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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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CANCER NEW MOON / ANNULAR SOLAR ECLIPSE / SOLSTICE - 21 June 2020

6/18/2020

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Exact at 7.41am BST.
 
Well, it is not often that we have a New Moon and Eclipse and the Solstice all in one day! This feels very significant indeed, especially in the light of all that is happening in the world right now. An Annular Solar Eclipse is otherwise known as a Ring of Fire, which must have seemed like a sign from the gods in times gone by! Indeed, it has lost none of its magic now as it is a truly magnificent sight, symbolising a significant shift in consciousness and the beginning of a new chapter. This is like the mother of all New Moons, as we are starting a new cycle, setting a ball in motion that will have an impact on the next 6 months, culminating with the Eclipses in November/December. What do we need to leave behind in the dark of the moon and what energetic seeds do we wish to sow for the coming cycle? This Eclipse cycle also has a resonance with the Cancer New Moon 19 years ago, on 21 June 2001. This is the next phase of a 19 year Nodal cycle.
 
The Sun and Moon have literally just moved into the very first degree of Cancer, where they are forming their monthly union. This takes the emphasis from the mental, communicative busyness of Gemini to the emotional, nurturing energy of Cancer. This is the sign of the home, family, childhood, emotional patterns, ancestral roots, nationhood, motherhood. This is the sign that helps us to find a sense of belonging and connects us to certain places which may or may not be the country we were born in. Cancer asks us to find a way to meet our emotional needs, but when it is out of balance can make us incredibly needy and insecure, reverting to childish behaviour in order to get our needs met. This is the sign of national pride, with a great emphasis on finding our “tribe”, which may be our family and country or origin, but may also be our soul family that we have found along the way. It is possible that the emphasis of this Moon may be on contemplating where home is and where we belong. Times like these certainly make us more aware of who is in our soul tribe, that’s for sure!
 
The Sabian Symbol for this New Moon/Eclipse is very interesting, at 1° Cancer: “On a ship the sailors lower an old flag and raise a new one”, which Dane Rudyar describes as “ A radical change of allegiance exteriorised in a symbolical act: a point of no return. On the “ship” which symbolises the ego-consciousness floating on the sea of the vast Unconscious, the individualised will makes a basic decision. The “collective” will gradually overcomes the “individual” and at the end the state will overpower the person. Now, however, the individual person enjoys his most glorious hour; he exults in this ability to make a “free decision” – i.e. to act as an individual who selects his life goal and his allegiance. His consciousness accepts a process of fundamental REORIENTATION, implying the stabilisation of his energies”.
 
This symbol is profound, as it feels like a turning point and a big shift, on top of the energy of the  Eclipse. There is a sense of a change in where we place our loyalties, and a feeling that what came before is no longer relevant. What this flag represents may be different for each of us, but it could be seen as our ideals, hopes or even our beliefs. Something may happen that there is no coming back from, both personally and collectively. It is important to note that this symbol sets the tone for the next 6 months, so it will have far reaching impact and consequences. It brings the feeling that things will be very different for all of us after this period of time is over. We may be called to make profound changes that we couldn’t have foreseen, but which are absolutely necessary given the present circumstances. We may be asked to make a choice, a decision, a symbolic act that shows everyone where we stand. No sitting on the fence. Which flag shall we be flying? What do we stand for? What do we believe? What needs to be left behind in the “old world”? What old habits and patterns are simply not relevant anymore? The significance of this symbol will reveal itself no doubt, in the coming months, as the old world passes away and we move towards the new one, in whatever form it may take. However, it does seem as if we are asked to make a choice about which reality we wish to live in.
 
Usually an Eclipse involves the Sun and Moon being in the same sign that the Nodes are in, but not in this case. The Nodes are very close indeed, but they have recently moved from the Cancer/Capricorn axis into the Gemini/Sagittarius axis. This is the axis of truth and lies, of travel, of beliefs and opinions versus facts and data. We are being asked to keep an open mind right now, as we may find that some deeply ingrained beliefs about life could be blown out of the water. We are asked to listen to one another and to do some research in order to better inform ourselves about what is really going on in this world of ours right now. With the ruler of the Sagittarius South Node in Capricorn right now, there are many who are in fear, defending their rigidly held beliefs as if they are a matter of life and death. In fact, there is some down-right bullying going on as people attack others for having an opposing point of view that challenges their world view. It is important to recognise when we are being triggered into an angry or irrational response and to question why this might be. Why might we be so unwilling to accept that there might be another point of view? What fears prevent us from hearing other people’s opinions and beliefs?
 
We are currently being encouraged to use our Gemini “street smarts” and to look behind the curtain, questioning the narrative that we are being told and allowing our Capricornian conditioned and “programmed” beliefs to be challenged and broken down. This is a very important period in history when it is essential that we open our minds and do the necessary research to inform ourselves so that we can make the right choices moving forward. Gemini also invites us to find our voice and speak our truth, whatever that might be. If people don’t agree with whatever we have to say then so be it! However, we all have a right to speak our version of the truth and to be heard and listened to (or ignored!) instead of being attacked, judged or ridiculed. We should not need to be afraid of simply trying to voice an opinion or giving an alternative to the prevailing narrative. If we open our minds and give up the need to be right then we might learn something! As Einstein said, “The measure of intelligence is the ability to change”, while George Bernard Shaw said “Those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything”.
 
Jupiter and Pluto are building up to their second conjunction in Capricorn, which will be exact on 30 June, and are being joined by Pallas Athena, the goddess who is very adept at the art of military strategy and is known for her creative intelligence. The last time these three joined forces was at the beginning of April, when pandemic pandemonium was at its worst and fear was spreading like the plague. Indeed, Jupiter can certainly magnify our fears and with Pluto can make us believe that we are under threat and our lives are in danger. It can also mean that our beliefs become a matter of life and death, taking on a far greater intensity and bringing out the very worst and most ugly parts of ourselves. There is also a sense, with Pallas involved, of some very clever strategy being employed for manipulation of the truth, propaganda and mind control. Pluto is the planet of power and is very adept at the art of psychological manipulation and hypnosis, so there is the potential for us to be convinced that something is “truth” when it is in fact very far from it. Capricorn is the sign of authority and control and represents our societal conditioning, so there is much potential for authoritarian control through the use of incredibly clever techniques that convince us to believe things that promote division and fear and that bring out the very worst in us.
 
However, this combo also brings the potential for a profound Plutonian transformation of our belief systems. In fact, all that we have been conditioned or “programmed”  to believe is real and true could come crashing to the ground like a house of cards. This could be a painful process, but could also be profoundly liberating and enlightening. The truth shall set you free! Pluto is the detective in us that encourages us to dig deep beneath the surface of reality and find whatever is lurking there. What we find may be shocking, dark and disillusioning, but also has the potential to open our eyes and expand our minds. Jupiter and Pluto will have joined forces three times by the end of this year, by which time what we believed to be true about all things Capricorn, such as authority, government, society and those in control, could be completely and utterly transformed. Pluto is currently taking us through a process of exposing the rot, corruption and any hidden agendas within the power structures that rule us, and what is uncovered has the potential to radically shake up our world view and open our minds to the truth of the matter. We just have to be brave enough to keep an open mind, think for ourselves and to be willing to look under the proverbial carpet and behind the curtain.
 
Which takes us to the ruler of Capricorn, Saturn, who is now back in the very first degree of Aquarius, having recently gone retrograde. Saturn is forming an inconjunct “crisis” aspect to the Sun and Moon, so it is a significant player in this Moon/Eclipse. Saturn went into Aquarius on 21 March and is going to go back into Capricorn on 2 July until 17 December, when it will go back into Aquarius. While Saturn has been in Aquarius we have had the curbing of our freedom via lockdown, those in authority preventing us from meeting in groups, social distancing, an increase of virtual reality, the censorship of any alternative viewpoints, the increased usage of technology to track, trace and control, suppression of civil rights and liberties and in recent times, while Saturn has been retrograde, rioting and civil unrest.
 
It is important to remember that Saturn rules Capricorn, where Pluto, Pallas and Jupiter are joining forces right now. This brings the capacity for mind control and manipulation by those in power that then feeds into Saturn in Aquarius, bringing the civil unrest and even greater division than we already had before this. This is the old age strategy of Divide and Rule. People are fighting each other over their beliefs and emphasising their differences rather than recognising the need to come together to fight for something much bigger - the future of humanity. To come together in order to create the world we want our children to live in rather than the dystopian reality that could potentially be looming. To take our power back and stop being blindly led by those corrupted by greed and power who no longer have our best interests at heart. To question any rules that simply don’t make sense. To take responsibility for a “New Normal” that feels healthy and free and equal and just and more in line with the natural rhythms. Lockdown has given many of us a change of perspective on the way we want to live our lives, so maybe it is time to “hoist a new flag”. As the structures crumble we have a chance to create, from the bottom up, a true democracy whereby we all take responsibility for making the world a better place to live.
 
It will be interesting to see what will happen when Saturn and Jupiter join forces in this same degree of Aquarius in December, exact on the 21st, which is the next Solstice! What will have happened in the 6 months between now and then? What choices will we have made? How will life look different? The Sabian symbol for the degree where Saturn is now and where Saturn and Jupiter will be on the Solstice is: “An old adobe mission in California” which Dane Rudyar describes as “The power inherent in all great human works to endure far beyond the workers’ life spans… While the zodiacal sign Capricorn begins with a symbol of social-political power, Aquarius, at its start, presents a more spiritualised and idealistic or creative picture of the social forces at work. Moreover, it stresses the enduring character human achievements ensouled by a great vision. At least within the frame of reference of our Western civilisation, the symbol speaks of the projection of a noble ideal into concrete forms of beauty and significance, thus of the radiation of the “civilising” power into an institution offering, to primitive men, the opportunity to reach a higher, more organised and productive, level of activity. It speaks to us of THE CONCRETISATION OF AN IDEAL.” This feels like we have an opportunity here to create a new world, so it is important that we all take responsibility for the kind of world we envision in our dreams, rather than our nightmares!
     
One last thing of note. Mars, the warrior planet, is about to go into its own sign, Aries, where it will remain for the rest of the year.This will happen on 28 June. Usually Mars is only in a sign for a month or two, but Mars will go retrograde in September, so it will be there fr 6 months. Mars in Aries is raw, unfiltered anger, honesty, aggression, impulsiveness, forcefulness, enthusiasm, bravery, act first, think later. This combination could certainly bring out the fighting spirit, and fires that could literally and metaphorically burn out of control. Tempers could flare and brute force and Martian aggression could be more prevalent. In the same token, this could help us to find our courage and the “fire up the arse” that we need to make choices, decisions and to take action where and how we need to. Mars is going to be forming a challenging square aspect to Pluto and the other planets in the Capricorn party three times this year, due to going retrograde. The sign of authority and control going up against the planet and sign of anger, aggression and war.
 
Pluto and Mars will square off against each other in August, Sept/Oct and Dec/Jan, which has the potential to bring acts of brute force by those in authority and could also bring up rage against those in power and anger as we face some very uncomfortable truths. This combo could also bring psychological warfare. It could also bring the courage and power to overcome some huge obstacles and perform feats that we would never have thought possible!  During this Moon Mars is still in Pisces and is forming a square to the Nodes of the Moon, which also highlights the Martian energy of anger and aggression, especially around people’s beliefs and opinions. How is anger playing out in our lives? Who and what is triggering our anger right now, and why might that be?
 
 
These are certainly unprecedented times and this is no ordinary Moon! Indeed, this next 6 months could be quite pivotal. The Sabian symbol certainly seems to indicate so! As ever, we must not forget Neptune in Pisces, the planet reminds us that we are not separate and that ultimately we are all consciousness in different bodies and having different earthly experiences. Neptune reminds us to treat one another with kindness and compassion and to remember that what happens to one happens to all. This is not an abstract concept - it is real. We are going through a massive collective shift right now and this Eclipse season is the next phase in this process. Many are extremely vulnerable, scared, and starved for touch right now, and that does strange things to the psyche. So we must be gentle with one another.
 
This Cancer Moon reminds us to take care of each other and also to admit when we need help or can’t cope. Neptune reminds us that we are all simply souls living in very uncertain times right now, and we are bound to have a wobble or two. Spending time in nature is essential in times like these, as it can centre, ground and reconnect us when we are feeling overwhelmed or fearful. Fear contracts the heart and causes us to act and react in crazy ways, so it is very important to find ways to reconnect to the love that is innate within all of us. Neptune is the planet of unity. United we stand, divided we fall. Never has this statement been more pertinent than now.
 
Much Love
 
Amy
xoxo
 
Picture: Annular Solar Eclipse - Unknown source

 

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CAPRICORN NEW MOON / SOLAR ECLIPSE - 26 December 2019

12/24/2019

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Exact at 5.12am GMT, 12.12am EST
 
This is a crucial and critical time as we are now entering Eclipse season, which also coincides with the impending Saturn Pluto conjunction. Eclipses represent a time of significant endings and new beginnings, whereby we start a new chapter of some kind. A Solar Eclipse is a super-charged New Moon that has further reaching effects. It is linked to the Solar Eclipse that occurred on 25 December 2000, so there may be some kind of common theme or link to whatever was happening back then. Eclipse season is an important and powerful time when we experience a shift in consciousness and can potentially make a leap forward on our journey if we are willing and able to do the work that is being asked of us. You get back what you put in! This Eclipse involves the Sun and Moon activating the South Node of the Moon, so we may find ourselves being confronted by some of our more “familiar” patterns and tendencies so that we can see them more clearly and hopefully find some way of overcoming them and stepping up to the next level of growth.
 
With Jupiter very much involved in the picture, the potential for growth is great, especially if we are willing to be accountable and take responsibility for whatever comes up. We have an opportunity to leave our more undesirable traits and sabotaging patterns behind in the dark of the Moon and move forward with a lighter step. We will all be dealing with our own personal South Node and the specific tendencies that are symbolised by the sign and house it is in during this Eclipse. However, we will also be dealing with the more undesirable energy of the sign that the South Node is currently in, which is Capricorn. Capricorn has a tendency to prefer to keep everything under control, including emotions. It is the part of us that may tend to withdraw or withhold when the going gets tough, becoming cold, cut-off, austere and/or rigid. Capricorn is the part of us that finds it very hard to open up and ask for help, or to admit that we are hurting. It is the king of the stiff upper lip! We can very easily find ourselves putting up walls and shutting people out rather than allowing ourselves to be vulnerable and show how we are actually feeling. This is the gift of the Cancer North Node.
 
There is a huge emphasis on Capricorn at the moment, with a total of 7 asteroids, luminaries and planets in this serious and responsible sign. That is a lot! Capricorn has many incredibly positive traits, such as a sense of responsibility and duty, the capacity to be accountable for ourselves and our actions, as well as the ability to set and achieve our goals. It is also the part of us that is capable of being self-reflective, self-controlled and self-disciplined. It helps us to grow up and mature, preferably with grace and dignity! It is the wise sage, the hermit who is able to spend time alone without feeling lonely. Capricorn creates structure and boundaries and helps us to have integrity and act on our principles. It helps us to know the difference between right and wrong. It represents government, rules and regulations and parental and societal authority. Without some kind of structure and definition, our world would be a bit of a mess!
 
However, like all of the signs, Capricorn has a shadow side, and that is what is being highlighted at the moment with the South Node, Saturn and Pluto all residing in this unyielding sign. Issues around power and hard control are rife at the moment and we see evidence of the dark side of government and authority all around us, with their tendency towards a “divide and rule” approach. There is such a huge emphasis on status and we are seeing such a massive chasm between the rich and poor that is truly horrifying and unnecessary. This time of year highlights this divide, with many people spending obscene amounts of money on utterly frivolous things, while some families are living together in one room with barely enough to eat, let alone buy presents. Another shadow side of Capricorn is consumerism, as people feel that they need to have “the latest” status symbol. Another is loneliness and even grief; a sense of being alone and cut off and feeling that we have to swallow or suppress our emotions. If we allow this part to win we may find ourselves holding our loved ones at an arm’s length or shutting them out.
 
However, the Cancer North Node asks us to find another way, finding the courage to express our true feelings instead of stonewalling our loved ones. Instead of blocking them or withdrawing, we include them in our process and simply tell them how we are feeling. This isn’t as hard as it may seem, as it simply involves making a decision to do so and acting on it. On a collective level the North Node in Cancer is beckoning us forward, encouraging a more inclusive approach, whereby we focus on our inner life, nurturing ourselves and those around us. While the dark side of Capricorn builds walls and focuses on wealth, status and “keeping up with the Jones”, Cancer helps us to soften and focus on family values, developing a sense of belonging and really taking care of one other. Cancer shows us that we can really make a difference at a grass-roots level. Charity begins at home, says Cancer! Indeed, we are currently being encouraged to find our home and our tribe, wherever and whoever they may be.
 
With the Saturn Pluto conjunction building in strength, we may find the proverbial shit hitting the fan in whatever area of life the conjunction sits in our charts. This is especially so for anyone who has planets between 20 and 24 degrees of a sign, especially Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn. This a time of reckoning that could signify a reality check of epic proportions, whereby we are forced to face some rather uncomfortable material that may usually be well and truly swept under the carpet. Not anymore!  This conjunction could make it so glaringly obvious that there is no hiding from it!
 
On a personal level we may find ourselves having to confront issues around power, control and having a long, hard look at the reality of whatever we are facing. This energy is not easy, but there are amazing gifts that can come from it. If we are willing to look at ourselves honestly and without a filter and to take full responsibility for whatever we find, we can make great strides. This Moon in particular could bring up a lot for us, because not only is it at a very sensitive time of year, but it is also activating the Nodal axis, hence the Eclipse. Eclipses are gateways for new development, whereby we have the opportunity for some big and powerful shifts.
 
Uranus is helping this Moon along, bringing the potential for change and somehow “waking up”. It’s great to have Uranus on our side during an eclipse, because it helps us to shift and to let go of the past, releasing ourselves from anything that might be hindering our growth. This is the planet that helps us to liberate ourselves from stagnant energy and to recognise what might need to shift or change. It also brings the gift of objectivity and detachment, giving us the capacity to take a step back and see things from a different perspective. This could be very helpful, given the more challenging energy that we may be facing during this time. Indeed, this could help us to embrace the excitement that change brings, rather than coming from a place of fear. This is an incredibly liberating influence, helping us to free ourselves from all that Capricorn conditioning and possibly bringing the odd epiphany or two!
 
Chiron the Wounded Healer, however, is challenging the Sun and Moon. This could signify some kind of healing crisis, whereby we are forced to face some painful material. It is possible that we could find ourselves being triggered during this Moon, as someone or something “rubs salt on our wounds” either inadvertently or on purpose. We may experience some sadness or feel hyper-sensitive during this Moon, but if we are able to be open and honest with ourselves and others about the source of our pain then this could be an incredibly healing time. Sometimes it is when we feel our most tender, vulnerable and exposed that we have no choice but to drop the walls and allow in a deeper intimacy and the potential for healing.  Chiron in Aries is not necessarily the most tactful energy and so things could be said or done in quite a direct manner that is quite hurtful, but it could help bring things out into the open to be aired. The key is not to be reactive, but rather to acknowledge whatever comes up in an open honest way.
 
We are being asked to really step up to the plate and be completely accountable for ourselves right now. We are only responsible for ourselves and our own actions and reactions, and so it is important to be as mindful as possible during Eclipse season. Capricorn represents our parents and our conditioning, while Cancer represents our family, childhood and inner child. As such, we currently have a chance to free ourselves from some old, entrenched patterns during this Eclipse, clearing some old family karma, but it is important to remain self-aware, self-reflective, non-reactive and to be prepared to do the inner work. The Sabian symbol for this Moon is very interesting, at 5° Capricorn: “Indians on the warpath. While some men row a well-filled canoe, others in it perform a war dance.” There is a sense that while some of us  may just want to get on with it, working together, others may feel the need to intimidate or act aggressively and assert their boundaries. This Moon certainly has the potential for some challenging material to come up at a very sensitive time of year. It is very important to act with integrity, which is truly one of the greatest and best gifts of Capricorn. If we all remember to do the right thing then we can’t go wrong. Do as you would be done by!
 
Wishing you a truly amazing 2020!
 
Much Love
 
Amy
xoxo
 
Painting: Solar Eclipse by Celestial Images




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Cancer New Moon / Total Solar Eclipse - 2 July 2019

6/30/2019

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CANCER NEW MOON / TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE - Tuesday 2 July, exact at 8.15pm BST, 3.15pm EDT
 
This is a very powerful New Moon as it is also a total Solar Eclipse, which represents a new chapter in our lives. Solar Eclipses are a fateful time when something ends and something new begins and they are generally linked to something that happened 19 years ago. As such, there could be a correlation between what was happening in the year 2000 and whatever we are facing now. This is no ordinary New Moon, but rather it can be a major turning point, when some important issues arise and we may have to make some big decisions that involve taking a leap forward in terms of our destiny. Often Eclipse season can correlate with a shift in consciousness, both personally and collectively. Change comes along with a Solar Eclipse, as whatever we may be leaving behind in the dark of the moon has a more far reaching effect than your average New Moon. This is a time of change, whereby we are able to see more clearly what might be holding us back and to make some big decisions on major issues in our lives. This is especially so if the Moon is forming a strong aspect to a personal planet in our natal chart. As such, if we have personal planets or angles within two or three degrees of 10° of the cardinal signs of Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn then we are likely to feel this Eclipse the strongest.
 
This Eclipse and New Moon occurs in the sensitive, emotional and nurturing sign of Cancer. Cancer relates to our childhood, family, home, ancestry and emotional patterns formed in early life. As such, this New Moon/Eclipse could have a profound effect on our sense of emotional security and familial or domestic situation. We could be called to contemplate what constitutes home for us and to consider where and with whom we experience a sense of belonging. The higher purpose of Cancer is for us to find a sense of emotional security and fulfillment from within and to realise that no person, place or situation is ultimately going to meet our emotional needs, but rather that we are ultimately responsible for ourselves. Cancer is that part of us that can suffer from insecurity and can become quite needy of others as a result, as the child within still seeks or demands some kind of nurturing or parenting that it may have lacked in childhood. Issues or circumstances could arise during this time that pertain to our sense of belonging, calling us to question what constitutes home to us and impelling us to make some decisions that could have an impact on our home and family life.
 
Solar Eclipses are important gateways that involve stepping forward in terms of our destiny, as they involve the Sun and Moon joining forces in the same sign as the North Node. The Nodes of the Moon are known as the Destiny Line, which is why Eclipses can have such a profound and far reaching effect on our lives. Currently the South Node of the Moon is in Capricorn, representing qualities, habits and traits that may be holding us back and impeding our growth. We are currently being called to let go of the less desirable traits of Capricorn, such as the need to keep everything under control, suppressing our emotions, being ruled by our conditioning, tending to shoulder too much on our own, too much emphasis on work and career, feeling the weight of unnecessary responsibility and, on a more collective level, the qualities of a patriarchal system whose flaws are revealing themselves more and more as time goes on. Saturn, Capricorn’s ruler, is currently sitting right on top of the South Node, calling us to look back and see, without any kind of filter on, how the past is repeating itself and shaping the present. This is a very karmic time, whereby we are really beginning to reap what we have sown. Saturn is helping us to see how our conditioning has shaped our habits and patterns. This certainly feels like a time of reckoning.  
 
This Eclipse is calling us towards the Cancer North Node, asking us to emulate the more helpful and positive qualities of Cancer. Cancer represents the more matriarchal ideals of caring, nurturing, sensitivity, inclusiveness, community. We are called to honour our emotions and express them rather than hiding them away or suppressing them. Cancer calls for us to look back into the past and our childhoods in order to find the necessary clues that can help us to move forward in our lives. We are encouraged to focus more on a sense of home and family rather than so much focus on “getting ahead” and “keeping up with the Jones”. Cancer is the part of us that has the capacity to show our more vulnerable side, allowing others to see when we feel unable to cope with whatever we are currently facing. Cancer calls us home, asking us to find out exactly what that means to us and where it might be. We are called to find our tribe and spiritual home and put down some roots. Cancer helps us to allow ourselves to be nurtured and cared for and to do the same in return. Instead of pretending that we have it all in hand and under control we are asked to allow the walls of protection to melt and the façade to melt away. Cancer calls us home.
 
Mercury is currently in its shadow phase, getting ready to go retrograde on 8 July, so not only do we have Eclipse season but we also have Mercury retrograde in the signs of Leo and Cancer. Mercury is currently in Leo, sitting right next to Mars and square to Uranus. This combination could help us to make some quite confident, definite decisions and come up with some creative ideas about whatever we may be facing. It also brings the potential for some sudden, brave and impulsive decisions that could potentially shake up the status quo and cause considerable upheaval, not to mention things being said or declared that can’t be taken back and that could be quite shocking or surprising. This energy is prevalent during this Moon and will peak on 8 July, when Mercury turns retrograde. Once Mercury goes retrograde we will be called to pause and look back over everything that we have been talking and thinking about since 20 June, when Mercury went into its shadow phase. Mercury retrograde calls for us to re-evaluate, reflect, refine, revise, reorganise, reinforce, re-do and become more retrospective. Sometimes people from our past may pop up with important messages for us, or memories may resurface that can help us with whatever situation we are currently facing.
 
During the shadow phase (20 June - 8 July) we may come up with an idea, concept or start to make some decisions. Once Mercury goes retrograde (8 July - 31 July) we are called to look back over everything and take stock, allowing any important details to arise that we may have missed. The retrograde period helps us to find the weak links and look at it all from a different perspective. When Mercury turns direct on 31 July, we then go back over the same ground one last time, with the benefit of having checked and double checked, ready to make the final decision and go ahead with our plans, decisions or ideas. The whole process ends on 16 August. During the retrograde period, on 19 July, Mercury moves from confident, dynamic and creative Leo back into sensitive, emotional and nostalgic Cancer, at which point we may be called to think with our feelings and emotions, listening to what our guts are telling us. Mercury in Leo has the capacity to make some quite confident, brave, creative and uncompromising decisions that can involve taking a risk and following our heart, while Mercury in Cancer could cause us to crawl back into our shells and look inwards, really “feeling” out whatever we have been contemplating and considering the emotional implications. Mercury in Cancer also calls for us to look back into our past to see what valuable information we might find there to help us to move forward.
 
It is interesting that we have Eclipse Season occurring simultaneously with Mercury Retrograde. The two Eclipses, on 2 and 16 July, represent a new chapter which could involve us having to make important decisions, depending on which of our personal planets are being impacted. Mercury Retrograde, however, calls for us to take a step back and take stock of whatever we are contemplating so that we can really feel it all out so that we know how to proceed. Both personally and collectively this feels like an important and potent time; a time of reckoning. Collectively we are currently being shown the darkest side of the patriarchal system, and the combination of the Eclipses and Mercury’s retrograde cycle could bring some major shifts, bold statements or impulsive decisions that could have a profound impact on our world. Indeed, we ourselves could make some radical decisions that could create profound change in our lives. Ultimately Cancer calls us to find our spiritual home, wherever that might be. Who and where is our tribe? How can we let down our walls and allow others to help? How and where can we find a sense of true belonging?
 
Much Love
 
Amy
xoxo
 
My website: www.amybirdartandastrology.com
 
Painting: Birds Nest by Kelly Berkey      
 

 
 
   
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CAPRICORN NEW MOON / PARTIAL SOLAR ECLIPSE - 5 / 6 January 2019

1/2/2019

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Sunday 6 January, at 1.28am GMT, Saturday  5 January, at 8.28pm EST.
 
The first New Moon if the year is a veritable Capricorn party, with so many planetary bodies in this serious, self-reflective, committed and disciplined sign! Not only that but Saturn, the ruler of Capricorn is also in his own sign, making it even more concentrated! New Moons are a wonderful time for setting intentions, and for leaving behind whatever we don’t need in the dark of the Moon.  This New Moon is especially potent and far reaching because it is also a Solar Eclipse. We are at the beginning of a new chapter, and as such something will be literally or metaphorically passing away during this time so that new energy can come in. There can be no beginning without some kind of ending.  This Eclipse will open the gateway to Eclipse season, which is a powerfully energetic time between the two eclipses. We are building up to a Total Lunar Eclipse on 21 January, so this New Moon/Solar Eclipse offers us an opportunity to gently open ourselves up to change and new possibilities for our path ahead. These Eclipses are linked to the Eclipses in 2000, so there could be an energetic similarity between what we are facing now and whatever happened then. Are we coming full circle, or is this the next phase of whatever was occurring then?
 
It is interesting when the Capricorn New Moon falls so very close to the New Year, as this is a time when we experience bit of a reality check and set some serious intentions for the year ahead, and we may also start paying for any over-indulgence during the holiday season. Capricorn follows Sagittarius, which has an over-extending, abundant, expanding quality, while Capricorn tends to pull in the reins and make us a bit more controlled and austere. Capricorn can correlate to feelings of guilt and futility, so it would be better to simply be a bit self-reflective and to set some realistic goals during this time rather than judging ourselves too harshly. Capricorn represents our inner parent, which can sometimes be quite severe, depending on the messages we received in childhood. There is a big difference between guilt for something that we have actually done wrong and the pervading sense of guilt that comes from our upbringing, religion or society.
 
The good news for this New Moon is that Neptune is forming a harmonious aspect to the Sun and Moon, helping us to find forgiveness, acceptance and unconditional love towards ourselves and others. This softens everything a little bit, helping us not to be quite so hard on ourselves! We’re all in this together and are doing the best we can, so it’s important to remember that we are only human! Neptune is also forming a challenging square aspect to Jupiter, which will be exact on 13 January. These two planets do like each other, as Jupiter represents growth, faith and expansion, while Neptune represents oneness, connection to spirit and helps dissolve the ego. Together they can really help us to connect spiritually and develop faith and trust.  However, with the square aspect there could be too much of a good thing! Spiritual or religious delusions are possible with this combination, as is being overly idealistic and putting our faith and trust in someone or something that is not actually what we think or hope it is. We might be particularly susceptible, open and vulnerable to other people’s beliefs during this time, as we could be more open, porous and gullible than usual. This transit will repeat in June and September.
 
This Eclipse season brings the Nodes of the Moon into focus, which is otherwise known as the Destiny Line. As such, this is a very fateful and karmic time we are approaching right now. The South Node of the Moon is currently in Capricorn, so we are currently being asked to recognise and let go of any of the more unhealthy Capricorn traits such as guilt, fear, too much control, fear of failure, feelings of futility, depression, repression, suppression of emotions, inner and outer judgement, over-emphasis on worldly concerns and career or worrying too much about our status, reputation or what other people think of us. Capricorn is a very karmic sign, and the South Node represents the past, so it is quite possible that we could find ourselves dealing with and hopefully clearing some old karma during this time. Capricorn teaches us that we reap what we sow, so we should not be surprised if we are forced to deal with some heavily weighted karmic situations or relationships during this time.
 
Capricorn represents the patriarchy, so we are currently going through a process of shedding the more unhelpful, unhealthy and destructive aspects of this system and trying to find more balance between the patriarchal (Capricorn) and matriarchal (Cancer) ways of doing things. It is certainly true that all that is flawed and distorted about the old structures and systems is becoming increasingly obvious and overt with Pluto, Saturn and the South Node all in Capricorn at the moment. Both Saturn and Pluto will join forces with the South Node during March and July this year, which could be a powerfully karmic time and cause us to recognise how the past is repeating itself and what needs to change in no uncertain terms. Sometimes we have to look back to learn how to move forward. History keeps repeating itself, over and over and over again. Hopefully this is an opportunity to recognise what needs to change, although the process may not be easy. We are being forced to take responsibility for our karma, both personally and collectively, so it is hard to avoid it at the moment! Every one of our thoughts and actions has a consequence. This is a very pertinent concept to explore at the moment, both personally and collectively.
 
The North Node is in Cancer, representing the energy we need to develop in order to evolve and grow, both personally and collectively. Cancer is feminine, yin energy that helps us to really get in touch with our emotions and encourages us to allow ourselves to be vulnerable rather than trying to hold it all in and pretend we’re ok. We could benefit from really allowing ourselves to feel the feelings rather than suppressing them, and by exploring why we might be protecting our inner child in the first place. This is a good time for looking back and seeing how our past conditioning has prevented us from feeling emotionally secure and to allow the inner child to feel safe enough to share his/her feelings in a healthy way. Are we able to allow ourselves to be taken care of? Cancer represents the home, the family, the homeland, our roots and our ancestry, so we are being asked to create a more caring, nurturing and sharing reality for ourselves. The Cancer North Node asks us Where do we belong? Who is part of our soul tribe/soul family? Where do we want to put our roots down? Where and what is home? Ultimately we are being asked to find that sense of coming home within ourselves.
 
The Nodes of the Moon will be in Cancer/Capricorn for 18 months, from November 2015 until May 2020. This New Moon and Eclipse will potentially bring these questions into focus.  The Cancer/Capricorn axis relates to our parental/societal conditioning, our childhood and family, our mother and father, and the matriarchy/patriarchy of course. Obviously, the experiences we have in childhood shape the rest of our lives and relationships in the form of behavioural patterns and beliefs. The holiday season in an emotional time that can certainly bring a lot of these patterns out into the open, for better or worse, and is a testing time for all of our close relationships so this is a great time to look at ourselves realistically and explore some of our family karma. It is also a time that can make us feel very alone and cut off, making it hard for us to reach out.
 
During this New Moon we might want to consider what we still need to let go of in order to move forward and grow. All of this energy in Capricorn can certainly cause us to judge ourselves and our real or perceived wrongdoings quite severely, not to mention, on a more mundane level, beating ourselves up for any recent over-indulgences! However, instead of allowing guilt to rule the show, we might want to reflect upon our lives and contemplate what might we want our reality to look like if we had the choice? What would we need to change in order to achieve that? What might we need to do to bring us a greater feeling of integrity and wholeness? What old karma do we need to clear? Who do we need to forgive? Does that include ourselves? With Neptune involved, this is a great Moon for using our imagination and faith to envision our most heart-felt fantasy and to set an energetic ball in motion that could change the course of our lives for the better. We are beginning a new chapter, so let’s start as we mean to go on!
 
Much Love
 
Amy
xoxo
 
Picture: Karma (artist unknown)

 
 
 

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CANCER NEW MOON / PARTIAL SOLAR ECLIPSE - 12 / 13 July 2018

7/8/2018

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Exact at 3.47am on Friday 13 July (BST) and 10.47pm on Thursday 12 July (EDT)
 
This New Moon, at 20° Cancer, packs quite a cosmic punch, as it is also a partial Solar Eclipse and a Supermoon. It is the first of three Eclipses this summer, which represent powerful and potent turning points in our lives, whereby one chapter is ending and another is beginning. As such, this New Moon could have more far reaching impact on our lives than your regular, run of the mill New Moon. Whatever is going on in our lives during this Eclipse season will have a correlation to something that was happening in 1999; and could feel almost like an echo, or the next phase. Supermoons occur closer to Earth, so that they have a greater impact on our mind, body, emotions and spirit. This is a good opportunity to set some positive intentions for ourselves that could have a strong impact on our emotional and domestic lives. It’s time to concentrate on our “inner home” and let go of unhealthy emotional patterns from our past. Pluto, the planet of metamorphosis and transformation, is a very big player during this Moon, so we have a chance to make some profound changes within our lives and psyches during this time. Indeed, it could feel as if the metamorphosis is out of our hands.  
 
The Sun and Moon are forming their monthly union in emotional, sensitive and sentimental Cancer. Cancer brings into focus issues around family, childhood and our emotional roots. Pluto is opposite the Sun and Moon, which could bring up some very strong and powerful emotions, forcing us to be very honest with ourselves about our more deeply ingrained emotional patterns. Our relationships could provide us with profound psychological insight into where our more destructive and unhelpful habits are coming from, which might not be very comfortable but could be deeply transforming. Cancer represents our self-image based on what happened in our early childhood. If we didn’t receive the appropriate kind of nurturing when we were young it can lead to emotional insecurity and a tendency to be quite needy as we reach out to others to meet our previously unmet needs. This is dangerous in relationships, and so the onus is on us to learn to meet our own needs from within, rather than expecting others to take care of us. This is the mission of Cancer, to develop a sense of emotional security from inside ourselves, rather than seeking it outside of ourselves. We need to develop our own inner parents rather than making our partners into defacto mothers and fathers.
 
It is possible during this Moon that issues around power and powerlessness could come up within our relationships, and emotional manipulation could become a factor. It could become very obvious how people close to us play games in order to have their needs met, and indeed we could be the perpetrator of these subtle power plays. This is a perfect opportunity to delve deep into our psyches and gain some amazing insight into our emotional nature and the impact our family and childhood has made on us as adults. In what way are we emotionally needy? Is it hard for us to allow ourselves to be vulnerable, or do we have a tendency to be a bit of a baby? How might we still need to grow up? It what way are we still acting out issues from childhood? Do we rely on others to take care of us rather than taking responsibility for our own problems? Are we subconsciously looking for our mother or father in our close relationships? How to we project unresolved needs from childhood onto our partner? Where and how might we be compensating for lack of nurturing from our childhood? What might we need to let go of from our past? Where is Home? How might we develop a relationship with our own inner parent? Are we too attached to the story of our past?
 
Saturn is involved in two very different configurations during this Moon – a challenging square with Chiron the Wounded healer and a harmonious and helpful Grand Earth Trine with Uranus and Venus. Chiron and Saturn are dancing around with each other all summer, never quite forming an exact square but coming very close in mid-August. This feels like an opportunity to take responsibility for our core wounds. Indeed, it could be hard to avoid them, as Saturn forces us to take a long hard look at ourselves and be willing to do the necessary inner work to promote healing. With Chiron retrograde may find ourselves healing some ancient, deeply ingrained wounds that have been weighing us down for a very long time indeed. We could feel somewhat vulnerable and we may have to deal with feelings of futility or failure, inadequacy, grief,  or fear as we are forced to go into places we would much rather avoid like the plague! However, there is a feeling that enough is enough. This is a perfect opportunity to grow up and move the boulders aside rather than allowing them to weigh us down.
 
Saturn and Uranus are working towards a harmonious trine aspect with Uranus which will peak at the end of August. These two planets are like chalk and cheese, as Saturn represents the structures of our lives and society while Uranus seeks to break down these old, rigid structures. Saturn represents tradition, while Uranus is the instigator of change and innovation.  Saturn sets the rules and regulations, while Uranus breaks them! This trine could help us to gently break down any structures within our lives that are no longer appropriate and to question authority without creating too much of a stir. We may be able to make constructive changes in our lives that don’t rock the boat too much. We could find ourselves breaking through boundaries and limitations that may previously have seemed impossible. We might gain profound insight into where we are stuck, or holding ourselves back through fear, or limiting ourselves, or are too rigid and unyielding. It seems like we have the opportunity at the moment to release ourselves from old karmic baggage and find new ways of dealing with old, ancient problems. During this Moon this energy is connected to Venus, so it will specifically affect our relationships, creating new solutions to old problems, helping us move past our fears, breaking down barriers and blasting those pesky boulders out of the way!
 
We also have this beautiful trine re-forming between bountiful and expansive Jupiter and receptive and spiritual Neptune, which will peak on the 19 of August. These two planets very much complement each other anyway as they are the co-rulers of Pisces! Now they are working together in harmony, which brings the potential for a beautiful boost of faith and trust. We could find ourselves having more faith in the benevolence of life, experiencing a sense that we are somehow being guided in the right direction. We are encouraged to put our trust in the flow of life, letting go and allowing the current of the river to gently take us where we need to go. Anything that comes up during this time can be met in the spirit of kindness, forgiveness, unconditional love, compassion and, above all, acceptance. We should be able to put whatever difficult material we may be facing into perspective, as we are better able to see the bigger picture. This is a very helpful blend of planetary energy to have as a backdrop as we navigate our way through this powerfully impactful set of eclipses. July is set to be a big month as we move from this Eclipse towards a Total Lunar Eclipse on July 27.
 
This Moon sets the ball in motion and gives us an opportunity to break from any stories from the past that might be holding us back and preventing us from “growing up”. With Uranus currently square the Nodes of the Moon we may be forced to recognise what old trauma keeps tripping us up and repeating in the form of our emotional patterns and behaviour. We have a chance to liberate ourselves from some old, ancient wounds and patterns that have been running the show and holding us back; keeping us small. This Grand Earth Trine involving Venus brings an opportunity to step outside of the box and try a different approach to our relationships while also remaining realistic and grounded. Some quite heavy material could come up for us to deal with during this time, but we are ready. Enough is enough. It’s time to free ourselves from the past and recognise where we quite simply need to grow up, to face our fears, release old trauma and become more accountable for ourselves. If we are willing to be self-reflective and do the necessary inner work during this time we should be able to reap the benefits and heal some deep karmic wounds. It’s time to let go.
 
Much Love
 
Amy
Xoxo
 
Painting: Letting Go by Tom Shropshire

 

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AQUARIUS NEW MOON / PARTIAL SOLAR ECLIPSE - 15 February 2018

2/11/2018

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

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LEO NEW MOON / TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE - 21 August 2017

8/17/2017

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Exact at 7.30pm BST, 2.30pm EDT!
 
Well, people have been talking about this New Moon/Total Solar Eclipse for a very long time now and it is indeed a big one! Another thing that makes it special and unique is that it is the second New Moon in the sign of Leo and we usually only have one. An energetic ball was set in motion with the Lunar Eclipse on 23 July and we are now in the midst of Eclipse season. This is a turning point; a time of shifts and change, when we experience breakdowns that lead to breakthroughs and the end of one chapter so that a new one can begin. Wherever Leo and Aquarius and their rulers, the Sun and Uranus, are found in our charts will give a clue as to what area of our lives may be affected by the eclipses.
 
The last Eclipse highlighted the South Node of the Moon, which represents the past and is where we tend to feel more comfortable because it is familiar and known. The South Node energy in our charts tends to play out in our childhood and early adulthood until our Saturn Return, which is around 28/29 years old. It is quite possible that we will have been casting our eyes back to the past in recent weeks, since the last eclipse. Memories may be resurfacing that we have long since buried. This next Eclipse is occurring right next to the North Node, which represents potential within us that we need to explore in order to grow and evolve. It often involves us stepping outside of our comfort zone to do so, as we are far more comfortable with the South Node energy and the North Node is unknown territory. As such, this is a time of great soul growth, and we need to be brave and take a huge step forward in our evolution, both personally and collectively.
 
The Nodes of the Moon are currently in Leo and Aquarius. The South Node is in Aquarius and the North Node is in Leo. This means that we are currently working on cultivating more Leo energy in our lives, allowing ourselves to really shine and express our true, unique nature. The Aquarius South Node shows where we might feel like we stick out like a sore thumb or feel different and unique; as if we don’t fit in. We can sometimes try too hard to fit in, or to please others, so that we dull our light and don’t allow ourselves to truly express all that we are capable of.  Aquarius also represents any trauma we might have experienced in this and previous lifetimes. Trauma produces shock, which can make us detach from our emotional body and leave parts of ourselves behind. There are many, many types of trauma and we have all experienced it at some point or another, whether in this lifetime of previous lifetimes. With the North Node on Leo we are being encouraged to reclaim the parts of ourselves that we have left behind. This includes recognising where we may have been playing small and not allowing our true nature and creative potential to shine through in order to gain our parents approval and love.
 
Eclipses highlight the Nodes of the Moon and this one is definitely asking us to be brave and step forward so that our light can shine brightly. Mars is sitting right next to the North Node in Leo, which calls for us to find courage and assert ourselves, even allowing ourselves to express our anger if needs be. This is definitely showing itself on the collective level, as people are really finding their inner Mars and getting very angry about the state of the world we live in and the people who are leading it. Not to mention how many traumatised people there are on this planet right now. We have every right to be angry and if the anger is used appropriately it can give us the energy to perform amazing feats that we would never have dreamed of before!
 
Whenever a planet is conjunct the North Node the energy of that planet will be pulling us forward on our path, helping us to integrate the energy of the North Node. In this case, assertive and brave Mars is helping pull us forward towards our Leo nature. This is a time to stand up and express ourselves! If rage comes up, we can use it to motivate us to make change in our lives and for the world at large. This is not a time to hide our light under a bushel. It is time to use Mars and trust our instincts, asserting our needs and even charging into battle if we need to! As we do so we have a chance to take a giant leap forward on our path, both personally and collectively.
 
Chiron the Wounded Healer is forming an inconjunct aspect to the New Moon, signifying some kind of crisis that could bring up old wounds and trigger our sore spots. Ultimately it will be very healing, but it could also be quite painful. It’s not surprising really, because often where there is growth there is also some degree of pain. We could become all too aware of what we need to change in order to grow and this could cause considerable discomfort and bring up old memories which serve as clues to our current condition. It is also possible that we will be very aware of what is holding us back from shining our light fully, as often it is linked to something that happened in our childhood. It could also be the painful realisation that we have been suppressing part of our true potential, or playing small because one or both of our parents couldn’t cope with that part of us because it reminded them or their unfulfilled potential. All too often we find the disowned or abandoned parts of ourselves irritating or too painful to bear in other people. Ultimately this aspect can help us to unearth some of our true, divine potential, but the process could be a bit painful.
 
There is a Grand Fire Trine involved with this Eclipse that could definitely get the fires burning and motivate us towards change! Saturn is part of the Trine, so he may help us to stay grounded and prevent the fire from getting out of control. Fire sign energy is very enthusiastic, infectious, passionate, dynamic and inspirational. A good way to sum it up is “Spirit in motion”. As such, thoughts, feelings and ideas could literally spread like wildfire during this Eclipse and we could find ourselves being “all fired up”! Uranus, who is also the ruler of the South Node, is a big player in this Grand Trine as he is forming a very tight aspect to the Sun and Moon. He is also in Aries which is ruled by the brave, assertive, active Mars in Leo mentioned previously.  Uranus is the Great Awakener, who can create sudden shocks and upheaval in order to create positive change. He is the rebel, the visionary, the revolutionary and will shake everything up and upset the status quo, especially if it has become stagnant, unhealthy or unfair. Uranus is still next to Eris, a warrior queen who brings chaos and discord and has a tendency to expose hypocrisy and bring about rough, poetic justice and balance. Eris and Uranus’s involvement in the trine could make us very aware of any toxicity or stagnation, both personally and collectively. Not only that, but we will want to do something about it.
 
Saturn is sitting right next to Black Moon Lilith, in the very same degree, and they are also part of this Grand Fire Trine. Saturn and Black Moon Lilith are not exactly a comfortable fit, as Saturn represents authority, government and the patriarchy, while Black Moon Lilith is the Dark Feminine, who hasn’t traditionally had a good relationship with the patriarchy as she doesn’t take kindly to heavy authority bearing down on her! Lilith is a rebellious energy that can bring up volcanic eruptions of destructive anger, intense passion, emotional manipulation and disordered aggression, but Saturn’s authoritarian energy could repress these emotions and attempt to keep them under control. However, with the trine from Uranus and Eris there is a sense that the dark feminine could be unleashed and that we could use these strong, powerful feelings  to empower ourselves and to restore balance to unfair situations, bringing some kind of justice. In the positive, the structuring, realistic power of Saturn and the sharp, fierce, cutting energy of Lilith can help us to see the shadows more clearly, not only in ourselves but also in the power structures and those in authority. There seems to be a theme emerging from this New Moon/Eclipse! Righteous anger and fierce warrior energy abound!
 
The New Moon is sitting right next to Regulus, a fixed star that is also known as “The Lion’s Heart”. Not surprising, with a name like Regulus, that it represents royalty! When Regulus is positive it represents nobility, frankness and courage. However, when in aspect to Mars, as it is during this Moon, it can cause one to become pompous, using one’s authority in an aggressive and overbearing manner, overly ambitious, demanding recognition, boastful, excessive pride and asserting one’s will and needs in a very extreme way.  Leo encourages us to be true to our hearts. The Lion’s Heart is noble, brave and has great strength of spirit. As such, it is important that we listen to our hearts and emulate the positive traits of Regulus during this Moon. Those who don’t could end up paying the price.
 
There is definitely the potential for us seeing the darker side of Regulus appearing in our world leaders if they identify with its energy too strongly. One such person is Donald Trump, who actually has both Regulus and Mars right next to his Leo Ascendant. As such, the energy of a rather aggressive, pompous, superior Regulus is right there for the whole world to see! This New Moon/Eclipse should have a strong impact on Trump and America in general, because not only is America able see the Eclipse in its entirety, but it is opposite America’s Aquarius Moon and falls right on top of Trump’s Ascendant. Also, the USA has South Node in Aquarius and North Node in Leo. A Total Solar Eclipse is a very dramatic event indeed to see visually, and I’m sure that when people saw one in days gone by that they might have thought it was the end of the world! This one certainly does portend a very big shift, or turning point, though in what way it will manifest remains to be seen. Certainly the energy of this Eclipse could make the shadows more visible and expose any hypocrisy and lies, not to mention that anger could be very prevalent!
 
The Sabian Symbol for the New Moon, at 29° Leo, is: “A mermaid emerges from the ocean waves ready for rebirth in human form”, which Dane Rudyar describes as “The stage at which an intense feeling-intuition rising from the unconscious is about to take form as a conscious thought.” If the ocean represents the thoughts and feelings of the Collective Unconscious, the mermaid represents  those thoughts and feelings rising up and taking a more concrete form; finding their way into our conscious awareness. It is a very evocative image, this mermaid emerging, and brings the sense that what has hitherto been unconscious within us all as a collective is now rising up and is ready to find its way towards expression.  It feels like a very positive omen for this Eclipse.
 
Leo encourages us to live from our hearts, follow our bliss and let our lights shine fully and brightly! With Mars helping us along, we could have the courage, energy and motivation to make great changes in our lives during this time. We must not forget that this is a New Moon, which is a time to make wishes and set intentions for ourselves and the world we live in. It is so very important that these intentions come from our hearts, however, because a Total Solar Eclipse is an incredibly potent and powerful New Moon which has the capacity to really shift things for us. Any seeds that we plant during this time will have a more far reaching impact than your average New Moon. An important thing to be aware of is that the Universe, the Creator, God, the Divine, or whatever you want to call it has a tendency to take us quite literally when we ask for things. As such, be careful what you wish for, because you might just get it!
 
“Your heart knows the way, run in that direction.” Rumi
 
Much Love
 
Amy
xoxo
 
Picture: Follow Your Heart - Banksy
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PISCES NEW MOON /SOLAR ECLIPSE - 26 February 2017

2/23/2017

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Exact at 2.58pm GMT, 9.58am EDT.
 
This is a very powerful New Moon indeed and is also a Solar Eclipse, which gives it far more significance than your average New Moon. Eclipse season is a time of shifts and transformation, when we are made very aware of what needs to change and generally get a pretty big prod in the right direction! There is a sense of fate or destiny involved and wherever the New Moon falls in our chart will show the area of life that will experience the end of a chapter and the beginning of a new one. This New Moon is activating the South Node in Pisces, which represents the past, the familiar, patterns and traits that we need to examine and transmute in order to move forward and evolve. We are getting to the end of the 18 month span of the Nodes being in the Virgo/Pisces axis, and so we may have to examine where we still have our head buried in the sand, in fantasy land, refusing to face ourselves realistically. The Pisces South Node points to where we have personal and collective blind spots, or are only looking at life and ourselves through rose tinted spectacles, refusing to see what is really going on. On both a personal and collective level it can show where we are deluded, or refusing to face our shadow. And we all have shadows, every one of us!
 
The Virgo North Node, however, asks us to be willing to face reality and do the necessary work on ourselves and to face our personal and collective shadow. Virgo encourages us to point the finger squarely at ourselves and recognise that the change that is needed on both a personal and global level starts with us taking a long, hard look at ourselves and recognising that what is happening on the outer is merely a reflection of our inner world. If ever there was a time to do some shadow diving, this is it! Pisces South Node can make it so easy to see ourselves as the victim, while Virgo North Node asks that we use the art of discernment and discrimination to recognise where we are deluded and to see the part we have played in creating our own reality. Virgo symbolises the need for self-improvement and can help us to see and eliminate any old mental, spiritual or physical patterns of behaviour that may be blocking our spiritual development. As Pisces represents the collective unconscious, the work we do on ourselves not only impacts us personally, but also benefits the whole of humanity.
 
Pisces is the very last sign in the zodiac and ultimately represents the capacity for unity, transcendence and oneness. In its highest form it represents an innocence, purity and unconditional love that is a reflection of the love of God, the Divine, the Creator or whatever you want to call it. Pisces is an incredibly compassionate and empathetic sign that has the capacity to help us to connect to one another in such a beautiful way, whereby we are relating to the divine within each other; our true spirit, or essence. This New Moon invites us to turn within, to meditate, pray, create and do whatever we can to connect to the higher part of ourselves. Pisces season is sleepy time; the time to reflect, contemplate life and existence, listen to the whispers of our soul and pay attention to what our dreams are telling us. We are reminded that we are all connected and that what happens to one happens to all. With Pisces this isn’t an abstract concept; it is reality. The intentions we set during this New Moon should come from the heart, not from the head. They should stem from a genuine desire for a deeper connection to all that is and to understand our personal and collective blind spots and send healing out into the world. Pisces reminds us that it’s not all about us.
 
While Pisces is a very gentle and compassionate sign, we also have quite a volatile combination of planets forming during this New Moon which could stir things up considerably and make us feel quite reactionary! We have Uranus, Mars and Eris forming a conjunction in Aries, opposite Jupiter in Libra and loosely squaring Pluto in Capricorn. It is this same Cardinal T-square that has been with us since the beginning of the year, stirring up the desire to make change both personally and collectively. It is a call to action! Now Mars has joined the party, and combined with Uranus, the Great Awakener and revolutionary and Eris, the goddess of strife, chaos and discord, he brings the possibility of a big shake up of the status quo, a desire to fight for the truth and even sudden outbursts of violence. A strong desire to be utterly ourselves could create conflict in our relationships, but could also help instigate necessary growth and help us move through any “stuckness” that we may be experiencing. It will certainly help get things out into the open and break out of unhealthy patterns! One thing to bear in mind is that this is happening during a Pisces New Moon, which is quiet, inward, sleepy time of the month. This could mean that the conflict and desire for change could be more internal than external.
 
However, it could also manifest as sudden outbursts of rage, a strong urge to stand up and be counted, bold and brave revolutionary action and an instinctual impulse to make change on a personal and collective level. Joan of Arc just popped into my head as an example of the mixture between the revolutionary warrior energy of Mars and Uranus and the gentle compassion of Pisces. Fierce compassion and martyrdom! We are invited to bravely face our personal and collective shadow and release ourselves from old, outworn ways of operating and archaic patriarchal conditioning that simply isn’t working for us anymore. However, as this old order is passing away and the feminine is rising to balance it out, it seems that things might have to get worse to get better. We are currently being confronted with all the distortion and exaggerated problems that the dualistic, patriarchal way of thinking and operating has brought us. All of the extremes of, guilt, shame, misuse of power, anger, misogyny, prejudice and hate is rising to the surface in no uncertain terms and we are not allowed to bury our heads in the sand and pretend it doesn’t exist anymore! At least we can see it all now. It’s not hidden.
 
This Moon invites us to recognise where it lies within ourselves and to be brave spiritual warriors and face our own shadows rather than projecting them onto others and putting the blame outside of ourselves. The inner work we all do now can have such an amazing impact on the collective. It is so easy to deny or hide from our own shortcomings, and we all have our blind spots, but we are being asked to shine the light of awareness on ourselves and recognise what work needs doing. This is an eclipse, remember, so whatever happens now will have more of a long term impact on our lives. This is the last eclipse in Virgo and Pisces, as the nodes are shifting into Leo and Aquarius in May, so this really is a good chance to see, once and for all, how we sabotage ourselves and refuse to see ourselves clearly. With this Eclipse we have a chance to shift forward into a new level of consciousness and it definitely helps if we are open, receptive and willing to look at ourselves honestly and without filters. We could potentially feel quite sensitive and a bit vulnerable during this time of shifts and change, so it is important to treat ourselves and others with sensitivity, tenderness, kindness and unconditional love. This is the gift of Pisces.
 
Much love
 
Amy
xoxo
 
Photo: Maria Falconetti in The Passion of Joan of Arc

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VIRGO NEW MOON / SOLAR ECLIPSE - 1 September 2016

8/31/2016

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​VIRGO NEW MOON / SOLAR ECLIPSE – Thursday  1 September 2016, exact at 10.03am BST, 5.03 EDT.
 
Well, this is one powerful New Moon, that’s for sure! It is also an Annular Solar Eclipse, so it will have more of a far reaching impact on our souls’ journeys than an average New Moon. This is a time of significant soul growth and represents the end of a chapter in our lives and the beginning of a new one. Solar Eclipses involve the North Node of the Moon, which means that they prod and poke us to move out of our safe, known place and take a step forward into the unknown. It is always somewhat uncomfortable to change the way we do things, but it is so worth it! On an individual level it will help us to continue the journey from our own South Node towards our North Node, which is shown by the house and sign of the Nodes in our individual chart. The Nodal axis is called the Destiny line and is very important indeed. The South Node represents where we come into this life and what we are carrying forward from past lives. As such it is quite a familiar, comfortable place for us to live in, but staying there does not help us to grow. The North Node represents the potential for growth and where we want to get to on a soul level in this life time. This Eclipse is definitely encouraging us to step up to the plate and grow.
 
On a collective level the South Node, which is where we are coming from, is currently in sensitive and empathetic Pisces, while the North Node is in practical and discerning Virgo. This is the healing axis, and it seems as if we are being asked to be more in our bodies and to find ways of doing something practical, tangible and useful with our compassion, sensitivity and empathy. This is certainly showing itself with the refugee crisis, that’s for sure.  It’s a great time for giving and receiving healing, but it is very important to stay grounded. Virgo asks us to make some concrete decisions in order to help ourselves, rather than merely feeling like we are at the mercy of fate or the victim of circumstance. In short, the Virgo North Node tells us to get a grip! Virgo and Pisces ask us to find a more holistic way of approaching our lives and health, and there is also a sense of the finer, more subtle energies becoming more grounded on the earth plane. Virgo helps us find tangible, grounded ways to express what Pisces intuitively senses. We have a chance to really embody our spirituality at this time.  
 
The Sun and Moon are forming their monthly union in Virgo. This is an interesting sign, as it shows where we feel like we need to improve ourselves and do better. When Virgo is highlighted it can bring about some kind of crisis whereby we feel like we are not good enough, or feel inferior, or become very critical of ourselves. When we are critical of ourselves we also tend to be more sensitive to any real or perceived criticism coming from the external environment.  Virgo strives for purity and perfection, which can be very difficult to attain and can mean that we beat ourselves up somewhat! Virgo season correlates with going back to school and so at this time of year we may concentrate on getting into healthy routines. It’s certainly a good time to get organised and put our lives into order.
 
Virgo is the sign that comes after playful and confident Leo and before Libra, the sign of relationships. It is a sign of transition and can bring about some kind of crisis in terms of how we relate to others and show what we still need to learn in order to relate to people successfully, as equals. We may go through a period of intense self-analysis whereby we realise that we still have a lot to learn and so this is an opportunity to take a long hard look at ourselves and make the necessary adjustments. This can be a bit of a painful process, but very rewarding indeed if we learn our lessons well! Virgo is also the sign of discernment. As such, we may need to make some important choices during this time and think long and hard about what is truly good for us and what needs to go. Again, this can be quite painful and challenging and we may have to be quite strong.  It is time to separate the wheat from the chaff and to step back a bit instead of acting impulsively. This is a time for self-evaluation and self-care of the highest order.
 
The ruler of the New Moon is Mercury, who goes retrograde in Virgo on August 31st. Lots of this discerning Virgo energy around at the moment! The few days before and after Mercury going retrograde can be quite challenging in terms of communication and there is strong potential for misunderstandings to occur. It is important to be very clear in our communication and to hold off rushing into any conversations or decisions that are important. Be patient, hold back a little and wait until Mercury has settled into going backwards. The chances are that whatever we are thinking about can wait, and things might look very different by then! Mercury Retrograde is a great time for looking within and re-evaluating our lives. In Virgo it is a great time for some inner analysis, providing we are not too hard on ourselves!  We must try not to look back and feel guilty or pick ourselves to pieces! It is much better to simply see how we could have done better and work with that. Mercury will be retrograde until 22 September. During this Moon he will be sitting right next to Jupiter, which will really help us see the bigger picture and expand our viewpoint.
 
The Saturn Neptune square is being directly activated by this Moon/Eclipse, which will bring its energy to the foreground of our lives. The square will be exact on the September 10, so it is currently building in intensity. One of the ways this can manifest is by Neptune dissolving Saturn’s structures. It is as if the structures that we have come to rely upon are falling away and it is unclear what will take their place. This is where the ongoing theme of “Faith and trust” comes into play. We are not in control, much as we might like to think we are, so we much just learn to let go and go with the flow of life. Saturn can hold on too tightly to people or situations through fear, while Neptune urges us to gently let go and see what happens. If they come back to us, all well and good. If not, then it was simply not meant to be and something much better awaits us just around the corner.
 
The square can also highlight our blind spots and show where we prefer to live in the land of fantasy rather than facing up to reality. Neptune likes to avoid reality but Saturn will make sure we face the truth in no uncertain terms, whether we like it or not. It is very important, however, that we don’t become too rigid in our beliefs and remain open to other people’s version of the truth. We may also find it hard to know what the truth really is, because what we thought was true may actually be an illusion. Squares between planets to prod and poke us to grow and do better, so while this square can feel quite heavy and has the potential to bring up vague and irrational fears and anxieties, is can also help us to ground our dreams and ideals into reality. Neptune dreams the dreams, while Saturn is willing to put the time and hard work into making them real. Indeed, this could be a very good time to practicing manifesting our intentions.
 
Mars is conjunct Saturn during this Moon as well, which feels somewhat in line with the Mercury Retrograde energy, in that it could put the breaks on us acting impulsively or asserting ourselves. Mars is a doer and represents our assertive, active desire nature. Saturn says to Mars “Hold on, wait a moment and look before you leap.” This could be quite frustrating but is also quite sensible, because it makes us act more consciously and mindfully. It does seem like we are at a moment in time when we have some choices to make, but are being asked to slow down a bit and consider them wisely. What is the saying – “Only Fools rush in”? We need to take a moment to decide what is really good for us rather than acting by default, or on auto-pilot. We may feel like we are being held back, blocked or reined in, but there is a reason for it. Wait and watch. All will be revealed in the fullness of time. Mars and Saturn were exactly conjunct last Wednesday 24 August, but the energy would still be active now as the New Moon is activating it.
 
The Sabian symbol for the New Moon at 10° Virgo is “Two heads looking out and beyond the shadows.” This feels very much like the Saturn Neptune Square, as it shows how we can perceive the same situation from two different perspectives, such as Love and Fear. It is important for us to be able to see whatever we are facing from more than one side, because the truth of the situation may be shrouded somehow. We are being asked to look out from the shadows into the light. Maybe we need to look at things in a different way before we can shift or move beyond.
 
I always wonder what people must have thought during Solar Eclipses when they looked up into the sky and saw a great ring of fire! They must have thought it was the end of the world, or that the great sky god was trying to tell them something very important. Certainly they do have a powerful impact on our lives and are not to be scoffed at! Eclipses move in 19 year cycles, and this one is linked to one that occurred on 1 September 1997. As such, whatever is happening now could have a resonance with that time, or some kind of echo. It could be that we are moving onto the next phase of whatever was started then. It is also linked to the Solar Eclipse on 8 March this year. There could be a sense of completion now, as one phase ends and another begins. There is definitely a sense of us being asked to step back and re-evaluate ourselves and the way we approach life and relationships. It is very important not to be hard on ourselves, but rather to recognise what might need tweaking in order for us to be more effective in our relationships. We need to practice the Virgoan art of discernment and remember that in each moment of our lives we have a choice on how to act and react. We get to decide what is good for us and what must fall away as we move onto the next chapter.
 
Much love
 
Amy
xoxo
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    Amy Bird

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

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