Taurus Lunar Eclipse: Passionate Breakthroughs, Protection, Valuable Innovations & Change

This week’s powerful lunar eclipse (Friday 19 Nov @ 7:57pm AEDT) is characterised by potent signatures for change. Lunar Eclipses, like Full Moons, signify culminations and endings and can bring revelations and the kinds of events, internal or external, that shift the course of lives over a period of around six months. Today’s lunar eclipse is exalted in Taurus and also foreshadows the themes we’ll be working with for the next 18 months when the Nodes of Fate shift from Gemini-Sagittarius into Taurus and Scorpio on January 19. The Nodes, which dictate the signs of eclipses, return to the same signs in 18 year cycles and their reverse positions every 9 years. Looking back to 2003-04 when the North Node was last in Taurus and the South Node in Scorpio, and to 2013-14 and 1994-95 when they were in their reverse positions, will offer a glimpse of the storylines being reinvigorated now relative to the position of the nodes in our chart.

Today’s eclipse is layered with complexity. The lunar cycle began with the New Moon opposing Uranus, planet of unpredictable change and rebellion, and culminates with the god of war and passion, Mars, opposing the planet of revolution in the sign where the Moon is being eclipsed. It suggests the possibility of volatility, violence, polarisation, protests, intensity and extremes but also for powerful shifts that liberate us from old patterns if we think outside the box. We may experience a passionate release of energy in the breaking of routines and courageous and electrical insights about things that need to change. Creative, financial, health and environmental breakthroughs that emerge from the cutting away of old attachments and reliances on the things that not longer serve us and our desired transformations. Venus, goddess of love, relationships and resources rules this eclipse from sober Capricorn and makes an exact trine to Uranus today, enhancing the Great Awakener’s capacity for wise maturity. She also highlights an eccentric sophistication in beauty, creativity, pleasure and relating. 

Mars too makes a positive sextile to Venus from its rulership in Scorpio, helping us identify strategies for action that align with our longterm goals. The planet of action and desire will move into its exaltation in Capricorn in late January, which suggests that we’ll find the momentum and follow-through needed to realise desired outcomes then. Venus remains in Capricorn until March 2022 as she completes a journey of transformation through the mythic underworld, which begins when she stations retrograde on December 11. We get more serious about the longterm value and commitment of our energetic, relational, creative and material investments and feel the weight of decisions that we hope will stand the test of time. When Venus finally emerges from this journey of death and rebirth she rises as a morning star. It’s the preferred guise of Venus as ruler of Taurus, which augurs well for a flourishing fruitfulness in Venusian areas we may find ourselves temporarily challenged by in December and January.

Finally, today’s lunar eclipse at 27 degrees of Taurus is conjunct the fixed star Algol. A blinking, binary star which eclipses every three days, the ancients considered it the most malevolent of the fixed omens because it was continually dying and being reborn and foretold the death of a leader when conjunct a lunar eclipse. Biden’s natal Sun opposes today’s eclipse at exactly 27 degrees, which is not quite the same thing, but does suggest life-changing challenges over coming months. The ancients also associated Algol with the severed head of Medusa, located in the constellation Perseus. Although famous as the monstrous snake-haired gorgon, the poet Ovid described Medusa as the most beautiful, and the only mortal, of three gorgon sisters. 

Raped and impregnated by Poseidon in the temple of Athena, Medusa was cruelly punished by the goddess for desecrating the site, transforming her into the most grotesque and horrifying of creatures with a visage so hideously terrifying that one glance turned men to stone. The hero Perseus was ordered to bring the head of Medusa to the dubious King Polydectes who wanted the hero dead so that he could have his way with his mother. Perseus was given magical tools of protection by the gods to achieve this feat with his own purpose in mind: Hades’ helmet of invisibility, a sword of diamond adamantine, the winged sandals of Hermes’ and a mirrored shield of brass that would protect him from Medusa’s gaze. Shielded by these instruments, Perseus severed Medusa’s head and her children, conceived by Poseidon, one of which was the winged horse, Pegasus, burst from her neck. Eventually Perseus would use the head of Medusa to protect his mother by turning Polydectes to stone.

But Medusa is extraordinary in Greek mythology because her most legendary feats and powers actually increase after death. Her gaze creates landforms, her blood fills the sea with coral and her hair populates North Africa with snakes. Affixed to the shield of Athena her gaze repels armies, making her the most powerful protective force in the mythic world. Throughout the ancient world too, Medusa’s head was used extensively as a symbolic device to protect and ward off evil. But her mythic powers were also life-giving. The healer Asclepius used blood from a vein on the left of Medusa’s head as a fatal poison and blood from a right to resurrect the dead, a service which angered Zeus and Hades but eventually led to his own transformation as a god revered in temples throughout Greece. As such Algol brings a layer of fierce mystery to this eclipse. The extraordinary powers of Medusa contain a profound duality, both fearful and fearsome, injurious and life-giving, protective and destructive, just and unjust, which suggests that in the eclipse cycle ahead we too may grapple with similar dualities as we learn to harness our powers and protect those less powerful than ourselves, to transform the karma of our own inheritances and to nourish prosperity, healing and renewal with the possibility of divine miracles when we least expect them… 

#tauruslunareclipse #basilicacisternmedusa #fixedstar #algol #basilicacisternmedusainaforestgrowingmushrooms #lunareclipse #medusa #asclepius #athena #perseus #poseidon #pegasus #eclipse #nodes  #art #illustration #taurus  #scorpio #mars #venus #uranus #capricorn #fullmoon #astrology

Scorpio New Moon 2021: Evolutionary impulses

In the ancient world, astrologers considered Scorpio the watery, feminine temple of the planet Mars, and the deity of passion, drive and desire actually moved into its spiritual domicile on Halloween. Today’s New Moon is super-charged not only because its ruler presides over Scorpio but also because it occurs in an electrifying opposition to the planet of revolution, disruption and radical breakthroughs, Uranus, within seven minutes of exactitude, which is exceptionally bloody tight. 

Each month the consummation of the luminaries marks a symbolic moment when fortune and intention are fused to conceive new possibilities in our lives, which makes New Moons immensely powerful windows for clarifying intentions that will guide us through the cycle ahead. Today’s Scorpio New Moon contains the potential for radical breakthroughs and life-changing transformations and initiates a highly dynamic period of astrology that culminates in a fairly intense crescendo at the end of the year. 

It’s no accident that Halloween takes place in Scorpio season as the sign associated with death and the underworld, with hidden realms and the occult, with secrets, passions and intense emotional experiences. Although Pluto, which rules death and transformation, is more widely recognised as the modern ruler of Scorpio, for thousands of years that honour belonged to Mars. In Aries Mars is the warrior, asserting its will with visible strength but in the domain of Scorpio, Mars is decidedly more witchy, inclined toward more secretive and strategic forms of action, passion, conflict and espionage, which also brings to mind the archetypes of ninja and kanoichi.

This association with death makes Scorpio acutely aware of danger and scorpions are biologically weaponised for defense. But heightened threat responses can limit the scope for action and the sign of Scorpio is also associated with alchemical transmutation, with the depths below consciousness, with hidden and occulted knowledge and the processes of transformation that occur through experiences of trauma and suffering, which lead us, eventually, to wisdom. As such, Scorpio is the only sign associated with an evolutionary array of symbolic archetypes. The Scorpion, Spider, Lizard, Snake, Wolf, Eagle and Phoenix represent stages of development in our responses to fear, power, trauma and intimate bonding.

Fossil records indicate that Scorpions were amongst the first fully land-dwelling species to emerge from the sea 430 million years ago (mya) and the earliest existing specimen exhibits the same claws and tail-sting as those alive today. The Spider emerged 50 million years later, having developed an extraordinarily artful and strategic skill for pursuing its predatory goals. The Lizard, a “sit and wait” predator, emerges another 60 million years later, preceding the dinosaurs, and exhibiting an extraordinary range of anti-predatory reflexes including the ability to sacrifice and regrow its limbs as a means to survive near-death encounters. 

The Snake doesn’t appear for another 177 million years. Linked etymologically to ‘sneaking’ most snakes avoid confrontation with predators and use their exceptional sensitivity to vibration and ability to track by scent to catch their prey off guard. But snakes are also associated with mystical healing practices around the world and initiate their own death-like processes in which the shedding of skin leads to renewal. Canine ancestors of the Wolf emerged in another 100 million years (around 40mya) and developed into communal hunters with highly developed protective instincts towards their young and the pack. 

The oldest Eagles appeared a mere 4 million years later with exceptional vision and a capacity to hunt at great heights unburdened by fear of predation. Most Accipitridae are monogamous though some participate in polyandry (females mating with multiple males), polygyny (males mating with multiple females) and cooperative breeding (unrelated group members providing care to the young). Males provide the bulk of food for the young in most species, and males and females incubate the young in high twig nests lined with soft material, which can take weeks or even months to build. The mythical Phoenix represents the final evolutionary symbol of Scorpio. The immortal bird, cyclically reborn from the ashes of its own combustion, signifies the capacity for psychic rebirth through objectively difficult, destructive or disastrous experiences.

Uranus, opposes Scorpio in security- and pleasure-loving Taurus where it’s been triggering upheavals in the realm of our resources, values and self-worth all year while moving in and out of square with Saturn, whose laws dictate reality. Both planets rule Aquarius, sign of innovation, decentralised networks of power and society. Saturn’s influence currently dominates from its rulership in Aquarius but Uranus rules the kinds of scientific breakthroughs and discoveries that demolish old orders of reality. In Taurus Uranus signifies both environmental upheaval and climate revolution, however, the square to Saturn also indicates that it will take time, commitment and considerable hard work to bring about lasting change, but also that it’s realistically achievable

The fixed signs, Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius are all defined by their propensity to sustain conditions but they find change difficult. Yet as discussed, there’s a profound drive in Scorpio towards transformation and a similar drive in Aquarius towards the new. Taurus is the slowest of the fixed signs to opt for change but when it finally does occur, the new conditions are also exceptionally long lasting and abundant.

The third and final exact square between the two rulers of Aquarius occurs at 7pm on Christmas Eve, just as retrograde Venus, planet of love and relationships applies to a conjunction with Pluto, lord of trauma and transformation within 2 minutes of exactitude. The Venus Retrograde cycle is a whole other story with its own mythology, which we’ll get to another day, but suffice to say that the astrology of Christmas and New Year looks profound and intense. 

As we enter Eclipse season on Nov 19 with an electrifying Taurus Full Moon and Uranus-Mars opposition, November functions like a ninja training camp for emotional and psychological transformation, which prepares us for the difficult labour preceding a psychic rebirth. Aim Scorpio New Moon intentions towards Eagle archetype and above. Trust your vision as well as the coming challenges. They’re temporary. Avoid confrontation where possible aim aim New Moon intentions towards Eagle archetype and above. The most profound transformations are possible when we trust the process and although it can sometimes be hard to see, this is actually an extraordinary time to be alive. Celebrate with the ones you’re with 💜🤎💗🖤🧡

#scorpionewmoon2021 #uranusopposition #scorpioarchetypes #scorpiosymbolism #archetypes #scorpion #spider #lizard #snake #wolf #eagle #phoenix #symbolism #halloween #witch #ninja #kanoichi #newmoon #scorpio #uranus #mars #saturn #taurus #aquarius #2021

Aries Full Moon 2021: Crowning insights and chthonic rebirth

This week’s Aries Full Moon (11:25pm Wed 20 Oct AWST/ 1:25am Thurs 21 Oct AEST) is traditionally known as the Hunter’s Moon and it feels profoundly apt. As Sun-Moon oppositions, Full Moons amplify tensions between opposing energies that require integration, in both psyche and society, and signify moments of culmination and adjustment. But in Aries, the sign associated with the primal energetic push into new life, this Full Moon is also charged with with the energy to begin again. 

The Aries Full Moon is ruled by Mars, the planet associated with the principles of action and assertion, the desires and passions that drive us, warrior energy and the impulse to react without thinking through consequences and it comes with warnings on the packet. Both the Full Moon and Mars are also squaring Pluto, planet of death, destruction, transformation, power and the processes of total breakdown that lead to renewal.

There are some excellent mitigating factors. Both Mercury, planet of the mind, magic and perception and the Greater Benefic, Jupiter, planet of growth, optimism and generosity have stationed direct this week, signalling a change in speed and direction after months of obstacles and challenges that have fuelled inward reflection. The speed could feel dizzying over coming week/s. Many people here in Narrm are already experiencing the strange anxiety of re-opening after so long in isolation. Under the current astrology, it looks wise to proceed gently, considering our steps until we find our own feet. 

Mars and the Sun are making positive aspects to Jupiter, planet of wisdom, tolerance and openness in Aquarius, sign of social innovations and friendship networks. In forward motion the Greater Benefic is better able to express optimism and deliver opportunity, and Venus, planet of friendship, fairness and harmonious agreement, brings a love of illumination to the picture too. As Venus moves through Jupiter’s sign, Sagittarius, she also makes a positive aspect to the Greater Benefic. As ruler of Libra her influence lends inspiration to Mercury, Mars and the Sun as they move through the last difficult degrees of her sign to grow towards what they know to be true.

One of Libra’s key challenges is to find the courage to speak the truths that are essential for relationships to evolve and thrive although they may bring temporary disharmony. The challenge of Aries is naturally the opposite, to pause in self-reflection before reacting to triggers with aggression. Which brings us to the exquisite balancing act and opportunity of this Hunter’s Full Moon. Mercury, now direct in Libra, is also opposing wise Chiron, healer and teacher of heroes, at the exact degree of the Aries Full Moon 2020. This suggests a profound opportunity for integrating the wounds of self that have been triggered over the last year in our relationships through writing, contemplation and conversation. Mercury, the Psychopomp, guide of souls, has facilitated a deep review of old dynamics over recent weeks and as the Sun moves out and Mars moves into square now with Pluto, the insights emerge like a crowning birth. Births are never easy but they profoundly express divine possibility within embodied form.

We’ve all been changed irrevocably over the last 19 months. We’re still changing. Still need to change. The messages we each receive on and around this Aries Moon are purpose built for awareness stimulation. Observe your life with an eagle eye. The view is utterly remarkable. Remember ‘yes, and’. This week’s events give us what we need so that we can learn how to assert ourselves authentically in a spirit of expansive connection and possibility.

#ariesfullmoon2021 #huntersmoon  #narrm #sagittarius #love #art #contemporaryart #illustration #procreate #openingupanxiety #integratingopposites #healingcommunication #truthspeaking #yesand  #fullmoon  #mars #pluto #mercury #jupiter #venus #chiron #sun #moon #libra #aquarius #aries #goodtimes #crowninginsights #enjoytheancienterotica #erotica #birth

Libra New Moon & Sun-Mars cazimi 2021: Courage & desire in the heart of the Sun

Tonight’s Libra New Moon (@10:04pm AEDT) places the planet of courage, action, conflict and desire at the very Heart of the Sun. This cazimi moment is considered a critical point of rebirth in its synodic cycle with the Sun, which also represents a crucial turning point in the story of our lives. 

This Mars-Sun conjunction initiates a significantly more powerful New Moon cycle than usual. Both Mars and the Sun are moving through a sign they find challenging, and Venus, the ruler of Libra, is moving through the most difficult degrees of Scorpio. Collectively these celestial bodies have been mirroring the ways in which we’ve been grappling with the complexity and discomfort of situations we’d rather avoid but have been forced to face. And yet this experience, whilst difficult, is also immensely powerful in its potential to stimulate understanding of the other’s perspective and to cultivate more mature, balanced and profound relationships in the coming cycle.

The New Moon-Mars cazimi at 13 degrees of Libra is also exactly quincunx Uranus at 13 Taurus, flavouring this lunation with an electrical energy of divine discontent, which  responds best to divine thinking and innovation, particularly in relation to resources, security concerns and self-worth. Pluto is also stationing today and turns direct tomorrow as Venus moves into 0 degrees Sagittarius. This should provide noticeable relief, helping us to find the shining treasures that have been unearthed in the wreckage of past months. There’s an intimation of something beautiful and vivifying being born from the ashes of our hard work, which illuminates the power of our relationships and communications. 

For the next four days Mars will be travelling at the same degree as the Sun, further alleviating some of the anxiety, frustration, crankiness and reactivity we’ve been experiencing since mid-September. It could feel like an ecstasy and epiphany of divine burning as the desires that propel us on our soul’s path and our courage to act on those intentions are empowered by the Sun’s influence, and the planet of passion and vitality is reborn at the heart of the Sun. This four day period is an immensely powerful window for forging intentions that relate to our most critical desires in relationship. 

And this is especially amplified on the morning of Sunday October 10, as Mercury the Psychopomp, guide of souls, briefly joins Mars on the throne of the Sun at 16 degrees. Pay close attention today in all communications, listen carefully for insights, and write down your most courageous intentions and ideas. On Monday as the Sun separates from Mars, the fiery planet returns to a state of combustion until October 30. Renewed by this recent encounter with the Sun, it burns off dross. If we keep courageous intentions front of mind, everything we encounter in the meantime prepares us to reach them.

#cazimi #heartofthesun #throneofthesun #chariotofthesun #marscazimi #libranewmoon2021 #mysticalart #uranus #mars #venus #pluto #mercury #sun #moon #mercuryretrograde #mercuryrx #newmoon #libra #taurus #scorpio #sagittarius #cosmos #illustration #astrology #art 

September Equinox 2021: Weight of a feather

Happy Equinox lovelies 🌞🌑 Solstices and Equinoxes are the critical turning points in Earth’s relationship with the Sun, and the Cardinal signs, Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn are anchored to these events in tropical astrology. While Solstices occur in Cancer and Capricorn when light or darkness dominate, Equinoxes occur in Aries and Libra when the centre of the Sun sits directly above the equator and the Earth’s tilt towards it is 0 degrees so that day and night are of equal length. In our symbolic, geocentric view of the cosmos, the September Equinox (exact today @ 5:21am AEST) marks the moment when the Sun enters 0 degrees of Libra.

There’s a lot going on in the Temple of Venus. Mercury is slowing to a standstill and about to retrograde; Mars is exiled in the opposite sign to his home in Aries; the Sun, exalted in Aries, sign of self-determination, is said to struggle in Libra, sign of compromise and diplomacy. And Venus, who rules over them all in Libra is herself exiled in Scorpio, sign of Mars. Which is to say, that the tensions are palpable. With Venus and Mars in each other’s signs, it’s more difficult to get what we want but there’s also a certain supportive cushioning in relationship events. There’s a heightened potential to see more deeply from the other’s perspective with Venus and Mars in mutual reception and the revolutions taking place in our relationships transform the world, little by little.

Libra is both the civilising influence and the scales of Anubis, which balanced the weight of the human heart against a feather. It symbolises the relational nature of truth, and the need for discernment and impartial judgement. Mars energy struggles with the level of interpersonal sacrifice that Libra requires and Venusian diplomacy can tend towards superficiality, But with Venus in Scorpio & Mercury squaring Pluto within a degree of exactitude over the next two weeks, we’re compelled to speak the truth. Expect cathartic revelations and conversations that attend to subjects usually unspoken. We learn to balance curiosity, kindness and patience with authenticity in our truth-telling. When Mercury retrogrades on September 27, we’re given a psychic tour of our own history of relating. Secrets bring healing as they come in contact with the air.

On Friday Venus opposes Uranus, planet of liberation, upheaval and innovation in her own sign of Taurus. Although it could indicate confrontations, there’s the possibility of expressing the truth of our hearts in idiosyncratic, eccentric and artistic ways. Let your freak flags fly in love. Sunday, Mars trines Saturn in Aquarius. Think police prevailing over violent protests vibes. But it’s also an auspicious day to make a commitment to the kinds of actions that nourish meaningful community. Love large and deep through the tensions and weigh courage and authentic action against the balance of a feather in your relationships friends.

#mars #venus #mercury #saturn #pluto #libra #scales #anubis #aquarius #art #illustration #procreate #springequinox #equinox #mercuryretrograde #relationships #astrology #2021

Diving for riches: Pisces Full Moon 2021

Today’s Full Moon in Pisces is ruled by Jupiter, planet of optimism, growth and good fortune and conjunct Neptune, co-ruler of Pisces and planet of mystical insight, memories, imagination, glamour, meditation, forgiveness and delusion. Although things may not be quite as they seem, this lunation offers a moment of mystical potency to acknowledge our progress to date, to meditate on experiences that still require integration and to envision the expansion of our heart’s true desires in whatever mysterious and magnificent forms they might take.  

It’s a busy week of celestial events. With Mercury, the magician, at its closest proximity to Earth and slowing to a standstill before turning retrograde in Libra on September 27, Mercury trines Jupiter for longer than usual, carrying us into today’s Full Moon and colouring this culmination of events. Trines facilitate opportunities for positive expansion but Mercury and Jupiter rule opposing signs of Virgo and Pisces, making them natural contraries and potential antagonists. Yesterday’s escalating protest outside the CFMEU is a good example of the potential for this energy to go either way: Mercury’s concerned with facts while Jupiter’s focused on beliefs and ideologies. 

Jupiter is currently retrograde and looking back towards the good old days. When it turns direct at the end of October, optimism should increase in anticipation for its return home to the watery abundance of Pisces. Before that happens, Mercury and Jupiter will trine twice more at almost this same degree: retrograde on October 4 when plans will undoubtedly require revision and rework; and direct on November 1 just before Mercury emerges from its shadow when we should be getting ready to announce our auspicious collaborations to the world. 

This recurring aspect between the opposing rulers of the Virgo/Pisces ‘healing axis’ suggests that a process is underway during Mercury’s journey of death and rebirth through the sign of relationships, justice, friendship, fairness and diplomacy. It offers hope for the possibility that we may return from the underworld of our relationships a little wiser and better resourced and that we may see greater integration of the polarised views that are causing such dis-ease in our communities. 

Tomorrow, Mercury, Guide of Souls, squares Pluto, Lord of the Underworld for three days. Although we may hear news of abuses of power being exposed within the system or find ourselves wrestling with the parts of our own psyches that are dying to be transformed, the chthonic revelations taking place will lead us to a more profound knowledge of ourselves and the extraordinary jewels that lie at the heart of our relationships…

More on the Spring Equinox, Thursday… 

#piscesfullmoon #fullmoon #pisces #jupiter #mercury #neptune #pluto #cfmeu #protests #libra #aquarius #virgo #greaterbenefic #art #illustration #procreate #underwater #coral #divers #springequinox #equinox #mercuryretrograde #relationships #astrology #2021

Sacred rituals of the everyday: Virgo New Moon 2021

Today’s New Moon at 14 degrees of Virgo initiates a new cycle of healing, discernment and critical thinking in the mystical project management of our lives. New Moons always represent the symbolic sexual union between Sun and Moon, which initiates new cycles of creative encounter, but in Virgo, it’s more sacred and discerning than procreative.

In ancient times the Virgin was considered a “barren” sign; not because she was sexually innocent, as we now define the word, or unable to give birth, but because as an independent being, unbound by marriage or children, she literally had other things on her mind. Virgo is not only ruled by Mercury, planet of mysticism and the mind but is also the only sign in which its ruler is also exalted. As a doubly Mercurial sign, it’s not only prone to the anxiety of over-thinking but is linked to the mysteries of Mercury/Hermes, guide of souls.

It can be easy to miss. As an Earth sign, Virgo is associated with health and hard work in the service of future abundance. As a Mercury-ruled sign Virgo accounts for the fruit of our efforts and the critical discernment of areas that require improvement. In the northern hemisphere, Virgo is bound by the anxiety-inducing duty of preparing for descent into Winter. In the southern hemisphere Virgo bears a reverse metaphysical burden under the manic workload of Spring: to make the most of fleeting beauty after the grim realities of Winter.

The oldest of the Virgin Goddesses was Nisaba, Sumerian deity of writing, harvest and accounts, daughter of heaven and earth, whose divine influence grew throughout Mesopotamia with the emergence of the written word and the expansion of a civilisation that flourished with mercantile, mathematical, artistic, linguistic, religious and philosophical wealth. So mystically, Mercurially Virgo.

Today’s New Moon in mystical Mercurial Virgo forms a magical trine to Uranus, planet of radical breakthroughs, upheavals and insights. In Taurus, sign of the body, resources and self-worth, revolutionary shifts in awareness regarding rituals of health, wealth, work and self-worth should be ripe for perception in coming days.

Today also, Mars at 24 degrees of Virgo, planet of desires that propel courageous action, trines Pluto, planet of power and the riches we derive from loss at 24 degrees of Capricorn. It fortifies our motivations to build more magnificent civilisations from the rubble of our old loves and lives. With the Virgo New Moon it begins with honouring the sacred in rituals of the everyday and with letting our minds rest in the liminal states between consciousness when over-anxious.

#virgonewmoon #newmoon astrologyaugust2021 #nisaba #virgin #sumer #goddess #hermes #mercury #venus #pluto #mars #uranus #taurus #mars #capricorn #virgo #psychopomp #mysticism #spiritualart #liminalstates #ritualsoftheeveryday #mysticalart #art #illustration #meditation #astrology

Transformative outlets in love

Mercury the psychopomp enters its pre-retrograde shadow in Libra today where it will practice its gender-fluid alchemy in relationships right up until November. Retrograding in the sign of relationships from September 27, over the next three weeks we receive a glimpse of topics that require more conscious attention. Responsive risk-management re both mundane Mercurial matters (business communications, technology, vehicles etc) and relationship issues that border the shadow realms of consciousness will help to eliminate unnecessary chaos during Mercury’s mystical journey of death and rebirth.

From mid September the two personal planets most closely related to relationships - Venus and Mars - will be negotiating each other’s territory with varying degrees of discomfort. Mercury’s capacity to transition between realms and between states of gender, being, activity and perception suggests the possibility of being able to balance opposing perspectives so that we can better understand what’s being asked of us in relationships.

Venus rules the masculine sign of Libra (all of the planets possess a spectrum of gender expressions with Mercury being most fluid) and its activities exert considerable influence over Mercury’s mystical passage. Today the goddess makes two major aspects that set the tone for both tomorrow’s New Moon in Virgo and the months ahead. At around 1pm AEST she makes an exact square to Pluto at 24 degrees Capricorn. This tense aspect between the planet of love, beauty, fairness and material abundance, and the planet of trauma, transformation and riches highlights power dynamics, feelings that seek transformative outlet, and even possible financial breakthroughs and profound emotional shifts. Hours later Venus makes an extremely fortuitous trine to Jupiter, the Greater Benefic at 24 degrees Aquarius.

These energies bode well for a deep release that gives rise to renewed optimism, abundance and good fortune. It’s a day to name fears that stand in the way of intimacy, connection and relating, to have heart to heart conversations that get to the heart of matters, to face fears and take transformative action. It may feel intense. But nothing less than tender diplomacy and radical honesty on topics of crucial feeling importance will do. Once we’ve cleaned out the emotional detritus, tomorrow’s New Moon offers a revolutionary reset.

#astrologyaugust2021 #mercury #preretrogradeshadow #venus #pluto #mars #capricorn #virgo #libra #newmoon #psychopomp #underworld #goddess #spiritualart #mysticalart #art #illustration #astrology

The courage to dream: Mars opposing Neptune

You all know, it’s virtually impossible for me to write something short and sharp about the planets without devolving into a short novella but time is of the essence and with  some important transits in the days ahead, today’s notable aspect is delivered to you in keywords!

Today and into the weekend, Mars in Virgo opposes Neptune in Pisces. As always the archetypal characteristics of these planetary energies manifest in an infinitesimal number of ways but a few possible expressions, from both ends of the spectrum, are suggested below…

Embrace: Patience when things feel unclear. Mindfulness, meditation and loving kindness in action. The courage to act on one’s visions, inspirations and dreams. Passionate commitment to a spiritual cause. Magical walks/runs in nature, especially near water. Courageous action to protect the vulnerable. Contemplative, inspirational leadership. Inspirational organising and decluttering to create beautiful, peaceful, creative spaces. Romance unfolding from the thoughtful completion of domestic chores. Mood music, particularly upbeat/heavy/punk/funk/ or any other genre that makes you want to dance/head-bang passionately in figure-hugging sequinned bodysuits during private lockdown dance parties.

Be mindful of: The need to slow down and go with the flow. Confusion and muddled thinking resulting in frustrations. Deceptive language and angry miscommunications. The possibility of mixed messages that could trigger unintentionally aggressive reactions. Self destructive drinking and drug use as a bypass for compassionate self-care (re-read para above!). Projecting beliefs and illusions onto others. Blame. Violent  behaviour in response to delusional beliefs. Martyrdom. Conspiracy theories that incite rage and reactivity. Bloody-minded paranoid beliefs. Vengeful fantasies. 

May you dream whilst walking by creeks and rock out in meditative, musical glamour, star babes 🌟👩🏾‍🎤⭐️🧑🏽‍🎤💫

#marsneptuneopposition #embrace #mindfulness #music #dreams #selfcare #inspiration #magicalwalksinnature #archetypes #selfdestructivetendencies #mars #neptune #pisces #virgo #astrology #art #illustration 

Illuminating transformation of common carbon into jewel-like gems

Today, we have the final Hammer of Thor aspect in a series of four since late July. If you’ve been feeling epically enraged and/or unfairly blamed and criticised lately, you may have been metaphorically wielding/receiving blows from this heavy aspect pattern, which has been activated as Mars, Mercury and Venus have moved through 9 degrees of Virgo. Now the Sun, around whom all celestial bodies revolve and on whom our energy and awareness depends, makes the same stressful aspect to Pluto at 24 degrees of Capricorn and Eris at 24 Aries. 

If your planets or angles are at any of these degrees (or you have a natal Hammer of Thor) you may have felt this stress especially in power struggles, cruel isolation and trauma. If so, today could bring powerful breakthroughs as the Sun illuminates what Pluto has raised from the depths, revealing how we can take responsibility for our own power and actions. 

The planet associated with transformation, trauma and riches, Pluto was discovered in 1930 at the height of the Great Depression, in response to which Roosevelt introduced the New Deal legislation, radically improving the lives of the vast majority of Americans as Hitler emerged in his steady rise to power. Its discovery also coincided with the research of Lise Meitner, the exiled Jewish physicist who would announce her discovery of nuclear fission in 1939. 

Eris, on the other hand, was discovered by three scientists in 2005 who nicknamed her Xena (yes, Warrior Princess). Initially thought to be larger than Pluto, she was named for the Greek goddess of discord and strife, and her discovery led to months of scientific debate and the Astronomical Union’s eventual decision to reclassify Pluto as a dwarf planet. The outcast goddess, who took her revenge in mythology by tricking others into showing their true colours, led to the demotion of the tiny planet Pluto, god of death. 

As such, Eris and the Sun might ask us to level the playing field in our power struggles, to integrate the parts of ourselves and others whom we would ostracise, and to recognise the possibility that those causing trouble might actually be quickening the process of our own miraculous transformations. With the Moon in Cancer nourish self care today, observing the transformations already underway as common carbon becomes jewel-like gems.

#astrologyaugust2021 #hammerofthor #aspectpattern  #xenawarriorprincess #lordoftheunderworld  #persephone #queenoftheunderworld #underground #goddess #lisemeitner #fdr #roosevelt #xena #dwarfplanets #spiritualart #sun #pluto #eris #capricorn #aries #virgo #astrology #art #contemporaryart #underground #goddess

Tree time & the underside of icebergs: Aquarius Full Moon 22 August 2021

It’s been a year of sustained intensity, my friends, and the changes taking place are like the underside of icebergs: bigger than we imagine and largely invisible, which makes them difficult to comprehend and more difficult for that reason. If you’ve ever seen the underside of an iceberg you know how exceptionally beautiful, otherworldly and vital they are to the health of our world. So similarly, it helps to remember how much is going on beneath the surface in the space below language, especially when things are challenging. 

We and the world are changing and although we may feel as if things are out of our control, we have mysterious power to influence these glacial transformations with our thoughts and actions now. As the Sun in Leo lights up the Moon in Aquarius today at 10pm AEST for the second time this lunar month - this time at the critical 29th degree - we reach a pivotal moment of culmination and readjustment. The Saturn/Uranus pulse is amplified by the Full Moon’s conjunction with the Greater Benefic Jupiter, which emphasises optimism, maturity and insight, and the Sun in Leo encourages joyous self-expression of the inner solar child regardless of chaos and restriction.

The year-long square between Saturn & Uranus, the two rulers of Aquarius, is shaped by conflict between old ways and conservative or authoritarian views, and rebellious, progressive drives towards the future. And although Aquarian energy is forward-looking, optimistic, social, and socially distant, intellectual and innovative, it’s also ruled by Saturn, the mystical dictator of material reality whose heavy influence can be felt in the nation’s lockdowns and curfews, and in the fear, loneliness, isolation and mental health issues that many have been feeling acutely, particularly over the last month. As the planet of chaos, upheaval, revolution, revelation, breakthroughs, insights and liberation, Uranus is utterly antithetical to Saturn. Saturn is as slow as time. But when Uranus happens, everything is changed instantaneously, forever. 

William Herschel’s accidental discovery of Uranus in 1781 upended our scientific understanding of the solar system by doubling its size overnight. Herschel’s discovery also coincided with the American War of Independence, and closely preceded the French Revolution, the birth of the United States, the colonisation of Australia, and the wholesale dispossession of First Nations peoples in this country. There’s no going back when Uranus happens, but there is opportunity to build towards an as yet unimagined future. Saturn in Aquarius has the momentum to build from the Uranian rubble with its sights set on horizons of freedom and justice.

This weekend, however, chaotic acts of rebellion against authority are predictably highlighted. Full Moons naturally accelerate such energies but Jupiter exaggerates recklessness and self-righteousness, and Uranus is trining the god of war, Mars. These are all positive aspects, however, which suggests that the situations unfolding are unlikely to devolve dangerously. But they also point to something more powerful: the courage to take radical action and innovate our thinking in order to break free from our own personal limitations. This is enhanced by a Grand Trine between Saturn, Venus in Libra and the South Node in Gemini, all of which suggest greater ease and maturity, discipline and optimism for cultivating fairness, beauty and open-mindedness in our relationships with others. 

It’s worth mentioning that the Nodes of Fate have been moving through the signs of their ‘fall’ since 2020, which makes them both challenging and critically important. The South Node is associated with decrease; in Sagittarius, sign of opinions, it suggests our least painful pathway through this time would involve the continuous questioning and elimination of long-held, over-zealous and outmoded beliefs. The North Node is associated with increase and in Gemini, sign of facts, data and diversity, suggests a curious, non-judgmental appraisal of information and an acceptance that the full reality may not be clear for some time should help us stay sane.

Neptune, planet of higher consciousness, compassion, illusion, projection, delusion and manipulation is also approaching an exact opposition to Mercury, planet of the mind on Wednesday. We’ll be greatly assisted by cultivating conscious awareness in any way we can. Listen to the voice of your solar child. Breathe brightly coloured light. Listen to transcendent jazz while you wash dishes. Walk to the sound of the wind. Make visionary art. Journal. Think like a tree and feel the obstacles in your environment making you more beautiful over elongated measures of time. Dream into your cherished future.

Uranus stations retrograde

Uranus played a starring role this week in world events when it became the last of the slow-moving transpersonal outer planets to station retrograde this year. Moving at their slowest, stationing planets exert their most concentrated archetypal influence, and Uranus rules shocks and upheavals, radical shifts, sudden, unexpected and irrevocable change, rebellion and revolution. In Taurus, it also indicates chaotic earth events. 

As Uranus stationed this week, the Taliban took power in Afghanistan with unprecedented speed. A major earthquake in Haiti claimed 1400 lives, quickly followed by Tropical Storm Grace only a month after the assassination of President Jovenel Moise. Flash floods along the Black Sea coast followed weeks of devastating Mediterranean fires. A massive fuel tanker exploded in Lebanon further intensifying economic crisis and a fuel shortage that’s left most of the country without power.

As of Saturday, every outer planet in our solar system will be moving retrograde. Traditionally, retrograde planets were considered to bring about reversals and the reinstatement of Taliban rule after 20 years of foreign intervention certainly fits that criteria. With all of the outer planets moving backwards until early October, many of us find ourselves in situations of similar reversal as the pandemic continues to gain ground and lockdowns stretch into eternity. But retrograde planets also wield certain magic: they compel us to rethink, rework, reimagine, reconsider, revise, rectify, rejuvenate, reiterate, regenerate and reenergise the parts of our lives that are calling out for attention, and they do so to powerful effect. They require quiet listening to reinvent a vision for the way forward.

On Thursday 19th August, the cosmos offers a sweet window of astrological time, and gods know we need it. With the Moon in Capricorn, it’s a perfect day for projects. With the Sun in its rulership in Leo, Venus at home at last in Libra, and Mercury exalted in Virgo and making an exact conjunction to an energised Mars, activities that stimulate body, mind and soul, that improve quality of life, and are beautiful, unusual and challenging enough to be emotionally satisfying are ideal today for creative calibration. As Mercury meets Mars, there’s a possibility for magic in business, sublime organisation and channeling fiery feelings and critical thinking into inspired writing/journalling. Connect in conversation wherever possible with your dearest loved ones and favourite hearts and minds.

Friday 20th August, the Sun, which represents our conscious light, spirit and ambitions, makes an exact opposition to the Greater Benefic, Jupiter, bringing golden grace, optimism and confidence into our lives but be mindful of getting carried away with grandiose ideas. Pay attention to good fortune in minutiae to cultivate stronger alignment with heartfelt aspirations and notice what’s building towards culmination on Sunday’s Blue Moon. More about the second Full Moon in Aquarius for 2021 coming soon.

Uranus in Taurus 2021 (detail)

Gouache on paper

Taking heart: Leo New Moon 2021

Take heart if you’ve been feeling the looming weight of the unknown and other disquieting tensions, my friends, we have a New Moon in Leo tonight (Sunday 8th August @11:50pm AEST) which emphasises the child within, the creative spark, and what we’re creating for the future…

New Moons are symbolic moments of conception, representing a union between solar intentions and lunar resources, through which new possibilities are formed in the dark. And it’s in this dark phase of the Moon that we shed, release, prune, weed, turn the soil, cut our losses and let go, clearing the ground so that fresh possibilities have room to grow in the month ahead.

Most of the weekend takes place in the shadows of the dark moon, and coloured by the unexpected twists and turns of Saturday’s square between the Sun in Leo and Uranus in Taurus, which may have triggered rebellious behaviour, eruptions and even breakthroughs in awareness. The New Moon also squares Uranus and loosely opposes Saturn, once again triggering the year-long Saturn-Uranus square, which has been repeatedly re-activated over recent weeks by Venus, Mars and Mercury passing through the square to Uranus and the opposition to Saturn.

This New Moon is the last of these planetary triggers to the Saturn-Uranus square for a while, which makes it cause for considerable excitement! Leo also rules creative expression and legacy, and we may have been feeling a sense of urgency about what we’re actually here to do in this life. With the Moon’s opposition to Pluto earlier in the week and to Saturn today, we may also have felt burdened by doubts about whether they’re even possible. The New Moon in Leo encourages us to cultivate radical trust in what our heart holds dear. On Monday, Venus in Virgo opposes Neptune in Pisces highlighting the skills and effort required to bring such beauty into being. It could also signal possible challenges in relationships and creativity and/or the need to work harder than we may like to achieve the vision of emotional transcendence that’s been presented to us. 

Mercury plays an especially important role in this lunation. Not only is the planet of mind, communication, commerce and magic loosely conjunct the New Moon, it’s forming the apex of a Finger of God with Neptune and Pluto. This is a highly challenging and mystical aspect pattern that emphasises the inherent difficulties involved in harnessing one’s power and communicating one’s vision towards a sacred mission but the prospect of actually achieving it eventually is looking good.

On Wednesday August 11, Mercury makes an opposition to Jupiter, which brings glorious expansion to our intellectual horizons, and the next day Mercury moves into its exaltation in Virgo, beginning a train of highly auspicious celestial events that promise to alter the quality of our experiences powerfully over the coming month. Hallelujah! So, prepare your spring garden, my friends. Compost, prune and rid your psyches of old junk and prepare your magic seeds for cultivation.  🌞🦁🌱🌿🌳🧡

#newmoon #leo #2021

Inspiring courage: 28th July to 1st August 2021

The mushroom growing through my floor makes its thumbnail appearance for a wee celestial weather warning my friends! The energetic forecast for the remainder of the week might just match some of the wild wind, glorious windows of sunshine, and sudden storms we’ve been experiencing today in Narrm as the energy shifts rapidly with some big aspects and three planets change signs in quick succession.

Mercury moved into Leo today alongside the Sun, Jupiter returns to Aquarius tomorrow, and Mars moves out of Leo and into Virgo on Friday. Tomorrow, Mars and Jupiter make an exact opposition, and Venus forms a Hammer of Thor with the goddess of discord, Eris, and the lord of the underworld, Pluto. These are powerful energies so I wanted to share a video for anyone who’s interested to learn a bit more about them and who might already be feeling the energy.

My teacher Acyuta-bhava Das spoke beautifully this morning about the significance of meaningful struggle in a Mars-Jupiter context, and of cultivating spiritual purpose through meaningful activities that challenge us to cross our existing thresholds. There’s the potential for aggressive competition, hubris and violence, and jealousy about those against whom we negatively compare ourselves but the Mars-Jupiter axis can point to deep, courageous and optimistic soul-searching work. This week encourages us to celebrate what shines in ourselves and others, my friends, and through all the weather changes 🌟🔥🌪⛈🌞🌈

Weathering the diamond rain: Aquarius Full Moon 23 July 2021

My lovely friends in and out of lockdown, as we move towards the first of this year’s two Full Moons in Aquarius, I’ve been feeling inspired to reconnect 🕸💜🤎🧡🖤💗🕸 It’s been a tough year for many of us and personally I’ve had little bandwidth for social media so it’s interesting to feel the urge again given that Aquarius rules social media as well as friendships, networks, our hopes and dreams, and what we’re building for the future. 

This Full Moon (Saturday 24th July @ 12:36pm AEST) happens at 1 degree of Aquarius and re-activates the history-changing Great Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn, which took place on the December Solstice 2020. It offers a potent opportunity to reinvigorate and reorganise our intentions towards what we’re aspiring to achieve in the next 20 years.

Full Moons are Sun-Moon oppositions, which bring contrasting themes into dialogue for potential synthesis and readjustment. With the Sun in Leo and Moon in Aquarius we’re being attuned to the dynamic relationship between self and society. We’re being asked to focus our hearts towards our own creative self-expressed authenticity, which is how we’re meant to show up and make a difference in the world.

The second Aquarius Full Moon takes place on Sunday 22 August, two days after Uranus joins the other outer planets in retrograde motion, and it will be at 29 degrees of Aquarius - the anaretic or last and most potent degree of a sign. It’s also conjunct Jupiter, the Greater Benefic, who’s retrograding back through this area of our charts. All up these two Full Moons in Aquarius, which bookend Leo season, make it a symbolically potent one for creative and heart-oriented second chances.

This is extremely late notice (the modern ruler of Aquarius, Uranus, governs unexpected events!) but if you’d like to connect with the energy and opportunities of this lunation, tune in with community, set some intentions or identify some ideal areas for adjustment so that you can move ahead in closer alignment with your heart’s true intentions, then please join me tomorrow dear friends for an informal and heart-centred Aquarius Full Moon ritual at 12:37pm AEST (11:37am QAEDT and 10:37am WAEST).

I’ll speak a little about the symbolism and opportunities of this lunation and then lead us into an intention-setting ritual and meditation 🌟 and then if anyone is keen to understand how the current celestial weather is playing out specifically for them, and they’re happy to share, perhaps we can look at some chart examples… It’s a great way to learn and helps us get better at working better with what we’ve got, which is one of the most practical and magical functions of astrology in my opinion 🌞 Forgive me it things get a bit glitchy as I work it out!

Hope to see you for some Full Moon magic tomorrow my friends 🌕🌞🌙

Images:

Meditations on Saturn in Aquarius, 2021

Gouache on paper

Zeus/Jupiter as Aquila the eagle carries Ganymede the beautiful to the heavens, 2021

Ink, iridescent watercolour & gouache on paper

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Transforming suffering into pearls: The Buddha Full Moon in Scorpio, 27 April 2021

Dearest friends, this is going to be my last astrology post for a little while… 

I’ve been feeling burned out and I’ve realised that I just can’t keep up the pace - working, hustling, studying and struggling to find time to do art. I just can’t do it all and I need to pull back and focus on working towards an exhibition now. I feel a little sad but the timing of this very clear message, in the lead up to Tuesday’s Scorpio Full Moon - which deals with deaths, endings and transformations - as well as tomorrow’s conjunction between Venus, goddess of abundance and self-worth, and Uranus, planet of radical shifts, in Taurus - sign of self-worth and well-being, feels reassuringly magical. 

If universal basic income and housing were human rights, I’d be a full time artist and astrologer, and better able to serve my community by providing affordable readings to those who wouldn’t usually be able to afford them. As we move further into this slowly-but-surely socially-transformative Aquarian era, I hope to see some bloody big changes to this corrupt and broken capitalistic system. I know this may sound like a whinge, and I’m incredibly fortunate compared to billions of others who find themselves at the bottom of the social and economic hierarchy in our societies, but I do think that by and large we continue to be deluded by the insidious capitalist concept of meritocracy, which holds that people who aren’t doing well are either lazy or lacking in intelligence, when of course the reality is that the system is stacked against those who struggle under the burden of compounded traumas and injustice. 

I know I’m preaching to the converted here but I just can’t contain the urge to go on a rant under the influence of the current astrological energies! There’s such a huge amount of shame around these issues and shame, of course, is one of the major themes being highlighted by the coming Scorpio Full Moon. Additionally, Pluto, the modern ruler of Scorpio, is exerting it most powerful influence as it stations to turn retrograde the following day. Being present to shame and taking radical action in support of self-love and self-worth should be deeply transformative now.

Putting these astrological updates together almost every week since September last year has been an act of love for me and I’ve learned SO much. It’s felt deeply challenging to put myself out there on social media and I’ve continually asked myself why the hell I’m doing it, but I haven’t been able to stop. It’s felt like a mysterious and significant practice to continually show up, tune in and share what I’ve been learning and feeling about the cosmic energies at play from week to week. And I’ve been deeply rewarded by your beautiful and heartwarming feedback. Thank you for coming on this ride with me, my beautiful friends, and for being the nourishing, supportive and generous receptors of this work, I’m so grateful 🙏🏽💗♥️🌟🌞

Like most people, my only experience of astrology until recently was via magazine horoscopes, so I had no idea how complex, revealing, practical, therapeutic and mysteriously transformative astrology could actually be. I’ve never really encountered anyone in my social network who knew anything more about it either so as I became more obsessed (Pluto is on my Sun and Midheaven!) I figured that there might be others in my community who’d value some of these insights, handed down to us by thousands of generations of scholars, seekers and mystics. Astrology gave birth to science but it’s an art and spiritual practice as well as a science I believe - albeit one that modern physics and astronomy are not yet equipped to corroborate. But within the next 150 we’ll understand a great deal more scientifically about the nature of these cosmic energies I think.

As always though, we can draw on the wisdom of ancient peoples who knew a great deal more, in many ways, than we moderns do despite our arrogant evolutionary assumptions. Although the oldest written astrological records date to 4,000 years, one of the painted bulls at the Cave of Lascaux, which is dated to around 16,800 BCE, features a map of the Pleiades on its head, which comprises the sign of Taurus the bull. And Taurus has major significance for us this year, with Uranus in Taurus squaring Saturn in Aquarius by a few degrees all year, signifying major upheaval and innovations in the areas of our resources, talents and physical and psychological well-being.

These energies are intensified significantly this week as Taurus hosts the Sun, Mercury, Venus, Uranus and Black Moon Lilith, all of which are directly opposing the Full Moon in Scorpio on Tuesday. Buddha attained enlightenment on this Full Moon and if we can tune in to our depths and meet our own shadows with love, we might be able to touch a piece of this radiant transcendence too. Slowly but surely the painful grit in our shells is being transformed into lustrous pearls my friends… For more about the significance and potential of this powerful Moon check out this final video for a while. Ironically it might be one of my best…  Big big love to you all my beautiful friends 🌞🌟🦂🌕 🤎🖤💜

#saturn #taurus #venus #pluto #uranus #mercury #aquarius #scorpio #fullmoon #scorpiofullmoon2021 #buddha #shame #universalbasicincome #housingasahumanright #lascaux #pleiades #pearls #grit #astrology #2021

Auspicious initiating opportunities: Aries New Moon 2021

It’s about time my friends! The coming week’s astrology offers some of the most powerful and auspicious initiating opportunities of 2021! With Monday’s New Moon (12 April @12pm AEST) we have Chiron, Mercury, Ceres, the Sun, Eris, Venus and the Moon all activating the sign of Aries, energising our desires and motivations and providing opportunities for deep healing, empowerment and authenticity, which help us to find joy in our own uniqueness. 

As usual, this process involves some challenges, and they’re building over the weekend towards Monday’s New Moon. However, most of this week’s planetary aspects involve extremely harmonious, productive, creative dynamics that help us to clear away old patterning, get clear about what’s most important to us and embolden us to take advantage of the new beginnings we’re aspiring towards. 

Today, Friday 9th April, Venus in Aries and Mars in Gemini form a sextile that generates beautiful opportunities for healing communications that honour self-worth. There’s a possibility to assert boundaries and to be genuinely heard, which heals a part of ourselves that may have been feeling outcast and unloveable. Mercury’s finally moved out of diffuse Pisces into action oriented, forward-moving Aries and into mutual reception with Mars in Gemini, which affords both planets extra power and support to achieve their respective goals. 

On Saturday, Mars in Gemini squares Neptune and the Moon in Pisces at 21 degrees, heightening tensions, snafus, confusions about what’s real, what needs to be said and/or best courses of action. Technology, siblings, neighbours and vehicles could present challenges and meditative activities of all kinds could be immensely helpful to calm reactive impulses and access the power and opportunity within this transit. We also have multiple aspects to the nodes of fate this week, suggesting that events, encounters, meetings, breakthroughs and opportunities may have a more significant effect on our future than we might imagine at the time.

Venus and Pluto are approaching an exact square on the New Moon at 26 degrees also and this powerful and potentially intense transit addresses a need for transformation regarding power dynamics, wounds of the past and what we value most. The planet of death, transformation and rebirth, of trauma and the riches that derive from it squares with the goddess of love to ensure that whatever’s in the way of empowering self-worth and harmonious beauty in relationships will be exposed and expunged.

Thursday April 15 is a day to mark in our diaries. It’s possibly the most auspicious day of 2021 to initiate endeavours that we deeply wish to succeed. With the Sun exalted in Aries, the Moon exalted in Taurus, Venus emerging as the Evening Star in her rulership of Taurus, Mercury and Mars in mutual reception and Mars trining Jupiter, this is about the best astrology imaginable to begin new ventures with a guarantee of success. Check out video Part 1 below for the exact time to press send on proposals to ensure best results. 

The homework for this weekend is to focus on what you’re wanting to clear away, transform and heal; to prepare your seeds of intention for Monday’s New Moon; and to get your plans in order to take advantage of Thursday’s “Immortal Yoga” with its powerful promise of success. For more on how this may play out, check out the Part 2 timestamped readings for all signs in the video  🌞🌑🌟💗

#immortalyoga #ariesnewmoon #mercury #mars #gemini #aries #venus #eveningstar #taurus #pluto #neptune #saturn #nodesoffate #jupiter #healing #opportunities #mutualreception #astrology #art #transformation

Illuminating possibilities in love: Libra Full Moon

Today’s Super Libra Full Moon (5:20am AEDT) illuminates lessons of healing and self-love in relationships. The Moon is once again on her own on the far side of the zodiac, reflecting the light of the Sun, Venus and Chiron, all at 8 degrees of Aries. The goddess of love, relationships and diplomacy rules this Full Moon but in the sign of the warrior, she is fiercer, more assertive, less prone to making compromises for the sake of keeping the peace, which later lead to resentment. 

The Sun, which is emblematic of our conscious growth, is exalted in Aries, sign of the Self, and Chiron the healer and mentor of heroes, spends more time in Aries than in any other sign, and the least in Libra, which reinforces the idea that healing in relationships must come first and foremost through healing of the Self. Venus also rules self-love and worth, and in her conjunction with Chiron and the Sun a seed of healing self-awareness is being fertilised that illuminates old patterns in relationship that are ready to fall away. In Aries she further highlights the importance of ensuring that our individual needs, as well as the needs of others, are being met in the context of relationships.

The Moon also forms a Grand Air Trine with Saturn in Aquarius and the Mars-North Node conjunction in Gemini, which clarifies our ideas and motivations regarding the work we want to do, the actions we want to take and the level of maturity and harmony we aspire to in relationship. The Mars-North Node conjunction this weekend may have given us a clearer understanding of the fruit we’ve harvested from our past actions, and whilst some may be cause for celebration, others may have alerted us to the need for adjustments in order to cultivate a richer crop. 

With Mars finally breaking free of the container of the Nodes after a year of imprisonment, grappling with the consequences of our collective karma and the possibilities of our fate, the god of desire is finally free to move forward unencumbered, to carve out his destiny from a new set of actions. However, with Saturn trining Mars on this Full Moon, he’s being compelled to start slowly, and to bring a greater sense of maturity to his choices. This Grand Air Trine also forms the body of a Kite - a larger, more dynamic configuration, which directs energy from an opposition between Mars and the North Node to the South Node in Sagittarius. It’s asking us to adjust our beliefs in relationships, to act on the information we’ve been receiving so that our ideas about what’s possible can actually take flight. 

There could be some friction in these dynamics too. Venus and Chiron may trigger heart wounds. Mars opposing the South Node at the apex of this kite pattern could lead some to express righteously held opinions with aggression. Mars may want to resist Saturn’s call to discipline. Mercury conjunct Neptune can produce confusing miscommunications, distractions, fantasies and illusions. Be extra careful driving and with liquids around technology. Neptune also rules compassion, forgiveness and the potential for transcendent experiences in love, so if things become confused, we can focus our attention there, returning to the integrity of our truest motivations, to what we know we need to change in ourselves in order to achieve them, and this will help to attune us to the future we’re aiming towards. 

Tuesday and Wednesday provide continued opportunities for transformation in these areas with the Moon, Mars and the Node of Fate making powerful aspects to Pluto in a Hammer of Thor on Tuesday, and to Venus in a Finger of God on Wednesday. The potential for blessings to emerge from these sometimes challenging influences is high as the Full Moon marks a culmination in a cycle of growth in relating, which is coloured by powerful possibilities for healing in love. 

#mercury #mars  #chiron #moon #sun #venus #pluto #nodeoffate #northnode #southnode #kite #grandtrine #hammerofthor #fingerofgod #love #relationships #healing #art #fullmoon #libra #astrology

A karmic portal in relationship space-time…

Strap on your psychic seatbelts my friends, this week we’re passing through one of those immensely powerful karmic portals that has the potential to transform our fate.

Mercury in Pisces squared the Nodes of the Moon in Gemini and Sagittarius yesterday at 13 degrees, triggering issues of personal and collective karma and highlighting the choices we face regarding the possibilities of our fate. This week new information may come to the fore, secrets could be revealed, and with Mercury answering to Jupiter in Aquarius, the emphasis is on getting to the truth so we can resolve matters from the past and clear a path towards the destiny we hope to carve out for ourselves now. All planets are still answering to Saturn in Aquarius so communications that serve the greater good will result in the best outcomes both personally and collectively. 

The tension builds considerably today as Mars moves into an exact conjunction with the Node of Fate at 13 degrees Gemini, bringing us information and new perspectives regarding actions from the past and their consequences. We gain insight into what’s required to set our affairs in order so that we can prepare for a new start that’s in integrity with our true passions and desires. Chickens may come home to roost and communications could be peppered with fiery reactions but we may also find it easier to shift positions more swiftly and accept the feedback we’re receiving. By doing so we step into a new level of maturity, which allows us to transform our fate.

This profound shift is reinforced when Venus takes her place at the heart of the Sun at 5 degrees 50 minutes of Aries at 5:54pm AEDT. In this superior conjunction to the Sun Venus moves through a mythical process of death and rebirth as she transforms from Morning to Evening Star. Although she won’t be visible in our skies for at least another month, the marriage of the Sun and Venus marks a culmination or turning point in love, creativity, money and/or relationship realms. This conjunction also marks one of the points of Venus’ five-petalled, star-shaped synodic cycle. It seeds a new phase that will evolve in relation to what we most value right now for the next 8 years. Look back at what began in Venusian terms in 2013 to better understand what’s coming to conclusion now and how this might relates to what’s asking to come forward.

At the heart of the Sun her power and influence is magnified. Grace, beauty, love, artistry and fairness attain prominence  As Venus and the Sun approach an exact conjunction with Chiron, mentor of heroes and healer, on the Full Moon, she takes on the powerful warrior-like leadership qualities of the feminine, which have the the ability to heal the karmic wounds of the masculine and establish a new basis for interaction and connection in the coming cycle. The emphasis this weekend, and in the lead-up to Monday’s Full Moon, is on healing old wounds, relinquishing old karma and birthing new possibilities in relationship.

On Saturday the cosmic energies become a little more intense. The Moon in Virgo opposes Mercury and squares the Nodes of the Moon, forming a Grand Cross. It activates deep tensions in relation to the emotional work we’re being asked to do in adjusting our ideas and beliefs. Pluto forms the apex of a Hammer of Thor with the Moon squaring Mars and the North Node. This is tough energy. It could feel like a personal crisis or harsh criticism that lands like a blow. But it’s asking us to transform, to own our power, to make the necessary emotional improvements in response to feedback about actions taken in the past. Finally on Saturday the Moon forms the apex of a Finger of God with Venus sextile Saturn. This is uncomfortable albeit divinely supportive energy, which highlights the possibility of a just and fair outcome.
If the intensity feels overwhelming at times this weekend, hang in there my friends. These aspects don’t last long but they do offer us the chance to relinquish old karmic patterns so that we can forge a path for the future that’s in closer alignment with our desires, our truth and our destiny, and this is incredibly auspicious in the lead up to Monday’s epic Full Moon. I’ll do a separate Full Moon post in time for Monday so stay tuned if you’re interested lovelies. In the meantime, travel well through this mysterious portal in psychic space-time my beautiful friends ♥️🌞🔥🌖💎👁🌿🌏

#mercury #mars #nodeoffate #karma #fate #moon #sun #venus #cazimi #grandcross #hammerofthor #fingerofgod #transformation #love #relationships #healing #art #astrology

Tipping Point: Equinox March 20, 2021

Saturday’s Autumnal/Vernal Equinox (March 20 @ 8:40pm AEDT) marks one of two tipping points in the year when the night and day are of equal length. It marks the shifting in emphasis between the lengthening of light and the onset of Spring in the northern hemisphere and the lengthening of night as we descend into Autumn in the southern. It also marks the movement of the Sun into 0 degrees of Aries, the sign of the self and initiating desires that motivate us to act. In astrology the Sun is associated with consciousness, the ego and essential life force, and it’s exalted in Aries, bolstered by the cardinal fiery qualities of courage, will power and drive. 

The Equinox is also followed this week by other astrological events that lend it extra significance, shifting our attention more deeply towards ideas of self, other, and healing, particularly relating to relationship wounds of the past and self-worth. In the Southern hemisphere, as we descend into the darker side of the year, we prepare to shed old skin and focus inward on the germinating potential of our desires, as we heal wounds of personal value and prepare to cultivate a stronger sense self. 

On Monday 22 , Venus moves into 0 degrees Aries as the Evening Star, trailing the Sun. She brings a strong focus to matters of love and beauty, relationship and self-worth, and all the more so as they edge towards a conjunction with Chiron the wounded healer. In the sign of the warrior, Venus takes on a more fierce quality. And with the goddess asteroids Ceres and Eris also co-present in Aries, we could see both a continuing accentuation of the rage of the feminine, and when Venus meets the Sun on March 26, a powerful opportunity for courageous action that seeds a new possibility for engagement, one grounded in powerful self-worth.

There’s quite a lot more going on this week - a Finger of God on Monday, Grand Fire Trine on Wednesday, and the activation of the Venus star point on Friday when Venus meets the Sun. I’ve borrowed an image from James Ferguson’s 1799 book Astronomy Explained Upon Sir Isaac Newton’s Principles, which shows the incredible beauty of Venus’ orbit from the position of Earth. Incredibly, she is only ever cazimi the Sun (exactly conjunct) in five signs, and Aries is one of them. So it’s a powerful week for nourishing personal and collective desires for healing, self-love, and empowered beauty in relationships. For more info on this week’s celestial events check out link in bio. Happy Equinox lovelies

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