New Moon In Pisces

"The most beautiful thing we can experience
is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, he who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead: his eyes are closed".
- Albert Einstein

No surprise that Einstein was a Pisces, with a perspective like that. And this perspective is at the heart of the symbolism of the annual new moon in Pisces, which this year takes place on Feb 28th at 12.30am GMT.
This new moon has an unusual aspect to it, being just 2 degrees away from freedom planet Uranus, a planet called by some 'the great awakener',because of the tendency to rouse us out of complacency with a much needed wake-up call. Uranus can make situations turn on a sixpence, and it's an unpredictable energy but not necessarily unstable. It's agenda is always freedom, so look for that theme underlying current events, along with the ever present Piscean proverb about going with the flow.

Mars In Gemini

After 7 months, the long transit of Mars through Taurus has finally come to an end, and is now in the sign of the twins until mid-April.
Because Mars went retrograde in Taurus, we had this extended 7 month journey, emphasising the slow, plodding, unswerving quality of the sign in all its unshakable glory. But Gemini is a diferent energy altogether, faster, more changeable, and much more mind-focused. And interestingly, Mercury, ruler of Gemini is retrograding in Pisces from March 2nd, making the retro energy continue as a feature; especially mid-March and earlyish April, when Mars is due to link up to Mercury.

Mars in any sign shows what drives you, what motivates you. It's your passion for life, but it's also what drives you mad too! And as Gemini rules the lungs, it'll probably feel extra important to get whatever drives you mad off your chest.
Gemini is associated with all forms of communication, common ground, neighbourhood and local area, as well as siblings and sibling style relationships. It's a connecting force, naturally seeking out patterns in forms to join the dots or put two and two together.
So over the next month or so, expect any or all of these themes to become a priority, a passion, or a source of letting off steam.

More to come...

Full Moon In Leo 13th Feb

Had the feeling of being pulled in two different directions recently? If so you might have been living out the build-up of energy experienced at full moon time, when the sun and moon sit at opposing sides of the zodiac.
This month the sun is in Aquarius (focusing attention on freedom and friendship), while the moon sits in the opposing sign of Leo (emotional need to be focus of attention). The themes associated with these signs become issues that push or pull against each other, while never quite resolving themselves in the process.
But every full moon also symbolises a turning point. It could be when things come to a head somehow, the end of a stalemate, or when building tensions finally break. Whatever the details, after the full moon peaks and begins to move on, the energy of situations starts to change too, which is why the moon's message is always 'this too shall pass'.

Venus Retrograde, Full Moon In Cancer

It's a full moon when the moon is at the opposite degree in the zodiac from the sun. This month the sun sits at 24 degrees Capricorn while the moon is at 24 Cancer. Not unusual in itself, as it happens once a year between these two signs; what catches the eye is that Venus is currently around the same degree as the sun, in Capricorn, as it retraces its steps on its retrograde (appearing to move backwards) journey.

Because Capricorn is the builder, the developer and manifester of the zodiac, and Venus is concerned with value, this combination can bring a sense of urgency or pressure around long term plans, which connect strongly to self esteem and self worth. Retrograde periods reach into the past, so don't be surprised if there's a feeling of comparison about past and present; a rewinding or reviewing past accomplishments, or a weighing up of timescales concerning future plans.
Added to this combination is of course the continuing of the grand cross energies, and the meeting of Mars and Jupiter which reaches a peak this weekend too. There are some powerful energies at work now, and the key probably lies in the full moon sign of Cancer, which is about emotional connectedness.
Its a time to feel the feelings and answer them. Insecurity, discomfort, or yearnings that are past or future based need care and attention now. This is the Chicken Soup Moon of the zodiac, the balance to the stark reality of situations that Capricorn is so adept at getting us in touch with.

Venus returns to this degree during the final days of February, so the journey isn't over yet.

Mars Opposite Jupiter, And The Return Of The Grand Cross

What on earth is going on at the moment? I thought it was just me experiencing strange, strong energies that are bending events into ever more tense formations, but apparently it's also everyone I meet.

From an astro point of view, this stoical plodding through the depths of January is the result of Fixed Grand Cross energy (see previous post here for info), which has transformed slightly - the Sun is now replaced by Jupiter, in opposition to Mars, while Saturn and Neptune continue to take up the other two corners of the square.
I had my doubts about this Grand Cross being in full flow, because Saturn is quite wide - a whole 6 degrees from exact opposition with Neptune. But events are showing me in big flashing neon type signs that its energies are very much part of this mix.

It's all tension and more tension, and this weird kind of depression, an underlying heaviness that permeates situations from the inside out, the kind that encourages depth internal philosophical debate, but is also accompanied by a 'resigned to it' feeling which resists discussion and bottles up the expression. Certainly a Jupiter in Scorpio rant on the meaning of life will touch on things that no one else dares contemplate, and go deeper into a subject than anyone else fears to tread, while Mars in Taurus is the energy of resignation. For good or ill.
Meanwhile Neptune is the dissolver, for example either into tears, into love, or into helplessness, and Neptune in Aquarius means this is all focused on people, and the themes at the heart of the human condition. But what Saturn in Leo is concerned with, from its current position on the other side of the zodiac from Neptune, is that whatever came before, comes to nothing. Not the most cheery sight for Saturn's eyes, being a planet that gains strength from the past.

If you have noticed a feeling of things dragging on, a sense that things just shouldn't be taking as long, or are never-ending, it's the Mars/Jupiter thing. Not just because Jupiter expands what it touches, but because Mars, the main man for action and motivation still isn't up to speed since it's recent retrograde motion. Normally Mars would move through an opposition to Jupiter much more quickly, and boy is that noticeable now.
The Mars/Jupiter oppostion doesn't become exact till around January 15th, and then the effect only slowly wanes. So we have a way to go with this one. Which means not just riding it out. This Grand Cross energy makes inner contemplation inevitable and inescapable. Nothing for it but to embrace what is going on inside and start listening.
More on this later, no doubt.

New Moon In Capricorn For New Year...

... during the early hours of New Year's Eve, which is nice symbolism to kick off 2006 with, as a new moon represents a new phase or beginning. Full moon's are famous for their intense emotional effect on people, but in my experience a new moon can stir up just as strong emotional responses too.
A new moon tends to bring feelings of emptyness or hunger with it, because it's about being at the beginning of something and open to receive more, and therefore pre-desire fulfillment. If we try to avoid these feelings (by burying it under comfort eating or drinking for example) it seems to make it worse - what you resist persists, as well as avoiding the real desire that underlies the feelings.

Capricorn is the sign of the cosmic provider (remember Santa Claus?). It's all about accepting it's possible to manifest what your heart desires. It's also the sign of the miracle worker (virgin birth on Dec 25th?), so I believe this is an important annual new moon in the astro calendar.
This new moon links to the moon's north and south nodes, which makes it all extra lunar-focused, and extra important in the long-term cycles of our lives. Saturn is linking with Mars in a tense way, but tense or not, its a symbol of the meeting of two key planets as far as understanding the principles of manifesting goes. And because Mercury shares the same degree as Pluto, in the sign of Sagittarius, it's the perfect time to finally accept it's our beliefs that help create our reality.

So because it's the moon to manifest mountains or molehills, (as the mood may take you), my recommendation for some great Capricorn-style reading inspiration is 'Ask And It Is Given' by Abraham-Hicks, which is the finest of its kind on the subject, in my opinion. Check out their website here.

Happy Yule

It's Winter Solstice, the day in the Northern Hemisphere when the Sun moves into the first degree of the sign of Capricorn. The shortest day and the longest night. It's the celebration of the (re)birth of the Sun, who nine months ago was in the sign of Aries, the sign associated with beginnings and the start of anything.
Capricorn is ruled by Saturn, a much-misunderstood planet, that gets a bad name at times for the stern and serious approach to life it seems to favour. But it's no coincidence of course that the figure of Santa Claus, who only makes an appearance at this time of year, embodies the spirit of Saturn and Capricorn. The old man of the skies is an important figure to acknowledge in order to really get the meaning of this part of the zodiac, as he's a reminder that Saturn isn't really about harsh lessons, and Capricorn does more than just stick to the rules.
Peace and goodwill to all, through fun and the enjoyment of giving, is the real Solstice message, something that we all need to work hard at the whole year round, to reap the real rewards that Saturn has to offer.

Mike Nichols has a great page on the history and traditions of Yule here, and there's an indepth look at Capricorn, with masses of info on Saturn too, at Deborah Houlding's site here.