The Art and Astrology of Maria Kay Simms

		Our new lunar cycle begins with New Moon in Gemini, May 24 , 2009, 8:11 am EDT
	Here in New England the changes have been dramatic this month, as budding trees have turned into full foliage, so thick that I can no longer see the road from our house. Spring bulb flowers have faded, while new summer flowers I planted a little over a week ago are growing fast. We can feel the beginnings of summer emerging already. Summer will officially arrive during this lunar phase cycle—not until the last phase of it— but before the New Moon in Cancer arrives.
	New Moon , 3 Gemini 28, May 24 at 8:11 am, EDT Breezy Gemini, sign most associated with communication—curious, talkative, social busy, interested in new ideas or ready to spark them... How will YOU express that energy at this New Moon? The opening aspect past New Moon itself is Moon square Saturn in the wee hours of Monday morning when most of us will likely be sleeping. This may mean a somewhat subdued Sunday, perhaps with responsibilities to fulfill. But it can also be a excellent time for serious thinking about the new beginning you'd like to inititate. Moving on through Monday, the Memorial Day holiday, the energy is potentially VERY stimulating to both mind and spirit, with an extra boost toward creative imagination with first a Moon square Uranus, followed by trines to Jupiter and Neptune. Yes, Gemini ruler Mercury is still retrograde this week, but don't allow that to deter you from taking advantage of what can be begun at this New Moon! This is a time to open up new activities that are stimulating to your mind, and/or perhaps to your social life, as well. Is there something new you've been thinking you'd like to learn? Is there a group or a class you could join? Go for it! Ritual for New Moon in Gemini Although any ritual can be solitary, this New Moon sign is one that certainly suggests communicating with others , so if you can, gather some friends to share it with you, and plan a potluck supper for afterward. Cast sacred space and invoke the assistance of Mercury and also a goddess of wisdom such as Athena or Minerva. Dedicate the purpose of your ritual to free-thinking and the exploration of new ideas. For your working, do a group story-telling session. You could sit in a circle facing each other, but it can also be fun (as well as uninhibiting) to lie in a circle on the floor, with heads toward the center and hands touching so that the story line can be passed to the next person with a little squeeze hand. Make no rules, no plans, other than that each one adds to what has been said before with whatever comes to mind, logical or totally fantastic as each one chooses. You get things started with a short beginning to a story, then the next person adds to it, and so on from there, round and round the circle, so long as interest holds. It's up to you, as leader, to sense when the energy of the story has peaked, so as to call a halt before the energy wanes. Everyone can then sit up, and face the group. Ask for sharing, then, of whatever "words of wisdom" may have been gained from the experience. Crescent Moon, 21 Cancer 34, May 27 at 1:54 pm EDT This is a phase of potential resistance (inner or from the outer world) to our New Moon beginnings and best intents. What must be done is to resist the resistance and move forward with the waxing light. On this day of the onset of Crescent phase is a conjunction of Jupiter and Neptune in Aquarius. It's a planetary combination of fantasy, idealism, insight, metaphysics...or confusion, in a sign that is characterized as unconventional and innovative. With retrogrades and directs, this pair of planets will conjunct twice more, in July and December. Neptune retrogrades on May 29th, still within this phase, and emphasizing his theme especially for anyone with personal planets or angles on or close to the 26th degree of a fixed sign (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius). Jupiter-Neptune is also an aspect asssociated with speculation. Caution is the word to keep strongly in focus where the practical world is of concern, such as not taking chances on what you can't afford to lose. But if for you, this is a time you devote to creative art, music or spiritual/philosphical exploration, or to compassionate helping/healing activity, the potential is excellent for profound insight and expanded knowledge. First Quarter Moon, 9 Virgo 50, May 30, 11:22 pm EDT Day 1 of this "crisis of action" phase is in down-to-earth, practical Virgo and it's also the day of Mercury's station direct. If you've felt sidetracked, this can be the time to get back on track! A favorite little ritual of mine for getting centered and back on track may help: Face the East and call the Air: Air I call for clarity, balance, focused mind that's free. Turn to the South and call Fire: Fire I call for energy, passion, faith and Spirit free. Turn to the West and call Water: Water I call for mystery, compassion and serenity. Turn to the North and call Earth: Earth, I call my goal to see, complete and fine, so mote it be! Now, at center, raise hands high into the air and stretch: At center I call Cosmos above... Kneel to touch the ground: And Mother Earth below... Stand again with hands over your heart... I call their powers within me, and knowing that the power is within, so it expands without... Move hands and arms slowly outward as if to encompass the Universe, and slowly circle in place, saying: For as the Universe, so the soul! Gibbous Moon, 28 Libra 21, June 3 at 3:37 pm EDT In this, the final waxing phase before Full Moon, another challenge may appear in resistance to goals. Again, as with Crescent phase, we are to meet that challenge, handle it and keep moving forward. Moon is void from 2pm until 6:44pm EDT, enters Scorpio and then applies to an opposition to Mars for most of the evening. If this feels frustrating, avoid venting and instead channel the energy constructively. Sun squares Saturn Friday, then Venus enters Taurus early morning Saturday. These reflect, in general, the current financial pressure that is widely felt, and our need to responsibly deal with it. Could be the right time to make a longer term plan. Full Moon, 17 Sagittarius 41, June 7 at 2:12 pm EDT The more typical happy-go-lucky Sag temperament may be feeling held back at first by Saturn's square, though that passes as Moon moves on toward sextiles to idealistic & visionary Jupiter and Neptune. Ritual for Full Moon in Sagittarius The Sagittarian Archer shoots his or her fiery arrows to "light a fire" under the goals at hand. For your ritual working at this Full Moon, first think through your goal and what steps you will need to take to achieve it. Then take a length of red cord or yarn, and firmly tie a knot to represent each step to take and your self-binding to do just that. Wind the cord loosely around the base of a red candle. Light it, and then with your hand, scribe a circle in the air around the flame nine time as you repeat and build the energy: Will, conviction, faith and fire! Hearken unto my desire Then, after the 9th pass, conclude with: By all the power of three times three, my will be done, so mote it be! Untie each knot as you accomplish the step toward your goal that it represented, and feel the power of accomplishment! Disseminating Moon, 6 Aquarius 04, June 11 at 5:13 pm EDT This is the phase noted for the presenting of your work and the sharing of ideas, though intial planetary aspects suggest potential of mixed feeling or misunderstandings that may have to be handled...but perhaps can be with an appeal to idealism as Moon conjuncts Neptune & Jupiter Saturday morning. Mercury's entrance into Gemini this weekend can also assist. Last Quarter Moon, 24 Pisces 56, June 15 at 6:15 pm EDT Notable in the very early morning today is Jupiter's station retrograde at 27 degrees of Aquarius--notable especially for those with personal planet or angle placements in the late degrees of Aquarius, Leo, Taurus or Scorpio. This is not bad--it primarily just means that Jupiter remains in close aspect for a much longer time, as it slowly retrogrades to 17th degree of Aquarius until October 13, then moves forward again, taking the rest of this year and a tad into next before reaching 27 degrees again. So, you have the chance in this last quarter "crisis of consciousness" to think back over how you've sought to expand and build your goal, what you have yet to do and what might benefit from a revision. Jupiter, the Great Benefic, offers opportunity in challenging aspect as well as in harmonious aspect. In fact, the challenging type can evoke the greater energy! Balsamic Moon, 13 Taurus 24, June 19 at 9:22 am EDT Again we return to the dark night sky, save for the stars. No Moon can be seen, unless we awaken in the very, very early morning to views the Crone's Crescent bright in the eastern sky just before sunrise. Of that, I recommend, and most often try to do. Balsamic Moon is one of the most beautiful symbols of Goddess, not to be missed just for that little bit more sleep. She's in the earth sign of Taurus this month. Go outdoors, if you can, barefoot in the morning dew and feel the earth energy ascend within you as you call down the energy of Crone Goddess Moon. Release to her what you would release as finished... be at peace, and Goddess bless. Summer Solstice, Sun at 0 Cancer 00, June 21, 2009, 1:45 am EDT Click here for my article on the lore of Summer Solstice, also called Litha Click here for a Summer Solstice ritual