Category Archives: New Moon

Your Weekend: New Moon in Scorpio November 2017 Earthly Instincts

17 Friday Nov 2017

Posted by in astrology, current events in the sky, forecast, Horoscope, New Moon, Sabian Symbols, The Daily Word Image

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Jan Toorop ‘Mother’ 1891 {{PD}} Photo by https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Vassil

This New Moon occurs at 3:42 AM PST of the 18th at 26 Scorpio 19, closely opposed Sedna (and that means Sedna is conjoined Earth); the NM is also in close semi-sextile to Saturn, trine Chiron, and quincunx Uranus. The New Moon initiates new attitudes, actions, perceptions via feeling (Scorpio is a Water sign), and in this case offers a dose of healing energy, as well. Our instincts and matters we ‘know but don’t know’ may seem alien at this time, but the reality is the New Moon beginning draws us into using those instincts, into real-world situations or obstacles that require we call forth that deep, instinctive knowledge, and by confronting us with the unexpected, the shocking, the surprising. What occurs now gives us the chance to use talents or skills we may have thought dormant or non-existent, and urges a willingness to modify efforts to accommodate the material situation and/ or our own inclination toward originality or uniqueness (with that latter, we may need to curb a too-erratic response nature, or may need to adhere to more practical measures than we might otherwise consider). The New Moon in Scorpio gives us a Truthful Beginning that can lead to further discovery, the unanticipated, and to healing, down the road.

The Sabian for the New Moon is, ‘A Military Band Marches Noisily On Through The City Streets’. Whatever begins here makes an entrance, and a loud one! What we have to remember is that, despite the ruckus, what marches before us isn’t necessarily that important. A parade is a public statement on what prevalent social elements want to emphasize, celebrate, or otherwise note as of concern; that makes a parade a bit like advertising, an attempt to persuade onlookers that this is what the current social order honors and promotes–but it only takes a moments consideration to realize that a parade is propaganda, and may not at all reflect real-life priorities or actual matters deemed sacred. Parades are voices of those who hold power–remember, parades come originally from military displays meant to impress–so look behind the surface statement, to where time, attention, and money actually goes, to inform those New Moon instincts and emotions that drive uncovering of what’s true, beyond all the spectacle and noise.

By Sunday the 19th we may be so fixated on the Mars-Pluto square and the automatic contentiousness it fosters that we may miss the benefits of mining a tactic from the past in order to realize goals and gain, and so shape the future. Thoughts and actions can be forward-looking and so fortuitous, if we can do two things: avoid demanding unilateral acknowledgment that you are in authority or hold power (that is, be not just modest but allow others to feel they have their own say or authority, too), and be willing to recognize what you’ve been ignoring, denying, or enraged over–and then let it go, even as you allow it to give perspective to actions and choices.

Today’s word image is a milkmaid carrying a pail of milk. This brings to mind the saying, ‘You are what you do’, which points out that in a material world, our actions, not our thoughts, define us.

As of Monday the 20th, it’s easy to see how we can channel the past into the present productively; this allows us to make the most of situations that might not otherwise have paid off, and shows us the hidden benefits in any obstacles we might encounter. Just be aware that it may be necessary to modify efforts and attention, as well as to see identity as flexible, so that results are truly wise or practical–if we don’t, we may miss the mark.

Today’s word image is: you mention something you’re missing, and immediately find an abandoned one right in front of you. That’s very vague, so I’ll outline the instance that inspired it: I’d forgotten my Remembrance Day poppy at home, and upon mentioning it, my husband said, “Well here’s one”, and reached down and picked up a pristine one from its spot in a snow bank. I wore it until it fell off the next night in a restaurant, where I assume it was found by someone else who needed it. Just a vivid episode of a responsive Universe, so know it responds, and know that, one way or another, you are being provided with answers/ what you need.

Have a great weekend!

Here’s an excellent analysis of Taurus South Node, Scorpio North Node–

New Moon in Libra 19 October 2017 Chaos and Instinct

16 Monday Oct 2017

Posted by in astrology, current events in the sky, forecast, Horoscope, New Moon, Sabian Symbols

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By http://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/13647This file was donated to Wikimedia Commons by as part of a project by the Metropolitan Museum of Art. CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=57097242

The New Moon occurs at 12:12 PM Pacific time on the 19th at 26 Libra 35. It makes a close opposition to Uranus in Aries, sesquiquadrates Neptune in its own sign of Pisces, and is apex to a Finger of God with base of Sedna-Chiron, and at the same time is part of the base of another Finger with a sextile to the point Black Moon Lilith, apex Sedna. Most of the aspects for this Moon are close, which is why we don’t need to reach for other contacts (though we may count a loose semi-sextile to Mars, which just seems to bring home the Aries energy that’s already so prominently in opposition); the orb is too wide to count a conjunction to Jupiter or a sextile to Saturn–no need to stretch, we already have a concise picture.

New starts, beginnings, related to Libra always have an ‘us-other’ facet, and often emphasize aesthetic, asset, or relationship matters. There may be changes or shifts in cooperation and partnership areas that highlight the way Venusian subjects such as Love or Money are really interaction issues, with a requirement to weigh and measure levels of financial or emotional investment. These typical New Moon in Libra matters are shaped by aspects the NM makes to others bodies; this time around, they get a dose of chaos, which examined closely reveals a method beneath the madness.

The New Moon opposes Uranus in Aries (which of course conjoins Earth). This suggests material or real-world issues are chaotic, unexpected, avant garde, or intellectually advanced (Uranus), with the illusion (Neptune) being that these erratic or surprising moves appear to be the expression of individuals (Aries) responding to ideals (Pisces)–but they’re actually an emotional (and probably unconscious) response to the group and the individual’s unique place within it (Uranus). Projection of feeling may be something both given and received, at this time, and it may either be difficult to know what we feel, or may seem that others are acting as they do because they’re unaware of their own emotional reactions–or we could experience a mind-bending elixir of both.

The Finger with New Moon as apex suggests that instinct or ‘blind spot’ material combines with hurt or unique skill, and the result is the ‘fresh start’ of this Lunar cycle. With the NM as base with Black Moon Lilith, we see the new beginning reach deep into denied or ignored material (no wonder it all feels chaotic!), with the result being we are stimulated to act either out of material held in our ‘blind spot’ or instinctually. The Fingers create a kind of energy ouroboros, with a lot of the material suppressed, denied, unconscious, or projected so that things seem to leap out of chaos–but if we are honest with ourselves, we know there’s method here, in the form of circumstances forcing us to see and acknowledge what we may have been denying or rejecting–and so become more responsible to both ourselves and in our agreements with others (Libra).

The Sabian for the New Moon is, ‘An Airplane Sails, High In The Clear Sky’. Flight, at least that facilitated by an airplane, is relatively modern, with the mention of ‘high in the clear sky’ suggesting a successful ascension and safe travel in easy weather; this may speak to that Uranus-Earth opposition to this New Moon, with that planetary combo a perfect expression of successfully leaving the Earth via a modern invention. In opposition, this may imply that what occurs at the New Moon may, as we’ve discussed, seem chaotic, but in reality it will offer the foundation for something entirely new, an unusual (for the individual) way to soar. We get a clue as to what may come about with the Sabian for Uranus-Earth, ‘Through Imagination A Lost Opportunity Is Regained’. What occurs stimulates the creative, imaginative, inventive spirit and the instinctual nature–even out of chaos, we find purpose, meaning, and a new way forward.

One caveat: the New Moon period, though bringing positive things, may be difficult in itself. The same day brings Mars and Chiron parallel each other and both contra-parallel Vesta, and Saturn sesquiquadrate Pallas. That suggests that the ‘real world’ may fail to support what’s wise or practical, and our inclinations may be to act out of hurt and so could sabotage values. Just a heads up about surrounding circumstances, and a warning to keep our eye on motivations and reactions.

Have a wonderful New Moon, everyone! I won’t be around for a few days–stay safe, live happy!

 

New Moon in Virgo 19 September 2017 To Serve Man

18 Monday Sep 2017

Posted by in astrology, current events in the sky, New Moon, Virgo

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The Enchanted Garden of Messer Ansaldo by Marie Spartali Stillman (1889) {{PD}}

Many of you will recognize this article’s title from an old Twilight Zone episode, where humans eventually realize that extraterrestrials who arrived carrying a book titled ‘To Serve Man’ haven’t come to offer altruistic aid, which is humanity’s first, Self-serving assumption. Too late it’s discovered that the tome is, rather than instructions for actually a cookbook, and we’re all on the menu! I’ve been seeing something like this all around lately, a dogged attempt at interpreting actions and events as ‘for our own good’, one way or another, when in fact those choices are serving only the perpetrators. Is there anything wrong with serving one’s own needs and agenda? Of course not–it’s true that our primary responsibility is to look out for ourselves–it’s the presentation of selfish choices in a way meant to lull others into feeling cared for, to deceive concerning the intentions behind what’s said or done, that are the problem.

We may have accepted the unacceptable in particular over the weekend, and during the Monday and Tuesday preceding the New Moon. The Dark period often makes us unintentionally receptive, the mind and psyche open, either from a sense of relaxation or a sense of unguardedness. Sometimes we feel extra-alert in that figurative darkness (when the transiting Moon is contacting sensitive natal bodies or territory as it approaches the Sun), but more often we feel adrift, and so unable to resist what comes at us; sometimes this is a good thing, as we absorb information that otherwise might not be available to us, and potentially a bad thing, as we receive influences without our usual critical assessment.

What does all this have to do with the New Moon in Virgo, occurring at 10:30 PM Pacific time of the 19th? Everything, really, as we see a New Moon in Virgo brings new, productively-oriented beginnings–and what prompts those beginnings may have been influenced by Dark of the Moon material. Again, this may not be a problem, as it could’ve acted to lower our barriers and quiet critical resistance to our creativity and imagination–but it also may have ‘let in’ things that tailor our new start more to the interests of others than to our own wants and needs.

Since the tone of Virgo is one of service, we may find we need to ask ourselves one defining question about what originates around this time: For whom am I doing this? If you do it for yourself, fine; if you do it in pure service to others, also fine; but if you do it unsure of what motivates you, you may do best to stop and sort it out, or risk creating something that’s more burden than benefit.

The New Moon perfects at 27 Virgo 27, widely conjoined Vesta in Libra, and opposed both Earth (natch) and Chiron. The NM also sextiles Ceres, widely squares Black Moon Lilith, sesquiquadrates Pallas, trines Sedna, with its closest aspect a quincunx to Uranus. (This is where I might also point out the Finger of God that, though not connected directly to the New Moon, still may poke us in the eye: Sedna sextile Earth-Chiron, apex Jupiter=if we can get the instincts and material skills to work together, we make something larger than the sum of its parts–a challenge that might apply to whatever we instigate at this point, and that we must be aware can get away from us, overwhelming our control or understanding, at any time).

The aspects suggest the New Moon ‘births’ something we dedicate ourselves to, that reflects our highest values (and again, we see the need to know why and for whom we are acting, as new commitments and obligations, especially to others, are a distinct possibility–Vesta in Libra). The caution comes in the opposition of Chiron, suggesting we may be in denial of, or out of touch with, our own wounds, substantially upping the chances of us being insensitive to our needs (or even to martyring ourselves–Chiron in Pisces).

The square to BML describes tension over things that enrage us, or over injustice or things we are in denial of–again, a ‘looking away’ or separative element to what we do, or how we see or process events, that suggests we observe and react to the wrong without actually doing anything–though the sextile to Ceres and trine to Sedna both promise we can connect to informative energies through our natural roles and sources of power, especially those attuned to Mother Nature and her rhythms and cycles. We can trust our own natural authority as our guide, and we’ll need to; the sesquiquadrate to Pallas and the quincunx to Uranus imply difficulty using the intellect to discern what’s wise, what’s smart, what’s ‘right’, and this can contribute situations where we must draw on skills in times of sudden opportunity or, more likely, sudden stress.

The Sabian for the New Moon is, ‘A Baldheaded Man Who Has Seized Power’. The image is one not just of taking power for oneself, it conveys natural power, akin to that which we find in Black Moon Lilith, Ceres, Pallas, and Sedna, derived in the image via the high testosterone levels we now know cause baldness. The NM meeting of Moon and Sun suggests a blending of male and female, with the Sabian providing a male image of power, overt in its expression, while the connections of the New Moon provide a picture largely of female power, or at least power represented in various female forms, a more receptive and emotionally perceptive energy.

The New Moon, then, brings us all a chance to dedicate ourselves in some kind of service, and we may become powerful in the process, though one of the challenges is to be as aware as possible of not just who we are serving, but how and where the power to serve and be served is derived, in growing this New Moon seed of Higher Consciousness.

The Solar Eclipse in Leo 2017: The Re-Birth of the Soul

20 Sunday Aug 2017

Posted by in astrology, current events in the sky, Lunar Aspects, New Moon, Sabian Symbols, Solar Eclipse

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John William Waterhouse – ‘Mermaid’ 1899 {{PD}}

This is re-published from earlier. Have a safe and joyous eclipse experience!

The Solar eclipse begins on the 21st of August at 11:29 AM PDT at 28 Leo 52. Though I wouldn’t normally count it as conjoined Mars when the spread is just over eight degrees, as it is here, I think we must, considering the part the ego, action, and ‘I Am’ energies played in the partner Lunar eclipse that preceded this event—so we’ll keep the Martian spirit in mind as we assess the eclipse; the Martian Fire is right in tune with the Leo event. This New Moon has been anticipated for some time, because it’s both a total eclipse, and because it will be visible along a path that spans the United States coast to coast. The interesting thing is that, if you’re outside the path of totality, what you’ll see is a partial covering of the Sun by the Moon, rather than the complete eclipse visible elsewhere. So, as with everything, it’s important to keep in mind that where you are determines perspective, and so dictates your experience of the eclipse, as it does so many other things.

Does that mean the eclipse will deliver a different effect to those in the path of totality than it will to everyone else on the planet? Perhaps it will have a different, stronger, or more potent impact on those who find themselves in its path, but I think it’s more of an astronomical spectacle than an astrological one; I don’t anticipate it being any more or less potent than any other eclipse (and remember, we have two Solar and two Lunar eclipses per year, on average, so eclipses themselves are not actually all that rare), though others will disagree.

Maybe we should think of it more as a New Moon in Leo that just happens to be an eclipse; that way we keep the emphasis on the Leo/ Mars ‘I Am’ facets of the event, even as we note that all eclipses serve to ‘wipe out’ certain circumstances that came before, specifically those related to the matters of the House in the natal chart where the eclipse falls, those related to the sign energy in general, and in anything the eclipse contacts in the natal chart by close aspect (no more than three or four degrees, typically, and this can affect expression of the contacted energy or matters of the Houses ruled, if any). But, aside from personal natal contacts, the eclipse draws a more general picture that applies in some degree to everyone; that’s what we’ll look at here.

A Solar eclipse is a seed event, a New Moon the energies of which supersede those that came before, in this case those of the ‘I Am’, the identity, and the Soul Purpose for incarnating as they mesh with the emotions, intuition, and perceptions of the non-physical and non-material. With an eclipse, we see a vibrational inception that will resonate through to the next eclipse set, in roughly six months. In part this tone is set by the sign in which the eclipse occurs, in this case, Leo, emphasizing the individual perspective, individual initiative (due to Mars lingering nearby), and how well the Soul has to this point managed to create circumstances under which it could ‘shine’, that is, live its purpose. So, the attention for the next six months goes to accomplishment in Soul-terms—and of course, that will mean something unique to each individual.

The eclipse forms an out-of-sign trine to a close conjunction of Hygeia and Juno, which makes for a Grand Trine with Uranus; the New Moon also squares Sedna, loosely noviles Ceres, and quincunxes Chiron (and anyone with natal placements at 27 Capricorn-00 Aquarius should expect the eclipse to deliver a wallop, either hurting or healing the involved energies in some significant way). Is it too vague to say expect surprises, shocks, the unexpected, revelations, and the potential for immediate and immersive understanding via the Higher Mind? This may be especially so around literal health as well as the ‘health’ (i.e. effectiveness) of the personal state of empowerment. We may resist what the instincts tell us, at least initially; hidden information that we ‘know but don’t know’ may cause problems, which are meant to draw our attention and contribute to or shape that ‘shock of the new’ we’ll undergo.

Or, rather than a personal shock or revelation, we may experience the eclipse’s ‘big reveal’ through a group choice or interaction. We could find ourselves responding as an individual to something the group requires, testing our willingness to lead, to commit to a philosophical approach to things, or to sacrifice the individual needs for the larger good. We may find we are stronger than we think, forced to adjust our ideas of just what truly injures us, and that may call for adjustments to our Self-image, to the way we see ourselves and so to the way we express ourselves and exert our Will. What occurs may bring forward unique skills, a sense that the individual is ‘the only one who could ‘x’’ and so in some way save the day, or serve the group needs in a major way.

There is a single element of grace here that should enable us to weather anything the eclipse brings: that novile to Ceres says that either Nature, or the sense of personal authority, will provide the support, or the answers, we’ll need. Our own ability to accept complete responsibility for ourselves will allow for the most effective position and response possible; so will acceptance of the ways of Nature, and what they tell us about our part in it.

Don’t you love the Sabian for this eclipse? ‘A Mermaid Emerges From The Ocean Waves Ready For Rebirth In Human Form’. We see an end to immersion in the currents of emotion with their overwhelming influence, dulling the other senses, obscuring the vision and hearing, keeping us below the surface (a symbolic way of saying we aren’t accessing the Air, that is, using reason and the mind, to process things). The mermaid is ready to shed a way of Being that, in terms of imagery, is focused on the feeling nature; she is ready to move on, in the sense of becoming. It’s important we note that going from mermaid form to human is not inherently a move from inferior to superior form, but is a shift in the tools we use to interact, process, and understand. It’s also important to be aware we’re assuming the mermaid will be taking all she’s learned underwater (through the feeling nature) with her; she’s not abandoning emotional perceptions and intuitions, she’s adding to them. As this applies to the eclipse, the symbol suggests each of us will evolve to a next step (literally, in the case of a mermaid!) that expands our skills in dealing with the world. Re-birth usually isn’t easy, or pleasant, and change of any kind can be messy—but it’s also a widening of our horizons and our ability to deal with things that can’t be attained any other way, a journey into new elements, with all the adventure, risk, and need to learn that entails (another mermaid reference!)

One other thing to note: though I don’t usually discuss aspect sets that don’t interact with the event (I find that dilutes the focus on, and so the meaning of, what we’re examining), this time I would like to point to a very close conjunction, only three minutes apart and moving ever closer at the time of the eclipse, of Saturn and Black Moon Lilith. BML is, as we know, a point, rather than a body; Saturn moving closer to perfection with that point suggests either suppression or materialization of rage, or of matters we or others have been working to ignore or deny. This may be a significant side note to the entire eclipse period, and could suggest secrets revealed will become the norm.

 

New Moon in Leo 23 July 2017 Fight For What You Love

20 Thursday Jul 2017

Posted by in astrology, Fist of God, forecast, Horoscope, New Moon, Sabian Symbols

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Henri-Jean Guillaume Martin {{PD}}

Conflicting inclinations set up the energy dynamic of the New Moon: on the one hand, we may find ourselves digging and digging in relation to stated values and priorities–we somehow just can’t trust what we see–and yet we see the perfect way to benefit through Love or Finances, specifically by focusing on what’s loved, important to us, valuable for its beauty, or treasured. These impulses may or may not present at cross-purposes, and some of us will delve into the essence of only one or the other, but together they set the stage and grab our attention, even as the New Moon slips in, plants a seed, and carries things forward.

The New Moon in Leo occurs in the wee hours Pacific time, at 2:46 AM at 00 Leo 44. It perfects just slightly more than one degree from conjoining Mars–and that means both bodies will move on very quickly to perfect contact to the Warrior energy. A very rough Fist is formed, with the NM apex to the square made between Black Moon Lilith and Neptune. This suggests trouble, in the form of rage or denial coupled with deception, delusion, or imagination run amok, that creates a need to ‘strike out’, to go it alone, or to let the ego drive, feeling we are ill-equipped to handle things any other way.

LOVE sculpture by Robert Indiana, Photo By Hu Totya – Own work {{PD}} https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1222063

That’s unfortunate–but is there a way out, a remedy to subconscious anger or righteous resentment? Yes, via the New Moon’s novile to Venus in Gemini. Think about, talk about, consider what you love–that’s the best way to both see how to react and what to do.

The New Moon makes two other aspects, an out-of-sign trine to Chiron, and an out-of-sign square to Uranus. Expect jolts, but healing, Higher Understanding, and easy hurt, skills called forward to address the unexpected. The Sabian for the New Moon offers a clue: ‘Blood Rushes To A Man’s Head As His Vital Energies Are Mobilized Under The Spur Of Ambition’. We may be inclined to try to handle things through the intellect (Uranus) rather than the heart (Leo), though the image makes clear the man is driven by desire (Venus)–and it would be a mistake to focus solely on the mind; we need to utilize the mind in support of those cared-for people and issues, rather than letting the intellect, or anger, lead.

Though I don’t usually subscribe to checking every Sabian, I think considering the importance of Venus, we could use whatever hints the symbol might provide: ‘A Tumultuous Labor Demonstration’. It’s in the midst of chaos, upset, fighting for what we want (New Moon conj Mars) that we discover, reiterate, or crystallize the presence and intention of Love–and the New Moon provides the energy and focus to put that Love into action.

Enjoy the blog? Please consider a donation or book purchase in support of the work. Thanks to all who do, and a Happy New Moon to us all!

Scroll for Daily forecasts, and to see the upcoming August Lunar and Solar eclipse assessments!

The Solar Eclipse in Leo 2017: The Re-Birth of the Soul

18 Tuesday Jul 2017

Posted by in astrology, eclipse, New Moon, Sabian Symbols, Solar Eclipse

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John William Waterhouse – ‘Mermaid’ 1899 {{PD}}

The Solar eclipse begins on the 21st of August at 11:29 AM PDT at 28 Leo 52. Though I wouldn’t normally count it as conjoined Mars when the spread is just over eight degrees, as it is here, I think we must, considering the part the ego, action, and ‘I Am’ energies played in the partner Lunar eclipse that preceded this event—so we’ll keep the Martian spirit in mind as we assess the eclipse; the Martian Fire is right in tune with the Leo event. This New Moon has been anticipated for some time, because it’s both a total eclipse, and because it will be visible along a path that spans the United States coast to coast. The interesting thing is that, if you’re outside the path of totality, what you’ll see is a partial covering of the Sun by the Moon, rather than the complete eclipse visible elsewhere. So, as with everything, it’s important to keep in mind that where you are determines perspective, and so dictates your experience of the eclipse, as it does so many other things.

Does that mean the eclipse will deliver a different effect to those in the path of totality than it will to everyone else on the planet? Perhaps it will have a different, stronger, or more potent impact on those who find themselves in its path, but I think it’s more of an astronomical spectacle than an astrological one; I don’t anticipate it being any more or less potent than any other eclipse (and remember, we have two Solar and two Lunar eclipses per year, on average, so eclipses themselves are not actually all that rare), though others will disagree.

Maybe we should think of it more as a New Moon in Leo that just happens to be an eclipse; that way we keep the emphasis on the Leo/ Mars ‘I Am’ facets of the event, even as we note that all eclipses serve to ‘wipe out’ certain circumstances that came before, specifically those related to the matters of the House in the natal chart where the eclipse falls, those related to the sign energy in general, and in anything the eclipse contacts in the natal chart by close aspect (no more than three or four degrees, typically, and this can affect expression of the contacted energy or matters of the Houses ruled, if any). But, aside from personal natal contacts, the eclipse draws a more general picture that applies in some degree to everyone; that’s what we’ll look at here.

A Solar eclipse is a seed event, a New Moon the energies of which supersede those that came before, in this case those of the ‘I Am’, the identity, and the Soul Purpose for incarnating as they mesh with the emotions, intuition, and perceptions of the non-physical and non-material. With an eclipse, we see a vibrational inception that will resonate through to the next eclipse set, in roughly six months. In part this tone is set by the sign in which the eclipse occurs, in this case, Leo, emphasizing the individual perspective, individual initiative (due to Mars lingering nearby), and how well the Soul has to this point managed to create circumstances under which it could ‘shine’, that is, live its purpose. So, the attention for the next six months goes to accomplishment in Soul-terms—and of course, that will mean something unique to each individual.

The eclipse forms an out-of-sign trine to a close conjunction of Hygeia and Juno, which makes for a Grand Trine with Uranus; the New Moon also squares Sedna, loosely noviles Ceres, and quincunxes Chiron (and anyone with natal placements at 27 Capricorn-00 Aquarius should expect the eclipse to deliver a wallop, either hurting or healing the involved energies in some significant way). Is it too vague to say expect surprises, shocks, the unexpected, revelations, and the potential for immediate and immersive understanding via the Higher Mind? This may be especially so around literal health as well as the ‘health’ (i.e. effectiveness) of the personal state of empowerment. We may resist what the instincts tell us, at least initially; hidden information that we ‘know but don’t know’ may cause problems, which are meant to draw our attention and contribute to or shape that ‘shock of the new’ we’ll undergo.

Or, rather than a personal shock or revelation, we may experience the eclipse’s ‘big reveal’ through a group choice or interaction. We could find ourselves responding as an individual to something the group requires, testing our willingness to lead, to commit to a philosophical approach to things, or to sacrifice the individual needs for the larger good. We may find we are stronger than we think, forced to adjust our ideas of just what truly injures us, and that may call for adjustments to our Self-image, to the way we see ourselves and so to the way we express ourselves and exert our Will. What occurs may bring forward unique skills, a sense that the individual is ‘the only one who could ‘x’’ and so in some way save the day, or serve the group needs in a major way.

There is a single element of grace here that should enable us to weather anything the eclipse brings: that novile to Ceres says that either Nature, or the sense of personal authority, will provide the support, or the answers, we’ll need. Our own ability to accept complete responsibility for ourselves will allow for the most effective position and response possible; so will acceptance of the ways of Nature, and what they tell us about our part in it.

Don’t you love the Sabian for this eclipse? ‘A Mermaid Emerges From The Ocean Waves Ready For Rebirth In Human Form’. We see an end to immersion in the currents of emotion with their overwhelming influence, dulling the other senses, obscuring the vision and hearing, keeping us below the surface (a symbolic way of saying we aren’t accessing the Air, that is, using reason and the mind, to process things). The mermaid is ready to shed a way of Being that, in terms of imagery, is focused on the feeling nature; she is ready to move on, in the sense of becoming. It’s important we note that going from mermaid form to human is not inherently a move from inferior to superior form, but is a shift in the tools we use to interact, process, and understand. It’s also important to be aware we’re assuming the mermaid will be taking all she’s learned underwater (through the feeling nature) with her; she’s not abandoning emotional perceptions and intuitions, she’s adding to them. As this applies to the eclipse, the symbol suggests each of us will evolve to a next step (literally, in the case of a mermaid!) that expands our skills in dealing with the world. Re-birth usually isn’t easy, or pleasant, and change of any kind can be messy—but it’s also a widening of our horizons and our ability to deal with things that can’t be attained any other way, a journey into new elements, with all the adventure, risk, and need to learn that entails (another mermaid reference!)

One other thing to note: though I don’t usually discuss aspect sets that don’t interact with the event (I find that dilutes the focus on, and so the meaning of, what we’re examining), this time I would like to point to a very close conjunction, only three minutes apart and moving ever closer at the time of the eclipse, of Saturn and Black Moon Lilith. BML is, as we know, a point, rather than a body; Saturn moving closer to perfection with that point suggests either suppression or materialization of rage, or of matters we or others have been working to ignore or deny. This may be a significant side note to the entire eclipse period, and could suggest secrets revealed will become the norm.

 

New Moon in Cancer 23 June 2017 True North

21 Wednesday Jun 2017

Posted by in astrology, New Moon

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“Okto” woodcut by sami artist John Savio (1902-1938) {{PD}}

The New Moon in Cancer falls at 7:31 PM PDT at 2 Cancer 47. We’re in the wake of Neptune’s retrograde, Jupiter’s direction, and the Superior Conjunction–so where are we? With Mercury separating from Solar contact, heading deeper into the sign they share, we may see conscious contemplation receding, replaced with feeling (Cancer); we may also be so preoccupied with our beliefs, with the social sphere, or with absorbing and handling ‘the facts’ that we lose forward momentum on ‘the Dream’. The music of the spheres is muted right now, in favor of sensation and caring, especially caring about what and who we nurture.

Caught at the midpoint of Vesta-Venus, the New Moon perfectly expresses the conflict between these two. What we dedicate our life energy to (Vesta) is in conflict with what we want, treasure, and desire, in areas of relationship and finance. How, you may wonder, could there be upset when the focus comes through us, through our values and what we want to have in our lives? The answer to that is, we carry conflicting inclinations within ourselves, and this New Moon shows us those conflicts, laying open the difficulties and making it apparent we must find a new way to reconcile disparities or contradictions between matters we care about. What starts at the New Moon points out the ways in which we carry internal disharmony in our wants, our interactions, and those matters where we earn and spend, with this latter including the spending of life energy. The new Moon says, You’ve got the facts (direct Jupiter), your vision is clear (Neptune retro), you’ve seen the result of thinking up to now (Superior Conjunction), now it’s time to sort out what’s not working in matters of energy dedication (to causes, efforts, projects, or people–the Venus-Vesta square, with NM at the midpoint).

The New Moon is also in wide conjunction to Merc (which as mentioned is speeding ‘ahead’ of the Sun) and wide square to Chiron, neither of which I would normally consider for a New Moon event–they’re just a smidge too wide in orb–and yet today we don’t have many contacts, so must stretch a tad, if only to get the flavor at play during such an isolated (contact wise) occurrence as this New Moon. We’ve already discussed the importance of the recent Superior Conjunction, and know how important what we’ve been thinking is to this NM event; what we’ve not touched on is the square to Chiron, which suggests that if we’re looking for the origins of our internal discord, it’s to be found in our wounds. When considering our relationships, our finances, and our commitments of time and energy, we are being too reactionary, asserting and responding from our sense of hurt, from the level of woundedness we carry around each subject.

‘Sami on skis in northern lights’, Frants Bøe 1885 {{PD}}

The Sabian for the New Moon is, ‘A Man Bundled In Fur Leads A Shaggy Deer’. For the Lapplanders, to which this image likely refers, the reindeer is a source of sustenance, aids in transportation, and provides a great deal of the material for survival, for living. That sounds like what the New Moon will make clear for each of us: what we care about, what’s important, but most vitally, what we need to survive, in terms of Love, the material world, and our own dedication of energy (and we must keep in mind that what we give the world is equally as important as what we get from it). This also emphasizes something we might otherwise dismiss as a lesser concern; that is, we might be tempted to see Love, or Money, or the material world, or what we give our energy, attention, and resources to, as a little Self-centered, as not carrying the weight of the spiritual or the eternal. That would be a mistaken viewpoint, as the Sabian tells us that these are matters on which our survival depends.

Other influences for the day include the ego, which may go out on a limb in order to prove it doesn’t need help from anyone, thank you (this might be in direct response to an offer of cooperation or support), and we may spend some time weighing the real costs of ambition or desire fulfillment–obviously, make sure it’s worth it, before you go forward (the New Moon will help with this immensely). This New Moon helps us find our ‘True North’–don’t be surprised if you learn a thing or two, even about yourself, in the waxing moonlight.

Read —  Donate  —  and Happy New Moon! The forecast for the rest of the coming week will be posted sometime on the 22nd Pacific time.

25 May 2017 The New Moon in Gemini: The Germinal Spark

22 Monday May 2017

Posted by in astrology, current events in the sky, Fist of God, New Moon

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They’ve got New Moon ideas. Carl Bloch – ‘In a Roman Osteria’ {{PD}}

This New Moon may be like a little *ping*, almost unnoticeable, so distracted will we be from the new start, inception, or burgeoning issue it represents. The New Moon makes only one aspect, forming apex to a very loose Fist of God with base of Zeus square Juno (There is an argument to be made for a sextile to Vesta, as well, but no, it’s 3 full degrees–a little more than I like for a crisp Moon picture). This suggests something interesting: that we’ll have an idea, a thought, become aware of some germinal seed, just beginning, that comes to us at the same time we experience a conflict or upset, a clash between what empowers us and what we want–and those topics are so compelling that we may have a difficult time holding on to that new concept, that just-starting idea, that could grow into something great. Whether the idea comes to us as a result of the conflict, or is subsumed in the course of the conflict, we will be presented with a mental ‘spark’ of one kind or another; it’s up to us to refuse to wrangle with others (especially partners–Zeus in Libra) over our desires, and whether we have the clout, the support structure, or can show Self-restraint or follow the rules sufficiently (Juno in Capricorn) to fulfill our ambitions. It’s in this sort of dust-up that our New Moon idea can be lost, as we are tempted to focus on justifying, explaining, or proving that we both deserve what we aim for and are capable of getting it. We don’t need to explain ourselves to anyone–and we deplete ourselves if we use our energy to explain and plead, rather than to be and do.

So what’s the nature of the spark we’ll get? Look to the matters of the House where the New Moon falls for you. It may be an idea on one or more of the House topics, could present a sudden and fresh way of dealing with a long-standing related problem, or could be something we hear or read, a message or statement not necessarily meant for us, but just what we needed to be privy to, to realign our thinking or open our mind to a new way of reasoning or seeing. If the New Moon forms aspects to your natal placements, these are also clues as to what may contribute to the spark for you–and in particular, pay attention to Houses ruled, if any, by natal placements contacted by the NM. These can show a synergy that connects and combines matters into a single issue. For instance, if the New Moon falls in your 3rd, square your Virgo Sun in 6th, with Sun ruling the 5th, you could see a change in the daily routine (6th) as you get a new contract (3rd) related to your creative output (5th). This same combo could refer to a new creative idea (3rd, 5th) that causes you to take a particular job, or to change the one you have (6th). Or, you take a short trip (3rd) to gamble (5th) and lose your job! (6th) You get my drift.

The Sabian for the New Moon is, “A Revolutionary Magazine Asking For Action”. Words can educate us, move us to a cause, inform and inflame–but at this time we must take care to keep our attention on our goals. We can try to explain our ideas, try to enlist others to our side, but in the end, this is energy, as the Fist tells us, that’s better spent actually pursuing what we want. To change the world feels good, but it happens in the doing, not in the talking about doing–something to keep in mind as we deal with today’s influences and events.

We also see a passel of other distractions, presented through relationships, finances, and a reality picture that forces us to adjust our thinking by making it impossible not to deal with what we’ve up to now ignored, denied, or been enraged by. We may be told by others that only the future matters; what really counts now is to accept, even love, change–it’s not just the only way to stay sane, it leaves that much more of our energy and attention for our own use.

Your Week 21-27 April 2017 + the New Moon in Taurus: A Trick of Perception

20 Thursday Apr 2017

Posted by in astrology, current events in the sky, forecast, Horoscope, New Moon, Sabian Symbols, The Daily Word Image

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NASA {{PD}}

Recently a reader asked if my descriptions each day are channeled, simply intuitive guesses as to what may come. I can answer definitively, No, they are based on a reading of the aspects perfecting that day that centers on how those aspects might interact. They are purely and completely based on astrology–though word images are drawn from inspirations, or factors that have repeated in quick succession around me. So now you know.

The 21st is a lively day; we may feel caught at a point of convergence, with cross-currents pulling us in every direction. The social sphere seems to want to drag us back into the worst of the past, while resource restrictions and friendship limits are readily apparent at every turn. It doesn’t help that our sense of vulnerability and our wounds seem directly plugged in to the power scenario; though we have clear guidelines in a firm sense of values and priorities, it may be difficult to gain strength from them when every little encounter, interaction, or exchange seems to question, undermine, or criticize our efforts and intentions.

Take a deep breath; it’s all a trick of the perceptions. With Mars moving into Gemini, and the Sun parallel Mercury and trine the North Node, one way or another, we may find we’re ‘living in our heads’. The hamster wheel of thought could plague us, or it could be more a case of being unable to move, caught in a loop of overthinking or merely pondering without connecting it to action. Mercury’s still retrograde, after all, so take this as a perfect time to consider, contemplate, reassess, and plan for the future, avoiding any pressure to act, react, or decide.

Today’s word image is a single planet. What struck me about this image is the fact that planets and other bodies are caught by gravity within a system–no planet floats alone through the galaxy. Their tethers are the various pulls exerted by other bodies in their system and the star around which all revolve. This may speak of our own personal sense of isolation or feeling solitary, and may remind us that it’s not the nature of things that we should go it alone. Look around, see who else is ‘in your orbit’, moving in a shared ‘system’, affected by the same pulls and larger influences as you.

On the 22nd we may feel an abrupt pull-back of energy, embodied in confusion of thought and empowerment hampered by a lack of connection to instinct. Again, make few or no demands on yourself at this time–save your strength for what’s to come.

Apparently there is a Bacon Hill Substation along the Northeast Railroad Corridor near Baltimore, Maryland. Library of Congress, {{PD}} within the US.

Today’s word image is a ridiculously odd phrase, ‘Railroad Bacon’. It appeared as a rebus, a set of pictures that create a word or phrase. I hesitated to use this but felt sure that someone else will see a specific meaning, or that for some individual, this will have a very particular application. My thought? Something about energy, movement, and fat and protein consumption. We ‘lose steam’ when we don’t have the proper fuel, and in some circles it’s fashionable to eschew fat (a concentrated source of energy, and the ‘lubricant’ precursor for nerves and synapses) and to limit protein (vital for muscle-building). Are you running low?

Today’s (the 23rd’s) T-square of Mars to the Nodal axis coincides with the Mars sesquiquadrate to Jupiter–but we all know there are no coincidences, right? We may act on what we’ve recently contemplated, and do so prematurely, or we could find ourselves springing into action almost before we can form the intention or thought to do so. And the motivations behind such impulsive moves? These have two main sources: restrictions felt to our power, authority, or reach, and the social sphere as we feel pressure to support a mutual agenda. Awareness that what we do now builds the future, as well as the understanding that choices forged in stress are likely to be weak or poorly thought through, must inform what and why we do what we do at this time.

Today’s word image is a squirrel water-skiing. We’ve all seen those pictures of little rodents wearing a tiny life vest, balancing on tiny water-skis, and holding tight to the most miniature of handles attached to a delicate ski rope. This is clearly not a natural behavior of vacationing squirrels–so maybe we should ask ourselves what it is we are ‘dressing up’ unnaturally, perhaps seeing it as more cooperative, amusing, or in sync with us than it really is?

On the 24th real-world circumstances challenge our stated values–the issue may be either a need to modify our ideas of what’s important, or it may be that we must live up to what we’ve been claiming as our standards and ideals. In either case, there are a few things we should know: do everything you can to keep actions and choices from being destructive; don’t let thoughts and thinking be co-opted by the past; and be willing to acknowledge what isn’t working within the values and priorities picture, adjusting so that values harmonize with what actually is (caution: this may require surprising restraint or a willing acceptance of boundaries).

Today’s word image is a suddenly-acquired taste for something you never liked before. Has this ever happened to you? Is it a sign of evolving appetites, changing standards, or does it suggest you never before tried (or were able to appreciate) this thing in just this way? Are you irritated over the dent this puts in your Self-image, or do you welcome the change in your definition of who you are?

The 25th we have a heck of a time seeing what’s healthy and what’s not, especially in terms of our actions and choices meant to empower us or to fulfill ambitions. Ideals, dreams, and the existing power structure may cloud issues, and this applies to all forms of ‘health’: mental, emotional, physical, spiritual. Assess with as much care as possible, and know this: only action, or making a choice, will break the impasse, though there are no guarantees on the results.

Pamela Coleman Smith – a 1909 card scanned by Holly Voley (http://home.comcast.net/~vilex/) for the public domain, and retrieved from http://www.sacred-texts.com/tarot {{PD-US}}

Today’s word image is the Fool card of the Tarot. Is the Fool the essence of innocence or obliviousness, in your view? If he steps over the edge of the cliff (as he’s shown in Rider-Waite based decks) do you imagine him plunging to his demise, or flying, or perhaps magically finding some stepping stone appearing beneath his feet? Are you annoyed by this kind of behavior, feeling it’s not fair that others must look out for this kind of person, or are you the one who expresses a kind of indifference to reality? Do you worry about the fate of the little dog? How does your reaction to this card of the Major Arcana describe you, and are these traits that you are proud of, or wish to change?

The 26th we receive a mandate in concert with the New Moon: put your attention on healing (Sun novile Chiron). With the New Moon falling in Taurus, the suggestion may be to approach the need to heal via material comforts or those things that provide security. The New Moon is almost on its own, making only a quincunx to Black Moon Lilith, and a loose semi-square with a Venus under crisis at 29 degrees of Pisces. The implication is that what’s born here requires adjustment to (and perhaps acknowledgment of) what we’ve been ignoring or denying, or perhaps that we admit what enrages us is more about us and our (possibly ignored or buried) emotions than about the topic. This also implies that a crisis state with relationships, finances, or values (and specifically with our ideals and illusions surrounding these) finds an answer via a new ‘shape’ or form to the way we see those connections, dependencies, or how we are assessing their worth. In seeking to heal we tackle some issue previously set aside, with the NM energy offering a potential path, like as not produced by a problem or crisis in a Venus-ruled area.

‘The Water of Life Discourse between Jesus and the Samaritan Woman at the Well’ by Angelika Kauffmann 18th century {{PD}}

The Sabian for the New Moon is, ‘The Woman Of Samaria At The Ancestral Well’. The symbol doesn’t mention Jesus, but the woman of Samaria at the well is inextricably linked with him. There are a variety of interpretations of the story, but what strikes me about this as a symbol is the way, as we would say around my house, Jesus insisted upon himself–that is, explained who he was, the spiritual meaning of his request for water, and so on. Despite the cultural and religion-based explanations for why the conversation went as it did and what it meant, I still found the ‘saying, not doing’ aspect of the story the most jarring. A Being of that status engaging in a round-about argument with a woman from a tribe mutually hostile to his own, and his big ‘wow’ is telling her she has had 5 husbands, and so should believe him? I’m a believer in living as an example of what you believe, of persuading by doing, showing, rather than just saying, or taking a stance that is essentially, ‘Believe what I say, no matter the lack of supporting evidence.’ Jesus was asking this woman to take his word for it, that he was indeed the Messiah, on the strength of a party trick. Though faith is, by definition, belief in what hasn’t been seen or proven, we must make the leap to conclude that she was moved spiritually, in a way the story doesn’t really define or even mention. The application of this to the New Moon in Taurus? Believe what you can hold in your hand, in material securities and comfort, in Love, in the assets you have right now, in those things that offer tactile reassurance of your place, your support, your well-being, and make these truly your own by being willing to deal with what’s been denied, until now, by dealing with what is–and then have faith from there, in what moves you, not simply from what someone claims or has told you. It’s the only way to find your footing in such an unsure world.

On the 27th we have a single aspect perfecting, a sesquiquadrate between Mars and Pluto, and this is likely to dominate the landscape. We’ll see the Will, the Ego, the impulsive action urge of ourselves or others explode on the scene, as the individual seeks to take control, to lead, to destroy, or to transform what’s before them. Patience, caution, and a little objectivity employed may mean we miss an opportunity or two, but also don’t bring the house crashing down around us.

Today’s word image is the line between good and evil. Is this an individually-determined thing, subject to one’s own moral assessment, or would you say there are absolutes involved? Do you believe these two exist as actual forces in the Universe, independent of human judgment, or do you think they’re man-made concepts, reliant on cultural justifications to determine what is good, and what is evil?

Have a lovely week, and please consider a small donation or book purchase in support of the blog, if you’re so inclined 🙂

New Moon in Aries 27 March 2017 Choosing the ‘I Am’

22 Wednesday Mar 2017

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Who needs New Moon-light, when you’ve got such splooshy stars? Edvard Munch – ‘Starry Night’ (1922–24) {{PD}}

The New Moon occurs at 7:57 PM PDT at 7 Aries 37 of the 27th, and makes only a few contacts: a very wide (for a New Moon) conjunction to retrograde Venus, which is in fast retreat; a wide trine to Black Moon Lilith; a square to Hygeia; and we should note, though it’s technically unrelated to the NM, that Pallas is at 29 Pisces, suggesting a state of crisis, and likely one that involves delusions, spiritual matters, or one’s place in the Collective in a ‘all the Universe vs. me’ scenario, all this mattering as it applies to what’s smart, what’s wise, what’s practical.

A New Moon in Aries asks, ‘What will you do?’ or ‘What will you be?’; that is, ‘Who are you?’, bringing up issues of role, identity, and personal initiative. In this instance, the NM may give us the feeling that if we don’t act, or choose, we may lose Love or Money. We’re given aid by the way we have access, one way or another, to matters that have been hidden, denied, or ignored by ourselves or others; suddenly having the New Moon impetus to deal with what’s been avoided or put aside may reveal resources we didn’t know we had, may shape the landscape or offer justice, especially within one-to-one relationships, and may offer choices or the opportunity to act that restores balance, perhaps unexpectedly.

But what happens when that Universe balancing chance to right a wrong or attend to the ignored is influenced by an anxious sense of inner knowing, one that feels something must be done? Our health, mental, emotional, spiritual, physical, suffers, probably because our attention is on the opportunity and spurred by our own anxiety, our wish to ‘be smart’ about the whole thing. Perhaps the Sabian can add something illuminating.

Portrait of Abigael Bromfield Rogers (1753-1791), step-niece of the artist. John Singleton Copley 1783 {{PD}}

‘A Large Woman’s Hat With Streamers Blown By An East Wind’. Hmm. A hat is a statement, one that covers our ‘thoughts’ and signals who we are, maybe even telling others of our role, function, or status. We could dissect the heck out of this, offering all kinds of minute meanings for each element, but I think that might defeat the point: the New Moon in Aries might be much like choosing a hat. In essence, we are donning an identity with the New Moon in Aries, asserting who we are–it’s no more complicated than that.