Moon into Scorpio: Power Play

Wednesday night through Friday night

Overnight, the Moon moved into Scorpio, sign of secrets, depth, shadow and power. With the startling clarity that arrived with the New Moon in Libra, we look with intense curiosity at our world. Isn't it odd how things look different from this new perspective?

The Scorpio Moon wants to do more than look. This Moon is ready to push here and prod there to see what pops out. This Moon picks up the wand, the staff of power, and says, what can this do? Her first aspect in Scorpio was a flowing trine to Chiron in Pisces, a meeting with a wise mentor.

The Power of the Magician: Dream Collage

In the early hours of Thursday, Mercury in Libra sextiled Mars in Leo, two creative energies in passionate play. Around 8am EDT, the Scorpio Moon sextiled alchemical Pluto in Capricorn: The sorcerer's apprentice reporting for duty, eager to learn. Magic is afoot!

Late morning brings a square between the Moon and Mars, two passionate fixed signs challenging each other. Does their sparring bring out the best in each, leading to increased skills; or are they just talking smack?

This afternoon, Jupiter and the Moon face off in opposition. This could escalate the Moon's urge to dominate (Jupiter makes everything bigger) or help keep the sorcerer's apprentice's feet firmly on the ground (Jupiter the sage in steady Taurus). What is the source of our power?

This evening, Venus and Saturn meet in Libra, offering an answer. For these two, power is sourced in community, responsibly, with respect for others and a desire for peace. United, Venus and Saturn reflect the unfolding of beauty through time. Overnight, the Sun and Mars sextile each other, opening portals for dynamic, passionate and creative dreaming.

Friday afternoon, Mercury and Jupiter meet in an inconjunct angle of adjustment. This is no knock-down-drag-out, though, as Taurus and Libra are both under Venus' wings. Perhaps our new clear thought could benefit from some sage advice.

Friday night, the Moon makes her last classical aspect in Scorpio as she squares Neptune in Aquarius. We are challenged to look closely at those bright, glowing visions. Is everything as good as it looks? Incubate dreams tonight to shine some light in the dark corners. You might be surprised.

The void-of-course period this square initiates does not last long: The Moon enters convivial Sagittarius at 12:42am EDT Saturday, opening the door into a celebratory weekend. During these days of Scorpio, we test our power. Now that we can see more clearly, what do we need to understand––and then to act on?
   

A collage for today's New Moon in Libra

New Moon in Libra: Finding the Still Point at the Center

Tuesday morning 7:09 am EDT

This New Moon in Libra, cardinal Air, arrives on powerful wings. Five planets in Libra, including the Sun and Moon at 4 degrees, Mercury with them at 2, and Venus and Saturn conjunct at 15 and 18. With Mars in Leo forming a strong sextile, we have all the personal planets standing with Saturn the manifester, who is exalted in Libra.

This New Moon blows in with plenty of fresh air, clearing out the cobwebs of old, limiting thoughts, throwing open windows and doors, knocking down walls if need be, so we see the world with new eyes.

One of the gifts of Libra is the ability to take on other perspectives. Libra is the diplomat, the mediator, the negotiator––to find the best solution, all sides need to be seen and considered. (Consider: con=with, sider=the stars, or, in alignment with the stars.)

How, then, do we stay grounded in our reality? How can we stay true to our core values? Libra gets criticized for being all over the map, and yet she manages to return again and again to the balance point. Libra knows how to stay centered.

At this New Moon, our heart's core aligns with our mind and emotions, with values and responsibility nearby. Where we lack clarity, we have only to ask. When this New Moon arrives, we may find light shining into musty corners we were, perhaps, hoping to avoid, so probably best to prepare now. We're in a Virgo void-of-course time, excellent for inner work, reflection, letting go.

This New Moon is likely to feel very personal with Mercury, Venus and Mars closely involved––and yet there's plenty of cosmic energy out there too. This New Moon forms a T-square with the current powerhouse in the sky, the Uranus–Pluto square. Nothing calm or easy about those two; so part of the opportunity at this New Moon is to challenge ourselves to get clear about who we are and where we're headed, even in the maelstrom of change that surrounds us.

Preparing for this New Moon, reflecting on the seeds of clarity we wish to plant, we look to our birth charts. Which house will this New Moon fall in? Which birth planets are most closely aspected? These give us clues where in our lives we're likely to see new ideas and perspectives emerging, and where we can plant seeds that will grow tall.

As we seek for our center, the still point around which our world spirals, we can know we are not alone. It turns out this New Moon is aligned with the Super Galactic Center, the center around which all the galaxies, of which our Milky Way galaxy is but one outer member, revolves. This Super Galactic Center falls right around 0 degrees Libra, the point of our Autumnal Equinox. 

We have not even to risk the adventure alone, for the heroes of all time have gone before us — the labyrinth is thoroughly known. We have only to follow the thread of the hero path, and where we had thought to find an abomination, we shall find a god; where we had thought to slay another, we shall slay ourselves; where we had thought to travel outward, we shall come to the center of our own existence. And where we had thought to be alone, we shall be with all the world.

––Joseph Campbell, The Hero with a Thousand Faces
   

Moon into Virgo: Preparing the Way

Saturday night through Monday night

The Moon stepped into detailed-oriented, organized Virgo just after midnight last night. In this sign, the Moon takes on the mantle of the helpful servant, one who prepares. During this transit, the Moon will be as self-effacing as the most humble of workers, as she spends most of the transit void of course.

in the cocoon

Overnight, the Virgo Moon opposed Chiron in Pisces, a meeting of healers in which cosmic energy and physical well-being could align and balance. The opposition is an angle of 180 degrees––a straight line, in fact, and not something we think of as an angle at all. We might imagine this particular straight line, Virgo Moon to Piscean Chiron, as the path of the chakras, reaching from the grounded first chakra, seat of trust, to the celestial crown chakra, opening to the cosmos.

Not long after, the Moon formed an inconjunct angle-of-adjustment with Uranus in Aries. This connection highlights our feelings of being ill at ease with the pace of change today, and looks for adjustments that allow us to not just survive, but thrive in these times.

Early this morning, the Moon formed a flowing trine with Pluto the alchemist, an acceptance that the only way out is through. We enter into the cauldron of transformation, as the Moon now moves toward a trine with Jupiter in Taurus, bringer of calm and peace.

The Jupiter trine is the Moon's last classical aspect in Virgo, and so she will be in a time-between-times until she enters Libra late Monday night, heading toward the New Moon in Libra (7:09am EDT Tuesday). During this void of course period, the Moon will square the Nodes of the Moon, suggesting we sit with the quiet of Jupiter the sage during this time, and contemplate our life path.

emerging reborn

This New Moon in Libra, arriving so close to the Autumnal Equinox, brings an intense focus in Libra: The Sun and Moon at 4 Libra, Mercury at 2, Venus at 15 and Saturn at 18. Libra is cardinal Air, initiating new ideas, actively seeking balance and harmony, mediating solutions to knotty problems. Libra is ruled by Venus, keenly aware of the needs of others, valuing fairness, creating beauty.

Where in our lives do we need a new beginning? This Libran New Moon can help create the concept. Where in our charts does this New Moon fall? This is where we may feel rebirth.

Once we reach the New Moon on Tuesday morning, our wishes and intentions can fly into the bright air like a cloud of butterflies. Now, in this time of the waning Virgo Moon, we rest in the stillness of the cocoon, preparing ourselves.
   

Moon into Leo: Celebrating Change!

Thursday night through Saturday night

The Moon sailed into passionate, expressive Leo last night, where her first actions were to meet Mars in Leo and trine Uranus in Aries, setting the stage for an explosion of creative energy. Mars and Uranus reached their exact trine early this morning.

In the early hours of this morning, the Sun entered creative Libra, marking the astrological Autumnal Equinox, the neopagan festival of Mabon, and harvest festivals the world over. At Weather Thor's Day, Nan Moss shares a poem on this time of equal day and equal night in which she says, in these times of change, that "Equal fear, equal courage" is the true equinox.

Libra is the sign of balance, harmony, beauty and peace, where we experience the ability to see both sides of any question and mediate a just solution. The Moon and Mars in Leo embrace the courage of the heart, ready to face equally the dark and the light, and find a creative way forward. With Uranus the trickster on board, we watch for the unexpected.

This afternoon, the Moon squares Jupiter in Taurus. Expansive, philosophical Jupiter cautions the Moon to slow down, experience the sensual world in all its glory, and nurture ourselves. The passionate Leo Moon pulls Jupiter into a dance, unwilling to sit still. The Moon sextiles Venus in Libra later this afternoon, another creative blending that invites our individual muses to join the dance as well, inspiring us anew.

Strange Fruit performance troupe coming to Lotus

This weekend, my new hometown celebrates world music and art in its annual Lotus Festival––a wonderful way to experience this combination of Leo and Libran energies!

In the early hours of Saturday, the Moon sextiles Saturn. If you're up that late (4:36am EDT), you might feel inspiration turning to action, as words, colors or shapes begin taking form. Saturday is a day for making.

Saturday night, the Sun and Chiron form an inconjunct angle-of-adjustment. What new balance point do we need to find, for healing to happen? If we've been stuck in feeling wounded, where can we find peace?

Not long after the Sun–Chiron connection, the Moon opposes Neptune in Aquarius, and we're asked to take our individual creative visions into a wider realm of community and cosmos. This is the last classical aspect in Leo, opening a two-hour void of course until the Moon steps into analytical Virgo at 12:40am EDT Sunday.

While the Moon is in Leo, the Sun enters Libra, and the year turns, we celebrate our creative passions and face with courage the changes arriving in our world.
   

Moon into Cancer: Under the Covers

Tuesday afternoon through Thursday evening

We're in the last quarter of the waning cycle––time to let go of what we've completed, what we don't need, and what's holding us back. We're also heading for the Fall Equinox, the initiation of Autumn, season of harvest, release, and, yes, death.

Bed and cradle, Cherokee Heritage Center

Without endings, there's no space for beginnings. We need to open our hands to let go, so we can receive. But in these days of the Cancer Moon, we feel like pulling the covers up over our heads and saying, "Noooooooooo, come back later, I'm not ready."

Cancer is the sign of home, nesting, nurturing, family, tribe and tradition. The Moon rules Cancer and she's strong here. Cancer is cardinal Water, and yet her way is, sometimes, to hold on. The Cancer Moon deeply values the old ways and honors the ancestors. With this strong commitment to tradition comes difficulty in letting go.

The Moon enters Cancer at 2:53pm EDT, and after a restful afternoon, squares off with Uranus in Aries at 8:10pm. Uranus is the revolutionary ready to toss out everything from the past, and the trickster holding something precious over the cliff just to see the Cancer Moon squirm. We need the clarity to let Uranus know what is vital to preserve from the past, and the courage to let go of what's ready to die.

Just after midnight, the Moon opposes Pluto the alchemist, another powerful agent of change. Again, we need to know what to keep and what to save, as all goes into the cauldron of transformation.

Wednesday morning brings another square, this one with Venus in Libra. The challenge between these two can be resolved creatively: How can we re-present the heart of our traditions, in forms that celebrate their vitality in a new age? A following sextile with Jupiter offers the grace to find a way.

Sommer by von Kalckreuth

Wednesday evening will be a time of adjustment, as Mars forms an inconjunct with Chiron, the Sun forms an inconjunct with Neptune, and the Moon squares Saturn. We feel a need to act in the real world (Mars, Sun and Saturn) in a way that honors our dreams and visions, and brings healing (Chiron, Neptune and the Moon). The path will not be obvious, but a way can be found.

Thursday morning, the Moon sextiles Mercury, offering clarity and detail. Venus and Jupiter will be inconjunct, and yet this connection is one of creative tension: Venus and Jupiter are easy partners, and the signs involved (Taurus and Libra) are ruled by Venus. Creative work is supported, especially revision or anything requiring attention to detail.

Thursday night (9:22pm EDT), the Sun and Moon reach their waning sextile, when we might find peace around the whole issue of letting go. This is the Moon's last aspect in Cancer, opening a brief void-of-course period until the Moon enters regal Leo at 9:55pm EDT.

This Moon transit through Cancer is a time to connect with feelings about letting go, giving away, and receiving. We can notice where we want to hold on, and gently decide where we need to let go. As we do, we can celebrate the harvest, appreciating what we've grown and who we've become. Baking pies is also good :)
    

Moon into Gemini: Express Yourself!

Sunday morning through Tuesday afternoon

In the early hours of Sunday, the Moon scintillates into Gemini, mutable Air, the sign that loves to connect. With Pluto now moving direct, we're feeling a new sense of release and movement. The Gemini Moon is ready to break out of the cocoon and fly!

Royal Street Jazz Dancers

The Moon's first aspect is an energizing sextile with Uranus in Aries, a trickster dance inviting us to be who we are, no matter what, and have fun with it. Later, a flowing trine with creative Venus in Libra opens all kinds of windows of expression in art and relationship, and the art of relating.

Sunday evening, Venus in Libra squares Pluto in Capricorn, a challenge on how best to incorporate Pluto's bone-deep transformational energy into our lives harmoniously, beautifully and peacefully. Not long after, Mars leaves emotional Cancer behind and blazes into Leo, adding more energy to the urge to passionately, creatively express ourselves.

Monday brings a trine between the Gemini Moon and Saturn in Libra, and, a few hours later, a square between the Moon and Mercury in Virgo. More focus on creativity, this time with an emphasis on problem solving. The Moon–Saturn connection creates a flow of ideas and communications around whatever we need to sort out, and the Moon–Mercury challenge makes sure we don't miss any important details.

Tuesday morning is waning Half Moon, the Sun–Moon square that alerts us to what we've now completed. Can we let go of our finished work completely? The Virgo Sun might say, oh, wait, I need to fix a few more things on this ... While the Gemini Moon is already looking over the next horizon. But it's time in the lunar cycle to release and begin preparing for the New Moon to come.

A flowing trine between the Gemini Moon and Neptune in Aquarius offers a glimpse of what's over that enticingly luminous horizon. This is the last classical aspect in Gemini, beginning a void of course time at 12:33pm EDT that continues until the Moon enters her home sign of Cancer at 2:53pm EDT.

Gemini Moons are bright, sociable and flirty, ready to dance with ideas, themes, memes and people. This Gemini transit, beginning with Uranus and ending with Neptune, invites us to dance to our own tune, expressing our own dreams.

Moon into Taurus: Roots and Bones

Thursday afternoon through Sunday morning

The Moon moves into steadfast Taurus this afternoon at 3:25pm EDT. If you've experienced edgy power surges as the Moon shot through Aries, not to mention the weeks of Mars in Cancer, this Taurus Moon should feel like a deep, calming exhale.

The Moon in Taurus can be a sensualist, ready to kick back and revel in luxury. This particular transit, though, calls on Taurus the farmer, the one who understands the power of patience, persistence, and unswerving devotion. Moving from Aries to Taurus, we beat our swords into ploughshares and till deeply.

The Alchemist

Overnight tonight, the Moon trines Pluto, two Earth signs joining forces. See two alchemists carefully watching the alembic, or two hedge witches at a large cauldron, stirring slowly and adding a little of this, a bit of that. Tonight, our emotions open to transformation, our bodies know what we need.

Late Friday morning, the Moon joins Jupiter in Taurus, a conjunction that could signal good luck in business, a wonderful spa day, an opportunity to plan an adventurous journey, a new understanding of life, the universe and everything––or a combination of these. Jupiter is expansive, larger than life; with Taurus' earthy common sense, good things can happen.

Friday afternoon, the engine of transformation moves forward. Venus in Virgo forms an inconjunct angle-of-adjustment with Chiron, a time to check in on our self-care: Are we getting what we most need? Less than an hour later, Pluto stations direct, giving extra emphasis to this powerful bringer of change. Friday evening, the Moon trines Mercury in Virgo, opening a window for clear, practical communication.

Overnight Friday, Mars in late Cancer is inconjunct Neptune in late Aquarius, a combination with the potential for active, edgy dreams full of intuitive messages. This aspect sets the stage for Saturday, when the flow of intuition continues to be strong.

Saturday morning, Venus in Libra opposes Uranus in Aries. How can we balance our needs with the needs of others? How can we create beautiful change and peaceful revolution? Saturday afternoon brings the waning trine between the Sun and Moon, a time in the disseminating phase after the Full Moon when we understand what we've experienced in this lunar cycle, and can work harmoniously with the energy around us.

Overnight Saturday, the Moon will square Neptune in Aquarius, a challenge to visionary Neptune to translate those intuitive directives into language simple earthlings can understand and apply. Look again for strong dreams with messages about what to do next.  In the early hours of Sunday, the Moon trines Mars, another combination of intuitive insight with action. This is the Moon's last aspect in Taurus, opening a one-hour void of course period that lasts until she pops into bright Gemini at 4:06am EDT.

The Taurus Moon can bring feelings of deep peace and a slower pace. During this transit, the sense of calm is accompanied by the realization that transformation is happening. We need to move slowly. These changes are vitally important. We don't want to mar our making by rushing the process.
   

Moon into Aries: Igniting the World

Tuesday morning through Thursday afternoon

The Moon surged into Aries very early this morning, still glowing and full in the night sky. We reached our moment of realization with the Full Moon in Pisces, and now we're ready to take action! Aries is cardinal Fire, the sign that winds us up, gets our feet itching to move, and points us toward a desired goal.

Torch Lily, also called Red Hot Poker

It's good we had time to connect with our dreams at the Full Moon, because Aries can have a ready-fire-aim quality, and the Moon's first aspect this morning was a conjunction with Uranus the trickster. With those two is Aries, who knows where we might find ourselves?

Just after noon, the Moon squared Pluto, a challenge to the great transformer to bring it on, we're ready for anything. So I hope we are, because we're out of the gate and heading for that first turn.

These are challenging days for the careful, organized Virgo planets––the Sun, Venus and Mercury are all lining up ducks in Virgo these days. This afternoon, the Aries Moon forms an inconjunct angle with Mercury, the Moon ready to test the limits and push Mercury to commit, decide, act. Overnight, Venus forms an inconjunct with Neptune in Pisces, as Neptune pushes Venus to think outside the box and dream large.

If today, Tuesday, feels a bit edgy, Wednesday should bring balance and the stability to make real progress. Around noon, the Moon opposes Saturn in Libra, giving Saturn a chance to remind the Aries Moon to slow down. In the evening, Mercury trines Jupiter in Taurus, a very steadying influence that brings luck to those who take time to get things right. Then Venus enters Libra, one of the signs she rules, and our relationships and creative impulses can relax into beautiful harmony.

Thursday morning we reenter tricky territory with a Moon-Mars square. These two planets are in mutual reception, with the Moon in Mars-ruled Aries and Mars in Moon-ruled Cancer, which means the communication is easily understood. But with these two, we need to be careful easy flow inside a challenging square doesn't lead to emotional outbursts, or angry expressions of feeling.

Instead of emotional storms, we can channel the tremendous energy of Moon-Mars connection into bursting through personal blockages, making a leap forward with a stuck project, or diving into a task we've been avoiding. 

In the early afternoon, the Moon sextiles Neptune, an intuitive connection with the energy to move into new territories of innovation and revolution. This is the Moon's last aspect in Aries, beginning a void of course period that lasts two and half hours, until the Moon enters calm, peaceful Taurus at 3:25pm EDT.

These next few days will be filled with energy. It's our choice to scatter it, blow up with it, or channel it toward something we'd love to accomplish. Just do it!
    

Full Moon in Pisces: Swimming with the Goddess

The guided journey for tonight's Full Moon is now available. Please click the link in the widget to the right, or here. Thank you for listening!

Moon into Pisces: Polishing the Mirror

Saturday afternoon through Monday night

Wildwood Tarot

The Moon swims into visionary Pisces this afternoon, sailing toward the Full Moon. This is the Harvest Moon, rich with everything we'd tended this year. This is the dreamer's Moon, when the cosmic visions of Pisces are linked to the practical magic of Virgo.

The Moon enters Pisces at 3:36pm EDT, where she glides alone for a few hours. This is a time for meditation, freewriting, journeying, or any other practice that links us to intuition, synchronicity and dreams. If you nap this afternoon, have your dreambook handy.

Tonight, the Moon joins Chiron in Pisces and opposes Mercury in Virgo. This preview of the Full Moon opens our exploration of dreams and healing.

Chiron is a shamanic figure, traveling widely in the solar system, bringing healing wisdom back from far places. Mercury is how we think, and in Virgo, ruled by Mercury and resonating with Chiron, our thoughts are practical, detailed, and looking for ways to be of service. The Moon is the ancient gateway to manifestation, holder of body wisdom, the one who understands the links between emotion, intuition, and healing.

Overnight, Venus in Virgo sextiles Mars in Cancer, two personal planets of relating and acting, helping us understand and integrate dream messages. Mercury forms an inconjunct angle-of-adjustment to revolutionary Uranus, asking the cosmic trickster to be really clear so nothing is lost in translation. The Moon sextiles Pluto in Capricorn, as the caterpillar dissolves within the cocoon, trusting in the imago of the butterfly to come.

Sunday morning, the Pisces Moon sextiles Jupiter. In Taurus, Jupiter is the wise elder, the grandmother who has seen many winters and knows Spring will come again. In her hands, the cocoon is safe as the butterfly forms within. Mercury trines Pluto, detailed Virgo flowing with alchemical Capricorn, preparing the way.

Early Monday morning, 5:27am PDT, the Full Moon in Pisces arrives. Illuminating our dreams, she asks how fulfilled we are in our visioning.

Are we connected to a vibrant, meaningful, life-affirming vision? Or are we chasing illusions that look enticing, or powerful, or magical, but leave us feeling wasted and empty?

This Full Moon forms a Grand Cross with the Nodes of the Moon, highlighting the connection between our largest dreams, daily practice, and the path we walk in this life.

This Grand Cross in the mutable, flexible signs reminds us that when currents are swift and strong, we need to stay alert and awake, a gentle hand on the tiller to shift at a moment's notice.

At this Full Moon, Ceres the Grain Mother aligns with the Moon, as Venus aligns with the Sun. Again our attention is drawn to the balance between Pisces and Virgo, the deep resonance that binds the humblest of everyday tasks to the grandest visions for the future. Gathering food, grinding grain, baking bread, weaving cloth, all have magical power.

The Virgo New Moon was marked by a Grand Trine in Earth, marking this as a time of manifestation and world building. This Full Moon brings another Grand Earth Trine, with Mercury the messenger stepping in to anchor Jupiter and Pluto. To emphasize that we're now in a time of action, Mars in Cancer trines the Moon and Ceres, and Saturn in Libra trines the South Node.

No planets are left out of the complex cats' cradle of this Full Moon; each adds a voice to the chorus. Where in your chart does this Full Moon fall? In my chart, the Moon shines late in my First House, the Sun last in my Seventh, highlighting the balance between Self and Other, testing the balance between caring for myself and tending my vision, and caring for others while facilitating theirs.

Late Monday, the Moon trines Mars in Cancer, signaling a time to act on intuition and honor our feelings. A few hours later, the Moon opposes Venus in Virgo, another opportunity to test our balance. This is the last classic aspect for the Pisces Moon, beginning a void of course time that lasts until the Moon bursts into Aries at 2:49am EDT Tuesday. A Full Pisces Moon followed the next night by a mostly-still-Full Aries Moon signals strong dreaming, so have pen and paper handy!

I'm exploring the powerful Wildwood Tarot, and the Mirror card symbolizes this Pisces Full Moon for me. Dreams and visions are illuminated, as we're reminded to stay grounded and take practical steps to manifest our dreams. The watery Lady holds aloft an orb that could be the Moon, as she rests the golden mirror against her breast. The heron, ancient woman of power, protects the crane bag filled with magical tools. In the background, a still figure floats on the waters.

The Full Moon in Pisces ushers in a numinous time, a hinge, a doorway. Light falls in all the worlds, and we gather in what we've sown. As above, so below.
  

Moon into Aquarius: Creative Visioning

Thursday morning through Saturday afternoon

Early this morning, the Moon moved into Aquarius, ready to embrace a grand new vision. Aquarius is the sign of the future, thinking outside the box, working with new ideas and technologies, and planning for the greatest good.

spiral galaxy

During this transit, heading toward the Full Moon in Pisces, the Aquarius Moon can do some serious visioning. Just after noon today, Mercury in Virgo opposes Neptune in Aquarius, human mind connecting to cosmic mind. Shortly afterward, the Aquarius Moon sextiles Uranus in Aries, another strong intuitive connection. Meditation, journeying and other kinds of intuitive work are well supported today.

Overnight, the Moon squares Jupiter in Taurus, a challenge that asks how we're going to make our visions real. Jupiter is expansive, generous and welcoming, and Taurus is grounded and stable. New ideas are welcome, but need to be carefully nurtured. This square makes this clear.

And, if we need another reminder not to forget the details, Mercury moves into Virgo overnight. Anything need editing or careful revision? Mercury in Virgo is a wonderful editor.

Friday's only aspect is a sextile between the Aquarius Moon and Saturn in Libra. Now we move from grand visions into concrete plans. Both the Moon and Saturn are in Air signs, supporting clear thinking and objective evaluation. Are our visions ready for implementation? The Moon and Saturn together can answer this question.

Just after noon on Saturday, Mercury opposes Chiron. What practical steps (Mercury in Virgo) do we need to take, to heal ourselves and bring healing to others (Chiron in Pisces)?

An hour later, at 1:31pm EDT, the Moon reaches visionary Neptune in late Aquarius, sharing everything she's learned on this transit. This is the Moon's last classical aspect in Aquarius, beginning a two-hour void of course period before the Moon swims into Pisces' ocean at 3:26pm EDT.

The Moon's transit through Aquarius, as she grows brighter each night with the coming Full Moon, brings light to our biggest dreams. We're offered opportunities to check in on the details and figure out what needs to happen, to bring our most cherished visions into reality.
  

Moon into Capricorn: Moving Mountains Slowly

Monday night through Thursday morning

Tonight at 10:00pm EDT, the Moon pulls on heavy work gloves and steps into Capricorn for a few days of hard work. This sign of cardinal Earth loves nothing better than getting down to it and getting things done. No job too tough for Capricorn, and it doesn't matter how long it takes.

mountains

Capricorn is where Pluto is hanging out these days (well, years), and the Moon will be joining Pluto on his side of the ongoing Pluto–Uranus square. This is the slow, red warning light of a square that keeps letting us know big changes are ahead. At 4am EDT Tuesday, the Moon will square Uranus, then at 7am EDT, she'll be right with Pluto.

So, the work week after the Labor Day holiday begins with a fresh awareness of just how massive these changes are. As the Eastern seaboard and inland areas continue to face the results of hurricane Irene, the Gulf Coast is lashed by another tropical storm, and large swaths of the West continue to burn, it hardly seems as though we need the reminder.

And yet, Capricorn is never daunted by a challenge. The Moon in Capricorn doesn't shrink back or shirk. Instead, she grins and digs in. Just before 5pm EDT Tuesday, the Moon trines Jupiter in Taurus, connecting with the planet of generosity and good fortune. At midnight, the Moon trines the Sun in Virgo, bringing the two luminaries together with energy for good, detailed work and practical healing.

In the early hours of Wednesday, the Capricorn Moon squares Saturn in Libra. This is a challenging aspect, and yet, Saturn rules Capricorn––in this square, like meets like. Here again, we get an invitation to buckle down, find balance, and do the work.

Just after noon, the Moon trines Venus in Virgo, echoing the Sun trine. In the realm of relationships, finances and creativity, where is work needed? Where do we need to pay attention?

The Moon's last classical aspect in Capricorn is an opposition to Mars in Cancer. I'm not sure how things have been for you, but this Mars in Cancer transit has been difficult, with more than its share of anger, tension and emotionality. This opposition brings the emotional Moon in hard-nosed Capricorn, into contact with action-oriented Mars in emotional Cancer, and so asking the question, what action needs to be taken? What work is needed here?

The opposition initiates a void of course time that lasts until 5:42am EDT Thursday, when the Moon moves into visionary Aquarius.
   

Moon into Sagittarius: Meeting the Threshold Guardian

Saturday afternoon through Monday night

Today at 5:03pm, the Moon moves into Sagittarius, the mutable Fire sign ruled by generous, welcoming, expansive Jupiter. This can be a time for great food, great friends, and great conversation, but this aspects for this Sagittarian transit suggest we're not out of the woods yet. In fact, we may be at the beginning of a great adventure.

at the border

Sagittarius is the sign of the journey, the quest for the meaning of life, the universe, and everything. In Sagittarius, the Moon is ready to get on her hiking shoes, grab a walking stick, and see where the road will take her. The mood is upbeat, optimistic, and open.

Still, we know quests are not easy things. In fact, they often begin with a challenge, a test to see if we're really serious, if we know this is more than a walk in the park. Tonight, the Moon trines Uranus in Aries. A trine is an easy, flowing aspect, and yet, any encounter with the revolutionary trickster is likely to bring up something unusual.

Sunday, in the early afternoon, the Moon squares the Virgo Sun. This is a challenge to our emerging New Moon wishes. Are we committed? Are we ready to move forward? Sunday night, the Moon sextiles Saturn, a flowing connection giving energy to any mid-course corrections we need to make. Later in the night, the Moon squares Venus in Virgo, another challenge. As we move forward, how are relationships affected? Are we being true to our values?

Monday morning brings a trine between the adventuring Moon and Mercury in Leo. We have, perhaps, clearer the first hurdle. If our meeting with the threshold guardian has gone well, we have the energy to communicate clearly, passionately and creatively.

Monday evening, the Moon sextiles Neptune in Aquarius, connecting our personal quest with cosmic visioning. This is an opportunity to check in with intuitive guides, and align with our deepest dreams and values. After a brief void-of-course time, the Moon steps into hard working Capricorn at 10:03pm Monday.
   

Moon into Scorpio: Alchemy Underway

Thursday afternoon through Saturday afternoon

With the waxing Moon we're growing and expanding, watching our New Moon intentions unfurl. As the Moon moves into transformative Scorpio this afternoon (2:48pm EDT), the changes we're experiencing go underground. Scorpio is the sign of hidden things, of the psychic, the intuitive, the occult, and the Shadow.

Tonight, the Moon flows energy is sextile with Pluto, ruler of Scorpio and the alchemist of the zodiac. This is a time of intensity and power that can be channeled into anything from anger and revenge to deep personal exploration and insight. Powerful events surround us. How are we responding? What does this tell us about who we are?

deep pool

Early Friday morning, the Moon forms a flowing sextile with the Sun in Virgo. We begin to see emerging signs of our New Moon wishes, nurtured by the anxious protectiveness of Virgo and the tough love of Scorpio. Where are our New Moon wishes taking us? Under a Scorpio Moon, unintended effects or hidden motives may be revealed.

Over the course of the day on Friday, the Moon will oppose Jupiter in Taurus, sextile Venus in Virgo, and trine Mars in Cancer, while the Sun trines Jupiter. These connections between Earth and Water ask us to slow down, dig deep, and become aware. We are reminded that both the sensual world (Jupiter in Taurus) and the intuitive realms (Moon in Scorpio) are vital. The Sun and Venus in Virgo bring our attention back to details, telling us every step has its impact.

Saturday, the Scorpio Moon forms squares to Mercury in Leo (4:03am EDT) and Neptune in Aquarius (3:41pm EDT). These challenging aspects in the fixed signs can stop us in our tracks, until we find a way to balance deep intuitive feelings (Moon), cosmic visions (Neptune), and the light we want to share with the world (Mercury). If you need to take a stand, Saturday's energy will support you. This energy can also build immovable barriers, so be sure whatever stand you take doesn't leave you boxed into a corner.

The square with Neptune is the Moon's last classical aspect in Scorpio, beginning a void-of-course time that lasts until the Moon enters welcoming Sagittarius at 5:03pm EDT. Saturday night's energy will make more lively conversation, and generous spirits, along with possibility for the unexpected: The Sagittarian Moon will trine Uranus at 10:58 pm.

During this Moon transit through Scorpio, we are invited to look within. The energy of Earth supports slow movement and strong foundations. Slow down; pay attention.