By Amanda Painter
Friday, Sept. 30 (early Oct. 1 in some time zones), we have a New Moon in Libra — the first New Moon following a pair of eclipses, Mercury’s recent retrograde, and the beginning of a new season. If you feel like you’re in distinctly different territory compared to one month ago, it’s because you are. Tomorrow’s New Moon seems to begin something rather distinct; and, like all New Moons, it also implies the coming Full Moon.
Photo by Amanda Painter.
What a Full Moon that will be: on Oct. 16, the Moon will conjoin Uranus and Eris in Aries, and all three will oppose the Sun in Libra. Eric has written much about the Uranus-Eris conjunction that spans this year.
Uranus-Eris in Aries seems to be describing the ways that identity has been fractured by the internet; a kind of disembodied existence we’re all trying to get a grip on even as we try to catch up with it — and with ourselves — as its effects snowball. In as much as Uranus-Eris represents our surprising, innovative and unpredictable relationship with our technology, it also suggests the ways we seek our identity through conflict.
One look at the way even the most well-meaning post on social media can become a no-holds-barred battleground between people who cannot actually see, hear or feel each other — and who might never have met — demonstrates this.
At the same time, we live in an environment where this online dissociation allows us seemingly to be ‘here’ and ‘someplace else’ at once. Suddenly, the Syrian refugee crisis and the Dakota Pipeline protest and an eclipse only visible on the other side of the planet are all unfolding in real time while we watch. Often it is too much to handle; often, in response, we shut down. It’s getting harder and harder to find the sane middle ground between overextension of our senses and emotions and ignoring everything.
When that Oct. 16 Full Moon peaks, it may very well shine some light on all of it. You might start preparing the ground with the New Moon on Friday, and you can begin today. If you have not already begun to tie up any loose ends that freed up (or frayed) with the Full Moon and eclipse two weeks ago, consider that on your agenda now.
New Moons close the previous four-week cycle and begin a new one. For tomorrow’s event, the Sun and Moon will conjoin at 8+ Libra, exact at 8:11 pm EDT (00:11 UTC).
Automatically, this calls in the theme of relationships and bringing them into balance or greater harmony. While the Sun and Moon are not making any ‘hard’ exact angles to other major planets, they are making some interesting contacts.
Foremost, the New Moon is square the midpoint between Mars in Capricorn and Pluto in Capricorn. We can look at Pluto as a sense of imperative to change what’s been established, and Mars as the self-will or desire to establish or achieve something new.
What is your incentive to adjust and evolve your relationships? Is it the irresistible force of outside pressure to adapt, as structures you thought you knew how to navigate are broken open? Or do you have some sense of self-guided desire to move toward personal goals, and to build relationships that genuinely support that? Maybe it’s possible to find a balance between the two as you renegotiate your relationships — both with yourself, and with others.
Eric’s new class, It’s All In the Houses, will be held on Oct. 8. Discover the key to truly understanding a chart. You may sign up here.
Looking ahead to the Oct. 16 Full Moon, are you aware of the ways in which you currently might seek to establish a sense of identity through conflict? It can be an effective method, but it’s not the only way and it’s not necessarily the most efficient, desirable or creative. You may have more options than you think.
Finally, there’s an intriguing cluster of asteroids along the cardinal cross in line with tomorrow’s Libra New Moon (though early Aries seems to be empty). Also, Neptune is making a quincunx to it (one sign off from an opposition). As you make continual small adjustments to your vision of how your relationships can work (including any illusions/denial you have about them), consider this:
Remember the past and honor the past, but what is the story of your relationships as they are now? What bonds with others can help you to transcend your awareness of what was, and move forward? You are the one responsible for bringing your whole identity, your entire multi-faceted self, to your relationships.
You can do that in harmony with others or through conflict. In two weeks, the Full Moon conjunct Uranus-Eris may illuminate — or bring to a head — how we’re all doing with what Eric has called “a personal revolution” and “a reclaiming of personhood” in our quickly shifting collective environment.
I discovered a good book on relationships called “Deeper Dating- How to Drop the Games of Seduction and Discover the Power of Intimacy”, by Ken Page. It acknowledges the importance of bringing our whole self into relationship(s); by way of accepting, honoring, and loving our “Core Gifts” to use the author’s phrase. It’s also helpful as a reminder to keep the vanity & glamour in check in a time when we could all use a little balance in that area. Or as I am experiencing; the book has helped me counterbalance my recent journey in letting myself go a bit, and now I’ve come back around to accepting my somewhat glamorous & egoistic nature, while acknowledging the need to not go overboard.
“It’s also helpful as a reminder to keep the vanity & glamour in check in a time when we could all use a little balance in that area.”
For sure, Michael. And, in connection to Kelly Grace Smith’s comment below, keeping that vanity and glamour in check likely relates directly (at least these days) to balancing our time online with time in nature, connecting in person with others, etc.
http://expandedconsciousness.com/2016/09/28/rare-black-moon-rising-libre-september-30-2016/
In order to rebalance any of our relationships, we must be able to be in balance within ourselves; balancing our physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual aspects…every day. In order to do this, we must develop the ability to separate from the inundation of media, marketing, money, and advertising coming at us through our technology.
If it is clear to us that it’s bad for a child to spend hours every day playing video games, especially violent games, why isn’t it obvious to us that full grown adults spending hours at the effect of media and marketing via our technology devices…is just as unhealthy?
We tend to believe the whole issue is so complex and difficult to resolve; that keeps us attached to the drama, rather than taking the simple, tangible actions that will support us to be in balance within ourselves and in our daily lives…and genuinely “connected.”
Connection to our inner goals, our God – whomever or whatever God may be for you – and our humanity, is what balances us from within and thus empowers us to create balanced relationships with others. And balanced “relationships” to work, love, play, money, sexuality, creativity, etc.
To begin? It’s as simple as minding and managing the amount of time you spend on technology, only connecting to what is worthwhile on technology, and balancing time spent on technology with time in nature, physically present and cuddling or in conversation with others, and spending some sliver of time each day connecting to what is “God,” for you…time in nature, writing, yoga, meditation, dancing.
Too simple? Not sophisticated or sexy enough? Spiritual truths are always simple. Indeed, these solutions may seem quite simple, because they are. However, you may discover…not so easy. Which tells you…it’s working.
Kelly Grace Smith
“To begin? It’s as simple as minding and managing the amount of time you spend on technology, only connecting to what is worthwhile on technology, and balancing time spent on technology with time in nature, physically present and cuddling or in conversation with others, and spending some sliver of time each day connecting to what is “God,” for you…time in nature, writing, yoga, meditation, dancing.”
For sure, Kelly Grace Smith. Though I have found that no matter how much one understands this, it can be difficult to put into practice at times. The more the world lives online, the more it expects/demands that “everyone else” do so. But yes: Balance self –> balance with others.
Thank you for adding to the conversation!