Amy Bird Art and Astrology
  • Home
  • About me
  • Astrology
  • Testimonials
  • Workshops
  • Paintings
  • Photography
  • Blog
  • Contact me

ARIES NEW MOON - 21 March 2023

3/18/2023

0 Comments

 
Picture
Exact at 5.23pm UK time (GMT)
 
This is the first New Moon of the astrological year and is occurring in the very first degree of the whole zodiac!  It also directly follows the Vernal Equinox, which is on Monday. Aries is the first sign of the zodiac, so this New Moon is the ultimate New Moon, a time of new beginnings and fresh starts, when we have a chance to plant some metaphorical seeds and watch them grow. This is the ideal time to give birth to something new, whatever that may be. It could be an idea, a concept, a project, a business, a relationship, a new belief or an intention. Whatever it may be, this is a very powerful Moon for starting something new and being brave enough to step out of our comfort zone. I have often wondered whether beginner’s luck is simply the universe rewarding us for daring to try something new!
 
Aries is the pioneer in us, the part of us that has the courage to start fresh and to take the first step along the path less travelled. It is an enthusiastic, independent, forthright, brave and assertive sign that is well versed in the art of self-love. Aries encourages us to trust our instincts and to act on our impulses. This is the sign that acts first and thinks later, but also reminds us that it is better to try and fail than to not try at all. We all experience fear and self-doubt, but Aries encourages us to feel the fear and do it anyway. Without Aries’ initial spark of enthusiasm, motivation, courage and energy, we would never start anything or try anything new! This New Moon feels like the ultimate spark to ignite a raging fire, so it is important to be clear about what we are birthing during this time.
 
Mars, the ruler of this Aries Moon, is forming a challenging square aspect to the Sun and Moon, although it is “out of sign” as it has not quite reached Cancer. The Sun in Pisces and Mars in Gemini will be squaring off against each other for most of the week leading up to the New Moon, which could prod us to be brave enough to take a risk and to contemplate what we might want to create at the New Moon. These are two masculine energies and can bring a great deal of energy, courage, enthusiasm, motivation and the capacity to assert ourselves. This combination can also bring up anger, impatience and the potential for acting and reacting from ego. However, Mars’s influence can certainly push us to do things that we might usually shy away from and to face up to things that we might have been putting off.
 
Saturn is supporting Mars with a harmonious trine that will be exact on 30 March. The planet of commitment, reality, control, responsibility and discipline teaming up with the planet of action, motivation and courage seems like a good recipe for some focused hard work that has the potential for creating something of lasting value. This pairing can help us to act based on a realistic assessment of the situation and to be willing to put in the time to make things happen. Saturn reminds us that things don’t necessarily happen overnight, but may require patience, persistence and commitment in order to bring them to fruition.
 
Saturn entered Pisces on 7 March and holds the potential for helping to make our dreams concrete and making the spiritual dimensions more tangible and “real”. It could also peel away any illusions, forcing us to take off the rose-tinted spectacles and see things as they really are, rather than how we imagine them to be. This could be a very helpful yet rather uncomfortable experience! There is also the potential for Pisces somehow dissolving the Saturnian structures and old, antiquated systems, while on the other hand, those in authority could use propaganda and Pisces illusion as a form of control.
 
It is a strange pairing, but it could be rather profound and karmic time, as the lord of Karma goes through the last sign of the zodiac, a sign of endings. We could be forced to face the skeletons in the closet and make the unconscious more conscious. The next couple of years could be a good opportunity to control our self-defeating and self-sabotaging tendencies.
 
Pluto is also about to change signs, on 23 March, having been in Capricorn since 2008. This could bring a significant shift of energy, as the planet of soul, power, subconscious, death, rebirth and transformation moves into humanitarian, revolutionary and freedom loving Aquarius, where it will reside until 2043. Aquarius is a very different energy to Capricorn, that’s for sure! Capricorn represents structures, authority, government, the patriarchy and the rules and regulations by which society lives. Pluto has slowly but surely been exposing the rot in the structures over the past fifteen years and has made the dark side of the patriarchal system more and more visible and apparent. Agendas have been brought out into the light and corruption simply cannot be swept under the carpet anymore. The old way is crumbling, making the way for something new.
 
Enter Pluto in Aquarius, a humanitarian sign that questions the rules and regulations and believes in equality, brotherhood and sisterhood. It could be a rather uncomfortable time for those in authority, as Aquarius questions and challenges any antiquated structures, unfair hierarchies, corrupt corporations and any bureaucracy or suppressive rules that make no sense or favour those in control. Any imbalances in these areas do have the potential to bring about uprisings and revolutions, as Aquarius is a sign that is for the people, not the state. Pluto could also mean that we become more aware of the shadow side of technology and how it can be used for power, manipulation and control, which could lead to some kind of detoxification in this area and some kind of solution. Pluto can really expose the darkness around technology, despite the convenience it seems to offer.
 
Pluto in Aquarius does bring the potential for helping humanity transform into a more cooperative community, whereby we share resources and change our mindset so that there is more cooperation, fair exchanges, equality and a greater sense of community. It is quite likely that there will be more grassroots cooperatives popping up as people seek to find an alternative way of living to the current system that seems to be crumbling around us. It will be interesting to see what occurs as Pluto shifts from Capricorn into Aquarius, as they are such different energies! Aquarius is all about innovation, progression, revolution, change, equality, freedom – a direct reaction against the Capricorn rules, structures, governments, traditions and patriarchal values that Pluto has been slowly but surely detoxing over the past few years. 
 
Those of us with planets or angles around 29° or 0° of a sign will feel the energy of this shift more acutely. At the moment Pluto is sitting at the very end of Capricorn, so anyone with planets and angles around 29° of Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn will be feeling the transforming power of Pluto most strongly, as it strips away self-deceit and helps us to face our shadows. When Pluto slips into Aquarius it will activate any planets or angles around 0° of a sign, especially the fixed signs of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius.  This could bring quite a shift, which could be quite exciting or quite unsettling, depending on what way we look at it! We could be called to release and liberate ourselves from old patterns and any unhealthy programming and conditioning that simply no longer serve us. This could feel quite freeing, empowering and enlivening!
 
The Sabian symbol for this Moon, at 1° Aries, is a powerful one: “A woman just risen from the sea. A seal is embracing her”, which Dane Rudyar describes as “Emergence of new forms and of the potentiality of consciousness. This is the first of the 360 phases of a universal and multi-level cyclic process, which aims at the actualisation of a particular set of potentialities. These potentialities, in the Sabian symbols, refer to the development of man’s individualised consciousness – the consciousness of being an individual person with a place and function (a destiny) in the planetary organism of the Earth, and in a particular type of human society and culture. To be individually conscious means to emerge out of the sea of generic and collective consciousness – which to the emerged mind appears to be unconsciousness. Such an emergence is the primary event. It is the result of some basic action: a leaving behind, an emerging from a womb or matrix, here symbolised by the sea. Such an action is not to be considered a powerful, positive statement of individual being. In the beginning is the Act: but it is often an imperceptible, insecure act. The tender germ out of the seed does not loudly proclaim its existence. It has to pierce through the crust of the soil still covered with the remains of the past.”
 
This symbol brings the sense of a new beginning, whereby we try something new on for size. There is a strong feeling of rebirth at the moment, with such a powerful New Moon combined with Pluto, the planet of death and rebirth moving into Aquarius, the sign of change and progression. What needs to die in order for something else to be birthed in its place? What are we leaving behind that no longer serves us? What do we yearn for the most and yet also fear the most? It is time to move towards it, planting the seeds, stepping out of our comfort zone and embracing the new, despite any fear or uncertainty we may have. When the seedling pierces out of the ground for the first time it has no idea what awaits it, but it does it anyway. So must we have courage and faith that whatever happens we will be ok. Aries reminds us that is better to have tried and failed than to never try at all. Plant the seed and watch it grow!
 
Much love
 
Amy
xoxo
 
Picture: “Seed of Renewal by Pyro Helfier
 


0 Comments

VIRGO FULL MOON / SATURN ENTERS PISCES - 7 March 2023

3/2/2023

1 Comment

 
Picture
Exact at 12.40pm UK time (GMT)
 
This certainly is a noteworthy Full Moon, not least because Saturn moves from Aquarius into Pisces less than an hour after the Moon reaches its peak. When a heavyweight planet such as Saturn moves signs it can bring about a shift of energy as the focus moves from one sign to another. Full Moons are also highly energetic by nature, as things tend to come to a head as the Moon reaches its fullest expression, bringing the unconscious out into the light of the conscious. There is a great deal of healing energy around during this Moon, as Virgo and Pisces represent the healing axis, not to mention that expansive Jupiter and Chiron the Wounded Healer are moving towards each other to form an exact conjunction that will peak on 12 March. This could be a very beneficial time to be doing some healing work!
 
We are right in the middle of Pisces season, with the Sun moving through this sensitive, dreamy, fluid, imaginative, receptive, compassionate and empathetic sign. This is a good time for turning inward and spending time in quiet contemplation, communing with nature, meditating and finding a way to connect with the divine. We could feel more sensitive and porous than usual, as we soak up other people’s energy like sponges. As such, time spent alone to regroup and recentre is essential.
 
And then we have this Virgo Moon, sitting directly opposite the Sun, calling for us to find some balance between the energy of Pisces and Virgo. Virgo is the part of us that seeks to be of service and loves to help others. We might tend to be too hard on ourselves at times, however, criticising ourselves and others and seeking impossible perfection, which is where Pisces comes in, to remind us that we are perfect in our imperfection and to accept ourselves and others as we are. However, the Pisces part of us can easily put the rose-tinted spectacles on and only see what we want to see, blinding us to some pretty big flaws! Virgo, on the other hand, offers us the gift of discernment and discrimination, helping us to separate the wheat from the chaff. Both signs naturally want to help others, and so this Moon could bring to the fore the themes of devotion, service, empathy, healing and helping.
 
It is interesting, contemplating the interplay between these two signs and how they spark off each other. Virgo is the sign of work, health and daily routines – the part of us that seeks to improve ourselves and “do better”. It is often when we are presented with a crisis, health or otherwise, that we are forced to confront ourselves and do the necessary inner and outer work to improve our situation. Sometimes a crisis literally has the capacity to bring us to our knees, so that we reach out to the divine in desperation to ask for help, guidance and some kind of sign that we are not alone. This is Pisces domain – connection to all that is, unity, faith, spirit and oneness. Virgo crises can offer us an amazing spiritual gift, a gateway, if we are open to it. At the very least, they can force us to turn inward and spend more time alone, helping to connect to our inner Pisces.
 
A Virgo Moon can bring about inner analysis that can help us to recognise where and how we might be out of balance physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. It is a good opportunity for some beautiful healing to occur. This Moon is also helped by a supportive trine from Uranus, the Great Awakener and harbinger of change. Uranus can help jolt us into a greater awareness of what needs to change, bringing profound insights that can really help us to shift out of unhealthy mindsets, beliefs, habits and routines. Uranus has the potential to liberate us from any conditioning and programming that simply no longer serves us. As such, this Moon could really help us to make some positive changes that put us onto a healthier trajectory.
 
Jupiter is also moving towards Chiron the Wounded Healer in Aries, as I mentioned before. This feels like a very beneficial time for recognising and looking at our core wounds, as Jupiter enables us to see the bigger picture and to grow significantly, as long as we are willing to do the inner work. We may find that we receive some higher wisdom and guidance that helps us to confront the painful bits that we might usually prefer not to look at. Someone or something could help us to gain a broader perspective on old issues that have followed us through our life, connecting the dots in a way that might not have been possible before now. Jupiter can also expand or magnify our wounded nature, making them seem bigger somehow, although this can of course be beneficial. Sometimes our sore spots need to be triggered for true understanding and healing to occur.
 
Anyone with personal planets or angles close to 14° of a sign will feel the energy of this conjunction most acutely, especially the cardinal signs of Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn. Chiron doesn’t only represent our wounds – it also represents our highest potential, linking our earthly self with our higher self. This conjunction brings the potential for significant healing and spiritual growth to occur, as we are given the gift of understanding, as if something that has hitherto been missing somehow clicks into place and we are given a glimpse of our place in the grand scheme of things.
 
Meanwhile, Saturn, the lord of Karma, moves into Pisces, the last sign of the zodiac, where he will remain until 2026. Saturn teaches us that we reap what we sow, and so this could be a very karmic time; a time of reckoning, whereby we atone for any past discrepancies and mistakes, tying up any loose ends and facing any skeletons in the closet so that we can start fresh and do things the right way. It is very interesting that Saturn moves into Pisces on the day of the Virgo Full Moon, a sign known for cleansing and purifying! We could be called to become more accountable, while Saturn moves through the final sign, taking our spiritual path more seriously and becoming more disciplined around our spiritual practice, helping us to live up to our true potential. On the other hand, Saturn can block, control and restrict the Pisces flow, which could feel quite repressive.
 
Pisces is the part of us that dreams, imagines and feels inspired, so Saturn has the capacity to turn our dreams and fantasies into something concrete. Pisces also represents the collective unconscious – that invisible thread that connects us all. It knows nothing of boundaries. Saturn is the planet of fear, caution, limitation, control, structure, restrictions and boundaries. These are two very different energies! It is possible that fear could spread through the collective unconscious, or there could be attempts to control through subtle means and to create more and more boundaries that make us feel separate from one another. However, Pisces could potentially soften Saturn’s hard edges, and the power of a unified collective could wear away at any control that those in authority may seek to exert.
 
One thing that is very important is to watch ourselves when it comes to fear. We all feel fear, from time to time, but it is important not to dwell in it or allow it to overwhelm us. When we are in fear we are more easily controlled.  Pisces is our faith and trust that we are being guided in the right direction. Saturn could easily put a dampener on that, although it can also help us to see things as they are rather than dwelling in our fantasy of how things could be. Saturn in Pisces can also help us to truly take responsibility for those in need, in the spirit of compassionate service.
 
The Sabian symbol for this Moon is a very powerful one, at 17° Virgo: “A volcanic eruption”, which Dane Rudyar describes as “The explosive energy of long-repressed contents of the subconscious. We are dealing here with the dramatic release of energies which have been kept in check by the outer shell of the ego-controlled consciousness. It may be a spectacular catharsis, but it often takes paths of destruction. Yet unless some form of purification by fire is experienced, the inner pressure of the karmic past, or of more recent frustrations would shake up perhaps even more destructively the very foundations of the personality. Everything must be released from the psyche seeking to attain the transfigured state. The soul must become empty, the mind translucent. The Keyword is EXPLOSION.”
 
Well, that is quite a symbol! It also has some resonance with the energy of Saturn in Pisces. What might have been building within us that needs to be released? What have we been trying to control or keep a lid on? This Moon could blow the lid off, by the sounds of it! Mars is forming a wide challenging square to the Sun and Moon, which could force things out into the open or cause anger to erupt. We also have Uranus playing such a big part in the Moon, helping to liberate and release stuck energy and bringing the potential for some kind of shake-up. It is possible that we have been holding onto something that needs to be brought out rather than being suppressed so that it becomes insidiously destructive. There is also the potential for something coming out in the world stage that causes shock waves. This is one powerful Moon, that is for sure! There seems to be the potential for cleansing, purifying, releasing, understanding, healing, expanding and exploding!
 
Much Love
 
Amy
xoxo
 
Picture: Vesuvius by Andy Warhol
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

1 Comment

PISCES NEW MOON - 20 February 2023

2/18/2023

0 Comments

 
Picture
Exact at 7.05am UK time (GMT)
 
This New Moon is occurring in the final sign of the zodiac, Pisces, a dreamy, sensitive, compassionate sign that encapsulates all the other signs of the zodiac. Pisces invites us to surrender, to let go, to move beyond our limiting, fearful egos and allow ourselves to be guided by the invisible force that connects us all. Pisces is the part of us that can use our imagination to dream things into being, and so this New Moon invites us to turn inward and contemplate what we truly wish for ourselves and the world. What the mind can conceive the body can achieve! It is a good time to pay attention to our dreams, as they could be more vivid than usual and may hold important information for our waking life. This is a good time to be aware of any subtle signs, messages or omens that could help us to find our way.
 
Pisces is the part of us that has the capacity to tune into how other people are feeling. People with a lot of Pisces energy in their chart tend to be quite thin-skinned, sensitive, compassionate, intuitive and empathetic. Pisces invites us to spend time in quiet contemplation, to meditate, to rest, to spend time in nature, to have a bath, to swim in a serene lake, to listen to the sound of wind and the birds, to watch the leaves rustling on the trees, a river rushing by, the ebb and flow of the tides. Similarly, time spent alone enables us to re-centre, to come back to ourselves, to cleanse our energetic system and to be able to listen to the whispers of our soul. This is a good time to slow down and focus on what truly holds meaning in our lives and what brings the greatest sense of fulfilment on a spiritual level.
 
A few days before the New Moon, on the 16th February, the Sun passes by Saturn in Aquarius before moving into Pisces late on 18 Feb. This could make things feel a bit heavy and “real”, although this will probably have abated by the New Moon itself. Saturn is at the very end of Aquarius now, getting ready to move into Pisces on 7 March. As it moves towards the end, we may feel the energy of Saturn in Aquarius more acutely. Saturn went into Aquarius in March 2020, just as the lockdowns started. Saturn is the planet of authority, control, suppression, boundaries, accountability, responsibility, hard work and limitations. Aquarius represents the group, friendships, community, technology and the capacity to rebel or protest. In the past couple of years we have certainly seen Saturnian control, limitation and curtailing in all of these areas of Aquarius. One of the most noticeable has been the increased use of technology as a form of authoritarian control, as well as the fear of what that might mean for the future.
 
It will be interesting to see what will happen as Saturn travels through Pisces, the sign of faith, compassion, flow, and devotion. It certainly does bring the potential for some kind of authoritarian control in the area of faith and religion.  Saturn is a completely different energy to Pisces, as it contretises, blocks, limits, controls and makes things real and solid, while Pisces is fluid by nature and hard to pin down. It is interesting to contemplate. How does one make the flowing Pisces energy solid?
 
On the one hand Saturn could provide a solid container for our faith and connection to the divine, making it feel more real and defined somehow. We may find ourselves more disciplined when it comes to our spiritual path. On the other hand, we could experience our hope, faith and trust being squashed or suppressed, or we could feel overwhelmed by fear, as our imaginations run wild in all sorts of dark directions. Pisces likes to escape reality and enjoy a bit of fantasy, while Saturn forces us to see things as they really are. Saturn could make us question what is real and what is illusion, smoke screens or propaganda. Saturn can also help us to turn our Piscean dreams and fantasies into something real and concrete, giving them form and helping to make the impossible possible. It can also help us to take responsibility for our lives instead of dwelling in victimhood and imagining that we are at the mercy of forces bigger than us.
 
At the same time, Pluto is also about to leave Capricorn on 23 March, where it has been since 2008. Again, the energy could feel stronger as Pluto moves towards the end of Capricorn. Pluto is the planet of power, soul growth and transformation, the planet that takes us on a trip into the underworld and forces us to confront the shadows within ourselves and the world, and by doing this we can come back with some hidden treasure. Capricorn is the sign of the patriarchy, government, authority, societal structures, and career.
 
Since 2008, Pluto has been exposing and detoxing the flaws and decaying structures in the patriarchal system that we are living in, making us all too aware of the corruption, the darkness, the imbalance and abuse of power within the systems that govern us. At this point it is impossible to avoid seeing it. As we move towards 23 March, when Pluto moves into humanitarian, revolutionary, visionary Aquarius, we could find that the energy of Pluto in Capricorn increases and more shadows come out into the light to be detoxified. It is the final purge of the Capricorn power structures, enabling us to see the cracks more clearly, whether we like it or not. It will be interesting to see what happens as Saturn moves from Aquarius into Pisces and then Pluto moves from Capricorn into Aquarius, as we could experience some kind of energetic shift.
 
During this Moon, Mercury is quite prevalent, with Uranus forming a dynamic, challenging square to the planet of mind and communication, and Chiron and Mars forming helpful, supportive aspects. Uranus could mean that we receive a message that shocks us, or some information that forces us to see things from a different perspective. Uranus can bring realisations and insights that jolt us into higher awareness. Chiron could bring honest, open, healing conversations and, together with Mars, the ability to bring thorny issues out into the open. Mars helps us to have the courage to speak our minds in a candid and direct manner and to make strong decisions.  Mercury is currently in Aquarius, helping us to think outside of the box and gain fresh perspective on old problems. Aquarius is a progressive, visionary sign that can help us to come up with some interesting solutions and see things differently.
 
Neptune, the ruler of this Pisces Moon, has been sitting right next to Venus in Pisces for the past few days and the energy peaked on 15 February. It is still in effect during his Moon, although not as strong. Neptune is the higher octave of Venus, bringing the potential for unconditional love and true connection within our relationships that helps us to take our guards down. Pluto is also forming a supportive sextile to Venus that is exact on the day of the New Moon, helping us to be emotionally honest and deepen our relationships, possibly by owning our shadows and showing one another those parts of ourselves that we might usually hide. Venus is in the very last degree of the zodiac during this Moon, which is a special place indeed. The day after she will move from sensitive, compassionate Pisces into independent, forthright Aries, shifting the energy considerably!
 
The Sabian symbol for this Moon, at 2° Pisces, is an interesting one: “A squirrel, hiding from hunters”, which Dane Rudyar describes as “The individual’s need both to ensure his future subsistence and to protect himself from aggressive social elements. The squirrel not only has to hide and store food for the winter, but to be on the lookout for the dangers involved in gathering this food supply. Social processes always cast strong shadows. The individual is never certain of being safe among his fellowmen, once the process of individualisation – with its negative aspects, competition, social aggressivity and greed – forces the breakdown of the organic tribal state of mankind during the archaic ages. This symbol warns of the dangers of life in society during an era of exacerbated individualism, when violence is a possibility never to be dismissed. The need for SELF-PROTECTION and caution is ever present”.
 
Well, this symbol seems very relevant considering all that is happening in the world right now! It would be so easy to fall into fear and to feel as if there is something out to get us, whether that is real or not. And that is the thing about Pisces, sometimes we can imagine things that aren’t real. We can also feel like a leaf being blown around in the wind, at the mercy of forces that we have no control of. However, Pisces calls for us to keep the faith and trust that we are somehow being guided in the right direction and that ultimately the light always prevails over the darkness. This Moon seems to be asking us to turn inwards and to conserve our energy, making sure we get enough rest and to pay attention to our dreams. Pisces season is sleepy time, a time for rest and daydreaming and seeing where our imagination takes us. Pisces reminds us that we have the capacity to co-create our own reality, so what can we dream up for ourselves and the planet?
 
Much Love
 
Amy
xoxo
 
Picture: Dreamworlds by Susan Seddon Boulet

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
0 Comments

LEO FULL MOON - 5 February 2023

2/2/2023

1 Comment

 
Picture
Exact at 6.28pm UK time (GMT)
 
This Moon could be quite enlivening, as not only is it an enthusiastic fire sign Full Moon but electrifying Uranus is playing a big part. Full Moons always have the capacity to bring some big emotions to the surface and this one is no exception. Leo is the part of us that likes to express ourselves, whether that be though singing, dancing, playing, playing music, creating or simply by shouting out to the world that we are here! As such, this Moon could help us to express our emotions in whatever way is necessary. Leo is certainly no wilting wallflower, so our emotions could even come out like a lion’s roar!
 
Leo invites us to connect to our heart and contemplate what brings us our greatest joy. We are encouraged to connect to the playful child within us and to follow our bliss, doing whatever feels really good to us. Leo reminds us that we are the master of our own destiny and have the power to create our own reality. While the Aquarius part of us has the ideas and visions of how to create a better world, our inner Leo can actually get stuck in there and make it happen. Aquarius season can help us to think outside of the box and break free of restrictions, programming and unhealthy patterns, while this Leo Moon could help us to let out our frustrations, get things off our chest and express what is in our hearts.
 
Sometimes we can get a bit stuck in our hum drum reality, finding it hard to see beyond our real or imagined limitations. This Full Moon, with the revolutionary, visionary Aquarius Sun and playful, creative Leo Moon, can help us to have some fun envisioning the kind of life we truly wish for if there were nothing holding us back and no obstacles in our way. And when it comes down to it, what is preventing us from creating our ideal life and going after what we truly want? Often it is simply fear of change, or the inability to see beyond our current reality, or a lack of imagination, or too much attachment to feeling safe and secure. This Moon invites us to simply play and get creative, contemplating what we would be doing if we were to trust and follow our hearts.
 
Uranus is forming a dynamic, challenging square to the Sun and Moon, which has to potential to bring some change, liberation and excitement into our lives, especially for those of us with personal planets or angles around 15° of a sign, although the fixed signs of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius will feel it the most. Uranus is the Great Awakener, with the power to jolt us into a greater awareness and authentic way of being. “To thine own self be true” is Uranus’ motto, although of course that is easier said than done! To be utterly real and unapologetically ourselves can sometimes rub other people up the wrong way or make us feel like we stick out like a sore thumb. It is easier to conform, people please and simply meld in, but this comes at a price.
 
Uranus is the part of us that is not afraid to stand up and show who we really, truly are, beyond the conditioning from society and our parents. Wherever it is found in our chart shows where we need the freedom do things differently and where we tend not to conform. With Uranus playing such a big part during this Moon we could find ourselves prompted to step out of our comfort zones and invite change in, even if it threatens our sense of security. Uranus energy is exciting and electrifying, but it can also be unsettling, bringing shocks and wake up calls that break things down so that we can experience a breakthrough. Ultimately it can help us to break down any unhealthy patterns and remind us who we really, truly are, beyond all of the parental and societal expectations. Uranus asks us to be utterly authentic.
 
Venus and Mars are also squaring off against each other during this Moon, which could be interesting for our relationships. Passions could run high and there is the potential for any problems within our relationships to become heightened, possibly even to the point of conflict. It could be good for sex, however!  Anyone with personal planets or angles around 11° of a sign, especially the mutable signs of Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces, will feel this the most acutely. Venus has recently moved into Pisces, helping us to connect to one another without the usual walls and imbuing our relationships with kindness, compassion, empathy and sensitive awareness. However, Mars’s influence during this Moon could heat things up a bit!
 
From around 8 February onwards, Venus will be moving towards a conjunction with Neptune, the ruler of Pisces, exact on 15 February, which will very much heighten the energy of Venus in Pisces. Neptune is the higher octave of Venus, so this combination brings the potential for unconditional love and a more spiritual, connected way of relating, with true tenderness and compassion. Neptune is also the planet of illusion, deception, fantasy and confusion, so all of this is also possible! We could have rose-tinted specs on when it comes to our relationships, seeing what we want to see rather than the real person and their flawed humanity. However, in their highest vibration, Neptune and Venus can help us to connect to one another heart to heart, with sensitivity, vulnerability and acceptance of all that we are. This conjunction occurs at 24° Pisces.
 
Another important combination of planets that is forming during this Moon is a conjunction between powerful, compulsive, soulful Pluto and Mercury, the planet of the mind and communication. The energy of this conjunction will build in strength until 10 February, when it will peak. This can lead to some obsessive thought processes and deep thinking, and can also help us to see and understand our psychological complexes as well as the hidden motivations of others. Pluto strips away self-deceit, so this transit could really help us to understand ourselves better. It can also bring about some penetrating discussions that really get to the heart of the matter, uncovering material that we might not usually be willing to confront.
 
The conversations we have in the build up to this conjunction are unlikely to be superficial, rather they will involve some emotional honesty and a willingness to dig deeper and expose what lies beneath the surface, behind the façade. Those of us with personal planets or angles around 28° of a sign, especially the cardinal signs of Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn, will feel the raw, honest, penetrating energy of this conjunction the most acutely. It will be interesting to see what information comes to light in the next week or so.
 
The Sabian symbol for this Moon, at 17° Leo, is: “A volunteer church choir singing religious hymns”, which Dane Rudyar describes as “The feeling of togetherness which unites men and women in their dedication to a collective ideal. Religion in its institutionalised aspect is the attempt to give a transcendental character to the feeling of community. The fellowship of common work, needed for substance and security in a dangerous world, is exalted in periodic rituals in which the co-workers participate. At such moments the consciousness and feelings of human beings flow into a common mould in which they become refreshed by the experience of shared values and beliefs. The existence of a volunteer church choir implies a rather steady phase of culture and society. What is sung reflects the special way in which a particular community of human beings – extensive as it may be – interprets the deepest realities of human existence and man’s longings for an ideal. The symbol expresses the idealised aspect of TOGETHERNESS”.
 
This symbol reminds us of what can happen when we all come together for a common cause or ideal. It seems as if this could be the perfect Moon to gather together in groups and chant or sing from our hearts. Aquarius is a very humanitarian sign that truly believes in One Love and wants to create a better world for us all. Leo is a very expressive and creative sign that encourages us to listen to our hearts and follow our joy. Venus in Pisces helps us to remember that we are all connected, not separate as we might sometimes believe. This feels like a recipe for a Full Moon that unites us all and brings us together to bring into being the life we truly wish to create. This could be a very good weekend to get the paints, crayons or musical instruments out, or to find somewhere to join together with others and sing, dance, play and express all that is in our hearts. Let our inner child run free!
 
Much Love
 
Amy
xoxo
 
Painting: Unknown
 

1 Comment

AQUARIUS NEW MOON / CHINESE NEW YEAR OF THE RABBIT - 21 January 2023

1/18/2023

0 Comments

 
Picture
Exact at 8.53pm UK time (GMT)
 
This is no ordinary New Moon, as it is also a Supermoon, which means that it will have a bigger impact on us, physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. It also heralds the beginning of the Yin Water Rabbit, which could feel like a welcome relief after the Yang Water Tiger year! We may feel the need to slow down and get some rest this year. Yin Water is softer and more flowing, and the Rabbit is known for being gentle, sensitive, tender, elegant and refined. That being said, Rabbits can sometimes be a bit fearful of predators, so while we are encouraged to be creative this year, we could feel a little stuck at times, as we struggle to find the courage to put plans into action. However, Rabbits do intuitively know how to get ahead in the world and can be quite quick and alert.
 
This does feel like a very potent and energised New Moon, and Aquarius asks us to contemplate our hopes, dreams and visions for a better future, setting positive intentions that come from our heart. The Aquarius part of us truly believes in community in the truest sense of the word, and genuinely wants to make this world a better place for everyone. An Aquarian Motto could be “All for one and one for all!” Aquarius is also the part of us that questions the rules and is willing and able to stand up to authority if needs be. As such, Aquarius season, which begins with the New Moon, can bring the activist, rebel and revolutionary out in us, bringing the potential for more uprisings, marches, protests and revolutions.
 
There is an unpredictable, electrical energy to Aquarius, which is quite a contrast to the more cautious, realistic, disciplined and responsible energy of Capricorn season. Aquarius is the part of us that is a good friend and likes to gather in groups with like-minded people. Our relationship with our friends is slightly more detached, less intimate than with our lovers and family members, and so we are able to see each other more clearly, giving our objective feedback when our friends are in need of advice or support. The closer we get to someone, the harder it is to be objective! Aquarius is a friendly yet slightly cool and aloof kind of energy – friendly but not too familiar.
 
This could be a good Moon for taking a step back from whatever we are going through and seeing things from a different perspective, which could help bring some insight, understanding and clarity. Indeed, we could experience some kind of shift that brings much needed change, setting us back on the right path. Aquarius and its planetary ruler, Uranus, are the kind of energy that shakes things up somewhat, dusting off the cobwebs and helping us get out of whatever safe, secure but stagnant rut we may have inadvertently fallen into. Change can be a scary thing to contemplate, so we tend to put it off until things have become so intolerable that we have no choice in the matter. This could be a very good Moon to instigate healthy and positive change, rather than waiting for something to come along and force it on us.
 
Luckily, we have Mars and Jupiter forming supportive and helpful aspects to the Sun and Moon, which could really help us to find the courage we need to either take a stand or initiate change. Jupiter in Aries is such brave and enthusiastic energy, helping us to feel the fear and do it anyway! Jupiter is the planet of growth and expansion, while Aries is the pioneer and brave warrior, so this Moon could help us to have the courage, confidence, faith and motivation to move past obstacles, rolling any boulders out of our way with ease! Jupiter will be exactly sextile the Sun in the early hours of Wednesday 25 January, so the energy will be building in strength during this Moon.
 
Mars in Gemini is also forming a helpful trine aspect to the Sun and Moon, although it is not as strong because it won’t be exactly trine the Sun until 30 January. However, it is still significant and could help us to make decisions and to have the courage to act on whatever we decide. Gemini is the sign of the mind and communication, so Mars can help us to say what needs to be said and to confront some thorny or challenging material. Mars helps us to not waver once we have decided upon a course of action. As Mars approaches the trine with the Sun in the next week or so, we could feel a much-needed boost of courage, motivation and energy.
 
Interestingly enough, there is a supportive trine aspect between Uranus and Mercury that is starting to build during this Moon, which is also exact on 30 January. This could help us to think outside of the box and see things from a different perspective. It can open our minds to new information and help us to come up with ingenious solutions to anything we may be facing. It can help us to change our minds, bringing new insight, epiphanies and even an “aha” moment or two! Mercury is now direct, having been retrograde for three weeks, and Uranus turns direct on 23 January, so there is a forward moving energy around, especially as all the planets will now be direct!
 
Anyone with personal planets or angles around 14/15° of a sign will be feeling the liberating, exciting, changing energy of Uranus most acutely, especially those in the fixed signs Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius. Those with planets and angles around 1° of a sign, especially the fixed signs, will feel the full impact of this Aquarius Moon.
 
Pluto and the Sun are joining forces in Capricorn on Wednesday 18 January, a couple of days before the New Moon.  Anyone with personal planets or angles around 28° of a sign, especially the cardinal signs of Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn could feel this powerful, transforming and potentially empowering energy the strongest. Power and transformation are the theme here, as well as potentially having to face something we would rather not have to deal with. Pluto will still be very close to the Sun and Moon during this New Moon, although they will have moved into Aquarius, while Pluto remains at 28° Capricorn.  
 
The Sabian Symbol for this Moon, at 2° Aquarius, is a powerful one indeed – “The unexpected thunderstorm”, which Dane Rudyar describes as “The need to develop the inner security which will enable us to meet unexpected crisis. The symbol itself – “An unexpected thunderstorm” – could be given a very positive meaning in an arid environment, but the emphasis on “unexpected” tends to accent the sudden dangerous character of the event. Such a thunderstorm in a region of dry hills can cause a devastating flood. At any rate, it refers to an event for which one is not prepared – a menace to men’s works. This scene stresses the fact that nature may reduce to impermanence the seemingly most permanent endeavours and constructive activities of men. Under a downpour of rain, adobe brick can return to mud. All human institutions and their achievements can be washed away, even in their day of great glory. “Dust you were, dust you must become.” This is NATURE’S CHALLENGE.”
 
Indeed, Aquarius does bring the potential for sudden shocks and surprises that bring change. And Uranus, the ruler of Aquarius, is currently in Taurus, a sign that represents the natural world, the economy and our safety and security in a physical and financial sense. As such, we could receive some surprises in this area of our lives. However, Aquarius and Uranus also call for us to come up with solutions and can be very innovative. Sometimes we need a bit of a shock to jolt us out of apathy and stagnation. This Moon does seem to be providing us with the faith, courage and motivation to initiate change, to stand up for what we believe in and to take a step towards creating the kind of world we would be happy living in. It’s up to us to make the most of it.
 
Much Love
 
Amy
xoxo
 
Picture: Rabbit in a Lightning Storm – Daniel Eskridge
 


0 Comments

CANCER FULL MOON - 6 January 2023

1/4/2023

1 Comment

 
Picture
Exact at 23.07 UK time (GMT)
 
This is the first Full Moon of the calendar year, and the Moon is very much at home in her own sign of Cancer. We are invited to really feel our feelings and allow our emotions to come out, especially if we have been trying to keep them under control or suppressing them. Full Moons tend to bring our emotions out anyway, as whatever has been bubbling away beneath the surface demands release. “Better out than in” could be Cancer’s motto!
 
Cancer is the sign of the family, our childhood, our emotional patterns, our roots, and sense of belonging. As such, this is a good Moon to tend to this aspect of our lives, spending time with family or people who feel like family, as well as contemplating our childhoods and the effect they have had on us as adults. The Moon is sitting directly opposite the Sun and retrograde Mercury in Capricorn, so we could well find ourselves looking back into the past and reflecting on days gone by. Sometimes the past holds clues that can help us in the present day, whether through our own reflection or possibly by asking family members about things that happened when we were too young to remember.
 
Many of our emotional patterns have a very simple origin, which could be a decision we made when we were little in order to stay safe, or a “message” we received during childhood, either overtly or covertly, or something that happened to us. With Mercury currently retrograde this is the perfect Moon to look back, not to mention that the Cancer part of us likes to look back at the past, sometimes with considerable nostalgia. This Moon could heighten our emotions and bring our inner child into the foreground, possibly through an irrational outburst or an old, inappropriate coping mechanism, or possibly by helping us to feel our emotions and allow our vulnerable side to show itself.
 
The Capricorn part of us may prefer to keep our emotions under control and show a stiff upper lip, but the Cancer part of us knows that sometimes it shows great strength and courage to show our vulnerability and let our loved ones know how we actually feel. Of course, the Cancer part of us can also feel insecure and needy at times, in which case it is helpful to use a bit of Capricorn’s capacity to parent ourselves and to take responsibility for our actions and reactions. Cancer relates to our family and childhood, while Capricorn relates to our parental and societal conditioning, so the focus of this Full Moon could definitely highlight the past and how it has shaped us.
 
The two greatest influences on this Moon are Uranus and Chiron the Wounded Healer. Uranus is forming helpful, supporting aspects to the Sun, Moon and Mercury, bringing the potential for change and shifting out of old, outworn patterns that no longer serve us. This is very helpful energy to have around, as it clears out the cobwebs and can bring about realisations, insights and epiphanies that can bring amazing breakthroughs. Uranus is also the planet of long-term memory, and so we could find ourselves remembering aspects of our past that could be very revealing and profoundly liberating. Uranus can bring curve balls and surprises that help to jolt us into greater awareness and set us on the right path.
 
Anyone with personal planets or angles around 15° of a sign, especially the fixed signs Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius, will currently be feeling the exciting, enlivening, liberating and awakening energy of Uranus the most acutely. Uranus certainly does have the potential to help us to blast through blocks and shake off old conditioning, that’s for sure!
 
Chiron the Wounded Healer will be forming a more dynamic, challenging square aspect to the Sun, Moon and Mercury, although it will probably play out a bit earlier because the square with the Sun is exact on 2 January. However, it will still be part of the energetic build up to this Moon. Chiron in Aries could bring up some sensitivity and potentially trigger old wounds that may not have completely healed over. We could find that our hurt child reacts defensively, or we could find that some open, candid honesty is helpful for healing issues that have been festering from the past. Aries does like to bring any thorny issues out into the open for them to be aired, so we could find that we have the courage to face things that we might usually shy away from.
 
Anyone with personal planets or angles around 12° of a sign, especially the Cardinal signs Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn, will feel the energy of Chiron the most acutely, which could be somewhat painful on the one hand but incredibly healing on the other.
 
Neptune is also forming a wide, supportive trine aspect to the Moon, which provides a soft, gentle, compassionate, loving energy to this Moon which can help us to remember that we are all not so different from each other, when it comes down to it. Neptune can help us to connect to one another in a way that can dissolve any egos, walls and barriers, revealing our true spirit and essence.
 
Venus and Mars are forming a harmonious aspect to one another during this Moon, which could be very helpful for our relationships and could also ignite our passion and enthusiasm. Venus has recently moved into Aquarius, which is quite a detached but friendly place for the planet of relationships to be. It could help us to take a step back and be more objective within our relationships. Aquarius is friendly but not too familiar! We could find ourselves being able to undo some old patterns and relate to others in a different way that feels more authentic and truer to who we really are. The Venus/Mars trine will be exact on 9 January.
 
The Sabian symbol for this Moon, at 17° Cancer, is: “The unfoldment of multilevel potentialities issuing from an original germ”, which Dane Rudyar describes as “The life urge to actualise one’s birth potential. What is pictured here is simply the process of germination. As it unfolds from the sundered seed the plant pierces the crust of the soil and reaches up toward the light. Germination is the crucifixion of the seed. The seed becomes the germ, just as the Tibetan student meditating silently and peacefully on the Mandala is followed by the Christian Crusader - and, at a materialistic level of productivity, by the engineer-technologist intent upon transforming the globe for the greatest possible enjoyment of the greatest possible number of human beings. Action polarises meditation. The keyword is GROWTH”.
 
We all started as a seed! This Moon could certainly bring up some material around our childhood, our upbringing, our family and the conditioning we received growing up. We are all born with so much potential, and then life shapes and moulds us into the person we have become. It all depends on how we were tended to as seedlings! Our original, unique spark is always there, but other influences and experiences also have a big impact on our patterns and tendencies. With Retrograde Mercury so prevalent during this Moon, it is quite likely that we are going to have conversations that hark back to the past or messages that are important for us to hear that take us back over old ground. This could be an emotional Moon, but as Cancer would attest, it is always good to get in touch with our feelings!
 
Much Love
 
Amy
xoxo
 
Painting : “Seed” by Michelle Pier
 

1 Comment

CAPRICORN NEW MOON - 23 December 2022

12/20/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
Exact at 10.16am UK time (GMT)
 
This is a potent New Moon, as it is also a Supermoon, which means that it could have an above average impact on our minds, bodies, emotions and spirits. New Moons tend to set the tone for the month ahead and it can be helpful to contemplate what we might want to leave behind in the dark of the Moon and what we might want to cultivate more of moving forward. This particular Moon is in Capricorn, a sign that likes to set long term goals and work slowly and steadily towards them. As such, it could be good to contemplate what those goals and aspirations are exactly and think about what we would like to achieve in 2023. What would we like to let go of that is no longer serving us? What kind of realistic plans can we make to make our lives better moving forward? What is our greatest wish?
 
The Capricorn part of us is a realist and a pragmatist. It is the part of us that likes to make plans and set goals for ourselves, and then slowly but steadily work towards making those goals a reality. Capricorn is ruled by Saturn, Cronus, Father Time, and so it brings the gift of patience and waiting until the time is right to make things happen. It also brings the discipline needed to apply ourselves to whatever task we have set ourselves. Capricorn also teaches us lessons about responsibility. Do we tend to shy away from responsibility, or do we often find ourselves carrying too much on our shoulders? Where in our lives are we shouldering a burden that has become too heavy? Are we able to share the load somehow, or admit that we are struggling and ask for help? Can we delegate some of our duties?
 
Capricorn also calls for us to take responsibility for ourselves and to grow up, acting from a place of maturity. It is easy to blame others for whatever happens to us, but Capricorn reminds us that we are always in control of how we respond, react and act, and are ultimately responsible for ourselves. Capricorn is the part of us that strives to be successful and isn’t afraid to take on our authority and put ourselves out there. This Moon could bring into focus what success means to us. What does it mean to be a successful human being? What might need to change and what work do we need to do on ourselves in order for us to be happy, healthy and grounded in the world? How do we hold ourselves back from achieving our goals?  Are we afraid of failure, or are we more afraid of success? What, when we are honest with ourselves, are our heartfelt aspirations for ourselves?
 
Jupiter moves back into Aries on 20 December and will remain there until 16 May 2023. Jupiter is also very present during this Moon, as it is forming a dynamic square aspect to the Sun and Moon. Aries is the sign of “I am”, so this could be a time of considerable self-growth and self-improvement. How can we expand our sense of self and take care of our needs so that we are better able to go out into the world and be a better human being? We could find ourselves raring at the bit, pushing ourselves out there, initiating new projects and challenging ourselves to grow and move past any limitations. Jupiter can also magnify any feelings of anger that we may feel, however, and anger can be quite destructive if projected outward and self-destructive if swallowed and turned inwards. On the other hand, righteous anger can be very helpful, especially if it incites action.
 
Jupiter in Aries can really help us to find the self-confidence and courage to try new things, bringing out our pioneering spirit, although it can also mean that we overextend ourselves or think that we are better or capable of more than we actually are. Our Aries self may feel very enthusiastic and confident and want to jump straight in, while our Capricorn self asks us to slow down a bit, to be a bit sensible and practice a bit more caution. However, the Capricorn part of us can sometimes feel quite fearful, so a bit of courage and/or righteous anger could be helpful! This square from Jupiter does feel like it could be a good boost of energy to help us to come up with some ways to improve ourselves and our lives.
 
Venus and Mercury are also in Capricorn now, so the energy has well and truly shifted from enthusiastic Sagittarius to grounded, earthy, cautious Capricorn. Mercury is getting ready to go retrograde in Capricorn from 30 December until 18 January. Capricorn is quite a deep thinking, reflective and introspective sign, so this retrograde period could help us to go back over ground we have already covered in the past month and review and reflect in a retrospective manner.Sometimes there are things we may have missed the first time around, and this retrograde period could allow us to see them or talk them over. We might rehash old plans or ideas and tweak them so that they work better.
 
Mercury in Capricorn can be quite thorough, helping us to see the bare bones of whatever issue our minds are mulling over. However, it can also send our minds into some rather dark or bleak places, so it is important not to dwell on feelings of guilt, regret or self-judgement. People or memories from the past could pop up for us to tie up loose ends or complete unfinished business and could also bring up old grief to honour and release. Looking back can sometimes help us to move forward.
 
Chiron the Wounded Healer, on the other hand, is getting ready to turn direct on 24 December, having been retrograde since July. When planets are stationed ready to go retrograde or direct, their energy feels strongest, as will be the case when Mercury is getting ready to go retrograde around the 30th! In the case of Chiron, this brings the potential for some amazing healing to occur over the Christmas period, although our sore spots could also be triggered! It is quite possible that people could say things that are somewhat hurtful but ultimately healing, as Mars, the ruler of Aries, is currently retrograde in Gemini, the sign of communication. This could help us to bring up any issues or anger from the past that need talking about and resolving because they have been festering for too long.
 
Chiron in Aries doesn’t exactly have the gentlest bedside manner, but it is direct and honest, bringing up material that needs to be faced and giving us the courage to confront and work on ourselves. It does bring the potential for people being a bit over-sensitive and reactionary but could also help us to bring up any thorny issues that need to be addressed for healing to occur. Anyone with personal planets or angles around 11° of a sign will feel the energy of Chiron most acutely, especially the cardinal signs Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn.
 
Uranus is helping out during this Moon, forming a supportive trine to Venus, the planet of relationships, exact on 22 December. This could bring some excitement into our social lives, livening things up and helping us to step out of our comfort zone. Uranus can help us to switch up the way we relate to one another, liberating ourselves from unhealthy patterns of relating and breathing new life into our relationships. If we have been stuck in a rut in our relationships, with things becoming a bit stale, this energy could help us to add some much-needed spice and shake things up a little bit. This combination could be quite fun, calling for us to expect the unexpected! Those of us with personal planets or angles around 15° of a sign will feel the liberating, unpredictable, enlivening energy of Uranus most acutely, especially in the fixed signs of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius.
 
The Sabian symbol for this Moon, at 2° Capricorn, is: “Three rose windows in a Gothic church, one damaged by war”, which Dane Rudyar describes as: ”The necessary realisation by any individual making a violent use of collective power that it will lead to the inevitable destruction of some of the values ensuring group-integration. It seems obvious that the interpretation of this symbol should refer to the disruptive consequences of war. A “rose window” is not absolutely essential to a cathedral, yet it symbolises that through which the “light of the Spirit” enters into the edifice. Man’s soul is said to be three-fold. Which part of man’s inner trinity of principles tends to be destroyed by the use of violence? Evidently the principle of love and compassion.”
 
This seems a good time to remind ourselves that Neptune is still in Pisces, calling for kindness, compassion, unity and an awareness that we are all ultimately connected, even though we may sometimes feel alone. The Chiron in Aries energy may be strong during this Moon, and some people may act or react in anger, but this may simply be because they are scared, hurt or in pain. This can be a difficult time of year for many, and this year has been especially challenging, so it is very important to be mindful of this and keep our hearts open to one another, even if others are acting in ways that we do not understand. This New Moon is a powerful one, when we have a chance to turn inward and set some positive and realistic intentions for the year ahead, while leaving anything that no longer serves us behind, in the dark of the Moon. What, when it comes down to the bare bones of the matter, is our greatest wish for this next year?
 
Much Love
 
Amy
xoxo
 
Artwork: Mountain Goat by Marie Keane

 

0 Comments

GEMINI FULL MOON - 8 December 2022

12/6/2022

1 Comment

 
Picture
Exact at 4.08am UK time (GMT)
 
Well, this Moon could certainly heat things up a bit! We have retrograde Mars, the warrior planet, sitting right next to the Moon in Gemini, which has the potential to bring out into the open anything we might have been bottling up and not expressing. Retrograde Mars certainly brings the potential for us revisiting old anger that we might have swallowed so that it has turned into ongoing resentment. There are very few of us who have been taught how to express our anger in a positive way, so that it tends to come out in a distorted fashion or get pushed down so that it becomes self-destructive and unconsciously sabotaging. This Moon could help us to consciously access our anger and even find a way to verbalise it, although hopefully not in a reactive or explosive way!
 
Gemini is the sign of the mind and communication, so we could find that our minds are very active during this Moon and that the pace quickens, with lots of information flying around and lots going on for us to think about. Gemini is a curious, adaptable and versatile sign that likes to gather information and pass it on to others. As such, the media comes under the Gemini banner, as does gossip and slander. It is important to watch what we say and think during this Moon, as words have the power to both help and harm!
 
We are in the midst of Sagittarius season, a sign known for having strong opinions and a good sense of humour, not to mention a great deal of optimism and faith. This is a good sign for the Sun to be travelling through during holiday season, as it can bring out our more jolly, jovial side and the capacity to laugh at ourselves and life! Sagittarius is the truth seeker, and is known for speaking bluntly and honestly, while Gemini is better at saying things in a smoother, more palatable way. Indeed, Gemini has the gift of the gab and a silver tongue, and can tell a good story, although it may not always be the truth. We could find that things are said in the heat of the moment during this Full Moon, getting to the truth of the matter. Mars could make us say things in anger but could also give us the courage to speak in a more open, direct, candid and forthright manner rather than pussyfooting around the issue.
 
Juno, the goddess of long term, committed partnership, is being squared by the Sun and Moon, bringing her energy into focus. It is quite possible that whatever truths need to come out, or whatever information comes to light, or whatever needs to be said during this Moon could have an impact on long terms relationships or marriages. Possibly we have been putting up with something for a while that has now become intolerable, so that we are forced to let it out. Possibly we need to say how we really feel rather than holding back, putting our cards on the table so that everyone knows exactly where they stand. Sometimes the truth hurts, though, and this combination can make us a bit more impulsive and not as sensitive as we might usually be! However, it is always better for everyone to know where they stand.
 
Anyone with personal planets or angles within a couple of degrees 16° of a sign will feel the energy of Mars and this Moon most acutely, especially the mutable signs of Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces. Mars could be very energising and motivating but could also make us quick to act and react. With Mars in Gemini at the moment there is the potential for heated discussions and angry words spoken in the heat of the moment, especially with a Full Moon building! This is the kind of Moon that could have us blurting things out without having time to think, which could be both helpful and hurtful. Possibly some hitherto hidden information could be revealed that makes us angry.
 
Interestingly, Mercury, which is the ruling planet of this Gemini Moon, will have just slipped into Capricorn on Tuesday 6 Dec, a sign known for being quite cautious and withholding. This could put the brakes on a little, helping us to carefully consider what we say and how we say it. It can also make our conversations and thought processes a bit more serious and somewhat weightier. This could temper the impulsiveness of Mars slightly, although Capricorn can also strip things down to the bare bones of the matter and certainly doesn’t mince its words.
 
Neptune in Pisces is forming a dynamic square aspect to the Sun and Moon that is fairly wide, but note-worthy nevertheless. If Sagittarius and Gemini pertain to knowledge, information, understanding and truth, then Neptune can muddy the waters somewhat!  We may find that the actual truth is so hard to find, given the sea of propaganda and disinformation we are currently swimming through, that we experience Neptunian disillusionment and just feel like giving up and not bothering anymore. Neptune is the part of us that just wants to escape the harsh reality of life for a while, through alcohol, drugs, sleep, TV, video games, movies and novels. Neptune is also known for illusion, deception and smoke screens, which could make things quite confusing but also calls us to be as sensitive and compassionate as possible while saying whatever needs to be said during this Moon.
 
Uranus is also very present right now, as the planet of change and wake-up calls is close to the North Node in Taurus while also forming a nagging inconjunct aspect to the Sun. Are we willing to step outside the comfort zone and embrace necessary change? Where in our lives are we stuck in a comfortable rut for the sake of security? How can we be truer to ourselves and more authentic? Where in our life do we feel the need to break the rules and bust out of a cage? Whatever house Uranus is in right now could give a clue. Uranus can bring sudden insights and revelations that shock us back onto our true path. It calls for us to think outside the box and embrace a different perspective that we might not have considered. It calls for us to break away from any restrictive or unhelpful conditioning or programming.
 
Uranus is at 15° Taurus, so any of us with personal planets or angles around 15° of a sign, especially the fixed signs Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius, will be experiencing the erratic, unpredictable, liberating energy of Uranus most acutely.
 
The Sabian symbol for this Moon, at 17° Gemini, is interesting: “The head of a robust youth changes into that of a mature thinker”, which Dane Rudyar describes as “The transformation of physical vitality into the power to build concepts and intellectual formulations through which knowledge can be transferred. What we see pictured is the transformation of emotions into mind, of instincts into thoughts – a process of MENTAL METAMORPHOSIS”. It feels as if we are being asked to mature with regard to the way we think and to apply our wisdom to what is being presented to us. We may have to face some truths that we would rather not think about, but it is necessary, as it will bring a greater understanding of how everything works. “Growing up” can be uncomfortable, but we can’t bury our heads in the sand forever.
 
It will be interesting to see how this Moon plays out! Mars certainly brings issues around war, anger, assertion and even aggression to the fore, but can also help us to have the courage to confront ourselves and others in a direct, open and candid fashion. Whenever Mars forms an aspect to the Sun, as it does during this Moon, there is the potential for acting and reacting from a place of ego, so it is important to be mindful of what makes us angry and why. Is it righteous anger or are we reacting because our sore spots have been triggered? It will be interesting to see what information comes to light during this Moon and what messages we receive. It certainly could get things out into the open, which could be well and truly overdue.
 
Much Love
 
Amy
Xoxo
 
Picture – artist unknown

 

 
  
 
 
1 Comment

SAGITTARIUS NEW MOON - 23 November 2022

11/21/2022

1 Comment

 
Picture
Exact at 10.57pm UK time (GMT)
 
Well, this is a much lighter, jollier and less complicated Moon than we have had in recent times, and it feels like we have earned it! We have now passed out the other end of Scorpio Eclipse season, and the emphasis is now well and truly on Sagittarius, an optimistic, enthusiastic, philosophical and forward-thinking sign. Scorpio helped us to face our shadows and look at whatever we might have swept under the carpet, even if it was uncomfortable, revealing and exposing. While Scorpio is the part of us that asks “Why?”, probing beneath the surface to find what might be hidden there, Sagittarius is the part of us that simply has faith in a higher power and seeks to understand the meaning of life. Scorpio seeks proof, while Sagittarius has no doubt.
 
We now have the Sun, Moon, Mercury and Venus all sitting in Sagittarius, which is quite a relief and will hopefully bring a respite from the emotional intensity of the past month or so. Scorpio helped expose our tender underbellies, forcing us to confront some uncomfortable material, both personally and collectively. Sagittarius is the part of us that seeks and speaks the truth. It is quite possible that there will be a lot of truths coming out into the light during this time, not to mention many people voicing their opinions and expressing their beliefs. However, it is important to listen to other points of view rather than trying to convince and convert each other to our viewpoint. Just because we believe it to be so doesn’t necessarily make it true.
 
Sagittarius invites us to look forward, keeping the faith that we are being guided in the right direction and that whatever is happening is for some higher reason that will be revealed in the fullness of time. The Sagittarius part of us that isn’t afraid to shoot for the stars, opening ourselves up to whatever might be waiting for us out there. This enthusiastic and optimistic sign is always looking for the next adventure and needs the freedom to expand and grow. This New Moon could be a really good time to contemplate how we can expand our horizons, contemplating what star we are going for and then aiming and shooting! Sagittarius helps us to have faith in a positive outcome.
 
Not only do we have all this planetary energy in Sagittarius, but Jupiter, the planetary ruler of Sagittarius is also forming a supportive trine aspect to the Sun and Moon, albeit out of sign. Jupiter has briefly moved back into sensitive and compassionate Pisces, imbuing us with a greater sense of faith, hope and trust in the flow of life. This can help us to find a sense of gratitude for the gifts that life has bestowed upon us, rather than focusing on whatever might be lacking or going wrong. Combined with Neptune in Pisces, Jupiter can help us to connect to our intuitive inner knowing and allow it to guide us in the right direction.
 
We are reminded to make time for our inner world, as Jupiter in Pisces can bring great rewards when we turn inward and focus on our connection with the divine. It helps us to believe in people’s inherent goodness, developing a greater trust that we are guided, protected and in flow.  We tend to get what we focus on, and this Moon could certainly help us to get our priorities straight and look forward, trusting that ultimately everything is going work out the way it is supposed to. Jupiter and Sagittarius remind us that no matter how dark things may seem, there is some higher plan at work and that everything that happen to us provides an opportunity for growth and expansion. They also remind us to maintain a sense of humour and not take ourselves too seriously.
 
Mercury, the planet of the mind and communication, and Venus, the planet of love, beauty and relating, are sitting right next to each other in Sagittarius. This can help us to see the bigger picture, allowing some room to breathe within our relationships and giving us an opportunity to talk things through in a loving, kind, truthful and philosophical manner. Possibly we will be able to understand the higher purpose of our relationships rather than getting bogged down in petty details. While Scorpio may have forced us to confront some uncomfortable material and face our shadows, Sagittarius asks us to be completely honest with ourselves and our loved ones. The truth may hurt, but it can also set us free. And Sagittarius does like its freedom!
 
Chiron the Wounded Healer, who is currently in brave and forthright Aries, is forming a supportive trine to Venus and Mercury, which could help us to have some very honest, open, and direct conversations that could greatly help and heal our relationships. With Mars currently retrograde in Gemini, helping us to air our grievances and get hidden resentments out into the open, we have an opportunity for some direct, open, candid conversations that can properly clear the air. This combination brings a nice blend of kindness, truth and the capacity to see the bigger picture that could be very healing and cleansing indeed.
 
Uranus is once again coming very close to the North Node of the Moon in Taurus, continuing the work of this last Eclipse on 8 November. It will come closest to the Node at the beginning of December, helping us to have some profound realisations and insight into what might need to change in our lives. Sometimes it feels easier to just keep things as they are, even if we know deep down that it isn’t serving us anymore. Uranus has the potential to shift us out of our comfortable ruts, however, liberating us from situations or relationships that are limiting us or holding us back from growth. At the very least we will have woken up to whatever needs to change, and once we know it is hard to “un-know”!
 
Change can feel scary and may take some effort, but whatever awaits us on the other side, while we can’t see it yet, will very likely be more in alignment with who we really are. Uranus encourages us to be true to ourselves, even if the process may feel inconvenient or uncomfortable. We all know, deep down inside, what needs to change in our lives. This Sagittarius could force us to see the truth of the matter and give us the courage to make that leap of faith, trusting that it is for the highest good of all.
 
The Sabian symbol for this Moon, at 2° Sagittarius, is very powerful: “White capped waves display the power of wind over sea”, which Dane Rudyar describes as “The mobilisation of unconscious energies under the pressure of superpersonal motives. Wind and sea are in constant interplay, and the results of that interplay are inspiring and beautiful. In symbolism, the wind (pneuma is the early Greek word for “spirit) is associated with spiritual dynamism; the stirring of deep energies this dynamism produces obeys cosmic or superpersonal rhythms, the power of which is irresistible. We have a picture, which contrasts the powerful but beautiful storms of nature with the often gory and hysterical crises of a civilisation, which progresses through war. The picture presented speaks of SUBTILISATION THROUGH RHYTHMIC INTENSITY.”
 
Sagittarius is a Fire sign, with an enthusiasm that can easily whip things up into a frenzy, much like the wind on the waves in this symbol. It has the capacity to inspire us and make us feel as if anything is possible, which could be such a tonic given all that we are currently facing in the world. It is quite possible that some truths will be brought out into the light during this time, with people feeling driven to stand up and share what they know. The greatest of Sagittarius’s superpowers is faith that there is purpose behind all that happens and gratitude for all we have. It is very important to harness these superpowers during these times and also to remember, no matter what is thrown at us, to maintain a sense of humour!
 
Much Love
 
Amy
xoxo
 
Picture: Girl Forever Reaching by To-be-with-the-stars on Deviant Art

1 Comment

TAURUS FULL MOON / TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE - 8 November 2022

11/4/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
Exact at 11.48am UK time (GMT)
 
This is one of the most powerful Moons of the year, as not only does it fall in Scorpio season, a sign known for intense emotions and transformation, but it is also a Total Eclipse, which can bring about profound endings and beginnings. Any seeds that were sown around the time of the New Moon/Solar Eclipse may now begin to bear fruit as the Moon reaches its peak. We have a chance to shed old skin, letting go of any habits, patterns, tendencies, situations and even people that might now be unhealthy or inappropriate for us moving forward. It is not uncommon for relationships to end during Eclipses if they do not fully support our growth. Similarly, some souls may pass onto the other side during this time. This certainly is a time of death and rebirth, so we should not be surprised if something falls away during this time, whether it be small or big. Of course, it will only pass on if it is no longer serving our growth.
 
Eclipses activate the Nodes of the Moon, otherwise known as the Destiny Line, and we currently have the Sun, Mercury and Venus sitting next to the South Node in Scorpio, creating quite the Scorpio party! Meanwhile, the Moon and Uranus are directly opposite, in the very same degree of Taurus, sitting right next to the North Node. This truly is a potent combination of planetary energy, bringing the potential for profound change, soul growth and transformation, although the process could be somewhat uncomfortable.
 
With all these planets currently in Scorpio, we are being prompted to confront whatever we may usually prefer to brush under the carpet because it is too uncomfortable or inconvenient to face. Scorpio calls for us to strip away layers of self-deceit and own up to how we are really feeling, even if it rocks the boat. It forces us to confront our demons, own our shadows and look at ourselves in the ugly mirror! It asks us to bare our soul and face the truth of the matter, even if it makes us feel acutely uncomfortable.
 
Scorpio reveals the stark truth, stripping away superficiality and unveiling secrets and lies. It can also bring a high level of drama, as we contend with some intense emotions that rise up from our subconscious and can easily stir things up! Scorpio brings with it the potential for power games, sticky karmic ties and soulful bonds, intrigue, exposure, betrayals of trust, psychological manipulation and feelings of loss and abandonment.  Scorpio also represents banks, money lenders, mortgage companies and anyone who we have put our trust in financially, including marriage or business partners. Scorpio teaches us all about power – power over us and power over others.
 
The Taurus Moon, however, calls for us to step away from drama and over-dependency and take our power back. Taurus is a very self-reliant, self-sufficient sign – the part of us that knows how to take care of our own needs and can tap into our own resources instead of relying too heavily on others. It is the part of us that seeks simplicity, tranquillity and a life free of drama and emotional intensity. It helps us to connect to Mother Nature and trust that we are held, supported and provided for.  It grounds us, so that we are not so easily knocked off centre or vulnerable if the proverbial rug is pulled out from under us.
 
We also have Uranus sitting smack, bang on top of this Moon, which could be a bit unsettling for that Taurus part of us that might resist change and get a bit stuck in a comfortable rut from time to time. Combined with the transforming energy of these Scorpio planets, Uranus could bring sudden shocks or surprises that jolt us into awareness and put us back on the right path. Uranus can literally “wake us up” to what needs to change and where we might be simply putting up with things because we are “comfortable” and too scared to rock the boat or initiate change. Scorpio forces us to face up to some uncomfortable truths, while Uranus can bring about insight, epiphanies and wake-up calls that bring about radical change, profound shifts and the potential for some kind of re-set.  It is important to be as flexible as possible and to open ourselves up to necessary change.
 
Uranus is a liberating, freeing energy that helps us to release ourselves from old programming that is no longer appropriate. It can be quite unsettling, as we forge new pathways and find different and unfamiliar replacements for the old, outworn patterns. Uranus is opposite the Sun, Mercury and Venus, which could change our way of relating, thinking, communicating and being in the world. Uranus calls for us to be truly authentic and true to ourselves and combined with Scorpio’s “truth serum” energy we could find that any relationships that are not a true reflection of who we really are and aren’t meeting our needs may go through some turbulence or even pass away. We may receive news that is shocking, unsettling and forces us to see things from a different perspective. Indeed, Uranus calls for us to detach from people or situations, which could be a good thing or a bad thing. Sometimes it helps to take a step back and see things more clearly.
 
Saturn is also a big player during this Moon, which brings the Saturn Uranus square back into focus, even though it is now on the wane. Saturn is very different energy to Uranus, as it is the more cautious, controlled and sometimes fearful part of us that teaches us some rather harsh lessons and has the capacity to make us feel like we are blocked. However, often the obstacles are there for a reason and maybe the time just isn’t right, so we must wait, even if it is frustrating. Saturn is Cronus, Father Time, and teaches us patience, the hard way sometimes! It forces us to face reality, which can be hard to bear and can even bring about feelings of depression or futility.  Sometimes fear can take us over, preventing us from acting, or maybe it feels like there a giant boulder holding us back that can’t be moved until the time is right.
 
With Saturn so prevalent during this Moon, forming a dynamic, challenging square to the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Uranus and the Nodes of the Moon, we could be feeling this energy very strongly. We could feel like we are in a holding pattern, just waiting but unable to move. Fear can be incredibly inhibiting, holding us back from moving forward because of what we imagine could happen. This could be a testing time for our relationships and finances, with Saturn square Venus, exact 7 November, as we are forced to face up to reality and recognise them as they really are, without rose-tinted spectacles.
 
Indeed, we could also be in for a reality check around finances, both personally and collectively. Venus is the ruler of Taurus, and Taurus governs the economy, while Saturn in Aquarius’s involvement with Venus has the potential to bring about greater financial control through the use of technology. Meanwhile Uranus, the ruler of Aquarius, is in Taurus, bringing the potential for a financial reset and a movement towards digital currency. Certainly, there is a lot of Saturnian fear currently being spread around when it comes to the economy, and people in fear tend to be more compliant and easier to control. However, the Uranus/Aquarius energy also invites us to join forces with people of like-mind and come up with progressive solutions when it comes to survival. Uranus invites us to put our heads together and think outside the box so that we can help create a better world. Necessity is the mother of invention!
 
The Sabian symbol for this Moon is appropriately profound, at 17° Taurus: “A symbolical battle between “swords” and “torches.” Which Dane Rudyar describes as “Refusing to depend upon the past, the seeker turns warrior, fighting anew the eternal “Great War.” When Gautama, having sought in vain for the answer to his questions among the teachers of tradition, sat under the Bodhi Tree, he had to fight his own battle in his own way, even though it is an eternal fight. The spiritual light within the greater Soul must struggle against the ego-will that only knows how to use the powers of his material and intellectual world. There is no possibility of escape; it is the energy that arises out of the present moment – the inescapable NOW – that the daring individual has to use in the struggle. This symbol suggests that salvation is attained through the emergent individual’s readiness to face all issues as if there were only two opposed sides. So teaches the Bhagavad-Gita. This is the dharma of this stage of human evolution: a stage of POLARISATION OF VALUES.” Powerful indeed! A battle between light and dark, between mind and heart, between ego and spirit, between fear and love, between “might” and “light”.
 
The Sabian symbol for Venus, the ruler of this Moon, is also interesting, at 21° Scorpio: “Obeying his conscience, a soldier resists orders” which Rudyar describes as “The readiness to face the results of a refusal to follow the authoritarian patterns of an aggressive society. As a person finds himself involved in activities which are traditional in his particular culture — and in many instances in all societies at this stage of human evolution — he often faces a conflict between his own individual sense of value (his conscience) and the demands of society. The conflict may be most typical in terms of the armed services — thus this symbol. In it we find the individual asserting his own values, though he cannot escape the consequences of his decision. In such a case he has to be quietly ready to face these consequences, whatever the cost. The issue this symbol presents is clear. Society in this situation seems to be all-powerful; yet the individual need not be spiritually bound, even if imprisoned. He still can display INNER FREEDOM and prove himself an "individual."
 
This brings us to Neptune, which is also involved in this Moon, forming a supportive trine aspect to the Sun, Mercury and especially Venus. Neptune reminds us that we are not alone and imbues us with compassion and empathy for all beings. In positive aspect to Venus, exact 10 October, it brings the potential for open-hearted relating, whereby we are able to see past any walls of defense and connect with each other’s pure essence. This is very helpful energy to have during a Moon that is so powerful and potent and brings so much potential for change. Neptune helps us to rise above our egos and transcend our fears, remembering that we are all beings of light having a human experience.
 
This Moon could bring some turbulence, especially for anyone with personal planets or angles around 16° of the fixed signs Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius. However, we can take comfort from the knowledge that whatever passes out of our lives during this time is simply not appropriate for us moving forward. Taurus invites us to do whatever we can to ground ourselves during this time of change and transformation, whether it be through a walk in the forest, a healing massage or a hearty, home-cooked meal. The Taurus part of us has the capacity to stay rooted and withstand anything that might be thrown our way. In the words of Gloria Gaynor, “I Will Survive”!
 
Much Love
 
Amy
xoxo
 
Hordes of the Lunar Eclipse – Drew Spence
 

0 Comments
<<Previous

    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!

    Archives

    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014

    Categories

    All
    Aspects
    Chinese New Year
    Equinox
    Full Moons
    Lunar Eclipse
    Meditation
    New Moons
    Planetary Shift
    Retrogrades
    Solar Eclipse
    Solstice
    Supermoons
    Total Luna Eclipse
    Total Solar Eclipse

    RSS Feed