Tag Archives: Horoscopes

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.

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! 

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.