevity. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, it improves brain function while strengthening the immune system and the skeletal structure.

Lemon is a lunar-ruled fruit of love, happiness, and cleansing. It’s vitamin C kick helps to boost immunity, while its high level of calcium strengthens teeth and bones.

Chia Seed is an easily digested, complete protein designed to hydrate. It is rich in omega fatty acids, fiber, and minerals, making it an excellent staple to your beauty food diet.

Almond is plumped with beauty fats and antioxidant-rich vitamin E, which slows the signs of aging. It holds the magic of healing, and bringing forth abundance.

Vanilla wafts in by way of Venus, full of love and sensuality. It soothes, protects from environmental stresses, and carries an enchanted scent.

Coconut Nectar is a thick, syrupy low-glycemic sweetener with a similar color and consistency to honey, and a slight citrus flavor. A gift of the Moon, it holds the magic of psychic attunement and spirituality.

Beauty Witch Tip: Reserve a teaspoon of elixir to use as a face masque. The chia will act as a gentle exfoliant while the blueberries, sage, and almond milk nourish your skin with wrinkle fighting and firming properties. Lemon will softly cleanse and bestow a lit-from-within radiance!

Enjoy the ease of August, my Darlings! I’ll see you next month, as Fall begins to stir the cauldron…

Love and Stardust,

xo Alise