by Teri Parsley Starnes

Teri’s interest with astrology lies with helping people see how following a practice of intention and self-awareness leads to a fuller relationship with Mystery. Astrology is a wonderful tool for this. Her weekly column orients readers to the seasonal energy of
each month’s Sun sign in order to set magical/mindful intention for the lunar month beginning at the New Moon.

Each week Teri will write about the unfolding energies that support and challenge our intentions. The ebb and flow of the lunar cycle resides deep in our souls. Through following the phases of the Moon, we remember the natural cycles that guide us.

Astrologers divide the lunar month into eight phases. These are:
New Moon: Dreaming
Crescent Moon: Beginning
First Quarter Moon: Manifesting
Gibbous Moon: Perfecting
Full Moon: Illuminating
Disseminating Moon: Sharing
Last Quarter Moon: Evaluating
Balsamic Moon: Surrendering

Come follow the Moon as we practice intentional awareness together.

Forecast for November 30, 2015 — December 6

There isn’t always something to learn from every horrible event. There isn’t always meaning to be found. Sometimes, the only thing to do is surrender to the unknowable. Feel the overwhelming grief of it all. Reach out to those suffering, including ourselves, and say I am sorry this has happened to you. There is a moment of humanity that floods in when we let go of finding solutions, yet still allow ourselves to be present with the pain. That moment of humanity is sometimes all that is left of hope. It is when I may realize that yeah, I want more for the world than this. I bet others do too. From that moment, the next step often shows itself. We are at that moment.

A terrorist just shot up an abortion clinic because politicians told him those people were evil. He heard the message and he acted. I’ve been writing about messages, stories, and discernment this lunar cycle.* Neptune—malleability—is square to Saturn—control. The square aspect represents a crisis point in a long cycle between these planets. The crisis this time may be that malleable people are playing out the drama of oppression. Systems (Saturn) are corrupting the ways humans can open and receive (Neptune). If these systems keep operating, we may lose our connections to each other and to the rest of the living and sacred world. Neptune, at its best, reminds us that separation is an illusion. We seem to be losing track of that truth. Saturn, at its worst, is despair. From past experiences with Saturn, I know this is a stage of the Saturn process. If we can muster the strength to keep going under a Saturn transit, the next stage can be wisdom. I am not sure this wisdom holds solutions, but perhaps that drop of humanity will cause a reversal in the ways things are going for us right now.

Planets have positive and negative expressions. Neptune, at its worst, is a loss of sanity, an escape into fantastical worlds, faulty reasoning, mass hypnosis. Saturn, at its best, is the structure of family and culture, the necessary boundaries to live in good relationships, strong integrity, a sense of responsibility. Under this crisis aspect between Saturn and Neptune, we are lulled away from our best selves, our right choices. It is as if we are under a spell. Under this crisis aspect between Saturn and Neptune, we need to craft the best qualities of both planets. Perhaps this looks like integrity, boundaries, and responsibility meeting connection, inspiration, and compassion.

We’ve only begun this process of healing the toxic relationship between Saturn and Neptune. The events of the last week are a signature of the work ahead. We need to dream (Neptune) into new systems (Saturn) and draw boundaries around corrupt messages. It is crucial to avoid the trap of demonization of others and keep opening to understanding. Systems create demons and they are trying to get us to act upon those messages. As we have seen, this leads us nowhere. Perhaps there is another way.

Forecast for November 30, 2015 — December 6

Moon in Leo
Monday, November 30. For most of the day, the fire signs energize us. The Moon in Leo (fixed fire) forms trines with Saturn, the Sun, and Mercury—all in Sagittarius (mutable fire). After midnight (CST) the Moon also forms a trine to Uranus in Aries (cardinal fire) to complete the triangle of fire signs. Fire is quick to react. Today and tomorrow, reactions may be too speedy. Later in the week, Mars in Libra (cardinal air) will square Pluto and oppose Uranus. This could be a volatile period of violent reaction. Fire is seldom soothing, but it can release tension quickly to ease pressure. Find ways to release your tension too.

Moon in Leo
Tuesday, December 1. The ray of hope comes from the enormously creative aspect between Mercury in Sagittarius (mutable fire) and Uranus in Aries (cardinal fire). The Moon in Leo (fixed fire) is supportive as well. What do you need from fire today? Is it a good laugh, creative inspiration, travel, action, adventure, joy? Be proactive about cultivating that quality. Fire provides energy. However, another thing may happen as well—it is known as foot in mouth disease. Mercury in Sagittarius has very few filters. Things pop out of our mouths that we may wish we could pop back in. The square between Chiron in Pisces (mutable water) and Mercury may contribute to extra sensitive feelings too.

Moon enters Virgo 4:09 am CST
Wednesday, December 2. The Moon in Virgo (mutable earth) activates the Saturn/Neptune square today. Again, notice the stories and the structures fueling the fueling world events. Virgo energy motivates us to clean it up. This looks like a pragmatic and holistic approach to restructuring our pervading myths. It is less about theory and more about service. What small acts will you do today? If we aren’t proactive, the stress of this t-square aspect pattern could provoke anxiety (Virgo Moon), or depression (Saturn), or escapism (Neptune).

 Moon in Virgo
December 3—Last Quarter Moon: Evaluating. This has been a massively packed lunar cycle so far. So much has happened globally and personally since the New Moon in Scorpio occurred on November 11. What I am noticing is that many people are experiencing nervous system trauma. It is easier to be triggered right now. This phase of the Moon invites us to reflect on what we need to maintain equilibrium and health for the long haul, and then, begin to give ourselves what we need to go forward. Mutable sign emphasis, (the Moon in Virgo, Saturn in Sagittarius, Neptune in Pisces) means antennas are out. We are taking in more information than usual and that can have a stressful effect if we don’t take care to find the still center. If we do, then enormous connection and healing can occur. The stakes feel high. Mercury in Sagittarius (mutable fire) forms a square to Jupiter in Virgo (mutable earth) increasing the sense that we must do something in response to information or disorder around us. Jupiter in Virgo helps us to enter the mind of the servant. To be of service, we do not necessarily need to have the big picture (more of a Sagittarius goal). We simply do the work before us. Take small steps to go far.

Moon enters Libra 4:33 pm CST
Friday, December 4. The influence of Mercury in Sagittarius (mutable fire) square Jupiter in Virgo (mutable earth) is felt today. Squares are usually tense connections between planets. A square between Mercury and Jupiter could be experienced as a very agitated mind, a need to talk about everything, taking less care with our communications, a tendency to blurt, or lose track of details. However, these two planets are in mutual reception today as well. That means each inhabits the other’s home sign. Jupiter is in Mercury-ruled Virgo and Mercury is in Jupiter-ruled Sagittarius. This opens a pathway between the two that could yield surprising breakthroughs in understanding and communication. Antennas are out to pick up signals from the broad world, yet we are able to tend to the details before us. Venus enters Scorpio (fixed water) this evening (CST). Believe it or not, Venus in Libra (cardinal air) has had a moderating influence on people’s relationships. We may suddenly reach our limits of niceness and need to get real about something bothering us.

Moon in Libra
Saturday, December 5. The day starts productively with a favorable aspect between the Moon in Libra (cardinal air) and Saturn in Sagittarius (mutable fire). However, simmering anger, possibly related to injustice, may begin to emerge as the day goes on. The Moon contacts Mars in Libra and Pluto in Capricorn (cardinal earth) this evening (CST), which could trigger big reactions, possibly violent ones. Mars is not comfortable in Libra, a debilitated Mars means we may not have as much conscious access to anger and frustration. Mars will form a volatile t-square pattern with Pluto and Uranus in Aries (cardinal fire) for the next few days. Work on acknowledging your own anger and know that others may need to have theirs acknowledged too. Listening and caring may diffuse tense situations. When Pluto and Uranus are involved, we touch upon the paradigm changes of this moment in history. Big events may occur under this Mars transit. Hopefully, all you will need to do is practice good anger management and be ready to be part of the change you wish to see.

 Moon in Libra
Sunday, December 6. See yesterday’s forecast. The square between Mars in Libra (cardinal air) and Pluto in Capricorn (cardinal earth) is exact today. We may find ourselves dealing with power. Sometimes the best way to solve power dynamics is to take responsibility for our own. Avoidance of our own power will not stop the toxic uses of power we see around us. Mars in Libra is aware of relationship and balance. How do we practice good relationship to others while being in our own power? This is transformative work.

* Read about the beginning of the Scorpio/Sagittarius lunar cycle on my website 
http://www.starsdanceastrology.com/2015/11/follow-moon-forecast-for-november-9.html

 

Contact Teri at teri@starsdanceastrology.com and visit her website at www.starsdanceastrology.com to learn about booking a reading of your chart.