Astrology Forecast for Creatives | Week of December 28th - eyes wide open

wide eyed by worlds of smoke

Multiple fresh energy patterns as Venus, Mercury and Mars (the three inner planets) all change signs this week!

Our energy around communicating what we want and need, how we attract it and how we go after it shifts. All the planets are moving forward this week, so we will be, too.

On Monday the Moon is in passionate and generous Leo. Leo rules our 5th house of self expression, play, children, creativity, romance. Leo Moons are often great hookey days and falling right in the middle of two holidays - it will be hard to resist!

On the other hand Mars (action) and Mercury (in responsible Capricorn) are square today and the Sun (also in Capricorn) is sextiling Neptune (strong in Pisces) - doing the responsible thing to move our dream forward is supported by this energy.

I guess if we work - make some time for play, too. If we play - make some time to work.

People will want to be appreciated and will require our attention. We'd like a little of that limelight, too. That's OK. There's room on center stage for all of us. If no one is patting us on the back now - we'll take the time to do it ourselves!

(another good reason to incorporate yoga into our lives - so we don't throw our back out showing ourselves a little love!)

On Tuesday, the Moon is void until 2 pm, so best for routine work and production. Expect stuff could get wonky.

Communicative Mercury (in serious Capricorn) squares action-Jackson Mars (in sociable Libra). Squares show tension, frustration - something happens that requires us to act. With Capricorn - rules, official information, tradition, authority - will be challenged or challenging.

Discussions can turn argumentative, on the other hand whatever is communicated could just involve or usher in a lot of activity.

With Libra this could involve women, art, money, social mores, love. In the late afternoon the Moon moves into Virgo and we start to focus on the details that need to be attended to with whatever is happening. Our actions becomes more practical now.

EXAMPLE for Aries (rising and sun in whole house astrology) this square is between your career and relationship spaces. Business plans or ambition could create clashes with partners or something communicated in too authoritarian a manner could set you at odds with another or others in a social setting. 

On Wednesday, the first energy shift - Venus moves into Sagittarius where she'll be cruising through until January 23rd making Sagittarius Sun people more attractive and everyone more able to "attract what we want" through optimism, BIG thinking and pushing past boundaries.

A focus on ninth house matters (Sagittarius rules the 9th house) - travel, media, marketing, legal, religion, politics, wedding - can connect us with what we need/want involving Venus themes - women, money, love, values, art. This energy feels celebratory so any chance we get to celebrate anything - we'll grab it!

Also since Venus is exiting Scorpio, if something has become an obsessive focus (involving those Venus themes or our Scorpio natal house) - this can lighten up as new opportunities show up for us or we just gain a fresh perspective through a Sagittarius glass half-full approach. Note - Mercury is about to go retrograde and is in his shadow now so just factor the time and resources for a few glitches into your planning. Also note - our Virgo Moon is challenged by Saturn (authority, endings, responsibilities, commitment) so something serious may need to be dealt with today. Take it seriously.

EXAMPLE for Scorpio (rising and sun in whole house astrology) Venus transits your 2nd house of values (the stuff money can buy and the stuff it can't) making the period through January 23rd a time when you can attract love and money. It can also bring in a woman to help. On January 3rd, Mars will move into your sign upping your confidence and energy level!

Thursday, New Year's Eve, Jupiter kisses up to the Moon and along with Venus in Sagittarius feels like a party to me - make your plans!

On Friday, the second energy shift - Mercury moves into Aquarius - the sign of the genius, rebel, criminal - plus we've got Aquarius ruling planet Uranus direct now!

Mercury loves Aquarius where he exalted - Aquarius is a sister sign to Mercury ruled Gemini (and fellow air sign Libra). We will be crackling with new ideas - electricity will be in the air for Uranian types. Our natal Aquarius house is where we find that genius/rebel/criminal energy - the space we are here to reinvent!

When Uranus stationed direct on Christmas he brought us a breakthrough, an aha moment as Oprah would call it, or maybe he is moving forward our story from last spring/summer when he went retrograde.

EXAMPLE for Virgo (rising and sun in whole house astrology), Mercury will enter your 6th house of work and health (and pets). This is the area you will connect with that genius/rebel/criminal energy. Innovation, communication and your attention, shifts to these areas. Mars moves into your 3rd house  of communication (siblings, local community, transportation) a couple days later - this is where you will take action - just keep an eye on your 'bluntness' (and yes, your temper, too) when communicating with others now. Of course with Venus in your 4th house of home and family - you may be stepping away from work and sprucing up your home or just finding enjoyment and attracting what you need there. Working from home works, too.

Since Mercury is in his shadow preparing to go retrograde pay attention to what comes up again this week - since we will be working with this story through his retrograde.

Also Jupiter is preparing to go retrograde and will station on the North Node next week - STAY OPEN for opportunities that will put us on the right path - especially involving 6th house (ruled by Virgo where Jupiter is hanging out) themes of work and health (where's your natal Virgo house - check that, too). Now, an opportunity or meeting or person who comes along now may not be exactly the right thing since Jupiter is going retrograde BUT it can lead us to something right when he moves direct in late spring. Let's keep our eyes open!

Jupiter stationing on the North Node (our collective north star future) will be asking us if we are doing our right work in service (Virgo) to the world. More on that later this week, plus on Mars' move into his lengthy journey through Scorpio and some big picture winter forecasting.

In the meantime BACK UP YOUR COMPUTER.

xo all

Merry Christimas - Full Moon in Cancer, Uranus Moves Direct

will we ever get home for christmas by frank and cary

We have a Full Moon at 3 degrees Cancer today - this will probably make our holiday more emotional and sentimental. Full Moons illuminate what is hidden. They also offer up endings and conclusions - we won't be able to just flip it over and blow it off this time. A story from June 2014 culminates now.

In Cancer - this will be about mother issues, self nurturing, family stuff, home, patriotism, the past. The Moon trines (brakes off) Neptune, sitting strong in Pisces. We will be feeling compassionate and empathetic.

This is a very imaginative, dreamy and creative trine, but can make us kind of blend with our surroundings. With the boundaries this thin we will feel any harshness in our current reality very strongly. Let's be tender with ourselves and others, especially any little ones melting down. We might want to watch our alcohol intake.

Mercury (communications, conversations) in Capricorn (seriousness, rules, structure) sextiles Venus in Scorpio and trines (more brakes off) Jupiter at 22 degrees Virgo. People will be really talking, listening, making plans, discussing their dreams and their ideas. There could be some self righteous rants and drunken dialogues but it still feels like wonderful energy for Christmas get-togethers - the stuff will be emotional and there will be some surprises, but it will be real!

Uranus (the unexpected, rebellion, revolution) has been retrograde in Aries since the end of July and he begins his forward movement today (check your natal and progressed houses for 16 degrees Aries - this space will start to get movement now) so expect some surprises. The Cancer Moon's love of tradition could clash with Uranus's need to buck it.

Our North Node approaches Jupiter in tidy Virgo - what mess are we being asked to clean up? or maybe I should say which messes? If we have been letting some situation play out until we know what to do, we are about to know what to do.

Merry Christmas everyone! Let's allow this Full Moon energy (get out and walk in it!) to carry our hearts home - this is water energy so tears, sweat and long baths are all good things ... xo

Sun into Capricorn - a little bit more light today ....

winter by autruche noire

I am learning (for the last few decades, no wonder I prefer the term human-kind to human-race!) to appreciate the tiny beginnings of things - you know, the ones we miss by either focusing on the other thing, the thing that is ending - or we are so busy skipping ahead to what, if anything, comes after the tiny beginning that we don't get to feel the tiny beginning at all. It becomes only a space in hindsight.

The energies today would be a good time to sit in this space and really know what it feels like to begin. The true beginning where there is just a little more light - no seed, no planting, a time and space many moons from any harvest - just a tiny bit of additional light for the Gods/Creative/God (choose your comfort zone with this) to see us a little more clearly, to see who we are now, to select a dance partner and begin the unconscious part of our journey that lines us up with next.

The creation point.

(the moon is void all day so a good day to kick back if we can or just do routine work if we must)

xo all

Note - Capricorn is the sign of leadership and as we step into this energy now remember we can be easily seduced by the idea of 'self mastery' - we don't want to treat the unconscious or the creative as though it were something to be 'controlled' or 'brought to heel'. The humility of realizing we are really more a tenant in our house than a master of it is what will really feed our soul and connect us with our bigger destiny.

Astrology Forecast for Creatives | Week of December 21st - winter solstice, capricorn season, christmas, full moon ... what did I miss?

winter by with accusing eyes

We start this busy-busy week with a practical, earthy and luxury loving Taurus Moon - something tells me the shoppers will keep the local stores hopping these next few days. This is a good day to get some quality purchases. Snuggling up by a warm fire sounds even better.

(if a problem or some clarifying information bolted into your life over the last couple days maybe the same energy will bring a last minute solution or understanding connection- the Pluto Uranus square is reactivated now, so truly whatever is happening wouldn't be 'out of the blue', we probably could have seen it coming, but maybe we were distracted with Christmas bells and shopping and cooking and carolers and things like that .... let this stuff shake itself out a bit)

The Sun moves into Capricorn marking the Winter Solstice and kicking off Capricorn season - the steady, serious, all-business sign that just doesn't feel quite as Christmasy as fun loving Sagittarius. Truly, I feel the new month at the New Moon myself which would start Capricorn on January 9th - far enough after the festivities to give Capricorn his due (structure, ambition, restraint).

Capricorn is a cardinal signs and cardinal signs initiate things and "take action", and me, I'm ready for a nap.

Maybe that's why I like working with the Moons better. After our Christmas Full Moon we will be winding down a bit. See what feels right to you. If you feel ambitious now you can definitely use this Capricorn energy to your advantage (he's ruled by Saturn so advantage comes with work now - there aren't any shortcuts here).

The Capricorn house in our natal chart is where we are restrained - where growth comes from working with rules, process and tradition. For much of the world, the sign rules winter - it's the time we have either worked to prepare for or it's the time we freeze - for our ancestors this was a literal thing and our lives can crawl to a standstill, too, if we allow it (often in our natal charts it's the space we freeze, too!).

Mercury goes retrograde on January 5th. We are in his shadow period now - this is the stuff we will be tracing back over next month, so pay attention to what is happening, especially in your Aquarius and Capricorn houses. And prepare for all the usual Mercury retrograde "re's". This year the retrogrades are in air signs, making communication wonkiness extra wonky.

Tuesday's energy is all over the place. I'll get back here to post the rest of the week tomorrow - it's a humdinger - yes, I say things like humdinger now - maybe I am feeling the Capricorn energy! Of course, I have Saturn sitting on my Aquarius Sun, so have always felt like an out-of-step Capricorn anyway. :)

My last customer orders are shipping out today! I hope all the makers are caught up and ready for some eggnog and candy canes. xo all

may the force be with you ....

Star Wars Yoda by Anthony Foti

The Moon is void in Pisces today - if you can start your weekend early, so much the better!

If you must work, like me, stick to routine tasks and be prepared to go with the flow. We are at the First Quarter Moon now so whatever we started at the New Moon last week may require some adjustments or face some challenges. It's OK - we've got this thing!

This weekend the Moon moves into warrior Aries. Everything will speed up - so make an effort to slow down and be patient. People will be easy to anger and anyone channeling this energy could be itching for a fight. We'll keep our cool.

Mercury joins Pluto and squares Uranus (yes, the weekly explosive energy we have been dealing with the last few weekends) - take care driving, with fire, working with metals, in crowds - you know the drill. Once Pluto gets past the degree of Capricorn from March 16th's square to Uranus and Uranus turns direct on Christmas - we will be generally past this (there are a couple dates next year it kicks up again). This week we are still in the Groundhog Day (repeat) energy of unexpected news, explosive elements, health issues acting up. Mars opposes Eris on Sunday - more explosive energy. Glass half full - it's a passionate weekend people!

Maybe the best use of this weekend's energy is the new Star Wars movie. On Monday we have the Winter Solstice - our new season begins .... ready for a little hibernation? I know. I am, too. xo all

noticing the energy we are channeling ....

my intuitive fragments by SeaFairy

Today's Pisces Moon trining Venus in Scorpio and sextiling Mercury is a good space to really "get" why we are doing/feeling/being what we're doing/feeling/being. Time spent meditating today will be worth the effort. Get extra sleep. Take a long walk. Pay attention to your dreams.

Our intuition can guide us now. We probably won't get different things to do, we'll just get to do the same things differently. 

Our mission, should we choose to accept it (cue the mission impossible music here) is to be aware of the energy/archetype we are working with without pushing for anything to happen with it.

Mercury is still out of bounds and not playing by the rules, so be prepared for Mercury things (communications, siblings, transportation, thoughts) to come out of nowhere. Choose your words carefully now, they have consequences.

Finished my busiest shipping day of the year yesterday - hope everyone is "getting in the spirit". xo all

your creative business and the astrological generations | feeding your customer's Pluto - Part I

paradise peak by plavi demon

If you have a creative business you have probably done an "imagining your ideal customer" exercise where you determine you are selling to "Sue from the city - a 42 year old childless exec who needs to look polished and professional, has no time to get herself looking polished and professional and really, really needs your thingamajig".

Or maybe your ideal customer is "Debbie from Dallas (no, not that Debbie from Dallas) - a mom who prioritizes her children's homeschooling, supplementing her family's income with minimal sacrifices to family time and yes, still having great Texas hair (and I'm from New Jersey and not judging, yes, hair still matters)."

Being a definite square peg, I have never been much for pigeon-holing people - on the other hand this type of exercise is often strangely effective. With everyone seeing different things now - gone are the days of three TV channels and one local newspaper where sellers/makers/businesses knew where they needed to be - we need to know who we are making our thingamajig for or selling our thingamajig to, so we can try and figure out where they will be looking. So we can be there.

One way astrology can help with this process is by allowing us to look at the generational needs of our customers. The three outer planets - Neptune, Uranus and Pluto - most greatly impact collective energy over time. I'm writing this with an eye on the United States since it's the country I am most familiar with, but the same energies apply everywhere.

We've all heard of the Greatest Generation, the Baby Boomers, Generation X and Y - is there a Z or are they the Millennials? I'm not sure and I don't know exactly how they determine the birthday cut-offs with this stuff. The dates I've seen would make Obama a Baby Boomer and that doesn't feel right to me.

I think astrology is a good way of looking at generations if we analyze the natal placement of the planet Pluto. 

Pluto is a slow moving outer planet. The furthest planet from earth (yes, Pluto is a planet, don't get me started!) and represents karma and the "soul".

We experience a compulsive attention to matters related to the sign where Pluto resides when we are born.

NOTE - Pluto moves in and out of a sign as it retrogrades, stations and moves direct so a person born within the first couple years Pluto is in a sign may be more in tune with the previous sign and a person born in the last two years more represented by the following sign. And of course each person has their own individual chart with many aspects and placements including the energy of Pluto's house that may work against this collective energy - still, this way of looking at generations will be helpful when we think about our customers as a group.

nurture locket by polarity and shira sela

OK, let's start with the oldest generation alive today - the Pluto in Cancer generation (born 1914 - 1939) is ruled by the Moon. 

This is the 'Greatest Generation'. The United States is a Cancer Sun country so that name is probably pretty applicable. They fought for home and country and pretty much crafted the nuclear family and Norman Rockwell image of America.

Cancer is the sign of the mother, nurturing, fertility, security, patriotism, community, family. They are protective, moody, intuitive, secretive. Cancer is a cardinal sign ushering in a new season - think 'starting' here. Cancer is a water sign. A water sign needs to be balanced by rationality, groundedness and decisiveness.

Pluto in Cancer gives this generation a connection with the past, a strong sense of 'what was'. Change is/was hard for them. They like and honor history. They hold on to things. They gave up everything for their families. They are loyal and once they have 'bought into' something, it is hard for them to change. They might buy the same products they have always bought, even though things that are better for them are out there now. They do what they have to do.

If your creative business services this group - think about some of these Cancer buzzwords. Think about how this collective energy would feel merging with the energy at play today.

(today Pluto is in Capricorn - Cancer's polarity sign, so he is opposite this generation's natal Cancer - they can see things differently now - they can see both sides of the story and what they didn't want or couldn't hear before they can be more open to now)

What do they need/want now? Remember this is mature energy - they have worked through a lot of this stuff already, but their basic nature is still probably to hunker in; to protect. The best way to work with Pluto in Cancer people may be to offer nostalgia, a connection with something already familiar to them, security, less complex choices, etc. More than any other group, it is probably very hard for this generation to have the structures they have relied on their whole lives falling apart as they are now. Keep this in mind.

royal locket by polarity and solocosmo

The Pluto in Leo generation (mid 1939 - 1957) is ruled by the Sun. This is the hippie, rock 'n roll generation that brought us government protests, make love not war, women's rights, African American rights, basically turned everything on its ear.

They get blamed for mostly ending up conforming to society, but with the Leo archetype representing the "king", this was always more about "self realization" than group think. Lots of people were born during these years, so there was, and is, a lot of this energy for the universe to work with! Yes, they are self-absorbed (especially in comparison to the Pluto in Cancer generation), but also incredibly self-expressive. They were willful children, became willful parents and raised more willful children!

(in 2023 Pluto will move into Leo's polarity sign of Aquarius and the age of Aquarius begins)

They came here to be bigger than life (Sun) and make things better. They have the Leo lion's courage "We can do anything!". They took center stage. They took charge. They wanted/want to show the world what they can do. This energy is still running things, although the next generation, Pluto in Virgo, who is cleaning up Leo's mess (change is messy and wanting to be special has its drawbacks) is slowly taking over.

Ruled by the Sun and ruler of the 5th house - Leo is a fixed sign; stable and dependable. The energy is dramatic and creative. They are generous and proud. They are natural leaders. They are the most self-concerned generation, took therapy to new heights partly because they love to talk about themselves, but mostly because they are here to break through the barriers of the ego (Sun).

If your creative business services this age group - think about some of these Leo buzzwords. Think about how this collective energy would feel merging with the energy at play today. The structures they railed against in their youth are collapsing, but they have come to embrace these same structures - so what does that feel like for them? What do they need now?

Again this is mature energy - they have worked through a lot already, but their basic nature is still to "shine". The best way to work with Pluto in Leo people might be to offer them a feeling of being special, a way to be center stage, a place at the head of the table. They want thingamajigs that make them look and feel good. Think luxury, royalty, boldness, color. Think about "what's in it for them".

Next up what your Pluto in Virgo and Pluto in Libra customer needs :)

Astrology Forecast for Creatives | Week of December 14th - the crossroads ...the price we are willing to pay

crossroads by xeneras

On Monday, our Sagittarius Sun squares Jupiter (in Virgo). This aspect could provide a "lucky" opportunity for success but comes with something like a test of character. Big head = big bust with this kind of thing.

The key to working with this energy is not to get too far ahead of ourselves. In its position square to our Sun, Jupiter is testing our ego. Too much of a good thing is still too much. Focus on the groundwork now. We'll channel grandma and let our mantra be "all things in moderation".

We'll plow toward Friday when the same Sagittarius Sun squares the North Node (in Virgo) as he prepares to exit Sagittarius (sniffle) - events will carry us toward a crossroads.

Let's allow this week to play itself out before we make any big decisions if we can.

This is really all about the dream we are building now. Virgo (north node) is our way forward which means we need to move from what is hazy, vague and general toward what is structured, grounded and precise (Virgo).

Mercury (in Capricorn) is out of bounds this week. There will be an element of a lack of control or things, particularly Mercury ruled things (like communications) will be out of our control. Some rules may go out the window. The inmates will be running the asylum. The cat will be away.

We might be able to get away with some rule breaking now, but we will still have to pay the price for our decisions. Our decisions (and dreams), yes, we're back to that crossroads, can go either way now. Boundaries are weakened. We can buckle down and do the work or we can walk away. And so can other people. There are no easy (or correct)  answers.

There is energy this week around "the cost" of what we want and "the price" we will have to pay. These words will probably be floating around us on multiple levels. This will be part of our crossroad/decision making as we decide what we really value now.

In the outer world we have the climate change talks - a decision made, a cost to be paid - we arrive at a crossroads. What do we really value?

The decisions we make in our own lives influence this energy. 

What do we value now? What path are we taking? Are we willing to do the hard work our dreams require? 

As we make the choices now about our own values we impact the same energy that influences worldly events. It can't not influence them. We really are that powerful!

At the end of the week, Venus (in Scorpio) is inconjunct Uranus (in Aries) this could bring a surprise or maybe some kind of pressure around Venus ruled stuff - money, love, women, art - (the things money can buy and the things it can't) - the things we value. The next day Venus trines Chiron (in Pisces) so probably whatever comes up will work itself out somehow or lead to some kind of healing or clearing of the air. We won't be able to have everything we want ... but when have we ever, right?

xo all - will try to do a few dailys as we move through this busy week!

UPCYCLED Christimas Ornaments | Wine Corks and Wire Hangers = Yoga Love | Tutorial

Here's an easy-peasy wine cork tutorial you will love.

You will need two wine corks

(yes, this will require you to drink the wine - you can thank me later .. or just fall asleep, that's what I do)

2 large eyehooks

(I used 1-15/16" - you can also use the wire hanger wire for the heads if you are feeling particularly strong - maybe do this before you drink the wine) and 1 wire hanger.

You'll need some tin snips or pliers to cut the wire, something to bend the wire around (I used a nail in a board clamped to a table), a hand drill and glue.

1. gather your supplies

2. mark a center hole and screw in your eyehooks - you will see when you do this why I love to work with this nice, soft wood (of course, my arms and shoulders are still a mess, so go figure)

3. cut corners of wire hangers for arms - the sizing isn't as important as consistency, so just make them both the same size - bend as needed around your nail using two sets of pliers, bend hands - work carefully the wire will be sharp

drill arm holes and glue in arms

4. cut straight wire for legs, bend as needed for knee and both feet, drill holes, glue in legs

My lotus pose (sitting) wine cork ornament's legs were a little wonky, but here is a closer look. I used the top folds of the wire hanger. Just make yours more consistent than mine! But you can see perfection is not needed with these little guys - have fun with it. ---->

NOW drop and give me ZEN :)

being a better spokesperson of our own views ....

conversation by aegis illustration

With the Moon joining Mercury in Capricorn and going void after a trine to Jupiter (in Virgo) this would be a good weekend to think about the future, our choices and what/how we are communicating. 

Saturn is in Sagittarius presenting us with practical realities. 

We might find we have to pull in the reins a bit on our ideological stances. We can take a breath. We can count to ten. We can listen to the other person. It is probably best now to be moderate in sharing our principles with others. This is more respectful of them.

Instead of unloading against their view - it's important to be a better spokesperson for our own view. 

Then we take full responsibility for the success or failure of our communications. We don't put it on other people to understand us. This is the important part. That's not our job. The essential word for Saturn in Sagittarius is "truth". The better we can articulate our own"truth", the more our clarity will make us understandable. Others do not have to agree with us. If we need "agreement" to win maybe we have already lost .... xo all

New Moon in Sagittarius | what we do about what we believe

winter by Si3art

Today's New Moon is at 19 degrees Sagittarius. With the Sun and Moon both in Sagittarius we have lots of fire energy - the best kind for universal kick-starts.

(we may not have kickstarter funding but we can use magic!)

The days of the New Moon are dark and we are literally 'working blind'. This allows us to most easily feel our way into new situations and out of old ones. Our other senses are heightened now.

The challenge of working with our instincts during a fire Moon is that since instincts are pretty much habit, we could get caught up in the exuberance of the Moon and recreate the same situation we are leaving. Focus. Get clear. Remember that what is seeded at a New Moon will grow and with Sagittarius we are dealing with the 'big picture'.

The best use of this New Moon energy is to set intentions for Sagittarius ruled themes.

Sagittarius is a fun-loving sign that rules travel, freedom, adventure, legal stuff, higher education, good luck, faith, religion, prayer, optimism, problem solving, truth seekers, boldly going where no man has gone before, the quest  -

it also rules carelessness, taking shortcuts, thinking we are right, making assumptions, throwing pink paint on problems and hoping they will go away, overconfidence, impatience and superficial fluff.

Sagittarius is a mutable sign. The mutable signs prepare us for the change into the next season.

Mutable signs are service signs and Sagittarius is in service through the exploration of Truth - this could be legal truth or political truth but its most especially spiritual truth - its highest purpose is enlightenment and expanding what is known. The lower level energies rule religious wars, legal battles and political bullshit.

Sagittarius is a fire sign like Aries and Leo.

Fire signs like action - their reasons for taking action are different though. Aries energy wants to climb the mountain, first because it's there and second because there is a competition going to see who can get there first.

Leo energy wants to climb the mountain because they have heard there is a film crew waiting at the summit :)

Sagittarius energy wants to climb the mountain to see what the hell it feels like to climb a mountain and how it feels to reach the top. They want the adventure; they want the quest.

(they could be unprepared and throw their back out 100 yards from the summit, too, then they will turn their convalescence into a party for the sherpas and make THAT the adventure)

This is the energy any new intentions set now will step into. What part of our life can use a little adventure? That's the space to use this energy most effectively! The real gift of Sagittarius is the freedom to be who we really are - how are we going to use this gift?

As always, write your New Moon affirmations down - I sometimes use strips on paper and bowls of rice, so I could jiggle them around now and then - but again this month I am feeling the urge to burn them and just know they are done. You don't have to make stuff happen with this, you just have to see what comes up and then take the action that feels right on that.

Trust the process. We have cast our spell.

People always say that affirmations "only work if you take action". And this is true, but not in the way most people think because the affirmation is action.

It sets the energy in motion. Words are not just words. If done properly, in the right frame of mind, it lines us up energetically with the thing we are seeking. The new moon is a time of darkness but there is lots of hidden action in the dark.

(yes, even that kind, all creation starts in the dark after all)

Look at what kind of experiences have been coming your way lately. How have you called them into your life?

My car has been in and out of the shop for weeks. Yesterday I finally got it back. I was happy to find I had to pay nothing at the service center since the repair was totally related to a recalled part. I high fived the dealer, drove home, grabbed Olive and my bags of packages to ship out and backed up in my driveway. I do this turn around thing in the grass, since it's hard to pull out due to traffic. And I backed right into hub's truck. Damage to both vehicles in one swoop. Not little minor scraping damage either. And I knew the energies yesterday said "go slow, be cautious". Expect the unexpected. And I pulled this exact same move (different car, different truck) maybe 15 years ago, except then it was more minor. Now, he rarely parks in this spot (although more often than every 15 years), usually he pulls up next to me and moments before the accident Olive was about to run into the road and I had to yell at her and grab her and my heart was racing (she never does this). I need to think about this. If anyone has any 'backing into myself' thoughts let me know.

Also the entire time my car has been breaking down (pretty much since our trip to Maine), my entirely unearned good health has been stalling out, too (which metaphysically speaking makes total sense). On my last trip to acupuncture - the acupuncturist asked me how much water I drink, told me I seemed a little dehydrated. What she actually said was, "how much water do you drink? how often do you go to the loo?" - this had me screaming WATERLOO - in my own head, of course.

Anyhoo, back to New Moons. There is often a wave of resistance that arrives when we begin stepping into our power. This resistance can manifest as physical health problems, relationships that mirror our shadows, self-sabotaging "mistakes" or when it seems like “fate” intervenes and creates road blocks or sends us  back to “feeling and playing small” - back to square one.

This "upper limit" thing, set by familial programming and energy patterns that is so common when we are in the process of shifting our self-definitions and expanding our influence and responsibility. Something gets in the way, often something that appears to be outside our control - this is all illusion of course, but how do we work through this? How do we move outside our energy patterns?

One thing we can do right now and it sounds like a small thing but there are no small things - is to set a few affirmations (some astrologers recommend 10, 11 feels even more Sagittarian to me) within the energy of this New Moon - it will just take you a few minutes of concentrated effort. Do it tonight.

Today's Moon is in a T-Square with Jupiter (Sag's ruler in Virgo) and Chiron (in Pisces). Since Sagittarius energy is about freedom and the big picture - we might be feeling stuck in the details and the "work" now. Health matters have cropped up. Saturn, hanging out in Sag, too, for the next couple years is making sure nothing comes easy now. That's OK - we will value it more later this way. Uranus (in Aries) is in a positive aspect and can help us get unstuck and move into something new. 

xo all