Articles

These are articles that have appeared in "The Lunar News", the quarterly newsletter of MoonSummer Productions, Inc.  Here is a list of the articles to be found on this page:

Sun-Sign Yule Gift Guide (December 1998 issue)
A Little Bit About Tarot (December 1998 issue)

Blue Moons (March 1999 issue)
What is a Mercury Retrograde? (March 1999 issue)

Communicating With Animals (June 1999 issue)
How to Choose a Psychic (June 1999 issue)

Wicca on the Web (January 2000 issue)
What in the World is a Void-of-Course Moon? (January 2000 issue)
 
 

Sun-Sign Yule Gift Guide
 

We all have those times when we're completely at a loss for what to get our friends and family for the holiday season.  Trapped in a crowded mall filled to capacity with other last-minute shoppers, what do you do?

There's always a guide in the stars, even for the holiday madness.  Although we all know there's a great deal more to astrology than Sun-signs, they are still a handy shortcut, especially when it's the night before you-know-what, and your hands are empty.  Here are a few gift ideas based on Sun-signs:

Aries.  How about a nice red sweater?  A crisp, brand-new $20 bill?
Taurus.  Fancy food baskets.   A nice mug full of interesting teas or hot chocolate packets.
Gemini.  Computer books.  Puzzle magazines
Cancer.  A nice blue glass antique.  Copies of old photos of ancestors.
Leo.  A gift certificate to a nice restaurant.  Anything shiny.
Virgo.  Exercise equipment.  A loaf of home-baked bread.
Libra.  A nice landscape painting (no velvet Elvises, please).  A CD of his/her favorite music.
Scorpio.  One of those maddening logic-type puzzles.  A riveting detective novel.
Sagittarius.  New sports equipment.  A book on comparative religions.
Capricorn.  A personal organizer.  An engraved desktop name plate.
Aquarius.  A subscription to a new-age magazine.  Anything highly unusual.
Pisces.  Any kind of beautiful crystal.  A nicely illustrated book of fairy tales.
 

A Little Bit About Tarot
 

The Tarot cards are a magnificent tool of self-discovery and divination.  No one really knows where or how they began, but today there are dozens of different Tarot decks on the market.

Reading the Tarot cards well takes much more than a deck of cards and a book of interpretations.  The Tarot tells the entire story of humankind within its 72 cards.  Where the cards fall in a reading and what each card means is only part of the act of interpretation.  One’s own connection to the cards, what the cards say to you personally, and what your intuition tells you while you look at the cards are critical to a successful reading.  If someone else is reading for you, these things are true for that reader as well.

The cards are a doorway into the unconscious, the intuitive, and the spiritual.  Enjoy the journey.
 

Blue Moons
 

This year is unusual in that it features two Blue Moons.  One occurred in January, and the other in March.  What significance is there to this phenomenon, or is there any significance at all?

The term “Blue Moon” has come to represent the once-yearly or so occurrence of two Full Moons within one cal-endar month.  The original meaning of the Blue Moon, however, referred to an actual Blue Moon – a Full Moon that appeared to be blue when viewed in the night sky.  These events are very rare, happening only once in a number of years.

Is there any significance to two Full Moons in one month?  There are several answers to this question, depending on what you believe.

If you follow a Lunar calendar, there is, of course, no significance whatsoever, as these events do not occur at all within a Lunar calendar.

If you follow the Solar calendar we commonly use, I believe there certainly is a significance, particularly this year with the rare event of two Blue Moons and no Full Moon whatsoever in February.  Energy is strongly focused on the New and Full Moons in general, and with two Full Moons within a month, this energy is at a higher pitch than normal.  Further, the February New Moon had unusually heightened power due to the lack of a Full Moon that month.

In addition, the second January Full Moon (the Blue Moon) occurred with a lunar eclipse and the February New Moon occurred with a solar eclipse, giving these additional power and significance.

As an astrologer and psychic, I believe the Blue Moon does have special significance.  What that significance is depends upon what it affects in your own natal chart.

At the very least, it's an opportunity to tune into your own power and learn where next you need to go on your individual path.
 

What Is a Mercury Retrograde?
 

Many people who aren't even astrologers are aware that there is something called a “Mercury Retrograde” and quake in their boots at the thought that it is happening at a given time.  But what exactly is a Mercury Retrograde, and is there any real reason to fear it?

Retrograde is the term used in astrology and astronomy to denote the times when a planet appears to be moving backwards in the sky.  The Sun and the Moon can never be retrograde, but the eight planets can, and are, at various times throughout the year.

Imagine trying to walk backward for several weeks at a time, and you'll get an idea of what a planet's retrograde may signify.  Any planet in retrograde is not expressing its innate energy easily or outwardly; rather, the energy is turned inward – a state which can cause delays and confusion in the areas the planet represents.

Mercury retrograde has a nasty (and frequently well-deserved) reputation for wreaking havoc.  This is true because Mercury is the planet that rules several things that are important in our daily lives:  communication (letters, phone calls, speech, e-mail) and short-distance travel (parking, cars, traffic) in particular.

What happens when Mercury is retrograde?  Frequently, communications and short trips are disrupted.  Computers go down; phone calls are lost; mail is misdelivered; cars break down; and people have a harder time communicating and being understood.

How do you handle a retrograde Mercury period?  Expect problems like those above, and act accordingly.  Don't buy computer equipment, telephones, or automobiles.  Double-check everything to do with communications; call if you have mailed an important letter to make sure it got there.  Avoid sending out resumes or signing important papers.  Cut travel to a minimum.  And expect the unexpected.

Mercury will be retrograde this year [1999] from March 10 through April 2; from July 12 through August 5; and from November 4 through November 24.
 

Communicating With Animals
 

There has been renewed interest in the idea of communicating with animals with a new group of people calling themselves “animal communicators” becoming mainstream.

Animal communicators are essentially psychics who specialize in reading animals.  Some also use animal psychology as well.

Can we all communicate with our pets and other animals?  I believe we certainly can.

How do you learn how to communicate with your pet?  Here are a few simple suggestions for getting started.

First, most of us who have had pets for any length of time know that they express different needs with a meow, a bark or a look.  When my cats want the litter box changed or want fed, I know it.  Listen for the distinct sounds and see what connects to which need.  Open yourself up to telepathy (which is the means for linking to any animal).

Next, learn to emotionally connect to and read your pet.  Watch their body language and their eyes; they can speak volumes.  Talk to them; tell them how you feel, and watch their reactions.  Listen to see if they are trying to tell you something.

Finally, open up your psychic centers.  Look at your pets, talk to them, and allow information to appear.  It is possible to read everything from what happened to them before you got them to their past lives if you are open and believe you truly can talk to the animals
 

How to Choose a Psychic
 

Even if you read for yourself, most of us at times need to consult a professional psychic or astrologer.  How do you find a good one?  How do you know you’re getting what you paid for?

Most metaphysical bookstores are affiliated with readers and astrologers, or can usually recommend someone they know is good.  There are also various directories that list area readers.  If you have a friend who has had a reading and been pleased with the results, ask your friend whom they saw. These days, the Internet is also a source of finding home pages of readers throughout the world.

There are many types of readers, and each reader has his/her own way of reading.  A good reader, however, should be happy to explain to you what they are doing, what their abilities are, how long they have been practicing, if they have formal education, licenses or affiliations, and be happy to answer any other questions you may have.

If a reader is not picking up on you, s/he should be open with you and tell you so.  This can occasionally happen.  Otherwise, the reader should be able to give you information about the past and present that
you know to be true.  If they are accurate on those areas, then you can probably trust their advice on what is likely to happen in the future.

Beware of any reader that wants more than a reasonable fee, or any reader that tries to claim things such as that there is a curse on you, and they can remove it – for a fee, of course.  These are not psychics, but con artists.

When you do find a good psychic or astrologer, tell your friends about them.  Many readers depend on referrals and repeat business for their survival.

Enjoy your readings!
 

Wicca on the Web
 

The Internet can be a remarkable tool for Wiccans, whether you are a “newbie” or have been practicing for some time.  Sites abound with information on everything from the Sabbats, the Burning Times, spells, herbal lore, psychic development, networking, news of interest to Wiccans, and nearly anything else one could imagine.

One resource available to Wiccans is newsgroups.   Newsgroups can be accessed through most Internet Service Providers, or through services such as Deja News (www.deja.com).

The safest, friendliest newsgroups are moderated.  There are two moderated Wiccan/Pagan newsgroups:  alt.religion.wicca.moderated, and soc.religion.paganism.

The primary source for all things Wiccan on the Internet in terms of websites is Witchvox
(http://www.witchvox.com).  Run by a couple of great folks in Florida, Witchvox is a huge site with articles, news, networking pages, a listing of occult businesses, and a lot more.

Avatar is an occult search engine, dedicated solely to occult sites (www.avatar.com).

There are thousands of sites out there with a wealth of information.  Use Witchvox’s links, or search on Avatar, and you should be able to find a lot of great sites out there with just the information you’re looking for.

And don’t forget to check out my site while you’re at it (www.spiritrealm.com/summer/).

Happy surfing!
 

What in the World is a Void-of-Course Moon?
 

Most of you by now are familiar with those frustrating Mercury Retrograde periods that happen a couple of times a year.  Those are the times when computers break down, cars need work, your mail gets delivered to your neighbor, and you play endless games of phone tag.

A Void-of-Course Moon acts something like a mini-Mercury Retrograde, although communications, electronics and travel aren’t the only things affected.

Each day, as the planets move, the Moon makes major aspects to the planets.

As the Moon approaches the end of the sign it is in, and before it enters the next sign, there is a period of time where the Moon has made its last major aspect to a planet, and has nothing else to do before changing signs.  This is a void-of-course Moon.

These times can last from just a few minutes to more than a day.  During the void-of-course Moon, you may have things happen like minor accidents (those stubbed toes), dinner may turn out slightly overdone, you may snap at your spouse, or you may find you’ve forgotten an appointment.  All these things and more can happen during these slightly frustrating times.

The best way to handle a void-of-course Moon is to expect some problems, and take it easy.  It usually doesn’t last long, and when it’s over, you can get back to a smoother running of your daily life.