Moon into Aries

Friday afternoon through Sunday night

At 1:33pm EST, the waning Moon steps into Aries, igniting the last stage of the lunar cycle that began with the Aries New Moon in early March. The end of each lunar cycle is a time of release, letting go of what doesn't serve us. Astrologer Moses Siregar describes this as the phase in which we can burn up karma, and the Aries Moon has the bonfires lit.

We've all experienced Aries this month, within ourselves, coming at us from outside, or both. Everything seem to be on edge, bursting into flames unexpectedly. This Aries Moon transit gives us one more chance to experience this energy up close and personal, as the Moon conjuncts each of the planets in Aries, beginning with Uranus Friday afternoon and evening.

The Moon squares Pluto overnight Friday, then moves through Saturday conjuncting Venus, opposing Saturn, then conjuncting Mercury. Saturday also brings an opposition between Venus and Saturn, and the exact conjunction between Mars and Jupiter. Avoid spontaneous combustion today!

Sometimes under a waning Moon, we feel an intense need to get our message out. This is, after all, the disseminating half of the cycle. With all the Aries energy around, watch out for the urge to set the record straight, tell it like it is, and tell someone off (for their own good, of course). Deciding that a valued goal justifies questionable means doesn't generally lead to good results, and always generates serious karma.

Instead of moving into anger, irritation, or self righteous indignation, flow Aries energy into exuberance, enthusiasm, and joy. Connect with Aries' commitment to move forward, and let go of habits, attitudes, behaviors, and emotional patterns you already know aren't good for you. Celebrate life with movement; dance your prayers.

Sunday morning brings the Moon into conjunction with Jupiter, then Mars. The edgy asteroid Eris is aligned with Jupiter and Mars now too, giving us another push to understand exactly what triggers us and how we respond. The Moon spends most of Sunday void of course, possibly burnt out after her scorching transit through Aries, stepping into the calmer space of Taurus overnight.

Aries wants to push, push, push. During this transit, listen to your body, work hard without hurting yourself, blast through inner obstacles instead of other people, and dance with joyous abandon (the video is Gabrielle Roth's Power Wave, produced by Sounds True).

Beltane! The Sun in Taurus

hawthorn, the mayflower

Beltane is one of the four great Fire Festivals in the fixed signs of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius. In the ancient Celtic calendar, Beltane is a hinge ushering in the light half of the year, a time of fertility and abundance.

In the standard calendar, Beltane is May 1. According to the Sun, Beltane is May 5, when the middle of Taurus, the 15th degree, is reached. Celebrations include bonfires lit to honor the solar god Belos, rites of cleansing and purification, and rites to bring fertility to the land, to animals, and to the people.

This year's Beltane season promises to be powerful indeed. The Sun may be in peaceful Taurus but five planets continue to blaze in Aries. In the Beltane chart, Uranus the Awakener is first, followed by Venus conjunct Mercury, and Jupiter conjunct Mars. The bonfire is alight!

At this time, the veils between the worlds are thin, the land of Faery is close at hand, and magic abounds. White hawthorn blooms, whose branches are cut but not brought indoors, for this flower of May belongs to the Fae.

Now, everything gestated during the winter is born, desires are made manifest, the unconscious emerges into the light. Venus and Mercury together are expressive, Jupiter and Mars are active, Mars exactly trines the North Node energizing our life path. The Gemini Moon reaches out to connect with everyone and everything.

The past weeks have brought the challenges of Aries––irritations, miscommunication, anger, headaches, accidents––with an almost overwhelming energy. This Sunday, as the lusty month of May arrives and Beltane begins, we are invited to flow that energy into exuberant celebrations of Spring. Throw open the doors and dance with fairies in the fields.

During this Beltane, experience joy. Connect with whatever brings you alive. Be juicy! Where is Aries in your birth chart? Something new and exciting wants to happen there. Saturn remains in Libra, opposite Aries, but remember one of his roles is to make things real. The Taurus New Moon is also part of this Beltane season, a time of planting seeds in fertile soil. Celebrate the fiery energy of Spring!

"It loved to happen" ––Marcus Aurelius

Moon into Pisces

Tuesday night through Friday morning

Overnight tonight, the Moon swims into Pisces' ocean and joins Neptune, creating a strong matrix for dreaming. Also happening overnight, Venus and Pluto will reach their exact square. This Venus-Pluto challenge has been looming for a few days, creating tension in relationships, finances, and creative work. Pluto may push for transformative changes in these areas, with Venus in fiery Aries either resisting, or lighting up and embracing the change.

These two aspects tonight, the Moon and Neptune together, and Venus and Pluto squaring off, create an interesting opportunity for dreaming. This would be an excellent night to ask for dreams about challenges in Venusian areas––relationships, finances, creativity––and in finding balance and harmony in our lives.

With dreams in mind, I'm offering this link to one of Donna Eden's techniques, as something to try before going to sleep tonight. Donna Eden is a vibrant advocate, practitioner, and teacher of energy medicine. This particular technique stimulates the neurovascular points in the forebrain and, although dreams aren't mentioned in this video, she teaches this technique for improving dream recall as well.

This video runs just over seven minutes. The technique itself is demonstrated at 3:10 minutes, with an alternative method included at 6:30 minutes. The stressors in our lives are the hardest things for us to think about clearly, and areas where dreams can provide guidance and support. May you have (and remember) big dreams tonight!

Wednesday we enter the a time of understanding. The Moon joins Chiron the wounded healer. In Pisces, this connection can lead to emotional healing that is felt in the body, perhaps through a remembering of past wounds. Then,we reach the time in the waning cycle when the Sun and Moon flow energy in sextile. Shortly after, the Moon forms a sextile to Pluto, flowing energy for transformation. The Pluto connection is the last classical aspect for this Moon transit through Pisces, beginning a void of course phase that lasts until Friday morning.

And yet there are significant aspects happening with that void time. Early Thursday morning, the Moon joins the asteroid Ceres and forms an inconjunct angle-of-adjustment with Saturn. This aspect pattern emphasizes the tension we currently feel in relationships, and the need to honor our feelings as we consider the needs of the masculines and the feminine, the practical and the intuitive, the mundane and the hidden, both within ourselves and in our lives.

This Moon transit through Pisces, coming close to the end of the waning lunar cycle, allows us to feel where things are not working, access intuitive guidance about what might need to change, and release whatever we need to let go of. The Moon emerges into bright Aries at 1:33pm Friday.

Moon into Aquarius

Sunday morning through Tuesday night

The Moon steps into radical Aquarius at 1:59pm EDT, ending an overnight void of course time when we might have felt a bit ungrounded and unfocused. In Aquarius, the Moon feels confident, seeing clearly and objectively what the world needs.

Immoveable 1 (Open Eyed), by Lowell Boyers

Today we reach the last quarter Moon, a time of understanding and clarity when we review what's happened since the last New Moon, and consider where we are. In this cycle, the Taurus Sun squares the Aquarius Moon, two fixed signs, both committed in their different styles.

Can we honor the patient calm of the Taurus Sun while experiencing the edgy, future-oriented Aquarius Moon? This may be the very tension we need to resolve, as we head into the last days of release and renewal.

Mercury is now direct again, but opposes Saturn, who stills holds his ground against the Aries tribe. Pluto in Capricorn creates a loose but still powerful square to each, the T-square we've been exploring all week. We're moving out of the retrograde, but are still challenged as Mercury faces both Saturn and Pluto, a time of being held accountable for what we think and say.

Meanwhile, Venus moves into an ever-closer square to Pluto, a time when relationships are tested right down to their core, and volcanic activity can result. Since Venus affects finances, this is a time when rash decisions about money need to be checked, and checked again. It's also a time when great creative work can be forged, as the fire of Venus in Aries vies with the rock of Pluto in Capricorn.

The Moon's first aspect in Aquarius is a flowing sextile to Uranus, Aquarius' modern ruler. These two offer intuitive guidance, something we need as we attempt to sort out what's happening. A Sun-Chiron sextile opens the door to healing. If that door opens onto reminders of old wounds, let the healing warmth of the Sun sooth and enlighten.

A sextile tonight between the Moon and Venus might illuminate what's happening in our relationships, finances, and creativity ... or maybe introduce a little unexpected, trickster vibe. Aquarian humor and objectivity could irritate Venus in Aries, or clarify, or both. Working with Aquarius as a both-and, rather than either-or, opens new creative potentials.

Monday, the Aquarius Moon continues offering insight with a trine to Saturn, and sextiles to Mercury and Mars. The Moon's last classical aspect is a sextile to enthusiastic Jupiter, early Tuesday morning (7:28am EDT). During the void of course time, the Moon will sextile the North Node and trine the South Node. The time-between-times lasts all day Tuesday, with the Moon entering Pisces just after midnight, at 12:57am EDT Wednesday.

With turmoil surrounding us, inside and out, this Moon transit through Aquarius offers a time to step back, cool our emotions, consider what will most benefit ourselves and our communities, and make a new plan.

Moon into Capricorn

Friday morning through Sunday morning

The Moon has stepped into Capricorn, to trine the Taurus Sun and meet Pluto. Today our feet are on the ground and we're ready for hands-on, practical action. Yes, we still have five planets burning their way through Aries, squaring off against Capricorn, but now we have a way to channel that energy into something real.

The Moon in Capricorn loves to work, as long as the goal is tangible and important. What have you committed to? What really needs to get done? What's the unpalatable task you're been putting off, that's now getting in your way? This is the Moon that helps you buckle down and just do it.

The Chariot (Rider-Waite-Smith)

A Capricorn Moon is steady and unflappable, which is a good thing, because there are powerful forces gathering. Venus moves into conjunction with Uranus, so watch for changes, tensions, and possible explosions in your relationships or financial matters.

Flowing with this energy instead of resisting it could open up new levels of authenticity in relationships, new opportunities with money, and energized creativity.

Meanwhile, Mercury and Mars join together to oppose Saturn as he holds steady in Libra. This opposition forms a T-square with powerful Pluto in Capricorn, a spot the Moon will emphasize tonight and tomorrow morning.

Finding a dynamic balance among primal desire, responsible action, and balanced thought could be tricky. In th Tarot, The Chariot shows a driver holding on to two very different, equally strong forces––this pattern is like that.

Yet, finding and maintaining that place of balanced control is possible. During this Capricorn Moon, Mercury turns direct (at 6:04am EDT Saturday), ending a fiery retrograde that invited us to think before we speak, but also offered a variety of intriguing challenges in technology and (mis)communication. Mercury's energy will flow forward again, moving quickly in Aries, so remember the lessons of the retrograde.

The Moon's last aspect in Capricorn will be a square to Jupiter in Aries at 8:13pm EDT Saturday, a direct reminder not to get carried away with Aries' expansive energy. The Moon remains void of course overnight and through Sunday morning, entering Aquarius at 1:59pm EDT.

Moon into Sagittarius

Tuesday night through Friday morning

The Moon is a gateway. As mother, she's the door we walk through to enter this lifetime. Her home sign, Cancer, is the ancient entrance through which souls incarnated on Earth. Overnight on Tuesday, the Moon moves into the mutable Fire sign of Sagittarius for a transit that may open more gates.

detail from The Three Philosophers

The Moon's first aspect in Sagittarius is a square to Neptune followed by a square to Chiron. Despite the challenge of a square, this meeting looks more like scholarly debate than confrontation.

The Sagittarius Moon is a philosopher with deep reverence for ancient tradition, Neptune in Pisces carries the wisdom of the cosmos, and Chiron is the wounded healer and mentor. These three test each other, question and response. The philosopher gains new insights.

Wednesday morning, the Sun enters calm and steady Taurus, as the Moon trines Uranus the Awakener. Trines from Fire to Fire increase energy, but the newly Taurean Sun might keep things peaceful. Meanwhile, the philosopher Moon has a session with the other intuitive messenger of the cosmos, learning more about what is to come.

Through the afternoon and evening, the Sun sextiles Neptune as the Moon sextiles Saturn. Neptune-Saturn combinations are excellent for making dreams real, and with each in flowing aspect to a luminary, perhaps we'll see new things emerging Wednesday night.

Overnight brings an energy surge, as Venus enters Aries, the Moon trines Mercury in Aries, and the Moon trines Mars. This combination of thought and communication (Mercury), relationship, creativity and finance (Venus), emotions, the body, and tradition (Moon), and action (Mars) all in Fire, offers opportunities for insight and expression that are creative and passionate ... as long as we remember the Aries caveat and steer clear of anger.

Thursday morning, the fiery energy continues, culminating at 12:57pm EDT as the Moon trines Jupiter, a chance for expansion of mind, and of joy and grace, as the Moon in the philosopher's robes meets the philosopher himself.

After this, the Moon enters a void-of-course time, although this void period includes a conjunction with the North Node of the Moon at midnight. Here, we connect those Sagittarean philosophical insights to our life path. The Moon enters the responsible sign of Capricorn at 6:24am EDT Friday.

Moon into Scorpio

Sunday night through Tuesday night

The Full Moon is the Moon's last aspect in Libra, as she dives into several hours of void-of-course time before reaching Scorpio's depths at 2:19am EDT Monday. A Scorpio night following an intense Full Moon promises big dreams, especially when the Moon's first aspect is a trine to Neptune. Open those dream gates tonight and pay attention.

The trine to Neptune is followed by trines to Chiron and Ceres on Monday morning. The Moon in Scorpio is ready to explore deep, sensitive emotional territory. Chiron is the place of our wounding, and opens the way to healing. Ceres carries the energy of the generative, but also fiercely protective, mother. Whatever was illuminated by the Full Moon, the Scorpio transit will face it head on.

intense

Monday afternoon, the intensity continues as Mars in Aries opposes Saturn in Libra, accelerator and brakes fully and simultaneously applied. We'll need all of Libra's charm and restraint if situations head toward the boiling point.

On the up side, if you've put in the time and effort (Saturn) and it's time for the tide to turn in your favor, this opposition might illuminate exactly where the key leverage point is located.

Tuesday morning, Mercury and Mars meet in Aries, joining word and deed. We may find our voice in a new way, expressing our passions. Or we might just explode. The fact that Mercury is still retrograde allows a chance to think before we speak, but also points to the possibility of misunderstanding. This is a morning to walk a fine line, saying what we mean while avoiding angry confrontation.

During this transit through Scorpio, the Moon will be forming inconjunct angles-of-adjustment to all the Aries planets. Aries-Scorpio inconjuncts are tricky territory, as Aries and Scorpio share an affinity for Mars and a tendency toward anger. This is another reason to monitor our trigger points carefully these next few days, and keep excessive, damaging words and actions in check. Another possibility with these inconjuncts is allowing the Scorpio Moon to bring the underlying reasons for our emotional reactions into consciousness, where we can release or transform them.

Tuesday night, the Moon reaches the end of Scorpio and trines Venus. This flowing connection offers insights into relationships, creative expression, and finance, all Venusian areas. Perhaps, during this connection, we'll understand some of the emotional insights of this Scorpio transit, and express them creatively.

The Moon pops into the bright exuberance of Sagittarius at 2:50am EDT Wednesday morning, ready to leave the shadows behind for a bit.

Full Moon in Libra

Sunday evening, April 17

Sun in Aries, Moon in Libra, this Full Moon is deeper and more complex than it might appear at first.

Surrounded by surging Aries energy these last weeks, we've been caught up in currents of desire, anger, initiative, and action as warriors, pioneers and lovers stride in and out of our lives.

Aries, ruled by Mars, is a masculine sign. Fire is a masculine element. Aries, initiating fire, is the most yang energy of the zodiac, rash, brash, and burning.

Aries is Eros, primal desire ... and yet, eros is associated with the feminine, and the physical. In ancient philosophy, through the medieval scholastics, in alchemy, and in Jungian psychology, Eros, the principle of desire, was primal, unconscious, and associated with the woman, the anima. Through study and spiritual practice, we overcome Eros to move into a higher, purer principle.

That principle is Logos, the Word, the Platonic idea, which is Libra, the sign of this Full Moon. Especially when opposed by so much Aries, we tend to see Libra as feminine, the sign of grace, beauty and harmony, which it is. But Libra is also a masculine sign, and Air a masculine, yang element. Libran beauty is idealized and refined, the clear, satisfying beauty of pure thought. This is the principle Saturn in Libra embodies, as he's been valiantly holding the line against Aries' excessive zeal.

So one lens we can use to view this Full Moon in Libra is the difference between Eros and Logos as initiators. Is the universe created first in thought or in desire? Do we emerge from a concept or an impulse? In manifestation work, are we conceptualizing our intentions, or desiring them, into being?

It's not enough say "both," not at this Full Moon, because we're only asked again, which comes first? As with any opposition, a dynamic balance is needed that honors both. As with any Full Moon, each side is maximally illuminated by the other. Where we have been emphasizing one, the other will insist on attention. Where we have been ignoring one, it will not be denied.

Masculine and feminine energies reflect and refract each other in this Full Moon. The Moon is the mother, the feminine principle, and the body, the primal, unconscious matter from which we emerge. She calls to the primal fire of Aries to dance with her, yet she is in Libra, sign of pure thought.

the King and Queen

The Sun is the father, the masculine principle, the light we shine into the world, consciousness. He aligns with Logos, reaching for the objective clarity of thought, yet he burns in Aries, sign of pure action. What happens if we flip these two around?

Some cultures see the Sun as female and the Moon as male, a tradition reflected in feminine nouns for the Sun and masculine for the Moon. Patricia Monaghan's book O Mother Sun!: A New View of the Cosmic Feminine explores this theme, turning our contemporary ways of thinking inside out.

In alchemy, the resolution of polar opposites is accomplished through a series of dissolutions and transformations that culminated in a sacred marriage of the masculine and feminine. This journey describes a path of development we each can choose, exploring the roles and expressions of all the archetypes within us.

At this Full Moon, we see again a complex web of aspects involving all the planets, and the Nodes of the Moon. Everyone is in on this conversation, offering opportunities and challenges, clarity and delusion, invitations and refusals; in fact, the blooming, buzzing confusion of the world.

Raven Kaldera calls this Full Moon in Libra the Artist's Moon. As we encounter its powerful archetypes, may we also hear the voice of our muse, illuminating how we can find power and create beauty out of the stuff of our lives. In these intense times, the only way out is through.

Moon into Libra

Friday night through Sunday night

At 2:59am EDT Saturday, the Moon moves into Libra, sign of balance, beauty and relating. A Libra Moon often brings calm, creativity, and harmonious relationships, yet this transit brings the Moon opposite the powerhouse of Aries planets, culminating in the opposition to the Sun which is Sunday's Full Moon. This Moon in Libra might find her grace and diplomacy sorely tested.

candles

The Moon's challenges begin as soon as she enters Libra and finds herself opposite Uranus in Aries, and inconjunct Neptune in Pisces. Both of the outer planet intuitive messengers, vying for the Moon's attention, insisting she listen.

And so it goes ... the Moon will be inconjunct Chiron, Ceres, and finally Venus, at the same time she moves through oppositions to Mars, Mercury and Jupiter, before reaching the Sun.

In this transit through Libra, the Moon finds an ally in Saturn, who's been holding the line against Aries' hot-headed rashness these last weeks. The conjunction with Saturn will bring out the Moon's traditional side, valuing roots, ancestors and tribe. Together, they explore ways to bring Aries drive and Pisces vision into manifest form.

As the Moon moves toward Full, this transit through Libra sets the stage. Aries and Libra are the opposites of this Full Moon, cardinal Fire and cardinal Air. These are the signs of the first house of self and the seventh house of other, of the warrior and the diplomat. Aries is criticized for being too aggressive and self-seeking, Libra for being too indecisive and compliant. Yet this pairing is complex, sounding notes that begin in the ancient philosophies of East and West and echoing up through alchemy, magic and psychology.

This combination of Moon in Libra and Sun in Aries cannot be reduced to a simple yin and yang, anima and animus, feminine and masculine opposition. The pemutations are not so simple. The Full Moon illuminates this pair, and the Moon's transit through Libra lights candles along the path.

Moon into Virgo

Wednesday night through Friday afternoon

The Moon moves into careful Virgo overnight Wednesday, arriving at 2:40am EDT Thursday, to be precise––and Virgo does like to be precise.

This transit through Virgo places the Moon at odds with the dominant themes in the sky, as she opposes Neptune, Chiron, Ceres and Venus in Pisces; and forms inconjunct angles of adjustment to the Aries group that includes Uranus, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter and the Sun.

As a result, Thursday and Friday might leave us feeling anxious––ungrounded by the unfocused, free-flowing energy of Pisces and downright terrified of the no-holds-barred, just go for it energy of Aries. What's a Virgo Moon to do?

Tai Chi Chuan

At its best, Virgo has the ability to stay grounded and hold space in the wildest of circumstances. We're heading toward April's Full Moon, in which five planets in Aries and four in Pisces will face the Moon and Saturn in Libra. These Virgo days allow us time to find our feet, breathe, and prepare.

Virgo is a sign of the body, and of healing. These are the days for bodywork, massage, yoga or tai chi, or a long walk. How well are we eating? Are we drinking enough pure water? What about herbs or other supplements? Where did I leave those vitamins, anyway?

Virgo is a sign of attending to details. With all the Aries fire around, we've maybe overlooked some tasks (the last of the tax forms ...?). Now's the time to dot the i's, cross the t's, and get organized. Virgo is a sign of service. Are there people, animals, things, land in our care that need tending? It's time to check in, see what's needed, and bind up what's raveled over the long winter.

After the exuberance of Leo trining Aries, this Virgo Moon transit offers respite. The Moon will trine Pluto in Capricorn on Thursday afternoon, reminding us that deep transformation isn't only about big fires and explosions. It also comes when we chop wood and carry water.

Moon into Leo

Monday evening through Wednesday night

The Moon is void of course in Cancer today, resting in her home sign as she continues to process the complex energies swirling through and around the cosmos.

During today's void time, Mars in fiery Aries and Pluto in determined Capricorn reach their exact square. I wrote last Monday about irresistible force vs. immovable object when the Moon was in Taurus. This Mars-Pluto square, which has been coming into focus these last few days and will remain energized for some days to come, presents us with this challenge in even more powerful form.

The Firebird

Mars in Aries is the great warrior, ready to engage, confront, and fight. Pluto in Capricorn is inexorable, inflexible, moving forward with a transformative agenda nothing will deflect. These two can expend tremendous amounts of energy resisting each other ... but there is another way.

Mars in Aries is passionate, ready to embrace and celebrate the new, eager to move. Pluto wants more soul, movements toward depth and consciousness. If these two dance together, we can experience a leap into the fires of transformation. This is the flaming of the phoenix.

Tonight at 11:37pm EDT, the Moon steps onto center stage, brilliantly lit in Leo. Now the new bird begins to emerge, unfurling his feathers. The Moon flows energy in trine with Uranus in Aries overnight, fire to fire, ready to embrace everything she resisted in Cancer.

Tuesday, the Moon trines Mars in Aries and sextiles Saturn, continuing the theme of embracing change and embodying it fully. Wednesday, the Leo Moon will trine Mercury, Jupiter and the Sun, all in Aries.

Leo is fixed Fire, the passionate, creative, joyful expression of what is in our hearts. This Moon transit through Leo offers a way to embrace, personalize and express all the changes we're experiencing. The Sun-Moon trine that ends this Moon transit marks a time of harmony, when we flow with our New Moon intentions and see where they're taking us.

The Moon enters her void-of-course Wednesday at 3:58pm EDT, and steps into practical Virgo at 2:40am Thursday. The Full Moon approaches, and Virgo intends to be prepared.

Moon into Cancer

Saturday afternoon through Monday evening

Mother and Child by Edelfelt

The Moon loves Cancer, her home sign, the sign of home. Cancer is cardinal Water, where emotions come first and we go to receive warm, nurturing support from mother and tribe. Here, the Moon is at her most traditional and protective.

At its most challenging, Cancer clings to the familiar even when it's toxic, too fearful to move into the new. At its best, Cancer rests in the warm support of traditional roots, using that strength as a base for growing in many new directions.

The best and worst are highlighted in this Cancer Moon's first aspects. Just after entering Cancer at 5:02pm Saturday, she flows energy in trine with Neptune in Pisces, reveling in deep, spiritual connections.

Then comes a series of challenging square, beginning with Uranus and Mars in Aries, overnight. The Moon in Cancer is simply not comfortable with the fast pace of dramatic changes set by these two, and worries about it. Will a new point of stability ever be reached, or are things spiraling out of control? Will we sweep away the good with the bad, ending up with a newer, more modern, mess?

In these times, we've all felt this anxiety. The Cancer Moon offers a time to explore it, to lean into our discomfort, in the words of Buddhist teacher Pema Chodron, and find the soft heart of compassion within.

Sunday, the Moon opposes Pluto in Capricorn, traditional feminine protecting tribe, family, and the way things are opposite traditional masculine determined to achieve goals in the world. Again, we feel our way into difficult emotions around sweeping change.

More squares follow: to Saturn in Libra, and to Jupiter in Aries. Saturn in Libra values relationships but recognizes the limits to what can be done. Jupiter in Aries is charging optimistically ahead into the unknown. Saturn and Jupiter are opposite now, trying to find a balance between change and tradition. The Cancer Moon squares them both, asking, how do we feel about this? How can we nurture ourselves and each other?

Overnight Sunday, the Moon finds respite in a flowing trine with Venus in Pisces. These planets in these signs support each other in feminine ways of knowing that value relationship, compassion and nurturance.

child laborer in the mills, 1908

Very early Monday, the Moon is back in challenge, squaring Mercury and then the Sun in Aries. Again, the Moon asks for time, gentleness, and a little caution ... not values Aries recognizes as worthwhile!

The Sun-Moon square marks the waxing half Moon, the time when our New Moon wishes are tested. Now that the shape of things to come is beginning to emerge, do we really want that? How strong is our commitment?

The Sun-Moon square also begins the Moon's void of course time, until she steps into passionate Leo at 11:37pm EDT Monday. The Cancer Moon is often associated with calm respite, but given the energy of the times, we may find this transit challenging as the Moon tries to carve out a little space of security in the midst of a whirlwind.

Moon into Gemini

Thursday morning through Saturday afternoon

monarch butterflies

Early Thursday (7:21am EDT), the Moon skips into butterfly Gemini, the sign that loves to connect. And connecting is what the Moon does during this crowded transit! After three very quiet days in peaceful Taurus, the Moon wants to talk to everyone.

Her first stop is a square to Neptune, newly arrived in Pisces. Where Pisces wants to bliss out on emotions, Gemini is all about ideas ... let's talk, Gemini says, tell me all about it! ... while Pisces happily floats on waves of pure experience. The Moon will also square Chiron, and then Ceres, in Pisces.

The potential here is for clear, innovative thinking and communication (Gemini) about emotional issues (Moon) supported by deep insights (Pisces) that lead to nurturing (Ceres) and healing (Chiron). If the issues being surfaced feel too threatening, though, the Gemini Moon might retreat into the nearest light-hearted distraction.

Later, come flowing sextiles to Uranus and Mars in Aries, which could show up as a bright burst of wonderful ideas you can barely record fast enough, or as an unstoppable torrent of words you might regret later. If in doubt, reach for the pen or the keyboard before going public.

Venus in Pisces reaches her exact inconjunct angle-of-adjustment with Saturn in Libra. This aspect brings focus to where relationships are out of balance, or where we're deluding ourselves ... which could provide the context for what the Moon is either exploring or avoiding during this Gemini transit.

Friday morning, the Moon emphasizes the awkward angle between Venus and Saturn by trining Saturn (supporting clear thinking), and squaring Venus (asking that anything vague or confusing be articulated).

network connections

Friday afternoon, the Moon rejoins the Aries excitement with sextiles to Jupiter, the Sun, and Mercury. The Sun-Moon sextile marks the point in the waxing lunar cycle when the emerging shape of our New Moon wishes becomes clear. The Aries Sun and Gemini Moon certainly support clarity!

Jupiter, as always, makes everything bigger and more enthusiastic. Everything may seem wonderful and exciting now, so it's important to connect also with Mercury's retrograde energy, creating small moments of thoughtfulness in the midst of apparently blazing potential.

Early Saturday morning, Pluto turns direct, rather like having a very large, very powerful earthmover slow down, turn, and reverse itself. This is happening at 7 Capricorn; if anything in your chart is being aspected by Pluto now, you're likely to feel it. Pluto will head back to 4 Capricorn, reaching there in mid September, before turning direct again.

The Moon's final aspect in Gemini is a conjunction with the South Node of the Moon, and opposition to the North Node, a chance to look at, think about, and communicate about where we are on our life path. At 5:02pm EDT Saturday, the Moon steps through her own front door into her home sign, Cancer. Depending on how difficult the Gemini transit felt, she may lock the door behind her and hide for a few days.

Moon into Taurus

Monday evening through Thursday morning

Reach out your intuitive sense today. There's a shift in the cosmic winds, as Neptune puts her toes into the Piscean ocean. This planet of dreams and visions, glamour and delusion, poetry and spiritual connection, will swim in Pisces until August, when a retrograde takes her back into Aquarius. She returns in February 2012 for a fourteen year swim through these waters.

dolphin riding the waves

As if to mark the change, the Moon leaves fiery Aries for peaceful Taurus this evening. An early morning conjunction with Mercury retrograde in Aries (6:04am EDT) initiated the Moon's void of course time, which ends with her entry into Taurus at 7:46pm EDT. One minute later, the Moon flows energy in sextile with Neptune, waving across the water.

Water and Earth are the receptive, yin elements, patient and calm. Yang, the active, thrusting, fiery energy of Aries, shifts into yin. This is a natural flow, if we are prepared to sense it and allow it. Yes, there are still five planets in Aries, and yet we feel a new balance emerging. The Taurus Moon will nurture the seeds we planted at the Aries New Moon, making sure they have what they need to take root and grow strong.

Tuesday, the Moon flows energy in trine with Pluto in Capricorn. While Aries squares off with Capricorn, challenging the power of Earth, the Taurus Moon says to Pluto, we can work together. What is it that needs to grow here? What needs to be nurtured? I can do that.

The Moon will sextile Chiron in Pisces overnight, offering gentle support for healing. Tuesday morning, the Moon sextiles the asteroid Ceres, the Grain Mother, offering support to bring Spring growth. Tuesday night, the Moon sextiles Venus in Pisces, flowing peace into our relationships and perhaps quiet and sensuous inspiration from our muse.

Tuesday night's sextile with Venus begins a long void of course time that lasts until the Moon enters bright Gemini early Thursday (7:21am EDT). Wednesday's key aspect is a conjunction between the Sun and Jupiter in Aries, expanding Aries fire and bringing exuberant vitality. The Moon holding her breath, and Mercury retrograde, remind us to embrace the joy and avoid the temptation to overextend.

For those working with anger issues at this time: The ongoing strong Aries signature, and especially the Mars-Uranus conjunction, will continue to offer challenges to our ability to stay calm in the face of provocation. Don't mistake Taurus' patience for weakness, or its quiet for acceptance. When it comes to standing up for what we believe, moving from Aries to Taurus is the shift from the irresistible force to the immovable object. As Taurus energy increases over the next weeks, explore these new ways to work with difficult circumstances.

Moon in Aries for the New Moon!

Saturday morning through Monday evening

The Moon moved into fiery Aries early yesterday morning, and her first action was joining with Mars, Aries' ruler, followed swiftly by a conjunction with Mars and a square to Pluto. Normally, I would have posted to this blog yesterday morning, but instead I spent the day wrapping my head around news that dropped the final curtain on a series of traumatic events in my life.

My Sun at 0 Libra is opposed by the Moon-Mars-Uranus gang, and I'll admit to feeling stunned, crushed and isolated ... one possible manifestation of the Moon, Mars and Uranus in Aries squaring Pluto. It's not the only one, though, and I hope some of you experienced an energetic clearing away of what you're more than ready to get rid of, or (and) an inrushing sense of power, purpose and focus.

Yesterday's square set the stage for this morning's New Moon, an intense all-Aries-all-the-time experience. With six planets in Aries today––Mars, Uranus, the Sun, the Moon, Jupiter and Mercury––we might feel tossed into the fire, but we know nothing will be the same when we walk through to the other side.

This New Moon invites wishes and intentions for new beginnings of all kinds. How we act, our process of embracing who we uniquely are, our light in the world, our emotional selves and connection to tradition, our philosophy, generosity, and liberality, our thought and communication, are all together at the bright Aries birthing today.

Aries is the sign of new, wild things. This is the Fool in the Tarot, stepping off into the unknown without a care in the world, confident the road will unfold before him. This is the New Moon when we reconnect with the desires in our hearts. Not what the media, society, family, or friends tell us we want. Not the grasping after the things of the world that somehow never satisfy. And not, on the other hand, the shunning of desire, the wish to be small and leave no footprint because we're not worthy.

At this New Moon, we're invited to experience ourselves as originals. What lights us up? What turns us on? What ignites our passions? What are we living for? There is a spark in each of us, a shining that is ours alone. This is the time to remove whatever is blocking our light, and rediscover what fuel it is that keeps our fires burning long and steadily.

With no other influences, this large an Aries bonfire could blaze out of control, expressing itself in anger, rashness, and too much risk taking. Mercury is retrograde now, and the oft-dreaded retrograde can become a chance to rethink, reconsider and reconnect. While Mercury heading backwards is likely to be a source of frustration to all that forward rushing Aries, we can embrace the moments when things become a little unclear to say, wait a minute ... let me think this through.

Saturn in Libra stands alone opposing the New Moon and Jupiter. He also wants to put on the brakes, but might get trampled instead. Either way, he remains a bastion of diplomacy, elegance, and consideration for others, as he counsels patience and reminds us that hard work is needed. Ignoring Saturn's cautionary messages now, no matter how much we want to rush ahead, will leave a larger reckoning for later.

Today, Sunday, the aspects all reflect the New Moon's dance. The Sun and Moon will soon reach their conjunction (10:32am EDT) and we're down the rabbit hole of this powerful waxing cycle. Then the Moon opposes Saturn (11:22am EDT) and joins Jupiter (3:08pm EDT).

Today, Mars and Uranus reach their exact conjunction (4:52pm EDT), and the Sun reaches an exact opposition to Saturn (7:56pm EDT). In a way, this is having the New Moon all day, as the planets dance so close to each other, touching exactly and moving on.

Overnight, the Moon joins Mercury, then moved into a void-of-course phase. Meanwhile, an astrological event long awaited occurs as Neptune steps into her home sign of Pisces. It's fitting the Moon should be in a time-between-times when this happens, holding her breath as the planet of dreams, visions, glamour and spirituality sails into home waters.

The Moon steps into calm, patient Taurus at 7:46pm EDT Monday, and one minute later, sextiles Neptune, new in Pisces. Monday night will be a wonderful night for dreams.