Strong Sun Moon: Point of Experience Before Crossing a Threshold

Happy Full Moon!  While many Americans who are west of the Eastern Time Zone have been somewhat mistakenly proclaiming this Full Moon to be on Friday the 13th...the Full Moon was actually exact for us (Central Daylight Time) last night, Thursday the 12th, at 11:11pm.  No big deal, just wanted to clear up the exact moment of the Solar-Lunar opposition.  We can still consider the moon as full tonight too.  I usually consider it full for two days before and after the exaction.

Preparing for New Journeys Ahead

The symbols of the specific degrees the Moon and Sun were in last night both have to do with getting to the point of arriving at a new stage of development or experience.  The Sabian Symbol for the Sun at Gemini 23 is 'Three Fledglings in a Nest High in a Tree' while the one for the Moon at Sagittarius 23 is 'A Group of Immigrants Fulfilling the Requirements for Entering a New Country'.  Both degrees show the possibility and hope for better things and a new way of life...as well as the developments that need to take place to get us to these thresholds of initiation.  This full moon is about the reorientation of self, learning new ways, and passing tests to further our progress.  We may feel like fledglings preparing for a first flight, or immigrants getting ready to embark on a new life in a new country.  We may feel underprepared or fear being out of our comfort zones, out of our element.  Or, conversely, we may be excited to step into the unknown and see where our leap of faith will take us.  Either way, as long as we 'fulfill the necessary requirements' and don't jump too hastily into the unknown, we'll be just fine.  So, these symbols reinforce another thing about Mercury Retrogrades that I often highlight...go back, make sure you've crossed your t's and dotted your i's, get your ducks in a row...then proceed with where you were headed once Mercury goes direct on July 1st.

The Full Moon of the Summer Solstice

This Full Moon has many names.  It is often called the Strong Sun Moon, as it is closest to the Summer Solstice when the Sun is strongest.  It is also called Strawberry Moon, because strawberry picking season reaches its peak in June.  Other names for this Full Moon are Lovers Moon, Honey Moon, Rose Moon, Mead Moon, and Dyad Moon...all of the names suggest what is often 'in bloom' at this time, including love and relationships...as June has long since been a month of handfastings and marriages (while May was said to be sacred to the marriage of the God and Goddess, the summer months that followed were usually the ones chosen by mortals for their own marriage rites).

What is in full bloom in your own life?  Now is a time to take stock of the year so far.  This is the mid-point, so review what you've accomplished and what is left to do (which is always a good thing to do during a Mercury Retrograde anyway...just reinforced by the approaching solstice).  Take responsibility for what is happening in your life presently.  Reward yourself for what is positive, and strengthen yourself in the recognition of the negative.  Work on those personal inconsistencies and make conscious decisions to improve things with the turning tides.

Other Cosmic Influences Surrounding This Moon

There are good things happening cosmically to reinforce the energy of the Lovers or Dyad (pair).  Venus, Saturn, and Chiron are all linked up currently in an aspect configuration known as a Feminine Mystic Wedge.  With these energies combined in this way, during this time, commitments in relationships (romantic or otherwise) are strengthened and can provide a source of healing.  Tap into this energy in whatever way possible...it's so much more important than the frustrating irritations that can be a side effect of a Mercury Retrograde...focus on the positive and you'll no doubt be rewarded.

We are approaching another square between Mars and Pluto soon, which can be rather volatile without the effects of love, patience, and wisdom that the current Feminine Mystic Wedge provides.  So, this Friday the 13th, feminine elements abound in order to provide some auspicious, pleasant energy to us mortals...even in the midst of a Mercury Retrograde complete with solar flares and possible CMEs as well as a strengthening square between masculine energies of war and death.  In other words, masculine energies may be in a panic, frenzy, or a state of aggravation or aggression...while feminine energies may be the calming influence, balancing out fears with love and wounding with healing.  This is not to say that all the men are going to be jerks and the women will be the voice of reason.  If you read me in black and white terms, you're reading me wrong.  All of us have both energies present within...just as both energies are present without.

Calming Feminine Influence Side-Note to Dispel Fears of Friday the 13th

Most of you who have known me a while and have been reading along have read many times already the origins of Friday the 13th being considered unlucky and how it has been perpetuated over the centuries both in misogynistic ways as well as by misguided fears or glamorized sensationalism.  I don't want to sound like a broken record by going over it all again, so I'll just say the absolute best compilation of information on the subject would be Chapter 7 of Dan Furst's book 'Dance of the Moon:  Celebrating the Sacred Cycles of the Earth'.  Chapter 7 of that book is called 'Time Out!  How 13 Got Unlucky'.  So, if you're interested in the origins...I encourage you to read this chapter (really, the whole book).  Nope, no easy links for you...you actually have to go out and find a book and read it.  ;)  I personally know the author, and I can vouch for him as an authority on many of the subjects I often write about.

Love and Gratitude,
Felina Lune Kavi