Tag Archives: sexuality

Friends, Benefits, and the Leo Full Moon

By Amanda Painter

We’re heading toward a Full Moon on Feb. 9, and Mercury stations retrograde one week later (on Feb. 16). That would be more than enough provocative energy on its own, but there are additional elements of the sky that will be sparking up the weekend.

Disco lion’s mane or crystallized moonlight? Photo by Amanda Painter.

One of those elements gets cooking tomorrow: Venus enters Aries at 3:02 pm EST (20:02:17 UTC) Feb. 7. Venus in Aries (the sign of Self ruled by Mars) tends to be lusty and assertive, idealistic yet impulsive, charming but sometimes inconsiderate without realizing it.

So remember your empathy, especially if any interpersonal situations get confrontational or intense as the Full Moon builds.

Yet it’s the conjunction of Venus to Chiron and the object Salacia that really focuses the qualities of Venus in Aries. Salacia appears to relate to sexual maturity (particularly the lack thereof) and to the kinds of sexual activity that get people all flustered.

In the U.S. media at least, that seems to be anything taboo or ‘scandalous’. In your personal life, it might mean the same things — or simply your perception that certain facets of your desire and sexual activity could be seen that way. But aren’t those always the hottest fantasies?

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Not Your Typical Aquarius New Moon

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By Amanda Painter

Tomorrow is the Aquarius New Moon, exact at 4:42 pm EST (21:41:52 UTC). Aquarius is a curious sign, at its best when blending the structuring abilities of Saturn with the liberating impulses of Uranus.

Photo by Amanda Painter.

In that sense, it seems a perfect sign to host the first lunation after the Jan. 10 eclipse: eclipse periods generally feature a process of liberating oneself from some facet of the past, in order to take greater authority in directing the next steps forward.

The slowly separating Saturn-Pluto conjunction underscores these themes, connecting them to long-term processes. Whatever ‘new start’ Friday’s New Moon represents for you should be familiar, perhaps even expected.

Chances are you’ve been involved with some form of drawing something to a close this week, or resolving one phase of a process. Today and the first part of tomorrow still carry that signature.

Yet life is not simply ‘business as usual’ right now, thanks to a couple of factors. The first is that the Aquarius Sun is square Uranus in Taurus, exact today.

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Body and Soul, After the Full Moon

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By Amanda Painter

By the time you read this, the restless Gemini Full Moon will be separating. However, I’m writing this piece in the thick of it, and it’s been a challenge for me to stay focused on the Sagittarian arrow of the Sun and not get mixed up in the less-conscious mental chatter of the Gemini Moon. Thankfully, today you may notice certain interpersonal situations begin resolving, even if other feelings are intensifying.

Male dancers performing the Tedung Agung, a dance evoking a protective umbrella, in Ubud, Bali. Photo by Amanda Painte

Dancers performing the Tedung Agung, which evokes a protective umbrella, in Ubud, Bali. Photo by Amanda Painter.

Mental activity should ease this evening, after the Moon enters Cancer at 6:23 pm EST (23:22:58 UTC). With the Moon in its home sign, emotions are more likely to be felt for what they are.

Yet they might get verbalized less, as the Moon opposes the impressive collection of objects in Capricorn over Friday and Saturday.

While the Moon oppositions act as mini tidal shifts (either with people you encounter or entirely within you), you’ll want to notice whether there’s anything deeper going on for you.

Emotions that intensified during the recent Full Moon likely still have depths calling for exploration — or excavation. Venus makes its exact conjunction to Pluto tomorrow. Venus is the planet of feelings and the senses. Pluto represents not only change, but also all that exists ‘below’ — such as below consciousness, below the Earth’s surface (as in Capricorn), or below the proverbial belt.

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The Day of Extraction: Birthdays and Planet News

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If Your Birthday is Dec. 6
The Day of Extraction | 2019-20 Sagittarius Astrology Studio | All Other Signs

Steps you take to enhance financial security have the potential to generate results beyond what you’d imagine, and this is the year to direct efforts to do so. Avoid risking precious resources, or splurging on unnecessary expenses. Have fun, just don’t be reckless. Foster creative relationships through self-knowledge, i.e. honesty about your own emotional history. Value yourself and others will follow.
— by Victoria Emory

If you have a Sagittarius Sun, rising sign or Moon and could use some insights on such real-life matters as work, relationships and career, your 2019-2020 Sagittarius Astrology Studio reading by Eric Francis will cover your ruling planet Jupiter’s conjunction to the Galactic Core, a preview of Jupiter in Capricorn, and many other potentially life-changing facets of your astrology.

Written in the Planets

In the direction of the middle of Sagittarius lies a deep-space phenomenon called the Great Attractor. The Great Attractor (GA) is the focal point of a supercluster of about 100,000 galaxies stretched out over 520 million light years — and everything in our region of the universe seems to be contracting toward it (though overall, the universe is expanding). Today the Sun — emblem of conscious self-expression — aligns with the GA.

What goal, vision, or sense of faith and optimism is pulling you along currently? In what ways does it feel elusive, or like you’ll never finish chasing it? Trying to express it, whether through actions or words, could provoke strong reactions from others. Yet those reactions will likely slide past you or spur you on, rather than ruffle or dissuade you. Note also that figures and images from the dreamtime may mirror another side of this situation to you.

On a more mundane and less ethereal level, a Venus-Eros conjunction in Capricorn suggests that feelings of emotional, material or social security will foster arousal or your general Joie de vivre. “Traditional” turn-ons (whatever that means to you) are another good bet. A square between Pallas in Sagittarius and Orcus in Virgo describes a sense of tension in fulfilling a promise. What do you need to do to bring ‘the spirit of the law’ into better accord with ‘the letter of the law’? Chances are this will also align with that elusive vision that’s drawing you along.
— by Amanda Painter

In 2020 we have not one but two conjunctions that mark the turn of a generation, and of an era in history. On Jan. 12, Saturn and Pluto in Capricorn form their once per 33-year conjunction. Then on Dec. 21. 2020, Jupiter and Saturn, both now in Aquarius, form a conjunction in the first degree of that sign. Read more here…

The Day of Confidence: Birthdays and Planet News

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If Your Birthday is Dec. 5
The Day of Confidence | 2019-20 Sagittarius Astrology Studio | All Other Signs

Opportunities to generate essential, material support in the coming year are indicated by Jupiter joining the planetary crowd in your zone of resources and security. Understand these will come wearing work clothes. Focus your efforts and practice delaying gratification. You’re playing the long game, here. Discipline is your key to creative satisfaction and joy.
— by Victoria Emory

Written in the Planets

After picking up on some deeper insights from Mercury in Scorpio in the wee hours, the Moon slides from Pisces to Aries this afternoon (around 2:44 pm EST / 19:44:20 UTC). With Mercury nearing the end of its post-retrograde echo or shadow phase, this contact describes some intuitive-level reminder of something you thought about or investigated in late October or early November. Info could come through a dream.

Aries Moons describe emotional impulses leading to action. Other objects in early Aries and Capricorn offer the themes and context for this. Namely, Chiron and Salacia in Aries bring in an element of sexual healing and identity integration; Pholus and Quaoar in Capricorn suggest some familial or ancestral material that you need to push against or integrate. Although the Moon will pass through these aspects fairly quickly, they set the tone for the last half of the day. How does it all connect to the broader project of applying your vision and faith to the practical tasks on your agenda?
— by Amanda Painter

The Day of Sensual Charisma — Birthdays and Planet News

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If Your Birthday is Nov. 12
The Day of Sensual Charisma | 2019-20 Scorpio Astrology Studio available for instant access | All Other Signs

This Full Moon birthday describes a culmination of one phase in your evolving approach to relationships. Themes you encounter may include the interplay between self-sufficiency and devotion; identity and commitment. Real opportunities available this year to enhance self-worth and security might somehow tie-in to this process. You’ll need to heed intuitive prompts and then actively pursue those leads, but it will be worth it. Wrapping up old business now clears the path for dynamic breakthroughs ahead.
— by Victoria Emory

Your 2019-20 Scorpio Astrology Studio reading for Scorpio Sun, rising and Moon signs addresses the current jolt to your relationships, as well as the profound thought transformation you’re going through. Eric considers some deep matters of self-identity and where that meets personal healing. Listen to Sample 1 or Sample 2.

Written in the Planets

This morning’s Taurus Full Moon is exact at 8:34 am EST. Chances are you’ve been feeling it build for at least a couple of days, even if you could not quite put your finger on what was brewing. Full Moons, visible in the sky, are literally a reflection: the Moon reflects the light of the Sun, though one would swear something so bright must be shining all on its own. It’s a useful dynamic to keep in mind every 28 days, particularly if you find yourself reacting strongly to someone else’s emotions or attitude toward you, and wondering “Where the heck is all this coming from?”

A more productive question might be to ask what they’re actually showing you about yourself. Is it possible you’re projecting some barely registered feelings or motives of your own onto them?

For this Full Moon, the Scorpio Sun is conjunct retrograde Mercury, and they are opposing the Moon in a tight conjunction to the asteroid Vesta in Taurus. So on one side we have symbols of conscious awareness and a deep memory process (Sun+Mercury); on the other side, emblems of intuition/emotion and embodied devotion/space-holding (Moon+Vesta). The signs Scorpio and Taurus both relate strongly to the emotional and physical experiences of sex (which implies surrender) and security (which implies control).

That all potentially translates into a visceral sense of conflicting desires and motives that could play out between you and another person. It need not be a showdown; it could easily morph into a mutually satisfying — if intense — exchange. Getting there, however, will require owning what you’re feeling, what you want, and how vulnerable you’re willing to be about it. Even if you experience this event entirely internally, rather than in a seemingly stuck situation with someone else, the questions and the available payoff are the same. Other factors in the chart suggest there’s plenty of energy available for physical or personal growth endeavors (double entendre not intended, but definitely an option) — but you’ll have to take the initiative.
— by Amanda Painter

The Day of Metamorphosis: Birthdays and Planet News

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If Your Birthday is Nov. 10
The Day of Metamorphosis | 2019-20 Scorpio Astrology Studio available for instant access | All Other Signs

Significant encounters this year could prove revelatory, and offer opportunities to explore aspects of your own psyche that prepare you to engage relationships on a more profound level. Material likely to arise includes attitudes around sexuality, devotion, spiritual wisdom and commitment. Keep your antennae tuned in this direction; there’s information you’re ready to receive that will open your eyes and expand your world. Initiation into some kind of higher understanding is possible.
— by Victoria Emory

Written in the Planets

Retrograde Mercury in Scorpio opposes the asteroid Vesta in Taurus today. Mercury in its current state describes some kind of deep review, reassessment or reinvestigation — with some potential topics being how your thoughts and less-expressed emotions influence each other, matters of sex and surrender, jealousy and possessiveness, or other deep, taboo and potentially transformative topics. Vesta currently appears to describe the ways you do or do not keep matters of your body, senses, health, material resources, sexuality and comfort central in your life.

With these two opposing each other, notice whether you’re in some kind of dialogue about which of these things you devote yourself (and resources) to; what gets sacrificed; and what you’ve been holding onto too tightly to count as either. Any of the themes mentioned could come through via an encounter with someone else. Which of you is playing the ‘space holder’ role, and which of you is playing the undercover sleuth? Is there an exchange to be negotiated between the two of you?

Note also that Ceres, an asteroid named for the goddess of the harvest, is conjunct Eros — named for the god of erotic love, who can also represent a less overtly sexual ‘life force’ energy in astrology. They’re in Sagittarius, a philosophical-yet-optimistic and adventurous sign. There are many ways to feed your soul, and many ways your spirit can nourish others. Today could be a good day to explore this realm.
— by Amanda Painter

The Day of the Overseer: Birthdays and Planet News

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If Your Birthday is Oct. 30
The Day of the Overseer | 2019-20 Scorpio Astrology Studio available for pre-order | All Other Signs

A birthday conjunction between Mercury and Venus in your sign indicates that your consciousness is tuned to an artistic key. Creative inspiration can even open spiritual dimensions that feel like ‘coming home’ in some way, but you’ll need to honor those instincts enough to follow through. Whether you consider yourself an artist per se or not, beautifying your environment or attending cultural events might be more rewarding than you suppose. You should be able to express yourself with considerable charm this year, and approach life with an optimistic attitude that paves the way to some interesting encounters.
— by Victoria Emory

Do you ever feel like your Scorpio Sun, rising sign or Moon gets a bad rap from astrologers? Eric Francis understands the potential held in your depths — and can walk you through how the planet Uranus in your relationship zone might be stirring things up. Pre-order your 2019-20 Scorpio Astrology Studio reading (offered now at its lowest price!) to move past the stereotypes, and meet your life at full strength.

Written in the Planets

Sharp, saucy Venus in Scorpio sidles up to slow — and therefore powerful — Mercury today, just one day before Mercury stations retrograde. This could describe some very interesting relationship conversations or declarations of romantic/sexual intent — which are typical of a Mercury-Venus conjunction. In Scorpio, Mercury can describe keeping things secret or striking with sharp verbal accuracy. However, Mercury is in its ‘storm’ phase, churning up the waters of emotion-soaked thought and communication — which could translate into miscommunication.

Is the object of your affection/lust giving off “let’s get real” vibes? Or do they seem cagey and self-protective? Which way do you feel yourself leaning? Bear in mind that, especially with the asteroid Pallas quite close, there may be a tendency to express emotions in intellectual terms. Depending on your circumstances, this could facilitate discussing intensely personal topics you’d normally have a hard time talking about. You may also be able to perceive some of the underlying patterns running through your life.

Engaging with art, as creator or appreciator, may offer an especially effective way into this material, with erotic, ‘dark’ or transformation-themed work potentially hitting just the right notes. Bear in mind that when Mercury makes its apparent reversal tomorrow at 11:41 am EDT (15:41:20 UTC), new information could emerge, which may be quite pertinent to today’s conversations (or to matters that have been in the dark for a few weeks). Keep your inner ears open and tuned to the subtle frequencies of intuition and instinct. Double-check everything, whether practical or metaphysical.
— by Amanda Painter