Living with the Stars

  The 'old' year is coming to an end, and what a year it's been. Heat - lots of it....the hottest year on record, plus the wildfires, certainly made the news. There were also floods, severe storms and earthquakes. Then there were the disasters which were man made, the war in Ukraine, which marked its first year last February, and the attack on Israel in October, followed by the latter's retaliation. Kings were crowned (Charles III) and Rishi Sunak, whilst other kings found themselves in court (DJT of MAGA fame). Covid went from being a pandemic to being endemic (though this issue isn't settled yet). effectively de-throned, whilst the film 'Barbie' was a hit, as was Taylor Swift in the music scene.    Tonight, or tomorrow early hours, is the last full moon of 2023. The Moon in Cancer is opposite the Sun in Capricorn at almost 5 degrees. The Moon will be high in the sky, so should be quite visible; exact time of said Full Moon is 01:33.  Full Moons are a time ...

  It's been quite a hectic week for me (started school) and so this blog post is late.  Yesterday, the 29th September, there was a glorious full moon gracing our night skies. This is an Aries Full Moon which is highly energised and is a precursor to next month's eclipse season.  Just have a look at the photo taken from the yard of my abode! Glorious, isn't it? This moon, people, is the final supermoon of 2023. A supermoon looks larger than our usual full moons due to the proximity of the Moon to Earth at the time of the full moon.  An Aries full moon is a fiery one. The real star of the show is still Venus as she squares (90 degrees) Uranus in the Full Moon Chart. Given that Venus represents love, money or how you network with others, it is possible that this placement offers up challenges to do with finances or our relationships with significant others. A Venus/Uranus combination usually brings with it a 'flash in the pan' situation where you suddenly find yourself...

  The Full Moon of the 31st August is the second full moon of the calendar month, making it what is commonly known as a blue moon. Apparently it can also appear to be blue-ish in colour. The exact time of this full moon is 03:35, as the Moon was about to set in the west. So those of you who were not in the land of Nod might have been able to see it early this morning.  This full moon occurs in the sign of the fish, Pisces, at around 7 degrees of that sign. The Sun, obviously, is in the sign of the maiden, Virgo. The Virgo/Pisces axis deals with the notion of service and sacrifice, as Virgo is all about that which enslaves us in mundane life (daily chores) and Pisces is where we transcend the ego and offer our services for the good of others. This is in a nutshell, of course, as Virgo is also about the state of our health and animals, amongst other things, but this is a subject which deserves closer study. That's for another day.  Let's look at the story the sky is offerin...

  The New Moon in Leo for 2023 occurs at 23*17' on the 16th  at 11:38am. This starts a new lunar cycle which will last until the Full Moon on the 31st of August (which, incidentally, is what is called a 'Blue Moon' - the second full moon in a calendar month). This is a time to set your new intentions for this cycle. First, let's have a look at what is going on in the zodiac chart for this new moon.  Leo is a sign associated with creativity as a means of expressing one's essence. Unlike the full moon, where emotions are at the forefront of this part of the lunar cycle, the New Moon chart is where the Moon is in the same position of the Sun, indicating a balance between the solar self and lunar intuitive part of our psyche. Leo is all about expressing one's ego. The lion is associated with kingship, where we become aware of our own creative prowess and our need to shine.  If we overdo the 'king thing' we become a tyrant, our egos get in the way, and our ...

  On the 17th July, just after sunset, we have a New Moon in Cancer at 25 degrees. This New Moon brings with it the vibe of Leo as Venus, as an evening star, lies at the heart of the Lion, traditionally held to be at 28 degrees Leo conjunct Regulus, also known as Cor Leonis. Of course, with precession ( a process whereby the position of the stars and constellations gradually move in relation to the seasons), fixed stars have moved a little. Nevertheless, Regulus, one of the four 'Royal Stars', marked the summer solstice by the Persians in 3000BC, and was known as the 'Watcher of the North'. The other three royal stars are Antares, Fomalhaut and Aldebaran.  So what does this New Moon portend? Well, a new moon is always about setting new intentions. Cancer is ruled by the Moon. It is during the Cancer season that we experience the solstice, when the Sun reaches its highest declination and begins its 'travel' south (of course the Sun does not move...we know that). ...

  This evening, at 7:34pm, a lunar eclipse in the turbulent sign of Scorpio will grace the heavens. What is remarkable about this particular lunar eclipse is not only the fact that it is occurring some hours before a much awaited coronation of a king, but also because this supercharged Full Moon lunation makes so many aspects to Charles Mountbatten-Windsor's own personal chart. Read on to find out more about that, but first, local matters. The chart on the left gives us a picture of the lunation as it occurs Malta time. It's interesting have a look at how it impacts the charts of people, or nations or even events.  A lunar eclipse typically blots out the Sun which means that Sol (Sun) will be hidden for a few minutes. If you think about this, it suggests that something will be hidden and the emotions (traditionally linked to the Moon) will take precedence. Furthermore, this eclipse occurs in the zodiac sign of Scorpio - that sign which talks about hidden things or secrets...

    The New Moon on the 20th April occurs at 29degrees 50 minutes of Aries just before sunrise. This means that the Sun will be just below the horizon and not visible at that time. It is a hybrid eclipse. What does this mean?  In one calendar year, Earth usually experiences four to six eclipses. Most years we get two eclipses twice yearly as they usually come in pairs. Some years we have two pairs of three eclipses. Hybrid eclipses are not common and happen once every decade. For a more detailed explanation, apart from knowing that solar eclipses happen when the Moon blocks out the Sun's light, go to https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/hybrid-solar-eclipse.html (copy and right click to open in a new tab).  Eclipses are 'wild cards' which portend change, and depending on where they fall in your astrological chart, expect change to unfold, especially if they aspect a personal planet or one of the four angles of one's chart. Just to remind you, in days of old, the ...

  Good morning - this is just a quick post to highlight a celestial event happening at the moment. Jupiter, the planet to do with expansion and joy, is conjunct the Sun at 21 to 22 degrees of Aries. Jupiter is travelling with the Sun which means this planet is not visible by night.  Jupiter conjunct (occupying the same space) the Sun is a very fortunate aspect, so if you have anything between 20 to 23 degrees in Aries or Libra, Pisces or Virgo, Aquarius or Leo, and Capricorn or Cancer, this is a highly auspicious sign. It signifies growth and expansion with benefic results.  Let's give an example. This is the aspect that this heavenly conjunction is making to a person's chart who has their own natal Mercury at 21 degrees of Cancer. Mercury in Cancer speaks of communcation as a means of nurturing (Mercury in Cancer) within the area of groups and organisations (11th house). The Jupiter-Sun conjunction is happening of the 8th house (to do with other people's resources). Canc...

  So there's going to be a Full Moon at 16 degrees of Libra this morning, just before sunrise. Tonight's moon will be bright and full, and will reach its opposition to the Sun just before sinking below the western horizon. What is striking about this Full Moon is the number of planets setting as the Moon is rising (last night at around 7:00pm). Indeed, the only planets inhabiting the sky tonight will be Pluto, which cannot be seen with the naked eye, and Saturn, which rises as the Moon is about to set.  Which brings me to the next two topics: just what is going on in the world? Well, Saturn and Pluto changed signs recently. Saturn, the planet to do with taking organisation and responsibility, rules two signs: Capricorn and Aquarius. Capricorn is the sign of big business, in our times traditionally associated with big corporations, CEOs and all that. Following that sign is Aquarius, which is unlike Capricorn being an air sign. Aquarius is known for being an independent and unco...

  On the 21st March, 2023, just after sunset, the Sun goes into 0 degrees of Aries, marking the beginning of the Spring season in the northern hemisphere.  It is not every year that there is a New Moon on the Equinox, when the Sun reaches the first point of Aries. This event will mark the beginning of a new lunar cycle and an excellent opportunity for us to set intentions and start new projects. Aries is the first sign of the zodiac and is known for its bold and assertive nature. It is a fire sign, which symbolizes passion, creativity, and action. When the New Moon is in Aries, we are encouraged to embrace our inner warrior and take bold steps towards achieving our goals. The New Moon in Aries is a time of new beginnings, and we are urged to take action and seize opportunities. It is a time to break free from old patterns, habits, and limiting beliefs that may be holding us back. We are encouraged to be brave, take risks, and trust our instincts.  It is also a great ...

  Pluto in Aquarius: Revolutionizing the Future Pluto, the planet of transformation and rebirth, takes approximately 248 years to orbit the Sun, spending around 20 years in each sign. On the 23rd March 2023, Pluto will enter Aquarius, marking a significant shift in the way astrologers look at and interpret astrological charts with this new placement.  Aquarius is the sign of innovation, technology, and social change. It is associated with progress, revolution, and unconventional ideas. When Pluto, the planet of power and intensity, enters Aquarius, it brings with it a wave of transformative energy that will challenge the status quo and push us towards a more progressive future. One of the key themes of Pluto in Aquarius is the idea of collective empowerment. Aquarius is a sign that values the power of the collective, and Pluto will amplify this energy, encouraging us to work together to create meaningful change in our communities and in the world at large. At the sam...