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LEO FULL MOON - 25 January 2024

1/22/2024

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Picture
Exact at 5.54pm UK time (GMT)
 
This is a powerful Full Moon, not least because powerful Pluto is very much a part of it! Pluto is a big player right now, having just left Capricorn to move into Aquarius, which represents a significant shift in energy which could help us to continue the transition from the old world into the new. Full Moons tend to bring things to a head, especially within our relationships. Anything that may have been simmering beneath the surface of our consciousness can come out into the open, while any “seeds” planted around the New Moon can begin to come to fruition. This is a very dynamic, creative Moon, as Leo is a playful, exuberant, creative, strong, expressive sign that invites us to shine our light, follow our hearts and do whatever brings us our greatest joy.
 
The Sun moved from Capricorn into Aquarius on Saturday 20 January, swiftly followed by Pluto on Sunday 21 January, which will have brought a significant shift in energy. Capricorn is an earth sign that represents responsibility, accountability, discipline, control, tradition, maturity, our conditioning and the structures of our lives. We now have a movement into Aquarius, an air sign that represents community, freedom, brotherhood/sisterhood, new vision, friendship, equality, progression, innovation, revolution, detachment and liberation from our personal and collective programming and conditioning. There is a very big difference between these two signs! It is interesting that the Sun changed sign at almost the same time as Pluto, as the shift of energy could feel a bit more noticeable. However, it is important to note that Mercury, Venus and Mars remain in Capricorn for the time being.
 
And now we have a Leo Full Moon, a sign that has the potential to turn our Aquarian visions, hopes, dreams and crazy ideas into something tangible. When the Aquarius and Leo parts of us play together, they can be a very creative team. Aquarius can think outside the box, with plenty of zany ideas, while Leo loves to play with these visions and concepts and create something out of them, including the life we want to live. There is something exciting and playful about a Leo Full Moon, although it can also activate that part of us that needs validation or craves attention, usually due to insecurity or a lack of validation or encouragement when we were younger. Aquarius, however, reminds us that we are all special and unique, each in our own way. It helps us to boost and encourage one another, rather than competing or comparing.
 
Jupiter in Taurus is forming a dynamic square aspect to the Sun and Moon, which could magnify or exaggerate the energy of this Full Moon and could bring up some big emotions. Leo is a very expressive, exuberant sign, while Jupiter is the part of us that can go a bit over the top sometimes, getting a bit over-enthusiastic and potentially overextending ourselves. With Jupiter in Taurus, we may overspend, or overestimate our capabilities, or get a little too big for our boots! We could also be quite expressive about our beliefs and convictions with Jupiter involved in the picture. Jupiter is a very expansive planet, so we might find ourselves wanting to run before we can walk! However, Jupiter is generally a benevolent influence, even in a challenging square aspect.
 
Anyone with personal planets or angles around 6°of a sign will feel the expansive, magnifying energy of Jupiter the most acutely, especially those in the fixed signs of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius.
 
Saturn in Pisces is also forming a nagging inconjunct aspect to the Moon, which could bring a bit of tension, as Saturn has an inhibiting effect. While Jupiter expands, Saturn contracts, so we could find ourselves trying to gain control over our emotions, especially if they threaten to get out of control. It is important to watch any fears or resistance that might come up during this Moon, as Saturn in Pisces holds the potential for our imagination running wild in all the wrong directions! While the Leo Moon invites us to shine our light and follow our hearts, Saturn is that part of us that might judge ourselves, or hold ourselves back, or find it hard to let go of control and be spontaneous. Saturn is the strict parent within us that might temper the inner child that just wants to have fun and express itself!
 
Mercury, the planet of the mind and communication, and Mars, the planet of energy, drive, anger and assertion, are joining forces during this Full Moon, while also being challenged by Chiron the Wounded healer. This could bring communication that both hurts and heals. Mars is the ruler of the North Node in Aries, which is currently encouraging us to focus on ourselves, leaving behind people pleasing, codependent tendencies and gaining a greater understanding of who we are and what we want and what we need. Mars and Mercury join together in Capricorn, meaning that we may need to say it how it is and to be open, honest, direct, and real in our communication. If there is a conversation that we have been putting off, this could give us the courage to bring it out into the open. Of course, Mars can also bring up heated discussions or angry exchanges, although Capricorn could help to keep it all under control and down to earth.
 
The conjunction is exact on 27 Jan, but will be very present during this Full Moon, as it builds in strength. Those of us with personal planets or angles between 15° and 17° will feel the energy of Mars and Mercury the most acutely, especially the cardinal signs of Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn.
 
Chiron the Wounded Healer is very much involved in this picture, sitting right on top of the Aries North Node and squaring up to Mercury and Mars. On a collective level, this could very much bring up the theme of war and may not help any negotiations for peace. Chiron in Aries, the sign that represents war, challenging Mars, the warrior planet, means that issues could come up around anger, ego, assertion, violence, competition, aggression, the masculine principle and how it is used and directed, both personally and collectively. On a personal level, we could experience some deep healing around the Aries themes of “I am”, such as making ourselves a priority, the right to exist, self-love, our sense of identity, being selfish, being alone and asserting our needs in a healthy way, rather than being either overly yang and combative, or too passive and tending to avoid confrontation.
 
When Chiron joins the North Node, it can signify the need to step out of the comfort zone and to face our most uncomfortable wound, sore spot or insecurity, although we might be resistant to go to that place because it could feel too big or scary. However, Aries calls for us to be brave and confront it, once and for all, for as we heal ourselves, we heal the world. As Rumi says, “the wound is the place where the Light enters you”. We are called to ask the question “Who am I, really?” and “what do I really want?”, and to embrace all of it and have the courage to ask for what we want rather than passively waiting for things to just happen. Are we able to assert ourselves in a healthy, constructive way, or do we have issues in this area?
 
Chiron and the North Node are building towards a conjunction that will be exact on 19 February, so it will be interesting to see what might happen between now and then on a collective level. There certainly is the potential for something happening that affects the collective. However, do we embrace the positive qualities of Aries, or the shadow side? Those of us with personal planets or angles around 16° will feel the healing and/or wounding energy of Chiron and the North Node the most acutely, especially the cardinal signs of Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn.
 
The Sabian symbol for this Moon, at 5° Leo, is an evocative one: “A conservative, old-fashioned lady is confronted by a “hippie” girl”, which Dane Rudyar describes as “The need to transcend our subservience to fashion, in morals as well as in clothes. This refers to the ever-changing pageant of social values, as ideals of human relationship succeed one another, one generation facing in the next an antithetic picture of what it has been brought up to consider worthwhile and decent. Then confrontation may lead to great bitterness, yet it should show us the impermanence of most of what society impresses upon our collective. With this symbol, we are dealing now with cultural values and the emotional impact they have upon our character formation. Whereas the first degree of Leo dealt with an individual crisis of reorientation, the sixth degree refers to a collective, cultural and social crisis which challenges us to realise THE RELATIVITY OF SOCIAL VALUES.”
 
This symbol brings to mind the recent transition that Pluto made from Capricorn, the sign of tradition, societal rules and the old world, into Aquarius, the sign of progression, liberation, nonconformity and visions for a new world. This is the first Full Moon since the shift, and there certainly are some powerful, strong, yang planetary energies around! It seems that we could be called to keep an eye on our egos and make sure that we act and react from a place of integrity. Things could be said and decisions could be made that have a strong impact on our lives, both personal and collectively. Strong emotions could come to the fore, so it is important to be mindful of how we express and act on them. It could be very helpful if we are able to take a leaf out of Aquarius’s book and step back and look at ourselves from a higher perspective, rather than diving right in with guns blazing! Maybe there is a different way of approaching things that hasn’t been tried before. Let’s hope so.
 
Much Love
 
Amy
xoxo
 
Painting: Centre of the Universe by Kelly Dallas

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PLUTO AND SUN MOVE FROM CAPRICORN INTO AQUARIUS - 20/21 Jan 2024

1/19/2024

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PLUTO AND SUN MOVE FROM CAPRICORN INTO AQUARIUS
 
Powerful Pluto, the planet of transformation, power/powerlessness, death/rebirth, the subconscious and the soul, is teaming up with the Sun in Capricorn at the moment, as they both prepare to move into Aquarius in the next couple of days.
 
This has the potential to make everything very “real” and a bit heavy, as we are forced to confront material that we may prefer to deny or avoid! Pluto forces us to strip away self-deceit and to be very honest with ourselves, penetrating to the heart of the matter, even if it is very uncomfortable. We may be forced to take our power back and to recognise how we give it away. This combo certainly can bring a very uncomfortable reality check, but it is important to sit with whatever comes up, because this is where the buried treasure lies! We could find the truth of the matter glaring at us, whether we like it or not! We could also be facing issues around loss and mortality.
 
There could be a significant shift of energy, however, as both the Sun and Pluto move into Aquarius this weekend. Aquarius represents freedom, brotherhood/sisterhood, progression, humanitarianism, liberation from our conditioning, revolution and the power of friendship and community. It is a much lighter energy, so hopefully we will feel a bit of a lift and a feeling of liberation in the coming week!
 
The Sun moves into Aquarius at 2.30pm on Saturday (UK time) and Pluto moves in at 9.30am on Sunday (UK time). Those of us with personal planets and angles around 29° and 0/1° of a sign will be feeling the energy of Pluto the most acutely, especially around 29° of the Cardinal signs Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn, and 0/1° of the fixed signs Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius. However, we will probably all be feeling this one, on one level or another!
 
Much Love
 
Amy
xoxo

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CAPRICORN NEW MOON - 11 January 2024

1/10/2024

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Picture
Exact at 11.57am UK time (GMT)
 
The first New Moon of the new year is a potent one, that’s for sure! There is a lot of powerful planetary energy swirling around, including Pluto getting ready to leave Capricorn and move into Aquarius. It is interesting that we are also in Capricorn season as Pluto spends its last days in this responsible, driven, hard-working, determined sign. As with all New Moons, whatever comes to pass during this time, the thoughts that run through our minds, the conversations we have, the decisions that we make, the intentions we set all have the potential to blossom and grow over the coming weeks as we build up to the Full Moon. New Moons are a very potent time of the month for manifesting, so it is important to be mindful of what we wish for!
 
Capricorn is the part of us that likes to set goals and work towards them. Like the mountain goat, we set our sights on the top of the mountain and slowly and steadily work our way towards it. As such, it might be worth contemplating what it is that we want to achieve, even if it is just a vague concept or a feeling. Capricorn does tend to take the long view and is good at planning ahead and creating structures, but it might be helpful, and take the pressure off somewhat, to simply contemplate what is a realistic goal and what would make us feel better in the here and now. Capricorn is also that part of us that can judge ourselves quite harshly when we fall short of our expectations or slip up on our New Year resolutions!
 
Capricorn brings a bit of a reality check after the excess, over-extension and over-indulgence that can come with Sagittarius season, and can help us to find the discipline to strip back and pare away, finding some pleasure in cutting down, disciplining ourselves and developing healthy programmes and habits. “Let’s start the year as we mean to go on!” says Capricorn. However, it is important not to feel guilty if we slip up, or to take it all too terribly seriously! There is something about Capricorn season, and a Capricorn New Moon, that can actually help us to get some joy and satisfaction from setting ourselves little goals and working towards them. Indeed, it can feel really good to gain a little more control over ourselves after having let it all go during the festive season! Capricorn invites us to look at our lives with a realistic lens and contemplate what might benefit from a bit of work.
 
We have some help from Uranus during this New Moon, helping us to shift out of unhealthy patterns and make positive changes for ourselves. Uranus can bring a breath of fresh air, clearing out the cobwebs and helping us to see things more clearly. Wherever we feel stuck or stagnant, Uranus can help us to move again, or at least to see things from a different perspective. Uranus brings a feeling of freedom and the capacity to shift out of old programming that has served its time and is no longer appropriate or useful. It’s wonderful to have Uranus supporting this Moon, because it can help us to break down any stuckness or rigidity and brings a certain amount of excitement and willingness to change. Anyone with personal planets or angles around 19°of a sign will feel the energy of Uranus most acutely, especially the fixed signs Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius, and the Earth signs can greatly benefit as well.
 
The Sun and Moon are also forming a dynamic square aspect to the Nodes of the Moon, which feels quite fated and important in terms of our soul growth. The North Node is currently in Aries, calling for us to be brave and take charge of our lives, recognising our needs and truly honouring them. We are encouraged to let go of any tendency to sit on the fence, or to people please, or to acquiesce for the sake of maintaining the peace or avoid confrontation, which are the less desirable attributes of the Libra South Node. Aries calls for us to be direct and honest, to stand up for ourselves, and for what is fair and just, and reminds us that it is better to be alone than to be in a relationship that is toxic or not adding goodness to our life. Aries is quite a feisty sign, bringing out our inner warrior and independent spirit. This square to the Nodes could remind us not to settle for second best, but rather to strive for all that we deserve in life.  
 
There is some very positive, supportive energy surrounding this Moon, including a lovely, harmonious trine between Mars (ruler of the Aries North Node) and Jupiter. They are both in earth signs, which make the energy quite grounded and practical, and the combination can help us to act on any opportunities that come our way, bringing self-confidence, hope, optimism and abundant energy. Saturn, the ruler of this Capricorn Moon, is also helping them out, bringing a sense that we can maybe ground some of our dreams and aspirations into reality with a bit of hard work, determination and discipline. There is also a beautiful trine between Chiron the Wounded Healer and Venus, which could bring about healing within our relationships, based on some direct honesty and capacity to speak our truth.
 
However, the most important thing to be aware of during the next week or so is the movement of powerful, transforming Pluto into Aquarius. We are in the final throes of Pluto’s stay in Capricorn, which began in 2008 when we experienced the big financial crash that shook our foundations. Since then, Pluto has been slowly but surely exposing the darkness and rot in the hierarchies of our society, breaking down the old, antiquated, outworn patriarchal structures that simply no longer have a place in the new world that is gradually coming into being. Indeed, life does look quite different to the way it was in 2008, as a lot has happened since then, both personally and collectively. There is a certain heaviness to Capricorn that we might feel more acutely in the final days before Pluto moves into Aquarius on 21 January.
 
It will be interesting to see what the shift of energy will bring as Pluto shifts signs, because Aquarius is such a different sign to Capricorn! While Capricorn represents the more patriarchal, traditional systems, our parental and societal conditioning and pressure to conform and obey the rules, Aquarius is a far more progressive, visionary, humanitarian, future-oriented sign. We are birthing a new world! Of course, Pluto will now be exposing the dark side of Aquarius, including the use of advanced technology that seems to be increasing at a rate of knots, but overall the vibe will probably be lighter. Aquarius can bring about exciting change, innovations, greater equality and the potential for breaking down the pyramid structure upon which society is currently based. Aquarius is a quirky, eccentric, non-conformist, tolerant sign that isn’t afraid to question the rules, so let’s see what the next few years bring!
 
Anyone with personal planets or angles around 29° of a sign, especially the Cardinal signs Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn, or 0° of a sign, especially the Fixed signs Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius, will be feeling the powerful, penetrating, transforming energy of Pluto the most acutely. Pluto can bring a tremendous amount of psychological insight, stripping away self-deceit and exposing the truth of the matter, and can also give us a cosmic kick up the bum to help us evolve and grow on a soul level. It is interesting that Pluto moves into Aquarius around the same time that the Sun moves into Aquarius, as we will probably feel the shift of energy more clearly.
 
The Sabian Symbol for this New Moon, at 21° Capricorn, is interesting: “A relay race”, which Dane Rudyar describes as “The value of competition in developing group consciousness. Here we are no longer dealing with competition between individuals, but with competition between groups of individuals who take turns successively in order to maximise the group effort and the possibility of outstanding results. The whole of civilisation is a vast kind of relay race in which groups of people and generations carry the torch of what we call “progress.” Major achievements result from the sum total of human strivings. This symbol stresses one especially dynamic aspect of “group performance.” Wherever this symbol appears, it emphasises the value of group cooperation and of necessary give-and-take. One must seek to relate and adjust one’s strength to the challenge presented by competitors in DYNAMIC INTERCHANGE.”
 
Although this is a Capricorn symbol, it does hold a hint of Aquarius, with the emphasis on the group working together as a team to ensure any success. The Capricorn part of us may strive to do well and succeed, but the Aquarius part of us knows that we will achieve more if we all work together. Let’s see what this shift from Capricorn into Aquarius brings.  
 
This certainly feels like a powerful and positive Moon to kick start this year with and can help us to lay down some foundations upon which to build the rest of the year upon. It is not about setting impossible goals that are doomed to failure, but it is a great Moon for contemplating what we truly want for ourselves and what we can realistically do to get to the top of the proverbial mountain. It’s about taking a realistic look at our lives, taking the long view and recognising what we can do to make them better. It’s about finding joy and satisfaction in applying some degree of discipline and control over our lives. It’s about truly taking responsibility for the part we play. Wherever we have over-extended, it’s time to strip back and face reality. However, luckily, we also have Venus in Sagittarius, reminding us not to take it all too seriously and that life is about the journey, not the destination.
 
Much Love
 
Amy
xoxo
 
Picture: The journey Ahead, by Robbie Potter
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    Amy Bird

    I love writing about the Moon and the effect it has on us all, both collectively and personally. We all look at the same Moon and feel her energy, albeit in different ways. It reminds us that we are not alone and there is something very comforting about that!

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