Super Full Moon Aquarius Aug 10: A Cry for Freedom

Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. – Benjamin Franklin, Historical Review of Pennsylvania, 1759

"Dance for Joy" painting by Ira Mitchell Kirk

Paradox abounds…best of times…worst of times. Our awareness of each other is expanding exponentially. Rare to meet someone who is unaware intense change fills the ethers around the globe. While the intensity meter has dropped somewhat from the very strong levels of the 1st half of 2014, we are far from being out of this cosmic transformational soup. The Full Moon of August arrives to remind us our evolution is far from complete.

This lunation activates the Leo-Aquarius axis about the same time Moon reaches its closest perigee in 2014. Hence, we now dance with the vibrational effects of a Super Full Moon over the next 14 days.

Here’s the Astro 411 for this lunation: 

Where: Full Moon positions at 18° Aquarius. The sign of the water bearer brings the qualities of humanitarian service, independence and freedom, and an expansive view of life. Aquarius embraces technology, Utopian ideals, the future, social connections and creating a better world through social justice and equality. While its opposite sign Leo is quite individuated and

Leo New Moon July 26: The Heart-felt Roar of the Lion

"Love is always bestowed as a gift - freely, willingly and without expectation. We don't love to be loved; we love to love." Leo Buscaglia (1924-98) Author

"Rejoice" photo by Joseph Mina

Has there ever been a more compelling time for humans on Earth? Energy is moving rapidly these days. Everything seems exaggerated and fast. People are connecting in ways unthinkable just 10 years ago. Life appears larger than life.

We now arrive at that magical time of the year when the New Moon visits Leo and its deep well of heart-felt love. This time around, and not since 2003, Jupiter awaits the Sun and Moon. What expansive, optimistic opportunities of the heart await you over the coming year? Here’s the astro 411 for this lunation:

Where: Leo New Moon at 4° Leo: Passion, creativity, self-importance, royalty, radical love, heart-felt generosity, dignity with power, leadership, romance, play/fun are qualities of Leo and the focus of this lunation. Archetypal Sun rules Leo, which further underscores the strength of this external vibration.

When: July 26 12:42 pm Hawaii; 3:42 pm PDT; 6:42 EDT; 10:42 pm GMT; 12:42 am on the

Capricorn Full Moon July 12: Energy Vise...Are you feeling it?

It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power.
Alan Cohen, Author and Inspirational Speaker

"Super Full Moon Mauna Kea" by Joseph Mina

Yes, for the moment...energy is building...intensely. Trouble sleeping? Feeling edgy??? The chart below shows the major components of the Capricorn Full Moon. Why the intensity? Aren't we over this already???  Here's the Astro 411:

Where: Capricorn Full Moon at 20°. Laws and rules, structure and organization, finances, business, and politics are the domain of Capricorn and the focus of this lunation.

Type: Super Full Moon (SFM). Full Moon occurs close to perigee with Earth. It is the 1st of 3 consecutive SFM's, with August's Aquarius Full Moon(8/10) the closest of the 3. SFM = heightened lunar influence. Also visually "big Moon" rising at sunset.

When: July 12th: 1:25 am on the 12th in Hawaii; 4:25 PDT, 7:25 am EDT; 3:25 pm GMT

Theme: "Past versus Future"

Significant Players: annotated in chart below: (1) Saturn in Scorpio; (2) Uranus in Aries; (3) Chiron in Pisces, (4) Moon in Capricorn opposite Sun in Cancer

Energy forms created: Cardinal T-Square (in red) and Kite In blue/green) - enough to know this combination represents the building of strong critical tension patterns during this lunation...akin to an "energy vise".

Synopsis: Current dynamic tension represents more intensification for freedom and quest for something new. This is particularly evident now in the emotionally heated and war-torn Middle East, parts of Africa and Asia, as well as along the southern border of the United States (children immigration). Also, the energetic field is quite ripe for conflict, especially on a country level, unless

Cancer New Moon June 27: The Evolving World Community

"It is in our hands -- yours and mine, each person here today -- to make a decision to work, to work together, and to work with others around the whole world, to build friendship, and love, and understanding among all people."  Alice Bartow Hobensack, Author

Aloha Friends of the Night Sky

New Oxford Dictionary's definition of "Community":
• a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common
• a particular area or place considered together with its inhabitants, eg. a rural community.
• a body of nations or states unified by common interests
• a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals

AstroActivator© 2001 by Kathryn Andren

Over the past 10 years, the very concept of community has rapidly evolved into an extraordinary awareness of the human family. In the on-going building Aquarian vibration of the 21st century, the circle of connection around the Globe has become greater and smaller simultaneously. Technology, and its child "social media" has stretched the parameters of our connections to every habitable corner of the Earth.

Today, it is quite easy to have a video chat with someone living on the other side of the Globe, or to collaborate with a team of people from a variety of locations. Yes...we are embracing a new concept of Community...the global human family. In turn, this is preparing us for a much bigger step...one that embraces our connection to other civilizations in the cosmos.

This Cancer New Moon provides the opportunity to reflect and celebrate the growing web of human connection, diversity, and inter-relationships. It is also a time to honor the traditions and gifts of the past, as well as embrace the new wave of co-existence and inter-dependency beginning to unite the human family. Peter Russel's description of the Global Brain and this unfolding unification is more relatable  and revealing

Astrology June 2014 Sagittarius Full Moon: Truth and Liberation

"You need to challenge your fear of life becoming unreasonable - because it is already unreasonable. In truth, your life has never been reasonable, it’s just that you keep hoping tomorrow will be different and that you will find a way to bring more control into your world. Recognize that life will always be full of challenges and crisis. The wise way is not to attempt to find one path that promises you will never have to endure the pain of loss and illness, but instead to learn how to endure and transcend when unreasonable events come your way. Learning to defy gravity in your world - to think, perceive, and act at the mystical level of consciousness - is the greatest gift you can give yourself, because it is the gift of truth. And as we are bound to learn again and again in this life, the truth does indeed set us free.” Carolyn Myss, author and spiritual teacher

"Mercury Retrograde" sketch by Joseph Mina

Whenever the Moon comes into New or Full aspect in the sign of the Sagittarian Archer, the notions of "truth" and embracing/attaining a higher spiritual perspective enter our human conversation. This month's Full Moon seeds this theme in unusual and compelling ways. Are you ready to face life's unpredictable ups and downs from a new or more enlightened perspective? If so, I suggest first re-reading Carolyn Myss' quote, then reading on.

Full Moon occurs at 22° Sagittarius (chart below) on June 12 at 6:11 pm in Hawaii, 9:11 on the West Coast, 11:11 in the Midwest USA, and shortly after midnight on the 13th on the East Coast USA, east to the International Dateline. GMT for the Full Moon is June 13th at 8:11 am.

In this lunation, powerful transformational forces continue to dominate the astrological landscape. As I mentioned in my end of May update, Mars in cardinal sign Libra continues its ever-so-slow direct motion as it retraces its retrograde movement of March through mid-May. This "slog" continues

Astrology Gemini New Moon May 28th: Mercury Retrograde Nears

“Nothing endures but change.” ― Heraclitus

“The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking.” ― Albert Einstein

Turbulent Waves, Hookena Beach, Hawaii
iPad Energy Sketch by Joseph Mina

The season of Gemini-style change is upon us. Gemini energy imbues change into everyday life. It's Gemini's nature.

Ruled by Mercury, Gemini thrives in the realm of communication, thoughts, movement and ideas. Usually, this playful nature manifests as spontaneous, humorous, connective, highly creative and changeable.  Yet, these are no ordinary times. In this current vibration, Gemini becomes a ninja-like shape shifter, ready to turn the energetic tables in the blink of an eye. Are you ready for more spontaneous change???

This Gemini New Moon also brings Neptune in Pisces into the conversation, evoking Neptune's connection to imagery, dreams, inspiration, and most importantly, confusion. "What is real and what is not?" will be a powerful theme generator in the coming months, especially in Pisces' realms of spirituality and illusion.

Gemini New Moon arrives on the 28th at 8:40 am in Hawaii, 11:40 am PDT, 2:40 EDT, 6:40

Astrology May 2014 Scorpio Full Moon: Emotional Intensity 101

“There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique, and if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium; and be lost.”  Martha Graham

"Big Wave Day Hawaii" sketch by Joseph Mina

The month of May nears its half way point (these months are sure flying by) as the Scorpio Full Moon takes center stage. Each year, the Scorpio Full Moon lights up the mid-spring sky (or mid-autumn sky for those down-under). Here, we are encouraged to go deeper into our life force, exploring new ways to use this precious vibration in our day-to-day lives.

Full Moon arrives on the 14th at 9:16 am in Hawaii, 12:16 pm on the West Coast; 3:16 pm on the East coast; 7:16 pm UTC; and on the 15th from western Russia east to the international date line.

This Full Moon joins Saturn in Scorpio in the current sky story. Over the past 90 years, this is only the 4th time the Full Moon and Saturn in Scorpio have come into close aspect (2nd closest). Archetypally, the Moon's

Annular Taurus New Moon Solar Eclipse April 28: Earth First

“It really boils down to this: that all life is interrelated. We are all caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied into a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one destiny, affects all indirectly.” – Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

"The more clearly we can focus our attention on the wonders and realities of the universe about us the less taste we shall have for the destruction of our race. Wonder and humility are wholesome emotions, and they do not exist side by side with a lust for destruction."
Rachel Carson, Marine Biologist, author of Silent Spring

"Forsythia" sketch by Joseph Mina

Spring is that unique time when life quickens without hesitation after a deep, long slumber. The speed with which life rebounds is rather startling. As if on universal cue, an environmental renaissance takes place before our very eyes. During this time, the vibrant smell and sight of new growth speaks to the depths of our human form. Our body has evolved over millions of years of trial and error in this magical brew. It innately knows this essence and awakening. Equally, it innately knows when this eon old eco-system is out of balance. Are we attuned to what we instinctively or innately know about planet Earth? This Taurus New Moon vibe offers a gut check for that very question.

In the Northern Hemisphere, we celebrate the Taurus New Moon in the springtime. Unlike any other astrological sign, archetypal Taurus, one of the 3 earth signs, connects and grounds us to planet Earth. We put our hands in the soil; we breathe deeply the fresh air; we revel in the experience of liquid H2O; and we consume Earth's gifts for nourishment and strength. Our senses become intoxicated with spring's rush of life.

This eclipsed Taurus New Moon arrives with strong lunar intention. For the most brief of moments, the shadow cap of the Moon barely grazes the Earth over a very remote area of Antarctica. Annularity

Total Lunar Eclipse Libra Full Moon April 15 and Grand Cardinal Cross: Intensity Clarifies

"...Intensity clarifies. It creates not only momentum, but also the pressure you need to feel either friction, or fulfillment." Marcus Buckingham, author & motivational speaker

©Energetic Expressions2014: "Emergence" by Joseph Mina

"A Wizard's Hat", as described by astronomer/philosopher Chet Raymo in one of my favorite books Soul of the Night, resembles the shadow area lurking behind every object, large and small, as it orbits our Sun. It is mostly a dark zone, seemingly oblivious to the Sun's brilliant light. In the case of the Earth's cap, its shadow light is a very dusky red, infused with the scattered remains of crimson solar light not held captive by the Earth's atmosphere. Tonight in Hawaii, or in the very early morning hours for North and South America, the Full Moon dips into this hallowed area, creating one of nature's infrequent sublime spectacles...a total lunar eclipse.

Eclipse chaser and observer extraordinare Fred Espenak tells me in his Observer's Handbook the Moon will first touch the outer regions of the Earth's penumbra at 4:53.37 UT today (6:54 pm in Hawaii; 9:54 pm on the West Coast US)...a moment in time no one will perceive. Yet within a matter of 65 minutes, the Moon will begin to lose its brilliant, silvery luster, as the Earth's shadow seemingly takes a bite out of this fabled block of cheese. For an astrologer, or someone who dwells in the realm of metaphor, this "as above, so below" moment opens the human psyche to our own archetypal shadow...that place hiding humanities inner secrets about the more primal parts of our lineage and heritage. Your cosmic homework assignment for this lunation: "look within".

This particular eclipse is one of the more unique ones in recorded history. No, not because of the Moon's passage through the Earth's shadow...a journey replicated every 18.6 months or so. Rather, an extremely rare geometric association of four planetary archetypal expressions occurs at the same time. On its journey tonight, the  Libra Full Moon carries a metaphorical cross on this shadowed trek...a "Cardinal Grand Cross", if you will. We have arrived at the 2014 Crossroads. What will we discover within our psyches about who we are and our potential to co-create on planet Earth??

As I have shared here over the past few years, this evolving grand cross dynamic is nothing short of

Aries New Moon March 30: Are You Ready???

"Re-examine all you have been told in school or church or in any book, and dismiss whatever insults your own soul, and your very flesh shall be a great poem, and have the richest fluency, not only in words, but in the silent lines of its lips and face and between the lashes of your eyes, and in every motion and joint of your body." - Walt Whitman, Preface to Leaves of Grass

"Let the beauty we love be what we do...there are hundreds of ways to knell and kiss the ground". Rumi

AstroActivators© 2002 Kathryn Andren

We arrive at the Aries New Moon. A gong sounds...loudly. We begin anew...yet this time the ground is highly fertile and ripe for significant shifts in your individuated expression, how you relate to others, what fuels your persona in the world, and what nurtures you to the core.  Yes...cardinal sign energies are building for the Cardinal Cross of late April...this fiery Aries New Moon opens a significant door for that vibration, rippling its vibration through early June. Wow O Wow!

Archetypal Aries is raw, primal, highly creative, in the moment, passionate about their inner dance and ready to set the world on fire. Abraham Hicks might have been considering Aries-types when this came through "people will love you...people will hate you...and none of it will have anything to do with you." And I'll add "your life won't be boring"!

Pure Aries is entirely self-focused on individuated growth and experiences. To others it may seem narcissistic or self-absorbed. Yet, someone has to take the lead...someone has to get the ball rolling in a particular direction or trend. Oh yes...Aries types are rarely around to see things completed, especially anyone with Ascendant, Venus or Mars in this individuated vibration. "On to the next greatest thing" is their fuel and passion, and sometimes their greatest challenge. As such, following impulsive urges can prove to be a 2 edged sword. Learning the art/balance between discernment and action is very helpful for the Aries mojo.

This New Moon invites you to conjure new ways of expressing your passion in the world. How do