New Moon riot in Aries

New Moon in Aries Sunday April 3rd at 10:32 am eastern time.

It’s a cosmic free for all, and all the planets are invited! New Moons usually are subtle events, with nary a sliver of the Moon visible in the sky since the Moon is so closely bound to the much brighter Sun.  New Moons are more like a whisper than a bang. But not this time.

This time it’s more like a gathering of a band of thieves. Not only are the Sun and Moon in Aries, but we have the addition of Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, and Uranus. Venus is near by in Pisces, and I think she must be tending bar. This leaves the heavy weights Saturn and Pluto to try to keep a handle on crowd control. If anyone could keep 6 planets in Aries into line it would be the authoritarian Saturn and head of the underworld, Pluto. But trying to hold in the freedom loving, adventuresome, risky, explosive, creative, and unpredictable energy of this Aries group would be hard for anyone to handle.

This is not the weekend to go out of town and trust your kids will not have a party while you are gone. Maybe you should add speed dial to the local police station. And this is not the time to explore the seedy part of town, or engage in anything risky, like drink and drive. You may be tempted to throw caution to the wind, but take a deep breath, slow down, and direct your energy toward something you can keep a handle on. Don’t do things that can spin out of control. This is a great weekend for getting outside and burning off some steam with biking or running. Go out to listen to music and dance like a mad man. Pull out those art supplies that are gathering dust and make a huge mess. This can be an amazingly creative time, fueled with new ideas and inspiration.

Of course we can expand our thoughts of barely controlled chaos much further a field, and focus in on the revolutions in the Middle East, especially the increasingly tense situation in Libya.   And the Uranian problems with the nuclear power reactors in Japan are not over yet. Radiation is leaking into the ocean, and no one is sure why or how to fix it.

This wild and crazy period will slow down Monday night when the Moon moves into the more stable sign of Taurus, and Neptune will provide a softening antidote in the sign of Pisces. I’ll write more about Neptune’s entrance into Pisces soon. But for now, send loving and peaceful energy into the world to create a counterpoint to the hot-headed ego-driven insanity of an Arian free for all. Fire is a good thing, but not when it burns out of control.

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Full Moon/SuperMoon

Saturday, March 19th at 2:10 pm

Be sure to watch this Full Moon rise tonight, since it will be spectacular! This month the Moon is orbiting at its closest point to the earth in nearly 20 years. Called a Supermoon, this closeness will increase the gravitational pull between the Earth and Moon, making the connection between them even stronger. It will mean, among other things, a spectacular Full Moon. It will be 14% larger and 30% brighter than a normal Full Moon. There is debate whether the greater gravitational pull of a Supermoon is linked to an increase of earthquakes, volcanoes, and tsunamis. You can check out the time of the Moon rise in your area by going to the great Farmer’s Almanac website.

To read more about this Full Moon, go to my monthly Moon Letter. In it I discuss the relationship of this Full Moon to the goddess of compassion, Kuan Yin, and the crisis in Japan.

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New Moon in Pisces

Pisces by Eric Williams

March 4th 2011 begins the warm-up to a wonderfully, long and luxurious soak in the ocean of love that is Pisces. A New Moon occurs monthly when the Sun and Moon are in the same zodiac sign, doubling up the energy of that sign, in this case, Pisces. It is a time of new beginnings and fresh starts. This New Moon is an opportunity to direct your attention to Piscean energies and set your intentions to increase the energies of Pisces in your life. This would be an increase in love, compassion, oneness, mysticism, spirituality, service, prayer,  meditation, unity, and the connection to the essence of all beings. Now, in case you didn’t notice, that’s a pretty hefty list, and a bit out of the reach of most of us mere mortals. Pisces is ruled by the planet Neptune, which as you remember from your mythology, is the God of the Oceans. So when you think of Pisces, you tend to think of Neptune at the same time. Soft, dreamy, yummy, going with the flow, sensitivity, the birthplace and inter connection of all beings. Ooops. there we go again, off into the special fantasy land reserved for Pisces and Neptune. Where all things are as they “should” be, and anything that doesn’t measure up seems somehow harsh and crass. That is why the dark side of Pisces is escapism and fantasy. Anything that will soften the harsh glow of reality. That would include an all time favorite strategy of denial, followed by alcohol, drugs, and video games.

Now I speak from experience here, since I am a Pisces. And my experience as a Pisces is getting ready to go on steroids! This is because Neptune, the ruler of Pisces, goes into Pisces in a month, on April 4th, and will stay there until 2025! That’s another 14 years. So all of us, Pisces or not, will have the opportunity to experience Pisces energy at its highest and best manifestation. Or, we will move into Neptune’s dark side, go into denial, put our head in the sand, put on the video game, pour the drinks, and wait it out.

In some ways, our response to Neptune, in other words, our response to our spiritual longings, compassion, and sense of the unity of all beings, is what 2012 is all about. Will be go into our highest nature, or will be be tempted by the dark side?

This New Moon is just the beginning, the first dive into the water. And just to be sure that we get a sense of what is to come, we also currently have Chiron, Mars, Mercury, and Uranus joining the Sun and Moon in Pisces. Actually, there is a bit of the dark side coming out in me as I secretly anticipate the foggy minds that will likely accompany this shift. People will no doubt complain of lack of memory, forgetfulness, and finding it hard to tell reality from fantasy. Ha! Welcome to my life! So, Pisces and Neptunians unite! Our time has finally come! Let’s just remember to show up.

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Today is a New Moon!

It’s time to seed something new in your life. The holidays are over, the new year has begun, and it is time to get serious. The New Moon is a point each month when the Sun and Moon are in the same zodiac sign, and the same degree. This month they join together at 13 degrees of Capricorn. The Sun represents the masculine energy, and the Moon represents the feminine energy. So when the Sun and Moon are right on top of each other, new seeds are planted. The expanded visions that you created for yourself during the Sagittarius month of December are now ready for your full attention and the hard work of Capricorn.

These Capricornian seeds are determined, forceful, ambitious, and contain the impetus you need to make your mark on the world. Capricorn always demands hard work, a nose to the grindstone type focus. This won’t be a social month like the Sagittarius whirlwind of December. This is a month of concentrated intent that will slow you down and bring your attention inward, where the seeds of your next project are taking root.

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New Moon in Sagittarius

Maxfield Parish's Ecstacy

New Moon Sunday at 12:39 pm in Sagittarius. This is a perfect time to expand your vision for what you want for yourself and the world. A New Moon is when the Sun and Moon are conjoined together in the same zodiac sign, in this case 13 degrees of Sagittarius. Let your imagination lead you, consider things you might think are beyond your reach. This is not the time to put blinders on your vision for yourself. It is the time to reach for the stars.

From this New Moon until the Full Moon on December 21st, which is also going to be a Lunar Eclipse, keep thinking about what you want to happen in your life. Then on the Full Moon, you can take aim and let your hopes and dreams take flight. Don’t hold back. Right now is the time to imagine yourself at your greatest possibility.

December 21st is the Winter Solstice, as well as the Full Moon Lunar Eclipse. It is going to be a very big day to begin to bring your vision into manifestation. So you want to give yourself plenty of time over these next two weeks to really think about what you want. For example, create a vision board using images from magazines to express all the things you are interested in experiencing. Write down a vision and say it to yourself every day. When writing a vision always write in the present tense, and do not use negatives. For example, don’t say: “I will quit smoking and lose weight.”Instead say: “I can breathe deeply in my lungs which are healthy and clean, and I feel great about my body which is  limber and strong.”

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New Moon in Scorpio

Eric Williams

Saturday November 6th the Moon becomes new in the sign of Scorpio. The emphasis on Scorpio energy is very strong now, which means it might feel like volcanoes are erupting all around you. Along with the Sun and Moon, we also have Venus and Mercury in Scorpio. Venus has been retrograding in Scorpio. Retrograding is like walking backwards, so you might be thinking about issues and people from your past.  Don’t be surprised if you start to dream about old lovers, or have old emotions triggered in such a way that you feel the hurt all over again. Friends and lovers might contact you from out of the blue providing you with opportunities to reconnect, or perhaps to heal what still hurts.

I think it is very symbolically significant that during this Scorpio energy we really do have volcanoes erupting all around. Mount Merapi is erupting right now in Indonesia with over 100 people reported dead. For more about this devastating eruption read National Geographic. But it doesn’t end there. Indonesia reported rumblings at 21 other volcanoes, which is more than double the number usually active at one time. This is making experts wonder why there is such an increase in volcanic activity in the Ring of Fire, a string of faults in the Pacific. Some speculate that tectonic plates are realigning and that volcanoes can effect one another. Even a volcano in Iceland is beginning to stir.

Mount Merapi

Isn’t that just the way it is in our emotional lives? When the parts of ourselves that we keep buried in our psyche start to rumble, it really does feel like tectonic plates within ourselves start to shift. Our whole world can start to realign, and one old memory or event can trigger another, leading to volcanoes,  earthquakes, and tsunamis. The tsunami in Indonesia last week wiped out two islands leading to over 430 dead, and it occurred on the same fault line that caused the 2004 tsunami that killed 230,00 in a dozen countries.

I don’t think you have to worry about destruction of this magnitude in your own life. But it does point to the depth and intensity of our inner core, our psyche that often lies hidden within, until something triggers an eruption. This is what Scorpio can be like when the energy of the psyche is ignored and pushed down. But there is also a tool for Scorpio energy that can avert disaster, and that is Psychology and other similar processes that bring an increase in your self knowledge and a deeper understanding of your psyche. Take the time to explore your fantasies, fears, passions, and old wounds to that you can bring them to the light with consciousness and some control. One really good way is to start to watch your dreams, which are like a direct connection to the deeper realms of yourself. Begin a dream journal now and begin a dialogue with yourself so that when one volcano explodes in your life, you don’t start a chain reaction.

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New Moon in Virgo Sept. 8th

Update, September 7th

We have a New Moon this Wednesday September 8th at 6:30 am ET. This Virgo energy is a perfect time to start a new daily routine that brings your body into better self care. You can also begin to organize your workspace so that it is easier for you to think clearly and work with greater efficiency. This New Moon calls out to begin any process that gives more order and harmony into your physical life. The Moon is considered New when it is conjoined the Sun. Since the Sun is in Virgo, the New Moon will also be in Virgo at 15 degrees. If you look to the Planetary Ephemeris at the left of this post, you can follow the Moon as it changes in degrees until it is the exact same degree as the Sun.

Virgo, the virgin, is represented by a young woman out in the harvest fields. I don’t think Virgo is really a virgin, but rather is pure in her heart and her intentions. Virgo aims for purity of action, which does at times push into the realm of perfectionism, a problem anyone with some Virgo in their horoscope has to contend with. This desire for purity is part of the reason Virgo has the reputation for being critical, and picky. But that is only the dark side of Virgo, just like a huge ego is the dark side of Leo. Virgo actually balances the need for personal attention that is exhibited by Leo with a simple desire to be of service to others.

Virgo is an earth sign, and is therefore very connected to the body and nature. This beautiful image captures the earthy quality of Virgo, which comes out in a commitment to care for the body through learning about healthy eating, exercise, and self-care. Virgo is ruled by the planet Mercury, hence her bright mind and curious intellect. She wants to know all about everything that could be helpful to herself and others, and can take in a tremendous amount of information, assimilate what is necessary, and then eliminate the rest. This Mercury influence gives her a fast mind that is geared toward discernment, a quality that can get out of balance and create a nervous, analytical, and self-critical quality. But, if Virgo stays in touch with her physical body through exercise, good nutrition, and time in nature, you could hardly find a more loving and giving sign. Her fault might be in caring for the needs of others more than the needs of herself.

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New Moon in Leo Monday August 9th

Update August 9th

Leo by Eric Williams

The Moon moves rather quickly and so only stays in a zodiac sign for about 2 1/2 days. A New Moon isn’t just when the Sun and Moon are in the same zodiac sign, it’s when they are in the same degree of the sign, in other words, really, really close (known in Astrology as an exact conjunction ). The Sun, since it stands still, is very regular in its appearance in the different zodiac signs, which is why you know what sign the Sun is in each year by the date. The Sun is in Leo from July 22st to August 22nd. So that means that this New Moon occurs in Leo. At 7:23 pm EDT on Sunday August 8th the Moon moved into the sign of Leo. On Monday at 11:08 pm EDT the Moon reaches 17 degrees of Leo, bringing it to the exact conjunction with the Sun. Each zodiac sign has 30 degrees, so this New Moon occurs pretty much right in the middle of the Sun’s Leo journey.

New Moons are times of new beginnings. A new birth of energy that is expressed in the zodiac sign where the conjunction occurs. This month is all about Leo. I discussed Leo in my last Moon Letter. In it I said that Leo is symbolized by the Lion – powerful, ferocious, fearless. At it’s best Leo is represented as a King/Queen, a ruler who uses her power for the good of all. She is confident, strong, smart, creative, and persistent is her unwavering action for what is right for her community. At its worst, Leo is power-hungry and self absorbed, and uses its power for personal gain with little regard for the consequences of its actions on others.

It is up to each person to direct her personal energy in life. We are not helpless, passive beings, certainly not when the Sun and Moon are in Leo, one of the most powerful signs in the zodiac. We need to live a life of conscious decision and wise choice. During a Leo New Moon it reminds us that it is with our full power that we can use our energy to start something good and creative, and generous. Or we can use our power to push our personal agenda with greed and dominance. I can only hope that the light and bright energy of Leo moves you towards the creation of something new that will be fun, playful, and enlivening. Feel the power of Ego, and then direct it towards something good, that benefits more than just yourself.

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