IN JANUARY THE four major Moon phases emphasize connections, guidance, and bridging emotional distance. The first three express cardinal energy through water, air and earth, to propel winter projects forward. And, at the First Quarter the stabilizing fixed earth energy helps us to make our plans concrete.

FULL MOON
January's Full Moon, on the 3rd at 6:59am MST in Cancer, illuminates networking, openness, and willingness to extend oneself to others. When we are approachable and friendly, we can reap many rewards, such as new friends, new opportunities, etc. And, we are reminded that although flexibility has value, inevitably, strength of character is what succeeds.

Home & Garden - The January Full Moon is known as the Wolf and the Cold Moon in Traditional and Cherokee cultures, when these two factors were the biggest threats to survival. If we are building a house, this is the best phase in which to lay the foundations. And, provided our climate is appropriate, planting perennials and spring bulbs during this quarter results in active root growth.

Mind, Body & Health – A warm bath is an effective way to relax us and dissipate anxiety that often builds during this phase. We can begin health regimes to support our New Year's resolutions, especially if they involve shedding, weight, habits, etc. And, hair that is coloured at the time of a Full Moon retains its colour and shine longest.

Business & Finance – The Full Moon and subsequent waning energy is advantageous for any activity associated with bringing matters to a close. We can assess progress, settle disputes, and prepare budgets during this phase.

MOON IN CANCER
Cancer is associated with empathy, and a powerful sensitivity. Cancer's sensitivity expresses itself through the umbilical cords of connection and deep emotional compassion, which in turn produces families and atmospheres that are incubators for a healthy humanity. Its task is to set up an environment in which nourishing can take place; and, is the custodian of the truth that what we tend, will then tend to us.

The Cancer Moon is a superb time to inquire how we have made our house, our home, and our food vitally important components of our happiness. We can extend this query throughout our life by looking at which parts of us need a safe place for new life to grow, in order to incubate the best of us. And, where we would send the spirit of mother: to put her arms around a person or situation; offering emotional safety to heal or to grow.

Home & Garden – This is an excellent time to clean windows, silver, china, and crystal; to sweep away trash or residue; and, to open up the windows to clear out stale smells and emotions. This is an ideal time to work on our home's interior, soft furnishings, and to rearrange furniture. The Cancer Moon's moist fertile nature is very fruitful and is the best time for planting and transplanting, particularly perennials, and to water or irrigate the garden.

Mind, Body & Health – A Cancer Moon can induce in us a greater degree of emotion than usual and can be a deep and nourishing time for our emotional life. We ought to allow these feelings to come in order to process that which is stagnant in us or causing undue stress and worry. If we have family issues and concerns, this is a good time to help heal rifts and past hurts. A jasmine scented bath in hot water can be tremendously helpful in reducing worry and tension in a gentle and uplifting fashion. And, crying can be a potent ally for releasing emotional pain, as the tears will help dissolve tension. We can nurture our wellbeing if we take a walk, go for a swim, and/or plant something; however, we undermine ourselves if we meddle in other people's affairs. In addition, we are more vulnerable to worry, moodiness, stomach upsets and skin problems during a Cancer Moon.

Business & Finance – The Cancer Moon is conducive to signing documents and ending unsatisfactory conditions. This is the optimal time to seek and buy a new house. Monthly essential shopping including: food, kitchen equipment, presents and greeting cards, china, household knick-knacks, antiques, and/or anything white or silver is best undertaken at this time. And, this is considered the optimal sign in which to buy a house or boat. We must endeavour to avoid a reluctance to take risks, and shopping near our workplace. And, we must beware people who think the world owes them a living.

THIRD (LAST) QUARTER MOON
The Third Quarter Moon on January 11th at 5:46am MST in Libra emphasizes relaxing social constraints through simple gatherings and sharing in natural values. We can get back in touch with others or with our emotions by joining with like-minded people in a natural setting. The wonder of nature offers us easier access to emotional release. It may seem counterintuitive; however, we are better served if we put aside our feelings of what needs to be done and lose ourselves in frolic and play.

Home & Garden – The Third Quarter is excellent for undertaking painting projects and thorough clear-outs. Typically moisture content is lower during this phase and less sap is rising in trees and shrubs, which makes this the best phase to prune, and January 12th & 13th are especially favourable days for it this cycle. We can also cultivate soil, destroy weeds, and mow lawns.

Mind, Body & Health – Third Quarter Moon energy is very favourable for detoxifying the body. We can use sea-salt scrubs to exfoliate, improve blood circulation and intensify cell renewal; and a sauna to sweat out toxins. Sea-salt baths, seaweed wraps, and facials are also beneficial.

Business & Finance – This is the phase is the time to adjust our attitude and follow new inspirations as we prepare for fresh lunar energy at the New Moon. It is advantageous for dissolving partnerships, restructuring, and preparing to implement new projects.

MOON IN LIBRA
Libra is associated with balance, harmony, diplomacy, fair play and beauty. Its artistry emanates from our ability to be in balance from the inside out and to project that balance as beauty. And, above all, it understands the value of intimacy between equals - true partnership and the larger life we can live when we are well partner.

The Libra Moon clarifies how we nurture ourselves through intimacy with equals and who we contact when we need a mirror of our own beauty and grace. And, we can view our whole being and life through the eyes of a partner, who sees our beauty and grace and encourages us to share that beauty and grace in specific ways.

Home & Garden – We can use the Libra Moon's penchant for harmony to refine our home environment to be more beautiful and pleasing. Feng shui can help us achieve inner harmony and peace as we rearrange our home décor to encourage improved energy flow. The Libra Moon's semi-fertile and moist nature favours planting fruit trees and fleshy root vegetables.

Mind, Body & Health – The Libra Moon is a splendid time to allow our intentions and prayers to guide us in rebalancing all facets of our lives. We can prioritize our activities as we carve out time for creativity, play, work, and family time. And, we diminish our stress levels when we put effort into healing power struggles, anger, and wounds with our partner. Excessive and prolonged stress taxes our kidneys, which are the source of our energy and vitality, and can leave us feeling tired, depressed and anxious. We enhance our sense of wellbeing through artistic pursuits such as making paintings, drawing pictures, and writing poetry. And, we can strengthen and nourish our kidneys at a core level by incorporating Nori - the seaweed sheets used to make sushi rolls - into our diet. Finally, we are well advised to avoid feelings of being unloved and loneliness. In addition to kidney ailments, biochemical imbalances tend to increase under a Libra Moon's influence.

Business & Finance – Libra Moon energy is optimal for signing contracts, settling disputes, refurbishing business premises and office parties. Brilliant purchases now include: anything beautiful, expensive or elegant, tapes or CDs, presents for our partner, concert tickets, perfume, and/or party food. We benefit if we avoid sitting on the fence, any hint of underhandedness, and we are beware of people's indecisiveness.

NEW MOON
The New Moon on January 18th at 9:02pm MST in Capricorn opens us to symbolism that acts to expose the pathways to the spiritual centre and divining the future. We may find we are receptive to seeing meaning through the catalyst of the simplest of everyday events. And, if we remain open to seeing the signs, including non verbal clues, we can receive messages about situations. It is more important that we trust our gut feelings and intuition than rely on esoteric advice throughout this lunar cycle.

New Moon Visualizations:

Home & Garden – If moving house is on our agenda, January 19th to January 31st is the optimal period this lunar cycle, January 20th is the best day in this phase. The New Moon is a good time to repot houseplants, to reorganize the garden, and to begin preparing seeds for planting, i.e. soaking, etc.

Mind, Body & Health – This phase is a time of rejuvenation, renewal and hope. It is a very efficient time for saline procedures such as salt wraps and baths to open pores, stimulate blood circulation, and improve skin tone.

Business & Finance – The New Moon is a good point to make changes in our life, which makes this an opportune time to initiate deals, draw up contracts, and stand for election.

MOON IN CAPRICORN
Capricorn is associated with industriousness and ambition. It teaches that we gain true power when we align ourselves with the strength of Spirit. And, its spiritual lesson for us all is to bend our knees and surrender to a higher power and greater process rather than continually applying pressure and force to every situation until we breakdown.

The Capricorn Moon compels us to examine how we can produce a pearl - beautiful and solid - from our solitude that others will recognize as our emotional autonomy, our completeness within ourselves. We can focus this question in all facets of our life when we look at what our actions cultivate and grow in the world.

Home & Garden – A Capricorn Moon is an efficient time for DIY projects, streamlining food preparation, spring cleaning and for going on an economy drive. This Moon has a semi-fertile dry nature that is productive and favours grafting and pruning to promote healing, and applying organic fertilizer.

Mind, Body & Health – Under a Capricorn Moon's influence, we can use our prayers and intentions to set intentions, develop clear and direct paths to overcome obstacles and move through difficulties, and accomplish goals. It is a time of consolidation and foundational work particularly good for building and strengthening the core of our body and spirit. We can use yoga and martial arts to build strength in our skin, bones, knees, teeth, and nails, which form the foundation of our body and whose nourishment is essential to our overall health. And, we promote wellness by unwinding watching a funny movie, and/or joining a local political party; whereas, we inhibit our wellbeing if we worry about money, position or status, and become all work and no play. We are particularly vulnerable to toothache, skin abrasions, bone, joint, and knee problems under the Capricorn Moon's influence and it is an excellent time for us to focus our attention on the desire to heal or take action to restore health to these areas.

Business & Finance – We can employ Capricorn Moon energy to set up a new business; entertain our boss; ask for a promotion; and, work overtime. We ought to limit our purchases to practical household items, professional tools, items for elderly relatives, DIY materials, and/or a burglar alarm. And, we are well advised to avoid a lack of compassion towards our colleagues, making frivolous purchases, and inflexibility. In addition, we must beware people's ruthless ambition.

FIRST QUARTER MOON
The First Quarter Moon on January 25th at 4:03pm MST in Taurus reveals the importance of overcoming distance and separation to bridge emotional chasms. Although answers may seem impossibly distant, over time, with energy and help, we can build a bridge that will take us to a place where such concerns disappear. Solving problems and building continuity are important; however, taking the long way round to avoid asking for help or using shortcuts to cut across the real issue are not effective methods to employ.

Home & Garden – January 25th & 26th are the best days to move house this quarter and, with January 30th & 31st, are also most favourable for interior design projects that involve soft furnishings. The First Quarter phase brings rapid germination and growth making it an excellent time to plants seeds and sow lawns.

Mind, Body & Health – The First Quarter Moon's waxing energy makes our skin and hair more absorbent. Therefore, this is a great time to replenish, regenerate, and repair our skin with moisturizers and essential oil massages and to give our hair a deep conditioning treatment.

Business & Finance - This phase is a time of outward activity, when we can make decisions and build the foundation for the Full Moon culmination. Seeking legal or financial advice and informing workers of pay rises or bonus schemes coordinates our efforts with prevailing lunar energy.

MOON IN TAURUS
Taurus practicality and stability develops patient, predictable work cycles and cultivates the habits necessary to harvest abundance from our efforts. It offers us the gift of being able to feel reverence, and, its lesson, for us all, is to learn to let go and become comfortable with change.

The Taurus Moon prods us to look at what rhythms of our day make us happy. And, we can examine the larger canvass of our life to see what parts of ourselves need more earth, more abundance that we can gain through work that mirrors our values, and whom we would endow with abundance if we could pass it along to others.

Home & Garden – The Moon in Taurus tends to focus on building resources for the home. We can use this Venus influenced Moon energy to work on soft furnishings and our home's interior. And, if we associate our house with security, this is the Moon to purchase a home. The Taurus Moon's semi-fertile moist nature is very productive. If our climate allows, we can sow pastel coloured flowers and leafy vegetables such as cabbage, lettuce, and spinach during waxing Taurus Moon energy.

Mind, Body & Health – This is a potent time to simplify and clarify the important things in our life; and, to release our impatience and anxiety. During the Taurus Moon we can work on body image and weight issues, our physical and inner beauty, and our self-worth. We can ground ourselves and get in touch with our body as we relax and centre by taking a bath or getting a massage. Cooking, gardening, and going to the theatre are other ways we can utilize Taurus Moon energy to nurture ourselves. And, when we become tight, listless, and quiet as our throat is stressed, singing to build and release energy is an excellent antidote. Healing nervousness; increasing our inner stability and strength; nourishing our throat, thyroid glands, and sexuality; and working on blood sugar imbalances are all easier under this Moon's influence.

Business & Finance – The Taurus Moon is a well suited to making plans concrete, particularly any that include handling money, wealth, and land. Renting or leasing property, taking on new staff, and starting a savings scheme is also recommended. We are inclined to want value for money under this Moon, which makes anything practical, consumer durables, luxury goods, cosmetics, seating, and beds attractive purchases. We are well served if we avoid missing good opportunities, being obstinate, and gimmicky goods. In addition, we ought to beware people's inflexibility.

January is a time of endings and beginnings: we bid farewell to the year that has passed and begin to dream the year ahead; we resolve to make changes and hope we have clarity and purpose to manifest our desires. The Moon is, after the Sun, the most visible of the cosmic forces (allies) that form the backdrop to our lives. The lunar rhythm is most evident in the waxing and waning of the Moon, when her shape seems to change but is in reality cyclical changes in the amount of light the Moon is reflecting as a result of movement of the Earth, Sun and Moon in relationship to each other.

I hope we all on Earth enjoy the shifting tides of the Moon and the Sun and the dance they do as we weave our way through the rhythms of 2007. And, may we shine and reflect as much light into the world as we are able.

© Yvonne Hanson, 2006

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Yvonne Hanson is a freelance writer from Edmonton, Alberta Canada. In creating this column, Yvonne draws on fifteen years of astrological study and a desire to empower people. If you would like to sign up for Yvonne's free newsletter, which details the movement of the moon more closely, please contact her by email at starfire777_7@hotmail.com.