FEBRUARY 18, 2025

ARTICLE BY MOTHER MAGE

as venus prepares to begin her backward stroll through aries, i can’t help but wonder—or, more aptly, ponder. is life just a series of planetary transits, or are we the ones spinning ourselves out of control?

i, for one, have been completely thrown for a loop this year. like, woah, what the fuck. 2025 came in hot, and the forecast says it’s about to get hotter.

mercury retrograde’s pre-shadow has left plenty messages unsent. the ones i did send, caused me to second guess the second i hit “send,” immediately thinking, maybe i could’ve said that better? it’s like i’m standing at a crossroads, with decisions piling up and unresolved. every misstep suddenly feels like it’s being magnified.

it’s like being stuck in the middle of a stadium, trapped in a jigsaw puzzle, and everyone’s watching. squid games vibes. i’m crying out for help, but the audience’s response is, “well… you didn’t cry loud enough.” lol.

and then, it hit me.

why fight the fire when you can become it?

maybe, just maybe, this is exactly where i need to be.

this is where the magic is.

RELEASE YOUR FUCKING GRIP

we spend so much time trying to control what’s beyond our reach. especially when it comes to life’s inevitable transformations. every encounter changes us, whether we’re conscious of it or not. and death? it’s an inevitable part of life—not just physically, but mentally, spiritually, and emotionally, too.

maybe storms and endings aren’t meant to sabotage us or make us fearful. maybe they’re cosmic interventions; ways of making space for fate.

life’s meaning isn’t handed to us on a star chart. we co-create it with the creator. sometimes through heartbreak, sometimes through those 2 a.m. moments of deep thinking when saturn sits heavy in the sky. these celestial shifts urge us to ask what if life’s uncertainty is the point?

in 2025, the year of the serpent, moving like a snake might actually be the point, but don’t get it twisted. this isn’t about being a snake in the grass, stabbing people in the back. think bigger. think in terms of chinese astrology. the snake is associated with wisdom, intelligence, mystery, grace, elegance, charm, transformation, rebirth, strategy, and discretion. think kundalini shakti—serpent power. throughout history, serpents have represented much more than the evil they’ve been made out to be, but we’ll get into that later…

we’re called to shed old skins and slide into spaces that require adaptability, not force. snakes don’t resist transformation, they surrender to it. they trust that what’s being shed no longer serves them and will be replaced with what does. vulnerability works the same way.

SOFTENING INTO VULNERABILITY

when we stop gripping tightly to our defenses and move with the rhythm of life’s changes, we create space for healing and connection with ourselves and, naturally, with others. maybe being truly seen isn’t about bravery; maybe it’s about learning how to slither through our fears of being seen with grace.

softening into vulnerability isn’t easy.

it’s peeling back the layers we use to protect ourselves; the quick comebacks, endless scrolling, the business we wear like armor. when venus slips into pisces, the universe is whispering “put it down. you have nothing to prove. you don’t have to fight or perform to be loved.”

vulnerability is messy and raw, but it’s where real intimacy lies. it’s in that moment when you stop running from your own reflection (so ironic that “BAD RELIGION” by FRANK OCEAN is playing as i type this, and he says “just outrun the demons, could ya? ♫”). it’s in the tear-streaked argument where you let it all out. in that apology you need to give. in the trembling confession you need to make. authenticity and vulnerability are like twins when it comes to showing up.

true connection—to self and to others—isn’t about perfection. it’s about showing up, scars and all, and trusting that we’re still worthy.

in uncertain times, compassion and grace for all involved is key. the upcoming transits aren’t here to fix our lives or to fuck them up further. they’re here to remind us that we decide how the stars align for us. each person creates their own existential masterpiece, and if one person or thing gets cropped out, that’s okay. it’s not personal. it’s the art of detachment.

WHEN THE STUDENT IS READY, THE TEACHER APPEARS

using astrology and numerology as tools is an aspect of existential spirituality i encourage. especially during the year of the snake (year 9), which symbolizes endings.

existential spirituality in itself doesn’t offer neat answers or easy resolutions, just tools and urges and instincts. it urges us to embrace life’s constant change and the mystery of the unknown.

by definition, it’s a philosophical and spiritual approach that explores the meaning of life, purpose, and the human experience through the lens of existentialism. it emphasizes personal freedom, self-discovery, and responsibility in shaping our spiritual journeys, often focusing on finding meaning in challenges, uncertainties, and inevitable realities like death and suffering.

all in all, what i’m saying is: step off the treadmill and do something that makes you feel warm inside. dance with life. the world is yours.

1. authenticity:

the idea of living authentically-acknowledging and embracing one's true self, desires, and beliefs rather than conforming to societal expectations or dogma.

2. freedom and responsibility:

the freedom to create one's own spiritual path while recognizing the responsibility for the consequences of one's choices and actions.

3. confronting existential realities:

facing life's uncertainties, anxieties, and the inevitability of death with courage. deepening awareness and connection.

4. search for meaning:

rather than relying on external authorities for answers, this approach emphasizes the personal quest for meaning, especially in the face of suffering or adversity.

5. transcendence:

while existentialism can be seen as more human-centered, existential spirituality incorporates the idea of transcending the self and connecting with something larger-whether it be the universe, nature, or a higher consciousness.

journal it out and shake it off. shadow work is highlighted. embrace uncertainty and paradoxes. find purpose through boundaries, service, creativity, and community.

how to cope:

click this to be directed to my playlist<3