As the October 14th new moon eclipse in Libra is our opener to the new north node in Aries, south node in Libra cycle, it promises to be an eye-opener.

With the nodes on the Aries-Libra axis of self and other, respectively, this eclipse season will be bringing relationships to the forefront, and in a particular way.

The north node is the point of increase and appetite, destiny and future - it is what we are being pulled towards.  The south node, its opposite point, is in contrast, the point of decrease, release, past, and karma.  In short, the north node is what we are moving towards, and the south node is what we are moving away from, but the way this happens is that our pull towards expressing the north node sign traits requires us to release the south node sign shadow.

In this case, the north node in Aries has us collectively feeling pulled towards more individuality, autonomy, and personal authority. 

This is about self-assertion and charting our own course.  But to do that, the south node in Libra says we are probably going to have to face down our shadows having to do with Libra themes. 

Libra is the Venus-ruled sign of relationships, and it wants harmony, equality, balance, beauty, peace, justice, and cooperation.  But in its value of the relationship and efforts to "not rock the boat," sometimes Libra can lose itself.  This is when we end up in situations like codependency. Passive-aggressiveness and resentment can show up when we for whatever reason we don't feel we can state our needs or desires in a straightforward way, or we don't feel like there's room for us to even have needs or desires because "the relationship" is always taking priority and we are in "pleaser mode" to avoid any upset that might lead to loss of relationship or perceived rejection or abandonment.  

In order to move towards the strong sense of self represented by Aries, we have to let go of that Libra shadow.  Ultimately, the Aries-Libra axis is about healthy relationships, and those don't happen without both parties first having a healthy sense of self.  There's nothing "selfish" about it.  When we come together as two strong, healthy, "wholes," we get a relationship which is a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts.  And that's a truly beautiful thing.

So what's happening between now and then?

A lot!

As I write this on August 20th, we are still in the "deep end" of the Venus retrograde journey in Leo, a "rebirth to self-worth," with Mercury retrograde in Virgo on deck for 8/23 to 9/14.

Our new beginning in Leo is just getting underway - the Leo new moon was just a few days ago on August 16th - but we need to be prepping now for the upcoming Pisces full moon. 

That's because the August 30th Pisces full moon is conjunct Saturn retrograde, and while it very well may be bringing us a hint of a harvest in regards to what we began cultivating at the Pisces new moon six months ago in February, the sun opposite Saturn still retrograde also has the potential to be a reality check, or even an uncomfortable ego hit or pinch.

Don't worry - there IS a way to work in alignment with this energy over the two weeks of waxing moon to make sure we are on the right side of this and even harnessing the energy in our favor.

The Virgo new moon, September 14th, will be in supportive aspect to Uranus in Taurus, helping us fully step into the new.  I've been saying all summer since Venus landed in Leo in June that we would see tangible results from the inner work by late September/October.  That's because Venus retrograde featured several "three hit wonder" aspects - Venus conjunct Lilith, Venus square Uranus, and Venus trine Chiron.  When this happens, the first aspect is the initiation to the issue, the second is the review when we revisit the issue and gain new insight and perspective, and the third and final one, when the planet has returned to direct motion, is the resolution.  The resolution in this case is coming in late September into October, and there's more factors than just Venus direct at play!  This new moon is a time to be proactive about making positive changes in our lives.

On September 29th, the Aries full moon will be bringing to realization/fruition whatever began in late March/April when we had two Aries new moons in a row, one being an eclipse.  These were powerful new moons that bookended the sign, with the first one at 0° and the second at 29°, the anaretic, or karmic degree of the sign, and an eclipse.  This one will also feature the full moon ruler, Mars, (ruler of Aries) conjunct the south node of karma, past, and release in opposing sign Libra, and squaring Pluto retrograde in Capricorn, really setting the stage for that new moon eclipse in Libra on October 14th.  

This is a year of major transition for all of us.  A major undercurrent of 2023 is Pluto taking all year to shift out of Capricorn where it has been since 2008, and into Aquarius, where it will remain (after it reenters the sign escorted by the sun in late January) until 2044.  Pluto is doing this in T-square to the nodes of future and past, increase and decrease, and destiny and fate for most of this year.  Pluto is the planet of death and rebirth transformation.  When we see it in such a potent aspect to the nodes for such a long period of time, we can know that we are going to be asked to fully release the past in order to step into the future.  This is a "let go or be dragged" situation.  We need to fully shed the old skin or it might get very uncomfortable.  There might be some growing pains along the way.

But, if we are consciously working with these energies (and that's where astrology can help us), then it's more like we are being carried by the current from one point to the next.  Each step prepares us for the next.  It's a process of evolution and growth.

Join us on the journey.

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Starting in late August and going til mid-November, we have something that astrologers call a "kite" forming and dissipating in the heavens several times over several months.  

A kite is an astrological pattern comprised of 4 planets.  It looks like a kite, like two triangles put together, with the bottom one elongated, forming a "tail," or like a bow being drawn (see image below).  

The three planets forming the top of the kite or the bow and tip of the arrow are all in 60° angles to each other, known as sextiles.  Since astrological signs each span 30° this means you'll find these three planets at the same degree (relatively) of three signs, with one sign in between each - so every other sign. 

In this case, we're talking about the three outer planets, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto, being in the final 10° of Taurus, Pisces, and Capricorn, respectively.  (So Aries and Aquarius are the "in-between" signs.)

What happens is, as each of the personal planets, Mars, Mercury, and Venus, and the sun each transit Virgo this summer/fall, they will each move into opposition with Neptune in Pisces, activating this kite in the heavens.

Kites bring dynamic energy that we access by working the tail point planet of the kite - in this case we will go through a series of them as the planets pass through Virgo.  

Outer planets have to do with generational influences and collective consciousness.  We are in a major transition period that began this year and goes until May 2025.  This is because over that time period all three of the outer planets will change signs, ushering us into a new era by 2025.  

This little kite formation we'll be working through with different planets in Virgo is going to be helping us evolve collectively.

Don't let this overwhelm you.  The key to success with this is focusing on working the high side of Virgo energy in your life from late August through mid-November.

We get our first taste of this with the Leo new moon, as Mars trines Uranus August 15th through 18th before opposing Neptune the 21st through 24th, then making a game-changer of a power move with Pluto August 23rd through 26th. 
 
While each planet opposing Neptune activates this larger kite energy, we also want to be conscious of the fact that any time any planet is in opposition to Neptune things get foggy and unclear, and we need to be mindful of energetic boundaries, as well as getting the "wool pulled over our eyes." 

As we work the high side of Virgo, we'll also want to remember to work the high side of Neptune/Pisces on the other side of the axis.  Balancing this tension is what allows us to tap into the support of Uranus and Pluto in sextile and trine aspects, respectively and harness the power of the kite in our lives.

MarThe Virgo vibes started heating up as soon as Mars landed there in July, as Mars is the action planet, initiator, and instigator.  But the kite formation doesn't get going until Mars gets in range of the outer planets, August 21st to 24th.

Then this energetic dynamic kicks up again with the sun 9/15 to 9/20, with Mercury 8/14 to 9/2 (stations retrograde 8/24 and direct 9/16) and again 9/27 to 10/4, and finally with Venus in 10/25 to 11/8. 

The tension point of the kite - the arrow drawing back, will be formed as the planets transiting Virgo late August to mid-November one by one form the release point of this energetic dynamic.  Like I said before, to work the kite, we must work the Virgo-Pisces opposition.

The outer planets (Uranus and Pluto supporting Neptune) are forming the point of the arrow - the direction of the aim and of forward motion. 

This is about a spiritual awakening and the connectedness of all life.  It's about higher consciousness and the evolutionary leap humanity is collectively undergoing.  Pisces is a water sign and a very spiritual sign full of empathy and compassion, and along with modern ruler Neptune, not only rules water as in "we are all one like drops of water in the ocean," but also literal water, water as a resource, and oil too.  Think about this energetic dynamic at play in league with Uranus in Taurus - innovating how we feel secure and our relationship to resources and environment (like the earth itself) - and Pluto in Capricorn - collapsing what is rotten in big systems globally like government and banking - we start to get a better picture of the monumental change that is happening on a global level right now.

The Virgo planets as they move through, the sun, light of consciousness, and each personal planet, Mercury, Venus, and Mars (not in that order), form the tail of the kite, and one-by-one will be the role you play as an individual in this raising of collective consciousness and spiritual awakening.   

This is where we "do the work," and zoom in on embodying the higher qualities of Virgo by itself and as part of the Virgo-Pisces axis.  

The Virgo-Pisces axis balances the mundane and the spiritual - both signs are about healing.

"Working Virgo," in our personal lives to contribute to the evolution of humanity to higher consciousness might look like focusing in on the sacred in the mundane, acts of practical service, and themes like the body as a temple, cleanliness in relationship to godliness, and honoring the sacred in the mundane. 

Our spiritual healing contributes to our physical healing and vice-versa - not just as individuals, but as communities and societies.  There is a cumulative effect - as more individuals heal their own lives, it helps to evolve the collective consciousness.

2023 is a year of major transition as Pluto, the planet of death and rebirth transformation takes the bulk of the year to complete its shift into Aquarius, and at the same time challenges the astrological points of future and past, destiny and karma.  This requires us to fully release any grip on the past in order to freely move towards our destiny now - the increase is fueled by the release. 

Mars initiates the planetary march through this "hot seat" in the heavens as it opposes Neptune August 21st through 24th.

This is when we are going to shift our focus to consciously working the high side of Virgo energy and balancing the Virgo-Pisces axis of healing in our lives, each playing our own unique role contributing to the larger evolutionary leap of humanity. 

Virgo is a sign of organization, tending to details, acts of service, devotion, cleanliness, refining, caution, modesty, routine, health, and diligence.  Keep it simple and practical.  Less is more.  Hard work pays off, and setting up systems and routines around daily life and health that are preventative and streamline will be invaluable "practical magic" as we move through these months.

This is preparing us for something bigger.  We reach one milestone end of January when Pluto returns to Aquarius for good (until 2044), escorted by the sun, but the "new era" being brought on by all three outer planets shifting signs won't be landed until May 2025.