Moon Magick (Part 1)

XXXII. To Selene
(ll. 1-13) “And next, sweet voiced Muses, daughters of Zeus, well-skilled in song, tell of the long-winged Moon. From her immortal head a radiance is shown from heaven and embraces earth; and great is the beauty that ariseth from her shining light. The air, unlit before, glows with the light of her golden crown, and her rays beam clear, whensoever bright Selene having bathed her lovely body in the waters of Ocean, and donned her far-gleaming, shining team, drives on her long-maned horses at full speed, at eventime in the mid-month: then her great orbit is full and then her beams shine brightest as she increases. So she is a sure token and a sign to mortal men.” Homeric Hymn to Selene, translated by Evelyn-White

Mother Moon. From the beginning of human life, we have lived by her rhythms. Each month, she ebbs and flows like the waters of the ocean and, like our emotions, her influence surges and subsides. Astrologers watch the cycles of the moon and predict events based on when she triggers sensitive points in the horoscope. Revered for her influence on magick, shamans and magicians have for eons watched her cycles and used her phases and placements in the signs to work their enchantments. As she travels through the 12 signs of the zodiac each month and completes her cycle around the earth in about 30 days, life changes flavors.

In this two-part article, I will take a look at our Moon and her influence on us, both by the sign she’s transiting and by looking at her eight phases. Today, I’ll be discussing her monthly circuit through the signs of the zodiac. If you don’t have an astrological calendar or other way to know which sign the Moon is in each day, I suggest going to the Cafe Astrology site at http://www.cafeastrology.com/monthlycalendar.html. Click on the link below the calendar for the Moon’s sign and planetary aspects for each day of that month.

When the Moon enters Aries, life speeds up. It increases our energy, and it is a good time to begin new projects and seek new avenues of expression. Take some time for yourself and attempt to be aware of your effect on those around you. This is also a fine time to exercise because you can feel energetic under Aries. Infections may flare up under this influence.

The Taurus Moon is a time of practicality. Aries begins new projects, but Taurus brings stability to them. Anything you don’t find practical will be discarded, and the rhythm of life slows down. Values are important during this 2-½ day period, and the need to be productive is the overriding drive. Taurus is also stubborn, so people will tend to stand their ground during this moon.

Gemini brings a lot of conversation and communication. If you’ve been putting off running a lot of errands, this is the time of month to get it over with. It’s also the time of month to respond to that list of e-mails staring at you that you keep putting off. Check in with the neighbors or contact your extended family. People are in the mood to communicate. Find a good book to read.

Home and those we consider family become the focus under the Cancer Moon. This is a productive time to do some housework or make a special dish that’s usually too much work. You may feel like sticking close to home and spending time with those you’re close with rather than seeking the company of strangers. Cancer retreats to the familiar for comfort.

Under the Leo Moon, find something creative to do. Leo needs to be appreciated, and one way to be appreciated is to put energy into a project that others can enjoy. This is also an excellent time to have some fun, and you may feel like doing a little gambling now. Tell someone how much you care and make a little love during this time.

Virgo is the hangover after the Leo party. All that work you put off the last couple of days is staring you in the face and you need to get it done. This is an excellent period for deciding what needs to be done around the house and clearing that pile of papers off your desk. Efficiency, analysis and discrimination are keywords for this lunar period. Health issues should be paid attention to now.

Relationships need some attention during the Libra transit, and not just your marriage or love partner. Libra is about compromise and creating harmony and balance. Find the middle ground, create a win-win situation and make any ongoing disagreement go away. This is also a nice time to get to know new people because you’ll be feeling sociable and will find others interesting.

Deep emotions are stirred during the Scorpio moon. Secrets come out and sexual urges may be strong. You won’t want any superficial relating now – you want to feel something and will seek out intense people or situations. Shared resources can also become a focus of attention now, so be careful of disagreements regarding money.

Restlessness is the key word under the Sagittarius moon, physical as well as mental. Seek out new ideas or someone to discuss your ideas with. Religion and philosophy may occupy your thoughts today. This is also a good time to start a trip, or plan one. Find something different to do. The downside to this energy is that you may get lost in what you’re doing and forget where you’re supposed to be or what you’re supposed to be doing.

Capricorn is about taking care of business. This is an excellent timeframe in which to start creating structure in your life and to work on the discipline you think you’re lacking. Virgo analyzes, but Capricorn actually gets down to the business of physically organizing things and people. Delegate responsibility by deciding what you must personally handle and what someone else can take care of, which is especially important for those of us who think if we don’t do it, it won’t get done.

Get out and interact with groups and organizations during the Aquarius moon. You will feel sociable in a detached way, and will find the company of others enjoyable. The need for a change is the keyword for this moon, which can easily slip into rebelliousness. Tackling computer issues will come easily now, and science fiction and fantasy can pass the time and ease the restlessness of your mind. You may find yourself exposed to those kinds of things now, even if they normally don’t interest you.

On Wednesday, February 25, the flavor of this month began with the New Moon in Pisces. When the Moon is in Pisces, life gets softer around the edges. This can also be a time when people tend to use their own personal means of escape to shut out the ills of the world, whether that is through an artistic pursuit, meditation, helping others or shutting out the world through the use of alcohol or drugs. This is a good time to visualize your dreams.

Next time, I will write about the eight phases of the Moon (rather than just the four you are probably used to) and discuss how you can consciously use each to your best advantage. Combining the meanings of the Moon in the signs and the Moon in her phases can be employed to manifest what you desire in your life, magickally!

Capricorn in 2009

"There are a number of mechanical devices that increase sexual arousal, particularly in women. Chief amongst these is the Mercedes-Benz 380L convertible." P.J. O'Rourke

Capricorn, the mountain goat, is a creature that clings to the rocks and climbs steep mountains in search of sustenance with surefootedness and a deep sense of purpose. The last cardinal sign, this time in earth, Capricorn creates wealth and status through her ability to organize, delegate and see the big picture. Being the opposite of Cancer, she knows that emotions are pleasant, but realizes that what is really needed to ensure longevity in business and personal realms is a relationship based on tangible matters, such as owning a house or owning a business together, or even creating a situation where the partner is dependent on her financially. Capricorn is not a loner, she figures out what she needs to get the job done and finds the people who can help her. Her key words are “I use,” which can mean she literally uses people to further her own ends, or, on the other hand, that she understands how to take the available resources and use them to create her vision. She handles responsibility well and it is said that Capricorns get younger as they get older because they are serious as children and learn to lighten up with age. My experience over the years with groups and organizations is that often the women or men who lead organizations and keeping them running smoothly are people whose charts contain a mixture of Leo and Capricorn. The Leo part likes to be center stage and the Capricorn part keeps everything organized, running smoothly, and solvent. Unlike Virgo, who organizes in the service of others, Capricorn organizes those that work for her and delegates work effectively. She understands the limitations of others and, as a mentor, will help people to move past their fears and will teach them to move up the ladder of success. The problem some Capricorns run into is working too much and not spending enough time with family, or marrying someone for status and realizing too late that her marriage is just an empty shell. Family is important to Capricorn, and those that have learned to balance work and home will give their family financial security and protective love.

As I have said before, Pluto has moved into Capricorn for the next 14 years initiating deep seated changes for planets in the cardinal signs (Aries, Libra, Cancer and Capricorn). In 2009, for people born in early Capricorn, the Plutonian transformational energy is in the form of a conjunction, which is always the beginning of a new cycle. Capricorn’s security issues will have to be re-examined, new ways of earning a living or creating security will be introduced into her life, and stress of having to make changes against her will may cause health problems if the changes called for are resisted. A new desire to be in control of personal affairs will occur, and there could be battles of the wills with employers or the complete reorganization or disappearance of a company that has been her major source of security. The most positive aspect of this Pluto conjunction is the transformation of Capricorn’s ego and her personal delving within to deal with her shadow. Through challenges to her authority, she will gain insights into how she views the world that she was not previously aware of.

Saturn is making an easy aspect to Capricorn all year, so even for the early Capricorns who are dealing with change and transformation on the deepest levels of their being, Saturn is attending to matters of security and will be supportive for almost the entire year. Responsibilities will be handled easily and affairs should run smoothly.

Uranus, which has been and continues to be opposing Saturn, is also in an easy aspect to Capricorn, especially those born in the last 10 days of the sign. Uranus always speeds up the pace of life and brings interesting people and situations into the status quo. Unlike the mutable signs, this opposition of Saturn/Uranus will, for Capricorn, likely be more noticeable relating to the state of her country and the world as opposed to her personal life. Any life changes initiated by Uranus should bring new opportunities to late degree Capricorns, unless Uranus is in difficult aspect in the birth chart.

Capricorn is related to The Devil card in the Tarot deck – not because she is evil or somehow satanic, but because the biggest danger for Capricorn is to be caught up in materialism and power to the exclusion of all else to compensate for feelings of insecurity. Eventually, the money and power take over her life and she is chained to The Devil, like the people in the picture. The Devil card also relates to duties to which we believe we are bound through the manipulation of others. No one can bind you, no material desire can chain you, unless you allow it. Capricorn climbs mountains, but those mountains are also spiritual mountains. When she climbs to the heights of her spirituality, the chains of materialism, and The Devil, dissolve. Generosity of money, time and spirit are the keys to happiness for Capricorn – she must learn to allow the free flow of energy and all that she desires will come to her. Once she is secure in herself, she will be as surefooted as the mountain goat that is associated with her sign.