January 1, 2018: Supermoon in Cancer

The full moon falls January 1, 2018 at 11 degrees of Cancer it is considered a Supermoon.  The lunar peak occurs at 9:24 PM, EST. Happy New Year!

Cancer is the most emotional sign of the zodiac, and ruled by the moon activates our emotions, for good or bad. The Moon also rules home, family and women.

This moon opposes Venus (2 degree orb) and Pluto (7 degree orb). Things can get intense with a Pluto opposition, or overly emotional, but as it is a wide orb, this will help. Moon opposing Venus relates to money, our social lives and love lives. Some relationships could end, but only if there is something else in the chart of a negative nature.

The Moon also trines Neptune, exact, and this is a powerful positive influence. Dreams may be vivid, and for a moment we may all be tuned into the collective approach to the New Year.

It also trines Mars and this is a positive, energetic influence.

The Moon forms a kite pattern that is associated with fate or destiny. A kite pattern involves both an opposition (moon opposing Sun, Pluto, Venus) and a grand trine. (Moon, Neptune and Mars-Jupiter) with a partial grand sextile consisting of three planets. (Neptune-Sun/Sun, Mars.

This moon will be many different things to many people. Of course it will work best for water and earth signs, and it will be more difficult for Air and Fire signs.

Richard Nolle coined the phrase Supermoon, and describes its effects:"SuperMoon is a word I coined in a 1979 article for Dell Publishing Company's HOROSCOPE magazine, describing a new or full moon which occurs with the Moon at or near (within 90% of) its closest approach to Earth in a given orbit. In short, Earth, Moon and Sun are all in a line, with Moon in its nearest approach to Earth. At any new or full moon, Earth and Moon and Sun are all in a line: Earth is in the middle in the full moon alignment, while the new moon happens with Moon in the middle. This coming together in an alignment is technically termed a syzygy. Sometimes - from a few times to a half-dozen times in a given year - these alignments also happen when the Moon is in its closest approach to Earth. Astronomers call this very special alignment a perigee-syzygy. I call it a SuperMoon – which is a whole lot easier on the tongue."

"SuperMoons are noteworthy for their close association with extreme tidal forces working in what astrologers of old used to call the sublunary world: the atmosphere, crust and oceans of our home planet - including ourselves, of course. From extreme coastal tides to severe storms to powerful earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, the entire natural world surges and spasms under the sway of the SuperMoon alignment - within three days either way of the exact syzygy, as a general rule. SuperMoon solar eclipses tend to have a wider sphere of impact, extending roughly a week before and after the actual event."

  

The Sun conjuncts Saturn: A critical turning point in time

Saturn enters Capricorn just before midnight December 19. We are now entering a period where structure, logic and reality will rule the time, with a focus on reality.

December 21, the Sun enters Capricorn, and conjuncts Saturn. With this transit we will experience a big blast of Saturn in Capricorn energy, and get a feel for what is ahead. This also marks the winter solstice, and the shortest day of the year.

Sun-Saturn energy can feel restrictive, and is all about work and responsibility. This is typically a low energy day and a time of restriction and limitation.  With the holidays ahead now is the time to prioritize and focus on what must be finished. December 22, Mercury will finally turn direct.

As this transit hits the 0 degree of a cardinal sign, it is considered a critical degree, and important events will occur. This also marks the point where in many ways we are moving into new territory.

Either way, we will feel the energy of Saturn in Capricorn in a big way and events in the world will play out to this effect. Saturn in Capricorn will be far different from Saturn in Sagittarius-ruled by Jupiter.

Venus will conjunct Saturn on Christmas Day, giving us another blast of Saturn in Capricorn energy.

New Moon: Last dance in Sagittarius

The Sagittarius New moon falls on December 18, peaking at 1:30 AM, EST. This gives us one last blast of Sagittarius energy before Saturn enters Capricorn minutes before midnight, December 19, changing many things in a major way.

Sagittarius rules the 9th house of world view, education and foreign matters, and is the most expansive of signs. But, this Moon conjuncts Saturn on its last day in the sign of Sagittarius, and Moon-Saturn transits are connected with responsibilities and obligations, and in some cases endings. You may do some serious thinking about many matters in your life.

Saturn is finishing up its two and a half year transit through the sign Sagittarius. We have seen many changes in the world as Saturn moved through its 9th house connected sign.

This is a good time to focus and meditate on the meaning of Saturn's transit through your chart since it first entered the sign December, 2014. What has changed, and where are you headed now? Saturn cycles last about two and a half to three years and our focus is typically going to be the house Saturn is transiting in our personal chart.

If you have planets in mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Pisces, Sagittarius) you have encountered your share of obstacles during the past three years that you should be overcoming by now. If you have planets in Fire signs (Aries, Leo) Saturn has been your friend, building structure and stability in some way. If you are a Sagittarius, (also a Fire sign) many things have changed in your life, as it does when Saturn enters your sign, and your life may have totally changed, or you may have re-created yourself in some way.

Either way, this is Saturn's last dance in Sagittarius for nearly 30 years.

As Saturn enters Capricorn we will see many changes in the world and our own personal lives. Capricorn is far different from Sagittarius and focused on real results, security and building bridges to our future. The first new moon in Capricorn will occur January 17, 2018.

Mercury is retrograde!

Mercury turns retrograde December 3, at 29 degrees of Sagittarius. It won't turn direct again until December 23.

Mercury in Sagittarius will concern world view, legal and medical matters, education and travel.

The next three weeks may be a period where things seem at a standstill, especially our outward action. On an inner level however, we can accomplish a great deal.

Mercury turns retrograde 3 or 4 times a year, and generally has a bad name and elicits groans when mentioned.  To an extent this is perfectly understandable, as Mercury is the planet that causes delays, glitches, breakdowns in computers and equipment, relationships, slowdowns and brings hidden factors to the surface. Plans can be put on hold, miscommunication can occur, relationships can end or change, and cars, computers and other machinery can break down at the most inopportune moment.

All of this will occur, but this period does not have to be the disaster many believe it to be with some basic knowledge ahead of time.  The four most important things are to  

1)understand what retrograde Mercury means 2)know what to expect 3) know what to avoid and lastly 4)understand what you can gain from it. With this basic information available, you should be able to make the most of the time, and benefit from the retrograde as oppose to being caught off guard.

The first step is to know what retrograde Mercury means. In the strictest sense of the word, the planet of communication does not actually go backward, it only appears to. This will occur three or four times every year.  A planet is described as retrograde when it appears to be moving backwards through the zodiac, and this is referred to as apparent retrograde motion.  When planets retrograde, their effects on humans are different than when in direct motion. Thinking is deeper, situations often appear to go underground for a time, or change altogether, and sometimes our focus shifts. Mercury retrograde is the most talked about retrograde, because it is a fast moving planet that controls our thinking, speech, travel, and cognitive skills. When Mercury retrogrades, there are several phases.

The first phase is the pre-retrograde shadow period which began November 15. This period is where Mercurial energy starts to shift and it is time to start wrapping up new projects for the time being and focusing on what is at hand.

The second phase of retrograde Mercury is the stationary retrograde period, when Mercury starts to shift into apparent backward motion. This occurs December 3-6, when Mercury starts its retrograde. This is the period most glitches start to become evident, and if you have a prominent Mercury in your chart, thinking may become foggy.

Mercury continues to retrograde through December 23 when it turns stationary direct December 23-27. This is the second period when glitches, breakdowns and changes in direction may well occur.

Mercury begins to move forward again on December 27, but remains in the shadow direct phase until January 11, 2018.  Mercurial energy does not pick up its normal pace until completion of the second shadow period. So, the retrograde Mercury period is actually a much longer cycle than most people understand. Changes will occur at the juncture of each retrograde phase.

The second step in surviving a retrograde is to know what to expect. What you can expect and prepare for are slowdowns, delays, miscommunications, interference with travel and travel plans and appointments, and the breakdown of machinery, situations and even relationships. If your car has been limping along and you have been putting off a repair, know this is the likely time it will become obvious that you have to fix it. If your computer is slow or having problems be sure and back up everything important. (I learned this one the hard way several times!) If you are in a relationship that is tottering on the brink of ending, this may well be the period that can occur, and often does. Of course, I always tell people, ‘Mercury retrograde is a wild card.” Sometimes, relationships can be fixed and problems brought out into the open if it is worth saving. Expect delays, changes of plans and try and not have situations set in stone.  In other words, prepare to be flexible.  Mercury retrograde is often a frustrating time to be looking for a job.  Don’t give up though, just keep plugging on and stay on top of all communication. And make sure you are direct and to the point in your communication with others.  If you don’t understand what someone is telling you, by all means ask for clarification.

The third and perhaps most important step in surviving retrograde Mercury is to know what to avoid. Don’t get married, start a new business, start new projects or begin anything you hope will become permanent during the most important three week phase of the retrograde. Don’t purchase high ticket items, important gifts, paint, or anything you expect to be there for a long time if you can avoid it. Retrograde Mercury is not the time to start new projects, but rather finish up the old, and redo, re-organize or re-work. Go against this advice and you may wish you hadn’t. I chose the paint color in my office on retrograde Mercury just to test it, and as I write this post, I wish I had time to get out a paintbrush today.

The fourth step to surviving retrograde Mercury is to understand what you can gain from it. Know that retrograde Mercury is part of the natural cycle of life and it is not anything out of the ordinary. Everything serves a purpose and the point of a retrograde Mercury is to slow down a bit, reflect, rethink, re-do, re-plan and reorganize and reconsider. It is a period of correction. Rather than starting new projects it is time to look at what is on the drawing board. Often during a retrograde, thinking changes direction and a more appropriate course of action can be mapped out. Often new information comes to the surface that must be considered.  Sometimes secrets are revealed, and the truth comes out into the open.  The truth may not be what your want to hear, but it can set you free. Retrograde Mercury is a time to plan, work on you, and delve into the spiritual side of life. Sometimes important contacts with people from our past can be initiated, and there is generally a focus on the past or past situations that can come back up to be resolved. Just focus on what is at hand rather than starting new situations.  If you are forced to start a job during a retrograde, it could be altered when Mercury goes direct, or you may not have all the facts. If you begin a new relationship on a retrograde, it may end or change when Mercury goes forward, time will tell. 

All in all, retrograde Mercury is a period where we should reflect on our current state, and plan rather than initiate new ventures. Reconsider your options, re-write, re-organize, and re-think. If you follow these basic principles, I can’t guarantee you won’t experience frustration, but you will survive the retrograde and perhaps come out of it better than you had believed possible.