Hope and the Waxing Moon: The Thing with Feathers

Waxing Lunar Cycle Following the New Moon in Taurus

Hope is the thing with feathers ...

Crescent Moon in Cancer
May 13, 2013 11:12 pm EDT
First Quarter Moon in Leo
May 18, 2013 12:35 am EDT
Third Uranus–Pluto Square
May 20, 2013 7:02 pm EDT
Gibbous Moon in Libra
May 21, 2013 5:07 pm EDT
Full Moon in Sagittarius
May 25, 2013 12:25 am EDT

The New Moon arrived in calm, peaceful, stable Taurus ... so why do things feel so squirrelly-crazy-flaky-weird?? I've heard this question in various forms over the last week, so let's be up front: It's ain't the Moon.

On May 20, we reach the third in a series of seven squares between Uranus and Pluto that began in 2012 and continue through the Spring of 2015.

These two powerhouses keep shifting as one, then another, turns retrograde and direct. This is the defining astrological aspect of these years, setting the zeitgeist, the frame, the water we're swimming in.

Uranus stands in fierce Aries energy for revolution now. Blowing things up, burning them down, and getting to the fiery core. Who am I apart from any conditioning? What does my radically free and sovereign self look like? On a larger scale, what's true? What's right? What needs to happen?

Pluto stands in heavyweight Capricorn for fundamental, alchemical transformation. Where Uranus in Aries is lightning, Pluto wields a crowbar, or maybe an archeologist's pick and trowel. Dismantling artifice, exposing falsehood, uncovering what's really going on, removing defenses. What does my soul look like, long for, and need? Who can I become when I arise from the ashes? On a larger scale, are the foundations firm? Where they're rotten, let's dig it all up and start over.

This is, to put it mildly, kind of intense. These are polarizing energies. Extreme position-taking and finger-pointing. No fence sitting here.

And yet, this waxing Moon takes us through landscapes that are upbeat, playful and fun. Really! World going to hell in a handbasket? Check. Personal crisis and transformation looming? Check. Serious work to be done? Check. So, OK, who knows a good joke?

Tomorrow (May 13) at midnight, the Crescent Moon arrives in the sign of Cancer, her home base. This edgy semi-square between Sun and Moon will feel not edgy at all, as the Sun along with Mercury, Pallas Athena and Mars offer grounding and calming energy to the deep emotional space of the Moon.

Dreamers, take note: These are wonderful nights for strong dreaming. This Crescent Moon is conjunct Vesta, lady of home and hearth, and part of a Grand Trine in Water with cosmically connected Neptune in Pisces and karmic Saturn in deeply insightful Scorpio. Have questions you want to ask the universe? Now's the time.

Venus has moved into bright Gemini, looking for connections and messages. She joins Jupiter, whose been hanging in Gemini for a while, heralding the coming shift as everyone reluctantly leaves the Taurus garden party for some flirty Gemini networking.

At the First Quarter Moon on May 18, Mercury has popped into Gemini too, brightening thoughts, bringing scintillating ideas. The passionate Leo Moon challenges the placid Taurus Sun: It's time to play! Express ourselves! Shine!

That same Leo Moon activates the almost-here Uranus–Pluto square, throwing out sesquiquadrates to both, creating a Finger of the World pointing right at her. If we're feeling a sense of impending doom, the Leo Moon turns it into something creative and passionate: great art comes of great challenges. If we're rising the wings of transformation, the Leo Moon celebrates with fiery expressions. More great art, more heart-opening wild rides.

The Leo Moon is part of another Finger of the World, for the Sun is sesquiquadrate Pluto. Yep, the alchemist sits at the top of his own world, drawing both luminaries into his transformative enterprise. It's not enough to sit and wait (as Taurus might prefer). It's time to engage, create, express, act.

The Pluto–Uranus square is exact on May 20. I'm not an astrologer who looks at world events, and so leave predictions to others. I note, however, the presence of hope, Emily Dickinson's thing with feathers that is sweetest in the gale.

The Gemini party has begun, with the Sun at 0 Gemini, Mercury and Venus conjunct, and Jupiter and Lilith there as well. The Moon is in Libra, sign of diplomacy and mediation, trining the newly-energized Sun.

These are excellent energies for finding solutions, innovating, connecting the dots. Playful trickster energies, able to avert disaster by finding the loophole, the hidden clause, the secret way out. This is the energy of good humor, the kind that sees the genuinely funny side when we take ourselves too seriously.

The full sail of the Gibbous Moon arrives May 21, reflecting many of the same energies of the day before. The Libra Moon has moved, and now there's a Grand Trine in Air, with the balanced and harmonious Libra Moon trining Juno (goddess of fair partnerships) in far-seeing Aquarius and the Mercury–Virgo conjunction in Gemini.

May 25's Full Moon in Sagittarius will have her own post later on. I'm including her here to say we're heading toward one of the most celebratory, generous, inclusive Full Moon illuminations you'd want to see. The energy supporting innovation, tricksterish problem solving, and light-hearted play continues strong.

Are these challenging times? You bet they are. Are we crushed by the weight? Heck, no! We're rolling up our sleeves, connecting with each other, finding new and fun ways to solve old problems, and laughing at ourselves the whole time.

It's a trick of perspective that's not really a trick, because it hides a deeper truth. Sometimes we can do with sleight of hand what can't be accomplished with direct action. Sometimes great art emerges from great struggle. Sometimes a good laugh can open up doors, soften hearts, and save the day.

Go for it!