Category: Solar Eclipse

LIBRA NEW MOON / ANNULAR SOLAR ECLIPSE - 14 Oct 2023

10/9/2023

Exact at 8.55pm UK time (BST)

We are now entering Eclipse season, which is a potent time of the year that can bring about profound shifts, endings and new beginnings. We have an opportunity for a reset of some kind, so it is important to be open to any opportunity for change and growth, and to have the courage and willingness to step out of our comfort zone and do things differently, even if it is uncomfortable at first. A Solar Eclipse is like an amplified New Moon, representing the end of one chapter and the beginning of a new cycle of development. It can help to be mindful of any behaviour, patterns, tendencies, habits, situations or relationships we are letting go of, as we release and leave them behind in the dark of the Moon so that we can start with a clean slate, clearing the way to allow new energy to come in.

This Eclipse is occurring in the sign of Libra, the sign that represents balance, harmony, peace and cooperation. Libra seeks to restore balance in our lives and relationships, so that we don’t teeter too far in one extreme or another. Libra’s focus is relationships, and so we could be called, during this Eclipse season, to redress any imbalances within our relationships so that they are more equal, fair, tolerant, balanced and co-operative. Libra reminds us that it takes two to tango and can help us to truly listen to one another and to honour one another’s needs. This Moon can help us to see how and where we give our power away and to draw it back to us. It has the potential to bring about a powerful shift in the way we relate to others, especially those closest to us. We have an opportunity for a profound reset within our relationships, if we are open and brave enough to allow it to happen.

The Nodes of the Moon are always activated during Eclipse season and in this case, it is the Libra Aries nodal axis that is in focus. The Aries North Node is calling for us to be very brave and to express our needs, bringing anything out into the open that we might usually struggle with. The Libra part of us can sometimes turn a blind eye to certain issues for the sake of keeping the peace and not rocking the boat, and may shy away from conflict or confrontation, often due to a fear of rejection, or of being alone. Aries, however, calls for us to be honest and open, even if it does feel risky or scary. Aries is adept at the art of self-love and calls for us to honour and love ourselves, creating healthy boundaries for ourselves, for if we don’t love ourselves then what have we got to offer others? The Eclipse offers us an opportunity to step out of our comfort zone and change the way we relate, helping to restore a sense of equilibrium to our lives and relationships.

Uranus, the Great Awakener, is poking and prodding at the Sun and Moon with an inconjunct aspect, calling for us to be utterly true to ourselves and to clear away any unhealthy attachments or stagnant, unhealthy patterns of relating. Uranus can help us to liberate ourselves from old programming that simply doesn’t serve us anymore. This Moon could be so freeing, with Uranus helping us to be more authentic and giving us greater clarity and insight into what needs to shift and change in order to restore balance. We really do have an amazing opportunity for a reset, as Uranus can bring the necessary shocks, realisations or wake-up calls to jolt us into a greater awareness of what we might need to release in order to experience a greater sense of freedom, ease and balance in our lives and relationships, intimate and otherwise.

Chiron, the Wounded Healer is also a very big player during this Moon, as it is in Aries, sitting close to the Aries North Node and directly opposite the Sun and Moon. We have an opportunity for such profound healing if we have the courage to be honest. The Libra Moon can help us to bring some thorny issues out into the open in a kind, considerate and peaceful way. However, with the South Node in Libra we are currently be called to let go of some of the unhealthier aspects of Libra, such as people-pleasing, being overly compliant, sitting on the fence, avoiding difficult issues in order to keep the peace, acquiescing in order to stay safe and avoiding confrontation. Chiron does bring the potential for our sore spots to be triggered somewhat, but it also calls for us to have the courage to look at our core wounds and recognise how they play out in our relationships, and to do the necessary healing. It can also help us to stand up for ourselves and to be really honest, even if it is a bit painful or causes some discomfort or friction.

Mars, the ruler of the Aries North Node, has just moved into intense, probing Scorpio, while Venus, the ruler of Libra, has just moved into humble, helpful analytical Virgo. With Mars in Scorpio, we are called to have the courage to really dig deep beneath the surface and face some very uncomfortable material. Scorpio calls for us to be really honest and to expose our tender underbelly, even if it doesn’t paint us in a pretty light. Raw honesty does, however, give the opportunity for others to truly know us, warts and all, which can bring greater intimacy and a deeper connection that if we paint a pretty picture that belies the truth of the matter. We might also find the courage to point out any unhelpful or challenging traits or patterns in our loved ones that could be affecting the relationship.

Venus in Virgo gives us the chance to work on our relationship issues, although we might also run the risk of analysing them to death! However, Virgo brings a willingness to be truly humble, and to look at ourselves and do whatever work is necessary to help improve our relationships, intimate and otherwise. There is the potential for picking the other person apart somewhat and pointing out their flaws, although we could be equally self-critical and self-depreciating. Virgo does bring a willingness to look at ourselves, to see what might need to be tweaked and to do the necessary inner work, although we must be mindful not to accept or tolerate behaviour or criticism that we don’t deserve. Ultimately Virgo can help us to discern what is good for us and what we might need to let go of because it causes us more harm than good. We always have choices.

Pluto, the planet of power, transformation and soul evolution, is also playing a part during this Moon, and is especially strong this week, as it is turning direct in the early hours of the morning on Thursday 12 Oct. We are called to pay attention to the power dynamics in our lives, recognising where and how we may have been giving our power away and doing whatever we can to call it back to us. It is a good time to see any power games for what they are, and to have the courage to look at our shadows and see how we might project our own fears and issues onto others. We have a chance for some profound soul growth during this Moon, if we are brave enough to confront ourselves and to recognise the part we might be playing in any unhealthy or challenging dynamics we are currently experiencing.

Mercury is sitting right next to the Sun and Moon in Libra, which is very helpful indeed because it can help us to see both sides of whatever comes up around this Moon, and to communicate with each other in a kind, reasonable, fair-minded, considerate manner. It does seem like a lot could come up during this New Moon/Eclipse, so it is good that the planet of communication is also in Libra, the sign that ultimately seeks harmony, peace, cooperation, equality and balance. It can help us to really listen to one another and to truly take in and consider the other person’s point of view.

The Sabian symbol for this Moon, at 22° Libra, is: “A child giving birds a drink at a fountain”, which Dane Rudyar describes as “The concern of simple souls for the welfare and happiness of less-evolved beings who thirst for life renewal. The connection between “child” and “birds” implies a spontaneous, naïve rapport at the spiritual level, a soul-touch at the level of pure feelings” The keyword for this symbol is SOLICITUDE”.

What a beautiful symbol! I looked up the meaning of solicitude, and it is “the quality of caring about other people's comfort, safety, and how they feel”. That makes perfect sense for a Libra New Moon/Eclipse and is rather helpful with all of this rather intense, transforming energy swirling around. We are being called to be utterly authentic and honest, and to own the parts of ourselves that we might usually hide from view, which can hopefully help us to find the balance, equality and harmony that we seek within our relationships, intimate and otherwise. Libra encourages equal give and take, helping us to see and hear others, while also being seen and heard by them. We do have such an opportunity here for a reset and a shift in whatever area of life Libra resides in within our chart, as long as we are open and willing to do the necessary work and healing to allow it to happen.

Much Love

Amy
xoxo

Painting: Solar Eclipse, by Cathrin Machin

0 Comments

ARIES NEW MOON / TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE - 20 April 2023

4/17/2023

0 Comments

Exact at 5.12am UK time (BST)

This is a highly charged and incredibly potent New Moon, and is also quite rare, being the second Aries New Moon of the year. We usually only have one new Moon in a particular sign, so this is quite unusual! The New Moon occurs at the very end of the last degree of Aries, which is a highly critical degree that can bring a sense of urgency and could mean that we make hasty decisions that are not thought out, especially in the impulsive sign of Aries! This is a sign that acts first and thinks later. However, sometimes we have no choice but to think on our feet and make quick decisions based on whatever life is throwing at us. And this Moon in the final degree certainly does hold the potential for us feeling some strong impulses that propel us forward on our mission!

We are now entering Eclipse season which is a powerful period of time when we could experience profound changes both on a personal and collective level. Eclipses bring about a new chapter, and with every new beginning there must be some kind of ending. Eclipses activate the Nodal axis, which is currently coming to the end of its stay in Scorpio and Taurus, the signs that represent the economy and banking system. As such, between this Eclipse and the Lunar Eclipse on 5 May, we could witness some kind of shift in the financial arena and the potential for something to pass away so that something new can take its place. Solar Eclipses can bring about sudden opportunities and challenges that change the status quo and can bring about profound soul growth. However, as we all know, growth is not always easy! This Eclipse does hold the potential to somehow put us back on the right path, if we happen to have strayed off it somehow.

Wherever the last degree of Aries is found in our charts is where we will be feeling the energy of this Eclipse. Aries calls us to be brave and try something new on for size, stepping into the unknown and doing something for ourselves. This is warrior energy and asks us to take charge of our lives and contemplate what it is that we personally need. Aries encourages us to be true to our own individual path and to be a bit selfish if necessary. We all have our own unique purpose here on earth, and this could be a good time to make sure we are aligned with that path and not being side-lined or distracted. It is a very good Moon for setting intentions, so it might be helpful to contemplate and to be really honest about what it is we truly want and need for ourselves. Indeed, we may feel compelled to take action and make changes based on some powerful impulses that seem to take us over.

Of course, Aries does also bring the potential for anger, reactivity, self-serving behaviour and even aggression. Mars, the ruler of Aries, is currently in Cancer, forming a dynamic, challenging square to Chiron in Aries. Mars in Cancer can mean that we may go after what we want in a bit of a sideways manner, much like the crab, but could be fiercely protective of our family and those closest to us. Cancer is a very emotional sign, so we could find ourselves acting and reacting quite defensively and experiencing fluctuating moods. However, we may also feel that we might fight somehow for home and hearth.

Mars square Chiron could mean that we are more easily triggered than usual, as someone or something could inadvertently prod at our sore spots, causing our core wounds to be activated. It is important to watch how we respond, and how we handle our anger. There is the potential for irritability, defensiveness and confrontation with this combination, although whatever comes up could also bring about healing. This aspect with be exact on 27 April but will be building in strength during this Moon. Anyone with personal planets or angles around 16/17° of a sign will feel the energy of Chiron and Mars the most acutely, especially the cardinal signs Aries, Caner, Libra and Capricorn. We may need to find the courage to bring some challenging material out into the open for it to be healed.

Pluto is forming a very strong, out of sign square to the Sun and Moon and is also squaring off against the Nodes of the Moon for most of the year, although it will be strongest up until July. This certainly adds to the potency and the transforming potential of this Eclipse! On a personal level this brings the potential for exposing our shadows, bringing out into the light the parts of us that we might prefer to deny. Pluto can bring a tremendous amount of psychological insight, and although it is not always comfortable, it helps us to evolve and understand ourselves better. Pluto in Aquarius helps us to undo any unhealthy programming and conditioning that simply no longer serves us, and in aspect to the Nodes can help us to step out of our comfort zone and recognise what might be holding us back from moving forward in our lives and living our full potential. It is much easier to just play it safe, but it feels like there is a giant cosmic prod urging us to make a shift forward right now!

On a collective level, Pluto in Aquarius has the potential to bring profound changes in the social order in the next few years. Aquarius doesn’t believe in hierarchical societies, so it will be interesting to see what will happen as the planet that destroys in order to build anew moves through the sign of freedom and revolution! We may have to go through a collective reprogramming, as a new world emerges to replace the old order that is crumbling before our very eyes. With Pluto forming a square to the Nodes right now, there is the potential for truths being exposed that are not very pretty, especially around the financial world and the banking system. It is quite possible that we experience some kind of irrevocable change to the social, political and financial system in the coming months and years, and this Eclipse season could be a part of the process.

There certainly is the potential for some turbulence, so it is important to keep an open mind and heart in the next year or so, and to be willing to be flexible and able to embrace the necessary change. With Pluto in Aquarius the potential for technological advancement is profound, although Pluto could also make us more aware of the dangers that it could bring in the wrong hands. Indeed, we could experience some kind of detoxification in the tech department! We can certainly see how compulsive the use of technology has become when walking down the road and seeing so many people glued to their phones! Those of us with personal planets or angles in the first degree of a sign, especially the fixed signs Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius, will feel the powerfully transforming energy of Pluto the most acutely, which could bring about an enormous amount of soul growth, deepening and empowerment.

Mercury is getting ready to turn retrograde in Taurus from 22 April until 14 May, which means that we are encouraged to go back over old ground and see what we might have missed in the past month or so. Indeed, there is always a retrospective element to a Mercury retrograde, when people from the past could resurface, especially if we have unfinished business. This is a time for reflection, review, re-thinking and re-assessment. Information could come to light that we may have missed, both personally and collectively.

Mercury is very close to Uranus, the Great Awakener, during this Moon, which could bring shocking revelations, surprising insights, wake up calls and information coming from left field. We could be called to think outside of the box in some way, looking at things from a different perspective. The conjunction is occurring in Taurus, the sign that represents survival, money, Mother Earth, values and the economy. As such, it is quite possible that we could receive some shocking news around the economy, especially as this Eclipse is highlighting the Taurus/Scorpio axis. The Taurus part of us likes things to stay the same, while Uranus likes to shift us out of any comfortable rut we might be in! It is important to keep an open mind during this Moon, that’s for sure!

This certainly is an incredibly powerful lunation! There is so much going on, and Pluto’s presence compounds the potential for us taking a step forward in our evolution and soul growth. However, growth isn’t always easy, and Pluto demands that we face ourselves honestly and find the courage to confront our shadows and bring whatever lies in the darkness out into the light. This is a time for uncovering the truth, even if it isn’t pretty, and becoming more conscious of what might be holding us back from growth – what outworn habits, patterns and tendencies we cling into while resisting what we know we need to move forward. In fact, wherever we feel the most resistance points towards our greatest area of growth! There is no coincidence that we have a second New Moon in Aries for this Eclipse – the sign of the warrior that calls for us to be brave and step out of our comfort zones, willing to slay our demons and confront our fears so that we can move on and thrive.

Much Love

Amy
xoxo

Picture: Solar Eclipse – Alessia Sissa

0 Comments

SCORPIO NEW MOON / SOLAR ECLIPSE - 25 October 2022

10/23/2022

0 Comments

Exact at 11.59 UK time (BST)

This is not your average, run of the mill New Moon, as it is also a Solar Eclipse, meaning that it has a more far-reaching impact and influence. Whereas New Moons generally start an energy ball rolling that builds up over the course of the month, Eclipses tend to influence the next six months, until the next set of Eclipses. This is a very potent and fateful time, energetically; the beginning of a new chapter, a reset, a time to release whatever isn’t serving us and find another way forward. These Eclipses are occurring in the Taurus/Scorpio axis, which brings finances and the economy into focus and calls for us to find ways of being more self-sufficient and empowered.

This Eclipse falls in the sign of Scorpio, which is where the South Node of the Moon is at the moment. Scorpio is an intensely emotional, deep and transforming sign that encourages us to dig deep beneath the surface of reality and confront the darker aspects of ourselves and life. This Moon could bring some hidden material out into the light, forcing out from the shadows anything that may have been hidden or occluded, both personally and collectively. Scorpio is very good at exposing lies and cover-ups and forces us to confront anything we may have swept under the carpet because it is too hard to face. It is uncomfortable to own the “not so pretty” parts of us and it takes great courage to do so, as well as a willingness to grow.

A Scorpio New Moon could bring up issues around trust, loss, power, loss of power, betrayal, intimacy and transformation. This is the sign of death and rebirth, calling for us to shed our skin and strip away any layers of self-deceit so that we can emerge, a healthier, shiner although somewhat exposed and vulnerable version of ourselves. Scorpio is the part of us that seeks to unveil and understand our psychological complexes and those of others. It is the part of us that can smell a rat and can uncover people’s hidden motivations or agendas. Sometimes we need to go through a dark night of the soul in order to grow and eveolve, taking a trip into the underworld to find the buried treasure that lies there. It is hard to take an honest look at ourselves and the world we live in and own up to our shadows and compulsions, but there is great reward when we do so, even if it does make us feel quite vulnerable and exposed.

Pluto, the planetary ruler of this Scorpio Moon, is now travelling through the very last degrees of Capricorn, where it has been since 2008. Pluto will enter Aquarius on March 24, and until then it will continue its task of detoxifying the power structures of society and transforming the structures of our lives. Capricorn represents, among other things, our societal structures, authority figures, governments and corporations, and Pluto has been exposing the rot within these structures and bringing to light any secrets, lies, corruption and nefarious activities or behaviour within them. With this Moon being in Scorpio, it is quite possible that more will come to light. It will be interesting to see what the next few months will bring, as Pluto marches through the last degrees of Capricorn.

Pluto is forming a nagging inconjunct aspect to Mars in Gemini during this Moon, which could bring out people’s more ruthless or domineering side. It could also force us to find the courage to face our own shadows and those of others. Pluto is the planet of power and Mars is the planet of war, anger, action and assertion, so there could be power struggles or arguments that come from a very deep, subconscious place within us. Whatever comes up during this Moon could be very revealing, both personally and collectively, and could bring up anger or rage, as we are more easily triggered and reactive.

With Mars currently sitting in Gemini, the sign of the mind and communication, as well as Pluto squaring Mercury, Gemini’s ruler, it is quite possible that some information could come out into the light that is very revealing. Things said in the heat of the moment can expose the shadows and bring out into the open anything that we might usually prefer remained hidden. Pluto square Mercury is a great recipe for Freudian slips and shadow projections! So often we project our own guilt and shadow self onto others rather than owning it ourselves. We could have some very deep and penetrating conversations during this Moon that could be very candid, honest and revealing indeed! It could be a very good time to bring things out into the open that we might usually shy away from. However, profound soul growth could be possible if we can have the courage to confront any thorny issues that have been festering beneath the surface.

Anyone with personal planets or angles around 26° of a sign will be feeling the transforming power of Pluto at the moment, especially those in the Cardinal signs of Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn. Pluto can help to strip away self-deceit and give us a cosmic kick up the bum that helps us to transform and realign with our soul’s true purpose. Combined with Mars, it could bring up some powerful emotions, even rage, causing us to act and react from a deeply subconscious and compulsive place within us. However, it could also help us to find the strength, will and courage to face ourselves and make any changes that we have been putting off. There is the potential for some difficult conversations or decisions during this Moon, but they could ultimately bring profound growth.

Mars is also forming a dynamic, challenging square aspect to Neptune during this Moon, which could make us feel quite unfocused and confused, finding it hard to know how to act and what to do next. This combination can easily bring a rather severe case of procrastination! We could find that our energy levels are lower than usual and that we feel a greater sense of futility or apathy. Neptune challenging Mars can bring the potential for acting behind one another’s backs or being rather passive aggressive rather than confronting one another directly. However, Neptune also asks us to tune into our inner guidance and heed the subtle whispers that tell us when it is the right time to act or react. Neptune can provide the inspiration and imagination to help get things done. It can also make us want to bury our head in a novel, overdose on Netflix or consume copious amounts of alcohol as a means of avoidance or escape. However, we may simply need more rest than usual, so it is important to listen to our bodies.

Venus and the Sun have been travelling side by side through Libra during the past couple of weeks and are now literally sitting together, with the Moon, in the very same degree of Scorpio. This is a very good opportunity for us to relate to one another in a deeper, more real and intimate manner. Scorpio can help us to share our deepest fears and the parts of ourselves that bring us shame or discomfort. We may feel quite vulnerable in the process, feeling quite exposed as we allow ourselves to be truly seen by those closest to us. However, this can greatly deepen our relationships, strengthening our bonds, bringing us closer together and helping us to truly understand one another. True intimacy comes from having the courage to go to some difficult places and be really honest and willing to face ourselves, rather than avoiding and burying any issues in order to keep the peace. It also involves trust.

Jupiter in Aries is forming a nagging inconjunct aspect to the Sun, Moon and Venus during this Moon, which could magnify our emotions and make everything seem a bit “bigger” than it is. However, it can also propel us to make any changes that will help us to expand and grow. Jupiter helps us to see the bigger picture and in Aries it can give us the courage, confidence and motivation to carry through the Scorpionic task of confronting ourselves and purging any patterns, habits and behaviours that are no longer serving us. However, Jupiter in Aries can also bring out our more arrogant, reactionary, opinionated, impulsive side, so it is important to be aware that we might jump in too quickly to defend a belief or state an opinion.

The Sabian symbol for this New Moon, at 3° Scorpio, is rather a lovely one: “A house party in a small village enlists the neighbours’ cooperation” which Dane Rudyar describes as: “The feeling of community demonstrated in a basic joint effort. In rural neighbourhoods, especially as the American West was being developed, the building of at least the framework of a house was often a collective, friendly enterprise. Newcomers building their home-to-be found friendly helpers in the neighbours. The sense of togetherness and participation in a common enterprise was developed by such collective work. The home remains “our” home, yet the whole community is involved in its erection and the welcome marking its completion. With this symbol, feeling becomes activity. The past and its memories are repolarised in terms of the expanded social consciousness. From that activity a new sense of reality will derive. The Keyword is COOPERATION.”

One of the beautiful gifts of Scorpio is a sense that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts and that joining together in collaboration can help us to achieve so much more than we can alone. This symbol makes perfect sense with Venus, the Moon and the Sun all sitting together in Scorpio, as relationships with others is very much brought into focus. This symbol is a poignant reminder that we are not alone and that joining forces with others can empower us and help us to navigate challenging times. Scorpio is the part of us that dearly wants to let go of our individual ego and merge with another, either physically, spiritually, emotionally or materially, or all of the above. It is the part of us that wants to put our trust in another person and allow them to see us for all that we are, warts and all. This Moon could be quite revealing and potentially exposing, both personally and collectively, but Scorpio wouldn’t have it any other way! An ugly truth is better than a pretty lie.

Much Love

Amy
xoxo

Painting: Divine Transformation by ravynnephelan on Deviant Art

0 Comments

TAURUS NEW MOON / PARTIAL SOLAR ECLIPSE - 30 April 2022

4/27/2022

2 Comments

Exact at 9.28pm UK time (BST)

We are now heading into Eclipse season, a time of shifts, endings and new beginnings. It is a powerful time energetically, with considerable potential for consciousness shifts and profound soul growth. A Solar Eclipse is more far reaching than your average New Moon, as it tends to set the tone for the next 6 months, until the next set of eclipses in November. The Nodes of the Moon are very much brought into focus during Eclipses, which is why there is so much potential for fateful events and soul growth. Eclipse season can signify the beginning of a new chapter. There will be some energetic resonance between this Moon and the Taurus New Moon of 1 May 2003, so it can be useful to look back to what was going on in our lives then, as this Moon may bring a continuation of whatever was going on at that time.

The Nodes entered Scorpio and Taurus in January this year and will remain there until July 2023. The South Node, which signifies tendencies to leave behind, is in Scorpio, while the North Node, which signifies tendencies to cultivate, is in Taurus. This is the financial axis, which brings the financial system and economy into focus for the 18 months that the Nodes are in Scorpio and Taurus. Scorpio rules power and powerlessness, and can show how we give our power away to institutions such as banks, money lenders and such like. It represents resources we share with others whom we have put our trust in, such as business and marriage partners.

Our collective trust in the financial system has certainly been waning in recent times, not to mention a general feeling of powerlessness and a sense of already having had the rug pulled out from underneath us a few times over the past couple of years! Scorpio has a tendency to bring a considerable amount of drama and intensity, which has been fairly relentless on a collective level in recent times. The Taurus North Node calls us forward to a greater sense of peace, simplicity and serenity, although we will probably have to find this ourselves, as it won’t be handed to us in a silver plate!

Taurus is a very earthy, abundant, fertile sign that helps us to ground and connect to Mother Nature. With the North Node currently in Taurus, we are being encouraged, both personally and collectively, to develop the Taurean traits of self-sufficiency, self-reliance, self-confidence along with the capacity to sustain ourselves and take care of our own needs. We are invited to connect to the earth, developing our green thumb and getting back to where we have come from. Modern society has become so far removed from nature, buying packaged and processed foods from supermarkets with little or no sense of what happens to create the food we eat. We flush our waste down the drain with little understanding of where it goes or what happens to it. We take it for granted that water comes out of the taps and electricity brings light and makes our gadgets work. We have come a long way from our true nature.

The Taurus North Node is prompting us to get back to basics and to remember our roots, connecting to the land and delighting in the abundance that is available to us with some hard work, tender loving care and patience. To watch a seed grow into a seedling, then into a plant and then a vegetable is what Taurus is all about. You can’t rush nature and any of us who have a Taurean in our lives know that you can’t rush them either! This is a very patient, grounded, loyal, pragmatic sign that might need to chew the cud for a while before making a big change. There is a stability, practicality and simplicity to this self-sufficient sign that we are being asked to emulate and develop in the next year or so, slowing down and developing a true appreciation for this beautiful, abundant earth that continues to sustain and nourish us. How can we become more self-reliant? Do we have a green space we can cultivate? How can we get more in touch with the earth?

Uranus is sitting right next to the Sun and Moon in Taurus, bringing a slightly unpredictable, revolutionary and exciting element to this Eclipse. Change is afoot whenever we see Uranus! While Taurus is that part of us that can tend to cling to the status quo and resist change and progression, Uranus can bring some surprises and unexpected curve-balls that shock us onto an alternate route and force us to see things from a different perspective. It does feel somewhat inevitable, with the planet of innovation, technology and progression travelling through the sign of finance and survival, that some big changes are coming our way in terms of our financial system, bringing up issues around basic survival. While it seems as if the increased use of technology within the financial system is where we are headed, as things stand right now, it is also possible that some of us will come up with some ingenious and alternative solutions that help us to become more self-sufficient and less reliant on the system to sustain us. Back to basics. Back to who we really are.

Uranus is 4 degrees away from the Sun and Moon during this Eclipse, but the Sun will catch up with Uranus on May 5, so we may feel the shocking, liberating, awakening, releasing and revolutionary energy of this erratic planet most strongly in the days between the New Moon and 5 May. Anyone with personal planets or angles around 14° of a sign, especially the fixed signs Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius, will be feeling the freeing and unsettling power of Uranus most acutely.

Venus, the ruler of Taurus, is currently in spiritual Pisces, reminding us that Taurean activities such as gardening, building, and cooking can nourish us spiritually as much as they sustain us physically and practically. They are essential to our survival and very “ordinary” activities, yet they also involve magic, helping us to connect to something far bigger than ourselves. As the book “The Secret Garden” that many of us read in our childhoods so beautifully depicts, time spent in the garden connecting to nature can be amazingly therapeutic and tremendously healing. When we connect to the earth we connect to spirit, as the two are not separate. In the garden or the forest or by the sea we slow down and attune ourselves to the natural rhythm of the universe. Here we find space, tranquility, connection, peace and grounding.

Venus and Jupiter are forming an exact conjunction in spiritual, compassionate Pisces at the time of this New Moon, which feels incredibly auspicious! The goddess of love and beauty joining forces with the King of the Gods and the planet of growth and expansion has to be a good thing! It is a reminder, in these uncertain times, to keep the faith that we are always held by Mother Earth and will somehow be provided for. It is easy to fall into fear when survival issues come up, but fear constricts and blocks the flow of energy whereas faith in energetic flow, trust in providence and gratitude for what we already have can bring abundance and a healthy flow of energy. We tend to get what we focus on, so it is much better to focus on abundance and beauty than dwell on what we fear! Venus represents the capacity to attract what we need, whether it be love or money, and with magnifying Jupiter by her side during this Eclipse we are invited to open ourselves to receiving all the abundance, love and beauty we deserve!

Those of us with personal planets or angles around 27° of a sign, especially the mutable signs of Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces, will feel the expansive, magical, abundant energy of this conjunction most acutely. It can really help us to open our hearts with faith, love, gratitude and trust and to delight in all that this world has to offer! The Sabian symbol for the conjunction is unbelievably appropriate!: “A fertile garden under the full Moon reveals a variety of full-grown vegetables” which Rudyar describes as “The full satisfaction of the individual’s basic needs. The symbol refers to a typical garden, not to a field. Such a garden contains a variety of plants, herbs and vegetables grown specifically to fill an equal variety of human needs and tastes. It is a symbol of ABUNDANCE, an abundance fitted to individualised requirements and wants”. Amazing!

Three days before the New Moon, on Wednesday 27 April, Venus will connect with Neptune, just before moving on to Jupiter. This brings such amazing potential for heart-openings and heart-felt connection with others. Neptune is the higher octave of Venus, the planet of unconditional love, while Venus is the goddess of a more earthly, human kind of love. Put them together and we have the potential for such compassion, sensitivity and spiritual connection within our relationships. Not only that, Neptune helps us to put our faith and trust in a loving, abundant universe. Anyone with personal planets or angles around 24° Pisces will feel the energy of this beautiful pairing most acutely, especially the mutable signs of Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces.

Pluto is also helping out during this Moon, forming supportive aspects to the Venus/Jupiter conjunction and also Mercury, the planet of mind and communication. Pluto and Venus help us to dig a bit deeper in our relationships, revealing more of ourselves and exposing our tender underbellies, which can bring us closer and create more intimacy. It can also help us to empower ourselves financially and instill a greater sense of self-worth. It feels good to have the planet of soul, power and transformation supporting the Venus Jupiter conjunction on an Eclipse, that’s for sure! Pluto and Mercury will exactly trine one another on 28 April, helping us to dig deeper and penetrate to the heart of the matter in our communication and thinking. Pluto and Mercury do not bring superficial conversations, that’s for sure, but rather they bring about some deep thinking and a desire to really get to the bottom of the matter.

The Sabian Symbol for the New Moon/Eclipse, at 11° Taurus, is: “ A woman watering flowers in her garden”. The keyword for this symbol is CULTIVATION. This symbol also feels incredibly appropriate, given the overall feeling of this Moon which combines the earthy, nature-oriented Taurus with the magic, sensitivity and spirituality of Pisces. It evokes a lovely image of a woman patiently tending to her garden and responding to its needs, and as she does so she is rewarded with peace, serenity, beauty, tranquility and a sense of spiritual connection. There truly is magic in the garden! This symbol can certainly be taken literally, as we are all currently being encouraged to get into our gardens and connect to nature. Keeping a garden requires some hard graft, patience and the need to make sure the weeds don’t take over! However, we are rewarded in kind. This symbol can also be seen as a metaphor, however, reminding us to take care of our own needs and nourish both our spirit and our physical body. This symbol reminds us of the rewards we may receive when we “tend to our garden” with love and tenderness.

This could be a powerfully potent Moon for setting positive intentions. We are invited to really, truly develop our faith and trust in an abundant, loving universe. We are being called back to ourselves, back to our origins, back to basics. All we actually need, when it really comes down to it, is food, water and shelter. And loving connection with our fellow humans. Everything else is an added bonus or an unnecessary distraction. Life has become much more complicated in recent times, as technology and the “conveniences” of modern culture take their toll on the human psyche. This Moon calls for us to contemplate what truly nourishes us and what we really, truly need for ourselves. We are encouraged to delight in cooking a delicious meal for our loved ones, to bury our bare feet in the grass, to tend to a seedling or plant, to listen to the birds chirping and the wind rustling in the trees and relish feeling the warmth of the sun on our face. This is what Taurus season is all about.

“A garden is a grand teacher. It teaches patience and careful watchfulness; it teaches industry and thrift; above all it teaches entire trust.” – Gertrude Jekyll

Much Love

Amy
xoxo

Painting: New Life by Fiona Jack

2 Comments

SAGITTARIUS NEW MOON / TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE - 4 December 2021

12/2/2021

0 Comments

Exact at 7.43am UK time (GMT)

This is the second Eclipse of the season, signifying a very important time energetically as Eclipses tend to bring some kind of shift in consciousness and the beginning of a new chapter in whatever area of our chart the Moon falls in. This is no ordinary New Moon, as it will have more of a far reaching impact on our lives. Something is ending in order for something else to come into being. What needs to be left behind in the dark of the Moon so that we can move forward and grow? The New Moon is in Sagittarius, the truth seeker, so what beliefs might be holding us back and keeping us small? Are we too attached to our version of the truth and unable to hear alternative points of view? Are we afraid of the truth? What is the truth? Do we trust our intuitive inner "knowing", or do we override it with our rational, logical, “reasonable” mind? Are we able to perceive the bigger picture? These are all themes that could arise over the course of this New Moon/Eclipse.

Sagittarius is the part of us that isn’t afraid to shoot for the stars and is up for an adventure. It is a very optimistic sign and the part of us that seeks to broaden our horizons and expand our mind. People with a lot of Sagittarius energy in their chart tend to have a great deal of faith, as they are able to see every experience and situation, no matter how grim, as an opportunity for growth.This is the part of us that finds meaning in everything and has the faith that no matter how dark things get there is always a light at the end of the tunnel and some kind of higher purpose behind what is occurring. Sagittarius isn’t exactly known for its tact, but is more concerned with getting the truth out there, even if it hurts! Sagittarius abides by natural law rather than man-made law, which is a beautiful thing!

Whenever we have an Eclipse it brings the Nodes of the Moon into focus, highlighting the main focus of growth that we are currently facing, both personally and collectively. We are coming to the very end of the Nodes’ stay in Sagittarius and Gemini, which began in May 2020 and will end in December/January. The Sagittarius South Node has been bringing lessons around trusting our gut and our intuition - that part of us that knows what we know without quite knowing why we know it. The Gemini North Node, however, has been encouraging us to search for facts, data and proof of what we intuitively sense, although the absolute, overall truth has been somewhat elusive. The Gemini North Node has been asking us to use our common sense and pay attention to the word on the street and what we can actually see with our own eyes rather than automatically believing everything that is presented as “truth”.

The Gemini North Node has also been encouraging us to listen to other people’s points of view rather than becoming too entrenched in our version of the truth or trying to convince and convert others to our beliefs and convictions. There certainly have been many preachers on the pulpit in the past 18 months, expressing their beliefs in no uncertain terms and being quite intolerant of other people’s beliefs and points of view. Gemini invites us to really listen to each other rather than being self-righteous or resistant to any truth that challenges our own beliefs. It encourages us to apply some logic and common sense to whatever we are facing and to question and do some research rather than blindly and unquestioningly accepting what we are being presented with.

Gemini encourages us to find our voice, even if it feels difficult or scary, researching, gathering and sharing information with one another and expressing our thoughts and opinions in a way that people can understand and digest even if they may differ from their own. With the Nodes about to switch signs there could be a sense of urgency around sharing information and finding some way of bringing the truth out into the light. This energy will all be very much highlighted during this Moon, especially as we are getting so close to the end of this 18 month process that the Nodes have taken us through.

The Sabian symbol for this Moon, at 13° Sagittarius, tells quite a story: “A widow’s past is brought to light”, which Dane Rudyar describes as “The karma of past actions as it affects opportunities presented by a new cycle. What the “widow’s past” is remains obscure, but the point is that even as a past cycle is closed – a phase of married life ends – the karma of whatever deeds or misdeeds this cycle witnessed will almost inevitably intrude into the new life period. Also, once a cycle of activity is concluded, much that was unclear or unconsciously motivated in the events it witnessed can now more easily come to the clear consciousness of the mind. It is possible to joyously herald the dawn from high above the actual stresses of existence, but the new day may be found loaded and darkened by the unfinished business of many a yesterday. Mankind is “the widow,” because our soon-to-be-concluded Piscean Age has buried most of the ideals it once revered and proclaimed. Yet the New Age will have to deal with many oppressive ghosts. This is a symbol of RETRIBUTION.”

It will be interesting to see what comes out into the light during this Moon/Eclipse and over the next few weeks as the Nodes conclude this journey of growth through Gemini and Sagittarius. Uranus is forming a nagging inconjunct aspect to the Sun and Moon, which could mean that we are in for some kind of shock or surprise as the universe throws us the odd curve ball or two. With the Sun and Moon in the sign of the truth seeker, unpredictable Uranus, the Great Awakener could jolt us into sudden and unsettling awareness of some truths that have hitherto eluded us. Uranus and Saturn are working their way back towards the third and final square of this year, whereby the planet of authority, structure and control comes up against the planet of freedom, change and revolution. The structures of society have certainly received quite a shake up in recent times, with everything feeling very uncertain and unpredictable indeed. And who knows what shocks and surprises might be lurking around the next corner?

The energy of the square between Saturn and Uranus is building in strength over the course of this month and will culminate on 24 December. It will be interesting to see what happens during this time, with so much pressure building to bring the truth out into the light, as well as the planet of freedom and rebellion coming up against the planet of authority and control. Saturn is currently in Aquarius, the sign that represents the internet and technology, laying down the foundation for a greater use of authoritarian control through the use of technology. Uranus is in Taurus, the sign of finance and the natural world. Put the two together and we could have a revolution of the financial system involving a greater use of technology, and we could also have a tug of war or a split off between those who embrace the structure and tight control of a high tech society and those who value their freedom and the natural world, including bartering and living off the land.

Anyone with personal planets and angles around 11° of a sign will feel the energy of the Saturn Uranus square most acutely, especially those in the fixed signs of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius. They are such different energies, Saturn and Uranus, as Saturn lays down the rules while Uranus breaks the rules. Saturn is the strict parent or authority figure that conditions and programs us to conform to their expectations and act in a certain way, while Uranus is the maverick that questions the status quo and dares to stand out from the crowd, undoing the layers of conditioning and allowing individuation. Saturn lays down the structures and foundations that we rely on, while Uranus breaks them apart. Sometimes things have to break down for us to break through to the other side. Saturn represents the limits of what we perceive as reality. Uranus can blast that so-called reality into smithereens, revealing what lays beyond those limits, blowing our minds and forcing us to see a completely different perspective. This can be unsettling, to say the least, but if we remain flexible and willing to bend a little we could experience a sense of true liberation and incredible insight.

Venus is joining forces with Pluto in Capricorn over the next few days, exact on 11 Dec, as she prepares to go retrograde on 20 December. Venus is the planet of love, relationship, values and money, so when she comes into contact with Pluto, the planet of soul, power and transformation we could experience a metamorphosis of our values or power plays around money and relationships. Pluto can deepen our relationships, forcing some hitherto hidden material to come out into the open so that we could feel a bit more exposed and vulnerable. Issues around trust, loss, jealousy, obsession, sphere. Pluto can bring some darkness out into the light, which also brings to mind the Sabian symbol for this Moon. What secrets might be exposed, what psychological complexes could be revealed and what agendas might come to light? Venus and Pluto will conjoin three times in the next few months - 11 December, 25 December and one last time on 3 March, when Mars will also be in on the act.

This is not an easy Moon, per se, but it could bring about some important change and insight as the truth comes out somehow. Sagittarius really wants to understand the bigger picture, while Gemini wants us to apply common sense. The Sabian symbol ties in with so much of the planetary energy of this Moon, such as the karma of Saturn, the truth of Sagittarius, the dark, exposing, transforming energy of Pluto, not to mention the sense of a new chapter that an Eclipse represents.

What needs to come out into the open so that we can move forward to the next phase? What truths have been obscured that now need to be revealed? What kind of karma and retribution are we looking at, and for what deeds? With Mercury, the ruler of the Gemini North Node also in Sagittarius, there is a huge emphasis on truth during this Moon. Not what we want to believe because it is convenient to us, but rather the plain, simple, ungarnished truth. Sagittarius wouldn’t have it any other way!

The truth shall set you free.

Much Love

Amy
xoxo

Picture: The Truth, by Shivani Goel

0 Comments

GEMINI NEW MOON / SOLAR ECLIPSE - 10 June 2021

6/8/2021

1 Comment

Exact at 11.52am UK time (BST)

This is a very busy New Moon, with the Sun, Moon and retrograde Mercury all gathered together in curious, communicative and adaptable Gemini. Mercury is the ruler of Gemini, so this certainly brings the potential for receiving important messages, having significant conversations, reaching a greater understanding, figuring things out, talking things through, gathering information and passing it on and also delivering messages. This is also the second of two Eclipses, which is highly significant and will have a greater impact on our destiny, both personally and collectively. This Eclipse is connected to the Solar Eclipse on 14 December 2020, so whatever happens during this time will very likely set an energetic ball in motion that will have an impact on the coming 6 months, until the next set of Eclipses in November/December. It is very common to experience some kind of a shift around Eclipses - a sense of something passing away and a new chapter beginning.

Indeed, a Solar Eclipse is a super-charged New Moon, whereby the intentions we set, whether conscious or otherwise, could have a more far reaching effect than your average New Moon. Something may need to be left behind in the dark of the Moon so that we can move forward with a lighter step. With Gemini and retro Mercury involved, we may find out something important that we hadn’t considered before now. Important information could come to light that has a profound impact on us. We may find ourselves needing to speak up about something important. With Mercury retrograde we may find ourselves looking back in order to gain insight and understanding, or someone or something from our past could pop up with whom we have unfinished business. It is important to be aware that words and thoughts hold energy and can have a powerful impact on our life and reality. It is helpful to be mindful of the thoughts that run through our minds and the things we say to people, especially during the next few days.They could really make a difference.

It is interesting that Neptune in Pisces is forming a dynamic and challenging square to the Sun, Moon and Mercury. On the one hand this could make it hard to know what is real and what is illusion. Mercury/Gemini energy is quite logical and rational, preferring to deal with facts rather than conjecture, and common sense rather than unfounded beliefs. Neptune/Pisces is the master of smoke screens, confusion, illusion, delusion, idealistic projections, enchantments or spells and propaganda. Issues around truth and lies could be rife during this time. We could find ourselves feeling somewhat disoriented and even disillusioned, not knowing what to believe or what information to trust. We may experience feelings of fear and anxiety as our imaginations run wild in all the wrong directions! We might simply want to bury our heads in the sand or hide under the covers, numbing out so that we don’t have to face reality!

However, Neptune could also be prompting us to turn inward and find the answers from within. The planet of oneness and unity can certainly help us to tune into the spirit realm, experiencing higher states of consciousness, altered perception and an understanding or awareness that defies logic but which allows us to truly sense the truth of things. This could be a good time to meditate, pray, chant mantras, spend time in nature and do whatever we can to switch off our busy monkey minds so that the answers we seek can quietly seep into our consciousness. Eclipse Season is a profound and potent time energetically, during which we could receive messages, insight or understanding that make a big difference, both personally and collectively. It could be the perfect time to offer up a heartfelt prayer for love and truth to prevail, as our thoughts and words could hold extra power and weight during this Eclipse.

Neptune also calls for some kind of sacrifice for the greater good, as we are reminded that it is not all about us and that this is not a time to be selfish or self-serving. Some things are more important than our personal happiness or comfort. What might we need to say or speak out about that will benefit the whole but which could involve some kind of personal sacrifice? How can we use our voice to make a difference in this world? How can we say what needs to be said with sensitivity, compassion and awareness? Is there something we have been holding back from saying or expressing because of fear? Can we allow our thoughts and decisions to come from a higher place, so that we are intuitively led and guided where we need to go next?

Neptune and the Sun will be exactly square each other on 14 June, when the Saturn Uranus square will also be exact. What might happen when Saturn, the planet of authority and control comes up against Uranus, the planet of revolution, sudden change and rebellion? Saturn represents tradition and the old order, while Uranus is the maverick planet, representing radical change and new vision. Saturn represents structure and the limits of our reality, while Uranus breaks down structures and blasts through our perception of reality, which can be liberating, exciting and also deeply unsettling!

Uranus seeks change, revolution and progression, waking us up to new possibilities and encouraging us to step out of the comfort zone, while Saturn is the part of us that judges, holds back or limits ourselves through fear and the need to maintain a sense of control. This could be an uncomfortable yet liberating time, as the old structures are dismantled and our perception of reality is radically altered. It is not a time to be too resistant or rigid; rather we need to remain as flexible and open as we possibly can because change is inevitable. This is the second of three squares between Saturn and Uranus this year, so we are now half way through the process. Things could look quite different by the end of the year! It will be interesting to see what happens, both personally and collectively in the days building up to the 14th.

Venus is in the spotlight during this Moon, with a square from Chiron the Wounded Healer and a supportive sextile from Uranus. This brings the potential for some triggering of our wounds and insecurities through our relationships, but could also bring fresh new ways of relating and a new perspective on relationships. Uranus liberates and helps to release us from unhealthy or stagnant patterns of relating, while Chiron can certainly bring up some pain and discomfort but can also help us to heal some of our core wounds, which could be amazing!

Venus is now in sensitive, nurturing Cancer, a sign that can make us aware of how our childhood patterns and experiences still have a hold over how we relate in the present moment. This could be a good time to recognise and work on our insecurities and unresolved needs and to get them out into the open. Chiron in Aries calls for us to be honest, open and direct with ourselves and others even if it hurts, while Venus in Cancer encourages us to allow our emotions to have full reign and to let our true feelings be seen. The Cancer part of us can be needy, irrational and childlike at times, but it also helps us to master the art of vulnerability. Better out than in!

It is also interesting to note that Mars is in the very last degree of Cancer during this Moon, which also brings the potential for us being more emotionally reactive than usual, especially if we have planets or angles around 29° of Aries, Cancer, Libra or Capricorn. Mars will move into Leo the following day, which could ignite our passion, creativity and ardour somewhat!

Venus’s aspects with Uranus and Chiron will be exact on 12 June, so the energy will be strong during this Moon. Anyone with personal planets or angles around 12° of the Cardinal signs Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn will feel the energy of Chiron most acutely, while anyone with personal planets around 12° of the fixed signs Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius will be feeling the unsettling yet liberating energy of Uranus.

The Sabian symbol for the New Moon, at 20° Gemini, is: “A modern cafeteria displays an abundance of food, products of various regions”, which Dane Rudyar describes as “The assimilation of multifarious knowledge through the synthesizing power of the mind”. He goes on to say “ This modern symbol expresses the fact that man, now at the close of a cultural cycle, is able to gather foodstuffs – mental as well as physical – from many regions of the globe. His diet has acquired a planet-wide foundation; history tells us that the search for salt and spices, then for commodities rare in the local regions, provided the impetus for global trade and thus eventually for a planetary consciousness. The results may be satiety and indigestion, and mental confusion caused by lack of discrimination”.

If we take this symbol symbolically, it is possible that we may have to contend with an overwhelming amount of choices, opinions, ideas, information or concepts and it may be hard to decide what is good for us. Information overload is quite possible, and we are invited to strip back and simplify. It is so very important to use the power of discrimination and discernment. Some things may seem too good to be true. What is real and what is illusion? What are the right choices?

It seems as if this Moon could involve a lot of mental energy and output, which could potentially overwhelm and confuse us. Neptune’s involvement could bring extreme sensitivity, confusion, brain fog, overwhelm, wishful thinking and even downright deception, but could also bring inspiration, higher understanding and true connection, urging us to step back and tune in to find the answers we seek. Not to mention that the ruler of this Moon, Mercury, is retrograde! This means that nothing is completely straightforward and that this is more a time of reflection, retrospection and introspection than making concrete decisions on how to proceed. Indeed, that Sabian symbol indicates that we may experience information overload so that it may be hard for us to make up our mind!

This New Moon Eclipse is energetically linked to the New Moon/Eclipse on 11 June 2002, so it might help to look back then to contemplate what was going on at that time, as this could somehow represent the next phase. We have a chance here to leave whatever is no longer serving us behind in the dark of the Moon and to start fresh in whatever area of our chart the New Moon is occurring in. The way may not be very clear, however. There is the potential for clarity, understanding and insight, but we may need to be quiet, still and open to find that. We need to be open to any messages we may receive and also say anything we feel we need to say. Communication is very important indeed during this Moon. With Jupiter still in Pisces, we need to keep the faith that we are being guided in the right direction and that there is some kind of higher plan at work. The Gemini part of us wants to know, understand and comprehend in a concrete way so that we know what to do, but maybe we are not meant to know just yet.

Much Love

Amy
xoxo

Picture: 7 of cups tarot card from Rider Waite deck

1 Comment

SAGITTARIUS NEW MOON/TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE - 14 December 2020

12/11/2020

1 Comment

SAGITTARIUS NEW MOON/TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE - Monday 14 December, exact at 4.16pm UK time.

This is an incredibly powerful lunation as it involves a total Solar Eclipse, which is a much more potent New Moon than usual! Eclipses bring a consciousness shift, energetic downloads, change, crisis and events that can shift our reality. They help us to change patterns and let go of the old so that we can usher in the new. Whereas a New Moon usually sets a ball in motion that has an impact on the month ahead, the effects of a Solar Eclipse will be felt for the coming six months, until the next set of Eclipses. It might be helpful to look back to the powerful Solar Eclipse we experienced on the Solstice on 21 June 2020 and contemplate what was going on for us then and where we are with that now. Similarly, there will be an energetic link between this New Moon/Eclipse and the New Moon/Eclipse in the same degree of Sagittarius on 14 December 2001. What was going on for us at that time that may be repeating or passing into the next phase now? This is a powerfully potent time when we have the potential for real shift and change. It is the end of one chapter and the beginning of a new one.

Wherever we find the 24th degree of Sagittarius in our chart is where we will personally experience the energy of this Eclipse. Sagittarius is the seeker of the truth, a beacon of higher wisdom that genuinely wants to understand why we are here and what it is all about. This is the part of ourselves that has the faith that ultimately we are heading in the right direction even when things look incredibly dire. Sagittarius helps us to see the bigger picture and to have a sense of humour about the absurdity of life! It helps us to not take ourselves too seriously and to look forward and upwards rather than dwelling on the past. This is a sign that has high morals and believes in natural law which is universal, grounded in nature and based on higher principles and truth rather than man made law, which is a construct of the mind that relies on dogma and fear of punishment, and demands compliance.

Mercury is very close indeed to the Sun and Moon in Sagittarius, which could make this a very busy time indeed, with a lot of chatter, sharing of information and mental activity. It is quite possible that there will be a lot of debates and many different preachers on the pulpit espousing their version of the truth.There is also the potential for the truth to be revealed as more information comes out into the light. Mars is also in on the act, supporting the Sun, Moon and Mercury. This can help us to find our inner warrior, giving us the courage to face the truth and also to speak up when needed. Sagittarius rules the judicial system, so the lawyers could be working extra hard to bring truth and justice to the fore. Sagittarius is a very optimistic sign that truly believes that everything that happens has something to teach us if we are open and willing to see. It also invites us to listen to our intuition, to trust our gut and to speak our truth, even if it is not popular or makes others uncomfortable.

The Nodes of the Moon are heavily involved with this lunation, as they always are during an Eclipse, which means that this Moon could have a strong impact on our destiny, both personally and collectively. The Sun, Moon and Mercury are sitting right next to the South Node of the Moon in Sagittarius, with Neptune square them all. Issues around truth and lies are rife right now, leaving people very confused and unsure about what to believe. Neptune, in its lower vibration, is very adept at the art of deception, being the master of smoke and mirrors, propaganda and illusion. In its higher vibration it encourages us to turn inward to find the truth rather than relying on external sources to tell us what to believe. It reminds us that we are all connected, and what happens to one happens to all. It encourages us to find the courage to speak out and share our version of the truth, even if we have to sacrifice something in order to do so. Sometimes in life we are called to make some kind of personal sacrifice for the sake of humanity and the greater good. This could be one of those times.

Jupiter, the ruler of Sagittarius, is in the very last couple of degrees of Capricorn right now, getting ready to go into Aquarius on 19 December. Saturn is also in the last degree of Capricorn and will move into Aquarius on 17 December. This has the potential to bring quite a big energetic shift, as Capricorn and Aquarius are very different signs indeed! As these two move through the last degree of Capricorn we could experience the shadow side of Capricorn, in the form of fear based control, oppression, suppression, censorship, programming and conditioning, guilt, karma coming back to bite us, grief, depression, feelings of futility, authoritarian rules and regulations, judgement and intolerance. What fun! It may feel like we are in a very dark, narrow birth canal, being squeezed very tightly, so thank goodness we have the philosophical Sagittarius energy to help us to keep an eye on the bigger picture and keep the faith! Bear in mind, however, that Sagittarius’s ruler is in Capricorn, a more cautious, realistic and sober influence.

However, the shifting of the two social planets into Aquarius could bring some relief, as this is the sign of liberation, non-conformity, humanitarianism, brotherhood/sisterhood, rebellion, questioning the status quo and visions of a better future based on liberty and equality. All for one and one for all! While Capricorn makes the rules and regulations, using them as a means of control and expecting us to follow them, Aquarius questions and breaks the rules, especially if they no longer make sense or do us harm. While Capricorn represents government, authority and the conditioning that we have received by our parents and society, Aquarius is for the people and liberates us from any programming that is keeping us limited or bound or preventing us from being our true, authentic self. This is the sign that kicks back against consensus reality and can see beyond the mainstream narrative. It will be interesting to see what shifts and changes once Jupiter, the planet of beliefs, moves over into this revolutionary sign. It has the potential to bring greater tolerance of one another’s differences, less judgement, the capacity to see an alternative perspective and liberation from fear-based beliefs, indoctrination and programming.

Saturn and Jupiter will be forming an exact conjunction in the very first degree of Aquarius on 21 December, the Solstice, which is a powerful combination as the first degree of a sign is very potent indeed. These two planets join forces once every 20 years or so, and in Aquarius they have the potential to kick start a new phase of development, changing the structure of our lives, consciousness and beliefs and potentially helping us to start shifting into a new way of perceiving the world we live in. Uranus, the ruler of Aquarius, is currently in Taurus and has been radically changing our values in recent times, so we are primed and ready to embrace a new world and let go of the old, outworn structures that are dead in the water. It is time to raise the vibration from fear to love.

Next year Saturn and Uranus will be squaring off against each other, slowly but surely continuing the process of dismantling the structures of our lives and consciousness, so this conjunction could somehow be preparing us for that. Saturn represents our structure of reality, while Jupiter represents our belief system, and in Aquarius we may need to go through some kind of breaking down of the way we perceive reality in order to move onto the next phase of our evolution and the creation of a new world. Possibly this Solstice will bring some kind of internal shift and raising of our vibration that is needed to precede the external changes that are to follow. It is said that when Jupiter and Saturn align that they will create a bright light in the night sky, similar to the Star of Bethlehem that some astronomers suggest the wise men may have seen in the biblical account of the birth of Jesus. It could, some say, be the much needed light at the end of a very long tunnel.

Meanwhile Mars in Aries is also building up to its final square with Pluto in Capricorn, which will be exact on 23 December and very strong indeed on the Solstice. This has the potential to bring up rage and the use of force either by or towards the power structures. Mars, the warrior planet, is joining forces with Eris, the goddess of strife, chaos and discord, at 23 degrees Aries. Eris is a powerful force who forces us to open our eyes and see things as they really are and to take our power back. She is an agent of evolutionary change and the goddess of chaos, who can push us to take radical action and start off a process that has the capacity to take on a life of its own.

Eris is known for the fast spread of information , ideas and hype, and is responsible for things going viral and somehow unraveling. On 11 of December this strong, radical feminine force is exactly square Pluto in Capricorn, which is in the process of slowly but surely detoxifying our societal power structures and exposing the rot, making them more transparent. As such, it will be very interesting to see what happens as Mars joins forces with Eris over the next week or so! Mars in Aries is very brave, head strong, assertive and even aggressive, so what might happen as this forceful energy combines with the goddess of strife, discord and chaos? What might be revealed? What uncomfortable material might we have to face? What might we be forced to see that we would rather remain blind to?

Combine this with a conjunction between Uranus, the Great Awakener and Black Moon Lilith, the Dark Goddess, which we will be exact on 22 December and we have a recipe for radical change and people standing up and saying “Enough is enough!” BML is not fond of being told what to do and will not abide being subordinated, while Uranus is the planet of revolution, awakening and rebellion. This combination could bring wake up calls, sudden events and shocks that could bring some dark material out into the light and force some turbulent feelings to rise up in us. It has the potential for uprisings and the desire to break free of restrictions or anything that makes us feel bound, limited or put down. There is a lot of radical feminine energy around for this Solstice, that’s for sure! We may be forced to confront our own shadows and wake up to some darker elements of reality that we may usually prefer not to acknowledge. One of BML’s greatest gifts is self-empowerment, but this only comes from really owning the darker aspects of ourselves rather than pushing them away and pretending they don’t exist. Possibly we are being asked to own the darkness before we can walk into the light.

The Sabian symbol for this conjunction between Black Moon Lilith and Uranus is very interesting indeed and feels incredibly appropriate, so here it is, in its entirety: Taurus 7°” The woman of Samaria at the ancestral well”, which Dane 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”. Rudyar finishes by saying “ A NEW QUALITY OF BEING is revealed which renders the old patterns obsolete.” Wow. What a powerful symbol that applies to both the Eclipse and the Solstice.

Which brings me to the Sabian symbol for the New Moon/Eclipse, which will have an impact on the month ahead and, indeed, the next six months: 24° Sagittarius “A bluebird perched on the gate of a cottage”, which Rudyar describes as “The reward which meets every effort at integration into a social environment, for those who remain true to their own selves. A bluebird is a well known symbol of happiness, but also it refers to what one might call a spiritually oriented mind – to which the colour blue relates, especially when a “bird” is mentioned. A cottage is normally part of a community, and the implication is that its inhabitants are well-adapted, either to the life of the community, or to their more or less isolated togetherness. This symbol suggests that the essential technique for successful living is the development of a consciousness in which peace and happiness dwell. There is also a hint that GOOD FORTUNE is going to bless your life”. Well, this is a welcome symbol indeed! We seem to be asked to cultivate feelings of peace and happiness from within, doing the inner work and remaining true to ourselves. Keep the faith!

This next couple of weeks seem to be incredibly important and bring the potential for quite a big vibrational shift to occur. It seems that we are being asked to face the darkness and own our shadows rather than projecting them out onto others, including the powers that be. As we move through the dark, narrow birth canal we are invited to do the inner work to prepare us for whatever is coming next. The world is changing and so we must become the change we want to see. We are invited to peer into the darkness while we allow in the light. “The Truth Shall Set You Free” feels like it could be a good slogan for this Sagittarius New Moon! One of Sagittarius’s greatest gifts, however, is faith. Faith that we are held, guided and protected. Faith that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Faith that we are heading in the right direction. Faith that no matter how dark things seem, there is always a silver lining behind the cloud. Faith that ultimately the Light always wins. Faith that we are the Light. The darkest hour is just before dawn.

Much Love

Amy
xoxo

Picture: Light Tunnel by Carol and Mike Werner

1 Comment

CANCER NEW MOON / ANNULAR SOLAR ECLIPSE / SOLSTICE - 21 June 2020

6/18/2020

1 Comment

Exact at 7.41am BST.

Well, it is not often that we have a New Moon and Eclipse and the Solstice all in one day! This feels very significant indeed, especially in the light of all that is happening in the world right now. An Annular Solar Eclipse is otherwise known as a Ring of Fire, which must have seemed like a sign from the gods in times gone by! Indeed, it has lost none of its magic now as it is a truly magnificent sight, symbolising a significant shift in consciousness and the beginning of a new chapter. This is like the mother of all New Moons, as we are starting a new cycle, setting a ball in motion that will have an impact on the next 6 months, culminating with the Eclipses in November/December. What do we need to leave behind in the dark of the moon and what energetic seeds do we wish to sow for the coming cycle? This Eclipse cycle also has a resonance with the Cancer New Moon 19 years ago, on 21 June 2001. This is the next phase of a 19 year Nodal cycle.

The Sun and Moon have literally just moved into the very first degree of Cancer, where they are forming their monthly union. This takes the emphasis from the mental, communicative busyness of Gemini to the emotional, nurturing energy of Cancer. This is the sign of the home, family, childhood, emotional patterns, ancestral roots, nationhood, motherhood. This is the sign that helps us to find a sense of belonging and connects us to certain places which may or may not be the country we were born in. Cancer asks us to find a way to meet our emotional needs, but when it is out of balance can make us incredibly needy and insecure, reverting to childish behaviour in order to get our needs met. This is the sign of national pride, with a great emphasis on finding our “tribe”, which may be our family and country or origin, but may also be our soul family that we have found along the way. It is possible that the emphasis of this Moon may be on contemplating where home is and where we belong. Times like these certainly make us more aware of who is in our soul tribe, that’s for sure!

The Sabian Symbol for this New Moon/Eclipse is very interesting, at 1° Cancer: “On a ship the sailors lower an old flag and raise a new one”, which Dane Rudyar describes as “ A radical change of allegiance exteriorised in a symbolical act: a point of no return. On the “ship” which symbolises the ego-consciousness floating on the sea of the vast Unconscious, the individualised will makes a basic decision. The “collective” will gradually overcomes the “individual” and at the end the state will overpower the person. Now, however, the individual person enjoys his most glorious hour; he exults in this ability to make a “free decision” – i.e. to act as an individual who selects his life goal and his allegiance. His consciousness accepts a process of fundamental REORIENTATION, implying the stabilisation of his energies”.

This symbol is profound, as it feels like a turning point and a big shift, on top of the energy of the Eclipse. There is a sense of a change in where we place our loyalties, and a feeling that what came before is no longer relevant. What this flag represents may be different for each of us, but it could be seen as our ideals, hopes or even our beliefs. Something may happen that there is no coming back from, both personally and collectively. It is important to note that this symbol sets the tone for the next 6 months, so it will have far reaching impact and consequences. It brings the feeling that things will be very different for all of us after this period of time is over. We may be called to make profound changes that we couldn’t have foreseen, but which are absolutely necessary given the present circumstances. We may be asked to make a choice, a decision, a symbolic act that shows everyone where we stand. No sitting on the fence. Which flag shall we be flying? What do we stand for? What do we believe? What needs to be left behind in the “old world”? What old habits and patterns are simply not relevant anymore? The significance of this symbol will reveal itself no doubt, in the coming months, as the old world passes away and we move towards the new one, in whatever form it may take. However, it does seem as if we are asked to make a choice about which reality we wish to live in.

Usually an Eclipse involves the Sun and Moon being in the same sign that the Nodes are in, but not in this case. The Nodes are very close indeed, but they have recently moved from the Cancer/Capricorn axis into the Gemini/Sagittarius axis. This is the axis of truth and lies, of travel, of beliefs and opinions versus facts and data. We are being asked to keep an open mind right now, as we may find that some deeply ingrained beliefs about life could be blown out of the water. We are asked to listen to one another and to do some research in order to better inform ourselves about what is really going on in this world of ours right now. With the ruler of the Sagittarius South Node in Capricorn right now, there are many who are in fear, defending their rigidly held beliefs as if they are a matter of life and death. In fact, there is some down-right bullying going on as people attack others for having an opposing point of view that challenges their world view. It is important to recognise when we are being triggered into an angry or irrational response and to question why this might be. Why might we be so unwilling to accept that there might be another point of view? What fears prevent us from hearing other people’s opinions and beliefs?

We are currently being encouraged to use our Gemini “street smarts” and to look behind the curtain, questioning the narrative that we are being told and allowing our Capricornian conditioned and “programmed” beliefs to be challenged and broken down. This is a very important period in history when it is essential that we open our minds and do the necessary research to inform ourselves so that we can make the right choices moving forward. Gemini also invites us to find our voice and speak our truth, whatever that might be. If people don’t agree with whatever we have to say then so be it! However, we all have a right to speak our version of the truth and to be heard and listened to (or ignored!) instead of being attacked, judged or ridiculed. We should not need to be afraid of simply trying to voice an opinion or giving an alternative to the prevailing narrative. If we open our minds and give up the need to be right then we might learn something! As Einstein said, “The measure of intelligence is the ability to change”, while George Bernard Shaw said “Those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything”.

Jupiter and Pluto are building up to their second conjunction in Capricorn, which will be exact on 30 June, and are being joined by Pallas Athena, the goddess who is very adept at the art of military strategy and is known for her creative intelligence. The last time these three joined forces was at the beginning of April, when pandemic pandemonium was at its worst and fear was spreading like the plague. Indeed, Jupiter can certainly magnify our fears and with Pluto can make us believe that we are under threat and our lives are in danger. It can also mean that our beliefs become a matter of life and death, taking on a far greater intensity and bringing out the very worst and most ugly parts of ourselves. There is also a sense, with Pallas involved, of some very clever strategy being employed for manipulation of the truth, propaganda and mind control. Pluto is the planet of power and is very adept at the art of psychological manipulation and hypnosis, so there is the potential for us to be convinced that something is “truth” when it is in fact very far from it. Capricorn is the sign of authority and control and represents our societal conditioning, so there is much potential for authoritarian control through the use of incredibly clever techniques that convince us to believe things that promote division and fear and that bring out the very worst in us.

However, this combo also brings the potential for a profound Plutonian transformation of our belief systems. In fact, all that we have been conditioned or “programmed” to believe is real and true could come crashing to the ground like a house of cards. This could be a painful process, but could also be profoundly liberating and enlightening. The truth shall set you free! Pluto is the detective in us that encourages us to dig deep beneath the surface of reality and find whatever is lurking there. What we find may be shocking, dark and disillusioning, but also has the potential to open our eyes and expand our minds. Jupiter and Pluto will have joined forces three times by the end of this year, by which time what we believed to be true about all things Capricorn, such as authority, government, society and those in control, could be completely and utterly transformed. Pluto is currently taking us through a process of exposing the rot, corruption and any hidden agendas within the power structures that rule us, and what is uncovered has the potential to radically shake up our world view and open our minds to the truth of the matter. We just have to be brave enough to keep an open mind, think for ourselves and to be willing to look under the proverbial carpet and behind the curtain.

Which takes us to the ruler of Capricorn, Saturn, who is now back in the very first degree of Aquarius, having recently gone retrograde. Saturn is forming an inconjunct “crisis” aspect to the Sun and Moon, so it is a significant player in this Moon/Eclipse. Saturn went into Aquarius on 21 March and is going to go back into Capricorn on 2 July until 17 December, when it will go back into Aquarius. While Saturn has been in Aquarius we have had the curbing of our freedom via lockdown, those in authority preventing us from meeting in groups, social distancing, an increase of virtual reality, the censorship of any alternative viewpoints, the increased usage of technology to track, trace and control, suppression of civil rights and liberties and in recent times, while Saturn has been retrograde, rioting and civil unrest.

It is important to remember that Saturn rules Capricorn, where Pluto, Pallas and Jupiter are joining forces right now. This brings the capacity for mind control and manipulation by those in power that then feeds into Saturn in Aquarius, bringing the civil unrest and even greater division than we already had before this. This is the old age strategy of Divide and Rule. People are fighting each other over their beliefs and emphasising their differences rather than recognising the need to come together to fight for something much bigger - the future of humanity. To come together in order to create the world we want our children to live in rather than the dystopian reality that could potentially be looming. To take our power back and stop being blindly led by those corrupted by greed and power who no longer have our best interests at heart. To question any rules that simply don’t make sense. To take responsibility for a “New Normal” that feels healthy and free and equal and just and more in line with the natural rhythms. Lockdown has given many of us a change of perspective on the way we want to live our lives, so maybe it is time to “hoist a new flag”. As the structures crumble we have a chance to create, from the bottom up, a true democracy whereby we all take responsibility for making the world a better place to live.

It will be interesting to see what will happen when Saturn and Jupiter join forces in this same degree of Aquarius in December, exact on the 21st, which is the next Solstice! What will have happened in the 6 months between now and then? What choices will we have made? How will life look different? The Sabian symbol for the degree where Saturn is now and where Saturn and Jupiter will be on the Solstice is: “An old adobe mission in California” which Dane Rudyar describes as “The power inherent in all great human works to endure far beyond the workers’ life spans… While the zodiacal sign Capricorn begins with a symbol of social-political power, Aquarius, at its start, presents a more spiritualised and idealistic or creative picture of the social forces at work. Moreover, it stresses the enduring character human achievements ensouled by a great vision. At least within the frame of reference of our Western civilisation, the symbol speaks of the projection of a noble ideal into concrete forms of beauty and significance, thus of the radiation of the “civilising” power into an institution offering, to primitive men, the opportunity to reach a higher, more organised and productive, level of activity. It speaks to us of THE CONCRETISATION OF AN IDEAL.” This feels like we have an opportunity here to create a new world, so it is important that we all take responsibility for the kind of world we envision in our dreams, rather than our nightmares!

One last thing of note. Mars, the warrior planet, is about to go into its own sign, Aries, where it will remain for the rest of the year.This will happen on 28 June. Usually Mars is only in a sign for a month or two, but Mars will go retrograde in September, so it will be there fr 6 months. Mars in Aries is raw, unfiltered anger, honesty, aggression, impulsiveness, forcefulness, enthusiasm, bravery, act first, think later. This combination could certainly bring out the fighting spirit, and fires that could literally and metaphorically burn out of control. Tempers could flare and brute force and Martian aggression could be more prevalent. In the same token, this could help us to find our courage and the “fire up the arse” that we need to make choices, decisions and to take action where and how we need to. Mars is going to be forming a challenging square aspect to Pluto and the other planets in the Capricorn party three times this year, due to going retrograde. The sign of authority and control going up against the planet and sign of anger, aggression and war.

Pluto and Mars will square off against each other in August, Sept/Oct and Dec/Jan, which has the potential to bring acts of brute force by those in authority and could also bring up rage against those in power and anger as we face some very uncomfortable truths. This combo could also bring psychological warfare. It could also bring the courage and power to overcome some huge obstacles and perform feats that we would never have thought possible! During this Moon Mars is still in Pisces and is forming a square to the Nodes of the Moon, which also highlights the Martian energy of anger and aggression, especially around people’s beliefs and opinions. How is anger playing out in our lives? Who and what is triggering our anger right now, and why might that be?

These are certainly unprecedented times and this is no ordinary Moon! Indeed, this next 6 months could be quite pivotal. The Sabian symbol certainly seems to indicate so! As ever, we must not forget Neptune in Pisces, the planet reminds us that we are not separate and that ultimately we are all consciousness in different bodies and having different earthly experiences. Neptune reminds us to treat one another with kindness and compassion and to remember that what happens to one happens to all. This is not an abstract concept - it is real. We are going through a massive collective shift right now and this Eclipse season is the next phase in this process. Many are extremely vulnerable, scared, and starved for touch right now, and that does strange things to the psyche. So we must be gentle with one another.

This Cancer Moon reminds us to take care of each other and also to admit when we need help or can’t cope. Neptune reminds us that we are all simply souls living in very uncertain times right now, and we are bound to have a wobble or two. Spending time in nature is essential in times like these, as it can centre, ground and reconnect us when we are feeling overwhelmed or fearful. Fear contracts the heart and causes us to act and react in crazy ways, so it is very important to find ways to reconnect to the love that is innate within all of us. Neptune is the planet of unity. United we stand, divided we fall. Never has this statement been more pertinent than now.

Much Love

Amy
xoxo

Picture: Annular Solar Eclipse - Unknown source

1 Comment

CAPRICORN NEW MOON / SOLAR ECLIPSE - 26 December 2019

12/24/2019

0 Comments

Exact at 5.12am GMT, 12.12am EST

This is a crucial and critical time as we are now entering Eclipse season, which also coincides with the impending Saturn Pluto conjunction. Eclipses represent a time of significant endings and new beginnings, whereby we start a new chapter of some kind. A Solar Eclipse is a super-charged New Moon that has further reaching effects. It is linked to the Solar Eclipse that occurred on 25 December 2000, so there may be some kind of common theme or link to whatever was happening back then. Eclipse season is an important and powerful time when we experience a shift in consciousness and can potentially make a leap forward on our journey if we are willing and able to do the work that is being asked of us. You get back what you put in! This Eclipse involves the Sun and Moon activating the South Node of the Moon, so we may find ourselves being confronted by some of our more “familiar” patterns and tendencies so that we can see them more clearly and hopefully find some way of overcoming them and stepping up to the next level of growth.

With Jupiter very much involved in the picture, the potential for growth is great, especially if we are willing to be accountable and take responsibility for whatever comes up. We have an opportunity to leave our more undesirable traits and sabotaging patterns behind in the dark of the Moon and move forward with a lighter step. We will all be dealing with our own personal South Node and the specific tendencies that are symbolised by the sign and house it is in during this Eclipse. However, we will also be dealing with the more undesirable energy of the sign that the South Node is currently in, which is Capricorn. Capricorn has a tendency to prefer to keep everything under control, including emotions. It is the part of us that may tend to withdraw or withhold when the going gets tough, becoming cold, cut-off, austere and/or rigid. Capricorn is the part of us that finds it very hard to open up and ask for help, or to admit that we are hurting. It is the king of the stiff upper lip! We can very easily find ourselves putting up walls and shutting people out rather than allowing ourselves to be vulnerable and show how we are actually feeling. This is the gift of the Cancer North Node.

There is a huge emphasis on Capricorn at the moment, with a total of 7 asteroids, luminaries and planets in this serious and responsible sign. That is a lot! Capricorn has many incredibly positive traits, such as a sense of responsibility and duty, the capacity to be accountable for ourselves and our actions, as well as the ability to set and achieve our goals. It is also the part of us that is capable of being self-reflective, self-controlled and self-disciplined. It helps us to grow up and mature, preferably with grace and dignity! It is the wise sage, the hermit who is able to spend time alone without feeling lonely. Capricorn creates structure and boundaries and helps us to have integrity and act on our principles. It helps us to know the difference between right and wrong. It represents government, rules and regulations and parental and societal authority. Without some kind of structure and definition, our world would be a bit of a mess!

However, like all of the signs, Capricorn has a shadow side, and that is what is being highlighted at the moment with the South Node, Saturn and Pluto all residing in this unyielding sign. Issues around power and hard control are rife at the moment and we see evidence of the dark side of government and authority all around us, with their tendency towards a “divide and rule” approach. There is such a huge emphasis on status and we are seeing such a massive chasm between the rich and poor that is truly horrifying and unnecessary. This time of year highlights this divide, with many people spending obscene amounts of money on utterly frivolous things, while some families are living together in one room with barely enough to eat, let alone buy presents. Another shadow side of Capricorn is consumerism, as people feel that they need to have “the latest” status symbol. Another is loneliness and even grief; a sense of being alone and cut off and feeling that we have to swallow or suppress our emotions. If we allow this part to win we may find ourselves holding our loved ones at an arm’s length or shutting them out.

However, the Cancer North Node asks us to find another way, finding the courage to express our true feelings instead of stonewalling our loved ones. Instead of blocking them or withdrawing, we include them in our process and simply tell them how we are feeling. This isn’t as hard as it may seem, as it simply involves making a decision to do so and acting on it. On a collective level the North Node in Cancer is beckoning us forward, encouraging a more inclusive approach, whereby we focus on our inner life, nurturing ourselves and those around us. While the dark side of Capricorn builds walls and focuses on wealth, status and “keeping up with the Jones”, Cancer helps us to soften and focus on family values, developing a sense of belonging and really taking care of one other. Cancer shows us that we can really make a difference at a grass-roots level. Charity begins at home, says Cancer! Indeed, we are currently being encouraged to find our home and our tribe, wherever and whoever they may be.

With the Saturn Pluto conjunction building in strength, we may find the proverbial shit hitting the fan in whatever area of life the conjunction sits in our charts. This is especially so for anyone who has planets between 20 and 24 degrees of a sign, especially Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn. This a time of reckoning that could signify a reality check of epic proportions, whereby we are forced to face some rather uncomfortable material that may usually be well and truly swept under the carpet. Not anymore! This conjunction could make it so glaringly obvious that there is no hiding from it!

On a personal level we may find ourselves having to confront issues around power, control and having a long, hard look at the reality of whatever we are facing. This energy is not easy, but there are amazing gifts that can come from it. If we are willing to look at ourselves honestly and without a filter and to take full responsibility for whatever we find, we can make great strides. This Moon in particular could bring up a lot for us, because not only is it at a very sensitive time of year, but it is also activating the Nodal axis, hence the Eclipse. Eclipses are gateways for new development, whereby we have the opportunity for some big and powerful shifts.

Uranus is helping this Moon along, bringing the potential for change and somehow “waking up”. It’s great to have Uranus on our side during an eclipse, because it helps us to shift and to let go of the past, releasing ourselves from anything that might be hindering our growth. This is the planet that helps us to liberate ourselves from stagnant energy and to recognise what might need to shift or change. It also brings the gift of objectivity and detachment, giving us the capacity to take a step back and see things from a different perspective. This could be very helpful, given the more challenging energy that we may be facing during this time. Indeed, this could help us to embrace the excitement that change brings, rather than coming from a place of fear. This is an incredibly liberating influence, helping us to free ourselves from all that Capricorn conditioning and possibly bringing the odd epiphany or two!

Chiron the Wounded Healer, however, is challenging the Sun and Moon. This could signify some kind of healing crisis, whereby we are forced to face some painful material. It is possible that we could find ourselves being triggered during this Moon, as someone or something “rubs salt on our wounds” either inadvertently or on purpose. We may experience some sadness or feel hyper-sensitive during this Moon, but if we are able to be open and honest with ourselves and others about the source of our pain then this could be an incredibly healing time. Sometimes it is when we feel our most tender, vulnerable and exposed that we have no choice but to drop the walls and allow in a deeper intimacy and the potential for healing. Chiron in Aries is not necessarily the most tactful energy and so things could be said or done in quite a direct manner that is quite hurtful, but it could help bring things out into the open to be aired. The key is not to be reactive, but rather to acknowledge whatever comes up in an open honest way.

We are being asked to really step up to the plate and be completely accountable for ourselves right now. We are only responsible for ourselves and our own actions and reactions, and so it is important to be as mindful as possible during Eclipse season. Capricorn represents our parents and our conditioning, while Cancer represents our family, childhood and inner child. As such, we currently have a chance to free ourselves from some old, entrenched patterns during this Eclipse, clearing some old family karma, but it is important to remain self-aware, self-reflective, non-reactive and to be prepared to do the inner work. The Sabian symbol for this Moon is very interesting, at 5° Capricorn: “Indians on the warpath. While some men row a well-filled canoe, others in it perform a war dance.” There is a sense that while some of us may just want to get on with it, working together, others may feel the need to intimidate or act aggressively and assert their boundaries. This Moon certainly has the potential for some challenging material to come up at a very sensitive time of year. It is very important to act with integrity, which is truly one of the greatest and best gifts of Capricorn. If we all remember to do the right thing then we can’t go wrong. Do as you would be done by!

Wishing you a truly amazing 2020!

Much Love

Amy
xoxo

Painting: Solar Eclipse by Celestial Images

0 Comments

Cancer New Moon / Total Solar Eclipse - 2 July 2019

6/30/2019

0 Comments

CANCER NEW MOON / TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE - Tuesday 2 July, exact at 8.15pm BST, 3.15pm EDT

This is a very powerful New Moon as it is also a total Solar Eclipse, which represents a new chapter in our lives. Solar Eclipses are a fateful time when something ends and something new begins and they are generally linked to something that happened 19 years ago. As such, there could be a correlation between what was happening in the year 2000 and whatever we are facing now. This is no ordinary New Moon, but rather it can be a major turning point, when some important issues arise and we may have to make some big decisions that involve taking a leap forward in terms of our destiny. Often Eclipse season can correlate with a shift in consciousness, both personally and collectively. Change comes along with a Solar Eclipse, as whatever we may be leaving behind in the dark of the moon has a more far reaching effect than your average New Moon. This is a time of change, whereby we are able to see more clearly what might be holding us back and to make some big decisions on major issues in our lives. This is especially so if the Moon is forming a strong aspect to a personal planet in our natal chart. As such, if we have personal planets or angles within two or three degrees of 10° of the cardinal signs of Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn then we are likely to feel this Eclipse the strongest.

This Eclipse and New Moon occurs in the sensitive, emotional and nurturing sign of Cancer. Cancer relates to our childhood, family, home, ancestry and emotional patterns formed in early life. As such, this New Moon/Eclipse could have a profound effect on our sense of emotional security and familial or domestic situation. We could be called to contemplate what constitutes home for us and to consider where and with whom we experience a sense of belonging. The higher purpose of Cancer is for us to find a sense of emotional security and fulfillment from within and to realise that no person, place or situation is ultimately going to meet our emotional needs, but rather that we are ultimately responsible for ourselves. Cancer is that part of us that can suffer from insecurity and can become quite needy of others as a result, as the child within still seeks or demands some kind of nurturing or parenting that it may have lacked in childhood. Issues or circumstances could arise during this time that pertain to our sense of belonging, calling us to question what constitutes home to us and impelling us to make some decisions that could have an impact on our home and family life.

Solar Eclipses are important gateways that involve stepping forward in terms of our destiny, as they involve the Sun and Moon joining forces in the same sign as the North Node. The Nodes of the Moon are known as the Destiny Line, which is why Eclipses can have such a profound and far reaching effect on our lives. Currently the South Node of the Moon is in Capricorn, representing qualities, habits and traits that may be holding us back and impeding our growth. We are currently being called to let go of the less desirable traits of Capricorn, such as the need to keep everything under control, suppressing our emotions, being ruled by our conditioning, tending to shoulder too much on our own, too much emphasis on work and career, feeling the weight of unnecessary responsibility and, on a more collective level, the qualities of a patriarchal system whose flaws are revealing themselves more and more as time goes on. Saturn, Capricorn’s ruler, is currently sitting right on top of the South Node, calling us to look back and see, without any kind of filter on, how the past is repeating itself and shaping the present. This is a very karmic time, whereby we are really beginning to reap what we have sown. Saturn is helping us to see how our conditioning has shaped our habits and patterns. This certainly feels like a time of reckoning.

This Eclipse is calling us towards the Cancer North Node, asking us to emulate the more helpful and positive qualities of Cancer. Cancer represents the more matriarchal ideals of caring, nurturing, sensitivity, inclusiveness, community. We are called to honour our emotions and express them rather than hiding them away or suppressing them. Cancer calls for us to look back into the past and our childhoods in order to find the necessary clues that can help us to move forward in our lives. We are encouraged to focus more on a sense of home and family rather than so much focus on “getting ahead” and “keeping up with the Jones”. Cancer is the part of us that has the capacity to show our more vulnerable side, allowing others to see when we feel unable to cope with whatever we are currently facing. Cancer calls us home, asking us to find out exactly what that means to us and where it might be. We are called to find our tribe and spiritual home and put down some roots. Cancer helps us to allow ourselves to be nurtured and cared for and to do the same in return. Instead of pretending that we have it all in hand and under control we are asked to allow the walls of protection to melt and the façade to melt away. Cancer calls us home.

Mercury is currently in its shadow phase, getting ready to go retrograde on 8 July, so not only do we have Eclipse season but we also have Mercury retrograde in the signs of Leo and Cancer. Mercury is currently in Leo, sitting right next to Mars and square to Uranus. This combination could help us to make some quite confident, definite decisions and come up with some creative ideas about whatever we may be facing. It also brings the potential for some sudden, brave and impulsive decisions that could potentially shake up the status quo and cause considerable upheaval, not to mention things being said or declared that can’t be taken back and that could be quite shocking or surprising. This energy is prevalent during this Moon and will peak on 8 July, when Mercury turns retrograde. Once Mercury goes retrograde we will be called to pause and look back over everything that we have been talking and thinking about since 20 June, when Mercury went into its shadow phase. Mercury retrograde calls for us to re-evaluate, reflect, refine, revise, reorganise, reinforce, re-do and become more retrospective. Sometimes people from our past may pop up with important messages for us, or memories may resurface that can help us with whatever situation we are currently facing.

During the shadow phase (20 June - 8 July) we may come up with an idea, concept or start to make some decisions. Once Mercury goes retrograde (8 July - 31 July) we are called to look back over everything and take stock, allowing any important details to arise that we may have missed. The retrograde period helps us to find the weak links and look at it all from a different perspective. When Mercury turns direct on 31 July, we then go back over the same ground one last time, with the benefit of having checked and double checked, ready to make the final decision and go ahead with our plans, decisions or ideas. The whole process ends on 16 August. During the retrograde period, on 19 July, Mercury moves from confident, dynamic and creative Leo back into sensitive, emotional and nostalgic Cancer, at which point we may be called to think with our feelings and emotions, listening to what our guts are telling us. Mercury in Leo has the capacity to make some quite confident, brave, creative and uncompromising decisions that can involve taking a risk and following our heart, while Mercury in Cancer could cause us to crawl back into our shells and look inwards, really “feeling” out whatever we have been contemplating and considering the emotional implications. Mercury in Cancer also calls for us to look back into our past to see what valuable information we might find there to help us to move forward.

It is interesting that we have Eclipse Season occurring simultaneously with Mercury Retrograde. The two Eclipses, on 2 and 16 July, represent a new chapter which could involve us having to make important decisions, depending on which of our personal planets are being impacted. Mercury Retrograde, however, calls for us to take a step back and take stock of whatever we are contemplating so that we can really feel it all out so that we know how to proceed. Both personally and collectively this feels like an important and potent time; a time of reckoning. Collectively we are currently being shown the darkest side of the patriarchal system, and the combination of the Eclipses and Mercury’s retrograde cycle could bring some major shifts, bold statements or impulsive decisions that could have a profound impact on our world. Indeed, we ourselves could make some radical decisions that could create profound change in our lives. Ultimately Cancer calls us to find our spiritual home, wherever that might be. Who and where is our tribe? How can we let down our walls and allow others to help? How and where can we find a sense of true belonging?

Much Love

Amy
xoxo

My website: www.amybirdartandastrology.com

Painting: Birds Nest by Kelly Berkey

0 Comments

<<Previous

LIBRA NEW MOON / ANNULAR SOLAR ECLIPSE - 14 Oct 2023

ARIES NEW MOON / TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE - 20 April 2023

SCORPIO NEW MOON / SOLAR ECLIPSE - 25 October 2022

TAURUS NEW MOON / PARTIAL SOLAR ECLIPSE - 30 April 2022

SAGITTARIUS NEW MOON / TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE - 4 December 2021

GEMINI NEW MOON / SOLAR ECLIPSE - 10 June 2021

SAGITTARIUS NEW MOON/TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE - 14 December 2020

CANCER NEW MOON / ANNULAR SOLAR ECLIPSE / SOLSTICE - 21 June 2020

CAPRICORN NEW MOON / SOLAR ECLIPSE - 26 December 2019

Cancer New Moon / Total Solar Eclipse - 2 July 2019

Amy Bird

Archives

Categories