Mayan Astrology – Cara Carozza

Happy Mayan Solar New Year!

Hey Everyone

Yeah you read that correctly! I’m wishing you Happy New Year again. The Solar New Year happened yesterday and is a very important date.

In Mayan culture, there is not just one calendar. The Macewal Q’ij or Ordinary Days calendar is a SOLAR CALENDAR consisting of 18 months that are each 20 days, totaling 360 days in the year. There is a closing cycle at the end of each solar year. This period is only 5 days long and is called Wayeb’ or Tz’ipin Q’ij.

I’ve just observed the period of Wayeb’. I followed the prescribed guidance for each day and wanted to share this with you as I have found it so beneficial. I’m thinking that if you feel guided, you could use the information below to do a 5-day Wayeb inspired “retreat” at any time of the year. The process is just lovely.

Day 1 : Introspection. Light white candles and invoke the Creator and all Higher Energies into your space. Review the previous year and set an intention to purge and detox for the next 5 days.

Day 2 : Recognition of Self. Light purple or white candles and invoke all the Great energies again. This is the day to forgive and also to ask for forgiveness for things we have said and done & also for the things we have left undone. Remember to also forgive yourself! Ho’oponopono mediations are a great way to do this.

Day 3: Acceptance. After the days of Introspection and Recognition of Self, it’s time to accept all that the previous year has brought and release anything that no longer serves us. I wrote down my thoughts and feelings and then burned them in a small fire ceremony.

Day 4: Definition. The past three days have allowed us to identify who and where we are. Now it is time to plan for the new year. You know how therapeutic I find cleaning and decluttering. I spent the day cleaning my home, throwing out old items and doing a space cleansing with a great big home-made smudge stick.

Day 5 : Emergence. This is the day we reflect on the last couple of days of retreat (yes to my journal!) to slowly emerge from the “cave” as Mark Elmy of The Four Pillars puts it with new reserves.

Generally speaking, it is thought that our fate for the next solar year is decided and sealed during this 5 day Wayeb’ period. The end of this period is known as The Seating of the New Mam.

11 E’ will be the dominant energy for the coming year, with WILDCAT as the energy carrier. I hope to share more with you.

May your Solar year unfold with grace, my friends. I’m sensing wide open paths inviting us to explore that which our hearts need most.

Take it easy,

Cara

Happy Universal Year Number 7!

Hello everyone!

Happy 2023. How is everyone feeling on this wonderful Friday the 13th?

I bet you are finally feeling like you are ready to kick into gear and get the show on the road after a slow start to January? RIGHT!!!

Don’t worry. It’s not just you. This probably has a lot to do with Mars finally completing its life changing retrograde and going direct (on January 12th). Talk to me again around January 18th/19th when our friend Mercury – ruler of Gemini and all things communication – also goes direct. Then we can finally get this UNIVERSAL YEAR NUMBER 7 going.

According to Numerology, every calendar year is associated with a single digit number known as the Universal Year Number. There are 9 Universal Year Numbers, and each one carries its own vibration and energy. 2023 carries the energy of Number 7. The number seven is considered very lucky in many traditions and is quite a popular number in general. Things that come to mind, include:

7 Days in a week

7 Chakras

7 Continents

7 Natural Wonders of the World

….even the Harry Potter series makes reference to this magical number.

But in Numerology, 7 years are all about diving inward. They are about radical personal growth, spiritual development and evolution. During this year, we will all have a deep personal and collective need to:

Research, Reflect, Re-evaluate

Analyze Data

Ask questions

Interrogate information

If we do this properly, when Universal Year Number 8 comes around in 2024 with its focus on money & power we will be ready to rock and roll.

So how do we make the most of this Year Number 7? Well, think of it as a RETREAT, a time to go solo in order to go within.

I am also planning to use my Mayan calendar as a guide this year and to share more with you as promised. It is filled with wonderful guidance. Today for example is 13 TZ’IKIN and the advice for today is that it is a good day to talk to the ancestors and ask for their guidance about how to MANIFEST ABUNDANCE. We can receive very clear “answers” and visions on this day (and are encouraged to buy a lottery ticket or two).

I wish you a wonderful 2023! Enjoy your own company and remember these lovely words from Desiderata, “Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence”.

All is well.

Cara

Solstice & Last New Moon of 2022. Time to Set New Intentions

Aloha my lovely friends

This is a very active time of the year: Christmas, Chanukah, the Solstice, Yule, New Year and the powerful last New Moon of 2022 (in Capricorn).

But I want you to know one thing: everything is working exactly as it should, according to nature’s divine plan.

This year, the Winter/Summer Solstice of December 21st falls on the day 3 E’ within Chol Q’ij according to the Mayan calendar. The nawal E’ rules over travel and exploration – both physical journeys and those within. When paired with the number 3, challenges on these journeys could arise and it is generally advised to expect delays, disruptions, cancellations, etc. We are better off spending the day going INWARD for some exploration on these days. Solstice is also an excellent time for ceremony to ask our guides to light up our path ahead.

Access to all that is magical and divine with ease and grace!

Ritual and ceremony have become a big part of my life and by performing & refining my practice, many ordinary moments have become sacred experiences. Looking back, that is exactly what I dreamed-in last Solstice:

Phew! I didn’t realize until this very moment how powerful that intention was.

If you are planning to do a SOLSTICE RITUAL (and I sure hope you do because the new moon 2 days later will help to amplify those new intentions) remember to also reflect on what you are grateful for. When we acknowledge our gifts, we cultivate a greater capacity to receive.

I am very grateful for our journey together!

Abundant blessings to you and yours and happy holidays. I would love to hear about your traditions at this time of year.

Love,

Cara – Seeker of Magic, Spreader of Light

Final Full Moon of 2022 & More Mayan Astrology to Come

Hi Friends

Wow, that last full moon of the year was HUGE right? Full moons are indeed a time of completion and illumination.

My BIG illumination was that this year, I’ve become much more in tune with our cyclical nature. Just as the moon goes through its phases, so do we. Reminds me of the song by The Byrds, Turn! Turn! Turn!

To everything (turn, turn, turn)

There is a season (turn, turn, turn)

And a time to every purpose, under heaven

A time to be born, a time to die

A time to plant, a time to reap

A time to kill, a time to heal

A time to laugh, a time to weep

The Mayans understood this so well.

They knew when to plant and when to harvest, when to give back and when to openly and unashamedly receive. I have loved learning and studying this knowledge and so many people have been telling me they are interested in knowing more, too. Some of my favorite questions are:

How accurate is the Mayan calendar?

Is Mayan astrology even a thing?

How many days did the Maya calendar have?

What is the 260 day count (Chol Q’ij), the 365 day count (Macewal Q’ij)?

How about the 52 year count and The Long count ?

Did the ancient Maya predict that the world would end on December 21, 2012?

What is the significance of the Number 13 to the Maya? I thought it was an UNLUCKY number (Friday the 13th?)?

Mayan Symbols?

What is Ceremonial Cacao? Is it the same as Nestlé Hot Chocolate?

I am happy to share what I know in the coming days. Is there anything else you’d like me to cover? Please let me know.

Very soon it will be Solstice time, and you and I will be dreaming-in magical things for 2023 with a cup of real Cacao in hand. Until then here are some lovely full moon dates for your 2023 diary:

https://phasesmoon.com/united-states/los-angeles-california/fullmooncalendar2023.html

With Love

Cara

11/11/2022 IS THE MOST POWERFUL DAY TO MANIFEST & THE PORTAL IS OPEN!

I love numbers! I’m an accountant, remember? So 11/11/2022 really turns me on. I am also a twin:-) these double digits really resonate with me.

The number 11 is considered a MASTER NUMBER in Numerology and there is good reason that we are told to Make a Wish whenever we see this number, especially on a clock. I bet you do this too! The 11/11 Gateway is considered to be very powerful. It is the perfect time to MANIFEST with the help of your Guides and angels. They are ready and waiting to hear your heart’s desires.

In Tarot, the number 1 corresponds with The Magician, so the number 11 is a double dose of magical energy.

The number 22 is one of three very important double-digit MASTER Numbers in Numerology: 11, 22, and 33. Also known as “Master Builder” it is known to bring together the material & spiritual. (It also happens to carry the energy of 11 x 2 = double that lovely 11/11 Gateway energy!) My twin and I were also born on the 22nd of March. Double the pleasure.

Whatever you do, remember that energy goes where attention flows. So let’s focus all our energies on keeping our thoughts positive as we enter this powerful portal.

Focus only on what you DO want and let’s manifest like the powerful Magicians that we are! I will be attending my sister Michaela’s Celebration of Love to her partner, Micha. This is what I will be focusing on!

Wishing you all good things, more synchronicities and magic on this day & always.

Let me know how these numbers speak to you.

Love,

Cara – Seeker of Magic, Spreader of Light

P.S. I also received a wonderful review of my audiobook. You can read it here:

https://www.audiobookreviewer.com/many-gifts

Did the August 2022 Astrology rattle you?

Wow Friends, we survived August! Well almost.

I feel like we all deserve a pat on the back. There were so many notable planetary features including our 4th Supermoon in a row, 5 retrogrades, The Perseids Meteor Shower, Solar Explosions, 8:8 Sirius Rising and Saturn directly opposite the Sun. The energy has been go-go-go and we are all feeling a bit shattered from it!

I’ve kept my head down mostly because I’ve been working on a new manifesting technique that I hope to share with you in the future.

But astrologically speaking, everything that we have been going through is for a greater purpose as the old continues to crumble. We are in a period of accelerated evolution like we have not seen before; quite literally upgrading our DNA & consciousness in order to move on to the next stage of our evolution as a species.

The question I’ve been asking myself is how to keep on my path towards greater love & unity consciousness and not slide back down the rabbit hole of doubt, fear, lack, and separation during this time.

A little voice reminded me, Cara, you’ve got great tools to keep your vibration high. Use them!

My tools include:

Yoga
Making Love
Cannabis
Talking to myself on long drives
Family
Divination
Community (I’ve found a great new online Cannabis tribe)
Meditation
Visualization
Earthing
LOTS and LOTS of WATER

I’m sure you have many tools too. I encourage you to make a list and to use them to keep your focus on what’s important. The stars foretell of a chaotic couple of months to come.

Here’s an affirmation for you during these times:

I am loved and supported in all ways at all times.

Cara

My Love Affair with Cannabis

I’ve always thought Cannabis is like a woman: layers and layers; Persecuted and revered – full of magic and wonder!

As you know, I am a big fan of this highly revered plant that has been cultivated for centuries. I have many years of experience in dealing with it. My lived experience is very practical (it helps me with concentration, to relax, and get out of my head) but it is most definitely also spiritual, helping to open my heart center by freeing my mind. Our brains are full of cannabinoid receptors in areas of the brain related to behavior, thought, and mood. When cannabinoids in cannabis interact with these receptors, they produce euphoric, relaxing effects.

Several factors can influence the effects—dosage, quality, strain, frequency and method of use. Different parts of this plant also have different uses. For example, I used a CBD concentrate for many years to calm my nerves.

Before the recreational use of cannabis, it was often used as a tool for spiritual awakening, ceremony and meditation. It has deep roots in indigenous traditions on every continent and has been popular in India since the beginning of recorded history. According to legend, the Hindu God Shiva wandered off into the fields after a fight with his family. He was so drained after the fight that he fell asleep and when he woke up, he saw a plant that interested him. He sampled the leaves and felt instantly better.

So, how do we use edibles, candies, smokes, cookies or bhang (a popular drink in India) in a more spiritual way? Well, for starters, we have to align with the frequency of the plant in order to go beyond the superficial. Once there is a vibrational match, the next step is to be INTENTIONAL and RESPECTFUL. No one does this better than my husband Richard. He keeps records every season of what he has grown, how he fertilized it and when he harvested it. Talk about respect!

One of the best birthday gifts I ever received was from Richard’s friend Joe who I share a birthday with. He gave me a CBD strain called Ringo’s Gift. It was creamy and smooth like a vanilla milkshake! It left me feeling grounded and peaceful, clear and focused and that first feeling stayed with me until this day.

I am sure you can tell how passionate I am about this subject and I would love to engage and share more. If you would like to use cannabis for medical reasons, please consult a medical professional.

Otherwise, explore, grow and transform,

Cara – Seeker of Magic, Spreader of Light

A Black Moon, Two Eclipses & The Great Benefic? Wow, May is going to be interesting…

Hi Everyone

I hope you haven’t made too many plans for the weekend! We are in for a bumper dose of cosmic energy as Eclipse season hits us.

On April 30th we will have a SOLAR Eclipse. A solar eclipse can only take place at the phase of new moon, when the moon passes directly between the Sun and Earth and its shadows, also known as its umbra, falls upon Earth’s surface. Just before and during sunset, the Moon will cover a part of the sun causing a partial eclipse. This new moon is also called a BLACK MOON (the second new moon in the same calendar month). It will also mark the end of Ramadan for Muslims which means that their month-long period of fasting has come to an end. The celebration of Eid will be on May 1 or May 2, depending on where you are in the world and festivities will begin after the local sighting of the crescent, slightly illuminated moon.

Astrologically speaking, experts are hinting that this eclipse is a peak point in our collective destiny and that shocks and surprises involving politicians/global figures will shape us all going forward. I have my eye on the British Royal family:-)

Mid-month we will have another eclipse. This time a TOTAL LUNAR Eclipse (May 15/16th). This is a big deal and definitely one of the peak points of this year! We can feel this eclipse energy up to a month before and up to 6 months later. This particular eclipse is happening in the sign of SCORPIO. There is always intensity at any full moon but this Scorpio flavor is emotional and supercharged. Scorpio will bring to light dirty laundry, secrets, and dark and hidden matters which are likely to play out on the public stage courtesy of the full moon. I plan to look at what I can RELEASE that is toxic in my life as well as the shadow matters that I need to air.

Another thing to bear in mind is that from May 11th Jupiter will move into Aries. Aries is the first sign of the Zodiac and a Cardinal Sign. This is another strong energy that I think we are going to feel because Jupiter- also known as The Great Benefic (/bɪˈnɛfɪk/) – will always bring EXPANSION and PERSONAL GROWTH.

**Here’s a fun exercise for you to do**: Jupiter has a 12-year cycle so it moved into Aries in June 2010. Look back at your life and into your old journals if possible. What was happening around June 2010? Which life areas were booming/changing/expanding at this time? This is likely to be the same life area that will be expanding again this time around. You should also look at which HOUSE in your chart is likely to be most affected by this energy. You can do this by looking at your specific birth chart. If like me, you have your Sun/Moon/Ascendant in Aries then this should be a time of huge opportunity and upward momentum. Also remember to take action (Aries is all about action) on things you want to look back at in 12 years’ time and say Yes, that’s what I dreamed-in and worked on in a big way in May 2022!

Friends, we are in for a bumper ride. I am sending you love and I hope that your life is full of unexpected wonder! Astrology is not an exact science but it sure helps to know what energies are at play doesn’t it? Besides, Abraham Lincoln, the 16th US President said: “The best way to predict the future is to create it”.

Please let me know how you feel about eclipses and share any interesting rituals, stories, and facts with me.

Into the Light,

Cara – Seeker of Magic, Spreader of Light

The Divine Feminine in Friendships

Women, women, women!

That’s been a theme in my life for about two years now. Everywhere I turn I’ve been meeting strong, attractive, deep, interesting, creative women.

They have come into my life through the doors of my tax practice, online through the study of plant medicine, metaphysics & astrology and most recently through my book.

She found me through my audiobook and a google search. “And I fell in love with your voice,” the attractive Ukrainian woman standing in front of me in need of my tax services said. She was also a self-published author. I know this is going to sound cliche, but I felt like I had met her before. I also knew that she and I would become friends because we just “clicked” in the special way that I’ve been clicking with other special women.

Elena is one of many women I have met just like this over the last few months. I’ve walked into homes of clients and stayed for dinner, volunteered at the Steinbeck Center as a mentor to two young writers and met a soul sister from another life. Heck, it’s even happened to me with my editor who lives in South Africa. It sometimes feels like we are living in the same house because she and I connect via our daily routines as mothers, sisters, and colleagues and intuitively feel one another’s moods. It’s just incredible.

When my daughter, Caroline was getting ready to go off to college, I found myself sinking into a pit of separation anxiety and it affected me physically. I wrote about this in my book, Many Gifts in detail because I wanted to share this with as many women as possible. The Divine Feminine energy that links us all was in its natural state of flow, presenting with changes to both our menstrual cycles and it scared me! It scared me because no one really talked about it. Once I began to open up and let the light into this area of our world, I think that’s when I was able to hop back on the train that is always riding to its destination: HARMONY. The perfect state where all things divine and feminine blossom.

My old wounds around women all started coming to the surface for air:

Sister wounds (I’m a twin)
Friendship wounds (oh, I’ve got lots!)
Mother wounds
Ancestral wounds

My twin sister & I. I’m the one on the right:-)

I kept on diving into my plant medicine, meditation, my work, journaling and making love to keep my vibration as high as possible while I allowed the changes in my life and my body to happen. They were going to happen anyway!

I think that’s when this tribe of women soldiers started coming into my field. My channel was set to the right dial for them.

The other thing that happened – and I only just realized this while writing this blog – is that the women who were not set to the right channel fell out of my world. There was simply no vibrational match for us anymore. Now if THIS is not the Law of Attraction that all the great books talk about, then I do not know what is.

Women rock. This post is to salute them and to salute me because I could not be at this point if I did not have the common sense to recognize that this LOVE that I have for them is really all about the LOVE that I finally have for ME!

Whitney said it best: I’m every woman. It’s all in me.

Cara – Seeker of Magic, Spreader of Light

Beware the Ides of March

Beware the Ides of March! Haven’t you heard that before? I sure have but had no clue what it was about until my lovely husband Richard told me.

This is the day that fell on the 74th day of the Roman calendar, corresponding to March 15 on our calendar. For the Romans, it was marked by several religious observances and was a deadline for settling debts. I was thinking about settling some debts while driving home yesterday when I heard a loud bang! I thought that I had hit a rock in the road but then I saw a wild boar running off out of the corner of my left eye. My instinct to brake saved the poor thing from the same fate as old Julius Caesar on this fateful day in history. (Julius Caesar, the Roman dictator, was assassinated by a group of about 60 senators on the Ides of March of 44 BC Wikipedia). Ah, the Ides of March is tomorrow, I remembered…

Wild boars are often featured in Roman history and my Italian forefathers used them as a symbol in several military legions during the time of the Roman Empire. Little wonder my huge, brown friend came running onto my path as if to say, “Beware the Ides of March, Cara!” My guides sure have some strange ways of communicating with me at times but I am so grateful that they do.

March 15 is also a very important day on the Mayan calendar. It is the beginning of a new ceremonial cycle when new initiates are welcomed into the circle of spiritual leaders to take up their roles for the next chapter. My favorite blog about all things to do with Mayan astrology www.thefourpillars.net has all the information you need to know about this auspicious time. I plan to mark the date with some quiet meditation and prayer.

I also found out that Ruth Bader-Ginsberg (May she rest in peace) was born on this day in history in 1933 as well as St Nicholas, who is famous for being nice to children but also happens to be the patron saint for the falsely accused:-) Ruth is one of my heroes for advocating for gender equality. She demonstrated that gender biases impact men as well as women and she even used a tax case to prove this.

Some days just vibrate differently to others huh? The Ides of March is one of them and I just had to share.

May the Spirits lift you higher,

Cara