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VIRGO NEW MOON - 3 September 2024

8/31/2024

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Picture
Exact at 2.55am UK time (BST)
 
Virgo season always has a “back to school” kind of vibe, and the Virgo New Moon is a great time to contemplate what healthy routines we might want to put into place as we move forward. There is a lot of helpful planetary energy around at the moment bringing the potential for change, insight, transformation and clarity, and this Moon can certainly help us to make any tweaks and adjustments necessary to help us on our way. Virgo is the part of us that always feels like we can somehow do better, to the point that we can sometimes be quite hard on ourselves. However, while this Moon is an invitation to recognise what needs improving and changing, it is very important not to be too self-critical or perfectionistic in the process. We are all simply a work in progress, doing the best we can with the tools we have been given!
 
Saturn is also in on the act during this New Moon, helping to add some discipline to the picture. This is an ideal time to think about our habits and to make changes wherever needed. Virgo season is an opportunity to consider putting into place new habits, routines and ways of eating that can help us to feel better and to function more efficiently. While Leo season brought a fair degree of fun, romantic, expressive, playful energy, Virgo season comes along and can help us to actually take pleasure in putting our lives into some kind of order and taking care of our health! Saturn’s influence can help us to take control of our lives and bodies, as long as we are not too rigid about it all, or too judgemental of ourselves.
 
Neptune is a big player in the Moon, however, forming aspects to Mars, Uranus and Pluto. Indeed, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto are all playing nicely with each other right now, bringing the potential for spiritual insight, clarity, awakening, transformation, opening, flow and the ability to shift out of stagnation and to open up to new opportunities and potential. Those of us with personal planets or angles between 27° and 29° of a sign will feel this opening, accepting, transforming energy of these three planets the most acutely. The Moon does feel like an opportunity to shift out of stagnation.
 
Neptune is forming a dynamic, challenging square to Mars that is exact at the time of this New Moon. On the one hand this could mean that our motivation and drive are somewhat lower than usual, while on the other hand we may be encouraged to simply relax, trust, allow and receive, rather than pushing or striving too hard to make things happen. Some might call this procrastination, while others would say that we are simply waiting for the right moment, when inspiration hits and the energy is flowing freely and easily.
 
Mercury, the rule of this Moon, is now direct after being retrograde from 4 August until 28 August. It is also forming a challenging square aspect to Uranus and a supportive flowing trine aspect to Chiron the Wounded Healer. Chiron and Mercury, exact on 2 September, can bring honest, healing conversations, whereby we are better able to understand and talk about our core wounds and how they are playing out in our lives. Those of us with personal planets or angles around 22° of a sign will feel the energy of Chiron the most strongly.
 
The Mercury and Uranus square, building to exact on 7 September, can help us to think outside of the box, opening up to other ways of looking at whatever we are dealing with right now. Uranus is a particularly strong energy during this Moon, as it literally turns retrograde on 2 September, the day before the Moon. We could receive shocking news, or we could experience some kind of wake-up call, or sudden insights, realisations and moments of clarity that jolt us into a greater state of awareness and understanding. It is important to be open to changing our mind, perspective and opinions. Those of us with personal planets or angles at 27° of a sign, especially the fixed signs Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius, will feel the energy of Uranus and this square most acutely.
 
Venus is sitting right next to the South Node during this Moon, exact at 6° Libra. This feels important and fateful for our relationships, as we are called to release any old patterns of relating that no longer serving us. There is the potential for actual relationships ending during this time, as we feel a greater need to take care of our own needs and let go of any people pleasing or codependent tendencies. Libra seeks balance, harmony, peace and fairness, and if these are being compromised in some way then we may be called to do something about it. This certainly does feel like an important moment for relationships, especially for those of us with personal planets or angles around 6° of a sign, the cardinal signs Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn being most strongly affected.
 
Pluto moves from Aquarius back into Capricorn for one final time on 2 September, where it will remain until 19 November, when it moves into Aquarius for 19 years, until 2043. Pluto was in Capricorn from 2008 until 2024 and has been slowly but surely exposing the rot in the patriarchal structures such as corporations, big business and governments, revealing what is corrupt, outworn, decaying and no longer appropriate in the system that governs us. It will be interesting to see what happens in the next couple of months, as Pluto has its last foray into all things Capricorn! The old order is crumbling, there is no doubt about it, as Pluto, the planet of death and rebirth, does its last bit of slow, deep, profound and thorough transformation in the sign that represents patriarchal values, governments and societal and personal foundations and conditioning.
 
What needs to fall away in the next couple of months in order to make way for the new energy coming in? What rules have we been living by that simply aren’t appropriate anymore? Both personally and collectively, it will be interesting to see what changes and transforms in the area of life where Pluto is currently sitting in our charts. Those of us with personal planets or angles around 29° and 0° of a sign will probably feel that sense of something being stripped away in order to make way for something more aligned with our soul to take its place. It could almost feel like a part of us is passing away for us to be somehow reborn. Capricorn represents the structures of our lives and the “programming” we have received since birth, and so Pluto could have just a little more work to do in dismantling any structures or conditioning that are no longer viable or healthy for us. Let’s see what happens, personally and collectively in the next couple of months.
 
The Sabian symbol for this New Moon, at 12° Virgo, is very interesting, especially considering Pluto, “exposing” presence as it moves back into Capricorn “After the wedding, the groom snatches the veil away from his bride”, which Dane Rudyar describes as “The penetrating and unveiling power of the trained mind. We have here a scene stressing a physical action with psychological and/or spiritual overtones. In ancient cosmologies the male god often appears in three roles as son, husband and father of the woman element of nature. Nature is fulfilled by the human mind, and will that overcome her; she resists only better to be subdued by the power that transcends her, and by transcending her gives her a spiritual meaning. The element of “training” in the symbolic scene comes from the fact that there has been a marriage ritual; thus the sociocultural factor is in the background. The teacher-guru is here the priest who has performed the ritual. At this stage the rules are reversed, the masculine element assuming the dynamic positive part in the great play of polarity. The masculine act balances the feminine dream visualisation. The Keyword is UNVEILING.  There can also be an unveiling of mysteries, long protected by secrecy.”
 
This Moon certainly does hold the potential for revelations, realisations and discoveries that can bring greater clarity, insight and understanding into our lives. With both Pluto and Uranus so present and strong, there is a sense that we are not allowed to hide behind pretences, so we must show our true, authentic self rather than keeping it hidden behind a veil of illusion. Snatching the veil away could simply mean that we are called to drop the façade in terms of the way we relate to one another, releasing any barriers and dropping any walls that prevent true intimacy, transparency and deep, honest relating. This can also relate to the power structures, of course, as secrets could be revealed. There is a certain quality of cleansing and purity to Virgo, the sign of self-improvement, and so this Moon seems to be inviting us to step up as the best version of ourselves that we can be.
 
Much Love
 
Amy
xoxo
 
Photo: Beyond the Veil, by She Who Is Art
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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AQUARIUS FULL MOON - 19 August 2024

8/15/2024

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Picture
Exact at 7.25pm UK time (BST)
 
This is one of the most powerful Moons of the year bringing the potential for big shifts, changes, clarity and insight. Full Moons always tend to bring things to a head, shining the light of consciousness onto anything that has been simmering beneath the surface in the week or so before they reach their peak, but this particular Moon feels like it is especially super-charged! We have Uranus, the ruler of this Full Moon, forming an exact square to the Sun and Moon, which could certainly shake things up a bit! We could be in for some shocks and surprises, that’s for sure! Ultimately this Moon has the potential to liberate us from any entrenched habits, programming or patterns that simply have no place in our lives anymore. Change and progress are an inevitable part of life, as much as we may resist them!
 
The Sun is in creative, warm-hearted, enthusiastic Leo, which represents the concept of royalty, sitting opposite the Moon in eccentric, humanitarian, progressive, friendly Aquarius, which represents the concept of “the People”. The Aquarius part of us likes to question the rules and isn’t afraid to be different and stand out from the crowd. Aquarius is the rebel, the revolutionary, the part of us that believes in a system without hierarchy that is fair to everyone and focuses on community, brotherhood and sisterhood. The combination of Leo and Aquarius is a very creative one, as Aquarius has the visions for what could be, while Leo can put those visions into practice, and between the two of them they can help us to create a better life for us all.
 
It is so significant that Uranus is forming an exact, dynamic, challenging T-square with the Sun, Moon and Mercury, because it has the potential to wake us up somehow, jolting us into increased clarity and awareness. Sometimes we need a bit of a shock to bring greater clarity, perspective, understanding and insight, because it is so easy to remain stuck in ruts that are familiar and comfortable but aren’t helping us to grow. Uranus can act like a bolt of lightning, bringing unexpected, shocking and exciting news or events that help us to shift, progress and move forward, both personally and collectively. Sometimes things need to break down in order to bring about a breakthrough.
 
Those of us with personal planets and angles around 27° of a sign, especially the fixed signs Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius, will feel the energy of Uranus and this Full Moon the most acutely. Uranus can bring a sense of liberation, freeing us from the past and helping us to see things from a clearer and more objective viewpoint. It encourages us to be true to ourselves, even if it means going against the grain and all of the “should” and “shouldn’ts”. It releases us from any unhelpful and outworn conditioning and programming that may be preventing us from truly being free.
 
Uranus is coming close to the end of its stay in Taurus, the sign that represents survival, security, our material needs, Mother Earth, security and self-worth, so it is possible that the Earth herself could give us a bit of a surprise during this Full Moon, or something could happen relating to the economy. Uranus rules technology, progression and innovation, and there is no doubt whatsoever that we are in need of a change when it comes to our antiquated, outworn financial system. This seems to be a work in progress, however. The Taurus part of us may prefer to cling to a sense of safety and security, while Uranus forces us to accept necessary change.
 
Interestingly, we also have the conjunction between Jupiter and Mars, which was exact on 14 August but will remain strong for this Full Moon. This combination can encourage us to take a risk or two, much like the Fool in the tarot deck, jumping off the cliff with faith and trust that this is the beginning of an exciting journey and an amazing adventure! We don’t get anywhere in life without taking the odd risk or two, much as we might sometimes prefer to play it safe and stick to the tried and tested route! This Moon certainly does have an exciting, daredevil quality to it, calling for us to step outside of our comfort zone and embrace new challenges and adventures. However, it is important to recognise the difference between taking a foolish risk or a well-considered leap of faith.
 
There is more to this story, however. Saturn and Venus are both squaring off against this Mars Jupiter conjunction, potentially bringing up some fears and feelings of caution or trepidation. Change can be unsettling, especially if it comes knocking on our door when we are not ready or prepared for it. Possibly we know that we need to take that leap of faith, but our programming and conditioning means that we are resistant, or scared, or can’t quite see what lies beyond, so we freeze in our tracks. It is natural to feel fear and trepidation, and it is important to recognise and honour these feelings, but not necessarily to dwell in fear or to allow it to prevent necessary growth and progress. There is a difference between risk-assessment and allowing fear to rule us.
 
With Venus and Mars also squaring off against each other, we could also feel a bit of tension between the “yin” part of us that is more receptive and attracts people and things into our life and simply allows things to happen to us, and the more “yang” part of us that takes the lead, asserts ourselves and makes things happen. Venus and Mars represent the divine masculine and divine feminine, so we could experience some frustration within our relationships during this Moon, especially if there is underlying tension there to begin with.
 
Saturn’s involvement could test our relationships and bring some kind of reality check, bringing any issues out into the open that we may usually prefer to ignore, painting a pretty picture and burying our heads in the sand. Venus is in Virgo right now, which can also help us to see our relationships with a somewhat more critical and analytical eye, becoming more aware of what needs to be worked on rather than being under the spell of the romantic dream, projection or fantasy.
 
Those of us with personal planets and angles between 16° and 19° of a sign, especially the mutable signs Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces, will be feeling the energy of Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Venus and Mars the most acutely, and some of us could willingly take a leap of faith, while some could feel held back through fear, while others could find that there is some kind of obstacle calling for us to be patient and wait a while until the time is right. Some of us, however, could be making a leap and following our heart with our feet squarely on the ground and fully aware of any risks involved. Full Moons can always bring the potential for any underlying issues in our relationships to come out into the open, and with Venus and Mars involved in this Moon, that possibility is greater. However, it is always better to bring things out into the open!
 
The Sabian symbol for this Moon, at 28° Aquarius, is quite interesting given the overall planetary energy of this Full Moon: “A tree felled and sawed to ensure supply of wood for the winter”, which Dane Rudyar describes as “Knowledge and skill used in its natural surroundings for the satisfaction of vital basic needs. This symbol relates to natural living the human capacity to prepare for the future and to use both physical strength and mental ingenuity. In meeting the hardships inherent in an existence close to nature, strength, efficiency and intelligence are needed, but they are incorporated in a life in which every act can be part of a harmonic and beautiful ritual permeated with deep significance. This symbol refers to the efficient use of natural resources for ensuring man’s well-being. Such a use is based on INTELLIGENT FORESIGHT”.
 
This symbol feels very much in keeping with the energy of Uranus in Taurus, with the innovation, progressiveness and clear-sightedness of Uranus combined with Taurus, the sign of security, survival and Mother Earth. This Moon certainly does remind us that there is a thin line between excitement and nervousness, and that change and progress can bring up both fear and excitement. While there is the possibility of some kind of unexpected curveball with this Full Moon, sometimes these shocks or surprises are exactly what are needed to shift our perspective and jolt us out of complacency and stagnation. The idea of change can often bring up resistance in us humans, but if the choice is taken away from us it is easier to simply relax, let go and surrender, allowing whatever comes next to simply unfold!
 
 Much Love
 
Amy
xoxo
 
Picture: The Fool from the Light Seer’s tarot deck
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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LEO NEWMOON - 4 August 2024

8/2/2024

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Picture
Exact at 12.13pm UK time. (BST)
 
We are now in Leo season, which helps us to follow our hearts and can bring out our more playful, romantic side, not to mention our inner lion! A New Moon in Leo is an invitation to have some fun with our intentions and to contemplate what we want to create in our lives. Leo reminds us that we are the master of our own destiny, the director of our own play and the writer of our own script. It is amazing what we can achieve through the strength of our own will. There is great potential for change and big shifts this month, so this is an ideal time to sow some playful and creative seeds and to see what pops up out of them. We are encouraged to listen to our heart and follow the path of joy.
 
During a New Moon, it is important to pay attention to the conversations we have with friends and loved ones, as often they give clues around what our heart is yearning for. And our hearts know so much better than our minds what we truly want and need. Leo helps us to connect to our playful inner child, as children are so open hearted and aware of what feels good and what doesn’t feel good. As adults, many of us tend to suppress or contain that part of ourselves, but a Leo New Moon encourages us to be spontaneous, open, playful and brave, and to recognise what feels the most joyful for us and to hold onto it and not let go!
 
The Sun is very much at home in Leo, being its own sign, so this is the time to shine our light brightly and to fully participate in life. This is not the time to be the wilting wallflower, rather we are invited to allow our inner lion out to play, and to roar if necessary! Lions do not like to be kept in cages! Leo is a dynamic, enthusiastic, warm-hearted and strong-willed sign, and so this is an ideal time for us to connect to our romantic adventurer and to be willing to take a risk on all that life has to offer. It is time to find our inner fire and be willing to take a risk or two.
 
Jupiter and Mars are a big part of this Moon and are moving towards a conjunction with each other in Gemini that will be exact on 14 August and will also be a big part of the next Full Moon. Jupiter brings growth, faith, expansion and the capacity to see the bigger picture, broadening our horizons, while Mars brings courage, drive, energy, motivation and the capacity to be up front and direct. In connection to this Moon, it feels like they bring warmth, enthusiasm, the spirit of adventure, growth and the faith and courage to take a risk and follow our hearts. However, it is also important to be aware that this combination can also bring conflict over ideologies, opinions and beliefs.
 
When Jupiter and Mars join together there is a sense that the sky's the limit, and anything is possible. It feels like the combination of superheroes! There is also the potential for going overboard, overextending ourselves and biting off more than we can chew. However, sometimes we do simply need to throw caution to the wind, step outside of our comfort zone and jump off the proverbial cliff! In the next couple of weeks, as they move closer together, we could feel a greater urge to expand our horizons, throw caution to the wind and take some leaps of faith.  Those of us with personal planets or angles around 16° of a sign, especially the mutable signs Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces, will feel the energy of this dynamic and adventurous conjunction the most acutely.
 
Uranus is a big player this month, bringing the potential for big shifts, changes of perspective, insight and sudden change. It will feature very prominently in the Aquarius Full Moon on 19 August but is also forming a dynamic square aspect to Venus during this Moon. On one level, this can bring a shift in the way we approach our relationships, allowing a greater amount of freedom and authenticity to arise. However, it could also bring about a little bit of a wobble if they are not on solid ground. We may also gain sudden, potentially shocking insight and clarity into our relationships, the way we relate and what we are attracting into our lives. We have a chance to liberate ourselves from old, outworn patterns of relating and find a new way of being in relationship that is more open and free.
 
Venus also represents money, self-worth, our values and the capacity to attract what we need, so there could be a shift, change or realisation in an economic sense as well.  On a collective level, we are certainly experiencing a gradual shift in values as we move into this new paradigm. Uranus in Taurus since 2108 has slowly but surely been helping us to shift our perspective on how we approach money and survival, starting to liberate us from a “What’s mine is mine” attitude. Uranus invites us to think outside the box and let go of our collective conditioning around money, moving away from the more patriarchal values and a pyramid system that is no longer serving us. It has also brought about an upsurgence in digital currency, as well as more focus on sustainability and self-sufficiency. Uranus will remain in Taurus until 2025, so it will be interesting to see what happens between now and then.
 
With Uranus being such a prominent feature this month, it certainly does feel like a time of change, with the potential for unexpected shifts, both personally and collectively. We could find that the jigsaw pieces fall into place in unexpected ways. Ultimately Uranus calls for us to liberate ourselves from the chains that bind us, including patterns of behaviour, beliefs, situations, relationships, old programming, attitudes and values, creating a greater sense of freedom to simply be our true selves. Those of us with personal planets or angles around 26° of a sign, especially the fixed signs Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius, will be feeling the exciting, liberating energy of Uranus most acutely, although it could also feel somewhat unsettling!
 
Something to bear in mind is that Mercury is stationary at the time of this New Moon, about to turn retrograde. Aside from the usual shenanigans that can occur in the couple of days before and after t turns, this is a time to go back over the ground we have covered since mid-July. This is a time of reflection, review, when some retrospections can help bring greater clarity. Sometimes people can pop up from our past during this time, especially those with whom we have unfinished business. Indeed, this is a good time for communications and conversations that tie up loose ends. Mercury is retrograde from 4 August until 29 August, travelling from 4° Virgo back to 21° Leo.
 
The Sabian Symbol for this New Moon, at 13° Leo, is an interesting one: “An old sea captain rocking himself on the porch of his cottage” which Dane Rudyar describes as “The quieted mind’s recollections of crises and joys long past. The sea captain has steered the ship of his ego-consciousness through seas and storms, maintaining the integrity of his individual selfhood while in close contact with the collective Unconscious. Now retired, he may try to distill wisdom from his many experiences and from his victories over elemental forces. The “swing” of the child-consciousness has now become a “rocking chair” from which one can contemplate the past as well as present scenes, gently moving as waves roll over the shore. Peace at last. With this symbol we find the consciousness of old age, after having witnessed the spontaneous play of children close to protective nature (Leo 11°) and the fashionable social parties of escaping adults (Leo 12°): three stages of mental development. Keyword: QUIET RECOLLECTION.”
 
Peace at last. This is something we can all aspire to. Hopefully this Moon can help us to move in that direction, despite any recent turbulence and the great potential for change that is held within this month. This Moon encourages us to listen to our heart, to follow the path of joy, to take a risk, to allow our open hearted, spontaneous inner child out to play and to free ourselves from any outworn conditioning around relationships and our attitude to money. The sands are shifting, with the potential for some jigsaw pieces falling into place, so we are invited to be open and flexible, allowing the flow of life to show us where we are supposed to be. A Leo New moon is an opportunity to playfully create the life we truly want.
 
Much Love
 
Amy
xoxo
 
Painting: The Joy of Life, by Francois Girard
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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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