The potential for embarking on bold new journeys and restructuring any beliefs that keep us from doing so is strong in the days before and after Tuesday's Full Moon In Sagittarius. This full moon, which will be exact on Tuesday, June 2 at 12:19 PM EDT, is embedded with the energies of what's been an incredibly intense Mercury Retrograde cycle revved up by the intellectual fire-power of Mars in Gemini. 

This is the perfect time to use the current Mercury Retrograde cycle - a cycle that so many of us often dread - as a time for reassessment, review, and revision of our beliefs and perceptions. We have a powerful chance to search our feelings and shed outworn ideas or fears that keep us from exploring new paths and living out our dreams.

Sagittarius is all about adventure, spontaneity, growth, and is ultimately driven to uncover deep truths and to discover the meaning of life. The stereotypical Sagittarian cannot stand to be tied down, for these people must have room to explore and come to their own conclusions about existence and what it all means. With the full moon in this restless sign, we'll be feeling the need to philosophize, to express our beliefs and feelings honestly (if not bluntly!), and to break free from anything that's not in alignment with our personal goals for growth and expansion. 

The Sun sits at the exact midpoint between Mercury Rx and Mars in Gemini for this full moon, igniting our need to rethink, revisit, discuss, and ultimately, to act when the time is right. Gemini is a sign that revels in smaller bits of knowledge, specifics, and trivia, and as such, we're going to be sorting through much in the way of polarized thoughts, concepts, and beliefs. This inner work can lead to epiphanies and the release of repressed personal truths and feelings. We might find that new pieces of knowledge, or people, situations, or themes from the past emerge to help inform or change our pre-existing views. We'll be integrating old and new information in ways that can propel us on our life journeys if we are willing to change and adapt our perceptions in a way that's beneficial to us. 

The opportunity to pull our noses from an endless flow of data and look at life from a much broader perspective is also available for those who choose to take advantage of it now! Finding a way to integrate bits of information into a larger context - that is key to working with the current astrological influences successfully.

A critical dimension of this full moon is an exact quincunx between Mars and Pluto. This aspect brings about change that leads to a necessary adjustment, whether it is an adjustment we welcome into our lives or not. This particular connection shows the need for adjustment in how we are handle our fears, or how we choose to act in situations that impact our freedom and empowerment in all parts of life. Along with the influence of adventurous full moon ruler Jupiter in Leo, the main message of the Mars-Pluto connection's seems clear: Feel the fear and do it anyway! Be bold, and the Universe will conspire to help you shape the landscape of your life in ways you've only dreamed of now.

The Mars-Pluto connection can also highlight the importance of how we use the power of knowledge, words, thoughts, and communication in general. We can use this as an opportunity to review the ways in which beliefs and words shape every part of our lives. Are we willing to use new information that's emerging to construct a life that honors who we really are, regardless of what others think? Are our current perceptions of the world or life circumstances holding us back from exploring new terrain and embracing incredible beginnings? If you're feeling held back at present - especially if you're in a long-term situation that is not beneficial to you - it's time to rise above any tendencies to over-analyze or talk yourself out of taking necessary and liberating leaps of faith.  This is the time to cultivate the inner courage required to live and dream big! 

Timing Is Everything: A Word On Mercury Rx And Neptune

Though this is most certainly a time to cut unhealthy ties and to embrace deep dreams and freedom, it may not be such an ideal time to set plans fully into motion just yet. Mercury remains in retrograde until June 11, and new projects that begin under this influence tend to take on the energies of confusion and may need to undergo continuous revision. 

**As a general statement (if it's possible), hold off until after Mercury goes direct in the evening hours of June 11. It may be even better yet to plant those "new seeds" on or after June 17 - the day after the next new moon - so they are aligned with the very powerful "planting cycle" of the cosmos.**

In addition to Mercury Retrograde and Mars' opposition to this full moon, the sun and moon are both squaring off with potentially deceptive Neptune. We could find ourselves getting caught up in grandiose fantasies or seeking an escape from everyday life in the form of substances or in "zoning out" via addictive behaviors through midweek. But if we choose to channel this spiritual connection in the most beneficial ways, we can strike a balance between tapping our creativity and using love, intuition, and higher guidance to inform our choices. Saturn in Sagittarius will also help offset these energies, bringing in a foundation of pragmatism and common sense as we move forward.

Are issues of personal truth or freedom coming up for you now? Do you feel stagnant or held back due to fears, old thought-tapes on repeat, or beliefs or ideals in the collective or as perpetuated by friends, family, or the community that aren't a match your life path? If so, it's time to be honest with yourself first and foremost; to be direct and bold; and most importantly, to honor your personal need for freedom so you can live your heart's desires! It's time to set yourself free, and the Full Moon in Sagittarius is shining a light on the path so you can do just that. 

© 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.

May's New Moon in Taurus has opened wide the gates of dreaming and imagination. This new moon, which is exact on May 18 at 12:13 AM EDT, is calling forward the capacity to hold our deepest visions in our hearts and to cultivate the patience required to see them through to fruition.

Taurus is a sign known for its deep peace, stability, practicality, and patience. In simplest terms, this new moon is about getting back to basics and honoring our needs for tranquility and self-love. This applies to the truest essence of what we value and hold dear and in honoring our bodies' needs.

But the real magic of this new moon - and the underlying sense of frustration it brings - lies in the current alignments of Venus, the Goddess of Love and ruling planet of Taurus.

Venus finds herself in a position that breeds dichotomy in the gestation of our heart's longings now. On one hand, she forms a harmonious trine to dreamy Neptune in Pisces, enhancing our desire to drift away in dreams and get lost exploring the yearnings of our soul. Intuition is likely to flow more easily as this aspect opens our spiritual senses to possibilities just beyond our reach. The beauty of this connection is that it can show us what is possible if we are willing to see our desires through to fruition, and opens our perceptions to the love and beauty within and around us in profound ways.

On the other hand, Venus is semi-square to both the Sun and Moon in Taurus, making her sweet trine to Neptune bittersweet at best. Bernadette Brady outlines the essence of this aspect in her book The Eagle And The Lark:

"The semi-square seems to have one purpose in life, and that is to teach patience and persistence...This aspect is like waiting for silt to settle in a pond. If you take action and try to pat it down, it gets worse; walk away, give it time, show patience and the pond will clear. Blocks, holdups, frustration, delays, and lack of achievement are all symptoms of this aspect. Controlled patience seems to be the only answer..."

As is shown by the semi-square, this new moon brings not only clears the way for intense dreaming and the possibility of getting lost in fantasy, but brings a marked feeling of stagnation in the fulfillment of desires. Venus plays a key role in highlighting the importance of simultaneously honoring our highest visions and in embracing patience so we can allow those dreams to manifest. 

The cosmos isn't encouraging of that which simply leads to short-term gratification now. A Taurean approach to achieving that which we desire is ideal, and that approach will require patience and commitment from us: a commitment to patiently tend to dreams whose fruition can bring long-term peace, joy, and stability.

Venus is also out of bounds in Cancer throughout the month of May, amplifying the traits of her transit through this sign such as nurturance, home-making, the expression gentle love and affection, and protection/overprotection. Her extreme declination could result in unusual boundary-crashing or unusual social behavior of any kind. There is also a collective tendency toward expressing our personal values very differently, and of possible re-evaluation of those values and our perceptions in general with Mercury about to station retrograde on Monday night (5/18 - 6/11/2015). 

Manifesting At The New Moon In Taurus

To make the most of the new moon energies, make time to explore your heart's desires in private, or with the company of close friends in the style of a sacred ceremony if you wish. This can be as simple as spending time in nature or in creating a small altar that brings forward the energies of what you wish to create. Candles, crystals and gemstones, beautiful cloths, or any objects that assist you in focusing on your desires are a beautiful addition. New and full moons are especially fitting times for clearing energies within the mind, body, and spirit, since these clearings create a space for new beginnings to emerge in our lives. A sea salt or baking soda bath with essential oils or herbs can do wonders for washing away stagnant energies and give our bodies a respite from the stress of daily life.

Contemplating the following questions can assist you in connecting with your true wants and needs, and in committing to action that brings you closer to that which you desire:

• Am I feeling called to take time out of a busy schedule and just be? Is my body, mind, or spirit calling for more peace, gentleness, or nurturance? How can I gift myself with what I need to experience more peace and harmony now?
• How closely do I listen to signals from my body? Am I consciously connected to what my body is calling for in each moment? Would I benefit from a massage, spending mindful time in nature, or honor my sensual self by indulging in a healthful and decadent food treat? 
• Are there powerful dreams and yearnings that are calling to me now? Am I willing to follow these desires in meditation, journaling, or in any artistic pursuit to allow Divine Wisdom and guidance to emerge from within?
• Am I experiencing a sense of stagnation or frustration in the realization of my dreams? Am I willing to walk with my unfulfilled desires in the realization that time brings forward answers, peace, and the fulfillment of all desires that are truly aligned with my Highest Good? 
• Am I willing to *~let go~* and trust the process of Divine Timing to bring my desires to fruition in the perfect way and at the perfect time?

To find where the Taurus New Moon is impacting you most directly, locate the house in your birth chart that contains 26 degrees of Taurus. This house, and the house directly opposite from it, will be the areas of life in which the seeds for new beginnings can be planted at this time. 

**Want to find out how this new moon and the current planetary cycles are impacting you personally? I offer a variety of 1-1 astrology consultations to help you unlock your greatest potential and move more fully in the direction of your dreams! Email [email protected] to schedule, or for more information.**

© 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.

If you're feeling tension in the air as of late, you're very much tuned in to the ultra-intense energies of tomorrow's Full Moon in Scorpio. This full moon in particular is a pivotal opportunity to take stock of unpleasant, dark, or upsetting truths that may have emerged since Pluto's station-direct on April 16 and to face them with strength and solidity. It's also a key time for releasing that which keeps us from shining the light of our own truth to experience freedom and empowerment from within.

The stage is set for significant inner and outer discord now, but take heart: the purpose of any tensions is to bring issues to light so we can address and heal them at a deep level. The Taurus sun shines a light on that which the probing and cathartic Scorpio moon brings to light: our fears and phobias, feelings of powerlessness, any tendencies to manipulate and control consciously or unconsciously, that which we'd rather keep hidden from the eyes of others. It is in nature of Pluto, Scorpio's modern ruling planet, to suppress and keep these elements buried deep within the psyche. But when the sun's light illuminates these hidden aspects of our being, we're left with no choice but to face and embrace those aspects of ourselves if we want to experience peace and fulfillment. Self-love and acceptance of our struggles or imperfections is an integral part of any healing process. The more difficult an issue is for us to face - especially an issue we try to tuck away within ourselves - the more self-love and compassion we need to move into a newfound sense of wholeness.

Think back to any experiences you may have had on or around April 16 - those issues are up for final review and culmination now. It's time to finish the business of clearing out that Pluto station deadwood so we can manifest at our fullest potential.

A key element of this full moon is the Mercury-Saturn opposition. Thoughts and conversations may take on an even more serious turn this weekend, and interactions in which themes of accountability, responsibility, and commitments are prominent become almost guaranteed. Some commitments will be strengthened, but since Saturn is a planet of endings, there is a possibility that bonds or agreements that don't hold up against Saturn's scrutiny may be broken. This aspect also brings an opportunity for reality-testing our basic perceptions of the world; facts and "the bottom line" are highlighted. Full moons always represent culmination of sorts, so trust that any endings that come about are in alignment with the Highest Good. Although it may not make for the smoothest interactions and could bring on bouts of deep self-criticism and doubt, it will enhance our ability to see what we need to release more clearly, ultimately helping us make the most of the full moon's cathartic potential.

The extremes of the sun and moon in their respective signs are amplified in intensity now due to an exact T-Square with Jupiter, the planet that magnifies the energies of whatever it contacts. The polarity between the peaceful, grounded Taurus sun and a complex and probing Scorpio moon is stretched to its capacity. If the goal of the Taurus sun is to cultivate peace, solidity, and stability, we must also be willing to embrace chaos and face that which must be released so the way to Taurean placidity is clear. 

Joy As A Pathway To Healing

Though it may be exaggerating any emotional responses to our struggles at present, Jupiter in Leo holds a powerful key to moving beyond the Taurus/Scorpio dichotomies. It calls us to embrace courage and integrity in our choices, to fully embody our truths, and to move into unfamiliar territory with confidence. We can lighten the tense mood with a good laugh now, and we have an excellent opportunity to use creative play as a means to heal. A great example of this was when a longtime spiritual mentor and friend let me - the self-admitted, occasionally very serious and/or paranoid Scorpio rising woman I can be - borrow her jester's hat for a couple weeks. She suggested that I poke fun at my very intense fears and phobias with silly antics in front of a mirror as a way to move beyond them. Laughter really can be the best medicine if we can manage to lighten up a little (my friend has Leo Rising, by the way...!)! We have an enormous opportunity to plunge into experiences that stretch our boundaries, and Jupiter in Leo provides the courage and optimism for us to feel our fears and take necessary leaps of faith anyway.

Those most impacted by this full moon will be individuals with the Sun, Moon, or Rising Sign at 11 - 15 degrees of Scorpio, Taurus, Aquarius, and Leo. To find where this full moon is bringing illumination, deep clearing and release, and the promise of regeneration if we capitalize on the opportunity, find the house that contains 13 degrees Scorpio; the house that directly opposes it will also be affected.

**Want to know more about your life's journey and how the current planetary cycles are impacting you individually? I offer 1-1 consultations to discuss your current opportunities and challenges brought forward by the cosmos, how to enhance your personal relationships, how to experience greater career success and financial abundance, and so much more! Contact me at [email protected] 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.