Tues 25 September, exact at 3.52am BST, Mon 24 September, exact at 10.52pm EDT.

This Moon brings the potential for some amazing healing that involves us being very brave and honest with ourselves and others. Chiron the Wounded Healer is sitting right next to the Moon in Aries, meaning that we could find ourselves being quite strongly triggered by those close to us, or could potentially be the one to deliver a hurtful blow or two. Aries energy is very forthright and tends to act first and think later, so it is possible that we could hurt one another’s feelings without meaning to or even realising it. Not only that but Mars, the ruler of Aries, is forming a challenging square aspect to Uranus, signifying the potential for angry outbursts, sudden acts of aggression, shocking anger or truth telling. Aries is a very honest sign, and while the truth can sometime hurt, is can also be incredibly cathartic and healing. This Moon could certainly be the time for getting things out into the open and off our chests!
 
Libra season is now upon us, with the emphasis being on our relationships and finding more of a sense of balance, compromise, harmony and peace within them. The Aries Moon is opposite the Libra Sun, bringing into focus where we might be out of balance within our relationships. Issues around domination could come up, as well as lessons around having our needs met and learning how to meet other people’s needs. Aries tends to have a “me first” attitude, while Libra thinks of “other” first, while actually we are looking for a happy balance between learning to meet our own needs and dancing to our own tune, and really learning to listen to what others needs are. Questions to ask during this Moon are “How can I express my needs in a healthy way?”, “What needs to be said that has been pushed under the carpet?”, “Where am I giving too much/too little within my relationships?”, “How can I be honest in a way that isn’t hurtful or destructive?”, “How do I follow my own path at the same time as considering my partner or the relationship?”, “How do I handle anger in my relationships?, “Do I need to become more selfish, or selfless?”
 
Just to add to the stew, we have Mars, Black Moon Lilith and the South Node of the Moon sitting right next to each other during this Moon. This could bring up hidden resentments or unexpressed rage, pulling our darkness out into the light. It is important to be careful that we don’t project our own darkness or anger onto others. It’s a strong and powerful combination, the warrior and the enraged feminine. Whenever we have something we really hate or have a strong aversion to in someone else, the chances are it is something we haven’t healed in ourselves. It is important to be self-aware during this Moon, because there is the potential for some very heated emotions to rise to the surface. There is definitely the possibility of overreacting and putting the blame outside of ourselves during this time, so a bit of self-reflection is imperative. If something or someone aggravates us to the point of anger or rage then we probably need to have a long hard look at why! Are we being defensive because we are afraid on some level, or are they acting out some part of ourselves that we simply cannot see? Are they opening up an old wound that is still quite raw, or behaving like someone who has hurt us in the past? Why are we so bothered?
 
Saturn is forming a challenging square aspect to the Son and Moon during this Full Moon, forcing us to take responsibility for ourselves and to be accountable for whatever comes up during this time. Saturn is the planet of karma that reminds us that we reap what we sow, teaching us about cause and effect, often the hard way! It’s hard to look reality square in the face and be an adult about it, but there may be no choice in this situation. Saturn may be calling for a bit of emotional maturity and integrity, whereby we are forced somehow to step up to the plate and take responsibility for our actions. All of this Aries/Mars energy is quite impulsive, spontaneous and potentially volatile, while Saturn represents our inner parent or judge holding us back and forcing us to suppress our natural impulses and urges. Indeed, this could bring up the themes of judgment, control and guilt-tripping for us to deal with within our relationships.
 
It’s interesting, this Moon, as we have all of this honest, triggering, assertive and brave energy with the Moon and Chiron, whereby things could be said or done that poke at our core wounds like they are open sores. We also have a very prominent Mars / Lilith situation brewing that could bring some difficult emotional material to come up and force us to face our fears and shadows. We definitely need to watch out for projections during this time! And then we have Saturn, bearing down on us, like a stern judge forcing us to be grown-up, behave and make sure we are accountable for all we are and all that we do. Ultimately this does feel like a Moon that could bring hitherto suppressed material into the light, which could be so very healing! This could definitely be a very good time to become more aware of our relationship with anger. It might be very hard for some of us to be brave enough to assert ourselves and express our needs in healthy ways. However, if we remember the potential of this Moon to find the balance between peaceful, giving Libra and assertive, honest and self-oriented Aries, we could do a lot of good for our relationships during this time. This is a powerful moon indeed, and a very good time to be very honest both with ourselves and our loved ones.
 
Much Love
 
Amy
xoxo
 
Artwork: Honesty, by Poona

​Exact at 7.01 BST, 2.01 EDT
 
During this Moon we are called to contemplate what needs to change and what might need tweaking in order to improve our lives. It is quite possible that we will become all too aware of what is out of balance and we could experience quite a sense of urgency to make the necessary adjustments to feel better about things. New Moons represent a time of letting go and starting again. We can really tap into the potent power of the New Moon by consciously setting intentions for what we want to create in our lives moving forward. Virgo season is upon us, and so we have a chance to set in motion some healthy routines for ourselves and recognise what habits and tendencies simply aren’t serving us anymore. Virgo is adept at the art of self-analysis, discernment and discrimination, and so we have a chance to have a long, hard look at ourselves and recognise what is lacking in our lives and what we might be able to do to improve things. It’s important not to be hard on ourselves, however, as Virgo does also cause us to focus on our shortcomings and inadequacies and to dwell on what is lacking in our lives.
 
Virgo represents that part of us ourselves that seeks to cleanse and purify; and in the extreme can cause us to seek some unattainable perfection both in ourselves and others. As such, while it is always helpful to take good care of our mind, body and spirit, and this Moon is a good time to do this, it is also important not to be overly self-critical when we slip up or “fail”. Virgo has a tendency to create crises that cause us to take a step back and recognise what we need to change in order to make things better. It’s so important to simply take one step at a time rather than getting overwhelmed by whatever problem we are facing. With Virgo we seek to humble ourselves and deflate our egos, and to truly be of service to others. Of course this can also go too far, as we busy ourselves taking care of everyone else but don’t take care of ourselves. Then resentment can set in. Some questions to ask ourselves during this moon are: “How can I simplify my life?” “What habits and routines no longer serve me?” “How can I be kinder to myself?” “What constructive steps can I take in order to feel more healthy and whole?” “What can I eliminate from my life in order to feel more at peace?” “How can whatever I am currently facing help me to learn about myself and grow?”
 
We do have help during this Moon to make some positive and constructive changes, from both Pluto and Jupiter. Both of these planets are forming harmonious aspects to the Sun and Moon and each other, helping us to be honest with ourselves about what needs to change and to transform our lives for the better. We have an opportunity here to empower ourselves and take the steps needed to improve our lives. It’s as if we are getting a gentle cosmic kick up the bum, giving us the boost we need to move in the right direction. It’s important to trust our hunches and be alert to the little prompts the universe gives us along the way. The signs are always there but we just have to let them filter into our consciousness! Jupiter reminds us not to sweat the small stuff, while Pluto encourages us to step into our power and not be afraid to grow and transform.
 
Neptune is also sitting directly opposite the Sun and Moon, which could bring some confusion, making it hard to see the wood for the trees. I suppose it could contribute to any feelings of anxiety or overwhelm we might be feeling, as if we are at the mercy of forces larger than ourselves. It’s important not to fall in the role of the victim or martyr, however, but rather use the energy of Pluto and Jupiter to be honest with ourselves and step into our power rather than playing small or placing the blame for our situation outside of ourselves. Neptune’s involvement in this Moon could make us feel quite sensitive, possibly even over-sensitive. We might be sorely tempted to bury our heads in the sand rather than confronting whatever we are facing head on. Neptune also reminds us, however, to step off the Busy Bus and tend to our spirit. Virgo energy can cause us to become so busy that we work ourselves into a state of anxiety, while Neptune in Pisces reminds us to find some balance by turning within, meditating, stilling the mind and spending time in nature. This can help us to come back to ourselves, finding our centre and reconnecting to our Source.
 
The Nodes of the Moon are quite prevalent during this Moon, as we have Mars and Black Moon Lilith joining forces next to the South Node of the Moon, causing us to connect to old resentments, trauma or rage from our past and to recognise how we might be stuck in old patterns that simply don’t work for us anymore. Mars and Black Moon Lilith have already met each other this year, around 21 April, so this could have a resonance with whatever was happening then. Mars and the South Node have also met twice this year already, around 8 June and 21 July, so this is the last chance we have to work with this energy and hopefully we can come up with some gold this time! The energy of this combination will peak at the end of September, so it will be prevalent for the New Moon and also the Full Moon in Aries at the end of September. It is quite a potent, potentially volatile mixture of the Dark Feminine and the Warrior Masculine! It certainly brings the potential for blasting through some rather entrenched patterns from the past.
 
This combination could have a strong impact on our relationships, because Venus is also forming challenging aspect to Mars and BML. Any hidden resentments could build to a climax and come out in the form of anger and rage. Any unresolved patterns of relating or tendencies to project our issues onto partners could be revealed and magnified during this time. Anything we have simply been putting up with in our relationships could become so intolerable that we are forced to bring our grievances out into the open, although we must be careful not to do so in too much of a destructive way. Black Moon Lilith’s energy can be quite ruthless! It is quite possible that we might be forced to confront our shadows this month and it might not be very comfortable! However, it’s far better to bring them out into the light of day rather than them operating from an unconscious place within us. Uranus is also involved in this picture, bringing the potential for sudden eruptions or wake-up calls to occur that take us by surprise but that also bring great insight, revelation and liberation.
 
Whatever comes up during this Moon is an opportunity for growth. Virgo can cause us to be rather merciless on ourselves, berating ourselves for our perceived lack, bad habits and personal inadequacies, but it’s important not to fall into that trap. We really can be our own worst enemies at times! Any crisis that comes up brings amazing potential for some honest self-analysis and an evaluation of what needs to change in our lives. We are being given a chance to separate the wheat from the chaff! Instead of getting overwhelmed by what might be perceived as a giant mountain for us to overcome, it is better to simply put one foot in front of the other and take whatever action we feel is necessary to improve the situation. One step at a time! The Virgo New Moon really is a wonderful time for a proverbial “cleaning house”, so we can take advantage of the current energies and do just that! We just have to listen to Neptune’s promptings as well, and take some time out to quieten our busy mind and smell the roses.
 
Much Love
 
Amy
xoxo
 
Artwork: Mind Chaos – Unknown
 
My website: www.amybirdartandastrology.com

Exact at 12.56pm BST, 7.56am EDT

​This is a tender, gentle Full Moon that has the potential to remind us that we are all in this together! There is also a Grand Earth Trine involved in the picture, so we have some nice, flowing energy that should help us to feel quite grounded in the real world. Pisces can bring feelings of oneness and unity as we become more aware of how we are not actually separate, but rather we are part of all that is. With the Moon in this sensitive and empathetic sign we can tap into the collective conscious, as the boundaries between us and the world of spirit are dissolved. In fact, boundaries between ourselves and others could become an issue during this Moon, so it is a good idea to practice Virgo’s talent for discernment and discrimination! Pisces is a very idealistic sign that can tend to look at people, life and situations through rose-tinted spectacles, which on one level is very beautiful, but it is important to see the reality rather than what we would like to see. Disillusionment, as painful as it can be, can also be a positive thing, as we finally see things as they actually are.

Indeed, this Full Moon could help us to find acceptance of what is rather than hoping for what might be. Acceptance is one of Pisces greatest gifts, and can bring the peace that we all so dearly wish for. Some things we simply cannot change, and rather than trying to mould and fit people and situations into what we would want them to be, it is much easier and less stressful to just accept them as they are. Compassion and forgiveness are also Piscean gifts, which counteract any Virgoan tendencies to criticise or focus on what is lacking in ourselves and others. Virgo has a tendency to want to put everything into little tidy boxes in the search for unattainable perfection, but life doesn’t work like that! Life is messy and nobody is perfect and so it is better to simply allow what is to be rather than trying to make it into something it is not. Some things are suite simply out of our control, and this Moon could be a gentle reminder to just let go and allow ourselves to surrender to the flow of the river. Resistance is futile!

The trine between Saturn and Uranus is very strong during this Full Moon, and these two planets are joined by the Sun and Moon to form a Kite formation, which is an intensified version of a Grand Trine. This trine between Saturn and Uranus brings with it the opportunity to liberate ourselves from the past, releasing ourselves from any heavy karma that has been holding us prisoner. Indeed, this is a perfect opportunity to continue to let go of our old conditioning, freeing ourselves from our old stories so that we are free to be ourselves. The structure of our lives could be shifting considerably at the moment, although as this is a trine it shouldn’t be too jarring. Uranus is a big player in the cosmos at the moment, helping release us from old trauma and to wake up and shake up our lives. This Grand Trine/Kite formation could help us to see our lives more objectively and realistically, giving us the ability to make positive changes without rocking the boat too much. There is a nice blend between past and future, tradition and innovation, and we could well see quite clearly what needs to stay and what needs to be eliminated from our lives. We might find that we have a new approach to old problems.  There is a sense of us clearing old karma from our lives so that we can make a fresh start.

The trine between Neptune and Jupiter is starting to wane now, but its energy will still be with us for the Full Moon. This trine heightens our intuition and faith, helping us to see the bigger picture and face ourselves and others honestly and with compassion, forgiveness and acceptance. This influence can really help any spiritual work and helps us to be more broad-minded and to let go of petty or small-minded concerns or quibbles. Don’t sweat the small stuff is the message here! The Saturn Chiron square is also waning, which is a welcome relief, as it seems to have made many people feel quite vulnerable. However, it has also brought with it the impetus and experiences we needed in order to face some very old wounds related to our parents and conditioning. This has not been especially easy, as some of us have been forced to re-encounter some of our core wounding, which has been rather painful but it has given us an opportunity to be brave and honest with ourselves so that healing can occur. This is big stuff, as for many of us our mother and father wounds tend to dominate our lives and relationships.

During this Full Moon there are a couple of planetary aspects that are worth being aware of. Pluto and Venus are forming a challenging square aspect that could bring some intensity to our relationships and interactions. There is a possibility of power games within our relationships, with the potential for manipulation, jealousy, obsession or compulsively acting and reacting from our old patterns. This certainly isn’t a superficial combination, as we could be forced to be very honest with ourselves indeed, and our less desirable qualities could show themselves. This aspect will be building as the weekend approaches and is exact around the time of the Full Moon and certainly could bring a soulful, transforming quality to our relationships. It might be hard to hide from ourselves as those close to us hold the “truth” mirror up to look at! Neptune is also forming a nagging aspect to Mercury during this Moon, so it is important to try to be as clear as possible when communicating with people because there is the possibility of misunderstandings or misinterpretation, or people just hearing what they want to hear. We could also come up with some very creative ideas during this Moon, but should be careful that they are not simply a case of wishful thinking!

The Sabian Symbol for the Sun/Moon midpoint is beautiful, at 4° Sagittarius: “A little child learning to walk with the encouragement of his parents”, which Dane Rudyar describes as: “The natural assistance of superior powers during crises of growth. This implies passing through a critical stage of growth – growth in freedom, symbolises self-induced progress. In such a crisis the individual is not left alone. Some more evolved Power and Intelligence watches, encourages and give examples to be followed.” We are not alone. We are here on earth at a very special time, and this Eclipse season brought yet another shift which leaves us somewhere we have never been before. We are walking on new ground and this Sabian Symbol reminds us that we are being guided. We just need to trust our heart. It will show us the way.   

The Pisces Moon is the Moon of unconditional love and acceptance. Pisces dissolves the ego and brings us closer to our true Self. It reminds us that we are all connected; we are not separate. It brings the capacity for true connection with others that transcends boundaries and barriers. This has been a turbulent few months for many of us, and the Eclipses brought with them a powerful cosmic shift and the beginning of a new chapter. We have let go of a lot in recent times and with the Sun in Virgo and the Moon in Pisces we have the chance to heal and soothe our souls. Virgo season has a “back to school” feeling about it, and brings the potential for considering what we need to improve or tweak in order to feel more whole. Pisces asks us to consider what truly holds meaning for us now, in our heart of hearts. We are stepping forward into a more heart-centred way of being, free of a considerable amount of baggage. We just need faith and trust so that we can dive in and surrender to the flow of the river.
 
Much Love
 
Amy
xoxo
 
Artwork: Where Heavens Meet – Rassouli
My website: www.amybirdartandastrology.com

 CAPRICORN FULL MOON – Thursday 28 June, exact at 5.53am BST, 12.53am EDT.
 
This is a very powerful Full Moon because Saturn, the ruler of Capricorn, is also sitting right on top of the Moon. This is a double whammy of Capricorn energy! While the Moon is the feminine, the mother, the Matriarchy, Saturn is the masculine, the father, the Patriarchy. And they are both joining forces, entwining, during this Full Moon. The Sun is currently in the emotional, nurturing and sensitive sign of Cancer, and will be opposing the Moon in the controlled, authoritative and responsible Capricorn. During a Full Moon we are asked to find the balance between the energy of the two signs, although in this particular case the balance seems to be tipping towards Capricorn. We could become all too aware of how we have repressed or supressed our emotions, as old grief could come rising up for us confront.  The Moon represents our emotional nature, and Saturn/Capricorn represents the conditioning influence of culture and society, which teaches us to rein in our natural instincts and can restrict us from expressing our emotions. While Cancer represents our more vulnerable, feeling nature, Capricorn encourages us to hold everything in and keep a “stiff upper lip”.
 
This Moon could represent some kind of rite of passage, whereby we are forced to “grow up” in some way. The higher part of Capricorn asks us to become responsible for our actions; to be accountable somehow; to act responsibly and with integrity. It is a very karmic sign, so we may be forced to take responsibility for our past deeds, actions and intentions, whether they be “good” or “bad”. We might be asked to stand up and be counted, stepping into our personal authority in some way. Capricorn asks for discipline, commitment and patience when it comes to reaching our goals in life. As such, this Moon might involve some kind of initiation, or a maturing process, whereby we really step up to the plate and take responsibility for ourselves and our path and place in the world. However, with Saturn sitting right on top of the Moon we could also experience the limiting, inhibiting, controlling side of Capricorn, and be forced to face the negative side of judgement and the guilt that it can produce. Feeling judged by others never feels good, but all too often we are our own worst judge, mercilessly condemning ourselves and expecting ourselves to meet impossible standards that are utterly unfair.
 
Saturn and the Moon are not the most comfortable of bedfellows, and in Capricorn we could definitely feel the weight or burden of our parental and societal conditioning. While Cancer and the Moon represent our softer, more emotional and nurturing nature; the part of us that wants to take care of other and also be taken care of, Saturn represents strict corrective discipline, asking us to parent ourselves and hold it all together. When is it more appropriate to allow ourselves to express our natural emotions and when is it better to hold them in? Did we receive the message early in life that emotions are somehow “messy” or “not allowed”? Have we been allowed to fully grieve the losses in our lives, or did we feel that we had to pull ourselves together and get on with it? And if so, where are those emotions stored now and how are they affecting our lives and relationships? Where to we have a tendency or need to control ourselves or others? What will happen if we loosen the reins a little? Are we afraid of being vulnerable? These are all questions that could come up during this moon.
 
Chiron is also challenging the Sun, Moon and Saturn during this Moon, so it is quite possible that old grief or sorrow could come up, or any emotions that we have bottled up or buried might feel heavier and more present than usual. When natural emotions have been suppressed, repressed or controlled too much due to parental or societal conditioning then it can cause feelings of depression, futility or pessimism. Chiron’s influence could cause such feelings to come bubbling up to the surface, and it is quite likely that we could feel quite vulnerable as a result. And Capricorn doesn’t like feeling vulnerable! We are being asked to take responsibility for our insecurities and wounded nature and to recognise where we have been hurt by school, societal rules and regulations, authority or restrictive and repressive parenting. This could also be a time for healing the father wound. Not to mention the many wounds inflicted upon us by the many lifetimes living in a male-dominated, patriarchal society.
 
The Sabian Symbol for Saturn, at 6° Capricorn, is: “Ten logs lie under an archway leading to darker woods”, which Dane Rudyar describes as “The need to complete any undertaking before seeking entrance to whatever is to be found beyond”. There is a sense that the fallen logs represent old, outworn structures in our lives; the past, and that they are somehow obstructing our path ahead. Facing up to the material represented by the logs could enable us to push them aside and go deeper, or it could be that we are not supposed to be able to see while lies beyond yet. First we might have to deal with whatever we have accumulated along the way and recognise what is no longer useful to us. What is blocking our path? What karma have we accrued that might be stopping us from moving forward? What memories do we need to face up to in order to go deeper? What old material is preventing us from seeing our way? What do we need to complete before the next phase can begin? How do we prepare for the next step?
 
This Moon certainly has a serious feeling to it, as if we are being forced to face up to something; to step into our authority and take responsibility for ourselves somehow. It is time for our inner parent to come to the fore. It’s time to grow up and be counted. The Cancer/Capricorn polarity brings any family issues to the forefront of our consciousness and forces us to recognise how the conditioning we have received has shaped us. It is interesting that Mother Moon and Father Saturn have joined together for this Moon. It feels very significant. The masculine and feminine/father and mother joining forces.  Not to mention a double dose of Saturnian energy to force us to face up to ourselves! The good news is that there is a harmonious trine aspect building between Saturn and Uranus that could be very helpful in releasing us from the past and liberating us from any old patterns of conditioning that are keeping us stuck or holding us prisoner. This trine will be exact in August, but the energy is building now. Uranus helps breakdown any old structures in our lives and awaken us to our true nature and potential, beyond who we have been told we ought to be. This Moon could represent the first step in the process, helping us to see what limits us and how we hold ourselves back. It definitely feels like some kind of growing up initiation or process.
 
Much Love
 
Amy
xoxo
 
Picture: Capricorn by Stephanie Pui-Mun Law