Thirty years ago, as a novice astrologer doing her first hundred readings with actual clients, I grew to love and trust the symbolism of the birth moon phase. Its imprint lies so deep, most people immediately resonate, even though they never quite put it into those words.
With each moon phase comes a gift. A special area of expertise that you didn’t have to struggle to achieve this lifetime. It’s a natural aptitude that magnificently supports your purpose—if you use it!
Those born at the New Moon, for example, are pathfinders; their phase is the most exploratory time in the cycle. They’re gifted as natural pioneers and adventurers. Those born at the Last Quarter are the visionaries. They’re blessed with the insights that help to pave the way for the next new world.
What’s your birth moon phase? What’s your gift?
There are many moon phase calculators on the internet—but few ask you to include your birth time and place. You need to do this for the most accurate reading. You can calculate your chart here.
A new page will open with your chart at the top. Scroll down until you see a link that says “View your full chart.” Another new page will open. Scroll down to the “Special features of this chart” section. Your natal moon phase is the first entry on the left.
Then come back here for some of my favorite observations about your birth moon!
NOTE:
“Waning Gibbous” is also known as the “Disseminating” phase.
“Waning Crescent” is also known as the “Balsamic” or “Dark Moon.”
Transform! Why Venus retrograde is important.
This is a magical time. Like fevered dreamers, we enter the space of an ancient trance. How can you use best this magic? You may not have a choice. During the pre-retrograde shadow (where we are now), you may become obsessed or inflamed about some Venus matter. High emotion is a clue the Goddess is involved.
Mars Needs Women: The Key to Mastering Mars Retrograde
The anger of Mars retrograde is different from Venus’ fury. Hers is deep and transformative; it collects for months underneath her veneer of acquiescence. Venus is meant during her retrograde to come out fighting. But Mars’ anger has no such deep meaning. His fire is a machine that’s stuck in the “on” position. It’s easily petty and superficial. How do you master it?
Fire! How I Spent my Mars Retrograde Station
We watched as a mile away—near my street—thick black smoke started billowing towards us. A cop drove by and said, "You’ll want to be leaving soon." The winds kept blowing. There was a constant sound of pops and explosions; we figured, propane tanks and cars blowing up. There was a bright crackling sound too; we figured it was trees.
Ready, Set, Stop! It’s Mars Retrograde.
During Mars retrograde, the Warrior wants to stop his constant "doing." So here's the bad news: Sex drive and ambition can flounder. New initiatives—a new job, project, or relationship—can stall, veer off course, meet a torrent of obstacles. You might feel reckless, frustrated, adrift, or angry. Avoid speeding. Don’t over-exert yourself. Surgery is ill advised. Steer clear of combative people. So then, how can you make the most of this time?
How to process world grief without drowning
World grief is rising. If you’re a sensitive, you need a strategy. Not just because emotions like viruses are contagious and you should protect yourself. More to the point—this is why you’re here. The world needs its sensitives now—for the same reason it’s needed Moon devotees throughout the millennia—to bring compassion, wisdom and balance to an out-of-bounds world.
Fierce Compassion: The Great Mother & the War Machine
In my lifetime, it’s been moon people, mothers around the globe, who have stood courageously on the steps of state capitols. protesting violence for years before anyone listens. It was the steadfast mothers of dead Russian soldiers who eventually helped end Russia’s long Afghan War. Mostly, the world does not heed the Great Mother’s call. But this time it's different. Mother roots have become a powerful force.
A nation dying or being reborn? The US Pluto Return
Whenever a planet returns to its natal position, it must psychically renew itself. On some level the archetype dies. And is then reborn. That's what's happening in the United States chart this year. Pluto is returning to its natal position and the signs of this upheaval are all around. Here's what you should know about it.
The Saturn/Uranus Impossible Dream Challenge: Act 2
It's an auspicious year to manifest impossible dreams! If you performed my first Saturn/Uranus ritual in February, here is your booster shot of sympathetic magic. If you missed the first ritual, no worries. Perform the first one this month and the second in December. Either way, don't miss the opportunity to make magic!
Can’t relate to your Venus? This is for you!
Venus is fierce, kind, wild, knowing, and creative—full of desires and contradictions. She bears little resemblance to the caged go-go dancers in astrology cookbooks. When the sacred is stripped from astrology, the gods are reduced to human personality traits. How can we find what's divine in there? If you can't relate to your Venus sign, I wrote this post for you.
The Underworld Journey: When Venus is Combust
Within orb of the March 28 Libra Full Moon, Venus is conjunct the Sun--a condition known as "combustion," which happens twice in every Venus cycle, once when she's retrograde and once when she's direct, as she is now. Read about both types of conjunction in this article from the summer of 2020, when a retrograde Venus met the Sun.
Jupiter & Saturn: Your Success Planets for 2021
It's usually easy to tell when you have an actual celestial encounter. It's a moment that's in some way unusual. Beyond the typical flow. Perhaps the appearance of something odd, like a snake in the middle of the road. Or a Ganesha statue falling off the shelf for no reason. Or suddenly a song comes on the radio and sends chills up your spine. Have Jupiter and Saturn been reaching out to you? If not, here's how to draw them in.
The Jupiter/Saturn conjunction still mingles inside you!
News of the Jupiter/Saturn conjunction was all over the internet. Yet after it happened, I wasn’t surprised to see this thread on Quora: “Did anyone else find the Great Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn to be over-hyped and disappointing?” We spend too much time in digital landscapes. Renew your wonder with this marvelous sign of the times--still active throughout this year.
2021’s Impossible Dream Challenge: Make Saturn & Uranus work for you!
What goes through the collective unconscious moves through each psyche. That means Saturn and Uranus are already rippling through you. Left unconscious, they’ll instigate moods of irritation, anger, and resistance. But with awareness, you can put these strong forces to work. Is there something impossible you’d like to achieve? Are there any stuck patterns you’d like to break through?
2021’s Saturn/Uranus square: the Shattered Mirror
True to the volatile and chaotic nature of Saturn/Uranus periods, the choices that confront us today are both exhilarating, scary, divisive and sad. We find ourselves in the unstable weeks between two presidents who are stark opposites—under the dual threats of a global pandemic and widespread economic catastrophe—seeing things we never thought we’d see.
2020’s Jupiter/Saturn conjunction: 5 Takeaways
Outstanding for many reasons--the coming Jupiter/Saturn conjunction in Aquarius portends the dawn of a new day. Although the official start of the Aquarian Age has been linked with numerous celestial events--this surely stands among them. Don't miss this spectacular sky show. You can watch this super close conjunction perfect through the end of the year.
Transformed? Your Venus retrograde report card
In my experience, it’s this moment—Venus emerging as Morning Star--that's even more significant than her direct station. That's how it was for the Mesopotamians too. Emperor Sargon took his cues from heaven. The appearance of the Morning Star was the sign to launch his armies. What have you been emboldened to achieve?
It’s your second chance for Jupiter/Pluto magic!
After I post a ritual, I’ll sometimes receive a comment or email with this message: “I did it, but nothing happened.” When that's your experience, it just means that you didn’t sufficiently interest the gods! A ritual is a pas-de-deux—it’s a dance with a nonhuman form of energy. Your sincere attention is attractive.
The Deeper Meanings of COVID-19
This new spirit around the planet is breath-taking. Whether or not one thinks this is god-driven, it’s worth our awe. And reverence. 2020 is a spectacular year astrologically. It brings a convergence of powerful aspects between three masculine lords, suggesting deep structural changes. But this moment--it's all about the Great Goddess.
Making 2020’s Jupiter/Pluto Superpowers Work for You
The Hindenburg explodes and the Twin Towers fall within orb of the J/P opposition. “Explosion” is the energy signature of Jupiter & Pluto. How do you put this power to work? The same way the first astrologers did it, with a ritual of sympathetic magic. Here's how to do this for yourself.
2020’s Mind-Blowing Jupiter/Pluto Conjunction: Shadow & Light
Seven of the top ten deadliest pandemics in human history erupted during Jupiter/Pluto transits—just like the conjunction that peaks this year in April, June, and November.Jupiter and Pluto were conjunct during the outbreak of the Spanish Flu in 1918. Bubonic plague ravaged Europe, Africa, and Asia from the J/P conjunction of 1347 to their opposition in 1353. In modern times, the Lord of death and shadows (Pluto) has joined forces with the God of growth and expansion (Jupiter) during our five most recent pandemics.
The Treatment for Election Shock
That there are five stages to grief is well known. Grief supposedly goes from denial to anger to bargaining to depression and finally to acceptance. However—these are just the stages that the mind goes through. They have nothing to do with the true journeying of your feelings. Depression is never the signal that you’re nearly done with emotional processing. Rather, it suggests you haven’t begun!
Why is Donald Trump So Royally Orange?
In the old myths the gods would sometimes descend to earth, disguise themselves, and masquerade as human. Something like this happens with the planets on our Ascendant if we have any. We become their emissaries. We embody their spirit with our form. Channeling such power can overwhelm and confuse not only us, but those around is. It can also empower us to become "larger than life." Through our personas, the gods get to walk around in the world.
A Tale of Two Venus-es
It’s not fair. Some sky neighborhoods are more advantaged than others. Planets from these lush zones are born into comfortable nurseries. The roads to their success are generally smooth. The sky holds stark neighborhoods too. Planets born in these zones face more challenges. The roads are rough, often unpaved.
Expressing Anger
While studying Tara’s charts, I noticed some difficult Mars patterns in her transits and progressions. What I knew of her before our session was that she was looking for a better job, and her mother had died some months earlier, about which she was understandably still feeling depressed. Halfway into her reading, I asked, “Are […]
