Full Moon in Gemini

The real Isis

This is on the 25th November, around 11 pm GMT.

The Gemini-Sagittarius axis is about communication: the small-picture, light, gossipy, networky kind of communication (Gemini) vs. the big-picture, ideological, mythologising, meaning-oriented kind (Sagittarius).

For this full moon, the sun at 3 degrees Sagittarius will be facing off against the moon at 3 Gemini. Mercury (thought and communication), Saturn (restraint, fear) and Neptune (dissolution, dreams, delusions, smokescreens) are involved – in an uncomfortable, jarring way.

It's a real truth-vs.-lies vibe, where it's hard to know what information to believe or what version of reality to trust. Who controls the definition of reality?

A lot of fear-mongering, bombast and intolerance are floating around right now. And public opinion, which has always been fickle, is now largely constructed via the fluctuations and half-truths of social media – and it turns on a dime. Look at the abrupt about-face in the attitude toward Syrian refugees, for example. Compassion shifted to mistrust in about three seconds there.

Plus, Saturn in Sagittarius (conjunct the sun and Mercury for this full moon) seems to be exposing a lot of self-aggrandizing liars for what they are. We may see more of this at the full moon – reputations built on deceptions are pretty vulnerable right now, and for the next few years. It's about actual character and substance vs. spin.

Saturn in Sagittarius also seems to be ramping up ideological extremism and the fear (Saturn) of foreigners (Sagittarius) – and the square to Neptune, exact the day after the full moon, is adding an undercurrent of profound disillusionment and uncertainty to the mix.

This full moon is really all about Saturn-Neptune. The square on the 26th is the first of three exact squares between now and October 2016. It's about the dissolution (Neptune) of what we thought to be true, of solid boundaries (Saturn). It describes a kind of contagion, accompanied by moral panic – and this is what we're seeing, as an uncontainable refugee crisis morphs into a collective fear of terrorist infiltration.

Whose stories are to be believed, how do you filter out the deserving refugees from the dangerous elements – especially given the vast, chaotic flows of people involved, and the complexities of ideology and culture at play? Who is it safe (Saturn) to show compassion toward (Neptune)?

“Everyone” you might say – and you'd have to be either deluded out of your mind, or on a higher spiritual plane altogether, to say that. But most of us have to live on Planet Earth, where there are no simple answers.

You can see these currents at work in the collective. But how are they manifesting in your own life? Which of your stories are proving untenable;  in what areas are your sense of truth and solid reality being eroded, and how are you coping?

“From any rational point of view I am absurd; but there are no longer any rational points of view” - per Atwood.

Might be a good time to re-read “Surfacing”, the novel that quote is from. It's as relevant now as it was in 1972.

Because we live in a world where this is happening – and it's reasonable to wonder what kind of progress we've made. I think the deeper roots of misogyny have not begun to be addressed.

Re. misogyny: I don't want to be overly negative, but this full moon looks like a full-on headfuck to me, and quite violent. Especially for women.

In addition to the Saturn-Neptune stuff, we have Venus in Libra - sweet peace-seeking lady that she is - under fire from Uranus (shock) and Pluto (hell). This describes some lousy relationship dynamics: a decent, nice girl (Venus in Libra) all tangled up with shady characters (Pluto) and selfish dickheads (Uranus). Violence against women, relationship nastiness, control issues. Peace and justice under attack.

You put it together with the Saturn-Neptune stuff, and it looks quite ugly and destabilising overall. Like having the rug pulled out from under you; like being screwed, blued and tattooed by shitty relational power dynamics. Or like having to fight your corner against completely unscrupulous opponents.

Here is a really interesting Saturn-Neptune tinged article about some Syrian girls who joined Daesh and became disillusioned with it. (I will not dignify that organization with the name of ISIS – that's HER name. Magical protectress of women.)

Anyway, in the article linked above, no one's motives are pure. The hideous compromises these young girls made in exchange for 'security' under a crazy regime...until they realized that security was all a sham...

Well how different are any of us really? What would you do, in their shoes? What are your ethics and values really based on: culture, privilege, expediency...or do they run deeper? It's sobering.

Anyway, Venus is moving out of the line of fire – but into Scorpio, a sign she is not at all comfortable in. She'll be replaced in cardinal t-square no-man's land by Mars in Libra, in time for the new moon in Sagittarius in two weeks.

Mars in tense aspect to Uranus and Pluto is... just not nice, in any way. It is jagged, raw, impulsive, violent and bloody. Also very underhanded, manipulative and passive-aggressive – as we are looking at Mars, planet of aggression and war, in Libra, the sign of social harmony and nicety.

So I don't think things are going to be getting any less stressful in the next month – on the world stage or in our personal lives.

And this is not meant to sound negative or doomy-gloomy. It's a heads-up: proceed with caution.

People are not always what they seem, and their motives may not be all that pure. And if you think yours are – well you just might be deluding yourself. It's worth considering.

Given the tension involved in all this, I think it's best to stay focused on the small-picture, friendly, Gemini stuff. Keep communication as light as possible. It's really not necessary to go into moralistic bombast mode – things are heavy enough at the moment. The future is so uncertain, and people are feeling drained and depressed. Amorphous horrors and threats seem to be lurking just under the surface of everyday life. Maybe it'll all blow over, or maybe World War 3 is around the corner – who knows.

I think, under the circumstances, it's enough to just chat about the weather, tell stupid jokes, have a nice shallow Thanksgiving where you don't try to talk out any dark family secrets – whatever it takes.

It's enough to try to have some fun in the midst of a dark time, and to get along with people. And keep your big weighty opinions and sermonizing in check, because there is quite enough of that around these days. Enough bombast, enough self-righteousness and bigotry, enough half-baked pontificating by people who have no real idea what they're talking about – and with Saturn in truth-seeking Sagittarius, your inconsistencies and hypocrisies are likely to be exposed. We all have to walk our talk, and if you can't - best shut the hell up.

(And who among us can, when the path keeps disappearing into fog? Have you ever noticed how as soon as something is said or written, it negates itself; becomes only a partial truth? This is happening like crazy now - so probably the less said the better.)

I think a really good use of this full moon energy is to use humour to disarm fear and deflate pretension. With Neptune, Mercury and Gemini involved, there's definitely something very Trickster-ish about it all.

Like how people in Belgium, during the recent police lockdown in Brussels, flooded Twitter with pictures of cats.

Partly this was a way of keeping spirits high during a frightening time. But it was also an effective smokescreen (Neptune), obscuring police movements during the lockdown.

Making art or music is a good use of this as well.

Neptune is also about faith, and that is definitely something to keep in mind at this full moon. Maybe you don't know what to believe and you can't see the way forward at all. It's getting hard to know what's real anymore, and the future is all up in the air.

And yet we have to have some kind of faith. That there is a design, a direction to things – and that it leads toward whatever we naively call 'the good'.

Try to have faith that there is a larger design in which all of this makes sense, even if you can't see it. And that sometime the fog will clear. Even though we're all gonna die...

Also, with Jupiter and the north node in Virgo, humility, routine and attention to ordinary reality are favoured. Doing the dishes, taking out the trash, walking the dog, serving others. Staying grounded, keeping your head down and your mind on the task at hand. Looking at cat pictures on the internet.

"This is Maartje, a cat from Ghent, Belgium. She will not be intimidated."

Yeah, Jupiter and the north node are in Virgo. So I guess I'll repeat repeat: humility. In the face of an uncertain future; all we can't control; all we fear and all we do not know, about ourselves and others.

The scientists now say, most of the universe is made up of our ignorance about the universe.

And not to hold this guy up as some sort of model of humility (ha!) - he is more a master of obfuscation... But:

And you know, while we are dealing in the kind of Bush-era absurdities that led to the present crisis:

Funny stuff, though the mess these people made has not-so-funny consequences.

But I guess if we can keep a sense of humour alive as the world falls to shit, we'll be doing well!

New Moon in Scorpio

Oracle of Delphi

This is on the 11th November, around 6 pm GMT.

Something very deep and intense – and healing – is going on here. Deep emotional insight, deep communication.

And as Mercury is in magical, witchy Scorpio, conjunct the moon – this is not necessarily verbal communication. It's a knowing that runs deeper than words – a kind of chthonic snake-wisdom.

There is great potential for regeneration and transformation here. New moons represent pure potential and new beginnings, and this one is in Scorpio, the sign of death, rebirth, intensity and transformation – so it looks like a rebirth to me. A fierce jolt of magical, regenerative energy. A second wind, just when you thought you couldn't take much more of this “life” crap. Power and knowledge coming from a very deep, silent, internal source.

The sun, moon and Mercury will be conjunct in the mid-degrees of Scorpio. And aside from a tense-looking inconjunct to Uranus in Aries, this new moon is very well aspected – it is supported by Pluto in Capricorn (deep restructuring), Chiron in Pisces (the wounded healer) and Jupiter in Virgo (humility, service, attention to detail).

So there is absolutely the potential for deep psychological healing here – of yourself or others. Granted, Uranus in Aries inconjunct the new moon means there will likely be some shock and upheaval associated with this. But mostly it looks very profound and beneficial.

I keep thinking of Hexagram 49 from the I Ching in relation to this. It's about revolution, which is  compared in the hexagram to moulting. Shedding the past like an old skin.

I'm thinking also of the magical stones traditionally called serpent's eggs -- because there is really something very earthy, concentrated, snaky and Kundalini about this energy.

Or the Omphalos of Delphi, the ritual center that the Oracle of Delphi spoke her prophesies from. (She was also associated with snakes – her official name was “Pythia”: pythoness.)

Or the Black Stone of the Kaaba, the holiest of holies in Islam, and a very female (and sexual) looking power-object.

Yes, that is really what it looks like.

And here's a snake-dance for you, while we're at it:

Anyway, you get the idea. Deep, chthonic, witchy power. Intense, dangerous, secret, female – what the serpent promised to Eve. It's the kind of thing that can kill or cure - a pharmakon. But this new moon mostly looks like a curative to me.

I think this is a good set-up for recovering any energy or power you may have lost over the last while – especially if you feel you've hit rock bottom. Scorpio is a sign that needs to go to the absolute depths in order to regenerate and recover power. It is about power coming via the acceptance of degredation and pain, uncomfortable as that sounds. “The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom”, per Blake. If you feel all cleared out and exhausted, this looks like your turning point.

Scorpio is also about purgation. What do you purge? Whatever drains your vitality - be it a habit, a situation, a relationship. Whatever dead (and deadening) crap you are still dragging around with you.

It has been a draining year for sure. I don't suppose it'll be getting any easier, so getting rid of the deadwood now is a good idea.

Neptune, big dreamy whirlpool headfuck planet, will resume direct motion on the 19th November, and Saturn is bearing into a square with Neptune, exact on the 26th. The Saturn-Neptune square is something we'll be dealing with into 2017. Saturn in Sagittarius demands fidelity to the truth – while Neptune dissolves the boundaries between 'true' and 'false'.

So this is some disillusioning, depressing energy - the big dissolve. More draining suckage.

You think you have solid ground under your feet? You think you're a solid character, you think you're incorruptible? You think you know reality from unreality? Ha!

We are written on water.

“so ingenious are the arrangements of the state of flux we call
our moral history are they not almost as neat as mathematical
propositions except written on water –” -Anne Carson

Keats's grave

What do you believe, what do you base your perspective on, what do you hold true and moral? My god, it's getting kind of hard to know anymore, isn't it?

Is there a design, a larger perspective in which your life has meaning? Is it something you can have faith in? Can you build a future on it?

And did you ever imagine your life would turn out like this? It must be some kind of dream, right? Could it get much weirder? Is there anything solid in this phantasmagoria?

I really don't know. What an interesting movie it all is though – if you have the stomach for it.

“No it's not going to clear up is it or make sense or come out into the open 
somewhere
this welter of disorder and pain is our life.” 
                                                                   --Anne Carson again

And yes it is -- it's our life and it's messy. I suppose it has to be.

Messy few months ahead: we are headed into a Uranus square Pluto redux this holiday season. The old dynamo of destruction will be forming a close square from December to February. These planets won't square exactly again, but this is a reminder of the pressure-cooker we've been through over the past few years.

Plus Mars and Venus will be filing through Cardinal t-square territory in Libra over the next month. This is a real firing-line, and I think it will be tough on relationships. And just in time for the holidays – what fun.

It doesn't mean things are gonna be awful. Just pretty intense. But they've been intense forever now, so big deal. You're not going to be bored, anyway.

Re. relationships: the north node finally moves out of relationship-oriented Libra, where it has spent the past 18 months, a few hours after the new moon. It moves into Virgo, joining Jupiter there.

The dispositors of the nodes, Mars and Venus, will be conjunct the north node as it shifts signs. This looks like a big alchemical wedding at the end of the long and bizarre fairy tale this year has been. It's a big deal; too weird and improbable to gloss over.

This is where you quit ditzing around and sort out your relationship karma – you get real about what you're doing, who you're travelling onward with, what you value. What (or who) you want to 'marry'.

It's a choice-point, maybe. A commitment. Fateful, not to be taken lightly.

Like this:

Anyway, it's not about anything or anyone being perfect – you must know that by now. 'Perfect' doesn't exist and if it did, it would be pretty dull.

It's about what you can work with and trust in – what is sturdy enough to go the distance, however uncomfortable it might sometimes feel.

(Most of the happily married people I know fight and bicker constantly. It's like harmony requires conflict and periodic blowouts. Notice there is a volcano behind the couple on that card.)

Anyway, this looks like a new start for real – or a decisive ending. Pretty heavy stuff, especially coming as it does exactly at the new moon – and a new moon in Scorpio to boot, a sign that is all-or-nothing, black or white, on-or-off. No bullshit, no pretending, no dithering, no leading anyone down the garden path. This demands radical honesty - with yourself first and foremost.

Re. the node change: the north node in Libra was about a need to attain balance, harmony, fairness, justice and right relationship. With the south node in Aries, this effort was undermined by knee-jerk rage and conflict. Selfishness and war were the path of least resistance. We've had 18 months of this and frankly it has been a pain in the ass.

Now we're moving on from this heavy focus on interpersonal relationship. With the north node shifting to Virgo (and the south node to Pisces), the arc of the story for the next 18 months is about attending to daily reality, staying humble and focused on the small stuff, taking care of others, keeping the whole show of everyday life running – even as reality dissolves beneath our feet.

This is the same theme as the Saturn-Neptune square that's happening over the next year and a half. The sky is really driving home this theme of the dissolution of what we took to be solid and secure. It applies to the collective and also to people in their little lives – which are microcosms of the collective really. I think it's fairly serious, sobering stuff, and it will be hard to navigate.

But it will be interesting, for sure. Interesting times.