Tu B´Shevat & The Full Moon in Leo
Birthing Light, Rooting into Mystery
On this sacred day of Tu B’Shevat, we honor the trees, their silent wisdom, their steadfast presence, their roots entwined with the very breath of Shekhinah. But beyond the trees of the earth, we also honor our own Tree of Life, the divine architecture of our being, nourished by the light of creation and the wisdom of the Shevatim, the twelve tribes. Each one of us walks a path uniquely carved by spirit, a path we must fully embrace.
Tu B’Shevat is a day of birthing light and holding light. It is a day to connect with our womb, with our feet, with the living pulse of the earth beneath us. What seeds of consciousness are we planting? What fruits are ripening within us?
And this year, Tu B’Shevat arrives under the Full Moon in Leo, the 15th day of the lunar cycle, a moment when the moon’s light is at its peak. Yet, the moon has no light of her own; she reflects the light of the sun, just as we too do not possess our own light, but are vessels of the Divine radiance. We are mirrors of the Creator, luminaries in the night sky of existence.
This full moon activates the Niqubta (ניקובתא), an Aramaic word meaning mystery. Full moons always illuminate, reveal, and awaken what was hidden in the shadows. Under this moon, something within us is ready to be seen, understood, embodied. What truth is rising from within? What sacred fire is ready to be expressed?
And so, we gather, as those before us have done, to partake in the fruits of Shevat -Aquarius, the seven species that hold the essence of the Divine within them:
Wheat – The sustenance of life, representing divine provision and the blessings hidden in the ordinary.
Barley – A symbol of humility and nourishment for the soul, reminding us that the simple is sacred.
Grapes – The fruit of joy and transformation, the sacred vessel for wine, carrying the sweetness of spiritual elevation.
Figs – The fruit of wisdom, a reminder of Eden’s hidden mysteries, calling us to trust in divine timing.
Pomegranates – The bursting fruit of abundance and divine law, carrying within it 613 seeds
Olives – The oil of anointing, the oil of the Holy Spirit, the fruit that releases its light through pressure, teaching us that illumination is birthed through deep transformation.
Dates – The fruit of resilience, flourishing even in the desert, teaching us that our souls are eternal, ever-bearing fruit.
Embodied Rituals for Tu B’Shevat & the Full Moon in Leo
1. Root Into the Earth
Place your bare feet on the earth, in the sand, on the grass, or even on the floor of your home. Breathe deeply and feel the pulse of life beneath you. The trees remind us of our roots, our stability, our connection to the unseen network of life. Let yourself stand, sway, dance, or be still, whatever allows you to feel your belonging to this world.
2. Work With the Tree of Life Within
Tu B’Shevat is a time to honor the inner Tree of Life, the energetic map of our being. Visualize your body as a tree, your feet as roots drinking in divine nourishment, your spine as a sacred trunk holding wisdom, your arms as branches reaching toward the light. Feel where energy is calling for attention and restoration.
3. Eat the Seven Sacred Fruits with Intention
As you eat the fruits of Tu B’Shevat, wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives, and dates, pause. Hold them in your hands. Taste them slowly. Each fruit carries an ancient teaching, a vibrational imprint of abundance, transformation, resilience, and light. What is each fruit whispering to you?
4. Anoint Yourself With Oil
The olive, one of the seven sacred fruits, gives us oil, an ancient symbol of anointing, consecration, and divine illumination. Anoint your forehead, heart, or hands with olive oil or any sacred oil of your choosing. As the moon bathes the earth in light, allow yourself to be bathed in divine presence.
5. Activate the Womb & the Feet
Tu B’Shevat is a day of holding light and birthing light. The womb (or energetic womb space for all) is the sacred chamber where we gestate visions, wisdom, and new life. Allow your feet to make a strong connection with the Earth. Prepare yourself to have courage to walk the path of your soul.
What is ready to be planted?
What is ready to be illuminated?
What is ready to be born?
6. Chant in the Language of Light
The Full Moon in Leo activates the Niqubta (ניקובתא), the Aramaic word for mystery, revelation, opening. On this night, chant:
רוחא דקודשא (Rucha d’Koodsha) — The Holy Spirit, the Breath of the Divine.
Let the vibration enter your body. Let it move through your cells, opening the hidden chambers of wisdom within you.
7. Offer Water & Bless the Trees
Pour water at the base of a tree, offering it as a sacred act of renewal. Speak to the trees, thank them, honor them, listen to their whispers. As they have stood for centuries, so too does your soul stand in this moment, remembering, receiving, awakening.
As we eat, as we pray, as we dance under the fullness of this moon, let us remember:
We are rooted and radiant.
We are vessels of light and mystery.
We are part of creation.
May this Tu B’Shevat and Full Moon in Leo illuminate the path ahead and deepen our embrace of the Divine light we carry.
Ahava,
Ana Otero
