Full Moon in Mrigashira, The Wandering Deer
This month the Moon reaches peak fullness on Tuesday, December 13th at 4:06 pm PST, near the end of sidereal Taurus, in Mrigashira nakshatra. Mrigashira is a Vedic constellation bridging the Taurus and Gemini sections of the sky. It is made up of four stars along Orion’s shoulder that form the shape of a deer’s head. The full Moon here calls forth the gentle and wandering energy of the deer. The playful and curious nature of this star illuminates the contrast to the deep and intense energy of Scorpio, where we began this Moon cycle.
The Scorpio Cycle
The lunar month began with the Sun and Moon joined in sidereal Scorpio, under the heavy influence of a kala sarpa yoga. The “black snake” shadow energy imposed by the nodal alignment contributed to fears brought on by Saturn’s conjunction with an already self-protective Moon in Scorpio. Scorpio is the sign that most deeply reminds us of our vulnerability. When the Moon is here we can erect an insect-like shell to protect ourselves from harm and danger. The emotions during a Scorpio lunar cycle can be extremely intense, due to Mars’ rulership of this fixed, introverted water sign. It’s a time when we become deeply aware of currents that lie below the surface.
Scorpio reminds us of the universal constant: change. The acute awareness of this we experience during the Scorpio cycle can feel overwhelming (especially if we don’t have a lot of Scorpio energy in our natal chart and aren’t used to it). The kala sarpa alignment on top of this brings up layers of our shadow work, including both old and new traumas. But as with every Moon cycle, the full Moon is a balancing point that illuminates the opposite side of the sky and helps us to integrate the lessons of the cycle.
This full Moon in Taurus (on the cusp of Gemini) helps us to find some stability in our heart centers amidst turbulent times. Whichever sign the Moon transits influences the mood of our hearts and minds. Beginning the cycle in vulnerable Scorpio set the tone for the month, but on the days when the Moon transits Taurus (Dec. 12-13) we reconnect with the strong stability of the bull. The Moon is exalted in Taurus, offering us the best chance for a peaceful mental state, because this earth sign provides a strong and steady place for the heart and mind to rest. Venus is the ruler of Taurus, so here we can take a break from the warrior energy brought on by Mars-ruled Scorpio and just enjoy the beauty in our lives for a moment.
Mrigashira
This full Moon falls in the last few degrees of Taurus, which comprise the beginning of Mrigashira nakshatra. Mrigashira is a light-hearted and curious star-sign. Like the deer she represents, this constellation likes to avoid danger and compels us to look at the bright side of life. Also like the deer, there is a wandering and searching nature to this star, so we may notice ourselves feeling restless while the Moon is here, despite the grounded and earthy quality of Taurus. People with this star prominent in their birth charts tend to move from place to place a lot in life. The deity for Mrigashira is Soma, a name for the Moon, and there is also an association with Parvati here.
Ayurvedic Tips
During this full Moon the Sun is joined closely with Saturn. This can be vata-aggravating to our physical health and nervous system. As we are now in the vata season in the northern hemisphere, we need to pay extra attention to our self-care routines and avoid exposure to cold and wind as much as possible. It’s best to follow a vata-pacifying diet at this time of year, full of warm and nourishing soups and stews with plenty of heating digestive spices and teas. It’s a good practice to rub sesame oil on the soles of the feet before bed, as well as a few drops around the ears and on the top of the head. Be sure to get plenty of sleep, and drink warm liquids, avoiding ice and cold beverages. Favor moist, heavy cooked foods over dry, light and raw foods, which are vata-aggravating.
Mars, Venus & Mercury
Mars will have just entered Aquarius on Tuesday, where he’ll transit for the next month. This could bring inspire us to take actions for the greater good, and get involved with selfless service. At the same time, Mars is now joining Ketu, which could bring some confusion around how we direct our actions, and could deplete our energy a bit. Venus is still in Capricorn and receiving an aspect from its ruler, Saturn. This makes us approach relationships with more practicality, and we may feel ready to take on more responsibility towards supporting them. This is a great time to consider what structures we need to implement to support our long-term goals in our relationships. We may have to step it up a notch to meet those. One more heads up–Mercury goes retrograde on December 19th! Though you may tend to overthink this and could encounter some technological glitches, try to take advantage of its positive potential. Mercury retrograde can give you the chance to revisit and clear up some previously unresolved conversations over the holidays.
Solstice
The solstice is coming on December 21st! The shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere, and the longest in the south. This is the day that the Sun shifts from his northern to southern course, as we see things from Earth. A few days of darkness can incite the most inward and introverted time of the year (especially around the next New Moon on December 28th), so be gentle with yourself especially when you find yourself socializing and interacting with family to the max. December 18th through January 2nd will be our last kala sarpa cycle for a while. Though not as intense as the last few, some of our darker layers of karma could continue to arise.
Be sure to Follow Me for more updates on the bigger picture surrounding the solstice, the return of the light, and the new year!
*Very limited readings are available before the end of the year, but I’m booking Live 2017 Readings throughout January until spots fill up.
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