THIS MONTH THE Moon's four major phases emphasize contemplation, morality, emergence, and radical reform. The first three express fixed energy using fire, water and air to stabilize, concentrate and consolidate our efforts to implement winter plans. And, the fourth conveys flexible mutable air energy to help us begin the transition toward spring.

FULL MOON
February's Full Moon, on the 1st at 10:46pm MST in Leo signals the beginning of the Tibetan (Buddhist) New Year festival of Losar. It accentuates our need to retreat into our inner self and reflect. A time of solitude and quiet reflection, to look back at our past experiences: focusing particularly on those times that may have seemed threatening or exhausting; and, contemplating the overall picture of our life, can refresh us. And, we may gain a quiet confidence; knowing we can conquer life's storms, and emerge wiser; with a better idea of how we fit in and what we want to achieve.

Home & Garden - If we are building a house, the Full Moon is the best phase in which to lay the foundations. And, we can prune during this phase to slow limb and branch growth and produce a better yield - February 8th & 9th are the most favourable days for this.

Mind, Body & Health – The Full Moon is a period of personal fulfillment. And, we can work toward achieving balance of our need to take with our ability to give, and of ultimate ideals with what is possible in the world.

Business & Finance – This quarter illuminates the importance of recognizing and honouring the significance of other people. We can concentrate on bringing existing products/projects to fruition; reviewing company policies; and, drawing up new agendas.

MOON IN LEO
Leo's imperative is that it must create. It offers us the understanding that the creative energy we emanate does not originate with us. Its task is to have our heart impulse governed by authentic generosity. And, its quandary is whether to create high theatre or to live melodrama.

The Leo Moon is a splendid time to ask ourselves how we can see our need for affirmation and applause as healthy when it alerts us to where we are appreciated. We can radiate this analysis throughout our life by imagining what area of our life we would like to receive spontaneous joy; and, to whom we would send the generous heart of creativity to give them a sense of humour and pleasure in life.

Home & Garden – The Leo Moon invites love and laughter into a home purchased under its influence. This is a brilliant time to throw a dinner party, where we serve exotic food on our best china. And, it is a superb time for interior design projects. The Leo Moon's dry barren nature is suitable for pruning, weeding, and destroying pests.

Mind, Body & Health – The Leo Moon is a magnificent time to combat feeling cold and closed off by being silly, taking risks, and telling those we love that we love them. If we have been feeling dull, lethargic, and tired, we are more able to play, stimulate creativity; recharge our battery; and, rekindle our fire under this Moon's influence. And, we amplify our wellness when we do yogic sun salutations and dance to raise our heart rate, throw off toxins, and, transform depression into joy. However; indulging in resentment, feelings of insignificance, or imagining no one appreciates us closes our heart and diminishes our vitality. And, we are more susceptible to backache and circulatory problems under a Leo Moon.

Business & Finance – The Leo Moon is advantageous for lucky breaks, taking control of the situation, and leasing or renting property. Although we must avoid overspending, silk lingerie, champagne, theatre tickets, and/or anything gold are purchases that will appeal to our extravagant mood. And, we ought to avoid forming intimate relationships with colleagues, and a domineering attitude under this Moon's influence.

THIRD (LAST) QUARTER MOON
The Third Quarter Moon on February 10th at 2:52am MST in Scorpio may find us in situations where we are expected to do things that are at odds with our inner values and conscience. We must make the difficult choice between allegiance to duty and our own inner truth and personal morality, recognizing that true freedom can only be found within when we face situations with a sense of integrity and a preparedness to face the consequences.

Home & Garden – This Third Quarter we can clear clutter and do a complete cleaning of our home to prepare for the lunar New Year. We will want to ensure we have some space in our closets, cupboards, and home to allow new opportunities to enter. If our climate is amenable, we can plant saplings, perennials, and biennials during this phase.

Mind, Body & Health – Third Quarter Moon is a transformational time that encourages us to relinquish habits, values, and beliefs that undercut our ability to embrace health.

Business & Finance – This phase brings the potential to break through old limitations and release that which no longer works. It is conducive to downsizing, fighting a lawsuit, and investigating competitors.

MOON IN SCORPIO
Scorpio is associated with fierce insight. Its transformative power can purge us of our tendency to judge others leaving us the gift of the capacity for empathic observation and compassion. And, it reminds us to ask ourselves what song we would sing and on what would we focus, if we had the attention of all creation.

The Scorpio Moon compels us to investigate how we can trust that we have little capacity to repress emotions and, subsequently, our emotional life is a rich roller coaster ride. And, how this helps us build powerful emotional bonds. In addition, it insists we comprehend that power's true purpose is to be life-giving and to bring more trust into the world. Moreover, we can apply our insights to empower the most fearful part of ourselves as we ask ourselves what we must let go of and what we want to come in its place. Finally, we can explore what power struggle in the world we would remove if we were able.

Home & Garden – The Scorpio Moon promotes creativity, frugality, and practicality that we can use to transform leftovers into appetizing soups and breads; organize our home; and, fuel sewing projects. The Scorpio Moon's fertile moist nature is very fruitful and produces healthy and robust plants. This is an advantageous time to start a compost heap and to graft or prune to retard growth.

Mind, Body & Health – The Scorpio Moon is a powerful and transformative time when we are able to delve into deep emotional realms. We can convert fear, sadness, jealousy, greed, anger, and self-hatred into beautiful jewels of love and faith recognizing our amazing inner beauty and the powerful gifts we have to share with the rest of the world. We may need to cry, vent, and rage to fully express the depth of our feelings, which we can also release through painting, writing, acting, and dancing. Pain and trauma associated with our reproductive and sexual organs as well as the processes of elimination and detoxification can be addressed at this time. We can also watch a spy movie, read a thriller, solve a puzzle, and schedule a massage to help us unwind and nurture ourselves. And, we do better when we avoid jealousy; spite, brooding, and our desire take control of people and situations. We are typically more vulnerable to reproductive and elimination organ problems under a Scorpio Moon's influence.

Business & Finance – Scorpio Moon energy enhances our ability to solve problems, make major deals, and lease or rent property. On shopping excursions, we can combine the practicality of a set of new kitchen knives and/or a last will and testament kit with the indulgence of rich wines, sexy underwear, perfume, and/or red roses for our lover. And, we must avoid operating a secret agenda, becoming too intense, and deviating from our shopping list.

NEW MOON
The New Moon on February 17th at 11:15am MST in Aquarius marks the Chinese lunar New Year and ushers in the year of the Boar/Pig. It's theme of slowly building confidence and coming out into a fuller participation with the bigger picture will unfold over this lunar cycle, influenced and refined as the Moon moves through its phases. We are offered the opportunity to realize our latent potentials, where like an awakening; we may find we are suddenly able to do something that truly reflects us. Our emergence has been building for some time and, while we may be eager, we must ensure we take a moment to adjust to new developments before we take flight.

New Moon Visualizations:

Home & Garden – If our agenda includes moving house, February 18th to March 2nd is the optimal period this lunar cycle; February 21st & 22nd are the best days in this phase. The solar and lunar energies come together at the New Moon and pull in the same direction to provide the thrust for new growth

Mind, Body & Health – This first phase in the lunar cycle is optimal for going within to incubate our intentions for what we want to grow, create, and transform in our life.

Business & Finance – New Moon energy is terrific for making spontaneous moves and following our instincts. This is an opportune time to seek a new job, sue for damages, and make new contacts.

MOON IN AQUARIUS
Aquarius represents our desire to communicate on a massive scale. It reveals the truth that stability is dependent upon progressive change. And, its task is to constellate community by broadcasting a vision of an inclusive society, inviting each of us to participate.

The Aquarius Moon stimulates us to seek the answer to how we are guided toward nourishing relationships with authentic people with whom we can be free as well. We can broaden the Aquarius theme of freedom throughout our life when we share its message that each of us has an equal right to awaken to the path that is our unique gift, which has deep connection to one another at its root. And, we can imagine (dream into being) that we move as one world toward freedom, toward an experiment in awakening.

Home & Garden – An Aquarius Moon is the time to purchase a house if we desire a home filled with friends. And, we can repair electrical equipment and undertake interior design projects under its influence. Its semi-barren dry nature is well suited to garden maintenance, soil cultivation, mowing, and planting onion sets.

Mind, Body & Health – The Aquarius Moon's influence assists us to focus our intentions and efforts toward strengthening our nervous system. Acupuncture, reiki, and polarity work can help strengthen our nerve channels and yoga and tai chi can assist us to develop internal fortitude. Performing charitable acts, celebrating life, and having inspiring conversations with friends help increase our wellbeing. And, to further enhance wellness, we ought to avoid breaking the rules and rebelling just for the sake of it. In addition to anxiety, confusion, mania, and depression from an overwhelmed nervous system, we are vulnerable to ankle sprains and circulatory disorders under the Aquarius 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 collaborate with Aquarius Moon energy to transfer money, improve working conditions, and/or lease or rent property. Gifts for our friends; aromatherapy oils; electrical appliances; kitchen gadgets; and computers are great purchases under this moon sign. And, we are better served when we avoid handing in our notice; going off on a tangent; and, favouring the group at the expense of the individual.

FIRST QUARTER MOON
The First Quarter Moon on February 24th at 12:57am MST in Gemini reveals the need for reform. We are motivated for change, and although we may not be absolutely certain the direction we will take, we are listening to the messages around us. These messages and news may spring from big announcements or published material involving social or emotional causes, which challenge our outlooks and help us to break out of constraints. We ought to look further within ourselves to determine the change in direction we need. And, we must remain aware that while dramatizing a situation can lead to overreaction, which may seem like a revolution, doing nothing can lead to inertia.

Home & Garden – February 28th & March 1st are the best days to move house this quarter and, along with February 26th & 27th, are very favourable for interior design projects. The First Quarter's combination of strong moonlight and reduced lunar gravitational pull creates strong leaf growth. We can mow lawns to improve thickness and encourage rapid re-growth.

Mind, Body & Health – The First Quarter Moon often brings our hidden fears and doubts to the surface, triggered by resistance or antagonism from others, who may be uncomfortable with changes we are making. It is a good time to breathe accord into relationships, both with ourselves and others.

Business & Finance - This phase is effective for practical application of our talents making it an optimal time to set projects in motion, announce mergers, and launch advertising ventures.

MOON IN GEMINI
Gemini symbolizes communication, with the choice to disseminate waffling, wit, or wisdom. It has the task of understanding the magically creative power of words.

The Gemini Moon coaxes us to inquire who nourishes us when we talk to them, and who we enjoy nourishing through images or words. We can investigate what parts of our life could use clarity and to what parts of the world we would send clarity.

Home & Garden – The Moon in Gemini is an effective time to organize our home office; pay bills, and catch up on neglected correspondence. The Gemini Moon's dry barren nature supports land cultivation as we begin preparation for spring sowing.

Mind, Body & Health – Gemini Moon energy encourages us to consider what our essential and divine message in life is and seek to cultivate that message to its utmost. This is an excellent time to focus on re-centering ourselves and being more mindful of what we say; especially if we have been overly critical and negative with our words. Writing in a journal, chanting, and writing and reciting poetry are effective methods to diffuse nervous tension. And, we can utilize breath work in the form of meditation, tai chi, and yoga to draw in good oxygen to vitalize our entire system and strengthen our nerves. Contacting friends, enrolling in a computer course, or joining a debating society are all excellent ways to cultivate our wellbeing. Furthermore, we might undermine ourselves if we scatter our energy being too easily distracted and beginning one job before finishing another. Nervous tension, nervous exhaustion, agitation, and restlessness are often more pronounced under this Moon's influence.

Business & Finance – The Gemini Moon fosters enterprises associated with communicating, and as such, correspondence, giving presentations and business trips can be quite lucrative at this time. In addition to being considered a favourable Moon under which to buy a car, we can direct our purchases toward communication tools, such as computers, telephones, and writing materials; gadgets and toys; and, books and dictionaries. Moreover, we benefit if we avoid distraction from issues, long and/or far flung shopping excursions, and being underhanded.

At the New Moon, the Sun and the Moon conjoin to become a fiery forge on which potential ideas are hammered into recognizable shapes. This month's New Moon signals the beginning of the Year of the Pig/Boar, the symbol for great courage and integrity. It is a time of benevolence, abundance, fun and indulgence when ease and enjoyment of life will be valued more than power and status. It is also a time of peace, harmony and understanding.

New Moons and New Years are portals offering us opportunity to focus our energy as we reflect on what vision we want to manifest; what is calling us from within; and, what is still calling for healing. And, while this planet and the life it supports face many daunting challenges; peace, harmony, and understanding are ideas that can reshape our future.

© Yvonne Hanson, 2007

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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.