AQUARIUS NEW MOON
Tuesday,February 8, 2005
2:28 pm PST / 5:28 pm EST

Sun and Moon joined at
20.16 Aquarius

Aquarius New Moon 'Scope by Dana Gerhardt



Walk into a room after there’s been an argument or heavy sobbing;
maybe a depressed person has spent time there. You’ll feel it. The energy
will be thick, charged, and uncomfortable. To disperse it, you can clap your hands.
You can ring bells. You can burn sage. Or you can spray a fine
scented mist in the air. Such things work. I mention them now because
that’s the best action for this New Moon. Aquarius is THE cycle to
raise your energy. In fact that’s the mandate: This is the month to become unstuck.
No sign has a greater connection to the future than Aquarius. It’s the sign
of progress, innovation and breakthroughs. But first you’ve got to clear out
all the musty, droopy, angry, wimpy, static energy of the recent past.
Know that your inner genius is ready for a little revolution. Never mind
what’s been holding you back. If you’re not living the life you want, Listen.
What has your spirit been longing to do?

The Aquarius New Moon chart’s main aspect is auspicious: Jupiter
in Libra trines Sun, Moon, Mercury and Neptune in Aquarius. Jupiter represents growth,
good luck, expansion, and opportunity. The trine suggests an easy access to these happy
potentials. But here’s the problem: Trines won’t make you do anything. Squares will slam
doors in your face, oppositions will call you out. Difficult aspects force you to
rise to the occasion. But with trines, nobody minds if you decide to stay
at home, order a pepperoni pizza, watch Court TV, and paint your toenails.
Great forward leaps are favored this month. But they aren’t guaranteed.

That’s where the clapping, bells, sage, and watery mist come in.
Aquarius is The Water Bearer, which is a heavenly metaphor suggesting this
is the cycle to come clean. In diverse cultures throughout the ages, this is the
lunar month when rituals of purification are most frequently performed. The
Romans did it. The Mesopotamians did it. At Candelmas and Imbolc,
pagans do it today. Likewise in the East, temples are white-washed
and given a thorough cleansing this month. Rituals are performed
to drive away evil spirits. Offerings are made to please the local deities.
In Tibet, the Aquarius New Moon is actually New Year’s Day (called "Losar").
It begins a special month dedicated to spiritual practice, when
the power of one’s offerings and prayers are multiplied 100,000 times.
If your own spiritual practice has lapsed, this is an especially auspicious time to take it
up again. Spiritual practice is the most effective way to cleanse and purify your mind.

The inner and outer spaces mirror each other. If your work has been uninspired,
rearrange your office and throw out old papers. If family relationships are
not as harmonious as you like, give your home a top-to-bottom cleaning.
A simple ritual for this New Moon is to become a your own Water-bearing Angel.
Fill an atomizer or spray bottle with energetically charged water. Charge the water
by placing a crystal in it for at least 24 hours (before that, clean the
crystal by soaking it in a bowl of salt or under the sun’s rays).
If you’re familiar with Dr. Masaru Emoto’s work, you know that writing positive
intentions on the water bottle ("grace," "radiance," "fertility," "passion," or "peace")
will further charge the water molecules. Dip a sprig of pine in the water to
double its energetic potency. Pine is purifying~~it smells clean too!
On the day of the New Moon, visit all the rooms in
your house and mist them with your ritual water. You should notice the
difference instantly! Enjoy the newly charged air. Wait happily for your new
inspirations to come pouring in.

What should you grow this cycle?



Look to the house of your birth chart where the New Moon falls:
here’s your personal seed bed. This is the place you usually "do Aquarius." Every
year at this time, you engage subtly or wholeheartedly in a
purification ritual. A cleansing in this house can energize your whole year.
This house is where you’re used to shaking up your status quo—and
during this New Moon cycle, you have a unique opportunity here… but
you must tune in. Listen for the stray thoughts that get you really
excited. It may be your inner revolutionary handing you the manifesto you need.
(If you’d like to explore this in greater depth, you may enjoy Danas
seasonal/new moon workshop, Twelve Moons.)

© 2005 Dana Gerhardt





Aries New Moon Scope
Sunday March 21, 2004

By Dana Gerhardt



What's in the sky this cycle?

The official announcement of the new planetoid Sedna, so close to this
Aries New Moon, suggests a delightful
contemplation for all of us during this season of beginnings. What
has been orbiting your life and now wants to be recognized?

Mercury goes retrograde the day after the Full Moon (April 6 PST).
"Oh no--not again!" Every time Mercury goes retrograde which occurs
three times a year I hear this complaint. But now you get a two-week
warning: so if there's important business you must take care of, try to do it
during the waxing Moon! Understandably, many grumble on entering the
retrograde phase of mis-communications, mechanical break-downs, and general
mischief. Yet, if approached with patience and curiosity, these retrograde times can be
the most fruitful weeks of the year. Let the knots in your mind relax and unravel. During
the retrograde you have permission to cease striving. Your mind--and the minds
around you--are going on a little vacation. Don't visit the car mechanic, pressure your
contractor, or sign contracts if you can avoid it. But do be willing to reconsider
everything. Allow any plans to stall or take new shape in front of you. There
is a larger intelligence at work. When Mercury goes direct (April 30 PST), you'll
find new inspiration--a bright reward for all your flexibility and patience!



"Who am I?" is the quintessential Aries question. But you won't get the
answer by navel-gazing. You must get into motion. The Aries New Moon, so quickly
following the Spring Equinox, says it's time to break out and break through. Like
a green shoot pushing up through the ground after its silent winter metamorphosis.
The plant is on a journey to find out what it can become and so are you.
Results are less important now than action. Seek new experiences. They'll
deliver what you need along the way, quickening the young flames of spirit, evoking
your courage, building your strength and granting a new awareness of yourself. Aries
is pure life force rising through the body. Let the hunger for "something more"
sharpen in you like a knife. Cut through: boredom, dissatisfaction, useless anger,
self-doubt, the self-image that no longer fits. Be willing to be surprised at
your new daring. Wake up this is the start of the zodiacal new year!



The Aries New Moon is an especially appropriate moment to contemplate the
symbol of Mars, the ruling planet of Aries. Mars describes the capacity to direct creative
energy, to initiate action. Used positively, it inspires leadership, courage, passion, and
self-reliance. Used negatively, it can be destructive, taking its orders from ego, bent on
crushing whatever stands in its way. Mars, as the God of War, brings conflict and anger,
inspires fears for our very survival, and can obliterate faith and trust.

Mars enters Gemini on March 21. New mental energy is stimulated. But your physical
energy may be erratic. Your inner warrior could be leaping in all directions. At
other times it will drop with exhaustion. During the waxing Moon, resolve to act
just on those ideas that bring you closer to your dreams. After the Full Moon,
when Mercury (ruling Gemini) goes retrograde, let yourself pause. Review your battle
plans. Make the necessary changes. Resolve this Spring to
move wisely with your inner rhythms!

© 2004 Dana Gerhardt
All rights reserved





Aquarius New Moon 'Scope
Wednesday, January 21, 2004

by Dana Gerhardt

As the first New Moon of the New Year, the Aquarius New Moon is your annual
opportunity to wake up to the brilliance of your world. Aquarius is associated with
lightning bolts and the rainy season, natures cues for cleansing and awakening your
senses. Because this New Moon occurs at one degree Aquarius, the entrance into
Aquarius might catch you still sleeping in duty bound Capricorn thoughts.
What's more, the Sun Moon conjunction makes no aspects to other
planets you may need to exert extra effort to draw down its inspiration.
I offer the following Aquarius ritual for busy people:

Before getting into your morning shower, plant your feet firmly on the bathroom floor.
Stand tall as a lightning rod. Invoke your favorite deity and raise your right arm skyward.
When it's pointing to the sky, utter the Aquarius mantra:

"From my fingers to my toes, I know, I know."
As you lower your arm, exhale a deep "Ah So."
Step into the shower and wash the old perceptions away.

This is the cycle of the Water Bearer. Why is air sign Aquarius associated with water?
Maybe because the Nile always flooded when the constellation of Aquarius was overhead.
Or because the Sun rose in the constellation of Aquarius during Mesopotamias
rainy season. Was this why the Romans dedicated the Aquarius month to cleansing
rites of purification? Or why pagans celebrate Candlemas (or Imbolc) during
Aquarius when initiates wash away their past, newly dedicating themselves to
the Goddess. Whatever the reason, this New Moon offers you a chance to come clean.
Send yourself a signal that you're willing to embrace this season.

When your work day is done, let it be truly done. Don't prolong your efforts
beyond what's necessary. Take a shower, go for a walk,
dance or sing but don't turn on the TV or force
yourself to exercise if you don't feel like it. You are courting the fresh curiosity
of a child. Inspiration will enter through
the empty spaces you create at the end of the day.

This is the second month of winter ~when our bodies are traditionally less active
than our minds. This is mental preparation time, like the things that are growing
below ground, quickening to the future coming of spring. The rain that pours from
the heavens may actually come this month as a flood of new awareness.
The energy of Aquarius is unconventional, broadminded and progressive.
Catch it in a silver bowl.Dance in circles with it.
Kick through puddles with it. Sing out loud with gratitude.

What should you grow this cycle?



Astrology typically answers "what" questions by looking at
houses. Look to the house of your birth chart where the New Moon
falls: here's your personal seed bed. This is the place you usually "do Aquarius."
Every year at this time, you engage subtly or wholeheartedly in
a purification ritual. A cleansing in this house can energize your whole
year. This house is where you're used to shaking up your status quo
and during this New Moon cycle, you have a unique opportunity here but
you must tune in. Listen for the stray thoughts that get you really excited.
It may be your inner revolutionary handing you the manifesto you need. (If you'd like
to explore this in greater depth, you may enjoy my seasonal/new moon workshop, Twelve Moons.)

2004 Dana Gerhardt
All rights reserved

Drop into our Mooncircle for January/February 2004:



The daily moon sign, phase and aspects...
"At the New Moon refresh your animal nature,
senses awake, happily, simply aware of being alive..."
(Today's Moon)

Lynn Koiner's Horoscope...



"The energies of Uranus in Aquarius move quickly, suddenly and unexpectedly. Surprises
frequently occur - good surprises and difficult ones. Sudden endings can abruptly occur,
cooperation can break down but lucky breaks can also occur. The favorable dates support new and innovative solutions to problems. This is an important cycle for making a break with the old cycle and its relationships and activities...."

(Horoscope)