Photo: Sirui Ma
A long bubble bath, a soothing face mask, a crystal healing session: whatever the ritual, self-care is one of the most important things you can do for your health. It’s an act of looking after your mental and physical wellbeing, making time for yourself in a world that is constantly demanding our attention — a fear-mongering headline here; a late-night email there. This deadline, that deadline. A year into the pandemic, it’s more important than ever.
But have you ever tried aligning your self-care rituals with your zodiac sign? According to New York-based astrologer Lisa Stardust, by doing so you can bolster their healing potential and take care of yourself on a deeper, more intrinsic level.
Here’s how to practice self-care according to your astrological star sign
Aries
Even the best of us need a pep talk sometimes. You can’t be number one without psyching yourself up before you start work, going out on a date, having an interview — or anything else that’s important to you. That’s why, every morning, you should get into the habit of looking at yourself in the mirror and stating your affirmations — intentions that you want to bring to the world. These can be sentiments you feel about yourself (big or small) that empower you. You can choose a goal that you want to manifest in your life. In this case, believing in yourself is the objective you want to achieve.
Taurus
It’s time you pamper yourself, Taurus. As the most indulgent sign of the zodiac, you will find solace in adding glam to your daily self-care routine. Giving yourself mani-pedi or experimenting with your makeup allows you to appreciate your inner and outer beauty. Looking good for yourself is a form of self-adoration, which is helpful in elevating the way you perceive yourself. Take a few selfies — for your eyes only — to see how fabulous and vibrant you are. This will help boost your confidence.
Gemini
In order to avoid one of the more negative traits of being a Gemini (the tendency to gossip), you need a great escape. That only means one thing: pick up a steamy romance novel, a great political thriller, or a book of poems and get carried away with words. Your intellectual mind will absorb the content and get lost in the plot lines or twists. You’ll be so consumed with reading that you’ll want to stay clear of all messy drama. This will also expand your imagination by giving you the chance to relate to the storylines and characters in each tale.
Cancer
A healing bath will help you soak away your issues. Add a sprinkle of Epsom salts to cleanse your aura, crystals to help balance out your energy, and rose petals to awaken feelings of self-love. The ideal time to take a restorative bath is under the full moon. This will allow you to enhance your lunar vibes and be at peace with the universe. You can even charge the water and crystals under the moon for maximum potency. After 25 minutes in the water, your blues will soak away and any tensions alleviated. You’ll feel reborn.
Leo
As the most creative of the zodiacs, an artistic endeavor will be the best form of self-care for you. Try tie-dye, jewelry making, pottery, painting, collage, or sketching still-lifes. Through art, you can get out all your frustrations and annoyances, release your emotions and tensions while making something that’s aesthetically pleasing. Every time you look at your creation, you can smile knowing that you poured your heart and soul into making it. Plus, you’ll be able to put your talents on display and soak up praise for your creative flair.
Virgo
Always one to overthink matters, you can get wrapped up in your thoughts, which can internalize into anxiety. It’s important to let it all out. That’s right, Virgo, it’s time to speak up… or belt it out for that matter. Singing your favorite song will open up your throat chakra, which will allow you to speak your truth. This will help you move towards your visions and reduce stress, as you can manifest your dreams with certainty and live your best life — with no worries at all. Sing out your emotions to find your inner tune.
Libra
You love the good life, but sometimes you take whimsical daily moments for granted. All the more reason why you should start noting all of the amazingness and awesomeness in a gratitude journal. You will become grateful for all that you have and everything that is coming your way. By counting your blessings, you can be happier than ever before. Sometimes taking stock of your life is all that you need to elevate your psyche, jumpstart positivity and heighten your essence.
Scorpio
Being a highly intuitive and sensitive sign, you often carry around the energy of others. The only way to combat this is to cleanse your surroundings with ethically sourced palo santo, sage, or other herbs (lemon balm, rosemary, frankincense, and myrrh). This will banish negative vibes in the home and in your space. Keeping up with essential spiritual hygiene will not only make you feel better but will also change the way you relate to others. You will be able to lean into your gut feelings and make the best decisions possible without hesitation.
Sagittarius
You carry a lot of stress in your hips (Sagittarius rules the thighs, buttocks and hips), which is why you’ll need to loosen up these stagnant tensions by dancing. Belly dancing is particularly useful as it activates and stimulates the focal points of the sacral chakra. Opening this up (it’s located by the hips in the lower back and stomach) will help unlock your emotional flow, sensuality, and creativity. By the end of your personal dance party, you’ll be more balanced in all areas of life.
Capricorn
You are a hard worker, which means that you never take a break from your job. The issue is that you often need more time to catch up on your sleep, life, and friends without your work to-do list weighing on your shoulders. Let yourself have a day off from work. Don’t be scared to hit snooze in the morning and sleep in. Have a leisurely cup of coffee while reading the newspaper. Implement some R&R in your day off to soothe and rejuvenate.
Aquarius
Breathe some new life into your world, Aquarius, with a bit of yoga. Spending time stretching out your muscles on a mat can benefit your mind, heart, body, and spirit. Being one of the more mindful zodiac signs, you’ll use the time spent in downward dog and child’s pose to connect to yourself on a deeper level. Yoga will allow you to expand your mind, so you can be in the moment instead of focusing on the small stuff. Think of yoga as the gift that keeps on giving to your soul and mind.
Pisces
Start an evening ritual to prepare yourself for a good night’s sleep. First, place an amethyst crystal by your bed to deflect troublesome dreams, then put some lavender in your pillowcase to create a calming aroma. Finally, turn off all your electronic devices at least 30 minutes before bedtime. A good night’s sleep will recharge your body and give you plenty of energy throughout the following day.
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Originally published on Vogue.in
