New Moon & A Kiss From Neptune

Today’s new moon in Pisces occurs with alluring, diffuse, dreamy Neptune.

While January gave us the opportunity to explore the changing landscape of the major foundations that make up our lives, February challenged us with delays and obstacles. March is our opportunity to attune to the more pleasant, expansive, and optimistic vibes of 2019.

As the sap ever so slightly begins to soften in the trees, we too can gently rebound after January and February’s struggles. Perhaps this lunation can act as a chance to refresh your outlook on your current situation and future goals. We have the capacity to feel more trusting of life’s wisdom and rhythm this lunation, and we can dream up rather grand plans and possibilities.

The Mercury retrograde is an interesting one, beginning in the very final degree of the zodiac just after Chiron has left that point. Chiron’s myth shares themes of rejection, struggle, mentorship, pain, and healing. So Mercury, as weaver, connector, and traveller, must backstroke through the oceans of Pisces, contacting Chiron’s wake and slipping into Neptune’s whirling pool. Disorienting? Blurry? Inspired? Wistful? Deceptive? Alluring?

I’d feel foolish to try and ‘predict’ or pin down how this 3-week journey might unfold, but I do feel comfortable suggesting that you set aside time and space to creatively reflect and introspect on your life, dreams, and pains. Non-verbal modes of self-exploration (and in context of relationship) might be especially potent.

Art by Delro Rosco

From centerstage to backstage: New moon in Virgo

Ripened fruit upon the vine

Your sleeves are rolled up

The vision is distant

Blurred in its edges

But vast and deep

This dream draws you in

And you are ready

Invigorated and charming

You the discerning one

With the quiet flame

When the wax melts

And the metal tarnishes

You will exhale

Into softer intestines

As rules or delays

Bump into your plans

So perfect the vine

That births the fruit

Even after you weave

Vine into flexible rope

The shadows of decay will

Nip at its junctions

Consuming its strength

And dissolving its function

so what does remain?

don't knock your corners off going through the door you square

In astrology we speak of different geometrical relationships between planets, from the perspective of the Earth. Today, I'm sharing some thoughts about the square aspect (when 2 planets are 90 degrees apart from each other from the starting point of Earth) because we experience 2 important squares each month - the waxing square between Luna & Sol (first quarter moon) and the waning square between them (third quarter). Next week (Dec 6), we pass through the waxing square of last week's new moon in Sagittarius.

Squares can be read as an impediment to growth.

Moon-Sun conjunction (new moon) was squared by Neptune (around 5 days ago) – whatever seed is planted does not take root because it is too dispersed, too porous, too distracted.

Or, the square might generate enough tension to shift the growth of Moon-Sun in a significant and creative manner: the seed takes root in a supraconscious layer of our experience; an awareness (fire/light) of one’s tendency to escape generates enough heat to drive all resources united toward the cherished goal; the seed is bizarre, glamorous, inspired, ethereal, and delicate.

Maybe the vision needs to be broader, deeper, less bounded, more magickal, more considerate of an expanded sense of existence and compassion.

Neptune is the veil masking raving deities, the lapping waters under a lush velvet sky obscuring the slippery monsters beneath.

The new moon was also imprinted with Saturn, as the Moon, Sun, and Saturn (plus Mercury and Juno) were all in Sagittarius at the time and when planets are together in a sign, they are combined and then expressed.

So while the square placement generates tension and challenge in the style of ‘make it or break it’, conjunctions within a sign appear to simply occur... according to the nature of the planets involved.

With Saturn’s influence on last week’s new moon, all seeds taking root are infused with Saturnian qualities – maturity, commitment, the coalescing of the past – for good

• dedicating self to a new project, goal, relationship, health initiative
• making plans that reach into the future based on clear understanding of one’s strengths and circumstances
• sober judgment in difficult circumstances

or for worse

• bitter seeds
• dead seeds
• fear and inaction
• overcompensation
• creation based on past circumstances that no longer support you
• isolation

As we approach the first quarter 'make it or break it' square of rooting your seeds from last week's new moon (exact early on Dec 6 in Saskatoon, SK), you might consider how these interacting dynamics of Saturn & Neptune, tension & dispersal, growth & dissolution are playing out in your life.