January 1, 2014 - New Moon in Capricorn - “Understated Excellence”

The High Priestess is the Moon's
tarot card. This sassy depiction from
"Steampunk Tarot"© by Barbara
Moore and Aly Fell

New Year’s is traditionally a time to cast away the old, the things that no longer serve us. Auspiciously, our New Moon in Capricorn (10 degrees and 57 minutes) occurs at 3:14 a.m. PST on January 1, 2014, and brings with it, a chance for all of us to calmly and completely dedicate ourselves to our own success.  Capricorn’s energy is focused and determined.  It is goal oriented energy with no fanfare. ( See blog on Capricorn – “When the Zodiac Gets Your Goat” ) Results is what matters now. Head down, persistent – New Moon in Capricorn wants us to get moving up the mountain.  

Avoid the term, ‘New Year’s Resolution.’  Our culture likes to imbue those words with the presumption of failure before you even get started.  Instead, you’ll do much better to compile a list of goals – not too many – and the steps necessary to accomplish each one of them by year’s end.  Break your steps down into specifics.  On this day I will do such and such.  Goals must be real, measurable, attainable and specific to you to achieve success.  Motivation is what’s necessary to kickstart the energy of January 1st’s New Moon in Capricorn.  Your task is to discover what motivates you.  I always recommend working with tarot’s Wand energy. ( See blog – “Lights, Camera, Action” ) 

Mercury and Pluto are conjunct (same place, same time) New

Pluto's tarot association in
Judgment - another thought-provoking
image from "Steampunk Tarot"© by
Barbara Moore and Aly Fell

Moon in Capricorn, thus setting the stage for swift change – not necessarily a bad thing.  Mercury works well in Capricorn.  This planet governs communication and intellect.  There will be little space for random thoughts, or flights of fancy in early January.  Mercury is at its analytical best here, on task, but also cautious. That’s a a good blend.  New Moon in Capricorn gifts us not only with focus and determination, but also with self-discipline and rationality.  Don’t let Pluto’s reputation for swift and unsettling change concern you unduly at this time.  Pluto’s energy can be your best friend.  Again, ride that wave on top and in front.  Granted, if you don’t control changes, they will control you, but you know the drill.  It’s nothing you can’t handle by using Capricorn’s skill set.

Some astrologer’s suggest approaching New Year’s Eve with caution.  That’s good advice anytime.  Remember that Capricorn carries a VERY focused energy and as such, can keep us from seeing past the end of our own nose.  During the craziness that ensues while celebrating the end of the year – particularly when alcohol is involved – it’s more necessary than ever to be mindful of what’s happening around you.  Stay present in the moment and avoid situations that put you in the path of someone else’s chaos.  Know where you are, who you are with and stay in control.  Okay, that’s my yearly mother hen lecture, but it does apply particularly to this year end energy pattern.

The World, is the card for Capricorn's
ruling planet, Saturn.  Perfect image of
challenges met with Capricorn's focus and skill
from "Wizard's Tarot"© by John J. Blumen and
Corrine Kenner

New Moon in Capricorn on January 1st is a gift.  It’s like being handed a pen and paper by the Universe and being told to place your order for the coming year.  Don’t let this opportunity pass you by, because if the Universe can't inspire you to move on your own It will surely force you to do so.  Get organized, get focused and get heading up that mountain. The view from the top is great!

LADY ORACLE

July 22, 2013, Full Thunder Moon in Aquarius - “The Eagle has Landed”

High Priestess ruler of The Moon
Barbara Moore & Aly Fell's
Steampunk Tarot©

Our Full Moon in July is called the Full Thunder Moon or Full Buck Moon.  These names come down to us from Native American tribes who noted that July heralded the beginning of the summer thunder storms.  They also observed that July was the time that young male deer, or bucks, started growing their antlers.  

This year’s Full Thunder Moon happens in zero degrees and six seconds of Aquarius.  The neat thing about having a July Full Moon in zero degrees Aquarius is that August’s Full Moon will also be Aquarian at 29 

The Star ruler of Aquarius
Barbara Moore and Aly Fell's
Steampunk Tarot©

degrees.  Aquarius carries an intellectual energy that emboldens the independent thinker in all of us.  We hankers for freedom and variety in our lives.  The Water Bearer’s house is ruled by Uranus, planet of revolutionary, societal change.  It’s also interesting to note that the tarot card for Uranus is The Fool (beginnings, spontaneity) and that the card for Aquarius is The Star (hope, inspiration). 

Under the influence of July’s Full Moon, we’ll see some dynamic breakthroughs for people who’ve done their homework during the past couple of months.  If you’ve used the power of this month’s Grand Water Trine to release and redirect your life – no matter how seemingly small the changes – you’ll be soaring just like Aquila, Zeus’ trusty eagle of legend. ( see Eta Aquarids blog) This is exciting stuff because these changes will be far-reaching and lifelong.

The Fool ruler of Uranus
Barbara Moore and Aly Fell's
Steampunk Tarot©

Also on the 22nd, Venus enters the sign of Virgo. This is Venus at her most practical and discerning.  Venus has much to offer and she wears it with confidence. She knows what she wants and it’s not just some flash in the pan sort of romance.  We’ll all be seeking the deeper meaning of the word, ‘relationship.’  Male or female, Venus in Virgo tells us to seek true depth of character in a partner.  “Faint heart never won fair maid (or male for that matter).”

The Thunder Moon is still at perigee (closer to Earth in its orbit) this month and you’ll continue to hear the term, ‘super moon’ used. Check out "June’s Full Strawberry Moon," blog for more complete information on the term. The important thing to remember, however, is that July’s Full Moon is pretty powerful.  It will be 12 percent larger and 26 percent brighter than a regular Full Moon. No need for night vision goggles on the 22nd, that’s for sure.  Remember to manifest, people.  As an added perk, Lady Moon rises as the sun sets this month and she may well cloak herself in sunset colors - rosy pink, lavender or even orange.  Go somewhere with that certain someone and enjoy a quiet, romantic picnic as you watch the moonrise.  

LADY ORACLE

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July 8, 2013 - New Moon in Cancer

Tarot's #18, The Moon
from Wizard's Tarot©
Ruling card for Cancer the Crab

New Moons direct our emotional cycle.  This month we have a new moon occurring at 16 degrees of Cancer the Crab.  It’s very important for us to focus on the energy and traits found in the crab shack (see blog: Zodiac Sign of Cancer the Crab) to receive the fullest benefits from this month’s new moon.

In the last blog, we talked about the effects of water signs on July’s powerful Grand Trine (Jupiter in Cancer, Neptune in Pisces and Saturn in Scorpio).  The same information holds true here, especially during the next few days as we start the New Moon cycle.  However, we also have the added component that the Moon’s monthly reboot is conjunct (same place, same time) Mercury in retrograde.  There’s a strong theme here of inward reflection.  As the Moon reflects the light of the Sun, Mercury, the planet of communication, likewise asks us to pause and reflect on our lives and our inner journey.  What goals of yours are worthy of recommitment?  What does New Moon in Cancer tell you about hearth, home, family and your sense of security?  Just as tarot’s # 2, The High Priestess represents

Tarot's #2, The High Priestess
from Wizard's Tarot©
Ruling card for The Moon

the subconscious mind and intuition, so does this month’s New Moon in Cancer.

Cancerian energy loves the security and the comfort of hearth and home.  This is something we can all identify with right now.  Each month the New Moon offers us a new broom to sweep out the cobwebs of complacency that form during each lunar cycle.  July’s New Moon works like a cyclonic Hoover©. It draws high powered spiritual energy from Neptune and knowledge from Saturn (who goes direct on the 8th).  This is the time to get out of your head.  Stop viewing the world through your ego and start pulling information through and from your own heart.  Meditations will be both extremely powerful and extremely productive right now.  Your sense of security and home life are particularly important to you and will probably figure prominently in your inner reflections.  Follow the flow of your own intuition and take time this New Moon to reflect, meditate and experience your life through an open heart. 

LADY ORACLE 

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June 22nd to July 22nd, The Zodiac Sign of Cancer the Crab - "They're All They're Cracked Up to Be"

Rising above obstacles, adventurous and commanding

Cancerians are an extremely complex sign – compassionate, romantic, adaptable and loyal on one hand, yet withdrawn and touchy on the other.  They make great friends and staunch allies. They also live in a shell and seek protection from life's travails by hiding in the cooler, but darker recesses of their minds. Dichotomy, much? A Cancerian’s home is their sanctuary. It shelters them from the stresses of the outside world whether that home is a man-cave, or plushly feathered nest.  Crabs may enjoy socializing, but they enjoy their solitude more. 

The sign of Cancer the Crab is a water, as well as a cardinal sign.  Cardinal signs are any signs occurring at the beginning of each season.  It is the nature of cardinal signs to enjoy starting new projects or ventures.  This is also typical of the Crab.  People borne under the sign of Cancer the Crab also carry yin or, indirect energy.  This energy is more withdrawn than its yang counterpart.  Yin energy will eek its way forward gently, attracting desired outcomes and people into its path.

If you are fortunate enough to become close to a Crab, you will find them romantic, sensitive and very sympathetic to the plights of friends and families.  When a Cancerian loves, they love without reservation – loyally and forever.  In many ways they give sixty percent in a relationship and are content to receive only forty percent in return.  Although their tendency to dream and fantasize about the next new and exciting thing can get waring on their partner. Crabs make great mates for other waters signs (Scorpio, Cancer, Pisces) as well as for earth signs (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn).  However, no one is immune from a Cancerian’s moods and touchiness.  The dark side of Cancer the Crab is the stuff of legends. (I am a Scorpion married to a Crab – very happily but, at times there’s lots of sparkage. Not necessarily a bad thing).  When Crabs start to brood the best thing to do is to let them retreat.  They may have a hard exterior, but they are very soft inside and easily hurt.

Cancer the Crab is ruled by the Moon (tarot’s High Priestess–intuitive and introspective) and they have an innate sense of timing and intuition as a result.  Their ruling tarot card is # 7, The Chariot (adventure-loving and persistent).  There’s a marvelous creativity in Cancerians, whether it be writing, performing, or crafting something by hand.  (My husband is building a forty foot sail boat) Crabs must have a creative outlet no matter how steeped in tradition they may be personally.  Creativity helps them stave off their moodiness. On the job they use their innovative, intuitive side to great advantage.  They are consistent and persistent in both goal setting and achievement, often subtly making the difference between a venture’s success or failure.

Cancerians have rich, deep personalities.  They will continually intrigue and surprise you. Their withdrawn nature can make them difficult to understand, but they are truly worth the effort.  

LADY ORACLE

Note:  As much as you edit, typos still happen and I made a beauty on my last blog entry, "Full Strawberry Moon in Perigee."  For some reason I decided to type the Sun ruled Cancer, instead of The Moon.  I've corrected it and apologize to all those who thought I'd lost my mind.  Well, you may still be right on that one.

L.O.

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Palladini Tarot

Astrological Trends for June 2013 - Part 1, “Retro-Fitting”

High Priestess - Intuition, the subconscious

Saturn in Scorpio, Neptune in Pisces and Mercury in Cancer are all in retrograde this month and they are working in a positive way to retro-fit your life. We’ve had some intense, fiery Wand energy during April and May. If you got out in front of it and used its passion and enthusiasm to design the life you want, you probably feel like your running on empty right now. Hang in there because in June the Universe is giving you a chance to rest up and accomplish some easy re-do work.  

Neptune in Pisces will be in retrograde from June 7th to November 13th. Retrograde means that as Earth passes a planet during our own orbit an optical illusion occurs that makes the other planet (Neptune Saturn and Mercury this month) appear to be moving backwards. Mystical Neptune rules dreams, spirituality and illusion. During its retrograde cycle, our blinders come off.  We review our life choices and our spiritual connections.  Neptune retrograde is when we decide if we’re on the right track or not.  Meditations and dream states are richer during this time - the resulting information, more profound. Powerful psychic energy flows through us, but, we also run the risk of becoming overwhelmed.  Keep your home and yourself clear of negativity and energy vampires especially if Neptune in Pisces appears in your birth chart.  

Saturn in Scorpio has been in retrograde since February 18th.  It turns direct on July 8th.  We’ve experienced a period of challenges (that’s how Saturn teaches) but, we’ve also received the necessary information to overcome those challenges.  Come on, you know you have.  It’s your own fault if you haven’t acted on your new insights.  Saturn retrograde is an opportunity to work on your infrastructure.  Saturn rules our physical and psychological support systems.  During this retrograde, commit to yourself. No, not put yourself first.  Commit to reviewing and redefining your personal guidelines in a positive way. What projects (and you have taken on many) truly speak to your soul? Disentangle yourself from those that don’t.  Avoid over commitment (10 of Wands).  Retrogrades are about renewal, not overkill.

10 of Wand - Over-burdened

Our last retrograde player is good old Mercury in Cancer, June 26th to July 20th.  Naturally, the first thing we all think of are the messed up schedules, miscommunications and mechanical snafus that typify Mercury in retrograde.  Again, we some powerful energy from Neptune and Saturn that mitigates Mercury’s shadow side.  Also, Cancer makes Mercury highly empathic and intuitive. Use Neptune’s heightened clarity and Saturn’s rules of proper conduct to assist you in communicating accurately and effectively during Mercury retrograde and you may not even notice it - and smudge, smudge, smudge.

LADY ORACLE

Here's a link to Part two of June Astrological Forecast, the "Main Event"  clink link!

Part 2 of “ Astrological Trends for June 2013” looks at Venus in Cancer and our New Moon on June 8th.

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Moonlight Becomes You - Major Arcana's # 18 "The Moon"

"If I say I love you
I want you to know
It's not just because there's moonlight
Although, moonlight becomes you so"


                                                     "Moonlight Becomes You"
                                                       composed by Jimmy Van Heusen with lyrics by Johnny Burke


May's full moon is called the "Milk Moon,"or "Flower Moon." "Milk Moon," refers to the abundance of milk produced by cows feasting on the fresh grass of late Spring.  "Flower Moon," naturally stems from all the plant life in bloom at this time.   No matter what you choose to call our celestial lady, know that she is mysterious, sometimes sullen, sometimes obscure.  She lights the night with reflected light, symbolizing our subconscious and our tendency to view life through our own perceptions rather than through the direct light of reality.

Our Moon is a close friend of the High Priestess, who represents intuition and unconscious thought.  Lady Moon can intrigue and seduce us with her ever shifting images.  And she can frighten us with distorted shadows of our inner selves.

Let's consider the images of # 18 as depicted in Ryder Waite.  A narrow path winds its way through  barren hills and valleys to a distant point on the horizon.  In effect, the path divides the shadow realm in half.  The left side of the realm is where we find the domesticated canine, the right side, the savage wolf who bays at the somber-faced moon above.  Only this illuminated roadway separates the two selves.  And here is the lesson of the card.  Stay on the path and your vision is clear.  You will safely pass by the two towers that form a gateway into the deeper parts of your mind.  Allow yourself to wander too far from the path in either direction and you risk becoming lost in your own imagination.

The crayfish crawling from the inky waters represents the subconscious, never fully exposed to the light.  The subconscious houses lots of monsters;  traumas, faulty belief systems, personal prejudices, etc.  However, there is a promise in the card.  Moonlight rains down on the scene.  Each of the beams is in the shape of 'yod', representing the first letter in the name of God.   All is in perfection and grace once you look past the frenzied activity of your imagination and the sum of your fears.  The moon can comfort and guide you.  Creative people often navigate the shadowy terrain on either side of the path, guided back to center by the benevolent light of the moon.  Each successful journey moves them farther down the path of their soul.  Let the moon's light illuminate your path in the darkness.

Please Note:  Saturday, May 5th is the full moon.  The moon is also in perigee or, at the closest point to the Earth.  She will be big, bright and beautiful.  A great time for abundance and gratitude!  Enjoy!




LADY ORACLE