Basically, this moon encourages you to do some “real talk.” Get super clear around what you wish to convey in life. Don’t let words run away with you, or writers block get in the way. Venus’ loving energy allows the message to flow, but you have to keep the message pure. Misused, the energy of Gemini becomes nervous, anxious, and at its worst, misunderstood. Let your words flow from your heart at this time, and you plant positive seeds that grow into enlightened manifestation. New moon time is about cultivating fertile ground for what you would like to harvest in about six months during the Gemini full moon. Though Gemini is not known for its patience, reigning it in and making sure you have real, open-hearted conversations right now could not be more important as you will reap those results in the coming months. 
 
Interestingly, this new moon also features a complicated relationship with both Jupiter and Saturn, which gives it a “push me, pull you” effect. There are conflicting energies around whether to expand your communication and speak out, versus pulling in and refining your message. Take a look at what is most important to you right now and lean toward either pulling in or moving outward. The darkness of the full moon does lend itself very well to the introspective cultivation that may be required to ensure you always speak your truth clearly to power. 
 
Alchemical Ritual for the Gemini New Moon
 
As an air sign, Gemini enjoys all the things that allow us to communicate and share with the world, including teaching, technology, media, journalism and conversation. On the low side, this mercurial sign tends toward nervousness, idle chatter, anxiety and trickiness. This new moon ritual for Gemini helps to accentuate the high side of this energy and clears up our mental chatter so that when communication flows (in all its various forms), it flows clearly.   
 
Gemini's ruler is Mercury, the messenger god who is able to travel into the underworld as easily as the real world. It is a slippery slope: to communicate in an elevated way, or slip down into the shadow, harming ourself or others with our words. To keep our energy on the high side in this ritual, gather blue stones such as lace agate or chalcedony and place them in the center of your ritual space. Bring in the air element in some way, perhaps by diffusing essential oils (eucalyptus, lavender and vetiver work well with Gemini), or by sitting in front of an open window or gentle fan for a cool breeze. Lavender, frankincense or myrrh essential oil can be used to anoint your throat chakra before and after your ceremony. Use sage, sweet grass or palo santo to cleanse yourself and the space by casting the smoke over yourself and encircling your own body three times. Light a few candles and dim the lights. Sit in the center of your space and bring the hands together at the heart center. Connect to the throat center, the location of communication and the planet Mercury in our bodies. Feel the energy moving into the throat by engaging in a gentle ujayi style breathing, constricting the back of the throat ever so slightly to produce an oceanic sound of the breath. When you establish a consistent attention on the throat area, consider the question: What is my truth? Your answer will likely come quietly and simply, not as a diatribe, and perhaps only as a feeling. Listen closely to the answer from the heart. Once you receive your answer, choose one stone, hold it firmly in your right hand and say the following invocation out loud:
 
Mercury, please give me the strength to speak the truth about what is most important to me.
 
Spend a few moments in quiet contemplation. Clear the mind of thoughts completely. Feel the sensation within the throat, and allow for the invocation to sink in and begin to show you your path. Allow any symbols, sensations, emotions or energy to arise and continue to quietly witness all that happens without judgement or thought.  
 
When complete, place a hand on the throat and chant Ham (the mantra for the throat) three times before bringing both hands together at the heart to chant Om three times. Hold the stone talisman that you have now charged with the energy of your heart’s desire. Snuff the candles and place the talisman somewhere prominently enough that you are reminded daily of the path to your heart’s fullest expression. This ritual creates a clear pathway of communication for your highest truth, so that whenever you speak, you speak your truth clearly to power.

By Alanna Kaivalya

Alanna believes Yoga is for everyone and each student can develop the self-empowerment needed to embark on a personal journey to meaningful transformation. On this principle she founded The Kaivalya Yoga Method, a fresh take on yoga emphasizing the individual path while honoring tradition. Teaching students since 2001, teachers since 2003, Alanna has written and developed teacher trainings worldwide for top studios and independently. In January she debuted a comprehensive 200hr-online teacher training with YogaDownload. She holds a Ph.D. in Mythological Studies with an Emphasis in Depth Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute, has authored numerous articles and two books: Myths of the Asanas, an accessible practitioner’s guide to stories behind beloved poses; Sacred Sound, a yoga “hymnal,” illustrating the role of chant and mantra in modern practice. Look for her third book, Yoga Beyond the Mat, in Autumn 2016.She lives in New York City with Roxy the Wonderdog.

Click Here to learn more about Alanna's 200hr Online Teacher Training with YogaDownload.com