Flowing with the Full Moon in Scorpio 2024

 A powerful full moon occurs at 4 degrees Scorpio on 23rd April 2024 at 7:48am HK time (00:48 BST).

The modern ruler of this full moon, Pluto, square this full moon axis, adding a flavour of power play into the mixture.  Besides power struggles, dealing with the surfacing of deep-seated fear, and facing raw and intense emotions are also Plutonian themes.  

The traditional ruler, Mars, has triplicity rulership in Pisces, but is sandwiched between Saturn (wide conjunction) and Neptune.  Fighting back doesn't seem to be a recommended option.  

Overall, it is a time to deal with any ugly matters which may crop up from your subconscious.  

Face it, accept it, deal with it and then let it go.  Whether you choose to let the transformation elevate you to a higher level, sculpting you to be a better person, or allowing it to drag you down further into the abyss of your emotional well, the choice is entirely in your hands.

Image from pexels.com

Lunar Eclipse in Libra 2024

A lunar eclipse is an extra powerful full moon.  During this time, keep your emotions under reins as eclipses have a way of ruffling up your emotions, hence any decision made at this time may be later regretted.   

On 25th March 2024 3pm HK time (7am GMT) we have a lunar eclipse in Libra.  The ruler of this lunar eclipse, Venus, is exalted in Pisces.  This lesser benefic is in a sextile with the greater benefic, Jupiter.  They are both in mutual reception too.  Pluto also has a role in this eclipse, sending a trine to the moon and sextile to the sun.

This lunar eclipse highlights the need to transform (Pluto) our current relationships (lunar eclipse in Libra).  From how we relate to others to our style of communication with other people (especially your significant other). This could be brought about by an event, allowing us to see our current flaws in the matter.

Where this lunar eclipse falls is the area of life where this message will be delivered.

Libra, ruled by the goddess of love, reminds us to use a softer approach, firm but fair.

Image from pexels.com

New Moon in Aries 2015

The New Moon in Aries is at 28 degrees 25 minutes.  Do you have any natal planets in cardinal signs? (Aries, Libra, Cancer, Capricorn)

Aries is about getting a healthy dosage of self-confidence and motivation.  With the new moon ruler, Mars, in the steady and practical sign of Taurus (conjunct Mercury and trine Pluto), think carefully about your passion in life, and shed the old layer by layer (old thoughts/behaviour/attitudes).

Think about what is of value to YOU?  What are you passionate about?  Is there something you would like to try but are too afraid to begin?   

Mars square Jupiter so this could get over-idealistic with your hopes and dreams, but with Venus oppose Saturn in retrograde, perhaps it's an idea to respect the current structure and seek a way for your true self to break-through and shine (Jupiter trine Uranus).

A Letter to Pluto

Dear Pluto,

I hated you when you turned my internal world upside-down over a decade ago, or so I thought that was your intention. Little did I know then that you were simply clearing away debris that was holding me back from reaching my full potential.  I know that now.

With an extra decade of life experience under my belt now, I embrace your presence and have complete trust in what you have in store for me in the future.

M x

Don't ask me why but I just had a sudden urge to write that letter to Pluto.

Which planetary god would you like to write to and why?

Image courtesy of Simon Howden / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

New Moon in Libra 2013

This Saturday's new moon in Libra at 11 degrees 56 minutes is imbued with intensity and energy, with its opposition to Uranus and square to Pluto, thus forming a cardinal T-square.

A tendency to go deep within is indicated by the Scorpio cluster in Mercury, Saturn, North Node and Venus - the new moon ruler.  Use this time to dig as deep as you can handle and expunge (Pluto) the emotional debris.  Courage (Uranus in Aries) is required for this, perhaps a sudden external event could be the trigger, or more likely, the unexpected encounter of a person (New Moon in Libra afterall), could help push this process along.  This could be a love interest, a therapist, or even an enemy!

Look in your chart and see if you have any planets, points or angles in cardinal signs (Libra, Aries, Cancer, Capricorn) between 10 degrees 56 minutes to 12 degrees 56 minutes, as this would add an extra layer of meaning to the new moon message.

Solar Eclipse in Taurus 2013

This is the second of a series of three eclipses which conjunct the South Node, reinforcing the message that it is a time of release.

This solar eclipse, at 19 degrees Taurus 31 minutes, is an extra powerful new moon.  Its conjunction to the South Node signifies a need to release the old to make room for the new.  However, Taurus can be stubborn and is too lazy to make changes.  Mars and Mercury also conjunct this new moon, so use your energy to patiently research into your new plans.  Pluto trine Mercury and Mars can help us to accept external changes.  The Plutonic force can be a source of motivation instead of a threat.  The ruler of this new moon, Venus, is in mutual reception with Mercury, so relax and think about what it is that you value in life.  

One of the archetypes of Taurus is the Builder.  This new moon provides the fertile ground to build something new.  As the saying goes, 'Rome wasn't built in a day', Taurus is about gradual changes and working steadily, step-by-step, to create a solid foundation.  

The Taurus stellium (Sun, Moon, Mercury, Mars, SN) is in opposition to Saturn and the North Node.  This may manifest as someone who appears to be manipulating you or blocking your progress.  It may well be their way of showing you support or just pointing out your blind spots.  Listen to their words of wisdom then use your own judgement to decide what to do with their opinions.  

Eclipses are like alarm clocks, reminding you to 'wake up' and stop procrastinating - what is it that you have always been meaning to do but never got around to doing it?  Check which house this eclipse falls in your natal chart.  

Solar eclipses have a slightly larger orb (3 degrees) than standard new moons (1 degree).  If you have planets, angles or points in Taurus, Scorpio, Leo or Aquarius between 16 degrees 31 minutes to 22 degrees 31 minutes, then this eclipse is likely to have a significant impact in your life.

New Moon in Aries 2013

Aries marks the start of an astrological year as the Sun entered this fiery sign back on 20th March.  

On April 10th 9:36am GMT, the Solar God and the Lunar Goddess are due to meet up in the sign of Aries at 20 degrees 40 minutes, symbolising a new beginning and giving us a fertile ground to sow our seeds of intentions.

This dynamic new moon is conjunct Venus and Mars (also the ruler of this new moon), giving us plenty courage, energy and passion to try new things, to explore new avenues and to bravely face any challenges that life has in store for us.  

We still have Saturn trine the Neptune-Chiron conjunction pair, giving us a practical platform to heal.  Jupiter in Gemini (ruled by Mercury in Pisces) may overload us with a wave of information, where we could get too ambitious and wish to start many projects at once, thinking we are completely ready to deal with everything (Jupiter square Chiron).  Take everything one step at a time and prioritise - what makes your heart sing the most?  Do that first, save the rest for later.  

Pluto is due to go retrograde 2 days after this new moon, thus tightening its square to Uranus once more.  External threats continue to be present in the background, just remember that Pluto is there to help us create a core Self that is conducive to fulfilling our destiny and not to destroy us.  Tap into Aries' warrior energy and centre yourself in the eye of the hurricane.

New Moon in Capricorn 2013

The new moon in Capricorn on 11th January at 19:43 GMT gives us a new start on practical matters.  

Capricorn is concerned with responsibilities, duties, resources, realities and power management.

Where in your life do you need to 'grow up', to be more mature, to take on more responsibilities, to regain your power?

We have a stellium in Capricorn - Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus and Pluto.  

With the new moon in a close orb to Mercury, we are likely to plan ahead with caution and in pragmatic ways.  Set your goals but don't expect to achieve them overnight - go about them step-by-step.

We also have Venus conjunct Pluto, which activates its square to Uranus.  External changes may make you see life differently.  Old values are cleared away, making room for the new.

The ruler of this new moon, Saturn in Scorpio, is square Mars in Aquarius.  Proceed with caution with new ventures.  Saturn quincunx Jupiter, as optimistic as you may be, take a step back and research into it first.  Have patience.

Where does this new moon fall in your chart?

Gods of Change - outer planet transits

People tend to consult astrologers when something isn't going well in their lives. They want to have their problems eradicated, or at least, ameliorated somehow. Unfortunately, we, as astrologers, are unable to wave our imaginary magic wands and wish their troubles away. Transits are transits. They are here to stay. They mirror something in our mortal lives. However, what we can do is work with the individual to utilise their transits in creative ways.

For example, Uranus may seem to bring you an earthquake, shaking the ground below your feet, but on closer inspection, the things being broken are no longer serving you, so Uranus breaks them up for you.

Neptune may bring a wave of confusion, drowning you in sorrow, leaving you directionless. Again, it's washing away concepts and habits that have passed their expiry dates.

Pluto may bring deep agony and despair into your life.  With Pluto, the point is to re-shape your inner self, taking you closer to your solar goal, as depicted by your Sun. Unfortunately, Pluto isn’t considerate enough to think, 'That's too traumatic to put the person through!' It only thinks, 'It is necessary to undergo this traumatic yet transformative event for the sake of the soul's development'. 'Meaning' can help overcome the stress brought about by Pluto transits. Once it is understood why the trauma has occurred, the valuable lesson within can then be extracted, which can ultimately help with reaching your life purpose.

Full Moon in Cancer 2012

The last full moon in 2012 falls in the moon's natural home of Cancer at 7 degrees 06 minutes.

On 28th December at 10:21 GMT, the full moon forms a T-Square with the Uranus-Pluto square.  In addition, the moon is part of a grand water trine with Saturn and Chiron.  Other aspects worthy of mention is the quincunx between Jupiter and the Sun-Pluto conjunction, where Jupiter also trine Mars in Aquarius.

With the Sun in Capricorn (conjunct Pluto) and Moon in Cancer (part of the grand water trine), the Universe is likely to highlight issues of co-dependency in our lives.  Where in your life are you putting someone else's needs before your own?  Are you giving your power away and are too afraid to stand on your own two feet?  With the involvement of the Uranus-Pluto square, and the fact that Saturn and Pluto are in mutual reception, this full moon is giving us another kick up the backside to show us that it is time wake up and face our fears - yes, it can be scary and uncomfortable, but in order to move forward and grow into what we're destined to become, it is a necessity to go through with this shedding process.  With the grand water trine, the Universe is giving us a nurturing structure for embracing our wounded feelings before we let them out of our systems.

Making changes and weeding out unhealthy relationships from our lives are not easy, but Mars in Aquarius trine Jupiter in Gemini  motivates us to focus on the bigger picture and to move bravely into 2013 and beyond.

Where does this full moon fall in your chart?  Do you have any planets at 7 degrees Capricorn or Cancer (with an orb of 1 degree).

New Moon in Libra 2012

The Sun and Moon are due to meet in the sign of Libra on 15th October (12:02 GMT) at 22 degrees 32 minutes.  Libra is about balance, diplomacy and justice.  Where this new moon falls in your chart is the area of your life which could do with some balance in relating to other people.  Perhaps you are working too hard and need to relax your body and spend more time with your loved ones.  Or it could be that you have been unfocused at work and need to pull yourself together and move away from 'friends' who are leading you astray.  

Mars sends a trine to Uranus on the day, adding some impulsive action to the already volatile Uranus-Pluto square.  Globally, expect more angry people grouping together to fight against bigger organisations.  On a personal level, look out for that impulsive streak to act or lash out.

How can we defuse this fury?

Well, this new moon receives two trines, one from Neptune and the other from Jupiter.  The former reminds us that we are all from the same Universal source so display more compassion in our relationships with others.  As the saying goes, 'One is All, All is One'.  The latter trine reminds us that Jupiter in Gemini may have given us an ample amount of information to process and with it currently in retrograde, discern what is useful and what is not.  Discard the unusable from your system.  Avoid taking on too much in the name of love and service, especially with this new moon's ruler, Venus in Virgo, square Jupiter.  Be realistic with what you can handle.

Natal Saturn devouring personal planets

In Greco-Roman mythology, Saturn (Cronus) devoured most of his children for fear of dethronment by them one day, thanks to his father, Uranus' curse.  Well, that is what you get for castrating your own dad....

Any planets, especially personal ones, in close challenging contacts with natal Saturn, is akin to having them swallowed by Saturn.  The outward manifestation is that of feeling restricted emotionally (if involving the Moon), inhibited mentally (involving Mercury), displaying self-sabotaging behaviour (involving Mars) and having a suppressed personality (involving the Sun).  I know this is the case with me.  Thanks to my Saturn-Sun and Saturn-Mars contacts, I am an overly-cautious individual who is too afraid to break new grounds.  My Saturn in Virgo swallows my Sun and Mars in Pisces' creativity and replaces it with rules and structures.  I can draw - but only if I have something to copy from.  Creating something from thin air disturbs me - like drowning in the ocean.  Give me something to copy and I am confident that I can do a great job.

Saturn becomes easier to negotiate with age.  Life experiences allow us to see why we need Saturn in our lives - to give us a framework to live in, to adhere to a set of rules so the world doesn't become too chaotic, to give us enough consistency and stability for us to get on with our mundane lives.  As always, moderation is the key.  When life gets too predictable and too structured, it makes one want to break free from the mould and engage in more adventurous tasks.  

How can we break out of Saturn's grasp?  Going back to the myth, it was Jupiter/Zeus, one of Saturn's offspring, who released his siblings from the pit of Saturn's stomach.  Therefore, take a look at your natal Jupiter and the house it rules, for there lies the key to unlocking those personal planets within Saturn.  For me, trusting the Universe and having faith in my own talents (Jupiter in Cancer 12th, ruling 5th ) soothes my innate fear of expressing myself truthfully (Saturn in Virgo 2nd house oppose Sun & Mars in Pisces 8th). 

With outer planets, the dynamic is like in a tug-of-war.  In the myth, Saturn castrated Uranus but Uranus cursed in return, instilling fear in Saturn.  Saturn sticks to the tried and tested whereas Uranus blazes a new trail.  Saturn forms boundaries and Neptune dissolves them.  Saturn builds and Pluto demolishes.  The key here is to find a middle ground to permit both parties to exhibit their natural skills and talents.  Uranus provides us with new ideas but we need Saturn to manifest them into form.  Neptune can clear away unnecessary barriers but a certain level of defense is healthy to keep the ego intact.  Pluto can help us de-clutter ruthlessly and thereby clearing out outdated junk from our system.

Has Saturn swallowed any of your personal planets?  How can you release them?

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

New Moon in Leo 2012

The Leo New Moon (25 degrees 08 minutes) on 17th August at 16:54 GMT gives us our monthly fertile ground for setting new intentions.  

In Leo, a new start is presented in the following areas:

•  being true to yourself
•  to display your individuality with pride
•  to allow your creative inner self to shine proudly under the limelight 

With Mercury out of its retrograde motion (although still under the shadow period until the 21st), we have the energy to go ahead and think extravagantly.  However, avoid getting too complacent and optimistic, especially with Mercury ruling the transiting Jupiter in Gemini square Chiron in Pisces.  We may think we are able to confront our past wounds and traumas head on, but dealing with an emotional issue (Pisces) in a logical way (Gemini) may not be the ultimate answer.  On a more positive note, the New Moon sextile the Saturn-Mars in Libra conjunction brings us an opportunity to express our individuality in our dealings with others.  Within the confines of relationships, we can still set our personal boundaries and allow a part of us to shine through.

Out of sign aspects

Mars-Saturn conjunction in Libra trine Neptune-Chiron conjunction in Pisces (quincunx by sign) - a social interaction bringing healing, though individual differences have to be overcome.

New Moon oppose Neptune-Chiron (quincunx by sign) - a difference in ideals held by both parties.  A new start coloured by idealism and illusions.  A display of drama.

Cardinal T-Square

Venus square and oppose Uranus and Pluto respectively (compared to Mars during the Cancer New Moon) - injecting a nurturing kind of energy into the Uranus-Pluto square, adding an emotional tone into the problems at large.  Tapping into feminine energy.

This new moon falls in my first house, though not making any aspects at all.

Where does the new moon fall in your chart?

Mars in Libra 2012

Mars entered diplomatic Libra on 3rd July and is due to leave on 23rd August.
During this 7-week sojourn, Mars, representing our driving force, is acting through the Libran goddess energy.  While this is traditionally known to be in detriment, it merely means that the natural Arien energy of Mars is 'me-oriented', driving us to assert our personal will, to urge the ego to become an individual and to stand out from the crowd boldly.  In Libra, however, we put the focus on other people instead.  In modern astrology, Mars in Libra is about being fair and diplomatic; it is about asserting yourself without upsetting others (i.e. keeping the harmony), you are urged to fight for justice, especially on behalf of other people, so instead of 'me, me, me', it is about 'you & them'.

Mars is Mars, even if it is in peace-loving Libra.  Mars asserts, aggresses and acts.  With Mars in Libra, it focuses the energy on relating to others.  We are given 'opportunities' to get irritated and annoyed by others so that we can experiment with a different way of dealing with our anger.  There is no need to be violent about it.  You can still get your point across without getting red in the face and slamming on tables.  In Libra, upsetting the balance is not encouraged.  So what do we do with the pent-up anger?  Whatever you do, package it in a socially presentable way.  If you really can't or don't want to suppress it, then at least be kind, express your frustration in a way that reduces damage to the minimum.

Mars in Libra gives us a touch of beauty to our actions, even if we do get angry, the foremost thought is to think about the other person.  Why are they being provocative? And why do I feel aggravated?  Is it because I/they do not feel appreciated?  Or that I am/they are not being treated fairly?  It is about expressing our anger in a harmonious way, so that we can get the message across in an agreeable way that is more socially acceptable, though some of us may get overwhelmed and end up being indecisive on what to do.

Wherever Mars is traversing in your chart indicates the area where we are asked to exert our energy fairly,  beautifully and collaboratively.  During this period, Mars will conjunct Libra, oppose Aries and square Cancer and Capricorn so look out for these signs in your natal chart.  Also check out your natal Mars and the house with Aries on its cusp.


In mid July, transiting Mars in Libra will tighten its opposition to Uranus and square to Pluto, i.e. the Pluto-Uranus square. Will this allow the Goddess energy to enter some global conflicts and resolve issues by identifying a common goal and aim for a win-win outcome?


Although transient, Mars will aspect the following outer planets in the natal chart during this period, triggering tension which is also felt by those in your generation.


By conjunction:  Uranus in Libra (1968 - 1975); Neptune in Libra (1943 -1956); Pluto in Libra (1972 - 1983)


By opposition:  Uranus in Aries (1927 - 1935); (2010 - 2018)


By square:  Uranus in Cancer (1948 - 1956); Uranus in Capricorn (1988 - 1996); Neptune in Capricorn (1984 - 1998); Pluto in Cancer (1914 - 1939); Pluto in Capricorn (2011 - 2022)


N.B. Due to retrograde motions, please check individual charts to determine the exact sign in these outer planets.

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Full Moon in Capricorn 2012

The full moon on 3rd July (18:53 GMT) is at 12 degrees Capricorn 13 minutes.  This full moon forms a T-Square with the Uranus-Pluto square, where Pluto conjunct the Moon and Uranus square the full moon axis.

Full Moons are culmination points where the Moon is under the full illumination of the Sun.  Symbolically, it is a time when hidden messages come to light.  

With the Moon conjunct the Pluto end of the Uranus-Pluto square, the message is likely to be deeply insightful.  It is a time to deal with the darkness pragmatically and strategically (Moon conjunct Pluto in Capricorn) and to handle our emotions (Sun in Cancer) by confronting our inner wounds and accept that there are things in life which we simply cannot change (Sun trine Chiron).

Where does this full moon fall in your chart?

New Moon in Gemini 2012

Another New Moon in Gemini on 19th June (16:02 BST), giving us a second chance to deal with the energy delivered by the cosmic twins.  

In the backdrop, we have the Uranus-Pluto square becoming exact on 24th June.  Some astrologers believe that its effect have already been felt as early as last year, but with it forming an exact square this month, it will be interesting to observe what the 'earthy reflection' of this potent aspect will be.  Could it be rioters elevating their demonstrations ('Occupy Wall Street' style) to a higher level, displaying their anger, hatred and distrust (Uranus in Aries) against those in authoritative roles in the government or financial institutes (Pluto in Capricorn).  We also have the Euro Crisis on the table, with a number of countries begging for a bailout from the EU.  Whatever the outcome, it will have a rippling effect on the rest of the world, so noone escapes this unscathed, though it is a matter of getting a slight bruise, or a stab in the stomach.

On that 'cheerful' note, how can we make the most of the Gemini New Moon this month?

Neptune in Pisces square the nodal axis is urging us to have trust in the Universe and practise the art of surrender.  There is only so much we can do before we admit to ourselves that there are times when the situation is simply beyond our control, so the last thing you can do is just give it all to the Universe and ask for its intervention.  Surrender and release.

On an individual level, with an array of planets in the air sign of Gemini (New Moon at 28 degrees 43 minutes, Venus retrograding in Gemini conjunct the South Node and Jupiter), we are called to give our belief system a big spring clean and ask ourselves what we really value in our lives.  Some of us may get fed up with the global difficulty we are all in and get tempted to look for short-cuts (tapping into the shadow sides of Gemini, e.g. trickery).  Unfortunately, with Mars in Virgo and Saturn in Libra, square and trine the new moon respectively, along with Pluto in retrograde quincunx Venus in retrograde, we are asked to keep our integrity intact and work through our issues by playing fairly.  Why not use the flexibility of Gemini to find alternative routes out of your situation instead?

NB:  I would like to say a special thanks to all of you for taking the time to read my blog and giving me feedback.  Unfortunately, I'm finding it difficult to reply to every single post so I apologise in advance if I don't get to answer your comment.  Feel free to hop in and respond to other posters' astrological questions if you feel inspired to do so.

Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Full Moon in Scorpio 2012

The Full Moon in Scorpio at 16 degrees 1 minute is exact on 6th May at 4:35am GMT.  The Sun in Taurus fully illuminates the Moon, bringing hidden information to light.  Look out for any messages presenting themselves to you a few days before or after this full moon.  

With Taurus and Scorpio, a balance is called for between simplicity and complexity.  This may not be easy to achieve, especially with expansive Jupiter conjunct the Sun in Taurus, magnifying one's optimism and blowing emotions out of proportion.  Luckily, the Mercury in Aries and Saturn in Libra opposition acts as a brake, making us think twice before we voice our thoughts, and with Venus in Gemini sending a trine to Saturn, take it easy and don't take seemingly negative comments to heart, the intention may not be as bad as you think.  Having said that, be discerning when it comes to dishing out your compassion with Mars continuing to oppose the Neptune-Chiron conjunction.  The solution could be very simple indeed, but over-analysis of the situation may bring distrust and suspicion into the picture, clouding your ultimate judgement.  

With retrograding Pluto trine Mars and the Sun, the undercurrent of the world's turmoil can be distressing, but it can also act as a driving force, encouraging us to dig deep within and extract our hidden potential - how can we survive in our present society with job cuts and inflation?  What more can we offer our clients/customers/company/family/community?  In addition, Pluto in Capricorn is tightening its square to Uranus in Aries - how can we deal with our frustration and anger towards those in authority, who appear to have the power and control to affect our everyday lives?  

This Full Moon trine and sextile my North Node in the 2nd house, bringing me opportunities to move out of my comfort zone and achieve what I've signed up for in this lifetime.  Just as long as I'm willing to take the first step, it won't be as insurmountable as I think...

Where is this Full Moon illuminating in your chart?

Image: wiangya / 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?

Image: Just2shutter / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Welcoming the Aquarius New Moon, T-Square and all, with open arms

This afternoon, I received the shocking news of the demise of a relative.  My heart goes out to her family at this time.  May you rest in peace.

Every time when I hear of such losses, particularly of people I had personally interacted with, however transient, it feels as if the Universe is giving me a hard slap on the face, saying 'Life is too short, ANYTHING can happen.  Do what you need to do before it's too late.'

Today, even before hearing this piece of sad news, I felt like I was being trapped in a pressure cooker.  Well, transiting Mercury is exactly square my Pluto and transiting Sun is now exactly oppose my Jupiter.  

My poor Jupiter in Cancer, hiding away in the 12th house.  It wants to stay there, but it's being pushed and shoved about by the current Jupiter-Saturn opposition and soon the Aquarius New Moon will march right across it, hands on hips.  This afternoon, I suddenly realised that one of the personal influences this opposition has on me is to balance the need to distribute my time.  With the Jupiter-Saturn opposition falling in my 3rd/4th house cusp and 9th/10th cusp, I want to retreat into the safety of my home but I need to be 'out there' as culturally expected of me during this festive season (imagine feeling the need to isolate oneself during Christmas!).  But to be fair, I do want to be out there too (it is an opposition after all, so one does tend to flit from one side to the other).   As they're both ruled by Venus, I should balance both sides as amicably as possible and not allow my fiery Mercury in Aries to run amok - it won't because it's trapped deep down in my 8th house, it'll just seethe with anger, keeping the irritation boiling at the bottom of my psyche.  Luckily, transiting Mars is slowing down, getting ready for its retrograde on Tuesday 24th.  That sounds great to me.  Switch down a gear, slowly does it...

How are you feeling as we approach the Aquarius New Moon?

Image: Danilo Rizzuti / FreeDigitalPhotos.net