Leo Lunar Eclipse/Full Moon of Electric Revelation with Psilocybe Cubensis and Lion's Mane

Welcome to Earth's Full Moon/Total Lunar Eclipse of Electric Revelation on January 20, 2019 at 21:15 (PST) in Leo at 0°50'. This cyle's moon mushrooms are Psilocybe Cubensis and Lion's Mane (Hericium erinaceus). This is the 7th full moon of the 13 moon lunar year, the middle moon residing at the top of the 6 stepped pyramid. After this eclipse we will begin the descent of the pyramid, the last 6 moons of this lunar year. In the PNW we will begin to see the effects of the eclipse on January 20th around 19:30, with totality running for about an hour starting at 20:40 and peaking at 21:15.

Transit Chart for January 20, 2019 at 21:15 (PST) (astrotheme.com)

This total lunar eclipse is the final eclipse in the Aquarius/Leo axis until its next cycle in 2026-2028. While full moon energy typically bears a sense of culmination, this lunar eclipse maximizes the moon's magnetic impression on the earth and asks what forces are being liberated, especially those relating to the past 2 years of this eclipse cycle. Even if we may be familiar with the Aquarius/Leo eclipse energy at this point, this eclipse definitely packs a punch, propelling us forward and expanding our consciousness on all sides, but especially expanding us upward -- and downward. We are at the top of the 6-stepped climb to the top of the pyramid of the lunar year and now this eclipse is challenging us to open our psyches vertically. As above, so below. As within, so without.

This eclipse axis' final push out presents to us each something unique. Where does 0° Leo lie in your chart and what is it aspecting? The downside of Leo relates to pride and ego -- are you clinging on to anything or anybody who has hurt you? Keep in mind how we often we hurt ourselves. This may be a time of big disturbance. Our minds are being liberated in some way, and the more we hold on, the more wild the ride. Our psyches are being ZINGED by the cosmos -- waking us up and up and up!

Leo Lunar Eclipse/Full Moon January 2019 MycoAstrological Associations

1) Psilocybe Cubensis: breakthrough, addiction, denial, dancing, fear, consumerism, authority figures
MycoAstrological Correspondences: Planet: Mercury, Secondary Planet: Saturn, Day: Wednesday, Main Organ: Lungs, 2nd Organ: Mind, System: Respiratory, Tissue: Lymph, Action: Cold/Dry

2) Lion's Mane (Hericium erinaceus): memory, nerves, ancestry, crown chakra, 
MycoAstrological Correspondences: Planet: Moon, Secondary Planet: Mercury, Day: Monday, Main Organ: Brain, 2nd Organ: Stomach, System: Nervous, Tissue: Marrow, Action: Cold/Moist

As discussed in the previous new moon post, eclipses are when the the moon is in conjunct with the North Node and thus opposing the South Node. Together, the North Node and the South Node form the Nodal Axis and are not planetary bodies but rather mathematical points that calculate where the orbit of the moon intersects the ecliptic (the path of the Sun). During eclipses, the grand celestial dragon swallows the moon, rendering it scarlet-red for a few hours from all of the sunlight being bent off of the earth and onto the moon. Every single sunrise and sunset happening on earth will be projected onto the moon. What a time for a moon dance!

The North Node is the Dragon's Head and the South Node is the Dragon's Tail. The head forms ties, denotes qualities that attract, expand, presents gifts to use, tasks to be mastered, and then of course the tail dissolves those ties, dispensing negative behavior, aversion, and releasing destructive patterns. During this ecliptic, the South Node is right next to Mercury, planet of the mind and communication, at 26° Capricorn. Definitely a stimulating time for mental release, trouble sleeping, or headaches.

Eclipses are relationship oriented -- how are you in relationship with what is in your life? This eclipse may trigger awareness of need in our relationships to each other, our families, our work, our bodies, our health, our pleasure, our dreams, etc.

The main aspects affecting this full moon/lunar eclipse:
Aquarius season, the water-bearing and humanitarian 11th sign of the zodiac, begins in the early morning of 1/20 (1:00 PST).
Uranus (back into Aries after moving forward in Taurus), the higher mind, squares mercury, the sun, the north node, the south node, and the moon (1/20).
Venus squares highly spiritual and intuitive Neptune (in its native Pisces) on the night of 1/20 (20:14 PST).
Jupiter and Venus are conjunct in prosperous Sagittarius.


1) Psilocybe cubensis: breakthrough, addiction, denial, dancing, fear, consumerism, authority figures
MycoAstrological Correspondences: Planet: Mercury, Secondary Planet: Saturn, Day: Wednesday, Main Organ: Lungs, 2nd Organ: Mind, System: Respiratory, Tissue: Lymph, Action: Cold/Dry

Psilocybe cubensis (Wikipedia).

Psilocybe cubensis channels many of the events attributing to the igniting of our psyches during this zenith eclipse: the entrance into visionary, futuristic Aquarius season, Uranus blasting us off into the ether, the South Node's mental releasing, and Leo's eclipse of stepping into our own. Uranus is shaking things up out of our minds -- and a good ol' "Aha!" moment is bound to happen, but most likely after all of the dust has settled. We are standing on the top of the 13 moon pyramid and gaining perspective.

If you asked any muggle about mushrooms in general, chances are they would mutter something about "magic" mushrooms. It seems however much mycophobia may pervade in our world, there's still something very difficult to forget about the possibility of psychoactive experiences. We still have the access to remember the value of a shamanic tradition as old as time itself (or perhaps older?). Many indigenous Mexican cultures work with psychoactive fungi, and the Mazatec people living in the mountains outside Oaxaca, Mexico may be the most extensive with their mushroom healing use. To many traditions, mushrooms have been known to fruit in locations where lightning has struck. Just as this eclipse, our mind's great release opens to the cosmic electricity, and after some spiritual deaths and rebirth (and a little tenderness), out from consciousness can fruit nourishment.

While there are anthologies and tales and songs written about and for Psilocybe cubensis, we are going to focus very narrowly on its relevant eclipse symbolism as well as a bit of clarification regarding the active compounds in Psilocybe cubensis. Psilocybe cubensis helps us reach a universal level of sense where sense of a separate self goes out the window. We become merged with the universe. Like a total lunar eclipse, Psilocybin effects vary from person to person. A couple features do remain constant to a state of Psilocybin consciousness -- that the experience defies all words and descriptions and that material explanations of the mind seem less feasible. After a voyage we can become much more deeply connected to our sense of inner power and how each organism plays their own role in the unfolding of our cosmic stage. 

Uranus is the planet of breakthroughs. Psilocybe cubensis is the mushroom of breakthroughs. On top of being Aquarius' planetary ruler, Uranus is squaring mercury, the sun, the south node, the north node, and the moon during this lunar eclipse. Uranus is four times larger than the earth and has an axis inclined at only 8° from being horizontal, meaning Uranus basically lies on its side as it orbits. As Uranus orbits, the Sun shines first on one pole and then on the other, and each night of darkness or day of sunlight lasts for a whopping 21 earth-days. Aquarius asks what are the limits of human awareness? Rather than being creators of our consciousness, is the brain more like a receiver of a field of consciousness that exists beyond a single body?

Psilocybe cubensis is a species native to Asia, but was named after Cuba to which it was scientifically classified but is actually invasive. The Fungal Queendom is estimated at 1.5-6.1 million species worldwide and of the ~30,000 (5%) documented species of mushrooms, around 200 are suspected to be psychoactive. From there, psychoactive fungi can be divided into two categories based on whether their active constituent is psilocin (~180 species) or muscimol. The psilocin-containing mushrooms are the most commonly used nowadays. Psilocin is one of the many tryptamine psychedelic compounds, while others include DMT, 5-MeO-DMT, LSD, ibogaine, and bufotenin. Mexico hosts 75 psilocin-containing species, the greats number of any country, and 53 of these are Psilocybe species. Psilocybe cubensis is a renowned mushroom because of its ability to grow relatively easily and well on many substrates.

Psilocin is the main compound responsible for the effects of these mushrooms, 4 other active compounds may be present depending on species: psilocybin, baeocystin, norbaeocystin, and aeruginacine. Regardless of species, psilocin and/or psilocybin are typically found in the highest concentrations. Psilocin and psilocybin are closely related compounds, differing only by the addition of a phosphate group to psilocybin, giving it the ability to remain stable in room temperature for years. Psilocin, on the other hand, is very unstable and rapidly degrades in the presence of oxygen.

To our understanding, when psilocybin is ingested, it quickly converted to psilocin in the digestive system, kidneys, liver, and perhaps blood by means of alkaline phosphates that remove the phosphate group. Thus it is psilocin, and not psilcybin, that reaches the brain to bring about the psychedelic experience. Many psilocin mushrooms stain a deep blue when handled, a reaction presumably attributed to the oxidation of psilocin. As these fungi turn blue their potency may be decreasing. It is important to note that not all psilocin-containing fungi stain blue and many non-psychoactive fungi stain blue due to oxidation like Satan's Bolete (poisonous). A big current myco-trend is psychology's introduction to the use of psilocybin in therapy, especially intriguing for its ability to remove mental barriers by the user, allowing them to open to regression work.


2) Lion's Mane (Hericium erinaceus): memory, nerves, ancestry, crown chakra, 
MycoAstrological Correspondences: Planet: Moon, Secondary Planet: Mercury, Day: Monday, Main Organ: Brain, 2nd Organ: Stomach, System: Nervous, Tissue: Marrow, Action: Cold/Moist

Lightning teeth Lion's Mane (Hericium erinaceus)

During this lunar eclipse, Lion's Mane unleashes Leo's marvelous mane as well as the neural electricity of Uranus. Like thousands of white lightning bolts, each hanging tooth of the Lion's Mane stretches the mushroom body downward, expanding its vertical energy pull. There couldn't be a better time to acknowledge our groundedness. Our rootedness down into this earth that holds us is what allows our crown of light to reach up into the sky. Without groundedness is when we begin to scramble. The place you are in holds information -- acknowledge and thank the directions, mountains, rivers, birds, and homes -- inside yourself, each other, and each being. Everything you can do to place yourself in space and time can ground your body.

Leo is the self-centered lion robustly roaring out in revelation. The importance of our self-referential perspective gets diminished in many respects of our contemporary culture, in the fear of being "egotistical", but true, balanced ego is simply the will that moves us from true purpose and into action. Our ability to be self aware is to be clear on what is important in life. As our values become conscious, we can be deliberate with choice and move forward in action. Awareness is our in-breath, taking in our world. Will is our out-breath, acting upon and in our world. Leo's sensory impressions are received at an emotional level, so invite your emotions in for a good sit during this moon and let yourself translate what you need. In this lifetime, trust that you will do all that needs to be done. Allow yourself a little gentleness and patience.

Lion's Mane are a brain food that provide a breadth of healing properties. Across the board, Hericium species increase intellect and nourish the nervous system. We have discovered the compound, erinacine, that is found to be a cappa opioid receptor-binding inhibitor. Whew! This means that erinacine is a potent anti-convulsant that can be neuro-protective in epilepsy, stroke, as well as brain and spinal cord injuries. Lion's Mane can treat neurasthenia (weakness of nerves) and induces brain tissue regeneration. It increases human dendritic cells (these act as messengers between the innate and the adaptive immune system) and reinforces innate immune system function. Like the Turkey Tail, Shiitake, and other mushrooms, Lion's Mane holds anti-tumor and anti-cancer polysaccharides and phenols.

In the realm of Leo in the 5th house energy, do what you need to do to bring yourself forward into full light, love, creative expression, and joy! Ask for medicine and dance out in the moonlight!


Citations

1. McCoy, Peter (2016). Radical Mycology: A treatise on seeing and working with fungi. Portland, Oregon: Chtheaus Press. 
2. Rogers, Robert (2016). Mushroom essences: Vibrational healing from the kingdom fungi. Berkley, California: North Atlantic Books