Illuminated Gathering: Virgo, Spinner’s Full Moon

[one_third][/one_third][two_third_last padding=”0% 0 0 0″]A Virgo full moon masterfully weaves itself into our lives this Sunday, making it the perfect day to plan a moon gathering for this weekend. Seasonal Astrologist, Allie Couch, brings us some fated insight and ideas to get your gathering spun with perfection.

ILLUMINATING SUNDAY’S HIGH TIDE OF FATE

As we swim our way through the dreamy, mystical, and artistic seas of Pisces Season, a grounding full moon will come along in the not-so-emotional sign of Virgo. In opposition to this solar season’s vitality; a vitality that influences all of us to use symbolism and composition to attach meaning to the full spectrum and complexity of life, we blossom with a new found ability to actualize practical purposes in the outer world.

Virgo is a sign of fate and as we stepped into the Virgo new moon initiations, in early September, we started a six month journey to analyze, refine, and hone a skill or skills that we saw as being ‘useful’ or ‘purposeful’. There is a purity to this sign of the Virgin which conflicts with the messiness of human relations. Because of this, a pendulum swing happens as we refine and develop this ‘pure’ and ‘useful’ purpose, one that may have taken us between moments of needing the help of others to develop to one of utilizing what was learned to purify our own lives. At the full moon, this skill is actualized in some way that pushes it, and us, out into the world. An ability to refine, organize, and analyze has gifted us with a beautiful capability and now we recognize that it’s this capability that can bring a recognized purpose and usefulness to our lives. We see that this is a service we can offer and one that is needed by humanity.
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[one_sixth][/one_sixth][two_third]We now start a six month journey to offer our useful purpose to our close peers, communities, and then to the world at large, all the while, spinning a web of connection that maintains purity from needing to engage in the messiness of emotional interaction or subjectivity. Rather, this web is spun to bring support and connection to an objective fate or specific need, purifying health and process. This is where Virgo gets it’s connection to the principle of serving. [/two_third][one_sixth_last][/one_sixth_last]

[two_third padding=”0% 0 0 0″]THE GATHERING

We love us a full moon gathering at CosmoMuse as the high tide that full moons bring creates an opening to put our needs in the spotlight. This complete illumination is urging us to step into the outer world with what’s developed and celebrate the things coming into actualization—or mourn for things that didn’t make the cut and are now needing to phase out of our lives. With a close group of loved ones, either side that you are spilling over with (actualizing or releasing), is given communal support and nurturing.

At this Virgo full moon, take the time to ask your gatherers what it is that they’ve been honing and training in, or taming, in their lives. At 22 degrees of Virgo, the Sabian Symbol speaks to a readied faith in yourself after taming and mastering a wild aspect of ego: An ego refinement.

Here are some great questions to allow each person to address in the moon circle:

What part of yourself do you feel is ready and more polished to give to the world?

Do you feel a rising purpose or fate in your life?

Is there a skill, service, or aspect of your ego that is feeling a need to phase out of your life right now, no longer serving the fate, or usefulness of your life direction?[/two_third][one_third_last][/one_third_last]

[one_sixth][/one_sixth][two_third]With all that is illuminated after these questions, use some critical thinking skills to see if there might be some way to help each person feel more comfortable with spinning their web of use and purpose in the outer world. Do any of the skills or purposes of those at the gathering relate or can some of these things be practiced on others there to help boost confidence in this coming-out time? How does each moon gatherer see the use of each other’s new fateful callings? Maybe allow a bit of response and reaction to each person, adding to the never ending need of Virgo energy to refine, analyze, and purify. [/two_third][one_sixth_last][/one_sixth_last]

[one_third][/one_third][two_third_last]SEASONAL ACTIVITIES

Some kind of seasonal art or activity is always a lovely, grounding, and communal enhancing thing to start your moon gathering off with, followed by a shared meal, and then the moon circle. To learn how to organize the flow of a full moon gathering and our version of what you need, you can find this info in our 2017 Seasonal Astrology Guide (download the PDF version here or purchase the print version here).

With this being a very practical and earth oriented full moon, we think it’s the perfect gathering to actually learn a skill and bring in a professional or one of your crew who’s good at this skill to give a simple and short 101 class: knitting, macrame, crochet. With Virgo being tied to the sympathetic nervous system, making epsom salt bath soaks is another great thing that might encourage everyone to go home and take a relaxing soak, taking a bit of pressure off of the perfection that Virgo is tied to. Have each person bring an herb, dried flowers, or essential oil that’s seasonal so people can make their own soak mixtures that speak to them. Chamomile and lavender are especially great relaxers. As this is the Native American Magpie Full Moon, having soil and little containers for planting seedlings, could also be fun. Have each person bring spring seeds so there’s a nice variety and make cartons of seed starters for herbs, veggies and flowers. Here’s a great tutorial.
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Illuminated Gathering: A Theatrical Leo Eclipse

[one_half][/one_half][one_half_last]Illuminating Tomorrow’s Dramatic High Tide

A SPECTACULAR LEO LUNAR ECLIPSE
How do you plan to gather at tomorrow evening’s full moon, a time of illumination and integration when dreams come to life, events challenge us in new ways, and manifesting prevails?

Gatherings bring connection. Toss in a full moon and you’ve got high tides of feelings and events, making the ping pong of communing rich and deep. Layer in the moon in Leo and excitement, creativity, warmth, and generosity encompass the mood—but tack on an eclipse and a wild card of the unexpected arises.

Beyond the above string of glow-y themes; themes that make this one of the most anticipated and possibly the most dramatic full moons of the year, we also have a large pack of planets that are gathering to watch and contribute to the spectacle on deck, spinning a beautiful web of supportive cosmic formations (two kites and a mystic rectangle). Things are arranging nicely to usher us into a new two-year cycle of Leo-Aquarius eclipses, honing and evolving our creative-expression and command (Leo), while also uncovering ways in which we can plug into collaborative efforts that move beyond our own ego expression (Aquarius). [/one_half_last]

[two_third padding=”2% 0 0 0″]Symbolism of this Full Moon

PERFORMANCE
I love looking at the degree in which full moons fall to get some insight into what they are telling us to integrate and illuminate in our lives.

SABIAN SYMBOLS (archetypal images for the zodiac degrees):
Leo Moon 22 Degrees – In A Circus the Bareback Rider Displays Her Dangerous Skill
Aquarius Sun 22 Degrees – A Big Bear Sitting Down and Waving All Its Paws

The illumination of our moon in Leo focuses on a need to get self-disciplined in order to gain control of our egos and natural vitality so that we can perform spectacular feats with showmanship. In this, we also need to integrate control and the refinement of our natural impulses to use them for a purpose greater than ourselves. Overall, troops come to mind: circus, dance, theater, etc––the honing of your personal performance and skill to contribute to a bigger performance element. Spectacular inter- and intra- coordination. [/two_third][one_third_last][/one_third_last]

[one_third][/one_third][two_third_last]The Gathering

GATHER YOUR MOON CREW
If you are doing a moon circle, practice performing a ritual, ceremony, a piece of poetry, mannerisms. Make this the most choreographed, performance enhanced, ritual and ceremony you’ve ever done. Get theatrical and dramatic with gestures, think about the how to make fire more prominent, coordinate your efforts with others. Rehearse this an hour or two before your gathering starts with anyone else involved in leading the moon circle. Ask people to wear certain things or bring certain things. (Our printed 2017 guide has moon ritual info – purchase here).

If you aren’t into the whole circle and ritual thing, grab your lady friends and plan a theatrical night on the town. Go to a decadent dinner where the service is honed and impeccable, dress up and head to the theater or ballet, and then find a fancy place for cocktails and desserts, after. Think grand and dramatic and prepare for a brilliantly glamorous night.

SEASONAL MATERIALS
Do a bit of Pre-Galentine décor or theme-ing: Roses are heart-openers, which is the part of the body related to Leo, where our full moon resides. Incorporate rose tea, rose head-wreaths, a rose mandala. Oranges, cocoa, ginger root, garlic, and cayenne are great for circulation, ruled by Aquarius, where our sun is. Get creative with these seasonal materials, tying them into your moon circle, dinner, and décor. [/two_third_last]