Sagittarius New Moon: A Spark of Joy

Auri Katariina is the ultimate cleaning lady. She is so passionate about making things sparkle that she quit her job in Finland a year ago to help struggling women scour and declutter their homes at no cost.

“My dream is to clean for free all over the world, and help people whilst doing something I absolutely love,” says Katariina. The blonde beauty’s Insta-ready charm coupled with her down-to-earth cleaning tips have made her a social media sensation – and she has recently attracted a corporate sponsor that enables her to travel the world pursuing her dream (follow her on Instagram).

Two years ago, Katarina began posting videos online of herself cleaning her family and friends’ homes. “Then one day,” she relates, “a woman asked me for help because she was struggling so much and her home was so messy. She had three kids and her husband had just taken his own life. I cleaned her home for two days. By the end she was crying and her kids were hugging and thanking me. I could see the transformation in the house and how happy they were and it was the best feeling ever.”

At 29, this hard-working young woman is having a successful Saturn return doing what she loves most. Although I don’t know her birth date, I’d expect that such a vibrant, risk-taking, travel-oriented individual would have a strong Sagittarian signature in her chart – and probably additional mutable sign energy, since she admits she’s “in heaven” (Pisces) when she cleans (Virgo).

Due to her faith in her passion and the joy with which she pursues it, I’ve made Auri Katariina my poster girl for the Sagittarius New Moon (Nov. 23, 2:57 p.m. PST). This fiery lunation lights a spark for us all, bringing sorely needed uplift and hope. The Sun and Moon at 1 degree Sagittarius are joined by Mercury and Venus in the sign of the Archer, reminding us how pleasurable it can be to think big and take aim at our dreams, especially if they’ve been on hold for too long. Coupled with Jupiter (the Sagittarius ruler) turning forward within minutes of this lunation, and Thanksgiving the following day, we have cause to celebrate. However imperfect things may seem, we can be grateful for a sense of forward momentum – especially in the area of our chart that contains early Sagittarius.

With that said, it’s important to remain mindful of the ongoing Mars retrograde in Gemini, now at 21 degrees. This cycle, which continues through Jan. 12, can mess with important details and cause us to rethink and rework plans, particularly those related to affairs of our Gemini house. For example, Mars is retrograde in my first house of personal direction, and an out-of-town friend’s two-week visit has been delayed several times. This has made it difficult to plan my schedule. But with the New Moon near my seventh house cusp and Jupiter turning direct, I trust that things will soon be moving forward for my friend, and that our travel plans and assorted adventures will happen whenever they’re supposed to.

Jupiter is the planet of luck; it’s been proven that people who are always looking for ‘found money’ are most apt to spot it – so keep your eyes peeled when you’re out and about! Jupiter is now in late degrees of Pisces, where it forms an out-of-sign trine to the early degree Sagittarius New Moon. This adds an extra dose of good fortune as well as empathy, encouraging us to have faith and trust that we’ll be guided to our heart’s desire. It’s a great time to widen our circle of friends and explore new territory. That could look like doing something different for Thanksgiving this year, perhaps reaching out to prepare food (or clean house!) for others less fortunate. Just let whatever lights you up be your guide.