4.17.23 Moon Tracks

This week should feel unusually potent, especially if your own birth chart is receiving direct hits from the planets this week. Depending on your location, a hybrid Solar Eclipse in the sign of Aries will occur on the 19th or 20th. This is followed quickly by both luminaries squaring Pluto and a Mercury retrograde.

THE TECHNICAL

The Moon moves out of Pisces and into Aries on Monday the 17th. This movement into Mars temple setting the stage for the hybrid Solar Eclipse, which is essentially a highly charged New Moon. Whenever there is a New Moon or Full Moon in the sign of the nodal points, this equates an eclipse. The catch on this one, is that the north node is still in the sign of Taurus at 4 degrees, and the New Moon in Aries is just one degree away from moving into Taurus, hence what makes this a hybrid eclipse. This also kicks off and foretells the next eclipse season which will be happening along the Aries-Libra axis for nearly the next two years. 

As this eclipse in Aries seeks full expression, the Moon moves into position, first squaring Mars in Cancer at 23 degrees, the ruler of the eclipse, which is unfortunately in his fall. The two have mutual reception, being in one another’s sign, the aspect is a square, the nature of Mars, both of these points add a little dignity to Mars, lends some heat to an otherwise soggy warrior. The Moon’s next aspect is to a conjunction with Jupiter, the great benefic, elevating the mood of the environment, expanding emotions and increasing the heat. 

Here in my location in the US, the solar eclipse hits right around midnight on the 19th, and the Moon swiftly enters Taurus at 0 degree before the clock strikes 12. This puts the Moon straight into sight with Pluto, by a square aspect. The Sun quickly follows, 3:20 am the Sun ingresses into Taurus and then immediately squares Pluto . This sequence of Solar Eclipse, Moon and Sun ingress into Taurus, and then both great luminaries squaring Pluto, IS the story of the eclipse.

Let us remember, eclipse season is a set, and the next one we receive will be May 5th in the sign of Scorpio, another Mars-ruled lunation.

As the week begins to close out, but we are still under the auspice of the eclipse, we must look to Mercury for further insight. Mercury is slowing his speed in Taurus as he stations for retrograde, and trying his best to catch Uranus, but the stationing is keeping him at arms length and will not reach dynamic Uranus until he moves forward again after the retrograde. Mercury reverses into retrograde motion on April 21.

THE KNOW

This is a lot of technical astro talk, so what do you need to know in regards to what this eclipse brings?

Let us start with the general meaning of a solar eclipse, it is essentially a supercharged, beefed up New Moon. New Moons equate new beginnings. You can see hidden doors opening, inception of creative projects and ideas, births in a metaphorical or literal sense. The Sun is related to solar figures, such as fathers and leaders. Solar eclipses in ancient times were believed to portend new kings or leaders, but this may also mean illness or death of elder figures, father figures, those in position of higher power.

The solar eclipse at the last degree of Aries, where the Sun is exalted, I see this as possibly a period where fathers or leaders may pass within the next six months, or you may see solar figures stepping down from office, or from a position of authority. I say this mostly because we are at the last degree, also known as the anaretic degree, which I have spoken of before. This is the degree point where the center no longer holds, what was once new and bright, has now seen its time and moves down the wheel of fortune. This eclipse opens the door for new beginnings, new seeds, new leaders, and yet something must be sacrificed in exchange. 

This eclipse is at the last degree of Aries, meaning if there are changes to be made, new territory to explore, projects to intiate, what do you need to release once and for all to move into full expresson? It is the second New Moon in Aries, which in itself is a rare occurence. Jupiter the greater benefic is present too, which lends a fortunate shield and goodwill to whatever is beginning. Jupiter is just beginning his renewed reign as a renewed god since last week’s cazimi. New planetary power for the New Moon.

The hybrid nature of this eclipse begs us to look at our values, our visions, our rules, and see if they are still aligned or are we following what we hold to be true. New doors are looking to open under this Aries hybrid Solar Eclipse. These doors need space to swing open fully, to do this what are you sweeping off? Eclipses in nature have a demand of sacrifice, in exchange for the new, what of the old are you willing  to release? Eclipses, and especially one in the sign of Aries, Mars ruled, can be emotionally or physically painful or at best, uncomfortable in nature. Aries seeks to initiate, but we must first be certain we have space for new momentum.

The Pluto square to both the Sun and the Moon that are still in the New Moon phase, and at the beginning of Taurus, this asks us to look at what new energy is moving in, turning up. What new concepts have we brought into this world, whether as a collective, or on an individual level that we need fresh perspective on. 

Pluto in Aquarius, as a reminder, is about the future forward aspects of the collective. When the luminaries square it, especially under the light of an eclipse, we have to ask are we bringing in the right things, how does this serve the collective in a thoughtful, long lasting manner. Is the leadership aligned to the future, or is it against the betterment of the nation? This can be on a personal level as well. 

The Pluto square to the luminaries can stir up deep emotions, have us look at power struggles and dynamics, uncover abuses of power and can ask us to purge long grudges. Last night, I kept receiving a message while I slept, it wasn’t a dream more like a repeated message that was spoken against the unconscious dream images. I woke at 3:33, with the fading message or warning that humanity must be careful to what technologies are being weaponized to move one another against each other. It is happening under are noses, through our screens, and we don’t even raise our own hairs to it. The warning kept repeating images of history’s past, and how easily masses of people can be convinced to war against their neighbor, for really no reason but superficial and artificial discrimination.

I couldn’t help but feel this is the first activation of Pluto in Aquarius. This is a week that continues the overarching story of Pluto’s ingress into Aquarius that I have covered extensivly. Pluto, an outer planet moving that directly influences and shapes the collective experience, is having its first major activation in the water bearers sign. It is asking us once again, the future is ours to shape and be cautious of. There may be forces hidden and as we begin to initiate future change, be cautious of the advancements, the trade-offs, the shadows that lurk and extract the spirit of the collective from it.

Following quickly on the heels of this potent planetary action, is Mercury turning retrograde, complicating manners that may pertain to communication, technology, hidden matters that need disclosure. Retrogrades can bring great reversals or revisions, especially under the auspice of eclipses.

The collective or individual may experience a period where cybersecurity issues are heightened, disclosure revelations, and national security matters are on stage. This period can be quite unstable in mercurial matters, whether it is getting to the bottom of an issue, operating technology, travel disruptions, volatile markets, food supply issues, or even transportation disasters, this is all on the table for the next few weeks. Mercury turns direct on the 14th of May and will not leave its shadow until the 31st of May.

On a personal level, retrogrades can be challenging times to launch new projects, communicate certain ideas, or travel abroad. Life must go on though, and so we call in higher levels of patience. Know that if a situation is seeking a certain outcome, and you are not receiving it, perphaps after the 14th when it stations direct and begins to gain speed in the next couple weeks, there may be a great reversal in your future. Retrogrades offer the opportunity for revision, which can be a real gift, even when you are resistant. Retrogrades force us to stop, look and listen.

Overall, this week can bring some unexpected changes, opportunities and even unseen closures. It is a great period to not make many wishes though, moon rituals are frowned upon during eclipse seasons. Use this week to stop, look, listen and even revise.