Think About It…

   Does all communication serve to clarify, or can it also confuse? Thoughts, ideas, conversations, information—where do they all come from and what do we do with them?

   This 22-degree 14-minute Gemini New Moon–ruled by Mercury, god of communication, transportation, early childhood or rudimentary learning, siblings/near family, neighborhood, and local business–calls our attention to these questions.

   The Greeks named their messenger god “Hermes,” and noted his capability to travel between worlds—from heavenly Mt. Olympus, home of the gods, to Earth, to the underworld known as Hades. These mythical journeys earned Hermes the reputation as the metaphorical transmitter of information back & forth between a higher consciousness, one’s ego, and the unconscious portion of our human psyches.

   Delivering such messages with complete clarity often proved to be Hermes’ main challenge. Known also as the god of the crossroads, by his very nature Hermes indicates that confusion is often par for the course during certain times of life.

   The May 29 Sagittarius Full Moon asked us to let go of unnecessary thoughts or useless information that serve only to cloud our judgment rather than clarify for us how we might proceed to arrive at the bigger picture.

   By “bigger picture” I mean the larger themes of our lives! Often our myopic focus on superficial information processed through our empirically-oriented ego consciousness prohibits us from understanding that a situation may contain much more than what is immediately apparent to us.

A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance of being right.” ~ Thomas Paine 

What’s The Point?

   The Sagittarius Moon reflects back to the Gemini Sun its own light at this mutable 8-degree 10-minute Sagittarius Full Moon, highlighting for us all the issue of both focus & clarity.

   Remember, the Mercury-ruled Gemini Sun can represent a whole lot of puzzle pieces (or bits & pieces of information) spread out haphazardly on the floor. The Sagittarius Full Moon reminds us that–although these pieces haven’t been assembled yet into the whole, bigger picture—there IS, in fact, such a thing…

   Therefore, an overall message (read: bigger picture) may seem unclear, lost, or buried under a dizzying array of seemingly superficial, incomplete, & disparate shreds of information…such is Gemini archetypal energy when unable to achieve integration with its higher-minded Sagittarius polarity.

   Unlike Mercury’s Virgo, far more attuned to the business of painstakingly slogging through the all the details to ultimately determine a conclusion, Gemini archetypal energy generally lacks such discernment.

   Far more concerned with the excitement of gathering, passing, trading, and/or announcing information to friends, family, or the world in general, the Gemini archetype often gets the bad reputation of being flighty, inconsistent, or fickle.

   In reality, Gemini energy is simply curious, social, & talkative, which is to say interested in communication in general. However, this archetype all too frequently cares less about the overall meaning of the information it collects, chats about, and/or passes, than it does about simply communicating.

   This lack of any real informational depth is reminiscent of the game of “telephone” we used to play in kindergarten, where a phrase is whispered into the ear of the first child in a long line of children. The farther along the chain it gets, the more distorted this phrase becomes. Ultimately the last child speaks something far different from the originally whispered phrase.

   This image has validity for us adults, because when we think of the kinds of information disseminated throughout the globe today, we can see why this Sagittarius Full Moon’s purpose is to remind the Gemini Sun there needs to be a context…

I Can See Clearly Now?

Earth Tones…    At this point, you may have heard or read much about Uranus’s entrance into Taurus on May 15 and freaked out a bit, thinking “oh my god, what’s gonna happen to me?”    So here’s what I wanna tell ya—remember this: Uranus moves into the earthy sign of the bull while Pluto & Saturn currently transit through equally earthy Capricorn.    Though the Taurus archetype is one most stubbornly resistant to change, it’s also the one most capable of providing fertile ground into which we may plant seeds for new endeavors. In short, we may plant anything we’d like to see take root & successfully manifest (read: grow) on a concrete, physical level in this world now.    Meanwhile, the Saturn-ruled earth sign Capricorn ensures such seed plantingwill produce long-term, successful growth of a continually stable foundation.    Saturn’s true purpose in our lives revolves around helping us to mature and create positive karma as we learn and grow. This is why, during a Saturn transit to one of our sensitive individual chart points—be it a natal planet, angle, mid-point, etc.—we may find someone or something leaves our life.    Saturn, known as the “lord of karma,” often gets a bad rep because of this. But I’m here to tell ya that his purpose is clear: Saturn transits clear away from our lives anyone or anything not instrumental to our future growth. And when I say growth, I mean growth in consciousness.    It’s through such growth in consciousness that we mature through better understanding our individuation process, which essentially concerns allowing our soul to shine through so that we may be exactly who we came here to be…    As this expansion of knowledge around our relationships & connections to the world around us grows—remember, as within, so without—we begin to realize there is more, & we are more, than simply our ego has allowed us to see, feel, hear, taste, or touch.    Saturn-ruled Capricorn—also the sign through which evolutionary Pluto is transiting now until 2023–has much to do with our belief system, or that which we were taught, told, or forced to believe either early in life or during past life karma.    However, many of us do not realize this until we experience some kind of loss or shock, which is when, if we are truly interested in creating more positive karma as we age, we may sit down and take a look at the meaning of our lives. Inner Vs. Outer Resources…    You’re probably asking yourself about now: what’s this got to do with Uranus moving into Taurus OR the Taurus New Moon?    At this Taurus New Moon, both the Sun & Moon–at 24-degrees 36-minutes of the sign most stubbornly resistant to change—are trining Mars, still at the tail end (29 degrees) of Capricorn. Meanwhile, Mars is waxing into a square to Uranus, itself still at the tail end of Aries & due to enter Taurus a little over three hours after the Taurus New Moon.    If anyone’s noticed that life has been moving rapidly for the past week or so, it’s likely the influence of both Uranus on the threshold of this sign change, AND this waxing Mars/Uranus square. The latter is due to be exact on May 16. Therefore, we cannot separate these energies from the meaning of this particular lunation.    While usually a Taurus New Moon can represent a time of stability, one inwhich we can surround ourselves with natural beauty, & rest and contemplate how we’d like our future garden to grow, this one is fraught with the potential for sudden change.    However, often with sudden change comes sudden revelation, so take heart!    Taurus is about resources & Capricorn about building long-term foundations, so Uranus into Taurus may well represent a sudden or rapid change to the nature of our resources for the purposes of our securing a firmer long-term future foundation.    First, exactly what are our “resources”?    Defined via the Taurean archetype, resources are what everyone requires not only to survive, but ultimately to thrive. These include the most basic fundamentals: food, water, & shelter.    However, if we’re on a journey toward consciousness, the truth is that these outer resources are nothing more than the external manifestation of our inner “resources…”    So, what are our inner resources?    Inner resources are comprised of the intangible “stuff” (like thoughts & emotions) we need to feel stable & secure—physically, emotionally, mentally, & spiritually. Such security, once achieved, makes it easier for us to operate from an internally solid foundation—one less prone to damage from unexpected weather… The Body Remembers…    The question becomes, at this particular juncture as Uranus enters Taurus until 2025: do our inner resources (read: those which provide true physical, emotional, mental, &/or spiritual security) derive from the internal wisdom of our true soul?    If so, then we’re likely to possess a solid enough foundation, an unshakable core belief system (Capricorn) that allows us to KNOW deep in our bones that we will survive–regardless of any change–sudden, shocking, unexpected or otherwise–that happens to our outer resources.    If not, & our sense of security comes from an external source or sources (read: parents, teachers, clerics, judges, or society at large) that define for us whatsecurity IS, we may have difficulty with this Uranus transit. Bear in mind, too, that inner insecurities may well have been borne from varied experiences, either in this lifetime or via past lives.    As a past life regression facilitator, one thing I know is that many of us carry both current life AND past life trauma in our bodies. Such trauma can derive from a myriad number of sources—dying a violent death through war or other tragedy, experiencing victimization through physical &/or sexual abuse, being locked up or otherwise abandoned and starved, for example.    Likewise, the trauma of having become victim to the elements through a lack of resources such as food, water, &/or shelter can stay with us from incarnation to incarnation.    We’re talking “soul” lives here, and what I’m trying to say is that often when the body perishes (however that happens), the energy of the soul does not die; rather it moves on, at least eventually.    Can I prove any of this? Hell no! All metaphysics is based on some measure of faith, just as it takes faith to believe in any indoctrinated religion’s “miracles.” Did God really part the Red Sea? Did Jesus really turn water into wine? Did the archangel Gabriel actually reveal the words of the Koran to Mohammed?    What I’m trying to say is that when we discuss the Taurus archetype, as wemust at this Taurus New Moon and Uranus ingress into the sign, we can’t overlook the fact that the body may resonate with negative experiences of yore.    Often it’s these experiences that, if not through our physical bodies then through our thoughts, worries, emotions, etc., embed in our unconscious & cause us to follow a course we deem safest & most beneficial for our soul—even if that ultimately causes stagnation. And when this is the case, we can become mired in OLD fear that resources will prove scarce & therefore cause our demise.    Such deprivation may turn us into hoarders, overeaters, or to have incarnated or grown into believers in the importance of money and material possessions because they “save” us from what we believe would otherwise be certain death. Putting on weight not only insures we’ll never starve to death in this lifetime, it also may act as protection for those who were attacked physically &/or sexually either early in this life or in past lives.    Just as belief in past lives & reincarnation comes down to faith, so may we believe that this Taurus New Moon will allow us to move toward building a stronger internal sense of self-esteem, self-love, & self-worth. And that Uranus in Taurus will bring us rewards, ultimately, through any changes it initiates. Bridge Over Troubled Waters    Again, remember: “as within, so without…” External change alerts us to internal movement, or the need for change; internal change mirrors external events & circumstances!    Thus, our mission becomes clear, though how to obtain it may remain foggy, especially since how each of us goes about it individually can vary. Regardless,our mission is to bridge this gap so that we integrate these internal/external energies to manifest externally our inner gold—or that which is comprised of self-love, self-value, & self-esteem!    What I can tell you with certainty is this: Any change in outer resources indicates you’re ripe for internal change because you’ve tarried too long, become too complacent or too set in your ways–either physically, emotionally, mentally or spiritually.    Such a circumstance says you now need to build, rebuild, continue building, or up-level any less than solid core foundation of self-love, self-esteem, & self-value because loving yourself decreases your dependence on the outer world, including other people or material resources, to validate your existence…    Helping us at this Taurus New Moon is retrograde Jupiter in Scorpio’s trine to Neptune in Pisces. The harmonious aspect between these two planets creates an altruism that can allow us to see the good in ourselves, and to mirror that benevolence out into the world around us.    Meanwhile, Mars entrance into Aquarius May 16 can help or hurt us, depending on how we roll.    Aquarius energy is about the group; Mars about action. Positively, Mars can provide the impetus behind brilliant outside-the-box ideas that revolutionize your life or the lives of others.    Watch now, as Uranus, the ruler of Aquarius–through which Mars will now travel for the next 6 months—for sudden “aha!” moments or other revelations that can somehow change your life for the better. In this sense, Mars in Aquarius brings us the gift of “a priori” thinking, as ideas arrive fully blown in our mind’s eye.      Negatively, this energy can push us toward groups with ideas that may seem revolutionary at first, but ultimately morph into the same kind of dogma that preceded it. “Meet the new boss, same as the old boss,” as Pete Townsend ofThe Who wrote.    We may see more groups who believe they have “truth” with a capital “T” attempt to overpower other groups who have an equally strong but opposite belief system. Such rigid righteousness is not out of the question with Mars moving into this fixed sign, where it will stay due to its retrograde (except for a brief retrograde back into Capricorn) throughout this summer & untilNovember 15.    Watch for where in your life you may align only with your own views now and not listen to, or try to understand, other viewpoints. This can get a whole lot of us in a whole lot of trouble, especially because of Mars long retrograde in Aquarius, beginning June 26.    If we like to think that our way is the right way or the only way, we may use this energy to become further entrenched in any ideological beliefs (read also: political) we hold dear. This most definitely bears some introspection, especially for those of us due to go to U.S. voting booths on November 6, about 10 days before Mars stations direct.    The potential for events somewhere in the world to become the match that lights a spark that grows into a conflagration often called “war” is obvious if one simply listens to the evening news right now.    The key, during this transit, is to figure out where is YOUR war? It pays now for each of us to examine our own beliefs, and to figure out where they come from & why, and how we can begin to change them so they benefit us rather than hold us back… Thunderstruck    Likewise, if Uranus throws you off course anytime during its 7-year journey through Taurus, the question you’ll want to ask yourself is “why?”    As you entertain possible answers to that question, do so with an eye toward figuring out where you’ve resisted change in the past & try to go deep with this… …and remember at this Taurus New Moon that the Moon is about memory & the past. Where do we engage in habitual behavior we THINK benefits us but doesn’t? Or habits that we developed as defense mechanisms when young but that we no longer need as adults?    Memory’s a tricky thing, often distorted or perverted in some way, often through no fault of our own. That makes this time ripe for jettisoning old habits—particularly those that have to do with the physical body—so you can replace them with something newer, better, and more conducive to changing your life for the better…    Under this Taurus New Moon, plant seeds that bring love & joy into yourheart! Ground yourself however it feels right: go barefoot on the grass, plant an actual garden, envision yourself as part of the earth, hug a tree—whatever works for you! And, of course, meditate…    Also, remember what I said about Uranus joining Pluto & Saturn in an earth sign? What I didn’t tell you is that when anyone or anything leaves our lives it creates space for someone or something new to come in!    So, why get caught up in the depressing fear of losing or leaving someone or something behind, when you can rejoice in the knowledge that they weren’t instrumental to your future growth AND that something new, more exciting will undoubtedly appear?    Meanwhile, allow Pluto & Saturn in Capricorn to assist you in letting go of any outdated, out-moded beliefs that no longer serve you over the long-term. Be confident in the knowledge that the seeds planted at this Taurus New Moon can grow to fruition slowly because we’re working now with the two most foundational transiting energies out there: Saturn & Pluto in Cap!    Recognize on an inner level how, once we feel secure in our bones–the kind of security that no one & nothing can take away or eliminate from our lives (read: Uranus in Taurus)–the greater our capability to establish a firm long-term foundation for ourselves going forward. And that’s regardless of unexpected or shocking circumstances that happen to or around us…  Here’s a video of Imagine Dragons song Thunder that encapsulates the feeling of Uranus into Taurus, at least imo! Note that it was shot in Dubai because the band found its archetecture strange & amazing (read: Uranian!) at the same time! Check out those Uranus-inspired characters! Enjoy! Thunder Dan Reynolds “Just a young man with a quick fuse I was uptight, wanna let lose I was dreaming of bigger things Wanna leave my own life behind Not a yes sir, not a follower Fit the box, fit the mold Have a seat in the foyer, take a number I was lightning before the thunder Thunder, thunder Thunder, thun’, thunder Thun-thun-thunder, thunder, thunder Thunder, thun’ thunder Thun-thun-thunder, thunder Thunder, feel the thunder Lightning and the thunder… Kids were laughing in my classes While I was scheming for the masses Who do you think you are? Dreaming ’bout being a big star You say you’re basic, you say you’re easy You’re always riding in the back seat Now I’m smiling from the stage while You are clapping in the nose bleeds Thunder, thunder, thun’, thunder Thun-thun-thunder, thunder, thunder Thunder, thun’, thunder Thun-thun-thunder, thunder Thunder, feel the thunder Lightning and the thunder…” Imagine Dragons

The Course of True Love Never Did Run Smooth

   Libra is great at looking at both sides of a situation and finding balance, whereas Aries acts on instinct and impulse. So, this Libra Full Moon cautions the Aries Sun that to act alone is not always the wisest course.

Duty To Others Or Duty To Self?

When the Aries Sun squared Saturn in Capricorn on March 29, two days before the March 31 Libra Full Moon, it may have filled us with doubt. Hard on the heels of March 28’s Venus/Uranus meetup and as the Moon now waxes full—this can be serious and potentially dispiriting energy.

As always, frictional contacts between the Sun & Saturn can frustrate us at best & depress us at worst. It’s an energy that can make us feel lonely & isolated. However, the message following the recent Venus/Uranus combo is that we may all be forced to face some kind of unexpected reality now …

According to renowned astrologer Robert Hand, who wrote the book Planets InTransit, this Sun/Saturn combination can result in conflict between our sense of duty to others and our obligation to self.

 The two questions you must resolve now are: how much self-gratification do you owe yourself, and what duties and responsibilities do you owe to others?” Hand writes. “Today will be categorized by conflict between these two poles, duty & self-gratification.”

At this Libra Full Moon, which squares the waxing Mars/Saturn conjunction, we are all called to search our hearts for where any unexpressed simmering frustrations may lie based on this kind of conflict.

The Will To Succeed

Mars is approaching an exact conjunction to Saturn on April 2, and as these merging energies continue to grow in strength at this Libra Full Moon, they represent the potential for a powerful commitment.

On a personal level, look to where any deviation in your routine recently might have larger implications—either positive or negative—for your current relationships. The recent Venus/Uranus conjunction may well have triggered something into motion, based on your own past actions, that is not over yet & which could lead you closer to a stronger commitment…

Such a commitment, however, might require a certain measure of compromise…

The key to navigating Mars/Saturn energy is always hard, concentrated work. Such work may be physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual, but as long as we remember to apply concentrated (Saturn) energy (Mars) to the task at hand, we can triumph in the end.

Basic archetypal Mars energy always wants action, while Saturn’s major inclination is to build foundations. A Mars/Saturn conjunction says “apply yourself to something you desire and make it manifest!”

What’s the logical outcome when these two energies play nice together?

   A feeling of accomplishment!

What do you want to achieve vis-à-vis your partnerships at this Libra Full Moon? You might ask yourself now: How can I get what I want without trampling on the rights of another? And: How can I find the happy medium in relationship without sacrificing my own right to the pursuit of happiness?

It’s possible at this Libra Full Moon to solidify our partnerships in one way or another. And, remember that Libra energy represents not only significant other relationships, but those with whom we have any kind of partnership, including with parents, siblings, children, lovers, friends, colleagues, etc.

All For One Or One For All?

 This Libra Full Moon calls us to weigh the balance between going it alone (the Aries Sun) or making it together (the Libra Moon.)

While deciding your path forward consider whether frustrations inherent in any partnership make it worth engaging in or not, and whether–if compromise is called for–you can get more flies with honey than with vinegar.

After all, might not a measured tempered response to whatever’s going on in our individual lives prove conducive to a stronger, longer lasting commitment in the end?

Remember, it’s not always what happens to us, but rather how we choose tohandle it that matters most. As we co-create our futures, we might ask ourselves now whether we can let go—full moons are always about release, after all—of any frustrations or hardships around our relationships and forge a steadier future, while also being true to ourselves…

It’s a given that relationships are never without their road blocks or frustrations! This Libra Full Moon is not about avoiding such frustrations, but rather initiating conversations—both internal and external–that may reduce impediments to their smooth functioning going forward.

The energies in play right now call us all to work through the areas where we might not see eye to eye with any particular partner currently in our life. The fact that Libra, Aries, & Capricorn are cardinal signs—or signs that like to initiate action–bodes well for pushing through obstacles to work together energetically.

The down side, however, is always the possibility that we might act too quickly out of frustration.

Of course, relationships are our mirrors, so when we look at them as opportunities to learn more about ourselves we may gain a particular advantage as we move individually toward greater consciousness in this lifetime.

We might ask ourselves the following questions at this Libra Full Moon:

• Where am I frustrated because I commit to another/others more than to myself?
• How can I find greater balance between going it alone & getting my own needs met?
• Where might I need to mature in my relationships—not only my partnership with others, but with myself?

Full Moons are always about release, and this one asks us to ponder the dilemma of whether our commitment to another or others helps or hinders us in our karmic growth. Letting go of anything that does not serve the cause of finding balance in our lives is not only productive, but will likely bring future peace & harmony…

Don’t Forget–Mercury’s Still Retrograde!

All of this occurs against the backdrop of Mercury’s current retrograde in the fire sign Aries.

It’s a good idea to note that Mercury’s retrograde cycle will travel through all three fire signs in 2018. The messenger god’s journey through the fire element began late last year in December and continues throughout 2018.

This means it’s time to review how incorporating more creative play into our lives can spark our inspiration. Erin Sullivan, in Retrograde Planets, advises we all ask ourselves this question both now and as Mercury retrogrades through the other fire signs this year: How can my inspiration create my future?

   The current Mercury retrograde cycle through Aries until April 15 forms part of the shorter-term backdrop for this Libra New Moon. The advice is still review, review, review!–particularly in the realm of your partnerships!

   Check in with yourself and try to ascertain now whether or not you’ve been incorporating that creative spark into those partnerships you want not only to survive, but to thrive…as well as whether you’ve compromised too much or not enough…

How can you recommit, or simply commit, to listening to another’s point of view right now? Likewise, can you speak up and make your own needs known, particularly if you haven’t in the past? Harboring resentment without trying to communicate where you feel slighted does not a happy long-term relationship make…

The Nodes Know…

Finally, and of note, the two luminaries make beneficial aspects to the transiting Nodes, indicators of karmic destiny.

The Libra Moon sextile the Leo North Node—the indicator of future karmicdestiny–tells us that however we choose to handle our relationships now, we’ve got the opportunity to shine our own light within our partnerships, rather than eclipsing it behind someone else.

And the Aries Sun’s sextile to the Aquarius South Node–indicator of past karmic energy–likewise provides us all the opportunity to jettison any past karmic baggage, particularly around trauma, that’s held us back from either making or attracting a successful commitment in our lives…

Figuring out how to give voice to any seemingly minor dissatisfaction within your relationships that you’ve sat on to the point where they’re now ready to explode is key to this Libra Full Moon’s energy.

Remember, without taking a step back and applying perspective, abused often become abusers, and persecuted oppressors. Seek to avoid this and call on this coming lunation’s powerful energy to release all conflicts that do not serve your highest and best purpose here on Earth…

Namaste…