The Moon & You 

EMOTIONS, CONSCIOUSNESS, THE MOON AND YOU

As we weave our way through life we face each passing day with a variety of emotions and a sense of constant change. This can be challenging or upsetting, depending on the mood we find ourselves in on any particular day. As we start looking at the bigger picture and place ourselves within the law of the universe, a subtle change descends upon us and before we know it, the necessary change within ourselves has occurred. This is a remarkable fact of life. When we remove the personal identity emotion from whatever it is we are facing and look at the broader scheme of things, we diminish the problem and increase the well being.

Yet it is our emotions that carry us, that ensure compassion, harmony and love. To deny our emotions is in a way denying self. To get carried away with our emotions is draining and self destructive. It is to make our emotions consciousness that is the issue and vital for our continued good health. When we watch a sunrise or sunset and feel the warm glow within, this is the emotion we need to retain and remember when life throws hurdles at us.

The moon affects us in a variety of ways and when we are able to understand how linked we are to this feminine cycle, a whole new arena of understanding blossoms forth creating an endless abundance of uplifting emotions. It’s like linking your nervous system into the cosmic eco system. We are fortunate in having a variety of daily planners that give us the phases of the moon and indeed the particular moon sign dominant for a roughly 2 ½ day period. 

To absorb and utilize these energies in the most beneficial way here is a guide to the moon signs and how they influence our lives. By understanding this, you will be able to more fully utilize many of the emotions within you, and learn how to use these energies to achieve your goal and influence those around you by your calmness and glowing personality.

ARIES raises basic identity questions where you can find yourself stripped, knowing yourself as you truly are. This is the time for taking the initiative, activity and enterprise. We tend to be highly driven and assertive, which can lead to muscle spasms and inflammation, so although many new beginnings are now possible, it would be best to explore all the opportunities ahead before seeding that inner garden. This is the time of transformation, of knowing when to act and when to be still. Place bunches of Rosemary in the lounge and drops of oil of Basil should be in the burner. Aries rules the head and the face. Herbs to use are - basil, catmint, rocket, chives, nettle, wormwood, geranium, cayenne and garlic.

TAURUS brings calm and stability, a time of fertility encouraging strong, slow growth. Take note of your material possessions; this is a good time to discard old baggage and start noticing the endurance of the earth. Bring rocks and wood into the home for grounding experiences. A time for determination and practicality where creativity flows and where we realize our relationships with others and create balance. Hormone imbalance and kidneys should be monitored through this moon phase. Place a bouquet of daisies, thyme, yarrow and rose in the kitchen and rose or geranium oils should be used in your burner. The laws of attraction are forceful in this phase. Taurus rules the neck and throat. Herbs to use are - elder, mint, thyme, elderberry, violet, marshmallow, catnip, rose, violet, vervain, wormwood and yarrow.

GEMINI stimulates our curiosity and interesting ideas abound and is an excellent time for making connections. Explore yourself but don’t plant too many ideas as energies are flowing around like a spinning top. Go with the flow as your nervous system and breathing can be all awhirl. Explore your own versatility, how you express yourself and listen to what you are saying. Prune that which is within you to make way for new growth. Lavender should be spread around the house and oils of lavender and peppermint do well in your burner. Gemini rules the arms, hands, nerves, and thinking power.  Herbs to use are - parsley, dill, mint, anise, lavender, marjoram, fennel, oregano, liquorice, valerian and horehound.

CANCER brings to the surface memories and all the emotions that come with this. This is a fertile time when we find it easy to cry, which in turn nourishes the roots of our personal tree of life. A highly creative period, when we become sensitive and tenacious at the same time. The stomach, muscles and over reaction to fertility confronts us during this phase. It is the surfacing of unconscious and unbidden thoughts that can overwhelm us now. Watch your mood; it tends to be that little voice called intuition that is actually whispering to you. White roses should be in the bedroom and oil of chamomile in your burner. Cancer rules the stomach and breasts. Herbs to use are - sage, parsley, chamomile, aloe, evening primrose, lemon balm, bay leaves and agrimony.

LEO is when the inner child seeks attention. On the other side remember that the clown and the prima donna could also be seeking this attention. It is a good time to channel this disruptive energy into creative power. In your inner garden, cultivate and admire, but don’t plant new ideas. Our vitality, authority and power are in the forefront so use this time for conscious movement. Watch your heart and immune system as the vital energies abound all around. Bright cheery marigolds should be around the house and oils of neroli or bergamot do well in the burner. Leo rules the heart and circulation. Herbs to use are - eyebright, St. John's Wort, mistletoe, lemon balm, tarragon, chamomile, sandalwood, frankincense, rosemary, camphor and sunflower.

VIRGO is when we become quite methodical, discriminating and able to offer service to others. We are able to communicate, expressing ourselves with eloquence. We become aware of being able to live a simple and useful life; a time when we can focus on our own healing powers to mend body and soul. This is the time to arrange, shape and tend the growing inner garden. Watch your breathing and your mental state and learn to speak from the heart. In the southern hemisphere it is the time of spring, when those inner seeds can be sown to flourish and nourish. Honeysuckle in the bathroom and marjoram or fennel oil is the best for your burner. Virgo rules the intestines and solar plexus. Herbs to use are – angelica, fennel, dill, licorice caraway, dill, mint, horehound, lavender and marjoram.

LIBRA brings beauty to life; a time for tenderness and romance, when we are aware of our inner connectiveness and the time to tune into the cosmic rhythms. Creativity is running high; it is a time for listening to that inner voice and heeding the guidance that your intuition is now clearly communicating to you. If there is something that you need to let go of, now is the time to act as you are focused enough to make the right choices.  Watch the reproductive system – for those who wish for fertility, excess angst could have the opposite effect. Mint, thyme and sage spread around the house bring renewal, while ylang-ylang in the burner adds to that romantic feeling. Libra rules the kidneys. Herbs to use are - burdock, pennyroyal, feverfew, violet, catnip, elderberry, thyme, St John’s wort and lemon balm.

SCORPIO brings intense feelings and desires to the forefront. We tend to delve into our deepest selves with all its shadows, but it is also the time when we can draw on this inner power. For our internal garden we can plant anything and watch it bloom to full strength and glory.  We regenerate, become highly resourceful and is the time when we can hold onto secrets. Sexual desire runs high, together with aggressiveness, so watch out for unfulfilled emotions and lustful desires. Chrysanthemums placed in the living area and kitchen brings coherence, while oil of Basil tames the obsessiveness that is sometimes associated with this phase. Scorpio rules the reproductive organs. Herbs to use are - horehound, basil, sage, catnip, coriander, nettle, wormwood or wilde als, elder and garlic.

SAGITTARIUS is all about exploration, aspirations and the understanding of freedom. We are able to rationalize our self belief system and understand our inner ability to grow. Wide range feelings surface so taking a long stroll is very beneficial. Start a new hobby or sport as your readiness to research new ideas is strengthening through this phase. Yet at the same time there is an inner restlessness so watch your eating as the liver can become sluggish and the circulatory system starts to slow down. Balance this out with bunches of carnations at the entrance to your home and add a few drops of jasmine or juniper to your burner to remind you that this is the time also of forgiveness, especially to self. Sagittarius rules the thighs and hips. Herbs to use are - red clover, feverfew, dandelion, sage, basil and borage.

CAPRICORN awakens the strength of the inner wise woman. She shows you how to take old fears and sorrows and turn them into resolve, ambition and discipline. Anything that you plant within your inner garden now will have strong roots that will sustain you as you venture along this growing path. Things in your life that were disorganized can now be conscientiously organized, turning your fears and insecurities into structure and well being. Watch your joints, hair and skin through this phase as soul searching can be a draining and relentless undertaking. Pansies or violets in little growing pots placed in corners and high places together with oils of either camphor or cypress remind us of how much we still need to water the growing inner garden. Capricorn rules the knees, bones, and teeth, hair, skin, joints and body structure. Herbs to use are: Slippery Elm, borage, comfrey, horsetail, mullein, heartsease and wintergreen.

AQUARIUS enables us to detach from old emotional patterns and we begin to see those around us as individuals. This period brings greater understanding of our place and role in the world. Our humanitarian, independent and originality abilities flower through this phase. We tune into the rhythmic pulsation and co-ordination of the universe with ease so don’t sow new ideas, rather allow those that are waiting to flower to bloom. Watch yourself that you don’t get too carried away as you could find it hard to drop back into reality. Roses and varieties of lilies are good all over the home and cedarwood oil in the burner brings some earth grounding to your flights of fancies. Aquarius rules the legs, ankles and blood stream. Herbs to use are - comfrey, rosemary, sage, mint, fennel, wormwood or wilde als, southernwood, thyme, violets and valerian.

PISCES is when distinctions blur and barriers dissolve; a time when your intuition comes to the fore. This is a very fertile period when our ability to grow is unhampered by our inner doubt and when we can believe fully in ourselves and the path we have chosen. It is a phase where forgiveness, selfless love and fulfilment ripen within and gently bend the boundaries of self towards true spirituality. Watch for too much reason; rather allow the pineal gland to open the gates of the imagination. Clivias or roses around the house together with oils of jasmine, hyssop or juniper combine to allow our sensitivity to shine with loving endurance. Pisces rules the feet, fat metabolism and growth hormones. Herbs to use are – lemon balm, mint, basil, hyssop, dandelion, nutmeg, sage, borage and clove.

Take a few minutes each day to establish a you time routine. The New Moon is the time for new beginnings so this is when you should start on the path to becoming a new you. At 1st quarter, the morning before you begin your daily routine, is the beneficial time to reflect; by Full Moon your sense of personal achievement rises to greet you; and at 3rd quarter embrace the evenings in all her glory and become one with yourself.

Whether you are faced with that which is good or dark within you, please remember that everything ultimately moves towards the light.
 

Enjoy every moment of the journey.