It has been a while since I sat down to write. The year 2026 breaks down to a “1” in numerology—a frequency of new beginnings—but the journey started under the intense emotional waters of the Full Moon in Cancer. As a stoic Capricorn, my nature is to build and endure, often setting my deepest feelings aside for a “later” that never comes. But this year, the Moon demanded that I stop and honor everything I had stored away.
At its heart, ritual is more than tradition or superstition; it’s a potent psychological tool that facilitates self-discovery, emotional processing, and conscious living. But what precisely happens within us when we engage in these deliberate, symbolic actions? Let’s explore the fascinating psychological principles that explain why rituals hold such enduring power.
There are no accidents. This entire universe is a reflection of our perception. If we see a mountain of challenges, then that is what we create. Every particle in the universe aligns itself with our perception of reality. None of the joyful moments you experienced would have existed without the timeline of choices and circumstances that led to it. When you fill your heart with anything but unconditional love, you give it the power to manifest.
Choosing to take responsibility for our lives is a journey of self-discovery, repeated over and over. Those who carry love and forgiveness in their hearts every day are those who have found this path. It is easy to say that you are…It is challenging to be. Allowing forgiveness to guide your heart means sacrificing your pain. It means surrendering your judgment. Carrying the pain of the world can seem a noble cause. Forgiving is difficult; carrying compassion for that pain and not being consumed is the purest, most noble means. It alleviates the weight of judgment and guilt.
The New Moon is about making a wish; one spoken quietly to the universe, its manifestation guided by the power of intention and stardust. The beauty of the new moon is that it is an empty vessel. What will you fill it with? As the new moon is about fresh starts and new growth, it’s essential to start your ritual with the same feeling.
New moons symbolize death, birth, rebirth, and seeds silently planted in the darkness; they mark the beginning and the end. Sacrifice, release, death, these are the fertile soul in which those seeds find nourishment to lay strong roots and fresh growth. The cycles of the moon remind us that everything has its time. As I think of this new moon, I see clearly in my mind the death card in tarot. For a butterfly to be born, a caterpillar must die. Neither can exist without the other. To navigate through the new moon energy, begin by dreaming your new reality. Our dreams only happen in the dark.
This year is hard. I will not deny its brutality, but I can say that it has come with an unprecedentedly beautiful side. Through the horrors and trials, through the pain of truth, we as people have found a way. We have discovered the depths of our hearts. Everything is amplified. That includes love, compassion, and every stunning aspect of the human heart and spirit.
The storm rose and then quieted enough for me to shower. Once I had showered, I lay down and let the rest of my healing set in with theta entrainment. One word emerged from all of it: “Truth.” I had embraced the spirit of Aletheia. It was so pure and profound. It requires nothing but acceptance and surrender. Download complete. Proceed with assimilation.