By Julie Dieterle

This is an important time to look at moon cycles. Esoteric philosophy indicates that the earth cycle starts with the Vernal Equinox. This year that is March 19^th. The first quarter of the year, that is March, April and May, the earth comes alive. It is a time to establish the general plan for the year. It is also a time life begins for many plants and animals. At this time even the earth pushes rocks up from beneath the frozen soil, as many farmers can tell you. We often feel renewed and uplifted with increased light from the sun, and increasing hours of light. The earth is closest to the sun as well, during this time of year.

In esoteric philosophy, there are three festivals, one at each of the full moon times: Easter Festival – Aries; Wesak Festival – Taurus; Christ’s Festival – Gemini. To learn more in depth go to Lucis Trust website http://www.lucistrust.org. We can use the renewing energy with the intent to be open to new ideas, comfortable with and welcome change.

The third Super New Moon of 2024 occurs on April 8th. A Super New or Full Moon occurs when the moon seems bigger and is actually within the 90^th percentile in size, closer to the earth then at other times of the year.

There is a Total Solar Eclipse also on April 8^th. CNN Science Newsletter says — Sky-gazersacross North America are in for a treat in 2024 when a total solar eclipse will pass over Mexico, the United States and Canada. (It is a) highly anticipated celestial event. A total solar eclipse won’t be visible across the contiguous US again until August 2044.  The last eclipse, The Great American Eclipse, was in 2017.

The eclipse will first appear over the South Pacific Ocean and begin its journey across North America. Mexico’s Pacific coast is the first point of totality on the path, expected at 11:07am PT. The pathway will continue across TX, OK, AR, MO, IL, KY, IN, OH, PA, NY, VT, NH and ME. Then, it will cross over Canada in southern Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia, ending on the Atlantic coast of Newfoundland at 5:16 p.m. Madison will get to see about 89% of totality during the eclipse just after 2pm on April 8.