Waning Moon in Scorpio Moving into Sagittarius

This Moon note covers today through January 1, Thursday through Saturday.

The Scorpio Moon brings deep insight as she flows energy in sextile with the Sun this morning, and Mars this evening. Outward action is always informed by inner thoughts and feelings; today's connections between the Moon in Scorpio and the Sun and Mars in Capricorn help us make those connections.

Takara Bune, the magical treasure ship

Tomorrow (Friday) the Scorpio Moon continues her exploration of the depths. Early in the morning, she joins Venus who still remains in Scorpio after her long retrograde in this sign. On the last day of 2010, we look one more time at our relationships through Scorpio's lens.

What really goes on when we relate to others? What hidden currents have we become aware of these last months, and how has this changed us? Perhaps we've faced anger or betrayal. Perhaps we've experienced new levels of intimacy. Perhaps our relationships have been transformed. Any and all of this is possible with Venus in Scorpio, and today's Moon connection brings feelings into focus in this area.

As we approach the New Year, the Moon reaches the last degrees of Scorpio, where she connects with the four outer planet messengers residing there. The Moon will challenge Neptune and Chiron in square, and create flowing trines with Jupiter and Uranus. This might feel like the year in review with input from the cosmos, as Scorpio the detective-therapist connects with planets holding the energies of dreams and visions, healing and mentorship, philosophy and good fortune, revolution and individuation.

In the afternoon, the Moon enters her time-between-times, reflecting on this most amazing year. In the evening, she turns on the lights, puts on her dancing shoes, and opens her arms in welcoming, generous Sagittarius. We welcome the New Year in the sign of conviviality and good humor!

New Year's Day (Saturday) is quiet, astrologically, with only a flowing sextile from the Sagittarius Moon to Saturn in harmonious Libra, late in the day ... a reminder that balance is needed in all things, even celebration.

At the turning of the year in Japan, dreamers place an image of the Takara Bune, the treasure ship carrying the seven gods of good fortune, under their pillows. This magical ship takes them on a dream journey showing good things to come in the new year. On these nights of the new year, may the treasure ship sail into all our dreams, bringing us into 2011 with magic and good fortune.

Waning Moon in Libra Moving into Scorpio

The Moon reaches the last degrees of Libra this morning, which places her in contact with the outer planets grouped there: Neptune and Chiron, and Jupiter and Uranus. The Libra Moon is diplomatic and charming, ready to listen to the complex array of messages offered by these powerful voices, and weave from them a harmonious whole.

angels turning the celestial sphere

The connections with Jupiter and Uranus are the inconjunct angle-of-adjustment, with Jupiter in Uranus in visionary Pisces. Perhaps cerebral Libra wishes to balance Piscean emotions with calmer thoughts. Perhaps the powerful Piscean messengers offer the Moon a compelling vision.

The connections with Neptune and Chiron are flowing trines, these two are in clear thinking Aquarius. Visions of healing beauty may be available, and yet emotional depth is present here as well: Not only are we in the presence of Neptune, ruler of Pisces, but the Nodes of the Moon are nearby. The South Node at 2 degrees of Cancer is within 6 degrees, forming a Grand Trine.

Looking across to the North Node at 2 degrees of Capricorn, we see a Kite formation, the Grand Trine plus sextiles from the Moon on one side, and Neptune and Chiron on the other. With the North Node at the apex of the Kite, the focus of the visionary messages offered today becomes our karmic path in the this life. Attention is brought, once again, to the Capricorn group, asking whether we're walking our talk.

The Moon leaves this intense group to enter her time-between times, emerging into Scorpio's depths at 3:49pm. Her first action here is a flowing sextile to Pluto the transformer, ruler of Scorpio and focus of the Capricorn group in the sky. The questions remain squarely before us: What is our path in this life? Are we on it? If not, what needs to change to make that happen?

Today is Mercury's last day in this intense retrograde in Capricorn. Take time today to reflect on where you've been this past year and where you'd like to go in the year ahead. Overnight, Mercury the messenger turns direct again. As the pace of life picks up speed again, we need to be ready.

Waning Moon in Libra

We've entered the last quarter of this lunar cycle, heading for the Capricorn New Moon, first of 2011. This is a time for understanding, integrating and releasing as we prepare the ground for new seeds.

Ohio blizzard

The Moon continues in Libra, sign of balance and beauty, and joins Saturn, planet of form and structure, today. With a square to Mars in Capricorn and a sextile to Mercury in Sagittarius, the personal planets are checking in with the lord of limits and responsibility.

Today our attention is drawn to the spare, the minimal, perhaps even the stark. In the harsh weather many of us are experiencing, we appreciate the basics of color, line, and form, as well as the necessities of survival.

The strong aesthetic of the Libra Moon helps us pare away what we no longer need, bringing us to a place where what is essential shines through.

Waning Moon in Virgo Moving into Libra

The Moon completed her transit through Virgo early this morning with oppositions to Jupiter and Uranus, and inconjunct angles-of-adjustment to Chiron and Neptune. These four outer planet messengers asked the patient Virgo Moon to look up from her focus on practical details, and gaze out across the great expanse of the universe, challenging her to see the big picture.

Navajo rug

The Moon in Virgo takes comfort in serving others, offering healing and everyday support. Morning dreams may offer a wider, deeper context for Virgo's work, reminding us why details are important and connecting us with larger cycles. This reminder might be disquieting, as sometimes Virgo can hide in the details, hanging back from addressing big issues until everything is organized and all the pieces are in place.

During her void of course time, which officially began at 7:20am EST, the Moon enjoys the company of Juno, the asteroid goddess of committed partnership and respect for tradition. Finding partners in work, friendship, spiritual community, and love is one way Virgo integrates the big picture with the small but vital details that keep our lives going.

At 12:38pm EST, the Moon steps into balanced Libra ... and she will need her balance today, as she forms challenging squares to the powerful Capricorn group of the North Node, Pluto and the Sun. Libra is Cardinal Air, challenging Capricorn's Cardinal Earth: initiating thought and communication, and the balance and beauty of Venus, challenging initiating action and the responsibility and determination of Saturn.

With today's square between Moon and Sun, we reach the last quarter of this lunar cycle, when the Moon moves back towards the Earth, closer to Venus. This is a time of understanding and insight, if we are open minded.

As Mercury continues his retrograde path for a few more days, we can flow with the Libra Moon into a time of assessment and reflection. With all the energy pouring into Capricorn's determined commitment to reaching goals, it's good to ask whether the goals are the right ones, whether they are just, whether they are, in the broadest possible sense, beautiful.

The shadow side of Capricorn includes the single-minded pursuit of goals at any cost, even to engaging in ugly means to reach a desired end. Libra knows that ends never justify means, that in fact our means have a sneaky way of becoming our ends, as we get caught up in action and need to excuse certain behaviors.

Today is a day for reassessment. We've committed to certain goals, but how are we reaching them? Do we feel at peace with our courses of action? Where might we need to realign, rebalance, and walk in beauty?

Waning Moon in Virgo

Today, the energy of Earth is strong, the Moon in Virgo and the Sun in Capricorn. Today, we keep our feet on the ground, attend to details, serve others, and work steadily toward our goals. With the Moon trining Mars, also in Capricorn, we tap into boundless determination. As the Moon sextiles Venus in Scorpio, we gain deep insights.

deep roots

This focus on Earth sends us down into the roots of things, as the Sun moves between the North Node of the Moon and Pluto. The Sun-Pluto conjunction comes exact at 8:04pm tonight. The word "radical" comes from the Latin radix, or root, and in medieval philosophy meant getting back to essentials, back to basics.

Pluto in Capricorn pushes us to examine our deepest structures, the roots of our lives, and make whatever radical changes we need to stand on firm ground. As the Sun aligns with Pluto, we may see clearly which are the strong, healthy roots, and what needs to be cut away. Winter is a time of hard choices, when what is weak must be let go. Future survival depends on creating solid foundations.

As we continue our winter holidays, we experience our roots in other ways: family connections, cultural traditions, and personal hopes and plans are wrapped up in this time of celebration of light returning. As Mercury continues retrograde, we may feel more reflective than usual. Allowing the time for slow, steady, grounded reflection aligns us with the energies of deeply radical day.

Waning Moon in Cancer

This note covers the Moon's transits through Cancer, Leo and Virgo, today through Christmas.

We've stepped through the Full Moon Solstice gateway into the winter holidays, and the Moon shines her light on activities close to home, focused on family traditions.

newborn stars, Christmas Tree Cluster

Today's Cancer Moon trines the planets in Water signs: Venus, softening the edges of her Scorpionic intensity, Jupiter and Uranus, linking their cosmic messages to hearth and home. The Moon squares Saturn in Libra today, a reminder to finish up holiday preparations.

There is a five-hour void-of-course time for the Moon tonight, as we dream midwinter dreams. Then the Moon enters Leo Thursday morning, eager for the creative play and childlike wonder of this time of glittering lights, music and theater.

On Friday, Christmas Eve, the Leo Moon sextiles Saturn in Libra ... time to put the last touches on holiday preparations for weekend gathering!

The Moon's other aspects Friday point to a common holiday pitfall: A challenge in square from the emotional Moon in dramatic Leo, to relational Venus in suspicious Scorpio reminds us to be wary of giving intense feelings free expression as family groups gather.

Instead, go with the energy of the Moon trining Mercury in Sagittarius, creative play and generous communication, reflecting on traditions of the past. The Leo Moon opposes Neptune and Chiron overnight on Christmas Eve, perhaps bringing dreams that show us how to use our creative gifts to benefit our communities.

After a six-hour void-of-course time, the Moon steps into hard working Virgo, ready to offer her services to make Christmas day one of enjoyment and healing. The Moon trines both the Sun and Pluto, flowing practical Earth energy into the work needed to accomplish our goals. On this day of relaxation for many, these aspects draw our attention to the needs of others, traditionally also part of this holiday of light.

Whatever your tradition or practices, please accept my wishes for a wonderful, heart-filled holiday at this festive time of year. My first post on this blog was May 4, 2010, and I've logged over 200 essays on the Moon and her transits. We've been on an amazing journey this year, and I thank each of you for the gift of your presence. May you have a wonderful journey in the year to come!

Waning Moon in Cancer

Whether you could see her glowing copper, or she was blanketed by clouds, the Full Moon gateway has opened. Occurring so late in Gemini, the Full Moon was also the Moon's final aspect, entering a very brief time-between-times before she stepped calmly into her home sign of Cancer.

With the Moon in Cancer, sign of home, family and tradition, and the Sun moving toward Capricorn, we go to ground. The Sun reaches the Solstice point at 6:38pm EST, and all the world waits as he stands still.

The Green Knight

This is the time, in pagan traditions, when the Oak King and the Holly King meet in battle. Holly, the darkening half of the year, has reigned since he took the throne in Midsummer. Today, the Oak King assumes the mantle, vanquishing his darker brother and turning the year back toward its light half.

Today, the Cancer Moon opposes the North Node, Pluto, and later, Mars, all in Capricorn. The energy of Capricorn focuses on accomplishment, driving forward, achieving goals. The North Node, Pluto and Mars emphasize this energy as well. So perhaps we can see them as the Oak King, strong and proud, ready to challenge the past and move into a bright future.

The Moon in Cancer stands with the South Node, the past, tradition, what is familiar and comfortable. Today the Moon takes the part of the Holly King who, though ceding the throne to Oak, reminds us he will return again, that he too is part of the wheel.

Mercury in Sagittarius squares Jupiter in Pisces, giving voice to ancient tales. Gather round the fire, and listen to the bardic voices.

Waxing Moon in Gemini, Moving to Full

This is a day of converging connection. "Connection" is the first of my keywords for this Full Moon, and today the Gemini Moon and Mercury in Sagittarius dance together.

lunar eclipse in triplicate, NASA

The Moon in Gemini, ruled by Mercury and sign of the fast-approaching Full Moon, trines Saturn in Libra this morning, seeking balanced connections. Then she moves into the late degrees where she'll encounter the outer planet messengers Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune and Chiron.

Meanwhile, Mercury, retrograde in Sagittarius, moves toward an opposition with the Moon, touching the same outer planet messengers on the way: Jupiter and Uranus, Neptune and Chiron.

The Moon and Mercury, from opposite sides of the wheel, will square Jupiter and Uranus, a kind of cosmic "stand and deliver," as Mercury and the Moon demand energetic support from the Great Benefic and the Great Trickster. Given that Mercury has his own trickster vibe, this could be more like a meeting of rogues, a rollicking party at the crossroads. Look for laughter and unexpected surprises from this quarter.

The Moon and Mercury offer Neptune and Chiron more harmonious meetings, trines and sextiles. Here we connect with the energy of dreaming, visions, and healing ... and also wounding and illusion. The messages we receive depend on our openness and discernment.

This is the night of the Full Moon, which happens at 12:13am Tuesday in the Eastern time zone, 9:13pm today on the West coast, and into the wee hours of Tuesday morning in Europe. If you have clear skies, do plan a late night visit outside to see the coppery glow of the eclipsed Moon, remembering that what we're looking at is the reflected glow of every sunrise and sunset on Earth. With all the energies connecting in the sky, we may not get much sleep anyway!

Full Moon in Gemini, December 21

Full Moon, Lunar Eclipse, alignment with the Galactic Center, Winter Solstice, Mercury retrograde ... this has been an amazing astrological year, and the intensity continues right on through.

At this Full Moon, we line up with the Galactic Center to be full-filled with messages from the cosmos, expanding with Sagittarian enthusiasm. Lest we feel the Moon is blocked from this wonderful time of connection, here's some Science News from Dr. Tony Phillips of NASA that sheds new light on what happens at a Lunar Eclipse:

Sunset over Mountains by Eusebius

Imagine yourself standing on a dusty lunar plain looking up at the sky. Overhead hangs Earth, nightside down, completely hiding the sun behind it. The eclipse is underway.

You might expect Earth seen in this way to be utterly dark, but it's not. The rim of the planet is on fire! As you scan your eye around Earth's circumference, you're seeing every sunrise and every sunset in the world, all of them, all at once.

This incredible light beams into the heart of Earth's shadow, filling it with a coppery glow and transforming the Moon into a great red orb.

Back on Earth, the shadowed Moon paints newly fallen snow with unfamiliar colors--not much luster, but lots of beauty. Enjoy the show. 

The image of all the sunrises and sunsets on Earth, shining onto the "eclipsed" Moon completes the network of celestial bodies communicating to us at this time. No one is left out, everyone connects.

So it is with us ... whatever our situation this year, wherever we find ourselves this holiday season, this Full Moon Solstice embraces everyone, inviting all of us into a wider, deeper, more comprehensive view of the universe.

This Full Moon comes at a liminal time, the threshold as the Sun stops and turns, the threshold as the Moon turns from waxing to waning, a time when our Sun, Earth and Moon rest in alignment with the center of our galaxy. This is a doorway we can step through, a transformative moment.

We are invited to align with the best in ourselves, clarify our goals and vision, and step through the gate.

Waxing Moon in Taurus, Moving into Gemini

Today's note covers the Moon's transit from Taurus into Gemini, today and tomorrow.

The Moon continues her calm, steady progress through Taurus, sign of the patient gardener, through most of today ... which is a good thing, because connections with other planets are signaling our movement toward this awesome Full Moon!

open connection, Go

The Sun reaches the late degrees of Sagittarius today, where he will sextile Neptune and Chiron, and square Jupiter and Uranus.

These aspects open channels for information and energy in areas of intuitive and psychic messages (Neptune and Uranus), healing (Chiron), philosophy and metaphysics (Jupiter), teaching and mentoring (Jupiter and Chiron) and embracing and embodying who we uniquely are (Chiron and Uranus).

The Taurus Moon echoes these connections, aligning our emotional selves with the messages pouring into our solar selves. Today Moon sextiles Jupiter and Uranus while squaring Neptune and Chiron ... Sun and Moon, the two luminaries, in conversation with these powerful outer planets.

The Sun and Moon are inconjunct each other, forming the 150 degree angle-of-adjustment, which reflects the conscious effort needed to balance and integrate all the energy we'll receive today.

Meanwhile, Mercury retrogrades back into Sagittarius, more flexible than Capricorn but more energetic and less predictable ... things may move more easily now, but who knows where or how? Mercury is the cosmic messenger, asking us to slow down and pay attention.

The Moon's final aspect in Taurus is her sextile to Uranus at 4:36pm EST, initiating a time-between-times of six hours. She'll connect with Gemini, Mercury's sign, at 10:37pm, opening more channels.

Tomorrow morning, the Sun and Mercury reach their conjunction in Sagittarius ... cosmic messenger and bright star aligned in the sign of the philosopher king. And did I mention the Moon's in Gemini?

Making connections is a key concepts for the coming Full Moon, and the energy today and tomorrow opens up many ways for us to connect, receiving guidance and messages. As one way, I offer a guided journey of preparation for the gateway to come. This is an mp3 that includes drumming, so listen in a relaxed and comfortable state, when you can journey with the drum.

Waxing Moon in Taurus

This note covers the Moon's transit through Taurus today and Friday.

Currently resting in her void-of-course time, the Moon steps into patient, grounded Taurus at 1:49pm EST. After her tumultuous transit through fiery Aries, this Taurus transit should feel steady and calm.

The intensity remains, though, as the Moon reaches her trines with the strong Capricorn group: Mercury at 5:52pm, the North Node at 7:49pm, Pluto at 11:06pm, and Mars at 3:34am Friday. If the Aries squares got us moving on important life issues, the Taurus trines help us dig in, getting to the heart of whatever it is we need to work on in this time of transformation.

Meanwhile, the Sun in Sagittarius squares Jupiter in Pisces today. Jupiter rules Sagittarius, so this square offers a double dose of Jupiter's expansive, exuberant generosity, while challenging us to dive deeply into our core philosophy, embracing what we truly believe.

Friday also include an opposition between the Taurus Moon, and Venus in Scorpio. The Taurus-Scorpio dialogue asks us to balance what we can see, hear, touch, and taste with what we sense underneath, to balance conscious and subconscious awareness.

In this waxing lunar cycle, we continue to prepare for the amazing opening that will be offered at the Full Moon Lunar Eclipse Solstice. Linda Hill offers an essay on the planets grouped in Capricorn, and what they're calling us to do. April Elliott Kent, who specializes in understanding eclipses, offers a series of essays on what this special eclipse may bring. I close with this lovely call for us to join together:

Waxing Moon in Aries

This note covers the Moon's transit through Aries, today (Tuesday) through Thursday morning.

The Moon moved into Aries overnight, energetic, pioneering, ready to take risks. In this waxing half of the lunar cycle, time of growth and expansion, we feel the urge to act.

Mars, Mercury, Pluto and the North Node all stand together, a focused concentration of transformative power crying out for attention. Today, the fiery Aries Moon squares those positions. She's already reached her square with the North Node, and touches Mercury (10:57am EST), Pluto (11:43am) and Mars (12:32pm) in the next few hours. We feel challenged to take up the reins and drive in bold new directions!

But wait ...

We're deep in Mercury retrograde territory. Heading into the darkest days of the year, the sense of light slipping through our fingers is palpable. Perhaps we're already experiencing the dropped connections, incomplete communication, and missed steps this retrograde in Capricorn can bring.

What do we do?

old projects

This Moon transit through Aries is a time of action, with tremendous energy available. At the waning of the year, we can channel that power into finish work.

What projects have you been putting off because you didn't have the energy to tackle them? Which ones were set aside because you weren't sure what the next steps should be? Maybe there's a project or two that raises anxieties, because they call for risk taking, new directions in creative work, or facing old fears. Now's the time for those projects.

If we dive into difficult old projects today, we may see real progress tomorrow. At 9:44am Wednesday, the Aries Moon opposes Saturn in Libra: emotions and responsibility, drive and steady effort, self and other, in dialogue. At 2:32pm, the Moon reaches her trine with the Sun, a time of harmony and balance on the way to our Full Moon goal. We find our balance point, and move forward.

Overnight on Wednesday, the Moon contacts the outer planet dreamers, semi-sextiling Jupiter and Uranus, and sextiling Neptune and Chiron. Dreams this night may bring messages from beyond, rewarding our efforts to tie up loose ends in our lives with visions of the future.

At 6:41am Thursday, the Aries Moon rests in a time-between-times for about seven hours, before emerging into calm and patient Taurus.

These next few days with the Aries Moon are perfect for digging out unfinished projects and tackling them with enthusiasm and drive––one more way we prepare for the Full Moon to come.

Waxing Moon in Pisces, Moving into Aries

No way around it, today looks to be an intense day. In fact, part of the message of this Mercury retrograde in Capricorn is precisely that: The is no way around, except through. So, we're all invited (umm ... pushed? compelled?) to reexamine whatever seems to be blocking us, and make peace with it.

North Dakota blizzard, 1966

This morning, the Sun and Moon challenge each other in square (8:59am EST). This is the First Quarter Moon, when our commitment to New Moon intentions is tested. Do we really want what we asked for? Maybe now, that wish looks a little different than we thought. Maybe it looks harder to attain. Are we willing to work?

The Moon's final aspects in Pisces are her conjunctions with Jupiter (3:16pm) and, later, Uranus (7:35pm). This is a deeply intuitive time, as the personal, body-centered wisdom of the Moon joins the Jupiter the philosopher king, and then Uranus, the trickster revolutionary.

This afternoon and evening present wonderful openings to meditate, dream, vision and journey, to receive guidance from powerful teachers. The Moon is void of course after joining Uranus, where she remains for seven hours.

During this time-between-times, Mercury reaches his powerful conjunction with Mars and Pluto, with the North Node just one degree away. When Mars and Pluto come together, force of action combines with deep power to break things open. With Mercury, that force is communicated.

This triple conjunction could bring into sharp focus energies building since the New Moon around power, action, sexuality, and transformation. With Mercury retrograde and the Moon void of course, we are cautioned to slow down, consider the consequences, and maintain conscious awareness.

Today we may experience what happens when power is unleashed. The choice will be to let go, or to channel that power.

Overnight (2:14am Tuesday), the Moon emerges into Aries, Cardinal Fire, the new power made manifest. Usually, we think of void-of-course times as quiet, waiting, not-doing times. It appears that what happens during today's void time, will have a vital influence on what emerges.

Waxing Moon in Pisces

This note covers the Moon's transit through Pisces today and tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday.

Early this morning, the Aquarius Moon joined Neptune for her last aspect in this sign. She is now void of course, awaiting her emergence into Neptune's own sign, dreamy Pisces, at 1:40pm EST. If you are fast asleep as I write, you may wake to memories of rich and varied dreams.

Dore's opening illustration for Dante's Inferno

Mercury is now retrograde in Capricorn. April Elliott Kent's essay, Mercury Retrograde, Pluto, and the Darker Woods, explores the Sabian symbols associated with this time of revisiting, reevaluating, and releasing. The Moon in Pisces supports this, ready to dissolve whatever does not serve us.

With that in mind, the Moon flows energy in sextile with the Capricorn planets this evening. Beginning at 7:50pm EST, she sextiles Mars, then touches the North Node, Pluto and Mercury.

Each time, the Moon asks, what can we dissolve in order to step into our best future? With that dissolution comes comfort, as we rest in Pisces' waters and flow with the cosmos.

Overnight, the Moon flows energy in trine to Venus in Scorpio, Water and Water communicating, supporting this work of insight, integration, and release.

But, wait ... isn't the waxing cycle meant to be a time of growth? Yes, and again we see the paradox of this season. In the Northern hemisphere we're in the darkest time of year, waiting for the reemergence of light. Now in the realm of the fierce Holly King, we await the battle in which the more open-handed Oak King challenges and defeats him.

In the darkness, new growth begins. In this lunar cycle, heading for a Full Moon that coincides with the Solstice, we are asked to prepare. This is a time of keeping vigil, of readying ourselves for a powerful transformation. The Moon in Pisces offers her support for meditation, stillness, and surrender, as we await a vision of what is to come.

Waxing Moon in Aquarius, Mercury Turns Back

This note covers the Moon's transit through Aquarius, Friday through Saturday morning, and the beginning of Mercury's retrograde in Capricorn.

trickster goddess

An Aquarius Moon is cerebral, cool-headed, and radical. Today, the Moon challenges Venus in square, ready to face what emerges from Scorpio's depths and find new ways to think about it. The Moon in Aquarius wears the mask of the trickster, poking into places we're stuck and saying, what happens if we turn this upside down?

Channeling the heavy concentration in Capricorn––Mars, Mercury, the North Node, Ceres and Pluto together in the first five degrees of Cardinal Earth––we might be getting lots of work done, but losing sight of the overall plan. The Aquarius Moon brings in Air, perspective, the long view, saying, let's step back and see what's on the horizon.

That Aquarian perspective, cool-headedness, and trickster humor will be helpful Friday morning, as Mercury goes retrograde. This Moon can help us remember that Mercury retrograde is a gift, one that can frustrate us if we're not prepared, but can help down the road ... Aquarius is all about planfulness and long-term thinking.

Mercury turns back in Capricorn, the last of this year's retrogrades in Earth that offered times to reflect on how we get things done in the world, what's practical and realistic, and how we're grounded in this physical life. As I wrote back in the spring, retrogrades ask us to slow down, take stock, and double- and triple-check everything.

going to ground

Coming as we approach the Winter Solstice, this retrograde in Capricorn brings us back to Earth, reminding us we're entering a sacred time when even the Sun stands still (the meaning of sol stice), so why are we running so fast? This is the time to go to ground, hibernate, recoup, rebuild.

During this retrograde, Mercury will revisit the intense Capricorn lineup, forming a tight conjunction with Mars and Pluto on December 13. Are we walking our talk? Are our actions in the world congruent with our values? On December 15, Mercury meets the North Node. Are our thoughts and actions aligned with our life path?

Mercury slips back into Sagittarius on December 18, allowing us to revisit our connection with that expansive, philosophical, adventuring energy, meeting the Sun on December 19. At the Full Moon on December 21, just hours before the Sun reaches the Solstice point and enters Capricorn, Mercury is three degrees away, reminding us that our journeys are also returnings.

The Moon in Aquarius helps us grasp the paradox of Mercury turning retrograde in this powerful waxing lunar cycle. Just after Mercury turns, the Moon trines Saturn, a reminder of the need for balance, beauty, and responsible action.

The Sun and Moon flow energy in sextile Friday, gathering momentum as the Moon grows in the sky. Here, the retrograde reminds us that the crescent phase also includes one last chance to release whatever stands in our way from previous cycles.

Moving forward while turning back, reaching for enlightenment with the waxing Moon as the Sun reaches the darkest point of his cycle, we are challenged to integrate dark and light, past and future, growth and death.

If we head into this season with frenetic energy, Mercury retrograde may stop us in our tracks. Instead, this year, we might want to slow down, recognizing "the uncertain hour before the morning, near the ending of interminable night, at the recurrent end of the unending" when we know in our bones that "what we call the beginning is often the end, and to make an end is to make a beginning."

T.S. Eliot might have written Little Gidding for such a Solstice, when our felt sense of Earth's cycles are intensified by Mercury turning back in Capricorn even as we move forward into a celebration of light returning. This year, we're invited through the "unknown, unremembered gate, when the last of earth left to discover is that which was the beginning."

Waxing Moon in Capricorn Moving into Aquarius

The Moon's steady Capricorn determination seems likely to be touched with grace, good fortune and intuitive flashes today.

illustrated page, Revelations

The Capricorn Moon works hard, and knows how to harness the power of emotion to achieve her goals. As Venus in Scorpio sextiles Pluto in Capricorn, we're offered a felt experience of this power, of the deep transformations that open up when we align feelings and goals right through to our core.

My friend Angela Kalealani asks the questions, What do we want our lives to look like? What would we be feeling and believing in that life? Then she challenges us to step into those beliefs and feelings, and watch that life unfold. This is the power of Venus in Scorpio and Pluto in Capricorn, together.

Today, the Moon contacts the outer planets clustered in the late degrees. She'll form semisextiles with Neptune and Chiron, and sextiles with Jupiter and Uranus. These connections offer messages and support to help us walk our talk, hearing what the cosmos has to say, and grounding that wisdom in practical, everyday life.

The Moon in Capricorn understands power in the physical world, the power of structure and form, of tradition, will and achievement. The energies around her today infuse that grounded practicality with the powers of intuition and connection, allowing magic to flow into the world.

After her connection with Uranus at 8:07pm EST, the Moon enters her time between times until she flows into visionary Aquarius at 2:30am EST Thursday. Look for dreams tonight filled with bright images of possible futures!

Waxing Moon in Capricorn

A Capricorn Moon in her New phase ... great combination for pushing through obstacles and taking concrete steps toward goals. In the early days of the waxing cycle, we sometimes sense the presence of ghosts, last bits of old stuff still hanging around. Today's energy helps clear the decks.

building

The Sun flows energy in sextile with responsible Saturn in Libra. Saturn, ruler of Capricorn, brings Libran balance to the energetic Sagittarian Sun, harnessing today's solar power for work and achievement.

Venus in Scorpio flows energy is sextile to the North Node in Capricorn, intense insights adding depth and drive to our commitment to follow the path before us. The Moon joins Mercury in Capricorn, feelings and thoughts aligning with determination and focus. Mars, the decisive actor, enters Capricorn today, creating an irresistible force.

The Moon's final aspect is a challenge in square to Saturn in Libra, initiating Earth and initiating Fire combining forces. Again and again, Capricorn and Saturn ... effort, responsibility, practical action. The message is clear: Just do it!

Waxing Moon, Sagittarius into Capricorn

The New Sagittarius Moon high-fives the outer planets messengers this morning, squaring Jupiter and Uranus, and sextiling Neptune and Chiron. This exuberant Moon welcomes messages about dreams and visions, healing, mentoring, individuation, and revolutionary change, ready to embrace everything that expands her horizons.

growing!

At 4:46pm EST, the Moon joins energetic Mars in Sagittarius for one last celebration of generosity, acceptance, and light. The Moon is waxing––still dark, but growing now, swelling, pushing against any boundaries and limits that might hold her back. Mars wants to move, and the Moon aligns feeling with action. Energy flows into action, with style. Dance through Monday!

After a time-between-times of about an hour and a half, the Moon steps into sober, hard-working Capricorn at 6:16pm. We find ourselves back in the real world, but with a difference. With our New Moon intentions in hand, and a Sagittarian bounce in our step, we're ready to go to work.

Overnight, this practical Moon joins the North Node, the place we're headed, while sextiling Venus in Scorpio. Venus is one of the money planets, as well as holding creative power. The Moon helps us flow Scorpio's deep resources into the next step on our path, whatever that might be.

At 2:24am Tuesday, the Moon joins Pluto in Capricorn, bringing her emotional and intuitive focus to Pluto's relentless push to transform. Capricorn is the sign of structure and manifestation. The Moon in her New phase asks, how can we grow new structures to support the world we want to manifest?

Today's Moon, energized in Sagittarius and grounded in Capricorn, is ready to send out roots and shoots in many new directions. Now's the time for wishes and intentions.

New Moon in Sagittarius

In a few hours, the Sun and Moon meet at 13.29 Sagittarius, this month's New Moon. Sagittarius' exuberant energy invites us to dream large, wishing for the best life can bring us. Initiating a holiday season that celebrates light returning, we'll soon see the Moon's light waxing in the night sky again.

Now is the time to sweep the last cobwebs out of the corners, release old energy, and prepare the ground for new growth. Once the New Moon arrives, at 12:39pm EST, we express our wishes and set intentions in any way that feels right.

kaleidoscope

This fiery New Moon calls for rituals of warmth, expansiveness and generosity. Why light one candle? Light every candle you have! Celebrate with food, drink, music, color. We wish not only for ourselves, but for the world.

A few hours after the New Moon, the Moon flows energy in sextile with Saturn in Libra. Saturn manifests, Libra brings balance and beauty. Already, the cosmos begins to bring our intentions into form.

Mercury and Pluto join today in Capricorn, aligning the messenger of the gods with the lord of the depths. Hermes (Mercury) was the only god able to travel into Hades and out again, carrying messages across the worlds. Already, we learn more about who we are and what we are meant to do, and to be.

Today, Uranus turns direct, energizing transformation into our unique and marvelous selves, and injecting his trickster vibe into the mix. Already, we feel things shifting like a kaleidoscope forming a new image.

Stepping through this New Moon gate, unimagined vistas unfold. We are made new.

Waning Moon in Scorpio Moving into Sagittarius

The Moon makes her final aspects in Scorpio this morning. She's already moving through her squares to Neptune and Chiron in Aquarius, and he trine with Uranus in Pisces, connecting the deep psyche with the outer messengers of healing, visions, and revolutionary change.

As I write this at 8am EST, the Moon is technically already in her void-of-course time, resting and reflecting. And yet she's moving into one final aspect that speaks to the energetic quality of the New Moon: She is semi-sextile Mars in Sagittarius, creating an energetic, edgy connection with the adventurer already on the Sagittarian quest.

The Moon embarks on her own Sagittarian journey at 12:59pm EST, opening the door to wonder-filled exploration. The Mountain Astrologer website offers a video of Kathy Rose discussing the New Moon, emphasizing the optimism and in-the-moment qualities we celebrate in Sagittarius.

At 5pm EST, the Moon connects back to Venus, still in Scorpio, via the energetic semi-sextile. Just before 7:30pm, she connects with semi-sextiles to Mercury, the North Node and Pluto, all in Capricorn. Like a compass of spirit, the Moon knows that both the deeply hidden realms of Scorpio, and the steady effort in the world of Capricorn, are needed for the journey to continue. The Sagittarian Moon balances these two heavy hitters with merriment, exuberance, and joy.

Dana Gerhardt offers her ideas for invoking Sagittarius, including buying helium balloons, visiting a really big library and pulling random books off the shelves for messages from the library angels, or climbing to a high place for a new perspective.

Dana's essay includes a link to a wonderful flash mob performance of the Hallelujah Chorus in a mall food court, and what could be more Sagittarian than flash mobs? Dancing in the streets, taking the urge to sing and dance and making it BIG, bringing fun into public spaces ... the Centaur applauds!

Waning Moon in Scorpio

Today, the Scorpio Moon flows energy in trine with Jupiter in Pisces, sharing messages from the depths of the psyche to the farthest reaches of the cosmos, connecting psychology, spirituality, and intuition. Since Jupiter rules Sagittarius, sign of the coming New Moon, we're also invited to look toward that seed time.

Mars in Sagittarius challenges Uranus in Pisces in square today, another push to get moving on our journeys and expect big shifts.

What are we preparing for?

Sunday's New Moon is a time for Sagittarian wishes and intentions. Sagittarius, mutable Fire, is warm, inclusive, and tolerant, reaching across history and culture to explore anything new and different, whatever expands the mind and spirit.

Auntie Moon reminds us that Sagittarian explorations are not mapped every step of the way ... we need to meander, follow the path where it leads, and open our minds and hearts to whatever shows up. Like Bilbo, we recognize that anything can happen when we step outside our doors. We can be swept away to who knows where, landing in wonderfully unexpected places.

Sagittarius loves life, and is alive to its meanings. Simone Butler offers as her December theme, Find the Higher Meaning, and suggests we see our lives as mythic adventures, which of course they are. As we explore, we are drawn especially to images, ideas and themes that have deep meaning for us.

And deeper meanings certainly seem to be present with this New Moon! Its Sabian symbol, explored by Linda Hill, is Sagittarius 14: A Vast Panorama Of Sand And Time Is Unfolding: The Pyramids And Sphinx In Their Glory Rise Before The Eye. Sagittarian indeed, this symbol reaches deep into the past, reminding us not to forget what has gone before, or that powerful ideas and images endure.

Stephanie Austin, in the current print edition of The Mountain Astrologer, points our attention to the far future. She notes that the New Moon is aligned with the Great Attractor, an anomaly in deep space that appears to be drawing our Milky Way galaxy, along with our neighbor galaxies, towards it. 

Yet the Dark flow carrying our galaxy may actually be drawing us toward something beyond the Great Attractor, a dense cluster of galaxies called the Shapley Supercluster ... much as the mountain we think we are hiking toward proves to be the first stop on the way to the greater mountain range beyond it.

Today, let the Scorpio Moon carry you in her own Dark flow, into explorations of your own deep feelings that will help clear the way for the powerful seed time of the coming New Moon.

Waning Moon in Scorpio

The waning Moon disappears into Scorpio's depths today, but her connections with other planets are strong. As we near the end of this lunar cycle, and this calendar year, the Scorpio Moon unflinchingly tells it like it is.

Door opening, Gallarus Oratory

The Moon enters Scorpio at 9:43am EST, and joins Venus exactly two hours later. If any additional emphasis were needed for this intense Venus transit through Scorpio direct, retro and direct again, the Moon's depth of feeling creates it. Sunday's New Moon in Sagittarius will focus on new directions, adventures, the quest. What unhealthy, unproductive attachments can we release now, to be ready then?

The Scorpio Moon flows energy in sextile Mercury (12:40pm), the North Node (4:14pm) and Pluto (5:00pm), clustered in Capricorn. Again, the question is asked, in slightly different form: Look, the Moon says, here is the path of transformation before you. What needs to be released so you can step onto the path with a clear and open mind?

Mars in Sagittarius sextiles Neptune (2:39pm) and Chiron (2:06am Friday), both in Aquarius. The planet of motivation and action flows energy with the planets of vision and healing. What can we do, right now, today, to support our own healing and create a positive vision for the future?

Scorpio is sometimes seen as hanging back, suspicious, lacking in trust, unable to move. Scorpio at its best gathers vital information, then waits for the strategic moment to act with greatest impact. Wherever we've been hanging back, knowing in our hearts what needs to be done but somehow stuck, today's Scorpio Moon urges us to act.