The New Moon is today, Wednesday, November 23, 2022, at 2:57 pm PST. This lunation will be in the sign of Sagittarius, the centaur of the zodiac. It has been a very L-O-N-G eclipse season, so this new moon will shift us with a lift into more spirited energy (wild in new ways) with plenty of twists, perhaps some desires that play out as mischief or more volatile with Mars in Gemini in its square to Neptune in Pisces. Consider how oxygen (air) feeds the fire and expands it and increases it. Mars is out of bounds (from the ecliptic at 24 degrees 28 minutes south of the ecliptic) and retrograde as well, which stirs up many wounded humans to act out, adds confusion, increases the potentials for accidents, and fumbles with buckets of conflicts too. Mercury the planet we look to for symbolism of communications, perceptions, how we move energy, travel and more is also out of bounds at 23 degrees 27 minutes south in declination. Here is a helpful website for what’s in the night sky within a given week. I really enjoy this website for interesting insights into the night sky.
Astrology gives us symbolism through the planetary archetypes as we spin around the sun in our solar system. I have shared the Sabian Symbols which are interpretations by degree, for this new moon in Sagittarius that would fall to 2 degrees. Blain Bovee is a resource I like, simply stated with themes to explore. This 2 Sagittarius new moon is, The ocean covered with whitecaps. It brings a strong image of movement, and wind power, turbulence. A surface area of chaos that stir the depths. I also like Blain Bovee’s themes to consider with the image of the symbol at 2 degrees Sagittarius as coverage. He noted, this degree is like an ocean covered with whitecaps, we know there are unseen depths and power currents below the surface. Blain shares that Sagittarius 2 points to a tendency to remain hidden. Consider wearing a hat or a hood. Perhaps even wearing a mask, or using anything as a means to take cover.
This can be a positive trait when there is danger or uncertainty in the air. It is just smart to not be open and exposed... an easy target… in some situations. It can also possibly refer to covering who one really is, what one is really up to.
This imagery from the Sabian symbol of the 2 degrees of Sagittarius I think offers us a nugget of wisdom as many of us are traveling to meet with family for the holidays (in the US). Perhaps sleep cycles are challenging for many with both Mars and Mercury out of bounds. Mercury is in Sagittarius, with its recent ingress there on November 17th. Mercury at 10 degrees 14 minutes is applying to oppose Mars (21 degrees retrograde in Gemini) and will also square Neptune. This energy combination is distorted and highly exaggerated! It truly is sound advice from the Sabian symbol to lean towards taking cover and being less visible. Leave minimal tracks as you go.
Though Neptune I think it adds to the invisibility or desire to move to a place of solitude. Some souls may ache for that place to be still, to quiet the agitated thought patterns and noise of from an exaggerated Mercury is out of bounds fire element of Sagittarius. Mercury builds (applying) it’s opposition with Mars over the next few days and is exact on November 29th around 12:26 pm to 12:41 pm PST exact degrees and minutes, though I would say for the entire day and into December 1st it will be exaggerating energy. It will feel like it can be hard to avoid the conflict or have someone jump or stand on our last nerve. Communications will land awkwardly at best. With Mars retrograde, the inner critic is louder than usual, or the need to re-write something that you may not have realized needed attention.
Remember to steer clear wherever you can during the peak (go inside to your thought patterns, this is another way to experience the energy through exploring the inner critic or the noise from something that unsettles you and ask why for your own growth). It’s just wise to not be in the line of sight for external conflict to skyrocket. Scribble loud expletives in your journal, another way to “get it out” in some material form. Avoid too much social media or escapism as that will tank the energy you need. Also, a night of slam poetry will bring this hard energy out too. I think you get the idea. It will seem as if the trickster is out to play. Ask for a gentle sign from the universe, perhaps you get a nod towards animal totems such as a coyote, or a crow. Have you had any recent messengers? Just this past weekend when I was driving on an errand in Spokane while visiting my mother, four wild turkeys were crossing the street as I left the parking lot near Trader Joe’s on the South Hill. I took a photo (see below). I had to slow down my driving to not bump the last turkey crossing the road. I smiled big, what a delight to see them all. Wild turkeys are so interesting to me, they always remind me of the past because of their role in the selection of our national bird symbol (which is the Eagle) but at first, it was discussed to be the brave wild turkey!
Benjamin Franklin—commenting on the design of the national seal—disparages the bald eagle, writing that the eagle was “a bird of bad moral character.” When the idea of the turkey is raised, he expresses preference, stating that “the Turkey is in Comparison a much more respectable Bird, and withal a true original Native of America… a Bird of Courage, and would not hesitate to attack a Grenadier of the British Guards who should presume to invade his Farm Yard with a red Coat on.” source: https://www.almanac.com/wild-turkey-history-all-american-bird
Interesting history right?!
I am awed by the number four as well. Sturdy like a square, but also hard when I think of how they are the crisis to manage in the process when considering planets in square aspects. I also appreciate this nod to the number four symbolism, “Almost from prehistoric times, the number four was employed to signify what was solid, what could be touched and felt. Its relationship to the cross (four points) made it an outstanding symbol of wholeness and universality, a symbol which drew all to itself”. Grounded and definitely earthly I think and perceive the number four. And yet the angles original cardinal squares of Self-reflected in astrology are 1st house of self, 4th and 10th as the parental axis, and 7th as other (partner/committed spouse/soul contract) is also called the cross of life. Since my spiritual awakening many years ago in 2009-2012 as the initiation period into the dark night of the soul, I’ve always appreciated the symbolism and whispers from life and mother nature that I observe in the wild nature, especially birds, and local wildlife in my geography. Perhaps you also have the eagle or the hawk that points out something for you in a specific way, to have the courage or look to a higher view on something. Or perhaps a spider captures your awareness and it opens up insights on the connections that you have and that you may be navigating.
The point I want to share here, especially with Mercury in Sagittarius, is that the perceptions, thoughts, and the way we observe something and how we give meaning with synchronicity, with wildlife or any animal, four-legged creatures, birds, snakes, and even insects, can help us unlock another doorway to the connection of our inner world and the magic of our outer world. Mercury in Sagittarius can be experienced like that, when we play with the universe we observe something unique like prayer answered out of the blue. If you are interested, check out the Animal Medicine oracle cards, or the book I read years ago by Ted Andrews, Animal Speak: The Spiritual & Magical Powers of Creatures Great and Small. Life can be pleasantly rich with meaning whenever we wish to use that lens. Too much of it can be uncomfortable and dizzy, so I recommend it with balance. My daughter absolutely loves to sit down once in a while to tune into a few Animal Cards to perceive something only they can bring through for us. I highly recommend it to anyone seeking a path of greater wisdom with your inner reflection. This is a period of time where self-care with sleep can be helpful, but it may be a high volume of dream material that emerges too. Plenty of content (dreams) to work with for your self-awareness and growth!
At this new moon, we have Jupiter in Pisces (stationing direct Nov 23rd at 6:02 pm PST) conjunct within 6 degrees of Neptune at 28 degrees. As Jupiter stations direct at the lunation, it will pick up speed in the heavens again to finish its path through Pisces. It is amplifying Pisces’ energy of opposites (consider polarities and the two fish connected at the tail). Mars in a square with Neptune will stir the inner critic the hatred and toxic ideas of self-worth and sadly violence usually comes from this kind of energy distortion of wounded and unattended human inner worlds without hope and pathways to work through their deepest pain that will now be active.
Opposite Neptune is Ceres in Virgo, which is amplified with a trine to the transformational powers of Pluto in Capricorn at 28 degrees. Ceres within our inner zodiac is our feminine earth strength. Our capacity to mother and nourish ourselves and create abundance. It is embedded with knowing it is a goddess with the power to give life just as easy to hold it back its power too that speaks of the phase of winter when the season is withdrawn. Feminine energy is an innate knowing of that state of being centered to receive and that there is a season for it. Harvest that which is available in its bounty in its season of harvest, whatever you are nurturing for growth. Do you know your natal Ceres sign? What does it inform you about this feminine aspect within you? Is it within a feminine sign amplifying the receiving nature of the feminine or is it in a masculine sign that you act upon that enables abundance (perhaps as a messenger or activator (air and fire signs) to others) to which you participate? Neptune is massive in Pisces (and more so with Jupiter), the surrendering, the dissolution, and the fuzzy view of insights from dreams or imagination are the bounty within you to harvest with conscious attention. With Ceres in opposition, we may feel that our perception of stable ground or our discernment is less firmly stated, but do we connect that as negative or positive in our earthly point of view? I sense it may be how we act and renew our faith again and again with our practice of exercising faith. Have you ever thought of that?! How often do you practice or exercise faith? We “Let go and Let God” when the challenges overwhelm us, but do we do it on the other end of the spectrum of our path on the side of joy or even at a place of stable equilibrium? Interesting to ponder!
Venus in Sagittarius at 8 degrees and also applying to oppose Mars (which exacts on November 30th around 9:21 pm PST. It might be a tension-filled day (with Mercury also opposite the day before)! Serious time to move slowly with purpose and peace. Meditation in extra doses of time is a wise way through the gauntlet of chaos. If you have children, be diligent with the routines, everything will be wonky and loud, with exaggerated potentials for wounds and wailing abound from November 28th through December 1st.
Jupiter in Pisces supports but also exaggerates and Venus in Sagittarius is helpful but may have to work extra hard to find an escape route from the noise and conflicts that go off. Venus in Sagittarius of our inner world will be eyeing the exits on any situation in the coming week and a half. Dancing helps burn away the stress that might otherwise stick and leave us vulnerable to overindulgence. When Venus opposes Mars there can be the dissolution of relationships or the illusion of what was to what is can break down. The moon on November 30th joins up with Neptune and Jupiter and all will be square to Mars, so overindulgence with substances can be dangerous. Be careful with your drinks and similar, but also how exposed you may be while at parties, or visiting, the sharing of bugs that you only see under a microscope are plentiful with Pisces so abundant with energy!
Saturn in Aquarius at 19 degrees Aquarius is in the final months of this fixed air sign, still square Uranus in Taurus at 16 degrees at a 3-degree orb. March 7, 2023, Saturn will make its ingress into Pisces and the energy will shift dramatically for Saturn for the first time in several years after its transits through Capricorn and then Aquarius. In Pisces, Saturn will be the hermit in the cave, the place of stillness, yet in a mutable sign out of sorts with the energy where it has strength (Capricorn and Aquarius). Jupiter and Mars in transit will be important to observe. In future posts, I’ll share more insights on Saturn in Pisces. We are still sorting out the hard energy of the closing square with Uranus still very active and gnarly for us all. Uranus in Taurus is moving further away now from the North Node in Taurus as the nodes slide backward through the zodiac, the dragons head (Rahu in Vedic Astrology) and Ketu the lunar South Node in Scorpio where we are transformed through the dragon’s tail of releasing. While there are different thoughts across the disciplines of the lunar nodes through astrology, they are always the key to understanding the power and potency of eclipses by proximity and how we navigate our lives through the seasons of time, and how we may release our old selves into the flames like a phoenix and rebirth ourselves through transformative experiences. For those in the United States, we are still in the nation’s first Pluto return. Until Pluto makes its ingress to Aquarius, March 23, 2023, around 4:14 am PST we are dialed in by the cosmic clock for deep integral transformation. In Aquarius, we will navigate the shadow first but eventually will begin to see new opportunities and technologies and how we collectively create change toward healing ourselves and our humanity together.
The next week is going to be interesting, to say the least. The two benefic planets, Venus and Jupiter face off with Neptune (surrendering energy or dreamy and imaginative) with exaggeration for Jupiter in Pisces (and in its domain so it is potent) and Venus opposing Mars (and Mercury too out of bounds). I really would not want to be on a train, lost in the rain, or dealing with an overflowing drain! Just some word fun for you as I sign off for this new moon post. Read some poetry, meditate, color, paint with watercolors, or doodle and craft, and use the kid scissors….highly recommend, and make sure you have band-aids for fingers and toes and hopefully, we will settle in towards a long winter (Northern Hemisphere), as the winter solstice is edging closer. This new moon will bloom to illuminate a full moon in Gemini on December 7th. The game of chaos and distortion will be like a mountain for some, with confusion from many sides. Retreat to your journal, getting it out of your head onto a page. The full moon will be applying to exactly conjoin Mars in Gemini (retrograde still) at 16 degrees, with Neptune in Pisces squaring it all. Winter roads will be treacherous and travel conditions messy. Stay home if you can and snuggle your fur babies. More detail about the coming full moon in the next newsletter/post. Please share with a reply what you enjoy about this newsletter I always appreciate your sharing! Be well dear soulful friends. We are evolving, through many switchbacks and returns, we have a wonderful earthly mother nature that shows us her magic. Namaste. Bless this moment.
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