I was recently poring over more than 500 pages of information Steve Nelson (“Mythic Astrologer” and Wizard) had shared with me over the years of our friendship and wishing he was still here with us to share his Moon Magic wisdom. I have missed him a great deal. As I sat down with all of his information once again this past week, I felt a palpable nudge from him telling me to carry on. I began to make a list of all the books he had referenced to me over the years and that I had made notes of… and I began to gather all the information together along with his Moon Magic wisdom. The following is a joint effort between Steve and me. I promised to “carry on” only if he would assist me. So we have an agreement… what follows is the result.
Moon Magic for January 2015:
The New Year zeitgeist seeded at Winter Solstice comes to creative expression through the 12 days of Yule culminating with Epiphany Jan 6. The 12 Days of Christmas or Yuletide (Dec. 26 to Jan 6) is the New Year in embryo – dreams of these 12 nights portend what will be in the 12 months of the coming year. The year spirit is fully formed Jan 6, the last spoke in the wheel of Yule. This is Three Kings Day, the day the three wise men came bearing gifts: manifestations of divinity. Jan 6 is the original gift-giving day for good reason, it is when the spirit of the new cycle takes physical form.
This week you can say goodbye to 2014 with two Jovian eclipses, and you can ring in the New Year with a meteor shower and a fast brightening comet!!
Jupiter eclipse can be seen during the New Year festivities late on Wednesday, December 31st. Look to the sky and you’ll be able to see Jupiter’s largest moon, Ganymede, slowly enter the planet’s shadow and then disappear from view. Ganymede’s vanishing act starts at 10:18 p.m. EST, and at 11 p.m. the neighboring moon Europa follows it into eclipse.
2015 is the Year of the Strength Tarot Key 8 (Teth). The key characters are that of a woman (Divine Female) and Leo the lion (ruled by The Sun), with the woman looking calm and gentle, yet dominant over the lion (the woman clasping the lion’s jaws). There is a lemniscate or infinity sign hovering over the woman’s head (the same horizontal 8 that hovers over the head of the Magician). It suggests that something of the Magician’s quality has been transferred to the woman. The modern interpretation of the card stresses discipline and self-control. The lion represents the primal or id-like part of the mind, and the woman, the ‘higher’ or more elevated parts of the mind. The woman’s white robe (as well as the Mountain in the background) relates to the pure spiritual influence of the Primal Will. The card tells us to be wary of base emotions and primal impulse. The woman leads the lion by a chain of flowers signifying artistic adaptation (chain) of desire (roses). When we learn to weave our desires together into a singular intention (chain), while rejecting all desires which conflict with our main purpose , we can apply our powerful creative imagination to the control and direction of the serpentine kundalini power. The woman tames the lion and opens his mouth to give power to speech – to render it sacred. New elements can be created in man’s mind and through the process of controlling manifestation of cosmic energy and then become actual things in the external world. Greater things are possible for the adept who has mastered his own emotions and desires! While 2014 focused on taming your inner dragon, 2015 is about preparing your inner dragon to go into action. The difference is that in Strength, the action is mainly internal rather than external. This card could also represent the need for Divine Female now to be aware of her own strength (note: we all have both Divine Female and Divine Male aspects within our self). Together we can increase the number of builders of a new, free world that shall bring forth Limitless Light unto the world! Conversely, we may need to be mindful of the danger of losing control to impulses, desires, pride or unwarranted anger. This is true on a more global scene as well.
Eight is associated with the Great Goddess (Divine Female) because it takes eight years for Venus and Earth to sync up against the zodiac.
Strength Tarot Key 8 may be a signal that we are facing a challenge that requires a strong response, rather than brute force. Occasionally, strength comes by diverting forces, diverting rivers, or fighting on a new battleground. It is a sign that we have left our familiar home and need to start drawing on all of our resources to meet the challenges of the exterior world.
Jan 1 (exact 7am) => Begin Anew (‘Rabbits!! Rabbits!! Rabbits!’ or White Rabbit!)
New Year Gate of Inspiration
The zodiac divides the year into 12 based on solar (yang) cycles. The lunar (yin) cycle divides the year into 9 sections governed by a separate Muse – each of which is heralded by a Gate of Inspiration. A Muse Gate opens every 40 days, 9 each year. Polyhymnia is the muse of divine song, singing channels energy to create the world anew. Now is the time to dissolve body tensions that hold old year ways of thinking and feeling. Breathe deeply, sing and move freely (dance!) to shed the old and open to the light of the New Year. (To learn more about the Nine Gates of Inspiration, click here.)
Jan 3 => New Year’s shower! In the late night hours of Saturday, January 3, the first meteor shower of the year, the Quadrantids, hits its peak. In dark locations, the peak is usually more than 60 shooting stars an hour. But this year the glare of the nearly full moon will wash out all but the brightest meteors.
Comet Lovejoy and Orion. Comet Lovejoy (C/2014 Q2) continues to brighten in the first days of 2015, passing by the very bright star Rigel after nightfall on Sunday, Jan 4.
Jan 4 – 6 (exact 11:53pm Jan 4) => Transformation / Liberation
Full Wolf Moon or Hunger Moon
This is a good time for setting intentions for your year from a spiritual perspective. What do you wish to accomplish this year? What do you “hunger” to manifest? Make a heartfelt list, set some goals and plan how to achieve them. The year starts with the intention of directing the path of your spirit along side the wolf (or inner teacher). The Full Moon is like a pitcher that pours out a magic elixir we raise our cups to receive. Cosmic energies flow for 3 days following Full Moon (exact 11:53 pm Jan 4). Revelations come in dreams, chance encounters and flashes of inspiration. Stay tuned!
Jan 5 => Time to Party!
Epiphany Eve/12th Night/The Feast of Fools
Yuletide festivities culminate with the 12th Night “Feast of Fools” on Jan 5. This is a great night to party and ideal time for exchanging gifts. 12th Night celebrations were banned during the late Middle Ages as these became occasions for lampooning the established order of church and state.
Jan 6 => Expect a Miracle
Epiphany/The 12th Day of Christmas
In Christian tradition Epiphany celebrates 3 special events related to water: the birth of Jesus, baptism in the river Jordan and changing water to wine. Epiphany also honors the 3 Kings who bring gifts for the newborn child. The Egyptians celebrated the Festival of the Nile on this day when waters of the world are blessed with healing virtue. At this time, Kore (Persephone) gives birth to the Aeon, the child spirit or zeitgeist of the New Year. An old cycle ends, a New World begins, every one is born again.
Jan 12 – 14 (exact 11 pm Jan 13) => Realizing Dreams
3rd Quarter Moon
This Moon cuts away all that distracts from putting dreams into action. Moon in Libra grand trine with Mars and Jupiter blesses new relationships and all creative endeavors. 3rd Quarter Moon integrates ideas into creative expression; it’s time to follow our bliss and do what feels good in concert with the whole.
Jan 16 – 18 => Make a Wish!
Balsamic Moon
This is the Wishing Moon, the best time to put wishes on the air and to bring to mind those who need healing. Feeling invokes healing, the deeper we feel, the deeper we heal. Shadows before New Moon can be cleared through deep breathing with attention to the light of the crown. See the wee crescent rising before the Sun with bright Venus, the goddess of Love. Make a wish!
Jan 19 – 21 => Going Within
Dark of the Moon/New Moon
The day before New Moon until Sunset a day after is ideal for inner work to seed the new cycle; outer activity is favored after the new crescent appears (Saturday night). Old Moon shadows give way as we connect with the light, and breathe. The New Moon (2:45 pm 1/20) is a cosmic spring that flows freely as we slow down. Here we can know what is and how to help shape what’s to be. This Moon brings many new discoveries apt to remake the world.
Jan 22 – 25 => A Time to Sow
Crescent New Moon
It’s time to bring forward what we wish to be realized. Farmers plant seeds when the crescent appears, seeds become fertile on every level, all new beginnings are favored now. Meditation opens doorways, wishes take wing, prayers bring blessings for this Moon and the New Year to be.
Jan 26 -28 (exact 3:19 am 12/20) => Time to Choose
1st Quarter Moon
This Moon is like a scythe cutting across the sky, it’s a time to cut free from the trappings of the past and affirm our purpose moving forward. Sacred to the Druids, this Moon is pivotal in the cycle of creation. Choices made are likely the right ones. Breathing deeply through the light of the crown frees energy flow up and down the spine to clear shadows and power our dreams.
Bright Blessings to you during the finals days of Yuletide and into the creation of a Brighter New Year in 2015!!
Tracy Latz (“Shift Doctor” ) and the loving wisdom of Steve Nelson (“Mythic Astrologer”)
**The Shift Doctors (Tracy Latz, M.D. & Marion Ross, Ph.D.) are available for keynote talks, classes, events or for seminars (1/2 day or up to 2 day) on Energy Medicine personal transformation, team-building, motivation, anger management, intuitive development, or collaboration for private groups, conferences, corporations or corporate events. Contact them at info@shiftyourlife.com or find out more about their books, DVD’s, CD’s and tools for personal transformation at www.shiftyourlife.com.
**Steve Nelson is a professional astrologer who used Tarot, name analysis, and traditional astrology to help clients understand personal myths and realize natural abilities. He recently passed into spiritual realm and now shares his wisdom to those who are open to receive it in meditation. Find out more about him at www.GaiaAstrology.com