http://audio.radiofreemoscow.org/moonwatch/ From at home in her Moscow, Idaho Star Garden, intuitive astrologer Maria Theresa Maggi shares her locally grown astrological insights on the bi-monthly cycles of the new and full moon. Sun, 29 Jun 2008 22:55:28 GMT ListGarden Program 1.3.1 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://audio.krfp.org/moonwatch/ The moon is new at the beginning of July in Cancer, the crab, the fourth sign of the tropical zodiac. In astrological metaphor, each planet and light has a home in one of the signs, and Cancer is the moon's "home" or starting point. So not only do we begin the first new lunation cycle of the summer season, we begin it with the moon returning to it's home base in the zodiac. Cancer is the sign that describes our connection to our deep self, our ancestral roots, our family, our emotions, and our home. In Cancer we seek the security that comes with trusting our familial and cultural connection to our past. In Cancer the house becomes the home that stabilizes not only our physical wants and needs, but our emotional ones. So this month whatever emotional adventures we embark on start "at home," where the seat of our emotion, and our memory of being nurtured or mothered arises. Sun, 29 Jun 2008 22:55:24 GMT Society/Religion_and_Spirituality/Divination/Astrology/ http://audio.krfp.org/moonwatch/ The moon is full in Sagittarius, the archer, and the ninth sign of the tropical zodiac. Just a couple of days before the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year, this full moon reminds us of the long reach available to us when we pull back the bow with the strentgh of history and aim for the target of a kinder, wiser future. In astrological metaphor, Sagittarius is the sign of the open road, the higher mind, and all those expansive possibilities that come to us when we are curious enough to ask the big questions and seek the big answers. Tue, 17 Jun 2008 03:38:44 GMT Society/Religion_and_Spirituality/Divination/Astrology/ http://audio.krfp.org/moonwatch/ The beginning of June brings us the new moon paired with the sun in Gemini, the sign of the twins. When the moon begins its cycle in Gemini, an air sign, we seek to articulate our emotions through words and conversation. Gemini energy thrives on mental stimulation and versatility. Variety keeps Gemini from the worst of fates for this high energy sign, boredom. For Gemini, the more diversity the better, and at this new moon Venus and Mercury are also in Gemini to join in and add intelligence and perhaps closeness to the conversational feel. As the third sign of the zodiac, Gemini influences our relationship with our siblings, our immediate environment, and all those short trips and constantly shifting arrangements we make in it and around it. Wed, 28 May 2008 15:24:44 GMT Society/Religion_and_Spirituality/Divination/Astrology/ http://audio.krfp.org/moonwatch/ This month the moon is full in the eighth sign of the tropical zodiac again, Scorpio. May brings us a Scorpio moon full at the last degree of that sign, which carries special importance in astrological metaphor. The last, or 29th, degree of each sign is a degree of encapsulation of the entire spectrum of what that particular sign emphasizes in our lives. So when we have a full moon in the last degree of Scorpio, we are given the opportunity for the release that comes with an intense experiential overview of our engagement with transformation through our sexuality, through money and legacy, and all matters of life and death, as well as how we seek to merge with or surrender to anything we experience as powerful. Wed, 14 May 2008 16:47:55 GMT Society/Religion_and_Spirituality/Divination/Astrology/ http://audio.krfp.org/moonwatch/ The moon is new in Taurus, the second sign of the tropical zodiac. In Taurus, the bull, whose curved horns remind us of the slim bowl of the new moon itself, the blossoming of spring comes into its own. When the moon is new in Taurus we feel the need to ground ourselves in sensual comforts. We also may feel emotional about holding onto what brings us those comforts, because without them we don¹t feel solid. As the first earth sign, Taurus offers us the experience of grounding, and the pleasure of putting down roots that will manifest the literal and metaphorical fruit and flowers in our lives. We all know how the very thing we want to keep slips right out of the hands we grasp it with it if we are ungrounded and so hold on too tightly. Taurus brings us back to the earth itself, and shows us we can always ground in the sensual pleasures of that earth, which will bring us into the moment we are in. Such grounding always helps whatever comfort we are seeking come closer to us. In its sensual wisdom, the Taurus moon lays the foundation for fertility, love, and courtship associated with springtime, and which we celebrate here in Moscow with the merriment of our Renaissance Faire. Fri, 02 May 2008 14:28:49 GMT Society/Religion_and_Spirituality/Divination/Astrology/ http://audio.krfp.org/moonwatch/ The moon is full in Scorpio, the sign of transformation. As the eighth sign of the zodiac, Scorpio moves the warrior energy we began with at the Aries new moon inward, and the battle is waged within the self. Scorpio seeks to merge with or inherit power, by combining forces with whoever or whatever will bring that experience. Therefore, all Scorpio energy is deeply concerned with the mysteries of life and death, and all matters considered to be matters of life and death, like legacy, money or sex. Yet you will not find the Scorpio wearing this interest on his or her sleeve. Instead Scorpio energy cloaks itself in a cool or disinterested exterior which better serves its purpose of penetrating whatever mystery it wants to merge with. Wed, 16 Apr 2008 14:42:02 GMT Society/Religion_and_Spirituality/Divination/Astrology/ http://audio.krfp.org/moonwatch/ The moon is new in Aries, the ram, the first sign of the zodiac. As the first new moon of the spring season, this lunation brings us the robust energy of new beginnings. Though we often equate spring with the soft fuzziness of petals, bunnies, and feathers, Aries reminds us the softness of new life does not appear without a fierce determination to do so. When the moon is in Aries, we begin by taking action. Sun, 30 Mar 2008 20:17:24 GMT Society/Religion_and_Spirituality/Divination/Astrology/ http://audio.krfp.org/moonwatch/ The moon is full just a day after the Spring equinox in the sign of Libra, the scales. In Libra, the opposite of Aries, we learn to create balance through relating to others. Libra seeks the balance of beauty through art, wit, and pleasing conversation. Libra’s charm seeks a counterbalance to the singularity and combativeness of its opposite Aries, the sign of Spring and new beginnings. Libra is considered the sign of social contracts and marriage. Libra seeks to engage even his or her enemies in negotiation and deliberation, so as we begin a new season, the Libra full moon invites us to find balance with those we may be contentious with, and to use charm, art, idealism, and wit to broker our purpose. Sun, 16 Mar 2008 21:48:42 GMT Society/Religion_and_Spirituality/Divination/Astrology/ http://audio.krfp.org/moonwatch/ The moon is new in Pisces, the last sign in the tropical zodiac. When we come to the archetype of Pisces, whose symbol is the two fish swimming in opposite directions, we merge with the raindrop that falls into the river, and the river that returns to the ocean. We give our particularity to the vastness of something larger than we are, often with little more than trust in giving ourselves over to what we believe and a compassion larger than ego driven love. In astrological metaphor, as the last sign of the zodiac, Pisces carries the least worldly energy of all the sun signs, and leads us on a journey of return to our spirit. Sun, 02 Mar 2008 17:05:19 GMT Society/Religion_and_Spirituality/Divination/Astrology/ http://audio.krfp.org/moonwatch/ The moon is full in Virgo, the sixth sign of the tropical zodiac. In the old illustrations, Virgo is depicted as a virgin seated with the fruits of the harvest, sometimes holding a baby in her arms, along with the wheat or the corn. Thus, this sign is associated with the richness of the harvest and the meticulous and regular work and attention required to bring it to ripening. Sat, 16 Feb 2008 19:21:15 GMT Society/Religion_and_Spirituality/Divination/Astrology/ http://audio.krfp.org/moonwatch/ The moon is new in February in Aquarius, the eleventh sign of the tropical zodiac. Illustrations depict Aquarius as a man pouring out an urn of water, and in older illustrations this figure is often an angel, which emphasizes the super-conscious quality of Aquarian knowledge and experience, poured out indiscriminately from the realm of genius or spirit for the enlightenment of all humanity. Whether we are comfortably in place to receive it or not, Aquarius describes the energy that rearranges us suddenly, and in so doing, puts us in touch with flashes of insight and genius that move us toward greater authenticity in ourselves and in our human community. Sun, 27 Jan 2008 02:42:38 GMT Society/Religion_and_Spirituality/Divination/Astrology/ http://audio.krfp.org/moonwatch/ The moon is new and partially eclipses the sun in the sign of Virgo, the virgin. While we won’t physically see the eclipse in the northern hemisphere, the symbolism of it falling on the anniversary of 9/11 is hard to ignore. Sun in Virgo gives us purpose to dedicate ourselves to a task by isolating its steps and focusing on technique. When the purpose symbolized by the sun is eclipsed, we experience the opportunity to embrace the Piscean opposite of this ability, to merge with the emotional whole or enormity of what our work feels like, rather than keeping ourselves distant from it with the usual analytic focus of Virgo. Mon, 10 Sep 2007 03:49:49 GMT Society/Religion_and_Spirituality/Divination/Astrology/ http://audio.krfp.org/moonwatch/ The moon is full and totally eclipsed at the end of August in Pisces, the last sign of the zodiac. When the moon is eclipsed, the energy of the sign it is in often flips itself over and expresses itself more like the energy of its opposite sign, which in this case is Virgo. Pisces is drawn into realms unfettered by the boundaries of space and time, while Virgo thrives on a proscribed and workaday routine. Pisces immerses itself in the whole while Virgo focuses on the details. So at this full moon eclipse, we may experience an interesting combination or switch of these polarities as they lose their distinctiveness. Sat, 25 Aug 2007 16:01:57 GMT Society/Religion_and_Spirituality/Divination/Astrology/ http://audio.krfp.org/moonwatch/ The moon is new in Leo, the sign of the Lion. In Leo, the fifth sign of the zodiac, we find the essential vitality and heart of the life force itself. Symbolically, Leo aligns us with the energy of the sun, so a new moon in Leo joins forces with the sun from its archetypal home sign. Like the sun, Leos are born to shine, and so a Leo moon reflects the emotion of drama, play, romance and self-expression that is natural to the sun in that sign. Sun, 12 Aug 2007 03:12:23 GMT Society/Religion_and_Spirituality/Divination/Astrology/ http://audio.krfp.org/moonwatch/ The moon is full at the end of July in the sign of Aquarius, the water bearer. It’s counterintuitive, in a way, that Aquarius, an airy intellectual sign, would be called the water bearer. Since Aquarius is the peak of the lunar cycle which began in Cancer, perhaps this unlikely symbolic abstraction brings us a tip about what forms the endeavors we started at the new moon may take. Perhaps they will become abstractions of themselves, or, at the experiential level that Aquarius works on, we may experience a transfiguration of our original emotional starting point, which, also due to the nature of Aquarian energy and it’s relation to Cancer in the zodiac, cannot come about without some disruption or conscious adjustment. Thu, 26 Jul 2007 04:27:21 GMT Society/Religion_and_Spirituality/Divination/Astrology/ http://audio.krfp.org/moonwatch/ The moon is new in mid-July in Cancer, the sign of the crab. As the fourth sign, Cancer inhabits both the summer and the midnight angle of the zodiac’s wheel. This “bottom” angle describes both our cultural and familial roots, and a paradox which contains both the bright flambuoyance of summer and the mysterious magical hour of midnight. Cancer is like that: it’s both very public and very private, and you never know which side of this sign will show itself when. Tue, 10 Jul 2007 04:02:07 GMT Society/Religion_and_Spirituality/Divination/Astrology/ http://audio.krfp.org/moonwatch/ The moon is full at the very end of June in the sign of Capricorn, the seagoat. Capricorn is the 10th sign, and occupies the midheaven or high noon angle of the tropical zodiac. It is a sign of initiation into how we relate to authority and the power structures of the world. All structures, whether they be corporate, communal, or crystalline, are the domain of Capricorn. Part of our initiation into structure involves coming to terms with the reputation we make or break for ourselves out in the world at large, both with those in authority, and those we may have authority over. Wed, 27 Jun 2007 14:46:32 GMT Society/Religion_and_Spirituality/Divination/Astrology/ http://audio.krfp.org/moonwatch/ The moon is new in the middle of June in Gemini, the sign of the twins. The middle of anything is a great place to find Gemini energy, whether it is the farmer’s market, the center of a breaking news story, or the latest craze in technical gadgets. Gemini is an articulate talker, and often finds him or herself in the center of an argument or debate. The twinning tendency in Gemini makes him or her able to change spots according to whatever immediate environment he or she is immersed in, and sometimes that can exasperate those who wish for more consistency in the Gemini sensibility. Yet if we listen closely, we see that Gemini’s gift is more profound than a penchant for switching positions, or seeming to articulate both positions, while committing to neither. Sun, 10 Jun 2007 17:31:10 GMT Society/Religion_and_Spirituality/Divination/Astrology/ http://audio.krfp.org/moonwatch/ The moon is full at the very end of May in Sagittarius, the sign of the centaur with the bow and arrow. In Sagittarius, we draw our bow and aim for the farthest horizons of history, philosophy, law, travel and education. We saddle up, fill up our knapsacks and take to the road, or we take a chance, or a gamble on a hunch or a grand idea that we are convinced will lead us to good fortune, healing, and wisdom. Sometimes, too, we wallow in excess of all kinds. Wed, 30 May 2007 14:12:25 GMT Society/Religion_and_Spirituality/Divination/Astrology/ http://audio.krfp.org/moonwatch/ The moon is new in the middle of May in the sign of Taurus, the bull. Taurus is the second sign of the zodiac, and the first earth sign. In Taurus, we find the foundation for life, whether it is the dirt, the literal foundation of our home, or the bedrock of savings or values we live by. Taurus, therefore, is practical and literally earthy, and like the soil it shares an affinity with, holds tightly that which it seeks to accumulate and grow. Just as soil forms the literal foundation for life, so Taurus draws to it whatever it is attracted to so that the sensual gifts of life may flourish and delight the senses. Mon, 14 May 2007 05:24:07 GMT Society/Religion_and_Spirituality/Divination/Astrology/ http://audio.krfp.org/moonwatch/ The moon is full at the beginning of May, on Beltane, in the sign of Scorpio. Scorpio is the eighth sign of the zodiac, and, like Aries, with which we began this lunar cycle, Scorpio shares a affinity with the planet Mars, But in Scorpio, the battles we take up are internal and soulful, rather than external. Sat, 28 Apr 2007 20:55:18 GMT Society/Religion_and_Spirituality/Divination/Astrology/ http://audio.krfp.org/moonwatch/ The first new moon of spring is in Aries, the Ram. Aries is also the first sign of the tropical Zodiac, and marks the beginning of the seasonal year in the northern hemisphere. In the circle of the Zodiac, Aries is the beginning of the solar year, and our desire to act. Fri, 13 Apr 2007 01:29:24 GMT Society/Religion_and_Spirituality/Divination/Astrology/ http://audio.krfp.org/moonwatch/ The full moon this month is in the sign of Libra, the scales. IN Libra, we balance opposites, the most essential of these being the tension and the attraction that exists between the self and the other. Libra helps us weight the consequences of our actions through the mirror of how others respond or react to them. At the solar eclipse in Pisces that began this lunar cycle just two days before the new beginning of Spring Equinox, we shifted the rock on which our beliefs and fantasies rested. Sun, 01 Apr 2007 00:25:46 GMT Society/Religion_and_Spirituality/Divination/Astrology/ http://audio.krfp.org/moonwatch/ This lunar cycle begins with a solar eclipse in Pisces, the sign of the two fish. In Pisces, the last sign of the zodiac, we often encounter that which we hide from in ourselves, and others. The Piscean fish who dares to swim upstream faces his or her identification with the victim, the downtrodden, the disabled, the addicted, the silenced, the religious fanatic or disciple, the old who have been exiled or dismissed, the terminally ill, and the imprisoned in a spirit of compassion that heals. Pisces knows that without these reclaimed states of the human condition, which are also parts of ourselves, we cannot find the unity and wisdom of spirit which restores our world to a healthy state of wholeness and kinship. Fri, 16 Mar 2007 04:55:19 GMT Society/Religion_and_Spirituality/Divination/Astrology/ http://audio.krfp.org/moonwatch/ The full moon in March is actually a total lunar eclipse in the sign of Virgo. As the sixth sign of the tropical zodiac, Virgo prepares us for life in the larger framework of social deliberation, consensus and partnership that the next sign, Libra, represents. In Virgo we inhabit the health and work routines that underlie our ability to relate to others. Virgo is very concerned with method, with the ordering of tasks for efficiency and with making sure everything that needs to get done, gets done. Wed, 28 Feb 2007 15:39:35 GMT Society/Religion_and_Spirituality/Divination/Astrology/