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 © Photoanatomy | Dreamstime.com
Nothing quite like an eclipse to stir things up and this New Moon Solar Eclipse at 0° 21′ Gemini on 20 May at 4:47 PM PDT is sure to do just that! Given Gemini can carry on both sides of an argument all by themselves and with an already polarized atmosphere, everything from mild spats to knockdown drag out fights may occur.
Whilst there is a possibility the square from dreamy Neptune in Pisces to the New Moon will promote peace and goodwill, I can’t help but think there is a far greater likelihood half-truths and outright lies will add fuel to the fire. Better double check your facts and figures before using them to support your argument nor will it hurt to validate your opponent’s information too. The biggest problem is Neptune is very, very good at creating marvelous, plausible illusions. Those with planets and Angles from 0° to 3° in the mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces) may catch the brunt of both their projections and other people’s on them.
Aspects to Mercury, Gemini’s ruler, are critical to this lunation and this time Mercury conjoins Jupiter in practical, fixed Taurus. It forms an awkward inconjunct to restrictive Saturn in Libra and is semi-sextile Libra’s ruler, Venus – now retrograde in Gemini. None of these aspects are particularly supportive of open, productive communications. My vote for the last topic to bring up is money matters and that will likely be foremost on people’s minds. Taurus rules the second house representing personal finances and what we value. With Jupiter present encouraging risk taking and seeking to make really big deals, there may be a lot at stake. However, the combination of Saturn trine retrograde Venus will be urging caution and looking for compromise, something Mercury-Jupiter in Taurus is not at all interested in. Those two want everything their way. Yeah . . . lots of hard-hitting, unpleasant conversations are possible.
One interesting side effect of Venus in Gemini at a virtual standstill and trine Saturn in Libra is it seems to have slowed speedy Gemini down some. Gemini folk can get to moving so quickly, they lose track of all their different trains of thought, so slowing them down is beneficial to the rest of us!
In the chart of the last lunation, Full Moon in Scorpio, there was a Grand Kite in earth and water and there is another one in this chart. The only difference is Ceres in Taurus is replaced by Vesta in Taurus; all the other planets are the same – Mars in Virgo, Pluto in Capricorn and opposing Mars, Chiron in Pisces. Vesta has a focused purity of intent and in Taurus she remains well grounded in reality. For those people living through the intensity of Pluto in Capricorn grinding away on one of their personal planets, this pattern offers a unique opportunity to finally identify the source of their pain and possibly begin the healing process.
We can’t overlook that pot stirrer Uranus in Aries either because it is now squaring Pluto in Capricorn, is inconjunct Mars in Virgo and is the apex of a mini-triangle between Chiron in Pisces and Vesta in Taurus. Yup! Every one of those interactions is irritating! The best thing that can be said about this situation is procrastinating dealing with your issues is pretty much out of the question. If you’ve been out walking and got a pebble in your shoe, you know how much you wanted to get the darn thing out, right? At this point in time, it will be those folks with planets and Angles from 7° to 10° who will feel the greatest impact, particularly in the cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn).
Solar eclipses are often uncomfortable because they expose the undercurrents in our lives and beings. This one could be exceptionally effective in that regard so it is extremely important to be as kind as we can to others and our selves. I realize it is going to difficult to ignore the rhetoric and diatribes hitting us from all sides on the news but do your best. We’ll be sorting truth from lies for some time to come both on a personal level and in the collective. Usually the New Moon is a good time to initiate something new but not this one because we can’t be sure we’ve got good information to work with.
On a personal note: This New Moon is in my seventh house with the Jupiter-Mercury conjunction in Taurus very close to my Descendant and my poor Venus in Sagittarius completes a T-Square with Neptune in Pisces. I probably will figure this one out in retrospect as is often the case when Neptune is involved. Right now my Aries spouse is being very sweet towards me for no obvious reason, at least I don’t feel like I’m doing anything differently than I usually do. LOL
Mars in Virgo is heading back towards my Midheaven and since it is getting plenty of support from that Grand Kite, my tenth house will be energized as will all three of my earth houses. In the past I’ve noticed Mars transiting my tenth house usually keeps me very busy multi-tasking like crazy. What would be lovely would be increased income!!
 © Tamara Kulikova | Dreamstime.com
This is one of the most magical, powerful lunations of the year in my opinion and at 16° 01′ Scorpio on 5 May 2012, 08:35 PM PDT this Full Moon is no exception. Even though Earth always conjoins the Moon when it is full, if Earth is the ruler of Taurus it makes this a very special lunation indeed.
There is nothing ephemeral about the Full Moon in Scorpio. It is very real, passionate and deeply involved with life in the most essential ways – birth, death and regeneration. The old feminine archetypes rule and we celebrate the mysteries whose origins are lost in time. I love thinking about Earth, or Gaia, conjoining the Moon, bringing to mind the power of being able to create new life. This is the perfect time to pay homage to our Mother and acknowledge our unending debt of gratitude to her. And to remember why it is not a good idea to cross Her . . .
Pluto, Scorpio’s ruler, is part of an amazing Grand Kite pattern along with Mars in Virgo and Ceres in Taurus. Chiron in Pisces is the planet opposing Mars in Virgo, sextile Pluto and Ceres making this a Grand Kite. Grand Kites have a bit more punch than Grand Trines because of the opposition. Mars in Virgo is the “arrow” and the focal point. In many ways, this is the perfect pattern to help us delve into our inner beings to take a long look at our expectations and seek out the flaws in our belief system (Chiron). Ceres will be there to provide a nurturing touch and help us from getting too discouraged. Forgiveness is a huge part of any healing process as is the need to remain as non-judgmental as possible. Pluto both fuels the need to dig deep and the knife to open old wounds, allowing them to drain. Mars in Virgo is very well suited to going over the details but since it is also exactly inconjunct Uranus in Aries, it will be less patient than usual. Go easy on the criticism – both of yourself and others.
For those who have struggled getting motivated due to the Mars-Neptune opposition in play over the past couple of weeks, it is finally beginning to wane. From here forward this energy sapping opposition will be history!
On the fire and air side are Mercury in Aries, Venus in Gemini and Saturn in Libra. Mercury has Saturn opposing it and Venus sextile to it, helping us find the tactful thing to say to our nearest and dearest. Jupiter in Taurus is semi-sextile both Mercury and Venus, so ‘over the top’ statements and gestures are likely. For those who prefer to keep things light and cheerful, these are the planets making that possible.
There is something for everyone on this wonderful lunation. If you are of a mind to go deep within and meditate on who you are and your place in the greater scheme of Life, this is an excellent time to do so. If your preference is to enjoy the beauties of the season and refresh your spirit in the process, go for it. Tolerance and acceptance of diversity is never out of season or out of style.
On a personal note: This is a sixth house-twelfth house lunation for me and consequently I usually end up dwelling on whether or not I’m putting enough into being of service to others. With my natal Mercury and Jupiter catching the most aspects, I’m sure more “stuff” will well up out of the depths to be processed too. Who knows what that will inspire!
The Sun, Jupiter and Ceres in Taurus are all in my sixth house these days nagging at me about getting out and working in the garden. They insist it will be good for me to get some fresh air and sunshine! *grin*
 © Ruth Sanderson
A small oasis of calm will descend on the New Moon at 01° 35′ Taurus on 21 April 2012, 12:18 AM PDT. This will be a very welcome change for anyone left feeling bashed about by Mars and Mercury stationing direct recently.
Enhancing Taurus New Moon’s naturally fertile, earthy nature is a conjunction with Ceres in Taurus, making this coming weekend the perfect time to schedule a visit to your favorite spa. Get a lovely massage, take nature walks or just hang out by the pool sipping soothing drinks. In touchy feely Taurus, Ceres loves to express nurturance through touch. I mean who doesn’t love getting a nice foot massage! The trine from Mars in Virgo stimulates the healing energy of Ceres and the New Moon because Virgo is noted for caring for the health and well being of others.
A sextile to the New Moon from Neptune in Pisces will help smooth any rough edges and allow us to gently slip sideways away from harsh realities, if only briefly. Music is a wonderful way to set the mood for relaxation of the mind and body along with a well chosen fragrance.
Saturn in Libra widely opposes the New Moon and helps reinforce the need to play well with others. Venus ruled Taurus generally appreciates Libra’s tact and both share a deep love of beauty. Saturn’s fondness for structure meets with Taurus’s approval because Taurus does like to keep surprises to a minimum.
Even though Venus in Gemini is a little too changeable for Taurus’s taste, it is semi-sextile to genial Jupiter in Taurus. This combination favors both having fun and making a little money, something we can all get behind.
Neptune blurs the edges of Mars in Virgo via an opposition and softens the aggressive tone of Mercury conjunct Uranus in Aries. We may have more than one reason to be thankful to Neptune because Mars is inconjunct Mercury, making tempers short because it insists on going over ALL the details.
Thankfully we aren’t quite to the point when Pluto in Capricorn and Uranus in Aries will start actively taking pot shots at one another . . . that will begin in earnest in late May and June. *sigh* For now, Pluto’s sextile to Chiron in Pisces continues aiding us in figuring out the reasons behind the unreasonable expectations we have for ourselves and others in our lives. I came across this wonderful quote from astrologer Liz Greene on Chiron apropos to the Pluto-Chiron sextile:
“The healing process can only begin when we disengage from our belief that life ought to fit a certain model. It is our worldview that is being challenged by Chiron, so that the place to begin is with the holes and fissures in our belief system”.
For those of us who feel stretched thin from the Mercury-Mars retrograde overlap and just want some rest and relaxation, this New Moon in Taurus has the potential to deliver it. It’s simple . . . tune out and ignore all the hyper-inflated Mercury conjunct Uranus in Aries rhetoric and tune in on your bliss. Politely but firmly stir the conversation away from inflammatory subjects or quietly walk away. As always, chose to practice kindness and tolerance!
On a personal note: The New Moon conjoins the cusp of my sixth house and is the reason why I feel a strong desire for peaceful routines in my daily life. When one’s Aries husband’s Sun has Uranus in Aries crossing it, last minute changes have been the rule rather than the exception.
Neptune continues to square my Venus as does Mars, not the most energizing combination. It takes more conscious effort to get going under this influence. Maybe it’s a good thing I have an Aries bouncing around keeping me motivated!
Venus in Gemini conjoins my seventh house North Node and sweetens my relationships via improved communications on her way past for the first time. She’ll be spending the better part of her retrograde period in my seventh house eighth houses and it will be interesting to see how that goes.
 © Moses1978 | Dreamstime.com
Ordinarily the Full Moon at 17° 23′ Libra on 6 April 2012, 12:20 PM PDT, favors sitting down to talk over relationship issues with your partner but not this one. Unfortunately lovely Venus in Gemini squares an uncomfortable Mars in Virgo and both are involved in a T-Square with elusive Neptune. Between uncertain tempers, jealousy and a good possibility that the facts will be in short supply, resolving differences is NOT going to be easy.
Libra’s ruler, Venus, leaves easy going Taurus for Gemini on 3 April and is on her way to an exact sextile to Uranus in Aries on 9 April. Venus in Gemini has an edgy, brilliance to her and is more interested in playing the field than settling down. Uranus will amplify the desire to remain free and independent. Given Venus’s need to be adored and the square to Neptune in empathetic Pisces, the number of little “white” lies is bound to multiply . . . eroding trust and honesty in relationships. Sure, you can say you only lied to spare someone’s feelings but please consider being honest. As long as Saturn remains in Libra, chances are behaving badly towards our partners will result in instant karma.
By the way, Saturn in Libra is inconjunct a newly direct Mercury in Pisces and making it tough to determine whether or not we’re coming across the way we hope to. We may think we are getting our point across only to be greeted with a look of total incomprehension. Under this influence it will be very easy to misinterpret a well meaning comment, so carefully prepare your remarks before opening your mouth.
And then there’s Mars in Virgo . . . a week away from stationing direct and moving at a crawl, a guarantee he is not a happy camper. He’s under pressure from a very irritating inconjunct from pushy Uranus in Aries and feeling painfully out of sync with lovely Venus in Gemini. The only pleasant influence is the opposition to Neptune in Pisces who may encourage him to take refuge in la la land. Time to hang up the “gone fishing” sign and head out the door.
I have the feeling neither Libra nor Aries are going to enjoy this Full Moon . . .
The Sun in Aries and Moon in Libra form awkward aspects to Jupiter in Taurus, creating an atmosphere where exaggerations will be commonplace and may lead to emotional drama, both in the collective and in our personal interactions. Take your time to collect as much information as possible and consider it carefully before making decisions.
Thankfully Pluto in Capricorn only plays a very minor role here. The slowly waxing sextile to Chiron in Pisces encourages us to go deep within to relax our grip on old obsessions linked to past injuries. Pluto’s influence will return to center stage in late May and June.
Perhaps the best way to navigate this Libra Full Moon is to do our best not to rush to judgment. Use tact and kindness in our conversations with loved ones and avoid finger pointing, etc. Not a bad time to listen more and speak less either. You can also do as I do and keep telling yourself this too shall pass! *grin*
On a personal note: Yippee skippee, my natal Venus in Sagittarius creates a Grand Cross with the T-Square of Venus, Neptune and Mars. I can’t decide whether to laugh or cry because I’m pretty sure with Neptune involved I won’t know what’s what until the fog lifts. One of those times I’m grateful to be an old broad with years of Saturn’s lessons on impulse control behind me. Speaking of Saturn, he’s now off my Chiron and will be a diminishing influence for several months. Oh, he’ll be back to bug me once more in September but until then I can focus on other things.
 © Susan Seddon Boulet
What’s not to like about this New Moon at 02° 22′ Aries, March 22, 2012 07:37 AM PDT? It signals the true beginning of the astrological New Year and conjoins an extremely energizing Uranus in Aries. However, if you go dashing off full speed ahead you could end falling flat on your face even with the empowering Grand Trine in earth.
The driving force of the Aries stellium (Sun, Moon, Mercury and Uranus) yearns for total freedom and it isn’t going to get it – too many obstacles and blockages to get around. First there is the small detail of Aries’ ruler, Mars, still being retrograde in Virgo, second, Saturn in Libra is inconjunct the New Moon and last but not least Mercury is retrograde.
Usually the Aries New Moon is the perfect time to implement plans and launch new projects, and we can do that . . . as long as we have several backup options already in place. Mars in Virgo is going to insist on having all the proper forms filled out in triplicate, all the financing verified and everything cleared with the proper authorities. Saturn in Libra’s job is to ensure equity for all parties through compromise and cooperation. Anytime Mercury is retrograde in impatient Aries, please speak slowly and clearly because the mind often is racing ahead of the mouth!
Something else to be aware of is the semi-sextile of Neptune in Pisces to retrograde Mercury. If something sounds too good to be true, it likely is. Sentiment can interfere with making sensible decisions and thus wreck havoc with budgets, etc; and wishful thinking is another hazard under this influence.
On the plus side, we have the ongoing, very productive Grand Trine with Mars in Virgo, Jupiter in Taurus and Pluto in Capricorn. Jeff Jawer of StarIQ offers a terrific explanation of how these three planets work together for everyone’s benefit – Grand Trine in Earth Sign, March 12-14, 2012. The Grand Trine ties into the New Moon via an inconjunct from Mars in Virgo. Yes, that’s far from ideal but it still allows us to tap into the resources and power created by the Grand Trine. If we take care to approach problem solving, particularly related to finances, with care, thoughtfulness and practicality we can accomplish great things. The main caveat is there are bound to be delays on the implementation side and to plan accordingly.
Lovely Venus in Taurus is essentially operating on her own on this lunation, allowing those who have planets and Angles from 16° to 19° in the fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius) to enjoy her sweetness with no strings attached. Earth sign folk (Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn) along with Venus ruled Libra, get kisses too. It is OK to enjoy life now and then!
As long as we don’t get ahead of ourselves, we can benefit from the influx of new ideas and enthusiasm generated by this New Moon. Use the time wisely and abandon notions of instant gratification, because this is a great time for planting seeds for long term goals. It’s all about practicing patience until you can’t STAND it anymore!!
On a personal note: The only conjunction for me is Saturn sitting on my natal Chiron in Libra, always good for reminding me about all the ways I shoot myself in the foot.  Otherwise, the New Moon stellium in Aries is trine my natal Venus in Sagittarius and Mars in Virgo is sextile my Jupiter in Scorpio – both pleasant aspects that will hopefully bring new inspiration for creative ways to improve my income.
P.S. Mercury will be stationing direct on 4 April and Mars on13 April . . . *grin*
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