January/February 2002
Full Moon Reflections: 

Winter Moonfire
By Pythia Peay

A dramatic Leo Full Moon stands alone in the spotlight this midwinter day. Arrayed before her is a captive audience of Aquarian planets: Mercury, Neptune, Sun, Venus, Ceres and Uranus. Nearly stationary Saturn in Gemini favorably sextiles, while Mars newly in Aries makes an easy trine to our lunar heroine. Thus aside from a tense t-square between Jupiter, Chiron, and Mars, the gods and goddesses in the heavens above are enjoying a rare interlude of cosmic harmony. Slow-moving retrograde Mercury is open to the Moon's message, Neptune promises romance and magic, Sun beckons with dreams and visions, Venus whispers of pleasure; Ceres nurtures; and Uranus adds creative sparkle. 

Indeed, there is something heartwarming about a January moon in the fixed and fiery sign of Leo.  Channeling the energy of the exact conjunction between the Sun and Neptune directly opposite her, Leo moon inhales Aquarian idealism and radiates love and generosity toward suffering Earth.  For like the hearth fire that burned at the center of both home and temple in ancient times, Leo moon is life-sustaining - a generator of vital energy. Where Aquarius dreams futuristic utopias, Leo individuates here and now with force and presence. Think the Empress in the Tarot, with lush abundance blossoming about her regal being. From a spiritual perspective, the task of Leo moon is to humanize and embody Aquarius' cool genius, for Leo's mystic sun is the solar fire that blazes forth life on earth.

So this Full Moon, take time to meditate on the sun within the moon. You may wish to contemplate the luminous orb in the sky above, imagining it as a kind of hearth around which the surrounding luminaries have gathered. Like all the other cosmic wayfarers in need of sustenance, you, too, draw close to the inviting circle of light cast by this moonfire. Its steadily burning flames warm your weary spirit. Slowly, you feel your tension and defences melt away in its nurturing heat; the soul within you "flames forth" as brightly as the other stars.  Drawing even closer to the moonfire, you gaze into its depths.  Gradually, the image of the Leo Empress in the moon emerges from the ruby-gold flames. From her Queendom in the heart of the moon, she blesses you with Her radiant, regal smile.  For a brief moment, you bask in her unconditional love and joy.

Even after the vision fades, and the hearth burns low, your heart center still glows - lit from within by a burning ember of the goddess' winter moonfire.