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!

Scorpio in 2009

“Tamed as it may be, sexuality remains one of the demonic forces in human consciousness -- pushing us at intervals close to taboo and dangerous desires, which range from the impulse to commit sudden arbitrary violence upon another person to the voluptuous yearning for the extinction of one's consciousness, for death itself.” Susan Sontag

Scorpio, fixed water, is the most misunderstood and feared sign of the zodiac, and is known for its intense sexuality and emotions. Scorpio is related to the eighth house of the horoscope, the house of emotionally intense sexuality (as opposed to the fifth house, which is sex for fun), death, other people’s money and transformation. Libra relates to others mentally, creating a connection through flirting and body language, while Scorpio relates to others emotionally, wanting to know everything there is to know about how her partner feels and all his or her secret desires. It is difficult for people who don’t relate emotionally to even get what Scorpio is about. Unless you are able to communicate non-verbally and sense your partner’s emotions, it’s unlikely that you will want a Scorpio in your life. She rarely tells you what’s on her mind as she believes knowledge is power. Scorpio spends her life transforming herself and those she is close to. Often, there is tragedy in the life of a Scorpio – unexpected deaths, suicides, events that others can’t imagine living through. She learns lessons about letting go through those experiences, because once she attaches to someone or something, it’s difficult for her to let go. She can be very controlling. However, if a she loves you and trusts, you will experience love at a depth unlike that with any other sign, and if you let go and join her in the all consuming fire of her passion, you will never be the same.

With Jupiter moving into Aquarius and making a hard square to Scorpio, Scorpio should try not to be frustrated when others are elusive and detached in their relationships to her. While Scorpio wants exclusivity, Aquarius wants independence and eccentricity. Partners may tax joint finances for what Scorpio thinks are toys that don’t add anything to future security -- like giant TVs and cool new iPods. As Jupiter transits always bring protection and gifts, these issues won’t be major ones, but may be frustrating to Scorpio’s need to control. Legal matters could manifest, and Scorpio should beware of a sense of inflated self-importance.

Late Scorpios also have Neptune in Aquarius to contend with. Neptune in a hard aspect to the Sun brings confusion to self-identity. In some cases, an escapist tendency emerges and alcoholism or drug addiction (including prescription drugs) becomes a problem. Neptune’s energy, however, if used constructively, can bring great compassion and creativity into your life. Be cautious that any humanitarian causes that you involve yourself in don’t take over your life, but this is a good time to support causes that you feel strongly about. Creative people will find this period very inspiring. Sometimes, this type of aspect can result in a reaction to a medication that is hard to pinpoint. If you have been prescribed a medication, you should pay very close attention to your physical and psychological reactions as your body will be very sensitive to anything you put into it, including food.

Security and the need to change, shown by Saturn and Uranus, are going smoothly now for Scorpio. Opportunities will arise to increase security while at the same time allowing needed changes without burning bridges.

The Death card, probably only second to the Devil card in scaring people when it pops up in a Tarot reading, is related to Scorpio. All of life is a cycle – something is born, matures and dies. New life always follows death as Spring follows Winter. Death teaches us that all living things are equal in its eyes – we all die, kings as well as street people, cats as well as cactuses. It is a part of the natural cycle of life. The lesson for Scorpio is to loosen her grip. As hard as she may want to hold onto something or someone, all things come to an end. Relationships die, either from boredom or the death of a loved one; riches disappear when the stock market crashes or a Bernie Madoff pulls a fast one. If Scorpio can allow each experience to transform her and not try to hold on to it, she will find peace instead of pain.