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Leo Full Moon: Shine On

By Jessica Shepherd

Who in the hell d’you think you are? A super star? Well, right you are. – John Lennon

This weekend, I took a walk down the block to visit a new friend. She served me tea, peppered me with questions about myself and soon enough out my reindition of “How I Met My Husband” tumbled out, which quickly led to other topics like: manifestation, healing from past relationships, spirituality and more. A half hour into the conversation, she sat back and looked at me for a moment,  genuflecting,  “I don’t meet many people like you. Your self-trust and self-knowing seems to guide all your decisions and choices. I don’t have that sense of myself, and many other people I know don’t, either. We all want it – this makes you unique.”

Writing this, I cringe. It’s hard for me to accept praise. Plus, I’ve made plenty of decisions that weren’t in my own best interest, which is how I’m learning to make better choices. But learning to accept kudos and encouragement for the journey, to receive recognition and celebration, whether onstage or in an intimate conversation, seems essential to living fully and fearlessly.

We each have something unique to us, that makes us stand out from the crowd: A talent, a way of telling stories, a unique perspective on a subject… we each have Star power.  If we feel estranged from our that power, we have may need to remember who we truly are. Leo has a strategy for self-remembrance and it involves recognition, praise, affection & fun. Imagine your self as a shy, timid child (not hard for me to imagine; I was one!) and how a few positive strokes from a teacher or parent would buoy your spirits, make you giddy with positive self-regard. How easy it is for a child, egged on by praise, affection and encouragement, to let loose, get stupid & just be their self.  That’s Leo. Leo confidence is born of trust that the world is loving and good, and so are we. This sense of well-being allows us to risk showing up and sharing our true self.  As adults, we’re never too old to be that kind of childlike. Confidence in our own nature is a clear, shining facet of the Leo/Aquarius axis – and the Star.

The Star card is one of my favorite cards in the Tarot, a card of talent and recognition, of the performer, artist and humanitarian. Often depicted as a beautiful woman pouring stars from the heavens down to humanity, according to Angeles Arrien, the Star is a card of self-sufficiency, of  “looking within and trusting what is there.” This makes sense, because to shine we need to not only trust the world is a basically good and safe place to come out and play, but we must trust it’s okay to simply be our self. It sounds easy but it’s not always. Our Star power can be projected onto groups of friends who really aren’t our friends, depended upon from lovers, depleted by negative self-talk, held in abeyance by cultural and family conditioning.  But this golden-ness is natural, in our nature, in the deepest sense of the word.

Aquarius Sun opposes this Leo Moon. Do your friends, generally, help you to feel special and loved? Deep down, do you know your friends are rooting for you and want you to shine?  When our friends recognize our Divine essence, as both companion and cheerleader, it ignites our own Divine spark, and our ability to live out loud, to boldly create. Ponder this: I know that there are people in your life who are continually receiving the brilliance that you possess and they reflect it back to you all the time. There are people whose face would light up like a sunrise at the chance to spend a day just with you. If you’re experiencing a flagging sense of self-trust & confidence, trust those people to help you remember who you are. “On days like this,” Lioness Tori Amos sings, “You know who your friends are.”

Leo Full Moon is a time for reconciling where we feel like an estranged alien from another planet with our need to shine as a creative force, grounded in our true nature. It’s a chance to trust that we are inherently good. With encouragement, praise, a few loving strokes from others, or from within, we can experience the brilliance we are. So as you stand under the light of the Leo Full Moon this week, pull on the resilient, hardy nature of your true Star self.  Looking up at that Leo Full Moon, un-self-conscious, luminous, practically boastful in its glow, it’s not a stretch to imagine your self as a shimmering being of light, too. It’s not that hard to trust that what you have inside is exactly what you need.

Well we all shine on
Like the moon and the stars and the sun
Well we all shine on
Ev’ryone come on

image source: To Be A Child Again by SalemCat, DeviantArt.com

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About Jessica Shepherd

Jessica Shepherd is a writer, astrologer and health coach who has studied and practiced modern astrology since 1992. She is the author of A Love Alchemist’s Notebook: Magical Secrets For Drawing Your True Love Into Your Life (Llewellyn, 2010) and the books Venus Signs: Discover Your Erotic Gifts and Secret Desires Through Astrology
(Llewellyn, 2015) and Karmic Dates and Momentary Mates: The Astrology of the Fifth House (Moonkissd, 2014). In 2018, after living in California for twenty years, she relocated to Honolulu, Hawaii with her husband, dog, and cat. Find out more about Jessica at Moonkissd (www.moonkissd.com).

Comments

  1. Michele says

    Feb 3, 2015 at 11:38 am

    I love that song by John Lennon and feel it too is the perfect song for this full moon.
    And Jessica, just reading this has reminded me, it’s ok to shine and share our inner child! I hold back sometimes feeling I might look silly being the age I am…but who cares! We should all let our inner child out to play. Thanks for reminding us!

    Happy Full Moon! xo

    Reply
    • Jessica Shepherd says

      Feb 3, 2015 at 11:45 am

      Thanks, Michele! I agree. My inner “little girls” are naturally shy -and shy from the spotlight- but no matter how we’re designed, playing and being silly is healing for the soul.

      Reply
  2. Jessica Shepherd says

    Feb 2, 2015 at 10:22 am

    Thank you, Karen! Happy Fully Moon. <3

    Reply
  3. Karen Wheeler says

    Feb 1, 2015 at 6:40 am

    Thank You. Needed this right now and look forward to reading your blog.

    Reply

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The Moon is in its
Last Quarter Phase

in the
Sign of Libra


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

  • Moon sextile Sun, 8:50pm  Dec 8 2023
  • Moon square Pluto, 1:05am  Dec 9 2023
  • Moon trine Saturn, 6:33am  Dec 9 2023
  • Moon sextile Sun, 7:16am  Dec 9 2023

Venus is currently
The Morning Star

in the sign of Scorpio


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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.