Lammas is celebrated at the height of summer, and it is halfway between the Summer Solstice and the Fall Equinox, so it falls around August 1st. It is a day related to the “feast of first fruits” and is connected with the blessings of the first harvest, especially of grains, and wheat. Around the south, it is the festival of Corn! with corn so abundant and so delicious that I could eat it at every meal (along with that rich red fruit known as the tomato). So rejoice in the blessing of the grains and fruits of summer. This would be a great week to be sure to shop at the farmer’s market, and support the farmers who understand these sun cycles with each crop they grow. For more on the history and myth of Lammas go to: http://www.mythinglinks.org/Lammas.html
Two other women, Jennifer and Melissa, and myself began the Astrology-Chatt Meet-up with the hopes we would find some like-minded people interested in talking about what many in the Bible belt consider devilish. It still amazes me that some people have the idea that astrology is anti-religious or anti-Christian. I think I find it so amazing since I know the history of astrology and know that the basis of it is very religious in that it is about God’s presence on earth. And that Christianity used to integrate astrology into its teachings. Thomas Aquinas, a great theologian, discusses astrology as valid in certain contexts.
Just recently my husband Bill reconnected with some old neighbors who are now doing missionary work in Africa, South America, and other countries. They go under the auspices of being language teachers (which they are not), but use that as a means to gain access to people. When he told them he was married to an Astrologer they sent him an email saying they were sorry he had drifted from the path, and then cut off contact with him!! He wrote them back to say that it was difficult to see how they could be so closed minded to other beliefs of Americans while at the same time receptive to the beliefs of people in rural countries, and he was surprised to see them act in such an exclusive manner. After about 2 weeks they responded that Bill was right, and it was un-Christian to judge people so harshly. And in prior astrology classes that I have taught, some students would say that when they told neighbors they were going to astrology, the neighbors replied they might as well go to Hell!!! Amazing. Especially in this day of global citizenship where a compassionate heart and open mind are essential to being part of this ever changing world.
So our Astrology Chatt that we had on Saturday was a great success. In one month we’ve had 18 people join, and 9 came to the first meeting. We had people who had studied 30 years and people who pondered astrology for 30 days. Great mix. Looking forward to more.
What types of responses have you had when you mention astrology?
In peace, Lilan
The Sun is in Leo and the Moon is in the opposite sign of Aquarius. Leo and Aquarius are two very different qualities that we all have within us, and within our world. This Full Moon gives us the opportunity to think about how we can bring these different qualities into balance.
Leo is symbolized by the Lion – powerful, ferocious, fearless. At it’s best Leo is represented as a King/Queen, a ruler who uses her power for the good of all. She is confident, strong, smart, creative, and persistent is her unwavering action for what is right for her community. At its worst, Leo is power-hungry and self absorbed, and uses its power for personal gain with little regard for the consequences of its actions on others. We have seen the positive Leo qualities in leaders like Martin Luther King or Nelson Mandela. We have seen the negative qualities of Leo in the greedy and manipulative action of BP Oil Company. It seems we have plenty of examples in our country of a culture of corruption that is an example of Leo energy at its most destructive. The self-interest of politicians in Congress, the twisted faux news stories that are geared to make money instead of truth, the financial wheeling and dealing that led to the housing and economic crisis. Even the relentless heat of the summer seems to point to Leo energy that is off balance and out of control.
The Aquarian Full Moon is here to bring a balance to the hot and fiery nature of Leo. Aquarius is symbolized by the Water Bearer, and in this wonderful painting by Eric Williams, she is shown offering a long cool drink of water, generous and abundant for all. This open-minded giving to all people, regardless of race, creed, sex, or status is one of the hallmarks of Aquarius. At its best, Aquarius is an energy of humanitarian aid, and can be seen in such organizations as Doctor without Borders and the many individual volunteers to all the causes of peace, environmentalism, and social justice.
We can strive to find the balance between personal need and humanitarian giving at any time. But the energy during this full Moon is especially powerful, particularly Saturday and Sunday. I personally love to see the Full Moon, and if possible I will sit outside under her light and meditate and pray that the changes I want to see in the world begin with me. This could be a good weekend to remember that beautiful song of “Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me. Let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be.” Or, the wonderful song “From a Distance” that states that when you step back from greed and ego, the unity between all of us becomes more evident.To see it sung on YouTube of one of my favorite singers, Nancy Griffith, go to http://www.youtube.com/ or check out Bette Midler’s version. The balance we seek with this Full Moon is to use our personal power and creative nature in the service of the health and prosperity of the world.
Evening of Tuesday, July 13, 2010
The Moon is moving from New to the first stage of crescent. The Moon is spectacular tonight in it’s crescent form. Like a silver sliver in the sky, it graces the evening light. Look to the west and watch it set. You should be able to see the crescent Moon for several nights. Spectacular. There will be the crescent Moon after every new Moon (look on the Moon page for a diagram of the Moon phases). My friend Shayla and I always called this the High Priestess Moon. This is because in the Tarot cards of my favorite deck, the Waite-Rider, the High Priestess has a crescent Moon at her feet. And her crown is made up of three stages of the Moon- waxing crescent, the full, and the waning crescent. These three stages of the Moon are the symbol of the Triple Goddess, the goddess in all her stages, Maiden, Mother, and Crone. So for now, the Moon is a Maiden. She is new, fresh, growing in light and power. So lovely.
And above and to the left of the crescent Moon look for the bright shining diamond in the sky that is Venus. According to the Current Planets widget, the Moon is in late degrees of Leo, and Venus is in early degrees of Virgo. This means that tomorrow (Wednesday July 14th) the Moon and Venus will even be closer in the sky in the zodiac sign of Virgo, and they become exactly connected (conjunct in astrological language) at 5:14 pm EDT. This really is a week for the goddess. Be sure to watch the sky tomorrow night. But if you can’t, know that the nurturing Mother part of you (the Moon), and the connecting Lover (Venus) are having a talk about how you can bring these two very different parts of yourself into a union.
Your Communication Skills …Communication can become about expressing yourself creativity and style. If you’ve been wanting to find your voice in writing, or try out for theater, this is a good week to begin to experiment with joyfully having your say. Don’t be too concerned if other people say you are a bit too self-centered in the way your are perceiving the world. This is a good month to think about how YOU need to engage with the world. This is because Mercury moves from Cancer into the sign of Leo on Friday July 9th
Your Love & Relationships … Your love life may be less focused on play and creative expression (the qualities of Leo) and start to be more practical in nature. Venus might not have as much pure fun in Virgo, but it is a good time to plan for the future, save for a house, or start a new approach to eating and health. All of those things are a necessary part of building a long lasting love relationship. This is because Venus moves from Leo into the sign of Virgo on Saturday July 10th.
I’ve been working hard the last few months on the new website, and really hard the last few days. It feels great to have it launched. I’ve gotten some wonderful emails from people that were supportive, and I loved getting that feedback. I really felt the energy of the New Moon/Eclipse (or maybe it was the coffee and sugar!) But regardless, It made me think about how the website really is my link with the outside world. I used metaphors in my newsletter about how I wanted people to come and visit me, have a cup of tea or a glass of wine; how I wanted my blog to be like a living room conversation; and that the website was my home on the web.
Bam! It hit me that of course this site is like your home. The New Moon is in Cancer, which rules the home. So with this Cancer energy I am opening my web home, inviting people in, hoping to meet the neigbors, so to speak. That symbolism was not obvious to me. I got that it was Cancer, and it would be supportive of the Moon Goddess and my work with the Moon. But I missed the warm and fuzzy part of it being about home and community, until I actually read what I had written.
This is really important to me. As a Pisces I tend to be more private, and not share my thoughts or writings to a great extent. To have my thoughts about things in such a public venue as the internet would normally give me a feeling of being a bit exposed. But with this Cancer energy it feels quite different. It feels like my website is my public home, where I can meet and greet, and share and chat with anyone who comes by. What a different way for me to consider the internet. I even referred to people’s Twitter and Face Book communities (another Cancer term). I never thought of Twitter in that way before. I always avoided Facebook. With my web launch on the New Moon/Solar Eclipse in Cancer I really think that something shifted in me. I’ve opened my doors, and joined in a community so much larger, and really so much friendlier than I had imagined.
Thanks for coming.
This week the Moon wanes in its light as it gets ready for a New Moon on Sunday July 11th.
A New Moon is when the Sun and the Moon are right next to each other, with the light of the Sun so bright that the lessor light of the Moon becomes invisible. This is because the New Moon will be in the astrological sign of Cancer at 19 degrees on Sunday July 11th at 3:40 pm EDT.
There is a Total Solar Eclipse also on Sunday July 11th at 3:40 pm at 19 degrees Cancer. A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon aligns exactly between the Earth and the Sun, blocking the Sun’s light (see diagram below). This solar eclipse won’t be visible in the US, or not many places at all since the path of the eclipse is right in the middle of the ocean. For what this eclipse means symbolically to you, go to the Changing Sky.
Your Emotional Soul… This week the Moon wanes in its light as it gets ready for a New Moon on Sunday July 11th at 3:40 pm EDT.in the astrological sign of Cancer at 19 degrees. This is a New Moon that is focused on the feminine. Not only is the Moon in her favorite zodiac sign of Cancer (since Cancer is ruled by the Moon), the Sun, a bright and yang-like energy, is also in Cancer, making it more mellow and loving. An eclipse is one of the rare times that the Moon overpowers the light of the Sun! Plus, the asteroid Juno, the Roman Goddess is part of this connection between Sun and Moon. Juno is the wife of Jupiter (in Greek, she is known as Hera, wife of Zeus). She was a powerful goddess in her own right, and defended women and marriage. Whether you are a man or a woman, this is a New Moon that is about connecting to the feminine within and realizing the power of the Goddess.
Your Energetic Spirit… The Sun is going to be eclipsed by the shadow of the Moon, during the New Moon on July 11th. A Solar eclipse is a Syzygy. Much like the word “yoga,” which means “to join in union,” syzygy literally means “to yoke together.” This yoking between the Sun, Moon, and Earth symbolizes an alignment the Spirit, Soul, and Body. This eclipse occurs in the sign of Cancer, so the alignment should be directed toward your emotional needs and desire to be nurtured.
Cancer is a feminine yin energy, and is connected to the great Matrix of the ocean, the Mother from which life on earth was born. One way to bring yourself into Syzygy on this eclipse is to connect to the Great Mother of a religious tradition. Mary is the Great Mother in the Christian tradition, and is much loved for unconditional acceptance of the frailties of human kind. She has a similar quality to Tara in Buddhism, and Isis in the ancient Egyptian religions. These goddesses will always answer your call for help, and will be there to nurture and care for you. Take a few deep breaths and meditate on this beautiful image of Mary, an icon from the Russian Orthodox Church, and see yourself fully loved and adored. Notice that Mary is between the Sun, which is behind her head, and the New Moon, which is at her feet. You are also connected and embraced by the Heavens. If you click on the image, it will enlarge.
Your Communication Skills …Communication can become about expressing yourself creativity and style. If you’ve been wanting to find your voice in writing, or try out for theater, this is a good week to begin to experiment with joyfully having your say. Don’t be too concerned if other people say you are a bit too self-centered in the way your are perceiving the world. This is a good month to think about how YOU need to engage with the world. This is because Mercury moves from Cancer into the sign of Leo on Friday July 9th
Your Love & Relationships … Your love life may be less focused on play and creative expression (the qualities of Leo) and start to be more practical in nature. Venus might not have as much pure fun in Virgo, but it is a good time to plan for the future, save for a house, or start a new approach to eating and health. All of those things are a necessary part of building a long lasting love relationship. This is because Venus moves from Leo into the sign of Virgo on Saturday July 10th.
As I sit outside on my deck and watch the Moon and Venus setting I ponder the AFAN exchange on questions around how to legitimize astrology, and astrology’s possible acceptance into the academic world. I am an academic, and an astrologer, and a licensed counselor. I spent 9 years at the University of Pittsburgh, a research institution (as opposed to only teaching, therefore in the academic world, way superior) and was given full funding and fellowships. I got my Ph.D. in Religious Studies in 2004. My studies and dissertation focused on ritual and cosmology. I have given papers at numerous academic meeting, and still am involved in my professional organization, the American Academy of Religion and am giving a paper at the annual meeting this coming November. Over 6000 religious scholars attend these meetings and getting a paper accepted is considered a significant accomplishment. And I have published in academic journals and taught at various universities. As an astrologer since 1985 who was very tired of being considered sub-worthy and rather dim witted, I decided to get a Ph.D. with the goal of showing that astrologers were not dim witted and also moving forward in legitimizing astrology as a worthy profession. (Do you sense a strong Saturn here?)
When I graduated I really questioned whether I wanted to work on getting astrology to be considered legitimate by the academy. I decided, after some consideration, that it was a waste of my time and a nearly impossible task. My ideal image of the academy, that of inquiring minds who want to know, was crushed by the realities. Academics are interested in their particular discipline, and are very territorial. Astrology and alchemy are questionable in the academic community. I thought it was very prejudicial that a Christian could study Christianity, and a Jew could study Judaism, but an astrologer was considered suspect, and unable to render anything intelligible. My husband, a life long academic and former head of his department, agrees and says that there is a lot of prejudice against astrology, and that academics are arrogant anyway, and they are especially arrogant about their prejudices. (that is a quote!) I came to discover that one could study astrology as a cultural phenomena, for example astrology in India, or historical, like Mayan or Medieval astrology. But I decided it was a waste of my time and my knowledge to try to convince academics that I had something legitimate to say, when there are so many interested people in the world who are genuinely interested in what astrology offers. I decided to put my focus on moving astrology forward among those who are interested rather than trying to convince uninterested people about the value of astrology. If anyone is thinking of pursuing an advanced degree I would be glad to talk to you about possible ways to contextualize your astrological research to fit into the academy. Now there are some excellent colleges that might be considered alternative or progressive that do embrace astrology. I’m not referring to them; I’m talking about the hard core research oriented academic institutions of which I have been a part, and of which I think this forum has been referring.
As far as psychics and tarot readers are concerned: I love the Tarot and believe it to be a fantastic means for inner knowledge and a tool for guidance. I did my Master’s thesis at Hunter College in NYC on the Tarot and its relationship to Carl Jung’s path of Individuation. I have great respect for the Tarot, and certain psychics, like Edgar Cayce, I trust as legitimate. I do not think we all need to follow the same path when it comes to gaining wisdom or finding tools that work. I choose to get as much education as possible, but that is not the path for everyone. And I have had dear friends whom I greatly respect who have found comfort in mediums. I think the ideal is not to bash a profession, since that is what we dislike about astrology bashing, but rather to look for integrity and excellence wherever it is found.
In peace,
Lilan
Last night I went out to look at the night sky, fully expecting to see Orion high in the sky, with his trusted dog Sirius. But low and behold, they were not there. I have loved watching Orion on these long winter nights, and he has become like a dependable friend. Orion is one of the easiest constellations to find, since he has that wonderful belt made of three stars, and his arms and legs are spread strong and wide, like the warrior he is. And in that belt is a nebula, that I can actually see sometimes with my astronomical binoculars (which cost only about $70!) Orion’s belt is featured in the Hubble 3D movie, which is spectacular and I highly recommend. For more information on Orion check out this article and pictures in Wikipedia.
But Orion was missing! I pondered what might have happened to him, when I noticed way low on the western horizon the three stars of his belt. And I realized, that Orion was leaving, his time in the sky over until the next winter. I felt sad that I would not see him in the summer nights. And I wondered what would take his place. So I looked up and I saw the constellation of LEO, the Lion! I smiled and felt relieved. Leo is also a very easy constellation to see, with his beautiful curved maned head. So check it out. And if you can’t find Leo on your own, download Stellarium for free at http://www.stellarium.org/ It is a great program to help you see the night sky.
So, I’ll miss you, Orion. But I’ll see you next winter, and until then, I’ll just have to get to know Leo a bit better.
Well, I learn something new everyday. And today it was that it appears (and I say appears, since one chart isn’t enough evidence for a definitive statement) that an astrological chart can be done for a dog. Very interesting case study brought in by a student of mine involving a show dog that lost her first litter of puppies to a strange silent killer. The idea that a dog has a birthchart brings up a whole host of questions for me. Like, does a dog have a soul?
Isabel Hickey, my first astrology teacher, said that dogs are the incarnation stage immediately prior to becoming humans. It is by being in such close connections to humans that a dog learns about what it means to be a human. I had a wonderful dog, Nietzsche, who was so smart and wonderful that I said that I was certain her next life would be human.
So, who knows. Maybe.