 Exact at 5.37am UK time (BST)
This New Moon could help us to assimilate all that we have experienced in recent times, as Gemini can help us to make sense of it all and gain a better understanding of ourselves. New Moons are a very potent time of the month, when energetic seeds are sown that then go on to blossom and grow as the month progresses, often coming to fruition at the time of the Full Moon. Gemini is the sign that reminds us that thoughts and words hold power and energy, so that whatever we think and say can end up manifesting as reality. As such, it is important to be mindful of the things we say to ourselves and others, especially during this Moon, because they could come true! The saying “watch what your wish for” is especially appropriate on a Gemini New Moon! Gemini is a very curious, adaptable, communicative sign that likes to gather and share information. Of course, this can be very useful, but can also involve gossip or slander, so it is important to be conscious and aware of what we say and how we say it. There is a saying “Always speak well of people and you need never whisper”, which is so important to remember when talking about others. The pace tends to quicken during Gemini season, with lots of communication, ideas and opinions being thrown around, especially as we also have Mercury in Gemini, its own sign. This is a very good time for thinking things through and making some sense of whatever we have been going through in recent times with the intensity of the Eclipses combined with Pluto squaring the Nodes of the Moon. During this Moon we have Neptune in Pisces forming an exact, challenging square aspect to the Sun and Moon, which could make things a little bit confusing and potentially disorienting. Gemini likes clear logic and for things to make sense, while Neptune is the planet of illusion, confusion and represents the dream world, which has the potential to muddy the waters somewhat. It is quite possible that things simply won’t make sense, and we could feel a bit spaced out, confused, overwhelmed and over-sensitive, as if our skin is thinner than usual. Those of us with personal planets or angles around 26/27° of a sign, especially the mutable signs of Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces, will probably be feeling this Neptunian energy the most acutely. Neptune has an ego-dissolving energy and is more concerned with dreams and fantasy than concrete reality, so this Moon could bring out our more escapist tendencies but could also call for us to turn inward and heed our inner guidance and the whisper of the divine. Ultimately Neptune seeks to remove any separation between us and spirit, bringing us into a state of unity and oneness. Mercury, the ruler of Gemini and the planet of the mind and communication, is forming a challenging square to Saturn that will be exact on 16 June but will still be in effect during this Moon. This can make communication somewhat challenging, as Saturn can cause delay, restriction and withholding, potentially bringing blocks and obstacles around communication. It can also mean that we are forced to see the reality of whatever we are facing, which could possibly be a bit depressing! However, it is important not to fall into fear, or to let our imagination run into any dark places, as things are rarely as bleak as they may seem. So often what we imagine ahead of time is far worse than what actually ends up happening! Saturn is especially strong during this Moon, as it is stationary, preparing to go retrograde a few hours after the New Moon is exact. Anyone with personal planets or angles around 7° of a sign, especially the mutable signs, will be feeling the energy of Saturn most acutely, which could bring a feeling of being somehow blocked, or things being delayed, or facing some kind of obstacle, or having a bit of a reality check. However, it is better to see things as they are, because then we know what we are working with. Saturn in Pisces certainly brings the potential for the scales falling away from our eyes, not to mention that it can help us to “grow up” and take full responsibility for ourselves. The most important planetary energy that we are contending with at the moment, on a collective and personal level, is Pluto square the Nodes. Pluto is the planet of power/powerlessness, transformation, loss, the subconscious and soul-growth, and has the power to expose the shadows and bring the darkness out into the light. It is especially poignant that Pluto happens to be the ruler of the Scorpio South Node, as we could be forced to face ourselves and to bring things out from under the carpet that have long since been hidden. However, it is much better to face any uncomfortable material rather than leaving it in the shadows so that it has the power to fester and wreak havoc beneath the surface of our lives. We are being called to look in the ugly mirror, face the demons, recognise where we feel resistance, dive into the shadows and not shy away from anything that lurks in the dark recesses of our psyches. This is important work, although it may not be easy. Pluto is currently retrograde and has just moved from Aquarius back into Capricorn on 10 June, where it will remain until February. This brings a shift in energy, as once again we have the planet of transformation and power in the sign that represents the structures of society such as governments and corporations, not to mention the structure of our own lives. Pluto has a detoxifying effect and can expose the rot within the patriarchy and the power structures while it is in Capricorn, so it will be interesting to see what comes into the light in the coming months. It has become harder and harder to ignore the abuse of power and corruption within the societal structures in recent times, that’s for sure! Pluto certainly has the potential to reveal and even destroy all this is rotten and decaying so that hopefully something more appropriate can take its place. Those of us with personal planets or angles around 29° of a sign will be feeling the transforming power of Pluto most acutely, especially in the cardinal signs of Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn. Puto has the power to strip away self-deceit and can make us much more aware of our psychological complexes. It is the planet that encourages soul-growth and prompts us forward in our evolution, although sometimes that can be quite uncomfortable and can even involve something passing away so that something more appropriate can take its place. This is an important time, both personally and collectively, with Pluto being square the Nodes, and it will be very interesting to see what the next month holds in store as the square gets closer to being exact. The energy will probably become even stronger after the Nodes switch signs on 17 July, and the square itself is exact on 24 July. What might we need to confront between now and then, and what might need to pass away? The Sabian symbol for this Moon, at 27° Gemini, is: “A gypsy emerging from the forest wherein her tribe is encamped”, which Dane Rudyar describes as “Reaching out toward participation in a larger whole of mind-structured existence. A conscious attempt to leave behind the tribal-instinctual stage of earthbound existence and to emerge into the realm of mind and complex, tense interpersonal relationships (i.e. the city). The wild drives of nature are reaching toward a situation in which they will be “tamed.” This symbol reveals a period of transition, a more or less clear yearning for a new state of consciousness, and thus for inner transformation. It is a phase of REPOLARISATION”. This Moon certainly brings the potential for us to understand ourselves better. It seems like an opportunity to process all that we have been experiencing in recent times. We might need to talk things through with others, or write things down so make more sense of them. Many thoughts and opinions could be shared during this time that hold some weight moving forward. It is so important to be mindful of the way we think and communicate during a Gemini New Moon, because we really do shape our reality with our thoughts and tend to get what we focus on. This is an important time that we are in right now, where much may come out into the light, both personally and collectively. This Moon gives us an opportunity to contemplate and understand what needs to be released so that we can move on with a lighter step. Much Love Amy xoxo Picture: The Power of the Human Mind, by Corina Chirila  Exact at 4.41am UK time (BST)
This is a lighter, brighter Moon that we have had in recent times, as it involves Gemini and Sagittarius, both of which tend to lighten the atmosphere! Indeed, Sagittarius is an enthusiastic, optimistic, expansive, adventurous sign that can help us to find our sense of humour and count our blessings. This is the last of the fire signs and helps us to see the bigger picture and find meaning in large and small things that happen to us. Indeed, the Sagittarius part of us has faith that even the hardest experiences bring profound lessons and blessings, and that there is always a light at the end of the tunnel or a silver lining behind the cloud. This Moon has the capacity to lift our spirits and renew our faith, inspiring us to expand and grow beyond our own limitations. We are now fully in the swing of Gemini season, when the pace tends to quicken and our minds and lives become more active. The Gemini part of us likes to take in information and pass it onto others, much like an insect flitting from flower to flower spreading pollen. However, it can also make it hard to concentrate, as our minds flit from one thing to another. The Full Moon involves an opposition between the Gemini Sun and the Sagittarius Moon, inviting us to find a nice healthy balance between the energy of the two signs rather than veering too far one way or the other. Too much Gemini can put us too much in the head, taking in too much data and information yet not properly absorbing it. Sagittarius, on the other hand, helps us to really grasp the deeper meaning behind whatever we are learning, connecting with an intuitive understanding and higher wisdom rather than merely relying on our rational, logical mind. However, the Sagittarius part of us can sometimes spout out truths, inner knowing and beliefs without being able to back it up, and this is where Gemini comes in. Sagittarius is also known for being quite blunt in its delivery of the truth, while Gemini has the gift of the gab and can help us to communicate our beliefs in a smoother, more palatable manner! This Full Moon could bring up issues around truth and lies, as Gemini energy can be duplicitous while Sagittarius can exaggerate the truth. Indeed, Sagittarius is the truth seeker and truth sayer. It is just important to remember that there are many different versions of the truth and many paths to the same destination. What is right for one person may not be for the next person. This is the kind of Moon that can bring up a diversity of opinions, beliefs and views, so we must remember to be tolerant of others point of view, even if it contradicts our own. However, overall, Sagittarius certainly has the capacity to bring up the vibration and help us feel more positive about life! Jupiter, the ruler of this Sagittarius Moon, has recently moved into Taurus and is a very prominent part of the picture during this Moon, as it is sitting right on top of the North Node of the Moon. This is a powerful configuration that could really help us to move forward and grow, both personally and collectively. Jupiter is the planet of growth and expansion, and can come in the form of a teacher, guide, mentor, experience or intuitive understanding that helps us to move forward, grow and broaden our horizons somehow. Jupiter is a benevolent energy that expands and magnifies, and so it feels like a very good thing that it is currently sitting on top of the North Node, pulling us forward towards soul growth. The Taurus North Node shows us what we currently need to learn in order to grow and evolve and grow, both personally and as a collective. The sign of the North Node is what we yearn for and fear all at the same time, as soul growth and evolution often involves stepping out of our comfort zone! For the past 18 months we have had the Nodes in Scorpio and Taurus, the signs that represent finance and the economy, and it certainly has been a prominent topic in recent times. The Taurus North Node is calling for us to strip back, simplify, find a greater sense of stability from within, to develop self-reliance and self-sufficiency and minimise any undue dependency on others, including the power structures such as banks and money lenders. And with Jupiter on the North Node, we are currently getting a helping hand. Jupiter can help us to develop an attitude of gratitude for what we have and could potentially help us to expand upon it. Jupiter, being the biggest planet, could also bring about inflation during its stay in Taurus, although overall it is a helpful planet to have in the sign that represents Mother Earth and survival, as it has the potential to bring abundance and growth, even if that feeling comes from within. Who knows, this year may bring a bumper crop for those of us who grow vegetables and fruit! We also have Pluto, Mars and Venus all forming a square to the Nodes during this Moon, which will be causing some tension, to say the least! Pluto is the main culprit, as it has been squaring the Nodes for the past month or so and will continue to do so for most of the year, although most strongly until August /September. Pluto is the ruler of the Scorpio South Node and is prompting us to dig deep and look at ourselves honestly, warts and all. Soul growth is not necessarily a walk in the park and can sometimes force us to confront some gnarly material and to recognise where our resistance lies and in what form that resistance might take. We all have something that our soul yearns for yet at the same time we resist going there. In fact, the greater the feeling of resistance that we experience, the greater potential there is for some amazing growth if we can move past it! Pluto is currently at 0° Aquarius, getting ready to move back into Capricorn on Sunday 11 June. As such, anybody with personal planets or angles around 0° or 29° of a sign will feel the transforming, empowering and penetrating energy of Pluto, as it strips away self-deceit and forces us to be emotionally honest with ourselves. It may be uncomfortable, but it is worth it, because this is how we grow on a deep soul level. At 0° the fixed signs of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius will feel it the most, while at 29° it will be the Cardinal signs of Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn. Venus will move directly opposite Pluto on Monday 5 June, having just moved into Leo, which could intensify our relationships and bring some shadowy material into the light. Pluto can force us to look into the ugly mirror, and to confront parts of ourselves and our loved ones that we might usually hide from sight and consciousness. Venus will then move towards an exact square to the Nodes on Thursday 8 June, which could be an interesting time for our relationships and the economy, especially as Venus is the ruler of the Taurus North Node. Those of us with personal planets or angles around 3° of a sign, especially the Fixed signs, will feel the energy of Venus most acutely. We could find ourselves needing to go back over any unresolved issues in our relationships that might be preventing growth, both with ourselves and others. It will also be interesting to see what happens in terms of the economy as Venus moves towards the exact square. Mercury, the planet of mind and communication, is also going to be joining forces with Uranus in Taurus during this Full Moon. This conjunction is exact on the same day as the Moon. This can bring about sudden, shocking news and epiphanies that could be both surprising and insightful. We could have a complete change of perspective, so it is worth considering what house of our chart Uranus and Mercury will be in, so we can see what area of life could be affected. Uranus can force us to think outside of the box and consider ideas and concepts that we may not previously have considered. It can also help to free our minds from their conditioning. We could find ourselves suddenly changing our mind about something. Anyone with personal planets or angles around 20° of a sign, especially the fixed signs, will feel the energy of this conjunction most acutely. The Sabian symbol for this Moon, at 14° Sagittarius, is an incredibly powerful one: “The Great Pyramid and the Sphinx”, which Dane Rudyar describes as “The enduring power of occult knowledge and of its quasi-divine Custodians, “Seed-men” of a previous cycle of existence. The belief in an Original Tradition based on the perfect knowledge of the archetypal principles and forms which underlie all manifestations of life on this Earth (and by extension in the cosmos) is deeply rooted in man’s consciousness. The Great Pyramid and the Sphinx are witness to such a Tradition, especially for the Western world. The symbol implies that such an archetypal knowledge remains the foundation upon which men’s minds can still build solid and valid formulations, as new evolutionary developments are pending. This symbol suggests that this occult knowledge and the traditional process of acquiring it is still available, and that by accepting their principles, modern man can best meet the challenge of our present world crisis. The symbol, interpreted from a personal point of view, points to the greatness of a Soul’s past achievements and the value of trying to re-evoke this past. What is revealed is THE POWER OF SPIRITUAL ANCESTRY”. As ever, there is much to be learned from the past in order to move forward, both personally and collectively. With the Nodes so heavily activated right now, and by the Nodal rulers, no less, it is not surprising that the Sabian symbol for this Moon would be so profoundly spiritual in nature. There are clues for the present in the past, but maybe we just need to decode them. There is so much growth potential right now, but real soul growth doesn’t come without some inner work and the willingness to face whatever part of us resists the very thing that we yearn for most. We all have our demons that we wrestle with – they just come in lots of different shapes, sizes and guises! The beautiful thing about a Sagittarius Moon is that it can bring a huge boost of faith, optimism and willingness to expand and grow! The sky’s the limit, as far as Sagittarius is concerned. The only thing holding us back is ourselves. Much Love Amy xoxo Picture: Reach for the Stars – Scott Horton  TAURUS NEW MOON - Friday 19 May, exact at 4.53pm UK time (BST)
This is a potent New Moon, as it certainly does have some powerful planetary energy surrounding it! We are now on the other end of Eclipse season, and Mercury Retrograde is also finished, as Mercury has now turned direct. However, Pluto continues to square the Nodes and Mars, the warrior planet, is also joining in the party as it is sitting opposite Pluto for this New Moon. Mars and Pluto aspects can bring up strong emotions such as anger and even rage, but they can also help us to find the courage and motivation to face some difficult material and to overcome any fears and limitations that might be preventing soul growth. When I contemplate Mars in connection with Pluto, “superhuman force” comes to mind! We are coming to the end of Taurus season now, as the Sun is getting ready to move into curious and communicative Gemini on 21 May. Before it does, we have a New Moon in loyal, stable, practical, self-sufficient and sensual Taurus, the sign that represents self-worth, survival, money, values, mother nature and the economy. As such, this is an ideal time to set some practical intentions, planting seeds in fertile ground so that they can blossom and grow over the coming weeks. A good thing to focus on during this Moon is abundance, in every sense of the word. It may be good to remind ourselves of the ways we are already abundant, whether it be financially, emotionally and/or spiritually. Taurus represents the Law of Attraction, helping us to ask for what we need and reminding us that we are always held and supported, even when things may feel a bit wobbly. Taurus represents our relationship with ourselves, helping us to nurture feelings of self-reliance, self-empowerment, self-confidence, self-sufficiency and a healthy sense of self-worth. It helps us to take care of our own needs so that we don’t have an unhealthy reliance on others. It reminds us that if we truly learn to value and love ourselves then we will attract goodness into our lives, whether that be in the form of people, money, resources or situations. Like attracts like! If we don’t feel like we deserve it, then it probably won’t come! If we focus on what is lacking in our lives, we invite more of the same. This is a very good Moon foster a feeling of gratitude for what we already have so that we can bring in more of the same. With the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Jupiter, Uranus and the North Node all in Taurus for this New Moon, the focus is most definitely on all things Tuarus, which includes Mother Nature and the economy! Jupiter has just moved into Taurus, on 16 May, and is now sitting on top of the North Node, exact on 2 June, which is a beneficial energy to have around, as it is expansive, optimistic, forward thinking and growth oriented. Any time a planet sits on the North Node it tends to pull us forward towards growth. Possibly Jupiter could call for us to reassess our beliefs around money and survival, shifting our mindset and helping us to strengthen our faith in abundance. The Taurus North Node has been calling us to strip back, simplify our lives and decide what is truly of value in recent times. It has also been calling us to find ways to be more self-sufficient and pare back our debts as much as we can, so that we are less reliant on the power structures. Jupiter could help us on this quest and can also remind us of how much we have to be grateful for. Abundance comes in many forms. It can also help us to keep that faith that we are safe, we are held and we are supported. However, as it is the biggest planet and tends to have a “magnifying” or “exaggerating” effect, it could bring things like inflation and rising costs, or could mean that either collectively or personally we somehow overextend ourselves financially. However, with bountiful and beneficial Jupiter sitting on the North Node, this does feel quite hopeful, helping us to look forward and see the bigger picture, stepping out of the comfort zone and embracing growth. It will be interesting to see whether the big, booming, expansive energy of Jupiter will help or hinder the economic and ecological situation in the coming year, as it travels through Taurus. We could have a bumper crop this year! For this New Moon we also have the Mars/Pluto opposition forming a tense T-square with Jupiter and the Nodes. We could find that something comes out into the open that was hitherto hidden, which could potentially bring up some strong emotions, both on a personal and collective level. It does feel like the economy is the focus of this T-square, so it will be interesting to see what comes up in the next few days. With Pluto, the planet of power and transformation, coming up against Mars, the planet of drive, motivation, anger and aggression, there certainly is the potential for powerful emotions to surge up and for people to act out their shadows. There is the potential for a lot of passion, but with Jupiter involved in the mix it could get a bit out of control! The T-square between Pluto, Mars and Jupiter will peak on 20 May, when Mars pops into Leo. Those of us with personal planets or angles in the very first degree of a sign, especially the fixed signs Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius, will feel the powerful energy of the T-square most acutely. It certainly brings the potential for extremist behaviour with these three powerful planets being involved, and even rage, anger and brute force are possible. We may also find that some of our more deeply held beliefs about ourselves and life are challenged, not to mention people being rather forceful about their beliefs and opinions. However, this does bring the potential for getting some uncomfortable material out into the open and could force us to face our fears and take a big step forward and grow. Soul growth isn’t necessarily easy, and this does feel like one of those moments when we might need to face the music! The good news for this particular Moon is that Pluto, Neptune and Mars are all supporting the Sun and Moon. There is a beautiful connection between the Sun, Moon, Mars and Neptune which brings the potential for some inspired, compassionate action and could temper the strong urges that the Pluto Mars opposition could bring. Neptune is a sensitive, compassionate energy that helps us to connect to the divine, and when it is supporting Mars, the warrior, it can help us to act and react from a place of love and connectedness. Indeed, Neptune can help us to know when it is the right time to act, as if we are somehow guided, following the flow rather than forcing things. It is good that Neptune is involved in this Moon, because it certainly brings an element of kindness, gentleness and empathy to the picture. The Sabian symbol for this Moon, at 29° Taurus, is: “Two cobblers working at a table”, which Dane Rudyar describes as “The two-fold character of man’s mature understanding. In symbolism the feet are the symbol of understanding. Understanding differs from mere knowledge because it implies at least some degree of identification in depth with what is being understood. Moreover it is impossible fully to understand anything except when its opposite is taken into consideration. The mental process of understanding – and therefore of appreciation – implies confrontation between two points of view. Thus the mind gains a sense of perspective. The way to dispel a shadow is to have the object illumined (on its own two-dimensional level) by two sources of light. True understanding dissipates any intellectual shadow. The “two cobblers” symbolise two contrasting ways of approaching the understanding of an experience – especially a new experience – and they provide concrete forms which may clothe and protect the understanding. This symbol reveals symbolically the way in which a mature individual mind works in an attempt to gain PERSPECTIVE; a true perspective becomes the foundation upon which to build a new approach to life.” It is so easy to see our differences and fight over which perspective is the right one, and the T-square certainly brings the potential for conflict. However, this symbol invites us to make the differences and contrasting perspectives work for us and allow them to complement each other instead of competing. There is no doubt that this Moon has the potential for bringing out the worst in us, but it doesn’t have to. We can use it to help us confront anything we have been avoiding, and we can also harness the sensitive, unifying, compassionate energy of Neptune to make sure that we don’t act and react from a place of ego. This certainly is a powerful Moon for planting seeds and intentions and watching them grow! As always, it is important to be mindful of what we ask for, because the universe tends to take things very literally, and a Taurus New Moon is an especially fertile one! This certainly is an ideal time to cultivate an attitude of gratitude! Much Love Amy xoxo Painting: Abundance Mindset – Cedar Lee  Exact at 8.34pm UK time (BST)
This is the second of two eclipses, which could bring to a head whatever has been percolating since the New Moon/Solar Eclipse on 20 April. Whatever came up during that time could now find full expression, with the light of this penetrating Scorpio Moon making it quite hard to avoid looking at our stuff! There could also be a link between this Eclipse and the last Lunar Eclipse on 8 November last year. Possibly this is the next phase of whatever was occurring then. Certainly, Eclipse season has the capacity to bring up a lot for us to work through, and with a Scorpio Full Moon on the horizon it may not all be pleasant! Scorpio can force us to peer under the proverbial carpet to look at whatever we might have swept under there because we would rather not deal with it. Scorpio calls for us to strip away the layers of self-deceit and take a good look in the ugly mirror! This Full Moon places the focus on the Scorpio South Node and, combined with Mercury Retrograde, we could find ourselves somehow looking back in order to move forward. Sometimes we take the easy route and sweep uncomfortable material under the carpet rather than confronting it at the time, but this is the kind of Moon that could force us bring it out into the open, as it might be impossible to avoid it anymore. Issues, concerns and resentments that are buried or suppressed can fester and become insidiously destructive, bubbling away beneath the surface, whereas if we bring them out into the open and face them then they lose their power. It’s hard and scary to bring up difficult subjects, and it is hard to face shadow material and hold up the ugly mirror, but the alternative is often worse. We could feel quite exposed and a bit vulnerable during this Moon, but better that than smoothing things over and keeping the peace at the expense of the truth. This Full Moon/Eclipse highlights the polarity between Taurus and Scorpio and asks us to find some balance between the energy of the two signs. Too much Taurus means that we can get stuck in situations that are no longer good for us because we fear the disruption that change could bring. Scorpio helps us to shed, purge and walk across a burning bridge, facing our demons and going through the necessary transformation that is essential for soul growth. Too much Scorpio can mean that we get addicted to drama and intensity, finding it hard to trust that the rug isn’t about to be pulled out from underneath us. We may give our power away or we may manipulate in order to maintain a feeling of power. Taurus teaches us how to be self-sufficient and grounded, getting to a place whereby we can’t be toppled over if someone or something lets us down. We learn to rely on ourselves, first and foremost, developing a healthy sense of self-worth, self-confidence and the ability to sustain ourselves and meet our own needs. We are approaching the end of the Nodes stay in Scorpio and Taurus, as they will be switching signs in July. With the North Node having been in Taurus for the past 18 months, there certainly has been a considerable amount of emphasis on the economy, with many of us cultivating the Taurean art of self-sufficiency, as we strip back and do what we can to simplify our lives. It is interesting that the Nodes moved into Taurus and Scorpio at a point in history when we had recently experienced a massive amount of emotional intensity on a collective level, and so this Taurus North Node has helped us to recalibrate and find a sense of stability once more, rather than living in expectation of the next wave of emotional intensity to come along and knock us off kilter. We have been “rebuilding” since then, in every sense of the word, although we have also been dealing with the financial repercussions of that time. Pluto, the ruler of this Scorpio Moon, is an incredibly potent force right now, as the planet of power, death/rebirth, soul and transformation turns retrograde on 2 May. When a planet is stationary, getting ready to shift direction, we feel its energy more acutely. Pluto is also squaring the Nodes right now, so it is a strong force during this Moon, and as such we could find that secrets are brought out into the light and some darkness is somehow exposed, both on a personal and collective level. Possibly some revealing information comes to light around the financial power structures, or possibly we are forced to confront our personal shadows in some way or show our tender underbelly so that we feel a bit vulnerable and exposed. Pluto brings up issues around mortality, power and trust, and prompts us to evolve on a soul level. And soul growth isn’t necessarily easy! It sometimes feels easier to just let things roll on as they are, even if they are uncomfortable, rather than facing the discomfort of bringing difficult material out into the open and facing the consequences. When Pluto squares the Nodes we can feel the pull of our soul, urging us to take a step out of our comfort zone towards growth, but the resistance can sometimes feel greater. However, we can either wait for something to come along and force the matter, or we can consciously and willingly step up and face the music. Either way, growth is inevitable. This Full Moon could be a moment of rebirth. Anyone with personal planets or angles around 0° of a sign, especially the fixed signs Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius, will be feeling the transforming power of Pluto at the moment, calling for us to face ourselves and to be truly honest, and possibly going through some kind of metamorphosis. Pluto can bring an enormous amount of psychological insight and force us to peer into the darker side of existence, which may not be very comfortable! Pluto is now getting ready to move back into Capricorn, so those of us with personal planets or angles around 29° of a sign, especially the cardinal signs Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn, could also be feeling the influence of Pluto starting to build again, having had a dose of it late 2022 and early 2023, when Pluto was at the end of Capricorn. Uranus, the planet of sudden change, revolution and liberation, is playing a big part in this Moon, as it is sitting right next to the Taurus Sun, opposing the Scorpio Moon. This energy can bring sudden shocks, jolting us into a greater sense of awareness and shaking us out of any stagnant ruts so that we can get back on track. This is the planet of wake-up calls, that reminds us that things can change in the blink of an eye! “To thine own self be true” is Uranus’ motto, and so we could be called to be more authentic, which isn’t always easy. Indeed, this Moon could call for us to be very real indeed and could also bring a great deal of insight and a higher level of awareness. The Sun and Uranus will be exactly conjunct on 9 May, at 18° Taurus, but the energy will be very strong during this Moon. With Uranus sitting in the sign of money and survival, we could experience a shake-up in the realm of the economy and the financial sector, although this is an ongoing process! Uranus is the planet of innovation, progression and technology, and so the digitisation of currency does seem more and more inevitable as Uranus moves further and further through Taurus. We are certainly in need of an overhaul of the current system, that is for sure, and Uranus does offer alternative solutions and calls for us to think outside of the box when it comes to money, values and finance. We may need to undo some very ingrained conditioning and come up with a very different approach to survival and money in the coming few years. The old order is crumbling! Chiron is also in on the act during this Moon, forming a nagging inconjunct to the Moon. This brings the potential for some deep healing as we are forced to be honest and bring some gnarly material out into the open. It is far better to bring it out, rather than allowing it to fester, erode and poison. There is also a dynamic, challenging square occurring between Pluto and Jupiter, which will be exact on 18 May, just after Jupiter moves into Taurus. This could also have an impact on the financial system and might bring out some very strong and even extreme beliefs and convictions in people, with the desire to convince and convert others to their version of the truth. This certainly could bring out a lot of preachers in the pulpit over the next few weeks! The Sabian Symbol for this Moon, at 15° Scorpio, is: “Children playing around five mounds of sand”, which Dane Rudyar describes as “Early steps in the development of a mind seeking to be attuned to the higher level of human evolution. Man’s essential destiny is to develop as a five-fold being, a “Pentagram” or five-pointed star. Number 5 symbolises mind in its most creative and penetrating aspect, while number 4 refers to the life processes operating at present within the earth’s biosphere. Our Western civilisation has realised only the lower level of this vibration 5; i.e. mind contaminated by compulsive instincts and emotional involvement. Some individuals, however, are born with a special potential for development of the higher; creative mind, and in social circumstances favouring this development. In most cases, they are still “playing around” with their unusual capacity. They are in the kindergarten stage of this higher mind development. What is seen here is FUTURE-ORIENTED GROWTH.” With Uranus so much involved in this Eclipse, and Pluto in Uranus’s sign, we certainly do have the potential for some kind of shift forward in growth at this time. Uranus is calling for us to progress and shift out of the old familiar way of doing things. It will be interesting to see what happens as Jupiter moves into Taurus on 16 May, just at the same time as Mercury turns direct, also in Taurus. The economy is certainly centre stage at the moment! In the meantime, this Full Moon / Eclipse seems to be calling for us to face up to anything that we may have been sweeping under the carpet. It is time to face the music, to air our resentments, to look at our shadows, to be honest about whatever has been simmering beneath the surface, to really face ourselves, to stare into the ugly mirror, to expose our tender underbelly, to tell people how we really feel, to recognise any unhealthy power dynamics, to purge, to do the inner work and to take a trip into the underworld so that maybe we can come back with some buried treasure. If we continue to avoid, suppress and deny, then it will just fester away and turn into poison. As much as we may feel deep resistance to whatever it is that represents our greatest growth, we also know, deep down inside, what needs to be done. Scorpio can an uncanny ability to bring out the truth of the matter, even if it isn’t pretty! Much Love Amy xoxo Picture – Sweep it Under the Carpet – Banksy  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  Exact at 5.34am UK time (BST)
Well, there certainly is some powerful planetary energy swirling around during this Full Moon, as we prepare ourselves for the upcoming Eclipses on 20 April and 5 May. Full Moons do tend to bring things to a head, as whatever has been building since the New Moon comes to fruition. Emotions can run high, and this Moon is no exception, as Chiron the Wounded Healer is in on the act! The theme of this Moon is our relationships, as Libra seeks to find justice, fairness, peace, balance and equality, especially within relationship, while the Aries Sun encourages us to take care of our own needs and focus on our own path. Somewhere in the middle of Aries and Libra lies the balance that the Libran part of us so dearly desires. Chiron is sitting right next to the Aries Sun during this Full Moon, opposing the Libra Moon. This could be a healing time for our relationships, but also has the potential to bring up some pain or discomfort and expose our vulnerabilities. Indeed, we could find ourselves better able to express our pain than at other times, as this does hold the potential for some raw, open honesty. It is possible that those closest to us could help to activate our sore spots, which could be healing, but could also trigger defensiveness, anger or hurt feelings. Aries is a very direct, honest, candid and forthright sign that likes to get the cards out onto the table, so we may find that our woundedness is somehow brought out into the open, which could be both painful and healing at the same time. It certainly helps to know where we stand, even if it does hurt a little. However, Chiron in Aries can also encourage us to align with our higher self and have the courage to express our true purpose in this world. In the build-up to this Moon, we could become more aware of how we sacrifice our needs for the sake of being in relationship, or, conversely, how we have been too focused on ourselves. In an ideal world we would have a nice balance between Aries and Libra, so that we are able to truly listen to the needs of our loved ones, tending to the relationship while also recognising, acknowledging and expressing our own needs and desires. So often relationships involve one partner being dominant, while the other person loses themselves somewhat as they bend to the other’s will. This could be a good time to recognise how we might need to take something back for ourselves and assert our own needs and individuality, or, conversely, how we might benefit from developing more awareness of what our nearest and dearest need from us. The Libra part of us seeks peace and may avoid confrontation, shying away from ugly or harsh expressions of emotion, while the Aries part of us isn’t afraid of bringing up thorny subjects, even if it means having an argument. Aries can be quite brusque and trigger an angry response, while Libra is more adept at the art of diplomacy and reasoning. Somewhere in the middle is the answer! With Chiron involved in this Moon it might be hard to find the balance, as emotions could ride high, especially for those of us with personal planets or angles around 15/16° of a sign. The Cardinal signs of Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn will feel the energy of Chiron and this Moon most acutely. This certainly could be a good Moon for getting things out into the open to be healed, and Libra can hopefully help us to find the middle ground. Venus, the ruler of this Moon is in Taurus, as well as Mercury, Uranus and the North Node. We may be in Aries season, but there is also a lot of emphasis on Taurus, the sign that represents survival, money, self-worth, the economy, the senses and Mother Nature. With the North Node currently in Taurus and Pluto squaring the Nodes, the spotlight is on the economy, the banking system, cryptocurrency and survival. Let’s see what happens in the coming weeks, as there does seem to be a lot going on in terms of technology, AI and the banking system. It is interesting to see how much AI has been in the news since Pluto, the planet of power, went into Aquarius, the sign of science and technology! One of Pluto’s tasks, as it moves through Aquarius, is to expose the rot within the technocracies and highlight the potential pitfalls of this technological age that we seem to be hurtling towards with great speed. It is important to be very aware of how technology, with all its conveniences, could also work against us in the wrong hands. As Pluto squares the Nodes during the next few weeks, we could experience some fateful events around finance and could also see alternative solutions and innovations around the economy revealing themselves, especially since Uranus, the Revolutionary, is also in Taurus. There is also the potential for a shake-up of the power structures, revolutions and uprisings, especially closer to the middle of April as Jupiter, the Sun and Eris, the goddess of discord and strife all join together in Aries. People could be a bit hot around the collar from mid-April into May, as Eris is the part of us that is not afraid to stand up for what is right and shake up the status quo. During this Full Moon, Mercury is sitting right next to the North Node, with Pluto forming a square to it. We could receive a message or information that is very revealing, both personally and collectively. We might also have some very deep and penetrating conversations that could expose some hitherto buried material. Pluto strips away self-deceit and helps us to gain psychological insight into our subconscious patterns and complexes, which could be both uncomfortable and very helpful! It will be interesting to see what comes to light during this time, both personally and on the world stage. Pluto does seem to be prompting us to look at our shadow, both personally and collectively, and to recognise how we might be resisting the growth needed to step up to the next level. This is helped by Saturn in Pisces, forcing us to take responsibility for whatever we may have been avoiding or denying in recent times, burying our head in the sand and pretending it doesn’t exist! It does seem like a time to face ourselves and step up to the plate, so it is important to watch where we feel the greatest resistance, because that is probably exactly where the growth lies! What makes us squirm, because that is where we will find the buried treasure! Those of us with personal planets or angles in the first degrees of a sign, especially the fixed signs of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius will be feeling the transforming power of Pluto the most acutely, as it forces us to look into our shadows and confront ourselves so that we can evolve and grow. The Sabian symbol for this Moon, at 17° Libra, is: “A retired sea-captain watches ships entering and leaving the harbour”, which Dane Rudyar describes as “The capacity to gain an objective and calm understanding of human experiences in which one was once deeply involved. Old age may or may not bring to man this objective and calm understanding as one remembers the crises overcome and the quiet enjoyment of great life vistas or “peak experiences,” but wisdom and inner serenity can hardly develop save on the basis of the overcoming of struggles and conflicts. The “sea captain” sailed his ship through storms and still waters of consciousness, his mind perhaps battered by gales, his ego-crew perhaps in revolt. Now there is peace and quietude. Another generation is sailing seas better charted perhaps, yet inherently nonrational and at times savage in their fury. He watches. He knows. Others are learning. At any age the ego-will may “retire” and contemplate, and be at peace before a greater voyage over even more poorly charted seas”. Libra is the part of us that seeks peace, harmony and justice. Perhaps this Full Moon will bring a moment of quiet, calm, objective perspective in the midst of the potential upheaval and unrest that the presence of Pluto in Aquarius and Eris in Aries can bring. With Venus, Libran’s planetary ruler being in earthy, stable Taurus, we are certainly encouraged to delight in life’s simple pleasures, taking time out to “smell the roses”! However, Chiron’s presence during this Moon certainly does have the potential to make us feel somewhat vulnerable as we may need to confront any unhelpful sabotaging patterns, although it could also help us to have the courage to express our vulnerability in a way that could be incredibly healing. It will be interesting to see what comes up during this Moon, especially in the realm of our relationships. May we find the balance that Libra seeks! Much Love Amy xoxo Picture – by Cosmic Collage  Exact at 5.23pm UK time (GMT)
This is the first New Moon of the astrological year and is occurring in the very first degree of the whole zodiac! It also directly follows the Vernal Equinox, which is on Monday. Aries is the first sign of the zodiac, so this New Moon is the ultimate New Moon, a time of new beginnings and fresh starts, when we have a chance to plant some metaphorical seeds and watch them grow. This is the ideal time to give birth to something new, whatever that may be. It could be an idea, a concept, a project, a business, a relationship, a new belief or an intention. Whatever it may be, this is a very powerful Moon for starting something new and being brave enough to step out of our comfort zone. I have often wondered whether beginner’s luck is simply the universe rewarding us for daring to try something new! Aries is the pioneer in us, the part of us that has the courage to start fresh and to take the first step along the path less travelled. It is an enthusiastic, independent, forthright, brave and assertive sign that is well versed in the art of self-love. Aries encourages us to trust our instincts and to act on our impulses. This is the sign that acts first and thinks later, but also reminds us that it is better to try and fail than to not try at all. We all experience fear and self-doubt, but Aries encourages us to feel the fear and do it anyway. Without Aries’ initial spark of enthusiasm, motivation, courage and energy, we would never start anything or try anything new! This New Moon feels like the ultimate spark to ignite a raging fire, so it is important to be clear about what we are birthing during this time. Mars, the ruler of this Aries Moon, is forming a challenging square aspect to the Sun and Moon, although it is “out of sign” as it has not quite reached Cancer. The Sun in Pisces and Mars in Gemini will be squaring off against each other for most of the week leading up to the New Moon, which could prod us to be brave enough to take a risk and to contemplate what we might want to create at the New Moon. These are two masculine energies and can bring a great deal of energy, courage, enthusiasm, motivation and the capacity to assert ourselves. This combination can also bring up anger, impatience and the potential for acting and reacting from ego. However, Mars’s influence can certainly push us to do things that we might usually shy away from and to face up to things that we might have been putting off. Saturn is supporting Mars with a harmonious trine that will be exact on 30 March. The planet of commitment, reality, control, responsibility and discipline teaming up with the planet of action, motivation and courage seems like a good recipe for some focused hard work that has the potential for creating something of lasting value. This pairing can help us to act based on a realistic assessment of the situation and to be willing to put in the time to make things happen. Saturn reminds us that things don’t necessarily happen overnight, but may require patience, persistence and commitment in order to bring them to fruition. Saturn entered Pisces on 7 March and holds the potential for helping to make our dreams concrete and making the spiritual dimensions more tangible and “real”. It could also peel away any illusions, forcing us to take off the rose-tinted spectacles and see things as they really are, rather than how we imagine them to be. This could be a very helpful yet rather uncomfortable experience! There is also the potential for Pisces somehow dissolving the Saturnian structures and old, antiquated systems, while on the other hand, those in authority could use propaganda and Pisces illusion as a form of control. It is a strange pairing, but it could be rather profound and karmic time, as the lord of Karma goes through the last sign of the zodiac, a sign of endings. We could be forced to face the skeletons in the closet and make the unconscious more conscious. The next couple of years could be a good opportunity to control our self-defeating and self-sabotaging tendencies. Pluto is also about to change signs, on 23 March, having been in Capricorn since 2008. This could bring a significant shift of energy, as the planet of soul, power, subconscious, death, rebirth and transformation moves into humanitarian, revolutionary and freedom loving Aquarius, where it will reside until 2043. Aquarius is a very different energy to Capricorn, that’s for sure! Capricorn represents structures, authority, government, the patriarchy and the rules and regulations by which society lives. Pluto has slowly but surely been exposing the rot in the structures over the past fifteen years and has made the dark side of the patriarchal system more and more visible and apparent. Agendas have been brought out into the light and corruption simply cannot be swept under the carpet anymore. The old way is crumbling, making the way for something new. Enter Pluto in Aquarius, a humanitarian sign that questions the rules and regulations and believes in equality, brotherhood and sisterhood. It could be a rather uncomfortable time for those in authority, as Aquarius questions and challenges any antiquated structures, unfair hierarchies, corrupt corporations and any bureaucracy or suppressive rules that make no sense or favour those in control. Any imbalances in these areas do have the potential to bring about uprisings and revolutions, as Aquarius is a sign that is for the people, not the state. Pluto could also mean that we become more aware of the shadow side of technology and how it can be used for power, manipulation and control, which could lead to some kind of detoxification in this area and some kind of solution. Pluto can really expose the darkness around technology, despite the convenience it seems to offer. Pluto in Aquarius does bring the potential for helping humanity transform into a more cooperative community, whereby we share resources and change our mindset so that there is more cooperation, fair exchanges, equality and a greater sense of community. It is quite likely that there will be more grassroots cooperatives popping up as people seek to find an alternative way of living to the current system that seems to be crumbling around us. It will be interesting to see what occurs as Pluto shifts from Capricorn into Aquarius, as they are such different energies! Aquarius is all about innovation, progression, revolution, change, equality, freedom – a direct reaction against the Capricorn rules, structures, governments, traditions and patriarchal values that Pluto has been slowly but surely detoxing over the past few years. Those of us with planets or angles around 29° or 0° of a sign will feel the energy of this shift more acutely. At the moment Pluto is sitting at the very end of Capricorn, so anyone with planets and angles around 29° of Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn will be feeling the transforming power of Pluto most strongly, as it strips away self-deceit and helps us to face our shadows. When Pluto slips into Aquarius it will activate any planets or angles around 0° of a sign, especially the fixed signs of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius. This could bring quite a shift, which could be quite exciting or quite unsettling, depending on what way we look at it! We could be called to release and liberate ourselves from old patterns and any unhealthy programming and conditioning that simply no longer serve us. This could feel quite freeing, empowering and enlivening! The Sabian symbol for this Moon, at 1° Aries, is a powerful one: “A woman just risen from the sea. A seal is embracing her”, which Dane Rudyar describes as “Emergence of new forms and of the potentiality of consciousness. This is the first of the 360 phases of a universal and multi-level cyclic process, which aims at the actualisation of a particular set of potentialities. These potentialities, in the Sabian symbols, refer to the development of man’s individualised consciousness – the consciousness of being an individual person with a place and function (a destiny) in the planetary organism of the Earth, and in a particular type of human society and culture. To be individually conscious means to emerge out of the sea of generic and collective consciousness – which to the emerged mind appears to be unconsciousness. Such an emergence is the primary event. It is the result of some basic action: a leaving behind, an emerging from a womb or matrix, here symbolised by the sea. Such an action is not to be considered a powerful, positive statement of individual being. In the beginning is the Act: but it is often an imperceptible, insecure act. The tender germ out of the seed does not loudly proclaim its existence. It has to pierce through the crust of the soil still covered with the remains of the past.” This symbol brings the sense of a new beginning, whereby we try something new on for size. There is a strong feeling of rebirth at the moment, with such a powerful New Moon combined with Pluto, the planet of death and rebirth moving into Aquarius, the sign of change and progression. What needs to die in order for something else to be birthed in its place? What are we leaving behind that no longer serves us? What do we yearn for the most and yet also fear the most? It is time to move towards it, planting the seeds, stepping out of our comfort zone and embracing the new, despite any fear or uncertainty we may have. When the seedling pierces out of the ground for the first time it has no idea what awaits it, but it does it anyway. So must we have courage and faith that whatever happens we will be ok. Aries reminds us that is better to have tried and failed than to never try at all. Plant the seed and watch it grow! Much love Amy xoxo Picture: “Seed of Renewal by Pyro Helfier  Exact at 12.40pm UK time (GMT)
This certainly is a noteworthy Full Moon, not least because Saturn moves from Aquarius into Pisces less than an hour after the Moon reaches its peak. When a heavyweight planet such as Saturn moves signs it can bring about a shift of energy as the focus moves from one sign to another. Full Moons are also highly energetic by nature, as things tend to come to a head as the Moon reaches its fullest expression, bringing the unconscious out into the light of the conscious. There is a great deal of healing energy around during this Moon, as Virgo and Pisces represent the healing axis, not to mention that expansive Jupiter and Chiron the Wounded Healer are moving towards each other to form an exact conjunction that will peak on 12 March. This could be a very beneficial time to be doing some healing work! We are right in the middle of Pisces season, with the Sun moving through this sensitive, dreamy, fluid, imaginative, receptive, compassionate and empathetic sign. This is a good time for turning inward and spending time in quiet contemplation, communing with nature, meditating and finding a way to connect with the divine. We could feel more sensitive and porous than usual, as we soak up other people’s energy like sponges. As such, time spent alone to regroup and recentre is essential. And then we have this Virgo Moon, sitting directly opposite the Sun, calling for us to find some balance between the energy of Pisces and Virgo. Virgo is the part of us that seeks to be of service and loves to help others. We might tend to be too hard on ourselves at times, however, criticising ourselves and others and seeking impossible perfection, which is where Pisces comes in, to remind us that we are perfect in our imperfection and to accept ourselves and others as we are. However, the Pisces part of us can easily put the rose-tinted spectacles on and only see what we want to see, blinding us to some pretty big flaws! Virgo, on the other hand, offers us the gift of discernment and discrimination, helping us to separate the wheat from the chaff. Both signs naturally want to help others, and so this Moon could bring to the fore the themes of devotion, service, empathy, healing and helping. It is interesting, contemplating the interplay between these two signs and how they spark off each other. Virgo is the sign of work, health and daily routines – the part of us that seeks to improve ourselves and “do better”. It is often when we are presented with a crisis, health or otherwise, that we are forced to confront ourselves and do the necessary inner and outer work to improve our situation. Sometimes a crisis literally has the capacity to bring us to our knees, so that we reach out to the divine in desperation to ask for help, guidance and some kind of sign that we are not alone. This is Pisces domain – connection to all that is, unity, faith, spirit and oneness. Virgo crises can offer us an amazing spiritual gift, a gateway, if we are open to it. At the very least, they can force us to turn inward and spend more time alone, helping to connect to our inner Pisces. A Virgo Moon can bring about inner analysis that can help us to recognise where and how we might be out of balance physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. It is a good opportunity for some beautiful healing to occur. This Moon is also helped by a supportive trine from Uranus, the Great Awakener and harbinger of change. Uranus can help jolt us into a greater awareness of what needs to change, bringing profound insights that can really help us to shift out of unhealthy mindsets, beliefs, habits and routines. Uranus has the potential to liberate us from any conditioning and programming that simply no longer serves us. As such, this Moon could really help us to make some positive changes that put us onto a healthier trajectory. Jupiter is also moving towards Chiron the Wounded Healer in Aries, as I mentioned before. This feels like a very beneficial time for recognising and looking at our core wounds, as Jupiter enables us to see the bigger picture and to grow significantly, as long as we are willing to do the inner work. We may find that we receive some higher wisdom and guidance that helps us to confront the painful bits that we might usually prefer not to look at. Someone or something could help us to gain a broader perspective on old issues that have followed us through our life, connecting the dots in a way that might not have been possible before now. Jupiter can also expand or magnify our wounded nature, making them seem bigger somehow, although this can of course be beneficial. Sometimes our sore spots need to be triggered for true understanding and healing to occur. Anyone with personal planets or angles close to 14° of a sign will feel the energy of this conjunction most acutely, especially the cardinal signs of Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn. Chiron doesn’t only represent our wounds – it also represents our highest potential, linking our earthly self with our higher self. This conjunction brings the potential for significant healing and spiritual growth to occur, as we are given the gift of understanding, as if something that has hitherto been missing somehow clicks into place and we are given a glimpse of our place in the grand scheme of things. Meanwhile, Saturn, the lord of Karma, moves into Pisces, the last sign of the zodiac, where he will remain until 2026. Saturn teaches us that we reap what we sow, and so this could be a very karmic time; a time of reckoning, whereby we atone for any past discrepancies and mistakes, tying up any loose ends and facing any skeletons in the closet so that we can start fresh and do things the right way. It is very interesting that Saturn moves into Pisces on the day of the Virgo Full Moon, a sign known for cleansing and purifying! We could be called to become more accountable, while Saturn moves through the final sign, taking our spiritual path more seriously and becoming more disciplined around our spiritual practice, helping us to live up to our true potential. On the other hand, Saturn can block, control and restrict the Pisces flow, which could feel quite repressive. Pisces is the part of us that dreams, imagines and feels inspired, so Saturn has the capacity to turn our dreams and fantasies into something concrete. Pisces also represents the collective unconscious – that invisible thread that connects us all. It knows nothing of boundaries. Saturn is the planet of fear, caution, limitation, control, structure, restrictions and boundaries. These are two very different energies! It is possible that fear could spread through the collective unconscious, or there could be attempts to control through subtle means and to create more and more boundaries that make us feel separate from one another. However, Pisces could potentially soften Saturn’s hard edges, and the power of a unified collective could wear away at any control that those in authority may seek to exert. One thing that is very important is to watch ourselves when it comes to fear. We all feel fear, from time to time, but it is important not to dwell in it or allow it to overwhelm us. When we are in fear we are more easily controlled. Pisces is our faith and trust that we are being guided in the right direction. Saturn could easily put a dampener on that, although it can also help us to see things as they are rather than dwelling in our fantasy of how things could be. Saturn in Pisces can also help us to truly take responsibility for those in need, in the spirit of compassionate service. The Sabian symbol for this Moon is a very powerful one, at 17° Virgo: “A volcanic eruption”, which Dane Rudyar describes as “The explosive energy of long-repressed contents of the subconscious. We are dealing here with the dramatic release of energies which have been kept in check by the outer shell of the ego-controlled consciousness. It may be a spectacular catharsis, but it often takes paths of destruction. Yet unless some form of purification by fire is experienced, the inner pressure of the karmic past, or of more recent frustrations would shake up perhaps even more destructively the very foundations of the personality. Everything must be released from the psyche seeking to attain the transfigured state. The soul must become empty, the mind translucent. The Keyword is EXPLOSION.” Well, that is quite a symbol! It also has some resonance with the energy of Saturn in Pisces. What might have been building within us that needs to be released? What have we been trying to control or keep a lid on? This Moon could blow the lid off, by the sounds of it! Mars is forming a wide challenging square to the Sun and Moon, which could force things out into the open or cause anger to erupt. We also have Uranus playing such a big part in the Moon, helping to liberate and release stuck energy and bringing the potential for some kind of shake-up. It is possible that we have been holding onto something that needs to be brought out rather than being suppressed so that it becomes insidiously destructive. There is also the potential for something coming out in the world stage that causes shock waves. This is one powerful Moon, that is for sure! There seems to be the potential for cleansing, purifying, releasing, understanding, healing, expanding and exploding! Much Love Amy xoxo Picture: Vesuvius by Andy Warhol  Exact at 7.05am UK time (GMT)
This New Moon is occurring in the final sign of the zodiac, Pisces, a dreamy, sensitive, compassionate sign that encapsulates all the other signs of the zodiac. Pisces invites us to surrender, to let go, to move beyond our limiting, fearful egos and allow ourselves to be guided by the invisible force that connects us all. Pisces is the part of us that can use our imagination to dream things into being, and so this New Moon invites us to turn inward and contemplate what we truly wish for ourselves and the world. What the mind can conceive the body can achieve! It is a good time to pay attention to our dreams, as they could be more vivid than usual and may hold important information for our waking life. This is a good time to be aware of any subtle signs, messages or omens that could help us to find our way. Pisces is the part of us that has the capacity to tune into how other people are feeling. People with a lot of Pisces energy in their chart tend to be quite thin-skinned, sensitive, compassionate, intuitive and empathetic. Pisces invites us to spend time in quiet contemplation, to meditate, to rest, to spend time in nature, to have a bath, to swim in a serene lake, to listen to the sound of wind and the birds, to watch the leaves rustling on the trees, a river rushing by, the ebb and flow of the tides. Similarly, time spent alone enables us to re-centre, to come back to ourselves, to cleanse our energetic system and to be able to listen to the whispers of our soul. This is a good time to slow down and focus on what truly holds meaning in our lives and what brings the greatest sense of fulfilment on a spiritual level. A few days before the New Moon, on the 16th February, the Sun passes by Saturn in Aquarius before moving into Pisces late on 18 Feb. This could make things feel a bit heavy and “real”, although this will probably have abated by the New Moon itself. Saturn is at the very end of Aquarius now, getting ready to move into Pisces on 7 March. As it moves towards the end, we may feel the energy of Saturn in Aquarius more acutely. Saturn went into Aquarius in March 2020, just as the lockdowns started. Saturn is the planet of authority, control, suppression, boundaries, accountability, responsibility, hard work and limitations. Aquarius represents the group, friendships, community, technology and the capacity to rebel or protest. In the past couple of years we have certainly seen Saturnian control, limitation and curtailing in all of these areas of Aquarius. One of the most noticeable has been the increased use of technology as a form of authoritarian control, as well as the fear of what that might mean for the future. It will be interesting to see what will happen as Saturn travels through Pisces, the sign of faith, compassion, flow, and devotion. It certainly does bring the potential for some kind of authoritarian control in the area of faith and religion. Saturn is a completely different energy to Pisces, as it contretises, blocks, limits, controls and makes things real and solid, while Pisces is fluid by nature and hard to pin down. It is interesting to contemplate. How does one make the flowing Pisces energy solid? On the one hand Saturn could provide a solid container for our faith and connection to the divine, making it feel more real and defined somehow. We may find ourselves more disciplined when it comes to our spiritual path. On the other hand, we could experience our hope, faith and trust being squashed or suppressed, or we could feel overwhelmed by fear, as our imaginations run wild in all sorts of dark directions. Pisces likes to escape reality and enjoy a bit of fantasy, while Saturn forces us to see things as they really are. Saturn could make us question what is real and what is illusion, smoke screens or propaganda. Saturn can also help us to turn our Piscean dreams and fantasies into something real and concrete, giving them form and helping to make the impossible possible. It can also help us to take responsibility for our lives instead of dwelling in victimhood and imagining that we are at the mercy of forces bigger than us. At the same time, Pluto is also about to leave Capricorn on 23 March, where it has been since 2008. Again, the energy could feel stronger as Pluto moves towards the end of Capricorn. Pluto is the planet of power, soul growth and transformation, the planet that takes us on a trip into the underworld and forces us to confront the shadows within ourselves and the world, and by doing this we can come back with some hidden treasure. Capricorn is the sign of the patriarchy, government, authority, societal structures, and career. Since 2008, Pluto has been exposing and detoxing the flaws and decaying structures in the patriarchal system that we are living in, making us all too aware of the corruption, the darkness, the imbalance and abuse of power within the systems that govern us. At this point it is impossible to avoid seeing it. As we move towards 23 March, when Pluto moves into humanitarian, revolutionary, visionary Aquarius, we could find that the energy of Pluto in Capricorn increases and more shadows come out into the light to be detoxified. It is the final purge of the Capricorn power structures, enabling us to see the cracks more clearly, whether we like it or not. It will be interesting to see what happens as Saturn moves from Aquarius into Pisces and then Pluto moves from Capricorn into Aquarius, as we could experience some kind of energetic shift. During this Moon, Mercury is quite prevalent, with Uranus forming a dynamic, challenging square to the planet of mind and communication, and Chiron and Mars forming helpful, supportive aspects. Uranus could mean that we receive a message that shocks us, or some information that forces us to see things from a different perspective. Uranus can bring realisations and insights that jolt us into higher awareness. Chiron could bring honest, open, healing conversations and, together with Mars, the ability to bring thorny issues out into the open. Mars helps us to have the courage to speak our minds in a candid and direct manner and to make strong decisions. Mercury is currently in Aquarius, helping us to think outside of the box and gain fresh perspective on old problems. Aquarius is a progressive, visionary sign that can help us to come up with some interesting solutions and see things differently. Neptune, the ruler of this Pisces Moon, has been sitting right next to Venus in Pisces for the past few days and the energy peaked on 15 February. It is still in effect during his Moon, although not as strong. Neptune is the higher octave of Venus, bringing the potential for unconditional love and true connection within our relationships that helps us to take our guards down. Pluto is also forming a supportive sextile to Venus that is exact on the day of the New Moon, helping us to be emotionally honest and deepen our relationships, possibly by owning our shadows and showing one another those parts of ourselves that we might usually hide. Venus is in the very last degree of the zodiac during this Moon, which is a special place indeed. The day after she will move from sensitive, compassionate Pisces into independent, forthright Aries, shifting the energy considerably! The Sabian symbol for this Moon, at 2° Pisces, is an interesting one: “A squirrel, hiding from hunters”, which Dane Rudyar describes as “The individual’s need both to ensure his future subsistence and to protect himself from aggressive social elements. The squirrel not only has to hide and store food for the winter, but to be on the lookout for the dangers involved in gathering this food supply. Social processes always cast strong shadows. The individual is never certain of being safe among his fellowmen, once the process of individualisation – with its negative aspects, competition, social aggressivity and greed – forces the breakdown of the organic tribal state of mankind during the archaic ages. This symbol warns of the dangers of life in society during an era of exacerbated individualism, when violence is a possibility never to be dismissed. The need for SELF-PROTECTION and caution is ever present”. Well, this symbol seems very relevant considering all that is happening in the world right now! It would be so easy to fall into fear and to feel as if there is something out to get us, whether that is real or not. And that is the thing about Pisces, sometimes we can imagine things that aren’t real. We can also feel like a leaf being blown around in the wind, at the mercy of forces that we have no control of. However, Pisces calls for us to keep the faith and trust that we are somehow being guided in the right direction and that ultimately the light always prevails over the darkness. This Moon seems to be asking us to turn inwards and to conserve our energy, making sure we get enough rest and to pay attention to our dreams. Pisces season is sleepy time, a time for rest and daydreaming and seeing where our imagination takes us. Pisces reminds us that we have the capacity to co-create our own reality, so what can we dream up for ourselves and the planet? Much Love Amy xoxo Picture: Dreamworlds by Susan Seddon Boulet |
Amy BirdI love writing about the Moon and the effect it has on us all, both collectively and personally. We all look at the same Moon and feel her energy, albeit in different ways. It reminds us that we are not alone and there is something very comforting about that! Archives
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