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Astrology: Full Moon in Cancer January 17, 2022

Featuredby Veronica ChildeLeave a Comment on Astrology: Full Moon in Cancer January 17, 2022
Galileo Galilei, ‘Sketches of the Moon’, ink on paper, 1609. Image: Museo Galileo

The first Full Moon of 2022 arrives on January 17 at 23:48 UT (18:48 EST, 15:48 PT).  It’s a busy time – Mercury is retrograde, Venus is retrograde, Uranus moves direct on January 18th, and the Sun enters Aquarius on the 19th.  This Full Moon chart is dominated by the tight opposition from the Moon to the Sun/Pluto conjunction in Capricorn, the Mercury/Saturn conjunction in Aquarius squaring off with tetchy Uranus, and a quiet but pervasive square between Venus and Chiron adding a touch of melancholy to the air as people grapple with things that seem unfixable. Mars adds smoky fire to communications, leaving open to debate what’s true and what’s fantasy.

Pluto’s presence in this Full Moon configuration brings current issues to a core level for all, and people feel compelled to expose their emotions, even if talking feels hard going (Mercury/Saturn). Pressures exerted from society at large are causing even the most placid to feel anger and frustration.  We look around to see that more than ever before the actions of total strangers affect our personal lives in very direct ways.  Patience and good humor have worn down as we are faced with ongoing restrictions, increased security and powerful monitoring measures that are unavoidable for even the most mundane actions.  Going to the grocery store, seeking personal fitness goals, international travel, working with other people, sending our kids to school – all of these things, once commonplace are now subject to officiated governmental scrutiny and societal commentary in a way that hasn’t been seen since WWII.  While this time feels heavy, the stricture is currently as pronounced as it will be this year, so bear with it and do the shadow work that needs doing.  Energies will shift as we move into the Spring Equinox  – it will still be an intense year, mind you – but won’t feel quite so bleak.  Right now, though, the overbearing powers of Saturn, Uranus and Pluto are knocking hard, requiring everyone to manage global issues on a personal level.

However, there is a silver lining to all this gloomy cloud cover. It is through the pressure of universal energies that we gain greater understanding of the world around us. What we have happening here, folks, is evolution in action.  It’s been easy for people to retreat into their respective shells over the last few decades, as the spread of internet technology, social media and virtual reality (Uranus and Neptune’s influence) has allowed people to block out the world and carry on as if what we do on an individual basis doesn’t matter. The events that grip our planet at this time speak otherwise, and the message that is being brought to bear overall is strongly this: we are all One, we all impact each other, no matter where we are, and to move forward personally and collectively in health and well-being, we need to open our hearts, release fear and be willing to learn, to grow and to be more than we are as individuals.  Allow the light of this Full Moon to shine on what you need to see most – and don’t be afraid, we are all in this together.

“The world is evolving from imperfection to perfection, it needs all love and sympathy. Great tenderness and watchfulness is required from each one of us.

Hazrat Inayat Khan

Current planetary events:

Sun ingress to Aquarius January 19, 2022 21:39 EST (January 20, 2022 2:39 UT)

Mercury Retrograde until February 2, 2022, exits shadow on February 2, 2022

Venus Retrograde until January 29, 2022

Uranus Direct January 18, 2022 until August 24, 2022

Next Full Moon February 16, 2022 16:58 UT, 11:58 EST, Leo 29º

Forecasts for the month:

Aries: Home/work balance is under the spotlight this Full Moon, as surprising shifts in your values make existing social scenes and alliances feel sombre, with much reflection on what came before. Inspiration is calling – be who you want Aries, when was that ever a problem for you? Settle down a bit and meditate on it (really, do it!).  You’ll find what emerges most fruitful. Write it down when it comes.

Taurus: You feel inspired by beauty and called to find your deepest truth, and you want to talk about it, though it feels more emotional than usual.  Sex and money feel energized but elusive, so seductive, pushing you to the chase.  Light is available to heal your oldest wounds, though it may take some serious thinking on the career front to get you there.

Gemini:  The spotlight this full moon is on money – yours vs theirs.  What do you value, and how strong is your value structure when put upon by the wishes and pressures of the outside world?  There’s an underlying seriousness to you these days as you seek to gain lessons, and that may spell opportunity in career. Don’t let sniping undermine you.  You may have a foot-in-mouth moment.  Be careful what you say! 

Cancer:  Your emotions are on your sleeve, and partnerships feel intense as deep levels are being plumbed.  Watch for power plays that compromise self-identity. The heavy stuff – sex, death, commitment – feels serious, however, details remain to be clarified on the work front which raise questions on the ethical front. Career feels a bit Sisyphean but don’t fret, surprises and inspirations come through networking.

Leo:  Don’t let compulsions and old habits be your self-undoing.  Now’s the time to look at self-undermining behaviour, particularly in how you approach relationships, work and how you treat your body.  The heavy stuff inspires and creativity is energized – let it out, it’s gold.  Career could offer breakthrough over the next month, be open to your subconscious mind for inspiration.

Virgo: The spotlight right now for you Virgo is learning to have fun again.  What does pleasure mean to you?  Do you have people you can share yourself with, or have you been holed up? Reach out, allow romance back into your heart, and don’t be afraid to shake things up. Open up to new philosophies and dreams, and you’ll find new friends knocking at your door.

Libra:  Career vs home feel intense as you seek to manifest your deepest desires. Compulsions are surprising and add tension to pleasure, but on the other hand, you want to be serious about what excites right now. You might come across as aggressive at the wrong moment – say what’s on your mind truthfully, it will be easier on everyone. Have a spa day soon, it will be of greater than usual benefit. Beauty heals.

Scorpio:  Deep change pushes you to walk your talk, and embody your highest ideals. Romance is inspiring, and you look with a critical eye on long-term changes in the home.  Watch your health this month as old issues may come home to roost, requiring a stepped-up plan of action. Money talks – go for that brass ring now, but don’t be prodigal.

Sagittarius: You feel the Force as your values are overhauled, and your persona is energized and powerful.  The spotlight is on why you do what you do and who you do it with.  You are able to cut to the chase and isolate details that have been tripping you up for a while.  Home life comforts and inspires.  Even the most valiant knights need respite sometimes – don’t be afraid to slow down.

Capricorn:  This Full Moon allows you to expose your underbelly, Capricorn. You’ll want to talk seriously about your tender spots, as subconscious material pushes to the surface requiring an outlet.  You have lots of support, be willing to reach out and touch base, you’ll be surprised at how conversation flows.  Let work lie and pay attention to the foundational core stuff, even if it’s hard going.

Aquarius:  This Full Moon feels very businesslike for you, Aquarius, as you focus on how to bring what is hidden to the fore.  Deep subconscious material stirs up dreams, and mediation allows for core problem solving.  Don’t let old insecurities nip at your heels, identify them and put them in their place. Watch for surprises and accidents on the home front – keep any potential hazards under control.

Pisces:  This Full Moon feels romantic and inspired, Pisces.  What gives you joy? Where do you find romance and pleasure – or do you anymore?  Let yourself be inspired by the beauty of the world, and let your dreams unfurl. Communications can be surprising, and your subconscious wants to be heard.  Impressions of the day can surface at night – keep your notebook handy and pay attention.

Born on this day – January 17: Benjamin Franklin (1706); Anne Brontë (1820); Konstantin Stanislavski (1863); Al Capone (1899); Betty White (1922); Eartha Kitt (1927); Vidal Sassoon (1928); James Earl Jones (1931); Maury Povich (1939); Muhammed Ali (1942); Ryuichi Sakamoto (1952); Jim Carrey (1962); Michelle Obama (1964); Kid Rock (1971); Zooey Deschanel (1980); Jake Paul (1997)

Sadly, January 17 would have been Betty White’s 100th birthday. Happy Birthday Betty, blessings to you as you travel on your journeys.

January 17, 2022 Full Moon 23:48 UT, Greenwich, UK. Chart courtesy of astro.com
astrology, Covid-19

Astrology: New Moon in Taurus 04/23/2020

by Veronica ChildeLeave a Comment on Astrology: New Moon in Taurus 04/23/2020
Lascaux Cave Paintings, Great Hall of the Bulls, Montignac, France, Upper Paleolithic Era

This year’s New Moon in Taurus arrives propelled by the force of Uranus. With Aquarius rising, chart ruler Uranus is positioned at 6 º Taurus 24′ and his energy dominates the scene, conjoining the Sun and Moon at 3 º Taurus 24′. This makes a loose square to the disjointed Capricorn/Aquarius stellium which connects Jupiter, Saturn and Pluto in the 12th house. As Saturn is traditional ruler of Capricorn and Aquarius, the heavy mood is even more pronounced. Mars at 16 º Aquarius 10′ in the first house conjuncts the Aquarius Ascendant and forces through a decidedly martial spirit, as the global mood of uncertainty, unpredictability, impatience and irritability rises.

The COVID-19 pandemic is a rare experience; nothing like it has been witnessed by our generations. We are arguably at the height of technological advancement, and yet people are fighting over obtaining basics like toilet paper, flour and frozen foods. For all of our faith in science, there is a growing sense of Saturnian betrayal, as what we have come to rely upon no longer seems sure and valid any longer. It seems that the state of plenty that we assumed was available for all has failed us, science has failed us, the money that we have spent on resources has failed us, all supplanted and torn asunder by the force of nature in her unmitigated wrath. In the midst of what should be a time of technological fulfillment and mastery, the planet is gripped in the clutches of an illness that is not clearly understood by science, our assumed savior, and it is taking away those who are weakest and most vulnerable. Everything that is currently happening belies any real capability of the supposed advancements of our almighty economic power.

New Moon in Taurus, 3:26 am April 23, 2020, BST, Prime Meridian, Greenwich, London, England.

Taurus is the sign of Fixed Earth. At its finest, Taurus is fertile, healthy, rich and nubile. Taurus loves luxury, comfort and security. At its worst, Taurus is hell-bent on hedonism, belligerence and obstinacy. When unbalanced, there can never enough money, food, sex, alcohol or luxury to satisfy Taurus appetites, as they teeter recklessly into the unknown depths of Scorpio, floundering in corporeal inebriation without the fundamental makeup to dampen the glut of profligacy. But with this New Moon, we find Taurus electrified, revitalized and born anew with the power of Uranus at its back. The excesses that have satisfied Taurus’ appetites in the past are no longer applicable. The hunger for security is not finding appeasement as the economic structures which have been relied upon to float us are crumbling and meaningless. This planet demands change and will not stand for any further complacency and torpor, which are hallmarks of the unrepentant Taurus. With Aquarius rising and Uranus sitting in the midst of New Moon revelries, this is a time to get over the weaknesses of flesh, master the real requirements of the material world, and infuse deep inspiration into how we conduct ourselves in our daily affairs. That COVID-19 is taking a particularly heavy toll on those who suffer from obesity, heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure can be correlated with the earthy materialism that we associate with Taurus, currently being modified by the revolutionary leanings of Aquarius. Mutterings about “the means of distribution” and “equalization” flit about the ethers, and people look questioningly at structures which have failed them, the basic inequality of our social stratification and the very real suffering that is now happening in real time as material resources are not in the hands of those who sincerely need them most in a time of crisis, but are rather tied up in the upper echelons of economic ascendancy.

Mercury in Aries sits in sextile to Mars in Aquarius, lending support to the innovative mind, offering that spark of ingenuity and impatience that Aquarius loves so well. Venus in Gemini trines Mars, lending a taste of the erudite to pronouncements of transformation that call from the depths. The message is that we are all on board, and we can – socially and collectively – move forward with the idea of change. We all feel the work happening deep in the crucible of the unconscious collectivity. There is heavy work happening on a profound, core level, and while it is uncomfortable, while we see suffering and penitential hard labor occurring all around us, it is all seemingly silent and it is as if we are all observing this work through a veil, through water and great distance. We are isolated, and the stories of “our reality” arrive second and third hand. Even in the household of a first responder – a doctor, nurse, firefighter, police officer, cashier or cleaner – to understand is difficult. Our loved ones bring home with them an indistinct sense of fear, of pain and incomprehension, and unless we can physically see and experience what is happening out there in the world, their stories remain ephemeral and difficult to grasp. The fact that the front line workers are typically twelfth house people – those who operate behind the scenes, on an institutional level – is represented by that stellium bridging Capricorn and Aquarius. That very foundation, the working collective, and the core of our society is carrying the burden of transformation with each passing minute, hour and day that they witness the dying, the illness in its ugliness, in the cleaning up and fulfilling of the basic needs of society. While this heavy work happens behind the scenes, society itself chatters on, quipping and turning clever phrases, seeking out humor and amusement, languishing in the relative comforts of home.

This is a bowl chart – with the majority of the energy concentrated in the north east quadrant. Society needs to learn how to remake itself, and the fundamental lessons come from creating a totally new comprehension of the profound interconnection of life as it bears down on the understanding of what is Self. How does your welfare rely on the kindness of strangers? From the nurse who takes your temperature, to the cashier who is bagging your groceries, to the cleaner who is wiping down the handle of the grocery store freezer just after that old gentleman with the mask has touched it to get his frozen waffles; how do all of these seemingly meaningless, yet highly pertinent things bear upon you, as a discreet member of society?

It is in these very fine details of our lives that the most important matters transpire, and the message of this Taurus New Moon is this – take into great consideration the mundane and the earthy, the material and the practical, for it is in these things that we must change our assumptions and seek new ways of doing. Consider – what do you have? Do you have health? Wealth? Provisions? Love? What is it most important for you to have? And just what is it to “need”? And what are those things that despite all of our longing and striving which will remain forever out of reach? Are they wants, or needs? This New Moon is asking us to walk new paths in our having, and needing, and to embrace lighter, finer, more intuitive and efficient ways of communicating our wants and needs, which will only work so long as we express ourselves with integrity and authenticity.

“All present life is but an Interjection, an “Oh!” or “Ah!” of joy or misery, or a “Ha, ha!” or “Bah!” – a yawn, or “Pooh!”, of which perhaps the latter is most true.”

Lord Byron, Don Juan, canto 15, stanza 43, 1819-1824

art, Covid-19

The Colossus Terrifies

by Veronica ChildeLeave a Comment on The Colossus Terrifies
Francisco de Goya, El Coloso (The Colossus), Spain, 1808-1812

Goya’s painting of The Colossus was created at the beginning of the 19th century, when Spain was threatened with Napoleon’s invasion. Today, it is a fitting image of the almost unimaginable threat of the Covid-19 pandemic that currently is sweeping our planet. The original intention of the painting may be a representation of the Colossus as symbolic of the Spanish people rising up against the Napoleonic oppressor, but it could also perhaps be a subconscious depiction of the terror of the population gathering united in fear against insurgent foreign forces. The sheer size of the Colossus is horrifying, his potential wrath is unpredictable, and the destruction that he could wreak beyond reason. Humanity trembles and scatters in his wake, seeking shelter and salvation however, wherever possible. His intentions here are uncertain, though, as his posture is ambiguous. Is he walking away, or summoning even greater forces of destruction, from some place beyond our vision? Has he passed on, or is he merely gathering his resources to turn and demolish the people?