This feels like an incredibly significant New Moon, with the potential for big shifts and surprises. It is also a Supermoon, which means that the Moon is closer to earth and will have a stronger impact on our minds, bodies, spirit and emotions. It is also the beginning of the Chinese year of the Wood Dragon! New Moons always bring the potential for shedding old weight and planting seeds for something new to come in, and this Moon is no exception! Aquarius is the sign of change, progression, innovation and questioning the status quo, so this Moon could help us to breathe fresh air into our lives and embrace a new perspective. This is the kind of Moon that could help us to recognise where we might be stuck in a rut and jolt us into a greater awareness of what needs to change and what needs to be released. Change is in the air!
With the Sun and Moon joining forces in eccentric, quirky, humanitarian Aquarius, we are called to think outside the box and look at our lives from a different angle. Aquarius is a very objective sign that helps us to detach, stand back and see ourselves with greater clarity and insight. It encourages us to question the rules and liberate ourselves from the layers of programming and conditioning that have built up since we were born, so that we can reveal our original, unique spark that is the true essence of who we are. Aquarius is the rebel, the revolutionary, the maverick, and so this Moon could bring out the part of us that questions authority, questions any rules that don’t make sense and questions what we are being told by those in authority. Aquarius helps us to see another way of doing things and isn’t afraid to stand out from the crowd and be different.
Uranus, the planetary ruler of this Aquarius Moon, is forming a dynamic square to the Sun and Moon, which definitely spices things up a bit! Uranus is the planet of sudden wake up calls, shocks and curveballs that forces us out of stagnation and can bring massive insights, realisations, epiphanies and profound clarity. Expect the unexpected with this particular Moon! On both a personal and collective level, things can easily change in the blink of an eye, and Uranus reminds us that you never know what lies around the next corner. This is the planet that brings breakdowns that can then lead to breakthroughs. It clears away the cobwebs with a massive blast of fresh air. So often we know exactly what needs to change, but tend to resist facing the inevitable, not wanting to upset the apple cart and unsettle our lives. Uranus, however, isn’t afraid to upset the apple cart for the sake of positive change and growth.
Uranus is in Taurus, the sign that represents survival, the economy, material comforts and our values. There is the potential for some kind of breakdown of the financial system while Uranus is still in Taurus, which will be until 2026. However, as mentioned, breakdowns can lead to breakthroughs, and Uranus is an innovative, progressive planet that has the potential to bring much needed change to an antiquated system that is in very much need of an overhaul. Taurus is also the part of us that resists change, often because we don’t want to face the discomfort that it brings and because we fear the unknown.
This is the kind of Moon that can force us out of our comfort zone, but as we do so we have the potential to experience such a sense of freedom as we liberate ourselves from anything that has been weighing us down and holding us prisoner, including our conditioning. “To thine own self be true”, says Uranus. To be true to ourselves can feel very uncomfortable indeed, as it is often much easier to simply conform to others’ expectations of us, or the societal norm. This is the kind of Moon that could make things so intolerable that we simply have to make changes. Indeed, it can bring a sudden event that changes everything. It can also bring sudden insights that come out of thin air and change our perspective completely. And once we see with such clarity, there is no “unseeing”.
Those of us with personal planets or angles around 19° of a sign, especially the fixed signs of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius, will feel the liberating, enlivening and potentially shocking energy of Uranus the most acutely, although this Moon does hold the potential for some kind of collective shift. As Pluto has recently moved into Aquarius, which is Uranus’s sign, this links Pluto, the planet of transformation with Uranus, the planet of shifts, progression and change. It does seem inevitable that some kind of change is coming within the next couple of years, and we can only hope that it will be based on Aquarian values of equality, freedom, brotherhood/sisterhood, benefiting the “People” rather than the plutocracy. We shall see.
Chiron the Wounded Healer is moving closer and closer to the North Node in Aries, exact on 19 February. It is not surprising that rumours of war grow stronger and stronger, as this is a fateful pairing in Aries, the sign that represents war and conflict. This brings up masculine energies to be healed, and brings up the question – does change, progress and conflict resolution have to result in violence and war? On a personal level, we are being called to address and heal any issues we may have around the masculine, including how we assert and stand up for ourselves and the way we handle our anger. This is a powerful configuration that can help us to find the courage to face our core wounds and heal any issues around “I am”, the right to exist, our identity and the capacity for self-love. We are called to embrace all that we are, and to make ourselves a priority, although this could be difficult for some. Self-care is imperative during this time, because it helps us to deal with whatever else is occurring around us. As we each heal ourselves, we help to heal the world.
Uranus is also forming a harmonious, supportive trine aspect to Venus, the ruler of Taurus. Venus is the planet of love, relationship, self-worth and money, so Uranus could bring about a shift of perspective in all of these areas. It can breathe fresh air and excitement into our relationships and finances, and can also bring great clarity and insight, so that we can see more objectively what might need to change. This trine aspect is exact on 7 February but will still be strong during the New Moon.
Jupiter is also forming a dynamic square aspect to Mercury, exact on 10 February. We may feel that we have a lot to say during this Moon, as if we have something very important to communicate! People could be more opinionated than usual, as they feel the need to express their truth. There is the potential for jumping to conclusions before knowing the full picture. It is important to listen to people’s feedback and to be mindful of what comes out of our mouths. Those of us with personal planets and angles around 8° of a sign, especially the fixed signs, will feel this energy most strongly.
The Sabian symbol for this Moon is interesting, especially in the light of the other planetary energy surrounding this Moon, at 21° Aquarius: “A disappointed and disillusioned woman courageously faces a seemingly empty life”, which Dane Rudyar describes as “The capacity to meet emotionally upsetting experiences in human relationships with strength of character and personal integrity. The man who manages vast and complex business enterprises most often reaches power and achieves success because of his ability to deal with crises and temporary reverses of fortune. At the emotional level we now see a “woman” confronted with sharp disappointment and forced to face the vanishing of cherished illusions, presumably in terms of a close personal relationship. She has to learn to manage such crises, which are really tests of inner strength and perhaps compassion. We all have within ourselves the power to learn through emotional crises. But like any other faculty, it needs development. This symbol urges us to develop RESILIENCE under adversity.” Hmm. Interesting indeed.
On top of all of this powerful energy, we have the beginning of the Year of the Wood Dragon! The last two Dragon years were 2000 and 2012, both notable and memorable years. The Dragon is a mythical creature, and they truly are dynamic, transforming forces of nature! A Dragon year brings the potential for transformation, passion, enterprise, creativity, innovation and problem solving. Dragon years often produce strong, powerful, charismatic, visionary leaders, so this year could certainly be a year to remember in that sense, when some of our leaders become stronger and more powerful, and some could fall. Dragons can have a very strong ego and know exactly who they are. The Wood element brings the potential for profound growth, building on what is already there, and regeneration. It is very interesting that the Dragon Year begins with such a potent New Moon that brings such potential for shocks, change and new vision. What a powerful start to a powerful year!
Much Love
Amy
xoxo
For personal readings, my website: https://www.amybirdartandastrology.com/astrology.html
Painting: Wooden Dragon, by Tatiana Kozhevnikova