Welcome to Aries Season and Spring for the Northern Hemisphere!

Aries is ruled by Mars, the planet of our will and life force--the energy behind action, initiative and desire. The first sign of the zodiac and marker of a new zodiacal year, Aries is the Cardinal Fire sign. The spirit of new beginnings brought by Aries Season begins on the Spring Equinox and is a time of blooming excitement. The symbol of Aries is the Ram and rules the area of the head and face/forehead. Traits of the sign are bravery, courage, freshness, initiation, spontaneity, and vitality. The direction associated with Aries is East, which we will be incorporating into our ritual later!

The Tarot card ruled by Aries is The Emperor. The Emperor asks us to take up space, build and move mountains, and to “know thyself.” Acknowledging and embodying our true power so that we can empower and be of service to others. Now is the time to lean into our inner work of the winter season and really establish who we want to be moving forward.

One way to honor ourselves this season is goal setting. Where do we want to be 6 or 12 months from now? What does the world we wish to build look like? Are there ways we can take up more space? And how can we channel the energy of Aries into potent new beginnings for ourselves? We deserve the right to advocate for our own desires and put into motion the building blocks of the life we want to live. Aries asks us to get clear on what we want and take the first steps towards making it a reality.

Aries Self Care Ritual Themes

Themes for the season revolve around new projects, rites of passage, and elements of fire in ritual. This month is a great opportunity to revamp our skin care routine, getting rid of any old or wanted products, as well as cleansing and clearing our skin care space in order to start fresh. Can you say spring cleaning?

Whether we are in need of cooling or warming, finding the proper balance is a great Aries season focus. Mars, when out of balance, can bring too much heat and inflammation, so incorporating cooling remedies like our Blue Chamomile CBD Hydrosol or Rosemary Lavender CBD Oil. Or maybe your skin needs to awaken from it’s winter slumber with warming herbs that promote circulation like our Turmeric Ginger CBD Oil or the purifying Tulsi CBD Hydrosol.

More Balancing Herbs

Warming and Clearing: Ginger (Zingiber officinale), Nettles (Urtica dioica), Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium)

Cooling and Calming: Yarrow (Achillea millefolium), Vervain (Verbena officinalis), Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus), Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), Hops (Humulus lupulus)

The Ritual

For this month’s ritual, we will be using Fire Magick to bring to life the goals mentioned above on April 11th for the new moon in Aries. While the goals set should be achievable, we will be working with Martian energy to enhance our will, so now is no time to play small!

What You’ll Need

• Natural twine
• Scissors
• Herbs and flowers (dried or fresh)
• Journal and something to write with
• Lighter or matches
• Fireproof container

Herb & Flower Preparation

Choose which herbs and flowers you want to incorporate into your burn bundle. They can be any herbs that call to you or relate to the goals you’re setting. Dried herbs and flowers can be ordered online, bought from a store, or picked and dried yourself.

If you’re cutting fresh herbs to use, be sure that you have permission to collect from that area and take a moment to honor and thank the plants for being a part of your ritual. You can also buy fresh herbs from a grocery store or farmers market. Keep in mind your bundle must be completely dry in order to burn correctly, so fresh plant matter must be hung upside down to dry for several days before the new moon.

Let’s Get Started!

When you have all your herbs dried and ready to go, it’s time to begin your bundle! This process is meant to be fun, creative and completely unique to you. Allow your intuition to guide you and treat it as a personal little floral arrangement for yourself. When you feel satisfied with what you've created, cut a piece of twine four times the length of your herb bundle. Tie it once around the base of the bundle and wrap it up and down until your bundle is totally secure. Finish off by tying several loops around the base.

Now you are ready to start your new moon ritual! Gather the rest of your supplies and center around your fireproof container. This can be a fireplace, a fire pit, bowl or even a tiny incense burner--it’s all the same big magick!

Cleanse and clear your space (not with your bundle,) and call upon your guides. Start thinking about the energy you want to bring in, the space you want to take up and create for yourself and the goals you want to take action on. Write these goals and intentions down in your journal for as long as you need.

When you’re done, grab your bundle and infuse it with all that you have written and meditated on through this process. Facing East, light your bundle and let the smoke and intentions surround you. Sit in this moment and feel yourself embodying the action needed to bring your goals to life.

If you have a fire pit or fireplace, place the entire bundle into a fire after you’ve allowed the aroma to surround you and fill the air. If you are working with something smaller, let the bundle burn only as much as is safe and for as long as you feel is needed. Put it out and reuse whenever you need to re-amplify the intentions you have set.

Enjoy Aries Season and the return of Spring! Please tag us if you share your ritual bundles, we’d love to see them!

Our Ritual Series is brought to you by Brie James.

Brie is a Reiki Master, Tarot Reader, and Licensed Massage Therapist in Portland Oregon. When she’s not seeing clients she enjoys being in nature with her family or tending to her plants at home.

Visit Brie at Ritual Haus Wellness or on Instagram

“Have patience with all things. But, first of all with yourself.” —FRANCIS DE SALES