Artwork by Savannah King for The New Moon Circle Journal

Sagittarius is where we seek out our belief system, Capricorn is where we consider its rules. Capricorn is the sign of backbone and integrity. It’s our ethics, our matured understanding of consequence. Effort is required and rewarded. This New Moon asks that we revisit our ultimate goals. What mountain are we climbing? And why are we climbing it?

Capricorn is an earth sign. It’s interested in tangible results and status symbols. This New Moon offers us an opportunity to reevaluate our relationship to these things and the role they play in our lives. Do they define us? How much weight do they hold? We all crave recognition to varying degrees. It’s part of being human. But if ambition is our sole motivator, we may be missing the point.

Gratification and satisfaction can be found as much in the journey as in the destination, perhaps even more so. Very often it’s the overcoming, the willingness to step out of our comfort zone (Capricorn governs fear) that emboldens us and gives our lives meaning and weight. It’s actually the quiet, inward applause that deepens our commitment to self-actualization and authenticity. 

Now is the time to revisit our motivations. What’s driving us? Who are we trying to impress and why? Can we commit to our own development knowing that, ultimately, it’s how we feel about ourselves that matters most? Can we recognize how far we’ve come?

Art: Savannah King
Astrology: Danielle Beinstein

Savannah King for The New Moon Circle Journal

Wisdom from Rebecca Conran:

"This Super Moon in Taurus is the closest the moon will appear to earth in 68 years, it's going to appear huge, and it will probably feel like a massive release to most of us. This is good, we sure do need it! Taurus helps us to connect to our senses, ground into mother nature and our bodies and really be present to the current moment. It's steady powerful earthy energy with a background in Venus, Taurus planetary parent and keeper of value, worth and all things Love. This is a time when we really need to use our self care rituals, how we eat, the movement we give our bodies, meditation, to cope with the intensity of our grief, anger and fear. We are being asked to be present to the sensations and needs of our bodies and to connect into our divine value and worth. We show ourselves value and worth by taking very very good care of ourselves. By speaking to ourselves with kindness, by mothering and fathering ourselves in the way we always needed. By incorporating creativity into our lives. By having adequate excersize. By connecting with loving people. By eating healthy nourishing foods. Where can you improve this over the next week? Make a plan at this time to do so. You deserve it. 
 

Full Moons are always about release and each of us has much to intend at this time in the way of what we want to let go of, if not for us then for the collective. Taurus asks us, how can we show up for ourselves and others and be dependable? How can we show generosity in our giving? How can we be patient yet persistent? How can push ourselves to receive from others to build our self worth and self esteem?"

Solar Eclipses occur when the moon moves between the earth and the sun, blocking the sun. They pack a punch as they’re known to carry three times the weight of a new moon and often herald new beginnings. We may, for example, hear unexpected news or be offered an opportunity during a solar eclipse. Not everyone will be deeply affected by an eclipse, though. It’s really a matter of mathematics and where this particular lunation falls in your chart, but if your birthday is within a few days of September 1st, December 1st, March 1st, or June 1st, or you have planets or points around 10 degrees mutable (Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces, or Gemini) then this one is sure to affect you.

Regardless of whether it’s hitting your natal chart directly, what are we looking at here exactly, with this eclipse? What’s at play? Well, it’s slippery, despite it being in organized, detail-oriented Virgo. Go with the flow has never been more apt. Virgo likes things ordered. It excels at efficiency and multitasking. But we may find ourselves unsure of the facts, and of what is real, as information is obscured or fuzzy. 

Think of the media. Culturally, we tend to accept things shouted on TV or printed in the newspaper as fact, but they’re not. They’re often simply a matter of opinion or spin. It’s one lens or perspective, but it’s not the whole picture. We’re swimming in a sea of subjectivity and calling it the truth.

We also see this in relationships all the time. One person has one recollection, while the other recalls something radically different. We have one memory and our friends, partners, or relatives have another. Is anyone really wrong? Likely not. It’s just that we filter things through our own conditioning, our own view.

So what do we do? Well, magical thinking isn’t the play here. But neither is gas-lighting those you disagree with, denying their reality. The key is discernment, rooting in our own self-trust, owning our feelings and thoughts, while being open to hearing another’s, no matter how different or radical it sounds. Life isn’t meant to be easy, but it also doesn’t have to be hard. We can choose our perspective. We can choose how to respond and react to what comes our way. We can adapt and re-direct our energy. And we can allow others the dignity of their experience.

Virgo is ruled by Mercury, the winged messenger. Mercury will be retrograde at the time of this eclipse. So we may feel the need to revisit conversations or negotiations. We may go over and over these things in our head (Virgo is associated with anxiety). But this same energy can be funneled into action. The more direct our communications, the more relief we feel. Because, at least in Virgo’s case, knowledge is empowering—to a point. So ask questions. Get the information needed, take any necessary inspired steps and then let go. Because as much as we like to think it’s all up to us, it never really is. 

Art: Savannah King
Astrology: Danielle Beinstein

Artwork by Savannah King

"Full Moon Partial Lunar Eclipse in AQUARIUS | Aquarius is the friend, the brilliant, future-minded thinker. This lunar eclipse opposite the show stopping, big hearted, generous Sun in Leo brings us a moment of lightning bolt clarity, piercing the veil of drama. Aquarius can feel aloof, but that's only because its got its mind on the bigger picture. It feels weighed down by heavy emotional scenes, choosing to focus its energy on the collective instead. Where have we been participating and perpetuating drama? Are we willing to free ourselves (no judgment if we're not)? How in acceptance are we of our differences? Of our need for space? Life is a dance, always. So can we be ok with all of it, including the drama, as we step back and, with a wide angle lens, and take it all in? Can we be a true friend, to ourselves and others?" -Danielle Beinstein