Full Moon in Virgo: The Particular

Sewing in the Garden by Henri Martin

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Emily Dickinson
         

Last Quarter Moon: Lords and Ladies of the Dance

The Fifer

Last Quarter Moon in Virgo
November 25, 2013
2:28 pm EST / 7:28 pm GMT

The Sun's moved into happy-go-lucky Sagittarius, gladdening hearts and lightening burdens. It's time for thanks in the United States, and here's hoping we extend it to all, to the those who support invisibly, who carry on with little, and who have been ignored, even forcibly turned out, in the past.

There's an old, old song called the Lord of the Dance, with many versions of lyrics––a song from the old days still vibrant. Now, the Sun is the Lord of the Dance, and we're all invited to join in.

This is not a simplistic dance, mind you ... no "happy happy joy joy" without awareness of what's going on. Instead, the Lord of the Dance says yes to life in all its complexity and suffering, the joy and the pain, the gifts and the losses.

Our response is the key. To look at life and still dance. To see what is, and still sing because, despite the challenges, it's all so wonderfully beautiful.

Today's Last Quarter Moon tips the balance, rounds the corner toward the New Moon in Sagittarius. And while the Sun sounds a happy keynote, the engines of transformation are very much alive.

Three Russian Dancers

Today, the Sun and Moon square each other––the Moon in careful Virgo, gently warning the Sag Sun not to go all grasshopper and find himself with an empty larder come winter.

And the Sun and Moon are both in aspects patterns called the Yod, or Finger of Fate. This is a challenging pattern, an itchy feeling that somethings needs to be adjusted. And so it will be!

The Sun flows easy sextile energy with Ceres and Vesta in Libra, happy to see a bountiful harvest. They are both inconjunct the South Node in Taurus, which creates an awkward sense we might be missing something––a message from the past? Something we haven't completed? Here, Fire and Air are drawn back to Earth, reminded not to become ungrounded.

The Virgo Moon flows easy sextile energy with the shadowy North Node in Scorpio. These two, in Earth and Water, are cautious, wary, checking everything twice. But they are inconjunct Uranus the revolutionary, who says, Get on with it! Get moving! This is Water and Earth sparked by powerful Fire.

It's a dance of the elements. Shifts, movements, ripples and shakings. Sometimes when the ground underfoot begins to move, the best way to keep your balance is to dance.
     

New Moon in Virgo: Grind, Grist, and Grit

harvest of grain ... grist for the mill

New Moon in Virgo
Thursday, September 5, 2013
7:36 am EDT / 12:36 pm GMD

Let's open with a few words about Virgo, sign of the New Moon. Often thought of as the clerk of the zodiac, the bookkeeper who never lifts his eyes from the page, the copyeditor who gleefully circles every error in bright red ink ... well, what do we wish for? A better eye for detail?

It's time to deepen our understanding of Virgo, look beyond the trees this sign loves so well and catch a glimpse of the forest.

It turns out this particular New Moon is a great time to do exactly that. Maybe the most important intention we can set for this New Moon is to develop a better, broader, more nuanced understanding of what Virgo brings to the table and how this energy influences our charts and our lives.

Check out the chart. There are so many planets located in same degree range as the New Moon, it's easier to list the ones who are not at the party. The Sun and Moon are together at 13 Virgo and

• opposite Chiron, the wounded healer, who astrologer Joyce Mason feels has a special and strong relationship with Virgo energy,

• trine Pluto in Capricorn and the South Node in Taurus,

• sextile the North Node and Saturn in Scorpio, and Jupiter in Cancer

• inconjunct Uranus in Aries––see what I mean?

This New Moon flows energy with Earth and Water in big ways. There is transformational energy here (nothing new these days) and also great strength and stamina. Astrologer Simone Butler has already linked Diana Nyad's epic swim from Cuba to Florida to Virgo's influence.

Virgo likes details. It's easy to make jokes about it, but nothing great is accomplished without that kind of attention. Virgo has commitment, as well as a good eye. Virgo can stay the course, not giving up in the face of opposition.

This is exactly the kind of grit Diana Nyad showed: The ability to keep going, one stroke at a time, until she reached her goal. We see headlines trumpeting her success, not reports of incremental failures––all the times a piece of equipment didn't work out, or somethings went amiss in training.

"The devil is in the details" we say, as well as "it's all grist for the mill." Grit and grist are tiny and powerful. A bit of grit in the wrong place can grind a huge machine to a halt. Grist is the basis of our daily bread, what remains after harvest, after separately out the chaff, after the hard work of grinding.

I visited the Herschel Museum in Bath England the other day and was fascinated with the reconstructed workshop. Herschel, who discovered the planet Uranus and thereby doubled the size of the solar system of his time, succeeded because of his meticulous attention to detail. Not satisfied with the telescope mirrors available, he learned to craft his own, a process tof casting special metal alloys and then carefully grinding the surface, polishing it with just the right kinds of grit, to make it highly reflective.

He never gave up in his quest for knowledge; nor did his sister Caroline, who began as her brother's assistant and became a noted astronomer in her own right, the discovered of right comets.

At this New Moon, we may want to pay some detailed attention to our own relationship to detail, to commitment, to grit. That Chiron opposition will focus us on where things haven't worked out in the past, and offer possibilities for healing.

Are we not reaching goals because we give up too easily? Are we missing important details because we're too busy, too distracted, or simply too cool to stay focused? Are we finding the right balance between acceptance and discernment?

There are tricky issues here. Virgo wants us to makes judgements, not to attach labels like good or evil, but to make good choices––is this the right situation for me? the right relationship? am I heading in a good direction? Answering these kinds of questions calls for attention to detail.

Virgo wants us to get it right. Sometimes in the quest for personal best, we beat ourselves up, falling into negative self talk, even self hatred, and then think the remedy is not making judgements at all. Virgo values discernment, yes, and success––and understands (or at least, can learn) that effectiveness often calls for compassion, not criticism.

The thing is, not choosing is also a choice. Sometimes standing on the sidelines is the worst thing we can do.

To echo the words of another expert in attending to detail: Watson, you know my methods: See where this New Moon will fall in your birth chart, where the middle of Virgo lives for you. Check to see which planets and points are involved.

These are the places we may have a history of avoiding detail (not reading the fine print) or focusing too much on it (missing the forest for the trees). At this New Moon, we can ask to understand our own patterns more clearly. We can wish for healing of any patterns getting in the way. We can set the intention to develop a healthier (and more discerning) relationship with Virgo.

The presence of Chiron suggests wounding, and the healing of wounds, related to Virgo issues. Facing our wounds is painful, as is beginning to shift away from self criticism. So I'd like to close with the words of the great poet Seamus Heaney, who we lost tragically this week.

Attention to detail is, after all, the poet's life blood. Capturing essence in a word or a phrase––this is Virgo at her most wonderful. In his work, Heaney gave us much beautiful detail, and offered acknowledgement and recognition as the beginning of healing of deep wounds.

His last words came in the form of a text message to his wife, simple and powerful, that we can carry into the dark of the New Moon, knowing we will come out into the light on the other side, illuminated.

Nolo timere, he typed. Do not be afraid.
    

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.
    

Full Moon in Virgo: Into the Dark Woods

Vassilisa going home, by Ivan Bilibin

Full Moon in Virgo
February 25, 2013 3:26 pm EST

At this Full Moon, I offer the tale of Vassilisa, the beautiful, quiet girl whose wicked stepmother sends her off into the forest to the fierce hag, Baba Yaga.

This Russian story, from the time when animals and birds still spoke to us and magical happened every day, offers the perfect Virgo heroine––virginal, innocent, lovely and long suffering.

Clarissa Pinkola-Estes says Vassilia comes across as a bit irritating. Seriously, who could be that good, that uncomplaining? This, too, is Virgo.

So, this Full Moon takes little Vassilisa––and us too, in all our hope and anxiety––and places us at the edge of the deepest, darkest, mistiest forest you can imagine. Look at the chart! Can you see all that Pisces opposite our poor wee girl? Sun, Neptune, Chiron, Mars and Mercury. The gates of Faery are opening and who knows what will come riding toward us.

Vassilisa carries in her pocket a little doll, given to her by her loving birth mother, as that mother lay dying. That doll, Vassilisa's secret, is the clear voice of intuition and guidance, who Clarissa Pinkola-Estes calls the angel mother.

The angel mother at this Full Moon is Venus in the final, strong, anaretic degree of Aquarius. She is clarity and grace, even when she shows us something we would really prefer not to see. To pull in another powerful story, this Venus, at this Full Moon, is the vial of Galadriel that held the light of the Elves' most beloved star, the light that shines when all other lights go out.

The fierce darkness of the Baba Yaga shows up at this Full Moon, wearing the cloak of Saturn in Scorpio, who trines the Sun and Chiron.

In her house of bones, understanding to the finest of fine degrees the laws of boundaries and the limits of this physical life, Baba Yaga is the queen of the dark forest and giver of great gifts to those who know how to ask.

Magic is afoot. Mars in mystical and manipulative Pisces is squared by Lilith in Gemini, a trickster both powerful and angry. Vassilisa (and we, too) must use all her wits and listen carefully to the wise doll, to avoid the snares in this shadowy place.

Jupiter, the great storyteller, in tricksterish, playful Gemini, forms a very tight square to this Full Moon. He has the power to make the monsters in the dark wood appear huge, overwhelming, unconquerable––even when they are nothing more than mice scurrying about.

This Jupiter also has the power to make our power grow, inflating our sense of importance beyond what we can sustain, or giving us just the right boost at the right time to help us stand our ground and face the demons.

Vassilisa is sent into the forest to get fire from Baba Yaga, which she does. She brings it home inside a skull, the fire in the head, the ancient symbol of illumination. Pluto the alchemist is here too, trining the Moon, our heroine. Whatever happens at this Full Moon will transform us utterly. Let's keep our eyes open, so we can act from our best selves and embrace the coming changes.

To layer in yet another great tale, the illuminated skull is like the Grail, the ancient cup of power. The key question "Whom does the grail serve?" is a Virgo question, the quest for our life's purpose. Vassilisa and Parsifal have much in common, innocent and untried as they begin their journeys.

Yet where Parsifal watches the Grail go by carried by maidens, Vassilisa is the maiden who carries the Grail as well as the one who seeks it. In the ancient Celtic myths (of which the Arthurian cycle is one part), the final step of the journey of illumination is the willingness to take it.

Reaching our hand to take the sacred fire, we may––we will––get burned. Is the game worth the candle? Are we ready to do all we can, to become all we may become?

The Virgo Moon looks quite alone in this Full Moon chart. Remember that she (and we) have the angel in our pocket, the connection to our souls, our ancestors and our guides we need to carry us through.

Be kind to those you meet on your journey. Ask the good questions. Offer help when needed. Take the fire.    
    

Last Quarter Moon: What Works?

the open door

Last Quarter Moon in Virgo
Thursday, December 6, 2012

At the Last Quarter, the Moon and Sun square each other, a challenge of information and decision. We're turning a corner here, moving from the illumination and fireworks of the Full Moon toward the quiet darkness of the New. As we approach the sharp corner of this Sun–Moon square, what are we needing to see?

The Sun continues his journey through philosophically adventurous Sagittarius. The Moon will be squaring from carefully anxious Virgo.

Sagittarius can feel held back by Virgo's nit-picky attention to detail and endless need for reassurance. A little Virgoan carefulness can keep Sagittarius from stepping off a cliff. Where are you in this balance between adventure and planning?

At first glance, the support is clearly on the side of taking action. The Moon makes an exact (and I mean exact) trine to Mars in Capricorn at the Last Quarter, which means the Sun and Mars are exactly semisextile.

Mars is the action planet, and Capricorn says, point me at the goal and let's move that mountain. And yet, Capricorn is nothing if not organized, the sign of planning your work and working your plan. The message here is, take action with a plan, not in spite of one.

And look ... Vesta, goddess of home and hearth, is opposite the Sun and square the Moon, offering a T-square that balances the safety and honor of home against the strong pull of the open road. Once again, we see the both/and.

So, this can be a corny idea. Remember My Big Fat Greek Wedding?

Nick Portokalos: Don't let your past dictate who you are, but let it be part of who you will become.
Toula Portokalos: Nick, that's beautiful.
Nick Portokalos: Yeah, that dear Abby really knows what she's talking about.

In spite of the humor, there's truth there, and Toula hears it. Sagittarius and Virgo are, after all, mutable signs––they don't need to hit us over the head.

Mars in Capricorn, now, he might hit us over the head, so maybe part of the message of this Last Quarter Moon is to find the balance––between adventure and safety, planning and spontaneity, close to home and far away, planning and doing––and then take the next step.
    

New Moon in Virgo: Wheat and Chaff

preparing for winter

New Moon in Virgo: September 15, 2012

The intensity and drama of the Leo New Moon cycle comes to a close, the players take their final bows, and a new scene opens. We're entering Virgo time now, when delicacy, precision, accuracy, deftness and care come to the fore.

Virgo is transitional Earth, the practical concerns of harvest. Feet on the ground, to-do list ready, we're all about preparation.

At the farmer's market, we choose the freshest, brightest fruits. At the grocery, we check expiration dates and ingredients lists. Cleaning closets, garages and in-boxes, we look for a fresh start for the cooler days of Autumn.

The Sun and Moon are conjunct Mercury, focusing our thoughts and communication on planning and analysis, and adding to the Mercury vibe. Jupiter in Gemini makes a wide square to the New Moon, which adds more Mercury, since he rules Gemini as well as Virgo, and Jupiter makes everything bigger.

This New Moon is all about getting stuff done. Flowing easy support to the Nodes of the Moon, we can find those next steps clearly marked now. Saturn the manifestor is semisextile the New Moon and trine Neptune, adding an edgy nudge to our ability to make things happen.

New Moons are a time for setting intentions and making wishes. We're invited to ask for the Moon's best energies, and release any tendencies toward the worst. Where are the fruitful berries of grain in our lives? We choose these, and let the chaff blow away.

This is a New Moon to release tendencies to worry, anxiety and fearfulness. Virgo is so focused on the details, it can feel overwhelming. Resolve to let all this go.

If you live in the US, take a break from political television, radio, newspapers and magazines, and blogs––just one day, and see what a difference tuning out relentless negativity can make.

This is also a great time to release self criticism, and uninvited criticism of others. Detailed analysis and feedback are Virgo strengths, essential in the right time and place.

Do not tune in to Virgo when looking in the mirror. Stop trying to keep up with anyone else; we can't see how hard they're treading water underneath anyway. Offer feedback only when asked, with gentle compassion.

Having let go of criticism and anxiety, turn toward how things flow in the world. Where is it easy and effortless to get things done, and where do things get stuck? This New Moon is a great time to wish for ease, focus and precision in accomplishing work.

Mercury energy abounds at this New Moon, making this a great time to ask for quick, nimble thinking, innovative problem solving, and clear, concise communication. Virgo is a craftperson, so extend that request to skill in craft.

Mercury is also a god of good humor, so in these challenging times, asking for a light touch, the ability to see the positive, and the gift of laughter is also a great idea.

Where does this New Moon touch your birth chart? The New Moon happens at 23 degrees Virgo. Look to the house of the New Moon to see which areas of life will benefit most from Virgo new beginnings. This New Moon falls in my Second House, making it time for me to get my financial accounting cleaned up and straightened out (*cough*) and set up systems to track things better in future.

Anything in the mid-20 degrees will receive some kind of aspect from this New Moon. This one lights up my chart like the jackpot on a pinball machine: conjunct my Sun; semisextile Mercury, Neptune, Ascendant, Moon and Pluto; sextile Uranus and Jupiter, trine Chiron. Highlighting how tightly these parts of my chart are connected, the New Moon invites me to see how these disparate energies can work together. All hands on deck!

Virgo values thrift, careful planning, and clear-sightedness, yet this tender-hearted energy could never turn away anyone in need. The focus is on husbanding common resources for the good of all, not hoarding for oneself. Making sure the table is laden with good food, with a place for all––this is the Virgo harvest ideal.
     

Crescent Moon: Tend and Befriend

why not?

Crescent Moon in Virgo: July 22, 2012

A lovely sliver of a Moon sailed through the western sky at sunset last night, as the Sun prepared to leave emotionally fraught Cancerian waters for bright and playful Leo.

With everything stirred up during the Dark Moon–New Moon time in Cancer, though, relaxing enough to play could be difficult.

The Moon's in Virgo now, ready to serve the needs of others but also anxious. Opposing Chiron and squaring the Jupiter–Ceres–Venus group in Gemini, this Moon looks for reassurance and healing in community.

Our basic understanding of how we deal with stress is the classic flight-or-fight response: Pumped up on adrenaline, we run like hell, or turn and fight.

That pattern expanded to include freezing as another response––the deer-in-the-headlights thing. Researcher/ healing professionals like Peter Levine expand our understanding of what happens in the body when we experience trauma, and how to heal it.

There is another model, documented especially among females in many animal communities, that's relevant to today's Crescent Moon. It's called tend and befriend, developed by Shelley E. Taylor and colleagues and first published in 2000.

The tend and befriend model notes that some animals respond to stress by finding community, making sure the young and vulnerable are cared for, and supporting each other. This pattern seems especially prominent among females and has been related to the hormone oxytocin, which plays a role in much of our affiliative behavior.

These are volatile times, reflected astrologically in the ongoing energy of Pluto squaring Uranus.

Sometimes our responses to stress and trauma are to move into intense emotions like fear and anger, escalate, and polarize––possibilities seen in the Mercury–Uranus trine, and an inconjunct from Mercury to Pluto.

We feel a strong desire to act (Mars opposes Uranus and squares Pluto). We want that action to be dramatic (Sun square Saturn).  Fight or flight.

A pair of overlapping Yods, one pointed right at fiery Mercury with Pluto and Chiron at its base, and the other pointed at Chiron with Mercury and Mars at the base, point to the challenges in expressing our thoughts and feelings without causing more trauma.

Where's the remedy?

The Virgo Moon loves to tend. Are the kids alright? Is anyone hungry? How can I help? Opposing Chiron in Pisces, there's an awareness here of deep emotional and spiritual needs, beyond the day-to-day concerns of Virgo, and a desire to heal.

Jupiter, Ceres and Venus hanging out together in Gemini are squaring this Moon–Chiron opposition, and they love to befriend. Those three, how could they meet a stranger and not find a way to connect?

This Crescent Moon T-square opens our eyes to the sometimes hidden value of getting together with friends. It's not just about having fun. It's about connecting, checking in to find out how people are doing, offering a hug that means more than it seems.

The intensity of this New Moon in Cancer may have knocked us off balance, revealing depths of old emotion we thought already resolved, or pitching us into rough waters in other ways. Now the Moon grows again, and we look for new ways to grow with her.

This Crescent Moon points to something we might miss. When the going gets tough, the tough call their buddies. This is less about circling to wagons to fight something off, than about checking in, tending, affiliating. It's about love, basically, offered in some practical Virgoan ways.


Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible. ––Dalai Lama
    

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.
    

Moon into Virgo: Gentle Reminders

Tuesday morning through Thursday morning
Eastern Daylight Time

Tuesday, April 3

Bluets

Moon enters Virgo 9:53am
Venus enters Gemini 11:17am
Moon opposite Neptune (Pisces) 1:32pm
Moon conjunct Mars (Virgo) 5:17pm
Moon inconjunct Uranus (Aries) 6:31pm
Moon opposite Chiron (Pisces) 10:50pm
Moon square the North Node (Sagittarius) 11:24pm

Wednesday, April 4
Moon trine Pluto (Capricorn) 2:00am
Mercury turns direct in Virgo 6:11am
Moon trine Jupiter (Taurus) 9:35am
Moon inconjunct Sun (Aries) 11:30am

Thursday, April 5
Moon opposite Mercury (Pisces) 1:38am
(begin void of course)
Moon semisextile Saturn (Libra) 6:38am
Moon enters Libra 11:32am

The Moon slipped quietly into Virgo this morning, standing ready to serve in any way she can. Right on her heels, Venus skipped into flirty, butterfly Gemini. This shift in energy for relational Venus is the big astro news for today, yet keeping an awareness of the Virgo Moon will help us stay grounded as we reach for new social connections.

With Mars and Saturn still retrograde, and Mercury slowing down to station, we remain in a time of slooooow––reflective thought, triple-checked plans, and careful steps. Tuesday's Moon aspects remind us of this as she touches many of the points on the Grand Cross formed around the Nodes of the Moon.

The Moon will oppose Neptune, conjunct Mars, oppose Chiron, and square the Nodes, and there you have the Grand Cross. The Nodes of the Moon are a karmic pathway moving from where we've been (South Node in Gemini) to where we're going (North Node in Sagittarius). In evolutionary astrology, planets squaring the Nodes are seen as "missed steps" on the path.

flowers!

It's time to pick up these dropped stitches, and the Moon in Virgo is perfectly placed to help us see exactly where they are: Neptune's long-range visioning and Chiron's deep healing, combined with Mars' attention to detail and willingness to take on ordinary tasks.

It's intriguing that Venus enters Gemini now, enticing us into the fun distraction of new shiny things. Perhaps the Virgo Moon, highlighting the Grand Cross, reminds us to focus on Venus in Gemini's strengths––easy flow of communication and joy in building strong networks––while keeping our eyes on the Sagittarian goal of depth of understanding.

Ah, Wednesday! Aspects this day offer stability, clarity and a feeling of good fortune as the Moon flows easily with Pluto and Jupiter in Earth and Mercury turns direct. Mercury remains in vague, nebulous Pisces, within his retrograde shadow, and yet we may already feel knots untangling and thoughts flowing smoothly again.

This Moon is all in favor of steady patience, holding the line against Aries' fiery pushes in inconjunct angles with Uranus on Tuesday and the Sun on Wednesday. As your energy surges forward, honor the Virgo Moon and Mars by stopping for a deep breath or two (or three) before diving in.

In the early hours of Thursday, the Moon opposes Mercury in Pisces, another point of balancing the cosmic and the everyday, the confusing with the comfortingly ordinary. This is the last classical aspect for the Virgo Moon, who remains void of course until entering Libra late Thursday morning.

With this Virgo Moon, we hold on to practicality and planning, even as Gemini Venus calls us out to play. Go off with Venus, enjoy Spring's offerings of butterflies, bright flowers, and blue skies! Just listen to the Moon as she reminds you to pack a lunch and take a sweater.
   

Full Moon in Virgo: Weaving a Balanced Pattern

Virgo ©Stephanie Pui-Mun Law, 2009

Thursday, March 8
Eastern Standard Time

Full Moon in Virgo:
Moon opposite Sun (Pisces) 4:40am

The Full Moon in Virgo arrives tonight as the universe offers many ways for us to connect the heavens and the Earth at our feet, weaving them together in marvelous patterns.

We can see five planets in the evening sky right now, for the first time in eight years––as if the cosmos is waving hello.  All this month, we get an especially good view of Mars, currently retrograde in Virgo and conjunct the Moon at this Full Moon. We're being nudged to pay attention to details, gently reminded not to miss important steps.

And lest we think the Moon is just a symbol, a way to externalize things happening within our own psyches, scientists are proposing that an unusually powerfully alignment of the Sun, Moon and Earth might have created the conditions leading to the sinking of the Titanic.

The Full Moon across the Virgo––Pisces axis reminds us that the symbolic and the physical are connected, and both are real.

The fascinating Full Moon chart includes both a Grand Cross and a Grand Trine.

Chiron in Pisces and Mars in Virgo each square the Nodes of the Moon: North Node in Sagittarius and South Node in Gemini. All four mutable signs connect with another nudge to pay attention to every steps needed, including our own healing, to continue our life path.

With the Moon only 6 degrees away from Mars, the Full Moon shines her light on the Grand Cross ... and the Grand Trine, in which Mars, Pluto, Jupiter and Venus create a pattern in which abundance can flow when we act with integrity and authenticity to create strong foundations.

Challenge and support, obstacles and good fortune, everyday details and cosmic connection––this Full Moon is a both/and invitation to hold paradox until it shifts into something new and amazing.

The Virgo Full Moon is the wise woman in the woods, weaving magical clothes, her cottage filled with herbal remedies as her hands are full of healing touch. The guided journey for this Full Moon is now up and ready, available for you here. Listen, and journey to the wise woman. Enjoy!
 

Moon into Virgo: The World in a Grain of Sand

Tuesday night through Thursday night
Eastern Standard Time

Tuesday, March 6
Moon enters Virgo 10:26pm

Wednesday, March 7

the cosmos

Moon opposite Neptune (Pisces) 12:29am
Moon trine Venus (Taurus) 1:52am
Moon inconjunct Uranus (Aries) 4:22am
Moon inconjunct Mercury (Aries) 7:01am
Moon opposite Chiron (Pisces) 8:25am
Moon trine Jupiter (Taurus) 12:17pm
Moon trine Pluto (Capricorn) 1:55pm
Moon square the North Node (Sagittarius) 2:11pm
Moon conjunct Mars (Virgo) 6:28pm

Thursday, March 8
Full Moon in Virgo:
Moon opposite Sun (Pisces) 4:40am
(begin void of course)
Venus (Taurus) semisextile Uranus (Aries) 12:12pm
Mercury (Aries) semisextile Chiron (Pisces) 9:40pm
Moon semisextile Saturn (Libra) 9:45pm
Moon enters Libra 11:50pm

The Moon gets down to the details in Virgo late tonight, organizing the next few days so everything that needs to get done, gets done. In the US, the Virgo Moon will be helping count primary voted in ten states––the Moon is strictly bipartisan, but wants every vote counted!

Just after midnight, the Moon opposes Neptune, reminding us this lunar cycle began with the cosmic New Moon in Pisces. The Full Moon in Virgo is almost here, time to see how our New Moon wishes are unfolding and whether we're getting the details right.

Throughout Wednesday, the Moon touches every planet, in comprehensive Virgoan style. She flows easily with Venus, Jupiter, Pluto and Mars in solid Earth signs. She's much less comfortable with Uranus, Mercury and the North Node in Fire. And the relationship with Pisces is highlighted again by an opposition with Chiron.

Where Pisces invites us into a world of wonders, where everything is beautiful and connected, and it's easily to dissolve boundaries and give effortlessly, Virgo holds tight to what is real. The Virgo Moon gets anxious without clear definitions, preferring practical guidelines and pragmatic steps.

Finding the balance between Pisces and Virgo can be tricky. As with everything else in life, there's more than one way to find our way through. Depending on your chart, and where your life is right now, one or more of these might feel good:

• Balance wondrous visions with real world actions: World peace is a lofty goal; what can we do today to protect one child from the violence of war?


• Plan carefully, then let go of the outcome: Yes, practicality is essential and, yes, we can't control everything. Pledge not to micromanage.


• Look squarely at personal failings, and offer love and compassion. Virgo can be fiercely critical of others, and even harder on the self. It's great thing to change unhealthy habits. Tearing ourselves up is one of them.


• Appreciate the value and beauty of small, ordinary things. Sometimes the grandeur of the universe leaves us feeling bewildered and inadequate. Focusing on one tree, one flower, one smile, one hug helps us regain our footing and find our place. 

close-up

Very early on Thursday, the Full Moon arrives, illuminating everything about Virgo and Pisces. This is a William Blake moment:

To see a world in a grain of sand,
And a heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,
And eternity in an hour.

This is a wonderful both/and, when we see the holographic nature of the universe, the intricacy of its patterning, the beauty of its nested domains.

The Full Moon is also the last classical aspect in Virgo, which puts us into a void-of-course period for the day. During this time, we experience other intriguing connections. The sensuous abundance of Venus in Taurus searches for common ground with revolutionary Uranus in Aries, and firebrand Mercury tries to see Chiron's point of view. More polarities to balance, using our Virgo–Pisces sense of grounded connection.

At the end of the day Thursday, the Moon steps into Libra, and finding our balance suddenly feels easier. With the Virgo Moon, we look carefully at our lives, ourselves and our plans––remembering always to look with a compassionate heart.
   

Moon into Virgo: Reading the Fine Print

Wednesday afternoon through Friday afternoon
Eastern Standard Time

Wednesday, February 8
Moon enters Virgo 12:32pm

carrying water

Moon opposite Neptune (Pisces) 12:50pm
Moon inconjunct Venus (Aries) 1:36pm
Moon inconjunct Uranus (Aries) 4:09pm
Moon trine Jupiter (Taurus) 6:45pm
Moon opposite Chiron (Pisces) 7:33pm

Thursday, February 9
Mercury (Aquarius) inconjunct Mars (Virgo) 2:08am
Moon trine Pluto (Capricorn) 3:07am
Moon square the North Node (Sagittarius) 6:56am
Venus (Aries) conjunct Uranus (Aries) 9:29pm
Moon inconjunct Sun (Aquarius) 11:36pm

Friday, February 10
Moon conjunct Mars (Virgo) 12:12am
(begin void of course)
Moon inconjunct Mercury (Aquarius) 3:42am
Sun (Aquarius) inconjunct Mars (Virgo) 6:30am
Moon semisextile Saturn (Libra) 2:30pm
Moon enters Libra 2:53pm
Moon inconjunct Neptune (Pisces) 3:21pm
Moon opposite Uranus (Aries) 6:37pm
Moon opposite Venus (Aries) 8:25pm
Moon inconjunct Jupiter (Taurus) 9:30pm
Moon inconjunct Chiron (Pisces) 10:02pm

The Moon enters Virgo just after noon today, peering cautiously into a world that seems to look rather different after the blazing Leo Full Moon. We move into the waning half of the lunar cycle, in which we first share our gifts with the world and then shift into releasing and preparing for the next New Moon. This Virgo Moon wants to be sure everything's ready, everything's right. This will call for some adjustments, a Virgoan specialty.

Today's Moon opposes visionary Neptune and healing Chiron in Pisces––Virgo finds Neptune and Pisces to be, well, a little vague. She's also forming awkward inconjuncts with Venus and Uranus in fiery Aries––these two are just a little impetuous. This Moon feels most comfortable with patient, grounded Taurus, and so forms a supportive trine with Jupiter.

taking stock

This is a day for checking the details on anything that feels too opened-ended, or leaves you feeling rushed or pressured. With the Moon and Jupiter in grounded Earth, give yourself the time to make sure.

Tomorrow we see a similar mix of pushing forward and pulling back. In the early hours of Wednesday, Mercury in forward-thinking Aquarius is inconjunct Mars moving backwards in careful Virgo. Embracing new ideas without making any mistakes is not usually possible, but these two will wrestle it out.

The Moon flows energy in trine with alchemical Pluto, while challenging the North Node with a square. Maybe the message here is to make sure we've undergone the required initiations before taking that next step on the path.

Thursday evening, Venus reaches her exact conjunction with Uranus, lighting fires of change in our relationships, values, and creative lives. Meanwhile, the Moon forms the same inconjunct with the Sun that Mercury and Mars formed earlier,. We try to balance strong forward movement with keeping all our ducks in a row.

And again on Friday: The Moon and Mars in Virgo move through the same dance with Mercury and the Sun in Aquarius. We're living surrounded by strong currents of change. Aquarius is entranced with the beautiful new ideas, and committed to a vision of a better, more just future. Virgo is concerned with the everyday: we can't build that new world without our health, without tools and resources, and without the detailed knowledge we need.

The early morning conjunction with Mars opens a void of course time that lasts through the Aquarius–Virgo connections, and an edgy semisextile with Saturn, until the Moon steps into graceful Libra on Friday afternoon.

During this Moon transit through Virgo, we look for the balance between grand ideas and ordinary details. We might feel anxious if the pendulum swings too far into "big picture" territory, and calmer when we can focus on chopping wood and carrying water. We find the value in ordinary things.
    

Moon in Virgo: Working Creatively

Thursday morning through Saturday morning
Eastern Standard Time

Thursday, January 12
Moon enters Virgo 4:44am
Moon trine Jupiter (Taurus) 6:18am
Moon inconjunct Uranus (Aries) 6:40am

mopping up

Moon opposite Chiron (Pisces) 9:04am
Moon trine Mercury (Capricorn) 4:34pm
Moon trine Pluto (Capricorn) 6:11pm
Sun (Capricorn) trine Mars (Virgo) 11:45pm

Friday, January 13
Moon square the North Node (Sagittarius) 2:06am
Venus (Aquarius) trine Saturn (Libra) 4:04am
Mercury (Capricorn) conjunct Pluto (Capricorn) 8:02am
Venus (Aquarius) conjunct Neptune (Aquarius) 10:16am
Moon conjunct Mars (Virgo) 7:36pm
Moon trine Sun (Capricorn) 8:59pm

Saturday, January 14
Venus enters Pisces 12:47am
Moon semisextile Saturn (Libra) 6:46am
Moon inconjunct Neptune (Aquarius) 7:15am
(begin void of course)
Moon enters Libra 8:28am
Moon inconjunct Venus (Pisces) 9:12am
Moon inconjunct Jupiter (Taurus) 10:13am
Moon opposite Uranus (Aries) 10:29am
Moon inconjunct Chiron (Pisces) 12:56pm
Venus (Pisces) sextile Jupiter (Taurus) 9:47pm

The Moon steps into careful, organized Virgo very early Thursday morning, ever ready to be of service and get things done. This is actually a great day to get all kinds of work done, as the Moon flows energy with Jupiter, Mercury and Pluto, all in Earth signs. Fiery Uranus and dreamy Chiron are a bit confusing for this steady Virgo Moon, but the planets in Earth join forces to make solid progress all day.

artist's tools

Friday offers an intriguing combination of pragmatic practicality and creative visions. Venus in innovative Aquarius flows energy smoothly with Saturn in Venus-ruled Libra, and then joins visionary Neptune. These three together can make wonderfully artistic ideas become real.

Mercury joins Pluto, ready to clearly articulate and communicate the deep transformations that Pluto is pushing for. Meanwhile, the Moon challenges the Nodes of the Moon, asking what stitches have been dropped along the way––now we can see where missed steps might be holding us up.

Later, the Moon joins let's-get-it-done Mars, and then flows energy in trine with the Sun. This is the waning trine, when we review the progress we've made during this lunar cycle. We assess our accomplishments, and prepare to let go of what we no longer need.

The trine with the Sun is the Moon's last classical aspect in Virgo, opening an almost twelve hour void of course period. During this liminal time, early on Saturday, Venus slips into Piscean waters. The Moon makes edgy, awkward contacts with Saturn and Neptune––Virgo prefers simple, clear tasks. By Saturday breakfast, the Moon enters balanced Libra.

As the Moon transits through Virgo, we'll feel ready to tackle our to-do lists, knocking off tasks big and small, clearing the undergrowth to make space for new, creative work.
   

Moon into Virgo: Careful Work Now

Thursday night through Sunday morning
Eastern Standard Time

Thursday, December 15

new brooms!

Moon enters Virgo 10:59pm
Moon trine Jupiter (Taurus) 11:55pm

Friday, December 16
Moon inconjunct Uranus (Aries) 12:09am
Moon opposite Chiron (Pisces) 1:12am
Moon square Mercury (Sagittarius) 6:36am
Moon trine Pluto (Capricorn) 10:55am
Moon square the North Node (Sagittarius) 11:06pm

Saturday, December 17
Moon conjunct Mars (Virgo) 2:34am
Moon square the Sun (Sagittarius) 7:48pm
Moon trine Venus (Capricorn) 9:29pm
(begin void of course)
Moon semisextile Saturn (Libra) 10:28pm

Sunday, December 18
Moon inconjunct Neptune (Aquarius) 3:54am
Moon enters Libra 3:06am
Moon inconjunct Jupiter (Taurus) 3:54am
Moon opposite Uranus (Aries) 4:15am
Moon inconjunct Chiron (Pisces) 5:22am
Venus (Capricorn) square Saturn (Libra) 9:17am
Moon sextile Mercury (Sagittarius) 12:25pm
Moon square Pluto (Capricorn) 2:46pm

The Moon enters Virgo tonight, sign of humility, service, organization and analysis. The Virgo Moon loves nothing better than getting down to work of the most detailed and practical sort. It's comforting, in these tumultuous days, to have something real to do; and Virgo craves the security of work. These days of the Virgo Moon combine the opportunity to get some real work done with the chance we'll confront some of our anxieties along the way.

1942 poster

The opening aspects of this Moon transit present the double-edged blade: The Moon trines Jupiter, basking in expansive generosity and feeling really good about the world––then comes an awkward inconjunct with Uranus, creating intense discomfort around the fast pace and huge scope of change.

An hour later, the Moon opposes Chiron, raising the question of balance. Do we face up to the reality of change, find support in the benevolence of life, and reach for healing? Or do we retreat in the familiarity of routine, avoid the changes swirling around us, and feel wounded? It's not all one way, of course. Both stability and revolution are available. In these times, though, each might not look exactly like we expect.

If Thursday night's dreams reflect some of our anxieties, Friday helps us articulate and transform them. The Moon squares Mercury, initiating a debate about values, beliefs, and priorities. The Moon trines Pluto, connecting with a deep need to face important issues and the energy to tackle them.

Friday night, the Moon squares the Nodes of the Moon. In evolutionary astrology, a planet squaring the Nodes represents a karmic "missed step," something we need to do to move from the South Node of the past to the North Node of the future. The Virgo Moon offers a chance to look carefully at our life path, checking for details we might have missed, picking up any dropped stiches along the way.

Saturday brings the steady dedication to get on with things. The Moon joins Mars, feeling and action aligned. We reach the waning Half Moon, the square between Sun and Moon that signals we're entering the last phase of this lunar cycle. We become keenly aware of what we've accomplished and what needs to be released. The Virgo Moon loves to clean house.

A trine with creative, balanced Venus is the official close to this Moon transit through Virgo, beginning a void of course time that ends when the Moon steps into Venus' sign, Libra, in the early hours of Sunday. The Moon will connect with Saturn and Neptune during the void, reflecting on issues of vision and manifestation.

While the Moon travels through Virgo, we can attend to the details, get down to work, face up to whatever is getting in the way of steady progress, and feel good about what we've accomplished.
     

Moon into Virgo: Begin with a Single Step

one step at a time

Friday evening through Sunday evening
Eastern Standard Time

Friday, November 18
Moon enters Virgo 5:19pm
Moon opposite Chiron (Pisces) 6:30pm
Moon inconjunct Uranus (Aries) 6:46p
Moon trine Jupiter (Taurus) 9:50pm

Saturday, November 19
Moon conjunct Mars (Virgo) 12:12am
Moon trine Pluto (Capricorn) 3:32am
Moon square the North Node (Sagittarius) 7:29pm  

Sunday, November 20
Moon square Mercury (Sagittarius) 1:51am
Moon Square Venus (Sagittarius) 7:55am
Sun (Scorpio) square Neptune (Aquarius) 3:41pm
Moon inconjunct Neptune (Aquarius) 5:14pm
Moon sextile Sun (Scorpio) 5:21pm
(begin void of course)
Moon enters Libra 8:15pm
Moon inconjunct Chiron (Pisces) 9:25pm
Moon opposite Uranus (Aries) 9:36pm

The Moon steps carefully into Virgo this evening, ready to roll up her sleeves and get to work in an organized, step-by-step way. There is plenty of word to be done, and not everyone wants to take Virgo's practical approach. This Moon understands that each step is worthy of attention and can, with humility, hold her ground.

The Moon's first encounters will test her resolve. Chiron the mentor wants the Virgo Moon to lift her eyes to the stars; this Moon maintains her focus on Earth. Fiery Uranus wants immediate action; this Moon holds out for careful preparation. When she meets Jupiter in a flowing trine, she finds her sage––Jupiter in Taurus is a Taoist.

compass rose

Saturday, the Moon meets Mars in Virgo. These two can accomplish much, and their well-planned foundations are likely to stay in place. An afternoon trine with Pluto brings transformational power––think of the slow movement of tectonic plates that raises mountains and opens canyons.

Saturday evening, the Moon once again enters challenging territory as she begins a series of squares to Sagittarius with the North Node, followed by squares to Mercury and Venus on Sunday morning. Think of these encounters as opportunities to check the details. Sagittarius is ready for adventure, certain nets will appear no matter how many leaps are made. The Virgo Moon wants to test the knots and make sure everyone knows how to use their parachute.

Sunday afternoon, the Scorpio Sun squares Aquarian Neptune, a time of deep insight. Where Neptune casts up confusing illusions, the Scorpio Sun cuts through to illuminate what's really going on. Where Scorpio can fall into fear, Neptune in Aquarius offers compelling visions.

The Moon makes her own contribution to this Sum–Neptune meeting, as she forms an inconjunct angle-of-adjustment to Neptune and flows in an energetic sextile to the Sun. This is the waning sextile as the Moon enters her balsamic phase.

It's time to prepare for the next New Moon seed time, and Virgo offers the perfect energy for this. Holding the line against Neptune's bright but fuzzy dreams, the Moon gains insight and power from the Sun. With the gentle healing support of this Virgo Moon, we can release what is ready to go. These are the first steps on a marvelous journey.
   

Moon into Virgo: Step by Step

Saturday morning through Monday morning

Autumn Leaves

Eastern Daylight Time

Saturday
Moon enters Virgo 10:40am
Moon opposes Chiron (Pisces) 12:03pm
Moon inconjunct Uranus (Aries) 1:17pm
Moon trine Pluto (Capricorn) 7:27pm
Moon trine Jupiter (Taurus) 8:55pm

Sunday
Moon sextile Mercury (Libra) 12:48pm
Sun enters Scorpio 2:30pm
Moon sextile Venus (Libra) 4:47pm
(begin void of course)
Moon square the North Node (Sagittarius) 2:16pm
Moon opposite Ceres (Pisces) 2:50pm

Monday
Moon inconjunct Neptune (Aquarius) 8:56am
Moon enters Libra 11:49am

The Moon moved into careful Virgo this morning. Over the next few days, we call on Virgo's focus on detail and practical wisdom to navigate some tricky territory. Virgo is mutable, flexible Earth, the sign that takes care of everyday things, offering real-world help and healing.

Soon, the Moon will oppose Chiron in Pisces. Chiron is a healer and mentor, but in Pisces, the focus is on the big picture––cosmically big. The Virgo Moon's presence reminds us that even in the midst of huge changes, we need to take care of the basics: eating healthy foods, getting enough sleep, taking care of our bodies with exercise and energy.

Virgo gets criticized for being too mundane, too organized. "Go with the flow," we're told. "Don't sweat the small stuff." And yet, Virgo is all about the small stuff. With the Moon in Virgo, we appreciate the value of the everyday details of life. We're part of a cosmic dance, and every step is worthy of our attention.

Autumn evening walk

Tonight, the ordinary meets the extraordinary as the humble Virgo Moon trines Pluto in Capricorn and then Jupiter in Taurus. The apprentice meets with the master alchemist and the wise sage in a Grand Trine in Earth. This is a time when we might understand in clear, practical ways what our next steps need to be. We see the transformative potential of simple things.

Sunday, the Virgo Moon connects with energies that allow her to think through and express what she's experiencing. Energetic sextiles with Mercury and Venus in Libra put the practicality of Virgo in touch with clear thinking and creative harmony. Meanwhile, the Sun moves into Scorpio, shifting our focus to what is mysterious and not so easily seen.

The Moon's sextile with Venus is her last classical aspect in Virgo, beginning a void of course time that will last until noon on Monday. This is a time of reflection rather than action, time to plan (Virgo loves plans) but also to ponder.

During the void time, the Moon will square the Nodes of the Moon, a direct question about what steps to take next. The Moon will oppose Ceres in Pisces, seeking balance once again between the universal and the everyday. Monday morning, the Moon forms an inconjunct with Neptune in Aquarius––this contact with cosmic visions is a stretch for the Virgo Moon, but there's something to be learned here.

With the Moon in Virgo, we pay attention to details, appreciating the beauty and the power of the everyday world. In this last days of the waning lunar cycle, and in these days of Autumn, we see how fleeting life is, how quickly forms can change. With love for what we have, we release what we no longer need, to prepare for the cycle to come.