Aquarius New Moon: All Together in the Belly

Dear Friend and Reader:

Tomorrow's New Moon -- a conjunction of the Sun and Moon -- takes place right at the midpoint of Aquarius. This marks the middle of the current season; a time the ancient Pagans celebrated as Imbolc.

Photo by Amanda Painter.

Although the origin of the word Imbolc is not entirely clear, one common explanation is that it comes from the Old Irish word meaning "in the belly," referring to the pregnancy of ewes. In other words, the seeds -- literal and metaphorical -- that have long lain dormant and are still in darkness, are gestating and beginning to stir. (You can read past Planet Waves writing on Imbolc here and here.)

To have a New Moon today underscores these themes of what is inside and is developing, a new cycle about to begin from the darkness. Yet it comes in the midst of some astrological activity that has likely been quite activating.

I'm going to cover some of that before looking at the New Moon itself, and you can review recent aspects here. Most of them are beginning to separate; the one that may still be intensifying (if you're reading this Sunday evening) is the conjunction between Mars and Eris in Aries, exact overnight into tomorrow morning.

In myth these two were temperamental siblings. Particularly if you're carrying frustration over from the past week, you'll want to stay very conscious of the reasons behind your actions (and reactions). Things like passive-aggression and subversive intent could backfire; venting anger at someone who's not responsible is sure to leave both of you feeling worse rather than better.

Adding a potentially stabilizing effect to emotions is Venus, which entered Capricorn just before 5:30 pm EST today. Although Venus in early Cap could put 'old-fashioned' values about love and relationships at odds with current hypersexual cultural tropes (thanks to a square with Salacia in Aries), there's also an indication that affectionate gestures offered now may have lasting effects (Venus conjunct Pholus).

Photo by Amanda Painter.

As mentioned, it's against this backdrop (or foreground, depending on your personal circumstances) that tomorrow's New Moon occurs in Aquarius. That event is exact at 4:04 pm EST (21:03:31 UTC), and takes place at 15 Aquarius and 45 arc minutes -- also known as the 16th degree of Aquarius.

Both Saturn in Capricorn and Neptune in Pisces are exactly semi-sextile the New Moon (and sextile each other). This indicates that you have the option to access both the discipline and structure and the vision and idealism needed to plan, innovate and begin to express tangibly whatever it is you've been quietly gestating.

There's also a minor object named Praamzius opposite the Sun and Moon within two degrees in mid-Leo. Praamzius was named after the chief god from ancient Lithuanian myth -- the god of time, the sky, peace and friendship.

The position of Praamzius creates what's called a yod or 'finger of god' pattern with Saturn and Neptune, with the New Moon creating a point of emphasis, and perhaps also opening up some space for integration. Praamzius appears to suggest that seemingly 'eccentric' solutions could be the thing to focus on -- along with a clear grasp of the time required, and how you might use it best.

With that in mind, the Sabian symbol for the Aquarius New Moon feels especially interesting. (The Sabians are a series of channeled symbols, one for each zodiac degree, the most famous interpretation of which being Dane Rudhyar's.) The Sabian symbol for 16 Aquarius is, "A big businessman at his desk." It comes with the keyphrase, "The ability to organize the aspects of an enterprise involving a large group of human beings."

Rudhyar describes some of the emblematic times when large groups of people have come together in this way -- usually in the service of big business, or of certain war efforts, or of something like getting human beings to land on the Moon -- and notes how the endeavors tended to be "neither of permanent significance nor invested with a truly harmonic quality."

Simplified chart for tomorrow's New Moon. Clockwise, from top: Uranus, Mars and Eris in Aries; Chiron and Neptune in Pisces; the Sun and Moon in Aquarius; Pluto, Saturn, Pholus and Venus in Capricorn; Pallas in Libra. Not shown: Praamzius in Leo, and Salacia in Aries. View glyph key here. View full chart here.

That appears to be the main question posed by this astrological degree: how to use "the power generated by human togetherness and group interplay" harmoniously for the welfare of the whole that we are each, without exception, part of: the entire Earth -- including all of its inhabitants and systems -- and all humanity. It's a tall order for us human beings, who apparently still require the friction, bumps and jolts of outer conflict and inner tension to figure out who we are.

If you consider yourself to be on any kind of path toward growth, healing and individuation, you likely know that the lessons along the way often need repeating in various forms; I like to think of the process as being like a spiral: even though the territory can look similar with each iteration, chances are you really are a little further along the path and the lesson carries some new nuance or depth to it.

Pulling back from our individual concerns to look at all humanity or the entire Earth can feel overwhelming and scary. Things like global warming and its interdependent effects threaten to further fracture harmony rather than enhance it, if we stay tribal and factionalized and stuck in scarcity consciousness.

It's one of the reasons I find the presence of Praamzius in the New Moon yod pattern so interesting. He is described as having some Saturnian qualities: for example, as being the god of time -- "the inescapable fate" -- and omnipotent of past, present and future all at once. Yet he is also the god of peace, friendship, and the one facet of earthly existence that is, in a way, perhaps limitless: the sky.

We're not all suddenly going to start getting along for the welfare of the planet just because of tomorrow's New Moon. But if we are, somehow, collectively gestating something along those lines -- here in the belly of this chaotic, often dark, yet strangely beautiful moment -- I'd say it's about time.

Yours & truly,

Amanda Painter

Cups, Bowls and Astrology

Dear Friend and Reader:

Have I ever mentioned my pottery collection? One of my hobbies is to collect handmade cup and bowl sets. I find them at farmer's markets and little shops I visit. Sometimes there's just one or the other. I love the different patterns that potters use. Each has the touch of its maker. I appreciate the stories they tell, about firing their pots, how they mix the clay, or their experiments with techniques. And I love love love the colors.

Mostly, I love eating and drinking out of objects made by people, each one of a kind. It's one of my indulgences in art, and a rebellion against things fabricated in China by machine. Many of the pieces remind me of where I found them -- that day I took a ride with Jonah; that potter at the market in Burlington; the one my friend in Germany bought for me.

Read more...



Aquarius Birthdays 2019-20 Parts One and Two Available for Instant Access

"A very good listen! It’s already confirming and affirming my thoughts and feelings. I sure appreciate Eric’s astrological perspective. Thank you!"

-- Luna M.

Dear Friend and Reader:

In about a month -- on March 6 -- your modern ruling planet will move from Aries to Taurus for the long haul. This is a major shift in tone on a much larger scale than, say, the Sun changing signs; collectively we'll likely see some cultural upheaval around themes like values, economics and physical resources as the transit takes shape.

Eric at his desk in The Place of the Way.

But what does it mean for you, if you have an Aquarius Sun, Moon or Rising sign?

As you know, Uranus in Taurus is sure to be a major feature in your 2019 Aquarius Astrology Studio (formerly the Birthday Reading). And Eric has completed Part One -- get instant access to it when you place your order.

For $44, you get two sections of audio astrology (at least 30 minutes each), an audio tarot reading for the year, photos of the charts and tarot spread, and an extended description of your sign. All of it designed to offer Eric's most practical and inspiring ideas for your relationships, career path, healing processes, community roles, and more.

Please note: the 2019 Aquarius Astrology Studio is separate and distinct from your INTELLIGENCE annual audio reading! Eric creates a whole new reading, fresh from scratch. While some of the themes may overlap, he speaks of and from the current moment, looking into your next twelve months -- and may even focus on new planets or aspects.

"I never gave sun sign astrology much credence until I opened myself to your readings. Thank you!"

-- Mary

You can order your 2019 Aquarius Astrology Studio reading here -- you can also use that link to pre-order it as a gift for your Aquarian loved ones.

Yours & truly,

Amanda Painter

P.S. You can listen to last year's Aquarius Birthday Reading for free, as a gift from us -- review your year and check Eric's accuracy.



Monthly Horoscopes and Publishing Schedule Notes

We published your extended monthly horoscopes for January on Saturday, Dec. 29. Your extended monthly horoscopes for December were published on Thursday, Dec. 6. Please note: we normally publish the extended monthly horoscope after the Sun has entered a new sign. Aries (March 20-April 19) -- You may be wanting to deal once and for all with some conflict in your circle of friends that has apparently been plaguing you. Perhaps it's tempting to seek out a quick and easy solution, so that you can move on. However, the New Moon astrology suggests things are more complex than they seem; that in order to exercise justice, you'll need to take a closer look at the facts. It's possible that everyone will benefit more in this case from kindness and willingness to forgive than from a rush to judgment. Stay calm, and don't act until you're completely sure. Get your full Aries reading by Eric here.

Taurus (April 19-May 20) -- During the next week things could progress pretty fast in terms of your career advancement or vocation. It's possible that a specific small move may set off a chain of events that lead to swift changes, until your main work is substantially different -- perhaps even unrecognizable compared to what it is now. The timeframe could vary, and you may not notice anything until after Uranus is back in your sign in early March. It's also likely that the initial alteration has to come from within; probably in terms of casting off self-limiting ideas, and opening up to your true potential. Get your full Taurus reading by Eric here.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) -- The New Moon offers a solid opportunity for you to focus firmly on your highest aspirations, and carve a path toward them. Utilize everything you've learned about yourself, along with your courage and determination, and you can make big strides. One way in which you can especially benefit at this time is by listening -- not to anyone who would enervate or dampen your spirits, but to your intuition and the rhythm of the cosmos, to the wise mentors in your life who have supported you, and to the little hints loved ones give that show what you mean to them. Get your full Gemini reading by Eric here.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) -- There's a lot happening in the world just now, and keeping track of it all can get overwhelming fast. If you're starting to take on rather too much stress, it might be a good idea to scale back your activities this week and stick to keeping things simple and clear. Above all, make sure you leave sufficient time in your schedule to relax and have a bit of fun. If an opportunity arises to meet someone on a human level, to be vulnerable or to share intimacy in any sense of the term, that will probably be worth taking up. Such contacts are rare and precious in these strange times. Get your full Cancer reading by Eric here.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) -- A New Moon in your opposite sign is generally an invitation to renew or refresh personal relationships. This will work best for you if you behave with ingenuousness, and give those close to you the benefit of the doubt as far as possible, even if you've been stung in the past. Every partnership of any sort depends on trust, and a willingness to allow people to be themselves on their own terms. Any need for control is usually founded in insecurity; if you're tempted to hold back or to restrict someone, consider what that might be about. You'll surely be happier if you can let it go. Get your full Leo reading by Eric here.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) -- Amid your good intentions, keep an eye on any tendency to dig in your heels. Make it a policy this week to receive any advice you are offered respectfully and give it serious consideration. People are all too apt to become entrenched in specific beliefs and go on in their elected way, especially if they've invested emotionally or financially in a project. This isn't about accepting undue criticism, doubt or discouragement; it's much more to do with understanding when someone is trying to be helpful, and at the very least to recognize the intent, if not the content, of their message. Get your full Virgo reading by Eric here.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) -- Do not underestimate the importance of play. It's essential to let your hair down every now and then, to give yourself a bit of time off and enjoy the sense of refreshment and rejuvenation that brings, from which you can return to your responsibilities feeling a good deal lighter. Watch your alcohol intake, but otherwise feel free to indulge in some fun. Try to set time apart specially, if you have trouble finding it in your everyday life, even if you have to be firm: there's a lot of intensity about and you may have been particularly sensitive to it lately. If so, you definitely need a break. Get your full Libra reading by Eric here.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) -- Over the next few days you may be inclined to address a matter of unresolved family drama. It might be useful to remember that those involved will each likely have their own emotional responses to the situation, and to employ gentleness liberally. Likewise, be sure to apply it to yourself, and go for fair, equitable treatment all round. Avoid taking on the projections of others, or becoming a martyr to the problem, even if doing so appears to present a simple answer. Nothing in these scenarios is ever as simple as it seems. Be prepared to walk away if you need to. Get your full Scorpio reading by Eric here.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) -- If you want to learn a new skill of any kind, but especially in the creative arts, it generally helps first to study the masters in your field; then you'll almost always imitate them before finally developing your unique style. The point is that you get a good foundation on which you can build experiences: gathering information initially is as much a key to producing quality material as practice, or enthusiasm. This is also perhaps true of the wisdom, so to speak, of our environment; we learn much unspoken detail through absorption. This can be restrictive at times, but also undoubtedly helpful. Get your full Sagittarius reading by Eric here.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) -- To a certain extent we tend to take our most basic resources for granted until they are suddenly no longer available: things like clean water, food, shelter and so forth. As the humorous redrawing of Maslow's hierarchy of needs points out, the internet has itself become a necessity, an uncontained feed-line connecting our consciousness to the rest of humanity (almost like the Borg). It's possibly a good exercise, now and then, to recognize what we are treating as if its supply were inexhaustible, and to be thankful for its contribution to making our lives easier. Get your full Capricorn reading by Eric here.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- This year's New Moon in your sign takes place at the very center of Aquarius, a special point in the zodiac known as a cross-quarter, which marks exactly halfway through the season and is thus of universal significance. You can therefore consider this event as a reminder of one important truth: you matter, and your presence in the world is sacred, without condition or caveat. You don't need to prove anything to anyone, however others might try to convince you of the opposite. Remember that, and take up the space you need unapologetically and unswervingly. Get your full Aquarius reading by Eric here.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) -- Much like retrogrades, activity in the inward-facing 12th house can sometimes feel frustrating, especially when all you want to do is push forward, or you feel under pressure to do so. If something appears to be hindering you, it's very likely worth taking the trouble to investigate this more closely, and figure out exactly where the challenge is coming from and why. Use meditation or divination, or whatever method you might normally work with to make contact with the Akashic library. In the meantime, keep an open heart, and remember to be gentle with yourself. Get your full Pisces reading by Eric here.

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