Mars Square the Nodes, Mercury Sextile Uranus, Sun conjunct BML | a fork in the road, moving past our fears, allowing ourselves to be vulnerable, liberating speech, a light on something in the shadows, innovative ideas

Today we have Mars (in Aries, but only for a little while longer) squaring the North and South Nodes, Mercury, at the very end of Aquarius, sextiling Uranus, at the very end of Aries and trining Pallas. We also have the Sun conjunct Black Moon Lilith (in Aquarius).

So, a few of the week's energetics become exact.

The Moon is waxing through Aries today on cruise control with no need to adjust our speed until late afternoon (5:06PM EST) when she squares sobering Saturn - patience might be needed with this one.

Mars squaring the North and South Nodes of the Moon speaks of a turning point. Squares bring tension/frustration and they can bring out the worst of both planets/points.

Here is where we decide (and with squares events transpire to force our hand) whether to stay stable and stuck and protected or allow ourselves to feel vulnerable as we reach for something more nurturing.

We are moving through the journey of Saturn (ruler of the South Node now) toward Pluto (exact in January 2020, and within a 5 degree orb in just a couple weeks). Since Pluto went into Capricorn in 2008 we have seen how the structures/authority in our lives are working and not working. We've been shown in what ways we don't feel qualified to be in charge of our own lives, the ways and whys we don't step up, the fear in us that is keeping us stuck. We've learned what matters to us the most and what we lose when we seek to control. We've lived the last 11 years in dog years. Time has sped up as Saturn evolves through his Plutonian houseguest.

We are decades older and wiser now. 

Mercury will move from airy Aquarius where he has kept ideas/communications moving since January 24th into watery, emotional Pisces. He/she was in Aquarius for only 3 weeks and will be in Pisces, the sign of his detriment, until April 17th (!) - because of his upcoming retrograde. This will slow things down BIGLY. In Pisces he will hook up with Neptune multiple times - good for our imaginations, spiritual work, art, healing - not so good for decision making, paperwork, communication - things will be confusing. 

So, the last thing Mercury does before leaving Aquarius is sextile (opportunity - that "click into place") Aquarius ruler Uranus. This is a curve ball we actually catch. A hare-brained scheme that might actually work. Maybe we say/hear just the right thing. Something Uranian - so cool and new and out there, and the words hit their mark. New/surprising information comes in. This is the "innovative thinking" we have been talking about all week. Research could produce sudden or surprising results. Don't be afraid to speak up. The best ideas are outside-the-box now.

That trine (brakes off) to Pallas (in cooperative Libra) tells us this "innovative thinking/speaking up" benefits our partnerships/relationships even as she opposes Uranus now.

We also have the Sun and Black Moon Lilith meeting up in Aquarius. A light is thrown on this outsider energy. We have the confidence to be rebellious/liberated. Someone will be shocking, so I guess someone else will be shocked.

If you are the one with an unscheduled announcement to make now, keep things Aquarian - calm, cool and intellectual.  

xo all 

Sun Sextile Jupiter, Mercury Sextile Mars | take action, make the call, take the call, write the email, get it started/going, partnership/contract revisions, a slow down (and surprise) is coming so get moving

Our imaginative and spiritual Pisces Moon meets up with Neptune (Pisces ruler) and sextiles Saturn while we sleep then she moves on to a late morning EST square to Jupiter - maybe too much of a good thing this morning or just too much!

The Moon goes void at 5:14PM EST until tomorrow morning, off a sextile to Pluto.

The Moon/Pluto longish void - although we'll sleep through much of it - speaks of intense emotions, powerful women, comfort through intimacy.

Exact this evening, but coloring this week with an increased optimism, we have Jupiter (home in Sag) sextiling (opportunity) our Aquarius Sun at 18 degrees while Mercury (in Aquarius) sextiles Mars at 25 degrees Aries.

Jupiter playing nicely with the Sun is good for increased confidence and self-promotion. The Sun isn't uber strong in Aquarius (since he rules Aquarius polarity sign of Leo, although I avoid saying he is in his detriment since I am an Aquarius Sun!), so this is a nice winter boost for our ego!

This is a new way of believing in something! This is also the time of cosmic blessings (Jupiter/Sun!) - with the Sun in Aquarius, the blessings could be more abstract (not necessarily something we can hold in our hand or hold in our hand right now) or more future-focused. It might not look exactly like we thought it would - but if we can surrender what we thought it should look like - believe in something else/something new - the blessing (via a newer, expanded timeline) can come in.

Mercury (thinking, communication) in cool and logical Aquarius playing nicely with a strong Mars in his home sign means we can speak up for ourselves - in a way that isn't too harsh. This is good energy for new ideas, fresh language, commerce.

Sextiles are opportunities and we activate them by activating the planets (via their energies that we carry) within us. If we do nothing with them, nothing is going to happen!

There are multiple opportunities here. And the Moon is waxing (growing). February is really a month divided - with most of the active energy coming in the first couple weeks. Things are about to slow down. Maybe alot, so what do you need to take action on? Do it now. 

Note - I am not talking about jumping from any tall buildings. This isn't a year to bet the farm, folks. It's the long game that makes us lucky. This IS the time to show up, stand tall, make the call, take the first step or the next step.

KEEP MOVING.

Pallas (in cooperative and diplomatic Libra) reaches her exact opposition to Uranus (in Aries, but remember he is co-ruler of Aquarius and the Sun is answering to him now) at 29 degrees. This is the final degree of both signs so brings us to a culmination point/a conclusion. This is the energy of unpredictable Trump (Uranus) pulling the U.S. out of the Russian Nuclear Treaty. Rebelling against wisdom, withholding cooperation. This energy promotes growth through imbalance. Wise and strategic Pallas in Libra sees the need for diplomacy and partnership, but Uranus says - not so fast sister - what about the open fields/NEW over there?

Partnerships, contracts, agreements that need to be shaken up, will be. Don't get into a pissing contest.

Use today's sextiles - expansion through optimism, action joined with wisdom and communication and forward-thinking - to move whatever you have going on FORWARD.

xo all

New Moon in Aquarius | February 4, 2019 - the seeds go into the ground, building on that new(ish) idea/information, courage, LIBERATION, expanding beyond our territory, taking action, that rock that hit you in the head when you took one for the team is the rock your new foundation is built on

Today we have a beautiful New Moon - the Moon and Sun meeting at 15 degrees Aquarius at 4:10PM EST.

The Moon and Sun are conjunct a future-oriented and fast-moving Mercury (WORDS ARE OUR SUPER POWER NOW) and sandwiched between Neptune, strong in Pisces and Saturn, strong in Capricorn (and co-ruler of this month's lunation).

If last month's 15 degree New Moon sandwich (in Capricorn between Saturn and Pluto) was stale bologna on two slices of moldy rye, this month we have a delicious turkey club with some smoked bacon and that chipotle mayo we can never find when we are craving it. Except this month, there it is. Behind the ketchup and WTH it's not even expired!

The Saturn/Neptune sextile (the dream works when we do) is EXACT on the New Moon AND forming a comfortable and spacious cocoon around our happy little couple.

Uranus (co-ruler of Aquarius and this month's lunation) is conjunct a strong Mars in Aries and trining (brakes off) a serious Venus, freshly minted in Capricorn. And look at lucky and expansive Jupiter sextiling the Sun, Moon and Mercury AND trining Mars. Our Moon and Sun are also situated right in the middle of a Venus/Chiron square, but Chiron is trining the North Node, so there's that.

You can't see in this chart, but we also have fiery outsider energy Eris exactly conjunct brother Mars and "take no crap" Garden of Eden exile Black Moon Lilith hooked up with Mercury.

There is angry feminine energy howling at our invisible Moon here. Truth bombs. That thing no one ever wants to talk about - well someone is. 

Let's unpack this baby.

Mercury is conjunct the lunation, but already past the New Moon (Sun/Moon conjunction) making me think there is an idea here, a conversation, some kind of information that we already had. It's not like it comes around again exactly, but more like it happened already, and factors in here rather importantly.

This would be a good time to sit quietly - especially around the exact time of this New Moon - and ASK FOR A THOUGHT, a confirmation, a spiritual awareness, a way forward! Thoughts are things and ideas are alive and waiting for just the right person, the person who can make them REAL, to grab hold of them.

And with Mercury conjuncting Black Moon Lilith - it could be something rather radical, something a bit risky, something that is not everyone's cup of tea. It might be liberating/revolutionary in some way. Yes, this might be the scary part.

Not everyone is going to agree/want to hear about it/think this is a good idea/come with us.
 
With Mercury so important here we don't want to be talking any smack today and tomorrow. No gossip. No idle chit chat. Think about what you are thinking about. Think about what you are saying. Don't say "this isn't bad" when you mean "this is good" - be intentional with your language.

Our words are SPELLS and this is powerful spell-making energy - we need to use our words respectfully.

Don't clutter your mind with a bunch of crap either or let anyone over the age of seven talk your ear off about nonsense.

PLEASE WRITE AND SAY YOUR NEW MOON INTENTIONS - even if you are off and on with them, this month with Mercury - the magician - in futuristic Aquarius and conjunct the lunation, you want to be INTENTIONAL.

You are going to manifest something now, it might as well be something you want!

A good thing about Aquarius is that even though this is a New Moon it is not uber sensitive or sentimental. That cool, non-emotional, ability to think on our feet thing helps keep us in the driver's seat here.

The New Moon is sitting between this year's most promising repeating transit - Saturn sextile Neptune. This is where our dreams meet reality (yes, they'll be work and possibly a sacrifice of some sort required) - and look, there is the New Moon exactly where these two energies meet!

With Saturn and Neptune productively working together (and I am not sure if we have seen these two planets in their home signs working together in many, many years, maybe even hundreds of years!) a structure unwinds/dissolves - maybe we sacrifice what we really, really wanted for something else that someone we love really, really needs, maybe we are required to let something/someone go and it really, really hurts, but from these ashes something new (and somewhat radical - a change for us) gets built. Patience is required and commitment. It may not be easy, but there will be ease here ... and opportunity.

Did I say these power players are working together? Did I say it's rather unprecedented to have them doing this from their home signs? Yes, I did!

The Moon is waxing (growing) for the next two weeks - what are we going to do with this?!

And when do we see Jupiter sextiling the New Moon and trining Mars! There is hope here. There is optimism. There is a fresh start with some kick (here's where that chipotle mayo comes in). Physical action will be required from us. We initiate.

Jupiter can also provide opportunity via a widening of our lens, legal support, media/publishing attention, higher education (Saturn in Capricorn wants to see your credentials - is there something you need to earn here?), help from foreigners or through travel.

Active Mars is conjunct anything-can-happen Uranus plus of course, the New Moon is in Uranus ruled AQUARIUS - this whole thing says - do something different. Or differently. Or something liberating. Or something with technology (or astrology) or with a group or cause you believe in. We could also meet someone who is very different with a very strong will - maybe aggressive/dominating, now.

This new thing requires action. Take the initiative. Take action. Get something started.

There is a challenge with that Venus/Chiron square. It makes me think that even with Lilith and Eris playing such large and liberating roles, we are still penned in here somehow - a boundary, a contract, an investment. Maybe we are short-changed with something or our self-esteem takes a hit. Still, Venus (as us) can move past this hurting/healing (if we allow ourselves to) through that responsible Capricorn energy. And through the release - remember the South Node is here - of our old stories. Old karma. The stuff that used to keep us safe, but now is just keeping us stuck.

There is energy here to be free and liberated, but we can't just be free and liberated.

We still have Saturn/Pluto breathing down our necks. It's still winter. Ignore the cute groundhog, I want spring, too, but this winter takes us all the way into 2020. Trust me on this one.

This is our annual Aquarius New Moon and we had 18 months to release the Aquarius crap when the South Node was in Aquarius last year - eliminating our lazy detachment, deleting the distractions, releasing the alienation and our need to get lost in the crowd and hide out in the audience - if we did our work - and we are not required to do our work perfectly - we are left with a cool head, an open mind and enough emotional distance from whatever we are building to allow the magical forces in play to work for and through us!

This New Moon is releasing our chapter of the last 6 months - remember that total Lunar Eclipse in Aquarius last July and that crazy Mars retrograde in Aquarius! 

New Moons and particularly the two weeks that follow them are initiatory energy.

Stuff starts.

Of course, for stuff to start, other stuff has to end.

The energy here is supporting the fresh start, so a focus on that part pushes us forward.

NEW MOON INTENTIONS

AFFIRMATION TIPS for your monthly New Moon: always make affirmations from a positive place (positive meaning both happy, light hearted and certain) - write your affirmations down by hand in script, speak them out loud. Then release your attention from these things knowing that your intention is known.

Know these things are already yours.

xo all

Our Solar Return is when the Sun gets back to the same degree we drew our first breath (our birthday or very near our birthday) and the chart for that moment is very useful in looking at our year ahead. This New Moon chart is my Solar Return chart since my natal Sun is at 15 degrees Aquarius - the houses are different, of course (I have Sun, Moon, Mercury in the 8th house in this year's Solar Return - this one scared me enough to consider traveling to change it, but then I decided to suck it up and figure out how to work with it, you can run, but you can't hide Cat, plus since this is the house of death, I'm counting on that whole 9 lives thing). My Solar Return chart has the Pluto/Saturn conjunction sitting on my descendant, too, and when I first saw that, I gasped. I kicked and screamed. I threw up a little in my mouth. Then sucked it up (like literally this time, it was disgusting), because it has to be somewhere. The year ahead is going to be big and bodacious, with lots of twists and turns and surprises ahead (with one coming as early as next week) - for all of us!

Astrology Forecast for Creatives | Week of February 4th - fresh collaborations, new friends, leaning forward, unconventional ideas and communications, wild women, a cross-roads, intuition, a push for something new

This week we have an important New Moon and two planets changing signs!

MONDAY - New Moon in Aquarius at 15 degrees
TUESDAY - Mercury conjunct Black Moon Lilith
THURSDAY - Sun sextile Jupiter, Mars Sextile Mercury
FRIDAY/SATURDAY - Mars squares the Nodes of Fate
SATURDAY - Sun conjunct Black Moon Lilith
SUNDAY - Mercury into Pisces, Mars trine the Galactic Center

On MONDAY we have an energizing New Moon at 15 degrees Aquarius. I am going to do a big post on that and will link to it HERE. The Moon will be sextile (opportunity) expansive Jupiter and conjunct a stable Mercury in Capricorn. This is good energy for communications, especially with friends, good for commerce and group/team chit chat.

On TUESDAY, Mercury will conjunct rebellious, and not taking anyone's crap, Black Moon Lilith in Aquarius (she is a  major player in the New Moon energy, too). It's a time for controversial conversations/information. The stuff not everyone is ready to hear. The Moon goes Void at 6:59PM EST until she moves into Pisces at 9:02PM EST - focusing us on Piscean themes - art, music, meditation, our imagination, healing, spirituality, the past, secrets, our self-sabotaging escape mechanisms - for the next couple days. Tuesday is the Chinese New Year - the Year of the Boar (earth pig) - think prosperity and pleasure, but also the joy of moderation. 

See THURSDAY'S post HERE - I missed Thursday somehow when writing this! Sorry - mixed up my days somehow.

On FRIDAY/SATURDAY, Mars squares the North (Cancer) and South (Capricorn) Nodes of the Moon. This is tension/frustration.

Here's where the path divides in the woods. Here's where a corner needs to be turned.

Are we taking the well-worn path we have traveled before (Cappy) - the path where our security comes from something outside ourselves (from the job, the title, the corner office) - more traditional symbols or success and status or are we taking another well-worn path (Cancer) that brings us home - to ourselves, to our needs, to our roots, to greater emotional security - even if it makes us feel more vulnerable right now? Can we trust that we live in a nurturing universe that has our back even when we let our guard down? Even if we decide the rat race will have to continue with one less rat?

No blue ribbon for us. No extra slice of cheese.

There could be something here about taking care of ourselves in better ways than our usual slap-dash self-care - kiss it and toss on a band aid, work until we drop and need a mental health day. With the North Node in Cancer this year we get further now through connection, family, our tribes and communities - call your mother! - through nurturing ourselves.

Do you know the themes of your natal Cancer and Capricorn houses? That's your personal field of play.

The Moon goes Void on Thursday night at 5:14PM and moves into fiery Aries on FRIDAY morning at 9:34AM EST. The Aries Moon is going to square Venus and Saturn in Capricorn, so this could be about our needs being challenged by authority. What we want and what we have to do to get it are at a gridlock. Adjustments are required.

With the Sun moving into a conjunction on SATURDAY with liberating bad-girl Black Moon Lilith, this week's pivots could see us move toward something less conventional and more liberating and

with Mercury's move into Pisces on SUNDAY it might be time to trust our intuition (maybe let go and let God or retreat a bit and look under the covers) with whatever we have going on!

Mercury is considered in her fall/detriment in Pisces (because she/he rules Pisces polarity sign of Virgo).

Virgo's Mercury likes things clear and concise - she wants B to follow A and is sure things would move more efficiently if everyone would just dot their I's and cross their T's.

Pisces (ruled by Neptune and ruler of our collective 12th house) is the space where rules/boundaries are more fluid. B might follow A. But just as easily A could drift right on past B.

It is the space of imagination, universal love, our dreams, spirituality, our connection to each other through the ethereal realms and our emotions, the ways we escape, the things we do last, the things we put away, addictions, delusions, hospitals, prisons, addicts, victims, saviors, martyrs.

You can see how fast-moving Mercury could be a bit out-of-whack here.

So maybe our thinking slows down a bit. Our words drift off course. We started to say this and now we are saying that. The words that were so clear and crisp in airy Aquarius, don't come as easily because maybe we start feeling their impact on the other person now. Or maybe we start feeling like one of those old anti-drug commercials but instead of eggs - it is our brain frying on the sidewalk.

Details will be fuzzy. Our thinking might be, too.

With Pisces ruler of the last house of the zodiac maybe a conversation comes to an end now. Our natal Pisces house - what house has Pisces on the cusp in your natal chart? - a space we are naturally inclined to more dreamy, Piscean ways - suddenly WAKES UP. Our attention goes there.

Mercury is going to go retrograde here - so you can see we have a challenging Mercury retrograde ahead for us in March and into April!

Also on SUNDAY, Mars, after his square to the Nodes just a couple days before is going to trine (brakes off) the Galactic Center (seat of creation in our Milky Way Galaxy) - whatever path we are taking Mars wants us to get moving on it right NOW.

We'll feel the push toward something new and creative!

And look at all the female ball-busting Black Moon Lilith energy this week - I wonder how this will play out in the collective? Buy some popcorn!

xo all

note - this blog is in flux this month with me trying a few new things, so stay tuned!

Venus into Capricorn | balance the checkbook, attracting what we've earned, honoring commitments, love and money get sticky, get to work girls

Venus (love, money, women, values, self-esteem, beauty) moves into Capricorn today. This follows her square to Chiron - so whatever is hurting here - the fix is Saturnian (ruler of Capricorn). Take it seriously. Do what you have to do. Clean the bathroom. Yada, yada.

Capricorn is the sign of structure and discipline. In Capricorn season (winter) these are the qualities that kept our ancestors alive. When Venus visits this space of the heavens these are the qualities that help us attract what we want and need.

Capricorn Suns and Risings get more attractive now (more able to attract what they want and easier on the eye). Our Capricorn houses (natal) become more attractive, too.

Enjoy this energy dear Cappys - you have most decidedly earned it. Invest in yourself now!

This is the time to get serious with Venus ruled themes.

There is beauty in a balanced checkbook. Make a budget (even if it means we give ourselves a cash allowance each week and stop spending when it's gone). Check our insurance policies - do we need more insurance? Do we need all this insurance? Can we find our insurance policies if we need them? Do we have the right paperwork in our car?

Where are we investing our resources - time, esteem, money? What are we getting back? Are we putting a whole lot of time into one thing, but all our revenue is coming from this other thing?

Sometimes this is ok, but maybe it's not. It's time to check in with ourselves.

Venus in Capricorn is an excellent time for organizing our finances so we can attract more money that sticks.

I used to be a Bank Manager and noticed that how a person attracted/earned their money usually correlated to how sticky that money was.

And I once wasted a ridiculous amount of money on something I hadn't done enough research on because the money had come to me too easily; a way my self-esteem, at that time, wasn't connected to.

Venus in Capricorn allows us to recognize we attract what we earn

(ie if we've attracted it, we HAVE earned it),

so we get to KEEP it.

We really only have to earn everything by the sweat of our brow if we believe we do, although with Venus in Capricorn there will be sweat!

Tradition will become a focus - the way something has always been done. This doesn't mean we have to continue doing things the way we've always done them, but these things will come to our attention now.

We get more serious about love, too. If something isn't going anywhere, this can be the transit we cut it loose. Our focus returns to what is real. We attract stability and longer lasting success/love/money by finishing what we start and honoring our commitments.

Venus will be in Capricorn until March 1st - it's time to get to work.

xo all

Changing up the blog - please hang in there if things are wonky and keep changing!

Mars Square Pluto | tension, jealousy, anger, courage and nerves of steel, no wiggle room, manipulation, power struggles, hair-triggers, ruthlessness, the passion we are repressing can get turned back on us, the power to make permanent changes, focusing our will, expressing anger, working with power, clearing the decks, kicking a bad habit

Today, Mars (passion, anger, initiative, impulsiveness) in Aries squares Pluto (in Capricorn) at 21 degrees.

Squares denote tension/crisis/frustration and we are only 1 degree from 22 degrees Capricorn where Pluto and Saturn will meet in January 2020.

This energy will carry into Saturday when our Moon (in Capricorn) will join Pluto and square Mars. The Cappy Moon will also help stabilize things and ground us in reality.

Mars is powerful in his home sign and Pluto is, well Pluto is Pluto. Expect intense competition and unbridled ambition. Manipulations. Obsessions. Jealousy. Your power could be challenged or you could be the one doing the calling out.

Mercury is in smart and cool-headed Aquarius. Use that.

Keep a focus on what you are trying to accomplish and how important whatever is happening actually is. Do you really need to win here? The fight about the parking space will not be a fight about a parking place, but about every other time someone has taken something you thought you should have. Keep this in mind. The other person will be feeling the same energy, too, so things can get out of control quickly.

If you are "waked" this is the time to think about why this situation is "triggering" you. If we are repressing anger/passion/strong urges - here's where the lid comes off and this stuff will get played out through other people.

If your kid is tossing a crazy fit - think about what you are repressing!

There is real power here.

Squares denote tension and crisis and create change. Plutonian changes are permanent. The ground has been scorched and there is no going back. Very deep issues can be challenged and put to bed. The bed won't be covered in rose petals, but at least the struggle with this one will be over.

Mars and Pluto met up back at the end of April 2018 - so whatever is happening could relate back to whatever kicked off then. We could be mad (Mars) at the truth (Pluto). We could be battling (Mars) for power/control (Pluto).

So, if the tension is a minor thing (the parking lot space as an example) - take a breath, channel some higher ground, use that cool headed Aquarius magic you have access to, to live to fight another day. Pluto does rule death, folks. And being squashed by an irate driver doesn't sound like how we want to spend the first Friday of February, right?

On the other hand maybe we really DO need to win/stand up for ourselves here - and for many this could be a work/career situation - if this is the case, we will probably not be able to just dis-engage.  

We don't want to be ruthless or under-handed, but we might have to stand up for ourselves - in a calm, cool, intelligent Aquarian kind of way!

We have access to courage (Mars/Aries) and nerves of steel (Mercury/Aquarius) now.

We might be working with themes of -

Where do I need to stand up for myself? How can I focus my will? How do I express anger? How do I work with power? When is my anger out of proportion to the situation?

Avoid unnecessary run ins with the boss/authority because THEY WILL WIN. If you are the boss/authority avoid making other people feel threatened because YOU WILL LOSE in the long run. And we are playing a long game here. Keep this in mind.

Anger can be a “negative” emotion,  when perverted into rage or violence or when it is repressed, so that it squeezes out sideways in passive-aggressive responses and actions.

But anger is passion, too.

We can't get angry if we don't care.

Passion is the energy of creation - passion makes the world. Anger is a similar energy alerting us to the need to remake our world when our creation has gone wrong. Let's try to stay conscious.

And get some physical exercise. Mars needs to move.

What a day for the Trump administration to announce withdrawal from a 1987 nuclear arms (Pluto) control treaty with Russia ...

xo all

this is great energy for permanent change - breaking a bad habit especially something self-harming like smoking, cutting loose from something that is strangling us, clearing the decks for next week's New Moon in Aquarius