LEO - The Full Moon of Self-Expression

TO BE OR NOT TO BE: Step into the spotlight and express your radiant self. The next two weeks are the perfect time to access the self-expressive energy of the Full Moon in Leo and to utilize the Hand Analysis skill set of building, accepting and risking your own identity.

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Full Moon in Leo - July 29, 2007, 5:48 pm PDT

The Leo's work is to SHINE, SHINE, SHINE and to lead the way with light, radiance and creativity. Leo is the sign of the radiant individual. It is the sign of the actor, the artist, the leader and the resplendent sun.

The full moon is the time to turn inward and question whether we identify more with the cowardly or courageous lion. We ask, “What must I express?” Leo gives us the boost to dare to be who we are. It kicks our cowardly lion in the pants.

In Hand Analysis, the artist is the most common Life Purpose. Your Life Purpose is what makes you feel most alive and is the reason you are here. Having an artist purpose means that what is the easiest, most enjoyable and fun for you is your creative self-expression. This requires developing your own sense of individuality -- which for many people comes very naturally. The more you express your individual nature, the more willing you are to show up in places where you would risk rejection... and risking rejection is key here. To the degree that you risk rejection for expressing yourself is the degree that you will be able to experience yourself as your unique artist... and is the degree that everyone else gets to benefit from what you have to offer.

Take advantage of the next two weeks to assess where in your life you shine. Then toast yourself for showing up fully. Really. Don't think about doing it, really do it. Go ahead and pour yourself your favorite beverage and raise your glass.

Also, take some time to consider the areas where you hold yourself back. Ask yourself what is at stake if you were to fully express yourself? How do you benefit by holding back? How might you benefit from actually expressing yourself in the scariest places?

From an astrological perspective, anyone with strong Leo in his chart often is in love with the spotlight or the stage. The key with Leo energy is to celebrate one's radiance without becoming self-centered. Leo can assume that the world is all about him and little else. But a soul-centered Leo will ask how his strong, creative personality can serve the greater good. The task for Leo is to utilize the balancing, group-oriented energy of Aquarius and give his gift for the benefit of the group and not simply for the praise, attention or recognition.

This month of Leo is the time to come out of hiding and shine forth with all your most beautiful creative offerings. Take this full moon time to imagine yourself as a sun radiating your greatest gifts!

Coming Up on the Horizon:
In the next LUNAPHASES, with the New Moon in Leo on August 12th, we will activate the bright creative energy of Leo and take apart fear of rejection with the skill sets of Hand Analysis.

Special Offer:
Hand Analysis read with Lynn to focus on your Life Purpose. For LUNAPHASES readers during the month of August, if you schedule a first time reading with Lynn, the cost will be $100. Check out YourLifeIsInYourHands.com for more information. (You don’t need to be in Los Angeles!) For a returning reading to focus on your Life Purpose, $75 for LUNAPHASES readers during August.

We would love to hear from you. If you feel inspired to try any of our suggestions, please tell us about your experience. Just email us or leave us a comment here on this blog!

CANCER - The New Moon of Security

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME: Creating an environment that nurtures you -- as though there are two outstretched arms to receive you. The next two weeks are the perfect time to unite the mothering energy of the New Moon in Cancer with the Hand Analysis skill set of Self-Care.

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New Moon in Cancer - July 14th, 5:04 am PST

The new moon is the time to act with purpose and intention to manifest and make real the themes of Cancer. Over the next two weeks, focus on creating security, beauty and light in your environment by accessing universal mothering energy. This applies to men and women alike.

From the astrological perspective, one of the phrases for cancer is, "The Whole is Seen as One." During this month, you have a tremendous opportunity to acknowledge all that unites us and the human family. Cancer offers an abundance of the great Mother energy to care for those who need it most in our family, community or world at large.

Hand analysis offers the perfect skill set to access this part of you. Rest, Relaxation and Rejuvenation for the purpose of Self Love. This taps into your own mothering energy, and enables you to feel safe in your environment.

How To Work This Skill Set: Live fully through your senses.
Access your sensuality. Conduct an inventory of your home through all five senses.

• SIGHT: Take a look around. Incorporate colors that soothe you. Use fabrics that energize the space. Place the furniture to welcome you and create order. Create lighting that illuminates, not overwhelms.

• SMELL: As you enter, breathe deeply. During the summer months, take advantage of the abundance of fresh flowers and herbs. Aromatherapy oils can be dispensed as air fresheners. Even the fragrances of your bathroom products, dish soap and cleaning products can affect how you feel at home.

• SOUND: Whether it’s a fountain, wind chimes or your favorite music, fill your home with your favorite sounds. Also, consider which sounds best support you as you go to sleep and the first sounds to best help you greet your day.

• TASTE: Focus your attention on what you taste. Eat food that feels really nourishing and good to your system. Take advantage of locally grown seasonal crops for great self-care and support of your community.

• TOUCH: Perform a rub test. Rub your towels, sheets and clothing against your skin to see how good they feel. Treat yourself to bath products that feel nurturing.

Over the next two weeks see where your home feels wonderful and where it needs attention. Focus on one area that calls to you the loudest. If you don’t know where to start, it may help to address one corner of one room.

Notice that as you pay attention to your living space, your physical body and well-being are deeply affected as well. Notice that as you create beauty or light within your physical body or physical home, you naturally open to a greater flow of love. Notice that as you offer yourself the great mothering energy, you will have increasing reserves of that same energy to extend to humanity. As you increase the radiance in your life through the loving attention you pay to your living space, you cannot help but shine your light and nourishment upon the world.

Coming up on the horizon:
In the next LUNAPHASES, the Full Moon in Leo on July 29th brings in the energy of identity, as we ask "Who am I and what must I express?"

We would love to hear from you. If you feel inspired to try any of our suggestions, please tell us about your experience. Just email us or leave us a comment here on this blog !

CANCER - The Full Moon of Security

CREATING SECURITY: Feeling safe and secure in the moment, in your life, in the present and in the future. The next two weeks are the perfect time to unite the energy of the Full moon in Cancer with the Hand Analysis skill set of living your life in balance.

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Full Moon in Cancer - June 30, 6:49 am PST

The Cancer full moon is the time to turn inward and examine which aspects of your life feel the most secure... and which do not and why.

Contrary to popular belief, feeling secure is not dependent on your finances. Nor is it dependent on the state of your love life. Really. No matter how much money you have, you feel only as secure as your life is in balance. And, no matter how happily partnered you may be, you feel only as secure as your life is in balance.

Fortunately, Hand Analysis offers a skill set for this balancing act. It is based on the Rules of the 24-hour day. Living on this planet, we are all subject to the same time constraints: There are only 24 hours in one day.

During that time, your body needs:

• eight (8) hours to sleep,
• eight (8) hours to work, and
• eight (8) hours to balance out the rest of your day.

The skill set is shifting the areas that are out of balance for a more even life experience.

If you feel these rules do not apply to you, and you have no problem living on 5-1/2 hours of sleep for your 12-hour work day (include your commute time in that), then take advantage of the next two weeks to make a few mental assessments. Consider various aspects of your life: your home, job, future, relationship, car. Then ask yourself, on a scale of 1 –10, "How secure do I feel about (x)…?" Just notice.

From the astrological perspective, the phrase associated with the Cancer moon is, "I build a lighted house and therein dwell." The Cancer energy offers this thought: "True security comes from allowing the light of the soul to flow through your physical and spiritual home." The Cancer full moon is an opportunity to ask if your "house" is lit: what areas of your life are you avoiding, neglecting, casting into the shadows? How can you allow more of your soul's light to pour through your life? Now is the time to feel into your darkened, fearful, stuck places and illuminate them.

We often feel that these dark, habitual places are safe and secure when in fact the "light" of the soul and our stance in that light is the only true security. A Cancer deeply wants to live in the light but will easily retreat back to the dark waters if he feels unsafe. Encourage yourself to stay with the fear.

The key to a life in balance is in the breath.

Try this during the next two weeks: BREATHE

Think you already know how? Follow these steps:

Step 1: Exhale through your mouth.

Step 2: Keep exhaling. You think you're done, but you're not. Keep going until all the air is expelled.

Step 3: Inhale fully. Purse your lips as though you are sucking through a straw. Start filling up your belly, then your chest with air. See how much of your lung capacity you can access.

Repeat from beginning three times for three full breaths.

Take three full breaths at the beginning of every hour. It takes less than two minutes, but it can change your life. This is completely an experiential exercise. Just thinking about doing it will not result in the desired effect.

The oxygen flow tells your body that it is safe, causing your system to slow down and regulate. When this happens, you automatically start to redistribute your energy to areas in your life that need attention.

• Breathe and notice that you are safe even as you face this fear.
• Breathe and notice what it is you really want to care for and nourish.
• Trust that only by facing the fear, reactivity or crinkly place can you break through to offering your gift of healing and nourishment to the world.

Coming up on the horizon:
In the next LUNAPHASES, we jump into action with the energy of the New Moon in Cancer and the Hand Analysis skill sets of Self Care.

GEMINI - The New Moon of Right Relationship

New Moon in Gemini
June 14th - 8:14 PDT

The new moon of each sign is a time to act and to begin. It’s a time to state our intentions clearly and move forward.

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Astrology

Heidi Rose Robbins, Astrologer
heidi@lunaphases.com

After collecting and meditating upon the energies of Gemini at the time of the full moon, the new moon gives us the opportunity to act upon the Gemini message.

This particular new moon finds Pluto opposing the moon and Mars sextile the moon. This is a time to LET GO of habitual relationship patterns. You’ll have some new energy and drive to GET OVER old behaviors.

We can use the energy of this new moon to explore relationship.

* How might we forge stronger, deeper relationships in very concrete ways?

* Who or what needs to be connected?

* Practically speaking, with whom should we network or build bridges during these next two weeks?

Very simply, think along these lines:

Bridge, relate, connect, teach, learn and experiment. And with this particular new moon, let go of old modes of relating. Try something new.

And even more simply, check out The Hello Love Experiment as an interesting practice for this Gemini new moon period. This practice reveals the love that underlies everything and that’s what Gemini is ultimately all about.

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Hand Analysis

Lynn Jordan, Certified Hand Analyst
lynn@lunaphases.com

Hand Analysis offers the perfect skill set to help you let go of habitual relationship patterns. We call it EMOTIONAL AUTHENTICITY. Over the past two weeks, as the moon has been waning, we focused on the first two steps of this skill set: Identifying your feeling internally and Displaying it on your face or in your body – bringing it to the surface. Now it’s time to incorporate the third step: COMMUNICATING your feeling at the appropriate level with the other person as close to the moment as possible.

HERE’S HOW: You’ve identified and displayed your feeling – now – let a sound come out of your mouth. It doesn’t have to be in English. It doesn’t have to be a word. It just needs to be heard. Create a verbal signal to the other person that you are having a feeling. This provides the opportunity for you to be seen. Being seen is what allows for connection.

You have a 10-second window to utter a sound before it becomes a stuffed feeling.

OR – LET GO OF THIS BEHAVIOR:

Intellectualizing Your Feelings
Beware of the trap of TOO MANY WORDS – when you are monologuing about how you feel, or if you are explaining your feelings – YOU ARE IN YOUR HEAD. Take this as a cue to STOP TALKING. Feelings are simple. No matter how brainy you are, you cannot intellectually figure out your current emotional condition. Frustrating, but true.

WHAT TO DO: Revert back to monosyllabic expression. "I feel…mad, sad, hurt, glad, love, scared, happy" (all right, this one is two syllables, but that’s okay). I guarantee that expressing yourself with the vocabulary of a two-year-old is the way to deepen emotional connection. I mean it.

TRY THIS: Over the next two weeks, when you are alone – like in your car – just start an ongoing commentary: "How do I feel? I feel…(X)…How do I feel? I feel…(X)…" See how long you can keep it up. This is a great exercise to sensitize your feeling instrument.