Aries New Moon~April 5, 2008

Spring has arrived in the northern hemisphere with the promise of new life as this year’s growing season gets under way. The energy of change is particularly palpable and pervasive these early spring days. Dr. John Lilly, who worked extensively with dolphins and interspecies communication, and broke new scientific ground in countless areas said, “Our only security is our ability to change.” The world is changing before our very eyes these days. Change for the sake of change, however is an invitation to more of the same.

As we choose to awaken to more of who we are and expand our self-awareness, we naturally contribute to the awareness available to the whole and change follows in forms that are expansive and life-affirming. “Know thyself,” could be the Aries motto. Aries knows through the experience of living–of acting on that which calls. Through experience we truly know in a way that isn’t possible through observation, study or analysis.

In times like these great opportunities abound, with potentials and possibilities never before imagined. Our task is to recognize and embrace those that spark our individual inspiration to act and that speak clearly to our own heart. If it moves you from within, you are on track and good to go.

The Aries New Moon occurs at 8:55 PM PDT tonight, April 5, 2008. This is the first new moon of the of the natural new year which begins with spring, at the Vernal Equinox. The Aries New Moon marks the official start of the growing season, when Sun (consciousness) and Moon (unconscious and emotions) unite for the first time in the natural annual cycle. This is said to be the most potent day of the year for planting the seeds of intention for what you would like to spark into being as this astrological year unfolds.

Aries is the sign of the initiator, of passion, of breaking ties with what is and striking out on one’s own or leading others to a place they’ve never been before. This is virgin territory; there are no rules; the map is created as each new discovery is made.

The Aries color is blood red, representing the birthing of Self and something new. Their number is, of course, one, being the first sign of the zodiac. Aries reminds us that ndividuality, instinct and inspiration are key to aligned action. In essence, change is what Aries is all about.

At the Aries New Moon we are invited to birth something new and exciting. Out with the old, in with something that gets our energy moving and expands the edges of our current experience. Aries delivers the impetus to strike out on our own and pioneer new ideas into action with courage and enthusiasm that we may not realize we have until we’ve taken those first steps. In following our instincts to do those things that call to us we come into alignment with the energy and circumstances necessary to step into something new or extraordinary. The reward for stepping up and out is a renewed sense of strength and the experience of having stretched to become more than we previously knew we could be. Whatever we do with our time and energy over the next couple of weeks will give shape and substance to our experience as the year progresses and we see the fruits of the seeds we plant today in the coming months.

We all have Aries energy in our astrology chart, and our life, calling us to take courageous action as a path to self-knowledge. A lack of self-awareness results in an ongoing sense of insecurity that undermines our ability to live a contented, effective, fulfilling and successful life. In order to grow wiser and mature we must first know and embrace our true nature. Only then can we know what we have to offer the world and how we can contribute whole-heartedly.

To have courage is to have heart. May the Aries spirit of childlike wonder lead you back to the place in your heart of knowing what you, from your instinctive nature, were born to do. Then, as Goethe said, “Be bold and mighty forces will come to your aid.” I wish you great and inspiring adventures on each step of your journey into springtime.

Jupiter Gets Super Sagittarian Send-Off

Mercury, the Cosmic Winged Messenger, and the Sun, The King/Queen and center of our universe, stand shoulder to shoulder, just behind Pluto, in Sagittarius as Jupiter marches through the last degree and the final days of his tour through his Sagittarius home field. Throughout 2007 Jupiter has championed Truth, Justice and Expansion on many fronts. This year there have been considerable checks and balances harnessing Jupiter’s natural exuberance and tendency to only consider its aims and disregard the little details that might inhibit it.

There have been challenging aspects from Uranus, The Revolutionary Rebel and Inventor, with its natural ability to throw an energetic curve-ball into the status quo and shake things up just when you thought you were getting somewhere. As Jupiter and Uranus met and mingled their energies we’ve all been forced to stop and rethink what kind of expansion we really desire and what we’ve been entertaining that is just more of, or a new version of something we’ve already done and thus won’t take us anywhere New.

Jupiter recently met up with Pluto, The Transformer and many of us have been pulled up short as a review of some old (perhaps long-forgotten) aspects of our personality and patterns we were sure we’d left behind surfaced with a vengeance. Pluto invites us to consider our dark side motivations that most of us would just as soon forget. As we neglect Pluto’s urging the pressure mounts until there is no more skirting the issue. Transformation occurs when we finally allow our secrets, fears and shameful acts to surface in consciousness where we can forgive ourselves, see that fear only has the power we allow it and realize that every thing we have done in our lives has been part of the journey and given shape, awareness and character to the person we are today.

As Jupiter prepares to leave his home sign for another eleven years it might be helpful to take stock of the advances we have made in our awareness and acknowledge the upgrades to our philosophy of life and relationship to Truth.

2007 has been a year of chaos, collision and completion. It has also offered tremendous opportunities to expand our awareness of Who We Really Are and what we no longer need to be, do or have in order to be OK.

For me, this has been a year of letting go, letting go and letting go a little more than I think I possibly can. I’ve taken on responsibilities and jobs I never dreamed I’d be doing at this point in my life. I’ve had some of the most glorious experiences of my life this year, interspersed with some of the most stressful and disheartening. Overall, though, as I look back I realize that all the fits and starts, all the heightened moments, all the pitfalls that I tumbled into blindly, the amazing people I met and the dear ones I lost this year all add up to a most extraordinary year of personal evolution. Looking back over the past twelve months today I don’t so much see loss as a tremendous shift and lightening up in consciousness.

I look forward to the new year and all that it will bring. I wish you all a holiday season filled with beauty, light and the laughter of those you love.

Bright blessings,

Jodi