A quick word on the New Moon & Setting New Moon Intentions...

A quick, late word on the New Moon, the end of eclipse season, and some quick tips for my followers who like to set intentions on the New Moon...

Regarding the past month and all that I have been bearing witness to, living, and feeling -- all I can really say is WOW! What I feel right now as the energy of the new moon approaches, is that everything which was dislodged, upheaved, and otherwise shuffled around in the course of the past month has done so to free up our energy for the new things that are coming into our lives... and this new moon in Aries is an especially good time to turn our focus toward the future. Aries is the first sign of the zodiac, and it is an energy of initiation and of setting the wheel in motion for the new year. Whatever happened in this past month's cycle of eclipses most certainly will continue to have a profound and reverberating effect on our lives for a long time, but trust that when the concrete cracks, new life always seems to find a way to shoot through. Keep shedding, keep questioning, keep refining, keep speaking to the truth that lives beyond our rational facilities and deep within our core self. There is something there for ALL OF US to recognize, if we are willing to see it. With the new moon occurring at 7:24AMEDT, during the dreaming hours, now is the time to sow in faith and trust, that our vision is destined to become our reality. Mind to matter. Dream to actualization.

All action, of course, is not without process. And towards the latter half of the month Mars, Pluto and Mercury will all be turning retrograde, giving us a chance to really rework our lives around recent discoveries. There is intense development at work within us all right now to become very clear about our truth, and let go of the aspects of ourselves which interfere with our integrity. The energy of the Fire Monkey year continues to be intense, challenging, and full of surprises -- we must remember to stay grounded and observe the reflections in our reality with an inward eye. This is not a peaceful time on earth, but individuals may work to cultivate peace within themselves in order to bring the presence and vibration of peace to the world in our own unique, special ways. There is no deed too small, no action unseen.

Now, for my intention setters:

Using astrology to set intentions is an excellent way to create the reality you desire. I find it to be a wonderful, monthly meditation, to clarify for myself what it is that I am really working on in my life and what it is I am most desiring to achieve. A great way to phrase intentions is to use present tense "I AM" type language. It is helpful to set intentions WITH the energy -- so certainly you can reference my analysis above, or just work from the notion that Aries is "The Beginning" so the energy right now is very much about beginning things. Your intuition is the most important factor when working with intentions -- you want to really honor what arises in the process of considering intentions. I think it is best, personally, to write them down, but it is up to you how you wish to approach this. Try also to limit your intentions to around 10 or so -- this will allow for more focus, energetically speaking.

The timing of intentions is also important -- you want to set your intentions after the moon is officially "new" and try to avoid "void of course" moons where the energy isn't really good for activating things. "It will come to nothing" is the common phrase associated with the void of course moon. The last aspect of the moon when it goes into this energy will determine the ultimate outcome of things, so this can add another dimension as well.

Here are this month's guidelines for timing:

This month's New Moon occurs at 7:24AM EDT on April 7, 2016. The moon goes Void of Course with a conjunction to Uranus at 10:46AM EDT. The energy of Uranus is about major change.

The moon enters Taurus at 2:10AM EDT and goes void on Saturday with a trine to Pluto. This is an energy that indicates progress and evolution on a deep subconscious level.

To summarize: Set intentions BETWEEN 7:24AM & 10:56AM EDT on April 7... or After 2:10AM EDT on April 8 for the most efficacy :)

I encourage everyone interested in this subject to check out Jan Spiller's book "New Moon Astrology" in which she goes into great detail about this.  I have used this book as a reference faithfully for the past year and have found it to be really great -- it is the primary reference for what I am sharing here along with my own tweaks and discoveries along the way :)

K, I hope this helps.

MUCH LOVE TO ALL.

<3

April 18, 2015: New Moon in Aries "Divine Inspiration"

This Saturday, we step out of eclipse season with a refreshing new moon in Aries. The eclipse cycle brought the energy of “letting go” to culmination in a powerful way. Through the past several weeks and months we have learned lessons about “letting go” that perhaps we haven’t known in quite this way before. The season of dissolution was spelled out in the charts, but in walking through it, so much more is being revealed to me about what this time in humanity is really about.

The things we’ve been releasing are deep, old, and often subconscious. They are issues long standing, going far beyond just ourselves and often into the ancestry and history we have been brought into. To me, this is the world changing from the inside out. This is a moment in time when we have a much higher ability to see what's past as past, and move in the now as now.  We are sloughing off our most deep-seated conflicts with unprecedented ease and finding the creative force within us that feels empowered to make real changes.

What I have been observing is that replaying the story behind the conflict or wound is less and less important. Yes, there may be some tears and sad feelings, but at the end of it, when we find ourselves exhausted by the act of holding on, the concern for the past fades quickly and we're directed to the next thing.  The process is simply a matter of acknowledging what caused us pain, and then making conscious choices to invite new energy into our lives.  No fanfare and no drama necessary.

The Libra full moon brought up issues of balance in all facets of our lives, most especially our close intimate relationships. Relationships are often where we meet the alchemical fire with the most intensity. Our partners are our mirrors. It is through our close personal relationships where we are most challenged to live out the things we might find much easier to do with acquaintances, clients, business partners, etc. – Listen truly, have compassion, be independent yet united, make changes and compromises, and really, truly, let go. Relationships teach us everything we need to know about ourselves and how we approach the world. Where do we need to stand up for ourselves? (Aries) Where should we soften, yield and compromise? (Libra) What is really important in life – being right (Aries) or being together (Libra)? Are all things equal and respected (Libra) or is one partner getting his or her way only (Aries)? Are we making unreasonable demands when there is a middle road? Or is there something else that might be more true, more fulfilling, more in line with our life as it stands now?

These are the questions I observed in the countless relationship eruptions that have appeared before me in the past several weeks. The basic energy of the lunar eclipse brought up all of our issues and conflicts, in particular the desire to be free of controlling influences brought on by the people and things in our lives, as well as intense release within our own selves surrounding subconscious behaviors that keep us feeling caged. The wisdom that came through, for me, was that when we agree to let go and truly listen in a relationship, we are also agreeing to abandon the irritating and often pointless loops we cycle through with our closest loved ones. Rather than reengage, reattach, and reinjure, we can come to the point of realization that some things are better left where they are, and that real freedom from the conflict comes from acceptance, forgiveness, and the conscious will to move forward. To make the choice of healing, listening, and caring – all of the things we really want out of our relationships and so often find elusive when we get hung up on the offenses. Letting go is as simple as recognizing that it is not necessary to reengage with negative experiences or emotions, especially if our wish is to be free of them. We can actually just say OK, I’m ready to move forward, and do that.

So in the spirit of that, I am ready move on and talk more about the fantastic energy of this New Moon in Aries.

I felt it was important to speak on my further reflections about the nature of “letting go” as it has come to us these past months because Aries is so much about initiation and creating the new. Recent times have given us a lot information about what we don’t want, what we need to get rid of, and so forth. As such, we should have a much clearer idea of what we truly do want. What makes your heart sing? Where do you feel in your groove? What gives you strength? What aspects of your life would you most like to focus on reforming and rebuilding? Who are you now?

This is one of the best times of year to set intentions for the seeds we’d like to plant for the future. Whether they be intentions to improve upon yourself in some fashion, bring certain new energies into your relationships, your business, your social life, to finish or start projects, improve your financial situation, find your true calling, or really, just about anything that you would like to see be different in your life, this is a great time to initiate progress on those aspects.

What I am seeing in the chart of this Aries New Moon is that what we are initiating is strongly intertwined with our ideals and sense of “higher purpose.” We’ve spent a lot of time this winter reflecting on our impediments, and asking ourselves what holds us back. Now it’s time to define what we want to do and be and then do it! Green light, go!

Of course, know that we are still in for some months of limbo between starting new things, and clearing out the old. Both of these things are happening simultaneously, but the phase of action is coming in more strongly, as the phase of release recedes somewhat. What is important right now is not that it all needs to be done exactly as we picture it right away, but to really envision and feel what it is we’re looking to align with and to start laying the groundwork in real time.

The energy of this new moon feels fresh and joyful to me. It feels serious and determined, yet wholehearted and free. We get to work with our life from a clean slate, if we wish it to be so. We get to reshape our life as we see fit, if we have the courage. The structure of things seems more malleable, giving way to a sense that the possibilities are truly endless… the only thing that stands in between who we are in this moment, and who we wish to be in the future, is work. So thus it is liberating, but also focused – as it lies on the individual to create the desired outcome. In the greater context, all of our individual dreams for a positive future, for a world that stands for love, and our inner work to make such a thing so in our lives, is the force that shifts the outer world to be closer to what we have hoped it to be. It is requiring considerable effort on the parts of everyone who desires to create their life around their essential joy, goodness, and happiness – but it is also a cumulative effort. The more the possibilities of joyful living are expressed through individuals, the more openness is allowed for more and more people to claim their own form of joy.

It is my perspective that the most beautiful gift we can give in life and in service, is the complete embodiment of our own true selves. To caretake, to perform, to teach, to share, to write, to sing, to anaylize, to build – wherever it is we find our brilliance. Wherever it is we provide in a way that brings us a feeling of our own warmth. These are the things that are truly important for us to believe in, to develop, and to become.

Aries is the sign of innocence. It knows not and cares not about others. It never compares itself, it just lets itself be who it is, charging its way through life, perhaps, but nonetheless, a fearless and direct force.

Find the heart of this within yourself. Not from a space of ego, headiness, or grandiosity – but from the distilled truth of the past several weeks, months, and years.

Who are you really? And what have you come to be?

Courage, integrity, fortitude.

These are the pillars we develop through the positive use of trying experiences. Through all choices to walk in the world as we are and as we wish the world to be. It is our willingness to endure and to evolve that gets us to the next level. Be righteous with your choices, and the world can become something more beautiful and something more great.

Aries energy, despite its reputation for its me first perspective, impulsive behavior, and volatility, carries with it an important reminder:

EVERYTHING STARTS WITH YOU.

Everything we do, everything we want, everything we are.

Who are you really? What is at your core? What is it you want most deeply, more than anything else in the world?

Embrace it. Be it. Live it.

And pour it out through your heart as inspired lightness, true happiness, and love.