New Moon in Capricorn - Beith/Birch Lunar Cycle

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


1st Day of the First Lunar Cycle
Ruled by Persephone
Lunar Tree Cycle of Beith/Birch
12th Day of the Celtic Tree
Month of Beith/Birch
1st Day of the Cycle of
Imbolgen - Days of Reclamation
Moon Phase: New - 4:02AM EST
Moon rises: 7:51AM EST
Moon sets: 5:39PM EST
Moon in the Cardinal Earth
Sign of Capricorn
Blodeuwedd's Cycle of the Moon
Lunar Meditation: The gift of
mortality
Sun in Capricorn
Sunrise: 7:43AM EST
Sunset: 5:06PM EST
Solar Eclipse - 4:02AM EST
Solar Question for the Day: "Where
do you need to exercise self-control?"
Samhain (Calan Gaeaf) Quarter
of the Year
January 4th, 2011

New Moon - The New Moon (or Dark Moon) rises at sunrise and sets at sunset. Astrologically, the Sun and Moon are in conjunction. Because the Sun's light overpowers the nearby Moon in the day, and the Moon is on the other side of the Earth with the Sun at night, she is not visible in the sky at all. The New Moon is like a SEED planted in the earth. We cannot see her but she is ready to grow, full of potential and energy for her new journey. Those who are born during a New Moon phase  are impulsive, passionate and intuitive. They are risk takers and pioneers.

Tiu's Day - Mars Day - the Day of Activity and Physicality, Passion and Desire.  There are minor magickal energies today for job hunting. 

Birch lunar cycle:  First cycle of Lunar Tree Year - The Birch is the tree of inception or beginnings. She is self-propagating, and so is an excellent symbol for the Goddess as Her own source. Her branches
are considered to be protective and can be used for dispelling evil influences. When a lover offers a branch it means, "You may begin."  With the Beith or Birch moon the wheel of the lunar year rebirths, and we can plant our seeds or plans for the coming cycle. [From: "Ariadne's Thread" by Shekhinah Mountainwater]   The keyword for the Beith/Birch cycle is New Beginnings and it's original meaning is Mother Goddess, purification and renewal; it's color is White; it's bird is Pheasant/Becan; and its letter is B.  
   Beith symbolizes opportunity and new beginnings. The power of the dark is waning and the first signs of spring are emerging, symbolizing new energies and ideas. There is no struggle here, just a rising of newness that can only be blocked by those who adhere to old patterns. Let the past go and renew your faith in your path, understanding that if you follow the natural order change proves easy to embrace. Opportunities exist for you to bring movement into areas of your life that have been barren or stagnant, which in turn will create new understandings and insights. Be patient, walk in the light and the fruits of your labor will realized.
   The first leaves on the birch herald the rebirth of creation and the dawn of spring. Where man has raped the land and then left it abandoned and barren, birch will come carried by the four winds to bring back harmony and balance It has a deep and long relationship with humans giving its sap for sweetness, wine and vinegar, its bark for writing and containers and its oil for tanning hides. Birch wood has provided cradles, boats, and roofs protecting and transporting humans for millennia.
   It cares not where it grows and indeed favors places where other trees find it hard to establish. Then it sheds its twigs and leaves season after season until the ground is fertile and ready for its brothers and sisters to join it. Just as it cleanses and rejuvenates the land, Birch does the same for humans offering medicines for kidney and urinary problems, rheumatism, gout, fevers and skin disorders. The old year was cleansed from houses using a birch broom and 'evil spirits' were cleansed from law-breakers using a birch rod and in the ritual of 'birching'. Likewise it is used to cleanse any place where spiritual work is to take place.
[Information and the Birch above are from "Ogham: The Celtic Oracle" deck by Peter Pracownik and Andy Baggott]