Hello Friends:

Today, November 19th (or tomorrow, depending on your time zone), is the New Moon in Scorpio opposite disruptive Uranus in stable Taurus at 28 degrees. This portends some unique energy to make those changes you've been wanting to make, but couldn't make stick. Or couldn't get clarity on. Or put away to do normal, regular, habitual life. Your "One Day" dream.

Perhaps it's an art project, a long-researched business, the end of a relationship, a big trip on your vision board, closing out a chapter, writing your memoir, or pursuing another degree or certification to deepen your knowing and differentiate your offering.

If you're unsure or have too many ideas, an archetypal Tarot reading might help to flesh out your desire because it bypasses your logical, regurgitated thinking mind to activate your creative spaces and wisdom remembering.

Thirty days is approximately one moon cycle (easier to remember than 27/28 days). It's not ideal to plant new seeds or start something completely new when the moon is in its "fall" (not able to fully express) in Scorpio and when it's in the last degrees of a sign (28 degrees). Instead, this is something that has been hidden in your heart. It's a project or idea that has been gnawing at you to revisit and reconsider. Like Scorpio, it's deep and hidden, and sometimes so repressed, it has become inaccessible.

In my last newsletter I talked about this auspicious time where not only does the deep, dark moon have tension with the planet of surprise, but it conjoins Mercury retrograde going through its metaphorical "rebirth" as it joins the Sun (cazimi). Mercury is traveling slowly (appearing to go backwards) and is between the Sun and Earth; close enough to hear. A Mercury cycle lasts 117 days. Mercury is about communication, travel, learning, and all things the suit of Swords (air, mind) in Tarot.

If you have been on the fence about making your "thing," you have two options to stay the course. 30 days or 117 days. Choose to be curious, explore every inkling, see where it takes you. It's never about the goal, but who we become on the way to achieving it.

To embody and take advantage of this unique energy, I'm going to post on my Substack every day about what I am embarking on, and I'd love to hear what you are working on. I'm doing it there, so I'm not blowing up your emails every day. You're likely inundated with Black Friday promos. This is so I stay accountable and heads-down on my commitment to the 117 days. This newsletter is my start.

I'm cleaning up Moondance(r), my Ensign sailboat before the rains come. We have a few more races before she comes on land to dry out and be thoroughly attended to. In Austin, we don't dry dock our boats for the winter because sailing is year-round. But it will be good to address her blisters and give her a good cleaning, and perhaps a new paint job. Hooray! It's part of one of the habits I'm instituting in this Mercury cycle. Being active in my community of fun mariners at the Austin Yacht Club provides the environment for staying social and happy. Especially for an excrutiatingly anti-social introvert 🙈.

Habits For Success

If you don't want to do the 30 or 115 days or engage in Substack, I wonder if you would do ONE THING for this Moon and Mercury Cycle:

1) Eliminate one bad habit.

2) Start one good habit.

In a previous newsletter, I talked about the importance of habits. They make or break our progress. With my recent health wake-up, I've changed my diet, increased my exercise (including neural and vestibular movements to enrich my brain, nerves, and balance), and am identifying as a healthy, active person. In the Law of Identification, you attract what you identify with, and if you're a healthy, active person, you don't sit on the couch eating a whole package of Fig Newtons, crave French fries, or drive to DQ for a turtle pecan sundae before it closes. It was the wakeup call I was grateful to receive because all of the tests have come back negative, and I get to start again, happily.

Let's talk about the anatomy of the habit loop based on the "Microbehaviors to Extraordinary Results" presentation by April Spiel and Kim Zaroff.

The habit loop consists of four main components: cue, craving, response, and reward.

1. Cue (or Trigger):​
   This is the signal that initiates the habit. It can be external (such as seeing the time on the clock, a particular environment, or the smell of coffee), or internal (a feeling or emotion). The cue tells your brain to go into automatic mode and signals which habit to use.
   • Example: At around 1 p.m., the smell of coffee or seeing someone making coffee in the office acts as a cue.
2. Craving:​
   The cue produces a craving—a feeling of "want" or an anticipation. This is not necessarily for the object itself, but for the change in your emotional or physical state that the habit delivers. The craving motivates you to do the behavior.
   • Example: The craving here is not just for the cookie, but for the pleasure or comfort that eating the cookie brings after a long meeting.
3. Response (Routine):​
   This is the actual behavior or action you take—the habit itself, such as eating a cookie, taking a walk, or grabbing your phone. It is what you do to satisfy the craving.
   • Example: Going to grab the cookie and eat it with coffee.
4. Reward:​
   This is the payoff for performing the habit—the benefit or satisfaction that reinforces the behavior, making it more likely you’ll repeat the loop in the future. Reward closes the habit loop and, over time, links the cue with the behavior.
   • Example: The feeling of satisfaction and comfort from eating the cookie and drinking coffee.

My Personal Bad Habit​
I loved sitting in front of the TV watching my podcasts while I ate dinner. Inevitably, I'd go for hours and add in some cookies because I was mindlessly filling the time until the episode finished. I realized I was seeking stress relief or comfort. So, knowing that I wanted comfort, I'd call a friend or go for a walk or break out my watercolors as a "reward" for eating my dinner mindfully with no distractions. That simple pause to ask why I'm doing this thing that isn't great for me has made a huge difference. Oh, I'm lonely? Bored? Anxious? Ok, what healthier option will provide some ease?

Creating New Habits

Here are some effective ways to create better habits:

1. Start Small (Micro-Behaviors & Domino Effect):
   • Break down your goal into the smallest possible action—the "first domino."
   • Example: If your goal is daily exercise, start by laying out your workout clothes the night before or committing to one stretch a day. Or go to bed earlier so you get a good night's rest and are eager to work out.
2. Make It Obvious (Environmental Cues):
   • Set up your environment to naturally trigger the desired habit.
   • Example: Keep a gratitude journal by your bed to prompt morning reflection instead of defaulting to your phone.
3. Make It Attractive and Satisfying:
   • Pair the habit with something enjoyable or rewarding.
   • Example: Reward a completed habit with something you like (like sipping cacao after your morning journaling).
4. Reduce Friction (Make It Easy):
   • Remove barriers to performing the habit and make unwanted habits harder to access.
   • Example: Prep meals ahead if your goal is healthy eating, or store snacks in hard-to-reach places.
5. Stack Habits (Habit Stacking):
   • Attach a new habit to something you already do consistently.
   • Example: Go for a gratitude walk right after your afternoon "coffee" break, adding layers of good habits to your routine.
6. Use Reminders and Accountability:
   • Set reminders or track your progress with tools like a habit tracker.
   • Engage in accountability with a friend, coach, or support group to stay consistent.
7. Allow Experimentation and Flexibility:
   • Give yourself permission to experiment—if a habit doesn’t fit, adjust or “date” new habits until you find what works.
   • Example: If tracking food perfectly feels restrictive, switch to a simpler tracking method.
8. Give Yourself Grace:
   • Don’t aim for perfection—missing a day doesn’t mean failure. Aim for getting it right most of the time and quickly return to the habit after setbacks.
9. Focus on Your ‘Why’:
   • Reflect on why the habit matters to help stay motivated, especially when it starts to feel like a checklist rather than something meaningful.

My New Environment

I've rearranged my home to be one big art studio and library. Books dominate the shelves and wall spaces in every room, and my Chiron gong and singing bowls always remain out to gift myself and others with sound resonance at any time. My art supplies are on carts easily accessible at every table, while mats, bolsters, and zabutons are strewn about for quick yoga or stretching.

When I first moved to my new home, my organizer friend Sonya Feher noted that my codependency showed in my decorating style. She meant everything was meticulously arranged for guests, and all of the things I used were tucked away or hard to reach. Now my house is generally a glorious mess, and you'll be invited to draw or paint something :)

No New Moon Lunation

For those planning to attend the lunation ceremony tomorrow, Thursday, November 20th, I have to cancel. My building is working on the fire alarm system, and it has been disruptive (Uranus). It would be inconvenient for alarms to go off tomorrow during sound bath.

I'm reconsidering whether to continue hosting lunation ceremonies in the future. There are several things I will be focusing on, and although these have always been a sacred service to my community, I'm not sure if they still resonate with people now that I've moved out to the lake, which is far for many. If you have an opinion, let me know.

Setting Your Vision for 2026

From now until December 31, 2025, I'm including an additional 30 minutes of any modality to all my sessions. You can book a session here. Whether you're making a big decision, considering a health issue, needing some clarity about a situation, building a business idea, or would like spiritual insight, my sessions include Hellenistic and modern astrology, archetypal Tarot, Human Design, wisdom systems, and frameworks through a Jungian, ecotheraphy, and storytelling lens.

If you'd like to spend a weekend with me from December 5-7, 2026 or a daylong version of setting your 2026 strategy, you can find details here.

As usual, Sunday evenings, I teach Kripalu Gentle Yoga & Sound at The Yoga Common starting at 6 p.m. It's a gorgeous neighborhood studio with some of the sweetest people. Pre-registration is required. You can sign up here.

I'm excited that Gabe will be spending Thanksgiving break with me at the lake!!

What are you grateful for?

What are you working on?

What are the habits you'll be giving up or creating?

Thank you for reading this far and for your support of my work.

Perhaps we'll get to cheer each other on for the next 30 or 115 days over at my Substack (free).

With much love,

Monica