Full Moon Eclipse in Scorpio: Hecate's Magic

Hecate

Full Moon in Scorpio
April 25, 2013 3:57pm EDT

Full Moons are hard to miss. Even when the night sky is full of clouds, somehow we feel a full Moon. Life becomes a bit crazier, wilder, over the top.

THURSDAY's Full Moon comes with a partial lunar eclipse, opening this year's "eclipse season" –– May brings two more eclipses, one solar and another lunar. Lunar eclipses always accompany Full Moons, giving this Full Moon extra strength––think espresso, or really dark chocolate.

Eclipses are turning points, times of emphasis and change. Eclipse patterns repeat at roughly 19 year intervals; to understand what might be coming up for you at this Full Moon, look back to what was happening in your life 19 years ago. This eclipse might revisit that same territory in new ways.

Now factor in the sign of this Full Moon: Scorpio, sign of the underworld, the subconscious, the Shadow; sign of the detective, the therapist and the spy. Scorpio knows who has skeletons in the closet and where the bodies are buried.

A Full Moon to prepare for.

This Scorpio Full Moon eclipse arrives with deep emotion, boatloads of karma, long-term effects, and high voltage. Am I planning to hide under the covers, or, better yet, leave the planet? Nope, I'm not. I'm looking forward to pressing yet another cosmic reset button on my adventurous way. Honest.

Full Moons illuminate. Their spotlights show us where we are, and how we're doing with whatever that is. With this Full Moon in Scorpio, we're likely to see one or more of the following on our personal large screen:

• Power! This lunar cycle began with an Aries extravaganza. Mars (Aries ruler) is also the ancient ruler of Scorpio, and will conjunct the Sun at the Full Moon. So ... how are we handling power? Are we responsible? Afraid? Controlling? In denial? This will be a headliner.

• Deep emotion. Scorpio is a Water sign, so our feelings selves will be awake and aware. This Full Moon is part of the Grand Trine in Water that includes Saturn (conjunct the Moon in Scorpio), Neptune in Pisces, and Ceres in Cancer.

How are we feeling? What do we feel deeply about now? Where are we confused (Neptune) about our feelings, or perhaps unsure if our feelings are justified, accurate, or reciprocated? Where do we feel insecure, or compelled to nurture others? Where are we facing the consequences of emotions, perhaps because we became obsessed, or codependent, or overcommitted?

• Where we're stuck. Scorpio and Taurus are both fixed signs, and can be beyond stubborn––immovable, in fact. Mars and Saturn, conjunct the Sun and Moon, might push us to move, or might just decide to stay exactly where they are.

Meanwhile, there's a yod (finger of fate, as aspect pattern that points like an arrow) aimed to the North Node, which also happens to be in Scorpio. This yod is pushing, with Mercury energized in Aries and Jupiter expanding in Gemini, asking, why haven't we changed already? Are we waiting for an engraved invitation, or what?

Uranus in Aries, the revolutionary trickster, is inconjunct the Full Moon, adding his own considerable power to the equation. At this Full Moon, we're likely to see where we're stuck and (if we pay attention) what we can do about it.

• Self care. Taurus is the sign of nurturing the body; Scorpio is the sign of tending to the psyche. Finding balance between the two can be challenging, but is essential. With issues of power, emotion, and stuckness coming up for review, we also need to attend to how we're doing overall. Kindness and self compassion are good watchwords, and this Full Moon may point out where we need to bring some of that to the fore.

Why the scary goddess Hecate? She's a goddess of the crossroads and dark places, a goddess of choices and deep knowing. She's demonized as a witchy death goddess, but then, Scorpio gets a pretty bad rap a lot of the time too.

Hecate is a goddess of great power, connected to deep emotional issues, who knows how to move us on when we're standing at the crossroads not sure where to go. She helped bring Persephone out from Hades, restoring the Earth's capacity to grow and be fruitful.

One of Hecate's symbols is the torch. At this Full Moon, as we begin a new 19 year eclipse cycle, calling on the energy and guidance of a goddess who can navigate in dark places seems like an excellent plan.

Checking where this Full Moon will fall in your birth chart offers extra information about where and how this Full Moon will illuminate your life. Which house will this Full Moon appear in, for you? Will any of your planets be touched by the patterns this Moon will form? These are the pointers to look for, to see where Hecate's light may shine into shadowy places.
    

Why Do I Need My Birth Chart, Again?

Ptolemy's zodiac

On getting to know your birth chart:

We've all seen horoscopes in magazines––your life for the next month summarized in a paragraph. Waiting at the dentist, I'd read my paragraph and wonder ... It's impossible for astrologers to know me, so how do they do this? And why does it seem to fit sometimes?

One-paragraph horoscopes are usually pretty sketchy. But what about someone like Susan Miller, whose Astrology Zone is hugely popular? Susan offers really detailed monthly horoscopes for each sign, complete with discussions of what's happening in the houses. How about that?

Astrologers like Susan Miller and Rob Brezsny (Freewill Astrology) look at what's happening in the sky (as all astrologers do) and then relate those influences to each sign of the zodiac as a whole.

So, with all the planets stampeding through Aries lately, we could say, wow, these Aries planets are opposite Libra, and squaring Cancer and Capricorn, so things will be jumping for anyone whose Suns are in those signs.

That's actually likely to be true in most cases, which is why Susan Miller and Rob Brezsny have lots and lots of readers who gain insights from their work. The problem, from my point of view, is that all Libras are not created equal. Neither are Aries, Taureans, Geminis, or anyone else ...

My Sun is in Libra. In the ordinary way of speaking, I'm a Libra. Except I'm not at all like Libras are typically described. I wasn't usually able to see myself in horoscopes, either, which is maybe why that's not the kind of astrology I do.

My Sun is at 0 Libra, for one thing, so I'm right on the edge. (Some people find me a bit edgy, too, but that's another story.)  I also have other powerful planets in my chart, some in intense combinations, which bring different energies into play.

For me, relying on a whole-sign horoscope doesn't work. For example, Susan Miller's horoscope for Libra for last month (March) turned out to be dead right in some ways. Now it's April, though, and I seem to be on a completely different track that what's she's describing.

Please note, I am not saying Susan Miller is a bad astrologer––not at all. She's insightful, she's intuitive, and she's a good writer. In fact, I'm using Susan as a contrasting example because she is a good astrologer, and I'm happy to recommend her.

I'm pointing out that the style of interpretation Susan offers often doesn't work for me because I'm not a typical Libra.

The experience that led me into astrology was seeing my own birth chart and understanding what it said. Well ... beginning to understand it, anyway, as it continues to unfold.

For me, the real gold lies in seeing the reflection of a unique individual in a birth chart. That's the part of reading charts that intrigues me, excites me, and fills me with awe. We've all got the same parts, and we're each put together differently. Every chart is amazing.

If you read monthly or weekly horoscopes and learn everything you want and need to know, that's fabulous. If horoscopes don't seem to reflect your situation, it's time to get to know your birth chart.

Another note: Getting to know your birth chart doesn't mean you need to become an astrologer. Starting out with a few basics is enough. In fact, following along with Rising Moon is a great way to begin.

Paying attention to where the New and Full Moons fall in your chart, watching how things unfold for you at those times (which come up every few weeks), will begin to highlight where the sensitive spots are for you personally. Over time, you'll get a feel for which times of year are more active for you, when things seem to shift or issues come to a head.

So, for now, keep in mind:

• Horoscope styles of astrology are based on treating each sign of the zodiac as a whole.
• This style works great for some people, and less well for others.
• If you find horoscopes hard to relate to, getting to know your birth chart is a powerful alternative.
and
• Getting to know your birth chart is a great idea even if you like horoscopes!

Free birth charts are available HERE or HERE ... or contact me to schedule a reading.
     

Toward the Full Moon: Grounding Our Power

strength!

First Quarter Moon in Cancer
April 18, 2013 8:31 am EDT
Gibbous Moon in Virgo
April 22, 2013 5:04 am EDT
Full Moon in Scorpio
April 25, 2013 3:57 pm EDT

The fiery energy of new beginnings continues as the driving force in the sky now. Sun, Mars, Eris, Uranus and Mercury all continue in Aries. We have seen the explosive, destructive aspects of Aries and so it's important to hold in thought and heart the cleansing, regenerating, pioneering aspects as well.

Wednesday, April 17, in the evening, the Sun and Mars reach their conjunction, one peak of this energy of new beginnings and life force. If you've not already seen signs of whatever you wished for at the New Moon, this may be a time when new green shoots emerge into the light. If you find yourself caught up in anger, irritation, or similar emotions, this could also be a peak time––taking steps to increase calm is a good idea.

Thursday morning, April 18, brings the First Quarter Moon. This is the challenge between Moon and Sun when we're asked, Really? Did you mean that stuff you said? Here's what it might look like, so be sure, now ...  The Sun in late Aries, the Moon in late Cancer, each strong in their signs, will be testing each other.

The Sun says, go, go now! Reach for it, that thing you want, explore, step out, live large! The Moon says, is it safe? How will this affect the children? What do the ancestors say? How does it feel?

The Sun is supported by Mars and Eris, tipping the scales on the side of leaping, net or no. The Moon in Cancer is strong too, though, and very protective. We'll feel the need to honor both sides.

Friday, April 20, we'll see a conjunction of Mercury and Uranus. This pairing electrifies speech the way Sun–Mars electrified action. We could find ourselves speaking out strongly––so if we're in situations where this could create more problems than it solves, planning ahead, working to maintain calm, and thinking before speaking could be vital.

Mercury and Uranus together also offers energy for intense, sudden, unexpected insights. If there's a problem you're working on, this could be the day for a radical solution to present itself. Intuitive flashes can be strong too; keep a notebook handy.

We'll continue to feel the fire, and we'll have increasing chances to channel this energy into stable, long-term growth. This new stability has already begun: Venus has already moved into Taurus, one of her home signs.

Where Aries is flash and quickness, Taurus is warm, steady glow. This is fixed Earth, the sign of the patient gardener, the energy with staying power, loyalty, and commitment. Venus entered Taurus in the early hours of Monday, April 15, beginning the shift.

When Venus is in Taurus, we long for relationships that offer support, compassion, security, and pleasure. We appreciate those we have, and we feel ready to offer compassion to others. Pallas Athena and the South Node of the Moon are already in Taurus. Venus' arrival begins to re-focus our attention from instant gratification to something that will last.

The Sun enters Taurus Friday evening, April 19. Mars joins the Taurus garden party early Saturday morning, April 20.

When the Gibbous Moon arrives on April 22, the emphasis on Earth is much stronger. This is the square-and-a-half between Sun and Moon that again tests our commitment to our New Moon plans ... but notice all the Earth in this chart.

Here we see Sun, Mars and Venus in Taurus, and the Moon in Virgo. The Gibbous Moon question is likely to be, can we be patient enough to see our plans through? Aries energy loves to start, and isn't always around for the finish. Taurus and Virgo point us toward patience and steady effort, which may feel like a welcome change or like a frustrating block.

Notice how I'm offering lots of either/or's? It's because there are some big shifts, as well as energy peaks, happening now, and how we feel them will depend on where we've been, and how we've handled the energy up til now.

If the Aries fireworks have felt wonderfully enlivening, the shift into Taurus could feel like someone's hit the brakes. If this Aries intensity has felt overwhelming, the arrival of Taurus will feel wonderful.

Wherever we've been (and it's likely been a mix of both, actually), a worthy goal is to harness Aries fire and flow the power into something slower, stronger, and long-lasting.

The Full Moon arrives on the 25th with the extra juice of a partial lunar eclipse. I'll write more on this powerful Moon later, but here's a peek at the chart.

For this next week or so, continue noticing how power feels to you––the power around you, the power flowing through you, the power directed at you, and the power you direct. Where is it electric, fiery, fast, and (sometimes) furious? Where is it slow, steady, grounded, and stable? When is one good? When is the other a better choice? Can you shift one kind of flow to another?

These are the kinds of power questions to explore now.