Tag Archives: new moon in sagittarius

New Moon in Sagittarius, December 5

We don’t see the awakening of a seed. When it bursts open and its life violently pours forth, it is still deep within the earth, out of sight. And yet, it is growing.

Several clients and friends over the past week have lamented that nothing seems to be happening in their lives. Despite the activity of the cardinal T-square over the summer, they see no movement. Their friends have gone through enormous changes, mostly for the better, so why not them?

For many people, the cardinal T-square planted a seed in their psyche. The seed is still underground, and just because we can’t see the first shoots poking out yet, it doesn’t mean the seed hasn’t sprouted. That may change as of Sunday’s New Moon in Sagittarius.

Michelangelo's Creation of Adam, from the Sistine Chapel in Rome, 1508-1512.

At 13°28′ Sagittarius, the New Moon itself has no relation to the T-square, which took place in the early degrees of cardinal signs Aries, Libra, and Capricorn. However, there is a very big connection between this New Moon and the planets on the main axis of the T-square, and that’s why I believe we’ll see major developments that are directly related to it.

Even before the T-square peaked in the early cardinal signs over the summer, Saturn and Uranus had been opposed in the late degrees of Virgo and Pisces since November 2008. At the height of the T-square, they were in early Libra and Aries. Jupiter, meanwhile, has also been moving in and out of opposition with Saturn and conjunction with Uranus. Jupiter and Uranus now are in late Pisces but will advance back into Aries soon. And here’s where things get really interesting.

Jupiter, as planetary ruler of Sagittarius, rules this New Moon. Jupiter just went direct on November 18 and is picking up some speed. We’re back in growth and expansion mode, following a period of dormancy and contraction.

Uranus, meanwhile, is stationed at a dead stop, ready to return direct a little over eight hours after the New Moon. This is a very powerful moment in time, and the breakthroughs won’t be far behind. Watch that fertile ground for signs of growth popping out.

Jupiter and Uranus are both planets of awakening – Jupiter, because he represents higher consciousness and Uranus because he represents the electrical spark, the genius that inspires us to innovate and think out of the box. I chose as the image for this post Michelangelo’s famous painting on the Sistine Chapel in Rome depicting God’s creation of Man. I also might have used the “consciousness” scene in 2001: A Space Odyssey, in which primate consciousness evolved through contact with aliens; or the birth of Athena, in which the goddess of wisdom was born fully formed out of the head of Zeus – the father god and Roman Jupiter.

The symbolism is all the same, and it’s where we’re at as of this New Moon.

The only aspect made by this New Moon is a close sextile to Saturn at 15 degrees Libra, sign of its exaltation. Saturn is known as the Lord of Time, and this is why he represents physical manifestation in the material world. As we now know from scientific research, there is no separation between energy and matter (or, if you will, “spirit” and matter). Matter – what you “see” with your human eyes and brain – is simply energy frozen in time.

The evolution in consciousness that many of us are experiencing carries with it an ability to manifest thoughts into physical reality. It’s not just about “creative visualization.” Although that’s a good start, it’s a bit like a preschooler trying to paint the Sistine Chapel with Crayolas. Real manifestation ability takes long years of training and practice. And since we don’t understand the mechanisms 100 percent, it has taken a lot of experimentation – the provenance of Uranus.

One thing we do know – or at least heavily suspect – is that to transform our lives into a more enriching, creative existence, we have to dump outmoded beliefs and behaviors. That, too, is the provenance of Uranus, depicted most vividly by The Tower in the Tarot deck. If we don’t drop them willingly, they can get blasted out by circumstances that force us to see the errors in our thinking.

In a stunning example of synchronicity, this New Moon is conjunct the Great Attractor, a mass of something we don’t understand, located some 250 million light-years away, at roughly 14 degrees Sagittarius. We’re not entirely sure what it is, but it appears to have the mass of at least 10 of our Milky Way galaxies, and it’s sucking in surrounding galaxies at an alarming rate.

By contrast, half a sign away, toward the final degrees of Sagittarius, is the Galactic Center, a giant mass we also don’t entirely understand but which appears to be a birth channel. One destroys, the other creates. Is there a connection? As it also so happens, the next Full Moon – the culmination of the energies released at the New Moon – will be closely conjunct the GC.

As I pointed out in my last lunation report, the conjunction of Jupiter and Uranus, both direct, provides a pathway for sudden breakthroughs.

[callout]The potential for advances in spirituality is of galactic proportions. And remember, my definition of “spirituality” has to do with our ability to sense the invisible energies that course through the universe and to use those energies to our advantage and the advantage of our fellow humans. Part of that vision is seeing through the illusion of time.[/callout]

The period between the New Moon and Full Moon won’t be without its complications. Mercury is about to turn retrograde (more about that in my next weekly forecast), and it’s going to be a turbulent one, with Mercury going out of phase in conjunction with Mars and Pluto. I strongly urge you to finish your holiday shopping this weekend. If you haven’t mailed your packages, get them en route ASAP!

The Sabian Symbol** for the Sun and Moon at 13°28′ Sagittarius is the Pyramids and the Sphinx, with the keyword CERTIFICATION. What we see with our own eyes may not be the whole truth, but it’s a start, and it’s our first clue as to what is real and what isn’t. One of the wonders of the world, the Pyramids represent the best of what humanity can manifest into reality, and we still aren’t sure how they did it! As we work on our ability to manifest, we must continue to strive for the greatest good and to be willing to go through the trial and error necessary to perfect our skills.

We’ll know how well we’re doing by the results.

Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

P.S. Don’t forget to write your abundance check!

** From The Sabian Symbols in Astrology, by Dr. Marc Edmund Jones. The author, an astrologer, channeled this work in 1925 with the help of Elsie Wheeler, a gifted psychic. There’s one symbol one for each degree of the zodiac, and we can use them to gain insight into charts.

Weekly Forecast December 14: New Moon in Sagittarius, Mars Retrograde

Blewett PassWhen I’m traveling by air, I hate it when the plane lands and, for an agonizing few seconds, I’m subject to the negative g-force. That’s the feeling I have this week as Mars slows down in preparation for turning retrograde.

Although there’s a lot going on astrologically this week, the impending retrograde of Mars is what we’re likely to feel the most. That’s because Mars rules our physical energy, and when he’s slowing down (that’s what it looks like from down here anyway), we tend to do the same.

Mars also rules steel and moving parts, which means we’ll see his effect on holiday traffic. With Mercury also slowing down, we can expect mall traffic to be even more of a nightmare than usual. If you find yourself in that situation, stay alert for drivers who may be inclined to take out their frustrations on the gas pedal.

In her New Moon post, Neith already mentioned the dominant aspects of this week, but I’ll run through them here chronologically.

On Monday, the Sun squares Uranus and sextiles Jupiter. Conflicting angles between the Sun and Uranus sometimes suggest accidents and disruption, and while Jupiter may amplify them and make them really big, his lucky influence also can bring happy endings to tense situations. For many people, this planetary combination may indicate an exciting break in routine for something fun and totally unexpected.

On Tuesday, the Sun sextiles Neptune, which is in a three-way conjunction with Jupiter and Chiron. Sextiles tend to be easy, and often they pass without any notice. It’s also going to be just plain difficult to figure out which planetary combination triggers which event, since there are so many planets involved … kind of like trying to determine who caused a 12-car pileup.

Tuesday’s Moon-Venus conjunction makes this my favorite day of the week for a party or for getting together with friends after work for some holiday cheer.

Wednesday is the New Moon in Sagittarius, three degrees from the Galactic Center. Be on the alert for “downloads.” They could come in brilliant flashes of insight, in dreams, while meditating, or by some other means. Be sure to record these messages somewhere so that you can contemplate them over time.

An hour and a half after the New Moon, the Moon enters somber Capricorn and immediately triggers the Saturn-Pluto square. You may feel lonely, isolated, or disempowered under this influence, but it won’t last long.

Venus trines Mars on Thursday, just as he’s close to a complete halt. She’s got a captive audience, so he’ll just have to sit there and listen to her, and then he’ll go off and think about it. If any of you are having “discussions” with a partner who’s lagging a little behind you spiritually or emotionally, be patient and give him or her some space, while continuing to be completely honest about how you feel.

Saturday’s sextile from Venus to Chiron and square from Venus to Uranus promises to bring a surprising breakthrough in healing a rift between you and someone else.

Mars finally turns retrograde on Sunday. If you’re out and about, give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination. Keep your to-do list short and your shopping reasonable, as it won’t take much to get shopped out. The Moon opposes Mars later in the day, increasing the risk of arguments due to overstimulation and fatigue.

Fortunately, we’ll also have Venus in a lovely sextile to Neptune and Jupiter to lift our spirits and help us remember what the holidays are all about. With so much media pressure to show our love through material gifts, we often forget that the best thing we can give is precious moments truly connecting with those we love.

Love, joy, and holiday wishes to all,
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Image: Snow on Blewett Pass, one of the few routes through the mountains separating the Seattle metropolitan area from the vast open stretches of Eastern Washington. Photo by Pat Paquette, all rights reserved.

New Moon in Sagittarius, December 16, 2009

Indi's Christmas StockingBy and large, the focus of the New Moon at 24°39′ Sagittarius on December 16 is on the last quadrant of the zodiac, encouraging us to review our place in the collective and consider carefully where we wish to apply our talents and energies for the benefit of all.

The tight sextile between the New Moon and Jupiter, the Archer’s ruler, is almost sure to bring opportunities for increasing our knowledge base, which Sagittarius lives for. Since Jupiter in Aquarius will make his last conjunction with Neptune on December 21, it will be interesting to see what we have learned over this past year about our personal truths and where we have been deluding ourselves.

December 21 is also the solstice and a very important point in the yearly cycle of dark and light. The next week or so is a very good time for contemplating our progress and setting intentions for the next cycle. This solstice is shaping up to be a powerful turning point, with Mars in Leo stationing retrograde the day before. Both Pat and I will be adding more on this subject between now and then.

Adding clarity to this New Moon is the square to Uranus in Pisces. Squares can be very good for delineating differences, and for allowing us to see them and make changes based on that information. Sagittarius is often impatient with Pisces’ fondness for “going with the flow,” because it wants a clear target to shoot for, not Neptune squishiness. Uranus is always pushing us to take the cutting edge option, but it won’t hurt to make sure you are going with the well-tested version, not the beta.

The Saturn in Libra square Pluto in Capricorn is clearly operating in full force, teaching us lessons in how to relate to others and deal with differences in opinion. I am seeing others (and myself) having to choose between compromises or ending a long-standing relationship.

For some reason, this square is calling to our attention the differences between people’s words and their actions. Pluto in Capricorn pretty much demands accountability for our actions as well as the need for honesty. Saturn in Libra is all about getting real in the way we interact with others. Between the two, we either will clean up our act or be shown the door – I do not see much leeway in this. Those with strong Libra signatures in their charts are bound to be the bellwethers for the rest, because if they are seeing these issues in their relationships and taking action, then sooner or later, it will be happening to others.

On a lighter note, Venus in Sagittarius is having the time of her life right now, with Mars in Leo right there ready to escort her to the nearest holiday party. This influence will be fading by Christmas, so all you fire signs out there better make the most of it while you can. Mars going retrograde and Venus moving into Capricorn on December 26 are sure to give us one heck of a hangover.

Mercury is in Capricorn and slowing down to station retrograde on December 26. We still have some time to take care of business correspondence and enjoy the brisk, matter-of-fact way Capricorn handles communications in general. Have you sent out your Christmas cards and letters yet? If not, better get cracking!

For the New Moon, the Sabian symbol is 25 Sagittarius, “A chubby little rich boy rides upon a hobbyhorse.” My sense is that we have opportunities for imaginative play in a protected situation, but it is important to keep in mind a hobbyhorse only goes back and forth in one place. Enjoy the moment, but remember the party always ends.

Please express your gratitude and appreciation for family and friends every day all year round as well as during this holiday season. It is easy to be generous and loving when life is upbeat, but it is critical to do so when times are tough. Be well and be kind to all who cross your path.

Libra always seeks balanceposted by Neith . . .

Of course, today is the day to write your New Moon abundance checks! Here’s how.

Image:  This is a Christmas stocking I cross-stitched for my granddaughter. It took me roughly ten months of working on it almost every evening to complete and is an example of tenacity-patience (Saturn) creating something beautiful (Libra) for a loved one.

New Moon in Sagittarius, November 27, 2008

New Moon in SagittariusAll you Archers out there will be thrilled to learn that this is a quintessential New Moon in Sagittarius. Not only are the Sun and Moon conjoined at 5°49′ Sagittarius, but Mercury and Mars are within a couple of degrees as well. Yes, it’s time to celebrate Sagittarius!

It is fair to say we will all be feeling this stellium wherever it falls in our charts, urging us to think big and maybe take a chance or two. Sagittarius is interested in exploring different ideas and drawing concepts from many different cultures to build something new and interesting. With the drive of Mars in Sagittarius coupled to Mercury’s free-wheeling thinking in Sagittarius, this is a great time to travel to far away places, even if it’s only from your armchair. It is also time to put the intense introspection of Scorpio behind us for awhile.

Jupiter, Sagittarius’s ruler, is still in Capricorn, but he is conjunct Venus, and both are sextile Uranus, who stations direct three hours before the New Moon. This is a lot of creative, expansive energy looking for an outlet, and we might as well take advantage of it while we can. Indeed, from this day until the end of December, all the planets will be direct. So check and see what you have put off, because forward thinking is what will be rewarded.

Another big shift taking place the day before the New Moon is Pluto’s move into Capricorn, where he will remain until 2023. We have discussed numerous possibilities about what this move will bring and will continue to do so as Pluto settles into his new sign. In this chart, Pluto is exactly trine Vesta in Taurus, underlining the awareness of Capricorn being a feminine, earth sign and serving as a reminder of the inherent power abiding in nature. The season of Capricorn in the northern latitudes is one in which all the action in the growing cycle takes place beneath the surface, awaiting release to burgeon forth during Taurus’s season of late spring.

For now, the opposition between Uranus in Pisces and Saturn in Virgo is separating and will continue to do so until Saturn goes retrograde at the end of December. I am quite happy to catch a breather from this opposition before the second pass is exact on February 5, 2009. Right now, Uranus forms a lovely sextile with Venus and Jupiter, with Saturn trine that pair – a great pattern for actualizing and manifesting your favorite creative projects.

The Sabian symbol for 6 Sagittarius is, a game of cricket, with the keywords GROUP SOLIDARITY. Fairness and cooperation are needed to achieve collective goals. The stellium in Sagittarius on this New Moon encourages sportsmanship and fair play while keeping in mind it’s the process, not the result, that is important. We have spent far too much time and energy as a collective on “winning” during the Pluto in Sagittarius years, and now that Pluto is in Capricorn, we can start working together steadily to achieve our goals.

Let’s all enjoy this exuberant New Moon and brace ourselves for a wild ride over the next month. Remember to take time to express your appreciation for friends and family and practice kindness to all.

Libra with Scorpio risingposted by Neith . . .

Of course, today is the day to write your New Moon abundance checks! Here’s how.