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.
    

Full Moon in Aries: Red Alert!

Fiery Full Moon!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!
    

Waxing Crescent Phase: Sailing Boldly into Uncharted Waters

Crescent Moon
February 13, 2013, 3:45 pm EST
First Quarter Moon
February 17, 2013, 3:30 pm EST

In this New Aquarius Moon phase, the weird factor seems unusually high. Has it been for you?

I've been coping with unexpected health stuff, and watching odd news items––my favorite being the hacked-in emergency alert on Monday afternoon in Montana (and apparently other places) that dead bodies were rising from the grave and attacking the living.

Yes, the zombie apocalypse will be broadcast.

To have anonymous and unidentified hackers post a humorous, over-the-top interruption to normal television broadcasting: how Urananian is that? For what it's worth, Mercury in Pisces was trining Saturn in Scorpio that afternoon, and Mars in Pisces was semisextile Uranus in Aries and square Jupiter in Gemini (who was sextile Uranus).

And now we're sailing on, eagerly awaiting what the New Moon will manifest for us!

The amazing thing about the sky these days is how concentrated the energies are getting. Back when we were in Scorpio time in October and November, there was tons of planets in Scorpio.

Now we're shifting from intense Aquarius into intense Pisces, with some fiery Aries thrown in for Valentine's Day. Oh yes, to add to the squirrel factor, there's a happy group over in Gemini anchored by make-it-bigger Jupiter.

So what do we do? Waiting around for the zombie apocalypse is not the best option.

With this heady combination of Aries action and Pisces vision, it's time to seize the day and make dreams real. Today is One Billion Rising, the global day of action to end abuse and violence against women, and the call is to rise up and dance. At the website, actions all over the world are live streaming. It's time––past time––and now's the time.

I'm also thinking today of Idle No More, the movement in support of the rights of indigenous people everywhere that began when a woman, chief of her people, said "No more!" The poster, above, also captures the mood of this Aries–Pisces time: Change is coming; let's make it real and meaningful.

At the lovely Crescent Moon, the Sun remained in Aquarius while the Moon moved into Aries (where they both are today). The Moon conjunct Uranus won't take "No" for an answer to questions that deserve "Yes!"

At the First Quarter Moon, the Moon will have moved into Taurus, squaring the Sun in Aquarius, each in the powerful, final, anaretic degree of their sign. At that challenging Moon, we'll be asked: What will we stand for? Where will we not be moved?

In personal relations, today could be filled with passion, or challenge, or both. Choose love and hope (... my suggestion, anyway). Put the best spin on things. And don't back down, if you need to take a stand.

In our hearts, the challenge is there too. We're challenged to open our hearts to our courage as well as our acceptance, our strength as well as our love. Our warrior selves are called on today ... for, as the Irish say, the day that's in it.
    

First Quarter Moon: Crisis Management

The Tiger's Leap ... are we ready? or not?

First Quarter Moon in Aries
January 18, 2013

Tomorrow evening brings the First Quarter Moon, the fiesty square between Sun and Moon when challenge is in the air. Our commitment to our New Moon intentions is tested––by outside events or from within.

The First Quarter square always presents a challenge, and this First Quarter, arriving Friday evening (EST) has it in spades.

The Moon's in fiery Aries, wanting to shoot first and ask questions later, leap into unseen nets, and forge ahead into the swamp without map or compass. The Sun's in pragmatic Capricorn, standing stock still, rule book in hand, saying with heavy-handed authority, "You want to do what, son?"

Not the best mix, especially when both are in the anaretic degree: the 29th and final degree of their signs that concentrates all the energy of that particular gestalt into a single point of focus before releasing into the next sign of the zodiac.

So, the Moon is very Aries, passionate and impulsive. The Sun is very Capricorn, structured and traditional. Mercury is tightly conjunct the Sun, adding great strength of mind to the Capricornian stance––we will be able to see every possible objection to why our ideas won't work.

The strongest aspect to the First Quarter Moon is from Neptune in the first degree of Pisces, which adds to the challenge. Neptune's in the early degrees of her own sign (Neptune feels more ocean goddess than guy with a trident to me), and so makes out-of-sign aspects to the Sun and Moon in the last degree of their signs: An out-of-sign sextile to the Moon, and semisextile to the Sun and Mercury.

This Neptunian energy seems likely to add confusion and fog. The Moon, on fire to act, will feel inspired by dreamy visions that might be no more than elusive will-o-the-wisps. The Sun and Mercury might sense deep oceanic currents, making them more adamant in holding their ground without a clear view of the way ahead.

The tension in this particular First Quarter Moon might feel unbearable, and could break out in impulsive actions or authoritarian responses––something along these lines could show up in the news, for example. In our own lives, the pressure might show up in areas of our New Moon wishes and/or wherever this First Quarter touches our charts.

Who's right? Do we trust our gut and leap into action? Or do we wait for more information?

That question can't be answered by anyone but you. You know your history: If you've had problems with leaping too soon in the past, listening to Capricornian caution could be a really good idea. If you tend to wait too long and miss the opportune moment, maybe this is the time to go with the Moon and dive in.

This is a time when your connections with your own inner compass and intuitive guidance could prove invaluable. All those recommendations to practice listening to your true inner voice, make friends with the muses, and learn to follow your true path––this is a time when we'll see the value of practice.

Remember we're in the cycle of the New Moon in Capricorn, the one about manifesting our dreams in physical reality. Our decisions now are likely to have real-world consequences. Look back to your New Moon wishes as touchstones: Does the action you feel impelled to make right now, this instant, feel in line with those wishes? Is there an inner resonance? Look for the inner "ah ha!"
    

Gibbous Moon: Citrinitas

golden light

Gibbous Moon in Aries
November 24, 2012

Today's Gibbous Moon, which arrived first thing this morning, shines light on where we are in the alchemical soup. The waxing Moon is brighter in the sky, leading into the Full Moon and lunar eclipse. This eclipse will complete the two-week intensity from eclipse to eclipse we're now in, the last eclipse of this calendar year.

What do we see now we didn't see before?

Alchemy continues to be an apt framework for this magically mysterious Scorpio New Moon cycle. In the ancient system, the next stage is the citrinitas, the yellow or golden stage. New light dawns, the solar light within. Something inside lights up; we see things in new ways.

A few days ago, the Sun moved from Scorpio's depths into the optimistic glow of Sagittarius. Today's Gibbous Moon shows the Sun trining the flames of Uranus in Aries, while sesquiquadrate (a square and a half) the Moon also in Aries. A lot of Fire!

During eclipse times, information flows––messages from the outer world, secrets uncovered, inner realizations are all heightened now. The Fire of this Gibbous Moon pushes us to look at where we are. Is there something we need to embrace? Is there something we need to face up to?

Later alchemical texts often omit the citrinitas, moving directly from black to white to red. Jung, however, associated citrinitas with the archetype of the senex, the wise elder. This Gibbous Moon, our citrinitas, focuses our attention on the senex who in astrology is Saturn.

The Grand Trine in Water still flows. At this Moon, we see Ceres in Cancer trining Neptune and Chiron in Pisces, trining Saturn in Scorpio who now is joined by Venus. Underneath the solar brightness of Sun, Moon and Uranus in Fire, the depths of emotional, ancestral and intuitive knowledge sustains us.

So, another question asked at this time is, how's our relationship with the wise elder, both within and without? Where have we become fixed, sedentary, pedantic, or heavy handed? Or, where are we encountering maturity, wisdom, the voice of experience, the awareness of time ... and are we listening?

If we need an additional reminder (or push) to look at our relationship to wisdom and authority, the asteroid goddesses form another pattern: While Ceres participates in the Grand Water Trine, we see Juno, Athena and Vesta in a T-square.

Juno, who stands for the strength of family bonds and commitments, is in philosophical Sagittarius. She opposes Vesta, keeper of the hearth at the center of each home, in Gemini. Both are squared by Athena, who raises the standard for learning, tradition and the rule of law, now in visionary Pisces.

Each of these three goddesses embodies a certain kind of relating, a way to understand who we are in society (Athena), in our extended family (Juno) and in the center of our homes (Vesta). Venus conjunct Saturn in Scorpio hold up a mirror, asking us to look at our relationships, how we define them, and whether they're working well.

This exploration of alchemy and archetypes might seem esoteric and theoretical. It sounds nicely mysterious, but what does it mean? Here's an example:

I'm living with Saturn in a serious way. My second Saturn return arrives in two weeks, which means, among other things, that my Saturn is in Scorpio and has been receiving aspects from everyone else moving through Scorpio these last weeks.

Living alone for the last several years, I've been working with Pema Chödrön's approach of staying with discomfort to learn from the very things we normally try to ignore. I don't do this every day, mind you, but I do give it a try.

For a variety of reasons, I've been feeling very alone lately. Not lonely, exactly, but alone. I like to think I'm mostly OK with this. I am, after all, introverted and generally happy in my own company. This morning, I realized (while doing my morning tai chi, so, out of nowhere, more or less) that I am most uncomfortable being alone as I fall asleep at night, and as I wake in the morning. This explains, in a new and interesting way, why I often feel compelled to get online first thing in the morning, even when I know I have other priorities and Facebook is a great evaporator of time.

Not an earth-shattering insight, and perhaps even a "duh" moment––but it tells me something about myself I didn't know before, that illuminates my behavior and opens a space for change. This is about my relationship to Saturn as senex, the hermit living alone. For what it's worth, I'm here blogging this morning, but haven't yet checked any of my other online accounts.

The Full Moon is on her way. Illuminations now, major or minor, comfortable or un, help us prepare for the greater illumination to come.
    

The Bring-It-On Aries Full-to-Bursting Moon

I'm feeling this Moon as an invitation––a challenge, really––to step into our best, truest, juiciest, wildest selves.

This is a dance-like-nobody's-watching Moon, a what-will-I-do-with-this-one-precious-life Moon.

Uranus the revolutionary trickster is front and center, and the question is not, what have you got to lose, but what do we have to gain? If we step up, step out, deal ourselves into this game of life ... the jackpot is right here, and the prize is real.

I lost my Dad this month, a world-altering event even when it's something to be celebrated as much as mourned––he's now left behind the Alzheimer's and arthritis that held him back and is dancing among the stars, watching out for all of us in a new, more powerful way.

This Moon is about what we do when life throws challenges our way. The Aries Moon, arm and arm with Uranus, does not bow down, does not give in, stands tall, lives large, and laughs. This Moon is a fighter in the best sense. Big wave knocks you down? You spit out the sand and water and dive in for another go.

I love Simone Butler's blog post for this Full Moon, featuring Ruth Flowers, who at age 72 DJ's in clubs around the UK––a second career she dove into at 58, when she unexpectedly lost her husband of 40 years. Mummy Rock is rockin' this Aries Full Moon!

One of Joseph Campbell's stories was about an Irishman who walks into a bar, sees a fight in full swing, and instead of leaving, says, is this a private fight, or can anyone join in?

My Dad was an Aries and an Irishman who––in his own words––never changed his shirt to lose. Don't mistake me, this is not a fist fighter, but a man who stood up for what he believed in and fought for his values and his family.

This Full Moon is conjunct my Dad's Aries Sun, so today I'll raise the parting glass and toast a great man. You rock, Dad.
    

Heading into the Full Aries Moon: Lightning Rod!

Full Moon Over Kilauea by Jules Tavernier

Gibbous Moon in Aquarius:
September 26, 2012
Full Moon in Aries:
September 29, 2012

The bases are loaded for this Saturday's Full Moon in passionate, risk-loving, fiery Aries. With Uranus lined up with the Moon and Pluto squaring, all bets are off and anything goes.

This Full Moon calls for clear sight and steady hands ... have I mixed enough metaphors up in there?

Since the Pluto–Uranus square came exact on September 19, the Moon, Mercury and the Sun have taken turns triggering the square by moving through early Libra, and in the case of the Moon, moving through early Capricorn too.

This has kept those Pluto–Uranus issues of transformation, alchemy, polarization, and power struggles front and center in our consciousness. For some, it's been a time of quick, unexpected changes. Some have experienced unlooked-for opportunities, others traumatic shifts. Some have felt surges of energy that have been enlivening, in other cases, overwhelming.

The Gibbous Moon leans into the Full Moon by bringing more of the edgy feelings we've had plenty of this week.

The Sun is already turning the Uranus–Pluto square into a T-square, with the Moon a square-and-a-half away in Uranus' home sign, Aquarius. The Moon creates a Grand Trine in Air with Mercury and Jupiter.

This pattern offers insight into how the big transformations around us will affect both our lives and our communities. With the Sun, Moon and Mercury in Air, we get perspective, objectivity, and the long view.

With Mercury, Jupiter and the Moon in flow, we can articulate our thoughts and feelings, putting energy into words. We might get philosophical. We might also talk too much.

There's also a Grand Trine linking Neptune and Chiron in Pisces with Ceres in Cancer, and Saturn in late out-of-element Libra. This connection also offers support for putting feelings into form, although Neptune also offers her usual opportunities for zoning out and missing the point.

Adding to the intensity, Mars in Scorpio and Venus in Leo form a tight square. Mars is conjunct the North Node. Venus anchors a Finger of the World as she makes sesquiquadrates to Uranus and Leo.

Again, we see personal planets (Venus and Mars) connected to major cosmic energies (Pluto, Uranus and the Nodes of the Moon) in ways that present a challenge. This pattern calls for a courageous balance of inner and outer, the Self and the Shadow, what we admit to publicly and what we only let out in private––Leo and Scorpio.

Whew! And we're not even at the Full Moon yet.

This Aries Full Moon promises a blast of full-power illumination on issues of how well we're honoring our own needs in relationship (the classic Aries–Libra opposition).

Uranus, standing with the Moon, puts his thumb firmly on the side of honoring our true selves. He reminds us we can't create authentic relationships unless we're allowed to be our true selves as part of the package.

On a mundane level, a Full Moon in Aries conjunct Uranus with Mars in Scorpio squaring Venus in Leo suggests a time of intense passion––wonderful with the right partner, dangerous in the wrong place at the wrong time. Avoid unnecessary risk.

Where does this Full Moon fall in your birth chart? In this area of life, you may receive new information about authenticity, power, desire, and transformation.

This Full Moon aspects my early Libra Sun, and lies across my 2nd House–8th House axis. At first glance, this might suggest a need to look at money issues. But with Venus transiting across my Ascendant and Mars just inside my 4th House, I'm thinking this will be more about deep-seated values, personal authenticity, and a frank look into my psyche. I can't wait. Really.

Venus and Mars still square each other in Leo and Scorpio; Mars still aligns with the North Node while Venus squares the Nodes.

The Neptune–Chiron–Ceres–Saturn Grand Trine is still in effect, maintaining the focus on feelings and form, although without the Grand Air trine of September 26, those feelings may move into passionate expression. Another reason to avoid unnecessary risk.

This Full Moon offers great power for change. Channel its energy into reaching your best goals and deepest desires. It also offers a chance to look, under bright light, at who we truly are––if we're ready to go there.
    

Disseminating Moon: Emerging Flame

lighting a new fire

Disseminating Moon in Aries: September 4, 2012

The Blue Moon in Pisces was intense, mystical, and for some, life changing. The sense of cosmic connection, of things sensed dimly through veils or in dreams, still lingers.

At this Disseminating Moon (the square-and-a-half that follows the Full Moon), the wheel turns. After the dissolving-into-all of Pisces, we experience the bright, sharp emergence of the new.

The Moon shifted into Aries, and it was like the first deep breath after being underwater; rebirth. The Moon reached conjunction with Uranus, and something unexpected came into focus. Now we reach the Disseminating Moon and we see more clearly what the Full Moon brought.

Can we take the revelations of the Full Moon into the world? This is the question we're asked.

At this Disseminating Moon, the Moon opposes Saturn in Libra as Venus in Cancer squares them both. The Moon is ready to begin something new, Saturn supports while urging caution, and Venus wants to know that emotional needs are being recognized and met.

Around the wheel, the many planets at 6, 7 and 8 degrees form an intricate pattern that includes action, intensity, transformation, healing, and attention to detail. With Pluto, Uranus, Chiron, Mars and Mercury involved, the questions of what to think, and what to do, in the face of great change, are put before us.

This Moon is eager to act, facing the future without fear, curious about what is to come. This spark lives somewhere in each of us, to be cradled gently until the tinder catches and the new flame is strong.

With this Moon, we can relight hearth fires that have gone out, bringing new light, new warmth, and new life to what has been cold.
    

Lughnasadh: Bring It On Home

checking the harvest

Lughnasadh (Lammas):
Traditional–August 1
Lunar–Full Moon in Aquarius, August 1-2
Solar–August 6

Lughnasadh is the festival of first fruits, when we see how good the harvest will be. It's a time of festivals that celebrate abundance, of games and races, of contracts and marriages, of music and dances.

We're in the season of Lughnasadh now, with the traditional August 1 date of Lughnsadh behind us, as well as the glorious Aquarian Full Moon of last night, and the astrological Lughnsadh a few days ahead, when the Sun reaches 15 degrees of Leo, the midpoint.

This year's Lughnasadh chart points to a time of abundant energy moving into manifest form. The energy jumps off the chart: The Sun at 15 Leo in close trine with an Aries Moon, and a wider trine to Uranus. Mercury, still retrograde in Leo, closely trines the North Node in Sagittarius. The Moon is waning now, just after Full––this is the time we receive, and see the fruits of our labors.

Jupiter at 11 Gemini and Ceres the Grain Mother at 16 Gemini, sextiling both the Sun and Moon and trining Mars at 19 Libra point to a superabundance of whatever we're harvesting. All that firepower is a tremendous resource that wants to go somewhere––the question is, where?

You know, the whole free will thing really messes up our ability to predict what people will do with the energy in their charts. We choose, every day, to flow with the energies around us or resist them, and likewise choose the means and the ends.

The energy in this chart is all about free will, desire, libido, the heart. It's about choice.

The Pluto–Uranus square is still there, pushing, prodding, poking, not letting us alone. Chiron is semisextile Uranus and sextile Pluto, reminding us that no choice is also a choice, and that hurting and healing are choices, too.

Choices are not necessarily easy. Crops have had a tough summer around the world, experiencing drought in some areas and drowning rains in others. For farmers, this time of first fruits will be challenging.

There are choices to be made.

Following on the illuminations of mind and heart offered by the Full Moon in Aquarius, the Lughnasadh sky shows us the sky's the limit. All bets are off, anything can happen, and we can participate.

These are the dog days of summer, the hottest, edgiest times. Leo Sun–Aries Moon with Uranus nearby could bring explosive anger. We could say, "Bring it, show me what you got." Explosions can really shift things around, but leave a lot of destruction behind. Cleaning up the mess takes way longer than pressing the button.

In ancient Egypt, the dog days were the days when the Dog Star, Sirius, rose with the Sun. This star added to the Sun's heat, raising temperatures, and also signaled the time of the annual Nile floods, which assured the ongoing abundance of croplands along the river.

And this is Lughnasadh, the time of harvest and celebration. This year, we celebrate choice. There are always options. Jupiter, Ceres, and Venus all in Gemini offer an abundance of perspectives, lenses, windows, portals, connections, and ideas.

You don't like what you have? Toss everything into the air, and instead of letting it crash to the ground, juggle. Try a bit of sleight of hand. Shift your perceptions just a little, and see a whole new world come into focus.

Feel the fire of life, know you have amazing amounts of energy at your fingertips, celebrate your choices.
   

Last Quarter Moon: Creating Congruence

confluent congruence

Last Quarter Moon in Aries: July 10, 2012

Tomorrow's Last Quarter Moon, in mid-Aries, sits in a complex of T-squares and Fingers of the World patterns that weave together squares, oppositions, and squares-and-a-half in web almost too intricate to be described. Yes, these are challenging angles––we live in challenging times.

Before reaching her square with the Sun that creates the Last Quarter, the Aries Moon will trine the North Node pointing to our life path, conjunct on-fire revolutionary Uranus, and trine Mercury in passionate, expressive Leo.

These are days for speaking up, speaking out, and making a splash. These are days for realizing who we are and doing something about it.

The Last Quarter Moon chart includes three T-squares and three Fingers of the World. Looking at those repeating triangles reminded me of geometry and congruence––when shapes can be shifted around and the overlap is exact, they are congruent.

So even though these aspect patterns include different planets and points, they have key similarities. They are congruent.

They are, of course, congruent and pushy, congruent and challenging, possibly congruent and downright unpleasant, since they are squares, oppositions and sesquiquadrates.

In this waning Moon, as we turn the corner into the release work before the next New Moon, the pushiness is, I think, the point.

Where are we not congruent? Where are our inner values not being expressed in our outer life? Where are we not walking our talk?

Where are we not congruent with the world, perhaps because our model of how things work no longer fits the events happening around us? Where is something we've always believed true, just not working any more?

Those are the places our attention is focused. Those are the places where a new dynamic balance is called for.

Of course, we'll have places where we are congruent, where who we are, what we believe, and what we experience, lines up. Those places might feel energized at this Moon, and we could feel called to express ourselves more clearly, more passionately, more vitally.

This vigorous, no-nonsense Last Quarter Moon is not about to back down. Better get ready!
   

Balsamic Moon: Honoring the Past

Balsamic Moon: May 16-20, 2012

We enter today the time of the balsamic Moon, that nostalgic, final lunar phase before the dark Moon. We look ahead to the New Moon time––how could we not, with a solar eclipse on the horizon?––yet the more important directions are back, down, and in.

The feeling of being part of very large patterns could be strong now. Venus just turned retrograde, leading us inward in many ways, heading for her historic visible crossing of the Sun in June. Eclipses also occur within the epochal Saros cycles and the shorter, 19-year metonic cycles.

Each balsamic Moon offers a chance to reflect and release; this one calls us to look back over long years of our lives, allow awareness to focus on recurring, haunting patterns, and consciously let them go.

Contemporary culture pretends to look forward––to the next new gadget, new show, new style, new budget cycle––but since this forward motion often seems to resolutely ignore the past, we wind up carrying it with us. Without the chance to explore, understand, and integrate, we can't let go. We wind up with pockets full of left-over stuff that weighs us down.

Balsamic Moon

As we enter the balsamic phase, the Sun and Jupiter are conjunct in Taurus, as are Mercury and Ceres. Taurus is calm and sensuous but also likes to hold on tight.

Taurus is wonderful at saving, not so great at letting go. It will take the Aries Moon conjunct Uranus to pry open Taurean fingers.

The driving Fire of Aries, fueling the revolutionary energy of Uranus might feel like a confrontation, if not a conflagration: Remember that Uranus is also a consummate trickster, and look for the surprise move, the quick sleight of hand that startles us into letting go.

Uranus and the Moon are squaring Pluto, who adds his inexorable force to our release work. The Sun and Jupiter form an awkward inconjunct with Saturn, who firmly points out the consequences of hoarding what needs to move on.

A Grand Trine in Earth continues to support and ground us, and Mars, who steadily anchors the Grand Trine, opposes Chiron. Do we stubbornly hold on to old wounds? Or are we ready to accept healing?

The choices we make over the next few days will echo for many years to come. They are our choices, no one else's, to make. Where, with honesty and clarity, are we ready to release the past? If we cannot, what can we learn about why, and move gently toward resolution? This is a time of endings, which are not often easy but are needed, to open space for beginnings.
    

Moon into Aries: At the Starting Gate

Wednesday noon through early Saturday morning
Eastern Daylight Time

Wednesday, April 18

ready to go

Moon enters Aries 11:59am
Moon conjunct Mercury (Aries) 3:28pm
Moon semisextile Neptune (Pisces) 5:04pm
Moon inconjunct Mars (Virgo) 7:34pm
Moon conjunct Uranus (Aries) 11:45pm

Thursday, April 19
Moon trine the North Node (Sagittarius) 2:14am
Moon semisextile Chiron (Pisces) 4:44am
Moon square Pluto (Capricorn) 6:57am
Mercury (Aries) semisextile Neptune (Pisces) 11:04am
Sun enters Taurus 12:11pm
Moon sextile Venus (Gemini) 2:41pm
Moon semisextile Jupiter (Taurus) 11:12pm

Friday, April 20
Moon opposite Saturn (Libra) 3:35pm
(begin void of course)
Mercury (Aries) inconjunct Mars (Virgo) 6:14pm

Saturday, April 21
Moon enters Taurus 12:05am
New Moon in Taurus:
Moon conjunct Sun (Aries) 3:19am

The Moon enters feisty Aries today, bringing a surge of energy we're all likely to feel. Today ends with a Moon–Uranus conjunction, carrying Aries Fire into the night. It's been a long time coming, and now we're ready to move... so remember we're in the last days of a waning Moon, not yet time for action. Channel this fire into releasing what's getting in your way, preparing the ground for Saturday's New Moon in Taurus.

eager to move

Today's aspects highlight the hurry-up-and-wait feeling in the air: A conjunction with Mercury in Aries, an edgy semisextile with Neptune in dreamy Pisces, an awkward inconjunct with Mars in organized Virgo, then that Uranus conjunction.

We feel the fire rising, are reminded to hold fast to our vision, held back as we're asked to check every detail then check it again, and then reconnected with the fire.

Think of this as revving our engines, clearing out the gunk, and focusing on the race ahead. (Not that the New Moon in Taurus will be a race––this New Moon will be peaceful––but Aries loves that competitive imagery.)

Thursday, the Moon flows energy into the North Node, energizing our path forward. At the same time, we're reminded not to start too soon, with edgier connections to Chiron, Pluto and Jupiter all offering sage advice the Aries Moon might not want to hear.

Mercury's awkward inconjunct to Neptune sounds the same note––is it time? Can we begin? No, not yet ... The Sun's entry into calm, steady Taurus should make it easier for us to take a deep breath and slow down.

Friday, the Moon opposes Saturn, a stern reminder not to act rashly. This is the Moon's last aspect in Aries, leaving us void of course through Friday night, until the Moon enters peaceful, sensuous Taurus just after midnight.

The glorious New Moon in Taurus arrives just after 3am Saturday in the Eastern Time Zone, offering an expansive "ahhhhhhhhhh!" While the Moon rushes through Aries, we feel the building excitement, avoid impetuous action, energetically release whatever we're done with, and enjoy the ride.
     

Moon into Aries: Ride the Tiger!

Thursday morning through Saturday evening
Eastern Daylight Time

Thursday, March 22

ride the Aries tiger!

Moon enters Aries 5:58am
Moon conjunct Mercury (Aries) 7:50am
Moon semisextile Neptune (Pisces) 9:25am
New Moon in Aries:
Moon conjunct Sun (Aries) 10:37am
Mars (Virgo) opposes Chiron (Pisces) 11:20am
Moon conjunct Uranus (Aries) 2:37pm
Moon inconjunct Mars (Virgo)7:24pm
Moon semisextile Chiron (Pisces) 7:38pm
Moon trine the North Node (Sagittarius) 10:56pm

Friday, March 23
Moon square Pluto (Capricorn) 12:38am
Moon semisextile Jupiter (Taurus) 4:32am
Mercury enters Pisces 9:22am
Moon semisextile Venus (Taurus) 9:05pm

Saturday, March 24
Moon opposite Saturn (Libra) 1:17pm
(begin void of course)
Sun (Aries) conjunct Uranus (Aries) 2:19pm
Moon semisextile Mercury (Pisces) 3:30pm
Moon enters Taurus 5:44pm

Thursday brings us a surge of vitality, libido, life force, the likes of which we've not seen in some time: The New Moon in Aries flanked by Mercury and Uranus, also in Aries. At the beginning of the new astrological year, and beginning of a new Uranus cycle, power is flowing. The challenge is to find ways to channel this energy in positive, life-affirming ways.

Early Thursday, the Moon is reborn in Aries, her Equinox moment. She joins Mercury, touches Neptune, joins the Sun (New Moon here!), joins Uranus, touches Chiron, and flows energy with the North Node, all in one day.

We're likely to feel energized to the max, and yet the patterns surrounding this New Moon tell us to wait, stay calm, and choose carefully.

Notice that Mars, retrograde in Virgo, opposes Chiron in the midst of all this Aries action. Mars is Aries ruler, making his voice an important one.

He anchors both the Grand Trine in Earth and Grand Cross in the mutable signs in the sky now. He's finding every way he can to ask us to stay grounded.

This New Moon offers a wonderful opportunity for setting intentions and making wishes in the knowledge that the seeds we plant now will have tremendous energy to help them grow. This is a long term New Moon, coming as it does at the beginning of a new zodiac cycle and a new Uranus cycle. The energy we're being offered now is meant to last.

Where will this New Moon happen in your birth chart? Look there for new surprises emerging in your life. Which house does Aries rule (which could be next door to where the New Moon happens, depending on where your house cusps are)? This area of life will be energized. What birth planets are touched by this New Moon? Look here for transformation.

With all this potential for re-creating ours lives, why waste this gift of Aries fire in anger, irritation or panic? The Grand Trine in Earth helps us flow the energy into productive channels, if we connect with the steady heartbeat of the world. Ride the tiger with joy, and plant lots of seeds.

Friday's energy helps with the planting as the Moon meets up with Pluto, Jupiter and Venus, all part of the Grand Earth Trine. Mercury enters Pisces this day too, easing some of the mental agitation and helping everyone chill out. Reconnect with your dreams.

Saturday, the Moon opposes Saturn retrograde in Libra. This begins the Moon's void of course time, during which the Sun and Uranus will reach their exact conjunction. Can the sky find any more ways to counsel us to slow down?

Saturday afternoon, the Moon meets Mercury again. Having started this wild ride through Aries with a Mercury meeting, we slow down with Piscean Mercury, ready to meditate and dream.

The Moon steps into calm, peaceful Taurus on Saturday evening. Now we can talk a deep breath and relax! Whirling through the ether with the Aries Moon, we hang on, feeling the exhilarating rush, and keep planting those seeds.
       

Moon into Aries: New Maps, New Territories

Thursday night through Sunday morning
Eastern Standard Time

Thursday, February 23
Moon enters Aries 9:48pm
Mercury (Pisces) semisextile Venus (Aries) 11:01pm
Moon semisextile Neptune (Pisces) 11:18pm

charting a new course

Friday, February 24
Moon conjunct Uranus (Aries) 3:26am
Sun (Pisces) conjunct Chiron (Pisces) 4:06am
Moon semisextile Chiron (Pisces) 7:55am
Moon semisextile Sun (Pisces) 8:14am
Moon semisextile Jupiter (Taurus) 9:43am
Moon square Pluto (Capricorn) 3:31pm
Moon trine the North Node (Sagittarius) 5:35pm

Saturday, February 25
Sun (Pisces) sextile Jupiter (Taurus) 5:32am
Moon inconjunct Mars (Virgo) 6:23am
Moon conjunct Venus (Aries) 2:00pm
Moon semisextile Mercury (Pisces) 4:16pm

Sunday, February 26
Moon opposite Saturn (Libra) 7:52am
(begin void of course)
Moon enters Taurus 9:30am
Moon sextile Neptune (Pisces) 11:14am
Moon semisextile Uranus (Aries) 3:36pm
Moon sextile Chiron (Pisces) 8:18pm
Moon conjunct Jupiter (Taurus) 10:43pm

"The map is not the territory" –– Alfred Korzybski

Tonight, the Moon lights a new candle in Aries, cardinal Fire, the beginning sign of the zodiac and of the Spring Equinox. During this transit through Aries, the Moon weaves in and out of the sky in a dance that touches Fire to Water, Aries to Pisces. Classically, these elements don't mix well. In Celtic and IndoEuropean myth, water holds secret fires that bring intense experiences of illumination. The Moon holds that fire.

Viking treasure hoard

The first aspects during this transit occur when Mercury in Pisces makes an edgy semisextile with Venus in Aries, and, shortly afterwards, the Aries Moon semisextiles Neptune in Pisces. Notice that the creative energies of Venus and Neptune are involved, as well as our mind (Mercury) and feelings (Moon).

In the early hours of Friday, we see another pairing as the Moon conjunct Uranus as the Sun conjunct Chiron. Aries and Pisces again. The Moon will semisextile the Sun and Chiron later Friday morning.

The Pisces New Moon raised the curtain on some new ways to see and experience the world. We still swim in this new ocean, feelings the currents and wondering where we'll be carried. This Aries Moon invites us into a passionate exploration of this new space. What do we want here? What can we do here? Who can we be here?

We need new maps and Aries can help us build them. Always the pioneer, Aries welcomes the chance to chart new waters. We know maps and territories are not the same, and yet we need guidance. We need to find our way around. The Aries Moon lights the way.

This in not an easy stage. The Moon challenges Pluto the alchemist, and connects awkwardly with Mars. Yet through the says of this transit, we see recurring patterns of Pisces and Aries connecting. We're beginning a new and exciting journey.

Sunday morning, the Moon opposes Saturn in Libra. An hour and a half later, she steps into calm and patient Taurus for rest and relaxation. With this Aries Moon, we dive into exploration, ready to reach for whatever treasure we find.
    

Moon into Aries: Friction and Flame

Friday afternoon through Monday morning
Eastern Standard Time

Friday, January 27
Moon enters Aries 1:28pm
Moon sextile Mercury (Aquarius) 1:31pm

burn!

Moon conjunct Uranus (Aries) 4:39pm
Moon semisextile Jupiter (Taurus) 5:46pm
Moon semisextile Chiron (Pisces) 8:07pm

Saturday, January 28
Moon sextile Sun (Aquarius) 5:01am
Moon square Pluto (Capricorn) 5:47am
Moon trine the North Node (Sagittarius) 12:13pm
Mercury (Aquarius) sextile Uranus (Aries) 1:25pm
Sun (Aquarius) semisextile Pluto (Capricorn) 2:28pm
Mercury (Aquarius) square Jupiter (Taurus) 11:07pm

Sunday, January 29
Moon semisextile Venus (Pisces) 1:31am
Moon inconjunct Mars (Virgo) 11:05am
Mercury (Aquarius) semisextile Chiron (Pisces) 4:16pm

Monday, January 30
Moon opposite Saturn (Libra) 12:21am
Moon sextile Neptune (Aquarius) 1:08am
(begin void of course)
Moon enters Taurus 1:29am
Moon semisextile Uranus (Aries) 4:58am
Moon conjunct Jupiter (Taurus) 6:29am
Moon sextile Chiron (Pisces) 8:40am
Moon sextile Mercury (Aquarius) 11:15am
Moon trine Pluto (Capricorn) 6:26pm
Moon square Sun (Aquarius) 11:10pm

The Moon flames into Aries this afternoon like an electron jumping into a higher quantum orbit. Connecting right away with Mercury in let's-get-'er-done Capricorn and then joining revolutionary Uranus, this Moon is emotionally ready to light up the night. Edgy contacts with the sages Jupiter in Chiron might sound a note of caution, but will this Moon listen? Maybe, maybe not.

Saturday we enter yet another transformation zone. The day opens with the waning sextile between the Moon and Sun, our first change to see the intentions we set at the New Moon beginning to send shoots out into the light.

Those shoots had best be hardy, because the Moon challenges alchemical Pluto, who is only stronger now we\ve entered the Year of the Dragon. Trining the North Node, the Aries Moon is ready to hit the road, boldly taking the next steps on our life path.

sharing tales around the fire

Meanwhile, Mercury joins forces with Uranus, giving the trickster's latest ideas some legs. The Sun makes and edgy contact with Pluto while Mercury challenges Jupiter. We feel the urge to move, take action, do something, but what?

Different paths may call to us, with the best one not obvious. This is where the reflective time we spent with the Pisces Moon might direct us. Which hero story are we in? What is our role now?

Sunday's edgy connections between the Moon, Venus and Mars, and between Mercury and Chiron, offers warning to choose carefully. We're also reminded here that Mars, ruler of Aries, is now retrograde and so our fiery Aries urges might be pointing more to inward action. Pay attention to where your energy wants to flow.

Very early Monday, the Moon opposes Saturn and we confront the perennial issue of the balance between self and other. What does our heart call us to do? Where are our responsibilities? The flowing sextile with Neptune that follows can offer innovative solutions, so don't let the old oppositions define the current situation. When the Moon moves into calm Taurus, we'll have time to consider the right path.

During these days of the Aries Moon, listen to what your heart is saying. Pay attention to your desires. Channel these potent energies into transformation.
  

Moon into Aries: A Vibrant Beginning

Saturday morning through Monday evening
Eastern Standard Time

Saturday, December 31

at the starting line

Moon enters Aries 4:49am
Moon semisextile Jupiter (Taurus) 5:37am
Moon conjunct Uranus (Aries) 6:28am
Moon semisextile Chiron (Pisces) 8:33am
Moon square Pluto (Capricorn) 7:26pm

Sunday, January 1
Mercury (Sagittarius) square Mars (Virgo) 1:05am
Moon square Sun (Capricorn) 1:15am
Moon trine the North Node (Sagittarius) 6:44am
Moon sextile Venus (Aquarius) 10:03am
Moon inconjunct Mars (Virgo) 9:45pm
Moon trine Mercury (Sagittarius) 11:57pm

Monday, January 2
Moon opposite Saturn (Libra) 2:01pm
Moon sextile Neptune (Aquarius) 3:06pm
(begin void of course)
Moon enters Taurus 5:16pm
Moon conjunct Jupiter (Taurus) 6:14pm
Moon semisextile Uranus (Aries) 7:04pm
Moon sextile Chiron (Pisces) 9:20m

On New Year's Eve, the last day of 2011, our thoughts turn toward the year ahead––and who better to lead the way than an Aries Moon? Early Saturday morning, the Moon moves confidently into the first sign of the zodiac, fiery sign of Cardinal Fire, ready to blaze a path into the new. Watch out, world!

The Moon's aspects Saturday are classic, no-holds-barred, Aries: Joining with Uranus the trickster revolutionary, squaring off against Pluto, the alchemist who turns that infinitely fine mill of the gods, and forming edgy semisextiles with the sages Jupiter and Chiron.

New Year's fireworks

Saturday brings abundant energy, lots of drive, and possibly more impulsivity and risk-taking than optimal for New Year's Eve. This is a great day for vigorous workouts of any kind. Launching new projects should feel easy and full of fire.

Partying can also be high-energy and full of fun, as long as you stay aware you and those around you––including those other drivers out there––may feel they can do no wrong, no matter what.

This energy carries through the early hours of Sunday, New Year's, which open with a square between Mercury and Mars. This could be a time when saying too much is just ... too much. Forewarned is forearmed, so avoid arguments, pledges of eternal whatever, and verbal gymnastics of all kinds.

Interestingly, the Mercury–Mars square arrives at the same time as the First Quarter Moon, the waxing square between Sun and Moon that tests our commitment to New Moon goals. The Sun is still in steady, practical Capricorn while the Moon stakes out a corner in take-no-prisoners Aries. Are we ready to maintain the effort to reach long term goals, or is fast-talking Aries already leaving us overwhelmed and burnt out? Or maybe the mountain we chose to climb has been looking pretty rocky, and Aries energy is exactly the boost we need to make it up those first slopes. The balance is ours to find.

The Moon flows energy to the North Node Sunday, energizing our life path. A sextile to Venus brings a surge to creativity, finances and relationships. Highlighting the Mars–Mercury square, the Moon sides with Sagittarian Mercury while forming an awkward angle with Mars in careful Virgo. It's time to move forward with confidence.

Monday morning is quiet among the stars and planets, giving us a chance to recover from the weekend. In the afternoon, the Moon opposes Saturn and sextiles Neptune, energizing our dreams and visions while forcing us to find the balance between Self and Other. Then, she moves into a two-hour void of course time before stepping into sensuous Taurus.

With an Aries Moon to kick off the New Year, we'll have all the energy we need and then some. The challenge is to celebrate the transitions and transformations to come without blowing any fuses in the process. Wishing everyone a wonderful 2012!
    

Moon into Aries: Let's Get This Party Started

Saturday evening through Tuesday morning
Eastern Standard Time

Saturday, December 3

Fire dancer, Papua New Guinea

Moon enters Aries 8:51pm
Moon conjunct Uranus (Aries) 10:11pm
Moon semisextile Chiron (Pisces) 10:42pm
Moon semisextile Jupiter (Taurus) 11:13pm

Sunday, December 4
Sun conjunct Mercury retrograde (Sagittarius) 3:52am
Moon square Pluto (Capricorn) 9:41am
Moon square Venus (Capricorn) 5:56pm
Mercury retrograde (Sagittarius) square Mars (Virgo) 6:18pm
Moon trine Mercury retrograde (Sagittarius) 6:59pm
Moon inconjunct Mars (Virgo) 7:07pm
Moon trine the Sun (Sagittarius) 10:21pm
Mercury retrograde (Sagittarius) semisextile Venus (Capricorn) 11:18pm

Monday, December 5
Moon trine the North Node (Sagittarius) 1:54am
Venus (Capricorn) trine Mars (Virgo) 10:06am

Tuesday, December 6
Moon opposite Saturn (Libra) 1:56am
Moon sextile Neptune (Aquarius) 6:13am
(begin void of course)
Moon enters Taurus 9:35am
Moon semisextile Uranus (Aries) 10:54am
Moon sextile Chiron (Pisces) 11:33am
Moon conjunct Jupiter (Taurus) 11:17am
Jupiter (Taurus) sextile Chiron (Pisces) 7:00pm
Moon trine Pluto (Capricorn) 10:38pm

The Moon sets herself alight in Aries tonight, joining Uranus the trickster revolutionary in a wild, exuberant, no-holds-barred dance. Those semisextiles to Chiron and Jupiter show this reborn Moon has not totally forgotten her mentors' lessons, but their connection now is more faint memory than firm guidance. And those rules are really more guidelines, aren't they?

In Aries, the Moon aligns with the side of the Pluto–Uranus square that's chanting "What do we want?" "Change!" "When do we want it?" "NOW!" During these next days, we connect with our sense of righteous anger, with a clear vision of what needs to happen, and a burning desire to make it so. Change is needed, and overdue. Aries power is the energy of birth, the new being bursting into life.

Fire dragon dance, mainland China

And yet, this fiery enthusiasm needs to be channeled or it can run amok, dissipating itself in meaningless action or violent destruction. Sunday morning, the Sun conjunct Mercury retrograde, bringing our conscious attention to Mercury's role now in checking precipitate action, in getting us to slow down and think things through. Aspects throughout Sunday ask us to look, then look again, at all our plans and actions.

The just-do-it Aries Moon squares Pluto and Venus in steady Capricorn. Where is the best path between waiting too long and acting too quickly? Mercury squares Mars in careful Virgo, while the Moon trines Mercury and inconjuncts Mars. Where is the balance point between thoughtful reflection and careful planning on one hand, and the paralysis of analysis on the other? How do we know when it's time to act?

If we face the questions on Sunday, Monday could offer glimpses of answers. The day opens as the Moon joins the North Node, aligning us with the dragon's head. Then Venus and Mars form a trine, showing us exactly where strategic, planned, committed action will move us forward.

In the early hours of Tuesday, the Moon opposes Saturn in Libra. Dreams might point to places where rebalancing the needs of self and other is needed. An early morning sextile with Neptune connects Aries action with Neptunian visioning––pay attention to morning dreams today.

The Moon–Neptune sextile is the last classical aspect in Aries, opening a three-hour void of course time until the Moon steps into peaceful Taurus, and we relax into meditation. While the Moon is in Aries, we connect to our passions, testing them against the challenges of the world and our own psyches.
  

Moon into Aries: Where's the Tipping Point?

Sunday afternoon through Wednesday morning
Eastern Standard Time

Sunday, November 6
Moon enters Aries 2:02pm

fireworks

Moon conjunct Uranus Aries 4:15pm

Monday, November 7
Moon square Pluto (Capricorn) 1:16am
Moon trine Mercury (Sagittarius) 2:16am
Moon trine Venus (Sagittarius) 2:26am
Mars (Leo) opposite Neptune (Aquarius) 7:33am
Astrological Samhain: Sun at 15 Scorpio 2:35pm
Moon inconjunct Sun (Scorpio) 9:00pm
Moon trine the North Node (Sagittarius) 11:01pm

Tuesday, November 8
Moon opposite Saturn (Libra) 1:10pm
Moon sextile Neptune (Aquarius) 10:59pm

Wednesday, November 9
Moon trine Mars (Leo) 12:46am
(begin void of course)
Moon enters Taurus 2:46am
Moon sextile Chiron Pisces 4:04am

The Moon blazes into Aries this afternoon for a transit through Fire we're all likely to notice. Her first contact is a conjunction with Uranus the Trickster Revolutionary, so prepare for out-of-the-box thinking and surprising events. As the Moon touches the Aries point (0 Aries), it's a good time to check your birth chart––where and how Aries appears will suggest whether you need to watch for irritation or rage, schedule a vigorous workout, or take bold action.

tightrope

Overnight Sunday looks like a time for strong dreaming, especially if dreams put you in touch with world events. The early hours of Monday bring the Moon into a challenging square with alchemical Pluto, then trines with Mercury and Venus in Sagittarius. Far-flung journeys to amazing places are possible, pack your wings.

Monday is also Samhain, astrologically speaking, as the Sun reaches 15 Scorpio. The trines from the Moon to Mercury and Venus will also support divination, traditionally strong at this hinge of the year. If you haven't asked for guidance this Samhain season, this is the day.

Be aware, though, that questions asked could receive emphatically direct answers. Mars in passionate Leo is opposite visionary Neptune today, maximizing opportunities for creative expression. The Moon and Sun will be inconjunct, an edgy angle especially telling when Aries and Scorpio meet, both signs of intensity and, yes, anger.

Monday closes with the Moon trining the North Node, suggesting whatever we learn this Samhain season will affect our life path.

Tuesday, the impetuous drive of the Aries Moon is checked by Saturn's cool counsel. A sextile with Neptune late in the day offers guidance, and possibly another night of visionary dreams. Just after midnight, the Moon trines Mars, bringing brilliance and energy to the night.

The Moon–Mars trine opens a void of course that ends when the Moon steps into calm, grounded Taurus, in the early hours of Wednesday. Moving into an opening sextile with Chiron, morning dreams might bring peace after several days of light and sparks. Where will we find ourselves after this wild ride?