Today is Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2011. Today the Moon is in Aquarius until 6:45 pm EST. Before it moves to Pisces, the Moon conjuncts Neptune, which is just about to enter the last degree of Aquarius. This can be a very creative aspect – but it does come with a caution, too. On the creative side, this is a great day to stretch your imagination, especially into music or visual art. Put Moon and Neptune together and you can also get a clairvoyant effect. Boundaries are not quite what they seem.
So, on the caution side, it’s a terrible day for getting involved in gossip; not only won’t it be true, but it may have a toxic quality. Just go the other way.
Moon-Neptune can come with a feeling of oversensitivity – so watch your reactions to what people say to you today. Notice if you start to feel like you may be taking on someone else’s ‘stuff’ or general attitude/vibration. If you do, it may be time to step back or recharge and center yourself again with a little solitude or some really great music (watch out for ‘moody’ pieces, though).
The Moon potentially amplifies the density of Neptune’s watery fog, and this can translate into self-deception or an urge toward escapism. Be real with yourself about any inclinations to reach for alcohol or pills or even the extra Christmas cookies if you’re feeling emotionally tender. There’s no point in beating yourself up if you do find yourself trying to mask something from yourself, but notice it if it happens and acknowledge what you’re feeling. Strive for basic honesty and be careful you don’t get so lost in a daydream that you forget your purse on the bus.
Watch for delusion and deception when dealing with others, too. Idealism is one little problem that can come with potent Moon-Neptune aspects, especially in Aquarius. Read the fine print if you’re dealing with contracts, for example. And given that this conjunction is happening in Aquarius, look behind any hype in the news. Are any of those Republican presidential candidates going over the top in their speeches? Is Rick Perry completely deluded in his appeal of the Virginia State Board of Elections’ decision that he did not collect enough signatures to be on the ballot in that state’s primary? What about Newt, comparing his failure to collect enough signatures for Virginia to Pearl Harbor? What about the wailing masses attending the funeral of North Korea’s Kim Jong Il today?
That last example in particular is complex and has been decades in the making. But the Moon will be shining out Neptunian energy like headlights set on high beam in the fog: all you really see better is the fog. North Korea’s mourners may see their leader’s illusions even stronger today, rather than seeing through them.
Speaking of sight: If you are developing a vision of what you would like your life to be, courtesy of the Sun-Pluto conjunction in Capricorn urging you toward evolution and expression, remember that it will not simply appear magically through your imagining it. You really do have to take concrete steps toward materializing it, however small. A personal development coach named Marta Monahan suggests that making five small acts a day can add up to huge shifts in the direction of your life. Not only does this method break larger goals into manageable steps, but you also get the added benefit of building the courage to make big changes while you’re already setting them in motion.
Now that Mercury is nearing the end of a shadow phase that has, for many, been more troublesome than the actual retrograde, you may feel less thwarted beginning these steps than you might have a week or so ago. Do bear in mind that Mercury is going over the Great Attractor right now. That’s the deep-space point that is pulling whole galaxies (including ours) toward it as fast as it is rushing away from us. Fend off any potential sense of futility around getting near that vision by keeping those five acts a day truly modest and tangible. If you make a networking phone call, plan to follow up on in a couple days if you don’t hear back. Start with a fifteen-minute lunch-break walk if you want to get into shape – not a five-mile run. Actually take your camera with you on that walk if you want to learn photography.
Here’s the thing about the current aspects — with the Moon and the Sun both conjunct outer planets (the Sun is still working up to a conjunction with Pluto), it’s clear that something is trying to come through. That is to say, a spiritual force from within is trying to penetrate that inner space of the psyche and get a message across. It might come in the form of an idea, as a force for change, a commitment, a desire — though despite any confusion, or any struggle with change, you can count on it being real. So get your ears on, use your discernment and make the choices you need to make — one at a time.
Looking for insights on how this week’s astrology affects your personal Sun and rising signs? Try out Planet Waves Light, our streamlined horoscope service. For deeper cultural context and astrological investigation, the premium Planet Waves subscription includes the same horoscopes, plus extensively-researched articles on Fridays.
just wanted to quote Eric, “proceeding from motives that you actually understand, and following thought patterns that are guided by logic that you stop and verify when necessary.” This is what PW has been for me, a way to check in with myself and my energy. I am truly grateful for the wisdom and guidance here.
aword, I’m so glad I’m here too (and you!), learning and growing. Thanks! I have Pluto at almost 6 degrees Libra, and my Libra ascendent is at 8 degrees, so pretty close. I tell you, I’m freakin’ tired……and glowing in the dark! Since 2008, it’s been almost non stop. But at 38, I’m just so ready to get started with my life, that’s the amazing part too.
Hugging Scorpio – so glad you’re here at PW for your most awesome Pluto Square! I was able to track a whole lot of really negative-type-pluto stuff back to that square myself – after having been here at PW awhile and back-tracking through the muck, learning.
With a natal Pluto/Sun opposition, I’m glad to be on an upwardly mobile learning curve about this archetype.
Looking forward to listening to you more as you go along your path – I will learn much! As Be says, so wonderful is this creation PW (TUVM Eric) and so wonderful to be here with all of you.
xo
Amanda, I thought it was too coink-e-dental. But when there’s 2 aspects or 2 in aspect or a conjunction of 2 mythologically-connected astro bodies, you can become obsessed with trying to find THE message, can’t you? Speaking of. . .
susyc, Too much of anything can become an obsession, including astrology. However, I’m thinking that an obsession isn’t a killer disease, say like Christmas candy (only teasing you), but it is a way to get your life out of balance. Obsessing, not astrology (or is it the other way ’round?) can take over all your energy and waking hours. Perhaps it will produce something of value, even great value, to you and others, but it can also get your health out of whack and cause you to neglect things like, oh say, bathing and eating and paying bills. There is much truth and wisdom in the advice of keeping things in balance, but when you are driven, you are driven, and that’s the honest truth. People who love astrology however much, rarely forget to eat though.
be
“Be real with yourself about any inclinations to reach for alcohol or pills or even the extra Christmas cookies if you’re feeling emotionally tender. ” I am weaning myself off Christmas treats even as we speak, however imperfectly. “A personal development coach named Marta Monahan suggests that making five small acts a day can add up to huge shifts in the direction of your life.” Can you OD on astrology? Does too much astrology make a dull boy (or girl)? What about those 5 small acts? Hmmmm…..But maybe a small dose of astrology a day is like an apple. Good for the digestion and cleanses the blood. Work, play, and love to everyone!
not only that, bkoehler, but Saturn is sextile Eros — Psyche’s lover.
my original idea for today’s piece was a look at how those two aspects, with both the players in the Psyche myth, relate to Sun-Pluto and soul evolution within relationships.
but after too many hours of false starts and clearly not quite enough thinking-trough, the team and i decided on a totally different angle for today.
thank for the support bkoehler! And yes, everyone’s comments are truly amazing and insightful!
I meant Awesomeness btw, 😉 but I like your version better!
What’s for dinner? Not sure, maybe the trine that the Moon/Neptune has with Saturn in Libra? I’m not sure what that means, so I’d love your and anyone’s perspective.
For me it feels like structural support either mental or physical – or even psychic (with Neptune involved). Saturn is in my solar 12th, activating a flow from a deeper structural space. With Neptune in my 4th helping to clear residue with home and family, the “support” feels self originating, like the Teacher planet stepping back to allow the student to give a final presentation.
Thanks be!
HS
I’m into this painting stuff big time, shocking to me how this came to me after eons of lawfirm work. Spent xmas painting this beautiful dove card that my father sent me long ago — I just love xmas cards and keep my favs forever. So loved the expression of the dove that I gave it to my sis-in-law who seemed to delight in ways I could never have expected. What a joy that I could be that happy in the expression and the giving AS I came to feel a certain measure of peace between my father and me across the realms. To say we had a challenged relationship is putting it very mildly.
I completed another painting of same dove and sent it to my brother yesterday (his birthday today) along with a copy of the original card. Today I shot out of bed to finish what feels like the last of the dove paintings for me … as I read today’s blog I’m feeling this is really perfect. A mediation for reconciliation as I hang the painting over my bed is what’s planned for today.
I’ve been in this surrender-mode for such a long time (Neptune transitted my Aquarian personal planets) and it feels like time to penetrate this fog and move on. We’ll see how that works.
Mary
PS: I would be delighted to share this painting with all of you as I’d love your feedback … I have it on my phone but I’m rather techno-challenged as to how to get it here … 🙁 …
p.s. Cool photo Amanda. Also, re: “. . .a spiritual force from within is trying to ‘penetrate’ that inner space of the psyche and get a message across.” Right now transiting Mars in Virgo is conjunct transiting Psyche. But I guess you already knew that, huh?
amelie, Sarah, nicoise, Hugging, PW Daily,
I sure do love you guys; what we can learn from each other is awesome. Something about someone’s real-time experiences can make understanding click in….better than a textbook example, much better. (Hugging, did you write asesomeness on purpose? If so it should be two s’s! ~ loved it) Anyway, thank you, I needed this.
And as for you PW, you remind me of a great mom who is sending her kid off for an all-day field trip and telling him/her to have a good time but be careful. We all need that. We kids (even us older ones) need your perspective and wisdom and guidance, along with our own drives and desires to determine the “direction of our lives”.
So what’s for supper?
be
Asesomeness! Yesterday the Sun actually made a square to my natal pluto setting off the Pluto Square issues that have culminated these past several months. I knew it was building early that day. I started off saying to myself “I continue to make a commitment to my self and my healing!” And boom, there came my opportunity. Like a shit load of guilt thrown in my face, and what was I going to do about it? SPEAK! And speak I did. Not blame, no. But actually utter deep issues of self expression free from anyones expectations of me, free of me trying to please anyone, and free to say exactly what was wrong for so many years. I am exhausted! 🙂 But, it’s my work. Yesterdays PW Daily was so good for me. I do my work and hope I can nudge others to do theirs, and one can do that by addressing shit that they don’t have the balls to face. By my sheer force and power of will, and through my commitment to myself, making a stand so that others can listen, makes a difference not just in my life but in those who at the end of the day I love deeply. When one truly listens in a relationship, then respect for one’s mental and physical space is created. I can’t do their work, I can only do mine and hope it rubs off and inspires. God, I hope I don’t sound cocky – but right now I don’t give a f**k.
Yay Pluto!
Hugging (more like ‘Smudging’) Scorpio 🙂
Ain’t it the truth! The fog feels so thick in my creative vision, I am having a hard time sensing where I am in my life. I can totally relate to what Sarah said about being blindsided at Christmas. Other people’s issues were so heavy over those couple of days…it is becoming clear that I have taken on those issues over the last year, that I am not a victim to anyone but myself and my own severe challenge in setting boundaries and claiming a solid right to my own life. Only I can give myself permission to do that , and it is that crafty bogeyman Fear and his sidekick Guilt that keeps me from drawing the lines and marching forward. What if I make the wrong decision(says Fear), what might I lose by lightening my own load and leaving those in my life that would have me carry their issues for them to find the Source of their own strength? I will have to take responsibility for my own happiness, I will have to find the courage to risk!!! So instead I find myself daydreaming the possibilities of what “could be, if only THEY would change…”
Sooo, 5 small steps, you say? I had better get to it, then.
Thank you. Christmas blind-sided me. One moment I was enjoying myself; the next, I felt the pain of so much that is unacknowledged, unspoken in my family of origin. So much that I start to buckle under it after a few days, and my body bears the brunt. When I came back to my home yesterday, it was with relief, tears, and guilt that I feel the feelings that I do, and a sense of grief because I know that I cannot change anything, and that, to thrive, I need to invoke, as Eric referred to it an an earlier audio report for Aries, “skunk medicine”. Time to stink the place up, in the words of a dear friend. 🙂
As always, so helpful, and comes at the exact right moment-or so it seems for me !! Thank you, sincerely 🙂