The Virgo waning quarter moon brings a time for honest and compassionate self-reflection, says Jennifer Racioppi…
Virgo Waning Quarter Moon :: Tuesday December 20th :: 8:56 pm ET
As the moon wanes, losing light each day between the last Full Moon and the upcoming New Moon, we find ourselves in a space of letting go. The Virgo waning quarter moon invites us to release what we can identify that we no longer need, so we can fully step into what is meant to be ours.
With the upcoming new year, and the next New Moon in Capricorn happening on the 28th/29th (depending on where you are in the world!) as well the current Mercury retrograde cycle, we find ourselves at a crucial moment to pivot. And all of this occurs just one day before the sun shifts from hopeful Sag into business-oriented Capricorn—also the Winter Solstice.
It’s time to discard what’s not working and let go of all we want to leave behind from 2016.
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:: THE SUN:: As the sun moves through the final degree of Sag, and we live the last days of 2016, the encouraging influence of big picture Sagittarius abounds. However, in the northern hemisphere, the dwindling sunlight and the focus on the end of the year may feel more chaotic than calm, with tones of sadness. This is particularly the case as the upbeat light of Sagittarius shifts into the firm focus of Capricorn. The Winter Solstice, happening concurrently to the sun moving from 29 degrees Sag into 0 degrees Capricorn, invites us to reflect. On top of this, as the sun shifts signs, she makes a hard angle to the Moon, further emphasizing a transition, not only in seasons but in our emotional focus as well.
:: THE MOON :: The moon in the last degree of Virgo has perfectionistic overtones, as well as an emphasis on making a substantial contribution of service to the world. The moon in Virgo pushes us to examine the details and find the flaw, so that we can improve our circumstances and contributions to the world beyond our self. Yet, under a Virgo moon we may fall victim of thinking we aren’t enough, we haven’t done enough, or that we aren’t deserving. Since this is the Virgo waning quarter Moon, rather than scrutinize yourself for what you haven’t done right, or well, take a step back and look at what you have accomplished, and let the disappointment go. Focus on where you feel guided to serve others and release the need to be perfect.
:: THE SQUARE :: The Sun in bold Sag squares the moon in purist Virgo, possibly blurring sight of the big picture. With Mercury, the ruler of the Virgo moon, retrograde, it’s so important to embrace the vantage of reflection, yet, refrain from self-condemnation. Stay focused on your high-level accomplishments. Tune into the qualities of Virgo that represent being of service. Allow yourself to feel divinely guided rather than held back by your inner saboteur. Ask for clear direction on how to serve the world with more focus and less ego!
:: THE MESSAGE :: With Mercury retrograde and the Winter Solstice upon us at the time of the Virgo waning quarter moon, our need for reflection heightens. As we look back over 2016 and process the year, be careful not to be too hard on yourself. Try not to get too hung up on the details of what did or didn’t happen this year, and instead, assess your growth. How did you change this year? What did you learn? How are you better? Then take some time to connect with the truth of who you are: a spiritual, mystical, being. Forget about the details, stay true to you.
For more Moon wisdom or to book a coaching session with from Jennifer visit Jenniferracioppi.com
A week ahead reading for your sign direct from the third eye of Sandra Sitron, a.k.a. Strong Eye Astrology…
Sagittarius :: Sagittarius Rising A needle pulling thread. The driving force behind progress. You need to find your driver. What is the philosophy that is pushing you forward? What is your mission? Look for clearcut understanding. Find the structure that you can use to help define who you are. It’s time to take yourself seriously. You aren’t being given much room to cut corners right now. You have to show up. If you experience conflict this week, it will be because you are trying to skip a step. It’s not any more complicated than that. Go back and check your work. See where you’ve been putting in less than your full effort. Check your stitches.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandrahere or follow her on Instagram.
Capricorn :: Capricorn Rising A fountain. The inner wellspring. It’s time for you to focus your attention inward. Your emotions are begging to be noticed. You have to rewrite your subconscious stories so that your reactions are more comfortable. You can back-engineer this process. When you have an uncomfortable emotion, start asking yourself lots of questions to get to the root of it. Interview yourself. Ask, where is this emotion in my body? When was the first time I felt this way? What does this circumstance remind me of? What are the personality traits of the people involved? Who else in my life has these same traits? Are the emotions actually about this other person? Start digging to reach the source of the deep emotional waters. You get to form new subconscious beliefs this week, start an excavation to see what is ready to change.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandrahere or follow her on Instagram.
Aquarius :: Aquarius Rising A flock of birds taking flight. You’re ready to reach higher ground. Everyone is going with you. You may need to mobilize a group of some kind— friends, work, volunteer organization, community board. Don’t shy away from this opportunity to structure your vision of progress. Use your organizational skills to take action on a higher level. Move. It feels serious right now. It feels like there is work to be done and you have both the flexibility and the dedication you need to make change happen. Stay upbeat and objective and keep your eyes on the goal.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandrahere or follow her on Instagram.
Pisces :: Pisces Rising Ferns growing tall. You are poised to unfurl your talents. You are reaching for a higher level with your career. This week, you can restructure how you think about your work. Allow yourself to step into the limelight. Think about how you want to be seen. Think about what you want to do. Then make some plans. Get really grounded in your intentions. Consider it a responsibility. The world needs your work. The world needs your special offering. Set yourself up so that you can deliver.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandrahere or follow her on Instagram.
Aries :: Aries Rising Running on new legs. Like Bambi. You’re a little unsteady, but excited and ready to move forward. Figure it out. How do you do this? How do you explore the world? What are you looking for? Where are you going? You are trying to re-orient yourself now. Things have changed and new direction is needed. Only you can hold yourself up. Only you can get yourself through this nascent stage of discovery. Keep yourself oriented toward gratitude and love as you make your way through a new world of unknowns. Don’t let fear creep in. Embrace the invincibility of youth.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandrahere or follow her on Instagram.
Taurus :: Taurus Rising A picnic basket. You have everything you need. You are prepared. So let go of fear of survival and step into trust. You’re safe enough to take the journey. Your work right now is to know that you are safe, know that you are prepared and loosen up your grip on control. Let go. Forgive. Flow. See where the path takes you. Make a promise that wherever you go this week, you will witness yourself. You will stand by, securely tethered to trust in yourself, but open to understanding and merging with the other person’s perspective. Witness your emotions so that you can hold space for another person’s experience. Take the journey toward union. You have what you need to stay safe along the way.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandrahere or follow her on Instagram.
Gemini :: Gemini Rising Kneeling in prayer. You can have lots of conversations this week that help you grow. Share yourself with another person. Share your mind, your heart, your trust. You will find support in relationship. But you may also have to remind yourself that structure in relationship can bring freedom. You just have to get over feeling limited. The stretch that you want to make is toward security. Stability may seem dour and boring, but you can make it light and expansive if you want to. Ask for the experience that you want to have in relationship and then trust that you can have it.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandrahere or follow her on Instagram.
Cancer :: Cancer Rising Penguins sliding down slopes. Make fun a part of your day. If you don’t, you may become fatigued. Truthfully, you are about to put a lot more structure and meaning into your daily schedule. The important thing is that the new habit you are creating need to come from within. So that they don’t feel forced. The healthy choices need to feel like an offering of love that you give yourself. Don’t shy away from structure. Meditate more. Eat the foods that your body needs. Plan to get enough sleep. Celebrate your accomplishments on a regular basis so that joy is a part of your daily life.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandrahere or follow her on Instagram.
Leo :: Leo Rising A new kind of pottery. Something sculptural, yet utilitarian. Something wild and perfectly creative. This week, you take leaps and bounds forward with your self expression. You can be truly alive, exactly the way you want to be. You need to focus on it though. It won’t just happen automatically. You have to think it through. What kind of offering are you prepared to make? The world is begging for your light. What will you give? It can’t be random. It must be planned. It must be envisioned. Go to the drawing board and outline your plans for creative expression. Don’t get distracted from this task.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandrahere or follow her on Instagram.
Virgo :: Virgo Rising Birthday cake. A nostalgic moment. It’s time to make sure your inner child is really pleased. They need to be celebrated. Take them out on the town with you. Make sure they feel included and loved. Think back over each of your childhood birthdays and remember how they felt. Which ones were joyful? Which ones are forgotten? Which ones lacked something important? Give your child self whatever was missing, now, in your mind. If you needed attention, give yourself attention. If you needed understanding, give yourself understanding. Time doesn’t really exist, so this process is truly fulfilling. It will allow you the structure you need to move forward with emotional security.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandrahere or follow her on Instagram.
Libra :: Libra Rising Playing paddle ball. Watching the ball go back and forth. Watch your thoughts as if they are balls bouncing back and forth. The path is somewhat logical. This week you are making new connections in your thought process. Notice what you are thinking about with clarity and alacrity. If your thoughts are tending toward work, get clear about what you are working on. If your thoughts are dense with emotions, get clear about your emotions. If you are grieving, remember the five stages of grief and be aware of which one you are in at any given moment. Get clear. Think of yourself as a narrator— as you think, tell yourself what you are thinking about. This will help you define yourself and stay on track. You have a lot to do this week and you need to be operating at a high level of consciousness. Step up to take your place in the game.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandrahere or follow her on Instagram.
Scorpio :: Scorpio Rising A dusty letter. Epiphany. You are ready to uncover a hidden understanding. New realizations. Does it seem like self-discovery is speeding up? It is. You are in a fast and furious evolution. A new cycle has begun. It may be helpful to remember that you have resources that will protect you as you continue to learn about yourself. Your self-worth is intact. Do what you need to do to remind yourself of that. Do what you need to do to feel solid and structured. You are strong enough to grow. You are strong enough to see new parts of yourself. Trust in the process as you accumulate new knowledge and experience.
Want more wisdom? Book a reading with Sandrahere or follow her on Instagram.
As children of the Age of Aquarius, we have an important role to play in the evolution of humanity. Aurora Tower explains what this means for your sign…Artwork: Kathya Tornero
Besides maybe Mercury retrograde and the Saturn Return, there are few astrological phenomena that have imprinted in the collective consciousness as much as “The Age of Aquarius.”
But what really is the Age of Aquarius? Are we already in it? And what role do each of us have in it’s unfolding?
The tribe of light workers and rainbow children now populating the earth, and sharing messages of consciousness and sacred wisdom, is one of the harbingers that we are indeed at the cusp of the Age of Aquarius—the “new age” that began to dawn with the Uranus Pluto conjunction of the late 1960s (just as the famous song was released in 1969). And by most accounts, the cusp period is roughly 150 to 200 hundred years. So by the early 2100s we will be fully enmeshed in the Age of Aquarius.
Why a new “age,” or era, for the whole world? Since the earth wobbles on its orbit, it is actually rotating v-e-r-y slowly around it’s own core. A full circle of the earth around it’s core axis takes approximately 26,000 years—the length of each World Age, as described in ancient astrological text, The Procession of Equinoxes.
During each 26,000-year age, each of the twelve constellations will be visible in the sky behind the spring Equinox (usually March 21st) for about 2,160 years. When Babylonian astrologers codified the Zodiac around 1,000 BC, the sign of Aries was present behind the sun during the spring Equinox. And so this was the Age of Aries—a time of warrior clans, representative of the the Aries fighter spirit.
Near the time of the birth of Christ, as the Earth moved around it’s own axis, Pisces became visible behind the sun during the spring Equinox—marking the dawning of The Age of Pisces. This astrological era, which we are now transitioning out of, has been marked by religious crusades and spiritual dogma, reflecting Pisces connection to the divine.
And now we are transitioning from the Age of Pisces into the Age of Aquarius—a sign of Aquarius related to technology, innovation, humanitarianism and collective ideals.
During the Age of Aquarius, we can expect to see a radically group-oriented culture that values humanitarianism and individual rights extremely highly. The recent emergence of the “sharing economy” (AirBnB, Uber) is reflective of the movement towards collectivism that will impact every realm of life. And the exponential rate of technological advancement will make all of our science fiction dreams come true.
And having been born during this cusp phase, each of us has an important role to play in the unfolding of the Age of Aquarius. Read on to see how embodying the traits of your sign will help lead us into the next phase of human evolution…
:: ARIES :: You have an important role to play in the collection and dissemination of information. Your bright and curious mind is always three steps ahead and the ideas and brainstorms that move through you are very valuable in spreading messages that are having a positive and awakening affect on humanity. Explore and learn as much as you can, so that you can build bridges and connections between different ideas. Meeting people and having a vast network of acquaintances will also help you on this task, as will keeping everyone up-to-date via whatever methods of communication become available through technology.
:: TAURUS :: Your role now is as a protector of sacred Earth energy. You have an important role to play in nurturing our planet and humanity through an ecological and humanitarian crisis. By staying grounded and focused in our bodies, conscious of the food we eat, and our own level of kindness and self-care, we can heal together. And since your wisdom is deeply rooted in the Earth and connection to our bodies, you have a vital role to play as the strong backbone of this transition away from blind consumption and consumerism, and toward engagement with our resources in a way that truly nurtures us—and the planet.
:: GEMINI :: Your creativity and leadership play a central role in this coming age. As another mental Air sign (like Aquarius) you resonate strongly with the incoming energy of the Aquarian Age. So your task is to step out of the shadows and embrace a leadership role in inspiring others to be their best selves during this time, and to follow their own unique paths as well. You are especially adept at working with children and younger generations, and infusing a spirit of fun and playfulness into your work. The more you come from the heart and lift those around you, the higher you can rise.
:: CANCER :: Your consistency, thoughtfulness and attention to detail are some of the most important qualities you can present to the world during this transition. As old systems break down and new systems replace them, you will have an important role to play in making sure the details of these transitions are handled smoothly and effectively. Your tremendous patience and dedication will help you play this vital role, as will your genuine care for the well-being of others. Learning to artfully navigate change and make the most of complicated situations will also greatly benefit you in your personal life.
:: LEO :: You have a very important role during this time. As the opposite sign of Aquarius, your energy is also being strongly activated now. What is most crucial is that you use your tremendous gifts of magnetism, charisma and creativity in service of the greater collective good, rather than falling pray to temptation for self-aggrandizing. The more you focus on how your actions impact your partnerships, the groups you are a part of, and the world at large, the more opportunities you will see to be of assistance. Then you can claim your place as a central force for positive change through your inspiring leadership and strong network of connections.
:: VIRGO :: Your role in the Age of Aquarius is subtle but powerful. As a careful, observant and hard-working soul you can accrue much power and influence during this time, as others appear to blindly stumble through the chaos. By watching and seizing opportunities that present themselves, you could find yourself with access to political and financial elites. Influencing important people and situations with your prudent and rational perspective, can help steer the course of history in very meaningful ways. Take care to only invest, personally and financially, in situations that are a true match for your priorities.
:: LIBRA :: As the peacemakers and negotiators of the zodiac, you have a central role to play in uniting people across different countries, cultures and boundaries. By engaging with others to come up with solutions together, you play a pivotal role in calming the deep fragmentation and negative cultural projections that have done so much damage during the Age of Pisces. Using your articulate language skills and natural sense of justice, you can build bridges where there has previously only been mistrust. This work is crucial since mutual trust and strong alliances are necessary underpinnings of a functional collaborative era.
:: SCORPIO :: Your presence and your power is seen and felt strongly during this time, and others are looking up to you. You are a natural leader and now is the time for you to step into your destiny and make meaningful changes and transformations within the world’s largest corporate and governmental agencies. Your ability to cut through bureaucratic deadlock and find better solutions to the world’s problems, and implement them in a practical way, is essential to transforming our major institutions. Using your innate confidence and networking skills to help you achieve your aims, your work provides a real and lasting impact on the world.
:: SAGITTARIUS :: You are a visionary who is not tied to old-fashioned concepts about how things should be done. Because of this, you have an important role to play in envisioning future technologies and social institutions. Being open-minded to different people, perspectives and opinions helps you to find the most innovative and promising solutions to the many problems at hand—and working with lots of different types of people allows you to learn and grow in exciting personal ways as well. If you can dream it, you can make it happening in the Age of Aquarius, and you are at the forefront of these bold and courageous ideals.
:: CAPRICORN :: Naturally a very business-minded person, your role now is to truly align with your spiritual purpose so that you can use all of your pragmatic skills and talents for their highest service. This may require moving farther away from the familial or social culture in which you are enmeshed and spend more time nurturing your own unique bond with your higher wisdom and guides. This is challenging work, and it may take a long time for you to feel truly connected at the heart level to what you feel you must do, but this is a far greater service to the world than maintaining the status quo.
:: AQUARIUS :: It’s your party, Aquarius. You are completely in synch with the coming Age and your natural sense of self-motivation, unique personal vision and strong humanitarian values means that you will be one of the beacons of light who truly inspires others. Simply by staying on your course, and encouraging others to do their part and follow their course, they will see how many wonderful things are possible when you commit wholeheartedly to living your value system and delivering what you promise. Creating groups and organizations may nourish you, but leave yourself flexible to keep exploring your own path.
:: PISCES :: You are very sensitive and receptive, and the chaotic changes that happen during this shift may affect your energy in complex ways. So a crucial part of your role, is to focus on self-love and self-care as a path to health and healing. Your compassion and selflessness are extraordinary, but you cannot be of service to others if you are not first whole and healthy within yourself. Your role is to cultivate this for yourself, and to be an example to others of living in your own truth in ways that support your priorities but are also respectful of others. These healthy boundaries keep a collective culture strong.
Aurora Tower has been studying astrology since she was 10 years old, and has been at the helm of the iconic Cosmopolitan Bedside Astrologer brand since 2012—which reaches more than 30 million people per month in the magazine, online and on Snapchat. Her first book, Cosmopolitan Bedside Astrologer: The Ultimate Guide to Your Star Power, is out now.
When it comes to astrology for entrepreneurs, it’s about knowing your cosmic career signature—and following a few hard and fast rules, says Rebecca Gordon…
Found on Pinterest
I grew up learning astrology with my step-mother, and I simply could not get enough. As soon as I opened my first book on the subject, I knew that this was going to change my life in a profound way. Here was a timeless and symbolic language that seemed to describe all the happenings in our lives.
Astrology occupies such a sacred space, the space where the cosmos meets the soul and inner-psyche. I simply could not think of anything better to do with my life than to decode the wonderfully poetic language of our skies and use it to help others align with their own life-path.
Since launching my subsequent career as an astrologer, I have consulted many people on astrology for entrepreneurs—and my strategy has always been to simply apply what I know about astrology to running a business.
This could be as simple as scheduling meetings at the most ideal cosmic alignments, and using lunar cycles, planetary returns and so much more to inform business practices. But on a deeper level, it’s about letting the clues in somebody’s birth chart to help unearth their “calling.”
For when you are aligned with your natal chart, your own path, and the natural cycles, a feeling of great support and synchronicity pervades. We all have a specific role here on earth and something unique that we are here to share, and life is as much about the journey to discover this. Your path to your calling is truly what makes you who you are. Value each “misstep” as nothing but a teaching, all of which are vital parts of your unique journey.
:: DISCOVERING YOUR COSMIC CAREER SIGNATURE :: How can we know the type of career best suited to us? The first indicator I look for is temperament, as seen through the balance of elements in the chart: fire, earth, air and water. Each element rules a different kind of function in work and life, and each unique combination of elements and signs has its most ideal work habitat and daily practice.
The other thing it’s important to note are the modes which are: cardinal, fixed and mutable. These tell me your strengths and weaknesses as an entrepreneur and your most ideal platform on any team. It’s really about knowing ourselves and finding a way to express what we do best.
Some people have a balance of all of these elements and modes, though most of us do not. So I am a firm believer in hiring out in the places where you are lacking. For example, if you have no air, you may need to hire a big picture strategist or consult with.
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:: THE CAREER HOUSES :: There are three houses (sectors of your birth chart) that deal with ideas around work. These are the “Earth houses,” which deal with the practicalities of life, and are sectors two, six, and ten. Each of these houses deals with a different aspect of your work day; cash flow, daily practices, and your vocational calling.
Each of the 3 houses speaks to another aspect of career. The 2nd house is synonymous with the concept of “your farmland—your crops.” It represents the inherited skills, attributes, talents and also the attitudes around them and the ways which we may derive self-worth.
Your 2nd house will reveal attitudes around money as well as inherited and karmic wealth stories. If any entrepreneur wants to integrate astrology into their business plan, the first thing is to understand your own 2nd house and how it works.
The other house that deals with running a business is the 6th house. This house deals more with what sort of business atmosphere and work-flow suites you best. The 6th house also relates to the style in which you will deliver your service and what kind of service this may be.
The 10th house, in my opinion, is the most important because this deals with the concept of your ‘true calling’ or your ‘vocation’. Not everyone has their 2nd house (income) aligned with 10th house (vocation) though they can be congruent.
The 10th speaks about where you will find your dignity in the world and this is a key to happiness at work. I feel the 10th house must be awoken somehow for anyone to feel like they are on their true path. Think of the base of the chart (the IC) as your root system and ancestral stories and the top of the chart (the 10th house) as the fruit you bear—what you may emerge into when you follow your calling.
:: THE CAREER PLANETS :: There is not one planet that rules career. Though I often look at the ruler of the 10thhouse, as well as the “conversations” that planet is in (how I refer to the different aspects it is making) and where it is positioned. Also, and planets in the 10th house speak volumes about your career interests. This and the ruler of the 10th will usually tell me a pretty in-depth story about your calling.
:: CHOOSING A TIME TO LAUNCH :: Choosing a launch date for a business, product or service can be make or break, and it’s something I put a great deal of time and energy into. First there are a series of questions I ask because the chart of your business (calculated using the time, date and location of the launch) must speak to the mission statement and goals of the business.
What is a stellar chart for an online coaching business may not work at all for someone opening a restaurant! I also consider the entrepreneur’s natal chart, to make sure the timing also works for them.
There are also a couple of hard and fast rules when it comes to astrology for entrepreneurs:
– Stay away from Mercury Retrograde for your launch. – Try to also have Mars, Jupiter and Saturn direct, if possible. – Friendly aspects to Saturn show stability so I like to have some of those – Jupiter and Pluto alignments with the luminaries (sun and moon) can bring wealth and abundance – I try to make sure the important planets for your business type are in a sign they function highly in. – Launch on a friendly New Moon, ideally one that’s near the top of the chart. – Stay away from launching on Full Moons and especially not on a Lunar Eclipse. Full Moons and Lunar Eclipses are times of endings and culminations, not beginnings. – I look for the Moon to be applying to a positive aspect, for example a conjunction to Jupiter or trine to Venus.
I have seen my clients launch under all kinds of personal transits, though Saturn and Jupiter are the two main ‘business planets’—as Saturn rules consolidation and stability, and Jupiter expansion. Both equally important.
Sometimes a Saturn transit gives someone the discipline they need to actually concretize something. Another person may need a Jupiter transit to give them the vision and confidence to let go of all of the preparation and studying and finally set sail.
BEST ASPECTS FOR CAREER TRANSITIONS… I have also seen people change career paths suddenly under a Uranus transit or transform their life direction under a Pluto transit. One client I had a years ago had Pluto crossing her 10th house, and she left the cosmetic counter at MAC and went to study Chinese medicine. Now she’s a full time doctor and loves it. Pluto rules over medicine and research, so we used astrology to successfully time her transition.
BEST ASPECTS FOR LAUNCHING A WEB-BASED BUSINESS… For launching a website or online business, I look for a strong Mercury because “communication” is the main focus here. Also I may emphasize the 3rd and 9th houses (axis of communication), although the details of the chart will depend on what sort of website it is.
BEST ASPECTS FOR A MARKETING CAMPAIGN… If the marketing campaign is oriented to bring in revenue or sell items, I’d arrange the chart to have a healthy 2nd or 8th house depending on the revenue stream. Maybe both. Also I would like strong aspects to the 11th if there will be affiliate partners.
BEST ASPECTS FOR HIRING STAFF… Hiring is definitely something to avoid in Mercury Retrograde as the agreed terms would change down the road anyhow. Hire when planets are occupying Earth and Air signs so judgment does not get too clouded by emotions and there will be clear communications about the role and expectations. Also hire when you are not under a Neptune transit or any challenging influence for that matter because whoever enters your life while you’re under that transit, will likely be another manifestation of the lesson it brings.
BEST ASPECTS FOR HOSTING AN EVENT… You will get a much better turn out on a Full Moon then a New Moon, generally speaking, as a Full Moon has a more celebratory feel, making people want to go play in the magic and connect to others.
SATURN DIRECT IN SAGITTARIUS (8/13/16—12/20/17) :: KEYWORD – “MOMENTUM”
In the late summer of 1938 three young, French nationals, Genevieve and Bernard de Colmont and Antoine de Seynes, arrived in America to take their kayaks down the Green and Colorado Rivers (a feat that had never been attempted before). This French Trio brought with them state-of-the-art kayaks, cameras, camping gear and, because they didn’t trust American drinking water, all the beer they could carry. This was no small feat, as they would have to paddle down 900 miles of very rough water. Three months later they rowed into Lee’s Ferry, Arizona river-worn but transformed by the experience.
Saturn turned direct in Sagittarius on August 13. Do you feel a new sense momentum? Retrogrades often remind us to slow down, practice patience, to revise our to-do lists and check our supplies, twice. And with Saturn direct and moving again, warmed also by the energy of Mars in Sagittarius, the time is ripe to set sail on an adventure/venture that’s been some time in the planning. Like the French trio, the time has come to point our paddles downstream.
Saturn direct in Sagittarius is not however, about doing things fly-by-night. Preparation is extremely important, as Saturn wants to methodically build the right foundation, to make sound calculations, and to consider any and all costs involved. The French trio was well prepared for their journey; dear readers you must do the same.
Sagittarius housing both Saturn and Mars insists that the intention with any ventures put into motion now is to grow, expand, and learn. It’s time to take that class, to fly to Indonesia for a yoga teacher training, to learn a language, start a non-profit, activate a latent passion. But by all means ground each activity with common sense, a good plan, sturdy walking shoes, and plentiful supplies of your beverage of choice.
Below, a Saturn direct in Sagittarius reading for each sign…
The French trio, Genevieve and Bernard de Colmont and Antoine de Seynes, ready to set off on their trip
Aries: MOMENTUM and HIGHER GOALS How do I incarnate a dream? Master fantasy author J.R.R. Tolkein took the world he created so seriously he developed a language for its characters. Although you may not be creating a language you are encouraged to take your visions and dreams seriously enough to let them spill wondrously, and almost fully formed, out into reality.
Taurus: MOMENTUM and OTHERS (Intimacy) We know our Taurus friends to be enduring lovers. During this Sagittarius season take your love-style to the next level by considering this juicy word: interdependence. Blending with others in your life will have you smiling and learning in deep and beautiful ways.
Gemini: MOMENTUM and RELATIONSHIPS There is no truer test of the solidity of a relationship than when you travel together, especially internationally. Dearest Gemini, go there with your lovers and closest collaborators and take on the test of your commitment to each other. Hint: travel with books and b-line it to a beautiful body of water.
Cancer: MOMENTUM and WORK Focus, direction and goal setting at work make it much more enjoyable to meet friends after work for sweet down-time and sparkly conversation. And when you’re truly invested in ALL the things that contribute to your wellbeing, you’ll find yourself with boundless energy for being of service in the world.
Leo: MOMENTUM and CREATIVITY Think of food as the Muse dear Leo, and you as its apprentice. Dream up new recipes, seek out exotic cuisines, let your Muse take you to happy soul-inspired meals and even late night binges watching with Anthony Bourdain’s Parts Unknown. All in the name of sheer, unbridled pleasure.
Virgo: MOMENTUM and HOME In The Wizard of Oz, a girl and her dog end the movie with your new mantra Virgo: “There’s no place like home, there’s no place like home.” Find a luscious pair of soft, ruby-colored slippers and dig deep into the magic of your private sphere—the secure bedrock of your grandest plans.
Libra: MOMENTUM and COMMUNICATION Learning what to say and when to say it is your daily practice right now, and has you craving good ole fashion conversation. Finding your voice is imperative and although it might be a little squeaky from underuse it’s a tool that gets stronger the more you use it!
Scorpio: MOMENTUM and MONEY Do I believe I have something valuable to contribute to the world? Yes I do! The world right now dear Scorpio being your vibrant, local community. The mantra think global, act local is yours for this transit. Your innate talents + manifestation gives you a successful glow.
Sagittarius: MOMENTUM and SELF-IMPROVEMENT What do you want dear Sag? There are an abundance of opportunities but I’d consider focusing on the long game. Dust off the passport; pull out your suitcase for you may be taking a solo, soul-searching trip in the next month or two. A much-needed check in with self is the right ticket.
Capricorn: MOMENTUM and SOUL You are ready to take your spiritual life to the next level. A died-in-the-wool pilgrimage is in order even if you never leave your home. Honing this numinous part of yourself, could also find you working your solid magic on or off the yoga mat. Write down your dreams.
Aquarius: MOMENTUM and COMMUNITY What is the sweet cause you are cheerleading and feel most passionate about? Use your innovative magic to whip a grassroots idea into shape and see it ride off into the sunset, banners waving. The disempowered are relying on you. It’s time to take your ideas to the streets!
Pisces: MOMENTUM and MY CALLING The big picture talent of Pisces comes out and takes its place as part and parcel of your life’s work. Finally your unique vision merges with what you consider to be your sacred calling. The details come into focus and you find yourself magically incarnating one solid brick at a time.
To book a session with Shari or for for more information please find her at Sharizollinger.com
Symbolizing every step of the creative process, learning how to work with each Moon Phase will help you birth your deepest desires, says Hannah Ariel.
Every month we have the opportunity to creatively attune our awareness of our intentions to the rhythm of the lunation cycle. The Moon moves through time and space like a meditative mind in relation to the light of the Sun. When we steadily and willfully accompany this odyssey, we begin to see our potential manifest in a new light. We begin to live in a reality more closely related to the visions being illuminated in our mind as we see them through, every step of the way.
As the Moon changes its position to the Sun every day, a universal process of dynamic growth is being reflected here on earth. This means that every time we look to the sky upholding our dreams, symbolically we can see how much is possible – how much energy is available for us on a daily basis, so long as we maintain an awareness of this interplay. Every time we set an intention, by aligning our energy with the Moon our manifestation skills are sharpened, and we come that much closer to living out our most impactful prospects.
Approximately every 30 days, whether we choose to recognize and intentionally work with the energy or not, we all take a journey on Earth. Between the Sun and the Moon, between the unconscious and conscious worlds, the seen and the unseen, we birth new realities each month. There is a poetry contained within every lunation phase. There is a map for us to observe and subjectively identify with. Here’s how to work with each Moon Phase to let it guide the unfolding of your intentions…
:: FIRST QUARTER :: When the Moon reaches its first quarter phase, it faces us at a 90 degree angle appearing half full, half illuminated, and half in shadow. We are beginning to see what it will take for our intentions to come to fruition and can sense the creative tension of the process. The first quarter is a rite of passage that vitalizes our awareness to take action, take initiation, put or intentions to work. Often a sense of outrageous courage begins to build as we wish to release our will into the world. This is also a time to engage in community, have conversation with those around you and begin to vocalize your intentions. Through action or conversation, is time to literally “get a reaction” in order to gain more insight into the dynamics of the world around you. Allow yourself to relate to what is taking place outside of you and acknowledge that there is a container out there for you to take considerably effective action.
:: FULL MOON :: When the moon is full, it is aligned between the earth and sun where sun’s light is shining on to the moon leaving the illuminated side to face us as the shadow remains hidden in plain view. As the light is shone upon the moon we are shown there is another side to what we have intended, all we have thought of, real or imagined comes to the surface. Our consciousness expands into full bloom and we feel all the implications of our intention. All impressions are gathered and at a heightened frequency we realize whether or not our understanding as a whole fulfills us or not. It can be a time of brilliant clarity when we grow even closer to ourselves and deepen our self-understanding. Everything that takes place during a full moon reflects the accompanying reality of our intentions and points the way to realizing their power. Full moons can show us things have yet to see for ourselves.
:: THIRD QUARTER MOON :: When the moon is at its third quarter phase it faces us at a 90 degree angle appearing half full again, while the sun rises, half in shadow and half illuminated. As the sun rises, unusual revelations dawn on us. We integrate with an expanded awareness, how we have been affected by the intentions we began to put out at the new moon; how they have been received. We are given time to process what has come to light and internalize the heart of the matter. We can interpret events around this time as “frustrating” when really we are truly trying for a solution. During a third quarter moon the time has come to either break down preconceptions that were not helping us fulfill our intentions or further crystalize ideas that have helped us take responsibility and have enhanced out ability to carry out our wishes and sense of purpose.
:: DARK MOON :: The period right before the moon is new again, where there is no solar reflection and the moon passes through the zodiac constellation where the last new moon takes place we have what is referred to as a dark moon period. We have seen all there was to see no we must sense what remains, what will come before us in the next cycle. There is much mythology surrounding this particular phase. In India this phase of the moon is associated with the goddess Kali, black one and force of time. It is said when we are the most psychic and connected to the subtle worlds that whisper to us both our highest inspirations and our deepest subconscious fears ultimately allowing us to cut straight to the point of what remains. It is an incredible time to go within and observe what comes up within you as these are the secrets that will help shape your next moon intention.
:: NEW MOON :: When the moon is new it is aligned between the earth and the sun in such a way that we cannot see what is illuminated from the other side. With a mysterious sense of new beginnings taking place this is a prime time to set an intention as we say, plant a seed; allow for a creative impulse to arise from the depths of a visualization or meditation practice. Whether you write it down or repeat it like a mantra, the idea here is to get it up and out; bring it to your attention and focus in on the potential. The slate has been cleared so to speak. We can breathe deep as the creative process begins. A certain universal positivity can be restored as we remember how life continues to give us space to move into uncharted territory. It is a time to live through the powerful imaginative forces of nature and intuitively grasp up for possibilities of what is to come.
Hannah Ariel is also available for Moon Phase readings – depending on which phase the Moon was in at the time of birth can help uncover a person’s natural born instinctual approach to problem solving. Contact her at: [email protected]
Here comes our monthly dose of intense lunar energy…but what does the Full Moon mean? Vedic (Eastern) astrologer Eve James unpacks the psychology (& why it make us cray-cray…)
To understand the Full Moon energy, we need to first look at what it represents. Without the Sun, there would be no light or life on this earth. There would be no solar system period, and the time when the Moon is most illumined with the effulgence of the Sun is termed the “Full Moon.” She sits directly across from him, receiving his light. They are face-to-face.
Now, take into consideration what the Sun and Moon represent in astrology; the Light of Self, or Divine “I”, and it’s Mind, it’s expression.
To conceptualize this, imagine the Sun as the ocean and the Moon as the movement of the ocean. The Sun is the natural Atmakaraka in Vedic astrology – the divine drop of consciousness within the infinite ocean of Consciousness, the individual soul or Atma (as said in Sanskrit), the imperishable essence or substance of Self, the ever-lasting Light, or the infallible Truth of that which we all most naturally are.
The Moon is the movement of that same substance, and it is this movement that creates numerous thoughts and feelings, which, in turn, inspire actions. This so-called movement of the soul is what we call the mind.
So when the Moon is receiving direct light from the Sun, she is face-to-face with the source of her light. In this moment she is fulfilled, and yet still full of longing to unite with this source, as the Moon is the signifier of longing, and all feelings of separation.
Full Moons stir us deeply because of this, and can inspire action driven by desperation or other incomplete or unfulfilled longings within our minds. Full Moons can also feel very good to us, depending on the placement of the Moon at our time of birth, and how fulfilled we feel inside as an individual.
When the Moon is directly receiving this light of awareness, it can feel very unsettling to those of us who experience our independent self as fragmented, or overly dependent on an identity that isn’t working in unison with who we really are deep inside.
Full Moons heighten our awareness of what is within our minds, and how separate we have become from our source of light and truth. They can also be very illuminating and energizing when it comes to marriage or any other activity resulting in union, as this is the time when the Moon experiences union with the light of the Sun.
In Vedic astrology, we consider the Nakshatra of the Moon to be very important, which is the portion, or “lunar mansion”, of the sky the Moon is aligned with (there are 27 of these in Vedic astrology, named for the most prominent star in each). When the Moon is full and receiving illumination from the Sun, her cup is full and so she is considered ready to fully express the mood of the Nakshatra she is aligned with.
That portion of the sky is amplified with emotion and there is a palpable charge in the atmosphere. Let’s say the Nakshatra is kind of like a scented flower the Moon is wearing. During the Full Moon, the fragrance is very strong and motivates people differently according to how much they like or dislike that scent, or how it mixes with their unique DNA.
The Moon on March 5th will be 100 percent full at 10:05am PST, and she will be aligned with Purvaphalguni Nakshatra, which is a sign of romance, music, arts, creative activities, vacation, and romantic union. This is an interesting sign however, because even though it’s hyper-creative and is associated with blissful marriage, etc, it also signifies the waging of war, or going into battle and using deceptive war strategies.
So despite its feminine, almost bohemian expression, it is also considered potentially fierce and destructive. Purvaphalguni is associated with fire and now is a time to honor or respect this element and be wary of it. This is why it is a sign of poetic and romantic love, passion and pleasure, all things that ignite a fire within.
At this time, we must be very careful of the fires we ignite with other people – be it romantically, professionally or socially. This is also an intense Full Moon politically, due to its association with binding unions (contracts and marriage) and it’s fiery underbelly. It is however a beautiful time for making deeper commitment to a personal relationship, or creating stronger bonds with those we wish to keep in our lives. It is also very good for performance-related endeavors, such as music, drama and the like.
Purvaphalguni is literally considered to be full of vibration and potential, and it can work miracles for releasing inner intention into the Universe and gaining union with that goal. So for those of you wishing to release a creative project into the world, this Full Moon is excellent.
But for the hopeless romantics out there, be very careful and think twice before igniting a new flame! Even though this is an auspicious sign for marriage, it can be a deceptive sign when it comes to fulfilling our heart’s real longing for union. The energy of this Moon can be motivational and intensely inspiring, but that same motivation can be put out as quickly as it was ignited.
This is also a perfect time to pamper or treat yourself to something you desire. Self-care and healing are both highly supported by Purvaphalguni, whereas it’s sister-sign Uttarphalguni (where the Moon will align next), is about self-sacrifice and serving others. This reminds us that we have to take care of ourselves and love ourselves before we can truly uplift others. So this sign is seen as innocently and harmlessly selfish, in the sense that it reminds us not to neglect our own needs.
With that said, best wishes – and may the Full Moon aid in you feeling nourished, within and without!
NEXT UP! Eve James chats to Numinous founder Ruby Warrington about the difference between Western and Vedic (Eastern astrology). Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for updates on every new post…
