Tomorrow's brave New Moon in Aries provides a potent opportunity to claim our dreams and connect with a deep sense of courage and empowerment. Although the official beginning of the astrological new year occurs at the Spring Equinox when the sun moves into Aries, it's when the sun and moon join up in this fiery sign that the climate is ripe to plant seeds and set the tone for the year ahead. This kick-start into the new is combined with yesterday's Pluto station, which has brought old energies to the surface, clearing out energies and psychological material that no longer serves us. As intense as it may be, we're quite literally undergoing a collective "detox" that synchronistically paves the way for sowing dream seeds this weekend. 

Individuals with the Sun, Moon, Ascendant, or other personal planets between 26-29 degrees of Aries, Libra, Capricorn, and Cancer will experience the strongest effects; those with personal planets from 0-1 degrees of Taurus, Scorpio, Leo, and Aquarius will also be strongly impacted.

It's been a whirlwind ride since the beginning of eclipse season in March. Many people have experienced the grief and loss of loved ones passing away; relationships have ended abruptly; career changes and new opportunities that pull one of out of their comfort zone into utterly foreign territory have become "the norm" in my immediate social circle. We're also getting a first tangible glimpse of what the Uranus-Pluto square has been working to create in our lives. We might be in the process of getting the foundations of a new life under our feet, but perhaps for the first time since 2012, our creations are taking shape before our eyes and visibly ushering in a powerful new era.

With clockwork timing, Pluto came to a standstill from our earth-based perspective yesterday. Issues of power and control have come to the forefront for many, bringing fears, compulsions, and neuroticism to the surface. Struggles with authority figures or feeling hopeless or powerless in the face of circumstances beyond our control have created an inner sense of "hitting the wall" and pushing us to our limits. The dark material buried in the collective psyche is rising; if you're an empath, this will be an especially intense time for you since you're likely to be feeling overwhelming energies moving through the world and those around you to be cleared. By allowing those energies to make their way up and out of our consciousness - no matter how difficult or painful it may be - we empower ourselves to live more meaningful lives from the center of our own Divine will and strength. 

I can recall multiple conversations this week in which the term "clearing out the deadwood" was used exactly! With the moon in its balsamic period through Saturday, we've been doing just that: making sense of past circumstances and experiences, consciously or unconsciously assimilating what serves us and releasing what doesn't, and preparing for a pivotal fresh start.

What To Expect This Weekend

Fire and earth energies dominate as Mars, the ruler of Aries and this new moon, makes its way through slow and steady Taurus. There are many factors at play, but the Mars-Jupiter square looms large. There's a palpable feeling of ambition and "going big" this weekend. We'll have the impulse to overdo it in terms of achieving goals or pursuing pleasures of every kind, so being mindful of moderation will be key. The good news is that even if Mars in Taurus takes longer to make things happen, once we've begun, we have steadfast energies behind our backs pushing us down the path to long-term success. Don't be afraid to take a leap of faith outside of your comfort zone to make things happen - you're absolutely supported in doing so now, and the Aries new moon impels us to tap courage in our hearts to pursue our desires.

Mercury in Taurus will help us stay more grounded than otherwise with the Mars-Jupiter influence, and we'll have the capacity to catch ourselves, break frenetic cycles, and enjoy some peaceful downtime in true Taurus style. 

With that being said, Mercury is loosely contacting Mars, adding fuel to our intellectual pursuits. This will lead to increased reactivity and bluntness in communication and thought processes that will grow stronger before it peaks on April 22. This could be just the kickstart a Taurean Mars needs to take some action as begins its waxing phase on Sunday. Our minds will be attuned to committing to a goal, making solid plans, and sticking with it - a wonderful boost for the new moon! 

Mercury is also connecting with Neptune via a stimulating sextile, activating thought processes that center on creativity, healing, and communication in partnerships. With Venus in Gemini square Neptune, disillusionment in partnerships is likely, and Mercury's activation will help us take a step-by-step approaching in separating wishful thinking from reality. Employ kindness and empathy, but be mindful of a tendency to overanalyze partnership situations in a way that clouds judgment. 

The new moon is exact at 2:56 PM EDT tomorrow, and is the perfect time to explore your heart's desires. If you know what you want to put in motion, try to hold off until the moon begins to wax on Sunday to be more aligned with cosmic supported. If not, use the weekend to reflect, make a plan, then take bold action in the days to come. 

Key Questions For Contemplation

• Are there areas of my life that have come to a head this week? Am I willing to reflect on any realizations that have accompanied them and work toward healing and releasing the things that hold me back?
• What old patterns am I clinging to that I can release for more joyful living and greater success?
• Is there anyone or anything holding the keys to my personal power that should not belong to them? If so, am I willing to take back my power with courage and confidence?
• What do I want to create in the next year? Am I willing to dream big, release the aspects of my goals that I can't control to a higher power, and spring into action where I can to make ? 
• Making a vision board (a collage with magazine cut-outs, scrapbooking materials, or original drawings or writings that represents what you want to manifest), journaling your wildest dreams and intentions, and then handing them over to the Universe/God/Goddess/angels and guides is a powerful way to make your visions a reality...especially this weekend! Light a candle, say a prayer or meditate, and know that it's a wonderful time to boldly embrace your goals and unique identity fully!

Each of our lives holds the greatest potential for powerful new beginnings in the house of the birth chart that contains 28 degrees of Aries. This and the house that opposes it is where you can expect to "feel the sun rising" and begin to welcome a new dawn!

Don't know your birth chart or how to interpret it? I offer a variety of one-on-one astrology consultations to help you understand your life path and make the most of your talents and current opportunities! Email jhowell1221@gmail.com to schedule, or browse the Astrology tab to learn more.

© Jen Howell,  Bright Star Astrology & Healing Arts, 2015. Unauthorized use or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author/owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to this site and writer with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

In my mind, today's Full Moon Eclipse in Libra marks the beginning of the end of the tumultuous Uranus-Pluto square. These two planets play an enormous role in today's eclipse, which centers on embracing personal liberation and our deepest sense of power in a way that can bring balance the collective. Anyone with personal planets between 12 - 16 degrees of Libra, Aries, Capricorn, or Cancer will be feeling the eclipse effects most intensely. 

Today's eclipse occurs at 14 degrees of Libra, the sign of relationships, harmony, and diplomacy. Grace, artistry, and compromise are all hallmark traits of those who have strong Libran energy or a prominent placement of Venus in the birth chart. Since today's eclipse is a full moon eclipse, the focus is on relationship already, and Luna's passage through Libra amplifies that focus. 

Think of full moon eclipses as exceptionally powerful full moons. The veil between worlds grows thinner and the Universe works to catch us up to speed on our life paths. Eclipses will often toss us on or off the current path for our Highest Good if we don't heed our inner knowing, and situations not aligned with our callings may dissolve in the weeks following an eclipse. 

The Earth stands between the Sun and Moon during full moon eclipses, creating a temporary "block" in the solar-lunar relationship.  This alignment provides us with incredible opportunities to be objective and honest about anything that holds us back in our relationships and how we choose to express ourselves within that framework. Whether we're addressing 1-1 relationships or our role in society, issues centering on how we express our authenticity in relation to "other" will be the focus.

Aries, the sign that opposes harmony-loving Libra, is bringing some serious cosmic fire to this eclipse. The transit of the South Node through this warrior territory is doing especially powerful karmic clearing work, considering that Mercury, the Sun, and erratic Uranus surround it. The South Node in Aries impels us to release angry, impulsive reactions and move in the direction of inner harmony. If you've been finding yourself giving in to less than level-headed impulses that compromise your equilibrium, consider it your signal - and a Divine opportunity - to realign with peace. 

Today's eclipse is calling us to find a way to blaze brave new paths for ourselves that create harmony within, to shed impulses that lead to chaos and the perpetuation of an "us vs. them" mentality. It won't come without its struggles, since Pluto, the planet of destiny, deep empowerment, and the things we repress due to their overwhelming power squares off with the Sun and Moon. This aspect creates incredible tension as those buried feelings and potential power struggles come to a head.  Many of us have come up against situations that have made us feel powerless since Saturn turned retrograde on March 14. Pluto's slowdown takes it deeper, bringing us down to the roots of old beliefs, fears, or compulsions that hold us back, as well as stripping away that which has always been illusionary. Pluto also represents how we express and channel our sexual desires and a sense of primal power. If we let any "brick walls" and emerging impulses act as teachers, we can get honest about where we need to take back our power and embrace feelings we need to honor or release. When we delve deeply into ourselves and accept or transmute what we find at our core, we can get on with the business of living from the unshakable spiritual power center that is our birthright.

This also brings forward another interesting dichotomy, since Libra is about societal norms and conformity. Pluto and the current Arian energy revved up by individualistic Uranus calls us to challenge those norms within and without. Some will be soul-searching to uncover just what taboos might exist in their mind and be afforded with opportunities to see whether they hold up in the light of truth or not. A prime example of this is the current focus on same-sex relationships due to the passage and ongoing debate over Indiana's Religious Freedom Restoration Act. It shows the complexity of issues our current astrology is imploring us to address: What are our personal beliefs? How do we stand up for those beliefs? How can we honor our beliefs while respecting the rights of others to walk their path free of harassment and shaming? Are we willing to live and let live, knowing that when we do, we could be one step closer to ensuring peace and harmony for all people? We will see the best and worst in power struggles relating to these issues in politics and in our personal lives as this eclipse works to move us into a future of genuine equality.

With eclipse ruler Venus in her natural domain of Taurus, she highlights the core need to honor our bodies and connect with the wisdom of Mother Earth. As Emily Trinkhaus wrote in her recent TMA article Venus, Mary Magdalene, And The Re-Emerging Sacred Feminine, the key to Venusian empowerment is in rooting into our physical, sensual selves without shame and in allowing spirit to flow through (which links us back to Pluto...!). We might also feel called to root into what we value, and to cultivate greater financial and material stability. Mars, also in Taurus and at the Sun/Venus midpoint, suggests that the key to working with current challenges and empowerment issues is through slow and steady action. If we choose to stay the course without compromise and embrace the knowing that honoring our authenticity leads to healing, peace and progress will be ours.

It's also important to mention that this eclipse is connected to events from April 4th of 1996, when an eclipse occurred in the same sign and at the same degree. Can you link realizations and experiences your "now" to what was transpiring then for a greater sense of connection and meaning?

To find where this eclipse is calling you to move more fully into your authenticity and to cultivate harmony, find the house that contains 14 degrees of Libra. This house, the house that opposes it, and the house that contains Pluto at 15 degrees Capricorn are areas in which you are called to embrace individuality, balance, and inner power as the Uranus-Pluto square breaks up old ground to propel you forward into destiny.

Do you want to understand yourself and your current circumstances in profound new ways? I offer 1-1 consultations that provide key insights into your life path and how the planets are working to enact incredible change in your life now! Email me at jhowell1221@gmail.com to learn more.

© Jen Howell,  Bright Star Astrology & Healing Arts, 2015. Unauthorized use or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author/owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to this site and writer with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.