Time to get ready! We have a potent New Moon coming up next week – at 9 degrees, 21 minutes Virgo on Thursday, September 1st, 2016, at 5:03 AM Eastern US time.
In addition to having the properties of an ordinary New Moon – which is *always* a ripe time for self-evaluation and seeding new projects – this is also a SOLAR ECLIPSE (in all caps!) which means that we can expect fated events and dramatic revelations here on earth. This marks the end of a 19-year journey that began in the fall of 1997.
The Universe is giving out mid-course corrections. If your life is not “on task” – if you’re not making proper use of the skills and talents encoded in your chart, and going after your dreams – you can expect, this week, to be picked up like a kitten by the scruff of your neck, given a little shake, and deposited wherever you’re supposed to be.
In her book “The Eagle and the Lark,” astrologer Bernadette Brady says of this type of Eclipse that it is “about coming down to earth” and “tackling the truth,” seeing the situation as it is, unmuddled by our hopes and fears.
In this chart, the Sun and Moon in Virgo (conjunct the North Node) are opposed by Neptune in Pisces (conjunct the South Node). Neptune and the South Node offer us a chance to “dissolve” any unhealthy habits or outworn systems of belief.
At the same time, Saturn in Sagittarius is square to both the Virgo and Pisces planets, inviting us to lay a rock-solid foundation for what what we TRULY believe and WHOLEHEARTEDLY intend to build. Mars in Sagittarius is also square to the Virgo and Pisces stuff, insisting that once we get the project started, it will be done FAST.
Mars will be traveling through Sagittarius (the quick-moving Fire sign associated with runners and other athletes) till the end of September, *and* he’s out-of-bounds (flying past the Sun) till the end of October. All this puts him in the mood to get a great deal accomplished. Whatever structures you now choose to build in your life, they will go up with incredible speed.
Choose wisely, however. If you build according to the plan designed by your heart/chart, the structure will stand. If you build upon false beliefs or according to other people’s dreams and wishes for you, the structure will collapse under its own weight at the end of Eclipse season – when Pluto, the planet of death and rebirth, stations trine to the Node on September 26th.
Mercury and Jupiter, joined in the last degrees of Virgo in the New Moon Solar Eclipse chart, help us analyze the plan and knock out any wrinkles or crinkles. They also remind us that it really is all about “doing the work” (as creativity writer Steven Pressfield says), day by day by day. What do you need to create for YOU? What would be worth plugging away at, even if it didn’t bring you money or fame or whatever? Virgo asks us to do it (whatever *it* is) humbly and consistently, simply as a labor of love.
Don’t worship false gods. When Saturn was in Scorpio, starting in the fall of 2012, he helped you understand, psychologically, some of the old and untrue stories that got in the way of you doing your real work. Now that you have that knowledge, there are no more excuses. It’s time to move forward boldly (Sadge), taking complete responsibility for your future (Virgo).
I am reminded of the scene at the end of the musical “Pippin,” when the hero is confronted with all the worldly things he used to think he wanted, but doesn’t any longer. He knows he already has what he needs.
The New Moon Solar Eclipse chart also features a number of delicious major configurations, involving both major and minor planets. We have four Mystic Rectangles (pointing to divine inspiration), as well as a Quintile Kite and Grand Quintile (asking us to integrate the various facets of our soul), a Star of David in Earth and Water (perfect for manifesting on the physical plane), and a Hammer of Thor (ready to SMITE everything that isn’t meant to stand). The asteroid Pallas Athena is moreover conjunct the Part of Treachery (reminding us that we can’t fool destiny) and Saturn is on the asteroid Aesculapia (offering true healing).
All this, *plus* the fact that closing aspect of the Virgo Moon is a big, juicy conjunction to Jupiter conspires to make Thursday a very important day for choosing, refining, designing, planting, and building your future. I hope you’ll take time to do a ritual of some sort – even if it’s just 15 minutes spent meditating on your desires. It’s time, and you deserve it!
