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LIBRA NEW MOON / ANNULAR SOLAR ECLIPSE - 2 October 2024

9/30/2024

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Picture
Exact at 19.49 UK time (BST)
 
This is the second of the Eclipses this season, and it surely is a potent little Moon! This is a micro-Moon, so it appears smaller than usual in the night sky and will create a ring of fire when the Moon passes over the Sun, for those who are able to see the Eclipse. We had the Pisces Full Moon/Lunar Eclipse on 18 Sept, which was a time for releasing the past so that we can allow and make room for the next chapter to come in. This New Moon/Solar Eclipse has the potential to be a powerful reset in the realm of our relationships, intimate and otherwise, setting the tone for the next six months and helping us to kickstart this new phase of our lives.
 
The theme of this New Moon/Eclipse is relationships. Eclipses activate the Nodal Axis, and the Nodes are currently in Libra and Aries, which is the relationship axis. With the South Node currently in Libra, we are called to let go of any of the more undesirable or unhealthy aspects of Libra, such as people pleasing, or codependency, or compromising ourselves, or turning a blind eye to any issues in our relationships from a fear of being alone, or losing ourselves in relationship, or prioritising other people’s needs over our own which can then lead to resentment.
 
We are currently being called to balance the energies of Libra and Aries, learning to embrace the qualities of the Aries North Node while still utilising the healthier aspects of Libra, such as tact, fairness, balance, equality, kindness and consideration. Aries invites us to cultivate a stronger sense of self, and to practice prioritising our own needs while also tending to the relationship itself. In an ideal world, a relationship is an equal balance of give and take. Aries is a direct, forthright, honest energy, and so we are called to be more authentic and open, even if it means having to confront thorny issues. It is possible to stick up for ourselves and to express our needs without putting the other person’s back up. Aries invites us to find out who we are, what we want and why we are here.
 
The Nodes of the Moon have been in Libra and Aries since July 2023 and are getting close to the end of the process, as they will move into Virgo and Pisces on 11 January 2025. Aries calls for us to focus on self-care, personal growth and self-love. We are asked to be brave, to take the initiative, to take risks, to step outside of our comfort zone and to create better boundaries and learn to say “No” if it doesn’t feel right for us. It can feel uncomfortable to stand more firmly in ourselves, balancing our Libran capacity for harmony and peace with our Aries capacity for courageous independence and putting ourselves first. Aries teaches us that it is ok to be a little selfish, even though it is a way of being that has been somewhat vilified. If we don’t take care of ourselves then what use are we to anyone else?
 
Interestingly, Mars and Venus, the rulers of Aries and Libra, are dancing with each other during this Moon, in a Grand Water trine which includes Saturn in Pisces. This feels very encouraging for this New Moon as we herald in a new chapter for our relationships. Saturn’s influence can help to strengthen and solidify our relationships, somehow making them more concrete, while also helping to strengthen our boundaries and capacity to assert ourselves in a mature manner. It can also help us to create a solid foundation upon which to build feelings of trust and a sense of safety that allows us to be more open, assertive and vulnerable. If we feel safe, then we have a more secure base from which to spring from out into the world.
 
With Venus currently in Scorpio we are invited to develop deeper intimacy and connection within our relationships and to dare to reveal and expose the parts of us that we might usually keep hidden from view because they might feel shameful or “not allowed”. Mars in Cancer encourages us to act in nurturing ways towards one another, which can create the feeling of safety that enables us to open up emotionally and to dare to reveal the softer, tender, more vulnerable parts of ourselves. What a beautiful combination of planets to have playing with each other during this Eclipse! It brings a mixture of emotional depth, grounding, compassion, trust, nurturing, loving boundaries, commitment and the capacity to tend to our relationships with a sense of personal responsibility, maturity and patience.
 
Mercury, the planet of the mind and communication, is also a very big part of this Moon, as it is sitting right next to the Sun and Moon in Libra. This puts a very big emphasis on the art of communication and encourages us to truly listen to one another. It is so important to feel that we are seen and heard, and to give our full attention to our loved ones when they are expressing themselves. Mercury in Libra can help us to express ourselves with kindness, fairness and consideration for others feelings. Good, clear, honest communication combined with deep listening, is such a strong component in a healthy, conscious relationship, as it prevents misunderstanding, ambiguity and confusion. The Aries North Node is encouraging us to stand strong in our genuine, authentic selfhood, while Mercury in Libra reminds us that it is possible to be ourselves and assert healthy boundaries in a kind, loving and peaceful manner.
 
The Sabian Symbol for this New Moon/Eclipse is an interesting one, at 11° Libra: A professor peering over his glasses at his students” which Dane Rudyar describes as: “Problems attending the transmission of knowledge in a special cultural setup. This symbol reveals a rather humorous approach to what man’s mind can accomplish. The symbol reveals two aspects of the condition of “professor-ship” – that is, of being able to transfer to the young generation the vast sum of knowledge accumulated by the past. The need to absorb this enormous amount of book knowledge affects the mind as well as the eyes; in order to meet the demands of turbulent youth, the teacher in a sense has to look above this knowledge and to see his students simply as human beings. This symbol deals at the intellectual level with the teaching of accumulated collective knowledge, and the problem posed by the acquisition of that knowledge. This is what INSTRUCTION means – a process not to be confused with “education.””
 
We are encouraged, with this symbol, to truly “see” each other for who we are, with new eyes, recognising our individual needs rather than projecting our rational understanding and viewpoint onto each other. We all like to truly feel seen, “got” and understood, and so this Moon encourages us to develop and refine the art of listening and paying attention to one another, as well as being clear and concise around expressing our own needs. This Moon heralds a new chapter in our relationships and could signify a continuation of the energy of the Solar Eclipse on 8 April this year. There is also a link to the Libra New Moon/Solar Eclipse on 3 October 2005, so it could help to look back to what was going on in our lives at that time.
 
On a personal level, this Eclipse is a turning point that brings the potential for a new chapter in our relationships, both intimate and platonic, while on a collective level we could find that any unresolved conflicts become more apparent and demand resolution. Libra ultimately seeks peace and harmony, and can tend to avoid confrontations, while Aries asks us, both personally and collectively, to face any challenges or issues that come up with Libran grace, fairness, kindness and diplomacy. It’s all about finding balance!
 
Much Love
 
Amy
xoxo
 
Painting – Ring of Fire - Unknown
 

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PISCES FULL MOON / SUPERMOON / LUNAR ECLIPSE - 18 September 2024

9/16/2024

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Picture
Exact at 3.34am UK time (BST)
 
This is a powerful, tender-hearted Full Moon that invites us to truly let go and to surrender to the next chapter of our lives, even if the way is not yet clear. This Moon starts off Eclipse season, which is a powerfully energetic time that completes a six-month cycle that began in March this year. This Moon is also connected to the Lunar Eclipse 19 years ago, in September 2005, so it could help to think back to what was happening back then as this Moon could have an energetic resonance with that time in our lives. Lunar Eclipses are a time of release, renewal and completion, making way for a new chapter to begin. It is particularly poignant that this Full Moon is in Pisces, the last sign of the zodiac, calling for us to fully surrender to the flow of life, letting go of control over outcomes, leaving the past behind and releasing whatever needs to fall away to make space for the new.
 
This is a particularly powerful Moon because Neptune, the ruler of Pisces, is also sitting right next to the Full Moon in Pisces. The message couldn’t be clearer – we are being called to allow faith and trust to guide us and to fully surrender to the flow of the river, allowing it to take us wherever we need to go next. We may have our own ideas about what we want or need, or where we want to go, and we might feel a bit scared, but as much as we might want to control outcomes and steer the boat in a certain direction, it is far easier if we simply let go, in full trust, and allow ourselves to be swept along by the universal tides. As such, we are encouraged to remain alert to any omens, signs and messages that can show us the way to go, and to recognise where the path seems blocked and difficult to navigate. It is amazing what can happen when we are following our hearts and fully in flow!
 
Neptune in Pisces can bring the potential for illusion and disillusionment, increased sensitivity, empathy, compassion, escapism, dissolving ego and transcendence. Neptune and Pisces remind us that we are all connected, and that the power of the collective cannot be underestimated. Neptune is the feeling of unity, euphoria and oneness that we experience when, for instance, we are all singing the same song in unison at a concert. Moments like that remind us of how we are all connected by an invisible thread, and how beautiful that is. At this important and powerful moment in history, when the way ahead is so unclear and humanity is in the process of such an important shift, it is important to tap into this collective consciousness and remember that we are not alone, and are part of something that is much, much bigger than our little fearful egos can possibly comprehend!
 
Uranus and Pluto are also helping us out during this Moon, bringing the potential for some profound shifts, transformation and soul growth. Uranus offers us some insightful realisations that can bring about clarity and understanding that could liberate us from old patterns and programming. Eclipses activate the Nodes of the Moon, which involve us stepping out of the safe, familiar territory of our comfort zone in order to embrace soul growth.
 
The North Node represents all that we yearn for and yet when we are actually presented with it can feel so scary that it takes some courage and faith to actually make the leap! It is so easy to be drawn back into old, familiar patterns. Uranus can help us to step out of our comfort zone, however, despite any resistance we may feel, waking us up to what needs to change and shift. Pluto nudges us to confront ourselves and deepest fears so that we can evolve and transform on a deep soul level.
 
Jupiter is also forming a challenging square aspect to the Sun and Moon, calling for us to let go of any ideas or beliefs that might be holding us back from moving forward. That may be a crisis of faith, whereby we find ourselves in our heads instead of our hearts, struggling to let go and trust that we are being guided in the right direction. Some big emotions could come up during this Moon, including feelings of fear and overwhelm, but ultimately we are being invited to feel and honour all of these feelings and nevertheless dive into the unknown with the inner knowing that we will be held, supported and guided where we need to go.
 
Indeed, with the Nodes of the Moon squaring Mars in Cancer during this Moon, we could find that some very strong feelings come up which could motivate us to make the change we need, or at the very least help us to see how our emotions help or hinder us from taking action. With Mars being highlighted by the Nodes, we are invited to recognise how we work with our anger, and whether we are able to assert ourselves in a healthy way, and whether we are feeling brave or scared about what lies ahead. Mars in Cancer can bring some irrational responses that come from childhood wounding, so it is important to be aware of how we respond to triggers during this time. This square will be exact on 15 of September but will still be strong during this Full Moon.
 
Those of us with personal planets or angles around 6° of a sign, especially the cardinal signs Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn, will feels the energy of the Nodes and Mars the most acutely, calling for us to find the courage to take that leap of faith and probably bringing some quite big solar plexus twinges, either through fear of the unknown or through responding to emotional triggers. It is important to watch any tendency to react from our hurt inner child!
 
Full Moons, by their very nature, tend to bring up any issues within our relationships, but with the Nodes in the Libra/Aries relationship axis and Venus being so heavily aspected, this Moon is especially so. Chiron the Wounded healer is sitting directly opposite Venus during this Moon, which could bring some pain or wounding within our relationships but could also bring about much needed healing. We could find that our sore spots are more easily activated, and that certain relationships with those close to us bring us face to face with our sensitivities, vulnerabilities, insecurities and core wounds. However, while this may not be very comfortable, it does bring opportunities for healing and greater intimacy and closeness if we are able to rise above pettiness and allow ourselves to open up and to be seen.
 
The Sabian symbol for this Full Moon/Eclipse, at 26° Pisces, is an interesting one: “Watching the very thin moon crescent appearing at sunset, different people realise that the time has come to go ahead with their different projects”, which Dane Rudyar describes as “A keen appreciation of the value of individualised responses to any challenge of life. The rather obscure original notation for this zodiacal degree, “A new moon that divides its influences,” when translated into practical terms refers to the fact that, confronted with the opportunity to expand their energy along new lines, modern individuals will react according to their own personal characters. One basic cosmic-spiritual impulse will lead these varied personalities to take equally varied steps. In any society that glorifies individualism, everyone should therefore accept this fact and not try to compel other individuals to conform to a single pattern of response. This symbol stresses the essential nature of the cyclic process of actualisation of human potential, i.e. the emergence of the individual. This should lead to a realisation of the FALLACY OF TOTALITARIANISM; at times we can all act like despots, demanding that others react to any situation exactly as we do.”
 
Pisces and Neptune can help us to be more aware of how we are all connected, and yet this symbol reminds us that we all have our own unique path to walk, in our own unique way. Live and let live! This Moon certainly does seem to be encouraging us to release the past and let go of anything that might be holding us back from fully surrendering to the flow and to fully embrace whatever is waiting for us in the as yet unknown future. We may feel some resistance, overwhelm or fear as we are called to step out of our comfort zone, and we may have to let go of people, situations, old beliefs or patterns, which could be painful. However, as this next chapter awaits us, we are being called to really tap into our faith and trust that whatever lies around the next bend in the river of our life is what we have been waiting and yearning for, even if it also terrifies us! It is time to release the past to make way for the new.
 
We are invited to trust the Universe, trust the process, and most importantly trust ourselves. When we do this, instead of trying to force outcomes, we find that things fall into place more easily and naturally.   
 
Much Love
 
Amy
xoxo
 
Painting: Surrender to the Divine, by Moon Goddesses

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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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