Full Moon, Summer Solstice, and Flattened Skies

With the incredible full moon energies of June 18th and the summer solstice with its solstice moon illusions, this is an amazing week for change and transformation. The full moon in Sagittarius which represents idealism and faith will lead us into a new quest for truly finding a sense of purpose and meaning in our lives.

As the summer solstice marks its passage, and the the tilt of the Earth's axis is most oriented towards or away...depending on our northern or southern latitude...from the Sun (Latin sol) and appears to stand still (Latin sistere) in what is known as 'declination', it is the perfect time for journeys and journeying.

I just spent several days in Eugene, helping a daughter move into a new brighter environment in a quiet neighborhood outside of the University of Oregon environment. Eugene will soon be transformed by the international energies of the Olympic Track and Field Trials within the next week. The city is not only 'sporting' a face lift of fresh paint, beautiful new buildings and sports facilities but has many new roads, trees, flowers and other energies of re-birth and new growth. For a city, that has often seemed to be stuck in the energies last transformed by Phil Knight/Nike or the hippies of the 60's and 70's, it both energizing and yet somehow commercialized, at the same time. I loved seeing and feeling a new sense of power and movement there and saw it as a positive affirmation of the human spirit and our intense need for change in times of recession.

Many of you might have noticed strange illusions surrounding our full moon on the 18th, which seemed to magnify the moon and create an illusion of a lunar giant (example.) When we look at the Moon, rays of moonlight converge and form an image on the backs of our retinas. High moons and low moon make the same sized spot, yet our brain will create an illusion that one is bigger than the other. This illusion is called 'the low hanging' moon' because it looks unnaturally large as if it is sitting or 'hanging' on the horizon. This week's high summer solstice gives us a low, horizon hugging Moon and a strong Moon illusion similar to what we see when we view converging railroad tracks as they off into the distance. The Ponzo illusion (more info) explains how foreground objects trick us into thinking that the Moon is bigger than it actually is. This 'flattened sky' concept confuses us and creates a fascinating illusion of reality and our ability to perceive and notice perspective sizes.

This week's full solstice moon is part of a mystic triangle and as such, arrives on top of discoveries about our once a planet, not a mere 'plutoid', Pluto, and the hidden worlds that may lie beyond it. The plutoid definition is the new term for celestial bodies that "have sufficient mass for their self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that they assume a hydrostatic equilibrium (near-spherical) shape, and that have not cleared [their orbits of debris]. All of this intense planetary energy makes it perfect for celebrations and creativity and growth, no matter how large or small celestial bodies might actually be.

As we move into this amazing time of change and growth, jump over new hurdles, set new records in time, space and perspective, allow your inner light to shine through...larger than life and meet and greet the new day and all you meet with joy.

above:
sidewalk mosaic, University of Oregon