Category: New Moon

New Moon In Gemini – Set Yourself Free

Astro Butterfly

We have a New Moon at 4° Gemini on May 25th. The New Moon is unaspected and the New Moon ruler, Mercury is unaspected as well, so we will have pure Gemini energy, curious, movable, playful, like a dandelion sweetly wafting on a gentle breeze.

This New Moon in Gemini is great for learning and explorations of any kind. Not the type of learning you get when you enroll in a class, when you listen to what others have to say, but the learning you do by yourself, by touching, smelling, tasting, making your own sense of the world, exploring life with a beginner’s mind.

New Moon Neptune Venus Cancer Scorpio

I love unaspected planets. Although we can find at times the free energy of an unaspected planet uncomfortable, the unaspected planets are in fact the pure expression of the genius of the Universe. When a planet is aspected, it cannot express itself freely, it plays by the other planet’s rules.

Imagine you want to make a song, or to write a poem, but your Mercury is conjunct Venus – in this case you will start thinking “what would the others like to hear? …or is opposite Jupiter – and you start wondering “what other songs sound like the one I am trying to write?” or gets a square from Saturn – “which nodes should I use for the bass guitar in C minor?”. You see, the free expression of Mercury is blocked. You cannot write a song playing by the rules, music knows no rules. An unexpected Mercury is a like a jazz player who is not “owned” by the music, but instead is able to spontaneously express himself through music.

“You cannot tread the path before you become the path yourself” – Zen saying

Gemini rules the mind, so the New Moon in Gemini is a great time to get rid of our “autopilot”, of our habitual tendencies, preferences, prejudices. If we choose to shut down the autopilot and open to the present moment, to our intuition, we can experience the reality in a completely different way, we can finally lift the veil of illusion, and for the first time be able to see things how they really are. Trust your intuition to alert you to your true priorities and the chances you need to make.

“To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders” – Lao Tzu

But don’t let the lighthearted, curious nature of Gemini fool you. We have a very tight Venus square Pluto in Cardinal signs which is almost exact at the time of the New Moon.

Venus square Pluto is an extremely passionate aspect, is the aspect of “desire”. When we want something desperately nothing can stop us. Desire can turn into fascination and obsession. We can literally fall under the spell of our consuming desire and want to “get” the object of our interest, no matter what.

Although you may not want or you may not be ready to give course to your intense desires, try to stay with this energy and understand where it comes from. Something you’ve been neglecting in your life is now asking for chatarsis. What is it? How can you honor it?

Venus square Pluto can also point to some inner lies – how do you find your false comfort? In emotional eating, in excessive drinking? What about your false sense of control, by overthinking, overanalyzing, overscheduling? The false sense of avoidance? Procrastinating, saying “yes” when you mean “no” – all these false beliefs will be challenged as Pluto will ask us to face them for what they are.

Venus square Pluto will blend with the energy of the New Moon in Gemini, giving us an insatiable desire to discover the world around us.

The sabian symbol of the New Moon ruler, Mercury is “A woman watering flowers in her garden”. You choose which thoughts to water and grow, which skills to focus on. You are your own master.

Every New Moon is a time for new beginnings. Because both the New Moon and the New Moon ruler are unaspected, the New Moon in Gemini is giving us the opportunity to manifest whatever we want. Write down your wishes and intentions. Imagine yourself becoming one with the seed of intention you are planting.

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New Moon In Taurus – Revelations And Discernment

Astro Butterfly

The New Moon in Taurus takes place on Wednesday April 26th, at 6°.  The Moon feels great in Taurus because she is exalted in the Earthy sign of the Bull.

The New Moon in Taurus doesn’t make major aspects to other planets. An unaspected planet is not “influenced” by any other planets and is “free” to manifest its energy – so the New Moon will serve us with pure Taurus energy at its fullest.

Taurus is very connected to the Nature, to the Earth, to the Life Force. Taurus is a very stable and grounded energy and it will ask us to create solid foundations for the future.

Imagine the Zodiac without Taurus. Let’s say you want to build a new house. In Aries, you come with the idea, with the insight. You are going to build a house. And then in Gemini you start to get all excited and build rooms here and there, some balconies and maybe a roof top terrace. But without the Taurean energy, your building will collapse (that’s if you start building it in the first place!). We all need the solid foundations in our life without which nothing can be done.  Will all need Taurus.

The New Moon in Taurus will invite you to get in touch with what is real, what can be touched, smelled and tasted. Now it’s time to experience, enjoy, touch, taste and feel the world around you. Focus on your connection with the Earth. Go out and spend some time in Nature. Walk through the grass barefoot, hug a tree. Appreciate the Mother Earth. Connect spiritually with the nature.

The sabian symbol for this New Moon is “The woman of Samaria at the ancestral well”,  symbolizing the meeting of the traditional past with the creative spirit of the future.

The sabian symbol speaks about the New Testament episode when Jesus meets with a Samarian woman at a well and reveals his messianic nature for the first time.

Samarian woman

He says:

 “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life”.

The woman said to him:

“I know that Messiah is coming. When he comes, he will proclaim all things to us”.

And then Jesus said to her:

“I am he, the one who is speaking to you”.

We start to understand the meaning of this sabian symbol if we take a look at the ruler of this New Moon. The ruler of the New Moon in Taurus is Venus, now at 29° in the Water sign of Pisces.

The 29° Pisces is a very spiritual degree, the last degree of the Zodiac. A new life cycle is on the horizon as the old cycles dissolves.  But an old order is never open to a new Revelation until it opens to the power of Love. Venus is exalted in Pisces and in the terminal degree of the zodiac, signifying the undying, everlasting power of love.

Venus has been floating for a long time near Chiron, the wounded healer.  Over the last weeks, she has sacrificed her old values, her old beliefs, gave her heart away, and is now ready to be born again.

Keep your heart open to the revelation that is about to come. Make sure you are tuned in with yourself so you can recognize it when it comes. And just like the Samarian woman, leave behind the ancestral realm of the past and embrace the New fully and completely.

The revelatory nature of this New Moon becomes more and more apparent when we look at the conjunction of Mercury retrograde with Uranus. Uranus is the higher octave of Mercury and a meeting between the two always brings breakthroughs and revelations.

Because Mercury is retrograde, you now have the chance to break free from an old thinking pattern. The things you discover will surprise you and shake your belief system.

Mercury and Uranus also trine Saturn – ensuring that all your breakthroughs and brilliant ideas have a solid foundation to grow in the following months. Moreover, Mercury is in mutual reception with Mars in Gemini, making sure you will act upon our ideas. The New Moon will bring you the clarity and the discernment you need so you know what to do next.

Look where 6° Taurus falls in your chart. The house where this New Moon lands is the fertile soil you can ground yourself in. Also look if the New Moon OR Venus at 29° Pisces make any aspects to your planets or angles – this will give you further insights on what to expect from this magical New Moon.

New Moon and Solar Eclipse in Pisces – The Final Chapter

Astro Butterfly

On the 25th – 26th of February we have an extremely powerful New Moon and Solar Eclipse at 8° in Pisces.

This Solar Eclipse and New Moon is extremely potent – Why that?

First and foremost, Eclipses are powerful because they conjunct one of the Nodes of the Fate. This Solar Eclipse in Pisces is closely conjunct the South Node of the Moon, the point of Karma – everything  we should, but cannot – leave behind.

Then, the ruler of this New Moon, Neptune, is actually conjunct the New Moon/Solar Eclipse! This is extremely extremely important – it is like having an Eclipse in Scorpio conjunct Pluto, or an Eclipse in Aquarius conjunct Uranus. When an Eclipse conjuncts its own ruler, everything “screams” the energy of that particular sign, in our case, Pisces.  We basically have Sun, Moon, South Node and Neptune, all conjunct for the “final act” in a series of  Virgo-Pisces eclipses that began in March 2015 and culminates now.

Apart from the quadruple conjunction (Sun, Moon, South Node and Pisces) we also have Mercury and Chiron in Pisces. With six planets in Pisces, we will all drown into the Piscean energy to the fullest. The South Node is at the midpoint of the New Moon and Mercury – some conversations, or some news, will bring important new insights from “depths of the ocean” – of our subconscious, of the soul of the universe.

solar-eclipse-pisces

Probably the most intense aspect in the Pisces New Moon chart is Mars conjoining Uranus in Aries in opposition with Jupiter in Libra. This exploding aspect is not directly connected to the Solar Eclipse itself, but we will nevertheless feel it very strongly.

If the Solar Eclipse in Pisces is the deep ocean where we can drown but also gain profound insights about who we are, Mars conjunct Uranus and opposite Jupiter is lightning starting fire. It shall be seen how water and fire will “play together” –  strong emotions, almost hysterical, can be expressed and released during this eclipse.  Those of us with a lot of water in their chart will feel like a psychic sponge.

People with planets or angles at 8° (especially Sun, Moon, Ascendant, MC, Mercury, Venus, Mars) in Pisces, but also in the other mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius) will feel the Neptunian –South Node vibe, and the immediacy of the New Moon. Repressed feelings will come up to the surface, to be acknowledged and healed.

People with planets and angles around 22° in Cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn) will feel a strong drive to ACT and start something new in the area of their life (houses) where they have the transits.

If you have planets both around 8° in Mutable signs and around 22° in Cardinal signs this Lunar Eclipse will be extremely transformational for you.

The message of this New Moon and Solar Eclipse in Pisces is:  Only by letting go of old ways we can create the much needed space for new things in our lives. We are now urged to finally drop what is not working anymore. Let it go. Insights and messages on what exactly we need to let go off may come to us through dreams and intuition – pay attention to whatever thought, feeling, sign comes to you.

The final eclipse on the Virgo-Pisces axis is about making peace with our past, taking responsibility for our life, getting real and living with common sense.  

Dive into the unknown, Pisces will empower you with emotional intelligence and the wisdom you need to embrace the new territory.

Remember, Pisces is the last sign of the zodiac, containing a little bit of each of the signs that precede him. He has seen it all, done it all. Be brave  as you embark upon the new phase of your life that is about to start.

The most important thing that Pisces and Neptune can teach us is to accept that we are enough, and we can’t really do anything for others – the only thing that is really in our power, is to take care of ourselves. Love yourself , become the very best version of yourself – and in this way you will empower others to love themselves too.

New Moon in Aquarius – Living Wise and Wild and Free

Astro Butterfly

The New Moon in Aquarius occurs – depending where you live – on the 27th or 28th of January,  at 8° Aquarius. The New Moon in Aquarius is unaspected, making it very potent and free willed.  

The Sabian symbol of the New Moon in Aquarius is “A flag is seen turning into an eagle” asking us to “act out” our vision. And indeed, the ruler of the New Moon – Uranus – still in a tense opposition to Jupiter in Libra, will not shy away from a confrontation, if this is what it takes to raise awareness about what he cares most: higher knowledge and perspective, idealism and freedom.

aquarius-new-moon

Put it simple, Jupiter/ Uranus infused in the unaspected New Moon energy will make us want to break free once and for all!

Moreover, right now all planets (including the North Node!) are direct, inviting us to act and take advantage of every opportunity that comes along.

Immediately after the New Moon, Mars enters its domicile Aries which is the same sign Uranus currently resides in, giving us the extra energy boost we need to bring the Uranian agenda forward. This first New Moon of 2017 sets the tone for the turbo charged rest of the year.

The Chinese New Year starts as well on the 28th of January (The first day of the Chinese New Year always falls on the new moon between 21 January and 20 February). 2017 is the Year of the Fire Rooster. Roosters are a symbol of freshness and new beginnings. The rooster crows every morning to announce the Sun’s daily rise – in the past the rooster was the farmers’ wake up call. We see the themes of fresh perspectives, breakthroughs and progress coming over and over again, with every symbol.

The essence of Aquarian / Uranian energy is purely expressed during the New Moon. Every sign has one chance every year to tell the world what that sign stands for. Aquarius energy longs for the freedom to simply be and express itself as it is (Uranus rules lightings and thunders BTW). Aquarius represents the insatiable thirst for discovery, and rejection of the obsolete. It is not about the novelty for the sake of novelty, or about being different just to go against the grain, but about the freedom to be an individual. Aquarius is a human sign which represents the higher knowledge that is expressed and shared with the others.

Mercury is close to a conjunction to Pluto at the time of the New Moon. If you remember back in December (more exactly on the 19th of December) Mercury turned retrograde at the exact same degree. So it is at the time of the New Moon that Mercury finally leaves the “shadow” retrograde zone, getting ready for a confrontation with mighty Pluto.

Mercury has been dancing around Pluto for a while now, getting close to him, but not quite there, as if it had something to hide. But this time no more fooling around. If you have angles or planets around 15-17° in Capricorn (or Cancer, Libra, Aries) something quite shocking will be revealed to you. Alternatively you will finally speak out the truth on a matter that has been bothering you for a while.

Another transit occurring during the New Moon in Aquarius is an aftermath of Venus square Saturn (the transit is exact few hours before the New Moon).  The Venus Saturn transit becomes even more relevant because the Moon and the Sun (which are of curse in a conjunction) are close to the midpoint between Venus / Chiron in Pisces and Saturn in Sagittarius. The New Moon in Aquarius becomes the bridge that materializes our vision (Saturn in Sagittarius) and brings it, like a mantra, to the world, to heal our hearts and connect us with the Spirit (Venus, Chiron and Neptune in Pisces).

New Moon in Capricorn and Uranus Turns Direct

Astro Butterfly

On the 29th of December we have the final New Moon of the year. A New Moon, and a new year with new beginnings. Say  goodbye to  2016 once and for all and start your brand new journey into 2017.

The energy of the New Moon in Capricorn blends with the energy of Uranus which turns direct immediately after the new Moon. Uranus stationing direct also activates the mighty Uranus – Jupiter opposition (I will say it again, Jupiter opposite Uranus will be THE astrological event of 2017). Thus, the New Moon will set the tone for the upcoming year, so pay attention to the themes that emerge around this date.

new-moon-capricorn-uranus-direct
Art by Jahna Vashti

The Capricorn New Moon will ask us to break the chains of the past and reinvent new structures and new rules. The New Moon is also conjunct Mercury retrograde, pointing towards what we need to start with if we want to achieve the long awaited freedom:  with our mind.

Capricorn plus Uranus will invite us to be authentic and original. Even a bit weird. In 2017 authenticity will become the replacement for enlightenment as the true goal of spiritual practice. 

And how can you express your authenticity? Again, the planet closely conjunct the New Moon will give us some hints, and this is Mercury. Which part of yourself needs expression? How can you use words (Mercury) to show the world who you are? Mercury retrograde will now help us dig into old perceptions and patterns and see what needs to be cleared out.

Another way Mercury can play out is by encouraging us to have deep conversations with the others.

The Capricorn New Moon energy encourages the need for structure, discipline and organization. It is a good time to set goals and plan for the future. (What a good timing for New Year Resolutions!)

What else can we learn from the Capricorn energy? Capricorns are very good at assessing reality and seeing what needs to be done to get from start to finish. We all know it, succeeding on our own merits is so much more rewarding than winning a quick buck. By having ownership and  getting things done, we achieve something far greater: a sense of empowerment, a sense that we can do whatever we set our minds to.

A New Moon always brings something new into our life. And because this New Moon is in Capricorn, it is likely that a new situation or an external circumstance arising in our life will require more responsibility, inviting us to take charge.

But the Capricorn New Moon will not simply leave us there with things to finish. She will also show us the way. Just like the mountain goat, from the reign of great highs, can have a panoramic view of the land stretching in front of her eyes, so will we now be able to see the bigger picture, and realistically plan how are we going to get there.

The New Moon in Capricorn is ultimately teaching us how to be our own master, how to turn discipline, tenacity and drive into something sustainable that is there to stay.

The New Moon in Capricorn is a lesson of the power of undying commitment. If you allow the “if” to interfere with your goals, you will never achieve them. There is no 99%. There is only 100%.

The New Moon is making  pretty awesome aspects to Jupiter, Venus and Uranus. We only have  Saturn (which is also the ruler of this New Moon) applying a challenging square to Chiron, the wounded healer. Feeling weak or being in a position where others think we are incapable can be very hurtful for us right now.

The New Moon  is also sextile Mars; and Mars is conjunct Neptune and South Node. This is why I mentioned at the beginning of the blog that authenticity will ultimately replace enlightenment as the true goal of spiritual practice. The theme of Mars with South Node and Neptune is letting go of the past and of unhealthy spiritual beliefs that don’t even belong to us. Only then we can move into tomorrow with fresh perspectives.  Mars is the planet of action, the South Node represents the past and our Karma, and Neptune is  and the planet  of spirituality. What do you need to forgive or forget to move on?

2016 was a 9 universal year in numerology – the end of a cycle. 2017 will be a 1 year. A new cycle is about the begin. This New Moon can empower us to move in a bold direction. For this, we need to break free from bad habits – and the New Moon will help us form new ones. Our life can be much freer than we have ever thought. We just need to move out of our comfort zone.

Few things to keep in mind and reflect upon, because Capricorn is a serious and reliable sign and wants you do to your homework: do you keep you commitments? When not, what makes you give up and when yes, where does the determination come from? What keeps you going?

When you set goals, how do you know if they are appropriate? Are your goals realistic? Do you have any sort of mechanism in place to make sure you recognize true opportunities when they arise?

The New Moon in Capricorn is teaching us that intention is a great start, but is not enough. The transformation of that intention into reality is the key, and is only by putting together intention and action we will achieve what we have committed to.

If you want to keep track of all the Moon Cycles of 2017, check out the Astro Butterfly Moon Phase Calendar. More details here

New Moon in Sagittarius – Step into the Unknown

Astro Butterfly

The New Moon in Sagittarius on the 29th of November is an invitation to see life as an adventure, and trust that the universe will figure out how to manifest whatever our heart desires.

“When you come to the edge of all the light you have, and must take a step into the darkness of the unknown, believe that one of two things will happen to you: either there will be something solid for you to stand on, or you will be thought how to fly” – Patrick Overton

new-moon-sagittarius

The New Moon is square Neptune, while the ruler of the New Moon, Jupiter is square Pluto. Squares create a lot of friction and things are likely to happen because there is so much energy that asks for expression.

Neptune and Pluto are transpersonal planets while Jupiter is the teacher and the Protector. The Universe is there to give us the push we need to step into the unknown.

The message is clear: the Universe wants us to take action, and for this will awaken the adventure seeker inside each one of us.

We won’t be forced to do anything we don’t want to do (unless we don’t know yet what we want). So the good news is that we are likely to very much enjoy the new possibilities that are opened up. In our heart we always wanted to take risks and live a life of fulfillment, but centuries on conditioning have thought us to focus on the possible negative consequences of setting our spirit free.

No more self doubt – the New Moon in Sagittarius is an invitation to take a leap of faith, and trust that the universe will take care of you.

Invite possibilities in your life – if you open your mind and you heart you start noticing at every corner the infinite possibilities that are out there in the big world. The New Moon in Sagittarius is the best time to tune into the potential  that each new day brings for adventure and change.

Embrace the new – change a daily routine, your job, your residence. Anything is possible now – you have the faith, the hope and the courage to take the chances that come to you.

Move on, even if you don’t know yet where are you heading.  We are never really aware of and we never really reach our full potential, but we can sense it, and try to reach towards it.

Things to do during the New Moon in Sagittarius:

  • Attend a place of worship, a meditation class, or read a spiritual book
  • Practice honesty – when you have a one-on-one conversation with someone, take the chance and speak directly from your heart. If there are no opportunities to have a close conversation with someone, visualize yourself being filled with the courage to stand for, and act upon your beliefs
  • Take a trip, go for an adventure, explore a new place
  • Start any ritual work that will draw abundance into your life – a money spell for example
  • Expand your knowledge – enroll to a new course, or start working with a mentor. This is the best time of the year (29-30 Nov) to find the right mentor for you
  • Although the temptation to go for the big picture is there stronger than ever, try to be aware of your tendency to take shortcuts and omit important details
  • Trust your inner Guide to lead you in the right direction. Have faith that a higher power is always there to protect you and loves you unconditionally. And take action on what your intuition says about what is the right path for you

 

New Moon in Scorpio – a Time to Start Again

Astro Butterfly

The Scorpio New Moon on Sunday 30 October is at 7° Scorpio.

What sets you on fire? What makes your heart sing?  What makes you feel alive? What would you die for?

The Scorpio New Moon is conjunct Mercury and trine Neptune, bringing us the clarity (Mercury) and the psychic intuition (Neptune)  to see what it actually takes to make our desires come true. Neptune softens the hard Scorpio shell, while Mercury, so close to the Sun and the Moon, has the power to penetrate the deepest  corners of our mind and soul and bring whatever is there into the light of awareness. In Scorpio, Mercury communicates at a soul level.

scorpio-new-moon-karen-mackenzie

Photo credit – Karen Mackenzie, Zodiac series 

The New Moon is not only in perfect angle to Neptune, but to the South Node as well, bringing to surface all the ideals we wished we have lived up to. How many of them are still relevant? Mercury / Neptune line up makes for a en extremely heightened intuition. Tap into your inner wisdom, and pay attention to your dreams, as well as to any message that might come though unusual channels.

Just like the Phoenix, the mythical bird that transforms itself by burning up in flames and then being reborn – we also need to let go of what no longer serves us, heal the past, and walk (again) the path from darkness to light.

Scorpionic journeys are not easy trails – they’re narrow, with ups and downs, blazing fast downhills with sharp turns, and they lead to the deepest caves of our soul – because this is where we will find what we need to feel whole again.

I cannot highlight more how important it is now to go deep within yourself and face your darkest fears. Burn away the old once and for all. Let go of that baggage in the basement – you don’t need it anymore. Call for new beginnings in your life.

To recap, the Scorpio New Moon is the perfect  time to do things that require intensity and passion, your full participation and commitment, body of soul. Now is the time to start again, to go for something you strongly believe in – even if you need to “set fire to the rain”.

To further understand how this New Moon will impact you on a personal level, locate 7° of Scorpio in your natal chart.  The areas in your life associated with that house are going to be most influenced by this New Moon.

Things to reflect upon during the New Moon in Scorpio:

  • Set an intention to get rid of some old “baggage” – What is that thing that keeps you stuck in the past? Which area of your life you will benefit from an autumn/spring cleaning?
  • Make a commitment about something you really really want
  • Grow – the Phoenix inside you can only regenerate through the hope and the desire to be born, to renew itself and continue to grow, over and over again
  • Forgive – What does it take to let go of the past, and blaming others for your current circumstances? Can you simply forgive, no matter what?

Scorpio New Moon Meditation

Because this New Moon is so watery and psychic, a love and kindness meditation can really do wonders if you do it right after the New Moon occurs (17:28 UT).

  • Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths. Allow yourself to relax
  • Start focusing on the sensations in your body. Do a body scan from the top of your head to the soles of your feet. What are the sensations you’re experiencing in different parts of your body?
  • After you reach the soles of your feet, move your attention to your sacral chakra, about two inches below the navel. Focusing on the sacral chakra is a great way to explore Scorpionic themes such as intimacy vs fear, attachment vs change, trust vs guild. Spend some time here. What do you feel? Explore this feeling, whatever it is, even if it is a sense of numbness.
  • Move your attention to your abdomen, and then to your heart. Spend some time here. Then make a wish of kindness for yourself, for example “May I experience love and kindness, happiness and peace”
  • Make the same wish for someone you love, for example your child, your spouse or your parent. Set the same intention “May you enjoy kindness, happiness and peace”
  • Now set the same intention for someone you respect, for example a mentor, a manager at work, or a celebrity you admire
  • Further set the intention to an acquaintance you have neutral feelings about
  • And lastly, send the love to someone you dislike or you resent. If you initially experience resistance, stay there until it goes
  • Then slowly move up through your spine all the way up to the top of your head. Stay there. And when you feel ready, set the intention for this New Moon. Do not think about your intention right now (when you’re reading this article), but when you’re actually doing the meditation. Be open to whatever comes.