"The Divine Moon Through the Signs"
As appears in The Isis Scrolls, September-October 2008
The moon is the “planet” that travels most quickly through the signs. In a thirty day period, the moon spends about two and a half days in each of the signs as it makes its way around the zodiac. Tuning into the movement of the moon through the signs is therefore an easy place for us to begin to study and experience the qualities of the elements and their expressions. In Traditional Astrology, the sun and the moon are called the two luminaries. The moon is the feminine luminary. Her nature is nourishing, protective and providing. From ancient times until now, our inner feminine nature, represented by the moon, has been projected outwardly as numerous goddesses. These include Isis, as well as the Mother Mary, the Mayan goddess Ix Mel, the Greek goddess Artemis, the roman goddess Diana, the Indian kali, and the list goes on.
In our natal charts the placement of the moon indicates how we feel, our mother, how we nurture, and where we find emotional comfort. It can be said to represent the soul, versus the spirit, which would be represented by the sun. If we study our emotions and learn to flow with the energy of the moon as she travels through the elements and signs, we will reduce our experience of obstacles and enhance our ability to carry out positive intentions and aspirations in our lives.
When the moon is in an earth element sign, it is a time to work with the energy represented by the earth, such as building, grounding, nourishing, and creating structure, all on a physical level. Remember that earth represents the physical, so this is a time to bring thoughts into physical reality. In Taurus, we will find joy in spending time in nature and appreciating the beauty of the earth. It is also a time of heightened sensuality. In Virgo (mutable earth), we can nourish our project’s growth with a keen ability to pay attention to details. Finally in Capricorn, we can stabilize the works that we have engaged in, and insure their longevity. We should watch out for being too stubborn and entrenched in our own views when the moon is in an earth sign.
When the moon enters the water element, emotional, intuitive energy is at its height. The moon in Cancer (cardinal water) is best used for “nesting” and bringing comfort to our home, and emotionally nurturing and supporting others. The moon in Scorpio can be quite reactive. This is because it is a time of great sensitivity, and ideal for delving deep within our own emotional psyche. When the moon travels through Pisces, we have access to deep emotional memory and experience. It can be a time of great intuitive knowing. It is also possible to become so emotionally overwhelmed that the tendency to escape through substances like alcohol and marijuana is intensified. Some of the best uses of the moon in water energy are expressive, such as writing heartfelt poetry, sharing your emotional experiences with your friends, and exploring how you feel about your life. Depression or sadness can arise during this time, and can be seen as reminders that our lives may need adjustments in order for us to feel fulfilled.
The moon in a fire sign is a time of passion, inspiration, confidence, and action. It is a time to begin a new project, start a new hobby, or go on an adventure. Aries, as the (cardinal) fire sign and the first sign of the zodiac, is the epitome of initiating and explosive energy. The moon in Leo is powerful and dynamic, responsive energy; an ideal time for social gatherings. Sagittarius is in its determination to expand and explore, and can even become restless in its need to do so. Obviously, when the moon is in a fire sign, it is important to be careful to not hurt others with self-centered, blunt and aggressive actions.
Finally, when the moon is in an air sign, it is a time of intellectual clarity and stimulation, when it is possible to evaluate the emotions from a more philosophical perspective. The Gemini moon is great at thoroughly looking at both sides of the story; it is light hearted and frivolous, perfect for chatty social gatherings and an outpouring of unhindered ideas. When the moon moves through Libra, we are better able to be flexible in our own ideas, and are more capable of negotiating emotional situations well. In the (fixed) air sign of Aquarius, the moon will not let emotions get in the way of facts. It is an excellent time of the month to make decisions that are not emotionally biased. During this time, it is important to remember that even though things may be mentally clear, it is still our responsibility to connect with our relations in a loving and gentle manner.
A few years ago, the Buddhist teacher Lama Drimed Norbu advised me that one could learn a great deal about astrology by following the moon as she travelled through the signs. This is an experiential type of learning as it involves meditating on the quality of your own experience and how it is affected by the moon and her 30 day journey through the 12 signs of the zodiac. It is very helpful to do this with a daily dairy. The result will be a wonderful experience of gaining self knowledge and personal astrological understanding. The following is a link to an online moon calendar that shows the current phase of the moon: http://lunarium.co.uk/calendar.php
As a final tip: when the moon is conjunct our natal south node, we will tend to act in ways counter to our evolutionary growth; when it is conjunct the natal north node, we will act in ways that promote our growth as souls and spirits.
By tuning into the moon as it moves through the signs every month, we will not only develop a greater sense of the rhythm and timing of our own lives, but we can enjoy being more in the natural flow of humanity. During the new, full, and quarter moons, the elements will have special strength. So tune in and honor the divine moon within your own personal experience.
Copyright, Dorje L. Kirsten, 2008
"Astrology and the Elements"
As appears in The Isis Scrolls - July/August, 2008
Uh-oh, here comes Mercury retrograde!