Midsummer Solstice And A Full Strawberry Moon!

This year, the Summer Solstice will happen on Monday, June 20, at 3:34 pm, Pacific Daylight Time. The Solstice means the time that the sun literally stands still, at the northernmost zenith as seen from the Earth, and it's the longest day of the year. If that wasn't enough, we also get a bonus full moon on the same day! We haven't had a Solstice with a full moon in 70 years, so it's a rare occasion.

June's full moon is traditionally referred to as the Strawberry Moon. Not because it's pink, but because that was its Native American name. It's also called the Rose Moon in some cultures. I can't think of a more romantic thing to do than pick sweet, ripe strawberries under a beautiful full moon, can you?

To have the Solstice and a full moon together on the same day is auspicious, as the full moon amplifies the attributes of the Solstice, just like a Quartz crystal will amplify other stones' beneficial properties. During our last post, we urged you to be cautious with your words and ideas. This month, because the full moon is again in exuberant Sagittarius (but just barely, it slips into Capricorn just an hour later), we think that you still need to be cautious, but if you work very hard, you can turn those ideas into reality. The Solstice itself, however, adds a mixed layer of masculine and feminine energy - the full moon is the Goddesses time, and the Summer Solstice is the time of the Sun God. This is the time for complete harmony. This is a potent mixture of yin and yang and it's more than likely that we'll all stand revealed in the light.

It's time now to be fully authentic - to be your highest you - and to completely let go of the weight you've been carrying around that no longer needs carrying. Cast out the baggage, June is a time of rebirth, of reawakening. This moon is a light upon our path, and if we are aware of our surroundings and constructs, we can negotiate our path with success. Listen to your spirit, your intuition, they're your guideposts along with the light. We liked astrologer Rick Levine's admonishment to Sun Sign Leo for the month (which can apply to all other signs), "Wisdom is knowing which road is the right one. Integrity is taking it."

We're hosting a Midsummer Solstice Celebration tonight at Hoopla! Emporium, featuring Shaman Carol Woodliff; Tarot reader Sonia Chernobieff; Doreen Virtue certified Fairy Oracle reader Alyse Korn; and a pop-up appearance by Kristen Urlacher of ArtCrush Gallery! Festivities start at 6:30 pm - Carol will lead us all in a short, earth-based blessing ceremony, and there will be tasty food and drinks available. Come join us and have a bit of fun! We plan to walk up the street around 9:00 pm and celebrate Pizza Of Venice's third anniversary with more food and their own craft beer!


Light and love to all our readers!

Full Moon, Blue Moon, Retrogrades, And Fairies!

Lots of things swirling about these past few weeks, what with the five planet retrograde going on, and now we've got what we like to call a "situation". Saturday's full moon, in Sagittarius this month, is directly conjunct with Mars. Add the fact that this is a "blue moon" (the third of four full moons in a season, or the time between an equinox and a solstice), and that Mars is going "red", and you've got a big situation!

Luckily, Mercury will station direct on the 22nd, so communication, at least, will free up a bit. That doesn't help a whole lot when you've still got Mars in retrograde until the end of June. The interaction between Mars and Sagittarius this month is troubling, and the key words for this time should be "be watchful, be aware, be cautious". All the bottled up frustration of normally forthright, assertive Sagittarius may manifest inward, since outlet is thwarted by the retrograde motion. This may cause a blowup of uncomfortable proportions - the Full Moon in Sagittarius conjunct Mars Retrograde heightens our awareness of this frustration and provides a channel through which we can express our rightful, righteous anger. Unfortunately, Sagittarius is not a sign known for great tact or diplomacy, so anger here may not serve any healthy purposes and instead just add to the tension. As with our keywords for this full moon, it's a good idea to be circumspect now. Remember that with Mars retrograde, this energy is high but not well aimed and can misfire.

With all this rather unsettled energy in the air, it's time for Hoopla! Emporium's semi-regular Full Moon Celebration. Come by the store at 6:00 pm on Monday, May 23, for a short cleansing and blessing by Shaman Carol Woodliff, and a wine tasting with our friends at OddBallGrape.com! We'll have a discussion on the meaning of the 5 planet retrograde, how retrogrades affect you, and what you can do to protect yourself. Our friend Sonia Chernobieff will be here reading Tarot cards for the occasion. She's also taking appointments for Tarot readings at the store, too, so you can call and make an appointment with her!

 

 

On Saturday, May 21, Hoopla! Emporium is hosting "The Enchanted Forest - Fairy Garden 101", which features local garden designer Stephanie Clements. For only $25.00, you and one child can learn how to build a water-wise fairy garden using succulents from local company, Dominus Plantarum, and fairy garden elements provided by Hoopla. Fairy Lydee will provide entertainment, Maureen Koran is providing fairy cupcakes, and Doreen Virtue certified fairy oracle reader Alyse Korn will be here, too! Be sure to register quickly, as space is limited to 20 paid adults, and it's filling quickly! There will be plants available for purchase from Dominus Plantarum, and a special pop-up appearance by Athene Raphael, who makes the most adorable floral crowns and headwear for babies. The fun starts at 3:00, and goes until 6:00 pm. We hope to see you at any (or all) of these events!