The moon continues to wane, inviting us to continue releasing what is still
​shaking loose, as we approach the new moon in Taurus on Saturday May 4th. 

The three days before a new moon are known as
the "dark moon".   

The dark moon is the time of deepest release, in the darkest hours
just before the new moon is exact - before the solar rays of consciousness again
begin to illuminate the lunar realm of the subconscious.  Between the illumination
and realizations of the full moon and when we arrive at the dark moon
this Thursday, when we turn inward and release during the deepest part of
the lunar cycle, we have or will have incurred some additional astrological shifts
that influence this dark moon release and upcoming new moon.​

The past weekend has featured a Mars-Neptune square and moon in Aquarius. This occurred on the heels of Pluto turning retrograde in Capricorn last Wednesday the 24th, while also leading in to Saturn (aligning now with the karmic south node of the moon) turning retrograde in Capricorn this Monday, April 29th.  

The detached Aquarian moon combined with the Mars-Neptune energy could get us in trouble by sending us chasing delusional fantasy, or running to escape by any means possible.  Except that it is held in check, sandwiched between the two heavy-weights of the zodiac both turning retrograde in down-to-business Capricorn.

These shifts not only set the underlying tone for the next several months, but are part of something larger that is a signature of 2019, and will culminate in January 2020.

Pluto, Lord of the Underworld, has been in transit of Capricorn since 2008, and will continue for several more years.  Saturn, ruler of Capricorn, and faster-moving, spending only about two and a half years in each sign, joined Pluto in Capricorn in December of 2017, and since then the two have been on a collision course, as they will meet as Saturn passes Pluto in January 2020.  

Pluto moving through a sign represents a transformational force relentlessly grinding away at that energy and area of our lives, stripping it down to the raw truth so it can then regenerate.  In Capricorn, this means that since 2008 Pluto's focus has been, from a larger perspective, on political and financial structures and shaking their very foundations causing the weak parts, the rotten parts, the misaligned parts to crumble.  

Saturn is known as "the Lord of Karma", and the teacher and/or taskmaster.  Saturn is the last planet we can see with the naked eye from Earth.  Saturn represents rules, structures, systems, limits, boundaries, discipline, authority, and responsibility. Saturn rules Capricorn, so is happily on home-turf during this transit. 

On Wednesday, 4/24, Pluto stationed retrograde.  This planet, usually ruthlessly uncovering and exposing and stripping us of our false securities, now seemingly retraces its path for the next few months and gives us a little breathing room for reflection on what has come to light so far. 

On Monday, April 29th, Saturn will station retrograde as well, and as the Lord of Karma goes back over recent territory to allow us to truly review the lessons it has brought, it has the added weight of being on the south node of the moon, which is a point of the past, karma, and fate.  Saturn's retrograde is in square aspect to Mercury, bringing to light especially lessons around our thinking, words, and communication.  Any planet stationing retrograde creates a concentration of that energy and can be the most tricky time of the retrograde.  For Saturn, this is April 25th through May 2nd.  Given the square to Mercury, during these days pay extra close attention to detail, communications, and agreements. During this time getting professional advice in any legal dealings is the safest bet, as Saturn, governing rules and systems and responsibility, squares Mercury the Messenger as it stations retrograde.  Saturn is always asking us to create stable foundations and grounded action plans to manifest our ideas and dreams in this 3D reality.  Saturn will show us where we haven't kept our boundaries, stood in our authority, or been fully responsible and in our integrity. Saturn can feel to us like restrictions in our lives, endless hard work, negativity or even outright abuse and cruelty.  We can easily feel depressed with low self-esteem under a negative Saturnian influence.  With the square to Mercury, we may find difficulties in communicating with many misunderstandings.  We may find our desires and dreams met with crushing negativity.  We may be indecisive or procrastinate.  We will be asked to do real worldly work to achieve our dreams and desires, and to do it with responsibility and integrity, standing in our own authority - lies or any sort of below board behavior could come with serious consequences now.  With Saturn on the south node of the moon, the hand of fate may end up guiding us down the correct path.  And when Saturn turns direct at 13 degrees Capricorn on September 18th, expect to feel lighter and positive as we then move towards Pluto direct on October 3rd.  From the 3rd on, we will be building towards the Saturn-Pluto conjunction in Capricorn in January 2020, so we will be feeling forward momentum but also the tension building as these two powerful energies prepare to combine forces.  

The other big underlying influence now is Uranus freshly into a seven year transit of Taurus, where it has not been since its last transit from 1934 to 1941, covering most of the Great Depression and the beginning of WWII.  The last time Pluto was conjunct Saturn in Capricorn was January of 1518!  This interestingly enough coincided with Martin Luther's opposition to the Catholic Church.  When we look at these energies of the past coming together in our near future, we can see how the Great Depression gave way to a better economy, but that better economy came through the hardships and atrocities of war.  Luther's opposition of the establishment - the fortress of the Catholic church - eventually proved successful.  Maybe our current events will see us experiencing a crisis that forces some revolution or calling the establishment to accountability that finds us shifting in a new more successful direction as a whole. 

With Pluto already retrograde and Saturn stationing Monday, we head into this dark moon (leading to Saturday's new moon in Taurus with Uranus) getting support from the "big boys" in the form of possibly a little extra information and insight around what else to release before this new moon.

Thursday, Friday, and Saturday until the moon is new at 4:45 pm MST, is the time to turn inward, rest and nourish, and allow space for the deep stuff to emerge so you don't find yourself lugging that dead weight through yet another lunar cycle.  Now is the time.  Make the space and allow the process.  ​

Following the moon through transits gives us a day to day guide of what energies or "vibe" will be dominating each day. 

Following the monthly lunar cycle from new to full to new again keeps us on the path of constantly growing and releasing, always renewing ourselves.

There are always other larger cycles operating in the background, some affecting entire generations, some matching up with points on our natal astrological charts so that we feel the energies quite intensely and acutely in our personal lives.

A main theme we can take from learning about and following astrology is the idea of balance.  Astrology interprets the movement of the celestial bodies as experienced and witnessed from earth.  We sit in the center of the zodiac system, and each sign has a sign that is always opposite it, and the planets move through at different speeds "weighting" the energy of one sign or another or pitting energies that don't mesh well against each other.  We sit in the center as this occurs around us and so it is our task to simply always be working to maintain a state of balance as the energies shift, like reading river currents or surfing waves.

As the "energetic weather" constantly shifts with cycles that change as quickly as day to day up to larger scale influences that last many years, one of the best ways we can achieve and maintain a sense of balance is to remember to ground - connect into the earth, be fully present in our bodies, and stay mindful - in that way we are able to consciously create our lives, always working with the energies at play.

This week we are amping up to Friday's FULL MOON at the 29th (final) degree of Libra, opposing Uranus just in the beginning degrees of a seven year transit of Taurus. 

Uranus brings the future to our doorstep in unexpected ways, through sudden insights and sudden upheaval. Uranus is the insight and technology that lies beyond the rules and boundaries and time-tested ways of Saturn.  Uranus is the nonconformist and rebellion against the stagnant mundane.  Uranus was in Aries early 2011 through early 2019, and now in Taurus, we are getting acquainted with a distinctly earthier vibe as a channel for the futuristic lightning bolts Uranus sends to push us forward and out of our comfortable complacency.  With the sun (light of consciousness) sitting with Uranus bridging the cusp of Aries and Taurus, and the moon (the subconscious) at the final degree of Libra, we taking a last look at that era of 2011 to 2019, especially regarding our relationships and how we navigate the territory of how we relate to others and where we end and "other" begins.  The Aries/Libra polarity is always teaching us about relationships and how we must have a strong sense of self (Aries) in order to have healthy interactions and relationships with others (Libra).  This full moon, because it is in Libra, is ruled by Libra's ruler Venus.  Just on November 16th Venus finished her several week retrograde by turning direct at 25 degrees Libra opposing Uranus in Aries.  Now we have a full moon at the 29th (karmic) degree of Libra opposing sun in the final degree of Aries conjunct Uranus in the first degrees of Taurus - the light of consciousness sits with Uranus' capability to bring sudden insight and revelation as the two bridge that transition that is the cusp from Aries to Taurus.  Be open to receive insight - there may be a big "aha" moment coming.

Energy Forecast by Day:
Sunday April 14th through Saturday April 21st:

Sun. 4.14:  
We continue Saturday's vibe through Sunday with the moon still transiting Leo.  Leo vibes support creativity, generosity and play - watch any tendencies for being full of yourself, selfish, or egotistical; sometimes Leo can get easily carried away.  The moon goes void-of-course at 7:38 pm MST until the wee hours of Monday morning, so Sunday evening and night is the perfect time to do routine self-care or house-keeping and catch up on rest.

Mon. 4.15:  The moon enters Virgo 4:13 am, where it will stay until early Wednesday morning.  This is a great Monday to hit the ground running and blast through that to-do list.  Update the calendar and streamline your daily routine, making sure exercise is included.  If you have any work requiring focus, attention to detail or critical thinking, today and tomorrow are your days.  Just watch out for overthinking or letting your "planning" turn into anxiety-generating worry over an imaginary future.  The intensity is increasing as the full moon approaches, so remember to stay grounded and centered, working from your foundation of the here and now.  Your power lies in the present moment, always.  Today is also a day that supports art, beauty, aesthetics - maybe even a little romance.  Happy Monday!

Tues. 4.16:  With the moon remaining in Virgo all day, it is a continuation of Monday's energy, supporting critical thinking, attention to detail, and just getting things done in general.  The moon goes void-of-course at 10:20 pm for the night only, so make use of this time to get good rest.  

Wed 4.17:  At 5:22 am, the moon enters Libra, where it will remain right up until Friday's full moon at 5:12 am.  The intensity of the full moon drawing near should be palpable now and this will increase until Friday morning when the full moon is exact.  Full moon's are always intense, but with an extra zap from Uranus, this one might feel a bit more electric.  Libra is the sign of relationship and partnership, ruled by Venus.  Libra wants balance, harmony, peace, love, beauty, and cooperation.  Libra wants to be "in relationship."  However, Libra can want those things so badly that it becomes too much of a pleaser and gives itself up to other to maintain relationship and "not rock the boat".  Then of course resentment builds.  Aries, the sign opposite Libra, is the self.  It teaches us about being independent and having a healthy sense of self when entering into relationship with others, so that we are interdependent rather than codependent or dependent; interactive and integrating rather than enmeshed.  The moon when in Libra is ruled by Venus.  Emotionally we may be longing for more peace and harmony in general in our lives or specifically for loving and harmonious relationships in our own lives.  

At midnight, Mercury (the messenger) moves into Aries, where it will remain until May 6th. Aries is Libra's opposing sign and the sign the sun is currently in and will be in for the full moon on Friday.  Mercury is our mind and thoughts and verbal expression.  Aries is the leader, the warrior and the pioneer - the fiery hot head.  Mercury in Aries is about decisiveness.  

Thurs. 4.18:  The moon remains in Libra all day today, but with Mercury freshly into Aries, we will feel the shift from Wednesday being a Libra moon with Mercury in Pisces to today being still a Libra moon with Mercury in feisty Aries.

Fri. 4.19:  At 5:12 am (MST) the FULL MOON will be exact at 29 degrees Libra.  At the same moment the full moon is exact, the moon is also making its final aspect from the sign of Libra and then is void-of-course for a short time until 6:40 am when it enters Scorpio.   

As the intensity of the full moon subsides and we allow to soak in whatever illumination we have received with it, the moon shifts into Scorpio.  All Friday and through the night the moon will be beginning its waning cycle as it glides through the powerful depths of Scorpio.  On the heels of (possibly mind-blowing) insights and revelations courtesy of the full moon conjunct Uranus, our intuitive and emotional guide moves into water sign Scorpio, a sign known for its desire to go deep and bring great healing and transformation.  With the full moon on the final and karmic degree of Aries/Libra, any issues of imbalance, power struggles, toxicity, or resentment illuminated around relationships that has been highlighted now has the opportunity to be released and old wounds soothed with the healing balm of forgiveness. Scorpio's emotional strength and perseverance adds depth to Aries sense of self and need for independence.  We are reminded of the importance of being strong in our own self-awareness and sense of self before we can come into right relationship with other.   Use Scorpio's emotional fortitude and willingness to face the shadow and know the truth to truly look at and understand what the full moon has revealed to you so that you may heal it.  Scorpio is a specialist in the realms of the shadow and facing demons that steal your power.  Facing your shadow so that you are fully self-aware and ruler of both realms within is when you access your true power and are no longer driven by the deep-seated wounds and fears of held within your subconscious.  Let the moon guide you to find healing today.  

Sat. 4.20:  In the early morning, at 1:55 am MST, the SUN officially enters Taurus where it will be shining its light on the Taurean earth energy and the area of our lives it expresses itself in.  Taurus as a fixed earth sign seeks greener pastures, but also wants the stability of being on solid ground and can have a stubborn side.  Being Venus ruled, Taurus loves indulging in creature comforts and the pleasures of life.  Taurus can sometimes over-focus on possessions, but truly enjoy every moment of good food and drink in the company of good friends.

At 9:10 am, VENUS transitions from Pisces, where she is exalted, to Aries, the territory of her divine partner Mars which represents masculine energy, her polar opposite.  Venus, ruler of Libra and Taurus, representing our values, self-value, finances, possessions, love expression, and the divine feminine - the power of obtaining our desires through receptivity and the art of attraction, after a surreal swim through Pisces, now arrives at the beginning of the zodiac as she enters Aries.  Aries, ruled by Mars, represents the energy of the divine masculine, the chase, going directly after what you desire, impulsiveness, leadership, assertiveness, decisiveness, and a pioneering spirit that wants to courageously explore and conquer uncharted territory.  Spring is now in full swing as our lady of love steps into a brave (and possible passionately sexy) new world until May 15th, when she moves into her own sign of Taurus.  

The MOON continues to vibe Friday's feels, remaining in Scorpio all day until 8:59 pm when it goes void-of-course, then drifting towards Sagittarius overnight.  Not only is Scorpio unafraid of the dark and capable of awe-inspiring transformational healing, this deep fixed water sign has intuitive abilities so strong its more like psychic radar.  With the moon in Scorpio we can connect with the shaman and not only our inner realms, but other realms.  After deep psyche diving yesterday, ride the waves of the aethers with today's energy and be open to the gifts and messages the supernatural has to offer.  Scorpio's ultimate expression is the Phoenix rising from its own ashes - the ultimate transformation.  Scorpio can fly just as high as it can dive deep, and it uses the gifts of both to heal, transform and transmute.  

At 8:59 pm the moon goes void-of-course until it reaches Sagittarius at 8:59 am Sunday morning. 

Sun. 4.21: At 8:59 am la luna bounds into optimistic and nature-loving Sagittarius.  Sagittarius is a fire sign, and the element of fire always is inspirational, creative, and enthusiastic.  Sagittarius, ruled by Jupiter, wants to believe in the BIG truth.  Sagittarius rules over things like big ideas, philosophy, religion, spiritual beliefs, faith, higher education, learning and teaching, and even gurus.  Sagittarius is always seeking to know more, itching to travel, experience adventure, and constantly discover new things.  The energy here is high spirited and inspired, full of optimism and faith, but can skip over important details and be too impulsive.  Be inspired, get fired up, and harness that faith, optimism and sense of adventure.  Just don't go chasing after dreams that haven't been completely grounded in reality.  

Soak up the healing the past few days have brought, continue to let go of what has come up to be released with the full moon as the moon wanes back to new, and take time to enjoy and appreciate the beauty and love that is in your life.  What do you find beautiful and inspiring about this world, this experience of life?  What inspires you?  What are you passionate about?  

The weekly "Energy Updates" follow the transits of the moon, forecasting the upcoming energies and how to best work with them and make the most of them.  Why bother with following the lunar cycle?  The moon in astrology represents our feelings and emotions.  It also is our subconscious.  As one of the two luminaries, unlike the sun the moon does not generate its own light as a source, but reflects the light of the sun - the light of consciousness.  Following the moon's dance with the sun each month as it waxes to full and wanes back to new again is an opportunity for us to release and renew monthly ourselves. The moon as it orbits earth moving through the signs of the zodiac also broadcasts whatever energies it interacts with down to us.  Following the moon's transits as it encounters planets and moves through the signs is a valuable tool we can use for knowing what energetic weather to expect so we can plan appropriately and flow with the current rather than fighting against it.  To read more about the lunar cycle and phases and consciously creating with the moon, click here.

Moon in Cancer:  From Cancer, the moon is broadcasting the energies of the very sign it rules. Cancer has to do with home, nourishment, emotions, mother and the subconscious. Thursday and Friday could feel like an emotional roller-coaster as the moon moves through Cancer, ESPECIALLY for people with strong Cancer, such as Cancer rising, Cancer sun, and Cancer moon. (And even more so for Cancer moons because the moon rules the emotions.) You might feel very sensitive to the energies around you and the vibes coming off of other people. Due to heightened sensitivity, this day would be best in a calm, quiet environment that feels comfortable and safe. Cancer is about nurturing ourselves and tending to our personal needs and those of the home. 

Daily Guide Friday April 12th through Tuesday April 16th:

FRI. 4/12: Moon in Cancer all day, then void-of-course at 25 degrees at 11:32 pm MST.

SAT. 4/13: The Moon enters Leo at 7:50 am MST.   In Leo, the moon is broadcasting to us the confidence and creativity of fixed fire. Do you remember feeling pure love or pure passion/desire to do something or pure joy from running or playing or dancing or how good the attention felt and what pride you felt showing mom and dad some new artwork or gymnastics move? Are there things in your life you still feel that pure childlike joy, love and passion for? What about you is unique? What are your talents? What are your gifts to the world? Are you sharing them or ignoring them? If you have lost touch with those things in life you may acutely notice their absence with this two day long Leo moon over the weekend. Leo is also associated with the heart, with love, with creativity, romance, performance, charisma and generosity. If you find you have drifted away from those expressions of your soul's inherent talents that bring you pure joy, that bring a feeling of pride and generosity when you share them with others; if you feel you don't have anything to offer anyone would appreciate, or are afraid to be in the spotlight, or don't feel you deserve recognition for your gifts, this moon could feel uncomfortable as it will be reminding you that you are not expressing these gifts you carry that bring you joy to share. Maybe this is a good time to notice how fulfilled you are feeling in this area of life and start getting creative. The moon is in Leo all day Saturday and all day Sunday and Sunday night, not moving into Virgo until 10:13 am MST.

SUN 4/14: Moon in Leo all day

Monday 4/15 and Tuesday 4/16:  in the morning, the moon is void-of-course, but enters Virgo at 10:13 am MST, and remains in Virgo through Tuesday.  A Virgo moon supports us with focused and detailed work. Virgo likes a clean space as well. Discernment, critical thinking, and mastering the to-do list rule.  The lower expression of Virgo comes out as criticism, so that is something to stay aware of during these days.  Watch out for overthinking and the resulting anxiety.  

Note:  We have a full moon on deck, coming up on April 19th.  The new moon was on April 5th at 15 degrees Aries.  As the moon swam through the final degrees of Pisces at the end of the zodiac those few days prior to the new moon, many of us felt quite an intense undertow.  How did the new moon and the following weekend feel for you?  Did anything specific come up, whether an event in your life or something within?  Did you experience any kind of reset, or set an intention or goal, whether completely consciously or not?  It is time to revisit that with this full moon on April 19th at 29 degrees Libra.  Its opposing Uranus in Taurus well, so it will be referring back to some events last fall.  Beginning Tuesday is the ramp up to the full moon - you may feel restless and have issues sleeping.  The best remedy is to connect with the energy of the earth.  Burning off excess energy by doing outdoor activities, getting hands in potting soil, or long meditative walks in the woods all work.  Remember to stay hydrated and get plenty of sleep.

For thousands of years, people have followed the moon's phases and transits each month closely, using it as a guide to day to day living.  Even today you will still references to the moons phases in the Farmer's Almanac.

Many of us however have lost our connection to nature in general, including the movements of the sun and moon.  With all of our advancements in technology, we are less dependent on the cycles of nature.  Being less affected by them has lessened the need to pay such close attention to them.  Over generations, we have gradually lost the connection to the cycles of nature on earth as well as looking to the skies as a map that gives us great insight to what energies we will be working with at what times.

Consequently, we have forgotten something important our ancestors knew and honored - we are very much affected by the cycles of the celestial bodies that surround our planet.  Taking the time to connect with the earth and the sun and moon and planetary movements allows us to understand what forces are at play at any given time, and that allows us to plan our lives to use days that are favorable for whatever task we are wanting to accomplish.  

Reconnecting to the solar and lunar cycles and bringing our lives into harmony with them as our ancestors did brings us into alignment with natural rhythms and helps us to feel more connected to the earth and the life it supports.

In astrology, the sun is seen as the light of consciousness.  The sun generates its own light - it is the source of life and vitality, and our charisma and the person we are becoming. 

The moon is the secondary luminary; unlike the sun, the moon cannot generate light of its own - it reflects the light of the sun.  It requires the light of the sun shining on the moon in order for the moon to be illuminated.  The moon in astrology represents our subconscious which includes our emotions and moods.

As the moon orbits the earth every 28 days, it spends about 2 to 2 1/2 days in each sign.  The moon, held in its orbit around the earth by the earth's gravitational pull on it, as we know is associated with certain phenomena on earth such as the tides of our oceans.  Being the closest celestial body to the earth, the moon acts as an amplifier or magnifier of whatever energy it is touching.  It then broadcasts the intensified energy down to us.  There are 12 signs of the zodiac that form a circle around the earth the earth, and each sign is 30 degrees, all then totaling 360 degrees.  As the planets orbit the earth, they will move from sign to sign just as the moon, but not as fast. The farther the planets are from the earth, the bigger their orbit is, which means that a planet farther away from the earth would take a longer time to complete one full transit of the entire zodiac. This means at any given time the planets will be scattered across the zodiac in different signs.  For the same reason, several planets can end up all in the same sign for a period of time.   

A planet in astrology is representative of an archetype.  Each planet carries the name of a Roman god.  Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn are the planets that can be seen by humans on earth without the aid of technology, and therefore for centuries were what astrologers worked with, along with the luminaries, the sun and the moon.  When the planets are interpreted in the chart, they are personified as the deity they represent, with all of the positive and negative traits, and all of the potential to move from a lower expression of the energy to the highest expression that one achieves once they have mastered the particular energy that planet represents.  

For example, Saturn is the most distant planet we can see from earth with our eyes - it is no coincidence that the traits and characteristics we use when interpreting Saturn in astrology reflect this.  Saturn is the teacher and the taskmaster and wants us to learn the benefits of discipline, boundaries, rules, procedures, hierarchies, foundations and structures.  When we are young, this influence can feel restrictive, like strict authority, and the lessons can feel quite harsh and cruel.  However when Saturn's lessons are mastered, we can claim our own authority and we will have earned the right to it.  Saturn's harvest can bring great gifts if the work has been done tending the crops.  In the body Saturn represents the structure and boundaries of the body itself - bones, teeth and skin.  Traditional astrologers today continue to only work with these planets.  The "outer planets", Uranus, Neptune and Pluto, have been only discovered with advancements in human technology.  "Modern astrology" incorporates these planets, which represent larger generational influences and cycles, along with the thousands of asteroids that have also been discovered.  The asteroids are less influential, but can add nuance to give more information about a dynamic shown in a chart between planets.  

When interpreting astrology, planets represent the "what" and the sign represents the "how."  As a planet transits (moves through) the signs of the zodiac, the energy we experience is the "personality" of the planet filtered through the specific energetic signature of the sign it happens to be in at that time.  Whatever connections that planet is making to other planets at that time also influence the energy we experience.  As planets move at their own paces through the zodiac, they can be together, across from each other, or make a variety of geometric angles to each other called "aspects".  Sixty degree angles and one hundred and twenty degree angles are when the planets are supporting each other and working together, and ninety degree angles and one hundred and eighty degree angles are challenging aspects that require effort on our part to balance the conflicting energies in our lives.  Challenging aspects typically force us to grow in some way or bring a lesson for us - while they can be tough, challenging aspects carry the potential to bring us big rewards.  The more gentle aspects although supportive can be taken for granted and because they demand our attention, they may go unnoticed and taken for granted and their potential not fully utilized. 

Since the moon represents our feelings, moods, and emotions - the inner workings of our subconscious mind - following its journey through the zodiac as it changes signs every few days can be very helpful to us. 

Because the moon as a luminary is a reflector of the light of the sun, and does not generate light of its own, the moon is always in direct relationship to the sun.  This gives us the lunar phases - new moon, first quarter, full moon, and last quarter.  The three days leading to the new moon are known as the "dark moon", and when we are deepest in the subconscious, releasing what no longer serves before the new moon.  The three days leading to the full moon are usually charged with extra intensity, and many people find it difficult to sleep.  The new moon is when the sun and moon sit together and its a time of planting the seed of revised intentions and fresh starts.  From the new moon to the full moon is the waxing moon - this is a time of creating, growth and action towards our goal.  The full moon is when the moon is completely lit by the sun opposing it.  There may be a realization or illumination.  Something we didn't know or had missed before is revealed.  Or maybe we reach a culmination or completion.  From full moon to new moon, the moon wanes.  This is period of decrease and release.  With the illumination at the full moon, we now work with what came to light and adjust by releasing what no longer serves or is not in alignment with our truest values, intentions and goals.  The dark moon, the final three days prior to the new moon are the deepest purge days, where we turn inward and allow space for things to emerge from the deepest parts of ourselves for release, before we begin the next lunar cycle at the new moon.

Each month as the moon journeys around the earth, its relationship with the sun create the lunar phases.  At the same time, it is traveling through the signs of the zodiac, and making aspects to the planets depending on where they happen to be in their cycles.  As the moon travels through each sign and makes contact in different ways with different planets, it is broadcasting those energies down to earth, and we feel these energies as they shift and flow.

By understanding the energies that will be dominant each day we can use the energy at play to our benefit and go with the flow with the current, much like planning according to the "astrological weather."  This is why lunar transit calendars can be so helpful in our daily lives.  Using the lunar calendar to schedule the tasks and events of our life when the energy is most supportive of them can help us to handle day to day life more efficiently.  It is like having access to magical insider information that allows us to work WITH the flow of day to day energies rather than exhausting ourselves and making little progress fighting against them.

One of my favorite things about astrology is that it is a reminder that forces larger than us are always at play.  It expands our perspective of our lives.  A higher perspective allows us to step out of focusing so intently on ourselves and our lives and remember it isn't all about ourselves and we are not responsible for or in control of everything we feel or experience.  We ARE responsible for how we react and handle what comes up.  It isn't our job, or even within our ability, to "control" what is happening in our lives.  It is up to us to have conscious awareness of how to work with energies as they shift and change and go with the flow of the cycles of life. Astrology helps us be more aware of the energetic flow of life and to become more connected to the earth that supports us and the stars above and everything in between.

Sometimes we have to know to be in the flow.  Just like watching the weather and planning outside fun for sunny days, we can watch the energetic weather and plan accordingly, so that we are working with it rather than fighting against it.  And when the opportunity arises, we can even harness it to our benefit.   

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