Betelgeuse lights up this month's Full Moon

 

On Monday 3rd July, we have a Full Moon in Capricorn. and marks the culmination of a pattern set in motion at the New Moon two weeks ago. If you read the blog post for that lunar event, you might recall that it called for setting intentions for the coming year and to pay attention to the illusions and deceptions around at the time (the New Moon was square Neptune, the planet associated with illusion and disillusion equally. It was a New Moon marked with the tragedy of the submersible Titan). 

This time, this Full Moon throws light on taking responsibility for our emotions (Saturn rules Capricorn) whilst also allowing intuitive thoughts (Mercury is in a water sign, Cancer, which the Moon rules) to guide you. Balance is always the key; taking responsibility for your emotions also means that you have to be honest with yourself, knowing what you are feeling. 

Let's look at other things going on in the chart. First of all, the ruler of Capricorn, Saturn, makes a harmonious aspect to the Moon. Although Saturn is retrograde, this harmonious aspect is not diminished; rather, it asks us to look within and do some introspection. How responsible are we for our feelings? Do we lash out at others when things do not go our way (classic projection)? Let's not forget that the Moon reflects the Sun's light, and Saturn in Cancer also receives a harmonious aspect from Saturn (120 degrees); this enables the Sun to receive insights from Mercury close by but also consider them in a practical manner (that's Saturn for you). 

Jupiter also touches in with the Sun and Mercury, creating another harmonious aspect. Unlike Saturn, Jupiter blesses anything it touches, so a harmonious aspect to the Sun (and Mercury) will endow it with a touch of positivity. In other words, things will go well. Adding another dimension to the story the sky is offering, the fixed star Betelgeuse (a star in the constellation Orion) is the heliacal rising star (it rises with the Sun) for this period, and adds a sense of optimism. The Ancient Egyptians saw the rising of the sun as the return of the infant god Horus (Bernadette Brady, 1998).Betelgeuse is the star in the right shoulder of the giant Orion, and as this star touched the rising sun, it was seen to give the idea of strength and charisma. As the Moon reflects the Sun's light, this is reflected in the lunation chart. 

Putting it all together, we have an opportunity to have a look at how our emotions often spurn us to do and say things which snowball into actions which then has consequences. Let's put our right shoulder out there and speak with honesty, first with ourselves, and then with others. 

On another note, an interesting phenomena to watch out for is the 'supermoon'; the July Full Moon is the first of four such supermoons in 2023. Earth's moon has an elliptical orbit, which means that at times it is closer to Earth than at other times. This makes it appear larger and brighter than usual - up to 17% larger, in fact.  So when the moon rises later on, and after sunset, it should be quite spectacular.

I hope you enjoyed reading this :) 

Blessings, 

Cindy