Full
Moon in Gemini: Pandora’s Gifts
Moon
opposite Sun- 12/11/2019 @ 11:12pm CST
This
Long Nights Moon brings many fascinating gifts to pique our curiosity
in true Gemini fashion. Information is coming in from all sides.
There may even be a feeling of too many choices, which can create
some confusion. Coming in soon after the Venus-Saturn conjunction in
Capricorn, this information overload is likely to feel more
restrictive than expansive. Venus-Saturn is asking us to commit to
something we love. This energy wants to reign in a lot of the mutable energy surrounding this time and make solid plans. And yet...Moon conjunct the asteroid Pandora in
Gemini may be bringing in more feelings and ideas than we know what
to do with. The two energies, in quincunx (150 degrees), don’t
exactly mesh well. But integrating both brings growth, however uncomfortable.
With
Neptune square our luminaries, ‘not knowing’ is part of the
activation taking place. The Neptunian fog sets in and all those
many choices we’re presented with have a lot less definition. When
Neptune is square the luminaries, there is often a strong pull toward
escapism. However, the higher vibration of this Neptunian T-Square
pattern is to use that tension we’d rather escape from and channel
it into actions that are either creative or spiritual.
 |
| Seven of Cups, Rider-Waite Tarot |
A theme this whole month, where the Capricorn energies are
beginning to heighten in preparation for what is coming in January,
is about decisiveness. It’s also about objective awareness of the goal
and reigning in our energy so that it’s not unnecessarily dispersed
through too many avenues. And yet, this Full Moon highlights an
energy that opposes that preparatory feeling...and there may be a
feeling of overwhelm (heightened for those of us trying to prepare
for the holiday season). Neptune’s square reminds us that we
actually have no idea what is coming...and that it’s okay to not
know right now. This is a time where adaptability to whatever arises now is
key. There will be plenty of opportunity to get back into the
measured steps of Capricorn’s Cosmic Council soon enough. Right
now, why not celebrate that we have more choices than answers? For
some, that’s a big leap...definitive answers being a comfort zone.
For others, that’s life.
Chiron,
the Cosmic Shaman, is stationed now in Aries and will once again
return to a direct path soon after this Full Moon. During stationary
shifts, the themes of that celestial archetype are more prevalent.
So, Chiron’s mythic storyline of the wounded healer may pervade
this Full Moon time. While in Aries, Chiron teaches us about
integrity and self-reliance while we find the healing path from the
wound of ‘Who am I?’ The wound of the individuated self is often
the hardest to process, which is why Chiron spends much more time in
Aries. But the Sabian Symbol that Chiron's been pausing on lately is 'a comedian reveals human nature'. He teaches the medicine of the Sacred Clown...often through humor and opposites...so that we may see ourselves more objectively, maybe even having a laugh at how much self-involvement our healing path has taken lately.
 |
| 'Pandora's Box' by Wisnu Tan |
Perhaps
the strongest unseen element in this Full Moon is coming from the
conjunction to the asteroid Pandora. Pandora is an interesting
figure in myth. Before Hesiod transformed her story into an
anti-feminist fable which was later mixed with the storyline of Eve
(the ‘first woman’ in Christian myth), Pandora was an ancient
Goddess similar to Gaia or Demeter. Her name (Pan meaning ‘all’
and Dora meaning ‘gift’) was originally a reflection of her
‘all-giving’ nature. Hesiod’s version was a twist on her gifts. He painted her as ‘all-gifted’ from the blessings of the Gods, created by Zeus
as a punishment to man for Prometheus’s theft of fire. Coming in
with so many god-given gifts, she was irresistible to
Epimetheus...who took this ‘first woman’ as his wife, despite his
brother’s warnings. Along with her, she carried a vessel which she
was told to never open. However, Hermes also gave her his own
trickster gift of curiosity...so she just couldn’t resist finding
out what was in the vessel (which was similar to a storage jar,
though it later became known as ‘Pandora’s Box’). From it, she
unwittingly released all the evils of the world...only able to hold
onto Hope (or, more specifically in translation ‘Anticipation’). Or so the story goes, however socio-political the agenda.
 |
'Seven of Cups', an oil painting by Lacey Bryant
for 'The Slow Tarot' at Modern Eden Gallery in San Francisco.
Notice the apple and snake suspended from the tree? |
Sound
similar to Eve’s bite of the apple? Yeah, there was a definite
shift happening in Hesiod’s time from matriarchy to
patriarchy...and who better to blame for all of our troubles than the
‘first woman’? And even though Pandora’s somewhat splintered
mythic storyline begins with the gifts of the nurturing ‘Great
Goddess’ and ends with a more patriarchal undertone...both parts
are infused into this one archetype. So, the Moon with Pandora does
bring many gifts...but the many gifts may be more than we were hoping
for. Curiosity, which is strong with Gemini energy, is heightened
now with Pandora’s influence. We may be more inclined to follow
our fascinations down a rabbit hole, not knowing where it may lead,
than to make more reserved (Capricorn) choices in what we do with this energy.
However,
Chiron’s influence suggests that what we find may show us the gift
within the wound. Instead of fighting it, which can lead to that
confusion and overwhelm...perhaps we would do better to accept that,
right now, our decision-making processes may be slightly skewed in
this Neptunian fog. Even Mercury (our Collective Mind) quincunx
Uranus (the Awakener), exact several hours before this Full Moon,
suggests that we aren’t quite in the headspace to see what’s
coming. Oh, it will all get much clearer, even seriously so, as we
head into Capricorn season soon enough. The Stellium we’re
building to now between our Capricorn planets (Saturn-Pluto with
Ceres, Mercury, and Sun a month from now) will have some very specific
lessons to teach us. But, in THIS time, you may just want to
celebrate feeling a bit more distracted from some of the weight that awareness has been building. Tap into the creative curiosity of this time, or the
mystical and dreamy elements that Neptune is bringing up. It may
bring something magical to the table that could be just as useful later as a prioritized 'to do' list.
Moon
in Gemini 20
Sabian
Symbol: ‘a modern cafeteria displays an abundance of food,
products of various regions’
A
friend who passed away this summer often used the quote ‘moderation
in all things, including moderation’. The memory came up while
considering this Moon’s Sabian Symbol, and made me smile...as both
of us were often trying to moderate our food intake in healthier ways
than what we grew up with. This cafeteria symbol shows us the
abundance of choices before us, some of which are fascinating as they
aren’t things we usually have the opportunity to try. In the Full Moon’s light,
the many choices can appear as an overabundance, which often leads to
waste. In this symbol, it is the community that comes together to ensure that all
have what they need, just as it is the community that must ensure nothing goes to waste. The Gemini-Sagittarius axis, currently being
highlighted by our luminaries, is apt to share generously when a
surplus of information (or food) is more than just one person can
digest. With Pandora’s pre-patriarchy influence, this is a time of expressing humanity's giving nature. You have more than you know what to do with? Share with
someone who’s feeling less than blessed. ‘Tis the season, as they say.
Sun
in Sagittarius 20
Sabian
Symbol: ‘in an old-fashioned northern village, men cut the ice of
a frozen pond for use during the summer’
Opposite
the cafeteria symbol, we have another image that suggests what can be
done with a surplus. In this case, the image shows a scene from the
cold months, where ice is most abundant. The symbol involves some
foresight...an understanding of this community that what is in
abundance now will likely be very necessary months from now. Cutting
ice is hard work, but the rewards for this symbolic village are that
they may have a means to keep their food cold when the days are
longer and the temperature is much hotter. This is the Sagittarian
way of seeing the bigger picture, even as the Gemini Moon is taking
in the smorgasbord of curious details immediately before us. There is
something in this time which will sustain us through our journey
ahead. With Pallas Athene conjunct the Sun, even with that Neptune
square, if we tap into the patterns arising in this time (such as
knowledge of the seasonal cycles helps these men cutting ice) we will be
better prepared for the big changes coming.
Like
bookends to this Full Moon, Venus conjuncts Saturn before and she
conjuncts Pluto after. So, ahead of time, we are feeling the need to
commit to something solid, taking measured steps toward something of
value. Then, we have this Full Moon where an abundance of
information might confuse the goal for a time. And after, Venus
meets with Pluto...which may even dramatically shift our values
through a transformation of the heart. So, try not to get too down on
yourself (or others) when what you thought should be solid isn’t
appearing so. Big shifts are happening just beyond our awareness
right now, but clarity will return.
Love
and Gratitude,
Felina
Lune Kavi
