Balsamic Moon: What's in the Way?

on the way

Balsamic Moon in Sagittarius
January 8, 2013

OK, this Balsamic Moon time is going to feel edgy. This is a good thing. Really, it is. This is the lunar phase for cleaning out what no longer works, and this time the cleansing could be very thorough indeed, if we're willing to go with the energy.

Of course, the cleansing could be pretty thorough if we don't go with the flow, too, which is a good reason to work with what shows up, as best we can.

The Moon will be in optimistic, adventurous Sagittarius, offering a can-do attitude for busting through challenges. The Sun is in down-to-earth Capricorn. These two are in semisquare, which isn't the easiest aspect we could have, but comes with Balsamic territory.

This Sun and Moon share a commitment to moving ahead and getting stuff taken care of. The Moon's optimism offset by the Sun's Capricornian realism, saying things like "get real!" and "let me tell you how is really is." How much of this kind of realism is helpful to you, is your call.

On to the edgy part: The square between Saturn and Mars is really tight at this Balsamic Moon, and since both are in fixed signs, this signals strong feelings of stuckness. Mars in Aquarius is certain he's got the answers and ready to implement his Big Plan. Now. Saturn in Scorpio is holding out for more study, because we don't actually have the full picture yet, and what's missing is important.

Mars and Saturn is this aspect bring the experience of seeing the way clearly and so wanting to go there, but something behind us, something we can't see, grabs our jacket and we can't move. Just swatting at that hand without looking will not work––this is Saturn, and he wants our attention.

So, what's holding us back? At this Balsamic Moon, we need to know. It's time to take a hard look in the dark corners and see what's there.

Maybe it's something we can acknowledge and release. Maybe we've left something out of the Big Plan. Whatever ... Saturn will not let go until we look.

Meanwhile, Aquarian Mars is tantalizing us with beautiful visions of what could be if only we act, which we can experience as frustration or promise––up to us.

Whatever Saturn is insisting we look at relates to our healing, mentorship, creativity and visioning. The Moon is part of a T-square as she opposes Jupiter and both square Chiron, who's still hanging out with Neptune. This T-square adds more edge, while forcing us to consider how healing and creativity are also held back by whatever Saturn wants us to take care of.

If we need a clearer set of pointers, Jupiter the philsopher, who remains retrograde in Gemini for just a bit longer, sits at the apex of that same Finger of Fate he's been under––Saturn and Pluto are pointing at him, insisting we re-examine our certainties, and now Mercury stands with Pluto so the messages are actually getting through to our brains.

"Oh, that!" we might find ourselves saying, "That's the issue??" Yes, that's the one.

The asteroid goddesses are also part of this conference: Vesta, keeper of home, hearth and tradition, stands with Jupiter, perhaps to remind us not to toss babies out with bathwater. Ceres, also retrograde in Gemini, sits at the apex of her own Finger of Fate, with the North Node and the Sun pointing at her––we forget the fierce face of the mother at our own peril. Athena forms creative quintiles to Ceres and the Sun, saying, look for unexpected solutions.

Change is (still) in the air. The Moon trines Uranus the revolutionary, ready to move and move quickly when the time is right. In fact, the message is, the time is right now. 

The phrase "in the way" is a curious one. What exactly is "the way"? Folklorist Ari Berk links the phrase to ancient beliefs in fairies who lived in the same places people did, and had their own paths which needed to be respected. When a new road or barn was built, or a field plowed, it was vital to check that the new structure wasn't "in the way"––blocking the flow of Fae energy.

The Moon in Sagittarius loves stories like these... but are they stories? Whether real or metaphoric, when we put something in the way of natural flows of energy, bad stuff happens. At this Balsamic Moon, look around to see what's in the way for you, and get those energies flowing again.