Fear and anxiety have overtaken the world now. Regardless of political persuasion, or the actions people are choosing to cope with them, the driving force for many now is fear. Our current astrological climate is a serious crucible, one that will continue to heat and pressurize for the next several months as this square perfects.
So as I sit to write about this upcoming lunation, reflecting on the collective fear and dread that is overtaking so many people now as Jupiter prepares to go direct and form another square to Saturn…
…I ask myself what we actions we can all engage in…what lessons we can all surrender into…in order to find peace.
What wisdom can this Aquarius new moon give us so that we are primed to face the next few months? What gems of celestial insight can we integrate to carry us forward through the challenging astrological alignments to come?
This new moon occurs on Wednesday, Janaury 29th at 7:36am Eastern Time in the sign of Aquarius, the daytime, fixed air sign of Saturn. Being an air sign, Aquarius has a strong intellectual and social leanings. Aquarius privileges progress, ideals, and innovation. It pursues a bright future for the entire collective of humanity that will save us from a dark, painful past.
For classical astrologers and magicians, Aquarius was the daytime home of Saturn. As the farthest visible planet from the earth, Saturn classically ruled boundaries - especially the boundary between the spiritual world and the material world. There is a coldness to Aquarius and that comes from its saturnine rulership.
Aquarius is humanitarian, but not in a lets-all-hold-hands-around-a-campfire-and-sing-kumbayah sort of humanitarian. It is cool, abstracted, clinical, and detached in its outlook and pursuit of ideals.
And when I think of the wisdom and perspective that we need right now, and in the heat of the astrological crucible to come…the coolness and detachment of Aquarius certainly fits the bill.
Heads are hot. Minds are racing. Passion is clouding the clear vision of rational analysis. Partisanship and punditry are obscuring our capacity to see the humanity in each other - even in the people with whom we disagree.
We need to elevate and distance ourselves internally from the drama of the moement. We need to remember who we really are - each and every human being here.
One of the great pieces of wisdom that show up universally across many different mystery traditions is that we are not bound to the material world. We descended here from the divine realms of the stars above
Γῆϛ παῖϛ εἰμι καὶ Οὐρανοῦ ἀστερόεντοϛ…αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ γένοϛ οὐράνιον.
I am a child of earth and starry heaven…but heaven is my home.
Maxim of the Orphic Mysteries.
And if heaven is our home - the home of all of humanity, regardless of whomever we voted for…
…then surely we can take refuge in the fact that our home above, and our relationship to it, is not affected by anything that happens here below.
And all the humanity, souls, and spirits that we are surrounded by ultimately have the same home and same origin as us. Ultimately, deep down, we are all the same.
So how can we remind each other right now of our true home, and the true starry light that we each carry within us?
How would you treat fellow citizens of the stars?
Yes, your fellow citizens of the stars may disagree with you. Yes, you may be right and they may be wrong. Yes, their opinions may be dangerous or deadly or grossly misguided.
But practically speaking, trying ot bash your neighbors over the head with disagreement won’t solve any problems. And the real people who are causing the problems and gross inequality around you don’t live next to you anyway, and they’re not commenting on your social media posts.
The universe asks you to be of service in ways that are needed, but not necessarily personally rewarding. You may have already found yourself having to put aside your own personal needs and wants for the sake of some greater whole.
Put aside partisanship and disagreements with others in your life over small issues. Find what shared humanity you have with your neighbors that you disagree with. Don’t allow yourself to be divided and conquered by the powers at be who want you to be afraid and fearful.
Think of how you can change yourself and improve your own life for the sake of those around you. Elevate the whole Humanity.
This happens in trine from Jupiter, about a week before he goes direct. Expect guidance, support, and grace from the heavens to help you detach and cool yourself as you consider how you can be of collective service. Mercury conjoins within a few degrees
This lunation is, fortunately, averse to both of the malefics.
As always, examine the house in your natal chart in which the Moon conjoins the Sun to get a deeper sense of how this will personally affect you. If you’re Aquarius rising, it will be your 1st house of self. If Capricorn, in your 2nd house of resources. This will tell you where to expect the most developments in your life to occur during this upcoming lunar cycle.
What can you do now that will bring joy to the people in your life and ease their lives? What kinds of intentions can you set for your life, such that everyone benefits?
In the face of crisis, how can you detach from your own stress and find equanimity in caring for all those around you?
If you can prioritize honoring your place with the network of relationships in the Cosmos…
…the heavens will reward you with blessings that strengthen you and everyone in your life.
-Merlin