On Friday (3/20) there will be a Solar Eclipse New Moon, and it is the Spring Equinox marking the astrological new year. Along with the Sun transitioning to Aries, the first sign of the zodiac, the Moon will also enter Aries on Friday. Together this may feel like an extra powerful new beginning in the air. However shortly before this transition, the eclipse and the New Moon will be at the very last degree of Pisces, suggesting the experience of significant endings along with the bounding new beginnings. Additionally this eclipse is aligned with the South Node, which suggests we are letting go of something... Eclipses are associated with big shifts and transitions if they are closely aspecting one’s chart, and they are often felt ahead of time. I like the description of eclipses as a doorway or portal opening up, allowing us to step into a new experience. Along with the last exact Uranus/Pluto square on Monday (3/16) at 15º Aries and Capricorn, this is a moment of culmination — and a time of large scale transformation and change (which could potentially feel like both a crisis and a breakthrough) for many people.
We are in a new lunar cycle (The New Moon was yesterday on Jan 20th in Aquarius). The New Moon is about bravely stepping into the unknown to begin something new. The Moon is dark and the night is dark, with no light illuminating the way ahead. Correspondingly, we cannot see exactly how the new terrain in the journey, with its challenges, endeavors and developments, will unfold. We don’t have all the information yet, and we don’t know precisely what will happen. And that is as it should be – we just have to be ok with it! All we know now is that we must take the first step to begin the process. Over the next couple of weeks things will develop (possibly with some delays due to Mercury retrograde), and on the Full Moon on February 3rd, more will be clear. It never fails. The light of the Full Moon always brings some bit of new clarity or information which was not there before.
Today the Sun entered Sagittarius and there was a New Moon at 0º Sagittarius this morning. Wherever Sagittarius is in your birth chart represents the area of life where a new beginning is now opening up. It’s time for a fresh start, clean slate, or the beginning of a new endeavor in that area of life. Sagittarius is a mutable fire sign. Exuberant, spirited, and free – the Sagittarius archetype is about seeking the meaning of life through experience, exploration, and adventure. Through these encounters personal knowledge is gained, sorted, and distilled to make up one’s own belief systems and guidelines by which to live. Sagittarius is also characterized by a resolute striving, as imaged by the archer shooting arrow after arrow upward to a higher level. Along with the Sun and Moon, Venus entered Sagittarius on Nov 16 and Mercury will enter Sagittarius on Nov 27, so for the next month Sagittarius energy predominates and is highly accessible to all of us.
Scorpio season, a Solar Eclipse, Sun/Venus conjunction, and Mercury turns direct
The Sun, Moon, and Venus all entered Scorpio yesterday (Oct 23rd). This is a big shift all at once from diplomatic, reasonable, and mental-oriented Libra — to intense, piercing, and feeling-oriented Scorpio. The Scorpio archetype is about speaking and acting from a knowing that originates deep within the gut. During Scorpio season we may find ourselves more in tune with the truth of our instincts, and more inspired to courageously express ourselves from that internal wisdom. Read more...
There was also a Solar Eclipse New Moon yesterday at 0º Scorpio, bringing powerful energy to move forward new developments that are emerging in our lives. At the moment we may only have a sense or glimpse of what these new developments or opportunities may be, yet nonetheless we can feel the potentials of them stirring. In Scorpio we heed the need to purge and allow necessary endings and deaths, so that the imminent transformations taking place may transpire. As this eclipse is near the North Node of the Moon, there is something palpable to be gained through the letting go process. And with the Sun and Venus closely intertwined in the mix, the transformations and new beginnings will likely involve Venusian aims, such as engaging life within partnerships for the purpose of experiencing deepening love, creating more beauty, or redefining what is of real value for you. This will be happening specifically within the sphere of life represented by the Scorpio part of your chart.
Further, early tomorrow morning (Oct 25th), the Sun and Venus meet at about 2º Scorpio. The conjunction of the Sun and Venus only happens every 9 months and is part of a larger Venus cycle. It may be interesting to contemplate that this conjunction represents something coming to fruition, which began at the last conjunction between Venus and the Sun, back on Jan 11th in Capricorn, when Venus was retrograde…
Also, tomorrow afternoon (Oct 25th), Mercury turns direct after 3 weeks of apparent backwards motion. Although I am always the first to point out the beneficial aspects of any retrograde cycle, nonetheless, there is still a feeling of relief, readiness, and eagerness for things to start moving forward more freely again.
There is a lot happening today — Mercury is turning retrograde (see post from Sept 27), the Sun is square Pluto, Mars is trine Uranus (see post from Sept 26), and the Moon’s happenings can always be discussed. However, this post is about the upcoming eclipses!
As my wise Bubby (grandmother) used to say, “Life brings changes” — a perfect saying for eclipse season, which comes around about twice a year. There are 2 eclipses in October, a Lunar Eclipse Full Moon on Oct 8th and and a Solar Eclipse New Moon on Oct 23rd. In general, eclipses break up stagnancy and create powerful portals that we must walk through — as something old dissolves away while at the same time something new emerges. Often the changes and transitions marked by eclipses are desired and can feel refreshing and freeing. On the other hand, sometimes the changes are not desired by the ego-consciousness and are experienced as loss. Either way, cosmic intelligence is clearing a path, and we are launched forward into the next phase in our journey of personal growth towards wholeness and Self-realization. Read more...
Eclipses intensify the energies of the New and Full Moons, which can already be emotional, unpredictable, or tempestuous, so traditionally it is advised to exercise more caution around these times. Another traditional piece of wisdom about eclipses is that things started right before an eclipse occurs can literally be “eclipsed” (unexpectedly obscured, changed, or blocked out). So if it is something that you want to grow instead of something that you want to diminish, or if is something serious that you don’t want any surprises with, it is often advised to wait until the eclipses pass before initiating it, when possible
Eclipses happen in sets, slowly working their way backwards through the opposing signs and unfolding a process that affects each of us differently depending on which pair of signs and houses they are falling in within our own charts. If an eclipse is triggering a significant point in your birth chart, the effect of the eclipse is usually felt well before the eclipse occurs and for several months afterwards, especially until the next set of eclipses occurs.
In this current set, the Lunar Eclipse Full Moon (near the South Node of the Moon) on Oct 8th represents reaching a pinnacle of clarity about something that is being released. It may be something you want to be free of, yet the process of letting go can still be difficult or painful. Wherever 15º Aries is in your chart will give clues about what that might be for you. This lunar eclipse seems extra potent, because it is close to where the Cardinal Grand Cross peaked in April, and it is bringing to fruition a process of growing awareness that was strongly activated then. It could be enlightening to contemplate what was happening for you in the Spring, how it has evolved, how you are transformed, and what is now moving towards completion or closure.
In contrast, the Solar Eclipse New Moon (near the North Node of the Moon) on Oct 23rd represents a juncture for venturing into unfamiliar territory and actively taking something new into your life. Wherever 0º Scorpio is in your chart will give clues about what that is for you…
Dec 21-22 is the Winter Solstice, as the Sun shifts from buoyant, arrows flying Sagittarius ♐, to grounded, efficient Capricorn ♑. The Sagittarius archetype persistently aims for high goals. This persistence develops into the Capricorn archetype, where one brings the process down to earth and climbs the mountain one step at a time.“While each sign seems to be an antidote to its immediate predecessor in the zodiac, each one also comes equipped with the capability to take the gift of the preceding sign to the next level” (Kimberly Maxwell & Jim Schultz). Capricorn “gives stability and substance to the metaphysical, religious or social enthusiasm of Sagittarius… Capricorn puts to practical use what Sagittarius has released” (Dane Rudhyar). Read more...
Most people are ultra busy this time of year, but during the next few days until the New Moon on Christmas Eve, deep rest may be needed (both the longest night of the year and the end of the moon cycle are quiet, hibernation-like times).
Tonight we are in the darkest, deepest, most inward part of the Moon cycle. It is a time of being with oneself, surrendering, and accepting things as they are. Tomorrow is the New Moon, starting a fresh monthly cycle when a new adventure will begin in relationship-oriented Libra (Wherever Libra falls in your birth chart will show in what arena the new beginning is taking place). But tonight we are still in the dark and in the unknown. Things may be vague or unclear, and the Moon was void all day as well, making it an especially ideal time for being with what is and giving time and space for internal explorations.
There was a Full Moon Lunar Eclipse this morning, just hours after Uranus turned direct (that’s a lot of intensity in a short period of time). If you have any planets or points in your birth chart around 18º Gemini ♊ or Sagittarius ♐, this eclipse is especially significant for you. Full Moons represent the culmination of the lunar month, increased emotional sensitivity, but also greater clarity. Eclipses increase the magnitude of all of this in a quantum way. Eclipses can also “clip” something out of one’s life, that which is stagnant and in need of transformation.
It is rare to have a New Moon exactly on New Year’s day, both powerfully and clearly signifying a fresh new beginning. This New Moon in Capricorn was extra potent and also potentially volatile because not only was it tightly involved with the Uranus/Pluto square, representing a long-term process of deep change and transformation from 2012 to 2015, but it was also square to Mars and opposed Jupiter. Anyone with significant planets or points in the cardinal signs of Capricorn, Aries, Libra, or Cancer (especially around 11 degrees) will be experiencing Dec 30, 2013-Jan 2, 2014 (and perhaps this whole year) more intensely. Dynamic forces are in the air and may stir up anger, brutal honesty, and big energy and motivation to move stagnancy and create change. Read more...
“Pay little attention to what people say or do. Instead, try to see their innermost motive for speaking and acting” (Vernon Howard). When people are triggered they say and do things stemming from the “pain body”. Unconscious fear and hurt can be covered over with defense mechanisms such as denial or anger. Sensing the real feelings and needs underneath is where empathy and understanding come in, which are both crucial for sustaining love and care amidst the inevitable disagreements, growing pains, and change that occur in all significant relationships.
The New Moon is a time for visioning and planting seeds for the future, but we may still feel in the dark about how to proceed. The Full Moon is when more clarity and objectivity will come. Also Venus is retrograde through the end of January. This suggests that this month is especially useful for reflecting on Venusian matters (especially partnerships and love, but also finances, art, and beauty), as opposed to making permanent decisions, because situations and perspectives could shift after Venus goes direct.
For this New Moon in Capricorn, Some of Capricorn’s key themes such as ambition, striving, and success may be activated. I love Ari Moshe’s definition of success: “To me the true definition of success is the experience of performing an action that is in vibrational alignment with who we truly are/who we wish to become. When we perform such actions over a long period of time, we build a successful lifestyle in the sense that all aspects of our life are in expressed harmony with the essence of who we are.”
Full Moon in Taurus ♉, Neptune and Chiron turn direct
The Full Moon is the climax of the lunar month and a time to observe with objectivity what is coming to light or to a head. At every Full Moon there is an opposition between the Sun and the Moon, and this polarization and tension of the opposites may be felt within oneself or within one’s relationships and circumstances. When the Full Moon is in Taurus, the Sun is in Scorpio: on the one hand, there is a need to let go of the past in order to allow the necessary transformation of the self (Sun in Scorpio) — but on the other hand, there is a valid emotional longing for stability and security (Moon in Taurus), for instance…Read more...
The Sabian symbol for this Full Moon is: “A newly formed continent is seen, fresh and green within its setting of interminable ocean.” Something new is emerging — new ground to stand on and a fresh perspective. Yet it is surrounded by seemingly endless water, which can represent deep feelings, the unknown, or the infinite Divine (all of which can feel frightening to the ego).
Along with this Full Moon, both Neptune and Chiron turn direct after about 5 months of being retrograde. The retrograde period is a time of inner work — on the spiritual level with Neptune — and with Chiron, involves the healing of deep wounds. As both turn direct, we slowly see ways to integrate what we have been working on and move forward.
