Tag Archives: self-awareness

Dancing on (or with) the Edge: the Libra Full Moon

By Amanda Painter

Tomorrow morning, at 7:12 am EDT / 11:12:03 UTC, the Libra Moon opposes the Aries Sun for the Libra Full Moon. While a Libra Moon tends to be a ‘people-pleasing’ placement — an intellectual and artistic Moon that seeks harmony — the chart for this event describes an emotional current that’s under pressure, and which therefore could tip either way: toward creativity or toward disruption.

Shadow Meeting; photo by Amanda Painter.

In fact, you may already be experiencing provocative encounters with certain people in your life; possibly someone is being reactive. Or could it be that you’re the reactive one?

Remember that one inherent property of a Full Moon is that the Moon is reflecting the Sun’s light. It’s a great metaphor for the type of emotional projection that can happen between people, especially if a situation carries unacknowledged baggage from the past, or if a current-moment factor is being left unsaid.

We human beings can have a hard time being introspective when something is thrust in our face; or when too much is demanding our attention around us. Yet one thing this Full Moon appears to be asking for is a high degree of self-awareness — in particular, some self-monitoring of our less-controlled urges.

For one thing, the Sun and Moon are facing off from the very last degree of their respective signs. This may translate to an added edginess — especially since the Sun and Moon are also both in close contact with Uranus in Taurus. The Moon will oppose ‘the cosmic sparkplug’ later on Friday; the Sun will conjoin Uranus on Monday.

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The Day of Serious Purpose: Birthdays and Planet News

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If Your Birthday is April 17
The Day of Serious Purpose | Order Your 2019-20 Aries Reading | All Other Signs

Pay attention to your environment, and to your emotional responses. Consider no form of information as inherently needless. The world around you is rich and vibrant, and is inviting you to share in its glories. You may be on the brink of realizing something that has previously been just out of your reach; once you obtain it, much is likely to make sense all of a sudden. Breathe the living air around you and let it kindle inspiration.
— By Amy Elliott

Written in the Planets

Mercury moves into Aries today, which may pick up the pace of any ongoing mental meanderings. Aries tends to be a decisive placement for the planet of the mind and communication, though, which could help if you need to get a handle on your thought processes. Mercury here can also be prone to impulsive decisions, and can get frustrated with delays in addressing problems. Given that we’re heading for a Full Moon in Libra (in the last degree of that sign) on Friday morning, it’s worth noting that the Moon enters Libra shortly after Mercury enters Aries. So that’s kind of like a mental-level trial run of the Full Moon energy — and it’s a good reminder to stop and think before you speak.

Note that pushing the ‘pause’ button before you express yourself is not the same as bottling everything up. But it might mean the difference between throwing fuel on a fire that you did not realize was smoldering just below the surface. Libra Moons indicate a preference for harmony; sometimes to the detriment of direct self-expression. So today could feature one person taking a forthright and uncomplicated approach to a situation, and the other person involved trying to steer interactions with diplomacy. You might even find yourself switching between those two roles.

Another thought: as Mercury moves into contact with a few key minor objects early in Aries and Capricorn, track where your thoughts are being drawn. Do you feel like you’re searching for a point of action, leverage or pressure-release between who you are (or think you are) and the patterns of your family of origin? Is any of this material coming through as previously repressed sexual energy, or something about your sexuality that you prefer to keep secret? If you can find a way in the coming days to express whatever it is safely (which still might feel risky, daring or just plain scary in its vulnerability), you may discover that you don’t even have to say that much to enjoy a sense of relief and acceptance of yourself.
— By Amanda Painter

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Planet Waves offers readings for all the signs and rising signs. These readings are must-haves among a core group of people who love them, though perhaps you have not heard what Eric is doing. We’ve taken many readings from 2018 and put them on a 24-hour audio stream, which anyone can tune into. Whatever your sign, you will find it interesting no matter when you tune in. If you’re up late and want something soothing and informative to listen to, or if you’re curious about astrology, tune in here. No login is required.

The Day of Cosmic Comedy: Birthdays and Planet News

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If Your Birthday is April 16
The Day of Cosmic Comedy | Order Your 2019-20 Aries Reading | All Other Signs

Gather your energy and the passion you feel on a specific project and be ready to drive it forward to fulfillment. You will likely have a pretty clear final sprint; though if you find yourself hampered by any doubts, address those first and get them resolved. It would probably also help to tie up whatever loose ends might remain, as soon as you see them. The more thorough you are in covering these bases, the easier your path to the finish line.
— By Amy Elliott

Written in the Planets

Have you been thinking about a particular second chance lately? (For example, maybe one from the past, or one you wish to have.) Today Mercury, late in Pisces, is making its third of three squares to the centaur Ixion in Sagittarius; the other two were March 2 in direct motion, and March 9 in retrograde motion. You might check your calendar to see if you can detect any kind of through-line along this theme between then and now.

Ixion is a centaur, which means it’s associated with raising awareness. In this case, that could be awareness of how capable you are of acting in ethically questionable ways — and your ability to make a different, better-aligned choice. This entails thinking through all the possible implications and repercussions — no matter how inclined you are to gloss over ‘pesky’ details.

On a related note, Mars in Gemini is making a square to Nessus in Pisces; Mars is also warming up a square to Neptune. It appears there may be two sides (at least) to the stories of ‘what you really want’ and ‘where your boundaries really are’. Nessus is another awareness-raising centaur, one focused on things like boundary transgressions of various sorts, their generational ripples, and the ability to decide that enough is enough.

One excellent way to navigate this dynamic today may to articulate the different views you have on a situation, particularly the role your desire is playing in it and your options for taking action. This should help you to avoid repressing energy that could make things complicated if you stay in denial of it. Later this evening, Mercury leaves its post-retrograde shadow (or echo) phase and enters new zodiacal territory for the first time in two months.
— By Amanda Painter

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The Day of Human Definition: Birthdays and Planet News

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If Your Birthday is April 15
The Day of Human Definition | Order Your 2019-20 Aries Reading | All Other Signs

Pay attention to any urge you have to bring something new into the world, whether it be through an artistic process, coming up with an invention, having an actual baby, or whatever it is you want. If you have a few concerns, by all means give them due consideration, and do as much research as you see fit. It would certainly be useful to have an idea of the work involved. Ultimately the decision is yours.
— By Amy Elliott

Written in the Planets

We’re approaching the Libra Full Moon later in the week, on Friday. So this is an early reminder to watch for any interpersonal standoffs beginning to emerge. Today, the Moon enters Virgo to lend some grounding and practicality to otherwise less-disciplined aspects. Venus in a conjunction to the minor object Borasisi could be causing a bit of a blind spot in relationships at the moment. This appears to relate to emotion-based beliefs (which most are, if you think about it), or possibly to what counts as ‘spiritual’ when it comes to sex and love. On the other hand, it could translate to how you embody your beliefs about love. Are your actions as ‘spiritual’ as you like to think they are with your intimate partners?

Venus and Borasisi are also in a square to retrograde Jupiter in Sagittarius. With both of the signs that Jupiter rules involved, there’s a pretty clear indication to beware overindulgence, especially regarding food, drink, shopping and perhaps any purely escapist pursuits. That said, spending time doing what you enjoy will likely be the direction to lean in, particularly with friends or lovers. If you feel like you’re tapping into some higher vibes, you’re likely on the right track.
— Amanda Painter

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The Day of Tradition: Birthdays and Planet News

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If Your Birthday is April 14
The Day of Tradition | Order Your 2019-20 Aries Reading | All Other Signs

Take advantage of opportunities offered to you; it would seem that most doors you approach will tend to yield more easily just now. Whatever good fortune you receive is likely to have been long since earned, so you need experience few qualms if any in accepting it. As you enjoy your blessings, though, remember to keep your word and stick to your principles, including honoring any promises you’ve made in the past.
— By Amy Elliott

Written in the Planets

No matter how divided your desire, motivation or general energy level feels now, it looks like there may be one specific promise you’ve made that requires you to follow through on it. The question is: is this an oath or commitment you’ve made to someone else or to yourself? It may be time to bring your considerable mental energy into more tangible form in some way. There’s some help at present, in the form of a trine between the Aries Sun and Jupiter in Sagittarius. At the very least, this should bring a sense of harmony, peace and overall good feelings into your day — which may come as a relief, given recent tension in other facets of life.

Consider how you can expand your experience or understanding of the world today; with Jupiter retrograde, that could include seeking to increase your self-understanding. While that’s a more introspective approach, it need not be completely passive. If you’re feeling good, why not put it to actual use and see what you learn in the process — or at least share the good vibes?
— By Amanda Painter

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The Day of the Iconoclast: Birthdays and Planet News

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If Your Birthday is April 13
The Day of the Iconoclast | Order Your 2019-20 Aries Reading | All Other Signs

Be ready to lift your head above the parapet. Standing out takes courage, whether that’s being the first person to walk through previously untrodden territory; or perhaps the one who says what nobody else will. It cannot be done with the intention of simply making a noise. Yet if you have something that needs to be expressed, a point of view or a work of art uniquely your own, let the world see and hear.
— By Amy Elliott

Written in the Planets

How can you simultaneously take care of yourself (and the other people, animals and things close to you) and stay engaged in the tumultuous changes happening in the world at large? Who are you in the face of these changes, and in the midst of the many changes you yourself may feel called to make? These might be the sorts of questions pushing into consciousness today, as the Aries Sun moves into exact alignment with the Pluto-Eris square (with Saturn and other change-related points and objects nearby). You may find that the more you can answer those questions through direct, non-digital contact with others, the more you’ll relieve any sense of tension that’s been brewing — at least, on the personal level. With the Moon in Leo harmonizing with other fire-sign planets, you may sense (or seek) a little extra purpose to your socializing today. Who in your world is sparking joy?
— By Amanda Painter

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What We Birth Amidst the Chaos

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By Amanda Painter

On Saturday, the Aries Sun slides right into the square between Pluto in Capricorn and Eris in Aries. As was written about at the beginning of the week, this is part of a long series of era-changing and defining aspects covering the last ten-plus years. Chances are you can see a substantial amount of the change, stress, growth and discovery in your own life in that span of time as a reflection of this astrology; this week’s rumblings may be stirring up some uncertainty and tension — possibly with deep roots, along with great creative potential.

“Mystic Mountain,” a detail from the much more extensive Carina Nebula, which astronomers are studying the complicated physical processes that form new stars. Photo by NASA, ESA, and M. Livio and the Hubble 20th Anniversary Team (STScI)

“Mystic Mountain,” a detail from the much more extensive Carina Nebula, via which astronomers are studying the complicated physical processes that form new stars. Photo by NASA, ESA, and M. Livio and the Hubble 20th Anniversary Team (STScI)

One thing that could feel tricky about it, though, is getting a handle on how this energy is coming through for you personally.

Eris and Pluto move slowly; they tend to describe generational (or longer) processes.

Pluto, in particular, drives social (and, in Capricorn, institutional) evolution by breaking down what’s no longer functioning constructively. Eris adds a destabilizing factor: an element of chaos, subversion and (in its recent association with Uranus) provocation via the ways we define identity itself.

Another thing that might be challenging right now — yet easier to grasp — is the lingering effects of Mercury, and now Venus, moving through the focus-dissolving, imagination-distracting, and enticingly escapist field of Neptune in Pisces. Mercury is also still working through its post-retrograde shadow phase (it exits for new astrological turf on April 16). I’m hearing from a number of people comments about how this is still feeling a bit hiccup-y. It’s okay to continue taking things as slowly and deliberately as you need to.

Looking at Saturday’s chart, I noticed an interesting complement of minor objects in close contact with the Sun-Pluto-Eris aspect. I think they paint a fairly clear thematic picture, whether applied personally as you see fit, or culturally. I’m going to list them briefly.

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The Day of Excess: Birthdays and Planet News

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If Your Birthday is April 9
The Day of Excess | Order Your 2019-20 Aries Reading | All Other Signs

Employ your powers of reason and strategy to the utmost. You already have the passion, drive and willingness to work toward your goal. Now you just need to figure out how to get there efficiently and without having to take too many backward steps. A solid plan will be well worth the time and energy spent on careful crafting and double-checking details. Let your enthusiasm serve as fuel, without letting it run away with the process.
— By Amy Elliott

Written in the Planets

Small moves appear to count for a lot right now, particularly in the realms of sex, healing, teaching, being seen for who you are, and holding space for unorthodox relationships, desires and identities. So if you’re feeling tension around any of those topics, how might you express and release that energy just a little? It’s not that you can’t go bigger; it’s that you can probably accomplish more with less effort than you’d expect. The aspect pattern in question is the centaur Pholus (small cause, big effect) in Capricorn making a square to a triple conjunction of Vesta (holding space), Chiron (raising awareness) and Salacia (sex, especially if ‘scandalous’) in Aries.

If you’ve been actively trying to repress and ignore any tension related to one of these topics, how is that working out for you? Is it starting to come out sideways, or to feel even more overwhelming and messier already? Note that with Aries involved (a sign ruled by Mars), it would be wise to consider your anger, too. Do you have a safe place in which to express your anger and frustration (including sexual frustration)? Can you create one — such as shouting out in the woods alone, or asking a very grounded friend (or counselor) with good emotional boundaries to hold non-judgmental space, and to witness you as you rage? (Just remember not to direct your fury at your witness; that’s asking them to process your feelings for you, which is solely your job.)

We don’t have a lot of practice with this in Western culture, especially for men; and ranting on Twitter or Facebook does not count. If anger is not part of the equation for you, creating art, writing, ritual or masturbation could just as easily be part of your process. The idea is to find or create a space in which you can get to the root of whatever’s itching to be let out of the proverbial bottle. It might not turn out to be what you think it is; and that discovery could itself open the way to actual healing.
— By Amanda Painter