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Cancer's Moon:
Malvin Artley reveals the subtle meanings inherent in the Full Moon in Capricorn—the Festival of the Ashram. This is the Cancer Full Moon, because the Full Moon always falls in the sign opposite the sign in which the Sun is found. Occurring on June 22nd, just after the solstice, it is the first Full Moon in a rare Blue Moon Cycle, with the second, the "Blue Moon", occurring on July 21. The emotional content of our lives is heightened under this configuration. Malvin argues that that there will be changes of direction inaugurated for many people and for society at large, since full moon figures are indicative for the entire human race and not simply for individuals. “Quando bimbi sorridere mentre sonno angeli giocanno dentro loro sogni.”, as the “Antique Italians”* would say — “When babies smile while asleep, angels play within their dreams.” I was recently given some first-hand experience with the sign of Cancer. A couple of good friends of mine have had a little bundle of joy come into their lives and I went over to meet him a few weeks ago, as well to see the proud, but tired, parents. Gianni, his name is. At his age all little ones seem angelic, especially when they are sleeping. I got to hold him for a while (as you do with newborns). It was a strange experience because it had been a very long time since I had held a baby in my arms. I had always wanted children myself, but it had never worked out. Now, at this stage of my life I am quite content to enjoy other people's children. As Gianni slept in my arms, his little body jerked every now and then, almost bolting him from the soundness of his sleep. He would start to wake up with those spasms, whereupon I would bounce him a little, sending him back to the playground in his dreams for a while longer. What else would I expect from a child with a Mars/Uranus square in his chart, I mused? Little Gianni had the colic, though (as we would say in the South), and he was not a happy little bub. As he lay there sleeping I could feel the heat rising in my hands as he took the energy from my palms. Soon enough I could feel the wind from his colic begin to move. I began to think that the smile that passed across his face from time to time had as much to do with that as it did with the angels in his dreams, but a more poetic notion is always more preferable with a newborn. “Bambino caro, what will your life be?” I thought. Of course, I had done all of Gianni's charts as soon as I got the news of his arrival and I had a pretty good idea of the trends to come in his life, but things seldom go strictly according to plan, do they? Still, he is a delight and his parents are suitably proud and pleased. I am told I am to be his Godfather. Life is good, and I am happy for all of them. How does the old Chinese saying go — “May you live a long and interesting life.”? (Actually, it's a curse...) I don't know about the rest of you, but the weeks that have followed the Goodwill Festival have been rather “interesting” in all sorts of ways for me and for several other people I know. But, I wouldn't trade what I have experienced in those weeks for anything. The energies of the three past few moons have shifted things dramatically for a number of people and there has been a large measure of the Soul's grace that has been brought forward and offered up as avenues of wider service for them. Old, encumbering relations have ended, new ones have started, some people have started new jobs, there has been a deepening of insight and, for some, life in the physical realm is drawing to a close. The stage for the next 9 years is being set and that will take us through the much-vaunted period around 2012 when all sorts of miraculous things are supposed to happen, according to some sources. For those of us already involved in the art and practice of spiritual living that period will be just another day at the office, in a manner of speaking. Still, there is much going on and every day that we spend with a mind toward the greater Good ensures us that no matter what happens in the outer world, we are well on our way toward fulfilling the higher destiny of our lives. Blue Moon PeriodAs we are fully into the period of Cancer now, I feel it necessary to send out a letter about the full moon of Jun 22nd just passed. I will not go into the portents of that festival, save for a few points. We all know what happened. But, there are some gaps that need filling in since the impulses from the three great spiritual solar festivals have begun distribution for the remainder of the year starting with this last full moon. As most of you know, the full moon of the 22nd of June was the first of two Cancer moons. Thus, the one at the end of this period is a “blue moon”, astrologically considered. There were some interesting dynamics within that figure, and we have seen part of that work out with the recent London bombings of the 7th of July. As seems to be the norm with me and with others before such events, we all felt that something was amiss on that day. My own heart center was under a lot of stress and it was the sort of thing that wouldn't shift, no matter what I did with the energy. The barometer works pretty well. The precognizance of the mass grief resounds upon the hearts of people and, as is also usually the case, the heaviness lifted as soon as the event was registered. If we remember from the Boxing Day Tsunami of 2004, Saturn was in opposition to Chiron, among other factors, and we find that the same aspect was active with the London bombings. It is active throughout the Cancerian phase of this year, so this has not been the happiest of times for a great many folks—in fact, it has been quite wrenching for some. But, there will be a great deal of good that can come from it, if wisdom and open hearts prevail upon the political will of the moment. As we are all finding out in these times, the person who can find opportunity for growth in the midst of calamity is a fortunate and wise Soul. Theme of ReorientationThe theme of reorientation is very strong throughout the period of Cancer for this year, as evidenced by the solar degree for the first Cancer full moon festival. It reads thus: “On a ship the sailors lower an old flag and raise a new one.” The changing of flags on ships denotes one of two things—either there is a change of leadership upon the vessel, or the mission of the ship has been changed. As we know, Cancer is the sign of demarcation for new phases of incarnations and for the commencement of life. Since it is also the natural 4th House of the zodiac, it is also indicative of the conditions at the end of life or the conclusion of projects. This first degree of the sign holds implicit within its symbol the idea of a new course of action—a new incarnation, if you will, or the start of a new project (the commencement of the working out of some idea). A human life is like that. In part two of this article, Malvin notes that this is a period of major change for many people and the occult benchmarks are explored Read part two of The Festival of the Ashram 2005 ![]() |
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