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LEO FULL MOON / TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE - 20 / 21 January 2019

1/17/2019

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Picture
Exact at 5.16am GMT, 12.16am EST
 
This is one powerful Full Moon, that’s for sure! It is not only the first Full Moon of the year, in the very first degree of Leo, but it is also a Supermoon and Total Lunar Eclipse! Full Moons have the tendency to bring to the surface whatever has been bubbling away since the New Moon and often play out within our relationships. Supermoons are closer to earth so that they have a stronger effect on our mind, body, emotions and spirit. It is as if they amplify the energy of the Moon. Another term for a Lunar Eclipse is a Blood Moon, because the Moon gradually turns red. Imagine what people must have thought in times gone by when they saw the moon turning red! They might have thought that the Gods were angry, or that is was some kind of powerful omen! Indeed, Lunar Eclipses do tend to be harbingers of change. Something in our lives, both personally and collectively, is coming to an end in order to make way for something else to take its place. Wherever the first degree of Leo and Aquarius falls in our chart could show where we will feel the impact of the transformation. Indeed, if we have any personal planets or angles around the zero degree of the fixed signs Taurus, Leo, Scorpio or Aquarius, we will very likely feel this Eclipse most strongly.
 
The Sun will have just entered individualistic, humanitarian and revolutionary Aquarius as this Full Moon peaks, starting off Aquarius season for us. Directly opposite will be the Moon in strong-willed, creative and playful Leo, and so the onus is for us to find some balance between the two signs rather than veering too far in either direction.  Leo encourages us to take charge of our own destiny and creatively actualise our own unique, special purpose. The expression “Follow your bliss” comes from Leo, because if we do what brings us our greatest joy then it is quite likely that we will find fulfilment in life. Aquarius, however, urges us to align that special sense of purpose with a socially relevant need, rather than it being merely self-serving. Leo is the sign of the monarch, and much like the planets revolve around the Sun, Leo can feel like the world revolves around him. Aquarius is the sign of the rebellious revolutionary, who feels quite detached from the mainstream and delights in being different. Leo shows where we tend to be quite heartfelt and subjective, while Aquarius helps us to be objective and somewhat detached.  
 
Questions that might come us during this Moon are: “What makes me unique?”, “Am I afraid to stand out from the crowd?”, “Where do I seek validation from others?”, “What is my greatest joy in life?”, “What is my true purpose in life?”, “Am I making a difference in the world?”, “What trauma is still unresolved in my life?”, “Am I afraid to truly shine my light in the world?”, “Am I insecure or jealous of other people’s talents?”, “Do the people I spend my time with help me to fully express myself?”,  “What patterns and behaviours do I still need to let go of in order to grow?”, “Do I dissociate or detach from my body and/or emotions?”, “Am I trying so hard to fit in that I am suppressing who I really am?”, “How can I take the reins and fully take charge of creating the life I so dearly want?”, “Am I merely self-serving or am I contributing to the world?”, “What part might I have to play in making the world a better place to live?”, “Who do I feel intimidated or insecure around?”, “Do I put other people down in order to make myself feel bigger?”,  “Do I manipulate others for attention?” “How can I encourage others and make them feel special?”, “Who or what might I need to let go of in my life that is restricting my growth?”, “What is my heart’s true desire?”, “What is holding me back from my vision of my ideal life?”
 
Uranus, the ruler of Aquarius, is a big player in this Moon and is forming a challenging square aspect to the Sun, Moon, Mercury and the Nodes of the Moon. Aside from the fact that we are in Eclipse season, which portends change and transformation, Uranus has a tendency to create sudden upheaval and change in order to release us from stagnation and help us to grow. This can be quite traumatic, but can also force us to be more objective about our lives and liberate us from any patterns or situations that are preventing us from growing. Sudden shocks or surprises, change and upheaval that seems to “happen” to us is usually merely mirroring our own inner need for change and liberation from old patterns that are holding us prisoner. The tarot card that springs to mind as an evocative illustration of the energy of Uranus is The Tower. This card speaks of sudden change, upheaval, chaos, revelation and awakening. Some amazing epiphanies, realisations and insights could arise during this time, as we are forced to see things from a different perspective and step outside of our comfort zone.
 
Interestingly enough, the asteroid Pallas Athene is directly opposite Uranus and is also forming an almost exact square to the Nodes of the Moon. Pallas Athene is also known for bringing upheaval, change and sudden wake up calls that lead to a greater understanding of things.  Pallas Athene is an a very strong, female goddess and, among other things, she is known for destroying Medusa and completely rejecting her matriarchal roots in favour of male superiority, hence being a catalyst for the transition from the matriarchy to the patriarchy. With the Nodes of the Moon currently in Capricorn and Cancer, the Patriarchy and the Matriarchy, we are seeing the flaws of the patriarchal system all too clearly and are being asked to adopt a more inclusive, gentle, nurturing, tribal and family oriented way of approaching the world. Pallas Athena is an incredibly sharply intelligent female energy who denied her female roots and, by all accounts, allowed the unconscious masculine side to take over and dominate her personality. People with a strong Pallas Athene in their charts tend to identify very much with their fathers and, indeed, are known for having a father complex. This means that they have a tendency to submit to and validate patriarchal power or to absorb and imitate this patriarchal power.
 
As Pallas Athene is currently square the Nodes of the Moon, it means that her energy is very prominent indeed during this Eclipse season. The  South Node in Capricorn, which shows tendencies we need to leave behind in order to grow, represents the patriarchal authority, repression of emotions, suppression of maternal, nurturing instincts and too much focus on control, career and status. The North Node, which shows tendencies we currently need to cultivate in order to evolve, represents the matriarchy, tending to the community and family, nurturing and nourishing one another, allowing our feelings to show, allowing more vulnerability and a greater emphasis on the home and family and honouring our mothers, grandmothers and the wisdom of womanhood in general. We are also being encouraged to heal the collective Mother/Daughter relationship, which has become quite damaged over time. The symbolic energy of Pallas Athene, as shown by this square to the Nodes, is part of what might be blocking this progression.
 
There are a couple of noteworthy aspects that feel important during this Full Moon/ Eclipse, and both involve Venus, the planet of love and beauty, which represents our relationship to ourselves and others. Venus and Jupiter are joining forces in Sagittarius, which is a beautiful thing! This could expand our heart space and help us to relate to one another in ways that are mutually beneficial. Jupiter is the planet of growth and expansion and is the biggest planet, so he tends to expand the energy of whatever planet he comes into contact with. In this case he is expanding the energy of the planet of love, harmony, beauty and relationship! There is a hopeful feeling about this conjunction, which also brings the potential for meeting people who could be really good for us, helping us to grow and expand our horizons, and vice versa. This aspect will be exact on the 22nd, so the energy is strong during this Eclipse.
 
 Venus and Mars, the cosmic lovers, are also forming a harmonious aspect to one another during this Moon. This is very good for our relationships, as it creates a nice balance between our ability to attract and our capacity to assert ourselves. Venus is yin energy and Mars is yang, and so we should be able to connect with others quite easily and even playfully. If we have been trying to find the courage to approach someone that we like then this would be the time to do it, as Mars gives us a boost of confidence! Likewise, this aspect could help us to be brave enough to tell our partner things that we might usually be too shy to divulge. This is great for meeting new people and also for enjoying the relationships we already have. Both Venus and Mars are in Fire signs at the moment, which lends an enthusiastic, passionate, self-confident and inspirational element to the whole affair! This aspect is exact on Fri 18 January, but will still be present during the Full Moon. These two Venus aspects definitely lighten the atmosphere and provide a considerable amount of hope for this Eclipse.
 
This Moon certainly feels like is could bring in some changes, both on the internal and external; both personally and collectively. With the next three Full Moons occurring in the first degree of the sign they are in, there is certainly the whiff of new energy coming in. We never know what might be around the corner, as things can so easily change, in the blink of an eye! This Leo Moon should enhance our creativity and help us to not only envision the life we want to live, but also to shape it out of the strength of our own will.  We are being asked to follow our greatest joy and to act on our heart’s desires! There certainly is the potential for some shocks and surprises during this Moon, but ultimately this could bring some amazing insight and understanding, as if we will somehow be able to see ourselves and our lives more clearly. The more we resist change the harder it is, so it is better to do the inner work and contemplate what area of our lives is stagnant or stuck and needs some life breathing into it. We all know what it is, but the question is, are we willing to act on our inner knowing and actually instigate change? Or are we just going to wait for it to come along and hit us over the head?!
Much Love
 
Amy
xoxo
 
Picture: from Prisma Vision Tarot by James R. Eads
 
 
 
 
 
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CANCER FULL MOON  - 22 December 2018

12/19/2018

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Picture
Exact at 5.48pm GMT, 12.48pm EST
 
This Full Moon falls less than 24 hours after the Winter Solstice, so this could be quite an intensely emotional time leading up to the Solstice! This is a time of turning within and facing the shadows; it is a time of silence and introspection, when we need to rest and lay in wait for the light to return. It is interesting that we also have Sagittarius season until the Solstice, which brings a tendency to over-extend ourselves and rush around, when really the most natural thing for us to be doing is resting, hibernating, slowing down and listening to our quiet inner voice. Traditionally, the Winter Solstice is considered to be the moment when the Moon gives birth to the Sun, which is such a beautiful thought! It is a time of hope and faith, when we welcome back the light and look backward over the year we have had and forward towards our vision of what is to come. This year, as it coincides with the Full Moon, it will very likely have some extra emotional weight to it. As the moon builds to its peak of fullness, so do our emotions. This is a very emotional time of year as it is, so it is important that we treat ourselves and others with compassion and kindness.
 
Astrologically, the Solstice represents the moment when the Sun move from Sagittarius into Capricorn, beginning a new cycle. The Solstice will occur at 22.23pm in England on 21 December. The Full Moon is occurring in the very first degree of Cancer, with the Sun directly opposite in the very first degree of Capricorn. This certainly feels like a time of transition; a turning point somehow.  A Cancer Full Moon is very poignant indeed when it falls at this time of year, as Cancer represents our inner and outer home, our sense of belonging, our childhood, family and roots. It could bring some very strong emotions up around our sense of belonging, and could highlight any emotional patterns that were formed in childhood and which no longer serve us but rather go against us. Cancer represents the inner child – the vulnerable part of us that may be hurt, damaged or wounded by whatever happened in our childhood. Sometimes we allow that hurt little child to run the show, acting in ways that we are not proud of! So often we find ourselves projecting needs that were not met in childhood onto those close to us, such as our partners and children, subconsciously expecting them to make up for whatever our parents failed to give us.
 
While Cancer represents our inner child and emotional patterns, Capricorn represents our inner parent and the conditioning that we received from our parents, school and society. In an ideal world we would have a good balance between our inner child and inner parent, whereby we are able to be a kind parent to our inner child and recognise when we are over-reacting or sabotaging our relationships with our old script or story. However, often we find ourselves “acting out” our unmet childhood needs and conditioning and responding in a needy, insecure and childish way (Cancer) or going the other way and completely suppressing or controlling our emotions (Capricorn) so that they end up coming out in distorted ways. Capricorn is the king is the stiff upper lip and no stranger to guilt, which can cause us to judge ourselves severely. The key is to look back over our life and try to understand where this guilt might be coming from. What subtle messages were we given that might have indoctrinated us with a pervading sense of having done something wrong?
 
A positive manifestation of Cancer is for us to learn to meet our own emotional needs instead of being the eternal child that expects others to take care of us and solve our problems. Once we learn to nurture ourselves then we are better able to nurture others’ needs. A positive manifestation of Capricorn is to learn emotional maturity, being adult enough to take responsibility for ourselves and our actions, create healthy boundaries and take on our own authority rather than allowing others to have authority over our path. These are lessons we could be confronted with during this Full Moon. We are encouraged to openly express our feelings and allow ourselves to be vulnerable, while at the same time being grown up about it and taking responsibility for our own emotional landscape and needs.
 
Chiron the Wounded Healer is forming a challenging square aspect to the Sun and Moon during this Full Moon.  Chiron will be exactly squaring the Sun on Wednesday 19 December, but the energy will linger for the Full Moon. This could very much highlight our old wounds and insecurities, and people’s words or actions may inadvertently hurt or trigger us as these old wounds could feel more like open sores during this time! This is especially so because Mars, the warrior planet, is moving towards a conjunction with Chiron (exact on 28 Dec), and both are in Pisces. This could cause people to act, react and possibly even attack quite strongly, forcefully and aggressively, from a wounded and potentially deluded place.  It is important to be gentle with ourselves this week, and to be aware of the fact that we could be more sensitive and vulnerable than at other times, which could cause us to over-react or be a bit too emotional or defensive. Compassion and forgiveness are what are called for, both for ourselves and others. Chiron in Pisces promotes unconditional love and empathy for all living beings, as we all have our cross to bear, albeit in different shapes, forms and sizes.
 
Uranus is forming a harmonious and helpful trine aspect to the Sun and Moon, and Uranus and the Sun will exactly trine one another on Thursday 20 December, but the energy will still be strong for the Full Moon. This could be very helpful in terms of breaking unhealthy or detrimental habits and patterns, and releasing us from the past so that we can move forward with a renewed sense of purpose. It is important to be open to whatever changes might come our way, and to keep an eye out for synchronicities and anything unusual that could be prodding us in a different direction to what we might be used to. This is an exciting and enlivening aspect that could help us to break out of the mould and recreate ourselves somehow. This could represent a much needed “reset button”, liberating us from the old story so that we can recreate a new one.
 
Mercury and Jupiter and joining forces in Sagittarius this week, exact on Fri 21 December, which could have both positive and challenging implications! On the one hand this could help us to see the big picture, trusting our hunches and intuition. This is quite a philosophical combination that could help us to be quite forward thinking and optimistic. However, it also has the potential for us to experience a bit of Sagittarian foot in mouth syndrome as we speak our truth, regardless of how hurtful it might be for other people to hear it. It is important to remember that the truth is relative, and that what is true for us may not be for another. It is also important to remember that this Moon, and this time of year, can make people especially sensitive and reactive, and may blurt things out that they don’t really mean.
 
Another thing to be aware of is that Neptune, the planet of illusion and delusion, is forming a challenging square aspect to this Mercury/Jupiter conjunction. As such, all may not be entirely as it seems and our powers of discrimination and discernment may be a bit skewed and unreliable. Religious and spiritual delusions are possible when Neptune and Jupiter are involved, so we must be careful in terms of what we accept as the “truth” from other people. We may be more susceptible than usual to indoctrination, as people could be very convincing, overzealous and dogmatic in putting forward their beliefs and version of the truth. We must try not to make any concrete decisions about anything we hear or think during this time, because deception, delusion, glamour, smoke screens and illusion are all possible and may cloud our perception of reality. Our imaginations could run wild in completely the wrong direction! Someone could try and convince us of something that is in fact not true at all! We could even find ourselves questioning our own sanity, as we are unsure of what is real or unreal, true or false. The Mercury Neptune square will be exact on 25 December, while the Neptune Jupiter square will be exact on 13 January.
 
Neptune is also forming a beautiful trine aspect with Venus during this Moon which will be very helpful indeed. Venus represents love, while Neptune represents unconditional love. This lovely, heart-opening combination can help us to recognise one another’s divine potential; to see past the masks and walls and relate to each other’s true spirit and essence. We may be better able than at other times to see past one another’s flaws and idiosyncrasies and accept each other exactly as we are, warts and all. We all have our wounds, insecurities and shadows, and this combo could help us to have more compassion and empathy for our loved ones and, indeed, humanity as a whole. We are all beautiful souls doing the best we can with whatever we have been given. And for some of us, what we have been given is more difficult to bear than others.
 
The Sabian symbol for this Moon, in the very first degree of Cancer, is: “On a ship the sailors lower an old flag and raise a new one.” Which Dane Rudyar describes as “A radical change of allegiance exteriorised in a symbolical act: a point of no return.” This brings the sense of a turning point; some kind of act of free will that changes things significantly. We could be giving up an old way of being, or shedding old habits, or ending something significant in our lives. It does seem, however, that there will be no going back.
 
It is important, during this Moon, to be aware of the potential for over-sensitivity and over-reaction. This is an emotional Moon at an emotional time of year that has the potential to bring up our sore spots and make us quite irrational! This is a good opportunity to recognise how some of our emotional patterns formed in childhood might still be running the show and to practice putting our inner parent to work. This Moon could bring up a lot around our sense of belonging, and make us all too aware of what we are missing, whether that be someone we have lost or the family we wish we had. It is so important to be gentle with ourselves and others during this time, as behind someone’s harsh words or overreactions could be a little child who feels terribly hurt, alone and misunderstood. All is not as it seems, and appearances can be deceiving. It would be good to take a leaf out of Cancer’s book and really nurture our inner child and those of others during this time when we are waiting for the light to return.
 
Much Love
 
Amy
xoxo
 
Picture: Sculpture : “Love” by Alexander Milov
 
My website: www.amybirdartandastrology.com
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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GEMINI FULL MOON - 23 November 2018

11/21/2018

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Picture
Exact at 5.39am GMT, 12.39am EST
 
This Full Moon has the potential to bring things to a head with regard to our thoughts, communication, opinions, and beliefs. It falls on the teaching/preaching axis, which means that emotions could be riding high in when it comes to any discussions, disagreements or debates we may be having with others. Sagittarius season begins on Thursday, which on the one hand can make us quite jovial, giving us the ability to see the bigger picture and laugh at the absurdity of life. On the other hand, Sagittarius energy can cause us to become too firmly entrenched in our own beliefs and so convinced that our version of the “truth” is right that we try to convince, convert or indoctrinate others. Gemini reminds us that there are many paths to the same destination and that truth is relative. Our personal beliefs, in fact, are merely a drop in the ocean when it comes to the total, universal, timeless truth. This Full Moon could bring heated discussions as our beliefs and opinions are challenged. The key here is to remember is that who is right and wrong isn’t important, as we are all entitled to our point of view and have opinions that are valid. What’s right for us isn’t necessarily right for someone else, so it’s better to simply live and let live.
 
The rulers of Gemini and Sagittarius, Mercury and Jupiter and right next to each other and also right next to the Sun in Sagittarius during this Full Moon. It’s a full on Sagittarius party, with all its right brained intuition, wisdom, humour, ability to see the bigger picture and potential for self-righteousness. Sagittarius allows us to piece together all the data and information we have received over the course of our life into one big belief system, which then determines how we interpret life. However, some of those beliefs need to be challenged once in a while, because they come directly from our conditioning and experiences over the course of our life. For instance, if we had a violent or aggressive father we may grow up with the underlying belief that all men are predators and the world isn’t a safe place. Similarly, if we had a manipulative or controlling mother we may live our lives with the belief that all women want to control us. These beliefs can be so firmly entrenched that we are completely unaware that they are running the show and colouring our reality!  This Moon has the capacity to bring these beliefs to the surface of our conscious minds and make us more aware of the conditioned indoctrination that we have received and how it colours our experience and interpretation of life.
 
Mars in Pisces is forming a challenging square aspect to the Sun, Moon, Mercury and Jupiter, which certainly could add some heat to any discussions or debates we might be having over the course of this Full Moon week! When our ideas, thoughts, opinions and beliefs are challenged it’s hard not to become defensive, as it can threaten our sense of security and shakes and rocks our perception of reality. In the same token, we could find ourselves receiving so many opinions from others that we don’t know what to think, in which case it helps to remember that they are just their opinions and when it comes down to it we need to listen to our own inner wisdom and trust our own inner guidance system. People may have nuggets of wisdom to impart, but when it comes down to it they are still interpreting it from their own viewpoint and life experience. What is true for one person may not be for another.
 
With Mars involved in the picture we could be called upon to assert ourselves and say our piece, although as Mars is in Pisces hopefully we can do so in a kind, sensitive and compassionate way, calling upon our sacred divine warrior rather than simply forcing our opinions and views down one another’s throats! With Pisces in this gentle, empathetic sign we could be called upon to act with fierce compassion. The combination of Mars and Jupiter does bring the potential for pride, arrogance and self-righteousness, as well as some quite strong and hard hitting opinions! Some age old and deeply held beliefs could be challenged during this Full Moon! When it comes down to it there is no right or wrong – just differing viewpoints. Sometimes it helps to let go of the need to be right and simply agree to disagree. If we do become locked in a battle with someone else it might help to ask ourselves why it is so important that the other person accept our version of the truth. Are we able to step back and see things from their perspective? In what way do we actually agree with one another? What is the underlying issue causing the disagreement in the first place?
 
Mercury, the ruler of the Moon, is retrograde from 17/18 November until 6 December. While Mercury is retrograde we have a chance to go back over old ground, looking back over our lives and taking stock of where we are. This is an opportunity for review and reflection, so it’s good to use the time turn within and to be a bit retrospective. People from the past may pop up if we have unfinished business with them, or things left unsaid. This is a good time to let our left brains have a bit of a rest and allow our intuitive right brain run the show for a while. The Sabian Symbol for Mercury is very appropriate: “In the left section of an archaic temple, a lamp burns in a container shaped like a human body”, which Dane Rudyar describes as  “The value of the “return to the body” advocated by modern thinkers in order to balance the stress on intellectuality and objective consciousness….This refers to the process of deconditioning a consciousness that has become a prisoner of intellectual concepts with their total reliance on quantitative values, objectivity and conformity to the official patterns of our culture.” When in doubt about what to think, we should listen to our intuition and trust the wisdom of the body, as it is our internal guidance system.  What is it telling you about whatever situation you are facing? Our bodies do tend to send us some very clear signals, if we are willing to listen.
 
Venus is now moving forwards again, after being retrograde for 40 days. This means that she will be going back over the same ground she has already covered twice in the last couple of months. This includes Venus squaring the Nodes of the Moon while opposing Uranus. The first time this configuration occurred was around 13 September, the second pass was around 30 October and the third and final pass is building now and will be exact on 1 December. This brings the potential for some shocks and surprises in the realm of our relationships that could shake us out of our proverbial  ruts. It is quite possible that we could have some epiphanies and potentially “wake up” to some rather profound and unsettling realisations about ourselves and our relationships. Some relationships may break apart if they are on shaky ground to begin with, while others could receive a much needed breath of fresh air. We have here the possibility of releasing ourselves from some ancient conditioning and ingrained patterns that have been running the show and not serving us in the slightest!
 
We are now at a turning point, potentially a pivotal moment of liberation from whatever keeps us imprisoned in these patterns formed so very long ago. This is the time to break free, to break the cycle, to step out of the comfort zone and do things completely differently, even though it might scare us to death! It is time to face any unresolved material regarding the way we relate to ourselves and others. We have an opportunity to break the shackles and to do whatever is necessary to step beyond this old way of relating that is simply not serving us anymore. This is a watershed moment that could change the way we relate forever, radically revolutionising our relationship with ourselves and others. Sometimes it takes a bit of a shock to wake us up. Anyone with personal planets around 0 degrees of the fixed signs of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius, and around 29 degrees of the Cardinal signs of Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn will have been feeling this the strongest. 
 
This Full Moon involves an interesting mix of planetary that could bring some firmly help beliefs crashing to the ground and brings the potential for disagreements and heated debates as people attempt to convince or convert one another. However, with all of this comes the opportunity to break down the walls of our conditioning and recognise how some of our belief about ourselves and life are simply not helping us anymore. We have a chance to change the way we relate, which could feel quite uncomfortable as we try a new way on for size, but if we are brave we have the chance to revolutionise our relationships. An important thing to remember during this Moon is that it’s not about who is right or wrong. Everyone’s truth is personal and relative to them, depending on their life experience, and what is right for us may not be for the other person. Opinions are simply opinions, and when it comes down to it we need to trust that we know what is right for us. Sagittarius invites us to look at the bigger picture, listen to our bodies and trust our gut, while Gemini reminds us that there are many paths to the same destination!
 
Much Love
 
Amy
xoxo
 
Picture: An Argument Between Deities – Danni Moresi
 
 
 
 
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TAURUS FULL MOON - 24 October 2018

10/21/2018

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Picture
Exact at 5.45pm BST, 12.45pm EDT
 
This Full Moon has the potential to provide an unexpected twist or turn in the plot of our lives! Uranus is a very big part of the story during this Moon, and this erratic and unpredictable planet can cause some unexpected events to occur that bring about change, especially if we are blocked or  in need of a bit of a shake-up in our lives. Full Moons tend to bring to the boil anything that has been simmering away beneath the surface since the New Moon, so that we have no choice but to face whatever it is and to express it to ourselves and our loved ones. This Moon is no exception, and we will be especially sensitive to it if we have personal planets within 5 or so degrees of 2° of a sign, and particularly the fixed signs of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius.  
 
Scorpio season begins on the 23 October, and brings with it the potential for transformation and a shedding of the skin. It’s no coincidence, methinks, that Scorpio Season coincides with Autumn in the Northern Hemisphere, and as the trees shed their leaves so do we have the chance to let go of whatever isn’t serving us anymore. Scorpio can bring about a death of sorts, whereby a part of us passes away and is reborn, shiny and new. As such, it is important not to cling on too tightly to anything that quite obviously needs to shift or pass away during this time. We might be tempted to hold on to whatever it is, as Taurus does like to feel stable and secure and can be quite resistant to change, but with Uranus in on the act it seems that we may have no choice but to let go and ride the waves of change! There is the potential for us to blast through some pretty big blocks during this Moon, so it’s good to be open and willing to step outside of our comfort zone, releasing the past and liberating ourselves from old patterns. It could be shocking, unsettling and threaten our sense of emotional security, but ultimately it will bring fresh air into our lives and set us free.
 
Uranus and the Moon are also opposing Venus, the ruler of the Taurus, during this Full Moon. Venus is currently retrograde in Scorpio, and so we may be taking a trip down memory lane and revisiting the past, especially if there is unresolved material or karma that is still affecting our present day relationships. Some of these memories may not be very comfortable or pretty, but they could have important messages and lessons for us. We have a chance to review our relationships and the way we relate to ourselves and others. Are we too trusting, or do we need to learn to trust more? Do we need to work on our sense of confidence and self-worth? How are our boundaries with people, especially our loved ones? Do we tend to put others before ourselves and deny our own needs? Or do we need to work on listening to others needs more closely? What is blocking us from being close to others, or blocking true intimacy? Are we holding onto resentments that are preventing  open hearted relating with our loved ones? Are we held back from moving forward by a relationship from our past? Is it time to lay it to rest and move on? What is most important to us within our relationships; what do we value the most?
 
We have a chance to transform our relationships while Venus Retrograde in Scorpio, bringing a greater sense of trust and deeper intimacy, although the process may not be an easy one. Indeed, we may have to confront some quite uncomfortable material. This Moon, however, with Uranus opposing Venus, brings the potential for liberating ourselves from old, sticky, karmic relationships and also for finding a new way of being in relationship. There could be a few shocks and surprises along the way, as our loved ones act or react in unexpected ways, and indeed it could be us who behaves erratically or out of character. The opposition between Uranus and Venus will be exact on Samhain/Halloween, when the veil between the worlds is at its thinnest. Not only that, but it will occur at 0° on Taurus and Scorpio, which is a powerfully potent degree. As such, between now and the 31st October we should be very mindful of the way we relate to our nearest and dearest, because some sticky karmic material could come to the fore and subconscious impulses and compulsions could be running the show.
 
Long kept secrets could be revealed as we dare to look beneath the proverbial carpet, and some shocking disclosures could occur. Issues around trust, loss, abandonment and intimacy could be brought out into the open. Relationships could end suddenly, although only if they are already on shaky ground. Profound revelations could occur which radically transform our relationship to ourselves and others. We could experience a sudden and significant shift around our sense of security, both financially and emotionally. We could make a break for freedom, busting ourselves out of stagnant ruts or impasses and breathing new life into our relationships and how we make a living. Blocks to intimacy could be broken down somehow. We could find ourselves “waking up” to something that we have been ignoring or denying for a very long time. Indeed, we could have some quite profound revelations during this time.
 
The good news is that Saturn is helping us out during this Moon, forming harmonious aspects to the Sun, Moon and Venus. This will help us keep our feet on the ground and to be accountable for whatever comes up. When it comes down to it we are only responsible for ourselves and our actions and reactions, so it is important to act with integrity. Saturn’s influence helps us to take responsibility for ourselves and to be grown up about it.  It could also help us to recognise where and how we might need to create stronger boundaries. Not only that, but it could help us to see how our conditioning and karma has led us to where we are now. With Saturn we can see all too clearly how we reap what we sow. Saturn’s influence helps us to control our actions and reactions and to look at things in a realistic light.
 
Jupiter is at the very end of his stay in Scorpio, getting ready to move into his own sign of Sagittarius on 8 November, and as he does so he and Chiron the Wounded Healer are forming a harmonious trine aspect with one another. This is a very positive pairing indeed, as it can help us to gain access to our higher wisdom. We are given the opportunity to find our inner guru and deepen our relationship to it. Instead of looking outside of ourselves for guidance we are invited to look within and trust our internal compass and our own innate sense of “knowing”. We all have an internal guidance system, it’s just a case of trusting it. This could be a time when we have a chance to heal whatever blocks us from our own wisdom, intuition and inner knowing. It is so easy to give our power away to others, thinking that they know best, but here we have an invitation to develop a relationship with our inner GPS and to learn to truly trust that we are being guided in the right direction. This trine between Chiron and Jupiter will be exact on 1 November, and the energy is building now.
 
The Nodes of the Moon are also getting ready to move from Leo and Aquarius into Cancer and Capricorn on 6 November (True Node), so November brings a few shifts of energy with it! During this Full Moon, the Sun and Moon and literally squaring off against the Nodes of the Moon, which makes brings the sense that we are at a bit of a cross roads. What bounder in our path do we keep coming up against, again and again? What keeps tripping us up and preventing us from really shining in the world, in true Leo North Node style? What needs to change in order for us to fully follow our joy? What is our biggest block, preventing us from moving forward and growing? Where are we staying safe, standing back in the wings and not fully participating? Where are we most resistant to change?  It seems that we have a chance here, before the Nodes move signs and the emphasis shifts to Cancer and Capricorn, to make some decisions and make a shift forward. We have the full support of the planets to take a leap into the unknown and liberate ourselves!  And there is no better time to purge old patterns, transform and transmute our lives than during Scorpio season!
 
Much Love
 
Amy
xoxo
 
Artwork: Winds of Change – Marleen Visser
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ARIES FULL MOON - 24/25 September 2018

9/23/2018

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

This Moon brings the potential for some amazing healing that involves us being very brave and honest with ourselves and others. Chiron the Wounded Healer is sitting right next to the Moon in Aries, meaning that we could find ourselves being quite strongly triggered by those close to us, or could potentially be the one to deliver a hurtful blow or two. Aries energy is very forthright and tends to act first and think later, so it is possible that we could hurt one another’s feelings without meaning to or even realising it. Not only that but Mars, the ruler of Aries, is forming a challenging square aspect to Uranus, signifying the potential for angry outbursts, sudden acts of aggression, shocking anger or truth telling. Aries is a very honest sign, and while the truth can sometime hurt, is can also be incredibly cathartic and healing. This Moon could certainly be the time for getting things out into the open and off our chests!
 
Libra season is now upon us, with the emphasis being on our relationships and finding more of a sense of balance, compromise, harmony and peace within them. The Aries Moon is opposite the Libra Sun, bringing into focus where we might be out of balance within our relationships. Issues around domination could come up, as well as lessons around having our needs met and learning how to meet other people’s needs. Aries tends to have a “me first” attitude, while Libra thinks of “other” first, while actually we are looking for a happy balance between learning to meet our own needs and dancing to our own tune, and really learning to listen to what others needs are. Questions to ask during this Moon are “How can I express my needs in a healthy way?”, “What needs to be said that has been pushed under the carpet?”, “Where am I giving too much/too little within my relationships?”, “How can I be honest in a way that isn’t hurtful or destructive?”, “How do I follow my own path at the same time as considering my partner or the relationship?”, “How do I handle anger in my relationships?, “Do I need to become more selfish, or selfless?”
 
Just to add to the stew, we have Mars, Black Moon Lilith and the South Node of the Moon sitting right next to each other during this Moon. This could bring up hidden resentments or unexpressed rage, pulling our darkness out into the light. It is important to be careful that we don’t project our own darkness or anger onto others. It’s a strong and powerful combination, the warrior and the enraged feminine. Whenever we have something we really hate or have a strong aversion to in someone else, the chances are it is something we haven’t healed in ourselves. It is important to be self-aware during this Moon, because there is the potential for some very heated emotions to rise to the surface. There is definitely the possibility of overreacting and putting the blame outside of ourselves during this time, so a bit of self-reflection is imperative. If something or someone aggravates us to the point of anger or rage then we probably need to have a long hard look at why! Are we being defensive because we are afraid on some level, or are they acting out some part of ourselves that we simply cannot see? Are they opening up an old wound that is still quite raw, or behaving like someone who has hurt us in the past? Why are we so bothered?
 
Saturn is forming a challenging square aspect to the Son and Moon during this Full Moon, forcing us to take responsibility for ourselves and to be accountable for whatever comes up during this time. Saturn is the planet of karma that reminds us that we reap what we sow, teaching us about cause and effect, often the hard way! It’s hard to look reality square in the face and be an adult about it, but there may be no choice in this situation. Saturn may be calling for a bit of emotional maturity and integrity, whereby we are forced somehow to step up to the plate and take responsibility for our actions. All of this Aries/Mars energy is quite impulsive, spontaneous and potentially volatile, while Saturn represents our inner parent or judge holding us back and forcing us to suppress our natural impulses and urges. Indeed, this could bring up the themes of judgment, control and guilt-tripping for us to deal with within our relationships.
 
It’s interesting, this Moon, as we have all of this honest, triggering, assertive and brave energy with the Moon and Chiron, whereby things could be said or done that poke at our core wounds like they are open sores. We also have a very prominent Mars / Lilith situation brewing that could bring some difficult emotional material to come up and force us to face our fears and shadows. We definitely need to watch out for projections during this time! And then we have Saturn, bearing down on us, like a stern judge forcing us to be grown-up, behave and make sure we are accountable for all we are and all that we do. Ultimately this does feel like a Moon that could bring hitherto suppressed material into the light, which could be so very healing! This could definitely be a very good time to become more aware of our relationship with anger. It might be very hard for some of us to be brave enough to assert ourselves and express our needs in healthy ways. However, if we remember the potential of this Moon to find the balance between peaceful, giving Libra and assertive, honest and self-oriented Aries, we could do a lot of good for our relationships during this time. This is a powerful moon indeed, and a very good time to be very honest both with ourselves and our loved ones.
 
Much Love
 
Amy
xoxo
 
Artwork: Honesty, by Poona
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PISCES FULL MOON - 26 August 2018

8/23/2018

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Exact at 12.56pm BST, 7.56am EDT

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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AQUARIUS FULL MOON / BLOOD MOON / TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE at 4° AQUARIUS - 27 July 2018

7/23/2018

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Exact at 9.20pm BST, 4.20pm EDT
 
This Blood Moon is the mother of all Full Moons, with such powerful potential to create major shifts in consciousness and to help liberate us from old karma and the patterns that bind us! Eclipses represent a period of significant endings and new beginnings; a turning point, as one chapter ends and another begins. This one, however, feels even more potent because Uranus, the ruler of the Moon and harbinger of change and liberation, is squaring the Sun, Moon, Mars and the Nodal axis. Wherever Uranus is found in our natal chart shows the dynamics that we have chosen to liberate ourselves from in this lifetime, and wherever it is right now shows us in what area of our lives we are experiencing change and transformation at the moment. The last Moon brought a feeling that enough is enough, that it’s time to let go, and as this Moon builds there is a sense that we are being stripped back, peeling back layer after layer of our conditioned selves so that our true, core essence can come shining forth. This process could be extremely painful and unsettling or amazingly exciting and freeing, or all of the above! It is time to wake up to who we really are.
 
This Moon falls on the Leo/Aquarius axis, with the Moon in Aquarius directly opposing the Sun in its own sign of Leo. The two luminaries are also sitting smack, bang on top of the Nodes of the Moon, hence the total eclipse. The Aquarius Moon is joining forces with Mars and the South Node of the Moon, taking us back to the past and highlighting any old trauma that we might have suppressed, causing a tendency to detach or dissociate from our emotions or to project the old trauma onto people and situations out of a subconscious fear of it happening again. We have all experienced trauma of various types and in various degrees in this and other lifetimes, and if it is left unresolved and undealt with then it tends to play out in the form of emotional patterns and projections, so that we keep recreating the past over and over again, perpetuating the trauma.
 
This Moon is the chance to get off the hamster wheel. We have an opportunity here to liberate ourselves from old stories and to purge these old, unhealthy patterns and projections, shedding the skins of our past. Like an onion, layer upon layer is being peeled back to reveal our inner core; our true, unique essence. We might experience old, buried memories resurfacing and we could become painfully and acutely aware of the way that our emotional patterns are playing on a loop, creating unhealthy dynamics in our lives and relationships and preventing growth. It is quite like that we are going to have to be brave enough to really confront ourselves and recognise what need to change. This may not easy work; indeed it might be downright uncomfortable, but the rewards will be great.  
 
The purpose of Aquarius is to liberate us from the many layers of parental and societal conditioning that we have received over many lifetimes, revealing our true, unique nature. Uranus is very present right now, helping us to wake up and become more objective about how we have been shaped and moulded and what we need to do to free ourselves from this conditioning. We are encouraged to practice the art of detachment, freeing ourselves from unhealthy attachments and an overactive ego, and recognising any behavioural patterns that are holding us prisoner and preventing further growth.
 
 Aquarius dares to think outside of the box, and to challenge authority and cultural norms. It is the part of us that questions what our parents and society have told us and has the inner strength to be different and stand apart from the mainstream if necessary. Of course there is also a shadow side, which is feeling like an outsider, or feeling ostracised somehow, like we don’t belong. We might be working with that energy right now as well, and could be dealing with the consequences of making the choice to take a different path or stand apart from the crowd.
 
The North Node is in Leo, with the Sun right next to it, pulling us forward on our path towards growth. Leo encourages us to take our own, unique essence out into the world and to let it shine! If Aquarius helps us to bust out of the mould and individuate, then Leo helps us to take charge of our own special destiny and create the life we want. Leo also helps us to find the path to joy, reclaiming the parts of ourselves that we might have left behind as a result of certain traumatic events in our lives. While Aquarius helps us decondition and liberate ourselves from old patterns, Leo helps us to put that into action and realise our full potential and take charge of our own destiny. This is all a possibility for us at the moment, although with Uranus square the Nodes we could become all too aware of what is blocking us from this joy and creative self-actualisation that we sense is possible. We may have to revisit old, unresolved material that seems to keep replaying in our lives and relationships, keeping us trapped in the past and preventing growth. It is time to wake up, to remember who we really are, to release ourselves from the past, to sever old attachments, to set ourselves free, to let go of these patterns and blocks that seem to keep tripping us up over and over and over again!
 
We do have some very helpful energy around to help us out with this process. Chiron the Wounded Healer is currently in brave, bold and forthright Aries and is forming a helpful, harmonious aspect to the Sun, Moon, Mars and the Nodes. This will help us to be brave enough to face ourselves honestly and without fear. There is great healing potential here, but we might have to have the courage to confront some pretty uncomfortable material, not to mention old memories coming to the surface and potentially unsettling revelations, realisations and insights. Chiron is also forming a challenging aspect to Saturn at the moment, which again is forcing us to recognise how certain crystalised, rigid or entrenched patterns of behaviour are keeping us prisoner. This combination could cause us to feel quite vulnerable as old wounds are brought to the surface, and could also bring up old grief or feelings of guilt or futility. We might have to confront how our need for control is preventing us from healing. Sometimes we need to just surrender and let the walls come down.
 
Uranus and Saturn are also forming a positive aspect to one another, which further reinforces the sense that we are currently being given the opportunity to break free from the past and liberate ourselves from old conditioning and restrictive or limiting behavioural patterns. It feels like we have a chance to reinvent ourselves somehow and gently dismantle any structures in our lives that are preventing growth. Uranus is shaking up the status quo while Saturn is helping us to remain relatively stable during the process. We don’t have to completely throw the baby out with the bathwater. We can learn from the past while paving our way for a better future.
 
And all the while, this beautiful harmonious trine aspect between Neptune and Jupiter is building again, and will be exact on August 18. This brings the faith that ultimately everything is happening for a reason and that somehow it will all work out the way it is supposed to.  These two have been dancing with each other since April and can really help us to face our shadows with compassion and forgiveness. This combination brings the potential for amazing spiritual growth and for helping one another in the spirit of unconditional love and acceptance. We all have our struggles and failings and we all have our shadows. Jupiter and Neptune help us to really empathise and find compassion for one another and to see past all of the crap to each other’s true essence. This combination helps is to surrender and let go of resentment, attachment, control and anything we might be holding onto that isn’t serving us anymore. It allows us to find our flow and to be open to synchronicities and helpful omens. It gives us faith and trust that life is unfolding exactly as it is supposed to.
 
The Sabian symbol for the Sun/Moon midpoint is interesting and poignant, at 5° Taurus: “A widow at an open grave”, which Dane Rudyar describes as “The impermanence of all material and social bonds. “All natural compounds decay,” said the Buddha. The most beautiful and enjoyable substance loses its potential energy through continuous actualisations and the principle of integration and form is withdrawn, leaving the Void – “the open grave” that ends all attachments. The Void is the great challenge: What next? One must begin anew, and if possible at a “higher,” more inclusive and universal, less egocentric, level. This symbol may seem negative, yet it opens the door to self-renewal. Beyond the personal attachment rises the possibility of participating in a larger sphere of existence. The possibility rarely manifests itself except, as one is ready to DISCARD THE PAST.”
 
This symbol again brings the sense of us being somehow stripped back, severing attachments and letting go of the past so that we can begin anew. This surely does feel like an incredibly powerful Full Moon / Eclipse which has the potential to really help us to rid ourselves of old conditioning, purging unhealthy habits and patterns and moving onto the next level of our evolution. This is a fateful time, when we let go of anything that is preventing us from creating the life that reflects our true nature. It’s a time of confrontation, releasing, purging and letting go. People and situations may pass away and new ones may take their place. We could become acutely and uncomfortably aware of our more unhelpful patterns of behaviour. Change is most definitely afoot and we have the potential for some massive shifts, both on an internal and external level, especially if Uranus and the Nodes are prominent in our charts right now. It’s time to let go of who we thought we were supposed to be and to become who we really are. Our cages could be well and truly rattled during this Eclipse season, but it is time. We are ready.
 
Much Love
 
Amy
xoxo
 
Painting: Joy of Freedom by Freydoon Rassouli
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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CAPRICORN FULL MOON - 28 June 2018

6/24/2018

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

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SAGITTARIUS FULL MOON - 29 May 2018

5/24/2018

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


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SCORPIO FULL MOON - 29 / 30 April 2018

4/26/2018

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Much Love

Amy
xoxo

Picture: Transformation by Joyce Huntington


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    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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