First Quarter Moon, 11 Leo38 59, May 1, 4:44 pm EDT
A "crisis of action" phase begins the new month, accompanied by a Venus square Pluto, still of a tense energy with the capacity for confrontation, or let's just say, drama, in interactions with others. Or if experienced alone, the tension might be over an imbalance within self, maybe with issues of self-indulgence or self-control. On the positive side—there is always a positive side—artists may be able to take advantage of a powerful creative flow.

Gibbous Moon, 0 Libra 03, May 5 at 5:56 am EDT
I hadn't spent much time looking at my astrological calendar just lately—have been way to busy—but now that I do, it appears this month (so far) has more than its share of potentially frictional aspects. And then, I should also mention that Mercury turns retrograde during this phase, on May 7 to be specific, though we are also already in the "shadow" of it. For one thing, this means that attempts to rush communication activities in order to get them done before the retrograde are not wise. After all, rush too often means careless, and that glitch you didn't catch is more than likely to be received on the retrograde!

In any case, I hope that you will have had the chance to work off some of the tense energy of current aspects in by participating in a traditional Maypole dance sometime between the traditional calendar day of May 1, and the true cross-quarter day that is today. My circle's celebration is set for Saturday, May 2, for the practical reason that Saturday works the best for a larger gathering.

As it happens this year, the Gibbous Moon phase coincides with the Gibbous phase of the solar year. Energy builds. The Maiden entices the youthful Lord Sun, who has now grown to young manhood, hormones racing...almost there, not quite yet. This is the underlying theme of Gibbous phase. Our goals are in sight, but still just out of reach. The challenge: to keep trying until that goal is reached...symbolically, as lunar phases go, when the Moon is Full. Read my articles of the myths of Beltane for a more complete expanation of what all of this means.

Beltane, Sun at 15 Taurus 00, May 5, 2009, 4:51 am EDT

Maria's article on the Lore of Beltane

A Personal Beltane Ritual

Full Moon, 18 Scorpio 41, May 9 at 12:01 am EDT
This Full Moon is in Scorpio, the sign most associated with intensity and control issues, so we may not yet be past the extra tensions of this month. But Full Moons illuminate and Friday, the day that precedes the 1 minute into Saturday fullness of the Moon is a day when energy has settled down with a sextile to Saturn assisting our greater sense of stability and control over ourselves and whatever we're doing or working toward. Friday would be an optimum time to do a Full Moon ritual. Following is one that I wrote some time ago designed for solitary use to help understand what we may be trying to hard to hold onto, but really know deep inside that we ought to change in order to accomplish our goal. This can take as many different forms—it could be excess be weight, a personal image that you really know inside has changed, a situation or relationship that deep within you know is fragile, at best, an occupation that you've been vested in but no longer stimulates you...

Ritual for Full Moon in Scorpio
This ritual is best done outdoors. If you're indoors, you need a safe place (or target) to throw a rock without breaking something you shouldn't. You'll need a drum to play or intense drumming music to which you can dance. Then, get a strong rubber band, a rock and whatever other tools you wish to use to cast sacred space around you. Once you are centered within your sacred space, do this for your magical working. When you are at that point within your ritual, hold the rock in one hand and the rubber band in the other. Center yourself, focus on whatever it is that you know you ought to change but haven't, and then chant repeatedly:

I won't let go, I won't let go,
I must hold on, I must hold on,
no matter what, no matter what...

Keep thinking about what you've been holding onto but know is shaky. As you chant, focusing on holding on, put the rock into the rubber band, holding it firmly in one hand. Feel the heaviness of the rock as symbol of the burden of what you are tightly holding onto, resisting change. Now stretch the band with the other hand. When the energy of your chant peaks, release the end of the band you’ve been stretching. Ouch! (It hurts—unless you very quickly dropped the other end with the rock, which still means you changed, albeit very abruptly and with little finesse.) Now, do you really want to wait until fate makes your decisions for you?  Let’s try again.

This time, with your dominant hand, hold the rock within the band while holding the other end in place with the other hand. If outdoors, aim where nothing else will be hurt; if indoors, aim at a pillow. Stretch the end of the bank with the rock slowly as you chant:

   I will let go, I will let go, by change I am set free.

When the energy of your chant peaks, release the rock and let it fly. Now, doesn’t that feel better!

A lesson of Scorpio is to know when to let go of control, realizing that power and control struggles are full of tension and ultimately futile, other than in striving for mastery of self. As they say, “you can’t take it with you,” but soul growth is another matter. That, you can always maintain and continue to build.  As you think how this may apply to you, stand firmly and tense every muscle until you are rigid. Too much? Has it become clear to you yet what you need to release and change to be free? Let go, then, and relax. Fire your freedom to choose and act for positive change by drumming or dancing to drums until your energy peaks, then ground some of it back into Mother Earth, keeping what you need to go forward and make the changes your magick has shown that you need to make.

Disseminating Moon, 7 Capricorn 33, May 13 at 12:24 am EDT
This is the first phase of waning light, but the Moon is still almost full. The theme of the phase is to demonstrate, to share, one's understanding of what culminated at Full Moon.To disseminate means to "spread the word." Mercury retrogrades back into steady Taurus today, remains in this earth, pragmatic sign until mid-June, turning direct again on the last day of May. Moon in Capricorn adds to the earth theme. Practical considerations are of prominent concern. Organization is important. Keep this in mind in your sharing.

Last Quarter Moon, 26 Aquarius 32, May 17 at 3:26 am EDT
Something that has been prominent on your agenda may now be winding down. Attend to any unfinished business through Monday's workday, but anticipate that something new and perhaps unexpectedly interesting may grab your interest going forward. Could be the first glimmer of what can grow brighter as you go into the next lunar cycle.

Balsamic Moon, 15 Aries 12, May 20 at 10:56 pm EDT
This is the phase of completion and letting go, so finish with what needs to be. If it is by the fire of Aries that you wish to release it, then make a paper note or other token to represent it. Focus and then burn it in a safe place, with this rhyme:

What's done be released by Spirit Fire
By will, intent, through my desire
Of all I burn here, I am free
This is my will, so shall it be!

Meditate on your ability to create and build something new, and be alert for signs of what that might be. A seed of the now will sprout in the time of next New Moon!