 |
| Tongue Point Catherine Al-Meten Meyers |
The Aquarius New Moon 4/21 degrees peaks today (January 24) at 4:42 p.m EST/1:42 PST.. New moons bring us into a new lunar cycle, and this one ushers in a new lunar year on the Chinese Calendar, the Year of the Rat. It’s time to revise intentions, discard whatever old habits, patterns, or intentions you no longer need, and to invite in a time of renewal. An Aquarius New Moon (plus the Sun and Mercury in Aquarius) emphasize our desire to break out of old habits, patterns, routines, and outmoded ways of thinking and being. We may feel more moved to become involved in humanitarian efforts or some other form of working with others to make positive changes. We definitely feel more compelled to make significant changes in some area of our lives.
As the huge impact of the stellenium of the Sun and other planets, in Capricorn begins waning, we start to think of ways to approach life with a fresh perspective. The Sun and the Moon in Aquarius allow us time to use some innovative and more enlightened ways of approaching challenges. Our minds are more active and we are able to see new ways of meeting old and new challenges. The urges rising up within us now in response to our own challenges and opportunities as well as those of the world in which we live, may make us feel a bit off center.
The New Moon in the first decan of Aquarius squaring Uranus in Sagittarius lends itself to anxiousness, uncertainty, and confusion. Just an example of how this might play out, things might not go as planned. This morning I lost the first version of this column, and had to start from scratch. I noticed the whole disaster scenario that started playing out in my mind, so I took a break and started anew. With this work, it’s worth it. Some other things we may be doing in our lives though, may not. It’s a good time to reevaluate what matters most in terms of our time, energy, commitments, and desires.What would you like to invite into your life as you begin this next leg of the journey, and what would you like to change, eliminate, or view from a different perspective?
It’s time to gain some perspective. We look back now to discover what we can do without, and we look forward and make plans to break out of old routines and patterns. Time to take better care of ourselves. Take action toward healing. Move from recovery back into a more focused and directed approach to life. Personal health and hygiene are essential for our well being. Take some time to spruce things up. Time to get your hair cut or to try out a new style? Seems like a simple enough change, but how often do we resist doing something so simple?
Notice how your habits are adding to or detracting from your sense of well being, your spiritual health, and your emotional/psychological balance. Take some time to notice and make small changes that lead to a healthier more harmonious approach to life. For example, clear out the closets, reorganize, and recycle clothes, shoes, and other accessories that you do not need or use. Make room in your life, in both the physical sense (pick things up off the floors and clear and clean the surfaces) and the emotional sense (eliminate habits like too much media and add some walks, good reading, strong personal connections). Notice where you natal moon is (this is your hardwiring for emotional temperament), and see what you’re doing to create ways to bring more balance in those areas. For example, my earth moon looks for down to earth, pragmatic ways to bring peace to my life. If you’re moon is in a fire sign (Leo, Aries, Sagittarius), you may look for action, adventure, or some kind of physical expression to bring yourself to calm. Water signs might like to go for a swim, take a shower, go for a walk by the sea, river, or lake to calm themselves. Air signs may look for lively discussions with intriguing and innovating people or may get lost in a work of art, literature, or theater that propels them into a more harmonious state. What works for you? Go do something that brings you peace today.
Mercury in Aquarius is sextile Mars in Sagittarius, a harmonious nudge to respond to sudden changes and issues from a more intuitive, reflexive level. Don’t overthink things, but trust that you know what is needed to protect yourself or others, and/or to save a bad outcome. As Lady Macbeth said when faced with disaster, “Screw your courage to the sticking place, and we’ll not fail.” It is time in both our personal and collective lives, when we need all the courage and a sense of purpose we can allow ourselves to feel. Use your fighting spirit and courage to get as much done or planned or sorted out so that you clear the path and provide an opening for the change and healing you want and need. We, most of us, are capable of much more than we think we are. Push past self doubt and fear, and strike out in a new direction.
Venus sextiles Jupiter, both in Pisces, and this lovely, deep soul aspect brings us some very good fortune and unexpected abundance of what it is we need. Mercury’s sextile to Mars also brings some sweet connections that provide attraction in ways we may have been missing for some time. This is also a calming influence, and yet another reason to build some calming practices into our daily routines right now. It will make the journey and challenges more bearable and easier to cope with.Seek warmth, express love, and gravitate towards whoever and whatever is uplifting and affirmative. Use your spiritual/religious practices to help you achieve this.
The New Moon in Aquarius also aligns with the fixed star, Dabih (4’19” Aquarius). It is a fixed star in the constellation of Capricornus. It is an aspect that signals crisis (as is apparent in the world around us and may very well be reflected in our own lives in some way). Notice where these aspects transit your own chart/life. What also comes along with the crisis, is the ability to cope with and grow through the experiences that come with change and transformation.
All the aspects to the New Moon in Aquarius, signal a time when we can expect the unexpected. Sudden, shocking events that rock our world, require that we maintain the ability to cope and keep ourselves grounded in practical actions/activities, and that we gain perspective when we can, and maintain calm within, when we cannot change the causes of our angst or confusion. We have so many gifts within ourselves, available to us through our relationships and spiritual practices, and in our ability to remain centered and calm amid whatever storms rise. We know that we can trust our intuitive and instinctive responses and we can expand our thinking to rise above the limitations of our fears, anger, or anxiety.
Build a life that helps you find pockets of peace, while maintaining the ability to reject that which is not life affirming and say yes to that which is. As the Old Deuteronomist (Deuteronomy 30:19-20) “Today I have given you the choice between life and death; between blessings and curses. Now I call upon Heaven and Earth to witness the choice you make. Oh that you would choose Life so that your descendants might live...I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses; therefore choose Life.” I can think of no better mantra or prayer to begin the new journey ahead.
