Madonna: Setting Intentions, New Moons and Ruling the World

When Dick Clark (shout out to Mt. Vernon) asked Madonna on American Bandstand in 1984 about her goals for the new year and her career, she unabashedly answered: "to rule the world." Lo and behold she pretty much did. At the very least, she ruled my world and the world of pop culture for the last 25+ years. 

In honor of her birthday, I've been revisiting her videos and music and felt drawn to "Like A Virgin." I remember rolling around my living room as a youngster not knowing what I was doing or singing. I just loved her fishnets, spandex and sass...the weird morphing man/lion was pretty cool too. Even as Some things never change. 

I always associated this song with sex because of the word "virgin" and only recently I truly understood what she was really talking about. Listening to the lyrics today makes me think of rebirth and feeling grateful and excited for all of the new things in my life. I definitely feel like I've made it "through the wilderness" of the last year and am now seeing and feeling things with new eyes and a new heart...they are more keenly attuned and all-around stronger. 

Appropriately, tomorrow also marks a new moon in Leo. New moons signify renewal and mark an auspicious time to set intentions for what you want to create for yourself. Leo rules the 5th house of romance, creativity and children and is ruled by the Sun which represents our sense of self. According to Fran at Nine of Cups, Leo is the sign of "courage, strength, trust, pride, power and self-confidence" while the Sun is a healer. Thus the energy is ripe to start thinking about how you can be courageous and confident in your creative expressions and your expressions of love. 

Take a cue from Madge's youthful confidence in herself and lay claim to the changes you want to make in your life. There is power in our words and thoughts so we might as well speak powerfully when we are being most supported by the planets. I like to write down my intentions or things I want to create for myself in a journal so I can revisit them at the end of the moon cycle and see what I've manifested. Trust and believe, these things take time! But I've found that it's been a concrete step in the journey ruling my own world. 

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New Moon Wishes

In honor of the new moon:

1. *If you have a Wish List from last month, read it over*, to see which
came true - then thank the Universe. If it's clear one or two wishes are no
closer to coming true, consider revising them. What on your list have you
edged closer to?

2. Decide on your *Top Ten Wishes* or Intentions for the coming four weeks.

3. Be as specific or vague as you want to be, *(and please include World
Peace!)*

4. Write them down - either on a sheet of paper with a pen, or with coloured
pens, pencils and so on. *The more energy you invest, the better your
results are likely to be*.

5. Read them out to the Universe then either bury or burn your list, or *set
it aside so you can check it this time next month*, to see how your wishes
worked out.

THIS IS THE CRUCIAL BIT: Really really FEEL how you would/will feel if and
when the wishes come true. Hold those feelings.

6. Get on with your week, safe in the knowledge that you've expressed your
wishes to the Universe. *Do all you can to make them come true. *

Alternatively, just say "Om Namo Narayani" three times - *
this means "I surrender to God/dess" in Sanskrit and implies a trust that
God/dess will bring you what is best for you... *

Good luck and blessings!

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