New Moon Capricorn, Monday, January 10, 2005 4:03 AM PST

What a New Year! I am incredibly saddened by the devastation in Southeast Asia. When we are becoming increasingly sensitized to the world’s suffering, how do we make meaning of the suffering? The earth hangs like an earring in the universe, so delicate and small. We often forget that we serve the earth, that she is a living, breathing thing- she absorbs all of it so quietly and gracefully. Until she has been pushed too far, & like the organism she is, breaks down. Astrologer Malvin Artley points out that as with any organism, when she is stressed, the weakest link crumbles the castle. One perspective: we look at southeast Asia’s third world conditions and compare to it’s wealthier neighbors. Many of the islands hit are popular resort destinations, playgrounds of the wealthier nations of the world. History continues to bare out the natural law -where disparity exists, nature corrects. Nature’s law only cares that we live in equilibrium.

Sun and Moon in Capricorn rebalance the scales, earning ruling planet Saturn’s title as ‘lord of karma’. Saturn/Karma is not punitive, it is simple cause and effect. ‘Karma’ is elusive to the human mind because we cannot understand how tragedy is corrective and good for anyone. What if we could really grasp this truth-that our personal tragedies and triumphs are all apart of this great cosmic web? We are indeed balancing the scales for one another, living out our great-grandmother’s karma, and a resort worker in Phukhet just as we live our own. How can our mind possibly hold the responsibility for something of this magnitude? A tragedy of this size asks us to be seized by a magnanimous grace, a kind born of honoring our interdependence & responsibility to one another.

Nature’s laws, like God, may be equally mysterious and intimately knowable. The Earth is a body, like your physical one. She is impressionable to your word & intention. Intentionality is key; where we direct our attention is where we reap results. In the sign of ‘put your money where your mouth is’ New Moon in Capricorn intentions want you to merge who you say you are with what you do in the world. With Capricorn it’s actually that black and white, that simple.

The first new moon of the year, I’ll venture to say that January 10 will feel more like the start of the New Year than 12/31. There’s plenty of energy for new beginnings, the impressions of our words and actions sink into the wet cement of the universal mind. Intention has weight, heft; work on where you want to be.

The new doesn’t happen without growing pains: the new Moon is a close approximation to a t-square: Moon and Sun conjunct Chiron, old wounds-we are beginning anew with wisdom in the ground of past pains– opposing Saturn, we feel the place where goals meet limitations and restrictions. This opposition reminds me of the re-building process, as though we’re walking through a foundation laid bare with broken pipes & tears, architectural plans in hand. But the t-square in a new Moon is an active energy, capable of great accomplishment, full of motion and resolve. The point of tension is held at an apex by Jupiter– we’re having crisis of faith, doubts. As Jupiter holds the tension, he also holds the solution. Jupiter is the planet of goodwill, faith, the almighty, miracles; Libra is love. Here we have visionary love, graceful generosity and expanded capacity to be a bigger presence in relationships. Like the world stage, are previously unimagined relationships where we renew our faith and find blessing? We’ve already seen the bright response of generosity in response to tragedy, each nation monetarily competing for goodwill.

Many people have been presented with new or expanded relationships the latter half of the past year, a promise of Jupiter’s passage through Libra. Yet just this past week, some notable/celebrity relationships ended. As we steward our relationships, our interdependence on the earth and one another, it’s good to get clear on just what our obligations are to self and to others. This New Year/Moon we’ll be asked to be honest with ourselves-not fudge the answers to the important questions. When we give to another we do so with integrity and truthfulness to self, not making promises we can’t keep. If we compromise self for another, we find that our foundation will crumble.

A suggestion of this New Year chart is that with a correction of attitudes and beliefs- that by dropping some of the baggage of the past, we are in a position with enough to give. Develop some New Moon/Year epiphanies designed to get rid of anything that limits your freedom. Try these on:

I question the power of the past to control my future dreams.

I don’t mistake circumstance for the reality of the infinite.

I see the previously solid nature of my perceptions and identity as fluid and expansive.

To be certain, we are feeling both a contraction and expansion –two forces, when paired, negate forward movement. If fear is present; look squarely in those cold beady eyes knowing that fear only gains power if we do what it wants us to. Expansion is scary from a place of contraction & need. Jupiter exposes us to the place we need to incorporate an attitude of abundance, while Chiron encourages us to own our wisdom by caring for our Achilles heel, our loveable limitations. We learn to be both broken and whole. Venus in Capricorn is applying a sweet sextile to Uranus, giving us a boost of ‘practical optimism’. If we show up for self, the things and people we love will, too. There we learn to trade the same old stuff for enlightened change.

For a taster, here are a few more bigger picture notes for 2005. Although it’s started out awnry, the year will be more visionary than last. Through mid-2005 we’ll have an inconjunct between Saturn and Pluto. We can expect to see more seismic creaks and groans as old structures are ruthlessly assessed for their stability. Consider any creative restructuring like preventative medicine. The news and media continue to play a role in exposing what boil needs lancing. On an upbeat note, Jupiter and Neptune will be waxing sextile through mid-August. This brings an influx of inspiration and hope into the overall collective mood. We could all use a little uplifting news and it looks like we’ll all have an ease of access to inspiration and the messages of encouragement we need. Meanwhile Uranus in Pisces and Neptune in Aquarius continue to mutually receive one another – wherever we need to show up as revolutionary and idealistic change makers, we are supported. Shift will happen mid-summer when Saturn moves into Leo, and Jupiter moves into Scorpio. Hopefully, Saturn’s move means less overall pressure on the U.S. economy, since the U.S. is a Cancer nation and Saturn leaves Cancer by mid- July. Around the same time Jupiter enters Scorpio with a mutual reception to Pluto in Sagittarius, encouraging us to dig deeper for resources. Jupiter will be the megaphone for hidden treasure (including those who ‘hide’ their financial dealings) with a possibility for financial boons and sudden influx of money. This will also highlight merging of finances and we’ll all want to get clear on to whom we’re financially partnered or indebted.

In the day by day, 1/10 Mercury and Venus in Capricorn continue to travel together through the full moon. This lends credibility and polish to our speech and social interactions. It also may lend a make it or break it quality to relationships-maybe it’s not time for the bottom line– listen to your intuition. It’s a great time to be writing, expressing yourself creatively or artistically in some tangible way.

1/13 is a day when we may be stopped by the reality police for an error we’ve neglected, a parking ticket unpaid. This isn’t an easy for anyone, Saturn opposing Sun dampens spirits and puts noses to the grindstone. Don’t mess with authority here as you’re sure to be called out on all the places you’re weak. This influence is felt for a few days before and after, yet these days too shall pass, so try and take it easy on you. The evening wants to relieve your burden and give you new ideas and approaches. Venus sextiles Uranus; maybe you call a friend and get a different take on things. Venus and Mercury join and both sextile Uranus on 1/14– introducing our minds & relationships to new possibilities and outcomes. Open yourself to radical ideas and people that you might not normally consider and you’ll put yourself in a great position for receiving new life energy to put the swing back in your step. Moon in Aries supports risk taking, wanting you garner your courage and rally around your cause with self-motivated enthusiasm. As Mars sextiles Neptune, a gentler approach is required as energy simultaneously wanes and wants expression. The first quarter moon on 1/16 is all about action, and partners with the node in a square that may fan desires and aggression toward getting it- whatever ‘it’ is. The moons nodes are enigmatic, often out of the blue providing timing and propulsion to a previously laid plan. Since this moon is already a fiery girl ready to take the next step, this could mean a commitment to a new enterprise. In natal astrology, the north node joined to the moon could be a literal joining to a woman of maternal nature, children or a home.

Mercury sextiles Neptune on 1/19 to the tune of a Gemini moon. Sun moves into Aquarius. Communication may be unclear or clumsy, yet receive moments of mystical communication. Messages are spoken in tongues, but attune your inner ear for the message. As the sun moves into Aquarius for the next month, we have the capacity to envision what needs to come next. Sun in Capricorn can naysay the New Year’s wishes away and Aquarius is the solution. In affect until 2/18, our focus turns re-visionary. How do we want things to change and what needs to stay the same? Rebelliousness around questions of conformity/authority plays out as we bounce new ideas off of what isn’t working. This is the master deconstructionist who gleefully cuts away anything and anyone that impedes progress. Nervous systems may be more tightly wound as pragmatism makes room for change we look at the good of humanity, the whole organism as we think about new approaches to satisfying our personal will and of others.

1/21 Venus in Capricorn inconjunct Neptune in Aquarius, Mars in Sagittarius sextiles Jupiter in Libra. Idealism is high, pleasures & relationships aren’t as satisfying as we’d like or maybe it’s our expectations that need checking. The promise is tantalizing though and Jupiter wants to deliver unto us some new enthusiasms. Energies are uplifted and open, apply a little optimism to your efforts & find yourself infused with sense of purpose. If you’ve been feeling like a girly man, go to the gym, pump iron with this ego/energy boosting aspect. Don’t overdo it. The next day, 1/22 Mercury in Capricorn squares Jupiter in Libra. The planet of movement, mind & communication squares the planet of expansion- take care to not take on too much or you may find yourself dissipated. This could lead to too many thoughts, paperwork or errands. Prioritize what you need to get done. There’s always a danger of overextension, over inflation with a Jupiter square. Think back to 1/7 when Jupiter squared Sun, a few too many cooks in the kitchen. Follow this with a Venus square Jupiter on 1/24. We all need the occasional indulgence; this may be one of those days when you just have to let it all hang out. A tough day, let it go tonight by giving yourself a sweet treat that doesn’t break the diet. Send the people you love a little token of affection. Everyone could use some love right now– to put yourself in a position to receive, remember the law of the universe: give and you shall receive. With an open hand, let a little go to get something back.