Full Moon Madness or Sanity?

The Full Moon of July 1, 2015 is a mixed bag of the benevolent and the malefic.  The Sun in favorable aspect to Neptune brings forth compassion and caring.  The Venus/Jupiter conjunction in the early hours prior to the Full Moon are symbolic of love and luck. These two planets are known as the Greater (Jupiter) and the Lesser (Venus) Benefic.   That lucky combo connects favorably to anything goes Uranus. Venus brings harmony and rules diplomacy, Jupiter adds an international flavor ruling foreign countries and affairs as well as law and the judiciary. Whenever Jupiter joins the party he brings a “lot of” whatever it is he is toting. The danger of Venus and Jupiter in harmony together while quite lovely and favorable for romance and money can bring too much of a good thing.  Over indulgence, over spending and over the top in general. Throw Uranus into the mix and it’s anyone’s guess what the outcome will be because Uranus loves to surprise and brings the unexpected to the party. 

While the Sun in caring, nurturing Cancer remaining in that lovely connection to Neptune in Pisces can bring out the Mother Theresa in all of us there are other factors in play at the time of this Full Moon.  Mars, known as the Lesser Malefic (Saturn being the Greater Malefic) sits very closely to the Sun and squares the nodal axis. The Nodes in astrology are the points where the Moon’s orbit intersects with the Earth’s orbit. The Nodes have a lot to do with relationships and at this Full Moon with the Venus/Jupiter conjunction new relationships will form while others break up.  This is true on the personal level as well as the global level.  Countries will form new alliances while old treaties and agreements are revised or broken.  Greece and the European Union come to mind.

Bringing more rain on the parade, that benevolent Venus/Jupiter combination is in a wide square, an aspect of agitation, with the Greater Malefic Saturn.  Venus/Jupiter wants to spread the love, is expansive with all that is fun, lovely and good.  Saturn is the wet blanket bringing reality and practical considerations to the table.  Jupiter expands, Saturn contracts and while not a head on collision at this point there is an awareness that the party must be paid for at some point.

At the Last Quarter Moon on the 9^th bad boy Mars moves in to break up that compassionate party between the Sun and Neptune.  The down side of a Mars/Neptune get together can bring out fanaticism and illusion.  Mars in Cancer acts on emotions. Neptune energy can be smoke and mirrors with only the highly evolved seeing the true picture. 

This is a transitional time and a turning point for many.  Think before you act. Try to see all the possibilities available to you.  From Full Moon to the next New Moon is a time of digestion and assimilation.  Let all the information and emotions settle a bit.  Adjust, listen to others and to your own intuition and heartfelt desires.  We’re in a volatile period all around and the next New Moon while bringing a fresh start does not bring an end to the volatility.  Remember to breathe.

 

So How Was Your Week?

I figured that this past week with Mars hitting Jupiter, Uranus and Pluto would be volatile and explosive and I wasn’t wrong.  Here in Providence, RI we had a huge fire in an old mill building that blanketed the city with smoke creating some air quality issues.  That was on Tuesday.  On Wednesday there was another fire in Warwick, RI as a Condo building went up in flames. That fire was first reported at 10:25 AM.  A chart erected for that moment shows Mars and Uranus minutes away from a conjunction, with both in harmonious aspect to Jupiter.  Jupiter is placed a few degrees inside the 4^th house of the horoscope. The 4^th house in astrology is the house of the home.  About a hundred people were displaced because of that fire.

In addition to this local activity events on the national and international front reflect the explosive, impulsive, unpredictable nature of the prevalent energy.  The stock market here in the United States went down, up and then down again throughout the week. Ferguson was in the news again with the shooting of two police officers and more madness from the ISIS terrorist group posting pictures of child assassins. The Republicans penned a letter to the Iranian leaders warning them that any agreement reached by President Obama could be revoked at the stroke of a pen once Obama leaves office.  Forty-seven Republicans signed this letter.  Some news reports claim that many of those who signed were on their way out of Washington, rushing to catch a plane or whatever.  This is clearly a reflection of a Mars/Uranus conjunction in Aries.  Impulsive actions that are not thought through to the possible conclusions combined with Jupiter which brings in the international, diplomatic component.  I always thought that the Democrats were the masters at shooting themselves in the foot but it appears that the Republicans are trying to take that title away from them.  There has been a lot of backlash about this letter even from those within their own party.

Then there is the Hillary Clinton and the email brouhaha.  Some folks are up in arms while others are ho hum about it all.  Hillary is a Scorpio with a Mars/Pluto conjunction in Leo. During this past week Jupiter currently traveling through Leo was sitting right on this conjunction.  The Mars/Uranus conjunction in the sky was in a trine aspect to her Mars/Pluto conjunction.  You can’t make this stuff up.  Love her or hate her, with Sun, Venus and Mercury in Scorpio along with the Mars/Pluto conjunct as well as Saturn in Leo she is one tough customer.  Scorpio and Leo are fixed signs and fixed signs stick to it. She’s a lightning rod with all this heavy energy.  Think about it, her husband cheats on her, she’s publicly humiliated, decides to stay with him, for whatever reason and she’s hated for it.  Bill Clinton seems to have skated through without a care in the world as popular as ever. Double standard? Maybe.

That was last week.  Next week starts off with a bang as Uranus and Pluto make their final square aspect.  I expect that the fireworks are not over yet. Venus changes signs on St. Patrick’s Day, moving into Taurus.  Venus rules Taurus so she’s quite at home here and the Venusian energies operate at the optimal level.  People like to buy stuff when Venus is in Taurus.  Luxury goods, items that have a soft and sensuous feel to them.  Tactile touch, folks want to feel it and it needs to feel good.  A Venus in Taurus relationship requires longevity, loyalty, and stability.  Faithfulness is a key word.  Sometimes a Venus in Taurus relationship doesn’t know or doesn’t want to throw in the towel when things are not working. Venus in Taurus stays to long at the fair.  When they shut the lights off it’s time to go home.

Another big event this week is the Solar Eclipse on Friday early in the morning and the Sun’s entry into Aries marking the moment Spring officially arrives. The show ain’t over folks! That requires an entry all on its own.  Suffice to say that the energies will be shifting as a new day dawns.  An Eclipse can bring new developments, discoveries and advances.  Keep a positive attitude.  It’s the only way to travel.

Don’t forget the “Get Your Mojo Working – Natal Moon/New Moon Class and Study Group starts this week.   Contact me for information if you are interested.

March Madness

Due to the planetary line up during March which includes the 7^th and final square between Uranus and Pluto some of my posts may seem to be filled with doom and gloom.  There very well may be some ugly events taking place during this month but the Uranus Pluto combination does bring about change and some of that change is not a bad thing.

During their last square in the early 1930’s the Great Depression was raging and many suffered financial hardship.  But at the same time Roosevelt established the SEC to watch dog Wall Street as well as Social Security to insure the welfare of the elderly.  Not a bad thing although there was a lot of objection to these measures from a lot of quarters.  It was not an easy time.

Another tumultuous decade, the 1960’s found Uranus and Pluto together in the sky in what is called a conjunction.  There were three exact conjunctions over the course of that decade.  Then we were involved in an unpopular war, the civil rights movement exposed rampant, systemic injustice and Lyndon Johnson in addition to signing Civil Rights legislation established Medicare.  All of these created dissension, protest, and tension between various segments of society.

While these actions occurred during periods of great volatility, tension and anxiety they resulted in positive outcomes that improved society.

The current ongoing square between Uranus and Pluto has brought similar emotions and anxiety to the surface as the current situation carries echoes of those past periods when they were closely connected.

Uranus is most definitely about change, whether you are ready for it or not.  Pluto speaks to death, rebirth and transformation. Often with Pluto it is deep rooted and pre-verbal, you can’t articulate what is really going on.

Since around 2008 when Uranus and Pluto moved into close range many have experienced life changing events.  But this is not always a bad thing.  The birth of a child, certainly a life changing event but one that brings great joy.  A new job that takes you half way across the country, disrupting maybe but ultimately a good outcome. 

Uranus brings change.  We are creatures of habit and sometimes our habits become crystalized and we find ourselves in rigid ruts.  When Uranus comes along he says you need to make some changes here.  If you don’t an event occurs that forces you to make that change.  Sometimes you lose your job, divorce, have to move because the landlord sells the property.  All painful and disruptive but they are events that force you to take some kind of action. That first step leads to another, then another and when the dust settles you find yourself in a better place.

Keep in mind the thing about Uranus when he comes along is if you can think of it, that’s not it because Uranus brings the bolt out of the blue, the unexpected,  weird event that changes it all.

Pluto brings deep emotional change, primal urges, and often fated connections.  Issues of power and control surface when Pluto comes along. Pluto can raise up the lowly and bring down the mighty. We’ve already seen a few of our icons brought low and there will probably be more.  We probably won’t recognize those that rise until we gain some historical perspective.

During this disruptive time it pays to be ready to roll with the punches.  Some events we will have no control over, we can only control our own actions. Powerful energies and emotions surface during these times so it is important to find your still center and stay grounded.  Take the high road, it’s the only way to go.

 

Full Moon Fallout

There’s a lot of action going on around this Full Moon as the energy culminates. In the lead up to the Full Moon Venus the planet of love, money and diplomacy has been making the rounds connecting with the big boys, Jupiter, Uranus and Pluto.  This combination encompasses diplomacy, foreigners, power and control.  The headlines reflect this as a foreign Prime Minister Netanyahu addresses Congress with the warning that agreements with Iran are dangerous and those talks in question resuming the very next day.  There’s a bid for power going on here, internally as well as internationally.  What about the power struggles in your own personal relationships? Has Venus done her job? It is for sure that with Uranus and Pluto involved anything goes.

If relationships are rocky as the Moon sails into Libra on Friday evening, March 6^th, the energy become more congenial as Libra Moon favors all kinds of relationships.  Folks want to get along under this Moon, to connect and socialize.  With Moon here over the weekend it is a great time for parties, a get together or a simple conversation to clear the air. That’s the thing about relationships, when the parties involved get over emotional they often forget that a simple conversation can chill things out and move the relationship along. When you do this, I feel that. Simple.

If Venus has gifted you with smooth sailing don’t become complacent as Mars takes the reins as the Moon begins to wane moving into the Last Quarter phase on March 13^th

On Tuesday the 10^th with Moon in intensely emotional Scorpio Mars makes a sweet aspect to Jupiter.  They are both in fire signs, Aries and Leo respectively and while Mars lights the fire Jupiter ensures that it becomes a conflagration.  Mars in Aries is the master at confrontation. The next day, Wednesday, he joins forces with anything goes Uranus and the powerful transformer Pluto. War, strife, the unusual coupled with the desire to be free and unfettered create a volatile mixture.  Explosive is a keyword here. 

That evening the Moon moves into fiery Sagittarius bringing a desire for movement and a change of scenery.  Sagittarius Moon can bring an open mind or the opposite, a proselytizing, closed minded fanatic. Generally folks are warm, friendly and enthusiastic under this Moon and are curious to see how the other guy lives.

As we get closer to the Last Quarter on Friday Mercury enters Pisces and throws logic out the window.  Mercury in Pisces learns by osmosis. While you are sure that you see the truth in a situation often Mercury in Pisces places the rose colored glasses on your reasoning abilities. Good for meditation and inward contemplation.  Listen to music, watch a beautiful sunset or engage in activities that connect you to your own spirituality. You can go to church and light a candle, say a prayer or sit on a park bench and enjoy the beauty around you.  With Mercury in Pisces you see it or sense it all around you.

The Last Quarter Moon brings a lot of action leading up to it and following it. If you have learned anything from the last New Moon to the Full Moon now is the time to share that learning and spread the information around.  Moon in Sagittarius at this Last Quarter favors the teacher. We all have knowledge this is the time to spread that knowledge.

On Saturday the 14^th of March Moon moves into practical Capricorn.  People what some respect for their talents, for a job well done and for the efforts they apply to their responsibilities.  This Moon is a good time to tackle the tasks at hand.  It’s a double Capricorn day as the ruler of this Moon, Saturn changes direction in Sagittarius going retrograde until August. Saturn is the planet of limitation as well as manifestation.  Saturn is all about the real world, the material world and what we have to do in order to survive in this world. He’s not a fun guy but he will reward you when you take care of business in a timely manner. Saturn says, “You don’t get brownie points for doing what you are supposed to do.”  But in the long run, heading out to the job every day, paying the mortgage and living a healthy lifestyle brings the rewards that you have earned. So this is a good weekend to take of those tasks that are necessary to keep life running smoothly.

On Monday the 16^th Mercury in Pisces squares off with Saturn in Sagittarius.  Mercury in Pisces is the dreamer and visionary.  Saturn deals with cold reality.  A square is an aspect of agitation and irritation.  This aspect can push the dreamer into manifesting the dream into reality.  A good time to write down those ideas, make plans to implement the dream or to take some action in the real world that moves your dream along.

The big aspect of the day, the month or the year even occurs on this day as well Uranus and Pluto make their 7^th and final square aspect on Monday night.  The first of the 7 occurred on June 24, 2012.  On this date the square became exact but Uranus and Pluto had been in range for many years. This is a 126 year cycle and this current aspect ushered in the financial crisis and the major unrest felt around the world.  Although this is the last in this series they will be in range for another year or so.  We are not out of the woods yet.  When these two get together they bring about broad societal changes.  In the early 1930’s they were in the closing square aspect.  In the mid 1960’s they were in conjunction. Both these periods ushered in major changes. 

For some folks this series of squares has ushered in major life changes of a very personal nature while others have experienced changes due to the business, political or social climate.  No matter how you look at it, it is all personal.  The Cardinal signs of Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn have felt these aspects strongly while the rest of us have felt it on some level or another.  Stress and tension ushers in change and while the change may be needed and result in a positive outcome it can be a difficult adjustment.

During this week before the next New Moon the Moon is in the Balsamic phase.  This is the Crone’s Moon. She reminds us that change is constant.  This time as the Moon slowly disappears from the sky is the time to dream, to let go of the old and be ready to prepare for the new at the next New Moon.  Meditate and let your ideas incubate.  Be patient and take the time to assimilate what you have learned and be ready to take your next steps after the New Moon of the 20^th.

Quarter Moon - Where the Action Is

We hear lots about the New Moon and the Full Moon but very often events occur around the Quarter Moons.  The First Quarter Moon occurs halfway between the New Moon and Full Moon.  This is the waxing Moon, the Moon gets bigger every night until it reaches fullness.  Then each night it begins to diminish.   When it is halfway between the Full Moon and the next New Moon it reaches the Third Quarter stage.  This is the waning Moon.

The current First Quarter Moon occurs February 25^th with the Sun in Pisces and the Moon in Gemini.  Gemini Moon is a busy Moon, folks are more adaptable under this Moon and tend to be more talkative. Gemini Moon enhances our ability to see both sides of the picture which can be a good thing but it inhibits the decision making process.  This will be a very busy day.  Short trips, conversations, and overloaded in boxes are just a few threads that will have to be pulled together.

While the Moon is in the waxing phase it is a good time to start something that you wish to see grow.  A waxing Moon in Cancer is the optimal time as Cancer is a very fertile sign.  This week the Moon enters Cancer at 7:50 AM on Friday morning, the 27th and remains there until Sunday evening at 6:43 PM when Moon enters fiery Leo.

But before the Moon enters Leo on Sunday it becomes “void of course”.   When the Moon makes its last major connection to another planet and will make no other connections until it moves into the next sign, it is said to be void of course.   Voids can last for seconds, minutes or days.  With the current planetary lineup there are long periods of void of course.

Things begun under a void of course Moon have unexpected results.  One’s judgment can be faulty and facts are not readily at hand.   This period is best for routine work.  Meditation and spiritual matters work well during this period.  It’s a great time to simply kick back. 

Despite all this Sunday will be a busy day with some unusual activity going on.  Mercury in Aquarius connects with Uranus and Jupiter during the daylight hours.  Mercury rules all kinds of communication, transportation, the wind, the mind and how we process information.  Uranus nudges our urge to freedom bringing change that often occurs suddenly.  Mercury and Uranus together can signal aviation disasters, sudden destructive winds, communication and transportation snafus.  Jupiter symbolizes optimism, enthusiasm, and justice.  The planet of expansion, Jupiter brings abundance. A Mercury / Jupiter connection can bring a lot of hot air.  Expect a lot of political pontificating coming from the Sunday morning talk shows.

When Jupiter catches up to Uranus early Tuesday morning sparks will fly.  Justice, liberty and freedom are themes splashed across the headlines.  Jupiter always brings something big while Uranus is a true wild card bringing something totally unexpected.

On Wednesday, March 4^th Moon enters practical Virgo.  Moon in Virgo is a great time to organize messy kitchen drawers, sort through papers and any tasks that require attention to detail.  We get concerned about our diet and health issues while Moon travels through Virgo.  Venus has a busy day on Wednesday touching base with Jupiter, Uranus and Pluto.  Venus rules love and money, she is a yin planet so has the ability to attract.   We don’t feel much like working when Venus is around, we just want to have fun.  Venus and Uranus together in the sky signals some unusual and very different types of relationships.  This can be an exciting combo but love affairs begun under this influence while they have a lot of sizzle and pop they can fizzle and plop just as quickly.  Venus with Pluto can bring love affairs that have a fated feel to them, almost an obsession.  Often issues of power and control come to the surface in existing relationships.  Venus’ active presence in the lead up to the Full Moon brings some sweetness and light to all situations.   Collaboration is a key word for Venus’ involvement.

The Full Moon in Virgo on Thursday, March 5^th triggers a lot of communication, news reports and a search for truths that are not readily apparent.  Virgo Moon forces attention to detail and there is danger of not seeing the forest for the trees.  Step back and take a look at your own situation and try to gain some objectivity. 

After the Full Moon it is Mars’ turn to take the wheel.  Unlike Venus, Mars is set to light the fuse, the more chaos the merrier. 

Stay tuned for the next Quarter Moon installment.

New Moon, Black Moon Super Moon, What’s All the Fuss About?

This New Moon is called the Black Moon because it is the third New Moon of the winter season. It is called a Super Moon because a few hours after the New Moon the Moon reaches its closest point to the Earth.  So the Lunar energy is stronger thus high tides run higher as do emotions.

This New Moon is unique for another reason as well.  It occurs at 29 degrees, 59 minutes of Aquarius, and a mere minute later the Moon enters Pisces with the Sun following 2 minutes after that.  The 29^th degree of any sign is a critical degree.  29 is the end so this period will be about endings which is not all that bad because you can’t start something new unless you finish the old. 

This lunation cycle is one of transition.  The day after the New Moon on Thursday, February 19, 2015, Mars the planet of action and energy enters Aries.  Mars rules Aries, he functions well here.  Venus follows him into Aries on the following day.  Venus does not function well here.  Venus is yin while Aries is yang.  Venus attracts, Aries acts.   A little after midnight on Sunday morning the 22^nd Venus and Mars get together.  This can be hot little love affair time.  Mars in Aries sizzles bringing Venus to the table, or to the bedroom, and passions peak. 

By the First Quarter Moon on the 25^th both Venus and Mars have connected to Saturn.  It’s reality time and the weekend affair that was so hot and sizzling may fizzle.  But while Saturn can throw a wet blanket on any situation in affairs of the heart he can signal commitment.  With both Venus and Mars in impulsive Aries it is best to wait before making that commitment. Venus enters her home sign of sensuous Taurus on March 17^th, best wait until then to see if the fires still burn as hot.

On Sunday, March 1^st Mercury in Aquarius connects with Uranus and Jupiter.  Mercury rules news, information, transportation and youth.  Uranus is the original rebel who loves to shake up the status quo.   Jupiter is the big old jovial Uncle who can be a benevolent influence but be wary.  Jupiter can bring an overabundance of whatever he’s involved in. 

These Mercury connections set the stage for the lead up to the Full Moon on the 5^th.  On Tuesday, the 3^rd, Jupiter mixes it up with Uranus. On Wednesday Venus bounces off Jupiter, then Uranus and by nighttime she’s squaring off with Pluto.  

The Jupiter Uranus connection holds the promise of something big. Jupiter brings an international flavor, finances, religion, and can sometime signal border disputes.  If your neighbor has shoveled out a parking spot, don’t park there.  Uranus when under stress can signal lightning storms, high winds, and other violent natural events.  Airplane and train mishaps, demonstrations, technological breakthroughs and snafus. Although he’s not under stress now, he will be, read on.

In the week after the Full Moon, Saturn turns retrograde.  Any time a planet changes direction the principles of that planet are emphasized. Saturn is reality and the area of the horoscope that Saturn is visiting is the area where one is usually between a rock and a hard place. Saturn transits force one to take care of business.  The real bugger is Mars as he makes the rounds touching base with Jupiter, Uranus and Pluto.  This is not a pretty sight. Now Uranus is under stress.   Mars’ connection with Uranus and Pluto fires up the already tense square between Uranus and Pluto. The final square, of seven since June 2012, between Uranus and Pluto takes place on Monday, March 16^th.

There will be storms aplenty whether literal or figurative. Some folks might reach for power that is not truly theirs.  Others may try to free themselves of constraints they can no longer tolerate.  March will be a volatile, convulsive, disruptive time. Violence in many forms is all around.  Financial markets react to world events just as violently.

No matter what happens, Pluto is about deep rooted stuff.  It is important to look beneath the surface to find out what is really going on.   A Pluto transit to a natal house or planet digs deep into what that house or planet represents.  When Pluto plunges deep into the subconscious often the issues can’t be intellectualized at first.  There’s a feeling or a compulsion to do or to act or to change. 

Uranus is all about change.  When habits have become rigid and no longer serve the higher good Uranus comes along to break up those crystalized, inflexible lifestyle routines. Uranus is the bolt out of the blue, the shock and awe guy.  But that bolt generally sets off a process that results in a much better situation further on down the line.  Sometimes it is hard to see the light at the end of that tunnel.  But keep trudging, it’s there.    

Get Your Mojo Working! New Moon Class And Study Group Classes

Harness the Power of the New Moon

And unleash your potential

 New moon / natal moon, this class is all about the moon.  In astrology your moon sign is just as important as your sun sign.  The New Moon is a powerful timing cycle and offers the opportunity to generate important new beginnings and set you on a positive path to growth.

This class will not be a boring lecture.  Students will participate in guided imagery, meditation, journaling, astro drama and role playing in order to experience their moon sign and raise awareness of the moon’s influence.

Meeting once a month around the time of the New Moon, pre registration is required.  Students will provide the date, time and place of birth and will receive a copy of their horoscope at the first class.

The cost is $25.00 per class.

Classes being held at two locations

Postive New Beginnings, 870 Broadway, East Providence, RI beginning March 16, 2015 at 6:30 PM call 432-7195.

 Mother  Mother Mystic, 179 Dean Street, Providence, RI beginning March 18, 2015 call 353-3099