Pisces New Moon: Taking the Plunge

Do you remember the Hopi Elders’ message that was circulating widely about 20 years ago? It read, in part: “There is a river flowing now very fast. It is so great and swift that there are those who will be afraid. They will try to hold on to the shore. They will feel they are being torn apart and they will suffer greatly. Know the river has its destination. The elders say we must let go of the shore, and push off into the river. Keep our eyes open, and our heads above water. See who is there with you and celebrate.”

To me, this message really hits home right now as we stand on the brink of another potential world war. Certainly no one who values liberty is celebrating what’s happening in the Ukraine. Yet the river of life is indeed flowing fast, and those who are stuck in the outworn, life-denying past are fighting the current.

There’s a deluge of watery energy flowing in, and if we have the courage to let go of the shore and trust where it’s taking us, miraculous things can happen. As the Sun joins adventurous Jupiter at 12 degrees Pisces at the coming New Moon (March 2, 9:35 a.m. PST), we’re urged  to plunge into the unknown. This lunation offers a potentially exhilarating dive into the wonders of the oceanic Piscean realm, since it’s ushered in by Lord Jupiter. So even though some may be gripped by fear and fury, we’d be wise to embody the conscious side of Pisces – healing, compassion and enchantment – rather than the sogginess, overwhelm  and delusion of its unconscious side. How this lunation plays out for each of us depends on how conscious and centered we can remain.

This is the first time since 1856 that Jupiter and Neptune, the co-dispositors of Pisces, have been in their own sign at the Pisces New Moon. Between now and the time those two heavenly bodies embrace on April 12 at 24 Pisces, we’ll be hearing the siren call to take a leap of faith. All the planets are direct through April, so very little can stop us from pursuing our dreams.

Why not set a big, seemingly impossible intention at this New Moon? Even peace on earth is possible if enough of us are committed to it. Jupiter in Pisces knows how to make magic happen, and he particularly favors the water and earth signs now. Yet we should all stay open to portents, dreams and random encounters  that conspire to sweep us into the current, reveal previously unknown truths and talents, and reinforce our faith in our higher guidance. The element of water embodies the Divine Feminine, which we’ve been sorely lacking for the last few thousand years. Now we’re flooded with Her essence, a gift of unfathomable grace that opens the floodgates of feelings and sensitivity to others. This is meant to be a cleansing process, as long as we don’t become submerged in its shadow side of depression, addiction and fear.

Rational Mercury  and Saturn in Aquarius stand guard at the New Moon, offering guidelines and boundaries to help us navigate the flow. This pair is like the lifeguard blowing his whistle so swimmers can avoid the most treacherous waters. The community-oriented Aquarian influence is also seen via a supportive sextile from freedom-loving Uranus to the Sun and Moon. Plus, both Mars and Venus embrace do-or-die Pluto the following morning at 28 Capricorn. This represents a death knell for old systems, values and relationship patterns that simply don’t fit where we are headed. There can be a dangerous element to a Mars-Pluto conjunction, though, especially with Mars so strong in Capricorn and Venus now a morning star, associated with war. But even if dark forces seem to be gaining ground, they are ultimately going down.

As the Hopi Elders remind us, the river has a final destination. And that’s our reconnection with the primal feminine, in balance with the primal masculine. I’ll be ritually dancing these sacred energies into union at the New Moon. Please join me by doing whatever activity or ritual inspires you, and let’s be sure to send healing energies to those most in need.  I’ll meet you at the center of the river – eyes open and heads above water. And we will celebrate together.