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GEMINI NEW MOON - 13 June 2018

6/11/2018

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GEMINI NEW MOON – Wednesday 13 June, exact at 8.43pm BST, 3.43pm EDT
 
This Moon is a potent time to set intentions for ourselves, because Gemini reminds us of how our thoughts carry energy and have the power to affect our reality in positive or negative ways. Watch what you wish for! New Moons represent a time of beginnings and endings, when we leave something behind in the dark of the Moon and contemplate what we want to cultivate moving forwards. You can’t have a beginning without and ending! The Sun and Moon are joining forces in the versatile, adaptable and curious sign of Gemini, so issues around communication and our thought processes are likely to be prevalent at the moment. We may become all too aware of our thought patterns and how they help or hinder us. Mind chatter could be rife during this time, as it is hard to get the little monkeys in our heads to quieten down! We could be striving to understand something that is hard to comprehend. As Gemini is the sign of the twins it represents duality. We could literally be in “two minds” about something, or could experience someone being two-faced, or even downright lying. We could be giving or receiving mixed messages. Certainly this is a time of considerable mental activity!
 
Mercury, the ruler of Gemini, is currently in emotional and sensitive Cancer. This could mean that we are trying to understand something from our past, most likely from our childhood. Cancer is the sign of the family and our emotional roots, so there could be issues of communication between us and our family members, or we could be trying to get to the bottom of something that happened long ago but still has an impact on the way we think and communicate. It is possible that we are struggling to understand a family dynamic, but that no answer is readily available to us. The way we perceive the world is heavily influenced by the experiences we had and the messages we received in childhood, and our thought process could be utterly irrational at times because they are ruled by our emotional patterns. This could be a good time to bring long standing emotional issues out into the open and talk about them.
 
Saturn is also opposite Mercury, bringing up boundary issues around communication, and could cause people to withhold information or hold back from communicating with us, leaving us in the dark. There could be misunderstandings, or some kind of impasse that seems difficult to overcome or understand. Saturn brings a sense of lack and makes us very aware of what needs to be worked on in order to improve the situation. Chiron the Wounded Healer is also involved in the picture, and combined with Saturn our thoughts could feel a bit heavy and more fearful and anxious than usual. This combo could take our minds into some rather dark places, causing us to worry perhaps more than we need to. However, there is the potential for some deep healing here. Old karmic wounds could come to the surface, needing to be understood and voiced out loud somehow. It may become glaringly obvious how the pain of the past is colouring our perspective and dynamics with others in the here and now. 
 
It is important to be aware of how we communicate and interact with people, because some painful or hurtful truths could be spoken during this time, either by us or to us. It is also important to be aware that gossiping or talking about people behind their backs is never a good idea and can do more harm than good. Saturn reminds us that we are only responsible for our part in whatever situation we find ourselves in, and that it is important to come from a place of integrity, maturity and accountability. Sometimes people inadvertently trigger our deepest wounds, and none more so than the people closest to us, but it is our choice how we respond to it. This combination of planets certainly brings a sense of us wanting to understand ourselves and our emotional nature better and possibly having to delve back into the past in order to do so.
 
With Mars sitting right next to the South Node of the Moon, and Uranus, the ruler of the South Node, squaring the Nodes, there is definitely the potential for us having to face up to some unresolved material from our childhood and early years, and even from past lives. Possibly old resentment and anger that we don’t even know we have could come rising up to the surface. We could slip back into old patterns and habits that we thought we had already healed or left behind. We might find ourselves confronting someone, when really our beef is with someone who did something traumatic to us in our childhood or beyond. It could be a replay situation, bringing a sense of déjà vu. We may find ourselves reliving some very difficult family karma, bringing it out into the open so we can air our grievances and let it go. We may have to be completely honest with ourselves and others about issues and trauma that has long been forgotten, pushed to one side or buried. Sometimes we have no choice but to go backwards over old ground in order to move forward.
 
Uranus is also challenging Venus during this New Moon, meaning that we might experience some surprises and possible wake-up calls in the realm of our relationships. We might have to face up to some unpleasant material that we might prefer to ignore, or find that change is forced on us somehow. Uranus has the potential to help release us from anything stale or stagnant that might be blocking healthy relationships, but the process could be somewhat unsettling! This seems to tie in with the rest of the New Moon chart, which brings a sense of old material coming up for us to process and understand, and having to deal with some kind of communication issue that presses our buttons and triggers old wounds. It is very important not to let our monkey minds run away with us over the next few days, and to be aware of the power of words to hurt or heal. All will be revealed in the fullness of time, no doubt!
 
Much Love
 
Amy
Xoxo

Picture: Taming the Monkey Mind – Unknown
 

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SAGITTARIUS FULL MOON - 29 May 2018

5/24/2018

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Exact at 3.15pm BST, 10.15am EDT
 
Well, this Full Moon offers a bit of light relief after the intensity of the past couple of Moon cycles! Of course, it being a Full Moon, it still has the potential to bring out any unconscious emotional material that has been bubbling away beneath the surface! However, Sagittarius does have a sense of humour and the ability to see the bigger picture, so that will work in our favour! Not to mention that Sagittarius imbues us with the faith that every experience has something valuable to teach us in order to help us grow. This Moon is definitely expansive in nature! The Sun has now moved from Taurus into curious, versatile and communicative Gemini, and will be opposed by the Moon in adventurous, philosophical and optimistic Sagittarius. This definitely brings some levity to the picture, as Sagittarius energy is quite jolly and enthusiastic and Gemini  energy is very light hearted and youthful!
 
The key, as ever, is to find the balance between the energy of the two signs rather than veering too far in either direction. This is the kind of Moon that could bring philosophical discussions and intellectual confrontations to a head and cause us to reconsider our more limiting beliefs and opinions. We could be forced to recognise how our point of view and the way of perceiving things might be limited, and to see how our more rigidly held beliefs about ourselves and the world may be doing us a disservice or holding us back. We may also be forced to confront the lies we tell ourselves. The person we hope or believe we are is often not who we really are, and so our righteous façade may be peeled back during this Moon, revealing the truth of who and what we are to ourselves and others. This could be quite uncomfortable, but will ultimately be a relief. Our vision of ourselves, or the person we hope or believe we are is often not who we really are, and so our righteous façade may be peeled back during this Moon, revealing the truth of who and what we are to ourselves and others. This could be quite uncomfortable, but will ultimately be a relief, as we will feel more congruent.
 
Sagittarius is the part of us that seeks the truth and finds true meaning in life, bringing faith in forces larger than ourselves. We cultivate our beliefs as we go through life on the basis of our life experiences, and these beliefs help us to interpret life and to make sense of what happens to us. However, they can also be limiting, for instance, if they have their basis in difficult or challenging experiences in our childhood, and can take on too much importance if we cling to them in order to compensate for a core feeling of inadequacy, or to help keep anxiety or challenging emotions at bay. Sagittarius rules higher wisdom and the spiritual, philosophical, metaphysical, cosmological and religious systems that we adopt to help guide us and make sense of the world we live in. This can be a great comfort, but in its exaggerated form can bring dogmatic thinking, attempts to convince or convert, indoctrination, fundamentalism and an absolute certainty that our truth is the ultimate truth. The more insecure or inadequate we feel at a core level, the greater the need to convince others and force them to accept our “truth”. This is where Gemini comes in, as we are reminded that there are many paths to the same destination, many different ways of making sense of this crazy world we live in, and no concrete “right or wrong”, but rather different ways of approaching the same truth.
 
While Sagittarius represents that part of us that intuitively knows, and has access to higher wisdom, it is not so adept at finding a way to  impart this wisdom in a way that others can accept or understand. The preacher on the pulpit springs to mind! Sagittarius energy can be quite blunt and unrefined, which could easily rub people up the wrong way. Gemini is the master communicator, helping us to pass on wisdom in a way that is palatable and easily digestible; an easier pill to swallow. However, Gemini also has its limitations, because we can be so busy reading loads of books and going to workshops etc in an attempt to gather as much information as possible that we don’t actually take in the underlying principles or understand the deeper truths. We may even leave out, ignore or not take in certain facts, truths or information because it undermines our sense of security somehow.
 
With Gemini there is a tendency to skim over the surface, taking in information more superficially, while Sagittarius invites us to quiet our busy minds and go deeper, so that we can tune into our higher self and grasp the bigger picture. Gemini can make us get so stuck in our heads, trying to figure everything out, that we lose touch with or doubt our inner knowing - that internal guidance system that never steers us wrong. Sagittarius invites us to trust our gut instinct, our inner radar, and to keep connecting to our higher selves and our divinity in each and every moment of our lives.
 
Jupiter, the ruler of this Sagittarius Full Moon, is involved in a beautiful Grand Water Trine with Neptune and Venus, which could definitely help us to be open-hearted and loving towards one another during this Moon. This brings an easy, harmonious flow of energy between the three planets, helping us to connect to our true, heartfelt feelings and to accept each other as we are, in all our frail humanity. Neptune is the higher octave of Venus, and when they combine it brings the potential for unconditional love, kindness, tenderness and acceptance of one another’s flaws and inadequacies. This Grand Trine could help us to rise above our differences and see each other for who and what we really are, opening our hearts and minds and making us much more tolerant and understanding of what makes each of us tick. Love is such a positive healing force that brings so much compassion and empathy, connecting our higher selves and helping us to transcend any disagreements or differences of opinion we may be experiencing. It reminds us not to sweat the small stuff and to remember that we are all beautiful souls having a human experience, and  that we all have our various crosses to bear and obstacles to overcome.
 
Mars is currently in Aquarius and is moving towards the South Node of the Moon at the moment. The South Node represents past influences and represents the habits, patterns, skills and tendencies we are bringing forward from past lives into our early years in this life. There is a danger of getting stuck in these patterns and habits, rather than embracing the lessons and growth potential of our North Node. With the South Node currently travelling through Aquarius, we have a chance to recognise the effect that certain traumatic events from childhood and beyond are still having on us in the here and now. With Mars joining the South Node over the next couple of weeks, we may find old resentment, rage or anger coming to the surface for us to look at. It is possible that we could react or overreact to someone or something in the here and now, when really the battle is with someone or something in our past.
 
Issues around assertion, anger, courage, desire, sexuality, violence, willpower, independence and/or aggression could come up in order for us to recognise its roots in our past. We may become more aware of how we dissociate, detach or numb our feelings, or how our anger pops up in inappropriate, indirect or distorted ways. We may lash out at someone, when really we are lashing out at someone or something in our past. This could bring acute awareness of how our past is still playing out in the present. This is a wonderful opportunity to look back in order to move forward, so it is important to watch our actions and reactions over the next couple of weeks. We may find that anger comes up that we didn’t even know we had!
 
Uranus has now entered Taurus, which is a welcome relief after the last few weeks of Uranus in fiery, aggressive Aries! Uranus has a liberating quality to it, and so it has the capacity to liberate Taurean qualities of peace, tranquillity, stability, self-worth, confidence in our abilities and sense of feeling more grounded, helping us to find our centre. Uranus also has a tendency to shake up the status quo and bring sweeping changes to our physical world and material reality. If we are stuck or stagnant for the sake of safety and security it could rip the rug out from underneath us so that we make the necessary changes to help us step outside of our comfort zone keep growing. In the same token, something could suddenly change in our circumstances that causes us to feel more safe and secure. Our circumstances can change in the blink of an eye when Uranus is involved, that’s for sure! “The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away” springs to mind when I think of Uranus in Taurus.
 
The Sabian symbol for the Full Moon, at 9° Sagittarius, is: “A mother leads her small child step by step up a steep stairway”. This symbol brings the sense of needing to be taught how to navigate this steep staircase we call life. As Dane Rudyar says, a staircase is a man-made construction, and so we need to learn how to make our way in this “civilised” life. There is also a sense of us learning and maturing step by step, and slowly but surely developing more wisdom and knowledge about ourselves and the world we live in. One step at a time, we are learning and growing! It’s important not to rush, or to allow others to force or pressure us when we are not ready, or else we could come tumbling down the stairs. It’s important to go at a pace that is comfortable for us.
 
It seems that this Moon could bring some strong opinions to the surface and we may have to confront some of our more strongly held beliefs. However, this is a good thing, especially if they are limiting us in some way, or preventing us from seeing the bigger picture. It is important to be open to other people’s thoughts, ideas and opinions rather than digging our heels in and putting the blinkers on. We are being invited to see things from another’s perspective, which could be quite eye opening and could expand our horizons considerably. However, ultimately it is important to trust and tune into our inner knowing and intuition. The answer is not in our head, but our heart! Opening our hearts to one another can ultimately help us to find the truth, which is that we are all just humans, trying learning to navigate the steep staircase we call life, who want desperately to be loved and accepted for who we are.  
 
Much Love
 
Amy
Xoxo
 
Photograph: Stairway To Heaven by Helena Georgiou


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TAURUS NEW MOON - 15 May 2018

5/11/2018

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Exact at 12.47pm BST, 7.47am EDT!
 
This New Moon has the potential to help transform some old, entrenched patterns and strengthen our sense of self-worth and personal power. It could also come up with some shocks or surprises! The Sun and Moon are forming their monthly union in the solid, stable and earthy sign of Taurus, inviting us to leave any limiting beliefs behind in the dark of the Moon and to set some positive intentions for what we might want to manifest for ourselves moving forward. This is a good time to contemplate what we need to do in order to bring a sense of simplicity and peace into our lives and to recognise where we need to learn to meet our own needs rather than projecting them out onto those close to us. With Taurus we contemplate what really, truly holds value and meaning for us. We become aware of what capacities and abilities give us a sense of self-confidence and self-empowerment and allow us to be self-reliant and self-sustaining.  
 
This Moon could help us to recognise where we might hold on too tightly to people, relationships, possessions or situations that are preventing us from moving forward and really blossoming. It is so easy to get stuck in situations that are limiting or preventing growth because they represent safety or security, or because we can’t see beyond them enough to be open to another alternative.
 
With Pluto forming a harmonious aspect to the Sun and Moon, we are being asked to gently remove any resistance we might feel when it comes to moving past our blocks or removing ourselves from unhealthy or limiting situations. We may experience challenges or confrontations, either from others or within ourselves, that force us to examine ourselves and change any limiting beliefs or behaviour patterns that are preventing growth. We may become all too aware of where we are stuck, or disempowering ourselves, or placing too much value on something or someone to compensate for an inner sense of worthlessness. Anything we are holding on too tightly to may have to be removed in order for us to move forward and grow. Taurus has a possessive quality to it which can be very limiting and cause us to get stuck. Pluto helps us to purge our unhealthy patterns and transform any limiting circumstances we may find ourselves in.
 
Pluto is also joining forces with Black Moon Lilith during this Moon, forcing us to confront the darker aspects of our nature that we my usually repress or supress for fear of exposure. Anything that we deny, disown or can’t see in ourselves (whether it be our darkness or our hidden gifts) or try to keep hidden out of fear that people with think us to be a “bad person”, ends up coming out in a distorted fashion and sabotaging our intimate relationships. It’s hard to hide when you are so up close and personal with people! During this Moon we could become all too aware of these parts of ourselves, as we are forced to be emotionally honest with ourselves.  We could become embroiled in power plays, or become all too aware of how other people take our power away. As Demetra George says, Lilith “addresses the issues of personal, sexual power and suppressed anger” and brings “a refusal to submit to another or compromise ones beliefs as well as the potential for resolution”.
 
 
This combination could bring up powerful feelings of rejection, resentment, rage and the inability to reach agreement until power issues within our relationships are resolved. We do have here an opportunity to recognise power dynamics in our relationships and to bring our more shadowy, unconscious, compulsive patterns out into the light so that they no longer sabotage or undermine us. With the conjunction forming in Capricorn, we are asked to take responsibility for the darker side of our nature; to be fully accountable for it. We might need to fully own our rage. It might not be pretty, but it could be very revealing indeed! The energy of this conjunction will peak on 18 May, but has been building for the past couple of weeks.
 
Uranus is very present during this Moon. At the moment the Great Awakener, Liberator and Rebel/Revolutionary is in the very last degree of Aries, gearing up for the shift into Taurus literally four hours after the New Moon! Before he does this, however, he is joining forces with Mercury while being challenged by Mars in the very last degree of Capricorn. With all of these planets in the last degree of the sign they are in, there is definitely a feeling of things coming to a head! Hopefully afterwards we will all be able to move on and have a fresh new start. Mercury is the planet that rules the way we think and communicate those thoughts. Uranus and Mercury together in Aries could bring shocking realisations, being forced to think outside of the box, insights that come out of the blue, angry words that bring wake-up calls, radical honesty, frayed nerves, being forced to see things from a different perspective, liberation from unhealthy or limited thought patterns.
 
 Aries is a very honest, forthright energy, and Uranus/Mercury can bring breakdowns in communication that lead to significant breakthroughs. Things could get a bit heated, however! With Mars involved in the mix, the potential for angry outbursts is heightened, as supressed anger is brought out into the open and hidden resentments aired. We are likely to feel more impulsive and assertive, which brings the possibility for saying things that can’t be unsaid. There is certainly a potentially destructive element to this combination of planets! It could be quite shocking, whatever comes up. This energy will peak on Sunday and Monday. This is the last hurrah for Uranus in Aries, and it is interesting indeed that there is so much planetary activity occurring just before his entrance into Taurus. Possibly some truths need to be aired before we can move on.
 
And what might happen when Uranus goes into Taurus? We could experience liberation from whatever stagnant or limiting situations we find ourselves in. We could experience a radical change in our values, whereby whatever used to hold meaning for us has lost its sheen. Our financial system, both personally and collectively, could experience some kind of breakdown or revolution so that it is more in keeping with the changing times. Our sense of security and survival could be rocked to the core, but this could bring a breath of fresh air and new perspectives on what constitutes safety and security. Taurus represents the world of the senses and Mother Earth, so we could experience natural disasters that lead to a radical change of perspective on the way we approach the eco-system, sustainability, natural resources, eating local foods, environmentalism, cruelty-free eating, regenerative agriculture etc. Uranus, as the ruler of Aquarius, brings innovation and a more humanitarian perspective, based on liberty, equality and brother/sisterhood. This could be a time of upheaval that has the potential to threaten our sense of security, but it is important not to resist the tides of change. Whatever passes away at this time is probably long past its sell by date! Uranus will be in Taurus from 2018 until 2026.
 
A powerful and harmonious aspect between Neptune and Jupiter has been building for the past week or so, and will peak on 25 May. This collaboration between Jupiter, the planet of growth, faith, hope and expansion and Neptune, the planet of oneness, unity, compassion and acceptance, can help give us faith that ultimately everything is going to be alright and that we are headed in the right direction. These two are the co-rulers of Pisces, and provide a soothing backdrop to all of the potential upheaval that could arise from the Uranus/Mars/Pluto/Black Moon Lilith energy. This combination can heighten our intuitive faculty and also help us to see the bigger picture and to understand the higher order of things. Everything happens for a reason, even if it is not clear at the time. It can also help us to approach one another with an underlying spirit of tolerance, acceptance, understanding and unconditional love, despite our less desirable qualities. When it comes down to it, we are all just beautiful souls having a human experience. It can just get a bit messy at times, that’s all, especially when we allow fear and ego to take the reins!  Jupiter and Neptune should help keep everything in perspective during potentially turbulent times and bring a sense of hope and optimism. They will help us to imagine a brighter future.
 
Much Love
 
Amy
xoxo
 
Picture: Winds of Change by Marleen Visser
 

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SCORPIO FULL MOON - 29 / 30 April 2018

4/26/2018

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Monday 30 April, exact at 1.58am BST, Sunday 29 April, exact at 8.58pm EDT

This Moon holds the potential for some deep-seated transformation, soul searching and overcoming of our limitations and old, outworn patterns. Not only is the Moon full in the powerful and metamorphic sign of Scorpio, but the traditional rulers of Scorpio, Pluto and Mars, are joining forces in the heavens! This is a powerful combination of planetary energy which heightens the possibility of us moving through some major blocks and really getting to the bottom of our more deeply engrained patterns. It also brings the potential for acting on compulsions that come from the depths of our soul. We may find ourselves doing or feeling things that we can’t quite comprehend because they are borne out of our subconscious desires. We could experience urges that come from the very depths of our being, propelling us to make changes in our lives that our conscious self may resist, but that our soul needs for its growth and evolution. This combination also holds the potential for people using their power to dominate others, or rage coming up from the depths. This combo could bring ensouled acts that bring about transformation or could cause people to use force over one another for selfish or egotistical reasons in order to gain power. Personally, I hope for the first one!

The Sun is currently in earthy, stable and self-sufficient Taurus, sitting directly opposite the Moon in transforming, intensely emotional and wilful Scorpio. Oppositions tend to show up in our relationships as whatever has been simmering beneath the surface comes to a head. The best way to handle a full moon is to try and somehow find balance between the energy of the two signs. However, with the Scorpio moon receiving many aspects from other planets,  Jupiter being in Scorpio at the moment, and Mars and Pluto being conjunct, it would seem that there is a leaning towards the energy of Scorpio during this particular Moon! Taurus can bring a tendency to get stuck in a comfortable rut, making it hard to see past our own limitations. It can feel like a challenge to our sense of safety or survival to make changes in our lives, even when we know just how necessary they are. Scorpio, on the other hand, is often a catalyst for soul growth; its energy can act like a cosmic kick up the bum, pulling the rug out from underneath us in order to force us out of our stagnant comfort zones. This, of course, can feel very uncomfortable, but on some deep level it also makes us feel better because it puts us back on track so that we are no longer holding ourselves prisoner by our fear of the unknown.

This Moon could force us to face some more uncomfortable truths within ourselves, making us aware of subconscious forces that create compulsions that can wreak havoc in our relationships. Scorpio can bring up intense fear of loss, fear of betrayal, powerlessness and abandonment which can have a powerful influence upon our actions, reactions and relationship dynamics. It is almost like we are propelled by an invisible force that is so very potent because it has its roots in our past and has long since been buried deep in our subconscious. Maybe someone very dear let us down, or we lost a loved one, or our mother betrayed us on some fundamental level, or our father left or abused us. We are then left with trust issues, or a fear of intimacy, commitment or abandonment which operate from the subconscious realms and insidiously sabotage our lives and relationships on a very subtle yet powerful level. 

This is the kind of Moon that can make the unconscious conscious, bringing our more deep-seated fears and compulsions out from the shadows so that we can see them in the light of the Moon. This process might bring some very intense emotions up to the surface which could be quite unsettling, but it also has the potential to be very empowering indeed as we face our demons and purge unhealthy and unconscious emotional patterns. This is a great time to probe beneath the surface and gain some psychological insight into our patterns, motivations, intentions and behaviour. This is an ideal time to be very brave and willing to confront and accept the darker parts of ourselves that we may usually be blind to. The Taurus energy can help us to find a sense of stability and safety within ourselves, as it teaches us to empower ourselves rather than giving our power away to others. Taurus reminds us to rely on ourselves first and foremost, rather than searching for power outside of ourselves. Ultimately this Moon has the potential to be deeply empowering and transmuting, as we face the darkness in ourselves and accept it rather than denying its existence. 

The Sun and Moon are forming a square to the Nodes of the Moon during this Full Moon, which could also force a change in our destiny. The Nodes of the Moon represent the path of our soul within this lifetime, and any time there is a square to the nodal axis we may become more aware of what issues might still be unresolved within ourselves that are preventing us from moving forward in our lives and growing. The Moon in Scorpio square the Nodes  could signify old family issues surrounding loss, trust, abuse, betrayal, abandonment and power/powerlessness that we need to address in order to move forward. The Sun in Taurus square the Nodes could signify a relationship or situation that is blocking our growth somehow, or self-worth issues, stubbornness or an inability to see past our limitations that is holding us prisoner somehow and holding back our evolution.  The South Node is currently in Aquarius, which is highlighting past trauma, on both a personal and collective level, that could need addressing because it is still impacting our lives and relationships in the here and now. 

The Aquarius South Node could cause us to become aware of how “shell-shocked” we are by our old wounds, leading to detachment from feelings, dissociation, cold distance, aloofness and denial of emotions. We may have left parts of ourselves behind when we experienced pain, loss or trauma (in various degrees of severity) in this life and also past lives. Some patterns can’t be explained by this life! We all have the capacity to cut off from our emotions and go into denial, especially in the face of the horrors that we are privy to in today’s world. The loss of a parent in childhood could cause us to go into a disassociated, detached state any time someone comes close to “abandoning” us in adulthood. Sexual abuse in childhood could cause us to cut off from ourselves any time someone tries to get too close. These are extreme examples, but we have all had experiences, both personally and collectively that are traumatic in various degrees of severity. 

This Moon could help us to become more aware of what emotional material might be keeping us stuck in the Aquarius South Node so that we periodically go into states of detachment or denial. Ultimately the Leo North Node is urging us to go back and reclaim those parts of ourselves that we have left behind and become more “whole” and integrated. Finding some way of creatively expressing what we are feeling inside is also one of Leo’s gifts. Leo encourages us to follow our hearts and walk down the path of joy. 

We currently have Chiron, the Wounded Healer, in the first degree of Aries and Uranus, the Great Awakener and Harbinger of Change, in the last degrees of Aries. This feels significant somehow, as the Aries energy is heightened. We are also experiencing a shift of energy as Chiron moves from Pisces to Aries and Uranus gets ready to move into Taurus. Right now, there is the potential for radical honesty, assertiveness and confrontation that could bring great healing, as well as being brave enough to face our core wounds and also to step outside of our comfort zones and embrace change. Uranus is in the very last degree of Aries, which is a culmination of this revolutionary, radical planet’s 7 year transit through the brave, honest, aggressive and impulsive sign of Aries. It feels like we could get a more extreme, concentrated version of the potential of this combination, such as radical honesty, revolutionary action, uprisings, sudden acts of aggression, unpredictable surges of anger, sudden breaks for freedom and the need stand in our truth.  Uranus will move into Taurus on May 16, so this potentially volatile energy will be prevalent until then.

The Sabian Symbol for Jupiter, at 20° Scorpio, seems to sum up the energy of this Full Moon nicely: “A woman draws away two dark curtains closing the entrance to a sacred pathway,”  Dane Rudyar describes this symbol as:  “The revelation to the human consciousness of what lies beyond dualistic knowledge. The “Woman within” - the faith that is rooted in the deepest intuitions of the soul – is seen here as the hierophant unveiling the realities which the either-or, pro-and-con mind of man alone cannot perceive. The path to the mystic’s “unitive life” is opened up once the darkness of fear, egocentricity and dualistic morality is removed.  This symbol reveals what a positive reliance upon faith and intuition can bring about. Courage is needed to go through the veiling darkness – the courage to venture beyond the familiar and the traditionally known, to PLUNGE AHEAD INTO THE UNKNOWN.”

This certainly does seem like a perfect opportunity to do just that; to move past our fears and plunge into previously unexplored territory within our psyches so that we can face whatever we find there. It seems that this Full Moon could help us to step outside of our comfort zones and take a step forward on our path to wholeness. A key part of this seems to involve recognising how our past trauma holds us prisoner and sabotages our lives and relationships. If we are brave enough to do the inner work and be very honest indeed with ourselves, we have the opportunity for profound transformation as we bring our shadows out into the light. We may experience a few shocks or wake up calls that open us up to parts of ourselves we have previously been blind to, but it is important to be open and willing to look at ourselves honestly and without resistance, blame or shame. Scorpio invites us to dig deep and offers us some profound insight and understanding if we are able to do so.

Much Love

Amy
xoxo

Picture: Transformation by Joyce Huntington


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ARIES NEW MOON - 15 / 16 April 2018

4/13/2018

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​ARIES NEW MOON – Monday 16 April, exact at 2.57am BST, Sunday 15 April, exact at 9.57pm EDT
 
This Moon is a powerful one indeed, with some very volatile, revealing and potentially destructive energy involved. This New Moon is occurring in the first sign of the zodiac, and so it represents the beginning of a new phase of development. This is a time when we should leave whatever isn’t serving us behind in the dark of the Moon and set intentions for what we seek for ourselves moving forward. Whatever we are thinking, doing or contemplating during the New Moon has the potential to ripen and blossom as the Moon moves towards the full phase two weeks later. This New Moon is in Aries, the sign of independence, anger, assertion, honesty, enthusiasm, domination, courage, action, aggression; a sign that is very impulsive and tends to act first and think later. Aries is that part of ourselves that has the courage to try new experiences in order to find out who and what we are. He also demands freedom to follow his own path and has a deep fear of entrapment. Aries instinctually acts on his desires and is very adept at taking care of his own needs. This is the energy of this New Moon. Combined with the other planetary influences, there is an impatient and potentially explosive energy to this Moon that could set a ball in motion that might be hard to stop.
 
This New Moon is sitting smack, bang between Uranus, the Great Awakener, Rebel and Revolutionary and Eris, the goddess of chaos, strife and discord. Uranus has a very erratic, unpredictable energy that has the potential to bring sudden change and unexpected events that seem to happen “to us” but are in fact a reflection of a need within us to change the status quo and release stagnation or blockages. Of course, this also brings the possibility of sudden outbursts of anger, aggression or violence, as Uranus is in Aries, the warrior sign, after all! Whatever comes up during this time could surprise or shock us, but ultimately it will help blast us out of our ruts and bring everything out into the open. This is where Eris comes in, because she is the whistle blower and is ever ready to expose artifice and hypocrisy. Eris is well versed in the art of revenge and could help reveal the truth of the matter, bringing about a sense of poetic justice. With Eris revealing the truth and exposing our shadows for what they are, and Uranus bringing some kind of wake up call, it could be hard to hide during this Moon!
 
Just to add to the story, we also have Mars, Black Moon Lilith and Pluto joining forces in Capricorn! This is an ominous combination, as Mars is the warrior planet, while Black Moon Lilith has the capacity for volcanic eruptions of destructive anger, intense passion, emotional manipulation and disordered aggression. Pluto is the planet of power, transformation, death and rebirth, and in Capricorn has been slowly but surely exposing the rot within our power structures, destroying them as they stand so that something with more integrity can take their place. It’s a work in progress! It is interesting that this combination of such powerful energies is occurring in Capricorn, the sign of government, authority, society and rules and regulations. There is something quite primal about this mix of the God of War, the Dark Goddess and the God of the underworld! On a personal level this could bring some very raw emotions to the surface, including rage, jealousy or the searing pain of rejection. The darker side of our humanity could show itself during this time, but I suppose that it is less dangerous if it is out in the open, rather than sabotaging us from the unconscious realms!
 
Mars and Black Moon Lilith are very close together for this Moon, and this ferocious, raw, wild, passionate and potentially destructive energy will peak on Thursday 19 April. Mars then moves on and joins Pluto on 26 April, which could help us to have the courage and motivation to move past our limitations, aligning our personal will (Mars) with our higher will (Pluto). However, if could also bring acts of violence, fury, rage and aggressive abuse of power, causing us to act very compulsively, as if driven by an invisible force. Black Moon Lilith will finally catch up to Pluto on 18 May. The Dark Goddess and the Lord of the Underworld could definitely bring up some primal emotion, raw sexuality, power struggles and also potential empowerment. It certainly seems as if the dark could come out into the light during this time, exposing what might usually be suppressed or hidden below the surface, so it is important to practice self-awareness and be willing to be really honest with ourselves.
 
As I mentioned in my last post, Chiron the Wounded Healer is currently at the very end of the very last degree of Pisces, which is the very last degree of the entire zodiac, signifying the very end of a cycle of development. It seems to be a good opportunity to dive into our pain, face our shadows, confront our core wounds and do some honest, heart-felt self-examination and healing. Of course it is not easy to face the really painful stuff and find compassion and forgiveness; it is easier to blame others for our wounded natures, or stuff the pain away, numbing it with alcohol, food, drugs, cigarettes, anti-depressants, sleep, television or whatever else helps us not to feel. Pisces rules the collective unconscious, and so, as Chiron is reaching the very end of Pisces we could feel, all too acutely, the pain of the whole world and all of life; the humans, the plants, trees, animals. Humanity as a whole is deeply wounded right now. It is hard to deny it.
 
When a planet moves from one sign to the next there is generally a big energetic shift. This is even more so when it moves from Pisces to Aries, as it is shifting from the very end of the end to the very beginning. When Uranus moved into Aries, for instance, the tsunami happened in Japan. Pisces is a very peaceful, sensitive, empathetic sign, while Aries is a very dynamic, assertive warrior-like sign, so it will be interesting to see what occurs as Chiron moves from one sign to the other; from water to fire. This shift will happen on the 17th, literally the day after the New Moon!  Uranus is also approaching the end of his stay in Aries. This unpredictable, revolutionary planet will move into earthy Taurus on 15 May. It will be interesting to see what might happen in the last few weeks of the Great Awakener’s stay in this dynamic, aggressive sign. He certainly gave us a few shocks when he went into Aries, so we will see what unrest he can stir up now! While Uranus in Aries can bring freedom, rebellion and liberation, there is no doubt that there is the potential for unresolved or supressed anger being triggered or unleashed, sudden, selfish acts of reactionary aggression and provocation of war.
 
The Sabian symbol in which Black Moon Lilith and Mars are joining forces is very interesting. This is what Dane Rudyar says of the symbol for 18° Capricorn: “The Union Jack flag flies from a British warship.” The protection afforded to individuals and groups by powerful institutions in charge of maintaining order.
This symbol reflects conditions prevailing in the past when Great Britain‘s fleet was policing the seas under the international principle of the freedom of the seas. Times have changed, but the concept remains valid. Power is required to maintain social order and relatively peaceful interpersonal as well as international relationships. Alas, this power can easily be misused under the pretext of preserving “law and order.” Justice and compassion must balance social power, and especially the power of privileged groups. Where this symbol appears, the need for protection may be in evidence – or it may be a warning against using power for selfish advantage.
This symbol brings to us a realisation of the ambivalence of POLITICAL POWER, its value and its dangers.”
 
The symbol for Pluto is also interesting: “By accepting defeat gracefully, a general reveals nobility of character.”
“The realisation that one may grow through defeat as well as, and perhaps more than, through success.
This symbol presents us with the possibility of turning apparent external defeat into an inner spiritual achievement. We have recently seen how totally vanquished nations (Germany and Japan) have leaped forward and achieved great economic success. Much depends on the quality of the will and the inner integrity of the person.
With this symbol we find what seems to be a paradox, but the spiritual life is always paradoxical. The great sinner can become the most renowned saint, and a medieval Pope a criminal. What matters most always is INNER STRENGTH.”
 
This Moon certainly holds the potential for the unexpected to occur. It feels like power and feelings we didn’t know we had could be unleashed, like a pipe or a dam bursting. With both Chiron and Uranus about to change signs, it definitely feels like we are going to experience a big shift, both personally and collectively. The darkness could come out into the light, no longer hidden by any kind of façade. There is a sense of the truth being exposed, and it might not be pretty but it could be very liberating indeed! Mercury is also turning direct in Aries a few hours before the New Moon, so direct, honest communication is both essential and likely. Of course, the impulsive energy of Aries does mean that things could be said or decisions could be made that are rash, ill thought out and that we can’t go back on. However, at least the retrograde cycle will be over, which lessens the potential for miscommunication and misunderstandings to occur. Interesting times! Let’s see what the next few weeks brings us!
 
Much Love
 
Amy
Xoxo
 
Image: Moon Goddess Dark Chaos  by Immanuel Velikovsky
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LIBRA FULL MOON - 31 March 2018

3/28/2018

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Picture
Exact at 1.36pm BST , 8.36am EDT.
 
We are well and truly in Aries season, with the Sun, Mercury, Venus and Uranus all currently in this assertive, honest, brave and independent sign! This week Venus and Uranus join forces in Aries, which could make relations with others somewhat erratic, unpredictable and potentially even shocking. This energy has been building since Monday and will be exact on Thursday, and could bring a strong need to assert our individuality within our relationships, or to bust out of routine or stagnation, or even to make a bid for freedom. This may cause considerable disruption to the status quo of our relationships, but equally it could bring a much needed breath of fresh air as we are able to see another way of approaching our relationships. Aries energy is very forthright and honest, and so we could find ourselves being able to express things to one another that may be a bit shocking at first, but will ultimately bring everything out into the open so that it is all “on the table”, so to speak.  Uranus has the capacity to revolutionise our relationships and look at them from completely different perspective. As such, this could be quite an exciting, enlivening and insightful time for our relationships.
 
And with a Libra Full Moon, the emphasis is definitely on relationships at the moment. We have the Sun in Aries, a sign that needs the freedom and independence to develop our own sense of identity, sitting directly opposite the Moon in Libra, a sign that helps us to understand ourselves through the mirror of relationship. As ever, with a Full Moon we are asked to find a sense of balance between the energy of the two signs involved, rather than veering too far in one direction. Libra, represented by the scales, is a sign of psychological extremes and imbalances, and so this Moon could help us to see where we might be extreme or out of balance in our psychological make-up. Of course, our close relationships tend to make these imbalances rather obvious, as it is hard to hide when we are up close and personal with another human being!
 
Libra tends to highlight how we might project any needs that weren’t met in childhood onto our partner, so that co-dependency can easily occur, which can cause us to lose ourselves. With Libra there is a need to be needed, and to really listen to what the other person needs. Listening is such an important part of relating, as is the art of compromise.  Aries, on the other hand, demands freedom and independence to find out who we are and develop a solid sense of our own identity. It is very instinctual sign that gives us the courage and motivation to strike out on our own and actualise our own destiny. Obviously both signs have their limitations. It is important to learn to meet our own needs and not expect one person to meet them all for us. That is simply impossible! Similarly, it is important not to become so self-involved that we don’t acknowledge the needs of the other person. Aries energy can be quite selfish, which is important sometimes, but can easily go too far. It is such a delicate balance, achieving healthy relationships, and this Full Moon could definitely bring to the surface any imbalance between the need to be ourselves and the need to be in relationship.
 
The ruler of Libra is Venus, who will have just popped over into Taurus when the Moon is Full. Venus is very much at home in her own sign, and will encourage us to develop a healthy sense of self-worth and to make sure that we are self-reliant rather than depending on others to meet our needs. All of this Aries energy can help us to be really honest with one another and to say it how it is, rather than sugar-coating or hiding our true feelings from one another. It is a very good Moon for expressing our needs and being completely honest about where we are coming from, because Aries helps us to be brave and assertive, while Libra helps us to really listen to one another. It can also help us to initiate relationships or courses of action that we might usually be more cautious about. Of course, Aries can also bring up anger, arrogance and the urge to dominate, and is a rather impulsive sign, so we could find ourselves saying or doing things that we wish we could take back! This is especially true as Mercury, the planet of communication, is retrograde in forthright Aries right now. However, it is better out in the open, even if the truth hurts.
 
Mars, the ruler of Aries, is joining forces with Saturn in Capricorn for this Full Moon. Not only that, but both planets are challenging the Sun and Moon. This is an interesting combination, because Saturn represents control, limitation, authority, discipline and can easily suppress our natural impulses. Mars represents assertion, anger, impulsiveness, action, desire and so we might experience suppressed anger in ourselves or others which could come out as seething resentment or rage. We could experience some kind of energetic force coming from an authority figure. This combination is great for focused, disciplined, patient action and can bring amazing stamina, and also means that we could have the capacity to work very hard towards our goals during this time. Saturn and Mars also ask us to act from a place of integrity. However, it could also mean that we are forced to hold feelings or impulses in, or become involved in some kind of struggle for control or domination. It is important to be aware that often when we seek to control it is because we feel powerless in some way and are seeking to redress the balance or feel less insecure.
 
This energy is very prominent indeed during this Moon, and so we could feel quite frustrated, as if we are trying to push against something or someone that simply will not back down or soften. Indeed, we could simply be held back by our own limitations, or feelings of fear, inadequacy or futility. Saturn does have the capacity to bring out the darker, more fearful side of our natures, and with Mars involved we could be more prone to act on these impulses. People could act in quite harsh or ruthless ways, out of ambition or a need for hard control. Anything that is suppressed will surely have to explode at some point. The energy of the conjunction will peak on Monday 2 April, but will be very strong during the Full Moon. It will feel particularly acute for anyone who has personal planets between 5 degrees and 11 degrees of a sign. It will feel particularly acute for any one with planets between 5 degrees and 11 degrees of Capricorn, Cancer, Aries or Libra.
 
Jupiter and Pluto are gearing up to form another harmonious aspect to one another, which has been building for a month or so and will be exact on 14 April. This combination will really help us to look at ourselves honestly and to do the necessary work on ourselves to help us grow on a deep, soul level.  Jupiter is in Scorpio, helping us to face the deeper, darker aspects of ourselves and reality, and combined with Pluto is helping us to bring things out from under the proverbial carpet that have hitherto been buried. This will help us all to become more transparent on a personal level and also collectively. Pluto is in Capricorn and has slowly but surely been exposing the rot within society and our power structures since 2008, and this aspect between Jupiter and Pluto will definitely help that process along, bringing what has been hidden out into the light of our awareness, no matter how shameful, sordid or corrupt it seems. Jupiter seeks the truth, and in Scorpio he isn’t afraid to go digging deep into the dark, murky undergrowth to discover the truth that lies hidden there. Long kept secrets could be revealed, and we may have to face considerable guilt or shame, but we will feel so much better for having got everything out into the open. This is a very opportune time to face our shadows.
 
Chiron, the Wounded Healer, is now in the very last degree of Pisces, which is the very last degree of the entire zodiac! This means that we are at the end of a cycle, and I do wonder whether we now have the opportunity to find some resolution around our core wounding, letting go of some of the pain we have carried around with us our whole lives and moving on.  Not only that, but Chiron helps us to connect with our higher selves and find hidden skills and talents we didn’t know we had. There is the potential for us being somehow released from the prison of our oldest wounds, but before we do we may need to dive more deeply into the origin of the pain, inviting it in so that we can fully experience it on every level. It’s time to open those sores up and pour salt on them! Chiron will pop over into Aries on the Aries New Moon of April 16, which is very exciting indeed! This should bring a considerable shift of energy, and in the couple of weeks leading up to it we may well feel more sensitive, open and raw than usual, and more easily triggered. We should use this time to really embrace and feel whatever emotions come up, no matter how vulnerable we may feel, and to do our best to be compassionate and forgiving towards ourselves and others, because ultimately we are all in this together!
 
There certainly is an interesting combination of energy surrounding this Moon! With the Aries/Libra axis in the hot seat, our relationships are certainly emphasised.  This is all the more so because it is a Full Moon, which tends to highlight relationships and bring buried tensions to the surface. Uranus and Venus seem to bring the potential for some kind of release and change within our relationships in the build up to the moon, while Saturn and Mars seems to be a very controlled, fearful and suppressing energy, and possibly causing us to feel as if we are under the control of darker forces.  Or else not act, out of fear. Jupiter and Pluto are helping to do some honest, heartfelt amazing soul searching and to bring the truth out into the open, no matter how dark or shameful it might seem. And all the while we have Chiron in the very last degree of the zodiac, making us feel much more sensitive and open, but also helping us to tap into our higher self and our super powers. It seems like we are being called to be very honest with ourselves and others right now and to do some great purging! This Moon could bring us some rather extreme emotions to the surface, which could make us feel somewhat out of balance, but I suppose that Saturn is there to keep it all under control and ensure that we come from a place of integrity. The best we can do with a Libra Full Moon is really, truly listen to one another.
 
Much Love
 
Amy
xoxo
 
Artwork: Libra by Susan Seddon-Boulet

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PISCES NEW MOON - 17 March 2018

3/15/2018

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Picture
Exact at 1.11pm GMT, 10.11am EDT
 
We are currently in dreamtime, as we are in the dark of the Moon at the very end of the astrological cycle. On the Spring Equinox this Tuesday 20 March, the Sun moves into pioneering Aries and a whole new cycle begins. This is a time of culmination and completion, when we are invited to leave behind whatever no longer serves us in the dark of the Moon and contemplate what we might want to create for ourselves moving forward. We are currently preparing to shoot out of the hard winter ground, but for now, while we are still underground, we are invited to contemplate and imagine what kind of flower or plant we would like to become once we emerge into the light. This New Moon is a time for us to rest, meditate, turn within and listen to what our dreams are telling us. Indeed, we might feel quite tired during this time, as our dreamlife is probably much more active and prolific than usual. We will be processing a lot in our dreams at the moment.  We are invited to let go and surrender to the flow of our lives, allowing the current to take us where it will. This is a time to listen to the whisperings of our soul, heeding our intuition and paying attention to the subtle messages that are all around us telling us where we need to go.
 
Pisces completes the circle. As such, this is a time for us to become aware of any dynamics that are old, outworn or unresolved in our lives and find some kind of resolution or acceptance, or simply let go of them altogether. Part of the Pisces mission is to dissolve any barriers preventing us from connecting directly with God, Creator or the Universe, so the veil between the mundane world and the world of spirit is much thinner at this time of year. As such, we may feel more sensitive, open and vulnerable, as Pisces is apt to make us feel a bit like a leaf being blown about in the wind, at the mercy of forces much larger than ourselves. This could easily cause us to feel overwhelmed and we could easily feel like we are victim of whatever situation we find ourselves in, as if it is out of our control. It is always important to remember, however, that we are the co-creator of our own reality, and as such we have to take equal responsibility for any dynamics that might be playing out in our lives and relationships. Pisces brings a tendency to just roll over and allow things to happen, which in the positive can be seen as an act of surrender or acceptance, but could also involve us playing the role of scapegoat, martyr or victim.
 
Pisces definitely heightens our creative imaginations, which can be very helpful in terms of creating positive intentions for this New Moon and imagining the life we want for ourselves. Pisces is the queen of daydreams! However, it can also bring the potential for delusions and illusions, whereby we can’t see clearly at all, or only see what we want to see. In the extreme it can cause feelings of “madness”, as the barriers between reality and fantasy, the conscious mind and the collective unconscious, the mundane world and spirit world all dissolve and it’s hard to tell what is real and what is not. Indeed, who is to say what is real or not anyway!  Pisces likes to put the rose tinted spectacles on and is very idealistic, so disillusionment is always a possibility when reality kicks away the pretty illusion we have built around a person or situation! Of course, it is hard to face reality sometimes, and Pisces can make us very adept at burying our head in the sand and using escapist tendencies to avoid doing just that! It is important, during this Moon, to be aware of the possibility of things not exactly being clear.
 
Chiron, the Wounded Healer, is sitting right next to the Sun and Moon in Pisces during this New Moon. This could definitely bring out the compassionate, empathetic, tender, open-hearted aspect of Pisces and could make us feel quite open, raw and vulnerable. While our core wounds may feel a bit open and exposed, there is the potential for really connecting to one another on a deeper level and finding forgiveness and compassion for our flaws and inadequacies. It is so much easier to forgive others than it is to forgive ourselves, but it is so very important to find true compassion for our own shortcomings and learn to truly love ourselves, warts and all. Pisces brings the capacity for unconditional love, which has such power to heal! It helps us to really “see” one another, behind the walls, the masks and the defences. This New Moon could really help us to get to the heart of the matter.
 
Mars is challenging the Sun, Moon and Chiron, which on the one hand could mean that we are forced to be very honest about our vulnerabilities and wounded natures, while on the other hand could mean that someone does or says something that is hurtful or wounding. With Venus and Mercury currently joining forces in honest and forthright Aries, there could be the tendency to act/speak first and think later, which could very easily trigger our sore spots! However, although the truth can hurt sometimes, it is far better to be transparent in our relationships and operate from a position of authenticity, integrity and truth. This could be a good time for getting things out into the open, and while we might be a bit rash or blunt about it, we also have a chance to clear the decks and tell each other how we really feel. There is the possibility for us to trigger some heated emotions in one another, but it is important to remember that if someone causes us to feel defensive or angry then maybe they have hit on a nerve. It might be helpful to be aware of our actions and reactions during this time, because they could be very revealing. If we are brave and honest with ourselves, we have the potential for amazing healing to take place.
 
Jupiter in Scorpio is forming a harmonious, helpful aspect to the Sun, Moon and Chiron, which has been playing out over the course of this week. Jupiter is currently retrograde, and is working with Pluto to help us to face some of the darker aspects of our psyches that we might usually prefer to deny the existence of. We have a chance to dig deep and to be really honest with ourselves on an emotional level, recognising how the parts of ourselves that we keep in the shadows can so easily run the show and sabotage our lives and relationships. This is a really good time to broach subjects that are usually taboo, bringing some uncomfortable material out from under the proverbial carpet so that we can face it instead of pretending it doesn’t exist. We may have to face issues of power and powerlessness and also recognise how we might block intimacy through trust issues or not being completely honest and transparent with one another. Sometimes, paradoxically, the way to get our power back from another person is to make ourselves vulnerable; to be brave enough to speak our truth and express our feelings, even though it is uncomfortable and scary and we run the risk of upsetting them.
 
The Sabian Symbol for this New moon, at 27° Pisces, is: “The harvest Moon illumines a clear autumnal sky”, about which Dane Rudyar says: “This symbol brings us the message that the time has come to reap what we have not only sown, but also cultivated – or failed to cultivate”, describing this as a “karmic” moment – the seed of the new cyclic manifestation is already latent.”   There is a feeling of culmination to this symbol, which makes sense as we approach the very end of the astrological year and await the start of a new cycle. For now, it is sleepy time! We are like seeds, buried deep in the soil, preparing to germinate so that we can emerge from dormancy as the Sun moves into Aries on Tuesday! This is a time to surrender to the flow and let go of anything that needs to leave our lives so that we can make space for whatever awaits us around the next bend in the river. It is important to be attentive to the subtle signs and omens, listen to our dreams and be very gentle with ourselves. The time will come, soon enough, when we will know what we need to do. For now, all we need to do is just “be” and let our imaginations run free.
 
Much Love
 
Amy
xoxo
 
Picture: To Sleep Until Spring, by Trudi Doyle
 

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VIRGO FULL MOON - 1 / 2 March 2018

2/28/2018

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Picture
Exact Friday at 12.51am GMT, Thursday at 7.51pm EST
 
This Full Moon falls on the healing axis of Virgo and Pisces. As such, it has the capacity to be deeply healing for our lives and relationships. There is a huge amount of Pisces activity at the moment, with the Sun, Mercury, Venus, Neptune and Chiron the Wounded Healer all in this sensitive, impressionable, empathetic sign. As such, there is the potential for really connecting with others; seeing past their faults, “wrongdoings” and flawed humanity and connecting with their true essence and spirit. This, of course, can be very healing, as walls and protective barriers dissolve and open-hearted relating takes their place.  Pisces represents unconditional love, compassion, empathy and helps us to recognise that we are all in this together and come from the same melting pot.
 
All of this Pisces activity does also bring the potential for confusion and chaos, whereby what we thought was real turns out not to be so. Pisces does have the ability to create smoke screens and make everything a bit unclear and foggy! It blurs the line between the mundane world and the world of spirit, so all is not necessarily as it seems when Pisces is in operation. Pisces is the part of ourselves that prefers to see life through rose-tinted spectacles, which is all well and good until something knocks them off and reality hits us over the head! With all of this Pisces activity we are very likely to be having a very active dream life at the moment and they could be a source of amazing guidance if we pay attention to them.
 
The Moon is in Virgo, opposite the Pisces Sun and Neptune, the ruler of Pisces, so we are invited to find balance between the energy of the two signs rather than veering too far in one direction. While Pisces can quite easily cause us to go off into fantasy land, only seeing what we want to see, Virgo invites us to use the art of discernment and look at things in a more realistic light. However, one of the dangers of Virgo is for us to become so aware of our lacks, imperfections and faults that we analyse ourselves to death and are much too hard on ourselves. This is where some Pisces balance comes in, because she reminds us that we are perfect in our imperfection and are loved unconditionally by God, Creator, the Divine. Virgo represents the principle of humility, but takes too far this can cause feelings of inadequacy, shame, humiliation, inferiority and cause us to mercilessly criticise ourselves and our shortcomings, becoming our own worst enemy. It is all very well doing the work on ourselves and being willing to see how we can improve ourselves, as long as it doesn’t go so far that we take the blame for everything.
 
Pisces urges us to have some compassion for ourselves and our loved ones, seeing the true beauty within instead of blaming, shaming or finding fault. We are all just flawed humans, with our wounds and imperfections, doing the best we can with the tools we have been given. All we can do is keep working on ourselves, and beating ourselves up or self-flagellating simply isn’t the way to go! Virgo can create crises that make us all too aware of where we are going wrong and what needs improving, but while a bit of self-analysis is helpful, it can so easily tip over into worry, anxiety, shaming and taking all the blame for something that maybe isn’t completely our fault. Virgo is very good at the art of discrimination, helping us to recognise where we may be deluded or under the spell of illusions. As such, this time could mean that the rose tinted spectacles come off and we are finally able to see ourselves and whatever situation we are in as they really are, rather than the fantasy we have created. This could be very helpful indeed.
 
With Jupiter in Scorpio at the moment, about to go retrograde on the 9th, we are certainly being given the chance to peel back layers of illusion and face up to the darker parts of our make-up that we would usually prefer to deny or that are simply hidden from our view, “eclipsed”, or some kind of blind spot. Jupiter is forming a minor, helpful aspect to this Moon, but more importantly he is currently in harmonious aspect to Pluto, the planet of soul, power, transformation and the ruler of Scorpio. This combination has the potential for a huge amount of soul growth if we are willing to delve deep into our psyches and be brutally honest with ourselves about what we find there. It may not quite fit in with the pretty picture we have painted about ourselves, but if we don’t face up and allow ourselves to see the truth then it will just be there, operating in the shadows, controlling the show. A great deal of emotional honesty is required here, but the rewards will be great. We will be better able to see the whole picture, rather than just the pretty parts.
 
Saturn, the Lord of Karma, is also forming a harmonious aspect to the Sun and Moon during this lunation, and over the past few days has been helping us to see ourselves in a more realistic light and to take responsibility for our actions. His presence further compounds the sense that layers of illusion are being peeled back and that whatever “spell” we have been under is lifting, revealing things as they really are rather than however it seemed. Saturn encourages emotional maturity and a willingness to be a grown-up and take responsibility for our part in whatever situation we find ourselves in, rather than merely seeing ourselves as a victim. This is not to say that we should judge ourselves too severely, or fall into the trap of self-flagellation and guilt, but rather that we should be willing to “own our stuff”. Saturn teaches us a lot about the law of cause and effect, so we could be better able to see how the past has served to bring about whatever situation or state we find ourselves in now. The layers are being peeled back.
 
An interesting configuration is forming for the Moon, which will be exact on the 4th of March and holds the potential for a great amount of either wounding or healing. It could go either way I suppose.  We have Mercury, Venus and Chiron the Wounded Healer all coming together in the same degree of Pisces, which could bring about conversations which have the capacity to really get to the heart of the matter, helping us to see each other as we truly are and allowing one another to see our true essence and spirit without any barriers or walls. There is the potential for such compassion, tenderness, kindness and true forgiveness, as we come from a place of unconditional love and open-hearted acceptance. Such amazing healing can come from this place, as the defensive walls melt away and we surrender to our true feelings, allowing others to see the tender, vulnerable parts of ourselves that we might usually be afraid to show. Of course there is the potential for our defences to be lowered so much that we allow others to say or do something to wound us, but that is the risk we always take in trusting another human being. Better to trust and be disappointed once in a while than never to trust at all.
 
The Sabian symbol for the Moon, at 12° Virgo, is: “After the wedding, the groom snatches the veil away from his bride”, about which Dane Rudyar says: “The Keyword is UNVEILING….. an unveiling of mysteries, long protected by secrecy”. This symbol brings the feeling of us no longer being unable to hide behind any veils, in the form of pretences, or delusions, or illusions. The act of snatching a veil away could force us to remove any walls or barriers between us that may be preventing from really seeing one another and seeing each other’s true essence; our truth. It also forces us to stop hiding from ourselves and removes any pesky blind spots. There is no hiding anymore. This symbol corroborates all of the other planetary energy of this Full Moon, reinforcing the sense that the layers are being peeled back and the veils of delusion and illusion are being lifted. What is being revealed to us is anything that has been shrouded because we have been unable to see it until now.
 
“Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing,
there is a field. I’ll meet you there.

When the soul lies down in that grass,
the world is too full to talk about.
Ideas, language, even the phrase each other
doesn’t make any sense.”
From “The Great Wagon” by Rumi.
 
Much Love
 
Amy
xoxo
 
Picture by Mark Hansen
 

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AQUARIUS NEW MOON / PARTIAL SOLAR ECLIPSE - 15 February 2018

2/11/2018

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Picture
Exact at 9.05pm GMT, 4pm EST
 
This New Moon brings a sense of hope with it and the potential for blasting through some blocks! The week or so after the Leo Full Moon/Lunar Eclipse has involved a certain amount of purging and letting go for many of us,  and has allowed us to become more aware of old patterns that no longer serve us so that we can release and liberate ourselves from the hold they have over us. This is a necessary process that we have been through, whereby situations, people or events have brought these patterns to our awareness so that we can clear them, once and for all. Patterns that have been repeating over and over, throughout our whole lives, sabotaging our lives and relationships, have been revealed and we will have been given the opportunity to truly see and understand their “roots”. We have been shown the truth beneath our deepest wounds so that we can actually understand where these beliefs and patterns come from. There is a sense that the time is now; it is time to let go. This is the gift of the very special energetic period between the Lunar Eclipse on 31 January and this upcoming Solar Eclipse. It is not necessarily a very comfortable process and in fact it can be downright painful, but it is necessary to clear the way for a fresh new start. It is time to forge a new path.
 
An Aquarius New Moon will do just that! Aquarius is a visionary sign, with humanitarian ideals and the capacity to help us make a break with the past so we can step towards a brighter future. Aquarius dares us to think outside the box and question how our parents and society have shaped and defined us. This enables us to embrace the truth of ourselves, our own unique essence, that lies beyond the layers of conditioning that we have received throughout this and other lifetimes. Aquarius is a liberating energy, forcing us to recognise the patterns of behaviour and relating that have been preventing our growth and to be brave enough to move beyond them, even if it means stepping outside the known and familiar. Aquarius represents the ability to detach and see things objectively, and sometimes this can literally mean having to detach ourselves from people, situations, our family or even society so that we can see more clearly. Aquarius is a reaction to Capricorn, with all its “shoulds” and “shouldn’ts”, conformity, conditioning and tendency to follow the rules. With Aquarius we throw out the rule book and dare to think for ourselves, questioning all we have been taught to believe about ourselves and forging a path that is uniquely our own. This is the energy of this New Moon.
 
As I mentioned in the Leo Full Moon post, Eclipses represent a key moment in our destiny, because the Nodes of the Moon are activated. The South Node, which represents our past, the familiar, the known and tends to play out in our childhood and early life, is currently in Aquarius. Aquarius also correlates to our long term memory, which can hold within it either memories of skills and talents that we have not yet tapped into, or trauma. It is possible, therefore, that this Eclipse season could bring up old trauma for us to recognise and release. We have all experienced trauma in this and other lifetimes, in varying degrees of intensity, and this will have played a big part in forming the beliefs, emotional patterns and sabotaging tendencies that tend to repeat and play out in our lives and relationships. When we experience trauma we can often leave parts of ourselves behind, for a variety of reasons. We are currently being given the opportunity to go back and find these split off, buried parts again. These parts of ourselves and our memory that have been stuffed away, repressed, suppressed because they are too painful to face now have a chance to come forward into the light of our consciousness. We are ready, and if we don’t do it now then they will continue to run the show from deep within our subconscious.
 
Uranus, the ruler of Aquarius, is forming a harmonious aspect to the Sun, Moon, Mercury and Juno, the goddess of partnerships. Uranus is the Great Awakener, and can bring some “aha” moments, epiphanies and revelations, while releasing old memories or energy that has hitherto been blocked. In fact, Uranus can help clear any blockages we might have, bringing much needed wake up calls that help clear old, stagnant energy and  liberate us from anything from our past that it preventing growth. He can help us to remember, realise and understand. He can also help us to free ourselves from limiting or restricting patterns, situations or relationships that are preventing our growth. Uranus offers us a different perspective; one that we may not have considered before. He helps us to step outside of our comfort zone into uncharted, unfamiliar territory. He challenges our beliefs and allows us to see where they have come from and how they don’t serve us anymore. He has the capacity to really shake things up and rattle our cages, encouraging us to get out of our ruts.
 
Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system, is currently in Scorpio and is challenging this Moon. This could force us, in no uncertain terms, to face our demons and bring whatever is lurking under the proverbial carpet out into the light. Jupiter tends to exaggerate or magnify the energy of the sign he is in, and in Scorpio’s case it is all the dark parts we don’t want to face; anything that is taboo and has hitherto been shrouded in secrecy, not mentioned, not admitted to, not owned. Scorpio demands emotional honesty, even if it involves confronting material that painful or shameful. Jupiter is currently helping us recognise where we have been let down, betrayed, abandoned; where we have experienced loss and where we find it hard to trust. Jupiter helps us to grow and expand our horizons by facing up to, once and for all, any material that we have kept shrouded in darkness, hidden in the shadows either because it was too painful to face or we were too ashamed or frightened to go there. Jupiter’s strong presence during this New Moon holds the promise of deep transformation if we are willing to be brave, open and honest enough to dive into the shadows to dig up whatever treasure is lurking there.
 
It is interesting to note that Juno, the asteroid that represents the partnering energy of intimate relationships, is once again present during this lunation. She is sitting right next to the Sun and Moon, and Mercury too. She seems to have been following us around in recent times! This brings our intimate relationships into the foreground once again, forcing us to recognise how old trauma and the patterns that come from it tend to play out in the dynamic between ourselves and those we are in close partnership with. Mercury in Aquarius could help us to figure things out, think things through, see old material from a different perspective and also communicate what we have learned. This could be a time of great insight, whereby we have the potential for some amazing revelations that could revolutionise our lives and relationships. We could be forced recognise where we might block intimacy, though fear of abandonment, trust issues or other reasons that we find it hard to face. Old material could come to the surface that helps us to understand why we keep repeating the same patterns over and over again.
 
This Moon definitely has some challenging energy to it, but its overall message is one of hope. The fact that Uranus, the ruler of the Moon, is helping us out is a good sign! We are being given the chance to liberate ourselves from the shackles of the past, to dive into the deepest, darkest recesses of our psyches and release whatever we have hidden there. It’s really worth doing the work now, because if we don’t we will just keep on repeating the same patterns, over and over again. We should make the most of any opportunity we get to break the cycle, and this Eclipse season and New Moon is certainly giving us an opportunity to do just that! It is exciting and scary all at the same time, but that’s life, right? We need to embrace the light and the dark, because there is no light without shadow. We all have our demons, and if we don’t face them then they continue to run the show from the side lines  This Moon offers us a chance to liberate ourselves from the past and step forward into the light, but not without first taking a journey into the past to dig up some buried treasure.
 
Much love
 
Amy
Xoxo
 
Picture: Buried Treasure - Unknown

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LEO FULL MOON / SUPERMOON / TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE - 31 January 2018

1/27/2018

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Picture
Exact at 1.26pm GMT, 8.26am EST
 
This Full Moon is an extremely rare celestial event, as it is a super blood blue moon and also a total Lunar Eclipse! Phew!  Supermoons have more of an impact on our mind, body, emotions and spirits than your average moon, as it is closer to earth. This is the first time in 152 years that we have had a supermoon combined with a Lunar Eclipse, so this is rare indeed! Eclipse season is now upon us, which brings the potential for big shifts, helping us to release whatever isn’t serving us and start a new chapter. The reason Eclipses have such a big impact on us is because the Sun and Moon are triggering the nodes of the moon, which represent our destiny. As such, this Full Moon will feel more fateful and will have more of a long term impact on our lives and destiny.
 
The South Node, by sign and house, represents our past; our familiar patterns and habits; energetic patterns that we have brought from past lives that repeat and play out in our early life. The North Node of the Moon, by sign and house, represents qualities we need to develop in order to evolve and grow. The North Node may feel quite uncomfortable at first and we may resist it, but sooner or later we are urged to take the plunge and embrace its energy so that we have more of a balance between the two nodes. We can either go willingly or something can happen that forces us in that direction! We don’t have to leave the energy South Node behind altogether, as it has helped us to develop some valuable skills, but it does help to let go of any habits or patterns that are holding us back or preventing us from growing. A Lunar Eclipse activates the Nodes and as such it represents a key moment in our destiny and a chance to leave the past behind us so we can move forward to the next level.
 
The Sun is right next to the South Node in Aquarius during this Full Moon, while the Moon is next to the North Node in Leo. As such, on a collective level we are being asked to find balance between the energy of the two signs, while veering towards developing some Leonine qualities. Over the past month we have had two very intense, emotional moons in the signs of Cancer and Capricorn, which represent our childhood, emotional patterns and parental conditioning. These moons have helped us to clear the decks emotionally, facing up to any emotional patterns or habits that simply don’t work for us anymore. Now we are in Aquarius season and we have a chance to free ourselves from these old, outworn patterns, liberating ourselves from the past and letting go of any limiting stories or beliefs that hold us prisoner and prevent us from moving forward. This is a time of reckoning! The past is the past and now it is time to create a new future and do things differently. We are not these old stories; we are so much more! It’s time to break the loop! Leo and Aquarius help us to detach from our “stuff”, release old baggage and recreate ourselves, paving the way towards a better and brighter future. These last two moons have been very important, as we have been forced to face up to some pretty heavy emotional material, but now it’s time to let it all go and walk towards a place we’ve never been before.
 
We have a lot of Aquarius energy at the moment, with the Sun, Venus, Juno and the South Node all in this visionary, unconventional, humanitarian sign. Venus is the goddess of love and represents how we relate to ourselves and others. Juno is the goddess of partnership and intimate relationship. Goddess energy seems to be playing a very big part in this Full Moon! The Aquarius energy is asking us to try a different way of being in relationship, releasing ourselves from old patterns of relating and trying something new on for size. Aquarius demands the freedom to be ourselves and encourages fairness and equality. We are being urged to step outside of the box and allow a new way of relating and partnership to emerge which will allow greater freedom of expression, free from our old, patriarchal conditioning.  It seems that we are being asked to make the rules up as we go along. We have never been here before. This is unfamiliar territory. The old rules don’t apply.
 
Interestingly enough, we have another goddess sitting in exactly the same degree as the Leo Moon! Lots of female goddess energy influencing this Eclipse! Ceres, the goddess of nurturing, fertility and motherhood, is helping pull us forward on our path, towards our North Node. In Leo she asks that we nurture creativity, both in ourselves and others. We are encouraged to nurture each other by acknowledging how special and unique we all are and encouraging one another to follow what brings us our greatest joy. A seed is being planted at the moment, representing our hopes for a better future, and it is very important that we tend to it and help it grow. We are  currently going through a process, which started in 2008 with Pluto moving into Capricorn, of aligning what we do in the outer world with our true soul purpose. More and more people are finding it hard to get ahead in careers that hold no meaning for them. The Leo North Node will certainly help us along with this process and develop and nurture our own unique purpose! Leo asks that we learn to follow our joy and create the life we want for ourselves, based on Aquarius’s vision, taking control of our own destiny. It is time to allow our true nature to radiate out into the world without holding back! This Eclipse definitely has the potential to help us to shift forward. A new chapter is beginning.
 
Something to bear in mind, during this Moon, is that Neptune in Pisces is forming a nagging aspect to the Moon, which could make us feel acutely sensitive. Neptune doesn’t know the meaning of boundaries, and so we could find ourselves very emotionally absorbant, taking on other people’s emotions as well as our own. Full Moons are emotional enough as it is, and Neptune’s influence could bring considerable fluctuations in our moods and may even bring some disillusionment or sadness. Ultimately, whatever comes up could be very cleansing, so we should just allow whatever emotions arise in us to express themselves and treat ourselves and others with compassion, empathy and unconditional love, which are Neptune’s superpowers! It is important to be aware that our emotions could run away with us, which might make it hard to recognise what is real and what is illusion. There is definitely the potential for mixed messages and emotional confusion here, as well as deep compassion, emotional sensitivity and empathy. Whatever comes up could really help us to better understand ourselves and our loved ones, as we will see through to their heart rather than their emotional armour and the walls they have erected as protection.
 
The Sabian symbol for the North Node of the Moon is very hopeful indeed! 15° Leo: “The storm ended, all nature rejoices in brilliant sunshine” which Dane Rudyar describes as “the surge of life and love after a major crisis. How brilliant the light after the long “night of the soul”! The battered, but unconquered consciousness finds itself exalted in the marriage of sunbeams and rising sap. This indeed is “Release” – light and life singing in the cleansed and refreshed mind, flooded for a while by the waters of feeling.” This symbol speaks of “the joy and power of new beginnings”. The ruler of Leo is the Sun, whose symbol, at 12°Aquarius: “* On a vast staircase stand people of different types, graduated upward.” This symbol refers to “the ascending process of evolution of life forms and consciousness. Each person should be aware of the level at which he (or she) stands, even as he strives to move toward a higher one. He should look up for inspiration and examples, while helping the human beings of the next lower to reach up”. This symbol is certainly very hopeful, bringing the sense that this Eclipse can help us to take a step upwards in our growth, even though that might look different for each of us. Onwards and upwards!
 
This Full Moon/Eclipse certainly has an air of hope about it! Leo and Aquarius represent creativity and new vision, releasing us from old, outworn emotional patterns and conditioning. This year has certainly started off with a bang, as these past couple of moons have put a lot of people through the emotional wringer, but it is all part of the process. It is important to recognise what binds us before we can liberate ourselves from it! There is a sense of trying something new on for size and walking down an unfamiliar, untrodden path. This is the beginning of a new chapter and we are being asked to bravely walk towards our North Node, wherever that falls in our individual chart. Whatever sign and house our North Node is found in is what we are being asked to develop and nurture now. We have a chance for a big leap forward with this special “once in a blue moon” eclipse! Eclipses have 19 year cycles, so whatever occurs around this time will have a resonance with whatever was happening in January 1999. Possibly this is the next phase of something that was developing within us then. Certainly the message of this Moon is full of hope and promise, encouraging us to let go of our old stories, follow our joy and allow ourselves to shine the truth of our being out into the world!
 
Much Love
 
Amy
xoxo
 
Picture: Mammatus by Ryan McGinnis
 

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    Amy Bird

    I love writing about the Moon and the effect it has on us all, both collectively and personally. We all look at the same Moon and feel her energy, albeit in different ways. It reminds us that we are not alone and there is something very comforting about that!

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