Sagittarius New Moon - December 9, 2007

I've never been one for travel. Fear-inducing Saturn is in my Ninth House of International Expeditions, opposite airline-happy Jupiter. My greatest terror has been of traveling in a country where I can't speak the language, I lose all my belongings and I end up homeless and starving in an alley, tormented by French people who throw snails at me.

However, I've more than made up for my nearly landlocked life through another Sagittarian endeavor, higher education. In fact, I wasted spent most of my twenties completing two masters degrees, neither of which I am using in my current career incarnation. There is just so much to learn ... plus nowadays having an advanced degree helps to get a job.

So how did I end up an astrologer, when I have degrees in both cognitive psychology and counseling psychology? I just find it more fascinating, a better model by which I can understand human behavior. Unfortunately, it has only been recently -- with the founding of Kepler College -- that astrology has been incorporated into the Ivory Tower (although it used to be taken pretty seriously before the scientific method relegated it to the New Age wastebin). Mainstream institutions are very closeminded about astrology, and I dropped out of my first PhD program because I was interested in archetypes -- which don't hold up well when you're measuring how quick a sophomore can hit a button on a computer.

Thank the Gods that I found CIIS, where I studied the art of psychotherapy in a spiritually-informed program. I even took my first astrology course there, under the title Cosmos and Psyche. I have no regrets having spent six years of my early adulthood in academic settings, although I will literally be paying for my education for the next 20-odd years.

What does my story have to do with the New Moon?

This Sunday's lunation occurs in Sagittarius, the sign that seeks to expand one's horizons, whether through travel or study. And the Sun-Moon conjunction is squared by paradigm-shattering Uranus, which is also the planet that rules astrology. During the New Moon, you may feel inspired to take on a course of study, plan a trip to Burma or promote your services. Sag is an inspiring fire sign, giving you the enthusiasm to convert others to your side or to take on the Great Books. Just be aware that any conventional course of study or travel plan will be upset by the planet of surprises and left turns. If you attempt to spread the Word, your message may come across as shocking or jarring ... or maybe you'll try to proselytize a familiar message, only to be disrupted by someone who challenges your belief system.

After all, Uranus is in Pisces. Sagittarius governs world religions, major schools of philosophy, higher education ... the Big Ideas. Sag trades in theories and opinions and belief systems, whereas Pisces chucks it all out the window and goes for direct experience of the Divine. What good are ideas, if they hold you back from connecting directly with the Source? You can talk and write about God, or you can just surrender to Him or Her.

Which would you choose?

The Fine Print: This New Moon falls at 17 Sagittarius, and will impact natives with planets or angles between 15 and 20 degrees of the mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces).

Scorpio New Moon - November 9, 2007

In my part of town, the colors of the leaves are transforming from green to brilliant reds, oranges and yellows. This beautiful display suggests the illumination right before death, like an old light bulb that brightens before it goes out. When you are on the death bed, you may have a sense of clarity that previously eluded you (provided you're not on too much morphine). The urge to forgive and make amends creates an opening in the heart that makes way for a clean departure.

The imminent death of a parent unites siblings who may have accumulated resentments, keeping each other at a distance for years. Bitterness and anger are held tightly, like a toddler refusing to part with a toy. Hopefully, brothers and sisters rise above their differences to care for their parent.

Anger cannot be swept under the rug, though. It is healthy to bring it out into the open, rather than express it indirectly through passive-aggression and sideways maneuvers. When everyone's cards are out on the table, miracles can happen. The blinding white surprise of forgiveness graces all, and love reigns supreme.

Or at least that's how it would go in an ideal world. Maybe the kids just fight over the inheritance after the old fart passes on, everyone feeling shortchanged after all the sacrifices they made. "Surely I deserve more than my sister, after all, I let dad live in my basement! I knew she was his favorite! It's so unfair!"

It's really up to you to decide which direction you want to take. Will you let the death of a loved one transform you, give you the opportunity to rise to the occasion and be selfless, or will you continue to live in scarcity consciousness, fighting over assets that will be meaningless when it's your turn to meet your maker?

The Fine Print: The New Moon occurs at 17 Scorpio, in a Grand Water Trine with Mars in Cancer and Uranus in Pisces. This lunation also squares Neptune in Aquarius. If you have personal planets or angles in the second decan (10-19 degrees) of water signs, this process outlined above may go smoothly for you. If you have personal planets in the same degree areas in Taurus, Leo or Aquarius, not so easy for you.

Libra New Moon - October 11, 2007

Attention Newsletter Subscribers: It has been brought to my attention that I wrote in the Subject line that the New Moon was on Tuesday instead of Thursday. My bad!

Sometimes an eye for precision is required to create fairness in a relationship. You may need the assistance of carpentry level.

Of course, this attention to detail is not Libra's forte, unless she's matching colors in your living room. We need the craftsman-like skills of a Virgo.

Libra is ruled by Venus, and during this New Moon in Libra, Venus is in Virgo. Granted, the goddess of love does not feel blissful in the sign of her fall. She tends to feel self-critical (as well as other-critical!), harping on her own or her partner's flaws to help improve efficiency and create a more perfect marriage. And although she approaches lovemaking as skill-set to hone, at least she cares enough to be attentive in bed.

Unfortunately, Venus is conjunct strict Saturn during the New Moon, and She completely merges with Him on Sunday, October 14. As if being in Virgo were not enough of a challenge, she's now being whipped into shape by the Taskmaster, who demands that she shed pounds in preparation for her Long Marriage to the God of Responsibility and Commitment. Which is not such a bad thing, but boy, the hoops He makes Her jump through! It is a grueling workout, and sometimes all Venus wants to do is throw in the towel and stay an Old Maid.

However, Saturn doesn't let Her off easy, and by the time she's through, Venus knows exactly what she wants in a relationship -- no more and no less -- and isn't willing to put up with any BS along the way. So "plant your New Moon seeds in the fertile soil of love," or whatever New-Agey phrases turn you on during this Libra New Moon -- but remember what's going on in the background.

The Fine Print: The New Moon occurs at 17 Libra and will be most powerful for people with planets or angles between 15 and 20 degrees of the cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn). The New Moon is semisquare Venus at 2 Virgo. Venus will conjoin Saturn at 4 Virgo, so people with planets or angles around 2 to 7 degrees of the mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces) will be impacted by this energy.

PLUG: Add the Lunar Tunes widget to your Facebook!

Virgo New Moon (Solar Eclipse) - September 11, 2007

A Solar Eclipse occurs during a New Moon when the Moon's path intersects with the ecliptic, or the apparent path of the Sun from our perspective on Earth. In essence, the Moon is near-exactly between the Sun and Earth, like a game of monkey-in-the-middle. Luna blocks Sol's light for a moment, and the Sun's rationality is "eclipsed" by the Moon's unconscious, emotional drives. Virgo agrees with Apollonian logic, as this Mercury-ruled sign loves to analyze and organize. Virgo is not so comfortable with the illogical Moon. This sign is too quick to rush in and make sense of the Moon's dreamy images.

The Moon is the body, though, and health-conscious Virgo feels at home improving the vessel that contains our soul. But if you're thinking that this Virgo Solar Eclipse provides the perfect opportunity to start a new exercise regimen and eat healthy, you are sorely mistaken. In fact, any efforts you make towards spending a peaceful hour or two alphabetizing your vitamins and herbal supplements will be sabotaged by Uranus, whose sole intent is to make you take Ginkgo when you meant to ingest Guarana.

The planet of surprises and sudden turnarounds is in Pisces, opposite the Virgo New Moon. Uranus lives to disrupt, and control-freaks like Virgo are one of this planet's favorite targets, for rigidity is anathema to the principle of revolutionary ideas and unconventional acts. Yes, it is time to think about ways to improve your health and attend to workplace issues (especially now that Saturn has entered this sign), but Uranus wants you to work in a novel twist to your approaches. Don't just follow the latest diet fad or rely on tried-and-true tips on how to get along with your colleagues. Think outside the box! If you don't, Uranus will find a way to subvert your plans. An offbeat spoken-word artist will sit in the cubicle next to you, spouting inventive rhymes while you're analyzing your spreadsheet. Take a step back and imbibe the images emanating from your LCD screen. Your Excel document is nothing more than pixels which are recognized as patterns by your Virgo mind. Cells, borders, numbers ... once you see they're just dots, you're free to read the Microsoftian Illumunita on your PC, and you're a click away from Nirvana.

The Fine Print: This New Moon occurs at 18 Virgo. Natives with planets or angles between 16 and 23 degrees of mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces) will feel this the most. Mars in Gemini is also involved in a T-Square with the New Moon and Uranus -- Uranus-Mars squares are notorious for impulsivity and recklessness, so wear a helmet when you ride your bicycle.

Note to Commenters: I am unlikely to respond if you include your stats and ask what this eclipse will mean for you. There are usually just too many inquiries to respond to, and I already give away enough for free. You are more than welcome to share your fears, expectations, reactions and experiences. Just be aware that I'm more likely to be engaged in comment section dialogues about the general meaning of the eclipse.

Leo New Moon - August 12, 2007

The Saturn-Neptune opposition is still in effect until Saturn enters Virgo next month. Sure, the disillusionment juice is going bad, but we haven't thrown it out of the fridge just yet -- Saturn is slow to notice such things.

To bid Him a hearty farewell, we've got a Luna Nueva in Leo, the sign desperately awaiting his departure.

This lunation is all glitz and glamour, with the Lights tightly opposing Neptune in Aquarius. It's all image baby, and we hope to fool the audience into thinking our veneer is the real deal ... and that the Old Guy will let us get away with it.

Unfortunately, the attention we want may be out of reach. Neptune is a frail gypsy who takes our money, promises fame, and disappears out the back of the circus tent.

The only way to make this lunation work is to not make it about ourselves ... which is not easy when we're wanting to be both King and Queen. Neptune favors selflessness, and any new starts this time around will have to include a sacrifice to this otherworldly planet. This means giving instead of getting. As much our Leonine side wants to be the center of the universe, we must provide warmth to others, and put our desires to be worshipped aside.

The Fine Print: This New Moon occurs at 19 Leo. If you have personal planets or angles around this degree area in fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius), you're either the star of the show, or the understudy.

New Moon in Cancer - July 14, 2007

Family is where our lives begin, and many of us derive joy from starting our own. Yet families are also severely screwed-up. I just finished watching the last season of Alias on DVD. This show, starring Jennifer Garner as Sydney Bristow, was about a CIA operative whose parents were also spies. However, her mother was a "bad guy," and Sydney was constantly deceived (or had information hidden from her) by both her parents. The theme of this show is appropriate for this Cancer New Moon, because the Moon and Sun are exactly inconjunct (150-degree angle) Neptune in Aquarius. The misinformation and lies (Neptune) perpetrated along various networks (Aquarius) was intimately tied to Sydney Bristow's sense of family -- her very past (Cancer), in fact, as she was the progeny of a Russian spy who pretended she was someone else, to get close to Sydney's father, a CIA operative. (I know, it's complicated!)

What forms of deception were part of your family? Many of us grew up with a gut sense -- way below conscious awareness -- that our parents were hiding something from us. Family secrets -- a gay uncle, an alcoholic father, a sexually abused step-sister, a pedophilic great-grandfather, take your pick! -- were hidden supposedly to "protect" us, but the withdrawal of this vital information ("intelligence") left us feeling incomplete, that there was something missing, if we could only identify what that was. Once we learn about our family's past, the missing pieces come together, and we finally understand why we felt off-center.

Even though the secret was about something that didn't directly impact you, it affected you anyway. You are a part of your family, and a family is an organism, a unit by itself, of which you are a part. You cannot separate yourself from what your great-grandfather did to your grand-aunt, because these patterns are inherited. Mistakes are often passed along the generations, and it takes both consciousness and will to not repeat the "sins of the fathers." Thus, it is imperative that the veils of our family's past are pulled aside, so that, with awareness, we can choose to stop the dysfunction.

The Fine Print: This New Moon occurs at 21 degrees Cancer. This lunation will mostly impact those natives with personal planets or angles around 21 degrees of the cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn).

Gemini New Moon opposite Pluto in Sagittarius - June 14, 2007

For some, the thrill of reading TMZ.com and gossip rags is that they expose celebs' secrets and public gaffes: drunk driving, cocaine abuse, racist comments. Seeing the underbelly of the carefully controlled image reminds us that even the fabulously wealthy are flawed human beings.

But we have to be careful of how we ingest the news. Our minds crave distraction from the humdrum of our daily lives, yet how often does our media diet contribute depth and substance? Are we, as a collective, over and done with Paris Hilton, as low as she's sunk? Could it be that the press is a tool of the government, trying to control us so that we don't question our nation's destructive foreign policies? Does the Bush administration own TMZ? Are Paris, Britney and Lindsay nothing but pawns of the American Enterprise Institute?

I'm not a conspiracy theorist, I'm just making a point. Gemini can be superficial and gossipy, oblivious to the dangers perpetrated by those in power. Sometimes we get so stuck in absorbing mindless information that we don't pay attention to world affairs.

The Sun and Moon in Gemini opposite Pluto in Sagittarius can by symbolized by the investigative reporter who exposes human rights abuses in Guantanamo Bay, pedophilia in the Church, date rape at universities. Even in the context of celebrity news, the exposure of racism (Mel Gibson, Michael Richards, Don Imus) provides a useful service.

What does this have to do with you?

This New Moon is at 23 Gemini. It is making several aspects:

• Opposition to Pluto at 27 Sag
• Exact semisquare (45 degrees ) to Venus at 8 Leo
• Tight sextile to Mars at 22 Aries
• Sextile to Saturn at 20 Leo
• Square to Uranus at 18 Pisces
• Trine to Neptune at 21 Aquarius

As you can see, the degree areas between 18 and 27 are being highly stimulated, by both hard aspects (Pluto, Uranus, Venus) and soft aspects (Saturn, Neptune, Mars). Mars, Saturn and Pluto are in a Grand Fire Trine. Saturn and Neptune are finishing up their opposition. This New Moon is activating all these configurations.

So if you have any planets or angles around this degree area, something will be up for you. Share your chart in the comments section, and maybe someone can help you out.

Taurus New Moon Square Neptune in Aquarius - May 16, 2007

This New Moon, your security needs conflict with the needs of the collective.

Nearly all of us are attached to our possessions and our preferences. But there is a whole world out there, one in which millions of people have less (materially) than you. And not to romanticize poverty, but those anecdotes -- about the poor in India who are more in touch with the divine in daily life than we are -- can challenge your value system.

Comfort is important. But we blog-readers take many of our affordable Western luxuries for granted. The price of a laptop and high speed internet access is beyond the reach of most.

This New Moon, you may have to sacrifice some of your money or possessions for humanitarian causes. The pull of compassion may result in an awakening to how good you've got it, and how easy it would be for you to do with less, if it means giving someone else more.

Or, your material stability may feel like it is being pulled out from under your feet. Financial transactions over the internet may be sabotaged by deception or confusion. Groups that encourage fuzzy boundaries may attempt to change your personal preferences for the benefit of the whole.

This New Moon occurs at 25 Taurus. Neptune is at 22 Aquarius, about to go retrograde later this month. If you have any personal planets or angles around degree 25 in fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius), you are undergoing the beginnings of a Neptune transit, in which you are likely to be feeling confused, mystically-inclined, lost in fantasy, martyred, escapist, and so on. This New Moon will serve as a trigger to this longer process of dissolution of whatever area of your life is being affected.

Aries New Moon - April 17, 2007

It's springtime in Brooklyn, and the cherry blossoms are blooming. As we Northern Hemispherians come out of winter and witness the beginnings of new life, it is natural to think about making a frest start. In the cold, we withdraw into our cocoons, dip into reserves, and conserve our energies to keep warm. When the weather heats up, it's time to come out.

But what direction do you take? Do you want to jumpstart your dating life? Take the next step in your career? Upgrade your house? At the Aries New Moon, we all feel the need to take initiative, but our natal charts show us how and where we take that important first step.

The New Moon always falls in a house in your chart, an area of experience such as work, home, marriage, health and so on. The house where Aries sits on the cusp is where we naturally have a go-to-it attitude, jumping in without worrying about consequences -- a place where we feel impulsive and pioneering. This part of your life may feel dormant until a planet transits the house, or your natal Mars (the ruler of Aries) is stimulated by transit or progression.

During the Aries New Moon, this part of your life comes alive -- you are meant to plant the seeds of a new project related to the concerns of the house where the transiting Sun and Moon fall. Additionally, if any planets or angles (like the Ascendant or Midheaven) are near 27 degrees -- especially of cardinal signs like Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn -- the impulses of that planet (as well as the house it inhabits) will also receive a burst of energy, an incitement to bloom.

To use myself as an example: I have natal Mars at 29 Aries in the 9th house. Aries is on the cusp of my 9th house, so it is also ruled by Mars. This Aries New Moon stimulates a desire to aggressively (Mars) promote myself (9th), or take action (Mars) to publish (9th house). With this placement I'm already inclined to do these things, but the Aries New Moon provides the kick in the pants needed to motivate myself.

Comment below: Where does the Aries New Moon fall in your chart? How do you want to jumpstart your life?

Want to Get to Know Your Chart? Jeffrey Kishner is available for astrology readings.

New Moon Solar Eclipse in Pisces - March 18, 2007

Sometimes I listen to progressive metal, a hybrid of art-rock and heavy metal with guitar lines so low and loud, they shake every molecule of your body. Yet this music also includes all the pretentions of serious musicians intent on including odd meters and contrapuntal melodies -- not to mention lyrics about ancient civilizations and occult claptrap.

This solar eclipse is kind of like art metal. The Sun and Moon are conjunct (a New Moon ) in ethereal, musical Pisces, but in a tense square -- a 90-degree angle -- to Pluto, lord of the underworld. We plant our dream-seeds into the fertile earth, just a few days before spring, with the chthonic power of nature forcing our fantasies to either survive or perish.

Pluto drags our transcendent urges into the nether regions of our psyche, confronting us with our devils and demons. One spiritual downfall (to which Pisces is prone) is the propensity to meditate for hours on end, revelling in bliss states to escape one's very real problems here on earth. Altered states of consciousness are not ends in themselves, strivings to experience mental fireworks and out-of-body experiences. Rather, the "work" is useful insofar as it helps us to be more compassionate beings in daily life.

The elements of Self we have cast off into the recesses of our unconscious cannot be avoided, especially with Pluto blocking our path at the intersection between heaven and hell. An attempt to paint, write music or sit zazen releases all the twisted, dark images that have been rooting around in the basement. They can no longer be avoided. Instead, incorporate them into your art. Black paints, harsh power chords, chaotic dance moves ... unleash the hell-fire of Self and channel it into your spiritual strivings, creating the humus to bring your dream-seeds to life.

The Fine Print: This New Moon occurs at 28 Pisces. If you have personal planets or angles between 25-29 degrees of the mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces) or 0-2 degrees of the cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn), this Solar Eclipse will have a strong impact over the next year. Look to the houses containing 28 Pisces and 28 Sagittarius to see which areas of your life will be affected.

Related posts:

• Fear of an eclipse
• How to prepare for an eclipse

Aquarius New Moon - February 17, 2007

I've never truly understood the sign of Aquarius. One the one hand, it concerns friends, groups, and concern for the collective. On the other hand, the Aquarian is eccentric, striving to separate from the mainstream, upsetting the status quo in her embrace of unique beliefs, fashion statements and public acts. Aquarius is forward-thinking, often embracing trends before these radical ideas are adopted by the consumer-capitalist corporate-state.

Aquarius is detached from the emotional connections that bring two individuals together in intimate embrace. The Water Bearer is an air sign that, unlike his brother Libra, is not all that into one-on-one partnership; and unlike Gemini, isn't all that interested in chatting with the neighbors about the latest goings-on.

Is Aquarius the mad scientist, locked in his laboratory or study, developing his brilliant but misunderstood ideas about the nature of the Universe? Or is Aquarius that woman who has a billion friends, who's heavily involved in political activism and building an online presence for her favorite political candidate?

Aquarius is so impersonal, yet at the same time, he cares so much about humanity. Everyone should be treated equally. All beings should have basic human rights. Yet when you try to get close to Aquarius, he backs away. He's more comfortable in the global sister- and brotherhood than the forming of a more perfect union with one other person.

Aquarius is a transpersonal sign. It's not about the selfish needs of the developing self. It's not about closeness between two people. It's about all of us, the world. When I look at the google search queries that bring users to my web site, I notice a number of users type "I hate Aquarius men" into that search box. Are these googlers trying to find consolation, other poor souls who have tried -- and tried -- to get close to an Aquarius, only to be emotionally shut out? I'm making a grand generalization here -- because of course Aquarians are capable of marriage -- but there's something about this sign that is beyond ordinary human relations.

Barack Obama just announced his candidacy for President of the United States, based on a platform that all people should be afforded equal rights, all citizens should get universal health care. I haven't made any decision yet about who I'm voting for, but obviously, during ObamaMania, we can begin this Aquarian enterprise by engaging in political action to ensure that everyone -- regardless of skin color, gender, ability, sexual orientation, and so on -- gets treated with respect and can derive the benefits of living in a first world country that can afford to take care of its neediest.

This is not a forward-thinking idea. It's a big "duh." But apparently there are many numbskulls running this country who haven't yet entered the Age of Aquarius.

Capricorn New Moon - January 18, 2007

Lately, I've been getting in touch with an inner drive to achieve success, to rise to the top. Yet, I have had to accept that this requires hard work ... lots of it. For a heavily Piscean individual with a lazy Taurus Midheaven, this seems contrary to my nature. After all, a large part of me just wants to loll about in creative bliss, unconcerned with trivial, worldy matters like money and status. Sure, I have fantasies about being world-famous, but I want recognition to fall in my lap because I'm so wonderful (blame delusional Neptune!); I don't actually want to slog away to achieve fame.

However, unless you're born royalty (or an heiress to a wealthy hotel chain), you have to labor to get ahead. And if you don't have the potential to shock and awe people with a revolutionary product or insight, you need to just buckle down to get where you wanna go. It takes discipline, long hours and dedication.

What are your aspirations? When you fantasize about the pinnacle of your future achievements, what do you see? Capricorn's ruling planet, Saturn, is opposing Neptune for the first half of this year. We all want to manifest our dreams. And now, with the New Moon in Capricorn, it is the time to do what it takes.

So over the next two weeks, initiate a business project or take action to build on your reputation. Roll up your sleeves, and get cracking!

If you've got a planet or angle around 28 degrees of cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn) or if you have a birthday around January 18, April 18, July 21 or October 22, then this New Moon will provide even more opportunity for you. Look to the planet involved, as well as the aspect the New Moon makes, to find out how it will impact you.

New Moon in Sagittarius - December 20, 2006

This New Moon is closely conjunct the Lord of the Underworld, Pluto, and also trine Lord of Extreme Hardship, Saturn. I'm not a big fan of Saturn-Pluto (see "9/11"), but this time these hard-core planets are making a generous aspect to each other, with Saturn supporting our desire to transform ourselves -- it is easier to implement change and make it stick. Saturn is trine Pluto through Fall 2007, and the New Moon in alignment with this combo gives us a taste of the larger archetypal dynamics in play for the next year.

Pluto in Sagittarius relates to all this religious extremism we've been witnessing, as well as the uncovering of abuses in the church and publishing over the past few years. Saturn in Leo is hopefully forcing our leaders to be accountable for their actions (GWB!) and making us take our creativity seriously.

The New Moon in Sagittarius is a great opportunity to make a new start in changing our beliefs, pursuing an advanced degree, travelling the world, studying philosophy and world religions. Pluto brings to the surface old belief systems that are no longer in alignment with our true selves (if they ever were). Once we are aware of them, we can let them go and embrace a view of life more in tune with who we are. Saturn's trine supports us in creatively turning these beliefs into reality -- they are more likely to stand the test of time, since we have the discipline and patience to carry them out over the long haul.

If you approach this New Moon with a lack of consciousness, Pluto could simply intensify your current beliefs to such an extreme that you are not open to any other point of view!

This New Moon is most likely to impact natives with personal planets around 28 degrees of mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces) or the very early degrees of cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn). If you've got a birthday around March 18, June 18, September 20 or December 19, prepare to be transformed!

New Moon in Scorpio - November 20, 2006

The sign of death is featured prominently in this lunar phase of new beginnings. Scorpio is ruled by Pluto, the planet of regeneration. Pluto is Lord of the Underworld, impelling Scorpio to delve deep into life, to unearth secrets and hidden knowlege. This sign also relates to the emotional intimacy and financial resources we share with another person.

Since the New Moon is the start of the lunar cycle, it is a time for new beginnings. In Scorpio, we initiate deep connection. True connection requires a death of individuality. To bond with another human being, we must be willing to transcend boundaries. Scorpio follows Libra, the sign of marriage. In a partnership, sharing a bank account and a bed necessitates a relinquishment of self, a movement from mine to ours.

This New Moon conjoins astrology's two benefic planets, Jupiter and Venus. Jupiter expands Venus' desire to indulge herself. It is a pleasurable combination. However, there is a slight disconnect, with Venus having left deep-sea diving Scorpio for white-water rafting Sagittarius. Venus has gone off on her adventures, seeking sensual delights across the horizon, while Jupiter still celebrates the inner world.

Since Saturn in Leo is squaring the New Moon and Jupiter, there is a feeling of obstruction in our desire to renew ourselves. Leo thrusts himself out into the world, wanting to be the center of attention, while Scorpio puts up a wall, needing to protect her emotions from those she can't trust. Saturn's overcompensating efforts to be validated interfere with our drive to connect on an intimate level, either with a significant other or our own psyches.

The task during this New Moon is to find a way to transform, to shed your snake skin, while another part of you wants to put on your best shoes and dance, thinking that you're missing out on something that will feed your need for affirmation. Snakes spend most of their time in the water while they shed (Scorpio), which precludes basking in the glorious Sun (Leo). When it's time for a part of you to die, you need to withdraw, not seek the spotlight.

This New Moon will most directly impact those people with planets or angles around 28 degrees of fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius), as well as those whose birthdays are around February 17, May 19, August 21 or November 20.

View the New Moon chart.