Exact at 7.14am BST, 2.14am EDT.

AUTUMN EQUINOX – Monday 22 September, exact at 3.29am BST, Sunday 21 September, exact at 10.29pm EDT.

On Sunday night/Monday morning we have the Autumn Equinox followed swiftly by the Libra New Moon on Tuesday morning , so this is a very potent and powerful time for setting intentions and planting seeds. The Equinox represents an energetic gateway and is a time when we have equal parts light and dark. As Libra knows all too well, there is no light without shadow and no shadow without light. Before we find the light we must first face the darkness within us and the Equinox represents that time when we are able to see both in equal parts before the darkness starts to take over.  The Autumn Equinox represents a time of inner preparation in the process of enlightenment which lasts until the Winter Solstice. There is a perfect balance between the inner and outer life and it marks the moment when we start to turn inwards. It is also the moment when the Sun moves from Earthy, Mutable Virgo into Airy, Cardinal Libra. Virgo is the last of the subjective, personal, inner signs while Libra is the first of the outer, objective signs which are more concerned with the world outside ourselves. Virgo prepared us to move out into the world and form relationships. Libra is the sign of relationship.

The New Moon is the time in the month when all is dark and the Sun and Moon join together , forming a union in the heavens. It is a time when our conscious will (the Sun) is aligned with our unconscious, instinctual nature (the Moon). This is partly why it is such a good time for setting intentions. We are somehow more aware of what we need at this time and able to be a bit more objective. This month we have the chance to set some intentions for our relationships, as the union between the two luminaries is in Libra, the sign of balance, harmony, peace and relationship to others. Libra is depicted by the scales and indeed relationships truly are a delicate balance between the two people involved. Libra’s aim is peace and harmony and so a relationship must be a healthy balance between the needs of the two individuals involved. It is very important that we remain true to our own path while also taking into consideration the path of our loved one. And in the middle is the relationship itself, which can create another path, or destiny. Libra is all about compromise, which involves both parties meeting in the middle in the spirit of genuinely wanting each other to be happy and fulfilled.

Indeed, Libra’s goal is to find a way to perfect the art of relating. Venus, the planet of love and beauty, is the ruler of Libra after all! A relationship involves two people and in order for it to work properly there must be an element of equality. When we allow ourselves to love another we entrust them with our heart and vice versa. This is no small thing! To truly be able to open up and show our love we need to know, without a doubt, that the other person feels the same way we do and is taking care of our heart. We are the caretakers of each other’s hearts. If the scales tip too far in one direction and one person ends up giving too much and sacrificing their own needs then this delicate equilibrium is upset, causing the relationship to falter and power to shift. This causes insecurity, neediness and doubt on one side and an uncomfortable feeling of having too much power on the other side. Of course, Libra does not just symbolise romantic relationships; rather he seeks to find balance, harmony and peace in all our relationships and interactions. John Lennon was a Libran and his songs “Give Peace a chance” and “Imagine” are the epitome of Libran’s longing for peace and harmony in the world. These are the kind of intentions we should be setting during this Moon. How can we create more harmony in our relationships and the world?

The most prevalent aspect during this New Moon is the trine between Jupiter in Leo and Uranus in Aries, which will be exact on the 26th September so it has been building in strength for the past couple of weeks. This trine is very positive indeed and signifies the potential for sudden opportunities for us to move forward and grow. It is important that we are open to whatever comes our way at this time and indeed, with Jupiter in Leo our greatest growth will come from having an open heart and childlike wonder. My sense is that the opportunities that come our way will occur as a result of a shift in our attitude, because it is often when we change the way we think about things that we allow positive changes to occur in our life.  Things that didn’t seem possible can suddenly become possible simply because we changed our attitude and approach towards them.  A positive attitude really does go a long way and our beliefs really do have the potential to affect our reality! This aspect could really teach us a lot about how we get in our own way and hold ourselves back from growth. It is like a breath of fresh air, allowing us to break through some barriers, but only if we are open and aware. Trines don’t happen to us; we have to make them happen.

Uranus is Aries is encouraging us to be utterly ourselves and stand true to our path; to not be afraid to be who we really are even if it means sticking out a bit. It may feel a little uncomfortable at first but it is very important to be true to ourselves. Jupiter wants us to grow and expand our hearts and will help us feel more courageous and confident. In Leo he wants us to be willing to take risks and not be afraid to express ourselves. Life is a bit more of a fun game with Jupiter in Leo! Combine the two together and we could find that we have a lovely boost to help us along our path! Mars in Sagittarius is also forming a positive aspect to this Moon, giving us a nice dose of self-confident optimism to help us move forward with our intentions. Mars will be joining in the party with Jupiter and Uranus soon, creating a Grand Fire Trine in the first week of October, so we can expect some exuberant, enthusiastic energy to ensue! This will coincide with the Full Moon/Total Lunar Eclipse in Aries, which promises to be an action packed Full Moon, that’s for sure! This New Moon feels like the calm before the storm, so we must enjoy it while we can and set some mindful intentions!

Pluto is incredibly potent during the Equinox and New Moon, because it stations direct just two hours before the Equinox, having been retrograde since April 14th. Pluto is the planet of power and transformation, who has a tendency to dig deep and reveal our innermost secrets, forcing us to face up to the not so pretty parts of ourselves and our lives. He is the planet who destroys anything that isn’t working and replaces it with something that resonates more with our soul’s path. During the retrograde period we have been going through a period of inner transformation and empowerment and now it is time for the changes to come out into the light and reveal themselves within our outer reality. It might be good to look back to April and think about where we were then and what we have learned since and what might have shifted internally. This was the time of the Cardinal Grand Cross, which was a turbulent and ground breaking time for many, myself included. Something that happened then might have significance now.

Pluto in Capricorn has been slowly revealing the flaws in our patriarchal system and power structures over the past few years, rocking the foundation and bringing some uncomfortable truths into the light regarding our societal, governmental institutions and corporations. They have become far more transparent and it has become far more apparent what is antiquated and simply not working anymore. This is Pluto’s job, to dig out the rot and replace it with something healthier, and Capricorn represents structure, the patriarchy, government and authority. Uranus in Aries has been forming a series of squares to Pluto since 2012, causing massive shifts, breakdowns and breakthroughs to occur on a collective and personal level. My people’s lives have changed considerably in that time.  Now Pluto is direct we will be gearing up for yet another of those squares, which will be exact on the 15th of December and will be very much activated by the Aries Full Moon on October 8th. I have written about the Pluto Uranus square in length….. PLUTO URANUS SQUARE

It is interesting that Pluto is at its most powerful this weekend, just as people are marching all over the world for Climate change. The people of the world are taking the power into their own hands and challenging the government and power structures to take responsibility for the future of Mother Earth. I wonder what might be revealed in the coming few days that has been hitherto contained or suppressed, both on a personal and collective level. That is what happens when Pluto turns direct; emotional truths and anything that has been kept in the shadows have the potential to come bursting out into the light. Just in time for the Equinox, when we have equal balance between Light and Dark and the Sun move into Libra, the sign of balance, depicted by the scales.

The Equinox packs a powerful punch and could be an incredibly revealing and transforming time, when we are forced to confront our shadows and release anything that isn’t serving us in order to move through the gateway into the light. We should not be surprised if certain truths are revealed at this time which are quite shocking and cathartic. The Libra New Moon, however, is a wonderful time to set intentions for our relationships and really think about how we can make them better. A relationship is made up of two halves that make up a whole and we are responsible for our half of it alone. As such, this New Moon is a perfect time to reflect on our relationships and consider what we truly want for them and how we can make them more harmonious. When we set an intention it sets an energetic ball in motion which has the power to manifest very quickly indeed. Libran intentions should focus on how to bring more balance, harmony, peace and love into our lives and the world. It is the sign of Other, so we should definitely think about how we can create a more loving reality. There is something so beautiful and fulfilling about knowing we have made another person happy! Now is a chance to contemplate just how we can do that. Plant the seeds and watch them grow!

Much Love

Amy

xoxo

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 will get down
on their knees

And while so tenderly
Holding their lover's 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

Exact at 2.38am BST (Tues), and at 9.39pm EDT (Mon)

This is a very powerful Moon indeed as not only is it the last of three supermoons this summer but is has some amazing potential for healing some incredibly deep wounds. This particular Moon falls on the healing axis, Virgo and Pisces, and also has Chiron, the Wounded Healer, sitting right on top of the Pisces  Moon. This means that Chiron is opposite the Sun which could cause some old wounds and insecurities to be triggered by those closest to us over the course of this week. This aspect will be exact as the Moon is at her fullest and has been building since Monday, causing considerable pain, depression and a feeling of being overwhelmed for many. It is important to see this as a gift rather than allowing ourselves to be swallowed up by it. Old fears, pain, trauma, insecurities, shame and guilt could come to the surface in order for us to become more aware of how they are ruling us and holding us back. We will really have the chance to find the source of our pain so we have a better chance of healing it. There is a certain tenderness to this Full Moon which is quite beautiful and can really help us connect to others in a spirit of empathy, compassion and love.

We have the chance during this Moon to shine the light of forgiveness and compassion on our wounds so we can release and let go of them. It may be emotional but ultimately it has the potential to be incredibly cathartic and freeing. It is important to remember that anything we let go of at this time is simply not serving us so we mustn’t try to cling to it.  Instead we must have the faith that it will eventually be replaced by something far better for us. The good news is that Saturn in Scorpio is supporting us as we do this, helping us to recognise the root of our pain and where we are holding ourselves back though fear or lack of trust. Saturn in Scorpio challenges us to acknowledge our vulnerability and fear of loss, or indeed anything that is holding us back from experiencing true intimacy with ourselves and others. He also makes us very aware of how we give our power away and what makes us feel powerless. It is hard to dig so deep into the shadows that we unearth our deepest, darkest fears, shame and guilt, but if there is any time to do such work it is during this Moon! There is an enormous amount of support around for such a process to take place.

The Sun is currently in humble and helpful Virgo and will be sitting directly opposite the Moon in sensitive and compassionate Pisces for this Full Moon. We are being asked to find the balance between the energy of the two signs. Virgo season is the time when we go “back to school” and contemplate a set of healthy routines for ourselves. Virgo is extremely health conscious and strives for a sense of purity, constantly trying to improve herself. Taken to the extreme it can make her very self-critical and perfectionistic. She likes to make sense of things and wants to finds ways to fix them if they are not working. Her ultimate goal is to make the system work more efficiently, whatever system that might be. She is well practiced in the art of discernment and is really good at weeding out what isn’t working for us. Ultimately she wants to be of service to the world and will make herself very busy helping people out. Her humility is one of her most beautiful traits. She genuinely sees herself as one tiny weeny pebble in amongst the millions and squillions of other pebbles in the world; a tiny cog in the big machine, serving something much bigger than herself.

While Virgo can get a bit bogged down in the details, Pisces instinctively sees the bigger picture and how we are all connected. With Pisces we get a feeling of unity; a sense that we are all one. While Virgo is quite logical and left-brained, Pisces is intuitive, imaginative and very much right-brained. Things don’t necessarily make sense with Pisces but somehow she just knows. Life is full of delightful paradoxes as far as she is concerned! ! Virgo likes to define, while Pisces knows that some things simply aren’t definable. While Virgo likes to arrange everything into neat little boxes so that it all makes sense and is in order, Pisces is boundless, limitless and somewhat chaotic.  Indeed, Pisces often has a problem with boundaries and finds it hard to say no or to know where they end and other people begin. This is how she can find herself in the role of the scapegoat, martyr, doormat or victim. While Virgo likes to maintain some sense of control, Pisces tends to just go with the flow of the river, keeping the faith that she will be guided in the right direction. This can sometimes make her feel like a helpless leaf being blown around in the wind, at the mercy of the fates.

Both signs genuinely want to help us heal. Virgo likes to analyse and understand what might not be working and focuses on the function of the body.  She wants to fix the problem. She does have a good sense of mind over matter and definitely takes a holistic approach. Pisces, however, doesn’t really have to think about it. She can place her hands on someone, for instance, and can just “feel” where they are out of balance. The underlying cause may not make sense rationally, but Pisces will receive messages that help us understand intuitively where the imbalance or “dis-ease” stems from. This Full Moon could make us very aware of where we might be out of balance and will bring to the surface anything that we might have been avoiding. Full Moons do tend to bring everything to a head and this one will be no exception! As I said, Chiron is sitting next to the Moon in Pisces, helping us to look at whatever comes up with tenderness and compassion so that we can truly forgive ourselves and others and just let go! This is an amazing time for meditation, dream work, massage, energy healing, acupuncture, dancing, painting, creating, singing; anything we can do to encourage healing and release. It is, quite simply, a healing moon.

Full Moons do tend to bring up anything that might have been bubbling below the surface in the realm of our relationships. Emotions ride high at this time and reach a climax as the Moon becomes full. Venus, the planet of love and relating, is forming an opposition to Neptune in Pisces, which could make us much more sensitive to the needs of our partners. We are likely to be much more tender and compassionate with our loved ones at this time and will be more concerned with a higher, unconditional love. Venus has just left romantic and expressive Leo and is now in Virgo, who wants to figure out how to make our relationships work in practical ways. She shows her affection and love through the little things she does day to day rather than Leo’s more demonstrative and heartfelt displays of affection! The opposition to Neptune, the planet of illusion, could make it hard to see our relationships clearly as we will tend to see what we want to see rather than what is really there. Watch out for rose tinted spectacles because they can be deceiving! It does also hold the promise of a higher love that is very gentle, spiritual and tender in nature. It is a good time to think about how we can be kinder to one another and make our loved ones’ lives easier.

In the meantime, good news lies ahead! Jupiter in Leo is forming a beautiful, harmonious trine aspect to Uranus in Aries which will be building all month and closest to exact on the 26th of September! This holds the promise of sudden opportunities and spurts of growth as somehow we are better able to step outside of our comfort zones into the unknown. The two planets are in Fire signs, which could make things very exciting and bring a spirit of enthusiasm and exuberant optimism to the picture. Unexpected occurrences and opportunities could be the catalyst for growth and breaking out of any ruts we might be in. This really is an excellent time to take a risk or two because it could actually pay off.  The universe always likes us to take chances anyway, hence “beginner’s luck”!

Jupiter in Leo is encouraging us to be brave and confident and not be afraid to express ourselves in all our glory. Our greatest growth will come through opening our hearts and showing generosity of spirit. Uranus in Aries wants us to stand up and be counted and to not be afraid to be who we really, truly are, no matter what people might think. When you combine the two you can see that we could free our hearts and bring a sense of exuberant liberation, wild love and infectious optimism, as well as the potential for breaking out of stagnation! It is important to be open to any opportunities that come our way during this time. This trine will recur three times in the coming months – firstly on the 26th of Sept, then on 1st March 2015 and one final time on 23 June 2015. I, for one, am not complaining about this in the slightest! It is one of the most positive aspects there is!

I am definitely feeling good about this Moon, even though the lead up to it has brought up a considerable amount of pain, fear, confusion, isolation, powerlessness, depression and overwhelming sadness for some people. The wounds of humanity  and the collective unconscious are coming to the surface with Chiron in Pisces; pain, fears and insecurities that we all share, no matter who were are and what we have been through. We have all experienced loss, grief, fear, guilt, betrayal and sadness in one form or another. Pisces is profoundly compassionate and empathetic and this Full Moon will bring these traits to the fore in all of us. It is hard to truly feel empathetic towards someone else’s suffering unless we have suffered ourselves. It is important for us to trust our intuition at this time and heed the little voice that may be a faint whisper and may not make much sense  but can tell us so much. As can our dreams.

Pisces does like to escape or transcend reality when it becomes too “real” or painful and is prone to seeking refuge in drugs, alcohol, sleep, television, computer games; anything that allows her to exit stage left! We must be aware of this tendency during this Full Moon, because it is not the answer. Luckily Saturn in Scorpio is supporting the Moon, helping us face reality and our shadows and also keeping us grounded. There are amazing opportunities for healing right now, so I would encourage seeking out some kind of healing therapy because the potential for releasing old pain is tremendous. Above all, it is important that we are kind to ourselves and others throughout this week. People might be feeling quite open and vulnerable so we must all treat each other with the kindness and compassion that we would like to receive ourselves. As Pisces knows all too well, we are all in this together!

Much  love

Amy

xoxo

Artwork: Love and Light by Amy Bird