The true meaning of the term is the third full moon in a season that contains four. Ordinarily, a season of three months has just three full moons. Traditionally each had a special name and place in the season. When a fourth full moon occurred in a season, the seasonal timing was thrown off. So the third was renamed to get the pattern back on track.

The moon isn't blue in color, of course. (Occasionally the moon in any phase can have a blue tinge if there is ash or smoke in the atmosphere from a large fire or volcanic eruption.) The word is derived from "belewe," Old English for "betray." The extra full moon betrayed the set-up. It was especially problematic in winter, where the third full moon was named the Lenten Moon and triggered a fast until Easter (which is defined as the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox). If the Lenten Moon came too early, Christians would have to fast an extra month! It was therefore named the "belewe" moon.

 

Many people have heard of Mercury Retrograde but Venus Retrograde doesn't get as much publicity. Mercury backtracks three times a year, so we get used to its shenanigans. Venus only goes in reverse once every 1.6 years, lasting for 40 days (versus Mercury's 20-22 days).

We've been enjoying Venus as the Evening Star. When it moves backwards in the zodiac, it quickly gets progressively lower in post sunset sky until it disappears altogether (as it crosses paths with the Sun). Then it re-emerges as the Morning Star.

Venus Retrograde marks a time to step back and assess the harmony and happiness in your life, attend to finances and reevaluate relationships and contracts. Past issues in these areas may re-surface, old flames might be fanned. Sometimes a former lover literally returns or someone who reminds us of a past heartthrob comes into our life.

You can read more about Venus Retrograde and how it impacts the twelve zodiac signs in my latest blog at my revamped website.

Venus Retrograde Blog

We've been going along enjoying the team-up of the two most beneficial planets, Venus and Jupiter, in joyful Leo. (Venus had a brief foray into Virgo since July 18 and retreats back into Leo today.) Mercury joins them this week, which is good for creative communications and tactful conversation. However, these three have a run-in with some slower planets that are poised extended friction. Saturn and Pluto are almost 45 degrees apart (reaching that point on August 13, just in time for the next New Moon). This signals stress and pressure, obstacles and slow-downs, along with a need to release or purge what's outworn or doesn't serve our purposes. This combination is helpful for  getting rid of old stuff and (re-)installing order. And this would be a great week to start a toning regimen or a diet (the waning moon phase is appropriate for decreasing). While the push from Saturn and Pluto will be with us for several weeks, we'll feel it the most (or be able to use it to best advantage) when quicker planets activate the potentials in the first week of August.

This week, the Leo trio is 90 degrees from Saturn and 135 degrees from Pluto. Both positions are in the "square" family (the most challenging) of connections between planets (called aspects). Saturn has slowed to an apparent stop, ending its retrograde phase August 2nd (the 1st on the West Coast), which adds to the feeling of being blocked. Venus and Jupiter have their second of three exact conjunctions August 4 and simultaneously tango with Saturn and Pluto, all in the space of an intense four hours in the afternoon into the evening. Mercury passes Venus, scratches Saturn and Pluto and the passes Jupiter on the 6th-7th. Basically all week, we'll feel the uncomfortable mishmash, a test of our ability to handle a hefty dose of stress.

President Obama's birthday is August 4. For anyone, the conditions present at your birthday extend for nine months to a year afterward. Looks like the coming period will be fraught with more frustration for him, and to a degree for the whole country, since "as goes the leader, so goes the nation." Think some positive thoughts for him and the USA on August 4.

July is busy with TWO full moons, the one on the first and the one today. The July show on Looking Up covers two months since August is re-run month at the station. So I've packed a lot into 28 minutes, including a discussion of Venus and Jupiter as well as Venus's retrograde. If  you haven't watched it, it's still timely!

LOOKING UP archive

I hope you enjoy this second Full Moon of July and the peak of the summer!

Yours in the Stars,
Janet Booth