Category: New Moons

ARIES NEW MOON - 12 April 2021

4/9/2021

Exact at 3.30am UK time

This is a supercharged New Moon, as we have no less than seven celestial bodies in feisty, brave, impulsive Aries right now! This is the first New Moon of the astrological calendar, signifying new growth and new beginnings. Much like a shoot making its way out of the hard winter ground, Aries is that part of us that isn’t afraid to venture into new territory and start fresh. Aries is very instinctual and known for acting on impulses which are sometimes not very well thought out but take us to places we may not have gone if we thought about it too much! As the first of the fire signs, Aries represents the initial spark that starts things off and gets the proverbial fire going. This is where we get our courage, our enthusiasm, our motivation and the desire to make things happen. This certainly does feel like a good Moon to start anew and initiate anything that we may have been putting off!

Aries can also bring up anger in us, and in the extreme it can be rather forceful, reactive and confrontational. However, this can be quite helpful if there is a person or situation that needs confronting or standing up to! Aries helps us to draw that line in the sand and say “No!” when we have been pushed too far. It also helps us to say “Yes!” to life and to step out of our comfort zone, like that shoot bursting out of the ground! As the Chinese proverb says “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”. We could find ourselves having the courage to take that first step during this Moon.

We currently have Mercury in Aries, which is ruled by Mars, and Mars in Gemini, which is ruled by Mercury. This is known as mutual reception, when two planets are in each others sign at the same time, making the energy doubly potent. This could help us to say when we mean and mean what we say! While there is the potential for blurting things out that we can’t take back, we may also find that we have the courage of our convictions and the capacity to voice our opinions and express whatever we may have hitherto been afraid to say. This certainly could help us to make decisions that we have been putting off, which could be helpful as long as we aren’t too impetuous! Of course, with Aries and Mars involved, there is the potential for heated discussions, arguments and confrontations, as we may be a bit more forceful and reactive than usual.

However, Neptune is forming a challenging square to Mars during this Moon, potentially zapping our energy, courage and motivation and making it hard to act directly and overtly. Indeed, this combo could even bring some disillusionment, depression and hopelessness, making us feel a bit apathetic. We may feel a bit low, with a sense of “What is the point?”but this too shall pass, as this aspect is exact on Friday 9 April so the energy will be waning by the time of the New Moon. This will have a greater impact on anyone with planets or angles around 21° of a sign, especially the mutable signs Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces.

Eris is a huge part of this Moon, as the goddess of chaos, strife and discord is joined by the Sun, Moon and Venus in Aries. Eris, as the sister of Mars, is the part of us that is not afraid to fight for what we believe in. With Eris involved in this Moon we may find ourselves having to confront the harsher side of nature and fight for our survival. Eris is an agent of evolutionary change and the goddess of chaos, who can push us to take radical action and start off a process that has the capacity to take on a life of its own. She can tend to spark unrest and when she is involved things tend to go viral and can even spiral out of control.

This is a strong, powerful female energy that calls for us to wake up and open our eyes to what we don’t want to see, to take our power back, to take action and set a ball in motion for change and transformation. She is no wilting flower, that’s for sure, and is a powerful aide for those who are somehow outcast, rejected or misunderstood by the mainstream of society, calling them to find their voice, stand up and be counted.

Venus, the goddess of love and beauty, is also sitting close to the Sun, Moon and Eris, making her a big player as well. Venus in Aries is no wilting flower either, although far less forceful than Eris. It is interesting that these two female energies are joining together for this Moon, possibly calling for us to stand up for what we believe in in a peaceful, harmonious, subtle and more “yin” manner, or possibly calling us to confront any issues we may have around rejection or abuse by the patriarchy. Venus in Aries can help us to have the courage to initiate new relationships and also helps us to get things out into the open within our current relationships. Venus in Aries encourages us to be open, honest, direct and forthright in the way we relate, and can also bring out our more confrontational, independent nature.

Pluto in Capricorn is forming a challenging square to this little Aries cluster, which could have a powerful impact on this Moon. While Aries is the part of us that kicks back against authority and asserts our own will and independence, Capricorn represents authority, government and societal structures. This square could bring some kind of power struggle between the two, as people find the courage to rise up against those in power, while those in power may feel the need to quell the uprisings, either through force or manipulation.

Pluto is exactly square Venus, as both are sitting at 26 degrees, so it will be interesting to see who will win the battle, the God of the Underworld or the Goddess of Love, Beauty and Harmony? The crumbling patriarchal power structures or the brave, feisty, Aries-style Divine Feminine?! This combination has the capacity to transform our relationships, values and/or finances, potentially bringing some kind of death and rebirth in this area of our lives. It could also bring some hitherto hidden or buried material out of the shadows to be confronted. Pluto can force us to be very honest and reveal some of the not so pretty aspects of ourselves and others, which could bring greater intimacy but could also leave us feeling quite exposed and vulnerable.

Mars and Jupiter are in harmonious aspect to one another and are both forming helpful aspects to this Moon and the Aries cluster, which could help to counteract some of the darker aspects of this Pluto square. This helps bring the courage of our convictions and the self-confidence and faith needed to stand up for ourselves and speak our truth. Mars and Jupiter working together in the air signs makes me think of a clever superhero who is brave, mighty and fearless!

Jupiter in Aquarius is currently helping us to change any outworn or rigidly held beliefs and to think outside the box and question the mainstream, as is the Aquarius way! Jupiter in Aquarius encourages us to think for ourselves and question any ideologies, rules and regulations that simply don’t make sense. Mars in Gemini will help us to act with intelligence upon our beliefs and convictions and to spread information like wildfire.

The Sabian Symbol for this Moon, at 23° Aries, is “A woman in pastel colours carrying a heavy and valuable but veiled load”, which Rudyar describes as “Fecundity” and goes on to say “Masculine aggressiveness and the woman’s desire for fulfillment are integrated and realised in the expected child. Man – at the receptive “woman” level – reaps the fruits of his dynamic activity”. This certainly does seem to signify new life, but what of the veiled load? Why is it hidden? Why would we be trying to conceal something so important and valuable? Why might we not feel able to fully reveal this thing of value to the world, especially when it is so heavy to carry? What might be being covered up or concealed from us? Are we being asked to act covertly, in a more subtle, feminine, “yin” way rather than overtly acting or speaking out? Is concealment a strength or weakness in the situation we face? In the words of Martin Luther King, “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter”.

This Moon certainly does have some interesting nuances! While we do have a lot of very assertive, courageous, willful Aries energy around, it does seem to be tempered by the softer, more feminine energy of Venus and the need for intelligent, strategic action rather than brute force. Neptune square Mars could also be dampening our spirits slightly, causing us to act in indirect ways and to feel quite apathetic and flat. However, with Pluto involved in the picture we may experience some kind of cosmic kick up the bum that compels us to act and brings up some dark subject matter that is quite exposing. Whenever Pluto is involved there is the potential for soul growth, although it often isn’t easy!

Ultimately this Moon brings the potential for a new spark of life, a burst of new energy and the courage to initiate action. There is also the possibility of unrest and the need to step into our power as we stand up for what we believe in. We are encouraged to harness the very best of Aries, which is courage, honesty, self-love and the capacity to draw a line in the sand. It is time to break new ground and bravely yet gently assert ourselves. It doesn’t need to turn into a battle, as there are ways to stand one’s ground in a firm yet kind and loving manner. It’s time to make love, not war.

Much Love

Amy
xoxo

Picture: Seed of Renewal - Pyro Helfier

My website: www.amybirdartandastrology.com

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PISCES NEW MOON - 13 March 2021

3/10/2021

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Exact at 10.21am UK time

Well, this is a super concentrated Pisces New Moon! The Sun, Moon and Venus are all sitting right next to Neptune, the ruler of Pisces, which will exaggerate, intensify and magnify the sensitive, imaginative, empathetic Pisces energy. As such, we may well find ourselves particularly open, in tune and in the flow. This is the last New Moon in the astrological calendar and Pisces energy is very much at home with the Balsamic phase of the Moon, so we should not be surprised if we are more tired than usual in the coming days. This Balsamic dark moon phase is a time for rest, recuperation and quiet contemplation; a time to turn within and to pay attention to the whisper of our souls and our dreams. It is a time to contemplate what we might want to release and what seeds we want to sow for the coming month. This certainly is a good Moon to use our imaginations to set our intentions and to dream up the kind of reality we want to be living in.

The highest vibration of Pisces is compassion, empathy, intuition, true connection and unconditional love. This is the sign that seeks to dissolve any barriers that may be preventing us from connecting with spirit, including our ego and sense of “I am”. This is the sign of the mystic, the part of ourselves that seeks union with the Divine and knows that ultimately we all come from the same melting pot. During this Moon we may find that our compassion and empathy towards one another is greatly heightened, as any boundaries or sense of separation have the potential to dissolve as our protective walls and defenses come down. We may also find that our skin is somewhat thinner, as we experience life in excruciating and exquisite ways. This energy will feel especially acute for anyone with personal planets or angles between 18 and 25 degrees of a sign, especially the mutable signs Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces. This could be a great time for any imaginative or creative work, as we could be better able to find inspiration and channel from the divine.

There is of course the darker side of Pisces, which includes the potential to feel profound disillusionment and the need to escape reality through drugs and alcohol, daydreaming, fantasising, sleep, movies, books, computer games; whatever means we may have in order to help us to exit stage left! There is a difference between simply enjoying a good book, for instance, or using it as a way to avoid whatever we are facing. Pisces is the part of us that feel completely overwhelmed and unable to cope, and can also make us feel as if we are at the mercy of forces larger than ourselves, like a leaf blowing about in the wind. It is the part of us that can fall into victim mode, or can spend our time trying to rescue those who won’t help themselves. This New Moon could bring great insight and greater connection to spirit, but could also bring confusion, disorientation, fogginess, smoke screens and illusions, over-sensitivity, lack of clarity and even loss of meaning.

Venus and Neptune will be very close indeed to an exact conjunction to each other during this Moon, which could be so beautiful as Venus represents our capacity for “human” love while Neptune and Pisces represent unconditional love that seeks nothing in return. Neptune is the higher octave of Venus. This can help us to relate to one another without our usual defenses, enabling us to see through our façades or personas and see each other’s true essence. In its highest form, this conjunction can bring feelings and acts of unconditional love and beautiful heartfelt connection to one another. It can bring greater acceptance of ourselves and others, as well as the capacity to forgive one another. It is gentle, tender, devoted and kind.

However, it does also bring the potential for our fantasies to get in the way of seeing our loved ones clearly, so that we relate to one another’s divine potential rather than the real person in all their flawed humanity and imperfection! This combination could certainly make the rose-tinted spectacles particularly pink and foggy! In the extreme it can bring deception and pulling the wool over the other person’s eyes. However, this truly is a beautiful combination, as it brings the potential for Divine Love. The conjunction will be very strong during the New Moon and will be exact in the early hours of Sunday morning UK time. The Sabian Symbol for the conjunction, at 21° Pisces, is: “Under the watchful and kind eye of a Chinese servant, a girl fondles a little white lamb”, which Dane Rudyar describes as “The Chinese kindly watching the white girl fondling the white lamb. There is charm and ingenuousness in the scene – a vision of WHITE HOPE, a hope for a future that can only be felt, almost naively”.

This Moon is quite simple, pure and unfettered, which is rather lovely. The Saturn Uranus square is on the wane and Neptune square the Nodes is now a thing of the past, and aside from the Neptune Venus conjunction the only other aspect to the Moon is a helpful sextile from powerful Pluto in Capricorn. This brings the potential for transformation and soul growth and the capacity to look at ourselves honestly as we strip away any self-deceit and face our shadows with love, forgiveness and acceptance. Pluto in Capricorn is continuing the work it began in 2008 of exposing the rot in our power structures and bringing about a death an rebirth of the patriarchal system so that something healthier can take its place. This process has also helped us to transform our attitude to success and to make any necessary changes to the work we do in the world so that it is more aligned to soul.

Mars is now in chatty, curious Gemini, which could have our mind racing and may mean that we shoot from the hip, speaking first and thinking later! Mars is a motivating force, so we may have a strong desire to gather information so that we have greater understanding of what is going on, and also to share it. Mars in Gemini can bring very enthusiastic conversations whereby ideas and opinions are delivered with considerable force and fervour. In the extreme, there is the potential for arguments, heated debates and even aggression in the way we communicate. Mars is not known for being very patient! Decisions may be made very quickly and impulsively, and may be regretted later. Words could be used as weapons. It is definitely good practice to be mindful before we think and speak! Mars is in Gemini from 3 March to 23 April.

The Sabian Symbol, at 24° Pisces, is “On a small island surrounded by the vast expanse of sea, people are seen living in close interaction”, which Dane Rudyar describes as: “The need to consciously accept one’s own personal limitations in order to concentrate one’s energies and to live a centred and fulfilled life. Every individual person is a small island in the vast ocean of mankind. The ego fulfils a necessary function, as it sets boundaries and gives a specific character to the consciousness. Within these boundaries a complex interplay linking and interrelating the various aspects of the personal life can operate constructively. In time, these ego-boundaries can not only expand, but can become a zone of intense interchange between the inner and the outer, between the individual and the community, between man and the universe. This symbol tells us that the first duty of any man or woman is to be truly what he or she is as an individual. But this individual has a particular dharma, i.e. a place and function, in a vaster whole. The island’s inhabitants get subsistence from the sea, and in time learn to navigate this sea and interact with other islanders – and all eventually will come to realise their oneness within the whole Earth, which includes everything. An appropriate keyword would be CENTRALISATION”

This symbol seems to bring up issues around boundaries, which is not Pisces super power! Pisces is that part of us that knows that ultimately we are all one, but it is tricky sometimes when we allow others to trespass our boundaries or take advantage of our good nature, as it can bring up hurt and anger. Some people have stronger boundaries than others and are better at drawing the line in the sand, while some of us don’t really know our boundaries until someone has trampled all over them! This Moon seems to be encouraging us to find our ebb and flow, allowing our boundaries to give a little rather than being too rigid. We are all in this thing called life together, despite having different experiences of it. Pisces is a very fluid sign that can bend with the wind and go with the flow of the river, gently eroding and smoothing away the obstacles along the way. Ultimately it invites us to surrender to what is, finding profound acceptance of ourselves, our loved ones and the situation we find ourselves in. Instead of fighting against the current we are encouraged to just let go and see where the river takes us.

Much Love

Amy
xoxo

Painting: Going with the Flow - Michella Griffith

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AQUARIUS NEW MOON / YEAR OF THE YIN METAL OX - 11/12 February 2021

2/9/2021

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New Moon - 11 February, exact at 7.05pm UK time.
Chinese New Year - 12 February

Well, there is a veritable Aquarius party going on at the moment, with the Sun, Moon, retrograde Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn and Pallas Athena all in this eccentric, rebellious, humanitarian sign! Aquarius calls for us to release ourselves from our conditioning and programming and discover who we really are and what we really think. This is the sign that encourages us to become our own unique self, even if it means having to stand apart from the crowd. Aquarius is a very friendly sign that tends to march to the beat of its own drum, regardless of what everyone else is doing.

While Capricorn represents authority such as parents, teachers and governments, who give us the rules and regulations to obey and follow, Aquarius comes after Capricorn and is the part of us that questions the rules and stands up to authority if needs be. This is the flavour of this New Moon, which calls us to think outside of the box and look at things from a different perspective. Aquarius helps us to detach from the status quo and see things from a more objective view point. Sometimes it helps to take a step back so that we can see more clearly. For this New Moon we might like to focus on and set intentions for our hopes and visions for a better future, as Aquarius is a visionary sign by nature. This Moon could help us to see more clearly what needs to change both inwardly and outwardly in order to create the life we seek.

Uranus, the ruler of Aquarius, is currently locked into battle with Saturn, the ruler of Capricorn, with a challenging square aspect between the two planets that will be exact on 17 February. This is the first of three squares between Uranus and Saturn, so it is an important energy this year, much like the Pluto Jupiter conjunction last year. Saturn is the planet of structure, tradition, societal rules, authority and control, while Uranus is the planet of revolution, awakening, rebellion, change and innovation; two very different characters indeed! Which of these two mighty characters will win the battle? When Saturn and Uranus get together we tend to experience radical change, as we are urged to break out of old habits and patterns and get rid of any personal or societal structures that are limiting, repressive or worn out. Indeed, while Saturn represents our personal construct of reality, Uranus, the Great Awakener could potentially blow that apart, waking us up and challenging the limits of our reality, which could be both exciting, enlivening or incredibly destabilising!

As these two have it out with each other we could see a continuation of the dismantling of the structures of society, bringing about the birth of a new world. However, Saturn calls us be very clear indeed about the kind of world we want this to be and to truly take responsibility for creating it. What kind of reality do we want to live in? What kind of world to we want our children to inherit? Saturn in Aquarius could give us a heavy dose of the reality of the technological age we are living in, not to mention the potential for Saturnian power structures using technology and artificial intelligence as a means of control. Uranus is the planet that wakes and shakes us up and calls for radical change, revolution and innovation. It is currently in Taurus, which could bring some kind of overhaul of our financial system and, combined with Saturn, the potential for more control over finance through the use of technology. Change is afoot and it will be very interesting to see what comes about in the next week or so as these two planets, representing the old versus the new, tradition versus innovation, the authoritarian versus the rebel, clash in the heavens.

Venus, the ruler of Taurus, is also in Aquarius at the moment and is sitting right next to Jupiter for this New Moon. This combo can bring great benefit from us being open and tolerant towards one another and being willing to truly take in other points of view. Equally, we may benefit from detaching or taking stepping back from our loved ones, for whatever reason, in order to see things more clearly. Venus in Aquarius is friendly but not too familiar and allows each person to be completely themselves. We don’t always have to agree, but we can love each other nevertheless. Sometimes a bit of distance is needed to see the wood for the trees.

Jupiter in Aquarius encourages us to keep an open mind and to think outside the box, allowing our more rigid beliefs to be challenged and even broken down. Jupiter is the ruler of the Sagittarius South Node, which is currently showing up the disparity between our beliefs and the actual truth, while the Gemini North Node is encouraging us to use our common sense and do some research in order to find the truth we seek. While the Sagittarius part of us may be somewhat fanatical about our beliefs, wanting to convince and convert others to our point of view and maybe even being susceptible to indoctrination, the Gemini North Node encourages us to keep an open mind, to be curious and listen to other points of view even if they differ from our own. Gemini invites us to find some proof to back up our opinions and to apply some logic and sense so that we can differentiate between fact and fiction.

Speaking of fact and fiction, the good news is that Neptune is now moving away from the square to the Nodes that has been so prominent for the past few months. This has made it so very hard to find the truth, as it has been shrouded and veiled, creating so much uncertainty and confusion. Indeed, it has almost felt like a spell or enchantment has been cast, putting people into some kind of a trance. The veil may start lifting now, slowly, so that the confusion, mixed messages, deception, illusion, delusion, propaganda, subliminal messaging, smoke screens, glamour and enchantments can hopefully lessen, or at least have less power over us. This will be very welcome indeed, as there has been much confusion in recent times, not to mention the urge to just numb out in order to cope with the overwhelm and information overload. Hopefully the fog is now lifting!

Mercury, the ruler of the Gemini North Node, is still retrograde in Aquarius, encouraging us to look back over things and question what we have been told to be true. Aquarius asks us to think outside the box, to be open to looking at things from another perspective and allow our minds to be blown! The retrospective action of Mercury invites us to reflect, revisit and review, and by looking back we may experience some surprising insight and epiphanies. Often we find ourselves reflecting on the past during a Mercury retrograde and people may even pop up from our past with whom we have unfinished business or who have a message for us. Indeed, we may be in for some surprises!

We also have the Year of the Yin Metal Ox starting on 12 February, after having just experienced a rather tumultuous Year of the Yang Metal Rat. The Ox is gentle by nature and is grounded, strong, diligent, loyal, hard working, compassionate, conscientious, trustworthy, nurturing and has respect for others, so these qualities will be felt this year. However, it can also be a bit rigid and stubborn and isn’t fond of being challenged! It is important to do our best this year to go with the flow and make the most of whatever we are given to work with, even if it doesn’t look like much. This year has a very different feel to it than the last, as yin is much softer in nature and Yin Metal allows us to turn something very hard and unyielding into a thing of beauty. Indeed, Yin Metal is known to be a precious jewel which is very reflective, so possibly this is a year to plough the fields of our inner landscape and word hard on refining the beautiful jewel within our heart. The Ox year could be a time of slow, steady progress, when we are encouraged to turn inward to connect with our intuition and cultivate a feeling of gratitude and abundance that has nothing to do with the outer world.

The first couple of weeks of the Ox year could certainly be interesting, with this square between Saturn and Uranus building in energy. There certainly is a lot of Aquarius energy around during this Moon, including Pallas Athena sitting right next to the Sun and Moon! Pallas Athena is very clever indeed, being the goddess of wisdom, strategy, genius and invention who is well known for her creative intelligence. Her skills and powers are being directed towards all things Aquarius at the moment, which could involve coming up with ingenious solutions to difficult problems, organising strategic rebellions and uprisings, envisioning a new and different future and defending our rights and liberties in a unique and clever way. Uranus, being the ruler of all of this Aquarius energy, is certainly in a strong position right now. Sometimes things have to break down in order for us to break through to the other side.

Much love

Amy
xoxo

Painting: Always and Never the Same - David Padworny

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CAPRICORN NEW MOON - 13 January 2021

1/11/2021

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Exact at 5am UK time

This is the first New Moon of this year and involves a high degree of planetary tension, instability and excitement! We have the potential to set some powerful intentions for both ourselves and the world we live in, leaving whatever isn’t serving us behind in the dark of the Moon and contemplating what we wish for as the Moon starts its new phase. Capricorn is very good at the art of self-reflection and can help us to be realistic about our intentions, but not only that, it gives us the discipline and resolution to steadily work towards our goals.This is especially important at the moment, given that we are living in such an uncertain, unstable times, watching the Capricornian structures crumble around us. In an ideal world, what would we like to take their place? What kind of world to we want to live in moving forward? How can we help make that happen? How might we need to grow up, step up and take more responsibility, becoming more accountable for ourselves and our future?

The Sun and Moon are sitting right next to Pluto, the planet of power, soul and transformation, so this particular New Moon could pack a serious punch as it has more of an impact on our soul growth and evolution, both personally and collectively. Pluto has been in Capricorn since 2008 and will be there until 2023, slowly but surely exposing the rot and flaws within both our personal and societal structures. Pluto is the God of the underworld, who is not afraid to confront the darker aspects of life and dig out anything that might be corrupt, unhealthy, outworn or antiquated. Pluto is also the agent of cataclysmic change and transformation; the planet of death and rebirth that slowly but surely destroys anything that is no longer working so that something healthier and better for us can rise up out of the ashes. This New Moon could help us to peer into the shadows and really confront whatever we find there, even if it’s not pretty, so that we can transmute it. It may be hard to find anywhere to hide!

Eris, the goddess of chaos, strife and discord, is forming a challenging square aspect to the Sun, Moon and Pluto, and is incredibly strong right now because she is stationary, about to turn direct. This energy calls for us to wake up and open our eyes to what we don’t want to see, to take our power back, to take action and set a ball in motion for change and transformation. Often Eris’s energy can spark unrest and can cause things to quickly unravel, almost spiraling out of control. She is known for things going “viral”. She is a powerful force for those who are outcast or misunderstood by the mainstream of society, calling them to stand up and be counted. She is involved in a long standing battle with Pluto over the past year or so, challenging the powers that be to be more accountable and transparent, and is now directly impacting this New Moon.

Mars has finally left Aries on 6 January and is now in Taurus, meaning that the warrior planet has moved from fire to earth, which could be more stable and less impulsive. However, Mars is now moving towards a conjunction with Uranus, the Great Awakener and Revolutionary, who tends to bring sudden events that shock and surprise us into change and force a change of perspective. Mars and Uranus together is a volatile combination and can bring rebellious and revolutionary acts, unrest, the courage to question the status quo and consensus reality, sudden outbursts of violence or anger and, especially in Taurus, volcanoes and earthquakes. In fact, we could experience volcanic eruptions in our own lives, especially if we have personal planets or angles around 6° of a sign, particularly the fixed signs of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius. The energy of this conjunction will be present all month, but will at its strongest on 20 January. We can expect some shock and surprises while these two characters join forces! Neither like being told what to do by those in authority!

Just to add to the story, Mars and Uranus are forming a challenging square aspect to Jupiter, Saturn and Mercury in Aquarius during this Moon! There has recently been a shift from the controlled, authoritarian, oppressive and repressive energy of Capricorn to the rebellious, humanitarian, freedom loving Aquarius, which will now be accentuated and magnified by the square from Uranus, being the ruler of Aquarius. Especially strong during this Moon is the square to Jupiter and Mercury, which brings the potential for our minds to be blown and our more rigid, conditioned and programmed beliefs to be radically changed and challenged. It is quite possible that people will be more assertive and rebellious and outspoken during this Moon, and there could be more uprisings demanding the truth to be revealed and for freedom in every sense of the word. The Uranus Jupiter square will be exact on 18 January.

Capricorn is the sign of government and authority, which represents the conditioning we have received from our parents and society. Aquarius is a sign that represents the people and questions the rules and regulations, seeking tolerance, freedom, equality and community spirit. With Saturn and Jupiter now in Aquarius, we are called to envision a better future for ourselves and the world. Saturn, the ruler of this New Moon, asks us to be realistic about this vision so that it actually has a chance of working in the real world. We are also invited to step up and become truly accountable for whatever we want to bring in, both for ourselves and for the community we live in. How can we make a difference, in concrete terms, on the ground level? What little things can we do to help create the world we would like to live in?

There is another side to Saturn in Aquarius, of course, that is being challenged by this rebellious, revolutionary Mars Uranus combination. Saturn can make us all too aware of the reality of living in this technological age, in terms of how it isolates us and affects our health, physically, spiritually and mentally, and how it can be used as a form of control and suppression in the form of a technocracy. Similarly, Saturn can limit and suppress any Aquarian tendencies such as the right to protest or question the status quo, the capacity to gather in groups, our civil rights and liberties and our sense of freedom. This is the shadowy side of Saturn in Aquarius.

Mars and Uranus will be challenging this energy in the coming weeks, as Uranus and Saturn build up to the first of three squares this year which will peak on 17 February. This could bring about the dismantling of the structures of our lives and could radically challenge the way we perceive reality. However, this is a necessary process that we are going through, as sometimes things have to break down in order for us to break through to the other side! This is Uranus’s job, to wake us up and break down our conditioning and programming so that we are able to open up to different possibilities and can see life from a different perspective. Uranus is the jolt that we need sometimes to break us out of old patterns and habits that just don’t work anymore. It is the epiphany, sudden insight or realisation that wakes us up and creates necessary change. It is the shock that makes us realise that what we thought was real is nothing but an illusion.

Speaking of illusion, Neptune square the Nodes is so strong right now, bringing the possibility that all is not as it seems! It is nigh on impossible to know what the truth is, so we are all encouraged to keep an open mind. Neptune is the king of glamour, theatre, illusion, delusion, spells, overwhelm, enchantments and trances, all of which we could be susceptible to right now. The Gemini North Node urges us to use our common sense, while Mercury, the ruler of Gemini, encourages us to question what we are being told and to think outside the box. This is not a time to take things at face value, but rather we are being asked to listen to our intuitive hunches and then research to find the facts to back up this inner knowing. Deep down, we all know the truth. We just need to remember how to listen to our bodies and recognise what our gut is telling us.

Neptune, in its higher vibration, is also asking us to turn inwards, to shut out the noise of information, opinions and beliefs and to breathe, meditate, do yoga or Tai Chi, walk in nature, dance, make art; anything that brings a sense of inner peace and stillness. It asks us to be open and willing to sacrifice something for the greater good and to speak up where we need to. It reminds up to be compassionate, kind and tolerant of one another’s beliefs and differences. Above all, we are reminded to have faith and trust that we are being guided and that this is simply a necessary process that we have to go through, both personally and collectively. Neptune encourages us to keep dropping into our heart so that we are less in our heads, with all their worry, over analysis and anxiety..

The Sabian symbol for this New Moon reflects the message of Neptune, at 24 °Capricorn: “A woman entering a convent”, which Dane Rudyar describes as” Total commitment to a transcendent goal. A convent is a place made available by a community which believes in the possibility of reaching a world-transcending state of consciousness. It is made available to individuals who may be variously motivated. To some it is an escape from the intolerable pressures of family and society; to others it represents the possibility of pursuing in peace a spiritual ideal to which the whole being aspires and is totally dedicated”.

This is certainly an interesting symbol, considering the current situation we find ourselves in! It points to the need for inner work, in seclusion, away from the usual pressures of society. This is a good time for all things Neptune, and while it may be a bit lonely at times it also brings spiritual gifts and helps us to turn inward and connect to our divinity.

It is interesting that the Sun and Moon are also incredibly close to the same degree of Capricorn that the Pluto/Saturn conjunction occurred in last January, inviting us to reflect on where we are now and what we know know compared to back then. It’s been quite a process! It is almost literally a year since that powerful and fateful conjunction that kick-started a whole process, so it is helpful to recognise and contemplate how we have changed and what we have learned, and also what we are experiencing now that has a resonance with that time.

The difference between now and last year, however, is that we have Jupiter and Saturn in Aquarius instead of Capricorn, which is far less conformist and more prone to questioning the status quo. It also brings a sense of looking forward and envisioning a better future rather than staying stuck with traditional, antiquated structures and systems that are no longer valid or useful. Aquarius is a very progressive sign, although it does bring a certain amount of instability and unrest. There is a lot of radical, volatile, revolutionary energy around at the moment, despite this being an earth sign Moon! However, as the Sabian symbol and Neptune indicate, this Capricorn Moon does encourage us to look within and find the necessary discipline and commitment to apply ourselves to our inner, spiritual journey. As the storm rages outside, we are invited to find our centre, that point of stillness that makes it much harder for us to be knocked off kilter or lose our way.

Much love

Amy
xoxo

Picture: Meditation by TS Manhotra

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SAGITTARIUS NEW MOON/TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE - 14 December 2020

12/11/2020

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SAGITTARIUS NEW MOON/TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE - Monday 14 December, exact at 4.16pm UK time.

This is an incredibly powerful lunation as it involves a total Solar Eclipse, which is a much more potent New Moon than usual! Eclipses bring a consciousness shift, energetic downloads, change, crisis and events that can shift our reality. They help us to change patterns and let go of the old so that we can usher in the new. Whereas a New Moon usually sets a ball in motion that has an impact on the month ahead, the effects of a Solar Eclipse will be felt for the coming six months, until the next set of Eclipses. It might be helpful to look back to the powerful Solar Eclipse we experienced on the Solstice on 21 June 2020 and contemplate what was going on for us then and where we are with that now. Similarly, there will be an energetic link between this New Moon/Eclipse and the New Moon/Eclipse in the same degree of Sagittarius on 14 December 2001. What was going on for us at that time that may be repeating or passing into the next phase now? This is a powerfully potent time when we have the potential for real shift and change. It is the end of one chapter and the beginning of a new one.

Wherever we find the 24th degree of Sagittarius in our chart is where we will personally experience the energy of this Eclipse. Sagittarius is the seeker of the truth, a beacon of higher wisdom that genuinely wants to understand why we are here and what it is all about. This is the part of ourselves that has the faith that ultimately we are heading in the right direction even when things look incredibly dire. Sagittarius helps us to see the bigger picture and to have a sense of humour about the absurdity of life! It helps us to not take ourselves too seriously and to look forward and upwards rather than dwelling on the past. This is a sign that has high morals and believes in natural law which is universal, grounded in nature and based on higher principles and truth rather than man made law, which is a construct of the mind that relies on dogma and fear of punishment, and demands compliance.

Mercury is very close indeed to the Sun and Moon in Sagittarius, which could make this a very busy time indeed, with a lot of chatter, sharing of information and mental activity. It is quite possible that there will be a lot of debates and many different preachers on the pulpit espousing their version of the truth.There is also the potential for the truth to be revealed as more information comes out into the light. Mars is also in on the act, supporting the Sun, Moon and Mercury. This can help us to find our inner warrior, giving us the courage to face the truth and also to speak up when needed. Sagittarius rules the judicial system, so the lawyers could be working extra hard to bring truth and justice to the fore. Sagittarius is a very optimistic sign that truly believes that everything that happens has something to teach us if we are open and willing to see. It also invites us to listen to our intuition, to trust our gut and to speak our truth, even if it is not popular or makes others uncomfortable.

The Nodes of the Moon are heavily involved with this lunation, as they always are during an Eclipse, which means that this Moon could have a strong impact on our destiny, both personally and collectively. The Sun, Moon and Mercury are sitting right next to the South Node of the Moon in Sagittarius, with Neptune square them all. Issues around truth and lies are rife right now, leaving people very confused and unsure about what to believe. Neptune, in its lower vibration, is very adept at the art of deception, being the master of smoke and mirrors, propaganda and illusion. In its higher vibration it encourages us to turn inward to find the truth rather than relying on external sources to tell us what to believe. It reminds us that we are all connected, and what happens to one happens to all. It encourages us to find the courage to speak out and share our version of the truth, even if we have to sacrifice something in order to do so. Sometimes in life we are called to make some kind of personal sacrifice for the sake of humanity and the greater good. This could be one of those times.

Jupiter, the ruler of Sagittarius, is in the very last couple of degrees of Capricorn right now, getting ready to go into Aquarius on 19 December. Saturn is also in the last degree of Capricorn and will move into Aquarius on 17 December. This has the potential to bring quite a big energetic shift, as Capricorn and Aquarius are very different signs indeed! As these two move through the last degree of Capricorn we could experience the shadow side of Capricorn, in the form of fear based control, oppression, suppression, censorship, programming and conditioning, guilt, karma coming back to bite us, grief, depression, feelings of futility, authoritarian rules and regulations, judgement and intolerance. What fun! It may feel like we are in a very dark, narrow birth canal, being squeezed very tightly, so thank goodness we have the philosophical Sagittarius energy to help us to keep an eye on the bigger picture and keep the faith! Bear in mind, however, that Sagittarius’s ruler is in Capricorn, a more cautious, realistic and sober influence.

However, the shifting of the two social planets into Aquarius could bring some relief, as this is the sign of liberation, non-conformity, humanitarianism, brotherhood/sisterhood, rebellion, questioning the status quo and visions of a better future based on liberty and equality. All for one and one for all! While Capricorn makes the rules and regulations, using them as a means of control and expecting us to follow them, Aquarius questions and breaks the rules, especially if they no longer make sense or do us harm. While Capricorn represents government, authority and the conditioning that we have received by our parents and society, Aquarius is for the people and liberates us from any programming that is keeping us limited or bound or preventing us from being our true, authentic self. This is the sign that kicks back against consensus reality and can see beyond the mainstream narrative. It will be interesting to see what shifts and changes once Jupiter, the planet of beliefs, moves over into this revolutionary sign. It has the potential to bring greater tolerance of one another’s differences, less judgement, the capacity to see an alternative perspective and liberation from fear-based beliefs, indoctrination and programming.

Saturn and Jupiter will be forming an exact conjunction in the very first degree of Aquarius on 21 December, the Solstice, which is a powerful combination as the first degree of a sign is very potent indeed. These two planets join forces once every 20 years or so, and in Aquarius they have the potential to kick start a new phase of development, changing the structure of our lives, consciousness and beliefs and potentially helping us to start shifting into a new way of perceiving the world we live in. Uranus, the ruler of Aquarius, is currently in Taurus and has been radically changing our values in recent times, so we are primed and ready to embrace a new world and let go of the old, outworn structures that are dead in the water. It is time to raise the vibration from fear to love.

Next year Saturn and Uranus will be squaring off against each other, slowly but surely continuing the process of dismantling the structures of our lives and consciousness, so this conjunction could somehow be preparing us for that. Saturn represents our structure of reality, while Jupiter represents our belief system, and in Aquarius we may need to go through some kind of breaking down of the way we perceive reality in order to move onto the next phase of our evolution and the creation of a new world. Possibly this Solstice will bring some kind of internal shift and raising of our vibration that is needed to precede the external changes that are to follow. It is said that when Jupiter and Saturn align that they will create a bright light in the night sky, similar to the Star of Bethlehem that some astronomers suggest the wise men may have seen in the biblical account of the birth of Jesus. It could, some say, be the much needed light at the end of a very long tunnel.

Meanwhile Mars in Aries is also building up to its final square with Pluto in Capricorn, which will be exact on 23 December and very strong indeed on the Solstice. This has the potential to bring up rage and the use of force either by or towards the power structures. Mars, the warrior planet, is joining forces with Eris, the goddess of strife, chaos and discord, at 23 degrees Aries. Eris is a powerful force who forces us to open our eyes and see things as they really are and to take our power back. She is an agent of evolutionary change and the goddess of chaos, who can push us to take radical action and start off a process that has the capacity to take on a life of its own.

Eris is known for the fast spread of information , ideas and hype, and is responsible for things going viral and somehow unraveling. On 11 of December this strong, radical feminine force is exactly square Pluto in Capricorn, which is in the process of slowly but surely detoxifying our societal power structures and exposing the rot, making them more transparent. As such, it will be very interesting to see what happens as Mars joins forces with Eris over the next week or so! Mars in Aries is very brave, head strong, assertive and even aggressive, so what might happen as this forceful energy combines with the goddess of strife, discord and chaos? What might be revealed? What uncomfortable material might we have to face? What might we be forced to see that we would rather remain blind to?

Combine this with a conjunction between Uranus, the Great Awakener and Black Moon Lilith, the Dark Goddess, which we will be exact on 22 December and we have a recipe for radical change and people standing up and saying “Enough is enough!” BML is not fond of being told what to do and will not abide being subordinated, while Uranus is the planet of revolution, awakening and rebellion. This combination could bring wake up calls, sudden events and shocks that could bring some dark material out into the light and force some turbulent feelings to rise up in us. It has the potential for uprisings and the desire to break free of restrictions or anything that makes us feel bound, limited or put down. There is a lot of radical feminine energy around for this Solstice, that’s for sure! We may be forced to confront our own shadows and wake up to some darker elements of reality that we may usually prefer not to acknowledge. One of BML’s greatest gifts is self-empowerment, but this only comes from really owning the darker aspects of ourselves rather than pushing them away and pretending they don’t exist. Possibly we are being asked to own the darkness before we can walk into the light.

The Sabian symbol for this conjunction between Black Moon Lilith and Uranus is very interesting indeed and feels incredibly appropriate, so here it is, in its entirety: Taurus 7°” The woman of Samaria at the ancestral well”, which Dane Rudyar describes as: “The meeting of the traditional past and of the creative spirit pointing to the future. The symbol refers to a most important, but usually narrowly interpreted (or interpreted away!) episode of the Christ mythos. Early in his ministry, Jesus meets a Samaritan woman at an ancestral well. This woman belongs to a tribe despised by the Jews; moreover, she is unmarried and therefore on the fringe of even her own society. It is to just that kind of woman that Jesus reveals that he is the Messiah: “I am He,” a revelation that he apparently will not bestow even upon his disciples, at least not in words. (Words in occultism are the creative factor).

What does this mean? Jesus, as the Avatar incorporating the Christ-Impulse, came to replace the old tribal order with a new order based on universal Love. It is not to representatives of, or even to men still attached to, the old order that Jesus could reveal his spiritual, evolutionary and society-transforming status; they had instead to reach a point where they could discover his avatar-ship – as did Peter just before the Transfiguration scene. But to the woman of Samaria – who, in her openness to love’s urgings. had already repudiated any narrow subservience to the old order – Jesus could reveal his function. The highest meets the lowest when this lowest is free from traditional bonds and open to love. The creative future descends first to that which has become chaos. An old order is never open to a new Revelation until it has accepted disorder in the name of that Power which subsumes all forms of order, i.e. Love”. Rudyar finishes by saying “ A NEW QUALITY OF BEING is revealed which renders the old patterns obsolete.” Wow. What a powerful symbol that applies to both the Eclipse and the Solstice.

Which brings me to the Sabian symbol for the New Moon/Eclipse, which will have an impact on the month ahead and, indeed, the next six months: 24° Sagittarius “A bluebird perched on the gate of a cottage”, which Rudyar describes as “The reward which meets every effort at integration into a social environment, for those who remain true to their own selves. A bluebird is a well known symbol of happiness, but also it refers to what one might call a spiritually oriented mind – to which the colour blue relates, especially when a “bird” is mentioned. A cottage is normally part of a community, and the implication is that its inhabitants are well-adapted, either to the life of the community, or to their more or less isolated togetherness. This symbol suggests that the essential technique for successful living is the development of a consciousness in which peace and happiness dwell. There is also a hint that GOOD FORTUNE is going to bless your life”. Well, this is a welcome symbol indeed! We seem to be asked to cultivate feelings of peace and happiness from within, doing the inner work and remaining true to ourselves. Keep the faith!

This next couple of weeks seem to be incredibly important and bring the potential for quite a big vibrational shift to occur. It seems that we are being asked to face the darkness and own our shadows rather than projecting them out onto others, including the powers that be. As we move through the dark, narrow birth canal we are invited to do the inner work to prepare us for whatever is coming next. The world is changing and so we must become the change we want to see. We are invited to peer into the darkness while we allow in the light. “The Truth Shall Set You Free” feels like it could be a good slogan for this Sagittarius New Moon! One of Sagittarius’s greatest gifts, however, is faith. Faith that we are held, guided and protected. Faith that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Faith that we are heading in the right direction. Faith that no matter how dark things seem, there is always a silver lining behind the cloud. Faith that ultimately the Light always wins. Faith that we are the Light. The darkest hour is just before dawn.

Much Love

Amy
xoxo

Picture: Light Tunnel by Carol and Mike Werner

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SCORPIO NEW MOON - 15 November 2020

11/12/2020

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Exact at 5.07am UK time.

This New Moon invites us to look deep within and purge and transform any habits or unhealthy patterns that no longer serve us. Scorpio is the sign of death and rebirth and isn’t afraid to take a journey into the underworld to find whatever is lurking in the shadows, even if it isn’t pretty! We are invited to confront ourselves and to recognise what subconscious complexes might be running the show and sabotaging our lives and relationships. Scorpio isn’t afraid to ask the uncomfortable, probing questions and eke out the truth, no matter how deeply it may be buried. This is the time of year when we shed some skin, look our shadows squarely in the face and hopefully emerge from the experience with greater self-awareness and carrying a lighter load. This Moon invites us to turn within, dig deep and contemplate what needs to be left behind in the dark of the Moon and what seeds might we plant that will take root and grow over the course of the month.

What is our relationship with power? Do we tend to give our power away to others or do we control or manipulate others to feel safer and more powerful? Where in our lives might we be feeling a sense of powerlessness right now, and what can we do to change this? Are we able to be honest about ourselves and recognise and accept our not so pretty traits and tendencies? Who and what triggers anger and defensiveness in us and if so, what does that tell us about ourselves? What qualities do we find challenging in others that we might need to own in ourselves? What might be passing away during this time, either literally or figuratively? Are we able to let go with grace? Do we have trust issues and if so, where do they come from? Are we able to truly trust and rely on ourselves? Do we fear loss and abandonment or are we able to let people or situations go in a healthy way? Do we have the capacity for true intimacy, or are we afraid to be “exposed” and truly seen, preferring to hide our darker aspects from view? Do we tend to deny that darkness exists in ourselves, our loved ones and reality itself, or do we focus on it too much? These are all good Scorpio New Moon questions!

The Pluto Jupiter conjunction in Capricorn is forming a harmonious sextile aspect to the New Moon, which brings the potential for profound growth and transformation and could help us to see the darkness that exists in the world and within ourselves. Fear is rife at the moment, which certainly has the potential to bring out the worst in people. The combination of expansive Jupiter and powerful Pluto almost seems to be magnifying and exposing the truth, revealing things as they really are and making everything and everyone much more transparent. We can see this in the macrocosm and the microcosm - as within, so without. We are able to see the darkness and corruption in the power structures much more clearly now and must also face and own it within ourselves.This is an inside job! There is so much self-righteousness, judgement and intolerance of other people’s beliefs right now, a lot of which is stemming from the fear that is spreading around like wildfire. However, as the façades are stripped back, revealing the truth of matter, our belief system has the potential for a complete overhaul. It is so important to have an open mind at the moment and a willingness to dig deep beneath the surface to eke out the truth, even if we don’t like what we see.

Neptune is also present during this Moon, as it is forming a harmonious trine to the Sun and Moon, reminding us that we are all in this together and encouraging us to treat one another with kindness and compassion in these difficult times. We just don’t know what the person we run into on the street is going through. Neptune promotes a sense of unity, dissolving barriers between us and reminding us that ultimately we are not as separate or divided as we might think. Neptune is currently building up to a square to the Nodes of the Moon that will be exact on 6 January and is making it very hard indeed to know what the truth is, as it is completely shrouded, with smoke screens at every corner. It is as if there is a veil over the truth right now, which makes it all very confusing indeed.

However, we are encouraged to listen to our gut, trusting our deep inner knowing and finding a way to express that knowing in as eloquent and palatable a way as possible. We may have to sacrifice something personal for the higher good by finding a voice and speaking out, but ultimately we have to stand up for what is right and true, for the sake of humanity and the collective. Above all we must be open to listening to one another with an open mind and heart and without judgement or condemnation. We are all just scrabbling around in the dark trying to find the truth, which is very illusive right now! It is so important to harness Neptune’s superpower and tap into our empathy for one another, regardless of any difference in beliefs.

Mars is very strong during this New Moon, as the warrior planet turns direct on Saturday 14 November after being retrograde since 10 September. Mars is in its own sign, Aries, and could bring some very strong emotions to the surface, including anger, not to mention generally feeling agitated, irritated, impatient, tense and on edge. This could feel especially acute for anyone who has personal angles or planets around 15° of the sign they are in, particularly the cardinal signs Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn. We may act and react with greater force than usual, and could also make great strides ahead with anything that has been put on hold while Mars has been retrograde. This can certainly bring out our more aggressive, assertive nature, but can also help us to find the courage to do things that we may have been avoiding or scared to face. It is important to be mindful of our reactions during this time as we may be more easily triggered than usual, which could make us angry and defensive.

Pluto, Saturn and Jupiter are also forming a challenging square aspect to Venus, bringing our relationships and finances into focus in ways that might not be easy. Pluto and Venus could bring subconscious complexes into play within our relationships and we may be more compulsive than usual in the way we relate. We could find ourselves obsessing about a lover or our financial situation, and fear could have an adverse affect on our relationships and the flow of energy around finances. We may find that people reveal their true nature and expose themselves as they really are, rather than who they would like us to see. With Saturn square Venus we may feel cut off, lonely and withdrawn, finding it hard to reach out to one another and feeling all too aware of what is lacking in our lives. Fear contracts the heart and cuts us off from one another, so it is very important to be mindful of when fear is arising in us and recognise how it affects our relationships with those closest to us. It is so easy to take our fear and frustration out on our nearest and dearest.

The Sabian symbol for this New Moon, at 24° Scorpio, which sets the tone for the month ahead, is: “Having heard an inspired individual deliver his “sermon on the mount,” crowds are returning home.”, which Dane Rudyar describes as “ The need to incorporate inspiring experiences and teachings into everyday living. Today we hear a great deal about “peak experiences” (Maslow). The great problem facing everyone who has had such experiences is how to assimilate what has been felt, seen or heard and how to let it transform his everyday consciousness and behaviour.If this is not done the experience may turn confusing or toxic and perhaps destructive of the integrity of the person. The “return home” from the high mountain, or from any “upper chamber” of consciousness, may lead to a sense of oppression by the normal realities of existence, or else the soul that has been illuminated may retain enough of that light to transfigure every daily situation. This is the great CHALLENGE TO TRANSFORMATION.” The message of this symbol seems to be that it is all very well having revelations, realisations or insight into what needs to change a transform, but what do we actually do about it in our actual life? Similarly, do we give our power away to those who “know better than us” or can we find the truth from within?

This is a powerful New Moon, that’s for sure, in a way that only Scorpio can be! Scorpio season can often leave us feeling a bit battered and bruised, but the process is a necessary one, as it brings soul growth. If we don’t face our shadows we don’t really know ourselves and our subconscious complexes and wounding end up running the show and sabotaging our life and relationships, with the same unhealthy patterns on repeat, over and over again. We are currently being invited to look at the darker side of existence, both personally and collectively, and to be brave enough to sit with what we find, no matter how uncomfortable it might be. It is so easy to project onto others what we find difficult to recognise or accept in ourselves. The Moon can help us to strip back the layers of denial, revealing the truth behind the façade. Scorpio helps to expose the secrets and lies and isn’t afraid to know the truth, no matter how uncomfortable it may be.

Much Love

Amy
xoxo

Painting: The Veil, by Helen Lundeberg

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LIBRA NEW MOON - 16 October 2020

10/14/2020

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Exact at 8.31pm BST, 3.31pm EDT

There is a lot going on during this New Moon, as we have Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Pluto and the Nodes of the Moon all forming aspects, in varying degrees of intensity, to the Sun and Moon. Not to mention that Mercury has just gone retrograde in powerful,intense and perceptive Scorpio! The Sun and Moon are forming their monthly cosmic union in Libra, the sign of relationship, balance and harmony. Libra is represented by the scales, which means that we can easily tip too far towards one extreme, and this New Moon encourages us to find balance in our lives; to somehow find the middle ground. Libra is the sign of cooperation, diplomacy, compromise and justice, and gives us the capacity to see both sides of an argument or situation. Libra reminds us that things are rarely black and white, and that it is important to truly listen to one another and understand where the other is coming from. During this Moon we might want to reflect on what in our lives is out of balance and seek to come back to the middle point somehow. Where are we seeing signs of too much extremism? How can we find a greater sense of peace and harmony? This is the beginning of the new monthly cycle, so we are seeding new growth and leaving whatever we don’t need anymore in the dark of the Moon.

The ruler of the New Moon is Venus, which is currently in Virgo, the sign of humility, purity and perfection. Venus represents our values, self-worth and capacity to attract and the sign Venus is in indicates how we relate to ourselves and others. With Venus in Virgo from 3 October until 29 October, we may be likely to be hard on ourselves and beat ourselves up for things we may have done or not done. Virgo can analyse herself to death! We could be much more critical of ourselves and others than usual and also more prone to focusing on our flaws, imperfections and any feelings of shame, guilt and inadequacy. This is not helped by Mercury being in Scorpio at the moment, which can make our thoughts somewhat obsessive and compulsive and bring some cringing moments!

To harness the best of Venus in Virgo, we can look to our loved ones and see who needs our help. What little things can we do to make other people’s lives easier? Venus in Virgo is ever ready to be of service to others, although this can also veer into subservience if we are not careful. To be of service is a choice, whereas subservience occurs when we play small or give our power away, or allow ourselves to be take for granted. This is a perfect time for taking pleasure out of cleansing and purifying ourselves and our environment, as long as we don’t seek some unattainable perfection!

Pluto and Saturn are both square the Sun, Moon and Mars during this New Moon, which is rather intense as it could bring up issues around power, control, limitation and may bring about some kind of reality check and transformation. With Pluto and Saturn both joining forces in Capricorn, we are watching societal and personal structures crumble around us, not to mention witnessing the exposure of the rot within our power structures.We are in the midst of a collective death and rebirth of all that we have previously known and relied on. The heat is rising and the pressure is building! This Moon could bring about some kind of purging process and even more exposure, both personally and collectively. It is much harder to hide from our shadows at the moment, and this Moon encourages us to dig deep and be willing to truly face ourselves, warts and all.

With Pluto square the Sun, exact on Thursday, we may experience a battle of wills and intense power struggles, especially if we let ego get in the way. We could find ourselves on the receiving end of authoritarian control or oppression and may be forced to see things as they really are as Saturn and the Sun square off against each other, exact on Sunday. We may feel as if our will is being thwarted in some way and might feel as if the light has gone out and reality is a bit too hard to bear. Mars and Sun are opposing each other, exact on Wednesday morning. This combo could also bring a battle of wills and could force some issues out into the open. It is very important to be mindful of ourselves during this time, as disagreements are very possible, especially if we let our ego get in the way. Mars and the Sun are both yang and are forceful in their own right, so together they could make people a bit more reactive or egotistical. Those with personal planets and angles around 23° of the sign they are in, especially the cardinal signs of Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn, will feel the energy on this Moon most acutely. The ingredients in the cosmic soup could easily cause us to be easily triggered, so it is important to take a leaf out of Libra’s book and try to find some balance, harmony and peace.

The Nodes of the Moon are also involved with this Moon, in a positive way, so there is the potential for some soul growth here. The Nodes are providing the backdrop for this year, combined with three conjunctions between Pluto and Jupiter over the course of the year, and the theme is around truth, lies and beliefs versus facts. There is one thing that is absolutely true at the moment and this is that nobody is absolutely certain of the truth. With Neptune square the Nodes, the truth is shrouded by illusion, propaganda and smoke screens. As such, we are being encouraged to have a very open mind and to admit that our beliefs are just that; they are beliefs and not necessarily the absolute truth.

The Sagittarius South Node gives us a gut feeling and an intuition, while the Gemini North Node encourages us to take that feeling and do some fact checking and research in order to verify what we sense to be true. Gemini also urges us to find a palatable way of expressing ourselves rather than trying to ram our beliefs down one another’s throats. Gemini does invite us to find our voice so that we can speak up about what we believe to be true, but it also encourages us to listen to each other’s view points instead of trying to convince and convert each other to our point of view. It is so important to remember that the truth is completely illusive at the moment, so that nobody can be completely certain that their version of the truth is the right one. This Libra New Moon encourages us to temper any extremist tendencies and to take a more balanced approach and be willing to take both sides of the argument into account.

Mercury goes retrograde at the same time as the Sun Mars opposition is exact, in the early hours of Wednesday morning British time. As ever, the days before and after the planet of communication and travel goes retrograde can be fraught with misunderstanding, miscommunication, delays, confusion and chaos! As such, it is important to be mindful in our communications with others, as the potential for Freudian slips and saying things that are somehow misconstrued is rife. Scorpio does have a sting in its tail, and we may find ourselves on either end of some accidental but painful truths that cut to the core! Not to mention that our thoughts could be much more obsessive than usual.

Mercury Retrograde in Scorpio is an invitation to go back over things and dig deeper, using our inner detective to ferret out information that we may have missed in the past month or so. It is an ideal time to delve back into our past and come up with some profound psychological insight and understanding that hasn’t been available to us before now. Indeed, People that we have unfinished business with could pop up and we could have some penetrating and revealing conversations that really help us to get to the core of whatever issue we are facing. This is a very good time to do some deep, inner work and to be brave enough to reveal our more vulnerable parts in some very intimate and therapeutic exchanges with people we trust. Remember that with Venus in Virgo at the moment, we have the capacity to really help and be of service to one another. We just have to watch out for paranoia, obsessive thought processes and going into a spiral of dark or negative thinking. Mercury is Scorpio is very adept at smelling a rat!

The Sabian symbol for the New Moon, at 24° Libra, is: “A butterfly with a third wing on its left side” which Dane Rudyar describes as: “The ability to develop, for inner strengthening, new modes of response to basic life situations. The butterfly is the ancient and traditional symbol of the results of the process of spiritual rebirth. If the butterfly has three wings instead of two, a special development of an aspect of the spiritual life is shown. Three is a symbol of fulfilment. Some power has been added to the normal spiritual life of the individual person. The left side usually refers to the instinctual field of the consciousness, but it is also the heart’s side. A new strength is shown, perhaps as yet unrealised.” This is a very interesting symbol that certainly brings some hope that whatever we are currently going through has the potential to help bring some kind of new spiritual superpower! Certainly, it is the most challenging times that bring some kind of spiritual awakening and profound soul growth, and we are currently going through a collective spiritual growth spurt at the moment. As the third wing is only on one side, we could feel a bit wobbly or out of balance.

There is certainly some intensity to this Moon, with these powerfully Yang planets sparking off each other! We could experience intense feelings of self-doubt, powerlessness and even depression, so it is very important to watch ourselves carefully and be mindful of our inner dialogue. There is some extremely powerful energy at play here which could be incredibly transforming but could also cause us to feel at the mercy of forces larger than ourselves. Self-care is essential at the moment, so we must harness the energy of Venus and Virgo and create little routines, rituals and habits for ourselves that help us to feel better. This Libra New Moon invites us to contemplate how we can find balance in a world of such extremes. How can we cultivate a sense of inner peace and harmony in the midst of chaos and strife? How can we find some integration between the dark and the light? How can we listen to our head and heart in equal measure? Can we find a way to listen to each other better? Above all, how can we be more kind?

"It happens all the time in heaven,

And some day It will begin to happen
Again on earth -

That men and women who are
married,

And men and men who are
Lovers, And women and women
Who give each other
Light,

Often get down on their knees

And while so tenderly
Holding their lovers hand,

With tears in their eyes
Will sincerely speak, saying,

My dear,
How can I be more loving to you;

How can I be more kind?"

Hafiz

Much Love

Amy
xoxo

Picture: Unknown

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VIRGO NEW MOON - 17 September 2020

9/15/2020

1 Comment

Exact at 12pm BST, 6am EDT

This Moon seems to be encouraging us to practice the art of discernment, which is certainly one of Virgo’s superpowers! The Virgo Sun and Moon are forming an almost exact square to the Nodes of the Moon in Sagittarius and Gemini, asking us to do our best to sift through all of the differing opinions and versions of the “truth” that we are currently being bombarded with. Virgo is very good at separating the wheat from the chaff and discarding anything that doesn’t feel right, and so we are asked to harness our capacity to only let in information that serves our highest good and question anything that seems dubious, false or unhelpful. Virgo also encourages humility and stringent self-analysis, so that we are better able to recognise when our ego might be getting in the way of our search for the truth. Are we too attached to a certain set of beliefs, so that we are unable to listen to or accept other points of view? How might we improve our communication skills so that we can deliver our message in a way that is understood and accepted by others? How can we tell what is truth and what is lies?

Virgo is the sign of healing, self-improvement, self-analysis and humility, and is the part of us that seeks to purify and perfect ourselves. It is a sign of transition, whereby we might experience something that bursts the egocentric balloon of self-importance, forcing us to take a long hard look at what needs to change in order for us to be a better human being. Sometimes a crisis is needed in order to recognise what is out of balance and make the necessary adjustments. This is why so many people have life-changing awakenings when they experience a health crisis that stops them in their tracks and forces them to examine the root cause of the issue. Often what seems to be a terrible thing can also become our greatest gift, changing our lives for the better. Virgo helps us to do the necessary work on ourselves in order to understand the underlying issues that may have caused whatever we might be facing. It helps us to be humble enough to accept higher teaching and accept that there are some things we still have to learn.

This Moon invites us to recognise what is out of balance in our lives and what we might do to improve our situation and promote healing and a greater sense of wholeness. We are encouraged to practice the art of discrimination regarding what we take in and digest, whether it be food, information, opinions or ideas. This is an ideal Moon to implement new and healthy routines, systems and rituals, and to recognise what is hurting us or impeding growth and simply needs to go. Saturn and Pluto are forming a harmonious trine to the Sun and Moon, helping us to look into the shadows and transform and purge anything that we might usually find it hard to confront. We are invited to look ourselves squarely in the face, without a filter, and decide what is helpful and what is hindering us. As the structures fall, both personally and collectively, what do we choose to keep and what are no longer relevant or healthy for us? How can we look at ourselves kindly yet honestly and own the shadows and the fear and the anger and anything that makes us feel shame? How can we make ourselves more whole and “fill our cup”?

The Sabian symbol for the New Moon, at 26° Virgo, is “A boy with a censer serves the priest near the altar”, which Dane Rudyar describes as “The first stage of actual participation in the great ritual of planetary evolution. The individual is “e-ducated,” i.e. led out into the world of transcendent activity, the world of archetypal performance. He must learn to serve, humbly and with intense attention, in what as yet is beyond his spiritual understanding. He learns to perform every action super personally. He learns to PRACTICE IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD”. This symbol seems to suggest that some kind of ritual that honours spirit, however small, could be a very good thing to practice right now. A Virgo Moon really is a wonderful time to implement some healthy routines and rituals in our lives that can help connect us to the divine and bring the sacred into our everyday lives, bringing a greater sense of hope. Similarly, this reminds us that even the smallest, seemingly insignificant act, done with pure intention and reverence, can make a big difference. If we act with humility, in the spirit of service to the whole, amazing things can come from the smallest actions.

Speaking of action, Mars is retrograde at the moment and is forming a nagging inconjunct aspect to the Sun and Moon, which could bring up irritability, anger, restlessness, resentment and frustration. We may find that little things niggle, irritate and anger us more easily than usual, but we are invited to look at where the anger is actually coming from. Often we react with anger when we are scared or fearful in some way, or being pushed out of our comfort zone. Sometimes it is because a person or an event has triggered something that is unsesolved or unhealed in us, making us reactive or defensive. Sometimes is it righteous anger or the need to defend someone or something from harm. Sometimes it is because someone has hit the nail on the head and touched a nerve! Sometimes anger comes up before the tears do when someone has hurt us. Mars invites us to be very honest with ourselves and to be willing to work on whatever comes up. Retrograde Mars gives us the courage to really look at what needs to change in our lives and to actually do something about it rather than just talking about it! Virgo New Moons certainly do give us an opportunity to cleanse and purify, and this one is no exception!

Retrograde Mars is also building up to its second square with Saturn, exact on 29 September, the first of which was exact on 24 August. On the one hand this combo calls for us to act with courage and integrity and to be truly accountable for our actions, taking full responsibility for what our gut instinct tells us and what we feel to be right. On the other hand Saturn in Capricorn, representing authority, control, government, tradition, discipline and karma, is at odds with Mars in Aries, representing our anger, courage, independence, instinctual will, capacity to act and fight back. Which of these mighty opponents will win the battle, both internally and externally? While Mars is the part of us that like to march to the beat of our own drum and dislikes being told what to do or think, Saturn can tend to control, suppress, restrict, limit, enforcing rules, regulations and greater compliance. I have written about at this at greater length in a previous post on Mars Retrograde: http://www.amybirdartandastrology.com/blog/mars-retrograde-in-aries-9-september-14-november-2020

Mercury, the planet of Mind and communication and the ruler of this Virgo Moon, is being challenged by Jupiter, Neptune and Pluto. This could make it a bit tricky to see the wood for the trees! Mercury is currently in Libra, the sign of fairness and balance, which could make it a bit difficult to make up our mind one way or the other. This is not helped by an inconjunct from Neptune, exact on 18 September, bringing the potential for smoke screens, obfuscation of the truth and even outright deception. Neptune is very adept at the art of propaganda and “glamour” and is very prominent at the moment as it is squaring the Nodal axis. What might we need to sacrifice for the higher good in order to speak up for what we believe to be right and true? What means can we employ to connect to the truth behind all of the smoke screens? How can we find greater kindness, empathy and compassion when interacting with one another?

With Jupiter in Capricorn square Mercury, exact on the day of the New Moon, there is the potential for much debate or even disputes over beliefs, or being told what to believe by those in authority. Again, fear could potentially be the cause of people disputing over opinions and beliefs, so it is important to recognise when we are being triggered and reacting because we are scared. Jupiter in Capricorn can really magnify or exaggerate fear, and combined with Mercury could spread it around like wild-fire, so it is important to be mindful of our thought processes and behaviour. With Pluto also building up to a square with Mercury, exact on 21 September, there is the potential for cruelty, manipulation, gas lighting and power games in the realm of our thoughts and communication, but also an opportunity to gain greater insight into how our minds and thoughts may being manipulated or controlled. This combination can help us to cut through to the heart of the matter and see what is lurking in the shadows, but it might not be pretty!

Indeed, the Sabian symbol for Mercury, the ruler of the Moon and Gemini North Node, at 18° Libra, is “Two men placed under arrest”, which Rudyar describes as “The breakdown in the constructive relationship between the individual and society, and the expectable result. The individual whose actions introduce unacceptable principles into the established order runs the risk of being “punished” or re-formed according to this order. Negative as the image may seem, one may see implied in it the power in every individual to assume social risks in order to express his convictions or deepest desires. Nevertheless, one thing is needed: facing the consequences”. This symbol is very interesting in the light of the Mars square Saturn transit - the battle between societal consensus reality and authoritarian control (Saturn) and the individual will and capacity to fight back (Mars).

This Virgo New Moon certainly does seem to be inviting us to create some healthy new routines or rituals to help us to connect to spirit and bring the sacred into our every day. It has been said that it takes the length of a Moon cycle to make or break a habit, so that if we start a new routine and keep it up for 28 days then it will then stick. We are helped by a lovely sextile between Neptune and Jupiter, which is building now and will be exact on 12 October. This brings the gift of faith, hope and connection to the divine. Virgo can help us to purify, cleanse and de-clutter, setting pure intentions and creating rituals and routines that help us to replenish our spirit, renew our faith and nourish our soul. This is so very important in these times of turmoil and uncertainty, as it helps us to ground and anchor ourselves somehow, which could be of great comfort. During this Moon Virgo invites us to start as we mean to go on and to practice the art of discernment, letting go of whatever doesn’t serve us and being very mindful indeed about what we allow to take its place.

Much Love

Amy
xoxo

Painting: Dawn of Hope, by Daniel F. Gerhartz

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LEO NEW MOON - 19 August 2020

8/16/2020

1 Comment

Exact at 3.41am BST (18 August in USA)

This Moon could help to inject some hope and joy into our lives, as the Sun and Moon are forming their monthly union in creative, playful and expressive Leo, a sign that is very good at following the path of joy. New Moons spark a new cycle, and in Leo we are invited to play around with a creative new vision of how life could be. The structure of many of our lives has been breaking down and it seems that life is never going to be the same again, so we are asked to adapt and adjust and to literally “play around” with ideas and ways to create a better life. Mercury is also in Leo, sitting right next to the Sun and Moon, inviting us to exchange ideas and come up with creative solutions to the challenges we face. Leo is the part of us that has the capacity to creatively actualise our destiny and to be the director of our own play rather than victims of circumstance, and so this Moon encourages us to get creative. There is a hint of hope here, with lots of supportive planetary energy around to help us move forward and grow.

The Sabian Symbol for the New Moon, at 27° Leo, the energy of which will play out over the next month, is “The luminescence of dawn in the Eastern sky”, which Dane Rudyar describes as “The exalting challenge of new opportunities at the threshold of a new cycle. While the rainbow marks the end of the crisis, early dawn indicates the real beginning of the new period of activity. After the “peak experience,” in which we touch our “divine” potentialities, comes the struggle with everyday problems. But at first the state of deep inner exultation remains within us. We are aglow with its promise. The crisis and the blessings it has brought to us are relatively unusual events; every day has its dawn, which we should meet with a pure heart and a clear mind. Alpha (dawn) and omega (the concluding peak experience) are opposites, yet the same. Keyword here is ILLUMINATION.” This truly is a symbol of hope, a sense of a new dawn as we slowly emerge out of the darkness into the light. It is an invitation to recognise and acknowledge the blessings and opportunities that come from crisis. It’s time to wake up and smell the roses!

There is a niggling inconjunct aspect between Saturn and Pluto in Capricorn and the Sun and Moon in Leo that could bring some kind of crisis or humbling experience that forces us to contemplate what needs to change and how we might implement that change. Saturn and Pluto are getting close to each other again, bringing the potential for further transformation and dismantling of the structure of our lives and society. However, ultimately these two powerful planets don’t come together for no reason, for the “destruction” occurs in order to break down both personal and societal structures that are repressive, oppressive, corrupted, unhealthy and not serving us anymore. This is a painful process, as we watch life as we know it crumble before our eyes and are forced to face ourselves and look our shadows squarely in the face. This Moon, however, gives a glimpse of the “New Dawn” that awaits on the other side of all of this. We are asked to put aside any fear and creatively envision what we would like the rebirth to look like and what needs to rise up out of the ashes. As life as we know it crumbles around us, what do we want to create for ourselves? How can we become the master of our own destiny? What might our new path look like? What, when it comes down to it, truly brings us joy?

Mars in Aries is forming a harmonious trine aspect to the Sun, Moon and Mercury, while challenging Pluto and Saturn. This fiery planet has been bringing up a lot of anger, rage and even overt aggression, violence and bullying, as people act and react out of fear. However, it is also helping us to be brave and confront some very difficult material. Mars in Aries represents the pioneer in all of us, the part of us that is not afraid to venture into new territory and forge a new path. And this is exactly what we are being asked to do right now. This is unknown territory for all everyone, and while it is natural to feel fear, anger, uncertainty and a lack of control, this Moon invites us to channel the Mars warrior energy in some kind of creative way and to have the courage to implement our ideas, express ourselves and say what needs to be said. Mars in Aries can be a very destructive, reactive energy, but if we channel it into some kind of project or enterprise, or use it to do things we didn’t even think we were capable of, then it can be incredibly constructive. This is a strong, brave, honest, forthright, energy that can really help us through these turbulent times if we allow it. It can help us to perform feats that we would normally run a mile from!

The Nodes of the Moon are being positively aspected by the Sun, Moon, Mercury and Mars during this Moon, which is very useful for our growth, both personally and collectively. We are currently being encouraged to let go of any unhealthy Sagittarius tendencies and integrate the energy of Gemini. This involves developing the capacity to really, truly listen to other people’s reality and to try and grasp their perspective rather than trying to convince and convert them to our version of the truth. With Jupiter, the ruler of Sagittarius, currently in Capricorn, there is the potential for people clinging desperately to their beliefs out of fear and being very intolerant and judgemental about any concepts, perspectives and beliefs that challenge their world view and sense of security. Indeed, humanity is becoming more and more polarised as time goes on, separated into “camps” by opposing belief systems and dogma.

With a lovely Grand Fire trine between the Sun/Moon/Mercury, Mars and the South Node of the Moon, we are encouraged to have the courage to open our minds and be able to accept other people’s point of view. It could also help us to find our voice and express what is in our hearts. When it comes down to it, the truth is very hard to find it the moment, but we do know it in our hearts if we are only able to listen and trust. The Gemini North Node also encourages us to do our own research rather than just accepting what we are being told is the truth by those in authority. Ultimately we need to integrate the energy of the two signs, which involves harnessing our capacity to trust our intuitive “sixth sense” and inner knowing truly listening to our inner voice (Sagittarius) and to find a way to make rational decisions based on a mixture of our hunches and thorough research(Gemini).

Neptune in Pisces is now forming a square to the Nodes of the Moon, which will be building over the coming months and is exact in January. To put it in historical perspective, the Titanic went down while Neptune was square the Nodes, and by all accounts things were not as they seemed during that event, as something larger was at play. This brings the possibility of us needing to sacrifice something for the greater whole, and for unified acts of empathy and compassion. Whenever Neptune is involved we have the potential for something to happen that is outside our control and that has an impact on us as a collective. As such, we must watch out for falling into victim consciousness. With Neptune square the Nodes in Sagittarius and Gemini, it makes it very difficult to know the truth. Neptune makes things very unclear and foggy, being the planet of illusion and smoke screens, so much so that it is hard to know what to believe. Indeed, the truth may be shrouded from us until we are ready to face it.

Neptune square the Nodes brings the potential for profound disillusionment as the smokes screens are lifted and the truth of the matter comes to conscious awareness. Disillusionment is sometimes necessary, although painful, if we have been unable to see past the illusion and fantasy. Indeed, sometimes the truth is so fantastical that it is hard to believe! However, there is also the potential for people to join together collectively, in unity, and demand to have a voice and know the truth. When it comes down to it, the power of the collective is incredible. When people join together as a unified front, amazing things can happen. One for all and all for one!

Possibly Neptune is asking us to turn inward and connect in a different way, honouring our intuition and inner guidance rather than blindly accepting what we are being told by those in authority. Spending time in nature is a very good way to reconnect to our higher wisdom and shut out all the opinions and thoughts that are swirling around nowadays. However, we may also be prone to self-delusion, only seeing what we want to see and burying our heads in the sand so that we don’t have to face up to reality and uncomfortable truths. Neptune is very adept at the art of escaping reality! It will also be interesting to see what impact this square to the Nodes has on travel, because we are already seeing less international travel (Sagittarius) and an emphasis on staying local (Gemini).

This Moon does seem to offer some hope, encouraging us to take what we have gained from crisis and the dark night of the soul and start to contemplate what might lie ahead. It is easy to fall into fear, especially when everything is so uncertain, but this Moon seems to be asking us to get creative with our intention setting and to truly follow our hearts. This is a chance to start over, a tabula rasa, a time to be empty and see what arises. The New Dawn image reminds us that we are somehow transitioning between the dark and the light, and it is time to move focus on the light rather than dwelling in the darkness. No matter what might be going on, and however scary, we are asked to change our perspective, keep the faith and focus on the potential for a “new dawn”. If there is any New Moon to set positive intentions and leave our fear and negativity behind in the dark of the moon, this is the one! Leo invites us to have fun and play with the possibilities that lie ahead, to envision and create the life we truly want and to follow the path of joy.

Painting – Ode to Turner No 2 – Terry Orletsky

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CANCER NEW MOON - 20 July 2020

7/18/2020

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Exact at 6.32pm BST, 1.32pm EDT

This is a once in a Blue Moon, as it is the second New Moon in Cancer within a month. Usually we only have one New Moon in an given sign per year, but it seems that we are being asked to spend a bit more time with the energy of Cancer this year! The last Cancer New Moon, on the Solstice, started an energetic ball rolling that came to a head with the Capricorn Full Moon on the 5th. At that time Mercury was Retrograde, causing us to look back and reflect, not to mention that misunderstandings were rife! Now Mercury is going direct again, and this Moon will also set a ball in motion as something new comes into being and anything that needs to pass away is left behind in the dark of the Moon. Cancer is all about home, childhood, family, ancestry, the past, nationhood, tribes, nurturing and motherhood. This is the sign that helps us to find our roots and a sense of belonging, whatever that means to us. This is the part of us that struggles with insecurity and neediness and must ultimately realise that happiness is an inside job. It is not the job of anyone or anything to make us feel secure and meet all of our emotional needs. Ultimately that is up to us.

Some questions to ask during a Cancer New Moon might be: Where is home? Is it an external place or a feeling inside of us? Where and how do we find a true sense of belonging? What emotions might the current situation bring up that need to be honoured and expressed? What causes us to feel insecure or vulnerable? What might be pulling us back into the past and preventing us from fully moving forward? Indeed, do we tend to live too much in the past? Who and what are we too dependent on to make us feel emotionally secure? Are we in touch with our true emotions and do we express them in a childish or mature manner? Are we connected to the land we live on? Are we able to parent ourselves and take responsibility for our own emotional reactions to other people’s actions? Who is our tribe, our soul family? Are we nurturing those relationships adequately? What messages might our emotions hold? When it comes to the truth of the matter, how do we really feel?

There is still a bit of a Capricorn party at the moment, which is very much a part of this New Moon, as the planets are opposite the Sun and Moon. In fact, Saturn is directly opposite and is a very strong influence, as not only is it the ruler of Capricorn but is also in it own sign of Capricorn right now! This could make us very aware of how we suppress our emotions and protect ourselves by putting walls up. Indeed, we could feel a bit cut off from others during this Moon, as we may have to contend with feelings of loneliness, grief, and sorrow. We could feel a bit weighed down, fearful or burdened and might tend to withdraw from one another somewhat. Saturn is quite a heavy, karmic energy that forces us to see things as they really are rather than how we would like them to be, and sometimes this can be a bit depressing. It can make it a bit hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Saturn energy can make us feel restricted, limited, controlled and constricted by those in authority.We may have to face up to the repercussions of past actions, as we reap what we sow. Saturn asks us to make concrete decisions, take responsibility for ourselves and make a deeper commitment, forcing us to be truly accountable and come from a place of integrity.

Jupiter and Pluto are also opposing the Sun and Moon, although not as tightly as Saturn, so their energy will be felt around the time of this Moon. Indeed, this conjunction is one of the most prominent themes of 2020, as it spans most of the year. It brings up huge issues around people’s beliefs, as people attempt to convince or convert others to their version of the truth, even though it is hard to really know what the truth is. Any opposing opinions are bringing up very strong emotions in some people, and there is so much judgement and fear based beliefs around that it is frightening. Fear can make people very reactive and rigid, and tends to contract the heart. It is so very important to do all we can to keep our hearts open and not to operate from a place of fear, as it is so destructive! Capricorn is the sign of control and authority, and when Pluto comes into contact with Jupiter there is the potential for propaganda and mind control by those in power who might have an ulterior motive and hidden agenda. When Pluto and Jupiter join forces the truth can be occluded, hidden, obscured.

There is also the capacity for some very thorough research, digging deep in the search for the truth. The gift of this combination is the capacity to smell a rat, to learn to really trust our sixth sense and our intuition. All is not as it seems, and Jupiter and Pluto can help us to see beneath the surface and find what is hidden there, even if it is not pretty. This is a year for purging some “programmed” or conditioned beliefs, which can be quite a painful yet profoundly transforming process. It is as if we are in a birth canal at the moment, which is quite a dark place to be! With the Sagittarius South Node also forming a “crisis” aspect to the Sun and Moon, there is definitely a sense of us needing to examine some of our more rigid or ingrained beliefs and convictions and to be open to a other peoples point of view and a new way of seeing things.

Saturn and Pluto are also moving back towards each other, as Saturn is retrograde in Capricorn, having recently left Aquarius for a little while. The conjunction between these two powerful planets back in January was the catalyst for the destruction of systems and structures, both personal and societal. There is a sense that systems that are deeply flawed or no longer have integrity are being broken beyond repair. We have been forced to dive deep into our own shadows and also to recognise the deeper, darker aspects of the power structures that govern us. Fear based control has been rife this year, and it will be interesting to see what happens as the planet of karma, control, authority and structure comes back to meet the planet of power, death/rebirth, the underworld and transformation. They will not form an exact conjunction, as they did on 12 January, but will come closest to each other on 29 September, and the energy will be building up until then.

During this New Moon we have an exact “square off” between Chiron in Aries and Mercury in Cancer. This could cause us to come to some understanding and have realisations that are quite painful but also profoundly healing. We may be forced to be very honest with ourselves and to realise where the source of our current pain lies, which could have its roots in childhood and even past lives. Indeed, there is a huge amount to be learned from history, as we tend to keep making the same mistakes over and over again as patterns repeat. Someone may say something to us that hurts us or triggers our old wounds and causes us to react or become defensive. Indeed, we may do the same to someone else. There is much healing possible here, but it may involve having to have a difficult conversation or come to a painful realisation. Mercury is in Cancer, so the focus may be our home, family, our country, roots, childhood or sense of belonging. This all ties in with the nature of this New Moon, which is intensely personal.

The Sabian Symbol for this New Moon, the energy of which will play out over the coming month, is in 29° Cancer: “A Greek Muse weighing new-born twins in golden scales”, which Dane Rudyar describes as “The intuitive weighing of alternatives…..at this stage in the process of individualisation two ways are open. The individual person may hesitate before making his decision. His “intuition” (the Muse) is able to show him what the choice is. Perhaps there can be a way of combining the two alternatives. But, as the next symbol implies, the one which in the end has the greatest appeal may not be the “nature” way. This symbol reveals to us the pro and con operation of the mind when faced with a vital decision. Because it is the “Muse” that is doing the weighing, it is apparent that forces deeper or higher than the intellect are actually at work - the intuitive mind, or what Jung calls the “anima,” i.e. the psychic function which relates ego-consciousness to the collective Unconscious. What we see happening, at the very threshold of a new cycle, is an INNER PRESENTATION OF ALTERNATIVES”.

There is a sense that we may be faced with some kind a decision or choice in the coming month. This symbol also alludes to the extreme polarisation that we are currently experiencing in society, with so many different “camps”. How do we find balance between all of the “opposites”? Do we actually have to take a side and “choose”? How can we find a balance between our head and heart? We are encouraged to listen to our inner guidance to show us the way, which is reinforced by a harmonious sextile aspect between Jupiter and Neptune, bringing the gift of faith and intuition. As Rudyar says, maybe we can combine the two alternatives somehow. The scales could also mean weighing up alternative points of view.

The Sabian symbol for Saturn is also interesting, at 29° Capricorn, and could help somehow: “A woman reading tea leaves”, which Rudyar describes as “The ability to see the signature of hidden meaning in every occurrence drawing one’s attention. Man has always sought to interpret the meaning of events or situations which baffle him in terms of specific omens or “Signatures.” What is implied is the ability not only to perceive the facts of everyday existence, but to see through these facts and discover how they are related to the realm of basic meanings or archetypal processes. This is essentially what is meant by true CLAIRVOYANCE, the capacity to see in everything the Signature of deeper realities.” This symbol asks us that we have the potential for receiving messages if we are open to seeing the signs. It is important to use both our left and right brain, and trust in our intuitive knowing and any clues and symbolism that can help us to know which way to turn. The signs are all around us if we can only open our eyes to see.

The Sun is about to take us into creative, self-expressive, playful Leo season, but for some reason we are being asked to stay with the theme of Cancer for a little while longer, hence a second New Moon in this sensitive, emotional sign. Saturn’s involvement may force us to take responsibility and make a decision or deeper commitment to something. It certainly seems that we may be asked to weigh up some alternatives, which is where Cancer can help, as it encourages us to recognise what emotions come up when we talk about whatever we are facing. Our emotions hold the key. Our body is wiser than our mind, which can easily play tricks on us, and our emotions can reveal the truth of the matter, because they don’t lie.

Much Love

Amy
xoxo

Painting: Reading Tea Leaves by Harry Herman Roseland

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ARIES NEW MOON - 12 April 2021

PISCES NEW MOON - 13 March 2021

AQUARIUS NEW MOON / YEAR OF THE YIN METAL OX - 11/12 February 2021

CAPRICORN NEW MOON - 13 January 2021

SAGITTARIUS NEW MOON/TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE - 14 December 2020

SCORPIO NEW MOON - 15 November 2020

LIBRA NEW MOON - 16 October 2020

VIRGO NEW MOON - 17 September 2020

LEO NEW MOON - 19 August 2020

CANCER NEW MOON - 20 July 2020

Amy Bird

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