New Moon in Pisces 2025

On 28th February 2025 00:45 GMT/08:45 HKT, we have a new moon in Pisces.  

What I find baffling about this new moon is the hype about the 7 planetary alignments: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.

I can't for the life of me, understand how we can have these 7 planets in alignment when Venus is in Aries, Mars is in Cancer, Jupiter is in Gemini, Uranus is in Taurus, and the remaining 3 planets in Pisces (Mercury, Saturn and Neptune).

I reached out to my astro buddies and they couldn't understand it either.  I thought could it be because visually, they are in alignment?  However, I don't think we can see Saturn, Uranus and Neptune with the naked eye.....

Anyway, if anyone can shed some light on this matter with me, I would fully appreciate it!

Back to the new moon in Pisces.

I confirm we have 3 planets plus the sun and moon in Pisces at this new moon.  With such a concentration of Piscean energy, plus the traditional ruler, Jupiter, square this new moon, spiritual matters are brought to the fore.  Neptune, the modern ruler, conjunct Mercury (4-degree orb) and Saturn (loosely with an orb of 8 degrees), perhaps this is a time for us to seriously incorporate spirituality into our lives.  

Pisces is a mutable sign with a loose boundary, so if you find it hard to say no to people, this is a time to reassess your own needs against the needs of those around you.  You need to come first.  When you are happy and well, then you are in a better position to take care of others.  Pamper yourself at this time, though don't overdo it!  Keep a healthy balance between relaxation and procrastination.

The square to Jupiter could warn us of the potentiality of being too idealistic of our current ideas.  Pisces tend to be romantics and find it hard to keep both feet on the ground.  Being creative is one thing, but being unrealistic is another.

New Moon in Aquarius 2024

 

Happy Lunar New Year!

Gung Hei Fat Choy!

2024 is the year of the wood dragon 🐉.

Did you know that the first day of the lunar new year always falls on an Aquarius new moon?

Aquarius has two rulers: Saturn (traditional) and Uranus (modern).

Thinking outside the box is what I would normally use to describe Uranus/Aquarius, but the concept actually incorporates BOTH planets: Thinking outside (Uranus) the box (Saturn).

It is Chinese tradition to respect our elders, to acknowledge what they have already built before us. As a descendant, we pay gratitude to their hard work, and then look for ways to add our own personal touch to the existing structure. To me, that’s a lovely mix between Uranus and Saturn! Therefore, every lunar new year, we are reminded of this concept under the Aquarius new moon.

This current new moon forms a square with the modern ruler Uranus so expect changes to your plans. The traditional ruler Saturn is in a mutual reception with Venus, also exalted Mars sextile Neptune, and Mercury square the abundant Jupiter. Unexpectedness can always be overcome with flair and style. Just keep calm and carry on celebrating!

#gungheifatchoy #happylunarnewyear #lunarnewyear2024 #newmooninaquarius2024

Meal to celebrate the summer solstice 2021

 Today, my astrology buddy in Hong Kong cooked up a delish meal according to the planets.

Our Midsummer's Eve menu

All guests were served with coconut water in its original container, representing milk from Mother Earth!

For starters, pea soup was served to honor the Moon and Mercury.  This yummy pea soup (Moon) was made with coconut milk (Moon) seasoned with mint (Mercury).  We had a potato and turnip (both lunar ingredients) pancake but I was too busy eating that I forgot to take a photo of it!

Then we had an interlude of honoring Jupiter with fresh figs and chestnuts glazed with maple syrup.  Don't they look like a work of art?!

Honoring Jupiter continued with another dish:  chopped chestnuts with cloves, nutmeg, sage and maple syrup.

Then we moved onto the Sun and Mercury with this sassy salad:  tangerine (Sun) and fennel (Mercury) drizzled with a olive oil-based dressing.

Continuing with the solar theme:  rice with cashew nuts and raisins, flavoured with cinnamon.  We also had cucumber (Moon) and celery (Mercury) salad, but I forgot to take a picture of it!

Lunar dessert:  peaches, papaya and pears with roasted coconut chips, drenched in coconut sauce.

Sparkling water with lemon slice (Mercury!)

Thank you for your hospitality Kimberly!  We also had a great astro conversation with another fellow astrologer, Tom, who gave us many food for thoughts!

Sun conjunct Uranus; Moon in Sagittarius; Moon square Neptune; sextile Jupiter

The Cosmic Weather for the last day of April 2021

Sun conjunct Uranus - surprises, surprises, surprises, personal breakthroughs, jump outside the box

Moon in Sagittarius - freedom, fun-loving, gallop into the distance (in spirit at least)

Moon square Neptune - overly sensitive, feeling hurt, misled,  misunderstood

Moon sextile Jupiter - exuberant, positive, warm, sociable, happiness, feeling abundant and confident

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The Lion and the Lamb - My Ascendant and Sun

This morning, as I was tidying my room, I came across a bookmark  which I had received back in my teens.  It has the painting 'The Lion and the Lamb' by Heather Cooper, reflecting the inner turmoil faced by women in business.

Suddenly, the image of the Lion hit me - that's my Leo Ascendant! And the water reflection, the lamb - that's my Pisces Sun! (OK, I know Pisces are the two fish but personality-wise, the lamb and Pisces are pretty similar in terms of being mild, caring and gentle.....plus the fact that I'm a goat in the Chinese zodiac:-).

My Pisces Sun, lurking in the depths of the 8th house, constantly feels unsafe to stand under the limelight - where Leo Ascendant wants to be.  The key is to find out what Pisces Sun is afraid of.  What's she fearful about?  Once that's dealt with, then the lion can roar proudly in front of an audience, without upsetting the two fish.

As the ascendant is the pathway to be trekked upon in order to reach the solar goal, it is important for me to appease the fears faced by my Sun in order to allow the Lion to safely prance on the stage.  

Through family constellation, I have uncovered many of the fears held within my system.  Slowly, I learned why I was scared to be seen as past memories resurfaced, relating to how unsafe I had felt when I allowed myself to shine in front of others.  Once those emotional entanglements were dealt with, I was able to move forward and bask under the light.

Sorry for holding you back for so long, Leo Ascendant, thank you for the patient wait as I battled with my internal ghosts....

Living Astrologically: Venus, Neptune, Chiron & Mars in Pisces

With the current Pisces stellium in Venus, Neptune, Chiron and Mars conjunct my natal Sun and Mars (in the 8th!), you would have thought a romantic encounter of the dreamy kind might be on the cards.  However, astrology is a symbolic language of the stars. What really manifested in the end was that I met another fellow astrologer in town and together, we chatted about astrology and I ended up reminiscing on how I first fell in love with this celestial technique......

What's happening in your life under this fishy cluster?

Qigong - an appealing solution for my Mars in Pisces

With natal Mars in Pisces, I'm forever on the lookout for suitable ways to strengthen my physical body.  I tend to run away (or collapse!) from anything that is too strenuous and dynamic.  Yoga is a fantastic option,  and I was involved in kundalini yoga for a while, however, living in the far east, I thought I would involve myself in some authentic qigong (or chi kung).  It is an ancient Chinese practice which seeks to integrate physical movements, breathing techniques and concentrated mental intentions.  I see it as a Chinese form of yoga, as 'qi' (or chi) is akin to 'prana', the life force.  'Gong' (or kung) can be translated as 'skill' or 'work', so putting it together, it is the skill of disciplining your life energy to improve your vitality.  It is also an active form of meditation to cultivate mindfulness.

My first qigong class was back in April this year.  Looking back at the ephemeris, I noticed many tight aspects to my natal Piscean Sun.

Triggers from inner planets:

t. Venus conjunct n. Sun  (I like the idea of qigong and I get to go with my dear friends)
t. Mars quincunx n. Sun   (Do I really want to spend 2 whole days on it?  Would it be tiring?)

Aspects from outer planets:

t. Pluto Capricorn sextile n. Sun  (An opportunity to shed a layer and to move closer to my solar goals)
t. Jupiter Cancer trine n. Sun  (It's a form of nourishment to my core self)

I've been going back every 2 months to work with the charismatic qigong master (our initial prediction of him being a Leo was correct, as he readily displays his playful child persona on every occasion - even though he is in his 80s!  He loves standing on the mini stage, under the spotlight, with students taking videos on their smartphones to record all the postures.)

I have just returned from another weekend workshop and found an obvious increase in my energy level this time.  Besides this, I appear to be more outspoken and not as affected by external opinions as I used to.  It seems that my natal Mercury in Aries received a little boost (trine) from the transiting Mercury-Jupiter conjunction in Leo. I can definitely see evidence of the release of my inner spokesperson.  I was able to express some hidden thoughts to my friends, which I had been harbouring for the past year.  In addition, I have been working on my inner child (Leo) which has exposed more hidden (12th) memories from childhood.

Eclipses, retrogrades, cardinal grand cross in April

My reaction to the recent 'blood moon' business has been pretty nonchalant.  We get 2-5 eclipses each year and as I have mentioned in previous posts, eclipses are like alarm clocks, waking you up to issues in your life which require your attention. 

I don't believe that this tetrad blood moon phenomenon is portending the end of the world nor anything particularly inauspicious, take a look at this article for a more comprehensive explanation: http://www.therefinersfire.org/blood_moons.htm

On a personal level, if your chart has planets/points/angles in cardinal signs between 22 to 28 degrees, then a hidden message or something which you have been ignoring is likely to come to the fore.  It doesn't have to be anything glaringly obvious to the world.  The message/outcome could be more internal (especially with Pluto going retrograde 8 hours before this lunar eclipse), triggering a part of you which is only visible to yourself.

We must not forget that besides the lunar eclipse (and the solar eclipse next week), we are also in the middle of the Mars retrograde in Libra period and also the cardinal grand cross becoming exact on 22/23 April.  Look out for natal planets/points at 13 degrees cardinal signs to see if this configuration aspects your natal chart.  I have my mutable sun at 13 degrees so although I can feel life's challenges on my shoulders, I am much more aware of the need and am  (relatively) ready to go with the flow.

For more information about the cardinal grand cross configuration, take a look at Elsa P's fantastic blog posts:

http://www.elsaelsa.com/astrology/2014/04/01/what-to-expect-from-the-cardinal-grand-cross-april-2014/

http://www.elsaelsa.com/astrology/2013/11/25/cardinal-grand-cross-13-degrees-april-22-23-2014/

Image courtesy of Vectorolie/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Full Moon in Aquarius 2013

On 22nd July 2013 at 19:15 BST, we have a full moon in Aquarius at 0 degrees 06 minutes.  I'm going to be egocentric (quite fitting with the Sun entering Leo at 16:55!) and talk about my own experience of this full moon.

Full Moons are culmination points where hidden factors come to the fore.  It is also a great time to evaluate projects previously started.  

For me, this full moon exactly conjunct my natal Venus in the 6th house.  Natally, I have my Venus oppose Jupiter, with the latter conjunct ASC.  the Leo-Aquarius axis brings us the message of being an individual in society.  In addition, we have Venus entering Virgo at 13:40 on the same day.  Virgo is the sign of service; Venus is about our values.  

With this cosmic concoction, we are urged to assess our values  (Venus in Virgo) and participate in society (Aquarius) in a way that allows us to shine as an individual (Sun in Leo), but simultaneously serving the greater community (Moon in Aquarius).  Too often, we associate 'success' with global recognition and acclaim.  However, if someone is serving others and making a difference in their own community, is that person not successful just because s/he is unknown to the rest of the world?  It is great to receive applause but let's not lose sight of our individual life purposes.

Besides this exact conjunction of the full moon to my natal Venus, I also have transiting Chiron in Pisces exactly conjunct my Sun and transiting Neptune conjunct my Mars.  I definitely can feel the message there - surrender and be a nobody.  Neptune dissolves everything it touches.  With it conjunct my Mars, self advancement is not favourable as suggested by Rob Hand in his 'Planet in Transit', instead, 'act because you enjoy the action, not because you are trying to win.'  Recently, I got myself involved in a project which I enjoyed immensely.  It took up a lot of my time and there's no monetary reward but for the first time in years, I stopped asking the question, 'What's the point of all this hardwork?'  I simply did not CARE because I was having so much fun doing what I love.  I didn't care if the response was lukewarm.  As far as I'm concerned, I enjoyed the process; I've learned a great deal about the subject and that's all it matters.  

What's the full moon reflecting in your life?

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.

Lunar Eclipse in Scorpio 2013

We have a partial lunar eclipse in Scorpio (5 degrees 46 minutes) on 25th April at 21:09 BST.  

The Taurean Sun conjunct Mars, with Venus and the South Node also in Taurus.  Then on the opposite side, we the Scorpionic moon conjunct Saturn, with the North Node also in Scorpio.  On the one hand, you have the drive and passion (Mars - co-ruler of the Scorpionic moon) to move forward in order to build (Taurus) something worthwhile (Venus - ruler of the Taurean Sun) in your life.  However, insecurity (Moon-Saturn conjunction) and/or external opposition are likely to hold you back instead.  This is another opportunity to release inner junk that is holding you back. 

Lunar eclipses are extra-powerful full moons.  Allow an orb of 3 degrees.  If you have natal planets in a fixed sign (Scorpio, Taurus, Leo and Aquarius) between 2 degrees 56 minutes to 8 degrees 56 minutes, then be prepared to get waken up by this eclipse, as eclipses act like alarm clocks - it wakes you up from your slumber.  If there is something that needs to be done for the benefit of your soul's development, then this eclipse is likely to kick you into action.  Of course, you can choose to resist the change - you have free will after all, but it's in your interest to go with the flow and ride on this powerful energy instead of swimming against it.  Change may seem daunting, but it can usher in a breath of fresh air too.

Full Moon in Libra 2013

We have quite an intense full moon in Libra at 6 degrees 52 minutes on 27th March, as it forms a T-square with Pluto.

Under the full illumination of the Sun, the shadow qualities of the moon is under scrutiny.  The square to Pluto is likely to inject manipulation and power play into the equation.  It's one thing wanting to maintain a harmonious balance in our relationships with others, but it's quite another to be a stirrer, i.e. creating problems in order to solve them, but appearing to be fair and diplomatic on the surface (not implying all Librans do this, just the shadow aspect of the sign).  Or, being a people pleaser in the name of peace-keeping could be another issue that may crop up under this Venusian full moon with a Plutonic underlay.  At least on the surface, you appear to be tactful and diplomatic, but underneath, you are trying to keep a lid on your Furies that are threatening to burst out as we have the ruler, Venus, in spontaneous and egocentric Aries, along with the Sun, Mars and Uranus also in Aries.  As much as we would like to be nice and considerate, we are also aware of our own needs.  Throw in Pluto squaring this full moon and we may have some deeply-seated complexes being triggered as we deal with others while trying to be true to ourselves.  

How can we respond to the needs of others without neglecting our own?

Jupiter sends a sextile to the Aries cluster (Sun, Venus, Mars, Uranus), giving us an opportunity to release the anger and turning it into something more positive and constructive.  Pluto also receives 2 sextiles (Saturn and Chiron-Mercury), thus funneling off some of the intensity elsewhere.  Instead of reacting to our complexes, we could use that as an opportunity to work with it, bringing light into the situation. We have quite a complicated concoction that day as Saturn and Pluto also forms a yod with Jupiter, with Jupiter squaring Chiron too.  

In a nutshell, if you have cardinal planets or points (Aries, Capricorn, Cancer, Libra) within orb of this full moon, i.e. 5 degrees 52mins to 7 degrees 52 mins, try your very best to remain calm and release your displeasure without causing a scene.....

Living Astrologically: Jupiter in Gemini T-squaring my Sun-Saturn opposition

Jupiter first entered Gemini on 11/12th June 2012.  It began its retrograde motion on 4th October 2012 and resumed direct motion on 30th January 2013.  It is due to pass the torch onto Cancer on 26th June 2013.

Jupiter is commonly known as the planet of luck and expansion.  Its negative expression is 'excess':  overdoing, overwhelming, overly optimistic, overly arrogant.....

In Gemini, information overload is a possible manifestation, as is being a big gossip:-P

For me, with the planet of luck T-squaring my natal Sun-Saturn opposition, I've had a lesson in building my self-esteem.

I was battling with a nasty case of adult acne when Jupiter first exactly squared my natal Saturn back in mid August 2012.  I simply wanted to hide away in a hole and never come out until I'm facially flawless again.  In the end, it took me over 10 months to clear the infestation.  I was extremely conscious of my unsightly skin and did not want to leave the safety of my home - I didn't want the world to see how awful I looked.  However, I had to make a living so I force myself out of the house everyday.    By the time it squared my natal Sun-Saturn opposition in Nov-Dec 2012 for the second time, I realised that people around me still treated me the same as before, it's ME who couldn't accept myself due to a surface-level flaw.  By now, I had received countless ways of getting rid of my pimples, and had crammed my drawers with acne creams of all kinds, half purchased after researching online and the other half given to me by worried friends (t. JU in 11th).  Now (March 2013) I'm receiving my final square to my SO-SA opposition and I'm happy to announce that my face is finally on its road to recovery.    I had been so focused on my external life (face - Saturn) that I had neglected my inner self (Sun, my solar quest).  I had been placing too much emphasis on the material world (Saturn in my natal 2nd) at the expense of neglecting my spiritual health (Sun in Pisces 8th).  I should be grateful that it is transiting Jupiter that has been kicking my Sun-Saturn butt, and not other heavier and more solemn planets.  It's not fun looking ugly and losing self-confidence, but at least it's not life threatening.  I was able to remain (relatively) optimistic throughout, and whenever I felt myself getting weak, there's always someone there to lend me moral support.  It made me see that noone treated me any differently except myself (SO-SA opposition is a huge critic).  

What's your Jupiter in Gemini story?

Image courtesy of [image creator name] / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Stirring from Slumber

With 7 planets in Pisces as we speak (Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Neptune and Chiron), the stars are definitely reflecting a loud message back to us mortals roaming on earth - to have compassion, to tap into our emotions, to be sensitive to the needs of ourselves and others, to dissolve our boundaries and merge with the Universe......  

Being a Pisces (Sun, Mars, South Node and a host of minor planets), I'm feeling rather at home in this nebulous space - too at home.  I can't wait for these planets, one by one, to move into Aries.  I can't wait for the surge of Arian enthusiasm and energy to wake us all up again (not saying the Pisces stellium is a bad idea, I'm just feeling rather spaced out and am looking forward to a change of scenery). 

Mars (and the Moon) will be the first to enter the dynamic territory of Aries on 12th March, followed by the Sun on 20th March, marking the start of a new astrological year.  The Goddess of Love, Venus, will then dance into Aries on 22nd March.  Leaving Mercury, who will join the crew next month on 14th April.  We will sure to get a shock of some kind as each of these planets pays a transient visit to Uranus in the coming weeks.  

Image courtesy of [image creator name] / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Full Moon in Virgo 2013

Full Moon is a time when the Sun is in opposition to the Moon, thereby fully illuminating the lunar terrain with solar energy.  Previously hidden information is likely to be exposed at this culmination point in the lunar cycle.  Any wishes made or projects began at the time of the New Moon has reached the stage where evaluation is called for before continuing on with the next step of the plan.

On Monday 25th February 2013 at 20:26 GMT, we have a Full Moon in Virgo at 7 degrees 23 minutes.  

There is a Pisces stellium - Neptune, Sun, Chiron, Mars and Mercury, with Venus joining the party six hours after the Full Moon.  The natural ruler of this stellium is also within the cluster (Neptune), giving us a strong message of focusing on the more spiritual side of life and to have trust in the Universe.

The solar rays shine on the Virgo moon, bringing its shadow qualities to the fore, e.g. being a stickler, a perfectionist, a critic.  As an earth sign ruling the 6th house of routines, Virgoans prefer to stick with what they are familiar with, though they can be flexible if necessary (it is a mutable sign afterall).   The dispositor of the moon, Mercury, is retrograding in Pisces, therefore, both dispositors of the Sun and Moon are in Pisces, giving us an added emphasis in utilising the Piscean energy at this time, even if it may seem uncomfortable to the more practically-minded individuals.  

This Full Moon is in a mutable T-Square with Jupiter in Gemini (besides being a traditional ruler of Pisces, it is also disposited by Mercury in Pisces - further reinforcing the Piscean message).  Jupiter is a happy-go-lucky planet, but in a T-square, we tend to get overly-optimistic, overly-arrogant and basically over-doing things.  This is a learning opportunity for us to be spiritual (Pisces) in a practical (Virgo) world.  Moreover, it is a time to see with eyes of compassion and faith (Pisces) rather than through critical eyes and harsh judgments (Virgo).  There are facets of life which simply cannot be explained logically.

Where the Virgo Moon falls in your chart is the area of life where you may need to be less critical, less of a perfectionist - let go and relax!  Where the Pisces Sun /cluster falls is the area of life where you may need to get a grip on yourself and not give in to procrastination and pessimism.

With such a strong Pisces message, perhaps we could think about other people by focusing on service, e.g ask the Universe how you can serve on this mortal realm.  This is a time to learn about living a spiritual life in a practical way.  As Teilhard de Chardin once quoted, 'We are not human beings having a spiritual experience.  We are spiritual beings having a human experience.'

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).

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?

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Full Moon in Aries 2012

Full Moons are culmination points in the lunar cycle, bringing previously hidden information to light.  With the Sun in Libra and Moon in Aries on 30th September at 3:20 am (GMT), we are dealing with our own needs in relation to others.  The close conjunction between the Moon and Uranus can help us to gain a more detached view of our emotional shadows.  Does the 7 degrees 22 minutes Moon in Aries make any significant aspects to your natal chart?  Where are you being self-centred, impulsive, impatient and domineering?  

This Aries Full Moon forms a T-Square with the Uranus-Pluto square. Previously, we had Mars (Cancer new moon), Venus (Leo new Moon) and Mercury (near Virgo New Moon) locking in a T-Square with the infamous Uranus-Pluto square.  This time, it is the Sun's turn.  All the current rioting and other social unrest (Uranus in Aries) have stirred up a lot of 'dirt' from the depths of the collective unconscious, challenging what appears to be stable and wholesome structures (Pluto in Capricorn).  Secrets are floating to the surface voluntarily or exposed involuntarily.  Globally, power struggles among world leaders may escalate to another level.  Fighting for peace and justice may just be a cover-up of more selfish intents.  

Lunar Eclipse in Sagittarius 2012

Two weeks after the solar eclipse in Gemini, we have a partial lunar eclipse at 14 degrees 14 minutes Sagittarius on 4th June 12.13 (BST).  This is a Strawberry Moon because according to Native American folklore, June is considered to be the month for harvesting strawberries. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aszUiI6J-L8).  Further investigation led me to the fact that each full moon has its own name:

http://www.farmersalmanac.com/full-moon-names/

The shadow period for this lunar eclipse is 4 hours 30 minutes.  Unlike solar eclipses, one hour of the shadow period for lunar eclipses is equivalent to one month so this lunar eclipse will have an influence of 4 and a half months.  The sensitive point is at 14 degrees 14 minutes Sagittarius, so any planets passing over this point in the natal chart will be significant for 4 and a half months after the onset of this lunar eclipse.

Full Moons are culmination points, a time when the Sun fully illuminates the Moon and the shadow qualities are under solar glare.  In Sagittarius, the seeker of truth, we may hold a set of beliefs on how the world works, but do you force your beliefs onto other people?  Where are you being judgmental?  What's true for you may not necessarily be true for other people.  Look for 14 degrees 14 minutes Sagittarius in your chart and see which house this lunar eclipse falls in.  

With the Sun, Venus (in retrograde), Mercury and the South Node in Gemini, we have a brigade of planets focusing on the mind.  This is not just a time to ponder on the facts, but to go beyond the superficial and extract what's true for you and release inauthentic materials from your system.  What do you truly value in your relationships with others and with yourself?

This lunar eclipse square my natal 8th house Sun, though conjunction and opposition are the major aspects normally considered.  Let's see if this will bring a message/insight, which creates enough discomfort in my system for me to delve into my solar abyss of the 8th and do some soul searching there.

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