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).

Sagittarius Full Moon conjunct Jupiter - May 31, 2007

Philosophy, the Ivory Tower ... the academy can be pretty dry. Professors in their tweed jackets at the lectern, discoursing on their topic of expertise, can either induce sleep or inspire one to take up a new course of study. One is unlikely to finish a Ph.D. without passion, but expressing it -- so that it becomes contagious -- takes a special talent. I'm sure we've all had at least one teacher who has sparked our quest for knowledge, someone whose course stood out amongst our mostly tedious classes. We study, not just to learn, but to find meaning in the theories that we digest. However arcane the Law (legal, religious), it just "clicks" for some people, and summons them on a path most of us would never take. It may not be apparent from the outside while they spout obtuse jargon, but the fire is inside.

But what good is that fire if it does not spread? Sure, personal fulfillment is important, but many spiritual explorers want to share the Word. They have to tap into our emotions to convert us. Logic alone will not do. Facts do not persuade us. We need to be inspired, to feel the call in our bodies. When you listen to a teacher and feel the heat -- that is how you know you have been touched. There is a convergence of mind and spirit, a bell ringing both in our heads and our hearts.

This Full Moon is an especially ripe time to be seduced by the Call. The Moon is in Sagittarius, conjunct Jupiter, the sign's ruler. Jupiter is retrograde, so you may feel drawn to re-evaluate an old philosophy or religious practice that you had previously discarded. Or an old teacher may come back into your life. It is time to be open to that which you had been closed. Let your feelings be your guide, don't reject on the basis of thought. However, don't let yourself get carried away, either. Jupiter expands the Moon, and you can ride on an emotional high, neglecting the fine print because you're so lost in the Big Picture.

The Fine Print: This Full Moon is at 10 Sag. If you have any personal planets or angles around 10 degrees of mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces), this lunation will have a strong impact. In addition, Venus at 25 Cancer is making a stressful 135 degree angle (sesquiquadrate) to the Moon, so planets around this degree in the cardinal signs may also be affected. Your attraction to family traditions may inhibit you from being open to expansive ideas.

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!

Full Moon in Gemini - December 4, 2006

There are ideas, and then there are philosophies. Our chattering mind is constantly running. What gives our thoughts a sense of cohesion is an over-arching framework -- something that gives the many little facts in our heads a sense of meaning.

Facts are the realm of Jeopardy. But of what use is information -- other than winning on quiz shows -- if these bits and bytes do not cohere into something bigger?

Of course, the danger of a belief system is that we tend to filter out the data that does not fit our philosophy. Whether you're a Christian, a Nietzschean or an astrologer, you seek out evidence to support your view of the world.

There's nothing inherently wrong with this. Life can feel pretty empty without a sense of meaning guiding us, so we latch on to a philosophy or religion that inspires us. But there's no one "truth." The realm of facts and figures is quantifiable, but the domain of meaning is subjective. We can all agree that an Electric Mini can go from 0 to 60 in 4 seconds, but this statistic will inspire some (greenies, car enthusiasts) and do nothing for others.

The Full Moon highlights this conflict between ideas (Gemini) and philosophies (Sagittarius). Our will is directed towards expansion and inspiration, while our comfort needs are met by solving Sudoku puzzles and reading gossip blogs. Geminian pursuits provide pleasure, but reading about Britney Spears doesn't significantly enlarge our perspective on life. (Or does it?)

Uranus in Pisces is making a square (a 90-degree angle) to both the Moon in Gemini and the Sun in Sagittarius, challenging us to shake up those ideas, opinions and beliefs of ours that have stagnated over time. Uranus introduces information to shift our paradigms, to bring fresh insights into our lives. During this Full Moon, you may receive a shocking e-mail, or you may have a conversation that disrupts your mental equilibrium. Since Gemini also relates to short-distance travel, neighbors and siblings, you may have an unpredictable encounter with the girl next door, or get into a bicycle accident. Wear a helmet!

This Full Moon will most directly impact people with planets or angles around 12 degrees of mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces), as well as those with birthdays around March 3, June 3, September 5, and December 4.

Christmas Insanity

I work at Rockefeller Center in NYC -- home of the big Christmas tree, the skating rink, the upscale clothing stores on 5th Avenue -- and I have to tell you, there are too many goddamned people here today!

Can't all you tourists at least wait until the Sun enters Sagittarius?

Venus -- the planet of shopping -- entered Sag today, so I guess that explains all this excessive pre-holiday indulgence.