Zorba the Greek, Rosebuds, and Saying Yes: Beltaine under a Waning Moon

Opa!

Disseminating Moon in Sagittarius
April 28, 2013 10:27 pm EDT
Last Quarter Moon in Aquarius
May 2, 2013 7:14 am EDT
Beltaine (Sun at 15 Taurus)
May 5, 2013 4:18 am EDT
Balsamic Moon in Aries
May 5, 2013 10:25 pm EDT

We've come through the eclipse gate of the Scorpio Full Moon, antennae still quivering from all the messages arriving. Does the world look different? It does to me! I'm still sorting it all out, and I imagine you are too.

Now we're in the waning cycle, the time of sharing, sending things out into the world, winnowing what we keep from what we don't need any more, and letting go of what's ready to leave.

This waning cycle is full of paradox. We've moved from the fiery, go-go-go energy of the Aries party into the slow, sensuous dance of Taurus: As we've seen since the Fall, there's a whole lot of energy concentrated in a single sign.

Right now, at today's Disseminating Moon. Sun, Mercury, Venus, Mars, South Node and Pallas Athena all rest in a Taurean garden full with green and growning things. Taurus is the patient gardener, Gaia, lover of Earth. At this waning time, the energy of the Earth is broadcast far and wide, signs of Spring after a long and difficult winter. This is something to welcome, to celebrate!

And yet ... the North Node, the path ahead, is across the way in shadowy Scorpio, along with Saturn still retrograde in Scorpio. Reminding us it's not all hearts and flowers. Reminding us of limits and responsibilities. Reminding us that the cycle of life includes death. Not what we want to hear on a lovely Spring morning.

This is the paradox, perhaps the key paradox of life on Earth: We don't last. We change. Things slip away from us. We love life, and it goes away. How do we cope?

One option during this cycle is denial. Taurus can be very stubborn, and the South Node, place of the past, is right in the middle of the garden. We can refuse to change,  refuse to acknowledge the inevitability of loss.

Or we can refuse to participate––we can do what Brené Brown calls "foreboding joy" –– not allowing ourselves to feel too happy in the hopes we won't feel too let down later when it all doesn't work out.

Guess what? None of that works. We just miss out on the joy part, which kind of sucks. This is a paradox we want to embrace, no matter how painful it looks at first. This is Zorba the Greek, dancing through life, the life he describes as "the full catastrophe." 

During this waning Moon cycle, we hold both joy and pain, growth and decline, stability and change and the yes/and improv that is the dance of life.

Today's Disseminating Moon is in happy-go-lucky, adventurous Sagittarius. At the Last Quarter, the Sun–Moon square, the Moon is in uniquely revolutionary Aquarius. We're in the territory of "yes" here, finding the heart to laugh, celebrate, and let go as we need to.

Then comes a really amazing Beltaine, on the day of the Balsamic Moon, a coincidence that captures the theme of this waning cycle perfectly.

Astrologically, the four great fire festivals of Imbolc, Beltaine, Lughnasad and Samhain, occur when the Sun reaches the middle 15th degree of the four fixed signs. This year, the Sun reaches 15 Taurus on May 5, the same day as the Balsamic Moon, the time when we moved deeply into letting go, as the dark of the Moon draws near.

Beltaine arrives early in the morning (EDT), with the Moon in mystic Pisces, sign of the Fae folk, and of magic of all kinds. During that day, the Moon moves from Pisces, the last sign, into the fiery passion of Aries, the first––more than metaphor, this is exactly the shift we celebrate at Beltaine, the miraculous emergence of new life.

By late evening, we reach the Balsamic Moon, when, perhaps, the energies of the Beltaine fires are being released. This year, those celebrations are likely to be felt with special power, as we all tap into the deep mystery of the full cycle of life. 

Gather ye rosebuds, one and all. This life is fleeting and eternal. We are always the same and ever changing. The loveliness of this Earth, so present and abundant at this time of year, is the very thing we celebrate and let go of, both/and.

This year, in this cycle, we are shown the way to celebrate life without denial, without regret, accepting joy. This year we say Yes!

Full Moon Thursday!

Full Moon from space, Earth's luminous being on the left

Full Moon in Scorpio
April 25, 3:57 pm EDT

An update and correction: The DATE on my original post is correct but a paragraph lead said "Saturday's Full Moon" and the 25th is, of course, Thursday.

I corrected the original and added a comment, but that didn't send a message to my email and RSS subscribers. So, here the correction: the Full Moon is THURSDAY. (A big thank you to my reader who emailed, reminding me I needed an updated feed too.)

So here's an additional thought on the illuminating Moon soon to arrive: I'm returning from an intensive shamanic workshop with Betsy Bergstrom, who I found to be an amazing teacher, and shared with a wonderful circle. We spent a lot of time talking about power––no surprise in this lunar cycle, right?

To live the life we hope for, the fullest, juiciest, most wonderful life we can have, the meaningful life we're meant to have, we need to step into our power. We need to be what Betsy calls power-filled.

This is not about dominating, controlling, pushing or pulling. It's all about claiming our individual sovereignty. Each of us has a natural, inalienable right to be who we are in the world. We each have the right to shine.

This Full Moon in Scorpio, with Sun in Taurus and all the patterns already explored, is a wonderful time to tend our own light. Where are we standing in our own power and allowing others around us to stand in theirs? Where do boundaries need tending? Where can projections be withdrawn?

As this Full Moon approaches, may we see ourselves as the shining luminous beings we are, and see all other beings around us in the wonder and beauty of their luminosity.
    

Full Moon Eclipse in Scorpio: Hecate's Magic

Hecate

Full Moon in Scorpio
April 25, 2013 3:57pm EDT

Full Moons are hard to miss. Even when the night sky is full of clouds, somehow we feel a full Moon. Life becomes a bit crazier, wilder, over the top.

THURSDAY's Full Moon comes with a partial lunar eclipse, opening this year's "eclipse season" –– May brings two more eclipses, one solar and another lunar. Lunar eclipses always accompany Full Moons, giving this Full Moon extra strength––think espresso, or really dark chocolate.

Eclipses are turning points, times of emphasis and change. Eclipse patterns repeat at roughly 19 year intervals; to understand what might be coming up for you at this Full Moon, look back to what was happening in your life 19 years ago. This eclipse might revisit that same territory in new ways.

Now factor in the sign of this Full Moon: Scorpio, sign of the underworld, the subconscious, the Shadow; sign of the detective, the therapist and the spy. Scorpio knows who has skeletons in the closet and where the bodies are buried.

A Full Moon to prepare for.

This Scorpio Full Moon eclipse arrives with deep emotion, boatloads of karma, long-term effects, and high voltage. Am I planning to hide under the covers, or, better yet, leave the planet? Nope, I'm not. I'm looking forward to pressing yet another cosmic reset button on my adventurous way. Honest.

Full Moons illuminate. Their spotlights show us where we are, and how we're doing with whatever that is. With this Full Moon in Scorpio, we're likely to see one or more of the following on our personal large screen:

• Power! This lunar cycle began with an Aries extravaganza. Mars (Aries ruler) is also the ancient ruler of Scorpio, and will conjunct the Sun at the Full Moon. So ... how are we handling power? Are we responsible? Afraid? Controlling? In denial? This will be a headliner.

• Deep emotion. Scorpio is a Water sign, so our feelings selves will be awake and aware. This Full Moon is part of the Grand Trine in Water that includes Saturn (conjunct the Moon in Scorpio), Neptune in Pisces, and Ceres in Cancer.

How are we feeling? What do we feel deeply about now? Where are we confused (Neptune) about our feelings, or perhaps unsure if our feelings are justified, accurate, or reciprocated? Where do we feel insecure, or compelled to nurture others? Where are we facing the consequences of emotions, perhaps because we became obsessed, or codependent, or overcommitted?

• Where we're stuck. Scorpio and Taurus are both fixed signs, and can be beyond stubborn––immovable, in fact. Mars and Saturn, conjunct the Sun and Moon, might push us to move, or might just decide to stay exactly where they are.

Meanwhile, there's a yod (finger of fate, as aspect pattern that points like an arrow) aimed to the North Node, which also happens to be in Scorpio. This yod is pushing, with Mercury energized in Aries and Jupiter expanding in Gemini, asking, why haven't we changed already? Are we waiting for an engraved invitation, or what?

Uranus in Aries, the revolutionary trickster, is inconjunct the Full Moon, adding his own considerable power to the equation. At this Full Moon, we're likely to see where we're stuck and (if we pay attention) what we can do about it.

• Self care. Taurus is the sign of nurturing the body; Scorpio is the sign of tending to the psyche. Finding balance between the two can be challenging, but is essential. With issues of power, emotion, and stuckness coming up for review, we also need to attend to how we're doing overall. Kindness and self compassion are good watchwords, and this Full Moon may point out where we need to bring some of that to the fore.

Why the scary goddess Hecate? She's a goddess of the crossroads and dark places, a goddess of choices and deep knowing. She's demonized as a witchy death goddess, but then, Scorpio gets a pretty bad rap a lot of the time too.

Hecate is a goddess of great power, connected to deep emotional issues, who knows how to move us on when we're standing at the crossroads not sure where to go. She helped bring Persephone out from Hades, restoring the Earth's capacity to grow and be fruitful.

One of Hecate's symbols is the torch. At this Full Moon, as we begin a new 19 year eclipse cycle, calling on the energy and guidance of a goddess who can navigate in dark places seems like an excellent plan.

Checking where this Full Moon will fall in your birth chart offers extra information about where and how this Full Moon will illuminate your life. Which house will this Full Moon appear in, for you? Will any of your planets be touched by the patterns this Moon will form? These are the pointers to look for, to see where Hecate's light may shine into shadowy places.
    

Why Do I Need My Birth Chart, Again?

Ptolemy's zodiac

On getting to know your birth chart:

We've all seen horoscopes in magazines––your life for the next month summarized in a paragraph. Waiting at the dentist, I'd read my paragraph and wonder ... It's impossible for astrologers to know me, so how do they do this? And why does it seem to fit sometimes?

One-paragraph horoscopes are usually pretty sketchy. But what about someone like Susan Miller, whose Astrology Zone is hugely popular? Susan offers really detailed monthly horoscopes for each sign, complete with discussions of what's happening in the houses. How about that?

Astrologers like Susan Miller and Rob Brezsny (Freewill Astrology) look at what's happening in the sky (as all astrologers do) and then relate those influences to each sign of the zodiac as a whole.

So, with all the planets stampeding through Aries lately, we could say, wow, these Aries planets are opposite Libra, and squaring Cancer and Capricorn, so things will be jumping for anyone whose Suns are in those signs.

That's actually likely to be true in most cases, which is why Susan Miller and Rob Brezsny have lots and lots of readers who gain insights from their work. The problem, from my point of view, is that all Libras are not created equal. Neither are Aries, Taureans, Geminis, or anyone else ...

My Sun is in Libra. In the ordinary way of speaking, I'm a Libra. Except I'm not at all like Libras are typically described. I wasn't usually able to see myself in horoscopes, either, which is maybe why that's not the kind of astrology I do.

My Sun is at 0 Libra, for one thing, so I'm right on the edge. (Some people find me a bit edgy, too, but that's another story.)  I also have other powerful planets in my chart, some in intense combinations, which bring different energies into play.

For me, relying on a whole-sign horoscope doesn't work. For example, Susan Miller's horoscope for Libra for last month (March) turned out to be dead right in some ways. Now it's April, though, and I seem to be on a completely different track that what's she's describing.

Please note, I am not saying Susan Miller is a bad astrologer––not at all. She's insightful, she's intuitive, and she's a good writer. In fact, I'm using Susan as a contrasting example because she is a good astrologer, and I'm happy to recommend her.

I'm pointing out that the style of interpretation Susan offers often doesn't work for me because I'm not a typical Libra.

The experience that led me into astrology was seeing my own birth chart and understanding what it said. Well ... beginning to understand it, anyway, as it continues to unfold.

For me, the real gold lies in seeing the reflection of a unique individual in a birth chart. That's the part of reading charts that intrigues me, excites me, and fills me with awe. We've all got the same parts, and we're each put together differently. Every chart is amazing.

If you read monthly or weekly horoscopes and learn everything you want and need to know, that's fabulous. If horoscopes don't seem to reflect your situation, it's time to get to know your birth chart.

Another note: Getting to know your birth chart doesn't mean you need to become an astrologer. Starting out with a few basics is enough. In fact, following along with Rising Moon is a great way to begin.

Paying attention to where the New and Full Moons fall in your chart, watching how things unfold for you at those times (which come up every few weeks), will begin to highlight where the sensitive spots are for you personally. Over time, you'll get a feel for which times of year are more active for you, when things seem to shift or issues come to a head.

So, for now, keep in mind:

• Horoscope styles of astrology are based on treating each sign of the zodiac as a whole.
• This style works great for some people, and less well for others.
• If you find horoscopes hard to relate to, getting to know your birth chart is a powerful alternative.
and
• Getting to know your birth chart is a great idea even if you like horoscopes!

Free birth charts are available HERE or HERE ... or contact me to schedule a reading.
     

Toward the Full Moon: Grounding Our Power

strength!

First Quarter Moon in Cancer
April 18, 2013 8:31 am EDT
Gibbous Moon in Virgo
April 22, 2013 5:04 am EDT
Full Moon in Scorpio
April 25, 2013 3:57 pm EDT

The fiery energy of new beginnings continues as the driving force in the sky now. Sun, Mars, Eris, Uranus and Mercury all continue in Aries. We have seen the explosive, destructive aspects of Aries and so it's important to hold in thought and heart the cleansing, regenerating, pioneering aspects as well.

Wednesday, April 17, in the evening, the Sun and Mars reach their conjunction, one peak of this energy of new beginnings and life force. If you've not already seen signs of whatever you wished for at the New Moon, this may be a time when new green shoots emerge into the light. If you find yourself caught up in anger, irritation, or similar emotions, this could also be a peak time––taking steps to increase calm is a good idea.

Thursday morning, April 18, brings the First Quarter Moon. This is the challenge between Moon and Sun when we're asked, Really? Did you mean that stuff you said? Here's what it might look like, so be sure, now ...  The Sun in late Aries, the Moon in late Cancer, each strong in their signs, will be testing each other.

The Sun says, go, go now! Reach for it, that thing you want, explore, step out, live large! The Moon says, is it safe? How will this affect the children? What do the ancestors say? How does it feel?

The Sun is supported by Mars and Eris, tipping the scales on the side of leaping, net or no. The Moon in Cancer is strong too, though, and very protective. We'll feel the need to honor both sides.

Friday, April 20, we'll see a conjunction of Mercury and Uranus. This pairing electrifies speech the way Sun–Mars electrified action. We could find ourselves speaking out strongly––so if we're in situations where this could create more problems than it solves, planning ahead, working to maintain calm, and thinking before speaking could be vital.

Mercury and Uranus together also offers energy for intense, sudden, unexpected insights. If there's a problem you're working on, this could be the day for a radical solution to present itself. Intuitive flashes can be strong too; keep a notebook handy.

We'll continue to feel the fire, and we'll have increasing chances to channel this energy into stable, long-term growth. This new stability has already begun: Venus has already moved into Taurus, one of her home signs.

Where Aries is flash and quickness, Taurus is warm, steady glow. This is fixed Earth, the sign of the patient gardener, the energy with staying power, loyalty, and commitment. Venus entered Taurus in the early hours of Monday, April 15, beginning the shift.

When Venus is in Taurus, we long for relationships that offer support, compassion, security, and pleasure. We appreciate those we have, and we feel ready to offer compassion to others. Pallas Athena and the South Node of the Moon are already in Taurus. Venus' arrival begins to re-focus our attention from instant gratification to something that will last.

The Sun enters Taurus Friday evening, April 19. Mars joins the Taurus garden party early Saturday morning, April 20.

When the Gibbous Moon arrives on April 22, the emphasis on Earth is much stronger. This is the square-and-a-half between Sun and Moon that again tests our commitment to our New Moon plans ... but notice all the Earth in this chart.

Here we see Sun, Mars and Venus in Taurus, and the Moon in Virgo. The Gibbous Moon question is likely to be, can we be patient enough to see our plans through? Aries energy loves to start, and isn't always around for the finish. Taurus and Virgo point us toward patience and steady effort, which may feel like a welcome change or like a frustrating block.

Notice how I'm offering lots of either/or's? It's because there are some big shifts, as well as energy peaks, happening now, and how we feel them will depend on where we've been, and how we've handled the energy up til now.

If the Aries fireworks have felt wonderfully enlivening, the shift into Taurus could feel like someone's hit the brakes. If this Aries intensity has felt overwhelming, the arrival of Taurus will feel wonderful.

Wherever we've been (and it's likely been a mix of both, actually), a worthy goal is to harness Aries fire and flow the power into something slower, stronger, and long-lasting.

The Full Moon arrives on the 25th with the extra juice of a partial lunar eclipse. I'll write more on this powerful Moon later, but here's a peek at the chart.

For this next week or so, continue noticing how power feels to you––the power around you, the power flowing through you, the power directed at you, and the power you direct. Where is it electric, fiery, fast, and (sometimes) furious? Where is it slow, steady, grounded, and stable? When is one good? When is the other a better choice? Can you shift one kind of flow to another?

These are the kinds of power questions to explore now.
    

New Moon Time: Exploring Power

lightning!

Pluto stations, turning retrograde
April 12, 2013 3:35 pm EDT
Mercury enters Aries
April 13, 2013 10:37 pm EDT
Crescent Moon in Gemini
April 14, 2013 5:29 am EDT

The New Moon power surge arrived on the wings of yet another winter storm sweeping across the center of North America bringing snow, rain, lightning and tornadoes from Texas to the Great Lakes. This wild storm heads east, marked by temperature shifts of up to 60 degrees in ten hours.

Our dials are set to eleven.

In this heady rush of energy, where do we find ourselves? How do we find ourselves? And what can we look forward to as this lunar cycle grows?

This lunar cycle is about power––where we find it, what it feels like, how we use it, and what happens after that. When it comes to power, this cycle is the full monty: the light and the shadow.

Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power. ––Abraham Lincoln

We're in a lunar pattern right now in which the New Moon is followed not by its opposite Full Moon, but by the next one on. We just had the Aries New Moon. Libra is opposite Aries, but we already had our Libra Full Moon. The fullness we're moving into now, arriving April 25, is the Full Moon in Scorpio.

Aries and Scorpio are the light and shadow of power. Mars rules Aries in the daytime, and Scorpio at night. This entire cycle constantly brings these two energies, which do not play well together, into juxtaposition. The cosmos as given us a test: Write an essay about the positive and negative aspects of power. Compare and contrast. Use examples.

The greater the power, the more dangerous the abuse. ––Edmund Burke

Ninety-five percent of the people in the world need to be told what to do and how to behave. ––Arnold Schwarzenegger

Pluto, the modern ruler of Scorpio and power lord in his own right, stations tomorrow, April12, for a five-month retrograde. He is emphasizing his role, and Scorpio's, in our lives. This turning moves us toward the next exact Pluto–Uranus square on May 20––which, because Pluto moves soooooo slowly, will happen at the same degree he stations in now, 11 Capricorn. Uranus will scoot up a few degrees to 11 Aries.

Meanwhile, Saturn, retrograde in Scorpio, is inconjunct Uranus. Saturn tries to rein in the overweening optimism of unbridled fire by pointing to the Shadow, showing the dark side, tossing events into the mix that remind us what happens when people in power overreach. Saturn in this position talks to us about hubris.

Never allow a person to tell you no who doesn't have the power to say yes. ––Eleanor Roosevelt

I was now resolved to do everything in my power to defeat the system. ––Oskar Schindler

April 13, Mercury slips into fiery Aries, joining the bonfire continuing there. It could be harder to keep silent, which can be a good thing and also brings consequences. Saturn's presences and Pluto's gravitas become important.

At the Crescent Moon on April 14, the entire span of Aries is covered. Mercury sits at 0, Venus at 28.

Are we owning our power? Are we growing it, flowing with it, bringing our light and life and creative gifts wholeheartedly into the world? Are we in the arena, daring greatly?

This Crescent Moon invites us, entices us, dares us to join the great game. Stop sitting on the sidelines, stop letting the parade pass by. It's time to step up, step in and dance.

I cured with the power that came through me. ––Black Elk

And yet ... Saturn in Scorpio sits at the apex of a yod, that finger of fate, with Uranus and the Crescent Gemini Moon at its base. It's not all sweetness and light. Shadow is always present.

This is, in a deeply truthful way, a key element of owning our power and using it responsibly: The willingness to look at the Shadow of power, our Shadow, to become aware of it and bring it into consciousness. Only then can we maintain balance. Only then can we flow power in creative, productive, loving ways.

When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace. ––Jimi Hendrix

Over the next few weeks, we're invited to dance in the flames. We can sense strong energies around and inside us. We can channel those energies into creative work and play. And. And. We can see where we're tempted to overstep, where we lose touch with our values, where we fall into inflation or fear. Only by holding both together can we move into our best selves.
    

New Moon in Aries: Rebirth

Celebrate the New!

New Moon at 20' 40" Aries
April 10, 2013 5:35 am EDT

At this point, we should all be used to really concentrated energies, right?

Well, maybe it's not really something we can acclimate to, especially when the nature of the energy shifts so dramatically.

Wednesday's New Moon in Aries offers such a strong jolt of fiery libido, passionate life force, joie de vivre, intoxicating invulnerability, and, it must be said, anger, we are none of us likely to miss it. Take a peek at the chart. Notice that Sun, Moon, Eris (the goddess of discord, Ares' sister), Mars and Venus are all together within three degrees of each other.

This New Moon jabs the reset button in ... I was going to list some of the areas of life involved, but honestly, since this is the first sign, the beginning, the place where we race through the door, step off the cliff, and leap without looking for any nets, it's really everything.

If you're in a place where you want another life, this is the New Moon to wish for that. If you're in a place where you love the life you have, this is the New Moon to say Yes! in a big way and realize we're all made new every day anyway. It's a yes/and kind of thing.

Definitely look to see where this New Moon affects your birth chart. I've written two posts recently that can help, so if you haven't done this before, check here and here. Knowing where this New Moon is touching can help fine tune your wishes and intentions, and let you know where fiery energy might show up.

That said, this truly is a New Moon for beginnings of all kinds, in all arenas. Some things I'm thinking about:

The Sabian symbol for this New Moon is the fighter stepping into the ring. I don't work with Sabian symbols regularly, but this one is tough to ignore, especially since I just finished Brené Brown's Daring Greatly.

Brown drew the title of her book, a personal motto, from a speech Teddy Roosevelt gave in Paris in 1910. The key image is that of the man in the ring, bloodied, sometimes falling, who willingly enters again and again. Roosevelt dismisses the critics on the sidelines, who might applaud but often sneer, and gives the credit and glory to the one who steps in to achieve her personal best.

The idea that our lives are most meaningful, most connected, most loving, and most joyful when we are actually in the ring, ready to engage, ready to fail, ready to be the fool, is a perfect reflection of this New Moon.

Another thing: Aries is criticized for being self-seeking, ignoring the needs and wants of others. Is this New Moon going to turn us into a bunch of raging narcissists?

I am also deep into something called the Self Acceptance Project, a free, 12-week series of video (or audio as you prefer) interviews all focused on what it takes to stop beating ourselves up. Participants include counselors, psychologists, physicians, researchers, and spiritual teachers. The perspectives vary, making it interesting to note where agreement emerges.

It turns out it's tough to experience true empathy, accept love, or feel calm and centered if we're routinely talking to ourselves in a vicious undertone. And it turns out we all do it, unless we've already done some deep work around this.

by David Lazar in Eyes of a Child

Aries energy is really great for radical self acceptance. You've probably seen this viral video of Jessica as a kid, which is total Aries energy. It feels great in a child, but cringe-worthy or just impossible as an adult––ok, I'll own that, it feels that way to me, maybe you're farther along toward embracing your inner Aries.

So, this is a fabulous New Moon for self love. Not the entitlement, I'm-better-than-you kind. The healthy kind. The kind that says, I am a child of the universe, I am worthy of love and acceptance, I have much to offer, watch me roll up my sleeves and dig into life.

Now, the presence of anger at this New Moon cannot be ignored. Mars and Eris are conjunct the New Moon, and Mars rules Aries. In this arena, I offer Karla McLaren, who calls anger the Honorable Sentry.

McLaren sees all emotions, especially the difficult ones we often repress, ignore, or beat ourselves up about (see above), as healthy messengers with important jobs to do. Anger is about boundary maintenance, letting us know when something or someone is crossing the line. Working with anger in positive ways brings us to a place where we can calmly and compassionately stand our ground.

Step one is becoming aware of when we're angry and what we're angry about, which can be surprisingly difficult to tease out, especially if it's an emotion we don't allow in. This New Moon offers an excellent opportunity to take a good, clear look at anger in our lives. What's it doing? When's it doing it? Is that working for us? If not, what can we do about it?

Last but not least, this New Moon is about passion. Tremendous generative, creative energy will flow at this New Moon. This fire can enliven anything and everything we do. This is a time to connect with our courageous compassion, our great heart. You'll know best where new energy is needed in your life. Light the torch of this New Moon!
    

Chart Layout: What Are We Looking At?

The chart as a map ... feel free to download!

As the New Moon in Aries draws near, we've got some space for learning a bit more about charts and how they work. This fiery New Moon will be one to prepare for, so let's dive in:

It's helpful to know what you're looking at when you look at an astrological chart. Basically, charts are maps. They're real maps in one way, and symbolic maps in other (and perhaps more important) ways.

Charts are a map of the sky from our perspective here on Earth.

The sky overhead looks like a great sphere, around which the stars and planets move. The Sun, Moon and other visible planets rise and set, and the wheel of the zodiac moves through the seasons.

The horizon cuts through the middle of the chart. Any planets above the horizon are in the visible, public part of the sky––whether we can actually see them with the naked eye or not, they're considered "visible." Planets below the horizon are in the hidden, private part of the sky.

One simple rule of thumb that reflects this is, people with most of their planets, especially the personal ones (Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars) above the horizon will tend to be extroverts. Those with most planets below the horizon will tend to be introverts.

Each of the cardinal directions has a place on the chart, and each direction has multiple meanings. South is at the top, which puts East to the left (the opposite of typical land maps). East is associated with the dawn, which explains why that point on the chart is the Rising Sign: Your Rising Sign is literally the sign of the zodiac that was rising at the moment of your birth, which is, symbolically, your dawn.

Here's another example chart, this one for Marlon Brando, whose birthday is today.

Checking out the East point on this chart tells us Brando had Sagittarius rising, the expansive, generous, liberal-minded sign ruled by Jupiter.

Looking around, we see that Brando's Sun and Moon are in Aries, together close to the bottom of his chart. Sun and Moon together tells us he was born at a New Moon, and the bottom of the chart placement tells us he was born around midnight (11:00 pm, actually).

Marlon Brando's Moon is at 13 Aries and his Sun at 14, so today's Last Quarter Moon is square his Sun, which is conjunct today's Sun. 

We could also notice how many of his planets are below the horizon, including all his personal planets, and say, hmmm, this is an introvert's chart.

It might seem odd to think of someone as well known as Brando as an introvert, but many actors are surprisingly private people––they hide in their roles. And anyone who buys a Polynesian island as a refuge as a strong need to get away from things.

Here's one more example for today, Brando's birth chart done with actual house sizes instead of the equal-appearing houses I prefer.

Technically, this version is more accurate because it places the chart angles and house cusps in exact positions around the 360 degree circle of the zodiac. Maybe I will grow to prefer this format, but for now, I like to see the Midheaven straight up, reflecting the symbolic positions.

Looking at the same chart in two formats, you can see what's emphasized in each chart, and which format you might prefer.

Let me emphasize that both charts are accurate, and both provide exactly the same information. The difference is in how they're presented, how they're drawn.

I'm hoping this additional background will make it that much easier to look at your chart and tease out the details you need. Look for more on the New Moon in the next few days!