Long Night's Moon; Tender Hearts Revealed

Dear Friends,

We're here, on the other side of the thinned veil. The realms returning to their usual separation. I've said it a bunch of times, but it never stops surprising me. These window themes do their work on us, whether we want them to or not, whether we're immediately conscious of what is working through us or not. Each theme brings its lessons to our consciousness, and I'm afraid many of you are along for our ride. We're sorry, and not sorry.

We at the Cult now feel a release of the pressure of doing so much this fall, and being asked to look deeply at what makes us Howl [our previous theme]. And while the Howling is over, we are left open and vulnerable. The feelings dredged up during the time we spent examining our shadows are still alive and well, and we are wading through the mess our shadows have made in their shape-shifting adventures. We're not sure how this messy thing called life gets cleaned up. The sweetest part is we're not trying too hard to do anything about it.

For me personally, I've been learning the lessons of leadership. Being reminded with debilitating pain and extended discomfort, that I must remember to care for myself. I must also care for the Cult as I would myself. Making choices about that has been hard and the lessons have come faster and harder. I've disappointed more people this week than in all of the time the shop has been open. The most poignant disappointment has been my self-disappointment. Don't get me wrong. I know I'm built for this. This is literally in my blood. This is my joy and my heart. And I want to do a good job. I don't want to make mistakes, and yet I do. I don't want people to think ill of me, and sometimes they do. And I'm learning to be ok with it.

I'm learning that delivery is important, and I'm learning that at the end of the day, I must follow the guidance given to me. Waiting to see if things change does no good. I can't sit on these directives from the Goddess when she speaks to me. Rather, I need to take bulls by sharp and deadly horns, whether I'm afraid or not. Just like in love, I need to be willing to lose everything everyday to keep on my path. This is renewal. This is rebirth. This is being untethered and beholden at the same time. Life is now paradox.

Through all of this, the message I receive is, "Stay open. Stay with it. Allow. Don't close up. Don't shut people out." This is a 180 from the way I used to operate. As a child who moved nearly every year, I used to just wait to move, rather than repair relationships. When I was older, I just threw people away, or in the current vernacular, "ghosted" them, then made new friends. Super easy for a Gemini. Now I'm asked to keep working the relationships that challenge me. I'm asked to reveal myself again and again. I'm asked to keep my love on top, and know that others are having their own experiences. Sometimes I get to be the catalyst for them. Sometimes they are the catalyst for me. We are a web.

Now my Loves, we have reaped. It's time to let go of the workings of the year, whether we feel complete with them or not. Don't worry, they will still be there, I promise you that. We're coming close to the end of the Solar cycle, and its time to put away the churning thoughts, any regrets, and just accept what we have. It is time to enjoy whatever pleasures we have available to us. It's time to settle in for a cozy winter, where we warm ourselves by the fire, fill our bellies with warm drinks, and remember how to appreciate and love what is. In this space we can allow ourselves to empty, empty, empty. Returning to the empty vessel that we must be to receive the inspiration of the next cycle. Breathe sweet friends. Breathe and be. I'll be here with you.

With love,
Ginger {aka Rachel Lazarus}
November 11, 2017, Cult of Gemini Newsletter