New Year – New Moon - Snap, Crackle and Pop!

Moon enters Sagittarius on Sunday, December 29, 2013 at 12:37 PM bringing with it a sense of restlessness.  Folks want to get out, move and partake of a little adventure.  This is a Moon of diversity, good for enjoying sporting events as well as reading through those weighty tomes that inform and elevate the spirit. 

Things begin to sizzle when Mercury squares off with Uranus.  Mercury is the messenger of the Zodiac bringing quickness and at times nervousness to the fore.  Uranus takes that energy and magnifies it.  Uranus prods us into independent action urging us to break out of any restrictive modes.  Conversation, communication, and traveling may involve some unexpected twists and turns.

As Sunday rolls into Monday, the Sun forms a square to Uranus as well.   Be prepared to wake up Monday morning to some shocking news or a major disruption in the daily routine.  Moon goes Void of Course at 6:36 AM EST and remains so throughout the day into Tuesday.  Actions taken under a Void of Course Moon often don’t turn out the way things were intended.  Sticking to the routine is the best bet.  That is if all this Uranus action will let you.  The evening finds the Warrior, Mars, in square aspect with Pluto.  This is not a pretty sight. Mars is the action principle while Pluto signifies transformation.  A square, while not harmonious, does make things happen.  Mars loves to stir things up and Pluto will make sure Mars sticks his oar in deep bringing up all the deep, dark secrets.  Things could get ugly. 

Early on Tuesday Morning, Mercury, another one who likes to stir the pot connects with Pluto, then Mars, activating all that energy once again.   Moon moves into Capricorn on Tuesday afternoon at 1:01 PM EST.  Capricorn is ruled by Saturn.  Saturn likes to contract, organize and bring to order all things.  Moon in Capricorn time is the time to get down to business and take care of practical matters.  As it is the last day of 2013 and the dark Moon time, this Moon will help everyone clear the decks and make ready for the New Year.

The New Moon occurs on New Year’s morning, January 1, 2014 at 6:14 AM EST.  This is an important New Moon.  Not because, as all the hype would have you believe, it falls on New Year’s Day but because it is the first New Moon after the Winter Solstice. Like all New Moons that fall right after the season changes it has a little extra oomph to it giving a hint of what the season will bring.  This New Moon packs a big punch because it is conjunct the heavy hitter Pluto in Capricorn and squares both Uranus and Mars.  This configuration is called a T-Square and it not one of the kinder, gentler aspects.  The pot will be stirred big time.

On Thursday, January 2^nd Moon enters Aquarius at 12:03 PM EST.  Folks get the humanitarian urge under this Moon feeling empathy for those less fortunate.  That is not to say that independence and quirkiness will not cause anxiety for some folks as this Moon craves the unconventional.  Some folks are all for it while others abhor it.

In the evening the Sun and Mars get nasty with one another.  Sun is the boss here and Mars does not like to take orders. Expect some backlash, rumbling from the ranks and general discord all around.  On Friday, Mercury and Jupiter stand opposite one another and the talk is big.  Be wary of exaggeration and keep your bullshit meter well tuned. 

Saturday the 4^th, just before noon, Moon moves into gentle Pisces.  People are more sensitive and less interested in the material. Heightened sensitivity often brings a feeling of vulnerability while Moon travels through Pisces. A good time for meditation, music and the arts, seek out the stuff that speaks to and feeds your soul.

Chant OM for yourself and for the world.

 

Christmas, Kwanzaa, Solstice Season, Last Quarter Moon - A Week of Diversity

There’s nothing better than the Moon in Virgo to kick off the work week.  Sun in Capricorn with Moon in Virgo is a great time to organize your work space, clear the inbox, and take care of those pesky little details that often plague us.   So forge ahead and clean those closets and get that kitchen junk drawer in order.

Before dawn on Tuesday, December 24^th Mercury sobers up and moves into Capricorn.  Mercury in Capricorn is great for manifestation.  Mercury symbolizes how we process information, how we think.  While traveling through Capricorn this Mercury facilitates the transition from thought to action.  Mercury in Capricorn wants to see results; great for practical matters and for grounding your flights of fancy and turning them into something concrete.   Around noon time the Sun in Capricorn connects with Neptune in Pisces.  Neptune in Pisces speaks to the ephemeral, the intangibles, those things you know are there but can’t see, feel or touch.  Sun in Capricorn deals in the real world of practical matters and will have no truck with things that go bump in the night.  The connection that Sun and Neptune make at this time acts as a bridge between the insubstantial and the concrete, a great aspect for bringing the imaginative into reality.

On Christmas morning at 1:17 AM EST, Moon moves into Libra.  This Moon sign is great for the social, herding animals that we all are.  This is a great Moon for Christmas Day as folks are in the mood to socialize.  Love, beauty and harmony thrive under this Moon.   Discussions are more apt to reach a happy conclusion rather than exploding into an all out war.   Christmas Day may not prove to be as harmonious as Libra Moon would like.  There are a couple of flies in the ointment.  Around 3:30 AM EST a subdued Mars in Libra opposes Uranus in fiery Aries.   Be wary if driving during the wee hours of the morning as this aspect can be very explosive.  Mars is always looking for a fight, even if he is in the peace loving sign of Libra.  And Uranus can stir the pot in unexpected ways.

The Last Quarter Moon occurs on Christmas morning at 8:48 AM EST.  Throughout the day Moon bounces off Uranus and Mars reactivating that explosive aspect that occurred in the early hours, ending the day squaring off with Pluto the great transformer.  Libra is known as the negotiator, the peacemaker but Libra is also known as the iron hand in the velvet glove.  No one can tell you, so politely, to shove it like a Libra. 

Early Thursday morning, the 26^th Kwanzaa begins with Mercury making a lovely aspect with Neptune. Here again we see the practical and the mystical joining forces.  These two can make beautiful music together.   Mercury in Capricorn articulates the imaginative forces within Neptune in Pisces. 

On Friday morning Moon steps into Scorpio raising the sensitivity meter a few notches.   Scorpio Moon arouses suspicion and strong passions.   Try to keep your social interactions clean and simple.   Folks often find it hard to forgive and forget under this Moon.  Try and hold off on any deep conversations until Sunday when Moon moves into Sagittarius.

Enjoy this Solstice season remembering that the days are beginning to get longer as we return to the light.

A Week of Change- Winter Solstice – Retrograde and Direct Motion

The week begins with Moon in Gemini.  This Moon is perfect for multi-tasking as Gemini is the best juggler in the Zodiac.   On Tuesday morning the 17^th at 4:28 AM EST, Moon reaches fullness with Moon in Gemini and Sun in Sagittarius.  This is the yakkety-yak Full Moon.  The Full Moon is the last aspect the Moon makes before changing signs, becoming void of course.  Void in Gemini is a time to be wary of allowing your mouth to run away with you.  You may say things that you really shouldn’t say. 

That very same day, Uranus, the original shock and awe guy, stations, or stops and changes direction moving in the direct mode.  Coming during the Full Moon period heed that old cliché, “expect the unexpected.” 

Moon slides home to Cancer on Tuesday as well.  Emotions move to the head of the class and folks are more sensitive and need to be nurtured or to do the nurturing thing. We react in an emotional manner to all of life’s ups and downs.  Comfort food calls under a Cancer Moon and eating for the wrong reasons can quickly become an issue during this time.  All in all, Tuesday is a shifty changy day.  

But it ain’t over yet.  On Friday afternoon Moon moves into Leo. A fire sign, Leo Moon brings out the drama queen in all of us.  We want love, romance and appreciation under this Moon.  Leo Moon heightens the need for fun things and generosity to others.  Attributes that are certainly suitable to the season.

But the real biggy of the week is the Winter Solstice on Saturday, December 21, @ 12:11 PM EST.  This is when the Sun enters the cardinal sign of Capricorn. The Sun is at its most extreme southern declination and it is the longest night of the year. After this day the days begin to get longer.  Throughout history this has been a time of celebration.  This solstice day has Venus changing direction from direct to retrograde.  Venus rules love and money.  It points to what we desire and to what we consider important or value.  With Venus retrograde issues in these areas may be put on hold and/or be reevaluated.

The Horoscope for the Winter Solstice provides a picture of what the winter season will bring.  This horoscope for this Solstice has Mars in Libra opposing Uranus in Aries and squaring Pluto in Capricorn.  This is called a t-square and the aspects of a t-square are not aspects of ease.  They are aspects of agitation. Mars is about war but he is in Venus’ sign of peace.  Uranus adores the shakeup and is ready to rock and roll.  Pluto is the great destroyer but not without the prospect of something new and better to replace what is gone.  This is transformation time.  Jupiter in Cancer is in the mix as well and this can be a benevolent influence.  But that is not always the case.  Jupiter for sure will bring a “lot of” but a lot of what is the big question.  Saturn in the Sign of Scorpio mixes it up with Jupiter providing the brakes to any headlong dash. Saturn in Scorpio highlights debt and interest rates.  Saturn warns us to be cautious about running up the credit card. Take heed else Saturn will come back and remind you when the bill arrives.

All in all it is a week of change and new direction.  Keep your feet on the ground and remember to breath.

First Quarter Moon - Interesting and Active Week Ahead

This Week starts off with the First Quarter Moon at 10:12 AM EST.  Quarter Moons occur when the Moon and Sun are at 90 degree angles from one another. This is called a square in the language of astrological aspects.  This one is the opening square and like all squares it is an aspect of action. This action could be something as simple as paying a bill. It doesn’t have to be dramatic as the Moon rules our daily life and the Sun brings us the flavor of the month.  The Moon’s aspects can trigger some major action if there are other configurations present that aspect the natal horoscope. 

This First Quarter Moon has the Sun in Sagittarius and the Moon in Pisces.  Both of these signs have a lot to do with the spiritual side of life, the search for truths and the activation of the higher mind.  At the moment of exactness there is a lovely grand trine between Moon in Pisces, Jupiter in Cancer and Saturn in Scorpio.  A trine is an aspect of ease when two planets are 120 degrees apart.  A grand trine occurs when these two planets trine a third creating a pattern that looks like a triangle.  This grand trine is in the Water signs which indicates a lot of emotion and a lot of intuition.  Saturn in the mix brings a certain degree of practicality and assists in grounding the flights into the ethereal that a Moon in Pisces/Jupiter in Cancer aspect can instigate.

On Tuesday morning Moon leaves the soft light of Pisces behind entering aggressive Aires where physical action becomes the keyword.  Be wary of impulsive actions and remember to look before you leap. Think before you open your mouth.  Especially around noon time when Mercury in Sagittarius, notorious for putting foot in mouth, forms a trine with anything goes Uranus.  Shock and awe are some apt words for this combination.  Mercury rules all kinds of transportation, communication, and the media. Youth and the public school system fall under Mercury’s purview.  I would be careful on the road and while behind the wheel curb that impulse. Uranus rules electricity, air flight, and any activity that likes to upset the status quo. This aspect may kick off a big news cycle.

On Thursday afternoon Moon slips into the more sedate Taurus.  Taurus is an earth sign and while the Moon is here we are comfortable with “stuff” we can see, feel and touch, none of that mystical crap for Moon in Taurus. Folks tend to get a bit stubborn under this Moon.  Resistance to change calls to mind the phrase “bullheaded”, so keep in mind that Taurus is the sign of the Bull. There is a need for security and material possessions while Moon is here.  In the evening Jupiter makes a trine to Saturn.  This is part of the 20 year rumba these two engage in.  In the year 2000 they were together in the sky in Taurus. Two planets sharing the same degree is called a conjunction.  This joins the energies of the two and is a strong aspect. The next time they get together like that will be in December of 2020. When they aspect one another during the course of their 20 year dance there is usually some societal shift or action going on.  Jupiter’s energy is one of exuberant enthusiasm while Saturn tends to be more conservative and restrictive.  A trine creates a cooperation between the energies.  Saturn tones down any excessive expansiveness of Jupiter while Jupiter prods Saturn into letting go of some outworn traditions that no longer serve. With Jupiter in Cancer and Saturn in Scorpio the water signs, Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces resonate most with this energy while the other Cardinal signs of Aries, Libra, and Capricorn along with the Fixed signs of Taurus, Leo, and Aquarius will feel the rumble as well. 

This combination is of great help if you have some huge task to perform that requires stamina, focus and organizational skills.  It can also help to maintain the balance between work and play.  There is a need for both in this world and while all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, all play and no work makes Jack a good time Charley.

Moon doesn’t shift gears until the wee hours of Sunday when the Air signs, Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius get a big break when Moon enters busy Gemini.  Folks are talkative, busy and curious under this Moon.  Moon is gearing up to oppose the Sun at the Full Mon on Tuesday.  Stay tuned, more to come.

New Moon in Sagittarius - Tis the Season

The New Moon in Sagittarius occurs on Monday night, December 2, 2013 setting the tone for the upcoming month.  The dark Moon time over the weekend had Moon in intensely emotional Scorpio.  Scorpio and the dark Moon time are great for deep inner probing in order to clear out the emotional junk we all carry.

The New Moon in Sagittarius lifts us out of that emotional muck urging us on to higher things.  This is the season, as the days get shorter, that leads us into that point in time when the shift from dark to light begins, the Winter Solstice. Sagittarius brings out the philosopher in all of us.  This sign provides the push to explore the far horizon seeking meaning and purpose.  There’s a strong feeling of religious conviction and the need for justice.  If one does not take the high road, the Sagittarian ideal can become one of hypocritical self righteousness.   The energy of this New Moon is one of enthusiasm, freedom, learning and teaching.  Any and all activities that expand the mind as well as the individual’s universe receive a boost during this lunation cycle.

Mercury while still in Scorpio makes a congenial aspect to Mars in Virgo on Tuesday.  Thoughts and actions coincide with each planet giving the other a positive push. This is because Mars rules Scorpio and Mercury rules Virgo and each planet is in the sign the other rules. This is called Mutual Reception. 

Early Wednesday morning Moon moves into practical Capricorn bringing us down to earth to deal with the material world reminding us that spiritual pursuits, while uplifting, don’t do much for us when dealing with practical issues.  Moon in Capricorn deals with the real, physical, material world and requires you to do the same. Later in the evening Mercury slips out of Scorpio to join the Sun in Sagittarius.  All that inner probing and spiritual searching pours out when Mercury is in Sagittarius.  Talk flows freely and despite the practical Capricorn Moon the talk runs to the philosophical and spiritual. 

During the wee hours of Friday morning Moon enters Aquarius a place where emotion chills out as rational objectivity moves in.  Folks are friendly but in a more impersonal manner. Interest in the welfare of others prompts many a donation when Moon is traveling through Aquarius.  The urge for freedom, independence, the new and unusual surfaces now.  During the evening commute Mercury, the philosopher in Sagittarius squares off with Neptune in Pisces and the talk turns once again to the spiritual.  Be wary on the road as this aspect promotes daydreaming and meditative states.  Behind the wheel is not the ideal place for these activities. 

On Saturday afternoon Mars enters Libra.  Mars is not comfortable here as he rules the opposite sign, Aries. He’s a visitor in Venus’ domain and can’t run around in his ratty old underpants while lounging around the house.  Mars is going to remain in Libra for longer than his usual stay due to his retrograde motion which begins in March when reaching 27 degrees Libra.  He cycles all the way back to 9 degrees Libra before turning direct only moving into his home turf of Scorpio on July 26^th.  As Mars is the planet of action and energy where Libra falls in the individual’s horoscope will be the area where the process of moving forward will require some review or experience delay.

Early Sunday morning Moon enters Pisces.  Under a Pisces Moon folks feel more sympathetic towards others.  There is certain empathy that enables people to get an idea what it is like to walk in another’s shoes. Unlike the more practical, material signs of the Zodiac, Moon in Pisces senses the unseen.  Heightened awareness to the intangibles of this world surface now.  Some folks go to the church of their choice while others find their church or spiritual connection through meditation, a walk in the woods or a seat by the ocean.  Folks are softer and gentler now.  A great time to listen to music that transports.