Bright lights, Big sky
Are you chomping at the bit? Ready to push out walls and live large?
You’re feeling the exuberant impulses of the New Moon in Sagittarius Dec. 6/7.
“The vibe is one of expansion, growth, reaping merit, and receiving blessings. Our challenge is to know that everything was, is, and always will be good.”
“It’s time for fun, for laughter, for adventure. Curiosity is giving way to learning and pursuit. Optimism is growing. Opinions are escalating with ease into conviction, claimed truth and, of course, hot air. Supersizing is lifestyle. The morel the merrier; the bigger, the better.”
Sound too good to be true? As always, there’s more to the story. Let’s see how astrologers around the Web are sizing up this New Moon.
New Moon in Sagittarius
A New Moon occurs when the Moon meets the Sun. Around December each year, the meeting happens in exciting, excitable Sagittarius.
My forecast sums up the sign:
“Sagittarius is a fiery energy that seeks to spread far and wide. (And avoid containment! The sign’s unofficial theme song is Don’t Fence Me In.)”
Kathryn Andren, The Love Astrologer, finds relevance in the sign’s symbol:
The symbol for Sagittarius is the archer’s arrow, a reminder to maintain focus. Let go of distractions. Release limiting thought patterns, possessions or people in your life who you feel are holding you back. Just like the archer, keep your eye on your goal.”
This New Moon takes place smack in the middle of the sign. Arik Xander, says:
This New Moon is occurring at 15 degrees Sagittarius, which is the peak of the sign. This is opening the door to the middle path, the balanced energy of this archetype. And though there are factors trying to throw us off, we have the perfect center and gravity to stay anchored and connected to the best of all sides.”
Silver Linings Playbook
The New Moon’s ruler is expansive Jupiter, king of the gods, who has a knack for amplifying anything he touches. And that includes this New Moon.
My forecast elaborates:
He’s not merely in the sign of Sagittarius at present, but he’s also recently met with both the Sun and the Moon, who come into their meeting boosted by his extravagance. They remain close enough to be susceptible to his indulgence-encouraging ways. Hence the overboard impulses coursing through all of us.
Although Jupiter has been in Sagittarius for two months, this New Moon feels like a welcome home celebration. It’s fanning flames out of the sparks that have been glowing in the Sagittarius area of your life. Got something you’d like to take off? Get out bellows and blow away. From this New Moon those sparks will burn, burn, burn.”
Smoke and Mirrors
The New Moon and her ruler Jupiter are in a square to warrior god Mars and Neptune, lord of transcendence and illusion.
The contact is challenging and dynamic. My forecast explains:
A square is a hard aspect that demands action, and Mars is the guy to deliver. His tightness to Neptune, though, makes the responses anything but direct, clear and targeted. (Think of what happens when you push water in a pool.) Instead, this pair dishes out misdirection, soft-pedaling and backhandedness, but also acts of compassion and faith, guardian angels and, whaddaya know, miracles.”
The square puts us to a choice, says Arik Xander:
“We can use the energy of a challenge in one of two ways:
“We either become entirely delusional about the confrontations that are up, and the boundaries we need to set. We might even act passive-aggressively or get cold feet at a crucial moment.
“OR:
“We choose to confront deep seated psychological patterns and subconscious programming that is disturbing our forward motion without sinking into depression or victimization.”
On the other hand, the interplay of fire and water bodes well for artistry. Jamie Partridge, Astrology King, explains:
“This a good moon phase for art, music, sculpture, dance and drama. Entertainment, charity work and fighting for social causes are excellent ways to use this ethereal energy safely.”
The mix of expansive, masculine and nebulous also carries a streak of Santa Claus, says my forecast:
“He’s in the Mars/Neptune conjunction, which smacks of a magical, mysterious benefactor, while the Jupiter-enhanced New Moon is a recipe for childlike expectation, wonder, awe and wish fulfillment. And well, well, well, look at the calendar: The New Moon coincides with St. Nicholas Day, when in some traditions children awaken to fruit and presents (or coal), delivered overnight by unseen hands. Coincidence? Of course not. There’s no such thing as coincidence.”
Pit the super-sizer against the hothead and the illusionist and negatives are also possible.
The results could be deflating.
“If Sagittarius is akin to a hot air balloon, Mars Neptune in Pisces would be the action that causes a leak.”
They could be weird, and worse. Jamie Partridge, Astrology King, explores the underbelly:
“Mars conjunct Neptune adds a sinister, underhand influence to the aggression, sexuality and nastiness of Mars in hard aspect. While this conjunction can make you feel romantic and sensual, the challenging aspect to the New Moon means you will more likely feel paranoid and delusional….
“Over idealization or gullibility would leave you open to deception, scandal or slander… Your good intentions to help others could easily be taken advantage of. Some people might see your generosity as a weakness….
“Hypochondria is another issue you may have to deal with. Problems might be difficult to diagnose or there may be a misdiagnosis. You will also be more sensitive to drugs and alcohol…. Personal relationships may be subject to dishonesty and deception. Secrets will be harder to keep and harder to uncover.”
The Moon’s square to Mars also concerns Marina Marcario, Darkstar Astrology. She sees an emotional, combustible and passionate combination.
“The square brings such intense feelings and moods to crisis point, so those touched by this New Moon will need to vent this great energy into some project which fuses the Moon with Mars. This could manifest in a variety of ways, starting at the most base level would be sexual conquesting.
“In a man, they would have a great appetite for women, plain and simple. In a woman it would be a need to express themselves sexually, otherwise, they may feel like they have permanent pre-menstrual tension. If the sexual expression is thwarted in any way, then, of course, the flip side is great anger and rage.”
Tongue (Un)tied
The New Moon and her companions are firing up communication. Considerations are in order, notes Kathryn Andren, The Love Astrologer:
“Sagittarius is sassy for speaking out. Remember your words have power. Discernment with communication details is further emphasized since the messenger planet Mercury stations direct Dec. 6, less than 12 hours before the New Moon.”
Other considerations
The heavens are vast, and so are the techniques astrologers have used to explore them. Let’s look at how some of these add meaning, nuance and depth to the New Moon in Sagittarius.
Fixed Stars
The Moon is with Ras Algethi in the constellation of Hercules.
Jamie Partridge, Astrology King, sums up the influence of both star and constellation:
“In hard aspect, it causes much irritation, especially in relationships with women. Ras Algethi corresponds to boldness and a drive to gain power. So the square to Mars/Neptune is likely to make people very unethical and immoral in their quest for power. Constellation Hercules is said to give strength of character, tenacity and fixity of purpose, an ardent nature and dangerous passions.”
Marina Marcario, Darkstar Astrology, elaborates:
“Robson says the constellation as a whole gives ‘strength of character, tenacity and fixity of purpose, an ardent nature and dangerous passions’ Manilius associates Hercules with tightrope walking, but also says it makes one crafty, deceitful and a thug who terrorizes cities! But if one uses this energy towards a profession it ‘will inspire him with enthusiasm for risky callings, with danger the price, for which he will sell his talents: daring narrow steps on a path without thickness… he will keep a multitude in suspense upon himself’ [quoting Elsbeth Ebertin]….
“Ras Algethi according to Ebertin ‘possesses a character of Mars-Venus with a slight blend of Mercury. If in good aspect, it is supposed to give much enjoyment, receiving favors from women. However, if unconnected with helpful planets, it is said to cause much irritation, especially in connection with the female sex. But, by its very Mars nature, Ras Algethi corresponds to boldness and a drive to gain power.’
“Bernadette Brady sees another side…it ‘could mean a respect for nature, a caring for the planet, a desire to have all things in their place; That is the correct order of nature, life, and the heavens… There is a natural need to submit to honor something larger than yourself. The shadow or lesser expression is adoration of another human, being an admirer or follower.’”
The Great Attractor
The New Moon is conjunct a galactic anomaly known as the Great Attractor. Philip Sedgwick says it has “relativistic characteristics – those of warping time and space while bending light with its massive gravity.”
His description of its working mirrors the boundless potential of this Sagittarius New Moon:
“The Great Attractor, like many galactic points, emanates freely in all spectrums. To be fully attuned requires internal responsiveness to all frequencies. Consciousness lies in the inclusion of all frequencies. ‘Rightness. prevails in maintaining but one specific, critical spectrum as the focus of one’s obsession. And with the Great Attractor’s wide-ranging nature, a case can be made for anything. No matter if polarized by attachment to consensus reality or not, it makes sense in the eye of the beholder.”
Decans
Each astrological sign can be divided into three sections, known as decans (10-degree divisions of the Zodiac). This Moon is in Sagittarius decan 2, which is ruled by the Moon and Mars.
Marina Marcario, Darkstar Astrology, considers this decan:
“Breeding and DNA are a theme here as the serpent’s symbol so closely resembles the double helix and the caduceus of Mercury is also highlighted. This decan contains some stars in the snake charmer of Ophiuchus.
“There is also a certain amount of deception too, however… The forked tongue of the snake makes itself felt here in the form of jealousy or spiteful rumors. Sabik is problematic generally, so the lunar energy makes it hard for us to clarify truth from fiction. What is certain though, is the ability to conjure up fanciful stories!
“These tales are so dramatic and entertaining, that in the end, no one cares if they are actually factual or not. Maybe the fiction contains an element of truth that is eternal, like a myth. The Moon has some dignity in Sagittarius decan 2. One of its unique abilities in this position is to unify disparate elements together in order to fulfill a specific goal. Moon in Sagittarius 2 is rather like a blinkered horse. That way it won’t be tempted or distracted by the forbidden fruit of temptation.”
Sabian Symbols
Over the years, astrologers have devised systems to assign meaning to each degree of the Zodiac. The most popular of the past century has been the Sabian Symbols, proposed by Marc Edmund Jones.
The Sabian Symbol for the 16th degree of Sagittarius is: “Sea Gulls Fly Around A Ship In Expectation Of Food.”
In his commentary on the Symbol, astrologer Dane Rudhyar explained, “The seagulls here symbolize the more wild and normally untamable energies of the human soul, but they too can develop a kind of domesticated dependence upon the by-products of man’s adventures within the realm of the unconscious (the sea). Natural instincts feed on the reactions, and often perversions, of the socially conditioned mind-ego.”
Lunar Mansion
In addition to the familiar 12-sign solar Zodiac, there’s also a 28-sign lunar Zodiac. Medieval Arab astrologers called these lunar signs the Lunar Mansions.
The Moon falls in Lunar Mansion 20, which the Arab astrologers called Al Na’am (the Beam). Donna Woodwell of Donna Philosophica nicknamed it “The Hunter.”
The mansion’s purpose is “for success in attaining your goals.”
Donna advises: “Set intentions and strive to meet them. Seek answers to questions. Perform tasks that require concentration. But don’t become lazy or allow distractions to get in the way of action.”
Summing It Up
This year’s boisterous New Moon in Sagittarius promises high energy, high spirits and high hopes. What will they inspire us to do
Marina Marcario, Darkstar Astrology, points to the potentials of the fixed star’s constellation and the myth of Hercules:
“This is a great Moon for detoxing, so stick on your metaphorical wellies and grab your shovel. It’s time to give your stable a good clean out. Of course, the New Moon is perfect for new starts so one need to clear the space for healthy new influences to enter.”
My forecast foresees giving into the energies – and running with them:
“It’s the time of the season to reach, run, jump, explore and fly. To spend hours philosophizing over coffee or beer (or debating/ arguing online). To indulge and gamble and laugh – especially when we tumble and end up on our backsides.”
Kathryn Andren, The Love Astrologer, advises taking a higher path.
“This is time to revisit belief systems and explore new ways of knowing. Consider how do I know what I know? What is The Truth? What is true for me? Be open to new adventures and discovering possibilities.”
Lunaria Datebook
Last Moon Phase: November Full Moon in Gemini
Next Moon Phase: December Full Moon in Cancer
December 2018 New Moon in Sagittarius Times and Dates:
San Francisco: Thursday, December 6, 11:20 p.m. PDT
New York: Friday, December 7, 2:20 a.m. EDT
São Paulo: Friday, December 7, 5:20 p.m. BRST
London: Friday, December 7, 7:20 p.m BST
Istanbul: Friday, December 7, 10:20 a.m. TRT
Mumbai: Friday, December 7, 12:50 p.m. IST
Tokyo: Friday, December 7, 4:20 p.m. JST
Sydney: Friday, December 7, 6:20 p.m. AEST
Feeling Overwhelmed by the New Moon?
Click here for our FREE New Moon Essentials Guide to Work Consciously with the New Moon Energies!
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