Full Moon to Last Quarter: Crying for a Vision

crying for a dream

Full Moon in Leo,
January 26, 2013
Disseminating Moon in Virgo,
January 30, 2013
Last Quarter Moon in Scorpio
& Imbolc, February 3, 2013


The deep intensity of Saturday's Full Moon in Leo crystallized where we stand, each of us, in our ability to passionately and creatively express what's in our hearts.

Some of us realized we've found our place in the light, our way to shine in the world. Some of us discovered we've still got a way to go.

There were interesting synchronicities around energy, burnout, ignition and keys: Two friends traveling to the same workshop left their car lights on and needed jumps to get started again. My garage door opener stopped working, and I forgot my door key, initiating a convoluted late-night series of drives, messages, meetings, and follow-ups. In the end, my own opener started working again, all on its own.

So, what did you learn? Where are you shining brightly? Where are you overloading your circuits? Where do you need a jump or a new battery?

In this first part of the waning phase, we share. Sometimes that means getting clarity within; sometimes it calls for broadcasting; sometimes it's time for outside help.

My theme for this week is "crying for a vision," the Lakota phrase to describe a vision quest. Also translated as "crying for a dream," this is a sacred time when we ask for support to clarify goals, or give thanks for what we've received.

Let's look at the transitions happening now:

[A note about the charts ... since I'll be including more charts in each post, they'll appear smaller. Not everyone will want to see the charts, and you're welcome to pass them by. But if you want to see the patterns I'm describing, click on each chart to open a larger image in a separate window.]

The Sun remains in the middle of Aquarius, the sign of visions. The Moon moves from passionate Leo, through careful Virgo, harmonious Libra, and into shadowy Scorpio. Venus transitions from pragmatic Capricorn into visionary Aquarius. Mars shifts from Aquarius into Pisces. And, glory be! Jupiter is turning direct tomorrow after long months retrograde.

Jupiter is especially powerful as he stations, signalling a shift in energy from inward reflection to outward action. It's time to move from contemplation into consequences. What have we learned? How do we implement that?

Energy overall is shifting into the signs of dreams and visions: Aquarius and Pisces, which makes it important to say, dreams and visions are meant to be acted upon and acted out! Sometimes our modern culture sees dreams as insubstantial and unreal, and visions as pie-in-the-sky fantasies. Yet without a vision, our lives are formless and empty.

If the Full Moon illuminated a wonderful place for you, this waning cycle can be one of articulating your vision fully, getting really clear on what the next steps are, and preparing for them.

If the Full Moon showed you're still out in the dark, then this is a wonderful time to cry for a vision, to ask for guidance and dreams.

When we reach the Last Quarter Moon, we also reach Imbolc, one of the four great Fire festivals of the ancient Celtic world. This festival marks a hinge of the year: In the depths of winter, we feel the shift toward Spring.

The Celts divided the year into dark and light (think yin and yang). At Samhain (Halloween), we enter the dark half of the year––at Beltaine (Mayday) we enter the light half. With this year's Last Quarter Moon at Imbolc, we reach the middle of the dark half, and begin the turn toward the light.

There's still plenty of winter left, and yet we're feeling the first stirrings of new life. One translation of "imbolc" is "in the belly," a reference to the pregnant ewes soon to begin lambing.

Astrologically, Imbolc arrives when the Sun reaches the midpoint of Aquarius. This year, the Imbolc Sun is squaring the Nodes of the Moon as well at the Moon herself. The Nodes are the path we're meant to follow in this lifetime, and anything squaring the Nodes marks a missed step, something we've forgotten.

With the Aquarius Sun squaring the Nodes, we realize––it's the vision thing! Are we clear on where we're going? Can we see the future we desire and work for?

The Full Moon in Leo charged up our batteries and reconnected us with our passions. Now we share our vision with the world... or we cry for a new one, realizing how empty life is without a dream. We all have one, usually more than one––which vision is calling us now? Commit to that one.
    

Thanks for the Feedback––Here's the Plan

Leo time

Moon in Leo
January 28, 2013

Thank you to everyone who commented at the blog, and via Facebook and email. It's good to know you're enjoying the posts and finding them useful!

The days after the Full Moon are good for sharing what we've learned, and with the Leo Moon's support, here's my plan:

Over the next lunar cycle or so, I'll shift my Moon posts from eight per cycle to four. I'll still cover the same territory, but include a full quarter each time: New to First Quarter, First Quarter to Full, and so on. This won't happen overnight, as I'll need to experiment and tinker a bit.

This main downside is, each post will be longer. My aim, though, will be to work with the themes of each cycle in a way that is concise and clear, and not drown in the details.

The upsides are, I hope to organize what I say more clearly according to themes developing through each cycle. With subheadings, it'll be easy to find where we are, if you want to refer back.

Once I get the new approach underway, I'll also have time for more kinds of posts––focused, for example, on other important astro events like Jupiter turning direct on January 30.

I'm also hoping to get back to the Full Moon journey recordings, as several of you were kind enough to say you missed them. I have some things to think through for those, and hope to have one ready for the next Full Moon.

Writing this blog is a tremendous learning experience for me. Each time I shift the format, I need to integrate the information in a new way and present it with style and grace (or that's the idea, anyway). I appreciate every reader, and hope you'll continue the journey with me!
    

Full Moon in Leo: Sing Out Loud!

Leo!

Full Moon in Leo
January 26, 2012
11:38 pm EST

The Full Leo Moon arrives tomorrow (Saturday) just before midnight in the Eastern US time zone, like a fairy godmother––except this is the Shrek fairy godmother, full-voiced, theatrical and belting out Holding Out for Hero (in C minor, of course).

We're in heroic Leo territory. This Moon is all about stepping into the spotlight and embracing who we really are. At each Full Moon, the Moon and Sun are opposite each other, which places the Sun in eccentric, individual Aquarius: No way to keep our lights under bushels now.

Mercury is widely conjunct the Sun in Aquarius, while Mars holds on in late Aquarius, bringing thought and action in line with who we are deep inside. Then there's the Uranus trine: The Moon at 7 Leo and Uranus at 5 Aries are stoking fires of revolutionary creativity and unique personal expression.

Full Moons illuminate. This one turns high-wattage spot lights on where we've been accommodating, making do, toeing the line, following orders and we just can't take it any more. 

To live with other humans, we all need to make adjustments. This Full Moon lights up the line where we compromise too much. This Moon strikes up the band and hands us the baton, saying it's time for us to lead the parade.

Now, no one said it would be easy ... Saturn in wary Scorpio squares the Full Moon. He can play the role of paranoid wet blanket, pointing out all the dangers in becoming more visible. Or he can become the magical advisor who knows where the hidden reefs are and guides our ship to a new and wonder-filled shore.

Mars squares the Nodes of the Moon, reminding us action is needed. We don't reach life goals by sitting around. Achievements are not delivered by UPS or FedEx. We gotta do stuff. Preferably now.

The Moon sits at the apex of a yod, a finger of fate, with Chiron and Pluto across the base. This hero story isn't a cartoon romp: We're called to make deep changes. Chiron the wounded healer and Pluto the phoenix alchemist push us into a wider vision of who we are and what we're meant to do.

The solution to a yod is opposite the apex, and there's the Aquarius Sun. Wherever we go, there we are. Maybe this Full Moon will light up an uncomfortable truth. If we can embrace it, things will be shaken up, but will also make sense in new and wonderful ways.

Expansive, optimistic Jupiter is on board this Full Moon, sextiling the Moon and trining the Sun. He's been retrograde for months, an unaccustomed time of inward focus. He's poised to turn direct in a few days and flow his exuberant energy forward.

Venus forms creative quintiles with both Saturn and Uranus, the ancient and modern rulers of Aquarius. Venus is creativity personified, and at this Full Moon tells us there are innovative ways to transform, embrace our inner eccentric, and express that in the world.

Where do Leo and Aquarius fall in your birth chart? These houses are illuminated, the areas of life in which we're called to follow our unique path. This Leo Moon's in my 12th House, the Aquarius Sun in my 6th, lighting up my spirituality, intuitive connections, personal health regimens, and ways in which I serve others. Yes, it's time to blaze some new paths in these areas of my life!

This is a Full Moon for playfulness, passion, creative expression and individuality. Depending on where you are and who you're with, there could also be drama and fireworks. This Saturday, surround yourself with friends ready to celebrate the real you, people whose personal paths you can whole-heartedly support. That way, everyone can have a wonderfully fun Leo–Aquarius time.