Ingie H.

Tag: ileach-article

  • Scorpio Season – Dark alchemy

    Scorpio Season – Dark alchemy

    Sun sets at 6pm and the darker half of the year is well and truly upon us. Over the last few weeks we slipped into autumn through Libra season with our scented candles, coffee dates and well curated jumpers. The coziness and warmth of the initial days of Autumn are brewing themselves into the more sinister, perpetual darkness of Hebridean winter.

    That’s right! It’s Scorpio season. The stereotypical dark sign of the zodiac. Often given a bad rep by pop astrologers and represented by the less than friendly Scorpion.

    Poor Scorpio is woefully misunderstood as a sign, perhaps because Scorpio holds some of the most powerful energy in the Zodiac – Transformation.

    As people, Scorpios are generally  passionate, intense, articulate and mysterious. Loyal to their bones and unafraid to dive into uncharted territory. They are often drawn to religion, taboo subcultures and investigative work. These people are devoted on a soul level to gaining a deeper understanding of the world – sometimes at great cost or danger to themselves.

    But just like the scorpion has it’s physical exoskeleton, Scorpios are blessed with their own psychic exoskeleton. Their resilience to pressure and toxic environments is miraculous, given their capacity for emotional intensity and sensitivity.

    Being both a feminine and water sign, Scorpio relates to the emotional and subconscious self (much like the sign of Cancer we uncovered in June) but where cancer relates to the archetype of the mother, Scorpio relates to the archetype of the Cailleach.

    This is where the notion of transformation comes into play. Over the next 4 weeks we celebrate the festival of Samhain (modern equivalent Halloween). A period where the ‘veils’ between the worlds of natural and supernatural are thinnest. Oftentimes where our intuition is strongest. Trees shed their final leaves upon the ground and quietly an army of species set to work decomposing and transforming the rotting remnants of summer into a dark rich canvas from which new growth will emerge in spring…

    However this process is not instantaneous and we are faced with a barren, dreich dark period where far too often the shadows and lack of light can make us troubled and uneasy.

    This is where we can harness the energy of Scorpio to hold us through the gloom of late Autumn. To truly know the vibrance and brightness of our lives, we must first confront the shadier, unsettling parts. Even on the brightest days we cast a shadow.

    Find yourself time and grace to scuttle into the darker, mysterious corners of your mind, sit there and listen. Let yourself feel discomfort and unease knowing that you are armed with a fierce set of pincers and a sting in your tail. Envision the process of leaf litter turning slowly into rich earth. Get to know the bizarre and quiet creatures that lurk there –  slowly transmuting this heavy, spoiled energy into fertile ground in their own time.

    Have faith in your ability to transform because at this time of year you truly are an alchemist.

    Published: The ileach October 2025

  • Libra Season – Weigh hey!

    Libra Season – Weigh hey!

    Fruitful Virgo season comes to a close and as the rain hammers down and the waves crash upon the shore here in Port Charlotte, Summer seems a distant memory. We have reached the half way mark in the zodiacal year and enter into time of Libra –  the  seventh sign of the zodiac marking the autumn equinox. Ruled by Venus the planet of love. Libra is an air sign and relates to artistry, relationships and diplomacy.

    Those lucky enough to know a Libra will know they are  (without doubt) the charmers of the zodiac. Gifted with an uncanny ability to wrangle their way in and out of situations with humour, grace or a nice outfit. Those born under this sign are famed for having a flirty reputation. Quick to fall in love, indecisive and suckers for old school romance… in pop culture Libras are rather notorious for their love affairs. 

    But Libra is a far more complex and nuanced sign than this! Represented by the scales in astrology, Libra seeks harmony and balance through constant weighing and judging their environments. Is it any wonder they have a hard time making decisions!?  They seek a state of equilibrium and hold onto their own morals tightly…but the scales aren’t always as perfectly balanced as they appear. Though peacekeepers at heart – Libra’s can’t help but meddle! Prone to seesawing their lives for a little entertainment, before quietly returning to their blissful, well presented state. Naturally their heightened sensitivity to their environment and relationships draws Libra to creative pursuits and aesthetic beauty. At this time of year creative energy is strong, make sure to embrace the flow – you’ll be impressed by what you are able to produce. Many of the most famous interior designers, artists and fashion designers are born under this sign. Perhaps it’s no coincidence the abundance of autumn themed home decor and outfit inspiration trends so highly in the media every year.

    So as night begins to overtake day and we come ever closer to the bleak Islay winter, let’s take a moment to  tune into Libra’s energy and create our own tastefully decorated inner sanctum to last us the darker half of the year! 

    Here’s a quick exercise:

    Find a quiet, comfy spot. Relax and centre yourself.

    Take a moment to focus on a beautiful thing – this could be anything: a sunset you watched, the laugh of someone you love, a work of art, an object you treasure.

    With this in mind, inhale deeply – breathe in this beautiful thing and envision it entering into your lungs…

    Hold your breath for a couple of seconds and allow it to sink and settle to the bottom of your chest.

    Then exhale slowly and gently come back to the present in the knowledge you have stowed something precious in your chest.

    Repeat this process as many times as you’d like. Anytime you feel called, take a moment to reach in and revisit your chest of delights. 

  • Ileach Article – Leo – Mane Character Energy 

    Ileach Article – Leo – Mane Character Energy 

    In my last article we explored the archetype of the sign Cancer, taking time to look inwards and attune to the watery, sensitive depths of our emotions. As we travel into the next fiery sign of Leo it’s all about pushing our energy back outwards.

    Leo is the fifth sign of the zodiac, ruled by the Sun and represented by the lion. It governs all forms of self expression and creativity. Leo wishes to be admired, seen and amused. Much like the sun, they are renowned for being warm, dependable and bright.

    Leos love to entertain and are generally gifted with a good sense of humour. Oftentimes Leos use their charm to gain power and status in their environments.

    On the other hand, they can tend towards an excess of self-importance straying into arrogance and truly believing they are the centre of the universe (not just the solar system!).

    Leo is strongly associated with the heart, as an organ and source of vitality – where our first fire sign Aries taught us bravery and initiation, Leo teaches courage and loyalty. Even the word ‘courage’ derives from the Latin “cor” meaning heart. 

    To be courageous is to approach the world without fear of repercussion, however difficult. To act upon something you truly believe in, with sustained effort. Leo’s lesson is to teach us to stay true to ourselves and radiate our inner light outwards – when you choose to stay true to yourself, oftentimes the world does tend to bend itself in your favour.

    Take a moment to ask yourself: Where do you shine in life? Are you really allowing yourself to life vivaciously? Are you the most vibrant authentic version of yourself you could be in this moment? 

    Oftentimes we are ashamed of being “cringey” or “too much”. Try stepping into the shameless, expressive energy of Leo over the next few weeks and see where letting go of cringe takes you. You may be surprised…

    In other news: Mercury – our communicative planet is retrograde (appearing to move backwards) again. This time bringing up past issues and asking us to revisit them. Beware of pesky exes, paperwork you forgot about and previous drama sneaking up on you. It’s also likely we’ll experience more issues with technology. Remember to keep physical copies of digital information! 

    Saturn formed a conjunction with Neptune earlier in the month prompting us to wonder about how our structures whether societal or domestic may be deceiving us.

    Uranus has also shuffled into gemini causing seismic shifts in the area of our charts ruled by that sign (for those who know)! On a broader scale the Uranus Gemini transit has long associations with the United States and their role in conflict. This could be an interesting space to watch over the next few years.

  • Cancer Season – Ileach article

    Cancer Season – Ileach article

    Solstice is behind us and the franticness of Gemini season on Islay seems to have eased. Many of us have had the discomfort of feis flu forcing us to retreat indoors for a few days from the world. Even the most social of us were growing weary of the never ending chatter.

    Thankfully Cancer season is upon us and the energies have shifted dramatically, our focus is no longer communicating outwardly, it’s all about feeling inwards. Let’s take a dive into the characteristics of this sign.

    Represented by the crab Cancer is renowned for being the sensitive, caring, family oriented sign in the zodiac. As a water sign they are feeling ruled and can possess extreme amounts of empathy, seeming almost psychic in nature. On the other hand they have a tendency to be overly moody, crabbit and snippy.

    Cancer’s are incredibly protective of their loved ones and take great pride in being a rock for others. However they are prone to take on the emotions of others becoming ‘rescuers’ in relationships. They must be careful to avoid becoming a product of the emotions of those around them, losing their sense of self. In life Cancers must learn to balance the polarities of sensitivity and protection – no mean feat!

    So what can we learn from this sign?

    Cancer season teaches us to truly feel and learn to respond as opposed to react to our emotions. When we respond to our feelings we act in the present without bias of our previous behaviours, cultural expectations or patterns from earlier life. It can be all too easy to become so overly guarded and caught in the past that we do not respond, rather, we simply react defensively when confronted with emotions. Like the crab we need to shed our old shells to grow. Otherwise we stay squished and limited in our lives. Take a moment to think about how you respond/react to life’s tides. Do you allow yourself to really feel positive emotions? How do you respond to bad news? Is your guardedness actually stifling your life?

    Take time to envision a new ‘shell’ to grow into, one which allows you to maintain a sense of security without limiting you. Now is the time to gather the courage to move into it.

    In the skies Jupiter – the planet of luck, fortune and expansion has just moved into the sign of cancer. This is putting themes of nurture, empathy, home and family to centre stage. Likely you have felt an overwhelming desire to slow down and build deeper connections with your peers. Perhaps seemingly out of the blue you’ve really started getting into ancestry or you’ve decided to ditch social media and smart devices favouring analogue. Many are feeling the urge to have more sentimental and tangible ways of communicating. 

    During the current craziness and tensions in the world (and in the cosmos – don’t get me started) knowing that our greatest growth, rewards and luck are sat in the empathy oriented sign of Cancer is important. Now more than ever is the time to really tune into our emotions and relationships with others. Kindness is the key to unlocking abundance and true joy in our lives.

    Ingie 22/06/2025

  • Gemini Season – Ileach Article

    Gemini Season – Ileach Article

    Feis is under way – the tourists return to our Island and the place is bustling once again, all of this falls under gemini season and aptly so!

    Gemini is the sign which rules communication, adaptability and curiosity amongst many other themes. Here in the northern hemisphere it falls between the end of spring and start of summer – a time where the days stretch and we spend more time socialising in the brighter weather and long evenings. In the southern hemisphere this is reversed but the theme of socialising and bringing people together remains.

    Now, you’ve likely heard the stereotypes about those with a Gemini sun sign, in fact for some being a gemini and persistently bullied in pop astrology is enough to put them off it all together. Renowned for being chatterboxes, gossips and butterflying from one thing to the next we’re only focusing on a very small and somewhat negative incarnation of this sign’s qualities.

    Gemini’s are remarkably adaptive, intelligent and responsive people. Quick witted and curious Gemini absorbs and communicates information at a rate beyond any other sign’s comprehension. 

    With this in mind how can we tune into this season’s energy and use these qualities in our own lives?

    Firstly get out there and socialise, blether for the sake of it. Strangers, pals and family – get talking. A favourable set of transits right at the end of May could land you a big leap in notoriety or in career May 26th till 30th especially.

    Embrace curiosity, Gemini encourages us to tune into our inner child and view the world through wonder and awe. Learn something new about something you take for granted.

    Lastly, this is the time to adapt and make the changes you need in your life. The flexible nature of Gemini energy naturally makes this far easier and more effective than at any other time of year.

    Big news for the signs of Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn and for those born between 1996 and 1998. Saturn has just moved into the sign of Aries (24/05) marking the start of a large and weighty challenge or obstacle in your lives demanding hard work and attention over the next 2 years. Very quickly over the next few weeks this challenge will make itself clear to you. Fortunately this transit does offer incredible rewards and fortune on the other side. However what you give is what you get – and Saturn ruling karma knows how to respond accordingly.

  • Taurus Season – Ileach article

    Taurus Season – Ileach article

    Taurus Season – Cut the Bull!


    We’ve charged head first through Aries season, Spring is in full swing and we’ve come into the gentler yet persistent energy of Taurus season. Sweet smelling blossoms fill the air, days stretch out and our lives gain a steady rhythm once again.
    Taurus, the second sign of the Zodiac is often considered the most feminine of the signs. Ruled by the planet Venus which represents, beauty, love and pleasure. 
    Taurus is also a fixed Earth sign giving it a grounded, productive and tangible energy. Encouraging us to both strengthen our foundations and indulge in life’s pleasures. Think of home comforts such as a hearty meal, fine wine and a heavy blanket. This is the epitome of Taurus energy!
    Associated with personal resources and the home – I always consider Taurus season the best time to get house and financial affairs into order. After all, our material possessions come under rulership of this sign. 
    Over the next 4 weeks take a moment to assess your belongings – What value do you assign to them? Are you a bit of a hoarder? What ‘luxury’ is a necessity to you? – allow yourself indulge in it! 


    The shadow side of Taurus is the notion of stagnation – What are you holding onto (physically or emotionally) that feels heavy and unwanted? Moreover what practical steps can you take to rid yourself of this?
    At the end of April we’ve some major shakeups amongst the planets. Most notably Mars opposite Pluto . Pluto being an outer planet and not relating immediately to our personal lives means this conflict and tension is at a larger worldly scale. Perhaps this makes the importance of battening down the hatches in our own personal lives and focussing on our home environment even more relevant.
    In the meantime, buy that nice candle, enjoy that chocolate, take a steady walk in the spring air and give away that jumper that’s been lingering about your closet for years – you have no obligation to hang onto it!

  • Aries – First Ileach Article

    Aries – First Ileach Article

    Cosmic Conundrums
    Astrology – A stellar tool for self reflection? A critical Virgo would disagree, a dreamy Pisces would attest and a tentative Libra hasn’t quite decided yet.
    Whatever your opinion, it’s worth remembering that the ancients planned civilisations, celebrations and battles around the movements of the Sun, Moon, stars and planets.
    Astronomical events have fascinated humans for Millenia which gave rise to Astrology, the notion that the macrocosm can influence our very own human microcosm. Sometimes uncannily so.


    As I write, today (29th March) marks a significant event – a solar eclipse.
    Both the new moon and Sun are sat in the sign of Aries, the first sign of the zodiac, famed for their assertive and pioneering spirit. Aries season begins upon the spring equinox and kick starts the zodiacal cycle.

    Hugo Simberg – The Angry Ram


    Represented by the ram, Aries is the spark that moves, the cardinal fire sign that invokes action into our lives after the long slumber of winter.
    This sign, ruled by the planet Mars, represents passion, vigour and conflict. Aries really are the warriors of the zodiac, sometimes ruthlessly so!
    Whilst the cosmos are a busy place right now with two of our personal planets Mercury and Venus still in retrograde causing technological, communicative and relational issues. (Bonus mention to Neptune shifting signs – a generational shift I’ll cover another time).
    I’d like to zoom in on how we can harness the spirit of Aries season into our own lives by asking the following questions:
    What drives you to take action? Do you act assertively or reactively?
    What energises you physically?
    Where in your life have you been giving your power away?
    Taking time to contemplate where we find courage and strength allows us to create a framework to channel our inner warrior. Allowing us to face the world with a new found potency.


    This Aries season, I encourage you to take leadership, focus on your physical capabilities (trying a new sport or exercise is excellent for this) and allow your enthusiasm to flow, inspiring others around you. Aries teaches that effort is everything. Approach the unknown with valour and be tenacious in areas of your life you feel most passionate about.


    In true Aries spirit – this is my first submission to The Ileach after a lot of Libran indecisiveness!
    Watch this space.