Celebrate The Moon, on the way home, Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, December 2011, photo © 2011 by QuoinMonkey. All rights reserved.
Snow is falling on red Ravine, and the temperature rises from zero to 25 degrees under the morning’s totally eclipsed Moon. It’s Saturday, December 10th and the total Lunar eclipse was exact at 6:36 am Pacific time. Last year the eclipse occurred right on Solstice (for more about the meaning of the Lunar Eclipse see Winter Solstice — Total Eclipse Of The Moon). According to Celestial Timings, one of the features of a total Lunar Eclipse is how it squeezes the 28 to 30 day Moon Phase into three to five hours. Time appears to speed up, accelerating the manifestation of the intentions we hold.
Tonight, we will attend an early Winter Solstice celebration with friends. By a blazing fire sparked by last year’s Yule tree, I will let go of what is no longer working and set new intentions that I hope to move from the dark of Winter into the light of Spring.
What are your intentions for the New Year? I seek more clarity with my creative goals. I have built a good practical infrastructure around my creative life, but the dream feels muddled. It will be good to redefine what is important to me and let the future unfold. In the silent spaces, I can let go of trying to control.
Coinciding with the Lunar Eclipse (and a subtle reminder that we are not in control), Mercury is in retrograde which I associate with breakdowns in interpersonal communication and technology. Here is an article that flips that notion on its head, redefining Mercury Retrograde as a time of increased right brain creative activity. It’s refreshing to view Mercury Retro with a positive spin!
Though my Cancer Sun sign keeps me tightly tethered to a love of history and the past, Winter Solstice is the time of year when I set strong intentions for the future. I look forward to the quiet hibernation of Winter, and the introspection of Bear. Happy Winter!
-posted on red Ravine, Saturday, December 10th, 2011
There is such a strong connection with the moon, isn;t there? (I listened to the news–a rather infrequent event–and was shocked that there was presidential candidate mention of mining for minerals on the moon. I couldn’t even generate anger or repulsion, only a feeling so deep and wrenching, it didn;t have a name. That anyone could look even once at the moon and envision mining and dollar signs is unthinkable to me.
A couple of nights ago I got up about midnight, the almost full moon was centered in a small skylight we have in the entry. And it’s light gave the hallway a blueness, an experience of being bathed in a spiritual light of sorts. I stood there until the moon had passed on and the hallway was again dark.
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Bo, the Moon was so bright and strong at our Winter Solstice celebration last night. It was beautiful. The fire so warm, a slight breeze from the north.
Your description of standing in the hallway while the Moon walked through the passage is lovely. So peaceful. I noticed last night after we came inside from the fire that the Moon was squarely placed in a high triangular window at our friends’ home. You can’t help but notice the Moon.
Like you, I was appalled at the idea of mining on the Moon. I must have heard a similar announcement. The other day when I took this photograph I had the same gut feeling as you when I looked up at the Moon and tried to imagine what it would be like with humans tearing it apart. Not a pleasant feeling. It seems like one of the last areas left of sacred ground close to the Earth. I hope it remains that way. Though we have walked there, I wish it to remain a place that is never inhabited by humans seeking to dig and destroy.
It was a good Solstice last night. I realized that what I want to regain is my courage. Like the Lion, I feel I have lost it and am firmly rooted right where I am. I look to redefining my dreams and taking some new risks in the coming year. Thank you for stopping by. I appreciate you. Happy Winter!
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I wanted to come back to this piece and share a little more of what I learned about yesterday’s Total Lunar Eclipse. The woman who led our Winter Solstice ritual last night shared a few more details about the eclipse before we created our pieces to take out and burn in the Solstice fire. Of particular interest to me was the connection to December of the years 1965, 1973, and 1992. When I went back to each of those years, I was in great transition; usually I was physically moving or getting ready to move into a new residence. I was also uncertain about my future and disoriented. What followed would be a few years of transition, then a regaining of the ground under my feet and with it, my courage. It was also a time when my creativity was in flux. This seems to be the case in 2011 as well. More high points of what I learned last night are below.
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About the Lunar Eclipse in Gemini on December 10, 2011
-The Lunar eclipse on December 10th, 2011, occurs when the Moon is at approximately 18 degrees of Gemini, opposing the Sun at 18 degrees Sagittarius, and is total lunar eclipse.
-Lunar eclipses are relationship-oriented. The “crisis” that these eclipses tend to elicit is a crisis of lack–a time when we suddenly realize a great need or want. It can bring two people together with a sudden awareness of a great need for each other, or end a relationship.
-Though Lunar eclipses are more relationship-oriented than Solar eclipses, they are not always about relationships between two people. They can trigger awareness of need in other areas of our lives, such as our relationship to work, to our health and bodies.
-It is a time when matters come to light–things that have been brewing under the surface.
-A Lunar eclipse is a more potent Full Moon, and its effects tend to last longer. Many astrologers believe that the effects of a Lunar eclipse last approximately three to six months.
-Lunar Eclipses are about relationships and polarities. With the Gemini-Sagittarius axis involved, this Lunar Eclipse presses us to look more closely at our needs, lacks, and wants in our lives concerning the balance between Gemini-ruled and Sagittarius ruled areas of life. The Gemini-Sagittarius polarity is a mental axis, where Gemini represents the “lower mind” and Sagittarius represents the “higher mind”. A Gemini Moon encourages us to think logically, while Sagittarius persuades us to think in a broader manner.
-This Lunar Eclipse gives us a cosmic push to make needed changes in our lives. The areas of life activated by the eclipse may see dramatic turns, after which the path is clear to move forward. Note that whatever happens at this time is nothing truly new. The issues have been brewing inside of us, and emotions have been building.
-Something comes to light at the time of the Lunar Eclipse, and if we get in touch with our emotions, we can get a better idea of what needs to change, or what needs to go. This Lunar Eclipse in Gemini is bound to thrust us into a state of heightened awareness of flaws in the structures of our lives, particularly in our communications and transportation. Decisions made now are emotionally-driven.
-This Lunar Eclipse occurs when the Sun and Moon square Mars and when Uranus is stationary, so that the need to take action feels urgent. Actions may tend to be erratic or hasty.
-In December 1965, December 1973, and December 1992, a Lunar Eclipse fell in Gemini at a similar degree as this December 2011 eclipse. It might be helpful to think back to issues in your life that were in effect at those times (in the weeks and even months surrounding these dates) in order to get an idea of how this 2011 Lunar Eclipse might affect you.
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Beautiful post and the information your provided is priceless.
Bo, thanks for the stunning visual of you standing in a hallway lit by the moon until it passed out of view. I could visulaize the whole experience. Thanks.
Good question about intentions for the new year. I’ll think about it a little more and let you know.
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QM, Your photo of the moon is just what it looked like on my drive home from work last Friday…a lovely pink haze just beneath it.
A favorite picture book of my babes was “Goodnight Moon;” great bedtime “board book.” When my first child was just learning to talk, we were over at the grandparents’ home for an evening dinner. Upon leaving, it was dark enough for a full moon to be in view. When i carried him outside and he saw that beautiful, bright orb above, he pointed at it, looked at me, and said, MOON!!! His large eyes were now enormous, and he might as well as verbalized, “Mommy, I didn’t know there was really such a thing as a moon, but it is true and I’m thrilled to find it and show it to you, aren’t you excited about it too?”
I will never forget that expression of recognition in his eyes…it was so precious!
I am SO looking forward to the new year, as I’m finally going to retire, and I’m going to read and write like a crazy woman!
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Happy Winter to you too, QM. 🙂
Beautiful and informative post. I love your photo, particularly the perspective. I missed the eclipse, catching up on much needed sleep. I celebrated the moon the following morning, capturing it as it was sliding down towards the woods. The brightness of it woke me up and I went out in the cold to visit with it as it shined on the ice of the pond. That happened to be the day I came upon my intention for the year. (http://wp.me/p35Iv-4rS)
The Solstice is the time of year I set intentions too, usually in the form of a word or phrase. This year I am Letting Go. Letting go of self-imposed limitations and fears. Letting go of excess (weight, stuff, etc.).
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QM,
I knew you would post something about the moon and I was right. If only I had checked last week…..I ran outside of my house at about 5:45 in the morning, trying to see the moon. The clouds started to form around it as soon as the eclipse started to progress. I saw the very beginning blackness, but after that, only clouds. I was all alone on my cold neighborhood street, Saturday morning. I couldn’t believe others weren’t interested in watching it. I came back inside and watched the eclipse “live” on-line, which as you can imagine just isn’t the same as seeing it outside. Nevertheless, that red color on-line was still astounding.
Intentions for the year: I just started taking guitar lessons with my and I’m going to sign up for a painting class. I want to have my own personal renaissance this year, explore other art forms outside of the writing realm. I also want to embrace the joy of living more than I currently do. Not sure how to implement this goal yet, but perhaps diving more in depth to the creative realm will be a start.
My word for the year is “Radiance”.
Thanks again for sharing the info on the moon and for caring about this aspect of life.
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Hi QM, great to see you back in the saddle, howling at the moon. Jim saw the eclipse–he was excited about it and got up early. It turned out he was all alone that morning, too. I was en route back from Asia, and the girls had each spent the night with friends. It was a special event for him, I could tell. I’m sorry I missed it.
I just today started thinking about 2012, and I actually set one intention, quite by accident. I was writing to someone who asked for some help with teaching jewelry-making, and so I gathered up a bunch of links, some from here and others from Flickr and Etsy, to show the various types of things that could be made in an art workshop. And I got a longing for making more jewelry and keeping my little business going.
In fact, I realized that my listings on Etsy had all expired recently. It’s been so hard keeping it going. I am still making art, but not the jewelry and not the selling of prints or jewelry. And I miss that part of the process. Making jewelry is especially calming. I did buy a silver jewelry making course this year, which I’ll take in 2012.
So, that’s one area I’ll focus on. And other than that, I’ll probably renew some of the other intentions that I tend to make each year. It really helps.
Hope you’re doing well. I miss you!!
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Roma, I look forward to seeing what you create from your renewed commitment to jewelry making. It sure can be difficult to stick with goals over the long haul. Especially with hectic schedules. I wish you a creative and prosperous New Year. And to Jim and the girls. I miss you, too!
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Teresa, guitar lessons sound really fun. I like the idea of a personal renaissance, exploring forms outside of what is comfortable. I’ve been feeling a need to branch out a little, too. Just haven’t decided yet where that will be. I kind of want to take a tai chi class. Radiance. When I say that word out loud, I feel lighter and more expansive. I have some quiet space today; I’m going to think about what my word for the year might be. Thank you for sharing your intentions for 2012. I look forward to watching them come to fruition.
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Robin, thanks for the link to your piece. Your photographs are stunning! One of the things I want to do in 2012 is focus more on my photography. Just visiting your place inspires me. Letting go…it seems like I have to work hard on that every year. I am a Cancer and tend to cling to things that have meaning for me. It helps to know that others have to work at letting go, too. Happy New Year to you. I look forward to following your creative journey through 2012.
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Bob, thanks for stopping by to celebrate the Moon. Did your intentions become more clear?
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oliverowl a beautiful story about your first-born and the Moon. Have you told him that story, too? I love it when my mother tells me stories she remembers from when each of us kids were young. I am so excited that you are going to retire, I can’t stand it! I am so glad you plan to write and read like a crazy woman! I can picture it now. You have the perfect setting, all those mountains and quiet spaces around you. I hope it means you’ll be able to visit us a little more often, too. I so appreciate when you stop by. Thank you!
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