March 16, 2014, Full Worm Moon in Virgo – “The Year Turns”

#9, The hermit is tarot's card
for Virgo. RWCS from US Games® 

“Shine on, shine on Worm Moon, up in sky....”  It just doesn’t have the same romantic ring to it as “shine on Harvest Moon,” does it?  Still, native Americans knew that March’s Full Worm Moon meant the ground had started to thaw and that robins couldn’t be far behind. This month’s Full Worm Moon extends the same traditional promise of springtime and occurs at twenty-six degrees, two minutes of Virgo on March 16th, at 10:08 a.m. PDST.

Virgo rules the sixth house of the Zodiac where we store our health, daily responsibilities and our capacity to be of service to others. Virgo is a mutable sign ( like Gemini, Sagittarius and Pisces) or, a sign that occurs at the end of a given season.  Mutable signs adapt easily to change and Virgo’s capacity for linear thought makes this Full Moon a great time to work the kinks out of systems.  Spotting errors is one of the things Virgos do best.  They continue to scan for problems and refine their work long after the rest of us say good enough.  That strive for perfection is the core of Virgo’s personality.  (See Blog: Virgo – Analytical And Precise, Or Fussbudget )  

Our Full Worm Moon in Virgo wants us to balance the

#1, Isis, represents The Magician in Kris
Waldherr's glorious "The Goddess Tarot"©,
tarot's card for Mercury - ruler of Virgo

components of our lives.  Have you sacrificed your exercise regime for more hours on the job only to find that you’ve made few gains other than poundage?  Time to make a change.  Streamline your systems with Virgo’s help.  Look at the extremes in your life: Control versus no control, total involvement versus complete apathy.  What areas of your life need adjustment for the sake of balance – physically as well as spiritually?  The 16th is a perfect time to make a contract with yourself – to establish a blueprint for the season ahead. 

Lady Moon's tarot card, #2,
The High Priestess from Corrine Kenner
and John J. Blumen's, "Wizard's Tarot"©

This year Uranus and Pluto want to bring sweeping changes in our lives while Jupiter offers us the opportunity for expansion.  Full Moon in Virgo is here to remind us that transformation, while messy, can still have order to it, even if no one understands that order but us.  On the 16th your best intention work (meditative, or ritual) will be in the areas of health, happiness and the greater good.  Use tarot’s astrological associations as your focal points: The High Priestess (Moon), The Hermit (Virgo) and The Magician (Mercury, Virgo’s ruling planet).  Work with candles: Yellow (joy), yellow gold (energy), white (high vibration), as well as purple (health). Full Moons are also an excellent periods to work on intuition and creativity.  Be sure to watch your Voids of Course on the  16th, 17th and 18th.

We are setting the tone for springtime with this Full Worm Moon – clearing away the old and preparing fertile ground for seed in the coming months.  Prepare your ground now and you will be assured of a plentiful harvest later.

LADY ORACLE

Here's information for The Ides of March - no not the one hit wonder band, the real thing! Read -  "I'm You Vehicle Baby"

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Full Snow Moon In Leo, February 14, 2014 – “Riding With the King”

Smart and sassy, Rome Choi's depiction
for #2 The High Priestess - tarot's card
for the Moon from "Dreaming Way Tarot"©

The Snow Moon is also called the Hungry Moon in Native American culture.  That makes sense. Stores of food were depleted by February and in winter weather game often remained scarce until mid-March.  For some of us in society hunger is never far from the door.  February is a good time to give thanks for what we have and to share a little – even if it’s not the traditional time to do so.  

On February 14th, Valentine’s Day no less, we greet the Full Snow Moon in twenty-six degrees, thirteen minutes of Leo. Ladies and gentlemen, let the rumpus begin.  Full Moon in Leo is exuberant. Heck, just take off the e,x and the a,n,t and say it outright.  Full Moon in Leo is uber-moon.  Leo is a charismatic, flamboyant sign who hosts our Lady Moon in comfort and style.  Leos like luxury. If you have Moon in Leo in your birth chart, congratulations. You are riding with the king.  The rest of us will feel the effects to varying degrees, but people with Moon in Leo are riding shotgun.

Leo has an expansive way of thinking, so both Friday and this

Barbara Moore and
Aly Fell's "Steampunk Tarot"©
show us Leo's tarot card.  

weekend is about connecting with your potential and asking, why not me? This Full Moon want us to be center stage and larger than life.  It is a moon of leadership. What is your maximum potential? See it, touch it, live it.  Be on the lookout for financial opportunities, the chance to be on the cutting edge.  A lion is good with money and is the quintessential early adopter. They believe in teamwork and they have a tremendous capacity for followthrough.  If you’ve had problems in the past with your ability to go the distance expect to see a boost in stick-to-it-ness towards the end of this week and in the beginning of the next. 

Leo is notoriously alluring and when coupled with the Full Moon’s sultry light you’ll find yourself eager to sweep, and be swept, off your feet – or paws.  This particular Full Moon on Valentine’s Day is a marvelous chance for you to heap admiration and affection on your valentine and hopefully receive the same in return. Remember that Leo rules the heart.  Valentine’s Day is also the perfect time to love yourself as the marvelous creation that you are.  Open your heart and let love pour through you. You are the lion’s heart in your own life – worthy of love and admiration.

"OSHO Zen Tarot"© by Deva Padma
Offer a stunning depiction of romance,
love and eternity

Full Moon in Leo effects each sign of the Zodiac a little differently.  Generally speaking, air signs (Gemini, Libra and Aquarius) tend to pull that leonine charismatic energy during a Full Moon in Leo.  Earth signs (Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn) reflect the strong passions found in Leo, as well as the lion’s money making skills.  Water signs (Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces) who already make a great emotional impact on others find that their powers of persuasiveness reach new heights.  Fire signs (Aries, Leo and Sagittarius) receive boosts to their creativity and their leadership skills.

Anyway you slice it, Full Snow Moon in Leo is an important Moon.  It is your chance to combine your courage with self-assuredness and to make lasting commitments to yourself and your goals.  Harness the energy of this Full Moon to assert the positive in your life and proudly proclaim who you are.

LADY ORACLE

Houses of the Zodiac - “Living in a Cosmic Subdivision”

Astrology, like any other field, has lots of buzz words and jargon. 

The Star, from
Barbara Moore and Aly Fell's
Steampunk Tarot©

Understanding the concepts represented by these words not only deepens our understanding of astrology, but also our appreciation for the three demential form of the Zodiac.  As we know, there are twelve signs that represent thirty degrees of the Zodiac’s wheel.  We also know that there are twelve houses and each one of them is ruled by a particular sign.  For example, Aries rules the first house and Pisces rules the twelfth.

Each house governs a specific area of life and is grouped into one of three categories: Angular, Succedent and Cadent.  Angular houses show us the strongest influences on our lives. Succedent houses represent our resources such as our friends, skill set, possessions, etc.  Last, but certainly intriguing, are Cadent houses.  These houses represent our human experience in terms of relationships, growth and transitions.

Ciro Marchetti's depiction of The Star
from Legacy of the Divine Tarot©

These house categories also correspond to the three modalities of signs: cardinal (first sign of each season), fixed (mid-season signs) and mutable (the ending or transitional sign for a season).  All this sounds pretty complicated, doesn’t it?  Many of us are content to simply know our birth sign and to read our horoscope every now and then.  Nothing wrong with that at all. Still, isn’t it nice to understand just a tiny portion more of what astrologers take into consideration when mapping a birth chart? 

Below is a handy, dandy chart of houses, their category, ruling sign, sign modality, ruling planetary body and tarot associations.  Check you out and enjoy!

LADY ORACLE

Exciting News!  The ever amazing and always inspiring Baba Studio announced they are working on a third re-print of their astounding "Bohemian Gothic Tarot"© . Some minor changes will be made, but with Alex and Karen you know it will rock.  Stay tuned for updates!


(Keep scrolling down for  2nd chart with 11th and 12th houses
Click the images to enlarge!)

September 5, 2013, New Moon in Virgo – Tidying Up

Tarot's #9, The Hermit is Virgo's card
Barbara Moore and Aly Fell's "Steampunk Tarot"©
Let's hear it for internal dialogue

The great thing about a New Moon is that it offers us a chance to retool our goals, take stock of our feelings towards others and consider our own relationship to the Universe as well.  Heady stuff – and if you think that’s a lot of work for one little New Moon, you’re right.  Cheer up, though.  This month’s New Moon occurs in practical, detail oriented Virgo (thirteen degrees and 4 minutes) on September 5th, at 4:36 a.m. PDT.  

In order for a new moon to occur, the Sun and the Moon must be conjunct (same place at the same time) in a particular sign.  Conjunct planets (or bodies) share the strongest aspect in Astrology, which is why New Moons pack such a punch. Virgo’s attention to detail and love of order gives all of us the urge to organize our lives and our personal spaces a bit more than usual around the 5th.  We will want to haul away the clutter in our lives – in the living spaces as much as in our minds – so that we can analyze what’s truly essential to us in terms of achieving our goals.

Virgo makes us want to take everything apart, examine it all,

The archetype Brigid, or Inspiration from
Amy Sophia Marashinsky and Hrana Janto's
"The Goddess Oracle"© Great deck!

then reassemble the components in a more efficient, stream-lined manner. Mercury, Virgo’s ruling planet, is home from the road right now, telling us to engage our mind so that we are both precise and methodical as we examine the pieces of our world. This isn’t merely about identifying problems. New Moon in Virgo wants to help you find your solutions.  As always, Mercury is the master communicator.  Look for meaningful internal dialogue during this New Moon.

The Autumn Equinox occurs on September 22nd.  This month’s New Moon offers us a wonderful chance to clean house, mentally, spiritually, creatively and physically (Hmmmm, just of like a tarot deck, huh?) before the season changes.  Make it fun.  Gather up your old magazines (if you’re not totally digital yet), clear out the clutter, vacuum, dust and do your floors. The energetic influence of the New Moon runs for about three days.  You’ve got time.  Use sage and cedar smudges to lighten the energetic load in your personal space, then set your intentions and meditate on them while burning your favorite incense.  

"The Sacred Circle Tarot"© by Anna Franklin and
Paul Mason, hold a decidedly more masculine energy -
helpful for Circle of Friends meditative readings

This is a great time to read you tarot cards to gain insight into the energy surrounding you.  Try the Goddess Oracle deck (female archetypes), or Sacred Circle Tarot (more masculine) and my Circle of Friends spread (see: Circle of Friends) New Moons are also about balance.  Set the stage and give yourself the opportunity to find yours.

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

Virgo - Analytical and Precise, or Fussbudget? # 9, The Hermit

VIRGO -  AUGUST 23RD THROUGH SEPTEMBER 23RD

#9, The Hermit who rules Virgo
withdraws gains wisdom through for solitude
and introspection RWCS, US Games Edition

If you're planning a major event like a wedding or a safari, Virgos are great to have around.  Not only are they by nature, organized and meticulous, they are also clever with their hands, intelligent and when they are centered, they are very charming.  Take a look at the people you know who belong to service groups like ELKS, or who sit on committees for charity organizations.  There's bound to be more than a few Virgos in the mix.  Members of the sixth sign of the Zodiac can't resist the chance to serve humanity anymore than they can resist the chance to organize.

Virgos compartmentalize their feelings better than most of us and

#1, The Magician governs Virgo's ruling planet,
Mercury.  The Magician is focused intention
and manifestation, "Wizard's Tarot" ©
by Corrine Kenner and John J. Blumen

because they can do so with such ease, they are often accused of being unfeeling.  Far from it.  Although they may be very sympathetic to someone's plight, they conceal their concern under a facade of detachment.  That's very handy in a crisis when it's better to let cooler heads prevail.  Virgos are articulate, have a good grasp of finite principles, but are less at home with abstract concepts and personal philosophies.  If you're going to theorize around a Virgo, make certain your ideas can be attributed to an established school of thought.  They like staying inside the lines.  However, if you are waging a campaign of any kind, a Virgo is a masterful tactician.

With all these excellent qualities, why are Virgos the Zodiac's poster child for OCD?  That would be because Virgos are perfectionists.  Luckily, Virgos are also fair-minded and rarely ask more from anyone else than they are willing to give of themselves.  They will also cut you a break.  Of course, that's where we come back to the whole issue of being centered and grounded, isn't it?  Ungrounded, Virgos can be nit-picking fussbudgets.

In tarot, Virgos are represented by #9 in the Major Arcana, The Hermit.  This is not surprising given Virgo's hidden depths.  The Hermit is a seeker of truth and often withdraws from life to sort out inner turmoil.  He learns his lessons well and when he emerges from his self-imposed exile, he is both stronger and more insightful for his time in solitude.  The Hermit, like a Virgo, will return to the world, holding up a lamp to light the way.  They are not a guru, nor are they interested in becoming one.  They simply light the path and it's up to you whether or not you choose to follow it.

Virgo is an earth sign and its members usually prefer the tones of terra firma around them - greens, browns, shades of yellow and orange, etc.  Their ruling planet is Mercury, which governs communication.  If you are in a relationship with a Virgo, honor their time and space while they are in exile.  Likewise, insist they respect your need to be less than perfect and maybe just a tad bit messy.

Up Date for August 26, 2013 - Mercury entered Virgo on August 23rd and remains until the wee hours of September 9th!

Mercury in Virgo combines intellect with an appreciation for finely tuned systems.  Expect a quicker than average grasp of patterns and rhythms, as well as an almost uncanny ability to refine and reduce the complex into the easily understood.  Mercury  is in its home sign and that means heightened communications all across the board.  

LADY ORACLE

Strawberry Moon Forever - June 4th Lunar Eclipse

June's full moon is commonly known as the Strawberry Moon, or by its old European name, the Flower Moon.  Those of us near Portland, Oregon may have heard it called the Rose Moon on occassion.  Handy, seeing as our Rose Festival begins pretty soon.

We've barely caught our breath since May's solar eclipse (see post: May 20th Solar Eclipse - Astronomical Grand Slam) and now the Cosmos is sending yet another event to enliven the month of June.  As with May 20th, there are things you should be aware of and minimal precautions you may wish to take.  We still have a lot of celestial players on the field during this lunar eclipse and here's what some astrologers are saying.

Last time we left our friend Venus, she was in retrograde and preparing to make a transit (travel) across the Sun.  She is the closest she can be to us right now and her influence will be all over the Strawberry Moon.  What is that influence?  L'Amour, my friends, l'amour.   Venus rules love and money and some are referring to the lunar eclipse of the 4th as "The Eclipse of Love."

Mars is direct and in opposition to Venus.  Yes, well, we don't need an astrologer to tell us that, do we?  If you have a copy of "Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus,"  better dust it off.  Word on the web is that you're going to need it.  Where the energy from Venus in fun and flirty, Mars is intense and broody.  The influence of Mars brings passion to Venus' romance, but without much finesse.  Under the minor influence of these two opposing forces you might speak your mind in a less than tactful way, but under a major influence, you could be completely swept away by passion and do something you might seriously regret later.  Passion is a dynamic, yet sometimes terrible force.  Stay grounded.

Relationships are certainly in the forefront during the eclipse period, but that's only part of the story.  Where the solar eclipse last month occurred within the first degrees of Gemini, this lunar eclipse is 14 degrees and 14 minutes into Sagittarius.   Sagittarius challenges us  now to get your homes, businesses and relationships in order.  Weigh the quality, not quantity of your friendships.  Sagittarius's energy makes us long for perfection in ourselves and in the world and people around us.  Depending on whether by nature you're a half full, or half empty sort of person,  you could view things through rose-colored glasses or under the harsh light of criticism.  Don't make big decisions or start major overhauls without carefully thinking them through.  Content yourself to tidy up looses ends at home, on the job and in your life.

The signs of Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces still may be the signs most influenced by the lunar eclipse and therefore more influenced by the Venus Transit on June 5th and 6th.  If you feel testy and at loose ends during the eclipse, astrologers warn that those feelings will only intensify during Vensus' journey across the sun.  Opinions differ on what to expect, however, most agree that traditional battles between the sexes could heat up and that we should all guard against making snap decisions or harsh judgments.  Some sites even advised against spending time with people who'd been drinking due to the influence of Neptune on over-indulging.  Rolling in the deep, I guess.  Stay close to home.  The good news is that the effects of both the eclipse and the transit will be over by June 8th.

So relax, meditate and remember that a lunar eclipse is also a powerful time to concentrate on prosperity and manifestation.  Email me your questions.


LADY ORACLE

May 20th Solar Eclipse - An Astronomical Grand Slam

The bases are loaded on May 20th and some astrologers say we're heading for the brink.  The brink of what is the subject of debate.  Some say that we could see a global event and it might not be pretty. Others say there will be a certain shaky feeling, but it will mostly effect people of certain birth signs and those with Gemini in the the first five degrees of their houses.  My house has dust bunnies, so I guess I'm safe.

The eclipse on May 20th occurs during the zodiac sign of Gemini and is predicted to effect the birth signs of  Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces.  So, if your birthday is on, or around the 20th of May, September, November or February, there's an increased chance that you will feel some effect from the eclipse.

What are the effects of an eclipse?  What we do know about eclipses is part science, part myth and part spirituality.  In primitive man, they engendered feelings of fear and anxiety.  Disastrous events were said to accompany an eclipse and tribesman had rituals to drive away the monster eating the Sun.  I think it's a safe bet that we won't be rounding up virgins to sacrifice in this day and age.  Plenty of disaster hits every day regardless of celestial positions.

Scientifically speaking, a solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between us and the sun. This is a naturally occurring phenomena that happens in a six month pattern.  Orbital patterns... go figure. In terms of astrology, leaders in the field suggest that an eclipse acts as a planetary reboot and sets the tone for the coming six months. What's unique about the 20th, however, is that it's only the start of the show. 

A new Moon also begins on the 20th and Venus will also be crossing the Sun in a retrograde style of occurrence called, a transit.  Uh, oh.  I said the 'r' word.  Didn't we just have one of those?  All planets have retrograde periods.  Pluto (the questionable planet) and Saturn are working on their respective retrogrades as well.  Batter up!  I checked out several sites trying to find a consensus on what we can expect in terms of planetary freakishness.  There are many opinions, but certain common themes appear among the sites.

In astrology, the planet Venus governs relationships and finances. The Venus transit (let's not say retrograde) will heighten awareness of any difficulties in those areas.  However, certain sites advised that an early Gemini eclipse also carries the energy for strong personal development through gains in confidence and motivation.  Mercury rules Gemini and brings youthful energy, communication and mental acuity to the mix.  Venus' effect, coupled with the new Moon and boosted by the reboot energy from the eclipse, is thought by some to present us with the right time and place for personal expansion and development in the areas of career and relationships.

Doesn't sound like a downer to me.  However, other astrologists warn that people who are effected by the eclipse's energy may also battle boundary issues in their personal and professional lives.  There can be emotional ripples, which, left unattended, can grow into waves.  They caution not to let a sense of restlessness and unease take over your life.  Good communication is key and here is what those in the know suggest.

Use this time productively.  If you want to manifest changes in your life, this is a great time to do so, but now you must be particularly clear and focused about what you truly want.  Study, gather information and resources.  Set your resolve.  Brainstorm with like-minded people.  Think synergy - the sum of the parts is greater than the sum of the whole.

If you're feeling awash with emotions, check them at the door.  Experience your emotions privately, but seek out intellectual expression.  Controlling your emotions doesn't mean bottling yourself up. In order to use the energies in play right now, it's important that you communicate freely with friends, family and co-workers.  Just do it in a centered, well-ordered way.  As I like to say, you have two ears and one mouth.  Use each one equally and you'll be astounded at what you learn about yourself and others.

As with any shift or change that we go through, meditation is your best friend.  I recommend you reaffirm your connection to Source.  Your link with your Creator is the most important communication you can have.  All else falls into place from there.  Ground yourself with your morning and evening mantras as you breath in and out with the Universe.  And smile.  We have a lunar eclipse coming in June.

LADY ORACLE