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TAURUS FULL MOON / LUNAR ECLIPSE - 28 October 2023

10/25/2023

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Picture
Exact at 9.24pm UK time (BST)
 
The Sun has now entered Scorpio, a sign that brings purging and transformation, and we now have the second of two Eclipses, which also represent a time of releasing and letting go so that we can embrace the new cycle that is now beginning. Eclipses bring about a new chapter, although beginnings also bring endings, so it is important to let go of whatever needs to pass away so that we are fully able to move into the next phase. Now we have the Sun, Mercury and Mars all in intense, soulful Scorpio, we are being called to really be honest with ourselves and others, to be as transparent as we can possibly be and to face any uncomfortable material within ourselves that we might usually find it hard to own. Scorpio forces us to strip away self-deceit and to be truly honest about the parts of us that we may struggle to accept, or that we believe that others will struggle with or reject.
 
A Taurus Full Moon calls for us to truly know our worth. While the Scorpio energy is prompting us to face our shadows and to recognise any unhealthy or unhelpful power dynamics that might be playing out in our lives and relationships, Taurus encourages us to develop a healthy sense of self-worth, self-esteem, self-sufficiency and self-confidence. Rather than deriving our power from others, we are called to empower ourselves and to develop self-reliance, so that we are less vulnerable and less able to be toppled over by other people’s behaviour, games or tactics. Taurus just wants a simple life, free of games, drama or unnecessary power dynamics. Scorpio season can certainly bring a certain amount of emotional intensity, calling for us to peer into the darkness and look at our shadows so that we are less prone to projecting them out onto others. As such, this Moon could be quite cathartic, exposing and revealing!
 
The Taurus Moon could bring up issues around our needs, calling us to contemplate what we need to be happy and healthy, and how to express those needs in a healthy way. We may also contemplate how we might meet our own needs rather than relying too heavily on others. We all have our idiosyncrasies, psychological complexes and “stuff” that is unique to us, based on our childhood and life experiences. We all have parts of us that we struggle with and that can wreak havoc in our personal relationships at times. We all have our own unique set of needs that help us to feel safe and at ease. Combined with the North Node in Aries, this Moon can help us to be honest with ourselves and others about those parts of us that we may usually feel ashamed about and tend to keep hidden from view. Scorpio is the part of us that seeks intimacy and deep emotional connection, and in order to have true intimacy we are asked to be brave and to bare our souls, which could make us feel quite vulnerable and exposed.
 
As I mentioned, Eclipse season is a period of transformation, helping us to end one cycle and bring in a new one. Scorpio is very adept at purging and releasing old, unhealthy attachments, patterns and habits, while Taurus is the part of us that holds on and sticks with situations, relationships and patterns of behaviour long after they have stopped being good for us. This is a very good time to look at our attachments and recognise which are serving us and which are keeping us stuck in a rut, stagnating and unable to move forward and grow. What are we struggling to release so that we can move forward and grow? What patterns of behaviour are holding us prisoner and need to be transmuted, purged and transformed? What, when we are completely honest with ourselves, do we want and need in order to be truly fulfilled? And how can we make that happen?
 
The good news is that Uranus is forming a helpful, supportive trine to Venus, the ruler of this Moon. Uranus is also in Taurus, helping us to release unhealthy attachments and limitations, and to liberate us from stagnant habits and patterns, especially within our relationships. Venus in Virgo can help us to see what needs working on, while Uranus can help us to step back somehow so that we can see ourselves, our relationships and our patterns much more clearly. This is the planet that brings those “aha” moments, whereby we are somehow able to see ourselves and our situations with greater clarity, awareness and insight. It can bring sudden epiphanies and shocks that jolt us into a greater awareness. It can help us firstly to see clearly and secondly to liberate us from old programming and conditioning that have held us prisoner for so very long.
 
We are encouraged, during this Moon, to step outside of our comfort zone and do things differently, especially within our relationships. What have we got to lose, especially if the old way simply isn’t working! Uranus encourages us to be true to ourselves, and to be utterly authentic and “real”, even if that feels a bit uncomfortable at first. It can help to clear the way for the new energy to come in. Those of us with personal planets and angles around 21° of a sign will be feeling the erratic, authentic, liberating, insightful energy of Uranus the most acutely, especially the fixed signs of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius and the Earth signs of Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn. It’s quite exciting, really, as it could free us from a cage that we have been in for so very long, as long as we allow it.
 
Mercury, the planet of mind and communication, and Mars, the warrior planet, are joining forces in intense and penetrating Scorpio during this Moon, which could be interesting! It could help us to find the courage to bring some uncomfortable, thorny issues out into the open and to really get to the heart of the matter. Firstly, it can help us to be completely honest with ourselves and to bravely face anything that we may usually shy away from out of fear or an unwillingness to “go there”. Scorpio isn’t afraid to get under the carpet and eke out anything that may have been there for so long, festering away and causing damage in our lives and relationships. It can help us to have open, candid, brave, intimate, exposing conversations that may not paint us in a pretty light, but which are raw, vulnerable, honest and real.
 
It is easier to hide parts of ourselves from view, from a fear that if we are truly seen, warts and all, that we will be rejected somehow. However, all this Scorpio energy is encouraging us to be more transparent and to expose our tender underbelly, even if it is scary or uncomfortable. To be seen is to be known. We are all light and dark and various shades in between, and Scorpio encourages us to accept and love it all, most importantly within ourselves. This combination can take us to places within us that we would rather not go, but we could come back with some buried treasure! One thing to be aware of is that Mars is a direct, forceful, potentially angry energy, so there is the potential for confrontations that force the darkness out into the light. Scorpio does have a sting in its tail, after all! However, it could help us to have some difficult conversations and to face some uncomfortable truths.
 
Jupiter and Saturn are both lending a helping hand during this Moon, which is very welcome! Jupiter brings the potential for growth, expansion, the capacity to see the bigger picture and not sweat the small stuff. It is possible that some jigsaw puzzle pieces could fall into place during this Moon. Saturn’s influence is on the wane by the time the Moon is exact but can help us to see things as they really are and to create healthy boundaries. Saturn in Pisces also helps us to see the long view and to be patient and compassionate with ourselves and others. We are all struggling in one way or another, and all have our own cross to bear. It is important to remember that, before we judge. Of course, it is so easy to be our own judge and jury, and so Saturn encourages self-compassion as well.
 
The Sabian symbol for this Moon, at 6° Taurus, is a very powerful one, speaking of compassion over judgement: “The woman of Samaria at the ancestral well”, which Rudyar describes as “The meeting of the traditional past and of the creative spirit pointing to the future. The symbol refers to a most important, but usually narrowly interpreted (or interpreted away!) episode of the Christ mythos. Early in his ministry, Jesus meets a Samaritan woman at an ancestral well. This woman belongs to a tribe despised by the Jews; moreover, she is unmarried and therefore on the fringe of even her own society. It is to just that kind of woman that Jesus reveals that he is the Messiah: “I am He,” a revelation that he apparently will not bestow even upon his disciples, at least not in words. (Words in occultism are the creative factor.)
What does this mean? Jesus, as the Avatar incorporating the Christ-Impulse, came to replace the old tribal order with a new order based on universal Love. It is not to representatives of, or even to men still attached to, the old order that Jesus could reveal his spiritual, evolutionary and society-transforming status; they had instead to reach a point where they could discover his avatar-ship – as did Peter just before the Transfiguration scene. But to the woman of Samaria – who, in her openness to love’s urgings had already repudiated any narrow subservience to the old order – Jesus could reveal his function. The highest meets the lowest when this lowest is free from traditional bonds and open to love. The creative future descends first to that which has become chaos. An old order is never open to a new Revelation until it has accepted disorder in the name of that Power which subsumes all forms of order, i.e. Love. A NEW QUALITY OF BEING is revealed which renders old patterns obsolete.”
 
What a symbol! And so relevant in so many ways. Love is the answer! Let Uranus do its work, and free us of our chains of conditioning and judgement! Let Scorpio help us to see our own shadows so that we are less prone to being triggered by situations and people outside of us! Let Jupiter help us to see the bigger picture! Let Taurus remind us to enjoy the simple pleasures of life and to step away from drama and power games. Both personally and collectively, we have a chance for a “new quality of being”, if we have the courage and willingness to look at ourselves and recognise what needs to be released, and to choose love over power. Love is the most powerful force of all and will hopefully conquer all.
 
Much Love
 
Amy
xoxo
 
Painting: Liberation, by Anael Sunny

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LIBRA NEW MOON / ANNULAR SOLAR ECLIPSE - 14 Oct 2023

10/9/2023

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Picture
Exact at 8.55pm UK time (BST)
 
We are now entering Eclipse season, which is a potent time of the year that can bring about profound shifts, endings and new beginnings. We have an opportunity for a reset of some kind, so it is important to be open to any opportunity for change and growth, and to have the courage and willingness to step out of our comfort zone and do things differently, even if it is uncomfortable at first. A Solar Eclipse is like an amplified New Moon, representing the end of one chapter and the beginning of a new cycle of development. It can help to be mindful of any behaviour, patterns, tendencies, habits, situations or relationships we are letting go of, as we release and leave them behind in the dark of the Moon so that we can start with a clean slate, clearing the way to allow new energy to come in.
 
This Eclipse is occurring in the sign of Libra, the sign that represents balance, harmony, peace and cooperation. Libra seeks to restore balance in our lives and relationships, so that we don’t teeter too far in one extreme or another. Libra’s focus is relationships, and so we could be called, during this Eclipse season, to redress any imbalances within our relationships so that they are more equal, fair, tolerant, balanced and co-operative. Libra reminds us that it takes two to tango and can help us to truly listen to one another and to honour one another’s needs. This Moon can help us to see how and where we give our power away and to draw it back to us. It has the potential to bring about a powerful shift in the way we relate to others, especially those closest to us. We have an opportunity for a profound reset within our relationships, if we are open and brave enough to allow it to happen.
 
The Nodes of the Moon are always activated during Eclipse season and in this case, it is the Libra Aries nodal axis that is in focus. The Aries North Node is calling for us to be very brave and to express our needs, bringing anything out into the open that we might usually struggle with. The Libra part of us can sometimes turn a blind eye to certain issues for the sake of keeping the peace and not rocking the boat, and may shy away from conflict or confrontation, often due to a fear of rejection, or of being alone. Aries, however, calls for us to be honest and open, even if it does feel risky or scary. Aries is adept at the art of self-love and calls for us to honour and love ourselves, creating healthy boundaries for ourselves, for if we don’t love ourselves then what have we got to offer others? The Eclipse offers us an opportunity to step out of our comfort zone and change the way we relate, helping to restore a sense of equilibrium to our lives and relationships.
 
Uranus, the Great Awakener, is poking and prodding at the Sun and Moon with an inconjunct aspect, calling for us to be utterly true to ourselves and to clear away any unhealthy attachments or stagnant, unhealthy patterns of relating. Uranus can help us to liberate ourselves from old programming that simply doesn’t serve us anymore. This Moon could be so freeing, with Uranus helping us to be more authentic and giving us greater clarity and insight into what needs to shift and change in order to restore balance. We really do have an amazing opportunity for a reset, as Uranus can bring the necessary shocks, realisations or wake-up calls to jolt us into a greater awareness of what we might need to release in order to experience a greater sense of freedom, ease and balance in our lives and relationships, intimate and otherwise.
 
Chiron, the Wounded Healer is also a very big player during this Moon, as it is in Aries, sitting close to the Aries North Node and directly opposite the Sun and Moon. We have an opportunity for such profound healing if we have the courage to be honest. The Libra Moon can help us to bring some thorny issues out into the open in a kind, considerate and peaceful way. However, with the South Node in Libra we are currently be called to let go of some of the unhealthier aspects of Libra, such as people-pleasing, being overly compliant, sitting on the fence, avoiding difficult issues in order to keep the peace, acquiescing in order to stay safe and avoiding confrontation. Chiron does bring the potential for our sore spots to be triggered somewhat, but it also calls for us to have the courage to look at our core wounds and recognise how they play out in our relationships, and to do the necessary healing. It can also help us to stand up for ourselves and to be really honest, even if it is a bit painful or causes some discomfort or friction.
 
Mars, the ruler of the Aries North Node, has just moved into intense, probing Scorpio, while Venus, the ruler of Libra, has just moved into humble, helpful analytical Virgo. With Mars in Scorpio, we are called to have the courage to really dig deep beneath the surface and face some very uncomfortable material. Scorpio calls for us to be really honest and to expose our tender underbelly, even if it doesn’t paint us in a pretty light. Raw honesty does, however, give the opportunity for others to truly know us, warts and all, which can bring greater intimacy and a deeper connection that if we paint a pretty picture that belies the truth of the matter. We might also find the courage to point out any unhelpful or challenging traits or patterns in our loved ones that could be affecting the relationship.
 
Venus in Virgo gives us the chance to work on our relationship issues, although we might also run the risk of analysing them to death! However, Virgo brings a willingness to be truly humble, and to look at ourselves and do whatever work is necessary to help improve our relationships, intimate and otherwise. There is the potential for picking the other person apart somewhat and pointing out their flaws, although we could be equally self-critical and self-depreciating. Virgo does bring a willingness to look at ourselves, to see what might need to be tweaked and to do the necessary inner work, although we must be mindful not to accept or tolerate behaviour or criticism that we don’t deserve. Ultimately Virgo can help us to discern what is good for us and what we might need to let go of because it causes us more harm than good. We always have choices.
 
Pluto, the planet of power, transformation and soul evolution, is also playing a part during this Moon, and is especially strong this week, as it is turning direct in the early hours of the morning on Thursday 12 Oct. We are called to pay attention to the power dynamics in our lives, recognising where and how we may have been giving our power away and doing whatever we can to call it back to us. It is a good time to see any power games for what they are, and to have the courage to look at our shadows and see how we might project our own fears and issues onto others. We have a chance for some profound soul growth during this Moon, if we are brave enough to confront ourselves and to recognise the part we might be playing in any unhealthy or challenging dynamics we are currently experiencing.
 
Mercury is sitting right next to the Sun and Moon in Libra, which is very helpful indeed because it can help us to see both sides of whatever comes up around this Moon, and to communicate with each other in a kind, reasonable, fair-minded, considerate manner. It does seem like a lot could come up during this New Moon/Eclipse, so it is good that the planet of communication is also in Libra, the sign that ultimately seeks harmony, peace, cooperation, equality and balance. It can help us to really listen to one another and to truly take in and consider the other person’s point of view.
 
The Sabian symbol for this Moon, at 22° Libra, is: “A child giving birds a drink at a fountain”, which Dane Rudyar describes as “The concern of simple souls for the welfare and happiness of less-evolved beings who thirst for life renewal. The connection between “child” and “birds” implies a spontaneous, naïve rapport at the spiritual level, a soul-touch at the level of pure feelings” The keyword for this symbol is SOLICITUDE”.
 
What a beautiful symbol! I looked up the meaning of solicitude, and it is “the quality of caring about other people's comfort, safety, and how they feel”. That makes perfect sense for a Libra New Moon/Eclipse and is rather helpful with all of this rather intense, transforming energy swirling around. We are being called to be utterly authentic and honest, and to own the parts of ourselves that we might usually hide from view, which can hopefully help us to find the balance, equality and harmony that we seek within our relationships, intimate and otherwise. Libra encourages equal give and take, helping us to see and hear others, while also being seen and heard by them. We do have such an opportunity here for a reset and a shift in whatever area of life Libra resides in within our chart, as long as we are open and willing to do the necessary work and healing to allow it to happen.
 
Much Love
 
Amy
xoxo

Painting: Solar Eclipse, by Cathrin Machin
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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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