Waxing Moon in Libra

Today's sky patterns offer paradoxes to ponder. We're in the New Moon phase, a time for planting seeds, setting intentions, and making wishes with the Moon. This New Moon connects us with potent energies for new beginnings, in the Cardinal (initiating, beginning) Air sign of lovely Venus.

Yet this morning, the Moon reaches her time-between-times in Libra. She's moving now into flowing trines with Neptune and Chiron in Aquarius, and inconjuncts with Jupiter and Uranus in Pisces. This void of course officially begins at 9:38am with the trine to Neptune; I look to the inconjunct with Uranus at 12:38pm for a more complete view of the Moon's path today ... which makes the void very brief, as she enters Scorpio at 12:52pm.

At the lake

The Moon enters shadowy Scorpio as Venus turns retrograde in Scorpio, another signal the waxing cycle we're entering is a little different. We are offered the chance over the next few weeks to look deeply at our relationships, our creativity, and our values, as Venus retraces the steps she took with Mars. And, if we need another signal, the Scorpio Moon's first aspect is a sextile to transformative Pluto, Scorpio's ruler, at 8:40pm.

So today's energy is one of depth, introspection, and insight. To plant a seed, we must dig a hole in rich soil, set the seed inside, cover it up, water it. We let go of the seed; we can't see it or touch it. Germination happens within the dark womb of Earth and Water. This is how the world works, but it's not easy. We want to know, did I plant the right seed? Is the hole too deep? Did I add enough water? Is it sprouting yet? But if we dig up the seed to look, we cause harm.

This paradox is reflected in the Moon's movement from bright, airy Libra to shadowy Scorpio. Moving into the time-between-times, the Moon trines Neptune and Chiron while forming inconjuncts to Jupiter and Uranus, which raises the question, why Libra is easy and comfortable with Aquarius, and needing to adjust to Pisces ... especially when Neptune and Uranus are in each other's signs? Can't they call just be happy and spiritual together?

Well, yes and no. In the intuitive, visionary, spiritual, healing, and creative aspects of our lives (Neptune, Chiron, Uranus, Jupiter), we need Libra's refined sense of balance. Strong personal boundaries aid our discernment and keep us safe, as we connect with others empathically. Sometimes we need to stand firm, sometimes we need to let go. Sometimes we need grace, sometimes we channel grace to others.

Now we are planting seeds. The Moon's patterns today remind us that planting a seed is an act of faith. We have made our preparations. We place our seeds in the dark earth, and hold ourselves in stillness.

New Moon in Libra • Walking the Labyrinth

Today at 2:44pm EDT, the Moon reaches the Sun to form the New Moon in Libra. This New Moon at 14 degrees of Libra falls right in the middle of this sign of balance, poised between two Full Moons in Aries. Another indicator of the times of great change we live in, we pause in Cardinal Air, inclining our thoughts to our intentions during this seed time.

Wishes at this New Moon focus on Libran qualities, ideals far deeper than red carpet images of beauty and keeping the peace at all costs. Libran beauty and harmony are soul qualities, speaking to balance within as well as without, invoking the Navajo Beauty Way chant: Beauty before me, beauty behind me, beauty above me, beauty all around me, I walk in beauty.

This New Moon in a special time of new beginnings. Its Sabian symbol is "a circular path," a rich image that conjures up returning, spiraling to new heights, and the mysteries of the labyrinth and the rose. If we stay with the most superficial view of Libra, as a sign focused solely on others and unable to know her own mind, the circular path might become a trap. Now is the time to embrace the understanding that our psyches include many "others" and we deserve the same consideration and compassion we offer to those around us.

The chart for this New Moon is amazing. Each planet paired, and all linked, the aspect patterns resemble a labyrinth at the center of which we find the North Node and Pluto. In the midst of deep insights offered by the powerful outer planets, and by Mars and Venus transiting through Scorpio, our feet are directed to our own karmic path.

Now is the time for intentions to gain clarity on what we are meant to do and be in this lifetime. Now's the time to wish for the courage to take the steps we must take to reach our goals.

The proximity of Saturn and Mercury to the New Moon speak to the need to think and communicate clearly, act with deliberation and responsibility, and take concrete steps to manifest our desires.

Neptune and Uranus in mutual reception 30 degrees apart bring messages from the cosmos, supported by Chiron and Jupiter, angels of the healing journey. These times can feel chaotic, challenging, overwhelming. Many of us face serious challenges at work and at home. And yet in the energies swirling around us, we sense deeper meaning. This New Moon is a time to ask for clear guidance and a strong connection with the still voice within.

This New Moon stirs us to our depths. These last weeks of Mars and Venus in Scorpio have brought us face to face with issues we perhaps would rather avoid. Not long after the New Moon, Venus turns retrograde, offering more time to plumb the Scorpionic depths of our relationships, our creativity and our values. This time brings the insight and energy to transform old patterns, releasing what no longer works and stepping into new ways of being.

The Moon is dark now. We step into her labyrinth, tracing the path of many seekers before us. We feel the energies in the shadows, and know we are supported even as we are tested. The light we need is within us. The only way out is through. We are ready to find the center.

Waning Moon in Virgo Moving into Libra

During this last day of the lunar cycle, the Virgo Moon diligently prepares the ground for the seeds to be planted at the coming New Moon. Now in the last degrees of Virgo, she checks in with the outer planets clustered here, reporting on what she's learned and asking for any final instructions.

image from dreamstime.com

The Moon's combination of inconjuncts and oppositions signifies Virgo's willingness to learn, and then do what is needful. Her inconjuncts with Neptune (exact at 9:48am EDT) and Chiron (exact at 10:20am) in Aquarius ask: What intuitive guidance is offered to us? What adjustments must we make to complete this process of healing?

Her opposition with Jupiter in Pisces (exact at 10:12am) asks for benediction ... words of blessing from the Great Benefic in the sign of our connection to the cosmos. Her opposition to Uranus (exact 12:43pm) is a bow to the great trickster, acknowledging we are on a path of change, seeking to fully embody our unique selves.

The Moon enters her time-between-times with the opposition to Uranus, although there is one more aspect of note: At 2:54pm, she squares Ceres, the Grain Mother. Ceres, in late Sagittarius very close to Pluto, will ask for an accounting. Does this harvest reflect our best work? Are we well prepared and supplied for the next stage of our journey? This is a good time to finish whatever is still undone.

At 3:51pm, the Moon enters balanced and beautiful Libra, the Air sign ruled by Venus that opens us to relationship. The lineup of planets waiting to greet the Libra Moon reminds us that relationships transform us: Her first aspect is a square to Pluto at 8:30pm.

A conjunction with Mercury at 2:08am Thursday gives voice to our thoughts and feelings. As we move toward the New Moon, what do we want to say? What last things can we release? What wishes will we make when the New Moon arrives?