Goddess Speak Sanctuary of Solace Newsletter - September 2025

“Happy September! The world shall now transform into pumpkin everything” – Keith Wynn

Welcome to the 'ber months!

September Dates of Interest:

• Sept. 3 - Skyscraper Day
• Sept. 4 - National Wildlife Day
• Sept. 6 – National Read a Book Day
• Sept. 7 @ 11:08 am - Full Corn Moon in Pisces (also a total Lunar eclipse/Blood Moon!)
• Sept. 10 – World Suicide Prevention Day
• Sept. 13 - Rune Magic w/ the ICS @ UUCLV
• Sept. 18 - National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day
• Sept. 19 - International Talk Like a Pirate Day! (aaARRGH!)
• Sept. 19 - @ 7:00 pm - Mabon: Celebrating the Second Harvest! (Zoom)
• Sept. 20 - September Food Pantry @ UUCLV
• Sept. 20 - @ 7:00 pm - Mabon: Celebrating the Second Harvest!(@UUCLV)
• Sept. 21 - World Gratitude Day
• Sept. 21 @ 12:54 pm - New Moon in Virgo (also a solar eclipse!)
• Sept. 22 – Autumn Equinox (11:19 am) and Hobbit Day!
• Sept. 23 – International Day of Sign Languages
• Sept. 27 – PPDLV Autumn Psychic Fair @ UUCLV
• Sept. 27 - National Ghost Hunting Day
• Sept. 28 - National Good Neighbor Day
• Sept. 29 - National Coffee Day
• Sept. 30 - National Love People Day, National Hot Mulled Cider Day

September...

....the month of the Full Corn Moon, Hobbits Day and the Autumn Equinox!

How to go on a fossil hunt with kids

Dinosaur digs and other searches can be epic adventures. Here’s what you need to know to turn children into amateur paleontologists.

Article By: Lindsay N. Smith (as published in Nat Geo)

There’s just something about dinosaurs. They’re big, mysterious, and long gone—mostly. “Paleontology is a bit like piecing together this puzzle of the past,” says Kristen Olson, senior coordinator of curriculum and content at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. “It’s a little bit mysterious and relies so much on discovery.”

What exactly is a fossil?

Take heart, parents: You don’t need to know it all before you begin. Still, a bit of knowledge will set you off on the right track—and make you seem like a genius to your children.

Basically, a fossil is the remnant of ancient life. “They’re the remains of an extinct plant or animal or some trace of their behavior, like a footprint or fossilized poop,” explains paleontologist Scott Sampson, director of the California Academy of Sciences and author of the Nat Geo Kids book You Can Be a Paleontologist!

Body fossils are the actual remains of the creature, like bones; trace fossils are signs of the creature, like imprints of feathers. The basic formula for creating a fossil goes something like this: a living thing dies, the soft parts decay, sedimentary rock builds on top of what’s left, and water seeps into the bones and teeth to turn it to stone. Sometimes, water dissolves the bone or shell and leaves an imprint on the rock.

While dinosaurs grab fossil glory, most fossils are actually something else, like trilobites from the sea and ancient insects sealed in amber. All fossils build an important bridge from past to present. “Any fossil we find helps remind us that we’re a piece of that narrative,” Sampson says.

How to get started

Dedicated gear is not only fuel for excitement, but it also adds seriousness to the expedition. Pack a backpack with a shovel, a small hammer or chisel, and brushes to excavate your finds. Bring a notebook, pencils, and a camera for documentation. Don’t forget sunscreen, snacks, a hat, and water since many fossil-friendly spots don’t offer much shade.

The best fossil spots vary by region, so it helps to do a bit of research ahead of time. “You’ve got to have sedimentary rocks [that is, rocks that were formed by deposits of sediment], and they’ve got to be exposed,” Sampson says.

Often, these are places where an ancient river flooded and then retreated into its channel, leaving behind layers of shale, sandstone, or limestone and, with it, fossils. To find nearby fossil-friendly spots, check out a geological survey or a paleogeographic map.

Look for places where rocks from long ago might be at the surface. Dirt-filled forests or newly landscaped locations will make your search more challenging. Deserts, quarries, or spaces where the earth has been split—like where roads have been cut into mountains or in cliffs along rivers—are great spots.

Steer clear of national and state parks—unless you’re venturing to one that specifically allows fossil collecting. Also stay away from private property or public spaces where digging would be problematic, like sports fields.

On the hunt

Children have a natural advantage when it comes to amateur fossil hunting: They’re closer to the ground, have better eyesight, and are curious about their surroundings. “Kids are just natural scientists,” says Ilana April, senior manager of early childhood education at the American Museum of Natural History. “They’re born with a curiosity about the world around them.”

Of course, the chance of a child stumbling across a gigantic dinosaur skull is very, very small. In fact, because so many types of fossils exist, it’s hard for experts to describe what exactly to look for. That’s why April suggests that kids start their search simply by looking slowly and carefully along the ground. “The most important tool scientists have might be their eyes,” April says.

Then, stay on the lookout for interesting designs, patterns, and textures. “I look for symmetry,” says Paul Mayer, paleontologist and collections manager for fossil invertebrates at Chicago’s Field Museum, “You want to train your eye to look for nice lines.”

For example, many shell fossils will have bilateral symmetry, so the left will be a mirror image of the right. Other times, texture will be the key. “The fossil portion of a rock might be smooth or a different color than the rest,” Mayer says. “It might really stand out, like a chocolate chip in cookie dough. Sometimes you’ll find it separate from a rock, but oftentimes you’ll find a fossil in the rock itself.”

If your kid spots something promising, have them use the shovel to dig out any half-buried rocks; the hammer and chisel will break away portions of rock that might expose a fossil, and the brush will wipe away any debris or dust.

After their discovery, kids should document the location and date of the find—and a description of the rock around it. “Someone else could figure out what the species or fossil is, but they’ll never know where you found it,” Mayer says.

After that, kids can try to figure out if their discovery is truly a fossil—and, if so, what exactly it is. If they think it’s a dinosaur bone, have a lick. Bones will stick to their tongue, while rock won’t. For deeper research, kids can also try traditional sources (like these books from Nat Geo Kids) or—under your supervision—fossil-hunting communities like the My Fossil emuseum.

The most important lesson of fossil hunting is to keep at it. “You never know what you’re going to find,” Mayer says. “The more rocks you look at and pick up, the better your chances are of finding a fossil.”

Going beyond fossil hunting

Discovering the world of dinosaurs and ancient living things isn’t just about digging. Here are five other activities to connect with the past.

• Track living dinosaurs. Blow your kids’ minds by tossing out this fact: Dinosaurs exist today as birds. Take your kids bird-watching and see if they can find similarities between the dinosaurs in their books and the ones in the trees.
• Search for ancient plants. “Certain species of plants that grow today were also around during the Ice Age and eaten by giant sloths and mammoths,” Olson says. Look for trees like Osage orange, honey locusts, magnolias, avocados, and even ferns, then imagine what creatures might have been chowing down on them millions of years ago.
• Find fossils of the future. Insects still get stuck in tree sap, under a rock, or inside tar (even if it’s just on your driveway). Have kids search for fossils-in-the-making to compare with ancient versions.
• Create a fossil record. If your kid’s find is in a protected space—or you just don’t want a bunch of rocks cluttering up the house—create a memento with an old-school rubbing technique. Hold paper against the unique portion of the rock and rub against the section with a crayon, marking what is raised. (Even if they don’t find a fossil, doing this activity with things like tree bark, leaves, or textured stone is still a great way to capture an adventure.)
• Trace nature’s patterns. Paleontologists use fossil finds to understand the behavior of ancient living things. Have kids use their own investigative skills—and a bit of creativity—to follow clues that today’s creatures might leave behind. For example, broken acorns could mean a nearby squirrel’s nest—or nearby poop.

It's Dino-MAY-nia! For more prehistoric facts, games, and videos, have kids check out our Dinosaur Hub on Nat Geo Kids - just click the button below!

“We know that in September, we will wander through the warm winds of summer’s wreckage. We will welcome summer’s ghost.” – Henry Rollins

“Everyone must take time to sit and watch the leaves turn.” – Elizabeth Lawrence

~ September's Astrology Spotlight ~

Excerpts from: Spiritualify.org

The September 7, 2025 full moon will present a rare and powerful Blood Moon. This celestial event is actually a total lunar eclipse in Pisces, expected to bathe the Moon in a deep crimson glow.

Across history, cultures have viewed lunar eclipses as cosmic signals of change and transformation. Even today, astrologers describe this Blood Moon as a potent spiritual reset — one that dissolves illusions, heightens intuition, and encourages emotional release.

Astrologically, this eclipse anchors at 15° Pisces, opposing the practical Sun in Virgo. It marks the start of a potent eclipse season, meaning the energies unleashed can ripple for weeks to come. In short, expect intense emotions and wake-up calls: endings and new beginnings often ride this crimson tide.

Full Moon in Pisces and a Lunar Eclipse!

A Blood Moon is more than a science event — it’s steeped in myth and mystery. Throughout history, a lunar eclipse was seen as an omen from the gods. Some cultures imagined the Moon being swallowed by demons or beasts, only to be reborn.

For example, Inca legends spoke of a jaguar devouring the Moon, while Hindu lore told of a demon named Rahu swallowing her. Greek astrologers believed the Moon was the goddess Selene, veiled by darkness, and they would bang pots or chant to scare off unseen forces.

Whenever the Moon turned blood-red, people understood that something dramatic was unfolding in the sky. Even the word “lunatic” comes from these beliefs, as ancient folk blamed mood swings on Luna’s phases.

The September Blood Moon—the total lunar eclipse that stains the Moon a mythic red—arrives like a cosmic editorial meeting about truth, endings, and release. Spiritually, an eclipse magnifies the Full Moon’s core instruction: illuminate what’s hidden, then let it go.

The crimson hue, born of Earth’s shadow, symbolizes life-force passing through darkness and emerging renewed; it’s the palette of closure that paints the way to a beginning. No, the sky isn’t angry—it’s poetic.

Energetically, this lunation pulls focus to the tides of the subconscious: dreams, intuition, grief that needs witnessing, and creativity that wants a way out. The “blood” quality invites radical honesty about what drains you and what sustains you.

Expect symbolic messages, déjà vu, and synchronicities that nudge decisions you’ve delayed. Think shadow work with a lighthouse: we meet what we’d rather avoid, but with guidance.

Ritually, the work is simple and sincere. Journal three truths you’re ready to admit, three cords you’re willing to cut, and one gift you promise to protect. Breathe slowly, name what you’re releasing, and imagine the red Moon sealing the lesson. Water cleanses best tonight—baths, tears, ocean spray, rain on your face—because the heart understands what language forgets.

Collectively, Blood Moons are chapter-turners. Relationships rebalance, paths diverge, and callings clarify. Boundaries and surrender find their healthy handshake: we stop micromanaging fate while recommitting to what we can actually shape.

If fear spikes, anchor in the basics—sleep, nourishment, movement—and remember that eclipses remove what your spirit has outgrown. The gift is perspective: a wider horizon and a lighter backpack.

Above all, treat this night as a threshold. Step through with gratitude for what was, courage for what is, and faith in what’s forming just beyond the red-lit surf of possibility. Write it down, witness it, release it, and walk forward newly aligned to purpose.

“There is a clarity about September… the sun seems brighter, the sky more blue, the white clouds take on marvelous shapes; the moon is a wonderful apparition, rising gold, cooling to silver; and the stars are so big” – Faith Baldwin

Adapted From: The Farmer's Almanac

Other Moon names for this month highlight how September is the transitional period between summer and fall:

ALTERNATIVE SEPTEMBER MOON NAMES

• Autumn Moon (Cree)
• Falling Leaves Moon (Ojibwe)
• Leaves Turning Moon (Anishinaabe)
• Moon of Brown Leaves (Lakota)
• Yellow Leaf Moon (Assiniboine)

The behavior of animals is also a common theme:

• Child Moon (Tlingit) referring to the time when young animals are weaned
• Mating Moon and Rutting Moon (both Cree) describing the time of year when certain animals, like moose, elk, and deer, are looking to mate.

Moon Facts & Folklore:

• Usually, the Moon rises about 50 minutes later each day, but around the time of the autumnal equinox, it rises only around 30 minutes later in the United States—even less in Canada.
• Frost occurring in the dark of the moon kills fruit buds and blossoms, but frost in the light of the moon will not.

“The leaves fall, the wind blows, and the farm country slowly changes from the summer cottons into its winter wools.” – Henry Beston

September Full Moon Magic

Article by: The Pagan Grimoire

The September Full Moon, often called the Corn Moon, rises on September 7th, in the dreamy, intuitive sign of Pisces. Spiritually, this moon is about release, reflection, and reconnecting to your inner wisdom. It invites you to slow down, and surrender to the season of change as we begin the transition from summer to fall.

Because the Autumn Equinox falls later in the month, this Full Moon is considered the Corn Moon, not the Harvest Moon. (The Harvest Moon is the Full Moon that lands closest to the equinox, and in 2025, that’s October.)

The Corn Moon is a time to gather the final harvests of summer. This is not just physically, but also emotionally and spiritually. It’s about pausing to reflect on what you’ve grown, what you’re ready to release, and what needs to be integrated before the season shifts.

Often, the Corn Moon is a gentle, grounding Full Moon that invites you to notice what has ripened in your life. It’s also a liminal moon that rests between the brightness of summer and the introspection of fall. Its energy encourages slowing down, expressing gratitude, and making space for stillness. This is a powerful time to reconnect with your body, the rhythms of the Earth, and your own deeper truth.

In 2025, the Corn Moon occurs on September 7th, in the sign of Pisces.

Pisces, ruled by Neptune, is the planet of dreams, illusion, and spiritual connection. Pisces is the final sign in the zodiac and despite how watery it is, it holds the wisdom of all the signs before it. Its energy is cyclical, spiritual, and deeply emotional. It encourages compassion, imagination, and surrender.

Under a Pisces Full Moon, you may feel called to rest, dream, and connect with something greater than yourself. You may also may feel more nostalgic or emotionally porous. That’s not a weakness. It’s a gateway to healing.

Simple Full Moon Rituals for the September Moon

Dream or Inner Wisdom Ritual:

This ritual is designed to help you tune into inner knowing. Before bed, hold a grounding or intuitive stone (like jasper or smoky quartz). Write in your journal one question you want clarity on. Say aloud, “Show me what I need to know.” Sleep with the stone beside you on your nightstand or on the floor next to your bed. When you wake, journal anything that surfaced.

Stillness Meditation Ritual:

This ritual helps you ground your energy and return to a quieter rhythm. Find a small stone. Choose something from your yard or something you found while outside. Sit comfortably, holding the stone or resting your hands on it.

Close your eyes and breathe slowly, imagining your breath traveling down into the earth. Let any tension, noise, or overwhelm melt away as you breathe. Stay here as long as you like, simply listening, grounding, and returning to your center.

Journal Prompts for the September Full Moon:

Writing down your thoughts is a simple way to connect with September’s Moon energy. Here are some prompts to get you started.

• What emotional weight are you ready to set down?
• Where do you need more rest or softness in your life?
• What dream or vision has been quietly asking for your attention?
• What does your intuition want you to know right now?
• How can you forgive yourself or someone else to create space for healing?

New Moon in Virgo

Article from: Cafe Astrology .com

On September 21st, the New Moon Solar Eclipse occurs in Virgo, prompting a fresh start or clean slate. This lunation prompts us to begin anew and promises us opportunities to take charge of our lives by organizing, editing, refining work, and paying better attention to health. It’s a fertile and productive time. We’re ready to take charge of our daily routines, work, or pursuit of wellness.

Occurring in the last degree of the sign of Virgo, there’s an urgency to our new beginnings. This eclipse opposes Saturn and Neptune and harmonizes with Uranus and Pluto. Our responsibilities to others, our emotional health, and our need for downtime can weigh us down. It can be difficult to pull ourselves away, but we have the tools to make the changes we now realize are necessary for growth.

It’s interesting to note that in this Virgo-Pisces set that runs from September 2024 to February 2027, this September Solar Eclipse is the only Solar Eclipse–the rest of the eclipses in this set are Lunar. It’s the fourth eclipse in this sign set. As well, this is the second New Moon in Virgo (a New Moon occurred in Virgo in the first degree on August 23rd).

~ Crafty Corner ~

How to Make Red Polka-Dot Mushrooms

by: Jena Carlin @ Little Rusted Ladle

Supplies needed:

• Dried orange peel (for the mushroom caps)
• Aluminum foil (for the mushroom caps)
• Small wood sticks (for the stems)
• Small rocks about 3" (to help stabilize the mushrooms)
• Moss (for a natural touch)
• Red and white craft paint
• Hot glue gun and glue sticks
• Paintbrushes

Step-by-Step:

Step 1: Create the Mushroom Caps

First, start by cutting Cutie oranges in half. These oranges are easier to peel then most. Peel them being careful not to rip them. The natural curve of the peel makes them perfect for dried orange peel mushrooms! Place them on a baking sheet over crumpled-up balls of foil (to help them to keep their shape). Allow a few days to dry or dry them in the oven. For the oven method, bake in a 200-degree oven, flipping them every 30-45 minutes until they are dry. Start with the caps facing up or the tops will flatten.

Step 2: Paint the Mushroom Caps

Once dry, paint the exterior of each peel bright red using craft paint. I did two coats so the color looks solin and did not have painting streaks. Let it dry, then add small white polka dots with a fine brush or cotton swab. This will give them that classic toadstool look!

Step 3: Create the Mushroom Stems and Assemble the Mushrooms

Break or cut small wood sticks to the desired length for your mushroom stems. Use a hot glue gun to attach each painted orange peel cap to the top of a wood stick. Hold in place until secure.

Step 4: Next Add Moss and Secure the Base

Place moss on the rock where you want it to go and hold it down while hot gluing the stick onto the moss and small rock. The glue should hold it all together, but if not, add more glue between the moss and rock. This will help your mushrooms stand upright on your tablescape. From here you can choose to add in more moss. Arrange moss around the base of the mushrooms to create a woodland effect. You can glue it down or simply tuck it around the rocks.

Final Look & Styling Ideas:

Lastly, enjoy what you've accomplished! The finished mushrooms are adorable, natural, rustic, and vintage-looking. Each rock is about 3 inches long and 1 inch high, with two mushrooms per rock, creating a balanced, organic design. These charming pieces work perfectly for:

• Tablescape decor
• Personalized place cards
• Curiosity shelf display
• Handmade gifts
• Add this DIY Decor to your next crafternoon, craft night or book club meeting to make with friends!

“Anyone who thinks fallen leaves are dead has never watched them dancing on a windy day.” – Shira Tamir

The Kitchen Witch's Cauldron

~ A Mabon Galette ~

Enchanted Crabapple Galette for Morgan Le Fay!

Oh my, it is almost the Autumn Equinox! This means it’s time to share this rustic Crabapple Galette inspired by the Great Mother goddess Modron and the great Fairy Queen Morgan Le Fay. Crabapples and berries have long played a role in the magical lore of the Second Harvest or Mabon. The following crabapple recipe is my Autumn Equinox tribute for Modron and the magical healing apples of Morgan Le Fay. I used mostly locally foraged varieties such Dolgo and John Downie, but you can use any variety of crabapples – their tartness contrasts beautifully with the buttery crispy phyllo. If they are very sour add a little extra sugar with the honey to the recipe. The tart is made in a cast-iron skillet much like a Greek “rag pie” meaning that bundles of phyllo pastry are added to the bottom and then filled with mascarpone cheese, cream, and eggs to create a custard-like base. This recipe features salal berries which can still be found growing in many parts of the Pacific Northwest. Otherwise, blackberries or huckleberries would work equally well. September is considered “Berry Month” by many indigenous people of the PNW. Both the Coast Salish and Kootenai held special ceremonies for the first harvest of huckleberries. ~ Gather Victoria Blog

"Fresh figs are at home alfresco, in a rocket salad with Golden Delicious apples, pine nuts, and picnic cheeses or roasted with slices of Roquefort and a drizzle of honey to begin a fall fireside dinner.” ― Elizabeth Bard, Picnic in Provence: A Memoir with Recipes

“Autumn seemed to arrive suddenly that year. The morning of the first September was crisp and golden as an apple.” - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

The monthly Book Review section!

The Book of Autumn

By: Molly O’Sullivan

For readers of Adrienne Young, Olivie Blake, Hazel Beck, and Leigh Bardugo’s Ninth House, a spellbinding debut about ambition, privilege, second chance romance, and ancient magic set at an enchanted school tucked among the red mesas of the New Mexico desert, where a formidable pair of magicians are summoned to pursue an alleged killer.

About the Book:

Try as she might, anthropologist Marcella Gibbons can't escape the fact that she's a dimidium, one half of a formidable pair of Magicians, forever tied together to enable the other's powers. After a tumultuous final year at Seinford and Brown College of Agriculture (and Magic) in rural New Mexico, Cella felt more than a little uneasy about returning to the sun-drenched desert campus ever again. She'd cut ties with her other half—the charming and rugged rancher Max Middlemore—and sworn off Magic, academia, and heartache for good.

Until Max turns up at her door, grinning under his cowboy hat for one last favor. Something is shifting at her alma mater, something bigger than anyone understands. One student is dead. Another is floating midair in the infirmary, growling guttural nonsense and terrifying the staff. Their best, perhaps only, chance to intervene requires Cella and Max to work together. But the origins of the disturbances lie centuries ago. To unravel them, Cella will have to confront the truth about her past—and Max. Because she might be challenging a power she could never rival alone . . .

Not yet published - Expected October 28, 2025

Genres:

• Fantasy
• Romance
• Dark Academia
• Romantasy
• Fiction
• Adult
• Mystery

About the author:

Molly O’Sullivan is a cybersecurity engineer turned speculative fiction writer with a love of tea, nature, and characters who, despite everything, still manage to hope. Originally from South Carolina, she has lived all over the country but now resides outside Seattle with her husband, two children, and curmudgeonly dog. Find her on Instagram at @mollyobooks, or at her website, mollyosullivan.com.

September Laughs:

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