New Moon's next aspect after her conjunction with Sun was another conjunction with Saturn, and Sun perfected conjunction with Saturn on September 3, right at...
Crescent Moon, 26 Libra 24, September 3 at 9:07 am EDT
So, if you may have felt challenged by demands to organize, be responsible, focus on your real world matters as you must live and work within them, exercise self-discipline, prioritize, be practical and all that...well, if it's of any comfort, I'm with you, feeling about as challenged as I can remember feeling for a long, long time! Forgive me for laughing a little while I write this—it's a lot better to do than the opposite. Trying to move the pieces of a business from coast to coast and set them up again within a short time, while trying to handle numerous customer and vendor requests at the same time, is no small challenge. Getting this column written on time in the midst of it was one ball that just got dropped. I hope all of you who check in regularly to read this column can understand and forgive me—and I hope you are all faring more easily!
Crescent is characteristically a phase of challenge, often feeling like two steps forward, one step back. But the impetus must be to move forward with the waxing light. As i said of this lunation conjunct Saturn in my book Future Signs, "Saturn symbolizes that which is solid and stable, and some of the most concrete gains you will ever make can take place when you accept and work with your Saturn energy.
First Quarter Moon, 15 Sagittarius 19, Sept. 7, 10:04 am EDT
And now, it's the "crisis of action!" No more waffling. It's time to make things happen. As I write this (better late than never, so it's said), it's Monday, September 8, and both Jupiter and Pluto turned Stationary Direct today. Both of them! Wow! If you have anything in your birth chart that is on or close to Jupiter at 12 Capricorn (or in any of the other cardinal signs in that degree: Cancer, Aries, Libra), or if you have anything on or close to Pluto at 28 Sagittarius (or that degree in Virgo, Gemini or Pisces) than you may be especially motivated to action right now. Jupiter and Pluto in combination can be powerfully successful (or I suppose, powerfuly excessive), but hey, let's accent the positive and make the most ot all that forward energy.
Ritual for First Quarter Moon—Jupiter and Pluto
Let's focus on two keywords: for Jupiter—successful; for Pluto—transformation.This is the desire, that something we want and need to undergo transformative change will be proceed successfully. The planets show us the theme, but remember that "As above, so below" is followed by "As within, so without." To create magic, we must lead with our will and intent how the planetary energies will be reflected in our lives—and we must do the work necessary to bring intent into manifestation.
Focus on something you know you need to change in your life, and visualize how you will be when that change has successfully manifested. One good way to assist such a visualization is with a magical candle, especially with a fire sign— Sagittarius is the fire sign of the onset of this First Quarter phase, as well as the sign of transiting Pluto. Gather together a red candle, a tool you can use to carve symbols in it, anointing oil (fire oils include clove, frankincense, cinnamon, copal, dragon's blood), a candle holder and matches or a lighter. Backround music, such as drumming or other sounds that feel fiery to you, might be used to enhance your visualization. Center yourself and then focus on your intent. Create a picture in your mind of what you will be like when the change you seek has occurred. Go beyond just thinking about it. See yourself! Feel the emotion! Carve meaningful words and symbols onto the candle, then anoint it with the fire oil by putting a few drops of oil on your fingers and then stroking the candle with it as you continue your visualization. When you are ready, place it in a metal candleholder and light it (metal, because you will burn the candle all the way down). Say:
Fire, light of my desire
Vision of what I shall be
Forge change I seek in magic fire
Success now comes to me!
Now, go forth and do what you know you need to do to fully manifest what you've visualized in magical rite!
Gibbous Moon, 4 Aquarius 16, Sept. 11 at 11:35 am EDT
This is another cross-quarter phase of challenge, when the action taken may meet some resistance, the need for an adjustment, or for learning something additional before arriving at the culmination of what was beginning at New Moon.
Full Moon, 22 Pisces 54, Sept. 15 at 5:13 am EDT
It's Harvest Full Moon, one of the biggest and most beautiful of the year! May the night be clear so we can go outdoors and watch her climb high into the sky, likely larger and orangier than usual, grand and glorious. She squares first Pluto, then Jupiter, lending added energy to their themes, and reflecting back to us some culminating result of our First Quarter rite.
Ritual for Full Moon in Pisces
If we're fortunate enough to have the bright Full Moon overhead, let's take best advantage of the fairie lights and shadows she creates for us. Go where there are trees for for the moonlight to shine though, casting many shapes and shadows of the ground. If there's a body of water, the light on its ripples can also inspire. Let your imagination flow and scry for whatever images and messages Moon Goddess may send you. If there's no natural body of water, you might try a large bowl of it for scrying in the moonlight. Dance freely from shadow to shadow, and let mind, body and spirit be free. Open yourself to the thoughts that come to you, for in the magic of Full Moon, they may be profoundly significant. Chant this charm:
From shadows glows the Full Moon's light
My Lady of mystery, come to me!
Reveal the secrets of my soul,
Teach me what I need to know
In love and trust for what will be
I call your magic! Live in me!
Disseminating Moon, 11 Taurus 18, Sept. 18 at 3:52 pm EDT
This is the phase to share what what we have achieved through the Full Moon culminations, and/or perhaps what we have learned. Planetary aspects flow harmoniously at first, though a veil of Neptune may confuse, obscure, or more positively, as Moon changes to Gemini, quickly followed by Mercury trine Neptune creative thinking could be inspired. Think about that! But within the Gemini string, Moon squares Saturn then Sun squares Pluto. Will it be feelings (Moon) of suppression (Saturn), or maybe only a serious (Saturn) mood (Moon)? Will Sun square Pluto manifest as power struggles or self-mastery? There are always multiple ways that any planetary aspect can play out, and we always have a choice. Choose wisely and both your own feelings as well as the reactions of others will benefit.
Last Quarter Moon, 29 Gemini 34, Sept. 22 at 1:04 am EDT
Moon in Gemini is in its final degree as Last Quarter phase begins, and is void for less than an hour before moving into Moon's own sign of Cancer. Mercury will turn stationary retrograde at 3:17 am EDT on Sept. 24, not to turn direct again until October 15th. So, the first two days of this phase can be well spent in cleaning up both your space, physical and mental. Clean house and clear up communication concerns. But it is not a good idea to rush, either, just to mail (for example) before the retrograde. Errors can happen when you're rushed, and then, of course, are received with those errors—during the retrograde! Double check and take your time—it's far better to do it right, then send.
Fall Equinox September 22, Sun at 0 Libra 00 at 1:04 am EDT
This is the festival of full Harvest, when in mythologies of the season, the Lord of Grain falls as the harvest is reaped, and the Great Stag falls in the hunt, each symbolic of the annual willing sacrifice of the great God who gives his life so that his people can survive the coming winter. Read more lore of Harvest, also called Mabon or Fall Equinox in my article, and find also a Ritual for this Sabbat.
