Full Sturgeon Super Blue Moon
The collective, grounding, and loving speech
Season: Late Summer / Early Autumn
Element: Earth
Moon: Full
Zodiac: Aquarius
Happy Sunday!
Tomorrow is the Full Sturgeon Moon in unconventional Aquarius. This moon is also a super moon and an unconventional blue moon because it is the third out of four full moons in the summer season. To learn more about the unconventionality of this blue moon read here. Named for abundant fishing, particularly of lake sturgeon in late summer, this August moon also has a variety of other names, each with connections to different cultures and the bounty of the season. These names include the Black Cherry, Corn, Grain, or Plum Moon. Even though I love the name Plum Moon, being from the Michigan I must stick with the Sturgeon Moon since lake sturgeon can be caught throughout the Great Lakes. However, the sturgeon are more rare today than in centuries past due to dams, barriers, and climate change. Initiatives like the Great Lakes Habitat Restoration are working to restore habitat across the Great Lakes region and the WWF Sturgeon Initiative to protect sturgeon around the world.
This full moon also finds itself in the element of earth now that we are in mid August. Phew! As I mentioned in a previous Substack post, I am so ready for the balanced yin yang energy of earth after the very intense fire energy of summer. Earth is the nurturer. It maintains status quo and keeps us feeling safe and comforted (yin). Earth also provides structure, strength, and support (yang). It is the foundation on which everything is built. It brings about peace and wants everyone safe and protected. A healthy balance of Earth allows for change to be embraced while taking time not to rush.
As we start this week with the full moon, take some time to reflect on the following:
Aquarius governs the collective consciousness, which in its simplest definition is the shared thoughts of a society. This includes society’s beliefs, opinions, and energy. If you have been following the news, there have been a lot of shifts happening in the collective right now. Take some time to focus on what you believe, what opinions you want to share, and what energy you want to bring to the collective. Speak out — the freedom of expression is essential for creativity. Thrive — connecting to the collective through working together toward a shared goal. Be unconventional — express yourself in unique ways. Value fairness — Aquarius represents the ideal of a fair society and its symbol, the water bearer, pours out the waters of knowledge for the benefit of all.
Earth brings the energy of grounding and balance. Late summer / early autumn concludes the fiery yang energy of summer and ushers in the calming yin energy of autumn. This is a time to wrap up projects, to contemplate what still needs to be developed or refined, and to slow done. Use this balanced energy to stabilize and nourish yourself. Within the bagua map, earth is the element of health and wellbeing so focus on the body, mind, and spirit during this time. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), earth relates to the mouth and speech. If you have not read The Art of Communicating by Thich Nhat Hahn, this is a great resource for learning how to speak with kindness or loving speech. As we ground ourselves and connect to the collective, let’s lead with love and compassion.
If you need support, I’ll be holding the next free Rest Event on Sunday, September 1, from 1:30pm - 3:00pm. Please remember to sign-up on Eventbrite to reserve a spot and pass the links onto friends or family that may be interested. Give yourself permission to REST and spread the energy of yin. If you can’t make it, check out the other Cascade Rest Curation upcoming events at the end of the post.
Note: Rest products are still in the works, but I am leaving the paid subscriber Rest Readings, Rest Recipes, Rest Rituals, and Rest Recordings on the newsletter for a month or so. If you want to contribute, consider becoming a paid subscriber through Substack:
REST READING
Check out all of the rest reading recommendations in Resources on my Substack page.
REST RECIPE
In May, my daughter Isadora and I both had our yearly check-ups and both of us had high cholesterol. I was shocked, since I have never had high cholesterol before and I haven’t changed my diet this year. But alas, age and genetics have a way of catching up to us all. My husband and I were very perplexed however about our daughter’s high cholesterol and were at our wits’ end on what to do. Isadora is a very picky eater, but we try to have her eat as healthy as possible. Luckily, I was able to take her to a dietician this past week for help. The dietician reviewed Isadora’s diet and recommended adding more fiber, since it helps lower cholesterol. This was super helpful and will be easy enough to implement now that we know what she needs. The dietician also gave me a high fiber muffin recipe that I found to be so easy to make and so delicious that I wanted to share. So here is the dietician’s Carrot Bran Muffins:
1-1/2 cups whole wheat flour
3/4 cup flaxseed meal
3/4 cup oat bran cereal
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1-1/2 cups carrot*, finely shredded
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/2 cup raisins (optional)
1 cup nuts, chopped (optional)
3/4 cup milk
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
Mix together the flour, flaxseed, oat bran, brown sugar, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon in a large bowl. Stir in the carrots, applesauce, raisins, and nuts. In a small bowl, beat the eggs and add the milk and vanilla. Stir to combine. Pour the liquid ingredients into the dry ingredients. Stir until all of the ingredients are moistened. Do not over mix. Fill muffin cups until 3/4 full. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 15-20 minutes.
*In this time of the earth element, carrots and other root vegetables are a great food to help you feel more grounded. As the name suggests, root vegetables have roots that reach deep within the earth to anchor the plant in place and provide a strong foundation for growth. Connect to this energy and try to integrate more of these grounding foods into your diet during the next few weeks.
REST RITUAL
During this season of the earth element, it is a good time to start or strengthen your grounding ritual. We do a grounding during the Rest Events which helps connect us with the earth to feel supported and reinforced. If you do not have a practice yet, simply go out and dig in the dirt, walk in the grass with your shoes off, or observe the connection of trees or plants to the earth.
A quick grounding ritual is to focus on the breath. Connect to the sensation of the breath and follow it through your body. This helps move you out of your mind and into your body. However you are positioned, feel the earth rising up to meet you and to hold your body. Become aware of the sturdiness of the earth beneath you and visualize it as it rises up and supports every aspect of you. Continue to focus on the breath until you feel grounded and calm.
Thank you so much for reading! I hope this has been enjoyable. May you have a restful start to the week.
Below are the upcoming 2024 Cascade Rest Curations (links to Eventbrite are in the titles):
Rest Event
Date: Sunday, September 1, 2024
Time: 1:30pm - 3:00pm
Location: Liebestraum Chalet, 5505 Bancroft Avenue Southeast Alto, MI 49302
Description: Guided body scan, energy clearing, vagus nerve reset, yoga nidra exercise, rest / sleep, wake up, and meditation over an hour and a half.
Cost: Free
Rest Event
Date: Sunday, October 6, 2024
Time: 1:30pm - 3:00pm
Location: Liebestraum Chalet, 5505 Bancroft Avenue Southeast Alto, MI 49302
Description: Guided body scan, energy clearing, vagus nerve reset, yoga nidra exercise, rest / sleep, wake up, and meditation over an hour and a half.
Cost: Free
Feng Shui Colors Curation
Date: Sunday, October 20, 2024
Time: 1:30pm - 3:30pm
Location: Liebestraum Chalet, 5505 Bancroft Avenue Southeast Alto, MI 49302
Description: Celebrate the colors of feng shui and discover your own personal palette.
Cost: $44.00
Rest Event
Date: Sunday, November 3, 2024
Time: 1:30pm - 3:00pm
Location: Liebestraum Chalet, 5505 Bancroft Avenue Southeast Alto, MI 49302
Description: Guided body scan, energy clearing, vagus nerve reset, yoga nidra exercise, rest / sleep, wake up, and meditation over an hour and a half.
Cost: Free
Sound + The Moon
Date: Friday, November 15, 2024
Time: 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Location: Liebestraum Chalet, 5505 Bancroft Avenue Southeast Alto, MI 49302
Description: Join Kara Markovich on the November full moon for a sound immersion using various instruments such as singing bowls, crystal bowls, and gongs to fill the space and allow you to move into a state of deep relaxation.
Cost: $55.00
Rest Event
Date: Sunday, December 1, 2024
Time: 1:30pm - 3:00pm
Location: Liebestraum Chalet, 5505 Bancroft Avenue Southeast Alto, MI 49302
Description: Guided body scan, energy clearing, vagus nerve reset, yoga nidra exercise, rest / sleep, wake up, and meditation over an hour and a half.
Cost: Free
Winter Solstice Curation
Date: Saturday, December 21, 2024
Location: Liebestraum Chalet, 5505 Bancroft Avenue Southeast Alto, MI 49302
Description: Winter and yin themed 5 course vegetarian meal presented as a cooking demonstration by Green Fork Food to learn and feast on with a rest event after.
Cost: $125.00
And if you are interested in my feng shui and interior design services, please see my website at www.cascadefengshui.com and contact me at abby@cascadefengshui.com. I’m also on Instagram at cascade.feng.shui.