February 27 7:45 PM EST
Welcome to the first eclipse season of 2025! This is a hefty two month eclipse season that involves our first eclipse in Virgo in 9 years. That eclipse is the full moon total lunar eclipse on March 14th. But all full moons are the midway point of a lunar cycle that begins with a NEW moon- and that is this new moon in Pisces. So it offers many clues about how this potent upcoming total lunar eclipse will unfold.
The new moon is at 9 degrees of intuitive, mystical and sensitive Pisces. This early degree of Pisces is far enough removed from Saturn, at 20 degrees to be out-of-orb of conjunction. But Saturn is finally within the 10 degree orb of conjunction with Neptune, at 28 degrees. The rare conjunction of Saturn and Neptune is one of the most important astrological stories of 2025 & 2026. We can, and likely will, experience this in a variety of profound ways.
Saturn rules “reality”, solid structures and form, as well as rules, responsibilities, regulations, and the very “building blocks” of the world around us. Neptune is the realm of the “unseen reality”- dreams, visions, journeys and hallucinations, the cosmic and archetypal realms, and our ultra sensitive sensory receptors. When these two planets unite they can have interesting influence on one another. Neptune, by virtue of it’s placement in its own sign is in a “stronger” position here, while Saturn is “weakened” in the sign of Pisces, and perhaps at its most “susceptible” to Neptune.
The effect of Neptune on Saturn can be to dissolve/break down/weaken existing structures and institutions. We can see versions of this clearly all over the news. Neptune forces us to re-examine what we had previously deemed solid and reliable (Saturn). Like the Wizard of Oz, we may realize that we have given great power and authority (Saturn) away to people/institutions that were merely an illusion (Neptune).
Neptune and Pisces are also associated with charity, humanitarianism and empathy. When Saturn influences Neptune, we are forced to realistically confront and account for (Saturn) the effectiveness (or ineffectiveness) of our altruistic (Neptune) endeavors. We must also no longer turn a blind eye to the invisible toxicity (Neptune) that exists within our food & medicine- the solids (Saturn) we ingest into our bodies and energy systems every day. The upside of Saturn influencing Neptune is that it can bring our dreams (Neptune) into “reality” (Saturn).
Saturn is still engaged in its year-long square to Jupiter in mid-Gemini. Jupiter in Gemini has been filling us with all kinds of ideas and possibilities, but now is the time to truly feel into (Pisces) what the best options and paths forward are for us. Deep down inside we already know- this is the subtle but powerful Piscean seed kernel of Truth within us. When we are connected to this part of us, we are less likely to enthusiastically pursue dead ends or get scattered (Gemini). Listening to the messages from this core part of ourselves is a key part of this new moon.
Active Mars has just come out of one of its rare 10 week retrograde periods (December 6- February 23rd) and is still sitting at 17 degrees Cancer, it’s potent station degree where it changed direction. ALL of the lessons from the last few months are up for us to apply and integrate during this eclipse season- especially in the way we actively engage in matters and pursue things (Mars). Taking an inventory of what we have learned and applying it will serve us well. If we want different results we have to take different actions. Now is the time to (perhaps in a gentle subtle Piscean way) slide into the new behaviors and presentation we have been working towards.
Venus begins its retrograde on March 1st, and is already at 10 degrees Aries- its station degree. That makes applying our upgraded Mars behaviors towards whatever love/money/relationship issues are on the table for us all the more significant, and helpful. Venus will retrograde between March 1 and April 12, spanning the signs of Aries and Pisces. This again brings attention to “right action” (Aries) in the context of deep spiritual and emotionally impactful (Pisces) matters. Closely watching our own behavior (Aries) and boundaries (Pisces) will help us align to our knowing and choose wisely.
This two month retrograde season is very much focused on this Pisces/Aries cusp which will continue to be highlighted for the rest of the year as both Neptune and Saturn dance backwards and forwards over these degrees. We will see a lot of the results of the past 2 years of Saturn in Pisces and the seeds we have been planting. This is also our first opportunity NOW to “set the scene” for what we most desire (Aries) and dream (Pisces) to come true in our lives in the next year. It is our chance to meet whatever is happening in our lives from that elevated perspective, as though we are ALREADY living that reality. What is required is that we know what to release and allow ourselves to do so (Pisces), and that we are fearless in meeting the unknown with courage and enthusiasm (Aries).
This potent part of the zodiac, the cusp of Pisces/Aries, is the alpha and the omega- it is the primordial ending and beginning. From this place all new life is created. Now is our opportunity to firmly leave the past behind, step into our knowing about what hearts true desires are, and move with the grace and guilelessness of The Fool towards whatever arises on our journey in that direction.
*artist unknown
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