Moon into Capricorn: Who's in Charge?

Sunday afternoon through Tuesday evening
Eastern Daylight Time

Sunday, October 30

La Hague Lighthouse, Normandy

Moon enters Capricorn 12:38pm
Moon sextile Chiron (Pisces) 1:52pm
Moon trine Jupiter (Taurus) 9:20pm
Moon conjunct Pluto (Capricorn) 9:58pm

Monday, October 31
Moon sextile Sun (Scorpio) 1:34am
Moon inconjunct South Node (Gemini) 5:02pm
Venus (Scorpio) square Neptune (Aquarius) 5:19pm
Moon sextile Ceres (Pisces) 5:35pm

Tuesday, November 1
Moon square Saturn (Libra) 4:14am
Mercury (Scorpio) square Neptune (Aquarius) 4:36am
Moon inconjunct Mars (Leo) 8:58am
Moon sextile Mercury (Scorpio) 3:56pm
Moon sextile Venus (Scorpio) 5:00pm
(begin void of course)
Moon enters Aquarius 6:08pm

The Moon grabs her tool belt this afternoon to step into Capricorn, sign of steady effort and hard work. With Halloween tomorrow making this feel like a long weekend, it might seem a bit early for dour Capricorn. And yet, Capricorn is also the sign of authority––including claiming our own authority––and the Moon's journey over the next few days could help us do exactly that.

The Moon's first aspect is a flowing, energized sextile to Chiron as the Moon enlists the healer, sage and mentor. This Samhain season, beginning with the New Moon and continuing until November 7, is a time of facing the dark. We need all the help we can get.

sea thrift and storm clouds

Tonight, the Moon joins the transformative Pluto–Jupiter trine as she first trines Jupiter, then joins Pluto. Now we can let the universe know we're ready to enter the cauldron, surrendering to the alchemical process that will release our gold. This could be a night for big dreams, as the Moon taps into this Pluto–Jupiter connection.

Monday opens with a flowing sextile between the Moon and the Scorpio Sun, a time as crescent Moon waxes that we begin to see the shape of what will grow with this lunar cycle.

Monday evening brings intense connections with strong feminine archetypes as Venus squares Neptune, the Moon forms an inconjunct with the South Node, and sextiles Ceres. This Samhain evening will be a powerful time for meditation, divination, and visioning, especially if goddess energy is needed.

Early Tuesday morning, the Moon squares Saturn as Mercury squares Neptune. Morning dreams could be challenging––but also offer breakthroughs on difficult issues. When you go to sleep Monday night, ask for dreams to bring solutions to whatever you've been wrestling with, and pay attention to what shows up.

The Capricorn Moon forms an inconjunct aspect to Mars Tuesday morning, signaling another opportunity for problem solving (in other words, something might come up that demands attention!). If we're tempted to dramatically charge ahead, this Moon will counsel patience. If we're hopelessly slogging through mud, Mars can bring in sunlight, passion, and playfulness. Honor both.

The Moon ends her transit through Capricorn by returning to Scorpio territory, with sextiles to Venus and Mercury. Can we feel ourselves transforming within? It might feel too early, but it's time to pay attention: Things are changing. We're on board. Maybe it's time we learned to steer the ship.

... I wanted to embed a song here, but it's disallowed. Check out Kathy Mattea and Dougie MacLean performing MacLean's wonderful and haunting Ready for the Storm.
   

Moon into Sagittarius: Adventures on the Road

Friday morning through Sunday afternoon
Eastern Daylight Time

Friday, October 28

Halloween weekend

Moon enters Sagittarius 10:44am
Mercury (Scorpio) square Mars (Leo) 11:07am
Moon square Chiron (Pisces) 11:56am
Jupiter (Taurus) trine Pluto (Capricorn) 12:29pm
Moon trine Uranus (Aries) 12:56pm
Moon inconjunct Jupiter (Taurus) 7:21pm
Sun (Scorpio) opposite Jupiter (Taurus) 9:41pm
Sun (Scorpio) sextile Pluto (Capricorn) 11:10pm

Saturday, October 29
Moon conjunct North Node (Sagittarius) 1:29pm
Moon square Ceres (Pisces) 1:57pm
Moon sextile Saturn (Libra) 11:18pm

Sunday, October 30
Moon trine Mars (Leo) 2:03am
Moon sextile Neptune (Aquarius) 9:30am
(begin void of course)
Moon enters Capricorn 12:38pm

The Moon enters convivial Sagittarius this morning,  shifting the mood out of shadowy Scorpio and into something much more outgoing, adventurous and sociable. This change arrive in good time, as many cities, towns, and of course college campuses will be celebrating Halloween this weekend.

Although the Sagittarius Moon is generally warm, openhearted, and generous, this particular transit  (following as it does the powerful New Moon in Scorpio) carries a more challenging energy. Sagittarius is also the sign of the journey, the place where we venture out into territory new to us. We move away from what we know, into something more expansive.

The flip side, the tendency for Sagittarius to believe it has THE ANSWER, is also challenged in the next few days. The Moon's first aspect in Sagittarius is a square with Chiron in Pisces. The wounded healer and mentor to warriors warns us not to be too cocky. Sure, we've made it through a few battles unscathed (or maybe just a little scathed), but are we ready for the next one, and the next one after that?

adventurous journeys

Not long after the Moon–Chiron challenge, Jupiter (ruler of Sagittarius) trines Pluto. Jupiter the expansive bringer of luck and grace is flowing easily with the powers of deep transformation. Ways open up. Someone hands us the seven-league boots and says, OK, go. Are we ready to make a leap forward?

Very soon after Jupiter and Pluto join forces, the Sagittarius Moon trines Uranus in Aries. Yes! we answer, yes, we're ready to make a quantum leap. With these energies around us, we know the net will appear. Here's hoping we laid some serious groundwork at that Scorpio New Moon––if not, there's still time. We're in the first days of the waxing Moon and seeds of intention planted now will grow quickly. Watch for giant beanstalks.

Moving quickly with big outer planet energy at our backs does not guarantee smooth sailing. Tonight, the Moon and Jupiter are inconjunct, as Jupiter's Taurean calm warns the possibly overinflated Moon to slow down and pay attention.

The Scorpio Sun opposes Jupiter and trines Pluto tonight, reminding us we're in Scorpio time, when alchemical reactions bubble beneath the surface. Those forces are vital, powerful, and intense.

Alchemy continues through Saturday afternoon, when the Moon joins the North Node. The North Node is the sign post to where we need to be heading in this lifetime, and the Moon brings all she's learned so far to help us stay on track.

Around this time, the Moon squares Ceres in Pisces. This challenge from a fierce maternal goddess reminds us to maintain our connection to intuition, messages from the forces around us that wish us well and want to protect us. The Sagittarius Moon sees everyone as a friend; not everyone we meet has our best interests at heart.

Saturday night we enter a time of taking action and manifesting, as the Moon sextiles Saturn in Libra. What are the realistic next steps? The early hours of Sunday brings a flowing trine with creative, passionate Mars in Leo, so our dreams might well bring us some answers. Be sure to record any messages from the muses.

Sunday morning, the Moon sextiles Neptune in Aqaurius, a time for visioning what comes next. This connection opens a void of course time that continues until the Moon enters hard working Capricorn just after noon. After the heady adventures of Sagittarius, we prepare for steady effort. Until then, explore the exciting paths ahead and embrace the journey.
   

Moon into Scorpio:Lighting a Candle

candles in the dark

Wednesday morning through Friday morning
Eastern Daylight Time

Wednesday, October 26
Moon enters Scorpio 11:08am
Moon trine Chiron (Pisces) 12:20pm
Moon inconjunct Uranus (Aries) 1:22pm
New Moon in Scorpio 3:55pm
Venus (Scorpio) square Mars (Leo) 6:23pm
Moon sextile Pluto (Capricorn) 7:29pm
Moon opposite Jupiter (Taurus) 7:54pm

Thursday, October 27
Moon inconjunct the South Node (Gemini) 1:03pm
Moon trine Ceres (Pisces) 1:29pm
Moon conjunct Mercury (Scorpio) 10:07pm
Moon square Mars (Leo) 10:56pm

Friday, October 28
Moon conjunct Venus (Scorpio) 12:22am
Moon square Neptune (Aquarius) 7:48am
(begin void of course)
Moon enters Sagittarius 10:44am

The Moon moves into Scorpio this morning, heading for the New Moon this afternoon. We're entering the season of Samhain, moving into the dark half of the year. This is a reflective time, an inward time. It is sometimes presented as a scary time but need not be––are we afraid of ghosts or ready to welcome and listen to them? The ancestors are near, asking to be acknowledged and offering their help.

The Moon's first contact in Scorpio is a flowing trine with Chiron. The embodied Moon, filled with feeling, is in touch with Chiron, the cosmic healer and sage. This opening connection reminds us where we hurt, with the intention of offering healing and finding the gift. This deep healing potential can be expressed in many ways.

Not long after the Chiron connection, the Moon forms an inconjunct to Uranus in Aries, a reminder not to leave our psyches behind in this time of big, fast change. Uranus in Aries is a bright flame facing the future. The Scorpio Moon represents what we don't see, what is hiding behind us. Authentic growth needs both.

alchemical fermentation

Just before 4pm EDT, we reach the New Moon, the joining of the Sun and Moon in Scorpio. This New Moon is surrounded by powerful aspect patterns that weave a complex web. The inconjunct with Uranus is part of the pattern, which also includes a sextile to Pluto, who is moving in and out of square with Uranus, transforming our world. So, one new beginning offered at this Moon is to integrate the shadow and find the power within the great changes.

It's intriguing, thinking about the Scorpio New Moon aspecting the Pluto–Uranus square, that the most recent objections to the Occupy sites are cast in terms of public health issues: concerns about human waste, about rodents and other pests, about smelly stuff. At this Scorpio time, we see the shadow and need to figure out how to integrate and transform it.

The New Moon is opposed by Jupiter in Taurus, a call to balance the needs of the manifest world (Taurus) with the needs of the hidden, intuitive world (Scorpio). Jupiter is expansive, generous and philosophical as he reminds us not to go so deep into the cave that we forget the beauty of the world around us.

The New Moon is part of a Scorpio stellium that includes Venus and Mercury together in late Scorpio. These two square Mars in Leo, a combination that calls for a new dynamic balance between feminine intuitive ways of knowing (Venus and Mercury in Scorpio) and the solar masculine (Mars in Leo). The square recognizes both connection and difference, and the power that emerges from that.

Thursday, the Moon continues her journey through Scorpio with an inconjunct to the South Node, a need to rethink our connection with the past. This is followed by a nurturing trine with Ceres, an opportunity to connect with another strong feminine presence deeply familiar with the shadow.

Thursday night, the Moon joins Mercury, then squares Mars, with the Venus conjunction to follow in the early hours of Friday. This calls our attention once again to Venus and Mercury squaring Mars. How are we balancing the feminine and the masculine within ourselves? How are we honoring and empowering each?

The Moon's last aspect in Scorpio is a square with Neptune in Aquarius, deep emotion looking for a new balance with bright visions of the future. This opens a three-hour void of course time before the Moon enters Sagittarius, a time to reflect on what the New Moon offers.

The Sabian symbol for this New Moon in Scorpio is Scorpio 4: A Youth Holding A Lighted Candle In A Devotional Ritual Gains A Sense Of The Great 'Other World.' During this Samhain New Moon, we light candles for the ancestors as we light candles to illuminate our own darkness, welcoming transformation.
    

Moon into Libra: Negotiating Peace

Monday morning through Wednesday morning
Eastern Daylight Time

The Lady Juggler

Monday, October 24
Moon enters Libra 11:48am
Moon inconjunct Chiron (Pisces) 1:05pm
Moon opposite Uranus (Aries) 2:11pm
Moon square Pluto (Capricorn) 8:12pm
Moon inconjunct Jupiter (Taurus) 9:05pm

Tuesday, October 25
Sun (Scorpio) inconjunct Uranus (Aries) 1:58am
Moon trine the South Node (Gemini) 1:59pm
Moon inconjunct Ceres (Pisces) 2:27pm
Moon sextile Mars (Leo) 9:51pm
Moon conjunct Saturn (Libra) 10:03pm

Wednesday, October 26
Mars (Leo) sextile Saturn (Libra) 5:37am
Moon trine Neptune (Aquarius) 8:18am
(begin void of course)
Moon enters Scorpio 11:08am

The Moon enters Libra this morning, a time for calm, harmony and compassion. The Libra Moon heightens our awareness of others––what they think, what they feel, how their experience of the world might be different than ours. This ability to see through other eyes leads to flexibility of thought.

Sometimes Libra's flexibility is criticized as mere wishy-washiness, but in Libra, we realize that in times of great change, flexibility is a strength. The Libra Moon is a diplomat, an able negotiator who can speak truth to power and not only survive, but get everyone together for drinks together afterward.  Today, the Libra Moon might need to call on that skill as she encounters powerful others.

process, Occupy Boston

The Moon's transit through Libra begins with an inconjunct angle with Chiron, calling for adjustments on how we perceive our healing, what we need to learn, and how we mentor others. Maybe some of our old ideas need to be updated.

On the other hand (a fave Libra phrase), some of our new ideas might need adjusting too, as the Libra Moon opposes Uranus in Aries. Maybe the revolutionary trickster is forgetting that others need to be brought along. Maybe we need to rebalance before forging ahead.

Monday night brings a square with Pluto and an inconjunct with Jupiter––more tough meetings for the Libra Moon. As Pluto continues his demolition of what's not working, the Libra Moon asks for peaceful progress. Jupiter likes his philosophical systems to stay in place; the Libra Moon looks for creative ways to finesse a stalemate.

Tuesday opens with an inconjunct between the Sun, newly in shadowy Scorpio, and Uranus in bright Aries. Where are we missing pitfalls that might seem obvious in hindsight? Where is the glare of the new obscuring important, but hidden truths?

Tuesday afternoon, the Moon trines the South Node in Gemini. As we move into the future, we want to bring forward vital skills from the past. How can we creatively connect to past strengths? An inconjunct to Ceres in Pisces reminds us that beautiful ideas (a Libran specialty) need to be informed by deep feelings. The power of the feminine is felt.

Tuesday evening, the Libra Moon triggers a creative connection between Mars and Saturn, the actor and the manifestor, in passionate Leo and harmonious Libra. The Moon first sextiles Mars, then joins Saturn. Wednesday morning, Mars and Saturn reach their exact sextile. This is a time to act on creative ideas, to take concrete steps to make something real. At the very end of this waning lunar cycle, the action we need might be one of release: What can we passionately, creatively say goodbye to, as we dive into the Scorpio New Moon?

The Moon's last aspect in Libra is a trine to visionary Neptune on Wednesday morning that opens a three-hour void of course period. If we can complete our release work with the Mars–Saturn sextile, we can enter the void time with Neptune, meditating on this deep transition of the Moon, and the year.

The Moon enters Scorpio at 11:08am, only a few hours away from the New Moon at 3:56pm
    

Scorpio Time: The Dark Half of the Year

Sunday morning

The Sun moves into Scorpio now, unlocking a great hinge of the year. With Wednesday's New Moon in Scorpio, we enter the season of Samhain, one of the four Fire festivals of the ancient Celtic world. At this time of year, the veil between the worlds is thin. Ancestors and spirits are near, bringing messages and wanting to know they are remembered and honored.

Raven

We move from yang to yin, from the light half to the dark half of the year. We enter the realm of the boar and the Holly King, the time when Inanna removes all trappings of worldly power to visit her sister Ereshkigal, queen of the Scorpionic worlds of deep transformation.

The Scorpio New Moon is the lunar Samhain, to be followed by calendar Samhain on October 31, and solar Samhain on November 7, when the Sun reaches 15 degrees of Scorpio. Today's entry of the Sun into Scorpio heralds the turning of the year to a time of reflection, retreat, review and release.

We're in the last days of the waning Moon. Now's the time to prepare for this shift of energy. What are we ready to let go of? What do we no longer need? Sweep the hearth of the ashes that are burnt. Watch the raven and the crow as they fly. Let the old fires begin to die down. There is great power in this.
   

Moon into Virgo: Step by Step

Saturday morning through Monday morning

Autumn Leaves

Eastern Daylight Time

Saturday
Moon enters Virgo 10:40am
Moon opposes Chiron (Pisces) 12:03pm
Moon inconjunct Uranus (Aries) 1:17pm
Moon trine Pluto (Capricorn) 7:27pm
Moon trine Jupiter (Taurus) 8:55pm

Sunday
Moon sextile Mercury (Libra) 12:48pm
Sun enters Scorpio 2:30pm
Moon sextile Venus (Libra) 4:47pm
(begin void of course)
Moon square the North Node (Sagittarius) 2:16pm
Moon opposite Ceres (Pisces) 2:50pm

Monday
Moon inconjunct Neptune (Aquarius) 8:56am
Moon enters Libra 11:49am

The Moon moved into careful Virgo this morning. Over the next few days, we call on Virgo's focus on detail and practical wisdom to navigate some tricky territory. Virgo is mutable, flexible Earth, the sign that takes care of everyday things, offering real-world help and healing.

Soon, the Moon will oppose Chiron in Pisces. Chiron is a healer and mentor, but in Pisces, the focus is on the big picture––cosmically big. The Virgo Moon's presence reminds us that even in the midst of huge changes, we need to take care of the basics: eating healthy foods, getting enough sleep, taking care of our bodies with exercise and energy.

Virgo gets criticized for being too mundane, too organized. "Go with the flow," we're told. "Don't sweat the small stuff." And yet, Virgo is all about the small stuff. With the Moon in Virgo, we appreciate the value of the everyday details of life. We're part of a cosmic dance, and every step is worthy of our attention.

Autumn evening walk

Tonight, the ordinary meets the extraordinary as the humble Virgo Moon trines Pluto in Capricorn and then Jupiter in Taurus. The apprentice meets with the master alchemist and the wise sage in a Grand Trine in Earth. This is a time when we might understand in clear, practical ways what our next steps need to be. We see the transformative potential of simple things.

Sunday, the Virgo Moon connects with energies that allow her to think through and express what she's experiencing. Energetic sextiles with Mercury and Venus in Libra put the practicality of Virgo in touch with clear thinking and creative harmony. Meanwhile, the Sun moves into Scorpio, shifting our focus to what is mysterious and not so easily seen.

The Moon's sextile with Venus is her last classical aspect in Virgo, beginning a void of course time that will last until noon on Monday. This is a time of reflection rather than action, time to plan (Virgo loves plans) but also to ponder.

During the void time, the Moon will square the Nodes of the Moon, a direct question about what steps to take next. The Moon will oppose Ceres in Pisces, seeking balance once again between the universal and the everyday. Monday morning, the Moon forms an inconjunct with Neptune in Aquarius––this contact with cosmic visions is a stretch for the Virgo Moon, but there's something to be learned here.

With the Moon in Virgo, we pay attention to details, appreciating the beauty and the power of the everyday world. In this last days of the waning lunar cycle, and in these days of Autumn, we see how fleeting life is, how quickly forms can change. With love for what we have, we release what we no longer need, to prepare for the cycle to come.
    

Moon into Leo: Taking a Stand

Enter the lion

Thursday morning through Saturday morning
Eastern Daylight Time

Thursday, October 20
Moon enters Leo 6:06am
Moon inconjunct Chiron (Pisces) 7:40am
Moon trine Uranus (Aries) 9:04am
Moon inconjunct Pluto (Capricorn) 3:26pm
Moon square Jupiter (Taurus) 5:37pm

Friday, October 21
Moon square Mercury (Libra) 3:57am
Moon square Venus (Libra) 9:26am
Moon trine the North Node (Sagittarius) 11:56am
Moon inconjunct Ceres (Pisces) 12:41pm
Moon conjunct Mars (Leo) 4:11pm
Moon sextile Saturn (Libra) 7:36pm
Sun (Libra) trine Neptune (Aquarius) 7:57pm

Saturday, October 22
Moon opposite Neptune (Aquarius) 7:41am
Moon sextile Sun (Libra) 8:34am
(begin void of course)
Moon enters Virgo 10:40am

Experimenting with this change in format, I realized putting the aspect times over to the side means they're not sent out with the RSS feed for those who get my blog posts via email. So, here's another try, with the aspect times listed before the text. Your feedback welcome!

The Moon moved into Leo early this morning, and first forms an edgy inconjunct with Chiron the healer and mentor. In Leo, the Moon connects us with our core passions, with what lights us up inside. When we're connected to that place, we can speak our truth, stand up for what we believe, and be passionately creative. Chiron in Pisces asks tough questions about how individual passion connects to healing for communities, and whether we can express ourselves in ways that others can learn from.

A dramatic counterpoint arrived a bit later when the Leo Moon trined Uranus in Aries, ready to connect individual light to the great beacon of change Uranus lit when he arrived in Aries. Now we feel part of something universal, and shine brilliantly. We need to find ways to share the fire of change without overwhelming ourselves, or those around us––playing with fire requires great finesse.

Protester, G20 in Greece, 2009

This afternoon, the Moon forms another inconjunct, this one with alchemical Pluto. This transformative planet welcomes change, but wants to be sure we're looking at the foundations, not just the outer forms. Are we ready to embrace the deep shifts in attitude and behavior real change will bring? Or are we looking for appearance only, something trendy and easy?

Later, the Moon squares Jupiter in Taurus, another challenge. Jupiter is the philosopher sage, the one who knows what he believes. Now the Leo Moon confronts Jupiter, and each must decide what to believe. Jupiter will insist that the Moon make her case, making a solid argument for what she believes. The Moon will demand that Jupiter connect with the fire in the belly, and leave behind empty systems of thought for something vital and creative.

Friday brings more opportunities for the Leo Moon to hone her edge. During this transit, moving toward next week's New Moon in Scorpio, we're asked tough questions about what we're ready to stand up for.

Friday morning brings squares with Mercury, and then Venus, in Scorpio. These planets of mind and of relationship, in the sign of deep understanding, will test the Leo Moon. Are we a flash in the pan? Or do we have staying power? At noon, the Moon trines the North Node, connecting with our life journey. What is the next step on the path? Friday afternoon, the Moon is inconjunct Ceres in Pisces. Again, the Pisces question is asked, this time by the Grain Mother: How does our individual passion connect to the needs of the world?

Later in the afternoon, the Moon joins Mars in Leo. After a day and half of question and challenge, the Moon meets a passionate partner and is ready to take action. This connection could erupt into anger, but if we hold on, a better option emerges: Friday evening, the Moon forms a flowing, energetic sextile with Saturn in Libra, as the Libra Sun trines Neptune in Aquarius. This combination opens a connection with the Muse, inviting creative partnership.

Saturday morning, the Leo Moon opposes Neptune in Aquarius. Leo is the sign of personal expression; Aquarius focuses on the needs of the collective. Again, we hear the question, how do we fit into the bigger picture? About an hour later, the Sun and Moon reach their waning sextile. This is a time when we understand the path we've walked through this lunar cycle, and are open to new ideas.

The Sun–Moon sextile is the Moon's last aspect in Leo, opening a two-hour void of course period until the Moon steps into careful Virgo at 10:40am.
     

Moon into Cancer: Tough Questions, Tough Answers

Monday night through Thursday morning

Please note the new box at the top of the right-hand column. I'm listing the key aspects for each Moon transit there, as an easy reference for the time each aspect comes exact. All times are Eastern Daylight; adjust as needed!

can't we just hide for a while??

The Moon enters Cancer this evening. After a busy work day, she's ready to lock the door behind her, brew a pot of tea, and put her feet up. With a flowing trine with Chiron moving into place, this is a reflective time. If things have been challenging lately, this is a good evening for sorting through your feelings, figuring out what the lessons are, and gently releasing resentments along with the tensions of the day.

The Cancer Moon loves to stay at home, but this transit is a time for confronting challenges head on, gaining new understanding along the way. Tuesday opens with a square to Uranus, followed by an opposition to Pluto. Keep in mind that the Uranus–Pluto square is the key aspect shaking our world to its foundations these days. This morning, the Cancer Moon shows up to ask some challenging questions: How do these changes affect me where I live? How about my family and my tribe? What are my feelings about all this?

The Moon in Cancer might get some tough answer back. We live in times when change is happening, will we or nil we, and this Moon does not welcome change. It's time to face the adjustments we need to make at home. There's support available from a late morning sextile from Jupiter in nurturing Taurus. Jupiter is a good luck guy, and Taurus is ruled by fortunate Venus. This Moon–Jupiter connection could show us the glimmer of some silver linings, if we open up and look.

Tuesday afternoon and evening, the Moon reaches trines with Mercury and then Venus in Scorpio. This could be a time for plotting and scheming. The Moon in Cancer can be stubborn, clinging tightly to outmoded ways. Scorpio can be suspicious and manipulative. If you find yourself desperately planning how to hold tight to what you have, even in the face of evidence it's time to let go, take a deep breath and try another approach.

The Moon in Cancer can help us access deep ancestral wisdom. Mercury and Venus in Scorpio are intensely aware of the psychological and emotional undercurrents in any situation, and willing to embrace challenge on the way to transformation. With the support of ancestors, can we flow with the tides of change into something new, more powerful, and more creative?

There's a lot of feminine energy around now too. Notice the Moon will trine the asteroid Ceres, the Grain Mother, Wednesday morning, when she's still within orb of trining Mercury and Venus. This Grand Trine in Water includes some of the strongest feminine powers in the zodiac: the Moon in her home sign, and Venus in the sign of depth and transformation. Mercury, mind and communication, helps keep our thinking clear as we swim through shadowy depths.

During this trine, the Moon forms an inconjunct angle-of-adjustment to the North Node: Where do we need to adjust how we approach our life path, in light of what we're learning?

Not long after the trine with Ceres, the Moon forms an edgy semisextile with Mars in Leo. It's now time to act on what we've learned. How can we express ourselves passionately and creatively, speaking from the heart?

Wednesday afternoon and evening, the Moon reaches the Libra planets, squaring first Saturn and then the Sun. Saturn offers his usual reality check, softened a bit with Libran diplomacy. The square with the Sun is the waning Half Moon, a time when we face up to what we've learned during this lunar cycle that began with the New Moon and Libra and culminated with the Full Moon in Aries. What have we gained, and what do we now prepare to release?

This Half Moon square is the Moon's last classical aspect in Cancer, opening a void of course time. Within the void, in the early hours of Thursday, the Moon forms an inconjunct aspect with Neptune in Aquarius, receiving yet more intuitive messages that might be difficult to assimilate. Sometimes the Cancer Moon would just rather not know, and yet in these times, we can't afford not to pay attention.

Thursday morning, the Moon moves into passionate Leo, ready to lead the way into whatever comes next.
    

Moon into Gemini: Playing with Light

Saturday morning through Monday evening

If the Full Moon in Aries turned on all the lights, and the last few days of the Taurus Moon gave us time to assimilate what we learned, today's Gemini Moon gets us moving. Gemini, mutable Air, is the sign on connection, communication, networking, linking things (and people) up in new ways––for the next few days, we'll be in motion.

dispersing light, creating color

The Moon's just moved into Gemini (10:15am EDT) and her first connection is a square to Chiron, retrograde in Pisces.

The Moon is the eager student, hungry for knowledge, unimpressed with the slow pace in class, and a bit on the brash side. Chiron is the wise teacher, seeing the scope of time and history but also understanding the student's hunger for experience.

An electric sextile with Uranus in Aries confirms this Moon's feeling that direct experience is where it's at. We're connecting back to that Full Moon energy, seeing a brilliant future out there, ready to go for it.

This evening and overnight, inconjunct angles-of-adjustment with Mercury and then Venus in Scorpio might darken the Gemini Moon's bright dreams, pointing out that while shadows retreat when we turn the lights up, they don't actually go away. In fact, the brighter the light, the darker the shadow.

Sunday morning, Mercury in Scorpio sextiles Pluto in Capricorn, another reminder that the deepest, truest transformations include, and sometimes celebrate, the shadows.

Sunday afternoon, the Moon sextiles Mars in Leo. This connection, following the excitement of Saturday and the depth of Saturday night and Sunday morning, supports creative expression. The Gemini Moon wants to connect and communicate; Mars in Leo wants to act in passionately creative ways. At this time, the Moon conjuncts the South Node and opposes the North Node, as the North Node is trining Mars––Our creative expression might illuminate our life path.

Monday morning, creative work continues to be supported as the Moon trines first Saturn and then the Sun, both in Libra. This is a great time for thinking, planning, conceptualizing in innovative and also practical ways. This waning trine between the Sun and Moon is generally a time of understanding and harmony; with both luminaries in Air signs, we're offered a clear view of our situation.

Monday afternoon, Scorpionic Mercury opposes Jupiter in Taurus, and we're reminded that beautiful ideas need time and care to develop. We need to consider all aspects, even the hidden ones, and move in new directions with care and skill.

Monday evening at 6:17pm EDT, the Moon trines Neptune in Aquarius, her last classical aspect in Gemini. Neptune, at the very end of Aquarius these days, is often the last contact for the transiting Moon, making the void of course times we're experiencing now deep and intuitive. This particular contact, between the Moon in the sign of human mind, and Neptune, planet of cosmic mind in the sign of revolutionary insight, opens up a strong time for intuitive work of all kinds. This void of course time lasts about three hours, until the Moon steps into her home sign of Cancer at 9:38pm EDT.

The Moon in Gemini is always bright, agile, and mentally active. This Gemini transit helps reorient us to where we need to go next, while reminding us to lighten up on the way.
  

Moon into Taurus: Standing Calmly in the Light

Wednesday night through Saturday morning

illumination from a hidden star

Today, we're glowing in the fire of the Aries Full Moon, absorbing the implications of what's been illuminated for us. Depending on what this powerful Full Moon touched, we're also adjusting to new situations and realizations.

This evening, the Aries Moon forms a flowing sextile to Neptune in Aquarius, offering a wider context for what we've learned. Three hours later, the Moon opposes Mercury in Libra, another chance to examine what we know now, and reach a sense of balance with it.

The opposition with Mercury is the Moon's last classical aspect in Aries, opening a void of course time lasting an hour and a half, until she enters Taurus at 9:35pm EDT.

Taurus, fixed Earth, ruled by Venus, is the sign of the patient gardener: calm, peaceful, and deeply nurturing. During this Moon transit through Taurus, we offer ourselves the care we need, as we integrate the power that flowed through at the Full Moon.

And this is a time of facing issues of power: Early Thursday morning, Venus in Scorpio sextiles Pluto. A few hours later, Mercury moves into Scorpio. A hour after that, the Taurus Moon trines Pluto. An hour after that, the Taurus Moon opposes Venus in Scorpio.

What do we do with all this Pluto and Scorpio energy? We're heading into deep territory here. Scorpio, ruled by Pluto, is the sign that invites us to enter the shadows and explore our deepest, scariest issues.

Power is definitely on that list: Where is the power in our lives? Who wields it? To what ends? The Aries Full Moon turned the floodlights on some of that, and now we follow explore what's there and what it means for us.

Taurus and Scorpio are opposite signs. They share a commitment to taking things slowly, not rushing, moving step by careful step. Where Scorpio wants to rip the covers off and expose sensitive secrets, Taurus focused on self care. So, as we move through this newly illuminated landscape, the Taurus Moon hands us a blanket and a warm cup of tea. This Moon takes us by the hand and says, it's OK, we can look at this together.

Friday's aspects continue our examination of new territory––or more accurately perhaps, new perspectives on old territory. In the early morning, the Taurus Moon squares Mars in Leo, challenging Mars to slow down. Late morning brings an inconjunct angle-of-adjustment between Mercury and Uranus, our mind and cosmic mind finding a new balance. In the evening, Venus in Scorpio and Jupiter in Taurus reach exact opposition, as we're again invited to find a balance between self examination and self nurturing.

comfort

Working with Scorpio energy is not easy. The Taurus Moon is there, suggesting a warm bath, a massage, maybe a glass of wine. We can absorb these new energies best if we take things slowly, this Moon says. Remember to breathe.

Saturday morning (6:51am EDT), the Moon reaches her last classical aspect in Taurus, a square to Neptune in Aquarius. This meeting might challenge us, asking what new realizations we've achieved. This Moon remains void of course for about three and a half hours, popping into bright Gemini at 10:15am EDT, buzzing us into a social weekend.

During these Taurus Moon days, we're offered a time to really look closely at what the Full Moon lit up, shining its light into some dark corners. With the support of this nurturing Moon, it won't feel so bad. Keep the kettle on, and the tea handy.
 

Moon into Aries: The Personal Is Political

Monday morning through Wednesday evening

Adbuster's poster

The Moon is reborn into vibrant Aries Monday morning at 8:57am EDT, where she joins Uranus in Aries, forms an inconjunct with Venus in Scorpio, and squares Pluto in Capricorn. Let's hope this newborn Aries Moon is a Hercules, because this babe is in dangerous company.

Aries, ruled by Mars, cardinal Fire, is the first sign of the zodiac, pure energy surging into the world to become manifest. Aries is criticized as self-seeking, heedless, angry, and impetuous––and valued as single-minded, pioneering, with the fearless heart of a warrior. This is the sign of Tuesday's Full Moon, the Hunter's Moon, the Blood Moon. This Aries Full Moon is a hero's Moon, reminding us of the need to be of good heart as we pursue our goals.

But first, back to our Hercules Moon standing tensely with Uranus, Venus and Pluto.

"The personal is political" is the title of Carol Hanisch's 1969 feminist essay in which she argues that women (and other oppressed and disadvantaged groups) are criticized individually for struggling to improve their situations, when the real issues are collective and need to be addressed collectively. Political is used in the sense of collective, social, big, not elections and party politics.

It's so easy to turn that Aries tag against anyone wanting more––She's so egotistical. He's so self-centered. Doesn't she have enough already? Shouldn't he be more humble? Don't they know their place? Well, Aries "never knows her place" except in knowing her place is over the next horizon, reaching for the biggest, juiciest apple on the highest limb of the tallest tree.

Joining with Uranus, champion of both individual freedom and collective struggle, this Aries Moon knows when we become who we uniquely are, and express that freely, liberation ripples out to touch the world. Inconjunct Scorpionic Venus, this Aries Moon asserts she will not be submerged in someone else's idea of what is right, just or meaningful. Squaring transformative Pluto, this Aries Moon learns that in surrendering the small self, we find more power than we ever imagined.

Turning the blazing anger of Aries or the colder, more subtle blades of Scorpio against each other only weakens our ability to fight against the bigger forces that really hold us down. From the political side, this is Megyn Kelly wondering on Fox News whether the girls screaming as they're pepper-sprayed are hamming it up for the camera. From the personal side, this is the gossip, back-biting, and ostracism that leads to shame, which Brené Brown writes about so well.

Occupy Wall Street

This Aries Moon, standing her ground with powerful outer planet energies, helps us connect with our authentic selves, our courageous hearts, and stand up for ourselves and each other.

Tuesday, the Aries Moon steps fully into her power with a flowing trine to Mars in Leo, one of the aspects making up Tuesday night's Full Moon. The Full Moon arrives at 10:06pm EDT, and is followed by the exact opposition to Saturn, also part of this Full Moon's oomph.

Wednesday, the Moon shines forth, sharing and communing. In the morning, Mercury in Libra trines Neptune in Aquarius––our minds in touch with cosmic messengers. In the afternoon, the Moon sextiles Neptune, wanting messages of her own. The Moon's last classical aspect in Aries is her opposition with Mercury at 8:08pm EDT, beginning a brief void-of-course period until she steps into calm Taurus at 9:35pm.
    

Moon into Pisces: Metamorphosis

Friday night through Monday morning

Completing an electrically charged transit through Aquarius, the Moon swims tonight into the calm, oceanic arms of Pisces, where her first meeting is with Chiron, the mentor and healer who understands our wounds.

within the waters

In that understanding, Chiron does not shy away––he's the wounded healer who understands the remedy is within the wound. So, our movement into Pisces might feel like both a challenge and an embrace, confronted with where we've been hurt even as we're offered an opening to heal.

Saturday morning we take the next steps in transformation as the Pisces Moon forms flowing sextiles to alchemical Pluto and expansive Jupiter. Our metamorphosis begins as we retreat into a private space, for the sextile with Jupiter is the Moon's last classical aspect in Pisces, opening a long void-of-course period that lasts until the Moon enters Aries on Monday morning.

Within the void-of-course cocoon, changes are happening.

Late Saturday night, the Moon forms an inconjunct angle-of-adjustment with passionate Mars in Leo, and moves into a yod, also called a finger of Fate, with the Sun in Libra. The Sun and Mars, active energies in the chart, in the intensely creative signs of Libra and Leo, push the Moon to adjust, to embrace change, as she floats in her Piscean cocoon.

The yod is then following by inconjunct aspects with Mercury n late Libra. If we surrender to the process we put in motion at the Libran New Moon, nothing within us will remain quite the same. Meanwhile, creative, relational Venus moves into the shadowy, deep waters of Scorpio overnight Saturday, then moves into a trine with Chiron on Sunday night.

These transformations create a new birth, as the Moon bursts into Aries at 8:57am Monday morning, ready to take on the world. While we move with the Moon through Pisces, we dissolve, release, and reform.
    

Moon into Aquarius: Surging Forward

Wednesday afternoon through Friday night

electric sails

The Moon shifts from Capricorn into Aquarius today at 11:18am EDT, shifting straight from low gear into overdrive. The Moon in Aquarius is electric, energized, and ready to move. This Moon's first contact is a flowing sextile with Uranus in Aries, amping up the energy at the beginning of this transit.

Overnight tonight, the Aquarius Moon squares Jupiter in Taurus, a vigorous debate. Jupiter in Taurus is a Taoist sage deeply connected to Earth, aware of each thoughtful step. The Moon in Aquarius, fueled by her contact with Uranus, is a Zen revolutionary transfixed by lightning awareness, leaping forward. How do we maintain our balance?

Thursday is energized by a series of aspects supporting manifestation and action on many planes. In the early morning, the Moon opposes Mars in Leo, seeking a balance between personal creative expression and the needs of the community. This connection thinks globally and acts locally.

Late morning, the Sun and Moon reach their waxing trine, a time when commitment and action flow harmoniously together. In late afternoon, Mercury and Saturn meet in Libra, thought and communication joining with manifestation. Thursday night, the Aquarius Moon trines Mercury and Saturn, adding the flash of intuitive insights to the Mercury–Saturn energies.

sailing!

Friday's Aquarian energies flow in relational and creative ways. In the afternoon, the Moon forms a flowing trine with Venus in Libra, an intuitive, harmonious connection. A few minutes later, the Moon joins Neptune, her last classical aspect in Aquarius. Not long afterwards, Venus and Neptune reach their exact trine.

So, as the Moon enters her void of course time, she connects with Neptune and Venus, supporting creative dreaming and visioning on a grand scale. Friday evening, the Moon swims into Pisces, Neptune's ocean, for a night of dreaming supported by the connection with creative Venus.

These days of the Aquarius Moon, cosmic winds fill our sails as we pick up speed, heading toward next week's Full Moon in Aries.
  

Moon into Capricorn: Sweat Equity

Monday morning through Wednesday morning

The Moon moved into rock-steady Capricorn early this morning for a challenging couple of days. Capricorn, though, relishes challenges when they're the kind you can sink your teeth into. We might fight every step of the way, feel like we're slogging through mud, but our eyes are on the prize. There's a bone-deep satisfaction in every inch we gain.

Women Miners by Van Gogh

The Moon's opening aspect was a square with Uranus in Aries, with the Moon as a small but doughty David facing a flaming Goliath who won't stay in the same place for two seconds. The Capricorn Moon holds tight to the solidity of stone, saying, You say you want a revolution; well, we all want to change the world ... and it happens one stone at a time.

Early this afternoon, the Moon joins Pluto. Our feelings align with the deep need for transformation. It's never easy, and yet the results are rich and rewarding. We surrender to the inexorable power of the alchemist. This even, the Moon trines Jupiter in Taurus, and our patient strength is rewarded as we receive grace, and a bit of peace.

Tonight, the Sun and Moon reach their waxing square: The Half Moon in Capricorn. The Sun, still in Libra, reminds us of the tremendously ambitious, bright, clear plans we made at the New Moon. Now we are challenged with the question, Is this what you really want? The Capricorn Moon is prepared to assess the realities of the situation and say yea or nay, committing fully to the decision.

Tuesday is a day of challenges, as the Moon faces squares with the remaining Libra planets. Mercury in the morning, Saturn in the afternoon, and Venus at night each ask the Moon again, Are you committed to this path? Are you seeing clearly what is before you? Are you ready to do the work it takes? The Moon in Capricorn is up to any challenge. If the goal is deemed worthy, forward movement will continue no matter how steep the path.

The square with Venus is the Moon's last classical aspect in Capricorn, opening a void of course time at 1:58am EDT Wednesday that lasts until the Moon steps into the scintillating trickster energy of Aquarius at 11:18am EDT.

This time with the Capricorn Moon may seem difficult, but if we stay the course and do the work, we'll feel the satisfaction that only good, solid work and steady progress can bring.
    

Moon into Sagittarius: Taking Action on What We Know

Saturday morning through Monday morning

Just after midnight last night, the Moon moved into Sagittarius, sign of generosity and adventure. Today is a high energy day, opening as it did with a trine between the Moon and Uranus. We feel electrified, ready to move forward. This feeling increases as the Moon now moves into a trine with Mars in Leo (1:29pm EDT). We may feel passionately certain we know what to do.

festival

This afternoon brings flowing sextiles between the Sun and Moon, and later between Mercury and the Moon. The Sun-Moon connection is the waxing sextile, the time when we see the first glimmers of our New Moon intentions emerge into the light.

The Libran Sun and Sagittarean Moon offer creative warmth to our growing wishes. The following Moon-Mercury connection offers additional information and communication about our wishes, expanding our perspective still further.

Tonight, the Libran Sun meets Jupiter in Taurus in and inconjunct angle-of-adjustment. Libra and Taurus share Venus as a ruler, suggesting the adjustment will not be difficult, and yet Libra's balance may need to be tempered by Taurus' understanding of what needs to be nurtured now. Do we have the right mix between taking care of ourselves and taking care of others?

Sunday morning, the Moon moves into more flowing sextiles, gathering strength and creative focus. First, she sextiles Saturn, then Venus, both in Libra, the last part of celebrating all the Libra planets.

Late Sunday night, Mars and Jupiter square off, a need to find balance between our drive to express our own creative vision and the need to let things grow and unfold in their own time. Jupiter in Taurus understand the need to allow things to ripen before being picked.

Not long after the Mars-Jupiter square, the Moon sextiles Neptune, ready for a night of expansive, adventurous dreaming. This is the Moon's last classical aspect in Sagittarius, beginning a void-of-course time that lasts until she enters Capricorn at 4:16am Monday morning.

The work week begins under the aegis of hard-working, responsible Capricorn, but today and tomorrow offer times of expanding our understanding and taking action on what we've learned, in a spirit of celebration and joy.