Total Lunar Eclipse

Total Lunar Eclipse: Full Moon in Capricorn

Tomorrow brings the Cancer season lunar cycle to a close- the Sun in Cancer opposing and eclipsing the Moon in Capricorn. However, the effects of eclipses can be felt for months. Full moons are polarizing, and lunar eclipses bring potent energy and clarity: we are able to see what was once in the shadow. Eclipses occur on the nodal axis- the intersection points between the Earth’s orbit around the sun, and the moon’s orbit around Earth. Node is Latin for ‘knot’- and it is at these knots where two energetic pathways cross one another.

These mathematical points cannot be seen, but in some forms of astrology the nodes of the moon are considered to be shadow planets. The north node of the moon in Cancer is a symbol of the energy we are moving towards: inclusivity, compassion, and belonging. The south node of the moon in Capricorn is a symbol of the energy we are releasing: the need to control, our attachment to status, and the idea that things have to be difficult in order to be important.

The twelve zodiacal signs can be best understood as 6 polarities. We gain understanding through duality: night and dark, you and me, yin and yang. The axis of Cancer and Capricorn is an energy of belonging: Cancer representing our home and familial belonging, and Capricorn representing our worldly and outward belonging. The Sun in Cancer brings our awareness to our attachments, our sensitivity and our reactivity. The Moon in Capricorn brings our emotional awareness into our need for discipline, tough love, and the ways in which we try to restrict or control our feelings.

Choosing to remain in what is familiar stunts personal growth. Where we are moving will always be rooted in where we came from, but our past does not have to dictate our identity. Taking responsibility for our lives requires us to let go of impulse to blame others, to blame the past, and to blame our circumstances. Letting go is a choice- to rewrite the stories that limit our greatest potential and to fully participate and stay present in the unfolding of our lives.

Have the courage to change the narrative of your life- the one that makes you feel restrained, limited and unworthy.

Remember that we are all much more alike than we are different, and it is in this remembering that we open up to the possibility of greater connection and inclusion.

May this full moon bring you clarity, empowerment, and the remembrance that you belong..

xx

Mercury Retrograde is Back!

What is Mercury retrograde?

Mercury is the closest planet to the sun, taking about 88 days to complete its orbit. About 3 times a year, Mercury turns retrograde, or appears to move backwards from our vantage point on Earth. Mercury is not actually moving backwards, but it is the apparent movement we observe against the backdrop of fixed stars that creates this visual illusion.

Mercury rules things that move quickly- technology, travel, and communication. Mercury is also a symbol of the mind. As this fast-moving planet slows down and appears to move backwards, it is a time to reprocess and review the emotional content and landscape of the last few weeks. Repeating, reassessing, reevaluating, redoing…are all things that may surface during any Mercury retrograde.

From July 7 to 31, Mercury will appear to move from 4º28’ Leo to 23º57’ Cancer. During this part of Mercury’s orbit, it will be at its closest to Earth until the next retrograde cycle in October. When a planet moves closer to Earth, and therefore farther away from the sun, its energy can become louder and more intense.

Mercury in the signs:

Mercury will be retracing its steps in the signs of Leo and Cancer. Mercury in Leo is charismatic, charming and performative. In Leo, Mercury expresses itself creatively, passionately and courageously. Mercury in Cancer is reserved, intuitive, and cautious. In Cancer, Mercury is sensitive, emotionally intelligent, and expresses itself subjectively.

Mercury’s journey in the sky:

Mercury will appear to stop at 4º28’ Leo this Sunday, July 7. It will move backwards through the first degrees of Leo until it reaches Cancer on July 19. From July 19 through 31, Mercury will back up all the way to 23º57’ Cancer, where it will then begin to move forward again. It isn’t until August 14 that Mercury returns to 4º28’ Leo- where it is stationing to go retrograde in 2 days.

What does this mean?

Anytime a planet turns retrograde, its energy moves inward. As a symbol of the mind, when Mercury turns retrograde, so do our mental processes. This is not a time to fear, but instead a time to practice patience, awareness and intention. To remember that not taking action is a form of action. To remember that our reality is based on our limited and biased perception. And to remember that we can only control our attitude and response to others. 

We are in between eclipses, and as the energy builds to the total lunar eclipse taking place on July 16, give yourself permission to slow down, and practice radical self-love!

xx

Eclipse Season

Eclipse Season

Twice a year, the lunar cycles take a detour from the usual new and full moons during each zodiacal season and we experience eclipses. A solar eclipse is a new moon- and in certain parts of the world, if you witness a solar eclipse, the light of the sun is eclipsed and there is darkness. Eclipses were thought to be ominous in ancient times, as they disrupted the natural cycle of life. Lunar eclipses occur at full moons- when the moon passes behind the Earth and into its shadow. The sun, earth, and moon all align, and if you watched the lunar eclipse in January- the moon appeared to turn orange.

While the sun moves through Cancer we will experience two eclipses: first, a solar eclipse on Tuesday, July 2 and second, a total lunar eclipse on Tuesday, July 16. Eclipses are thought to be karmic events. While the wheel of the zodiac moves clockwise, the nodal axis- the axis where eclipses occur, moves counterclockwise. In order to move forward, we must also look to the past.

Beginning last year, the eclipse axis shifted from Leo and Aquarius into Cancer and Capricorn. Eclipses stay in a set of signs for about 1.5 years, and therefore it takes about 18 years to move through the entire zodiac.

Eclipses heighten energy and stimulate the areas of life symbolized by the astrological signs they occur in. In the Cancer-Capricorn axis, our focus on our home, family, roots, as well as our career, ambitions, and public life increases. The path of the sun and moon intersect, they eclipse one another. They give us a glimpse of something that was in the shadow- something we may not have been fully aware of before.

On the nodal axis, there is a north node- the direction the moon is ascending towards, and a south node- the place the moon is moving away from. The north node is symbolic of the energy we are needing more of, while the south node is a release of energy. With the north node in Cancer, our need for inclusivity, emotional sensitivity and compassion is highlighted.

The sun and moon will align on Tuesday, July 2- a new moon solar eclipse. New moons bring an inward focus, and in the sign of Cancer, that focus is on our emotional bonds, our family, and where we came from. The ideas or projects that begin at the solar eclipse may take 6 months to come to fruition, but the effects are powerful. This solar eclipse is a time to ask yourself where you feel a sense of belonging. What relationships in your life put you at ease, make you feel comfortable, and give you permission to be yourself? If the place you call home and the people you consider family are not in alignment with a sense of belonging and love, this is an opportunity to shift into a new way of being.

Eclipses can stir up energy and bring unexpected, but sometimes necessary, changes. During the days leading up to the solar eclipse, and through the end of the month, it is important to stay open-minded, flexible, and aware of your emotional reactivity. Cancer can be incredibly defensive and will shut down if it feels threatened. It is not a time to overreact, but instead to clarify and pause before speaking or acting impulsively

In the meantime, Mercury has been in its shadow for a week, and moved into the sign of Leo yesterday. Mercury will continue to slow down for the next week until it stations retrograde and begins to move backwards. Mercury retrograde is an apparent movement backward from our vantage point on Earth, and from July 7-31, it will appear to move from the early degrees of Leo back into the sign of Cancer.

June has been an intense month and has brought up a lot of challenge, frustration and difficulty. July will be a time to review and reprocess what has surfaced the last few weeks.

As we move into the weekend and the moon continues to wane, slow down, practice patience, and avoid engaging in any drama.

More on Mercury retrograde and the rest of eclipse season soon.

xx

Summer Solstice

Summer Solstice

On the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere, we celebrate the solstice. The sun moves into the sign of Cancer tomorrow morning on the west coast, marking the beginning of summer. Cancer is the sign of the home, of family and our sense of belonging. Cancer is intuitive, emphatic and protective. But its energy can also be overly cautious, moody and defensive. Just as a crab’s shell protects what is of most importance, Cancer can have a hard exterior.

Ruled by the moon, Cancer’s energy changes, shifts, and moves in a circuitous way. With Mercury and Mars already moving through the sign of the crab, our minds and our desires have already been infused with this energy.

The north node of the ecliptic is also in the sign of Cancer, so while the sun moves through Cancer, we will have two eclipses. Eclipses occur when the path of the Earth orbiting around the sun intersects with the moon’s orbit around the Earth. Symbolically, the north node is thought to be the direction that we are moving towards and striving for. On a collective level, this means we are in need of more connection, vulnerability and empathy.

The south node is in Cancer’s opposite sign: Capricorn. Capricorn is the sign of worldly ambitions, of rules, and of traditions. If Cancer is the energy we need when we are feeling hurt or broke, Capricorn is the energy that keeps us grounded and level. We need both: unconditional love as well as structure. Love cannot thrive and grow without healthy boundaries. Cancer and Capricorn both have the ability to build walls. Cancer brings emotional inclusivity, but also has the potential to shut down and have its guard up. Capricorn holds traditions and boundaries in place, but can be stoic and detached.

For the next four weeks, the Cancer-Capricorn axis will be highly activated. Mars moved into Cancer on May 15, and Mercury moved into Cancer on June 4. Saturn has been in Capricorn since December 2017, and Pluto has been there since 2008. Cancer season will bring unexpected shifts, encouraging us to move through layers of fear and uncertainty. Cancer season also holds the second of three Mercury retrogrades of 2019. On the surface June has appeared to have forward momentum, but July will bring a time of reflection and reprocessing.

This is not a time to fear or to isolate. It is important to remember that everything is energy: every thought, every emotion, everything we can see, and everything we cannot see. Summer is a time of abundance and manifestation. The sunlight allows us to access our inner radiance and shine from our hearts.

Celebrate the solstice by connecting to nature, and allowing your inner light to shine.

xx