Living with the Stars

  Good morning y'all! Let's all bid welcome to the Virgo New Moon. New Moons are a time when we set our intentions for this lunar cycle, so be sure to have a think about what it is you want to manifest.  We have just left the zodiac sign of Leo, a time when the emphasis was on creativity and finding your inner king. But like all kings, they need their subjects who recognise them as king. The keyword here is recognition and therefore, in other words, the essence of Leo is about knowing who you are, what you're about and what you stand for. It is the myth of Parsifal.  After completing the journey through Leo, when we go in search of ourself, we move into the next sign, Virgo, where, knowing who we are and all that, we separate the wheat from the chaff; we evaluate and sift through our experiences. That is why Mercury rules this sign; this Mercury (as opposed to the curious, information-chasing Merc we associate with Gemini) has a more discriminating and discerning nature w...

  For some odd reason (which in my sphere is not odd at all), the importance of the Leo season has been somewhat brought to my attention in a number of ways. Walking past a jewellery shop, there was a display of 'the age of Leo' range of rings and more. Switch on the TV, and the Lionesses chase a ball. That and other small but significant signs. And I'm a Leo native. It's Leo season. The month of July brings with it what is known as the 'dog days' - the intense heat associated with the 'dog star' Sirius, whose heliacal rising occurs this year on the 29th July (but I bet you can feel the fire too - temperatures here in the Med are crazy hot). Sopdet Taken from Wikipedia This fixed star, known as Sopdet to the ancient Egyptians, was a celestial herald of renewal, appearing just before sunrise at the time of the flooding of the River Nile. In this respect Sirius - associated with the goddess Isis, signified a life-giving event that marked the beginning of t...

  Welcome to the New Moon in Taurus, happening on the 27th April at 21:31. In astrology, a new moon symbolizes fresh beginnings and opportunities. It marks the start of the lunar cycle, occurring when the moon aligns with the sun in the same zodiac sign. This phase is associated with setting intentions, planting seeds for future growth, and embracing change. The energy of a new moon encourages introspection, helping individuals connect with their inner selves and clarify their goals. It’s a powerful time for manifestation and renewal. It's a good time for planting new seeds not only in terms of setting a new pattern, but also a time for sowers to plant seeds (just in case you like gardening!).  At the time of writing, a pope is being given a send-off. Pope Francis' funeral will be the main focus of attention this weekend, with many dignitaries flooding the Vatican Square, many of whom are controversial figures in their own right. Twelve reigning monarchs will be attending (sur...

  First of all, I'd like to present my apologia for not posting my solar eclipse report for the 29th March. The truth is my workload needed my total attention and priorities are what they are.  So, I aim to present all the information here, starting with the 29th March New Moon and also the Full Moon of the 13th April.  Also important is the number of planets that have gone direct or changed sign. I hope you will find this all very interesting.  The New Moon chart of the 29th March had a number of interesting placements. First of all, an Aries new moon is a fire moon, with its ruler Mars very prominently placed on the ascendant at 22 degrees of Cancer. We must remember that Mars had been backtracking through Cancer it its retrograde period and is now moving forwards. At 22 degrees it is conjunct the fixed star Pollux. This solar eclipse is only a partial one, which means it is not as powerful as a total eclipse. Still, eclipses in any form are not considered fortunat...

  Happy Chinese New Year - today 29th January 2025. The upcoming Chinese Year of the Wood Snake,  symbolises wisdom, intuition, and transformation. People born under this sign are known for their intelligence, grace, and enigmatic nature. This year encourages introspection, strategic thinking, and embracing change, making it a time for personal growth and new opportunities. This New Moon in Aquarius on January 29, 2025, marks a significant astrological event, ushering in the Year of the Snake. This New Moon is a time for new beginnings, innovation, and forward-thinking. Aquarius, known for its association with community, teamwork, and long-term goals, encourages us to embrace change and think outside the box. (The last time we celebrated the Year of the Wood Snake was in 1965. Martin Luther King Jr. and 700 demonstrators were arrested in Selma, Alabama, among other interesting facts. This particular fact is significant when you think that many on the planet are still figh...

  On the 30th December 2024, at 23:26, the second New Moon in December marks the end of the calendar year. Although it marks the end of 2024, it also heralds the beginning of the new. And what a year it has been. It's also poignant that we have a new moon very close to the new year. Let's have a look at the story the sky is offering us.  The fascinating thing about this New Moon chart is that almost all the planets and lights (the Sun and Moon are called lights, in spite of the fact that the Moon reflects the Sun's light) aspect each other in some way.  The idea of a new moon is that it is the beginning of a lunar cycle which lasts 29.5 days. That is why we are asked to set our intentions at the new moon, which then reaches its peak at the full moon where we reflect (just as the Moon reflects the Sun's light) on what we have manifested in our lives. This New Moon is not only out-of-bounds (something of a wild card vibe) but is also is ruled over by Saturn -  by virtu...

  Welcome to the New Moon in Sagittarius happening on Sunday, 1st December at 7:21am. Sagittarius, the ninth sign of the zodiac, is symbolised by the Archer, representing a quest for knowledge and adventure. Born between November 22 and December 21, Sagittarians are known for their optimism, independence, and love for exploration. They are ruled by Jupiter, the planet of expansion and growth, which fuels their desire for new experiences and philosophical pursuits. Sagittarians are often seen as enthusiastic, open-minded, and honest, sometimes to a fault. They thrive on freedom and are always ready for the next big adventure, making them natural travelers and lifelong learners. Their infectious energy and zest for life inspire those around them.  Sag is always fun after the deep emotional angst of Scorpio, right? After going through the Scorpio experience (remember that Scorpio is a fixed water sign), the Sag experience is one of mutable fire - ready to change and driven b...

  Welcome to the New Moon in Scorpio, happening today 1st November at 13:47. There is much to say about this New Moon, a time of seeding new intentions.  In this post, we'll also have a look at what is on most people's minds - the US elections, as well as what the Malta 'sky weather' is like. Last but not least, what the sky portends for us lesser mortals.  So many oppositions in a New Moon chart speaks of polarities. It's either this, or that, black, or white. The most obvious polarity is that of Pluto opposite Mars at the anaretic (29 degrees) degree. This is HIGHLY charged - it is akin to saying "change or die staying the same" (die being a metaphor for 'things will be changed without your consent'). Mercury, which is currently transiting the very secretive sign of Scorpio, is opposite Uranus, the planet associated with sudden change and innovation. Communication here is being supercharged with inspirational thinking. Venus, the planet associate...

  Are you feeling the heat? Astrologically, a new moon is all about implementing new plans, bringing others to a close and setting new intentions. Although this is stated in each of the blog posts, they are not the same for each new moon in a year. A new moon in Cancer is not the same as a new moon in Pisces, though theoretically they are both water signs. What you may find is that if you keep a personal journal, during the Leo New Moons period the same issues generally tend to crop up. Of course, the planets are in different positions at any given new moon, when a seed is sown. Ask your gardener whether they would sow any seeds after the full moon...  This month's new moon  is in the fiery sign of Leo and occurs at around 13:30 on the 4th August. As such, a new moon in Leo focuses on the issue of creativity, as Leo is a sign associated with the heart and putting our ideas/creations out there into manifestation, and also being recognised for our works of art, be they idea...

  A New Moon in Taurus graces our skies early morning on the 8th May 2024.  The New Moon always speaks of the end of one lunar cycle and the opportunity to work with a new 'story board', so to speak. Taurus is always about stability; it is a fixed sign and also an earth sign. It is about maintaining the status quo. A New Moon in Taurus asks us to sit down and become aware of the resources we have or perhaps need in order to grow. Set your intentions in preparation for the Full Moon later on in the month.  So let's see what story the sky is offering us. The New Moon in Taurus is accompanied by two planets, Uranus and Jupiter. These two planets accompany what we call the two 'lights' (Sun and Moon) and offer us the opportunity to 'break the mould' or perhaps do things differently (for a less dramatic expression) and also cautiously (Taurus likes stability). Taurus represents that which we attach value to. But there's more. Taurus is ruled over by Venus and...

  As we approach the spring equinox, we come to the last New Moon of the zodiacal year - the Pisces New Moon at 20 degrees, which will grace our skies at 10:00 this morning.  Pisces is the sign associated with the two fish swimming in opposite directions, signifying the quality of this sign. It is a water sign and also a mutable sign. What does this mean?  The zodiac signs are not only classified as being water, air, fire and earth signs (the four elements) but also distinguished by the qualities - cardinal, fixed and mutable. Thus, any of the zodiac signs will embody the permutations of these two classes; Capricorn, for example, is an earth sign with a cardinal quality. Earth signs are practical. Cardinal signs 'initiate' things, fixed signs maintain the status quo, whilst mutable signs are flexible and go with the flow. Thus, Capricorn natives are practical with initiating ideas. In the case of Pisces, the notion of two fish swimming in opposite directions is very apt a...

  A New Moon in Aquarius graces our skies at two minutes to midnight on the 9th February 2024. Not only that, but it is also the Chinese New Year, but more about that later.  Aquarius is an air sign traditionally ruled by the planet Saturn. Between the last ten days of January (or thereabouts) until the 20th of February, the Sun will rise against the backdrop of the Water Bearer, Aquarius. We are moving away from the longest night towards Spring with singular vision. Hence, there is a sense of hope for the future, and therein lies the idea of Aquarius; vision, ideals and humanity.  Saturn is the only planet to rule two adjacent zodiac signs. The qualities Saturn possesses are unlike the constrictive nature of Saturn in Capricorn. In Aquarius, Saturn brings people together with ideas; it builds with ideas.  The co-ruler of Aquarius is Uranus, who has more of a rebellious nature (although Saturn would in Aquarius would also go against the grain for the good of others)....