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 jhowell1221@gmail.com 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.

We are quickly approaching the Winter Solstice on December 21, a sacred time of year when new energetic portals for awakening the very structures of our DNA and sacred life missions are more accessible to us. It is a time of great inner and outer stillness, of reflection on the past year, and a time rich with cosmic potential for exploration of our soul’s desires. This solstice is especially significant, as it coincides with a New Moon in Capricorn, making a profound depth of peace and vision-seed planting even more available to us in the void from which all potential is birthed into form.

This year's Solstice/New Moon combined event is the beginning of a powerful cycle of manifestation and conscious creation that we can connect with for powerful results in 2015 (the last time a Winter Solstice coincided with a New Moon was in 2003, and the next will be in 2033!). Themes that are central to Capricorn such as dedication, commitment, and realism will all play out in the many planetary connections that are grounded in this sign for the new moon.

Stellium in Capricorn: Getting Serious in Career, Relationships, and Life Purpose

The Sun ingresses into Capricorn for the official First Day of Winter at 6:03 P.M. EST; the Moon joins the Sun at zero degrees Capricorn for the coinciding New Moon at 8:26 P.M. EST. Since Capricorn is a sign that centers on putting in the effort to make our dreams a reality, we will be supported in birthing our inner visions in profound ways over the coming year. This weekend and the days that immediately follow are an ideal time to create a quiet, meditative space to explore inner dreams and visions...and then make a list and action plan to see those dreams through to completion! Capricorn and Saturn impel us to review facts, stick to a plan, and endure any trials or hardships we might meet on the path to achieving our goals with strength and composure. 2015 will be a year of building dreams from the ground up, and will be especially auspicious for career and "life mission" types of endeavors. The birthing pangs may be uncomfortable, but Saturn teaches us that the work is well worth the satisfaction of seeing our long-term goals through to completion.

Perhaps the most significant energies woven into the existing New Moon themes are those brought by the stellium of Venus/Pluto/Mercury in Capricorn. Expect issues around relationships, money/shared resources, secrets, or deepening of commitments in personal and business partnerships to take center stage. These issues, in addition to possible lower-vibrational expressions of jealousy, manipulation, or power struggles began around December 17 and will continue through the Solstice. The asteroid goddess Vesta is also involved here, calling us to examine our interactions with others/our own values and material resources to align them with choices that benefit our whole selves. With Saturn at the final degree of Scorpio, honest assessments of needs and wants in relationships will bring necessary endings and subsequent new beginnings.

Venus and Pluto also form a sextile to Chiron, the asteroid of wounding and holistic healing. With Chiron in the deeply empathic sign of Pisces, the opportunity for deep healing in relationships of any kind will be available now; this aspect could open the doorway to sexual healing or healing that results from merging with the right people in any way, shape, or form. We might also experience significant changes in our relationship energies and approaches during 2015, since Capricorn deals with structures and organization. However, discrimination would be wise here; Pisces may pull us into destructive choice patterns for the sake of escapism rather than truly spiritual experiences that bring healing. We may experience victim/martyr consciousness as a result of these aspects, as well as the release of buried emotions that have held us back until now. Allowing feelings to surface without judgment for the sake of inner cleansing will clear the way for a greater integration of self.

Uranus, Mars, and the Nodes

Uranus stations direct at the Solstice, giving us the drive and innovative vision to take radical action in all areas of life (especially in career and partnerships)! Venus adds her partnership/money/aesthetics-centered energies to the ongoing Uranus-Pluto square, bringing the likelihood of profound and empowering awakenings in these areas. Mars also forms a sextile link to Uranus and the nodes, igniting our impulse for action that frees us from constraints of the past. We are moving into greater alignment with Cosmic Consciousness, and the unprecedented astrological patterns at play act as catalysts to move us forward on our journey into love and Oneness on Earth.

Saturn in Sagittarius

As Saturn’s time in Scorpio draws to a close, feelings of fear, restrictions, cynicism, and self-doubt are surfacing for many. This provides an opportunity to examine our deepest doubts and shadow to embrace the truth of our own worth and goodness more fully when Saturn moves into Sagittarius on December 23. We will all have an opportunity to define and crystallize our truth – and act in full alignment with those truths – and can turn big dreams into reality by taking advantage of this powerful placement.

Key Questions for Contemplation

• Am I willing to set aside sacred time and space to for rejuvenation and to explore my deepest desires now?

• What dreams and visions are emerging from the stillness within me? Am I willing to explore and honor them, trusting that the Universe supports me in making all choices that are aligned with my Highest Good?

•  What practical steps are necessary to manifest my dreams into being? How can I take regular, consistent action to see long-term goals through to completion?
  
•  Am I being called to release a relationship/relationship patterns that no longer serve me? Am I being called to deepen relationship connections for a higher purpose at this time? Am I willing to merge with others in forming powerful partnerships to further my own growth and evolution and aid in the collective growth and evolution of Human Consciousness?
  
• Am I being called to bring a greater depth of healing into my life? If so, are there others in my family, circle of friends, or community who can assist me in this process?
  
• How can I liberate myself from past limitations to share more of my authentic self with the world? Am I willing to begin releasing feelings of insecurity, fear, and self-doubt to step more fully into alignment with my truths and life purpose?
  

October's New Moon Partial Solar Eclipse in Scorpio is an intense and complex blending of astrological elements that are submerging us deeply into the waters of our own unconscious. Eclipses are powerful agents of change that act to move us through energetic gateways between the present and the future, and since this eclipse is a new moon eclipse, it is an even more powerfully-charged atmosphere for setting long-term intentions. The eclipse, which takes place on October 23rd at 5:51 PM EDT, will bring us face-to-face with the darker undercurrents of our own being. Addressing and eliminating fears and insecurities, breaking away from relationships or relationship patterns that no longer serve us, and committing to embrace our own empowerment more fully will be key themes in the weeks and months ahead. 

The Sun's Ingress From Libra to Scorpio; Sun and Moon in Scorpio

As the sun shifts from Libra into Scorpio on October 23, the vibe changes from outward energy focused on partnerships to energy focused inward toward our deepest feelings, fears, and primal impulses. Socializing and the desire to interact in an accommodating, balanced way are trademarks of Libra, but Scorpio is far more focused on going deep within the self and intimate mergers with another. Although the tone will shift dramatically, many elements are still in place that will highlight partnerships, especially relating to sexual intimacy and shared resources of any kind. The moon also makes her ingress into Scorpio on the 23rd, as the Sun and Moon are at the same degree in the zodiac at the time of the new moon. Moodiness and the emergence of fear/neuroticism/shadow tendencies are always common when the moon enters Scorpio. With the Sun and Moon joining in Scorpio for this eclipse, we have a double dose of emotional intensity that will serve to bring hidden elements of ourselves, secrets, or other unseen factors to the surface into the light of consciousness. Elimination is a key word for Pluto, the ruler of Scorpio, and as such, getting sick is not at all uncommon when we are clearing energies that no longer serve us. We may also find ourselves feeling physically drained or restless. Allowing yourself the time and space to explore that which surfaces now, free of judgement, to assist in accepting what is discovered. This will help tremendously in taking any action you feel is necessary to move forward.

Venus, Sun,  and Moon Stellium in Scorpio 

Venus also enters Scorpio on October 23 to play her part in the eclipse. When the Goddess of Love and relationship, values, and pleasure enters Scorpio's territory, she takes on a whole new level of depth and complexity; romance, friendships, and aesthetics/values are taken very seriously, and she can be downright controlling and neurotic at times. Her desire to merge with others for the purpose of self-transcendence, especially via sexual encounters, is strong. Her involvement in this eclipse at 0 degrees Scorpio - the exact same degree that the Sun and Moon will occupy - bring those themes of partnership and relating forward in dramatic ways. Relationships that have served their purpose are likely to dissolve now, and others may go through a healing crisis of sorts. The surfacing of issues buried beneath the surface of partnerships - especially toxic undercurrents that aren't serving the situation - are likely to emerge for the purpose of healing and release. 

You may also find yourself involved in tense money matters with a spouse or others with whom you share resources, or find yourself working through toxic situations in general. Power struggles are likely, and may take on a covert psychological twist. Know that these scenarios have manifested so you can learn to embody your own empowerment more fully. Trust your instincts and act from a place of integrity and self-confidence when dealing with difficult situations that arise.

Pallas Conjunct Venus, Sun, and Moon

A powerful addition to the eclipse energies is the conjunction of the goddess asteroid Pallas to the Sun/Moon/Venus stellium. As Demetra George writes, Pallas represents higher knowledge, diplomacy and tact in addressing situations, healing techniques such as visualization and meditation, and courage. With her energies so prominently involved in this eclipse, we have additional support to temper any low-vibrational expressions of Scorpionic energy - jealousy, vindictiveness, manipulation/cunning, impulsive destruction, self-sabotage - to bring forward a detached approach and higher expression of wisdom in all parts of our lives. Pallas also represents the ability to manifest ideas into reality - such a wonderfully supportive energy to add to the new moon time!

Pluto, Uranus, the Nodes, and Neptune

Pluto, the eclipse ruler, is nearing another tight square with Uranus, the planet of liberation and revolution. This conflicting energy is sure to bring situations to a head, and the involvement of the nodes calls us out of familiar territory and into the future, into our growth and evolution individually and collectively. Neptune is forming a wide trine to the eclipse stellium - an easy, harmonious aspect - which will aid us in transcending any lower-vibrational patterns and limitations that Pluto is working to eliminate. The Divine Feminine principles are strong with this eclipse, as is our ability to access intuition for a greater feeling of connectedness to All That Is. 

In true water sign fashion, there have also been themes relating to women's rights and the Divine Feminine, conspiracy theories, and secrets coming to light in the collective. It is likely that these themes will continue to be prominent in the coming months. If you feel your fears and paranoia spinning out of control, take a deep breath and know that Plutonian/Scorpionic energy can cause us to feel as though we are in danger when no substantial threat exists; let intuition be your guide.

Eclipse Questions For Contemplation

• In which area(s) of my life am I being called to release the old and step boldly into the new?
• Where can I eliminate toxic habit patterns/emotions to move forward into my potential more fully?
• How can I stand more fully in my own deep inner power?
• How can I integrate a more detached perspective when dealing with relationship partners that allows me to balance impulses for control/other shadow issues with wisdom and intellect?
• How can I activate Divine Wisdom, intuition, and the energies of the Divine Feminine within myself for a fuller and more loving integration of self?

To see what areas of life this eclipse will be impacting you most directly, find the house in your horoscope which contains 0 degrees of Scorpio. The issues represented by this house are likely to undergo major transformations in the coming months. 

**Want to know more about how this eclipse season is working to enact profound change in your life? I would love to meet with you for a consultation! Please see "Rates, Specials, and Contact" for more information.**

The phases of the moon provide us with an ongoing cyclic pattern that move us along the path of life. We experience beginnings, meet challenges that spur growth and change, reach culmination points, and experience the dissolution of the old which leads to continued new beginnings. While all phases of the moon act as emotional catalysts for the ever-changing landscape of life, the new moon phase is associated with the energy of new beginnings. When we explore our heart's desires and set intentions in alignment with the new moon, we are tapping into the most profound opportunity for conscious creation available to us. 

I have experienced the power of consciously creating with the new moon, and am honored to share key elements of this process at my first annual New Moon Manifestation Gathering! Attendees will have the opportunity to:

• Learn the astrological symbolism of the new moon and why it's the most powerful time of the month to declare your heart's desires
• Learn key themes influencing September's new moon
  
• Be guided through the intention-setting process in a supportive environment of co-creation
• Receive a LaHo-Chi energetic blessing for increased light flow and high-vibrational support for all intentions!

When we tune in to the energies of the new moon, we connect with cosmic support that can assist us in bringing our dreams to fruition. Come and align your intentions with the creative power of the cosmos!

The event will be held on September 24 at Panara Imports in Marquette at 6:30 PM. Suggested love donation $5. Light refreshments will be provided.                 

Today's new moon is particularly powerful due to the major planetary influences that it coincides with. I focused on the archetype of Virgo in Part 1 of this series, but the other astrological forces at play now are what really make this new moon a particularly significant event!

Mars-Saturn Conjunct in Scorpio

The most potent of the current influences is the conjunction of Mars and Saturn in Scorpio. Mars is the planet of assertion of will, action/drive, physical stamina, and potential restlessness or aggression. In short, Mars represents the principle of action. Unchecked by other planets, Mars will take the shortest possible route to what it wants in haste - which may end poorly if foresight is not employed - but Mars is the fire and very necessary primal will that ignites our passions and propels us forward.

Saturn, on the other hand, is the planet that symbolizes realism: it is the hard-line master teacher of the zodiac, showing us how to apply the lessons of patience, discipline, and hard work to make visions a reality. Unlike Mars, Saturn rarely acts in haste. Those with strong Saturnian influences in their birth charts are pragmatic, goal-oriented, and are geared toward valuing that which is "tried and true," i.e. the traditional. When Mars joins with Saturn, the energetic qualities may be best described as "militaristic". Mars brings the drive and ambition to make things happen, and Saturn gifts us with the concrete logic and dedication to use that passion to create tangible results.

When transiting in Scorpio, this duo brings forward a very deep, probing, and tenacious vibe. Scorpio is the sign associated with mystery, sexuality/intimacy, spirituality, healing/regeneration, and deep inner power. Issues in these areas are likely to surface for us all in different ways now, depending on what is being activated in an individual's birth chart. From my observations, many people are currently engaged in intensive healing work, the depth and importance of which have become especially clear since this conjunction peaked on Sunday. Additionally, this meeting brings the end of a two-year cycle that began in August of 2012, providing some kind of review or "test" of the life lessons we've been learning since then. The Virgo New Moon brings us an opportunity to commit to addressing these issues in our daily lives on a long-term basis to transform ourselves from the inside out.

New Moon Opposite Neptune in Pisces; Mercury Opposite Chiron in Pisces

These oppositions suggests that we all may be feeling more compassionate and connected to a sense of unity on the transpersonal level. Though compassion is necessary for taking right action to heal ourselves and the world, these aspects are likely to activate increased sensitivity to pain and suffering, and may lead us into illusionary thinking or resorting to escapist methods for coping. Though it may temporarily help us evade unpleasant feelings, escapism or addiction is not truly a solution, since we must be fully present in our bodies to make change tangible change happen in our lives - another lesson Saturn provides.

The blessing of these oppositions is that we have an opportunity now to use our heightened sense of connectivity to the unconscious realms to activate more of our innate healing potential. Chiron, the planetoid of deep wounding and holistic healing, shows where we have the deepest wounds to heal in this lifetime, and when its energies are activated in the birth chart, we have a profound opportunity to go deeply within to heal these wounds and emerge with a more integrated sense of self. This is prime time for scheduling an energetic healing session, doing meditation, or participating other spiritual-based energy shifting practices that can assist you in transmuting past/current pain and suffering for a more joyful life.

Mercury Sextile Mars-Saturn

Mercury in Virgo - the sign of its exaltation and the second of its two ruling signs - is also forming a powerful sextile aspect to the Mars-Saturn conjunction. This is providing even more "oomph" to the already heightened mental and communicative abilities many of us are tapping into now: cue the focused, discriminating thought processes; increased abilities to be honest about what's serving us and what isn't; and more impressive capabilities in our mental processes in every way.

In all, this Virgo New Moon holds tremendously transformational potential for those who choose to act on the opportunities presented now. This is the beginning of a two-year cycle of healing, transformation, and growth at the deepest levels! To find out the areas this New Moon is impacting you most directly, locate 2 degrees Virgo in your birth chart; for the Mars-Saturn conjunct, look to 17 degrees Scorpio. Happy New Moon, and be blessed!

How have you been experiencing these influences most directly? Feel free to share in the comments section below!

The August 25 New Moon in Virgo coincides with some very powerful and influential planetary placements. These deeply intense energies - especially the conjunction of Mars and Saturn in Scorpio - will influence a two-year cycle beginning now, as well as a culmination and new level of commitment to issues that surfaced around the Virgo Full Moon in March. I'll discuss the other planetary influences in Part 2 of this article, but for now, I would like to share my perspective on the Virgoan Archetype to bring the meaning of today's new moon more clearly into focus.

As an astrologer and energy healer, Virgo is one of the signs I find to be the most fascinating. She has three ruling planets: Mercury and the asteroids Vesta and Ceres. Mercury is the planet of the mind/communications/teaching and learning, lending itself to Virgo's keen gift for discrimination and analyzing/organizing the details of any given situation. But Virgo is so much more than pure analytical prowess, and certainly not all about sexual virginity: The Virgin (or more fully, "The Pure One" in ways pertaining to the whole self) possesses a richness and depth that cannot be gleaned from studying Mercury alone, and for this, we turn to her co-rulers. 

Vesta is the asteroid that symbolizes the traditional High Priestess archetype. In ancient times, these were the women who performed sacred rites and rituals to assist individuals with merging their physical selves with their Higher Selves; they facilitated the embracing of sexuality as a path to spiritual enlightenment and empowerment, the cultivation of spiritual awareness as a means to live a "whole" life that worked in tandem with emotional and physical health. Their role was to aid in the purification of Self on every level through introspection and sacred ceremony. When viewed from this perspective, the term "vestal virgin" could indeed refer to the woman who has committed to self-purification via deep analytical introspection to continually improve oneself, not the stuffy, sexual virgin as we've likely heard via "pop astrology" stereotypes.

Ceres, Virgo's third ruler, brings the meaning of this sign full-circle. She is the asteroid symbolizing our ability to unconditionally care for and nourish ourselves and those around us. Ceres is The Great Mother, linked not only to unconditional love of self and other, but to family relationships, nutrition, and physical health and wellness. Demetra George writes that Ceres "...uses the feminine creative energy to birth and sustain new life forms" and "...presides over the fertility of the Earth and the procreation of her peoples." In mythology, she was the mother of Persephone, who was abducted and taken into the underworld by Pluto. This asteroid represents not only our call to sustain ourselves and the earth through love and self-care, but to understand that a key part of nurturance is in letting go of things, people, or situations that we cannot control, and that sharing is a key part of looking after one another.

When we combine the influences of Mercury, Vesta, and Ceres, we begin to see why a multi-faceted crystal is a symbol of Virgo. In more direct terms, she deals with all manner of aspects that relate to the merger of Heaven and Earth. We are each called to rise to the challenge of healing and purifying and integrating our whole selves to achieve this - and have within us the full capability to do so - so long as we look after all the parts of ourselves. Holistic wellness and full integration of mind, body, and spirit is truly the key to understanding the Virgoan archetype and of applying the highest expression of Virgo energy in our lives. 

It becomes easier, then, to glean an understanding of what this new moon symbolizes for us at the most basic level: it's about getting down to details, organization, and reviewing current lifestyle and daily habit patterns in all ways to move forward in a holistic fashion. This is a prime time to take a close look at your current life goals, lifestyle, and wellness on all levels. Some key questions for this New Moon might be:

• Are you ready to commit to taking the the steps to achieve new career goals, or in beginning new endeavors in your personal life? Are you ready to "get down to details" in order to make your dreams a reality?
• Are you honoring your body by eating foods that nourishing you and drinking plenty of water? Do you give your body the exercise/rest that it needs? 
• Are there emotional issues surfacing that are in need of healing now? Are you willing to make the journey within to release the past and embrace the new? Are you receiving and giving the emotional support necessary in your most important relationships? Are you ready to commit to doing this more fully if need be?
• Do you have a spiritual practice that connects you with a greater sense of the whole of creation such as meditation, yoga, or receiving healing energy work? Are you willing to explore new ways to cultivate mindfulness and a greater sense of peace and Oneness in your life?

When we bring one area of our lives into balance, we are supporting all other aspects of our lives. This is the highest expression of Virgo's energy , and through intention-setting and taking action to achieve our goals, this energy is available to us now in profound ways.