Posts Tagged ‘moon’
Full Moon in Aquarius
The last couple of nights have been beautiful and clear, so I’ve seen the Moon hanging big and bright in the sky. Today, the Moon is officially Full in the inventive and inspirational sign of Aquarius. At 2:57 EDT to be exact. Continue Reading
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CommentTonight’s Perigee Moon
Someone on Facebook quipped that with St. Patrick’s Day we’ve had quite enough lunacy this week. Perhaps, but I’m far more interested in tonight’s Full Moon. According to CNN, this will be the biggest Full Moon we’ve seen in about 20 years.
Full Moons look different because of the elliptical shape of the Moon’s orbit. When at its perigee, the Moon is about 31,000 miles closer to Earth than when it’s at the farthest point of its orbit, or apogee. Tonight will be a super “perigee moon.” Often called the Worm Moon, a Perigee Moon is a celestial event far rarer than the proverbial Blue Moon, which happens once about every two-and-a-half years. I hope the clear skies we have now stick around for sunset – the time when the Moon will look especially big – because there will not be another Perigee Moon like this until 2029.
NASA says that “for reasons not fully understood by astronomers or psychologists, low-hanging moons look unnaturally large when they beam through trees, buildings and other foreground objects.” Get your cameras out everyone!
Strictly speaking, the Moon will technically reach its fullest point at 2:10 pm EDT this afternoon in the exacting sign of Virgo. When the Moon is in Virgo, people have a tendency to be be discriminating and fastidious, which makes this a a good time for intellectual pursuits, more so for those requiring critical detail rather than innovative creativity. This is also a good time to take care of any matter that requires painstaking attention. Um, taxes anyone? Since tomorrow is the first day of Spring, a good Spring cleaning would be a perfect way to channel this Virgo energy. Want to start a diet or health regimen to get ready for swimsuit season? Virgo’s influence makes this an excellent time to concentrate on these goals as well. Virgo can sometimes lead us to be overly critical, so we should be mindful not to judge ourselves or anyone else too harshly today.
If all of this sounds a bit intense, don’t worry. At 4:03 pm EDT, the Moon leaves Virgo and enters sociable Libra. By the time we can actually see the Full Moon tonight (best viewing times will be between 6 and 8 pm), all thoughts of business and work will begin to fade and we’ll all be ready to party!
Full Moon, Eclipse and Solstice – Oh, My!
Multiple heavenly events are lining up for a rare display of synchronization tonight as a total Lunar Eclipse coincides with 2010′s Winter Solstice.
Early tomorrow morning (or late tonight if you are on the West Coast) the Full Moon will be darkened by Earth’s shadow as our planet passes between it and the Sun. December 21 is also the Winter Solstice, the longest night of the year, after which the days will begin to grow longer. Coupled with the Lunar spectacle, it means we’re in for an especially dark eve indeed. The eclipse will begin at 2:41 am EST; NASA recommends 3:17 a.m. EST for the optimal impression. This is the first time an Eclipse has coincided with a Solstice since December 21, 1638, and the next one won’t come around again until 2094.
Ancient peoples celebrated the Winter Solstice as the day that the Sun returns to Earth, since after months of getting darker the Solstice marks the day from which the days will begin to grow longer. This was of no small importance to cultures who were dependent upon the Sun for long and productive growing seasons that would secure both their livelihoods and their survival. In fact, the origin of the word Yule, often used to refer to Winter Solstice celebrations, seems to originate from the Anglo Saxon word for sun and light, and many Solstice festivities centered around the burning of fires and candles to symbolize the light’s return.
And about that Full Moon. Cafe Astrology has a very good, comprehensive explanation of the astrological implications for this Lunar Eclipse. An excerpt:
Early Tuesday, an especially potent Full Moon, a Lunar Eclipse, occurs in the sign of Gemini. The “crisis” that occurs now is a crisis of lack – a time when we suddenly realize a great need or want. This is a time when matters come to light – things that have been brewing under the surface. When a Full Moon occurs, we can suddenly burst forth with proclamations and outpours that seem fresh and new, simply because they are not yet rationalized. A Lunar eclipse is a more potent Full Moon, and its effects tend to last longer. Many astrologers believe that the effects of a Lunar eclipse last approximately 3-6 months.
Lunar Eclipses are about relationships and polarities. Full Moons and Lunar Eclipses bring issues in our lives to fulfillment. Our emotions are heightened, and there is often some sort of drama involved with the house, sign, and any contacted planets activated by the Full Moon. Look to 29 degrees of Gemini (and Sagittarius) in your own chart. This Lunar Eclipse gives us a cosmic push to make needed changes in our lives. The areas of life activated by the eclipse may see dramatic turns, after which the path is clear to move forward. Note that whatever “happens” at this time is nothing truly new. The issues have been brewing inside of us, and emotions have been building. Something comes to light at the time of the Full Moon, and if we get in touch with our emotions, we can get a better idea of what needs to change, or what needs to go. This Lunar Eclipse in Gemini is bound to thrust us into a state of heightened awareness of flaws in the structures of our lives, particularly in our communications. Decisions made now are emotionally-driven.
Remember, too, that Mercury is still in Retrograde, which means that communication can be more challenging than usual. It’s good to keep this in mind since it seems so much of what may be stirred up with this strong Full Moon/Lunar Eclipse energy is going to be stuff we want to talk about or proclaim. Another result of Mercury’s retrograde action is the “re’s” – reflection, reconsideration and reappearance. Pay attention to what turns up because it could be just the thing you need to turn any lack you may be worrying about into abundance as the new year begins to wax.
You’ve heard of the dark night of the soul? Well tonight, in addition to providing an opportunity for some very cool sky gazing, could very well prove to be just that. A life coach I know showed me a good exercise to solidify for yourself that which you wish to leave behind with the darkness of the old year and that you wish to manifest as the light of the new year grows. On a piece of paper draw a circle. Outside the circle write down everything that needs to go; inside the circle write down everything you want to bring in. Then burn it. (3:13 am EST, the exact moment when the Moon will be at its fullest and when the Eclipse will be at its height, would be a good time, by the way. Just be mindful of smoke alarms – I learned this lesson the hard way.)
As if the night weren’t special enough already, the Ursids meteor shower also will be happening tonight, adding to the astronomical extravaganza. This particular annual show is rarely witnessed, generally outshone by its brighter counterparts, but we will have an exceptional chance to view the display this year because of the Eclipse’s darkened sky. Like celebratory fireworks!
Full Moon in Libra
Everyone knows that there’s something just a bit different about a Full Moon. We may not always be able to put a finger on exactly why, but we know that something is up; we look into the sky and say, yep, it’s a Full Moon. The adjective looney came from observing peculiar responses to the Moon’s effects and it is a widely held belief that there are more visits to emergency rooms during a Full Moon than at any other time. Don’t get me started on werewolves and their ilk.
If we accept that something about the energy surrounding a Full Moon has the power to affect us, then why not learn a little bit about it and use it to our advantage? Tonight for example. At 10:25 EDT the Moon will be Full in the balancing sign of Libra.
A Full Moon is a time of culmination, illumination and the promise of fulfillment. It is generally an emotional time – a time of romance, fertilization and relationships. This Full Moon in particular will be especially powerful in the relationship department due to Libra’s influence on how we relate to others. We could call this the sign of partnership as it is where we get to seek balance in all types of relationships.
For a Libra, everything is better if it’s done in as a pair or in a group. Libra’s egalitarian ideal provides us with an example of the epitome of balance, harmony and a sense of fair play. Libra likes true team spirit in all areas of life but the obvious favorite partnership is at home in personal and often intimate relationships. Libras feel most complete when they are well coupled – this is not surprising when we remember that Venus is the ruling planet of this sign.
The energy of the Libra Moon creates an awareness of the need for relationships and all that comes with maintaining them–compromising, negotiating, graciousness, and balancing. The persistent strength of Libra is in the quest for fairness, peace and harmony. A Libra Full Moon urges us to strike a balance between meeting our personal needs and tending to the needs of a significant other, and between independence or autonomy and dependence or companionability. Now is a good time to appreciate and pay some attention to a partner or other close relationships.
And for those of us who are single, well the energy of this Libra Full Moon might be just the push we need to get out there, socialize and be our happy, lovely selves. Venus, who rules Libra, gives an appreciation for the cultured, refined and a love of beautiful things. Libra also enjoys sharing ideas with people, which is why Libras do so well at parties and other social gatherings. With Libra energy running so high tonight, we can all grab our inner Scales and go out to meet some new friends.
I’d like to think it’s the perfect night for romance, rain and all. But any type of relationship can benefit from a little bit of Libra’s touch. Having a challenging time with a co-worker? Tonight would be a good night for an after-work drink. Clearing the air will be easy and the Libra Full Moon is paving the way toward more productive communication. So, regardless of where you find yourself in the relationship department, the intense energy of tonight’s Full Moon in Libra is on your side.
Full Moon in Virgo
Today the Moon is Full in the exacting sign of Virgo. When the Moon is in Virgo it is a good time for intellectual pursuits, more so for those requiring critical detail rather than innovative creativity. This is also a good time to take care of any matter that requires painstaking attention. People may become shy and retiring with the Moon in Virgo, but they also tend to be discriminating, fastidious and overly critical. These influences lead to concern about food and health as Virgo rules the intestines and the powers of assimilation. Many people feel the urge to clean their homes at this time, which is a good way to channel Virgo energy.
Spring cleaning anyone? Want to start a diet or health regimen to get ready for swimsuit season? Virgo’s influence over the energy of the Full Moon make this an excellent time to concentrate on achieving these goals.
This Full Moon also marks the end of the Chinese New Year festivities, celebrated as the Lantern Festival. Since this is the first time to see a Full Moon in the sky since the beginning of the new lunar year and the new lunar month, the day is also called Yuan Xiao Festival in China – yuan for the first lunar month of the year and xiao for the ancient word for night. According to Chinese tradition, at the very beginning of a new year, when there is a bright full moon hanging in the sky, there should be thousands of colorful lanterns hung out for people to appreciate. It is traditional to eat yuanxiao dumplings and unite with family and friends to revel in the joyful atmosphere.
This celebrating at the end of the formal fifteen days of Chinese New Year festivities recalls for me the optimism and elation I felt at the beginning of this new year, 2010, and at the New Moon that brought in the Chinese Year of the Tiger. Such hopeful energy for change, new opportunities and a grateful lightening of burdens left behind in 2009, Ox Year.
Even though the emotional energy associated with the Full Moon seems new because it is so raw, it’s only the expression of it that is new. The desire for change has been sitting with us for a while and the energy of the Full Moon reinforces our impetus to do something about it. That is the beauty of the Full Moon!
The Full Moon is a time of culmination and the promise of fulfillment of that which was started at the New Moon. It is an emotional time – a time of romance, fertilization, and relationships. Today seems like a good day to remind ourselves of the goals we set for the new year and to pause to count all of the ways that we have happiness and abundance in our lives. To feel grateful for the people in our lives – our tribe – who support us through everything and for the seeds we have planted for things we are excited to manifest in this new year.
Full Moon in Leo
At 1:18 am EST this morning we will have a Full Moon in Leo. The Full Moon is a time of culmination and the promise of fulfillment of that which was started at the New Moon. It is an emotional time—a time of romance, fertilization, and relationships.
If one of the things that this Full Moon represents is the culmination of things started at the New Moon, then it’s instructive to re-examine what was going on at the last New Moon, which was in Capricorn, just after the beginning of 2010. One of the reasons we focus on the astrological sign in which a New Moon occurs is because this is the most opportune time for working to incorporate into our lives the constructive qualities that sign embodies and the areas of life it rules. Capricorn, the tenacious Goat, is resourceful, disciplined, wise, ambitious, prudent, and constant. These Capricorn qualities are ideal to help anyone who has made a new year’s resolution, or something of the sort, realize those goals.
Did you make a new year’s resolution? Set goals for 2010? Simply wish for a positive shift of energy in the new year?
Numerologically, 2010 is a #3 year (2+0+1+0=3). The grace and charm of a 3 Universal year like 2010 can be either a gift or a pitfall – this year it will undoubtedly be both, alternating at wildly unpredictable moments as numerology and astrology interact to create a high-octane potboiler. Some heavy astrological influences are going to be pushing us to transform the structures and beliefs we most fear to change. Then, when Chinese New Year ushers in the additional drama and intensity of the Year of the Metal Tiger on February 14th, the brew of explosive energies will probably reach a boil.*
In any new year we look for signs of positive change, and after the year we had in 2009, this seems to be especially profound among most people I know. A 3 Universal year has just the gifts needed to take the optimistic, humanitarian visions of 2009 (yes, there were some) and package and market them so they’re pretty much irresistible to everyone – conservatives, liberals, militants, pacifists, ecologists, international corporations, competing national interests and religions, and just about everyone else.
In many spiritual traditions, the number 3 is very powerful. For those who choose to follow a 3-style path of worship — one with a greater focus on enlightenment than fear, love over hate — the spiritual experience throughout 2010 can be almost euphoric.
I, for one, have seen positive change in a number of areas of my life since 2010 began – new beginnings that bring me much hope. What better way to celebrate such auspicious harbingers of things to come than under the influence of Leo? This is a time of warmth and enjoyment. It is a time for romance and pleasure, with our emotions at the forefront of our consciousness. I’m drawn to luxuriate in the feelings Leo evokes and to savor the happiness that the last few weeks of 2010 have brought me. And since Leo is ruled by the Sun, I want to spend my day (here in chilly New England) daydreaming of being on a lovely beach with someone I love.
Cafe Astrology says:
The Leo-Aquarius polarity deals with the balance between all that is personal (Leo) and all that is impersonal (Aquarius). The energy of the Leo Moon is creative self-expression and the boost to the individual ego that we receive through pleasure and romance, while the Aquarius Sun rules the group, more impersonal friendships, and objectivity. This Full Moon urges us to strike a balance between romance and friendship, and between expressing ourselves in personal and impersonal ways.
For one thing, this sends a clear message to me that there couldn’t be a better time to be launching my new blog! It also suggests that this is a time to celebrate love in all its forms – romantic love, the love for friends, love of life.
*The source of numerological information for this post was California Psychics.
My name is Angela Eloise and I am a freelance writer. That sounds as if I am copping to an addiction. I am. In addition to writing this blog, I also write a column about social media and I am at work on a series of essays that I hope to see in print some day. Cloud of Chaos was born from my desire to dance with the absurdity of life, to create a space where I could write and share all of the gorgeous, fun, snarky deliciousness I find spinning around me every day. What does a spinning cloud of chaos have to do with writing? Everything, as it turns out.
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