Beltaine! Opening the Ways

Hawthorne ... the May

Astrological Beltaine: May 4

When the Sun reaches 15 degrees of Taurus, the center of fixed Earth in the sign of the bull, we reach astrological Beltaine. One of the four great Fire festivals of the ancient Celts, this is the hinge of the year when we move from the dark half to the light half. The paths between the worlds are open, the Fae are everywhere to be met, and magic abounds.

This year, Beltaine is the harbinger of the intensely psychic Full Moon in Scorpio of May 5. Notice the Beltaine Moon at 0 Scorpio, the key to the doors between the worlds turning in lock. This Moon, new in Scorpio, is conjunct Saturn in Libra and opposite Mercury in Aries, sparking creative fire in thought, word and deed.

The Taurus Sun sits in sensuous harmony with Ceres and Jupiter, abundant and serene as they anchor the ongoing Grand Trine in Earth. Beltaine is a festival of fertility, its fires invocations for increase in fields, flocks, herds and families.

A Grand Trine of Ceres the Grain Mother, Pluto Lord of Power and wealth, and Mars the actor, with the brilliant Sun and expansive Jupiter nearby, promises much.

The Beltaine Moon trines Neptune and Chiron, opening our connections to deep realms of dreaming, Fae glamour, and ancestral healing.

Neptune and Chiron are flowing energy to the Sun–Ceres–Jupiter group and to Pluto, connecting cosmic energy to the Earth. Neptune and Chiron also oppose Mars, striving for balance between the analytical details of the everyday world and our grandest visions.

This is an intensely creative, with Venus in agile Gemini connecting to Jupiter (semisextile), Mercury (sextile) and Saturn (trine).

As the doors between the worlds open, we could be offered glimpses of amazing alternatives, dazzling new perspectives, and marvelous beauty.

Linking to the Grand Trine in Earth, experiencing the abundance of Ceres, Sun and Jupiter in Taurus, we can stay grounded while celebrating the gifts of our home planet.

Flowing with the intense Scorpio Moon, connecting to visionary Neptune and healing Chiron, feeling the fire of Mercury and the ongoing presence of revolutionary Uranus, we're invited to dance in the stars––or perhaps in Fae realms––surrounded by entrancing visions.

The creative connection of Venus, Saturn, Mercury and the Moon remind us of our co-creative power, our ability to bridge heaven and Earth, and the opportunity to find a new way.
    

First Quarter Moon: From the Heart

The Sun ~ Shadowscapes Tarot

©Stephanie Pui-Mun Law

First Quarter Moon in Leo: April 29

The First Quarter Moon, growing ever larger in the night sky, presents the first challenge to emerging New Moon seeds. The Moon moves into dramatic Leo, flowing energy with revolutionary Uranus. Squaring the Sun, the Moon pushes for change NOW, while the Taurus Sun holds out for calm, steady, peaceful unfolding.

The Sun in earthy, sensuous Taurus is sitting with Ceres the Grain Mother, content to revel in the glories of nature. Yet even these two, who can be immovable in Taurus, feel some stirring to action. They're part of the ongoing Grand Trine in Earth with Pluto and Mars who, each in their own style, are moving and shaking our world.

Pluto is always a force to be reckoned with, and in Capricorn is inexorable in transforming our foundations. Mars is now in Virgo, working steadily in a organized, analytical way. taking direction from more powerful Pluto.

The third leg of the trine (an equal-sided triangle with easy, flowing energy) has been changing as the faster-moving planets move through Taurus. The Sun brings energy and illumination, and Ceres enhances the Taurean calm and love of nature.

All of this comes together to support action and movement––not in the lightning-quick style of Fire, but with the slow longevity of Earth.

The Leo Moon has no intention of being ignored, though. When she reaches the First Quarter square, she'll be at the point of a yod with Pluto and Chiron, bringing bright attention to the importance of Leo's courage, passion and creative playfulness in helping us reach our dreams. Pluto's deep transformation and Chiron's intense healing become the stuff of art when annealed in Leo's fire.

As we turn the corner toward the intensity of the Full Moon in Scorpio, the Leo Moon brings us right into the heart, shining a spotlight on what we care about most and inviting us to bring that forward. It's time to shine.
    

Crescent Moon: Committing to Growth

waxing Crescent Moon

Crescent Moon in Gemini: Wednesday, April 25

Early this morning, we reached the point of the waxing Crescent Moon. If your skies have been clear these last few nights, you've seen her growing in the night sky from merest sliver to visible crescent. The Moon moved from calm Taurus into bright Gemini, seeking connections that nurture growth. The question is, are we ready?

The Crescent Moon is a time of hope and possibility. Steven Forrest links this phase to the ancient Celtic festival Imbolc, that time in the depths of winter when we feel the first stirrings of Spring. Something was seeded at the New Moon, and although we can't see clear signs of it yet, we know new life is stirring underground.

Change, even planned for, welcome change, is stressful. The Taurus New Moon presented that paradox for us quite neatly––offering the promise of abundance and serenity, the New Moon calls for change and, given the choice, Taurus would rather keep things just as they are, thank you very much.

Now here we find ourselves with a Gemini Moon, who can't get enough of change, who requires variety to feel alive, and things might feel a wee bit uncomfortable. Yes, we'd love to welcome abundance into our lives, but couldn't it simply magically appear in our bank accounts? Couldn't peace and plenty drop into our laps? Well, no.

Journeying with the Moon is a constant reminder that we live an embodied life with all its pragmatic requirements and practical details. This may sound like an odd statement coming from an astrologer––isn't astrology about unseen cosmic forces influencing our lives? Yes, and ... the cosmic force of the Moon is the one that anchors us firmly to our human life.

The Moon is the ancient gateway, the liminal opening between the cosmic and the mundane. The Moon was called the Gateway of Man––today we would say the Gateway of Humans. She is the closest to Earth. In an model of the cosmos in which souls descend through the great Spheres, being touched by each on the way, the Moon is the last, the doorway through which we are born into this world.

time to get moving!

So, the journey with the Moon is one of embodiment. In the Mother, our bodies grow. Through her we are born. Our emotions move us through life, motivating action, driving thought and memory, and influencing health––emotions are also linked to the Moon.

The Moon is ever present, ever changing, and not always comfortable. When she's waxing in Gemini, we might feel that even more than usual. Gemini is a bright, flirty, laughing energy, and also one that won't let you be. What about this? says Gemini, and this over here? Oh, and that ... what about that?

I don't know about you, but I've had a hard time focusing these last few days!

The Gemini-ness of the waxing Moon feels stronger because of another aspect pattern present now: a square between Mercury (Gemini's ruler) and Pluto. Mercury, the faster planet, is in fiery Aries calling our attention to the deep, slow, tectonic movements of Pluto in Capricorn. This combination of fiery thought and intense power could lead to explosive arguments, or transformations in thought patterns, but with Uranus close to Mercury, something revolutionary seems likely.

Yet calm is still available to us. The Grand Trine in Earth is still present, with the Sun conjunct Ceres in Taurus trining Mars in Virgo and Pluto in Capricorn. This energy makes it easier to avoid explosions and instead channel transformative power where it can do the most good.

Neptune and Chiron remain important too, still squaring the Nodes of the Moon with Mars, and also anchoring the tip of a Kite pattern as they sextile both Pluto and Sun–Ceres. We are reminded to hold tight to our visions, and embrace healing, as we flow energy into getting things done.

It is time to act: With the Moon waxing, that feeling of Gemini poking and prodding is a call to get moving. The Grand Trine in Earth promises the slow, steady energy to keep going. Our New Moon seeds are planted and safely underground for the moment. What can we do to prepare the way? Let's do it.