New Moon in Aries 2012

The Sun and the Moon are due for their monthly rendezvous on 22nd March at 14.38 GMT.  This time, they meet in the sign of bold and dynamic Aries at 2 degrees 22 minutes.

Even though Aries is the first sign of the zodiac, its leadership quality and its tendency to blaze new trails are unlikely to be unleashed in the usual fashion.  This is due to the fact that its ruler, Mars, is still in its retrograde phase. In addition, Mercury is retrograding in the sign of Aries (not to mention Saturn is also in retrograde, but in Libra).  Therefore, the theme of introspection is interwoven into the message of this new moon.  All in all, we have 4 planetary bodies in an Aries stellium:  Sun, Moon, Mercury and Uranus.  You can still act, be courageous and take risks, but only after the careful consideration of all the available facts. Even so, this may be a bit tricky, especially with Mars, retrograding in Virgo, oppose Neptune (and Chiron), so information could be kept from you. With Saturn trine Neptune, ensure your plans are not too idealistic and make them as practical as possible (with Saturn trine Neptune).

This leads to another sub-theme of this new moon - practicality.  With Mercury and Uranus 'sandwiching' the New Moon, we are encouraged to think outside the box, but with the grand earth trine in Mars, Pluto and Jupiter, we are also urged to keep our plans 'real', down-to-earth and feasible.  Having said that, Mercury conjunct Uranus can help us extend our mind and breakdown the 'I can't do it' barrier.  With Jupiter conjunct Venus in Taurus, we are reminded of our own beliefs and values.  So do what you can within your own physical limits and personal beliefs.  The nodal axis square the Mars-Neptune opposition would like us to think and move beyond our comfort zone without stepping into muddy territory.  If in doubt, ask, check, double check, triple check.

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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!

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Transiting Venus in Taurus 2012

Get ready for a wave of relaxing and indulgent energy to wash over us when Venus enters one of its own signs, Taurus, on 5th March at 10:24 GMT.  The Goddess of love and money is due to stay in comfort-seeking Taurus for about a month, leaving on 3rd April.  Transiting Mercury is due to conjunct Uranus in Aries an hour after Venus' ingress into Taurus, which may possibly bring sudden outbursts of ideas and impulsive actions on how to be kind to yourself (shopping comes to mind!  Having said that, transiting Mars is in retrograde so this urge may no be that hard to conquer).  Then we have a Full Moon in Virgo 3 days later (on 8th March), a time to review your ongoing plans and projects. 

I have my MC, Chiron and Moon in Taurus.  I tend to indulge myself in the food department usually when anything conjuncts my Moon.  I'm already feeling rather lethargic with planet Mars in retrograde motion (but my workload is still on the increase), so with Venus transiting in Taurus conjunct my MC, Chiron then my Moon, I hope I won't become a couch potato and adopt a listless attitude towards my work.....

Taurus is also a sensual, tactile sign.  Hug and kiss.  Pamper your body.  Visit a spa, have a facial, a body massage, a manicure, a pedicure.....ummm,  I have a facial booked during this period... I was hoping Venus in Taurus would bring me some cash instead of the opposite.....

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Zodiac Butterflies

I was pleasantly surprised to receive a 'home-made' birthday present from my sister the other day. She has creatively designed a set of butterflies according to the colours, shapes and patterns associated with each zodiac sign.  My sister is not into astrology the way I am so she did all the research from scratch.  She said she got stuck on Taurus because between all the websites and books she had consulted, every single colour under the sun seemed to be associated with Taurus!  She did ask me at one point and I told her I wasn't too concerned with colours except that Taurus is an earth sign so I would go for an earthy colour.  She's forever making gifts for her friends so I thought she was doing something for them - until I opened the big envelope from her in the post.  

Thanks sis:-)

Mercury in Aries 2012

Maybe I'm biased, but I'm looking forward to having Mercury transiting in Aries from Friday 2nd March (11.40 GMT).  Natally, I have Mercury in Aries, but in the 8th, so the Arian energy rarely gets unleashed without having lots of strings attached.  Luckily, with transiting Uranus in Aries, which conjunct my Mercury, I'm beginning to feel those 'strings' loosening under the pressure of that Arian energy.

In Aries, Mercury is ruled by Mars, which is currently retrograding in Virgo, so the two planets are in mutual reception.  We have a theme of communicating fearlessly - but not bluntly, because let's not forget we have Saturn and Mars in retrograde (Mercury will join the 'Retrograde Party' on 12th March).  Uranus in Aries, though, is likely to inject unconventionality wherever possible, balancing out the 'retrograde quality'.  It is interesting to note that during this period, retrograding Mars will physically be the closest to Earth on 3rd March, as if to say, 'Look at me!  Look at me!  Be assertive, not aggressive!'

Astrologically, there are 2 grand trines on the day when Mercury enters bold Aries.  Both of which contain a retrograde planet: an air/water grand trine with Saturn in Libra, Moon in Gemini, and Neptune-Chiron in Pisces (out-of-sign aspect) and an earth grand trine with Mars in Virgo, Pluto in Capricorn and Jupiter in Taurus.  Each grand trine is like a circuit of positive, enclosed energy.  In the air/water 'circuit', we have Saturn retrograding in Libra linking up to the Moon (the past) and Neptune-Chiron (healing) so the past may be catching-up with us,  either as a fleeting thought or an physical re-encounter, urging us to let something go. In the other earth closed circuit, we have Mars retrograding in Virgo (repeating the 'thoughts and ideas' theme from the other grand trine with the Mercury-ruled Moon).  With Pluto and Jupiter,  again, we have the theme of bringing up something from the past, this time, from the depths of our psyche (Pluto, ruled by Saturn - the other retrograding planet from the air/water grand trine), but instead of being forced to come out into the light, we have Jupiter, gently coaxing the junk out.

Then, moving away from the grand trines, we have Mars (in retrograde) oppose the Sun and Saturn (in retrograde) oppose Venus.  Are you ready to face up to your life mission and re-set your belief system?  External stimuli, in the forms of male authority figures, may challenge your present beliefs and if you have been sitting around, feeling confused, it's time to get up and get moving - even if only mentally, don't let procrastination get the better of you.

Mercury begins its retrograde motion from 12th March.  Mercury retrograde is not just about miscommunications and computers going haywire.  It's a time for us to wake-up from our groggy states and introspect the goings-on in our lives - slow down and look carefully at where you are going.  What needs to stay, what needs to go?  In Aries, the focus is on ourselves.  It is not about being selfish, but about being proud of who we are, being honest with who we are and what we want to achieve in life.  It is about getting in touch with the warrior inside of us.  Be bold.  Be brave.  A turning point will be reached on 21st March, when we have a tight Sun-Mercury conjunction in Aries.  Look out for any messages/insights we may receive around this date.  I'm particularly fond of the work of an intuitive archetypal astrologer, Robert Ohotto, whose interpretation on retrograde cycles are rather insightful and pioneering.  You can find out more about his work and listen to his radio shows on www.ohotto.com.

Timeline of transiting Mercury in Aries:

2nd March - Mercury enters Aries

12th March - Mercury retrograde begins

23rd-24th March - Mercury re-enters Pisces

4th April - Mercury goes direct

17th April - Mercury re-enters Aries

8th May - Mercury leaves Aries

Transiting Mercury in Aries will traverse my 8th and 9th houses, conjunct my Mercury for most of March due to its retrograde motion and will conjunct my Mercury for a second time in the latter half of April, so I will get plenty of opportunities to unleash my thoughts and ideas and not be afraid to speak my mind,  but without being impulsive and hurting others with my words.

Happy Mercury tracking!

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Whitney - We'll always love you

I was shocked beyond words this morning when I heard about Houston's demise.  Since my blog entry on transiting Uranus conjunct transiting Venus in Aries, 2 songs crept into my head and refused to leave:  Anita Baker's Sweet Love and Whitney Houston's All At Once.    How is it possible that the owner of the soothing voice that had been occupying my mind for the past couple of days is no longer breathing in the mortal realm?  

Houston's amazing voice had captivated a global audience for decades.  Her performance wasn't just for the sake of self-expression, but serving others through her God-given talent - her breathtakingly beautiful voice (Sun conjunct Venus in Leo in 6th oppose Saturn in Aquarius in 12th).  It was a shame drug addiction ruined her singing career (Pisces Ascendant conjunct Chiron in 1st oppose Pluto-Mercury-Uranus in 6/7th; Neptune in Scorpio in 8th).

As transiting Pluto from the 10th house tightly square her natal Mars in 7th (Placidus, 8th Equal House), Houston completed her Sacred Contract on Planet Earth, leaving behind a legacy of divinely powerful songs (transiting MC separating from her natal Moon-Jupiter conjunction in Aries in 1st; transiting Jupiter trine Uranus in Virgo 6th).  With her Chiron exactly conjunct my Sun, I have always personally found Houston's voice to be extremely therapeutic. 

Whitney, rest in peace.  Thank you for the music.  Thank you for being an inspiration to us all.

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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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