Pisces New Moon: Envisioning Yourself

Monday is the Pisces New Moon. This is the last New Moon of the astrological cycle of the year; Pisces is the last sign and the New Moon is a kind of concluding event. As the Moon moves through Aquarius today and Saturday, you might have that sensation of one phase drawing to a conclusion and another beginning. This won't necessarily be a dramatic change, but more like the moment that the tide turns.

Pisces is a full house at the moment. Currently its occupants include Mercury, which stations direct on March 17, as well as Venus, the Sun, Mars, Chiron and Neptune. There are a number of minor planets present as well, which I covered in a blog post earlier in the week.

Pisces New Moon set for Kingston, NY. See glyph legend here.

Focusing on the minor points that aspect the New Moon, there is a lot going on; there are 14 points in the mutable signs, within just two degrees of this event. The closest is a conjunction of asteroid Arachne and centaur Pholus in Sagittarius, which the New Moon squares. That is, the New Moon is exactly 90 degrees from this conjunction. The conjunction points to a mystery factor, a source of energy that is about to be released.

This could feel a few different ways: one is like things are about to go out of control. The mutable signs work a little like that -- there can be a long buildup, apparently without results, and then suddenly the battery discharges. However, that can come with the sensation that something is about to happen, like a static charge building up.

The energy source is Pholus and the mystery source is Arachne; as well, Arachne suggests that there is a network involved, that is, what is developing can spread its energy around. Asteroid Pandora is right there as well; that's also hinting at the fear that things could run wild.

This may not feel like the kind of thing you have control over, but you do have influence. The main influence you have is to keep your awareness on, rather than being lulled back to sleep.

Note that Mars is about to change signs from Pisces to Aries. At the time of the New Moon, it's in a conjunction with asteroid Photographica. Not all the asteroids have such literal manifestations as Photo, but perhaps apropos of the concept it represents, this particular asteroid is ridiculously literal. When you add Mars to it, there's an assertive, active visioning process. You can play with putting the concepts together in a sentence: photograph of desire, photo of what you want, how you perceive your image, and what you want your image to be.

Making this especially interesting is that the conjunction is in the last degree of Pisces, that is, the last degree of the zodiac. This is the one that has the Sabian symbol about the boy who sees the profile of an old man in a mountain, and takes that as a model or as an ideal; as he grows up his face gradually takes the shape of the profile.

The message is about having a model, a mentor or an ideal to which you aspire. There are two clear signs that this is about a visual approach, partly at least: Photographica and that Sabian symbol about the boy and the mountain.

Exemplars are important for growth. We don't need to imitate them exactly, but rather know which of their attributes we want to adopt. It's also critical that you notice the examples that you don't want -- and choose consciously not to be like them. Work both sides of the process: being aware of what you don't want, and then place a little more emphasis on what you decide you do want, and who embodies those qualities.

Then, find them in yourself, and bring them into being.




Pisces Kaleidoscope and Elisa Novick's World Tour

This week I take you deeper into our ocean of Pisces, our rare moment. I also introduce the world tour of one of our resident spiritual teachers at Planet Waves, Elisa Novick. Here is the schedule of her travels to Paris, London and Amsterdam.




Your Monthly Horoscopes -- and our Publishing Schedule Notes

The March monthly extended horoscopes were published Friday, Feb. 22. Inner Space for March was published Tuesday, Feb. 26. Note that the longer monthly horoscope is being incorporated into the Friday issue after the Sun has entered a new sign; a new Inner Space is still emailed on the following Tuesday. We published the Moonshine Horoscope for the Pisces New Moon on Tuesday, March 5th.



Pisces Birthdays: Envision Yourself

If you have a birthday anywhere in the neighborhood of Monday's New Moon in Pisces, this is a time to envision your life. I mean this literally: describe to yourself, draw, sketch or photograph (or all of the above) what you want to be, and who you want to become. I recognize that you would be doing this in a time when the world is in a state of chaos and confusion, and when there seem to be ever-increasing demands on our time and resources. That's exactly what I'm proposing this visioning exercise will help you work around. Yes, there is a lot going on and yes, there are aggressive forces churning up the world around us and often, within us. Don't let this get in the way of your vision for yourself. It may take a little extra effort or 'suspension of disbelief' to see yourself the way you want. Take the time. Invest the creativity. Take the risk and do this in a tangible way. This will help you clarify your objectives, desires and goals, and give you a hint at how flexible existence can be when you open to the possibilities. Hello Pisces and Pisces rising -- your birthday reading is ready to go. It's two sessions of astrology covering all of the current wild astrology in your sign, a tarot reading and an extended sign description, plus charts and photos of the spread. All this is yours for just $19.95, money-back guarantee if you don't love it.

Weekly Horoscope for Friday, March 8, 2013 #941 | By Eric Francis
Aries (March 20-April 19) -- Over the weekend, I suggest you pull out old photo albums or online galleries and study photographs of yourself. Study how your image has changed, and how your self-image has evolved over time. Try to identify the relationship between how you feel, what you look like and what you're trying to project. Really focus on this carefully and reflectively. We are under a rare combination of astrological factors that may indeed never happen again in our lifetimes, which suggest that photographs and your relationship to them are an unusually powerful force for healing and also for creativity. If you have a friend you trust or are good with self-portraits, take photos of yourself that are designed to be the person you want to become. Create the image as if it's something you're going to grow into (this is true of nearly all good portraits -- they can offer a glimpse of the future). Photography has never been easier or more available and affordable; right now it has the power to change your life, in the best possible ways.


Taurus (April 19-May 20) -- It's time to loosen up your perspective and your perception. You know all the times you were seeing the world in black and white, and then it turned out that you could see in many colors? That's where you are at right now. Yes, the spectrum of possibilities, of personalities, of what is simply interesting rather than being a moral issue, is more than most people think they can handle. However, your own sense of potential is directly linked to what you're able to perceive and be at peace with in the world around you. The more you embrace what is so, without any need to judge it, the more you will expand into who you are and what you're becoming. Most notions of right vs. wrong make no sense at all, and to some extent, we're all carrying around the residue of moralism. If you take even one step toward freedom, you're likely to feel like an anarchist. That's not really true; that sensation is just an indication of how wound up you were in the past, and how much you're letting go of today.


Gemini (May 20-June 21) -- Mercury is about to change directions in the angle of your chart associated with your career, your reputation and your sense of responsibility. Take nothing for granted over the coming week. Use the approach of doing as little as possible, in terms of staking out new ground, trying to move up or claim new territory. This is the time to watch, and observe carefully what you see. Things are not as they might seem at first look, and your role is likely to be considerably different from what you now imagine it is or might become. When you get new, possibly long-sought-after information, pause rather than act on it. Timing is everything. Therefore, all the information you obtain needs to be considered in terms of when it is relevant, and for how long. Just remember, it's unlikely to be right now. There's likely to be a built-in delay, and you need to keep that in mind. Even if you determine that something must be acted on 'right now', you will likely have an hour or a day. Therefore, take your time -- in the literal sense of that expression.


Cancer (June 21-July 22) -- Monday's New Moon in Pisces is designed to open up the horizons of your life, which will begin with feeling the sensation of potential. I cannot emphasize this point enough: potential starts with the feeling that something is possible. It's not about the plan that will get you there; it's not a reasoning process. It's an emotional experience that feels like you have space to open up, expand and be something different and more interesting than you are. From that feeling, you can then move into a more creative mode, and then into some planning. Yet through this process, the most significant element is being aware of what you want, and tuning into the feeling that you can create it. That is what your current astrology is about. There does appear to be a secret that you're keeping from yourself, though rather than trying to root it out, I suggest you listen, observe and notice when it bubbles to the surface. When it does, say hello, be friendly and establish a relationship to what you discover.


Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) -- If you're negotiating an arrangement with someone right now, take it slow. This is true for emotional, sexual or financial situations. This is what you might think of as a developing story; viewpoints and positions are changing, and information is gradually emerging. At the moment, you're not on a journey with a destination, but rather one that pauses in interesting places. Rather than being about fixed patterns, your relationships and the agreements that support them are continually evolving. I would remind you that part of the developing story is about how you respond to information that emerges from behind the scenes. Some of what comes out you will have known all along. Some you would never have guessed. All of it will prove to be useful, and there are a good few discoveries on the way that will prove to be essential. Just don't get ahead of what you know; pause and allow the next revelation to come to the surface.


Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) -- You may not know where you stand with a relationship for a few weeks. Remember though that the information you're waiting for is coming from you, not from someone else. You may think you're waiting to figure out what they want, or what is happening with the relationship. What you really want to know is how you feel and where you stand. Don't assume you know that today, because your opinion could change several times between now and when the Sun leaves your opposite sign Pisces on March 20. And even then, you may still feel like you're standing on a shifting foundation. If you keep coming back to the same feeling and the same basic analysis day after day, that's something to take careful note of. That said, you're likely to make a series of discoveries, particularly around the time Mercury changes directions on the 17th, which will very likely serve to shift or evolve your point of view. Remember that the new information is likely to obviate old information and therefore, your prior point of view. Keep your files current.


Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) -- You may see the possibility of two different paths ahead of you, though it looks like they have a lot more in common, and can be supportive of one another. Said differently, this is not a case of either/or, but rather one of integration, and organizing your life so that the various elements work in a state of synergy. You can stop thinking of your life as existing in parts or in pieces and shift your perspective to the sensation of being a whole person, expressing yourself many different ways. If you find something that does not seem to support the larger whole, ask yourself how you can bring it into the mix. You, your existence and your environment are all far more flexible than you have given them credit for being. The way to make the best use of your abundant opportunities is to stretch yourself into them; experiment like you would mixing colors, combining words and pictures, music and sculpture. Remember, this is about you; there is no 'it'.


Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) -- All sex is an experiment. When it ceases to be so, the life, the vital force, has gone from the experience. Where the conversation begins, pleasure is soon to follow, and that is the way to tap the astounding depth, diversity and richness of sexual potential. Start by revealing yourself, or asking someone else to. Describe what you've done, what you want, or what you're feeling. You can also express yourself in words and pictures, though I suggest that you stay as close to direct, relational experience as you want -- there will be plenty of time to reflect. Your chart is hinting at a secret desire that you have not been quite up to admitting to yourself, much less expressing to someone else. Now may be just the right time to make contact with that desire, and step into full awareness and embrace it. Yes, you may feel a little awkward, especially if you ask yourself, "Is this who I really am?" This is a question to hang out with for a while, rather than answer immediately.


Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) -- People in your family were not, and are not, saints; it's unlikely that many of the saints were saints. Therefore, you don't need to hold yourself to any moral or ethical standard except what is right for you. When the contents of the subconscious are examined, we discover all kinds of rules, expectations, contradictions and double standards. It's enough to drive anyone insane, and in fact we all verge on that insanity when it comes down to the expectations that family lays on us as children and even as adults. That is a complex issue; the thing to remember now is, don't deceive yourself by attempting to hold yourself to anyone's standard for moral purity. You want what you want, you like what you like. It's up to you to discern whether your conduct hurts anyone. It's also up to you to deal with people who tend to 'get hurt' by your basic choices some way other than pruning yourself back. Anyway -- the whole 'getting hurt' game is worth careful analysis. It's not what it seems.


Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) -- Are you ready to let go of jealousy? Are you ready to let go of the need to have power over others? By others, I mean the people close to you, and those you're aware of in your environment. Jealousy and its cousins, such as envy and guilt, only serve to keep everyone bound up in a state of frustration and limited potential. You seem to be feeling the craving to unravel all of that, and to set free your mind and your feelings. You can do this, if you remember that pleasure is the opposite of power. Those are essentially the choices you have, which you can think of as existing along a spectrum of experience. From where you stand now, here is what's possible: that no idea is threatening; that no experience of another person is threatening; that no fear is necessary in relationships. You would be surprised how these emotions are not the 'bottom line' we often experience them as, but rather emotional habits that you can release by decisions, and in the end, simply by loving more.



Note to Aquarius and Aquarius rising readers: Your birthday reading is ready. I cover entirely new territory from what I did in LISTEN, the 2013 annual edition. I review the ways in which Aquarius itself has been changing and evolving. I describe your process of discovering your sense of mission; of opening up your inner life; and relationships based on creative exploration first and 'commitment' second. It's two sessions of astrology plus tarot, with an extended description of your sign -- and access to last year's reading so that you can verify my accuracy. You can get instant access here.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- Among the most significant decisions you can ever make are the ones about what is the most meaningful to you, which are a reflection of yourself. Right now you are making some profound decisions about what you want, what is possible, what you believe and what you deserve. You can safely think of this as the very core of growth or evolution. There seems to be one critical point that you're struggling with, one belief that has the power to throw your whole life out of alignment. If not for that one thing, you would have the freedom to be fully present in your own life. I will offer a few words from A Course in Miracles that I've quoted a number of times, and which seem relevant to you in this moment of your journey. "Every decision you make stems from what you think you are, and represents the value that you put upon yourself. Believe that little can content you, and by limiting yourself you will not be satisfied. For your function is not little, and it is only by finding your function and fulfilling it that you can escape from littleness." Or translated into two words: Be Bold.


Hello Pisces! So many planets in Pisces means this is a brilliant moment for you, and your 2013 birthday reading looks at this astrology carefully. Chiron, the planet of healing, Neptune, planet of inspiration, and Mercury retrograde are all included. You now have the ability to develop a gift for business and financial success, if you focus your creative talents and work cooperatively with others -- and I explain how to do that effectively. This reading is two 40-minute sessions of astrology, a tarot reading and an extended written description of your astrological sign. I've also included access to last year's reading so you can review the past 12 months and check my accuracy. Here is a link to that affordably priced reading -- which is like an extended, personal meditation on your life. You will love it -- promise.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) -- I suggest you not occupy your mind with why people do what they do, or think the way they think. It's a good way to get caught in the very darkness you would be trying to figure out. When you see a mystery that is perplexing, just let it be a mystery. The thing you really want to understand are your own motives and your own goals. Most of the time you're not a "the ends justify the means" kind of person, however, the choices you make this week may seem to lean in that direction. Once you know what you want and why you want it, you're likely to become aware of the fact that there is a way to make it happen, if only you have the courage or motivation to make it so. If you determine that something is questionably ethical, then the thing to do is to question the ethics, and remember that any real question has an answer. Your ability to pause and reflect on the nature of your options and the actual impact of your choices is your most important boundary.