Monday, April 14, 2014

EcoAstrology: Full Moon/Lunar Eclipse Plus!

Thanks to Stephanie for graciously permitting this posting of her fantastic Astrology Update...she is a very accomplished dot-connector! DT the ET

By Stephanie Austin, MA, On 4-13-14

Important Dates:
April 14: Pluto stations retrograde (14º Capricorn); Mercury conjunct Uranus (13º Aries)
April 15: Lunar Eclipse/Full Moon 12:42 AM PDT (25º Libra-Aries)
April 20-23: Grand Cardinal Cross (Pluto-Uranus-Jupiter-Mars, all at 14º)
April 20: Jupiter square Uranus (14º Cancer-Aries); Jupiter opposite Pluto (14º Can-Cap)
April 21: 5th Uranus-Pluto square (14º Aries-Capricorn)
April 22: Mars square Jupiter (14º Libra-Cancer)
April 23: Mars opposite Uranus (14º Libra-Aries); Mars square Pluto (14º Libra-Cap)
April 28: Solar Eclipse/New Moon 11:03 PM PDT (9º Taurus)

Dear Friends,

“Things do not change; we change.” -- Henry David Thoreau

“All great changes are preceded by chaos.” -- Deepak Chopra

“The most powerful agent of change is a change of heart.” -- B.J. Marshal

Shift happens. These are challenging but incredibly liberating times. Things are falling apart into order to reconfigure at a higher level. For many of us, buried emotions, unconscious programming, and old traumas are being brought to the surface for release and healing. For all of us, we are entering a huge gateway to new directions, dimensions, and opportunities to make a quantum leap. Take extra good care of yourself for the next two weeks. Even long wished for changes can be stressful. Do less and be more. Rest a lot, eat well, and use the tools you know to stay centered. Keep checking your grounding -- are you in present time, are you fully in your body, are you in your witness? While we are all immersed in the same astrological forces, each one of us is a unique spark of the divine on a unique journey, and so will experience these transformational tailwinds differently.

The next full moon, which peaks on April 15 at 12:42 PM PDT at 25º Libra-Aries, is the most galvanizing full moon of the year. It is also a total lunar eclipse, which occurs just hours after Pluto stations retrograde, only a few days before the 5th Uranus-Pluto square, AND greatly amplifies the powerful grand cross formed by Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, and Pluto. In plain English, it’s all about relationship -- how we relate to ourselves, others, our home and family, our authority and power.

The brighter the light, the darker the shadow. These energies illuminate where we are still hiding our light, ignoring our truth, shying away from our sovereignty. The Sun in Aries, along with Mercury, Juno, Uranus, Eris, and the South Node in Aries, challenge us to claim our freedom and singularity; to wake up from the nightmares of fear and conformity, to be who we really are, to recognize that each of us holds a vital piece of the puzzle. The Moon in Libra, along with Mars, Vesta, Ceres, and the North Node in Libra, call us to live in equality, justice, and co-creation, to sacred activism, and to recognize our unity in diversity.

Lunar eclipses occur when the Sun, Moon, and Earth align more precisely, intensifying gravitational tugs on tidal forces and tectonic plates. The amplified pull of the Sun and Moon affects the electromagnetic field of the Earth and all its inhabitants, altering the energy matrices which shape matter and consciousness. During a lunar eclipse, the Full Moon slowly dims as it passes through the Earth’s shadow. This temporary blockage of light stirs up what has been in the unconscious, increasing awareness of our deepest motivations and fears. We’re clearing out old patterns; many are scraping the bottom of the karmic barrel. Some of those feelings, or the intensity of them, may not make much sense; give yourself permission to fully experience them and then let them go. What we resist, persists. Journaling, singing, dancing, any kind of expressive art can be especially healing and grounding right now. Do what feeds and opens your heart.

This is the first of four total lunar eclipses in a row, called a tetrad. In the 21st century (2001 - 2100), there will be 9 tetrads; in the last century (1901 - 2000) there were only 2, and in the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, there were none at all. The last tetrad occurred in 2003 - 2004; the next one will be 2032 - 2033. Lunar eclipses are safe and easy to watch; you don’t need a filter or telescope, just relatively clear skies. The Moon will be completely within the shadow of the Earth from 10:58 PM to 2:33 PM PDT, with the eclipse peak on April 15 at 12:45 AM PDT, an exceptionally powerful time for prayer, ceremony, and meditation. You’ll see the star Spica (24º Libra) and the planet Mars (16º Libra) close to the Moon as well. This eclipse will be visible across the Americas, far western Europe, western Africa, and the Pacific ocean, with the end visible from Oceania, Australia and far eastern Asia. For more information on eclipses, see the links in the Resource section below.

Whenever a celestial body turns retrograde, its archetypal energy is greatly intensified. Pluto, the symbol of death and rebirth, stations retrograde on April 14, moving backward until September 22, magnifying the celestial message to let go of what’s no longer viable. Retrograde periods are times to rethink, redesign, and release whatever is not working. They direct our energy inwards, to deeply examine and transform ourselves. Mars is also retrograde (until May 19), as is Saturn in Scorpio (until July 20), emphasizing we are in a major weeding time, clearing space for what we wan to seed and cultivate now.

Ceres tightly conjuncts the Moon during this eclipse, bringing crucial environmental, food, and feminine power issues to the fore. In mythology, Ceres was the Roman Goddess of Grain and Agriculture, and a derivative of the Great Goddess; her name comes from the Indo-European root ker, meaning 'to create or grow.' Originally classified as a planet, then an asteroid, and now as a dwarf planet, Ceres symbolizes our relationship to Mother Nature and our capacity to care for others. Vesta, the asteroid named for the mythic Goddess of the Hearth, is only two degrees from Ceres; both Vesta and Ceres entered Libra in November 2013 and remain within a few degrees of each other until August 2014, continuing the cosmic directive for sacred, co-creative partnership with each other and with the Earth. The asteroid Juno closely conjoins the Sun in Aries, accenting the need for both greater personal empowerment and more egalitarian forms of relationship.

April 21 marks the fifth of seven exact squares between Uranus and Pluto, an evolutionary imperative in effect from 2012 to 2015 impelling us to manifest new ideals and new institutions. Jupiter has been aspecting and amplifying the ongoing Uranus–Pluto square since July 2013; now Mars joins in, forming a rare, tight cardinal grand cross at 14° (exact April 20–22), which signals a time of major breakthroughs or breakdowns. The keywords for this extraordinary combo are courage and collaboration, ingenuity and integrity. It’s unmistakably clear now what’s working and what must radically change. Squares mark turning points; a grand cross generates four squares, requiring that we balance and integrate four major areas of our lives: individuality and relationship, home and work.

Also called a grand square, this is the second and most powerful of three configurations involving Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, and Pluto. Their first grand cross formed December 25–30, 2013, and the third will be June 14–25, 2014. Those with natal planets or angles in the mid degrees of cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn) will feel the developmental pressure of this grand cross most strongly, and be catalysts for others as well. Whatever we are focusing on is being amplified by this grand cross, so concentrate on creative solutions rather than fear. Remember that thoughts matter. What we are thinking, we are broadcasting; what we are thinking, we are praying for.

April 15 - 22 is Passover, a Jewish celebration of liberation and freedom. April 18 is Good Friday and April 20 Easter, commemorating the resurrection of Christ. From Patricia Cota-Robles (http://www.eraofpeace.org/news/#.U0rfFsYrjwI): “Billions of people focusing their attention on the Resurrection of Jesus on Easter Morning will form a collective Cup of Humanity’s Consciousness. This Chalice of Light will provide an open portal through which the Light of God will flow to accelerate the return to Christ Consciousness which is unfolding within every person on Earth through the Divine Intervention of his or her I AM Presence. This is what Jesus meant by the 2nd Coming of the Christ. Humanity’s return to Christ Consciousness is occurring regardless of a person’s religious affiliations or whether or not he or she even believes in God or the potential of a higher level of consciousness. This is happening through the I AM Presence of all of our sisters and brothers in the Family of Humanity because we are One and there is no separation.”

Shine your light. Live your truth. Choose love. “Stay focused and stay calm, and observe yourself to gauge the reactions that may be triggered within. If any outside influence starts to raise the alarms, be sure to check in and override any panic-buttons that may go off automatically. Fear is the old world, love and wisdom is the new world, and before you have learned to stay constantly centered in the new, you must train yourself at any opportunity to make the choice to be in the new every time the choice arises. And arise it will, for now, the old is starting to crumble even faster, and so, you will have many an opportunity to give yourself the lesson of being centered within the NOW in the days and weeks ahead. It is a lesson that we are certain you will learn quickly. After all, you have all made the choice to close that old chapter of fear and to open a brand new book called living your life from love.” (Aisha North, http://aishanorth.wordpress.com/author/aishanorth/)

Namaste,
Stephanie Austin
www.EcoAstrology.com
360-379-3060
PO Box 1745 Port Townsend, WA 98368

These new and full moon updates are sent as a service to my astrology clients, students, and friends. To subscribe for 25 updates/one year via PayPal, click on http://ecoastrology.com/forecast.html, or send a check for $12 (or more) to Stephanie Austin, Box 1745, Port Townsend, WA 98368, along with your email address. Your support is greatly appreciated!

Stephanie Austin M.A. is a full time astrologer specializing in life purpose, career, and relationship readings since 1986. She also teaches astrology and writes the New and Full Moon column for the Mountain Astrologer magazine. Her background includes a bachelor's degree in Psychology, a master's in Consciousness Studies, and a lifelong involvement with meditation, Nature, and healing. For more information on her astrology readings, eBooks, tutorials, and forecasts, visit www.EcoAstrology.com.
Resources

Cardinal Grand Cross 2014: excellent 5 minute video by Simone Matthews at this link.

A Christian astronomer talks about Blood Moons by Jan Ryan at this link.

A Tetrad of Lunar Eclipses: beautiful 4 minute video from NASA on eclipses at this link.

How to Watch the Lunar Eclipse at this link.

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