New Moon in Aquarius, January 22-23, 2012

Posted on January 21, 2012 by Lynn Hayes

The Sun and the Moon will unite in Aquarius at 2:39 am on January 23rd (Eastern) or 7:39 am GMT. We call this the New Moon but it is technically the “dark” of the Moon – not even a sliver of the lunar light is reflected by the Sun.

The New Moon marks the beginning of the new lunar cycle, and it provides an energetic boost to us as well. Each month we have a New Moon in a different sign, and the New Moon falls in a different house in our natal chart. This offers us an opportunity to begin anew with a fresh slate and a clean vision.

The symbol for Aquarius is called the “Water Bearer” – Aquarius carries the emotional realm (signified by water) into the realm of the practical. The traditional ruler of Aquarius is Saturn, after all, and although we modern folks tend to focus primarily on the modern aspect of Aquarius as the eccentric (the gift of Uranus, its modern ruler) Aquarius is also the scientist and the innovative technician, both Saturnian models.

This New Moon is highlighted by Mars, which has slowed down to a station and turns retrograde just after the Sun and Moon conjoin in the New Moon. When a planet is stationary its influence becomes more powerful, and even now Mars has slowed to a crawl and we are seeing reversals and surprises reflected in the world around us. (See this article for more about Mars retrograde.)

Mercury is in a harmonious trine to Mars on the day of the New Moon which will help the mind accelerate to keep up with Mars activity, and that will help us to channel the high energy that Mars will be beaming on us.

The Aquarius New Moon on the 23rd contains that beam of energy, and is focused on creative originality and new beginnings. Again we have a “double whammy” because the Aquarius Moon and Sun harmonize with Uranus, the modern ruler of Aquarius. Uranus inspires radical change to the status quo, and urges us to innovate our lives with new ways of thinking and ideas that seem to come out of nowhere.

We also have a square from Jupiter to the Sun and Jupiter now squares the Moon as well so there is some frustration as the our confidence expands and the soul yearns to find its highest expression in a world which is limited. In addition, Saturn is within range of a square to the New Moon and seeks to cancel out Jupiter’s confidence with a healthy dose of self-doubt. A strong Jupiter influence can sometimes cause us to respond with a lack of sense, especially if we are more impulsive by nature and Saturn’s strong presence in this dynamic will almost ensure that this occurs if we fail to consider the practical implications of all that we do now.

Aquarius is all about change, and with so much Jupiterian and Uranian energy combining with the assertive strength of Mars right now, change is just about assured. As always, we have a choice: we can either go willingly and trust the Universe to bring our lives into greater balance, or we can try to resist and hold on to the aspects of our lives which we know in our hearts won’t fit the new reality of our changing lives.

Aquarius teaches that change and innovation doesn’t have to be frightening – that transformation and personal growth fulfill our soul’s longing for purpose and connection to our higher selves and a life that is far beyond what we can conceive of today.

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Full Moon in Cancer, January 9 2011

Posted on January 9, 2012 by Lynn Hayes

The Moon reached her fullness at 2:29 am Eastern/7:29 GMT. Cancer is ruled by the Moon, so there is a powerful emphasis now on lunar attributes such as instincts, the subconscious, feelings and emotions. The Moon is also associated with mystery, since it illuminates the darkness, and because it is the only planetary body other than Chiron and Ceres in the element of water, the sudden emphasis on the watery realm of feelings may seem a bit startling.

The Cancer influence of the Moon opposes the Sun in the practical sign of Capricorn, so there is a bit of a struggle between the earthly realm and the realm of mystery. This creates a powerful energy that can be utilized to your advantage if you apply your focus and remain attentive throughout the day and for a day or two thereafter.

There are a number of Mercury aspects which are locked into the chart for the Full Moon, fully engaging the mind and helping us to process the flow of feeling and memory that are released by this Full Moon. A conjunction from Mercury to Pluto could intensify the mental engagement that much more and demand that attention be paid during this time. The trine from Mercury to Jupiter enhances the ability to open up to messages of the spirit, and the square from Mercury to Uranus forces us to adapt to new influences that come in from outside of our normal everyday life.

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New Moon in Capricorn, December 24 2011

Posted on December 24, 2011 by Lynn Hayes

The Sun entered Capricorn on December 22nd, unlocking an irritating aspect between Jupiter (expansion) and Uranus (radical change). The Sun harmonizes with Jupiter which promotes harmony and self-confidence, but the Sun squares Uranus which can be frustrating as we come face to face with our limitations. As with any potentially challenging planetary event, just breathe and pay attention to the signals from the heart. Transits of the Sun last only a day or two, but they can open up the consciousness to receive important information from the spirit, especially on the 23rd when the Sun sextiles Chiron and increases our receptivity to that information.

All of this leads up to the Capricorn New Moon on December 24th. This New Moon is not an eclipse but it is a powerful event nonetheless because of the planetary aspects involved. Capricorn is the sign of achievement and mastery in the world, and the Capricorn New Moon is the perfect time to set goals and aspirations for the New Year. A trine from Jupiter to the Sun/Moon conjunction that forms the New Moon will help to facilitate our ability to think large and create a powerful and wonderful vision for the new year. The Jupiter/Chiron sextile can help us to heal and work through patterns that hold us back from achieving success.

The New Moon is a little more than 5 degrees from a conjunction to Pluto, intensifying the New Moon and forcing us to face up to something that is important for us to know but which we may have been struggling to keep repressed. In order to truly move forward in our lives we must remove the obstacles that stand in our way, and Pluto is the perfect ally for this task.

Jupiter is stationary at the New Moon and will turn direct the following day. Since we often call Jupiter Santa Claus, nothing is more appropriate than the fact that Jupiter turns direct on Christmas Day! Over the next few days the Sun will approach a conjunction to Pluto, so the last week of December is the perfect time to spend getting to know yourself a little more deeply than you have in the past. This is how personal power is achieved, and the increase of personal power will be your greatest ally in moving into the New Year with confidence and engagement on all levels of being.

Full Moon Eclipse, Uranus turns direct – December 10, 2011

Posted on December 9, 2011 by Lynn Hayes

The next few days are packed with astrological energy as Uranus makes a station (a standstill) at zero degrees Aries on the same day as a lunar eclipse.

As the planet of sudden change and shocking events, the role of Uranus is to startle us out of complacency and force us into an experience that will break through the shackles of closed-mindedness and attachment to the past. Uranus is the revolutionary, the innovator – it also rules technology and a detachment in which reason takes precedence over emotion.

Planets don’t really change direction, obviously, but because we observe their movement from earth they sometimes appear to do so. The outer planets generally spend about half of the year in what we call “retrograde” motion. Planets changing direction operate in a similar fashion to cars that are making a U-turn: before they make that U-turn they slow down, from our vantage point on earth, progressing just a degree or maybe a few minutes of arc each day until they make that change of direction. When a planet slows down to a standstill and makes that “station” its effect is more powerful, rather like a car blowing its horn as it comes to a standstill right outside our home

Uranus is at the zero degree of Aries now, the first degree of the first sign of the zodiac. Symbolically this is a point of initiation and action – something new is being birthed both within us, and in the world around us. Because Uranus is stationary at that degree its energy is focused like a laser beam of intensity, inspiring a desire for change and letting go of the past and whatever is holding us back from venturing forth into a brave new world.

This is the backdrop for the lunar eclipse that occurs on the same day. A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon is Full and the Sun’s light opposes the Moon. The Moon represents our emotions, our needs – what we need to feel secure, what we need to feel safe and loved. During a Full Moon our emotional range may be heightened as the solar light of the conscious mind challenges the lunar instincts. An eclipse occurs when the Sun and Moon conjoin the lunar nodes, and because the lunar nodes represent our evolutionary direction there is a fated quality to eclipses and an unmasking of something crucial that is required for our spiritual development.

The emotional realm is murky and hidden in the best of times, and during a lunar eclipse the mysteries of the subterranean realm of the heart become intensified. More magical, yes, but also potentially more frightening if you are a person who tends to hide from emotional matters. This is a Gemini Full Moon, and Gemini desires above all else to communicate. This is not a time to hide your emotions and try to absorb them into the core of your being. This Full Moon requires communication and expression of the emotional realm so that it can be transmitted and transmuted into personal growth.

Gemini is ruled by Mercury, the planet of communication, and Uranus is considered to be the “higher octave” of Mercury in that Mercury rules mind and Uranus rules higher mind. Uranus takes the chatter of our thoughts and converts them to intuition and insight. In the Gemini Full Moon the Sun is in the sign of Sagittarius which is expansive and seeks the One Truth, but the Gemini/Sagittarius polarity requires that we find balance between curiosity and ideology. Even when we think we know what is true (Sagittarius), we must always continue to learn and inquire (Gemini).

This Full Moon will appear huge as it begins to rise and will be colored by the Earth’s atmosphere. The beauty and magnitude of this Full Moon reflects the power of this lunation which offers us the potential to see beyond the veil of our ideas and beliefs and to elevate our thoughts beyond the confines of our emotions.

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Sagittarius New Moon eclipse, November 25 2011 PLUS Mercury turns retrograde

Posted on November 25, 2011 by Lynn Hayes

Art by Sally J. Smith, from Silver Rockets. The New Moon occurred a few hours ago, but we are still in its influence for the next day or two. Although astronomically this is technically a partial eclipse, because the lunation was 12 degrees away from the Nodes of the Moon, that is a bit too far to have much astrological impact.

Like all New Moons, the Sun is conjunct the Moon, fusing the emotional instincts (Moon) with the conscious identity (Sun) to create a powerful new beginning. Every New Moon in the lunar cycle provides us with an opportunity to begin again with a clean slate. Under the Sagittarius New Moon we move from the darkness of Scorpio and its emphasis on the underworld of Soul experiences into the lighter framework of the Sagittarian need for expansion and a sense of meaning about life.

There are four planets in Sagittarius right now, so the Sagittarian emphasis is strong. In addition, Jupiter (the planet that rules Sag) is in an exact trine to the New Moon which gives us a Double Whammy (technical astrological term) of Jupiter/Sun/Moon energy. Now is the time to forge a vision that expands your life, your consciousness, your mind. Eliminate from your being the need to stay rooted in the past or any idea of who you think you are.

Jupiter and Sagittarius work with our belief systems, helping us to understand more about life and about what gives our life meaning, but those ideologies are not meant to be static or confined under the Jupiterian influence. They are meant to continue expanding, taking us into ever broadening circles of knowledge and wisdom. Chiron (wounding and healing) interacts harmoniously with Jupiter this week, facilitating the easing of the energy blocks that our wounded places create, thus facilitating the expansion of our lives into greater abundance.

Over the past week or so Mars has been aligned in a Grand Trine in Earth, first with Jupiter and now with Pluto. There is potential for greater stabilization now, a great boon when dealing with the pressured expansion of this strong Sagittarian influence. We also see a trine from Saturn to Neptune: from form and structure (Saturn) to the dissolving of that form into bliss (Neptune).

We do have a challenging square from Chiron to the New Moon now which suggests that in order to benefit from these planetary alignments we will have to allow ourselves to be healed of any emotional dissonance which holds us back. These Chironic experiences are not always comfortable, but they are necessary for personal growth and evolution. In this context, as part of the New Moon, it becomes easier to see these growth experiences as helping us to achieve the big Jupiter/Sagittarius vision.

We also have Mercury turning retrograde today. Mercury will remain retrograde for three weeks during which our ideas and goals are likely to be more difficult to achieve. Mercury is in Sagittarius now, and Sag tends to dislike being held back by a retrograde. Retrograde periods are important because they force us to go back over areas of our lives or experiences that may need more attention before they come to completion, and Sagittarius prefers to be free from any restrictions. This means that this Mercury Rx period could be more challenging than some in terms of bringing communication snafus and equipment problems.

While Mercury is retrograde see if you can find areas of your life that need to be re-done, re-viewed or re-assessed rather than beginning a new project. This Sag New Moon inspires us to think big and create great goals, but there will be a few weeks of bumpy starts before we can really move forward with those goals.

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Full Moon in Taurus, November 10, 2011

Posted on November 9, 2011 by Lynn Hayes

photos stolen from Beth Owl’s Daughter. Since she is a friend she probably won’t mind! The Moon will reach its fullness in Taurus at 3:16 pm Eastern time (7:16 pm GMT) on November 10, 2011. The Sun is in Scorpio, and with the climax of the lunar cycle at the Full Moon a tension exists between the solar conscious mind, currently influenced by Scorpio, and the instincts of the lunar principle in Taurus.

The Taurus/Scorpio polarity offers a primal dance between Mars (traditional ruler of Scorpio) and Venus (traditional ruler of Taurus). Mars is aggressive, assertive, rough, defensive, protective; Venus is soft, yielding, flowing, sensitive. Where Scorpio is aggressive in its need to eliminate and procreate, Taurus longs for stability and security. These two sides of our nature are both equally important, yet for many of us they battle in our psyche and require periodic adjustments to achieve a balance that will offer us some peace. Because Scorpio and Taurus are both fixed signs that do not adjust easily, there is greater tension in this polarity than in most of the other signs in opposition (Leo and Aquarius is the other fixed pair).

I like to think of Earth as being a ruler of Taurus, since Taurus embodies the love of Earth, gardening, and all things natural. And Pluto is the modern ruler of Scorpio. So we are also seeing here the polarity between Pluto, the Lord of the Underworld, and Gaia, the mother of all living things. Life and death – generation and regeneration. These are no small factors in the course of a life, and they are the primal factors underlying this Full Moon.

With the Full Moon being the peak of the cycle, we are at the peak of our manifesting power now. Questions to ask in this Full Moon would include: “Where am I sacrificing comfort for a deeper experience of life?” ”Where are my security needs interfering with my desire for a life of real meaning?” “In what ways am I allowing my emotional dramas to sabotage genuine relationships that last?” “Where have I given my power over to others?”

The chart for this Full Moon features a conjunction of Mercury (the mind and thought process) to Venus (love and relating), both in the expansive sign of Sagittarius. This helps us to find the larger perspective and embrace those around us as we find the internal balance promised by the Full Moon. Mars, at the very last degree of Leo where it is finishing up the work of solo life and personal expression, is opposing Chiron (the Soul Healer®) and Neptune (the Soul Teacher) so we know that anything that occurs at this time will have a significant and lasting effect on us at the personal level.

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Above all, Full Moon periods (for a day or two before and after the lunation as well as the event itself) are times of emotional fullness and power. They are never the best times to try to control our world with the mind, and this is even less so under the Taurus/Scorpio polarity. So celebrate the fullness of your experience, and dance in the richness of the emotional world in which you live, no matter what it brings you.

New Moon in Scorpio, October 26 2011

Posted on October 26, 2011 by Lynn Hayes

The New Moon occurs when the Moon conjoins the Sun, beginning a new lunar cycle. Scorpio is the sign of emotional fearlessness and demands that we find pure and complete acceptance of ourselves at the deepest core of our being, so the Scorpio New Moon denotes a time of inner renewal and self-honesty.

The Scorpio New Moon on October 26th takes us even deeper into the Underworld of the psyche and emotional realms. By this time there are four planets and luminaries in Scorpio: The Sun and Moon, and Mercury and Venus. There is no escaping the necessity of reaching into the abyss of our own interior world, but the rewards are great as we discover the treasures that lie buried underneath the veneer of our own consciousness.

This New Moon has a number of harmonious aspects that will facilitate the shedding process that is a hallmark of the Scorpio experience, including a trine of the Sun to healing Chiron that helps to remove any obstacles which prevent us from achieving that lofty goal.

A square from Venus to Mars in Leo suggests potential stress in our relationships, but also enhances sexuality and the excitement of Scorpio that Mars (traditional Scorpio ruler) brings to the table. Mars is in a harmonious sextile to Saturn at the New Moon which helps to provide stability and an environment where new plans under the New Moon may be devised.

As with any New Moon, this is a fertile time to plant seeds of a new venture that will flower when the Moon is full. But because we’re talking about Scorpio here, the new venture is about letting go rather than taking on something new. In what areas could you use more direction in your life? Where is your quest for superficial comfort keeping you from becoming the person you know you are meant to be? These are questions for the Scorpio New Moon.

There is magic and mystery during this time of Scorpio. It’s no accident that the Scorpio Full Moon occurs around the time of All Hallows Eve and Samhain when the veils are thin. Enjoy the mystery, and celebrate the magic!

For daily planetary updates, please visit my Facebook and Twitter pages.

Full Moon in Aries: October 11, 2011

Posted on October 10, 2011 by Lynn Hayes

The Aries Full Moon occurs on the evening of October 11th. As in any Full Moon, the Aries Moon opposes the Libra Sun, bringing the Aries/Libra polarity into the forefront of our awareness.

The Aries/Libra dynamic balances the need for self-orientation (Aries) with a focus on The Other (Libra). Libra itself seeks to achieve balance, and in that quest there is often a loss of the desired balance as the quest for harmony, especially in relationships, takes precedence over personal needs. Aries maintains the focus on personal needs and is less interested in achieving balance.

On the other hand (a good Libra expression, since Libra can always see the opposing point of view), where Aries can be self-centered and impulsive, acting without thought or consideration, Libra’s ability to intuit the proper course that will please everyone can be more useful in many life experiences.

This is the dilemma that the Aries/Libra Full Moon brings to all of us.

The Libra Sun in the Full Moon chart conjoins Saturn (isolation, structure, achievement) which suggests that solitude and focus will be highlighted so that an ideal inner balance may be achieved. Saturn is in Libra now where it is said to be exalted, so the presence of Saturn (typically thought to be a negative experience) will be a helpful ally in achieving the desired balance of this lunation.

A trine from Mercury (the mind and mental process) to Neptune (creativity and spirituality) will culminate the day following the Full Moon and helps to open the doorways of the mind and enhance the sensitivity of the senses. But we are dealing with Aries here after all – a focus on the Self and initiating something bold and courageous will be the order of the day. A wide trine from Mars (the planet of drive and inspiration) to the Aries Moon will help to energize the process and provide a touch of excitement.

The effect of a Full Moon is thought to last for a few days on either side of the actual event. Being mindful of the planetary energies at work can help us to utilize these energies to their best effects.

For daily planetary updates, visit my Facebook and Twitter pages.

Remembering September 11th, and a look at the Pisces Full Moon, September 12, 2011

Posted on September 11, 2011 by Lynn Hayes

Remembering September 11th

"United We Rise" by Elaine Felos Ostrander art by Elaine Felos Ostrander. You will have a hard time ignoring the fact that today is the tenth anniversary of the September 11th attacks if you live in the United States. There’s not a media outlet (including this one) that is letting today go by without a mention.

I think we can all agree that no matter how we spin the attack and the events that followed in our mind, this event is the single thing that has changed the course of world history in our lifetime. As I wrote in my earlier article on September 11th:

On the day of the attacks, transiting Pluto was within seventeen minutes of an exact conjunction to the US ascendant in the Sibley chart) at 12 degrees Sagittarius. Astrologers had worried for months about the opposition of Saturn to Pluto that was in effect at that time, and Pluto, which had been traveling retrograde, turned direct on August 25th within 11 minutes of the US ascendant. When planets change direction in a close aspect to one of our planets, the effect is extremely intense. [This sole fact is enough to have convinced many astrologers, including this one, of the veracity of the Sibley chart.]

Saturn and Pluto are both Lords of Death with Saturn having played that role in the early days of astrology before Pluto was discovered. Modern astrologers don’t find Saturn as evil as the more traditional astrologers do, but the stress between the restriction of Saturn and the transformative power of Pluto can be difficult at best. With these two facing off and Pluto sitting right on the ascendant, the face of American life and politics (ascendant) were irrevocably changed (Pluto) that day.

This Pluto cycle actually began on November 25, 2000 when Pluto first crossed the US ascendant – the week of September 11 was the second phase of this cycle. During that week in November 2000, the Florida recount began that would be the first phase of the lawsuits that resulted in George Bush being appointed President.

It seems likely to me that the events surrounding the 2000 election in the first phase of Pluto crossing the US ascendant undermined the structures that formed the very fabric of the country to the point where it was vulnerable to attack when Pluto came around the second time and sat right on the US ascendant for a month or more.

Full Moon in Pisces, September 12th

Although the Moon does not culminate in its fullness until the early morning of September 12th, its influence can certainly be felt a day or two beforehand. As in any Full Moon the Sun (conscious mind) in Virgo opposes the Moon (instincts and emotions) in Pisces. Any opposition between two polarities requires balance and integration, and this Full Moon questions our balance between mind and heart – reality and imagination. The lunation is exactly square to the Nodes of the Moon, suggesting that an adjustment is necessary in order to achieve the required balance. The Full Moon is the culmination of the lunar cycle and well-known for its effect of heightening emotions as the lunar instincts are illuminated by the reflection of the Sun.

An aspect between the Nodes of the Moon to the chart of a Full or New Moon is a significant event. When at least one of the Nodes are in a conjunction to the Sun or Moon we call it an eclipse. When the Sun or Moon are locked in a Grand Cross with the lunar nodes the influence is similar to that of an eclipse even though there is no visual effect such as we see with an eclipse. We may feel that we are pulled in many directions at once and find it difficult to find our center, but that is exactly what the Pisces Moon is seeking – a center within that connects us deeply to the soul.

The Nodes of the Moon are signposts from the past to the future, and in order to stay on the path we sometimes need instructions. Unfortunately, we don’t always pay attention to the signs as they’re given to us, and instead we call these signs “problems” or “difficulties.” This Grand Cross is in mutable signs – the signs that flex with the wind and adapt easily to change – so it will be easier to move through anything that comes up for us to negotiate through.

My new friend the Black Moon Lilith is in a double inconjunct to the Full Moon but harmonizes with the Nodes. I’m still collecting information about the Black Moon but she seems to have something to do with the primal darkness within us that seeks emergence, so I suspect that this will be a theme for some of us over the next few days. With Mars in a harmonious sextile to Venus at the same time our relationships will lend support for greater integration of our personality and emotions.

For daily planetary updates, please visit my Facebook and Twitter pages.

New Moon in Virgo, August 28 2011

Posted on August 27, 2011 by Lynn Hayes

New Moons are the beginning of a new lunar cycle and a time to wash away the past and begin anew. What we call the astrological New Moon, the exact moment in which the Sun and Moon are aligned in a new zodiacal sign, is actually the dark of the Moon. Not a sliver of the Moon is visible at this time: it is absolute potentiality. The previous cycle is complete, and something new is beginning.

In Virgo the New Moon brings greater attention to health, diet, personal hygiene, and other details that are necessary in order to live in a body. There is a purity about Virgo that is unique to this sign – the ability to discriminate between that which is helpful and that which is not. It is this discrimination that gives Virgo the reputation for being a perfectionist and which creates a sensitivity to the environment that can be somewhat anxiety-producing.

The Sun and Moon in the New Moon chart are linked to Venus, a beneficial aspect that softens the potentially anxious quality of Virgo and enhances our ability to connect with others. The Sun, Moon and Venus are all in a harmonious trine to Pluto, describing a powerful transformation that is possible at this time. In harmonious aspects Pluto becomes an ally in deepening our experience and intensifying our awareness, giving us a big boost at this time of new beginning.

This New Moon also includes a tight trine from Venus to Jupiter: the lesser benefic (Venus) in harmony with the greater benefic (Jupiter). This is an expansive time in which great gifts are available to us, especially with Jupiter in a stationary position as it prepares to turn retrograde on the 31st. When planets are at their stationary point in preparation for a change of direction they are quite powerful in their influence, and Jupiter bestows a confidence and an openness that will help to propel our goals and dreams forward at this time.

That’s good news, because the soul work of the previous few days is not quite done as the New Moon forms an opposition to Chiron. Surgery of the soul isn’t easy and it’s not always fun, but it does create enormous opportunities for us to grow and find happiness at a far deeper level than is usually experienced. If we allow this soul surgery to take place, the abundant opportunities of this New Moon will help to open up new doorways in our lives that we cannot currently imagine.