Tag Archives: Aspects

Sagittarius Season & Pluto Back in Aquarius

The sun moved into Sagittarius on November 21st. Prior to that, we had Pluto making its final entrance into Aquarius on November 19th. It made a couple visits to Aquarius in the last couple years but went back into Capricorn (and very tellingly was at the final degree of Capricorn on Election Day in the U.S.). I’ve written about Pluto in Aquarius and what that could possibly bring previously. Pluto will be in Aquarius for almost 20 years now.

One of the first global shifts Pluto in Aquarius has produced is the end of Vanderpump Rules as we know it, with the original cast not returning for next season. VPR is a prime example of a Pluto in Capricorn show, with a Saturnian authority figure overseeing a bunch of messy employees, trying to encourage maturation and structure in their lives (but, actually, stoking the show drama to make big money).

When it premiered in the early 2010s, it was an examination of waitresses and bartenders aspiring to achieve the sort of capitalist and patriarchal hallmarks of success that were so emblematic of the era (e.g., getting married, traveling on private planes, launching businesses) but usually being undone by their own tendencies toward chaos and stupidity. You gave us everything, VPR. I’ll miss you terribly but also am ready to move on.

Now, back to Sagittarius season. We’ve lost Vanderpump Rules and it gets dark at 4pm. Usually, once the sun moves to Sagittarius, the vibe gets a little livelier and lighter, like a breath of fresh air after Scorpio season. Scorpio season is moody and intense, but by Sag season, we’re already accustomed to the shorter days and longer nights, and we’re in holiday mode, in end-of-year mode. It’s a time for socializing and starting to dream big about what the next year will bring. This year, though, feels a little different due to a couple current and upcoming retrogrades (and, of course, the state of the world we live in).

The first lunation we get is a new moon in Sagittarius overnight on November 30th / December 1st, depending on where you live. Our last new moon was in Scorpio, on November 1st, at the same time as the Mars-Pluto opposition. It was volatile, to say the least. This one is a little more low-key. There aren’t any tight, difficult configurations at the same time as this new moon, which is a nice change, but it does mark a time of effort. 

Mercury is in Sag close by, and Mercury is currently retrograde. It’s loosely opposite Jupiter in Gemini, also retrograde. Now, because Jupiter and Mercury are in each other’s home signs, they are helping each other out, giving them a little more ease than they’d otherwise have, but when they are retrograde, this is not a time for making big grandiose plans; it’s more about a thoughtful review of goals. 

Not only are Mercury and Jupiter retrograde, but Mars is moving very slowly right now, preparing to station on December 6th and then go retrograde, moving from Leo back to Cancer, all the way back to 17 degrees, where it will station on February 23rd. Mars retrograde is generally not great for starting new endeavors. Obviously, if you have an agreement to start a new job or move or whatever, you have to live your life, but generally, projects that start under a Mars retrograde can sap energy and have trouble gaining forward momentum. 

With Mars going retrograde, then direct again in the last half of Cancer and the early degrees of Leo, you can expect to see some call backs to stories, especially ones relating to masculinity, aggression, war, and ambition, that have been unfolding over the last couple months come up again, first between December and February, and then again in March and early May next year. You can also expect to see stories from your own life, especially relating to the topics that are associated with the houses where you have Cancer and Leo in your own birth chart, popping back up. 

This period of reflection, recalibrating, stopping and starting, and potential malaise lasts for a few months until the spring, when there are big changes afoot and it will feel like all systems go. The advice I’m trying to give myself is to not fight it. Especially with an Aries moon, I have a deep need to always be moving forward, doing something, creating some sort of action plan, but the next few months represent a wait-and-see period, as much as it practically can be.  Let’s spend the winter reassessing our desires, plans, and goals, and watching old episodes of VPR, salving our souls.

Let’s Talk about Mars and Pluto

It’s Scorpio season, a time of darkening. The sun moved into Scorpio on October 22nd. Scorpio season is one of transformation. In the Northern Hemisphere, the leaves are changing and falling, the air (for some) is getting colder, and there’s a holiday smack in the middle of it when people dress as ghosts and focus on death.

This Scorpio season, the big astrological story is an appropriately timed opposition between Mars and Pluto. You want it darker? Mars will be at the very last degree of Cancer, and Pluto at the very last degree of Capricorn. This will be exact on November 3rd, but we’re already feeling this, and this energy will be very present during the new moon in Scorpio on November 1st.

An opposition is like a culmination point, often with difficulty surrounding it, like the agonizing climb up last terrain to scale before arriving at the apex (I mean, I assume, I’ve never rock-climbed). Mars is the planet of action and drive, and Pluto is the planet of power. Cancer is a sign that’s about nurturing and the familial but also about tribalism. Pluto’s at the last degree of Capricorn for the very last time (finally) for hundreds of years, and Capricorn is a sign that is about power and structure, especially deeply entrenched structures, like capitalism and patriarchy.

So this opposition, which occurs right before Election Day in the U.S., signifies a struggle and ultimate culmination between actions and entrenched power. And with Cancer’s significations  encompassing both family and motherhood one on hand and tribalism and nativism on the other, we’re seeing two strands of aggression and activity. For many, this time is about trying to chip away at the patriarchal structures and people that have been and are currently trying to stymie the power of women in myriad ways, the most prominent being limiting bodily autonomy; for another bloc, it’s a fight to hang on to power, what they see as preserving their ideal version of this country, based on identification with whiteness, maleness, and wealth. 

No big deal, right? 

Here’s where we need to pull the focus in. A lot of astrologers have been pretty freaked out by the Mars-Pluto opposition and rightfully so (I started writing this before the Tr**p r*lly at the Garden, but that level of darkness feels very Mars opp Pluto). When we talk about the themes, we’re talking big picture, 40,000 feet type stuff. But in your own individual life, this really just could mean that you vote, in the way you plan to, and for a few weeks, you have to deal with some frustrating, disgusting, and anxiety-evoking news in the zeitgeist. It’s probably going to feel scary at its worst and mostly infuriating. It’s a good time to remember to set screen time limits and not doom scroll even though it’s going to be really tempting, with the Sun in Scorpio, a sign that is associated with obsession and compulsion. The shadow side of Scorpio wants you to allow yourself to dive deeper into a pit of rage and disgust. The more enlightened side wants you to trust your inner knowing and recognize others for exactly who they are, with crystalline precision and with no rose-colored illusions.

After the election in 2016, I felt totally untethered, as if I was waking up to an alternate reality. I could be a fool, or maybe it’s because I’ve since started taking Zoloft (shoutout to modern medicine!), but I don’t feel that way now. Will that change after November? Unclear. But even with all the absolutely horrific things happening in the world, I am hopeful. Is it because Pluto’s going to go into Aquarius, and we’ll all be able to upload our souls to the cloud and live eternally as part of some physics of the universe that we’re not even aware of yet? TBD!

This dark, fraught energy we’re experiencing now shifts in mid November, and late November gets easier, so hang in there and try to weather the current shitstorm until then.

Full Moon in Aries & Big Cardinal Energy

The Aries full moon will be exact in the morning hours of October 17th, but we are already feeling it, and it will be especially potent tomorrow, October 16th. This moon is forming squares with Mars, the planet of action and aggression, and Pluto, the planet associated with power and compulsion. And when it’s in Aries, the moon is ruled by Mars, so the Martian energy is extra heavy. 

What does this mean? Intensity! Even though this moon marks the end of eclipse season, this will still be intensely felt and give off eclipse-type vibes. Aries has many great qualities (leadership, pioneering, joie de vivre, spontaneity), but it is not known for restraint. You may already feel more punchy than normal. Have you had trouble sleeping? I woke up at 3:30am last night and didn’t fall back asleep until 5ish, and the whole time I was awake I was agitated. If you have sleep issues regularly or if you find yourself easily influenced by the moon cycles, tonight and tomorrow night you should try to wind down early and do whatever you can do to help you rest.

The Aries moon is opposite the sun in Libra. Mars is in Cancer, and Pluto is at the very last degree of Capricorn. These four planets are forming a grand cross in the four signs known as the cardinal signs. Cardinal signs are the initiating signs of the zodiac. Each one ushers in a new season and represents beginnings.

She’s startin’. 

Dorinda, like yours truly, has an Aries moon. People with Aries moons can be impulsive, can be eruptive when pushed, and have an emotional need to be #1. Of course, the entire birth chart of a person influences how they react and respond to conflict, but Dorinda’s iconic explosiveness is a pretty good representation of the potential intensity of an Aries moon. Can’t wait to see her on Traitors! 

Full moons are about culminations and releases, so you may find yourself with the impulse to release some pent up anger or resentment this week. This is especially possible because of the friction with Mars and Pluto. At the same time, Venus, the planet of diplomacy and relationships, is in a tense opposition to Uranus, the planet of disruption, which unfortunately doesn’t make things easier. This is divorce energy. 

It’ll be tough, but whenever you can over the next few days, try to ground yourself. If you can feel yourself boiling into a rage, take a couple steps back. Walk away from your laptop. Put your phone on the charger and leave the room. Take a walk if you feel yourself about to throw your plate across the dinner table. 

You’ll feel this more acutely if you have any personal planets or luminaries (the sun, moon, Mercury, Venus, or Mars) or angles (ascendant/rising, descendant, midheaven, or IC) at or around 24 degrees of any of the cardinal signs mentioned above. And if you ever want a complex look at how the transits could affect you based on your birth chart, book a reading with me! 

As we go into Scorpio season, things won’t be less intense, but the mood will be a little less fiery, which I’m looking forward to. More on that in a couple weeks.

Some Rough Air Ahead

We’ve had kind of a break since the wild ride of mid-July. The Mercury retrograde we’re currently experiencing seems pretty mild compared with the astrology of last month. But now, we’re gearing up for some more interesting transits next week, and it looks like things are going to get turbulent again. 

On Wednesday, August 14th, Mars, which is now in buzzy Gemini, is going to align with Jupiter, forming a conjunction. On its own, a Mars-Jupiter conjunction could signify an expansion (Jupiter) of aggression and assertiveness (Mars). Mars is also about passion, and with it and Jupiter both in Gemini, you could be feeling the urge to vision board and make grandiose plans. You may send rambling texts to your friends with big ideas for the future. It’s cocaine energy. Mars and Jupiter are about dreaming big, but not so much about the details. And in the news, we may see some big protests and/or some large-scale threats of violence. 

With both Mars and Jupiter approaching squares (tense aspects) with Saturn in the days following their conjunction, there’s going to be conflict between the big, passionate, grandiose visions and movements and the harshness of reality. Saturn puts a damper on all that. It asks how you’re actually going to accomplish those pipe dreams of yours. I have both a Saturn-ruled sun and Mercury in my chart, and I feel like so much of my job is pressing my colleagues on how they are actually going to achieve those things that they are planning. I often ask, “OK, but what can you realistically do in this timeframe?” Saturn says no, which can be really frustrating, but sometimes we need the reality check!

The Mars-Saturn square will be exact on August 15th and the Jupiter-Saturn square is exact on August 19th. In the news, this coincides with the weekend leading up to and the beginning of the DNC. There’s been both astrological and non-astrological focus on how 2024 has paralleled 1968 in so many ways. The Astrology Podcast, the gold-standard of, well, astrology podcasts, had a really great breakdown of this in its August forecast episode. In the U.S., we’ve had student protests, an incumbent choosing not to run for re-election, an assassination attempt, RFK, this time Jr., and a planned DNC in Chicago of all places. Does that mean that the 2024 DNC is going to be the kind of chaotic shitshow that 1968’s was? TBD. But with the Mars-Jupiter-Saturn configuration, I could definitely see some large scale protests and demonstrative actions that are harshly suppressed by law enforcement.

Speaking of the sixties, I really love Mad Men. I want to go back and rewatch season 6, which felt super disjointed, but the point of the dissonant tone of that season was to show just how insane 1968 felt to those living it. There was a whole episode on the MLK assassination, and then in a subsequent episode, the RFK assassination appears merely as a last-couple-minute coda, as if to say, another one…when will this end? Megan weeping quietly on the bed, listening to the morning news, as Don numbly gets ready for work….how much of this year has felt that way? Then the credits roll to Friend & Lover’s bubbly “Reach Out in the Darkness”. The mindfuckery we’re experiencing now isn’t totally unprecedented, but that doesn’t make it less exhausting and anxiety producing.

One last potential manifestation of this transit: with both Mars and Jupiter in air sign Gemini and Saturn in Pisces, the most watery of the water signs, there’s big hurricane energy (i.e., big fierce wind up against water). Not a surprising parallel given this summer’s active hurricane season.  

And the Mars-Jupiter-Saturn of it all is just one strand of the astrology of this upcoming week.

On August 18th, there’s a Mercury-Uranus square, so another tense aspect, this one between the messenger planet of communication and technology and the planet of disruptions and surprises. This is another transit that drums up anxiety. Our thinking during these few days may be less rational than usual. Just take a beat before acting on any quick thoughts or impulses you may have. This is also the second time we’ve had this transit because Mercury is retrograde now; the same configuration also occurred on July 21st and will happen again on September 6th & 7th. So if you think back to what stories occurred on July 21st, both personally and in the zeitgeist, there may be some revisions to narratives or further developments, with the conclusions coming in September. 

And finally, on August 19th, there is a full moon in Aquarius at 27 degrees, opposite the sun in Leo, which is also aligned with Mercury. The moon and sun sidle up to that Mercury-Uranus configuration.

Whew. This is a very interesting full moon, compounding the energies described above. There are just a lot of things that are going to culminate, and the full moon, in the sign associated with innovation and the collective, is going to shed some light on our own roles in shaping our collective future. Leo is very much about ego, but the moon in Aquarius balancing it out encourages us to think less about the “me” and more about the “we.” What can we do for the betterment of our communities, for all? Reach out in the darkness, indeed. 

Of course, take this all with a grain of salt. Manifestations of these themes may be big and loud, but they could be small and quiet, too. Ground yourself and don’t freak out–we have a long way to go.  

A Look Back on Mars-Uranus and an Opportunity Ahead

The astrology of July was mostly smooth, except for one major transit, and that one major transit has pretty much just blown everything up. I’m talking about the Mars-Uranus conjunction that was exact on Monday, July 15th.

What a doozy, huh? 

I had drafted a post that I ultimately didn’t publish, but the gist was this: Mars, the planet of action and aggression, was going to be aligned with Uranus, the planet of disruption and upheaval, and that was occurring in Taurus in alignment with a particular star (Algol) that is associated with beheaded Medusa and referred to as the “demon star.” So on the world stage, the news was likely going to be wild and tumultuous at best, violent and scary at worst. And on a personal level, some of us may feel particularly anxious, paranoid, and under threat.

I was definitely feeling the vibes of the Mars-Uranus conjunction a few days leading up to it and a few days after. The crackling energy has been palpable everywhere. As far back as last Friday, the 12th, it felt like tempers were short and people, men especially, were acting out. I mean, obviously. Besides the T***p rally, which was a very literal manifestation of the Mars-Uranus-Algol combination (he almost actually lost his head), there was also the scary, chaotic situation at the Copa America final.

Mercury is approaching a square to Uranus, meaning that on top of the Mars-Uranus effects, there are also communication disruptions. Cue Friday’s global technology outage. And Mercury is in fire sign Leo to boot, making our interpersonal communications more self-focused and more incendiary.

On the morning of Sunday, July 21st, there’s a full blue moon in Capricorn. A blue moon occurs when there’s a second full moon in the same sign within the month. The Capricorn full moon a few weeks ago was at 1 degree, and now we will get the second, this time at the last degree of Capricorn. In whatever story has been unfolding in your life since June 21st, the other shoe is now dropping. This full moon is conjunct Pluto, which signifies intensity and hidden things. Secrets will be illuminated, and there will likely be some high-profile denouements.

The full moon is also in a helpful relationship with Mars, so on a personal level, it’s a good time for taking actions to let go of unhealthy and unwelcome compulsions and to take a break from anything that’s been driving you crazy. If you are curious to know what topics this may touch on in your own life, look for 29 degrees of Capricorn in your birth chart and see what house it falls into and whether you have any personal planets (sun, moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars) or sensitive angles (ascendant, MC, IC, or descendant) at or close to 29 degrees of a cardinal sign (Capricorn, Cancer, Aries, Libra).

There are more intense moments to come in a few weeks. Mars and Jupiter come together, signifying the expansion of action, on August 14th. On August 15th/16th, Mars makes a tense aspect with Saturn; then on August 19th, Jupiter follows and makes the same tense aspect with Saturn, and we have a full moon in Aquarius (which is answering to Saturn). Saturn is like a stop sign. It represents structure and order, so it looks like we can expect to see conflict between proliferations of assertiveness and heightened emotions, and structures and systems.

Between the events this week and mid-August, Mercury goes into Virgo on July 25th. We don’t get much downtime, but look at this period as a little bit of a break. While in Virgo, Mercury will station and then go retrograde overnight on August 5th/6th. It gets to 4 degrees of Virgo before it starts to go back.

Virgo is an earth sign that is associated with pragmatism, discernment, and efficiency. Mercury retrograde is treated with fear and dread in the zeitgeist, but when Mercury goes retrograde, it’s a chance to reflect, reassess, and reconsider.

Last week, I attended an excellent webinar from Kepler College on the Solar Return of the United States, and the astrologer who presented, Dorothy Oja, pointed out that Mercury’s transit through practical, critical Virgo marks an auspicious time to reflect because this transit will aspect the moon (in Gemini) and Neptune (in Pisces) in the U.S.’s solar return chart. She referred to it as an “antidote to confusion,” which I loved. And while it’s particularly useful in that context, I think it’s also useful for us on a personal level as well. Our anxiety and emotions may be clouding our perspective, but Mercury going into Virgo and then the Mercury retrograde offer us the chance to re-see things in the world, in politics, and in our own lives, with more discernment and ultimately clarity. 

There’s so much to unpack right now. We’re living through truly wild times, so we have to look for opportunities for calm reflection. More to come as we gear up for the August planetary alignments…stay tuned.

Cancer Season and the Full Moon in Capricorn

We are about to enter Cancer season. The cavalcade of planets that has been hurtling through Gemini is now, one by one (save for Jupiter), transitioning into the sign of the crab. On the way, each–first Venus, then Mercury, then the sun–makes a tense angle with Neptune (ugh, Neptune). We may experience some disillusionments. If you have had some harsh realizations in the past few days, you’re not alone. I hope they were more like aha moments than rude awakenings.

On Thursday, with the sun’s ingress into Cancer, we get the solstice. In the Northern Hemisphere, it’s the longest day of the year. And then on Friday, right on the heels of the solstice, we have a full moon in Capricorn. 

The Cancer-Capricorn axis feels really different from the Gemini-Sagittarius one. Gemini-Sagittarius is about the tension between the pithy and the verbose, between thinking quick and delving deep. The Cancer-Capricorn axis is about the tension between our emotions and our responsibilities. Cancer is feelings; Capricorn says, “fuck your feelings.” Both signs carry with them the sense of obligation. Cancer, ruled by the moon, is associated with loyalty and protectiveness, and Capricorn, ruled by Saturn, with diligence and discipline. 

Cancer is connected with the Chariot card in the Tarot, which definitely gives off Capricornian vibes as well. The chariot protects the person within, as they progress to their destination. Being armored while forging a path speaks to both Cancer and Capricorn qualities. 

This Capricorn full moon invites us to examine what we are working for. Is it worth it? How does it make you feel? 

What’s our beautiful reward for all the time and the care we give, whether it’s to our jobs, our careers, to others, to our bodies, to our minds? 

The juxtaposition of the solstice with the full moon makes it a time for both releasing and beginning a new cycle. Cancer and Capricorn are both cardinal signs, meaning they each begin a season and usher in something new. This represents a time to consider what plans you want to execute over the next year and what you need to shed in order to achieve your desired ends. Whatever our goals are, it’s important they nurture us and fulfill us emotionally.

Because Neptune (again–ugh, Neptune) is forming a t-square to the moon and the sun, thinking about what we want to achieve isn’t necessarily going to be easy. You may have a hard time putting your finger on exactly what it is you want, and you may feel especially tired and depleted. The end of this week could be a time when you feel pulled between your personal feelings and your public ambitions or your devotion to your family and other more practical commitments, and Neptune irritatingly throws a shroud of confusion over it all.  

Hang in there, because as the planets continue to move through Cancer, they’ll break free of the Neptunian influence, the fog will lift, and more clarity will become available regarding Cancerian topics: home (both physical and the sense of home), family (both blood and chosen), and care. And we get a rare second full moon in Capricorn later this month, which represents another chance at harnessing the full moon energy under different (albeit still complex…we’ll get there later) astrological circumstances.

Does that make sense? Or does it all sound like gobbledygook? If so, blame Neptune. Happy Solstice! 

Full Moon in Virgo

There’s a full moon in Virgo coming up, exact at 7:30 am on February 24th. The moon will be at 5 degrees of Virgo and the sun at 5 degrees of Pisces. We’re already feeling it (along with all the Mars-Venus-Pluto stuff that’s been going on) and will be feeling it throughout the next week. I need to make sure I actually go out and catch a glimpse of it. If you have anything from about 0-10 degrees of a mutable sign (Virgo, Pisces, Gemini, or Sagittarius) in your chart, you’re going to feel the effects of this full moon more than most. (And if you don’t know what’s in your chart, book a reading with me!)

The Pisces-Virgo axis is marked by deep feelings and adaptability. Virgo is an earth sign and way more grounded than Pisces, but it’s still a mutable sign. When changes arrive or are needed, a Virgo can shift gears and recalibrate relatively easily. Pisces, a mutable water sign, is boundless. Virgo is a caregiving sign but can be harshly critical, while Pisces is compassionate and empathetic but can be so caught up in their own feelings that they ignore your needs. They make for an interesting combination. There’s a lot of caring here, but how it manifests can vary.

As for full moons, one occurs when the moon is opposite the sun and fully illuminated, reflecting the sun’s light. It’s the culmination of the lunar cycle, and it represents a time to let go. This full moon is an especially opportune time to release because it’s the last full moon of the zodiacal year! Pisces is the last sign of the zodiac, and with the spring equinox, Aries season begins, as does the new astrological year. So this is truly about letting go. It’s also the last full moon before the next set of eclipses, so if you’re someone who manifests or does any sort of ritual work around full moons, this is your last chance for a couple months. 

With the moon in Virgo, this means that we may be feeling called to let go of something in our daily routines or our annoyances, our judgments, our critiques. It’s a good time for cleaning the house and sweeping the dust away. With Virgo-Pisces, I think of making a list (Virgo) of the shadow qualities (Pisces) we want to work on. Or cathartically releasing emotions while doing housework or crafting. Cry and knit. Listen to the most maudlin music while you scrub your bathtub. Make a commitment to start a daily yoga practice.

Pisces is associated with the Moon card in the Tarot. I love the Moon card as illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith. Even the crustaceans respond to the moon’s power.

The sun at 5 Pisces is also between Mercury and Saturn, both in Pisces, when this full moon occurs, lending some discipline and some thought to it. So while we’re all likely to feel super emotional, it’s a little more grounded (from the Virgo moon + Saturn’s presence) than we’d feel during a Pisces season in another year.

Mercury in Pisces is interesting because Mercury is in its fall in Pisces, meaning that when it’s in Pisces, it’s harder for us to think clearly and connect the dots. Our thoughts and words are more abstract than usual. However, Pisces’s ruler is Jupiter, and Jupiter is in Taurus, another earth sign, so we can tap into the practicalities and realities of where these abstract thoughts and emotions are coming from if we try. 

This is all to say that if you find yourself crying over the next few days, and you ask yourself why you’re so emotional, remember that it’s just another full moon, and it’s during Pisces season, and let yourself ride the waves over the next couple weeks. (The state of the world right now doesn’t help; if you’re not despondent, I’m not sure how.) Over the next couple days, though, if you are in a list-making, task-mastering, cleaning, and clearing zone, the moon is on your side. 

Of course, astrology is not fortune telling, and this is simply my interpretation of what’s going on with the current transits in the sky. Take all of this with a grain of salt, as always.

Pluto, Mars, & Venus Pile Up in Aquarius

Mars moved into Aquarius on February 13th and immediately met up with Pluto. In combination, these two planets are very powerful and volatile, and a conjunction between them can bring fights for power, violence stemming from grievances, and obsessions. The energy is intense, and as I’m writing this, on Friday the 16th, we’re still very much feeling this, but it’s waning. The most useful way to harness the Mars and Pluto conjunction is for us to tap into our bravery to face and overcome our deepest fears.

Now Venus moves in Aquarius today, February 16th, and it also joins with Pluto. Venus-Pluto conjunctions often indicate sexual obsessions, fixations with beauty and/or wealth, and deep, transformative circumstances in relationships. Maybe not the ideal vibe for Valentine’s Day, but it’s a good time for doing some deep soul searching about what you really want and hold dear.

Then next week, fresh off their conjunctions with Pluto, Venus and Mars meet late on February 21st (exact in the early morning hours of Feb 22nd). The Venus-Mars combination is most frequently marked by passion. It’s drive and action (Mars) combined with love and value (Venus). This energy can be very productive. It’s good for going after what we want. Venus and Mars generate magnetism, so we all may be feeling a little more attractive and attracted to others and experiences during this time.

This year, Venus and Mars are conjunct in Aquarius, so it’s an interesting energy. Aquarius is a sign that’s all about the collective, and it’s an air sign, the cold one, so it’s marked by intellectualizing with a cool detachment. It may chill the passions brought forth by Venus and Mars and direct them from being about self-gratification to instead improving the conditions for others. This marks an excellent time to get active about the causes you believe in.

Aquarius Season & the Full Moon in Leo

It’s Aquarius season! As an Aquarius myself, I welcome it with open arms. The punishment of having a birthday in the absolute dregs of winter (in the Northern Hemisphere) is partially mitigated by getting to be an Aquarius, with the joy of being the smartest person in the room and the smug satisfaction of knowing that you listened to that band or were wearing that style or were espousing the tenets of that political movement before it was cool. But it’s coupled with the pain of looking around at everyone else and thinking, “I am truly alone in this world. No one else understands anything.” 

Aquarius is a sign associated with rebellion, revolution, and genius. Not to say that every Aquarius exhibits all these traits outwardly, because every person has a whole plethora of things going on in their own natal chart, but when we look at our geniuses and revolutionaries, it’s not surprising when they have Aquarius placements. Toni Morrison, the greatest American author, had an Aquarius sun, Mercury, and Midheaven.  

It takes the collective a while to catch up with Aquarians, but during Aquarius season, focus gets pulled to what isn’t working and how it can be made better. We see protests. We see organizing. It’s a cliche that Aquarius is about power-to-the-people, but it’s a cliche because it’s true. 

The same day that the Sun moved into Aquarius this year, it was followed shortly by Pluto. Pluto in Aquarius is a big deal. It represents the beginning of a new era, one in which we will likely see the rapid adoption of advanced technology, mass populist movements, and revolutions. I’m hoping Pluto in Aquarius + Uranus in Gemini, coming up over the next few years, will usher in electric air travel (or even better, teleportation). 

The last time Pluto was in Aquarius, we had the American Revolution and the French Revolution, bloody conflicts where the monarchy was rejected, and the Haitian revolution, when the enslaved people of Haiti fought for and won independence from French colonizers. What revolutions will take place over the next decade plus? Time will tell (but some Aquarians are likely already seeing them coming). 

When Pluto is in a sign, it takes about 20 years, give or take, to go through it. We feel it more in the world at large than personally. It’s a vibe shift and the backdrop for big generational stories. I’ve seen a lot on astrology social media indicating that Pluto going into Aquarius will revolutionize something in the individual’s life. I’d like to caution everyone to take that with a grain of salt. Pluto moving through an area of your chart does not mean that you’re immediately going to see transformative things happen to you. Of course, you could, and those who have planets or angle points in the early degrees of Aquarius, Leo, Taurus, and Scorpio may see some huge changes play out over the next couple years. This is why it’s best to get a birth chart reading. Just because Pluto changes signs, it doesn’t herald huge sweeping changes in everyone’s lives right now. Again, it’s 20 years! Most people experience pretty big changes in their lives over a 20-year period, Pluto or no Pluto. 

Anyway. With the sun in Aquarius, we always get a full moon in Leo, and this year it occurs on Thursday, January 25th, and is exact at 12:54 pm ET. This full moon is at 5 degrees of Leo, with the sun at 5 degrees of Aquarius, and it forms a T-square to Jupiter in Taurus, so the usual themes of release that accompany a full moon see some tension with what Jupiter represents: expansion and growth. Ask yourself, how can you use the full moon to shed the stuff you’ve outgrown, in the cool light of the Aquarius sun, to help you grow and evolve? 

At this same time, Mercury is approaching a conjunction with Mars. Our last full moon, in Cancer, was also infused with Mercury-Mars energy, and this time, with the full moon in a fire sign, it promises to be feisty. Tempers may flare. Leo is a campfire, so stoke it with the good stuff, the stuff Leo loves (affirmations! self care!) instead of sharp criticism of yourself and others. In fact, since the full moon is a time for release, maybe it’s your most vicious takes and judgments you want to let go of. Aquarians can be judgmental at an individual level, but they are accepting and understanding at a collective level, so let’s embrace those vibes. This full moon will likely roil some egos in a big way, so best to keep that in mind as you’re dealing with people over the next couple days.

New Moon in Capricorn

On the morning of January 11th, at 6:57 am EST, there is a new moon at 20 degrees of Capricorn. This is the first new moon of 2024. When a moon is “new,” it’s aligned with the sun, and this represents the beginning of a new cycle. 

Given that this is the first lunation of 2024 and it’s in cardinal earth sign Capricorn, which is about practical initiation, this is an excellent opportunity for setting intentions or making your New Year’s resolutions. And because of its positioning in relation to the nodes, currently in Aries and Libra, these intentions may not be just for the year ahead, but more aligned with your soul’s purpose or ultimate destiny. Dream big.

Not only is the new moon in a sign that’s about taking charge and setting plans in motion AND in relationship with the nodes, but there are other aspects at play that make it auspicious for laying the groundwork for what we hope to achieve.

First, both the sun and moon trine Uranus, the planet of disruption, revolution, and change. This means the moon, sun, and Uranus are all lending one another big time support. The intentions you set now could lead to major changes ahead. Or you may get some surprises around this new moon that contribute to your self-reflection and the goals you want to set. All of these guys are in earth signs, which grounds the big shifts and disruptions that come from Uranus. And with Uranus in Taurus, all topics financial would be especially relevant for this new moon.

Concurrent to the new moon, Mars, the planet of action and drive, is also in Capricorn, a sign it loves. And it’s in a supportive trine with Jupiter, the planet of expansion and growth, which is also in Taurus. This is helpful for taking practical action on big plans. And with both in friendly aspects to Saturn, the planet of structure and longevity, concrete plans made now have a good chance of sticking. 

I was going to write up horoscopes for this new moon, but then I thought best not to lead you to focus on one particular area of your life and chart where the new moon occurs over others. This new moon is a good time for setting your intentions to align with your big-picture plans and soul’s desires, so why limit it to one area of your life? 

The astro forecast gets more tumultuous from here on out, especially in the months to come (ahem, April), so this marks a good time for getting your ducks in a row and ensuring your structures are solid for any bumpy weather to come.