Naming Heart's Desire

Saturday, July 29, 2006

Leo Lunation Crescent Phase Leo Sun Virgo Moon

During the 3 days remaining in this phase, we make the commitment to pursue a goal for the new cycle and develop a plan for achievement. We bring our "Vision" down to earth and ground it in our reality.

This month the struggles associated with this phase involve the ideas of will versus service. There is a tendency toward self-criticism and doubt. On the other hand, these same energies can be your greatest resources. Discrimination and analysis will provide specific information on ways to improve your self-expression and develop your creativity.

Activities:

• Prepare and eat a healthy meal of fresh organic foods, fruits and veggies.
• A lemon verbena aromatherapy session or massage will soothe the body and calm the mind.
• Discuss your plans with a trusted friend over an outdoor lunch (preferably a picnic in a pine forest).
• Observe your health, daily routines and employment. Look for patterns that either support or undermine your goal.

Exercises:

• Write down your desire/goal in 10 words or less.
• Make an inventory of your resources related to your goal. List any additional needs required to meet your goal. Caution - this is a time to gather and organize your energy, identify and conserve resources and determine what you need to progress. Worrying about what you should do next or how is a waste of time now.

Personalized or Advanced Study:

• Note the house or houses and planets in your natal chart activated by this phase (21 Virgo 00 to 09 Scorpio 56) to find the resources required to achieve your goal.
• Incorporate the insights from this study into the activities and exercises above.

Leo New Moon: Got Heart?

Tuesday, July 25, 2006

Leo Lunation New Phase Leo Sun Leo Moon

This lunar cycle is about love, confidence, creativity, sincerity, courage, loyalty, generosity and playfulness. These are all important parts of a well-lived life, yet play time is most often relegated to childhood and limited for maturing adults. Invite the "child within" to play throughout this 29.6 day cycle. Play frees the mind, generates new ideas, loosens the body; play regenerates and rejuvenates.

Take a risk during the new phase, explore your creativity. Creativity is your birthright and your destiny. Your life experience is a manifestation of your creative power.

Activities:
See a play, watch a film, look at public art.
Look for new ways to express yourself.
Imagine and envision your intention for the cycle. Create an affirmation supporting your intent.

Exercises:
Color a Mandala.
Draw a self portrait.
Work on your treasure map.

Personalized/Advanced Study:
Compare the chart for this cycle with your natal chart.

• Identify the house in your natal chart containing the new moon at 02 degrees Leo
• Note all aspects made by the new moon at 02 degrees Leo to your natal chart.
• Note any conjunctions from the planets in the new moon chart to the luminaries, planets, angles and house cusps of your natal chart.

Incorporate the insights from this study into the creation of your intent or goal for this cycle.

Open Heart - Clear Head

Friday, July 21, 2006

Cancer Lunation Balsamic Phase Cancer Sun Gemini Moon

The seeds of the next cycle are being sorted. Your choices, whether limited or inspired, are determined by your attitude.

Nurture yourself and others by keeping your environment and your communications free of negativity. Rinse your mind of all thoughts regarding home and family issues, fact and conjecture.

Open your heart to healing feelings and open your mind to releasing opinions.

Activities:
Go on a gossip fast.
Listen to relaxing music, especially duets, either vocal or instrumental.

Exercises:
Have a dialogue with your child within. Ask how s/he can help you reach your full potential. What can you do to nurture your creativity?
Exercise your brain to move through moments of fear or emotional insecurity. Engage your mind with a math calculation. Anything from figuring the square footage of each room in your house to calculating the number of seconds in week. It's impossible for the imagination (left brain) to generate feelings of fear while the conscious mind (right brain) is focused on solving abstract problems.

Emotional Responsibility

Monday, July 17, 2006

Cancer Lunation Last Quarter Phase Cancer Sun Aries Moon

Use this lunation cycle's phase to review the past with the intent of moving forward. What feelings are you holding on to that hinder your progress? You are responsible for identifying your emotional needs and taking action to honor them. How can you express your individuality and increase your sense of security within the structure of home and family? With Mercury retrograde and the Moon in Aries, think twice before acting - impetuous decisions can be problematic.

Activities:
Clean your kitchen cupboards and refrigerator.
Prepare your favorite home cooked meal and invite others to dine with you.

Exercises:
Light a scented candle and relax in a fragrant bath.
Review your intention for the cycle and answer the following questions:
What kind of touch do you associate with your emotional security? What smell? What taste?

Go With the Flow

Saturday, July 15, 2006

Cancer Lunation Disseminating Phase Cancer Sun Pisces Moon

Share your feelings on family, home, heritage, security and sacred space, especially how these themes relate to your sense of spirituality and illusions/delusions. Rather than attempting to make rational sense of your feelings, express yourself artistically (music, poetry, metaphor, watercolors or other painting). What stirs feelings of compassion? What seems to be transforming or ending? What does your intuition tell you?

Activities: Participate in a charitable group effort such as a community drive to clean up parks or beaches or doing work for Habitat for Humanity.

Exercises: Go dancing or swimming or engage in any physical activity that allows for smooth flowing movements.

Talk About Mom and Dad

Tuesday, July 11, 2006

Cancer Lunation Full Phase Cancer Sun Capricorn Moon

Awareness and illumination regarding your home, family and emotional needs comes through your relationships and discussions with others during this full phase. Interaction and integration are key to finding balance. Take responsibility for your role in family dynamics.

Activities:
Examine the structure of authority within your home and family relationships.
Consider the ways your parent's relationship has qualified your attitude about home and family.
Share your family or domestic experiences with someone you respect. Listen for practical advice.

Exercises:
Listen to music that was played in your home during your youth and note the feelings that arise.
Make a family tree. What does this history mean to you? How have you been influenced by tradition?

Looking Homeward

Saturday, July 8, 2006

Cancer Lunation Gibbous Phase Cancer Sun Sagittarius Moon

Exploring your belief system and overall philosophy will assist you to fine tune your goals during this Gibbous Phase. Review and analyze your own responses and those of others to the actions you took during the First Quarter phase. Look for new ways to see your intention and refine your goal according to this information. Look at the big picture first and then look for patterns in the details.

Activities:
Tune into your emotions. Observe your feelings about home and family, especially around issues of freedom, morals and religion. Notice the source of those feelings, along with the degree of your attachment to them.
Express your emotions in a visual and colorful medium.

Exercises:
Make a list of the things that fill you with optimism.
Visualize your perfect home. Notice the lighting, colors and textures in this safe and secure place. Draw, paint or write about the qualities of this sacred space. What makes it so special and comforting?

Just Do It!

Monday, July 3, 2006

Cancer Lunation First Quarter Phase Cancer Sun Libra Moon

Step up and step out during the First Quarter phase. Independent action is the key to relieving stress over the next few days. Take the first step toward achieving your goal. Corrections will have to be made later on. The important thing now is to act. Although independence and personal boundaries are a priority, relationships need attention. What can you do to make your interpersonal relationships more harmonious?

Activities:
Initiate a reconciliation or an introduction, especially among family members, those you consider family or would like to bring into your family.

Exercises:
Participate in a team sport.
Pack up a picnic and go on a hike with family members.
Take a stroll down memory lane. Literally. Walk by a house where you used to live. Note the feelings that come along with the memories.