So I was having the week from hell last month. Boss breathing down my neck, kids sick with that stomach bug going around, and my car decided it was the perfect time to make that weird knocking sound again.
You know those days when the universe seems to be testing you?
That Thursday night, I just needed to breathe. Stepped onto the porch with a glass of wine (okay, maybe my second) and looked up. There was Orion’s Belt. Just… twinkling. Not asking anything from me.
Something clicked.
My grandma used to talk about the stars like old friends. She’d say things like “Mercury’s retrograde, honey, don’t sign anything important” and teenage-me would roll my eyes SO HARD.
But standing there on my porch at 39, I suddenly got it. There’s something weirdly comforting about being part of something bigger, you know?
That night started me down this rabbit hole of mixing astrology with actual self-care practices. Not the Instagram “buy this $75 crystal” self-care.
Real stuff that helps when life gets messy. Thought I’d share what’s working for me, in case you’re also hanging by a thread sometimes.
The Moon Gets Me (Weirdly)
After my brutal breakup with Tom (3 years down the drain, but that’s another story), my friend Jess dragged me to this women’s circle thing during the full moon. I went mostly for the promised wine and cheese.
But then this lady passed out journals and had us write whatever came up while sitting under the moonlight in her backyard.
I started writing something snarky about the weird wind chimes… and somehow ended up sobbing while writing about how terrified I was of starting over at 37.
It was like the moonlight gave me permission to admit stuff I couldn’t even tell my therapist. (Sorry, Megan, if you’re reading this!)
I’ve done it maybe 6-7 times since then. Not every moon cycle because… life. But enough to notice it helps. Something about that silvery light cuts through my usual BS.
How to try it without feeling like a total weirdo:
- Full moon = good for releasing stuff that’s weighing you down
- New moon = setting intentions (less ugly crying, more “this is what I want”)
- Just need: journal, pen, somewhere you can see the moon
- Write till you’re empty
- No one ever needs to read it (I burned one particularly raw entry)
My friend Dave (the most skeptical dude I know) tried this after his dad died. Said it was the first time he could actually cry about it. The moon’s weird like that.
Breathing That Actually Helps When You’re Losing It
So my doctor keeps telling me my blood pressure’s too high. “Try deep breathing,” she says. Eye roll.
But then my coworker Kim (who’s into all this zodiac stuff) mentioned that different breathing techniques work better depending on your sign. I’m a Libra, which apparently is an “air sign” (fitting for breathing, right?).
She showed me this alternate nostril breathing thing, and I hate that it works, but it WORKS. When I’m about to snap at my teenager or send that email I’ll regret, I duck into the bathroom for literally 3 minutes of this:
- Close right nostril with thumb
- Breathe in through left
- Switch fingers, close left nostril
- Breathe out through right
- Breathe in through right
- Switch again… you get it
Kim says it’s because air signs need balance or something. Whatever the reason, it’s like a reset button for my racing thoughts.
My sister’s a Taurus (earth sign) and swears by this box breathing thing when her anxiety kicks in. My Leo husband does this weird rapid breathing when he’s stressed (looks ridiculous but he says it burns off excess energy).
The Crystal Thing (I Was SO Skeptical)
Last Christmas my sister-in-law got me a rose quartz. “It opens the heart chakra,” she said, and I smiled politely while thinking “where am I supposed to put this pink rock?”
It sat on my desk collecting dust until that awful meeting where I had to confront my boss about the promotion I was promised. Grabbed it on my way out just to have something to fidget with.
Guys, I don’t know if it was the crystal or just having something to squeeze, but I stayed calm and actually spoke up for myself instead of doing my usual nodding and seething internally.
Now I have a small collection. Not gonna lie – some I bought because they’re pretty (that blue sodalite still makes me happy every time I see it). But I’ve noticed certain ones do seem to… help?
- Black tourmaline = meetings with difficult people
- Amethyst = beside my bed when my brain won’t shut up
- Citrine = deadlines and creative blocks
My husband thinks it’s all nonsense but has stopped teasing me since he noticed I’m sleeping better. Sometimes you don’t need to understand why something works, right?
Astrology + Ayurveda = My Weird But Effective Stress System
After going down this astrology rabbit hole, I stumbled onto how it connects with Ayurveda (that ancient Indian health system). According to some article I read at 2am when I couldn’t sleep, Libras often have what they call “vata” issues – basically being ungrounded, anxious, scattered.
The suggested fixes sounded simple enough to try:
- Warm foods instead of cold (ditched my morning smoothie for oatmeal)
- Regular mealtimes (hardest change EVER)
- Oil massage before showering (feels bougie but helps)
- Less multitasking (still struggling with this one)
After about three weeks, I realized I wasn’t waking up at 3am in a panic anymore. Could be coincidence, but I’m not stopping.
My friend Mike (Sagittarius) tried the recommendations for his sign/type and said his digestion issues improved. His wife (Pisces) is now doing some water sign practices for her chronic headaches.
Looking Up When Life’s Too Much
Listen, I’m not saying stars and crystals and breathing tricks fix everything. My mortgage still gives me heart palpitations and my teenager still thinks I’m the embodiment of all evil some days.
But having these little anchors helps. Sometimes when everything feels like too much, I just step outside and look up – same stars my grandma saw, same moon people have been staring at forever.
Makes my problems feel smaller. Not gone, but manageable.
If you’re drowning in life stuff too, maybe try one thing from this rambling post. The moon writing worked fastest for me, but the breathing’s easiest to do anywhere without looking like you’ve lost your mind.
Let me know if any of this helps? Or share your own weird coping strategies. We’re all just figuring it out as we go, right?
P.S. Full moon this Saturday. Just saying.