Moonkissd by Jessica

New Moon Capricorn, Friday, December 30, 2005 7:13 PM PST

I am going to tell you something and you’re going to find it difficult to believe- Ready? All astrological indicators predict that 2006 is going to be a marvelous new year. Trust it. Trust it even though its been raining for so many days you forget what day of the week it is. Trust it even though your Christmas was hard, traffic a nightmare and right now things show little sign of improvement. Trust it because spring follows winter, the sun is always shining somewhere and the hardest to learn is the least complicated. Let simplicity be your guide; take heart in that very small patch of sun in your overgrown garden. Go there. Life really is that simple.

Promise. As the year ends, this 13th New Moon ends on a beginning. The number 13 is the Death card in the Tarot, the card that promises rebirth. This is a hopeful promise for this time of resolution, for the promises you make now have tremendous staying power. Capricorn is the sign of commitment, the resolve to continue to honor the teachers in your life, no matter how burdensome the gifts. Capricorn teachers tell us to “chop wood, carry water!” and give us no recognition for keeping the cabin warm and dry. If we’re lucky, we’re thrown a bone every now and again, but we learn not to count on it. What we also learn is endurance; how we can survive on very little and somehow find resource to persist. Isn’t life amazing? This is the part of you who is the solitary journeyer; the monk on a trek through the Himalayas; the mountaineer and her hungry dogs caught in a torrential downpour deep in the canyon; the single parent. This is the voice that yells: “no one knows what it’s like-” into the canyon, and hears its own echo in response.

We do hear you. And since you always require proof, dear Capricorn, this New Moon wants to take your isolationist out for a buffet brunch at the Ritz-Carlton, surround you with abundance (here’s my American Express). Because sometimes you get so deeply mired in chop wood, carry water that it takes a day of carte-blanche behavior to remind you of your true wealth. As you nurture your inner orphan, it dawns on you that your teachers in life actually bring you incredible pleasure. Sometimes the gift comes through the back door, in hindsight. But more often than not, the simple act of worship, of making sacred your solitary path delivers you like the UPS man on Christmas Eve. You melt your lonely pain; you soften to yourself, ask yourself a few questions, and gain new insight. You become heartened. As you hold and nurture those s ame commitments as divine bricks on the road to fulfillment of Your Life Purpose, your ability to respond to your responsibilities- becomes self-evident. At this point in the process, making a new choice requires no more energy than making the same old choice; it’s just a twist of perspective, and a new action replaces the old one. Will I sleep for another hour or will I get up and go for a run instead? And now that you’re sufficiently pleasured and nurtured, forget about excuses. What looks like a limitation to my sunny day hike, rain for example, is exciting to the mountaineer. “Oooh,” she says, “let’s get out my rain gear and my inner child, tromp through the woods and make a mess of myself.” Who said Capricorns were dull?!

Remember simplicity. There’s so much simple goodness in the space between your mind chatter and the rhythm of your breath. Slow down to see the patch of sun or the basic point. The simple phrase “I can’t change my circumstances but I can change my attitude,” tells us that most successful outcomes hinge on changing our ability to respond. Are we hinged on the perspective of the ego ‘this is the way I want it’ as we flap like an old gate, singing our mournful song to the wind? Or are we the hinge itself: a flexible, ligamentous joint on which swinging parts turn*?

New Moon Day 12/30/05 Trust me when I say: it’s easy to believe that you can have it all this year. This is the day of days for resolutions with sticking power. Dig down deep and discover that the big obstacle to your dream is ready for a paradigm shift. As long as you’re using your wisdom mind, your mental powers are en pointe- so trust this new awareness as it bubbles up. Again, trust them! Then put them into action in the days to come. In case you haven’t heard yet, there’s nurturing energy here as New Moon joins with Ceres, the Great Mother. To make your plans sustainable think about the resources required, get the job done. Preparing for the future is a nourishing act right now. Venus will retrograde through Capricorn, reminding you that gratification may be delayed, but well worth your wait.

12/31/05 Moon in Capricorn, waxing. Mercury conjunct Pluto in Sagittarius Moon mood: scheme up a new project, partnership, business plan, ambitiously envision. Merc/Pluto: powerful words, deep thoughts, entrenched beliefs, looking into what we’re afraid to see.

1/01/06 Moon in Aquarius, waxing. Venus retrogrades into Capricorn; Sun in Capricorn trine Mars in Taurus Moon mood: hang with friends, buy a new electric gadget, be an individualist, do something different.

Venus rx (thru 2/03) in Cap (thru 3/05): Ladylove is still moving backwards, time to re-evaluate, (not initiate!) relationships. We’re looking at bottom lines, how to build a future together, negotiating wants and needs. Lovers from the past resurface (don’t go there!). It’s a good time to sort through finances; we’re frugal in love and money. Questions are still flying until 3/05 when she moves forward the degree she changed her mind on 12/24/05. Sun/Mars: Full of energy, this is the initiative and follow-thru both, to power your new moon intentions.

1/02/06 Moon in Aquarius, waxing.

1/03/06 Moon in Pisces, waxing. Mercury moves into Capricorn. Moon mood: Go to meditation center, buy a new book on spirituality, visit your housebound friend, start a new painting, see a ballet. Merc into Cap (thru 1/21): Our thinking becomes more focused, we move from a million possibilities into the single pointed truth. It’s a good time for writers; we can easily concentrate. Anything requiring an extended amount of solitary mental effort is fruitful. Problems of practical application, wrestling with how to make your ideas tangible are experienced.

1/04/06 Moon in Pisces, waxing. Sun in Capricorn sextile Jupiter in Scorpio Sun/Jup: A power surge of possibility shifts our awareness from carry water, chop wood to “let the waterfall send the water my way.” Open to new potentials, opportunity for help from authority figures, men in power.

1/05/06 Moon in Aries, waxing. Moon mood: Have great sex; go for a run. Or pioneer an underdog, be someone’s hero, go to the dentist.

1/06/06 First Quarter Moon in Aries, waxing. Sun in Capricorn First Quarter Moon highlights independence vs. well-laid plans. “Are you gonna go my way- ?” Expect a little challenge, feisty Aries, if only to liven things up a bit. Remember to be gentle-(!)

1/07/06 Moon in Taurus, waxing. Moon mood: indulge the senses, spend time in nature, enjoy a good meal, go grocery shopping (beware of buying too much food).

1/08/06 Moon in Taurus, waxing. Mercury in Capricorn sextile Uranus in Pisces Merc/Uranus: Check your head for your intuition. New thoughts are exciting- hey get some fresh air in there. Fun with friends, groups. Expect the unexpected: sudden, surprising, positive communication.

1/09/06 Moon out of phase till evening then Moon in Gemini, waxing. Moon mood: Chat on the phone, write. Get paperwork and correspondence out. Run errands. Life feels harried.

1/10/06 Moon in Gemini, waxing. 1/11/06 Moon in Gemini, waxing.

1/12/06 Moon in Cancer, waxing. Moon mood: Pull in and re-group. Cook. Have hot tea and healing conversations. Give your inner (and outer) child some time.

1/13/06 Moon in Cancer, Mercury in Capricorn sextile Jupiter in Scorpio Moon mood: the day before the full moon, step back for perspective if you can. Likely you’re trying to finish up all you’ve started these past two weeks. Life is demanding around this day of the cycle, especially now as you’re feeling pulled in many directions, too much, too soon. Try not to over commit, it’ll be hard not to! Merc/Jup: “There’s so many thoughts to be thunk,” says Mr. Scarecrow. Correspondence culminates in a nice offer or reward. Contracts deliver. Any communication is bound to bring some positive action, so put it out there.

That moody moon: The moon changes signs every 2½ days. Our mood and perceptions subtly change, and if you’re sensitive, you can pick up on her moodiness via your own. Why are you cranky one day, optimistic the next? Many factors influence this, but pay attention to her for some constancy. Because although changeable, by aligning yourself with the activities associated with the sign she’s currently occupying, she will always point you in the right direction. You’ll experience inner flow and contentment by syncopating your daily rhythm with hers. You can easily plan your week by knowing what sign and phase she’s in. Many of us already do this without a calendar (women especially). The best way to feel her resonance is through non-resistance, allowing the sign she’s in to lead you to an intuitive knowing of “what’s right now.” From new to full moon, she’s waxing. This is a good time to initiate. From full to new, she’s waning, decreasing in light. This is a good time to change your approach.

*Webster.com

“…I think something is burning.
Now you’ve ruined the whole thing.
Muffle the smoke alarm.
Whoever put on this music
Had better quick, sharp, remove it…
Pour me another.
Oh, don’t wag your finger at me.

It’s that time of year,
Leave all our hopelessness’s aside
(if just for a little while)
tears stop right here
I know we’ve all had a bumpy ride
…I’m secretly on your side”
- Imogene Heap — Just For Now

Full Moon Gemini, Thursday, December 15, 2005 8:15 AM PST

It’s that time of year. The holidays pinch us like a crazy Uncle who has just moved into our 1 bedroom studio. He’s good-hearted family who just needs a roof under his head for the holidays…and yet, his needs, his demands on our space, time and energy, his very existence stretches every part of us. How are we triggered? The seasonality of love, generosity, goodwill toward mankind, peace on earth… we fall into a pattern of pushing our limits in all directions- financially, emotionally, physically. We smile at one another, generating attempts to connect. The twinkle in our eye belies a manic exhaustion. We wonder why we do not feel all the good cheer we are told we should.

This lunation, the Sun is with Pluto, lord of the Underworld. The underworld rules all the dark material, trauma and attachments that hold us from moving forward. What triggers us is where we need to be. Where are we? We are precariously perched on the fire escape of our design. Vagabonds in our own house, we feel pushed out on the ledge. With the intensity of a Marlboro reds smoker, we sit on the cold metal staircase, exhaling ice vapor, our uncle in our favorite chair, steaming up our windows inside, where we should be, warm. Why are we out here on the ledge when everything is exactly how we set it up to be? What is pushing us out? Is it really that person, symptom, need, that extra demand? As we sit on the fire escape to get perspective, our excuses appear as compulsive as the cigarettes we’re smoking, crutches to every other irritant. Underneath the resistance is the stuff we can’t talk about, share or even voice to our self. This is the truer longing for connection, connection to the deeper, abandoned parts. Sometimes we require the right ear for listening; now we are ready to hear what we’ve been saying all along.

If we’re faced with our own or others inflexibility we’re at a crossroads. We could keep going with the way things are or make room for change. Life transitions are happening all around. But change appears as the generous Uncle who comes to roost in our cramped apartment, ‘too close for comfort’. He may bear gifts, but as we invite him in we are pushed against our limits. Where are we “crying Uncle”? We ask for perspective: How can we change our expectations about an uncontrollable situation and still stay in power & control? And how do we take faith in the truism: “accept your less to receive your more?” Ironically, in the constellation of Sagittarius, the sign with an ability to view panoramic vistas from mountaintops, there are several stars with an inclination toward blindness. Nearsightedness, losing the particulars and follow through required for the fulfillment of the sweeping brushstroke Sagitarrian vision can be this sign’s fatal flaw. The grand gesture is lost to the demands of reality. As the truth forces us to look at the details of our predicament, we bequeath to this year a parting gift: at least one less attachment to the tie that blinds us, whatever that may be. Like the Uncle happily perched in your favorite chair, the truth is glaring and the truth is generous. There are gifts around the corner. And the fire escape is a perfect roost amidst the squeeze of the season.

New Moon Day, 12/15 Jupiter the planet of expansion squares Saturn, the planet of contraction. These are not easy astrological times! We feel the limits of growth, like giants in little people clothes, we’re outgrowing modes of being and it’s uncomfortable. Saturn in Leo asks: ‘who’s your daddy?’ How are your authority figures doing? How is your personal authority doing? It’s not time to move, just feel into the pressure and learn from our inner dialogue. Mercury in Sag is moving forward so we’ve made progress pushing the paperwork through the system even if we have not a clue about what it will all mean. Venus has just freshly entered Aquarius…but immediately joins Chiron, the wounded healer. The Goddess of pleasure, love, appreciation, value & worth is shacking up with your favorite Achilles heel. This isn’t a match made in Olympus, is it? Venus in Aquarius will show us the collective wound. Throughout the month, we may find ourselves asking one another: where does it hurt? If we don’t ask, we’ll likely be told by society at large. Venus in Aquarius derives pleasure by giving gifts to humanity: how can I use my position in life to make the world a better place? With Chiron, we look around and see so many ills, so many in need of love.

12/16-17 Moon in Cancer and Jupiter/Saturn exactly square 12/16. This is the first of 3 waxing squares, second on 6/22/06, third on 10/25/06. What is toggled with now, repeats again next June, and then moves forward in October. What’s bugging us now perhaps is with us for the duration. The moon gives gentle help through troubled waters.

12/18-19 Moon in Leo. 12/18 Mercury squares Uranus giving our mind a tendency to stumble over itself. Before we say the wrong thing we can make it right by watching our hurry up foot-in-mouth impulsivity. Leo makes sure we’re maintaining our stance for better or worse by the late evening. 12/19 Mercury quincunx Mars looks for creative ways of tackling our mental ennui. Words come too easy, especially when we’re frustrated…it doesn’t have to turn into an argument.

12/20-22 Moon in Leo through the evening of 12/20, then Virgo, Mercury trines the North Node. Perhaps the mental stimulation of the last few days results in some positive connections. Mercury with the node brings learning through experience, new awareness picked up in the environment, facility with communication, skillful versatility in writing and speech. 12/21 More Mercury…! The winged messenger trines Saturn. A diploma or a contract secured. We’ve learned our lessons, secured our spot via that little bedevilment called Adaptation, thank you very much. Now we’re on solid ground as Sun moves into Capricorn. This is a most realistic time of year, just like the sign. The air is crisp and clear; the shadows fall dark to light. This realism follows the ambitious undertakings of, Christmas and New Years! If Sagittarius rules the Christmas buying season, Capricorn picks up the credit card debt and has been working on her resolutions list since last June. Through the eyes of Capricorn we can see the consequences, limits and obligations we’ve created in the month before. Whereas sparkly Sagittarian ambitions are short on follow through, Capricorn ambitions are more likely to pan out–she won’t use glitter glue, so her plans don’t fall apart. This is a Spartan time of year, so we learn how to work with what we have and to use resources shrewdly. She is the sea-goat, drawing from deep reserves, with the tenacity of the mountain goat we climb… On the surface, this energetic day ends on an optimistic note, in the spirit of the festivities. 12/22 Moon is quietly reflective, catching up, wrapping up the workweek. This evening we’re stirred up, taking things personally or feeling easily slighted.

12/23-24 Last Quarter Moon in Libra. How do our relationships register the consequences of our shifting awareness? New information can be unsettling to the Libra scales; balance is what we’re looking for, but Libra would like to spend most of her time being in balance instead of searching. Moon kisses Venus this afternoon for some sweet moments—perhaps the perfect time for last minute shopping. This Sun/Moon integration point always brings career/purpose issues into focus. 12/24 The day runs smoothly, finishing up business in the early morning leaves time in the afternoon and evening to just enjoy. Sit by the fire. Venus goes retrograde until 2/3/06, not retracing her steps completely until 3/7/06. Venus begins her backward motion with Chiron, again opening the heart to wounding, or more hopefully, healing. For Taurus, Libra Sun and rising signs (and for all of us to some extent) we will find our relationships, finances and emotional sensibilities re-evaluated. Expect the unexpected in the sign of Aquarius. We may make friends with unusual people, be drawn to experiment with our tastes, or look for our mental, not just sexual equivalent in our partner. During Venus Rx, Relationships may cool down. Legal issues, divorce, marriage proceedings all move markedly slow. This is not a good time to get engaged or married. It is a good time to deal with past relationship issues, clear ‘em up for once and all. Venus also rules artistic sensibilities, your personal style, clothes, and hair…so…save your money and go clothes shopping in the spring. What you buy now you may never wear again! Here’s a list of Venus retrograde reflections to share with your partner: Do our friends reflect our sensibilities as a couple? How important are our friends in our live(s)? What are our visions for the future? Do we have a shared purpose? What would that look like?

12/25 Santa hopes the gifts will be to everyone’s liking! Venus fresh retrograde makes us sensitive to disappointments. Evening Moon in Scorpio adds to the grumbling. Why is Moon so unhappy in Scorpio? Something doesn’t turn out the way she wants it to. Maybe we’re remembering better times, someone forgot to buy the pie or the gravy is burnt. Sorry to be the Grinch who stole Christmas but Mars square Saturn is also active (see 12/27) Take the bitter with the sweet. This too will go down in your scrapbook of Christmases past. A Venus/Chiron retrograde song…

It’s that time of year,
Leave all our hopelessness’s aside (if just for a little while)
tears stop right here,
I know we’ve all had a bumpy ride (I’m secretly on your side)

How did you know?
It’s what I always wanted,
Could never have too many of these
Will ya quit kicking me under the table?
I’m trying, will somebody make her shut up about it?
Can we settle down please?

It’s that time of year,
Leave all our hopelessness’s aside (if just for a little while)
tears stop right here,
I know we’ve all had a bumpy ride (I’m secretly on your side)

Bite tongue
Deep breaths
Count to ten
Nod your head

I think something is burning,
Now you’ve ruined the whole thing
Muffle the smoke alarm
Whoever put on this music
Had better quick, sharp, remove it
Pour me another
Oh, don’t wag your finger at me

It’s that time of year,
Leave all our hopelessness’s aside (if just for a little while)
tears stop right here,
I know we’ve all had a bumpy ride (I’m secretly on your side)

Get me outta here, Get me outta here, Get me outta here…

12/26-27 Moon in Scorpio, Mars square Saturn. We have fleeting reprieve on 12/26 as the day goes up, then cranky, then up towards the end of day. A Moon/Jupiter conjunction has us all feeling a bit more optimistic about our presents this evening, but don’t take your big plan to the bank just yet. 12/27 hosts the pressure cooker aspect, Mars Square Saturn. Frustration, fair and square. This combo can cause a host of problems- accidents, injury, problems with cars and authority figures. Saturn’s nature is to hold and restrict; Mars’ is to bust through everything including longstanding obstacles. For some folks, this will appear as a time bomb, when things which have built up over time, culminate in a crescendo. Others may feel it as a more minor frustration, such as delays traveling, broken down cars or another unfortunate unforeseeable. On some level we all experience the unhappiness of these two planets meeting at squares.

12/28-29 Moon in Sagittarius. If we’ve been cautious and aren’t on clean-up duty after the holidays, Sun sextile Uranus is hopeful. This is the breakthrough after the breakdown. This Sag moon will help pull us out of the quicksand as we find the wherewithal to say ‘throw me a rope!’ to the Sky-God of ingenuity & sudden saves. Gosh, we could use a lucky break.

12/29 The dark of the moon, the best time to shed anything you don’t want- habits, patterns (no, re-gifting doesn’t count!) Perfect timing, the New Moon falls tomorrow, the day before New Years Eve. Get your intentions ready. “Out with the old in with the new” is such a powerful cultural myth. You can ride the energy behind this intention to create new life for yourself. Muster whatever courage and strength you have left and… let the breath in.

Knowledge is the wisdom of experience.
- quote on teabag

What made me think I could start clean-slated?
The hardest to learn is the least complicated.
- Indigo Girls

New Moon Sagittarius, Thursday, December 1, 2005, 7:01 AM PST

What do you believe? Sun in Sagittarius ’tis the season of hide and seek, the season of listening to the stories we tell ourselves, the dreams we have for the coming year, the possibilities we envision, the reality we co-create. Where do we find our options, our treasure, our creative ability to imagine a better life? In Scorpio, the sign Sag’s ruling planet is traveling through for the next year. New dreams are about merging with others, healing wounds, exploring the depths of the psyche, becoming financially viable, uncovering your hidden gifts, your secret power source, your treasures to gift the world. Gift giving Sagittarius/Jupiter is the seeker-elect who proclaims: ‘if the entire world is a story, then we can make up a new one!’

And we aren’t glib about this prospect; for this New Moon reveals an ambitious undertaking. Saturn is sitting across the table, a deadpan dinner guest mirroring to us the world we sit in right now, the sum of what we’ve created with our life so far- messy and beautiful with all of its goodness and limitation. How did we create those limitations? The mythmaker of the zodiac knows every future seed originates with a story. When we’re young, we’re told stories; when we watch TV. stories; when we have a conversation with a friend more stories. Are we conscious of the stories we absorb & perpetuate through our attention we give them, through the words that come out of our mouth? Often, we are not. As we gain experience as mythmakers, we realize that if we are to have any control over our future destiny, we see how easy it is to tell really bad tales -and- really good ones. We are learning to become responsible tale-spinners by separating fact from fiction.

To this end, Sagittarius Sun has us seek wise counsel through spirituality, exploration and higher mind pursuits. In the metaphysical wisdom-hub called the Akashic Library*, a great repository of knowledge in the center of the universe sits, recording everything. This is the seat of all knowledge, the ultimate bookstore, the knower of secrets. The sages and mystics hang out here interpreting tea leaves, and reciting the Gita while librarian-angels spend their days in encyclopedic indexes looking up answers to the big questions. But I’m thinking maybe the wisdom of ordinary folk resides in a different place. I picture a farmhouse with a cozy fire, patchwork quilts and hand me down knowledge. Maybe a crone-scribe notes exactly when your secret yearnings turned into dreams, hard lessons fought and won. ‘A-ha!’ moments are double underlined for effect. But there’s also the possibility that this wisdom is even simpler to get at- maybe it’s contained in your personal story.

Home-grown Sag wisdom: 1) experience is the best teacher & 2) the only way out (or in) is through. The irony is that the doorway through is often so close, that we cannot yet see it. Sag needs perspective to grow bigger. With Sag, the story unfolds when we’re a step removed, so remove your self from the familiar by taking a small journey, a hike, or a walk through an open field. Settle in with an object; say a tree, a rock, a feather. Treat it as though it were your best friend, the best listener in the world who wants to set you free by knowing you more deeply. Go ahead, tell it your story. Start at your beginning, and tell the tree about your pain and love. Where exactly in your soul is your first kiss, your first grief, the happiest moment of your life? What about the moment that you touched the sky, that feeling of being most alive- Where do you hesitate? Where do things get fuzzy, irritating or elicit strong emotion? These are often the most interesting parts. Know the story may not follow logic, and this may be where the healing is. Following my own medicine, I asked my aching lumbar to tell me its story. Immediately a mosquito began buzzing in my ear. Then I said ‘no, really, I’m ready to hear’-the mosquito again. Still not getting it, I said ‘okay, reveal your message to me in a dream.’ The mosquito kept me up all night.

The wisdom of story reveals non-rationally, so engage in non-rational pursuits. Psychology says that your hindsight interpretation of a meaningful life experience is forever subject to the murky emotional overlay of your changeable state of mind. This sounds kind of like a dream. In Sagittarius-land, your story eternally re-creates as you move in the world. When that world is pure possibility it’s so easy to believe that truly anything is possible. And of course, it is.

New Moon day 12/01 where will you plant your new moon intention? Mercury, Saturn and Mars all retrograde make this Sag Sun more ponderous than usual. Yet even moving backwards, Mars opposes Jupiter, striking a balance between deliberate action, optimism and energy. This pair always warns us of taking on too much over the next week. With Sun and Moon quincunx retrograde Mars, re-shuffling priorities on how to best proceed is in order. With a dependable trine to Saturn, this new moon feels secure. Sag is hardly a conservative sign, but ruler Jupiter is facing off with Saturn. How does the dream measure against reality? Mars/Jupiter wants us to deliver big, while Saturn/Jupiter wants us to pare down our dreams to the essentials. Meanwhile, Saturn/Neptune has the potential to completely disenchant us out of the wrong dream, if we’re in one. In plain English: your big dream has some practical limitations to be worked out. Remember that retrograde is still a motion. We are still moving.

12/02-03 Moon wandering in AM, evening into Capricorn. Sun trines Saturn this evening, duty calls, albeit joyfully. Mercury has virtually stopped, so our minds are either completely heightened in anticipation of Mercury direct tomorrow 12/03 (yay!) or we fall asleep at the wheel. The former is likely; Mercury is always a step ahead. During the next few days the mental wheels feel freshly oiled as we find in communication, a joy.

12/04-05 Moon makes no aspects until the evening when it enters Aquarius. However, for the next week (till 12/11) here is the joy of communicating, contract making, and business negotiations. After all the retrograde missed opportunities, computer problems, phone craziness, Mercury makes good with a sextile to Venus. There is plenty of poetry in the air, and now’s the time to begin to clear up those annoying Mars retrograde issues- money owed, car problems, whatever started worrying you around the beginning of October. It’s also a creative period for artists, writers and thinkers. Exquisite thoughts leave the tip of the pen, paintbrush and mind.

12/06-07 Again, the moon wanders through Aquarius until the evening. A wandering moon means she doesn’t aspect another planet until she enters the next constellation, sign. If we lived our lives according to the moon’s movement alone (the planets being the energetic force that act through us, as us) there would be no action of consequence during this period. Of course, other planets can override the moon’s inactivity. In this case, Mercury and Venus are quite active still- tonight when moon moves into Pisces, Sun sextiles Neptune. Really, an inspirational night- a romantic candlelit dinner, some nice classical music, a good bottle of wine brings out the lover in any one. 12/07 begins First Quarter energy, what do we believe is possible?

12/08-09 If we’ve broken new ground, the seeds are ready to burrow themselves deep into the ground. We’re planting fragile stuff here, the stuff of dreams. Are we ready to do what it takes to make it happen? Do we have what is required of us? The serenity prayer: Lord, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference. Amen. 12/09 Moon into Aries and we feel our energy again, finally! Mars goes direct, accumulated inertia propels us forward. Even though since Dec. 1 we’ve been fielding Mars/Jupiter’s over-assertion, over-expansion urges we haven’t exactly harnessed the energy we hold for all the big plans. Now, what’s been frustrated releases- as the planet of assertion, competition, aggression, and flare ups of all sorts, course-corrects. The past 2 months have introduced ‘Me vs. You’ questions along with finance, energy and resource re-evaluation. This cycle culminates in new understanding and resolve, with a best foot forward and ‘damn the torpedoes’ kind of feel.

12/10-11 Still enjoying the Venus/Mercury sextile, we’re chatting one another up with poetry & affection, buying gifts for our loved ones, enjoying stimulating, warm conversation in relationship. This is a big shopping weekend no doubt; Moon in Aries kicks it off and continues through Sunday evening. We are lively and ambitious decking the halls and in the malls. 12/11 Moon into Taurus in the evening, kick back and chill out.

12/12-14 Moon in Taurus, but not the usual bull. Mental uplift, Mercury enters Sagittarius. Sag is not the most gifted speaker, preferring bells and whistles, embellishment over fact & details. Our minds are less retrospective than the previous month and a half. We share more freely, sometimes perhaps too freely, in the spirit of giving. Even though we think we’re losing our short-term memory, we feel like we’ve been given a breath of fresh air, there’s new stuff to think about. Optimism helps ease the holiday load. Let your mind roam free this next month, give yourself permission to think about travel, studying a new language or philosophy. Mental breaks involve playfully exploring what is possible.

12/13 Gemini Moon wants to flit about superficially, but as she culminates to full on the 15th, she gets seriously heavy- a really hard thing for Gem. Take this morning to appreciate simple pleasures. Ease your way into the hard stuff. Remember the tool of Sag- perspective. When life starts feeling oppressive: remember to find perspective, ask for a different opinion. If you feel resistance, examine your beliefs. Are they true? ‘Why do I think what I think I think? 12/14 do a little meditation mid-afternoon, ask for guidance and relaxation as you release into the flow of the universe. http://www.dailyom.com/articles/2005/1002.html

*locate your Akashic Record:
http://paganwiccan.about.com/library/weekly/aa120302akashic.htm

Full Moon Gemini, Friday, November 26, 2005 12:07 PM PST

The Sun in Sagittarius has moved our focus from our complex inner world into greener pastures. The seeing in the dark quality of Scorpio has given our vision a just sharp enough edge. Sagittarius rushes in like the holidays-despite other intentions you find yourself caught up in a kind of frenzied excitement. People are no longer brooding and reticent but chatty, conversant and full of opinions. Intuition has had time to simmer and distill; now Sagittarius Sun wants to inspire our visionary abilities.

The rollicking enthusiasm of Sag puts wings under our sails. This is the swashbuckling adventurer in all of us, the part of you that knows the secret of life is the journey; the destination changes with the wind, likewise our direction. Mapmakers and map-readers are Sagittarians; the journey needs a guide because the destination changes.

This isn’t a new moon, so we’re not heading out into new terrain-it’s more of a good look to see where we find ourselves. The full moon culminates, brings what is already in motion to fruition. Having only been in the sign of Sagittarius for a few days, we are the fresh-faced explorer finding herself on a mountaintop, a panoramic view. The view is so vast and full, we may find ourselves are overeager at the Thanksgiving buffet of life (Jupiter trine Neptune). We may say something that seems uncharacteristic, make broad generalizations or overlook details. The map is big and the choices are many, we are easily swayed by ideas, opinions and our own hungry vision. We need a trusted companion who is practiced in the areas we lack, a Sacagawea* to our Lewis and Clark. Will the road fork ahead (yes, definitely) and which direction should we take then?

Who better to cover the role of Sacagawea, than our Gemini moon? She knows the lay of the land like the back of her hand, each twist and turn of the river bed, the language of the animals and the stars. Overeager perspective can be balanced by the messages we discern from people, animals, signs, and omens. Omens, angels, spirit guides (Jupiter) are divine providence-they appear when we need them. Whether we find them in the line at the supermarket or on a billboard off the freeway, these are important soul messages. All they require is your studied attention in the least expected of places-the familiar. I’ve had many questions answered from the carpool lane, spying a personalized license plate at the precise moment a question passed through mind.

Sacagawea says: ‘reacquaint yourself with the familiar. Find your way by curiously observing the path you travel each day.’ Turn the familiar on its head. It’s time to notice all you never noticed. When students of art are learning perspective, they make gridlines over their subject. They break the picture down into bite-sized chunks to discover it transforms their vision completely. They discover talent and facility they never knew possessed. Getting up close and personal with your assumptions about reality changes everything. You begin to realize how blind you’ve been.

Here’s an experiment for this Gemini Full Moon-try it after you’ve gorged yourself on turkey and are rolling yourself out the door for the standard walk of shame around the neighborhood. Trot down a street, a street you think you know well. Ready, set, open your senses and allow the sights, sounds, words, people and colors guide you to your next step. Follow your interest, engage your curiosity, laugh at the wind, cry with the willow tree. Do this to prime the pump for the pale excuse of your worn out habitual perception to fall away. Feel the weather around you and then let the familiar show you it’s new game. Ask questions; expect revelations (Sun square Uranus). Watch your world become animated with meaning.

*Thanksgiving to our ancestors. For the real story of the courageous Sacagawea go to http://www.bonniebutterfield.com/NativeAmericans.html

11/28- 12/01 About to go retrograde Mercury trines Saturn retrograde. Mr. Quick on his Feet wears the goat’s hiking boots for an extraordinarily long time. When the versatile intellect meets the eternal authority figure, mental endeavors are weighty and carry high expectations. This is a great time period to be writing or doing some kind of mental calibration-you will find your prose clear-cut, serious and deliberate. Doing the work privately, on your own, best uses this aspect. Don’t expect it to be a final draft. These guys are retrograde or soon to be, meaning that you haven’t seen the last of what you’re working on right now. The party is just starting. The details you seem to be covering so well may come back to bite you. Nonetheless, use the energy. Put communication into form: preparing speeches, presentations, books.

11/29 Mars squares Neptune to break up the reality cling-ons. As a precursor to the soon to slow Mercury, take yourself out of the game before other people do it for you. Other people’s behavior may seem misdirected or passive aggressive. At the same time, your motives may be equally vague and mysterious. Remove thyself. Go to a movie. Let off steam by pondering the mystery of human behavior.

12/01 Mercury goes retrograde, Venus slowly hedges in to join Mars in Scorpio and square Neptune, appropriately announced by a dramatic Moon in Leo day! What a brood we have here! The mind and all the details that we take for granted in the smooth functioning of our day to day decides to go on holiday. Away. Gone on Vacation, be back 12/22. Stereotypical communication and transportation issues ensue. Use these next 3 weeks to do all your ‘re-’ work. Re-evaluate, re-asses, re-do, re-search etc. If you’re on the verge of a choice/decision now, watch the cosmic trickster blindfold & spin you around three times. Your action plan is completely different by Christmas. Thank you, Santa-Mercury-Trickster.

The dream continues to unfold-Venus and Mars meet in sexy Scorpio, squaring Neptune. This is a dream date where all is not what it seems. If a new love object enters your life right now, it’s of the love ‘em and leave ‘em variety. Partnerships may be taken to the next level, culminating in some kind of financial or emotional merger. Venus in Scorpio calls to mind a line of poetry by Henry Longfellow: ‘when she was good, she was very, very good. And when she was bad she was horrid.’ Leave the dream where it belongs (in bed with Neptune) and trust in the juicy sensuality and magnetism of the next week (12/01-12/08) to invigorate all your relationships with 32 flavors of temptation. At the end of the love fest, you might find yourself singing with Alana Davis: ‘I’m 32 flavors and then some. I’m taking my chances as they come 32 flavors and then some. Looking for truth and there is none.’

12/04 Sun in Sagittarius trines Neptune and we experience a heightened sensitivity, connectedness to a cause or endeavor. Selflessness is well expressed this day when you find yourself devoted to someone else’s plight. ‘Captain, step out of the Ego’. This is the time to flow. Feel it, know it. You have the potential to effortlessly lift someone’s burden just by your willingness to go there.

12/05 The next day, Sun sextiles Jupiter in Libra– the light of the Sun throws her enthusiasms into expanding partnerships. Contrast this day to the previous-now is the time to take a message to the masses, as the cosmic megaphone wants you to step up to the mike. Fortune smiles on you as you deliver or receive inspiration to/from another. Express benevolence and receive benevolence.

12/07 Mercury conjuncts Pluto for 2 out of 3 pass. Remember when Mercury touched Pluto the weekend of 11/20? What were you thinking, where was your head? Here we are again, for some more clarification. The mind is penetrating and deep; thoughts may be relentless & intense. The tendency is to hold too hard, be pushy, or think negative, obsessive thoughts. The seed potential of this conjunction is clear, ruthless honesty. Use your cutting instrument on only the most essential, precious parts of your life. A diamond-cutting tool is destroyed when used on semi-precious stones.

12/09 The dark of the Moon in Scorpio emphasizes this darkest part of the cycle before the new light. Bridges may’ve been burned, decisions made. There’s both finality and security in this knowledge. This is a great time to get rid of someone/something for once and for all-Scorpio brings permanency. Create a ritual for a symbolic ending. Let it go and watch your self become reborn with the New Moon.

What is to give light must endure burning. — Viktor Frankl

Full Moon Taurus, November 15, 2005 4:57 PM PST

The time of year is autumn, the date is any year. Dropping into the season lifts us from chronological time into kairos time, the truest time. Let nature in-what a relief! Kairos time measures the eternal cycle of death and rebirth in nature & reminds us that in this life, we are ‘off the clock’. Inhale the smell of burning leaves bequeathed to us from our ancestors, those who have breathed the same sweet scent for centuries. We are eternal beings, as the trees shedding their leaves; the daylight concedes more of itself to moonlit darkness, like nature we endlessly recycle. Our recycling nature reminds us that we belong only to each other, and to the earth.

Scorpio is the notorious recycler, capable of shedding many identities in one lifetime. There is no psychological process which brings us closer to death than that of transformation. While we can align our will (choose) to change a habit, a lover, a hairstyle or job, this type of change is light reading for Scorpio. Scorpio transformation is the place we’re taken to- not of our own volition. While there may be an initiatory event, the event doesn’t reflect the soul reverberation, the deep impact. Transformation is a process that occurs largely ‘under wraps’ or ‘beneath the surface’. While we may outwardly resist, dig in our hooves and scream for ice cream like any good Taurus Moon, the Scorpio part of us recognizes our collusion, our secret scheming toward our own abduction. Something has been stirring for awhile and circumstances conspire to bring fruition to our next step in our evolution. This is the event, breakdown or disruption that appears as matter of fact as the morning sun. The journey of our life greets us, sweetly whispering- ‘Hello, dear one, you are not in control’.

This descent into darkness is a global mythology, common to all cultures. Like the myth of Inanna, who descends from the everyday world to her sister down below, the soul moves toward completion by moving downward, into foreign territory. It is the burning desire of the soul to know itself intimately, wholly, which prompts our descent. Moving downward requires relinquishment of something we thought we needed to survive, an idea about our self, the world, the ‘way things are’. What does it feel like to exchange what we thought to be true for something closer to reality, more true? Is it like wearing a blindfold while being led by an unseen hand? Here we experience a potent mixture of fear at what we’ve never known before & find a faith that eventually we will see the light again. The process surrenders light for dark so the world can be experienced more brightly.

Scorpio fears loss of control yet paradoxically possesses tremendous self-control, like a thick iron cauldron. Scorpio says: If you’re in the pot, you can take it. This is the thickness that allows us to thrive even in the thick of things; the burning process we experience in the midst of our inner turmoil, branding us for life. What emerges is a beautiful tattoo, uniquely branded with the hot iron of our own true design. We become tough and shiny in those same places once naïve or incomplete, or raw and bleeding. The scar tissue reminds us of where we are authentic and unafraid. Think back on an event that changed your life. It is inexplicable, the way you now hold your self differently, your life. It just is different. Everything has changed. At that point in time could you control or name what it would become? Transformation, although sensed then, cannot be fully known by our self until its completion, until it is sealed.

As autumn visits and gives way to winter, we become more intimate with the dark. If things feel impactful it’s because these are irrevocable ‘no turning back’ kind of changes. The choices we’re getting ready to make may be tested this autumn as Scorpio energy rids ourselves of what we no longer need. There are twisting passages and secret routes we’ll only discover as we take up the way. We take up the way with the sign that follows, Sagittarius the seeker–who gives us perspective by showing us the big picture through philosophy, religion, seeking universal truth. If Scorpio’s very personal truth-telling brings us closer to what, who and why we love, any transformation we’re experiencing puts us in cahoots with our destiny. Through descent, we remember that what needs to be healed is what separates us from fulfilling our hearts desire. And isn’t that what we’re here for?

Full Moon Day, 11/15. If the most powerful force in the universe is love, the 2nd most powerful must be desire. Only another week- Sun in Scorpio, a fascinating time of year, as we feel deep rumblings of desire, death, the taboo, secret longings long-buried traumas and heartfelt pleas for healing. Our dream figures run hot and cold, low throaty whispers speak to where we’re burning, biting and hissing where we’re ice cold. We crave completion and must do what it takes to get there. A Saturn Venus quincunx may have us feeling rejected or disappointed by others, a little lonely. Uranus changes motion today, stirring up nervous systems, sleep patterns and ritual de habitual. The planet of surprises and sudden changes moves forward only a couple days after Mercury went retrograde. Is this revolutionary thought, or electrical overload? The conversation about what to ‘do differently’ is in full swing. With the number of retrograde planets happening (Mercury, Mars, and soon Saturn) we’re insured plenty of kairos time for revision & re-working, fixing what is broken. Uranus will bring new agendas, new information to what was stuck even as the full moon carries the sense of ‘lockdown’- a grand cross in the sky via Saturn opposing Neptune. We’re impaled on the cross of matter, with many ideas even if we’re not clear how it’s all coming together. It’s a start.

11/16-17 Moon in Gemini, we’re taking in new information, re-evaluating the old. Mercury retrograde is bound to bring repeats, but perfect for having those conversations you’ve been meaning to have. Clear up old business, clear the air. 11/17 Venus and Mars trine, play lovebirds as we find sweet & sexy meeting over lunch, maybe not dinner. This is a practical couple, good for business endeavors and planning the future. Venus in Capricorn takes pleasure in status, money, improving her image, but is Mars broke? Settle for an amuse-bouche. Eich, he’s still moving backwards till December 9 when money matters become clearer. Scorpio sun on Pallas brings hidden information to light.

11/18-19 Moon in Cancer, but she’s not the story. We want nurturing this weekend but Mars square Saturn headlines for the next week. The past few weeks, we’ve been on the slow feed to this aspect known as ‘driving the car with the brakes on’. Is this accurately describing a part of your life? This combo is capable of creating damage only if we push too hard. The impasse is reached between the material, practical limitations of Saturn & Mars’ inclination toward motion. It’s time to practice conscious, responsible action, slow and well-considered. Mars moving backwards (til 12/9) and Saturn’s retrograde (11/22-4/5)-both create a drawn out (8 week) conversation, perfect for re-assessing the feasibility of our long-term goals. This is no time to make a spontaneous decision, but over time we are capable of moving the mountain in measured steps. Meanwhile, Saturn trines the Moon’s nodes favor relationship, partnership commitments. Sign on the dotted line and it just may be for life!

11/20-21 Moon out of phase, then Leo eve of 11/20-21. Retrograde Mercury squares Uranus, again ideas are being batted around. Perceptions are intuitive hits, erratic and inspired or brusque and off-the-cuff. This good idea may not fly, but it’s worth a second look. The Sun moves into Sagittarius 11/21 as the holiday spirit buoys us up for the next month. Festive, fun and restless, Sag is the jolly St. Nick, your favorite cheerleader, the eternal optimist, last one standing at the party. Emotional quicksand of Scorpio has us ready for Sag’s trampoline, where the higher we jump, the more possibilities we envision. Sag’s ruling planet in the sign of Scorpio means we’re still talking about money, merging and catharsis-with more perspective and information now. Expect holiday commercialism to kick in high gear as its Jupiter’s nature to broadcast everything. Don’t overextend on a line of credit, a risk with Jupiter in Scorpio. View all financial exchanges as investments, do they pay dividends?

11/22, 23 Moon in Leo on 11/22, but the fiery energy is upstaged by Saturn gone retrograde til April 2006. The mechanics of our lives slowly grinds to a halt, and then moves backwards. Spiritually, Saturn reminds us of our limits in form, delay time from dream to reality, from prayer to manifestation, from action to consequence. ‘It takes time’-he says. Use the time to examine our foundations, how it will all really work. If you’ve been meaning to renovate the house, do it. If you’re wobbly in an area of your life and need more support, ask for it. Boundaries may need to be set or re-worked, basic physical needs addressed. All this ushered in on the last Quarter Moon in Virgo, 11/23. Possibilities are all measured with an appropriately critical eye.

11/24-25 Thanksgiving on a Moon in Virgo day-watch out for overeating! Moon in Virgo means sensitive tummies, indigestion possible. Sun and retrograde Mercury are together, the mind is a mouthful in itself. When Mercury is heated up by the sun, mental chatter re-ignites old issues & a plethora of opinions. (Mercury under the sunbeams may make objectivity difficult). The gift of Sagittarius brings a storyteller to the table, one who weaves context with enchanting tales of what timelessly connects us all. Re-ignite the spirit of sharing: ask everyone around your table to either share a personal story or make one up. At the end of the day we feel content and loved. 11/25 moon is wandering, as we are on the day after. A good time for catching up with friends, taking it easy as moon makes her way to Libra this evening. Ceres transits Pluto for a sentimental holiday period involving mothers, family, and separations. Whether we’re at home or not, we truly understand: ‘home is where the heart is’.

11/26-27 Moon in Libra wants to balance our equilibrium even as Mercury moves backwards still, a brief dip back into the emotional scrutiny & honesty of the Scorpion. Retrograde reminisces about past hurts, yet joining with Athene and Chiron, healing synthesis is the potential. If it’s broken let’s fix it, but not before a few words are exchanged. 11/27 For the past few days and next, Jupiter and Uranus exact into a swift trine-providing tons of answers, even if they first spew tidal waves of emotion. Possibilities and potential buoy one another up, as something new meets something different. This is optimistic and hopeful energy for everyone to use.

11/28-30 The Scorpio moon is infamous for drawing down and into security, secrecy, protecting the self at all costs. This evening, in rolls Uranus square Sun, like an undercover detective on the beat, turning self-protection into a radical strip tease. Take it all off, change is for the making. Dig around in the dirt tonight for hidden treasure. 11/29 lets us off the hook as we emotionally stabilize for the energy of this next moon cycle. The day before new, moon enters Sag on 11/30 to the tune of Sun quincunx Mars, Mars lining up to oppose Jupiter. Mars is energy, so the risk is overextending energy to the tune of Jupiter who, like a hot air balloon, pumps everything up. Confidence runs high, and may produce errors in judgment. A retrograde Mars in Taurus is stubborn or thwarted energy, especially cranky. Opportunity presents but an old problem flares, or your timing is off. With Mercury, Mars and Saturn all retrograde, it’s hard to create situations that allow forward motion. Be careful not to over commit on time or effort. Re-evaluate, re-negotiate, and re-pair. Take your time as you consider the possibilities ushered in with the New Moon in Sag.

Ideally, there should be no kindness in the role of either the man or the woman. Self-seeking, in one of the paradoxes with which love abounds, they find each other.
– Jessamyn West

When love walks in the room
Everybody stand up!
Oooooh, it’s good! good! good!
Say Iloveyou!Iloveyou!Iloveyou!Iloveyou!Iloveyou!!!
– Chryssie Hynde

Full Moon Aries Lunar Eclipse, Monday, October 17, 5:14 AM PST

Who really knows the alchemy of what our soul needs most? What is that magical spell that weaves around our experience? At best we are educated guessers, asking a question, performing an experiment, waiting for the Guide to step in and make our way smooth or direct us down a different course. Aries moon is the mirror to what is flowing and what holds us up. When we choose life goals and pursuits and meet resistance, we are out of support from the creator. This is a sign to choose a different direction. Yes, there are some forms of resistance intent on building us up by stripping us down- these are the choices in life that choose us, that seem to show up as fated experience. They are unexpected, and we are not in charge. But there are other challenges we have more room to move around and through. Just as we do not move more deeply into a relationship that shows resistance from the beginning, it is unnecessary to view life’s challenges as a battlefield for which we must constantly ’suit up’.

Yet because we live in times of war, we are constantly ’suiting up’. Born into this time & place, at birth we unconsciously don military fatigues like a second skin. This creates the neurosis of resistance. Just examine your typical response when caught off guard by the conflict between your present state and that which opposes it. We are trained to meet life’s challenges with resistance. We do this with our selves emotionally, getting worked up into internal states of agitation & distress over untrue assumptions. We do this with others when we close down to new information, jump to conclusions, assume the worst. When we ’suit up’ we disrupt the Creator’s flow and so disrupt the inworking for this point of new integration. The idea behind ‘what we resist persists’ is born in a conversation between Aries and Libra, Mars and Venus.

In myth, these two were great lovers; they were also great fighters who approached conflict quite differently. Mars gets the bad rap as the heathen warrior, with a supernatural blood thirst: reckless and almost foolhardily courageous. Venus flitted around looking lovely, starting wars in the name of beauty, in search of her newest love-conquest, her intellectual ideal. Like relationship, Venus enters through the backdoor when we’re not looking, diamonds, sweet nothings and champagne kisses. When the drink runs out, late night fatigue sets in and she can’t decide who to go home with, war erupts. And yes, self-identified peace loving Librans, she starts the fight. Warmonger Mars steps in to ‘keep the peace’ of Venus. Venus wants it both ways and none: she wants everyone to be happy wanting what she wants, all in the name of ‘love’. Mars knows that her love seeking might be more self-seeking. Mars is more than brawn; he’s a brainiac, a cunning strategist who always shows up battle ready, clear headed for Venus’ clean up duty. In the view from our inner world, Mars’ weapons are psychologically astute intuitive flashes and en pointe questions: ‘truth to self, first and only!’ ‘Really, my dear, who are you and what do you stand for?’ Both Venus and Mars are warriors, conquerors. But with Venus and her relationships you’re in, you just don’t know it till you’ve stepped in it.

Strategy is Mars’ wisdom. In times of war & natural disaster we do well to think about disaster preparedness ahead of time. Likewise, before we rush into head locked battle, it’s wise to step back, survey the reality of anything that invites reactivity by asking truth to self questions. We have forgotten that the healthy gift of a war-based society is strategy. Reactivity is an immature Mars, a doomed defense system. Any good strategy is a game plan based on our essential survival needs, taking the needs of others into account while owning first, our personal truth. We can ask the Venus part of ourselves what our core values about this situation and relationship are before rushing headfirst into battle. Honoring one another, self-respect, both healthy self-assertion and healthy selflessness are all good answers. Truth to self is the antidote, Mars’ protective armor that ultimately returns Venus to him, her life love.

While we are not the master alchemists of certain fated life challenges, we are certainly capable of devising new strategies for loving others while loving our self. Martial Aries moon fights to feel her own fighting spirit, to feel the ground underneath her feet, to know who she is by speaking her piece. There’s an either/or quality we face at the full moon polarity, and we stand on core values that shed light on our own warrior strategy. Lunar eclipse full moon in Aries says: If you are truly loving another, your loving allows for them what they need, not your need for them.

Full Moon Day, 10/17. Lunar eclipses have been known to bring feelings of lack, needs unmet. Jupiter and the Sun are traveling close this full moon day so we feel the promise of reward and recognition, perhaps some dreams getting closer to fruition, although today perhaps not close enough. Jupiter squares Chiron today, so we have the opportunity to heal something that hurts. The moon is always hungry, and ruler Mars retrograde is in for the long haul. For the next 4 months we’re simultaneously putting an extraordinary amount of effort into a certain area of our lives, while we’re re-working that same area (feeling stuck and stymied at times) and it’s going so slowly! At the same time we may encounter insolence or intolerance from others–this is Mars not at his best. We want to kick back and get some emotional nurturance, but this is achieved not by warm fuzzies but by deliberate choices and strategies about how to move forward with the limited resources we have. This Venus means business, literally, as she travels with Saturn the serious, albeit in a nice way, they’re ‘doing lunch’ but the menu is lean. So we are full (moon) but we are still hungry. Lunar eclipses are reflective, culminating times; do not take action, rather meditate on what you realize, for a game plan 2 wks from now.

10/18 Mercury in Libra squares Neptune, Moon in Taurus. Keep it simple and try not to expect too much from your mental faculties today. Especially mid-morning, communication goes awry if it’s a literal translation. Check your head before you head out the door without your head. Sixth senses impressions are far more reliable, but keep them body and reality based. Wait until the evening of 10/19 when there’s less opportunity for misunderstanding, Moon enters Gemini, a better time for getting mundane details accomplished. The mind is more available to the practical.

10/20-21 Gemini Moon gives you room to move even while entertaining self-doubt, Sun square Chiron. Support for your accomplishments doesn’t come easy when we get a glimpse into our Achilles heel. The healer appears when you feel the heel. Sweet relief on 10/21, Venus in Sagittarius sextile Neptune and inspiration arrives in the nick of time. The mood lightens and becomes almost effervescent when the obscurations of yesterday lift to remind us of the big picture. Take the opportunity to build bridges of understanding and compassion; even if you don’t see the immediate result, know that one act of generosity of spirit makes the difference in another’s reality. ‘One word frees us of all the weight and pain of life: That word is love.’ Sophocles.

10/22-23 Moon enters Cancer, the place we go to replenish our reserves. With the Sun/Jupiter conjunction today, we are warmly received into the arms of meaningful connection and accomplishment. We are not satisfied with either/or: we want both inner and outer fulfillment. Success feels partial if our professional life shines as our emotional needs are lusterless and vice versa. As this aspect has culminated all week, we’re working on creating fulfilling relationships and they do deliver–partnerships bring benefits, rewards and recognition. Yet, the message is mixed as Mercury has also been opposing Mars, exact today, creating combativeness, accident prone-ness and criticism. The sharp tongued Mercury in Scorpio may get trigger happy. Do not run with scissors; walk mindfully, reminding yourself of the abundance in your life. 10/23 Sun enters Scorpio and we descend into the depths of our attachments. The next month we’ll feel our security needs press against us, asking us to give up what is not real and bring what is vital and true, closer. What is it that we want more than anything? We deepen all our relationship exchanges with Scorpio; no action or behavior is superficial, but a deliberate commitment toward soul level transaction. This month holds the possibility for letting go - of the energetic ties that bind you to an old, dead life- in order to move forward into the new. How do you move closer to what you want when your psychic space is full of yesterday’s news- resentments, grudges and traumas? Who or what are you holding onto for all the wrong reasons? You may feel that Mars retrograde issue begin to push back, what you’ve been patiently trying to resolve bears its fangs and asks for payment. Antagonizing yourself or another is a symptom of Scorpio’s holding on, so is dredging up old issues just to feel like you’re still in intimacy. Buh-bye! Scorpio’s power base is a resiliency that allows us to descend into the dark places of our attachment/release, which feels like a psychic death. We can allow the rush of energy to fill us with power, like trusting the force of a geyser. When we successfully do this, we get closer to our deepest desires, the heart of the Scorpion. Pluto opposes Juno highlighting what our committed relationships demand from us energetically, emotionally and what we’d like in return.

10/24, 25, 26 Last Quarter Moon in Leo. Moon light reflects the new Sun remarking on how deeply entrenched or compelling this or that situation is while wanting to take the reins into her hands. Passions are high, desires strong. We can bounce from one to another and feel caught up in the storm of a drama. We’re figuring out how not to overdo it. Leave the drama to the stage and self-express clearly, sans maelstrom. 10/25 Venus quincunx Mars is like asking Venus to dance the Charleston with one leg in a cast. There’s compromise and then there’s compromised-making room for pleasure, enjoyment requires fancy footwork. Moon passes over Saturn around lunchtime- no time for lunch, we’re working. The big event of the day is a longer shift- Jupiter’s entry into Scorpio, where he will stay for about a year. This past year, Jupiter in Libra, has opened the book of love, relationship possibilities and opportunities for meaningful connection. We can keep the book, but now go back to the library for some follow-up Scorpio titles like: Moving In & Merging Assets, Ancient Tantric Sex Secrets, Spells for Every Witch Way. Life or death thrillers, psychological self-help, tales of corruption, betrayal and power, and money management titles fly off the shelves. Expect longstanding, mired issues to be broadcast on the evening news. Covert behavior backfires. Get away with nothing when megaphone Jupiter descends into the Scorpionic underworld of sex, power, drugs, death, legacies, taxes, debts. 10/26 Sleep through early morning crankiness and sweetness appears. Neptune, the planet of dreams, intuition, illusion goes direct today. Forward motion for Neptune is a chance to tap into your inner mystic, a remedy for your weary back, Mars in Taurus Rx.

Mystics are experts in laziness. They rely on it,
because they continuously see God working all around them.
The harvest keeps coming in, yet they
never ever did the plowing!

-Rumi

10/27, 28 Moon in Virgo brings opportunity for grounding, earth activities. Retrograde Mars is the only earth in the sky now suggesting practical matters need some attention. Stuck? Balance your checkbook or do housework to find serendipitous solutions or just a sense of where you stand with practical matters. We kick off the weekend with Venus conjunct Pluto the Dark, on 10/28. We have strongly charged relationship and tastes, preferences. Venus with Pluto sunglasses has an eye for abuses of power, sexuality, intimacy needs. Heart matters cut deep, yet the dark side of the feminine lends her self to all you’re ready to transform. If you find yourself needy, know your potential for emotional blackmail, coercion to try and get what you want. Instead, turn your security needs toward you. It’s better to first find a safe place inside to own all those burning needs, and then share them with another. Mercury sextiling Chiron suggests if you own your own wounding you’re better able to soothe someone else’s.

10/29-30 Moon moves into Libra mid afternoon, bringing some mental objectivity- or at least conciliatory goodwill. Mercury in the last degree of Scorpio wants the final word but mutual appreciation works magic, opening the doors for Mercury’s entry into Sag, 10/30. A breath of fresh air! It’s just what we need after the last 3 weeks of intense mental focus. Now our minds can breathe. We’ve been involved in a research project or something equally demanding. Regain perspective. We step out of the cave into the world arena, thinking about dreams, aspirations and the big picture. Sun trine Uranus supports new plans, walking into the world with our ideas, boldly.

10/31 All Hallows Eve. This Halloween falls on the perfect day-the dark of the moon, in the moon cycle this is the day for letting go of what ails you. How best to make peace with your underworld nemesis? Feed the demon; invite him in for a cup of tea. El dia de los Muertos, 11/01, we make offerings to the spirit world *not out of superstition, to keep the demons away. What we resist persists, horror movies attest! Instead we offer the sweetness of life to death, our constant companion-and become richer for it. We are Groomsmen to the corpse Bride, a marriage we can only escape through surrendered acceptance. See Corpse Bride, an enchanted movie for Halloween time http://corpsebridemovie.warnerbros.com/

More Marx RX Juju: Earthquake preparedness. The very first astrologers connected disastrous events to the motions of planetary deities. Natural disasters were a sign that humanity was not paying attention. Appease the demon Mars retrograde! Mars in Taurus best defense is to be prepared, safe, and secure. Natural disasters have us question our own resource as we find self with a heightened sense of anxiety or helplessness. When we have the conversation with friends asking: What can I do? find that one person can make a difference. http://boxer.senate.gov/gettingready.cfm (thanks for the link, Jonathan) Sleuth your neighborhood for opportunities to be disaster preparedness trained, or renew your CPR license.

Libra New Moon Solar Eclipse, Monday October 3, 2005 3:28 AM PST

At New Moons we always find a new birth. New Moon in Libra is the birth of Venus- she is the Venus of Botticelli, the moment that divine beauty entered the world. We are relating, dialoguing, creating art, and blazing paths for new levels of intimacy in the world. In the great work, Venus arrives fully born, on a shell-chariot fresh from Mediterranean breezes on a spring day. She is inhumanly flawless and so was her birth- no labor pains, messy blood and bodily fluids. How is it so? With Libra we’re bedazzled with perfection, the gold gilded ornamentation, the perfect female figure, the blessings of the fates and rose petals falling all around us, filling our senses with rich scent. Libra says: we exist for one another’s mutual enjoyment. The rosy scent covers any fishy half shell stench, and so the full story. Under the spell of the Libran ideal, charming enchantment replaces messy humanness; glossy family photos substitute for personal history. With the sweetest of smiles, she insists that ‘what you see is what you get’. But we soon learn that what she wants you to see is what you get.

Her birth tells a different story. The planet Saturn castrated his father, the self-absorbed and unrelateable Uranus for his inability to love his children’s flawed humanity- and throws his genitals into the sea. Beauty, grace and truth (Venus) is born. The phallus conceives an ideal birth, clean and pristine, with none of the violence of human childbirth. This ‘perfect’ birth was motherless and motivated by vengeance. Is it true that the brightest beauty born in the darkest corner of the heart? That place where we’re raw as the earth and unshapely, uncomely completely different from the ‘finished product’ we present to others. Libra presents the good, but she was born from the bad and the ugly. In her ability to create softness, ease, giving, consideration of others before self we see her birthright: rising above raw messiness into pure grace. Loveless and unrelated conceived a gift for love and relationship. When our heart is on lockdown and we see no way out, we ask for a miracle by relinquishing our personal will to Venus, saying: only grace can save us now.

Libra is an angel, a miracle love child. History precedes her, as the ancient astrologers have said: ‘She has the face of an angel, the heart of Mars. We know this legacy ourselves. In our search for love we too have been a violent cast-off into a stormy sea, left to toss and spin in the waters of our own and another’s emotionality. Bobbing in the waves, drifting, unguided, eventually we learned to rise above with a graceful objectivity. In our Mars heart, we have experienced brutality from another, the separation of hands from heart. We have been the recipient of brutal crimes against self, those things we have said or done which have perpetuated the pain of personal history (story). As reward for our tour of duty, we’ve been entrusted with the sacred task of protecting our heart territory. Object lesson: love born of grace is stronger than any obstacle to our loving. With the love of the Divine, there’s nothing to protect and in this knowing we are completely disarmed.

We all want love, as a species it’s our highest goal- to fall in love, live in love. But with this new moon, we also know that what we really want is what we want. And that what I want needs to be what you want, too. We remember that what we truly want what is best for the other (and spiritually we know this desire is grander than the small ‘I’) but our insistence for integrity and equality is strong. To be strong together we must truly be able to stand alone.

With Libra, there are dark corners of the heart, places we hide because we want to be loved and showing these risks the loss of idealization. So Libra constructs all kinds of ruses. Hiding under the guise of ‘what’s good for you is good for me’ is often just plain hiding. So also is coating some aspect of yourself with a powdery sugar as your partner eats arsenic poison.