New Moon in Sept. - From Ancestral Fire to the Throne of the Heart ❤️

 Part 1: The Cosmic Headline — New Moon in Leo, Magha to Purva Phalguni

There is something undeniably regal about a New Moon in Leo, and the one arriving on September 10, 2026 is no ordinary reset button. In Vedic astrology, the Moon enters the bold, solar sign of Leo — ruled by the Sun itself — and with it comes a potent invitation to reclaim your power, your presence, and your purpose.

What makes this lunation especially layered and beautiful is the nakshatra shift happening right within this window. The New Moon opens in Magha (0°00'–13°20' Leo) and transitions into Purva Phalguni (13°20'–26°40' Leo) as the lunar day unfolds. These are two very different energies sharing the same Leo sky, and together they create a rich, two-toned cosmic story.

Magha — The Ancestral Throne

Magha is one of the most ancestrally charged nakshatras in the entire zodiac. Its presiding deity is Pitru — the ancestors themselves —, and it is ruled by Ketu, the south lunar node associated with past karma, spiritual liberation, and what we carry forward from lifetimes before this one. Magha literally means “the mighty one,” and it carries the energy of a throne room — regal, dignified, and deeply rooted in lineage. When the New Moon touches Magha, you are being asked: What ancestral gifts are you here to embody? What old stories are you ready to release, now that you understand where they came from? This is not heavy energy — it is clarifying. Magha strips away the noise and reminds you of your essential, soul-level royalty.

Purva Phalguni — Rest, Beauty & Creative Joy

Then the lunar energy glides into Purva Phalguni, and the atmosphere shifts beautifully. This nakshatra is ruled by Venus, and its deity is Bhaga — the god of delight, fortune, marital bliss, and rest. Its symbol is a fig tree and a hammock, and yes, that tells you everything. Purva Phalguni wants you to receive. It is creative, sensual, romantic, and deeply restorative. After the deep soul-work of Magha, Purva Phalguni says: now rest in who you are. Enjoy the gifts of this life. Let beauty in.

Together, this New Moon is a journey from ancestral reckoning to joyful, heart-centred renewal. It's a rare and gorgeous combination — and it is speaking directly to your creative life force.

Part 2: The Planetary Alignment — Who Else Is in the Room?

The September 10 New Moon doesn't stand alone. The planetary backdrop adds rich texture and depth to this lunation, and the conversations happening between the planets are worth paying close attention to.

Ketu in Leo (Rahu in Aquarius)

Ketu, the south node, is sitting right in Leo alongside the New Moon Sun and Moon, making this a deeply karmic lunation. And because Ketu is also the planetary ruler of Magha nakshatra — where the New Moon begins its journey — this connection runs particularly deep. There is something you are completing here: a chapter, a pattern, an old identity that once served you but no longer fits. The Rahu-in-Aquarius axis simultaneously pulls collective attention toward community, technology, and the vision of a better future, while Ketu-in-Leo calls you inward to release ego-driven performance and step into authentic, spiritually grounded selfhood. This is not about diminishing your light — it is about making it real.

Jupiter in Cancer — Exalted

Jupiter in Cancer reaches its point of exaltation, meaning its qualities of wisdom, grace, expansion, and divine favour are operating at their fullest potency. Positioned in Cancer — the sign just before Leo — Jupiter sits in the twelfth house from the Leo New Moon, associated with hidden blessings, spiritual retreat, and inner expansion. This energy is subtle but deeply nourishing: Jupiter here supports the internal work of Ketu-Leo beautifully, offering a cushion of grace beneath the karmic clearing. Equally significant, Jupiter's ninth aspect reaches all the way to Pisces, where it connects directly with Saturn — a defining thread of this entire period.

Saturn in Pisces

Saturn in Pisces is a spiritually serious placement — it brings themes of boundaries around the boundless, discipline within dreaminess, and a quiet, persistent call to do the inner work that cannot be skipped. Saturn sits in the eighth house from Leo, speaking to deep transformation and the slow alchemy of change. Because exalted Jupiter casts its ninth-house aspect directly onto Saturn in Pisces, there is wisdom and grace moderating Saturn's seriousness. Jupiter is the wise counsellor who reminds Saturn that discipline is in service of liberation, not punishment. Together, they are asking you to commit to long-term transformation with both rigor and faith.

Venus in Scorpio

Venus is the planetary ruler of Purva Phalguni — the nakshatra the Moon is shifting into — so her placement in Scorpio is especially significant. Venus in Scorpio asks you to explore what you truly value, what you long for at the level of the soul, and what creative or relational patterns may be ready for deep healing; there is a call to go deeper in love, in creativity, and in your relationship with your own inner feminine.

Mercury in Libra

Mercury in Libra brings a gift for measured, diplomatic, and artful communication. Libra is the sign of balance, relationships, and aesthetic refinement, and Mercury here thinks in bridges — finding the elegant middle path, choosing words that connect rather than divide. This is wonderfully supportive of the intentions you set under this New Moon: it helps you articulate your desires with clarity and grace, and brings your vision into language that others can actually receive.

The interplay of all these forces — Ketu's karmic clearing in Leo, Jupiter's exalted grace in Cancer, Saturn's transformational steadiness in Pisces, Venus's deep creative longing in Scorpio, and Mercury's balanced voice in Libra — creates a sky that is rich, purposeful, and ultimately supportive of soul-level growth. This New Moon rewards those willing to go beneath the surface.

Part 3: Medical Astrology Recommendations — Caring for Your Body and Soul

In medical astrology, Leo governs the heart, upper back, spine, and vitality. A New Moon in Leo with Ketu also present draws our attention to the energetic health of the heart centre — not just physically, but at the level of the soul. How well are you circulating love, joy, and authentic life force, rather than performing it for others?

Heart & Spine — Leo / Ketu

This is an ideal time to focus on cardiovascular vitality and spinal health. Eat heart-supportive foods: beets, pomegranate, hawthorn berry, dark leafy greens, and warming spices like turmeric and saffron. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Heart (Xin) is the sovereign organ, home of the Shen (spirit). A Leo New Moon with Ketu calls you to tend your Shen — reduce mental overstimulation, protect your sleep, and invest in genuine joy rather than performed happiness. Gentle backbends, yoga, and sunlight exposure are wonderful physical supports. Magha's Ketu influence can also bring ancestral health patterns to the surface — this is a powerful window for lineage meditation, energy clearing, and journaling about inherited beliefs around worthiness and strength.

Feet, Lymph & Immunity — Saturn in Pisces

Pisces governs the feet, lymphatic system, and immune health, and Saturn's presence here reminds us that boundaries and rest are essential to long-term resilience. Dry brushing, lymphatic massage, warm Epsom salt foot soaks, and herbs like echinacea, astragalus, and cleavers are all supportive. Emotionally, Saturn in Pisces can surface feelings of spiritual heaviness or unclear boundaries — gentle breathwork, grounding meditations, and time near water can be deeply restorative.

Digestion & Gut Nourishment — Jupiter Exalted in Cancer

Jupiter exalted in Cancer nourishes the digestive system and the gut-heart connection. This is a beautiful time to review your relationship with food as medicine — eat warm and cooked rather than cold and raw, and prioritize meals that feel genuinely nurturing. In TCM terms, strengthen your Spleen Qi with ginger, cooked root vegetables, and mindful eating without distraction.

Reproductive & Hormonal Health — Venus in Scorpio

Venus in Scorpio turns medical attention to the reproductive system, hormonal health, deep tissue vitality, and the body's capacity to eliminate and regenerate. Scorpio governs the endocrine system and the cycles of release and renewal. Supportive practices include castor oil packs over the lower abdomen, herbs such as vitex (chaste tree), red clover, or dong quai (consult your practitioner), and somatic therapy to release what is stored in the deep tissues. Purva Phalguni always asks you to receive — a warm bath with rose or sandalwood, unhurried creative time, and nourishing connection with those you love are all medicine right now.

Kidneys, Adrenals & Nervous System — Mercury in Libra

Libra governs the kidneys in medical astrology, and Mercury's placement here draws attention to the adrenal-kidney axis and nervous system balance. Support kidney health through adequate hydration, reducing excess sodium and sugar, and cooling mineralizing foods like cucumber and green beans. If you have been running on adrenaline, this New Moon's invitation is to consciously downshift — journaling, gentle movement, and reducing decision fatigue are all supportive practices.

✨  Affirmation for this New Moon  ✨

"I am rooted in my ancestral wisdom and fully alive in this present moment. I lead with my heart. I welcome transformation as the path to my truest self."

This September 10 New Moon is an invitation to step onto your inner throne — not through force, but through grace, self-knowledge, and the quiet confidence of someone who has done the work. Set your intentions with love, honor your body as the sacred vessel it is, and trust that the seeds you plant now are held by the patient hands of both Jupiter and Saturn — wisdom and time working together on your behalf.

 

Lucy Liu, RD  ·  Healer  ·  TCM Practitioner  ·  Vedic Astrologer

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The Master Healer Within You ❤️

 Hello Beautiful Soul,

What if one of the most powerful healing molecules in your body was not just a sleep hormone — but a master regulator of detoxification, cellular energy, gut resilience, and longevity? Meet melatonin: profoundly misunderstood, vastly underestimated, and absolutely essential to your optimal health.

When most people hear the word “melatonin,” they picture a small supplement bottle on a pharmacy shelf, promising a better night’s sleep. And while melatonin is indeed the body’s primary sleep-regulating hormone, reducing it to a mere sleep aid is like calling the ocean a puddle. The truth is far more extraordinary.

Melatonin — chemically known as N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine — is produced primarily in the pineal gland, a tiny pine-cone-shaped structure nestled deep in the center of your brain. Ancient traditions, from Vedic philosophy to the musings of Descartes, have long regarded the pineal gland as a seat of spiritual consciousness — a bridge between body and cosmos. Modern science is now catching up, revealing that this small gland orchestrates one of the body’s most sophisticated biochemical symphonies.

But here is what surprises most people: the pineal gland is not the only place melatonin is made. Your gut produces up to 400 times more melatonin than your brain. Your mitochondria — the energy factories inside every cell — synthesize their own melatonin locally. Your immune cells, your skin, your retina, your bone marrow: all of them make and respond to melatonin. This is not a sleep hormone. This is a systemic intelligence molecule — a chemical messenger that coordinates healing, protection, and renewal across every organ and tissue in your body.

“Melatonin is not merely a sleep hormone. It is the body’s master signal for darkness, repair, and renewal — touching every cell, every organ, every system.”

How does melatonin work in your gut, your brain, and your mitochondria, and how to boost your endogenous production of melatonin? Please check my recent video. 

There is something we do over 20,000 times a day — yet rarely think about. Something so fundamental to life that we can survive weeks without food, days without water, but only minutes without it. And yet, for most of us, we do it wrong. We are talking about breathing.

In the ancient traditions of India, China, and Tibet, the breath was understood as the very vehicle of life force — prana, qi, lung. Healers, mystics, and physicians across thousands of years recognized that the quality of the breath determined the quality of life. Today, modern science is catching up with extraordinary speed, revealing that conscious control of our breath can transform not only our lungs, but our gut, our sleep, our mood, our nervous system, and our connection to something greater than ourselves.

Breathwork may be one of the most powerful and accessible health tools available to you right now. In my new workshop, we will practice together a variety of types of breathwork for mental, emotional, and physical healing and enlightenment. Please check out more details here. Space is limited and register now. 

Mastering the Cosmic Elixir - Breathwork

The Hundred Healers Moon - Full Moon Lunar Eclipse ❤️

 Beautiful Soul,

On the night of August 27th into the early hours of August 28th, the sky delivers one of the most quietly powerful moments of the year: a Full Moon lunar eclipse in sidereal Aquarius, anchored in the Nakshatra of Shatabhisha. This is not an ordinary Full Moon. It is the closing gate of an eclipse corridor that began on August 12th with the solar eclipse in Ashlesha, Cancer — and what happens in an eclipse corridor rarely stays subtle. It asks to be felt, released, and understood.

Eclipses have always held a special place in Vedic astrology. Unlike an ordinary Full Moon, which simply illuminates and completes, an eclipse temporarily veils the light of the luminaries — the Sun or the Moon — creating a liminal space where the usual rules loosen. In that veiled space, old patterns rise to the surface more easily, intuition sharpens, and the soul's deeper agenda becomes harder to ignore. This particular eclipse is especially significant because it is a partial lunar eclipse occurring almost exactly opposite the recent solar eclipse, forming a bridge between what began two weeks ago and what is now ready to be understood.

The Sign: Aquarius and the Rule of Saturn

This eclipse lands in the sidereal sign of Aquarius, ruled by Saturn, the great teacher of time, structure, and karmic accountability. Saturn does not rush. Under this influence, the Full Moon illuminates themes of collective consciousness, long-range planning, and the boundaries we build — or need to rebuild — to protect our energy and our purpose. Aquarius asks us to zoom out from the personal and consider our place within community, humanity, and the systems we participate in. Wherever Aquarius sits in your birth chart, this is the house asking for a mature, structural reset.

The Nakshatra: Shatabhisha, the Hundred Physicians

The Moon is Full within Shatabhisha, whose name translates to "the hundred physicians" or "the hundred healers." Its symbol is an empty circle — representing infinite space, the void from which healing emerges, and the mystery of what remains unseen. Shatabhisha is governed by Varuna, the Vedic deity of cosmic waters and cosmic law, the keeper of truth beneath the surface. This is a nakshatra of deep healing, hidden knowledge, and the uncovering of what has been concealed — in the body, in relationships, and in the collective. Under this sky, secrets surface not to cause harm, but so that true healing can finally begin.

The Eclipse Factor: Completing a Karmic Corridor

Because this Full Moon is also a lunar eclipse, it carries far more weight than a typical monthly culmination. It arrives sixteen days after the total solar eclipse of August 12th in Ashlesha, Cancer — a nakshatra of serpent wisdom, emotional intensity, and karmic entanglement. Together, these two eclipses form a corridor: the New Moon eclipse planted an intense, often uncomfortable seed around emotional security and inherited patterns, and this Full Moon eclipse now brings the outcome, the release, and the reckoning. Eclipse energy accelerates karma. It compresses months of change into weeks. If the past two weeks have felt disorienting, unusually emotional, or revealing, this is precisely why — and the eclipse on the 28th is where that intensity reaches its peak and begins to soften.

Traditionally, Vedic astrologers advise against launching major new ventures during an eclipse window, favoring instead reflection, prayer, rest, and gentle closure. Whatever has felt unstable since mid-August is asking to be witnessed, not fixed in haste.

The TCM Connection: Water, the Kidneys, and Ancestral Reserves

From a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective, this eclipse speaks directly to the Water element — the domain of the Kidneys, our deepest reservoir of vital essence, or Jing. Varuna's rulership over cosmic waters mirrors the Kidney's role as the body's own inner ocean: the seat of willpower, ancestral inheritance, fear, and the fluid that allows the body to release what it no longer needs. An eclipse touching Water-ruled themes often coincides with fatigue, disrupted sleep, lower back tension, or a felt sense of depletion. Rather than pushing through it, this is a moment to conserve rather than expend — to replenish Jing through rest, warmth, and stillness.

Health & Ritual Suggestions for This Eclipse

• Rest deeply around the eclipse window (evening of the 27th through the 28th) rather than scheduling demanding activity.

• Support your Kidneys with warming, mineral-rich foods — bone broth, black beans, walnuts, seaweed — and avoid overexertion or excessive cold.

• Journal what has surfaced since August 12th. Shatabhisha rewards honest, private reflection over public declaration.

• Spend time near water — a bath, the ocean, a quiet lake — to symbolically support release and renewal.

• Avoid initiating major contracts, surgeries (unless medically necessary), or high-stakes decisions during the eclipse window itself; wait a few days for the energy to settle.

• A short meditation on the empty circle of Shatabhisha — simply sitting in open, spacious awareness — can be more powerful now than active manifestation work.

Closing Reflection

This Full Moon eclipse closes a chapter that began two weeks ago, asking you to release what no longer serves your deepest structure — the Saturnian architecture of your life — while trusting that healing, like Varuna's waters, moves in its own time. What feels like an ending now is quietly making room for the hundred forms of healing this nakshatra promises.

As with every eclipse season, the effects will not fully resolve overnight. Expect the themes of this Full Moon — hidden truths, structural boundaries, and deep healing — to continue unfolding gently over the following weeks as the Moon moves out of its shadow and the nervous system recalibrates. Be patient with yourself, and trust that the empty circle of Shatabhisha is not a void to fear, but a sacred space being cleared for something new.

What if a single practice can significantly boost your manifestation power? That is breathwork. Breathwork is the seed of longevity and the foundation upon which elevated consciousness is built. Our ancestors knew this. The ancient seers of India called it pranayama — the mastery of prana, the universal life force carried on the breath. The Daoist sages of China called it qigong — the cultivation of qi through breath, movement, and intention. The mystery schools of Egypt and Atlantis understood the breath as the living key to the Mer-Ka-Ba. This crystalline light body vehicle enables the soul to traverse dimensions and connect with the cosmos's infinite intelligence. Let's dive into it from multidimensional perspectives. 

Learn more and book an intuitive session.

With love and light,

Lucy Liu

RD · TCM Practitioner · Healer · Vedic Astrologer

Sweet Science: Chrysin, Honey, and the Search for Hormonal Balance ❤️

Hello Beautiful Soul,

If you have ever walked past a beehive on a warm afternoon, you have been near a natural source of chrysin. This golden-hued flavonoid is found in honey, bee propolis, and the passionflower plant, and it has become one of the more talked-about compounds in the natural health world — prized for its potential to support hormonal balance, calm the nervous system, and quiet inflammation at the cellular level. This content explores what chrysin is, what traditional food therapy and modern research suggest about its benefits, and what every client should know before adding it to a wellness routine.

What Is Chrysin?

Chrysin (5,7-dihydroxyflavone) belongs to the flavone family of flavonoids, a group of plant compounds well known for their antioxidant activity. It occurs naturally in honey and bee propolis, in the passionflower, and in smaller amounts in chamomile and certain mushrooms. In supplement form, chrysin is most often extracted from passionflower or produced synthetically for use in capsules, powders, and topical formulations.
In TCM, honey is considered a Spleen and Stomach (Earth element) tonic — sweet, moistening, and harmonizing — traditionally used to nourish Qi and soothe the digestive system. While chrysin as an isolated compound is a modern extraction rather than a classical TCM substance, its presence in honey allows us to appreciate it through this same Earth-element lens: something that supports steadiness, nourishment, and balance from within.

What the Research Is Exploring

Hormonal Balance

Chrysin has attracted significant interest for its ability, observed in laboratory and animal studies, to act as an aromatase inhibitor — meaning it may reduce the conversion of testosterone into estrogen. This mechanism has made chrysin popular among athletes and in men's hormone-support formulas. However, it is important to share this cautiously with clients: human clinical trials have not confirmed meaningful changes in testosterone or estrogen levels following standard oral chrysin supplementation, largely because so little of the compound is absorbed intact.

Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activity

Preclinical studies suggest chrysin may help neutralize free radicals and modulate inflammatory pathways, including markers linked to arthritis, airway inflammation, and general oxidative stress. Animal research has shown promising results for joint comfort and inflammatory markers, though this evidence has not yet been established through large human trials.

Mood and Nervous System Support

Some research suggests chrysin may interact with GABA receptors in the brain — the same calming pathway targeted by many conventional anti-anxiety approaches — which has led to interest in chrysin as a gentle, natural option for stress support. As with its other proposed benefits, this evidence is still considered preliminary.

Bone and Cellular Health

Early animal studies have explored chrysin's role in supporting bone density and protecting cells from oxidative damage, with some researchers investigating its longer-term relevance to metabolic and cellular aging support. These findings are promising directions for future research rather than settled conclusions.

The Bioavailability Question

One theme runs through nearly all chrysin research: poor oral bioavailability. Because chrysin is rapidly broken down in the gut and liver, only a small fraction of an oral dose reaches circulation, which may explain why laboratory and animal findings often do not translate directly into effects experienced by people taking standard capsules. Newer delivery approaches — such as micellar or phytosome formulations, or pairing chrysin with compounds like piperine — are being studied to improve absorption, though research on these enhanced forms in humans is still developing.

Safety & Considerations

Chrysin is generally well tolerated in the doses studied, but it is not evaluated or approved by Health Canada or the FDA for medical use, and thoughtful precautions apply:

• Blood-thinning medications: Chrysin may have mild blood-thinning activity and should be used cautiously alongside anticoagulant or antiplatelet medications such as warfarin, aspirin, or clopidogrel.
• Hormone-sensitive conditions: Because of its proposed effect on estrogen metabolism, chrysin should be avoided by individuals on hormone therapy.
• Liver-metabolized medications: Chrysin may influence liver enzymes (including CYP1A2 and CYP3A4) that process many common medications, which can alter their effects.
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding: There is not enough reliable safety information, so chrysin is best avoided during this time.
• Upcoming surgery: As a precaution, chrysin should be discontinued at least two weeks before any scheduled surgery.

As always, I recommend clients discuss any new supplement, including chrysin, with their healthcare provider before starting — particularly if they take prescription medications or manage a hormone-sensitive health condition.

Bringing It Back to You

Chrysin is a wonderful example of why context matters so much in natural health: a compound with real promise in the laboratory, tempered by the practical realities of how the human body absorbs and uses it. Rather than reaching for any single supplement in isolation, I find the most meaningful results come from a personalized approach — one that considers your unique constitution, your current hormonal and nervous system patterns, and how food, herbs, and lifestyle practices can work together. This is exactly the kind of individualized approach I bring to my practice: blending functional nutrition, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and energetic healing to help you address the root cause of your health concerns, individually and sustainably. 

What if a single practice — free, always available, and requiring no equipment — could heal your gut, deepen your sleep, sharpen your mind, slow your aging, and open a doorway to expanded consciousness? What if that practice has been known to humanity for thousands of years, encoded in the wisdom of ancient India, China, Egypt, and civilizations that predate recorded history? Please check the information for my upcoming workshop.

I hope you enjoy the information and have a wonderful weekend!

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The Serpent's Gate: Eclipse New Moon in Cancer ❤️

Dear Friend,

On August 12, 2026, the sky delivers one of the most powerful moments of the entire year: a Total Solar Eclipse New Moon, occurring precisely as the Sun and Moon meet in sidereal Cancer, within the deep and mysterious Ashlesha Nakshatra. This is not an ordinary New Moon. An eclipse New Moon is a “turbocharged” lunation — the Moon’s light is fully consumed by shadow, and whatever house and sign this falls in your chart becomes a spotlight for release, revelation, and rebirth.

Because this eclipse lands in Cancer — the sign of home, emotion, nourishment, and the inner mother — and within Ashlesha, the “serpent” nakshatra, this is deeply personal. It is not a loud, external event. It is a quiet, internal molting. Ashlesha asks us to shed an old skin: an outdated belief, a relationship pattern, a fear we've outgrown but haven't yet released. Ashlesha also carries gifts of penetrating insight — the ability to see what truly motivates people and situations, and the wisdom to navigate the real world with more discernment than before.

What Makes This Eclipse So Significant

This New Moon isn't isolated — it's part of a larger planetary story unfolding in the sky right now.

Jupiter is also transiting through Cancer this year, and remarkably, Cancer is Jupiter's sign of exaltation — meaning Jupiter is at its most dignified and beneficial expression here. With Jupiter sitting near the Sun and Moon at this eclipse, we are given a rare blessing: even as old structures dissolve, wisdom, guidance, and moral clarity rise to meet us. This eclipse is not simply about loss — it's about being handed exactly the insight we need to move forward well.

Mercury, the planet of thought, communication, and commerce, has also been active in this same region of the zodiac. In the weeks leading into the eclipse, Mercury moved through a retrograde cycle touching both Cancer and Gemini, and spent time close to the Sun in a state astrologers call “combustion,” where Mercury's light is symbolically overpowered by the Sun's glare. The good news: Mercury officially turned direct on July 23rd, easing us out of that foggy, re-thinking phase just in time for the eclipse. We're still moving through Mercury's “shadow period” as it retraces its steps through early August, so patience with lingering miscommunications is still wise — but the heaviest fog has lifted, and clarity is steadily returning as we approach this New Moon.

Saturn is retrograde in Pisces during this period, occupying a more distant house from this eclipse's axis. Saturn's placement adds an undertone of responsibility, quiet endurance, and the sense that real growth right now comes through consistency rather than dramatic leaps. If you've been carrying a heavier workload or a lingering obligation, Saturn is asking you to keep tending it faithfully.

Mars in Gemini sharpens the mind and the tongue — mental energy is quick, and this can be wonderful for tactical thinking, writing, and decisive communication, as long as it's channeled with intention rather than reactivity.

Venus, meanwhile, is placed in Virgo, a sign where Venus doesn't feel fully at home. This placement can surface tender spots around comfort, self-worth, spending, or relationship satisfaction. Rather than a warning, think of it as an invitation: this is a beautiful window to gently examine where you've been under-valuing yourself, your time, or your body — and to correct course with compassion.

Altogether, this eclipse carries a Cancer stellium — several planets clustered in the sign of the crab — making emotional truth, home, family, and inner security the central theme of this entire cycle. Whatever house Cancer occupies in your personal chart is where the most significant shifts are likely to unfold over the coming months.

A Mind-Body-Spirit Perspective

From a functional health lens, Cancer governs the stomach, the digestive lining, and our deepest sense of emotional safety — the same terrain Traditional Chinese Medicine associates with the Spleen and Stomach, our “Earth” organs responsible for transforming nourishment into vitality. Eclipse season is a wonderful time to support this system gently:

•     Nourish, don't restrict. Favor warm, cooked, easily digestible foods — soups, congee, stewed vegetables — that support the Spleen's transformative fire.

•     Protect your sleep and emotional boundaries. Ashlesha energy can stir old emotional patterns; give yourself permission to rest more than usual around the eclipse window.

•     Herbal support. Gentle digestive and calming herbs — such as chamomile, fennel, or a warming ginger tea — can help settle both gut and nervous system during this shift.

•     Journal what's surfacing. Ashlesha often brings buried feelings or intuitive downloads to the surface. Writing them down, without judgment, helps the “shedding” process complete cleanly.

A Ritual for the Eclipse New Moon

Because eclipses amplify whatever we set into motion, it's wise to avoid launching brand-new ventures on the exact eclipse day itself — instead, use this window for release, reflection, and quiet intention-setting. Consider:

1.   Light a candle and sit quietly for a few minutes of meditation, simply noticing what emotions rise.

2.   Write down one belief, relationship pattern, or fear you are ready to shed.

3.   Follow with one line of what you are ready to welcome instead — rooted in feeling safe, nourished, and at home in yourself.

4.   Close with gratitude for your body, your intuition, and your inner wisdom — Ashlesha's deepest gift.

In Closing

This eclipse asks us to trust the wisdom of our own inner knowing, even as familiar ground shifts beneath us. With Jupiter's grace so close by, what feels like an ending is truly preparation for something wiser and more aligned to take root.

If you'd like personal insight into how this eclipse is activating your own birth chart — and practical, holistic guidance to move through it with more ease — I'd love to support you.

Learn more and book a personal reading; please click here.

What if a single practice can significantly boost your manifestation power? That is breathwork. Breathwork is the seed of longevity and the foundation upon which elevated consciousness is built. Our ancestors knew this. The ancient seers of India called it pranayama — the mastery of prana, the universal life force carried on the breath. The Daoist sages of China called it qigong — the cultivation of qi through breath, movement, and intention. The mystery schools of Egypt and Atlantis understood the breath as the living key to the Mer-Ka-Ba. This crystalline light body vehicle enables the soul to traverse dimensions and connect with the cosmos's infinite intelligence. Let's dive into it from multidimensional perspectives. 

With warmth and light,

Lucy Liu, RD

Registered Dietitian | TCM Practitioner | Healer | Vedic Astrologer

optimalhealthsolutions.ca 

The Inulin Effect ❤️

Hello Beautiful Soul,

Hope you are all doing great. If you've been exploring ways to support your gut health this year, you may have come across the term "inulin." This humble plant fiber has quietly become one of the most talked-about prebiotics in both modern nutrition science and traditional food wisdom. In this newsletter, I want to walk you through what inulin is, the ways it may support your health, where to find it in whole foods, and a few simple fermented recipes you can prepare at home to bring more of it into your diet — the traditional, food-first way.

What Is Inulin?

Inulin is a type of soluble fiber called a fructan, made of chains of fructose molecules that our small intestine cannot break down. Instead, inulin passes intact into the large intestine, where it serves as food for our beneficial gut bacteria, particularly Bifidobacteria. This is why inulin is classified as a prebiotic: rather than being a probiotic (a live bacterium), it is a nutrient that helps our resident microbes thrive. Inulin occurs naturally in thousands of plant species, though it is most concentrated in chicory root, Jerusalem artichoke, dahlia tubers, and burdock root — the last of which will be familiar to those of you who know burdock (niu bang gen) from Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Traditional & Emerging Health Benefits

In both TCM food therapy and modern nutrition research, fibrous root vegetables and alliums rich in inulin have long been valued for supporting digestion and vitality. Here is what current research and traditional use both point to:

• Gut microbiome support — inulin selectively feeds beneficial bacteria, which may help maintain a favourable balance of gut flora and support regularity.
• Blood sugar balance — as a slowly fermented soluble fiber, inulin may support more stable post-meal blood sugar levels as part of an overall balanced diet.
• Satiety and appetite support — inulin absorbs water and forms a gel-like consistency in the digestive tract, which may help you feel fuller for longer.
• Cardiometabolic support — some studies suggest modest improvements in lipid profile markers, such as triglycerides, when inulin is consumed regularly as part of a fiber-rich diet.
• Bone mineral support — a small body of research suggests prebiotic fibers like inulin may enhance calcium absorption in the gut.

I want to be clear with you, as your Registered Dietitian: these are traditional and emerging areas of interest, not guarantees or treatments for any diagnosed condition. Inulin is best understood as a supportive, whole-food ally rather than a cure. If you are managing diabetes, IBS, SIBO, or another digestive condition, please read the safety notes below and check in with your own healthcare practitioner before increasing your intake.

Where to Find Inulin in Whole Foods

The easiest and gentlest way to increase inulin intake is through whole foods rather than concentrated powders or supplements, which can cause more digestive discomfort. Wonderful natural sources include:

• Chicory root and dandelion root and greens (also prized in TCM for supporting Liver and Stomach qi)
• Jerusalem artichoke (sunchoke)
• Garlic, onion, leek, and shallot
• Asparagus
• Burdock root (niu bang gen)
• Slightly underripe bananas
• Barley and rye

You'll notice several of these — garlic, onion, leek, dandelion — are also warming, circulating foods in TCM food therapy, traditionally used to support digestion and the free flow of qi. This is a beautiful example of how ancestral food wisdom and modern fiber science often arrive at the same foods from different directions.

Fermented Recipes to Try at Home

Fermentation is one of the oldest ways humans have prepared inulin-rich vegetables, and it offers a lovely bonus: beneficial live cultures alongside the prebiotic fiber itself, creating a natural synbiotic effect. Here are three simple recipes to bring into your kitchen.

1. Honey-Fermented Garlic
Peel a jar's worth of garlic cloves and cover completely with raw, unpasteurized honey. Seal loosely (gases need to escape) and leave at room temperature, turning the jar daily, for 2–4 weeks. The garlic softens and mellows while the honey becomes fragrant and slightly tangy. Enjoy a clove a day, or stir a spoonful of the infused honey into warm water or tea.

2. Simple Fermented Leek & Onion Relish
Thinly slice 2 leeks and 1 onion. Pack tightly into a clean jar with 1 tablespoon of sea salt per 500 g of vegetables, pressing until submerged in their own brine (top up with a little filtered water if needed). Weigh down with a fermentation weight, cover loosely, and ferment at room temperature for 5–7 days, tasting after day 3. Once pleasantly tangy, refrigerate and enjoy a spoonful alongside soups, grain bowls, or roasted vegetables.

3. Jerusalem Artichoke Pickles
Scrub and thinly slice 500 g of Jerusalem artichokes. Make a brine of 1 litre filtered water and 2 tablespoons sea salt. Submerge the slices with a few slices of fresh ginger and a bay leaf. Ferment at room temperature for 4–6 days, then move to the refrigerator. These crisp, tangy pickles are a wonderful way to enjoy this powerhouse inulin source while supporting a healthy gut terrain.

A Word on Safety

Inulin is generally well tolerated in food-based amounts, and in Canada it is recognized by Health Canada as an acceptable non-medicinal and medicinal ingredient in Natural Health Products. That said, because it ferments readily in the gut, some people experience gas, bloating, or discomfort — especially with a rapid increase in intake, larger supplemental doses, or for those with IBS or FODMAP sensitivity. My general guidance is to start low and go slow, favouring whole-food sources over concentrated powders, and to drink plenty of water as you increase your fiber intake. If you live with diabetes, IBS, SIBO, or any other digestive or metabolic condition, or are pregnant or breastfeeding, please speak with your healthcare provider or with me before making significant changes.

The Metaphysical, Psychic & Wellness Fair is here next Saturday (July 25h). Let's support local events! I will give a talk at the fair; my topic is "The Master Molecule That Bridges Ancient Wisdom, Spirituality with Modern Science". It is a unique and interesting topic.

Here are the highlights:
What is the master molecule that regulates gut health, detoxification, brain health, mitochondrial function, aging, and much more?
 How did ancient masters utilize this wisdom and knowledge to boost their health and elevate their consciousness?

Please check my poster below for more details, and I am looking forward to seeing you there. 

I hope you enjoy the information and have a wonderful weekend!

• To schedule a healing session, please click here.
• To schedule a reading session, please click here.
• To schedule a TCM treatment, please click here.
• To schedule a group session on various topics, please click here. 

Full Moon in Shravana: Where Wisdom Comes to Rest ❤️

Beautiful Soul,

On Wednesday, July 29, 2026, at 7:36 AM PDT, the sky offers us a rare double blessing: a Full Moon rising in the sign of Capricorn, within the sacred Shravana Nakshatra, arriving on the very same day as Guru Purnima — the day we honor our spiritual teachers and the wisdom lineage that guides us home to ourselves.

This is not an ordinary Full Moon. It is a moment when the heavens themselves seem to bow to the guru within.

Guru Purnima has been celebrated across the Vedic tradition for millennia as a day of gratitude toward the teachers, sages, and guiding forces who help us move from darkness into light. It is traditionally honored as the day the sage Vyasa, compiler of the Vedas, was born — a reminder that wisdom is meant to be received, transmitted, and passed on with reverence. That this year's celebration falls precisely on the Full Moon in Shravana, the nakshatra of listening and sacred knowledge, makes the message unmistakable: this is a moment to open your ears, your heart, and your willingness to be taught.

The Cosmic Moment

At the moment of fullness, the Moon sits near 12° Capricorn, held closely in Shravana Nakshatra — the twenty-second lunar mansion, ruled by the Moon and governed by Lord Vishnu, the preserver. Its symbol is the ear, and its essence is sacred listening: the capacity to receive wisdom, tradition, and truth with a humble and open heart.

Opposite the Moon, the Sun continues its journey through Cancer, the sign of home, roots, and emotional nourishment — creating the classic full-moon tension between what we have quietly built within (Cancer) and how we give it form and structure in the outer world (Capricorn/Shravana). This Full Moon asks us to bring feeling into form — to give discipline and shape to what our hearts have long been asking for.

Planetary Alignment

Several other placements deepen this moment's significance:

✦  Jupiter, the great teacher (Guru) of the Vedic sky, sits in close conjunction with the Sun in Cancer — embraced within the Sun's own light. This is a sacred placement: Jupiter's wisdom becomes concentrated and deeply felt, even before it is outwardly visible. Fitting, isn't it, that on Guru Purnima itself, the planetary Guru is drawn into the very heart of the Sun?

✦  Mercury has recently completed its retrograde cycle (stationing direct July 23) and is moving through its post-retrograde shadow in Gemini, its own sign — softening communication confusion and inviting clearer, more grounded self-expression as we approach the Full Moon.

✦  Saturn, the ruling lord of Capricorn and a quiet co-author of this Full Moon, is preparing to station retrograde just days later, on July 26. With Saturn so close to stationing as the Moon becomes full in his own sign, we are offered a rare window to release rigid patterns and restructure our lives around what is truly sustainable.

The Spirit of Shravana

Shravana Nakshatra carries a gentle, receptive strength. Those touched by its energy this month are called to slow down and truly listen — to their bodies, their intuition, and the teachers trying to reach them. In Sanskrit, “shravana” means “hearing” or “that which is heard,” closely tied to the transmission of sacred knowledge through deep listening rather than mere intellectual study. This Full Moon invites you to ask: What have I not been willing to hear? What wisdom is trying to reach me, if only I would quiet the noise long enough to receive it?

Sit with this journal prompt as the Moon becomes full: “Where in my life have I been speaking or striving, when what was truly needed was for me to listen?” Let the answer arrive slowly, the way sound settles after a bell has been struck.

A Holistic & TCM Perspective

Beautifully, Traditional Chinese Medicine offers a resonant teaching here. In TCM, the Kidney system — governing our deepest reserves of vital essence, or Jing — is said to “open into the ears.” Our capacity to hear clearly, both physically and intuitively, is directly linked to the strength of our Kidney energy. Shravana's symbolism of the ear and sacred listening mirrors this beautifully: when Kidney Jing is depleted, we struggle to truly hear — ourselves, our loved ones, or the whispers of spirit. When it is replenished, our listening becomes an act of grace.

Health & Healing Suggestions for This Full Moon

✦  Nourish your Kidney Jing: bring warming, dark-colored foods into your meals this week — black sesame seeds, black beans, walnuts, seaweed, and bone broth are all traditional Kidney tonics.

✦  Protect your energy: with Saturn stationing so close by, avoid overexertion. This is a moment to rest more, not push harder.

✦  Practice sacred listening: spend ten quiet minutes in nature or meditation simply listening — to birdsong, to your breath, to the silence beneath the silence.

✦  Honor your teachers: in the spirit of Guru Purnima, write a note of gratitude to someone (or something) who has taught you deeply — a mentor, a healer, a hardship, or your own inner voice.

✦  Favor gentle, grounding movement: walking, yin yoga, or slow qigong rather than intense exertion, honoring both Capricorn's earthy steadiness and Saturn's call to conserve.

✦ ✦ ✦

An Invitation

If this Full Moon is stirring something in you — a question you can't quite name, or a sense that it's time to listen more deeply to your own path — I would be honored to support you with a personal Intuitive Reading Session, where we explore what the stars, your body, and your spirit are asking of you right now.

✦ Book Your Intuitive Reading Session ✦

With so much light and gratitude,

Lucy Liu, RD, TCM Practitioner, Healer, Vedic Astrologer