Wishing you all a very happy Monday (even though it may not be the cheeriest of days astrologically)! It's a big day, as the SUN has moved into ARIES. This signals the official first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, a time when the hours of darkness and daylight are once again equal, as the days only grow brighter from here as we move toward the Summer Solstice.

​This is a powerful day to feel gratitude for what's blossoming in your life now; to give thanks for the potential for new beginnings that's always available to us; to see what new growth needs the greatest attention and nourishment from us for our next steps. We celebrate *life* in all its forms, acknowledging the resilience of creation to renew itself and rise over and over again, no matter how long or harsh the winter has been--both literally and metaphorically.

Though the day itself is the start of a new season, the 4th Quarter Moon in CAPRICORN brings a much more serious energy as the lunar energy winds down toward the ARIES NEW MOON on March 27. Quarter moons are challenging--they reveal where we need to align actions with intentions more fully, and oftentimes, that process is anything but comfortable. And Capricorn (ruled by Saturn) is a hard-lined, reality-based, and potentially pessimistic sign.

On one hand, we're yearning for a new beginning, and can see that light beginning to grow on the horizon; but on the other hand, there's something we have to square with, to move through/align with/reconcile, before we can see our desires come to fruition.

This moon phase is about learning to use an old skill in a new way; to integrate a new kind of wisdom to support our understanding of a current situation. We also see what needs to be released, or perhaps re-envisioned, as we start the journey within as the moon wanes.

If we use the power of this time to dream, reflect, give thanks, and do the work we feel called to do within and without, powerful shifts can happen. And with MERCURY squaring PLUTO and opposing JUPITER RX later in the week, that work and contemplation can be intense and rewarding, indeed. Trust that all that falls away at this time, especially as a new SUN-VENUS cycle approaches on March 25, will be for your Highest Good for experiencing fulfillment in all ways in the coming months.

​Many blessings to you on this sacred day! How will you celebrate another turning of the Wheel of the Year?


​©  Jen Howell, Bright Star Astrology & Healing Arts, 2017. Unauthorized use or duplication of this material without express and written permission from the author/owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to this writer with appropriate and specific direction to the document containing the original content.

Tomorrow's  VIRGO FULL MOON at 22 degrees, which is exact at 10:54 AM EDT, officially closes the door on eclipse season...and what a ride it's been! It's a bit of an intense full moon, with so many planets in Pisces, and the Mercury-Chiron conjunction more or less standing opposite a very fastidious Virgo moon. We always feel the lunar energies building in the days leading up to a full moon. If you had a particularly challenge emergence of emotions or other issues in the past few days, this--along with the Mercury/Chiron conjunction--is likely the cosmic catalyst for it.

All full moons are great times for cleansing and release, but this full moon is an especially good time for it, since Virgo is all about sorting/getting details in order, releasing what no longer serves us, and working for purification on all levels. What needs to be organized in your home or office? Want to get a head-start on your spring cleaning? How about tending to physical health with more balanced dietary choices, exercise routines, or other detox work? This full moon illuminates where restoring order, routine, and attentiveness to detail is most needed, and will help us get down to work in the most practical of ways.
What is your body asking for? How can you be a vessel for the Divine to flow through your physical form, and the whole of your life, more freely?

Virgo might be "The Virgin," but in her most balanced form, she's anything but prudish. This is an earthy, sensual sign, and our cosmological virgin is more interested in making something clean and pure in its overall function than vowing herself to sexual virginity (if you know a Virgo well enough, you'll know that they are quite the physical beings when you get right down to it!).
Treat yourself to a purification bath fit for a Goddess: salts or baking soda, your favorite herbs and essential oils, water-safe gems or crystals (flower petals in the tub are oh-so-lush and sensual!). Find or create a massage oil blend or lotion that you like and get in your body more fully. Healing with energy work, singing bowls/chanting, crystals, or plant medicines are very supported this weekend.

Want to take the energies of this full moon with you in a more tangible way for support as we move through the year? Consider making moon water--filling a vessel with the water of your choice, leaving it under the light of the moon. Add oils or water-safe crystals to use for anointing, or keep it safe for drinking to receive these energies internally later on.
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As always, this is a great weekend for cleansing crystals or other sacred objects under the light of the moon. And if you get the urge to clean your space from the top down? Go for it! Clean your closet; mop the floor; wash the windows. They say that cleaning a closet can change your life, and Virgo would most definitely agree. This weekend is all about clearing away the old as to create a space for the new.

And a word to the wise: watch for overly critical, nitpicking behaviors (or potentially neurotic perfectionist tendencies), since this is Virgo's shadow side. And with Mercury/Chiron still active, speaking our truths with kindness, especially if we feel the need to point out a housekeeping issue to someone else, will go a long way.

​©  Jen Howell, Bright Star Astrology & Healing Arts, 2017. Unauthorized use or duplication of this material without express and written permission from the author/owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to this writer with appropriate and specific direction to the document containing the original content.