Goals & Daily Life

“I see that I’ve become a really bad correspondent. It’s not that I don’t think of you.
You come into my thoughts often. But when you do it appears to me that I owe you a particularly grand letter. And so you end in the “warehouse of good intentions”:
“Can’t do it now.” “Then put it on hold.” This is one’s strategy for coping with old age,
and with death–because one can’t die with so many obligations in storage.
Our clever species, so fertile and resourceful in denying its weaknesses.”
― Saul Bellow

 

The week begins with the Sun in Virgo and the Moon void of course in Libra until it enters Scorpio late Monday evening. Monday is a (parenthesis) before the week officially begins and an opportunity to sharpen our tools for the work that lays ahead of us. A necessary period of inner refinement, adjusting our compass and vision as we find ourselves oscillating between our instinctual-desire-nature and our rational-pragmatic-intellect.

Constructive actions in tandem with inspired insights permeates this week. There is a lot of juicy momentum and it could even feel as if things are moving waaaay too fast for you to catch a break. Productivity is high on the list right now, and as a result procrastination hangs like a shadow over our game plan.

The soul craves synthesis while the mind dissects every aspects of existence.

The Moon will travel in Scorpio until late Wednesday night/early Thursday morning when it enters Sagittarius. The Moon in Sagittarius all day Thursday (Jupiter’s day) applies to a conjunction with Jupiter. The First Quarter Moon happens at 13º Sagittarius this month when it squares the Sun at 13º Virgo.

The First Quarter Moon is a time of action or crisis when the plans that were laid at the New Moon in Virgo on the 30th of August are being challenged or are starting to gain traction. This First Quarter Moon brings attention to our big idea or vision and the execution of this particular vision or idea. We have to trust that we will get there but we also have to put in the efforts required to get there.

Perspective gets lost when we spend too much time on the details (Virgo). However it can also be hard to execute a big idea if we don’t delineate a practical way to get there (Sagittarius). You could feel overwhelmed by the amount of preparation necessary for the execution of your idea/goal, losing perspective on where you were going it in the first place. Or it could be that you are so taken by your big project that you totally brush over the details and neglect some important steps in the process.

The Moon in Sagittarius will be next to Jupiter at the time of the First Quarter Moon on Friday September 7th – giving us a huge boost of confidence and faith that ”everything will turn alright”. We KNOW what we have to do, but it doesn’t mean we have the discipline to do it. It’s one thing to know, it’s another thing entirely to repeat the process day after day to install a new routine, a new program that will lead us to a new helpful habit. There is a conflict between knowing and executing, between an idea and the implementation of that idea into a tangible process. Time and patience is required as nothing is born overnight and it’s a good idea to keep that in mind as you navigate Virgo season and find yourself going over everything that remains to be done. Be patient and be happy for the process, because every step of the process is what eventually leads you to the desired result.

The Moon enters Capricorn Saturday morning, and here we are again, back at the working bench, at the drawing table with our plans and our to-do lists, and the burden of all that remains to be done. Time is slipping away so fast, and there are still too many details to deal with. We are not quite as healthy, productive, efficient, and successful as we could be, and it could all be too obvious next weekend. The Moon travels in Capricorn next Saturday and Sunday, convincing us that there are vegetables to harvest and preserve, fire wood to split, renovations to do, and all kinds of work left to be done. Not the most relaxing weekend but a productive one I hope.

Most planets traveling in the Earth element (Taurus – Virgo – Capricorn)  means it’s a great time to get stuff done, but terrible for anxiety around status, work, income, discipline, and habits. Don’t compare yourself too much. You are exactly where you are suppose to be; trust your process.

“You have to believe. Otherwise, it will never happen.”
― Neil Gaiman

WEEK OF AUGUST 26, 2019

JON KOKO – KARESANSUI

 

Out of perfection nothing can be made.
Every process involves breaking something up.
Joseph Campbell

And just like that, Virgo season is here, and this is definitely one of the most grounding time of the year when we can see the results and the reasons of the past. Not only do we have a stellium in Virgo (stellium: 4 or more planets in the same sign), the New Moon on Friday August 30th is positively supported by Uranus in Taurus. It is a time of traction and implementation for what is being birthed in your life. The new structures that are emerging on the horizon are starting to make sense and you can begin to see the tangible manifestations of your long held visions, the birth of a new awareness, a new reality.

The wish you whispered half consciously under your breath while sleeping is surrounding you. The faint light that guided you through the storm is now your illumination. There is a clarity about the events in your life and a reason for everything. Nothing is perfect but you might be able to accept that all the imperfect decisions has led you exactly where you are.

Witness your powers of manifestation for better or for worst.

Pixelated wood sculptures by Hsu Tung Han

Until the new moon in Virgo on Friday, we stand in the liminal darkness of the waning Moon, the dark of the Moon. Slowdown your pace, reflect, contemplate, clean, cleanse, purge, stretch, create space for the wisdom to enter, collect the strength from the Earth, lay low.

Monday: Moon in Cancer
Tuesday: Moon in Cancer – Moon enters Leo at 21:23 NDT
Wednesday: Moon in Leo
Thursday: Moon in Leo – Moon enters Virgo at 21:27 NDT
Friday: New Moon in Virgo 8:07am NDT
Saturday: Moon in Virgo – Moon enters Libra at 20:37 NDT
Sunday: Moon in Libra

The New Moon in Virgo takes place on Friday August 30th at 8:07am NDT/6:37am EDT. The New Moon signals the beginning of the work, a time of creation and implementation, of ”to-do” lists, of tangibility and manifestation, a time of taking advantage of the resources available to you, utilizing your space and body properly and efficiently. All the small actions that leads to the whole, it’s happening now. Your breath, the way you chew your food, your digestion, your posture. The superfluous will seem extra superfluous while you find a purpose for everything. Each little things in their place, there is a place for everything, and no space wasted.

The New Moon is linked to the revolutionary ways in which you approach the ordinary. Set your intentions, but don’t set them to high as to be discouraged. Plant your intentions in the realm of the possible, the tangible, the practical, something that will yield a satisfactory result down the road, every step counts, every action has meaning.

Wood sculpture by Yoshitoshi Kanemaki

“Your thoughts, become your words;
your words, become actions;
your actions, become habits;
your habits, become your character;
your character,  becomes your destiny.”

WEEK OF AUGUST 5th, 2019: OUR PRIDE AND AFFECTIONS

 Artwork by Jasper Goodall 

Stand straight, walk proud, have a little faith
-Garth Brooks

The week begins with the Moon in Libra until it enters Scorpio on Tuesday signalling the First Quarter Moon. The Moon enters Sagittarius on Thursday, and remains on the archer’s territory until early Sunday morning when it enters Capricorn. The First Quarter Moon is a time of action and momentum when we are challenged to implement what was seeded at the New Moon and push forward.

SPIRIT
Passion burns hot this week as we move deeper into Leo season and straight into the heart of summer. The Sun in the second decan of Leo is bright indeed and Venus blinded by the rays inches closer and closer to the royal throne. By August 14, Venus will disappear completely into the Sun purifying herself in a baptism of light, rebirthing as an evening ”star”. The Sun and Venus in Leo will set the mood this week with loud and colourful roars and regal displays. Pride and affection for what we have created, what we have become, what we value and love is sure to be a theme. We might be moved to expose the content of our heart’s joys for all to see while other folks might dowse themselves in just-a-little-bit too much perfume.

FAITH
The Sun in Leo is moving towards a trine with Jupiter in Sagittarius (exact on Wednesday) and this should give us the ability to say YES more. This easy going and joyful sky is giving us plenty of reasons to celebrate life and make the difficult things a little bit easier to bare. Jupiter stations direct on August 11 after moving retrograde since April 10, 2019. On the same day, Mercury enters Leo and Uranus stations retrograde in Taurus creating a lot of momentum which culminates on Sunday. The Moon entering Sagittarius on Thursday (Jupiter’s day) gives the signal to launch the fireworks, release the helium balloons, cut the red ribbon, and trust that it will all work out. There is a hopeful quality that permeates the week and it is an excellent time to gain perspective on what remains to be accomplished while elevating your standards. Fill your engine to the brim with the potentiality latent in your dreams and aim higher. This is a time of joy, faith and courage; send your prayers and show gratitude accordingly.

THE SALES PITCH
Mercury re-enters the Lion’s den on Sunday at 15:45 EDT after having turned retrograde here in Leo before moving back into the sign of Cancer for most of July. If there is still a faint tinged of longing permeating our minds this week, it will definitely subside by Sunday. The radio stations which until now played a series of nostalgic and sappy songs will now be showcasing ”The Greatest Hits of all Time”. Mercury can be persuasive in the sign of Leo especially when supported by Jupiter. If you have to sell your salad ( convince someone), now and in the next few weeks is a good time to do so. You can expect however that everyone at the market will also have the best salad to sell; you could find yourself shouting in order to be heard.

The Fixed season of Leo is a time of conviction and this year Jupiter in Sagittarius is boosting the signal. Depending on natal disposition some folks might be totally blinded by their beliefs, their pride, and their ideas. Moderate the enthusiasm with healthy dose of reflection before launching headfirst into a debate or a venture. Measured risk and optimism will be rewarded while hubris and arrogance could alienate others but overall, it’s an excellent week.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MERCURY RETROGRADE: VISION & REFINEMENT

 

Mercury will (appear to) be moving backward in the sign of Sagittarius from December 3rd to December 22/23rd, 2017. Retrograde periods highlight the need to organize, revise and reenvison aspects of our lives. Sometimes this happens voluntarily and sometime it is imposed on us by unforeseen circumstances.

To understand how this might affect you, locate the house with Sagittarius on the cusp in your birth chart; the affairs of that house will be up for review.  If you have an Ascendant, Sun, Moon or Mercury in the sign of Sagittarius or Gemini, this retrograde will be more significant especially if your Ascendant or planet is between 13º and 29º of either signs.

WHAT TO DO DURING THIS UPCOMING RETROGRADE?

Sort out what matters and what doesn’t anymore.

Discard old ideas and beliefs that have become burdensome or obsolete.

Contemplate the passage of time and what it means to be growing older and wiser.

Acknowledge what you want in the grand scheme of things, versus what you do on a day-to-day basis to get there.

Honesty and moral courage will be highlighted during this time.

When the desire to find the truth becomes a rhetorical dead-end, what’s next?

At its worst, this retrograde could bring gloomy or depressive thinking, a loss of faith or a feeling of being blocked by something beyond your control.

There could be an urge to control your thoughts and a difficulty expressing yourself freely. In some circumstances, you might need to ”Let go and Let God”.

In other circumstances you might need to seriously consider rectifying something that has become out of control.

What happens when the sacrifice you are making are loosing their meaning?

What happens when the path you are on is NOT leading you where you want to go?

Taking a step back from something in order to gain perspective and looking at the big picture.

Mercury retrograde in Sagittarius could mean: A re-evaluation of your core beliefs, a shift of perspective, a change of direction and a quest for meaning.

What does ”control” means to you? Do you consider yourself a control-freak? If so, what step can you take to release the grip?

It’s a great time to reflect on social-media, the place it has in your life and how you utilize this tool to your advantage or disadvantage.

IDEAS, DISCIPLINE, AND VISION-SHAPING

If you have a BIG idea or if you are working towards a goal, this retrograde will help you refine your vision.

The awareness needed to gage the REAL amount of work needed to accomplish a goal will be available; don’t let this clarity become a burden and use it to your advantage.

From now until mid-January is your opportunity to write your plan or revise the existing one.

If you are contemplating a new path, a new venture, or a new way of doing things, this retrograde will help you delineate your course of action.

This retrograde is about setting realistic goals, the willingness to roll up your sleeves, and the willingness to invest the time and effort necessary.

Inspiration and creative ideas are available but will remain in the realm of possibilities as long as you don’t take concrete steps; thinking about something doesn’t make it happen.

If the time has come to realize an idea or a project, it is up to you to act on it before someone else does.

From now until mid-January is your opportunity to scheme; discipline is available.

Things may take longer than anticipated; be pragmatic and realistic when delineating your plan without becoming defeatist.

The reality is, things take time; don’t let this fact discourage you.

☿

To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom. –Bertrand Russell

 

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GENERAL OBSERVATIONS

Mercury retrograde begins on December 3rd and ends on December 22/23rd, 2017. Saturn is a big player in this upcoming retrograde. Whatever transpires of this cycle could play out until mid-January when Mercury meets up with Saturn for its 3rd and final conjunction in the sign of Capricorn.

Since the ruler of Mercury in Sagittarius is Jupiter in Scorpio, the themes of secrecy and revelations will continue to be strongly highlighted.

Mercury trine Uranus on November 25th before meeting up with Saturn on November 28th and turning retrograde on December 3rd. An emerging idea, a revelation, a new situation, a vision, or simply a new approach to an old conundrum could be a strong theme in December. The shape of things to come, an idea and the discipline required to materialize it, will be strong undercurrents.

On December 3rd, Jupiter in Scorpio (ruling over Mercury) trine Neptune in Pisces while Mercury stations retrograde. There is also a Full Moon in Gemini on the same day ruled by Mercury retrograde. There is an overwhelming amount of work and so much things to think about. You might be tempted to find the closest escape route. Don’t let anxiety or fear cripple your mind. A good day to practice breathing exercise and meditation. This Full Moon highlights the dichotomy between beliefs and facts, visions and ideas, and the realization that it will take a lot more work than originally thought to get where we want to be.

The New Moon in Sagittarius on December 17 will see its ruler Jupiter in Scorpio, square the Nodes of the Moon while Mercury retrograde in Sagittarius trine the Nodes. On December 21st, Saturn enters Capricorn and Mercury station direct the next day; destiny is calling.

 

 

 

 

MERCURY RETROGRADE: Ordinary & Extraordinary

Small minds are concerned with the extraordinary, great minds with the ordinary
-Blaise Pascal

☿

Mercury retrograde always brings some form of revision either willingly or imposed on us by unforeseen circumstances. There is no reason to hop on the Mercury-Retro-Freak-Out-Train as this occurs approximately 3 times a year.

Mercury will be retrograde in the sign of Virgo and then Leo from August 12th to September 5th, 2017.

One of the striking aspect of this particular retrograde is the Mercury/Neptune opposition mere days before the beginning of the retrograde.

This means that the week leading up to the retrograde is somewhat foggy or tinted by wishful thinking and clarity is already lost. There could be confusion between facts and fiction. It could be that a situation is not seen for what it is and we are getting lost in glamorous thinking. Venus is also trine to Neptune and the Sun is in Leo after all!

Mercury/Neptune is not a terrible aspect in itself but decision making might not be anchored in reality. If you know this already, work it to your advantage and take into account that your perception will shift considerably by the time this retrograde is all said and done.

The Full Moon in Aquarius on August 7th was the first of 2 Eclipses happening this month and this also has to be taken into account. The liminal space between Eclipses can be thought of as a transitional period. Often the time surrounding Eclipses bring unforeseen circumstances which shake the foundations in our lives. Events pushes us to take a leap of faith or break with the old ways. Sometimes these events are forced upon us and the path we were until then walking on vanishes aligning us on a totally new and unforeseen trajectory.

Mercury retrogrades are best spent re-evaluating, sorting out, and revising what is already in place. Mercury retrogrades are not so great for launching major new projects and ideas. Since this retrograde begins in the Mercury ruled sign of Virgo, there is no better time to get down to the nitty-gritty details of your life and put them in order. Mercury will retrograde back into the sign of Leo on August 31st. The subject of self-esteem, pride, the desire for recognition, following one’s heart, dreams and passions will all be added to the mix.

*If the eclipses are already bringing major changes in your life, embrace them and apply a good strategy to insure your success.

Here are a few more tips to help you navigate the upcoming retrograde in Virgo & Leo:

☿-Don’t sweat the small stuff: Virgos can be hyper critical and self-loathing since they have such unreachable high standards for themselves. Give yourself a break and pay attention to your internal dialogues; keep it positive and guilt free.

☿-Sweat the small stuff: Mercury retrograde in Virgo is a great time to revise and organize. A great time to tackle all the menial jobs that you have been putting off. Paper work, writing, editing and organizing could really put you ahead of the game. Re-evaluate the processes in your life and find solutions that will help you be more efficient.

☿-Find activities that help alleviate anxiety: Over-thinking and the endless quest for perfection is a modern diseases. Step-away from it all with activities that help you disconnect from the over-achieving mind. Go pet a goat.

☿-Find healing

☿-Be easy on yourself: You are where you are suppose to be. Trust the process.

☿-Get in touch with your procrastination: The more you put things off the tighter the grip will get. Maybe your to-do list is to big? What can you do to alleviate the pressure?

☿-With Mercury going back into the sign of Leo, issues of pride and self-esteem could come up. Following our heart is always a work in progress. Practice asking for what you need directly and without shame. Allow your heart’s desires to express themselves in a healthy way.

☿-Understand that success is a state of mind.

☿-Do not let your pride get in the way of the hard work needed to succeed.

☿-If you know your chart, look at where Virgo and Pisces are located. Do you have important planets or is your Ascendant in Virgo or Pisces? Perhaps some organizing is called for in those areas of your life.

☿-Since this Mercury retrograde is weaved in with the 2 eclipses in August, look at where Leo and Aquarius fall in your chart. Do you have any important planets or is your Ascendant either in Leo or Aquarius? Events surrounding the next two months will bring opportunities to break away from an old way of being. This could be subtle or dramatic depending on your natal dispositons.

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                              Jack Kerouac (Virgo rising and Moon in Virgo) on Self-Loathing
                                                          

“The rucksack sits hopefully in a strewn mess of bottles all empty, empty poorboys of white port, butts, junk, horror … ‘One fast move or I’m gone,’ I realize, gone the way of the last three years of drunken hopelessness which is a physical and spiritual and metaphysical hopelessness you can’t learn in school no matter how many books on existentialism or pessimism you read, or how many jugs of vision-producing Ayahuasca you drink, or Mescaline take, or Peyote goop up with – that feeling when you wake up with the delirium tremens, with the fear of eerie death dripping from your ears like those special heavy cobwebs spiders weave in the hot countries, the feeling of being a bentback mudman monster groaning underground in hot steaming mud pulling a long hot burden nowhere, the feeling of standing ankle deep in hot boiled pork blood, ugh, of being up to your waist in a giant pan of greasy brown dishwater not a trace of suds left in it – the face of yourself you see in the mirror with its expression of unbearable anguish so haggard and awful with sorrow you can’t even cry for a thing so ugly, so lost, no connection whatever with early perfection, and therefore nothing to connect with tears or anything.”

 

 

 

Full Moon in Virgo: A Purging Process

Times of transition are strenuous, but I love them.
They are an opportunity to purge, rethink priorities,
and be intentional about new habits.
We can make our new normal any way we want.
-Kristin Armstrong

A CLEANSING LIGHT

The Full Moon in Virgo on March 12 brings a dry outlook amidst the tides of the last few weeks. This is a sobering Full Moon and we have the opportunity to reset our stance as the light shines on the chaos and structures of our lives. In this Earth sign, the Full Moon asks us to come back down to reality for a moment and attend to the details and responsibilities of our existence.

Efficiency is not as simple as it sounds and must be developed day after day until the habit is well established. Under the Full Moon in Virgo on March 12, you could find yourself vividly aware of how you go about setting yourself up for success or… failure.

You might have the urge to discard the clutter that has accumulated over the last few months. Whether the mess is internal, external or general, this Full Moon is excellent for getting rid of what is weighing you down. This purging process is further supported by Venus who is currently retrograde. Amongst many other things, Venus is linked to luxury and beauty and this is an excellent time to discard the clothes and objects which are causing stagnation and perhaps donate them to charity. Creating space might not come as easily as we hope and conscious discipline might need to be applied. With Mars in the very first degree of Taurus, our earthly abode and the material reality that surround us is doubly emphasized. Our attention is on the objects that surrounds us and we could feel the polarizing need to acquire and discard simultaneously.

MERCURY IN PISCES SQUARE SATURN IN SAGITTARIUS

Narrow-mindedness, irrational fears, and excessive worry could very well be highlighted this  weekend. Mercury – the ruler of the Full Moon in Virgo – is in the sign of its detriment and fall at the time of the Full Moon. Mercury will also be in a square with Saturn in Sagittarius adding a dash of mental anguish to this already unhappy placement. Choose your conversations and words wisely and monitor your thoughts. Chances are the lack of clarity around a situation could create more anxiety than its worth. Avoid guilt-trips and mentally straining situations if you can do so. Next week will provide illuminating solutions that are not visible at the moment. For now, simplify where you can and do not become hyper-critical or overly concerned with a situation that is out of your control or simply not your fault.

THE PROMISE OF SPRING

Our desire to have everything right and our inability to do so might be highlighted on this Full Moon. However, the opportunity to find some form of contentment in organizing and simplifying is available. Processes are what bring lasting changes and we now have the ability to make the small adjustments needed to bring bigger results. Reset your stance by purging your space. Attend to your body and its basic needs. Nurture and calm your mind with meditation and breath and most importantly: don’t sweat the small stuff!

“We love the imperfect shapes in nature and in the works of art,
look for an intentional error as a sign of the golden key
and sincerity found in true mastery.”
― Dejan Stojanovic

The Moon will be Full on March 12, 2017 at 10:54 EST at 22º of Virgo

Sun in Pisces/Moon in Capricorn: Inspired Discipline

The Sun is in Pisces conjunct the Tail of the Dragon and the Moon is in the sign of Capricorn. We might be revisiting time-tested ideas that prove to be better than their modern versions. Something from the past could come back for revision or be revived. We could also find ourselves appreciating the craftsmanship of our ancestors and be inspired by the quality of objects from the past.

With the Moon in Capricorn, it’s a good day to get work done and find some discipline. Since the Sun in Pisces and Neptune will receive a sextile from the Moon in Capricorn, work that requires a certain amount of creativity and inspiration should benefit.

February’s Fire

Hey everyone,

We’re almost done with January which has been a good example of what is to come. We also have entered the Chinese Year of the Fire Rooster. Even if the Chinese Zodiac has nothing to do with the Tropical Zodiac (the one we use) there is one thing in common for 2017 and that is: there is a LOT of planets in FIRE signs all year.

Uranus is in Aries and Saturn in Sagittarius plus we have an upcoming Venus retrograde (beginning March 4) in the sign of Aries.

There is also a series of eclipses on the Leo/Aquarius axis beginning this month with the Full Moon in Leo (a Fire sign) on February 10. Eclipses generally comes in sets of 4 over the course of the year.

So what does it mean? Well, If you have important planets in the late degrees of the Fixed signs (Scorpio, Taurus, Aquarius, Leo) this year eclipses will highlight that part of your chart.
Eclipses in astrology are considered triggers that brings fundamental changes. These changes can be sudden or they can be more of a gradual shift towards something completely new over a period of time. Of course it’s easier to pinpoint the area affected by studying the natal chart.

The New Moon in Pisces at the end of February is also a Solar eclipse and it is the last one in the Pisces/Virgo series that has happened over the course of the last 2 years. There was a lot of changes for these guys (Virgo and Pisces) and an evolution towards something that is either being born now or on the last stretch of its journey.

The Sun is in Aquarius and will move into the water sign of Pisces on February 18.

Saturn in Sagittarius (a fire sign) continues to fuel dogmatic beliefs and wars on ideologies and Jupiter goes retrograde later this month which will bring the second Jupiter/Uranus opposition.

Mars in Aries (fire sign) all month is excellent for pushing ahead with your own ideas and
projects. If you feel tense, go sweat it out.

Stay noble, stay bold.

 

The Dawn of the New Moon in Aquarius

The Moon this Week

The Sun just entered the sign of Aquarius on January 19 where it will stay until February 18.

Before the New Moon in Aquarius on January 27, the Moon will travel through Sagittarius and Capricorn. We can expect the next few days to be full of heated debates and self-righteous dialogues as the Moon applies to a conjunction with Saturn. At its best, Saturn in Sagittarius can be about having faith in our convictions which help fuel our ideas and bring some structure to what we believe in. At its worst, Saturn in Sagittarius becomes dogmatic and fanatical, imposing its point of view in a one way preaching of its truth, testing the solidity and validity of our faith. Since the ruler of the Moon in Sagittarius is Jupiter in the sign of the scales (Libra) the debates and conversations will most likely revolve around equality and inequality, justice and injustice, right vs. wrong, relational issues and the delicate balance of it all.

The Moon will also briefly square Mars at 29 degrees of Pisces as it prepares to ingress in the sign of its rulership of Aries. Note that both the last decan of Pisces and the first decan of Aries are ruled by Mars – emphasizing the martial qualities of this time period.

The Moon moves into the sign of Capricorn on Wednesday January 24 at 17:43 EST and will make some lovely aspects mainly a sextile to Neptune in Pisces and a conjunction to Mercury in Capricorn which could bring some conversations around the topics of healing, compassion and mercy. Thursday promises to be a day filled with challenges as the Moon in Capricorn conjunct Pluto in the early morning hours and then square Uranus in Aries and Jupiter in Libra. Thursday evening the Moon sextile Venus in Pisces, applying a balm on the heat of the last few days.

With the Sun in Aquarius, the desire for freedom and independence is very strong. Freedom of thoughts, freedom of speech and the tendency to rebel against the existing structures while also wanting to reform and bring about new and better ways of doing things. Feeling left-out of the conversation and the impression of not belonging anywhere could permeate the next month while the Sun travels in Aquarius. Themes of exile and frontiers could set us apart which in turn could create a state of disillusionment and alienation.

Take a Breather

The time preceding the New Moon is called the Dark Moon and it describes the Moon when it is invisible against the backdrop of the Sun. It is the last phase of the lunar cycle before it begins again.

Astrologically speaking, the last 3 days before the New Moon represent a time of rest, of letting go, of sorting out and making space for what is ready to begin in the upcoming month. The days leading to the New Moon are best spent nurturing and resting the body in preparation for the month ahead. One of the best way to spend the next few days, is to seek space and get out for a hike, stretch and relax. Stretch the mind, stretch the body and seek openness. The desire for change is strong but judgmental and self-righteous behaviours might be even stronger, creating division and arguments instead of unity. This can be depleting or draining instead of being productive. Use this Dark Moon period to regroup, tie-up loose ends and finish things. New ideas and new ways of doing will naturally start emerging in the process and you will be fresh and ready to tackle February which promises to be a big month.

The New Moon on January 27 at 19:07 EST is in the sign of Aquarius and its ruler Saturn in Sagittarius will be square to Venus in Pisces. This indicate tension between certain structures in our lives, our beliefs, our values and our ability (or inability) to find sweetness amidst the harshness and difficulties of these times. Feeling limited and opressed while seeking or craving beauty and exaltation. Our ability to find what brings us together (Venus) versus what divides us (Saturn) will set the tone for the month ahead. Since Aquarius is linked to innovation, perhaps now is the time to begin applying new and better ways of doing things.

The best way to predict the future is to invent it.
-Alan Kay

Restore the faith

The Sun leaves the distrustful sign of Scorpio and enters Sagittarius for the next month. Can this help us see the bigger picture and restore our faith? Of course Saturn looms large on the horizon, and Pluto and Uranus.

When an eternal optimist meets with fanatics we can only hope that they somehow find the middle ground.

Goodbye Scorpio season. You were ”transformational” to say the least.