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Copyright © 2006 Nick Anthony Fiorenza, All Rights Reserved
Astronomical Myth is a "picture language," imagery that articulates the qualities of cosmic intelligence expressing throughout the greater heavens and through our lives. We are not separate from the greater heavens, from the stars and planets around us, or from our beloved Earth, but are intimate parts of this dynamic, continually unfolding heavenly symphony. This entirety is our cosmic consciousness, the totality of our being. To explore the greater heavens and the heavenly cycles is to explore that which we are--our embracing consciousness and our spiritual evolution.
Please remember that the purpose of the Lunar Planner is to learn to live in the experiential awareness of the present. Although the material below can provide philosophical context for your personal experience, the New Moon is the ideal time to experientially "tune in" to get your unique new lunar month theme. Then, consciously participate with the changing Lunar Phase Characteristics in the unfoldment of that theme in your daily life.
New Moon Phase Characteristics
Our Jan 29, 2006 New Moon lies in the exact center of sidereal Capricorn. This point in the ecliptic is where the Aquarius constellation begins to influence the sign of Capricorn due to an overlap of the two constellations. Here at mid-Capricorn, the issue of trust arises, in essence to participate openly from our heart's truth in the greater interest of all rather than covertly from the deceiving personality facades inherent to the incarnate stage.
Conjoining our New Moon is Pulsar JP 1953 that provides a constant message to let go and move on-from an old Capricornian covert, personal way of participating to a more Aquarian focused way, for the greater good of all. There can be feelings of loss at a personal level but with need to realize it is time to move in a new more expansive direction in our lives. This does not mean denial of feelings or our personal needs, on the contrary, it means to be emotionally and personally involved but with an embracing perceptivity, seeing behind the dramatic facades of our mortal world and through the innate babblings of those desperately clinging to in fear, acknowledging our true inner needs and articulating them eloquently so they can be fulfilled.
Also conjoining is Epsilon Indus (inherently perceptive and ornate in relations), Alpha Tucana (incessant babbling), and Theta Microscopium (seeing detail) all creating a loquacious and negotiative quality that demands extreme attention to detail, and which can be pompously petty but is ornately detailed and precision minded. Open communication and creative negotiations that lead to solution for all parties involved are the highlight of this lunar cycle.
Crescent Moon Phase Characteristics
The hours before the Crescent Moon provide a time when we relinquish patterns of the past that would limit our creative ability to expand on the theme now unfolding. The Crescent Moon is the time when the sprouting seedling sloughs off its protective coat of the past and emerges in its new expression. As the Crescent Moon unfolds, the growing phase of the lunar cycle begins as we start to amalgamate our personal creativity with the original lunar theme.
Our Crescent Moon of Feb 1 resides in the first few degrees of sidereal Pisces. Here we can realize that our New Moon theme of articulate open communication can provide a release from psychic-emotional tension. It also brings us to look at how we are applying our life force.
Just after the crescent Moon, on Feb 3, Venus completes its retrograde, returning prograde (direct motion), supporting us to live the changes in our hearts' desire that we realized during the last lunar cycle. With Venus conjoining the asteroid Ceres in sidereal Sag under the auspices of Vega of Lyra, we may now find a multiplicity of creative opportunity gushing forth, providing inspiration to step forth into that which is truly nourishing.
This marks the time when we fully commence the new 584-day Venus synodic cycle presented in the previous lunar planner defined by Pollux, the ambassador of the Gemini Twins--compatible partnerships of the heart participating in mutual cooperation for the betterment of life.
The Synodic Cycle page has been updated with additional material.
First Quarter Moon Phase Characteristics
The First Quarter Moon of each lunar cycle draws an external stimulus to initiate action as we move from the inspirational quarter of the lunar cycle into the action quarter. Our external stimulus occurs on Feb 4, in the 24 hours before the First Quarter Moon of Feb 4/5.
Conjoining is Alpha Horologium and the LMC X-3 black hole expressing through sidereal Aries. Alpha Horologium of the pendulum clock (impending time) brings a relentless and underlying sense that there is a finite period with time ticking away, and that more than is humanly possible must be done. Seemingly a miracle is required, and often time, at the last minute, one arrives--usually provided by another party. But paradoxically, we must be willing to release the pressure we are applying in attempt to free ourselves so we can move forward.
The LMC X-3 black hole upon the head of Dorado, the golden fish, provides the opportunity to relinquish our arrogant attitudes about our rightful places in the world that keep us entrapped. It asks us to realize the freedom we seek is found only through the initiations of the maturing soul gained along the river of life. To make this inner surrender of attitude is to open our selves to the wealth and illumination we seek. The color gold and its associations becomes attractive on this First Quarter Moon.
The Sun and Neptune conjoin on Feb 5/6 marking the fulfillment point (and halfway point) of vision and enthusiasm in the Neptune 367-day synodic cycle, which began on Aug 8, 2005--presented in the Aug 4, 2005 Lunar Planner, bringing our visions and dreams into realization, also dissolving any veils of illusion we may have about them.
Gibbous Moon Phase Characteristics
The 24-hour period just before the Gibbous Moon is a time of perseverance, of pushing through in the midst of the action quarter of the lunar cycle. The Gibbous Moon is when the pressure releases and we enter the Pollinating Phase of the lunar cycle, which begins a social and communicative time of magnetic attraction. Our Gibbous Moon occurs on Feb 8/9 in sidereal Gemini conjoining the foot of Castor and the bright reflection nebula IC 444, a place in the ecliptic portending eminence and renown and which makes visible what had been suppressed, oppressed, or hidden in the closet.
Our Gibbous Moon magnetism brings what was hidden, but destined to be seen, into the limelight. It is inspires those who had been hiding to become visible, available, and approachable. The stars composing Castor's foot also indicate it is time to claim one's role in the physical world and to take the steps required for that unfoldment and participation with our partners and colleagues.
Full Moon Phase Characteristics
The Full Moon marks the culmination point in the lunar cycle, the climax, the point of excitement and celebration. The hours leading up to the Full Moon provide a time of "vision and enthusiasm." The time just after Full Moon is a one of "realization of the lunar month's theme," a time to kick back and relax to allow our realizations to surface in consciousness.
Our Full Moon occurs on Feb 12/13 in the last degree of sidereal Cancer. Reaching across the cusp from Leo is the head and paw of the Lion. The stars here are of breaking new ground, discovering new territory, and taking steps that heretofore had not been taken. It is a place of discovery, this being the revelation about the purpose and fulfillment of this month's lunar theme.
The Sun moves form sidereal Capricorn into sidereal Aquarius on Feb 13.
Disseminating Moon Phase Characteristics
The hours leading up to the Disseminating Moon generally is an accelerated and busy time of last minute preparation that leads into the birth point in the lunar cycle, the time of bearing the fruit in the cycle.
Our Disseminating Moon of Feb 17 conjoins Algorab of Corvus in sidereal Virgo bring us messages through nature. Corvus the Raven is the messenger bird, Algorab, Eta Corvus, asks us to be attentive to the natural world around us moment-by-moment, as Divine Intelligence permeates and thus communicates through all of nature. The signs found in the simplest of life experience have meaning if we are willing to be attentive to them. In fact, we can even ask to receive guidance through prayer or simply by holding the intent to inquire and then letting it go. It is the sincere projection of clear intent that vibrationally invokes a response from the world around us. All we need do is show up, pay attention, and participate.
Last Quarter Moon Phase Characteristics
The Last Quarter Moon creates our "inner need to initiate change" in the lunar cycle as we move into the cycles last quarter. Our Last Quarter Moon of Feb 21 occurs at 8° sidereal Scorpio conjoining Dschuba, the head of the Scorpion. Dschuba demands we take responsibility for our involvements and our life experience, to stand in our self-mastery and change the patterns of the past and step into our future.
Balsamic Moon Phase Characteristics
Our Balsamic Moon occurs on Feb 24. The Balsamic Moon marks the time in lunar cycle when we coalesce the experience of the lunar cycle into its seed essence, which will then sprout through the theme of the following lunar cycle. It is when we turn our attention from this lunar cycle in anticipation of the next to come. The hours before the Balsamic Moon provide our time of coalescence while those after mark the time when we turn from looking back over the past cycle and look toward the future cycle to come.
On Feb 23, just before the Balsamic Moon, in our time of coalescence, Vesta completes its retrograde, returning prograde, thus fully commencing the new Vesta synodic cycle, which began in the last lunar cycle on Jan 5. This marks the time when we can begin to move forth in our new "dramatic life changing" focus in dedication and commitment. The new Vesta synodic cycle theme (conjoining Sirius and Canopus) was discussed in the previous Lunar Planner.
This Balsamic Moon lies in later sidereal Sag about to conjoin Venus, both under the auspices of Lyra, harp of the angels--stars that inspire high vision and creativity--helping to set the seed for the next new moon theme to sprout.
Our next New Moon occurs on Feb 27/28, in the midst of sidereal Aquarius--the humanitarian waterman. More to come then.
To learn how one lunar phase shifts and changes into the next, and to learn how to live in attunement to the lunar cycles, in the experiential empowerment doing so offers, please download the Lunar Planner Introduction and each monthly Lunar Calendar, and use them daily (PDF file links below)--its all a gift.
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We need not live in endless struggle, overwhelmed by the surface turbulence of our growth and awakening process. We can establish an inner peace instead, with life becoming a graceful dance when we attune ourselves to the natural spiral of growth that is guiding our lives. Living in attunement to the natural Lunar Cycles is an effective and empowering way to do this. Living in attunement to the natural astronomical cycles of life is living in faith and trust in the Divine Creative Intelligence expressing throughout our lives.
The Lunar Planner is an experiential tool teaching us how to live in attunement to the natural lunar cycles. Astronomical Sidereal Astrology and Star Lore reveal each lunar month's theme, and the planetary themes unfolding throughout the year. Each lunar month's theme weaves a continuing story line of the patterns of growth unfolding in our lives
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Download this month's Lunar Calendar PDF File
The Lunar Calendar reveals the dates and times of each lunar phase shift and their changing characteristics as well as key planetary alignments. Use this like a calendar or daily planner. The Lunar Calendar goes hand-in-hand with the introductory material. Use this daily to learn how to live attuned to the Lunar Cycles of Life.
Download the Lunar Planner Introduction PDF File
Step by step instructions on how to use the Lunar Calendar with a detailed description of the changing lunar phases. This will teach you how to live in attunement to the Lunar Cycle. The Introduction goes hand-in-hand with the Lunar Calendar.
Learn more about the Asteroids
Learn about Sidereal Astrology
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Return to the Lunar Planner's Main Page
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Copyright © 2006 Nick Anthony Fiorenza, All Rights Reserved