As a practising Astrologer of more than 10 years, while I'm not an expert by any means, I've had plenty of time over the years to study the interplanetary patterns within our solar system - at least from an archetypal level - and in particular, the phases of our celestial luminaries that we call the sun and moon.
Technically, the sun is the luminary, while the moon is its reflector, giving light at various times in our night sky, depending on its phase. While the lunar phases can normally be broken down to eight phases from new to balsamic, for the purpose of simplicity, I'm explaining the three main phases in the meantime and I will expand on the eight phases at a later date.
New Moon:
The new moon is a time for new ideas, concepts and planting seeds. The moon is yet to appear in the sky at this stage, although it can still be felt on an energetic level. This period is for recognising what you want from your current situation, and/or long range goals. Set the wheels in motion by planning, forecasting and focusing. The work begins here. For example, you would love to have a garden in and around your home. For the discerning gardener, planting and sowing can be determined also by which sign this is carried out, as there are fertile and barren signs to look out for, but that's for another time. Think about the plants, understand the soil content, whether the plants require full sun or shade. Another example is getting a small business off the ground and finding the right network in order for you to succeed, good advertising and quality stock. No success is ever overnight, and some projects may take longer than others, How the foundations are laid in the beginning will determine the best outcomes in the long run, even if your best efforts appear to be barely noticeable at first. Perseverance eventually pays off.
Full Moon:
The full moon has long been the stuff of legend and myth. Plenty of TV shows and movies have churned out tales of superstition and horror based around this phase. Think of werewolves and hounds and you'll get the idea. I know that I grew up watching a lot of these shows when I was a kid. My siblings and I would sit in the dark and jump out of our skins every time some unspeakable horror would occur, and I loved it. A lot of anecdotal evidence supports claims that people tend to act a wee bit crazier than usual, and it's from the word luna that we get lunacy. Acts of crime are meant to spike during this time, and stories about patients in institutions would always suggest that they go off on the deeper end than usual.
The full moon is also a time for many animals to go through fertility rituals, like going back to the same breeding ground during this time so they could spawn. It's well known that the full moon affects the tides around the world, especially when in its own sign of Cancer, around the time of either Summer or Winter Solstice in December.
As an archetype, the full moon is also a time of harvest, of reaping one's rewards from the hard work that they've initiated from the time of the new moon. Matters of the heart that have simmered for a while can also come to a head at this time. Not everyone reacts in the same fashion around a full moon, and this all depends on the aspects of your horoscope, or natal chart, as it does around the other phases also. You can be sure, though, that the full moon will trigger an emotional reaction in one form or another. It must also be borne in mind that no one month is the same, and anything that requires redress can take months or even years to manifest from its starting point. Which is why Astrologers tend to have a long range forecast if they're observing something that unfolds.
The time of the full moon is not a time for getting things started, or ending matters, as emotions are heightened at this time. The moon's fullness and reflecting light allows you to see in the darkness and throw a spotlight on that particular moment. There is also a sense of illusion which may skew how each of us are feeling so it's normally a good idea to ride the period out and see how you feel when the dust settles.
Dark Moon:
This phase brings about the time for letting go of what no longer suits us, spring cleaning if you will. For the magical practitioners, this dark phase is usually a fortuitous time to perform spells and rituals as a way of ridding the old in order to make way for the new, although these can be practised during the other phases. People who were in your life may suddenly move away from you, and the reasons for this are many and varied. Relationships may come to an end and depending on the circumstances, it may move smoothly through as a natural ending or it could bring about resentment for a person who refuses to let go. It may be time to relocate from an area which has been stagnant and restricting you in the way of growth and development. Old items that have long outlived their use-by date are cleared out at this time also. The crux of this period is always about release, and when we really think about this phase, the moon goes into darkness, it can't be seen in the sky during the night at this time. Some would call this the darkest hour before the dawn. What may have come to a head during the full moon phase is now in readiness for resolution and moving on from, in whatever form that takes.
While there are some who can relate to this narrative, there are others who probably aren't affected by this at all, and that's fine. What can't be denied as a stargazer is the moon's beauty as we watch in awe during the various phases of each monthly cycle. It's always a beautiful sight to behold as we allow ourselves a moment to enjoy watching this luminary move over our skies.
Till next time, Wassail and happy stargazing!
No comments:
Post a Comment