Moon in Capricorn Today

Today's hard-working Capricorn Moon enters the late degrees, where all the outer planets await an infusion of grounded and centered determination. During the day, the Moon's effects will depend on where she touches your birth chart ... the mood of the day will be one of steady effort.

By evening (5:30 pm EDT), the aspects to later planets begin with an inconjunct to Mars in passionate Leo ... perhaps it's time for Leonine Mars to stop grandstanding and get some work done?

By 7:30 pm EDT, the Cap Moon flows energy with Saturn in Virgo (trine), each ready to approve the other's dedication and focus. By 10:00 pm, there's a bright, almost edgy flow to Neptune in Aquarius (semisextile), a reminder that realizing visions takes real world effort.

As the midnight hour approaches, the Moon flows energy with Jupiter in Pisces, helping manifest whatever expansive Jupiter might wish for. Then, the Moon goes void-of-course before emerging into electric Aquarius at 1:00 am EDT Tuesday. If your dreams tonight bring you messages, pay attention! The Moon in Aquarius might send flashes of intuition, helping you set your sails in these winds of change.

Moon in Capricorn Today

The Moon in solidly into grounded Capricorn, and will be all day. Leaving an earlier conjunction with Ceres and Pluto, having absorbed their messages about the importance of structure and hard work, she's on a mission to get everyone on track to achieve big goals.

The Capricorn Moon is inconjunct the Sun in butterfly-like Gemini, saying, get serious! Stopping checking out all the options in the cosmos and choose one to work on! She's moving into conjunction with the North Node, that place we're meant to go but prefer to avoid, pointing at an important goal, saying this one, work on this one today. At the same time, she'll oppose the Venus and South Node in Cancer, the place we're comfortable and competent. Cancer loves to stay home and feel safe, but Capricorn is all about walking our talk and getting on with life.

Today, holiday weekend though it is, we may not be able to relax without accomplishing something –– so get to it, and get 'er done. Tomorrow is Memorial Day in the USA, the day we acknowledge the sacrifices of men and women who have served in the Armed Forces. The energy of Capricorn is the energy of the good soldier: determined, loyal, hard working, and committed to achieving the goal, and we remember and honor these gifts of service.

At times, Capricorn energy can feel overwhelming, like we're being asking climb one more mountain when we're already exhausted. The gift of Capricorn is the power of Earth, so if life feels impossible, get grounded. Stand with both feet flat on the ground, breathe deeply and steadily, and feel the power of the land. Let the energy of the Earth flow up, filling you with strength. Now take a few steps toward your goal. When you need more support, stand and breathe again, letting the energy fill you. The Earth is always there.

The Moon Transitions Today

The exuberant Sagittarius Moon sends a few last bright rays from her torch back to Mars in Leo as their trine wanes and she heads toward the stately pavane of the late-degree planets.

Squaring Saturn in Virgo, squaring Jupiter in Pisces with Uranus newly in Aries, sextiling Neptune in Aquarius with Chiron newly in Pisces, and no doubt aware that across this morning's void-of-course she will join Ceres and Pluto in early Capricorn ... the Moon may be wondering if her Sagittarian enthusiasm can lighten all this Water and Earth up a bit!

The Moon does more that just circle endlessly through the signs, though. She offers us the chance to spiral; to feel, experience, integrate, and embody the shifting energies of the worlds as they touch our lives. So, learn all you can this morning while the Moon puts on her Sag philosopher's hat and sits with the outer planets. At 12:40 pm EDT, she goes void-of-course until 2:45 pm EDT, when she enters grounded and determined Capricorn.

This will be a Capricorn afternoon, and there's no shortage of work to be done. Capricorn is the workhorse of the Zodiac, not generally known for good spirits or good times. But when there's a mountain to be climbed, this is the energy we need. Which of your goals seems insurmountable? Choose that one to reexamine with the light of the Capricorn Moon, and a way might open.

The gifts of Capricorn are a deep understanding of how stuff works, the determination to stay the course no matter what obstacles appear, and the love of hard work. This is where we chop wood, carry water, and keep on, keepin' on. Grab a shovel and dig in!

Moon in Sagittarius

Today's Moon in on the journey ... you might be hearing Cat Stevens singing, "Oh, I'm on my way, I know I am ..." She's in the middle of Sagittarius with no classical aspects coming her way. I'm seeing the Fool card in Joanna Powell Colbert's gorgeous Gaian Tarot; someone who looks happy to be hitting the road and confident good things are just around the corner.

Sagittarius invites us to get on with our lives, enticing us with tales of marvelous places and exciting adventures. The Moon is now leaving some inconjunct aspects (adjustment needed!) with the North Node, now in Cancer, and Mercury in Taurus. Cancer and Taurus love to stay at home, safe and comfortable, and the Sag Moon says, come out! The world is calling you! Come taste how delicious life can be!

Today is a day for exploring something new, maybe something that has been calling to you for a while that you just haven't found time for. The Sag Moon is knocking on your door. She's got your ticket and passport ... go for it!

Full Moon in Sagittarius, Thursday, May 27

It's almost as if the Moon can't wait to leave the intense depths of Scorpio for the exuberant generosity of Sagittarius ... after a four minute void-of-course, she pops into the bright lights at 8:16 am EDT, ready for a hearty breakfast and, oh, are those mimosas on that buffet table?

The Moon opens with a challenge (square) to Chiron, newly emerged into Pisces and still conjunct Neptune. The Moon in Sagittarius wants to engage Chiron's heart, turning the visions of Pisces into active teaching and mentoring.

Later in the morning (11:40 am EDT), the Sag Moon shares some bright, edgy energy (semisextile) with Ceres and Pluto in hard-working Capricorn. The Sag Moon wants to know what Ceres and Pluto have to teach her, and probably wouldn't mind seeing them lighten up a bit and take a break.

Then, just after 7:00 pm EDT, the Moon reaches her opposition to the Sun in Gemini, creating today's Full Moon in Sagittarius. This Full Moon shines light on how we are balancing our needs for depth (Sag) and breadth (Gemini); being heart centered (Sag) and enjoying a bright, active mind (Gemini); finding our path (Sag) and keeping our options open (Gemini).

Although big changes have already been happening, this Full Moon feels like Opening Night ... the rehearsals are over, the big-name cast is poised backstage, we've found our seats, the house lights dim as the orchestra strikes up the overture. The spotlight on center stage begins to brighten. This is THE big show of the season, and considering what we paid for the tickets, we really hope we like it ... here goes!

Here are some wonderful essays about this Full Moon and the events to come:

Mary Plumb's Welcome to the Aries Point is just one of the essays on The Mountain Astrologer worth reading.

Mooncircles.com offers two essays, one from April Elliott Kent.

The Sabian symbols for this Full Moon are fascinating ... read about them here.

And Auntie Moon brings us right to the center of the galaxy ... a Sagittarian journey indeed.

Moon in Scorpio

The Moon now is deep in the middle degrees of Scorpio, sign of the Shadow. Her impact on us today will depend on where she touches our charts, as there are no aspects to planets until this evening.

Scorpio explores the hidden places, so naturally this sign carries powerful shadow energies of its own. One danger in exploring this fixed Water energy is getting stuck; Scorpio's keen awareness of the hidden side of life can lead to suspicion, resentment, and a kind of dark anger that blocks compassion and understanding.

At this time of great change, as we move toward the gateway of tomorrow's Full Moon in Sagittarius, we all have moments of feeling overwhelmed, wondering whether we're strong enough to carry through into whatever new forms are coming. Today's Moon offers a time to check in with ourselves and ask whether we're letting fear hold us back. Are we feeling our challenges are too big? Is there perhaps resentment that our lives can't unfold in some simpler, easier way? Such feelings are signs we're at a threshold, a place where we choose once again whether to step onto our path or hang back.

A healthy respect for power, open-hearted skepticism, and the ability to be compassionate while maintaining our own boundaries are within Scorpio's gift. Today's Moon can help you explore your own fears. What skills, tools and support do you need to accept the challenge, go on the quest, or face the demon? Today, ask the Scorpio Moon to help you learn to see in the dark.

At 9pm EDT, the Moon enters the late degrees of Scorpio and begins meeting other planets by first challenging Mars in Leo (a square). Although the classical idea is that fire and water don't mix, a deep creative energy can emerge when these two elements combine. The most powerful artistic expressions are fueled by the deep psyche.

Starting about 3:20 am EDT, the Moon reaches aspects with the outer planets, flowing energy with Saturn in Virgo (sextile), the the Jupiter-Uranus conjunction (trine) and Neptune-Chiron conjunction (square). Although some of these aspects are considered easy and some challenging, the Scorpio Moon will bring the same question to each: What is hidden here? How can we find the golden treasure?

Moon in Scorpio

The Moon dives deep into incisive, shadowy Scorpio today, ready to explore the depths, uncover the mystery, and find gold in the darkness. Right now, she sends bright energy to the Ceres-Pluto conjunction in Capricorn, as she will for most of the morning.

Ceres and Pluto have been traveling together for a while now, two "dwarf planets" who share mythic as well as astrological space. Ceres is better known as Demeter, the grain mother who brought growth and abundance to the Earth each Spring, and gave life and her heart to Persephone, her beautiful daughter. Together they celebrated the resurgence of the green Earth.

The story of Demeter's loss told most often in modern times is one of forcible abduction, of rape, and of a mother's frantic grief and deep rage, as Pluto (Hades) sees the lovely Persephone and takes her, imprisoning her underground. In times of traumatic loss, we identify with Demeter's fierce determination to stop at nothing, even the ending of life, to rescue her child.

And yet there is another, older layer to this tale, in which Persephone is the natural, rightful queen of the regions of the dead, the one who brings comfort in loss. The forcible taking by a male god seems to be a patriarchal rewrite, a pattern we see in other myths. The Oracle at Delphi was a goddess until Apollo took over. Many Celtic tales describe the despoiling of magic wells and fairy springs by knights and kings who took the guardian spirits, all female, by force.

And now Ceres and Pluto, Demeter and Hades, Earth Mother and Lord of the Underworld, are together in the sky in Capricorn, Earth sign of hard work, steady effort, responsibility, and consequences. Today's Scorpio Moon hands us Hekate's torch and says, take a look. How are things going these days in the deep places? Are the structures sound? Will they support you in the times to come? What might you find here in the darkness? What is down there that needs to be brought to light?

About 2:15 EDT, the Moon trines Venus in mothering Cancer, Hekate and Demeter now together, sharing energy to grieve and heal our losses, and protect the tender heart. By this evening (7:00 pm EDT), the Moon will oppose Mercury in Taurus, calling the planet of mind and communication to acknowledge that however wonderful things may look on the surface, it's always wise to be aware of what is hidden. Without strong healthy roots holding deep in the earth, plants cannot weather the storms.

The Moon in Scorpio brings the power of transformation when we have the heart courage to look into our own darkness.

Moon in Libra

The lovely Libran Moon graces the late degrees today, moving now into a bright flow of energy (sextile) with Mars in fiery Leo that will come exact at 2:30 om EDT. With the right partner in a beautiful setting, this could be a magically passionate time. This same energy can illuminate a wonderfully creative idea, or create a bright expression of your heart's desire. Dance, paint, collage, grab a pencil and write down that dream or poem, and feel the love.

Wherever Libra graces your birth chart, the Moon will bring opportunities for balance and harmony today. Your words may have added calm, charm and persuasiveness. A shadow side of Libra can be seeking harmony at the expense of self. With the connection to Mars in Leo today, you may feel more clearly when this is happening for you––pay attention to those messages. Another shadow of Libra can be playing devil's advocate, seeking a kind of balance by getting someone else to change. Leonine Mars could accentuate this side today, so pay attention if you find yourself talking someone into something they might not truly support. There can be difficult consequences down that road.

Tonight at midnight, the Libra Moon joins the ongoing late-degree outer planet party, with an easy flow of energy (trine) to visionary Neptune, who sits right next to Chiron in dreamy Pisces. The Moon also touches the Saturn opposition to Jupiter and Uranus. She'd like Saturn to be a bit lighter and less anxious, but also wants to see more clarity from Jupiter-Uranus in Pisces. How can earthy Saturn manifest anything if the Piscean visions never take a clear shape? Perhaps the Libran Moon can bring some creative clarity, not to mention style, to the cosmic vision.

Right after visiting the outer planet gala, the Moon retires for a void-of-course time before entering intense Scorpio about 2:15 am EDT. Look for deep, Jungian dreams tonight that offer important information if you're willing to explore their depths.

Moon in Libra

The Moon sails through harmonious, beautiful Libra today, on a day with no official aspects, giving her all the space she needs to create balance.

She is inconjunct Mercury in Taurus right now (inconjuncts are not one of the classic Ptolemaic aspects, but I note them), and this "angle of adjustment" has got to be one of the easiest in the whole zodiac, since Venus rules both Libra and Taurus. The Libra Moon becomes the initiator, Taurus Mercury "mind" becomes the one who manifests, and so the heart leads the way to balanced and beautiful thought and communication.

This afternoon about 5pm EDT, Saturn finally turns direct, soon to leave Virgo for the last time this cycle. For everyone, this signals a time when business can go forward again. And those of us who've had Saturn driving over sensitive chart points again and again can let out that long-held breath and know that this pass is the last.

If you've been having a tough Saturn time, today's Libra Moon may be a source of calm and balance, helping to find Saturn's gift, accept it, and weave it into a beautiful pattern.

Moon in Virgo Today

The cautious Virgo Moon edges into the late-degree planet party, walking the last bit of the red carpet now with a bit of a blast (semisextile) from Mars in playful Leo ... maybe to get her through the door and onto the dance floor!

Before the celebrity limos arrive, our Virgo Moon will have a chance to tidy up loose ends, check off a few more items from the to-do list, and provide the kinds of practical help that delight the Virgo soul.

Later today, aspects to the late-degree planets begin: opposition to Jupiter in Pisces at 7pm EDT, conjunction with Saturn at 7:15, then an inconjunct to Neptune, followed by an opposition to Uranus before slipping out a side door for a quiet void-of-course rest at at 10:30pm before entering calm, harmonious Libra at 10:50 pm.

The big guys remain in the visionary sign of Pisces, and so the Virgo Moon's question to each one is the same: How do we take these cosmic opportunities and ground them? How do we manifest something real and practical that will help us live our lives? And will there be chocolate? (Well, my Virgo Moon always wants chocolate...)

The new Libra Moon's first aspect is a square back to Neptune-Chiron, asking the what-do-we-do-with-all-this? question once again. With a trine (smooth flowing energy) to the Sun in bright, inquisitive Gemini about 2:15 am EDT Sunday morning, we may catch a glimmer of a new kind of answer ... Gemini wants to connect, share, and network, and Libra wants balance, harmony, and artistry. Perhaps there is a beautiful, creative way to manifest the Pisces vision we're offered, and tomorrow's Libra Moon can help us see it. Look for lovely dreams overnight.

Moon in Virgo Today

The Moon in early Virgo today is reaching for her checklist, this Moon sign being known for attending to details and getting her ducks in a row. She is just leaving a trine (easy flowing energy) with Mercury in steady Taurus, and makes no other aspects today, which on one hand could aid her focus on finally getting the papers filed and the computer backed up, but on the other tends to leave her out of today's big sky events.

Other energies swirling around today may take your focus away from Virgo's ducks. Venus, now in sensitive, nurturing Cancer, is anchoring a set of aspects with ALL of the outer planets, making this a time for shifts and changes in your one-on-one relationships, with your creativity, and potentially with your finances (since Venus is one of the "money" planets).

Venus' position in early Cancer now turns the Saturn-Pluto-Uranus/Jupiter T-Square into a Grand Cross, with oppositions and squares creating challenges all around the zodiac. Venus is also receiving flows of energy (trines) from Neptune and Chiron.

And yet, because of the elements involved, the challenge of this Grand Cross may not feel so much in-your-face, as shifting the ground under your feet: All the planets involved are either in Earth signs (Capricorn and Virgo, with Mercury in Taurus trining Pluto) or in Water (Pisces and Cancer). Neptune is still in late Aquarius, but she's a very watery planet.

Earth and Water are receptive, responsive elements, both yin energies. This may make the challenge one of finding ways to ground the dreams, visions, and feelings that Uranus, Jupiter, Neptune and Chiron are bringing to us; figuring out how to work with Pluto, Saturn and Mercury to create something tangibly real. What do we really want? What can we really have? Can we create a container big enough and strong enough to hold our biggest dreams? ... These are the kinds of questions that might emerge.

Virgo is not only about adding up the numbers and checking the total. The deepest desire of Virgo is to serve, to find ways of helping others that are pragmatic, practical and real. So perhaps the focus of today's Virgo Moon will be to help figure out exactly how to make the big visions of the cosmos real in our everyday lives, while making sure we all get breakfast. Have a great day :)

Moon in Leo, into Virgo

Yesterday's Moon in Leo was alone on center stage, enjoying the spotlight. Today she's joined the high profile late-degree party, and is finishing her walk down the red carpet with Mars in Leo now. The last few hours may have been dramatic!

By midafternoon (beginning around 3:45 pm EDT), the Moon will aspect the opposition between Saturn in Virgo and Jupiter-Uranus in Pisces, lending her influence to Saturn's practicality and wanting Jupiter-Uranus to turn their Pisces visions into something passionate and real. At 5:45 pm EDT, the Moon opposes Neptune in late Aquarius and Chiron in early Pisces with the same message: Visions are lovely things, but we need to express them ... let's get passionate and creative about what we want!

At 7:45 pm EDT, the Leo Moon squares the Sun in placid Taurus to join the dance ... and succeeds, as the Sun enters bright, social Gemini! Having moved the Sun, the Moon takes a void of course rest until 9:00 pm EDT, when she settles into practical, analytical Virgo, where those wonderful, passionate, creative ideas can be evaluated and put into service ... the next step in the cycle of becoming.

The discerning eye of the Virgo Moon continues to oppose Neptune and Chiron, wanting to ground Pisces' visions in something useful. Then at 10:00 pm EDT, the Virgo Moon flows energy with Venus, now in nurturing Cancer ... a combination that spells practical care, grounded nurturing, and service at home. If you feel the urge tonight to clean closets and bake bread, this could be why!

Moon in Leo

The Moon shines in early Leo, without aspects to other planets until she joins Mars in Leo early tomorrow morning. The strength of this Leo Moon's energy will depend on what she touches in your birth chart ... in which House does the Lion rule? Are there any planets or key angles the Moon will touch today?

In Leo, the Moon is a queen, strong and charismatic. Think of Inanna, Queen of Heaven, who embodied the archetypes of queen, lover, and sovereignty, who led armies in war and willingly explored the depths as well as the heights of experience. Today is a day to feel our strength and shine our light in the world.

Inanna is also associated with Venus, and Venus is highlighted in astrology all this week. Now at 28 degrees Gemini, she touches the Sun, Uranus, Jupiter, Neptune and Chiron, all clustered in the late degrees and so merging their energies. You may find relationships, creative work, and/or financial matters shifting this week as the visionary energies of the outer planets, fueled by the Sun, touch Venus, our planet of relating to all things.

Moon in Cancer, into Leo

The Moon, now in the late degrees of Cancer, will touch the many planets hanging around in the late degrees of other signs today. She's already tipped her hat to Mars in Leo (semisextile), as if to say she'll be joining him soon.

With the Sun at 27 Taurus, Jupiter at 27 Pisces, Saturn at 27 Virgo, Venus at 28 Gemini, Neptune at 28 Aquarius, Uranus at 29 Pisces and Chiron at 0 Pisces, you can see it's a real late-degree-ready-to-move-on party. The Moon is moving into orb to activate all that now, through this afternoon.

This combination of Earth, Air and Water signs, with the personal planets in Earth and Air and the outer, cosmic ones in Air and Water, continues the energy we saw at the New Moon ... an opportunity to ground our dreams and visions in reality and share them with others. The Moon in late Cancer, her home sign of tribe and security, connects these energies to our homes, here on Earth, with our tribes, and in our hearts.

Whatever matters most to you, devote some energy today to making it real and sharing it with others. If you open to it, your intuition will guide you.

About 4:30 pm EDT, the Moon goes void of course, resting for just half an hour before emerging on center stage, standing in the spotlight, in passionate, creative Leo. This evening is your chance to take center stage and shine. So clear your throat, fluff up your aura, and get ready to sing "I just can't wait to be king!"

Moon in Cancer

The Moon is At Home, reveling in her home sign of cardinal Water that is Cancer. Making none of the major Ptolemaic aspects today, the Moon is about to join the South Node in the sky, that point of familiarity, what we already know, what the past has given us, what makes us feel secure ... all the Moon herself represents.

So does this energy keep us holed up today, barricaded in our home cave, covers pulled over our heads as we curl into ourselves?

Well, maybe ... a soft rain falls outside my window as I write and the light is gray as a breeze moves the curtain gently back and forth. OK, it's not a curtain, it's an old tablecloth. I haven't made curtains for that window yet. So maybe today is for homemaking, taking care of ourselves and our loved ones with comfort food and warm hugs, and real curtains.

Let's remember too that the Moon's homeplace, the 4th House, is also home to the deep psyche, all the parts of ourselves who live (and often hide) inside that cave, curled up under the covers. So maybe this very Moon-ish day is a time for soulmaking, bringing our heart's core whatever comfort it most wants to feel secure enough to peek out from under the covers. With enough love, maybe our heart's core will even step outside the cave today and let the rain fall on our upturned faces.

Moon Transitioning Today

The Moon in late Gemini now helps Venus activate a powerful sky pattern:

Moon-Venus in Gemini are bright, engaging, and wanting to make connections. They trine (flow energy easily) with Neptune-Chiron at the Aquarius-Pisces border, receiving and tranmitting far-seeing and far-seeking visions from the cosmos.

At the same time, Moon-Venus squares (challenges) the Saturn-Uranus+Jupiter opposition, trying in Gemini fashion to get these opposing sides to talk it out, get communication going, and find a way to connect. Old and new, past and future, tradition and innovation can learn from each other. Pluto the transformer is close to opposing Moon-Venus, adding a deep urgency to this need to connect. Gemini understands the magic of synergy!

There's a sense in which Moon-Venus this morning acts as herald (one of Mercury's key roles, and Merc rules Gemini), pointing our attention at this forming T-square in the sky ... in less than two weeks, the Cardinal Cross will line up. Moon-Venus is telling us now, look! Check this out! ... Can we talk about it?

In a few hours, at 1pm EDT, the Moon leaves Gemini and goes void of course until she enters Her home sign of Cancer ... ahhhhh! home again! ... about 45 minutes later. Her journey through Cancer begins with a sextile (bright energy flow) with Mercury and they share a cup of tea and talk about cozy things. Tonight (10:30 pm EDT) brings an opposition to Pluto ... balancing the drive to achieve things in the world (Pluto in Capricorn) with the desire to stay and home and relax (Moon in Cancer). We need both :)

Moon in Gemini

The Moon bounces through the middle degrees of Gemini now, heading into a bright flow of energy with Mars in Leo later today (about 6:30 EDT).

This energy is all about creative expression, with Mars in passionate, playful, let-me-show-you-what-I've-got Leo ready to take center stage with something fun, and Gemini Moon saying, sure, let's make it shiny, and, oh! can we add this in? and, hey, this idea might work, too, and, wow, let's get this wonderful new thing out to as many people as we can!

In this waxing New Moon phase, what a great time for giving your creative concept wings and letting it fly!

Moon Entering Gemini

The Moon begins pulling out of the Sun's path to share her gentler light once again. Still touching the outer planets in late Capricorn and Aquarius, she grounds their visions and dreams. Last night's dreams were crowded with people and activities shifting so quickly I couldn't hold on to the images, so I'm letting the Moon keep them for me.

She's heading now into a brief void-of-course time, about 8:30 to 9:20 am EDT, before emerging into Gemini, sign of connections, ideas, concepts, and communication. After the void, it's time to craft your best wishes to send out into the cosmos, your intentions for last night's Taurus New Moon.

The Gemini Moon's first aspect will be a square (challenge) back to Chiron, new in Pisces. This connection highlights our need to understand Chiron's emerging Piscean self and work actively on our own healing and integration. The Radical Virgo's recent posts on Chiron are a great place to begin.

Making our wishes come true begins with sharing them. Articulating what we want and need, choosing the right ears to hear, and sending clear messages are Gemini skills. Dana Gerhardt shares a lovely ritual for sending wishes to Venus today (or any Friday, her day). For ideas on where to look for Taurean intentions, see Auntie Moon's post about owning your Taurus.

Today's Moon energy is about connection and communication. She'll challenge Ceres and Pluto in Capricorn (inconjuncts) this afternoon, reminding them that networking is a great way to reach our goals, as Venus in Gemini energizes the Sun in Taurus (semisextile), sending a similar message: Only connect!

New Moon Intentions

Setting intentions and making wishes at the time of the New Moon is as ancient and as new as a waxing sliver of moonlight. Having survived the dark of the Moon, our hearts lift as we see her return. Gardening by the Moon applies to the garden of our desires as well as gardens of earth.

A lunar way of setting intentions flows better for me than will-based affirmations and the idea that we create our own realities. With a Pluto-Moon-Ascendant conjunction opening my chart, I am all too aware that reality creation happens completely outside my control most of the time! And yet our yearnings, our wishes, do manifest ... sometimes in unexpected ways. Working consciously with the Moon brings opportunities for clarity, and for aligning ourselves with larger patterns.

Making wishes with the New Moon is a yin way of working. The Moon is yin to the Sun's yang, and the New Moon is the yin part of the lunar cycle. As each point of this duality holds its opposite within, so this most yin time holds the greatest potential for bringing new things to light and to life.

Some months ago, astrologer Dena DeCastro interviewed Shon Clark about working with the Moon, a great introduction how this might work for you. Another good resource is Jan Spiller's book New Moon Astrology.

The keys are:
• wait until after the New Moon has come exact,
• align your wishes with the energies of each New Moon and your birth chart
• create wishes that resonate with your heart––if it doesn't feel right, rephrase
• make your wish and release it to the Moon and the cosmos.

You may see the effects of your wishing as early as the Full Moon after the New, or they might unfold over the next six months as the Moon reaches a Full Moon in the sign of the previous New Moon. Sometimes, of course, life does not unfold as we expect, and this too is part of the Moon's wisdom. Whatever happens, becoming aware of the Moon's cycles and patterns brings gifts of its own.

May all your best wishes come true!

(photo of Aquilegia vulgaris by Frank Vincentz, Wikimedia Commons)

New Moon in Taurus Today

The Moon, now in mid Taurus, draws closer to the Sun for the New Moon conjunction that comes exact at 23 degrees of Taurus at 9:00 pm EDT tonight. This New Moon gathers to itself an amazing amount of energy, creating aspects to most of the planets in the sky. At this time of release and renewal, we have a beautiful window to set intentions and make wishes for whatever we want to manifest in our lives.

The seeding time flowing from the New Moon will be powerful, so take time over the next few days, beginning after the New Moon comes exact, to ground and center yourself, reach a point of calm and clarity, and ask for your heart's desire.

Earth energy is strong in the sky right now: The New Moon itself is in Taurus, fixed Earth, sign of the patient gardener. The New Moon flows energy in trine with Saturn in Virgo, sign of practical service. Mercury in Taurus likewise trines Pluto and Ceres together in Capricorn, sign of commitment and hard work. The North Node is also in Capricorn. Lots of energy for creating tangible form, making it real.

The outer planets remain in signs of vision and creative imagination: Uranus, bringer of the new, is joined with expansive Jupiter in Pisces. Chiron, maverick and wounded healer, leads Neptune, bringer of dreams and visions, from the last of Aquarius into Pisces. And all connect to the New Moon, Jupiter-Uranus by sextile and also opposite Saturn, and Neptune-Chiron by square and also inconjunct to Saturn. Astrologer and Jungian analyst Liz Greene says that whenever Saturn aspects the outer planets, something will manifest. Let us make that something the best wishes of our hearts.

Even Mars and Venus join the festival. Venus in bright Gemini is semisextile the New Moon, saying, wow, look at the connections we can make here. Mars in passionate, playful, creative Leo will be in wide square to the New Moon, and will square the Moon exactly beforehand, perhaps whispering advice in her ear as he pushes her out into center stage.

On this date in 1917, three Portuguese children watching sheep in the hills first saw a vision that became known as Our Lady of Fatima. A very Taurean setting for the Lady to choose, her monthly visions ended six months later with the Sun dancing in the sky. About six months from now, at the Scorpio Full Moon in November, the Moon once again in Taurus, we will see more clearly the effects of this "opening night."

Where this New Moon falls by House and aspect in your own chart will point to areas of especially powerful wishing, but with this much energy around to manifest, seeds planted now will surely grow.

Moon in Taurus

In this moment, this one right now, pause. Take in a deep, slow breath. Exhale easily and fully. Bring your attention to your feet, whether you are standing, sitting, reclining. Relax your toes. Feel the chakras in your soles opening to the energy of the Earth. Allow that energy to flow up into your feet, ankles, legs and through your body. Cycle it back into the Earth. Only connect!

We are so grounded right now. The Moon in Taurus, a sign she loves, joins Mercury in Taurus and trines (easy flowing energy) Pluto and Ceres in Capricorn. With the Sun in Taurus, North Node in Capricorn, and Saturn in Virgo, there is a lot of Earth energy around today. Revel in the sense of calm, stability and security. Feel yourself held in Gaia's arms and experience the joy of Her abundance.

So, yes, maybe today things won't move too quickly ... or at all. You may feel twinges of anxiety about changes you're experiencing, or changes you feel are coming. You may even sense outright resistance, a feeling that it's better to stick with what you know. These are part of Taurus too, so check in with yourself, address any concerns, and connect to Taurus' deep sense of trust.

As we head into tomorrow's New Moon, full of Earth energy imbued with visionary energies for change, we can use today to rest, reflect, gather and focus our strength, and connect with the support beneath our feet as we prepare to manifest our dreams.

Mercury Cycles

Mercury ends his retrograde in Taurus today, and even now, though technically still "moving backwards," he's gone as far as he'll go, a pause before allowing communications to flow in the way we modern folk prefer.

In the midst of this retrograde, I sat in a hotel room on Cape Cod on a gray and rainy weekend. Standing on an Atlantic beach with a sharp wind blowing in my face, while enlivening, can only last so long ... my plan had been to catch up online, holed up with hot tea and chocolate. But wait! The hotel's router self-destructed the evening before I arrived, and wasn't fixed until the day I left. Sigh. Mercury retrograde.

And yet ... those gray, chilly days proved to be a turning point, a time of reflection when every book I picked up fell open to the words I needed to read. Hauling my laptop into a coffeeshop in Provincetown (thank you, Wired Puppy!), I checked my email, chatted with a few friends, downloaded some podcasts, and drove back to my quiet room.

My work with the Moon is attuning me to cycles ... her cycles, of course, but I find myself paying more attention to rhythms of all kinds. That particular evening, I learned that Mercury retrogrades are part of a cycle! Who knew! (and yes, a 'duh' is in here too)

When you get a moment, but definitely before the next Mercury retrograde, go listen to Episode 8 of the podcasts available at Astrology for the 21st Century. This insightful astrologer (who has a very soothing voice) turns our anxieties about this "difficult" time on their pointy little heads and situates Mercury retrogrades within the cosmic messenger's ongoing cycle of waxing and waning.

The midpoint of each retrograde is the nadir of Mercury's cycle, the "New Mercury" point when seeds are planted. The midpoint of each direct cycle is the "Full Mercury" when what we planted bears fruit. So the re- things we are told to do during a retrograde––reflect, revisit, revise––are not what we're forced to do because direct motion isn't happening, but opportunities to seed something new.

All the retrogrades this year are in Earth, and this one trined over my Moon, Mars and North Node while opposing my Saturn, asking for a review of how I'm working my life plan and how I feel about it––exactly what the broken router in Truro led me to.

My favorite metaphor from the podcast is about hand stitching. A straight running stitch goes fast but is weak; there's no reinforcement. Backstitching adds the strength needed to keep the bits together, and retrogrades are all about the backstitching. The stitches I set in Truro might be wobbly, but they're there; I hope they hold!

(rain photo by Massimo Catarinella, quilt photo by Arria Bell, Wikimedia Commons)

Moon in Aries

The Moon flies through the second half of Aries today, bringing more of her bright fire into our lives. She flowed energy to Mars in passionate Leo overnight, and is right now adding extra sparkle to Venus in Gemini's dance of ideas and connection.

And maybe it's the Aries energy warming the cosmic winds that will fill Mercury's sails, turning his movement direct at 6:30 pm today!

Around midnight tonight EDT, the Aries Moon will share her impulsive enthusiasm with the outer planets before leaving Aries and resting void-of-course until she enters Taurus just before 3:00 am.

Moon in Aries

The Moon strides through fiery Aries today, striking into uncharted, open territory. Now leaving her challenge to Pluto and Ceres in staid, respectable Capricorn (bye, Mom! bye, Dad!), she heads into the unknown with open-hearted enthusiasm.

With no aspects to be made today to planets in the sky, this Aries Moon's effects will depend on where she falls in your birth chart. And since Aries is the sign of new beginnings, if you're not sure where Aries energy is, today's a great day to track down that chart or pop over to one of the websites where you can get one –– the Swiss site, Astro-Dienst is one!

An Aries Moon can bring clarity on what we want, and the drive to go for it. She can be impulsive in this sign, and sometimes quick to anger, so keep in touch with the Sun and Mercury in calm, patient Taurus as well. Let Aries bring clarity to our emotions without drawing us into words or actions we might regret ... opening our hearts with the fire of compassion.

Pisces to Aries

Today is Mother's Day in the US, and today the Moon completes her cycle in Pisces, sign of endings and giving back, and gives birth to herself in Aries, sign of the new thing erupting into life, mother and child both, modeling the cycle of growth and change as she does for us again and again and again.

Love and hugs to mothers in all realms and worlds! We would not *be* without our mothers :)

Now, the Moon ends the late degrees of Pisces by merging with the power already there: joining the Jupiter-Uranus conjunction, flowing bright energy back to the Neptune-Chiron conjunction (semisextile), and opposing Saturn as he valiantly tries to ground all that flowing Piscean visionary energy.

Entering her void-of-course phase around 4:15 EDT (pause, deep grounding breaths), she emerges bright and glowing in Aries about an hour later, 5:30 EDT.

Now her role changes to energizer, challenging planets in Earth to get up and move! The Aries Moon will flow some electricity to Mercury in Taurus around 10:30 pm EDT, then move to square off Ceres and Pluto in Capricorn early tomorrow morning (around 1:30 am).

(Wikimedia Commons picture of the day by Toby Hudson)

Moon in Pisces

The Moon glows in mid-Pisces now, moving to flow energy to the Nodes of the Moon (sextile North, trine South). This afternoon, She'll challenge Mars in Leo to more visionary creative expression, ask networking Venus in Gemini to widen her connections to include the cosmos, and then flow energy to the Sun, sending healing waters to Taurus' fertile ground.

With Mars continuing to challenge the Sun, there's plenty of energy to get things done, but take time today to enjoy the world around you and appreciate abundance. A Pisces Moon and Taurus Sun want us to feel the universe as a garden of form and spirit, physicality and soul, where patience and love bring healthy, life-supporting growth.

The Moon and Intuition

The Moon anchors a web of archetypes that include change, cycles, the body, the past, mystery, magic, emotions, security, nurturing, the Mother, the unconscious ... so what is Her role in bringing us intuitive messages? Is She intuitive?

I thought so (and still do) but had to explore this recently. In the midst of an online astrology class, I listed intuition as one of the Moon's gifts and was immediately corrected by the instructor and my classmates: No, they said, Neptune and Uranus are sources of intuition, not the Moon. It wasn't the main focus of our discussion so I let it go ... but not really.

Yes, Neptune and Uranus are sources of messages from beyond the limits of the known world. Whether a quick download of quirky Uranian insight, or a cosmic flowing vision of Neptunian knowing, these outer planets offer guidance that defies logical explanation. But then, so do all the outer planets, especially to any of us hard-wired to receive their messages.

The Moon represents those things we know without knowing how we know them: shifting emotions, changes in our bodies, the feeling of being loved and cared for, the feeling of being neglected or ignored, deep ancestral memory, the unconscious. She relates to our dreams, all nighttime things, and our earliest life when there was no ego, only our connection to Mom.

To me, all these are sources of nonrational, can't-be-explained-by-logic, yet vitally important knowing. Isn't that what intuition is?

The definition of intuition as something we know without being able to rationally explain is late-ish, from the 1840's. The original meaning derives from Latin and meant to watch over or protect, as a guardian would. That ancient protection is closer to how I feel about the Moon, light of the night, than Neptune and Uranus, those powerful but impersonal message bearers.

So, I hold to my felt sense of the Moon as a source of intuition. She seems to me to rule the heart kind of knowing, the resonance I feel and the answers I find when I consider something or someone with an open, compassionate heart.

In closing, I offer this from Jung's Red Book, as a beautiful expression of Moon knowing:

"The knowledge of the heart is in no book and not to be found in the mouth of any teacher, but grows out of you like the green seed from the dark earth."

(photo by John Smith for the Geograph Project, Wikimedia Commons)

Moon in Pisces

The Moon moved into Pisces early this morning, the sign of dreams, visions, endings that lead to new beginnings, and merging with All That Is. If you slept in, or are in a time zone earlier than mine (EDT), your morning dreams may have had a lovely, dreamy, imaginative quality.

Of course, if Pisces is not a comfortable sign for you, it might have felt more like a loss of boundaries or focus, or just a loss ... which is why getting to know our own birth charts is a helpful step in this process of exploration. Neptune (ruler of Pisces) is right next to Mercury in my chart, so dreams and fantasy feel like home.

The Moon is flowing energy to Mercury right now, and will flow energy to Pluto this afternoon (both sextiles), and with Mercury in Virgo, and Pluto in Capricorn, this connects Earth and Water today ... a great thing for gardens of all kinds, physical and metaphysical and virtual, to have a visionary, imaginative Moon fertilizing Earth.

Venus, Mars and the Sun also connect today ... Venus in butterfly Gemini flows energy with Mars in Leo the lion, while Mars challenges the Sun in placid Taurus to get up and move! Creativity, passion and fertility are in the air.

Moon in Aquarius Today

The Moon makes Her way through the late degrees of quirky Aquarius today, just now ending a challenge to the Sun in conventional, reliable Taurus. Did your morning dreams push the envelope a bit, or stretch your ideas of what's possible?

Late tonight (starting around 6:30 pm EDT), the Moon begins touching the late degree planets, beginning with an energetic push to Jupiter in visionary Pisces, then joining Neptune in outside-the-box Aquarius and Chiron new to dreamy Pisces, giving an energetic push to Uranus (also in Pisces), and asking Saturn in detail-oriented Virgo to adjust to the new coming stuff (whatever that will be!).

So this evening, and in tonight's dreams, the Moon may bring you messages and feelings from the cosmos about what the future might hold for you and for us all. Opening to this can bring greater insights about what you need in the days ahead.

After that, the Moon goes void of course (no links to other planets) before joining some of those outer planets in Pisces, end of the cycle of the zodiac and place of merging and oneness, about 5:30 am EDT.

Moon Blessings :)

Moon in Aquarius Today

Overnight, the Moon shifted into unique, think-outside-the-box Aquarius. She's already sent wake-up calls to Pluto and Ceres in Capricorn, and Mercury in Taurus, shaking up the grounded stability of Earth with a call for change. Later today, She'll flow energy with Venus in lively Gemini ... maybe a conversation with someone completely different? This evening and tonight, She'll challenge Mars to take his creative expression to a humanitarian level, and challenge the Sun in Taurus to change and grow, now!

Check where Aquarius energy falls in your birth chart. The Moon will emphasize this area of life today, with heart and feeling. Moon Blessings :)

Moon in Capricorn Today

The Moon continues Her steady, determined way through late Capricorn today, flowing energy with responsible Saturn in Virgo, and also with Uranus and Jupiter in creative Pisces, grounding both sides of the old-new push-pull between Saturn and Uranus. With Mars in passionate Leo still challenging the Sun in grounded Taurus, there's energy to get things done with the Moon's steady focus ... and blessings :)

... Welcome to this first post in my new blog! The Capricorn Moon is helping me put the final touches on this new way to share The Moon Today postings with a wider audience, moving steadily forward toward my goals, one of which is to post here every morning.