Blending Sun and Moon: New Moon, Solar Eclipse in Sagittarius By Isis Ward This new moon is graced by the solar eclipse, both occurring at 22 degrees Sagittarius. If new moons are a powerful time to set one's intent, you can bet a solar eclipse on the new moon adds some serious mojo to the effects. Our lunar, feminine side embraces our solar, masculine side, binding will to compassion. This eclipse particularly invites us to evolve into our highest state of awareness and integrity, transforming old beliefs about love and power. Why so? Firstly, the New Moon and Sun are holding hands with big daddy Pluto who is carrying on in an absolute conjunction with sweet Venus. Clearly we have hot stellar action in the sky. How does this affect us as individuals and as a country? (Yup, it does both, because all of this happens in the United States' first house and, oh yeah, we do have a war going on.) On a national level we are given an opportunity to mend fences and transform our economy and relations with the neighbors. This is a fine area to work magick and ritual both now and on the Lunar Eclipse/Full Moon, December 30. Here then, is how it can affect us personally: Invited by the skies to transform our philosophy and relations to others by stepping into our highest integrity, we can spare some time and energy to examine how our personal affairs/choices affect the world around us. How much does our consumption of resources affect the rest of the world? How can we make an effort (phone call/letter/email) to show more responsibility for our nation/family? How can the way we treat others, the way we react to things taken personally or our self-importance, act like a stone in a pool, sending out ripples? All of the planets in Sagittarius now are positively aspected by Uranus, the electrifying planet of individuality and instantaneous transformation. This is a powerful time when taking responsibility for ourselves, for living out of LOVE rather than fear can indeed have global effects. Unfortunately, actually living this way goes against the flow of modern Western life. Life from love requires joy in individuality rather than comforting sameness. It requires examining even very small choices, which could be harmful to the Beloved as manifest in the planet. Huh? Well, you see it is easier to purchase well-wrapped and packaged items, but is it loving towards the planet which supports you? It is easier to drive yourself hither and yon, but is it loving to the air we breathe, to the generations that follow? It is easier to ignore the war we are sponsoring than to protest it, to ignore the threats to our Alaskan wildlife, but is it loving to our brothers and sisters. Nope. This is not to say that the stars humbly request that we quit our jobs and become political activists. Rather that we are invited to make small but important choices. Perpetuate anger and reaction at home or work or on the road...or breathe and release the energy in positive ways. Rather than ignore opportunities for change because one may not have time for "activism" one has many small opportunities available (which can add up to big change). Make a phone call to political representatives. Give time and energy to the environment, simply by picking up trash on the street or by the river. Be more conscientious about recycling and conservation. Spend some meditation time sending love and energy to the planet, to the air, water and earth. Do these things with a full and joyous heart rather than guilt or angst. Meditate on opening to both solar and lunar energies, to masculine and feminine energies. How do we value one way of being over the other? Where can we brig ourselves into better balance by embodying the sacred androgyn, the being which is both god and goddess, male and female within us? Where do our rules about what is proper behavior for a man or woman influence what is proper behavior for a human being, part of the earth family? Just as our nation can benefit from embracing lunar energies more fully (rather than loony energies which are reactive on an emotional level without being compassionate), we as individuals would do well to work on our own balance. Even though the eclipse takes place on one day, we feel its energies for a long while, even past the full moon/lunar eclipse. One way to work with these energies is by "Swallowing the Sun and Moon." Go outside at mid-day and stand facing the sun, bathing in its light as you send your roots down through your feet into the earth. Stretch your arms up, palms towards the sun and feel your body becoming a conduit between the sun and the center of the earth. Use your breath to draw the sun into every cell of your body. When you feel flooded with the sun's light, imagine you are gathering the sun into your hands, bring it towards your mouth as you inhale and swallow as you press the sun into your mouth. Do this three times, each time visualizing the sun feeding your dan tien or the flame that dwells behind your navel, for men and your womb, for women. Allow your hands to rest by your sides, imagining that the increased light and heat you have built strengthens your will and your courage, expanding your energetic system. Repeat as many days as you can manage before your co-workers have you taken away by the men with the white coats. Swallowing the moon requires going out when you can see the moon, preferably when she is waxing, full and waning. The procedure is the same as for the sun, but see the moon feeding your compassion and awareness, rather than will and courage. Feel her in your cells as wisdom and flexibility. Hers is the choice to be happy rather than right, to be kind rather than witty and judgmental. These exercises work well during the time of eclipses when our intellect/will and our emotions/intuition come together. They work well at other times also. Choose your friends wisely; they color your thoughts and flavor your dreams. Blessings -Isis Ward www.ecstaticarts.com Choose your friends wisely; they color your thoughts and flavor your dreams. Bright Blessings, Isis Ward Isis Ward is available for readings and healing sessions at the Toltec Center of Creative Intent in Berkeley. 415-720-7338 x 3