Blue Moon: Swimming in Cosmic Tides

The Wind Rose of Jose Aguiar

Full Moon in Pisces: August 31, 2012

The Full, Blue, Pisces Moon arrives Friday morning. This powerfully sensitive Moon will make her presence felt before and after, so have your dream notebooks and mini flashlights ready.

Any Full Moon in Pisces would be sensitive, as Pisces is the most empathic sign in the Zodiac, and the Virgo Sun also has finely tuned antennae. This Pisces Full Moon will feel larger, stronger, more intuitive, more emotionally connected––and potentially more seductively confusing.

This Full Moon is in aspect to all of the outer planet powerhouses: conjunct Chiron, widely conjunct Neptune, sextile Pluto, semisextile Uranus. With the Virgo Sun prepared to take detailed notes, this Full Moon offers amazing opportunities for divination and intuitive work of all kinds.

Whether you receive messages in dreams, read cards or runes, or journey in various ways, this Moon will fill your sails and carry you far.

Mars in Scorpio adds another layer of intensity to this Full Moon. Scorpionic Mars, Pluto in Capricorn, Moon and Chiron and Sun in Virgo, trining and sextiling each other offer deep insights into individual psyches or external situations, strong psychic connections, and powerful sexual connection.

Uranus is at the apex of a Yod formed by the Sun and Mars. This supports the intuitive strength of this Full Moon, and opens possibilities of quick action or sudden changes.

The Moon is also at the apex of a Finger of the World, as Venus in emotional Cancer and Saturn in balanced Libra square each other and form sesquiquadrates to the Moon. This offers insights into relationships, along with strong feelings about whatever those insights are.

The patterns surrounding this Full Moon point to strong appetites, signalling care needed for those with addictive tendencies. This is not the time to overindulge in alcohol or recreational chemicals, and it's possible prescription medications could have an unusually strong effect.

Whichever way you look at it, we're likely to feel highly sensitized.

Staying grounded is vital. Look to the Sun in Virgo, with support from Pluto in Capricorn, to maintain a solid tether to the Earth plane. Virgo is sometimes viewed as an overanxious pencil pusher, but in times like these, having a presence who remembers important details, cares about our health and safety, and pays attention, is a good thing.

Structure, established practices, safe and sacred spaces, protective guides––these support experiences with the Full Moon energies that bring new information, even wisdom, into our lives. So, dive in to dreams, visioning, journeys, any experiences that offer healing, growth, joy and connection. Be compassionate with old wounds and strong emotions. Take a compass.
    

Gibbous Moon: Steadfast

strong foundation, solid base

Gibbous Moon in Capricorn: August 27, 2012

The Gibbous Moon arrives tomorrow (Sunday) evening, that big-bellied, almost-but-not-quite full Moon brightening the evening sky. This is the square-and-a-half that asks, are we ready? Are we prepared? Is everything in place?

This Gibbous Moon is in Capricorn, sesquiquadrate the Virgo Sun. A challenging angle, and yet what a stable, grounded combination this is. If we need structure, discipline or commitment on our way to this Full Moon, look no further.

The Moon is not considered to be happy in Capricorn, the sign of its detriment, and yet there's an essential dignity here as well. (And Capricorn love dignity, not to mention traditional systems.) The Moon is the triplicity ruler of Earth signs in a nighttime chart, which this chart is in my time zone.

The Sun rules the first 10 degrees of Virgo, reckoning by decans, and so, at 5 degrees gains some essential dignity too.

This is a steadfast Moon, a word from Old English that means "standing your ground." This Moon has feelings, but will not allow sentiment to cloud judgement, or avoid a difficult task because it might upset people.

This groundedness is a good thing, because the cosmos is full of murky energy right now.

Pluto, Chiron and Uranus are all at 7 degrees, aspecting each other in Capricorn, Pisces, and Aries.

At the Gibbous Moon, the Sun is a scant two degrees away, illuminating the ongoing wrestling match between tectonic transformation (Pluto) and volcanic revolution (Uranus), with Chiron flowing aid to both sides while avoiding the line of fire.

Mercury is point man between Pluto and Uranus, at the apex of a Finger of the World. Time to distinguish between courage and bravado, heart-felt passion and dramatic bombast.

Neptune continues to square the Nodes of the Moon, with a trine from Mars in Scorpio increasing both the pressure to do something and the inability to see clearly what needs to be done.

The Moon is at the apex of a Yod with Mercury and Ceres at its base, highlighting the need to keep our feet on the ground. our eyes on the prize, and our mouths shut unless we've considered carefully what we need to say.

The Moon also opposes Venus in emotional, Moon-ruled Cancer. Traditional values, security, home and family come to the fore. Again the Moon focuses on practical steps to help reach our goals, rather than dissolving into anxiety and reactivity.

The soon-to-arrive Full Moon is in Pisces, surrounded by energies that will increase sensitivity, intuition, empathy, and (potentially) confusion. With this Gibbous Moon, we're reminded that structure protects and strengthens.

We have the chance to test what's underfoot. Heading toward quicksand? Now's the time for a course correction to reach solid ground.
    

First Quarter Moon: Lost in the Woods

...following the appointed path...

First Quarter Moon in Sagittarius: August 24, 2012

We are on the journey. The beginning feels far back, though if we count the days, it's not that long ago. We've tried to stay on the path, but a fog's come up. Suddenly we can't see anything. We're not sure which direction we came from, or which way we're headed.

It's the First Quarter Moon, testing our commitment to the New Moon journey. Will we turn back or forge ahead? Will we give up where we are? What are the options?

Ahhh, options! Now, there's a word to conjure with. What, indeed, are the options?

The Moon is in Sagittarius, conjunct the destiny point that is the North Node. This is us on the journey, optimistic and ready for adventure.

Mysterious Neptune squares the Moon and the Nodes. This is the fog, which doesn't seem quite like a normal fog, does it? There's something otherworldly about this; we feel the hairs on the back of our neck rise. What was it the old woman at the crossroads said, and where's the talisman that gruff captain pressed into our hand as we left the ship?

The Sun has just moved into practical Virgo––that way help lies. The Sun in Virgo also squares the Moon and the Nodes, and opposes Neptune. This Virgo Sun can shine a light through the Neptunian fog. Virgo is great at remembering advice, making plans, and finding handy solutions to seemingly intractable problems.

...As long as we don't lose heart. Virgo can become fearful, jumping at odd sounds, convinced we're not up to the challenges ahead. Faced with Neptune's confusions, Virgo can lose her grip on practicality and descend into chaos, or find false comfort in rearranging deck chairs.

How can we hold on to our goals and move forward?

Here's Mars, new in shadowy Scorpio, the sign he ruled of old. Mars is sextile the Sun, semisextile the Moon, and trining Neptune––clearly, he has a role in this tale.

Mars in Scorpio is the master tactician, able to pierce any mist and find the right path. This Mars is also a wizard with arcane lore at his fingertips and surprises up his sleeve.

Mars is the dark stranger, and we need discernment to know whether to follow or avoid him.

Meanwhile, Venus in Cancer finds herself at the apex of a Finger of the World, sesquiquadrate to the Moon/ North Node, and to Neptune, as they square each other. She might look like a damsel in distress, and all the while she carries a reminder to listen to our hearts, listen to the wisdom of the past.

Venus is the grace-filled guide. Through compassion, a way will be found. Always share your bread with birds and animals.

Mercury in Leo forms a semisextile with Venus, the faithful page who turns our trials into poetry. There are reserves of courage here, finding the song to sing in the darkness that will lighten our hearts and renew hope.

Meanwhile, Pluto and Uranus still square each other, creating depth and intensity to bring the most mundane happenings into realms of high drama. Saturn in Libra, a worthy sage, forms a creative quintile to Pluto. This is a sign that magical action is possible and alchemical change is underway.

At this First Quarter Moon, we are challenged, but our strength is growing. If we keep our spirits high and take practical action, we are quite likely to find we're surrounded by magical helpers who wish us well.

We are the heroes of our own lives.
    

Crescent Moon: O, Brave New World

Awake, dear heart, awake!

Crescent Moon in Libra: August 20, 2012

The New Moon in Leo arrives with passionate thunder and dramatic lightning––metaphorically, since it was a lovely day here––and still the echoes resound. Things have changed, shifted seismically. As we reach the Crescent Moon, we watch the dust settle.

This New Moon is especially powerful for me, as it landed on my Ascendant, conjunct my Pluto and Moon, and aspecting half the rest of my chart. Yet I'm not the only one reporting a sense of powerful new beginnings. With hearts high in Leo fashion, we plunge in to see what comes next.

The Crescent Moon is the half-square between the Sun and Moon that marks the Moon's waxing progress. At this point, we may see the first glimmer of something peeking above the horizon, a new seed sprouting. Are conditions favorable? We scan the skies ...

Conditions are challenging––now, that's a shocker. It's true, though. The Sun, late in Leo, anchors a Grand Cross by opposing Neptune and squaring the Nodes of the Moon. The Nodes are poised at 0 Sagittarius (North) and 0 Gemini (South). Just after the Full Moon, they will slip into Scorpio and Taurus. (Remember the Nodes always move retrograde.)

During this waxing cycle, as energy increases, there's a last focus on moving forward in Sagittarian ways. What is our journey now? What place do we need to reach? This is one question of the Crescent Moon.

We might associate the "brave new world" quote with Aldous Huxley's dystopian novel of genetic engineering and strict social control. It originated in Shakespeare's Tempest, a play of magic, journeys, and transformation.

The Sun will soon slip out of theatrical Leo, and into careful Virgo, so this is good time to see which play we're in and what our role might be.

Neptune makes everything larger than life, reminding us "we are such stuff as dreams are made on," if only we choose to see.

Meanwhile, the Moon thickens the plot as she anchors another Grand Cross by opposing Uranus and squaring Pluto and Venus. Venus and the Moon are in mutual reception, resting in signs the other rules: Venus in emotionally charged Cancer, and the Moon in harmonious Libra.

Pushed up against those relentless engines of change, Pluto and Uranus, tender Venus and Moon might say, with Trinculo, "Alas, the storm comes again!" Can we keep our balance in the face of the onslaught? Another question framed by the Crescent Moon.

These two Grand Crosses are laced around with semisquares that tie the two patterns together. Sun to Moon, Sun to Venus, Moon to North Node––the questions about our journey, our role, and finding our balance are linked.

We are not alone before the storm. Jupiter, the great benefic, flows energy to the Moon. Creative quintiles link Ceres and Uranus, and Saturn and Pluto. With skill, determination, and a little luck, magical action is possible.

Staying close to the energy of the New Moon, we say with the might magician Prospero, "Awake, dear heart, awake!"
    

New Moon in Leo: The Heart Has Its Reasons

New Moon in Leo: August 17, 2012, 11:54:26 am EDT

Tomorrow we're offered a chance to reconnect with our heart––the beating pump moving life throughout our bodies, the generator of an energy field connecting us with the world around us, and the seat of our courageous, passionate, shining self.

It's been a rough year, and the tumultuousosity of our times is increasing. How can we cope with everything life is throwing at us now, in our private lives as well as globally?

Many of us are gradually realizing that there's no way to think our way out of the mazes we're in. Too many data points, changing too quickly, too many needs, too many demands, not enough time and energy. Rationality is hitting the wall on this one.

At this New Moon in Leo, the door opens on another way. Aristotle, and the ancient Egyptians, located the mind in the heart, rather than the brain. Today, increasing evidence shows we think with our whole bodies, and the heart has a special place in regulating how everything works together.

At the HeartMath Institute, they call this coherence, a state of steady, organized cycling within our body systems that promotes well being and peace. Sounds good, doesn't it? At this New Moon, we can set intentions and make wishes to move in this direction.

This New Moon comes with challenges, and challenges lead to growth.

Because the New Moon comes at the end of Leo (25 degrees 8 minutes, to be exact), and because the Sun and Moon reach out farther on either side than any other body in the sky (astrologers call this 'orb'), this New Moon makes out-of-sign oppositions and squares to the T-square hovering over the Moon's Nodes.

The New Moon is opposite Neptune and Chiron, and square to the North and South Node, as Neptune also squares the Nodes.

The Neptune–Node T-square has been around for a while, and while this aspect pattern has been pushing us to explore connection and spirituality, it's also been acting as a fog machine, shrouding our path forward.

Now the New Moon arrives, bringing the lights of Sun and Moon together, to challenge the Neptunian mists and illuminate the next steps. If Neptune has been creating fog in your life, set the intention at the New Moon to turn the lights on!

Another T-square focuses more attention on matters of the heart, as Venus slips out of her opposition to Pluto and square to Uranus. Venus is in nurturing, and sometimes emotionally needy, Cancer. This pattern may have pinpointed where today's chaos is hitting home. If this has been true for you, make some New Moon Wishes to be courageous in the face of inevitable change.

This New Moon has the power to face up to transformation, as the Sun and Moon sit at the apex of a Finger of the World with Pluto and Uranus at its base. Each of the powerhouses forms a sesquiquadrate to the New Moon, a challenge that Leo energy is ready for.

The importance of mind is highlighted with Mercury in Leo at the apex of a Yod with Pluto and Chiron at its base. Now thankfully direct, Mercury embraces Leonine courage and passionate self expression in answer to pressure to transform and heal. Since Mercury is also trining Uranus, change is on the agenda, so suit up and stand ready.

Jupiter stands ready to energize the New Moon, forming a creative quintile from his position in mid Gemini. Saturn quintiles Pluto ... did we need another indication that change is in the air?

Check where this New Moon falls in your chart. Look to see which planets and chart angles are touched; basically, anything in or around that 25th degree. This will point to where the New Moon will be focusing its energy, and where intentions and wishes will be powerful.

Leo is the energy of courage, passion, playfulness, and leadership. This sign loves the spotlight, and wants to share what's in the heart. A great actress delivering a dramatic monologue, a brave leader inspiring his followers, a clown who captivates attention while teaching an important lesson––these are Leo.

In these times, we all need to be strong of heart.
        

Balsamic Moon: Security and Sensitivity

Cancerian depths: sensitive, self-protective, inky

Balsamic Moon in Cancer: August 13, 2012

The Balsamic Moon, last aspect in this waning cycle, brings us back into the sign of July's New Moon, sensitive and nurturing Cancer. Arriving tomorrow (Monday) evening EDT, this pause in the lunar round asks, What do we need to let go of now?

The night sky is already dark, the Moon almost invisible. We've been through the heady emotions of the Cancerian lunar cycle, reached the heights of the Full Moon in Aquarius, shared what we learned with the Disseminating Moon and now ... now we prepare the ground for the next turn of the wheel.

This Balsamic Moon is likely to feel deeply. Conjunct with Venus, in her own home sign, this Moon is deeply aware of relationships. Flowing trines with Neptune and Chiron heighten emotionality, deepening our connection with energies of both wounding and healing.

This is the mothering Moon, the Black Madonna, Kwan Yin, filled with compassion for those she loves. This Moon accepts the hurts of the tribe, showering grace and healing on all who ask.

This Moon can also feel everything she needs and doesn't have, insecure, holding on to old hurts, ready to manipulate those around her in an attempt to fill the emptiness. At this Balsamic time, we can pinpoint where we're hurting.

The push toward resolution is strong: This Balsamic Moon–Venus is part of a T-square with Pluto the alchemist and Uranus the revolutionary. No sitting still, wallowing in the past––it's time to transform, move into a new way of seeing, and especially of feeling.

The semisquare from the Sun in bright Leo adds a personal push. This Leonine Sun connects with the heart, urging us to say what we need to say, and shine our light with creativity and passion.

At the Balsamic Moon, the Sun forms sesquiquadrates (square and a half) to Pluto and Uranus, putting Leo's brilliance at the apex of a Finger of the World that says, Look! Listen! Pay Attention!

The Sun is also sextile Mars and Saturn together in Libra, a flowing but edgy connection. Mars and Saturn together can be angry, although less so in Libra, where Saturn is in exaltation and Mars is in detriment. At its best, this combination points us toward right action, the path that is responsible and fair.

Mercury, now direct in Leo, moves into a flowing trine with Uranus and semisextile with the Moon and Venus. This energy supports clear, direct thinking and communication––and can also shade into self-righteous anger, shock, and outrage.

So we find ourselves in a dark Moon phase filled with an intense combination of compassion, neediness, commitment to right action, grasping at what we desire, and ongoing pressure to change, change, change.

This is another of those choice points we seem to be stumbling over at every turn these days. We can wrap ourselves in old hurts and shake our fist at the sky, as magnificent and doomed as Lear. Or we can step into the cauldron, slake off the old, leaden shell, and rise like a phoenix at the Leo New Moon so soon to arrive.

It's hard to see in the dark, but I'm hoping for the phoenix.
    

Last Quarter Moon: Test of Allegiance

a question of loyalty

Last quarter Moon in Taurus: August 9, 2012

The Last Quarter Moon, the waning square between the Moon and the Sun, arrives tomorrow––although I can see her in the sky now, pale as a cloud against the blue.

This is the turning of the Moon into the dark. After the brilliance of the Full Moon in Aquarius, the intense energies of the Disseminating Moon and the festival of Lughnasadh, the energy shifts to something quieter. Not necessarily less intense, but more inwardly focused.

Which is funny, in a way, because Mercury is finally stationing direct, releasing us from the fiery self-scrutiny we've been held in these last weeks... or maybe not quite yet.

Let's see where we are.

At this Last Quarter, the Sun and Moon will square each other at 17 degrees of Taurus (Moon) and Leo (Sun). Fixed Earth, Fixed Fire––cue Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, "I Won't Back Down"

Loyalty, fidelity, allegiance... these are virtues, right? These are good things, signs of strength. Aren't they?

In these times of political upheaval and polarization around hot-button issues, when does loyalty to the best in a nation, a party or a cause shade into jingoism, blind faith or fanaticism? The glib answer is, when we personally don't agree with the position being held, but the question is a real one.

At this Last Quarter, Mars and Saturn are conjunct in Libra, embodying the principle of right action. We want to act according to our best values, with integrity. We might also feel prepared to accept an external discipline that looks good, feels right.

Venus in Cancer is trining Neptune in Pisces, calling to deep emotions binding us to family, tribe, nation: My country right or wrong. Defend to the death.

Neptune and Venus together in Water can bring us into a felt connection with everything that is, transcending the boundaries that divide us––or trigger a need to belong to something larger than ourselves, and an accompanying need to pledge fealty to whatever that something is.

At this Last Quarter Moon, we're pushed (the square) to look at what we having pledged allegiance to. The Leo Sun likes to take a stand, passionately proclaiming beliefs to the world. The Taurus Moon hates to move; once committed, this Moon will stay the course.

But what if our old alliances no longer fit?

The Leo Sun is also the great heart, the courageous heart. This Sun wants to be aligned with the best and truest self, and has the strength to look unflinching at what is.

The Taurus Moon is ultimately loyal to truth, and wants a chance for truth and beauty to unfold into the world. The Taurus Moon will change when it becomes clear that change is needed.

We move toward the New Moon in Leo, the renewal of the heart. This Last Quarter Moon is a test, the moment we're asked––when we ask ourselves––what we truly believe in. As we move into the dark phase of the waning Moon, we'll perhaps cut away old allegiances. This can be done with honesty and integrity, but sometimes must be done. It begins with asking the question.
  

Disseminating Moon: Creative Fire

Fire in Water

Disseminating Moon in Pisces: August 5, 2012

Sunday, August 5, the Disseminating Moon arrives, the square-and-a-half between Sun and Moon inviting us to share our Full Moon illuminations with the world. And what intriguing patterns this Moon offers!

Just as she leaves spiritual, creative, connected Pisces, the Moon finds her sesquiquadrate with the Leo Sun. At that moment, the Moon makes an out-of-sign Grand Trine with Mercury and the North Node in early Leo and Sagittarius––Fire and Water.

These two elements, Fire and Water, are classically incompatible, but )as I've written before), there's an ancient connection known between the two––the intense and inspired creativity of Fire-in-Water.

This is an intense time, as Mercury slows to station direct, as we are in the midst of celebrating the abundance that is the Lughnasadh harvest, and the beautiful fullness of the Moon rides the night sky.

We're being shown that the fiery passions erupting around us, signified in sky patterns filled with Leo and Aries feeding each other, have tremendous potential for creative action.

It's not all about explosions and arguments. We can instead reach deep within ourselves, into the depths of spirit realms, into spaces we may not be sure how to find or even if they exist, for the spark that ignites us.

It's eerie and scary to reach into the depths to find fire. It's a quest not everyone chooses. For those who do, the boon is a level of poetic inspiration we never dreamt of.

Along with the Grand Trine, this Disseminating Moon chart includes three quintiles, unusual aspects of creative inspiration that reach from Sun to Saturn, Sun to North Node, and Ceres to the Moon. The door is open. It's time to step outside our comfort zone.

We each know what draws us on, even as it frightens us. We know where our creative edge is, where the risky part begins. This Moon invites us to step over and see what happens.
    

Lughnasadh: Bring It On Home

checking the harvest

Lughnasadh (Lammas):
Traditional–August 1
Lunar–Full Moon in Aquarius, August 1-2
Solar–August 6

Lughnasadh is the festival of first fruits, when we see how good the harvest will be. It's a time of festivals that celebrate abundance, of games and races, of contracts and marriages, of music and dances.

We're in the season of Lughnasadh now, with the traditional August 1 date of Lughnsadh behind us, as well as the glorious Aquarian Full Moon of last night, and the astrological Lughnsadh a few days ahead, when the Sun reaches 15 degrees of Leo, the midpoint.

This year's Lughnasadh chart points to a time of abundant energy moving into manifest form. The energy jumps off the chart: The Sun at 15 Leo in close trine with an Aries Moon, and a wider trine to Uranus. Mercury, still retrograde in Leo, closely trines the North Node in Sagittarius. The Moon is waning now, just after Full––this is the time we receive, and see the fruits of our labors.

Jupiter at 11 Gemini and Ceres the Grain Mother at 16 Gemini, sextiling both the Sun and Moon and trining Mars at 19 Libra point to a superabundance of whatever we're harvesting. All that firepower is a tremendous resource that wants to go somewhere––the question is, where?

You know, the whole free will thing really messes up our ability to predict what people will do with the energy in their charts. We choose, every day, to flow with the energies around us or resist them, and likewise choose the means and the ends.

The energy in this chart is all about free will, desire, libido, the heart. It's about choice.

The Pluto–Uranus square is still there, pushing, prodding, poking, not letting us alone. Chiron is semisextile Uranus and sextile Pluto, reminding us that no choice is also a choice, and that hurting and healing are choices, too.

Choices are not necessarily easy. Crops have had a tough summer around the world, experiencing drought in some areas and drowning rains in others. For farmers, this time of first fruits will be challenging.

There are choices to be made.

Following on the illuminations of mind and heart offered by the Full Moon in Aquarius, the Lughnasadh sky shows us the sky's the limit. All bets are off, anything can happen, and we can participate.

These are the dog days of summer, the hottest, edgiest times. Leo Sun–Aries Moon with Uranus nearby could bring explosive anger. We could say, "Bring it, show me what you got." Explosions can really shift things around, but leave a lot of destruction behind. Cleaning up the mess takes way longer than pressing the button.

In ancient Egypt, the dog days were the days when the Dog Star, Sirius, rose with the Sun. This star added to the Sun's heat, raising temperatures, and also signaled the time of the annual Nile floods, which assured the ongoing abundance of croplands along the river.

And this is Lughnasadh, the time of harvest and celebration. This year, we celebrate choice. There are always options. Jupiter, Ceres, and Venus all in Gemini offer an abundance of perspectives, lenses, windows, portals, connections, and ideas.

You don't like what you have? Toss everything into the air, and instead of letting it crash to the ground, juggle. Try a bit of sleight of hand. Shift your perceptions just a little, and see a whole new world come into focus.

Feel the fire of life, know you have amazing amounts of energy at your fingertips, celebrate your choices.