Leo Full Moon 1/23/2016  

The moon is void-of-course/voc* at 1:21 AM ET. It is Saturday, depending on your place on the planet, so a long slow morning at home suits most moods.

Linger over breakfast, slow flow yoga and/or cozy up in flannel sheets. There’s also a major snowstorm predicted in the NE USA — another great excuse to get comfortable instead of get out.

The Moon enters Leo at 2:21 PM and heralds an energetic shift. The night begs for excitement, which may ramp up the news reports of drama. On the other hand, you might want to accept an invitation and/or dust off those dancing shoes. If you are snowbound, gather the neighbors and avoid the roads.

The Full Moon occurs 8:46 PM ET at 3° Leo 29” and promises to be a beautiful night. Even if weather discourages lunar viewing, an overall warmth may imbue social gatherings.

The Sabian Symbol** for the degree of this Leo Moon is “A Formally Dressed Elderly Man Stands Near Trophies He Brought Back From A Hunting Expedition”.

The traditional interpretation of this symbol, is to conquer innate animalistic urges; an elegant old man stands with the spoils of his past excursions. The symbol suggests a sage and cultured perspective juxtaposed with what was once wild and now dead.

To be made a trophy may seem a way to preserve the wild thing, but it denies its ability to be part of the cycle in natural environment. When I was a young woman, I had a friend whose family hunted. The first time I went to their home, I was introduced to the ritual of using every part of the deer that had been killed.

My friend was a vegetarian, unless he sat with his family and ate meat that had been hunted by their hand. There were no stuffed heads in their home.

As a result, when I reflect on this Sabian Symbol, I wonder if the old man has come to a new understanding about these trophies. There is no description of his state of mind as he stands with the remains.

The fury that occurred last year when Walter Palmer, a Minnesota dentist, killed Cecil the lion in Zimbabwe, brought world attention to illegal hunts. Palmer has subsequently been exonerated and returned to his practice, but it’s likely that his life has changed radically.

For one thing, he experienced the sheer terror of being hunted by the press and people who considered him a murderer and wanted to do him harm. Only hiding, professional security and finally the law freed him from immediate danger. However, it’s highly likely that his perspective has been altered. He now understands in a visceral way, what it feels like to be hunted.

As to how this has changed him, only time will tell. He is said to have a home full of “trophies” and a dedicated structure for their display.

So the urbane gentleman in the Sabian Symbol may seem as though he has won over the wild, but has he? The clothes symbolize a society with rules, laws and etiquette. As long as he wears them, is he protected from his animalistic nature? The reality of being human forces us to recognize, like it or not, that we all have negative qualities as well as good.

People who reacted in anger to Cecil’s killing and wanted the dentist to suffer or be punished, actually became the hunters (even though they may ordinarily think of themselves as pacifists).

Astrology shows us that duality is an illusion— the Full Moon presents us with an opportunity to integrate; to accept the negative and positive. A person can choose not to be a hunter, but it is an illusion to deny that to hunt is part of his/her nature. This is to be human.

The urge to hunt may be instinctual but unless hunting is necessary for survival, it becomes a choice.

Even in business or games, the hunter’s instinct stems from something primal and a desire to be present in the hunt.

Death is the ultimate hunter which comes to us all, and the man is “elderly” so the Symbol is a reminder that however we position ourselves in “elegant attire”, may the trophies we leave behind truly reflect who we were. The trophies that stand the test of time have value, story and legacy.

The Sabian Symbol** for the degree of the Aquarian Sun is “A Hindu Yogi Demonstrates His Healing Powers”. Although this picture may seem radically different than the other, it points to someone being at the top of his/her game. The word “yoga” comes from the Sanskrit word for “union”— a perfect reminder for Full Moon integration.

I can’t think of a better example of a true yogi than the vibrant Tao Porchon-Lynch. Anyone who has attended a class with her or heard her speak (or seen her dance) has had a “healing” as to their perception of aging.

The Full Moon reminds us that integration is key to balancing our complex DNA.

For instance, we might deny and distance ourselves from the hunter, but to hunt is part of being human and to survive. We certainly don’t have to kill animals, but we do have to hunt for a job, a place to live, good values and a community that sustains us.

Since the hunter is the Leo Moon, it symbolizes an emotional need to be recognized for achievements. The yogi represents the Aquarius Sun, to remind us that practice gives us sustainable physical prowess.

Both the yogi and the hunter benefit from discipline, practice and the ability to be present.

I am not an animal hunter, but my initial experience with a hunting family opened my eyes to the spiritual component possible in it. Unfortunately, not all hunters have this alignment.

It seems to me the elderly man in the Sabian Symbol may have a different relationship with his trophies than at the time he collected them. Many of us have “trophies” that we valued at one time in our lives. What matters is what we can integrate and use in the present moment. The past shapes us but every day gives us the opportunity to determine how.

This Full Moon invites individual expression in tandem with discipline and a desire to stretch. Inspiration and revelations are available with its light.

May you benefit from the light of the Full Moon in your hunt for self-awareness, wherever it takes you. Any action taken at this time bodes well for success, so make the hunt one that heals.

*Moon VOC/Void-of- Course… in Cancer, be by the water, time with family or sifting through memorabilia. May be a lovely time to enjoy a picnic or meal with no time constraints. If you find yourself in the work environment and encounter situations that are reminiscent of family, it is helpful to observe if this is constructive or an illusion? More about the Moon VOC

Leo Full Moon 2016 is a post from: Insight Oasis