Capricorn Super Full Moon July 2023: Human Evolutionary Acceleration

"You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete."  Richard Buckminster Fuller - (1895-1983) American Architect, Inventor, Philosopher, and Futurist 

“Look around you. Everything changes. Everything on this earth is in a continuous state of evolving, refining, improving, adapting, enhancing, and changing. You were not put on this earth to remain stagnant.” Dr. Steve Maraboli (1975 - ) Author and Philanthropist 

Greetings from the Big Island of Hawaii

Full Moon plate by Joseph Mina

I'm taking a tropical break now from South Africa's winter. That means reorienting myself to a very different night sky, and an equally different seasonal vibration. Nonetheless, astrological themes, regardless of location and climate remain global in nature, applying their compelling themes across societies and cultures. And so we evolve. This Capricorn Full Moon is a vivid reminder of human society's quickening evolution.

Where and when: Capricorn Full Moon at 11° arrives today (July 3rd) across the globe. This is the very last Capricorn Full Moon that includes a Pluto transit in the sign of the goat. There won't be another such Capricorn Full Moon with Pluto in this astrological sign until 2254! While there will be two Capricorn Full Moon in July 2024, by then, Pluto will be in very early degrees of Aquarius. Symbolic? Indeed. Quite evolutionary, and given the historical context of Pluto's last passage over this late degree/early degree ground some 250 years ago in 1776-1778, perhaps revolutionary too.

This is the first of four successive Full Moons occurring close to the time of lunar perigee (closest to Earth), with the two August Full Moons closest of the four. A lunation close to perigee is considered a Super Moon, i.e. an amplified lunar vibration due to the symbolic nature of it being visually closer. This particular Moon is almost 30 hours before perigee. While one can make an argument about its "superness", it nonetheless is the least super of the group. Personally, sleep did not come easily last night. The intensity of the Full Moon in Hawaii was palpable.

Pluto entered Saturn-ruled Capricorn in 2008. And the Capricorn-fueled realms of politics, rules, law, business, and overall structural organizations have been rapidly transforming ever since. It's the age-old transformative process which fuels human evolution. When it comes to Pluto's transformative cycle, the astrological sign of Pluto's transit augurs a prolonged period of significant alterations, collapses, temporary expansions, and ultimately freedom from an outdated archetype. The ultimate rising from the ashes of the mystical phoenix is one of Pluto's hallmarks.

I arrived on the Big Island of Hawaii back on the evening of June 6th. Just 9 hours later, Kilauea volcano erupted for the second time in 2023, remaining active for 12 days. Quite exciting to witness the movement of lava in person (image below). Volcanic eruptions are vivid mirrors of archetypal Pluto's methodology. Pressure builds, energy expands, eruption occurs, transformation takes place, and new life eventually emerges.

Pele Dance by Joseph Mina

Overall themes of this 28-day lunar cycle: Restructuring reality - the way of the heart. Purging the unessential, while attuning to your heart's desires. The evolutionary flow aligning with your connection to  yourself, personal connections, and the greater collective of humanity becomes stronger now. 

Commencing with the second Aries New Moon back in April, the Full Moon became the primary theme setter for each 28-day lunation cycle. This flip of the astrological script continues through July 2024. Then, the lunar cycle will shift once again, back to the New Moon becoming the primary theme setter. This lunar shift occurs every 16 to 18 months.

Significant archetypal players over the next 28 days: Mercury in Cancer and later into Leo, Venus/Mars in Leo, then Mars in Virgo, Jupiter and Uranus in Taurus, Chiron in Aries, Saturn and Neptune in Pisces, and Pluto in Capricorn, all further amplified by the Super Moon effect.

Energetic patterns at play: Mercury has just completed its superior conjunction of the Sun, where the fleet-winged messenger is on the opposite side of the Sun from Earth's perspective. This phase of Mercury's transit has had all the makings of a Mercury Retrograde, albeit a very quick one. Recent communication and transportation snafus in the news during the last week of June through now underscore this effect. As Mercury has been transiting the sign of Cancer during this period, matters involving home, family and community vis-a-vis Capricorn's rules, laws, and business matters have been highlighted. Anyone who recently had their airline flight cancelled due to weather and understaffing issues will attest to this challenging theme. This is particularly amplified for anyone with placements in early to mid-degree cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn).

Meanwhile, Pluto's recent return to Capricorn on June 11th, after 80 days at 0° Aquarius, has further amplified the tumultuous nature of life-altering events since the onset of the 2020 pandemic. 

Synopsis: With Pluto in Capricorn now coming back into close aspect with Neptune in Pisces, this lunation reminds us that amplified physical and emotional fire and water related events through next January are going to be part of life's day-to-day occurrences. This includes matters driven by climate, politics, migrations, and business and finance. Particularly affected will be those with late degree placements in Cardinal and Mutable (Gemini/Virgo/Sagittarius/Pisces) signs.

What's easy:  Both the Moon in Capricorn and Jupiter in Taurus form a sextile (60° angle) with Saturn in Pisces, with a resulting trine (120° angle) connecting expansive Jupiter and the pragmatic Moon. This combination can somewhat soften the otherwise challenging components of this lunation if you partake in the natural world, stay grounded, and loosely plan your day-to-day focus and emphasis.

What's challenging: a change in the lunar nodes is underway during this lunation from Taurus/Scorpio to Aries/Libra (nodes change from sign-to-sign every 18.6 months). The shift to Aries/Libra will immediately create a nodal square (90° angle) with Pluto in Capricorn, and a nodal semi-sextile (30° angle) with Neptune in Pisces. One's individuated desires vs the compromises of relationship will come under the spotlight in the coming months, particularly in the realms of Capricorn's rules, laws, politics, the courts, and business matters, and Pisces penchant for mystical, dream-like or even delusional perceptions of reality. Further, Chiron in Aries, and its focus on reclaiming one's individuated sense of self, will move retrograde through December, having a strong influence on matters of health, especially for those around 19, 27, 33, 50, 70, 78 and 83 years of age, or having cardinal-sign placements between 14° and 20° Aries/Cancer/Libra/Capricorn.

Meanwhile, Venus and Mars in Leo will continue in lock-step until mid-month, when Venus' movement slows as it nears its coming epic retrograde on the 23rd. Here, Mars continues its forward transit into health-conscious Virgo. This tight Leo combination poses strong challenges around emotional matters of the heart. The last time these two transited Leo together was in the summer of 2021, when the world was coping with pandemic fallout. Particularly affected are fixed sign placements from 12° to 29° in Taurus/Leo/Scorpio/Aquarius.

Venus Plate by Joseph Mina

Venus Retrograde: every 18 months or so, Venus moves in retrograde motion from Earth's perspective. Here, Venus moves between the Sun and Earth, shifting from the evening to the morning predawn sky. The previous Venus Retrograde was in January 2022, when Venus, and in conjunction to Pluto, remained in Capricorn for over 3 months. 

This particular retrograde is quite significant for several reasons:
- stations retrograde at the same Leo degree (29°) as the grand total eclipse of August 2017, that bisected the United States. 
- Venus will create a yod configuration with Pluto in Capricorn and Neptune in Pisces at station retrograde. A yod is a paradoxical geometry, encouraging you to think/act differently in the realms of trust and unusual alliances. All late degree placements in Cardinal, Fixed and Mutual signs will be influenced by this configuration
- given the Pluto/Neptune outer planetary nature of this yod configuration, a stronger emphasis and encouragement is placed on soul searching relative to matters of the heart, what you value in your life, your sense of self-worth, and the balance of material possessions versus your actual, practical needs
- Venus retrogrades 5 times every 8 years, returning to its original placement 8 years earlier, but one degree offset. This configuration creates a star pentagram. At this retrograde, Venus begins a 100+ yr movement in its retrogrades through the sign of Leo. That's a significant shift in energy.
- this retrograde period is not a time to enter into a marriage commitment
- towards the latter stages of the retrograde, Mercury too will begin a retrograde on August 23rd (21°) through Sept 15 (8°) in the sign of Virgo, adding matters of health and service to the overall Venus mix. That will include an opposition with Saturn in Pisces on August 1

- timings for this Venus retrograde: entered the retrograde shadow on June 18th at 12° Leo; stations retrograde on July 22/23 at 29° Leo; stations direct on Sept 3/4 at 12° Leo: leaves the retrograde shadow Oct 7 at 29° Leo 

Suggestions for this lunation:
- receive bodywork
- focus on physical exercise and matters of health
- avoid, or at the very least minimize, conflicting mental ad hominem debates
- attune to the natural world
- be creative either alone, or with others - dance, draw, create, play
- find quiet, daily reflective time - particularly true for nurturing the inner feminine parts of your psyche.

Suggested questions for reflection:
- What does it mean to me to follow the desires of my heart?
- Am I experiencing passion and expansion in my intimate relationships?
- What am I ready to restructure in my life to better align with my heart's desires?
- What am I ready to let go of?
- How can I better nurture myself?
- How do I perceive myself in an evolutionary sense as part of the evolving Aquarian mythos?

Hubble Deep Field via NASA

Conclusion:
Planetary cycles are part of a web of experiences. No planetary cycle is island unto itself. While a cycle will eventually come to an end, its influence is woven into the evolutionary fabric of humanity, continuing its rippling effect in concert with all that has come before it.

As I shared in part this past April at the second Aries New Moon, "a prime opportunity exists to delve deeper, discover or reinvigorate your passion, and rededicate yourself to making a difference in this world of massive change and exponentially growing inter-connection and collaboration." This is particularly true during this building Venus retrograde phase. 

As I look ahead, the coming months augur a challenging time for humanity. Pluto will remain in late degrees of Capricorn in sextile to Neptune until January 20, 2024, and one last time between early September to mid-November 2024. Outer planetary transits at 0° or 29° of any sign amplify the transformative nature of that transit. 

We are just two years from July 2025, when Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto come into aspect to each other in early degrees of air and fire signs (Aquarius/Aries/Gemini). That's a significant shift from the current earth/water influences of Pluto in Capricorn, Saturn/Neptune in Pisces, and Uranus in Taurus. 

This now building two-year period will prove preparatory and challenging for a human society going through the throes of a massive evolutionary shift in connection and technology. Yet remember, diamonds and other similar crystals undergo enormous pressures to fashion their extraordinary beauty and grace. It's no different for humans. We are here to evolve, and in turn, support the evolution of humanity.

Such are the powerful, transformative times in which we live. May your evolving growth serve the greater good and evolution of humanity.

Please leave any comments below (moderated before appearing)

Aloha from Big Island, Hawaii
Starman, Joseph Mina
July 3, 2023

Aquarius New Moon Feb 18: Freedom Calls

"When you come to the end of all the light you know, and it's time to step into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing that one of two things shall happen: either you will be given something solid to stand on or you will be taught to fly."
Edward Teller , Theoretical Physicist (1908-2003)

"You need chaos in your soul to give birth to a dancing star."

Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche, German Author (1844-1900)

"Creativity requires the courage to let go of certainties."
Erich Fromm, Philosopher and Psychologist (1900-1980)

Namibia "Quiver Tree Milky Way"
by Trey Radcliff

Substantial change is in the air...Mercury Retrograde in Aquarius told me so.... This realization came a few days ago as I slowly emerged from my dream state. Of course, Mercury Retrograde brought an unexpected message. An inner voice said quite clearly to me "you're done". It was an emphatic, non-negotiable message from something deep within me..perhaps my soul. "You're done".

The "done" points to sharing my talents/gifts in the Aquarian realm of Astrology. Yes, one full lunar cycle from now, when the Pisces New Moon takes center stage, I'll follow that very strong Piscean-ending vibration and close the door on Astrology.

Astrology comes very easily to me; perhaps too easily. It's a place of stability and certainty, and ironically little personal risk. Venus and Jupiter in Aquarius in the 6th astrological house of service is the primary fuel for my astrological talents and abilities. These cosmic Aquarian vibrations are woven into the threads of my soul. I can look at a chart and know within 2 or 3 minutes its dynamics, intentions, tendencies, strengths, and influences. It's nothing I have

Aries Full Moon Sept 29 2012: The Door Opens

The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you.
Don't go back to sleep.
You must ask for what you really want.
Don't go back to sleep.
People are going back and forth across the doorsill
where the two worlds meet.
The door is round and open.
Don't go back to sleep. 
Rumi

AstroActivator©2001 by Kathryn Andren Mina

Aries Full Moon arrives on the 29th setting the stage for a potent October and November. Aries is the most "now" focused sign of the zodiac. Neither past nor future are of concern. This Full Moon occurs at 5:18 pm in Hawaii, 8:18 on the West Coast, and on the 30th in Canada's Eastern Maritime east to the International Date Line,

This particular lunation includes a very intense connection with the Uranus Pluto square as the Moon positions almost exact to Uranus in Aries. The last time the Full Moon conjunct Uranus was in September 2008 in the sign of Pisces.

As a theme builder, the Moon adds a potent emotional content to this transgenerational duo, raising their energy to palpable levels over the next 2 weeks. I expect events and weather on the world stage, which have been intense over the past few months, to continue at the same level or higher.

Virgo New Moon Sept 15: Devil's in the Details

The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. Martin Luther King (1929-68)

When you look at yourself from a universal standpoint, something inside always reminds or informs you that there are bigger and better things to worry about.
Albert Einstein (1879-1955)

A new lunation arrives as the Moon returns to join the Sun in this seemingly never ending dance of beginnings and endings. New Moon in the Earth sign of Virgo occurs in Hawaii on September 15 at 4:11 pm; 7:11p on the West Coast US; and on the 16th from eastern South America, east to the International Date Line. This New Moon amplifies and accentuates all qualities of Virgo.

Virgo, one of the Earth signs, is about everything we can touch, taste, smell, or connect to physically. Virgo is about the body, health, analysis, traditions and sacred rituals, and being mindful of details. What habits do you follow to create a healthy lifestyle? What stories do you tell yourself about your health or daily habits?

This Virgo Full Moon is at 23 Virgo, with Virgo’s planet ruler, Mercury nearby at 28 Virgo. Sun, Moon and Mercury together in the Virgo vibration suggests clear communication.  "How can I communicate clearly and efficiently?" is a question to contemplate. especially as Virgo Moon and Sun create a wide square to jovial Jupiter at 15 Gemini. Jupiter is expansive and says

It Takes Two To Tango

Greetings or Konnichiwa from beautiful Japan. Kathryn and I are here throughout October teaching 3 Bodywork workshops, and facilitating 2 Spiritual Retreats. During our stay, we visit Tokyo, Hamamatsu and Kyoto (near Osaka) and Lake Biwako, Tateshina and Kiso in the autumn colored mountains of central Japan.

Over the past few days, and continuing through mid-October, an unusual energetic dynamic is astrologically active: 4 pairs of planetary energies occurring simultaneously. While the coming together of two planetary energies is not unusual in astrological circles, 4 potent pairs occurring at the same time is unusual, warranting further examination. Here's the chart for October 3: