Full Harvest Moon in Pisces, Sept. 19, 2013 - “The Moon of Dreamer’s”

Corrine Kenner and John J. Blumen
give us a beautiful depiction of
#18 The Moon, from "Wizard's Tarot"©

On September 19th at 3:13 a.m., PDT, we welcome our Full Harvest Moon.  The full moon closest to the Autumn Equinox is always known as the Harvest Moon, yet the traditional name for September’s Moon is the Full Corn Moon.  By any name, this month’s Full Moon in Pisces is a gift, pure and simple, because it is the moon of mystics and poets alike.

Our Harvest Moon occurs at twenty-six degrees and forty-one minutes of Pisces.  This is a highly intuitive moon. Full Moon in Pisces allows us to tap into our spiritual side.  Its energy gives us the perfect opportunity to journey inward through meditation and to connect with our divine Source.  If you read tarot cards be prepared for your readings to have stronger insights during this Full Moon period.  Don’t be surprised to have more instances than normal of answering your cell phone and saying, “Hey, I was just thinking about you.”  

This Full Moon is in sync with her ruling tarot card, “The High

The Moon's ruling tarot card,
The High Priestess by Corrine Kenner
and John J. Blumen's "Wizard's Tarot"©

Priestess,” both in character and philosophy. You may feel an urge to withdraw from friends and family to spend some time in your own space and reflect on matters.  Conveniently, Pisces’ ruling tarot card is “The Moon.”  Like her card, Pisces’ moods are changeable, her energy dreamy and laced with illusion.   

Pisces carries a highly creative and romantic energy.  However, Pisces can also be a little too idealistic, seeing only the best outcome in both people and situations.  The Fish’s ruling planets are dreamy Neptune and expansive Jupiter. While we will experience a significant uptick in our artistic flow – whatever our medium (not just in the traditional sense of arts), a Full Moon in Pisces can also cause us to confuse our dreams with reality.  Pisces rules the twelfth house of the Zodiac where our subconscious lives.  We keep our memories and our dreams in the twelfth house.  We also keep our secrets there as well.  With Mercury in Libra until September 29th, you may find yourself willing to reveal some of your lesser mysteries, though not many of these during this Full Moon cycle.  Pisces loves her secrets.  

Neptune's rulingcard card from
Stephanie Pui-Mun Law's "Shadowscapes Tarot"©
The Hanged-Man

Full Moon in Pisces presents us with the time and space needed to pause and reflect on life and the spirit, both personally and in the larger sense.  She emboldens us to dream and create.  Take the gift of this Full Moon in Pisces to honor your intuition, your connection to Source and use its energy to help you create the person you were meant to be.

LADY ORACLE

Astrological Trends for September, 2013 - “The Flying Wedge”

Tarot's #20, Judgment is the ruling card for Pluto
from Ciro Marchetti's "Legacy of the Divine Tarot"©

We start the first 9 days of the month with the astrological version of a classic Chinese/American dish called, “Happy Family” – a blending of sensational tastes that holds something great for everyone at the table.  Jupiter remains in Cancer, Mars is in Leo, the Sun is in Virgo, Mercury is in Virgo and Venus is in Libra.  Jupiter is exalted in Cancer, which means it’s high-functioning (life-enriching, expansive energy, home and hearth).  Mercury and Venus are both in their home signs and are also particularly powerful.  Mercury in Virgo offers us better communication and clearer thinking, while Venus is all about social graces and romance.  Mars in Leo, well, think of John Travolta’s strut at the end of “Saturday Night Fever.” This is a very pleasant energy combination that keeps us motivated in a positive way.

Our Virgo New Moon on the 5th asks us to analyze our emotions. Details, details. Mercury moves into Libra on September 9th and turns over-analysis into an art form.  Every aspect of every situation is weighed and calibrated.  The problem is that we can get bogged down in the details, particularly if you have Mercury in Libra in your birth chart.  Venus enters Scorpio on the 11th where she will have us all seeking our fiery, passionate soulmate.  The Pisces Full Moon on the 19th is a dreamer’s moon and I’ll have more on that later this month.  The big story for the month, however, is the activation of the (now infamous) Uranus/Pluto square by the Cardinal T-square that’s been occurring since July. This square will continue through September.  

Tarot's # 10, The Wheel of Fortune
rules Jupiter's expansive energy
Barbara Moore and Aly Fell's
"Steampunk Tarot"©

In honor of the football season (college or NFL) let’s think of the T square as an astrological ‘flying wedge.’  At the base of the wedge Jupiter in Cancer opposes Pluto in Capricorn which squares Uranus in Aires at the apex.  Astrologer, Bill Herbst likens T-squares to a four-legged stool with one missing leg.  If you draw a line from the apex to the opposite side of astrological wheel, you arrive at the missing leg, or other effected sign (in this case, Libra).

Square aspects hold a tense, challenging energy.  A T-square with Cardinal signs (first sign of each season) pushes issues, brings them to a head so that they can be resolved.  We’ve talked about the revolutionary energy for grand scale transformation that emanates from the Uranus Pluto Square.  The T-square, or Flying Wedge, with Jupiter brings the need for change down to a personal level.  What needs expansion and change in your life?  

During the Moon’s visits with each Cardinal sign (Libra, Aries,

Tarot's Fool rules Uranus - the
epitome of the fresh start
Corrine Kenner and John J. Blumen's
"Wizard's Tarot"©

Cancer and Capricorn) this month, we will all feel prodded in one direction or another.  That’s okay as long we use the energy released to productively change our lives.  This is Rose Bowl energy, folks, and you’ve got to drive that ball straight down the field to make your goal and get the three point conversion.  Let your creative drive flow, meditate, control your attitudes and respond rather than react.  I’ll post more about the Moon’s journey this week and later discuss the Equinox on the 22nd.  In the meantime, celebrate your opportunities and the seasonal change.

LADY ORACLE

Here's a link to Bill Herbst's paper on the 2013 astrlogical configurations.  I think he goes a great job of explaining complex formations.

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June 21, 2013 - Get Ready, Get Set, Get Solstice

The term 'solstice' comes from the Latin word, solstitium. It literally means 'the Sun's stopping point.' Sol - the Sun, and stitium - to stop.  On June 21st, the Sun reaches its northern most point for the planetary year. The Sun will be directly over the Tropic of Cancer and for the three days following Summer Solstice, it will appear stationary before beginning its south bound journey towards the Autumn Equinox.

In the Northern Hemisphere, this Friday, we'll experience the maximum amount of daylight possible for our global position. We'll have more time for following earth-friendly pursuits as well. Picnic, hike, re-cycle - whatever you wish, but take this opportunity to really think about our life-giving Sun. Sunlight nourishes us and one of the best things you can do for yourself to celebrate the Solstice is to build meals around fresh fruits and vegetables.  Watch sunrises and sunsets this coming weekend and marvel at the mystical precision our Source established to sustain life on this planet.

Astrologically, as well as energetically, we have the mother lode building up for this coming week (You might want to locate your parachute and crash helmet for this one). We not only have the Sun's move to Cancer during the Solstice, but we also have an extremely powerful Full Moon in Capricorn on June 23rd. (More on this Moon later this week) If you'll remember, Mars in Gemini is still delivering drive this month while Venus and Mercury are checking out life within the sign of Cancer.  The need for more evolved and effective communications skills ramps up during this coming week.  Communication is the theme for June.  (see Astrological Trends for June 2013, Part 1 & 2) Jupiter moves into Cancer on the 25th.  Remember the stationary three days after the Solstice?  Jupiter in Cancer is fun-loving and prosperous.  Bask in the rays that promote your goals and give them real growth potential.  

We celebrate life's growing season during the Solstice. We should also celebrate our own chance grow by nourishing ourselves in mind, body and spirit. On the 21st, celebrate your connection to divine Source energy and to each living thing on this planet.  And don't forget your sun screen.  

LADY ORACLE

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September 23, 2014 - "All Things Being Equal - Autumn Equinox"

#14 Temperance from
Barbara Moore and Aly Fell's Steampunk Tarot©
balance, harmony, middle ground
Good card for an equinox

Crisp apples, colorful leaves, scarecrows.  It must be Fall.  On September 23rd the sun will shine directly on the equator and we will have close to twelve equal hours of both daylight and darkness.  Equator, equal hours - say, you don’t suppose that’s why they call it an equinox, do you?  Clever.  We have two equinoxes annually, one in September and one in March.  In the northern hemisphere the September equinox heralds Autumn, while in the southern hemisphere, it heralds Spring.  

The ancient Greeks blamed the change of seasons on a case of unrequited love gone very bad. Beautiful Persephone was kidnapped by Hades, God of the Underworld and taken to his kingdom to reign as his Queen.  Persephone’s mother, Demeter, Goddess of Plants and Crops, greatly mourned the loss of her only daughter.  Soon all the plants of Earth began to wither and die as the temperature dropped dramatically.  Zeus, king of all the Gods grew alarmed at the state of things on Earth and ordered Hades to return the girl to her mother.  

Hades making off with Persephone
He should have used on-line dating

Unfortunately, as with all stories like this, there was a catch.  Persephone could only return to the upper world if she hadn’t eaten anything while in Hades’ realm.  Who makes up rules like this?  As it happened, she’d eaten six pomegranate seeds.  Apparently, there was no Pizza Hut in the underworld and she must have gotten desperate.  Pomegranates look a lot cooler to eat than they actually are. Those tiny, juicy seeds pockets are cute and all, but after the first fifteen or so, forget it.  Anyway, in sympathy for Demeter, and probably because of the lack of descent cuisine in the underworld, Zeus decided that Persephone could return to her mother for six months out of each year - Spring and Summer - but must return to Hades for the other six - Autumn and Winter.  She should have gotten herself a better lawyer.  

7 of Pentacles shows us the
bounty of a harvest
RWCS US Games©

It's important for us to mark the changing of the seasons.  Time-honored traditions reconnect us to the Earth and to our ancient pagan ancestors.  The early Christian church adopted the less edgy aspects of pagan traditions as a way of drawing members to their faith.  For example Michaelmas (pronounced Micklemus),  the Feast of St. Michael, (also called the Feast of All Angels) is held on September 29th, a week after the September equinox.  Feast days always sported dancing and merrymaking in the old days, but Michaelmas also served as the time for settling up accounts.  Christian churches also adopted this idea as well and today many of them still ask their congregations for financial support during Autumn tithing.

Mabon, is a pagan festival, named for the son of the Welsh Goddess Modron, the Earth Mother.  His name means "Great Son" or "Great Hunter" and he is the God of Harvests.  The festival of Mabon is held on the equinox.  Giving thanks for a good harvest and therefore the means to survive another winter was the central theme.  However, during Mabon you were also encouraged to explore the spiritual meaning of balance.  Just as the hours of light and dark were balanced during this particular time, people reflected upon achieving balance and harmony between themselves and the natural world around them.  

The old English festival of Harvest Home gives us the

A Corn Dolly, symbol of Harvest Home,
was made by twisting sheaves of wheat
into this intricate shape

tradition of corn dollies and dried apple dolls, not to mention a very scary book by Tom Tryon of the same name.  I grew up in New England and I remember being fascinated by the dried apple dolls made by some of the older people in our village.  A series of shallow, tiny cuts made in a peeled apple reveals a face of depth and character once the fruit dries out.   

Other old traditions survive today as well.  "Burning Man" festival owes its origins to the corn dollies created long ago by twisting sheaves of grain into dolls that were said to hold the spirit of the harvest.  These dollies were burned along with other wicker images, giving thanks and releasing the spirit of the grain once more into the land.

Mark Ryan and John Matthews
deck, "The Wildwood Tarot"©,
illustrated by Will Worthington,
uses "The Seer" as the traditional
"High Priestess" 

Autumn festivals have always been part of the human experience.  While they denote the time of gathering and gleaning, they also ask us to look deeper into our own existence, to try to come to terms with the eternal cycle of life.  The green leaves and shoots of Spring bring joy and limitless potential after the bleakness of winter.  Autumn, with its bold reds and orange colors lends itself to gratitude and satisfaction for a job well done.  Though our time in this existence is finite, we are all part of an endless cycle beautifully represented by seasonal change.  Whatever your faith or belief system, take time to honor the seasons and therefore honor your own life.

LADY ORACLE


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