Full Moon in Capricorn - July 8th (9:07pm PST) and July 9th (12:07am EST)

On Saturday, July 8th (9:07pm PST) and Sunday, July 9th (12:07am EST), the full moon shines in the earthy and grounded sign of Capricorn. The sign that is sturdy, practical, full of edges and limits, the sign that pushes you to get things done with a set strategy in place, and is capable of enduring any hardship. He is the sign that is likely to stand the tests when everything else is ready to crumble and fall apart. The sign that requires you to claim responsibility and to own who you are for all the world to see. He’s not about praise because he already knows who he is and he’s here to live that out in the world. He is the symbol of integrity. He requires commitment, dedication, hard work, and complete and utter devotion to something greater. 

While the last new moon was all about our emotions this full moon is about our intentions. It’s not so much about how we feel, but rather what needs to be done, what needs to be created, and then finding ways to make that happen. This isn’t the most natural placement for the moon, because the moon likes to flow, it likes to be fluid and create that beautiful glow on the water. So don’t be surprised if your feelings feel a little awkward and rigid at this time. 

Before you get all excited and start planning everything, I’m gonna ask you to hit the pause button for just a moment; because to put it gently this full moon in Capricorn is rather intense. Why? Welllll, it just so happens that it’s conjunct Pluto, the planet of death and rebirth, all things taboo, and everything that lives in the depths-- or the underworld as some like to call it. Pluto is the planet of power and deep transformations. If you know this planet, you know a thing or two about the phoenix rising and we must remember that a phoenix can’t rise without the descent. So with this Plutonian influence on the moon it is likely that all that’s been hidden and lurking below the surface is ready to bubble up from the underworld. It is time for the invisible to become visible or as Carl Jung would say, it’s about making the unconscious conscious. Pluto is here to push us out of the closet so to speak and to help us look deeper into self, deeper into the depths and deeper into what we don’t want to see. 

Before we judge Pluto too quickly let’s remember that he’s not punishing us, in fact his ultimate goal is to free us. Pluto offers each of us a special kind of knowing, a deep and meaningful kind of wisdom that comes from the very essence of our soul. What Pluto seeks is truth. This isn’t the “what’s the meaning of life kind of truth,” but rather the truth of who we really are underneath all of our different masks. Let’s face it when you are able to claim who you are and stand in your full truth – well that my friends is power. It is true, authentic, beautiful, and magiKal power. But first we must go to the depths and claim it... and if we don't then we might just find ourselves feeling powerless. 

So how are these two energies working together? When a house burns down, what do we find left standing amongst all the rubble? The fireplace. It’s the one part of the building that no matter how intense the flames burned; it couldn’t ever be burnt down. This is the energy of Pluto in Capricorn. It will certainly know the intensity of the fire, but it is here to teach us how to stand in our truth after everything else has fallen away. Now add in the moon in Capricorn and we might consider the possibility of experiencing a power play, or some form of power dynamics between us and the "other."

It's time to ask your self the hard questions. Maybe you'll want to ask: in what ways have I been hiding? What is being mirrored back to me as a teaching about my inner world? How am I not showing up fully in the world? What does the descent require of me? What does my soul want to create? Does my current life path reflect the truth of who I am? Where can I be more devoted? What am I hiding from the world? Where do I shrink in relationships? Am I abusing, denying, hiding, ignoring, or owning my authentic power? 

With this full moon you are left with a choice. You can either go kicking and screaming or you can surrender to the pulls of Pluto. Either way the underworld is beckoning for you to face your depths and all that lives underneath. You are being called to claim your deepest truths so that you can build something that will withstand the test of time. 

So get ready to walk into the fiery depths and when fears come up remember that even the underworld has its boundaries, but it is only in claiming your truth that you will ever be set free. 

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For anyone curious about how these planetary energies or how the planets in general impact your own astrological chart please feel free to contact me for a reading. There is something incredibly validating when we see that our life path does indeed come with an imprint of who we are and it’s even more amazing when we allow the planets to reveal our story. Contact me at joey.paynter@gmail.com or check out my website at www.joeypaynter.com

New Moon in Cancer - June 23, 2017

On Friday, June 23, 2017 (7:31pm PST and 10:31pm EST), the moon begins its new cycle in the watery and healing sign of Cancer. The sign that breathes nurturing, senses everything from within, and FEELS the deepest depths of feelings while knowing how to make everyone feel safe and protected. Imagine a womb, a cave, a bubble bath, or a place where you can curl up inside with a blanket, a good book, and tune out the exterior world with all its demands and pressures. A place that allows you to sink into your own skin and the only expectation is for you to tend to your own needs. Can you feel it? This is the home of Cancer. A place where you can tuck in and feel tenderness, kindness, compassion, and experience a much needed cathartic release of everything you’ve been holding onto. Cancer knows a secret. It knows that tears are messengers from the soul and that power doesn’t come from holding them inside, but rather in freeing them to tell their own story. It is the sign that knows what it is like to feel the most vulnerable while also knowing the importance of having a shell of protection. After all most of us only share our secrets and bare our souls when we feel safe. Cancer knows this.

Now this new moon happens to be conjunct Mercury, the planet of perception, ideas, communication, and the exchange of information. So what does this mean? Well, if we combine these energies, we might start to reflect on how we are using our words both with our self and with others. Maybe some of these questions will help: How are you aligning your thoughts, words, and perceptions with what you are feeling? Where are you not aligned? What healing does your heart and soul still need from you? How can you offer healing words to another? Is there anything that you need to speak out and release that you’ve been holding onto and pushing down? How can you listen more deeply to what it is your soul is trying to tell you? What is the healing gift you can offer to yourself at this time? What do you need? No, really. What is it that you truly need right now?

Sometimes we will immediately know the answers to these questions and at other times we need to sit and let it all sink in. Sometimes the feelings don’t have words. Sometimes the message is to simply cry. Sometimes we simply need to allow ourselves to feel. Sometimes we need to scream, yell, dance, or even laugh until the tears fall down. And sometimes we don’t have a clue what it is our soul needs. This is where the people we deeply trust come into play, the people we call our soul family or our tribe, the people that create a safe space simply by offering us their presence. So if you’re feeling at a loss for what it is you need, ask one of these soul friends to sit with you and if you feel it’s necessary-- share your story, share your heartache, share your thoughts, and sometimes use words, but know that sometimes a connection with the eyes is all we need to sink into our SELF.

Lastly, extend a large dose of compassion to yourself and know that this is often the greatest gift of nourishment we can offer to our own soul. So with this new moon, set those intentions by deeply listening to what your soul is whispering to you. Pay attention to those nudges and don’t be afraid to dream new life into any ideas that have been floating around inside you. Who knows maybe a conversation will spark something that’s been hiding and waiting for you to pay it some much needed attention. Maybe reminiscing with a family member or dear friend is all the healing you need.

If anyone is interested in a more personal reading you can learn more at www.joeypaynter.com and contact me at joey.paynter@gmail.com

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Full Moon in Sagittarius - June 9, 2017

On Friday, June 9th (6:10am PST & 9:10am EST), the full moon shines in the fire sign of Sagittarius. The sign that thrives on adventure, is ready to say yes to new experiences, is open and excited for change, willing to take risks, compelled to seek out the deeper, more complex, philosophical meanings and truths found in the undercurrents of life, is undoubtedly moved by a faith that believes everything is possible, and that anything, yes child, anything could happen. If you haven’t figured it out already --Sagittarius is bold. It’s not afraid to creep into every crevice of life because its mission is to seek out truth, to breathe truth, live truth, and know it to the core of one’s bones. How does this happen? Through living into every single experience, that’s how. It’s about living. It’s about being willing to let go of attachments to make room for the new. 

Now this full moon happens to be conjunct Saturn, the planet of limits and boundaries. So before you go feeling all annoyed at the size of your playground, don’t forget that Saturn is really here to mature us. He’s here to truly help us deepen so that we don’t expand into recklessness. He’s here to teach us those harder lessons, not so that we go without, but rather so that we can eventually become the voice of wisdom, the voice of truth. The voice of real knowing that leads us into the deepest faith because ‘we know that we know that we know.’

There might be some choices you’ve recently made that need your attention, or even opportunities that have recently opened up for you, but you also might find that some necessary limitations are peeking their head for you to explore and address. Since we know that both Saturn and the moon are conjunct in Sagittarius we can expect to experience a degree of soberness and heaviness in these areas. The underlying intention is to mature us and bring us more aligned to our deeper purpose through commitments and hard work. So instead of fighting the limitations allow them to become your faithful teachers and then they can help you clearly see and create your own path forward. It’s time to roll up your sleeves, be ready to say yes, pay attention to the boundaries, and don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty. After all, it’s all part of the adventure. 

If anyone is interested in a more personal reading you can learn more at www.joeypaynter.com and contact me at joey.paynter@gmail.com

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