The Fruits of Our Labor

Manifesting is magic--and it's not. It's mystery, but it's also clarity.

Manifesting is a verb. Merriam Webster defines it as: "to make evident or certain by showing or displaying” or “readily perceived by the senses and especially by the sense of sight” and “easily understood or recognized by the mind.”

When I co-create with you to manifest, we’re developing YOUR path to intentional living. In GlobalGalLexi terms, manifesting is the act of bringing your dreams into reality--with intention.

Here, manifesting is not the power of positive thinking or the law of attraction or The Secret, in and of themselves. 

Yet even Cambridge subscribes to the trend of “manifesting” this way: to use methods such as visualization (= picturing something in your mind) and affirmation (= repeating positive phrases) to help you imagine achieving something you want, in the belief that doing so will make it more likely to happen.

Dictionary.com does so too: to attempt to attain (something desired) by thinking or focusing intensely on it, especially as a spiritual or self-help practice.

There is nothing wrong with those definitions, they just don't fully express my mission or my purpose. That perspective is A PART of manifesting—not the whole picture. It’s the part that allows the brain to believe the possibility. But then you must inhabit the vision.

Here, manifesting is clarity + intention + attention + energy. It's action. It requires us to lay out a path and stay on it. To do so we must be mindful, find safety in the body, learn to listen to SELF, and to trust our own intuition. To align with our own Inner Authority. There is no spiritual bypass here.

When we attempt to make things happen simply through positive thinking, we are committing to an unsustainable practice. Are you actually growing and expanding by only nurturing optimism? Are you living in alignment if you don’t actually do the work to manifest the vision?

Manifest in GlobalGalLexi terms means “to be created; take form.” “To reveal”. In becoming, you are revealing who you are.

I was introduced to the priestess Sarah Jenks at a coaching summit last week. She truly is divine. Her calling requires her to reclaim the Sacred Feminine. Yet she's decided to leave the personal development industry (read her whole post). Spiritual bypass is one of those reasons.

Her post triggered me to reflect on what I wrote last week about Joy and Suffering and being of service. Asking myself to consider to what extent I expect the individuals I work with to extend their growth outward from themselves, to their families and those close to them, to their communities, and to society. It’s a personal question about my own intentions and service.

Spiritual bypass means we choose not to do the work. We choose not to be with our emotions and accept what is; instead, we grasp, resist, and wither away into escapism. It’s when we do things like performative allyship, numb ourselves to reality, rely on the law of attraction and opportunity hoarding. We take a detour around all that is uncomfortable to maintain our own comfort. Spiritual bypass sets us up to let ourselves down.

Sure you might get the thing. But did you do the work to maintain the thing? To grow the thing, to nurture the thing, to meet the thing’s needs and have it meet yours? Is the thing serving anyone other than yourself? Is it fulfilling? Is it meaningful?

If you find yourself in a cycle of “manifesting” things that later prove unsustainable or provide temporary relief or do not serve a purpose, what is it that has been revealed?

“I've tried manifesting and it doesn't work." That's because you weren't manifesting. You were Hoping Your Way to Comfort.

Many co-creators come to GlobalGalLexi via astrology but stay for the mindfulness. That's what we really want. Alignment. Connection. Intention. To go beyond existing and to really LIVE. You want to be your own voice. You want to express who you are, remember who you are, reveal who you are. You want to expand. You want to be of service. You desire a “better” world. And you know the shortcuts of productivity hacks, hustle culture, and the power of positive thinking aren't getting the job done.

When we manifest by getting comfortable with ourselves as we are, through mindfulness, bodyfulness, and heartfulness, we are living intentionally. We set an intention, we clarify that intention down to the detail. We do what the brain needs -- that's the writing it down, saying it aloud, committing it to memory, and envisioning it--that's the power of positive thinking aspect: showing the brain what's possible. Then we give that vision attention (aka love). We act. We hone our intuition and listen to ourselves: To stay on the path without getting distracted by shiny objects (think: playing the lottery) or external expectations (the “shoulds”); to transform ourselves from the inside out because manifesting is becoming. We only have control over ourselves, and even then we need to surrender. And when we do, we can become; and when we become, that’s when we actually attract our dreams (sustainable dreams) like a magnet because as we raise our consciousness—we actually do raise our vibration and those dreams are more available to us.

The astrology provides us a way because it guides our timing. It can show us steps A, B, and C. It highlights where we have support from the Universe. Your birth signature acts as a map. It helps us home in on a tangible and manageable aspect to explore. We will exhaust ourselves trying to “become better people” if we don’t have a system for defining what that means or what part of our lives we feel we are stuck. Astrology is like a lantern in the darkness.

It also provides us the Magic. We call them dreams for a reason. And that's the connection between mindfulness and astrology.

We get caught up in the the seriousness of formal sitting meditation, and we don't connect the purpose of it—to live! To live with compassion and joy and generosity and curiosity, and a sense of awe and connection and social cohesion and beauty. That’s where everyday mindfulness comes in. The bits and pieces we weave into our routines and rituals. The practice of meditation is practice. There's play and sensuality and eroticism and MAGIC to this life. We are here to experience it, and we must be present for that.

Now that's something to manifest.

Virgo season is delightful. On one hand, those of us whose lives rely on the academic calendar get an extra dose of help. Virgo is all about details and organization and to-do lists, planning, scheduling, and calendaring. And she's right on time for back-to-school. If there's something that’s janky about your daily routine, now's the time to tweak it. 

Use this past Mercury retrograde as a jumping-off point. Since retrogrades are for review (or remedy--Rx), we can look back at the past month and what this Mercury Rx highlighted. What systems do we need to streamline as we move into Autumn? (Fun fact: Mercury rules Virgo. When it leaves Leo on September 1st and moves into Virgo, it will be in its home sign, or domicile). Mercury is associated with the flow of information: so we home in on where communication, technology, transportation, and intellectual processes were interrupted. Any SNAFUs related to those areas provide us with intel on how things could run more smoothly: communication patterns that need to be refined, checklists to be made, data to be backed up, routes to be rerouted, time math that needs re-mathing.

Are there any lessons from Mercury Rx you can integrate now? A new checklist for morning routines? What can be streamlined for being prepared for the day? Do we have plans B and C in place for delays, transit troubles, lost keys. What will make daily life flow just a bit easier? How can we create ease?

Here in Philly the public transit schedules will change on the first day of school. How can we prep ahead of time? Especially if in addition to caregiving and getting others out the door and to school or work on time, we need to do the same for ourselves?

Meal prepping and planning. Virgo assists us with nourishing ourselves and getting organized. Is there something we want to transform in this area?

THIS is the energy we roll into September with. 

In the general zodiac, Virgo occupies the Sixth House of Health*. This is why day-to-day routines fall here. Work is there in regards to our daily toil—how we carry out our work on the daily, not our careers—as is chores, service, and labor. My favorite part of the Sixth House though, is daily rituals.

How can we rethink the routine and make it ritualistic? Or add in rituals to make our days more sacred?

There's beauty to be had in Virgo season. If we don't get bogged down in the details, we can lean into the fact that Virgo is an earthly goddess. She is the healer. She's associated with fertility and the harvest. What have we created? What have we developed that can sustain us in the fallow time? 

It's the last month before the Fall Equinox. Take stock. What are the fruits of your labor and how can you relish them?

I love a New Moon. It’s filled with hope and possibility and potential. It's like a fresh sheet of paper, a new year, a restart. New moons are when we declare our intentions for the coming moon cycle.

A Virgo new moon is especially special. It's like a box all wrapped up in pretty paper and ribbons, and inside it's brimming with ideas on how we can refresh our routines, our rituals, and day-to-day life.

This is a delightful new moon to reflect on service, particularly if you used the Venus-Jupiter conjunction to highlight care, compassion, and nurturing. Perhaps there is part of your daily routines relating to your health that seems ripe for tweaking, or a mindset shift around your rituals. This is a delicious signature for that.

When tending to your new moon intentions, you want to do so after the exact time of the new moon (or after the Dark Moon). This is when the moon starts growing again. That's the time to plant the seeds.

Although new moon in Virgo is one of the most gorgeous of the year, it’s got high drama potential. Normally a sturdy, stable new moon, this signature (our last regular new moon until mid-October) is provocative. Eclipse vibes—something we’ll be working with for the entire lunar cycle. The sun and the moon will form an exact square to Uranus in Gemini. Squares are indicative of conflict, tension, and friction. Uranus is the planet of awakenings, breakthroughs, liberation, and rebelliousness. The planet’s energy is magnetic and discontinuous, so the downloads can be like a “SUPRISE!” incoming. How open are you to disruption?

The question might go from “how can I tweak my routines?” to “how can I shake up my routines?” “How can I bring more freedom to my life?” “How can I innovate in my day-to-day?”

New moon intentions aren't about overhauling our lives. They're about tweaking and editing, growing and evolving. And they don't need to be brand new either. They can align with whatever your other intentions are. No need to overwhelm oneself.

For a deeper dive into the complexities of this particular new moon, which kicks off Eclipse Season, read more here.

Now through October 6

This new moon kicks off eclipse season. Eclipse season can be transformative. Some might call it brutal, I call it an opportunity.

We treat eclipse season the way we treat any other challenging astrological time. Center yourself with grounding activities: exercise, mindful movement, and meditation. Hydrate, yes, more than usual. Rest. Nourish. Journal. Avoid overscheduling. Virgo season is kind of the best possible season to combine with the eclipses. Reflecting on your routines, nourishment, rituals, and sleep hygiene is ideal prep for the season.

The full moon in Pisces on September 7 is an eclipse, and the new moon Virgo that bookends this cycle on September 21st is one as well. Eclipses are transformative on their own, so you’ll want to decide for yourself whether you’ll engage in ceremony during the season. Some witches do, some don’t. If you do, it’s a powerful time for shadow work and self-reflection. If you do not, you’ll want to sit with, explore, and reflect on whatever intention you set with this new moon through and until October 6, the full moon in Aries.

Venus is the planet of love, relationships, connections, values, money, comfort, self-worth, beauty, harmony, social cohesion, justice, creativity, and women, femmes, and queers. She is a personal planet, and like Uranus, rotates in the opposite direction of Earth. Her signature move is the sextile, which is supportive. It’s like an extra boost to a transit.

Venus moves into Leo - August 25 - In contrast to the structure Virgo season provides, Venus in Leo is fun, fun, fun 💃 ! Venus in Leo is the ideal time to express your personal style. Think Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s 😎 . Bring on the drama and charm and make it totally yours. Leo is about shining and expressing your authentic self. Main character energy in full effect.

Venus in Leo trines Saturn retrograde in Aries - August 25 - Venus and 🪐, the planet of constriction and boundaries, are all about commitment when their energy syncs up. Saturn is all about the long-game. Venus cares about what’s worthy. Where does love live? Show up there.

Venus in Leo sextiles Uranus in Gemini - August 26 - Truth or dare vibes. Creative Venus and Rebellious Uranus are game for anything. If ever there was a day for trying something new with your beloveds—and dramatic 😎 and intellectually stimulating 🧠 at the same time—this is it.

Venus in Leo trines Neptune retrograde in Aries - August 26 - In case you couldn’t tell yet, it’s time to get romantic 😍 . Neptune energy is dreamy, idyllic, and spiritual, but also delulu. What kind of storybook fantasy can you play in today?

Venus in Leo opposes Pluto in Aquarius - August 26 - Pluto concerns itself with the shadows, the underworld, power, and rebirth. With Venus on the opposite end, relationships are the subject of this expose. Whatever gets highlighted, must also be transformed. Hard work is good work. 👏

Side note: Venus is hitting up all of these outer (societal or transpersonal) planets that were involved in the powerful Virgo new moon yod. Let’s see how that energy carries forward🍿 .

Friday, September 12 - Messages, Mocktails & Mirth - A fun gathering where we dive into upcoming Mercury transits and how aligned we are in our self-expression. How are we using our voices, and what do we want to say? We’ll write it all out, whether we share it or not. Both Sol and Mercury are in Virgo sextiling Jupiter in Cancer.

Tuesday, September 23 - Reimagining Routines & Bringing in Balance - The Universe offers an optimal time to reimagine our routines and bring them into balance. We’ll harness the organization, zaniness, and drive to expand how we approach the mundane. [Transition from Virgo season to Libra, Uranus trines the Sun, and Mars moves into Scorpio. 6th house of Health, daily routines & rituals]

Thursday, October 9 - Care, Compassion & Abundance for All - We’ll explore the powerful Venus and Pluto transits asking us to focus on nurturing family, community, and social cohesion. [How do we inhabit our 4th, 6th, 9th, and 11th houses vs. how we desire to do so?]

Tuesday, October 28 - Death, Rebirth & Transformation in the Birth Chart - In the heart of Scorpio season and just before the spirit-oriented holidays, we’ll examine tending to our soul houses (4th, 8th, and 12th, and how our daily self-care (6th house) contributes to them.

Tuesday, November 18 - Nurturing a Rich Interior Life - Some of us were born tending our fantastical gardens of imagination and have no problem accessing them during dark times. Others were not. We’ll take a creative journey to explore how to create, cultivate, and rely on our inner Self, and develop a personal map for doing so. How do we cultivate internal rhythms we will listen to when they send us an answer?

Tuesday, December 2 - Harnessing Saturn - In preparation for Capricorn season, we’ll consider how to work with Saturn, the planet of boundaries, lessons, structure, and reality checks. Saturn challenges us, but also creates the container for our expansion, so no better time than right before our winter reflections.

Thursday, December 18 - The Winter of Yes....And. With magic in mind, winter can be a delicious time for reflection and renewal. When we embrace the rhythms of nature and our ancestors, using the cold and darkness to restore our bodies and nurture our souls, we align with our intuition. We emerge for spring with clear, embodied intentions.

Workshops will be posted on the website by August 25. Most will begin between 5:00pm and 5:30 and last for 1.5 to 2 hours. All sessions are intention-forward and include journaling, mindfulness, movement, visualization, and self-exploration.

I’ve developed several packages that include a mix of multiple coaching sessions. There is no one-size-fits-all method for cultivating mindfulness and nurturing clarity, and that’s why I customize each journey to the co-creator in front of me. It would be an honor to work alongside you to map your pathway.

The benefits for you are: 

My intention to allow this endeavor to expand has been a true joy. It’s an honor to be aligned with my soul’s purpose. But most importantly, I am buoyed by interactions with each of you and the synchronicity we are are finding. I am grateful for your support.

If you’re open to writing a testimonial about working with me, there’s a space for that in the post-workshop survey; I truly appreciate it. Please keep the referrals coming, too. You receive 20% off your next service (excluding packages and memberships).

And finally, I’ll be at Mr. Rabbit this evening in support of Poppy Collective’s fundraiser for their Fringe Arts show, where is here. One lucky attendee will win an astrology consultation with me. Come out and support Hanna D. and the artists and makers.

For the foreseeable future, Unfolding Your Way will be bi-weekly. In the meantime, I’ll try to keep the blog updated with the astro insights🤞. I look forward to connecting soon.

Peace & loving kindness 💚
Lex