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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 New Moon of April 27 lies in the midst of sidereal Aries and conjoins Hamal of Aries, Schedar of Cassiopeia, Apin of Triangulum, and the Fornax Galaxy Cluster. The theme set by these stars is about realizing that the way to that which we seek and deserve is found by relinquishing judgments that there are opposing forces we must struggle against, this side verses that side, or this choice over that choice, in endless battle, and look beyond the dualistic perspective of life. This requires we relinquish attitudes of righteousness, arrogance, and insistence about what is "rightfully" our due or that which we "should" do, attitudes that only intensify our struggles. Living a mode of being where we cling to our righteous attitudes while striving for a greater fulfillment keeps us bound to the very limits we seek to break free from. When we surrender our stronghold of insistence we can then see a way being offered to our fulfillment. The saying "let thine eye become single" alludes to this process of surrendering judgment, to see the oneness of life and thus realize our way. Until we do so, we continually burn in the initiatory fires of life, fires designed to melt way our righteous attitudes, much like heat and pressure hones raw black carbon into a brilliant clear diamond.
Immediately after the New Moon, the asteroid Ceres and Neptune conjoin in late sidereal Capricorn bringing attention to our dreams and visions--those that are truly nurturing. Conjoining Nashira of Capricorn, we may receive good news, especially regarding legalities, if we are willing to live those dreams.
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 May 1 resides on the cusp of sidereal Taurus-Gemini inspiring high-intensity intellectual communication, knowledge, information, and the exchange of it. It also conjoins Al Hecka the south horn of the bull, inspiring us to relinquish fighting antiquated crusades and to simply move on.
Just before the First Quarter Moon, Jupiter, in the midst of its retrograde, begins its new 399-day synodic cycle on May 4. Jupiter has been retrograding in sidereal Libra, over Zubenelgenubi, the south chelae of the entrapping reincarnational clutches of the Scorpion, the karmic seat for humanity, here providing wonderful mobilizing support over this few month retrograde period to break loose and free ourselves from patterns and scenarios of the past that have kept us entrapped.
Jupiter and Earth's placement (from the sun's view) in heavens sets the theme for Jupiter's new synodic theme. Jupiter now lies just in front of the south claw of the Scorpion. South lies the Centaur, teacher of the way to claim our self-mastery above and beyond our cyclic patterns of growth; and north lies the Northern Crown, emblem of having achieved that mastery, that is, becoming free from re-entering our repetitive patterns of growth. This new 399-day Jupiter cycle offers us the opportunity for movement and expansion above and beyond our past entrapping life scenarios. Jupiter's new theme will fully mobilize as it returns direct on July 6.
Jupiter is of wealth and reciprocity: Jupiter embodies the totality of the wealth that the soul has gained throughout soul's entire incarnational journey; and the reciprocation of that wealth / gift back to the world. Jupiter's force is mobilizing and expansive. This is why on a mundane level Jupiter governs money and finance (along with Venus), simply because money is a mobilizing agent. Jupiter is sociable, governing travel and finance, is of fulfillment, and is future oriented. Jupiter is the Spiritual Law Giver (beyond the laws of man), supporting us to mobilize and live our greater Spiritual Truth. Jupiter expresses as fluidity in movement, vitality, and enthusiasm. Jupiter expresses openness and willingness to palpate and embrace life, people, and experience. Jupiter holds a kinesthetic and magnetic quality; is of physical fitness, strength, and coordination. Jupiter is serendipitous, opportunistic, fortunate, and lucky; with taste for an appreciation of elegance and beauty (along with Venus). Fun loving, good natured, free, and independent Jupiter provides the ability to participate freely in the world and to live in universal flow.
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 First Quarter Moon occurs on May 4-5 in sidereal Cancer conjoining Acubens of Cancer, Zeta Hydra, and Dubhe of Ursa Major, stimulating action to pursue a greater vision, one that moves us beyond any multifarious undermining experiences.
These three conjoining stars reveal that any experiences that repetitively undermine our greater fulfillment are due to the very dogmatic beliefs we hold crystallized within. They reveal that we must eradicate those beliefs along with the willingness to fight to achieve a greater vision for the evolutionary freedom and fulfillment we seek.
Dubhe embodies the willingness to fight for a greater vision beyond the accepted political-religious dogmas of the human world that keep humanity in darkness and delusion; and against the controlling global forces perpetuating that dogmatic rule. At a personal level, Dubhe asks us to do all we can to achieve the greater vision that we hold for the unfoldment of our lives--for the true nourishment, fulfillment, and freedom we seek. Dubhe asks us to emerge from our own personal dogmas (our belief structures) and our limiting life patterns that keep us bound in life scenarios that are less than those we truly want. Dubhe supports us to create a new and better future rather than merely staying reactive to the limitations we have already created and reinforce with our existing beliefs.
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 May 9 in sidereal Virgo on its own south node. Opposite on the lunar north node is Venus in sidereal Pisces. The lunar nodes act much like a magnetic guiding pointer, The south node reveals our old repetitive soul patterns, while the north node reveals the new direction to move for new growth. In this case, paradoxically, we may find the movement is from following the intellectualized version of our spiritual guidance to living the truth we feel in our hearts. This is an inversion in awareness from looking for that guidance outside of self in the form of information to realizing it is palpable within self. Reminds me of an old joke: "God put man's soul in his heart--but undoubtedly the last place he will look.
Orbiting the Sun in about 5.4 years, Comet P73/Schwassmann-Wachmann-3 (SW-3) (discovered on May 2, 1930) is now in the process of breaking into bits. It will be closest to Earth on May 11-14.
This quicktime movie shows the comet approaching Earth. The view is looking down upon our solar system. Earth is the green circle orbiting the sun, and Mercury is shown for reference. The "tail" of the comet always faces away from the sun.
This exploading comet's dramatic passage by Earth, occurring in a few day period surrounding the Full Moon, may indicate it is time to let something antiquated explode into dust. From Earth's view, the comet can be seen in Cygnus, which lies north in the heavens. It conjoins Neptune and Ceres in sidereal Capricorn on May 11 and 12, in the magnetically attractive pollinating phase of our lunar cycle as we approach the Full Moon. The Neptune-Ceres conjunction is about lifting veils to make visible that which is nurturing verses that which is not nurturing in our lives; our dreams and fantasies, and our illusions and denials. Our exploding comet's conjunction (now in more than 60 pieces) may inspire us to relinquish those limiting belief blindfolds and structures of consciousness we hold, that which keeps us from living our dreams and letting our wishes come true; perhaps even yielding a revelation of stellar brilliance in a dynamic outburst of enthusiastic display.
After the Full Moon of May 12-13, in the fruit bearing phase of the lunar cycle, the comet will make passage through magical and fortuitous Pegasus. While in Pegasus, it conjoins Uranus on May 16 in sidereal Aquarius just before the Demonstration and Manifestation Moon. This dynamic conjunction, an electrical and exciting mix, may inspire radical spontaneous change--inspiration to break free from the limitations and conformity of the past in a dramatic and dynamic way.
The story and astronomy about Comet Schwassmann-Wachmann-3 can be found here: http://www.eso.org/outreach/press-rel/pr-2006/pr-15-06.html
See the comet with your backyard telescope. Current status, pictures and sky charts can be found here: http://spaceweather.com
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 May 12-13 in the last degrees of sidereal Libra, in the clutches of the Scorpio, but here conjoining Unukalhai, the neck or the serpent held in the hands of Ophiuchus reaching for the Northern Crown. Unukalhai is an empowering star indicating mastery over the forces of life, thus living in our own self-empowerment--claiming the power over our destiny rather than giving it away to the habitual experiences that otherwise keep us entrapped.
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 May 17 occurs in mid-sidereal Sagittarius. Conjoining Alpha Scutum, Galactic Shield of the Holy Cross; AM Hercules, a powerful x-ray source; and Gamma Mensa of the very southern table mountain providing soul level support.
Here lies inspiration to realize we have universal support the stand up for, defend, and live our unique truths. Often described as exotic and enigmatic, AM Hercules expresses a powerful magnetic synchronizing force capable of assembling spirit substance into exquisite order in form. Here is a spiraling but directed force to funnel our intent into ordered achievement.
Described above, Comet P73/Schwassmann-Wachmann-3 conjoins Uranus is sidereal Aquarius on our Disseminating Moon as well, stimulating all that is new, unconventional, and unexpected.
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 May 20 occurs in early sidereal Aquarius conjoining the Cyg X-3 black hole, lying north of Aquarius along the galactic plane in Cygnus suggesting an all or nothing change.
Cyg X-3 resides between Sadr and Deneb in a unique galactic equatorial area, one of the galactic "sacks of coal," which provides a clarity beyond the dualities of life due to the absence of the "forms" created by the interplay of light. Cyg X-3 offers the opportunity to relinquish segregations based on sex, creed, or culture. The Cyg X-3 black hole is the Eye in the "Messianic Needle of the Heavens" (Takra). In black hole character, entering the Eye of the Needle is an all or nothing deal, no in-betweens. Here we cannot wear or hide behind our mortal facades. We are asked to participate from our true soul essence and to see the same in others. We are asked to embrace all people from an androgynous perspective transcending soul's incarnational experience in mortal form. Mutually exclusive attractions based on gender, race, or creed create factions amongst our true soul-level friends and families. Here lies the embracing aspect of the Aquarian Waterman, the inclusiveness of Universal / Uranian love.
Balsamic Moon Phase Characteristics
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.
This Balsamic Moon of May 23 resides in late sidereal Pisces conjoining the second node of the Dragon, and just before conjoining Venus. Nodus Secundus and the irregular shaped galaxy IC 1613 of Cetus conjoin the theme of Alpheratz, the head of the entrapped princess. Here we are asked to become attentive to the fact that our intent of purpose can be diverted and dispersed by psycho-emotional forces that congest us when toxic physical conditions exist, or when we are naive to such forces. Our psycho-emotional fog can then perpetuate confused life scenarios, antiquated involvements, or entrapments that are no longer in our highest interest.
Our next New Moon occurring on May 26 lies in sidereal Taurus. 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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Copyright © 2006 Nick Anthony Fiorenza, All Rights Reserved