Tag Archives: Aspects

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!  

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.

This Week: a Full Moon in Gemini

This week, on Wednesday, December 7th, at 11:08pm ET, there will be a full moon in Gemini at 16 degrees. Full moons occur when the sun is exactly opposite the moon. In astrology, an opposition is thought to mark the culmination or climax of a cycle. Thus, full moons are generally a time for emotional releasing and letting go.  

Because this full moon is in Gemini, it is ruled by Mercury, which will have just ingressed into Capricorn. So it’s a transit that will be about communication, but Mercury in Capricorn is direct and no-nonsense, no beating around the bush. And to top it off, this full moon will be conjunct Mars, which is still retrograde and which will also be at 16 degrees Gemini. It could illuminate the themes that have marked the Mars retrograde period, which began back in late October. Given its placement in Gemini, it’s a good time for the release of emotions through words, but because of the Mars of it all, they may be fraught. It may not be pleasant. So while Gemini is the chattiest of signs, journaling or thinking purposefully about the stuff you want to let go of may be the best course of action for this full moon. Conversations could be helpful, but care must be taken not to pop off, get too angry, or say things that you can’t take back and may regret later. 

What are we releasing, related to Mars? Below are the themes that this full moon may pull focus to, depending on your sun and rising signs: 

For Gemini & Gemini rising: This will occur in the first house for you, the part of the chart most identified with the self (your personality, identity, physical body, and appearance). What part of yourself is dragging you down? This full moon, think about what is serving you and what isn’t. It could be an excellent time for cleaning out your closet, or on a deeper level, meditating on what you want to let go of to prepare for the new year. 

For Cancer & Cancer rising: The full moon is taking place in the part of the chart related to shadows, mental health, things going on behind the scenes, sleep, and dreams. Have you been having trouble sleeping these past couple months? This is a time to try to relax and get some rest. If there are things in your life that are making you particularly anxious or causing unrest, this is a good time to work through these issues through meditation, journaling, or therapy.

For Leo & Leo rising: This could be a cathartic full moon for thinking about the friendships and the groups of which you are a part that are sucking up more energy from you than they are giving you. It’s OK to release the feeling of obligation to others in order to give yourself some space or some time back. 

For Virgo & Virgo rising: The full moon will be lighting up your tenth house of career and legacy. This is a time to consider what you have been giving to your career. Are you doing what you want to do? How does what you put into it affect you? If there are parts of what you are doing as a career that are emotionally draining or unfulfilling for you, think about how you can potentially shed those. 

For Libra & Libra rising: Given that this full moon in Gemini is occurring in your house associated with philosophy, learning, and publishing, and it’s a Mercury-ruled full moon, think about what you have been writing, researching, and revising. It could be a good time to let go and put it out into the world. Reflect and submit or post if it feels right.

For Scorpio & Scorpio rising: This full moon offers potential for being shrewd about the money and time you owe or feel you owe to others. What are you getting out of the subscriptions you pay for? If nothing, cancel. It’s also a good time for setting boundaries and letting go of feelings of obligation to others who are demanding too much of your emotional energy. 

For Sagittarius & Sagittarius rising: You may find yourself having tough conversations with your partner or in your closest relationships at this time. If the relationship has run its course, it could be the right time to end things. However, if it is not, to get most out of these discussions emotionally, be measured and be mindful of the Martian energy that may be pushing you to be blunt and forceful in ways you may regret later. 

For Capricorn & Capricorn rising: What’s not working when it comes to the stuff you’re doing every day? That could be work, or your health routine, or how you’re taking care of your pet. Think it through and consider making small adjustments to reduce or eliminate what’s making you unproductive or unenergized in these areas. For example, if you aren’t keeping up with your morning exercise routine because the sun is rising later, try moving your workouts to a different time of day.  

For Aquarius & Aquarius rising: This full moon is occurring in the area of your chart associated with joy, creativity, fun, and children. If you have kids, you might be careful to temper any emotional outbursts at them this week because they may not actually deserve the tongue-lashing you want to give them. And with the moon here, it’s a good time to think about what issues or hang-ups you have that are preventing you from having a good time. This is a time to examine and let go of what’s impeding you from experiencing joy. 

For Pisces & Pisces rising: You may find yourself tempted to engage in some emotionally fraught conversations with family at this time. Tread lightly, but if there are family members that are causing you pain, you are allowed to set boundaries and withdraw, even just temporarily, in a way that protects you. 

For Aries & Aries rising: The full moon is occurring in the part of your chart that is associated with themes similar to those ruled by Gemini: communication, your local neighborhood, the conversations you have regularly, short trips you take, your commute. Is there something that isn’t serving you when it comes to the way you communicate or the ongoing conversations that are part of your regular routine? Or if there’s a trip you make regularly, is it exhausting you? This could be a time for thoughtful adjustments and editing in these areas. 

For Taurus & Taurus rising: This full moon takes place in your second house, which is associated with your values, resources, and money and finances. Think about your income and expenses, and how your budget contributes to or takes away from what you really love. This Mars retrograde has been a time for reconsidering and reflecting on these themes, and if there are things you’re ready to cut out or change, this would be a good opportunity for those realignments. 

For everyone, Wednesday and Thursday may feel volatile. The best advice is try to stay grounded and calm. The astrology gets a little nicer on Friday, December 9th, when Venus and Jupiter form a square, so the two benefic planets are interacting, and things will feel a little lighter.

Disclaimer: of this may ring true and some may not. As my astrology teacher, the brilliant Annabel Gat, has taught me, astrology was created by human beings, so it’s imperfect. The notes above are my interpretation of what the full moon could mean, but please disregard anything that doesn’t resonate.

Week of November 27th: Astrological Combo Platter

There is a lot going on in the sky during the week of November 27th through December 3rd. None of the transits are huge, show-stopping moments, which we had a run of over the last couple months, but each brings its own unique qualities, with ups and downs throughout the week. 

One of things that I have found to be very challenging about learning astrology is understanding and being able to synthesize the complexities of multiple aspects occurring at the same time, both in the transits in the current sky and in the birth chart. This week’s outlook has several overlapping transits that speak to each other. I am looking at them both individually and how they interact. 

Mars, which is retrograde in Gemini, will be making a trine to Saturn, which is direct in Aquarius, on November 28th. But Mercury and Venus, both in Sagittarius, are in the mix, as they will be opposing Mars and sextiling Saturn. Trines are transits where planets are at 120 degree angles and are generally thought to harbor harmonious connections between the planets. Oppositions, where planets are opposite one another, are not necessarily difficult but they can often indicate some friction, some oppositional energy. Sextiles, where planets are at a 60 degree angle, are usually helpful in that the planets speak to each other in a way that can help enhance their more positive characteristics. 

Mars is retrograde, so this is the second of three times this transit to Saturn will occur. With both Mars and Saturn in air signs, the energy here is one of innovation, outside-the-box thinking, and communication. Mars, the planet of action, is in a free flowing aspect with Saturn, the planet of structure. Mars and Saturn are considered malefics in traditional astrology, but both planets offer lessons. Mars, which rules action, aggression, physical energy, and war, can be wild. Saturn offers rigidity, structure, rules, and boundaries. In a trine, the rigidity of Saturn can actually help harness the fierceness of Mars and channel it in a productive way. With this transit, it’s a great time for organizing, and thinking and speaking about the structures and systems in your life and how to give them power and energize them. If there are projects you have been thinking about tackling that require organization and working methodically, step by step, this trine can lend a supportive energy for that. 

On Tuesday, Mercury in Sagittarius will oppose Mars and sextile Saturn. With Mercury opposite Mars, you may see friction and the culmination of some curt or tense communication and arguments. Mars is piercing (it rules needles and sharp objects!), so your interactions with others may be a little spiky mid-week. Venus is close behind Mercury and will oppose Mars on Wednesday, so you may experience this spikiness in your relationships. However, since both Mercury and Venus are in a sextile with Saturn, which can help if you ask yourself how you can organize your thoughts and take two beats in a way that can help you temper your temper.

On Thursday, Mercury in Sagittarius will be squaring Neptune, which is in Pisces. This will help smooth the edges of our communications, but again, with Neptune, it can make things a little blurry. The advice most astrologers give when it comes to Neptune transits with Mercury is to double check details and in discussions or agreements with people, if you have to deal with them under this transit, make sure you ask clarifying questions and verify your understanding of the arrangement or situation. Neptune is often associated with deception. It can also indicate heightened paranoia or anxiety, especially in our thinking and even in dreams, with Mercury in aspect to it. Then Venus catches up and squares Neptune on Saturday. Much of the same advice applies with this transit, with particular emphasis on relationships and anything involving finances. You may be well served by waiting to seal any deals until next week. However, with Neptune in Pisces, where Venus is exalted, you may find yourself wanting to explore creative pursuits. This is a good time for finding inspiration and making art. 

Neptune stations direct on Saturday as well, so it will start to retread the territory it covered earlier this year. Let’s hope that will coincide with a shift and some forward momentum in our creative and spiritual lives. It gets close to 28 degrees of Pisces before it begins to go retrograde again in July of 2023. 

Neptune Transits

This week, the week of November 14, 2022, we are feeling the effects of a Mars-Neptune square, which is exact on November 19th. As discussed in the previous post, Mars is currently retrograding through Gemini, and now it’s reached the point where it is approaching a 90 degree angle to Neptune, also retrograde, in Pisces.

Neptune is the planet that represents dreams, visions, spirituality, nebulousness, and dissolution, and it’s currently in moody, dreamy, sensitive Pisces. Neptune is in its domicile in Pisces, meaning that it’s at the sign where it feels at home (Neptune rules Pisces in modern astrology), so it’s even more Neptuney than it would be in another sign. When Mars and Neptune square each other, there’s some movement around things ruled by Mars, but in a Neptunian fashion. Globally, this could be action, from activism to violence, around religion or deeply held beliefs, but since Mars is retrograde, actions could be thwarted, or there could be false starts. Personally, this transit could manifest as low energy and exhaustion, and it might confuse our thinking or our arguments.

I have a Venus-Mars-Midheaven conjunction, all within 1 degree in my natal chart, in the later degrees of Pisces. This aspect alone is complicated, and whenever a transiting planet is aspecting this conjunction, it hits these points in my chart like dominoes. Since 2021, Neptune has been rolling back and forth over them. And what I have found from this is that Neptune forces a reckoning, but in a much different way than Saturn, Uranus, or Pluto. Neptune shrouds everything in a fog. Given that Neptune was the Roman god of the sea, Neptune gets a lot of water metaphors assigned to it, and they really are the best way to describe its effects. From my experience with Neptune in a prolonged conjunction in relation to my chart, it’s like having a list written in ink on lined paper, then submerging that paper in water. You can still kind of make out the written words for a bit, but after a while, all you see are traces of the shape of the handwriting, and the color of the ink has bled into the water. Then even the lines on the paper disappear.

For me, this transit coincided with me questioning my values, my purpose, my legacy, and what I want to do with my life. No big. I have spent the last year and a half navigating through this murkiness, inching along. I’ve been doing a lot of navel gazing. I’ve been booking sessions with anyone who can offer me some guidance about myself and my path, including an empath, an astrologer, a tarot reader, and a psychic who told me about my past life. Their words have been enlightening, but ultimately only I can determine what I want to do and how I want to live. Determination is a Mars thing, though, and Neptune is conjunct my natal Mars for a year and will continue to cross over it until 2024, and I still feel like I’m working it out.

That’s sort of how this Mars-Neptune square may feel. We may feel like we’re working at something, but we don’t yet know what, and our impeded efforts make it feel like we are moving through sludge. Neptune aspecting Mars in Gemini indicates a dissolution of our plans and difficulty clearly seeing and stating our goals.

As someone who finds safety and reassurance in control, the way Neptune is positioned in relation to the Venus-Mars-Midheaven in my chart has been somewhat harrowing. In traditional astrology, Mars and Saturn are known as the malefic planets (while Venus and Jupiter are the benefic planets), and going through this transit, I have wondered if Neptune is a malefic too. But Neptune is the planet of dreams, and the lessons of Neptune are valuable; it teaches us to let go of things, it dissolves entrenched ideas that don’t stand up to scrutiny, and by shrouding things in a fog, it forces us to focus to persist through the haze.