Moon, Venus & Jupiter – oh wow!!

July 15th. This is absolutely worth setting the alarm for. These three lights are spectacular in the pre-dawn sky as they rise together in the East. It took my breath away this morning. This is definitely the time to wish on a star (or planet). Send out your vision for  a safe and nurturing (Moon) expansive (Jupiter) way to connect in love and unity (Venus).

Venus is the 3rd brightest light in the sky, after the Sun and Moon. Jupiter is the 4th. You might see Mars and Saturn in the constellation Virgo in the dark night sky. These planets are much harder to see, but Mars has been pretty visible. It has a reddish glow.

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Summer Solstice on June 20, 2012 7:09 p.m EDT

Anne Stokes

During the year the Sun moves through cycles that we have come to know as the Seasons. The Summer Solstice is the point in this yearly cycle when the Sun is at its fullest point. It is like the point in the cycle of a Full Moon, but it happens with the Sun only once a year, while the Moon becomes full once a month. Think of the Summer Solstice as the Full Sun!

Why pay attention to the changing cycle of the Sun?

We are rhythmic creatures. Our physical bodies have their own rhythms. Our hearts beat like a steady drum, and our breath brings the gentle rising and falling of our chest, which gives the sensation of being rocked by the waves of the ocean. We live in communal rhythms of 9 to 5 jobs, Monday through Friday work weeks, and yearly rituals such as birthdays, anniversaries, and religious celebrations.

We are also part of the natural rhythms created by the Sun. The daily cycle of sunrise and sunset creates circadian rhythms that set our awake and sleep cycles. The Sun also creates the seasonal cycle that begins March 21 at the Spring Equinox, when the growing light stirs new growth (and our moods). Next comes June 21st, the Summer Solstice, when the abundance of heat provides the fullness of growth and when we spend the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer. During the Fall Equinox of September 21st  the Sun begins its decline and the days become shorter and colder and the earth produces the abundant harvest that we celebrate at Thanksgiving. And the last phase of the cycle begins on December 21st at Winter Solstice, when the cold and darkness take hold and seeds rest in the ground, and we rest in bed.  And every year the Sun begins its cycle anew when the light of Spring again stirs the seeds to growth. It is the original cycle of death and rebirth that has become part of many of our religions.

Participation in communal rhythms, like birthdays and New Year’s Eve, bring us into the emotional, spiritual, and physical bond of community. Likewise, the participation in the earth’s natural rhythms link us to the cosmos and heavens in a deep and profound manner that goes beyond intellectual understanding.

As a society we are losing touch with nature. A recent study by the Kaiser Family Foundation showed that children spend an average of 7 hours in front of entertainment media in a typical day. This is compared to the only 7 minutes the average child spends outside per day. And the night sky, which used to be such a powerful and awe inspiring part of our lives, has now become faded and nearly forgotten due to city lights and pollution.

By remembering to move in rhythm with natural cycles of the Sun and Moon we re-tune ourselves to the harmony of the cosmos.

We need these natural and cosmic rhythms. We need these connections in order for our Body to slow down from the rush of an overactive life. We need these rhythms for our Mind to clear out the buzz of technology and bring back the sound of silence. But most of all, we need them for our Soul and Spirit. We have within ourselves a natural connection to a divine Spirit, and that connection is hard wired into us through our Soul. But the Soul and Spirit are subtle and quiet and are easily overshadowed by the increased noise of our Mind and Body.

One way to remember our Soul and Spirit and provide them the stimulus they need to become central part of our existence, is to remember our connection to the cosmos and our link to the heavens, which we can do through these solar and lunar cycles.

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Full Moon in Virgo

Rachel Carson

March 8th, 2012. Full Moon in Virgo on Thursday at 4:39 am. est. Virgo, the virgin, is an Earth sign, and a practical steward of the natural world in which we live. Virgo applies her skills of observation and deliberation to the real world, right here and right now. I wanted a real woman to represent Virgo, a woman who was natural, earthy, and epitomized a life of service. This image of Rachel Carson called to me. Scientist and author of Silent Spring, she documented the effects of industrial pollution on the natural world. Her words initiated the environmental movement and guided us all in a new direction. She believed that the natural world was a necessary part of humanity’s spiritual growth. She said: “There would be no peace for me if I kept silent.”

Her eyes are piercing. They demand that I wake up, that I look clearly at what is around me, that I don’t space out and pretend it will all go away. She is serious, concerned, taking action. She carries the tools of her trade and has grounded her love and compassion in her engagement with the natural world.

To Do: Look Rachel Carson in the eyes. What is she asking of you? Demanding of you? Have a conversation with her. Ask her why she cares, how she got started, what meaning did her service bring to her life? Tell her about what your neighborhood and community needs. Tell her the ways you think you can contribute.

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Full Moon in Cancer on Monday

Susan Seddon Boulet

The Moon is full in the sign of Cancer. This is an especially powerful place for the Moon since the Moon is more at home in Cancer than she is in any other zodiac sign. The Moon is feminine and represents the feminine energy in each of us. She is the Great Mother, the Divine Feminine, your Soul, Anima, your own mother, and the nurturing mothering part of you. The Moon rules the oceans and when she is in Cancer her emotional capability is limitless like the ocean. The ebb and flow of the tides are connected to the Moon and symbolize our changing passions. When the Moon is in Cancer it is as if the ocean is at high tide and overflowing; there is a fullness of love, compassion, and caring. There is no barrier to giving and receiving love. She stands bold and beautiful during this Full Moon in opposition to the Sun in Capricorn, the patriarchal power of acquisition and control. She acknowledges Capricorn’s need for structure and boundaries by providing containers – a bowl and cup – practical tools to share her gifts to the world.

For You: Meditate on this beautiful image of the Divine Feminine. Imagine the Moon as this goddess, so full of compassion and love that her cup runneth over. She holds in her hands an offering to the world, knowing that what she offers is just one part of her vast gifts. She looks down on all her children and shines her light equally on them, no matter where they live in this vast world, or their race, sex, religion, politics, or social status. We are all one under the Moon. The same Moon that you see tonight is the same Moon that children are seeing in Africa, and that the warriors are seeing in Iraq. Now imagine that you are this lovely goddess and that in your hands you hold a cup that is running over into a bowl that is seated on your lap. See yourself looking at the vast world, all the people, animals, birds, trees, the air and water. Feel your love and light illuminate it all. Know that you have a gift to give, and that it is only one part of who you are. See yourself overflowing with grace. Take a deep breath and acknowledge the gift you have for the world. See it clearly. Make a conscious choice to reach out and share it with love.

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Summer Solstice on Tuesday

On the Summer Solstice, Tuesday June 21st at 1:16 pm EDT, the Sun enters the zodiac sign of Cancer and summer officially begins. The yearly cycle of the Sun is similar to the monthly cycle of the Moon.  Both remind us that we are rhythmic creatures. Our physical bodies have their own rhythms. Our hearts beat like a steady drum, and our breath gently brings the rising and falling of our chests, which gives the sensation of being rocked by the waves of the ocean. We live in communal rhythms of 9 to 5 jobs, Monday through Friday workweeks, and yearly rituals such as birthdays, anniversaries, and religious celebrations.

We are also part of the natural rhythms created by the Sun. The daily cycle of sunrise and sunset creates circadian rhythms that set our awake and sleep cycles. The Sun also creates the seasonal cycle that begins March 21 at the Spring Equinox, when the growing light stirs new growth (and our moods). Next comes June 21st, the Summer Solstice, when the abundance of heat provides the fullness of growth and when we spend the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer. During the Fall Equinox of September 21st  the Sun begins its decline and the days become shorter and colder and the earth produces the abundant harvest that we celebrate at Thanksgiving. And the last phase of the cycle begins on December 21st at Winter Solstice, when the cold and darkness take hold and seeds rest in the ground, and we rest in bed.  And every year the Sun begins its cycle anew when the light of Spring again stirs the seeds to growth.

Participation in communal rhythms, like birthdays and New Year’s Eve, bring us into the emotional, spiritual, and physical bond of community. Likewise, the participation in the earth’s natural rhythms link us to the cosmos and heavens in a deep and profound manner that goes beyond intellectual understanding.

As a society we are losing touch with nature. A recent study by the Kaiser Family Foundation showed that children spend an average of 7 hours in front of entertainment media in a typical day. This is compared to the only 7 minutes the average child spends outside per day. And the night sky, which used to be such a powerful and awe inspiring part of our lives, has now become faded and nearly forgotten due to city lights and pollution. By remembering to move in rhythm with natural cycles of the Sun and Moon we re-tune ourselves to the harmony of the cosmos.

We need these natural and cosmic rhythms. We need these connections in order for our Body to slow down from the rush of an overactive life. We need these rhythms for our Mind to clear out the buzz of technology and bring back the sound of silence. But most of all, we need them for our Soul and Spirit. We have within ourselves a natural connection to a divine Spirit, and that connection is hard wired into us through our Soul. But the Soul and Spirit are subtle and quiet and are easily overshadowed by the increased noise of our Mind and Body. One way to remember our Soul and Spirit and provide them the stimulus they need to become central part of our existence, is to remember our connection to the cosmos and our link to the heavens, which we can do through these solar and lunar cycles.

To Do: Take some time around the Solstice to feel the rhythm of the cosmos. If you can, go outside at either sunrise or sunset when the Sun is moving though its daily cycle.  Get comfortable, quiet your busily thinking mind, and slow down your breath. Then connect first to your own body and its rhythms. Feel the gentle beating of your heart, the rise and fall of your chest. Then listen to nature’s rhythms. One of my favorite ways to do this is through the songs of the birds as they sing the Sun awake in the morning, and sing the Sun back to sleep in the evening. Their chorus is one of the great joys available in this world (and its free!). All it takes is just a few moments of slowing down and getting in tune with the sounds and songs of nature. Repeat as needed. I think listening to the birds is one of the best meditations available.

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Full Moon in Aries

10-22-2010

Aries by Eric Williams

You only have a few days left to kiss and make up. The time between the Full Moon on September 23rd and this Full Moon on October 22nd has contained a very rich opportunity to find the balance between the needs of yourself and the needs of others. Both Full Moons are in Libra/Aries  which emphasizes how important it is to maintain a balance in your different relationships. Of course the first relationship that comes to mind is your lover, wife, or husband. But Libra wants harmony in all your long lasting commitments, including best friends and business partners. This past month the bold and quick energy of Aries had you speaking your mind and your heart as never before. You may have been surprised by the power of your convictions and the strength to take care of yourself, and even left some confused and damaged relations behind. But if you look closer I think you will see that as you empower yourself that you also strengthen your relationships because you can’t have a really good relationship if you don’t fully show up as the unique individual that you are.

What to focus on this Full Moon? Take some time to consider what these past 30 days have been about regarding you and your relationships. Have you created any new partnerships? Are they based on the truth of who you are? or are you building them on the quicksand of superficial appearance and wishful thinking? Have you been honest in your existing relationships? Are there any rough edges you want to smooth over? Any friends you need to call and meet for coffee just to mend any frayed links. Parents? Children? Business Partners? Now is the time to harmonize your existing relationships, because with Scorpio coming in strong, you may discover that any unsettled feelings will come to a head with a vengeance.

Best times for ceremony and meditation are Thursday moonrise at 6 pm to Friday night at 10:30 pm EDT when the Moon changes from Aries to Taurus. And don’t forget the powerful beauty of the Full Moon setting at dawn on Friday morning in the west. Oh, and that beautiful, bright, and shining light you see near the Moon? That is Jupiter, and it will follow the Moon all night, and you can see it setting in the dawn’s early light as well. Jupiter is a planet that is protective and expansive, so it brings an extra energy to the harmony of all your relations.

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What are the Angles in the horoscope?

Dear Lilan,  Why are the angles so important? Signed, Confused

Dear Confused,  In astrology we are using a symbolic language which means that there are multiple interpretations and ways to approach the chart. There is no “truth” about the right way.

Regarding the Angles: We use symbols for all the planets in astrology. But you don’t see the symbol for Earth because the planetary positions are calculated from the position of the Earth. Earth is the rock upon which we live and take a stand. The  symbol for the Earth is a circle with a cross in center, like the 4 directions on a compass or medicine wheel. The horoscope upon which we place the position of the planets is also a circle with a cross in the center and represents the arenas of our life on Earth.

The 4 points of the cross are the angles and are very important points in the horoscope. The Ascendent (1st house) is all about ME!, which is your physical self that is visible to the world including your personality, physical characteristics, and place of personal expression and growth. Nadir (4th house, also called the I.C.) is the root of the chart and represents your physical roots, like home, family, and your emotional roots, including the Soul, safety, and nurturing (which can point toward your nurturing parent). Descendent (7th house) which is opposite the Me quality of the Ascendent and represents the We part of your life, including relationships, marriage, and close partnerships. Midheaven (10th house, also called the M.C.) is the top pinnacle of your chart and is opposite the rootedness of the Nadir. Midheaven is where you show up taking a stand in the world, is your public reputation, and can be career.

These four arenas of life — Myself, Others, Home, and Public — are the cornerstones of our life. Other experiences like money, play, heath, education, etc, all occur within the bounds of these 4 angles. You can get information about each of these angles by looking at the sign on that angle. Use this process and see if you can figure out more about these 4 important areas in you life. Start with the Ascendent.
1. Look to the sign on your Ascendent, also called your rising sign.
2. What is the planet that rules that sign? This planet is called your chart ruler. For example, if your rising sign is Aries, Mars is the ruler. So Mars is your chart ruler.
3. Find your chart ruler in your horoscope. So, in the above example, find Mars in your chart and notice the sign and house of your chart ruler. For example, Mars is in Taurus in the 4th house.
4. The sign your chart ruler is in gives additional information (beyond the rising sign) to how your personality is expressed. If Mars is in Taurus, you express your personality in a solid and dependable way. This Taurus influence would stabilize your Aries rising. If, on the other hand, your chart ruler Mars was in Gemini you would express your personality by talking and communicating. This Gemini influence would excite your Aries rising.
5. The House your chart ruler is in is where your personality shines. So, if Mars in Taurus was in the 4th house, your personality would shine in your home, where you might initiate (Aries) activities that solidify the home environment (Taurus).
6. You would also include aspects to your chart ruler, but that is more advanced, so at first just stick with sign and house.

To do this you need to know which planet rules each sign.  Remember: Planets rule the Signs –Signs rule the Houses. Rulerships are:  Aries is ruled by Mars    Taurus/Venus    Gemini/Mercury   Cancer/Moon    Leo/Sun    Virgo/Mercury    Libra/Venus    Scorpio/Pluto    Sagittarius/Jupiter    Capricorn/Saturn    Aquarius/Uranus    Pisces/Neptune

Do the process for the sign on each of your other angles. So, for the Nadir, find the sign on the Nadir (4th house), look for the planet that rules that sign, and find see what sign and house it is in (for example, if you have Capricorn on the 4th house, look for the sign and house placement of Saturn).  Capricorn on the 4th would bring a sense of responsibility to the home. If Saturn, it’s ruler was in Taurus in the 7th house of marriage, a strong and stable marriage would be important to you.

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Why are people so tired?

Dear Lilan.  Just curious if you have idea on why people are feeling just plain tired and rotten.  Wondered if the Moon or whatever is contributing?  Signed: Curious

Dear Curious, The Full Moon was a powerful one this month, and I heard a lot of reports of people being spaced out, tired, and irritable. But the Full Moon is only active for a few days. It sounds like what you are referring to is something more long term. Astrologically, there has been a pretty intense energy in the sky that started this summer with Saturn, Pluto, Uranus, and Jupiter making a cardinal T-Square, which some people have referred to it as a Cardinal Cross, or Crisis Cross. Many people have been talking about it as pretty stressful. It’s hard to generalize to the entire population based on planetary aspects. It is much better to compare the planetary changes to a person’s individual horoscope. But, this aspect has been creating lot of stress, anxiety, feeling unsettled, many changes, and disturbed sleep. This intense aspect  is now ending as Saturn is moving out  and Uranus and Jupiter are taking a bit of a siesta, so there should be a feeling of relief.

But this early March Uranus and Jupiter will reconnect with Pluto, and I would imagine things will gear back up and stress will increase again. So, this is a long way of saying I bet people you know are responding to uncertainty and stress. It would be good to do meditation, stress reduction techniques, and look into supplements that might help stress and sleep.

Hope this helps.
Lilan

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Jupiter and the Moon

That beautiful bright light next to the Aries Full Moon is Jupiter. Go out tonight and tomorrow and put your attention on the realization and expansion (Jupiter) of your most passionate and creative nature (Moon). Uranus is right there too, but too far away to see with the naked eye. Uranus adds a touch of the unexpected and even explosive. So don’t do anything too crazy or risky, it could backfire on you. Balance all this big Arian energy with the love and deep connections of the Libra Sun, and you will find the balance you need to express your most dynamic self.

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Fall Equinox and Harvest Moon

The Sun is in Libra, and the Sun is the conscious part of ourselves that is seeking and striving to be fully in its light – enlightenment. So this month, bring your total consciousness to your relationships. Open your ears to really listen with curiosity and respect, and open your hearts to allow the sweetness of compassion to strengthen the ties that bind you to the people in your life.

by Linda Holt-Ayriss

Moon in Aries. Oh boy. Watch out for emotional flare ups, challenging conversations, locking horns in battle, thoughtless actions. And all of this from a totally unconscious place. The Moon is our Soul, which lives in the realm of the unconscious and speaks through the language of emotions. So, to say that for the next few days we will all be unconsciously triggered by any little thing is a bit of an understatement. This Ram, the symbol of Aries, is prancing quite unconcerned through the wreckage of a volcanic eruption. I think that about says it all.

Aries is a wonderful energy. Passionate, fierce, energetic, direct, courageous, combative. But those are qualities best used with a certain amount of consciousness and intent. When Aries is hanging out with the Moon, and all reason is lost, and when it is fueled by Uranus and Jupiter, as it is right now, well, all bets are off. I suggest buying flowers, making dinner, seduction, flattery, humor, whatever it takes to get your foot out of your mouth.

The Sun leaves the sign of Virgo (remember her beautiful purity?), and enters Libra late Wednesday night. Libra is the sign of relationships and is represented by balance scales, an instrument that allows us to weigh two things in relationship to each other. I thought this drawing by one of my favorite artists, Susan Seddon Boulet, a more beautiful illustration of the balance between duality, than any picture of scales.

If you look closely (i.e. meditate) on this picture you will see much that reminds you of Libra. First, the duality, second, it is beautiful, and third, it is full of love. Hearts connect these two people and there is a cupid at the base, showing that the foundation of any relationship is love. And the butterflies signify transformation, which is part of any real relationship, that challenges us to grow. And the ears!! oh the ears! It is through listening that we create relationships. Libra knows that any relationship exists because of the connection between two people – not a projection of what we want a person to be – but a real connection based on truth, and honesty, and communication.

The Equinox happens twice a year, once in the Spring, and one in the Fall. It is part of the cycle of the Sun I mentioned in the last Moon Letter. Equinox means “equal” and it is when the day and night are equal in length. From this point on, night will gain the upper hand until we reach the Winter Solstice, when night is dominant and the light is short. The Fall equinox always occurs when the Sun moves into Libra, the sign of Balance. Libra represents the balance between day and night, between yang and yin, between love and war, between men and women, between …..

The Sun is in Libra, and the Sun is the conscious part of ourselves that is seeking and striving to be fully in its light – enlightenment. So this month, bring your total consciousness to your relationships. Open your ears to really listen with curiosity and respect, and open your hearts to allow the sweetness of compassion to strengthen the ties that bind you to the people in your life.

by Susan Seddon Boulet

During each Full Moon we have the opportunity to balance the opposing energies of the Sun and the Moon; this month we balance Libra and Aries. Libra is the refined, conscious, beautiful woman who seeks the best in all relationships in order to find harmony. In essence, she is Beauty.

Aries is the Beast. The lovable, but totally primitive and unconscious animal parts of ourselves that are so full of energy, that without them all the beauty in the world would die on the vine.  We need both of these energies. We need the passionate nature of our unconscious angers and emotions. But we also need them to be tamed by the desire for love and relationship.

This Full Moon, either Wednesday or Thursday (day or night, since the Moon puts out spectacular light into the dawn) meditate on how your unconscious beliefs and habits are creating havoc in your relationships. Are you reacting to your current lover like she was your x-wife? Are you overly sensitive about criticism because it reminds you of your father? Do you feel insecure due to your parents early divorce? The list of human foibles goes on. Be the Beauty. Allow your love and compassion and awareness to bring the Beast in yourself into harmony. This is the time of the year to balance that which is your darkness and that which is your light. Remember they need each other, for in the connection we are complete.

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