Category Archives: Transits

Full Moon in Virgo

Honestly, there’s just too much happening in March. March is going to usher in a big vibe shift. There are multiple planets/luminaries shifting signs, some of which are outer planets that have been in their current signs for years (and in the case of Pluto, more than a decade). 

A quick list: Saturn moves into Pisces Tuesday this week, then mid-month Venus moves into Taurus, Mercury and then the Sun move into Aries (and thus begins the zodiacal new year!), and later this month, Pluto moves into Aquarius, leaving Capricorn where it has been since 2008, and then Mars finally (FINALLY) moves out of Gemini and into Cancer. And of course the moon changes signs throughout the month, every month, hitting on different points and giving emphasis to the other changes.

It’s a lot to digest, but for now, let’s focus on the full moon happening this week. It is occurring on the same day, March 7th, that Saturn will switch signs, which may feel intense. That morning the moon is full in Virgo at 7:40 am EST and then within an hour, Saturn moves into Pisces (a separate post about that will be forthcoming). 

Virgo full moons are about releasing the little things that stress us. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Virgo is an earth sign, so it’s grounded. Virgo is also methodical, but as a mutable sign, is adaptable, albeit in well thought-out, incremental ways. A full moon there encourages us to formulate practical steps on how to move beyond the things we’ve outgrown or that no longer serve us. 

While Virgo is grounded, the full moon is opposite the sun in Pisces, which is associated with free flowing emotions. The sun and moon are both squaring, or forming 90-degree angles with, Mars (this is known as a T-square), which will create tension and push for action. 

This is what you may experience based on where it occurs in your chart. Read for both your sun and rising sign.

Aries & Aries Rising: This full moon can bring a culmination of some aspect of your work, or the wrapping of a project that you have been consistently spending time on. You may find yourself with some much needed free time on your hands. Before diving into the next area of focus, take the opportunity to make a list, journal, or organize your thoughts about what you really want to prioritize next. A full moon in Virgo is opposite the sun in Pisces, so best to balance practical feelings of obligation with your innermost aspirations and desires.

Taurus & Taurus Rising: The Virgo full moon can bring an opportunity for you to clear blockages when it comes to your creativity. Have you had writer’s block? Use the full moon to change up your practice to try to get your creative energies flowing again. With your ruling planet, Venus, currently in your 12th house, meditation, retreat, journaling, and other mindfulness exercises can be especially useful now and can help you tap into your inner artist.

Gemini & Gemini Rising: You may be having some emotionally charged interactions or discussions with your family this week. Mars is still in Gemini and making that t-square with the moon and sun, so family dynamics may be contentious. Take deep breaths and try to keep your cool if you find yourself about to erupt or act in a way that you may regret later. And if someone in your family lashes out, try to remember that it’s a full moon and Mars is in the mix and not take it too personally.

Cancer & Cancer Rising: There could be some mixing it up in the mundane for you. The full moon could bring changes to the way you communicate or the wrapping up of an ongoing activity related to your neighborhood or your building, if you live in an apartment. It could also indicate an emotional conclusion for a sibling of yours. The moon is your ruler, so you have a tendency to be a deeply emotional person, so try to lean into Virgo’s attributes for balance.

Leo & Leo Rising: This could bring some closure to either a way you earn money or a money matter with which you have been dealing. You’ll also be feeling a little tender when it comes to the resources you have. Maybe your income, your savings, or your assets aren’t what you necessarily thought they would be. Virgo loves logical, practical steps toward progress, so this is a great time for examining your budget and trimming back the superfluous spending to help you achieve the things you’ve been hoping for. 

Virgo & Virgo Rising: The full moon may be extra emotional for you, so much so that you may be tempted to or find yourself acting abruptly. You’re usually pretty measured and plan out your next steps, but with this moon opposite the sun in Pisces and squaring Mars, your emotional self can overpower your logical self.  It’s a lot. Let go of negative self-perception, and if you find yourself impetuously and emotionally making decisions, try to take a step back and use your wise mind.

Libra & Libra Rising: This could be a time where you find yourself self-sabotaging in one or more areas of your life. Use the power of this full moon to critically examine the habits and thoughts that contribute to your own undoing and contemplate how you can break those. Meditation and setting aside time to clear your mind would be especially restorative now. 

Scorpio & Scorpio Rising: The Virgo full moon is happening in your 11th house, squaring your ruler, Mars, in your 8th house. This could bring an emotional urge to have potentially fraught conversations with your friends about things that have been bugging you or ways in which you feel wounded by them. It could even see you scaling back your commitments with regard to friendship or the time you’ve been devoting to your friend groups or your community. It can be sort of a “taking my ball and going home” vibe. Take a beat and think logically about what you want to say before speaking and acting.

Sagittarius & Sag Rising: With this full moon, you will likely be experiencing a culmination of something in your career or in a public role. It could be the wrapping up of a project you’re leading that will earn you kudos or an emotional ending to a job that you’ve been at. There may be a moment of sadness or a feeling of loss, but focus on the accomplishments you have achieved and ruminate about what you want to take on next. 

Capricorn & Capricorn Rising: This Virgo full moon is occurring in your 9th house, which may have you feeling restless and looking for an escape. You may be tempted to plan a trip to a far-flung locale or just immerse yourself in a good book or an area of study. The moon is in a fellow earth sign, so if you do end up wanting to escape, make a clear, detailed, multi-step plan first. 

Aquarius & Aquarius Rising: Your emotions may be particularly intense and focused on what others have and what you feel like you lack. A full moon in the 8th house of your chart can bring about jealousy or even have you feeling taken advantage of by someone else. Virgo is about logic, so if you feel this way, objectively lay out the facts for yourself. You may find your jealousy to be unfounded, and/or you may find that you do need to set better boundaries with others. 

Pisces & Pisces Rising: Close relationships will serve as the primary focus during this full moon, and you may find yourself being more critical than usual. Instead of stewing about the shortcomings you perceive about your partner or others with whom you’re in close, symbiotic relationships, take the opportunity to reflect on your feelings and why certain things may be triggering for you. 

Take all of these with a grain of salt. Astrology is interpretative and not fortune-telling, so the full moon may manifest in different ways for you. 

Week of February 26th: Two Conjunctions

This week, we will be feeling momentum toward and then the apices of two big planetary conjunctions: Venus & Jupiter in Aries and Mercury & Saturn in Aquarius. 

Slightly after midnight EST on March 2nd, Venus will enter a conjunction with Jupiter in Aries at 12 degrees. Venus in Aries is fiery, passionate, sexy, and combustible. The day that Venus moved into Aries, I felt compelled to look up pole dancing classes. My favorite astrology Twitter account referred to it as “hoe era.” Conjunct Jupiter, we’ll see the expansion and spreading of those attributes. 

This transit could lead to burgeoning relationships becoming public or being taken to the next level. The “do now, think later” nature of Aries could mean that some people impulsively get engaged or elope. In Aries, Venus and Jupiter are in a sign ruled by Mars, which is still (yes, still, it’s been MONTHS) in Gemini, so there could be big talk of relationships or relationship changes. This talk may or may not pan out, but Jupiter’s presence means they are more likely to succeed. This transit can also mean sexual sparks flying and/or being with multiple partners. 

It may not be just or all about love and sexual relationships, though. At this time, you may start or grow other relationships that will be influential to you and affect your life in a positive way, or broaden your perspective. Or, existing relationships you have with others, even more casual, acquaintance-type ones, may bear fruit around this time. I’ve updated this post to add a real life example: my husband has been diligently working on getting all the paperwork and applying for his Irish citizenship for the last four years. His eligibility is based on his familial relationships. After years, his citizenship was finally approved and processed–with Jupiter and Venus both transiting and nearing their conjunction in his 4th house of roots, home, and family. Because of his family relationships, he’s able to connect more with his roots and heritage, and expand his home base. Astrology is wild!

This transit, because Venus rules money and what we value, could be lucky in terms of finances. Raises and promotions may come through, or you may just find a dollar on the street. The only minor caution here is to try not to be TOO spendy (Jupiter expands, so expand with money in, not out).

Chiron is also in the mix, within one degree of both planets, and Venus entering an exact conjunction with Chiron the next day, so some of the relationships that form may offer a healing quality to deep emotional wounds from early life. 

At the same time, Mercury is approaching Saturn, and those two planets form a conjunction several hours later in the early morning of March 2nd. This is in Aquarius, Saturn’s sign, so the Saturn influence will be strong on Mercury, and it’s at 29 degrees, the anaretic degree of Aquarius, so it’s mega Aquarian energy. There will be intellectual conversations, with the focus on the world outside of yourself.

On a personal level, this energy also makes for a good time for thinking about the systems and structures of your life and getting organized and practical, but in an inventive way (Aquarius). What can you do to improve the way you think and communicate? What are the systematic steps you can take? And can you use your voice to make things better in the world or community? 

Later on March 2nd, Mercury moves into Pisces, so our communications and our thinking softens, becoming a little more emotionally driven and intuitive. Mercury in Pisces is a great time to write songs and poetry. This week, with Mercury in conjunction with Saturn, with Venus and Jupiter empowering one another, it’s a good time to have potentially tough conversations. 

Next week, on March 7th, Saturn will move into Pisces, on the same day as a full moon in Virgo, which will usher in a major vibe shift. In fact, the entire month of March is about big sign changes, but more on that next week. 

New Moon in Pisces: Let it Go

On Saturday, February 18th, the Sun moves into Pisces, and thus begins Pisces season. Venus has already been swimming through Pisces since the end of January, so certain aspects of your life may have felt a little dreamy and a little leaky lately, but with the Sun moving into Pisces, and a New Moon happening at 1 degree of Pisces in the wee hours of the morning on February 20th (a little after 2 am EST), the Piscean vibes are going to be strong. 

Pisces is a mutable water sign. As a mutable sign, it’s adaptable and transitory. As a mutable water sign, it’s like an uncontainable ocean, deep and roiling, containing beauty and mystery. Pisces season asks us to go with the flow, to let the waves wash over us and mold us, eroding our sharp edges, to be compassionate and sensitive to our own feelings and others’, and to tap into our intuition.

The New Moon in Pisces encourages us to bring that energy into focus, and let go. New Moons represent the beginnings of new cycles, but Pisces, the 12th sign of the Zodiac, is a sign that lends itself to releasing whatever we’re hung up on, like a big whoosh. Listen to music. I suggest woozy pop. Weyes Blood. Beach House. And then just cry it out. You will find me listening to “It’s a Dream” by Neil Young on a loop for the next month and sobbing intermittently. 

The New Moon is occuring in a cross-sign conjunction with Saturn, which is at 28 degrees of Aquarius and about to enter Pisces in a couple weeks. Saturn in Pisces will loosen up the rules and structures in our lives, but it might make things a little messy, so this New Moon is a really good time to let go of your blocks, get a sense of what feels right, and then utilize Saturn while it’s still in Aquarius to make a game plan on how to lean in to what your intuition is guiding you toward. 

Depending on your Sun and your rising sign, you may feel this New Moon more acutely in certain areas of your life. 

Pisces & Pisces Rising: You may be compelled to make some big changes. If your Sun is in Pisces, you’ll be having your solar return this month, and if Pisces is your rising sign, the Sun is moving through your first house of self. It’s a time for self-reflection. Assess what’s working for you and what you really want. Conscientiously kick anything that’s not serving you, and manifest and take action on what you want to change, both for your inner self and outer self. Also a great time to get a facial! Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize.

Aries & Aries Rising: Aries are known for their energy, but this New Moon will likely have you feeling very tired, either mentally or physically or both. If you’re feeling exhausted or burnt out, it’s best to get as much rest as possible. Pay close attention to your dreams this weekend and early in the week and try to tease out the meaning; your subconscious may be sending you a message. 

Taurus & Taurus Rising: Taureans have had a bumpy couple years, with Uranus making its way through your sign and the eclipses causing some havoc for you since November 2021. The New Moon in your 11th house encourages you to find escape and solace through your friends. Verbalize your dreams and wishes to your friend group, let them pump you up, and take in their advice. The exchange of ideas may spark some new creativity for you that could ultimately help set you on a path to fulfilling your goals. 

Gemini & Gemini Rising: This New Moon brings your career into focus. You may be getting a new opportunity at work or a new offer for something bigger. What does your heart want? Is your current career what you really want to do? If it is, amazing. If not, this is a good time to think about the changes you want to make and how you can plant the seeds for greater fulfillment. 

Cancer & Cancer Rising: You may feel like you are craving a new adventure, or you are feeling compelled to dive deep into an area of study. This is a good New Moon for planning your next big trip and/or signing up for classes on a subject that may suddenly interest you. Pretend you’ve won a Fulbright, and make plans to focus on whatever is calling to you and learn by immersion. 

Leo & Leo Rising: This New Moon may have you feeling a little extra emotional and co-dependent. If anything feels amiss about what you’re giving to others or asking from the people in your life, reevaluate the situation and see if there’s a way to make it feel more balanced. A New Moon in Pisces isn’t the best time for setting boundaries, but if some arrangements are feeling particularly boundary-less, use your intuition to guide you in recalibrating and saying no when you need to. 

Virgo & Virgo Rising: Whether you’re single or in a relationship, take a break from rigidity. This is a nice time for showing your partner how you feel about them. Appeal to your partner’s love language to express your own love. If you’re single, use the New Moon in Pisces to open yourself up to new experiences or potential new partners, even ones that may not have checked all the boxes in the past. 

Libra & Libra Rising: With the New Moon occurring in your 6th house of routines and habits, this week marks a powerful time to adopt a new practice that can help you get more centered. If you don’t already meditate, you would be well served by incorporating a daily guided meditation into your life. If meditation’s decidedly not your thing, how about stretching? Carving out time, even if only for a few minutes, every day for a period of focus, release, and catharsis will go a long way for your physical and mental health. 

Scorpio & Scorpio Rising: Tap into your creativity this New Moon. It will be a great way to channel the extra emotional energy you will be feeling. It could be through a creative or artistic pursuit, like writing, painting, or designing, or through mixing it up in your romantic and/or sex life. Try new things, have fun and let yourself feel the sparks that come to you, 

Sag & Sagittarius Rising: This New Moon may cut extra deep for you, bringing up some emotions around your family and your home, whatever that means for you. Sagittarians are explorers and adventurers, but at this time, you may want to tap into your innermost feelings and desires about what makes you feel the most secure and what roots you want to lay down. Take the steps to foster that and build your nest. 

Cap & Capricorn Rising: Your communications may feel a little more emotionally charged and a little more flowy than usual at this time. This New Moon is a great time to express your honest feelings to those in your life. Tell the people around you how much they mean to you, and if you have friends or siblings in your life that need some TLC or some tough love, your words will likely have extra impact now. 

Aquarius & Aquarius Rising: This New Moon is happening in your 2nd house of money, resources, and values. This may mark the beginning of a period of good fortune or new income for you, but even if it doesn’t bring in new money from the jump, use the New Moon to contemplate what it is that means the most to you. How can you align what you’re doing to earn income with what you feel is important to you on a gut level? 

As always, a disclaimer: this is my interpretation of the transits in the sky and what they mean based on a person’s birth chart, but astrology is a fun thing and should be taken with a grain of salt. It’s not fortune telling. You have free will. Take only what resonates.

Full Moon in Leo

The full moon in Leo occurs on Sunday, February 5th, at 1:28 pm EST, which means that the moon, which will be at 16 degrees Leo, will be exactly opposite the sun at 16 degrees Aquarius. 

Leo and Aquarius, on opposite sides of the zodiac, have similarities in that they are both fixed signs (along with Taurus and Scorpio), so they are steady, focused, and are able to power through to get things done, but it can also mean they tend to be stuck in their ways. When the sun is in the signs that are fixed, it’s the middle of a season. Aquarius season is smack in the middle part of winter in the Northern Hemisphere, and Leo season reigns over the middle of the summer. 

For the most part, though, Leo and Aquarius are quite different. Leos, ruled by the sun, are light sources. Leo is about incandescence; it shines brightly and wants others to see and admire its light. Leo is about the self, but Leos are social creatures and like to be around people. Aquarius, ruled by Saturn, is about the collective. Aquarius cares about humanity but prefers to not engage. Aquarians are often misanthropes who want the world to be a better place. As an Aquarius myself, I feel this.  

With a full moon in Leo, the question that emerges is, how can I use MY talents, MY best self (me me me), to light up the collective and put it to use to make things better for others? So that’s an overarching theme to guide your thinking around this lunation. Full moons are also always about release and shedding the stuff that doesn’t work for us.

This particular full moon is especially volatile because not only is it in a fire sign, but the moon and sun are making a T-square to Uranus, the planet of disruption and surprises, which is still hanging out in the middle degrees of Taurus. Expect the unexpected. 

Here is how the full moon may impact you based on your chart: 

Leo & Leo Rising: This is taking place in your first house of self, so you may be shedding some skin, literally or figuratively. It’s a great time for looking both inward and outward and asking yourself, what do you want to release? Let it go. It could be a few inches of hair or some self-destructive behaviors. This is your opportunity for navel gazing. With the sun heading toward a conjunction with Saturn later this month, the more methodical or structured you can be about any self-care routines, the better they will work for you in the long run. 

Virgo & Virgo Rising: You may be feeling an emotional surge around the full moon. If tension has been building up for you lately, this full moon could bring about an eruption. You may need a good cry. It’s OK, and even recommended, to cancel your plans and be alone if you feel like you need to. It’s a good time to cut the stuff out of your routine that makes you feel unwell. Use this moon to try to rest and recuperate, physically and mentally, from whatever has been troubling you. 

Libra & Libra Rising: This is a good moon for putting yourself out there in your groups and/or your community. Plan a party or gather disparate groups of your friends for a dinner. Venus, your chart ruler, is in Pisces, the sign of its exaltation, so your natural predilection for connecting people and building relationships is especially potent at this time and could lead to some really great things for you, both materially and on a more fulfilling, deeper level. 

Scorpio & Scorpio Rising: The last few months probably felt like a true slog for you, with your chart ruler, Mars, retrograde for a long time, but now all systems are go. This full moon in Leo is happening in your house of career and legacy, and it’s very public-oriented. Leo is all about putting itself on display, so you may find yourself taking some action in your career that thrusts you into the spotlight, or you may have the spotlight thrust upon you. 

Sag & Sagittarius Rising: As a mutable sign, you are no stranger to shifting gears, but you may be feeling extra in flux around this full moon. Have you taken on too much lately? You have so many interests, but you can’t commit to them all, or you would be completely exhausted and fragmented, even though you’re a Sag and flying free-range is your normal M.O. This is a time for whittling down what you’re studying, reading, and writing, to the one or two things that light you up the most. 

Cap & Capricorn Rising: This full moon is taking place in your eighth house of shared resources. You may get an unexpected payment of some sort, or you may be faced with an unexpected bill, or with this occurring in your eighth house, it may be your partner experiencing the financial surprises, good or bad. If you have  not been totally organized and on top of your finances, this could mean some potential tax issues. However, as a Cap/Cap rising, you’re usually pretty good with that stuff or you at least hire someone or rely on someone who is good at it, so I hope this means a windfall for you. 

Aquarius & Aquarius Rising: You’ll be feeling this lunation in your close personal relationships. This full moon is also coming in the aftermath of a square, or 90-degree angle, between Venus and Mars, meaning that there’s a lot of general relationship tension in the air, but you are going to be hit harder with it. Take a break and take a walk if you need some time away from your partner, or let go of the need to return texts and calls immediately.  

Pisces & Pisces Rising: You may be thinking about all the drudgery you have to endure. Working, answering emails, washing dishes, brushing your teeth, working out. Sometimes the prosaicness of daily life can be soul crushing, and you may be feeling this acutely during this full moon. It’s a great time to mix it up. Take action and disrupt your workday patterns. Change the way you work out. Jupiter, your ruler, is in Aries, so kickboxing would be a good option, or something else to get your aggression out. Continue to brush your teeth but maybe get a better toothpaste or better yet, in honor of Aquarius season, an electric toothbrush.

Aries & Aries Rising: If you have someone in your life you want to have sex with, this is a good full moon for doing it, and doing it in a way that’s a little different from your usual. The Venus-Mars square that was causing tension this week, plus the fiery moon, will make for some sexually combustible energy, especially given where it lands in your chart. If you prefer the safest sex, making self love a priority would be a good use of the energy. You may even find that it stimulates your creativity.

Taurus & Taurus Rising: The full moon in Leo is taking place at the bottom of your chart, in the area of your roots. This could mean the culmination of some home-related projects/processes or conversations with family coming full circle. Your chart ruler, Venus, is in Pisces, where it’s exalted, but it recently squared Mars, meaning that you may have been having some tense or fraught conversations with family lately. However, now that Venus is moving past that and through the sign it loves, you should be feeling better in that area and experiencing some replenishing comfort and pleasure in your home and the people around you.

Gemini & Gemini Rising: This full moon is occurring in your third house of communication and the stuff that is local to you, like your neighborhood. It’s hitting upon the things that usually make you thrive, so take it in stride and use its power to have the conversations you feel compelled to have and to try the new restaurant you’ve been wanting to go to. You may want to take or book a quick getaway trip. You also may get some expected news during this time, though, particularly from or related to a sibling. 

Cancer & Cancer Rising: The focus of this full moon is on your money, your resources, and what you value. You may be thinking about the aspects of your job/method of earning money that you don’t love, and it’s a good time to work to get away from those things, even if it’s through incremental changes. Or given Uranus’s interplay with this full moon, you may find big changes in this area naturally coming to you. I’m a believer that you get back what you give, so it doesn’t hurt to give charitably to the causes you care about during this full moon. 

As usual, this is my interpretation of the planetary transits during this time, and I am no psychic, so take this all with a grain of salt! Happy full moon! 

New Moon in Aquarius

There is a New Moon at 1 degree of Aquarius on Saturday, January 21st at 3:53 pm EST. With Mars and Mercury recently completing their retrogrades and now direct, this New Moon heralds what feels like the real start to the new year, finally. It also marks the Lunar New Year, which begins Sunday. We’ll be in the Year of the Rabbit!

I am hoping for an energetic shift with this New Moon. We should be able to feel like we can FINALLY move forward after having to take many steps back. Because Mercury and Mars are both in their retroshades, meaning they are still retracing steps they already took (once forward, then once back), we may be dealing with some decisions that were made or issues that arose when they were retrograde, but we’re putting that stuff to bed now. 

This New Moon is also in a cross-sign conjunction with Pluto, the planet of rebirth, death, and transformation, giving it extra gravity. 

I can see the light of a clear blue morning! (Dolly Parton is a Capricorn [and also the best].)

Here is what the New Moon in Aquarius may bring for the various signs. 

Aquarius & Aqua Rising – The New Moon is in your first house, which gives it extra emphasis for Aquarians, especially if you were born toward the early part of Aquarius season or are an Aquarius rising. This is a time to be self-absorbed in terms of thinking about what it is you want, both for this year ahead and the long term. How do you want to change your life? Now is the time to manifest. Make the list, take the first steps, and think of this as the real New Year for you. 

Pisces & Pisces Rising – This will be a more contemplative New Moon for you. You may be feeling super tired and sleepy, and that’s ok. Focus inward on the things that are really preoccupying or troubling you, and pay attention to the dreams you have on Saturday night and in the next few days. The steps you take toward finding some inner peace at this time, whether it’s meditation or medication or just working out, will likely pay dividends for you in the long run.

Aries & Aries Rising – Aries never needs an excuse to move forward and take action, but this New Moon represents an opportunity to do so with regard to friendships, community, and groups. With Mars, your ruler, now direct and cruising through the area of your chart associated with communication and your neighborhood, you may want to tackle some local problems and join up with local groups or friends to effect change. And since Aries are natural leaders, you may feel called to form your own group. Get out your megaphone! Unionize! 

Taurus & Taurus Rising – This New Moon is in your area of career and legacy, so it’s about prioritizing the mark you want to make on the world. Big, heady stuff. Give some serious thought to what it is you want to do, and if it’s different from what you are currently doing, it’s an auspicious time to take baby steps or big leaps in the direction of what you want. Life is too short to grind away doing something that doesn’t fulfill you.

Gemini & Gemini Rising – With Mars finally moving direct through your sign, you are likely feeling much more energized now and clearer on the areas of your life that merit your focus. You’re ready to go. The New Moon in Aquarius will help you on whatever journey is calling you. Book a trip to Asia, or take the LSAT. This is a really opportune time for making a move toward whatever your next great adventure is. 

Cancer & Cancer Rising – The focus with this New Moon will be on what you give to others, and what you get back in return. How do you share your light? Take stock of how you give your time, energy, and money, and lean into what fulfills and energizes you. Aquarius is about thinking differently and discarding what doesn’t work. This could also be a time when you see your partner finding new financial opportunities, so if they need some encouragement to think differently or take leaps, it’s worthwhile to give them that. 

Leo & Leo Rising – Every time there is a New Moon in Leo, the Moon is conjunct your chart ruler, the Sun. It makes each New Moon a little extra emotional for Leos. This one occurs in your 7th house of partnerships, so the conversations with your partners, be they romantic or platonic, may feel extra emotional, but they will ultimately be cathartic if they are truthful. If you are not in a relationship but hope to be, this is a good New Moon for putting yourself out there, honestly and authentically.

Virgo & Virgo Rising – Alright, your chart ruler, Mercury, is now direct, so that in itself will feel like a relief for you. Now this New Moon in Aquarius offers ample opportunity to break out of your patterns, especially in your work life, and in your health routines. This is like the real New Year for you. If you have been thinking about making commitments to improve your health or change your habits, if you do make those now, they will be much more likely to stick. If you don’t have a standing desk, I recommend investing in one! 

Libra & Libra Rising – With Venus conjunct Saturn also in the area of your chart that is focused on creativity and joy, the New Moon in Aquarius is a time to tackle new creative projects or artistic endeavors. It’s a time to start the manuscript, take a sketch class or dance lessons, or think in a way that’s outside the box about the stuff in your life that has been sapping you of happiness. As Chani Nicholas always says, life is short, have fun!

Scorpio & Scorpio Rising – For Scorpios, this New Moon is occurring at the bottom of your chart, in the area of your roots, childhood, home, and family. So this could be either a more surface-level New Moon for you, where you paint your walls or rearrange your furniture or get a new shower curtain, and even minor home improvement projects will give you some energy. But it’s also a good time to think about your family bonds, and if there is anything you are hoping to work on with those closest to you, or any wounds you want to work through in therapy, this New Moon offers a new beginning for that as well.

Sagittarius & Sag Rising – Time to get creative about your daily life. If you feel like you’re experiencing drudgery or stuck in a rut, change it up! Sagittarius is about learning, seeking new experiences, adventure, and with Mars and Mercury now both direct, seize that opportunity. You may even be called to move to a new neighborhood or city, and if you’re feeling that, this is a good time to go for it. 

Capricorn & Cap Rising – Capricorn is ruled by Saturn, which is still in Aquarius during this New Moon and is forming a conjunction with Venus, the planet of values. This New Moon is a good time to be thinking about making money in new ways. What do you want to be doing as a career, or at least as a way to earn income? If you want to make that align with your passions, or if you are just ready for a shake up, this a good time to make it happen, in a Saturnian, methodical, responsible way, of course.

As always, keep in mind that astrology is not fortune telling, and we all have free will. These are my interpretations of the current sky and how you could take advantage of it, so to speak. Take them with a grain of salt!  

Aquarius: Rewriting the Rules

The sun moves into Aquarius on January 20th, and Aquarius season begins. As an Aquarius myself, with both my Sun and Mercury there, I am partial to Aquarius season even though it’s pretty much objectively the worst time of the year, at least in the Northern Hemisphere. 

Aquarius is the rarest sign, which is appropriate because uniqueness is one of the Aquarian signatures. Aquarius is a sign that is associated with being non-conformist, eccentric, rebellious, and anti-authoritarian, despite its traditional ruler of Saturn. The modern ruler of Aquarius is Uranus. I use both interchangeably. Both are fitting. I think of Aquarius as leaning into the Saturnian values of hard work, responsibility, and thriving through structure and systems. But whereas Capricorn, also ruled by Saturn, is about enforcing the rules, Aquarius, with the Uranian rulership, is about rewriting the rules. And the responsibility felt by Aquarius is on a macro, rather than a micro level; it is a responsibility to what’s right and what is the best for the most people. So if the structures are unjust, those need to be overthrown. 

Aquarius, as an air sign, is also associated with intelligence, but the intelligence manifests itself differently than it does with Gemini and Libra. Gemini and Libra are much more likely to engage. Aquarius hangs back and marvels at how dumb people can be. But those same people deserve more! Judging the individuals but advocating for the group is an Aquarian thing.

There’s a coldness, or at least a coolness, associated with Aquarians. Many come off as detached. Personally, as a Cancer rising with an Aries moon, I don’t really embody this trait so much, but I have noticed it in others with Aquarius placements. For Bravo watchers, think of Ariana from Vanderpump Rules, who is an Aquarius rising. In the early seasons, she confounded Stassi and others because she seemingly didn’t care about being friends with them and kept them at arm’s length. Big Aquarian energy. 

Technology is another primary association with Aquarius, and again, another one that I don’t really relate to that much, but definitely see it when it comes to others. I feel like an analog woman living in a digital world. I’m still using an iPhone 7. But many Aquarians or those with Aquarius placements are tech enthusiasts. Technology can serve as a democratizer and as a progress accelerator, so it makes sense that many Aquarians are early adopters of new technology. 

Taking it back to VPR (always), on the flip side of Ariana, there’s Kristen, who is an Aquarius sun and has some major Aquarian energy too but in a totally different way. I think of Kristen’s pursuit of truth to an unhinged level, literally flying out Miami Girl to prove that Tom Sandoval had committed wrongdoings. Flying someone out is big time Aquarius energy; Kristen literally used air technology to prove someone wrong in a quest for justice and vindication. 

This Aquarius season starts off with a New Moon at 1 degree Aquarius, which also marks the Lunar New Year. More to come on that in a few days. 

Venus in Aquarius

Venus is about what we cherish. It rules love, beauty, relationships, money, and the things that we value. Aquarius is about intelligence, uniqueness, nonconformity, the collective, and authenticity. With Venus moving through Aquarius since January 2nd, we have been feeling the Aquarian influences in the Venusian areas of our lives. 

Mercury is also retrograde in Capricorn right now, another Saturn-ruled sign, so one of the major ways that this Venus transit through Aquarius will likely play out will be through detached, unsparing examination of our closest relationships. Internally, you may be reviewing your marriage, or partnership, or close friendships through a critical lens for the next couple weeks and reevaluating whether they work for you and are giving you what you need. 

Then, when Mercury goes direct on January 18th, the conversations can begin if they need to occur. What we have observed may not be bad; we may not find our relationships to be lacking. In fact, Venus is a benefic, so it may be that the analysis we’ve done during the past couple weeks has actually given us a sense that our closest relationships fortify us and provide us with exactly what we need, or that we’ve pinpointed small ways they can be even better. But Aquarius is straightforward, and the plainly honest attitude in the air is made even more so by Venus meeting up with Saturn on January 22nd. 

When both parties in a relationship lay bare their feelings and their needs, it can be cathartic and rewarding. Gimme some truth. (John Lennon had an Aquarius moon.) Just be careful, with Mars still in Gemini, to be sincere and not give in to the urge to be defensive, caustic, and needlessly cutting. Once Venus moves into Pisces later in January, our feelings may be overwhelming and free-flowing, so this period of seeing things just as they are, in the light of day, is invaluable. 

The Wolf Moon

Mercury went retrograde on December 29th, so 2023 starts off in the midst of both Mercury and Mars retrogrades. These transits imbue the beginning of the new year with a reflective quality. Start slow.

This is further emphasized by the full Moon, the Wolf Moon, which takes place on Friday, January 6th, at 6:08pm EST, at 16 degrees of Cancer, opposite the Sun in Capricorn. Full Moons are a time for reflecting on our pasts, looking inward, and releasing what we are longer served by. The Moon is also opposite (within 1 degree) the retrograde Mercury, making it even more ripe for thinking about what we want to discard.

And with the Moon in Cancer, its domicile, the air is extra charged. Cancer is a cardinal water sign. It’s strongly emotional, fiercely protective, and highly perceptive. This Moon is also in a sextile with Uranus, meaning that it is in communication with the planet of disruption. All of this indicates that Friday and the couple days leading up to it may feel very tense and volatile, with some long-held and perhaps even repressed, untapped emotions rushing to the forefront of our consciousness.

This is how it may play out for you depending on your rising and Sun signs.

Cancer & Cancer Rising: The ultra-emotional effects of the full Moon may be felt extra acutely for those with it occurring in the first house. If you are harboring thoughts of self-loathing or if there are self-destructive habits that are holding you back from being the person you want to be, this is the time to let them go. 

Leo & Leo Rising: You may be feeling compelled to retreat from everything. If that’s the case, don’t force yourself to be social. It’s ok to spend the weekend in splendid isolation, as Warren Zevon would say. “Putting tin foil up on the windows, lying down in the dark to dream” may be the most productive way to process for the time being.

Virgo & Virgo Rising: Sometimes we give more than we get when it comes to our social circle, and for Virgos, who are predisposed to planning and caretaking, this can be especially true. Take a few breaths before you blow up at your friends for being thoughtless. Let them make the dinner reservations.

Libra & Libra Rising: Is your imposter syndrome preventing you from making a career shift or putting yourself out there in the world? Consider your strengths. You’re a magnetic Libra, so people are naturally drawn to you. Release your insecurities, put yourself out there, and try not to feel weighed down by any old baggage.

Scorpio & Scorpio Rising: You may be feeling very restless right now, either full of wanderlust or in desperate need to escape from your current circumstances. Journaling is a healthy exercise, as is dreaming about long-distance travel so you have something to look forward to. If you do book anything, just double check all the details, and do so again once Mercury goes direct on January 18th.

Sagittarius & Sag Rising:  Feelings of obligation or indebtedness may overwhelm you. If you owe something, it’s a productive time for paying down that debt as best you can. If the debts are imagined or due to old unwritten emotional contracts, think about how you can rewrite those to better serve yourself.

Capricorn & Cap Rising: You may feel extra tender or extra combustible in your one-on-one relationships. Focus on letting go of small irritations and/or productively working through old wounds when it comes to the deeper issues. You may want to save the discussions with your partner until later, though.

Aquarius & Aqua Rising: Work may be more fraught in the days leading up to and on the day of the full Moon, and you may experience challenges keeping your cool with your colleagues. Step away and take time to collect yourself before popping off on an unsuspecting co-worker. They don’t know they are being annoying!

Pisces & Pisces Rising: Sometimes life seems unfair not because of any grave injustice (of which there are multitudes) but because everyone else seems to be doing whatever they want and we feel we cannot. It may be helpful at this time to remember that most people have their own burdens even if you’re not aware of them, and you are also allowed to do what you want. This weekend, shirk your responsibilities to have fun, whatever that means for you (Netflix).

Aries & Aries Rising: Your past, especially the wounds stemming from early life and the parenting you received or lack thereof, may be unusually present for you at this time. If you are reading this, I’m assuming you are an adult. Thinking about how your adult self can now heal your younger self can bring catharsis. The concept of “reparenting” oneself gets discussed a lot in the woo zeitgeist, but this would be a good time for considering doing so.

Taurus & Taurus Rising: This Moon may bring feelings of frustration with not being listened to or not being able to get your point across. You may feel like you’re just banging your head against a proverbial wall. This is a good time for reassessing how you communicate. It might be you, not them. And it also might be them, and if that’s the case, better to take a beat, be adaptable, and try again later.

Gemini & Gemini Rising: The astrology of the start of the year and this full Moon encourage you to take stock of where you are putting your money, time, and energy. Are your investments aligned with what you actually care about? You may be tempted to shop and spend money carelessly to chase emotional fulfillment, but this is a good time for thinking about what it is you actually want and really need to feel satisfied.

Hang in there! Once Mercury goes direct on January 18th, we should all be thinking with a little more clarity that will help us to look forward. And remember, astrology is open to interpretation and does not predict the future. Rather, whatever is going on here on Earth can be thought of as a reflection of what’s happening in the universe and vice versa and should be taken with a grain of salt.

Capricorn Season, Winter Solstice, and a New Moon

This week is packed and auspicious. I’ve actually been eyeing this week for quite some time because there are a couple sign changes, a New Moon, and it’s the solstice! Lots of possibilities for new beginnings here. 

On December 20th, Jupiter, the planet of expansiveness and growth, often associated with luck and success, is changing signs and moving back into go-for-it, headstrong, bold, fiery Aries from dreamy, artsy, moody Pisces, and will be transiting through Aries until mid-May. Whereas Jupiter may have been bolstering your creative and contemplative side since late October, Jupiter being in Aries will likely coincide with more action and can-do energy for the next few months. 

On December 21st, the Sun moves into Capricorn. Capricorn, like Aries, is another sign of action, but it’s an earth sign, so it’s more grounded. It says, “Let’s get our act together and do this, according to plan.” This is the season of taking things seriously.

With the Sun moving into Capricorn, December 21st also marks the Winter Solstice and thus is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. The days only get longer after this, and we get more sunlight from this point forward until the Summer Solstice in June. Huzzah! I have been really into pagan carols lately. If you are so inclined, on the Solstice, I recommend giving a listen to Leigh Ann Hussey and the Black Oak Coven’s The Homebrewed Book of Pagan Carols, Vol. 1: Winter. Fun stuff, lots of wassailing. 

Then, on Friday, December 23rd, at 5:17 am EST, there is a New Moon in Capricorn. New Moons are typically a time for planting the seeds of what we want to make happen, and given that this New Moon is in the sign of Capricorn, a sign of doing, and making a 90-degree angle to Jupiter in Aries, another sign of doing, and happening so close to the Solstice, this makes it especially potent.

Now let’s dig in to see what this may portend for each sun and rising sign.

Capricorn & Capricorn Rising: New Moon, new you (I say this every time, but any time the New Moon falls in your sign, that’s the case.) The New Moon occurs in your 1st house of self and identity. This is a good time for self-examination and reflection. If there are actions you have wanted to take with regard to your inner or outer self (e.g., improving your health habits, coloring your hair, piercing your nose), you may feel more compelled to do so now. This is a good time to get a jump start on any New Year’s resolutions you would want to make. With Jupiter moving into your 4th house of your roots, home, and family, between now and May, you may see family members getting good news or succeeding at their efforts, or you may experience positive changes in your home environment. 

Aquarius & Aquarius Rising: The New Moon is taking place in your 12th house, so this could be a good time for meditating on our deepest thoughts and what you keep hidden within yourself. If there is inner turmoil, the Solstice and New Moon mark a time to delve further inward and do whatever is most cathartic for you, whether it’s journaling, meditating, or channeling your feelings through an intentional crying session. From now until May, Jupiter will be moving through the 3rd house for you, which lends an expansiveness to your communications and localized, neighborhood-based interactions. You may also see an increase in the short-distance, domestic trips you take over the next few months, and if you have siblings, increased positive communication with them. They may receive some good news or see projects come to fruition. 

Pisces & Pisces Rising: This New Moon could coincide with the seeds of new friendships being planted. If there are any community groups or book clubs or knitting circles that you have been thinking about getting involved with, you will want to take those steps now. Joining new groups or making new friends at this time could ultimately lead to a sense of fulfillment or reward down the road. And Jupiter will be entering your 2nd house of money, values, and resources, so you may also see a more literal payoff over the next few months, especially if you were born during the day. It’s a good time for laying the groundwork for a new job or a raise and selling yourself. 

Aries & Aries Rising: With the New Moon taking place in your 10th house of career and legacy, it could coincide with changes in this area. If you’ve been wanting to get a new job, this would be a good time to put yourself out there, send out your CV, and network. Jupiter will be moving into your 1st house, which could really boost the vibes and energy you need to succeed. One word of warning for Jupiter in your first house, though, is that Jupiter means growth, so with Jupiter in this area of your chart, it could literally manifest through growth of the body, so if you are not hoping for an expanded physical form, it would be wise to pay attention to being fit and stick with an exercise routine. 

Taurus & Taurus Rising: The 9th house, which is associated with spirituality, teaching and learning, long-distance travel, and publishing, is where this New Moon is occuring for you. It’s an auspicious time to start endeavors in these areas. If you have been wanting to learn more about any area of philosophy or religion, it’s a great time to dive into books on those topics or sign up for classes. It’s actually a great time to sign up for classes of any kind, given the educational aspect of this part of your chart. Also, if you have been itching to travel, book the trip. With Jupiter moving into your 12th house, you may be experiencing a psychological awakening or growth in the spiritual plane over the next few months. If you have been wanting to go to Esalen or do an Eat Pray Love-type thing, now’s the time to set those wheels in motion. 

Gemini & Gemini Rising: With the New Moon in your 8th house, you may want to reassess your finances and especially your debts, loans, bills, repayment plans and also what is owed to you by others. You can review the arrangements and if there are beneficial changes you can make, it’s a good time to do that. Jupiter moves into the area of your chart concerned with friendships, community, networks, and hopes and dreams, and brings some growth, progress, and/or luck to this area until May. You may find yourself expanding your friends circle or connecting with a new group of people that share your interests. You could find yourself on a path toward fulfilling some of your loftiest goals through new relationships and friendships initiated in the next few months.   

Cancer & Cancer Rising: The New Moon in Capricorn occurs in your 7th house of partnerships. There is potential to take a serious look at the partnerships you’re in and what you want out of these, and to begin working toward those ideals. If you are not in a relationship with a significant other, this could mean the partnerships you’re in with clients, or with your best friend. Jupiter goes into the part of your chart that focuses on career and the imprint you leave in life. This makes for a pretty big moment over the next few months. You’ve been laying groundwork for bigger things in this area and this is when you likely start to see the fruits of your labor ripen. You may step into a leadership role during this time. 

Leo & Leo Rising: The 6th house, associated with daily work, routines, and health, is the area of your chart where this New Moon occurs for you. This makes for a nice, practical New Moon, and it’s a great time for making a to-do list. What do you want to get done and cross off your list between now and next month? It’s also a good time for reflecting on your routines in general. How can you work smarter and not harder? (Capricorn loves both!) With Jupiter traveling through the part of your chart associated with long-distance travel and learning, this is a great time for taking trips, especially those that expand your perspectives and teach you something. It’s great for spiritual journeys as well. 

Virgo & Virgo Rising: Capricorn is a fellow earth sign, so with the New Moon there, it appeals to your own practical nature, but it gives you an extra spark to get you moving. It’s occurring in your 5th house, the house of creativity, joy, and fun. Reflect on the things that bring you joy and truly make you happy. Virgos love lists, so write one and make a point to integrate these activities into your life more than you already do. Jupiter will be in your 8th house of the stuff (money, trauma, sex) we get from and give to other people. Jupiter’s thought to be a benefic planet, so if you have been having some hardships in this realm, those may ease up now, and you may even see some unexpected and nice news related to this. If you’re in a relationship, your partner may have some financial luck.

Libra & Libra Rising: This New Moon may bring the start of something new with regard to your family and/or home. You may move, or start looking for new places, or a family member may experience a new beginning. This is a time of starting and starting over, and if you have some strained family relations, you can take steps to heal or strengthen those (if that’s something you’re hoping to do). With Jupiter in your 7th house for the next few months, you’ll have positive feelings with regard to your partnerships. If you’re in a relationship, you could see a renewed bond and happiness, and if you are not in a relationship, you may meet someone in the next few months. 

Scorpio & Scorpio Rising: With the New Moon in Capricorn, it’s speaking to your Scorpio placements in a helpful way, and represents a time to think about your own conversations, the ones you have regularly, with colleagues, neighbors, friends, and siblings. How can you communicate in a way that’s clearer, more grounded, and more straightforward? Jupiter moving into Aries means it will be going through the part of your chart dealing with work, routines, and health. It’s a great time for trying a new and more robust fitness regimen. Work also may get easier over the next few months, and changes you make to your routine now will likely have a sustained positive impact.

Sagittarius & Sag Rising: The New Moon will be in your 2nd house of money and resources, so this can mark a time of new beginnings for your finances. If you want to manifest more money, whether through a new job, a raise, or through some other channel, this is a good time to do that. There is a great affirmation/mantra that I recall the truly excellent astrologer Jessica Lanyadoo recounting once on her Ghost of a Podcast (highly recommended listening), something like, “Money is attracted to me, it wants to be with me. I like money, but money LOVES me.” I say that now and again. It’s fun. You may want to say that too, especially on the 23rd. With Jupiter moving into your 5th house, the next few months may also get easier for you, especially if you were born during the day. It’s the house of pleasure and joy, a great place to have Jupiter traveling through. However, if you don’t want to have a child, be extra careful between now and May, because this house also encompasses children. 

Happy Solstice and New Moon, everyone! 

The Week of December 11th: Mild Weather

Last week’s full moon in Gemini brought with it some huge news stories. In the past few years, there have been very few quiet news weeks, but last week’s news seemed to come at a breakneck pace.

Just in the U.S. alone, the Trump Organization was found guilty of tax fraud and Raphael Warnock won the Georgia run-off on the same day, the day before the full moon. On the morning after the full moon was exact, Brittney Griner was released, and then the next day, Kyrsten Sinema announced she was leaving the Democratic Party.

Not surprisingly, there’s a feeling of a bit of a full moon hangover right now. However, the week of December 11th through December 18th, 2022 is relatively mild, astrologically speaking. 

On December 12th, the Sun, which is in Sagittarius, is sextiling Saturn in Aquarius, so the Sun and Saturn are making a 60-degree angle to each other and having a conversation. The Sun represents the self, and Saturn is about structures, systems, and responsibility. This is a useful aspect for thinking about the rules and the structures you have set for yourself and leaning into the structure, especially where it most benefits you. This is also a time when you may be feeling more authoritative and taking yourself more seriously. You got this. 

On December 14th, the Sun enters a square with Neptune, which is at 22 degrees of Pisces. I’ve written about my Neptune struggles before. The planet is now direct and moving at an agonizingly slow speed over my natal Venus, Mars, and Midheaven. With the Sun and Neptune in a 90-degree angle, you may experience some murkiness and misunderstandings today, and you may find yourself questioning your goals, yourself in general, and/or what you want to do. You may also just feel tired. 

Also on December 14th, Mercury, which is in Capricorn, forms a square with Chiron in Aries. Chiron was once thought to be an asteroid but is now considered a comet, and it’s probably the most commonly tracked non-planet or luminary (i.e., the sun and the moon) in popular astrology. It’s known as the “wounded healer” and relates to our traumas, our sensitivities, and the scars we carry with us. (Read more about Chiron here.) With this transit, you may be thinking about words or actions that sting or haunt you, or you may actually experience some hurtful behavior or hurt others, whether intentionally or not. With both Mercury and Chiron in cardinal signs, it could be a productive time for taking action by journaling about painful thoughts or talking to your therapist (evergreen advice). 

Finally, on December 17th, Mercury will move into a trine with Uranus in Taurus. Trines are generally thought to be the most fortuitous aspect made by two planets, and with Mercury, the planet that rules thinking and communication, and Uranus, the planet of innovation and disruption, in this relationship, it could be a good day for grounded, practical conversations about change, given that both of these planets are in earth signs. You may also experience some good news or unexpected but helpful communication.

That’s it for this week! It’s a nice week of down time between the full moon, next week’s new moon, and some of the more tricky astrology that will occur at year end.