
Courtesy of the United States Geological Survey
Usually we get that ‘wipe out’ feeling/ energy from an eclipse, when the old patterns are disrupted by new ones; this time, we get the same experience from a New Moon as it meets the god of the Underworld. The Lunar event of the 12th falls at 23 Capricorn 13 at 9 PM PST, closely conjoined Pluto–in just over two hours the Moon will perfect contact, while the Sun will take a tad longer, a little more than twenty-four. This suggests the dawning of new emotions or intuitive perceptions that transform our Beingness, or that change what we pay attention to; we are plunged down, to the depths, perhaps in the birth pangs of a new world order arising from the institutions, rules, and constraints of the old order a la Capricorn, and we’re given a clear insight into what this change means for us as individuals.
A New Moon in Capricorn promises two things: new rules, and efforts at ‘building’, whether that’s something intangible, within the psyche, or an actual, literal structure or figurative framework within the social order, but when the Sun-Moon meeting is on the way to conjoin Pluto, we are effectively stunned by the energy–hence the similarity to the eclipse ‘wipe out’. In this particular case, the new feelings, followed by a new sense of ‘I Am’ or ‘I See’, then gets the Plutonian treatment. We can’t be sure if the emotions and changed efforts are undertaken in anticipation of serious, inevitable, even extreme change that is before us, or if they’re the result of such thorough, deep, and irrevocable developments–all we can know is that this New Moon is the first glimpse of an ever-growing light shining at the bottom of the bottomless fissure that opens up beneath us: the New Moon shows us a way out, a new way of structuring or processing, or the resurrection of something, as it delivers an inspiring and instructional glimmer of not only what’s to come, but what we can build from it, that will culminate with the Full Moon two weeks from now.
How much this New Moon will bring change to the individual is dependent on the contacts the event makes to the natal chart. This is precisely why general forecasts aren’t ‘one size fits all’. That said, see below for a brief lesson on reading a configuration filled in by the New Moon event. What all of us will be influenced by: the New Moon semi-square Juno=we see our own relationship to pure Power, and see just where out limits are (but that also means we’ll get some idea of what we’re missing, and so how to go about getting more); New Moon square Zeus=we see where our ambitions, relationships, or desires are making it difficult to start anew, or to make the changes we really want to, or what we learn at the New Moon creates tension or conflict with those ambitions currently on our agenda; and lastly, the New Moon forms an Earth Grand Trine with Vesta and Sedna=I’m counting this despite Vesta being more than six degrees from perfection to Sedna 1) because Sedna is in apparent retrograde right now, so moving back toward Vesta, and 2) because trines are major aspects, and 3) because this configuration is in Earth, same element as the New Moon, and 4) because the presence of Pluto and the Sun together gives a big energy ‘punch’ that I see as carrying farther than I normally would accept. Ties of the placement together make up for the looseness of the orbs, particularly the way the NM and Pluto ‘bridge’ the degrees between Vesta and Sedna. The Grand Trine suggests that what changes/ evolves/ is forced/ transforms/ resurrects at the New Moon is in harmony with our actual highest values, and with our instincts and what we ‘know but don’t consciously know’. We may not see the benefits of the GT energies right away, because they have a good chance of emerging from our own ‘blind spot’, and so carry the feeling that they’re coming from external events, rather than that they’ve been orchestrated by our own intents, even though they have.

The New Moon Sabian is, ‘A Woman Entering A Convent’. This implies that though what occurs seems excessively restrictive or that it requires an inordinate degree of discipline or supplication, it’s actually based on what we’ve chosen to dedicate our life energies to (Vesta). A look at your Vesta will help tell you the intent behind what manifests, and may give you a greater understanding of the nature of what you genuinely care about in life.
A Little Something on Configurations, as Demonstrated with the New Moon
When judging whether a configuration is formed, we need to keep in mind the various strengths of the aspects. The loose Grand Trine I describe above is allowable at least in part because a trine is a major aspect, and that allows for a greater orb; in the Fist I describe below, we have a square between NM and Zeus, which is a major aspect and so can take a greater orb, but in order to form the Fist, we need both bodies to sesquiquadrate (135 degrees) a third body, and since this is a more minor contact, we need a closer orb, something around no more than two degrees from exact in either direction, which in the following example would be 8 Gemini. In this case, anyone with a natal placement 6-10 Gemini will find their natal energy at the apex of a Fist of God with base of New Moon-Pluto square Zeus. This suggests the New Moon will bring change that arises from conflict over or forces change to the ambitions or desires, particularly as this applies to relationships (Zeus is in Libra). What happens or is revealed by the light of the New Moon shows how the current ambition picture contrasts, and requires modification of, what you’re aiming for, and this is because of what you learn now–and this will affect the natal apex planet, either through expression of its characteristic energies or through something it rules, House or other bodies, in the natal chart. (And just a reminder: please don’t write and ask if the aspect, for instance, applies to your Ascendant at 12 degrees Gemini, or your Sun at 5–I’ve told you the range of things already: anything between 6 and up to but not past 10). Keeping in mind what aspects any configuration contains, and then keeping orbs crisp, will insure you not only get a clear picture, but also that you don’t lead yourself astray or distract with an inaccurate or exaggerated picture, though there are exceptions, as I describe using the example of the Grand Trine aspect, above. Thus endeth the lesson!
Forecast for the 10th is here–
Tomorrow the Weekly will go up. Have a great rest-of-the-weekend!
That explains a lot those undercurrents swirling around lately. 😀Thanks, I think 😬
Side note: Hawaii Kilauea Volcano Halemaumau Lava Lake is Rising
Lol! I’m not sure what the best response to all this is, either 🙂 and yikes, hadn’t heard that about the lava lake!!
LikeLike
My Natal Saturn is at 28Cap24…that’s way too wide for the conjunction, right Julie? I will simultaneously be having my Jupiter return at 5 Aqua conjunct IC, “ancient wisdom and philosophies” from when this new age was the future, have already been flooding through which I am accepting “under advisement” even if not in agreement, so to speak, and I was just breathing a sigh of relief, even shed a few tears of relief that my 2nd Saturn return is over, maybe its only all over bar the shouting lol! Saturn/Capricorn and its irony…. as a Cancer Sun and Merc, It really isnt PUNNY ….although, I know at times I cant help but chuckle to myself at my own ridiculous insecurities. Either way, forewarned is fore armed, so I do thank you for that 🙂
Yes, I do think 28 is too wide for the New Moon–but Pluto’s definitely on its way there, and that’s probably where I’d focus–and around a Jupiter return, seems like fertile ground for big, expansive, and probably amazing change! Check the Houses they rule (Saturn, Pluto, and Jupiter) and watch those areas for the future–barring other circumstances, I’m thinking that’s where the action will be. Glad I could help forewarn 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Julie
You’re welcome, Debbie. Good luck!
LikeLike
born Dec.31, 1957, whats up? sorry I too dumb to learn …thanx anyway, Mag
LikeLike
Hi! I was really excited reading your interesting article. I have Gemini Sun at 8 degrees, so I was looking into the fist of god that you mention. However, when I entered the data in astro.com I find that Zeus is at 1 degrees Aquarius, so it can’t be square the New moon and Pluto. Have I got something wrong? Or is there another asteroid that is square New Moon/Pluto?
Hi Christine, sorry for the confusion. I was asleep as you posted your question–then by the time I got up, you’d answered it yourself! I know it’s cumbersome that I throw a Uranian planet in my bag of tricks, but once I’d tried it, it proved so useful I didn’t want to let it go. I should note this, once in a while, to avoid what happened to you. Your Sun at 8 Gemini fits it nicely into the example config–and to my mind suggests a ‘new dawn’ in the power situation, or a big change occurring with the New Moon, that challenges the goals and ambitions–and once worked out, helps you express your Soul’s intents in being here in the first place. Good luck!
LikeLike
Ah, I found the mistake. I selected Zeus as an asteroid on astro.com, but it’s a Uranian planet. Then I get it in the same place as you! Very excited how this will play out for my 8 degree Gemini Sun.
LikeLike
Hi Julie,
What do you think about the New Moon and related aspects (FoG, etc) in relation to a natal chart with the following placements?
Mercury 8 Gem in the 7th (placidus), 8th (whole sign house)
Vesta 6 Gem in the 7th (placidus), 8th (whole sign house)
Ceres 9 Aqu in the 3rd (placidus), 4th (whole sign house)
Diana 9 Vir in the 10th (placidus), 11th (whole sign house)
Fortuna 7 Lib in the 11th (placidus), 12th (whole sign house)
Apollo 8 Leo in the 9th (placidus) , 10 (whole sign house)
Aesculapia 10 Gem in the 7th (placidus), 8 (whole sign house)
Hygeia 9 Taurus in the 6th (placidus), 7th (whole sign house)
Thank you and blessings to you.
Mike
Well, Mike, this is consultation material, not appropriate for the comments section, and was discovered by me in my spam folder–which suggests you might’ve done this to other astrologers, too. Here’s your forecast: maybe you need to change your ways.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for your response.
Peace.
LikeLike