Full Moon @ 4 degrees Scorpio 18'
April 23, 2024
4:49 PM PDT
7:49 PM EDT
April's Full Moon in tropical Scorpio breaks us entirely out of eclipse season. Still, it keeps the intensity high with Pluto's square and the Full Moon's placement in the depths of the Scorpio archetypal field. With Mercury about to station direct (April 25), there can also be an inundation of high stimulation and information overload, making for an unstable, eventful, yet interesting lunation.
This Full Moon presents us with a fascinating collective crossroads, marked by the precise Jupiter-Uranus conjunction, Mercury's direct station, and Mars' impending shift into Aries. While some actions may still feel obstructed or uncertain, this lunation serves as a potent transition, inviting us to start implementing the insights, revisions, and shifts in perspective we've gathered over the past few weeks. This is a time of potential growth and change, offering a unique opportunity for personal transformation.
With the Full Moon ruler, Mars, currently mired in the Neptunian fog and the infinite expansiveness of the Piscean void, we can easily get pulled far beyond our boundaries and intended desires under this lunation. Neptune and Pisces are seeking to redirect the ego's focus towards more transpersonal issues and concerns, and a breaking point can be reached, allowing for a more transcendent purpose or mission to emerge.
As we navigate the days surrounding this lunation, it'll be beneficial to surrender more to the flow of creative, spiritual, and even humanitarian energies. By allowing ourselves to be guided, we can better confront the forces and impulses that surpass our ego's limited perception. This is a time of challenge and growth, where we're encouraged to rise above the haze of fear and mental blockages, unlocking a more profound truth, purpose, and power.
Be Fierce: Total Solar Eclipse in Aries 2024
Justin Hawkes, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Total Solar Eclipse @ 19 degrees Aries 24'
April 8, 2024
11:20 AM PDT
2:20 PM EDT
Solar eclipses can correlate with profound transitions in our lives, both significant beginnings and endings, which seem to unfold simultaneously. Especially for those living where the eclipse is visible, it can correlate with emotional amplification and confrontations with numerous hidden and unconscious aspects of ourselves and the external world. These can be dramatic periods, but also highly revealing and liberating, especially if we attune ourselves more inwardly to the unconscious mind.
With this eclipse, we are met with a barrage of seeming contradictions. The Aries archetype, ruled by the planet Mars, desires to assert and take willful action. As a north nodal eclipse, we are compelled forward into the future to free ourselves of numerous dependencies and unhealthy attachments. Yet, Mercury is moving deep into its retrograde cycle, bringing up the past and throwing the mind into reflection, revision, and potential hesitation.
Additionally, Mars will be heading toward a conjunction with Saturn in Pisces that exacts within a day of the eclipse on April 10. This is not a time in which we should take careless or impulsive actions. We should be mindful that whatever we implement and launch now will not likely align with the ego's ideals and expectations. This is a time to focus our shifts more internally and trust that dramatic changes of attitude, perception, and emotional expression will eventually trickle into our external experiences.
Additionally, the eclipses' exact alignment with Chiron, and wide conjunction with Mercury retrograde, and the dwarf planet Eris suggest a further amplification of wounds and vulnerabilities. If we're not careful, we can easily get swept up in the internal and external chaos of the moment and lose sight of the bigger picture.
Yet, these symbols also speak to the ability to heal and integrate unfinished business, to learn deeply from the past and utilize our pain and suffering to motivate us toward courageous action in the world to pave the way for a new order and way of being. Reflect on what has been holding you back from your fierceness and ability to claim your destined place in life. Sometimes, going back and turning inward can counterintuitively push us further forward.
Seeds of Hope: New Moon in Pisces 2024
Bertrand Paris Romaskevich, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
New Moon @ 20 degrees Pisces 16'
March 10, 2024
1:00 AM PDT
4:00 AM EDT
March's New Moon in tropical Pisces stands at a symbolic collective and personal crossroads. This is the last New Moon until May 7 that we can utilize for the stable initation of new projects and various endeavors. Eclipse season and a Mercury retrograde cycle in April will very much destabilize preset plans and lead to a period of much revision and readjustment.
However, the Pisces archetype itself is a more go-with-the-flow type of vibe, one in which we're unlikely to feel an urgent need or desire to make something happen if it isn't already in motion. In fact, that's a good way of conceiving of this New Moon, as a time to check in with what we're attempting to make real in the world and attune ourselves to current processes and how best to rework them over the next two months.
Sitting at the midpoint of the Saturn-Neptune conjunction (an alignment that exacts in early 2026 as I have written about here), this New Moon also connects us more deeply with our dreams, ideals, and future expectations. Naturally, that can also bring disappointment, disillusionment, or discouragement, since the combination of Saturn-Neptune represents the merging of what we imagine and what's realistically possible.
Perhaps it's best to think of this New Moon as a bit paradoxical experientially. There is the reality of the moment and a confrontation with its genuine limitations and yet an equally profound emergence of hope, faith, and a glimpse of something more on the horizon.
However we are moved and shifted by this New Moon, there is a choice between locking ourselves into one end of a polarity or embracing a synthesis where we accept what's real but continue to dream and embrace exciting new possibilities. Consider what new moves and changes you can make to transform those less-than-ideal realities into more positive outcomes that can blossom further down the road.
Rising Wise: Full Moon in Virgo 2024
Grand Canyon National Park, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Full Moon @ 5 degrees Virgo 23’
February 24, 2024
4:30 AM PDT
7:30 AM EDT
February's Full Moon occurs in tropical Virgo. The Virgo and Pisces polarity both deal with idealism, yet they do so in different ways. Virgo's ideals are often more readily attainable in the so-called real world, while Pisces' interests lie more so in the abstract and imaginal.
Both Piscean and Virgoan ideals are realizable in some way, but they often need direction and a container to focus their potential. Saturn's opposition to this Full Moon can represent the awareness of such needs, or it can correlate with some discouragement or even disillusionment.
Alongside this Full Moon, we're likely to feel the weight of certain realities more than usual since Saturn's opposition to the Moon can be felt as a kind of reality test. A Full Moon in Virgo is a culmination, breaking point, or crisis in relation to our efforts to attain some ideal or make a dream or vision real in the world. Yet, along the way, we will likely encounter certain obstacles, setbacks, or limitations that dampen our spirit and idealism.
This Full Moon represents a moment to check in with the ultimate objective, dream, or vision you're trying to make real. Anything too impractical or abstract in the Piscean sense might need to be scrapped or at least heavily revised. Yet, for those dreams and objectives that continue to hold your passion, this Full Moon is simply a reality test that can be mastered through humility, determination, and commitment to growth.
Jupiter's trine to the Full Moon and waxing conjunction with Uranus also suggests that breakthroughs and new potential lie on the horizon, even amid failure or a perceived disaster. We can always use setbacks and limitations as sources of wisdom and catalysts for growth and future change. While sometimes hard, attempting to reach an ideal is ultimately worth the maturity and strength it gives you.
A New Way Forward: New Moon in Aquarius 2024
Ted.ns, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
New Moon @ 20 degrees Aquarius 40'
February 9, 2024
2:58 PM PDT
5:58 PM EDT
February's New Moon occurs in tropical Aquarius and makes a square to the Aquarian modern ruler, Uranus, bringing forth an archetypal current of instability and mounting pressure to willingly initiate vital changes. Aquarius is a fixed sign, and true to its traditional Saturnian ruler, it is a sign that likes to preserve a stable awareness of the world and its future potential.
Science and other collaborative forms of knowledge acquisition (Aquarian-like activities and institutions) seek to make predictions and thus attain some sense of certainty about the universe. However, with this New Moon, anticipate more uncertainty in relation to arising matters and new endeavors. If clinging to the Aquarian shadow, there is more resistance to letting that certainty go and a stubborn refusal to accept new ideas and possibilities.
Aquarius is, however, a paradoxical sign (as are all astrological symbols). As we shift into this New Moon, it may be wise to consciously acknowledge where change is needed and willingly move confidently into the unknown. The high end of the Aquarian archetype is a willingness to defy the status quo and embrace a more radical or unconventional course or purpose. With Uranus' square, the less treaded pathway is more relevant now than ever.
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Change is in the air with this Aquarian New Moon (pun intended as it is an air sign). Uranus' square to this lunation emerges as a dynamic symbol for a catalytic shift occurring within the collective psyche over the next few days and weeks. As Mercury, Mars, and Venus move through Aquarius this month, they also strike squares with the building Jupiter and Uranus conjunction, catalyzing some much-needed but potentially tumultuous change and instability.
The Jupiter-Uranus conjunction peaks at the end of April and will correlate with a rising wave of cultural and political resistance to the status quo, opening new possibilities to unearth radical discoveries. This is one of the most creatively potent world transit conjunctions, and a powerful opportunity to push yourself into new adventures.
In contrast to the Saturn-Neptune conjunction phasing in toward the latter part of this year and into 2025 and peaking in 2026 (which I have written extensively about here), the Jupiter-Uranus alignment gifts us an opportunity to rise into new potentials and break free of some restrictive patterns and blockages this year. Embrace this wave of inspiration and opportunity while the window is open.
Mars and Venus also align with Pluto as they shift into Aquarius over the following week. While there is an opening for deeper intimacy and authenticity, a magnification of certain blindspots and pitfalls in relational interactions can become problematic. Wherever idealism and wishful thinking take over, use more discernment and realism. However, a greater awareness of true compatibility and relational needs is always useful for future interactions.
The tarot card I pulled for this New Moon is the Five of Wands. Most versions of this card depict several men in battle, yet there is often an air of confusion and uncoordinated effort, with wands coming from multiple directions. Often, this card can symbolize the midst of conflict or a struggle to attain some desired action or goal. Harmonically, the 5 relates to the square aspect in astrology, which the New Moon receives from Uranus--a symbolic struggle or challenge.
Aquarius and its classical and modern rulers (Saturn and Uranus respectively) also strongly correlate with an inherent conflict between an old and a new order. In the original Greek creation myth, Uranus was the first oppressive patriarch who usurped the ambitions of his progeny and was eventually castrated by Cronos (Saturn), thus losing his authority and power.
Later, Cronos/Saturn himself meets a similar fate when deceived by his son Zeus (Jupiter) while attempting to devour his children to prevent his own inevitable dethronement. The conflict between generations and the fight against an oppressive old order is a consistent theme throughout the Western world and is embodied in the Aquarian archetype.
Perhaps it reflects a dimension of this New Moon that highlights such conflict within ourselves and our own lives and the persistence and motivation required to "stand our ground" and keep fighting for greater freedom and autonomy. Use this New Moon as a catalyst to push you further toward a unique individualistic pathway. Naturally, we will meet resistance and challenges to our ideas or personal style, but such is the price for staying true to ourselves and our dreams.
Creating the Future: Full Moon in Leo 2024
DEATHSCOOTER, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Full Moon @ 5 degrees Leo 14'
January 24, 2024
9:54 AM PST
12:54 PM EST
Our first Full Moon of 2024 occurs in tropical Leo, culminating into a dynamic t-square with its opposition to Pluto and square to Jupiter. Firstly, such a configuration during a Full Moon climax suggests the emergence of tension and the need for some significant closure, conclusion, or resolution. T-squares can feel particuarly pressing or heavy, correlating with the need to make certain choices or take important actions.
Pluto, recently back in Aquarius, pressures us collectively and personally with a required confrontation with the deeper truth of an issue or situation. There is likely an awareness that putting off certain matters will no longer work. Pluto demands that we face reality more squarely (pun intended) and honestly, especially regarding certain objectives and prospects for the future.
The higher integration of the Leo/Aquarius polarity is realizing the nuanced and paradoxical nature of being true to ourselves and contributing to a larger collective purpose. Where does our personal, spiritual mission intersect with the larger human or global community? Are we neglecting personal needs for some group purpose, or conversely, can we do more to expand our reach and influence?
From the perspective of Leo, we're the main character in the drama of life. In its shadow, this can lead to a solipsistic or narcissistic orientation where empathy and compassion for others cease, and all that matters is a personal perspective or need. A childlike world insulates us, and all criticism or opposing perspectives are silenced. Such is the growing architecture of today's social media spaces.
Yet also, Pluto in Aquarius will awaken us to the horrors of uncritical groupthink and blind obedience to consensus. The seeming polarity of cultural narcissism and things like fascism or totalitarianism actually feed and depend on one another, and both are predicated on the eradication of authentic community and both personal and collective purpose and values.
With this Full Moon, there is likely to be some acquisition of awareness of where we might fit into some larger collective struggle, what we can do to heal, offer solutions, or perhaps how we can delve into our creative potential and power and bring forth a new vision. Perhaps what emerges is not so complex, but rather a need to enact some change for better situating our personal lives within the context of the current collective reality (whether economic, political, or cultural) and both its limitations and opportunities for greater expansion.
Clearing the Way: New Moon in Capricorn 2024
Enoch Leung, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
New Moon @ 20 degrees Capricorn 44'
January 11, 2024
3:57 AM Pacific
6:57 AM Eastern
Our first New Moon of 2024 occurs in tropical Capricorn and is highly supportive of stepping out and initiating some formative moves in critical endeavors. Especially if you've felt impeded the past few weeks, this Capricorn lunation is a focal point of dynamic renewal that synchronizes intentions and willpower for future goals and ambitions.
With Mercury clear of its retrograde cycle and as we shift into the waxing lunar phase these next two weeks, you'll find that several obstacles will be lifted, and enthusiasm will rise. However, in the dark of the Moon, it's also possible to feel at a decisive crossroads where narrowing options and possible pathways are needed.
With the New Moon squaring the Moon's nodal axis, this also represents a decisive junction where it can be just as important to hone in on a strategy as it is to take deliberate actions. Additionally, while Mercury is direct, there may be some lingering need for reflection and recharging. Inward shifts are as powerful as those we make happen in the external world.
The most powerful aspect of this New Moon is a trine with Uranus, suggesting that the new doors opening are potent portals for accessing greater freedom and liberation from oppressive circumstances. There is more choice here than pressure to act, but the path is clear for those seeking to integrate fresh routines, experiences, and possibilities.