Just days after bringing in 2019, the new moon—which started Jan. 5—has brought about a time for much-needed new beginnings, if you had a trash 2018. Despite exiting a year where we saw the most drama among some of our most beloved celebrities, like Kanye West professing his love for Trump in the White House, we also saw growing buzz around the Black witchy movement. Blavity interviewed the Hoodwitch, who shared some insight into her own new moon rituals, including “moon parties” for friends and family. She even wrote "The Hoodwitch's Guide to New Moon Rituals," to help reset intentions and manifest new desires. The popularity of her work opened the door for numerous “hood witches” sharing their knowledge on social media and guiding followers to owning their divinity. Peep the advice from some of Instagram's best witches and healers that will help you recharge mentally and spiritually in 2019.1. Get out of your comfort zone. This year we aren't settling! According to the Trap Witch, an intuitive healer and spiritual coach who calls herself "trap Oprah," if there's a vision you have for your life — whether it's in love, career, finances — mediocre won't cut it. Don't allow being comfortable to stop you from attaining your highest desires. "I want an unsettling type of love and people around me who want that, too. Never get too comfortable. There’s no growth there. I always crave the type of love that puts fire under my ass to be better than I’ve ever been. I’ve found that in many sources in 2018, firstly being myself. For that I’m grateful," the Trap Witch captioned in an Instagram post.  View this post on Instagram I want an unsettling type of love and people around me who want that too. Never get too comfortable. There’s no growth there. I always crave the type of love that puts fire under my ass to be better than I’ve ever been. I’ve found that in many sources in 2018, firstly being myself. For that I’m grateful 🌻 image Rp from @victorialeanna_A post shared by The Trap Witch ל (@thetrapwitch) on Dec 23, 2018 at 8:54am PST2. Don't expect 2019 to be perfect. It's often said that we don't necessarily find all our happiness in the destination, but on the journey it took to get there. Tarot reader and priestess Tatianna Tarot reminds us that we are most grateful after we've endured hardships to reach our goal. Don't be afraid of the rough moments this year because it's just preparing you for a something greater."Getting to this point of happiness, bliss and abundance, sometimes requires that you endure trials & tribulations along the way. On an emotional level, this speaks volumes on reaching a point where you are content & grateful for the way things turned out," she wrote on Twitter. #Tarot #Meditation // 10 of Oysters . .#tatiannatarot pic.twitter.com/PrqQmIggJN— Tatianna Tarot (@TatiannaTarot) January 2, 2019Getting to this point of happiness, bliss and abundance, sometimes requires that you endure trials & tribulations along the way. On an emotional level, this speaks volumes on reaching a point where you are content & grateful for the way things turned out.— Tatianna Tarot (@TatiannaTarot) January 2, 20193. Be gentle with yourself. When we think about resolutions for the new year, we typically want to achieve the moon and the stars with extremely high (and sometimes unattainable) expectations. While this may jumpstart our focus to reach potential goals, it may not leave room for failure or slip up's. Before you know it you've given up on your resolution.Maraym Hasanaa, initiated priestess and consciousness studies teacher, stated in an Instagram post that we have to love ourselves through upcoming changes with grace and patience."Gentle reminder to keep kindness in your own heart," she captioned.  View this post on Instagram Gentle reminder to keep kindness in your own heart.A post shared by مريم حسنا (@maryamhasnaa) on Dec 20, 2018 at 8:58am PST 4. Use the life lessons you've had as fuel! Intuitive #HoodooBoo Nefertiti M., known as @HoodHealingHoodoo via Instagram, shared a lengthy post reminding followers to learn from their past and appreciate each moment as a lesson to guide the next season of life. She teaches that lessons can manifest in the form of a relationship, a job or a decision that produces an outcome that may not seem desirable at first, but it will lead to growth. Reflect on what you learned from 2018, and own the lessons you you've mastered. "Life got allllll the lessons, baby. ALLUVEM! Try looking at everything (literally everything and everyone) as a lesson.. and shit begins to make more sense + will feel less like a personal attack on you individually," she wrote.  View this post on Instagram 🌻💫REFLECTIONS/CREATIONS💫🌻 Hit the (SWIPE 👈🏾) and you'll see what I've personally picked up while swandiving (face first unfortunately 🤡) all the way through 2018 🤣 but peep 2019 in the back there 😏 admiring the shit outta me (with the supportive things I need to get me thew.. yes.. THEW 👏🏾) because I've been through hell & back again.. but I will keep shining 💫 and YOU SHOULD TOO. Life got allllll the lessons, baby. ALLUVEM! Try looking at everything (literally everything and everyone) as a lesson.. and shit begins to make more sense + will feel less like a personal attack on you individually. 12/31/2018: It's the Eve of the Gregorian New Year and many are scrambling around last minute to make some changes energetically, and that's cool! (seems stressful 🤔) but I completely understand how we can get caught up in the "New Year, New Me" hype. (Sidenote: 12/31/2018 = 1+2+3+1+2+0+1+8 = 18 = 8+1 = 9. The number [9] does represent fulfillment, completion or bringing things to a conclusion/into fruition). Selflessness, idealism, magnetism and inspiration are associated with the number [9] as well. Another plateau awaits! Let's keep in mind though that we don't need the masses to tell us exactly WHEN we NEED to change; everyday is new 🌻 and everyday we have choices we can make toward the decisions that we want to invest in our greatest good 👐🏾 But: REFLECTION definitely is important 👑 Therefore, I ABSOLUTELY want you to take a look back to a YEAR ago and make note of how far you've come. Did you hit all of your goals? If not all, then some? None? 😨 Fuck it, it's time to get you together. Regardless - we need focus and need to put in the time and the actual WORK for ANY manifestation or creation to flourish. HOW MUCH DID YOU LEARN IN 2018? 😏 WHAT ENERGY ARE YOU TAKING OR ARE YOU SHEDDING THIS TIME AROUND? 🤔 💛 #HoodooBoo #HoodoohealerA post shared by Nefertiti M. 🔮 (@hoodhealinghoodoo) on Dec 31, 2018 at 9:04am PST 5. DO THE WORK, period't. Nothing in life comes free, and everything we want will require some level of hard work that's either physical, mental, spiritual or a combination of the three. Energy Healer and astrologer Danielle Ayoka of Mystic Lipstick, LLC created The Healing Series workshop, which is dedicated to removing old patterns and energy that could be blocking you from everything you want. Consider trying out a workshop or tapping into another type of practice that will help you stay intentional and accountable.  "We’ll be removing any patterns, energy and baggage that causes us to be out of alignment with the universal flow of nature that causes continual blockages in our abundance and peace. This healing series will be the ultimate blockage, baggage and sabotage removal," Ayoka wrote about her series. We’ll be removing any patterns, energy and baggage that causes us to be out of alignment with the universal flow of nature that causes continual blockages in our abundance and peace. This healing series will be the ultimate blockage, baggage and sabotage removal 🙌🏽✨— Danielle Ayoka (@MysticxLipstick) December 31, 20186. Embrace your divinity and own your power. If you want this year to be one of achievement and happiness you'll have to dig deep and embrace the strength you have from within. This list couldn't be complete without a tip from the Hoodwitch herself, who encourages us to get in touch with our power to gain the clarity needed to guide us along the 2019 journey."What does embracing personal power feel like? It feels like ease. It feels like authenticity and not performing. It feels like clarity, and certainty. It feels like being ok by not being accepted by everyone...You are not for everyone," she wrote. View this post on Instagram What does embracing personal power feel like? It feels like ease. It feels like authenticity and not performing. It feels like clarity, and certainty. It feels like being ok by not being accepted by everyone...You are not for everyone. Photography by @pierre_pierreetgilles #personalpower #collectivehealing #witchesofinstagram #bruja #yemoja #art #magic #resilience #strength #authenticity #witches #oracles #modernmystic #blackmadonnaA post shared by The Hoodwitch® (@thehoodwitch) on Dec 26, 2018 at 10:09am PST Cheers to this being your best year yet boo! Blavitize your inbox! Join our daily newsletter for fresh stories and breaking news.Liking this content? check these out:7 Things Beyoncé Could Do — Including Witchcraft — That Wouldn't Stop Me From StanningWitchcraft Where? What Most People Think About African Traditional Religion Is Dead Wrong4 Ways To Make The Most Of The New...

The confirmation hearings for William Barr, 45’s nominee to be the next attorney general, began on Tuesday. In the midst of a government shutdown that, according to CBS news, will have more than 420,000 federal workers go without pay, coupled with the Mueller Investigation - which seeks to determine if our president is, in actuality, a Russian spy - it could be easy to let these confirmations fly under the radar. Here's what you need to know about your possible new Attorney General. 1. He is Jeff Sessions' successor. Jeff Sessions stepped down from acting Attorney General in November, noting in his resignation letter that he was doing so at the request of President Trump. Many, including Nancy Pelosi, saw sessions forced resignation as a tactic meant to bring the Mueller investigation to screeching halt. Given his record of threats to undermine & weaken the Russia investigation, Matthew Whitaker should recuse himself from any involvement in Mueller’s investigation. Congress must take immediate action to protect the rule of law and integrity of the investigation. #FollowTheFacts— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) November 7, 2018Matthew Whitaker, briefly became acting attorney general, but following the backlash, Trump nominated William Barr in December. On Tuesday, when questioned if he would ensure that the findings of the investigation be made public, Barr stated the conclusion of the investigation “will be handled as a confidential document.”2. He’s a former attorney general under George H. W. Bush.William Barr has already acted as the attorney general under George H. W. Bush from 1991 to 1993. During that time, he had some interesting thoughts on criminal justice reform.3. Barr helped institute mass incarceration. During his time with the Bush administration in 1992, William Barr was a major contributor to the report by the Department of Justice titled The Case for More Incarceration. This report was one of the many stances and policies he spearheaded that escalated the war on drugs. In 1994 Barr and then Virginia governor George Allen co-chaired the Commission on Parole Abolition and Sentencing Reform. A commission that sought to abolish parole in the state, build more prisons, increase prison sentences up to six times longer. In 1991, Barr professed during the Mid-America Committee Luncheon: “Many of the so-called experts – whose theories gave us the horrors of the 60’s and 70’s – are criticizing this high prison population.  They say it’s a sign of failure.  I believe they are wrong. It is a sign of success.”4. Doesn’t believe that disparity between race and sentencing exist. When asked about racial disparities in prisons and prison sentencing during a Los Angeles Times interview in 1992, William Barr stated: “I think our system is fair and does not treat people differently.”When pressed on the specific differences in sentencing regarding offenses dealing with cocaine versus crack cocaine (a drug that disproportionately wreaked havoc on the Black community), Barr answered: “It's associated with violence. It's associated with the decomposition of families, crack babies, spousal abuse, child abuse. As you know, in 1985, all these social indices just went off the charts. It had a catastrophic impact, and so I think a stiffer penalty for crack cocaine is warranted.”When recently questioned by Senator Corey Booker during Tuesday’s hearing if the system of mass incarceration disproportionately benefited African-American communities, Barr seemed to have changed his tune - stating, “I think the reduction in crime has since 1992,” Barr responded. “But I think the heavy drug penalties have harmed the Black community and the incarceration rates have harmed the Black community.”5. Detained HIV+ Haitian Immigrants at Guantanamo BayIn 1991, the Bush administration began to collect Haitian refugees fleeing by boat after democratically elected Jean-Bertrand Aristide was overthrown via a military coup. While the numbers dwindled over time, at least 310 refugees who had tested HIV+ (or alleged to be positive) remained detained at the detention facility. In a 2001 interview with UVA’s Miller Center, William Barr discussed his role in what other’s considered a human rights violation and his response to detractors, “They were always complaining.  I would say, ‘What do you people do at Guantanamo?  Maybe this is the highest, best use of Guantanamo.  Maybe Guantanamo should be turned over to the INS . . . and used as a processing center.  Maybe this is the best use for the United States as opposed to whatever you people do with it.”  With a majority Republican Senate, the likelihood that Barr will be confirmed is likey. The saga continues folks...Make sure you're following Blavity: Politics on Instagram and join our daily newsletter to stay engaged and informed.Now, check these...