by SOL W JONASSEN
〰️ A time of great intensity 〰️
This is a passionate and intense new moon. Not only is it in Scorpio, the sign of death and resurrection, but the ruler of Scorpio, Pluto, is making its first of three oppositions to Mars, the Warrior, and we can expect a new moon with a certain angry flavor to it. Or passionate, depending on who it moves through, of course.
This is a time when the underbelly of humanity is flung wide open, and we get access to the mind of humanity and what’s really going on in the subconscious vaults of our innermost secret beings. We might discover deep rivers of pain, trauma and anger that influence our choices and motivate our actions, and it is these very matters that make us follow a path in life that we mistakenly think is based on free will, but then we eventually discover that our choices actually sprung out of a deep fear of suffering. Mars-Pluto is a survival instinct fueled up to the nth degree.
The Sabian symbol for the New Moon is, however, rather beautiful and unifying, something which is quite the opposite of what the solo artist Mars strives for: «A Fellowship Supper reunites Old Comrades» is pointing to an inherent human need in us all, the need for fellowship.
It is also a reflection of a deep longing that lives inside the sign of Scorpio, namely the desire for union and joining forces to become stronger ourselves. It could mean we now realize who we are and where we belong. And who we need to be with in order to feel more whole and wholesome. Basically, we need each other to thrive, so in one way or another, we must find the will to make it work despite the polarized energy of the current world. The ultimate understanding of this symbol is not simply about being one with a preferred peer group, those who see life as we see it, but with the group known as humanity.
We are still a long stretch from having such a universal understanding of being a group, so we tend to gravitate towards that which is familiar, and we all know that group thinking can also override our individualized voice, ending us up going mindlessly with the flow. We then become puppets and marionettes, dancing a dance that is not our own, fighting wars that are not ours to fight. That is adaption and alignment with group values because it feels safe, and it is the very mechanism that gives a false sense of power through validation.
This New Moon might, however, stir up a change within our sense of self that could inspire us to break free from what feels like constricting group thinking, and we could challenge ourselves to be more independent. «Rather alone than in a toxic smear» is often a reflection that comes after trauma and after the Scorpio’s thirst for power and satisfaction of desire have reached a full stop thanks to abuse. The group needs to align with our true values, and we need to be there for the right reasons.
Also, this New Moon is flavored by Mercury in Scorpio, Mars in Cancer, and Pluto in Capricorn, all occupying the 29th degree of their respective signs. This is called the anaretic degree and is considered a critical degree. Even though it bears the potential of crisis, it also carries the seed of enlightenment. And what better go-go juice for spiritual enlightenment than a little crisis?
It is during crises that we wake up and make brave new choices. If we go by the old and known and act instinctively and compulsively, we’ll be stagnant and unmoving. It might even feel like we are going backward. But if we take the opposite approach, we pause, think, and try to reach for a bigger perspective, we might just understand how we can relate and react to any challenging situation in a better and healthier way, even when the pressure is on.
Mars and Pluto together are renowned for being rather troublesome, especially when they form an opposition and drag in all things relationships. Power struggles, violence, intense emotional confrontations, and manipulations are among the less attractive sides to this configuration, but on the other side of the axis lies empowerment, willpower, resolve, and assertiveness. Deep intimacy and juicy sexuality can also be part of this rather passionate combination, so if life has been bleak and romance has been on the low, this might bring some sparks back into a relationship.
Five retrograde planets are operating right now: Jupiter, Saturn, Chiron, Uranus, and Neptune, and this can typically bring in a feeling of doubt and self-reflection, which is not always a bad thing when the rest of the cosmos is full-throttle. Sometimes, stopping yourself is the right thing to do. There is always a karmic feel to the retrogrades and seen alongside Pluto on the very last degree of Capricorn, something old can resurface that requires solid reflection. And you have to trust your own instinct this time around. Your group might provide comfort, but it is not exactly comfort that gives growth.
This New Moon sparks a time of great intensity, and it will be wise to read the signs before leaping into the unknown, especially when Pluto-Mars are visiting town.
Sol W Jonassen
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