The Moon was Full in Scorpio on Sunday, April 29th. Scorpio holds the place of passion in the zodiac and is the deep diver and shadow worker. What is our shadow? Simply speaking, our shadow is the parts of ourselves that we deny or hide because they scare us or we feel they are inappropriate. When we deny parts of ourselves, we lose our own integrity and we are not our true authentic selves. If we work at embracing our wholeness, ugly parts and all, we become more complete individuals, and we are more present for all of our experiences. We also are less likely to hurt other people because we tend to be more aware of the motivation for our actions.
Scorpio is asking us to make friends with our shadow. Scorpio is not afraid to go where other signs are afraid to go. Where Taurus uses the physical body as a path to spirituality, Scorpio uses the mind, emotions and passion. Together, Taurus and Scorpio are about living a truly embodied life in mind, body and spirit. We all have parts of ourselves we don’t like. We can become fuller, more complete radiant beings in connecting, digesting and understanding those parts of ourselves.
I rarely like to bring politics or national news into my interpretations, because I do not want to impose my own views on others and I would rather give everyone an opportunity to interpret my words within the context of what is pertinent to their own, personal lives. However, I am going to make an exception this time because last week we really had an excellent example of Shadow. Last week Bill Cosby, aka Dr. Huxtable and ‘America’s Dad’ was convicted on three counts of sexual assault. This breaks my heart because I LOVED Bill Cosby. I remember listening to a record (yes, a record) of one of his comedy acts when I was only 7 years old. He was so funny. I loved him. My parents loved him. America loved him. So many people enjoyed his good-natured comedy. All the while he was preying on young women who were seeking his support and council. He was able to hide his sexual predator/shadow-side for a long time, being the virtuous ‘dad’ on the outside. Now, he is headed to prison. It breaks my heart for everyone involved. While this is an extreme example, this is exactly what happens when we ignore or suppress the parts of ourselves we hate or despise. I believe things could have turned out differently if he had acknowledged his shadow-side and sought help for himself before any crime was committed.
There is much, much more here than just Bill Cosby’s shadow. We as American has a shadow too that needed to be revealed. The recent Me Too movement certainly has played a large role in revealing the shadow of how, the collective ‘WE’ inherently believe that women who are victims of sexual assault are just liars, promiscuous party girls, or out for cheap fame and a payday. In the past we have viewed sexual assault as not that big of a deal and in fact, the responsibility of the victim. The sad truth is that perhaps those victims of sexual assault would have been better off if they had been hit in the head with a baseball bat because if someone hits someone in the head with a baseball bat, they are likely going to be prosecuted for the crime. The victim, wounded and bleeding would be taken to the emergency room where they would receive immediate care. In the event they sustained a traumatic brain injury, they would receive long term treatment and support for that injury. Yet when someone is sexually assaulted, ‘WE’ question whether or not they are lying. There is no emergency visit. There is no MRI test to show that there is long term damage. Instead the long-term damage that sexual assault causes just lingers. Unless the victim is brave enough to seek help. Andrea Constance did in 2006, she pressed charges against Mr. Cosby, but no one came to her aid. Did she get the mental health support she needed to cope with the debilitating mental illness that often accompanies sexual assault?
This is why working with our own personal shadow and our collective shadow are so important. It’s not just about Mr. Cosby. It’s about women and victims of sexual assault in American finding their voices and finally being heard. It’s about paving the way for victims of sexual assault to finally be told it wasn’t their fault, no means no. It’s about showing victims that they can seek help and support and they no longer have to hide away or reject that part of themselves. And it’s about prosecuting the perpetrators for the crimes they commit.
I know this is a super heavy subject. But it’s time. It’s time for us to take responsibility for all of ourselves. To really own who we are, the good the bad, no difference. This past Full Moon gave us a nudge in that direction.
This Full Moon there is T-square between the Moon (emotions), Sun (fuel) and the North Node (our life path). There is also an interesting relationship called a YOD between the North Node (our life path), Venus (love) and Saturn (Structure and the ‘old’ ways). When I look at these relationships I get the sense that now is the time to really face and embrace our shadows. It is important to remember that you have the power to change. You are not just your body, nor just your mind. You are much, much more than that. It’s your responsibility to gather, hold and respect all the pieces of yourself. If you find a piece that you don’t like or understand, then consider getting some help. There is no shame in seeking help.