LEST WE THINK we've
reached the finish line, the New Moon on Monday (Tuesday in some time
zones) confirms that the new lunar cycle continues that we will be
continuing the current flow of heightened emotions and unsettling
events. The lunation occurs at 8:46 p.m. PDT on October 8,
at 15°48′ Libra. At the time of the event, the Sun and the Moon are
within one degree of being exactly square Pluto in Capricorn.
With
this New Moon in the sign of The Scales and in challenging aspect to
Pluto, we can surmise that our main challenge over the next two to four
weeks will be to stay calm and in balance amidst upheaval. Power
struggles and competition are typical Plutonian manifestations,
and the pressure of the square aspect (when planets are 90 degrees
apart) heightens our awareness of how bureaucratic manipulations (Pluto
in Capricorn) can block true justice (Sun and Moon in Libra).
DWARF PLANET CERES,
named for the Earth Mother goddess, is closely conjunct the Sun and
Moon at the time of the New Moon. Ceres weaves themes of nurturing into
the tapestry of the lunar cycle -- in particular, how we care for family
and for ourselves, both physically and emotionally.
Like
the Sun and Moon, Ceres is also in Libra and square Pluto. This means
we need to be alert to the complications that can arise if we are
trying to maintain superficial harmony, and avoiding the truth of a
situation. When we ignore what we really feel and know to be true, it
can result in low self-esteem, eating disorders, and other
complexes.
To navigate this challenge, we must let go of our need for everyone to like us. Astrologer Demetra George, in her book Asteroid Goddesses,
writes that with Ceres and Pluto in hard aspect, we must learn "that
return and
renewal follow letting go, that every death is followed by a birth, and
that every loss is replenished by a gain. A real understanding of this
truth permanently erases the fear of loss from one's subconscious mind
and replaces it with trust, acceptance, and joy."
ADDING ANOTHER LAYER
of intrigue to the upcoming lunar cycle, Venus is now moving backward
in the sky. As planetary ruler of the Libra New Moon, Venus has
influence over the new lunar cycle, and her condition and aspects are of
extra import.
While
Venus is retrograde in secretive Scorpio, she compels us to dive more
deeply into the hidden realms of our psyches, to discover what we truly
value and to gain clarity on issues of fairness and right relationship.
The questions arise: Who can we trust, and who are our allies? Is there
something we missed, that is vital to our
next steps? What yet remains to be revealed? And can we be conscious
enough to catch the glimmer of light in the darkness?
VENUS
is also square Mars
and Black Moon Lilith in the New Moon chart, exacerbating the tension
between the feminine and masculine, and exposing new layers of the
shadow self.
If you are unfamiliar with Lilith, Darkstar Astrology provides these
insights:
"Dark
Moon Lilith is the lunar apogee. It does not exist as a physical point
in space, but is a point that describes the distance between the earth
and the moon, the empty focus. Lilith is about the power, politics, and
psychology of
se(x)."
And from astrologer and writer Valerie Mesa:
"Black
Moon Lilith represents a person’s primitive impulses and behavior in
their rawest form. It reveals our repressed se(x)uality, together with
what makes us feel most vulnerable; it expresses the dark side of one’s
personality, buried deep in the subconscious realms of our psyche. "
Although
mythology tends to paint Lilith in very dark tones, calling her "a
night demon," Mesa also includes this uplifting observation:
"The
story of Lilith has evolved tremendously in the past century; in much
contemporary writing, she is no longer portrayed as an evil,
child-eating deity but rather as a feminist icon who stood proudly against male domination."
ON A CLEARLY POSITIVE
note, the New Moon is aligned with two dynamic fixed stars: Merga and R
Carinae. Astrologer Roderick Kidston tells us that with these two
stars:
"There
is a sense of building organically on the past in order to grow towards
the future, and to set sail towards it, too, if it is necessary to cut
free and move on ... Perhaps above all, R Carinae gives courage: the
brave spirit and self-belief to go forth on adventures and bring back
whatever treasure you
find."
It
will be interesting to see how current events unfold under the
influence of the new lunar cycle -- especially since the Taurus Full
Moon two weeks hence (on October 24) is closely conjunct Uranus. Change
is in the wings,
awaiting its cue.
AS THE MOON slowly waxes this week, Mercury is once again centerstage, being involved in significant aspects every
single day:
- On
Tuesday, Mercury forms challenging aspects with both Neptune and
Chiron, raising doubts about the validity of the "facts." While
information sources may indeed be untrustworthy, Mercury also enters
Scorpio late in the day, invigorating
our need to get to the heart of any matter.
- On
Wednesday, Mercury opposes Uranus -- a time for surprises, insights,
and unexpected twists in the drama that is unfolding. This is also the
day that Venus and Mars are exactly square, so watch for battle lines
to be drawn and defended.
- On
Thursday, Mercury squares the karmic Nodes. The challenge here is to
stay engaged (North Node in Leo), not to withdraw or become
alienated (South Node in Aquarius) because of our suspicions about a
deeper truth (Mercury in Scorpio). The Sun is exactly square Pluto today
as well, heightening the urgency of the moment and bringing one of
the promises of the New Moon chart into manifestation.
- On Friday, Mercury is sextile Saturn -- an opportunity to cool down, find solutions, and get back on track.
REMINISCENT of
last week, next
weekend we have another slew of quintile aspects, each involving either
Mercury or the Sun. As mentioned in last week's Journal, this family of
aspects indicates a strong concentration of energy. This laser-like
attention can manifest in creative ways, but also as the abuse of power.
Saturday's
biquintile aspects involve Chiron and Neptune in Pisces, so we may find
this a more confusing day, or a time when we find it difficult to
capture in words exactly what we know in our hearts. On Sunday, a
Mercury-Pluto quintile focuses our attention on the issue at hand,
inspiring us to share our opinions with great fervor. The Sun is also
quintile Saturn, bringing an objectivity that will come in handy amidst
the
drama.
