|
 On
June 5, at 6:39 pm (PDT), the Moon waxes full at 15 degrees Sagittarius.
The Moon conjoins the powerful and transformative planet Pluto and points
to this as a time of great metamorphosis and transition. Those who are
born with a lot of planets in either Sagittarius or Gemini (the opposing sign) may feel the effects of this Full Moon most strongly. This is also
the last Full Moon of the springtime as we draw close to the New Moon/solar
eclipse on June 21. The coming New Moon also happens to fall just a few
hours after the Summer Solstice, so these next two weeks are preparation
for a very powerful astrological event. The days begin to grow shorter
and the nights grow longer in the Northern Hemisphere after this so it
may be an important time to meditate on the shift in balance between light
and dark and to honor the sunniest time of the year through celebration
and ritual.
Sagittarius
Moon, Fire Moon
The Sagittarius
Moon is a fire Moon and fundamental to the concept of fire in human health
is the idea of stoking our internal fires properly. Imagine tending a
campfire out in the woods. You only have a certain amount of wood for
the night and you want to make sure you stoke it enough so that it keeps
going, but not add too much wood so that it burns out. This Sagittarius
Full Moon presents a perfect time to stoke our internal fires by adding
strengthening herbs and healthy food to our diet. We also want to avoid
adding too much fuel to our fire by eating and drinking too much, staying
up too late and burning up our energy through too many activities. Conserving
our energies is key to optimal health and this Moon time can remind us
to return to an even steady flow.
Sagittarius
and the Liver
With the
Full Moon in Sagittarius, this is a perfect time to examine the liver,
the part of the body ruled by this fire sign. The liver is especially
vulnerable during this time of the year and it's important to take steps
to try to protect this organ's health. Fundamentally, the liver is responsible
for processing waste and toxic residue from the body and helping to send
it through to the eliminatory organs. During the winter when we are sedentary
and tend to eat more fatty and processed foods, our liver can become malnourished
and weakened. During this Full Moon in Sagittarius, there are a number
of steps we can take to assist in cleansing and purifying the liver and
helping it to function optimally.
Chinese
Medicine and the Liver
In Chinese
medicine, the liver is responsible for the free flow of energy, or qi,
throughout the body. When qi moves easily, the entire body and spirit
feels light, unencumbered, relaxed and directed. When the liver is malnourished,
the qi can become stagnant and erratic, causing symptoms such as anxiety,
depression, lethargy, fatigue and anger. In Chinese medicine, the liver
is specifically associated with anger and sometimes this and related emotions
such as irritability, impatience and frustration can rise to the surface
if the liver is not properly tended.
Tending
the Liver
The period
of the Sagittarius Full Moon can be a wonderful time to strengthen the
liver through helpful dietary, herbal and lifestyle therapies. Some people
recommend doing long fasts during this time, but in my opinion this is
rarely necessary and it is much more important to gradually change negative
eating habits and to augment the diet with some strengthening and nourishing
herbs. To begin with, the liver is especially affected by a number of
foods and beverages such as white flour and sugar, alcohol, caffeine and
nicotine. Reducing or eliminating these substances will go far to strengthen
the health of the liver preliminarily. After that, it is very helpful
to avoid processed and pesticide laden foods. Try to eat a diet primarily
based in whole grains and vegetables (with a small amount of meat if you
are not vegetarian) along with plenty of pure water to ensure the fundamentals
of a healthy liver.
In terms
of herbs, there are a number that are especially helpful. Dandelion is
probably the most common herb known to us as it grows ubiquitously in
lawns and gardens. The root of this plant is especially helpful in stimulating
bile production, cleansing the blood and the liver of impurities and strengthening
this organ optimally. Burdock and yellow dock also have these stimulating,
cleansing and nourishing qualities. Try buying the dandelion root fresh
from an herb store and make a tea of this herb so you can get to know
its wonderful properties. Boil a pint of water and then pour it over an
ounce of this root and let it steep for an hour or two. When you are ready,
drink the whole pint during the day. Try doing this once a day for four
weeks (until the next Full Moon) and see how you feel afterward. Your
vitality and health will flourish from this daily practice. Good health
to you!
|
