Virgo New Moon - focusing on life's details

"Life is like an ever-shifting kaleidoscope - a slight change, and all patterns alter."

Sharon Salzberg, Buddhist teacher and author

"The quality of your life is equal to the amount of uncertainty you can live with....this is a magical time for digging deep for new resources". 

Donald Epstein, founder and developer of Network Spinal Care

Rocky Mountain National Park: Big Meadow by Joseph Mina

I come to the close of an amazing 5 weeks in the Colorado mountains and eastern plains. Kathryn and my experiences here have opened new doors of inner compassion and grace, brought new friends into our lives and reconnected us with familiar faces not seen in awhile. 

Our journey in this area of the world included the week-long Ultimatum intensive in early August, and for me the Transformational Gate & Awaken programs (aka Healingfest) this past weekend. In these transformative forums we have embraced a new "us" in ways that continue to unfold, integrate and reveal. Serendipity, synchronicity and resetting our inner life compass have shaped our experiences. - note: we both have major aspects in our natal charts activated by the Cardinal Climax. Our conscious steps are proactive ones to intimately transform through this resident energy. It's been quite a cosmic surfing lesson. 

Shortly after the Mercury Retrograde in Virgo began on August 20th, I wrote "there's my time and Universal time. When my flow encounters, by chance or fated design, the Universal flow, alchemy and magic result." With Mercury Retrograde in Virgo, the energy is beneficial for focusing on our health and the organization and quality of our life (Virgo traits).

These times of transformational shifts and change across the planet, aka Cardinal Climax, expand the possibility and vibrational fields in significant ways. This dynamic wave is ideal for creating new life strategies to adapt and embrace a rapidly emerging, still being scripted, global paradigm. 

In complete synchronicity, the Virgo New Moon cycle over the next two weeks further provides the opportunity to focus on the details of your life (Virgo), effecting changes in how you want to be of greater service to humanity now, and in the coming years (Neptune/Chiron in Aquarius).

And now for the details:

The New Moon occurs shortly after midnight in Hawaii on Wednesday, September 8th (3:30 am in the West, 6:30 am on the East Coast; 10:30 AM GMT; 7:30 pm in Japan and East Asia. The Moon positions at 15 Virgo. It positions near its perigee point (closest to Earth). Hence, its magnetic influence is stronger than usual. Here's the chart:

This New Moon is different than the New and Full Moons over the past year. In Virgo, there is no aspect to any other planetary archetype. In a sense, the spotlight shines completely on Virgo. As the magnetic pull is stronger, more emphasis is placed on Virgo related characteristics and themes. These include paying attention to details in your life, reorganizing your living or working space, focusing on your health and body as temples requiring attention and nurturing care, creating a daily ritual (could be as simple as writing out your plans for the day), exploring how you desire to be of service to others, and perhaps devising a new structure for your physical fitness routines.

Further, as the Moon timing occurs towards the end of the current Mercury Retrograde (eases up Sept 12), the energy is also conducive for redefining or refining personal goals and life direction. [Very brief. related commercial] If you haven't had a recent update of your astrological chart, or have yet to explore its magic and mystery, now is a very good time to make that investment in yourself. We provide live and telephone astrological services to assist you on your inner and outer journey, which includes developing a holistic strategy specific to your chart dynamics. 

[Back to the regularly scheduled program :) ]

Retrograde influences: at present, the "Retrograde" vibration is a particularly strong underlying theme in various astrological signs. In addition to Mercury, there are 5 other retrogrades taking place: Jupiter, Uranus, Chiron, Neptune and Pluto. Uranus through Pluto are the transformational energies of astrology, while Chiron points to the inner healing. If that were not enough inward energy, Venus moves in reverse in early October for about 5 weeks (see below).

In short, this retrograde intensive stimulates inward reflection and reevaluation for what's next on many levels of awareness. It's the big breath-in before the cosmic exhale. This can include simplifying and clarifying your foundational pillars in the areas of resources, career, home and relationship. One example is to eliminate clutter or stagnant chi in appropriate areas of your life (take one at a time). This is like the "end of the summer clearance sale" and you're doing the distributing. 

Ultimately, more productive energy for transformation and shift slowly starts to become available as Mercury moves forward on the 12th, Pluto returns to direct motion the following day; Jupiter, Neptune, Chiron move direct in November; and Uranus makes a U-turn in December. By the end of the year, this shift to forward energy augurs a time of more progressive vibrations to influence productive external change.

Significant Events in the coming weeks through early October include:

Guardian - Voyager Tarot

Venus Retrograde (a brief look): the parade of astrological cycles shifting from one sign to another, or activating a retrograde point actually began a few days ago on September 5th. Then, Venus crossed 27 degrees Libra. This represents the degree point where Venus entered the retrograde shadow of her coming retrograde in Scorpio. Venus will station there in her retrograde motion on November 18th. Most intense phase of the retrograde begins October 7th. I'll cover more details and specific timings in the next blog (around the Equinox). 

For the moment, suffice it to say a Venus retrograde period, especially for women, is an introspective exploration of her personal Venus energy (feminine essence). Women in general ought to start feeling this vibe building in the coming days. As such, this is not a beneficial time for entering into a marriage contract (how could it be a productive energy if you are going "inward"?) Also, not a conducive time to make a bigger commitment to a life partner, or to start a relationship. For anyone with a natal Venus retrograde, this inner journey is familiar ground to you, which heightens the possibility of what you can inwardly create.

On New Moon day, Venus moves into energy packed Scorpio in time to experience the power of her life-force. Here, she'll revisit where this essence requires strengthening and clarification as she plunges towards the Sun in the western sky after sunset. This "dive" into the darkness signals the external reflection of her inward journey.

Jupiter and Uranus in Pisces: A little later on New Moon day, expansive Jupiter returns to the sign of Pisces to reactivate the Pisces vibration with Uranus over the next 4 months. This may be akin to jumping out of July's hot Cardinal Climax frying pan only to land in the nebulous, uncharted waters of Pisces. This reactivates and amplifies Uranus' quirky nature within a very fluid (changing) cauldron of unpredictability and surprises of the 3rd kind. 

Remember, Jupiter energy is expansive and energizing. Uranus, the free radical of the solar system, brings surprises, turbulence, quick change and greater awareness. It also shifts social structures due to its Aquarian roots. In Pisces, these two dynamos carry the potential to redefine our perceptions of the mystical and transcendent energies built into various spiritual belief systems throughout the world (Pisces). For example, a recent news article explored how world food production has been adversely affected by weather extremes (Uranus), contributing to a sizable (Jupiter) increase in food commodity prices. If not rectified, social unrest is a possibility in affected parts of the world. especially 3rd world nations. This "disruptive" energy is typical of a Uranus transit. The higher intention being a bringing together of the world community (Pisces).

Jupiter and Uranus remains in Pisces through late January and mid-March 2011, respectively. During this period, look for events challenging, and perhaps shifting, spiritual belief systems on Earth, especially in the realm of the Cosmos and its creative origins. The end result may prove surprising (Uranus), going beyond society's current comprehension or understanding. 

Lovers - Voyager Tarot

Venus and Mars in Scorpio: Mars enters Scorpio on September 14th as it continues its close association with Venus. They come together on October 3rd, just days before the Venus retrograde. One way of understanding this current dance: visualize two people meeting on a date, becoming lovers, then sharing intimate details about their experience of life force (Scorpio) through the other (Libra). The feminine aspect (Venus) of this duo suddenly realizes there is inner work to be done (retrograde) to internally integrate (retrograde) these new experiences. That essentially is what is going on here in the realms of Libra (Aug into Sept) and Scorpio (Sept into Oct). 

By itself, Mars in Scorpio is nothing short of "intense". Mars is the ancient ruler of Scorpio (modern ruler of Aries), so it knows "life force" to its core. Anyone with significant planetary aspects in the fixed signs of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio or Aquarius take note. Experiencing this energy in the mental realm invites intense or draining social/family/relationship drama. Best strategy for working with Mars energy in Scorpio is physical exercise, rest, and body care. Mars remains in Scorpio until October 27th.

In our next blog, I'll explore the Autumn Equinox, the Venus Retrograde timings, and the Libra Full Moon (on Equinox day). Energy is building under the surface. Remember to move inwardly in preparation for forward moving energy come later this Autumn.

Aloha from Colorado
Starman, Joseph Mina
September 7, 2010
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Gemini Awakening
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