The Art and Astrology of Maria Kay Simms

Our new lunar cycle begins with New Moon in Pisces,
February 24, 2009, 8:35 pm EST

Dreamy Pisces...let's dream up a little springtime to chase away all the cold and snow we, who live here in New England, still seem to be having in abundance.
New Moon , 6 Pisces 30, Feb. 24 at 8:35pm
What are your dreams? Have you thought about them lately...or remembered them? This Pisces New Moon would be an excellent time to encourage remembering dreams, and learning from them. I haven't remembered many of mine lately, but I have had some profound periods in the past when I learned a lot from them.

Ritual for New Moon in Pisces
Dreams can be our working for our Pisces New Moon ritual—a way to set into motion a month of more interesting and memorable dreaming

and a private journal from which helpful new insights may emerge. Our magical working will be making a dream pillow. Begin by gathering some supplies: needle and thread, and a piece of cloth in a pattern and texture that appeals to you. It should be about 7" x 14", though a little smaller or larger is OK. It needs to be folded in half, and seamed on the sides, stuffed with herbs and then sewn together. If you have a sewing machine, you could seam the sides ahead of time, but if not, it won't take that long to sew the whole thing by hand, and the process can be meditative. You'll need herbs to fill your pillow. Of fairly common herbs that should be easy to find, mugwort and valerian are good to induce dreaming, so include some of these, if you can. I also like lavender and rose petals for pleasant scent, or some might prefer peppermint. If you have an herb shop near you, ask the proprietor for advice on other good possibilities. Also acquire a new journal or notebook and a pen, prepare a nice hot pot of chamomile tea and your favorite cup, and do the ritual just before bedtime. Since this New Moon conveniently occurs in the evening, you'll be doing your ritual at just the right time!

You can, if this works for you, do the ritual in your bedroom, all ready to retire as soon as you finish.

Create sacred space around you and your supplies by whatever method you wish—it can be a full circle casting or as simple as a deep breath as you call upon the aid of divine Spirit by whatever name you prefer. Then, center and slowly exhale. Turn slowly in place with outstretched arm as you define your space with focus and intent. Then, first open your nice clean new Journal.

Years ago, Carlo, a psychic friend whom I've not seen for years, gave me an aphorism to repeat each night before dreaming. I did, and that began one of the most powerful dream sequences of my life. I'll pass it on to you now. Write it on the first page of your Journal and repeat it every night just before going to sleep. Then leave your Journal and pen close by your bed so you can easily find it on awakening, while your dreams are still fresh in your mind. Here it is:

I stand strong in the faith
There is no delay in Spirit
My good is at hand now.

I was just beginning to study astrology when Carlo taught me this. The dreams I had in the weeks that followed helped me immensely in learning it. Often I would be frustrated and stuck the night before, and the next morning, after dreaming, I'd have a new and deeper understanding of what I'd been trying to learn.

Sit and sew your pillow, leaving enough opening on one end so that you can stuff it with your herbs, then sew it closed. All the while you are doing this, mediate or daydream—you may learn from that, too! Sip the chamomile tea as it suits you. When you are finished, then thank Spirit, and go to bed. Since the dream pillow herbs could irritate if too close to your skin, you could place it dream pillow under your bed pillow or within its pillowcase. This also keeps the very small dream pillow from falling away. Remembering to repeat the aphorism as your final act before lights out. When you awaken in the morning, don't get up abruptly. Give yourself a few moments to remember then write in your Journal whatever that is, even if only a snatch of a dream. Often when you begin to write, more of it will come back. Don't become discouraged if sometimes you don't remember. If you continue this practice, the dreaming will increase and become more vivid.

Crescent Moon, 25 Aries 20, February 28 at 2:16 pm EST
Aries Moon energizes. Take advantage of that and get things done this morning, the better to overcome the natural tendency of this phase (likely to settle in once Moon goes void-of-course this afternoon and then feel more like the "two steps forward, one step back" that sometimes charaterizes Crescent Phase). Moods mellow when Moon moves into Taurus (10:33 pm EST), but stubborness (your own and/or from those you encounter) could present a challenge. Be thoughtful. Sometimes winning requires giving a little.

First Quarter Moon, 13 Gemini 52, March 4, 2009, 2:46 am EST
This could feel like a skitzy and unsettled day—not the easiest one for its phase theme of "Action!" It's likely a busy day, like it or not. Keep communications clear and try to avoid being distracted. It is a time to make things happen, so if you've been procrastinating on a communication you need to make—talk for letter—late afternoon into the evening hours are most beneficial for success. Cancer moon tomorrow and the next day: clean up your space and be sensitive to your moods and that of others. Compassion works for both.

Gibbous Moon, 2 Leo 16, March 7 at 12:11 pm EST
Potential confusion could mean something relatively minor seems more dramatic than it's worth. In relating to others, if you take the initiative to give attention, you'll likely get more in return. Be sure to change your clocks at bedtime because daylight savings time begins at 2:00 am tomorrow. Sunday the 8th feels rather slow—not a time to push. You did change those clocks, didn't you? Otherwise, relax & don't push. It's Sunday.

Full Moon, 20 Virgo 40, March 10 at 10:38 am EDT
This Full Moon day and the one after look like times when work can be accomplished, whether by yourself or with others, so take advantage. Here's a down-to-earth ritual for this earthy sign that fits its theme and also may help you get a needed task completed!

Ritual for Full Moon in Virgo
Design your ritual around a task that needs to be done. This can work well whether it is to be a solitary ritual, or one that you do with a group. Begin with a centering meditation to set your intent. Make a neat Virgo list of what is to be done, step-by-step. (If with a group, decide who will do what, and if fairness is an issue, put each task on a slip of paper and have every draw for his or her task.) Bless the list (or papers) with consecrated salt water (Earth and Water) and then waft them through incense smoke (Fire and Air). Invoke Mother Earth and then begin. Working can be a time to reflect on the deeper meaning that each task may symbolize. Cross each item off the list when it is completed. (If with a group, when each task is completed that person should bring his/her paper back to the altar, and then take another task, or go help someone who isn't yet finished. When all is completed, burn the list or papers and bury the ash in Earth, with thanks to the Mother. Here is an invocation and thank you that can be used in this rite:

Earth Mother, as I do my (our) work
With open mind and heart to thee,
Send insights of what I must know
To change and grow, so mote it be.

Changed to ash, returned to Earth,
My (Our) tasks complete, new light I (we) see.
In grateful praise for insight gained,
All hail, Earth Mother, blessed be!

Disseminating Moon, 9 Scorpio 16, March 14 at 1:37 pm EDT
With Moon in deep, watery Scorpio and Mars, planet of action, moving into Pisces, the subsconsious or intuitive mind may be working overtime this weekend. You could do well to spend it in a worthy helping/healing cause. Or, if you're an artist, get to work—don't waste the time. Inspiration could flow.

Last Quarter Moon, 28 Sagittarius 16, March 18 at 1:47 pm EDT
Moon moving into Capricorn very shortly into this phase casts a more somber note over Sag enthusiasm. That, with the Mercury opposition to Saturn, may well be reflected in the feelings of "crisis of consciousness" that are characteristic of this phase. Ease up—don't be hard on yourself or others. Spring is coming, after all!

Spring Equinox, or Ostara
March 20 at 7:44 am EDT
Sun at 0 Aries 00; Moon at 18 Capricorn 55

My article on the lore of Spring Equninox

A Ritual for Spring Equinox

Balsamic Moon, 17 Aquarius 21, March 22 at 4:36 pm EDT
Relative ease tonight may feel more like "Blue Monday" tomorrow, but don't let that get you down. Energy winds down in this phase and change is in the air in more ways than one (Sun square Pluto). What needs to change? Think it through. If something must be released then reduce a symbol of it to powder or ash. Then bless it and blow it away in the wind, and let your mind be free of it. Or dust it into a pool (or puddle) of water, as Moon moves into Pisces again at the close of this lunar phase cycle. Blessed be!