New Moon in Aquarius
The Sun and Moon in Aquarius come into alignment on January 29, 2025 at 5:36am MST, hours after Mercury makes a conjunction to Pluto in Scorpio… Pluto has finally made his final ingress into Aquarius and will remain here for about 2 decades. Now the real work begins. Mercury makes a conjunction to Pluto just hours before the new moon - the messenger has a special relationship with Pluto, as Mercury in Roman mythology was the only god that could *freely* travel to and from the underworld, Pluto’s domain. Through this astrological lens, we could say that Mercury is the planet capable of transmitting to us the messages from the underworld, the unconscious mind, to help make them conscious. On a personal level, this New Moon marks a time that is deeply potent for reflection, mindfulness practices, journaling, as well as having conversations with people you trust, especially a therapist, in order to process what is ready to be digested and integrated. In the sign of Aquarius, our curiosity will have us exploring ways we can reach out to the people around us in order to create a better world, understanding that the only ones that can save us is ourselves - we are being called to remember the power of community building, and also reckon with the power of technology, of AI, and specific systems and platforms that use technology for power, and the ways we might leverage or resist these systems in order to [re]claim our own power.
This new moon cycle asks us to bring our attention to the seeds we want to plant around building community, and also to consider the systems that we give our power to. People, organizations, corporations, and administrations are only as powerful as we allow them to be. We can reclaim our power by organizing with people with shared visions for the future, and resisting the systems of violence and oppression around us. An example of this is the badass teachers and school administrators who have been telling ICE agents that they may not enter school campuses - ICE agents aim to intimidate in order to violate our rights… the school staff understands their power, that they can say, “No,” to these people, and that ICE cannot enter without consent. Now it is more important than ever to educate yourself on the ways in which specific powers are working to violate our rights, and understanding ways you can safely resist and keep you and your communities safe. Jupiter in Gemini is in a trine to the Sun and Moon in this new moon signature, which is offering us some hope, reinforcing the power of communicating and exchanging ideas within our circles. Jupiter in Gemini working with the Sun and Moon in Aquarius engenders belief in ourselves and our ability to make change, as a cohesive collective, to create the world we want to exist in, while we let the oppressors’ castles made of sand crumble and wash away with the rising tides of this new age.
Uranus as Modern Chart Ruler
Uranus rules Aquarius in modern astrology, and therefore is the ruler of this lunation. Uranus is standing still at the moment of the new moon, preparing to station direct the following morning. Uranus is at the same minute and degree for almost a week as this slow moving planet works to change directions (from our perspective, of course). These moments when outer planets change directions are most notable, more so than the actual retrograde period itself. These are the moments when we see the most obvious activations, while the retrograde periods are more times of internal work, imperceivable to the unconscious mind… Think back to the end of August, were you inspired or forced to make sudden changes within your life? It would be interesting to look at your own birth chart and see if it correlates with the house that Uranus happens to be traversing in and therefore activating… as Uranus takes their pause, consider how you have made, or maybe are in resistance to making, lasting change that is in support of your own life, concerning your resources, pleasure, and beauty - take inventory of the things and people you surround yourself with, or have decided to set boundaries with, acknowledging these choices as a reflection of your values.
Which leads me into the Saturn, Venus conjunction we just experienced last week…
…which reinforced the themes around boundaries and relationships - what are we available for in love, in friendship? How can we be more intentional with our money? Venus is very intertwined with this lunation, being in a separating sextile with Uranus… so while Saturn is encouraging firmer boundaries, Uranus is inspiring sudden, radical change… we have to clear out the proverbial closet of the things we don’t wear anymore, that don’t fit right, that just don’t make us feel the way they used to, so that we can make space for the new fits that match a more aligned expression of who we are now.
Venus in Pre-Retrograde Shadow
Venus is at her maximum brightness at the moment of the new moon, sitting almost 46 degrees away from the Sun, the furthest she ever gets from the Sun in her cycle. According to the work of Adam Gainsburg, Venus is completing her 163 day “Remembering and Embodiment” phase, and as she slows down to rest at her pinnacle point, she is in the “Wholeness Phase” - Adam writes that the meaning of this phase in terms of our collective dharma is, “Actualizing individual potential in complete service to the betterment of the world.” If that ain’t some Aquarian sh*t I don’t know what is! When we truly practice fully embodying who we are, we realize our own wholeness within, and we can’t help but shine that light forward. As Venus slows her roll across the night sky, she will eventually seem to stand still, and then return back towards the western horizon, marking the beginning of her retrograde journey. She will, in time, disappear in the light of the Sun, which symbolizes her descent into the underworld. The ancient myth surrounding this journey is of Inanna, goddess of heaven and earth - she takes a trip to the underworld to heed the call of her sister, goddess of the underworld (which some liken to Pluto), who is apparently in distress. Inanna knows that this is a dangerous journey, as there is no guarantee that she will return (she’s no Mercury, or whoever would be the equivalent in the Sumarian pantheon from which this myth originated).
Anyhow, I won’t get into this too much here and now, perhaps at a later date when we get closer to the retrograde, but just be aware that Venus has entered the pre-retrograde shadow, and moving forward will be covering sky that she will revisit through March. Take time in your evening in the coming weeks to be with Venus as the Sun is setting - she is the brightest star in the evening sky, and is currently quite high for much of the early evening. Ask her what she would like you to know about your purpose and place in these very uncertain, changing times. How can you make room for more love and beauty in your own life, so that it may overflow to the people around you? With Venus in a sextile to Uranus during this new moon, opportunities for genius insights are available, if you are open to receive them.
Chiron Mars Square
I don’t want any of this to sound overly optimistic, but my goal is to always uplift and never engender fear, because it’s not helpful. We have gotten through some prickly ass astrology this month, and this new moon to me is truly a balm, but it is not without its challenges. Maybe it’s the Scorpio in me that loves a strong Pluto presence- I’m here for deep dives into dark water and big tower moments… I love the quote, “the Universe never presents you with anything you can’t handle,” AND ALSO, this doesn’t mean that you have to do it alone. You absolutely should not do it alone! That is what Aquarius is all about, it’s about finding your people to lock arms with - now more than ever it is time to find your community - don’t feel discouraged if you haven’t found them yet - they’re out there and they’re looking for you too. We all are, I’m hearing it all around me from every corner - we are seeking each other, because we’re all waking up to the reality that no political party is going to save us.
There is SO much work to be done, but try your best to stay out of overwhelm. Begin where you are. Get creative with finding ways to resource yourself, through small acts of self-care, taking time outs from social media and news, getting outside in the sunshine if only for 15 minutes a day, going to bed with a good book, writing down your thoughts, hopes, and prayers just before bed and/or when you wake up in the morning, whatever feels nourishing to YOU it doesn’t have to be fancy. Find any way you can to intentionally reset your nervous system, so that you may navigate these coming weeks and months with more grace, with more clarity, and greater capacity for new ways of thinking, perceiving, and responding to the world…
I say this not only in response to the aforementioned astrological aspects, but also to preface the Chiron Mars square that will perfect on February 3rd. This aspect could have us and people around us feeling extra sensitive - although this aspect may not manifest as people outwardly lashing out, those of us that are deeply empathetic may feel that something is off with the people around us. We could experience passive aggressiveness from others, or find ourselves acting out in this way - be aware of your own behavior and what’s underneath it, and remember to not take it personally when others behave this way. Offer kindness and compassion, and don’t be afraid to speak your mind - just because you are angry and/or irritated does not mean there needs to be conflict. You can express your feelings in a way that fosters connection. Find ways to channel your inner rage, perhaps through exercise, or even finding ways to be of service in your community. Neptune conjunct Venus in this New Moon signature offers heightened compassion and love, and the desire for connection… Lean into this, but with a discerning eye. The shadow of Neptune is illusion, lies, and escapism - be hyper aware of the rose-colored glasses you don.
In the dark of the moon, reflect on the kind of world you want to live in. Believe it to be true, or at least possible. Make a list of ways you can resource your nervous system, or begin to research ways to do so if you’re not really sure how. As an herbalist, I engage with my plant allies like Rose, Tulsi, Milky Oats, Lemon Balm, Mimosa, Kava… there are so many… the most affordable resource you have available to you is your breath. Close your eyes and breathe slowly. Let the tears come if they need to. There is so much grief we need to feel - the only way is through - may we find others to hold hands with through the darkness.
If you would like to receive some guidance via examining your chart and processing how the planets might be activating aspects of your life, feel free to connect with me here. If you are interested in engaging with gentle plant allies to resource your nervous system, head to the shop. Because of limited availability at this time, I have everything listed as out of stock, but if you contact me, I can arrange for stock to be available so you can make a purchase. I can also offer a discount of any amount if cost feels prohibitive and you wish to work with the formulas featured in the shop. Be well!
