Moon into Virgo: Making and Mending

Tuesday afternoon through Thursday afternoon

The Moon stepped briskly into practical, detail-oriented Virgo at 3:33pm today, and my own Virgo Moon has already kicked into gear. I've been so focused on the details of a swiftly-approaching move, I'm late getting the blog out!

The key lunar event during this transit through Virgo is the Waxing Half Moon which arrives Wednesday night at 10:10pm. This square between the Gemini Sun and Virgo Moon will test our resolve as New Moon intentions continue to unfold. Maybe what we wished for isn't appearing quite as we imagined, or more work is needed. Are we still committed?

As squares go, these two mutable signs are not likely to challenge each other too severely. Think of this more like Gemini and Virgo, Sun and Moon, comparing checklists and making sure everything needed is in place. Once we turn this corner, we're headed for the Full Moon and another eclipse, so best to be sure.

Blake's Songs of Innocence

Before we get to the Half Moon, this Virgo Moon will trine Jupiter in Taurus, just as Mercury in Gemini trines Saturn in Libra. These flowing aspects signal a willingness to get things done, focusing in on the details that Virgo and Gemini love, and the steady work ethic of Saturn and Taurus. With Jupiter around to lend good luck and enthusiasm, this combination of Air and Earth could lead to real progress today.

Later, the Virgo Moon opposes Neptune in Pisces. These two signs highlight the ends of the spectrum described by Blake: To see a world in a grain of sand, and heaven in a wild flower. Virgo focuses on each grain, Neptune on heaven. This is a chance for the big picture reminder of why we sometimes do sweat the small stuff.

Early Wednesday morning brings a trine between the Virgo Moon and Pluto in Capricorn. If a transformative dream arrives, perhaps the Virgo Moon will help us remember. Late morning, the Moon squares Mercury, a preview of the Half Moon. This is a time to be sure communications, and their practical consequences, are clearly understood.

Other aspects Wednesday that influence the lunar mood include Chiron turning retrograde, spending several months reviewing and reflecting on healing, mentorship, and how we become our unique selves. Jupiter and Neptune flow energy in sextile, a connection between the abundance of Earth (Jupiter in Taurus) and the vast sweep of the cosmos (Neptune in Pisces).

Early Thursday morning, the Moon reaches her last aspect in Virgo, a flowing trine with Mars in Taurus. This connection might brings dreams of getting things done in pragmatic ways, of standing up for the Earth, or of sensuality and healing. The Moon remains void of course today as Venus slips into Gemini, ready to meet the Moon in another trine when she steps into Libra at 6:31pm Thursday.

Moon in Leo: The Time is Now

Sunday morning through Tuesday afternoon

The Moon is about to step into Leo's spotlight (11:03am EDT), claiming her moment. The Leo Moon can be playful, joyous, passionate and creative, craving attention and loving the feeling of being seen and appreciated. In this transit through Leo, the Moon emphasizes her desire for self expression and self determination.

The Leo Moon's first aspects are edgy: An inconjunct angle-of-adjustment with Neptune in Pisces, and a square with Jupiter in Taurus. Right now, Neptune and Jupiter, both at 0 degrees, are flowing energy in sextile with each other to create a sensual, peaceful, dream. So what's up with this Moon challenge?

Red flower

Visionary Neptune and philosophical Jupiter are planning for the long term and imagining how wonderful it will all be some day. The Leo Moon says, what about now? What about today? How can we take our wonderful visions and live them? Here. Right now.

Tonight, a yod forms as Mercury in Gemini flows energy in sextile with the Leo Moon, and both are inconjunct Pluto the Alchemist. Again, we see a need to balance the pressure for long term change (represented by Pluto) with the desire for what we want now, what we see now, what's happening now.

Monday brings energy for making things real as the Leo Moon flows energy in sextile with practical Saturn in Libra, and with the bright Gemini Sun. The waxing sextile between the Sun and Moon marks a time of understanding in the lunar cycle, when we begin to see the first signs of what we planted at the New Moon. Leo, Libra and Gemini together combine passion, balance, and thought in a highly creative and expressive mix. It's happening now.

Monday night brings a square between the passionate Leo Moon, and secure and steady Mars in Taurus. Finding the dynamic balance here could lead to a deeply sensual, warm encounter, or to an equally strong stand-off between irreconcilable points of view. Choose carefully.

Tuesday morning, we see the same square, this time with Venus in Taurus. Again, a choice. We can seek a dynamic balance that honors both Leo's passionate flamboyance and Taurus' calm centeredness. Or we can stake out a position at one end of the spectrum and refuse to move. Which choice will move us toward our goals? Which will bring more joy into our lives?

The Venus square begins the Moon's time-between-times, which ends at 3:33pm EDT when the Moon steps into practical-minded Virgo. In the meantime, celebrate the Leo Moon!

Moon into Cancer: Redefining What "Home" Looks Like

Friday morning through Sunday morning

The Moon is now in her home sign of Cancer, which means we'll feel like nesting, but also feeling possible resistance to the winds of change dancing around us with the New Moon in Gemini. There's so much going on ... can't we have a few days off for chocolate and a movie?

Open Door on a Garden by Somov

Cancer loves tradition, loves home, loves safety and security, loves being surrounded by family. All these are good things, and we can enjoy them, and long for them when they're missing from our loves. And yet ... what does "home" look like in times like these?

Today, the Moon opens with a flowing trine from visionary Neptune, followed by a trine to Chiron nearby, offering new images of home. This morning, as this aspect was underway, I dreamt of an older home with leaks, water running in rivulets across wooden floors as we tried to find where it was coming from. What shape are our homes in, the inner as well as the outer "home"? What attention is needed?

Now come the messages about repair and renovation: The Moon squares revolutionary Uranus, opposes transformative Pluto, and squares hard-nosed Saturn. Across the day, we're offered reality checks about what's needed at home, now.

Saturday, the messages continue. Jupiter enters calm and steady Taurus, ready to take care of things at home. The Moon flows energy in sextile with Mars in Taurus, that same steadiness now ready to dig in and get things done. Mercury in Gemini sextiles Uranus is Aries, bringing a boost of bright ideas for how to move ahead.

Overnight, after a day of working on "home," the Moon sextiles Venus in Taurus, a soothing look at the security that stable relationships can bring. This is the Moon's last classical aspect in Cancer, although there's also a flowing trine with Ceres the Grain Mother at this time. Dreams on Saturday may bring images of the Mother, nurturing, and support.

The Moon blazes into Leo at 11:03am Sunday morning, ready to play!