Balsamic Moon Phase

"I'm one with the Goddess
and open to Her Wisdom."

26th Day of the 1st Lunar Cycle
Ruled by Hecate
Lunar Tree Cycle of Beith/Birch
9th Day of the Celtic Tree
Month of Luis/Rowan
26th Day of the Cycle of Imbolgen -
Days of Reclaiming
Moon Phase: Balsamic - 11:34PM EST
Moon rises: 4:09AM EST
Moon sets: 1:29PM EST
Moon in the Mutable Fire
Sign of Sagittarius
Ceridwen's Cycle of the Moon
Lunar Meditation:  The magick
of snow
Sun in Aquarius
Sunrise: 7:33AM EST
Sunset: 5:33PM EST
Solar Question for the Day: "Which
fear is keeping you in prision?"
Samhain (Calan Gaeaf) Quarter
of the Year
January 29th, 2011

Balsamic Moon - The Balsamic Moon (or waning crescent moon) rises before dawn and set midafternoon. She is the last sliver of Moon seen in the eastern sky in the dawn and in the very early morning. The Balsamic Moon is the COMPOST phase, when the nutrients remain in the soil, providing nourishment for the next new seed. The keywords for the Balsamic phase are: transition, release, transformation, renewal and purity. It is the phase in a cycle when you must let go of everything you have been working on that does not deal with current cycle issues. During this phase you reflect on the passing cycle and prepare for the new. Trust in renewal. It is important to separate from others now so that you can clear the intellect of negativity. LET GO. Become still and meditate. For those who were born in a Balsamic Moon phase - they will possess the potential to be wise, insightful, understanding and patient. They are prophetic and unique.

Saturn's Day - the Day of Manifestation and Structure, Assessment and Responsibility.  There are minor magickal energies today for doing rites/spells for protection.

Celestial Events of Imbolc
    The Lion and the Twins

   The night sky at this time of year displays two constellations with special significance to Imbolc: Leo and Gemini

Leo, the Bringer of Spring

    Although the constellation Leo will not culminate until April, the majestic lion of the starry night makes it first appearance above the horizon in early February. Rising in the east, the celestial lion has long been regarded as a herald of the coming spring. By 10:00PM on February 1st, calendrical Imbolc, the celestial lion will be above the eastern horizon.
    Thought to be the first constellation to be identified pictorially, this grouping of stars has been associated with a lion since the earliest historical times, by the Babylonians, Egyptains and Greeks alike. Leo's most prominent feature is the 'sickle' of Leo, the pattern of stars that extends from its brightest star, Regulus. Regulus is a bluish star and burns hotter than the sun. Regulus is Latin for 'prince' or 'little king', further cementing the celestial lion's association with royalty. Algeiba is the companion of Regulus, and delineates the lion's mane. Marking the lion's tail is Denebola, while Coxa and Zosma indicate its hips and haunches.
   In Greek mythology, the Nemean lion was an unconquerable beast that terrorized the people. The first labor of Hercules was to kill this lion, whose skin was reputed to be impenetrable by any weapon. Herculus overcame the lion by strangling it to death, and he wore its pelt thereafter as a symbol of his accomplishment. The star name Zosma means 'girdle' or 'loin-cloth'. While it is extremely difficult to imagine a lion wearing such a costume, this may be a reference to the hide worn by Herculus invoking wildness and strength.
    The lion is also a symbol of kingship. It is possible that the human head and lion's body of the Sphinx linked the power of the Egyptian kings to the symbol of Leo. The lion also appears in many versions of the tarot on the card representing Strength. In the Rider-Waite deck, as well as its numerous derivatives, "Strength" is depicted as a serene-looking woman cradling the head of a lion. It hardly seems coincidental that one of the meanings of Brighid is also 'strength.'

The Twin Stars of Gemini

    High overhead on February eve, the Gemini twins appear slightly to the southeast of the zenith point. Distinguished by the two bright stars Castor and Pollux, constellation Gemini is a highlight of the February sky. Pollux is the brighter of the two stars, while Castor lies nearest to Polaris, the pole star.
In Greek and Roman mythology, Castor and Pollux are regarded as gods, spending half of their time on earth and the other half in heaven. They are the sons of Leda and the brothers of Helen of Troy. Their association with protection pertains mainly to ships at sea, connecting them to the water element, the veneration of which is prevalent at Imbolc. Water is also often used as an allegory for the emotions, which can be tumultuous as a stormy sea. You can use the stars above as inspiration for invoking divine protection when delving into sensitive matters of the heart.
[This constellation information comes Judy Ann Nock's book "The Wiccan Year"]