by Teri Parsley Starnes

Teri’s interest with astrology lies with helping people see how following a practice of intention and self-awareness leads to a fuller relationship with Mystery. Astrology is a wonderful tool for this. Her weekly column orients readers to the seasonal energy of
each month’s Sun sign in order to set magical/mindful intention for the lunar month beginning at the New Moon.

Each week Teri will write about the unfolding energies that support and challenge our intentions. The ebb and flow of the lunar cycle resides deep in our souls. Through following the phases of the Moon, we remember the natural cycles that guide us.

Astrologers divide the lunar month into eight phases. These are:
New Moon: Dreaming
Crescent Moon: Beginning
First Quarter Moon: Manifesting
Gibbous Moon: Perfecting
Full Moon: Illuminating
Disseminating Moon: Sharing
Last Quarter Moon: Evaluating
Balsamic Moon: Surrendering

Come follow the Moon as we practice intentional awareness together.

Forecast May 26, 2013 – June 1

Nature is having an orgy outside my door and I’m finding it very distracting. In honor of this beautiful, fecund season here in Minnesota and the current lunar cycle devoted to Taurus*, I think I’ll write a shorter forecast this week so I can get outside. The earth is incredibly seductive right now and it wouldn’t be right to ignore that siren call when my very intention this month is to be led by Taurean values of beauty, strength, and sensual pleasure into knowing when enough is enough.

The question that seems really relevant in this moment of the cycle is, “Am I enough?” I have a near constant internal dialog that is all about evaluating my performance. I could name this demon my Shame Monitor. When I notice this demon getting too hungry, I send it love as best I can. One thing I suspect, there is no way I can develop the discernment of knowing my right relationship to resources (delighting in enough), when I have a hard time knowing that I am enough. Just me, just the way I am showing up right now. Enough.

So, how do we know when we are enough? As the Moon wanes past the Full phase this week, I invite you to join me in noticing the answers to that question. I’m pretty certain, if we follow the wisdom of the earth, the wonders of beauty, and the strength of our desires (all qualities displayed by Taurus), we will discover important answers.

Forecast May 26, 2013 – June 1

Moon enters Capricorn at 4:28 pm**
Sunday, May 26. In the early part of the day, before we wake  (in the Central Time zone of the U.S.), the Moon in Sagittarius opposes Venus, Mercury, and Jupiter in Gemini. The Moon then goes void-of-course until it enters Capricorn in the late afternoon. A bright, curious tone is set here for the early part of the day. Jupiter and Mercury meeting in Gemini this week will stimulate mental energy. Following our thoughts mindfully can show us a lot about our mental habits. There is nothing wrong with our minds, but we have an opportunity to leave behind entrained patterns of thought that imprison us. The void-of-course period may be a wonderful time to notice what happens when your thoughts feel unproductive. The Sun squares Neptune today too, which relaxes our grip on rational mind and invites wild leaps of intuition. Be curious about uncertainty and see where it leads. Then as the Moon enters Capricorn, we are primed to be realistic and productive.

Moon in Capricorn.
Monday, May 27. Even though this is a national holiday where many of us like to kick back and enjoy the beginning of Summer, we still want to keep a sharp mental focus. It will be important to account for emotions that are under the surface of lighthearted gatherings. Yet in spite of the potentially serious tone of the day, if we invite in whimsy and nonattachment to outcome, we probably will accomplish more than if we tried to reel in every thought and make every encounter productive. In other words, paradox is our friend today. If you can laugh at yourself, you are ahead of the game. This sense of humor comes in handy when unexpected stress or tension intrudes as the Moon contacts the still active square between Uranus and Pluto.

Moon enters Aquarius at 4:48 pm
May 28—Disseminating Moon: Sharing. Generosity of spirit helps us to remember we are more alike than different. Most of us, perhaps all of us, feel the fear of scarcity from time to time. If we have common fears, we also have common strengths, like the power we feel when we connect with others. The Aquarius Moon reminds us that collectively we are more powerful than we are alone. The conjunction of the two benefics of the sky, Venus and Jupiter, has us wanting to make those connections with others that enhance our strengths and remind us of the abundance all around. Here is a blessing to share with others, “May you continue to walk in Beauty and may you know the contentment of Enough.”

Moon in Aquarius
Wednesday, May 29. We all need a little space from time to time. On this airy day, with the Sun in Gemini and the Moon in Aquarius, give yourself the gift of spacious freedom. Air helps us gain perspective. We are able to see patterns and feel empowered to make changes if we choose. It’s easier to be social if we don’t feel obligated to do so.

Moon enters Pisces at 7:30 pm
Thursday, May 30. Most of today, the air theme from yesterday continues. We have more energy for social contact or immersing ourselves in reading, learning, or writing. With the Moon making a trine aspect to Jupiter, Venus and Mercury today, there is no holding you back in whatever you wish to do with this expansive mental energy. Notice the shift in the early evening** when the Moon squares Mars and then enters Pisces. Did a misunderstanding or a careless word create hurt feelings? Air has a way of doing that. From a tender place, we may need to apologize or seek an apology for the wrong words.

Moon in Pisces
May 31—Last Quarter Moon: Evaluating. So have you done it? Did you follow that Taurus wisdom into a new relationship to scarcity and abundance? Did you discover that you are enough? Even if you only gave it a thought or two, or even none at all, the Taurus lunar cycle works its magic on us. The birth pangs of transformation have landed us squarely back into our bodies and on the earth. Hallelujah! The wheel of the year continues to spin into a new lunar cycle in one week. Now is the time to notice the benefit you may have incurred from the last three weeks of this journey. Water signs introduce us to emotions. Mercury enters Cancer and the Moon in Pisces joins Neptune as we dream into a new day. What was your first thought on waking? To contrast these watery influences, Mars leaves Taurus today and enters Gemini; we are propelled forward into the Mutable Air season of connection and pollination.

Moon in Pisces
Saturday, June 1. You may need to lighten up today. The Sun in Gemini contacts the stressful square between Uranus and Pluto and asks us to look at how we are managing the changes going on in our lives right now. Perhaps we can turn off the autopilot that has kept us going and find a way to authentically feel what we feel and think what we think. We are enough. As we co-create this reality, what do you choose?

*See http://tinyurl.com/cayoyvg to follow along with the themes of this lunar cycle that began on May 9.

** All times are CDT.

Contact Teri at teri@starsdanceastrology and visit her website at www.starsdanceastrology.com