MAGIC 8 FOR LION’S GATE
Illustration by Jess Green
13/8/21
I have weaved Affirmative Leo codes into this magnetic manifesto inspired by my recent single Back Yourself that you can view here. I am Leo rising and these words are from the fires of my lived experience. May they touch where needs to be touched.
More than anything I stand for empowering and encouraging myself and others as I know what it feels like to have shite self esteem that holds you back from your dreams. We all deserve to achieve our highest potential in this life time, it is so much easier and enjoyable to journey in supportive community.
I cannot express how excited I am to share the second Artist Spotlight from The Cocoon in the form of juicy Piscean Queen Jess Green; an illustrator and activist of my wildest dreams who crafted the incredible visual for this piece after being inspired by this article I shared on the new moon in Leo workshop with the community! Watch this space for more bespoke pieces from this divine creatrix who I believe is ACTUAL magic in human form.
MAGIC 8
1.YOU ARE A SOVEREIGN BEING HERE TO CO-CREATE YOUR FATE.
Any time you question your inherent creative power, may you remember you are empowered by the sun that is bright and bold here to help you alchemise the old into gold and live a juicy radiant life of soul. Leo is a leader here you to show you that creativity is your birthright and your talents and crafted skills are divine gifts to be shared as a service to your soul and the souls of all. Gold means ‘all that is’. You are all that is, all that ever has been and all that ever will be. Trust your essence, the more you let your soul evolve, the more your sovereign self will emerge- richer, deeper, the world needs your art.
2. YOU ARE A LION HEART HERE TO LEAD WITH LOVE AND LIVE YOUR LIFE AS HIGH ART, DON’T BE AFRAID TO OPEN YOUR HEART.
Courage means to “live with heart”. To live open-heartedly is to let life and love fully touch you and break and blast your heart wide open. May you be brave enough to keep it open. Tune into your inner receiver and leader; your heart- this is where you experience life as art. Your heart is an arrow; let self compassion be your compass and the purity of your passion fuel your actions. These are brave days and you are a Brave Way-Shower. Authenticity is woven into the fabric of Hunter And Her, your art is your A-ching R-aw T-ruth- nobody knows what your heart has gone through but you; every joy, every grief and all of the in-between is your heart medicine calling your soul forward to be shared and seen. Be generous with your heart, it is a gift and the reason your breathe, love and live. Give your whole heart to this life. Go all in with other hearts and let love all the way in. Be encouraged by your own courage and your soul will exponentially flourish.
3. BACK YOURSELF. YOU ARE STRONG, YOUR SPINE IS A TIMELINE OF OF LIGHT, AN INNER CIRCUIT FULL OF HINDSIGHT, INSIGHT AND FORESIGHT. WHO TOLD YOU TO KEEP YOURSELF SMALL?
The etymology of confidence is “inner faith”, so many of us dim our light because we may lack the confidence to be seen and heard or perhaps we were shamed by someone in the past and now feel we may come across as arrogant or attention seeking, so we keep ourselves small and safe instead of showing ourselves in our fullness and greatness. If you now know confidence means inner faith, to be rooted in self belief, let this truth be your second spine any time you second guess your light. A personal mantra is a CALL SELF DOUBT THE FUCKETY FUCK OUT. You are a complex being who can simultaneously experience self doubt and self belief whilst moving towards your dreams. Leo is strong and knows the biggest obstacle to overcome is self doubt, build emotional resilience to express your creative brilliance.
4. EXPRESS YOURSELF, YOUR WORDS ARE A SONG THAT DESERVE TO BE HEARD. REVEAL WHAT’S INSIDE AND FIND YOUR PRIDE.
Dare to show up and share the WHOLE you without apology. Speak your truth, it helps others see themselves in you. Let what is raw become your Rawr. Share the messy not got your shit together you, the vulnerable you, the you that you feel is too much or too loud or not enough, the talented you, the depressed you, the confused you, the sexy you, the beautiful you, the sassy you, the tender you, the quiet you, the constant work in process you, the failing you. Let your people find you this way. The people who hold you high in all expressions of your humanity. The people who are proud of you when you let every voice in you be heard and show all of your selves in full sight are your Pride. These are the people that you can trust are your cheerleaders. They are the mirrors of how you must see yourself- a multifaceted light of magnificence.
5. LOVE YOURSELF, YOUR HEART IS A BEACON OF HOPE
Be humble enough to accept yourself. Be devoted enough to loyally love yourself. Leo’s love is generous, devotional and unwavering. It is like nothing else in this world to tap into the energetic frequency of a Leo or be loved by a Leo. A Leo’s love feels like the utmost protection and affection. The Leo archetype is your big lion that protects your little lion within- your inner child. Courageously cocoon yourself in un-boundaried lion love that is not dependent on the love of another. The whole-hearted devotion of your own heart is a light that can carry you through any shite. Devotion takes discipline. Stay close to yourself physically. Leo’s love language is touch- place your hand on your heart, wrap your arms around yourself daily and create a snug hug around your ribs. This really works. Feed your skin the love it hungers and hunts for- your nervous system will feel it. Be generous in self-gentleness and fierce presence.
6. MOVE YOURSELF, YOUR BODY IS A TEMPLE OF GOLD
Leo is the performer of the zodiac that shows itself unapologetically, even if it’s just you in front of your mirror let yourself move and be moved. A Leo frequency is light-heartedness to counteract hard-heartedness when we energetically close off to love.
Leo is an optimist that slays the inner critic. Use dance to PLAY and bring Joy Juice. Dress up or dance in your pants or better yet dance naked. Slink around to primal beats to evoke your inner lion/lioness. Play a song that evokes joy, light-heartedness and fierceness. Give yourself radical permission to be sensual, to be fierce, to be provocative.
Use dance to drop the mask- let your emotions express themselves, release the performer and allow your raw expression reveal itself, your body tells a story without words.
Use dance to transmute emotion; for example, somatically shake self doubt out of your nervous system or simply listen and let music evoke your emotional body with no censor. Become animal. A fellow performer and creative mentor Erika says “Dance gets into the creases of you”. I truly believe this- let your creases release and find bone deep ease.
Use dance for body appreciation. I practice mirror dance to help me embrace my cellulite and lumps and bumps so I know when I look back when I’m older I know I embraced my vessel as a temple of gold. It is a rich way to practice body love and receive your own loving gaze.
7. REST TO STAY AT YOUR SHINY BEST
You are not a product. You are a human going through the process of life. Rest is not something to deserve when your burning heart is burning you out. Rest is part of life. Take a million cat naps a day if you need to. Cats sleep nearly 16 hours a day. Be feline to feel fiiiiine. Invest in rest, let it be part of your creative process. Caress yourself in rest to your manifest best. Quiet power. Rest in your inner enoughness. If you are nurturing a project or passion to fruition- Let you art be your medicine first. Let it quench you first, let it fill you first. Your art serves you first. Then share it with when it’s ready to be birthed. As spiritual writer Lalah Delia says “Don’t rush who you’re becoming”
8. WHEN YOU SELF-CELEBRATE YOU RADIATE YOUR INNATE STATE.
A big love language for Leo is words of affirmation- self praise out loud every day!!! “Well done kid is one I say often to myself”- be your own cheerleader too! Say “I’m proud of you kid” especially when im flailing or fumbling at something new. This practice is a game changer. This practice is a revolutionary ritual for life. I dare you to celebrate your shit as much as your gifts!
I will end on a beautiful observation that came to me on the word Radiance, in it dwells the mantra ‘I dance’.
In co-creative devotion and the highest-hearted encouragement
Francesca and Jess of Hunter And Her xx