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Libra Full Moon: Your Golden Shadow

By Jessica Shepherd

One of the most eye-opening, joy-inducing experiences of moving to a new location has been re-realizing what it feels like to be living in a just right resonant environment. In California, life had become unnecessarily hard. Even the littlest things, like going to the grocery and running errands, interacting with people too often left me covered in an invisible but palpable dense, difficult to clear, energy.

In my first days here, though, I noticed something different: after conversing with a half dozen people with different energy fields (always precarious for an energy sensitive) I felt light, clear, open, and oddly good. And I wanted to more deeply feel the easy vibes they were emitting.

For instance, a couple responding to an ad I placed on Craigslist wowed me with their light and joy. Their sweetness and generosity was palpable, and it was clear they lived their lives this way. As I gravitated towards their energy like a flower turning toward the Sun, something in my heart tugged and felt sad. By comparison, I felt a little shut down. Like I was outside a candy store, looking in, separated by a window of glass. I realized, Ooh, I really, really wanted what they had. Their light, joy, sense of play. Did I dare think I could have it?

You have a golden shadow. Much attention has been given the dark shadow — mostly because of the Ego’s misguided logic, “if I eliminate what’s wrong with me I’ll finally be okay.” But just as people who elicit a strong negative reaction can alert us to our unconscious character traits (or, equally possible, one who is dis-resonant for us), a strong positive response can be a sign that we are closer than we think to our own beauty and power. When we covet another’s beauty, talent, style, love, light… we glimpse our own golden shadow.

Our golden “other” holds positive unconscious traits we have yet to claim. Herein lays the potential for confusion. Because we can’t yet see this inside our self, it’s easy to give our golden light to another: We fall in love, become best friends, worship a teacher or guru, develop a fantasy love affair or crush… and, ultimately if we don’t allow this relationship to change our relationship to our self, our golden shadow walks away when they do.

When we think another has all the love/beauty/talent goodies, we are in touch with the golden shadow. I have a client who spent several decades gilding an image of her therapist, giving this woman, this relationship, all the positive attributes they longed for with another- particularly, a spiritual based connection to an unconditionally accepting, loving, feminine authority figure (she has natal Venus in Scorpio conjunct Neptune in the tenth house). Then, one day out of the blue the therapist fell off the pedestal. My client asked, “Now where am I going to put all this energy I’d been focusing on her?” “On your self?” I suggested. “What traits were you giving her?” A good rule of thumb with the (golden) shadow is: If you can see it in another, it’s yours. Then the practice becomes figuring out how to own and enact what is already yours.

And “the work” is as simple as the decision or intention to own it as yours.

Because, in this Divine reality, we are already everything and everyone.

I didn’t need to glom onto the couple I met; they had what was mine (which is why I wanted it so badly), but due to self-protection, been missing. Because I was used to encountering dis-resonant people in my dis-resonant environment, I’d been holding my Soul at arms length in everyday life. I had kept my sweet, silly, light side under wraps, reserving that only for my clients, so I only got to experience this part of myself when I was in service to others. Enough!  I wanted to feel this for ME. When I set the intention to no longer hold my soul back – for light, joyful, sweet intimacy with all of life to return to me- I stepped into my golden light.

Libra Full Moon sheds light on relationship issues, issues that may be hard to clearly see without the light of this Moon. We can more easily see the projections we place onto others during Libra Full Moon –making this a perfect time to reclaim our golden shadow. Does someone in your live – friend, love interest, role model- possess or have what you most want? Are you giving away what you most want for your self, to them? Are your “you complete me” ideas about love or relating keeping you from precious intimacy with YOU?

Venus enters Taurus (on 3/30), perhaps the most self-possessed, embodied of Venus signs. Think of Botticelli’s Primavera, at home in the natural world, with her curvy body, within her self, the Goddess’ outstretched arm says, “This. This beauty is all mine…” It’s a wonderful attitude/posture to take, especially if you don’t even know how/where to begin to own your beauty, light, joy, talent, power. Set the intention to restore your golden shadow and access your full Goddess power. Start with what brings you joy and pleasure. This is an earthy, sensual Venus. Start with what makes your body hum with bliss & delight.

With Venus’ exaltation in Taurus, this Moon is a powerful time for manifesting Venus magic. Venus in Taurus invites us to value and reclaim what feels good, right and true for us. Particularly, if you find your self consistently looking to others, coveting some answer or goodie you think you don’t have, it is time for you to own what you already HAVE. Remember, if you can see it, and it feels good in your body and being, it is already yours!

P.S.- For more on integrating your golden shadow, you might want to read my book A Love Alchemist’s Notebook: Magical Secrets for Drawing Your True Love into Your Life.

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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. Tuula says

    Mar 31, 2018 at 9:43 am

    Hi Jessica,

    I’ve been loving your posts. Thank you very much for these insights!
    Your bio still says you live in CA – just a little full-moon observation 😉
    Looking forward to more…

    Reply
    • Jessica Shepherd says

      Mar 31, 2018 at 5:35 pm

      Thanks for your note, readership- and for catching that, Tuula!

      Jessica

      Reply

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The Moon is in its
Full Phase

in the
Sign of Sagittarius


Today's Lunar Aspects:

  • Moon square Mars, 3:51am  May 18 2022
  • Moon square Neptune, 3:59am  May 18 2022
  • Moon sextile Saturn, 3:59am  May 18 2022
  • Moon square Jupiter, 2:21pm  May 18 2022

Venus is currently
The Morning Star

in the sign of Aries


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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.