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Leo Full Moon: Find Your Suit of Unconditional Love

By Simone Butler

One afternoon last week while driving down a peaceful boulevard in my neighborhood, I passed a slow-moving car. To my shock, the driver sped up and began aggressively tailgating me – all the way to my house! As I got out of my car, the red-faced woman screamed at me, calling me a danger to the neighborhood. I am a good driver. Clearly, she was having a bad day. But did I sympathize with her? Hell no! As she ranted on, I told her to shut up and let it go – while slamming the gate behind me.

The incident rankled for days. I almost never get into altercations like that! It was not my finest moment, to be sure. Then I happened upon an article called “Loving Ourselves Unconditionally” in the February Science of Mind Magazine. In it, Molly Kate Brown observes that the fever pitch of discord that’s currently happening around us is akin to the tantrum of a three-year old who wants to destroy everything in sight. “She needs the unconditional, loving hug of Grandmother,” says Brown.  “No amount of shaming or blaming will calm her; however, the loving embrace of Grandmother can.”

Our culture’s searing divisiveness, she adds, perpetuates an inner discord which has been building for generations. Brown recommends that we put on a “suit of unconditional love” that can hold all parts of ourselves and others without judgment, the way a loving grandmother would. Only that kind of embrace, she insists, can stop the madness and bring us greater peace – since it allows us to be with our inner pain and shed the tears our ancestors could not.

The upcoming Leo Full Moon (Feb. 8, 11:33 p.m. PST) offers a potent opportunity in which to practice self-love. Fiery Leo rules the heart, seat of compassion and courage (derived from coeur, the French word for heart). Emotions run high around any Full Moon, even when cool-headed Aquarius is involved. As the Aquarius Sun sextiles fiery Mars in spirited Sagittarius while the Leo Moon trines Mars, we receive the energy, motivation and courage to open our hearts to ourselves and others – even while avoiding or transforming any reactivity. The objective is to balance head with heart.

We recently experienced one such incident just as Mercury entered its shadow phase and began slowing down prior to its Feb. 16 retrograde. The communication planet dipped its toe into the murky waters of Pisces on Feb. 3, and the next day brought great confusion at the Iowa caucus. Logical Mercury is in both detriment and fall in the emotional sign of Pisces, where it will remain for ten weeks. During this time, we may struggle to balance logic with feelings. It may be necessary to go on faith, without the rational answers we seek. Yet this cycle can also enhance our right brain feminine consciousness and intuition, as it takes us within to feel deeply as we sort out the past. Still, there are bound to be more confounding incidents ahead.

What to do? In my case, I’m leaving shame and blame behind, and sending a big virtual hug to that agitated driver – as well as myself. Do you know someone who could use an unconditionally loving embrace? How about you? We can all make good use of the heart-opening energies of Saturday’s Leo Full Moon. So don your suit of unconditional love and give yourself and others a big embrace. You’ll make Grandma proud.

Filed under: Home Full Moon Featured Article, Uncategorized

About Simone Butler

Simone Butler is the author of Moon Power: Lunar Rituals for Connecting with your Inner Goddess. She's been a professional astrologer for 30 years. In addition to a worldwide consulting practice on astrology and Astro Feng Shui, Simone offers New Moon collage classes, and writes for The Mountain Astrologer. She also wrote for and edited the Starscroll for many years. Simone’s book Astro Feng Shui: Making Magic in Your Home and Life fuses Western astrology and Western feng shui into one unique, transformative system. Sign up to receive her entertaining, informative bi-monthly blogs and learn about her monthly rituals and tips.

Comments

  1. Laura says

    Feb 5, 2020 at 11:03 pm

    So helpful.

    I was just this minute “having a good cry” and feeling again like the infant my mother left crying in the crib. “Let them cry it out.” She always said about babies. I still feel that nobody hears and nobody is coming to get me. Learning to self-soothe is a major theme in my life.

    Reply
    • Simone Butler says

      Feb 6, 2020 at 11:01 am

      What a cruel belief that was about leaving babies alone to cry it out. So sorry you had to suffer that, even now. But at least you are aware of it, and taking steps to soothe yourself. Sending you a big grandma hug!

      Reply

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The Moon is in its
Last Quarter Phase

in the
Sign of Pisces


Today's Lunar Aspects:

  • Moon sextile Uranus, 7:54pm  May 23 2022
  • Moon conjunct Neptune, 12:41pm  May 24 2022
  • Moon sextile Pluto, 6:49pm  May 24 2022

Venus is currently
The Morning Star

in the sign of Aries


Enroll in Dana Gerhardt’s Moon Workshop!
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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.