Gibbous Moon, 10 Libra 31, May 15 at 8:21 pm EDT
At this stage, a goal should be clearly in process and anticipated with a sense that achieving it is reachable, even if at the moment it may be still just a little out-of-reach. Persist, and stretch... There's trine to Mercury today, then Moon square Jupiter (a good, energetic square) and a final aspect of Moon trine Neptune...good for visualization!
A Ritual for Gibbous Moon
Sometimes the best way to build toward fulfillment of a wish or a plan can be to celebrate it as if you have already achieved it. You can do this alone or with a group. If you can get together with friends or family for this, make it a party...have a congratulatory cake and toasts, or whatever elicits a mood of celebration. Decorate the site. Even shoot off fireworks, if your area permits this. (New Hampshire does, so Circle of the Cosmic Muse has often had a few fireworks, or at least sparklers, within our outdoor rituals.) Whether alone or with friends, the primary object here is to project your New Moon goal, or any other longer-term goal that you have, just as if you have already reached it. Imagine what that will be like. Visualize it, feel it and thus get it fully in your mind and heart. BE within it...be THERE! And be sure to give thanks to Goddess Moon for her blessings:
By Earth and Sun, my Lady Moon
Within your waxing light
I celebrate my triumph
Success so sweet and bright
Thank you for the blessings
You've gifted unto me
With greatest praise and honor
I pledge service onto thee!
Full Moon, 29 Scorpio 27, May 19 at 10:11 pm EDT
The most magical time of the month is here, when we can look up at the bright Full Moon, call down her energy and feel it flowing within. Of that which was begun at New Moon, some sense of fulfillment is felt. Savor it, even if it may be only an intermediate phase of a much longer plan.
This particular Full Moon presents an interesting and rather complex symbolism for astrological ritual design, in that it occurs in the very last degree of its sign. Not only is Moon is the final degree of Scorpio, but Sun nears the end of Taurus, and will move into Gemini tomorrow. Full Moon, in that final degree of Scorpio, will be void of course for just one hour before entering the fiery, optimistic sign of Sagittarius--a vastly different nature from Scorpio, as adjacent signs tend to be. (Can't help but wonder if this Full Moon will time the final stage of the Clinton campaign. She is a Scorpio, Scorpio represents power issues, and Full Moon in the last degree is considered to have fateful symbolism.
In general, Initial aspects of Moon in Sag may at first inflate optimism: Venus square Neptune (dreamy or confusing?), but this is closely followed by a mood-dampening square of Moon to Saturn in Virgo. Later, Sun enters Gemini at 12:01 pm EDT (May 20).
Ritual for a Full Moon Changing from Water to Fire
I'll suggest a magical working that might best be done as a solitary ritual, though it could also be adapted for group work. You'll need a bowl of water and a candle--a smallish one is best. It could be a short taper or even a miniature, such as used on a cake. It must be one that will drip. I suggest red for color, since dark red is often used for Scorpio, and red is also symbolic of the fire that is Sagittarius' element). Also have a holder for the candle, an implement to carve on it, oil to anoint it, and a means to light it.
If you can see the Moon overhead, begin by drawing down her energy into yourself and your tools. By this "drawing down," you create sacred space and set the tone for focus on your intent. Assemble your tools, stand next to them and lift your arms toward the Moon, hands outstretched on either side of her. See and hold her beauty, feel her energy. Let your eyes go just slightly out of focus and you'll seem to see two Moons, Cup one loosely between your hands and move it downward, sensing the energy—it can be very potent! Bring the energy down through your head and follow it down your entire body to the ground. Pause a moment, then feel for earth energy beneath your feet, flowing upward to blend with the lunar energy within. Move it upward, gather it with your hands and transfer some of it to your tools to charge them. Focus, concentrate...let the energy flow.
Now carve the candle with symbols of your intent, then anoint it with oil and pass it through the incense smoke, continuing your focus. Place the charged candle in its holder and then into the bowl of water, so that most of the candle is above water level. Light it, chanting:
Candle bright, magic light
In water's depths now go
By Full Moon charge, reveal to me
What I most need to know.
Let the candle burn all the way down until water puts out its wick. The wax will drip onto the water and form a blob or blobs that can be used for divination. Study these as you meditate for an intuitive message that may be suggested by the wax shapes and/or what arises within you. Close with thanks to Goddess Moon.
Disseminating Moon, 18 Capricorn 24, May 24 at 12:51 am EDT
To disseminate is to spread the word, and to share in what we've learned and achieved. Venus goes into Gemini today, so by all means, circulate! This Saturday night has great potential for stimulating conversation (at the least), and who knows what more...
Last Quarter Moon, 7 Pisces 10, May 27 at 10:57 pm EDT
Now, as Moon is half-light, half dark, energy begins to wind down. From now until the next New Moon our focus turns to winding up what needs to be completed. If there's something to do with a longer term project that needs revision, it's time to face up to that and work it through.
Two retrogrades occurred yesterday, toward the end of Disseminating Phase. Both Neptune and Mercury station retrograde, and may conjure a feeling of double impact of Last Quarter symbolism. Then Venus square Saturn could reflect another mood dampener. But, as with any astrological symbolism, we are each in charge of how we respond to it. So, do your Last Quarter thing--try to bring to closure that which needs closure, accept the need to revise if necessary, and ...work it through. Moon in Pisces all day May 28th, on course but making no aspects, may be a day that's best for just "going with the flow" rather than trying to "swim upstream." Hey, it may even be enjoyable. Closing aspects of Moon on May 29th are sextile Jupiter and conjunct Uranus—that sounds upbeat—and then onward into Aries with renewed energy.
Balsamic Moon, 25 Aries 31, May 31 at 10:59 am EDT
Waning Moon, Crone's Moon, bright in the very early morning sky, and the wise old one tells us that a time of endings is at hand. Endings can sometimes feel quite good, as a sense of completion. Or they may feel sad, if we must let go of something we'd rather keep. Or maybe it's just a time of month when we'd best allow ourselves to dream, contemplate and not worry about what's next. Soon enough, the cycle will begin again.
