Welcome to the Strawberry Moon in Capricorn on June 29 at 23.57 UTC (see www.timeanddate.com for full moon rise in your location.)
It is a Micro-moon being furthest from the earth and as the first full moon after the Summer Solstice marks the beginning of the astronomical summer in the northern hemisphere and the return of solar light in the south. The moon is low in the sky and shines golden orange in the northern hemisphere and high in the sky in the southern world.
Strawberry Moon is the name given by the Algonquin people of north- east America as well as the Ojibwe, Lakota and Dakota nations because of the ripening of the wild strawberries ready to be picked. It is also called the Rose and the Mead moon. As the June moon, it is associated with the Roman Mother Goddess Juno. It is favoured for marriage and making commitments in love. and for honeymoons when mead was traditionally consumed, also as a Capricorn full moon for a second honeymoon for older couples or if the relationship comes later in life and the renewal of vows.
Strawberries are sweetest on reaching ripeness, but do not retain that sweetness long. Bite deep into life now, forgetting fears, prohibitions; ask the person you like for a date, take the first steps to a new creative business or venture; initiate personal or home makeovers, dance with the grouchy folk in your life, smile, tell jokes, deal with the overflowing cabinet of must do and should have done or close it with a definite future date to tackle the backlog with renewed enthusiasm after the glory of June.
Roses too though fleeting, promise lasting happiness if we enjoy their beauty and do not worry about their fading. We must be aware of the thorns but that does not take away from their fragrance, pink for new or first love and romance, red for passion and lasting love and yellow for love in later years. Roses signify budding for new beginnings, full petalled for asking for and doing what you most desire if it hurts no-one, releasing the fading petals as a reminder of infinite possibility and valuing what has been even if it can be no more.
Go out in the moonlight any night the moon is bright round around full moon night and absorb the power to attain what might not seem possible but just maybe could be, whether nations finding peace or the chance to anticipate the fullness of joy without disregarding what is precious and fleeting.
- Ripple your hands in a glass or silver coloured bowl of water. Say, I wash my hands in the light of Mother Moon, asking she will fill my life with radiance and make each day of the coming month bright and glorious.
- Leave the water, covered till morning, bottle it and splash your Moon Water on your pulse points in the month ahead to fill yourself with joy and the reconciliation of opposites within yourself and your life, so all are one.