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 ...
    

Good Questions: Listening to the First Quarter Moon

deep listening

First Quarter Moon in Virgo
June 16, 2013 1:24 pm ED

Today's First Quarter square between the Sun and Moon brings BIG energy around communicating with precision, analysis, and possibly excruciating detail. The Moon and Jupiter are conjunct, so if you find yourself talking nonstop, take a deep breath and slow down.

If you find yourself listening to someone else talking nonstop, take a deep breath and tune in to what's being communicated on all levels.

Listening on all levels will be key in the next weeks. Today's Virgo Moon could go with some fairly detailed critiques of what's being said––but Virgo is also a grounded, compassionate healer, with the ability to tune in and really, really listen. So, lose the critical voice and go with deep listening.

Early this morning, Chiron the wounded healer stopped in his tracks and then turned backwards. This is a powerful moment for any planet, and brings focused attention to the idea that sometimes we get hurt. Then, we find that when something bumps up against that old hurt, it hurts again, worse. Ouch.

As we mature, gaining insight along the way, we can get some perspective and learn how to understand and integrate those hurt places. Since the broken places are where the light gets in, those same wounds become sources of healing for ourselves and, potentially, others.

In an intriguing synchronicity, the asteroid Lilith stopped less than half an hour before Chiron, and turned backward in a one-degree trine (easy flowing connection) with Chiron.

Chiron's in Pisces, Lilith is in Cancer. And here's Venus in Cancer just one degree away from Lilith. Mercury, who rules both Gemini (where the Sun and Jupiter are) and Virgo (where the Moon is), sits in Cancer just three degrees on the other side of Venus.

What's coming up includes deep emotions, female power in relationship, sexuality and power, delusions, illusions, Shadow, and how we talk about all that. Yep, the easy stuff (not).

This is the crossroads of what we think we think, what we think we're supposed to feel, and what we actually, really feel deep down. Today's energy could bring up how far apart those are in us, or in those around us.

Response choices includes everything from distraction, denial, dismissal, 'correcting' what is said, to taking that deep breath I mentioned and diving into something way more vulnerable and real. And this can happen with those close to us, or in our own internal dialogue.

We're heading into an intensely emotional and personal time, astrologically, as the Sun and Jupiter prepare to shift into Cancer. Our Cancerian sojourn will include a Mercury retrograde in this sign too, beginning right after the Full Moon. With Neptune and Saturn continuing to flow energy together in Pisces and Scorpio, there's a whole lotta Water goin' on.

At this First Quarter Moon, we're invited to step into this realm of deep feeling with our mind in an open, attentive state. There is much to learn here, much to be healed. There are gifts of depth, insight, creativity, spiritual connection, and relationship.

In the midst of ongoing transformation (ok, yes, also turmoil), stepping into the shadowy spaces of emotion is a good thing. When the mind is running the show, we miss a lot. We're more interested in what we have to say than in listening to what anyone else says. We can fail to ask the right questions.

Today's Moon asks, are we asking good questions, of ourselves, of our loved ones, of our world? And (this is the important part) do we listen to the answer with our hearts as well as our heads?
     

Toward the Full Moon: Grounding Our Power

strength!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

These are the kinds of power questions to explore now.
    

The Waxing Cycle: Growing into Spring!

Crescent Moon in Taurus

new growth emerging!

March 15, 2013 10:50 am EDT
Mercury Direct
March 17, 2013 4:02 pm EDT
First Quarter Moon in Gemini
March 19, 2013 1:26 pm EDT
Spring Equinox
March 20, 2013 7:01 am EDT

Can you feel the breeze freshening? The sunlight getting stronger? The birds singing louder? It's been a long winter, and Spring is finally moving.

We swam through the Pisces New Moon gate, awash in feelings, full of visions and dreams, and a bit disoriented. Now, focus and fire emerge.

Mars is now in Aries, his home territory, ready to meet revolutionary Uranus. Transformation is in the air! One of the aspect patterns throughout this waxing cycle is a yod, a finger of Fate, in which Pluto and Saturn point at Jupiter.

Pluto and Saturn remain in mutual reception (they are in each other's signs, which means they're communicating and cooperating), and Jupiter is the great expander, the liberal-handed philosopher and adventurer. So, we're liable to say yes! when opportunities to embrace change come our way.

Tomorrow is the Crescent Moon in Taurus, and she opposes Saturn. Now, the Moon in Taurus can be stubborn, and Saturn is stubborn by nature. So, maybe we're not saying "yes!" to change ... maybe we're saying, "no, thank you, I'm quite comfortable where I am."

Except we're not, really, are we? Mercury still rests between Neptune and Chiron, keeping us deeply connected to our feelings, our visions, and where we need healing. And Chiron is squaring Jupiter, trining Saturn, and sextile Pluto, sooooo, no, we can't really pretend everything is perfect in our lives.

My suggestion is to channel the supportive, nurturing Taurus Moon energy into a commitment to self compassion and self nurturing. We can say, with this Moon, yes! let's change ... and let's work on it gently, with lots of support for the person I am, the child I was, and everyone in between.

On March 17, leprechauns bring us the gold of Mercury direct. There's real value in Mercury retrograde––we all need times to slow down, reflect, and revisit our thinking––yet it's tough to know how to apply information that comes our way during retrogrades. With Mercury's energy flowing forward again, we'll begin to see the light, understanding what needs to happen next.

March 19 brings an intense First Quarter Moon in Gemini. What? (I hear you say...) I thought Gemini Moons were fun, flirty and all about easy networking and talk. True enough, and yet this First Quarter brings a square between the Sun and Moon that falls in the final, anaretic degree of Pisces (Sun) and Gemini (Moon).

The final degree of each sign brings a concentration of energy, a strong focus. At this Moon, then, the Sun reminds us of everything we experienced and felt and learned in Pisces––the dreams, visions, creative inspiration, and also foggy confusion. The Moon reminds us to hang on to our perspective, and in fact to entertain lots of perspectives, ideas, notions, thoughts. Because ...

Boom! March 20 brings the astrological Spring Equinox, the moment the Sun enters Aries. And what an entrance this year brings! The Sun reborn in Fire is conjunct Mars and Uranus. Everything lights up!

Interestingly, the Equinox Moon has moved into protective Cancer, where she squares Mars and Uranus. One option here is to hide under the blankets, hoping those nasty, loud planets in Fire will just go away. (They won't.)

The energies now be moving into Aries (Venus is next to join the fiery gang) will make it impossible to ignore the surges of desire and will that arise now. And why would we want to? This is the sap rising, the new season dawning, time for births and emergences of all kinds.

Instead of hiding, the nurturing Cancer Moon can continue to offer support, to remind us that kindness is always possible, especially toward our tender selves. In square to Mars and Uranus, she asserts herself, refusing to go too fast or allow feelings to be trampled willy nilly in the mad rush toward the new.

The invitation coming our way now is to jump in with both feet, embrace Spring and rebirth, and let 'er rip. The challenge is to answer the call without burning *all* our bridges, and with kindness and compassion for ourselves and all life.

We can do it ... will we do it? That choice is up to us.
     

Crescent Moon to Full: Diving Gear Ready!

prepare to dive ...

First Crescent Moon
February 17, 2013 3:30 pm EST
Gibbous Moon
February 21, 2013 6:44pm EST
Full Moon in Virgo
February 25, 2013 3:26 pm EST

As we turn the corner with the growing Moon (who rode faint but clear in the early afternoon sky as I liked in the woods a few hours ago), let's take a moment to appreciate the First Quarter Moon chart.

It's an intense chart, yes, and maybe the energy has been a bit crazy and jittery. I mean, it's not every week that meteors strike the earth on one continent and flame across the sky in another, while NASA monitors a near-miss asteroid fly-by.

Notice that in the First Quarter chart, everyone is moving direct. Everyone! That won't be true for a while, so we should appreciate it today.

Tomorrow, Saturn turns retrograde in Scorpio, where he'll be backing up until mid July. On February 23 (Saturday), Mercury goes retrograde in Pisces, right in the middle of the cosmic Pisces party.

Saturn and Mercury both turning retrograde in water signs, when there's such a concentration in water already––this is interesting. It is not time to panic. (Although you might want to have your Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy handy ... the one with the large friendly letters on the cover which say, Don't Panic.)

This is a big shift in energy that does not point inevitably to disaster. Honestly. The shift will feel less jarring if you're aware it's coming, and go with the flow. We've been in a time of forward motion that has (at least in my life) felt unpredictable and squirrelly. We are entering a time that is likely to feel slower, more fluid, more languid, more reflective, and also possibly foggier.

Any planet is more powerful when stationing (preparing to turn either retrograde or direct), so Saturn in Scorpio is pretty heavy right now. He could be showing up as the voice of paranoia and fear, or justice and retribution. Making those easy flowing trines to the Pisces guys (Chiron, Mars and Mercury are in range), it might feel easy to get pulled into conspiracy theories, or just get really jumpy about a lot of vague stuff.

This is not the approach I recommend.

Dana Gerhardt's take on Saturn in Scorpio (shared in chart readings) is, this is where he's at his most wizardly. How can we work with this mystical powerhouse? Instead of being taken over by fear, we can explore what our fears are, gain insight into their shape and size, and lessen their control over us.

Notice that the Gibbous Moon is in her home sign of Cancer, just past a trine with Saturn. We'll be experiencing multiple Water trines during this quarter, including Grand Trines in Water among the Moon, Saturn and the many planets in Pisces.

At a recent workshop about living an authentic life, Gregg Lavoy shared the story of the great Buddhist Milarepa who, during a long meditation retreat, found himself beset by his worst demons. After trying in vain to vanquish them, he shifted strategy. He made tea and invited them all to sit down.

In other words, he got to know them. He got to know them as challenges separate from himself, energies he could explore without being controlled. In his book Callings, Gregg quotes the actress Naomi Newman who says "If we wait until our hands stop shaking, we will never open the door."

At the New Moon in Aquarius, we dared greatly, setting intentions for our brightest dreams. During this First Quarter phase, we saw, perhaps, the first unfurlings of those dreams and probably got a few shocks along the way.

In this next quarter, reaching toward the Full Moon, we'll be diving into deep emotional, intuitive and magical territory. With Saturn on our side (and this is possible), we have the chance to channel great power and learn vital truths. This is a time to dive in, open the door, and invite our demons for tea.

The alternative is to stay frozen, and that's no fun. In the spirit of full disclosure, I am myself exploring tea with my demons as part of my writing practice. It's not easy. Scarey things are scarey, and ugly as well. It's really interesting, though. Just like these charts. Go for it!
    

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!"
    

First Quarter Moon: Manifesting Our Dreams

balanced

First Quarter Moon in Pisces
December 20, 2012

The First Quarter square challenges us: Are we ready to embrace what the New Moon is bringing us?

The Sun will be at the end of bright, active, optimistic, yang Sagittarius ... the Moon will be at the end of reflective, dreamy, visionary, yin Pisces. We're poised at a moment when yin and yang are equally strong, and very different. This is a mutable square, though, which brings flexibility––there are options here.

This First Quarter Moon wants action. The Moon herself holds tight to her dreams (and mine have been weirdly interesting these last few days). She will stay true to her vision. Around her, we see energies saying, "OK, what's the next step? What can we do?"

Venus trines Uranus, both in Fire. Creative action, surprising events, new perspectives in relationships, finances and our value systems. Sometimes we take trines for granted, but with Venus and Uranus flaming in Sagittarius and Aries, we're not likely to miss this jolt of energy.

The tragedy in Newtown, CT is opening conversations everywhere about violence, guns, young men in need of support, the mental health system, and the safety of children worldwide.

With tomorrow's First Quarter, we may find ourselves changing, feeling a new sense of clarity and commitment around the issues and values closest to home for us.

Mars in determined Capricorn will trine the South Node and sextile the North Node. Here's the action point.

Once our values and commitments become clear, Mars will push for concrete steps forward to address long-standing problems from the past and move toward a better future.

Mars and the North Node will create a yod, a finger of fate, pointing right at Ceres in late Gemini. Ceres, the goddess we know better as Demeter, is the fiercely protective face of the mother. She will do anything to protect her children, and stop at nothing to get there.

The answer to the yod lies underneath the apex, and opposite Ceres we see the Sagittarian Sun. Again, we're called forward into action, not in despair but with confidence that the world is good, people can be loving and want to be loved, and the abundance of life surrounds us with grace.

Some days it's hard to be with Sagittarius. Some days we grieve with the Pisces Moon, feeling deeply every loss, every pain. This feeling is part of the First Quarter Moon too. The challenge is to feel what we feel, mourn our losses, and still move forward into wholeness.
    

First Quarter Moon: A Light Appears

golden seams: mending cracks with gold

First Quarter Moon in Aquarius
November 20, 2012

The rich symbolism of alchemy weaves itself through the sky patterns of this Scorpio New Moon cycle. With the First Quarter Moon, the challenge in square between the Moon and Sun, we move from the total darkness of the nigredo into the light of albedo; literally, from darkness into light.

The Moon shines in the sky again, and the sea changes wrought in this powerful cycle begin to show themselves. The work is only beginning––this is, after all, a challenging phase, and we are in the stubborn arena of the fixed signs. Yet transformation is in the air, the water, the earth around us. We can't escape, so we might as well dive in.

The albedo is the stage of washing, of purification. The seven metals of alchemy correspond to the seven planets of classical times, so as we purify alchemical metals, we also purify the planets and their energies. Psychologically, we cleanse ourselves, our souls, the doors of our perceptions.

The Sun is in magical Scorpio, still conjunct the North Node path of destiny and Mercury now retrograded back into Scorpio: Illumination of the inner journey.

The Moon is in visionary Aquarius, conjunct Neptune and Chiron, challenging the inward focus of Scorpio: What are the community-wide, indeed, cosmos-wide implications of my personal journey?

Meanwhile, The Grand Trine in Water still holds sway, emphasized by the presence of the Moon and the square from the Sun. Saturn, Ceres, Neptune and Chiron in trine, conjunct the Moon and challenged by the Sun. It's not enough to achieve personal insights. What are we doing with what we've seen? Are we changing ourselves? Are we changing our world?

You know, we look at these charts as transit charts, about what's happening in the sky right now and how it affects us. I keep thinking about these as possible (actual, for someone) birth charts: Children born during this time will find some amazing pathways of transformation, I'm thinking, in ways we can't possibly imagine now.

In Jungian psychology, the albedo is associated with how we relate to our inner masculine and feminine, the animus and anima. As we purify each planet, its energies are enlivened and focused––and here is Venus in Libra, where she rules, in a tight trine to the Moon, which draws her also into the Grand Water Trine.

Mars is in the fire, as he continues to move into conjunction with Pluto, and into a square with Uranus. Marie-Louise von Franz relates this cleansing of planetary energies with the withdrawing of projections:

When we see others as the cause of our own aggression, or errors of action, Mars has fallen and needs repair. When we locate our troubles with love, affection, relationship or creativity in the faults of others, or of the world, Venus is in trouble and needs help. At this First Quarter Moon, these two are well placed to transform, if we can align with the energies in that way.

Jupiter remains retrograde in Gemini, continuing to invite us to reexamine our philosophies, to question what we thought we knew for sure. At this First Quarter, he is sesquiquadrate Venus, the challenging square-and-a-half that puts pressure on her to reflect on all Venusian things.

And so, we have more light now. The light shows us where work is needed––and what we can become, if we let go of everything in our way. In this waxing half of this Scorpio Moon cycle, we are growing our selves. Now we can see what shape, color, sound, texture that self might grow into, what the glorious butterfly will look like, if we can just stick with the process of change.

"There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in." ––Leonard Cohen

     

First Quarter Moon: On the Edge

First Quarter Moon in Capricorn
October 21, 2012

As the Sun and Saturn reach toward their conjunction, the Sun and Moon square each other in the final degrees of Libra (Sun) and Capricorn (Moon). This last degree is called the anaretic degree, and is an especially fraught point in any sign.

One way of approaching the transition between signs is to think of them as blending––we gradually move from Libra, say, into Scorpio and the energy is a little this, a little that, the two smooshed together. This is where the term "cuspy" comes from ... if you've got a planet in that in-between territory, some astrologers will call it "cuspy" and say it's a blend of both.

I have problems with "cuspy."

My Sun's at 0 Libra and my Moon's at 0 Virgo, so I know from cusps. And I can tell you, I've never felt blended at all. More jagged, actually. Edgy.

Look at any two adjacent signs––do they feel like they'd blend easily? Seriously, Libra and Scorpio, Scorpio and Sagittarius, Pisces and Aries ... pick any two and tell me these are flavors that blend.

As we move around the zodiac, each sign answers a need created by the energy of its predecessor, offering an antidote to whatever has been overemphasized. It's about movement, growth, progression, and challenge, not blending gradually from red to yellow with all that lovely peach in the middle.

So, I felt a sense of satisfaction when I discovered another approach that recognizes the difficult shift from one sign to the other, reflected in part in the final, anaretic degree.

When we reach 29, we're really, really into the energy of that sign. Committed, fully immersed. But we've also taken it as far as it will go. Maybe we're sensing its limitations and excesses. But still, we're in it, all the way.

But wait ... here's a horizon. A new energy right here. We need to jump there, into the new. But can we? Maybe we stick a toe in, pull back. Maybe we make the jump and then the place we just left looks much better and we jump back.

The Sun in Libra is all about beauty, peace, harmony, clear thought, planning, and balance. The Moon in Capricorn is all about rolling our sleeves up and working hard, never mind the muck if we get to the goal.

The Sun is looking at a darker place, the shadowy realms of Scorpio where Saturn the Taskmaster sits waiting, tapping his foot. The Moon sees the grand visions of Aquarius ahead, airy-fairy stuff for hard working Cap.

Meanwhile, Venus in Virgo forms a wide trine to the Moon while sextiling Mercury and the North Node in Scorpio, who are poised between the Sun and Moon. Does Venus help us, or does Virgo increase our anxiety about all this?

The question at this Fist Quarter is, do we embrace challenge as a way forward, or sit on the fence? He who hesitates is lost ... or is it, look before you leap?

The lovely Libran New Moon has sowed her seeds. We're about to leave her beautiful visions behind. If we can hold our dreams clearly in our hearts, we won't need to look back over our shoulders. We can boldly go into the new territories before us. We can step off the edge.

Hey, Felix Baumgartner did it! We can too.
    

Virgo New Moon Cycle: Chop Wood, Carry Water

Wikimedia's Picture of the Day ... perfect!

We're just past the New Moon. The window for wishes and intentions is still open, as Virgoan ears gently listen.

Today's post looks ahead through the week to amazing events coming our way, with that New Moon window open, lace curtains fluttering in the breeze. Looking ahead, noting the possibility of challenge, tucking a few extra provisions in our pack––these are Virgo moves.

September 18, Pluto stations direct, which means he's especially powerful that date, and a few days on either side. Calling Pluto "especially powerful" sound like a message from the Department of Redundancy Department, so think of this as a time when we notice in a deeper way how power is moving, where it's moving, and how it works, both in our own lives and in the world.

The Moon and Saturn are conjunct in Libra this day, semisextile the Virgo Sun, which also pulls attention to how things are structured and how they work.

On September 19, we reach the Crescent Moon, a time when we first see the shape of what's to come peeking through the soil. Have we set intentions for more mindful living? We may begin to see what that looks like for us.

Also arriving on September 19 is the second exact square between Uranus and Pluto, revolution and tradition, the explosive and the tectonic, the lightning and the glacier. Pluto's first direct action, in other words, is to engage Uranus.

This Crescent Moon, pulling away from the careful Virgo Sun in an edgy semisquare, is in psychic and wary Scorpio. Life is not as simple as it seems! How can we expect to continue living simply, taking small steps, when events are exploding around us, when our foundations are rocked and split open? The night is dark and we have far to go.

And yet, this is the message of Virgo and mindfulness and simple living: When all hell breaks loose, there is still that next step. The garden needs tending, the dog needs a walk, we are hungry, we need to sleep, the baby is laughing.

Whether we experience tragic upheaval, or the wondrous beauty of spiritual joy, the laundry is there. Virgo invites us to look past the burdens of ordinary life and see loveliness, comfort, symmetry––not to overlook the burdens, but know them, deeply, as beautiful.

Can we breathe through whatever comes, and still walk the path? This is the question of the Crescent Moon arriving with the Uranus–Pluto square.

On September 22, we reach the First Quarter Moon and the Autumn Equinox. The Equinox arrives first. Astrologically, this is the moment when the Sun enters Libra, cardinal Air. 

For those who love Autumn, this is a longed-for moment, a breath of fresh, cool air after the overheated stillness of late summer. Now life feels possible again. New books, sharp pencils, crisp apples, clear nights.

At the Equinox, the Moon sits in late Sagittarius, optimistic and expansive, opposing Ceres in Gemini, abundant and generous. Saturn in harmonious Libra trines Ceres and sextiles the Moon, supporting realistic appreciation of all we have.

How is this a challenge?

When the First Quarter Moon arrives a few hours later, the Moon has shifted into 0 Capricorn, squaring the Equinox Sun. The waxing Moon continues to pull away from the Sun, eager to move on, move ahead.

At 0 degrees, the opening degree, each sign is focused and intent. These are cardinal Air and cardinal Earth, the Moon ready to take action and the Sun wanting to be sure the plan is clear.

Do we really understand what we've committed to? Have we fully explored the risks and benefits? Are we prepared? The Libra Sun wants to know.

Strike while the iron is hot! says the Capricorn Moon. Time and tide wait for no man. This push-pull reflects one of Virgo's core issues: Do we take the small steps we can see, or do we suffer the paralysis of analysis?

Virgo is careful, anxious, keenly aware of the many pitfalls and errors out there, and the inordinate consequences of failing to prepare properly. Virgo is also the helper, the healer, the willing servant who sees what needs to be done, and simply does it.

At this First Quarter, with the Sun poised at a balance of the year, in Libra the sign of balance, our Virgo equanimity is tested.

Here, we see where we're holding ourselves back with overplanning, trying to control what cannot be controlled. We also see where we're avoiding information we find troubling, moving ahead with the plan as it is.

Neither extreme will work; we need just-right planning and timely action. In fact, one informs the other. Action brings response, which is information. Thought allows us to anticipate and gauge the effects of action. At the First Quarter, we bring ourselves into balance.

A lot for one week. A good time for mindfulness and caring.
    

First Quarter Moon: Lost in the Woods

...following the appointed path...

First Quarter Moon in Sagittarius: August 24, 2012

We are on the journey. The beginning feels far back, though if we count the days, it's not that long ago. We've tried to stay on the path, but a fog's come up. Suddenly we can't see anything. We're not sure which direction we came from, or which way we're headed.

It's the First Quarter Moon, testing our commitment to the New Moon journey. Will we turn back or forge ahead? Will we give up where we are? What are the options?

Ahhh, options! Now, there's a word to conjure with. What, indeed, are the options?

The Moon is in Sagittarius, conjunct the destiny point that is the North Node. This is us on the journey, optimistic and ready for adventure.

Mysterious Neptune squares the Moon and the Nodes. This is the fog, which doesn't seem quite like a normal fog, does it? There's something otherworldly about this; we feel the hairs on the back of our neck rise. What was it the old woman at the crossroads said, and where's the talisman that gruff captain pressed into our hand as we left the ship?

The Sun has just moved into practical Virgo––that way help lies. The Sun in Virgo also squares the Moon and the Nodes, and opposes Neptune. This Virgo Sun can shine a light through the Neptunian fog. Virgo is great at remembering advice, making plans, and finding handy solutions to seemingly intractable problems.

...As long as we don't lose heart. Virgo can become fearful, jumping at odd sounds, convinced we're not up to the challenges ahead. Faced with Neptune's confusions, Virgo can lose her grip on practicality and descend into chaos, or find false comfort in rearranging deck chairs.

How can we hold on to our goals and move forward?

Here's Mars, new in shadowy Scorpio, the sign he ruled of old. Mars is sextile the Sun, semisextile the Moon, and trining Neptune––clearly, he has a role in this tale.

Mars in Scorpio is the master tactician, able to pierce any mist and find the right path. This Mars is also a wizard with arcane lore at his fingertips and surprises up his sleeve.

Mars is the dark stranger, and we need discernment to know whether to follow or avoid him.

Meanwhile, Venus in Cancer finds herself at the apex of a Finger of the World, sesquiquadrate to the Moon/ North Node, and to Neptune, as they square each other. She might look like a damsel in distress, and all the while she carries a reminder to listen to our hearts, listen to the wisdom of the past.

Venus is the grace-filled guide. Through compassion, a way will be found. Always share your bread with birds and animals.

Mercury in Leo forms a semisextile with Venus, the faithful page who turns our trials into poetry. There are reserves of courage here, finding the song to sing in the darkness that will lighten our hearts and renew hope.

Meanwhile, Pluto and Uranus still square each other, creating depth and intensity to bring the most mundane happenings into realms of high drama. Saturn in Libra, a worthy sage, forms a creative quintile to Pluto. This is a sign that magical action is possible and alchemical change is underway.

At this First Quarter Moon, we are challenged, but our strength is growing. If we keep our spirits high and take practical action, we are quite likely to find we're surrounded by magical helpers who wish us well.

We are the heroes of our own lives.
    

First Quarter Moon: Who Can We Trust?

Can we?

First Quarter Moon in Scorpio: July 26, 2012

Life is confusing. Mixed messages, conflicting reports, intense emotion, high stakes––it's everywhere these days, and sky patterns reflect it right back to us.

Tomorrow's First Quarter Moon, the waxing square halfway between New and Full, puts us right in the middle. With that Moon in wary, skeptical Scorpio, we wonder: Who can we trust?

The First Quarter Moon chart is filled with challenge. (Like we need more of that now, right?) Mars continues opposing Uranus and squaring Pluto, bringing added tension and attention to the signature polarizing question of our times: How do we find a path out of the serious issues facing us, into a secure and stable future?

Neptune and Chiron continue to square the Nodes of the Moon, signalling both the opportunity to reach deep and heal old patterns of wounding, and the confusion and pain of not knowing.

A series of Yods around the circle point to Pluto (Sun-Mercury and Jupiter at the base), the Sun-Mercury conjunction (Pluto and Neptune-Chiron at the base), and the Moon (Uranus and Jupiter at the base). The Finger of the World still points at Saturn, with Chiron and Jupiter at the base.

These are the great forces of this time in history, aspecting the luminaries, highlighting the perplexing and sometimes painful intersection between the personal and the global.

The heart of the First Quarter chart is the square between the Sun and Moon, this time in Leo and Scorpio, fixed Fire and fixed Water.

With Mercury retrograde conjunct the Sun (and therefore also squaring the Moon), we see the potential for passionate anger and deep resistance. This is difficult emotional terrain.

Fire and Water are not seen as compatible, in the classical scheme. They're not seen as playing well together, especially Leo and Scorpio, the fixed signs.

In ancient Celtic legends, though, there is another view. The motif is seen in Hindu myth as well, and can be traced back to shared Indo-European origins: it's called Fire-in-Water, and signifies the presence of intense creative inspiration hidden in deep, dangerous waters.

The challenges of our times and our lives cannot be sidestepped. Choosing not to engage is itself a choice, with significant consequences. The only way out is through.

At this First Quarter Moon, we're shown that answers won't come easily. We'll need to dive deep, face things we prefer to avoid, to reach the gold.

For the Scorpio Moon, trust is always an issue. In a world of shadows and deception, what can we believe? The Sun and Mercury Rx in Leo say, we can trust our hearts to lead us ... if we are prepared to face truths courageously, express those truths passionately, and find the brilliant inspiration hidden in darkest shadow.
   

First Quarter Moon: The Personal is Political

First Quarter Moon: June 26, 2012

In about twelve hours, the Moon will reach her waxing square with the Sun, the First Quarter Moon. This is the monthly challenge between the two luminaries, the core energies of our individual selves.

We started something with the New Moon––are we ready to see it clearly, accept it, work for it? This is a personal decision, based on our own feelings, understandings, commitment.

This First Quarter Moon bumps the personal up against the global, the universal, and the cosmic. This Moon–Sun square joins the Uranus–Pluto square to create a Grand Cross in which the game-changing pattern of our time intersects with individual motivation and action.

In 1969, Carol Hanisch wrote the essay, The Personal is Political, to challenge the idea that women's consciousness raising groups were "just therapy" and "just personal." The "just" label came from people wanting to dismiss the emerging feminist movement as nothing more than gals with not enough to do, sitting around––and from politically active feminists who saw the groups as a sideline and waste of time.

Hanisch says "One of the first things we discover in these groups is that personal problems are political problems." In other words, the things we experience in our lives as obstacles, as threats, as issues all have systemic causes. In today's terms, foreclosures are not caused solely, or even primarily, by individual spending habits.

Her very next sentences are "There are no personal solutions at this time. There is only collective action for a collective solution." Full stop. Really? Wow.

Today's First Quarter Moon brings us face to face with this issue, in the form of a Grand Cross. In our lives right now, where are we looking to personal solutions when collective ones are needed? Where collective action is called for, are we participating or waiting for some group somewhere else to fix it?

Today we're placed squarely in front of ideas from an earlier time: No man is an island, everybody look what's goin' down, you don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.

Where is the line we won't cross, the place we take a stand? Where are we ready to say, we shall not be moved? Think about it.

    

First Quarter Moon: Rising Storm

First Quarter Moon: May 28, 2012

I woke early this morning to rolling thunder, thick, roiling, grey clouds, and the electric feeling of change.

I got up, put the kettle on, and began my morning tai chi with releasing old chi and gathering fresh chi from the four directions. The new chi is then mixed in the cauldron of the body. Just as I reached the mixing movements, the storm broke and rain pelted down.

We're in the First Quarter Moon now, having arrived yesterday afternoon (EDT). Not only is the Moon squaring the Sun, she is conjunct Mars, opposing Chiron, and squaring the Nodes. Again, the question is presented: What steps have we missed on the way? What details (Moon and Mars in Virgo) have escaped our attention, that will leave our healing vision (Chiron in Pisces) incomplete?

The Sun is conjunct Mercury and the South Node, and therefore completing a Grand Cross that includes Sun + South Node + Mercury, opposite North Node, squaring Mars + Moon, opposite Chiron + Neptune. Here we have messages, mind, action, analysis, dreams, wounding and healing all tied together.

Are we at cross-purposes in this Grand Cross? Or are we checking our bearings, making adjustments, and gritting our teeth in determination as the wind rises? The saving grace here is, this Grand Cross is in the mutable signs––wiggle room is available.

Look at Saturn in this First Quarter chart, where he forms sesquiquadrates to the Sun group and to Chiron. Yep, there's another Finger of the World here, with Saturn at the apex.

This is another message we've heard before, the one Saturn continues to offer in his long, long trek through Libra: Patience, balance, careful planning. We're in a time of tremendous change and massive energy shifts; our responses must remain calm and measured to create the world of peace and tranquility we seek.

May 25 was Towel Day, celebration of Douglas Adam's work, and the key motto is highly appropriate now: Don't Panic! (in large, friendly letters ...)

As the Moon moves through Virgo, opportunities for anxiety will surely arise. What should we be doing? What will help? Can we make a list, at least? Interestingly, Gneiss Moon's new post is a Tarot spread whose opening card is the 9 of Swords, the nightmare card. Virgos everywhere know this card!

Why not check in with fear? Rather than denying or suppressing it, invite your anxieties and fears to sit down a moment, have a cup of tea, and talk. Karla McLaren sees fear as a messenger with information about actions we need to take. Nothing makes a Virgo Moon feel better than something to do, so ask your fears what needs to be done, and do that.

Having turned the First Quarter corner, we're in the brightening phase heading for the Full Moon. More messages are available now (look at all that Gemini around) about what the New Moon has seeded in our lives.

What new shoots are poking their heads up in our gardens? Pay special attention to the unexpected and unusual ones (*cough* look at all that Gemini around). Uranus the revolutionary trickster forms an adjustment-needed inconjunct with the Moon, so expect the unexpected and prepare to laugh.

Change is the only constant. And, as a heart friend told me yesterday, the unaimed arrow never misses. We're looking for the way through the maze, when the best way is not to look ahead, simply to walk.
    

First Quarter Moon: From the Heart

The Sun ~ Shadowscapes Tarot

©Stephanie Pui-Mun Law

First Quarter Moon in Leo: April 29

The First Quarter Moon, growing ever larger in the night sky, presents the first challenge to emerging New Moon seeds. The Moon moves into dramatic Leo, flowing energy with revolutionary Uranus. Squaring the Sun, the Moon pushes for change NOW, while the Taurus Sun holds out for calm, steady, peaceful unfolding.

The Sun in earthy, sensuous Taurus is sitting with Ceres the Grain Mother, content to revel in the glories of nature. Yet even these two, who can be immovable in Taurus, feel some stirring to action. They're part of the ongoing Grand Trine in Earth with Pluto and Mars who, each in their own style, are moving and shaking our world.

Pluto is always a force to be reckoned with, and in Capricorn is inexorable in transforming our foundations. Mars is now in Virgo, working steadily in a organized, analytical way. taking direction from more powerful Pluto.

The third leg of the trine (an equal-sided triangle with easy, flowing energy) has been changing as the faster-moving planets move through Taurus. The Sun brings energy and illumination, and Ceres enhances the Taurean calm and love of nature.

All of this comes together to support action and movement––not in the lightning-quick style of Fire, but with the slow longevity of Earth.

The Leo Moon has no intention of being ignored, though. When she reaches the First Quarter square, she'll be at the point of a yod with Pluto and Chiron, bringing bright attention to the importance of Leo's courage, passion and creative playfulness in helping us reach our dreams. Pluto's deep transformation and Chiron's intense healing become the stuff of art when annealed in Leo's fire.

As we turn the corner toward the intensity of the Full Moon in Scorpio, the Leo Moon brings us right into the heart, shining a spotlight on what we care about most and inviting us to bring that forward. It's time to shine.
    

Moon into Cancer: Healing Rest

Thursday evening through Sunday morning
Eastern Daylight Time

Thursday, March 29

4 Swords: Rest from Strife
©Stephanie Pui-Mun Law

Moon enters Cancer 7:07pm
Moon trine Neptune (Pisces) 11:05pm

Friday, March 30
Moon square Uranus (Aries) 4:38am
Moon sextile Mars (Virgo) 5:06am
Moon trine Chiron (Pisces) 9:38am
Moon inconjunct the North Node (Sagittarius) 11:14am
Moon opposite Pluto (Capricorn) 1:48pm
First Quarter Moon:
Moon square Sun (Aries) 3:41pm
Moon sextile Jupiter (Taurus) 8:42pm

Saturday, March 31
Mars (Virgo) inconjunct Uranus (Aries) 5:02am
Venus (Taurus) inconjunct Saturn (Libra) 2:23pm
Moon trine Mercury (Pisces) 6:13pm
Moon square Saturn (Libra) 11:33pm

Sunday, April 1
Moon sextile Venus (Taurus) 12:20am
(begin void of course)
Moon enters Leo 4:36am

The Moon enters her home sign of Cancer Thursday evening, and for those caught up in contentious conversations the last few days, the respite arrives none too soon. During this transit through Cancer, the Moon steps back from confrontation and change, seeking calm and healing. Even in the midst of big changes, quiet moments are possible––and needed.

safe at home

Thursday night offers a flowing trine between the Moon and Neptune, which could bring deep dreaming. You might also find yourself reaching for an old favorite film, or pulling out photo albums you haven't looked at in a while.

Friday morning, the Moon takes a stand against Uranus, refusing to move any faster than she chooses. She's in sync with careful Mars, still retrograde in Virgo. The Moon's also flowing with Chiron, then making an edgy aspect with the North Node and opposing Pluto.

With this combination, we might find ourselves feeling beleaguered and criticized, our feelings hurt because we meant well and were doing our best. Or we could choose to look carefully at our actions and then seek the healing we need, taking responsibility for meeting our own needs.

The First Quarter Moon also arrives Friday afternoon, followed by a supportive sextile with Jupiter, so choosing actions to reach long term goals will be the better choice.

Saturday, Mars and Venus agree with the Moon: Too much pressure for change is not helpful! Mars asks Uranus to slow down, and Venus asks Saturn to take it easy, already. Meanwhile, the Moon flows with Mercury in visionary Pisces, as he moves slowly toward the end of his retrograde time.

Overnight, the Moon makes her own square to Saturn and then flows in sextile with Venus, offering restful sleep Saturday night. After about four hours void of course, the Moon steps front and center in dramatic Leo, bringing creative passion to Sunday.

While the Moon rests in Cancer, we look for ways to slow down, finding peace and healing.
    

Moon into Gemini: The Trickster Says "Really??"

Tuesday night through Friday mornin
Eastern Standard Time

Tuesday, February 28
Moon enters Gemini 10:27pm

Wednesday, February 29

Yajrayogini

Moon square Neptune (Pisces) 12:24am
Moon sextile Uranus (Aries) 4:50am
Moon square Chiron (Pisces) 9:35am
Moon semisextile Jupiter (Taurus) 12:34pm
Moon inconjunct Pluto (Capricorn) 4:54pm
Moon opposite the North Node (Sagittarius) 6:13pm
First Quarter Moon:
Moon square Sun (Pisces) 8:22pm

Thursday, March 1
Moon square Mars (Virgo) 3:54am
Mercury (Pisces) inconjuct Saturn (Libra) 1:33pm

Friday, March 2
Moon sextile Venus (Aries) 3:29am
Mercury enters (Aries) 6:40am
Moon trine Saturn (Libra) 8:14am
(begin void of course)
Moon enters Cancer 10:05am
Moon square Mercury (Aries) 10:33am
Moon trine Neptune (Pisces) 12:11pm
Moon square Uranus (Aries) 4:29pm
Moon trine Chiron (Pisces) 9:04pm

The Moon flies into Gemini tonight, the Mercury-ruled sign of mutable Air. This Gemini Moon will be at her trickster-ish best, ready to take on all comers, teasing the serious minded, challenging the dogmatic, and turning everything upside down in the quest for new connections and fresh perspectives. Looking at ongoing debates as comic theater, this Moon chortles at the emperor's new clothes.

gleeful satire

Wednesday, the Moon challenges everything we think we know, flowing energy with revolutionary Uranus while upsetting every other planet she meets. Neptune, Chiron, Jupiter, Pluto, and the North Node––all heavy hitters––no one is sacred. Caroline Casey invokes wild Voodoo Dakinis to awaken us all in these times. Today we feel their presence.

Wednesday closes with the First Quarter Moon, the square between the Sun and Moon when our commitment to our New Moon intentions is tested. We're getting the first glimpse of what we wished for: Are we on board?

Thursday, trickster energy continues as the Moon challenges Mars and Mercury, the trickster himself, challenges Saturn the Old Guard. Change is in the air, along with a hefty dose of the unexpected, the irreverent, and the satiric. Where are we taking ourselves too seriously?

Friday morning, the energy shifts into direct action as the Moon flows energy with Venus in wild Aries, Mercury enters Aries, and the Moon flows manifesting power with Saturn. When we embrace creative possibility, let go of certainty, and open to new connections, anything can happen!

The morning's energy boost is brief, though, as the Moon moves into the more emotionally guarded territory of Cancer. Mercury will turn retrograde in Aries in a few weeks as well, offering us time to integrate these new shifts in perspective.

With this Gemini Moon, over the next few days, we put on crazy glasses, look at the world with new eyes, see the wild improbability of everything and nothing, and shift.