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I write regularly at jessicashepherd.substack.com — soft, human words on healing, astrology & intuition:
Blog
Scorpio Full Moon: Dig Deeper
Things aren’t always what they seem. People aren’t always who they appear to be. It doesn’t take a Scorpio Full Moon to realize, but there’s something about this particularly dramatic and emotionally intense Moon that brings the invisible, what is unconscious or lives in darkness, into the light. We’d talked before, and she seemed nice enough, but as I was making polite conversation I could feel my face tighten up, my smile become forced, the “mask” of my social persona very distinctly. I also...
Taurus New Moon: Keep It Simple
This past week has been a week of simplification. I had several clients who presented issues they’ve been struggling with for some time. Habits they needed to change, wanted to change, but the emotional elaboration on those made them nearly irrecognisable as just that: a bad habit. Really, the only “bad” thing about bad habits is that they compromise one’s happiness, which feels bad. The reminders to view something we are struggling with, as simply a habit, made me recognize how easy it is to...
Libra Full Moon: The Self Acceptance Panacea
I was walking around Whole Foods, not feeling my best. Frankly, I was having a mediocre day. I was still energetically recovering from a toxic exchange several days ago. I had been feeling so much better, so good, and that’s when I stepped in it. In my feel good high, I had mistaken myself for invincible (I am GODDESS! I can handle anything!) and stepped over a firm boundary with someone. Boundaries are exactly like our protective skin. Once we violate a boundary, we open ourselves up to all...
Aries New Moon: Pull Your Energy Back
“Be more selfish” “Be the boss” “Inform, don’t negotiate” “Own your feminine strength” I love telling this to clients. Particularly those with an overdeveloped sense of compassion, obligation and sensitivity toward others. I get it. I understand what it means to live with putting others first, both how beautiful it makes you, and how it warps your life. This is my wheelhouse. Not because I’m good at it but because I have to work at it every day of mine. The above statements above may roll off...
Capricorn-Saturn-Pluto-Node: Mother Goddess Medicine
Pluto, Saturn and the South Node are all traveling very close together in the sign of Capricorn right now - and through the month of April. Peak times of intensity are around April 12th & 30th, though it is happening throughout the month, and has been at play during the month of March, too. This morning, after reading my mentor Steven Forrest’s piece about the impact of this transiting nodal configuration on the collective, I asked myself my usual question: how can we work with this in our...
Libra Full Moon: You Are Not Alone
Last week, following a routine visit to the vet, my terrier Magnus became suddenly paralyzed from the mid-section down. Not knowing whether my dog would walk again, or what had happened, was confusing and terrifying. After discovering he had a deteriorating spine and 2 herniated discs, he had emergency surgery and spent the next 4 days in the hospital. He came home yesterday, and while he still cannot walk or do routine things like pee and poo on his own, he is showing some positive signs of...
Pisces New Moon: Pool of Light
After 13 years, and multiple attempts at contact on my part, an old friend reached out. The moment I dreamt of had finally arrived: I had given this moment so much energy over the years of trying to reconnect, imagining a joyful reunion of forgiveness, acceptance, unconditional love—all the things I had been craving from the other. For years, I had wanted to express my deep regret for my part for the inelegant but necessary parting of ways, and now I finally had the chance! I was filled with...
Virgo Full Moon: Presence
I’ve been doing a simple practice I thought I’d share with you. It’s called “Where am I?” It’s an exercise in presence. Presence is so important for coming fully into your own energy, and you need to be in your energy body in order to feel clear, good and right directed in your life choices. When we’re distracted from our self, life delivers us distracted, fragmented results. A childhood friend and I were catching up when she shared that after years of being single, she decided to online...
Aquarius New Moon: Picture It
Picture It… You are on a veranda overlooking the sea. White billowy curtains blow in the sea breeze, framing a gorgeous seascape. In front of you, palms sway on a white sand beach as you drink in the glimmering emerald-turquoise water with your eyes. Walking over to a divan, you feel the cool marble floor beneath your feet, the gentle swish of your light silk dress against your body. You recline, breathe deeply and realize there is no place you’d rather be than here now. You feel perfectly...
Leo Full Moon Eclipse: Regroup
Last October, I decided to publicly acknowledge an internal shift. The decision to do so was due to an awakening that began in 2016, which has totally shifted my perception of the world and my place in it. Since then, so much has changed for me. Almost every relationship. The way I live. Where I live. The way I create... As my productive output has slowed to focus on inner work, one distinction I’ve had to make for myself is this: Creating is not the same as producing. Creativity isn’t...
