New Moon in Taurus: Good Stewardship

In the Garden by Childe Hassam

New Moon in Taurus
Annular Solar Eclipse
April 29, 2014
2:14 am EDT / 7:14 am BST

In the midst of our cosmic transformational program, we're about to experience a New Moon in Taurus with a solar eclipse––which means this is an especially strong New Moon, really powerful in the energy it carries, and with longer echoes forward than usual.

This is a good thing, because we've all been in this process long enough to have some clue (an inkling, at least) of what's emerging for us and what we may want to do about it. At this Taurus New Moon, we'll plant seeds for those new directions, and they'll have extra-potent eclipse fertilizer.

Now, it's true, Taurus can be a bit stodgy, loving the familiar and the comfortable, and letting anything upsetting just go right on by. But THIS Taurus New Moon won't be doing that. No, THIS Taurus New Moon breaks through to everything that is deep in us, what is truly fundamental, where our roots truly are.

This Taurus New Moon includes the utterly alchemical Cardinal Grand Cross of Pluto in Capricorn, Uranus in Aries, Jupiter in Cancer and Mars in Libra AND Pluto is sending energy via a trine to the New Moon itself with an especially strong link to Mercury. This is not couch-potato Taurus, this is get-out-there-and-till-that-ground-deep Taurus.

It's the Taurus that underlies Reject and Protect (are those Taurus words, or what?), an alliance of (yes!) cowboys and Indians to stop the Keystone Pipeline. This grassroots group of ranchers and native communities has been in Washington, D.C. this week, and they chose a Taurean style of action: riding in on horseback and setting up camp. This is stewardship of the land, of culture, and of the future.

This is a powerful time we're in, between the Full Moon and New Moon eclipses. Even if you don't usually check your birth chart, this time you really want to. Where does this New Moon eclipse fall for you? Which of your planets are involved?

One of the great posts I found this week is Molly Hall's discussion of how eclipse aspects to our natal planets can affect us. These two eclipses, lunar and solar, Full and New Moons, touch my birth chart in significant ways. My experience of these transformational times has led to a decision I'll share here, and then talk a bit about the astrology of this for me:

This is the last post I'll write for my blog Rising Moon Astrology. This decision became very clear for me yesterday, during the Balsamic Moon. And while I'm feeling sad and nostalgic in a balsmic-y way about it, I know it's the next step for me.

First, a look at how these eclipses have touched my birth chart. The Full Moon eclipse happened right on top of my Mercury–Neptune conjunction, trined my Pluto–Ascendant conjunction, and squared my Uranus–Neptune conjunction as well as my Chiron (who opposes Uranus–Jupiter while all square Mercury–Neptune).

Yes, it's true, that Full Moon eclipse was on one of the key aspect patterns in my chart that has to do with things like my creative work, my writing, how I think and communicate generally, what my core wound looks like (ouch), what my mission is in the world.

The New Moon eclipse is in my Ninth House of journeys (all kinds) and trines my Moon, is inconjunct my Sun, and trines my North Node–Mars conjunction. That same North Node–Mars conjunction is right under Pluto at the moment, and therefore part of the Grand Cardinal Cross.

Have things been shifting for me? You bet! Does that mean I know exactly what I'm doing now? Heck no! But I do have a wee bit of clarity on what needs to happen next, and that includes not writing the blog for now.

What do I know? ... For those of you interested in working with me, I will still offer readings. I am aware that stopping the blog will probably limit my ability to reach new clients and yet, this is the right thing for me now. I think I will be doing more writing, traveling, and shamanic exploration. I'll be interested to see what emerges ...

I began my journey with astrology back in 2004 when I was invited (told) in a shamanic journey to get to know Mercurius better. Turns out Mercury is absolutely central to my chart, and (as I said) strongly affected by these eclipses. Now it seems I'll be invited into new ways of learning about Mercurius.

A Fond Farewell

This is the 636rd post in this blog, the first of which was a Capricorn Moon on May 4, 2010. I began sharing New Moon updates earlier, in a virtual world, sometime in 2008––the oldest note I have there is for October, 2008. I have learned a tremendous amount from the writing, and even more from every chart I've explored.

There's one more echo here I want to mention. Eclipses come in loooong cycles, nineteen year cycles. I hadn't looked at the eclipse linked to this New Moon eclipse until this morning, and it turns out to be very significant for me.

The last eclipse that occurred close to the Taurus degree of this one happened on April 29, 1995, nineteen years ago.

Which for me is the time when I suddenly developed symptoms that completely changed my life. In a few weeks, that Spring, I went from completely healthy (if overly stressed) to flat on my back in bed, where I stayed for several months.

If you've met me, you know I am much healthier now, yet rheumatoid arthritis continues to be a struggle and a limiter. So now I'm wondering what this new horizon holds for me, and planting seeds for good stewardship of my own self, the life I have yet to live, and the planet I live it on.

So, more personal info than I usually share but then, these aren't usual times we live in, and this isn't my usual post. Thank you to all my readers, to everyone who's sent messages of support and hugs and thanks. I hope what I've shared has been interesting, and maybe helpful, as we all try to be the best caretakers of this one precious life.
    

Waning Moon: What Did You Just Say??

Think before you speak!

Disseminating Moon in Sagittarius
April 18, 2104
5:38 pm EDT / 10:38 pm BST

Exact Pluto–Uranus Square
April 21, 2104
3:21 pm EDT / 8:21 pm BST

Last Quarter Moon in Aquarius
April 22, 2104
3:52 am EDT / 8:52 am BST

Balsamic Moon in Pisces
April 25, 2104
1:37 pm EDT / 6:37 pm BST

New Moon in Taurus
April 29, 2104
2:14 am EDT / 7:14 am BST

Looking at the charts for this waning Moon time, I had to laugh ... I mean, we might as well, right?

The Full Moon eclipse illuminated some important things for us about how we relate to pretty much everything, and now the waning Moon charts offer a series of cautions about what we say (and do) about that.

Remember, we're in the maximum impact period for the Cardinal Grand Cross, with the exact Pluto–Uranus square landing on April 21, so this isn't just about personal communication. We're likely to see some startling examples of public, political and corporate speech too.

Tomorrow's Disseminating Moon kicks things off with the Sagittarius Moon in a powerful trine to Uranus, and the Sun at the possibly explosive end of Aries. With Mercury, Eris, Juno and the South Node also in Aries, there's a whole lotta Fire goin' on.

A Sagittarius Moon is usually upbeat, optimistic, happy-go-lucky, which is nice for a Friday––but a Sag Moon is also often convinced she has THE ANSWER and catching lots of energy from Uranus could make it all too easy to make pronouncements, lay down the law, or have something suddenly pop out of our mouths that might be true but also highly unfortunate.

Venus continues to hang out with Chiron, not too far from Neptune, in Pisces, so holding on to our highest goals and compassionate souls would be an excellent and supported practice.

When the exact Pluto–Uranus square arrives on April 21, the Moon is in Capricorn along with Pluto while the Sun has just entered Taurus. Having the two luminaries (Sun and Moon) in Earth signs could help stabilize things and keep us grounded.

On the other hand, Taurus is notoriously stubborn and Capricorn can be heartlessly pragmatic, so if we've crossed a line in communicating already, it could be hard to step back. Flow with the transformational energies of the Grand Cross if you need to, no matter how hard it is. Remember, with Pluto involved, resistance is futile anyway ...

The Last Quarter Moon arrives April 22, with the Moon now in Aquarius. Squaring a Taurus Sun, we could again find ourselves between a rock and a hard place. We're absolutely sure we're right (Aquarius Moon) so we won't budge (Taurus Sun). With Mercury in Aries, we could find ourselves doing more talking than we should.

At the Balsamic Moon of April 25, the mood shifts. The Pisces Moon joins Venus and Chiron, while Mercury has shifted into calm and quiet Taurus, sitting with the Sun. If we've gone too far, we may now be able to let go of our "rightness," shift back into compassion, and reconnect with a bigger vision.

If we've been on the receiving end of someone else's fiery communication, the Balsamic Moon might allow us to find inner peace and outer harmony. As always, the Balsamic Moon is about releasing the old to prepare for the new. This month, the letting go can reach far and deep as we seek creativity, connection and healing.

The New Moon in Taurus will invite us to slow way down. With a trine from Pluto and a sextile from Jupiter, we'll be planting seeds to nurture our newly transformed and transforming self. There will be more on the New Moon later, but keep in mind our time of change continues.

For the next few weeks––and especially for the next few days––pay attention to thoughts, words and actions. Yes, sometimes hard truths need to be said directly and clearly. If that's coming up in your life, the energies in the sky support you!

At the same time, we all need to take extra care that we're saying what needs to be said for the greater good, not just because we're irritated. Whatever is communicated now will have extra power, and we don't want to spend weeks putting out a fire we never meant to start.

Think first!

Full Moon Eclipse: The Instability of Stasis

new day dawning

Full Moon in Libra
Full Lunar Eclipse
April 15, 2014
3:42 am EDT / 8:42 am BST

In the middle of April, the cruelest month, we walk through a Full Moon Eclipse in Libra, dramatic sign of our nonstop-high speed-unpredictably changing times. (Like we needed another ...)

This Full Moon will shine most brightly on Monday night. The Full Moon alignment occurs Tuesday morning. The total lunar eclipse with its blood-red Moon will be visible in most of the United States beginning at 2am EDT.

All this month, we're cooking in the crucible of a Grand Cardinal Cross with powerful agents of change Pluto and Uranus triggered by Jupiter (let's make this really big!) and Mars (and then we can blow it up!). There's plenty written about the pattern, with Steven Forrest's essay one of the more balanced.

Not only is this powerful Full Moon highlighting an extra-powerful Grand Cross, it's opening a series of four total lunar eclipses, called a tetrad (scientists call it that ... this time it's not astrological jargon).  Learn more about the cool science here at NASA's Space.com and dive into an amazingly thorough exploration of the astrology part here at Blue Moon Astrology.

OK, now you've got multiple windows and tabs going, the virtual equivalent of piles of books and papers strewn across the desk and drifting to the floor ... and you ask, What does it mean?

One look at the chart for this Full Moon shows us the incredible focus we have. This is not just a Full Moon––this is a Full Moon PLUS. Libra and Aries polarized: This is what we're looking at.

The Full Moon herself is in Libra, sign of balance, harmony, fairness, diplomacy, charm, and consideration for others. She is joined by the North Node (our path of becoming), Demeter (goddess of fierce mothering), Vesta (goddess of hearth and home) and Mars (of all people! the warrior and ruler of Aries).

The Sun opposes her in Aries, sign of action, singularity, hard-driving focus, compelling energy, and protector of the self. With the Sun, we see the South Node (what we've brought with us), Juno (goddess of fair partnership), Eris (edgy goddess of karmic justice), and a Mercury–Uranus conjunction bringing instant messaging from the cosmos.

Are you noticing the same interplay of checks and balances here?

Mars who rules Aries is in Libra. Juno who rules fair partners is in Aries. Past and future are both implicated, as are gentleness and fierceness, with lots of energy all over the place.

So, this Full Moon will illuminate how we're doing balancing the many balls we've got in the air right now, especially in the arena of relationships.

As always, check your birth chart. Where does the Full Moon fall? This area of life, and any planets touched, will receive extra high-watt spotlighting. With this Full Moon, watch the world stage too. The Grand Cardinal Cross signals change at every level of life, and that too may be illuminated with this Full Moon eclipse.

This Full Moon is not likely to feel comfortable. (I don't know about you, but I'm feeling pretty jumpy already, but that could just be me.) With Aries and Libra facing off, we're looking straight into some of our toughest issues:

• When do I hold tight to me and what I want, and when do I let go and focus on others?
• How do I say what I want in a convincing, compelling way and still include, invite and take care of important others in my life?
• When is it ok for me to go it alone, and when do I need my team? How do I be on someone else's team while still reaching my own goals?

None of these are easy, and we can really start to squirm when we're forced to face them. What can we do?

Well, notice another group in the chart: The ruler of this Full Moon is Venus, and she sits right between visionary Neptune and Chiron the wounded healer. She's telling us sailing through these knotty problems calls for special skills:

In these times, we want to follow our dreams, use all our senses to be in the right place at the right time, learn from what's happened in our lives, and turn that learning into gold.

So, what about that blood-red Moon? The ancients saw it as blood, a sign of war, conflict, pestilence, endings. Today, we know a bit more about what creates the color, which leads to a new, deeper, more hopeful view of this sign.

Because the Moon is smaller than the Earth, when they line up and obscure each other (which is what happens at an eclipse), the edge of the Earth still shows. Around that edge is a bright red ring of light. That ring shines back to the Moon, coloring it red.

That bright red ring is every sunrise and every sunset happening on Earth at that moment, all shining at once. So, if you're watching the eclipse at night, you're seeing all the other places, all over, where the day is dawning or ending.

In other words, you're looking at change, at transition, and it's beautiful.

These days, the world won't let us stay still. Somehow we have to find the right place between the poised balance of Libra and the headlong rush of Aries. Looking at the eclipse, we're seeing a world full of poised balances rushing into what comes next.

We can do that, too.
    

Waxing Moon: Sailing Off the Edge of the World

At the edge ... ?

Crescent Moon in Taurus
April 3, 2014
5:03 am EDT / 10:03 am BST

First Quarter Moon in Cancer
April 7, 2014
4:31 am EDT / 9:31 am BST

Gibbous Moon in Virgo
April 11, 2014
6:57 am EDT / 11:57 am BST

Full Moon in Libra
Full Lunar Eclipse
April 15, 2014
3:42 am EDT / 8:42 am BST


Think of something you've always wanted to do, dreamed of doing, known you were MEANT to do, forget 'want'––would LOVE to do, would be more of who you're really meant to be if you did it.

Got that thing in mind? Does it scare you?

Now, do it. (I'm serious. DO it. Start working on it NOW.)

We've sown our Aries New Moon seeds. We're sailing toward late April's Cardinal Cross. The coming Full Moon arrives with a full lunar eclipse. These are days for MOVEMENT, for ACTION, for living life full on.

Every single Moon in the next few weeks emphasizes the gathering Cardinal Cross, with its focus on complete and utter change.  

Today's Crescent Moon rests (ha!) in the final degrees of peaceful Taurus, but the Aries Sun blazes right next to Uranus the Awakener and makes a very tight square to Pluto the Alchemist.

That Taurus Moon is sextiling Mercury in visionary Pisces, so watch and listen for dreams. Here's a perfect Taurus–Pisces dream: A dreamworker friend reported yesterday his two-year-old son dreamt of holding flowers. Taurus the patient gardener visits us with dreams of a hopeful Earth.

In a few days, the challenge of the First Quarter Moon arrives as the Sun and Moon both align with the gathering Cardinal Cross: The Sun remains with Uranus and the Moon in Cancer has moved to fund Jupiter. Meanwhile, Mercury clings to the final, powerful degree of Pisces.

April 7, look for something that looks like a BIG challenge (Jupiter does BIG) that. when you look more closely, turns out to be something you can totally own. Yes, it's a challenge and no, you're not stopping, thank you very much.

When the big-bellied Gibbous Moon arrives on April 11, the Sun will be lighting up the sky between Uranus and the South Node, showing us exactly where we need to shift out of the past (South Node) to move into the now (Uranus).

Meanwhile, the Virgo Moon will be opposite a Venus–Neptune conjunction in Pisces, while getting an edgy nudge from Mercury now in Aries.

Are you noticing how strong the energy of dreams is here? Aries is a time for action, and throughout, we are offered insights through dreams and visions. These are our navigation aids now.

The Full Moon arrives April15 with a full lunar eclipse, which means the Sun and Moon are aligned with the Moon's Nodes. Mercury will tightly conjunct Uranus, and asteroid Lilith squares the Full Moon.

There will be a full post just on this Moon later, and we can note right now we're heading for an especially intense Full Moon that will resonate for months to come.

So ... why would anyone choose to sail off the edge of the world? (Apart from the fact that that's where the dragons are, and dragons are always worth finding.)

Here's the interesting thing: We are all told at some point that sailors thought the Earth was flat. (Oh no!) We are all told how wonderfully courageous they were to go sailing at all, let alone approach those nasty edges.

BUT sailors, more than any other people, knew all along the Earth was round. They had the knowledge, tools, insight and experience to know they were NOT going to fall off.

And so do we.

It is really, really easy to find fear-mongers anywhere and everywhere. If we don't have them in our lives, we have them in our heads: "Don't try it, don't do it, it will never work, you're not [whatever] enough, you'll fail." Familiar, right?

These are the days we recognize in a new and wonderful way that all those messages are coming straight from the Flat Earth Society and our world is wonderfully and completely round.

That thing that looks like an edge is really a lovely curve, and if we use the tools, insight and experience we already have, we know that.

Sail on, sailor!
    

New Moon in Aries: Singularity

New Moon, New Fire

New Moon in Aries
March 30, 2014
2:45 pm EST / 6:45 pm BST

One look at the chart for Sunday's New Moon in Aries tells the story: A strong point of focus on this New Moon of new beginnings, pioneering, stepping out and up into whatever is heading toward us.

This New Moon aligns with Uranus, the revolutionary trickster who shakes us and wakes us up. Squared by Jupiter and Pluto, there is no way we can miss the alchemical fire.

The Spring Equinox highlighted where we needed to clear out and clean up. Now, with the New Moon asks us to set our personal trajectory. Where are we heading? What's the direction? What's the goal? What do we WANT?

Detachment is a lovely value, and it is NOT Aries. With this energy of initiating Fire, we move directly into the heart of our own desires. This is the moment to connect with our true longings. Forget playing it cool, and turn up the heat.

Aries is passionate. Did you know we can't remember things we have no feelings about? Emotion is what moves us, what gets us going, what drives us.

So, at this New Moon, touch the core of what you feel most strongly about. How can you honor that in your life, infusing all you do with light, passion and fire?

As always, check you birth chart. The House in which the New Moon falls, and planets and points aspected by this Moon (anything in and around 0 to 19 degrees, especially if close to 9 degrees and in the cardinal signs of Aries, Cancer Libra, and Capricorn and the other two Fire signs, Leo and Sagittarius). Molly Hall offers a good overview of the impact of this New Moon through the Houses.

Our passions can definitely bring problems, so check in with those too. Here are some questions that might highlight Aries issues:

• Where am I letting my emotions rule my behavior, acting out, displaying anger inappropriately, or dominating others?

• Where am I letting my desires run the show? Where do I find myself unable to make good choices because I want something too much?

• Where am I taking unwise risks or acting impulsively in ways I later regret?

At this New Moon, we can set intentions and make wishes to channel our passions clearly and strongly toward heartfelt goals, while releasing tendencies to let anger or desire run amok and ruin our lives.

This New Moon wants its own banner saying THIS IS IMPORTANT. An Aries New Moon arrives every year around this time, so, what's the big deal?

The big deal is right there in the chart: All those triangles pointing at the New Moon, with all those transformational energies doing the pointing.

We live in unusual times, surrounded by heightened energies. The next Full Moon brings an eclipse, followed not long after by the Cardinal Grand Cross of Pluto, Uranus, Jupiter and Mars. These converging patterns bring us a singular energy, one we won't see again in our lifetimes (or for lifetimes after).

Singularities are crazy events. In mathematics, in the sciences, in technology, a singularity happens when limits are reached and we can no longer predict what might occur. This is interesting to study, but possibly unnerving to live through.

Aries, though, LOVES singularity. Aries represents the point focus of something new made manifest. At this New Moon, we align our personal energies with our own goals so we're ready to engage with whatever happens in the weeks to come.

This waning Moon time is the "READY." The New Moon will be the "AIM." The coming weeks will bring the "FIRE!". Let's make sure we've got the first two steps down, at this, the opportune moment.
    

New Beginnings and the Aries Point

The new emerging from the old

Spring Equinox
March 20, 2104
12:57 pm EDT / 4:57 pm GMT

Last Quarter Moon in Capricorn
March 23, 2014, 9:46 pm EDT
March 24, 2014, 1:46 am GMT

Balsamic Moon in Aquarius
March 27, 2014
6:28 am EDT / 10:28 am GMT

New Moon in Aries
March 30, 2014
2:45 pm EDT / 6:45 pm GMT


It's officially Spring now, after a long, cold winter. The Equinox arrived, the beginning of the astrological and agricultural year. We're finally seeing signs of Spring: Bluebirds, robins, phoebes, crocuses, the green tips of daffodils, the first shoots of woodland flowers.

This is a powerful time of new beginnings, the annual reset button, a time when new and (hopefully) exciting things come into our lives.

So it's something of a paradox this year that it's happening in a waning lunar cycle, in a time of releasing, letting go, and composting. How do we balance this?

As I look at the charts for the Equinox, the Last Quarter and Balsamic Moon charts, and the soon-to-arrive New Moon in Aries, it seems to me the cosmos is easing us into something at this time, something significant.

Now, "easing" may not be the word that first leaps to mind when we consider how things have felt lately. Maybe words like "challenging" or at least "interesting" or possibly "overwhelming" come to mind as more accurate. In times of great change, though––and we are definitely in such times––support for our transitions and transformations is welcome and (sometimes) vital.

I've written before about the Pluto–Uranus squares (as many astrologers have). This challenge between the lighting bolt of revolution (Uranus) and the slow, inexorable shifting of tectonic plates (Pluto) has already happened four times, with three more to come. This pattern is the signature of our times, signaling the depth of change, its rapidity, and the polarization it brings.

The next exact square happens as part of a Cardinal Cross on April 21. On that day, Pluto and Uranus reach an exact square, with Jupiter opposite Pluto squaring Uranus, and Mars opposite Uranus squaring Pluto (and Jupiter). In the cardinal signs, which are the initiators, the beginners, this Grand Cross opens yet another gateway for BIG CHANGE.

So when we roll back to look at the Equinox, arriving during a waning lunar cycle when we're getting rid of stuff we don't need, we can think, hmmm, maybe I need to put more energy (Sun in Aries) into clearing the decks and making room for what's showing up.

Astrologically, the Spring Equinox arrives when the Sun reaches 0 Aries. This opening degree of Aries is called the Aries Point, and indicates where new things come into our lives.

Check your birth chart to see where 0 Aries falls for you, by House and aspect to major planets. As an example, my Aries Point falls in my Eighth House exactly opposite my Sun, which says important new stuff shows up in my life as deeply transformative experiences (8th House) that shake up and transform my sense of who I am (Sun opposition) … which for me is about right.

At today's Last Quarter, the Moon in pragmatic Capricorn squares the Aries Sun, a combination that says, yeah, there's lots of new energy here (Sun in Aries) but what are you going to DO with it? (Moon in Cap)

A few days later (March 27), the Balsamic Moon in Aquarius lines up with Venus, also in Aquarius, to say, ok, what are our core values? What's the grand plan? And … since this is a Balsamic Moon … what needs to get kicked to the curb so it can happen?

When the New Moon arrives on March 30, it will be in Aries, only 9 degrees away from the Aries Point, and conjunct Uranus the trickster revolutionary. Here we are invited to begin anew, to give birth to ourselves in a new form. This is the personal rebirth that will help set the stage for the Cardinal Cross about three weeks later.

Aries is a bright, fiery energy that wants to move, to act, to blaze new trails, set new marks, and reach them all. To have Aries show up in the waning time gives us a boost (or maybe a boot!) to get moving on what needs to shift.

See where Aries falls in your chart. Invite in the new energy, and use the Spring fire to clean out the last of winter and make space for something new and big. It's time!
    

Full Moon in Virgo: The Particular

Sewing in the Garden by Henri Martin

Full Moon at 26 Virgo
Sunday, March 16, 2014
1:08 pm EDT / 5:08 pm GMT

Tomorrow's Full Moon in Virgo will shine her light at a slant, in the way side lighting makes the subject pop out, highlighting the detail Virgo loves.

Opposite the Sun, awash in diffuse and glorious Pisces, this Virgoan Full Moon points out something we really need to see. But even as She picks out the telling detail, this Full Moon does her best to be compassionate and calm.

We're swimming in some pretty choppy seas these days. The strong cardinal T-square of Pluto opposite Jupiter squared by Uranus continually throws transformational opportunities our way. (Ready or not, here they come!)

Saturn, retrograde in Scorpio, trines the Sun while squaring Mercury in Aquarius who trines Mars retrograde in Libra––plenty of stop-and-go there. We think we have The Plan (Merc in Aquarius) only to have some hidden factor show up (Saturn retro in Scorpio) or realize we need to make room for someone or something we'd overlooked (Mars retro in Libra) and then things get confusing (Sun in Pisces).

Now, that's not the only way those energies can combine, but the key factor is, they ARE combined, so things we thought were certain and set (Merc in Aquarius again) turn out not to be (any or all of the other players) in some important ways.

How do we fix it? ("It" being whatever we're working on right now.) The Full Moon will show us.

Stephanie Austin, writing in The Mountain Astrologer, reminds us that the Virgo–Pisces opposition is like the particle–wave situation in physics: definitely a both–and but we can only see one at a time. Pisces is the wave, a word so ancient it comes from what it is: the Old Norse vagr for moving billow of water. The fact that it's also linked to the Gothic weg, which means tempest, reminds us waves aren't always easy.

Particle comes from the Latin particula, which means "little part," the smallest bit of the whole. Particular comes from the same root, and Virgo is nothing if not particular.

The thing is, we often don't like "particular." It feels critical, too pointed, fussy––all the things we tend not to like about Virgo. Writing at virgo magic, Emily Trinkaus brings back an earlier view of Virgo as the sign of the Goddess.

She reminds us that goddesses were often keepers of sacred waters, in rivers, in pools, in the Grail. These Piscean waters were filled with creative and intuitive inspiration, and also dangers.

It was the role of the goddess of each water to serve as a gateway, protecting not only the water, but anyone who would come to taste, or bathe. She knew these waters were powerful, and specific, detailed actions were needed to encounter them safely.

Check your birth chart to see where 26 Virgo falls for you, and there you may find a message from the goddess at this Full Moon. Her gentle, if inexorable, side light will show us something we need to know, something we may need to do or be aware of, so we can move into our transformations safely.

Virgo is the sign of seat belts, warm sweaters, and an extra little snack for a reason. As anyone who's gone camping knows, there is NOTHING as wonderful as an expected pair of dry socks, or the bit of chocolate you forgot you had, on a cold and rainy night.

At this Full Moon, I'll close with Emily Dickinson, whose attention to precise detail seems fitting:

Tell all the truth but tell it slant,
Success in circuit lies,
Too bright for our infirm delight
The truth's superb surprise;

As lightning to the children eased
With explanation kind,
The truth must dazzle gradually
Or every man be blind.

Emily Dickinson
         

Under Full Sail to the Full Moon

Dulac illustration for The Tempest

Crescent Moon in Aries
March 4, 2014
12:32 pm EST/ 5:32 pm GMT

First Quarter Moon in Gemini
March 8, 2014
8:27 am EST / 1:27 pm GMT

Gibbous Moon in Leo
March 12, 2014
12:18 pm EDT / 4:18 pm GMT

Full Moon in Virgo
March 16, 2014
1:08 pm EDT/ 5:08 pm GMT

Here's a thing: Venus, as she's traversed the end of Capricorn and beginning of Aquarius, has been squaring the Nodes of the Moon.

This is easing off now, but means we've been in a time when pointed questions have been raised about our values and our relationships and whether what we're doing (our path, the Nodes) actually reflects our goals (Venus).

This is not necessarily comfortable but can be enlightening––and also helpful, if we've drifted off course in the Piscean seas. Because Mars (now retrograde in Libra) is also involved, we have the chance to reflect on our actions and change them.

Have you found yourself making corrective changes in the last couple of weeks? Some small and maybe some not-so-small? That's Venus, Mars, and the Nodes of the Moon at work.

The ongoing transformation engine represented by Pluto opposite Jupiter, both squared by Uranus, continues to affect everything (and I do mean everything). So changes we make in our lives are linked into a much larger process of changing our world.

When we think about change on this level, it can lead to anxiety. And yet, there are so many things around us that need to change. There's also support out there, though we don't always see it.

The flows of positive energy (trines) right now are all focused on the Sun, Neptune and Chiron in Pisces. These planets are focusing (Sun) our attention on the widest possible horizon (Neptune) with an emphasis on healing (Chiron) that can sometimes be painful. There's a tremendous amount of intuition, creativity, and magic around (Neptune and Pisces) which can be inspiring, comforting, and also confusing.

Trines are such easy flows of energy, we take them for granted. So in these Piscean times, it's important to know that we are creative, magical beings. Also, we are surrounded by angels (or beings like angels but not called angels exactly if you prefer).

As we struggle with this information about where things are going wrong, and working to fix that, we can miss the magic and the support.

The Full Moon in Virgo will illuminate important details for us. I'll be writing more about that Moon later. For now, it's nice to know that even as we're feeling a sense of struggle, we're not alone (in a good way!).

This is a time to appreciate the magic surrounding us, and tap into that deep well of dreams and mystery, as we work to make our lives and our world better.
    

New Moon in Pisces: Shiver Me Timbers

Dreaming of Pomegranates, Felice Casorati

New Moon in Pisces
March 1, 2014
3:00 am EST / 8:00 am GMT

We're in a time of dreams and while some may not be "good" ones, they all offer hope and healing. That's what needs to be said about the soon-to-arrive New Moon in Pisces, and if I were really cool like that I'd stop now and sail away ...

... but Mercury is implicated. As I write, the Moon and Mercury are conjunct in Aquarius, as Mercury slows, to stop, to turn back forward. (Back forward? Do I mean that? Well, I do, actually. A good subtitle for this New Moon is: The Myth of Straight Forward.)

Mercury does direct tomorrow. (Brief pause for cheers from everyone experiencing communications and technology issues.) You know, there's so much hoopla about what Mercury does, we forget all the planets are dancing in loopy circles. So as an aide-mémoire, allow me to mention that both Mars and Saturn are turning retrograde right after the New Moon.

Yes, we're trading one direct Mercury for two retrogrades, in Mars and Saturn. Well, a few days later, Jupiter turns direct, so maybe it's more like two-for-two, but you see me point, right? It's not about getting everyone lined up and heading in the same direction. That's not even on the menu. It's about learning to dance in the rain, wind, sunshine, and whatever ever else shows up.

At this New Moon, the paired luminaries are nestled between Neptune and Chiron. If you want to press reset buttons in areas of dreams, visions, lyricism, contemplation, spirituality, poetry, imagery, deep healing, empathy, and swimming, this would be the opportune moment.

If you need to ask for healing in areas of distraction, addiction, magical thinking (the not-so-good kind), sensitivity (as in, too much), and believing you need to sacrifice everything you are to help others, this New Moon is also really good for that.

The thing is, though, parts of this New Moon will be happening offstage and outside our conscious awareness. The New Moon is dark for a reason: We cannot see what's happening inside the chrysalis, inside the seed, inside the egg, without destroying the outcome.

This New Moon features a transformation T-square in which Jupiter retrograde in Cancer opposes Pluto in Capricorn while Uranus squares them both. The forces of tradition, the way things have been, the way we assume they would always be, are undergoing radically profound and surprising changes. 

Likewise, Venus in Capricorn is squaring the Nodes of the Moon in Taurus and Scorpio. She's pushing us to find a balance––a pragmatic, workable balance––between inner and outer, body and soul, the apparent and the hidden.

We're wrapped up in a package of who we think we are, who everyone else thinks we are, who we could be maybe someday, and lots of other selves. The question now, leading into this New Moon, is, how much can we let go of agendas and plans and lists and ... and ... and watch what wants to be born. 

I know, it's all very metaphysical. This New Moon is like that, though. Even the most hard-headed among us may be drawn to the beauty of a sunset, or caught in a memory. It's OK. Just go with it.
    

Falling, then Flying: The Waning Moon

flying free

Disseminating Moon in Libra
February 18, 2014
6:41 pm EST / 11:41 pm GMT

Last Quarter Moon in Sagittarius
February 22, 2014
12:15 pm EST / 5:15 pm GMT

Balsamic Moon in Capricorn
February 25, 2014, 9:41 pm EST
February 26, 2014, 2:41 am GMT

Mercury Stations Direct
February 28, 2014
9:00 am EST /  2:00 pm GMT

New Moon in Pisces
March 1, 2014
3:00 am EST / 8:00 am GMT

The burst of creative passion released at the Leo Full Moon turned out to be brighter and less explosive than I feared––I hope the same was true for you. Since then, we've moved into the waning phase of sharing, releasing our creations into the world. With tomorrow's Last Quarter Moon, the Sun–Moon square, we shift into the winnowing time.

We're looking around at a new landscape now. There've been losses, significant and surprising. Changes still come quickly, in the weather if nowhere else. At times we turn a familiar corner and a whole new landscape unrolls before us. Tricky to navigate.

The Sun's in misty, magical Pisces now. (See Blue Moon Astrology's post for a great overview.) Landmarks shift and transmute. Mercury Retrograde adds his own mischief to the mix, not above changing signposts just for a laugh.

(As a small example, my blogging was delayed this morning when I suddenly looked at all the charts I'd created and thought the time zone was wrong. Impatiently, I deleted them all and emptied the trash, then realized they'd been right ... too late. I had to create then all again!)

So, how do we move through this time?

... Easily, dreamily, intuitively, and creatively. We've been invited to step off into thin air, only to find we are held and supported. Then we discover we have wings.

The Disseminating Moon in creative, charming Libra set the stage. The passion of the Full Moon became something more lyrical. Mars in Libra aligns with the North Node in Scorpio, promising depth and beauty if we do the work. That Moon celebrated the Sun's arrival in Pisces, a time of big dreams.

Tomorrow's Last Quarter Moon in Sagittarius pushes us to spread our magical wings. Squaring the Sun and Neptune in Pisces, the Moon opens the window and say, Look out! Try it! Pallas Athena in Virgo turns this square into a T-square, giving just enough caution and care to keep us from falling too deep.

The Balsamic Moon of February 25 is conjunct Venus in Capricorn, aligning dreams, creative vision, and careful, persistent work. Yes, this Moon says, you can do it.

Balsamic Moons bring us into the dark before the next New Moon, and often carry feelings of nostalgia, loss and regret. This time around, the sky seems to promise reward rather than sacrifice––Just enough glimmer of the magic ahead so we're ready to let go of what we don't need, gently and easily.

But wait––a Capricorn Moon gentle and easy? How can that be? Yet Moon and Venus together can hardly be harsh, no matter what their sign, and the Sun–Neptune–Chiron conjunction in Pisces offer great support for intuitive guidance, magic, and dreaming.

This combination holds the potential––almost the promise––of giving us the strength to move past blocks and barriers, and feel ready to trust in what lies ahead.

And look! Mercury stations direct just a few days later, another burst of brightness in a dark Moon time. When Mercury stops in Aquarius to turn forward, the Moon is also in Aquarius, in the final, strongest degree, flowing energy with Mars and Vesta in Libra, and the North Node and Ceres as well. There's much creative energy here if we (you'll pardon the expression ...) go with the flow.

The coming New Moon will be in Pisces, flowing with Neptune, Chiron and forming a bridge of sorts between Uranus and Pluto. I'll say more about the New Moon later; for now, know we'll be spreading our wings in amazing new ways at that time.

If it feels like we're falling at times, it's because we are ... falling into a new way of being, of experiencing our lives. But it's not freefall, or doesn't need to be. We have wings, bright shiny ones we (maybe) haven't even tried yet. During this waning Moon cycle, we gently let go of our old familiar perch. We find the cage door magically open. With more eagerness for what's ahead, than regret at what's behind, we flex our wings and fly.
    

Full Moon in Leo: Center Stage!

Full in bloom!

Full Moon in Leo
February 14, 2014
6:53 pm EST / 11:53 pm GMT


Oh, the Full Moon in Leo! In any year, this is the Full Moon illuminating our passions, creativity, and personal expression. Are we living from the heart? Are we courageous where we need to be? Can we take the lead? And ... can we be playful, living in the moment, alive in the juiciest way possible?

This year's Full Moon falls toward the end of Leo, 26 degrees, with the Sun at 26 Aquarius. See where that falls in your birth chart, as that area of life will be highlighted.

And ... hmmm ... look there by the Sun. Mercury Retrograde is conjunct the Sun, opposing the Full Moon. And, wow, there's Saturn in Scorpio squaring Sun, Mercury and Moon, turning this Full Moon into a challenging T-Square.

So, bring up the spotlights, get ready for your moment in center stage––and keep a weather eye out because it could be a bumpy night.

IF we are in our hearts, allowing this Mercury retrograde to bring us into inner, reflective spaces. IF we've been traveling with Saturn in Scorpio, finding the rough spots, working through deep issues, willing to learning. IF we've been open to transformation (for Pluto and Uranus and Venus are also in this Full Moon picture) ...

THEN this Full Moon can feel like a big, fat red rose bursting open, gorgeous to see, redolent with beautiful rose for the nose, full of creative possibilities. Oh! we might say, that's me!

On the other hand, this Full Moon does carry the potential for miscommunication (Mercury Rx) especially involving groups or technology (in Aquarius) that leads to hurt feelings and drama (Full Moon in Leo).

With Saturn in Scorpio squaring, issues could arise around the difference between what we thought was going on and what's really going on. Or, perhaps, something from the past we've not completely worked through could reappear (maybe in a new guise).

Since tomorrow is also Valentine's Day, which, whether you're celebrating, avoiding, or ignoring, gets us thinking about where we are in the realms of love, the call to stay in the moment, listen carefully, and communicate clearly, and remain compassionate and kind is there.

It's all about transformation, the signature energy of our time. The message there could not be more clear: A second T-Square has Uranus the revolutionary squaring Pluto and Venus in Capricorn, and Jupiter retrograde in Cancer.

We are deep into processes of assessing old relationships of all kinds, choosing to take (or having to take) hard looks at what's working, what's not working, and what needs to happen. Venus in Capricorn can be very pragmatic––willing to work hard, there for the long haul, but at some point, ready to say, look, this isn't going anywhere.

Pluto and Uranus are ALL about our need to change, and Jupiter in Cancer is highlighting our needs for security and nurturing. Uranus is there to push, prod, and sometimes light a fire: The past is fine as far as it goes, he says, but look at what's happening NOW. Shifts happen.

We're not without resources here. Mars in Libra trines the Sun and sextiles the Full Moon. He's ready to act, and brings charm, diplomacy, and skills at finding the win-win to the table. And these are good energies, overall; they really are. There's a lot of power flowing with this Full Moon.

The challenge will be to stay with the heart, stay with what we're truly passionate about, avoid shifting into places of hurt and misunderstanding, and being open, open, open to creativity and passion. It's going to be an amazing show. I can't wait for the curtain to rise...
    

This Moon's Quarter: Dreaming True

White Stone (detail) by Nicholas Roerich

Crescent Moon in Pisces
10:35 pm February 2 EST
3:35 am February 3 GMT

Imbolc (astrological)
February 3, 2014
5:03 pm EST / 10:03 pm GMT

First Quarter Moon in Taurus
February 6, 2014
2:22 pm EST / 7:22 pm GMT

Mercury Retrograde in Pisces
February 6, 2014
4:43 pm EST / 9:43 pm GMT

There's so much happening, this First Quarter gets its own post. We're now in the midst of celebrations for the new Chinese Year of the Wood Horse. Tomorrow brings the Crescent Moon, followed by the ancient Celtic festival of Imbolc, the First Quarter Moon, and our first Mercury Rertrograde of 2014 ... what's going on??

As promised, the New Moon in Aquarius awakened a new vision, and we're already getting glimmers of what's coming. What? You thought an Aquarian New Moon would be slow?

Still in the dark of the New Moon time, the Pisces Moon brings strong dreams. Right now, she's traveling with Neptune and Chiron, so be sure you have a notebook or recorder handy. (I use my iPhone.)

Tomorrow night's Crescent Moon, the edgy half-square when we get our first glimmer of our New Moon intentions, finds the Moon in the last, powerful, anaretic degree of Pisces. Poised to jump into a new cycle of Fire, this Moon is widely trine Saturn is mysterious Scorpio. Perhaps tonight's dreams will show us obstacles––along with the magic to work through them.

The next day, the ancient festival of Imbolc arrives. Known as Candelmas in later calendars, Imbolc arrives astrologically when the Sun reaches 15 degrees of Aquarius, the middle of winter. At this deeply quiet, frozen, silent, time, we look for early signs of Spring: snowdrops blooming through snow, the stirring of unborn lambs, the peeking out of a groundhog.

The middle of winter is deepest yin, when yang is potentiated most strongly. We have planted seeds. Now, before we see the first shoots, we feel the seed crack open in the dark earth. Somehow, the growth tip knows how to find the Sun, and heads upward.

And, oh! what a sprouting this will be! The Imbolc Moon sits right with Uranus the trickster revolutionary, igniting Fire that will light our way for the year to come. The goddess and saint associated with Imbolc is Brigid, whose triple skills in smithcraft, healing and poetry are all based in the inspiration of Fire.

The First Quarter Moon grounds us firmly in Earth, as she sits at 17 Taurus, squaring the Sun, opposite Saturn, and trine Venus and Pluto. The First Quarter is the challenge: Are we ready to step into our new vision?

The Moon's pattern is challenging, alright, and thumps us back down in the middle of the New Moon's pattern: This is about reality AND vision, coinciding, working together, becoming real.

No getting lost in the clouds at this First Quarter, it's all about what works from top to bottom, high to low, edge to edge, and every bit in between.

Which is good, because we're about to offered time to think it through: Just a few hours after the First Quarter, Mercury goes retrograde in Pisces.

Mercury is very close to Neptune as he stations, continuing the strong dreaming vibe. Keep those notebooks and recorders handy!

Over the course of the month, Mercury will move back into Aquarian territory, giving us the time to check and double check our plans. Remember, Mercury retrograde is not about making us miserable with constant glitches. It's about taking the time to reflect, review, revisit, retreat (when necessary), revise ... all the "re" words.

These periods are vital for us. We can't go, go, go all the time. Embracing the gifts of Mercury retrograde, taking time for meditation and slowness, will reduce frustration and most likely the number of mishaps as well.

So will backing up your computer and other tech devices. and making allowances for more dreaminess than usual––this is Piscean and Aquarian territory, after all.

This first week of the new lunar cycle is crowded with incident, and then we slow down. Pay attention to what's coming up for you now. This is a time of thinking and feeling, mind and body, the vision and the manifestation. Noticing where things don't fit will alert us to where those new shoots will soon be breaking through.

This Full Moon coming up is in passionate Leo, and falls on Valentine's Day. Can't wait to tell you more about that one ...
    

New Moon in Aquarius: Real Vision

fractal geometry

New Moon in Aquarius
Thursday, January 30, 2014
4:39 pm EST / 9:39 pm GMT

Today's the New Moon in Aquarius, sign of vision, community, our common being-ness with all that is. Aquarius is a formal sign, fixed Air, sometimes building castles in the air, always searching for the "Why not?"

That quote itself, dreaming things that never were and asking, why not? has a history: Often attributed to Robert Kennedy, it was first quoted by John F. Kennedy, from a play by George Bernard Shaw, where it was spoken by the Serpent. Interesting, no?

Here we are on a New Moon day about vision, and the real is so present, so unavoidably here, visions seem (perhaps) laughable if not irrelevant. This winter of biting cold and storms to shake foundations, of changes in air pressure and temperature so extreme we wonder which season it is at all, has triggered more discussions about vision and planning and projection and foresight than any airy debates could.

The charts for this New Moon show that pattern. Yes, the Sun and Moon sit in the 10th degree of Aquarius––check where this falls in your birth chart to see where clarity and new perspectives can enter your life––and yet another powerful pattern is here:

Venus and Pluto sit together in Capricorn, offering all the "real" we can handle. Opposite is Jupiter in Cancer, making it all bigger. These two, Capricorn and Cancer, are the tradition-holders of the zodiac, the places where we value what has been, how things are, and what needs to continue.

And yet ... and yet ... this opposition is squared by Uranus the revolutionary. The hard question posed by this T-Square is, our realities are changing. What are we going to do about it?

Change is happening all around us, on every level. Personal, professional, environmental, political––name a realm, an area of life, where huge changes are not the norm. What do we do?

There's the vision thing. Derided by some, this New Moon brings us back to that point. Life is uncertain. Our control over events is limited. Without a dream, a vision, a plan in some form of where we're headed and what we hope for––without something like that, how do we get anywhere at all?

That opposition of traditions, Pluto, Venus and Jupiter, is also linked in positive flows of energy to energies of dreaming and planning: There's a lovely rectangle of trines and sextiles connecting those three to Pallas Athena in Virgo (always clear-headed) and Chiron and Juno in Pisces, with Neptune nearby (open to the needs and wounding of others, looking for healing).

NB: For those of you looking at your birth charts, notice how much is happening in and around 10 degrees, especially in Capricorn, Cancer, Pisces and Aries. Anything in our charts in these degrees is being touched by these larger patterns.

There are also yods (fingers of fate), two of them, at this New Moon. The key yod points at the New Moon itself, with Jupiter and Pallas Athena at its base: In the contest between emotional connection to the past, and clear-eyed dedication to the best possible future, moving into a new vision is desperately needed.

We cannot, and should not, let go of what is best in the past. (This includes, by the way, our biosphere, which is our Cancerian home place at its most fundemental.) But the old ways alone will not bring us into the world we hope for.

This is not a comfortable time. This New Moon feels to me like that moment when an important deadline looms, the make-or-break presentation, and I suddenly realize my whole concept for the project is flawed. At the 11th hour, do I have the guts to tear up what I have and start over?

Over the last weeks, we've been brought face to face in some way with things that are and are not working in the realities of our lives. We've been asked to let go of something––beliefs, assumptions, convictions, relationships, tangible stuff, whatever. It hasn't been easy, although there has been some relief.

Now we're at the point of looking at what's in front of us and asking, what next? This is the "What next?" New Moon.

Keep in mind that Aquarius is also quirky, innovative, and iconoclastic. This is an outside-the-box New Moon. Also remember the New Moon is a dark time. We are looking for a vision, asking for one, hoping for one, but it won't be clear just yet.

This is the time to set intentions for where we want clarity, hope and commitment. Where we pledge to boldly go, and hold onto the dream. The choices we make and the directions we set are important.

Think about it.
     

There are those who look at things the way they are, and ask why... I dream of things that never were, and ask why not?
Robert Kennedy
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/r/robert_kennedy.html#v4AWfKpfCwfzW8xL.99

The Waning Moon: The Ideal and the Real

which glasses??

Disseminating Moon in Virgo
January 20, 2013
2:34 am EST / 7:34 am GMT

Last Quarter Moon in Scorpio
January 24, 2014
12:29 am EST / 4:29 am GMT

Balsamic Moon in Sagittarius
January 27, 2014
12:12 pm EST / 4:12 pm GMT

New Moon in Aquarius
January 30, 2014
4:39 pm EST / 9:39 pm GMT

I'm hibernating. Not literally, but part of me really wants to say: "... see you in March ..."

It's way cold here for what used to be "normal" and yes, others have it much worse. I have the luxury of working from home in a safe, warm place, and still, my brain moves in slow motion. Sometimes I watch my ideas form on a very slow screen––or maybe they're just defrosting.

As I sat down to write this morning (which I made myself do, knowing I'm already late with this post), I realized my slow-moving state fits the astrological weather (duh!). These weeks from the Full Moon in Cancer to the upcoming New Moon in Aquarius, we're at the interface of mind and body, the idea and the reality, the transition between thinking something up and manifesting it in the physical world.

At the Disseminating Moon on January 20, the Sun stepped into Aquarius, the cool, clear-eyed visionary. No longer in plodding, pragmatic Capricorn, we find ourselves on a mountaintop, the air dazzlingly clear, able to see far horizons on every side.

With Mercury also in Aquarius, grand visions form easily. We might find ourselves dazzled by sparking new thoughts, ready to jump on the latest bandwagon. How wonderful to see it all clearly now. Visions are so intoxicating!

And yet, the most powerful thing happening in the sky right now is Venus retrograde in Capricorn moving inexorably back toward Pluto, opposed by Jupiter retrograde in Cancer moving into a more exact opposition.

Venus, Pluto and Jupiter are keeping us firmly in what is real. With these planets, in these signs, we cannot look away from what is actually happening day-to-day, sometimes moment-to-moment, in our lives. What is working? What is not working? What needs to change?

Tomorrow (January 24) is the Last Quarter Moon in Scorpio. The Sun–Moon square in fixed (read: stubborn) Aquarius and Scorpio will force us to face places where our lovely vision does not square with emotional, psychological, and/or deeper realities.

This is not a bad thing, although it won't always feel comfortable. At this Last Quarter, the Moon flows energy with Neptune, allowing our deepest dreams to come through to enrich our cerebral visions (if we let them). Also, Mars in diplomatic Libra flows energy with clear-sighted Mercury in Aquarius, supporting positive action.

We're being offered the chance, at this time, to think, feel and experience where our visions and our realities are not matching up. It's not about being judged and found wanting. It's about getting essential feedback that will actually support us in reaching big goals.

We can look away if we choose, but we'll miss something important.

What that "something" is will be different for each of us, depending on our birth charts, life choices, where we are in our life cycle––all those things. It could be seeing where a job, workplace, or relationship is not a good fit. It could be realizing we need to commit to THIS and let THAT go.

The Balsamic Moon of January 27 suggests part of the alignment process in this cycle has to do with our beliefs. For this late waning Moon, the Sun continues in visionary Aquarius and the Moon sails through Sagittarius. Sag is optimistic and generous, but also philosophical. One of Sagittarius' failings is being too certain, too wedded to a particular worldview, too confident we've found "the way."

So at this Balsamic Moon, the time of letting go and clearing out, we get the opportunity to see where our ideas don't quite fit what's actually happening. Mercury and Mars continue to support each other in moving easily between thought and action, so things can shift.  The ongoing Venus–Pluto–Jupiter dance keeps the focus on what's really important.

Think of this like a complex piece of music (you choose the style). Venus, Pluto and Jupiter are the bass line, thumping away, keeping us grounded. The Sun, Mercury and Mars bring in a lighter melodic line, something enticing and playful, beautiful imagery. The Moon moves from sign to sign, sometimes focusing on the slow, steady bass, sometimes flying high with the melody.

Both are there, neither is going away, and for the music to work, they need to match. (Unless you've chosen a really dissonant musical style, in which case, you're on your own...)

During any waning cycle, we let go of what doesn't work. During this particular waning cycle, we're at the edge between what we think we know, and what's actually going on. This is a good place to be. Not comfortable, necessarily, but good. Without a reasonable amount of congruence in our sense of where we are now and our vision of where we're headed, progress is unlikely.

The upcoming New Moon will be in Aquarius. At that time, we'll be invited to commit to a new vision, or recommit to our current vision. Now, we have time to check the game plan. Where is our thinking outmoded? Where has reality shifted in a way we need to recognize? Now's the time to let go of old ideas that just don't fit.

Sometimes, changing our thinking is the hardest change to make. The results, though, can be amazing.