Temple of the Cosmic Spheres

July 19

Waxing Moon in Sagittarius

Sun in Cancer

Full day in Sagittarius. It will be a busy day today with Dr. appointment for my Mom and return home for our eldest daughter. The heat was intense today, both physically and energetically.  I felt particularly irritated and annoyed for no good reasons.  Trying to reach out in a different way when I get like this which requires being mindful throughout the day.

Ironically there was so much going on in the periphery today that I felt very tangled and a bit un-directed in the energies.  Sagittarius is brilliant at raising enthusiasm and networking in a very precises and inclusive way, but can also get side tracked with over expanding and losing focus.  Which, is precisely how I felt.

I think I will leave the image below to best describe how the energies felt today.

Photo: Jonathon Chiu

We are entering the 3 days prior to the Full Moon on Monday.  Saturday the Moon transits into Capricorn before going void on Sunday morning.  So, I am going to do the working of the Full Moon phase of Ritual of Dedication on Saturday evening (before the void)  and bolster with the Aquarian energies on the actual day of the Full Moon.  I will post the plans for this later this evening so you all will have for tomorrow.  No need for additional supplies beyond what we started with for the New Moon dedication. 

July 18

Waxing Moon in Sagittarius

Sun in Cancer

The Moon moves out of the astrological sign of Scorpio and enters void of course at 7:13am. It transits into the Mutable sign of Sagittarius at 1:54p.m.

The void energies this morning encouraged just settling in and doing nothing after the exertion of digging deeply yesterday.  Moving into the sign of Sagittarius offers the big sigh of release and the potential for sending out some of those smaller flares of emotionally charged product to see where they will take root.

Going back to the energy of the Modalities, Sagittarius is Mutable or flexible and expansive in quality.  Add to this the ruling planet of Sagittarius being Jupiter there is a great deal of growth that can be initiated at this point. Sagittarius is also of the Fire element, so application of the fires of will to the this mix could offer up action filled with passion, desire and emotional engagement to accomplish what is wished.

Today, I am going to explore reaching out beyond what my usual comfort zone may be.  The energies feel supportive and I am thinking that perhaps if I make this my conscious intent and then act upon it, hopefully the opportunities will present themselves. Another helper today is that Thursday is ruled by Jupiter. (Remember, each of the seven days is ruled by the energies of one of the seven elder planets. More on this later.)

So it feels like an optimal day for expanding beyond and calling up the intent of resiliency and flexibility in my emotional outpouring.

Tomorrow heralds in the three day period prior to Full Moon Phase. Getting ready for next phase of Dedication Ritual set into motion at the New Moon and start of this project.

July 10

Waxing Moon in Leo

Sun in Cancer

My day began early this morning with a moon darkened 5:00a.m. drop off at the airport of my daughter and a spectacular sunrise of a firey ball of red-orange sun orb.  The first thing that came to mind during this transition from dark to light was the glow of heat and shadow of sculpted clay seen in the small window of a kiln (my eldest daughter is an artist).  The rest of the morning was colored by these same thoughts and image that returned mid-day.

As I was out walking at lunch I was thinking about the elemental correspondences of the Moon (Water) being in a Fire sign (Leo) today.  And, the flip of that energy with the Sun (Fire) being in a Water sign (Cancer) for half of this month.  Additionally, the moon is in the sign of Leo for the entirety of the day. So, this feels like just the beginnings of firing up the Will of the Emotional self and seeing what creative product will emerge from that kiln.

I have also been thinking about the connection of the the Sacral Chakra to the Moon and the Solar Plexus Chakra to the Sun.  When I did the New Moon Ritual of Dedication I naturally felt the stirrings of the energetic opening at the place of the Sacral Chakra- this being the space of creativity, birthing waters and womb.  It was palpable and I encouraged the flow and placed my awareness in this space of container to be informed by the work to be undertaken.

With this in mind, today I opened to moving this energy up into and co-mingling with that of the Solar Plexus- the seat of Will and Fires of quickening. I envisioned this action as that of the Firey Moon enlivening and deepening the energy of those Sacral Waters and acting as a furnace of tempering for emotions that were supportive of the Whole of my being.

Astrologically, my natal Jupiter and Pluto are in the sign of Leo. So, I called upon these energies to expand (Jupiter) and deepen those mysteries that lay unseen (Pluto) so they could be drawn up to the surface, fired in the container of applied Will and become productive pieces in this journey. Was this potent lunar fire causing similar effects in others?

So, here’s the interesting thing. A lot of people seemed more antsy today with a “me first” attitude. Will and emotions are tricky things, however, especially when you are trying to observe and formulate conclusions.  Just how much of this perception I had was my own willing it to be because I was consciously looking for the connection to the fiery application of Leo on the waters of emotion? And, I am reminded that everything I see, learn, teach and observe is filtered through my own layers of experience and expectations regardless of the quantity of the real validity of what is being observed.

I will record these impressions, holding in reserve the notion that they are both accurate and biased and move on from there.  This, is of and in itself a step in the right direction towards opening more deeply to the emotional waters and tides.  The accuracy I am acknowledging comes from the analysis of the mind; BUT the admittance of bias comes directly from the opening of the heart to that possibility.

Tonight I will do my ritual of dedication to the work of the lunar month ahead.  As I move through each day and the cycle of waxing to waning I’ll be using the information below to inform my observations and enliven the lunar connection.

The Phase of the Moon and Tides of Lunar Magick

The Waxing Moon is the time between the New Moon and the Full Moon

The Waning Moon is the time between the Full Moon and the last day of the last quarter- just prior to the New Moon

Although Magickal working can be done at any time, there are specific times during the lunar cycle when your workings can be enhanced.  One of the first considerations is what type of energy you want to use for your intent.

The waxing of the moon, from New to Full, provides a crescendo or building effect and the waning of the moon from peak of Full to the subsequent New Moon allows for release and diminishing of energetic effect.  The New Moon is a time of beginnings and first seeds towards growth. New projects, goals and behaviors are all supported when given focus during this time. The Full Moon is the peak and product of all efforts begun at the New Moon.  Additionally, any working that needs extra push, magnification or energetic boost, will benefit from Full Moon energy.   The span of time from completion of the Full moon, up to and including approximately the next New Moon is the optimal time for release, cutting away and inner preparation.  These 3 days prior to the next New Moon are also known as the Dark Moon phase.

In practice, how could I make the most of these phases?  Suppose I want to seek new employment.  On the New Moon, I may do a meditation, plan, brainstorm and journal about the type of work I may wish to acquire. I may even, physically plant a few seeds in a pot as concrete visual symbols of my intent.  Each day thereafter I will tend the seeds- mentally and/or physically- enriching them with more concrete ideas and goals for obtaining my ideal work.   On the Full Moon, I will give thanks for the new growth in my life towards my goal. Perhaps do a meditation, visualizing in as much detail as possible my future work surroundings, myself enjoying and looking forward to each day, etc.  And, finally as the moon wanes and the days prior to the next New moon approach, I spend some time identifying and releasing any negative thoughts, words or actions that are preventing me from bringing into manifest reality my goal.  This release may take any form as long as the symbolic or actual release is something you can strongly connect with, and is of harm to none.  This or a similar cycle may need to be repeated several lunations, depending on your goal, the strength of your focus and intent and ability to truly release that which may be holding you back.

A reminder, however, is that every magickal working requires physical action to bring it into manifestation.  No matter how much intention I place into a working to obtain a new job, if I don’t physically look through want ads, send out resumes and actively job search, the completion of the circuit of magick will never be successful in outcome.

So, keeping this information in mind, as we move through the lunar month and the change from one phase to the next, remember that your actions and interactions in the mundane and completely physical world are just as important as your yearning for the ephemeral and spiritual realms.

Excerpted from: The Esoteric Tymes, No. 3