February 2009
Full Moon-Lunar Eclipse in Leo, February 9
The build-up of energy in Aquarius – Mars, Jupiter, North Node, Sun, Chiron, Neptune – means that change is the first order of business in our “Emerging Consciousness Manual.” You may be reeling from all the buzz and blam of this Full Moon. Too busy? Stressed out? Sick and tired? Breaking down? Join the eclipse club. All the commotion might be shaking out in beautiful, creative ways for you as well. But chances are there’s a lot of activity and not much time to think.
Leo is the artist, the leader, and the child, adding a bit of glamour, encouragement and humor to our lives. Usually, a Full Moon in Leo would be the time to revel in the majesty of the Self and work some major self-love spells. This year, we must add a dose of action and service to this prescription. Aquarius asks that we put our ideas to work for the good of all. An almost exact conjunction with Chiron (the wounded healer) and the Sun (the conscious self) at the moment of the Full Moon opens this gateway even further, challenging us to put our creativity and radiance to work as artists of change and deep healers of our collective wounding.
The Sabian Symbol for the Leo Full Moon is: A carrier pigeon fulfilling its mission. This symbol speaks of spirituality wedded to real world service. Dane Rudhyar writes, “Individual realizations acquire their true meaning only as they fulfill a collective function.” In other words, our personal pain transforms into inner awareness, which then blossoms when we put it to use to help others.
The sign of Leo rules our hearts, self-expression, and creative desire. Put your hand on your heart and feel the rhythm. Touch your own heart, your own love and passion, and hear the secret message your heart has for you. Let the fire you feel there connect you with your purpose. Could “following your bliss,” as many a chipper bumper sticker advises, actually lead you to find your true place in the world? Leo says “YES!”, and Aquarius adds that we also have to give back to the whole. Many of us may are struggling or questioning our role within the current economic crash. We may be reinventing ourselves and looking for ways to make ends meet. What’s clear to me is that our personal survival depends upon our ability to work collectively and reach out to others.
The heart is an open circuit: as it pumps, it gives and receives. The heart holds joy and even pride in its magical yet definite function. It restores what has been lost, and then offers it out again. As such, it is also the seat of compassion, which is our ability to connect to the beauty and pain of another beyond our own needs and desires. If your heart feels like it’s breaking, or like it’s swelling to burst with happiness, know that it’s working to create more space for the world to enter.
To open to the energy of this Full Moon, think of yourself as a channel for inspiration and Divine Love. As a channel, you are fluid and changeable. As a channel, you will be filled and emptied and filled again. As a channel, you are “the route through which a message is sent” and you have a responsibility to report that message. What interferes with our ability to channel our power is becoming fixated on identifying with our pain or beauty. Get out of your own way. What message are you being asked to deliver? What are the talents you possess that make you the right one for the job? Use your Goddess-given talents to show, to encourage, to create, to tell others all about it.
New Moon in Pisces, February 24
Pisces is the sign of dreams, healing, and mysticism. As a water sign, it is endowed with sensitivity to the environment and the hidden undercurrents of the collective unconscious. Just think of the tides of the ocean, or the way a river fits into its bed, and you can understand the principles at work within the Piscean world. Often emotional and idealistic, Pisces searches for the underlying meaning that can unite us and make sense of suffering. It is also the sign of illusion and fantasy. When afflicted, Pisces seeks out escape routes rather than dealing with the pressures of day to day life. This often takes the form of isolation, addiction, and unconscious manipulation in relationships.
With the New Moon here, we are invited to face the shadow side of Pisces as a way to find compassion and healing. If there are ways that you are hiding from life, this is a good time to set intentions to step out of your comfort zone. Beginning the hard work of recovery – whether from substance abuse, co-dependent relationships, or other unhealthy escapist behaviors – can gain a powerful boost of support from this New Moon in Pisces.
On the other hand, it may be that you need more retreat in your life. If your schedule is packed full, leaving little or no “space out” time for replenishment, then this New Moon says now is the time to slow down. Listening to your body, tuning into dreams and strengthening your connection to Spirit are all ways to honor the Moon in Pisces. As the New Moon grows to Full in Virgo, we will be ready to release the power of our intentions into the world and find the practical support we need to step onto the path of healing in our lives.
New Moon in Aries, March 26
My monthly Full Moon Report will be on hiatus for a month as I take some time to retool and revision the format. Stay tuned. I look forward to unveiling the changes. You can check out my astrology column in Alternatives Magazine coming out in March. Since I don’t want to leave you hanging, I’d like to recommend a little New Moon in Aries magic for March 26. The New Moon in Aries is the first new moon after the Vernal Equinox on March 20. As the harbinger of budding life and the return of light, it is a most powerful time to set intentions for the whole year. On the night of the New Moon, light a candle and let yourself connect with your desires and dreams. Then write down the things you’d like to challenge yourself to accomplish in the coming year. Be bold. Be brave. And be clear with your words. Aries is the warrior sign and so does really well with goals and objectives – a target to hit. Once you’ve written down your personal intentions, you might want to make some offerings of food or herbs by putting a plate outside or by burning them. Keep your intentions in a special place or hang them up to remind yourself of these promises made to yourself.
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