Heart of the Lion ~ The sacrifice of Cecil the African Lion
“Cecil the African Lion”
I am posting a bit late due to being waylaid by beauty in Yellowstone. My introduction this week is a bit longer than usual as I reflect upon the killing of Cecil the African Lion and the hype surrounding the Blue Moon. Or you can skip to the bottom to read this week’s daily forecast.
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I have been writing in recent posts about Regulus, the regal star that marks the heart of Leo the Lion. Venus, and now Jupiter, will be aligning with Regulus through early October. I could not foresee the cosmic synchronistic tragedy that would unfold as this aspect took hold of planet Earth ~ That we would be asked to literally sacrifice a living, regal Lion.
The sacrifice of Cecil, the beloved African Lion, in such a brutal despicable slaughter is not an act of ethical hunting. May Walter J. Palmer, the man who killed Cecil, and his guides be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
Venus is now aligning with Regulus in the current retrograde cycle, amping up the internal pressure for each of us to find a way to live more authentically from our heart’s truth. This is also an opportunity to end cycles of abuse/judgments you have tolerated, done to yourself, or experienced at the hands of another. Use this aspect to redesign your life in accordance with where your heart’s directive is guiding you next. Although this is ultimately good news, these shifts will probably require great courage, risk-taking, and sacrifice.
Cecil has been sacrificed, being killed in a way that lacks courage, integrity and honor, which are attributes associated with Regulus. A sacrifice is a holy thing. It means ‘to make sacred, to offer something precious to God (and I add this, so that we may awaken)’. Or this: the act of giving up something highly valued for the sake of something else considered to have a greater value or claim. May the sacrifice of Cecil the African Lion catalyze our compassion and activism for our animal Others. We know our own survival as a species is inextricably linked to theirs. As we save them, they in turn save us. Those who are wise, know this. This is the sacred bond we have with our animal friends.
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This Full Moon is dubbed a Blue Moon as it’s the second Full Moon in the month of July. The upside of all this media hype is it brings more attention to the magic and majesty of a Full Moon. That’s a good thing.
But I must share my frustration at the hype. This definition of a Blue Moon is a result of the artificial construct of the twelve month Gregorian calendar versus our natural, galactic based thirteen Moon calendar year. There are no Blue Moons in the natural order of things. If we practiced and lived according to a thirteen Moon calendar year, we would be more in synch with the wisdom of the heavens and Earth. Here’s the celestial math for our celestial yearly cycle: Each lunar cycle is 28 days x 13 lunar cycles=364 days. From a truly cosmic perspective, this Full Moon is like any other Full Moon, no different. Yet I admit all Full Moons hold magic and mystery, each colored by it’s transit through the shifting astrological signs.
Here’s what a real Blue Moon is from the celestial perspective. I share this from http://www.spaceweather.com/: “A truly-blue Moon usually requires a volcanic eruption. Back in 1883, for example, people saw blue moons almost every night after the Indonesian volcano Krakatoa exploded with the force of a 100-megaton nuclear bomb. Plumes of ash rose to the very top of Earth’s atmosphere, and the Moon became an azure-colored disk. Krakatoa’s ash was the reason. Some of the plumes were filled with particles 1 micron wide, about the same as the wavelength of red light. Particles of this special size strongly scatter red light, while allowing blue light to pass through. Krakatoa’s clouds thus acted like a blue filter. People also saw blue-colored Moons in 1983 after the eruption of the El Chichon volcano in Mexico. And there are reports of blue Moons caused by Mt. St. Helens in 1980 and Mount Pinatubo in 1991. Forest fires can do the same trick. ” Interesting eh?
I hope to nudge you readers in the direction of working with and within the true energetic cycles of the heavens, natural organic time which will greatly enhance your evolution, health, happiness, prosperity, joy.
The Full Moon, the turning of Saturn, and other momentous events (August 3 is a game changer) makes for a dynamic week ahead. I recall the sentiments and wisdom of the Dalai Lama. How do we continue to live life and serve with a broken heart? Such is our task. The current planetary field encourages forgiveness and beginning anew. Onward.
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Here is a brief synopsis of Full Moon characteristics that hold true to every Full Moon. Thank you Nick Anthony Fiorenza ~ http://www.lunarplanner.com/ ~
“The latter part of this phase, building up to the Full Moon, matures our efforts into vision and enthusiasm. It is the intermixing of opposites that creates the magic to bear the fruit of our passions. The day and night just before the Full Moon is the most potent, exhilarating energy—a dynamic social and alchemical time. The Full Moon marks the point of coition in the lunar cycle, the climax, the point of excitement, a time of celebration.
The day just after the Full Moon is a time to kick back and relax. It is a time for the realization of the theme to emerge, of what the activities of the first half of the lunar cycle, culminating into the enthusiasm of the Full Moon, are really about. Relax and allow this realization to occur. There is no need to force it as it surfaces on its own.”
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Please note: I make my posts according to the Lunar cycles as a way of helping you work with the natural flow of time and energy. Also, I base my interpretations and predictions on the true sidereal astronomical alignments. You can read about my unique way of interpreting astrology at this link: https://www.earthwordskyword.com/astrology-readings/astrological-readings/
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Fri July 31
Full Moon~ Sun in Cancer opposite Moon in Capricorn. How tragically fitting, in light of Cecil the African Lion’s killing, that at this Full Moon point of planetary illumination, the Sun will be aligned with Praeseppe in Cancer, star of grief and loss. The responsible Capricorn Moon may encourage many to take actions in the larger world in regards to those issues they care about as a result of their own personal losses.
Moon in Capricorn opposite Mercury in Cancer: This aspect can feel like your thoughts and feelings are at odds with one another. Use this aspect to give voice, even analysis, to previously inarticulate feelings.
Sat Aug 1
Saturn turns direct: This is splendid news! Breathe a sigh of relief today as serious, task-master Saturn moves forward again from it’s retrograde of March 14. You might literally feel a weight being lifted from you today or over the coming weeks; Saturn’s energy is slow-moving but inevitable. Whatever began last March, whatever you set in motion (take a moment to reflect on this) you can trust that real results are coming. Just be patient, another quality Saturn seems to demand of us. For some of you, if you’ve been slacking off (no judgment, sometimes we all need check out for a bit) the call will be toward being more responsible when it comes to living your life from that place of your heart’s integrity.
Sun in Cancer inconjunct Neptune in Aquarius: I can’t help it. I am seeing everything this week in light of Cecil’s death. There’s a dialogue happening between the old tribal traditions which are often violent and controlling (Cancer) and our evolving view of life and what is life-sustaining (Aquarian). Your fear-based reptilian brain and your more compassionate frontal lobe are in dialogue today. Choose Love, that’s all I know.
Moon in Aquarius opposite Jupiter/Venus in Leo: Surely this aspect makes for much celebration tonight, congregating with beloveds, imbibing in beauty, art, amorous-ness.
Sun Aug 2
Moon/Neptune conjunction in Aquarius opposite Juno in Leo: The monthly conjunction of our emotive Moon with imaginative, spacey Neptune can make for spaciness or the call for more space and spaciousness in our lives. Take time to day dream, share artisitic inspiration with a friend. This aspect makes for extra special spiritual services taking place on sacred (to some) Sunday.
Mon Aug 3
Jupiter in Leo squares Saturn in Scorpio: This aspect initiates a planetary turning point in a longer Jupiter/Saturn cycle that started in May 2000 and completes in May 2020. These two will square off again in May 2016. Jupiter and Saturn rule our social obligations, contracts, political systems. This tense square can help us envision, revision where we want society to be heading. Reflect on your role in your social networks and give some thought as to how you want to be involved. I like the term ‘cultural creative’ when I think of these two planets. We aren’t at the mercy of previous social norms; we are actively, daily, redefining what that means for us. Be a cultural creative. Follow the lead of your heart, and in so doing, you will naturally lead society to a better place.
Venus retrograde conjunct Jupiter in Leo: Try to catch a glimpse of the brilliant Venus/Jupiter exact conjunction at sunset huddled close to the Sun. These planets are aligned with the royal star of Regulus, heart of the Lion, which pressures us, in our hearts literally, to life a life of integrity, living our inner directives in our outer lives. The next time they reunite will be early October. Where might you want to be, what might you want to be doing by then?
Moon/Chiron/South Lunar Node conjunction: This aspect can bring an old relationship back into your life. Or perhaps you may be revisiting an old wound but be willing to take a fresh look in understanding what came down. The current planetary field encourages forgiveness and beginning anew while also holding true to our healthy boundaries.
Tue Aug 4
Venus retrograde square Saturn in Scorpio: Loving Venus makes a hard square to serious, decisive Saturn. This usually means you have to face some harsh reality or realize procrastination doesn’t work so just buckle down and get the job done. It’s like discovering your checking account is overdrawn because you’ve been oblivious as to how you’ve been spending your money.
Mercury enters Leo: I like the sound of this. Communicative Mercury enters joyful Leo. This tends to make for a more joyful playful state of mind, and entertaining creative new ideas. Reclaim the creative power of your thoughts by practicing a more positive state of mind.
Moon in Pisces conjunct Vesta/Uranus: This alignment can trigger sudden emotional releases or an upwelling of grief surrounding events of the past.
Wed Aug 5
Moon in Aries trine Mercury/Venus/Jupiter: What a dynamo of optimism and renewed hope this promises to be. The initiating Aries Moon makes a easy, creative trine to this sky gift conjunction of Mercury ~ mind ~ Venus ~ heart ~Jupiter ~ optimism~ in play for the coming days. It’s one of the better feel-good aspects we’ve experienced in a while.
Moon in Aries square Mars in Cancer: Uh-oh, this one not so easy. This can trigger a momentary flare up in family communications surrounding the needs of the individual versus the responsibility to the family. As I said at the beginning of this post: The current planetary field encourages forgiveness and beginning anew. Onward.
