Pisces New Moon - Mars, Jupiter and Saturn Stir Things Up

The New Moon in Pisces at 2:59 AM EST on Saturday morning, March 1, 2014 makes a positive connections with Jupiter in Cancer.  This is a great for spiritual openings, heightening of the imagination and enhancing artistic abilities.  Mercury in Aquarius went direct the day before and Mars goes retrograde at 11:24 AM EST and just like that the energy shifts and changes.   More changes come as Moon enters Aries on Sunday and Saturn in Scorpio turns retrograde.  When planets change direction the energies that those planets embody heightens, strengthens and often manifests concrete events according to the sign they are in and in the individual horoscope, the house they are in.  In the afternoon, Venus in Capricorn squares retrograde Mars in Libra. Relationships are strained, arguments ensue.  The masculine and feminine principles clash. This does not bode well for diplomacy on international fronts as well as the kitchen table variety.  Moon in Aries wants things right now.  Impulsive action that is not well thought out is a signature of this Moon. 

On Monday, March 3, 2014 before most folks make it to the job this Aries Moon bounces off Jupiter, Uranus and Pluto stirring things up.  Jupiter, Uranus and Pluto are in an ongoing T-Square that is Jupiter opposing Pluto and both squaring Uranus, looks like a T.  Squares agitate and make things happen; oppositions are just that, opposing viewpoints, folks on opposite sides of the fence.  We see this symbolism acted out in world events.  In the Ukraine, it’s between East and West, in the US it’s liberal and conservative, rich and poor etc. So when Aries Moon sets this off things happen.  When Moon passed through Libra kicking things off from the opposite side of the Zodiac forming a Grand Square demonstrations began in Kiev. Aries Moon may escalate things.  In the afternoon Sun in Pisces forms a congenial aspect with Pluto in Capricorn, although congenial any time Pluto is involved there are issues of power and control.

On Tuesday afternoon at 2:12 PM EST Moon enters Taurus bringing out our need for emotional stability. We don’t like change and favor the traditional while Moon travels through this fixed earth sign.  Folks tend to be a bit stubborn now.  On Ash Wednesday, with Moon still in Taurus, Venus moves into Aquarius.  Venus, the planet of love and money in this sign is looking for friendship first. The unconventional or odd appeals and socializing is often done with a group of friends while Venus is in Aquarius. 

On Friday, Jupiter in Cancer changes direction stirring up Uranus and Pluto in the process.  In the evening Moon moves into versatile Gemini and we seek mental stimulation.  Talking and the exchange of ideas keep folks busy.  The duality of Gemini often makes it difficult to make a decision. A good time to take care of correspondence and return phone calls as information simply flows.

All in all this is a week of change.  In some areas things that were on hold begin to move along, while in other areas a reevaluation may be in order.  We can expect more demonstrations, authorities flexing their muscles and the common folk flexing theirs as well.  On an individual level it may be difficult to extend the olive branch but attempts at peace making are always worth the effort.  The fruits of those efforts may not manifest right away, but during periods of turmoil it is wise to lay the foundation for the hoped for stability to follow.

What’s Up This Week? Where’s That Moon?

On Saturday, March 24, 2012 Moon goes void of course in Aries at 1:17 PM until 5:43 PM when the energy shifts as Moon moves into Taurus.  During the hours that Moon is void of course it is best to avoid making major decisions. Things never go as planned when Moon is void. Wait until the fiery impulsiveness of Aries gives way to the more staid, solid, stolid energies of Taurus. Folks get more cautious and conservative while Moon travels through Taurus. A note of stubbornness creeps in. Before this changeover, the Sun in Aries joins forces with Uranus in Aries. Sudden, surprising events upset the routine. Pay close attention to the news and trends of this weekend as these are a preview of things to come. Saturday evening when Moon connects with Neptune inspiration and imagination rule.  Avoid excess use of drugs and alcohol.  Escape through music, meditation, or art. Sunday morning Moon greets the day with a positive aspect to retrograde Mars in Virgo.  Mars is energy, Moon is emotion. This is a good time to work on home projects.  Throughout the day Moon connects with Pluto then Jupiter.  Strong emotions bring about strong reactions. Expect emotional eruptions. Try not to get pulled into the dark and snarly emotional baggage of others. By Monday afternoon Moon makes nice nice with Venus. Venus at home in Taurus is strong now. This is a good time for romance, a party or any social gathering.  Moon’s last aspect before going void of course is with retrograde Mercury at 12:35 AM EDT Tuesday morning. This is a blend of the mind and emotions. People say what they feel. Lines of communication are open; it’s a good time to clear the air.  Moon enters flirty, chatty Gemini at 6:43 AM EDT.  More communication, exchange of news and information and true to Gemini’s dual nature, some difficulty in making up one’s mind or changing one’s mind. Gemini’s airy nature brings with it restlessness and people get antsy if they start to get bored. Midmorning fantasy runs head on into the reality of the daily routine when Moon agitates nebulous Neptune. The evening commute brings a few surprises as Moon bounces off Uranus and Mars. Watch out for road rage.  Don’t let traffic jams push you over the edge. Remember to breathe. By late evening Sun and Moon form a congenial aspect and harmony and peace reign.  Wednesday Gemini Moon makes no exact aspects but expect to be busy under this Moon. Thursday morning Moon squares off with Gemini’s ruler Mercury. Retrograde in fuzzy Pisces, Mercury brings rumor, innuendo and unclear messages.  Be wary of signing or starting anything. Do some reviewing and revising.  The afternoon brings a nice Mercury/Venus contact that offers an opportunity to smooth troubled waters. Trouble could be due to a misunderstanding, go back and have that conversation to clear the air. When Moon connects with Saturn, the conversation gets serious and some solid information emerges. Then Moon goes void of course.  Before Moon slides home to the sign of Cancer, the Sun makes a bold, brassy aspect to the power broker, Pluto. This is another one of those moments that provide a glimpse into the future. The headlines will tell the tale. Moon, in Cancer, after 7:07 PM EDT gets mystical and intuitive with Neptune before midnight, now is the time to dream the dream. Be sure to see things as they really are not how you wish them to be.  On Friday Cancer Moon is busy making aspects with those heavy hitters, Uranus, Mars and Pluto before squaring off with the Sun bringing us to the First Quarter Moon phase. Quarter Moon time is a time of crisis and action. A decision has to be made. At this Quarter Moon it will be difficult to maintain peace. Don’t fly off the handle, get the facts and see the picture clearly before taking any steps that might make the situation worse. Let Venus in Taurus, (at the top of the Quarter Moon Chart here in New England) rule the day. Think beauty, peace and harmony.

New Moon Start Anew And Other Delights

New Moons signal the beginning of a new cycle. This New Moon, in Aquarius, on January 23, 2012 holds some noteworthy patterns and points of interest that will hold sway far longer than the typical lunation cycle.  Mars in Virgo, stations in preparation for a 3 month retrograde period a few hours after the New Moon perfects. The New Moon, the conjunction of the Sun and Moon, is involved in a dynamic pattern with Saturn and Jupiter called a T-Square.  Saturn and Jupiter oppose (180 degrees) one another and the New Moon squares (90 degrees) them both. Saturn and Neptune are in a trine aspect (120 degrees) from Libra to Aquarius and they both are in the critical 29^th degree of their respective signs. Tying it all up is the developing waxing square between Uranus and Pluto. The seeds planted at this New Moon will continue to bear fruit well beyond this lunation.

Mars goes retrograde about every two years. The last time was from December 2009 to March 2010 in the sign of Leo.  When a planet is retrograde the qualities of that planet are more pronounced and it often does not function in the normal manner. Mars is the planet of action. In a natal chart Mars is the juice that gets you going, gives you the energy to function in the world and moves you across the finish line. In the big wide world Mars rules the military, wars and disputes of all kinds.  During this retrograde period Mars moves backward from 23 degrees Virgo to 3 degrees Virgo. Those with planets and angles within those degrees will be exposed to this energy three times, when Mars goes forward over them, retrograde and forward again. Mars was at 3 degrees of Virgo around November 18/19, 2011 and will station to go direct on April 13/14, 2012.

 Barack Obama has natal Mars at 22 degrees Virgo and Pluto at 6 degrees Virgo in his 7^th house of partners, relationships and open enemies. Transits to the horoscope of a head of state move from the personal to the very public. In Mundane astrology, the astrology of events, the 7^th house has to do with wars, foreign policy and international relationships. A Mars transit juices up the planet it touches and often brings out aggressiveness, belligerence and makes one prone to a snappy or snarly response. Mars prompts a combative stance. Obama will make his State of the Union address on Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at 9PM with transiting retrograde Mars conjunct his natal Mars. My guess is he will come out swinging and over the coming months he will face his opponents both foreign and domestic, within the party and without; in ways that are not his normal mode. What worries me is the natal square between Neptune (22 Virgo) and Mars (21 Gemini) in the horoscope of the Declaration of Independence.  Mars square Neptune means war for all the wrong reasons. Retrograde Mars, jazzing up this square, is up to no good.  High ideals dragged through the muck of combat seldom emerge pristine.  

The involvement of the New Moon in the Jupiter/Saturn opposition sends a frisson of energy to the long term Jupiter/Saturn cycle. Jupiter and Saturn form a conjunction every 20 years and their interactive dance over the years plays a big role in political, financial and societal events. The opposition is the half way point. Oppositions are just that, two opposing forces colliding head on. Jupiter wants expansion while Saturn wants contraction.  Jupiter wants to try something new while Saturn favors the tried and true.

Saturn is also involved in a trine with Neptune. Saturn is reality; Neptune the ideal. Before this Lunation cycle is over, Neptune will leave Aquarius for the final time and enter the home turf of Pisces, while Saturn turns retrograde.  (Neptune was briefly in Pisces from last April to August 2011) In the final degree of a sign a planet seems to always give it the “last hurrah” before leaving that sign, an event that signifies the symbolism of the sign and planet.   Neptune in Aquarius can denote a spiritual brotherhood. That’s the upside. The downside can be fraud, slander and misrepresentation.  Not much scandalizes us any more so it is difficult to imagine what event or revelation could set us on our heels.  We can only hope that the positive prevails, the sharing, caring and sense of universal human hood evidenced in the Occupy movement and other protests around the world.

The waxing square between Uranus in Aries and Pluto in Capricorn reaches exactness on June 24, 2012, the first of 7 squares from June 2012 through March 2015. These squares are part of the 126 year cycle of Uranus/Pluto.  This cycle brings about broad societal change. Uranus is the revolutionary rebel and rule breaker, in Aries; he’s willing to fight for it. Pluto is the great transformer, in Capricorn; he’s about altering the structure of business and government.  Here again it is the old against the new.  Think of these 7 squares as growing pains.  It will not be easy. Echoes from this New Moon will reverberate at the time of the first Uranus/Pluto square on June 24^th as Saturn moves in direct motion and Mars, once again in direct motion, reaches 22/23 degrees of Virgo.  Get ready to Rock and Roll.

This is not an easy time. These planetary dynamics touch each of us on a personal and collective level.  Transits to the natal planets and through the natal houses tell the tale of personal challenges and opportunities. A consultation with an astrologer is a valuable tool in troubled times. Astrology points the way around that stone wall so you don’t have to bust your skull trying to go through it.  As a timing device, astrology pinpoints the moment of chance and change.  Astrology gives you an edge when you need it and a heads up when difficulties loom.  Carpe Diem – seize the day!