The Cosmic Story: The Wheel of the Year: Imbolc: Fire Festival of Light Returning

The Cosmic Story: The Wheel of the Year

Imbolc: Fire Festival of Light Returning

After writing New and Full Moon newsletters since 2007, I've decided to take a break from that monthly task. Instead, I'm going to write an astrological newsletter for each of the 8 seasons of the Wheel of the Year. The bonus is that I also get to write about different seasonal energies and goddesses we can turn to for inspiration and to find what archetypal patterns can contain the new life we're engendering.

Just as I'm in transition (most people I know are), we are all living in transitional times -- not only from one astrological age to another, but also a transition out of a social system that has dominated most societies for the past 5,000 years. Patriarchy is a system of the 'rule of the fathers', where a male/father's rule is law over his children, his wife, his goods, the laws. Patriarchy has certainly created good as well as evil. But the truth is, its day is over.

Patriarchy is in its death-throes and we are experiencing its last attempt to regain power. But just as the Sun inevitably sets in the sky, patriarchy's sun is setting.

We are entering into a new social order where first and foremost, men and women are equal. Where the gifts of the sacred feminine and sacred masculine are valued and it is understood that women's voices add something vitally different and important to the collective story. There have been partnership societies before. We will do it again.

This new partnership society is a society that gives equal value to women and men and our separate, unique gifts. A society in which all genders, all races, all beliefs are equal and free. If you've been living in that paradigm already, then you have the consciousness and tools to make it so in the world. Look around. Lots of people are responding and going out into the world to stand up for this truth. And people are waking up from our collective patriarchal dream.

Are we the change we've been waiting for yet? I think we are!

This change in consciousness is the Light we need to exhibit now to calm the fearful, stand up to tyranny, and recreate the world. Let's live conscious, compassionate, creative lives.

Speaking of transitions, January is really a transitional time between last year's ending and this year's beginning. Like the two-faced Roman god Janus who faced in two directions, January is a time to look back at where we've been and within for the new Light that was born at Winter Solstice. In reality, as in astrology, the new year begins on the Aries point of Spring Equinox, when the Sun rises North over the equator. (Those of you in the southern hemisphere, I'd love to hear how you experience our calendar, which forces you to make believe it's Winter when it's really Summer for you. It doesn't seem quite fair to you.)

In terms of the cosmic timing, things haven't quite begun -- things are in transition in January and February. Perhaps that's why so many of us can't keep our new year's resolutions. It just isn't time yet! It would serve us better to get back on track with cosmic timing, which we begin to learn from Mother Earth and then look to the Heavens for Father Sky's cosmic input. 

 

Mother Earth says it's time to withdraw from the surface cold and conserve life in the death time of Winter. It's a time to introvert, to go inside yourself, your home, your cave and be with yourself. During the dark months, it's a great time to read, watch and tell stories that inspire you to grow this year. It's a great time to meditate, dream and journey to find out what that spark of Light conceived on Winter Solstice is growing into. What are you going to do with the promise of this new year? What are you going to do with the present -- the NOW?

As we align ourselves with Mother Earth's seasons and the energies of these times, we will find ourselves really living our lives, enjoying the changes rather than fearing them and in the end, being more aligned with our Higher Self.

We're moving out of the deepest darkness (in the north) and into the time of year when we notice the days getting longer. Think Groundhog's Day -- a tradition of looking for the light's return as a promise of Spring's return.

We're entering the Gateway of the Wheel of the Year called Imbolc.

Imbolc: February 2-5, 2019

On February 2^nd - 5^th, we celebrate Imbolc, the second gateway of the Wheel of the Year. At this 2^nd gateway, we begin to envision what the new Light and energy born at Winter Solstice might become. We are still in the beginning times, so go gently. It's not a time of doing; rather it is a time of visioning.

Imbolc is the Celtic word for 'ewe's milk' because this is the time when spring lambs are born and the mother ewe's milk comes in. The lamb's birth promises returning life and light to the world, despite the snow and frost that still linger in the land. Spring finally arrives at Spring Equinox around March 20^th - 21^st, when the Light and Dark are equal and the Earth begins to warm up and then fully blossom at Beltane on May 1^st.

Since it is still dark and cold outside, Imbolc is a season of introversion, silence and vision. The unknown spark born at Winter Solstice is beginning to take shape and form. If we envision what this new life is growing to be, we can hold it in our intention and nurture it into being in the spring. This is our Ground Hog's Day ritual—the ancient prophetic signs in nature were seen and understood. Weather magic and prophecy are just a few treasures of this season to be relearned and remembered.

At Imbolc, Spirit lights us up so we can see the possibilities of our future. It is a fire festival, a time to light candles and make wishes and set intentions, visualizing what you intend to manifest this coming year. The vision is the foundation/intention of what you want to manifest. Honor this gift and grace that Mother Earth shares with us by re-dedicating yourself to your new purpose. Don't waste these cosmic energies. Put in the time and effort to seek your vision or watch the energy get dissipated and lost in the collective chaos of our times.

Since Imbolc is such an introvert festival, it's associated with women's mysteries, although it speaks to the feminine spirit within both women and men. It's a time to go down to the well of our inspiration and renew our creative spirit. It is the Divine Feminine Spirit that calls us to seek our vision in the imaginal world/quantum field so it can manifest.

Imbolc's Astrological Energies

Instead of talking about specific New and Full Moons in the next two months, I'm going to give a general outlook for the times, which you can then use in nurturing you vision. You can find many good astrologers writing about the New and Full Moons to get the finer details of the times.

I cast this chart for when the Sun arrived at exactly 15* Aquarius, the power gate of Aquarius, which is the astrological signature of Imbolc. It's just a few hours before the Aquarius New Moon on February 4^th, the Chinese New Year of the Boar. (Boar is the animal energy of the ancient Great Mother.)

The Sabian symbol for the Sun at 15* Aquarius is: Two lovebirds sitting on a fence and singing happily. What's better than lovebirds singing? This seems to be a symbol of joy and inner happiness. And since it's in the collective, humanitarian sign of Aquarius, perhaps this happiness comes from helping our fellow humans and our animal/plant relations.

The Sun hits 15* Aquarius hours before the Aquarius New Moon. So the Moon hasn't quite caught up with the Sun. The Sabian symbol for the Moon at 7* Aquarius is: A child is seen being born out of an egg. This is a symbol of a primordial birth, an original birth, a mythic birth. Perhaps it implies that a new universe can be born now. If you're born out of an egg, you're not born of 'ancestors' -- so you're free of their karma. It's a great time to look at our shadow beliefs and prejudices bequeathed on us by our ancestors. Let's leave the fear behind and embrace the unknown. Perhaps it isn't as bad as we've been led to believe.

This symbol speaks of a new evolutionary pattern arising in the world. Perhaps souls from other planets and dimensions are incarnating here on Earth now. Perhaps these are the aliens who have come to help humanity. Perhaps we are the aliens. Either way, something new is being born in the imaginal world. How is it manifesting in you?

At the Aquarian power gate, new ideals and archetypes can be seeded in the collective mind/consciousness. The Cancer north node asks that new archetypes based on inner happiness and connection, contentment and commitment be energized. As we let go of old stereotypical beliefs, we replace them with new energy patterns that renew the archetypes that govern life. This is the objective Aquarian Mind, the Cosmic Mind that knows the ways of the universe.

We can channel this new archetypal energy, but it has to be filtered through our hearts. We don't own the energies. We are channels for their manifestation.

With Jupiter's expansive energy in his own home sign of Sagittarius, he's going to give us what we need this year. Plenty of hope and faith in the future. Embrace it fully.

Most of the planetary energies in this Imbolc chart lie in the last 4 signs of the zodiac: Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces. These are the social, collective signs -- energies that form our communities and societies. This is the time, in the dark of winter, when we look at our collective life and see if it is sustaining us or not. If so we honor and support it. If not, what will we do about it?

The lunar nodes have just entered Cancer and Capricorn, focusing our collective attention on timing and rhythm as well as conception and birth. It's a great time to take some movement classes and find your own rhythm. The question is, do we continue to hurry along at society's breakneck speed, or do we slow down and get entrained with Earth's rhythms? When a woman conceives a child, she has to allow it to grow at its own pace. We have to learn that lesson if we're to prosper in the new partnership society. North Node Cancer asks us to experience spiritual pregnancy and learn this uniquely feminine wisdom that is patient, enduring, nurturing and creative.

Both Saturn and Pluto are conjunct the south node in the sign of Capricorn, helping us release old karma, old rules, old forms of control and conformity. This death and rebirth of our social system is our karma, what we've collectively created together. And together we have to transform it. The old paradigms won't want to budge, but as we're seeing in the news, being stubborn and standing up for what's right can get big results. Now, everyone can see the man (men/women) behind the curtain. So take back your power of intention and imagination and realize that it's always been in your control. Just go home.

Venus enters Capricorn the day before this New Moon and will travel through it until March 1^st when she enters Aquarius. Venus is the archetypal energy of feminine wisdom -- the wisdom of the body, of the Earth, of the soul. Astrologically, She represents love and relationships, sexuality, beauty, value and worth, money and pleasure. For myself, I see her as Aphrodite, the divine teacher of Psyche, the human soul. She awakens us through love, through connection, through being fully embodied.

Aphrodite, the blessing of the union of Heaven and Earth.

What a great gift we've been given and look at how hard we find it to just love, just connect. Last year's north node eclipses in Leo gave us an initiation into our hearts. Did we learn to open our hearts and love and trust? Can we find our heart's truth and hope? If so, now we can nurture that love while the Moon's north node is in Cancer, standing opposite and daring the Capricorn south node, Pluto and Saturn to ignore Her. Mama Cancer has our backs. We can learn a lot about how to love and take care of ourselves and others in this next year and a half. Don't miss your opportunities.

Venus always asks us, what does your soul desire? What do you value enough to go after it? While Venus transits Capricorn, she'll connect to the values that can sustain society (and those that don't) and then go into Aquarius to renew those ideals to inspire us again. Freedom, equality, compassion, connectedness (the U.S.'s e pluribus unum - out of many, one) have to be meaningful and alive if we're going to have a peaceful revolution -- a revolution of values and objectives rather than one of warfare and chaos. And that goes for the whole world -- we are all one. And we all need freedom and peace and security.

Venus joins Saturn in Capricorn on February 18^th , the day the Sun enters Pisces and the day before the Virgo/Pisces SuperMoon Full Moon and then joins Pluto on February 22^nd. With Venus' retrograde in Scorpio last year and the MeToo# movement, I think she can stand up to the old patriarchs Pluto and Saturn. And maybe even soften their cold, hard hearts.

If Venus symbolizes connection and values, then Mars is the desire that gives us the passion to go after what we want. Mars is traveling in his home sign of Aries, along with Uranus, the great Awakener. Last year Mars went retrograde in Aquarius, renewing his idealism and his will to work for the good of all. He's free to create in Aries, the primal fire of life. And with his side-kick Uranus, he'll create things his own way. They know what their hero's journey entails. Cultural renewal and peaceful revolution.

While Mars and Uranus remain in Aries, they square the nodal axis of Cancer/ Capricorn, challenging us to do what's needed to leave patriarchy behind. We are reminded that we have to work for what we really want and need. Not for the job or the money, but for the family, for the community and for our own soul's life. Mars and Uranus urge us to be uniquely ourselves as we come up against both the old rules which have to go, and the new rules of Cancer, that we can be nourished for ourselves. What really nurtures us will enhance us -- we just have to desire the right things for ourselves.

Both Mars and Uranus soon move into Taurus: Mars on February 14^th, making for a sensuous Valentine's Day, and Uranus on the Pisces New Moon on March 6^{th --} which is conjunct Neptune, so make a really big wish! Both planets in Taurus will rock our world and help change our ways as they travel through the most earthy of earth signs. Expect to see new growth.

All the planets are moving in direct motion since January 6^th, and after last year's cascade of planets going retrograde, the energies feel very light and refined. Mercury starts this Imbolc season in Aquarius, conjunct the Aquarius New Moon, making for lots of communication with the archetypal planes. Then on February 10^th, Mercury dives into Pisces and goes retrograde there on March 5^th until March 28^th. This is Mercury's first retrograde of three in water signs this year. Mercury will be honing our emotional intelligence and imagination during these watery retrograde (unlike Mercury's fiery, intuitive retrogrades last year).

So this Imbolc season, work on the imaginal/quantum plane to imagine what it is you want to create, not only for yourself but for the world.

And now I'd like to introduce Brigid, this Gateway's Goddess Guardian.

Imbolc and Brigid: Goddess of Fire and Water

 Brigid ~ Emily Balivet

Imbolc is one of the four main Celtic Fire Festivals, sacred to Brigid, the Goddess of poetry, smithcraft and healing. She is a triple goddess of Vision, Fire and Water. As Rumi says, “Love is the Water of Life. And a Lover is a Soul of Fire. The Universe turns differently when Fire Loves Water.” Brigid brings this passion to her creativity.

Brigid is the Celtic goddess of the fires of the forge and the hearth, of poetry, healing, childbirth, and unity. The name Brigid means either ‘Fiery Arrow’, ‘Bright One’, or ‘High One’ in the ancient Celtic language, referring to her solar aspect, as she is a solar goddess of Light and Flame. 

 

Brigid, Brigit or Brighid (pronounced Breed) is an important Celtic Triple goddess, appearing as 3 sister aspects rather than Maiden, Mother, Crone. She is the patroness of poetry, healing and smithcraft, all different forms of using the creative fires of life with practical and inspired wisdom. As a solar deity Her attributes are light, inspiration and all skills associated with fire. Although She is no longer identified with the physical Sun, She is the benefactress of inner healing and vital energy.

 

3 Brigids

Brigid's shrine near Kildare was located near an ancient Oak that was considered to be sacred by the Druids, so sacred in fact that no one was allowed to bring a weapon there. The shrine is believed to have been an ancient college of priestesses who were committed to thirty years of service, after which they were free to leave and marry. During their first ten years they received training, the next ten were spent tending the sacred wells, groves and hills of the goddess Brigid, and the last decade was spent in teaching others. Nineteen priestesses were assigned to tend the perpetual flame of the sacred fire of Brigid. Each was assigned to keep the flames alive for one day. On the twentieth day, the goddess Brigid herself kept the fire burning brightly.

Robert Graves calls her 'the White Goddess' but she's not all sweetness and light—she has her dark side, especially if we don't hold up our part of the bargain. She is a Muse that inspires, but can also be fickle if we prove unworthy of her gift. We must do something with that gift of creativity or we will lose it.

Brigid is a goddess of natural springs, those magical places on the Earth where sacred and life-giving waters suddenly flow out of the Earth. A gift of Life from Mother Earth. As Water deity, Brigid is the patroness of healers, with many healing springs and wells dedicated to Her throughout the British Isles. Symbolically, water is a portal to the Otherworld and a source of wisdom and healing. Water is also associated with psychic ability, music, and poetry. Natural bodies of water were also sacred to Brigid, particularly where three streams join together. 

 

Water and Fire are both associated with divination. Celtic Seers divine by both looking deeply into water or into the flames. Now is the time to practice this skill.

The goddess Brigid was also revered as the Irish goddess of poetry and song, the Muse who inspires. Brigid's fire and water nurtures our inspiration, our ability to 'breathe in spirit' which helps us create poetry as well as healing. She is the Muse who inspires our soul, providing the ‘fire in the head’ of poetic inspiration. The Bards are the surviving class of the Druids, keeping the ancient traditions alive until the present day. Poets are inspired by the Other World, and have the gift of prophecy. As the patroness of poetry and bardic lore, Brigid is the primal retainer of culture and learning. 

 

As patroness of Smiths, Brigid blessed the smith with creativity and vision. Smiths in any tribe were seen as holding a sacred trust and were associated with magical powers since smithcrafting involved mastering the primal element of Fire, molding the metal (from Earth) through skill, knowledge and strength. Concepts of smithcraft are connected to stories concerning the creation of the world, utilizing all of the Elements to create and fuse a new shape. This new creation is also within Brigid's power, for she inspires us to create our life anew each year by opening our vision to our soul's possibilities.

In many ways, Brigid carries the whole blessing of the Celtic psyche—its creativity, vision, memory and power. She has never been an abstraction but remains inseparable from daily life. The fires of inspiration, as demonstrated in poetry, and the fires of the home and the forge are seen as identical. There is no separation between the inner and the outer worlds. 

 

Brigid -- Goddess of Inspiration

 

Brigid can serve as a Muse and a Guide to us this season. Light the fires of inspiration and get creative. It's a great time to create a ritual around fire and its many blessings. Get your tribe together and celebrate this powerful Aquarian Gate.

That's all for Imbolc. I'll be back for the 3^rd gateway of the Wheel of the Year: Spring Equinox on March 20, 2019 -- the day of the 1st Libra Full Moon. This year, the Moon cycle flips back to its New Moon/Full Moon rhythm, creating a true Blue Moon, when there are two Full Moons in an astrological sign. More in the next newsletter.

Blessings of the Light Returning,

Cathy

Please Like and Share. Thank you.

Copyright 2019 ~ Cathy Pagano.

The Cosmic Story: Leo/Aquarius Blood Moon, Lunar Eclipse, 2019

Embodying Our Lion-Hearted Being of Light

Even though I promised myself a break after 12 years of writing New and Full Moon reports, I find myself wanting to write about this lunar eclipse. Perhaps because it sits on my Aquarius Jupiter, or because the Cancer North Node is on my Moon or that Neptune is squaring my ascendant. Or that the first eclipse of this series, the total solar eclipse of August 2017 occurred on my Saturn in Leo.

This final eclipse in Leo/Aquarius is a bookend to the Leo Solar Eclipse of August 21, 2017, which marked the shift in nodal axis from Virgo/Pisces to Leo/Aquarius. For one last time, we are experiencing an eclipse in these signs before all the eclipses shift to Cancer/Capricorn for the next year and a half.

It is said that the constellation of Leo represents our urge to evolve our consciousness, to evolve to a higher state of being human. Carl Jung saw Leo as the sign of individuation -- the act of becoming uniquely oneself. Leo is associated with the Sun, the source of light, warmth and life. And Leo is associated with the heart, which is the real source of greater consciousness.

And in Linda Turner's book, The Mystery of the White Lion, she brings up the point that while here in the northern hemisphere we are watching the precession of the Equinoxes from the world age of Pisces into Aquarius, it also gives rise to the fact that in the southern hemisphere, they will be precessing into the Age of Leo on their Spring Equinox.

Each astrological Age has a shadow side reflected in the southern hemisphere. As we approach the Age of Aquarius, we are also engaging in its' opposite sign of Leo, which was rising on the Spring Equinox in the North about 11,500 BC.

So while we wait for the Age of Aquarius, we are also preparing to engage our Leo side -- each of us has to individuate and become the queen or king. That means, we each have to mediate between heaven and Earth, between spirit and matter, between individuals and the group.

So the reason I'm writing to finish off this amazing eclipse series on the Leo/

Aquarius axis is to share what I've learned during these past 19 months.

I've finally understood what it means to be 'lion-hearted' and to live with my 'heart's hope'. While I am an initiated priestess of Sekhmet, the lioness Goddess of Egypt, it has been this Leo/Aquarius eclipse series that has brought me full awareness of what it means to be lion-hearted. 

 

To be lion-hearted means to be protective of life, to be strong, to be wild and fierce, to be loving and playful, to live according to natural law, connected to all the rest of Nature through Gaia's web of life.

Lions are the stewards of the land. Lion and Lioness, both literally and symbolically, show us the mystery of love, truth and light. Any study of history and mythology will show that lions and lionesses always attended the kings and queens, heroes and heroines. They are humanity's friends and protectors.

To be lion-hearted, we must first leave behind fear. Fear is coded into our reptilian brain - our fight or flight instinct -- but it doesn't have to take over our conscious attitude. As King of the Animals, the lion walks and guards his land, he eats of the animals (who eat the plants and drink the waters) who live on the land and keeps the balance of Nature. Lions teach us that we are all connected and if we can face our fears (shadows) and embrace them as our Beloved, we can create balance, calm and peace within and around ourselves. The lion reminds us that it is time to remember that all life is a blessing and that we're connected to Mother Earth's web of life.

It's time to come in from the cold. We are all related.

If we're lion-hearted, we know it is our responsibility (Saturn in Capricorn) to steward and protect our land and our people, to be kings and queens/leaders when we see what needs to be done. In ancient times, the falcon-headed god Horus, associated with the Solar Logos of Cosmic Law (Aquarius and the eagle), is associated with lions as well. Horus is a culture-bringer, as is the Lion who stewards his land and keeps things in balance.

Leo shows us how to become women and men of heart, of integrity and authenticity. We need to find our courage to be leaders, so we can protect what we love in the coming years.

If you want to learn more about the mystery of being 'lion-hearted', I recommend Linda Tucker's The Mystery of the White Lions.

The Super Blood Wolf Moon total lunar eclipse 2019

 

This Blood Moon, Wolf Moon, Super Moon total lunar eclipse in Leo and Aquarius is as powerful as its many names.

A Lunar Eclipse happens when the Moon passes into Earth's shadow. Since this eclipse will be a total eclipse, the entire Moon will pass into the Earth's dark shadow. During the period of totality the Moon will glow a crimson red (hence the title Blood Moon). This happens due to sunlight filtering through Earth's atmosphere effectively scattering the violet side of the visible spectrum of light.

A Super Moon means that the Moon is at its closest to Earth, so it appears bigger (14%) and brighter (30%).

The Wolf Moon is the Native American name for the first full Moon in the month after the Winter Solstice. It's also called the Old Moon or the Moon after Yule by the Anglo-Saxons.

So how will this lunar eclipse live up to its names?

Leo-Aquarius total Lunar Eclipse, January 20-21, 2019

This Leo total Lunar Eclipse occurs on January 20^th at 9:16pm PST and on January 21^st at 12:16am EST/ 5:16am GMT.

Leo is the sign not only of individuation but of creative self-expression, fun and play, children and lovers. All the things that make life worthwhile. Aquarius is the sign of collective consciousness which is transforming out of patriarchy into partnership. 2020's Winter Solstice conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn at this same degree in Aquarius will mark a real shift in collective consciousness.

The Sabian symbol for the Moon at 1* Leo is: Blood rushes to a man's head as his vital energies are mobilized under the spur of desire. This indicates a need to be innovative and pioneering. Something has shifted and we become more vital and alive as new ideas come into play. It's time to dream of something more.

The Sabian symbol for the Sun at 1* Aquarius: An old adobe Mission in California. This symbol is such a mixed metaphor. The adobe Mission is a symbol of a guiding spiritual ideal that was made concrete. But at what price? The Catholic missionaries took away the Native Americans own way of being in connection to the spirit in nature. Objectively, this symbol shows a great concern for humanity which calls for people to step into leadership positions. With Aquarius, we need to look beyond the bounds of what has been established and discover new ideas and techniques to reconnect to Spirit.

The Sabian symbol for the total solar eclipse that began this series in August 2017 at 29* Leo: A mermaid emerges from the ocean waves ready for rebirth in human form. This Mermaid symbolizes the longings of the heart, the rejected knowing of the heart which is now coming to the forefront of consciousness. That is why mermaids and sirens are known for their singing -- they sing the longing of our hearts. Hopefully we are becoming open-hearted and finally listening to our heart's hope.

Astrological Energies of this Eclipse

Whenever we have a total lunar eclipse, the Earth's shadow blocks out the sunlight reflected on the Moon and we have a break in the cosmic flow of energies. We get to see what shadow elements block us from achieving the potential consciousness offered by the Full Moon.

What keeps us from being more lion-hearted? Is it fear fostered by religious or cultural beliefs? Is it fear we've inherited from our families and tribes? Is it the fear of what the culture does to people who speak out against the norm? Once we face our fears and embrace our shadows, we can begin to be lion-hearted, we can begin to live free and create our own lives and a new culture.

The lunar eclipse is challenged by Uranus 29* Aries, so there can be some surprises in store. It is also a renewed call to remember our archetypal identities, our unique call to life. To strengthen our resolve. The square urges us to find ways to incorporate our inner rebel while still being concerned with the needs of the group.

The eclipse is also challenged by the asteroid Pallas in Libra, the supreme strategist and diplomat, which is opposite Uranus, the rebel and innovator. It's important to stay in balance. Since these two energies are in cardinal signs, they are the movers and shakers of this fixed sign eclipse. Find a way to become a rebel with a cause. During the eclipse, figure out what you need to do to be free to act in alignment with your heart's wisdom.

We have some wonderful fiery vital energy to help us be inspired during and after this lunar eclipse. Venus and Jupiter in Sagittarius are about to connect in the early morning sky on Tuesday, January 22^nd, so try to get up early to see it. Venus and Jupiter are called the great benefics, meaning they bring good luck and ease to us. Before they join together, they each make a square to Neptune in Pisces: Jupiter on January 13^th and Venus an hour before the eclipse.

Both Jupiter in Sagittarius and Neptune in Pisces are in the signs of their rulership, so they bring a strong spirituality to these times. The Jupiter/Venus square to Neptune can open up our divine creative imagination or it can cast us into illusion and delusions of grandeur. The best way to work with this energy is to move it through your body (Sagittarius loves to combine the physical, mental and spiritual energies) and then go create something.

After the eclipse, as the Moon travels through Leo, it will create a fire grand trine between Mars in Aries and Venus/Jupiter in Sagittarius, activating some positive outcomes for us if we do our work -- Mars square Saturn.

Hours after the eclipse, Mars in Aries squares Saturn in Capricorn -- each in the sign they hold rulership over. As you can see, the cosmic energies downloading to us now are pure and free to assume their most potent purpose. Usually Mars and Saturn are opposite types of energies -- Mars is the puer, the energy that just jumps into life, while Saturn is the old man who upholds rules and limits and tries to crush Mars' enthusiasms.

Saturn's purpose puts pressure in our Mars action, so it's important to be resilient. Learn (if you haven't already) to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. Learn to witness the chaos in the world without being swept into it. Learn to let Mars act as the cosmic warrior while Saturn works to establish a stable new form of society or a new routine in your own life. Learn to get these energies working together within yourself and they will begin to work together in the outer world. The highest and best good that comes from this challenging aspect is that we give structure to our actions, that we act to enhance our unique purpose in life for the sake of the world. It is to learn discipline and to be responsible for our actions. 

 

Saturn's sense of purpose is putting pressure on our Mars action. We must learn resilience, to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. Just witness the chaos without becoming the chaos. Let a new organizing principle, that originates from the Higher Self, recreate your life.

Our cosmic instructions from this total lunar eclipse seems to be:

1. Learn to be lion-hearted.

2. Learn to believe in yourself and your purpose.

3. Learn the discipline needed to achieve your purpose.

4. Let that Mermaid's longing to incarnate bring a new song to the world.

It's a call to live in joy!

Here in Rhode Island, the weather shifted from clear to snow and rain so we probably won't get to see the eclipse. But if you have clear skies, go out and enjoy the show that Mother Moon and Mother Earth have graced us with.

Bright Blessings,

Cathy

The Cosmic Story: Sagittarius New Moon 2018

The Cosmic Story: Sagittarius New Moon 2018
 
"All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the
                      flame of a single candle."   Saint Francis of Assisi

A light in the Dark, like Galadriel's gift to Frodo. 

 

A candle flame, like the candles that glow from windows to light our way home. 

 

A fiery arrow, like a comet shooting across our night sky. 

 

Fire is the source of life, a gift of heat and light. This is the creative fire of growth. Fire is the source of death, as it was in California recently, when it ignites the land. In astrology, Aries' divine fire flashes down from the heavens and Leo's personal fire becomes a warm, community bonfire. Sagittarius' cosmic fire is more unique and individual, at the same time as it is universal. Sagittarius' flaming arrows are our personal hopes and intentions, lighting up the darkness and aiming for the future.

With our Sagittarius fire, we shoot our flaming arrows towards our hopes and intentions, towards our life's purpose. Out of the darkness of unknowing (for that's all the darkness is) we light the fire of our passion and send it off into the world to mark where we're going and hope for what we'll find there.

Like the lights on our Christmas tree, Sag's many fires are a network of individual lights that create something essential to our souls -- our hope of new life. Our hopes for ourselves, for humanity and for the Earth. And just as the ornaments we hang on the Christmas tree symbolize our wishes and intentions for the new year, where we aim our arrows signify those same wishes and intentions.

We are in the darkest time of the year here in the northern hemisphere. And so, during this month of Sagittarius, which Catholics call Advent, we prepare ourselves for the birth of the new light. During Advent, we light candles to invite hope, faith, vision and renewal to blossom in the darkness. It's a very Pagan idea, a very Earth-oriented understanding of the seasons and their sacred purpose.

For as the darkness deepens, we instinctively yearn for light. After our deep plunge into Scorpio's transformative waters, we emerge with a needed image of light -- the light we hope will be birthed again on Winter Solstice.

Sagittarius' archer shoots his flaming arrows into the sky, watching how far they travel. Sagittarius wants to expand his horizons, but he also wants his way to be lit by the fiery passion he's regained from his regeneration in Scorpio. What are you passionate to learn, where do you feel you need to go? What new life are you going to imagine for yourself next year? What is your new story going to be?

This Sagittarius New Moon calls us on a quest of discovery, igniting our curiosity about what we might want to come next, what old/new gifts and talents we want to develop, and what we feel we need to possess to be happy. Do we really need more things in our lives? What about intangible presents for ourselves and others -- such as a promise to be kinder, to be more present in a relationship, to be more truthful, to take better self-care. Every New Year we make pledges to change, to become more excellent, to become more our truest selves. Perhaps if we give ourselves over to another (by gifting them with our new 'self'), we'll actually do it. I've always found that if I promise someone something, I'll do it. If I only promise myself, I might not.

What we imagine strongly enough, we can manifest. Where we send our thoughts matter. What better time than at this fiery, expansive New Moon to seek out our core values and expand our vision of who we think we are and what we can do for our world. It's time to prepare to do the work we incarnated to do.

May Sagittarius' fiery arrows find their marks.

Sagittarius New Moon

The Sagittarius New Moon occurs on December 6th at 11:20pm PST and on December 7th at 2:20am EST / 7:20am GMT.

The Sabian symbol for the Sun and Moon at 16* Sagittarius is: A calm ocean; a motionless ship; lazily soaring seagulls. This is a moment of pause which precedes change. Like Advent, it is a time of quiet reflection, a moment to prepare to act. If you're feeling distress, it's because you're afraid of not knowing what's to come. Instead, imagine what you want to come.

The words that describe this Sagittarius New Moon are optimistist and hopeful, especially with Jupiter occupying his own home sign again for the first time in 12 years. What were you doing 12 years ago (2006)? Did you expand your horizons? Learn something new about yourself? What do you now want to learn, explore, journey to for the next 12 years? Find Sagittarius in your chart and see where Jupiter begins his journeying for you. This is where your luck resides.

The Sabian symbol for Jupiter at 7* Sagittarius is: A smiling Cupid knocks at the door of the human heart. What a beautiful symbol, a call to Love's Feast. What would happen if we all listened to our hearts instead of our heads? What joy and happiness might we pursue? It's a good thing to think about while you're getting your flaming arrows notched to fly.

With Jupiter in Sagittarius making our search, our journey much more expansive and important than in other years, we need to center in on our real mission this lifetime -- the need to know ourselves and find our destiny. Because both Jupiter and the New Moon square/are challenged by Mars and Neptune in Pisces, we need to go big, we need to embrace Source in our search. With Mars and Neptune swimming in the waters of Pisces, we might find ourselves wanting to manifest our Mars doing in an archetypal way -- perhaps manifesting a form of the archetypal spiritual warrior. This square can be energized by imagining great archers of legend and myth. Katniss, Robin Hood, William Tell are just a few archers who aimed their arrows against tyranny and for freedom. Be the archer and the arrow. Aim high and true.

With Mars joined to Neptune, you might start to feel tired and fuzzy, especially if you're doing something that no longer feeds your soul. This combination can wear you out, so if you're tired, rest. Rest and dream. Imagine!

The Sabian symbol for both Mars and Neptune at 14* Pisces is: A young lady, wrapped in furs, displays supreme elegance. For those of you who know my work, this image of a lady in a fur mantle is a symbol for the emerging new feminine wisdom. This is the wisdom of the body and of the Earth. The natural elegance that emerges from the truth of our inner being is awesome to behold. There is something elegant about the way Katniss shoots her arrows, just as it is for Robin Hood. Perhaps our spiritual warriors will weld beauty as a gift and a blessing.

Mercury retrograde is finally over! (Happy dance!) There were more technological glitches than usual it seems. With all the retrograde planets this past year, it will be a relief to have the first few months of 2019 retrograde free. For the holidays, Uranus is still retrograde until January 6th. 

Uranus in Aries makes an inconjunct to Mercury in Scorpio, testing the waters, making us stretch our minds and hearts a bit before we decide what we want. 

Mercury turns direct about 10 hours before this Sagittarius New Moon. The Sabian symbol for the degree of Mercury's station at 28* Scorpio is: The King of Faerie is solemnly welcomed to his realm. While the Queen of Faerie is the life-blood of the land, the King symbolizes the protection and power of the realm. Perhaps we'll finally see the return of the King. It would seem that's what Mercury is asking us to consider. It is time to honor the spiritual forces of life, of nature and of ourselves.

The New Queen needs her New King to birth this new world.

With the combination of Scorpio and Sagittarius, the Cosmic Story says it's time to face the truth. What is your truth? Once you understand that, you'll understand your purpose in this lifetime.

I was reminded of a story I always enjoyed. It's a story about Jesus when he was about 12 -- a Jupiter cycle. When Jesus was 12, he and his parents journeyed to Jerusalem. On the day they set out to return home, Mary and Joseph discovered that Jesus was missing. And so they hurried back to the City to find him. They went to the Temple to start their search, praying to Yehweh to find their lost son. And then they heard his voice coming from an inner courtyard of the Temple and followed it.

They saw their son sitting among all the learned priests, disputing with them. What do you think he had to say to these learned men? The old patriarchs. That young child/man who knew his purpose. If it were you, what would you say if you had a chance to speak with our leaders?

But the part of the story I loved was Jesus' reply to his parents' worry for him. When they asked him how he could just stay back in Jerusalem without telling them, he said, "Don't you know I have to be about my Father's business?"

Isn't it time we were all about our Father's/Mother's business? Our world is in chaos because we needed to let things descend into chaos so something new can be born. But it is up to us to rise up out of the chaos with our vision, our hopes and our wisdom. That's what we came into this world to do.


This year's Winter Solstice (Summer Solstice down under) occurs on December 21, 2018. The Cancer Full Moon occurs 12 hours after the Sun enters Capricorn, the Winter Solstice. Enjoy this beautiful time of year. If you celebrate the seasons, have an outdoor ritual even if it's cold. That is what Winter is all about -- the cold and dark that longs for the Light. Let yourself feel the longing, the yearning.

I"m taking a break for the next Moon cycle (I'm journeying) so I want to wish you a blessed Winter Solstice and a joyous New Year.

Blessings for the New Year. Walk in the Light. Happy Solstice.

Cathy