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VIRGO FULL MOON - 24 February 2024

2/21/2024

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Picture
Exact at 12.30pm UK time (GMT)
 
This Full Moon activates the healing axis of Virgo and Pisces, two yin signs following the yang energy of the last couple of Moons. We are now in Pisces season, as the Sun has now left airy, exciting, objective Aquarius and moved into this sensitive, compassionate, dreamy water sign. There has been a lot of Aquarius energy of late, with Pluto, the Sun, Mercury, Venus and Mars all travelling through this rather heady, visionary sign, and now the Sun and Mercury have moved into Pisces, bringing a slight shift of energy. Pisces, being a water sign, is far more emotional than friendly, detached Aquarius, so we could find that we are pulled from our heads into our hearts.
 
The Moon is sitting in helpful, analytical, humble Virgo, opposing the Pisces Sun, and so we are called to find some balance between the energy of the two signs. Too much Virgo can make us overly self-critical, perfectionist and prone to crisis, which is where Pisces jumps in to remind us to practice the art of self-acceptance, stilling the monkey mind and going with the flow. Virgo is the part of us that likes to be helpful, but which can become so busy “doing” that we forget to just “be”. Pisces, however, is the part of us that can just lie back and allow the river to take us along with its flow, but which can also procrastinate or bury our head in the sand. Virgo likes to have things in order, in neat little boxes, while Pisces reminds us that life is sometimes not that neat and tidy!
 
This is the kind of Moon that can bring about some kind of healing, although sometimes Virgo can bring some kind of crisis that forces self-examination and self-analysis that helps us find some kind of solution for whatever we are facing. Virgo is the part of us that experiences worry and anxiety and can make mountains out of molehills. This is where Pisces comes in, because sometimes we just need to have faith and trust that we are being guided in the right direction and that we are protected and held. Pisces invites us to simply surrender and allow the river to take us wherever it will, with the faith that whatever happens along the way and wherever we end up is for our highest good. We all know that worrying about things doesn’t help – in fact it blocks the energy flow and prevents us from thinking clearly and finding solutions.
 
Saturn is a very big part of this Full Moon, sitting right next to the Sun in Pisces and opposing the Moon. Saturn can also bring up fear in us, as it makes everything feel a bit too real. Saturn can make us feel like we have obstacles in our way, but also reminds us to be patient, for while it may sometimes feel like things aren’t moving or we are blocked, there may be a good reason for it that will reveal itself later down the track. Often when the way is blocked it is because we are not supposed to be doing it at that time. Saturn’s influence during this Moon could bring about some kind of lesson or reality check, and could make things feel a bit heavy, limited, stuck, or blocked. However, it could also help us to step up and take full responsibility for our part in whatever is happening. We are not helpless victims!
 
Instead of allowing fear to overwhelm us, we can use Saturn’s influence to create a sensible, tangible plan of action, take control, create healthy boundaries and contemplate our situation with a practical, realistic lens. Saturn in Pisces can help us to lay down foundations and create structures, aligning ourselves and channelling our inspiration into something tangible so that we can turn our dreams and fantasies into reality. We just have to be aware that it can also make us feel like we are drowning in fear, especially combined with a Virgo Full Moon. Fear blocks flow, so it is better not to dwell in it, even though it is sometimes easier said than done!
 
Mercury is also a big part of this Moon, being the ruler of Virgo and sitting on the other side of the Sun, opposing the Moon. This puts mental activity and communication very much in focus and does hold the potential for our imaginations running wild in all the wrong directions! Mercury in Pisces is very right brained and imaginative but can also find it hard to focus! It is important to be mindful of how our minds are working during this Moon because they may be working in overdrive, and combined with the Saturnian energy we could easily feel overwhelmed by worst case scenarios!  It is better to use the Pisces energy to tap into universal consciousness and see how spirit might inspire, guide and help us to come up with beautiful solutions. The answers will come if we still our minds and listen to our quiet inner voice and intuitive knowing.
 
Despite being in Pisces season now, we do still have some Aquarius energy! Most significantly, Pluto is now in Aquarius, which has brought a significant shift of energy since leaving Capricorn on 21 January. Combined with Chiron conjunct North Node in Aries, we are being called to contemplate who we really, truly are and what we need, outside of any conditioning we have received over our lifetime. Pluto can help peel back the layers to reveal our true essence – the original spark that lies beneath all the detritus that has piled on top of us over the course of our lifetime, obscuring our true nature. Pluto in Aquarius invites us to be unapologetically ourselves and also encourages us to connect with our tribe of like-minded souls, those people who simply “get us”.
 
A couple of days before this Moon, Pluto moves into 1° of Aquarius, for which the Sabian symbol is “The unexpected thunderstorm”. Dane Rudyar describes this as “The need to develop the inner security which will enable us to meet unexpected crisis. This scene stresses the fact that nature may reduce to impermanence the seemingly most permanent endeavours and constructive activities of men. Under a downpour of rain, adobe brick can return to mud. All human institutions and their achievements can be washed away, even in their day of great glory. “Dust you were, dust you must become.” This is NATURE’S CHALLENGE.” A thunderstorm can definitely clear the air, and can be very cleansing, although this does seem to indicate an event for which we are not prepared. However, it doesn’t mean that it is not welcome or helpful!
 
Venus and Mars, the cosmic lovers, are travelling together in friendly, quirky and detached Aquarius right now, which feels significant and can bring matters of the heart into focus. They will be exactly conjunct each other on Thursday 22 February, and anyone with personal planets or angles around 6° of a sign will be feeling the love, passion, energy and creativity of this combination, especially in the fixed signs of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius. We could be feeling a bit more amorous during this time, that’s for sure, and passion, creativity and sexuality could play more of a part.
 
It is important to be aware that Venus and Mars are conjoining in Aquarius, a sign that is experimental, progressive, unconventional, freedom-loving and tends to be “friendly but not too familiar”. Aquarius invites us to contemplate the type of relationship that works for us, rather than the kind that society deems normal or acceptable. Anything goes, as far as Aquarius is concerned, and the most important thing is to be authentic and true to ourselves, even if it means going against the grain.
 
The Sabian Symbol for this Moon, at 6° Virgo, is interesting:” A merry-go-round” which Dane Rudyar describes as “The first experience of the dynamic intensity of life processes and of the possibility of using them to reach a characteristic ego-satisfaction. Two stages of experience are distinguishable: that in which a very young child is seated with his mother or nurse in an open carriage – the only experience is that of circular, perhaps at first dizzying, movement – and the stage of riding a horse (or some other animal) which often goes up and down as well as around. As the horse always represents the vital energy (later understood as libido or “psychic energy”), the merry-go-round at this stage symbolises or prefigures the awareness of the cyclicity and the ups and downs of the emotional life. In its broadest sense we see here a characterisation of what the developing consciousness (and at a certain level, the “disciple on the Path”) experiences: AN OBJECTIVE APPROACH TO THE LIFE FORCE”.
 
There is something else to be aware of with this symbol, however, and that is that it is going round and round in circles, bringing a sense of repeating cycles. It could be helpful to look at what is happening now and consider whether we have been here before, albeit in a different way. Perhaps we are stuck in a rut or repeating the same mistakes and unhealthy patterns, or perhaps whatever we are experiencing now is the next phase of something that keeps cropping up over the course of our lives, reminding us of its importance. It is important to pay attention to these cyclic repetitions and continuations. Some things keep coming around for a reason.
 
A Virgo Full Moon can help us to find solutions for any niggling problems we have been having. It can also highlight any worry or anxieties we are experiencing, possibly even bringing them to crisis point. However, the message here is not to fall into fear or try and force things, but to trust in the flow of life. If something isn’t flowing, or feels blocked, then maybe it isn’t right for us, or needs changing somehow. One of Virgo’s superpowers is the art of discernment – recognising what works for us and what doesn’t, what contributes to our well-being and what drains or depletes us. This could be a good Moon to separate the wheat from the chaff, as Virgo can definitely help us to cleanse, purify and do whatever inner work is necessary to improve our situation. Meanwhile, Pisces reminds us that we are already perfect in our imperfection, and to follow the path of least resistance. Rather than forcing matters, we are invited to simply let go and enjoy the ride!
 
Much Love
 
Amy
xoxo
 
Painting: Taming the Monkey Mind – Unknown

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AQUARIUS NEW MOON / YEAR OF THE WOOD DRAGON BEGINS - 9 February 2024

2/6/2024

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Picture
Exact at 10.59pm UK time (GMT)
 
This feels like an incredibly significant New Moon, with the potential for big shifts and surprises. It is also a Supermoon, which means that the Moon is closer to earth and will have a stronger impact on our minds, bodies, spirit and emotions. It is also the beginning of the Chinese year of the Wood Dragon! New Moons always bring the potential for shedding old weight and planting seeds for something new to come in, and this Moon is no exception! Aquarius is the sign of change, progression, innovation and questioning the status quo, so this Moon could help us to breathe fresh air into our lives and embrace a new perspective. This is the kind of Moon that could help us to recognise where we might be stuck in a rut and jolt us into a greater awareness of what needs to change and what needs to be released. Change is in the air!
 
With the Sun and Moon joining forces in eccentric, quirky, humanitarian Aquarius, we are called to think outside the box and look at our lives from a different angle. Aquarius is a very objective sign that helps us to detach, stand back and see ourselves with greater clarity and insight. It encourages us to question the rules and liberate ourselves from the layers of programming and conditioning that have built up since we were born, so that we can reveal our original, unique spark that is the true essence of who we are. Aquarius is the rebel, the revolutionary, the maverick, and so this Moon could bring out the part of us that questions authority, questions any rules that don’t make sense and questions what we are being told by those in authority. Aquarius helps us to see another way of doing things and isn’t afraid to stand out from the crowd and be different.
 
Uranus, the planetary ruler of this Aquarius Moon, is forming a dynamic square to the Sun and Moon, which definitely spices things up a bit! Uranus is the planet of sudden wake up calls, shocks and curveballs that forces us out of stagnation and can bring massive insights, realisations, epiphanies and profound clarity. Expect the unexpected with this particular Moon! On both a personal and collective level, things can easily change in the blink of an eye, and Uranus reminds us that you never know what lies around the next corner. This is the planet that brings breakdowns that can then lead to breakthroughs. It clears away the cobwebs with a massive blast of fresh air. So often we know exactly what needs to change, but tend to resist facing the inevitable, not wanting to upset the apple cart and unsettle our lives. Uranus, however, isn’t afraid to upset the apple cart for the sake of positive change and growth.
 
Uranus is in Taurus, the sign that represents survival, the economy, material comforts and our values. There is the potential for some kind of breakdown of the financial system while Uranus is still in Taurus, which will be until 2026. However, as mentioned, breakdowns can lead to breakthroughs, and Uranus is an innovative, progressive planet that has the potential to bring much needed change to an antiquated system that is in very much need of an overhaul. Taurus is also the part of us that resists change, often because we don’t want to face the discomfort that it brings and because we fear the unknown.
 
This is the kind of Moon that can force us out of our comfort zone, but as we do so we have the potential to experience such a sense of freedom as we liberate ourselves from anything that has been weighing us down and holding us prisoner, including our conditioning. “To thine own self be true”, says Uranus. To be true to ourselves can feel very uncomfortable indeed, as it is often much easier to simply conform to others’ expectations of us, or the societal norm. This is the kind of Moon that could make things so intolerable that we simply have to make changes. Indeed, it can bring a sudden event that changes everything. It can also bring sudden insights that come out of thin air and change our perspective completely. And once we see with such clarity, there is no “unseeing”.  
 
Those of us with personal planets or angles around 19° of a sign, especially the fixed signs of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius, will feel the liberating, enlivening and potentially shocking energy of Uranus the most acutely, although this Moon does hold the potential for some kind of collective shift. As Pluto has recently moved into Aquarius, which is Uranus’s sign, this links Pluto, the planet of transformation with Uranus, the planet of shifts, progression and change. It does seem inevitable that some kind of change is coming within the next couple of years, and we can only hope that it will be based on Aquarian values of equality, freedom, brotherhood/sisterhood, benefiting the “People” rather than the plutocracy.  We shall see.
 
Chiron the Wounded Healer is moving closer and closer to the North Node in Aries, exact on 19 February. It is not surprising that rumours of war grow stronger and stronger, as this is a fateful pairing in Aries, the sign that represents war and conflict. This brings up masculine energies to be healed, and brings up the question – does change, progress and conflict resolution have to result in violence and war? On a personal level, we are being called to address and heal any issues we may have around the masculine, including how we assert and stand up for ourselves and the way we handle our anger.  This is a powerful configuration that can help us to find the courage to face our core wounds and heal any issues around “I am”, the right to exist, our identity and the capacity for self-love. We are called to embrace all that we are, and to make ourselves a priority, although this could be difficult for some. Self-care is imperative during this time, because it helps us to deal with whatever else is occurring around us. As we each heal ourselves, we help to heal the world.
 
Uranus is also forming a harmonious, supportive trine aspect to Venus, the ruler of Taurus. Venus is the planet of love, relationship, self-worth and money, so Uranus could bring about a shift of perspective in all of these areas. It can breathe fresh air and excitement into our relationships and finances, and can also bring great clarity and insight, so that we can see more objectively what might need to change. This trine aspect is exact on 7 February but will still be strong during the New Moon.  
 
Jupiter is also forming a dynamic square aspect to Mercury, exact on 10 February. We may feel that we have a lot to say during this Moon, as if we have something very important to communicate! People could be more opinionated than usual, as they feel the need to express their truth. There is the potential for jumping to conclusions before knowing the full picture. It is important to listen to people’s feedback and to be mindful of what comes out of our mouths. Those of us with personal planets and angles around 8° of a sign, especially the fixed signs, will feel this energy most strongly.
 
The Sabian symbol for this Moon is interesting, especially in the light of the other planetary energy surrounding this Moon, at 21° Aquarius: “A disappointed and disillusioned woman courageously faces a seemingly empty life”, which Dane Rudyar describes as “The capacity to meet emotionally upsetting experiences in human relationships with strength of character and personal integrity. The man who manages vast and complex business enterprises most often reaches power and achieves success because of his ability to deal with crises and temporary reverses of fortune. At the emotional level we now see a “woman” confronted with sharp disappointment and forced to face the vanishing of cherished illusions, presumably in terms of a close personal relationship. She has to learn to manage such crises, which are really tests of inner strength and perhaps compassion. We all have within ourselves the power to learn through emotional crises. But like any other faculty, it needs development. This symbol urges us to develop RESILIENCE under adversity.” Hmm. Interesting indeed.
 
On top of all of this powerful energy, we have the beginning of the Year of the Wood Dragon! The last two Dragon years were 2000 and 2012, both notable and memorable years. The Dragon is a mythical creature, and they truly are dynamic, transforming forces of nature! A Dragon year brings the potential for transformation, passion, enterprise, creativity, innovation and problem solving. Dragon years often produce strong, powerful, charismatic, visionary leaders, so this year could certainly be a year to remember in that sense, when some of our leaders become stronger and more powerful, and some could fall. Dragons can have a very strong ego and know exactly who they are. The Wood element brings the potential for profound growth, building on what is already there, and regeneration. It is very interesting that the Dragon Year begins with such a potent New Moon that brings such potential for shocks, change and new vision. What a powerful start to a powerful year!
 
Much Love
 
Amy
xoxo
 
​For personal readings, my website: https://www.amybirdartandastrology.com/astrology.html
 
Painting: Wooden Dragon, by Tatiana Kozhevnikova

 
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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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