Wow Increased energy with our Equinox Supermoon Ostara Eclipse!

Wow Friday will certainly be a day for increased energy!!

We have a solar eclipse here in the UK that will affect us and much of Europe, below is a map to show you the areas that will be affected. Currently it looks like a good viewing area is actually in the south of England as the weather forecast is said to be sunny here. Those that have headed up to the north of England and further north may be disappointed by the cloud cover sadly.

The eclipse is caused by the  moon passing in front of the path of the moon. The Sun has a diamater 400 times greater than our moon but our moon is 400 times closer to the sun than the moon. (the ratio varies as both orbits are elliptical) Thus it happens that our small moon can totally block out the light from the Sun. How amazing is it that these figures cause this incredible event to occur?!

Viewing areas for the UK

Not only is this an amazing celestial event itself but the moon we will be having is a super moon. You can find out more about super moons here. How does the super moon affect me?

Our March new moon will turn new just 14 hours after reaching lunar perigree, that is the closest point to the earth.

Supermoons occur because our moon does not follow a circular path around our earth, it follows an elliptical one. Therefore at its furthest away it is 405,000 km away, this is called an apogee, and at its nearest it is 363,000, this is called a perigree. When the time of the perigree aligns with a full or new moon it is called a supermoon. Super moons are known to bring higher tides than usual and the effect that they have on human and animal behaviour is heightened at the time of a Supermoon.

“The moon may seem bigger although the difference in its distance from Earth is only a few percent at such times,” says Dr. James Garvin, chief scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center on the space agency’s website. “It is called a supermoon because this is a very noticeable alignment that at first glance would seem to have an effect. The ‘super’ in supermoon is really just the appearance of being closer.”

Supermoons can appear as much as 14% larger in the sky and 30% brighter to our eyes than at their smallest size and brightness.

In addition to this being a super moon eclipse it is also falling on the equinox, the day when night and day are of equal length. Thus our special Ostara equinox super moon will travel in front of the sun creating a shadow that falls on our earth.

Some statistics on that equinox eclipse I found interesting from earthsky:

"A total eclipse of the sun and the March equinox do fall on the same date this year: March 20, 2015. The greatest eclipse occurs at 9:46 Universal Time, while the March equinox comes to pass some 13 hours later at 22:45 Universal Time. 

Supermoon total eclipse of equinox sun on March 20, 2015

After this 2015 equinox eclipse, the next solar eclipse at the March equinox will happen on March 20, 2034. Then there will be two more in this century: 2053 and 2072. 

A solar eclipse can only happen at new moon. For a solar eclipse to take place at the vernal equinox, therefore, the new moon must come on the equinox date. Of course, a March equinox new moon doesn’t always necessarily guarantee a solar eclipse.  Here’s why.

New moons recur on (or near) the same calendar dates every 19 years. This 19-year lunar period is known as the Metonic cycle. Amazingly, you can project this 19-year cycle for centuries into the future (or past) to figure out when the new moon will occur on the March equinox."

In ancient times eclipses were things to be dreaded. They were often seen as signs that the Gods were angry and were greatly feared.

Now of course we know that is not the case. We will probably find there is a fair bit of turbulence going on however due to these events going on in the skies above us so perhaps prepare yourselves for a few choppy days at sea! Ride the waves of the turbulence and see the eclipse together with the new moon as a doorway to new adventures, open the door and do not be afraid of what you find on the other side! Ostara Oestare brings new adventures, new beginnings and a spring in your step, as the world awakens so do you! Take a page out of nature's book and find it within you to flourish as you are meant to! 

Special Ostara Equinox Supermoon Eclipse blessings to you! AstarteAlison

Super New Moons in January February and March. Can you feel the increase in energy?

How has this moon phase been for you? I've taken full advantage of the New Moon this January and gone full on into creating my new website, it is something I have been meaning to do for a long time and have been putting off. As many of you know I suffer from migraines and this puts me off starting big jobs like this knowing that it may be hard to finish them but I decided that I just had to go for it. Our waxing moon has really been in my favour these past few days and I have been able to work really well and have got so much done. I'm very chuffed with myself!! I am also feeling a great deal of gratitude for the wonders of the universe that we inhabit and it's ever changing nature. 

Even my daughter who is not particularly into this sort of thing commented that the moon must be giving her energy as she was feeling it too! She is busy with a heavy work load from school at the moment and so it really helped that the waxing moon was giving her the energy to get through it.

It was a super new moon this January so that may have something to do with it. This means that our new moon was closer to the earth than she normally is. A super moon has to be within 361,836 kilometres or 224,834 miles to be defined as a Supermoon.  At the time of the super moon the effects that we normally feel at the new moon will be accentuated. This super new moon also brings wider ranging tides than normal. The tide rises higher, which is called a Perigean spring tide and also plunges much lower.

  
More information can be found on super moons here: What is a Supermoon?

Our February new moon will also be a super new moon as will be the new moon in March of this year. February's new moon occurring on the 18th will be the most 'super' of the three as it is closest to the lunar perigree. Perigree means near our earth. The new moon on February 18th 2015 occurs at 23.47 UTC and the lunar perigree occurs eight hours later. Our moon in March will arrive on the 20th, approximately fourteen hours after pedigree. 

We will therefore be in for a real treat in February. I'm looking forward to making even more progress on my blog and website then!

If you would like to take a peek at my website it is http://www.astarte-moon.co.uk or you can click on the shop button at the top of the page here. I would love to know what you think, any improvements I could make etc. I'm still learning my way around the new programme. Steep learning curve but I'm getting there!!

Supermoon Saturday 12th July 2014. Why does a super moon occur and how will it affect me?

The first super full moon for 2014 happens on Saturday 12^th July 2014.

What is a Supermoon?

These ‘supermoons’ were originally termed Perigree moons until they were given the catchier title of Supermoon by astrologer Richard Nolle, he  defined a supermoon as:

“… a new or full moon which occurs with the moon at or near (within 90% of) its closest approach to Earth in a given orbit.”

A supermoon may make the moon appear up to 14 percent bigger and 30 percent brighter than usual.

Due to the given Richard Nolle definition we have approximately 4-6 supermoons on average in any given year, this includes full and new moons. In 2014 we will have three full super full moons occurring on July 12^th, August 10^th and September 9^th.

More information on the super moons we had last year can be found here together with some useful diagrams: supermoons 2013 explanations

Why do Supermoons Occur?

www.quantumphoenix.com

Supermoons occur because our moon does not follow a circular path around our earth, it follows an elliptical one. Therefore at its furthest away it is 405,000 km away, this is called an apogee, and at its nearest it is 363,000, this is called a perigree. When the time of the perigree aligns with a full or new moon it is called a supermoon.

How close is the July Super Moon?

Our closest Supermoon this year will be the supermoon in August 2014. On that date the moon is 356,896 kilometres away from our earth. The supermoon on July 12^th 2014 will be 358,285 km away from us.

Demonstration of super moon from NASA

Does the Supermoon really look bigger?

The good thing about having the supermoon during the summer months is that it appears low on the horizon. This means that with the trees and buildings as reference it actually looks bigger to our eyes. The moon is the same size on the horizon as it is in the sky it just looks bigger to us when it is on the horizon so it really does look like a supermoon! We will have therefore three really super summer moons to enjoy this year therefore, make sure you see them rising, our beautiful super moon rises shortly after sunset.

Why does the supermoon affect me?

We don't really know why the full moon affects some people. However one explanation may be to do with the way the moon affects the water on our planet. All full moons bring higher-than-usual tides, and perigee full moons bring the highest (and lowest) tides of all. These are called Perigean Spring Tides.  Similarly these supermoons have an increased affect on the cells in our bodies. At the full moon all water on our planet is pulled towards the moon. Therefore if the moon is closer there is a greater pull and the affects will be felt more strongly. You may feel the usual affects of the full moon are accentuated during the time of the supermoon therefore. The full moon affects different people in different ways and thus the same applies to the supermoon. 

How will the supermoon affect me?

You may find you are more restless than usual or you may have more energy. We may often experience much more turbulent emotions than we are used to and it is important to recognize that when we are decision making.

If you are able to then try and plan ahead as to how you may use any excess energy you may have and plan your supermoon nights! Prepare for the increased emotion and use it as an opportunity for growth, however do not make any rash decisions that you may later regret. It is important to recognize in yourself any emotional changes that may be due to the effect that the moon is having on you that may be making you not act like your normal self!

Perhaps meditate on where your life is now, where your priorities lie and where you would like them to be heading. Channel this wonderful energy into growing your life, do not be fearful of the energy but use it to your advantage, the world is your oyster and this supermoon could be your key to unlocking as yet untapped potential.

July Capricorn Supermoon

This July supermoon is in Capricorn. This particular sign tells us to pay attention to balancing our own needs. We should look at what is needed in areas of our lives such as home, work and children and see what should be done to address any areas that might be out of kilter. Demands that are put upon us might need to be changed slightly so that we can accommodate more pressing issues. Prioritising issues is key right now, you are only one person and you cannot be stretched to breaking point! One of the names given to the full moon for July is the Buck Moon which is a perfect symbol for the Capricorn Moon. Other names for the July supermoon are Hay Moon and Blessing Moon. Check out the post on July moon names for further info! July Moon Names. I like Blessing Moon. This Super Moon is closest to the Pagan feast of Lammas or Lughnassad which is a particular time for giving gratitude and blessings. I send out blessings to you all! More information on Lammas may be found here  Lammas History and Traditions

So get ready for the three supermoons in a row July August September 2014. Buckle your seat belts it is sure to be a bumpy roller coaster of a ride but enjoy that roller coaster, raise your hands in the air and embrace that wonderful energy! Lean into the corners and scream if you need to but above all enjoy it and send out joy and love into the universe.

Supermoon blessings to you, Alison

Enjoy the wonderful energy of the new super moon January 1st 2014

Happy New Year 2014 to you wherever you are in the world whatever you are doing. I'm having a quiet night in whilst the kids are out partying lol!

Enjoy the wonderful energy of the new super moon tomorrow. Use that fabulous new super moon energy to get creative with your life!

New Year blessings to you, may 2014 bring you all that you hope and dream xxx

Super New moon January 1st and 30th 2014, how will this affect us?

This January we are promised a lot of wonderful activity in the skies above us, which may have an impact on what we do and how we are feeling.

Firstly we have a New Moon occurring on New Year’s day. This will make the 1^st January 2014 a particularly auspicious time to plan any changes you want to take place in your life. A New Moon is all about new beginnings and this coupled with it being the start of a new Calendar year means many of us will be looking toward changes we wish to make and projects we wish to start. Try and make any promises to yourself easily achievable, it is not good for our soul to promise to do something that we only stick to for January. Try and word your goals in a positive manner, for example rather than ‘I want to lose weight’ try ‘I am going to eat a healthier diet this January New Moon’ Any New Years resolutions that you do set in motion will be much more likely to reach fruition than previous years due to the added advantage of the New Moon.

This January New Moon will have even more impact in our lives due to the fact that it is a Supermoon or Perigree Moon. A Supermoon or Perigree Moon occurs when the moon is closer to our earth than usual. The moon appears bigger to us at the time of a supermoon. Obviously this is much more prominent at the time of a full moon as we will be more able to see the increase in size. However we will be affected at this New Moon by the fact that it is a super new moon! Super moons are known to bring higher tides than usual and the effect that they have on human and animal behaviour is heightened at the time of a Supermoon.

“The moon may seem bigger although the difference in its distance from Earth is only a few percent at such times,” says Dr. James Garvin, chief scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center on the space agency’s website. “It is called a supermoon because this is a very noticeable alignment that at first glance would seem to have an effect. The ‘super’ in supermoon is really just the appearance of being closer.”

Supermoons can appear as much as 14% larger in the sky and 30% brighter to our eyes than at their smallest size and brightness.

Diagram from earth sky.org

Richard Nolle, the astrologer, is credited with coining the term supermoon. He defines them as:

“a new or full moon which occurs with the moon at or near (within 90% of) its closest approach to Earth.

“By this definition, a new moon or full moon has to come within 361,863 kilometers (224,851 miles) of our planet, as measured from the centers of the moon and Earth, in order to be a super moon”

“Each month, on the day of the new moon, the Earth, moon and sun are aligned, with the moon in between. This line-up creates wide-ranging tides, known as spring tides. High spring tides climb up especially high, and on the same day low tides plunge especially low.

The January 1 and 30 extra-close new moons will accentuate the spring tide, giving rise to what’s called a perigean spring tide. If you live along an ocean coastline, watch for high tides caused by the two January 2014 new moons – or supermoons.” Earthsky.org

With the amount of rain we are having at the moment it is worth keeping an eye on the weather in case of flooding at the perigrean high tide.

Around each new moon (left) and full moon (right) – when the sun, Earth, and moon are located more or less on a line in space – the range between high and low tides is greatest. These are called spring tides. Earthsky.org

You won’t be able to see the new super moon on January 1 or January 30. At the time of the new moon, the moon hides in the glare of the sun all day long, rising with the sun at sunrise and setting with the sun at sunset. Just because you can’t see this new supermoon doesn’t mean you won’t be able to feel the effects. However in the days following the new moon you will be able to see a small sliver of the moon at dusk in the Western sky.

We have actually got two Supermoons in January as the next new moon will be a supermoon too. This makes January 2014 the only month with two supermoons until January 2018! The second new supermoon occurs on 30^th January, only just making it into the month of January! In addition to having super moons in July, two weeks after the year’s nearest new moon on January 1, it’ll be the year’s farthest and smallest full moon on January 16, 2014. This sort of moon is often termed a micro moon.

We will have five supermoons in total during 2014, the latter three moons will be full moons so we will enjoy their full ‘super’ effect! The other supermoons in 2014 will be on July 12, on August 10, and on September 9. The full moon on August 10, 2014, will be the closest supermoon of the year (356,896 kilometers or 221,765 miles from our earth to the moon). The  two super new moons on January 1 and January 30 will not be all that far behind, featuring the year’s second-closest and third-closest supermoons, respectively.

The New Moon on 1^st January will be at 10degrees in Capricorn. It will line up with Pluto and Mercury (in Capricorn) whilst squaring Mars in Libra, and Uranus in Aries.

The New Moon in Capricorn may cause feelings to run pretty high and emotions to be a little on the turbulent side. This will be an an energetic new moon, a perfect time for taking action on things that have been lying dormant for a while!

The fabulous Simone Butler from Mooncircles.com has the following to say regarding our Capricorn new super moon.

“The Capricorn New Moon (Jan. 1, 3:14 a.m. PST) catalyzes a grand cross between Mars in Libra, Jupiter in Cancer, Uranus in Aries and Pluto in Capricorn.

“The planets involved represent strong yang forces, intensified by their presence in action-oriented cardinal signs. Do-or-die Pluto conjuncts the Sun, Moon and Mercury and exactly squares headstrong Mars. This forceful call for evolutionary change can prompt a fresh start, but it can also trigger antagonism and impatience if we’re not careful to channel it wisely.

“Because this powerful energy colors the entire year ahead, we can expect 2014 to be a magnificent, make-it-or-break-it year. 

“The good news is, if you’re inclined to cut ties with the past, launch new projects or begin running marathons, this alignment will give you the push you need. The bad news is, if you persist in clinging to old patterns or being less than your authentic self, you’re apt to suffer.

“Complicating the planetary picture, Venus is currently retrograde in Capricorn (Dec. 21 – Jan. 31). Pleasure-loving Venus can feel weighed down in that serious earth sign, but she’s also able to devise effective plans for change, and cement healthy habits in existing relationships (not a great time to start new ones, though).

“Don’t rely overmuch on others’ financial or emotional support during this retrograde, as it’s meant to guide you into your own depths to reclaim your talents, power and self-esteem (although it is a good time to recoup losses or receive money owed to you).

“Through the end of January, you may have to dig deep to find the softer side of love, to unconditionally accept yourself and others—but your efforts will be richly rewarded.”

© Copyright 2013-2014 ~ Simone Butler  All Rights Reserved

www.yourdictionary.com

The new supermoon isn’t all that is happening in our skies during January 2014. Our earth will come the closest to the sun for the year on Jan 4^th. At this point we willl be about 91.4 million miles away, this is called perihelion. On average, the distance between the sun and ourselves is about 93 million miles. During this time therefore we may find ourselves more influenced by the male Sun energy. This would be a fabulous time to make some super charged sun water.  Earth reaches aphelion (the farthest distance from the sun) in July.

We will also experience the wonder of a meteor shower in January. The quadrantid meteors reach their peak on January 3^rd and will be easily visible as our moon will still be relatively new at this point. At their peak the quadrantids are expected to reach 120 shooting stars an hours so they should make an amazing spectacle.

All in all then January 2014 should be an amazing time. There will be a lot of high energy around so it’s important to channel that energy in ways that are useful to us. As the moon waxes during January we can tune into the energy that is emanating from this source and use it to ensure our thoughts and inspirations started at the new super moon in January reach their fruition.

There are a number of really good books around you can get to find out more information about moon cycles and living in harmony with the moon. One I like is Thomas Poppe:

Moon Time: The Art of Harmony with Nature and Lunar Cycles

Another great guide is Raising With the Moon -- The Complete Guide to Gardening--and Living--by the Signs of the Moon Planting "by the signs" is an ancient tradition carried on by millions of people. This book explains the logic of gardening by the signs of the moon and shows how it works, giving clear and complete instructions for calculating the moon's effect on every aspect of gardening--preparing the soil, cultivating, planting, fertilizing, transplanting, pruning, crafting, controlling weeds and pests, and harvesting. It also explains how the moon effects many other areas of life. No almanac user should be without this comprehensive one-source reference.