Full Moon In Taurus October 2018 Sweet Surrender

The Moon became full just about a half hour ago, in the bountiful sign of Taurus. A full moon occurs when the Sun is opposite the Moon, and tends to highlight our lunar-influenced emotions and instincts. Full Moons are a perfect time to purge unwanted or negative energies, and to harvest seeds, or intentions, planted during the New Moon. 

Because the sign of Taurus likes to hold onto things, you might find a bit of difficulty releasing anything this lunation. Never fear - the Sun entered the sign of Scorpio yesterday, and Scorpio has no trouble at all showing us what needs to be discarded. Scorpio knows that nothing in the material world lasts forever, so it’s obsessed with stripping things down to the bare bones and getting to the root of what really matters. 

Taurus is also known for being the sign of what's comfortable and familiar, and anyone who's dealt with Taurus personalities knows that above anything else this sign craves stability and endurance. What this Full Moon will show us that if our roots remain firmly planted, we can and will weather storms and seasonal changes. 

There are two unhelpful aspects affecting this October Full Moon - it's conjunct Uranus and opposite Venus. Uranus adds unpredictability, upsets, and impulsiveness. Remember, also, that Venus is also retrograde, adding to the uncertainty of this phase. Luckily, this is all tempered by the Moon's favorable aspect to Saturn - it turns unexpected changes into opportunities and relationship uncertainty into reassurance and commitment. That brings us full circle, back to Taurus' love of stability. 

While this Full Moon carries some very intense energy and seems volatile, maybe shaking up some relationships, it will also show us where we need to set stronger boundaries and practice more self-love. We think it will also manifest our desire to remain rooted while the storm swirls around us, and that's always a good thing. Blesssed be. 
 

Venus Retrograde 2018 - Know Yourself

Venus, the planet of the Goddess of Love, stations retrograde in the sign of Scorpio on Friday, October 5. Since this planet goes retrograde only every 19 months, the least of any planet, and this makes a very big deal. On top of that, there's Venus' challenging squares to Pluto and Mars, which will put your close interpersonal relationships in the spotlight. It might also make you angry.

We're entering a period of approximately 40 days of Venus Retrograde, and that seems like a long time, doesn't it? While it seems like it is, it's really just a quick moment in time, which will pass before you know it. Let's take a closer look into what Venus Retrograde actually means, and what actions you can take to lessen its impact.

According to astrologist Jim Sher, "Venus represents the processes by which we discover our deepest values, our priorities and what is most important to us." In this period of retrograde action (the process of standing still, then moving backward) allows us the chance to reflect on our life and relationships. The symbol of Venus is the mirror, and this mirror may now show our shadow, self-sabotaging self. You now have the opportunity to correct any misguided attempts you may have been making to open a blocked heart.

With the square to Pluto, the focus is on death, and death equals rebirth. In this particular time, you may experience the death of old relationships anew. This give you the chance to finally put them out of your mind altogether, and go forward with your life. It also is an ideal time for creative pursuits, and you can channel any Pluto or Mars driven anger/anxiety into art, gardening, or some other physical act of creation.

A word of caution for our friends with empathetic abilities - be cautious. If you find yourself constantly drained by the energy of others, it may be time for you to check in and see how much of your energy you are allowing to be sucked away. Again, keep your mind busy and be selective about who you and what you give your power to.

This 40 day period sounds ominous, but in reality, this is a gift that allows us to know who we really are. Venus retrograde runs deep and we may see all of this energy manifesting in our relationships, in our creative projects, in our work, and with how we choose to love ourselves.

The New Moon in Libra comes on October 8. Until then, blessed be.

Full Blood Moon Lunar Eclipse July 2018 - Goat's Head Soup

This should be an exciting occurrence for our moon watchers - a Full Blood Moon and a total Lunar Eclipse all in one! This particular Moon is rising tomorrow in the astrological sign of Aquarius, but when viewed, is actually smack on the head of Capricorn the Goat. And just to shake things up a bit more, it has a conjunction (planets and points that form a conjunction are energies that are united - they are blended; therefore, they act together) to Mars; a T-square (aspect pattern is formed when points in opposition also form a square with another point. The pattern resembles the letter T when viewed in the chart) with Mars that's square Uranus (figure that one out!); and a trine (a term for when the powers involved are in harmony, so that they stimulate one another to increased activity and success) to Saturn.

What all this means is that there will be some crazy Mars energy flying around, with some help from the Uranus square that will be hard to rein in without the influence of steadying Saturn. We also have the influence of the stars in the head of the Goat - fixed star Gahib and the two stars in its horns, called Giedi. Ancient astrologers gave meaning to these stars. Gahib portends “success in business but retires under a cloud, favorable for wealth, influential position but scarcely realizes ambitions, trouble through opposite sex, deserved criticism and censure.” The Giedi portend “peculiar events, unexpected losses and gains, sometimes great good fortune.”*

It looks like a mixed bag this lunation, with heavy emphasis on the Mars/Uranus square. There may be some emotional fireworks for those susceptible to Mars energy (those born in the sign, and those whose moon, ascendant, or significant houses are in Mars). The lunar eclipse makes this stronger, and, because of the extraordinary length of this eclipse (1 hour 23 minutes), the effects will last longer than others. This will be an emotional time, with many feeling short of patience and prone to outbursts of anger. It will require Herculean feats of energy to calm down, and even when out of direct conflict. 

Keep in mind, however, that Mars is still in retrograde. So, while this Moon and eclipse brings upheaval and emotional stress, the palliative backwards motion of Mars, along with the help of Saturn, the promise of purging our unwanted negative energies and resolution of issues brought forward will be realized. As our friends at Darkstar Astrology explain, "trust, composure and persistence are needed and inner demons will have to be faced. As with all T-squares, once worked through, the rewards from this lunar eclipse July 2018 will be well worth the effort." As an added bonus, Mercury goes retrograde today, July 26. Go out, have fun, be cautious, guard your words, and be aware that impetuous actions might bring unintended consequences. We'll see you next month, and until then, blessed be.



*Fixed Stars and Constellations in Astrology, Vivian E. Robson, 1923. p.168. and p.157





















 

Full Moon March 1, 2018 - Of Saints and Sinners

 

The first Full Moon of March happens this afternoon, at 11° Virgo, and rises on the star Zosma, in the constellation of Leo, has an opposition to Neptune and is trine to Saturn. There's good news about this, and there is not so good news, friends, so let's take a look at the good first.

People born under the sign of Virgo, the eternal caretaker, are known for their attention to detail, quick thinking, and exacting nature. Remember, the ruling planet of Virgo is Mercury, the Communicator. The fact that this Full Moon is rising at 11° is significant - 11 is considered a master number in numerology and represents awakenings, higher consciousness, and the opening of portals into higher realms and dimensions.

On the positive side, this Full Moon is just perfect for the artisan and craftsperson who is very skilled and produces very fine and detailed works. Their precision and perfectionist traits are enhanced by this Virgo Full Moon to the highest potential. This can be utilized working with styles that require intricate and delicate operation of tools, like lace-making, etching or fine jewelry making. Overall, this is a beautiful Full Moon that strikes the perfect balance between being magical, sensitive, and intuitive, with being practical and very guidance driven.

Full Moon trine Saturn is a big positive because it gives the patience and emotional strength to handle sensitive or difficult relationship issues. Saturn common sense and reality will clear up any self-delusion or fantasies you may have about others. Saturn gives a grounded feeling if you are feeling upset and eases the Neptune feeling of confusion and disorientation. However, this aspect is not as strong as the opposition to Neptune. Your instincts may not be so deceptive but you should still not rely on them.

The downside to this Moon is the hard opposition to Neptune, considered a planet of inspiration, dreams, psychic receptivity, illusion, and confusion. That's where the magical and sensitive parts come in, as I mentioned above. Neptune may increase your emotional sensitivity to such a level that you misunderstand others and become confused about your own feelings. You should take extra care in your dealings with others because you are likely to get the wrong impression and they will get the wrong impression about you. Generally this aspect one of the most sensitive and compassionate but we just have to be careful that the idealism is not misplaced, unrealistic and impractical.

At this Full Moon, we have the opportunity to be either saint or sinner, a nurse or a torturer, it just depends on how evolved your consciousness is. People who become unconscious through use of drugs or alcohol are opening themselves to being used by nefarious forces. Another tendency for those touched by this full moon will be the inability to take criticism from their superiors. Especially affected are the very people who dish out a very cutting critique of others. At this sensitive full moon however they will feel extremely wounded if they receive the same back. It'll certainly be entertaining to watch the effects of this Moon on the current occupants of the White House, if you'd like to correlate this Moon with current events.

As with any Full Moon, this is the perfect time to release whatever no longer serves your greatest and highest good. It's also the time to clear your crystals of any negativity they've picked up over the month. Gently lay them on a tray and let them bathe in the moonlight, whether outside or in a window. Remember, the veils between the worlds are thinnest around a full Moon, so be very careful what you invite in. Instead, the Full Moon is best used to purge things out, and banish entities/bad habits back to the underworld from whence they came. Make sure you close the door firmly afterwards! There will be another Full Moon this month, making it a Blue Moon, and we'll talk again then. Be well, everyone, and if you need any metaphysical cleansing supplies such as sage or Palo Santo, we're fully stocked!

Jaunuary's Blue Blood Full Moon And Lunar Eclipse

The Sun is in Aquarius, the Full Moon is in Leo, and we also have a full Lunar eclipse occurring at 11 degrees Leo. Because of the Procession of the Equinoxes, though, this Lunar eclipse actually sits between two fixed stars in the Cancer constellation. The result is this is really more of a Cancer eclipse than a Leo. Cancer rules home and family, mothers, housework, and comfort. We can expect to feel more caring and responsible as a result.

Reinforcing that theme is the eclipse's very close conjunction to minor planet Ceres. Ceres rules motherly love, female issues, family bonds, and relationships. Ceres also rules what we refer to as modern motherhood, comprised of working mothers and single parenting whether female or male. Nurturing, multi-tasking, powerfully outspoken, and extremely emotional, this lunation will highlight social discussions and political debate in regard to parenting styles, custody rights, maternity leave, childcare and equal pay. Seems pretty timely, doesn't it?

The discussion we'll be having will be very illuminating, too, due to the fact that the Sun itself is in Aquarius, and Mercury, the planet of communication, will move into the sign at just about the same time as the Moon does. Expect fresh news, and we're advised to pay attention to facts.

The Moon or Ceres or both represent the women, mothers, working women and single parents. The Sun represents the dominating men, politicians and religions. The Sun also represents the role of provider as opposed to nurturer. So finding a balance between work and family will be another issue highlighted by the January 2018 total lunar eclipse. Sun opposite Moon and Ceres means you will need to think about the polarities in your life relating to parenting and the roles of women in families and society. Balance between family and work, children and career, or between looking after yourself and nurturing others. The key to finding the right balance is trust and faith in yourself and in your belief system.

This is also the ideal time to purge and release any old issues you perceive as holding you back from your goals. According to Jamie Partridge, the Astrology King, "Like a regular full moon only stronger, a lunar eclipse focuses your attention on intimate relationships, your home and your family. A total lunar eclipse has an even stronger influence on your private life. Sun opposite Moon qualities of emotions and instincts reach their peak at a lunar eclipse. This lets you take an objective and balanced look at your close relationships. Because you will be in touch with your own needs and intentions, you will clearly see any relationship imbalances causing disharmony." This total Lunar eclipse represents resetting your emotions, and clearing away the baggage of the last six months. It promises a heart-clearing, path-altering and ultimately self-affirming burst of emotions, predominately involving nurturing and relationships.

Jive Talking

Hang onto your hats, folks, this Full Moon, appearing tomorrow, Dec. 3, at 11 degrees Gemini, is not only a Supermoon, it comes just hours after Mercury stations retrograde conjunct Saturn! It makes almost exact aspects to Jupiter and Neptune, and is square to Neptune. The Sun is also square Neptune.

This means that mischief abounds - lies, deception, theft, loss, scandal, and possibly illness will mark this Moon phase. Overriding all will be Mercury's infamous influence on miscommunication. Holy moly - this is such a perfect backdrop to what's happening here on the political stage, and it'll be an interesting couple of weeks! You know that you'll need to be very careful when beginning any new projects, especially those dealing with contracts and negotiations. You'll also need to be aware that negative thinking like pessimism, or thoughts of doing bad things, does not mix well with the deceptive and treacherous influence of Neptune.

The saving grace of this Moon is Jupiter trine Neptune. Its direct aspects to the Full Moon make it easier to work with. You can use the benefits of this aspect to overcome the negative influences coming from elsewhere. This uplifting aspect encourages hope, generosity and community spirit. Use it to counter the pessimistic influence of Mercury retrograde. You may have fated encounters with priests, gurus, or psychics. Enlightenment can come through dreams, visions or meditation. Remember, when receiving spiritual guidance or using your intuition, also use your rational mind to filter out the nonsense.

This Full Moon will increase the level of suffering and injustice in the world. However, your personal value system and sense of justice can reach a higher standard. Use your moral compass to avoid the temptations to be sneaky or mean. You can draw on this aspect to be more generous towards people less fortunate than yourself. Your charitable nature may extend to environmental causes or animal welfare.

 While other factors in the Full Moon chart may cause disappointment, loss and suffering, Jupiter trine Neptune will focus attention on social justice and human rights issues like the plight of refugees and other innocent victims or war and greed. Your enthusiasm and belief can cause others to congregate around you for a common cause. In this time of political unrest, this could be a call to rally your friends to protest, have parties to write postcards to your elected officials, or lend your support to those feeling bereft. It's not all bad out there, just stay true to your highest and greatest good, just don't expect others to follow suit. Blessed be, and we'll see you soon!

Into The Mystic

 

Hello, moonchildren, what an amazingly romantic and spiritually beneficial Full Moon we have in store for us tonight! Rising at 10:22 pm in the sign of Taurus, this Moon will be sextile to Neptune, which will increase your level of sensitivity and emotion, and will center around family and friends. You may feel a deeper connection to them, which is a perfect way to kick off the holiday season!

All you empaths and mystics out there, beware - this Moon will increase your intuition and your psychic abilities. It would be a good idea to take precautions now to protect yourself and to strengthen your shields. The good news is that this is the perfect time for meditation, lucid dreaming, and other psychic activities. Also, remember that November is a power month, as it holds the vibration of 11. In numerology, the number 11 represents divinity, rebirth, and higher consciousness. The number 11 is also associated with angels. This vibration will be with us throughout the month, and, coupled with the energy of the Full Moon in Taurus, will make it glow with an abundance of opportunities for money, success, and romance!  If that's not enough, this phase of the Moon occurs at 11 degrees and 59 minutes of Taurus, forming an opposition with the Sun at 11 degrees and 59 minutes of Scorpio. This will affect people born with personal planets and points at approximately 8 to 16 degrees of the Fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius) most significantly - but look at all the 11s!

Remember our last blog post, where we discussed October's New Moon's proximity to two very fortunate stars? This Full Moon, Venus is in the same place that the New Moon was last month, and that gives a very strong connection to the events of the last two weeks. Venus is also directly opposite Uranus for 20 minutes before the actual Full Moon, and this might signal a change in your love life. An unexpected event may cause tension, but it will be short-lived. Our advice? Enjoy the prosperity this Moon brings, and try to side step any negative energies that may arise from Uranus' interference. A short but thorough cleansing with sage, palo santo, or copal before meditation will help with that.

This Full Moon is perfect for releasing all the self-imposed blocks we've been putting on ourselves. The only person standing in your way is you - this Moon will remind us that we all need to get out of our own way. As we release those things which no longer serve our best and highest good, we also need to reinforce those things that do. Blesssed be, and enjoy this month of gratitude!

Highly Strung

October's Full Moon is called the Harvest Moon due to the fact that this is the first Full Moon since the Fall Equinox on September 22. Did you know that we haven't had a Harvest Moon since 2009? It's true! The October Full Moon is also called the Hunter's Moon. Whatever you call it, be prepared, because this one's real interesting.

We suppose we can call this Full Moon the most aspected this year - here's a list of what's impacting this lunation:

Moon opposite Mercury
Mercury and Sun Quincux Neptune
Sun square Pluto
Moon square Pluto
Venus conjunct Mars
Venus square Saturn
Mars square Saturn
Venus trine Pluto
Mars trine Pluto
Jupiter opposite Uranus
The Full Moon falls on the fixed star Alderamin in Cepheus the King

That's quite a list, and it would take forever to run down each aspect with you. Leave it to say that due to all these conflicting influences, we should all pay attention to how we communicate. There's a huge push of Mercury energy coming with this Moon and Mercury is the communicator of the Zodiac. Because of the negative influence of Neptune, we may become susceptible to (I hate to say this) fake news. Possible scenarios include self-deception, paranoia, lies, manipulations, and lack of understanding. Try your best to avoid negative people and negative influence. Only trust people you really know so you do not fall victim to lies, deception, fraud or gossip. It is important to keep up positive self-esteem but there is always a balancing act with these quincunx aspects. Too much pride would lead to a fall, just as too much self-pity will lead to failure.

Sun square Pluto and Moon square Pluto make this a very intense Full Moon. Their square to Pluto can involve compulsive and destructive behaviors. Just remember, whether you are the instigator or the victim of jealousy, manipulation, bullying, or abuse, challenges can be turned into an opportunity to transform and evolve. Transformation and evolving, then, are the crux of this lunation, particularly for your close relationships. A carrot to get you through all this is the Venus/Mars conjunction, which will increase your charisma and popularity, and make socializing more enjoyable and exciting. This is also a great time for creativity, so feel free to start that next art project.

Our best advice is to take advantage of your opportunities and avoid the potential pitfalls, so you can enjoy the next two weeks and use the intense passion of this full moon to get motivated and work hard on your goals. We'll check in next month to see how you did!

Sept. 2017 Full Moon - A Double Edged Sword

After August's fiery spectacle of eclipses, both lunar and solar, we're heading into a quieter time with the September 6th Full Moon in Pisces. Are you ready for the shift in energy? We hope so, since this watery Pisces Full Moon helps us understand our true intentions.

Because of several contingencies, however, this Full Moon can, as our title reveals, be a double-edged sword. Remember, Pisces is the sign of intuition and psychic abilities, and in this lunation brings insights into our deeper thoughts, feelings, and emotions, as well as an occasional psychic flash or two.

We're predicting a stronger reaction to this Full Moon because it is conjunct with Neptune, which makes our already emotional sign of Pisces somewhat confused, weak, and vulnerable to illness and deception. Neptune begins retrograde at 12° 49' Pisces - how will Neptune's influence affect your mood and close relationships? As mentioned, Pisces is highly emotional, so this Moon will increase your emotional sensitivity and empathetic abilities. You may experience increased susceptibility to untruth and scandal, which can be worrisome in today's charged political atmosphere.

Mercury, in retrograde since mid-August, is stationing direct on Sept. 5, the day before this Full Moon. What's fascinating about this is that it is stationing direct in the same degree of Pisces! So this is the second edge of the sword, like a double dose of empathy - don't be surprised if the feelings of others (even televised or digital media reports of others' feelings) causes you some emotional distress. As the Messenger to the Gods, Mercury is responsible for communication. As such, expect him to reveal any messages or insights to the surface during the week that follows.

Conscious self-awareness will help filter out any negative distractions. Use this sensitivity for good and be of aid to victims, which is perfect advice during this time of great need and turmoil here in the U.S.. Your emotional comfort will carry a healing quality, so be generous and spread it like glitter!  Remember, the effects of a Full Moon last for about two weeks, just in time for the effects of the New Moon to take precedence.

Risky Business

 

 

 

The Moon becomes full in the sign of Scorpio on May 10. The Astrology forecast for this Full Moon is both powerfully fortunate, and potentially maleficent. It is much like Scorpio itself, a kiss sealed with a sting. Let's take a look at the benevolent before we look at the bad.

This Moon is sextile Pluto (sextile: the aspect, or special angle, where planets or other horoscope points are about 60° apart in the Zodiac circle), and that's a good thing. This psychological, probing, and transforming nature of this planet can bring together the polarities in your life, represented by the Sun opposite Moon. We will all feel some very intense and deep experiences as a result. Because feelings are at their apex at a Full Moon, these deep experiences in our personal lives will reveal how you truly feel about someone - and vice versa. Relationships can and will most likely evolve to a deeper level or you will simply move on.

Things that is crumbling into decay in your life can be transformed now. Cleaning the distraction in your mind and in your environment is important now and you can get to the root cause of bad habits, addictions, and do away with chaotic behaviors. This all has to do with the Moon being in the same decan as the fixed star Beta Librae. Commonly called Zubeneschamali, this green star marks the Northern Scale of the Libra Constellation. According to our friends at Astrology King, "the old symbolical name for this star is the Full Price. This relates to the Karmic Scales balancing the good deeds versus bad deeds of a soul. Full Price means that all karmic debts have been paid and there may even be some credit. Therefore, Beta Librae, Zubeneschamali, the Northern Claw is a fortunate fixed star. Our full moon star Zubeneschamali has the planetary nature of Jupiter and Mercury. This, according to scholars, gives good fortune, high ambition, beneficence, honor, riches, and permanent happiness.”

Our friends at Darkstar Astrology note, though, that there is another star in this decan. "Unukalhai is a major star and found in the neck of the Serpens. This star has an unfortunate reputation according to the ancients. It is also connected with Lilith, Kundalini and sex magic. The Chiron medicine man is holding this forbidden fruit, which could be spiritual wisdom or poison. The Serpent is both deadly and sacred. The serpent revealed to Ophuichus how to bring the dead back to life, which could be seen as a transgression of natural law. The use of magic must be used responsibly and not for selfish purposes, which is why this star has the reputation that is does". The mysterious and sometimes eerie Full Moon is bound to emphasis the occult potential of this decan.

Full moon sensitive females might find that they cannot help but become the ultimate femme fatale. On the other hand, males touched by this full moon will play the typical Don Juan. Both sexes need to watch they don’t become too ruthless in the quest of bedding the object of their desire. This Full Moon position can almost be too cartoon-like in its potential to produce scoundrels. This Full Moon in Scorpio will open our eyes further to the degeneracy in the world (if they weren’t open enough already.)

Our advice this month? Gird your loins, dear ones, for this could be an epic battle of good vs. evil. It will be interesting to watch how this affects our political goings-on.

But, There's A Catch.....

 

 

 

The New Moon debuts tonight in the fiery sign of Aries. Aries is the first sign of the Zodiac, and as such, always marks the beginning of something energetic and turbulent. This describes this Moon phase perfectly, as it is conjunct Venus and Venus is in retrograde. Venus retrograde is supremely uncomfortable in Aries in the best of times.

While everything seems to be coming up roses, it's the thorns you must be aware of - it's very tempting to jump first and ask questions later, yet it would be wise to first investigate a situation prior to leaping. Moon conjunct Venus is hungry for affection, and so will try valiantly to keep things harmonious. This means that we will try to please those around us but our egos may take a beating for anything that's out of the norm. And this is a time when things are anything but normal! Our friends at Darkstar Astrology say: "This Aries Moon conjunct Venus can also attract violent behavior as it goes about trying to bring fairness to situations. At this new Moon we have to watch out we don’t become a doormat with all that people-pleasing. Sociable Moon conjunct Venus is so hypersensitive to the needs of others that paradoxically the only way to get any ‘me’ time at all at this New moon might be by shutting off from company all together."

There's an analytical component to this New Moon as well. The star Alpha Reticulum highlights scientific, astronomical, and astrological skills. This would be a great time to check out the night sky with friends and ponder the meaning of the universe and your role in it. What's important to you, and how do you actively go about achieving it? As noted, this is both an energetic and turbulent Moon phase - positive and negative. Are you serving yourself or are you working to serve others?

Now is the perfect time to contemplate what you want and need to manifest and create for the balance of the year. Do you need to enhance or even revamp your needs and goals? Perhaps it's time to wipe the slate clean and bring fresh energy into your plans. The New Moon gives us this chance to restart, renew, and recharge. Take some alone time and meditate on just what it is you need to get through - just make sure there are no hidden snags on what could be a bumpy ride to a fresh, new you!

Getting Down To The Real Nitty Gritty

                                                                       

 

 

 

This Full Moon in Virgo, directly following Venus going retrograde* and with Mercury square Saturn, could be thought of as a period of deep personal healing. We have the ability to look within and deal with our firmly seated beliefs that may be holding us back, but first we must jump the hurdle of this Moon's difficult position. Virgo is the archetypical nurse figure, taking care of the universe. This lunation, however, the nurse must heal within before healing without. The buildup of resentment is real - has anyone taken the time to repay Virgo's charity & dutiful attentions? On the other hand, patients may not have asked for the ‘medicine’ at all, and in frustration are apt to throw it all back in the Virgo Full Moon’s face. Quite the conundrum, isn't it?

 

Our friends at Mystic Mama.com say, "Mercury square Saturn is a test to think your way out of the box. These are tough aspects yet we can make them work by being willing to be open to suggestions from our intuition as Mercury is in Pisces. The highly efficient Virgo Full Moon is saying that we need to get down to the nitty gritty if we want to achieve our dreams (Sun in Pisces). Virgo sometimes wants to shy away into the background but right now it’s important that we step up to the plate. Let others see your work. This Full Moon it’s about having the confidence to show what you can do. Learn to control those fearful lions that tear at the meat of your courage."

 

Getting our courage back is key at this Full Moon, and using it for a good cause is crucial. Perhaps this is a cosmic push for us to speak truth to power, yes? For those of you who are following politics, know that this Full Moon has the pathological need to shock and outrage, so don't be surprised if this plays out on the political stage. However, the upside is that we also have the opportunity to rise and achieve personal enlightenment and awakening. There is also the promise of being freed from the bondage of imprisoning mindsets. Sounds good to me!

 

*Venus is in retrograde from March 4 to April 15. You may find out more about it here.

 

 

Sometimes We Need A Little Magic

According to Gostica.com, "The last eclipse was in September 2016 and February’s Eclipse is going to bring an end to whatever energy was brewing at this time. This ending is to pave the way for a new beginning, which will come at the end of the month on the New Moon Solar Eclipse." So, this is big news - we have a Full Snow Moon (in the sign as well as the Constellation of Leo) along with a Lunar Eclipse and the New Year Comet! We're looking at this event as a gateway into new energy paths that have the potential to change the direction of your life, and as the "final purge of 2016".

What does that signify for you? For one thing, it signals a clean(er) internal slate. As a final purge of leftover energies from 2016, you'll experience an end to things that have attached themselves to you and are unwanted. As Jamie Partridge, the Astrology King, has said, "with a Lunar Eclipse, the blotting out of the moon represents a resetting of emotions, clearing away the emotional baggage of the previous six months". Together with the February 26th Solar Eclipse, this Lunar Eclipse will remain active until the August 2017 Lunar Eclipse. A Lunar Eclipse. "Lunar Eclipses are always viewed in astrology as being deeply transformative times that can bring abrupt and sudden change. - Gostica.com" On the other hand, Eclipses are like the hand of cosmic forces pushing you along to wherever you need to be. You might not like where you're pushed, or it might not be where you thought you'd be, but it's definitely where you need to be.

There is also this awesomely portentous pattern to the planets around this Full Moon. A couple months ago, we described what is called the "Mystic Rectangle". This month, we have a beautiful Pentagram formation, crowned at the top by the planet Saturn. This is pure serendipity, the icing on the cake, the luck of the draw - it signifies that empathetic vibrations are increasing, and you can rely on your instinct and common sense. Saturn is the god of time (Cronus is his Greek counterpart), of wealth, of agriculture, and of liberation. As such, consider this an auspicious time to make some positive changes, as well as bringing people together in a cause. I think we're starting to see this play out on our political stage as we speak. Not since the explosive 1960s have we seen so many people working for positive change!

Speaking of the political arena, we have seen how the challenging astrological forecasts of the past year that played out. There has been so much dissention surrounding the recent election, one can not find it difficult to attribute this unforeseen negative energy to the last inauspicious Lunar Eclipse, and its effect on the dreaded Saturn/Neptune Square. Gladly, this Full Moon, along with the Lunar Eclipse, and Comet will give us the fortitude we need to recognize the source of our inner tensions, and the tools with which to resolve them. Perseverance along with a strong work ethic will equal success!

Full Moon January 2017 The Eternal Struggle

 

 

 

Happy New Year, friends, and welcome to the Wolf Moon of January! This is an interesting Full Moon, with several aspects combined, but none greater than the Grand Cross we're experiencing today. A Grand Cross aspect pattern is a square formed by at least four planets, which are Sun opposite Moon at right angles to Jupiter opposite Uranus. We also have the Moon in the sign of Cancer, a tranquil Sun sign, however, Cancer sits square in the middle between the two stars of Gemini, Castor and Pollux. According to the Astrology King, Jaime Partridge, the Full Moon January 2017 shines a spotlight on the original cause of war, the rivalry between two brothers fighting over one woman. It is still being waged today and had developed into a battle for land, oil, and even God. He reports that "the internal battle shows as anger, fear, guilt, shame, fear, paranoia, mental illness, addiction, depression and nervous breakdowns. Externally we see two tribes going to war as Jews against Muslims in Palestine, blacks versus whites in America, and Islamic State against the old Crusader nations."

 

This is a time of great conflict, and current events bear that out. Luckily for us, there's another aspect to this Full Moon that tends to soften the effects - Saturn, the great dealmaker, is semisextile the Sun, is quincunx to the Moon, sextile Jupiter, and trines Uranus. All these aspects help mediate the effects of the Grand Cross, and depend on the ability to compromise and make deals to end conflicts. This is actually a great time to make positive changes. Working toward understanding, cool heads, and using our innate common sense will allow us to push forward toward permanent positive goals.

 

In this vein, be aware that because of the electrified influence of Jupiter and Uranus (both share thunderbolts in common), anything could happen! Hoopla! Emporium is hosting a great little workshop on Thursday, February 2nd, featuring Niki Elliott, Phd., highlighting her book "I Feel Your Pain". Written for empaths of all sorts, Dr. Elliott will talk about her seven step survival guide for us intuitive folks. Be sure to watch our social media sites, or sign up for our email newsletters, for further information.

 

   

 

 

 

 

New Moon In Capricorn - Be Clear Now!

 

 

 

A New Moon represents the end of one cycle and the beginning of another new 28 day cycle. When the Sun is conjunct with the Moon, it signals that you can put you and your plans for the future in the forefront. This is the best time to make a fresh start, to begin new projects, or adopt new challenges. It's also the best time for dropping all behaviors or mindsets that don't serve you well any longer.

 

This New Moon's first test is by its alignment with Mercury. Normally, this would be interpreted as focusing on communication and transportation. All good, right? Right now, not so much - Mercury has been in retrograde and it will have a detrimental effect on your communication skills. It might even throw a monkey wrench in your travel plans, so plan accordingly. But, interestingly enough, we're advised that this focus on communication will be about misinformation. Also, because of the always uncomfortable Mercury-Saturn aspect with this retrograde, expect that you may dwell on things past, and maybe meet up with people from your past.

 

We are urged to keep Capricorn's lessons in mind for this New Moon. Capricorn is ruled by Saturn, and as such, is the task-master of the Galaxy. He's also the Lord of Karma, so the lessons we take away are to stay disciplined, motivated, and determined when making your plan for 2017. What we can do now with un-festive energy is to make two lists, one for the things we'd like to discard and one for all your goals and objectives for the next year. This is the time to get detailed and use the Capricorn juice of this New Moon to get focused!

 

Also, watch the skies in early January - if we have clear skies, look for the Crescent Moon conjunct (near to or a part of) Venus because it's so pretty! We'd also like to share some words from the Andean Institute, via Shaman Carol Woodliff (who presides over our monthly Full Moon Celebrations):

 

"Consciousness is not linear – it is relational, and all of its processes occur simultaneously. This is the basis of a key teaching imparted to us from one of the great mountain spirits, Chaupi Orco. He reminded us that first we must exercise presence, and then craft each day with vision. In order to do this, things cannot be linear – first one thing and then the next – because we must always be present, and continuous presence isn’t possible in a linear mindset. The secret to exercising presence is this: as we bring closure to each day, we must simultaneously bring forward the vision of each new day – in this way we’re always present. This simple, elegant teaching of consciousness applies to all types of cycles, including this emerging Solstice. However you celebrate the return of the light, the ending/beginning of the world ages, be present and timeless. In this state you will experience full consciousness and collectivity. Remember your experience and live into it every moment, in full presence."

 

Hoopla! Emporium wishes you and yours a happy New Year!                                                                                 

December 13 2016 Full Moon In Gemini - Expect Magic

December's Full Moon holds both sobering and exciting elements, which seems to mirror this season of celebration. I suppose we could say this is a bad news/good news situation, however, I wouldn't put too much emphasis on the bad news part.

The bad news of this Moon is that it's opposite Saturn. Because of this, you might experience loneliness or difficulty expressing your feelings. Coupled with the festivity of the holidays, that can create distance, and a possible strain in your relationships. Jupiter opposite Uranus can add an extra dollop of rebellious feelings on top of the melancholy you may be experiencing. The thing is, if you recognize that these are just dark aspects of this Full Moon, to be acknowledged but not wallowed in, you'll be able to enjoy the brighter, warm and fuzzy feelings that will also come.

Those warm and fuzzy feelings are on the way - because of the Full Moon trine Jupiter, Jupiter sextile Saturn, Saturn trine Uranus, and the fixed stars Phact, Capella, and Mintaka all bring different but positive aspects to the dark energies at work here. Communication will be crucial, and we're lucky that the stars' influence will make it easier to iron out any difficulties in relationships that may arise. Making changes will become easier, opportunities for growth abound, as will patience and honesty. Mutual respect and understanding can lead to very successful personal and business partnerships. In this case, Saturn will tend to act as a glue, bringing commitment and loyalty.

The December Full Moon is special because it's the last Supermoon of the year, which tends to heighten and magnify its effects. This Full Moon also holds another surprise - the Righteous (or Mystic) Rectangle. In the diagram below, you'll see that the calm blue rectangle surrounds the inner conflicting aspects. A Mystic Rectangle occurs in an astrological chart when four or more planets are connected by oppositions, sextiles and trines. According to Astrologist Kelli Fox, "The four corners of the box represent the four planets involved in the Mystic Rectangle; the short sides of the box represent the sextiles; the long sides represent the trines; and the diagonal lines crossing each other in the middle are the oppositions. This results in six related aspects among four or more planets — two oppositions, two sextiles and two trines. Sextiles and trines are ‘soft,’ or beneficial, aspects, and oppositions are ‘hard’ ones that can cause conflict. But since there are four soft aspects and only two hard ones in a Mystic Rectangle, the overall effect of this configuration is considered helpful — with just enough of a challenge thrown in by those two oppositions to keep things interesting!" In other words, it's suggested that you use your "soft" aspects to correct the "hard" ones.

It should all end up being what we all envision the holidays to be, a season of peace, beauty, and magic! If we all live in our own personal integrity, speak our truth, and work to untie the knots of miscommunication, we'll be able to celebrate without any reservation. Here's hoping that you all have a wonderful holiday!

Full Supermoon November 14, 2016 - Dealing With All That Bull

 

 

Monday's full Supermoon will be huge at 14% bigger and 30% brighter than others, due to its being the closest to Earth than at any time since 1948! And, like the girl on the swing in the picture above, we'll all be see-sawing back and forth in the wind for a little while longer, it seems. As eventful as this past week was, fasten your seatbelt because we've got some karmic drama yet to play out in our lives, and the lives of the rest of the souls on this planet.

The Full Supermoon will enter the sign of Taurus at its rise on November 14, at 5:51 am PST. Taurus, the Bull, is the sign of all things steady and practical, but it's also the harbinger of illumination. The past couple of weeks have been extremely fractious and emotional, but that will change and you'll feel a calmness and grounding with this full Supermoon, and you'll be able to see with a newfound clarity. That's the good news.

Due to several planetary aspects, this calm feeling you experience on the full Supermoon will soon dissipate. Mars entered Aquarius on November 9, and you might have felt that shift as it left methodical Capricorn, the sign of discipline and organization. The take-away from Mars in Capricorn is how you can improve your life if you follow through on the plans and/or goals set during the time of the New Moon. Aquarius supports unique, unconventional, free expression. Mars in Aquarius will propel awareness into a distinct turn toward the future.

As we've mentioned before, the past 18 months have been very distressing and disrupting because of the Saturn/Neptune square. These two planets have been wreaking havoc, stirring up illusion and controversy, as well as uncovering subterfuge and hidden agendas. For all the noise of people vying for attention and proclaiming truth, the truth still remains elusive until around mid-November, when Neptune enters a direct phase and Saturn transits into new territory around the time of the New Moon.  This full Supermoon comes as a reminder to think about our self-worth and security. It may also bring up issues with finances that need to be dealt with. If you have a poor relationship with money, this Moon's energy may be the perfect time to think about mending your relationship and start thinking more abundantly.

But then there's Saturn and that may mean that are great obstacles to be climbed. Dreams may be especially vivid, perhaps even prophetic. You may want to keep a record of your dreams in a journal for the next few weeks, to see if you can discern a pattern that might clue you in as to what you need to work on. Performing or taking part in a ritual to banish phobias and paranoia would be a good idea. If this full Supermoon triggers a deep melancholy or depression, it may be your intuition sensing future catastrophic events affecting a large portion of the population. See Astrology King's synopsis of what other minor planets and stars are affecting this month's forecast.

On a more personal note, if this election cycle has left you feeling like you need a good cleansing, Hoopla! Emporium has a fully stocked selection of premium sage bundles, sage & copal, sage & mugwort, resin incense, sage sprays, and palo santo sticks for space clearing! Along with a full complement of essential and fragrance oils, crystals, candles, and ritual salts, we're ready to help.

Full Hunter's Moon In Aries - Control Is The Name Of The Game

We've all had an interesting past few months, astrology-wise, haven't we? We are now past the major retrograde season (whew!), came through eclipse season intact, are still dealing with the nasty fallout from Saturn/Neptune square, plus we lived through last month's Black Moon. Now we deal with the aftermath!

You can comb through all the astrology pages on the internet and you'll find sensationalistic warnings of the Mercury-Pluto-Eris square and all the havoc it will wreak; how Moon conjunct Uranus will keep things crazy; and how the Sun's opposition to Uranus will challenge the status quo. What to keep in mind while reading all this is to remember to stay in control.

You'll also hear that this is a Supermoon. A Supermoon occurs when the Moon is close to the earth, and this helps  amplify its energy. Because the aspects of this full moon are very challenging, even more so because of the conjunctions and squares (Mars/Pluto/Mercury), it's important to know that anger, arguments, and rebellious behavior are to be expected. Keep your ego in check and don't take things too seriously. In fact, there's a great opportunity here to take that negative energy and get creative with it. Speak your mind, but be aware - the Aries Full Moon demands action and courage, not anger or blame, so use your journal, make art, or ground that excess energy in Mother Earth!

This is also a auspicious time to stand in your truth, to confront and finally deal with old issues that have recently come bubbling up to the surface. One of this Full Moon's conjunctions is with the bright star Eris, the Greek Goddess of strife and discord, even chaos. She is also the feminine warrior Goddess. Use her energy wisely to control base emotion, to take the higher road, and realize that over-reaction to anything during this time will not serve you well. Once you've controlled the ego, you can stand strong against any negativity, send it back to Earth, practice patience, and speak respectfully. Above all, remember that there is truth in this Moon - you may have to dig deep to uncover it, but when you find it, it'll be a razor sharp, but precious thing.

Black Moon Blessings, You'll Need Them!

We all know that the New Moon was on September 1, and coincided with a penumbral lunar eclipse. Get ready for another new moon on September 30, called a Black Moon because it's the second New Moon in a month!

Having two New Moons in the same month is generally known as super beneficial, as amplified feminine energies bring us into a time of great awakening and clarity. Of course, all New Moon's are great times to go within, plant seeds of intention, and let go of things that no longer serve. The Black Moon can provide us with a powerful blossoming of intentions planted prior to this phase, but it's also a time of some intense tribulation.

This second New Moon is in Libra, our sun sign of the month, conjunct Jupiter at 4 degrees. This signals party-time, my friends! I mean, hallelujah, after all this heavy stuff with the Saturn square Neptune we've been dealing with, we get a little break, right? Libra conjunct Jupiter is happy time, making it easier to find joy and have a great time with others! The sextile to Saturn in Jupiter-ruled Sagittarius gives a nice opportunity to turn new friends or flirts or acquaintances into long lasting ones. Oh, wait....Saturn is still square to Neptune, and we just can't seem to shake off their negative effects. We have all this positive energy generated by the Black Moon, but are still unsure about how and where to expend it.

This Libra New Moon/Black Moon is also square to Mars and Pluto in Capricorn. New Moons in cardinal signs (such as Libra) often signal anger and power struggles. Our challenge is to intuit where the initial struggle is coming from - an outside source, or your own internal shadow? You may discover that it's your own manipulative or controlling tendencies at work, so be careful!

Jupiter tends to exaggerate situations, blow things out of proportion, and the Libra New Moon conjunct Jupiter, sextile Saturn, and square Mars and Pluto will create some over the top emotions and encounters for sure. Get yourself out there and deal with it - you'll be glad you did!

Shine On, Harvest Moon

""Harvest Moon"

Come a little bit closer
Hear what I have to say
Just like children sleepin'
We could dream this night away.

But there's a full moon risin'
Let's go dancin' in the light
We know where the music's playin'
Let's go out and feel the night.

Because I'm still in love with you
I want to see you dance again
Because I'm still in love with you
On this harvest moon.

 ------Neil Young



Happy September, everyone, and welcome to what we refer to as the "dog days" of summer. Those hot, hot days before it finally cools off, when we all wish it were October, already! That said, we just might wish this part of September away, due to the intense, and somewhat intimidating, astrological forecast for this Full Moon / Penumbral Lunar Eclipse cycle. A Penumbral Lunar Eclipse is the most subtle of the eclipses (the others are termed "full" or "partial"), because the Moon is passing only through the outer edge of the Earth's shadow, and if you're not looking for it, can be easily missed. If you're interested in the special attributes of this month's Moon, here's a lovely article about it from Treehugger about it, and an audio recording of the song by Neil Young, the lyrics of which are posted above.

So, we can be assured that the West Coast won't be able to see this particular Penumbral Eclipse on September 16th (only Europe, Australia, Africa, and parts of South America will be able to view it), but that doesn't mean we won't feel it. If you read our last post, you'll know that Mercury is in retrograde. Add to that the fact that this Moon's eclipse happens in the sign of Virgo, and that we're still dealing with the Saturn square Neptune aspect from earlier this year. Toss in the fact that this Eclipse is squaring Mars, and we've got quite a tempest on our hands.

While feelings of depression, loss, and belligerent anger are part and parcel of where we're at astrologically now, there are bright spots of hope we can grasp onto, until this period is over in the next couple of months. It's advised to still rely on the basics - start new projects or state intentions on the New Moon, finish and/or harvest those intentions on the Full Moon. Also, remember to formally let go of what doesn't serve at the Full Moon, as well. Mercury conjunct Jupiter is favorable, and will help you overcome fears and insecurities (feelings most prevalent during Mercury Retrogrades). A little later,  there will be another boon for those of us sick of this morass that the Saturn square Neptune has gotten us into. From Mystic Mama,  "But in the midst of all this challenging pattern, the eclipse is conjunct the North Node. There is an opening here, to use this potent energetic pattern to its highest frequency." That means using your creativity well this month - make art, make love, make some positive energy! If you're feeling angry, channel that into fueling hard physical work (training? Pilates?) or a creative project (writing? painting? decorating?). Similarly, if you're feeling angsty, use that as fodder for internal work - look inward and work toward any type of metaphysical work you're interested in.

It will be interesting to see how we all do during this period. Feel free to leave a message about it in the comments, and be assured, we will make it through! Hope to see you at Hoopla's Autumnal Equinox Celebration, on Sat., Sept. 24, from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm, where we'll be hosting Shaman Carol Woodliff, who will be leading an Earth-based blessing ceremony, and a special prayer circle for the protectors at the Sacred Stones site at Standing Rock.