The Eclipse Portal Plate 🌚
A ritual for clearing, grounding, and navigating the shadows
Hello and welcome to the year of the Fire Horse!
Tuesday’s Lunar New Year also brought us a solar eclipse in the sign of Aquarius. This was not the kind of astronomical event that draws a crowd outside to stare into the sky with special glasses, but if you follow the work of any astrologer, you‘ve probably heard a little about why this particular luminary movement matters. For those of us that lean mystical, eclipses represent a potent period of breakdowns, breakthroughs, and self-discovery.
Eclipses always occur in pairs, and there are two types. A solar eclipse occurs when a new moon passes in front of the sun, blocking its light. A lunar eclipse happens when the earth passes in front of the sun, casting shadow upon the the full moon. Eclipse season includes the time between these moon phases, and the week before and after they occur.
Throughout history, eclipses have inspired awe, fear, and hysteria. Even today, many practitioners and astrologers warn against charging crystals, brewing moon water, or performing spells during eclipses because of the intense and often chaotic energies they can bring. While eclipse season may not be an opportune time for manifestation rituals, it does offer a powerful portal for transformation if you so choose to channel it. Eclipses are about shadows, cast over the sun (our consciousness and ego) or over the moon (our subconscious and emotions), and it is in this void that we can peer into the darkest parts of ourselves and ask for direction on what to release and heal.
The current season opened with Tuesday’s solar eclipse in Aquarius and will close with a lunar eclipse in Virgo on March 3rd. Today, I offer a cheese plate designed to assist you in navigating this potent energy, with rituals on how to use astrology to determine where you may feel the shifts and journal prompts that double as a tarot spread. While these are behind a paywall, please note that all proceeds from paid subscriptions benefit the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights.
Before we get to the rituals, a couple spring event announcements:
Ostara Cheese Church at Hoof & Horn in Aurora, IL
I‘m leading a ritual cheese tasting in honor of Ostara, the festival that marks the spring equinox. I‘m making a selection of recipes from my book, Cheese Magic, including lavender goat cheese truffles and lemon dill compound butter served with fresh radishes. Book signing will follow. Get your tickets here.
Spring Equinox Cheese Board Special at Bistro Campagne in Chicago, IL
I‘ve collaborated with one of my favorite Chicago restaurants on a custom cheese board to celebrate the spring equinox. The board will be available 3/13–3/22, and there will be signed copies of my book available to purchase. Proceeds benefit Common Pantry.
Now, onto the rituals. Wishing you all a wonderful eclipse season! Cheesus bless!
🖤 Erika
