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A magical offering for 2020’s final Full Moon

By Dana Gerhardt

At this extra moony moment–the year’s only Full Moon ruled by the Moon–we find ourselves in an ultra-liminal space.  We are poised between the years.  2020 is ending–2021 begins.  Much of 2020’s struggle is behind us.  New possibilities are ahead.  If you’d like to cook up a little authentic moon magic on this night, you can offer yourself to the Moon.  All you need is awareness and a proper prayer.

The Offering

Shortly after sunset, go someplace with a nice view of the eastern horizon.  This can be somewhere special or just your driveway or backyard.  The Moon is everywhere.  Choose a place where you can feel safe enough to be vulnerable.  If the Moon hasn’t risen yet, wait comfortably until she does.

Gradually shift out of the churning of your thoughts by increasing your awareness of the natural world.  Even in the city, there is nature.  Observe the weather.  Look for signs of the current season.  Was it warm or cold today?  Is the air now windy or calm?  In what growth stage are the surrounding plants and trees?  Are they barren?  Rich with leaves, blossoms, and fruit?  As you relax into this great womb of living energies, notice how you too belong in nature’s family, here alongside the trees, insects, stones, and birds.

Refine your attention.  Specifically–notice the relationship between land and sky.  Observe how the natural world is responding to the energy of this night.  Full moons are much brighter than the average moon phase.  Their luminous mystical qualities seem to permeate everything, including you.

Observe the moonlight on your skin.  Listen too for the sounds of the night.  Perhaps there’s a chorus of voices, insects buzzing,  cars on the road, a mother calling to her child,  silence.  Let the energy of the time penetrate you.  Can you think of a word that perfectly describes the mood in the atmosphere?  Trust your perceptions.

Now go inward.  Feel into the beating of your own heart.  Breathe into this space.  Relax.  Perhaps you’ll notice a spontaneous sigh as your lungs and heart gently come into a natural rhythm.  It will feel primal and comforting when they do.  A sound may begin murmuring inside you, an ancient “Hrum,” “Ohm” or “Haiyeeee.”   You may be arrested by a profound silence.  If your mind is still active, dial it down to a whisper.  Feel instead for the animal in your body.  How is your animal self responding to the Moon?

Prayer of Devotion for the Moon

If you are so moved, inside this beautiful temple of your own awareness, you can pledge your devotion to the Moon for the coming year.   Recite, with sincerity, this simple prayer:

I attune my outer life and my inner soul
to the infallible rhythm of the Moon,
who monthly empties, is reborn, and grows full.

Oh Great Goddess, who tills the garden of the Earth
Oh Wise Weaver of Time
Oh Star of Life
Oh Mother of the World

Bestow upon me your generous life and light.
Make me more loving this year.
Make me caring, calm, prosperous and bright.

Hold me in your heart in 2021
and I’ll hold you in mine.

Let’s nourish each other.
Let’s keep meeting this way
you and me
in the wild and wonderful
days ahead.

So be it!   Ah!   Ho!   Hrum!  Haiyeeee!

 

Make 2021 the year of the Moon!  Enter the Moon’s Temple and support yourself my monthly Moon workshop. It’s filled with goodies that can keep you focused, connected, and joyful in the months ahead.  Enroll here.

Filed under: Home Full Moon Featured Article

About Dana Gerhardt

A popular columnist with The Mountain Astrologer since 1991, Dana Gerhardt is an internationally respected astrologer. She has lectured extensively and written for astrology publications on several continents. Her ongoing passions are the moon and living the intuitive life. Dana worked for many years in the corporate sector, where she observed the undeniable influence of natural cycles. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa, Magna Cum Laude from Occidental College in Los Angeles and did graduate work in literature at Columbia University and CSULA. Dana can be contacted by email.

Comments

  1. michael says

    Dec 29, 2020 at 7:58 pm

    to grow

    from within the close, antechamber of light,
    the archway of incarnation beckons,
    drawing us in
    to the fullness of this moment,
    as Luna and Sun share quantum space with stars

    from the world of mind
    on wings of sound
    a wave of vibration enters
    the matrix of moisture and flesh
    a recognition of home, far from home,
    an en trance
    as hands hold the soft light of hope,
    as form creates form,
    in the reflective power
    of thought and feeling,
    of a still mirror,
    a dilated iris

    taught by snowflakes and crystals
    by what falls and what dies
    by what forms and what lives
    fresh born

    Reply
  2. Sarah says

    Dec 29, 2020 at 12:28 pm

    Thank you. I happened upon your site a couple days ago and am grateful. I’m a cancer, 6/26/65 and always felt connected to the moon. My Dad was a cancer, too, 6/29/21. He died when I was young but I feel like the moon has helped keep him close to me. Hope you are well!
    Sarah Murphy
    roottorise.co

    Reply
  3. Chris H says

    Dec 29, 2020 at 11:47 am

    Your words are a comfort as always but even more so this past year…thank you for sharing your wisdom~

    Reply
  4. Stella Figliano says

    Dec 28, 2020 at 12:58 pm

    Beautiful! Thank you ♡

    Reply

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The Moon is in its
First Quarter Phase

in the
Sign of Leo


Today's Lunar Aspects:

  • Moon square Sun, 6:59am  Apr 20 2021
  • Moon square Mercury, 10:08am  Apr 20 2021
  • Moon square Venus, 8:21pm  Apr 20 2021

Venus is currently
In the Underworld

in the sign of Taurus


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m  Conjunction:  Like peas in a pod, planets in conjunction tend to come from the same place. They act together, but it’s also hard to tell them apart. This aspect can increase talent, focus, and intensity (“two are better than one”). Or one planet can disappear as the other dominates. Their connection feels so natural, it’s easy to think everyone blends these planetary energies just as you do—but mostly, they don’t!.

p  Sextile:  Planets in sextile are compatible, though without any fireworks. This aspect doesn’t demand your attention. It quietly presents an opportunity. You can join these archetypal forces. Donna Cunningham has called this the “Oh, that!” aspect, because that’s generally what her clients say when she describes their benefits.  To get the most from sextiles you need to actively work them.

q  Square:  Squares are wild and wonderful—but difficult too. The power struggle between these planets was likely defined in your youth, when they were impossibly challenging. People are usually aware of their squares. They force the issues that make you to grow. And that’s their gift. They ensure you learn your lessons. When you rise to the occasion, they bless you with energy, action, and success.

r  Trine:  Michael Munkasey has dubbed this the “goddess aspect” because it’s so lovely. Identifying talents you may have perfected in a previous life, trines can bring you joy. There’s a nice flow of energy between planets in trine. They support and reinforce each another. But without any struggle, you might take them for granted—neither using nor developing their gifts. An unattended trine can sometimes trick you into negative behaviors.

t  Inconjunct/Quincunx:  Your quincunx planets are innately incompatible. Bringing them into harmonious expression requires constant adjustments. This can be stressful, also motivating. You’ve got to keep changing your process, opinions or attitude—which promotes highly creative solutions.

u  Opposition:  They say opposites attract—and planets in opposition are never far from each other, though they’re constantly bickering. You may be triggered into awareness of this aspect by other people who seem to resist or undermine you.  An opposition can make you feel uncertain, insecure, or discontent, until you can accept and see yourself in both energies. Typically people find it easier to identify with one side and project the other onto unsuspecting others in the outer world.

First House: Personality, physical body, beginnings. Includes the Ascendant and rules physical appearance, the image you project to others, your general outlook on life, how you start things; may describe your role in your family system, often guides your first impression of immediate environment.

Second House: Money and personal finances, sense of self-worth and basic values, personal possessions, talents.

Third House: Communication, thoughts, language skills like writing and speaking, early schooling, siblings and neighbors, short trips, coming and going around town.

Fourth House: Your home, psychological foundations and roots, family, parents, domestic life, instinctive behavior, ancestry, your connection with the past, sense of security, domestic life, real estate. conditions at the end of life.

Fifth House: Children, creativity, romance; pleasure, entertainment, self-expression; all forms of “play”, speculation, gambling, and attitude towards taking risks; hobbies, attitude towards romance, lovers as opposed to partners, attitude towards having fun.

Sixth House: Work and job (as opposed to career), daily life, attitude towards service and coworkers, helpfulness, pets, attitude towards routine and organization, how you refine and perfect your skills.

Seventh House: Partnerships, one-to-one relationships, marriage, the first marriage, the “significant other”, business partnerships, competitors, open enemies, lawyers, mediators, counselors, contracts, negotiations, agreements. clients/the public.

Eighth House: Transformations and crisis, your ability to meet and rebound from crisis and change, sexuality; sex, death and rebirth, rituals and personal growth, your partner’s resources, addictions, psychology, other people’s money, taxes, divorce/alimony, inheritance.

Ninth House: Attitude toward expanding horizons, religious beliefs and personal philosophy, higher education, long-distance travel, morals, foreign languages and cultures, personal truths, publishing, commerce, advertising, your sense of adventure.

Tenth House: Career and profession, your contribution to society, social status, public reputation, material success, how you carve out a public identity for yourself; attitude toward authority figures, parents, caregivers, bosses, governments, attitude towards responsibility, desire for achievement.

Eleventh House: Friends, groups, organizations; hopes, wishes, aspirations, personal goals; your philanthropic attitude, concern for the collective, humanity; like tenth, can bring recognition and honors for fulfilling hopes and dreams.

Twelfth House: What’s hidden beneath the surface, karmic dustbin, limiting childhood/past-life messages, self-undoing, hidden enemies, hidden weaknesses, dreams, secret affairs, lost items, hospitals and prisons, hidden strengths, spiritual studies and soul growth.

A  Sun: Our vitality and magnetism; self-identity, ego.
Roles: The Self, the Hero, the Performer, the King.

B  Moon: Intuition, emotion, nurture.
Roles: The Mother, the High Priestess, the Child.

C  Mercury: Mind; physical dexterity and mental agility.
Roles: The Thinker, the Communicator, the Student, the Trickster, the Merchant, the Thief.

D  Venus: Our capacity for pleasure, receptivity, creativity, and social connection. Also indicates our relationships, self esteem, and financial abundance.
Roles: The Lover, the Seductress, the Artist.

E  Mars: Desire, initiative, anger.
Roles: The Protector, the Athlete, the Warrior.

F  Jupiter: Luck, opportunity, expansion, higher learning, religion.
Roles: The Scholar, the Gypsy, the Traveler, the Monk, the Professor.

G  Saturn: Hard work, commitment, focus, inadequacy, leadership, suffering, loss.
Roles: The Task Master, the Grim Reaper, the Wise Old Man, the Builder, the Cynic, the Boss.

H  Uranus: Change, breakthroughs, upsets, discoveries.
Roles: The Revolutionary, the Humanitarian, the Visionary, the Snob.

I  Neptune: Imagination, spirituality, idealism, addictions, deception, compassion.
Roles: The Artist, the Romantic, the Guru, the Addict, the Martyr, the Victim.

J  Pluto: Transformation, power, psychological dynamics, helplessness.
Roles: The Terrorist, the Detective, the Psychotherapist, the Dictator, shady people.

a  Aries: Pioneering, competitive, selfish, impatient, courageous, reckless, independent, dynamic, domineering, “Me first!”

b  Taurus: Patient, stable, lazy, dependable, practical, sensual, stubborn, artistic, possessive, greedy, gentle, loyal.

c  Gemini: Intelligent, curious, adaptable, quick-witted, restless, clever, scatterbrained, lacking follow-through.

d  Cancer: Nourishing, intuitive, protective, moody, sensitive, maternal, domestic, childish, cautious, creative.

e  Leo: Proud, dignified, vain, expressive, romantic, generous, childish, overbearing, self-assured, creative.

f  Virgo: Perfection-seeking, practical, methodical, petty, critical, studious, discriminating, cautious, never satisfied.

g  Libra: Charming, sociable, peace-loving, refined, diplomatic, artistic, indecisive, apathetic, easily deterred.

h  Scorpio: Passionate, secretive, penetrating, resourceful, suspicious, manipulative, jealous, sarcastic, intolerant, determined, aware.

i  Sagittarius: Freedom-loving, philosophical, optimistic, enthusiastic, careless, impatient, talkative, a know-it-all, broadminded, athletic, honest.

j  Capricorn: Serious, responsible, practical, hardworking, stubborn, brooding, inhibited, status-conscious, domineering, unforgiving.

k  Aquarius: Progressive, individualistic, unpredictable, cold, intellectual, artistic, eccentric, shy, impersonal, scientific.

l  Pisces: Compassionate, intuitive, ungrounded, romantic, impractical, self-sacrificing, seductive, musical, artistic.