No matter how humble our aspirations, this New Moon will have us reaching for more (or better). By Jules Bastien-Lepage 1876 {{PD}}
The New Moon occurs in Gemini on the 13th at 22 Gemini 44, at 12:43 PM Pacific time. The event, with Ceres, forms the base of a loose Finger of God, apex Black Moon Lilith, which of course is an empty point in space–so, symbolically, the New Moon helps point to what isn’t there, at least not yet, but can be felt, like a shift in the tone of a room, in an attitude. We might be tempted to see Pluto as co-apex, but don’t–it’s too wide for the quincunx to Ceres to count, though the NM perfects close enough to its quincunx to be counted, drawing in the power and danger Pluto’s presence can signal through the NM itself–so indicating timing, most likely, a Plutonian element at or near the NM moment. This configuration suggests that Nature, a maternal or authority figure, or ourselves, in the position of exerting our Will/ authority within a situation/ or exerting our position and its prerogatives, may act at the time of the New Moon and set in motion something powerful but invisible–something that stirs Black Moon Lilith’s depths of hidden, ignored, or denied matters, or of rage or injustice.
The only other aspects within reasonable orb are a sextile to Juno and a sesquiquadrate to Mars. These suggest that whatever our current position of empowerment or status (Juno) we easily (and probably immediately) reach for what power that gives us; perhaps this is the fuel to the Finger’s fire, where we step into ‘greater than’ territory (Ceres), potentially stepping on a few toes, promoting ourselves, and/ or taking as our own a more potent role. This action, and/ or our choices (Mars) may be awkward, in terms of fitting with our current position, but that’s the point: this New Moon fosters a Will or an opportunity to take a larger role, to be more than we have been, and though this stirs buried upsets, it also gives us a chance to grow, and to grow our influence.
The Sabian symbol for the New Moon is, ‘Three Fledglings In A Nest High In A Tree’. The fledglings are the ideas we’ll test, the power assertions we’ll try, and possibly the upsets or buried material we’ll bring out into the open–at this point we’ll see if our new role, efforts, or assertions ‘fly’, or plummet to a quick end–and that will tell us where to put our energies in the immediate future.
For ‘Our Fathers’ Godsaga’ by Viktor Rydberg, drawn by John Bauer 1910 {{PD}}
The New Moon perfects at 4:48 AM PDT of the 15th at 24 Taurus 36, within range of conjunction to Sedna, and, despite a relatively large aspect orb, we’ll count the trine of the New Moon to Mars in Capricorn, as the Warrior’s 29 degree placement suggests an assertiveness that can’t be ignored (with its’ current square to Uranus bringing in an element of suddenness or surprise). This may drive the entire NM dynamic, as a must-be-satisfied Mars forces action or decision-making that just so happens to also carry along a deep, denied, and possibly destructive undertone (slightly closer trines to Pluto and Black Moon Lilith, together in Capricorn)–and all this will be happening somewhere deep inside, whispering in the psyche sotto voce, and these may prompt responses from the instincts or those places where we ‘know but don’t know’, leading us in a way most true to our inner angels and demons, rather than in the guise of our conscious choices and intentions.
We add to this a loose semi-square to Juno in Aries, a sextile to Hygeia, and a semi-sextile to Venus; these are likely to be subtle but conflicting influences: one tide in the direction of healthy and loving action, effective moves that promote well-being and that may soothe relationships or finances, with an opposite impulse to have one’s way (originating from a sense of previously having been disrespected), taking that out in small ways in relationships or minor financial indiscretions or petty withholding in either arena.
Scenery of the pond at Shitennō-ji Honbō Park in Osaka, November 2015 Photo by Laitche CC BY-SA 4.0
The Sabian symbol for the New Moon is, ‘A Vast Public Park’. This suggests openness in material matters; Nature shared, resources mutually held, a new state related to these begins. What we hold in common, under a civilized agreement preserving something in a natural state for the benefit of all, takes a new turn. We might ask: how long will that ‘park’ remain a public resource, an environment to share? Replace the word ‘park’ with the appropriate subject related to the NM placement in the natal chart for clues as to where the ‘new start’ may show itself.
It all makes for a kind of earthly upset; could we draw connection to the way Kilauea is splitting open, discharging what’s been below the surface, re-shaping ‘what is’ and the very Earth itself, hot, ‘angry’ (though it’s a bit of a crime to personify Nature that way), spilling forth the destructive and transformative, what ’til now has been hidden, or even denied (as some built their houses amongst the old lava paths)? Sure, we can make the correlation, but for the vast majority of us, we’ll experience this New Moon on a smaller scale and in much more personal ways. The earth may move beneath our feet, opening up to reveal some fairly heady, dangerous stuff, but most likely we’ll experience the New Moon as we experience all extreme points in the Lunar cycle, as an emotional shift, a feeling revelation, a small but vital chance to start over.
Though Mercury has already stationed for turnaround, it hasn’t happened yet; we have to wait until 2:21 AM Pacific time of the 15th for a technical shift in direction. Merc’s direct motion starts at 4 Aries 46, with Mercury’s first post-direction contacts (other than ones received from Luna) coming on the 25th-26th close together: a square to Saturn in Capricorn and a trine to Ceres in Leo. That leaves a relatively long stretch when Merc is picking up speed and unimpeded (as well as not imposing its own agenda) on anything else. Merc in Aries is about communicating who we are, and what we want, as individuals–so expect a spate of realizing just what it is we want or think, then speaking up, speaking out, followed after ten days or so by giving those ideas solid form, or stopping something we’ve found objectionable (Saturn) in a perfect (that is, balanced) expression of our identity, essence, and authority (Ceres, in all her glory in Leo).
Just hours after technical direction, we see the New Moon in Aries, and in the run up to Merc’s first contacts we see Chiron enter Aries, Sun conjoin Uranus then enter Taurus, and Venus sweep over Sedna and then enter Gemini, from which it sextiles Chiron, both still in 00 degrees–and at that point we see Mercury poised to make his statement. This should bring a kind of progression, a building of energies, that starts with a re-focusing on the sense of woundedness from a Universal one to a personal and individual one. This may prompt unusual revelations about the Self and the identity; things we’ve not seen as wounds before suddenly are, while other hurts we’ve assumed may be exposed as nothing at all. Attention shifts, then, to the material, to nurture, to tending those wounds (and in worst-case scenarios, to feeding them!) Meanwhile, relationships, finances, and our values all take it deep, dipping into instincts, things we ‘know but don’t know’, and into our own ‘blind spot’, in order to reveal the wounds, the ‘true’ state of the identity, and to organize and make sense of what transpired during the retrograde phase. Only then, just before Mercury makes its first aspects post-direction, will we know with any certainty what we should do, and how we should proceed. And that’s the essence of my advice at this time: in spite of the direction, wait–you’ll learn a great deal in those ten days that will have a significant impact on your perspective.
Albrecht Dürer – ‘Wing of a Roller’ 1511 {{PD}}
The Sabian symbol for the direction point perhaps offers a formula: ‘A Triangle With Wings’=elevated balance–not a bad goal, at all.
And now for an update on my dream life. I was in what seemed to be the lobby of an old department store, and as people came through the revolving doors I took it upon myself to decide who could come in and who was turned back. Even in the dream I thought I might be overstepping, but everyone supported me in this role and there were no arguments–everything was decided with my intuition, and everyone seemed to see this as valid. Then I toured the building, which was immense, filled with innumerable rooms, and as I moved through the corridors more and more people came along with me. I returned to the lobby as it seemed that’s where I was ‘needed’. A man sat on an elevated platform; he was in intense pain. I knew him from ‘before’ (which I took to be earlier in the dream). He was Indian, had been a soldier, and had been tortured in the Middle East; he was now severely deformed, with part of his spine sticking out of his back, his entire mid-section twisted. I sat before him and cupped my hands around one of his knees. Between my palms appeared a flow of what looked like deep golden marigold petals, and these somehow took away the man’s pain. Then I woke up (or as they say, did I go to sleep to dream my ‘real’ life?) This seemed to be along the same lines as that last dream I shared, so thought it might be of interest to some.
‘Marigolds and Tangerines’ By Félix Vallotton {{PD}}
Now the astrology. Last night around the time of the dream, the Moon and Mercury were conjoined in Aries in my communication 3rd=intuited information on my role or the actions I should take–communication through emotion (or perhaps empathy). Neptune and Hygeia were closely conjoined in Pisces and smack on my Black Moon Lilith=through dreams what has been ignored or denied is explored, the healthy way shown. t Jupiter trine natal Moon and natal Ceres, forming a Water Grand Trine=a glimpse of my ‘natural’ role/ authority, at expressing a personal, nurturing role, or was it a wee peek at the afterlife (Jupiter is now so strongly associated with death). And t NN is sextile my natal Jupiter, and Ceres sextile and Pallas trine my natal Mars, with t Saturn still within orb of a square to that Mars=addressing the Will, Self-actualization, the life direction; it’s the smart thing to do, though difficult to bring into the reality. t Vesta is square my natal Mercury, and this catches natal Neptune at the midpoint=I must face how I think about what I honor–this message is delivered through the dream life. t Sedna closely opposed my natal Venus=time to treasure what I ‘know but don’t know’, what the instincts reveal, and perhaps to find the value in what has, possibly just until the present, been hidden in my ‘blind spot’. And or all of these interpretations could be followed by a great, big question mark 🙂
Of course, these are just guesses, but it’s fun to look at the astrology and see what it might reveal (or, more often, obscure!) Have a wonderful week!
We may not be allowed a glimpse of what the New Moon brings ahead of time. By Paul Spangenberg 1911 {{PD}}
The New Moon perfects at 6:57 PM Pacific time on the 15th at 26 Aries 02, just over two degrees short of conjunction to Uranus. The New Moon is also in close semi-sextile to Sedna, and is novile both Neptune and Hygeia (the latter exact), but is outside acceptable range to anything else. This makes the interesting scenario where we will have the NM event, then an emotional reaction (as the Moon reaches Uranus just a few hours later), then enlightenment (when the Sun arrives in a couple of days).
What can we expect at the New Moon, then? Sudden revelation, possibly via the Higher Mind, or caused by our action (Aries) within the group (Uranus), showing us the health of one or more ‘systems’, material, physical, financial, spiritual, and the challenge is to see the state of these systems for their true status and standing, and if possible, to envision and potentially realize their ideal state (the obscuring and elevating influence of Neptune).
With this New Moon falling in Aries, we should expect new starts to our own methods, choices, actions, and to expression of our Will; its proximity to Uranus late in the sign suggests the consequences of our actions and choices play out in relation to or within the group, or through spontaneous events or ‘accidents’. All these will likely bring ‘healthy’ changes or results (Hygeia), born either from spiritual or creative ideals, or from the depths of the imagination (Neptune–and with that latter may be seen as positive or not-so).
In any case, our instincts, our ‘blind spot’, and/ or what we ‘know but don’t know’ (all Sedna) will be the ‘Wild Card’ of what we’re dealt (or perhaps it’s more accurate to say, What We Deal to Ourselves!) Sedna will be the driving or molding force that informs all other developments, and that means the shape of New Moon events will reflect our own inner landscape, as captured and projected outward by Sedna’s energies. The good news is that the creative and the inclination toward health (Neptune, Hygeia) come with a touch of genius (the novile); what happens offers some brilliant material, it’s just up to us to sort through what may seem more like the capriciousness of the Universe than the revelation of the truly remarkable, in order to find it. The Sabian for the New Moon says it all: ‘Through Imagination A Lost Opportunity Is Regained’. Yes, it is.
Jessie Willcox Smith – ‘Goldilocks and the Three Bears’ 1915 Illustration for a soap company {{PD}}
The New Moon occurs at 6:11 AM Pacific Daylight time at 26 Pisces 53. Both bodies (Sun, Moon) are applying conjoined Chiron, sextile Sedna and catching Uranus at the rough midpoint, square Vesta, and widely square Mars, the latter two together in Sagittarius, with Mars at the stressful 29 degree mark. The New Moon is also headed toward a sesquiquadrate with the North Node, and is in wide separating trine to Jupiter, which suggests what was recently promised by Jupiter is now in the rear-view mirror, not exactly gone, but at least temporarily losing relevance and certainly making connecting with that Jupiterian potential impossible right now (and we might ask ourselves, what ‘new’ do we need to learn, related to that Jupiter possibility, that will make actually obtaining what we want possible? Look to matters of the House where the New Moon and retro Jupiter fall in the natal chart. The NM Mars could make us feel as if we must act on it–but the time’s not right, yet)–the sesquiquadrate to the North Node only adds to this, making the road ahead appear particularly bumpy from our current vantage point.
Forming so close to Chiron suggests the New Moon brings potentials for hurt or healing–but which? We get a clue in the sextile to Sedna, which finds Uranus at the midpoint; this promises that something prompted either by the instincts or the ‘blind spot’ (that is, that we stumble into, rather than deliberately choose) will bring something unexpected or shocking, will garner the input of the group, or will foster understanding, not just intellectually, but emotionally, even intuitively. We must also consider that the knowledge, opportunity, or belief ‘withdrawal’ suggested by Jupiter may be the source of the wounding or healing. Whatever it is, it challenges our commitments, our priorities, or our highest values, with responsibility one way or another falling back on us and our own (possibly) poor decisions or potentially arising from aggression or conflicts sparked by others. This New Moon gives us the opportunity to reckon with our own and others’ ego urges and assertiveness, and to do so via our capacity for creative thinking, or through applying ideals to the imagination (Pisces); like Goldilocks, we’ll need to ask: Are we too aggressive and Self-involved, or are we giving our own needs too little attention or regard, or are we just right? The NM lays the emotional groundwork to successfully deal with this question, and when Mercury retrogrades in Aries on the 22nd, it will be prime time for reviewing and changing our actions (retro in Fire), particularly the way we act out or express the ego and action urges (Aries); we’ll have this New Moon to thank for a least a portion of our insights.
With Mars at its current position (29 Sagittarius) we may feel we’ll have to act in order to learn, but that would be premature–wait for Merc’s turnaround, as more will then be revealed–at this New Moon point, it’s all about feeling, intuiting, and communing, to discover our precise relationship to the Universe–modifications come later. One thing we may have to face at this time is that there is no difference between our woundedness and our ability to heal–and that in response to that awareness, action need not and often should not automatically be our answer to what’s revealed. Hints as to what follows are found here–
Utagawa Hiroshige – ‘Cuckoo Flying Under a Full Moon’ 19th century {{PD}}
The Sabian symbol for the New Moon in Pisces is, ‘The Harvest Moon Illumines A Clear Autumnal Sky’. This suggests opposites, through the imagery of a Full Moon, and autumn rather than the spring that’s soon to come (at least here in the Northern Hemisphere–for those in the Southern Hemisphere, the message may be simple: in the beginning is the end, and it is now). This could imply for Northerners that New Moon events play out through the summer and come to some sort of peak in the fall, or that what is born with the New Moon has the seeds of its completion, its ending, built in. That suggests not only that if we look carefully we will see the outcome to events already implied in their beginnings, promising a ‘harvest’ proportional to our efforts now, but that what happens now may also bring endings–that is, that the New Moon beginning has arisen from the completion of other cycles, that it’s time for other efforts to naturally terminate, conclude, or die. The imagery may also suggest we note Virgo at this point, in any or all of its guises within the personal life. That means subjects, qualities, and even people we associate with the sign may hold one or more keys to the meaning of events. Earth sits in Virgo, and that means those symbols will be literal, or at least tangible; check also the subjects of the House in the natal chart that holds Virgo for clues as to what may inform the New Moon event. ‘Discernment’ may be a key concept–also ‘criticism’, ‘accountability’, ‘results’. The ‘Circle of Life’ may be extraordinarily apparent right now–embrace this as a natural part of things, and appreciate what you have, in the present.
We see a partial Solar eclipse at 27 Aquarius 07 at 1:05 PM Pacific time of the 15th. Aquarius suggests a theme of understanding, beneath the flash of what’s new and original, beneath the trend toward being different, and below the busyness of the intellect and the fussiness of the academic; this is emphasized by the way this New Moon is tucked late in the sign along with the planet Mercury and asteroids Juno and Hygeia, all with less than a 1.25 degree span, so very close together. A New Moon is a time of beginnings, of inception, and in this sign and with these fellow travelers suggests the start to a new way of thinking and feeling centered on a healthy personal sense of empowerment. Somehow we have a better understanding of who we are and of our emotional landscape, and that translates into clearer perceptions in the life area (as determined by subjects of the House) in the natal chart where the eclipse falls.
It also translates into new starts, things begun in the spirit of an emotional need for an intellectual quest–or the intellectual need to discover and connect to the emotions. In whichever way you’re lacking, this Solar eclipse will prompt consideration of the missing facet, likely revealing healthy and fitting ways in which you can empower yourself. This New Moon promises a new and original mindset, tailored to who you are, a revolution in how you approach life itself, a spark that may bring chaos but that ultimately lights the way toward more effective forms of communication between the Self and the Universe. (On a personal note, look to the Houses of the natal chart ruled by Mercury for clues as to and from where that communication might flow).
The Solar eclipse and company also sextiles Uranus, catching Chiron at the midpoint. This implies sudden revelation, with the capacity to heal (most likely) or to wound (a scant possibility). The inclination is to reveal and understand, and so to make a space to heal, or to react radically and cause hurt to the Self or others. The NM also squares Sedna, and we’ll count a wide square to Jupiter, as all together these form a Fixed T-square that is destined to make a bigger splash than we might at first think. The understanding and revelation we receive with the eclipse will create tension among ‘the facts’ or beliefs, and the instincts and those things we ‘know but don’t know’; this discord may lead to the eclipse events, or may spring from them, but in either case will translate into a new understanding, and so to taking a new direction.
One other minor aspect of note: the eclipse is semi-square the point Black Moon Lilith–and of course, that means BML is sesquiquadrate the Earth. This implies that something ignored or denied will cause a problem that leads to eclipse events–or vice versa, that eclipse events bring forward difficult circumstances that have up to now been ignored or denied. This may be, at the time of the eclipse, the most prominent thing, a thing you’d hoped would just go away that now, ‘in your face’, must be dealt with–it could distract from deeper, evolutionary shifts that occur, so that we only later see how much has changed, and what a revelation that change is.
‘The Oak’ By Issak Ilich Levitan c1880 {{PD}}
It all adds up to a kind of revolution, the nature of which is determined by the revelations received; they are instructions on how to empower ourselves in the most positive way possible, and suggest that tension or missteps arise directly from a failure to reconcile the nuts and bolts of the reality picture with our belief system and those things that are a part of our nature. What happens here is described in the Sabian symbol for the eclipse: ‘A Tree Felled And Sawed To Ensure A Supply Of Wood For The Winter’. A resource sacrificed to see us through coming tough times may be what we face with revolution, which is a systemic change meant to foster a better life in a better world–but always, there is a winter that precedes a flourishing spring, one that must be lived through, best we can, as Nature goes through Her cycles and humankind reorganizes into a new system. What happens with the Solar eclipse may be our symbolic supply of wood, meant to see us through a stressful period while the world is rearranged and healed, the terrain becoming ready to bloom around us once again.
Though this is considerably more moonlight than we get with a New Moon, this picture seems to capture the spirit of this NM well. ‘Dubrovnik bei Mondlicht’ (Dubrovnik by Moonlight) 1914 By Eduard Kasparides {{PD}}
We have a handful of interesting pair-ups, aside from the New Moon today. Ceres conjoins the North Node point, creating a conscious awareness of how our current power position is forming our future–and perhaps generating some confusion, fear, or delusion, or an insistence on idealism, because of it (Neptune parallel Zeus)–add to this Mercury conjoined Black Moon Lilith, for a touch of paranoid thinking or obsessive anger or worry, and you set the New Moon stage as one where we may be very concerned over what’s to come. Being anxious, even potentially acting or lashing out, almost becomes a given, as that energy must go somewhere, discharge somehow–and that’s how we make a little explosive casing for New Moon events.
The New Moon is 6:17 PM Pacific time at 26 Capricorn 54, conjoined an already separating Venus, but not close enough to be considered conjoined Pluto, over which Sun and Moon have both recently passed. This scenario suggests that the New Moon event is born as a reaction to recent trauma or change and the risk/ reward potentials it has presented. Now, we are thinking, we must stabilize things, figure out the ‘rules’ as they currently stand, set parameters, contain the matter, or choose a shape and structure for developments, trying to control them. What we may not see is that they have already been given a Capricornian shape, and that the New Moon is actually our reaction to that. Difficulty knowing this may be the function of the semi-square of the Moon to Neptune; we’ll almost certainly struggle, to see our own ideals clearly as we grope for a guideline, or just to make it through what will likely feel like an entirely arbitrary fog. Why are we having such a hard time? we may wonder; it’s Neptune, inciting its own kind of uncertainty principle (though the ‘real’ one is Heisenberg’s, that is an apt analogy for this effect, as well).
The New Moon falls at the rough midpoint of a Mars-Chiron trine, suggesting NM events have some origin in or connection to both our own choices/ actions and our wounded nature, perhaps even that the NM event is our effort at finding a balance between the two influences. The NM is also in rough square to both Uranus and Pallas, both in Aries; it may feel like the NM is our reaction to the unpredictability, erratic nature, and/ or wisdom (or lack of it) of others. Our Willful attempt (Cappy NM) to contain or put up barriers or arrest the Will of others (the Aries placements) finds expression in conflict (the square), but doesn’t require open warfare. The trine of the NM to Sedna says we either access instinct, and so respond adeptly to the ‘threat’, or we respond out of the depths of our own ‘blind spot’, setting other, new physical consequences (Sedna in Taurus) in motion.
Caspar David Friedrich ‘Wanderer above the Sea of Fog’ 1817 {{PD}}
The Sabian symbol for the New Moon is, ‘Pilgrims Climbing The Steep Steps Leading To A Mountain Shrine’. This suggests a building of effort, toward eventual attainment, that is very much in tune with Capricorn, as are both the symbol of the mountain and the humble pilgrim. No matter what shape New Moon events take, and no matter what they are in response to, we embody the sincerity of the pilgrim, who acknowledges there is something bigger, ‘more than’, ‘out there’, and that the only way to understand things in this uncertain world is to take steps, one at a time, that lead us to the sacred place (the shrine of the symbol). And that journey, whether we are conscious of the sacred nature of those steps or not, is life, isn’t it?
Hint for personal New Moon interpretation: Look for the configurations; there’s potential for two Fingers of God (base of NM-Chiron or base of NM-Mars, apex a natal body, also Grand Trine with NM and Sedna, third component a natal body). Remember, for a Finger the apex must be quincunx (150 degrees) from each base element, with an orb of no more than two degrees from both base elements. A Grand Trine can be a little looser–give it 3 degrees orb.
‘Feeding the Doves’ By George Dunlop Leslie {{PD}}
The Dark of the Moon leading up to the New Moon in Sagittarius will be gently fraught with energies that may make us feel a little anxious or aggressive, but that channeled successfully will actually lead to profit, originality, and successfully bringing forward lessons learned in the past and applying them to construct the future (Venus sxt Zeus and semi-sq Mars, Mercury sxt SN/ trine NN, Sun trine Uranus-Pallas) Relationships support ambitions, even if we may find it a tad hard to get others to take action in the way we envision, and despite Merc’s retro status, we see what’s smart, what’s practical, and what is uniquely suited to the current situation. All this is available if we take a cool, intellectual or innovative approach to matters (Juno enters Aquarius), and if we take the Merc retro precaution of being fully aware that there are facets of our decisions and information of which we don’t yet have knowledge.
By the 17th we’ll have found the ‘right’ creative channels and our own most profitable and authoritative role, and our actions and choices are likely fortuitous, despite being a wee bit haunted by doubts or the fear that we’re missing some vital clue. We end up finding that priorities and values are challenged to prove their relevance and veracity; as long as we’re clear on our ideals, we’ll have a solid ability to assess the direction in which our actions and choices are taking us.
Hint: The key to dealing with Mercury retrograde this time around may be in compartmentalizing ‘thought areas’, tackling them in narrow, one-at-a-time fashion that doesn’t demand we mentally process everything at once, just one small specific matter before us–and of course, use our feeling nature, as much or more than we use our minds, to suss out the landscape.
Word image for the weekend is: a dove, caught in a chimney. The global symbol of peace enters a conduit intended to release smoke and toxic gasses and then can’t find its way out. Sounds like the experience of the current Collective spirit! On a personal level, this suggests that our sense of cooperation, our willingness to live in harmony with others, our inner intentionality of causing no harm has taken a wrong turn, and is in danger of being extinguished. We can put it another way: our feelings of hope may be floundering, slowly poisoned by a loss of freedom, autonomy, and a chokingly toxic atmosphere. All is not lost; it will take careful, gentle, persistent efforts, but our sense of hope can be returned to its natural, free state–so don’t give up on those things that ‘keep hope alive’.
Or, is there a scenario in play right now where you feel someone is ‘shoving peace down your throat’, demanding a passive, play-nice interaction, despite your actual feelings. If so, time, with great care, to extricate yourself from constraints and express how you feel.
‘Portrait of Anna Vaughan Hyatt’ 1915 By Marion Boyd Allen {{PD}}
The New Moon falls at 26 Sagittarius 31 at 10:30 PM Pacific time of the 17th, and it sits between a figurative rock and hard place, cradled by Saturn, the rock which is about to vacate Sag for the comfort of home turf Capricorn, and on the other side by ‘hard place’ Venus, over which the Moon has just ‘swept’. As the Moon and Sun are moving swiftly away from one body and the other will ‘fall away’ into a new sign (even as the Sun-Moon themselves soon enter that sign, the Sun set to meet Saturn there), the scenario suggests that the New Moon brings facts, beliefs, knowledge, or other outreach into the reality picture–it’s apparent what the situation truly is, and what it may cost or reward us with factors in–or, we already know the costs or rewards going in, and now find out the impact in real-world terms. That means that new starts come with a balance sheet, and the awareness that we must do something (Fire placement) in reaction to what we learn. Restraint and aesthetics and/ or relationships also factor in, and our eye remains on ‘the prize’ (possibly causing us to fix our gaze on the rear view mirror, rather than the road ahead), even if our goal doesn’t seem related to New Moon events.
The New Moon also squares Chiron, trines Pallas-Uranus, and quincunxes Sedna, suggesting some pain or triggering of old issues springs from NM events, or that the difficult circumstances presented require use of the Chirotic skills (those represented by the natal situation of your Chiron). What occurs is smart, at least in the sense that what happens is the most practical turn of events for the individual, with the potential for the wise move to be spurred by the group or by a ‘fresh’ understanding, provided by the New Moon. Expect some ‘sudden wisdom’, the revelation of which may provide the answer to (or reason for) the pain, and know that what occurs will require either a re-calibration of the instincts, or allow for a glimpse into one or more ‘blind spots’ from which we suffer.
The Sabian symbol for the New Moon is, ‘A Sculptor At His Work’. Aha! There’s that Saturn effect, applying knowledge and/ or working with reality in a talented way (and very possibly a Chirotic one, that is skilled or healing). We shape things as we want them to be, in part unconsciously, via the mechanism of our own instincts and values. Notice that it all funnels into a response to reality, one that may leave us better off than it found us, but that’s totally dependent on how firmly we accept that we are responsible, we are the creators.
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.
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