Category: Lunar Eclipse

TAURUS FULL MOON / LUNAR ECLIPSE - 28 October 2023

10/25/2023

Exact at 9.24pm UK time (BST)

The Sun has now entered Scorpio, a sign that brings purging and transformation, and we now have the second of two Eclipses, which also represent a time of releasing and letting go so that we can embrace the new cycle that is now beginning. Eclipses bring about a new chapter, although beginnings also bring endings, so it is important to let go of whatever needs to pass away so that we are fully able to move into the next phase. Now we have the Sun, Mercury and Mars all in intense, soulful Scorpio, we are being called to really be honest with ourselves and others, to be as transparent as we can possibly be and to face any uncomfortable material within ourselves that we might usually find it hard to own. Scorpio forces us to strip away self-deceit and to be truly honest about the parts of us that we may struggle to accept, or that we believe that others will struggle with or reject.

A Taurus Full Moon calls for us to truly know our worth. While the Scorpio energy is prompting us to face our shadows and to recognise any unhealthy or unhelpful power dynamics that might be playing out in our lives and relationships, Taurus encourages us to develop a healthy sense of self-worth, self-esteem, self-sufficiency and self-confidence. Rather than deriving our power from others, we are called to empower ourselves and to develop self-reliance, so that we are less vulnerable and less able to be toppled over by other people’s behaviour, games or tactics. Taurus just wants a simple life, free of games, drama or unnecessary power dynamics. Scorpio season can certainly bring a certain amount of emotional intensity, calling for us to peer into the darkness and look at our shadows so that we are less prone to projecting them out onto others. As such, this Moon could be quite cathartic, exposing and revealing!

The Taurus Moon could bring up issues around our needs, calling us to contemplate what we need to be happy and healthy, and how to express those needs in a healthy way. We may also contemplate how we might meet our own needs rather than relying too heavily on others. We all have our idiosyncrasies, psychological complexes and “stuff” that is unique to us, based on our childhood and life experiences. We all have parts of us that we struggle with and that can wreak havoc in our personal relationships at times. We all have our own unique set of needs that help us to feel safe and at ease. Combined with the North Node in Aries, this Moon can help us to be honest with ourselves and others about those parts of us that we may usually feel ashamed about and tend to keep hidden from view. Scorpio is the part of us that seeks intimacy and deep emotional connection, and in order to have true intimacy we are asked to be brave and to bare our souls, which could make us feel quite vulnerable and exposed.

As I mentioned, Eclipse season is a period of transformation, helping us to end one cycle and bring in a new one. Scorpio is very adept at purging and releasing old, unhealthy attachments, patterns and habits, while Taurus is the part of us that holds on and sticks with situations, relationships and patterns of behaviour long after they have stopped being good for us. This is a very good time to look at our attachments and recognise which are serving us and which are keeping us stuck in a rut, stagnating and unable to move forward and grow. What are we struggling to release so that we can move forward and grow? What patterns of behaviour are holding us prisoner and need to be transmuted, purged and transformed? What, when we are completely honest with ourselves, do we want and need in order to be truly fulfilled? And how can we make that happen?

The good news is that Uranus is forming a helpful, supportive trine to Venus, the ruler of this Moon. Uranus is also in Taurus, helping us to release unhealthy attachments and limitations, and to liberate us from stagnant habits and patterns, especially within our relationships. Venus in Virgo can help us to see what needs working on, while Uranus can help us to step back somehow so that we can see ourselves, our relationships and our patterns much more clearly. This is the planet that brings those “aha” moments, whereby we are somehow able to see ourselves and our situations with greater clarity, awareness and insight. It can bring sudden epiphanies and shocks that jolt us into a greater awareness. It can help us firstly to see clearly and secondly to liberate us from old programming and conditioning that have held us prisoner for so very long.

We are encouraged, during this Moon, to step outside of our comfort zone and do things differently, especially within our relationships. What have we got to lose, especially if the old way simply isn’t working! Uranus encourages us to be true to ourselves, and to be utterly authentic and “real”, even if that feels a bit uncomfortable at first. It can help to clear the way for the new energy to come in. Those of us with personal planets and angles around 21° of a sign will be feeling the erratic, authentic, liberating, insightful energy of Uranus the most acutely, especially the fixed signs of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius and the Earth signs of Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn. It’s quite exciting, really, as it could free us from a cage that we have been in for so very long, as long as we allow it.

Mercury, the planet of mind and communication, and Mars, the warrior planet, are joining forces in intense and penetrating Scorpio during this Moon, which could be interesting! It could help us to find the courage to bring some uncomfortable, thorny issues out into the open and to really get to the heart of the matter. Firstly, it can help us to be completely honest with ourselves and to bravely face anything that we may usually shy away from out of fear or an unwillingness to “go there”. Scorpio isn’t afraid to get under the carpet and eke out anything that may have been there for so long, festering away and causing damage in our lives and relationships. It can help us to have open, candid, brave, intimate, exposing conversations that may not paint us in a pretty light, but which are raw, vulnerable, honest and real.

It is easier to hide parts of ourselves from view, from a fear that if we are truly seen, warts and all, that we will be rejected somehow. However, all this Scorpio energy is encouraging us to be more transparent and to expose our tender underbelly, even if it is scary or uncomfortable. To be seen is to be known. We are all light and dark and various shades in between, and Scorpio encourages us to accept and love it all, most importantly within ourselves. This combination can take us to places within us that we would rather not go, but we could come back with some buried treasure! One thing to be aware of is that Mars is a direct, forceful, potentially angry energy, so there is the potential for confrontations that force the darkness out into the light. Scorpio does have a sting in its tail, after all! However, it could help us to have some difficult conversations and to face some uncomfortable truths.

Jupiter and Saturn are both lending a helping hand during this Moon, which is very welcome! Jupiter brings the potential for growth, expansion, the capacity to see the bigger picture and not sweat the small stuff. It is possible that some jigsaw puzzle pieces could fall into place during this Moon. Saturn’s influence is on the wane by the time the Moon is exact but can help us to see things as they really are and to create healthy boundaries. Saturn in Pisces also helps us to see the long view and to be patient and compassionate with ourselves and others. We are all struggling in one way or another, and all have our own cross to bear. It is important to remember that, before we judge. Of course, it is so easy to be our own judge and jury, and so Saturn encourages self-compassion as well.

The Sabian symbol for this Moon, at 6° Taurus, is a very powerful one, speaking of compassion over judgement: “The woman of Samaria at the ancestral well”, which Rudyar describes as “The meeting of the traditional past and of the creative spirit pointing to the future. The symbol refers to a most important, but usually narrowly interpreted (or interpreted away!) episode of the Christ mythos. Early in his ministry, Jesus meets a Samaritan woman at an ancestral well. This woman belongs to a tribe despised by the Jews; moreover, she is unmarried and therefore on the fringe of even her own society. It is to just that kind of woman that Jesus reveals that he is the Messiah: “I am He,” a revelation that he apparently will not bestow even upon his disciples, at least not in words. (Words in occultism are the creative factor.)
What does this mean? Jesus, as the Avatar incorporating the Christ-Impulse, came to replace the old tribal order with a new order based on universal Love. It is not to representatives of, or even to men still attached to, the old order that Jesus could reveal his spiritual, evolutionary and society-transforming status; they had instead to reach a point where they could discover his avatar-ship – as did Peter just before the Transfiguration scene. But to the woman of Samaria – who, in her openness to love’s urgings had already repudiated any narrow subservience to the old order – Jesus could reveal his function. The highest meets the lowest when this lowest is free from traditional bonds and open to love. The creative future descends first to that which has become chaos. An old order is never open to a new Revelation until it has accepted disorder in the name of that Power which subsumes all forms of order, i.e. Love. A NEW QUALITY OF BEING is revealed which renders old patterns obsolete.”

What a symbol! And so relevant in so many ways. Love is the answer! Let Uranus do its work, and free us of our chains of conditioning and judgement! Let Scorpio help us to see our own shadows so that we are less prone to being triggered by situations and people outside of us! Let Jupiter help us to see the bigger picture! Let Taurus remind us to enjoy the simple pleasures of life and to step away from drama and power games. Both personally and collectively, we have a chance for a “new quality of being”, if we have the courage and willingness to look at ourselves and recognise what needs to be released, and to choose love over power. Love is the most powerful force of all and will hopefully conquer all.

Much Love

Amy
xoxo

Painting: Liberation, by Anael Sunny

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SCORPIO FULL MOON / LUNAR ECLIPSE - 5 May 2023

5/2/2023

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Exact at 8.34pm UK time (BST)

This is the second of two eclipses, which could bring to a head whatever has been percolating since the New Moon/Solar Eclipse on 20 April. Whatever came up during that time could now find full expression, with the light of this penetrating Scorpio Moon making it quite hard to avoid looking at our stuff! There could also be a link between this Eclipse and the last Lunar Eclipse on 8 November last year. Possibly this is the next phase of whatever was occurring then. Certainly, Eclipse season has the capacity to bring up a lot for us to work through, and with a Scorpio Full Moon on the horizon it may not all be pleasant! Scorpio can force us to peer under the proverbial carpet to look at whatever we might have swept under there because we would rather not deal with it.

Scorpio calls for us to strip away the layers of self-deceit and take a good look in the ugly mirror! This Full Moon places the focus on the Scorpio South Node and, combined with Mercury Retrograde, we could find ourselves somehow looking back in order to move forward. Sometimes we take the easy route and sweep uncomfortable material under the carpet rather than confronting it at the time, but this is the kind of Moon that could force us bring it out into the open, as it might be impossible to avoid it anymore. Issues, concerns and resentments that are buried or suppressed can fester and become insidiously destructive, bubbling away beneath the surface, whereas if we bring them out into the open and face them then they lose their power. It’s hard and scary to bring up difficult subjects, and it is hard to face shadow material and hold up the ugly mirror, but the alternative is often worse. We could feel quite exposed and a bit vulnerable during this Moon, but better that than smoothing things over and keeping the peace at the expense of the truth.

This Full Moon/Eclipse highlights the polarity between Taurus and Scorpio and asks us to find some balance between the energy of the two signs. Too much Taurus means that we can get stuck in situations that are no longer good for us because we fear the disruption that change could bring. Scorpio helps us to shed, purge and walk across a burning bridge, facing our demons and going through the necessary transformation that is essential for soul growth. Too much Scorpio can mean that we get addicted to drama and intensity, finding it hard to trust that the rug isn’t about to be pulled out from underneath us. We may give our power away or we may manipulate in order to maintain a feeling of power. Taurus teaches us how to be self-sufficient and grounded, getting to a place whereby we can’t be toppled over if someone or something lets us down. We learn to rely on ourselves, first and foremost, developing a healthy sense of self-worth, self-confidence and the ability to sustain ourselves and meet our own needs.

We are approaching the end of the Nodes stay in Scorpio and Taurus, as they will be switching signs in July. With the North Node having been in Taurus for the past 18 months, there certainly has been a considerable amount of emphasis on the economy, with many of us cultivating the Taurean art of self-sufficiency, as we strip back and do what we can to simplify our lives. It is interesting that the Nodes moved into Taurus and Scorpio at a point in history when we had recently experienced a massive amount of emotional intensity on a collective level, and so this Taurus North Node has helped us to recalibrate and find a sense of stability once more, rather than living in expectation of the next wave of emotional intensity to come along and knock us off kilter. We have been “rebuilding” since then, in every sense of the word, although we have also been dealing with the financial repercussions of that time.

Pluto, the ruler of this Scorpio Moon, is an incredibly potent force right now, as the planet of power, death/rebirth, soul and transformation turns retrograde on 2 May. When a planet is stationary, getting ready to shift direction, we feel its energy more acutely. Pluto is also squaring the Nodes right now, so it is a strong force during this Moon, and as such we could find that secrets are brought out into the light and some darkness is somehow exposed, both on a personal and collective level. Possibly some revealing information comes to light around the financial power structures, or possibly we are forced to confront our personal shadows in some way or show our tender underbelly so that we feel a bit vulnerable and exposed.

Pluto brings up issues around mortality, power and trust, and prompts us to evolve on a soul level. And soul growth isn’t necessarily easy! It sometimes feels easier to just let things roll on as they are, even if they are uncomfortable, rather than facing the discomfort of bringing difficult material out into the open and facing the consequences. When Pluto squares the Nodes we can feel the pull of our soul, urging us to take a step out of our comfort zone towards growth, but the resistance can sometimes feel greater. However, we can either wait for something to come along and force the matter, or we can consciously and willingly step up and face the music. Either way, growth is inevitable. This Full Moon could be a moment of rebirth.

Anyone with personal planets or angles around 0° of a sign, especially the fixed signs Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius, will be feeling the transforming power of Pluto at the moment, calling for us to face ourselves and to be truly honest, and possibly going through some kind of metamorphosis. Pluto can bring an enormous amount of psychological insight and force us to peer into the darker side of existence, which may not be very comfortable! Pluto is now getting ready to move back into Capricorn, so those of us with personal planets or angles around 29° of a sign, especially the cardinal signs Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn, could also be feeling the influence of Pluto starting to build again, having had a dose of it late 2022 and early 2023, when Pluto was at the end of Capricorn.

Uranus, the planet of sudden change, revolution and liberation, is playing a big part in this Moon, as it is sitting right next to the Taurus Sun, opposing the Scorpio Moon. This energy can bring sudden shocks, jolting us into a greater sense of awareness and shaking us out of any stagnant ruts so that we can get back on track. This is the planet of wake-up calls, that reminds us that things can change in the blink of an eye! “To thine own self be true” is Uranus’ motto, and so we could be called to be more authentic, which isn’t always easy. Indeed, this Moon could call for us to be very real indeed and could also bring a great deal of insight and a higher level of awareness. The Sun and Uranus will be exactly conjunct on 9 May, at 18° Taurus, but the energy will be very strong during this Moon.

With Uranus sitting in the sign of money and survival, we could experience a shake-up in the realm of the economy and the financial sector, although this is an ongoing process! Uranus is the planet of innovation, progression and technology, and so the digitisation of currency does seem more and more inevitable as Uranus moves further and further through Taurus. We are certainly in need of an overhaul of the current system, that is for sure, and Uranus does offer alternative solutions and calls for us to think outside of the box when it comes to money, values and finance. We may need to undo some very ingrained conditioning and come up with a very different approach to survival and money in the coming few years. The old order is crumbling!

Chiron is also in on the act during this Moon, forming a nagging inconjunct to the Moon. This brings the potential for some deep healing as we are forced to be honest and bring some gnarly material out into the open. It is far better to bring it out, rather than allowing it to fester, erode and poison. There is also a dynamic, challenging square occurring between Pluto and Jupiter, which will be exact on 18 May, just after Jupiter moves into Taurus. This could also have an impact on the financial system and might bring out some very strong and even extreme beliefs and convictions in people, with the desire to convince and convert others to their version of the truth. This certainly could bring out a lot of preachers in the pulpit over the next few weeks!

The Sabian Symbol for this Moon, at 15° Scorpio, is: “Children playing around five mounds of sand”, which Dane Rudyar describes as “Early steps in the development of a mind seeking to be attuned to the higher level of human evolution. Man’s essential destiny is to develop as a five-fold being, a “Pentagram” or five-pointed star. Number 5 symbolises mind in its most creative and penetrating aspect, while number 4 refers to the life processes operating at present within the earth’s biosphere. Our Western civilisation has realised only the lower level of this vibration 5; i.e. mind contaminated by compulsive instincts and emotional involvement. Some individuals, however, are born with a special potential for development of the higher; creative mind, and in social circumstances favouring this development. In most cases, they are still “playing around” with their unusual capacity. They are in the kindergarten stage of this higher mind development. What is seen here is FUTURE-ORIENTED GROWTH.”

With Uranus so much involved in this Eclipse, and Pluto in Uranus’s sign, we certainly do have the potential for some kind of shift forward in growth at this time. Uranus is calling for us to progress and shift out of the old familiar way of doing things. It will be interesting to see what happens as Jupiter moves into Taurus on 16 May, just at the same time as Mercury turns direct, also in Taurus. The economy is certainly centre stage at the moment!

In the meantime, this Full Moon / Eclipse seems to be calling for us to face up to anything that we may have been sweeping under the carpet. It is time to face the music, to air our resentments, to look at our shadows, to be honest about whatever has been simmering beneath the surface, to really face ourselves, to stare into the ugly mirror, to expose our tender underbelly, to tell people how we really feel, to recognise any unhealthy power dynamics, to purge, to do the inner work and to take a trip into the underworld so that maybe we can come back with some buried treasure. If we continue to avoid, suppress and deny, then it will just fester away and turn into poison. As much as we may feel deep resistance to whatever it is that represents our greatest growth, we also know, deep down inside, what needs to be done. Scorpio can an uncanny ability to bring out the truth of the matter, even if it isn’t pretty!

Much Love

Amy
xoxo

Picture – Sweep it Under the Carpet – Banksy

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TAURUS FULL MOON / TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE - 8 November 2022

11/4/2022

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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

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SCORPIO FULL MOON / TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE - 16 May 2022

5/13/2022

1 Comment

Exact at 5.14am UK time (BST)

This is an incredibly potent Moon, with so much powerful planetary energy surrounding it! Not only that, but the Moon is full in the incredibly intense and transforming sign of Scorpio, which always causes us to sit up and take notice, as Scorpio energy tends to be a catalyst for soul growth! Eclipses bring considerable shifts in consciousness and also represent a new chapter, bringing about endings and beginnings and setting the tone for the next 6 months, until the next set of eclipses. What happens around this time, the things we say and do and the experiences we have can have a profound impact on our lives that is more far reaching than your average full Moon. Eclipses bring an opportunity for an evolutionary leap, which isn’t always easy!

When we have a Total Eclipse it means that the Sun and Moon are sitting right on top of the Nodes of the Moon and this time it is activating the Scorpio/Taurus axis. An Eclipse brings the potential for us to shift out of our comfort zones and take a step forward in our soul growth, not to mention this being a very fateful and karmic time. The Nodes are also known as the Destiny Line and whenever they are highlighted we are prompted, encouraged and even pushed forward towards the growth and evolution that the North Node sign represents. The South Node represents any negative or unhealthy Scorpionic traits and behaviour that we need to release and shed so that we can move forward towards the Taurus North Node, embracing the positive qualities of this earthy, stable nature loving sign.

Ultimately we are being asked to integrate the qualities of the Taurus and Scorpio, taking the helpful, healthy qualities of each sign so that we can move forward and grow. Just because we are being prompted towards The Taurus North Node it doesn’t mean that we need to leave Scorpio behind altogether, but rather let go of any qualities that might be hindering us. On a collective level, Taurus and Scorpio represent the economy and financial system, so it is quite likely that it will come into focus in the coming months. We are currently being prompted to minimise any dependency we may have on money lenders, sticky karmic financial ties, banks and those who may have power over us financially. The Taurus North Node is calling for us to be more self-sufficient, to strip back and simplify our lives and finances, focusing on the essentials and what truly holds value for us. Taurus invites us to go outside, connect with nature, grow our own vegetables and develop practical skills that will help us as we move forward.

With the Full Moon in Scorpio we have the potential for secrets to be revealed and some darker material to come to light, both in our personal lives and the collective. Scorpio is the part of us that isn’t afraid to dig around in the shadows and bring up whatever murky material we may find there! It can be quite uncomfortable to confront and expose our tender underbelly, but it can be deeply transforming and incredibly cathartic to do so. Indeed, we may have no choice in the matter! Scorpio is a deeply psychological sign that can really penetrate to the heart of the matter.

With the South Node in Scorpio, in recent times we have collectively experienced the rug being pulled out from under us, over and over again, not to mention a lot of drama, intrigue and emotional intensity that can become quite addictive but has also left a whole host of psychological issues in its wake. The Taurus North Node calls for us to find a greater sense of self-reliance, tranquility and stability, getting ourselves to a place whereby we are empowered and resilient enough not to be completely toppled over when someone or something tries to pull the rug out from under us. Taurus helps us to meet our own needs, so we are not so dependent on others and can survive if the proverbial shit hits the fan.

Saturn in Aquarius is forming a challenging Square to the Sun, Moon and Nodes during this Full Moon/Eclipse, adding considerable tension to the overall picture and could prove to be quite testing for the economy. On the one hand this could symbolise greater authority and power over the financial system through the use of technology, which could play out over the next 6 months. Indeed, with Saturn in Aquarius, technology is being used more and more as a form of control and censorship. The “flick of a switch” can potentially wield a great deal of power over our lives! Saturn is also the part of us that feels fear, causing us to contract, restrict, pull back and exert more control and caution, specifically around all things financial in this particular case. However, Saturn also calls for us to be more accountable for the kind of world we want to live in and to be willing to take responsibility for coming up with solutions and alternatives. Necessity is the mother of invention!

Instead of falling into fear we are invited to contemplate ways that we can be more self-sufficient and less reliant on those in power. The old order is falling away and becoming obsolete, so we are being prompted to become part of the new world that we would like to give birth to in its place. Saturn invites us to take the long view, to be realistic about what we can do, on a very practical level, to play our part in this ongoing transformation that we are here to witness on Earth at this time. It is our choice whether to fall into fear and cling on to the crumbling, antiquated structures or to get excited about what possibilities lie ahead.

Anyone with personal planets or angles around 24° of a sign, especially the Fixed signs Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius, will feel the heavy weight of Saturn most acutely, not to mention this Scorpio Moon’s capacity to pull the rug out from underneath us and force us to confront ourselves. Saturn certainly can bring a big reality check that isn’t easy, and can feel quite inhibiting and restrictive. This could be quite a testing Moon, that’s for sure.

With Aquarius’s ruler Uranus currently in Taurus and starting to move towards a conjunction with the North Node in July/August, we are called to change our perspective, think outside of the box and come up with some innovative solutions around money, the capacity to sustain ourselves and the skills needed to survive and thrive. Uranus in Taurus does bring the potential for a complete overhaul and revolution of our financial system, which is probably both inevitable and necessary. What that looks like, however, remains to be seen. It is quite possible that the next few months will be very telling indeed.

It certainly feels like everything is becoming more and more digital and robotic, which seems somewhat inevitable with Uranus, the planet of technology in Taurus, the sign of the economy and nature! However, Uranus is also our inner innovator and our true self beyond societal conditioning, so we are also being called to remember our true authentic nature and connect with the land and the natural world. What kind of ingenious ways can we come up with to live more in harmony with nature? This is our past, our present and our future. It will certainly be quite interesting to see where things go in the coming months, as some will fully embrace the new technology with all its possibilities and “conveniences”, while others will feel the call back to nature, preferring to go off grid and feeling a deep resistance to the potential control that the increased use of technology could bring. Many will probably straddle both worlds. Modern technology does have a lot to offer, within reason, of course!

Mercury is now well and truly retrograde in chatty, curious Gemini, and will head back into slower moving Taurus on 23 May, a sign that likes to “chew the cud”! Mercury is retrograde from 10 May until 2 June, which always brings the potential for miscommunications and misunderstandings, although it is important to be mindful of this yet retain a sense of humour about the whole thing! While Mercury is retrograde we have a chance to slow down and reflect, potentially going back over things, reviewing, re-doing, re-visiting, re-organising, renewing, revising. There is a restrospective energy to a Mercury retrograde which helps us to look back so that we can tie up loose ends and see what we might have missed the first time around. It even has the potential to bring people back from the past if we have unfinished business with them. Old memories could bring significant clarity and understanding and help us to move on.

Jupiter moved into Aries on 11 May, which feels like a significant shift, with the King of the Gods in the sign of action! It makes me think of a superhero, so it could really help us to find the courage to take some risks and do anything we may have been putting off. The sky’s the limit with Jupiter in such a brave, impulsive, enthusiastic sign! Aries is also a very assertive and sometimes aggressive sign, however, and with the biggest planet travelling through the sign of war for the next year there is the potential for an escalation in this area. Jupiter tends to magnify the energy of the sign that it is in.

Mars, the ruler of Aries, is joining forces with Neptune in sensitive Pisces during this Moon, which on the one hand could help us to somehow know intuitively when it’s the right moment to act, as if we are being guided and motivated by something larger than ourselves. Mars is our capacity to act and assert ourselves, our desires and motivation, and combining with Neptune in Pisces we may not be very motivated or energetic at all! Indeed, we might be quite confused about what we want and may prefer to keep that peace rather than asserting ourselves or going after our desires. If we do need to assert ourselves then Neptune helps us to do so in a gentle manner, with compassion, kindness and sensitivity, although there is also the potential for some passive aggression! Mars is a positive force during this Moon, helping us to find our sacred warrior.

There is another significant conjunction during this Moon, as Chiron the Wounded Healer and Venus are joining together in Aries, exact on 15 May. This does bring the potential for some painful experiences within our relationships, whereby we are somehow triggered, hurt or wounded in some way. Aries is a very direct, forthright sign that has a tendency to act first and think later, but can also bring things out into the open and doesn’t certainly doesn’t have an agenda. As such, while it may be somewhat painful it could ultimately clear the air and force us to be honest with ourselves and our loved ones. Chiron does also have the capacity to bring great healing to our relationships. Anyone with personal planets or angles around 14° of a sign, especially the cardinal signs Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn, will feel this energy most acutely. Interesting that it coincides with a Scorpio Full Moon, which is already emotionally intense!

The Sabian symbol for this Moon, at 23° Scorpio, makes perfect sense considering the planetary energy surrounding this Moon: ”American Indians making camp after moving into a new territory”, which Dane Rudyar describes as “ The ability to adjust swiftly to a new situation by tuning in to its requirements. He who lives in harmony with nature, moving on as new needs arise, finds himself intuitively at home everywhere. He does not make demands upon life, for he has identified himself with the great rhythms of the biosphere and he functions at peace with what they produce. This is a message of the American Indian culture which European invaders so wantonly and meaninglessly destroyed nearly everywhere. Western man has lost faith in life because he wants to dominate and enslave manifestations.This symbol brings to us a message we greatly need today – the message of peaceful adaptation to nature, and through adaptation, of EFFICIENT FUNCTIONING in all life situations.”

Well, this symbol really does make sense, considering the North Node in Taurus, which is the main focus of this Eclipse! It is important to bear in mind that the energy of this Moon will be playing out over the next few months, so let’s hope that we are able to harness the energy of Mars and Neptune and know intuitively what to do and when the time is right to act. Scorpio is a highly transforming sign and its ruler, Pluto is coming close to the end of its stay in Capricorn, the sign of patriarchal authority and structure. The old order is falling away and we are here to witness the rebirth, helping the Phoenix rise from the ashes. As Saturn reminds us, we are all responsible, each in our own way, for the new world that is currently coming into being. May we all listen to our hearts and follow the calling of our soul so that when the time comes to make change, we are ready and know what to do. Out of the ashes we shall rise!

Much Love

Amy
xoxo

Painting - Into the Light by The Art with a Heart by Charlotte Phillips

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TAURUS FULL MOON / LUNAR ECLIPSE - 19 November 2021

11/16/2021

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Exact at 8.52am UK time (GMT)

We are not only in Scorpio season, but are now also in Eclipse season! This is a potent time energetically, when there is the potential for the end of one chapter and the beginning of a new one. Eclipses can bring significant events or inner shifts that have a greater impact on our lives than your average Full Moon. They tend to kick start a new phase of development in whatever houses the Sun and Moon are placed in our birth chart. This is an intense Full Moon as it is, with powerful Pluto involved and the Sun, Mars and Mercury all in soulful, intensely emotional, cathartic, transforming Scorpio! This is a time of purging, letting go, releasing and shedding old skin. It is a time of fearlessly digging deep beneath the surface and facing whatever we find there, even if it’s not pretty. The Scorpio part of us isn’t afraid of the truth, no matter how dark it may be or how uncomfortable it may make us feel.

And now we have the Full Moon in Taurus, the sign opposite Scorpio. We are urged to find some balance between the energy of the two signs, rather than veering one way or the other. Taurus is the sign of Mother Earth that gives us a sense of stability and helps us feel safe and secure in the physical and material sense. However, we can get too bogged down by the material if we place too much value on it and end up in situations whereby we choose security over growth. Scorpio, on the other hand, is the energy of transformation and can sometimes pull the rug out from underneath us if we are too attached to something that is no longer healthy for us, whether it be a relationship, a job or a situation. This is a very good time to recognise where and how we may be stuck in a rut and playing it safe to the detriment of our soul growth.

Taurus represents our self-worth, our values, our relationship with ourselves, our attitude towards money and our capacity to attract what we need into our lives. This is part of us that may have survival issues, fearing loss and change and preferring to maintain the status quo and remain “secure” rather than rocking the boat. How we feel about ourselves has a direct impact on what we attract into our lives. This Moon could bring up issues around self-worth and could also bring the subject of financial security into the foreground, both on the personal and collective level. There is also the potential for Mother Earth herself to kick back, in the form of extreme weather, earthquakes or volcanoes. This is no ordinary Full Moon - it is an Eclipse, which has a much stronger impact on our lives in the long-term. It will certainly be interesting to see what occurs on the world stage in the next few weeks!

Pluto, the ruler of Scorpio, is very much involved in this lunation, as it is forming a helpful, supportive aspect to both the Sun and the Moon. This will exaggerate the Scorpio energy, helping us to confront our shadows and have the courage to face the truth of the matter rather than denying its existence. We may be prompted to face up to some uncomfortable truths, both personally and collectively, as secrets are exposed and the darker aspects of existence are revealed for what they are. There is no hiding when Pluto is at work! While he has been in Capricorn, since 2008, he has been working away at exposing the patriarchal system for what it is, revealing the flaws and corruption and anything that is simply outworn, outdated and no longer appropriate. The old world has been slowly crumbling to make way for the new. Pluto has a transforming, detoxing quality to it, and we are coming close to the end of Pluto’s long, slow, thorough detoxification of the power structures that should be complete by 2023/2024, when Pluto moves into Aquarius.

This Moon could certainly bring some power struggles, as Pluto is the planet of power, soul-growth, death and rebirth that forces us to be emotionally honest with ourselves and others. This can leave us feeling quite vulnerable and exposed, but can also deepen intimacy and bring a greater feeling of closeness. Not to mention that as we find the courage and willingness to face our shadows and the disowned parts of ourselves, we have an opportunity to move forward in a more empowered manner, with greater integrity and a much lighter step! This certainly does seem like a good opportunity to shed some skin, release old, unhealthy patterns, looking ourselves squarely in the face and not hiding from what we see in the mirror. Pluto is quite adept at stripping back the layers of self-deceit!

Anyone with personal planets or angles around 27° of a sign will feel the energy of this Moon most acutely, especially the fixed signs of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius. Anyone with personal planets or angles around 24° of a sign, especially the Cardinal signs of Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn will have been feeling the powerful, exposing, transforming energy of Pluto, off and on, since the beginning of 2020.

Eclipses are connected to the Nodes of the Moon, as the Sun and Moon move very close to the Nodes and are more often than not in the same signs that the Nodes are in. This Moon is an exception, however. The Nodes have been in Gemini and Sagittarius since May 2020 and are getting ready to move into Taurus and Scorpio at the end of December. The theme of the Nodes for the past year and a half has been around our beliefs (Sagittarius South Node) and what is the actual truth versus what we are being made to believe. The Sagittarius part of us may have some strong convictions and an intuitive hunch about whatever is going on, but the Gemini North Node has been encouraging us to do the research necessary to find the facts and data to back up whatever we are feeling in our gut.

Similarly, our inner Sagittarius can make people very emotional and fanatical about their beliefs so that they try to convince and convert others of their version of the truth, while the Gemini North Node encourages us to be open to other people’s points of view. Gemini, the sign of “street smarts” also encourages us to listen to the word on the street versus what we are being told is the “truth” by those in authority.

There certainly have been issues around beliefs versus data in the past year or so, not to mention the data itself sometimes being misleading! Sagittarius and Gemini also brings up issues around truth and lies, which has also been a prominent theme! It is so hard to know who is telling the truth in the current climate. This is where our sixth sense comes in. It has also been hard for some people to harness their inner Gemini to find their voice and speak their truth, for fear of being shot down by people with opposing beliefs and opinions. However, this is exactly what Gemini wants us to do - to find a way of expressing our views and beliefs in a way that others are able to understand. They don’t necessarily have to accept them, but we are all entitled to our point of view and as such it is important to be open to other people’s opinions and perspectives. Gemini is quite adept at finding the right words and expressing them in a way that is palatable and doesn’t offend. Sagittarius is a bit more blunt!

With the Nodes so close to the Sun and Moon during this lunation, and coming so close to the end to the end of their stay in Gemini and Sagittarius, we could find that these themes become more intense and emotional. This is especially so with Jupiter, the ruler of the Sagittarius North Node forming a challenging square to the Sun and Moon! Those who are willing to question the status quo and listen to what their gut is telling them may feel called to do some investigation and research in order to corroborate this “inner knowing”. This could mean that they find themselves discovering things that they don’t necessarily want to know. With the Sun, Mars and Mercury, the ruler of the Gemini North Node currently in Scorpio, the sign of the detective that isn’t afraid to dig for the truth, there is the potential for some rather uncomfortable material to come to light that we might prefer not to be true.

Secrets could be exposed, people could speak out and information could be revealed that isn’t pretty and could make us wish we didn’t know! However, it is better to know the truth than live in denial. Indeed, we may say things to our loved ones that penetrate their core and reveal the heart of the matter, or we may be on the receiving end of some hard truths ourselves. As I said, Scorpio doesn’t shy away from the truth. It digs and pokes and probes , leaving no stone unturned until it brings whatever is hiding in the shadows out into the light.

Venus, the ruler of this Taurus Full Moon, is also involved in the picture. Uranus is forming a supporting trine to Venus, helping us to undo some of our conditioning around relating, self-worth and our attitude to money. Uranus is a freeing, liberating, unconventional, revolutionary energy that can help us to find an alternative and more authentic way of relating. It can also help to jolt us into a better relationship with ourselves and a greater understanding of any self-worth issues we may have. We may gain a considerable amount of insight into our approach to relationship and money, as Uranus has a “waking up” quality to it that can help see things from a different perspective.

Chiron, the Wounded Healer, is forming a challenging square aspect to Venus, so while we may gain insight we may also feel some pain come up, possibly as a result of hearing some hard truths. Indeed, Venus is in Capricorn at the moment, which makes the whole subject of relationship and commitment a rather serious matter!

The Sabian Symbol for this Moon, at 28° Taurus, is: “A woman, past her “change of life,” experiences a new love”, which Dane Ruidyar describes as “Man’s capacity to rise in consciousness and feelings above biological limitations. The symbolism stresses man’s capacity to rise above the limitations which both biological nature and the “normal” social pattern of behaviour have tried to impose upon him. The indication is that he or she should freely open his or her mind to the possibility of always new REBEGINNINGS. Ideally, the new beginning should imply a more mature response to the new possibility of experience.” This is an interesting symbol, given that this is an Eclipse, as it seems to be promising some kind of shift and an opening to new possibilities and new beginnings, but with the wisdom and maturity to make the best of it.

This could be an interesting few weeks, that’s for sure! Uranus and Saturn are also starting to move closer to their third and final square of the year that will be exact on 24 December, just as the Nodes are switching signs! Uranus, the planet of freedom, is squaring up to Saturn, the planet of control. The rebel against the authority figure, the rule breaker against the rule maker. But first we have these Eclipses, which could bring a shift in consciousness and the beginning of a new phase of development. This Moon is connected to the Taurus Full Moon/Eclipse on 19 November 2002, so it’s worth looking back to that time, because there could be an energetic resonance with that time.

During this Moon the truth could be revealed, lies exposed, shadows brought out into the light. There is much potential for purging and releasing with all of this Scorpio energy around, while Taurus reminds us to keep it simple and stay grounded, taking some delight in all that nature has to offer. Scorpio certainly brings its fair share of drama, while Taurus reminds us that life doesn’t have to be so intense! When the going gets tough Taurus gently reminds us to take care of ourselves and remember the breath, hug a tree, put our feet in the earth, enjoy some nourishing food. Small, simple yet profound acts of self-love.

Much love

Amy
xoxo

Picture: Havoc winds and strong tree by Michelle Teague

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GEMINI FULL MOON / PENUMBRAL LUNAR ECLIPSE - 30 November 2020

11/26/2020

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Exact at 9.29am UK time.

Well, this Moon certainly has the potential to set a ball in motion that could help to usher in a new era! We are now in Eclipse season, a time when we experience the end of a chapter so that something new can begin. The energy of Eclipses tend to play out for the next six months, until the next set of Eclipses. They correlate with the cycle of the Nodes of the Moon, which move in 19 year cycles, so there will be an energetic link between this Eclipse and the Lunar Eclipse on 30 December 2001 in exactly the same degree of Gemini. This Moon could signify the next phase of whatever was happening for us back then, both personally and collectively. Similarly, there will be a connection between this Lunar Eclipse and the last Lunar Eclipse, on 5 July. Something that began then will be culminating now. We are now entering a very significant and potent time, as we build up to a very important astrological event occurring on the Solstice of 21 December with two very powerful Eclipses that could bring about a significant energetic shift for us all.

This Full Moon/Eclipse activates the Gemini/Sagittarius axis, which is where the Nodes of the Moon are currently residing, bringing up issues around truth and lies. A Gemini Full Moon always has the potential for information overload, as we are bombarded with opinions, facts, information and news, so much so that it can become confusing and overwhelming. This is especially so this time as Neptune, the planet of oneness, fantasy, illusion and mysticism is incredibly strong right now because it is turning direct the day before the Full Moon. Neptune’s is currently squaring the Nodes, until January, making it nigh on impossible to locate the truth, and this is creating utter confusion, overwhelm, disillusionment and loss of meaning. Smoke screens, veiled information, half truths, deception and propaganda are rife right now, making it so difficult to know what is real information and what is illusion, and this could feel especially acute during this Full Moon.

However, what the Nodes are asking us to do is to listen to our body, trust our gut, heed our intuitive hunches and then use the power of Gemini to do some research, seek out information and back our hunches up with facts and data. Neptune, in its higher vibration, encourages us to turn inward and do the inner work, not allowing ourselves to get distracted or knocked off centre by the myriad of opinions, views and so called truths that we are being fed at the moment. This Moon will certainly ramp up all things Gemini, such as media coverage, gossip, slander and the spreading of information and disinformation, so much so that we might want to just bury our head in the sand or numb out, which are also Neptunian superpowers! However, Neptune also calls for us to quiet the internal and external noise so that we can truly hear that soft, subtle inner voice that knows and senses the truth. We may have to be prepared to sacrifice our personal comfort and security for something much bigger than us, which is the future of mankind and the planet. Gemini asks us to find a voice for this inner knowing and to stand up for what is right.

The Sun is in Sagittarius until 21 December, a sign that seeks the truth and represents higher wisdom, philosophy, law and justice. Mercury will also be joining the Sun in Sagittarius on the 1st of December, helping us to stand up for what is morally right, just and true. It is quite possible that we will see certain truths revealed and justice served where it is needed during this period, especially as we approach the Sagittarius New Moon on 15 December. Uranus is forming a nagging inconjunct aspect to the Sun during this Eclipse, which could provide us with sudden flashes of insight that helps us to see what is really going on versus what we are being led to believe. Uranus can bring sudden shocks, wake up calls and epiphanies that pierce through the veils of illusion and give us glimpses of the truth. Uranus breaks down our conditioning and breaks though the programming we have received from society, the media and those in power, helping us to wake up somehow and be able to perceive the truth of the matter.

Interestingly enough, the Sabian symbol for this Moon, at 9° Gemini, is: “A quiver filled with arrows”, about which Dane Rudyar says “The mind of man is essentially a trans-piercing power; it goes through the object toward which it is aimed. It seeks to go through and beyond the obstacles on its path, and this usually implies the destruction of the obstacle. At a higher level – as in the Zen practice of archery – the obstacle is the ego”. This symbol feels like it could pierce the veils of illusion, or get to the heart of the matter, or cut through the crap! There is something quite single minded about this symbol - an invitation to put all of our attention onto it.

Black Moon Lilith, the Dark Moon Goddess is also sitting next to Uranus during this Moon, which could stir things up somewhat! BLM is not exactly known for “playing nice” and doesn’t like being told what to do, and combined with the planet of rebellion and revolution she could be a huge force of dissent. Both Uranus and Black Moon Lilith represent volcanic eruptions, which is especially interesting considering that they are currently in Taurus, the sign of Mother Earth. We may be forced to look at some very uncomfortable material during this time that could bring up rage and other such turbulent feelings, bringing our inner rebel and revolutionary to the fore. Indeed, we could experience considerable turbulence in the coming weeks as these two powerful forces unite, bringing the potential for us to liberate ourselves from whatever has kept us oppressed, repressed, limited, bound or restricted and to rise up and say “Enough is enough!” This conjunction peaks on 22 December, which feels like a very significant time indeed.

Speaking of oppression and limitation, Jupiter and Saturn are joining forces in final degrees of Capricorn at the moment, before they both move into humanitarian Aquarius towards the end of December. Many have their eye on the Solstice this year, which has the potential to spark the beginning of a big shift for humanity, but before that we have to get through the last couple of degrees of Capricorn! Capricorn represents authority, societal structures, rules and regulations, control, government and corporations, and with Saturn sitting in the very last degree of its own sign from 7 December until 17 December we could see the shadow side of Capricorn. We may experience greater control, judgement, oppression, repression, suppression, limitation, restriction - all the things that Uranus and Black Moon Lilith don’t like! Saturn forces us to see the harsh reality of all things Capricorn, so things could feel a bit heavy, as if we are in the very tightest part of the birth canal, getting thoroughly squeezed! The darkest hour is just before dawn.

Saturn and Jupiter then both move into Aquarius, on 17 and 19 December, bringing a big shift of energy! Aquarius is very different to Capricorn, signifying new vision, breaking the rules, brotherhood/sisterhood, breaking out of programming and conditioning, non-conformity, questioning the status quo, freedom from societal control and restrictions. Having had so much emphasis on all things Capricorn for so long, this could bring some relief. Pluto will be the only slow moving planet left in Capricorn after these two move over, continuing its slow and thorough detoxification of the power structures and the patriarchal system, a process that started in 2008. Saturn and Jupiter will be exactly conjunct on 21 December in the very first degree of Aquarius, which, combined with Eclipse season, could spark off a new chapter that could bring radical change, as any old, outworn, obsolete structures that simply don’t serve us any more could start to fall away. Will this be the birth of of a new world?

With Neptune so very strong right now it is a good time to imagine the world as we would like it to be and to dream it into being through prayer and intention - a world that is built on the principles of love, peace, tolerance, compassion and unity. What kind of world do we want to leave our children? Saturn in Aquarius is going to ask us to truly take responsibility for our Aquarian humanitarian ideals of brotherhood/sisterhood and become truly accountable for a world where equality, tolerance and freedom prevail. It truly is up to us to make it happen, and the inner work we do now can make a huge difference. One of the things that Gemini teaches us is that our thoughts have power. It is important to watch our thought process during this Moon. We tend to get what we focus on, so we must be mindful of our target.

““Energy follows thought; we move toward, but not beyond, what we can imagine. What we assume, expect, or believe creates and colors our experience. By expanding our deepest beliefs about what is possible, we change our experience of life.”
Dan Millman

Much Love

Amy
xoxo

Picture: Information overload by Silke Spodzieja

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CAPRICORN FULL MOON / LUNAR ECLIPSE - 5 July 2020

7/3/2020

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Exact at 5.44am BST, 12.44am EST

This could be a very interesting 4th of July! This is the third and final Eclipse of the season, culminating in quite a Full Moon! We are undergoing a consciousness shift, the beginning of a new chapter, and whatever happens around this time will have implications for the next 6 months, until the next set of Eclipses in late November, early December. The Moon is full in Capricorn as well as Saturn, the ruler of Capricorn, also having slipped back into Capricorn. Indeed, we have the Moon, Jupiter, Saturn, Pluto and Pallas Athena all currently residing in the sign of government, authority, control, structure, achievement, discipline, parental and societal conditioning.The Moon lies directly opposite the Sun in Cancer, the sign of family, home, our roots, our nationhood and homeland, childhood, emotional security and patterns formed when we were young that follow us into our adult relationships. We are asked to find some balance between the energy of Cancer and Capricorn, rather than veering too far one way or the other. How can we find a greater sense of balance between our inner and outer lives?

The Full Moon could bring anything up that has been building up since the New Moon on 21 June, and in the case of Capricorn it could be repressed or suppressed grief. Capricorn is the part of us that tends to stuff our emotions down, trying to maintain a veneer of control, and this Moon could bring it all up to the surface for us to face and express. It may feel like a pipe bursting that has been blocked! Cancer energy helps us to show our more vulnerable side but can also make us a bit needy and insecure, whereas Capricorn encourages us to pull our socks up and get on with it, sometimes to our detriment. The Moon could bring up issues around conforming to the “rules” and around the theme of judgement. A Capricorn Moon could heighten any feelings of guilt we may have, possibly as a result of feeling judged by others. However sometimes we are our most severe judge! We could even experience feelings of futility, fear and even depression, as it could feel hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. This is the sign that forces us to see things as they really are, but can also be prone to fearful or cautious thinking.

There is definitely a lot of focus on all things Capricorn right now, but we do have the Sun and Mercury Retrograde in Cancer. Mercury went retrograde in Cancer on 19 June until 12 July. This puts considerable mental focus on all things Cancer, such as home, family, roots, how we express our emotions, where home is, who our tribe is, where we belong. Mercury retrograde can bring people back into our lives who we have unresolved business with, or memories flooding back from long ago that may be of importance to us now. Cancer is known for being quite nostalgic, with a tendency to dwell on the past, while Retro Mercury can make us very retrospective and reflective. Retro Mercury asks us to look back and to go back over anything we might have missed in the preceding few weeks before 19 June, as it might have something to teach us. It is important to remember, while Mercury is retrograde, that miscommunication and misunderstandings are possible, especially in such an emotionally reactive sign as Cancer.Our minds could literally become overwhelmed with emotion at times, so that it is hard to think straight. Certainly there is a big focus on home, family and belonging during this time, and a need to go back over old ground somehow, clearing the way to move forward.

Chiron the Wounded Healer is very much involved in this Full Moon, as it is forming a challenging square to the Sun, Moon and Mercury, not to mention that we are moving towards a conjunction between Mars and Chiron that will be exact on 14 July. Chiron is in Aries at the moment, and was a big player at the beginning of this global process we are experiencing, as if it represents the “virus” itself but, more symbolically, a war. Chiron is often present during events that are of great historical importance, and is currently residing in Aries, the god of war. It feels like the next week or two could be important, as Mars, the ruler of Aries, joins Chiron in Aries. Will we be called to find our sacred masculine and stand up and act somehow? Will we experience the next phase of the war on humanity? Will people lash out in anger? Will force somehow be used either for or against us? Will the “virus”and all connected to it gain more momentum and force? Will we see an upsurge in violence, aggression or war-like activity? Will more people come to loggerheads over the situation we are in? Will we somehow be given an opportunity to heal wounds connected to sexuality, aggression, violence and the masculine? It will be interesting to see what happens between the Full Moon and the next Moon on 20 July, as this is a powerful combination.

This Moon involves Chiron squaring off against Mercury and the Sun, exact on 1 July but still very present during the Full Moon. Chiron will also be square the Moon in the day of the Full Moon, which could trigger some deep emotions and old grief. This could involve us receiving messages that are painful to hear and that could potentially bring up anger. We may find ourselves being triggered by the words and actions of others, so that we overreact and say things we don’t mean. Information could come to light on a global level that overwhelms us emotionally and makes us angry. Mars in Aries is also square Mercury during this Moon, exact Wednesday 8 July, causing people to speak in anger and blurt out things they might regret, but also helping us to get things out into the open and speak our truth. Whatever happens on 4 July, in the build-up to this Full Moon, could bring some painful realisations and potentially challenging and volatile communication. It will be interesting to see what happens in the world arena this weekend. There could be a lot of action and reaction from various camps!

Uranus is also forming a harmonious aspect to the Sun, Moon and Mercury, which brings the potential for some kind of wake-up call that could bring new information to light and helps us to shift somehow. Uranus and Mercury helps us to see outside of the box and can bring profound realisations, insights and epiphanies and help us to see an alternative point of view. Uranus is the harbinger of change, helping to release us from our “programming” and old conditioning so that we are free to think for ourselves and see beyond the consensus narrative. We may find that our minds are blown somehow and the information could come to light that is very liberating and enlightening indeed. We might be asked to be quite flexible and open-minded, as Uranus encourages us to step back and view things from a different perspective.

Uranus is currently in Taurus, which is important to note, as it will have an influence on this Moon. Taurus is the sign of finance, Mother Earth and our sense of security on a physical and material level. Uranus is the sign of change, revolution and innovation and can definitely upset the apple cart when it comes to survival issues! Uranus in Taurus can bring a revolution of our financial system, forcing us to think outside the box when it comes to the way we make a living and to change our way of thinking around the financial system itself. Is there a way forward that is more fair, just and equal, that takes the focus away from “possession” and what is “mine” and “yours”? How might we move forward with a lighter footprint, harnessing natural resources such as wind and sun rather than raping and pillaging the earth herself? How can we turn this situation around and create a world that is healthier and more abundant for all who live on the planet? There is plenty to go around - we just have to change our approach, our mindset and our conditioning in this area of ecology, survival and economy. This Moon could bring up some of these issues to contemplate, as it certainly seems that things cannot go on as they have done. The system as we know it is collapsing. What will take its place?

The conjunction between Jupiter, Pluto and Pallas Athena in Capricorn is still very prevalent during this Moon and will be for the next month or so. It coincided with the peak of the fear and pandemonium back in early April and it seems that there is a resurgence now as well. Jupiter in Capricorn certainly can magnify and exaggerate the Plutonian fear around death and our mortality! It is very important for us to be mindful of the way we express our beliefs, as this combination can cause people to want to convince and convert others to their point of view and to be quite intolerant of opposing beliefs. We are all entitled to our point of view and should still be able to remain friends despite a difference of opinion. There are many strong beliefs being espoused right now, with so many people on their soap box being very judgemental indeed, so it is very important to be mindful, tolerant and aware of when we are being judgemental. It is also important to listen to our body’s wisdom. We all have the gift of intuition and a “sixth sense” and never has it been more important to use and learn to trust it. Our bodies know the truth.

Something else that Jupiter and Pluto in Capricorn can bring is a messianic complex on the part of those who have too much power and authority for their own good. This can be governments, corporations or even individuals who believe somehow that they are the “saviour” of mankind and have the capacity or tools to solve or “fix” the problems we are facing. While one can certainly help to solve the problems we face, it is very dangerous and deluded to think that one has the power to “save” the whole world. The higher potential of Jupiter and Pluto is for us to experience a profound transformation of our belief system, as we purge any old, outworn, toxic beliefs about ourselves and the world we live in. It is very important to keep an open mind during this time and also to do some detective work and research , digging deep under the surface for the truth. Just because we are told something is true, it doesn’t mean that it is! Indeed, it is so very hard to know where the truth lies right now, which is why it is so important to trust our inner wisdom.

The Sabian Symbol for the Moon, at 14° Capricorn, is” An ancient bas-relief carved in granite remains a witness to a long-forgotten culture”, which Dane Rudyar describes as “The will to unearth, in our culture as well as in any culture, what has permanent value, and to let go of nonessentials.
At a time when in nearly every land men are questioning and challenging the validity of traditional beliefs and customary attitudes, it becomes necessary to separate permanent values and great principles or symbols from the many individual habits and the socio-political developments which more often than not have perverted or even negated the original ideals of the culture. We must strive to free these ideals from the wild growth of personal and class selfishness, from the greed and ambition so prevalent in human nature, and learn to appreciate the excellence of what is the immortal seed-foundations, as well as the spiritual harvest, of any culture – and by extension of every sustained and complete work produced by a man’s indomitable effort to achieve creative perfection.
In this symbol we are shown the procedure which enables us to gain a deep and thorough appreciation of sociocultural processes in their most enduring forms. What is needed is a penetrating and courageous insight founded upon a valid HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE. This applies to the past of an individual’s life as well as to the history of a nation or a group.”

This is an interesting symbol in the light of current events, and also considering the planetary energy of this Moon! It is so important to learn from history. We have an opportunity to remember what is truly important and to let go of anything that is flawed, or outworn, or corrupt or “perverted”, as Rudyar says. This feels like an historical moment that has the potential to shape the future of mankind and this planet. The next couple of weeks feel important, as does the next 6 months, until the next set of Eclipses. In the meantime, we can try to harness a few of Capricorn’s highest qualities, the first being maturity. How can we act in a way in which we take responsibility for our actions and reactions and harness our inner adult? How might we need to become more accountable? How can we make sure that we are the biggest person we can be? How can we honour other instead of judging them? One of Capricorn’s greatest gifts is integrity, which involves always doing the right thing even if it involves doing things the hard way. It is so very important to always do what we feel is right, regardless of how it might affect us. Never has this been more important than now.

Much Love

Amy
xoxo

Picture: Ancient Carved Bas Relief - Unknown

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SAGITTARIUS FULL MOON / LUNAR ECLIPSE - 5 June 2020

6/1/2020

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Exact at 8.12pm BST, 3.12pm EDT

We can expect a lot of views, beliefs and opinions to be flying around during this Full Moon, with the Sun in communicative, curious and versatile Gemini and the Moon in adventurous, philosophical and opinionated Sagittarius! We are also entering Eclipse season, which represents a new chapter and often brings some kind of shift in consciousness. The impact of a Full Moon Lunar Eclipse is more far reaching than your average Full Moon, as it will impact the next 6 months. This Full Moon represents the culmination and continuation of a process that began back on 10/11 January of this year, when we had the last Lunar Eclipse. It is interesting that the Eclipse in January coincided with the Saturn Pluto conjunction, which was certainly the catalyst for the global restructuring that we are now experiencing. This Full Moon could signify the next phase of what began then. This Eclipse season also has connections to the Eclipse season in June/July 2001, a year that definitely had a huge impact on the whole world. This Moon is specifically connected to the Sagittarius Full Moon of 6 June 2001, so it is worth looking back to that time and contemplating what was happening at that time, both personally and collectively.

The Nodes of the Moon have just moved from Cancer/Capricorn, where they have been for the last 19 months, into Gemini/Sagittarius. This represents a big energetic shift, as now the focus will be on all things Gemini and Sagittarius. The South Node, representing our past karma and patterns that may be holding us back, is now in Sagittarius, the sign of philosophy, religion, travel, higher wisdom, faith, truth and our beliefs. For the next 19 months we will very likely be prompted to question our most deeply held beliefs about ourselves and life itself, as the Gemini North Node encourages us to listen to other viewpoints and keep an open mind rather than remaining too stuck in one mindset or way of seeing the world. Issues around truth and lies could be very prevalent, and it certainly has become so very hard to know where the truth lies in recent times. It is possible that the media (Gemini) will be brought to task around misinformation, false news and sensationalism. We should be able to rely on the media, as one of the pillars of society, to provide us with the truth (Sagittarius). Gemini is more logical and very much deals with the facts and data, while Sagittarius is more intuitive, dealing with philosophies and beliefs.

We could be asked to find a way of communicating our truth to others in a gentle and palatable way rather than trying to convince and convert people, and forcing them to accept our version of the truth. Gemini encourages us to listen and learn from one another instead of rabidly defending our own views and beliefs. Just because someone else holds a different belief it doesn’t necessarily mean that they are wrong and we are right. Beliefs are always up for debate! This really is a good time to keep an open mind and to remain willing to accept other possibilities rather than clinging to our own version of the truth. This Nodal combo could also bring up issues around freedom of speech and the right to speak out, have a voice and express our truth. It is also the Nodal axis of travelling, as Sagittarius represents long distance travel to other lands, while Gemini is more local. Indeed, it is already looking like the majority of travel will be closer to home for the foreseeable future.

The ruler of Sagittarius is Jupiter, who is currently in Capricorn. This means that during this Full Moon/Eclipse the type of beliefs that we may be asked to question pertain to authority, society, government, the corporations and our parental and societal conditioning. What are we being told to believe by those in authority at the moment? How has our belief system been conditioned or programmed by society, parents and government over the years? Do we have faith that the governments and other powers structures are truly acting in our best interests? How does fear influence us in terms of expressing our views and beliefs? Do we find ourselves more reactive and defensive when we are feeling fearful or insecure, or when our more rigidly held beliefs are being threatened? And what of all the censorship that is so rife in recent times, whereby we are literally witnessing oppression and suppression of the right to share differing views and beliefs? Jupiter is in Capricorn until December, when it moves into revolutionary, tolerant and humanitarian Aquarius, at which point we will probably experience quite a big shift in the area of our faith and beliefs.

Jupiter is getting closer and closer to Pluto, the planet of power, death/rebirth, transformation, the underworld, the soul and our subconscious compulsions. This is the second time these two are coming together, although they have not really been too far away from each other since the first conjunction on 5 April. This combination could literally mean that our beliefs and opinions take on a greater intensity as they become more a matter of life and death. We may also find ourselves being led into the underworld as we dig deep in our search for the truth. Indeed, with Pluto in Capricorn currently exposing the rot within the power structures, we could find ourselves facing some very uncomfortable truths that are hard to accept. It is very important that we listen to our “gut” during this time, as our bodies are incredibly adept at informing us of the truth if we are willing to listen. We all have the ability to “smell a rat”!

Jupiter has a magnifying and “exaggerating” effect on the planet and sign it comes into contact with, and with Pluto and Capricorn there is the potential for an amplification of fear and a magnification of the abuse of power, manipulation and corruption within the power structures .Jupiter makes everything much bigger, and Pluto is certainly exposing some very uncomfortable material at the moment! Our faith in and beliefs about the power structures are very much being challenged! However, it is so important that there is more transparency so that we can see what we are dealing with. Pluto and Jupiter holds the potential for a complete death and rebirth of our belief system, as our programmed or conditioned beliefs fall away in order for something else to take their place. Jupiter and Pluto will finally come together again on 30 June, and the energy will be building until then. It is very significant that the ruler of the Sagittarius Moon and the South Node is paired up with the planet of the soul and transformation. Our beliefs will never be the same by the end of this process, which ends with the last Jupiter/Pluto conjunction in November.

Mars and Neptune are combined in Pisces during this Full Moon and are both forming a challenging square to the Sun and Moon. With Mars exactly squaring the Gemini Sun and Sagittarius Moon this could involve people getting quite hot under the collar when it comes to expressing opinions, views and beliefs. Indeed, there is a danger of people becoming downright aggressive and even nasty if their more deeply held beliefs are threatened or if they are in fear. With Neptune and Pisces squaring the luminaries there is the potential for certain illusions being shattered as the truth is exposed, and this could make us angry. Mars and Neptune together in Pisces isn’t exactly the most aggressive combination, but rather could involve more covert or indirect anger or aggression. It can also bring inspired action and the courage to face the truth and to act on our convictions and ideals with compassion and empathy. Neptune and Pisces represent the collective, and so we may have the courage and conscience to speak up for the sake of humanity. However, we could also act on our delusions or be so super-sensitive that we overreact. The Mars Neptune conjunction is building during the Full Moon and will be exact on 12 June.

Mercury, the ruler of the Gemini Sun, is now in emotional and sensitive Cancer, which could make communication a bit more emotionally fraught and could also mean that we find it easier to express our feelings to one another. We might be a bit more touchy about our opinions and more prone to overreacting if our ideas are challenged. However, it also means that we are better able to communicate in a way that ignites people’s emotions and touches their hearts. Chiron, the Wounded Healer, is forming a challenging square to Mercury during this Moon, which could bring some painful conversations, whereby something someone says or something we read could trigger our core wounds and insecurities. Similarly, we could be the one who says something that is hurtful or triggers someone else’s pain or tender spots.

As retrograde Venus in Gemini is reminding us, it is so very important to be kind to one another and aware that we are all just human beings who are doing our best in an extremely challenging situation. We are asked to reevaluate the way we communicate with one another and to be very mindful of one another’s feelings. It is important to truly listen to one another and to hear where the other person is coming from rather than projecting onto each other. Uranus is also forming a harmonious aspect to Mercury, which could help us to think outside of the box and bring a few helpful insights and epiphanies. Uranus can help us to “wake up” to possibilities that we may have previously been closed to, but sometimes these revelations and realisations can be quite painful to contemplate, which is where Chiron square Mercury comes in. Uranus and Mercury literally blow our mind and could also help us to come up with some clever solutions to whatever we are facing.

The Sabian symbol for the Full Moon, at 16° Sagittarius, is: “Sea gulls fly around a ship in expectation of food.” This is an interesting symbol, considering all that is happening at the moment and how many people are starving in the world and becoming more and more dependent on “scraps” handed out by the government. However, in a more symbolic sense, Dane Rudyar describes this symbol as “The easily acquired dependence of psychic desires upon the stimulation of social circumstances. Animals drawn into the circle of what human society produces find it easier to depend on man’s handouts than to pursue their usually difficult search for sustenance. The sea gulls here symbolise the more wild and normally untameable energies of the human soul, but they too can develop a kind of domesticated dependence upon the by-products of man’s adventures within the realm of unconscious (the sea). Natural instincts feed on the reactions, and often perversions, of the socially conditioned mind-ego. This symbol shows us how nature can readily become subservient to man’s restless ambition to dominate the entire biosphere through an all-human planetary socioeconomic organisation.”

Bear in mind that this symbol and this Moon/Eclipse will have an impact on the next 6 months.
Who and what are we dependent on for information? Are we just accepting what we are being “given” rather than doing the work ourselves to find an alternative? How are we giving our power away and just waiting to be “fed”? How have we separated ourselves from our own intuition and natural instincts and accepted what we are being handed out? Are we becoming “subservient” and dependent? Are we waiting for “scraps” that may never come? How can we take our power back? Is there an alternative solution to this, another way? Is it time to get more in touch with our natural instincts and intuition again, instead of just buying into the “machine” and our social conditioning? This is a powerful symbol, on many levels.

This Full Moon feels very powerful indeed, especially as it kicks off Eclipse season, which certainly could be a game changer. It feels like we are being encouraged to keep an open mind and not be too rigid in our beliefs. There is also a sense of us needing to trust our own gut and to have the courage to speak up if necessary. This is not a time to blindly accept what we are being “fed”, but rather we are encouraged to look under the proverbial carpet and behind the curtain and to be brave enough to face what lurks there. It may not be pretty, and some illusions could be shattered, but it is better to know the uncomfortable truth rather than living a lie that gives us a false sense of security. The truth shall set you free! This is a time of intense communications, with so many different “preachers on the pulpit”, but ultimately we need to use the Gemini energy to do our own research and use our common sense and Sagittarius to listen to and trust our own inner wisdom. We may be asked to find our voice and speak up in as eloquent a way as possible, while also remembering that we all have a right to our opinion and beliefs. Ultimately, optimistic Sagittarius asks us to have faith that the process that we are going through is for the greater good and that, for whatever reason, it is what we need to grow and evolve. Sagittarius can always see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Much Love

Amy
xoxo

Painting: Open Your Mind - mhelwig at Deviant Art

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CANCER FULL MOON / LUNAR ECLIPSE - 10 January 2020

1/7/2020

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Exact at 7.21pm GMT

This is an especially potent and powerful Full Moon which is occurring at an extraordinary moment in time. This Moon peaks only 2 days before the much anticipated Saturn/Pluto conjunction is at its strongest on Sunday 12 January. The energy of the conjunction has been building over the past month and will continue after the 12th, although its strength will recede with each day afterwards. It is also Eclipse season, which has the potential to bring a new chapter and a significant shift of some kind. This is the second of the two Eclipses in the signs of Cancer and Capricorn, the parental axis. Cancer is the mother, the Matriarchy, while Capricorn is the father, the Patriarchy. The Moon is very much at home in her own sign of Cancer, so this Moon could have a particularly strong emotional, nurturing quality, helping us to access our emotions and truly express what we are feeling. However, it is very important to note that there is a HUGE emphasis on Capricorn at the moment, with 6 astrological bodies sitting in this ambitious, reserved and authoritative sign. As such, we are staring Capricorn squarely in the face at the moment, which enables us to see and experience both its darkness and light.

With the North Node currently in Cancer we are being encouraged to develop our Cancerian qualities and focus more on taking care of one another and nurturing community spirit and grass root endeavours. Cancer encourages us to allow ourselves to be more vulnerable, finding the courage to ask for help, revealing our real emotions and sharing our fears and insecurities rather than any Capricornian fear-based tendency towards emotional coldness, putting up walls, stiff upper lip, emotional withdrawal, shutting one another out and acting like we have everything under control. Capricorn is the part of us that has been taught to suppress and keep our emotions under control, stuffing them down so we don’t feel, while Cancer helps us to access and honour them and recognise the needs of our “inner child” and what it is telling us. It is very important, at this time, to actively and consciously work on this, keeping our hearts open to one another and recognising when our old Capricornian conditioning is running the show. It takes considerable courage, trust and effort to remain open instead of closing down, but it makes all the difference in the world if we can do so.

With Saturn and Pluto joining forces in Capricorn we are currently being shown the dark side of Capricorn, in no uncertain terms, both in our personal lives and on the world stage. We are at tipping point. Issues around hard control, patriarchal dominance, suppression, repression, oppression, governmental structures, dictatorship, power, status, greed, intolerance, borders and boundaries, judgement, extreme conservatism, divide and rule, fear-based control, exclusivity, tyranny, prejudice and nepotism are rife at the moment. While the light side of Capricorn has very strict morals and seeks to obey the rules, the shadow side of Capricorn and the patriarchal system will do anything in order to gain and maintain control, status and power. We are seeing evidence of this wherever we turn at the moment. Fear is rife and can easily be used to control. It is very important for us to recognise when we are feeling fearful, as it is a very destructive force.

Pluto exposes the rot, while Saturn gives us a very harsh reality check, and so the darker side of Capricorn is being shown to us, without any kind of softening filter. Historically, when these two powerful planets come together there has been some kind of war or threat of war. Pluto is a powerfully transforming planet which has the potential to bring the dark side of the system and power structures to light and detoxify them so that something new can rise up in their place. However, Saturn’s energy may resist this process and cling on for dear life. An old order is passing away so that something new can be born, but it won’t go down without a fight! This applies both personally and collectively. It is better to allow whatever structures, patterns or habits in our lives that or old and outworn to pass away rather than holding onto something that simply isn’t working anymore.

Both personally and collectively we are no longer able to live in denial of the reality of what we are facing. Possibly nothing has actually changed, rather we are facing the stark reality and being forced to see things as they really are. This is extremely helpful, for then we are better able to take responsibility for and become more accountable for whatever we find. Pluto can help us to empower ourselves and really get to the bottom of whatever it is that we are confronted with, leaving no stone unturned! Saturn in Capricorn helps us to slowly and steadily climb to the top of whatever mountain we are facing, helping us to harness the necessary discipline, patience, integrity and resilience and to keep our sights on whatever goal we have set ourselves. The key is to take responsibility for ourselves, to recognise where and how we can empower ourselves and each other, to act with maturity and to knuckle down and do whatever work is necessary, both internally and externally, in order to move past whatever obstacles arise. We may be asked to make a deeper commitment in whatever area of life that the conjunction is found.

At the moment when the Saturn Pluto conjunction is exact on the 12th we also have the Sun, Mercury and Ceres sitting right next to these two powerful planets, giving us a five planet stellium in Capricorn. The Sun, Ceres, Saturn and Pluto are sitting at 22° Capricorn, while Mercury is one degree ahead at 23° Capricorn. This is incredibly powerful! With the Sun involved this powerful stellium has the potential to bring into question our very purpose in life and how we express ourselves in the world.

Mercury’s involvement means that it is important to be careful what we say during this time and mindful in terms of what we hear or listen to, as it could be extreme. Mercury in Capricorn can be quite hard-nosed and deliver some harsh blows, not to mention forcing us to confront reality and potentially making us a bit rigid in our thinking. Mercury is the planet of communication, and combined with Saturn and Pluto and opposing the Moon we could either give or receive some messages that are psychologically hard to stomach but which may hit the nail on the head somehow. Indeed, we could have some profound psychological realisations about how things really are! It is important to watch out for power games, mind control, manipulation and conflicts of opinion. During the Full Moon and leading up to the conjunction, some very big decisions may need to be made that could have a far-reaching impact on our lives, both personally and collectively. It is very important to be mindful in thought and deed, and to take a step back if we feel upset or over-heated. The Cancer Moon and North Node remind us to remain open to one another rather than withdrawing communication or putting the walls up.

Ceres, sometimes known as Mother Earth, is the goddess of food and agriculture and represents the way we give and receive nurturing. Ceres (otherwise known as Demeter) was mother to Persephone, who Pluto took a fancy to and took her away from her Mother to live with him in the underworld. It seems that Ceres could be quite a controlling, smothering, somewhat narcissistic mother, so on some level it may have been quite a relief for Persephone to have some time away from her to become her own person. Ceres’ grief was so severe at the separation from her daughter that in her agony and mourning she stopped the crops growing, so much so that after a year the human race was in dire straits and in danger of extinction. The humans started to lose faith in the Gods, so Jupiter intervened and decreed that Persephone would spend half the year in the underworld with Pluto and the other half in the company of Ceres. This is how Summer and Winter were created, for when Persephone went underground Ceres went into mourning.

With Ceres being so closely tied in with the Saturn Pluto conjunction, we are receiving a heavy dose of reality in the areas of life that she represents. Ceres represents the mother daughter bond and/or lack of it, highlighting issues around control and the need to break free. She also represents the ancestral inheritance and genes we receive through the maternal line. She represents agriculture, food supplies and lack of it. Ceres has a correlation with the overall well-being of ordinary people, and is a very important symbol of the spirit and practice of democracy. She represents deep loss, grief, separation, death of a loved one and bereavement. She also represents the natural cycles of life, both in the seasons and in the cycle of birth, life and death, the Maiden, the Mother and the Crone. Her story points out that Persephone actually didn’t mind being with Pluto in the underworld, which could help us to see our own shadows and “underworld” in a different light. These are all issues that are being highlighted and brought to our attention at the moment, especially as Pluto himself is involved with this conjunction!

We are currently being asked to really step up to the plate and become accountable for whatever we are facing in our lives. And some of this is not easy material to face. We could be faced with some very big decisions, as we are asked somehow to make a deeper commitment as a new chapter begins. It is Eclipse season, which is a profound time of endings and beginnings and signifies a big shift in consciousness. The Moon/Eclipse could definitely bring things to a head for us emotionally and within our relationships, which ultimately could be exactly what we need, as challenging as it may seem at the time. Saturn and Pluto are forcing us to recognise things as they really are, not as we would like them to be. There is the potential for darkness here, but it is important to remember that there is no shadow without equal amounts of light. In fact, the brighter the light shines the darker the shadow seems in comparison. It is very important to be mindful, conscious and aware of our actions and reactions during this period of time, especially in the face of adversity.

It does indeed feel like we are at tipping point, on many levels; a karmic time of reckoning, when we reap what we have sown. It’s Judgement day! Old, entrenched patterns and our “armour” are being broken down and the process could be painful. How we respond to it all, however, is the most important thing. The Cancer North Node and Moon asks us to keep our hearts open and to honour our emotions rather than stuffing them down and shutting each other out. And if we can take anything from Capricorn, it is to always act from a place of maturity and integrity. Choose love, not fear.

Much Love

Amy
xoxo

Image: Inner Child sculpture from Burning Man

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CAPRICORN FULL MOON / SOLAR ECLIPSE - 16 July 2019

7/13/2019

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Exact at 10.38pm BST, 5.38pm EDT

Eclipse season is well and truly upon us with this powerful, transforming and potent Full Moon/Eclipse in Capricorn! There could be a high degree of emotional intensity accompanying this Moon, with our emotions rising like the tides and swelling like the waves. Eclipses can bring major endings and beginnings, whereby one chapter ends and another begins. With the North Node currently in Cancer, the theme of this Eclipse season is on us finding a sense of home and belonging and finding our roots. This can, of course, mean uprooting! We are being prompted to contemplate and even make big decisions around what truly nourishes us and what represents home. The last Eclipse, on 2 July, would have started the process off, and this one calls us to bravely face our fears and make a deeper commitment to whatever decisions we made then. This Moon is in Capricorn, after all! Capricorn is the sign of responsibility, commitment, maturity, integrity, discipline and control, so these are all issues and themes that could come up for us during this time.

The Cancer/Capricorn polarity is very much in the spotlight at the moment, with the onus on us all to find some balance between the energy of the two signs. During this 18 month period, from November 2018 until May 2020, we are invited to leave some of the less desirable qualities of Capricorn behind. Do we have a need to maintain a sense of control to feel safe? How are our behaviour and decisions still influenced by our conditioning, or by fear? Do we tend to suppress our emotions rather than allowing others to see we are hurt or in need or help? Do we tend to put up a capable front, holding it all together rather than allowing others to see that we are struggling? How might we allow the sense of responsibility to weigh us down and hold us back? Do we tend to retract, withdraw or put walls up out of fear? Ultimately we are not in control, so holding on too tightly or trying to steer from a place of fear doesn’t allow us to flow in the right direction and can cause us to make the wrong decisions. Likewise, sometimes our sense of duty and responsibility can go too far and cause us to take on more than is healthy for our emotional wellbeing.

The Cancer North Node shows us that we don’t have to shoulder everything on our own and that is ok to admit when we can’t cope or need help. It is far better to share our feelings and risk being a bit vulnerable rather than putting up walls and pushing people away because we are scared. People love to feel needed anyway, and a problem shared is a problem halved! While Capricorn represents societal expectations, our career, outer success and the “rat race”, Cancer invites us to contemplate what we need for our emotional wellbeing; what nourishes us and makes us feel fulfilled and whole on the inside. What is true success in terms of being a human being, when you take societal expectations and pressures out of the equation? Is it measured by the job we do and the things we own, or by the love that surrounds us, our quality of life and our relationships? What is more important to us? Are we supposed to work all the hours of the day and not have enough time to spend with our loved ones? How can we better take care of our needs and nurture ourselves more? Indeed, how might we soften a bit and allow others to take care of us too?

Venus in Cancer is sitting right next to the North Node during this Moon. Eclipses involve the Nodes of the Moon and signify an important time in our destiny, so any planet sitting on the North Node of the Moon will help to pull us forward on the path to our true destiny. This destiny is also linked to the sign and house that hold the North Node in our natal chart, as they represent what our soul yearns for in order to grow in this lifetime. However, we also resist that which we yearn for, as it calls for us to step out of our familiar South Node tendencies and patterns.

With Venus, the planet of love, attraction, beauty and relationship activating the North Node, there is a sense that love will show us the way. Ultimately if we act and make decisions based on love, rather than fear, we are bound to be guided in the right direction. Interestingly enough, Saturn is sitting on the South Node, as is Pluto, making us all too aware of the old patterns that might hold us back from moving forward and keep us bound by fear. It couldn’t be clearer – do we choose fear or love? Do we stay in our old patterns and make decisions from a place of fear and contraction or do we open our hearts and trust that we are being guided in the right direction?

Luckily Neptune is lending a helping hand with a harmonious trine aspect to Venus, which helps us to put our faith and trust in love and go with the flow. Neptune helps us to see past each other’s walls and protective barriers and relate to one another’s true spirit and essence. While Saturn on the South Node could cause us to get stuck in fear, desperately clinging to a rock in the river out of a need to maintain a sense of being in control, Neptune is the water that simply allows us to flow gracefully around whatever obstacles may be in the path until we get to wherever we need to go. And sometimes what looks like a disaster is actually a blessing. We are invited to see the magic, beauty and wonder of life and trust the process, no matter where it may lead us. We are encouraged to open our hearts, let go and see where the flow of the river may take us. Neptune and Venus urge us to surrender and to allow our hearts to show us the way.

It is very interesting that we have Mercury Retrograde at the same time as Eclipse season. While some of us may be experiencing big shifts and changes as a result of the Eclipses, Mercury encourages us to reflect on our process and any decisions we may be making, and to consider all of the implications. We are asked to take a step back and make sure we have all the information we need, dotting our “I”s and crossing our “T”s before Mercury goes direct on 31 July. It is important that we make an effort to be very open and clear in our communication, so that we avoid misunderstandings and miscommunications. When Mercury shifts back into Cancer on Thurs 19 July, we may be prompted to consider the emotional implications of whatever we are currently facing. It is all part of the process, and sometimes it is very important to go back over the same ground in order to solidify things and make sure that we have looked at it all from every angle. There may be something important that we haven’t noticed; a missing piece to the puzzle. Similarly, while Mercury Retrograde can cause delays, often there is a very good reason for it that may reveal itself later as a gift.

The Nodes of the Moon certainly are getting a lot of action at the moment! With Pluto, Saturn and the Moon all straddling the South Node, representing the past and the old, entrenched, familiar patterns, habits and fears, there is a sense of us having no choice but to face ourselves and to see these old patterns exactly as they are. However, we may still find ourselves in their grip if we are not careful. Luckily Venus and the Sun in Cancer are on the other end, next to the North Node, calling us home and helping us to take a leap forward in our destiny. Pluto and the Moon are sitting very close together during this Eclipse, which could bring up some very intense and powerful emotions and compulsions for us to contend with which come from a very deep place inside of us. This has the potential to be a deeply transforming Full Moon and Eclipse, helping us to face some of our more deeply entrenched emotional patterns and confront our greatest fears. Capricorn invites us to commit deeply to the process and to take responsibility for actions and responses from a place of maturity and integrity. The only control we have is over our own response to whatever comes across our path.

Much Love

Amy
Xoxo

Picture: Elbow River Rocks 4 by Madeleine Arnett

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Amy Bird

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