March 10 5 AM EST
Just as we are easing our way out of an intense period dominated by the ingress of Pluto into Aquarius (and the sun, Mercury, Mars and Venus all conjoining Pluto since late January).. we are now in eclipse season!
Eclipses generally happen twice a year in pairs (a new moon and a full moon) when the sun and moon are close to the nodal axis of the earth. But here is the rub: new moons ALWAYS kick of the astrological energetic for the upcoming lunar month, and the full moon marks the half way point in the cycle. So if our first eclipse of a given eclipse season is a full moon, the eclipse season actually starts 2 weeks BEFORE the eclipse, when the new moon period that holds the eclipse begins. So here we are now heading into a 2 month eclipse season! The first eclipse being the midway point of this lunar month, the Libra full moon lunar eclipse on March 25th. And the second month of eclipse season begins with the *already famous* total solar eclipse in Aries on April 8th. (*By contrast, an eclipse season that begins with a new moon solar eclipse and has a lunar eclipse at the mid-way point, is only a 1 month eclipse season).
So we are handling a lot of different energies right now. And in some ways, this is something of a Pisces speciality. It has been said that as the 12th and final sign of the zodiac, Pisces encompasses them ALL, and is also the gateway to the “great unknown” that is both beyond and within all of creation. This is why boundaries and good emotional self-care are so necessary for Pisces dominant people, because the overwhelm of this whole big smorgasbord of life can be a LOT. And indeed, we are ALL in the midst of upgrading, upleveling, and transforming our way of handling these Pisces themes at the moment, due to the presence of Saturn in Pisces between 2023 and 2026.
We all have our “access point” to the mysteries of the universe through this Pisces ‘portal’ and Saturns’ presence here for 3 years can be seen as a routine “maintenance check” in this department. Saturn, after all, has to do with integrity, structure, durability, responsibility and longevity. This new moon at 20 degrees Pisces, is conjunct BOTH Saturn (at 11 degrees) and Neptune (at 27 degrees), and wants us to take an honest look at how well we are handling the delicate balance of both our spiritual (Neptune) and practical (Saturn) needs.
If we put too much emphasis on the practical, then we neglect our spiritual health and can easily become cynical, hardened, and even punitive (shadow lower vibrational Saturn). If we put too much emphasis on the spiritual then we can loose track of our right place in the world in the here and now and become untethered and even delusional (shadow lower vibrational Neptune). The answer is to be aware of the invitations of lower vibrational Pisces when we become overwhelmed (retreat, addiction, confusion, apathy, unreliability) all the while working harder (Saturn) to cultivate higher vibrational Pisces behaviors such as recognizing the divine interconnection of all things, and honoring that light even as we go about our daily lives.
This potent combination of both Saturn and Neptune in Pisces, and conjunct the new moon, is also an invitation to make real and manifest (Saturn) the creative imaginings of our heart (Neptune). If there are “passion projects” or dreams that have been simmering, and perhaps we have been too timid or too afraid of the practical efforts involved, then now is the time when we can push beyond those fears. We can unite our dreams with the practical skills and necessary follow through to push things to the next level.
This is especially true because we are also in the final swan song of Jupiter in Taurus. Jupiter first entered Taurus in May 2023 and leaves in late May 2024. The transit of the planet of abundance, blessings, and good luck through the sign of fertility, the earth and values- has been a rich opportunity to work on cultivating “our gardens” and tending thoughtfully to our cherished dreams, in order to yield the best possible harvest.
And that is exactly what we can start seeing come to fruition now. Jupiter came out of retrograde on December 30th 2023, so since then we have been getting the engines running again with dreams and projects whose seeds we may have planted between May and September of last year. Jupiter is at 13 degrees Taurus during this new moon, making its final approach of Uranus at 19 degrees. The two planets will meet for an epic conjunction on April 20th towards the end of eclipse season!
And best of all, the Jupiter/ Uranus conjunction in Taurus is in supportive sextile to the Pisces new moon. So we can think of this as a powerful time to take the final action steps we want to take in order to “invite” as many happy and beneficial (Jupiter) surprises and revelations (Uranus) as possible in the coming weeks and months.
But it requires practical and responsible action and commitment (Saturn) that is in line with our souls desires and higher wisdom (Neptune). New moons are always a time of fresh beginnings, so even if we have faltered in the past, we can turn over a new leaf now and set a new course with these dreams, projects, desires or relationships now.
Speaking of relationships.. we have Venus and Mars both still in late Aquarius and conjunct one another. Together in late Aquarius (at 28 and 20 degrees respectively) they are squaring up to the Jupiter/Uranus conjunction in Taurus. Fixed sign squares can indicate “irreconcilable differences”. With Taurus and Aquarius being perhaps the two most stubborn signs in the zodiac, when they cannot find common ground, then the only options are to create something new, or walk away altogether.
So its possible that we are also getting that deep Piscean inner knowing that a certain situation or relationship just cannot make it through to the next level of our life, that there is no room in our garden for this misalignment of values and priorities. There is no doubt that these kind of endings and transitions can be emotional and challenging. Saturn, so close to the new moon, also has to do with grief and sadness. So if we are getting clarity now that something is just not working and is no longer worth the hard work and effort (Saturn) to maintain, then we could choose the Saturnian path of ‘cutting our losses’. Remember that pruning is also necessary for the health of the garden. We are supported now in taking quiet, private time to rest, reflect and mourn if need be.
Finally, we have communications planet Mercury at 0 degrees of Aries. This is just barely within the standard 10 degree orb of conjunction with the new moon, but it is a strong presence nonetheless. Aries does not hold back. And so Mercury here may be a blessing that helps us say what needs to be said and move on with as little drama and fuss as possible. Rather than waiting around for the ‘perfect time’ to do what needs to be done, Mercury in Aries may just blurt it out! If we lean into this lack of self-consciousness and guile, and are direct and from the heart- things can go well and start to move quickly. On the shadow side, Mercury in Aries can put its foot in its mouth, or be quick to anger, so it’s wise to retain a modicum of tact even as we take a direct shot.
ALL of the planets in the zodiac are currently lined up closely in the same part of the sky, between 1 degree Aquarius (Pluto) and 19 degrees Taurus (Uranus). This is very rare and powerful. And portends a very potent eclipse season that is now commencing. The concentration of planets invites a concentration of our own personal energy. Cut out the distractions. Know whats important to you. Decide that you are ready for the changes that are on the horizon. Then this new moon truly brings the opportunity to hear the mysterious whispers of our Piscean guidance and intuition and use them to help us ground down and create what we have been hoping and dreaming for.
* art by @daniellenoel.art
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