Exact at 6.23am BST, 1.23am EST!
 
This is an intensely emotional and transforming Full Moon, whereby we have an opportunity to lay all of our cards out on the table, moving past our fears and facing our shadows. Welcome to the world of Scorpio, whose energy pushes us to be completely honest with ourselves and others about who we are and what we need. Scorpio isn’t afraid to dive into the murky depths and face herself, warts and all. Not only that, she helps us share those warts with those closest to us, exposing our deepest, darkest secrets, longings and fears, thus allowing ourselves to truly be vulnerable. Vulnerability should not be mistaken for weakness, for one has to be very brave indeed to allow someone to see those parts of ourselves we would rather keep hidden away from view. This is the key to intimacy, however. This Moon could very well cause us to feel somewhat insecure, vulnerable or exposed, as we are currently going through a process of shedding old, dead skin which will be revealing a shiny new self that hasn’t seen the light of day before.
 
The Sun is in earthy, loyal and security conscious Taurus, sitting directly opposite transforming, emotionally intense and cathartic Scorpio. While Taurus may be a very stable, rooted energy, it does have a tendency to resist change for the sake of staying safe and secure, which can lead to stasis, stagnation and getting stuck in a rut. Scorpio, on the other hand, is prone to stripping away anything that isn’t healthy or is holding us back from growth so that we can be born anew. Taurus is incredibly self-sufficient, almost stubbornly so, while Scorpio longs to merge with others and join forces. There could be a bit of a push and pull between the energy of these two signs during this Moon. Taurus wants to hold on for dear life to relationships, possessions, situations, jobs or circumstances, while Scorpio wants us to shed it like old skin so that the shiny new self can be revealed. This could be quite an uncomfortable process, as we could feel a certain amount of insecurity and vulnerability in having let go of whatever we have been hiding behind, but in the same token we may also feel quite empowered, relieved  and much, much lighter.
 
Pluto and Mars, the rulers of Scorpio, have both literally just turned retrograde, so their energy is very strong right now. There is definitely a sense of us having to let go of something during this Moon, whether it be old patterns, beliefs, a way of being, or something more literal like a job or a relationship. Or perhaps they simply have to change form, letting go of any dead weight. Pluto energy can act like a cosmic kick up the bum, forcing us to move forward if we are stuck in a rut. The more we cling onto something that is no longer good for us, the harder it is when Pluto rips it away from us. Pluto also represents power and powerlessness, so we need to look deep inside ourselves and recognise where we give our power away or where we are using our power inappropriately. While Mars is retrograde it is a good time to look at where we are putting our energy and to make sure it is being channelled in the right direction. We now have a chance to contemplate our true desires and what it is we really and truly want. While Mars is retrograde we may well get to see how anger plays out in our lives, as certain situations could bring it to the fore in interesting ways.
 
Mercury is also in its shadow phase and will turn retrograde on the 28th April until 22 May. There are a lot of retrograde planets at the moment, signifying that this is a time of going back over old ground, for whatever reason. Sometimes we have to go back to go forward. While Mercury is retrograde it is important, as ever, to be aware of the potential for miscommunications and travel delays, but also to remember that there is usually some kind of higher reason behind it all. Mercury will be retrograde in Taurus, which favours practical thinking and will help us to slow down our thought processes and chew things over a bit. Mercury retrograde favours the right brain, so it is a good time to let our logical, rational left brain take a little bit of a break. The past may come up to meet us during this time, which could be very useful and healing indeed. As ever, during Mercury retrograde it is an ideal time to rethink, redo, re-evaluate, revise and review. Above all, Mercury in Taurus will be teaching us about patience, so we must try not to get too frustrated when things don’t seem to be moving as fast as we would like! There’s probably a reason for it that will reveal itself in the fullness of time.
 
Venus, the ruler of Taurus, is also very prominent during this Moon, as she is being triggered by the Pluto Uranus square. In fact, the planet of love and relationships is literally sitting right on top of Uranus in Aries, which could help us to release ourselves from old patterns of relating, both to ourselves and others. If our relationships have become stagnant in anyway, or too routine or boring, this could well give them a good shake up! Radical honesty is what comes to mind when I contemplate these two planets conjoining in forthright and assertive Aries. The truth could be a bit painful and even shocking, but ultimately it will be incredibly liberating. There is definitely the potential for us having to face some uncomfortable truths during this time, but our relationships will be better off for it. Uranus in Aries is asking us to stand in our truth and be utterly ourselves, even if others don’t necessarily like it. Who knows what might be brought out into the open in the light of this Full Moon, but whatever it is, we don’t need it anymore!
 
The Sabian symbol of the Sun/Moon midpoint for this Full Moon is “A middle-aged woman, her long hair flowing over her shoulders and in a bra-less youthful garment.” This symbol feels like Venus and Uranus, as it is an incredibly liberating image indeed. Quite possibly we are being asked to defy convention and our conditioning and find the freedom to simply be ourselves. This Moon certainly feels like a massive release, a shedding, a letting go. It could feel quite overwhelming as the Full Moon comes to a head and it is quite possible that our anxiety and stress levels could rise considerably.  Generally this is a sign that we are somehow out of alignment, however. Somehow we have to truly face ourselves and our fears, diving into the underworld so that we can find the buried treasure! There are always profound rewards when we are willing to face ourselves honestly. Like the snake, we have to be willing to truly shed our old skin, in whatever form that takes for us each individually, and face the vulnerability and exposure of having lost that sense of security that it represented. There is amazing potential for a massive leap forward in our souls’ evolution right now. It’s time to let go.
 
Much Love
 
Amy
xoxo

​Picture: Snake Medicine by Amy Bird

Exact at 12.23pm BST, 7.23am EDT!
 
This is the first New Moon of the new astrological year, so it really is a moon for new beginnings and exciting fresh starts! Not only that but it is a Supermoon, which means that it is closer to earth and has a more powerful impact than usual on our emotions, bodies and spirits. Aries is the first sign of the zodiac and as such there is a pioneering element to this moon; a sense that we are embarking on a new journey into uncharted territory, so it is best to step bravely forward rather than slipping back into old patterns and stories. It is time to create a new story, breaking new ground and stepping out from behind any fear based conditioning that has been holding us prisoner and stopping us from having all that we truly desire and deserve. This is a very enlivening, stimulating and exciting New Moon, when we get to make up a whole new set of rules for ourselves and set some intentions in motion that truly resonate with who we are and what we are becoming.
 
Aries is the first cardinal sign, so it is an initiator of change and new beginnings. This is a passionate, enthusiastic and impulsive sign that acts first and thinks later. This can occasionally get him into trouble, but more often than not it means that life is a grand adventure and never boring! During this New Moon it is a good idea to emulate the Aries way and have the courage to take a risk and try a new way of doing things. Aries is very instinctual and so we must trust our instincts to guide us forward on our path rather than over-thinking or over-analysing. It’s a good time to come up with fresh new solutions and to take a chance, even if it seems ridiculous or scary. Aries is also an incredibly honest, direct and forthright sign that doesn’t hold back what he thinks or feels, and so this is a perfect time to be completely honest with ourselves and others about our needs and what we truly want for ourselves.  Aries is adept at the art of self-love, and so this is a good time to become clear about what we need in order to flourish and grow. We not only have to be clear ourselves, but we have to have the courage to voice it.
 
Uranus is sitting right next to the Sun and Moon in Aries, creating a frisson of excitement and challenging us to be true to ourselves. Uranus is known for blasting through anything that might be impeding our growth and forcing change upon us if we have fallen into stagnant ruts. His energy can be quite unsettling but is also incredibly invigorating and enlivening. He is the master of authenticity, especially in Aries, and he simply demands that we be utterly ourselves, no matter how it might rock the boat. This Moon is not a time to play it safe, that’s for sure! It has an electrifying feel to it and could shake everything up considerably! It’s time to break new ground and free ourselves from any conditioning that is keeping us from living our truth. Uranus is the Great Awakener, and so we could have some amazing insights and epiphanies and come up with new, ingenious solutions to old problems. It’s a time for thinking outside the box, stepping outside of the comfort zone and maybe even jumping off the proverbial cliff, like the Fool in the Tarot! We may have no choice in the matter anyway! Uranus encourages us to break free of the past. Change is in the air.
 
Saturn is forming a supportive aspect to the Sun and Moon, stopping us from doing anything too off the wall or crazy! Saturn errs on the side of caution and helps us to make sensible decisions. This may sound a bit boring after all of this Aries and Uranus excitement, but it’s probably a good thing to have the wise sage helping us along as well, with his stabilising influence. Saturn reminds us to be patient, responsible and mature and ensures that whatever changes we make will be meaningful and appropriate for our journeys. Saturn in Sagittarius is currently retrograde, causing us to reconsider any old beliefs that are hindering us and holding us in old patterns. This Moon could be a good opportunity to recognise how certain beliefs formed in childhood are still sabotaging our lives and relationships in adulthood and to just let them go, once and for all.
 
Pluto is also a big part of the picture, as he is forming a square to the Sun, Moon and Uranus. The Pluto Uranus square is activated once again! Pluto is the planet of the soul, power and transformation. Pluto is basically giving us a big old kick up the bum during this Moon, showing us where we may be stagnating or avoiding growth on a soul level. If we are resisting what we know is best for us for the sake of emotional security it is quite likely that we will receive some kind of nudge in the right direction, especially if any of our personal planets are being aspected by Pluto or Uranus at the moment. This is definitely a time to be brave and to be emotionally honest with ourselves and others. We may initially feel a bit vulnerable, but it will ultimately empower us and will certainly give us integrity. And you never know, we might just get what we want! And if we don’t, then maybe it isn’t for us. Pluto has the power to transform the structure of our lives and is ever ready to dig out whatever isn’t working so that something that is more appropriate for us can take its place.
 
Mars, the ruler of this Moon, is getting ready to turn retrograde on the 17th of April until the 29th of June. Pluto will follow a couple of days later. In the couple of days before and after a planet turns retrograde it is at its strongest, so Mars in Sagittarius’s boisterous, physical and enthusiastic energy could be very prominent indeed during that week. Whenever Mars energy is more present, aggressive acts are possible and people’s fuses tend to be much shorter. He’s passionate, no doubt about it! Mars is the planet that acts on our souls’ desires, and when it is retrograde we are given the chance to step back for a while and consider what those desires actually are and whether acting on them is helpful for our growth. It is a time to take a bit of a break and conserve energy, going back over projects rather than starting new ones. Mars will be dipping back into Scorpio on May 28th until August 3rd, so we will get yet another chance to bravely face our shadows and dig out any more sticky stuff that might be holding us back from realising our full potential. It’s dirty work, but oh so worth it!
 
The Sabian symbol for this New Moon is 19° Aries “The “Magic Carpet” of oriental imagery” and this symbol is encouraging us to use our imaginations so that we can transcend everyday reality and see things from a completely different perspective. An ordinary, static rug is transformed into something that can help us fly high above everything that we know. Dane Rudyar describes this symbol as: “the use of creative imagination” and “a strife transcending and unattached look on everyday reality”. We are truly being asked to think outside of the box and rise about our worries and problems, approaching them from a different perspective. The old rules no longer apply and the old stories are a thing of the past. During this New Moon we need to take a leaf out of Aries’ book and not be afraid to voice our needs, as scary as it might be actually state what we want out loud. Aries encourages us to be a bit selfish and to be honest about what we truly want, then to just take the plunge and go after it. If you don’t ask, you don’t get!
 
Much love
 
Amy
xoxo
 
Image: The Fool tarot card by Emily Balivet
 
www.amybirdartandastrology.com