Moon Phases for January 2015. Full Moon in Cancer

2015 hopefully will bring a year full of possibilities and happiness for us all. Below are the moon phases for you to help you work with those to help you enable those dreams to come true. Working within the phases of the moon helps you to use the natural forces of the universe work to your advantage: building towards things you wish to grow within your life during a waxing moon for example and looking at things you might want to let go from your life during a waning moon, for example. As we are in the time of a waxing moon on first January this is actually an excellent time for creating those New Year's resolutions or plans that you will actually stick to, their strength encouraged by the growing strength of our wonderful waxing moon. 

Our Next Full Moon is Monday 5th January 2015 * 05:53:18 am
Central European Time (CET)
Moon sign: Cancer 14° 30'

In other time zones:
WELLINGTON = Monday * 5th Jan 2015 * 05:53:18 pm (NZDT)
SYDNEY = Monday * 5th January 2015 * 03:53:18 pm (AEDT)
TOKYO = Monday * 5th January 2015 * 01:53:18 pm (JST)
BEIJING = Monday * 5th January 2015 * 12:53:18 pm (CST)
BANGKOK = Monday * 5th January 2015 * 11:53:18 am (ICT)
DELHI = Monday * 5th January 2015 * 10:53:18 am (IST)
DUBAI = Monday * 5th January 2015 * 08:53:18 am (GST)
MOSCOW = Monday * 5th January 2015 * 07:53:18 am (MSK)
BERLIN = Monday * 5th January 2015 * 05:53:18 am (CET)
LAGOS = Monday * 5th January 2015 * 05:53:18 am (WAT)
LONDON = Monday * 5th January 2015 * 04:53:18 am (GMT)
RIO = Monday * 5th January 2015 * 02:53:18 am (BRST)
SANTIAGO = Monday * 5th Jan 2015 * 01:53:18 am (CLST)
NEW YORK = Sunday * 4th Jan 2015 * 11:53:18 pm (EST)
MEXICO CITY = Sunday * 4th Jan 2015 * 10:53:18 pm (CST)
CALGARY = Sunday * 4th January 2015 * 09:53:18 pm (MST)
LOS ANGELES = Sunday * 4th Jan 2015 * 08:53:18 pm (PST)
ANCHORAGE = Sunday * 4th Jan 2015 * 07:53:18 pm (AKST)
HONOLULU = Sunday * 4th Jan 2015 * 06:53:18 pm (HAST)


This full moon is in Cancer encouraging us to be very honest about our feelings as we go into 2015. Look deep into your heart and examine all your personal relationships to make sure you are on the right track. Keep all that is good in your life and let go of anything that is not.  Venus is in retrograde encouraging us to examine past relationships, heal them and thus strengthen current ones. Full Moon Blessings for January 2015 to you all, may the moon in Cancer bring you all that your heart desires, feel the bliss, blessings, Alison

New Moon in Sagittarius Saturday 22nd November 12.32 UTC.

We have a new moon in Sagittarius coming up this Saturday 22nd November 12.32 UTC.

This is a perfect time to plan for new beginnings. You don't have to wait until January to start new resolutions! The Sagittarian energy that is around at the moment will lend an extra boost of fire and optimism to the building new moon energy. This means this is a perfect time to harness that fire , take control and step towards your goals. Allow that wonderful new moon in Sagittarius to power you towards all that you desire.

It may help to try out some new moon affirmations such as the following: new moon affirmation. 

New Moon blessings of new beginnings to you, soar high, reach towards your dreams, Alison xxx

Supermoon in Aquarius August 10th 2014 and Perseid Meteor Shower. Feel the amazing energy.

This August we are blessed with the brightest Supermoon of 2014.  August’s supermoon will reach her fullness at 1.10pm CDT 18 10 UT on August 10^th 2014.  She will have reached her closest point to earth just a few minutes earlier at 12.44 CDT. The fact that these two phenomena co-incide means that this supermoon will be a particularly spectacuar event this August. At this point of perigree she will be just 221,765 miles away from earth, our supermoon won’t be as close as this again until September 2015.

 What is a Supermoon?

We have three supermoons this year, the first was in July, did any of you see it? I didn’t manage it as it was cloudy here! The third supermoon will be in September. August’s supermoon will be the most spectacular though, being closest to our earth of the three so will surely prove to be an event not to be missed. Supermoon’s are on average 14% larger and 30% brighter but I can’t find a statistic of how much brighter this August moon will be, she sure will however be a sight not to be missed!

 

Super mini moons astroblogger.com

The best time to view our wonderful moon will be just as she rises which will be just after sunset on Sunday.  The moon on the horizon always seems to look larger than when she is is high in the sky, this is because of what is known as the ‘Ponzo Illusion’

“Most supermoons appear larger than they really are because of what's called the "Ponzo Illusion." First put forth in 1913 by Italian psychologist Mario Ponzo, it holds that the human mind judges the size of an object based on its background.

Most people perceive the horizon as being farther away than the point straight above their heads. "When the moon is on the horizon, your brain thinks it’s far away, much farther than when it’s overhead," writes Phil Plait in his Bad Astronomy blog. "So the Ponzo Illusion kicks in: Your brain sees the moon as being huge, and it looks like you could fall into it." http://www.al.com

Why do super moons occur?

How will the super moon affect me?

August’s Supermoon also coincides with the Perseids meteor shower, her super brightness will mean that the Perseids may be a little harder to view this year. There will be a lot of energy however happening in the skies above us. This will be quite a turbulent and power fuelled time for all of us!

 

Perseids from VEoz.com

This Supermoon will be in Aquarius. Although the time of the full moon will be a turbulent one it will bring about a breaking down of barriers and a releasing of any pent up emotion that needs to be let go of. Aquarius is an air sign known for shattering perceptions and breaking rules. You will emerge feeling cleansed and refreshed. Let go of all that you do not need, break down those walls, you will feel so much better for it.

The August Supermoon is also the Lunar Lammas falling midway between the summer and Autumn Equinoxes. Lammas or Lughnasadh is a celebration of the first harvest, of giving thanks for the fruits of our labour and looking forward to the months ahead.

Our supermoon this August has many names given to it, it has been called the Grain Moon, Mating Moon, Chokeberry Moon, Summertime Moon, Corn Moon , Moon when Cherries Turn Black and the Barley Moon.

One interesting name is the Dog Day’s moon which refers to the hot days of the late summer in the northern hemisphere that occur in late July and August. The Old Farmer’s Almanac lists the traditional period of the Dog days as the 40 days beginning July 3^rd and ending august 11^th.  The name Dog Days was believed to originate from the ancient Romans and Greeks who named these days after the star Sirius, the Dog Star, brightest star in the sky. The Dog Days originally were the days when Sirius rose just before or at the same time as sunrise, this was known as a heliacal rising.

Enjoy this Aquarius Supermoon. Pass through this time of turbulence and emerge refreshed at the other end. Hopefully you will have caught a glimpse of some of the wonderful Perseid meteors to light your path along the way!

Supermoon blessings to you, AstarteAlison xxx

Total Lunar Eclipse, Blood Moon 14/15 April. The first of The Lunar Tetrad 2014/15

We have our first lunar eclipse of 2014 on 14/15 April.

Lunar Eclipses are always an exciting event and have throughout time always been seen as a deeply spiritual event.  Of course many years ago our ancestors did not understand why our moon was suddenly disappearing and were very disturbed by this fact, often thinking that they had perhaps angered the gods. Now of course we understand the phenomenon and can enjoy the wonderful sight.

This total lunar eclipse is known as a red moon or blood moon seemingly because it will make our moon take on a beautiful red glow, although it is not really known why the term blood moon seems to have been particular applied to this Tetrad of eclipses.

Mars will be at it’s closest to our earth for the year and together the two really will make spectacular viewing.

 

Position of Mars from Earthsky.org

The lunar eclipse will begin around 2am EDT and last around three hours.

 

World viewing map from earthsky.org

This lunar eclipse will be the first of four total eclipses that will occur throughout 2014 and 2015, these are collectively known as a tetrad. The next one will be 28^th September, followed by another total lunar eclipse or red moon on  4^th April 2015 and finally the last blood moon will be 8^th October 2015. The Tetrad is four consecutive lunar eclipses spaced at six lunar months apart from each other, with no partial lunar eclipses in between. This Tetrad is a fairly infrequent occurrence and thus and wonderful cosmic and spiritual experience to be a part of.

This string of lunar eclipses or blood moons will bring a deeper understanding of ourselves. This is a time of high energy pulsing over us in waves. Insight may come in a flash and we need to hang on to sparks as they reach us in a surge. Be careful how you handle relationships particularly those close to you as tempers may be slightly frayed just now.

Enjoy viewing the total lunar eclipse and wonder at the amazing blood red moon. If you are not in an area that you can see the moon from you can always watch online and still see the beauty of our moon and enjoy her power from afar.

Blood moon blessings to you,

Alison

Black Moon 30th March 2014. Embrace the change that lies ahead

We have a second new moon on 30th March 2014. The second New Moon occurring in a calendar month is termed a Black Moon.

Be prepared for a sense of change in the air and embrace the future that lies ahead of you. Look forward now and take one day at a time. After this new moon the moon will start to wax again and all those little ideas will start to grow, small changes will become big changes so embrace them now! The black moon gives us two new starts in one month so we are doubly blessed, use it wisely, this energy will be a powerful one. 

It is also Mothers' Day in England so don't forget to embrace your Mother if you have one! If you don't, then hug someone close to you, hugging is good for the soul!

Happy Black Moon blessings to you, Alison xxx

Moon phases for March 2014. Black Moon 30th March 2014

Here are the moon phases for March 2014 for you. I've chosen a slightly different graphic, this one is from astronomy.org, let me know what you think or if you prefer the other one from moon connection. We have a New Moon today 1st March 2014 and another one on 30th March 2014. The second New Moon occurring in a calendar month is termed a Black Moon.

So lots of opportunities for new beginnings in March. With the arrival of the spring like weather this will be a perfect month for getting started on some new projects in the garden. 

Our Moon is full on 16th March 2014 and I will post the times of the full moon for you shortly along with the names the March Moon is known by around the world and throughout time.

Happy Black Moon blessings to you, Alison 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. 

Super Comet ISON, how to view and spiritually experience this fabulous event!

Are you ready for the once in a lifetime experience of viewing Comet ISON, the 'Super Comet? Comet ISON will be the brightest we have seen in a long time as it heads closer to the sun, reaching the closest point on 28^th November. This is a deeply spiritual time as the comet cause emotions to come to the surface and disrupts everyday life. Listen to any signs the universe may be giving you at this tumultuous time. 

Comets as bright as the Super Comet ISON are rare experiences indeed so this will be a fabulous spectacle to have the privilege to be able to see. For the past three months the Comet has been obscured by the sun but now it has come out of the Sun’s shadow and is visible to us here on earth. When it arrived many astronomers around the globe were very excited at it’s brightness. Some astronomers are even claiming that its brightness will out-shine that of our full moon! It is getting brighter and brighter as the days progress. Comet ISON’s tail stretched across 57,000 miles (92,000 km) in images snapped by the Hubble Space Telescope in April.  Now it is estimated that the tail length of Comet ISON is 16 million kilometers. The tail of the comet stretches more than 7 degrees across the sky making it almost as wide as the bowl of the Big Dipper.

 

Super Comet ISON

Robin Scagell, vice-president of the Society for Popular Astronomy, says "This is a very exciting discovery. The comet looks like it could become a very spectacular sight in the evening sky after sunset from the UK in late November and early December next year.

"Our members will be eagerly following it as it makes its first trip around the Sun and hoping to see it shining brilliantly and displaying a magnificent tail as it releases powerful jets of gas and dust."

Comets are relics of an ancient time, and help us understand more about the universe in which we live.  They are relics of the time when our solar system first formed so they have a lot to tell us. At the beginning of their journey, comets see our Sun as a distant prick of light and it looks no different to any other star in the sky.

“This will be its first trip to the inner solar system, so ISON could contain volatile gases that other comets, making their umpteenth lap around the sun, have lost. That will give us a pristine glimpse of the material in the outer solar system 4.6 billion years ago, when ISON formed.” www.newscientist.com

Comet ISON is so important because it is a pristine comet as well as being a super comet. It has not been damaged by many trips close to our Sun and it is unchanged since it’s creation. It is hoped therefore that it will have much to tell us. On November 24^th Scientists observed that some chunks of the comet may have broken off but it still remains relatively un-damaged by its travels.

 

Comet ISON taken from Namibia, Africa

Comet ISON is so named because it was first spotted on photos taken by Vitali Nevski and Artyom Novichonok from Russia using the International Scientific Optical Network telescope. It’s official label is comet C/2012S1. ISON originates in the Ooort cloud. The Oort cloud is the vast swarm of potential comet nuclei extending up to almost a light year from the Sun. Comet ISON was deflected out of the Oort cloud by a star and since then it has been travelling towards us. We know that the sun formed 4.6 billion years ago but we still have much to learn about how the planets were formed.

Comets are often thought of as ‘dirty snowballs’! They are basically big balls of dust and ice. They appear to us as stationery when they are actually moving very fast. Thousands fly through our solar system every year but most we cannot see with the naked eye.  The tail of a comet is caused by gas and dust streaming off the icy nucleus. NASA officials say “The pressure of the solar wind sweeps the material into a tail, like a breeze blowing a windsock.” Comet ISON’s tail stretched across 57,000 miles (92,000 km) in images snapped by the Hubble Space Telescope in April.

Many comets such as Halley’s comet have long elliptical orbits so we see them again and again as they pass our earth. Because of the nature of super comet ISON’s orbit however this is a one off for us, it won’t be coming back. It is on a hyperbolic orbit which will take it back out of our solar system for good.

 

Viewing of the Super Comet in December 2013

The Comet ISON is called a ‘sun-grazer’ because it passes so close to the sun. The danger of being a sun grazer may be that as it does this it will in fact break up and so we won’t be able to see it because the sun's heat, radiation and gravity could cause it to disintegrate. It could totally combust and explode at this point or illuminate in a dazzling light show for us all here on Earth. Scientists seem to be divided 50/50 as to whether it will survive or not. 

On Nov. 28, Comet ISON will swing within 800,000 miles (1.2 million km) of the sun’s surface. This is called it’s perihelion, the closest point to the sun. If it survives it will be then be seen in our skies again in December. Assuming it survives perihelion, in January 2014, Comet ISON will be at its closest to Earth, passing our planet by just 0.4 AU (about 60 million km) Don’t worry though it is not on course to collide with us or anything! Despite what doomsday predictions you may read!

Once we have seen whether the Comet ISON explodes near to the sun or not this will give us more information about how the planets formed at the dawn of time.  Analysis of the gases that are produced by the comets will give us more information about the temperature in which planets were formed and further ideas on how this happened. We will also be able to further examine the theory as to whether our water here on earth was brought to us from the comets. This will in turn helps us get nearer to the constant question we ask ourselves- are we alone in this universe?

Shared from thedialog.com

Comets contain all the essential ingredients for amino acids, the building blocks of life. However with the extreme conditions these comets go through the combination doesn’t always work to ensure life may begin. In these hostile conditions can the chemicals combine to provide these building blocks of life? Scientists have looked at comets in the lab and think that possibly the destructive impact of comets when they hit a planet may actually cause the chemical reaction required to create amino acids. This would mean that this could happen throughout our solar system and indeed the universe. We won’t be able to sample comet ISON itself to find a lot of the information we need so will have to rely on it’s gases and how it behaves near to the sun. However a mission has been launched towards a comet that will pass near Jupiter in November 2014, comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko. This comet will reach perhilion in April 2015. This mission was launched in 2004 and is called the Rosetta Stone, it will provide the most detailed investigation of a comet ever.

Comet ISON is predicted if it survives it’s journey to be brighter than has been seen in a long time. It could even be brighter than the Comet Ikeya-Seki in 1965; this was the last ‘super comet’. Since then we had a good showing with Comet McNaught in 2007 and comet Lovejoy in 2011 but this comet in November 2013 should be much more spectacular! It is said that ISON is one hundred times brighter than Comet Lovejoy. One famous comet in 1066 made its way onto the Bayeux tapestry!

The best time to see the comet is in the pre-dawn sky, looking east just before the sun rises. You will need to have dark sky and a clear horizon. Once the sun rises the light will be too bright and will obscure the light from the planet. As the days continue in November the comet will get lower in the sky making it harder to be seen but it will actually be getting brighter as well as the days progress. The best viewing will be if the Comet survives its graze with the sun, in early December as it climbs up again in our sky.

 

Comet ISON in our Eastern sky

Comets like many astrological events such as meteor showers have the reputation of ‘shaking things up’ a little. We may therefore be experiencing a certain amount of turmoil in our lives at the moment. Comets together with meteorites used to be a quite a frightening occurrence. Some thought that they were sent as a message from the Gods who were possibly not pleased! Luckily today we know so much more about our universe we know not to be scared by this occurrence but to be in awe at the wonder of our universe! Some interpretations of the Bible claim that a bright comet heralds the second coming of Christ.

Jonathan Cainer has written that “we can expect the comet to raise awareness, promote healing, foster hope, inspire a quest for peace and help us wake up to the potential for higher consciousness.”

In terms of astrology the comet will be in Virgo in the first week of November, Libra from the 9th of November to the 19th and then Scorpio from 20th November for one week. From the 28th November it is in Sagittarius and there we have the really big news since it then sling shots round the Sun in Sagittarius and appears to go retrograde, moving back through the zodiac from then on. More information on the astrological details of the super comet can be found here: http://www.midlandsschoolofastrology.co.uk

So this wonderful celestial experience may make your life go into free fall for a little while but be assured this will be for a reason. Enjoy the viewing experience and listen to your own heart as to what message this comet might be bringing with it.

If you miss this one then there is another comet due next year. Hopefully though the site of comet ISON will be a fabulous pre-Yule treat!

“Another comet is also set to put on a reasonable show in the night sky next year.

Comet Pan-STARRS (C/2011 L4) which was discovered by an automatic survey from Hawaii in June last year is expected to be bright in the evening sky after sunset next March and as bright as the brightest stars.” www.telegraph.co.uk

Happy Super Comet viewing, enjoy this wonderful celestial adventure!

Celestial blessings, Alison xxx

Meteor showers in November 2013 Taurids and Leonids, a spectacular spiritual experience

We have two meteor showers coming up this November.  Meteor showers are always a spectacular sight and a reminder of how incredible this Mother Earth on which we dwell is.  "Shooting stars" and "falling stars" are both names that describe meteors -- streaks of light across the night sky caused by small bits of interplanetary rock and debris called meteoroids vaporizing high in Earth's upper atmosphere. When a meteor appears, it seems to "shoot" quickly across the sky, and its small size and intense brightness makes it look like a star shooting across the sky. If you're lucky enough to spot a meteorite (a meteor that makes it all the way to the ground), and see where it hits, it's easy to think you just saw a star "fall." It is said to be very lucky to actually see a meteorite land. Hence the song ‘catch a falling star and put it in your pocket. You may not be able to catch a falling star, but you can enjoy the amazing experience, put it in your pocket and save it for a rainy day!

The South Taurid meteors are happening right now. This meteor show originates from the constellation Taurus. These meteors are quite spread out with only about 7 meteors expected per hour. The Taurids are, however, well known for having a high percentage of fireballs, or exceptionally bright meteors. So well worth spending an hour or two gazing at the sky to catch sight of a spectacuar fire ball!

 

Map of the Taurids

Coming up next week we have the North Taurids, these meteors should be visible from late night November 11 2013 until dawn on November 12^th. Like the South Taurids these meteors are not particularly frequent with again approximately 7 per hour. Typically, you see the maximum numbers at around midnight, when Taurus the Bull is highest in the sky. Taurid meteors tend to be slow-moving, so plenty of time to catch sight of these particularly bright meteors. The best time for viewing will be after the moon has set after midnight as it will be a waxing gibbous moon by then so the brightness will make viewing more difficult.

Hard on the heels of the Taurids come the Leonids from late November 16^th until dawn on November 17^th. 
The Leonids radiate  from the constellation Leo the Lion. The source of the meteor sis Comet Tempel-Tuttle, which is falling apart as it makes periodic runs around the sun and its ices melt from the heat.

Map of the Leonids from astronomy magazine

The famous Leonid meteor shower has produced some of the greatest meteor storms in history – at least one in living memory, 1966 – with rates as high as thousands of meteors per minute during a span of 15 minutes on the morning of November 17, 1966. Can you imagine that? It is said that the meteors were falling like rain! Some who witnessed the 1966 Leonid meteor storm said they felt as if they needed to grip the ground, so strong was the impression of Earth plowing along through space, through the meteoroid stream.

Most Leonid meteor showers are unfortunately not as exciting as that one, usually they produce 10-15 meteors an hour, which will still be a spectacular sight. NASA classifies the Leonid meteors as bright, colorful, and "some of the fastest meteors out there." A typical speed for a fragment is about 44 miles (71 kilometers) per second. We have a full moon during the Leonids which will of course shine her brightness all night long, thereby reducing the visibility of the Leonid meteors. The next spectacular year for the Leonids by the way is predicted to be in 2034 as they occur every 33 years, so a little while to wait! This year will be a bit different a the Leonids are predicted to have two peaks of activity on Saturday 17 in the morning and Tuesday 20th November, again in the morning. Like the Taurids, the Leonids can also produce fireballs from larger chunks of the comet so that will be worth keeping an eye open for. "The Leonids are white or bluish white, many are faint, though can appear outstandingly bright, leaving glowing trains in their wake," Space.com

For best viewing of meteors it is better to go where there is not too much surrounding light. If you can escape to the countryside or a park then your viewing will be much better. I like to watch meteors flat on my back, then you really get a sense of being gounded on our earth whilst watching this spectacular show happening in our heavens. Watching meteors can be a deeply spiritual and uplifting experience.

Perseid Meteor Shower August 2013. Spiritual significance throughout time.

The Perseids have been spotted already for some keen viewers! The spectacular Perseids meteor shower will peak, on the mornings of August 11-13. Luckily our moon will be a crescent moon in the evening sky, leaving the peak meteor-watching hours of midnight to dawn free and clear.

“As a general rule, the Perseid meteors tend to be few and far between at nightfall and early evening. Yet, if fortune smiles upon you, you could catch an earthgrazer – a looooong, slow, colorful meteor traveling horizontally across the evening sky. Earthgrazer meteors are rare but most exciting and memorable, if you happen to spot one. Perseid earthgrazers can only appear at early to mid-evening, when the radiant point of the shower is close to the horizon.

As evening deepens into late night, and the meteor shower radiant climbs higher in the sky, more and more Perseid meteors streak the nighttime. The meteors don’t really start to pick up steam until after midnight, and usually don’t bombard the sky most abundantly until the wee hours before dawn. You may see 50 or so meteors per hour in a dark sky.” http://earthsky.org/tonight

You don’t need any special equipment to see these spectacular perseid meteors, just as wide an open space as possible,  and some warm clothing. Then lie back and enjoy the wonderful spectacle! Be at one with the universe as you enjoy this amazing sight. If it is a dry night then lie right on the grass if you can, this is a wonderful time to be grounded and totally at one with nature. It helps if you know the general direction of the constellation Perseus but the key is to keep your eyes relaxed and adjusted to the dark. Meteors often come in clusters so you may not see any for ages and then a few may come along together. You may have a long wait but these Perseid meteors are certainly worth it and you will have a wonderfully spiritual experience watching them. You will fee completely relaxed and as though you and nature are in perfect harmony after this incredible grounding and spiritual perseid meteor experience.

“What’s the source of the Perseid meteor shower? Every year, from around July 17 to August 24, our planet Earth crosses the orbital path of Comet Swift-Tuttle, the parent of the Perseid meteor shower. Debris from this comet litters the comet’s orbit, but we don’t really get into the thick of the comet rubble until after the first week of August. The bits and pieces from Comet Swift-Tuttle slam into the Earth’s upper atmosphere at some 210,000 kilometers (130,000 miles) per hour, lighting up the nighttime with fast-moving Perseid meteors. If our planet happens to pass through an unusually dense clump of meteoroids – comet rubble – we’ll see an elevated number of meteors. We can always hope!”http://earthsky.org/tonight

 We  have always had and continue to have a very special relationship with the celestial wonders above our heads. In ancient times of course a lot les was known and therefore a lot less was taken for granted. Many ancient Egyptians prayed to the Sun God Ra that the sun would rise every morning. For there was no guarantee! So it is no surprise that a meteor shower would have been seen as a very spiritual experience of great significance.

To many people a meteorite would have seemed an amazing occurrence. A star, from the heavens, coming down towards the earth.  What a sight!  The falling star represented a bridge between man and the divine. Often cultures venerated meteor rocks as powerful magickal talisman, these were said to be sent from the sky gods to the people on earth. The ancient Greeks believed that finding one would bring you a year’s worth of good luck and a wish. It is from the Anciient Greeks that we have inherited the idea of wishing upon a star. Often temples in the ancient Mediterranean that were in possession of meteorites, held them as sacred objects.

Native American medicine men also thought meteorites had special powers and have been known to wear them as protective amulets, passing them down through generation after generation of shaman as symbols of their power.

In Roman times it was thought that the stars were candles lit by the angels with each representing a soul on earth.

In the Teutonic mythology of central Europe, it was believed that every person was represented by a star. This star was attached to the ceiling of the sky by the threads of fate. In Romania, there is a belief that the stars are candles lit by the gods  in honour of each person’s birth and that the brighter the star the greater the person. The falling star represents the soul’s final journey to the afterlife as it is being blown out and across the sky by the divine candle keepers.

In these and other cultures, falling stars and meteor showers were celebrated, they honoured the ancestors who had come before them, and in particular the newly deceased who were joining the ranks of the highly venerated generations who had come before.

So try and spend some time outside in the wonder and the magic of the Perseid meteor shower this August. Perhaps you would like to think about your ancestors as you gaze up into the universe. Or perhaps you would just like to enjoy the incredible experience and wonder at this world that we are so lucky to be a part of. However you spend it know that somehow we are all connected and are all part of this incredible universe, all sharing this same feeling of wonder and amazement that this world continues to give us.