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December Full Cold Moon

By Robert McDowell

On December 28th, the Full Cold Moon arrives. Is it a challenging Moon for you, a possibly treacherous time of the year? It is for me. With my Irish background, I’ve always been a leaner when it comes to brooding. I’m a history buff, so I am also frequently looking backward to understand here and now. Couple all of this with my current progressed 12th house Moon, and I could be a marshmallow of exposed nerve endings, a bucket of woeful tears.

I was born with several 12th house planets. My 12th house Sun wants so much to be loved and admired and approved of, and he is oh so insecure about it! It has taken me decades to learn not to curl up in a little snuffling ball until the internal weather warms up, but it has only been in the last few years that I have begun to make progress. That’s when I started truly listening to my beloved, a Divine Feminine powerhouse who brilliantly understands all phases and nuances of the Moon. This Moon mistress has taught me to embrace all situations and conditions as opportunities for healthy change, as opportunities to receive and create inspiration and love.

This process can work in such small, precious and effective ways. In a recent email, I told her that I was lifted up and renewed whenever she said — at the end of an email, Skype session or phone conversation — that she loves me. She remembered this. And without fanfare, without announcements, without demands for getting credit for having heard me, she simply remembered to say or write love you.

Imagine how much warmth that adds in this chilly season! It’s like turning up the pilot light inside. I see her and feel her with ever greater intensity, and all my feelings and thoughts are compassionate and loving. It spills over, too. I smile at others more. I am more at ease. I’ve allowed my 12th house Sun a voice, and that voice led to a greater sense of security and acceptance.

That’s what this Full Moon is all about. Deep in your burrow, open your heart. Speak the words of your insecurities and fears or write them down. Sit with them. Walk with them. Then try dancing with them. Go ahead, in your own room, when no one’s looking!

Here is a poem of mine that emerged from such a process. May it inspire you to name your own blessings in this cold month that houses such passionate, healing fires just waiting to warm the world.

Grateful

Be grateful that you live
Inside the head you do.
How many times have you
Gone sailing through
Your bed or favorite chair to
Wave a sign in the sleaze
Of traffic: Need money. Please!

How many times have you
Suffered with the losers
Of war, or chafed and simmered
On a reservation, or brokered
The rescue of many from fear?

How many hours have you
Survived the lessons of gender
Change, or held your hero,
So splendid because of you?

Be grateful, be father and mother,
Be teacher, sister and brother
In all that you dream and do,
Against the day your ledger
Is opened up to you.

© 2012 Robert McDowell

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About Robert McDowell

Robert McDowell is the author of five books of poetry and the Amazon.com bestselling Poetry as Spiritual Practice: Reading, Writing, and Using Poetry in Your Daily Rituals, Aspirations, and Intentions (Free Press/Simon & Schuster 2008).

Comments

  1. Robert McDowell says

    Dec 29, 2012 at 8:10 pm

    Hi, Sunny! I’ve no idea how you came to this page, either, but I’m delighted! Thank you for sharing your reaction. Hope you come back!

    Robert

    Reply
  2. Sunny Peace says

    Dec 28, 2012 at 8:16 pm

    Robert,
    I have no idea how I came to this webpage but am happy to discover your beautifully inspired words dancing across my cyber page.
    The poem is ecstatic.
    Thank you so much for sharing your wise dreams.

    Reply
  3. Maria Machado Leite says

    Dec 27, 2012 at 2:35 pm

    Dear Robert,
    Thank you so much for this COLD FULL MOON,
    <i was born with 3 powerful planets in Cancer, Mars at 6.10 degree, Venus and Pluto making a close conjunction, 27.30 and Pluto at 28.40. My Cancer is in the XII House. Reading the Advises of you Mistress, had learn a lot…
    Embrace your fears, Disappointments…in futur you are the Lover, and sharing it.
    Also thank you so much for your Poem " Gratitud"
    My blessings for 2013
    As always,
    Maria

    Reply
    • Robert McDowell says

      Dec 29, 2012 at 8:09 pm

      Thank you, Maria. May the coming year bring you health and happiness and peace.

      Robert

      Reply
  4. Michele says

    Dec 27, 2012 at 1:51 pm

    Robert, this brought tears to my eyes. I can relate so well. I too am a 12th house Sun and my mother a 12th house moon, so this has really helped me to understand her better. I need to say those words to her more often. She too is very lonely in her soul as she lost her mother at a young age and I am sure it has affected her her whole life. Thank you for reminding us how much it means to others and to not be afraid to say “I love you” or even simply “love you.”….great poem too!

    Happy New Year to you!

    Reply
    • Robert McDowell says

      Dec 29, 2012 at 8:08 pm

      Dear Michele,

      Thank you for your generous reply. It moves me as we move together along our parallel paths. Blessings to you! Robert

      Reply

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The Moon is in its
Crescent Phase

in the
Sign of Aries


Today's Lunar Aspects (Greenwich Mean Time)
(subtract: PST -8 hours, PDT -7 hours, EST -5 hours, EDT -4 hours)

  • Moon sextile Sun, 11:50pm  Jan 26 2023
  • Moon sextile Saturn, 3:13pm  Jan 27 2023
  • Moon sextile Sun, 7:17pm  Jan 27 2023
  • Moon square Pluto, 9:01pm  Jan 27 2023

Venus is currently
The Evening Star

in the sign of Pisces


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Astrologers use a variety of house systems, or methods of dividing up the sky into twelve sections. I use the Porphyry house system; another popular house system is Placidus (this is the default on https://astro.com). If the chart I send you looks different from what you are used to seeing, then likely a system other than Porphyry was used. Whole signs, Equal House, Regiomantus, and Campanus are examples of other systems. If you find all of this confusing, do not worry. It is likely not critical to your report.

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.