New Moon in Capricorn: Stone and Bones

Ancient stones © MP Lynch 2013

New Moon in Capricorn
January 1, 2014
6:14 am EST / 11:14 am GMT

At New Year's, we confront the tradition of resolutions. We'll be asked what ours are, and how we did last year. Maybe we did alright, often not all that well. Oh, well ... time to try again.

Enter the Capricorn New Moon, aligned with transformative Pluto and sharp-eyed Mercury, squared by incendiary Uranus and hard-nosed Mars, widely opposite Jupiter and Lilith, both retrograde in Cancer. Chiron the wounded healer is also involved, exchanging energy with the new Moon. Oi vey!

This Moon looks like it's all about getting down to work, stop messing about, nose to the grindstone, should to the wheel. But when I think of it that way, I already feel tired. Let's look for other perspectives.

The presence of all these other planets, which include a mix of the outer message-bringers as well as the close-to-home personal planets, invites us to look more deeply into the meaning and message of Capricorn.

This is not only the sign of hard work and consequences, pragmatism and transactions. Capricorn is an initiator, a manifestor. Capricorn is connected deeply with the Earth. In Capricorn, we have the chance to know what we know because we feel it in our bones.

There are some excellent blogs out there diving deep into the meanings of this New Moon. Check out Molly Hall's post at About Astrology and Julie Dembowski's ASTROLOGY. Here, I want to focus on the idea of intentions and resolutions.

For some years now, my New Moon practice has focused on setting intentions at this time. As I've explored this, it's become clear to me there's a much deeper process going on than will-based affirmations, or the idea that I, solely, create my reality. New Moon intentions are about aligning with the universe, sensing into something deeper than what I want now.

The New Moon is a time of making wishes when we don't know it all, when we can't see the way clearly, when we realize we're not totally in charge. In no way am I suggesting we are weak, or unimportant. We are strong, and we are essential. At the same time, we're part of larger stories, including the lives of the people around us.

No man is an island,
Entire of itself,
Every man is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
~ John Donne

No being is an island, which makes it tricky to figure out what to do in complex, chaotic situations. Which we are living in today, and will be, for the foreseeable future. What do we do? Throw up our hands and throw in the towel?

This New Moon offers, I believe, an alternative. Capricorn is never one for giving up, and yet facile resolutions are not the answer either. Instead, we're invited to go deeper.

What do we know in our bones? When we reach our roots right down into the depths of the Earth, what do the stones tell us? 

This deep knowing is the source, not of individual resolutions, but of resolution itself. At this New Moon, we move past the idea of intentions to look at the process of intending.

As always, look to see where this New Moon falls in your birth chart. See what you have going on in Capricorn, and what else is happening in your chart in and around 10 degrees in any sign. 

These planets, points and houses will be the focus––areas where we may feel confronted with what isn't working in our lives and offered a chance to find a new way.

In general, though, we're all being invited to work together to find a new way for our world. The ways we are together, the ways we treat each other, how we get things done––is it what we really want? Is it what we know is right and just?

Capricorn is all about making. At this New Moon New Year, we have the opportunity to choose new ways of making the world better. Our personal worlds, definitely, and the wider world too.

The words "Be it resolved .." begin many official statements, or at least, official-sounding ones. At this New Moon, what will we resolve? What can we re-solve, solve again, in a new, more effective way? What solution can we apply to dissolve problems and distill a new elixir?

We're stepping into a new year, a new time, a new age perhaps ... with the pace of change surrounding us, it certainly feels like it. What do we know in our bones that offers the strength to face our challenges, succeed, and enjoy together the good things of this world?

Let those kinds of things be the bedrock of our resolutions.
    
 

Waning Moon, Bidding This Year Farewell

Holidays!

Disseminating Moon in Leo
December 21, 2013
7:45 am EST / 12:45 pm GMT

Winter Solstice
December 21, 2013
12:11 pm EST / 5:11 pm GMT

Last Quarter Moon in Libra
December 25, 2013
8:48 am EST / 1:48 pm GMT

Balsamic Moon in Scorpio
December 29, 2013
12:19 am EST / 5:19 am GMT

New Moon in Capricorn
January 1, 2014
6:14 am EST / 11:14 am GMT

Before diving into the astrology of the next few weeks, look at the symmetry of this waning cycle's events with our common calendar: The Disseminating Moon on the Solstice, Last Quarter on Christmas Day, Balsamic as December reaches its close, and New Moon on New Year's Day.

The patterns in the skies echo those on Earth: It's time once again to review where we are, honor and celebrate what has been, and turn toward what it to come. There's a lot going on, and we can all feel it.

The Disseminating Moon is the time for sharing what we've learned––making the Full Moon's illuminations part of who we are in the world. With the Dissemination Moon in Leo, and Mercury conjunct the Sun in Sagittarius, we'll have no trouble trumpeting our achievements to the skies! The challenge this day may be more in the area of listening to anyone else. 

That same day is the Winter Solstice, on the calendar and astrologically. This day, the Sun transitions into Capricorn, Old Man Winter, the energy of putting your back into it, working hard, and getting it done. This is the day the Sun shows us he's still here, not waning for good, but returning.

Capricorn is not the zodiac's happiest sign, but the Solstice is truly something to celebrate. This year, we've been through a lot, have lost and won, achieved and failed, learned and grown. The Sun's dance of return tells us the workhorse of our solar system is still on board, fueling our efforts, lighting our fires. Time for dance, song, tales around the fire, and good memories.

The Last Quarter Moon is a challenge: Can we balance our gains and our losses? In many traditions, the birth of a Sun Child is celebrated at this time, a promise of renewal and redemption. This year, the sky patterns point to a renewal of great depth and scope.

At this Last Quarter, the Sun and Mercury align with transformative Pluto. The Libran Moon aligns with Mars, squaring the Pluto–Sun–Mercury group. Uranus the revolutionary is opposing Mars and the Moon, and squaring Pluto–Sun–Mercury.

Yes, this is the infamous Pluto–Uranus square, the zeitgeist, being activated by the Sun, Mercury, the Moon and Mars. No man is an island, we are all connected to each other, and our personal decisions now are linked to everything else. No pressure, though ...

This year's holiday will be a time of special energy. We may be acutely aware of what we have already lost, and what in our world is at risk. Yet that very awareness brings a new depth of appreciation as we celebrate all we have.

The Balsamic Moon in Scorpio aligns with Saturn the task-master, as the Sun and Mercury draw even closer to Pluto. As the Pluto–Uranus square continues to be activated, we are brought face to face with what we need to let go of.

At this Balsamic Moon, think of Dickens' Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come and his message to Scrooge. It is only through letting go of whatever is holding us back that we can step into a brighter future.

And then, boom! New Year's Day and a New Moon in Capricorn. I'll be writing more about this New Moon later, but it's time to drag my over-used adjective "intense" out of the closet and dust it off for this one: Sun, Moon, and Mercury tightly conjunct Pluto, squared by Uranus and Mars.

2014 will be arriving with major mojo, so, no thinking small with those resolutions.

So, no holding back this holiday season! Celebrate with hugs and appreciations and festivities of all kinds, in the full knowledge of the impermanence of our live. Embrace it all! And in those quiet moments, release what no longer works with gratitude.

Holiday blessings to one and all.
    

Full Moon in Gemini: Eye to Eye with Change

Hermes by Salvador Dali

Full Moon in Gemini
December 17, 2013
4:28 am EST /  9:28 am GMT


The Full Moon in Gemini arrives very early tomorrow morning, which means, in trickster Gemini fashion, the Moon will look most full tonight. Gemini is the crafty one, always ahead of the game, and we'll need that energy to dive into what's ahead.

This Full Moon arrives at 25 Gemini, with the Sun at 25 Sagittarius. For once, there are no major aspects to the Full Moon itself, putting the Sun and Moon out there on their own, facing off, staring each other right in the eye.

Except, of course, that the Sun at 25 Sag is very close to the Galactic Center at 27 Sag. The Galactic Center is the massive black hole at the heart of our Galaxy, absorbing and transmitting incredible amounts of energy is many forms. So, the Gemini Moon is staring that down, too.

Gemini and Sagittarius share optimism, the belief that things will mostly turn out OK even when the outlook is bleak. Gemini's optimism springs from the youthful conviction that something will surely turn up, while the Sagittarian is more based on deep thought and long study, which points up their paradox.

Gemini embodies the archetype of the puer, the child. The puer may be unformed, untried, still wet behind the ears, but he or she is open, not pinned down by a weighty past or too much experience. This can be the hapless, hopeless one who never learns––but is also beginner's mind, the ability to see each situation with fresh eyes.

Sagittarius embodies the senex, the old one. The senex is the voice of experience, the one who's been there and done that, who has things all worked out. Sagittarius is the sign of philosophers, the law, and academia. This can be the hidebound voice of "it's always been done this way" but is also the wisdom that comes with age.

At this Full Moon, the senex Sagittarian Sun has the power of the Galactic Core aligned with it. All the energy of the galaxy, all the endless eons of time, awesome in its power and majesty.

And here's the Gemini Moon, saying, gee, this is cool, what can we do with this?

So the illumination of this Full Moon will focus on where we are on the puer-senex continuum, especially when faced with Big Changes (which we all are, these days).

Are we too set in our ways? Are we too devil-may-care? Are we overly certain or overly naive?  Do we feel at least somewhat able to cope, or are we feeling like David facing Goliath?

The forces of change continue to be strong. A few hours after the Full Moon, Uranus the revolutionary goes direct, shifting out of his current retrograde. He is stationing now, which means his energy is especially strong.

Once he turns, he'll move to catch up with Pluto for their next exact square in April 2014. Astrologically speaking, Uranus will be applying, or moving toward, this square, which will increase that energy over the next months.

Check your birth chart to see where this Full Moon falls. The houses of the Moon and the Sun will be especially illuminated now. Look to see what you have in and around 25 degrees of any sign––these places in your chart will also be affected strongly. Check in to see how your puer–senex balance is in these areas. The Full Moon is likely to offer something to light this up.

This Full Moon is a powerful time to see where we are on the great wheel of change. Looking the Galactic Center in the eye, we know we can't stop it. We can't even slow it down a little. But sitting with the Gemini Moon, we can find a kind of playfulness, a confidence we can find a way, and maybe a bit of the trickster to bluff it out until we see exactly where the path will lie.
    

Moon Journeys: From New to Full

dig in!

Crescent Moon in Capricorn
December 6, 2013
12:42 am EST / 5:42 am GMT

First Quarter Moon in Pisces
December 9, 2013
10:12 am EST / 3:12 pm GMT

Gibbous Moon in Taurus
December 13, 2013
4:06 am EST / 9:06 am GMT

Full Moon in Gemini
December 17, 2013
4:28 am EST /  9:28 am GMT

Oh, the places we'll go ... We're traveling with Sagittarius energy this cycle, which means explorations of far and distant places, sometimes to the ends of the Earth and sometimes within our own psyches.

Yesterday's Crescent Moon moved us from the quiet, gestational time of the New Moon into that time when we start to get an inkling of where we're headed. Mercury had just popped into Sagittarius, joining the Sun there, so our thoughts and communications could be feeling more upbeat.

Unless, of course, we were more tuned in to what Mars, the Moon and Venus were up to. Mars was (and still is, as I write) hanging on to the intense final degree of Virgo––checking those lists, checking them twice, and then once more for good measure.

The Crescent Moon rested at the final intense degree of Capricorn, next to Venus at 24 Capricorn––a strong sense of consequences, wanting to get as good as we give, and a never-give-up approach. Lots of Earth energy, but without the pleasure-orientation of Taurus.

So, there's a hint of optimism in the air, with a strong, realistic understanding of what it will take to make those dreams come true.

Now we head toward the First Quarter Moon in Pisces of December 9. This challenging did-you-mean-it? time in the lunar cycle forces us to recommit (or walk away from) our New Moon goals. The Sagittarius Sun and Pisces Moon square each other as we ask, is this dream really what I want? And, if so, how do I make it real?

At the First Quarter Moon, Mars has stepped into diplomatic, balanced Libra, signalling an ability to negotiate––or to manipulate. Throughout the next weeks, Mars becomes the point man at the apex of a yod, of Finger of Fate aspect.

The yod is an awkward pattern, linking together three planets that have nothing in common. The point planet, Mars in this case, forces the other two together in an attempt to find a middle way. And who better to thread that path than Mars in Libra, sign of the mediator?

On the bottom of the yod, we find Chiron in Pisces and the South Node in Taurus. This tells us that healing unresolved issues from the past is key to realizing our dreams for the future. Often, we know this, but would rather avoid it. Haven't we done enough work on the past? Can't we move ON?

Well, maybe. But between now and the Full Moon, our feet will be held to the flames a little longer. If there's something undone, something unaddressed or unresolved, buckle down and do it.

The Gibbous Moon in Taurus will actually align with that Taurus South Node, hammering the point home even farther. The Mars–Chiron–South Node yod is still in force, and whatever we try to avoid will feel even more in the way by this point.

And how, then, do we resolve the issue? Change, change and more change. The answer to a yod is opposite the apex, and when we look across the wheel from Mars in early Libra, we immediately see burn-it-to-the-ground Uranus.

In fact, Mars gets closer and closer to an exact opposition to Uranus during this time. They'll reach that opposition on December 25, with the energy building up until then.

When we reach the Full Moon in Gemini on December 17, the Fire of Sagittarius and Air of Gemini will illuminate where we are. And from that point of light onward, the speed of change will increase. (Yep, you read that right.) Shortly after the Full Moon, Uranus turns direct, and we'll whoosh down the hill on our sleds at top speed.

So, ya know, this is make or break time. We're being pushed to sort out the stuff lurking in our inner and outer closets that's just getting in the way. The push is on now because we'll be ramping up to warp speed again soon.

Here, I'll just hand the overalls out now, and we can all dive in. Let the dust fly!
    

New Moon in Sagittarius: On the Road Again

light in winter

New Moon in Sagittarius
December 2, 2013 7:22 pm EST
December 3, 2013 12:22 am GMT

A New Moon  day––this afternoon on the West Coast, this evening on the East, overnight in Europe. So much has been happening in this Balsamic time of release, I can't quite believe it's upon us, but so it it!

The Moon in Sagittarius is optimistic, generous, and open-hearted. As we enter the winter holidays (in the Northern hemisphere), hearts lift even as the longest night approaches. We light candles, hang tinsel, find the brightest berries, light the warmest fires. Songs are sung and tales told.

Yet this is not a happy-go-lucky time, no lighthearted romp. Sagittarius arrives with his Fire at the turning toward winter, when hard times are arriving. Food might be scare, and the cold bites deep. No, this is a time when we see what lies ahead, while celebrating all we have.

This New Moon at 10 Sagittarius invites us into celebration of abundance, both the abundance we have before us and the abundant potential of life itself. And yet, this optimism is fearless rather than naive, tempered by all that has happened and a knowledge of what may come.

This New Moon squares Chiron in Pisces, acknowledging that healing is needed and knowing it comes in song and dance and good fellowship.

The New Moon squares Pallas Athena in Virgo; all the details of what must be done are here before us, and yet we are strengthened by joy.

Of vital importance, the New Moon trines Uranus, the revolutionary, and is in a tight 30 degrees away from Pluto the alchemist. Yes, change is in the air, bright all around us. That, too, this New Moon celebrates.

Look to your chart. Which house does this New Moon fall in? Find what you have in and around 10 degrees, especially in the mutable signs of Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces. These points are ready for renewal.

As the turning happens and the New Moon arrives, make wishes and set intentions for where you wish to bring joy in your life, for where you are ready to journey farther and dive deeper. Wish for optimism. Set the intention to be of good heart.

In these last hours of the Balsamic Moon, let go of whatever holds you back. Let go of fear, resentment, and old pain.

We are all travelers on the road. We are heading into more adventures, no doubt about that. With this New Moon, we can know ourselves as troubadours, warriors of heart and spirit, intrepid explorers in distant lands. We look around us at the Inn, see who else might be going our way. Good company is always welcome.
    

Last Quarter Moon: Lords and Ladies of the Dance

The Fifer

Last Quarter Moon in Virgo
November 25, 2013
2:28 pm EST / 7:28 pm GMT

The Sun's moved into happy-go-lucky Sagittarius, gladdening hearts and lightening burdens. It's time for thanks in the United States, and here's hoping we extend it to all, to the those who support invisibly, who carry on with little, and who have been ignored, even forcibly turned out, in the past.

There's an old, old song called the Lord of the Dance, with many versions of lyrics––a song from the old days still vibrant. Now, the Sun is the Lord of the Dance, and we're all invited to join in.

This is not a simplistic dance, mind you ... no "happy happy joy joy" without awareness of what's going on. Instead, the Lord of the Dance says yes to life in all its complexity and suffering, the joy and the pain, the gifts and the losses.

Our response is the key. To look at life and still dance. To see what is, and still sing because, despite the challenges, it's all so wonderfully beautiful.

Today's Last Quarter Moon tips the balance, rounds the corner toward the New Moon in Sagittarius. And while the Sun sounds a happy keynote, the engines of transformation are very much alive.

Three Russian Dancers

Today, the Sun and Moon square each other––the Moon in careful Virgo, gently warning the Sag Sun not to go all grasshopper and find himself with an empty larder come winter.

And the Sun and Moon are both in aspects patterns called the Yod, or Finger of Fate. This is a challenging pattern, an itchy feeling that somethings needs to be adjusted. And so it will be!

The Sun flows easy sextile energy with Ceres and Vesta in Libra, happy to see a bountiful harvest. They are both inconjunct the South Node in Taurus, which creates an awkward sense we might be missing something––a message from the past? Something we haven't completed? Here, Fire and Air are drawn back to Earth, reminded not to become ungrounded.

The Virgo Moon flows easy sextile energy with the shadowy North Node in Scorpio. These two, in Earth and Water, are cautious, wary, checking everything twice. But they are inconjunct Uranus the revolutionary, who says, Get on with it! Get moving! This is Water and Earth sparked by powerful Fire.

It's a dance of the elements. Shifts, movements, ripples and shakings. Sometimes when the ground underfoot begins to move, the best way to keep your balance is to dance.
     

From the Full Moon to the New: Finding "Best Practice"

What is being mirrored?

Disseminating Moon in Cancer
November 21, 2013
11:38 am EST / 4:38 pm GMT

Last Quarter Moon in Virgo
November 25, 2013
2:28 pm EST / 7:28 pm GMT

Balsamic Moon in Libra
November 29, 2013
10:00 am EST / 3:00 pm GMT

New Moon in Sagittarius
December 2, 2013, 7:22 pm EST
December 3, 2013, 12:22 am GMT

This Full Moon has been, for me, a time when time itself seemed to alter. We think of time as linear, discrete, one. second. after. the. other. But we invented that with clocks and computers. How we experience time is a whole 'nother kettle of fish.

In the past days, some events seemed to expand and some to contract, some gone by in a flash and some lingering. Always, always with a special emphasis, as if the cosmos were saying, Look how this works! I'e been watching what happens, how I react, respond, and in some mysterious way, anticipate.

Maybe it's been like that for you, too. If so, it could be a relief to hear we're moving firmly into a more practical, action-oriented phase.

Important caveat: We're not out of Scorpio's deep woods yet! The Sun remains in Scorpio for another few days, and throughout this lunar cycle, Saturn, Mercury, and the North Node will also remain.

That ongoing sense of everything having a deeper meaning, something to be noted and learned, will continue. We will have ongoing opportunities to confront our own Shadow material and face our fears. (oh, yay)

AND ... other energies are shifting the key questions away from: What does this mean? What am I supposed to realize about this? toward: What decision needs to be made here? What can be done about this?

We're beginning to look for best practice, a term used in fields from medicine to education to computing to signify what we know works best, so far, based on past experience.

This transition will not feel easy, for many of us, or for some of the issues we're working on. We're now in the waning half of the Moon's cycle, the time when we see the results of the Full Moon's illumination, share achievements, and begin sorting out what goes from what stays.

The Disseminating Moon on November 21 confronts us head on with finding the balance between emotional ties and commitments, and pragmatic reality. The Sun on this day is in the especially strong, possibly merciless, final degree of Scorpio. This Sun will unflinchingly put before us whatever we need to see.

The key aspect pattern at this Disseminating Moon is the opposition between tender, nurturing Cancer and hard-headed Capricorn.

On the Cancerian side, we have the Moon, Jupiter retrograde, and asteroid Lilith. This trio has the power to hold on tight to the past, to what we feel are our emotional commitments and duties, and to the safe and familiar, even if it really isn't.

This Cancerian group also says, Look carefully at what you would discard. There may be gold here, vital aspects of your ancestry, perhaps, or important learnings from the past. And never overlook the value of commitments to family and tribe. Sometimes, that's what gets us through the night.

On the Capricorn side, we have Pluto and Venus. They say, Look, we get it, the past is important––in fact, we agree with you Cancerian folks that traditional values are solid and good. But you can't live in the past all the time. Sometimes the tough decisions need to be made, to cut ties, move on, get it over.

Or perhaps the Capricornian side says to you, It's time to step up and honor your commitments, to take the hard steps to make a cherished dream come true, to go for the goal in a way that celebrates your past and who you are.

If Cancer is stuck, Capricorn pushes for movement. If Cancer is wishy-washy, Capricorn says, get on with it! But when Capricorn is materialistic, Cancer says, there are other values than success in the marketplace. When Capricorn is cold, Cancer says, hey, you need a hug.

That's a lot about Cancer and Capricorn, but the polarity of those two energies remains a key theme throughout this cycle. At the Last Quarter Moon of November 25, Venus in Capricorn and Jupiter in Cancer oppose each other, keeping that conversation going.

rev your engines!

Meanwhile, the Sun has popped into upbeat Sagittarius, with the Moon squaring from careful Virgo. We may be ready to hit the road, but the Moon wants to go over the checklists one more time. Are we really ready? Are we sure about this? OK, then, let's give it a try––but not everything at once! Mars has been transiting Virgo too, so taking small steps at first feels right.

At the Balsamic Moon, the pace picks up. The Moon in Libra squares Jupiter in Cancer, offering ideas, negotiating, and gently pushing toward a new balance. Meanwhile, the Sagittarian Sun trines Uranus in Aries, feeling the fire and ready for anything.

Take the time now to review, to work with the Scorpio energy and the Disseminating Moon to be as sure (as sure as you can be) you've found you're best practice. Balsamic Moons are times of letting go, composting, releasing. When this particular Balsamic arrives on November 29, you could feel ready to just haul it all to the curb and set in on fire.

When the New Moon arrives on December 2, big changes could look really good––why not? we may say, it'll be fun! Sagittarian New Moons are for planting seeds for new journeys, new philosophies, new expansion. This New Moon will trine Uranus and square Chiron, so the "damn the torpedoes" vibe will be high. (I'll post a more in-depth profile of the New Moon closer to the date.)

So, take advantage of the current energy pushing us to look within, examine values, see who we really are. This has not been comfortable, but the work we do now helps find the best practice for moving ahead. Energy is shifting. Now's the time to take one more plunge into the depths.
    

Full Moon in Taurus: Practical Magic

Full Moon at Fugato Island by Hasui Kawase

Full Moon in Taurus
November 17, 2013
5:16 am GMT / 10:16 am EST

Does it feel like this lunar cycle is especially long? It does to me! It seems like forever since I last posted, but when I check the calendar it's all good––I think it's the amount of stuff happening, and the intensity of what we're being asked to absorb.

In our lives and internationally, it's not all bad but it is intense and often confusing. Astrologically, this reflects the ongoing strong Scorpio signature, the strong presence of Pluto (modern ruler of Scorpio) and Uranus (sudden change), and Neptune stationing,  getting ready to turn direct.

For example, catastrophic typhoon Haiyan is an ongoing nightmare for the more than half a million people displaced––homes gone, family lost, nowhere to go. This is a tremendous human tragedy and I urge everyone to do what they can to help. Astrologically, the storm landed under transits that point to extreme events involving wind and water.

As aid pours in, Neptunian confusion interferes. Communication networks are disrupted or destroyed, along with what appears to be organizational and political issues getting in the way. At the same time, the death toll has been revised downward, and aid is arriving in from around the world, reaching at least some of those in need.

On another front, the drug and behavior problems of Toronto's mayor Rob Ford are becoming more and more public. An open secret in some circles for a long time now, it's reached the point where it can't be swept under the rug––transformation, information, dragging what needs to be known into the light, brought to you with the support of Pluto, lots of Scorpio energy, Mercury's retrograde-then-direct, and Neptune (who rules drugs and addiction) stationing direct.

Intense things (again, not all bad) have been coming up for me personally. My Scorpio energy concentrates at my I.C., the bottom of my chart leading into the 4th House of home and family: Yes, events relating to long-standing unresolved problems, information and experiences bringing new insights and perspectives. As always, lots of chances for me to witness my own reactions, learn about myself, and dive into whatever needs to be adjusted.

Phew!

Still life by Ilya Mashkov

But a Taurus Full Moon ... that's all about comfort, and stability, and sensual pleasure, right? Please??

Well ... yes and no. You will not be shocked to hear this Full Moon has its own intensity to offer.

Remember, Full Moons are about illumination, revelation, seeing clearly what may have been hidden.

Taurus is definitely about the physical world, which includes everything that makes our bodies feel good: health, wealth, security, good food, tasty beverages, a warm fire. We are invited to celebrate the Full Moon enjoying all the good things we have.

The wider message of this Full Moon is finding the balance. Seeing where the balance is now, and taking note of where adjustments are needed.

At a Full Taurus Moon, the Sun is in Scorpio, and with Saturn, the North Node and Mercury also in Scorpio, this energy is still strong. The Scorpio–Taurus polarity reflects Jung's personality functions of Sensing and Intuition.

Taurus is ALL about Sensing. If I can see it, taste it, touch it, hear it, it's real. Otherwise, forget about it. Scorpio is all about Intuition: Using our emotional antennae and/or clair senses to see what our ordinary senses cannot.

So, this Full Moon asks us to look at how these arenas are working together (or not). Are we so into the hidden realms we're missing what's right in front of our noses? Are we so focused on the "real world" we won't acknowledge our own or anyone else's feelings? Or are we finding ways to work with our strengths and develop our weaknesses in perception?

Interestingly, the Full Moon is part of a wide-ish but still important Grand Cross. Neptune and the asteroid Pallas Athena will oppose each other and make out-of-sign squares to the Full Moon.

[Let me explain the "out-of-sign" thing because it adds interest to this aspect pattern. Ordinarily, we would expect Aquarius and Leo, the other two fixed signs, to be making squares to a Full Moon in Taurus.

But the Full Moon is in late Taurus and Scorpio, and Neptune and Athena are early in their signs of Pisces and Virgo, close enough by degree to count as a square but, as we say, out of sign. This means we've got all Water and Earth, yin energy, going deep and paying attention.]

Neptune and Athena bring in another Jungian personality function polarity, Thinking and Feeling. Neptune in her home sign of Pisces is awash in intense feelings of all kind. Athena has always been known for her cool head and intellectual acumen.

At this Full Moon, we're really being asked to look at how we take in and process information. This is good to know! It's a really valuable check in, and we'll want to take advantage of the opportunity.

That said, this Full Moon may not be very comfortable. In their different styles, Taurus and Scorpio are very hard-headed, pull-no-punches kinds of energy. As we approach this Full Moon, we're quite likely to find ourselves in situations where we come face to face with what we actually do in taking in and processing information, not what we might like to think we do. This could be reassuring, but will probably have an "ouch" factor.

So, prepare the Taurean treats––your favorite bath salts, that special whiskey you've been waiting to taste, the time with those close friends you don't see often enough––and absolutely enjoy them.

At the same time, keep your antennae up for the messaging around what we do and how we do it. Where are we in denial, painting a rosy picture that's just not accurate? And also, where are we not appreciating ourselves and others? Where can we say, oh! that's really great, how awesome that is?

We've been through a lot and it's not over. We can take some time for real, solid Taurean self care. We can also attend to that information about what's not working. It's all about balance.
    

The Waxing Moon: Working the Plan

it's time ...

Crescent Moon in Sagittarius
November 6, 2013
4:06 pm EST / 9:06 pm GMT

Astrological Samhain
November 7, 2013
1:14 am EST / 6:14 am GMT

First Quarter Moon in Aquarius
November 10, 2013
12:57 am EST / 5:57 am GMT

Mercury Direct
November 10, 2013
4:12 pm EST / 9:12 pm GMT

Gibbous Moon in Aries
November 13, 2013
2:35 pm EST / 7:35 pm GMT

Full Moon in Taurus
November 17, 2013
10:16 am EST / 3:16 pm GMT

The New Moon has passed, along with the exact Uranus–Pluto square, and things are ... Hmmm ... How are they? It's not entirely clear. Shifts are happening, things are disconnecting and the reconnecting in new ways, but the picture is still a bit murky.

The good news is, over the next few weeks, as we approach the Full Moon, we're likely to have a better idea of where we are now.

The bad news is, we're still in the thick of it. No coasting yet; there's work to be done, so heave ho, me hearties, and put yer backs into it!

The Scorpio energies surrounding the New Moon eclipse offered a lot of information. New Moons are dark times, when we can't see our way ahead, and yet, this time around, we got some strong directional signals. "This Way!" "NOT That Way!"

Now, as the Moon grows again, we have choices to make and the chance to make good on our commitments.

What loomed large for you around the New Moon? That's the area to work on. What intentions did you set? Time to make them real.

We're still navigating in the shadows, so don't expect instant blazing clarity. The Sun remains in Scorpio, as do Saturn, Mercury, and the North Node, through the Full Moon. But the energy is shifting in the direction of practical action:

• Venus has left the murky Scorpionic waters for pragmatic Capricorn, while Mars continues his transit through Virgo.

• Mercury will station direct at the First Quarter Moon.

• The aspects focused on the Nodes of the Moon are waning, lessening the focus on finding our path, allowing it to shift to taking some concrete steps.

We've had time to plan our work, now we begin working our plan. Transformational energy is still strong, pushing (and sometimes dragging) us to make needed changes. During this waxing Moon cycle, Venus moves to conjunct Pluto. Early in the cycle, the Moon joins Venus and Pluto, then swings around to join Uranus a few days before the Full.

... give it your best shot

At the New Moon, we were poised at the edge of the dark forest, looking for the way in. Now, we find our unique path and take the first steps.

Notice that astrological Samhain happens just after the Crescent Moon. This is when the Sun reaches the midpoint of Scorpio, 15 degrees. So the time when boundaries between the worlds is thin, continues.

The power of divination is strong now, and the ancestors are present. Asking advice for how best to move forward it always a good idea, and the chances of getting a clear response are greater now. Expressing gratitude, traditional at this time of year, is also an excellent practice.

So, no more sitting around in the dark. Even if the outcome isn't clear right now, we still know what comes next. It may not be our favorite thing to do, but it's gotta get done. We've had time to check all the angles, see how the table lies. Now we line up the shot and take it.

Taking action is the only way to figure out what really works.
    

New Moon in Scorpio: The Dark Forest

into the woods ...

Uranus–Pluto Square
November 1, 2013
6:30 am EDT / 11:30 am GMT

New Moon in Scorpio
November 3, 2013
7:50 am EST / 12:50 pm GMT

What to say about tomorrow's exact square between Uranus and Pluto, followed by Sunday's New Moon and solar eclipse? I think everything has pretty much been said.

On October 23, I wrote about the Mercury Retrograde. On October 23, I previewed the waning cycle leading up to the New Moon. And on October 27, I introduced the Last Quarter Moon and what was to come.

We know this is a deep time, a shadowed time––the ancient Celts saw this as a hallowed time, for honoring and communing with the ancestors, telling stories of times past, remembering old teachings, and using divination to look toward the future.

This year, the skies point to a time that will be far-reaching, having more than usual impact: Both the eclipse and the Uranus–Pluto square say this, and in addition, Venus in late Sagittarius will be conjunct the Galactic Center.

Despite these signs that this New Moon will be felt on the world stage, I'm struggling with what to say about this New Moon because this is an especially and deeply personal time.

In other words, I can't tell you what this New Moon will mean for you because I don't know you well enough.

Scorpio is the sign of the deep psyche, the sign that shows us where our greatest strengths and mightiest demons lie. Scorpio is about everything we keep secret, even from ourselves.

So how could I know what doors are opening for you? Where things are shifting, patterns are changing?

With this mysterious and powerful New Moon, I can't even fall back on advising you to check which house in your natal chart the Moon will appear––of course, the house placement will be important, and yes, please do check, but ...

This New Moon is conjunct the North Node, Mercury and Saturn; opposite the South Node; trined by Chiron, sextiled by Pluto on one side and Mars on the other (and Mars and Pluto are trining each other); squared by Juno; and inconjunt Uranus (who squares Pluto), so that Mars and the New Moon make a yod pointing at Uranus.

This means over half of any chart will automatically be touched in some way by this New Moon, so, a lot going on there.

By this time, so close to the square, the eclipse and the New Moon, you probably already know where big changes are stirring in your life. You won't know exactly what the results will be––the timetable unclear, the players not all chosen, the direction uncharted. Still, you're most likely at the starting place.

Wherever that place of change is, that's where our most powerful wishes and intentions will be.

It would be nice to have better maps, wouldn't it?

And yet, the not-knowing can be a source of great magic. Joseph Campbell saw individuality, following our own star, the promptings of our own hearts, as the signature strength of Western spirituality. He quoted from La Quete du San Graal:

They thought it would be a disgrace to go forth in a group. Each entered the forest that he had chosen where there was no path and where it was darkest.

And then added: Now, if there’s a way or path, it’s someone else’s way.

So we're each of us headed into the dark forest, from the place we have ourselves chosen. This doesn't mean we're always alone, not at all, but it does mean we're on our own paths.

Right now, for this New Moon, that's exactly as it should be. Bon voyage.
    

Last Quarter: Into the Well

Truth Lies at the Bottom of the Well

Last Quarter Moon in Leo
October 26, 2013 7:40 pm EDT
October 27, 2013 12:40 am GMD

Balsamic Moon in Virgo
October 30, 2013
6:52 pm EDT / 10:52 pm GMT

New Moon in Scorpio
November 3, 2013
7:50 am EST / 12:50 pm GMT

We've entered the Last Quarter, the deepening of the waning lunar phase. We're drawn into Scorpio's realm with a dramatic T-square overnight.

Picture a dark stage, operatic, the proscenium arch very large, the curtains a deep velvet. Everything shadow, everything hushed, and yet already there's a palpable tension. The curtain slowly opens as the orchestral offers the first strains of mysterious music. The movement reveals a lone figure dramatically lit, visible but silent in the midst of a crowded, shadowed throng.

That figure is the Leo Moon, squaring everything in Scorpio plus the South Node in Taurus. A stage filled with fixed signs, strong and committed, sometimes immovable. Earth and Water, deeply yin energy. And then the Leo Moon––a torch in the night.

What can we make of this time we're in? It feels full of significance, portents and omens in every dream, every circumstance, and yet the meanings are elusive. Are we receiving warnings or invitations?

Ahhh, Scorpio! The sign of, perhaps, more paradoxes than any other in the zodiac. Scorpio wants to know everything, feels compelled to uncover secrets, and yet is wary, wary ... so sensitive to hidden dangers. Scorpio understands the need for secrecy, and yet pushes to uncover every taboo. Scorpio is full of fear, and fearless in moving ahead anyway.

"I've been absolutely terrified every moment of my life––and I never let it stop me from doing a single thing I wanted to do." –– Georgie O'Keefe (Scorpio Sun)

With the concentration of planets building around the Scorpio North Node, the sense of fate continues to grow. So it's a good time to look at this whole idea of fate and destiny, to unpack it a little.

hidden well, Glendalough, Ireland

Plenty of religions and traditions will be happy to tell you that Fate (capital "F") trumps all. We are born with a destiny, we can't escape it, we do as God wills. The New Age version is the idea of not being able to escape karma or everything happening for a reason, most often said about someone else who's having a bad time of it.

But is that true?

Astrology is (can be) one of those traditions with its thumb on the "immutable Fate" side of the scales ... and yet, astrology today, practiced at its best, points always to choices, opportunities, open doors.

Astrologer and Jungian analyst Liz Greene believes the world itself changed through our increasing understanding of the unconscious, so that Fate itself has altered, becoming more mutable, less predictable. My experience and study over time suggests we're walking a paradoxical path.

On one hand, we are not completely in control of everything––there are "givens" in our aptitudes and attitudes and sometimes in our circumstances. Some of us carry burdens not wholly our own. On the other, we have so much more freedom than we realize––than, in many cases, we are raised to believe, or our societies want us to know.

JRR Tolkien was fascinated with this theme, which he called the "doom of choice" –– doom not in the sense that it doesn't matter what we do, because Fate will get us, but doom in the sense that what we choose, what we do, matters terribly, and the world changes through our choices.

Notice how Scorpio leads us into deep waters?

Part of the paradox we're in right now involves the challenge of knowing when to wait and when to act. Scorpio can wait forever for the opportune moment. Do we have the insight to know when that is?

Paradoxically, part of the answer may lie in the past. We also have a Grand Earth Trine now, formed of Mars in careful Virgo, Pluto in relentless Capricorn, and the South Node in steady Taurus. As we walk into the shadowy future, our best support is coming from behind. Somewhere, there are lessons––messages from ancestors, learnings from our own experiences, things we know in our bones.

We're in the time of letting go, releasing what no longer serves us to prepare for the New Moon already on her way. And this New Moon arrives with another eclipse, a solar one, a cosmic neon sign saying "This. Is. Important."

It's time to crank up the Scorpionic discernment engine. At this time, we need our attenae up and ready, we need to see in the dark––not in a spirit of anxiety, which will cloud our vision, but in a spirit of adventure.

We're called to stand up for ourselves, to say our names, to be courageous in the face of challenge. The opening image is a drawing by Frances MacDonald, Scottish designer and artist, less well known than her sister Margaret in part because her husband destroyed much of her work after her death. This is the negative power of Scorpio––unhealthy control––and not where we want to be.

Now is the time for radical honesty, with ourselves first of all. We want the sustenance of the deep well, the clear water, the true stream. We can find it.

"My friends, do not lose heart. We were made for these times." ––Clarissa Pinkola Estes

    

Toward the Scorpio New Moon: The Power of Water

powerful waters at Poulanass

Disseminating Moon in Gemini
October 22, 2013
4:53 pm EDT / 9:53 pm GMD

Last Quarter Moon in Leo
October 26, 2013, 7:41 pm EDT
October 27, 2013, 12:41 am GMD

Balsamic Moon in Virgo
October 30, 2013
6:52 pm EDT / 10:52 pm GMT

New Moon in Scorpio
November 3, 2013
7:50 am EST / 12:50 pm GMT

Yesterday's Disseminating Moon in upbeat Gemini was opposite Venus in adventurous Sagittarius, creating an optimistic mood. Maybe the Full Aries Moon was a bit startling, but sure, it was exciting, wasn't it? Pull up a chair, and I'll tell you all about it ...

Today, the Sun has entered Scorpio, another intensification of the shadowy energy gathering around us. The Sun trines Neptune today, which could bring on some confusing fog, or could deepen connection with our creative energies. Poetry, lyricism, dreams––all powerful today.

At the Last Quarter, the Leo Moon will challenge our poetical dreaminess, pushing for expression, for passion, for action. Scorpio energy continues to gain in strength: Sun, North Node, Saturn and Mercury all tightly clustered. The fire of the Leo Moon might be enough to shed some light into the shadows, but then again, it's vital to remember that Scorpio is also a fixed sign.

Traveling in Ireland, I've been brought again and again up against the power of water. Her lush green countryside––the result of the rains, from soft to lashing. The stark beauty of the Burren––carved by water working slowly on limestone. The peat that has kept families warm, baking bread and brewing tea for generations––the action of water and vegetation and pressure.

And today, walking down along the cascading waterfall called Poulanass, no one could miss the rushing power of water carving through granite, pounding down the hillsides, swirling among the rocks.

Elementally, we think of Water as yin: quiet, quiescent, receptive, taking the shape of whatever container offers itself. But in the fixed sign of Scorpio, we face the full power of Water to change, dissolve, break open, and reshape entire landscapes.

The Balsamic Moon in Virgo comes just as Mars, also in Virgo, trines Pluto in Capricorn and forms an awkward inconjunct to Uranus in Aries. Ordinarily, Mars loves the impulsive fire of Aries, which he rules.

In Virgo, Mars takes more measured actions, moving carefully, step by step, to accomplish the transformative projects we have in hand.

Throughout this waning lunar cycle, we experience the powers of Water. First, the dreamy mistiness of Sun trine Neptune. Then, the challenge of the Leo Last Quarter, pushing for action, not content with dreams. Then the Balsamic Moon in Virgo, echoing Mars' message to watch our step, to follow the plan.

In a way, this waning Moon time is like hiking down the length of a waterfall. It's beautiful to watch the waters coursing through forests and over boulders. But seeing the gathered power, we can't help but think, what can this water do? How can this force be focused?

Following on from the Full Moon, we have ideas and plans. We know, now, what needs to be changed. The opportunity here is to work with Water to get those changes made––to let go of what needs to be dissolved, washed away, carried out to sea.

By the time we reach the Scorpio New Moon, we'll be scoured ourselves, ready to let in new dreams, new power, new waters.
    

Mercury Retrograde: Depth of Focus

The Seer, Wildwood Tarot

Mercury stations retrograde
October 21, 2013
6:29 am EDT / 11:29 am GMD

Uranus–Pluto square
November 1, 2013
6:30 am EDT / 10:30 am GMT

New Moon in Scorpio
November 3, 2013
7:50 am EST / 12:50 om GMT

Astrological Samhain
November 7, 2013
1:14 am EST / 6:14 am GMT

Mercury stations direct
November 10, 2013
4:12 pm EST / 9:12 pm GMT

We've entered our last Mercury retrograde for this year, the last in the Water element. Following on the heels of the fiery intensity of the Aries Full Moon, Mercury's station (the moment he slows down and stops before turning back) ushers in the season of Samhain.

At Samhain, deep in Autumn in the Northern hemisphere, we enter the dark time of the year. This is the time of stories around the fire, of mending and making, of looking within. For the ancient Celts, this was where (and how) everything began––in the depths of quiet yin.

The astrological year begins at the Spring Equinox, with fiery yang Aries energy. We felt a burst of that at the Full Moon, and now, only a few days later, we're dropped into the depths of something ancient and dark.

This is the waning cycle of the Moon, but this post is not my usual post for this time––I will write another in a few days describing what the Moon will be up to. We've entered an intense and focused time within a much larger cycle now, and it feels important to get oriented.

dive in ...

Samhain arrives every year, after all ... the time of Scorpio, the energy of fixed Water that asks us to look our fears in the face, embrace our Shadow, have tea with our demons.

Scorpio time is also for connecting deeply with what fuels us, what brings meaning and creative fire into our lives. And for honoring the past and the ancestors.

These themes are connected: We fear what we don't understand and don't want to face, often these things come from the past, and are shadowy. The things modern culture wants most to ignore––age, death, decay, depth––these are Scorpio things and the source of all new life.

This year... well, this year we're offered extra Scorpio. A Scorpio main course with Scorpio on the side, and some Scorpio sauce.

Mercury's retrograde in Scorpio opens the door and nudges (pushes?) us through. The usual caveats apply––double check plans and schedules, make extra backups of important files, and avoid leaping to conclusions about what you think someone meant when they said that to you. But this is not what Mercury retrograde is about.

The mess-ups in communication come about because our attention is being directed elsewhere. The ordinary details of life are not where our hearts and minds want to be right now. We're being drawn into the depth of our own lives, the lives around us, the life of our world. 

This is the time to examine our deepest goals and desires, to face our darkest fears. Mercury stations retrograde while trining (in a deep flow of energy) with Jupiter in Cancer. This connection reminds us of the waves of Water energy we swam in this summer, when so much was happening in the sign of Cancer.

Now we're asked to take all of those emotions to a new level, placing them in a context that includes the past, potential futures, and the creation of meaningful lives.

The next exact Pluto–Uranus square's coming right up too. Pluto rules Scorpio, and remains in mutual reception with Saturn who is in Scorpio. This square, coming at this time and during the waning lunar cycle, says, Let go! It's time to take off the water wings, leave the shallow water, and trust that we can swim to the far shore.

The New Moon in Scorpio will be conjunct Saturn, Mercury retrograde, and the North Node, offering an open portal for new beginnings in the deepest parts of our psyches. This New Moon arrives with a Solar Eclipse, giving extra energy and resonance to whatever seeds we plant. Astrological Samhain (when the Sun reaches 15 Scorpio) and the ending of the retrograde will follow.

... the water's fine

By the time we reach that far shore, we'll be in a waxing cycle, growing something new. We'll also have changed our clocks, which may carry extra symbolic weight this year––it certainly will for me, because I will experience it twice. We'll "fall back" here in Ireland before I leave, and then I'll "fall back" again in the US a few days after I arrive.

In the next days and weeks, be aware that whatever happens is likely to feel "extra" ... extra strong, extra important, extra meaningful. And most likely, it will be. We're entering a time when signs and portents could be anywhere and everywhere.

I invite you to choose the deep over the superficial. One thing I've learned on my long travels is how easy it is for me to allow ordinary anxieties (Did I lock the door? Did I pay that bill? Is she angry about what I said?) to keep me from experiencing the layers of deeper emotion underneath. I think this is fairly common, and something we want to get beyond, especially now.

These next few weeks invite us to look closely at who we are, how we feel, what fuels us, what blocks us, and where we go from here. Ordinary live recedes. We're called into a reflective time. That cave might feel scary but there are riches within. Take the plunge!
    

Full Moon in Aries: Red Alert!

Fiery Full Moon!

Full Moon in Aries
7:38 pm EDT, October 18, 2013
12:38 am GMD October 19, 2013

OK, peops, head up and stay awake for this one: There's a Full Moon overnight Friday, October 18 and it comes with a partial lunar eclipse and it's in the fiery sign of Aries and it's conjunct the asteroid Eris who's the goddess of turning things upside down. So. Here. We. Go.

Remember, Full Moons are illuminators, the bright lights highlighting exactly what we need to look at. It's easy, at this Full Moon, to go with gloom and doom. Eclipses are more than a bit foreboding when predicting world events, and the aspects to this Full Moon could be read as, shall we say, alarming.

But, you know what? I'm just not in the mood for the kind of apocalypse where everything goes to hell in a handbasket and we stand around with the gnashing of teeth and rending of garments and all that.

So, I say, let the red alert be us! Let's go with the energy of Aries as the initiator born anew every Spring, the one who can't sit still because the world is way too exciting, the one who blazes a new trail, the one who lights up the sky.

Aries is the sign of passion, the pulse of life and the thrill of being alive. Aries is courageous, lives from the heart, and laughs out loud. This is where I want to be for this Full Moon.

That said, I would add this is one of those "go high or go home" events. No sitting on the sidelines. Drag out that birth chart, and see where this Full Moon will be lighting up your chart.

The Full Moon arrives at 25 Aries, with the Sun at 25 Libra. It's squared by Jupiter at 19 Cancer, making whatever happens bigger. The Sun is close enough to the North Node to create the partial lunar eclipse, bringing destiny into the mix. Pluto and Uranus are really close to their next exact square, amping up the transformative power.

This is a Full Moon likely to push buttons. Mine, yours, everyone else's. So check out what issues are likely to be front and center for you:

• Anything in or around 25 degrees of any sign will be affected, especially the cardinal signs of Aries, Libra, Cancer and Capricorn.

• Anything in the same House as the Full Moon in your birth chart, whether it's in the same sign or not, will be affected.

• Anything in Aries or Libra may also feel the fire, depending on how far away and how strong a placement it is.

At this Full Moon, it will be tough to keep the lid on, or sweep things under the rug. Instead of getting all anxious about that, let's grab the bull by the horns and ride that tiger ... let's split those infinitives and mix those metaphors with gay abandon.

With a Moon like this on our doorstep, we can try diving under the covers, or we can say, bring it on. Looking at what comes up will be a great way to see where we're hiding, either from old hurts holding us back, or from our own magnificence.

This is the Hunter's Moon, a name that comes from the fact that we'll see this amazing Moon for several nights in a row––which happens because of the angle of the Moon relative to the ecliptic at this time of year, and which ancient people recognized as a great change to hunt whatever was needed before the cold winter set in.

We can be hunters too. As we head into the shadowy time of Samhain and the darkness of winter, we can first take this bright opportunity to track down what we need to heal, to embrace and to celebrate. This Full Moon fuels the introspective time to come, ensuring that Spring will indeed arrive with new wonders to be witnessed.

Yes, this Full Moon will be exciting, challenging, fiery, and bright. It's that wonderful?
    

On the Road: From the New to the Full Moon

... on the road ...

Crescent Moon in Sagittarius
October 8, 2013
9:04 am EDT / 2:04 pm GMD

First Quarter Moon in Capricorn
October 11, 2013, 7:02 pm EDT
October 12, 2013, 12:02 am GMD

Gibbous Moon in Pisces
October 15, 2013
5:29 am EDT / 10:29 am GMD

Full Moon in Aries
October 18, 2013, 7:38 pm EDT
October 19, 2013, 12:38 am GMT

"Oh, I'm on the road, I know I am ... " ––Cat Stevens

Tomorrow brings the Crescent Moon, the first hurdle when the cosmos poses the question, "Those New Moon wishes you were after making ... were you serious about those, at all?"

Today we're in deep emotional territory with the North Node, Mercury, Saturn, Moon and Venus all in shadowy Scorpio, and Venus in the last, emphatic, intense anaretic degree right now. So, whew, give yourself a hug and pay compassionate attention to whatever comes up.

Tomorrow's Crescent, now, that's a different kettle of fish entirely. The Moon and Venus will be together at 0 Sagittarius, ready to head out onto the open road and see what happens.

The Moon and Venus will be squaring Neptune in Pisces, as if to say, we don't care if it's cloudy, we don't care about the fog and the mist, we've got our lanterns, and whatever happens, we'll find our way. And that half-square back to the Libra Moon is just enough to push the Moon out the door on her quest.

Tomorrow, the Sagittarius Moon will trine Uranus the revolutionary trickster (tomorrow) and later in this waxing cycle, Venus in Sag will make her own trine. We're on an adventure, and the Crescent Moon's heart and hopes are high. Courage up, everyone! The world's an amazing place, after all, filled with wonders and magic. Now's the time to open our eyes and see what we're being offered.

"It's a dangerous thing going out your door, Frodo ..." ––Bilbo Baggins

Which is not to say everything will be easy. What fun would any journey be without some trolls and dragons along the way?

The First Quarter Moon brings a T-square. By definition, the Sun and Moon are square, the Sun maintaining a lovely equanimity in Libra, the Moon having moved into harder-edged Capricorn. At this First Quarter, we'll also see Jupiter in Cancer opposing the Moon and squaring the Sun.

This First Quarter reminds us of the ongoing need to maintain good balance between the masculine and feminine energies that were so strongly squared off at the New Moon. The Sun in the sign of balance squares the Moon in her own opposite sign of Capricorn with Jupiter broadcasting strongly from the Moon's home sign of Cancer.

Male and female, masculine and feminine, father and mother, god and goddess, and all they represent: the First Quarter square asks, are we in balance? If we found balance at the New Moon, are we learning to maintain it, embody it, live it?

The Gibbous Moon in Pisces brings a different reminder. Saturn continues to hang out with the North Node in Scorpio, where Mercury readies himself for his final retrograde for this year. The is not a vacation trip we're on, but a journey of transformation. We're going deeper into who we are and what our lives are meant to be.

The Scorpio group is getting energy in trine from Chiron the wounded healer, who remains in Pisces. The Gibbous Moon land right between Chiron and Neptune, conjuncting both and trining the Scorpio group.

Misty Pisces offers both spiritual insight and enticing illusions. Are we seeing clearly? Are we on the right path? Where's that lantern we brought with us? In the end, it's our own internal compass we must rely on, which will always point us to our own true North.

The Full Moon (which I will explore more deeply later) will be in Aries, the energy that knows with absolute clarity which way to go. At the Aries Full Moon, it'll be full speed ahead. Take the time these next weeks before we get there to enjoy the first stages of this new journey.

In a way, this waxing cycle is the shake-down hike. We're already deep into our transformational program, and yet there's a sense of newness, of wonder, maybe with a bit of fun. No one's forgetting the seriousness of the times or the challenges, and the reminders are right in front of us.

And yet, there's laughter, even if the joke is sometimes at our own expense, and healing, and new vistas head.

What's that around the corner there? Let's go look ...