Oh! Glory! She sits in splendour & fills the night with her luminous light. There is nothing quite like the May Full Moon! In the Northern Hemisphere, the days are long now & at the full moon periods, when the night sky is filled with light, it feels as if we have a greater chance to be alive. If the sky is clear, then even as darkness settles, we are ‘in the light’.

Taurus/Scorpio is the ‘power axis’ of the zodiac, the energy of manifestation & groundedness. If we are fully in our bodies, aware of who we are, (Taurus), then we have the potential to manifest that which we can wholly imagine (Scorpio). This is the organic earthy foundation of Taurus in support of the etheric, nebulous potential of Scorpio.

We are now fully into a Mercury Retrograde which will last until June 2, 2022, with the Station Direct & June 19, 2022, to the conclusion of the ‘shadow’ period. This retrograde dovetails with the Sun’s entry into Gemini with Mercury Retrograde conjoining the Sun on May 22, 2022. Be mindful of how you go about connecting with others. Pay attention to technical details like computers, phones & correspondence. Read all legal contracts thouroughly before signing on the dotted line. Basically, be alert. A retrograde does not mean one should stop all activity. Rather, it reminds us to be careful, cautious & meticulous in all of our endeavors.

The big shift is Jupiter’s ingress into Aries, leaving his home sign of Pisces for a few months. Jupiter will dip back into Pisces later in the year but the shift into the aspirational firey energy is now begun! At the full Moon, there is a wide, out of element Trine between the Moon in Scorpio, (26*) & Jupiter in Aries, (1*), suggesting that aspirations can be manifested if the emotional energy of faith & belief is present. It’s a great time to dream the dream & set the intention to make it so!

Mars in Pisces, in an almost perfect Trine to the Full Moon in Scorpio, supports an active intentional process in support of the ‘dream’, the hope, the aspirational self. And, with Saturn squaring both the lunation & the nodal axis (this is an eclipse!), we can tap into the steely resolve to do what we must in support of the pursuit of our dreams & hopes.

Because this is a TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE, we have the opportunity to shed the old self & make room for the new self. Think back to the Solar Eclipse that we experienced on April 30 at the New Moon. Who do you want to be? What part of your emotional self do you want to discard? Can you make it happen? As the portal of possibility opened at that former eclipse, now you can step through with the emotional resolve to activate it.

Consider initiating new habitual rituals in your life. Set new intentions. Clear away anything that is inauthentic in your life. Take off the mask and just be real.

I have a friend who is blessed to live at the very heart of nature. She shared one of her daily rituals with me and was gracious enough to give me permission to share it in this blog.

She wrote:

My New Moon seed is to go every day across the frozen river and walk to where there are two tall trees together, one a spruce and one a pine, and a view of the mountain to the North. Then I invoke spirits of Earth and Sky and Beyond and say my call for the highest good for ourselves and all we love and all who suffer and finally ALL sentient beings.

Every night after Chi Gong energy sweeps I send Love geographically moving out.

My friend has made this her daily practice, thus inviting a practical spirituality to be an integral part of her life. This is just an example of how we could choose to infuse our awareness with supportive and intentional actions. We cannot all live as close to the natural world as my friend does but to the extent that we are able to, we can invite natural forces into our lives.

(Thank you,

Sharon,

for sharing your wonderful practice with us!)

The Sabian Symbols for this Full Moon are:

26* Scorpio:  INDIANS MAKING CAMP

26* Taurus:  A SPANIARD SERENADING HIS SENORITA

Love takes many forms & can be expressed in a variety of ways. In the above images, a communal kind of love is depicted by the cooperative efforts of a group working together along with an expression of passionate love between two individuals. Interestingly, community is built on the intentions of single individuals. A community is only as strong as the individuals that comprise it. If love is not present at the individual level, it cannot be present at the community level. Usually, the thing that destroys any community is a lack of love. When love is no longer the foundational binding force, animosity, distrust and even hate eventually take the place of love. We must be conscientious ‘gardeners’ within our communities, work hard to ‘weed out’ negative elements, and nurture with loving kindness that which we do want to grow.

Our current global community is in crisis. Something is out of sync. The infrastructure that has been developed over millennia no longer appears to support the humans who are dependent upon it. Whether organic, economic, social, or political, it’s just not working. We have the opportunity right now, at this moment in time, to restructure the reality that we all share. It is up to us to decide whether we want to embrace the Earth or to reject her; whether we want to continue to tolerate deception, corruption & wrongdoing or to stand against it on every level. What will we do?

The Taurus New Moon is a celebration of the natural world; the sublime organic. In Taurus, we discover what it means to be alive & fully in our bodies. This year, we really, really want to experience that, to feel the sun on our skins, the wind in our hair, the sweet smell of spring in the air.  Taurus reminds us that there is a simple joy in just being & especially if we are in harmony with the organisms around us, from the rocks to the seas to the plants & creatures & especially with our fellow humans.

This New Moon is a Partial Solar Eclipse, the first of four eclipses that will occur this year. Solar eclipses can often indicate where we can make a fresh start, move ahead & leave the past behind. Look at the Taurus part of your own chart & ask yourself what, in that area of life could use a do-over, partial, or even total!

Obviously, if you have significant energy along the Taurus/Scorpio axis (they are partner signs), this is an eclipse for you! If you have wanted to welcome change, well, the door just opened. Step on through!

But, really. Everyone can experience a fresh start with this New Moon Eclipse & if you know your natal chart, you can zero in on what area of life might be ripe for an overhaul.

In the first quadrant, (houses 1,2,3) you could find yourself ready to change the way you move through the world, value things & think about life in general. Communication & how you engage may well undergo a significant & welcome change. Certainly, there is much on the table at the moment in terms of what we understand ‘free speech’ to actually be. With this eclipse energy fueling us, we might find ourselves re-defining that or at the very least, refining our definitions.

In the second quadrant, (houses 4.5.6), we might find ourselves confronting issues around creativity, family & daily habits. Healing could well take a front-row seat for us. Perhaps we need to review our habitual rituals & ensure that they are still serving us in our pursuit of health & well-being. Projects that we have left languishing on the back burner might suddenly be revived with positive results. Family relationships could be restructured & improved.

In the third quadrant (houses 7.8.9), we might see a startling but signatory shift in our relationship life. We might suddenly realize that some people might have to be let go while new ones magically appear. Intimacy between primary partners might be intensified or falsehoods could be exposed that then lead to healing or termination of relationship. Our sights might suddenly be set on a wider range of associates, ones that come into our lives because of shared values & viewpoints. The world at large opens up to us & we feel less bound to traditions based on outworn ideals.

In the fourth quadrant, (houses 10. 11. 12). Our interaction with the world at large could shift. We might leave a career to start a new one. We might significantly change our image, literally & figuratively. Old causes might be replaced by new ones that better reflect who we have now become & all of this could emanate from a deep, private, highly personal level where only we, ourselves ever go. Remember that cave in the old ‘Star Wars’ film when Luke faces, at long last the truth about himself? Well, we just might enter that cave & unveil whatever it is that dwells therein.

The thing to focus on is that no matter where this energy forms in your own psyche, it is welcome. It is an opportunity to try again, to make changes, to refresh, renew & move along.

The Sabian Symbols for this wonderful Taurus New Moon are truly delightful!

11* Taurus:

A WOMAN SPRINKLING FLOWERS

11* SCORPIO:

A DROWNING MAN RESCUED

There is no more perfect description of the essence of Taurus than the first symbol. This is a time of growth, renewal & hope. Our gardens are the thing that connects us viscerally to the truth of life, the cyclic & wonderful promise that is contained within the SEED. Let us all wish that the seeds we sow grow into beautiful flowers! As we nurture the earth, she, in turn, nurtures us. Come on, let’s get back to the garden on every level possible!

The Scorpio Symbol is all about REDEMPTION. We are the ‘drowning man’ & it is the organic mother earth that will save us if we honour her. No matter what issues we are facing, or what trials we are enduring, they will pass. We must all stay connected to the source of our salvation be it physical, emotional, intellectual, or spiritual. Take your pick. But do pick & do it immediately. As we transition on a collective level, each one of us plays a part in the choice that is made. Do we want to return to the garden? Or, are we relinquishing to destruction? Let us all choose the way of LOVE.

Okay…now go out and plant those seeds!

What seeds did we personally sow on the Aries New Moon a few weeks ago? All New Moons are seed sowing time but this is emphasized during the Aries New Moon right around the Spring Equinox. It’s like a ‘double-double’ for intention setting & new undertakings. As the Moon grows into the fullness of her light & embraces the energy of Libra, partner sign to Aries, we have the opportunity to look around & pick through the seedlings that have now (hopefully), sprouted in our life. Are we on track? Are we headed in the direction that we had intended? That’s the beauty of the Lunar Cycle; it allows us to take measured steps along our journey into becoming.

Aries always suggests something new & previously not experienced; something bold, possibly requiring a measure of courage. Libra, on the other hand, demands that we pause & deliberate on the actions that we are taking or thinking of taking. Libra wants us to LISTEN to the incoming, whether it’s actual advice from real people around us or messages via dreams, intuitions, or observations. This Full Moon is jam-packed with potential in terms of insight, action & possible evolution of self.

Moon & Sun are in square alignment to Pluto in Capricorn, now at 28CAP33. Just days away from his Retrograde Station. It’s the last kick at the can before the ‘dwarf giant’ takes another backward glance into Capricorn. This Cardinal arrangement is all about developing the appropriate way to exercise our personal power. Aries screams independence while Libra reminds us to take others into account as we push forward. Pluto holds the reins & reminds us that all actions must be based on justice & that it is our individual responsibility to discern where in that sometimes ambiguous pool of morality & ethics, we fall. Once we establish our own inner moral compass, do we have the guts (Aries) & the decency (Libra) to hold to our course? As previously mentioned, the key to successful management of all aspects of our lives is the ability to both hear & listen carefully.

Venus & Mars are now separating from each other bringing to a close their combined journey through Aquarius & into Pisces. Venus is at her peak of prowess in Pisces, able to fully embody the supplicant, the believer, the adherent. This is where compassion & grace can operate at full bore. If you were born with this placement, you are blessed, indeed, able to forgive without limitation, able to ‘see’ the divine in every being.

Saturn in Aquarius is in a happy alignment to this Full Moon suggesting that we can access our inner resolve to help us to stand in our integrity in the face of any challenges. Draw comfort & support from those who are like-minded. Let them become the community that bolsters you in the days ahead.

There is quite a beautiful cosmic alignment between Jupiter & Neptune. Both in Pisces, the god of opportunity joins forces with the divine within. We can all maximize our connection to whatever spiritual syntax moves us to faith & good works. Spirituality takes many forms so cherish your own sense of it while at the same time respecting others. We must all open ourselves to the POSSIBILITY of a multi-layered spiritual dialogue. Listen carefully as others speak to you so that you can truly understand what their heart holds.

We are in a time of transition. Collectively, we are making on-the-spot choices that will affect the entire global community. Personally, each of us has our own mountain to climb. With Saturn square the nodes, the call to action is to find our strength & to carefully refine it; to ‘learn’ ourselves; to establish clear boundaries & to truly know what they are. We are only limited in our power & ability by our own reactions to the events of our lives. We can choose to be the master or we can succumb to the role of the victim. That’s where free will comes in. We, each one of us, are the variable within the cosmic equation.

The Sabian Symbol for this Full Moon is:

A LOST OPPORTUNITY REGAINED

What needs to be re-imagined? What has been ‘lost in the shuffle’, misplaced? What can we go back to so as to more fully embody it? Have we lost our compass point of ‘true north’? Have we been diverted or even misdirected so that we are not proceeding as we should? Here is an admonition to be mindful, to pay attention, to remember who we are & what we hold to be true.

Again, the last few years have been an exercise in trauma both collectively & personally. No matter where we stand on some of the issues that are currently ‘in the air’, we have all had to adjust in ways that we had NEVER imagined. As Pluto prepares to Station Retrograde on April 29, 2022, just shy of the end of the Capricorn phase, we must all get CLEAR about our perception of reality & then create a strategy to support that clearly thought-out perception. Remember, after Capricorn, Pluto moves into Aquarius, the energy of the collective, the future, the web of humanity &, interestingly, the source of all invention. We must be ready for the changes that will inevitably take place as this new Aquarius energy is transformed. Are we ready?

As always, energy is neutral & will flow in the path of least resistance. Each one of us, individually is the variable in the mix. We must refine ourselves to be like the river that is flowing freely so that we move with the energy. We do not want to be caught in a dam of our own making and somehow miss the opportunity to merge with the ocean ahead.

The Aries New Moon opened up the potential to make a fresh approach to long-standing situations in our personal lives. (Think carefully about the Aries part of your natal chart. How could you do something ‘NEW’ in this area of life?) The Libra Full Moon encourages us to shut our mouths & quiet our minds & really LISTEN to the feedback we might be getting on the actions that we have been taking. Once we have listened  carefully, heard the incoming &, most importantly understood what that feedback actually means, then we can make any necessary adjustments so that we get the maximum return on the efforts that we make as we work hard to create the reality that best reflects who we ACTUALLY are deep down inside where truth lives unencumbered by artifice.

FIRST NEW MOON AFTER THE EQUINOX

There is always a certain hopeful excitement about the fresh spring New Moon in Aries, even under the direst of circumstances. This year, on April 1@ 1:27 AM, the Moon meets the Sun @ 12* Aries. We have just passed through one of the 4 gateways of the year, the Spring Equinox which is technically the beginning of Spring in the Northern hemisphere. This is a time of new beginnings & this year, after 2 years of unprecedented events, most everyone is ready to get going on a ‘new’ beginning.

We have, for the past few months been traveling in a dynamic ‘go forward’ kind of energy. Mid-January the planet Uranus was the last outer to station direct & since then, as of early February when Mercury stationed direct, all of the planets have been in forward motion. Now, I have nothing against the retrograde movement of planets. It’s useful to re-boot, reflect & realign on a regular basis. However, it is also useful to feel the surge of opportunity when all of the energy aligns to flow unencumbered by reflection or retraction. These past few months have been such a time. What to do with this? For most of us, it has probably been a period of increasing clarity as to what we might think is most reflective of who we are. How have we, individually, responded to the past 2 years? Have we wholeheartedly complied? Have we had doubts as to what was actually going on? Or have we simply ‘gone along’, not wanting to rock boats or even consider alternatives? Whichever of the courses described, the point is that we have had the opportunity to test our mettle against the prevailing reality of our times. We now know much more about ourselves than we did at the start of this strange journey. I know that some of us have lost friends & even family members either to death or to disagreement. How have we responded to that? Some of us have eliminated former friends from our lives due to contrarian viewpoints? How do we feel about that? For the majority of us, we just want this to end, to return to some kind of semblance of normality or what we thought was normal. What is the state of our emotions in that case? The answers to those questions are deeply personal & only known to each of us individually. What we do with those answers is also deeply personal. The key is to actually explore ourselves so as to get a better sense of who we are as we move forward along the timeline.

There is still time to tackle all of the above since the retrogrades don’t begin their march until the end of April when Pluto once again stations retrograde in Capricorn. And, with this pair of lunations, the New Moon in Aries & the Full Moon in Libra that follows, we get our last kick at the can!

Set your intention to make a fresh start, to brush away all of the old anxiety, to find the courage & tenacity to be true to your own self, whatever that might be. There is no need to judge or criticize others for the choices they make. There is only the need to valiantly defend the choices that YOU have made, calmly, without anger or spite or finger-pointing.

There are several cosmic arrangements at this New Moon that are worth considering. Firstly, the ongoing Venus/Mars alignment is still viable. Remember that Venus demonstrates our essential value system while Mars demonstrates the will to enact. This close alignment in Aquarius impels us to consider collective consequences of actions taken; to act on behalf of not only personal interest but that of the ‘greater good’. What kind of society are we wanting to create? Can we create it if we continue to demonize those who do not agree with us in every detail? Freedom is a hope wired into the soul of humanity. What, really, is freedom? When you look around you today, do you see an expression of freedom? Are you willing to allow others who share space with you to have different viewpoints from your own? How far will you go to defend that? Or not?

Secondly, Jupiter aligns with Neptune in Pisces this month. For those who are on a spiritual path, this is a most blessed alignment. It promises an opening of spirituality, the possibility of tremendous growth & opportunity on a spiritual level. There are some amongst us who feel strongly that we are at a pivot point in terms of human development. With Jupiter so closely aligned to Neptune, there is the opportunity for expanded insight, for sudden & profound understanding, for the chance to touch the face of divinity itself.

Conversely, this alignment could lead to even greater confusion, an increase in anxiety if we are operating solely on the material level. The call to action is to focus on reaching beyond ourselves & seeing the bigger picture of anything that we are currently engaged in. One of the reasons that our society appears to have ‘lost its way’ is because we have relegated the divine (whatever that means to you personally), to the farthest back seat of the bus, even for some, right off the bus into the ditch! The technocrats of this reality want to assume the position of ‘the divine’, be the arbiters of life itself. They will not succeed but it may take time & untold grief to millions before their failure is complete. For there to be harmonious life here on this planet, we need the optimism of Jupiter & the sweet compassionate unconditional love of Neptune. We must not get sidetracked by temporary riches or glory. The operative word is TEMPORARY. So, use this beautiful alignment which will continue to resonate to a greater or lesser degree for most of the year to move closer to your own sense of the eternal, closer to grace, closer to union with rather than separation from those with whom you share space & that realm that is unseen but, nevertheless, very real.

Jupiter conjunct Neptune @ 24* Pisces; (start meditating April 9 & make it a practice for the remainder of the year)

Sabian Symbol? AN INHABITED ISLAND: We are in this together. We are a collective. No matter our individual intentions & dreams, the greater collective must find a way to DREAM TOGETHER. It is from collective dreaming that all manifested reality springs. And we can ‘dream together’ for a world free from hate, greed & division. Clear yourself of all contentiousness. Love your fellow human. Divinity dwells in each one of us.

This gorgeous alignment is in harmonious aspect with the nodal Axis @ 24* Scorpio/Taurus. Find your inherent strength to follow the healing path. Be true. Be fierce. Be bold. Never give up. We all know what we have to do. It is programmed into our DNA. We must be HUMAN.

Finally, use this wonderful fiery Aries energy to motivate yourself to whatever course of action is relevant to YOU. Aries is full of promise, ready to challenge the narrative of the past, willing to move forward even if the path is not entirely clear. Allow yourself to be the courageous warrior for the ‘right’ that Aries can inspire. Make a fresh start & believe!

New Moon in Pisces, March 2, 2022, @ 11:38 pm

The New Moon in Pisces leads us into the sweetest of all energies. It is in Pisces that we can truly find our own connection to the divine element that exists within each of us. After the chaos, the bickering, the animosity of the past few years, and especially the last few months, we can choose, with this lovely New Moon to set things right, both within ourselves & with those around us. And, listen, it’s not about setting things right with people who agree with you, it’s about finding a way to set things right with people who DON’T agree with you. Can YOU do It? Can you be the one who takes the first step into forgiveness, compassion & unconditional love? Can you?

There’s a pretty interesting alignment at this New Moon between Venus & Mars. These two celestial objects align by conjunction fairly regularly but it is not so often that they travel together, by conjunction, for as long as they do this current year. Their first point of contact was in early February with the initial exact conjunction @ 16* Capricorn just ahead of the Leo Full Moon. This ongoing union continues until the end of March when, finally, they begin to seriously separate while both are in Aquarius. That’s quite the journey! When the authoritative force of will (Mars in Capricorn) is conjoined to a just moral code (Venus in Capricorn), we can expect to witness incredible events of bravery! To add to this union of energies, Pluto, the force for transformation & truth, is also exactly in alignment with Venus & Mars; all three marching determinately together @28* Capricorn. There is a sense here that people are coming together to fight for what is essentially human, to stand for principle, to be heard. Think of historical events like the marches for racial justice in the last century or the protests to gain India’s independence, also in the last century. When it’s time to stand for truth & justice, the people will unite. The call to action on a personal level is that we individually locate our own internal truth meters & make the choice to peacefully but resolutely stand in alignment with them, no matter the cost.

Another significant alignment with this lunation is Jupiter conjunct the Sun & Moon. This expansive & affirmative energy opens up the heart & aspires to hope & goodwill. The very highest expression of Pisces is unconditional LOVE. Look deep into your own heart at this time & ask yourself where in your life you can be more forgiving, more generous, kinder, more inclusive.

Yet another interesting alignment is Mercury closely situated to Saturn in Aquarius & in square relationship to the nodal axis. This is the energy of objective reality, dispassionate assessment & judicious evaluation. Get rid of the emotional drama & step back from any fractious, intense situations. Try hard to be detached from your own fearful knee-jerk reactions when making your assessments. The very minute that emotion weasels its way into the heart & mind, objectivity is hampered, even destroyed. To be critical thinkers, (which this combo facilitates), we must rid ourselves of all bias & just examine the hard cold facts of any situation. This is not easy to do but with the sweet energy of the Jupiter-led lunation backing us up, we can aspire to focus on unconditional love, compassion & forgiveness. Humanity at odds with itself is the end of humanity as we know it. If we, as a species cannot find a way to live together in peace & harmony there will not be a future for us on this planet. Period.

Set the intention with this New Moon to seek what is good in your fellow human & to encourage right action by example, not by punitive criticism. And always, choose the action that DOES NO HARM. Some astrologers consider that Pisces energy reflects Christ Consciousness. The message of the Christ was a message of Love, not hate, union, not divisiveness. This New Moon gives us all an opportunity to set the intention to exemplify this call for grace & goodness in our own lives.

The Sabian Symbols for this New Moon are truly spooky when one considers what has been going on socially.

13* PISCES:  A SWORD IN A MUSEUM

13* VIRGO: A STRONG HAND SUPPLANTING POLITICAL HYSTERIA

It’s well past time to put down our swords! There has to be a way to negotiate with one another without violence. The second symbol suggests that everyone must get a grip on their emotions & step away from heated responses. The response to the global situation has been diverse. Those who have complied have the absolute right to do so but they do not have the right to condemn those who have had doubts & walked the contrarian path. It is now clear that there is NO SINGLE SOLUTION & that the measured & clear-headed approach to dealing with sars cov 2 in all of its variant forms is to take a multi-pronged approach. There is a niggling energy at work in every human. We all want everyone to agree with what we choose to think or do. This need for approval from others can result in unacceptable action being taken by some who insist that everyone walk in lock step. If coercion or brutal force is implemented to force someone to agree, to align, that is NOT OKAY. Stop & consider where, in this world, force is used to keep people in line. There was a time when those places were widely condemned by the so-called ‘free’ countries of the earth. Is that still the case today? We must not allow ourselves to be governed by emotional hysteria. We must attempt to be rational, calm & constructive at all times.

This is even more relevant as we see the events unfolding in Europe. The higher energies are begging us to step away from force & violence. How long must we suffer at our own hands? Now, more than ever before, we must find a way to create peace with our neighbours. When will we learn our lesson?

FULL MOON IN VIRGO; March 18, 2022, @ 2:20 AM

After the inspirational energy of the Pisces New Moon, we bask in the healing light of the Virgo Full Moon. If we set our intentions to aspire to love & goodness under the direction of Pisces, then we now have the opportunity to fully embody that intention & allow it to heal whatever needs repair in our lives. Virgo energy seeks to establish appropriate protocols for any endeavor; it creates systems that allow us to function at optimum levels if we adhere to them. Once a system has been put into place, we do not have to keep re-inventing the wheel each time we tackle a certain task. That’s the beauty of systems that work. They truly are the key to success. As an example, think of the system used by recovering addicts that focuses on the ONE DAY AT A TIME protocol. This mantra is regularly repeated until the individual has fully integrated it into their psyche. It becomes an integral part of the person’s awareness & he no longer dreads an endless future of battling his addiction but rather is able to meet the singular challenges of simply one day. Eventually, that one day stretches into weeks, months, years, decades & he realizes that he has successfully navigated his obstacle course! He instituted &, more importantly, faithfully followed a system that led him into healing. The practical, common-sense energy of Virgo is what can assist to create these kinds of structures in our life so that we can tackle the challenges that we face.

This Full Moon shines a light into that part of your life where Virgo is found. It can assist you to refine & realign as the case may be. Virgo loves getting into the weeds of anything so, if there is a need to research or investigate, this detail-oriented energy will facilitate that examination.

Once again, we have a quantity of energy in Aquarius; Venus, Mars conjunct & Saturn leading the way. Mercury, Jupiter & Neptune join the Sun in Pisces adding an element of beautiful sweetness into the mix. As previously mentioned, Pisces energy is of the divine on the most essential of levels. So, at this Full Moon, we are encouraged to examine our actions & determine if they align with our ideals. Faith without works is dead, so said the Christian writer & we know that if we do not ‘walk our talk’ we are merely pretenders in the game of life. The call to action is to hold yourself to a high standard & to base all of your choices on that standard. Be who you were always meant to be, no excuses, no regrets…

The days that we are now living in are strange & wonderful all at the same time. It could be said that we are in a fight for the very essence of who we are as humans. As the Moon shines her light down upon us, we should all determine that we will continue to fight for what is right, for what is true, for what is human.

The Sabian symbols associated with this Full Moon are:

28* Virgo:  A BALD-HEADED MAN

28* PISCES: A FERTILE GARDEN UNDER THE FULL MOON

What do you think when you see a bald-headed man? Often, we relate a bald head to a well-functioning brain; to someone who is superbly intellectual, smart, a profound thinker. The suggestion here is that we should access all of our intellect, our ‘brainy’ power to create a sensible & productive protocol that we can rely on. Think things through. Explore all of the available data. Be smart about it. When we use the power of the mind to support the action of the heart, we are much more assured of success in our efforts.

The Pisces symbol is a promise of return for the effort made. In the natural world, the Moon is strategic when it comes to the planting, sprouting & growth of seeds. If we follow the directives that we have established through careful mental research (the Virgo Symbol), we can be assured that we will reap the rewards that come from the efforts that we make. Everyone just wants to live in peace & harmony, to enjoy the fruits of their labour, to be satisfied at the end of a good day of work. The myths suggest that we were born in a garden of plenty. At the core of the human heart is a fervent desire to find our way back to that garden. Let’s all do the work & reap the reward.

January 31, 2022, @ 11:49 pm CST we have a New Moon in Aquarius. All three of the rest of the personals are still in Capricorn with Mercury nearing his Station Direct within a few days of the lunation, Venus now beginning to move forward after her retrograde period & Mars newly entered into that energy. The electric energy of Aquarius is held firmly to ground by the earthy support from these three archetypes.

Keep in mind as you ponder this New Moon that this is a time for the initiation of intention. What do YOU want to create? The Aquarius energy in YOUR chart is activated by the New Moon & collectively, we are all triggered to imagine what is possible. This is a most auspicious time to actually concretely articulate your hopes & dreams. Get them down ON PAPER. Set up a sacred altar space & place them on it surrounded by objects that are meaningful TO YOU. This is how to frame rituals in your own life.

Saturn forms a close conjunction to the New Moon adding a sense of resolve to the possibility of a new way forward. Collectively, we sense movement in the air, a feeling that we must all step up to the plate & create the kind of reality that we would like to live in. Aquarius is the future. It’s change, alternative thinking, inventiveness & ingenious solutions. Most of us are now admitting that, whether we are amongst the compliant or the contrarian, we are DONE. Something has got to shift. We are weary & beaten down by the insane condition of our social circumstances. Aquarius stirs the rebel deep within us & encourages us to imagine the unimaginable, to think way beyond the perimeters of THE BOX; to question, to challenge; to take the old & make something new from it.

This spirit of freedom is further reinforced by transiting Uranus in Taurus in a dynamic relationship with the New Moon energy of Aquarius & supported by the solid, responsible energy of Mars/Venus in Capricorn. Is it time to re-examine our core values, create strategies to refine & polish those values so that they more authentically represent what we love & aspire to? With Retrograde Mercury in Capricorn closely aligned to Pluto in Capricorn, we are determined to thoroughly investigate all aspects of the reality around us. We want to get to the bottom of the why’s, who’s & what’s of it all. Answers, we want answers that MAKE SENSE & that are based on measurable data, facts, not suppositions & manipulated numbers. As more and more data is uncovered, we want SOMEONE to pay the price for the decisions that have led to this current state of collective trauma. Capricorn & Aquarius are both linked to Saturn, the planet archetype that most closely represents KARMIC LAW. What goes around, comes around & in the end, the TRUTH will most certainly be revealed. Have no doubt, a payment for the foolish & destructive decisions of the past 2 years will be paid. The ‘fat man’ will finally get his just reward.

This is further underlined by the nodal shift into Scorpio (south node)/Taurus (north node). Whatever has been kept secret is due to be made public. We understand that this is a fight for survival at the most basic of levels & we stand in solidarity for OUR CHILDREN, the future of the human race.

The Sabian Symbols for the New Moon are:

A BAROMETER: 13* AQUARIUS

Change is occurring. We sense it, even as we still struggle in uncertainty. And we know that the darkest time is JUST BEFORE the dawn when the pressure that erupts into change is the greatest. Often, at critical times such as these, we can feel hopeless. We can feel as if we cannot continue but the oracle is encouraging us to remember, that at the very moment that we think that we simply cannot go on, that will be the moment when we have arrived at that ever so critical tipping point. So, we must hold on & we must turn on our critical thinking faculties to the MAX so that we can carefully examine all of the incoming data & read it correctly. We will not be fooled again into believing a lie. What is the lie? That there is a SINGLE SOLUTION to any given problem. There are many ways to solve a problem (beat a virus)!

AN OLD SEA CAPTAIN ROCKING: 13* LEO

Meditative consideration is of utmost importance before decisions are made & subsequent actions are taken. The oracle informs us that we are still in the ‘waiting’ period, restlessly (the rocking motion) anticipating the call to action. We are encouraged to ‘hold the line’; to wait until the optimum moment when any action that is undertaken will result in the maximum of positive results. Keep investigating. Keep challenging yourself. Keep looking for more information to either support your suppositions or refine them. That is the REAL scientific method, ongoing observation & co-relation of the observation to potential conclusions. And, as we increase our knowledge base, as more and more information is added to our analysis, we MUST have the honesty to make adjustments to what we think is true. That is the real way to tackle any problem whether personal or collective.

February 16, 2022 @ 10:59 am CST: Full Moon in Leo

At the highest of levels, Leo/Aquarius is about the potent & creative energy of LOVE; how we love ourselves & how we love the rest. It is out of the vibrant energy of the heart (LEO), that we find the strength to extend ourselves out to the collective (AQUARIUS). This Full Moon forms a dynamic square to the Nodal Axis in Scorpio/Taurus.  Is this an opportunity to reboot? Do we have the capacity to ‘do over’? Are we brave enough to admit our errors, courageous enough to face the truth & revise our thinking & our actions? Our survival as a society & even more broadly, as a species is what is at stake here (Scorpio/Taurus).

The personals are still in a vital formation to support all of the above. Mercury, now direct & in Aquarius is still aligned to Pluto but now with a fresh approach & willing to explore new perspectives. Venus & Mars are tightly joined in Capricorn promising stamina, resolve & purposeful action. Jupiter in Pisces is closely aligned to Uranus in Taurus, suggesting that the explosive energy at the New Moon can now be sweetly directed into loving solutions to any long-standing issues that we are dealing with. By July of 2022, Uranus will meet the North Node & the change that we are sensing, the decisions that we are now making as we sense that incoming shift, will erupt around us. Will we be ready? Will we have the personal capacity to go with the flow of the change? We must, all of us who are even mildly awake to what is going on set the intention of LOVE for the changes ahead.

The Sabian Symbols for the Full Moon are:

A MERMAID: 29* LEO

There is a reality beyond this current reality & it is full of magic & promise. What we are capable of imagining, we are capable of creating. Yes, it will take effort & determination to ‘swim that turbulent sea’ but if we are fitted out with the right equipment, (like the mythical creature, the mermaid), we will be able to do it. Let’s use our collective gifts in the service of the greater good. Let’s develop ways to live in harmony with our environment, both physical & spiritual. Let’s make this human experiment work by throwing out the bits & pieces that obviously are no longer working & instituting new bits & pieces that work better. If we dream it, it will come; if we imagine it, it will be.

A BUTTERFLY EMERGING FROM A CHRYSALIS: 29* AQUARIUS

What an absolutely wonderful & hope-inspiring image! Out of the magic of possibility, change can be realized. It is as natural as breathing. The life story of the butterfly as it passes through its various stages is ORGANICALLY MAGICAL. It is a mystery beheld but impossible to understand. Who says there is no design to life? The fool says it. So, as we create possibility within our hearts & minds, we are assured that we will eventually SEE that possibility come into being through the inexorable process of transmutation. The oracle instructs us to HOLD ON, HAVE FAITH, ENDURE TO THE VERY END because the reward is worth the wait. Once that butterfly emerges, freedom will be our name.

My heart beats

in harmony

with the drums of freedom

I raise my arms high

up to the Sun

I sing my song

of liberation

from the bottom of my soul

under the light of LUNA

and to the ends of the heavens

it is there

that i will dwell

with the angels

blessed be

forever amen

New Moon in Capricorn:

January 2, 2022 @ 12:35 pm CST

The first Lunar Cycle of this New Year, 2022, gets off to a deliberate start on January 2 @ 12:35 pm CST. We have a newly retrograde Venus traveling back through Capricorn, having just made conjunction with Pluto. Venus/Pluto requires a transformation of fundamental values & especially so in the Cardinal Earth sign of Capricorn & with a Venus retrograding there. The call to action is that we take RESPONSIBILITY for the things that we have chosen to value, love & cherish. Are they worthy of our energy? Are we focusing on what is real or are we being consumed by something illusionary, not long-lasting? Where do YOU put your energy? This is a necessary question to explore in these strange & shifting times.

Jupiter is newly entered into Pisces where the aspirational part of our psyches can stretch out & imagine what might seem impossible. This is magical energy so believe that miracles can happen both in your own personal life & in the life of the social collective. At the highest of levels, Pisces energy is able to remove obstacles & create sudden opportunities as if out of thin air. Watch for these kinds of magical events in your own life as you tackle any existing situations that need a solution. One keyword for Jupiter in Pisces is BELIEVE, so find a way to believe in that which you thought you could not. This Jupiter in Pisces is square the nodal axis that stretches across Sagittarius (south node) & Gemini (north node). Squares to the nodes suggest a repeat & redo directive. Examine your belief systems (Sagittarius), your perception of what is true (Gemini), your aspirational focus (Jupiter) & ask yourself if you are open to changing things up. Is there something in your life that has been blocking you from reaching your full potential? Can you articulate it clearly enough so as to start to develop strategies to alter it? Take this energetic opportunity to do so. What may have been relevant in the past may no longer be reflective of your current state of mind.

An almost stationary Uranus @ 11* Taurus is in an almost perfect trine to the lunation @ 13* Capricorn. Figure out what you need to do to expedite your life process & then throw out the rulebook & think outside the box. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing but expecting different results. (You can dig a little deeper into this Uranus Station in Taurus in my blog under ‘star stuff’, the 2022 overview…

(https://www.christinarai.com/category/star-stuff/)

The Sabian Symbols for this New Moon are:

A FIRE WORSHIPPER (CAPRICORN)

ONE HAND SLIGHTLY FLEXED WITH A VERY PROMINENT THUMB (CANCER)

Find your passion & exercise your divinely given right to express your personal authority. Fire worshippers are devoted, committed. They are the ones who give all of themselves to what they profess to believe. The image of the slightly flexed hand suggests power & forcefulness. In palmistry, a prominent thumb indicates a leader, someone who is willing to take matters into their own hands & do what needs to be done. You have the opportunity to find your inner warrior & stand firm for your cause with determination & passion & unwavering doubt.

The CANCER Full Moon that follows this Capricorn New Moon occurs on January 17, 2022, @ 5:48 pm. Let’s all pray for a clear night!!!

Illumination & Realization are just two features of the symbology of Full Moons. And this Full Moon promises revelation that will turn us upside down! Both Mercury in Aquarius & Venus in Capricorn are retrograde, while Uranus is at a standstill in Taurus, on the verge of turning direct. Pluto is almost perfectly in union with the Sun, thus opposing the Moon. Things MUST transform. Truth must be spoken. Keep checking in with yourself & your own personal ‘truth meter’. The stationary Uranus in Taurus is in a dynamic relationship to Mercury RX & Saturn in Aquarius. We must all THINK FOR OURSELVES & stop allowing others to dictate what we should believe or not believe. Do your own research of anything that you are not sure of, anything that you might be beginning to question (Mercury RX). Just because you hear it, does not make it true. To clarify this thought, go and get a copy of George Orwell’s “1984”. Read carefully how easily the media was used in that narrative to control the way people thought about the things they were told to believe. Here’s an example…WAR BRINGS PEACE. Really? (If you read that statement & immediately began to justify it, then you, & I include myself in this, have been influenced by the ongoing narrative around the use of power & might.)

Mars, who triumphs when in Capricorn, will soon leave Sagittarius & enter that sign. Mark down this date: JANUARY 22, 2022. (That is in the Central Time Zone.) Once transiting Capricorn, he will meet & greet both Venus & Pluto. Mars/Venus is all about Passionate Action while Mars/Pluto is all about Indomitable Will Power. On a more mundane level, Mars/Venus could ignite passionate responses & Mars/Pluto warns that we must be mindful of all of the actions that we take. We will explore these touchpoints in future blogs.

The Sabian Oracles for the Full Moon Degrees are :

A MODERN POCAHONTAS (CANCER)

A LARGE AVIARY (CAPRICORN)

Break those restrictions! Cross those lines that divide us! Be a humanitarian in the best possible sense! Embrace the diversity of the human experiment & LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your fellow humans. We are a species that NEEDS to flock together. We NEED to have contact, to communicate, to relate. If there is any good that has come from the social experiment that has been perpetrated upon us over the last two years, it is that we NEED each other & that without that sense of community & belonging, we will wither & ultimately die. So, let us all recognize that we want to find that place called home where other like-minded beings also dwell; that we can make a better tomorrow if we only take hold of our today & shape it into the kind of reality that reflects the highest of values & aspirations. Capricorn energy leads the way. Supported by the heart energy of Cancer, let the practical, no-nonsense approach of Capricorn fill you up and give you the strength to carry on. Listen to your heart & follow your gut!