Tomorrow, Monday, December 4th, the Moon will be Full in Gemini, starting at 7:25 pm EST.

Recently I was reminded that, more than astrological events and energetic influence for magickal work, Full Moons are spiritual markings of time, known as Esbats. Witches use the Esbats to celebrate the cycles of our lives reflected in the cycles of the Moon through the seasons. Each month brings us an opportunity to experience the energy of the Moon’s movement through the Wheel of the Zodiac. Each Full Moon is a time to explore these different energies and to think about how we can use them to expand our awareness and our magick. With the Moon full and bright in the sky, we can experience symbolic "illumination" in our own lives.

Gemini, © 2005-2006, Milkgap at deviantART

The Full Moon also is a time of culmination and the promise of fulfillment of that which was started at the New Moon. Remember that the last New Moon, on November 20th, fell in the sign of Scorpio and much of the past few weeks have been spent in dark contemplation of our personal mysteries. The December Full Moon in particular represents a time of completion. When the Moon is in Gemini, our basic instinct is to communicate, think, and learn; we feel extremely adaptable and changeable. This is the ideal time to take what we've learned from all of the intense introspection done under Scorpio's influence to use the power of our shadow selves to grow, to create ourselves anew, to complete the cycle of personal transformation. Just as the Sun will return soon after its journey through the Underworld, we have an opportunity to emerge with a shiny, bright new self.

I am learning a lot from Cafe Astrology's discussions of the dynamic relationship between the position of the Full Moon and the Sun. While looking at the Full Moon energy is crucial for spell work, examining this relationship between the Moon's position and the Sun's helps us to better understand the ways these aspects will effect us on a personal, psychological level.

On Monday evening, the Moon is full, as the Gemini Moon exactly opposes the Sagittarius Sun. The Gemini-Sagittarius polarity is a mental axis, where Gemini represents the "lower mind" and Sagittarius represents the "higher mind". The Gemini Moon encourages us to think logically, while Sagittarius persuades us to think in a far broader manner. Sagittarius symbolizes the quest for meaning and ideas that expand upon the here and now. Gemini is quite comfortable in his or her immediate environment or neighborhood, while Sagittarius stimulates us to venture beyond. Neglecting either end of the axis will surely backfire on us. Ideally, a balance should be found between the two energies, and this is what the Full Moon invites us to do. This Full Moon is about communication, attitude, and our sense of adventure. Something has been building inside of us, and now is the time when the energy of the cosmos fairly demands that we let it out. Over the next two weeks, we will discover what this means for us. For now, we can't sit on our feelings. We need to express them.

The Full Moon is generally an emotional time—a time of romance, fertilization, and relationships. We have the sense of emotions bursting forth into our consciousness, which may be happening more powerfully than usual during this Full Moon, coming so soon on the heels of a period of such intense introspection. Doubtless emotions and relationship issues have been among the things we've discovered and this can be a very good thing.

Under Gemini's influence, we feel light-hearted, breezy, and curious, but it can also make us restless and fickle. A spontaneous expression may be true only for the moment. Part of the Gemini focus on intellectual pursuits is the desire to play mind games and when emotions are running high, it can be possible to imagine things that are not there. Remember that the mind can play without playing tricks and take care to protect yourself and others from this possible flip side of Gemini's energy. As eager as we are to move from darkness into light, we want to remember to keep ourselves in balance. Gemini is an air sign, which in the tarot is represented by the Swords. Think of the Knight of Swords; part of his message is to caution us against acting hastily without thinking first.

Spellcraft and Correspondences

The highest energy occurs at the Full Moon, so this is the most powerful time for any magickal work, but especially for fertility, divination and problem-solving magick. A Full Moon in Gemini is ideal for work involving communication, writing, mental actviity, freeing of mind blocks and travel. Gemini rules the lungs, arms, hands and nervous system; now is the time to perform healing rituals for these parts of the body.

A Gemini Full Moon is also referred to as the Dyad Moon, referring to the twin stars of the constellation Castor and Pollux. The December Full Moon is known primarily as the Cold Moon, but often is also referred to as the Oak Moon, Moon Before Yule or Long Night Moon. The Celts associated the December Full Moon with the Elder tree and used its energy for exorcism, prosperity, banishing and healing.

The energy of the December Full Moon inspires us to endure, to bring things to conclusion, to be reborn in a personal or spiritual sense. In this time of darkness before the return of the Sun it is a good time for personal alchemy and the exploration of spiritual paths. It is a good time to reach out to friends and family, the lonely and the needy. At this time our interests turn toward reading, learning, letters and emails, errands, writing, teaching, making connections, and taking short trips.

Winter's Kiss, © 2005-2006, vixelyn at deviantART

December Full Moon correspondences:

Deities: Hathor, Hecate, Neith, Athene, Minerva, Ixchel, Osiris, Norns, Fates
Nature Spirits: snow fairies, storm fairies, winter tree fairies
Herbs: holly, English ivy, fir, mistletoe
Colors: blood red, white, black
Flowers: holly, poinsettia, Christmas cactus
Scents: violet, patchouli, rose geranium, frankincense, myrrh, lilac
Stones: serpentine, jacinth, peridot
Trees: pine, fir, holly
Animals: mouse, deer, horse, bear
Birds: rook, robin, snowy owl

Posted by Angela-Eloise at 7:36 PM