Between the Moon

April McMurtry

Welcome to Between the Moon, conversations about self-study in relationship with cycles. Join host April McMurtry on a journey to attune with lunar time and live in more harmony with life's cyclical nature. Visit themoonismycalendar.com to learn more. themoonismycalendar.substack.com

  1. Aug 27

    Ep 34: Serving up Eclipse Sandwiches

    Welcome back! Right as I was about to publish this episode my youngest teen burst into my office to tell me of the passing of Tim Curry … right on the coattails of Dolly … dang long live these immortal legends. So, this episode revolves around eclipses. Causation and correlation Do eclipses cause deaths of kings or the coolest icons? No. But sometimes intense or memorable things happen close to these events that feel connected. Eclipse clockwork strikes every six months activating the lunar nodes. The nodes are a point in space where the orbit of the moon crosses the path of the sun. These are the cosmic crossroads of the sun, moon, and earth. Here we are, pausing to take a breath at the intersection. Prompts: What area of your life this eclipse is visiting? How are you addressing what is out of sorts or going sideways? What is asking to be recalibrated? And what kind of sandwich is this eclipse serving up… (listen to the episode for this thought experiment). In case our path’s are crossing for the first time — hi I’m April: artist, mother, founder of themoonismycalendar 🌙 poetic plant person and 🌸 budding flower essence practitioner. I create and publish circular moon calendars to support self-study in relationship with cycles. The Nodes of Fate The nodes (those hot spot points of intersection where eclipses happen) change signs about every 1.5 years. This allows for a longer unfolding of learning and growth alongside the astrological themes. Eclipse in Pisces Dates Look back to track the unfolding… is there a thread that you are weaving from two years ago that is finding a resolution or new evolution? 2024 September 17 Partial LUNAR Eclipse at 25 Pisces 41 2025 September 7 Total LUNAR Eclipse at 15 Pisces 23 2026 August 28 Partial LUNAR Eclipse at 4 Pisces 54 This year we are moving from Pisces North Node into Aquarius, and from Virgo South Node into Leo. Even though the NN is in Aquarius, this eclipse is in the tropical sign of Pisces since it not a TOTAL eclipse, just partial. I explain this a bit more in the episode, but basically if there were total syzygy alignment, the node and the moon would be in the same sign. Check the Pisces house in your chart to see which area of your life this is lighting up: Eclipse Repetitions Over two thousand years ago Babylonians were tracking cycles and were able to calculate that there were 38 possible eclipses within a period of 223 months. Today this period of about 18 years is called a Saros cycle, and a sequence of eclipses separated by a Saros cycle constitutes a Saros series. These dates give points of reference to help reveal themes that are resurfacing now. * SAROS: Nearly identical configurations of eclipses (total, annual, or partial) occur every 18 years and 11 days known as the Saros Cycle: Look back to Aug 16th 2008 (Saros cycle twin of this eclipse) * METONIC: Every 19 years the eclipse will occur on the same date in the same sign and degree. This is referred to as the Metonic cycle: Look back to Aug 28, 2007 (Metonic Cycle twin of this eclipse) For your historical, spiritual, imaginative reference for eclipse protocols… Tablet Inscribed with a Ritual for the Observances of Eclipses Lunar eclipses figured prominently in the prognostications of the Babylonian seer. This text was part of the temple ritual. Specific roles and chants are assigned to different types of priests and laypeople. Aromatic woods are to be burned on an altar throughout an eclipse; dirges are to be sung; people are to remove their headgear and cover their heads with their garments, then wail and cry aloud, begging the gods to save them, their cities, and their shrines. The text conceives of an eclipse as the “death” of the moon, of nature, and of humankind, and conjures their revivification. Eclipse Reflections and Practices * What is arising? Draw it, sing it, dance it * What are you feeling called to release? Burn it, burry it * Notice if you feel the need for more rest or forward momentum * Eclipses can be a time for purification (working with the elements) * Develop personal protocol for extra support: salt bath, sauna, go incognito mode, a lighter schedule if possible, more walks with the tree ancestors, meditation, emotional release * Notice how you want to work with the energy that is present * Flip the circuit breaker, turn everything off and restart * What else would you add to your eclipse protocol? Let’s do the time warp again, shall we? Sending many blessings, April p.s. Appreciate this episode? Leave a comment and share what stood out to you. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themoonismycalendar.substack.com/subscribe

  2. Mar 2

    Ep 33: From earth to sky - tending to your moon sign and the elements with Emma Kupu Mitchell

    Welcome back to the podcast! In today’s episode I have the pleasure of speaking with my friend and colleague Emma Kupu Mitchell to discuss using your moon sign as a practical self-care tool for grounding during stressful times, overwhelm, life transitions, or just as an everyday practice for self-study. Emma is a holistic practitioner and a creative spiritual guide for women in midlife and beyond. This conversations was inspired by Emma telling her daughter to “do your moon” while adjusting to university life in England. Emma shares her background in aromatherapy, Ayurveda, massage, and nature-based living, plus a love-hate relationship with astrology that emphasizes taking “spoonfuls” and focusing on embodied, elemental connection rather than overwhelm or rigid predictions. You’ll hear us frame astrology as an ancestral, seasonal navigation tool to observe how different lunar transits affect one’s inner life, not binary “good/bad” interpretations. If you are new to astrology or want to deepen your connection with the elements and daily practice of self study, I recommend you get out your journal and follow along! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themoonismycalendar.substack.com/subscribe

  3. Jan 20

    Ep 32: Not Your Mother's Menstrual Cycle with Elizabeth Tidwell

    In today’s episode I have the pleasure of speaking with Elizabeth Tidwell, womb guide and menstrual cycle coach at My Club Red. We’ve been in each other’s orbit for a number of years, and it was great to finally get a chance to share about transforming the next generation’s relationship with the menstrual cycle as they navigate a world that is slowly waking up to honoring this rhythm. This is a refreshingly candid conversation about the ins and outs of understanding the menstrual cycle at a time when we are still unlearning the cultural programing about living in a cyclical body. If you are a Mother of a Menstruator (MOM) I would love to hear what resources or tools you wish that you or your menstruator could have or what the could have benefitted from when they were younger! “We haven’t been given a shared understanding of a pattern for our cyclical energy.”- Elizabeth Tidwell In this episode Elizabeth offers practical advice on how to integrate cyclical awareness into everyday life, making it a powerful tool for personal and collective liberation. She also reveals the significance of cycle awareness for youth through menopause and how it can transform cultural perceptions and practices within families and communities. Get ready to explore the power of cycle awareness as well as: * Moving away from “fixing” to befriending * Working with the menstrual cycle as a compass and anchor * Self-care through building buffers * Hyper-personalizing the menstrual cycle archetypes * What is wrong with me - why can’t I rise to the occasion? * Removing self blame and shame about fluctuations in energy * Meeting (and naming) the different versions and parts of ourselves * Breaking the model of the inner seasons every cycle * Dealing with deficit and depletion * Cultural expectations and inner wisdom * Pay attention to the “Inner Summer Woman” and pleasure receptors Elizabeth shares her secrets on dealing with energy dips, equipping kids for their first period, and why tracking your cycle is more vital than ever. Be prepared to unlearn, relearn, and laugh along the way! Ready to practice menstrual cycle awareness on a circular calendar? Head over to the shop to get your copy of the 2026 Lunation Journal for yourself or someone you love here: https://themoonismycalendar.com/new-products This podcast episode follows a flow through these chapters … * Introduction and Welcome * Cycle Check-In: Understanding Our Inner Landscape * Personal Stories and Cycle Awareness * Lessons from Cycle Work * Rediscovering Personal Anchors * The Power of Integrated Practices * The Importance of Daily Cycle Check-ins * Returning to the Moon Calendar * Working with Youth on Menstrual Awareness * Family Dynamics and Menstrual Cycles * Supporting Families and Community * Practical Tools for Cycle Awareness * Final Thoughts and Resources Hope you benefit from listening to this episode, if you do - please leave a review and share it with a friend. Show Notes: Wild Power by Alexandra Pope and Sjanie Hugo Wurlitzer of Red School: https://www.redschool.net/wildpower Connect with Elizabeth… Website: https://myclubred.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myclubredFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/myclubred Elizabeth Tidwell helps women and menstruators discover and live in alignment with their menstrual cycle superpowers. She helps adults and children learn vital body literacy and facilitates a deeper relationship between menstruators and their cycles, bodies, and whole selves. As a former university educator, Elizabeth loves to bring menstrual cycle awareness to both her local community through live workshops and the broader international community through individual client work, virtual workshops, and My Club Red. What are some resources or tools that you wish you or your menstruator could have or wish the would have had when they were younger? Feel free to share in the comments! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themoonismycalendar.substack.com/subscribe

  4. 11/21/2025

    Ep 31: Sensing endings with the moon cycle, merging the waters of love, grief, and renewal

    “Thanks to impermanence, everything is possible.” — Thich Nhat Hanh How To See On today’s episode we explore the themes of navigating life transitions, big and small as well as rituals for renewal within the lunar cycle. We delve into our connection with impermanence, focusing on the theme of sensing endings. If you loved these themes and want more, you’re invited to join me tomorrow Friday Nov 21st from 1-2:00pm Pacific for the New Moon Workshop for Scorpio: https://themoonismycalendar.thrivecart.com/new-moon-mandala-workshop-in-scorpio/ I share insights on how the lunar cycle can support us in navigating these transitions and the importance of creating space for new beginnings. I also reflect on personal experiences illustrating the cyclical nature of life, like dealing with a difficult landlord and the recent passing of my beloved grandmother. Throughout this heartfelt episode, I invite you to trust you intuition and the wisdom of cycles to find balance and continuity in your lives. These time stamps may be a little off due to editing: 00:00 Introduction to The Between the Moon Podcast 00:41 Exploring the Theme of Sensing Endings 01:41 The Importance of Recognizing Endings 01:51 Personal Stories and Reflections on Change 02:20 The Concept of Impermanence 03:49 Practical Examples of Sensing Endings 06:29 The Role of the Lunar Cycle 10:16 The Practice of Letting Go 11:33 The Intersection of Love and Grief 17:30 Cultural Perspectives on Cycles 21:50 Final Thoughts and Invitation to Reflect This episode is a farewell to Scorpio Season as the sun enters the sign of Sagittarius Nov 21st. It is a reflections on the lessons of life and loss and how to practice saying goodbye with the moon. My hope is that there is sweetness and insight that flows through this transmission to offer a sense of belonging within cycles; to yourself, to nature, to the cosmos. “A linear society that thinks in terms of ‘cradle to grave’ will have an endpoint. It won’t be sustained. However, a culture that thinks cyclically and reinvests all ‘waste’ into its livelihood will continue like a circle, it will never end.” - Dr. Lyla June Visit https://themoonismycalendar.com to purchase you Lunation Journals and Lunar Wall Calendars today! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themoonismycalendar.substack.com/subscribe

  5. 09/20/2025

    Ep 30: Poetry of entropy and nature-based themes of Virgo

    In today’s timely episode, we explore the role of entropy in Virgo's nature-based themes, touching on how to connect these experiences connect with the upcoming eclipse, and some of the challenges and gifts. There is poetry in how we choose to embody this mutable earth sign. I share some insights I received during an acupuncture treatment about the connection between the zodiac and the nervous system. If you like unusual ways of relating to the astrological archetypes - this episode will not disappoint! At the heart of this exploration is understanding Virgo's energy and role in keeping the rhythms of life in balance and digesting our experiences. No one escapes entropy, and you can see if that feels like a relief or cause for grief, but the eclipse asks us to face it either way. There are some personal stories to illustrate these concepts, like looking back to the 2006 eclipse through forgotten photos on an old external hard drive and seeing how past cycles shape us and invite deeper integration. I also propose a potential lunar astrology challenge—like a fun experiment to observe how the sign that the moon is in affects our lives. Let me know what you think about that idea in the comments, pls :)) 00:00 Welcome and Announcements01:34 Exploring the Moon Mandala Workshop03:24 Lunar Astrology Challenge06:12 Introduction to Virgo Themes07:06 Virgo and the Rhythm of Life12:56 The Poetry of Entropy24:19 Eclipses and Life Review26:04 Personal Reflections and Astrology41:06 Conclusion and Upcoming Events Announcements The Lunation Journals and Lunar Wall Calendars are available for presale in the shop!! Thank you to everyone who has purchased yours so far!!! Your support makes this printing of this publication possible. Link to pre-order: 2026 New Moon Calendars https://themoonismycalendar.com/new-products Moon Mandala Workshop Don't miss the Equinox Moon Mandala workshop this Tuesday September 23rd from 9-10:30am Pacific. We’ll be focusing on turning points, rebalancing, and the zodiac's connection to seasons. I have a great slideshow to share along with a activity to access your intentions. This workshop is based in expressive arts practices that connect us with the healing potential of creativity by moving energy through color and form. If you aren't able to make it live, replays will be sent within 24 hours of workshop. More details here: Registration for Moon Mandala Workshop https://themoonismycalendar.thrivecart.com/new-moon-mandala-workshop-equinox/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themoonismycalendar.substack.com/subscribe

  6. 08/29/2025

    Ep 29: Artistry, bad first drafts, and the cyclical nature of creativity

    Dear Moon, There is beauty in allowing ideas develop in their own time. So often we only get to see the final product, and we miss out on all the twists and turns that the creative process takes us on to arrive at that particular finished form. This can give us unrealistic expectations of creativity, and so I was inspired to share some behind the scenes insider lore about how this year’s cover artwork and theme actually came into being. The episode is an exploration of artistry, vulnerability, and the cyclical nature of creativity. But first, oh my goodness, have you heard? It’s Virgo season and time to launch the pre-sale of the 2026 Moon Calendars!! There’s a discount code at the end of this episode, take a listen :) traveling the distance from this… … to that… Where you begin is not where you end up! Seems obvious, but the creative process is designed to change you. This is inherent to the transformational practice of creation. let’s dive in! In today’s episode, you’re invited to join me for an intimate look at the journey of creating the artwork for this year’s Lunar Wall Calendar as I share about the messy process of going from rough first “bad” drafts to a finished piece. You’ll hear about the ups and downs: the excitement of new ideas, the frustration when things don’t go as planned, and the patience it takes to let inspiration unfold in its own time. You’ll get to hear about how themes like the harvest cycle, the symbolism of blackberries and bears, and even lessons learned from gardening — all found their way into the artwork. There’s a beautiful story I share about how a simple flower essence session sparked a creative breakthrough, and how the reciprocity between bears and blackberries brought all the themes together. weaving it all together Throughout the episode, I reflect on the importance of embracing imperfection, letting go of impossible standards, and trusting the creative process—even when it feels like, as I call it “a blindfolded wrestling match or an unpredictable dance with the muse”. You’ll get a sense of how astrology, nature, and lived experience all weave together in the making of something personally, and hopefully, universally meaningful. Whether you’re an artist, a creative soul, or just someone who loves a good story, this episode is a gentle reminder that creativity is cyclical, sometimes clunky, and always full of facing the unknown. I hope you enjoy this behind-the-scenes journey—complete with all the doubts, discoveries, and little victories that make the creative process so worth the struggle of turning the irritation of a grain of sand into a pearl. Thank you for being here, your presence is a gift! April p.s. I started putting together a post with images of the creative process I describe in this episode … would you be interested in seeing more of the bad first drafts? Feel free to reply or lmk in the comments. the pre-sale sale has begun! Are you as excited as I am? I just updated all the listings for this year’s calendars — visit THE MOON IS MY CALENDAR and and pre-order yours today, yippee! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themoonismycalendar.substack.com/subscribe

  7. 05/01/2025

    Ep 28: Roots to Blooms: Alchemizing the fertile Taurus/Scorpio Axis

    On today’s episode we explore the Taurus-Scorpio axis in astrology and ground it into the context of seasonal cycles, creativity, the houses in the birth chart, and personal lived experiences. I am delighted to have Bronwyn Simons Astrology back for our ongoing conversation of the Lunar Currents series! Learn about the interplay between "roots" (Taurus) and "blooms" (Scorpio), and how these are not separate entities but parts of a continuous process of fertility and growth related to creative practices, personal journeys, and the cyclical nature of life. We both give examples of the alchemical experience of integrating these seemingly opposing forces and how this also relates to the houses in the birth chart. Bronwyn and I also discuss the challenges of harmonizing seemingly opposing forces, particularly in relation to health, spirituality, daily life, family, and creative pursuits — and why every full moon plays a big role in the alchemical process. This episode explores themes that we will personalize and go deeper with in our upcoming workshop: Stars and Roses: Astrology and Creativity for Maytide WORKSHOP LINK Friday, May 2, 1 -2:30 Pacific Time and by replay. You can join us by registering here: https://astrologygoddess.mykajabi.com/offers/gLqLsZoL/checkout Or, the workshop is FREE for all our beloved paid subscribers on Substack. Become a paid subscriber today and you’ll automatically be registered for the workshop! We would love you to join us for this hands-on exploration to celebrate the Taurus cross-quarter holiday (known to some as Beltane or May Day), one of the most fertile and creative points in the Wheel of the Year. Bring a journal, your birthchart, and something to write and draw with. If you love this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify or refer a friend - thanks so much for listening! Links and Mentions * Upcoming workshop: Stars and Roses: Astrology and Creativity for Maytide https://astrologygoddess.mykajabi.com/offers/gLqLsZoL/checkout * Book of Houses by Robert Cole and Paul Williams * Bronwyn Simons and the Esoteric Zodiac on substack * Previous episode about the Harvest Cycle and the Lunar Cycle https://themoonismycalendar.substack.com/p/10-decoding-the-lunar-and-harvest-78c Thanks for reading Between the Moon! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themoonismycalendar.substack.com/subscribe

  8. 03/01/2025

    Ep 27: Role of Gestation in Creative Cycles

    Today’s podcast is a solo episode about the role of gestation in creative cycles while exploring the nature of simultaneous and sequential cycles and how lunar tracking and plants help us deepen our trust when faced with the unknown. Listen and explore: * the role of gestation in creative cycles * how cycle can be both simultaneous and sequential * the differences between trust and faith * themes of the pisces new moon * accessing imagination and fertile visions * pacing with plants to connect creativity with seasonality * a personal story connected with the lunar gestational cycle Learn how lunar tracking and plant kin help us deepen our trust while experiencing the gestational phase. I hope this episode helps you become inspired and feel more connected with your unique creative cycles, especially if you are feeling stuck. creative cycles Cycles are waves when you unfold them, and part of lunar tracking is to learn to ride your our energetic waves. This isn’t about getting it perfect or hacking your life to always be productive, rather to be in-season with yourself and the world around and within you. gestation: development over a period of time Most everything has a gestational period, which is like the hang time between something ending and beginning. It’s a phase. And it’s energetically connected with the sign of Pisces and the activities of the 12th house. “The twelfth house is about getting ready. You do this by letting your dream vision permeate every cell in your body the work of germination is to really let that vision soak into all the different areas of your life, especially your internal life, and darkness and quiet.” simultaneous cycles The experience of simultaneous cycles is found in the overlap and coexistence of past, present, and future. Simultaneous cycles expand our awareness into pattern recognition which exists outside of linear time. A simple way to experience the fractal nature of time is singing happy birthday!! This is a ritual that is a part of simultaneous cycles that include:- the solar cycle and the return of the personal new year - the life cycle connecting back to childhood and the repetition of cycles In astrology/astronomy, “returns” are when a planet comes back around to the same position where it was during a given moment. A lot comes up during returns like solar returns (aka birthdays) because it is a touchstone and offers a chance to be in the space of overlapping cycles. If you follow astrology then you can probably name several significant collective returns happening right now (Venus Rose Cycle Return and the US Pluto Return to name a few). The trick is to notice what is surfacing from the past in the present moment, to make a choice about the future — not just re-live the cycle like a broken record. This is why lunar tracking is so vital and can help illuminate our experience of overlapping cycles!! sequential cycles In sequential cycles, everything has a beginning, middle, and end. This is a more linear way of experiencing a cycle. For example, the lunar cycle starts with the new moon, waxes to fullness, and then wanes to new again. In that sequential order. Sequential cycles are expressed through the signs of the tropical zodiac and the three modalities: Cardinal signs = BeginningsFixed signs = Middles Mutable signs = Ends (moving between different states to change out of the old and into something new: here, the end becomes the beginning) Mutable signs are the death and rebirth doulas of the zodiac. They are the most liminal and able to be in a place of not here nor there. A third space born out of a relationship between two things. Pisces is a mutable water sign. It expresses the dreams of the artist and the prayers of the spirit worker. Pisces is the point where the mouth and tail meet. It’s the invisible bridge between waking and sleep. lunar gestational cycle In many ways the lunar gestational cycle is a hybrid cycle: both simultaneous and sequential. It echos backwards and forwards in a simultaneous call and response to the moon in the same sign yet different phase. It is also sequential in that moving forward at 9 month intervals. I share a personal story about the upcoming Full Moon in Virgo and working with this particular gestational cycle. New Moon: Sept 14/15th 2023First Quarter: June 13/14th 2024Full Moon: March 13/14 2025 ← upcoming eclipseLast Quarter: Dec 11th 2025 )) If you love this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify - thanks so much for listening! (( Thank you for being here, your presence is a gift!!April SHOWNOTES / LINKS * Join the New Moon Workshop in Pisces: GESTATE March 1, 2025 10-11am Pacific https://themoonismycalendar.thrivecart.com/new-moon-workshop-in-pisces/ * Subscribe on Substack: https://substack.com/@betweenthemoon * The New Moon Calendar Journal is available in the shop! This simple and beautiful circular calendar and journal establishes the new moon as the starting point for each monthly cycle. It provides a structure for connecting to your inner wisdom and natural rhythms. Order your copy with code MANYMOONS for $5 off while supplies last! https://themoonismycalendar.com/new-products This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themoonismycalendar.substack.com/subscribe

    Ep 27: Role of Gestation in Creative Cycles
See All (33)

5
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

Welcome to Between the Moon, conversations about self-study in relationship with cycles. Join host April McMurtry on a journey to attune with lunar time and live in more harmony with life's cyclical nature. Visit themoonismycalendar.com to learn more. themoonismycalendar.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    April McMurtry
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    33
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © April McMurtry
  • Show Website
    Between the Moon

You Might Also Like