Self love is... reclaiming yourself
Finding myself again on the luckiest day of the year.
A poem from my new book, Moon Garden: Poetry for Manifestation, now available for preorder now.
Despite my love for the moon (and my enthusiasm about sharing her cycles and unique monthly energies) I’m anything but an astrology expert. Which is why my workshop on Tuesday happening to coincide with the Jupiter Cazimi felt like divine alignment rather than a planned manifestation opportunity.
If none of that made any sense, don’t worry, you’re not alone. Most astrology goes right over my head. Let me break it down. The Jupiter Cazimi (cazimi is arabic for in the heart) that happened on Tuesday, June 25th, was a rare celestial event where Jupiter, the planet of expansion, abundance, and wisdom, aligned with the heart of the Sun, an astrological sweet spot. Most of the time, when a planet gets too close to the Sun, its power gets overwhelmed. But when it’s exactly in the heart of the Sun (hence the term cazimi), the planet isn’t weakened. Instead, it’s strengthened by the Sun’s light. In short, think of the Jupiter Cazimi as Jupiter getting supercharged and beaming down its most generous, truth-revealing energy. For those of us exploring pleasure, presence, and permission (as we did in my Strawberry Moon workshop), the timing couldn't have been more powerful.
Called by many astrologers the luckiest day of the year (or even in 12 years), Tuesday was a rare manifestation portal where our feelings (hello new moon in cancer) were invited to lead.
How does your dream future feel?
That was the universal call.
And at the workshop, PLEASUREFUL was our answer.
One aspect of the workshop that particularly moved me was when we asked everyone to write down a pleasure from their past that they’ve abandoned in adulthood that they’d like to reclaim. Each person wrote something down, anonymously, and then another person in the group read it out loud. Hearing someone read your truth is deeply powerful. Witnessing an entire room full of people express and validate each other’s deepest truths changed me. I realized that while each person’s answer was a little different, every single answer resonated with me.
Adulthood has seemingly asked all of us to abandon the most basic pleasures, and without these pleasures, we’ve lost touch with these vibrant past versions of ourselves. This week, we decided it was time to take them back: both our past pleasures, and our past selves. We remembered we are the miracle of our lives.
I’d like to share some of the past pleasures that we collectively reclaimed.
“I am ready to reclaim the lightness of childhood and to release the tendency to take things too seriously. I’m ready to reclaim the ability to live in the moment, and not always worry or plan for the next thing. I’m reclaiming presence that feels deserved, without guilt.”
“A pleasure that I gave up that I am ready to reclaim is not seeking validation and approval from others. I do not need others to approve me.”
“I am reclaiming the pleasure of making art. I gave it up as I got into the role of motherhood and slowly forgot how much pleasure creating things with my hands brought me.”
“When I was a kid, I would constantly imagine myself having magic powers. It’s time I make this a daily practice again: I am ready to reclaim my magic powers.”
“A pleasure I gave up that I am ready to reclaim is to dance! I already love and prioritize other forms of movement, but having recently reconnected with dance, I feel lighter, more connected to self… more self love. I sweat. I smile. I laugh. I love.”
“Rollerblading from Venice to Santa Monica with a dope ass playlist :)”
“I’m reclaiming all my one time vices, but this time without shame. I once let my body feel and lead and connect but then I shut down. I am ready to reclaim pleasure so I can wake up my body and shake myself out of this sexual hibernation. It’s time!”
“I am ready to reclaim a social life and friendships that I have lost along the way while raising my kids.”
Words are spells, which is why it’s called spelling. I want you to lean into your own magic and take a moment and write down the pleasures you once relinquished that you’re now ready to reclaim. If you’d like to share them with me… I’d be so delighted to witness you.
The pleasures I’m reclaiming and incorporating from my lighter, pre-adult self include concerts, giggly girls nights, quick getaways, physical touch from my smoking hot husband, and all kinds of movement, especially dance. Younger Melody is proud of this list. So is adult Melody.
Self love is reclaiming all the past versions of yourself, and all the pleasures they enjoyed.
It’s letting go of our need to be perfect and instead choosing to be real.
It’s remembering that there is room for all versions of ourselves in our current lives.
It’s remembering that pleasure is not a luxury — it is our birthright.
It’s knowing that when we root ourselves in pleasure, we fully embody the present — which is the only place we should actually be.
What pleasures are you ready to reclaim?
Can you make them part of your daily rituals?
XO,
Melody (your resident lunatic)
PS: If you want to come to my next moon gathering (on Sunday, September 7th), reply to this email and I’ll put you on the list!
PREORDER MOON GARDEN AND GET A FREE DIGITAL POSTER!
If you’re anything like me, you don’t always know what the moon phase is, but you’d like to know so you can make the moon part of your manifestation rituals. While Moon Garden: Poetry for Manifestation does share the various moons of the year, I wasn’t able to give you the precise dates of the new and full moon (thanks to the solar calendar that governs us… until we someday switch to a lunar system - one can hope!).
That’s why I’m so excited to share that everyone who has preordered Moon Garden so far (or those who are ready to preorder!) is eligible to receive this free digital print, a 2026 Moon Phase calendar that has themes and dates for every new moon and full moon of 2026!
Simply visit my website using the link below, upload your proof of purchase and it’s yours!
Want to get double the perks? Order your book from one of my preorder partners (like Boulder Bookstore, The Strand, and RJ Julia) and you’ll get a signed copy and stickers, too. Just upload your proof of purchase at the link. below.