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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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GEMINI FULL MOON / PENUMBRAL LUNAR ECLIPSE - 30 November 2020

11/26/2020

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Exact at 9.29am UK time.
 
Well, this Moon certainly has the potential to set a ball in motion that could help to usher in a new era! We are now in Eclipse season, a time when we experience the end of a chapter so that something new can begin. The energy of Eclipses tend to play out for the next six months, until the next set of Eclipses. They correlate with the cycle of the Nodes of the Moon, which move in 19 year cycles, so there will be an energetic link between this Eclipse and the Lunar Eclipse on 30 December 2001 in exactly the same degree of Gemini. This Moon could signify the next phase of whatever was happening for us back then, both personally and collectively. Similarly, there will be a connection between this Lunar Eclipse and the last Lunar Eclipse, on 5 July. Something that began then will be culminating now. We are now entering a very significant and potent time, as we build up to a very important astrological event occurring on the Solstice of 21 December with two very powerful Eclipses that could bring about a significant energetic shift for us all.
 
This Full Moon/Eclipse activates the Gemini/Sagittarius axis, which is where the Nodes of the Moon are currently residing, bringing up issues around truth and lies. A Gemini Full Moon always has the potential for information overload, as we are bombarded with opinions, facts, information and  news, so much so that it can become confusing and overwhelming. This is especially so this time as Neptune, the planet of oneness, fantasy, illusion and mysticism is incredibly strong right now because it is turning direct the day before the Full Moon. Neptune’s is currently squaring the Nodes, until January, making it nigh on impossible to locate the truth, and this is creating utter confusion, overwhelm, disillusionment and loss of meaning. Smoke screens, veiled information, half truths, deception and propaganda are rife right now, making it so difficult to know what is real information and what is illusion, and this could feel especially acute during this Full Moon.
 
However, what the Nodes are asking us to do is to listen to our body, trust our gut, heed our intuitive hunches and then use the power of Gemini to do some research, seek out information and back our hunches up with facts and data. Neptune, in its higher vibration, encourages us to turn inward and do the inner work, not allowing ourselves to get distracted or knocked off centre by the myriad of opinions, views and so called truths that we are being fed at the moment. This Moon will certainly ramp up all things Gemini, such as media coverage, gossip, slander and the spreading of information and disinformation, so much so that we might want to just bury our head in the sand or numb out, which are also Neptunian superpowers! However, Neptune also calls for us to quiet the internal and external noise so that we can truly hear that soft, subtle inner voice that knows and senses the truth. We may have to be prepared to sacrifice our personal comfort and security for something much bigger than us, which is the future of mankind and the planet. Gemini asks us to find a voice for this inner knowing and to stand up for what is right.
 
The Sun is in Sagittarius until 21 December, a sign that seeks the truth and represents higher wisdom, philosophy, law and justice. Mercury will also be joining the Sun in Sagittarius on the 1st of December, helping us to stand up for what is morally right, just and true. It is quite possible that we will see certain truths revealed and justice served where it is needed during this period, especially as we approach the Sagittarius New Moon on 15 December. Uranus is forming a nagging inconjunct aspect to the Sun during this Eclipse, which could provide us with sudden flashes of insight that helps us to see what is really going on versus what we are being led to believe. Uranus can bring sudden shocks, wake up calls and epiphanies that pierce through the veils of illusion and give us glimpses of the truth. Uranus breaks down our conditioning and breaks though the programming we have received from society, the media and those in power, helping us to wake up somehow and be able to perceive the truth of the matter.
 
Interestingly enough, the Sabian symbol for this Moon, at 9° Gemini, is: “A quiver filled with arrows”, about which Dane Rudyar says “The mind of man is essentially a trans-piercing power; it goes through the object toward which it is aimed. It seeks to go through and beyond the obstacles on its path, and this usually implies the destruction of the obstacle. At a higher level – as in the Zen practice of archery – the obstacle is the ego”. This symbol feels like it could pierce the veils of illusion, or get to the heart of the matter, or cut through the crap! There is something quite single minded about this symbol - an invitation to put all of our attention onto it.  
  
Black Moon Lilith, the Dark Moon Goddess is also sitting next to Uranus during this Moon, which could stir things up somewhat! BLM is not exactly known for “playing nice” and doesn’t like being told what to do, and combined with the planet of rebellion and revolution she could be a huge force of dissent. Both Uranus and Black Moon Lilith represent volcanic eruptions, which is especially interesting considering that they are currently in Taurus, the sign of Mother Earth. We may be forced to look at some very uncomfortable material during this time that could bring up rage and other such turbulent feelings, bringing our inner rebel and revolutionary to the fore. Indeed, we could experience considerable turbulence in the coming weeks as these two powerful forces unite, bringing the potential for us to liberate ourselves from whatever has kept us oppressed, repressed, limited, bound or restricted and to rise up and say “Enough is enough!” This conjunction peaks on 22 December, which feels like a very significant time indeed.
 
Speaking of oppression and limitation, Jupiter and Saturn are joining forces in final degrees of Capricorn at the moment, before they both move into humanitarian Aquarius towards the end of December. Many have their eye on the Solstice this year, which has the potential to spark the beginning of a big shift for humanity, but before that we have to get through the last couple of degrees of Capricorn! Capricorn represents authority, societal structures, rules and regulations, control, government and corporations, and with Saturn sitting in the very last degree of its own sign from 7 December until 17 December we could see the shadow side of Capricorn. We may experience greater control, judgement, oppression, repression, suppression, limitation, restriction - all the things that Uranus and Black Moon Lilith don’t like! Saturn forces us to see the harsh reality of all things Capricorn, so things could feel a bit heavy, as if we are in the very tightest part of the birth canal, getting thoroughly squeezed! The darkest hour is just before dawn.
 
Saturn and Jupiter then both move into Aquarius, on 17 and 19 December, bringing a big shift of energy! Aquarius is very different to Capricorn, signifying new vision, breaking the rules, brotherhood/sisterhood, breaking out of programming and conditioning, non-conformity, questioning the status quo, freedom from societal control and restrictions. Having had so much emphasis on all things Capricorn for so long, this could bring some relief. Pluto will be the only slow moving planet left in Capricorn after these two move over, continuing its slow and thorough detoxification of the power structures and the patriarchal system, a process that started in 2008. Saturn and Jupiter will be exactly conjunct on 21 December in the very first degree of Aquarius, which, combined with Eclipse season, could spark off a new chapter that could bring radical change, as any old, outworn, obsolete structures that simply don’t serve us any more could start to fall away. Will this be the birth of of a new world?
 
With Neptune so very strong right now it is a good time to imagine the world as we would like it to be and to dream it into being through prayer and intention - a world that is built on the principles of love, peace, tolerance, compassion and unity. What kind of world do we want to leave our children? Saturn in Aquarius is going to ask us to truly take responsibility for our Aquarian humanitarian ideals of brotherhood/sisterhood and become truly accountable for a world where equality, tolerance and freedom prevail. It truly is up to us to make it happen, and the inner work we do now can make a huge difference. One of the things that Gemini teaches us is that our thoughts have power. It is important to watch our thought process during this Moon. We tend to get what we focus on, so we must be mindful of our target.
 
““Energy follows thought; we move toward, but not beyond, what we can imagine. What we assume, expect, or believe creates and colors our experience. By expanding our deepest beliefs about what is possible, we change our experience of life.”
Dan Millman
 
Much Love
 
Amy
xoxo
 
Picture: Information overload by Silke Spodzieja
 


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SCORPIO NEW MOON - 15 November 2020

11/12/2020

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Exact at 5.07am UK time.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Much Love

Amy
xoxo

Painting: The Veil, by Helen Lundeberg


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TAURUS FULL MOON - 31 October 2020

10/27/2020

2 Comments

 
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TAURUS FULL MOON - Saturday 31 October, exact at 2.49pm GMT, 10.49am EDT

This Moon has the potential to provide some excitement, emotional turbulence and impetus for change, which can be quite uncomfortable for the Taurean part of us that might be quite resistant to change. We are in the midst of Scorpio season, which provides us with the opportunity to purge, release or transform any patterns, habits, attitudes, relationships or situations that have become stagnant, stuck or unhealthy. As the leaves fall from the trees in the Northern Hemisphere we are invited to strip back the layers, shedding any unwanted skin to reveal what lies underneath so that we can emerge, shiny and new and possibly a bit exposed. We then have this Full Moon, which could bring some rather intense emotions up to the surface so that we have no choice but to look at what needs to fall away. There is a sense of things coming to a head, and as they do we could be in for a bit of a surprise!

With the Moon in practical, earthy, sensual Taurus, sitting directly opposite the Sun in powerful,  transforming, intensely emotional Scorpio, we are invited to find the balance between the energy of the two signs. While the Scorpio part of us has a tendency to get caught up in the drama and intensity of life, this Taurus Moon invites us to ground ourselves, simplify, find some peace and stability and literally “smell the roses”. Scorpio is a sign that brings up issues around loss, betrayals of trust, abandonment, power/powerlessness and intimacy, and knows what it feels like to have the proverbial rug pulled out from under one’s feet. Taurus, however, is the part of us that knows that ultimately we have to rely on ourselves and learn to meet our own needs rather than placing too much pressure on others to provide for us emotionally, sexually, spiritually or materially. Taurus invites us to be resourceful and truly learn to trust ourselves, putting down solid roots so that it is harder to knock us sideways.

However, Taurus can be self-sufficient and self-reliant to the extreme and could learn a lesson or two from Scorpio around joining forces with others, merging resources and collaboration. The Taurus part of us finds change very challenging indeed and will resist anyone or anything that tries to push us out of our comfort zone or challenge us to do something we don’t want to do. Scorpio is adept at the art of death and rebirth and teaches us that if we get too stuck in our ways, so that we are not growing anymore, we may have to walk across a burning bridge and not look back, or the rug will simply have to be ripped out from underneath us! While Taurus part of us has quite a sensible, no nonsense approach to life, it can also tend to play it safe and finds it hard to take that trip into the underworld or look under the proverbial carpet, preferring to maintain the status quo even if it is not healthy anymore. Scorpio invites us to dive right in, to face the shadows and the rot, slay the demons and emerge from the experience much, much lighter! While the Taurus part of ourselves says “I’m alright as I am, thank you very much!”, Scorpio begs to differ, forcing us to be emotionally honest with ourselves and others, exposing the parts of us that we tend to hide from view and project out onto others.

This Moon has the potential to bring these themes to the surface, including any issues we have around survival, which is very much part of the Taurus experience. Uranus, the Great Awakener, Revolutionary and Harbinger of Change, is sitting directly on top of the Moon, which could be quite uncomfortable for that Taurus part of ourselves that resists change! We may receive some kind of shock, or curve ball, or wake up call that shakes things up and forces us to see things from a different perspective. Ultimately this could be very liberating and tremendously insightful, but it might initially bring about a bit of a wobble, causing us to feel like the ground under us is not as solid as we thought. The Moon and Taurus both like to feel safe, while Uranus has a tendency to favour freedom and authenticity over security.

Uranus represents the long term memory, which can include trauma stored in the memory banks that we have experienced in this and other lifetimes. Uranus in Taurus certainly seems to be bringing up our personal and collective trauma around survival in recent times, as we have all had experiences of war, famine, recession/depression and natural disasters at some point in our history, or at the very least our ancestors have. As such, the current situation could bring up a lot of fear and anxiety for people as their old trauma resurfaces. Uranus being such a big part of this Full Moon certainly has the potential for some kind of shock in terms of financial security. Taurus also represents Mother Earth and so we could experience some kind of wake up call from the earth herself.

Retrograde Mercury has just moved from intense, probing Scorpio back into diplomatic, peace loving Libra, a sign that invites us to balance extremes and take into account opposing points of view. Mercury is forming a challenging square aspect to Saturn in Capricorn, which could mean that it is hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel for a few days. We may be forced to see things as they really are, rather than how we might like to see them, and our minds could veer towards dark, fear-based thinking and even depression. This too shall pass! Saturn’s realism can easily veer towards pessimism, so it is important to be mindful of our thought processes in the next week. In a literal sense, Saturn square Mercury could bring about mind control and also limit or suppress our capacity to communicate. Censorship could be rife during this time, as our ability to pass on information is somehow blocked or we find ourselves fearful about speaking up. This energy will be around until about the 8th of November, and Mercury turns direct on 4 November.

Jupiter and Pluto are working up to their third and final conjunction in Capricorn this year, which will be exact on 12 November, just as Mars goes direct. This combination of powerful Pluto and expansive Jupiter has been a major theme of this year, forcing us to examine our more rigidly held beliefs and to dig deep beneath the surface of reality in order to find the truth. Indeed, the truth has been hard to find recently, and so we are encouraged to trust our gut. Beliefs have become more of a matter of life and death in recent times, with people desperately attempting to convince and convert others to their point of view and severely judging those who think differently. Indeed, some have been downright nasty when expressing their beliefs and opinions. Jupiter is an expansive, magnifying planet, and when Pluto and Jupiter draw closer to each other in Capricorn there is the potential for fear-based beliefs being used to control and manipulate, not to mention paranoia running wild. By the end of this process our belief system will have gone through a profound transformation, as so much has been revealed and exposed about the reality we live in and the power structures that rule over us. It may not be pretty, indeed it could be downright disturbing, but we will probably be much closer to knowing the truth than we were at the beginning of this year.

Venus has now gone into its own sign, Libra, which is helpful! This can really help our relationships, helping us to truly listen to each other’s needs and to compromise where needed. During this Moon Venus is directly opposite Chiron the Wounded Healer in Aries, which does have the potential for some hurt to arise within our relationships, but could also bring healing. Chiron in Aries isn’t exactly known for its soft, gentle healing approach, but at least it is honest and direct and doesn’t have an agenda or hidden motivation. We may find that our loved ones somehow trigger our old wounds and sensitivities during this Moon, so we must be careful not to be too defensive or reactive. We may become more aware of how we give too much and neglect our own needs. Chiron in Aries invites us to be kind and compassionate to self as well as to those around us. Self-care is an absolute must at the moment.

The Sabian symbol for the Moon and Uranus is very poignant indeed, at 9° Taurus: “A fully decorated Christmas tree”, which Dane Rudyar describes as “The ability to create inner happiness in dark hours. We find a contrast between the tree outside – bare and normally covered with snow – and the tree inside the home – loaded with decorations and gifts for the family. Snow has come outside; but the prepared and closely united group has created abundance, beauty and happiness within, overcoming the cold barrenness of the outside world. This symbol suggests the ever-present possibility open to man to transfigure the darkness and deprivation of the low point of a life cycle by incarnating in it an antiphonic response celebrating the ever remembered and always expected high moments of life. It evokes man’s undying FAITH IN CYCLIC RENEWAL.” This is an invitation to focus on what really matters in life and cultivate happiness from within, even when things seem bleak and hopeless outside of us.

This Moon certainly does have the potential to jolt us or wake us up somehow! Those with personal planets close to 8 degrees of a sign, especially the fixed signs Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius, could feel the energy of Uranus and the Moon most acutely. Those with personal planets between 20° and 28° of the Cardinal signs Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn will probably feel the energy of the Saturn/Mercury square (26°) and the Jupiter/Pluto conjunction (22°). There is the potential for such profound soul growth at the moment, which is what the combination Jupiter (growth) and Pluto (soul) can literally bring, as well as exposing the truth. Uranus and the Moon remind us that we never know what is around the corner, and so we are invited to remain as flexible and open to the new as we can be in this time of great uncertainty. This Moon has the potential to bring quite a significant inner or outer shift, so it is important to harness one of Taurus’s superpowers and ground ourselves as much as possible, imagining that we are rooted in the earth yet still able to bend and sway in the wind.

Much Love

Amy
xoxo

Painting: Lightening Bolt - Annie Ovenden



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LIBRA NEW MOON - 16 October 2020

10/14/2020

1 Comment

 
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Exact at 8.31pm BST, 3.31pm EDT

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

That men and women who are
married,

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

Often get down on their knees

And while so tenderly
Holding their lovers hand,

With tears in their eyes
Will sincerely speak, saying,

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

How can I be more kind?"

Hafiz

Much Love

Amy
xoxo

Picture: Unknown



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MARS SQUARE PLUTO - exact 9 October 2020

10/9/2020

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Today the challenging square aspect between warrior Mars and powerful Pluto peaks, bringing the potential for acting and reacting from a deep within our subconscious, for having the courage to face our shadows and shame, for being triggered and anger or rage coming up from a place deep within us. It can also bring power struggles and the urge to fight back against corruption and having the courage to expose the dark side of the power structures. This aspect could help us to find the will, courage and strength to transform ourselves in some way, but could also bring psychological “warfare” as the planet of the subconscious and psyche comes up against the planet of aggression and war.

However, the Moon, Venus and Mercury are all in earth and water signs, which are “yin” in nature, so it is quite possible that the battle is internal rather than external. Venus is currently in Virgo, which could mean that we are more self-critical than usual and more prone to focusing on our shortcomings and inadequacies. Venus in Virgo is very humble and willing to serve, but is also adept at being very hard on herself and can be her own worst enemy!

Mercury in Scorpio could mean that our thought processes are a bit more compulsive and obsessive than usual, even to the point of being paranoid. It is very important to watch our internal dialogue in the next couple of days, as our minds could potentially go to some dark places and make assumptions! However, Mercury in Scorpio can also help us to understand our psyches better, as we are able to probe beneath the surface of reality and gain some deep understanding of the way our subconscious works.

The Moon is in sensitive, emotional Cancer all day today, which does have the potential to bring up our insecurities and make us a bit more needy, but also invites us to feel empathy for ourselves and each other. The Moon is at home in its own sign and encourages us to nurture ourselves and one other. We could be a bit moody, with changing emotions over the course of the day, so we are invited to practice the art of self-awareness and keep an eye on how our inner child might be acting and reacting to whatever we are experiencing.

The Mars Pluto aspect has been building for a few days now and will be flt most acutely by people with personal planets within a few degrees of 22° of a sign, especially the Cardinal signs Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn.

Much Love

Amy
Xoxo

Painting: Mars, by WyldeFoxDesignLab
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ARIES FULL MOON - 1 October 2020

9/29/2020

1 Comment

 
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Exact at 22.05pm BST, 5.05pm EDT
 
This Full Moon could certainly kick start some intensity for the months ahead! Aries is a fiery sign and Mars, its ruler, is very present indeed at the moment! An Aries Full Moon has the potential to bring out the more passionate, assertive, honest, courageous side of our nature and we could find ourselves having to contend with some very heated emotions and even anger. Full Moons tend to bring whatever has been simmering away beneath the surface out into the light of our consciousness, and in the first sign of the zodiac the emotions that come up could be quite raw and unfiltered. This is especially so as Mars is retrograde at the moment, because its warrior energy is not so easy to control or contain. Indeed, we could find ourselves more reactionary than we usually would be, as people or events trigger some powerful emotions in us that we might find it hard to suppress. Aries is a very impulsive sign that tends to act first and think later and so it is quite possible that some material comes out into the open during this Moon that helps to get the proverbial cards out onto the table.
 
The Sun has recently moved into Libra, the sign of balance, fairness and relatedness, and is sitting directly opposite the feisty Aries Moon. The key to a Full Moon is to find some kind of balance between the energy of the two signs rather than veering too far in one direction or the other. Libra reminds us to listen to one another, to find some kind of compromise and to be kind. Aries is a very brave, honest energy that helps us to assert and motivate ourselves, but can also mean that we act and react in ways that are destructive and hurtful rather than constructive and loving. Libra helps us to temper any more hotheaded, confrontational or aggressive tendencies and to take into account the feelings and needs of others. However, Aries helps us to stick up for ourselves and others and also to stand up for what we believe in. Aries can bring out the bully in us, but can also help us to stand up to the bully, in whatever form that may take. Libra can tend to take the “middle ground”, while Aries will jump right into the heart of a battle! Both these approaches have merit as long as they don’t go too far.
 
Mars, the ruler of this Full Moon, is also in Aries at the moment, travelling in retrograde motion and forming a challenging square to both Saturn, the planet of authority and control, and Pluto, the planet of power and transformation. These two powerful energies are in Capricorn, a sign that is very different to Aries! This square between the Mars in Aries and Saturn in Capricorn brings the potential for conflict with authority, angry reactions at the government or those in control, feeling frustrated, restricted or suppressed so that we are unable to act or react, aggressive force being used by those in power, “martial” law, kicking back against being controlled or forced into compliance. It can also force us to act with integrity and to be fully accountable for our actions.This has been building for the past week or so and will be exact on 29 September, so it will still be very strong during the Full Moon.
 
The square between Mars and Pluto is also strong during this Moon and will be exact on 9 October.This combination has the potential to bring up anger and rage that comes from the depths of our subconscious, so it could be a very good time to do some inner work that enables us to truly confront our shadows. Indeed, we may have no choice in the matter, as this combination could mean that we are very easily triggered! Pluto in Capricorn is revealing and exposing the dark side of the power structures and the patriarchal system, and the square to the warrior planet could literally cause us to rage against the machine and to find the courage to stand in our own power. However, is can also signify force being used against us by those in power. Indeed, power struggles can be rife with these two planets butting heads! This challenging combination of the god of war and the god of the underworld can signify psychological warfare, coercion, brute force, underhanded tactics and manipulation, but can also help us to unearth dark secrets and slay inner and outer demons. Indeed, we may find strength, courage and power we didn’t even know we possessed!  
 
Chiron the Wounded Healer is very present indeed during this Moon, as it is conjunct the Moon and opposite the Sun. This could mean that our core wounds are triggered, making us feel quite open, touchy, exposed and vulnerable, especially if we have personal planets and angles between 4 and 12 degrees of the cardinal signs of Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn. We have an opportunity here to be very honest with ourselves and our loved ones about our sensitivities and insecurities so that some deep healing can occur.However, it could feel as if someone or something is poking and prodding at open sores, which could make us quite defensive and reactive if we let our ego get in the way. As the Moon represents the feminine and mother and the Sun the masculine and father, it is possible for healing to occur in this area of our lives. Emotions could certainly be riding high during this Moon, but we could also be prompted to get in touch with our inner warrior and to find the courage to confront ourselves and others, if needs be.  
 
Chiron is also forming a nagging inconjunct aspect to Mercury, which will be exact on 4 October. Mercury has recently moved into Scorpio, which could bring some quite deep, penetrating conversations and the potential for dark, paranoid thoughts and the capacity to really cut to the heart of the matter. Scorpio is not a superficial sign in the slightest, so we may find ourselves really wanting to understand what is going on beneath the surface of reality, probing and asking some very deep questions. This Chiron Mercury aspect could bring some kind of crisis or humbling experience through the mind and communication, whereby we either hear, think or say something that is hard to face but deeply healing. It could bring up some deep, dark, shadowy subject matter that may be painful to confront, but if we are able to look at ourselves honestly it could be very helpful indeed. Chiron in Aries is quite forceful and confrontational in its healing approach, while Mercury in Scorpio can bring some kind of inner or outer communication that really penetrates to the core of our soul.
 
Neptune is square the Nodes of the Moon and provides an important, ongoing backdrop that will be building until January. The Nodes represent important material that we are currently working on, both personally and collectively, in order to grow and evolve. With the South Node in Sagittarius and the North Node in Gemini, issues around truth and lies are rife right now and with Neptune, the planet of “glamour” and illusion squaring the Nodes the truth is completely shrouded by smoke screens and increasingly sophisticated propaganda. Neptune is also the planet that asks us to sacrifice something for the greater good of humanity, and so we may be asked to find a way to speak out, even at the risk of losing something important to us. Some truth is too important not to be shared, although we find a way of sharing our thoughts, ideas and opinions in  a kind, compassionate and non-judgemental manner. While the Sagittarius South Node can bring intuitive hunches and encourages us to trust our gut, the Gemini North Node invites us to do some research and “fact finding” in order to back up what we intuitively sense. However, with Neptune square the Nodes there is the danger of utter confusion and profound disillusionment, with the urge to just numb out as it becomes harder and harder to know where the truth lies.
 
With a nice supportive sextile building between Neptune and Jupiter, however, we are encouraged to keep the faith and resist the temptation to numb out or “escape”, tempting as it may be. Instead we are invited to do whatever we can to nurture our spirit, whether through walks in nature, supportive groups, meditation or other kinds of spiritual practice. Although life could seem quite bleak and even hopeless for many at the moment, it is important to keep an eye on the bigger picture and trust that this is a necessary process that has the potential to bring great spiritual rewards. As many have said, “the darkest hour is just before dawn”. Ultimately the light shall prevail! It is so very important to nourish ourselves and keep our faith alive so that we always have our sights set on that light at the end of the tunnel, even if it seems like a tiny little glimmer! While it is so easy to fall into fear and overwhelm, we must do whatever we can to keep our vibration high and our inner light shining. When in doubt, head for the forest, woods, rivers, lakes, mountains, ocean, parks or gardens; whatever is available to us in that moment. This helps us to ground and reconnect to all that is. It is here that we are able to breathe a sigh of relief.
 
The Sabian symbol for the Full Moon, at 10° Aries, is:” A teacher gives new symbolic forms to traditional images”, which Dane Rudyar describes as “Revision of attitude at the beginning of a new cycle of experience. A new dimension of consciousness is discovered, revealing higher possibilities of experience and mental development”. This symbol seems to be asking us to take what is known, tried and tested and to bring it up to date with the here and now. What have we learned from the past that can now be transformed in order to help us to move forward? What might we need to look at from a fresh perspective? How can we look forward with new vision and break down old, outworn patterns and ways of doing things? How can we step out of the comfort zone and allow space for the new, while still respecting and honouring the lessons of the past? There is a sense of starting a new cycle, aided by the wisdom of all that has come before. Instead of dwelling on what is falling away, we are invited to contemplate the way forward.
 
This Moon certainly does bring the potential for heated emotions and some kind of clearing of the air! It is important to be mindful of our reactions during this time, as we may find ourselves more easily triggered than usual. However, if we need to find some courage then this could be a very helpful Moon indeed. There are many different planetary energies in the cosmic soup right now, pulling us one way and another, including Uranus in Taurus which is bringing up collective trauma around survival. It is so easy to feel fearful at the moment, for a myriad of reasons, and fear can so easily bring up defensive and angry reactions. It is important, especially during this Moon, to watch ourselves and remain as mindful and self-aware as possible. Sometimes righteous anger is very helpful to motivate us towards brave, positive and constructive action and help us to confront difficult issues. Sometimes, however, knee jerk reactions can be incredibly destructive and do more harm than good. While an Aries Moon can bring the warrior out in us, so that we jump off the proverbial cliff or charge into battle, the Libra Sun reminds us that things might not be as black and white as they seem and that sometimes it’s better to find the middle ground. Above all, we must be kind.
 
Much Love
 
Amy
xoxo
 
Picture: Unknown

 

 
 
 
 
        
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
      
          

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VIRGO NEW MOON - 17 September 2020

9/15/2020

1 Comment

 
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Exact at 12pm BST, 6am EDT

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Much Love

Amy
xoxo

Painting: Dawn of Hope, by Daniel F. Gerhartz



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MARS RETROGRADE IN ARIES: 9 September - 14 November 2020

9/11/2020

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​Mars has just gone retrograde on 9 September, at 28° Aries, and will now start its journey back to 15° Aries, when it finally goes direct on 14 November. Mars is in its own sign for a very long time this year, from 27 June until 7 January. Mars in Aries has the potential for anger without a filter, as Aries is very much an act before thinking kind of sign. It can also bring out the hero and warrior in us all, as we are encouraged to find our courage, enthusiasm and capacity to assert and stand up for ourselves and others. The only problem is that this can go too far if we are triggered and assertion can become aggression , bullying or even violence. Mars in Aries can certainly put a fire in our belly and bring our inner “hothead” to the surface, which could make us quite reactive! And now it is retrograde, which means that it is going back over the same ground it has covered since 25 July, when it was last at 15° Aries. What might we have done differently if we’d had the chance? What do we truly desire, when it comes down to it?

Mars retrograde invites us to reflect on our capacity to be brave, and it is possible that we may be called to revisit something that happened in recent times whereby we didn’t stand up or find the necessary courage to act in the way we wanted. Now we have another chance. However, it is also possible that we lost our rag and acted or reacted in a way that we regret, or lashed our from fear or hurt. We are now invited to turn inward and develop a healthier relationship with our anger and reflect on how we express and channel it. Does it come out overtly or covertly, in a more passive-aggressive or confrontational way? Do we tend to let resentment build up for so long that it becomes toxic, or do we tend to lash out and do or say things we regret? Are we brave enough to stand up for things that mean something to us, or do we tend to hide, back down, run away from conflict or stay on the fence? When it comes to Mars, we can either use it energy constructively, to unite and fight for the greater good of all, or destructively, with arguments, bullying and conflict that simply creates more divisiveness and hard feelings. It can mobilise us into positive action or it can cause us to do things that cause harm and that we regret.

Around 22 March Mars was back in Capricorn, joining forces with Pluto and Jupiter in Capricorn. This was a pivotal moment for the whole world. Now Retrograde Mars is moving back towards its second square to these two planets, symbolising a continuation of what started then, at the conjunction. Conjunctions represent the beginning of a cycle of development between the planets in question, the seed. After that there was the sextile, which occurred around the Solstice/Cancer New Moon/Eclipse at the end of June, and now we have the square, which is occurring three times due to Mars going retrograde. Squares are a very dynamic aspect, causing friction and promoting action. Indeed, this particular square is known as “crisis in action”. Sometimes we need a bit of a kick up our bum to make things happen and to grow!

The first square we will experience in this retrograde phase is between Mars in Aries and Saturn in Capricorn, the planet of control, authority, government, tradition, karma and discipline. The first time Mars formed a square to Saturn was around 24 August, during which time, on a global level, there were uprisings challenging the status quo, consensus reality and patriarchal control. This square will repeat again on 29 September, but in actual fact Mars and Saturn are squaring off against each other closely throughout September. The square represents a tussle between the authoritarian control of Saturn and the fiery, courageous, independent, assertive and potentially angry and aggressive Mars in Aries. Mars in Aries is the part of us that marches to the beat of our own drum, seeking to express our own will and kick back against authority and control. In this “stand-off” between the two planets, Saturn potentially has more clout, being the slower moving planet. Will our capacity to act or fight back be restricted, impeded or limited, or will greater control be forced on us in a Martian manner? Indeed, “Martial Law” springs to mind here as the epitome of a Saturn and Mars combo. Will we experience more rules and regulations that enforce greater compliance? Will the machine attempt to squash or steam roll our Martian fire and autonomy?

On the other hand, how can we be more responsible for our actions? Are we able to find courage and a greater sense of integrity in order to truly be accountable for what we instinctively feel inside ourselves? Are we able to direct and harness our righteous anger in a controlled manner and stand up for what we know to be right? Mars in Aries is not known for compliance to authority; quite the opposite, in fact. Both of these planets are very strong in their own signs, and Aries and Capricorn fundamentally disagree with one another! Mars in Aries is very brave and impulsive, almost foolishly so at times, and fights back against any threats to its freedom, independence and autonomy. Saturn in Capricorn is very patient and has its eye on the end game, seeking to control, restrict, suppress, discipline or limit, imposing its authority and encouraging us to comply and abide by the rules. This is both an internal battle, for all of us, as well as an external, global one. Which one will win? The third and final square between Mars and Saturn will be exact on 13 January but will be in Taurus and Aquarius, so the energy will have shifted by then.

The next square is between Mars and Pluto, which is exact on 9 October. The last one was on 13 August and the final one will be on 23 December. Pluto in Capricorn has been slowly exposing the dark side of the power structures since 2008 and will continue this process until 2023. All the rot, the flaws and the corruption have been slowly but surely revealed and the imbalance and abuse of power has become more and more apparent and transparent. Pluto isn’t afraid to dig deep beneath the surface and dive into the dark underworld of all things Capricorn. The structures are crumbling, both personally and collectively, so that something more appropriate can take their place. And the patriarchal system and its players won’t do down without a good fight! Mars square Pluto is an invitation to take our power back. However, it could easily swing the other way, as our power (Pluto)  is taken by force (Mars) and we find ourselves in the midst of psychological (Pluto) warfare (Mars).

Can we harness the energy of Mars and find the courage to call out and confront the darkness in the system and ourselves? Are we able to confront our own shadows and purge any unhealthy patterns and ingrained habits? Are we able to take action where needed to help purge the rot from the power structures? Are we brave enough to take our power back, in the truest sense of the word, and reclaim our sovereignty? What do we need to face in ourselves that reflects the outer reality? What needs to pass away right now? Pluto and Mars can help us to find the courage, strength and power to make massive changes in our lives and perform feats we never would have thought possible. They can also bring up rage and bring the capacity to be incredibly cruel and vindictive. With Pluto, however, there is always choice. During this square we may find ourselves having to make a brave choice and act in a way that has a great impact on our future and our evolution, both personally and collectively.

Finally we have the square between Mars and Jupiter, which is exact on 18 October. The last one was exact on 4 August and the final one will be exact on 23 January, in Taurus and Aquarius instead of Aries and Capricorn. This combination can bring up extreme anger and conflict around differing beliefs. Divide and conquer is the name of the game when these two come into battle! With Jupiter in Capricorn, we may tend to get very angry about other people’s opinions and ideas if they challenge the structure of our programmed or conditioned beliefs. Mars in Aries is the part of us that thinks and acts independently and questions the consensus beliefs and status quo, challenging what we are being asked to accept as truth by the government and those in control.

When these two planets come into contact there is the potential for us to need to find the courage to speak up about our beliefs. The potential for anger or rage around the “truth” is also rife, especially if we are in fear. Any challenges to our more firmly held beliefs could feel like a personal attack, causing us to lash out in defense and try and force our views on those who present an alternative point of view. Jupiter in Capricorn is the part of us that tends to believe what we are told by those in authority, while Mars is the renegade planet; the part of us that kicks back against the consensus. It is so important to keep an open, curious, questioning mind during this transit and be willing to take a long hard look at ourselves when we are triggered. How do we take the moral high ground and judge others, and do we have a need to be “right”? The truth is often relative.

This could be an interesting ride, between now and 14 November, when Mars goes direct! It is important to be aware that the various squares will be overlapping each other, meaning that the Mars square Saturn transit will still be in effect while the Mars Pluto is building, and the Mars Pluto transit will still be prominent when the Pluto Jupiter transit is building. The renegades could be out in force in October, that’s for sure! Retrograde Mars asks us to look within and act and react differently to the way we might usually. We all have our own unique relationship with anger, courage and assertion and this period of time could make this all too apparent. How can we act and react in the healthiest way possible and in a way that is true to our inner being? We might be called to act more covertly during this time or may feel the need to step back and look before we leap. We may look back on past actions or disagreements and seek to rectify or repair somehow. However, the best way to make the most of this retrograde period is to be willing to look inside, finding our spiritual warrior and inner fire, and be brave enough to do the inner work. Have we the courage to truly face ourselves with absolute honesty? Any external conflicts we have in our lives often reflect an internal battle, so this is an opportunity to face our inner foe with courage and fortitude!

Much Love

Amy
xoxo

Painting: Inner Fire: Jaime Enriquez



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PISCES FULL MOON - 2 September 2020

8/29/2020

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Exact at 6.21am BST, 1.21 EDT
 
This Full Moon definitely has some contradictory energy, as the Moon itself is in sensitive, impressionable Pisces while Saturn and Pluto are also playing rather a big role in the overall picture. With the Sun in humble, analytical, service oriented Virgo sitting directly opposite the Moon in empathetic, imaginative and spiritual Pisces, the healing axis is activated. We are now in Virgo season, the sign of work, health and self-improvement, and there is definitely an air of “back to school” as people and businesses seek to function and get back into a more structured routine. However, the danger with Virgo is becoming so busy that we go into overwhelm. Virgo is that part of us that over stresses ourselves with work and general “busyness” in an attempt to fill a void that only Pisces, the sign of spirit, can really fill. This Moon reminds us to focus on developing healthy spiritual routines such as making sure we spend time in nature, meditation, yoga, Qi Gong and suchlike in order to cope with the stress of every day living. This can help to balance and centre and prevent us from going into overwhelm in the face of all the uncertainty and challenges we are dealing with in this current reality.
 
The Sabian Symbol for this Full Moon, at 11° Pisces, is “ Men travelling a narrow path, seeking illumination”, which Dane Rudyar describes as “ The capacity inherent in every individual to seek, at whatever cost, entrance to a transcendent realm of reality. The Path is always open to the pure in heart, the mentally aware, the conqueror of emotions and the spiritually self-mobilised. Man is always in the making and remaking. He can always go further, reach beyond. But he has to take the first step. Someone can show him the Path, but he alone can do the walking.” This is a reminder to persevere in our own search for the truth, whatever that means to us. We are reminded to stay true to ourselves and keep the faith that we are held. We are all ultimately heading in the same direction, but the path we choose to take may differ. However, only we can do the work on ourselves that is necessary to grow and evolve spiritually, as nobody else can do it for us. There is no “shortcut”! This Moon is a reminder to stay true to the path we are on and do what we can to remain healthy in mind, body and spirit. This is so important right now.
 
Indeed, Virgo is the sign of healthy routines, while Pisces is the sign that encourages us to develop a direct personal relationship with the divine. We are asked to find a nice balance between the tenergy of the two signs. Virgo is the part of us that seeks perfection and can be incredibly self-critical, analytical and hyper aware of our flaws and inadequacies, so much so that we either paralyse ourselves with negative thinking and give up before we even start or seek a way to improve our situation and overcome  seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Pisces is the part of us that has the capacity to simply surrender to flow and find true acceptance and compassion for ourselves, warts and all, and to develop the faith and trust that we are being guided in the right direction. However, we can also fall in being the victim, which is never helpful. In times of crisis it is so very important to remember to do whatever we can to stay connected and centred. The simple act of breathing deeply,  walking barefoot in the grass or going for a walk in the woods can bring us back to a feeling of peace and connection to spirit.
 
The rulers of the Sun and Moon, Mercury and Neptune, are both in their own signs of Virgo and Pisces and both square the Nodes of the Moon during this Full Moon, which is very interesting. With the South Node currently  in Sagittarius and North Node in Gemini we are being encouraged to keep an open mind and not become too rigid or stuck in our beliefs. There are many paths to the same destination! The truth is so hard to find at the moment that all we can do is trust our own intuitive hunches and do our own research to find the facts. The Gemini North Node encourages us to find a voice and to express our truth is a way that is palatable and understandable for others. With Neptune square the Nodes the truth is completely shrouded and the potential for illusion and smoke screens is rife. It’s so hard to tell the woods for the trees, and many are very who are very confused about what to believe. However, we are encouraged to feel and show compassion for one another, regardless of what we each think and believe.
 
This is where Mercury in Virgo comes in, as we are encouraged to practice the art of discrimination and discernment in deciding what to accept and what to discard because it is not serving us. This also goes for self-limiting beliefs that are simply not helping us move forward.  Mercury in Virgo can bring a lot of self-critical thoughts and the tendency to pick ourselves and others to pieces. Instead of worrying too much and going into overwhelm or a spiral of negative thinking or self-sabotage, we are encouraged to separate the wheat from the chaff and decide what messages, “truths” or belief s we accept and what we must reject. One step at a time! Mercury in Virgo is very good at self-analysis, as long as it doesn’t turn into self-flagellation! Luckily Mercury is helped out by a harmonious aspect to both Saturn and Pluto, helping us to think sensibly and realistically  and to probe beneath the surface to find the answers. We could gain some powerful insights in the coming days and make some important decisions.
 
Uranus is forming a harmonious aspect to the Sun and Moon, bringing the capacity to make change in our lives and break any unhealthy, toxic, self-destructive or sabotaging habits and patterns of behaviour. With Uranus in Taurus we are currently undergoing a radical shift in values, as what used to hold meaning for us no longer seems important. As this shift occurs we are encouraged to make changes in our daily routine and the way we approach our health and work life. The gift of recent times has been the giant “pause” that forced us off the treadmill and helped us see another way of living and being. We were given a chance to recognise what is most important to us, when it comes down to it, and this Moon encourages us to apply what we have learned moving forward. With Chiron forming a nagging inconjunct aspect to the Sun and Moon, there lies the potential for some kind of crisis if we don’t heed our inner guidance in terms of our mental, emotional and spiritual health. It is better to make the necessary adjustments voluntarily, before we are given no choice.
 
Saturn and Pluto in Capricorn are rather big players during this Moon, as they are forming an aspect to quite a few planets. This includes forming a Cardinal Grand Square with Mars, Venus and Juno, the goddess of committed partnership. Saturn will be directly opposite Venus on the day of the Full Moon, which could call our relationships into question, calling us to be more accountable and to take responsibility for whatever difficulties we may be having. We may experience feelings of frustration and a sense of limitation in the realm of relationships and finances, and may have to contend with issues around control, anger, assertion and self-worth. We may be forced to look at the way we approach our relationships, values and finances in a very realistic way and take off the rose tinted spectacles, as Saturn does tend to peel back the veil of illusion and force us to see things as they really are.
 
Saturn and Pluto are currently working as a team, tearing down the structures of our lives and forcing a societal and personal transformation as anything that is “rotten” is exposed for what it is and has no choice but to fall away. This is a painful but necessary process. With these two joining together until mid October thinks could get darker before we are able to see the light. Saturn will move into Aquarius in December, as will Jupiter, which will signify a shift towards the progressive, unorthodox, visionary, humanitarian energy of Aquarius. However, Pluto must continue the work it began in 2008, of exposing the darkness within our power structures and bringing a detoxification and destruction of corrupt and antiquated systems and governing bodies that are simply no longer working in our best interest. It seems quite possible that we will experience a complete collapse of the “system” so that something more aligned with higher values can take its place. Pluto will finally move into Aquarius in March 2023, so we still have some work ahead of us until then, to purge the shadows.   
 
It seems that our relationships are very much being called in focus during this Moon with this Grand Square, as it will be harder to hide from any underlying issues or problems we may be having. Pluto will be opposite Venus over the coming days, exact on Sunday 30 August, and the energy will still be present during the Full Moon. This could bring up any compulsive tendencies in the way we relate, making us more aware of the subconscious psychological complexes and power plays that play out within our relationships. This a great opportunity to look into the ugly mirror and recognise our shadows and also to become aware of any toxicity within our close relationships. That is the beauty of close relationships, as they can help us to see ourselves and our shadow material more clearly, even if we don’t like what we see. This does seem like a good opportunity to transform our relationship to ourselves and others, not to mention the potential for an overhaul of our value system and attitude to finances.
 
This Full Moon certainly does seem like a good opportunity to do some decluttering, detoxing, cleansing and purification in order to prune away anything that is not serving our physical, mental and spiritual health. A Pisces Full Moon can certainly make us more aware of where and how we are overwhelmed and off kilter and can help prompt us towards a more peaceful and simple existence. Nobody else has the magic wand that can miraculously make our lives better, so the onus is on us to do the inner work and make the outer adjustments  necessary to create a healthier, happier daily life so that we are better able to cope with whatever lies ahead. Pisces is a very subtle,  gentle energy that invites us to turn inward and to recognise that we have everything we need within us. “God” isn’t something or someone  outside of us, pulling the strings. It’s in inside job. Spirit is all around us and, more importantly, is within all of us. We are co-creators of our own reality and just have to stop being our own worst enemy and practice the art  of self-acceptance and surrender to the flow of the river. Can we show ourselves as much compassion as we so readily show others? How can we be kinder to ourselves, in mind, body and spirit?  
 
Much Love
 
Amy
xoxo
 
Picture: Path - Unknown
 

 
 
 

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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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