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GEMINI FULL MOON - 12 December 2019

12/10/2019

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Exact at 5.12am GMT, 12.12.am EDT
 
This is a powerfully potent Full Moon that is once again activating the Saturn Pluto conjunction that is such a dominating energy right now. Gemini Full Moons tend to bring the potential for information overload, with ideas, opinions and beliefs being thrown left, right and centre so that we don’t know what to think or believe anymore! The Sabian symbol for the Moon, at 20° Gemini, says it all: “A modern cafeteria displays an abundance of food, products of various regions”, which Dane Rudyar describes as: “The assimilation of multifarious knowledge through the synthesizing power of the mind.” This symbol suggests that we will be given much food for thought during this Moon, almost too much in fact, so it is important to use our powers of discrimination and to be discerning about the information and messages we are being fed. With the Sun in philosophical Sagittarius opposite the Moon in curious Gemini, there will very likely be an emphasis on truth and lies during this lunation. What are the stories we tell ourselves and others? How can we read between the lines? Should we believe all we are told? How do our own minds trick us?
 
As with all Full Moons, there is a sense of things coming to a head, as the light of the Moon makes it much harder to hide from whatever has been bubbling away under the surface during the past few weeks. We also tend to experience a tug of war between the energy of the Sun and Moon, and the key is to find the balance between the two. Gemini is a very curious, communicative sign that likes to pass information from one place to another, whether through conversation, the classroom, the media, the internet or even gossip. Gemini is the king of social media! This is quite a restless sign that bores easily and likes variety, and is that part of us that can sometimes overdo it with regard to the amount of activities we engage in and information we take in. The Gemini part of us tends to skim over pages, taking lots of information in at a more superficial level, while Sagittarius likes to really digest, reflect on and even experience whatever we are reading or contemplating so that we understand it at a deeper level. Less is more as far as Sagittarius, the seeker of the truth is concerned!
 
Gemini is the part of us that likes facts and data, and can be quite logical and rational. Sagittarius, on the other hand, is the right brained, intuitive part of us that knows what we know without quite knowing how we know it. With Mercury, the ruler of this Moon, also in Sagittarius, we are reminded to keep an eye on the bigger picture and not get too bogged down with nit picky data and minor details. However, Sagittarius can also be incredibly opinionated and hold some very strong beliefs indeed. This is where the balance of Gemini comes in, because it reminds us that there are many different versions of the truth; many different points of view and paths to the same destination. During this Moon we could find ourselves bombarded with many different beliefs, opinions and perspectives, so that it could be hard to see the wood for the trees. Sagittarius is very much concerned with the truth, while its shadow side is lies or exaggerations of the truth, as people try to convince us that they are in the right. Gemini, the sign of the Twins, can also be very duplicitous and two-faced, presenting two very different sides so that we don’t know which to believe.
 
Neptune is also forming a challenging square aspect to the Sun and Moon, which could make it all very confusing indeed! With Neptune, the planet of fantasy, illusion and delusion involved, we could be fed a whole load of misleading information or even propaganda so that we simply don’t know what to believe. Indeed, Neptune represents our imagination, which could run in completely the wrong direction during this Moon, bringing fear or paranoia. We may have to navigate smoke screens and veils of illusion that obscure the truth and even lead to disillusionment, as we could potentially lose faith in the information we are being “fed”. It is very important to make sure that we are clear and honest in our communication during this Moon so that we are not misinterpreted, and we must also make sure that we listen to our own intuition and trust our inner wisdom and guidance when it comes to the information we are receiving. All may not be as it seems!
 
This Moon is also triggering the impending Saturn Pluto conjunction in Capricorn, which is calling for us to step up to the plate and “get serious” in whatever area of life the conjunction is impacting in our charts at the moment. This is a serious combination in a serious sign and it is going to be interesting to see how it will impact us on both a personal and global level in the next month. Saturn is the planet of authority, control, reality, discipline and commitment, while Pluto is the planet of the soul, transformation, power and our subconscious compulsions, and this formidable duo are merging in responsible, cautious and controlling Capricorn, the sign that represents the structures of our lives in both a personal sense and also in terms of society and the world. In short, it seems that we are being called to really become accountable for ourselves, taking responsibility for our personal power and really stepping up, making a deeper commitment to whatever we are facing.
 
There is also the potential, however, for the structures that we have built up to come crumbling down as they are unable to withstand the scrutiny and pressure. It seems like this is a time of reckoning for us all, both personally and collectively. The power structures are likely to be forced to be much more transparent, as their flaws are exposed for exactly what they are. Similarly, wherever we have been operating with a lack of integrity we may find ourselves exposed or challenged. We are watching our leaders being forced to become more accountable for their actions, while the governmental structures themselves are also falling into chaos and disintegration and being shown for what they are. This Moon could make this all the more apparent, as more information could be revealed while we could also, although hopefully not, be fed a whole load of lies or misinformation. There is a sense of things really coming to a head for this Moon, so much so that we could want to harness the power of Neptune and just numb out, step off the bus or bury our heads in the sand! However, it does seem that we are being challenged to make a deeper commitment and take more responsibility for whatever we are currently facing. The Saturn Pluto conjunction will peak on 12 January, so this Month could be interesting indeed!
 
Interestingly enough, Venus, the planet of love and relationships, is snuggled in between Saturn and Pluto during this Moon. This could call for us to take a long hard look at our relationships and to recognise where they are falling short. Pluto brings to light our more unhealthy relationship patterns, power issues and compulsions, revealing all that we may usually prefer to keep hidden and demanding that we take a long hard look at ourselves even if we don’t like what we see. Saturn also forces us to face ourselves and to look realistically at how we relate and how we might project our own conditioning and emotional complexes onto others. Indeed, our conditioning and baggage could become all the more apparent during this Moon, which is truly a gift! This seems like a good opportunity to do some big work in the realm of our relationships, taking responsibility for whatever we find, looking at ourselves squarely in the mirror of our relationships and not shying away from what we see there. We may also be called to somehow make a deeper commitment to our relationships.  Anyone with personal planets or angles between 17° and 23° of the Cardinal signs Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn are likely to feel this energy most acutely.
 
On 3 December Jupiter moved from optimistic, adventurous and forward thinking Sagittarius into cautious, conservative and controlled Capricorn. This is quite a shift for the planet of growth and expansion! Jupiter was very much at home in its own sign, while Capricorn is not such a comfortable fit for the planet of faith and beliefs. Jupiter tends to magnify the energy of the sign it is in, and so we may find ourselves questioning our faith and possibly being slightly more realistic or even pessimistic about what is possible and where both we and society are headed. Capricorn is a sign that believes in hard work and setting concrete goals and so we may find that this year long transit stimulates our ambitions and desire to succeed, in whatever capacity that might be. Indeed, we may contemplate our beliefs around success and failure and what they actually mean to us. Some of us have very different ideas of what constitutes success than others! Jupiter will be in Capricorn until 21 December 2020.
 
There is a lot going on in the world arena at the moment, so this Gemini Moon feels very appropriate as it creates the potential for a peak of the information overload! Indeed, we may just want to exit stage left and run for the hills! It is important for us to listen to our inner guidance and be aware of the potential for the truth to be somewhat shrouded or cloaked. All may not be as it seems, although hopefully the truth will ultimately prevail. We may simply have to sift through some potentially misleading information to come to an understanding of what is really going on. On a personal level, we have the opportunity for some powerful transformation in the realm of our relationships as they provide a profoundly insightful and revealing mirror for us to see ourselves in. The Gemini Moon could help us to discuss and verbalise what we are feeling, although it may be hard to really get to the truth of the matter. Words can be misleading, so it might be good to drop into our bodies to find the truth, as they contain so much wisdom and can bypass the confusing and misleading nature of the mind. 
 
Much Love
 
Amy
xoxo
 
Picture: Unknown
 


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SAGITTARIUS NEW MOON - 26 November 2019

11/24/2019

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Exact at 3.05pm GMT, 10.05am EST
 
Overall this New Moon has some quite hopeful, pleasant and harmonious energy surrounding it, although there is also some sticky energy to contend with. The Sun has now moved into optimistic, adventurous, truth seeking Sagittarius and Mercury is now moving direct in Scorpio. Although Sagittarius season has begun, which is always quite welcome after the intensity of Scorpio season, there is still a fair amount of Scorpio energy around as Mercury and Mars are in this penetrating, emotionally intense sign. With Mars now in Scorpio, we may find ourselves really wanting to get to the bottom of things and being less inclined to simply sweep things under the carpet or avoid issues that are important, as uncomfortable as that may be. Mars is a very brave and assertive energy, and while it is in Scorpio we may find ourselves delving into places we might usually prefer to avoid, plunging into the murky depths of our own psyches and also eking out other people’s secrets and more shadowy sides.
 
However, this New Moon is in Sagittarius, which helps lighten things up somewhat with a healthy dose of faith, optimism and the capacity to see the bigger picture. Sagittarius is the part of us that is able to see the funny side of things, no matter how bleak things get. With the two luminaries in this expansive and forward looking sign we are more likely to be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel and have the faith that whatever is happening will ultimately help us to grow and learn more about ourselves. Mercury retrograde in Scorpio took some of us to some rather dark places and Scorpio season always tends to bring up some quite heavy material as we are encouraged to delve deep within and not shy away from whatever we find there. Scorpio is the sign of transformation and encourages us to purge any emotional patterns that aren’t serving us, which often involves having to be really honest on an emotional level. Scorpio cuts through any pretences and gets to the heart of the matter!  Sagittarius is the truth seeker and truthsayer, and so this combination of Scorpio and Sagittarius energy could mean that certain truths, agendas, hidden motivations and secrets are brought to light and justice is served somehow.
 
The Sabian Symbol for the New Moon, at 5° Sagittarius, is: “An old owl sits alone on the branch of a large tree”, which Dane Rudyar describes as “A poised and wise approach to existence based on a clear perception of unconscious factors and their operation. The owl functions lucidly in the night aspect of existence. His eyes see what men normally fail to perceive. He represents that consciousness which is active where the processes of life normally escape the attention of the personal ego and its intellect. This symbol suggests the possibility of developing wisdom beyond tragedy, a peace and poise beyond conflict.” We are encouraged to sit quietly and step back from whatever we are facing, really paying attention so that we are really able to see what is lurking in the shadows and recognise what might hitherto have been hidden or obscured. This symbol is interesting, because it involves the wisdom of Sagittarius and the shadowy darkness of Scorpio, which is exactly what we have with this New Moon. We are asked to find a way to rise above whatever we are facing and see everything a bit more clearly. What have we missed? What is waiting to be revealed?
 
While the previous few Full Moons have activated and triggered the impending Saturn/Pluto conjunction, the New Moons are triggering Uranus in Taurus and Chiron in Aries. Uranus is the Great Awakener, the harbinger of change, the rebel-revolutionary that seeks freedom and helps release us from the past and our conditioned state of being.  It is currently in Taurus, the sign of material security, earthly possessions, our values, self-worth, capacity to survive in the world and Mother Earth herself. With rebellious, revolutionary and erratic Uranus in this very stable, earthbound sign, there is a sense that nothing is quite safe or secure at the moment. Uranus is the planet of change, while Taurus is that part of us that resists change and likes things to stay the same, even if it is no longer healthy or good for us. As such, on both a personal and collective level, our values are being challenged and our sense of security threatened as nothing quite feels as stable as it did before. We are being asked to look at our old conditioning around our values and financial security. The old way isn’t working anymore. Greed is destroying our planet, and this has never been quite so evident as it is now. There must be another way.  
 
With Saturn and Pluto bringing to light the flaws and corruption in the system and our governing bodies and breaking it all down, this obviously brings about a certain amount of uncertainty and insecurity on a material level, not to mention that we are being called to question our values and question what is fundamentally more important to us. Uranus in Taurus has the potential to bring about a revolution in the way we approach our finances and the concept of material security, breaking down our personal and collective conditioning. As the old order crumbles, something new will have to take its place. Wherever we are stuck in a rut, or resisting necessary change for the sake of so called “security” then Uranus will surely wreak havoc! We are also experiencing some massive Uranian wake-up calls when it comes to the condition of Mother Earth. People are rising up in rebellion in order to wake everyone up to the situation that our planet faces and force those in power to address the problem. Uranus in Taurus has the potential, in the next few years, to help us come up with some ingenious and visionary solutions to the problems we face, both in terms of the environment and our financial systems.
 
With the New Moons triggering Uranus over and over again it is making the collective energy much more personal. The Full Moons are making the Saturn/Pluto energy very personal, while the New moons bring Uranus and Chiron into focus so that we simply can’t avoid it. Revolution is in the air! We have no choice but to wake up! There is simply no avoiding it! Our attitude to the planet, our finances and what holds meaning is in the process of being overhauled as more and more people wake up. Uranus is challenging this New Moon, forming a crisis aspect that could throw some kind of curve ball our way, bringing some kind of wake-up call that might not be very comfortable and could threaten our beliefs and value systems. This energy will be especially acute for anyone who has personal planets in the first few degrees of the fixed signs of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius. Uranus is also opposing Mars in Scorpio, which could bring sudden acts of aggression and conflict and may uncover anger or resentments that have been lurking in the shadows.
 
Chiron in Aries is also prevalent during this New Moon, which has the capacity to be very healing and also to bring up some wounds and insecurities. Chiron is currently bringing up all things Aries to be identified and healed. Aries in the sign of “I am” and represents our right to exist, our identity, our capacity to assert ourselves and meet our own needs, our anger and independence. It is also the sign that represents war. With Chiron in this forthright, pioneering and reactionary sign, these are the themes that could come to the forefront of our consciousness as we see the pain that they can cause and find some way of healing the wounding around our anger, our reactions, our very existence and war. Chiron in Aries asks us to be very honest about our core wounds, finding the courage to really face them and move beyond them. Chiron is forming a harmonious aspect to the Sun and Moon, bringing some important healing energy to the picture. It is also challenging Venus, which could bring some painful material up around our relationships in order for us to heal it. Anyone with personal planets in the first few degrees of Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn will be feeling the energy of Chiron most acutely at the moment.
 
Speaking of relationships, Jupiter, the ruler of this Sagittarius New Moon, is joining forces with Venus on Sunday 24 November in Sagittarius. This is a very expansive, bountiful and positive combination, as the planet of growth and expansion meets the planet of love and beauty in Sagittarius, the sign of faith, truth and wisdom. It could help smooth over any difficulties in our relationships, helping us to see the bigger picture and gain a higher understanding of ourselves and our loved ones and also helps to bring about feelings of abundance and goodwill. Venus will then move into reserved, serious and pragmatic Capricorn, where she will be for this New Moon and the next few weeks. Venus in Capricorn could cause us to take a long hard look at our relationships and make judgements on them, as we can more easily see where they come up short. Capricorn may help us to make a deeper commitment to our relationships but could also cause us to withdraw slightly and feel more need for time alone. Capricorn is the sign of the hermit, after all!
 
As with all New Moons, this is a time when we have the potential to leave anything behind in the dark of the Moon that isn’t serving us so that we can start fresh with the lunar new cycle. It is a time of endings and beginnings, of death and rebirth; a time to plants seeds and set intentions for the month ahead. In the couple of days before the Moon is exact it is a good time for turning within and having some quiet, reflective, sleepy time. Like the wise old owl in the tree, we are encouraged to take a step back and open our perceptions, watching and waiting for the truth to unveil itself. This Moon brings to potential for rising above the darkness and recognising the light. With Uranus also involved, we certainly have the potential for some “aha” moments to occur, as that which was hitherto shrouded in darkness is uncovered. All is not what it seems, and with Sagittarius and Scorpio on the case during this Moon we have the opportunity for the truth to be revealed to us. Then we will know what to do.
 
Much Love
 
Amy
xoxo
 
Picture: Owl in the Shadow by Juanita Figueroa
 



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TAURUS FULL MOON - 12 November 2019

11/9/2019

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TAURUS FULL MOON – Tuesday 12 November, exact at 1.34pm GMT, 8.34am EST
 
This Full Moon has the potential to help us to transform and grow, gaining more insight and understanding of our old patterns and hopefully being able to communicate what comes up and hear one another with empathy and compassion. Retrograde Mercury is very close indeed to the Scorpio Sun, which puts a lot of emphasis on communicating, learning and understanding, and with Mercury being retrograde we have the opportunity to reflect, review and revise, looking back and hopefully gaining more insight into some age old problems. Mercury retrograde in Scorpio has the capacity to help us to bring to light any hidden material that we might usually find it hard to recognise, acknowledge or admit to. With Mercury being such a prominent part of this Full Moon, it is possible that things that have been simmering or festering away beneath the surface of our consciousness could be said that really hit the nail on the head. All of this Scorpio energy certainly brings the potential for some penetrating discussions that allow us to dig deeper and get to the heart of the matter.
 
There is nothing superficial about Scorpio, rather we are urged to dig around in the deepest, darkest shadows and bring to light anything that might be lurking there. We are being helped out by a harmonious aspect from Pluto, the ruler of Scorpio, to the Sun and Moon. We have the potential for some profound soul growth at the moment if we are able to be truly honest with ourselves and allow ourselves to be vulnerable and exposed instead of projecting our unhealed, unrecognised shadow stuff onto others or blaming them for whatever we are facing. Pluto is giving us the power to truly face ourselves head on and purge old patterns so that we can move onto the next level of our evolution. We may have to face up to some unpleasant, uncomfortable material in order to do so, but it will surely be worth it. Combined with Retro Mercury, old secrets may be revealed, hidden motivations or agendas exposed, our worst fears or darkest suspicions admitted to and some very raw, intense and powerful emotions brought to light. Sometimes we have to take a journey into the darkness to find the buried treasure. That is where the truth resides, rather than our sugar-coated version of ourselves and reality.
 
The Scorpio Sun and Mercury are directly opposite the Moon in earthy, sensual and self-sufficient Taurus. The Moon is rather happy in this stable, grounded and sensible sign, and so this Moon could encourage us to recognise how we can meet our own needs rather than expecting others to somehow take care of us, or blaming them for our problems. Scorpio can sometimes be very sensitive to loss, abandonment and betrayal and can bring experiences, real or otherwise, of being let down by others. Taurus, on the other hand, reminds us that when it comes down to it we are responsible for ourselves and our reactions to other’s actions and reactions. Taurus is that part of us that helps us to not get so knocked off course by other’s actions or behaviour towards us.
 
We may fear abandonment, for instance, but when it comes down to it we have to find our own way of coping with the feelings that come up, recognising where they come from  instead of projecting our fear of loss outwards onto people or situations or inwards upon ourselves. Similarly, we may have been severely let down and have trouble trusting others, but just because it has happened before it doesn’t necessarily mean that it will again, and if we find a solid inner base of self-worth, grounding and inner peace this can help enormously even if it does happen. If we are truly able to take care of ourselves then we are less reliant on others or over-sensitive to whatever they do or don’t do. Taurus helps us to strengthen our inner core so that we are better able to withstand anything that life throws at us. It is the eye of the storm; a feeling of peace and tranquillity that we get from coming back to ourselves and developing a sense of our own worth and value. It is the part of us that is tired of the drama and intensity and just wants a simple life.
 
On the other hand, the Taurus part of ourselves can easily get a bit stuck, as we humans can tend to fear change and the turbulence of transformation. Taurus can sometimes find it a little hard to look into the shadows and face the darkness, while Scorpio is that part of us that seeks to face the more nitty gritty aspects of life, walking across a proverbial burning bridge and not looking back. Our inner Taurus may feel that we are fine just as we are, so why go looking under rocks unnecessarily?  That just dredges up a whole load of uncomfortable material! We may stubbornly resist change, being afraid to upset the status quo by rocking the boat or confronting ourselves or others. However, change is inevitable, and with change often comes loss and some incredibly intense emotions as we grieve whatever is passing away, whether that be loved ones, a life, a situation or a job. If we don’t allow change we don’t grow, and this is the gift of Scorpio. This Moon asks us to find the middle ground between the solid, earthy, self-reliant energy of Taurus and the transforming, emotionally honest and cathartic nature of Scorpio.
 
There is a lot going on astrologically at the moment that is reflected in both our inner and outer reality, in our personal lives and in the collective. This is reflected by the outer planets - the Saturn/Pluto square in Capricorn that is building at the moment and also Uranus in Taurus, Chiron in Aries and Neptune in Pisces. It is interesting that the recent New Moons happen to be triggering the Uranus and Chiron energy, while the Full Moons are triggering the Saturn/Pluto energy. It is as if we are supposed to be really feeling and experiencing the collective energy in a very personal and intense way at the moment. This Moon is triggering the Saturn/Pluto conjunction which is going to be exact in January. Saturn represents authority, reality, government, structure, control, fear and our conditioning, while Pluto represents power, soul, transformation and tends to expose the rot, burning with a purifying fire whatever is no longer serving us so that we can evolve and growth and align with our higher truth.
 
Put the two together in Capricorn, the sign of commitment, authority, societal rules, discipline and patriarchal system, and we could really be called to step up to the plate.  Saturn is shining the harsh light of reality onto the systems and structures of our lives, while Pluto is exposing the flaws and rot of our powers structures. We are undergoing a profound transformation of the darker side Capricorn, as the old system or order dies and we wait for something more appropriate to take its place. We will be feeling this energy both personally and collectively, as our old conditioned patterns fall away and all of the behaviour and emotional responses we have inherited from our parents, upbringing and society are revealed for what they are and gradually fall away. As above, so below, within and without. We have the macrocosm of the world arena reflected in the microcosm of our own lives and reality.
 
Neptune in Pisces in a unifying energy that reminds us that we are everything and everything is us. All is ultimately one. It is important to recognise that we are capable of everything we most abhor in the reality and people we see in the world around us.  That can help us to find more compassion for those who we might find it easier to judge or blame. They are merely making our own shadows more blatant and obvious. Neptune in Pisces can also cause us to feel the need to numb out or switch off through various means because reality is too painful or uncomfortable to face. On the other hand it can open our hearts and help us to join together in the spirit of unity and unconditional love.
 
There is definitely the potential for the darkness to become more and more apparent in the next couple of months as the Saturn/Pluto conjunction gets stronger and stronger, reaching its peak on 12 January. Historically speaking, this combination of Pluto and Saturn has tended to signify the prevalence of the abuse of power and hard control by those in authority. However, this conjunction could also be a profound turning point, both personally and collectively, whereby we get to such a place of chaos and disintegration that the structures literally crumble and we rise from the ashes and are forced to find a new way of being. This conjunction could represent a peak, whereby it becomes to utterly obvious what needs to change that we have no choice but to follow through.
 
Scorpio season, with Mercury also retrograde in this penetrating and revealing sign certainly has the potential to bring the darkness out into the light, helping us to see ourselves and whatever we are facing more honestly. Scorpio doesn’t hide from the truth, no matter how unpleasant it may be! It is the part of us that asks “Why?” and doesn’t stop until we have the answer. It is the part of us that isn’t afraid of the darkness because we know that when we face the shadows we let in more light. The Sabian symbol for the Scorpio Sun, at 20° Scorpio, is: “A woman draws away two dark curtains closing the entrance to a sacred pathway.” Dane Rudyar says of this symbol “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.” There is a sense of us somehow opening up to, or revealing a pathway that we may not have been aware of before, a way forward. However, in order to do so be must be prepared to face our fears and peer into the shadows. As we draw back the curtains we allow the light to flood in.
 
The Sabian Symbol for the Taurus Moon is beautiful: “Wisps of wing like clouds streaming across the sky”, which Dane Rudyar describes as “The awareness of spiritual forces at work.” He goes on to say ”The individual who has taken a new step in his evolution should look for the “Signature” of divine Powers, confirming his progress. It may reveal the meaning of what is to come next. The “wing-like clouds” may also symbolise the presence of celestial beings (devas, angels) blessing and subtly revealing the direction to take, the direction of “the wind” of destiny.” We have the potential, if we are open and aware, to be somehow shown the away forward. We just need to look for the signs and omens so that we can allow the winds of change to blow us in the right direction. With Neptune forming a harmonious aspect to the Sun and Mercury during this Moon, this sense of using our imagination and being open to spiritual forces and the magic in life is reinforced. This Taurus Full Moon could bring some strong emotions out of us and some uncomfortable material out into the open, as Full Moons always do, but she also seems to offer some lovely blessings. We just need to keep our hearts open so that we can recognise them for what they are.
 
Much Love
 
Amy
Xoxo
 
Picture: Eye of the Storm – Unknown
 

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SCORPIO NEW MOON - 28 October 2019

10/25/2019

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SCORPIO NEW MOON - Monday 28 October, exact at 3.38am GMT
 
This New Moon certainly promises a certain degree of emotional intensity and drama, as we currently have the Sun, Moon, Mercury and Venus all in this intense, cathartic and transforming sign. This New Moon has the potential to  bring some kind of a mini death and rebirth, as we have an opportunity to leave whatever isn’t serving us behind in the dark of the moon and allow something more appropriate to take its place. New Moons are a time of new beginnings, but of course there can be no beginning without some kind of ending. This Moon seems to offer a change of perspective of some kind, and a chance to release ourselves from our past patterns and start fresh in whatever part of our chart the Sun and Moon are found. Scorpio is the master of transformation, and so this Moon offers us an opportunity to allow part of us to pass away so that something else can rise out of the ashes. It is not necessarily an easy process, but one that can help us to move forward with a lighter step.  
 
Scorpio season is upon us, coinciding with autumn in the Northern Hemisphere. As the dead leaves fall from the trees, so do we have the opportunity to purge or transmute old habits and patterns, allowing some kind of metamorphosis to occur. Scorpio asks us to dig deep into our shadows and bring up the stuff that we would usually prefer to keep hidden away or deny in ourselves. It exposes our secret fears and guilty pleasures, bringing any material out from under the proverbial carpet that may be festering away and causing trouble on a subconscious level. This is a good Moon to look deep within and to be brave enough to be completely honest about what we find there. Scorpio is a very psychological sign that likes to probe beneath the surface and discover the root of our more compulsive and unconscious emotional and behavioural patterns. It is the part of us that feels the need to control or manipulate others in order to not feel powerless. It is quite possible that we will be dealing with the Scorpio themes of trust, intimacy, power, powerlessness, betrayal, sexuality, abandonment, loss and transformation during this Moon. These are not light subjects in the slightest!
 
Directly opposite the Sun and Moon we have Uranus, the Great Awakener, revolutionary and harbinger of sudden change. Uranus has a tendency to send us the odd curve ball or two, bringing events that seem to come out of the blue and radically change the status quo. Uranus is currently in Taurus, the sign of stability, security, survival and financial matters, bringing the sense that nothing is quite secure or safe at the moment. This New Moon could compound that feeling, bringing a certain amount of instability and unpredictability, as if what we thought we could rely on is maybe not as reliable, solid or real as we thought or hoped. Things can literally change in the blink of an eye! Uranus tends to wake us up in no uncertain terms, bringing some shocking realisations that may be quite uncomfortable but will ultimately change our perspective and help us to see more clearly. As oppositions tend to play out in the realm of our relationships, we may find ourselves projecting our need for change out onto others, who then behave in shocking ways that upset our equilibrium. However, they are merely reflecting back to us our subconscious need for change.
 
Mars is playing a big part in this New Moon, as the warrior planet is forming a challenging square aspect to Saturn, Pluto and the South Node in Capricorn. Mars is currently in Libra, the sign that represents justice, balance, harmony and peace. Uranus is a rebellious, revolutionary energy, while Mars in Libra will fight for justice in a peaceful way. This brave, assertive, strong, forceful energy is squaring off against Saturn, Pluto and the South Node in Capricorn, the sign of control, power structures, authority, society, government and consensus reality. People are currently rising up in peaceful protest in order to challenge the status quo and the powers that be. This New Moon has a revolutionary, reactive, brave, transforming quality to it, and a sense that something profound needs to pass away in order for something better to take its place. This could happen on both a personal and collective level. Issues around power and control could be exposed for what they are as we stand up for what is just and right.
 
The Sabian Symbol for the New Moon, at 5° Scorpio, is: “A massive rocky shore resists the pounding of the sea”, which Dane Rudyar describes as “The inertia of all institutionalized procedures”. There is a sense of resilience that comes with this symbol, as the shore represents a structure that is stable, strong and unchanging, despite anything that may be thrown at it. It is possible that we may have to endure some kind of “pounding” and remain strong, resolute and true to our essential nature. The massive shore could also represent, however, our old conditioning or an old and established order getting a bit of a pounding and finding it very hard to budge or give way. As Rudyar says, “once a culture has expressed its basic symbols and its particular way of thinking, feeling and acting in concrete institutions, these change very slowly indeed”. There is a sense that the rocky shore will only change very slowly,over time, as the relentless battering of the waves gradually erodes it. It will take a certain amount of perseverance and persistence to change the old way of doing things. Maybe that is what is being asked of us now. Or maybe we are asked to find a different approach.
 
Mercury is about to go retrograde in Scorpio on 31 October, which could be interesting! Mercury Retrograde brings the opportunity for us to look back over things and reflect, revisit, reinvent, revise, review, retract, restore and re-evaluate. Mercury in Scorpio is incredibly observant, probing and perceptive, giving us the capacity to delve beneath the surface of reality and find the truth that is lurking there behind the façade. We may find ourselves looking back over past relationships, reliving past hurts and losses or finding psychological understanding that we may not have been capable of until now. Indeed, with Mercury next to Venus at the moment it turns retrograde could bring people up from our past with whom we have sticky, karmic links or unfinished business. Scorpio is not a light and fluffy sign, but rather it requires us to be very honest with ourselves and to recognise and understand our compulsions, subconscious patterns and agendas. It may not be pretty, as some deepest, darkest secrets could be exposed, but afterwards we could feel like we are carrying a much lighter load!
 
Mercury is Scorpio is a bit like a detective, with laser-like capacity to penetrate to the heart of the matter and find the truth, no matter how ugly it is. It also has a sting in its tail, so we could find ourselves experiencing some remarks that are somewhat below the belt! Scorpio can really hit the nail on the head, but the truth can be painful to hear! Mercury retrograde in this penetrating sign means that we have the chance to look back over whatever has come up in the past month or so and go over it with a fine tooth comb, exposing any hidden material or anything that has hitherto been shrouded in secrecy or deceit, or hidden due to shame. Mercury in Scorpio can be downright suspicious, as Scorpio is very sensitive to issues around trust and betrayal, but this could be very helpful as we look back with the reflective retrospection of Mercury Retrograde. We may need to go back over what has come up in recent times and look deeper. There is the potential for a great amount of psychological insight and understanding, as we become more aware of our hidden motivations and those of others. Both personally and collectively it is quite possible that a lot will come to light during this period that has hitherto been hidden.
 
This Moon certainly holds the potential for some deep thinking, deep feeling and profound transformation if we are willing to be brave and able to look in the ugly mirror see what we need to change and where we might be too stuck or rigid. Scorpio is a a highly cathartic sign that asks us to dig deep and feel all the feelings, no matter how raw and exposed we may feel or how unattractive those feelings may seem. We are asked to really get to the heart of the matter and face ourselves, warts and all. This time of year offers us a chance to shed our old skin so that we can start afresh, shiny and new, albeit slightly raw and exposed! This Moon holds the potential for a radical change of perspective, so it is important to remain as open and flexible as possible. It is always helpful to be willing to confront the darker aspects of ourselves, because if we don’t then we tend to project them out onto other people and situations, laying the blame on others instead of owning it in ourselves. This Moon could be very revealing indeed, and so we are asked to be brave and dive in, not hiding from whatever we might find, no matter how uncomfortable it makes us feel. The chances are there may be some buried treasure there.
 
Much Love
 
Amy
xoxo
 
Painting by Scout Cuomo


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ARIES FULL MOON - 13 October 2019

10/9/2019

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Picture
Exact at 10.07pm GMT, 5.05pm EDT
 
This Moon is an intense one, to say the very least! There is a lot of quite challenging and transforming planetary energy involved, not to mention that an Aries Full Moon always has the potential to make one a bit hot under the collar! Whatever has been simmering away beneath the surface over the course of the past couple of the weeks may well come to a head, demanding release in one way or another. And with the Moon in Aries there is the possibility of people releasing or expressing their emotions in rather forthright and impulsive ways, without too much forethought or a filter. Aries is a sign that tends to act first and think later and can be quite reactive. The Sun is in Libra, the sign of relationship and compromise, while the Moon is Aries, a sign that very much values its independence. As such, our relationships are very much in the spotlight during this Moon, as we teeter between the diplomacy, tact, refinement and spirit of compromise of Libra and the honest, direct, instinctual and reactive energy of Aries. Which will win out?
 
Mars, the ruler of the Aries Moon, is forming a challenging aspect to Uranus, meaning that we do have the potential for flying off the handle and for anger to flare up suddenly and out of the blue. However, this could be very freeing, as we release any pent up resentment we may have been carrying. Mars is also square the Nodes of the Moon at the moment, which means that we could find anger coming up that has its root in our past. The Nodes of the Moon are currently on the family/parental axis of Cancer and Capricorn, so it is possible that the forthright, open, honest and potentially angry energy of Mars could be felt in our family relationships. Anything that we have simply been putting up with could somehow become intolerable, causing us to act or react suddenly, or to make a break for freedom. Certainly there is a huge emphasis on this Aries/Mars energy during this Moon, which could bring things out into the open that really need to be aired and could also lead to things being done or said that we could regret later. This is warrior energy we are dealing with here, which is certainly not gentle but does helps us to know exactly where we stand!
 
Pluto is also forming an exact square to the Sun and Moon during this Full Moon. Pluto is the planet of power, soul and transformation, and in challenging connection to the Moon we could experience some very intense and overpowering emotions that come from the depths of our subconscious. This combination brings the possibility of some rather powerful purging on an emotional and psychological level, and what comes up might not be pretty. We may have to face up to aspects of ourselves that we could find very difficult or painful to admit to, and with Saturn also involved we could experience some full on grief as whatever has been hitherto repressed or supressed demands release. Pluto can brings up some deep and dark material when in hard aspect to the Moon, forcing us to confront our shadows, delving into the darkness of our psyches and being completely honest about what we find there.  
 
Pluto is the planet of death and rebirth, so we do have the potential here to strip ourselves of some quite heavy emotional baggage as we rise up out of the proverbial ashes, although the process could make us feel quite raw! We may have to deal with power games, projections, guilt tripping or emotional manipulation from those closest to us. It is important to remain as centred and self-aware as possible during this time, as this does offer us an opportunity for amazing soul growth as long as we are able to face whatever comes up bravely and honestly. There is the potential for some quite compulsive behaviour to rise from within us that does not exactly show our best side!  However, there is the potential for some raw, unadulterated emotional honesty, which could be a very good thing indeed. This energy will be felt most by anyone who has personal planets around 20° of the Cardinal signs of Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn.
 
Jupiter is forming a harmonious aspect to the Sun and Moon, which could really help things out and ensure that we grow and expand from the whole experience. It could also mean that people express some pretty string beliefs, and Jupiter in Sagittarius is not known for holding back opinions! However, there is certainly a sense of goodwill and faith with Jupiter involved in the picture. Jupiter helps us to see the bigger picture and also to be the bigger person. It also helps us to be a bit more philosophical about whatever comes up during this Moon and to have the faith that ultimately it is all happening for our greatest good. Not only that, Jupiter helps us to have a sense of humour and to laugh at the absurdity of life. This is very helpful energy to have around during what is otherwise a pretty intense Full Moon!
 
The Sabian symbol for the Full Moon, at 21° Aries, is “A pugilist enters the ring”, which Dane Rudyar describes as “the release and glorification of social aggressiveness”. This symbol speaks for itself really! It is possible that we may have to enter the ring in some way, either by having to stand up for something, or to somehow show that we are strong or powerful, or to defend ourselves, or to deal with or face up to something or someone. This may not happen in an obvious way, as there are many indirect or subtle ways that we can be thrown punches! The punches themselves may vary in nature, as they could be literally physical, or mental or emotional. They could also be spiritual! One thing that the ring does ask, however, is that the boxers abide by the rules and don’t fight dirty. When people who love one another fight, there really are no winners, as it is painful for everyone involved, regardless of who “wins”.
 
Ultimately this Full Moon seems to signify quite a major death and rebirth of some aspect of ourselves. With Pluto square the Sun it also brings the potential for some rather big power struggles, conflicts or confrontations to occur. However, this could be absolutely necessary to bring everything out into the open and really get to the heart of the matter. Whenever Pluto is involved it is inevitable that as something will transform or pass away, and as it does we are bound to experience the grief and acute pain of the loss, no matter what it is. It can be a way of life, a way of being, a person, a job or a relationship that is dying in order for something new to take its place. Whatever it is there must be a process of letting go, which can be very hard indeed, bringing up some intensely powerful emotions to be fully felt and honoured as part of the process. It seems that it is going to be hard to hide from our feelings during this Moon, but that is a good thing. The important thing, however, is to remain as centred as possible. Aries asks us to be brave and face whatever comes up honestly, openly and without flinching.
 
Much Love
 
Amy
Xoxo
 
Picture by Tomasz Alen Kopera
 

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LIBRA NEW MOON - 28 September 2019

9/26/2019

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Picture
Exact at 7.26pm BST, 2.26pm EDT
 
This New Moon heralds new beginnings for our relationships, whereby the seeds are being sown around the way we relate to ourselves and our loved ones. Venus is also very prevalent and active during this Moon, which compounds the sense that our relationships will be the focus of our attention. Libra is that part of us that seeks harmony, justice and balance in our lives and relationships, although balance is sometimes hard to achieve! The scales can easily tip too far in one direction or the other, creating extremes. This New Moon could help us to become more aware of our relationship patterns, giving us a chance to release some old, outworn ways of relating and leave them behind in the dark of the Moon. New Moons are a rebirth of sorts, whereby something passes away so that something new can be born. There are no beginnings without endings!
 
Venus, the ruler of Libra, is forming a challenging square aspect to Saturn, Pluto and the Nodes of the Moon, which brings the potential for some rather deep transformation of our relationship patterns. Pluto asks us to dig deep and really look at ourselves and the way we relate, purging our old conditioning so that something new can rise up in its place. We currently have the choice to walk down a different path and simply let go of the old way of approaching our relationships. There is a shift occurring and we are stepping into new territory, and this New Moon truly holds the potential for a rebirth in the realm of our relationships. Saturn could shine the harsh light of reality on our old patterns, forcing us to see how we project our fears onto those closest to us. While we all have the potential to project our past experiences, old trauma and childhood conditioning onto our intimate others, this Moon offers us an alternative; an opportunity to birth a new way of relating. However, the labour pains and contractions could be quite intense!
 
Saturn and the South Node of the Moon form an exact conjunction on the day of the New Moon, the last of many conjunctions between these two since April of this year. This is a time of reckoning, both personally and collectively, whereby we are being asked to step beyond the old conditioning and patterns that have defined us up until this point. It is time to leave the past behind and walk down a different path; the road less travelled. While we may have identified with these patterns that are so very familiar to us until now, so much so that they are part of the “story” we tell ourselves and others over and over again, it is now time to start telling another story.  With Venus squaring this conjunction, this is a time of reckoning for our relationships; a time to drop the old narrative and write a new script altogether.
 
We have had the chance, with Saturn and the South Node conjoining over the course of this year, to recognise how the past tends to repeat itself and to look our old tendencies and karma squarely in the face without sugar coating them. This has been a profoundly helpful process that has been rather uncomfortable and even painful at times, and now it is time to lay the past to rest and step forward into a new way of being; one that is not defined by what has come before. We just have to decide it is so, and stop telling ourselves the same, old, outworn story that simply doesn’t apply anymore! With Venus square this conjunction, we are at a crossroads – do we keep projecting our past onto our relationships or do we choose to break the cycle and step out of the comfort zone, trying something new on for size? It’s time to make a choice and step off the wheel.
 
The Libran Sun and Moon have Chiron the Wounded Healer forming an opposition to them, while Uranus, the Great Awakener, is also challenging the two luminaries. This brings the potential for sudden shocks or surprises occurring in our lives or curve balls being thrown at us that come out of the blue. Uranus can bring some kind of wake-up call that alerts us to what is out of balance in our lives and what needs to change. If we are burying our heads in the sand and not voluntarily making the changes that we really need for growth then something will inevitably happen that forces that change onto us. Chiron brings the potential for some kind of healing crisis, whereby our old wounds may be triggered by something or someone, but this is always a gift as it allows us to see the parts of us that are as yet unhealed. Anyone who has planets within a couple of degrees of 6° of the Fixed and Cardinal signs of Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn, Taurus, Leo, Scorpio or Aquarius will very likely feel the energy of Chiron and Uranus the most.
 
The Sabian symbol for the New Moon, at 6° Libra, is “A man watches his ideals taking a concrete form before his inner vision”, which Dane Rudyar describes as: “The need to visualise clearly one’s dreams or ideals in order to make them truly effectual.” This gives the sense that this Moon gives us the chance to turn whatever might have been bubbling away in our consciousness into reality. It is important, however, to be really clear about what we want and to make sure that we don’t project our unconscious fears and old stories onto our future. We tend to get what we focus on, and if we are busy worrying about repeating patterns from the past then we might just get what we fear most! This really does seem like a time to simply let go of the old story, thank it for the lessons it has taught us and move forward into a new reality that is unlike one we have ever known before. The old way doesn’t even exist anymore. It’s done. It’s time to move on.
 
Much Love
 
Amy
xoxo
 
Picture: Let Go by Kellie North
 

 
 
 
 

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PISCES FULL MOON- 14 September 2019

9/11/2019

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Picture
Exact at 5.32am BST, 12.32am EDT.
 
There is a lot going on during this Moon that has the potential to cause a state of overwhelm, so it is very important indeed that we take time out to be kind to ourselves. Things tend to come to a head during Full Moons, and as the tides swell and so do our emotions. With Neptune, the God of the ocean and ruler of this Moon sitting right next to the Moon herself we could literally find ourselves overcome with emotion, so overwhelmed that we can’t see clearly. This combination brings the potential for being swept along by the mood of the moment, as if we are at the mercy of forces much larger than ourselves. It also brings the possibility of great empathy, compassion and sensitivity that helps us to truly connect with others and to be aware that when it comes down to it we are all just souls having the human experience.
 
This Moon in Pisces could cause us to feel a little over-sensitive, however, as if our skins are a bit thinner than usual. Our imaginations could also run wild in the wrong direction, causing anxiety, worry and overwhelm, making us want to just bury our heads in the sand and not confront whatever we are facing. Pisces energy is that part of us that likes to procrastinate or escape somehow in order to avoid the reality of our situation. The thing is, however, that it doesn’t go away if we act like an ostrich, but rather it just gets bigger and bigger in our own minds! It is far better to face it head-on, as things are never as bad as they can seem in our imaginations. Anxiety is a byproduct of the Virgo/Pisces experience and could be rife during this Full Moon. Indeed, with a stellium of planets travelling through Virgo for the past couple of weeks, we have been dealing with a certain amount of chaos, stress, worry and even downright panic!
 
With the Sun in Virgo sitting directly opposite the Moon in Pisces we are asked to find some balance between the energy of the two signs rather than veering too far in one extreme. The extreme of Virgo can bring some kind crisis, whereby something happens that forces us to take stock and recognise what is out of balance and what needs to change in order to make everything right again. It can also cause us to over work, stressing our systems and making us run around like headless chickens getting nowhere fast! Virgo is the part of us that can so easily get caught in a spiral of negative thinking that makes whatever we are facing to seem insurmountable and much bigger than it actually is. We can so easily create mountains out of molehills, so we must simply remember to ground ourselves and just take one step at a time instead of collapsing in a state of panic and paralysis!
 
This Pisces Moon reminds us to take time out to smell the roses, letting go of the need for everything to be perfect and allowing it to just be as it will be. Virgo is that part of us that can be so very hard on ourselves, criticising ourselves and others mercilessly for our shortcomings and flawed humanity, while Pisces reminds us that we are beautiful in all our imperfection. Pisces teaches us acceptance of what is and helps us to simply let go and go with the flow of the river. Then we will find some much needed peace. Virgo is busy trying to create a system that works, analysing every little detail to make sure it is effective, while Pisces simply accepts things as they are and recognises that wherever we end up will be the right place for us.
 
Jupiter is forming a challenging square aspect to the Sun and Moon, which could greatly exaggerate whatever we are feeling and facing during this Moon. Jupiter tends to magnify the energy of the planet he is in contact with, and so this expands the potential for overwhelm and means that our emotions could be quite “big” during this Moon.  It is quite possible, with Jupiter being in Sagittarius, that we may find ourselves bombarded with so many different beliefs and opinions that it might be hard to see the wood for the trees. We may need to use some Virgoan discernment and discrimination to separate the wheat from the chaff. This Moon certainly holds the potential for some very strong opinions and views to be aired, which could be overwhelming, aggravating and upsetting, We could also experience some kind of loss of meaning or faith, whereby we wonder what it’s all about anyway!
 
With the Sun and Mars joining forces in Virgo just before the Full Moon, it is important to watch out for our egos getting the better of us. These are two yang energies which could cause clashes of wills and disputes over differing beliefs and opinions. There is also the possibility, with Jupiter squaring this strong duo, of pushing ourselves so hard that we experience fatigue or health issues. The Pisces Moon is asking us to slow down and take time out to take care of ourselves, as all this energetic, busy, stressful, perfectionistic Virgo energy could really take its toll if we’re not careful. Mars is exactly opposite Neptune during this Moon, which asks us to take care of our physical  and spiritual health, as this combination could cause us to feel a bit discouraged and low on energy. It also means that people may not be as direct as we would like, because Neptune and Mars combinations can bring passive aggression and indirect or deceptive action. A Venus Mercury conjunction could bring some smooth talking on the one hand, while it could also help us to negotiate and come to some kind of compromise and peaceful solution to whatever we are facing. Amazing things can happen when we put our heads together for a common cause, in the spirit of harmony and peace.
 
All of this is occurring with the backdrop of yet another conjunction between Saturn and the South Node of the Moon in Capricorn. Saturn and the South Node have been dancing with one another since April, and this is the last time they will meet. We are being confronted with some very big lessons from our past, with the potential for the past repeating itself in ways that are not comfortable at all. Capricorn is the sign of government, the patriarchy, control and parental and societal authority, and we are currently being given a heavy dose of the shadow side of this energy. With the North Node in Cancer, we are being asked to allow the walls to come down and show our vulnerability rather than trying to pretend that we have everything under control. This is playing out both personally and collectively. The old order is crumbling, in chaos and Virgoan crisis, and Cancer is beckoning us forward, asking us to find another way of being that is more inclusive and for the good of all rather than serving the few.
 
Cancer is the sign of family, the home, our roots, the mother, and is a nurturing sign that is led by its feelings. It encourages us to let our defences down and admit that sometimes we just don’t have the answers, and to let go of hard control. It simply isn’t working anymore! Cancer has more focus on the community and how we can all take care of one another. Cancer reminds us that if we each do the inner work and do our best as a human being then it will ripple outward and make a difference to the whole. With Saturn on the South Node we are facing some pretty harsh lessons right now, on both a personal and collective level. The macrocosm and the microcosm are the same. Saturn is the lord of karma, and so we are witnessing and experiencing some difficult karma being played out at the moment. Some extremely challenging material is being faced which has its roots in the past, and we are being shown all too clearly how we are repeating old, entrenched patterns. The dark side of Capricorn and the patriarchy, with its fear-based control, elitism, prejudice and intolerance is rising up to be fully seen, as Pluto in Capricorn exposes the rot and makes it all so transparent that it is hard to deny.
 
It is very important, however, not to succumb to fear. This Virgo season certainly seems to be bringing things to a head, creating chaos and crisis, but maybe this is a necessary process because it means that we simply cannot bury our heads in the sand anymore. Virgo is great for finding solutions, as long as we don’t allow our anxiety and fear to get the best of us! One step at a time! This Moon certainly does feel like a call to action, but it could also bring to a head any feelings of overwhelm or stress that we may have been feeling. However, Pisces asks us to just take time out and tend to ourselves, because it is very likely that we will be feeling quite tender, raw, drained and open from this whole process. Pisces gently reminds us that we are all essentially the same, even those who we judge or condemn for their actions. We are asked to find kindness and compassion in our hearts for ourselves and others, accepting ourselves as we are rather than judging ourselves for what we are not. Pisces is a unifying sign that reminds us that we all come from the same melting pot, and that what happens to one happens to all. As above, so below. As within, so without. One Love.
 
Much Love
 
Amy
Xoxo
 
Painting: Overwhelm, by Catherine Foster

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VIRGO NEW MOON - 30 August 2019

8/27/2019

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Picture
Exact at 11.37am BST, 6.37am EDT
 
This New Moon brings the potential for some positive change occurring in our lives, although not the kind of change that hits us over our head, but rather the kind that choose to instigate for ourselves. This is also a supermoon, which means that as it is closer to earth than your average New Moon, it will have a stronger effect on our heart, body, spirit and mind. Something very interesting to note about this particular Moon is that we currently have almost all of the planets in earth signs, not to mention the Sun and Moon themselves! Earth has a very solid, practical, grounding energy that helps us to make concrete plans and make them manifest in reality. It can also help us to really get into our bodies and out of our heads. Too much earth could potentially mean that we get “stuck in the mud” and bogged down in the mundane, material side of life. It could, however, be a very good time to focus on the concerns of Mother Earth in a very practical, tangible way. She is certainly clamouring for our attention right now.
 
The personal planets are all having a veritable Virgo party, as they are travelling around the zodiac in a pack at the moment. For a while the pack was very definitely in playful and dramatic Leo, while now it is shifting into humble, perfectionist and helpful Virgo, which is a very different energy! We have the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars and Juno all in a sign that seeks to purify and perfect. Virgo is the sign that makes us all too aware of our personal flaws and inadequacies, to the point that we could be quite merciless on ourselves. It can also mean that we project any tendencies towards self-criticism out onto other people, either by finding fault with their flawed humanity or by feeling that they are being unduly critical of us. This New Moon could help us to recognise where and how we could benefit from doing some inner work and what might need to change in order to be the best version of ourselves. This would be an ideal time to contemplate a change in our routine, or clearing out our closets, both literally and metaphorically, or doing some kind of purification or cleanse to clear our mind, body and spirit.
 
Virgo is the sign of self-improvement, whereby something comes to our attention that makes us realise what needs tweaking in our lives and where we may be lacking. Sometimes this comes in the form of a crisis that forces us to have a long hard look at ourselves and see where we are coming up short. Crises can be very helpful indeed, as they force us to see the light and to recognise how we may have been pushing ourselves too hard and not taking adequate care of ourselves. So often we don’t heed the call for change until it is too late. This Moon could give us the opportunity to recognise what needs changing and to do whatever is necessary to improve ourselves and our situation without needing a crisis to force matters. This could be an ideal opportunity to get our lives in order and to find the necessary humility to look at ourselves realistically so that we can create positive change. Virgo is well versed in the art of discernment and can help us to discriminate between what is good for us and what quite simply has to go!
 
Uranus in Taurus is forming a helpful, harmonious trine aspect to all of the planets in this little Virgo party, which could give us the kick up the bum that we need to initiate change and recognise what is out of balance. Uranus trine the Moon could help us to change any emotional patterns and personal habits that may be holding us back or keeping us prisoner without it being too hard or upsetting. It is quite possible that we will have some insightful realisations and epiphanies about our emotional life that could really help us to break free from the past and whatever is holding us tied into these old, familiar emotional patterns formed in childhood that keep tripping us up in our adult relationships.
 
Uranus trine the Sun could help us to step outside of the comfort zone and revolutionise our lives in a way that is exciting rather than being too unsettling or scary. This is a great time to set positive intentions and do things that we might normally resist in order to bring about creative change in our lives. Uranus will be encouraging us to step out of the mould and express all that we are, rather than conforming to others’ expectations of who we are supposed to be. This is an ideal time to bust out and fully express all that we might usually supress! We have the opportunity to literally break some habits during this time and to adopt a new, healthier way of being. And with Mars sitting right next to the Sun and Moon, we should have the courage, drive, motivation and desire to act on any realisations we may have about how to become healthier in mind, body and spirit.
 
Uranus trine Venus could help us to break free from of any limiting or unhealthy patterns of relating that may have formed over time. It happens so easily, that we get stuck in certain habits and ruts that keep us going over the same ground over and over again. Uranus represents freedom from the known, and from the past. It can help us to free ourselves from restrictive or limiting relationships and to literally “wake up” and smell the roses, recognising what needs to change and how we might adjust the way we relate ourselves and our loved ones. It brings that breath of fresh air that is needed to clear away stagnation and find a way of being in relationship that is more in line with who we are really are rather than the version of the “ideal” relationship that is fed to us by society and the media. Uranus dares us to forge our own path and to walk along the road less travelled.
 
Uranus and Mars helps us to have the courage to break old habits and change the way we act. This is an ideal opportunity to step up and be brave enough to make a stand for something that we believe in. With Uranus in Taurus, the sign representing Mother Earth and Gaia, we are currently being asked to have the courage, in the face of the current Virgoan crisis we are facing, to stand up and demand change. In fact, we are asked to BE the very change we seek. Mars and Uranus call for action, asking us to wake up to what is happening on the planet and find new, inventive and ingenious solutions, and fast! Uranus combined with Mars is the rebellious, revolutionary visionary in us all that has the courage to not only question authority but also to stand up to it. During this Moon we are asked to truly wake up and recognise the crisis we are facing, and to think outside the box and seek solutions and a way to improve the situation we find ourselves in. We may be called to act out of character, but this could ultimately be incredibly liberating.
 
Those of us with personal planets around 6 degrees of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius could well be feeling the more unsettling, erratic, insecure and potentially shocking effect of Uranus in Taurus, with Libra and Sagittarius not far behind. It does seem, with this massive amount of Uranian energy around during this Moon, that we are being called to wake up and free ourselves from our slumber. Uranus also represents Trauma, and we are certainly watching the earth experience the traumatic effects of the treatment of the human race. New Moons are a wonderful time to set positive intentions, and it would seem, with all of this earthy energy around during this particular Moon, that this is a good time to pray for the planet we live on and to recognise that as we do so we are also praying for ourselves. Uranus is the planet of wake up calls, alerting us to the need to take action in the face of crisis. Virgo can help us to find a way to improve the situation. Virgo encourages us to be of humble service to the whole. This is not a time for ego gratification, but is rather a time to recognise what needs to change and how we might go about doing it.
 
The Sabian symbol for Uranus is “The woman of Samaria at the ancestral well” which Dane Rudyar describes as “The meeting of the traditional past and of the creative spirit pointing to the future”. Rudyar describes a part of the Christ mythos:  “Early in his ministry, Jesus meets a Samaritan woman at an ancestral well. This woman belongs to a tribe despised by the Jews; moreover, she is unmarried and therefore on the fringe of even her own society. It is to just that kind of woman that Jesus reveals that he is the Messiah: “I am He,” a revelation that he apparently will not bestow even upon his disciples, at least not in words.” Jesus did not reveal himself to the members of the old order, but rather he did so to a woman who was considered an “enemy” and outcast, even within her own society, as she was not married. However, her heart was obviously open to his teaching. This is a calling for us to open our hearts and draw compassion and empathy up from the well, freeing ourselves of old, stuck energy and emotions and suspending any judgement towards those who are seemingly so different from us.
 
Dane Rudyar goes on to say: “The creative future descends first to that which has become chaos. An old order is never open to a new Revelation until it has accepted disorder in the name of that Power which subsumes all forms of order, i.e. Love.  A NEW QUALITY OF BEING is revealed which renders the old patterns obsolete.” This symbol feels oh so relevant for us now, at this time in our history. With the South Node in Capricorn and the Pluto/Saturn conjunction looming ever closer, we are seeing very clearly how the past is repeating itself in ways that are not very comfortable at all. The rot inherent within the old order is being exposed in no uncertain ways, and so this symbol is such a beautiful reminder to open our hearts, and that the wellbeing of future generations depends on it. Love, tolerance and inclusivity are the message of this symbol and we are being called to emulate it and to be of humble service to the whole. This is the highest vibration of Virgo – the World Server and Healer.
 
“Let us be at peace with our bodies and our minds.
Let us return to ourselves and become wholly ourselves.
Let us be aware of the source of being,
common to us all and to all living things.
Evoking the presence of the Great Compassion,
let us fill our hearts with our own compassion --
towards ourselves and towards all living beings.
Let us pray that we ourselves cease to be
the cause of suffering to each other.
With humility, with awareness of the existence of life,
and of the suffering that is going on around us,
let us practice the establishment of peace
in our hearts and on the earth.”
Thich Nhat Hanh.
 
Much Love
 
Amy
Xoxo
 
Painting: Gaia – Unknown
 


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AQUARIUS FULL MOON - 15 August 2019

8/13/2019

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AQUARIUS FULL MOON – Thursday 15 August, exact at 1.29 BST, 8.29am EDT
 
This Full Moon has the potential to bring our relationships into full focus, in ways that might not be particularly comfortable but which could be deeply transformative. We certainly have a bit of a Leo party going on at the moment, with Mercury, Venus, the Sun, Mars and Juno all in this dramatic, enthusiastic, playful sign.  Venus is literally sitting right next to the Sun during this lunation, with Juno, the goddess of committed partnership not far away, so relationships are definitely in the spot light during this moon! Full Moons tend to highlight our relationships anyway, bringing any hidden tensions out into the open, but this one has the potential to have an even more profound impact on our close relationships than usual with Venus and Juno in on the act. As the oceans swell with the Full Moon so do our emotions, as anything that may have been simmering beneath the surface is brought out into the light of our consciousness and projected outwards.
 
The Sun is very much at home in playful, expressive and spontaneous Leo, where it can shine its light brightly. Leo energy is strong at the moment, with all its drama, passion, enthusiasm, expressiveness, creativity, love of the limelight and need for attention. The Moon is sitting directly opposite, in detached, friendly, rebellious and humanitarian Aquarius. We are asked to find some balance between the energy of the two signs rather than veering too far in one way or the other. Aquarius asks us to step back a bit and maybe find a way of being a bit more objective about whatever we are facing at the moment. Leo energy tends to throw us into the middle of everything, embroiled in the passion and drama of our own experience so that everything becomes a bit more subjective and it is hard to see the wood for the trees. Leo is the part of us that has a tendency to be a bit more self-centred and self-absorbed, possibly finding a bit difficult to see beyond the lens of our own experience. Aquarius reminds us that it’s not all about us and asks us to take a step back and look at from the bird’s eye perspective. Leo is the star of the show, fully participating in life, while Aquarius is the detached onlooker.  Both stances have their down sides and merits!
 
Venus is sitting right next to the Leo Sun, in exactly the same degree in fact! The Sabian symbol for 23° Leo is: “In a circus the bareback rider displays her dangerous skill”. This is a very evocative image that brings a sense of drama and showmanship, not to mention taking big risks and throwing caution to the wind. It takes a lot of courage, mastery, faith and self-confidence to ride a bareback horse, especially in front on an audience! This feels like it is all or nothing, taking the plunge and putting all of one’s energy and passion into this amazing feat. With Venus and the Sun involved, it is possible that this energy will somehow be playing out in the realm of our relationships. Leo is a very romantic sign; the part of us that follows our hearts and skips down the path of joy, much like a little child following her bliss. Leo likes a good gamble and is not afraid to take a risk. However, when we throw everything we have into something, we do of course run the risk of falling fall flat on our face! In front of everyone, no less! This is the chance we take when throwing ourselves in, body heart and soul. However, if we don’t try, we will never know. And one cannot waver on a bareback horse, or it will end in disaster.
 
Pluto in Capricorn is forming a niggling inconjunct aspect to the Sun and Venus during this Moon, which could call bring some sticky material to the surface. The inconjunct is a crisis aspect, calling us to question, analyse and try and find a solution to whatever is coming up for us. While the Sun and Venus in Leo are jumping into the middle of the ring, with full passion, confidence and trust, Pluto in Capricorn could bring up fears, questions, control issues, power games, a sense of limitation, fears of loss or abandonment, compulsions, suspicion and/or paranoia. Capricorn is a much more cautious sign than Leo, preferring to keep everything under control and not take unnecessary chances.
 
 It is possible that during this Moon we could find ourselves becoming more fearful or becoming more aware of people trying to manipulate, control or take our power and confidence away. The bareback rider has no fear and is plunging in, while Pluto in Capricorn could make us all too aware of our limitations and the potential for failure. And Pluto is very powerful! It is also the agent of soul growth and transformation, so ultimately we have the potential for some amazing growth if we are able to face this potential crisis head on and recognise what patterns, beliefs or attitudes need to pass away in order for us to rise up out of the ashes and move forward. The Sabian Symbol for Pluto, at 22° Capricorn, is very different to the one for the Sun and Venus: “By accepting defeat gracefully, a general reveals nobility of character”. Dane Rudyar describes this as “The realisation that one may grow through defeat as, and perhaps more than, through success.  Sometimes we do have to fall on our face, but if we can do so with grace and dignity and take whatever lessons we can from it, then ultimately we will be better off for the experience.
 
Mercury is now direct and has come back to 4° Leo, which is exactly where the planet of the mind and communication was when it went retrograde. This means that once again we have Uranus forming a square to Mercury. This last happened on 8 July, just as Mercury went retrograde, when we may have received some news that was a bit of a shock or a surprise to us. Uranus does have a habit of delivering curveballs!  We may find ourselves experiencing an echo of whatever happened during that time, or could be revisiting and processing whatever came up for us then. Uranus forces us to think outside of the box and see things from a different perspective, and as the ruler of this Full Moon it is extra-specially potent. We may receive unexpected news or find our minds racing as our ideas, beliefs and way of thinking are challenged. This energy will be strong during the Full Moon and will peak on Fri 16 August, the day after.
 
In the meantime, Chiron the wounded healer is also forming a harmonious trine aspect to Mercury, which could help us to be honest with ourselves and others about our shortcomings and insecurities and to have some conversations which are very healing indeed. While Uranus may deliver a curve ball or two, Chiron helps us to admit our human frailty and find compassion for ourselves and others. Chiron could help us to really listen to one another with empathy and to somehow find the right words to help one another through whatever we are facing. This is a very helpful energy to have during this Moon, when some uncomfortable material could be brought to the surface for us to examine and work through.
 
Jupiter, the planet that rules our faith, beliefs and higher, intuitive mind, has will turn direct on 11 August after being retrograde since 10 April. This is helpful, as it could help bring some faith, hope, inspiration and optimism, not to mention the capacity for some forward thinking and capacity to see the bigger picture. Jupiter is very strong right now, as it turns direct. We can tap into Jupiter’s energy to bring a sense of being guided in the right direction. Jupiter is the part of us that knows that even in the deepest, darkest moments there is a light at the end of the tunnel and some higher purpose behind whatever we are experiencing. One by one, the retrograde planets are starting to go forward again, which is very helpful, as it brings a sense of a forward motion and gets things moving.
 
Aquarius is the sign that helps us to release ourselves from the past and come up with some creative visions of how we would like our lives to be and how to make the world a better place. Wherever Aquarius and its ruler Uranus are found in our chart shows where we may prefer to go our own way and not necessarily conform to societal “standards”. This Moon brings the potential for us to release ourselves from some old patterns and conditioning that may be holding us prisoner. We may receive a shock or surprise in order to do so but that is par for the course with Aquarius and Uranus, as they help to wake us up from our slumber and to recognise how we have been playing a role instead of truly being ourselves. Sometimes the apple cart needs to be upset somewhat in order for us to wake up and recognise what needs to change in our lives. This Moon offers us an opportunity to take a step back and look at ourselves objectively so that we can make whatever adjustments are necessary to set us on the right track. This may not be a comfortable process, and some uncomfortable material may come up, but ultimately it has the potential to be a very liberating experience.
 
Much Love
 
Amy
Xoxo
 
Picture: Breakthrough from Osho Zen Tarot
 


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LEO NEW MOON - 1 August 2019

7/29/2019

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Exact at 4.11am BST
 
This New Moon should lighten things up a bit after the intensity of Eclipse season! The energy has now shifted from emotional Cancer to spontaneous Leo, with the Sun, Moon, Venus, Mars and Juno all in this playful, enthusiastic sign. New Moons are a time of planting seeds for the month ahead, and whatever is gestating in our consciousness around this time will tend to blossom and grow as the month progresses. Leo asks us to focus on what brings us our greatest joy. Like the playful child, we are encouraged to listen to our hearts and follow where they lead us. As we follow our joy and trust our hearts to point us in the right direction, so we will hopefully find ourselves walking down the path that was meant for us, towards our destiny. In the words of Joseph Campbell : “If you do follow your bliss you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there all the while, waiting for you, and the life that you ought to be living is the one you are living. Follow your bliss and don't be afraid, and doors will open where you didn't know they were going to be.” This is the gift of a Leo New Moon.
 
Eclipse season has brought endings and new beginnings, and a sense of starting a new chapter. At the same time we have had Saturn on the South Node, causing us to confront ourselves in no uncertain terms and recognise how the past it repeating itself, both personally and collectively. Just to add to the mix, on Friday 19 July retrograde Mercury slipped back into Cancer, the sign of the past, our childhood, our family and our emotional foundation. This has the potential for us to gain a lot of emotional understanding from taking a trip down memory lane, whether it be from looking through old photos, letters, or thinking about people we haven’t heard from for ages, or even hearing from people from the past whom we have unresolved business with. Old hurts, unresolved emotional issues and grievances may resurface to be acknowledged, sat with and accepted or even released.
 
The timing of this retrograde in emotional Cancer is very interesting, because while we are embarking on a new chapter, before we can fully move forward it seems that we are being asked to look back and clear the past. Saturn on the South Node may ask us to look our past honestly and without a filter, potentially facing up to some uncomfortable material and recognising how we might be repeating certain unhealthy patterns. This is a valuable process, as we take responsibility for all that has been before and then let go, stepping forward with integrity and a clean slate. Mercury will be turning direct on the day of the New Moon but will remain in Cancer until 11 August. In the few days before and after Mercury turns direct there is more chance of misunderstandings to occur, especially in Cancer as it is such an emotional sign. Things we say could be misinterpreted and taken more personally than usual, so it is important to be clear and concise in the way we communicate, not to mention kind and considerate of one another’s feelings.
 
There is a lot of helpful , loving, compassionate  energy around for this New Moon, which is a beautiful thing! Venus, the planet of love and relating, is sitting right next to the Sun and Moon in Leo, bringing the potential for some playful, passionate, romantic, loving and heartfelt interactions with our loved ones. Leo is that part of us that likes to feel special and unique somehow and can also encourage others and make them feel like they are the centre of our universe. Of course Leo is also the part of us that needs attention and validation when we feel insecure, so it is important to be mindful of this potential with so much Leo energy around in the next couple of weeks. With Mars and Venus in this expressive and creative sign, we are very much encouraged to follow our hearts’ desires and walk down the path of joy. During this New Moon we might like to contemplate what kind of life we would like to create for ourselves, and to be really playful with the process.
 
Bountiful Jupiter is also forming a harmonious aspect to the Sun and Moon, which could give us a much needed boost of faith and hope. Jupiter is also in Sagittarius, a fire sign, so there is certainly the potential for a good dose of enthusiasm and inspiration, not to mention a sense of somehow being guided in the right direction. Fire has an infectious quality, so hopefully some of Jupiter’s optimism and generosity of spirit will “catch like wildfire”! Chiron the Wounded Healer is also forming a helpful trine to the Sun, Moon and Venus, which could really help us to bravely and honestly face some of our deeper wounds and also have tolerance, compassion and understanding for the wounds of others. Indeed, during this time we could have some incredibly healing experiences within our relationships, potentially bringing up some quite challenging material in a kind and loving way.
 
Uranus is squaring off against the Sun, Moon and Venus, however, which could mean that we are thrown the odd curveball or two. Uranus in Taurus is taking us through a process of stripping away anything that may be stagnant or stuck, shaking up any area of our life where we might be playing it safe for the sake of security alone. Taurus is the sign of material security and our value system, while Uranus is the maverick, the planet that abhors stagnation and will quite happily unsettle our sense of safety and security if is preventing our spiritual growth.  We could experience some kind of wake-up call during this time that upsets the status quo and reminds us that nothing stays the same forever. Change is inevitable and our sense of safety and security should come from within, rather than from whatever we cling to in the physical world. There is an air of unpredictability that comes with a Uranus transit that ultimately brings a sense of freedom but which can certainly rattle our cages! Anyone who has personal planets close to 5° any of the fixed signs of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio or Aquarius may feel this energy the strongest.
 
The Sabian symbol for this New Moon, at 9° Leo, is: “Glass blowers shape beautiful vases with their controlled breathing”, which Dane Rudyar describes as “The need to involve one’s most spiritual and vital energies in the creative act if it is to produce significant and beautiful new forms. The breath represents the power of the spirit, animator of all living manifestations. Because the glass blower uses his breath to shape the glass vessels, he is a fitting symbol of how deeply any creative individual has to involve his total being in his creation.” This feels like an invitation to connect to spirit and use the power of our souls in a controlled manner to shape our lives or situation into something meaningful and worthwhile. It is important to let go of the past and any fears we may have, so that whatever goes into the act of creation is pure and unfettered. This feels like a spiritual and passionate act of intense focus which is asking us to pour our heart and soul into whatever we are creating for ourselves right now. No half measures!
 
The Nodes of the Moon in Cancer and Capricorn are providing the current backdrop, prompting us to question where we belong, where our home is and how we can take better care of ourselves on an emotional level. With the South Node in Capricorn we are being shown all too clearly what responsibilities we may be carrying that feel too heavy and how our work life may be taking over to the detriment of our family life and emotional health. Similarly we may become all too aware of how trying to keep everything under control and put up a capable front or stiff upper lip might not actually be serving us at all. Maybe there is another way which allows us to take down the walls and show a bit of vulnerability, being more inclusive of others allowing them to shoulder some of the load. How can we nourish ourselves better? Where are we supposed to be now? Who are we if we take the trappings of our careers and the layers of societal conditioning away? What does it actually mean to be a successful human being?
 
The Eclipses will have brought these issues up to the fore, and the focus is on creating a life that makes us feel emotionally rich rather than what society deems a “successful life”. This Leo Moon is a chance to have a little fun and to play around with what we might want for ourselves and, like the glass blower, to breathe our heart and soul into whatever we want to create. New Moons are a very powerful and potent time for setting intentions for the month ahead, and this one is no exception! As Joseph Campbell said, we just need to follow our bliss and not be afraid, and if we do our path will surely reveal itself to us. It is very important right now, with the help of Mercury Retrograde, to clear the past and release ourselves from any fears, unhealthy patterns, attachments or unresolved emotional material that may be impeding us from stepping towards the life we were meant to live.
 
Much Love
 
Amy
xoxo
 
My website: www.amybirdartandastrology.com
 
Image: Follow Your Heart, by Donna Coburn
 

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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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