A New Look At A Classic Movie: Bell Book And Candle

 (Warning: This article may contain “spoilers, ” so if you haven’t yet seen the movie, you might want to avoid reading it.  This article was first published online on the Witchvox.com website.)

A perennial favorite movie among Pagans at this time of year is the 1958 romantic comedy, Bell Book and Candle. Many regard it as a Yuletide treat, since most of the action takes place on December 24-25, in New York City. Shot by legendary James Wong Howe in some of the most beautiful color ever seen on the big screen, the movie showcases the city-in-winter. It is known as one of the premier New York City films and one of the most distinctive-looking films ever made.

On his website of “A Neo-Pagan Filmography, ” Mike Nichols writes:

“Yes, I’m well aware that this movie, based on the John Van Druten play, is responsible for more misinformation about Witchcraft than anything outside the ‘Bewitched’ TV series. Still, I hardly know a Pagan who doesn’t love it. For many of us, it was the first time we’d encountered the idea of Witchcraft alive and well in a modern metropolis. And Kim Novak is STILL my idea of what a Witch OUGHT to look like. And none of us will ever forget Kovac’s reading of the line ‘Witches, boy! Witches!’ Or Stewart’s offhand comment that it feels more like Halloween than Christmas. Lots of fun.”

The film is based on a play of the same name that opened on Broadway in 1950. The play ran for 233 performances during the 1950-1951 season and served as a starring vehicle for Rex Harrison and Lilli Palmer, who were married at the time.

(I like to think that the success of this play had something to do with Britain’s repeal of its last Witchcraft Laws in 1951, since it openly featured Witches who were accessible to the modern urban mind. The repeal, in turn, opened the way for two very influential books by Gerald Gardner; Witchcraft Today and The Meaning of Witchcraft.)

The original play was written by John Van Druten, a droll Englishman who eventually emigrated to the US. He incorporated various textures of meaning into his play. One level concerns the story of the hidden community of Witches in New York City and the love story of one of them with a book publisher. Another, more hidden, level is about “witch-hunts” in general, and how groups of outsiders must sometimes hide the truth of themselves from society. Whether the group might be Witches, Beatniks, Jazz-lovers, Foreigners, Artists, Communists or Homosexuals, the story of Bell Book and Candle seems to be saying that true love can cross the boundaries of society, but not without a snag or two!

Some find good reason for the subtext of the film:

“Its author, Van Druten, was gay but in the 1950s no film/play could portray that world and get away with it. So he used the setting of Greenwich Village, center of New York's alternative world, and witches and warlocks to introduce a gay subtext in a subtle way, so subtle it was never noticed by the then censors." --Anne Sterck

This makes sense to me. In BB and C, a key part of the story takes place in the “Zodiac Club, ” a subterranean gathering place where all kinds of odd and counter-cultural characters converge. The bohemian mood is played up, Hollywood-style, with jazz musicians (the Brothers Candoli on trumpets and Nicky on the bongos) with a French singer and mime (Philippe Clay) performing.

Van Druten’s 1951 play I Am a Camera, together with Christopher Isherwood's short stories, Goodbye to Berlin (1939) , formed the basis of Joe Masteroff's book for the Kander and Ebb musical, Cabaret (1966) . Cabaret ALSO explored issues of personal freedom in a nightclub setting, but this time in Nazi Germany. Unfortunately, Van Druten died in 1957, a year before the movie of Bell Book and Candle was released.

The movie came together when Van Druten’s play was optioned by Columbia in the mid-1950s. Daniel Taradash, who had recently scripted From Here to Eternity (1953) and Picnic (1955) , was the writer who turned the play into a sparkling screenplay. Columbia gave the script to the up-and-coming 27-year-old Director, Richard Quine.

Lavishly budgeted, the scenes of BB and C can be appreciated for their highly creative and colorful décor, the (then) ultra-modern and urbane interiors, and the wonderfully witchy wardrobe of its star, the great Kim Novak. This wardrobe is still one of my favorite delights, combining the “Witch” with the “Bohemian” in a luscious celebration of black, red, and animal magnetism! The style was conjured by Jean Louis Berthault, who won an Academy Award for these designs. I have no doubts that Kim Novak also added her own touches, since she has always had a strong sense of fashion, even going on to design costumes for a couple of movies herself. She also didn’t like to wear bras OR shoes, much like the character she portrays!

Kim Novak plays the main character, the lovely and independent Witch Gillian Holroyd. Her role is a fairly subdued one, also somewhat conflicted...yet always sensuous and curious, like a cat. Part of her appeal is her urbane sophistication, something that no movie about Witches had ever explored! In addition, Novak brought her own Aquarian artistic sensibilities to this role, for her in private life, Novak was (and is) an accomplished artist who expresses herself in watercolor and oil paintings, sculpture, stained glass design and photography. She also writes poetry, and has a special love for animals and plants.

Novak was 24-years-old at the time, and she had made a big splash in the Taradash-scripted Picnic just two years earlier. She was at the peak of her stardom in 1958, having just received critical acclaim for her performance in Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo. Columbia Pictures head Harry Cohn allowed Novak to appear in Vertigo as a last-minute replacement for the pregnant Vera Miles. As part of the complicated negotiations over Vertigo, Novak’s co-star Jimmy Stewart had agreed to team with the actress again on BB and C, but reportedly he wasn’t happy with the choice of Richard Quine for director. This film was, by the way, Stewart’s last film as a romantic lead. He was 50-years-old.

One of the reasons that Novak exuded such a strong, sensuous aura during the shooting of this film was probably that she and Richard Quine were deeply in love at the time. Novak was able to convince Stewart to give Quine a chance. Jimmy Stewart and Kim Novak were very good friends and had a wonderful comraderie on the two films they made together.

Stewart plays the book publisher Shep Henderson, and his chemistry with Novak is obvious. Jack Lemmon plays Gillian’s brother, Nicky Holroyd, in a slightly goofy, but earnest, way. The very creative comedian Ernie Kovac plays Sidney Redlitch, who is a writer researching a book on REAL Witches in New York. Nicky, somewhat strangely, volunteers his services to introduce Redlitch to the underground Witch community. It has been suggested that the Nicky character is one of writer Van Druten’s strongest hints of the homosexual lifestyle. If this is the case, it’s no wonder that the movie role is a bit uneven, perhaps tiptoeing in an effort to veil Nicky’s “true” feelings. It is interesting that one of the most puzzling parts of the story is Nicky’s seemingly inexplicable attraction to the writer Sidney Redlitch. Redlitch calls Nicky a “fascinating boy” and hangs around with him exclusively. They even seem to live together while they “collaborate” on the witchcraft book. They seem to be a “closeted” gay couple, though nobody connected with the film would publicly admit that!

Gillian and Nicky’s Aunt Queenie, one of the most engaging and entertaining of the Witches, is played by Elsa Lanchester. Lanchester brings Queenie alive with mischief and a strong pride in being a Witch. “I sit in the subway sometimes, or in busses, and look at the people next to me, and I wonder....” she muses, “What would you say if I told you I was a Witch?” Haven’t we all wondered that at one time or another?

Another great Witch character is Mrs. Bianca de Passe, played by Hermione Gingold. She, actually, is the one who helps Shep break Gillian’s spell over him. Her regal bearing, though comical at times, is immensely suitable for a Deva/Crone Witch character.

Shep’s fiancé, Merle Kittridge, is a perfect foil for Gillian’s magic. She plays a chic New Yorker with a snobbish attitude. (Perhaps her character was named for the G.L. Kitteredge who wrote the book Witchcraft in Old and New England published in 1929.)

And then there’s Pyewacket! SUCH a beautiful Siamese cat! The cat who played Pyewacket in the movie was never credited, but I think she (?) is the best actor in the film! She portrayed the true spirit of Witchcraft that ties the whole story together.

As a Witch, I find several things in this movie that grate on my nerves. However, when I study the film in historic context, it seems a truly groundbreaking artwork where Witches are concerned!

Gillian Holroyd is quite an independent woman for her time–the 1950s, when most women were being encouraged to move to the suburbs and become housewives. She owns (and runs) a gallery specializing in native indigenous art. Kim Novak’s portrayal as a self-assured and strong-minded female was unusual for the time. The Witch Gillian was powerful, someone who did as she pleased, not really caring what other people thought. She even would go so far as to rebel from her own family, falling in love with an “outsider, ” and ultimately paying a price for it.

As Marion Green says in her book Witchcraft Myths in American Culture:

“Gillian was happy with her bachelorette lifestyle, her shop, her flat, and her pet cat’s company. With power relations topsy-turvy, and no prospect of containment within a family to hand, witchcraft must be crushed at once. The title Bell, Book and Candle was a reference to the rite of exorcism designed to defeat it.”

Green posits that, in BB and C, the “Zodiac” nightclub and the Witchcraft emanating from it suggested both gay sexuality and the “dangers” of female sexuality to patriarchal repression. The play took the possibility of male witches a little further than the film: everyone, male and female, had the potential to be a witch–“queer, ” subversive. In the play, it was suggested that even Shep could become a Witch if he learned the right way!

When Gillian decides to confess all to Shep, he asks, “Have you been engaging in un-American activities?” She replies, “No. I’d say very American. Early American!”

Says Green: 

“This line cut several ways in 1950: a joke about colonial witch-hunting, a swipe at McCarthyism, an assertion that witchcraft, communism, and maybe even women’s empowerment are all legitimate American traditions. But overall, the play and film conservatively reaffirmed women’s place in society...Having been given the space for alluring independence at first, they must be ‘shepherded’ into marriage. Gillian had initially proposed that her cat familiar give her Shep as a Christmas present: but it was she who would be given away in the end. It was, however, better than ending up dead with a stake through your heart, and the next evolution of the witchcraft-comedy made the pleasures of marriage for a witch, as well as its constraints, very clear.”

Seven years after BB and C, a television series called Bewitched was born and became an immediate sensation. The TV series was about another (blond) woman who decided to “give up” her powers in order to be married to a mortal man. However, Samantha never LOST her powers; she was STILL a Witch, and DID end up using her powers more often than not!

So, what lesson can a real-life Witch glean from BB and C? By the end of the movie, Gillian’s shop has been transformed into a flower-and-plant-shop. Gillian herself has been transformed into someone who can now nurture a living being.... a healer, rather than a manipulator. Her tears are proof of her newly-found depth-of-feeling. Perhaps this is something that real Witches can learn, too.

Unfortunately, her Witchy wardrobe has also been transformed as well–

“Here, Gillian Holyrod is not just a witch, but a dealer in ‘primitive’art and with her black clothes, bare feet and hipster brother is clearly a beatnik, a threat to the 1950s status quo. Feminist scholars note she must trade in her chic Jean Louis wardrobe for a dumpy shirtwaist and jam her bare feet into spike heels to be worthy of love.” -- Laura Boyes

“At the end, she gives up all her witchcraft, stops wearing sexy black outfits, gives away her cat (evil symbol of an independent mind!) , and waits unhappily in her shop, attired in a pretty pastel shirtwaist, until Stewart returns to her. All her magic and enchantment, and certainly all her power, are gone. If Stewart's character fell for the enchantress in her, I think he must have been very disappointed to end up with Betty Crocker.”
--Kathleen Pierce

It seems this story is saying that Love and Power cannot go together….or can they?

“There are three ways of dealing with difference: domination, compromise, and integration. By domination only one side gets what it wants; by compromise neither side gets what it wants; by integration we find a way by which both sides may get what they wish.” -- Mary Parker Follett

Kim Novak made this movie when she was under contract to an all-powerful movie studio. They even tried to manipulate the actress’s personal life. This was difficult for her, because she was an Aquarian free spirit. She was also an artist who followed her own instincts in her art. Even though the movie (like the play) ended with the main character’s capitulation, the Actress-as-Artist was performing an ancient rite. She was bringing a new Aspect of the Goddess into world consciousness.

Kim loved acting, which, to her was not about the money or the fame. To her it was a “search for meaning.” She found a character in Gillian to which she could deeply relate. Kim’s personal story brings a whole new level to the tale. About Jimmy Stewart, she said, “I always felt Jimmy was trapped in Hollywood. He felt it himself. He loved aviation so much and he wanted to be able to do more of that. He somehow just got stuck here.” She took her own advice later, explaining, “I didn't want to start relying on what someone else thought was right. It was easier to go away all together.”

Kim quit the Hollywood life just as Gillian quit the power-plays and witch-wars. They both wanted a life where they could be at peace—and they both got it. Kim’s life became one of country pleasures and artistic freedom.

Yet, Kim left us with an image of a Witch who was totally at-home in the cosmopolitan world of New York City---the first Urban Witch on the big screen! She inserted her Aquarian image into the mix, inspiring a world where magic is increasingly integrated with the mundane. Her artistic rendering of the character of Gillian opened a door into the Aquarian Age for Witches the world over!


RESOURCES:

Kim Novak (including quotes) :

http://www.glamourgirlsofthesilverscreen.com/show.php?id=210

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/k/kim_novak.html#

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/review96/fkimnovak.htm

https://greatentertainersarchives.blogspot.com/2018/04/hollywood-love-sammy-davis-jr-and-kim.html

Kim’s art and poetry:
https://www.kimnovakartist.com/

https://taddlr.com/celebrity/kim-novak/

CELEBRATING THE HARVEST: AUTUMNAL EQUINOX

 

After the sultry, slow days of August, a chill enters the air; the air clears and becomes crisper, clearer. . .and our bodies and souls react to the change.  The Equinox itself is the point when day and night are equal in length; after this point, the night will become longer and longer until Winter Solstice.  

We have our choice--we can lament the passing of the warm weather and become depressed at the 'death' of the plant life all around us; or we can welcome the waxing night and the chance to draw inward as nature does at this time...counting our blessings.  This is an excellent time to decide what to drop from our lives as we watch the trees gracefully dropping their leaves.  And we can also think on our goals as we begin to see the seeds which store the secret of life within; they teach us to be patient and wait for the right time.

The Autumnal Equinox is called Mabon in some Celtic traditions and signifies the second in-gathering of the Harvest (the first is Lammas--August 1, the third will be Hallowmas.)  In our land, it is apple cider time, wine-making time, the season of bounty when the ripened fruits and vegetables remind us of the goodness of the Mother Earth.  Indeed, this is a season in which to give thanks to such a generous Lady--and there are celebrations the world 'round which honor the Female Power of Nature.

In Roman times, the Goddess Ceres was honored, and the best of the harvest was offered to her as a thanksgiving for her bounty.  In ancient Briton, she was known as the Harvest Queen, the Ivy Girl, the Neck, and the Mare.  It was about this time of year that the Druids began their month of Ivy, which symbolized 'resurrection' to them--meaning that in the seed of the dying plant lies the secret of life born anew.  This was the way the Earth balanced--and at the Autumnal Equinox the idea of Balance is foremost.

At this time the ancient Babylonians had their New Year--though in Persia, this was changed nine centuries ago to the Spring Equinox.  The Jewish people, however, still celebrate the ancient New Year in the season of the Fall Equinox.  The call of the ram's horn (Shofar) is a call to harvest what was planted and nurtured, as the Angel Gabriel was said to awaken the dead to eternal life.  The Jewish people examine themselves and then purify themselves so they can start the New Year in a balanced way.  In the Jewish home, special foods are served for Rosh Hashanah: honey cake, apple slices and honey, with a special blessing for a 'sweet year.'  Traditional bread called challeh (hah' leh) is baked in a round shape, symbolizing the 'whole, round' year.  Sometimes it is shaped into a braid or 'ladder' or decorated with little birds and ladders, symbols to help prayers 'rise to God?'  Sweet potatoes, meat, prunes, carrots (in Yiddish 'meyrin', meaning 'to increase' as the New Year should increase in goodness).

Spiritual cleansing and atonement is a theme also in the English celebration of "Harvest Home."  After the harvest is gathered in, goods are brought to churches and schools where they are distributed to the needy--the fruits of the harvest are shared with those less fortunate.

Celts used to offer their harvest thanksgiving in ancient stone circles, leaving offerings of wheat, honey, and water on a stone altar.  The Jews also use honey and grain as traditional offerings, and as a wish that the new year may be a sweet one.

At this time of the year, brush is cleared out and gathered in for use in cooking, shed-roofing, and bedding for the animals.  The ancient Canaanites instituted a holiday at this time which survives
in the Jewish "Succot" where boughs of fruit trees and evergreens were made into little "booths" in which the farmers lived for one full week of harvest celebrations.  This could also have served a practical purpose--living close to the place where the harvest-work was being done helped keep the intense focus of the time in a communal cooperative spirit.  Other cultures also did this, for instance, the Thesmorphia was celebrated in ancient Greece--women built bowers out of plants and sat on the ground to establish contact with the Earth.  Bowers also has a "lovers" connotation, as well, serving as a private little place where lovers could meet.

Threshing floors may have also been situated near the harvest area, too.  And these threshing floors may have also served the purpose of a ritual area where harvest thanksgiving was given.

In the orient, roasted pigs, poultry, fruit and special pastries are offered to the Earth as a special thanks for the harvest.  In the practicality of the orient, the 'essence' of these foods was taken by the divinity; then the humans can partake of the 'substance.'

Many Native American tribes celebrated the Corn Maiden at this time; the practice of hanging 3 colored ears of corn on the door of one's home is a survival of their offering to her.  These ears of corn are both a declaration of thanksgiving the Corn Maiden and a prayer for continued abundance and prosperity; a blessing on the house, and on all who enter therein.

As vegetable realm is honored, so too is the animal realm.  The Feast of St. Denis (October 9), one of the Patrons of France, is perhaps a holdover from the Dionysian revels.  St. Denis was to be martyred by being eaten by wild beasts; but instead, they became tame when they saw him and simply licked his feet.  The Feast of St. Francis of Assisi (October 4)  also reminds us of the possibilities of communication between man and beast.  Horses are very much intertwined with the Autumnal Equinox time of the year, honoring herd animals, which have an ancient connection with humans’ survival on this planet.  Later in the season is the Feast of St. Hubert (November 3), who was a hunter who beheld a vision of a white Stag who spoke to him and changed his soul.

The theme diverges--as in Chinese myth of the visit of the Fox- faerie to Chu Hze--the melding of the human and animal nature produces a capacity for higher, even "angelic" knowledge.  It is
not by the DENYING of the animal nature that man arises; it is by the EMBRACING of that nature, and the balancing and coming to terms with it.

The Feast of the Conception of John the Baptist on Sept. 24 celebrates the triumph of the return of the life-spark to the old ones; John the Baptist was famous for his hermit ways of living on locusts in the desert, wearing animal skins identifying him with the animals, and telling the truth as he saw it.

A Macumba feast on September 27 in Brazil celebrates 'the Ibeji's'– The Twins--associated with the European saints Cosmas and Damian.  They are warriors who have turned their skill to healing--and they represent the most ancient ancestors of the human race.  (They can also be represented as one male twin and one female twin)  In the Macumba tradition, which springs from ancient African roots, they show themselves as children, and people give them 'treats' as a prayer for healing.  Perhaps this shows that the way to turn energy from killing to healing is to become child-like again.  Games of ball and marbles are played now!

September 28 is 'American Indian Day' in the United States; these Native Americans have much to teach us of being children of Nature, and of communication with the animal world.  This would be a good day to partake and honor their knowledge.

September 28 is also Michaelmas, the Feast of St. Michael and all the angels.  This feast was the one chosen by the Christian Church fathers to include all the festivities of the Pagan Festival of the Autumnal Equinox.  This day was celebrated merrily.  It was said that it was good to sleep late on this day, and that if one would eat roast goose on this day, one would not want for money all year long.  This feast neatly combined the harvest festival with the masculine energies of the time--St. Michael is the Angel of the Sun (and the Equinox IS a Sun-Feast) who was strong enough to be named the chief of the angelic 'army.'  The Basques take him for theirpatron; they are rumored to have brought his image from Atlantis, where some say they originated.

On September 30, the Macumba religion celebrates the feast of one of its own patrons, Xango.  Xango is associated with St. Jerome, and he has ancient connections to the African god who was brought over with the Yoruba people  from Western Africa into Brazil.  He is also a warrior-saint, associated with fire.  He is said to be lightning- born, and he lives in a stone (meteor?).  His color is Red; he carries an ax (double-headed), adn his metal is copper.  Meteors are said to be a direct emanation of his power.  In Macumba, he is an ally for breaking spells and he helps with protection.  He loved foods like rooster or sheep, and he especially loves crab.  He is shown with a Lion-totem and is said to be "King in his own country."

On October 2, people of Spanish/Indian descent honor their own PERSONAL guardian angels.  On their personal altars, they place white flowers and 9 white candles (one for each heavenly choir).  They offer treats, also, and pray for continued guidance and a loving bond with their angelic friends.  (We may expand this tom honoring of our personal spiritual guides.)

At the Equinox, day is balanced with night.  A closely connected concept to Balance is Beauty--and at this time of the year, both are in evidence.  In the Harvest festival of Hungary, heart-shaped cookies with curlicue icing are baked, symbols of the Goddess of the Earth, or of Venus.  They are exchanged by lovers.

Try this: At the moment of the Equinox, stand an egg on its end; it will stay upright by itself, illustrating the power of the time.  Another practice (this came from Persia) is to stand an orange in a bowl of water; at the moment of the equinox it is supposed to rotate!  Oval eggs and round oranges symbolize the "wholeness” of the year.

The Beauty of Autumn and the Harvest is great!  A legend from China illustrates both the lure and the pitfalls of beauty.  There was a Cowherd who saw 7 maidens come down from heaven and bathe in a pool.  He fell in love with the youngest of the maidens, and while they were bathing he took her cloak so she could not fly back up into the sky again.  Well, fortunately, the maiden fell in love with him (he was very beautiful) and they were both deliriously happy for quite a while.  Eventually, however, the chief Goddess up in heaven started wondering where that maiden was.  She was called "The Weaving Maiden" and her job was to weave the fabric of the universe.  But she was having too good a time withe her Cowherd, and they were both neglecting their jobs.  Well, the Big Mama Goddess decided to intervene, and she separated them--putting one on one side of the Milky Way Galaxy and one on the other.  It is at this time of the year (the Equinox) that they are allowed to be reunited, traveling across the Milky Way on a bridge made out of fluttering magpies...only once a year do they get to be with each other.

This love-story coincides with the entrance of the Sun into Libra astrologically. Libra is ruled by Venus, the planet of Love, and yet there is a bittersweetness to the joining of the lovers, for they know that they must part.  And yet there is hope, they will meet again and share with each other.  The Balance/Beauty of the Equinox season has a minor note of sadness to it, like the music of the poignant gypsy violin...it reaches deep into the soul.

(Note: Astrologer Barbara Hand Clow says that the true ruler of Libra is the planet Nibiru, and postulates that a newer, deeper and higher note of Love will be struck when that planet is discovered.)

The 7 Maidens of the Chinese legend are sometimes associated with the Pleiades, a group of 7 stars.  Astronomically, the Pleiades are in the process of passing from the eastern horizon at this time as the Sun sets in the west.  The Pleiades have been associated with visitors to Earth, with the fairies, with Isis, with the rising of the Nile in Egypt.  They have been beloved by humans the world over.  In Japan, the Equinox time of year coincides with the honoring of the Nanakusa, 7 'goddesses' who are healers, and associated with reeds and brush.  One of the goddesses was named 'Hagi,' and it is she who was beloved by a mystical Stag.

The Stag reminds us that when the harvest of the plant life is coming to a close, the season of the Hunter begins.  It is the beginning of the season of 'The Horned One,' and the horn of Rosh
Hashannah celebration may be associated with his honoring, too.  And animals of the herds begin their rutting season now, and the voice of the Stag is heard, bellowing its call of Life!

In many Wiccan traditions and Pagan, this season is very much tied-in with the rising of the Masculine Principle--the logic being that now the Fertile Goddess disappears from the scene (to return again in the Spring), and it is time to say "thank you" and "farewell" until then.  While she is out-of-sight, the God is focused upon.  (As humans, we have both aspects--Goddess and God--within us.)  In these traditions, it is at Hallomas that the God becomes fully potent.

The Cowherd is an aspect of the God, as seen in the Chinese story.  He is a loving being; and very much connected with the animal world.  (As a matter of fact, the god Krishna might merged with this ancient myth.)  Another story of China connected with this time is a story of a hermit named Chu Hze.  As a hermit, he symbolizes the inward-drawing energy of this time when the night advances.  Chu Hze meets with a faerie (who can change into a fox) woman who gives to him a beautiful pearl of wisdom.  After that, he becomes a great writer; and he writings are still studied in China!  Again, there is the connection of the masculine with the animal
world.

In the Mediterranean, the Feast of Dionysius was celebrated around this time; Dionysius is the god of "Feeling" and people were encouraged to let their feelings be expressed through dance and song and general festive mayhem.  It was also the time when the grapes were harvested and stamped on (danced on) to make the wine!

As the air clears in the Equinox season, the sky becomes an important focus.  This also ties in with the rise of the masculine and "angelic" emphasis of the time.

In China, as elsewhere, the time of Autumn is associated with a festival-journey called "The Mounting of the Heights."  This is a festival of the Literari class--the scholars, poets, writers, students and teachers.  People take a trip to the tops of mountains to view the changing of Nature and compose a poem to the season.  They wear special purple and white clothing (Kiku-gosane).  They picnic on the mountain tops, eating some of the harvest feast, special wheat-cakes which are said to assure promotion in public life.

The "Mounting of the Heights" gives a fine climax to a season of hard work and thanksgiving feasting.  What better way to view our world than from a mountain-top?  And what better way to connect with heaven?  Balance the two together, knowing that each is necessary to our well-being, and you have the miracle of the season.

My Equinox wish for you: Be balanced, be beautiful, be harmonized in Love!

Queen of the Hill of Tara: Tailtiu

It is said that there is a QUEEN buried on the Hill of Tara.  Her name is Tailtiu or Tailltiu (also known as Tea or Talti).  And, like the beloved Brighid, her fame has combined the very ancient, prehistoric Goddess with an almost mythological historic woman.

The story says that she was the daughter of the King of Spain who traveled to Ireland to wed the last Fir Bolg High King.  The Fir Bolg were descendants (or slaves?) of Scythians (or Spaniards?) who had come to Ireland in ancient times, got kicked out, lived in Greece (!?), and then returned to Ireland!

(I think that the mention of Spain, in these cases, might have been a codeword for Atlantis or perhaps Egypt or Ethiopia.)

At this time, the Fir Bolg had fought for, and won, their share of the land from the Fomorians, who were basically Sea Raiders.  There were still some Fomorians living in Ireland, however.

Now....it was actually mentioned in the Old Testament of the Bible (Jer 41:10) that the Prophet Jeremiah went to the Egyptian city of Tahpanhes with his scribe Baruch, Ebed-Melech, the Ethiopian, and with “Tea Tephi and her sister.”  As mentioned, “Tea” is another name for Tailtiu, and Tephi is used interchangably for her sister.  (There may be a connection with the Chaldeans, also.)

Sometimes Tea and Tephi are featured in a story that is credited to Masonic tradition, traced to an introduction into popular culture during the nineteenth century (“The Book of Tephi” by J.A. Goodchild, 1897) and credited as a reference in several printed sources thereafter.  According to this account, the biblical prophet Jeremiah left Egypt with King Zedekiah’s daughters whose names were 'Tea Tephi ' and ‘Tamar Tephi’ and a scribe, Baruch. He boarded a ship in Tarshish with Tea Tephi, whose sister Tamar Tephi chose to stay behind. Jeremiah took the remaining daughter to Ireland (some say “by way of Gibraltar) to found Tara. The story goes on to say that the two mounds of earth on the Hill of Tara were then named "The Mounds of Tea Tephi" by Jeremiah, and that Tea Tephi married the King of Ireland.

http://mirrorofisis.freeyellow.com/id291.html

It has also been said that Tailtiu was “the daughter of the Egyptian Pharaoh Bachtir Mac Buirech,. It is said she came from Thebes. Her sister is Scota Tephi, the bright, who is crowned with feathers, has a staff and brooch.”  Other stories have the sisters as daughters of king Zedekiah of Jerusalem.

http://www.tartanplace.com/faery/goddess/teamhair.html

Most accounts of Irish mythology say that Tailtiu was married to Eochaid mac Eirc, the last Fir Bolg king, “an ideal ruler during whose reign only truth was spoken in the land, which bore abundant crops under fair skies.” However, some believe he had taken Tailtiu from her father in Spain.  (At that time, the power of Goddess Culture was still strong, and I believe he married Tailtiu in order to gain her favor with the spirit of the Land.)

Eochaid was killed at the first battle of Mag Tuired, when the Fir Bolg battled the magical invaders, the Tuatha De Danann. “Thereupon Tailtiu married Eochaid Garbh, who despite the similarity of name to her first husband, was a member of the victorious Tuatha De Danaan.”

Early Irish kingship was sacred in character. In the early narrative literature a king is a king because he marries the sovereignty goddess, is free from blemish, enforces lucky actions and avoids unlucky ones.  Perhaps there is a forced cultural merging, as the triumphant (male) leader in battle marries the widow of the killed vanquished leader.  Tailtiu, in her role as Queen/Priestess, was representative not only of the Goddess, but of the Land Itself.  And the new “King” must be “married to the Land,” or else was not recognized to have any true authority by the people.

Now, the new ruling group of Ireland, the Tuatha de Danaan, had all kinds of intrigues and strange things about their own family relationships.  For instance, the Tuatha de Danaan man, Cian, was the son of Dian Cécht and Danu. He had a “magic cow” that gave an endless supply of milk.  However, the Fomorian Balor tricked him out of the cow!

Cian took revenge on Balor by seducing his daughter, Ethlinn.  (That seems a strange way to get revenge!) Ethlinn bore Cian three sons: triplets.

It was prophecised that Balor's grandson would one day kill him.  Because of his fear, Balor had his daughter Ethlinn  imprisoned in the tower. When her sons (triplets) were born, Balor threw each son from the tower into the sea.  Only one infant was saved by Manannán (the Tuatha de Danaan Sea God) and a Druidess named Birog. Birog brought the child to his father, Cian. Cian put the child, whom he named Lugh, into the care of his brother Goibhniu (a Master Smith of the Tuatha).

Now it gets a bit confused, but the gist of the story is that Lugh had many “foster-fathers” (including the Smith) who taught him all the skills in the world.  AND (most importantly) he was given to Tailtiu as his foster mother.

Lugh, of course, became a legendary leader and a kind of “God” in his own right.  But his love for his foster-mother Tailtiu was also legendary.  And, as his “foster mother,” she must have taught him much.

Now Tailtiu is very interesting to me, because she is the one who caused the “Hill Fort” (or “Ring Fort”) to be built on the Hill of Tara.  And this is how it happened:

“In Spain (Egypt? Ethiopia?  Atlantis?), Tailtiu had chanced to see the Rampart of Tephi. When with her people, she begged her husband to give her the ridge, now called Tara, but then Druim Cain, ‘The Fair Ridge', the wish was granted.  Tailtiu built a wall round the ridge in imitation of Teipe-mur (the Wall of Teipe or Tephi) …" Tephi, again, was Tailtiu’s sister.

“Tailtiu lived in her palace on Ráth Dubh and she led her people in the clearing of the forest of County Meath, some of Ireland's best farmland. But the work of clearing proved so onerous as to break her heart, in the words of the text.”

Now, I doubt if she tried clearing that land all by herself!  So the text puzzles me.  She certainly had many stout followers to help her with the clearing of the land.

My own opinion is that Tailtiu, in spirit, was so entwined with the Land, that the felling of the ancient trees of the dense forest did indeed break her heart.  Yet, she felt she needed to do this so that her people could survive by planting what they needed, and tilling the land.  So she sacrificed herself (and the trees) for her people!

As for the building of a hill-fort, this is also puzzling to me.  There are many remnants of hill-forts around Celtic Britain, but archaeologists are doubtful that they were for military defense.  It seems that, in the transition from Bronze Age to Iron Age, the climate changed, and people had to band together to survive the harsh weather.  They needed seasonal enclosures for their animals and to protect their plants and store their grains.  IF Tailtiu came from Ethiopia or Chaldea, she was aware of the utmost importance of her people being able to cultivate the fields and vineyards, and thus lay the foundation of security.

As she died, she asked that her funeral go on forever, with horse racing and games and festivities. And so her foster son, the god Lugh, established the August festival that, strangely, bears his name (Lughnasa) rather than hers.

“On Her deathbed Queen Tailte (Tailtiu) asked that funeral games be held annually on the cleared ground.  King Lugh came from his great palace at Nas (now Naas, in Co. Kildare), and had Tailtiu interred in Her ‘green circle on the distant hills.' Legend says She was buried in a royal state, with impressive druidical rites, on the side of Caill Cuain (now called Sliabh Caillighe), in what is known now as ‘Cairn T.’”

Lugh lead the first funeral games at the time of Lughnasa (1 August; Lammastide, now Lammas), which consisted of hurling, athletic, gymnastic and equestrian contests of various kinds, and included running, long-jumping, high-jumping, hurling, quoit-throwing, spear-casting, sword and-shield contests, wrestling, boxing, handball, swimming, horse-racing, chariot-racing, spear or pole jumping, slinging contests, bow-and-arrow exhibitions, and, in fact, every sort of contest exhibiting physical endurance and skill.   A universal truce was proclaimed in the High King's name, and all feuds, fights, quarrels and such-like disturbances were strictly forbidden and severely dealt with; and all known criminals were rigorously excluded from both the games and the assembly.

In addition, there were literary, musical, oratorical, and story-telling competitions; singing and dancing competitions, and tournaments of all kinds. Also, competitions for goldsmiths, jewellers, and artificers in the precious metals; for spinners, weavers and dyers; and the makers of shields and weapons of war. The fair lasted for a fortnight.

One common feature of the Games were the ‘Tailtean marriages,” a rather informal marriage that lasted for only ‘a year and a day’ or until next Lammas.  At that time, the couple could decide to continue the arrangement if it pleased them, or to stand back to back and walk away from one another, thus bringing the Tailtean marriage to a formal close.  Such trial marriages (obviously related to the Wiccan ‘Handfasting’) were quite common even into the 1500s, although it was something one ‘didn’t bother the parish priest about.’  Indeed, such ceremonies were usually solemnized by a POET, BARD, or SHANACHIE (or, it may be guessed, by a priest or priestess of the Old Religion).

http://www.crystalwind.ca/find-your-way/neopagan-path/wheel-of-the-year/3425-lammas   

This Festival was celebrated annually in Tailtiu’s honor, lasting the whole of August. For generations it was celebrated, complete with mercantile fairs and sporting events; even into the medieval times Tailltiu's festivities were held. Eventually, they died out, but in the early part of the 20th century the Tailltean Games – the Irish Olympics – were revived in an attempt to restore Irish culture.

The Equestrian events and Horse Racing were especially loved by the Irish people.  Again, there is a Sacred connection. 

Edain Echraidhe is her Gaelic name; her home is the high valley between the hills of Tara and Skryne in the Royal City of Celtic Ireland. This high valley holds a sacred stream called the Gabhra (pronounced gow-ra), which means the white mare. The Gabhra Valley was free range for the White Mare of Celtic ancestors who came from northern Spain.

https://www.celticdruidtemple.com/

The Celtic Druids of Ireland (see above link) have written the following:

Now that Edain Echraidhe has returned to our attention; may she gather to her the desire dreaming of her people from over the whole world to shatter the illusions and reveal the Light.

Tara's Celtic Goddess Dreaming
- a suggested midnight visualisation located in the high valley of Tara -

"Tall leafy trees behind a Lady in White sitting on a White Mare; she leans forward offering a branch of thirteen leaves to three Celtic Women who open their hands to receive and reflect the old ways again. Eight Celtic Men form a semi circle around the three Celtic Women facing the Horse Goddess who emits a gentle white Light. Peace and Calm. Then, the neighing of a wild horse and the thunder of many hooves and the White Mare lifts her head to the gallop responding to the call to run free in the sacred valley... The 'Three Ladies and the Eight Men' of Tara step back enraptured in the graceful movement of the herd. This Fairy Host gallops along the entire Valley of the White Mare and down to the River of the Cow Goddess and back again, no fences or gates - just lush rolling grasslands edged by forest and overlooked by Rath Lugh and Rath Miles. Their free raw energy bursts through the mask of illusions every night at midnight. Light and freshness evolves in their space."

My own feeling about Tailtiu is that she was an Avatar of the Earth Goddess. 

It is said that Tara and Glastonbury are “sister sites.”  There is an ancient tradition of “The White” and “The Red” that activate their connection.  The main well at Tara (there are at least 6 others) is called “The Well of the White Cow,” and like the spring at Glastonbury, is said to hold healing water.

“While studying the sacred landscape of Tara and Glastonbury and the Goddesses associated with them, there is a demonstration, yet evident in place names and imagery of an ancient tradition - a pairing of two Goddesses as Sisters of the Gateway, perhaps a remnant of a very ancient dual system of matrilinear descent. Red is the seen and white the unseen. We have found the symbolic use of color, red for life, kingship, vitality, the ‘life of the land’ in the physical world; and white for the shining light of truth in the spiritual world, the light life force or spiritual energy that fuels creation. To be truly effectual, we must cultivate our understanding and connection to both.”

http://mirrorofisis.freeyellow.com/id291.html

Tara is the Goddess of mountains and hills all over the world. A hill, whether Nun of Egypt, Mount Meru, Olympus, Mount Leinster, Mount Shasta, Glastonbury Tor, is based on earth, and is the place of Tara where earth meets sky. We need to climb our own hill to the sky; yet not forgetting where we came from - the earth.

–Lady Olivia Robertson, founder of the Noble Order of Tara

I will end with an excerpt of a story by William Butler Yeats, a great poet/bard who understood the Celtic Mysteries, of what happened to one young man by the name of Red Hanrahan who decided to follow the cry of the hounds and go out to a sacred place in Ireland, on Samhain Eve:

And he could walk no longer,but sat down on the heather where he was, in the heart of Slieve Echtge, for all the strength had gone from him, with the dint of the long journey he had made.

And after a while he took notice that there was a door close to him, and a light coming from it, and he wondered that being so close to him he had not seen it before. And he rose up, and tired as he was he went in at the door, of and although it was night time outside, it was daylight he found within.

And presently he met with an old man that had been gathering summer thyme and yellow flag-flowers, and it seemed as if all the sweet smells of the summer were with them. And the old man said: 'It is a long time you have been coming to us, Hanrahan the learned man and the great songmaker.'

And with that he brought him into a very big shining house, and every grand thing Hanrahan had ever heard of, and every colour he had ever seen, were in it. There was a high place at the end of the house, and on it there was sitting in a high chair a woman, the most beautiful the world ever saw, having a long pale face and flowers about it, but she had the tired look of one that had been long waiting. And there was sitting on the step below her chair four grey old women, and the one of them was holding a great cauldron in her lap; and another a great stone on her knees, and heavy as it was it seemed light to her; and another of them had a very long spear that was made of pointed wood; and the last of them had a sword that was without a scabbard.

Red Hanrahan stood looking at them for a long Hanrahan-time, but none of them spoke any word to him or looked at him at all. And he had it in his mind to ask who that woman in the chair was, that was like a queen, and what she was waiting for; but ready as he was with his tongue and afraid of no person, he was in dread now to speak to so beautiful a woman, and in so grand a place. And then he thought to ask what were the four things the four grey old women were holding like great treasures, but he could not think of the right words to bring out.

Then the first of the old women rose up, holding the cauldron between her two hands, and she said 'Pleasure,' and Hanrahan said no word. Then the second old woman rose up with the stone in her hands, and she said 'Power'; and the third old woman rose up with the spear in her hand, and she said 'Courage'; and the last of the old women rose up having the sword in her hands, and she said 'Knowledge.' And everyone, after she had spoken, waited as if for Hanrahan to question her, but he said nothing at all. And then the four old women went out of the door, bringing their tour treasures with them, and as they went out one of them said, 'He has no wish for us'; and another said, 'He is weak, he is weak'; and another said, 'He is afraid'; and the last said, 'His wits are gone from him.' And then they all said 'Echtge, daughter of the Silver Hand, must stay in her sleep. It is a
pity, it is a great pity.'

And then the woman that was like a queen gave a very sad sigh, and it seemed to Hanrahan as if the sigh had the sound in it of hidden streams; and if the place he was in had been ten times grander and more shining than it was, he could not have hindered sleep from coming on him; and he staggered like a drunken man and lay down there and then.

When Hanrahan awoke, the sun was shining on his face, but there was white frost on the grass around him, and there was ice on the edge of the stream he was lying by, and that goes running on through Daire- caol and Druim-da-rod. He knew by the shape of the hills and by the shining of Lough Greine in the distance that he was upon one of the hills of Slieve Echtge, but he was not sure how he came there; for all that had happened in the barn had gone from him, and all of his journey but the soreness of his feet and the stiffness in his bones.

http://www.online-literature.com/yeats/2535/

Resources:

The Goddess Tailtiu
https://journeyingtothegoddess.wordpress.com/2012/08/01/goddess-tailtiu/

The White and the Red (Tara and Glastonbury)
http://mirrorofisis.freeyellow.com/id291.html
Writing by:  By Linda Iles, ArchDrs.
Grove of Elen of the Ways and Llew of the Silver Hand

Irish Tourism: Tara
http://www.meath.ie/Tourism/MeathsTownandVillages/Teltown/
http://www.meath.ie/Tourism/Accommodation/AccommodationListing/Title,4156,en.html

http://www.sacredireland.org/

http://www.goddessalive.co.uk/issue-18-home/tailtiu-harvest-goddess/
http://www.goddessalive.co.uk/issue-18-home/tailtiu-in-cornwall/
http://www.goddessalive.co.uk/issue-18-home/the-goddess-in-the-fields-2/

Noble Order of Tara
http://www.fellowshipofisiscentral.com/noble-order-of-tara---a-link-between-heaven-and-earth
http://www.fellowshipofisiscentral.com/noble-order-of-tara-1

Tephi, Queen of Tara and Gibraltar
http://jahtruth.net/tephisum.htm

Tamar/Tea Tephi, Daughter of King Zedekiah
http://www.obrienclan.com/seanchas-old-lore-blog/tamarteateiatephi-hebrew-princess-queen-of-ireland

The Tailteann Games
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tailteann_Games

Wells of Tara (Holy Wells)
http://irelandsholywells.blogspot.com/2011/10/well-of-white-cow-tara-hill.html

http://www.megalithomania.com/show/site/482/the_well_of_the_white_cow_holy_well.htm

http://www.irelandtravelkit.com/exploring-the-hill-of-tara-sacred-well-sheela-na-gig-and-sloping-trenches-tara-co-meath/

http://www.druidry.org/library/sacred-waters-holy-wells
 
Lebor Gabala Erenn (11th century book which tells the ancient history of Ireland)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lebor_Gab%C3%A1la_%C3%89renn

High Kings of Ireland
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_King_of_Ireland

Timeline of Irish Myth and Legend
http://www.legendarytours.com/dates.html

Gaelic Polytheism
http://www.tairis.co.uk/values/gessi-and-buada/

Celtic Deities
http://www.angelfire.com/wizard/celticdeities/

Book: The Double Goddess: Women Sharing Power
by Vicki Noble

Geneology of Tamar Tephi
http://www.genealogy.com/ftm/h/a/r/Richard-Allen-Harper/GENE3-0001.html

Follow the Moon

The Lovely Moon goes through the Zodiacal signs each month; and spends 2-3 days in each sign.

I’ve been keeping track of these for quite a while and have been keeping notes as I observe each Moon passage.  A lot of my notes were made a while ago, and I didn’t always give the source of the information.  Much of it comes from books by Sybil Leek.  A lot is my own interpretation.

The Moon is powerful in our day-to-day life because it influences us in an instinctual way.  Therefore, it can help us in our day-to-day life to know what sign the Moon is in.  People may be acting in ways that aren’t really conscious; but if we know what’s happening, we can be ready to “ride the wave.”

You might like to try following the Moon for a while and see if you can tell, by the way people are acting, if the Moon is reflecting in everyday life.  To do so helps me use the energy more efficiently and get a lot of enjoyment from it! 

Remember, our bodies are 60% water!  Water is affected greatly by the Moon, and so are we.  The Moon also reflects the Sun’s light to us and helps us through the night.  For romantics, it inspires love and for Moon Lovers, it teaches us so much! 

So enjoy, and follow the Moon for a richer, more satisfying life!

(NOTE: At the end of this article, I’ll post resources for details such as calendars for the locations and phases of the Moon.)







MOON IN ARIES

There's excitement in the air.  Some new little thing appears, and people are quick and full of energy and enterprise, ready for something new and turning on to a new experience.  There's not much patience for hesitation, doubt or preoccupation with guilty self-damning recriminations.  What's needed is action. 

People feel like putting their plans into operation.  Pleasure and adventure characterize the mood and it's time for things to change, pick up, improve.  Confidence, optimism and positive feeling pervade the air.

Sick people take a turn for the better. Life stirs with a feeling of renewal.  People react bravely to challenges, with a sense of courage and dynamism. 

Self-reliance is the key word, and people minimize their problems and maximize the power to exercise freedom of the will.

There is an air of abruptness and shortness of consideration, but, at the same time, people are feeling the courage of their convictions to do something for themselves.  Feelings are strong and intuitive, and the mood is positive and freedom-oriented.

Experiment with new ideas and possibilities. The tempo is fast-paced; fly gracefully without bumping into too many people (walls?). Use this energy to positively assert your beautiful self.

(The first part of the Moon's transit through Aires, when it is closer to Pisces, is a more spiritual time; a sense of rebirth is evident and the mind is inclined to consider deeper subjects, usually from a new perspective.  Nearing the middle of the transit, the strongest Airean tendencies can be felt, which
makes for an excellent time to indulge one's curiosity and to seek inspiration for a direction–perhaps consult an oracle for advice.  Near the end of the transit, tendencies to bad temper and "touchiness" should be carefully watched.  Like a child who is exhausted, there can be crankiness, so get some extra rest.)

*     *     *    *     *  

This is also a good time for work that requires skillful (though not necessarily patient) work with tools.  (Be careful...people can be reckless.  Respect machinery!)

Good time to lay in supplies, equipment for home and office, personal things like clothes.  You feel more courageous, ready to take chances and eager to live an adventurous life.  Step out of
character and do something unusual for you.


When the Moon is in Aires, people will:

     *say "the heck with it" and solve a problem
     *want to start new projects
     *hatch a plot
     *do what they feel like doing
     *make some calls
     *assert themselves a little
     *make a few demands
     *express themselves
     *kick up their heels a bit
     *plunge in
     *win one war
     *give themselves a break
     *get things out into the open
     *take a break from worrying
     *stay single
     *get some activity
     *give themselves a pat on the back
     *push one person out of the way
     *take a chance
     *pick a fight
     *feel special
     *be on their own for just a little while
     *obey at least one impulse
     *break a rule
     *be angry if they want to
     *be glad they're alive
     *make one decision on their own
     *take the last bite if they want to
     *take a swing
     *hit 'em with the big news
     *need excitement
     *find excitement

*     *     *    *     *  

HOUSEWORK:  You will be ready to get into action for just about anything connected with the house.  You can tackle several jobs at once, and have enough energy to cope with what seems to be
chaos.  Declare certain areas of your house "disaster areas" and off-limits to anyone likely to get in the way of your work. Enthusiasm will be catching, so accept the best offers for cooperation. Rapidly changing from one job to another will get your adrenalin pumping, and at the end of the day you will feel very satisfied.  The danger is you will not know when to stop--so remember a Moon-transit in each sign is only a little over 2 days.  Create the chaos which may involve moving furniture around, getting a room ready for decorating, cleaning out all the closets--but do it on the first day of the transit.  Mopping-up operations have to be done the next day and should enter a state
of detente by the end of the second day.  The last few hours of the transit can be used to put the finishing touches on your work.  Then collapse after taking a bow and a round of applause for all you have achieved.

MOON MAGIC IN THE KITCHEN:  Discard the idea of an old family favorite and go all out for a new project.  Be daring--use spices liberally.  Throwing a seemingly spontaneous party will be easy,
but aim at numerous quick-to-prepare dishes.  (Now would be the time to pre-plan meals for the Taurus transit, and buy the foods you need now.)

RITUALS:  Concentrate on Fire energy.  Candle spells are potent, and bonfires too. Flash powders can be fun, but be careful!  A time to reach beyond your usual consciousness and explore new worlds.  Good to conjure the beginning of things, matters of self and your personality.  Good for working magic for personal strength and stamina. Good for spells involving authority, willpower and rebirth. However, effects worked under an Arian moon tend to be shorter-lived and are easily dissipated.  They should be augmented with further work to “anchor” them later, if needed.

GARDENING:  Time to destroy harmful weeds, fungi and other pests and time to cultivate the soil.

Traditionally ruled by Aries: (from Astrologer Alan Oken)

COUNTRIES:  England, Germany, Denmark, Palestine, Burgundy

CITIES:  Florence, Naples, Verona, Marseilles, Birmingham, ancient Athens, Sparta

CULTURES:  Jews, Muslims


MOON IN TAURUS

If the Moon in Aries is the seed, the Moon in Taurus is the root reaching deeply into the Earth for purchase.  The energy slows and becomes sensual.  There is an appreciation for beauty and the stability of the material world.

The Moon in Taurus is a time when feelings are rich and deep, with a profound appreciation of the good things the world has to offer and the pleasures of the sensations. Creature comforts gain importance, so feed your senses and enjoy your surroundings. Take a peek at how much your physical gratifications affect your emotional state and sense of self-worth.

Sensuality starts with a heightened awareness of pleasure.  It’s not just about sex (although that can be deeply sensuous), but about finding enjoyment in the simple little ecstasies of life....textures, music, colors, the play of light and shadow, the taste of something exquisite, the feel of water, toes in the sand, warmth of the sun, coolness of the shade, the smell of a campfire, freshly cut grass, or a delicate perfume....you get the idea!  Enjoy!  It can be a lazy or self-indulgent time, good for pleasant activities in Nature, or artistic and cultural experiences.

(The first part of the Taurean Moon transit is the most cautious and reserved.  Political power games become more earnest, the edge being with the established position.  The middle is more placid and calm, a time for rest, or for engaging in those things which require more patience than skill or nimbleness.  As the Moon moves toward Gemini, concern is directed more and more toward communication and thought, though still mostly in practical matters.)

*     *     *    *     *  

The quick pursuit and verve of Aires "solidifies" into the placid patience of the Bull.  People are inclined to be a bit cautious.  The desire is to protect what one already has (rather than strike out in search of something new), so that one can lay a foundation and enjoy it.  For this reason, it's a
poor time to seek change, especially in financial concerns. Bankers and other people in charge of money are slow to make loans. People like to hold on to what they've got.

It can be a fine period for making money, however, if you’ve got the persistence and stamina.  The instinct is to continue trends rather than trying to "bull through.  Give the people what they want.  Remember, if you come to an impasse, charm melts stubbornness.

Moon in Taurus is a slowing-down period; a time to construct plans.  You may not feel like going out. People want to eat big meals or enjoy long, slow gourmet meals.  Comfort food is popular.  There is a careful, conservative feeling in the streets.

THE MOON IS EXALTED IN TAURUS, creating much peace if you let it....


When the Moon is in Taurus, people will
    
     *hold checks
     *talk about money
     *expect gain
     *know their strengths
     *pay a bill
     *count their blessings
     *stay steady
     *show how long they can hold out
     *eat sweets
     *slow down a little for financial reasons
     *feel a bit rich
     *sell high
     *make a smart financial move
     *feel a pinch
     *hug, kiss, or touch one person
     *enjoy themselves
     *refuse to go along with at least one thing
     *work
     *keep their feet on the ground
     *stick to what they've started
     *be consistent
     *want to buy only the best
     *try to get a refund on a sales item
     *refuse to lend blindly
     *invest in the Earth
     *be a little greedy
     *claim their rightful possessions
     *be loyal
     *be loving

*     *     *    *     *  

HOUSEWORK:  Getting into top gear for household work is not possible; but if you realize you ARE capable of working only in low gear, you can still get through by determined plodding aided by some pre-planning.  Just getting started is a problem; procrastinate, and dishes will pile up and the wash get larger.  Choose some routine chore that is begging for attention.  Stick with the "tried and true" household aids.  This is not a good time for making new purchases.  “Mañana"  Energy and willpower will catch up with you tomorrow or the next day.

MOON MAGIC IN THE KITCHEN:  Stick to well-tested traditional dishes.  Suggest (tactfully) that many hands make light work in the kitchen.  Pace yourself.  Plan your meals ahead for these 2 days, thus allowing time to get on with other work in the kitchen.  According to the season, you might like to do some canning, drying or freezing fruits and vegetables.

RITUALS: With the Moon in this sensual earth sign, it is a good time to appreciate the wonders of the beautiful earth.  You might want to work with the garden, or with houseplants.  A sensuous, grounded full moon ritual should be outside, if possible, and close to the earth.  Bring flowers to the circle. 

Good for rituals of prosperity, financial matters of personal nature, vehicles, real estate,  benefits, possessions.  This is a HIGHLY SENSUAL lunar influence, good for love or sex magick, also any workings where trust, loyalty, and determination are involved.  Spells begun under a Taurean moon tend to be difficult to negate once they're under way.  They'll be long-lasting. Things begun now last the longest, tend to increase in value, and become hard to alter.

GARDENING: Plant root crops, bulbous plants, fragrant herbs, leafy vegetables. 

Traditionally ruled by Taurus: (from Astrologer Alan Oken):

COUNTRIES: Ireland, Russia, Switzerland, Poland, Cyprus, Persia,
Crete

CITIES: Dublin, Mantua, Leipzig, Lucerne

CULTURES:  Ancient Egyptians, Druids



MOON IN GEMINI

There is a playful vibe in the air when the Moon is in Gemini....people are curious and want variety in their lives.  Like a butterfly, the energy flits from one fascination to the next.  The energy is light-hearted, breezy, but it can also be restless and fickle.

Gemini pollinates, making these days perfect for making the social rounds.  But nothing too heavy or emotional, please, because you're on the move. 

Oh, how short is the attention span, when the Moon is in Gemini. There's a restlessness in the air. We want to be out and out, seeing new things and socializing. Tell me something funny or interesting, we say!

Under the Gemini Moon, the trickster is afoot. Humor becomes a way of defusing super serious situations. You may get a bemused smile on your face, clued in to the secret that life is a game.

If you're working on an idea, now is the time for stream-of-consciousness brilliance to blow in like a zephyr.  Gemini is the first air sign, and as refreshing as a fizzy drink on a hot day.  The time for finding meaning comes later, but for now, it's all about dancing with possibilities.  (Make sure you write your ideas down, as you will forget them later!)

Practical concerns tend to be slighted in favor of intellectual pursuits and mental games.  People are sharp, but more changeable than usual.  Statements should be taken with a grain of salt, particularly those from persons who have already shown signs of fickleness. 

People are moving around, exchanging ideas and information.  Gossip and news travels fast under this Moon, because people are naturally involved with communication, finding out things from some, passing on information to others.  People feel and say things that are sincere at the moment but lack the root and depth to endure much beyond the moment.  People are involved with short-term engagements, quick trips from here to there, and there is a definite need for changing the scene. 

You'll find people flirtatious and talkative, experimental and easygoing, falling into encounters
they hadn't planned on.  Connections are made.  The mind is quick and active, with powers of writing and speaking greatly enhanced.  Radio, television, letters, newspapers, magazines and social media are in the spotlight; and new chances pop up for self-expression, with new people and new scenes involved.  Relatives and neighbors are tuned in to you and you to them.  Take advantage of this fluidity of mind.  It can rescue you from worldly involvements and get you into new surroundings for a short while.

Warning:  The speed of thought escalates and your playful witty talking may obstruct the easy flow of conversation. Give the others their own time to speak too and remember to listen as well as talk.

(Toward the end as the Moon blends into Cancer, more emotionality become apparent, in contrast to the highly mental and abstract Geminian mode.  Communication tends to be derived more and more from emotional needs.  It is, for example, an excellent time to write letters or to make telephone calls about family matters.)


*     *     *    *     *  

Bring out the witty repartee, play it light, write letters, read and get the bus driver's opinion on the world crisis.  Well, it's always a bloody crisis somewhere.  Be careful on the roads: people are driving faster and taking more risks; there's more traffic.

A good time for reading, crafting, handiwork or walking/hiking.  In general, there is a lively attitude, but people may lack the tenacity to see a difficult work project through.  An excellent time to “brainstorm.”

It’s a good time for an open air party, and even one that's a bit public, to allow for the random passers-by (depending on your 'hood).  Or just sit in the café for a while and watch the action inside and outside.  The urge is to hear from many angles, and take in all kinds of impressions.

Favored Things to Do When the Moon is in Gemini: play with children; talk with your siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins; go shopping; attend a festival of shorts (theatre, films); collect leaves or identify local mushrooms; experiment with your style; add some flair to your Facebook profile; tell some funny jokes; create a collage; go on a short trip; take a trip to the library or bookstore; flirt and smile at strangers; create an alias, or just try out a different way of being.


When the Moon is in Gemini, people will:

     *be adaptable
     *deposit checks
     *go for a walk or a quick spin
     *flow easy (even if it hurts)
     *notice surroundings
     *change the scene
     *lighten the mood
     *write
     *make time for gossip
     *change the pace
     *get a little perspective
     *try something new
     *beware of possessiveness
     *try to avoid cooking
     *follow the news, then forget it
     *make a couple of connections
     *throw a few ideas around
     *speed up the beat a little
     *take a quick look at everything
     *be a little two-faced
     *open bank accounts
     *do two things at once
     *be bright and cheerful
     *change moods quickly
     *be a little superficial
     *get calls from those close to them
     *go out and come back soon
     *take a fast course
     *talk and listen to a few strange people
     *use their hands
     *respond to a crisis

*     *     *    *     *  

HOUSEWORK:  This transit makes you ultra-conscious of the untidiness of others.  In fact, you may be so busy organizing the family that you will forget that setting a good example is also
necessary.  Take the plunge and see that your own personal possessions are not scattered all around the house.  You can easily get the family into action picking up THEIR things.  Tidying up the papers on your desk (and the files on your computer) will remind you that you really should answer letters and pay bills.  DO THIS; it will make you look busy, while actually getting rid of a chore.

MOON MAGIC IN THE KITCHEN:  Delicious snack time.  The tendency will be to skimp on regular meals, substituting little munchies.  Take-out food is a good bet.  Freezer meals are good at this time.  Main idea: QUICK AND EASY!  Plan ahead for the next (Cancer) transit and buy food for it, if you haven't already.

RITUALS:  Gemini Moon rituals may include a lot of talking, singing, and movement.  Dancing? Poetry?  Yes and Yes!  Lunar magick can involve relatives, communication, studies, writing, uncovering one's enemies.  Healing spells also work extremely well under a Geminian influence, especially in cases where balance is required.  Beware of  jumping to conclusions about your workings at this time, as the Gemini moon can disguise the unstable nature of things.

GARDENING: Time to transplant and mow lawns to retard growth.  Also, an excellent to prepare the soil.


Traditionally ruled by Gemini: (from Astrologer Alan Oken):                       

COUNTRIES:  United States, Belgium, Wales, Sardinia, N.E. Coast of Africa, Lower Egypt, Flanders, Lombardy

CITIES:  London, Melbourne, San Francisco, Cordoba, Versailles, Plymouth, Nuremberg, Cardiff




MOON IN CANCER

In Cancer, the Moon is in its home sign.  Here, the Moon is free to indulge in moods, bringing our watery natures to the surface.  The “moods” are gifts in this place; they inspire creative and psychic “stories” that can heal, inform, and even create positive change in our lives.

Now you'll see many people heading home, or heading to places where they feel safe and loved.  People are more likely to turn their attention inward under this position of the Moon.  The active, changeable moods of yesterday vanish, and people settle in, as if they were searching for a nest of security.

We want to retreat to the place we feel most at home. This can bring out a sense of "homesickness" if we're far from home, or estranged from others. It may be a time, then of reaching out to those that know us best.

Generally, people will be easy-going, sentimental, loving and "motherly." They can be nurturing, whether they are female or male!  Or else they'll want to be "babied." 

A good time to deal with women and womanly things.  Good time to wear silver, study History and Herstory.  Counteract any restlessness with sensual stretching, meditative exercises, or both.  Water
(especially a fountain, the sea, a lake or a waterfall–even a bath) will help. 

It's homey, so if you feel like crawling out of your shell, go visit people in theirs.  They don't want to go out.  The Moon is good, however, for restaurant business. (feeding people is a motherly thing to do).  Make your home beautiful; invite friends over if the mood is right.

People are retiring now, seeking to find peace and quiet within themselves. They need the warmth and comfort of the family and hearth.  Maybe they feel anxious and insecure from the hustle and bustle of the workaday world.  Maybe they're just "tired" from all the previous activity.  But it's definitely a time of more tender need for emotional sustenance.

It's a time for nostalgia and returning to times and places that once nourished you deeply.  Thoughts of parents, family and old associations come to people.  The heritage of their family ties hold them strongly now. (For those of us who fondly remember past lives, there can be those memories, too.)

Personal memories and "roots" will be fun to explore.  Tell your personal stories.  Study your own "clan," family, group, neighborhood, region, race or nationality.  Connect with “place.”

A good time for family get-togethers, weddings, reunions, exploring one's geneology, visiting museums or historical sites, and having heart-to-heart conversations.

Moods are deep and mysterious and sometimes sad.  People are silent, psychic and imaginative
during this period.  It's a fruitful time when people respond to love, food and all the comforts of the inner world.

(In the first part of the transit, be careful of a sharp tongue. People's feelings are hurt easily.  In the middle, cherish your loved ones, including yourself.  You might want to call someone you haven't talked to in a long time.  Toward the end of the transit, Leonine pride blends with Cancerian sensitivity.  This can be a great time of personal warmth and friendship.)

*     *     *    *     *  

Take a long bath, hydrate, irrigate, potter around the house; daydream; make your living space more homey; connect with your heart ties; mother someone or be mothered; nurture children, animals, the elderly (or any vulnerable thing); put protective gates around your garden; get a security alarm system or locks; talk to your Mom or Mother-figure; spend time with women; bring treats to your co-workers; go to bed early; keep a dream journal close by; be near the ocean or waterbody; paint, draw, sing, act or write.

Suitable energy for home making, looking after the children, nursing the sick, care taking, budgeting, shopping, feeding the hungry, cleaning, doing the laundry, recycling, storytelling, creative writing, fantasy or history reading, teaching, psychic insight, intuition. Purchase of children’s clothes, house hold items, blankets, antiques, houses and real estate.

Action is motivated by sympathetic response and the need to stick to what is familiar and safe. Self protective, reserved in display of feelings, caring.


When the Moon is in Cancer, people will:

     *get pregnant
     *feel briefly at rest
     *try to be calm
     *want security
     *want to stay home
     *stay in and get comfy
     *be quite shy
     *cook and eat well
     *see property value increase
     *just feel for a while
     *keep the door closed until they make sure
     *need their mommies
     *develop land
     *feel defensive
     *plant seeds
     *need to be embraced
     *go natural for a while
     *buy kitchen utensils
     *feel a little sorry for themselves
     *baby themselves a little
     *if they've had a fight, make up
     *reject at least one fact
     *make things more comfortable
     *can food
     *bore one person
     *remember the past
     *hold on to people a little too long
     *be sensitive
     *feel threatened
     *answer someone's needs
     *be involved with the family (clan)

*     *     *    *     *  

HOUSEWORK:  Take care of the old heirlooms and souvenirs.  Brighten the house by cleaning windows, framed pictures, china and crystal, mirrors.  Feast on an old family favorite and use the good dishes.  Take breaks whenever you feel like it and go through old photos, personal records, etc.  Have meals planned for this transit from food stored away so you don't have to go out of the house for anything if you don't want to.

MOON MAGIC IN THE KITCHEN:  Old favorites taste best.  Make meals homey and comfy. Food and food preparation is emphasized now, so that people are more apt to put extra effort into baking, trying out a complicated new recipe or seeking out new types of cuisine.

RITUALS:  Home environment, mothers, end of life, family.  Favorable especially in psychic, emotional or imaginative endeavors. Strengthen the wards for psychic protection.  Good for magick pertaining to home, planting, fertility and growth in general.  Spells involving domestic life and honoring lunar deities.

GARDENING:  Seed and harvest for abundant crops at this time.


Traditionally ruled by Cancer: (from Astrologer Alan Oken):

COUNTRIES:  Scotland, Holland, Paraguay, Burgundy, New Zealand, North and West Africa, United States (NOTE: There is difference among astrologers about U.S. rulership.)

CITIES:  Manchester, New York, Stockholm, Tokyo, Venice, York, Amsterdam, Milan, Istanbul, Stockholm, Genoa, Cadix, Tunis, Bern, Magdeburg



MOON IN LEO

The shift is back out in the world, and people are born again, like kids.  They feel zestful, passionate, exuberant and need plenty of attention.  They're interested in having a good time, enjoying themselves, and the world of entertainment takes over for a while.  Places of amusement, theaters, parties, sprees, a whole gala of glamourous events, characterize this stage of the Moon's travel.

Gracious, lavish hosting and a general feeling of buoyancy and flamboyance are in the air.  It's a time of sunny, youthful fun when people are in the mood to take chances and win.  The approach is direct, ardent, and strong.  Flattery is rampant, but the ego is vibrant and flourishing with the kiss of life, romance and love.  Speculation is indicated, and it's usually a time to go out and try your hand at love.  Life is full and rich as a summer meadow, and feelings are warm.

Matters of display and showmanship get special priority.  The noted Leonine generosity becomes evident, making it the excellent time for charitable activities.

This is also the perfect time for dealing with persons in positions of power, especially if you want to appeal to their noble motives. (It's worth it to reschedule an appointment for this!) 

While a general feeling of optimism leads many to be roused to a new project or purpose, it may also lead to a refusal to accept limitations.  People can be outwardly expressive of their emotions with a tendency to melodrama.  A party given at this time is sure to be a loud, boisterous affair with lots of laughter and fun-loving amusement.  There is an increased awareness toward all matters pertaining to CHILDREN, especially in their talents and in recreational pursuits.

(The first part of the transit can bring either great friendship and warmth, or conflicts over
leadership. One should be aware of tendencies to pomposity and overstated positions. The middle is the best time to indulge your zest for living--but don't let a quick temper explode if others do not
share it.  Toward the end of the transit, the pride of Leo blends with the exactness of Virgo, making it a good time for unassuming yet ultimately ambitious moves toward personal advancement.)

*     *     *    *     * 

Leo is the sign of romance, so, this is the perfect time for romantic outings done in grand style and in luxurious surroundings.  There will be support and appreciation of talent, but among creative types or strong personalities, there may be a clash of egos (also called “artistic temperament”).  Bossy, authoritarian feelings may crop up, and people throw themselves forward for all they're worth.

A good time for activities involving children, picnics, outings, recreation, the theatre, parties, romantic liaisons/dates, school plays and public speaking.

Express yourself!  Basic traits are emphasized.  We tend to be more dramatic, and we may exaggerate.  Praise really gets results now.  Share a treat, share some glory.  Pride is the key word with the Moon in Leo.  People are dynamic, fun-loving and enthusiastic.

Good time to wear gold, take care of your "mane" (hair), play games, enjoy art, music, parties, the theater.

You feel a bit like a "goddess" or a "god" and in command of your life.  Optimism is justified, but don't get carried away with yourself.  Press ahead with ambitions.

Energy is high for romance and all kinds of little pleasures.  A good time to entertain or to attend entertainments.  A good time to enjoy life and show warmth, kindness, and generosity to others.  Show off your best!

What a bunch of show-offs!  A fashion show in the streets!  This is a theatrical Moon and good for parties.  People feel warmhearted.  See a play or a movie.

Mix business with pleasure.  Take flattery with a grain of salt. Love yourself and love the world.


When the Moon is in Leo, people will:

     *try to make the party
     *try to be warm and loving
     *be gracious even if it hurts
     *get a little loving
     *demand special treatment
     *show off a little
     *boss one person around
     *do one creative thing
     *entertain
     *perform
     *sparkle
     *flex a muscle
     *blow a kiss into the mirror
     *take a lover
     *play a hunch
     *be brave when they're not
     *feel generous and happy
     *play in the Sun
     *Make one great entrance
     *pick up the check
     *warm up to flattery
     *notice children
     *act noble and look good no matter what
     *back one crazy idea
     *support a friend
     *get interested in the market
     *steal the spotlight
     *inspire those around them
     *think of publishing
     *feel a little artistic
     *let out their flair a little

*     *     *    *     *  

HOUSEKEEPING:  You may feel manic and inclined to show off.  Re- arrange and beautify things.  Use the best china, prepare gourmet meals, and dress up for meals.  This is a good time to go through old clothes and throw out what doesn't look or feel good anymore (then find out there's more room for the new things you were thinking of getting!).  You will feel generous, so it won't be hard to part with things, especially if you give them away.

MOON MAGIC IN THE KITCHEN:  Gourmet time!  Go foreign.  Think back to times when you really rounded off a perfect day with a meal.  When you re-create it you will be donig more than cooking--you'll be sharing a mood.  Don't repeat it TOO often or it will be boring.  Don't forget the right wine for that special dish; that can be another conversation piece.  Use the right props; the meal can be a dramatic masterpiece!

RITUALS:  Take a break from growing and hard work to let loose and play.  Get rid of things that are holding you back.  A ritual now will be a large, lovely drama, emphasizing feelings of warmth and affection.  (Just make sure beforehand who will be the Priestess and that everybody knows their job)

A magnanimous influence, the Leonine moon encourages magick worked on behalf of others.  On the flip side, this influence also tends to the self-indulgent and manipulative--be careful!

This is also a fine transit for working spells for leaders, for the sane use of power, and for binding spells.

GARDENING: Deal with weeds, pests, noxious growths, and cultivate!

Traditionally ruled by Leo: (from Astrologer Alan Oken):

COUNTRIES:  France, Italy, Sicily, Romania, Bohemia, the Alps, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Iraq, Lebanon, Cappadocia, Coast of Sidon, Tyre, Ancient Chaldea, Phoenecia, Phrygia, Macedonia, Afghanistan, Zanzibar, Bolivia, Central African Republic, Chad, The Ivory Coast, Gabon, Indonesia, Korea (North and South), Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Maldives, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Mongolia, Seychelles, Ukraine, Jamaica

CITIES: Rome, Prague, Bombay, Madrid, Philadelphia, Chicago, Los Angeles, Bath, Bristol, Portsmouth, Syracuse, Damascus, Singapore, Bombay, Blackpool, Ravenna, Chicago, Baltimore, Boston, Charleston (South Carolina), Miami, Montpelier




MOON IN VIRGO

The party's over.  Eyelashes are on the table.  This is a time for cleaning up after the merrymakers have gone home.  People are now concerned with sobering up and getting personal affairs straight, clearing up any confusions or undefined feelings from the night before, and generally attending to the practical business of doctoring up after a party.

People are back at work, concerned with necessary, perhaps tedious tasks--paying bills, fixing and adjusting things and generally purifying their lives, streamlining their affairs and involving themselves with work and service to the community. 

Purity is the key word in personal habit, diet and emotional needs.  Propriety and coolness take the place of yesterday's devil-may-care passion, and the results are a detached, inhibited period for the Moon.  Feelings are not omitted; they are merely subjected to the scrutiny of the mind and thus purified.  Health comes to the fore and people are interested in clearing up problems.

Anything that requires painstaking attention is benefitted, anything that takes attention to detail, like crafts, knitting, sewing, cooking, mending, cleaning, nursing, volunteering,   Intellectual matters are also very favored, especially those requiring exactness rather than innovation, like accounting, studying, researching, testing, purifying, collecting, classifying, putting order into chaos.

This is the time to clean out all the dusty cobwebs and get your life well-oiled and organized. Make decisions, keep what works and eliminate what doesn't.  Feng Shui your home. Take a good look at how you live your daily life. Review your data, observe your rituals, get centered, and you'll figure it all out.

(The early phase of Virgo transit is a good time to tend to matters of the home, as drives for upkeep strengthen.  It is also a good time for dealing with health and diet.  The Virgo capacity for objective (and, at its worst, cold-blooded) calculation is strongest toward the middle of the transit, often being expressed as manipulation on a personal level as the Moon moves toward Libra.)

*     *     *    *     * 

Exercise; dance-for-health and stretch!  People are more reserved, health-conscious, detail oriented and focused on the job at hand.  Conversations will tend to center on business (talking shop), technology, technique, health, science or work-related issues. 

This is a good time for house cleaning, home repairs, matters involving technical expertise, starting a diet, gardening or setting up a new schedule.

Virgo favors the careful, bargain-hunting shoppers.  Good for the purchase of craft materials and tools of all kinds, collectibles, pets.

Because Virgo is the harvest earth-sign, it is friendly toward fresh food markets, with natural organic vegetables, grains, and herbs.

Utilize skills!  It's a good time to take care of business, organize, analyze, be of service, exchange and refine ideas.  A mentally active time, not to be wasted.  Take care of your own act; try not to be too picky when the Moon is in Virgo.

You will be accurate and notice details.  Catch up on all those jobs that need meticulous attention.  "Reading the small print" will come naturally now.

Good time to "clean up" and do your taxes.  DON'T ask for a loan or take your driving test unless you are a Virgo Sun-Sign.  People in charge are critical and want to see all the details.  Bad for hitchhiking; you'll wait a long time between rides.  Don't nag!  Learn to simplify; separate the essential from the inessential.

When the Moon is in Virgo, people will:

     *get some work done
     *clean up after the party
     *tear one person apart
     *complain a little
     *purify their lives
     *try to be a little specific
     *get hold of themselves
     *recoil from emotion
     *dole out a little sympathy
     *feel a slight chill
     *try to do without
     *make it just a little harder for themselves
     *freeze when criticized
     *get hung up on details
     *sit still and work!
     *find themselves around someone sick
     *analyze and criticize
     *examine every emotion
     *put everyone to work
     *repair and mend
     *act like their maiden aunts
     *tell one person they told him so
     *lose their sense of humor
     *quit smoking
     *go on a diet
     *resist temptation a little
     *wait miserably, hoping they'll get asked on a date
     *take a bath
     *make wine and bread
     *do people favors
     *pretend they're not turned on
     *invest in produce
     *get a pet
     *think they might have parrot fever
     *reap their harvest


*     *     *    *     *  

HOUSEKEEPING: This is a great time to get a lot of work done; your energy level is high enough to get through some marathon tasks without feeling as if you have been put through a chopping machine.  Heavy work tackled now will convince you there is something of a superman/woman instinct in it.  Since the Moon in Virgo accents the critical nature as well as the instinct for ultra-cleanliness, tackle the bathrooms and medicine cupboards. Throw out all out-dated stock without worrying how much they cost.

While you can be critical about the state of your house, try to keep from criticizing members of the family. Get them involved in helping, but keep supervision on a pleasant level so that the extra work is fun as well as practical.

MOON MAGIC IN THE KITCHEN:  Healthy foods will taste good, but add your own special touch.  You have plenty of energy, so be ingenius in your preparation.  Take courage in one hand, but be sure to have a goodly bunch of herbs in the other!  Set the table with special care.

RITUALS:  Healing circles work just fine.  Keep it small.

Working environment, education, volunteer work, health. Brew some potions!  Spells worked for mental prowess, attention to detail, stability, and conscientiousness thrive under the Virgoan Moon.  Keep in mind, this is a cerebral influence, sometimes at the expense of the emotional.  Yet it can bring peace and clarity.

GARDENING: Cultivate and transplant. 

Traditionally ruled by Virgo: (from Astrologer Alan Oken):

COUNTRIES:  Ancient Assyria, Babylonia, Ionia, Mesapotamia, Rhodes, Doric Plains, Modern Crete, part of Greece, Croatia, Brazil, Turkey, Switzerland, West Indies, Thessaly, Morea, Candia, Uruguay, Armenia, Azerbajan, Belarus, Brazil, Costa Rica, Estonia, Guatemala, Honduras, Mali, Mexico, Qatar, Tajikistan

CITIES:  Basil (Switzerland), Brindisi and Padua (Italy), Lyons and Paris (France), Cheltenham, Bury and Maidstone (England), Athens (Greece) Jerusalem (Israel),  Heidelberg, spa towns in general.   USA cities: St. Augustine , Los Angeles, Rutland, Colorado Springs, Reading, Norfolk, Minot, Boston.



MOON IN LIBRA

Here there is a mood of harmony, when people strive to join with other people in a bond of peace and justice.  At this time people need relationships and often seek the company of others in a smooth-flowing feeling of love, beauty and togetherness.  People make efforts to understand other people, and though it's not the best time to make decisions, many situations keep presenting themselves from the outside to change plans and offer new opportunities.  There is a general search for accord between partners, and differences are explored as similarities are shared.

People tend to solve problems through diplomacy, and are more able to put aside their own emotions in order to achieve the peace they crave.  The energy is all about refinement.

The tone is concilatory, and the mood is one of cooperation, patience and tolerance.  People do not generally feel independent, and sometimes this need to share or lean on others disturbs them.  It shouldn't.  This is the moment for uniting and sharing, for feeling a mutual flow of kindness and tenderness between people.  The air is ingratiating and sometimes lacks stamina, courage and a consistent, definite point of view.  But it is a time favoring the condition of beauty and the development of esthetics.

Tthe Moon's transit through Libra benefits anything that tends to beautify. Artistic work, especially involving color, is greatly enhanced.  Because Libra is also the sign of partnership and union, this
transit is an auspicious time for forming partnerships, marriages and other agreements.  (If the aspects are otherwise favorable).

The Moon in Libra accentuates teamwork--particularly, teams of two, and tends to counter impulses to "go it alone".  It  is a good time for relationships of all types; you might also be open to new people and new relationships. Feeling especially diplomatic right now and seeking to make peace at all costs, even YOU might not quite believe everything you're saying. Are you charming them all to get your needs met? While you're busy balancing everything and everyone to achieve peace and harmony, remember to balance the bright and shadowy parts of yourself (and others). Then you can begin to achieve real and lasting peace.

There is a strong need for balance, justice and harmony. People feel secure in peaceful and beautiful surroundings, while discord can throw them off-kilter. They may enjoy being social, but withdrawing into solitude from time to time is essential to discover what they really want.

People are also more courteous, sociable, reasonable and charming.  Face-to-face confrontations go smoothly.  Great strides can be made in mending wounds and strengthening love bonds.

(Don’t be too picky at the beginning of this transit.  Because Libra is an air sign, the Moon's transit through it favors the eloquent and the charming, through stronger overtones of sarcasm and satire will evolve as the Moon moves toward Scorpio.)

*     *     *    *     * 

Join forces!  It's a sociable easy Moon time when cooperation is a must.  The pendulum swings both ways: you could get stuck in the middle.  A creative time, but you may have a tendency to put things off.  Pay attention to your partner.  Let them encourage you as you encourage them!

Expressing your needs leads to genuine harmony -- avoid the temptation to suppress your desires to please others.  (But just because you express your needs doesn’t mean that others are obligated to fulfill them!)

Time for romance, enjoying life with friends, even if it is just sitting around and talking.  But try not to let slackness show on the job.

Lighten up.  Hit the hairdresser or beauty parlor, then socialize.  Good for meeting-people types of cocktail parties, art shows, decorating your house, bringing flowers.  People are a bit easy-going and apt to take their time now. (But don’t underestimate them...Libra is all about the iron hand in the velvet glove!)

Makeover time! Grab a friend and go shopping. Get new curtains or go to a museum. It's not a good time for anything that requires you to be incredibly assertive, nor is it good to make decisions, because you see all sides to the story and you're too willing to put what you want aside for the greater good (and then when the moon is out of Libra, you realize it really wasn't good!).

The need for beauty and harmony in one's surroundings will be accentuated, inclining people to the purchase of finery or 'special' things such as fine furnishings, jewelry, couture,  fine wine or art.  ART in all its forms and artistic endeavors will be sought out for their soothing effects. A good time for sales, negotiations, meetings, artistic or cultural events, culinary arts and home decor.

When the Moon is in Libra, people will:

     *wonder if they've been fair
     *be hopeful
     *wish to feel courted
     *hear romantic songs
     *buy a double bed
     *forgive and forget--briefly
     *look at the other side
     *feel lost alone
     *move in with someone
     *sink something into a relationship
     *cease making decisions alone
     *need a date
     *develop strategy
     *try diplomacy
     *think it's better to be married
     *have a tough time saying goodbye
     *prolong the conversation
     *find somebody to argue with
     *compromise
     *fall in love
     *surround their life with beauty
     *find someone to be comfortable with
     *draw up a contract
     *take someone shopping
     *harmonize

*     *     *    *     *  

HOUSEWORK:  It is never difficult for you to take pride in beautifying your surroundings, but it is not easy for you to make earthshaking decisions at this time.  Don't overtax yourself by worrying whether you should change things.  Do the minimum of work so you have plenty of time for relaxation, and while sitting in a comfortable chair, you can let your imagination run riot about possible changes.  If there is something you just cannot stand any longer, get a family member to help, while you supervise from your chair.  If you cannot stand the sight of someone working, invent a reason for taking a trip out, if only to window-shop, but resist the temptation to buy things you will
not need immediately.

Suitable energy for sharing, decorating, being artistic, holding meeting, conflict resolution, diplomatic missions, weddings, engagements, parties, gifts, fantasy reading, falling in love, hairdressing, making oneself beautiful. Purchase of articles of clothing, cosmetics, furnishings, flowers, jewellery, art equipment.

Action motivated by the desire to meet others half way, to be fair, to agree and harmonize. Amiable display of feeling, seeking equality, idealistic, cooperative.

Release feelings of codependency, appeasing, indecision, aimless debate.  The tendency now is to avoid direct confrontations. Decisions do not come easily. Seeing both sides to any given situation is the main reason for hesitation. Fear of losing others’ approval is another.  It’s ok to say, “We’ll see,” and wait to make a final decision.


MOON MAGIC IN THE KITCHEN:  Being a host comes easy to you at this time.  It's best, though, to serve the simplest food possible--concentrate on enjoying your guests, AND your family
too.  Try to balance meals so that everyone has a chance to enjoy their special favorite, with plenty to spare for a second helping.  Try to think in terms of more people than you have in the house, so you will not underestimate people's appetites.

RITUALS:  Leave balance within the structure.  Celebrate, have a party ritual. . .but also leave time for healing work.  Marriage, partnerships, aesthetics, legal matters, small animals, diplomacy, adaptability.  The Libran moon favorably influences magickal workings involving peace and balance in romance, partnerships or the world in general.  Magick to benefit legal matters, small animals. Peace, diplomacy, couple's magick, artistic and spiritual work, karma and justice, unions, balance (spiritual and otherwise).  Beauty in all forms.  Love Magick.

GARDENING:  Pulp growth occurs now. A wonderful time to sow and transplant flowering plants and ornamental, and also herbs which help to balance the Elements in the body. Libra encourages bloom, but few seeds.


Traditionally ruled by Libra: (from Astrologer Alan Oken)

COUNTRIES:  Austria, Alsace, Argentina, Burma, China, parts of India, Indochina, Japan, Tibet, Canada, Siberia, Botswana, Equatorial Guinea, Fiji, Iraq, Israel, Lesotho, Nigeria, Palau, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Tuvalu, Uganda, South Pacific Islands, Upper Egypt, Belgium

CITIES:  Frankfurt (Germany), Antwerp (Belgium), Copenhagen (Denmark), Fribourg (Switzerland), Lisbon (Portugal), Leeds and Nottingham (England), USA cities: Riverside (CA), Rock Island (IL), Roswell (NM), Eugene (OR), Rapid City (SD), Knoxville (TN), Waco (TX), Alexandria (VA), Charleston (SC)


MOON IN SCORPIO

At this time, people become aware of hidden energies, including psychic, archetypal, and sexual.  People are swayed by these energies, whether they are aware or not.  So it’s important that we go through this time as conscious as possible.

There is no way around the fact that Scorpio Moons are intense and passionate. The powerful energies at this time can be channeled into activities such as deep inner healing, transformational work and anything that requires a penetrating focus. Meditation and affirmative prayer are good outlets for this energy. Deep feelings are stirred up by this Moon. Generally it is not a particularly social time.

This is not a mood of sharing.  It's driving, brooding and full of passion and desire.  Appetites are high.  There is an attraction to the RICHNESS of experience...on many levels. When thwarted, people can become ruthless, sarcastic and easily bruised.  Others can feel highly sexual and touchy, without being especially tender.  Retaliation, jealousy, and revenge can be felt too during this time. 

Powerful underworld forces are at work here, and great care is needed to transform ignorance into wisdom, to keep the mind from getting stuck in the lower depths.  During the Moon's stay in Scorpio we contact the dark undercurrents swirling around and get in touch with a magical, transformative  part of our natures.  It’s a strange time. . . somewhat “Halloweeny.”

It's time to get to the root causes of any current suffering. We're willing to go into dangerous psychic territory, because we know that's the only way to heal fully.

This is a great time to sketch out characters for a detective novel. There's a fascination with the darker side of life and ourselves. In dreams and waking life, we go through the doors marked enter at your own risk. When we encounter what's intense and coiled up within, we release that primal power. It becomes the creative seeds of the new, and we've been transformed.

For creatives, it's time to muse on the shadow.  That material is your gold mine for creating art that is not only gripping, but also cathartic in some way.

For truthseekers, it's one for going down the rabbit hole of research, to possibly dark places.  You might be willing to face the truth, which you sense will change you utterly.  When kernels of truth are revealed, especially about the nature of reality, it can be disturbing.

But under a Scorpio Moon, you want to be disturbed!  Scorpio's ruler Pluto is the great revealer.  This is a time for shining light in dark places, whether it's corruption, abuse, shadow players or your own past.

Patriarchal astrology paints a grim picture of the Scorpio moon.  Since sensitivity is heightened, this moon transit CAN be a wonderful time to feel the Goddess most intensely, especially the Dark and Crone Goddesses. 


Interest lies in death, inheritance, and the powers of rebirth and regeneration. Anything “taboo” will attract attention.  Sometimes Scorpio energies create an atmosphere of romance with the dark.  Sometimes a little “goth.”

People tend to be suspicious in this phase of the lunar cycle, and will be wary of anyone seeking information or money from them.  The Moon in Scorpio heightens sensitivity to insult and discourtesy; it also sharpens the criticism given.

Release old hurts and resentments to make room for some deep delicious sensuous intensity. It's time for the phoenix to rise!  (Kundalini! Primal Energy! Shakti!)

Whether it’s passion, elation, sorrow, or desire, emotions are felt on a deeply personal level. We are motivated by the desire to get to the bottom of things, and we instinctively read between the lines. Superficiality won’t work for us now. The Moon in Scorpio urges us to uncover our own power, and it’s an excellent time to rid ourselves of old fears and limiting habits.  It can be an intimate and passionate time.

Healing can occur now, on the deepest level.  To partake of it, you need to engage with this process in some way -- creativity, spirituality and psychology are some possible healthy outlets.

In relationships, you require passion, depth and loyalty.  Be resourceful.  Learn to be supportive and resilient.  Nobody is perfect.

(The tone is lightened only as the Moon approaches Sagittarius.  The middle part of the transit is the darkest, and it is advisable to "walk past graveyards quickly," more so if the Moon is full or approaching fullness. The last part of the Moon cycle is best for dealing with authority)

*     *     *    *     * 

Expect extremes.  It's a time when desires, opinions and energies are strong.  An either/or time, when actions have long- lasting results.  Enjoy the volcano, but stay out of the lava.

You can make real progress now. This is a good time for getting the “dirty work” out of the way.

The mood of Scorpio is sultry, secretive, mysterious. Sexy!  People act from the noblest motives or use scurrilous, sneaky tactics.

 People go to extremes as to what they put in their mouths.  Be a little careful walking down those dark alleys.  At least it is a wierd and interesting night out.  Perhaps a little “goth.”

"I got the Power!"  – secrets, awareness of others needs and motives, politics, psychology, charisma.

Keep a secret or tell a secret to a trusted friend or your healer; do a major purge (of your purse, closet, office); go scuba diving; plan for a night of sexual healing; do a detox or get a colonic treatment; take out the recycling; weed the garden; do a shamanic journey; get a deep tissue massage; be emotionally honest with a friend.

Suitable energy for cleansing, getting rid of the old, spring cleaning, rubbish removal, nursing, practical and emotional support, midwifery, intimacy, partnership in business, profound talks, sharing secrets, healing old wounds, cultivating psychic powers, studying occult subjects.

Purchase of insurance policies, underwear, hygiene articles, medicines, medical equipment, payment of bills, fees and taxes, collecting debts, wills and property issues, grants and contracts.

Helping the dying, honouring the dead.

Let go of resentments.  Cut cords.


When the Moon is in Scorpio, people will :

     *feel sexy
     *enjoy, even briefly, the taste of power
     *demand alimony
     *heal the sick
     *smolder in anger
     *feel like changing their lives
     *envy one relative
     *surrender to one strong attraction
     *try to regain a little control of their lives
     *brood a little
     *be compulsive
     *mention death once or twice
     *summon up some stamina
     *quit being a Pollyanna
     *make a firm decision
     *sharpen knives
     *start doing the place over
     *feel jealousy in the air
     *spray for roaches, set mouse traps
     *get mentioned in a will
     *get in a few digs here and there
     *face a crisis
     *get divorced
     *lose something precious
     *regenerate and transform
     *endure like crazy
     *torture loved ones slowly
     *hear from the IRS
     *consider life insurance
     *meet up with the underworld
     *tend to carnivorous plants, or buy some
     *feed snakes
     *come close to catastrophe
     *feel that the light of day will never come
     *act like it's Halloween

*     *     *    *     *  

HOUSEWORK: No matter how big your living quarters, you may feel like you're living in a telephone booth.  Look around and see how you can get more "room to move."  You have plenty of energy to put up extra shelves, and getting things on the wall will help floor space.  Hang things (plants from brackets or ceiling).  You feel creative, so sewing can be both practical and relaxing.
Deal with those old magazines that have piled up, tidy the bookshelves, systematically arrange stuff-in-storage, and check for depleted stock.  Start any heavy work in the morning, and get it done all in one day to keep the intense interest going.

MOON MAGIC IN THE KITCHEN:  Time to use up all the leftovers--and use herbs and spices to make them into something new.  This moon brings out the urge to be creative and penny-pinch at the same time.  A home-made dessert from scratch, hearty soups, breadmaking (or rolls).

RITUALS:  Scorpio is the keeper of secrets, and a good time to try and unlock occult wisdom through divination and ritual. It is also a very fertile sign and a good time to work on fertility and sex magick. Matters pertaining to deceit, trustworthiness, and things hidden are best dealt with now. Scorpio is the sign of ambition, and spells for personal promotion work well at this time. This transit is very compatible with almost all lunar spellwork.

There is a thin veil between the worlds, and the Goddess joins the circle easily.  Communication with those who have "crossed over" may be enhanced.  Be sure to ground afterward.

GARDENING: Time for irrigation and vine growth.  A good time to turn the compost pile.  In the garden Scorpio is a very fertile Sign. It is also suitable for propagating cuttings, grafting and irrigation. It promotes sturdy roots. Corn, squashes and tomatoes seem to like particularly to be transplanted when the Moon is in Scorpio.

Traditionally ruled by Scorpio: (from Astrologer Alan Oken):

COUNTRIES: Norway, Catalonia. Mauritania, parts of Germany, Sardinia, Morocco, Algeria, Syria, Libya, Egypt, Algeria, Barbary, Bavaria, Judea. Jutland, Norway, Syria, Korea, Uruguay, Transvaal

CITIES: Valencia, Fez, Messina, Dover, Liverpool, New Orleans, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Milwaukee, Halifax, Washington DC, Frankfort on the Oder, Ghent, Liverpool, and Messina.



MOON IN SAGITTARIUS

Here the mind climbs out of the depths, and people are involved with the higher, more enlightened facets of their personality. Consciousness is expanding, and the soul is growing!

There's a renewed interest in learning, education and philosophy, with a new involvement with ethics, morals, national/international/global issues: a concern with looking for a better way to live.  It's a time of general improvement, with people feeling more deeply hopeful and optimistic.  They are dreaming of new places, new possibilities, new horizons.  They are emerging from the abyss and leaving the past behind, with their eyes out toward the new horizon.  They decide to travel, or renew their contacts with those far away. 

People question their religious beliefs and investigate new areas of metaphysical inquiry. Higher thought and higher education is highlighted.  Spiritual expansion assists the process of understanding among diverse cultures and groups. Explore new horizons, take a look at the big picture, seek spiritual and philosophical explanations; then tactfully, perhaps even humorously, use your renewed optimism to encourage others.

It's a time for taking a risk, sports, gambling,  playing the field– people have their eye on new possibilities.  They are bored with depression and details.  They feel restless and optimistic, joyous and delighted to be alive.  Thoughts revolve around adventure, travel, liberation.

In general people need to expand their horizons.  This may be expressed through a trip, going into the "great outdoors," or delving into a subject along educational lines.  People may feel restless or high-strung, their nervous energies needing release in some form of physical activity such as sports, gymnastics, or dance. Some like to connect with Nature and camp out or just trek through the wild places and connect with wildlife. For more sedate types, this excess energy can express itself as a need to meet a challenge, to debate politics, religions or social issues, or to start a new project.

People tend generally to be more humane, and more interested in higher thinking (though more intellectual than mystical).  Now is a favorable time for dealing with institutions of higher learning, publishing companies and the like.

(At the beginning of this transit, there can be a tendency to “blurt out” and say “too much.”  This is a reaction to the secrecy of previous transit. People who might have displayed suspicion in Scorpio are now more honest in their interchanges, and less reserved.  Candor is enhanced at this time and, since honest acceptance is reinforced, the middle of this transit is an excellent time to "get it off your chest."  The Moon in Sagittarius is a good time for sport and adventure, but sobering quickly as the Moon moves toward Capricorn.)


*     *     *    *     *

Explore!  It's a time when interest focuses on far-away things.  A breezy, active period.  Fun with friends is indicated.  Expand, be different, but tone down the tendency to rationalize or ignore harsh reality.

A day with your favorite pet could prove rewarding, and so will be a night under the stars.

Time for freeing “the Gypsy in your soul”!!  You have the soul of a gypsy and need travel, freedom and adventure to feel fulfilled. Most of all, you require a lot of personal space -- being tied down by routine or obligations stifles your spirit and dampens your naturally buoyant personality. Even having “goals” seems stifling!

Being active, including vigorous exercise, healthy competition and time in the wilderness helps you thrive. You're happiest when you balance your physical activity with philosophical and spiritual exploration.  Your imagination will be set free, too, so write your ideas down! 

A good time for making travel plans, educational pursuits, camping, hiking, political/social activism, religious activities, sporting events or reading.  Nice time for a trip to the bookstore or library.

A good time to deal with Law: Law – attorneys, lawsuits, ethics, morality, conscience, court proceedings. How members of a society relate, and knowing and respecting the laws by which they live, are Sagittarian concepts..

Try to listen more, talk less.  The mind is clear, ideas are good, conditions seem right for whatever you have in mind.  Good deals and good will abound.  People feel generous, so go to court or see your bank manager about that loan, maybe tell him a leetle joke.  Hit the streets with your tin cup and guide dog.  If you see that guy selling pencils on the corner, slip him a buck.  People tip generously on this Moon, and they like to gabble on about travel and philosophy late into the night.  Parties now are gleeful at least, wildly abandoned at best.

Purchase of travel tickets, camping gear, cars, bikes, horses, dogs, raffle and lottery tickets. Action motivated by the desire to explore behind the personal sphere. Friendly display of feelings, gregarious and warm, but extremely independent and often unreliable. Beware of self inflation, over-reaching, preaching, boasting, being fanatical, overbearing, self righteous, impatient, uncompromising.

When the Moon is in Sagittarius people will:

     *feel good
     *feel strongly optimistic
     *want to take a trip
     *feel the presence of God/dess as a reward
     *be generous
     *meet more people
     *add on a room, or move
     *see the good side of people
     *try new approaches to old problems
     *get their ideas across
     *improve conditions all around them
     *sleep a little later
     *sell one Brooklyn Bridge
     *start studying a new interest
     *invest abroad
     *forget birth control
     *feel like smoking
     *relax, and feel restless
     *try their luck
     *check out new opportunities
     *remember their dreams
     *resume contact with those far away
     *do one charitable thing
     *indulge themselves
     *want to expand
     *sympathize with wild animals
     *start understanding themselves better

*     *     *    *     *

HOUSEWORK:  You feel that someone should appreciate and recognize your talent for housekeeping.  Do some crafty chores to draw attention to yourself, perhaps FOR another family member.  Keep up doing the extra things and someone is sure to notice.  Working a lot harder than usual, you can still get through the day with enough energy to spare for an evening out (with lots of action).  As this transit whirlwind dies down, you will want to collapse in a comfy place with a good book and yell for someone to bring you a cup of coffee or other hot beverage.

MOON MAGIC IN THE KITCHEN:  Best to prepare something ahead forthis transit.  Better yet, eat out, if possible. International tastes are on the menu! If weather permits, cook and/or eat outdoors!

RITUALS: The spiritual and psychic forces are quite evident now, and the desire to connect with the Goddess is strong.  Forest feelings!  The God--Cernunnos, Pan!  Faeries, Gypsies, and galloping horses!

Moon in Sagittarius makes us all philosophers and places us in a frame of mind to deal with issues of humanity, peace, and the right way of the universe. Reach out into the cosmos!  Sagittarius is the sign of the non-conformist, an excellent time to experiment with new spells and ritual methods.  This is a good time to accept challenges and work magick for the more elusive things in your life.

GARDENING: Plant or harvest onions and garlic.  In the garden Sagittarius, like all Fire Signs, is traditionally considered too hot, dry and barren for growing anything, with the exception of Fruit Trees. Its energy is suitable for cultivating, general maintenance, pruning, pest control, weeding, and harvesting.

Traditionally ruled by Sagittarius: (from Astrologer Alan Oken):

COUNTRIES:  Hungary, Spain, Dalmatia, Moravia, Provence, Madagascar, Ancient Crete, Latium, Arabia, Australia, Chile, Czechoslovakia, Singapore, Barbados, Colombia, Finland, Ireland, Kenya, Sweden

CITIES:   Branford and Sheffield (England), Cologne and Stuttgart (Germany), Naples (Italy), Narbonne and Avignon (France), Nottingham and York (England), Toledo (Spain), Budapest (Hungary) USA cities: Birmingham (AL), Anchorage (AK), Long Beach and San Diego (CA), Wilmington (DE), Tampa (FL), Columbus (GA), Youngstown (OH), Lancaster (PA), Greenville (SC), Memphis (TN), Spokane (WA), Cheyenne (WY)




MOON IN CAPRICORN

After all the expansion, it is now time to consolidate.  Think of a plant, growing and reaching...and then taking time to slow down and produce a nut, a seed, a “Bindu.”

When the Moon moves into Capricorn things slow down considerably. People require a quieter, more organized and regularized condition.  Their minds are sober, more "realistic," and they are
methodically going about bringing their dreams and plans into reality.  They are more conscious of what is standing between them and success, and during this time they take definite, decisive steps to remove any obstacles from their path.  They are cautious, suspicious, sometimes depressed, discouraged and gloomy, but they are more determined than ever to accomplish their tasks.  They take care of responsibilities now, wake up to facts, and wrestle with problems and dilemmas of this world.  They are politically minded and concerned with social convention now, and it is during this period that conditioning and conformity elicit the greatest responses.  People are moderate and serious and surround themselves with what is most familiar.  They want predictable situations and need time to think deeply and deliberately about all issues.  It's a time for planning and “taking care of business.”

Capricorn turns the mind to matters of a good underlying structure. Appropriately, Saturn (the ruler of Capricorn) represents building, construction, stone, masonry, ice, hard work, and, the concept of time. There is an old business saying, “Time is money“, and this statement is a perfect embodiment of the planet Saturn.  Also, in the original meaning of the word “cool,” which derives from the Yoruba language, it means taking responsibility for yourself.

The image is barrenness and essence, craggy rocks, bare trees, black night.  Capricorn gives the power to keep silent.  Drink in the beauty of barrenness and silence, Earth in winter. Touch the black earth; it will keep you grounded.

The success that comes through Capricorn is a result of a true concern for society, along with perseverance and the will to make things better through hard work.  It involves seeing things the way they are. . .and realizing that EVERYONE (including you) deserves success.

The humor (and yes, the “old geezer” DOES have a sense of humor) of Capricorn is very down-to-earth.  But you have to be astute to "get it."  Suppressed emotions may surface through glibness toward serious issues. Capricorn humor is a little "dry" or "dark."  And Capricorn can be quite “lusty,” The magic of Capricorn is an especially physical and natural earthy magic.  Think of goats or dolphins—both animals of Capricorn.

Unfortunately, in the day-to-day world, the sober mood can be expressed as pessimism or cynicism; and the negative view can become that adopted view.  Spiritual and intellectual matters are put on the backburner while "nitty gritty" matters are taken care of.  This is probably the worst possible time to seek a concession from one in authority or to depart from the accepted norms. 

People become aware of the need for structure and planning ahead. People also instinctively are aware of the limitations of time. They are motivated by a desire for success. Achievement and manifestation are most important to them now. They are resourceful and don’t want to waste time, energy, or resources. This can be a very sober influence–even a depressing one. However, it can also be a productive time when we look reality in the eye.

(The secret plot conceived in Scorpio may be carried out in Capricorn, but the edge is strongly in favor of the established position.  Insensitivity is pervasive, which can frequently lead to cruelties and malice justified on the grounds of necessity. These trends will mellow as the Moon approaches
Aquarius.)

*     *     *    *     *

Duty calls: answer it.  Setting and achieving goals is important now.  Be aware of the pecking order, even if it IS silly.  Drive, ambition, desires are strong.  do it!  And soft-pedal a grumpy tendency.

It is a good time for business dealings, real estate, starting a new regimen or discipline (a diet, an exercise program, yoga, etc.) or setting a budget.  There can be a reveling or delight in the inner workings of business.  Some may be inspired to take on greater response-ability.

You need to feel respected by others and are willing to earn this respect through hard work. Being organized and surrounded by the highest quality material objects gives you a sense of security. In relationships, you seek long-lasting quality, and are willing to wait for the best. You may need to let go of control and show vulnerability.

You are involved with self-concentration.  You are restricted in some way; work your way out of it.  Hard work is the order of the day.  Get out your monkey suit and a good shirt to go with it.  The jury's in a hanging mood, so no nonsense please.  When the Moon's in Capricorn, people give the best or the worst of themselves.

Suitable energy for working, planning, seeking employment, building, creating the foundations of something lasting, looking after the oldies, family business, saving, budgeting, studying serious subjects, scholarly work, pursuit of excellence. Important purchases, house, real estate, business, cars, antiques, insurance policies, payment of taxes and government fees. Action motivated by practical goals and the need for structure. Cool display of feeling, but sensual, committed, protective.

Caution: Don’t be too strict with yourself or others.  Remember, the sign of Capricorn rules the KNEES, and the knees must be flexible to work well!  Beware of rigidity, bossiness, authoritarian ways, paternalism, pessimism, depression, cynicism.

When the Moon is in Capricorn, people will:

     *feel a bit serious
     *function even when ill
     *feel a little repressed
     *review life a little
     *seem like they can't be fooled
     *try to stick to the job
     *demand what's rightfully theirs
     *say no to an emotion
     *remain faithful
     *deal with the boss
     *get involved with the famous, if briefly
     *consider social status
     *wake up to responsibilities
     *want to feel appreciated
     *know when they've had enough
     *make lists
     *take pain without screaming
     *control themselves at funerals
     *avoid irresponsible lovers
     *bet on favorites
     *want the best
     *be a little stingy
     *feel distrustful
     *feel like they've accomplished something
     *get out of the house
     *get one person to obey them
     *make solid investments
     *feel that maturity sets the tone for success
     *try to look young
     *get storm windows
     *consider their reputation

*     *     *    *     *

HOUSEWORK:  Efficiency is the keynote.  Look for ways to make improvements.  Think of ways to streamline preparation of food.  Conservation appeals to your nature.  You have lots of physical
energy for work, and while you work, do some serious thinking about how to stretch the dollar.

MOON MAGIC IN THE KITCHEN:  Guard against letting your moodiness affect your cooking.  If it is at all practical, let someone else cook (Be sure to find something to keep you busy after a meal in case you get corralled into cleaning up).  Plan your escape route with diplomacy.

RITUALS:  The goats' horns mirror the ebb and flow of the moon.  And old symbol of the goat was the unicorn--someone in charge of their own affairs.  Rituals may include elemental contact (that
is, contact with creatures of wind, water, earth and fire).

The Moon in Capricorn is helpful for holistic healing practices.

While the moon is in stable Capricorn is the time for dealing with material concerns, such as magick for obtaining a much needed item. It is also a transit when pessimism and despondency tend to come to the fore front. If you are prone to depression, avoid divination during this transit and, instead, work spells for a better mental attitude. This is a time of stability, when grounding rituals and centering rituals work especially well. The influence of Capricorn's ruling planet, Saturn, can assist in uncovering past-lives and overcoming past negative influences.

GARDENING: In the garden Capricorn is traditionally considered a productive Sign, especially suitable for growing Perennials, Trees and Vines. Any planting indeed that is meant to last a long time is well done in this earthy and reliable Sign. It is also a good Moon transit to plant root crops like potatoes and carrots. Fertilizing, especially slow release, recommended.


Traditionally ruled by Capricorn:: (from Astrologer Alan Oken)

COUNTRIES: Albania, Afghanistan, Bosnia, Bulgaria, India, Greece, Mexico, Lithuania, Orkney Islands, Australia, Cuba, Cameroon, Burma, Haiti, Lebanon, Macedonia, Illyria, Thrace, Sudan, United Kingdom

CITIES:  Brandenburg (Germany), Brussels (Belgium), Port Said (Egypt), Oxford (England); USA cities: Prescott (AZ), New London (CT), Tallahassee and Key West (FL), Atlanta (GA), Rockford (IL), New York (NY), Jersey City (NJ), Cedar Rapids (IA), Asheville (NC), Bismarck (ND), Toledo and Cleveland (OH), Fargo (ND), Salt Lake City (UT), Austin (TX), Virginia Beach (VA), Seattle (WA), Charleston (W. VA)



MOON IN AQUARIUS

The Capricornian mood changes dramatically in Aquarius, for this is the home of Uranus, the revolutionary and electric planet.  The flow now is with the innovative, the new and the different. This is a Starseed Moon!

This transit reinforces the humane and rational in people and favors social concerns.  It favors also science and the scientific approach.  People will tend to react and speak from rational rather than emotional viewpoints.  They are more apt to pay heed to suggestions for change, as long as the arguments are based on rational and clear evidence.

This is a time that promotes social gatherings, dealing with group ideals and goals for the future, brainstorming, new ideas, and progressive changes. We are open to new methods of doing things and we have our eye on the future.

It can be hard to stick to schedules now, as personal freedom is most important to us.

Spontaneity replaces the sober predictability of yesterday.  Now events, people and situations pop up, and you take advantage of unsought opportunities and can expect the unexpected.  Surprises,
reversals, and shifts in plans mark this period. 

There is a resurgence of optimism, and things you wouldn't expect to happen suddenly do.  What you were absolutely sure was going to happen, simply doesn't.  Here there is a need for adventure born from a healthy curiosity that characterizes people's moods.  Unrealistic utopias are dreamed of, maybe, and it is from such idealistic dreams that worlds of the future are built. 

There is a renewed interest in friendship, comradeship, brotherly love and union on high planes of mental and spiritual companionship.  People free each other from grudges or long-standing deadlocks, and there is a hopeful joining of hands in a spirit of love and peace.  People don't feel like sticking to previous plans and they need to be able to respond to new situations at the last minute.

People need freedom.  Groups of people come together and meet, perhaps for a common purpose like having dinner or hearing music, and leave knowing each other better.

The new, the unusual, the avant garde – these are the things that instinctively appeal now. Perfect for “thinking outside of the box.”

There is a feeling of cooperation toward achieving common goals.  People "ride the wave" together.  While there is a tendency for people to fraternize, the bonding is more intellectual than emotional, appearing as aloofness in the personal sense but as camaraderie in the context of a group.  There can be an attraction toward the strange or unusual, difference for its own sake, or metaphysical subjects, and many may experience sudden changes in lifestyle, attitude, or beliefs. 

The forward-looking aspect of Aquarius makes people tolerant of change and unites them in creating a better tomorrow. 

Individually, people value their own uniqueness.  They may embark upon individual quests, or work on their own individual “inventions.”  It’s best not to “expect” people to behave a certain way during this Moon transit.

(The first part of this transit may be a little stubborn and “fixed” in attitude, the middle part is the best time for group gatherings.  As the Moon moves toward Pisces, a spiritual and mystical vibe starts to flow.)

*     *     *    *     *

Sparks fly!  It's an unpredictable time when the mundane and the bizarre mingle.  We tend to be stubborn but changeable.  Try to loosen up and so at least one off-the-wall thing when the Moon is
in flashing Aquarius.  Bohemian and “hipster” energies are strong.  Weirdos rule!

Since Uranus is traditionally connected to astrologers, now is an excellent time to consult an astrologer.

A good time for informal gatherings, convocations, conventions, media events, scientific inquiry, astrology and metaphysical subjects.

There’s always a surprise or two during this Moon.  You can expect friends dropping by unexpectedly.  They may want to tell you their troubles, but remember; it is not always wise to buy time or peace at any price. 

Take time to relax and calm your nerves.  Meditate.

A nice bland Moon, with the occasional shocking announcement or revolution.  Good for talk parties, group activities, having friends get together, meeting new people, improving the world you live in.  People seem more objective today.

The Aquarius Moon transmits its electrifying energy beams. There's nothing more important than feeling aroused by future trends, community values, and exercising your individual  freedom. You need an outlet for expressing your uniqueness and unconventional thoughts, perhaps through writing or another form of creativity. A sense of freedom and independence makes you feel secure in relationships, while too much clinginess turns you off.

Invent a new way of doing things!

Suitable energy to make individual choices, to work in groups, to be with friends, to become aware of social issues, to change attitudes, share ideas, do the old thing in a new way, research, understand, study, teach, technology, Astrology, the Net, the unexpected, encounters with strangers or strange, eccentric people, UFO sighting.

Purchase of books, encyclopaedias, computer programs, computers, technology, electrical appliances. Action motivated by the desire to participate without losing one’s own individuality. Friendly, contained display of feeling, somewhat distant. Beware of coldness, indifference, emotional isolation, cynicism, impracticality, physical inhibitions.


When the Moon is in Aquarius, people will:

     *change plans abruptly
     *win unexpectedly
     *feel like getting out of a rut
     *find a group of people
     *feel the need for friendship
     *do one nice thing for the heck of it
     *break one rule on purpose
     *water the plants
     *show their Bohemian side
     *irritate someone
     *try exotic food
     *experiment with something weird
     *release pressure
     *dream about the future
     *move into a geodesic dome or a firehouse--
      or want to
     *take up with a total stranger
     *be turned on by something quite unusual
     *respond to friendliness
     *try to make it easier for people
     *fix instant food
     *expect the unexpected
     *invest in communications, aerospace
     *be tempted by flight
     *surprise their loved ones
     *want to do something on the spur of the moment
     *make breakthroughs
     *think about quitting their jobs
     *tell one person to ________
     *feel free--even briefly

*     *     *    *     *

HOUSEWORK: No matter how pleasant your homelife is, or how much you love the house and people in it, this transit breeds ideas that you are in a tender trap and, in the interests of survival, you have a desire to get away for as many hours as possible.  Try and make it possible.  If you must stay home, break the tense atmosphere with music while you work, cheat a bit and stretch out your breaks.  Everything is easier on the nerves if you can slip out into the bustling world for a few hours every day--a lunch date will work wonders.  The Aquarian Moon makes you loquacious and if there is no one to talk to, talk to yourself!  (But don't expect sensible answers.)

MOON MAGIC IN THE KITCHEN:  Crazy recipe time, and if you have someone who will help you prepare a few mad dishes, you will enjoy it all the more.  Start the day with a good breakfast.
Resist the temptation to prepare too much for any one meal.  Food:  the weirder the better.

RITUALS:  This is a time when people as a whole tend to be inspired to higher consciousness. Because of this, the Aquarian transit is a good time for troubled covens to meet.  Magick for world peace and understanding are best undertaken during this sign. Warning: because this sign is now outwardly fighting for its identity in this New Age, anything can happen in your Aquarian/moon magick.  Be prepared for something “completely new”!

GARDENING: Good time to clear brush.. In the garden Aquarius is considered too dry and barren for growing anything, but Pine Trees (?). Its energy is suitable for cultivating, general maintenance, pruning, pest control, weeding, harvesting. A ‘work day’ or other group activities in the garden will be ideal.


Traditionally ruled by Aquarius: (from Astrologer Alan Oken)

COUNTRIES:  Sweden, Ethiopia, Prussia, Russia, Lithuania, Westphalia, Canada, parts of Arabia and Poland, Israel, Costa Rica, Greece, Grenada, Japan, Mexico, Croatia

CITIES: Moscow and St. Petersburg (Russia), Salzburg (Austria), Hamburg (Germany), USA cities: Tucson (AZ), Anaheim (CA), Fort Collins (CO), Jacksonville (FL), Augusta (GA), Indianapolis (IN), Bowling Green (KY), Jackson (MS), Camden (NJ), Dallas (TX), Olympia (WA), Fairmont (W. VA), Milwaukee, (WI)



MOON IN PISCES

Energy withdraws from the surface of life, hibernates within, secretly reorganizing and realigning the dimensions. Depending on how “awake” we can be, flashes of brilliant insight and mysterious knowledge can become available to us as the Moon floats through the Pisces sea.  Sometimes valuable "truths" seem to emerge which, later in the light of day, turn out to be false. But that’s ok, as we are sampling different versions of reality now.

This is a time of poetry, intuition, and music, when words can’t tell the whole story.  Feelings seem to seep outside of the boundaries of words, and we “color outside of the lines.” For the creative artist it is the richest source of her inspiration.

People are sensitive now. It is a highly emotional time, when the feelings and compassion for humanity and all people everywhere rise and flow.  Mysteries of society and the soul now surface to demand solutions, but often the riddles posed during this period have many answers that all seem right. Things tend to get a little fuzzy in Pisces, Issues are clouded; there is difficulty in getting the cold facts of any situation. That’s ok, as we sampling different solutions now!

There is a heightened spiritual influence and responsiveness to intangible forces.  People in general are more emotional, spiritual, intuitive, creative, kind and passive.  The super-subtlety of Pisces makes us feel vulnerable and impressionable, causing many to withdraw from social interaction.  Many are inspired to spiritual activities such as religious devotion, pilgrimages, spiritual retreats, fasting or meditation. 

People are inclined to discuss their troubles, and are more easily manipulated.  Things are, more than ever, not what they seem, and people tend to react with a sense of befuddlement or confusion.  They will seek the counsel of persons they believe to be wiser. Entertainment, especially of an escapist or fantastic nature, is benefited.  Now is an excellent time for retreat and contemplation. 

For many people there are often feelings of remorse, guilt or sorrow connected with this Moon --sorrow from the childhood or family or past. Confusion, anxiety, worry and a host of imagined pains and sorrows may drag some people down until they cannot move or think.  Often there are connections with hospitals, prisons, alchohol and drugs and other forms of escape.

(There is an undertone of spirituality, though it tends to be expressed in the early and middle part of the transit as martyrdom.  The middle of the transit is an excellent time for retreat and contemplation.  As the Moon moves toward Aires, the mood of Pisces lifts to a more cheerful level.)

*     *     *    *     *

Dream a little.  It's a time to follow the flow, imagine, be a little "more".  Romantic love as well as spiritual love....in fact, any kind of love is all around.  Surrender to the sea of your greater self.

Idealism is high, but so is self-deception.  The effects of illusion are emphasized.  Glamour is strong. Try for results, as well as reveries to get the best from this Moon transit.  You can be a shapeshifter now.

Your life takes on a kind of mystical quality at the emotional and instinctive levels now. The past and the future intermingle, and the barriers between people dissolve – there is the key to the greater psychic and spiritual sensitivity you feel now.

You are intuitive; do not ignore it.  You must allow yourself “down time”  in which to renew your psychic energies, keeping yourself physically and psychologically fit.  If you do, this period can be a highly productive period in creative work.

People seem more vulnerable now.  A good time to get or give sympathy.  Music soothes everyone, and people are more likely to grant you favors--their heart bleeds for you.  Parties go well,especially those with plenty of wine and weird cigarettes.

There will be an increase in acts of mercy to the sick, elderly or poor.  Artists may receive inspiration during this period, prompting a flurry of creative output.  A good time for spiritual retreats, creative inspiration, musical concerts, photography, watching a good movie or getting a psychic reading.

For healing, use Water, or make a pilgrimage to a watery place.

Try imaginative undertakings, mystical or spiritual pursuits, inner development, music and drama, going on a retreat, and any and all activities involving water.  Don’t forget to play and have fun!


When the Moon is in Pisces, people will:

     *stir up a little confusion
     *think about escaping
     *repent, feeling the end may be near   
     *fall hopelessly in love
     *be strongly tempted to cheat
     *feel lost and frightened
     *wipe their tears and rejoice
     *agree with everyone who scolds them
     *give away their pets
     *call in sick, then go out and feel guilty
     *fall in love with the teacher
     *secretly adore their vices
     *give a few pennies to bums
     *spend time in despair
     *torture themselves with conflicting choices
     *get into music, art or poetry
     *get hooked on something
     *renounce
     *get hooked again
     *renounce again
     *sacrifice for love
     *cry a little
     *feel things ahead of time
     *betray themselves slightly
     *be able to understand God/dess and eternity
     *feel sympathetic to everyone
     *feel uncertainty, regret
     *worry--briefly
     *become involved with institutions
     *think about changing their diet
     *feel total love


*     *     *    *     *

HOUSEWORK:  Pulling yourself together from pleasant daydreams may be necessary.  Compromise.  Give yourself half the day for dreaming, but get basics out of the way before you dive into whatever dream suits your mood.  Pisces is a water sign, so bring the laundry up to date and see that the kitchen is basically tidy.  Then get on with your daydreaming, because if you push yourself to keep in the world of 'reality', you will end up stuffing things in drawers just to get rid of them.  Then you will spend the rest of the month doing detective work to track them down.

Creative-wise, this is a time to play around with ideas to put into action in the future.  Most of all, keep cheerful when you are with other members of the family, despite the feeling you are floating on Cloud Nine.  Let yourself slide down easily and gently to earth as this transit runs out.

MOON MAGIC IN THE KITCHEN:  Take a bit of this, a dash of that, and a pinch of something else, creating something in tune with your mood.  Rare omelets and souffles are good.  A good time to have friends come 'round with a covered dish--and exchange recipes.  Prepare only enough to eat at a single meal; no leftovers.  "Whimsical cooking".  Seafood is especially good.

RITUALS:  Pisces is an inner energy, so solitary rituals would work well, or a small, closely knit group of good friends.  A great opportunity for oracles and divinations: reading tarot, interpreting astrology charts, or throwing runes or the I Ching.

Inner development, karma, restrictions, secrets revealed. Dream work, astral projection, sensitivity, compassion, divination. Energy is now withdrawing, it is a time to reorganize. Good time for clairvoyance, telepathy and music workings, art, telepathy.  Healing and Mysticism unite now.

Ruled by watery Neptune, Pisces is a highly psychic sign and is a good time to try that divination method which has always eluded you. The two fish which symbolize the sign point not merely in two different directions. but the upper and lower worlds, and the inner and outer realms, offering us a bridge between them. It is a time when emotions can become clouded and melancholy; you should avoid protection spells unless you are sure you will not be tempted to cross the line of manipulation.

Moon in Pisces brings out our compassionate natures and can aid in making magick for others. It is also a good time for dream work, astral projection, guided meditations, and is highly compatible with all lunar spellwork.

Pisces is the most fertile of all the signs, and so is good for fertility magick..

 GARDENING: One of the best for planting!  In the garden Pisces is a very fertile, particularly suitable for growing water plants, like Water Chestnuts and Lotus. A great time for propagating cuttings, grafting, irrigation, pruning to encourage re-growth, but not potatoes that may sprout too soon.  Romantic garden walks and picnics could do well too.

Traditionally ruled by Aquarius: (from Astrologer Alan Oken)

COUNTRIES: Africa (north), Asia (southern), Normandy, Portugal, Samoa, Ethiopia, Ghana, Upper Egypt (Nubia), Galacia, Calabria, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco

CITIES:  Alexandria (Egypt), Bournemouth, Cowes,  Grimsby and Lancaster (England), Regensburg and Worms (Germany), Seville and Compostela (Spain);  USA cities: Phoenix and Yuma (AZ), Sacramento (CA), St. Petersburg (FL), Evansville (IN), Frankfort (KY), Augusta (ME), Fall River, Lowell, and New Bedford (MA), Billings (MO), Atlantic City (NJ), Lincoln (NE), Allentown (PA), Sioux Falls (SD), Amarillo and San Antonio (TX), Portsmouth (VA), Madison (WI), Laramie (WY)

*******************************************************************
RESOURCES:

 MOON/LUNAR Astrological sites:

http://www.lunarium.co.uk/calendar/universal.jsp
Go to “Calendars”

http://lunaf.com/
Choose "Lunar Calendar" from menu.

Daily Astrological locations of all planets (AND the Moon):
http://www.astrotheme.com/
(Left menu item: "Transits and Ephemerides")

http://www.astro.com/
(Right menu item: "Current Planets")


OTHER Cool Moon Stuff:

Quick Guide to the Moon's Phases:
http://mooncircles.com/moon-astrology-articles/

http://www.angelfire.com/tn3/rainbowbridge2/moonspells.htm

http://www.wheeloftheyear.com/2020/solar&lunar.htm

https://www.circlesanctuary.org/index.php/circle-magazine/sample-articles/circle-craft-full-moon-rituals

http://www.spiritualresearchfoundation.org/spiritual-problems/effects-of-nature-and-environment/new-full-moon-effects/

http://www.wicca-spirituality.com/power-moon.html

http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-7531/full-moon-harness-the-energy-make-it-work-for-you.html

http://www.whats-your-sign.com/symbolic-moon-facts.html

http://www.budsas.org/ebud/whatbudbeliev/217.htm

http://www.nataliakuna.com/moon-cycles--meanings.html


Paper/Published Products:

The Witches Almanac
https://thewitchesalmanac.com/2020-2021-the-witches-almanac-stones/

Llewellyn’s Moon Sign Book:
https://www.llewellyn.com/product.php?ean=9780738749464