The mystery of this Sagittarius eclipse, May 25 2013

May 25, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Sagittarius full moon eclipseArt by Jo-Anne Mason, from the Savannah Gallery.  Coming off of the intensity of the third Uranus/Pluto square, this Full Moon eclipse is less powerful than the solar eclipse at the New Moon for a variety of reasons.  As an eclipse it is fairly week because the lunar nodes are 23 degrees from the lunation (the Sun and Moon), and in different signs.  The proximity from the lunar nodes to the Sun and Moon are what typically creates an eclipse, and the tighter the connection of the nodes to the lunation, the more intense the astrological effect will be.

This Full Moon is rather weak as an eclipse.  But it still packs the punch of a Full Moon in terms of illuminating the spaces of our interior consciousness and awareness.

As with all Full Moons, we have the Sun and Moon in opposition to each other, in signs that are polar opposites.  Typically that creates a great deal of tension which is why Full Moons can be so intense, but the Sagitarius/Gemini polarity embodies the least amount of stress of any of the zodiac polarities, so the Full Moons in these signs carry the potential for easier integration. The Moon is in Sagittarius now and the Sun in Gemini – both signs crave the freedom to pursue an ideal and gain greater understanding of the world. This is a time to set aside petty annoyances and allow ourselves the freedom to pursue our dreams.

Four planets are in communicative Gemini during this Full Moon, including a tight conjunction of Venus (beauty), Mercury (mind) and Jupiter (expansion and confidence), so the emphasis on transmission of ideas is heightened. This is not a particularly positive time for solitary introspection – this kind of active wisdom must be shared with others.

The lunation is locked in a challenging square to Neptune, planet of spirituality but also of deception, so there is a danger that in our desire to flee the distractions of the mundane world we take off into a realm where we are prone to lose our footing. This can be balanced by a conscious effort to integrate our creative inspiration into our dreams. Creativity and spiritual yearning come from the same source: the part of us that longs for a deeply personal connection to the divine. This Full Moon has a tremendous amount of creative potential locked within it that can be released if we are careful not to allow it to dissipate into fantasy.

The power of a Full Moon lasts for about three days so there is still time to open up our minds to the creative potential that lies untapped deep within the psyche.

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Full Moon in Scorpio and the first eclipse of 2013

April 25, 2013 By 7 Comments

Lunar eclipse April 2013Today’s Full Moon is a powerful one, as I was reminded when it shone through my window and brightened the room into full daylight.  As in every Full Moon, the Sun is opposite the Sun which is in Taurus.  This creates a need to find balance between the equanimity and stability of Taurus with the need for deep regeneration and soul processing of Scorpio.  This Full Moon is a time of going deep within to confront whatever monsters lie deep in the psyche so that they can be put to work for us rather than lurking in the darkness.

Scorpio is a water sign, but its traditional ruler is Mars which is the fire planet so Scorpio also adds a fiery and passionate side to the watery realm of feelings and intuition.  With the Sun still in a conjunction to Mars until early to mid-April, the fire of the past month has not totally subsided.  Still, when the Sun and Mars both moved into Taurus a few days ago there was a grounding of all of that fire that can help promote relaxation and a reduction of stress.

This event is an eclipse because the Sun and Moon are 11 degrees from the lunar nodes.  Eclipses are significant because of this nodal connection – the nodes of the Moon are simply points in the sky that mark the passage of the Moon around the solar orbit (ecliptic), but in astrological symbolism the lunar nodes are connected to fate.  Not always, but often something arises during an eclipse that is later seen to be a pivotal point in our lives.

The tighter the connection of the nodes to the lunation (Sun/Moon aspect), the more powerful the eclipse.  Astronomers give a wide orb of 15 degrees to an eclipse, but from this astrologer’s point of view the psychological impact is strongest when the nodes are closest to the lunation.  This eclipse is a partial eclipse of the Moon so its personal impact will likely not be stronger than a “normal” Scorpio Full Moon, which is powerful enough.

Saturn is tied into this Full Moon which suggests that this is a time for isolation and solitary work rather than group celebrations.  The square of Uranus to Pluto is tightening now, and this is embedded in the chart of the Full Moon which means that there is a tremendous energy now for letting go of something in the past to make way for a radical change that may be shocking and surprising.

Still, Chiron and Neptune are linked harmoniously to both Sun and Moon, aiding in the healing and restoration of the soul as it takes the Scorpionic journey into the Underworld, and with Chiron in a harmonious sextile to Venus, our relations with others can experience healing as well.

Any Scorpio or Pluto cycle forces us to face our fears and let go of our hesitations.  This Full Moon is no time for superficial fluff – it’s a time of depth and intensity and letting the soul do the talking.

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Libra Full Moon, March 27 2013: Finding balance in chaos

March 27, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Full Moons are all about balancing polar opposites since during the Full Moon the Sun is in the sign opposing the sign the Moon is in.  The polarities of the zodiac are oppositional in nature but some of the polarities are more oppositional than others.  Taurus and Scorpio both are sensual and stubborn.  Gemini and Sagittarius both hunger for knowledge.

In the Libra Full Moon the Sun is in Aries, and this time around the Sun has a lot of company in a tight Aries stellium which includes Venus, Sun, Uranus and Mars.  Aries is ruled by Mars, so the fact that Mars is in Aries is itself a “double whammy” which exponentially increases the aggressive fire and force of the Aries influence.  Mars and Aries are self-initiatory – at their best they inspire, motivate and create a force that is unstoppable.  If thwarted, diminished or blocked they evoke rage and a rebellious fervor that is particularly strong now since Mars itself is conjunct Uranus, the very planet of revolution.

And yet the Full Moon is in Libra and our hearts are longing for peace and harmonious connection with others.  The Libra Moon, which is much more polite and tends to withdraw from conflict. Libra is the sign of balance in any case – striving for balance in a polarized world. In this lunation, where the force of Libra’s opposite polarity, Aries, is so powerful, that balance will be much harder to achieve. But achieve balance we must – that is the lesson of the Libra Full Moon.

At its core, the Aries/Libra polarity teaches us to integrate our need for individuality (Aries) with our need for beautiful connections that inspire noble truths (Libra).  This polarity is made even more difficult by the fact that Libra’s ruler Venus is in its opposite sign of Aries – yet another symbol of the need to balance the personal (Mars/Aries) with the social (Venus/Libra), the self (Mars/Aries) with the couple or friendship (Venus/Libra).  Yin and Yang – darkness and light.  Each can’t exist in the presence of the other – yet they must.

Mars and Aries work with the personal Will, and at this Full Moon we have even greater potential to create magic through focusing the Will and desires. This means that it is incredibly important to use conscious awareness of what you desire at this time, because it is likely to be fulfilled.

Mars is exactly square Pluto at the Full Moon, challenging the personal Will against the Will of the higher self and beginning to tighten the Uranus/Pluto square with its powerful revolutionary force. There is an awkward aspect (quincunx) between Saturn and Mars that suggests some frustration during this time but the harmonious sextile from Saturn to Pluto helps to provide some grounding into the realm of the practical.

Surprises are likely with the strong presence of Uranus linking the Sun to Mars.  Uranus brings about new ideas and a fresh approach to moving through life that shatters old paradigms.  But this Full Moon also includes a Yod (Finger of Fate) aspect with Saturn at its apex, and with Saturn (the taskmaster which offers rewards for hard work and discipline) attention will be required in order to make the giant leap that is possible now.

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Mercury retrograde, and a Virgo Full Moon: February 2013

February 24, 2013 By


Virgo Full Moon February 2013Mercury turns retrograde today (February 23) and it’s time to go over the things we’ve done in the past in order to help perfect our future. Mercury is in Pisces now where it tends to be more adaptable and flexible and doesn’t mind reversing itself in order to improve the flow of our lives so this retrograde period may not be as difficult as some others.

Mercury turns retrograde for three weeks four times a year, so it is not a rare event.  I like to think of retrograde periods as being similar to ocean waves on a beach.  The ocean comes towards the shore, and then it retreats so that it can come once more – the ebb and flow of life.  We progress forwards in our life, marching towards the end of time, and then periodically we retreat, take a break, and re-evaluate that progress.  We correct the things that aren’t working, and improve the things that are.

While it’s true that Mercury retrograde periods are not great times to plan a vacation or make a major purchase, I confess I do these things all the time.  In my real estate business I can’t take off three weeks four times a year when Mercury turns retrograde, but if I have to sign a contract during that time I know to be prepared for renegotiations and reversals.

But Mercury retrograde is not the only news – we also have a Full Moon on February 25th in Virgo, the sign of practical reality and the body/mind/spirit system. I personally believe that Chiron is the modern ruler of Virgo because both share an attention to the balance between mental and spiritual health to the physical body. This emphasis on balance and healing is embedded in the chart of the Full Moon since the Sun and Moon are tightly linked to Chiron (the Sun conjoins Chiron and the Moon opposes it).

The Sun/Chiron combination is squared by Jupiter, planet of expansion and ideology which suggests that the concepts that underpin our reality are likely to be stretched at this time in order to accommodate the necessary healing process. With five planets in Pisces and Mercury retrograde, much of this will be operating through the subconscious and imaginal realms.

Venus enters Pisces just after the Full Moon, at which time there will be SIX PLANETS in Pisces. This is a very big lineup of planets in one sign, and several of them are trined by Saturn which helps to anchor the dreamy hopes and fantasies of Pisces. And of course the Virgo Moon desires order and grounding through ritual and established patterns of action. Mars is approaching a harmonious trine to the North Node now which helps to motivate us towards our highest good, despite the pull of the past.

In the Full Moon the lunar influence opposes the solar, and in this lunation Virgo opposes Pisces: the practical left-brain Virgo opposite the right-brain transcendence of Pisces. But Pisces is very heavily weighted here which could create some anxiety if an attempt is not made to ground the entire experience into something practical. Bring a pen and paper, or go for a walk in the woods and try if you can to stay away from technology during this Full Moon. This time is about going within and finding the rich experience of the inner landscape and that requires re-treat and re-juvenation, perfect for Mercury retrograde.

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Aquarius New Moon, February 10, 2013

February 10, 2013 By

Aquarius New Moonart by Kagaya.  The Moon is New in Aquarius today, offering up an opportunity to surrender all of the trappings of personality that culminated at the Leo Full Moon two weeks ago and opening up to a more universal perspective.

At the New Moon the energies of the Sun and Moon are fused, linking the solar conscious ego to the instinctive lunar heart of the soul. Conscious and unconscious, exterior and interior – there is a fusion here that provides us with an opportunity for a new beginning in the sign in which the lunation falls.

This New Moon is particularly powerful because of an exact square between the Sun and Moon to the North Node which makes this a bit like an eclipse. The lunar nodes are like signposts to destiny – they suggest events that are fated and point the direction in which our soul needs to travel. When a lunation is in a tight alignment to the nodes it signifies a pivotal point in our life so attention should be paid to any signals that are received at this time.

Aquarius is the inventor, the humanitarian and the scientist.  There is a cold idealism to Aquarius which enables us to look past our individual desires and needs to see the brilliant potential of a broader view. This is not a time when feelings and emotions will be honored – instead the higher mind takes the forefront of human experience.

A challenging square from Mars to Jupiter culminates at the New Moon, activating both planets to greater expression. This is a time of high energy, in which our passions (Mars) are given free rein (Jupiter) and we are energized by the imaginative force of Mars in Pisces.

The Aquarius New Moon is all about awakening to new realities – letting go of outmoded ideas and philosophies that no longer serve us so that we can gain new understanding and move into a different reality that is more true than our previous one. A conjunction of Mercury to Chiron during the New Moon suggests that we may be more prone to mental exhaustion at this time unless we take care to find rest and rejuvenation as a part of this major restructuring of our energetic pathways.

A square from Venus to Saturn during the New Moon peaks on the 11th and will likely make it somewhat difficult to connect with others during this experience.  There is a desire to connect, but the actual work of finding common ground is more difficult. This is a good time for solitude and inner exploration, or else working on a group level rather than in a one-on-one situation where intimacy is required.

Aquarius opens the doorway to intuition and insight, but this may require some attention and focus on our part.  Quieting the chatter of the lower mind can aid in this process as we allow the New Moon to wash away the past and encourage us to begin anew.

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Full Moon in Leo, January 26 2013

January 27, 2013 By

Leo Full MoonThis Full Moon is one of ascension and expansion.  In Leo we celebrate our unique individuality and acclaim the treasure of the Self.  At the Leo Full Moon we must balance that against the transpersonal influence of the Aquarius Sun which urges us to transcend the boundaries of the small Self in order to connect with the greater collective.

The Leo/Aquarius polarity is an important one for the Baby Boomers with Pluto in Leo, a placement which has led to a fanatical and sometimes destructive (Pluto) obsession with developing, improving and acclaiming the individual Self.  Every sign is balanced by its opposite, and each sign has its strength and its weaknesses.  When we are bound by our attachment to an intense focus on our own life (Leo) we are unable to see the Universe around us and the way each of us is interwoven with every other being on the planet.  This is the lesson of Aquarius.

Aquarius has its own negative attributes, which include a coldness and lack of emotion or true connectedness.  This coldness is balanced by the warmth and generosity of Leo.  At the Full Moon we find ourselves positioned on the see-saw of this polarity and must find balance between the two.

Aquarius is ruled by Uranus, the planet that connects us to multidimensional layers of human consciousness.  The Uranian theme in this Full Moon is particularly strong since Uranus forms a harmonious sextile to the Sun and trine to the Moon, offering a doorway of ascension and expanded awareness.

Meanwhile Jupiter, which has been stationary as it prepares to change direction, also harmonizes with the Sun and the Moon AND Uranus, so there is a continued opening vortex of expansion. This is a major change from the earlier Capricorn practicality that we saw earlier in the month, although Saturn forms a square to the lunation and maintains an anchored presence in the midst of cosmic consciousness. Jupiter is especially powerful now since it is preparing to change direction on the 30th and meanwhile is at a virtual standstill in the sky, shining a beam of positive energy in our direction.

So this Full Moon is particularly mind-blowing and can carry us to new levels of awakening if we are able to pay attention and utilize these energies rather than become overwhelmed by them.  Letting go of the bounds of ego (Leo) can  be frightening, but when we do let go we find ourselves more connected to our true Self than ever before and THIS is the lesson of the Leo Moon.

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Scorpio Solar Eclipse at the New Moon, November 13 2012

November 13, 2012 By

Scorpio eclipse 2012Today’s Scorpio New Moon is a total eclipse, amping up the power and volume of the Scorpio energy to sweep away the debris of the old and decaying aspects of our lives.  Scorpio is intense and passionate, but also courageous and powerful – let go of any desire for the superficial today.

Scorpio is closely connected with death and the occult, and the idea that the veil between this world and others is thinner than we’d like to think.  In this lunation the Sun and Moon are closely aligned with the North Node (future destiny) and opposite the South Node (past karma), giving us an opportunity to propel ourselves forward into a compelling future that is based on the big Truth rather than our ideas that underpin our beliefs about reality.  (A lunation is said to be an eclipse when the Sun and Moon are near the lunar nodes, signifying an event that carries importance and a fated quality.)

Saturn trines Pluto at this New Moon, and since Pluto as the modern ruler of Scorpio has a seat of honor at the table of this eclipse and Saturn is in the sign of Scorpio, ruled by Pluto, this is a dynamic alignment which fosters personal growth through focused effort.

The ancient Celts looked at the Scorpio time of year as the darkest time of year (in the Northern hemisphere) before the world began anew at the Winter Solstice.  There is a quality of rebirth and regeneration with Scorpio that immediately follows the necessary destruction of the old, and we can be the witnesses of this magical transformation if we only open our eyes.

 

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Taurus Full Moon, October 29 2012

October 27, 2012 By

The Full Moon in Taurus is a blessing from the Earth.  Taurus is the earthiest of all of the earth signs – it is a fixed sign so it encourages stability and perseverance, but is also stubborn and unyielding.  As an earth sign, Taurus is concerned with practical matters and physical comfort.  Sensual experiences of food and touch are important for Taurus, and for all of us under the Taurus Full Moon.

When the Moon is full in Taurus, the Scorpio Sun is exactly opposite the Moon.  Full Moons are the apex of the lunar cycle, and the opposition  (180 degree) aspect requires integration of polar opposites.  Where Taurus longs for peace and comfort, Scorpio demands intensity and passionate involvement.  Where Taurus seeks security, Scorpio is an emotional risk-taker.  It is this tension that creates the emotionality that Full Moons are famous for.

Still, Venus (attraction and relating) will have just moved from Virgo into Libra, bringing light into our relationships and bringing greater interpersonal balance.  In addition, Mercury moves into Sagittarius on the day of the Full Moon which begins a few weeks of a more optimistic period in which we seek a larger view of life and find more hope and faith.

Mercury is preparing to turn retrograde and has slowed down in preparation of its change of direction, so Mercury is very important right now.  A challenging square from Mercury to Neptune (delusion, spiritual yearning) is embedded in the chart of the Full Moon and can bring some confusion as some of the details that keep us anchored in the physical world become unraveled. If we let go and spend some time in meditation and inner thought that day we will avoid some of the pitfalls and potential delusion of this aspect.

While Taurus usually emphasizes a grounded experience of Life on Planet Earth, this potentially confusing aspect will require that we allow our inner intuitive voice to find fuller expression and help to inform the rational mind.

Of course the Uranus/Pluto square is embedded in this chart, as it will be in every lunation throughout the next few years, so letting go of the past (Pluto) and moving into the future (Uranus) is an important energetic component of the Full Moon. This is aided by an aspect which helps to foster an inner sense of expansion and great possibilities, and a harmonious solar aspect illuminates our healing journey and helps to ensure that all of our experiences during this time facilitate our personal growth and evolution.

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Libra New Moon, October 15, 2012

October 14, 2012 By

by Lynn Hayes New Moon Libra 2012Libra is the sign of relationships, including not only interpersonal relationships but the balance between one thing or idea and another. Libra strives for harmony and equilibrium, and this New Moon offers an abundance of sparkling wisdom to help us regain our balance and find innovative ways to take our lives in a different direction if that is required. The planet Mars is somewhat antithetical to Libra – it governs the aggressive force that inspires us to anger but also motivates us and helps to drive us towards our goals.

Mars is very active at the time of the New Moon, forming a challenging square to Chiron on the 14th that activates the healing force. Chiron’s healing doesn’t come through a magic wand like a fairy godmother – it necessitates walking into the fire of our wounds and emerging with new wisdom having released the past. This aspect lasts only a day or two, but it is embedded in the chart of the New Moon so it offers a way to clear the decks so that the fresh start of the New Moon can really occur.

Mars is also positioned in a harmonious trine to Uranus (rebellion, innovation) at the Libra New Moon on the 15th, triggering an explosion of fresh new energy and ideas.  This can bring excitement and a sense of anticipation, but it can also bring a sense of restlessness and dissatisfaction if there are areas of our lives that aren’t functioning quite as they should be. Venus is the ruler of Libra, and Venus is also quite active during the New Moon helping to enhance the focus on relationships and values.

A harmonious sextile from Mercury to Venus on the 16th improves communication and aids in greater understanding, and a square from Venus to Jupiter suggests that we may become restless and uncomfortable if we are not given the freedom that we require during these few days around the New Moon. Venus represents the way we connect, attract and attach; Mars signifies independence and individuality.

The New Moon in Libra demands that we find balance in opposites and harmony in areas of disagreement, and the important presence of the planets representing the Self (Mars) and the Other (Venus) further encourages this harmony. This New Moon offers an opportunity to examine where we are out of balance all of our relationships.  Our primary partnership, relationships with family members, with colleagues, and most importantly, with ourselves.  If we are in a relationship, this New Moon can energize and promote healing and harmony.  If we are single or alone, or even if we aren’t, we have an opportunity to activate the Inner Partner or the parts of ourselves that may be hidden or which have been out of reach.  Reconnecting fully with lost aspects of our own psyche is essential for any healthy relationship.

for daily planetary cycles visit my Facebook and Twitter pages, and for a special monthly Skywatch report emailed to you each month, sign up in the sidebar.

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Powerful Aries Full Moon, September 29 2012

September 29, 2012 By

by Lynn Hayes
This Full Moon is one of the most powerful events of the summer and is tightly wrapped up into the intense dynamic of change from the square formation between Uranus and Pluto.

Every Full Moon contains an opposition between the Sun and the Moon, and the solar force of conscious awareness creates tension with the lunar force of instinct and emotion.  During the Full Moon the Sun is invisible, seen only in the illumination of the Moon and the power of the inner world.

The Aries Full Moon demands that we energize ourselves into action and face our fears directly rather than shrink into overly polite or cautious behavior. The Moon conjoins Uranus which is already opposed by the Sun, creating an urgency and a restless quality that demands change in any area of our life where we are not living authentically. Pluto challenges the whole system and will force a breakdown in any area that is not supporting the impetus for change. Living a lie? Swallowing your feelings? Hiding from your emotions? None of these things will be possible at this Full Moon.

This is the Full Moon of the warrior gods and goddesses. We are all called upon now to be our best selves – to rise to the challenge and be co-creators of the transformation.  Fortunate we have some powerful allies for the journey.  The transformational power of Pluto harmonizes in a sextile to Chiron, the facilitator of healing and personal evolution, pushing our inner wounds to the surface where they can be lanced like a boil to remove the poisons that lie beneath.  And Saturn lays out a comforting grid of structure and a solid foundation as it forms a trine to Neptune, harnessing our imagination and creativity in ways that can help us to plan for a better future.

This is an intense time, and this Full Moon, while not altogether comfortable, will help empower us to be better prepared.

for daily planetary cycles visit my Facebook and Twitter pages, and for a special monthly Skywatch report emailed to you each month, sign up in the sidebar.

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