New Moon

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New Moon in Capricorn 🐐 Jan 9, 2016

Saturday, Jan 9 at 8:30 pm EST

Click here to learn about the Moon. Click here to learn about Capricorn.

Greetings earthlings and HAPPY NEW YEAR! It’s 2016, woooo!

Thus far the greatest challenge of this year’s Capricorn cycle is overcoming inertia, but this new moon will tap in to the more industrious side of the sea goat. The last New Moon in Capricorn fell on the winter solstice of 2014. Any themes/conflicts that predominated then will now resurface.

This cycle started with a New Moon in Sagittarius and that may be why, despite feeling inspired, we’re also feeling a little escapist when it comes to actually getting off the couch and accomplishing something. The Capricorn season is a time to relax, eat lots of food, indulge in materialism and enact a series of beloved rituals, but the sea goat is also known for his impressive work ethic and I’d love to call that in now.

The moon is in her “detriment” in Capricorn, as this is the sign opposite the sign she rules, which would be Cancer. When a planet is in the sign of its detriment, the planet is at its weakest and life is generally more challenging. In Capricorn the moon is strained, unaccustomed to the sea goat’s rigidity, preferring instead the warm, nurturing waters of the emotion-ocean where she normally abides. So! have compassion for yourself if you have mood swings or unusually low energy. Your inclination to stay home and meditate is perfectly natural :)

The Sagittarius cycle leapt into the unknown. Armed with new inner wisdom, we’re ready to apply it in external life. Capricorn’s mantra is I use. The days leading up to this new moon will be crucial – are you going to prepare on your own, or will you be presented with a massive workload reeking of procrastination? No rapid manifestation here - the goat moves slowly and deliberately. When imbalanced, this is the solid and stagnant force we feel so acutely in our bones. Capricorn is also very tactile; as an earth sign, he needs to touch and feel.

A couple weeks of sloth, thoroughly entrenched in the raw matter of our bodies burning in space, deep enough to make us really appreciate blood flow – and then blissful surrender to Capricorn’s mighty haul up the mountain. Earth is, by nature, heavy and resistant to change. Visualize new sprouts growing in a fire-ravaged forest, pushing up to reach the sunshine. We can connect to the earth and still be light ^____^

If imbalanced, you might feel stuck, stubborn, dragging along. The astrology lately has been difficult; I talked in my post on Mercury Retrograde in Capricorn about some of the challenges we’re facing at this time. To recap, the Capricorn cycle revolves around masculinity. Capricorn represents the Father and all authority figures. The purpose of this new moon is clearing any blockages here. We must all acknowledge, incorporate and enact the highest expression of the Divine Masculine. Any change happening in your personal life in this respect is a reflection of a current worldwide shift: return to the worship of Shakti.

Letting go, living spontaneously, breaking the rules - these do not come naturally to Capricorn. But good ol’ Cappy reels us back to center so that life may operate smoothly and efficiently. The new moon in Capricorn asks: where in life do you need more self-control? I feel her rising dark and silent in our sky with a very clear message. This phase doesn’t feel light, rather serious actually, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t find joy; it’s an earthy joy, joy that comes from grounding into reality, from work, from true release, from winter and cold and loneliness, from closing our eyes, from bones creaking, moving inexorably forward despite these ghostly hands tugging at our feet. Get out and breathe the crisp air, even if low gray clouds cover the sun, dense and ancient, even if it’s freezing, even if you’re tired, depressed - you are STILL infinitely loved and supported by the earth and she would love to see you :)

For the new moon, try some Capricorn Yoga.

To ascertain your personal Moon sign, click here.

Mantra: return to order

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New Moon in Sagittarius ♐ Dec 11, 2015

Friday, Dec 11 at 5:29 am EST

Click here to learn about the Moon. Click here to learn about Sagittarius.

If you read my post on the Sagittarius season that we’re currently burning through, you might wonder why it’s been so difficult. Here’s to hoping that the New Moon in Sagittarius will allow us to experience the more positive qualities of the centaur archer. The last New Moon in Sagittarius fell on November 22, 2014. Any themes/conflicts that predominated then will now resurface.

This cycle started with a New Moon in Scorpio and that may be why there’s a disconnect right now between our plans/intentions and the reality of daily life. The emotionally volatile scorpion is hanging on for longer than desirable, dragging us relentlessly into the shadowy depths of our psyche’s unfinished work. This new moon is going to lift us to where we really want to be: cleared out, elevated, ready to move forward.

Right now we have an over-abundance of frankness, and, conversely, escapism and denial. The archer does not want to look anything squarely in the eye if it’s less than perfectly jovial. However, we cannot continue on until we do exactly this. I know we’re all craving Sagittarian buoyancy, but we’ve got work to wrap up before we step completely into his effervescent flames. The days leading up to this new moon will be crucial – are you going to prepare on your own, or will you be faced with a situation more uncomfortable than you could have possibly imagined? Sagittarius asks us to consider our direction in life. We are encouraged in particular to examine how and what we are learning: is your garnered wisdom properly settling in as comprehension, or are you blocking out these lessons?

Maybe this is exactly how it needs to happen – a couple weeks to see just how complicated life can get when you pretend that it’s not complicated – and then Sagittarius will grab us, throw us on his back and off we go into the next constellation with a fiery sonic boom. The centaur archer loves to travel both in body and in mind. For this sign, learning is a gateway to higher states. In acquiring a broader knowledge base, we come ever closer to achieving true liberation. The centaur archer thrives on all things inspirational: witnessing and being part of a magnanimous web of people; hope, optimism and idealism; sports, music, parties and dancing; justice and fairness for all; seeking, wandering, flying, yearning, free-wheeling and good old-fashioned adventures; excitement, expansion and growth of all kinds; ideas and concepts that illuminate.

This scorpion energy still raining down can be depressing. Sagittarius says we’re ready, and have been for awhile, to leave this year behind and never look back. And yet something dense and icy lingers with impressive strength. Let’s remove the skeletons, sweep out the closet and make room for fresh arrivals. The Scorpio cycle forced us to get to the root of things. Using this root as a base, now we jump off into the unknown.

The New Moon in Sagittarius asks us to surround the Self with other people, and in so doing, we more rapidly transition from one state to another. More interactions means more opportunities to bounce ideas around, share new insights and expand upon philosophical queries. This period is a powerful reminder of what can be accomplished when we come out of isolation and rejoin the collective. The centaur archer is usually the epicenter of any given social sphere. You would be hard-pressed to find an introverted Sagittarius!

Allow this fire to act as a catalyst for understanding and forgiveness. Just as fire burns a forest and prepares the way for rebirth, so too can the fires of the archer help you start over. Throw it all in the flames – let it die so that new things may enter. Release what you have so that you may reach for what comes next. I think I’m just really beginning to grasp the true meaning of Saturn in Sagittarius, happening now…check it out.

For the new moon, I suggest a ritual involving fire and/or a big party :)

To ascertain your personal Moon sign, click here.

Mantra: Truth

Solar Eclipse in Virgo ♍ Sep 13, 2015

The New Moon Solar Eclipse in Virgo comes exact on Sunday, Sep 13 at 2:41 am EST

Click here to learn about the Moon. Click here to learn about Virgo.

If the Virgo cycle has felt a little clunky thus far, this New Moon Solar Eclipse will help us find a groove. The last New Moon in Virgo fell on August 25, 2014. Any themes/conflicts that predominated then will now resurface.

This cycle started with the New Moon in Leo and that may be why there’s a disconnect right now between our plans/intentions and the reality of our daily work. The lazy lion is hanging on for longer than desirable, lolling about summer’s endless golden fields. This new moon is going to lift us to where we really want to be: cleared out, elevated, ready to begin.

Virgo has been gentle with us so far, watching lovingly as we wander just a bit longer in the setting sun, but soon she’s going to stand up, take a deep breath and call our name. Unlike most new moons, this one will not be quiet. The moon is asking us to settle in and start working. It has been truly wonderful celebrating the release of dark tension over the last few months, and now we must turn to the task at hand. I’ve been feeling more hazy than predicted and craving Virgo’s renowned crystalline comportment. The weeks leading up to this phase will be crucial - are you going to prepare on your own, or will Virgo have to come find you at the last minute? In the Qur’an it is written that the teacher is silent during the test. I imagine the Goddess of Harvest waiting patiently, hands folded in her lap.

Maybe this is exactly how it needs to happen - a couple weeks post-celebration to move without direction, following the beat of nothing in particular - and then Virgo swoops in with galactic force to fling us towards the timespace spiral. So enjoy this snippet of free flow before you buckle down. I can feel her coming, footsteps in the great hall - but I’m still pretending not to hear, and that’s ok. The pendulum pauses in midair before it rushes back through center and on to the next extreme. It’s time to dismantle, let go and shake off all the bullshit from the spring and summer. Give yourself some love as you wade through this process. You are right where you need to be: one last dance beneath the moonlight before we plunge headfirst into the glory.

This leonine energy still wafting in our skies is bemuddling. Virgo says we’re ready, and have been for awhile, to leave this year behind and start walking a new path. And yet something dense and smoldering lingers with impressive strength. Let’s remove the coals, sweep the hearth and make room for fresh arrivals.

As I write more about the Virgo season, her voice grows louder. She keeps reminding me that yes, it’s going to be lovely, but you have to work for it. My enthusiasm initially whisked me to that comfortable corner of the mind where idealism shines. Here it all comes, in vivid form, and I’m still the one driving. Between Saturn in Sagittarius and Jupiter in Virgo, we really don’t have anything to worry about. The real satisfaction comes from the work anyway, from the empowerment we feel when we voluntarily direct our undivided energy toward that which makes the soul sing. Allow yourself to feel the love and joy that arises from this sacred realm.

I will emphasize once again that this New Moon Solar Eclipse is a major turning point. For the new moon, I suggest a ritual involving soil or some Virgo Yoga.

If you would like to learn more about how this transit affects you personally, please contact me for more insight. To ascertain your personal Moon sign, click here.

Mantra: time to harvest

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New Moon in Leo ♌ Aug 14, 2015

Friday, August 14 at 10:53 am EST

Click here to learn about the Moon. Click here to learn about Leo.

Every new moon falls in the same sign as that of the Sun. This is precisely what makes it a new moon. Sometimes we end up with a new moon near the end of a cycle. That’s what we have, yet again, with the New Moon in Leo.

An abnormal Leo cycle

Although we’re now neck-deep in the Leo cycle, it’s important to remember that it started with the New Moon in Cancer. This put a heavy emotional twist on what would have otherwise been a fairly jovial season. Perhaps the same can be said for what comes next. I wouldn’t usually describe the Virgo cycle as fiery or flamboyant, but that’s how the ball gets rollin’ with the New Moon in Leo.

The new moon is a time to recreate. Here we are like infants: impressionable, vulnerable, wide-eyed. How will you set the tone? What projects have you been meaning to launch? What changes need to be made? New beginnings, or perhaps going back to the start. Words, thoughts and actions that surface now are seeds planted for later harvest.

The “solar cycle” winds down

As stated, this hasn’t been your typical Leo season. Yes, we had all the ego one could wish for - in fact, I found everyone to be even more combative than predicted. However, there was a dark element cast over the lion’s sunny disposition. I look forward to the relative peace of new moon energy. I was under the impression that, due to this being a sort of Cancer-Leo hybrid cycle, the Full Moon in Aquarius would be more somber than whacky. This was absolutely not the case! We got plenty of weird, wild and volatile with a dash of drowning heart. After several months of intensity, I am overjoyed to say that I can finally feel it lifting - LET’S CELEBRATE! For the new moon, I suggest a ritual involving fire or some Leo Yoga.

How appropriate that the Leo season is winding down just as Jupiter moves out of Leo into Virgo. All of life has been Leo-themed since summer 2014 when you consider Jupiter’s arc in our skies. This manifested as one long battle with the collective ego and my GOD has it been exhausting. Every day I swim deeper in the ocean of gratitude. The war is ending. The earth turns once more to catch the last rainbow rays of summer love. It’s perfectly acceptable to acknowledge that it’s been a rough year, but now we’ve got to let it GO. Leo arrives at the eleventh hour for one last lesson in buoyancy - rising above the bullshit. Don’t take it with you, my friends. You are too incredible to carry something so dense. Stand tall and BE FREE!

Divine fire energy

We’re firmly in the throes of the astrological year and there’s no going back. I feel my drive and confidence snowballing as we all travel further into the unknown. Immeasurable strength lies dormant in the heart until we put the Self in a situation that requires unprecedented bravery. This power then lifts her head from beneath the covers, so very alive. Can you feel it, can you hear it? Lights and music and color growing bigger and brighter by the second. Jump on Leo’s back and hold tight. He’s here to help us pass through the gate which leads beyond the garden, beyond the familiar. I can’t speak to the brilliance of the future. If I could capture even just one word, the screen before your eyes would obliterate.

Leo energy seems to manifest most obviously in the form of personality and behavioral changes. Everyone steps outside of their own personal comfort levels to tango with the exotic sexy neighbor, get hyphy at the block party, climb a huge mountain and laugh when others are silent. Exuberance is the name of the game. I’m done with psycho-analyzing myself and others, done with the tears and the pain and the long days and nights. If you want to find me, I’ll be dancing. There’s something indescribably wonderful about this journey through the flames, isn’t there? The Leo cycle melds the Self with the inner child, so full of mistakes, so full of optimism, running blindly towards all things bejeweled.

The New Moon in Leo: at once a beginning and a sweet send-off. We have so much to look forward to in the coming year. As I write I feel something too big for words swelling inside my heart. I believe in the good things coming. Indeed, what a long strange trip it’s been. Some other great humans have also said: how strange to be anything at all. Everything so strange and yet so glorious, so eternal, so ingrained. On a personal note, this New Moon will be quite symbolic for me. I am moving away from Montana to start another chapter of life ^___^

If you would like to learn more about how this transit affects you personally, please contact me for more insight. To ascertain your personal Moon sign, click here.

Mantra: I believe in myself

New Moon in Cancer ⬤ July 15, 2015

The New Moon in Cancer comes exact on July 15, 2015 at 9:24 pm EST

Click here to learn about the Moon. Click here to learn about Cancer.

Every new moon falls in the same sign as that of the Sun. This is precisely what makes it a new moon. Sometimes we end up with a new moon near the end of a cycle. That’s what we have, yet again, with the New Moon in cardinal water Cancer.

Luna at home

I like the new moon at the end of a cycle: a baptism, a refreshing absolution of any blunders made over the last few weeks. Especially true at this phase because the Moon rules Cancer - in astrology we say that the moon is “at home” here. Planets at home are auspicious placements. Luna is much more comfortable in the new moon than she was at the Full Moon in Capricorn two weeks ago. She operates best here: tranquil, silent, preparing the way for us in darkness.

The new moon is a time to recreate. Here we are like infants: impressionable, vulnerable, wide-eyed. How will you set the tone? What projects have you been meaning to launch? What changes need to be made? New beginnings, or perhaps going back to the start. Words, thoughts and actions that surface now are seeds planted for later harvest.

The “lunar cycle” winds down

The Cancer cycle this year has been as expected: emotional, erratic, instilling a deep need for home, security and safety; nostalgic, comfortably uncomfortable; yearning for childhood; soul desperation, longing for release, for respite, for bliss. I look forward to the relative peace of new moon energy. However, with the moon at home in Cancer and both Mars and Mercury in Cancer opposing Pluto in Capricorn on the same day, it may not be so serene after all. What seems most important is respecting our need to slow down and take care of the Self. My first inclination right now is to fight and resist when I feel another big wave coming - let’s relax and allow the Universe to take her course. This new moon is best spent resting and processing all the information received through/from the heart over the last few weeks. I suggest a ritual involving water or some Cancer Yoga.

Much of the Cancer cycle is designed as a sometimes-painful-usually-magnificent trip down memory lane and getting to the root - not in a dark, intense Scorpio kind of way, more like lessons in acceptance and loving acknowledgement. I’ve been coming much closer to myself lately, figuring things out as they arrive. I feel really small and closed off when I’m not creating art. I see now that all the talking in my head is not productive, is not helping me to evolve spiritually, is not pushing me to be my best Self - it’s a sign that I’m not allowing myself to just enjoy who I am! The crab is here to guide you down the difficult path of Self-love. What are you learning about yourself? We are perpetually becoming rather than being – in this realization, infinite ecstasy. You are loved.

Primordial water

We are now at the very end of the primordial period of the astrological year. I still feel myself clinging to the idea of starting over at the threshold of this new moon. I’ve been swimming strongly in the ocean of my own strong Cancer essence - sensitive, feeling everything, returning to childlike thoughts and patterns. It’s almost time to let go, to float on the open water; fear rises in your throat and burns your eyes as you realize that you can’t turn back, not even to say goodbye. I feel your collective anxiety, precious stargazers, but fear not - we are just children clinging to Mother’s skirt, unaware that she is leaving only for a moment, and not only that - we will be fed, soul-nourished, clothed and comforted while she is away, so we must only let go, let go, let go. We are like raccoons reaching little hands into traps to grab a shiny object - we pull back to remove the treasure, but we are stuck, tiny fists blocking the exit - let go to discover that the real riches lie outside the box, no matter what you’ve been told, no matter how frightening the thought of letting go may be.

Cancer energy is as familiar to me as is my own soul. During the Gemini season I spoke about being able to step back and see myself in a way that was light and cleansing. For the last few weeks, I’ve done the same thing, but this time it feels like I’ve been ripped open and led to the very core of my being. We’re all here together, traveling in these waters to the center of centers. As scary as it feels sometimes, there’s also something indescribably wonderful about this journey through the tides, isn’t there? Permeating every facet of Existence is a powerful resonance that only the crab emits, a low hum that fills this weary, aching spirit.

The New Moon in Cancer: at once a beginning and a sweet send-off. We have so much to look forward to in the coming year. As I write I feel something too big for words swelling inside my heart. I believe in the good things coming. Indeed, what a long strange trip it’s been. Some other great humans have also said: how strange to be anything at all. Everything so strange and yet so glorious, so eternal, so ingrained. I wish you luck, prosperity and laughter. Namaste.

If you would like to learn more about how this transit affects you personally, please contact me for more insight. To ascertain your personal Moon sign, click here.

Mantra: I am safe

New Moon in Gemini ⚫ June 16, 2015

The New Moon in Gemini comes exact on June 16, 2015 at 10:05 am EST

Click here to learn about the Moon. Click here to learn about Gemini.

Every new moon falls in the same sign as that of the Sun. This is precisely what makes it a new moon. Sometimes we end up with a new moon near the end of a cycle. That’s what we have, yet again, with the New Moon in Gemini.

Breath of freedom

I like the new moon at the end of a cycle. I think it serves as a baptism of sorts, a refreshing absolution of any fumbles we’ve made over the last few weeks. Visualize this New Moon in Gemini as a cool wind entering your mind, coming in through the ears, eyes, nose and mouth: a gentle breeze here to lift away what you no longer need or want. I suggest a ritual involving writing, spoken word poetry or a dynamic intention-setting conversation with a close friend or sibling.

The new moon is your chance to recreate. This phase is like an infant: impressionable, vulnerable and wide-eyed. How will you set the tone? What projects have you been meaning to launch? What changes need to be made? This is a time of beginnings, or perhaps going back to the start. Words, thoughts and actions that surface now are seeds planted for later harvest.

The Mercurial cycle winds down

The Gemini cycle this year has been emotionally taxing, in part due to Mercury Retrograde in Gemini, in part due to the rapid, exponential collective shift we are all experiencing here on Earth. I look forward to the peace and quiet of new moon energy. However, you may feel an energetic “letdown.” Imagine spending all day at an amusement park, twirling and whirling through space on bright rainbow rollercoasters. This new moon at the end of the cycle is like getting on the bus to go home - alone at last, resting, reflecting on all the fun you’ve just had. The changeover from busybody mercurial energy to the relative calm of this new moon may cause some to feel cagey, depressed or confused. I recommend lots of pranayama to balance the wind element - see Gemini Yoga for ideas.

Much of the Gemini cycle is designed as a lesson in mind-stilling. Gemini seems to perfectly embody a magnificent contradiction of external reality: although it appears fixed and solid, everything is in constant motion, right down to the molecules buzzing in your body at this very moment. The idea that we might somehow still the mind amidst all of this chaotic cellular activity seems ridiculous, impossible, laughable. Yet in this lifetime and the next and the next, this is our foremost task. Allow the twins to guide you down the twisting, turning path of equanimity. See the Self as an entity that also joyfully embodies this contradiction: stillness in motion. What you will find is that we are perpetually becoming rather than being - in this realization, infinite ecstasy.

Primordial wind

We are still in the primordial period of the astrological year, lest we forget. And that’s really what it feels like at the threshold of this new moon. I find myself bobbing in the whirlwind of my own strong Gemini essence – curious, wondering when things will pick up, insatiable restlessness in the seat of my soul. As Gemini is an air sign, it is important that we focus on the breath for this new moon. More precisely, let’s focus on the connection between breath and mind. Notice the way in which you breathe dictates, in part if not entirely, patterns of thought and perception. If you have the time and resources, find an outdoor location where the wind blows strongly. Meditate here.

Gemini is one of my favorite signs. During the Taurus season I spoke about being able to step back and see myself so clearly, too clearly. For the last few weeks, I’ve done the same thing, but this time it feels light and cleansing. The fixed earth energy of the bull was heavy indeed, but that’s just a distant memory now. I feel like a seedling traveling in an air current. There’s a bright, scintillating sensation all around that only twin energy can give us. Now that I’ve worked closely with children for the last year, I see that our astrological signature manifests at a very early age. Balanced little Geminis are buoyant, intelligent, dillydallying through timespace with apparent glee.

The New Moon in Gemini is ultimately an opportunity to cultivate tranquility within. If you seek happiness and comfort in the external world, you will only come to find that all you sense is merely a reflection of the Self. I’d like to return briefly to the idea of becoming with this quote: “What would it mean to begin always from the middle? To experiment with renouncing that lure of mastery with which definitive beginnings and endings seduce thought?” - L.B. Higgins, Becoming through Multiplicity (2011) You are loved. Namaste.

If you would like to learn more about how this transit affects you personally, please contact me for more insight. To ascertain your personal Moon sign, click here.

Mantra: stillness

New Moon in Taurus ⚫ May 17, 2015

The New Moon in Taurus comes exact on May 17, 2015 at 10:14 pm MDT

Click here to learn about the Moon. Click here to learn about Taurus.

Every new moon falls in the same sign as that of the Sun. This is precisely what makes it a new moon. Sometimes we end up with a new moon at the end of a cycle. That’s what we have now with the New Moon in Taurus. This is the bull’s sweet send-off, her earthy kiss, two hearts beating as one.

Venusian power

What to say of the new moon in fixed earth sign Taurus? We can learn a lot about the signs of the zodiac by looking to their ruling planets. Taurus is ruled by Venus, Goddess of Love. The bull is therefore a pleasure-seeking beast, often preferring to lounge and relax than work. She is also maddeningly obstinate when imbalanced, not to mention self-absorbed, argumentative and matter-of-fact, even if she doesn’t really know the facts. Or maybe she does know the facts but chooses to fight anyway, just because. Let’s focus instead on cultivating peace and prosperity for this new moon.

The new moon is your chance to recreate. This phase is like an infant: impressionable, vulnerable and wide-eyed. How will you set the tone? What projects have you been meaning to launch? What changes need to be made? This is a time of beginnings, or perhaps going back to the start. Words, thoughts and actions that surface now are seeds planted for later harvest.

Conscious awareness: inner abundance

As much as I love being a Taurus, I find myself continually frustrated by my bullheaded habits. Taureans have a way of acting and speaking when imbalanced that makes them appear complacent, overly self-assured or potentially greedy. However, the balanced Taurus lives from the fruit of inner abundance. Now that I’ve worked closely with children for the last year, I see that our astrological signature manifests at a very early age. Balanced little bulls are quiet, sweet, plodding along at a comfortable pace; others are materialistic and never seem to be happy unless they get absolutely everything they want.

Happy Taureans radiate profound warmth and contentedness. For this new moon, let’s imagine a home deep in the woods, surrounded by lush vegetation, brilliant fruits and a cacophony of bird song. In this vision, the heart, mind, body and spirit are interwoven as vibrant threads. There is a sense of eternal tranquility in the body with no desire to change or adapt. Let this be your intention for the new moon in Taurus: to be grateful for what is. This is the true balanced essence of the fixed modality - no seeking or yearning or longing, just genuine appreciation for the plenitude that springs endlessly and perfectly from the center of centers. Take a deep breath, inhale the flowers.

Grow your inner roots

We are still in the primordial period of the astrological year, lest we forget. And that’s really what it feels like at the threshold of this new moon. I find myself shaking my horns and stamping my feet a bit - impatient, wondering when things will pick up, feeling an insatiable restlessness in the seat of my soul. As Taurus is an earth sign, it is important that we stay grounded for this new moon. Go outside often. Get some dirt under your nails, lots of it. Take long walks, lay in the grass, watch the clouds, close your eyes, breathe in the rich scents of Mother Earth.

Despite everything I’ve just said, Taurus is one of my favorite signs. Maybe I’ve just recently come into contact with some particularly imbalanced little bulls, or maybe this is just what the Taurus season does to me, or more accurately, allows me to do. For the last few weeks, I’ve stepped back and been able to see myself so clearly, too clearly. This fixed earth energy is heavy indeed! If you’re feeling that weight too, know that it will be over soon. For those of you who are beautifully balanced, ignore what I’m saying and continue basking in that bright, full feeling that only bull energy can give you. The new moon in Taurus is ultimately an opportunity to find our home and wealth within. If you seek happiness and comfort in the external world, you will only come to find that all you sense is merely a reflection of the Self. From the great poet Rumi: “Don’t worry about transient things. Think how the animals live.”

If you would like to learn more about how this transit affects you personally, please contact me for more insight. To ascertain your personal Moon sign, click here.

Mantra: my home is within

New Moon #2 in Aries ⬤ Apr 18, 2015

The New Moon in Aries comes exact on Saturday, April 18 at 2:57 am EST

Click here to learn about the Moon. Click here to learn about Aries.

Yes, we had a new moon in Aries last month too (Sun and Super Solar Eclipse in Aries). Sometimes we end up with two new moons in the same sign, all in one cycle. We have an incredible opportunity now to reap the benefits of TWO new moons in Aries. The second new moon in Aries marks the end of the Aries cycle, launching us headfirst into the rest of the astrological year. I do not expect that this new moon will be any more potent than last month’s combination of Supermoon + Solar Eclipse + Equinox + New Moon. I am grateful to receive the ram’s blessings a second time.

LIFE. HAPPINESS. MOVEMENT. DIRECTION. VISION.

• visualize heat radiating from your chakras

• connect to your heartbeat - what makes you feel alive?

• think fresh and fearless

• cultivate self-compassion and self-worth

In yoga…

• incorporate passion and enthusiasm

• practice with others to create kula: community; the idea that all facets of Existence are connected

• you are strong, but not invincible

It is time to create. Your mind is sharp and prepared. Walk with confidence. Trust in divine timing.

With Jupiter, Saturn and Uranus respectively occupying each of the fire signs, this is a sublime occasion to ask for whatever we really want. Fire energy is inherently liberating. You can and must reject doubt, insecurity and fear. Fire does not reflect. It simply moves. No thoughts or questions now as to whether or not you have become – you are. You are in control. The hard truth is that we must learn to love the Self before we can really love or support another. This is the defining quest. This is the journey of all journeys.

ambition • focus • drive // balanced by // humility • patience • consideration

Let’s dance ecstatically upon the hearth of Life’s sacred fire. Here you are free to be yourself and no one else. Fill the dark sky with your light. You are being lifted now by an unseen force. Namaste.

If you are an Aries or if you would simply like to know more about how this transit affects you personally, please contact me for more insight. To ascertain your personal Moon sign, click here.

Mantra: I see with new eyes

Sun & Super Solar Eclipse in Aries ♈ Mar 20, 2015

The Sun transits Aries from March 20 - April 20. The Super New Moon Solar Eclipse in Aries comes exact on March 20 at 5:36 am EST.

Click here to learn about the Sun, the Moon or Aries: The Ram

Disclaimer: when talking about Sun signs, it’s really more accurate to say “the Earth’s relation to the Sun” since the Earth is the one moving. An appropriate name for this much-celebrated, often oversimplified astrological element would therefore be “Earth Sign.” Remember – you embody a whole soup of planets!

If you are an Aries, this is your Solar Return. The Sun moves into the realm of the fiery ram on the same day that the New Moon Solar Eclipse in Aries rises dark and silent in the sky. This one is a Supermoon – yes, even New Moons qualify – because, according to Richard Nolle’s definition, it occurs “…with the moon at or near (within 90% of) its closest approach to Earth in a given orbit.” (This phenomenon is also known as perigee.) And yes, we had one last month too (Sun and Supermoon in Pisces). And YES, it’s also the first Solar Eclipse since 2013 AND the Spring Equinox. The eclipse will only be visible to a select few here on Earth - check out this page from Space.com to learn more.

Every New Moon falls in the same sign as that of the Sun as this is precisely what makes it a New Moon. With the Sun in mutable water Pisces for the last month, our attention was directed toward matters of the spirit. I find that the Pisces cycle is actually quite arduous because it incites turmoil in the psyche. Life felt sweet and dreamlike at times, and at others was fraught with indecision, incommunicable frustration and inexplicable moodiness. Prepare for life to pick up considerably over the next few weeks.

The Martian cycle

The New Moon in cardinal fire sign Aries marks the kickoff for the coming month and the official end of the Piscean/Neptunian cycle. Needless to say, the combination of Supermoon + Solar Eclipse + Equinox + New Moon energies pack a serious punch. But the cherry on top is really the fact that it’s all going down in the sign of Aries. Balanced Aries are incredibly outgoing, self-determined and energetic. Aries energy is fresh like morning dew, sharp as a sword and fearless as the warrior running headfirst into battle. Imbalanced Aries energy is reckless, aggressive and impulsive. I’ve had to really watch my mouth lately! For those who normally have trouble keeping cool, prepare to be tested. We have to try harder than ever now to be patient, compassionate and tactful. Aries energy emanates from the Self - it’s easy now to get stuck in the raging fires of the ego. Those flames will be leaping and multiplying with unprecedented vigor!

Proud of you

Studying the polarities of the zodiac wheel is an effective method to learn more about the signs. You may recall that cardinal air Libra is Aries’ opposite sign, 180 degrees across on the wheel. Libra encourages us to share, cooperate and compromise. Aries, first sign of the realm, is Libra’s crude yet dazzling predecessor. It’s not that Aries are utterly self-absorbed, although they can be when imbalanced, but rather that the ram knows, from deep within the soul, that one of life’s greatest joys comes from taking pride in the Self. When I visualize Aries, I see a blood red flower blooming over and over from the base of the spine up to the head; the flower emanates heat, generates life, creates endlessly. Yet we must find a balance. Yes, I want to walk around with total confidence, boldly expressing my truest Self, and yes, I also want to make sure I’m giving, being considerate of others and learning how to live and take part in a community. Aries burns through space with a brightness that has the power to blind even the Self while Libra travels calmly and with purpose, ironing out all the wrinkles left by the ram’s swift, impatient hooves.

The Aries cycle aims to achieve the same end by one of two means: by capitalizing on the self-confidence we’ve built over the last astrological year to move forward with exciting plans, effectively laying the groundwork for another spectacular year; or by smashing your face in the proverbial ditch, forcing you to get your act together right here, right now because time’s run out and there’s nowhere left to go, my friend. Don’t be surprised if it feels like the Universe throws you on a treadmill flying top speed and screams RUN. Prep time’s over - the exam starts now. Aries energy is like a punch in the gut, a flash of sun in the eyes, a rough landing, a vicious fight; the ram only cares how strong and prepared you are. For the Pisces cycle, I recommended relaxing into the process so that you could more easily find the sunshine, but I’m going to suggest exactly the opposite now: it’s time to get tough.

Channeling cardinal energy

Under the influence of Aries cardinal energy we feel invincible. This cycle presents yet another opportunity to hit the restart button: your blank sheet of paper, New Year’s resolution, second chance. Passion and ambition link arms now. We are direct, focused and extraordinarily driven. Pain and suffering burn away in the face of Aries’ insistence on LIFE and HAPPINESS and MOVEMENT. This is it! You can let it all go now! Drop it into the belly of the blaze, watch it disappear in a column of sparkling orange smoke. Just when it seems that there will never be any method to the madness, the Universe comes along and grabs you full force by the ears: wake up! All of your progress will be illuminated now. Final results await you. First? First we have to run up this motherfuckin mountain.

We’re at the beginning of the the zodiac wheel, watching crimson fire ravage our soul forests. None of us will pass through this cycle without having to work - no, things will not just “fall into place.” Both Aries and Libra have demanding roles to play. The hard truth is that we must learn to love the Self before we can really love or support another. And you know what? It’s difficult, it’s so damn difficult, learning how to love yourself. That’s what the ram is really here to do. For so many, this is the defining quest. This is the journey of all journeys.

Burnin’ up

If Pisces is the last breath, Aries is the first. Did you know that the force with which newborns take their first breath exceeds our deepest inhale by tenfold? That first breath must be powerful enough to rip open the bronchial pathways for the very first time. The natural changes and endings heralded by the Pisces cycle were designed with something inconceivably magnificent in mind. Watch now as the Universe unveils that magnificence. You are in control. This is where the pen first touches the page; where the planets form; where the dust settles to reveal a space that is both empty and full. Recognize this cycle as a primordial period. This is only the beginning, the first clay molding. Do not attempt to create and analyze simultaneously.

What do you envision for the year ahead? With Jupiter, Saturn and Uranus respectively occupying each of the fire signs, this is a sublime occasion to ask for whatever we really want. Open from root to crown, chakras reenergized, raring to go. Fire energy is inherently liberating. You can and must reject doubt, insecurity and fear. Fire does not reflect. It simply moves. No thoughts or questions now as to whether or not you have become - you are. Balanced Aries are as humble as they are enthusiastic. The ram has the heart of a visionary. I expect that this transit will feel like the sunrise that follows a long night of grief. We’re all about to dance ecstatically upon the hearth of Life’s sacred fire. Here you are free to be yourself and no one else. Fill the dark sky with your light. You are being lifted now by an unseen force. Namaste.

If you are an Aries or if you would simply like to know more about how this transit affects you personally, please contact me for more insight. To ascertain your personal Moon sign, click here.

Mantra: I start anew

Sun & Supermoon in Pisces ♓ Feb 18, 2015

The Sun transits Pisces from February 18, 2015 until March 20. The New Moon in Pisces comes exact on February 18 at 6:47 pm EST.

Click here to learn about the Sun, the Moon or Pisces: The Fishes

Disclaimer: when talking about Sun signs, it’s really more accurate to say “the Earth’s relation to the Sun” since the Earth is the one moving. An appropriate name for this much-celebrated, often oversimplified astrological element would therefore be “Earth Sign.” Please remember - you are a whole soup of planets!

If you are a Pisces, this is your Solar Return. All that was established at this time last year will now come to fruition. On the same day that the Sun transitions to the realm of the fishes, the New Moon in Pisces rises dark and silent in the sky. This one is a Supermoon - yes, even New Moons qualify - because, according to Richard Nolle’s definition, it occurs “…with the moon at or near (within 90% of) its closest approach to Earth in a given orbit.” This phenomenon is also known as perigee. Every New Moon falls in the same sign as that of the Sun - this is precisely what makes it a New Moon. With the Sun in Aquarius for the last month, our attention was directed toward issues of freedom and radicalism. This was a period that married collaboration with bold, unadulterated expression. Pisces is comparatively much more passive and right brained. Prepare for life to slow down considerably over the next few weeks.

The Neptunian cycle

The New Moon in mutable water sign Pisces marks the kickoff for the coming month and the official end of the Aquarian/Uranian cycle. When I think of the Piscean fishes chasing tails in the holy waters of eternity, I am simply inspired. The creatures of the sea are here now to put you in a trance: one that evokes vivid reveries, total surrender to the power of art and divine recognition of the human mind’s capacity for expanded consciousness. Lest I don my rose-colored glasses too quickly, let me remind you that the fish are not always insightful or dependable. This is where we see the true mutable nature of Pisces. As a flexible spine twisting in the river current, Pisces energy embodies many dimensions at once. One moment we are lost in bliss, wave after wave of spiritual/creative insight pouring forth; but then this psychic wandering inevitably leads to an uncomfortable place; immediately the temptation to flee arises - so let’s stop here and discuss.

Imbalanced Pisces energy makes us too susceptible, our energetic membrane thinning to the point of nonexistence. The challenge is to maintain our sensitivity while we rise up with dignity from the depths, trident piercing the sky high above. The spine of the fish is narrow and delicate, so we harness the power of movement and adaptability rather than sheer endurance. The karmic purpose behind the Neptunian cycle is to address our spirituality and the proverbial death of all things. Pisces energy wants us to get comfortable with intangibles such as infinity, immortality, subconsciousness and transcendentalism.

Dismantling our work

Studying the polarities of the zodiac wheel is yet another effective method to learn more about the signs. You may recall that Virgo is Pisces’ opposite sign, 180 degrees across on the wheel. Virgo encourages us to structure life in the most efficient and pragmatic manner possible. In a way, the Pisces cycle is one giant dismantling of all this structuring and organization that we establish in the autumnal Virgo season. It’s not that Pisceans are irresponsible or careless, although they can be when imbalanced, but rather that the fishes are constantly preparing for “the end” - who needs a solid routine when all of life as we know it could disintegrate at this very second? This is how Pisces operates: on the spur of every precious moment, disconnected from any concept of time and space. So we must find a balance. Yes, I want to live in the present, utterly consumed by the beauty of the Divine in all things, and yes, I also want to make sure I’ve covered the finer details and prepared myself to live another day. Pisces swims freely in the ocean of forever while Virgo sits on the bank, wondering who’s going to make dinner and do the dishes. Let’s walk in between along the jeweled shoreline.

The Pisces cycle aims to achieve the same end by one of two means: by capitalizing on our creative/spiritual potential so that we may blossom to new heights of awareness, accompanied by a constant feeling of ecstasy and connectivity; or by silently and masterfully identifying the internal struggles that make us feel the weakest and most vulnerable and then, using these, breaking us down so completely that we have no option but to turn to something greater than the Self, something majestic and omniscient. Day-to-day concerns get left in the dust when it comes to this kind of self-work. Any emotional landscaping you do now will not be straightforward; close your eyes and imagine tumbling deep within an underwater whirlpool, clueless as to the direction of anything at all. This is what it feels like to be caught in the snare of the fishes. Paradoxically, the more you can relax into this process, the faster you will be able to find the sunshine and ascend to the surface.

Channeling mutable energy

Under the influence of mutable energy our heads are turned by many things at once. In the realm of Pisces, this tendency emanates from the heart and soul. We redirect our passions and hopes as quickly and effortlessly as an eel squiggling through a coral lair. Yes, matters of the spirit may feel more emotionally taxing than usual, but you will notice that the nature of this pain and suffering is in constant flux. Life continues to move along inexorably and relentlessly as water flows downstream. This is all part of something bigger. Have patience, even when there appears to be no method to the madness. The progress you make will only be obvious at the end, as everything happens now internally, tucked away from what our senses and normal perception can detect.

We’re at the final stop on the zodiac wheel, bedding down in preparation for the fires that will ravage the forests of the soul. If any spiritual/emotional work has been left undone, the fishes will not allow you to move forward until you’ve looked it right in the face. Pisces, like Virgo, strives for purity. As you surely know, we have to get down and dirty before the light reveals itself in full splendor. Fear not when the ice beneath you begins to crack and drift. Allow yourself to fall straight into the glacial melt, clothes and all. Salvation awaits you in the grit frozen to the bottom of the riverbed.

Suspended in the waves

Confidence and optimism may be elusive now depending on how balanced you feel coming in to this cycle. Allow your fear to take the form of curiosity. Allow yourself to trust fall into the bottomless sea within. Gather your hesitation and nervousness into a giant ball, lock it in your heart and then transform it into something bright and brilliant. Rather than evade and avoid, sweep yourself together from the inside out. Swim towards change and endings at full speed, knowing that whatever happens now is designed with something inconceivably magnificent in mind. When hard times come, listen closely for the voice that whispers, you’ll see. Water energy is inherently liberating. You can and must flow anywhere you like without clinging to any passing branches. Words and decisions and interests melt and fuse, melt and fuse. Unleash what lives in the privacy of your own heart and mind - birth your silent intensity into a world of noise and color and dance. It is all too easy now to drown out what we feel - face it! Become it!

We have considerably less control now, but that’s just how it has to be. Pisces is the tidal wave that destroys everything that no longer serves us; the rocking and splitting of the earth as she prepares to crumble into light; the high pitch filling your ears that warns of impending implosion. You see, focusing on details and organization is simply a waste of time. We must connect now - to anything - in preparation for metamorphosis. We must remember where we’ve come from and why we’re here.

Balanced Pisceans are humble and gently inspired by all that they see. A huge heart full of extraordinary passion and vision radiates a certain luminosity that requires no explanation. I expect that this transit will feel like one long delicious dream. We’re all about to get wrapped up in the mighty arms of the soul’s inner ocean. Here you are safe, shielded from the external world in your diaphanous cocoon of lucid reality. Flow in the direction of all things beautiful. Namaste.

If you are a Pisces or if you would simply like to know more about how this transit affects you personally, please contact me for more insight. To ascertain your personal Moon sign, click here.