Nootropics and similar substances: supplements for brain health. What works, what doesn’t?

Hi, it’s the Little Owl here! Nootropics are something many of us will have seen out there, especially those of us who take vitamins or any kind of sporting supplements. In many places, the supplement industry is completely unregulated. This gives companies the right to put things forward as miracle cures without any real basis to those claims.

Now, most people would probably want to be more focused and more successful when it comes to brainwork. Indeed, it could be said that more and more technological innovation has led to anxiety in the population. A faster pace of living has, potentially led to higher instances of stress- as well. But never fear! All these miracle advances in nootropics also mean that weird and wonderful herbs and potions can be flown in from labs all over the globe to treat your brain fog. Thing is, will any of them actually work?

In this article I’ve decided to cover some of the more popular nootropics on the market currently. I will look into the research that has been conducted on them, and investigate the background connected to them. Then, you can make your decision for yourself as to whether you would purchase any of these.

Nootropic #1: Lion’s Mane

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n121_w1150 by BioDivLibrary is licensed under CC-PDM 1.0

This popular nootropic supplement has a long and dignified history of consumption by humans, and usage as medicine. It is utilized in Traditional Chinese Medicine, where it is known as Hou Tou Gu. In this system it is noted as being of sweet and neutral nature- which (I could be wrong) suggests a more yin or calming effect, generally beneficial for the internal organs.

Research studies on the actual cognitive effects of lion’s mane extract in humans are quite limited. What we do know is what it has the potential to do, and that is to accelerate neuronal growth. That means, it can help you build new bits of brain- very very loosely speaking! We know that the compounds in the mushroom are capable of doing this, and studies in mice and rats have proven this to be the case.

Now, cultivating neural growth can be helpful! If we are suffering from anxiety or depression and take such a supplement at the same time as building helpful and healthy mind habits (mindfulness, exercise, gratitude, positivity) we could potentially see a boost in our results. For those habits are new pathways that we are making. BUT if we take the mushroom and expect it to do all the work for us, we may not see the same results. Those are just my thoughts, however- and that would be my recommendation if you were looking to try the mushroom. Take the lion’s mane, but with intent and with practice. Nootropics are no substitute for your own mind power.

Click the link below to read more!

Neurological Activity of Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus)

Nootropic #2: Panax Ginseng.

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n77_w1150 by BioDivLibrary is licensed under CC-PDM 1.0

This is another herb well known in Traditional Chinese Medicine, and a well-known nootropic to us Westerners. This is a yang-restoring herb in TCM- meaning (very loosely) that if you are exhausted and tend towards depression or burnout, this would be helpful for you. However, it may not have the best effect if you are highly outward, energetic, active. These are all “yang” properties and if you are already pretty dang yang, you may not want to be more yang without being careful.

Indeed, much like its “yang” nature in TCM, the nootropic benefits of ginseng seem to be significant, but in some cases only in short bursts. Studies show that people who take this herb report an improvement in cognitive function that soon tapers off. It may be handy to have a bottle nearby around exam time, but to keep it for those events only. In cases of people with Alzheimer’s, the beneficial effects have been noted to be negligible after ceasing supplementation. Yet it was a very strong improvement during the time of the study. A study focusing on healthy adults showed no real improvement in mood or affect in the ginseng group as opposed to the placebo group.

There are a lot of factors at play here. To me, after my layman’s interpretation- ginseng seems to be something like a good cup of coffee. It looks good in the short term, and good for those who really need it. It is one of the better nootropics out there. However, for those who are already mentally strong and healthy, it may not be as effective.

Nootropic #3: Gingko Biloba.

brown leaves on black surface
Photo by Alina Blumberg on Pexels.com

I remember reading about this nootropic when I was a kid- this genus was apparently around at the time of the dinosaurs, or thereabouts. It is a living fossil, much like the tuatara or the horseshoe crab. It is native to China, and has also been used in TCM as a heart and lung tonic. This is a neutral herb in that system, meaning that it is not liable to upset the balance of yin and yang. Also, for Chinese, the heart is closely related to the mind.

This herb has been shown to improve memory, cognition and mood in people recovering from brain surgery. Also, many studies suggest that it can be helpful for people suffering from dementia and Alzheimer’s (link here, here and here). For healthy people the effects are more moderate. It seems like it can be effective in reducing stress and in improving some aspects of cognitive function. However, the quality of these results decrease over time.

My recommendation? Harvest some fresh leaves, dry them, then keep them on board for when you have an important exam or project. Use when needed, except for if you have a specific memory concern. Then, check with your doctor around more long-term supplementation. This is one of the nootropics that can be useful for any of us.

Nootropic #4: Binaural Beats.

top view photo of black wireless headphones
Photo by Garrett Morrow on Pexels.com

Okay this isn’t a herb. But you do need a good set of headphones! They’re great to have for other reasons as well. The quality has improved amazingly in recent years, I must say.

Binaural beats are sound frequencies that are said to have a certain effect on the brain. Certain levels of frequency can be employed in order to evoke certain brain states- Alpha and Beta for alertness and focus, Gamma for creativity, Delta and Theta for deep sleep and deep relaxation. These are freely available on YouTube and through various apps, although quality can be hit and miss.

Studies have indeed shown that binaural beats can be effective in evoking targeted states. However, it seems that it is important to choose the right frequency for the right task. It goes without saying, but it is always wise to be mindful and sparing with headphone use. Tinnitus and other damage can be insidious!

Studies to check out:

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0166630

https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/acm.2006.6196

pile of fish
Photo by Engin Akyurt on Pexels.com

Nootropic #5: Omega 3 Fish Oil.

This is a funny one. A lot of people say to go for hemp oil because it has Omega 3 and 6, but to actually receive much benefit you need to consume a lot more of it. It’s like plant protein, it’s there in theory- but the body doesn’t receive the goods as easily.

Omega 3 has shown some promising potential in reducing symptoms in cases of moderate ADHD. It has also displayed effectiveness in reducing symptoms of depression in certain instances of major depression, although it could actually make things worse for some individuals.

My thoughts? Give it a go. Don’t try and use it to replace any prescription medication. If is helpful for you, then keep going! If not- by all means, there is no harm in stopping.

I hope you enjoyed this article!

Please, please remember to check with your GP before playing around with supplements- as they can be quite potent. I am not a doctor, remember that.

Stay awesome,

The Little Owl.

Intermittent Fasting: How, why, is it good, is it for me?

Intermittent fasting has been a big trend lately and I’m usually pretty wary of trends. But this is something I do myself and I have found it’s worked very well for me. I had no weight I needed to lose, but I was struggling with food cravings and anxiety. Both have diminished hugely for myself since starting this journey, and bowel problems I had have cleared up as well.

But let me make one thing perfectly clear before we start this article. At Little Owl Healing Arts we work with the principle of ahimsa- FIRST DO NO HARM- and that applies to YOU before it applies to anyone else. Intermittent Fasting is not for you if you aim for great severity and austerity, or if you desire to punish yourself and your body. I will not advocate for extreme fasting, especially for beginners. I’m not going to tell you to go vegan and fast from the word go. Listen to you and your body! I still eat meat every day and do not plan to stop anytime soon (as a gym junkie and massage therapist, animal protein is a must!)

Take the story of Gautama Buddha. He was a prince who became a wandering monk, who did all kinds of extreme things to his body and mind. However, over time he began to see that there’s a middle way. A sweet spot. A path that avoids extremes. Which, really, is the best for us according to all healing arts! It’s human nature to push things, but let’s not.

Also please speak to your doctor before trying any of these if you have any history of diabetes, heart condition or eating disorder.

With that being said, let’s get started!

What is intermittent fasting?

Intermittent fasting is pretty much what it says- regularly spaced fasting and feeding periods. This is based around the principle that our bodies are not designed to eat around the clock like we tend to in modern society. Pre-modern humans would only have a meal a day and get a big feed in then. After that, our bodies would be devoted to actually processing that food. The idea is that such a technique is easier on the digestive organs. It is more what they are actually designed for.

There are different kinds of intermittent fasting. I’ll take you through the ones I know about. I recommend you try them according to what best fits your lifestyle.

Intermittent Fasting Type 1: Leangains 16:8

I chose this one to cover first because this is the plan I follow. And damn, I look and feel great!

Picture of the author posing in a gym.

This is the best plan if you are active, or looking to really build your body, or need to take medication with food every day. What you do in this case is eat for 8 hours, fast for 16. So I will hit the gym at 6AM, breaking my fast on amino acids (BCAAs), preworkout powder, and a whey isolate protein shake. The biggest meal comes immediately after training- at which you really load up on the protein. I’ll go for eggs, mince, sauerkraut, potatoes- all those good things. Then you’re good to eat what you want for the next eight hours. Those sixteen are completely fasted though, no you can’t have milk in your coffee if you are addicted to coffee- learn to live without it! I personally believe we are all better off without caffeine, and indeed as you acclimatize to a fasting regimen you will probably lose the need to boost yourself up with artificial stimulants.

It’s good to snack on things if you are going to need to fast for sixteen hours. I always have a bag of almonds handy, or a jar of peanut butter. I will say that I do avoid gluten, dairy and sugar as well- simply because the latter makes me moody after I crash, and the former two give me a bellyache. Remember that sugar spikes your blood sugar, even if it is simply in the form of fruit- so yes an apple is healthy but it may give you a bit of a comedown. Support that ish with some slower burning fuel!

Here’s a link to the leangains website if you are interested 🙂

Intermittent Fasting Type 2: Eat Stop Eat.

I used to do this one. It didn’t work for me. I would say this is more suitable if you are someone who tends to be less active, or if you don’t have any physical work to be getting into in the weekends. I really do not support this one if you are going to end up fasting before and after gym.

This quite simply involves a 24 hour fast twice a week- and again, fast in this sense means water fast (or zero calorie tea/coffee etc). However when it comes to fasting periods you are actually better off making that a complete water fast, your liver and kidneys need that break too! This will not be for you if you are someone who does not hydrate themselves correctly.

With Eat Stop Eat, there’s less importance placed on needing to eat quite a lot during the feeding periods. With the type previously mentioned there is more need to pack that nutrition in, especially if you are training.

Follow this link to read more about Eat Stop Eat from the man who popularised it.

Intermittent Fasting Type 3: 5.2 Method.

I would say this is a good method for those looking to actually lose weight. On the surface of it it looks easier, but in actual fact I can see this kicking the body into ketosis with more frequency than the other methods. Let’s break it down:

With this diet you follow a standard healthy diet (however that looks for you, unless your standard healthy diet is screechingly bad) for five days a week. The other two, you restrict your caloric intake to 500 cal (for a woman, it’s more for a bloke). That’s not much- something like four slices of bread in one day. Now we all know when the body goes into actual starvation mode, the hunger fades pretty quickly and weight loss will plateau, but while the system is still getting a little something, it will continue to burn that fuel- as the body expends energy through digestion.

I don’t like this method for anyone who has history of control issues around food, as there is a lot of focus around calorie counting and BMI calculation. But you’ll know if this is you or not. Here’s the website, for further info!

Important points to remember!

There’s no one size fits all. Also, healthy living isn’t just about food. Move your body and your mind! Do a crossword, spend time with some decent friends, go for a walk and push some weights in the gym (if you physically can).

Remember that your body is beautiful and awesome even when it doesn’t live up to expectations at times. Love it. Love you.

Extend your arm of kindness to yourself and then to others. Life is short. Hazelnuts are tasty. Live long and prosper!

With Much Love,

-The Little Owl.

Mercury in Cancer: Transit and Natal

At the time of writing, Mercury is newly in Cancer. This transit falls hot on the heels of Mercury’s transit through one of its home signs. There may be a sharp change in our perspective at this moment. Mercury in Cancer is inward and introspective- nothing to do with this gregarious Gemini energy. It’s as if we’ve spent all day at school with our friends, and now it’s time to go home and recuperate. Information needs to be assimilated, sometimes in darkness. Sometimes it even works underwater. Mercury in Cancer is a creature of darkness and of olde times; it’s not overly enchanted by the daylight.

Mercury in Cancer: General description.

This is the fourth house. These are the roots and the foundation and the darkest point of the chart. On the wheel of the year this point is represented by midsummer, but in the astrology chart this is our home and the forward flux of ancestral energy. Cancer is of course ruled by the Moon with its ebbs and flows, its powerful tidal energy. One may underestimate a crab, one may underestimate the Moon. Both, however, have outlived humanity and will continue to do so. This is not a place for ego consciousness, this is a place of overwhelm. Just as the mother is overwhelmed with love for her child, so the Moon can overwhelm our individual consciousness. Here, our rational and logical mind can often be overpowered by things that make no sense. These can be fears, or they can be strong intuitive hits. Knowing the difference takes some work!

Mercury in Cancer (or the fourth house): Natal chart placement.

This individual is attached to the past (for good or for ill). They tend to think back in time a lot, and they often think about their mother as well. Ancestry fascinates them; they are likely the geneaeologist in their family. They won’t forget a favour done, but they also won’t forget a grudge! Moodiness can overtake them and they can sometimes tend towards pessimism. It will be very important for them to take care of their emotional needs. They can be psychic, but they can also be too strongly influenced by the people around them. This person needs to be sure to be assertive in positive ways- neither a pushover nor an angry ranter!

They can be beautiful communicators. They know how to put people at ease, to speak to them in ways that are encouraging and nurturing. On the darker end, they can be perceptive as to people’s weaknesses and they know exactly how to put their enemy’s eye out. It’s very important for grudges to be consciously surrendered, so that the tendency to accumulate toxicity and negative karma can be bypassed. A strong connexion to the ancestors will assist in this.

Mercury in Cancer (or the fourth house): Transit.

Expect the mother, or mother figures- to be of great importance. Women’s issues are at the fore. There is a need to cooperate and work on a tribal level, but old jealousies may rise up and stand in the way. Abundance is for the picking, but only for the pure of heart. Those who grasp for the sake of grasping or because of fear will only magnetise more of this energy towards themselves.

This is a time to tap into traditional currents, and also the more foundational parts of day to day life. If it’s a boring task that will ensure future stability, now is a good time to tackle it! However, emotions and irrationality may run a little higher. Take time to consider yourself and your needs.

The dream world may be particularly active. In this state, we have the potential to tap into energies that assist on a journey of growth. We may need to up our protection, but only against our own shadows!

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MARS IN TAURUS NATAL AND TRANSIT

Mars in Taurus is on the horizon! If rolling around on the floor in front of the space heater eating chocolate and hoarding pretty objects are things you enjoy, you’re going to love this transit. I say this, because those are two things I enjoy dearly- and my natal Mars is in Taurus. This guy can be slow, but he gets shit done! Make no mistake, once Mars in Taurus starts on something Mars in Taurus will bloody finish on something. It will maybe just take Mars in Taurus a little while longer, because every now and again he needs to rest. Or, he may need take a little detour into a pleasant meadow. OR- and this is the best thing about Mars in Taurus- he understands the deep wisdom of the body. He understands its need to consciously assimilate and adjust to energy. When you get a massage, do you find it best when the massage therapist rips, shits, busts gets things done? Or do you prefer a slow and gentle pace that is fully tuned into your body’s specific requirements and needs? Mars is not known for taking his time, but it can be a good idea for him to do so. He does so in the sign of Taurus.

Mars in Taurus: good time girl?


Mars is in detriment in this sign, which means that it is not a comfortable or typical place for Mars to express itself. This is the bordello (or the mall!) in its lowest expression. Here, Mars the warrior can make a bit of a mess of things. In its highest expression, however, Taurus energy is a spiritual teacher with deep wisdom of the ways of earth. This is the old man with dirt under his nails and wild pork roasting in the oven. His artful glasshouse crammed full of herbs n veges! Mars in this form is a reluctant warrior, he does not like to leave his place of peace and plenty. When he does, however, you bet this wise old dude will fight to the death for what he loves. Yet with caution! Rushing into battle without thinking things through is just going to put everyone else in danger. There is bugger-all courage in just chasing blindly forward, there is far far more in taking one’s time and making a considered decision!

Mars in Taurus Natal:


If you are born with Mars in Taurus, you might be a person who tends to be a bit of a pleasure-seeker at times. However, there is also artistic ability and natural, practical wisdom. You will need to take time to get close to the earth and to cement your relationship with her, as she’s a deep ally of yours. You may start off by thinking you have something of a black thumb with plants. However< as you learn to appreciate your own nature and connect to your needs, that soon becomes an intuitive understanding and appreciation of plants and animals. There can be a tendency to hoard material things and maybe focus overly on financial success. Balancing this out by connecting to your spirituality will be of high importance.

Mars in Taurus Transit:


When Mars transits Taurus, expect things to slow down in certain aspects of life, and for any need for groundedness to express itself. You may find yourself coming across some stubborn individuals who have a deep lesson to teach you. This is not a time to win anything through clever tricks, but through a slow digestion of spiritual wisdom. There may be more of a drive towards peace and harmony. Things that threaten said peace and harmony may start to be eased out of your life. If it starts to go, let it go with grace! A bull is usually pretty quiet, but a raging bull is not something anyone would ever want to meet with.

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HOW TO USE A RETROGRADE TO YOUR ADVANTAGE

The Moon in Leo will shortly be activating our darling Saturn, who is stationing retrograde over these next couple of days.
“Another retrograde” I hear some people groan? Others- I hear you say that this crap happens all the time anyway, so what’s special about a retrograde?

“What’s so special about a retrograde!”

My friends: this is MAGICK. These are archetypes and patterns that have been embedded in our collective psyche for many, many generations. Sure; it does happen at other times. But- right now there is that extra emphasis and also this focus on these particular energies. We can CONSCIOUSLY harness these if we so choose 😉. Sure, there’s lazy astrology which is all about what the planets are doing and how it is effing it us up. But at Green Lady Astrology we are not about that; we are all about explaining the deeper meaning of these patterns and how we can use them as a prompt to more deeply explore our own psyche 🙂

How to analyse this?

Let’s think about what’s at play here. Saturn is restriction; it’s the inescapable. Saturn is our responsibilities, and what our responsibilities are more than anything else is our karma. It’s what’s come around; what we and the collective have put out there. When the Moon activates that point of retrograde we are being invited to tap into how these patterns have carried down our family line. How they have become completely unconscious, but no the less restrictive.

Did you ever have a pattern or a way of thinking that was extremely strong; you don’t know why you have it and you know it’s not exactly correct or healthy- but it’s just what you do? Chances are it’s come through the family, or you’ve absorbed it from painful collective karma.

Now is the opportunity to feel into what might be arising around these unconscious patterns. There may be some weird synchronicities that point the way! So no- it’s NOT just about Saturn looping around to beat you senseless. It’s about an open-armed invitation to take a deeper look into why you might be putting chains around your own feet xxx

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Reiki: What is it, and how can it help?

As a Reiki healer and a person formally trained in science based healthcare, I feel a need to bridge any perceived gap between the two. Indeed, such a gap is a very recent invention.

Medicine is a wide concept, and has been for a long time. Since there have been humans, there have been humans trying to help other humans feel better. Indeed, the first sign of civilisation is said to be the evidence of care shown to a leg break on very ancient bones. However, animals will also care for their sick and injured, but let’s not get into a debate on the concept of humanity!

How is modern medicine evolving to revisit old ideas?

In ancient times, people would sometimes heal with simply putting on hands, maybe praying, focussing energy into the one that was ill. Unfortunately, as time grew on that sort of thing began to be seen as evil witchcraft. It was began to be seen as not okay to practice this. Now, however, modern Western medicine is beginning to see that it’s not just about packets of pills and surgery. The more current understanding is that we are NOT just a collection of organs. We are complex creations with deep connectedness to the world around us. This is called the biopsychosocial model. Some will also say biopsychosocial-spiritual, but that remains somewhat on the fringes as of now!

Quantam physics, Reiki, the Upanishads, navel-gazing ancient philosophers…

I’m also not a physicist, but I do know enough to say that everything we come into contact with is comprised of particles more or less interlocking, vibrating at lesser and greater speeds. Solid form is an illusion; it’s just how our eyes make sense of things. However, on a deeper and more scientific level- things are far more fluid. Even you or I are physically much less solid than we may like to think that we are; each and every cell in our body replaces itself within ten years. For convenience though, we will prefer to think of this as “my” body- even though those cells were once made of the food we have eaten, the air we have breathed etc etc- and soon will return into the wider universe to be reabsorbed into many other different forms.

Ancient civilisations knew all this, funnily enough. They didn’t work it out on computers, but they had lots of long evenings to sit, chat and think. They had no technology to distract them, but plenty of brains! Vedic philosophy, in particular, goes into this concept of intrinsic fluidity and impermance in quite some detail.

So how does this all connect with Reiki?

Simply (or not so simply put) you and I have an intelligence that inhabits all this energy. When there’s an awareness of this energy- and proper training in transmitting it- a Reiki practitioner can function as a conscious transmitter of life force energy. They accelerate the body’s healing mechanisms and aid in the processes of regeneration.

Does it still make no sense? It’s definitely been proven to work, in any case. Maybe modern science is still catching up to the ancients!

Here’s some links to some peer-reviewed studies on the subject : )

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5871310/

https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/acm.2019.0022

https://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2011/381862/

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The how of healing.

I’ve got a little something on my mind today. Well, I often do. That’s why I’m a little Owl- I watch, listen, and learn. Also, I heal as my day to day job. If a Little Owl often thinks HOW, of course she will think about the how of healing!

I can’t help but think that many approaches to healing often make things worse, or they raise obstacles. In this sense I mean an aggressive approach- looking at issues in the human body as problems to be solved at all costs. In the sense that we might (as massage therapists) put a lot of pressure on muscles, or as humans trying to heal we might put ourselves through the wringer trying to change, trying to make it better.

One can be reminded of the parallel to war, or to politics. In which the solution to a given problem is to rise in opposition and strike back harder (or cleverer) than the thing we don’t want or like.

But has this approach led to peace for humanity? Has this approach, when we take this approach with our bodies- led to peace in our bodies?

Is there a better way?

Buddha said you can only fight hate with love. The Little Owl says you can only fight pain and tension with gentleness and care.

Pushing too hard, enacting a bunch of resistance- that only serves to activate the sympathetic nervous system, which is what is needed when we are running from angry gorillas. It raises adrenaline and cortisol, depletes our immunity, makes us run damn fast but at the expense of everything else. Sort of like running your rev counter in the red; it’s fun and you may need to do it in an emergency- but day after day it will definitely hurt your engine.

So what’s the how of healing? It’s simple. Don’t hurt your engine. Give it a workout- it’s also not good to let the engine sit around and seize. How boring, as well- if you have a good car but never run it like a beast? Heal your body by loving your body. Nurture your mind by loving your mind. Care for your heart by loving your heart. Do something awesome and fabulous and soothing that YOU love today- just for you- and don’t try to bully soreness into oblivion; it’s a stubborn bastard when you get at it that way.

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Or read this peer-reviewed article here

Comparing the astrology of Queen Elizabeth II and Louis XVI

I suppose today’s Moon in Leo got in my bones! I’ve always found monarchy to be interesting, however. I am very interested in the astrology of Queen Elizabeth II, in particular. No, I don’t think Queen Elizabeth is a lizard person. We all have a lizard brain, that is for certain- maybe that theory is some kind of projection? However, that’s a topic for another day. My personal opinion (and I am full of them, being a Sag Rising with a T-square to a third house Jupiter) is that monarchy can be incredible if you have a good leader at the helm, but it can be an absolutely horrendous thing if the other is the case. Unfortunately, monarchy being what it is- you hardly get a choice! But what can be more inspiring for the population than a well-loved leader who works their arse off for their people, charges into battle, looks fabulous and engages in all kinds of amazing pageantry?

Astrology of Queen Elizabeth II and Louis XVI- why these examples?

I chose these two examples because I wanted to look at opposing examples of a “good monarch” and a “bad monarch”. Or, at least a strong one versus an ineffective one. Of course, one has to take into consideration the times into which they were born and also the context of their power. A constitutional monarch in the 20th and 21st centuries is much different from an absolute monarch of the 18th century. However, you can see those elements in their charts as well. Whether or not you’re interested in monarchy you might at least find this a useful comparative study that may help your own chart reading. So follow along!

Let’s look at them side by side:

Holy crap look at Saturn
And look at that Pluto on the IC square Uranus

Side by side, visually you can see the strong difference between the two already. A T-Square in Elizabeth’s chart (to Saturn on the MC, no less) provides a stern, solid, taut block of energy that roots this person’s chart to the ground (and also the midheaven)! I cannot help but think of the picture of a very elderly, very powerful person on the world stage. This is exactly what she is (she hasn’t always been elderly, but if she lives as long as her mother did she will live to a tremendous age indeed). T-Squares are no joke to have, especially in fixed signs. With the square from both Mars and Jupiter and also Neptune she is religiously and stubbornly certain. Here I stand, here I stay- many people are coming at me and the monarchy both (Mars in Aquarius attacking her Saturn)- but I have a sense of duty, painful as it is. And I will not move!

Yet Louis’ chart has no coherent pattern to it. You could argue that that’s something of a bowl. The man may have had some coherence to his nature but there was nothing terribly striking about his character. I am not saying all patternless charts are like that! However, it’s hard to say too much about this man’s chart shape. You can have a look at those angles and tell me about what I’ve noted; the tremendous presence of Pluto smack dab on the IC square to Uranus. This man carried a lot of trauma in his bloodline and he was, I dare say, very conscious of it. Being born who he was was an infinite source of pain to him.

But let’s have a look at their Suns! Both charts belong to monarchs, and Leo/the Sun is the sign and the planet connected to royalty.

And as you see… both are at critical degrees. One is at the very end of Leo, the other is at the very beginning of Taurus. One in the 12th house, the other in the 3rd. Both are cadent; not ideal placements for the Sun in any case. However, in a ruler this might help the individual to be more intellectually present (Elizabeth) or more spiritually inclined and gentle (Louis). With the Sun in the 12th at a critical degree conjunct Jupiter and Mercury opposite Uranus- what is more indicative of a confused and easily-influenced mindset that is slowly allowing its own light to fade away? The poor man likely suffered from intense anxiety and just wanted to stay in bed, away from everyone. Moving from Leo into Virgo the monarch becomes a peasant- moving deeper into Taurus the monarch soldifies and intensifies her power, while gaining the whys and the hows from her discussions with people. Could one monarch be losing his crown and the other be stabilising it for future generations?

Emotionally, both are troubled and distant. Louis with his Moon in the third trine Uranus, sextile Saturn and square to Neptune often thinks about past hurts. He’s not a fool, but he has no idea what to think and keeps changing his mind. It’s hard to get this man to look on the brighter side of anything. He has a sense a catastrophe is about to happen in his life- all his life! Elizabeth with her Moon in the seventh conjunct Neptune trine Mercury and opposite Mars and Jupiter (both in the first) can be intensely sensitive to criticism, even though she hides it well. She needs others to love and admire her and when this is not forthcoming, she can get grumpy. Her sense of responsibility will not allow her to be open about it. However, I’m sure she’s got many choice words to say about some people and their attitudes- when she is in private! Her ideas of right and wrong are quite rigid. She is caught between a need to enforce them and a need to enjoy peace and affection from others.

Both display the monarch’s love of ease, wealth and comfort. Louis, poor man, with his Venus in exalation on his north node square to Saturn, sextile Neptune and sextile Pluto was not likely to have ever felt comfortable in his marraige. The North Node is a development zone but it is not a peachy easy place to be. There are high ideals about love and marriage here but he doesn’t find it easy to open up to his loved ones, he is both controlling and easily fooled.

Indeed, Marie Antoinette did have love affairs. His wife was strongly instrumental in his downfall; her advice ruined them both. Elizabeth has Venus in dreamy Pisces trine to Pluto and it’s in the first house; she decided she wanted Philip right from the very beginning and indeed theirs was a soulmate union. But Venus touched by Neptune or Pisces can indicate illusions in love and wealth; whispers abound in regards to Phillip’s affairs!

Both have a first house Mars! These are active, vigorous people with a strong appetite for life and for loving. Yet here we have two other opposing factors. Elizabeth has her Mars well and truly under bearing with a storm of aspects grounding her physicality and embuing her character with an innate tension. This is someone who truly wants to escape from it all and have a blast at the party, but whose sense of duty and responsibility will never allow her to. She’s immensely strong, perhaps a little given to overindulgence and forcefulness. Louis on the other hand has a completely unaspected Mars- he does not seem anchored to much except his own self-criticism and there may be some poor health affecting his masculinity.

Intellectually, both are very different as well. Elizabeth with her Mercury in the second house in Aries conjunct Uranus, square Pluto and trine the Moon worries a lot about her family, her country and her loved ones. She might feel concerned that she is not kind enough at times. But she is very intellectual- if not flashy about it. She can certainly be very intuitive.

Louis with his Mercury in retrograde in the twelfth house conjunct the Sun and Jupiter opposite Uranus can be almost too reticent. It’s in Virgo and he’s no slouch brains-wise and indeed will be anxious to assert that fact. However, he is not grounded and can often believe what he wants to hear.

As for generational aspects, I’m not seeing any strong ones in the case of Elizabeth. However, look at at that ominous Uranus of revolution square to that Pluto on Louis’ IC. That to me truly speaks of thunder, chaos- chaos from the heart of the common people! With the square in Jupiterian signs you can see a philosophical, almsot religious aspect to this change. Monarchy was truly being challenged at this time and the belief of a king sent to rule over his people by God was being supplanted- this was earth shattering in ways we could never imagine. And it went on for a long time, this challenging of absolutism.

With Elizabeth I see a trine to Saturn on her MC from Uranus (also in Pisces). The trine is a supportive aspect, although Saturn is retrograde. Here there’s a question: in some regards her power is being strengthened by its connexion to winds of change- but in another sense she is stubborn and not okay with reforming. We don’t have the end of an era here and she’s definitely ending her life in a much stronger place than where she started it- but this will not be the case for future generations. All social orders come to an end; even dynasties founded by Charlemagne and William the Conqueror- but humanity outlasts them all! So says Uranus 🙂

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The phases of the moon, and how to work with them.

While co-creating with the team over at Divine Spark, I came to realise that there is a lack of emphasis on how to work with phases of the moon in simple, practical and accessible ways. Now, you and I are tied into the Moon more than any other planetary body. If the human body is comprised of seventy percent water and if the moon is capable of affecting the tides, it must affect us on a physiological and therefore on an emotional level- correct? The other planetary bodies have their effects on a material and also on a symbolic and an unconscious level, but nothing is going to pull at us quite like the Moon.

To work with the phases of the moon, you don’t have to use rituals or stick crystals in any orifices, and indeed I would recommend that you do not until you really know what you are doing and have had a strong practice of daily meditation for at least a year. Observing these cycles and working with them in patient, non-obtrusive and not necessarily dramatic ways is an excellent way to begin working with your own life energy in conscious connexion to the cosmos.

Now, those of you with gardening mothers and gardening grandmothers will know the simple wisdom of planting and gardening by the Moon phases. This is probably the oldest knowledge that we have- and it is still being handed down the generations to this day. Isn’t that amazing?

THE NEW MOON:

In connexion to gardening, the New Moon is planting time. It is the same in our day to day life as well. Here we put something new into the soil, which we have previously prepared. We don’t necessarily need to start pushing and shoving to start anything at this point- but we set our intention during this phase of the moon.

At the time of the New Moon, take a little time to think about what you would like to start fresh. What can you build on from your past experiences, that will help you move forward in an empowered way?

THE WAXING CRESCENT MOON:

Now this is the time in which things start to grow, and this is the time at which you nurture the growth. It might need a little helping hand- but remember, the best gardeners are not the ones who interfere too much with the soil or the growing process. Nature, and the cycles around you that are larger than your conscious desires are wiser than what you know at present. Let it do its work!

At the time of the waxing crescent Moon, look to your growth, acknowledge and nurture it. What do you have around you that is contributing to your success, what might you need to adjust in the future?

THE FIRST QUARTER MOON:

The first quarter phase of the moon represents a challenge and a turning point. This is when the Sun is square the Moon in astrology- the signs occupy the same modality, but in different elements. Adjustments will need to be made!

At the time of the first quarter Moon, look to where you may need to make a shift in direction. This can be a major shift, or it can be simply a minor shift in thinking. Look to where there are clashes in your life, and see what they are teaching you.

THE WAXING GIBBOUS MOON:

The waxing gibbous phase represents an energy that is being drawn to completion. We are drawing close to the Full Moon, and the energy is like that of late pregnancy- the pressure is on! Something new is on the horizon, and also a release. Here, we take stock and we work towards completion.

At the time of the waxing gibbous Moon, look towards any final preparations needed to welcome in the new. Self care is essential!

THE FULL MOON:

Yippee! This part is fun. The Sun is opposite the Moon, so we have a dance of polarities happening. As with birth and with harvest, one thing must be released in order for a new to be brought into birth and fruition. This is a time to offer forth gratitude for what has been received, and to acknowledge the hard work that has been done over past cycles during the phases of the moon.

At the time of the Full Moon, welcome in the new and release the old! Cut ties with what has been holding you back, releasing that energy into the Earth with reverence and respect. We don’t dump our waste just anywhere when we are working in a way that is mindful of our future.

THE WANING GIBBOUS MOON:

After the Full Moon we continue to release during these phases of the moon. This is the point of gardening, and of life in general, where we clear waste and debris from our lives. Here we start to prune away what no longer serves us.

The waning gibbous moon is a point of relative harmony between the difficulty of the Full Moon and the final quarter Moon. Use this time to gently shed excessive burdens.

THE FINAL QUARTER MOON:

At the final quarter, we continue our journey of release. Here, we will be challenged to make a turning point that separates us from what no longer serves. Here the Sun and Moon are square once again, but here the obstacle points us towards release and not completion.

The final quarter Moon represents a certain parting of the ways. Here, you might be challenged to make a decision. Divination can be helpful in giving you insight on which way to turn.

THE WANING CRESCENT MOON:

Just before the Moon enters its liminal dark phase/ New Moon phase, the waning crescent moon grants us the cutting power of the sickle! At this point our energy is waning, and we are challenged to go within and cut cords with what might be draining our energy.

The waning crescent Moon is the cosmic grass-cutter which lays low all that is no longer needed. A wise gardener knows how to turn these trimmings into compost- gather your energy in preparation for the dark phase.

And so the cycles move and turn during the phases of the moon. Remember, the most powerful swimmer is not the one who swims against the current- but the one who swims with it. The simple magick of observation and co-creation with the rhythms of Nature has been responsible for some of humankind’s most stunning acheivements. Anyone can work with this, all it takes is patience, humility and the courage to look up xxx

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