Astro Tips: Full Moon in Cancer January 1, 2018

ASTRO TIPS by Linda Sprague

 New Year’s Day begins with a Full Moon in the sign of Cancer , balancing out the yearly movement of the Sun through Capricorn.  Saturn has domain over this time of the year. Saturn is the ruler of Capricorn with references to Father Time, aging and winter.  There is a cluster of planets in Capricorn—Sun, Venus, Pluto and Saturn (again the ruler of Capricorn). That’s a lot of cold air in the northern hemisphere.  Staying at home (the sign of Cancer) is a good way to balance the Capricorn coldness.

The Meaning of Cancer and Capricorn

The polarity of the signs Cancer and Capricorn brings up the conversation about what we need versus what we can do about it. We begin 2018 with this Full Moon in the sign of Cancer (what we need) opposing the Sun in Capricorn (the drive to set things in order). Both signs have to do with family and tradition. You might think of Cancer, with its association with the Moon, as representing the mother:  physical and emotional nurturing, honoring the feminine and the home, growth and summer, being dependent, being a child, being emotional and pre-verbal, and creativity. And you might think about Capricorn as the father: structure, pragmatism, learning to be responsible, honoring the masculine, striving to be logical, finding one’s place in the world, how to work with authority, learning how to be a grown-up, and how to age with dignity and maturity.

If you think about this polarity of Cancer/Capricorn, you can see that we are constantly flipping between being a kid and being an adult. We are “thinking” that we are rational and logical but actually the pre-verbal Cancerian baby part of us is also driving the bus.  This can be a confusing combo.  The trick is to be conscious of both parts of our psyche and our behavior.

Another opportunity to practice Mindfulness presents itself

Maybe this Full Moon at the beginning of 2018 will give us some insight into our own individual complexity.  Full moons offer insight into the unconscious and intuitive realm.  Do you try so hard to be a Capricorn grown-up that you forget about your inner child needing to laugh and play?  Are you so busy trying to be the perfect grown-up that you forget who you really are?  Ok, now fess up! Are you so needy that you resent all the grown-up responsibilities that rattle your little red wagon?  Knowing when we are behaving from an “unconscious toddler part” and when we are behaving from an “acquired rational grown-up place” is hard to discern.   Here is quote by Dipa Ma to help give us some perspective: “The whole path of mindfulness is this:  Whatever you are doing, be aware of it.”

May the Whole Wide World become Mindful!

What does a healthy human being look like anyway?  Good question to start off this New Year.  We look at political dialogue in Washington, DC and it is obvious that some people who think they are responsible, rational grown-ups are actually behaving like babies (irrational and unconscious).  I’m sure we see this confusion at the family dinner table as well!  Sometimes people do not realize that they are not being logical at all.  Again, the mindfulness approach is a huge component of maturity.  This Full Moon gives us some energy to be conscious of where we are in our soul maturity.

So much Capricorn.  So much to do!

We begin 2018 with a heavy emphasis in the sign of Capricorn. Today, The Sun, Venus and Pluto are sitting together in Capricorn and opposing the Moon in Cancer. The impulse to find structure and order in our lives is very strong right now.  Saturn, ruler of Capricorn, has just stepped into the sign of Capricorn. Saturn likes to visit Capricorn. Saturn is about structure, order, time, reality, and responsibility. Capricorn covers these same attributes. We can let the light of the full moon in Cancer show us how to emotionally approach our need for structure and order.  Hopefully we will be able to organize and build what we need and want to build.  If it feels overwhelming, remember to pace yourself.

Fly your Kite.

The astrological configuration of this full moon is in the shape of a kite. Get your kite off the ground and you can really fly.  Mars and Jupiter holding hands in the sign of Scorpio give us emotional, passionate energy to take charge of the kite and accomplish our goals.  The sign of Scorpio has a lot to do with secrets. Jupiter makes things bigger; so don’t be surprised to get in touch with some of your own hidden material, especially information about secrets surrounding intimacy, relationships, and money.

A Reminder

Finally, we are still under the influence of Mercury squaring Neptune. Don’t believe everything you see or hear on the news. Don’t believe everything you think in your own head!  Neptune is illusion.  Manipulation and brainwashing are under the headline of Neptune. If you are suspicious about something, dig a little deeper until you find the reality of the situation.  Fact checking is a good thing. Use the Mars/Jupiter detectives in Scorpio to help sort out the overload of babbling and information that streams into your energy field (that includes body, mind and soul!).

Happy New Year

Capricorn is the sign that helps us create structure in our lives and that leads to a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment.  Let the Full Moon in Cancer on this New Year’s Day give you the integration you need for healthy goals and focused endeavors in 2018.

Astro Tips: Full Moon in Gemini December 3, 2017

December 3, 2017.  Full Moon in Gemini at 11 degrees.

This full moon is not a mere invitation.  It is a high frequency siren piercing through the night. Rumi says in his poetry, Wake up Wake up. Remember that old saying, “I was asleep when I thought I was awake”? Here it is again.

The Sun in Sagittarius forms a wide conjunction with Venus and both oppose the full moon in airy Gemini.  With the Sagittarius/Gemini polarity, the Gemini collects information. Gemini is forever curious and likes to share what it learns. The opposite sign, Sagittarius, is the part that integrates and finds meaning in the information.  With this full moon we might lay out bits of information and attempt to understand and find meaning in the puzzle before us.  Our ability to make sense and find meaning is complicated by planet Neptune. Neptune sits in between the Sun and the Moon, challenging us to choose the high road to Neptune or slide down the low road.

Astrology associates Neptune with all that lies beyond the veil, with things that are hidden and with attributes that are less concerned with the material plane.  A person who chooses compassion over self-interest might be described as someone on the high Neptunian path.  Neptune is also associated with the mystical realm, metaphysical thought, and sublime forms of art (music, poetry, photography and filmmaking for example).  There are many misty clouds surrounding Neptune, giving the suggestion that Neptune hides reality from easy view. What is real?  What is a lie? What is truth?  How can I know myself? Why do I sometimes sabotage myself? Why do others take advantage of me? What is my truth? How did I manage to be so blind sighted? Why am I so sensitive? Where am I fooling myself?

The dark side of Neptune brings lies and deception, confusion, distortion of reality, delusion, manipulation, depression and sensitivity to alcohol and drugs. The solar vitality and the ego are weak under the influence of Neptune. Self-doubt is a problem.

On the other hand, glorious Neptune brings insight into all possibilities for a healthier life, a better tomorrow and a more beautiful world.  Neptune allows us to visualize the next steps for ourselves and for humanity. For every nasty thing that happens right now, there are dozens of beautiful life events unfolding everywhere on planet earth…. new inventions, solid resolutions to serious problems, new treatments for healing that surpass conventional medicine, babies being born who already have some genetic coding for living differently on our planet. Neptune is that small still voice that keeps saying: “We are one, don’t be afraid!”  Everything is connected; the web is holy. (Marcus Aurelius)

This Full Moon in Gemini gives us a chance to find peace in our own truth.

We are living this Neptune challenge to the Sun and Moon right now.   How can we face our illusions?  Can we be open? Can we be unafraid of our hidden agendas? How do we bury our fear of those who are different from us? Can we be at peace with our complexity? Can we allow ourselves to be set free? Confronting the truth in our lives is scary but it is also liberating. This full moon gives us a chance to find peace in our own truth.  Everything that is pretend and not based in integrity will be shown to us if we allow it to be. Insincerity in self and insincerity from others, it will be shown.  If we are hypnotized by life, by another person, by avoidance, it’s time to wake up. 

It’s hard to believe the level of deception and lies in the collective arena. It’s hard to comprehend the degree of suffering and injustice that we are living in. It’s hard to swallow the disregard for all life that expresses through violence and criminal behavior.  But of course, we need to look at our own behavior as well. It’s time to be kind. Resist the urge to be cynical, sarcastic, sneaky and mean. Be charitable and forgiving with self and others.

This full moon is not a mere invitation.  It is a high frequency siren piercing through the night. Wake up. Wake up.  Remember that old saying, “I was asleep when I thought I was awake”? Here it is again.

If I wanted to write about this full moon in Gemini all night long, I would digress into the Maya Calendar and what it means. Maybe I should!  We are sorting out what to let go of and what to take with us on the next evolutionary journey.

The Maya Calendar contained an understanding of the history of planet earth and the evolution of life and human existence.  The end of the Maya calendar in 2012 was not the end of time. According to those who have studied the Maya Calendar in depth,  the end of the calendar was the end of the evolutionary unfolding of all that has occurred on planet Earth since the beginning of the Tree of Life—the beginning of time.  Right now, we are living in the midst of everything that has ever happened.  Everything is happening at one time. It’s all right here in front of us. Even the dinosaur park in Kentucky is a nod towards all of existence being present here at one time (dinosaurworld.com).  A dinosaur world park does sound a bit odd if you know who Charles Darwin is. But how many dinosaurs are living in our minds, old stuff we still believe that has been extinct for a long, long time?  We are sorting out what to let go of and what to take with us on the next evolutionary journey. I don’t know how long this process takes and no one knows if Homo sapiens will continue the earthly journey or if they will fade away as other species have done.  Maybe we have fulfilled what we were supposed to do and it’s time for the next species to appear.

On a more practical level, Mercury is retrograde right on Saturn in Sagittarius.  Too much worry is not a good thing.

Mercury went into its retrograde phase on December 3 early in the morning while the moon was on its path to being completely full. Saturn is currently finishing its travels through the sign of Sagittarius. Mercury and Saturn have been sitting together for several days. Now, at 28 degrees, Mercury turns retrograde and Saturn, at 28 degrees, prepares to move on to complete its two and one half years of activity in the sign of Sagittarius.

The hardest part of this Mercury period is the presence of Saturn. We worry too much. The two energies together can be depressing.  Troubles seem more troublesome when these planets connect.  Hard times seem harder. The Tax Reform Bill presented by Congress suggests hard times ahead for many Americans. However, Mercury retrograde might mean that, before the month is over, the whole Bill will be scrutinized and possibly edited in many ways.  However, Mercury conjunct Saturn can also mean that whatever we are trying to build, we stick to the job and get it done! It is a suggestion of prevailing no matter what.

Mercury retrograde does not mean we stop living and breathing.  Carry on!  Old issues or problems might be up for review. Some people will have medical treatments under Mercury retrograde. There is no reason to be fearful.  If something new presents itself, then try to slow down--if possible--and postpone big decisions until after December 22.

Jupiter is on good terms with Neptune. This is a good thing.  The emerging energy on our planet invites us to envision abundance for everyone, not just for ourselves.

Jupiter being on good terms with Neptune (they are in a trine configuration which means ease and opportunity) counters the pessimism of Mercury retrograde with Saturn.  This aspect instills a spiritual quest for truth.  We should rely on our own inner teacher and guide(s).  Psychics do not have all the answers at this time. Neither do priests and preachers. Open that door that says:  Be your own Guru.  Jupiter and Neptune together provide good dreams and visions and sweet meditations.  

As I studied this chart for the December Full Moon in Gemini, I thought about Arnold Patent. He wrote a book titled, You Can Have It All (1984). He says, stop the worrying; there is enough to go around.  That means you and the other person can have it all, can have abundance—physical, emotional, mental, spiritual abundance. There is enough for everyone to have abundance on planet Earth. It is a matter of distribution.  All our species has to give up is fear and greed. The emerging energy on our planet invites us to envision abundance for everyone, not just for ourselves.

This full moon on the Gemini/Sagittarius axis is also about thought and words and beliefs.  What we think and believe has enormous influence on our bodies and on our life experience. As we look at the magnificent supermoon in the sky, let’s be at peace and ask Neptune to dissolve our fears as we greet a new day.

“We don’t create abundance. Abundance is always present. We create limitations.”  Arnold Patent

Astro Tips. Full Moon in Taurus November 2017

This quick snapshot of the full moon turned out to be a bit of an oracle image for full moon in Taurus. Note the roses!  I did not see the flowers when I took the picture. I was gazing at the moon.  Venus has domain over beauty and rules Taurus.  Roses are not only exquisite . . . they smell so good! Taurus is the sign of the senses and earthly delights.  Taurus is the sensate experience of physical life.  Venus and Taurus also connect us with what we value and with money. The snapshot has shiny vehicles reflecting the moonlight. We like nice things. Taurus is about acquisition. The opposite sign, Scorpio, is about complexity and transformation. The dark spots of the photo (the nightscape) are the Scorpio part of the polarity. Scorpio contains mysteries and hidden information.

Every month we welcome a full moon in the sign opposite the Sun. This month the Sun sits in Scorpio and the moon is full in Taurus.  Taurus helps us stay grounded by connecting us with our physical body and our sensual experiences. Scorpio pushes us into complexity and uncertainty. Is everything exactly as it seems? Is everything ok?  Is life a concrete experience? Hardly. Life is a magical essay, full of beautiful experiences and painful losses. Taurus rules holding on, Scorpio rules letting go.

During this full moon period we are faced with the polarity of having what we want and not having what we want. Sometimes we experience this through relationship.  We think we know a person because we have tangible experiences of that person. Then something happens and we realize we don’t know that person. For some people relational exchange is more complicated than sharing a good meal.  The Taurus full moon experience wants to focus on the fine wine and chocolate while the Scorpio Sun is questioning what it all means.  Staying balanced in this polarity is the trick. Honor the sensate and be grateful for the physical manifestation of beauty, love and abundance. Also, honor the Scorpio mystery, but don’t drown in the mystery.  Don’t fear the loss so much that you miss the breathtaking beauty of the night and of the day.