113: OH SO NEEDY
THU 28 JAN 19.16 - Mooning Monthly trying not to be too demanding.....
Dear Mooners I trust the start of 2021 finds you in resourceful mood and good health as we contend with our continuing international Covid lockdown. I also hope you enjoyed the recent new moon literary shake up and rub down provided by MOON LIT, our freshly launched monthly platform for new poetry with a lunar theme. The gently uplifting, delicate double dose of Miranda Peake's London lockdown poems are still available to savour here. They warrant a visit. At each of 2021's 13 new moons, MOONLIT will replace your regular Mooning Monthly missive but, fear not, the normal, loosely astrological blog service continues unabated at each full moon, this being the first of the year - the Snow Moon - and situated in dear old Leo. Leo is a love led, lounging leader, full of fun and creativity but with a default setting for inaction, always happier to issue guidance to others from the comfort of an armchair/throne. Under this Leo Full Moon we should look out for a few Leo behavioural traits that might emerge due to challenging astrological aspects with Mars and Jupiter. A squared Mars has the bad habit of calling the calmest cookie to arms, so beware of descending red mists and retreat from potential battlefields. Frustration and irritation will be rife. An opposing Jupiter will exacerbate the lethargic side of this Leo Full Moon, so make sure you persevere with any positive intents set at the start of the year - now is not the time to stop new exercise regimes and hit the cake, however sweet the syrup or inclement the weather. Leo proudly loves the sound of its own voice and can't resist a selfie. Switch off your own camera during that long list of Zoom meetings to avoid self obsessed distraction. Our omnipresent, unavoidable egos will be on high alert in search of attention, appeasement and inflation in the next few days. With that in mind, it's good to remember that the ego is simply the illusion of who we think we are, constructed from a lifetime of cultural and social conditioning, rather than the truth of what we are (a vital, conscious constituent of the unified field of existence). The ego's desires and actions are largely determined by fearful responses to stuff that has happened in the past or might happen in the future. If one can find a way to locate the present moment, away from memories or projection, the ego has no option but to stand aside in the majestic presence of what is. Truth dwarfs illusion, however seductive or comprehensive those misperceptions may be. Under this Leo Full Moon we would therefore be well advised to keep close tabs on the layers of assumptions we make about ourselves and others. Most of our judgements are designed to elevate our own position in the pack/pride, often to the detriment of others. Leo's influence would love to see us strutting our Alpha dominance with the minimum of effort, regardless of gender norms. A tried and tested method in the corridors of power is to target and dominate the weak and vulnerable, keeping them defenceless, disenfranchised and self associating with a victim mentality. It's a classic 'them and us' duality perpetuated by those in the privileged minority but ironically held firmly in place by a belief structure embedded in the rest of the population. Watch out for the tell tale negative outcomes derived from an "I'm not worthy/good enough/loveable" frame of mind. Positive progress in our personal lives can be swift as soon as we shake off this judgement paradigm and consider everyone and everything we encounter as an equally vital part of the unified whole we call life. This process is called caring and should perhaps inform more of the decisions we make on a day to day basis. Under this Leo Full Moon we are likely to be at our needy worst: attention grabbing, domineering and irritable/aggressive/capable of lashing out if we don't get our way. As ever, these lunar influences are merely the cosmic tides in which we find ourselves adrift. It is entirely possible, with greater awareness of our thoughts, words and deeds, to find a way to ride the currents to a quieter, self determined pool where we have more control over our direction of travel. It might even be possible to occasionally get out of the emotionally charged, turbulent water altogether, dry off and simply enjoy relaxing on the beach. Who knew? In a quieter state of inner awareness, our thoughts, words and deeds can be consciously encouraged to maintain an entirely positive, caring outlook, one that will benefit everyone and everything we encounter through the mutually inclusive, universal language of love. To that end, throughout 2021 Mooning Monthly will offer a range of very simple breathing exercises that, with regular practice, help establish a calming inner reservoir to irrigate the fertile soil of positive transformation in our outer lives. I have included the first in a series of videos at the foot of this message that details a very simple yoga breathing exercise recommended for use at the start and end of each day. It promotes balance in the two hemispheres of the brain, thereby bringing calm and balance to the entire body - whether embarking on the day ahead or preparing for deep and restful sleep before bed. All the Yogis love it. Give it a go and let the evidence speak for itself. I hope the practice might smooth a passage to deeper understanding and grateful appreciation of the life we all share - in peace. As always at Full Moon, our instinctive emotional reactions and habitual patterns of behaviour/denial will be hitting their peak. Don't despair. Be kind to yourself and the likelihood is you'll accord the same respect to others. If we find appropriate strategies (breathing exercises?) to manage our Leo Full Moon inflated needy egos, the next fortnight presents us with an opportunity to move closer to the truth of who and what we are, resulting in greater contentedness. It may take patient self control but in the light of that emerging inner knowledge, may we think, speak and act with the firm intention of bringing benefit to All.
Look out for next month's edition of MOON LIT. Our second contributor, Marcus Sedgwick, is an internationally acclaimed author (look him up) who has just completed a sublime poem under this Snow Moon that will melt exclusively into your inbox as the New Moon in Aquarius approaches on 11th Feb. We've had an overwhelmingly positive response to MOON LIT so far, thank you for your enthusiasm. We hope you delight in Edition 2 as much as the first. If you've enjoyed this message please do the sharing thing. With love 'til next time.... Mark
FULL MOON MARKS
EACH MONTH DURING 2021 WE WILL CHART THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SINGLE, YEAR LONG LUNAR INSPIRED DRAWING BY ARTIST AND FELLOW MOONER MARK WEIGHTON
MOON 1
32 x 24cm charcoal on paper