New Moon in Pisces 2013

I don't know about you, but I'm absolutely 'Piscesed out' with the Pisces stellium playing in the background.  Mercury then decided to retrograde in Pisces and now we are approaching a Pisces New Moon.  How do you all feel?  Spaced out?  Unfocused?  You're not alone.  Let's see how we can make the most of this dreamy and compassionate sign.

On 11th/12th March, we have the Sun and Moon having their monthly rendezvous under the sign of Pisces at 21 degrees 24 minutes.  It conjunct Venus (17 degrees 9 minutes Pisces) and trine the North Node (18 degrees Scorpio) the tightest.  With Venus exalted in Pisces, this aspect is urging us to extend our kindness selflessly and unconditionally and to go beyond the confines of the boundaries we have built around ourselves.  With Mercury retrograding in Pisces (in detriment), I'm not sure if we should trust our judgment in discerning which boundaries to dissolve.  However, this retrograde period, sandwiched between Neptune and Chiron, gives us a fantastic platform to heal past wounds through introspection, i.e. dig into the past and you are likely to find some loose ends and unfinished business hanging within, subconsciously hindering you from going forward.  This 'healing sandwich' (Neptune-Mercury-Chiron) trine Saturn in Scorpio, giving us a tangible way of delving into the depths of our emotions.

It is also worth checking out the rulers of this New Moon too - Jupiter and Neptune.  We have already talked about Neptune.  Let's look at Jupiter.  It is in Gemini squaring the Pisces stellium; the 'healing sandwich' being the tightest.  This to me is like a war between 'water' and 'air', i.e. heart versus head.  Perhaps we are overusing our logic (Jupiter in Gemini) and need to consider tapping into our emotions (Pisces stellium).  Too often, we talk about our woes, but do we allow our bodies to feel the sorrow?  Sometimes, we just need to release that pent-up anger/sadness in our systems through crying or screaming or whatever (safe) means you choose.  This message is repeated by the fact that Jupiter in Gemini is ruled by Mercury in Pisces - which goes back to emotions again.  Communicating your feelings with words isn't always easy and comfortable  (Mercury in detriment in Pisces), so consider exploring other means, e.g. through art (drawing) or music (singing).  And isn't it interesting that both rulers, Neptune and Jupiter, are locked in a square too.  Head or heart?  Logic or emotion?

Here we come to the end of an astrological cycle with Pisces.  It is a great time to evaluate our mortal  progress before we embark on a new cycle when the Sun enters Aries on 20th March.  Use this time for self-healing - deal with yourself first, if you don't look after yourself sufficiently, how can you make your contribution to the Universal collective?

Where this new moon falls in your chart could be the area of your life where a portal can be formed between yourself and the universal consciousness.

Where does this New Moon fall in your natal chart?  Does it make any aspects to any planets/points?

Solar Eclipse in Scorpio 2012

The new moon in Scorpio on 13th November at 22:09 (GMT) is the second solar eclipse this year.  This time, it is visible across the South Pacific Ocean. With  a shadow period of  3 hours and 13 minutes, the effect of this solar eclipse is likely to last for approximately 3 years thereafter.  (http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEmono/TSE2012/TSE2012.html,
http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEplot/SEplot2001/SE2012Nov13T.GIF)

For the technicalities behind eclipses, take a look at my blog entry on the previous solar eclipse: http://cosmicpotential.blogspot.hk/2012/05/solar-eclipse-in-gemini-2012.html

This eclipse sensitises the point at 21 degrees Scorpio 56 minutes, so any subsequent transiting planets passing over this degree will re-activate the message of this eclipse.  (Allow an orb of 3 degrees for eclipses.)

This solar eclipse conjuncts the North Node, which traditionally symbolises a positive new beginning, bringing hope and good fortune.

With a strong Scorpionic background (Sun, Moon, North Node and Saturn in Scorpio), the essence of this eclipse is: To begin a chapter, one needs to close another.

This solar eclipse in deep and profound Scorpio is encouraging us to bring light to the dark, to become aware of the hidden aspects of life and be willing to face and release our demons lurking down in the abyss of our psyche.

If you are willing to release your demons and make room for the new, then this solar eclipse can support your spiritual journey in your mundane existence on this planet.  After all, we have Neptune (becoming direct 3 days before this eclipse) trine Saturn, and Chiron (becoming direct a day after this eclipse), sextile Saturn,  so we are encouraged to make practical use of spiritual teachings to restructure your everyday living. 

Mercury, retrograding in Sagittarius, conjunct the North Node, which further emphasises the need for introspection, but in Sagittarius, be optimistic and adventurous about it.  This jolly Mercury is also sending a trine to the Uranus-Pluto square, injecting a touch of optimism into the ongoing global disturbances, at least we are beginning to see the philosophical side to it all.  

Saturn Stepping into Scorpio - Part 2

Scorpio is about anything hidden, anything tucked away somewhere....  

For the next 2.5 years, it is a time for us to:

•  stand face-to-face with these raw emotions and other 'aches and pains' in the realm of feelings 

•  master the lesson of managing our unconscious motives and emotions

Seeking the truth

What have been hidden is likely to surface to the light.

Globally, we are likely to see more secrets being exposed and infrastructures being remodelled. What's been questionable in the past is now demanding attention, e.g. the dispute between China and Japan over Diaoyu Islands.  

We're no longer in the territory of diplomatic and elegant Libra, where we put on a nice facade to interact with others.  Now it's the time to demand the truth - even if it's dark and ugly.  The truth is dying to come out and there is no stopping it.

Natally, where transiting Saturn is in your chart is the area of your life that requires anything from de-cluttering and restructuring (see Saturn Stepping into Scorpio - Part 1) to facing the truth on matters related to the house in question.  Also look at your natal Saturn and the houses with Capricorn and Scorpio on its cusps (signs ruled by Saturn) for a fuller interpretation.

The Scorpionic energy can be transformative or destructive.  We have the power to use it or abuse it.  The regenerative power of Scorpio cannot be underestimated.  The task master, Saturn, may force us to face up to some ugly truths about ourselves and/or the world, but the elimination of unwanted materials can be surprisingly therapeutic.  Healing cannot take place until we are willing to acknowledge the problem and then release the associated pain.

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Virgo - Pisces Polarity: The Connection between Mind, Body and Spirit

I'm an avid fan of Louise Hay's work on the connection between mental thoughts and physical ailments. I have already blogged about this years ago when I was suffering from hives for over 8 months and NOTHING worked - conventional medicine, herbal medicine.....then I came across Louise Hay's work and was fascinated by the messages we receive from our bodies. Unfortunately, most of these signals go undetected.

Transiting Mars was hovering over my natal Saturn in December 2011, March (retrograde) and May (direct) 2012.  By the last hit, my cheeks were covered with acne.  My body had been attempting to communicate with me but I chose to ignore its signals by using my concealer to hide the mini explosions erupting on my face.  In the end, I consulted Louise Hay's, 'Heal Your Body', which is basically a mini dictionary of the hidden messages from our bodily symptoms, to see what my body is trying to say to me:

Skin - protects our individuality, a sense organ. 
Suggested affirmation: 'I feel safe to be me'

Skin problems - Anxiety, fear, old, buried guck.  I am being threatened.  
Suggested affirmation: 'I lovingly protect myself with thoughts of joy and peace.  The past is forgiven and forgotten.  I am free in this moment.'

Coincidentally, skin is ruled by Saturn (Capricorn).  How appropriate that my natal Saturn was triggered by a Mars transit (Mars/Aries rules acne).  This is yet another example of the ancient adage 'As above, so below; as within, so without'.  The Mars 'above' is symbolically represented as my acne 'below'.

Acne - Not accepting the self.  Dislike of the self.  
Suggested affirmation: 'I am a Divine expression of life.  I love and accept myself where I am right now.'

Fear and anxiety are related to Saturn.  In my chart, my 2nd house Saturn is associated with my self-esteem.  I was under the scrutiny of others and could feel the pressure building up.  I thought I had done enough internal work previously to withstand any criticisms heading my way, but evidently not.  For the sake of my face though, I decided to temporarily remove myself from the situation which caused me to be fearful and then plan my next stage of action once I'm healed.  I am not going to be hard on myself over this.  I've tried my best.  I decided to be gentle and kind to myself instead.

Being gentle and kind to ourselves is more important than you think.  How often do you find yourself say 'I'm so stupid' or 'I hate myself'?  Your cells in your body are responsive to your negative emotions.  Here is what Louise Hay has discovered in her research on cancer growth:

Tumour - nursing old hurts and shocks, building remorse.  

Suggested affirmation: 'I lovingly release the past and turn my attention to this new day.  All is well.'

Feeding yourself toxic thoughts and holding onto past hurt appear to be the culprit here. Tumours are associated with the astrological sign of Cancer (ruled by the Moon). Perhaps nurturing our bodies with emotional nourishment is the key, as is fully releasing the toxicity from our bodies.

I want to emphasise that I'm not shunning conventional medicine at all.  I still visit my GP when my elbow rash spreads uncontrollably.  However, once it is under control, I ask myself what exacerbated it in the first place and analyse it from a spiritual point of view. 

Each system is incomplete by itself. Different healing methods complement one another to form a comprehensive structure - not just for the physical body, but also for the mental and spiritual.  Unfortunately, once tumours are discovered in the physical body, using alternative therapies alone may not be enough to eradicate the problem.  Steve Jobs comes to mind.  I personally think that alternative therapies are for preventative measures and also as a last resort, i.e. when conventional medicine has given up on the patient.  

Siding with one and shunning the other is not conducive to the purpose of balancing the polarity. No man's an island; nothing works in isolation.  What's wrong with using both? There is definitely a place for both systems to exist in tandem in order to serve humankind harmoniously - if we are willing to be pragmatic and open-minded with the idea.

Living Astrologically: Balancing the Virgo-Pisces polarity

Think positive!

Stay calm!

Everything is OK!

Now apply them in the REAL world.

How can you stay positive when you have people in your life shedding tears before your very eyes because members of their family is dying?  How do you stay calm when you are struggling to make ends meet?  How can you bring yourself to say 'Everything is OK' when clearly it isn't?  

As a Pisces Sun, Mars and South Node oppose Saturn and North Node in Virgo native, I have taken on the lesson of balancing the Virgo-Pisces polarity: to make spirituality practical and relevant in our daily lives.

It is so easy to remain positive and calm when you are in the comfort of your own home, with your nose behind a new age book, teaching you mantras to chant to keep your mind focused on 'what you want'.  Don't get me wrong, I truly believe in the power of positive thinking but the real test comes when we integrate ourselves back into the real world.  How do we convince people of the value of positive thinking when disasters befall them?  This reminds me of James Redfield's second novel in the Celestine Prophecy series, The Tenth Insight:  Holding the Vision.  How do we hold the spiritual vision (Pisces) in reality (Virgo)?

This is how I attempt to utilise my Virgo-Pisces polarity:

• Step behind the Virgo mask and stabilise your emotions
• Listen with the Pisces heart
• Access the spiritual teachings (Pisces) embedded in your brain (Virgo)
• Articulate (Virgo) the spiritual wisdom (Pisces) as appropriate

Yes, easier said than done, but I believe wholeheartedly that everything happens for a reason.  

No matter how tough the lesson, there is a gem buried in there somewhere.  

Your heart might be breaking but the cruel reality is - the world keeps on moving whether you like it or not.  

Have a good cry, extract the lesson within and move on.  

We are all here for a reason.

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Full Moon in Virgo 2012

The moon is under full illumination on 8th March at 9.41am (GMT).  Full Moons are culmination points and great times to adjust your plans and review your New Moon wishes.  

With the Sun in Pisces and the Moon in Virgo (at 18 degrees 13 minutes), we face the need to balance the polarity between these two mutable signs.  How can we make practical use of our spiritual pursuits?  What spiritual teachings can be readily immersed into our everyday living?  James Redfield's 'Celestine Prophecy' comes to mind.  In particular, in his sequel, 'The Tenth Insight', he mentions the need to 'hold the vision' of our spiritual thoughts/teachings and apply them into our mundane lives.  

Easier said than done.  

Initially, I found it next to impossible to have compassion and be non-judgmental when come face-to-face with unsavory souls.  I personally have quite a number of natal oppositions between Pisces-Virgo so I know one of the my life missions is to balance out being spiritual without losing my groundedness.  As Teihard de Chardin said, 'We are not human beings having a spiritual experience.  We are spiritual beings having a human experience.'  The way I see it, we have incarnated onto the physical plane so we are required to satisfy our practical means first, e.g. food to eat, place of shelter.  However, spiritual teachings can support us mortals, making our 'human' journey easier to understand and tolerate.

Being practical and spiritual are just as important as one another.  This theme is further reinforced by Neptune (modern ruler of Pisces) in Pisces trine Saturn in Libra (out-of sign).  Injecting compassion into our social interactions may require some extra effort but it's worth taking that extra step to iron-out individual differences and to understand where the other person is coming from.

In addition, we have Pisces' traditional ruler, Jupiter, in Taurus trine Pluto in Capricorn.  We are urge to be realistic with releasing past hurts and burdens.  Do what you can manage at this point in time.  With Mercury in Aries, we may get impatient and push ourselves too far, but Mercury is gradually slowing down its pace as it approaches its retrograde motion on 12th March.  Keep the motivational energy within you but consider tapping into the grand earth trine among Jupiter, Pluto and Mars (which is in retrograde and in mutual reception with Mercury).  Try your best but be realistic with your goals. 

This full moon conjunct my North Node and makes various aspects to my outer planets so this is likely to be a time to get pushed outside my comfort zone.  I can already feel it!

Image: Exsodus / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

New Moon in Pisces 2012

It's that time of the month again - wishing time!

On 21st February 22.35pm GMT, we have a New Moon at 2° Pisces 42'.  Neptune, in its ruling sign Pisces, conjunct this New Moon tightly, accentuating the theme of spiritualism.  In addition, we have Chiron conjunct this New Moon, thus the whole package becomes a new beginning on spiritual healing.  

With the Sun, Moon, Neptune, Chiron and Mercury all in compassionate Pisces, this gentle New Moon in Pisces provides the perfect nurturing ground to plant your seeds relating to issues of forgiveness, acceptance and tolerance.  Is there someone you have been harbouring bitterness, anger or grudges towards?  This is the perfect time to let go and allow the Universe to infuse and cleanse you with some unconditional love.  Forgiving the other person is about releasing yourself from the grip of the situation - you are forgiving the person involved, not the action committed (paraphrasing Doreen Virtue's spiritual teaching).  If you can take one step further and forgive their actions too, then even better.

However, with Mercury in Pisces oppose Mars retrograding in Mars and Mercury in a T-Square with the nodal axis, it might be easier to think rather than act.  Your mind is likely to be full of spiritual thoughts but not have the motivation to do anything about them, thus this is also a good time to do internal work, e.g. meditation, introspection, retreats.  On the other hand, the Piscean energy can either bring confusion or inspiration to the mind, clouding your thinking processes or imbuing you with plenty of imagination and creativity.

This New Moon trine Saturn and sextile Jupiter, bringing plenty of opportunities to manifest any realistic and practical goals set under this New Moon.  With Jupiter oppose Saturn though, as optimistic as you may feel, the process of letting go and releasing your problems to the Universe can open up cans of worms in your relationships with others, and you may find it a struggle to forgive and forget.

I have this New Moon tightly conjunct my Mars and sextile my MC - time to plan for my next step in my career....

Where is this New Moon in your chart?  How is it interacting with your own chart?

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