New Moon in Aries 2016

The Sun and Moon form a conjunction at 18 degrees Aries on 7th April (BST).  This is a new moon, signifying a new beginning in the lunar cycle.  Aries is the first sign of the zodiac, another symbol of 'beginning', in particular, the start of a new astrological year.

Where this new moon falls in your chart shows a new start in that area of life.  It shows where cardinal fire qualities need to be explored.  Where do you need to take the initiative and thrust yourself forward?  Uranus and Venus are also in Aries, positioned on either side of this new moon. What do you value?  What means the most to you? Be your own leader and break out of the present mold and create something new, something different (Uranus in Aries).

Mars is the ruler of this new moon.  Saturn (in retrograde) joins it widely in Sagittarius.  They are at the apex of a mutable T-square with Jupiter oppose Neptune.

Have faith in your plans (Saturn in Sagittarius) but be realistic.  Move (Mars) towards your dreams (Neptune) in manageable steps (Saturn).  Fight (Mars) for your dreams and wishes (Neptune & Jupiter) by all means but assess if they are plausible enough to be manifested (Saturn).  Do I have the time/skills to execute the plans? If you are being overly idealistic (Jupiter), then reassess and plan again (Saturn).

(House system used:  Whole Signs;        Location:  Hong Kong)

New Moon in Cancer 2014

On 27th June at 9:08am (BST), we have a  new moon which takes place at 5 degrees 37 minutes in the nurturing sign of Cancer.

New Moon marks the beginning of a new cycle, where seeds of intention can be sown on fertile soil.  

Under the sign of Cancer, representing the mother archetype, it is a great time to explore our subconscious mind, to identify habits and patterns formed during childhood which might be preventing us from moving forward in adulthood.  The cardinal T-square (Mars-Uranus opposition both square Pluto) could reflect impulsive actions that are fear-driven.  Or we could do something different (Uranus) and face our fears (Pluto) boldly (Mars).  It could turn out to be quite a healing experience (New Moon trine Neptune in Pisces).

Check the house in which this new moon lands in your chart.  Do you have planets, angles, points between 4 degrees 37 minutes to 6 degrees 37 minutes in cardinal signs (Cancer, Capricorn, Aries, Libra)?  

Cancerian associations:  motherhood, the past, habits, emotions, subconscious mind

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.

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

Full Moon in Taurus 2012

Full Moon is a time where the shadow is under the glaring illumination of the Sun.

With the Sun in Scorpio and the Moon in Taurus opposing one another on 29th October at 19:49 BST, we have our monthly chance of receiving a message under this culmination point.

With the Full Moon in Taurus, we are shown where our values lie.  Taurus is associated with the physical body, our values, our sense of worth and our material possessions.  The Sun in Scorpio, in a separating conjunction to Saturn, is not just showing us what junk to release but also highlighting the lessons on the darker aspects of life.

This full moon conjunct my Chiron exactly, where my natal Chiron conjunct my MC.  When you look at the vastness of the world, or even the Universe, one feels so insignificant.  How can tiny 'me' contribute to the greater whole?  The sign Taurus is about building something up, step by step.

'Rome wasn't built in a day'.  

If there is something you feel strongly about, but don't know how to go about achieving it, then you can begin by taking incremental steps towards it.  Remember all of us learn to crawl before we walk, and walk before we run.  Don't be so hard on yourself and expect to achieve your goals instantly.  After all, we have a T-square, where Venus in Libra oppose Uranus in Aries and square Pluto in Capricorn respectively.  External conflicts on a global scale can have a knock-on effect on us individuals, but we mustn't let that stop us from reaching our full potential.

If you have the opposite problem, where you find it hard to motivate yourself, then you can tap into the diligent and persevering qualities of Taurus to get yourself moving and get something done - however little that might be.  For example, if you are a writer, the first step is to get yourself seated in front of your computer/writing materials and write SOMETHING down.  It's a start at least.

With my MC involved under this Taurean Full Moon, I am also being made aware of my worth in society.  What can I offer the world?  Being a perfectionist, I often try to do my best in every situation possible, but now I can finally say to myself, 'It's OK NOT to be know something,' and as Robert Ohotto once said on his radio show, 'There are times when you can only give 75%.'  Yesterday, I found out that an organisation I belong to had to deal with some legal issues.  Being outside my area of expertise, I couldn't offer any assistance at all, but I soon learned that there were many other members who could and were putting their heads together to solve the problem.  Had there been noone available to deal with the matter, I would see it as an opportunity/lesson for me to learn something from that 'problem'.  However, since the matter was being whipped away from me by more able-bodies, I took it as a message for me to understand that each of us is endowed with our unique gifts and talents.  I couldn't offer my assistance on this matter, but I know exactly where I stand in the organisation and what I CAN offer the group with my other talents.   In essence, I learn to be aware of my role in the outer world.

What message have you received from this Taurus Full Moon?  Where do you need to build-up something step-by-step?      

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.  

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?

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?