From Contraction to Expansion as ALL Planets go Direct
Welcome to the monthly Astrology Snapshot for the next lunar month beginning at the new moon in Aquarius happening Jan 31st/Feb 1st depending where you are in the world.
NEW MOON IN AQUARIUS
Los Angeles: Jan 31st @ 9:46 PM
Edmonton: Jan 31st @ 10:46 PM
New York: Feb 1st @ 12:46 AM
London: Feb 1st @ 5:46 AM
Berlin: Feb 11st @ 6:46 AM
Delhi: Feb 11st @ 11:16 AM
Bali: Feb 11st @ 1:46 PM
Brisbane: Feb 11st @ 3:46 PM
Sydney: Feb 1st @ 4:46 PM
FULL MOON IN LEO
Los Angeles: Feb 16th @ 8:59 AM
Edmonton: Feb 16th @ 9:59 AM
New York: Feb 16th @ 11:59 AM
London: Feb 16th @ 4:59 PM
Berlin: Feb 16th @ 5:59 PM
Delhi: Feb 16th @ 10:29 PM
Bali: Feb 17th @ 11:59 AM
Brisbane: Feb 17th @ 2:59 AM
Sydney: Feb 17th @ 3:59 AM
This year began with a wake up call! Christmas time was either isolating or challenging for many of us. Then we began a new calendrical year with Venus and Mercury retrograde in Capricorn...
The rose coloured glasses have been off and if you tried to put them back on, you would have noticed they were too dirty to see through. But by the time we get to the full moon in Leo the energy will shift as we begin moving towards expansion.
This contracted, getting real dynamic will begin to shift this lunar month but not straight away as Saturn will be featuring strongly at the new moon. Saturn is like a wise elder coming into your life with strong wisdom and confronting home truths. But, when you let this wisdom in, Saturn will help you to get real and master something in your life that requires a reality check, dedication and disciplined focus.
If you haven't yet had a sober look at what has been stirred up in your life, then really take time at the beginning of this lunar month and especially at the new moon to get real and make commitments that you are willing to stick to... the current astrology deeply supports this at this time and when everything starts shifting by the end of February, you will thank yourself for stopping and getting real.
Work with the contraction at the beginning of this lunar month. Embrace the intensity! Times of contraction can apply pressure to our lives that force us to grow, evolve and shift our states. These are times of stress that push us to develop in ways that would not happen otherwise. Learning to be with these times of contraction can move you forwards faster and more powerfully then when you are in the times of expansion.
Look for glimpses of what wants to open and expand for you personally once Mercury goes direct February 5th. Mercury turning direct begins a time when we will have all planets moving forwards for almost 3 months! This is an auspicious time and if you have worked hard during the times of contraction, then you will find yourself feeling strong and confident as you are wiser and more aware from having journeyed and grown through very difficult cycles!
This lunar month gets easier towards the end and mainly after the full moon in Leo on Feb 16/17. This full moon is square the nodes of karma. This full moon has strong karmic tones where events may be culminating that are associated with the bigger destiny of humanity.
There is a heightened emotional charge to this full moon and a time to stay grounded and aware. The positive side to this full moon will be a moment of heart opening and general expansion that you can leverage to support a release of the contracted energies and a moment to embrace something new in your life.
After the full moon the energy shifts and there is space opening up for healing and soothing our weary souls. The contracted energy will have dissipated even more as we move towards the new moon in March in Pisces which will bring much needed spiritual, mental and emotional healing.
Major Transits for the Lunar Month
(i) 4 PLANETS IN CAPRICORN
First 2 weeks of February - Heavy but helpful.
We begin the month with 4 planets in serious Capricorn. This configuration is reactivating the part of the sky that was super charged when the pandemic kicked off and we began a collective underworld journey! You may find that the first 2 weeks of February has you wondering if this will ever end? Will we ever get to be free to do what brings us joy? Will we get to build and create again?
A way to be with this is to stop and reflect on who you have become. What have you learnt? What has changed for you? Recognise where you are stronger for this time. Have you developed more resilience? Has there been a restructuring in your life that although painful, was very necessary for you to live a more authentic, truthful and enjoyable life? Take this enquiry into the new moon,
(ii) VENUS AND MERCURY DIRECT
From February 5th - Clarity in relationships and communication.
As we begin this lunar month, Venus has only just turned direct! If your relationships have been going through a death and rebirth and if you’ve been struggling to make peace and work through relationship issues then Venus moving forwards may just help you to make more sense and gain clarity.
Mercury will turn direct February 5th just a few days after the new moon and when this happens we will feel another push forwards and even more clarity. Communication may be easier and our thoughts may come back into harmony as we can make more sense of what has been playing out since the beginning of the year.
(iii) ALL PLANETS DIRECT
February 5th until April 29th - Things get going!
Once Mercury turns direct we then have all planets moving forwards in the sky! Considering how contracted we have been, how restricted life has been and how much the focus has been on breaking down, we are really going to notice this change in direction.
When the planets are all direct, you have an opportunity to lift your gaze from the problems and the past and to see what is ahead and where you want to go. If you have worked hard and taken responsibility for your life and if you have take time out to get real about it all, this cycle shift will be so supportive.
This is a longer than usual all planets direct period. This cycle will end with Pluto turning retrograde April 29th and this could be a big energy for the collective. Something big could shift for humanity at this time and it won't necessarily be good or bad... just big!
(iv) MARS CONJUNCT VENUS TRINE URANUS
February 9th - Potential relationship breakthroughs!
Mars and Venus can be war and peace and when these two planets come together, we may find solutions to our current wars we are having within our lives and with each other.
Another dimension to Mars and Venus is the journey between the masculine and feminine principles and when they come together there is the potential for romantic relationships to be activated into new cycles. This conjunction is happening in Capricorn which can be supporting us to restructure and heal relationships and the trine to Uranus can stimulate completely new ways of relating.
We may also find breakthrough solutions to relationship problems! We have just come out of some heavy transits for relationships so this pattern may be what many of us need to realise new ways of being in our relationships that actually work moving forwards. We may find that the institution of 'till death do us part dissolving more and more as we start to open to new ways of loving each other that maintain the eternal principles of respect, communication and love... exciting times ahead!
This could also be unexpected endings and beginnings but whenever Uranus is involved, it is always about shaking up what is stuck and stagnant so this could be much needed changes to help you to keep moving forwards in your life.
(v) SUN INTO PISCES
February 20th. Time for some chill.
The last week or so of February has a much lighter energy where we can take a break from all of the hard work we have been doing. Enjoy this time as we glide towards the new moon in Pisces March 2nd/3rd and begin a new cycle. March will be a very different month that we may even find enjoyable, healing and soothing for our weary souls.
We have been in cycles which have required us to get real and face hard truths. It has been tiring and intense but this month you may begin seeing that you have actually grown and become stronger and wiser for it!
Next lunar month is totally different but this month holds a special energy where we can really get real and make commitments to achieve solid goals and get traction. This will stabilise our lives as the planets move forwards and things open up dramatically over March, April and May!
For those of you who celebrate Lunar New Year - Happy Year of the Tiger! May you be blessed and embrace the energy patterns surrounding this lunation as one of great opportunity to make commitments and dedicate yourself to a potent new year!
Lunar New Year is a time to release the old and embrace a new year and it is believed that what you focus on at the New Year will influence the rest of the year so make sure you set wonderful new intentions at this time!
Happy Lunar New Year everyone and I truly wish you all the best of what is coming in 2022.
Stay safe everyone and journey well!
With love always,
Paula x
Major Lunar Themes
(i) NEW MOON IN AQUARIUS & LUNAR NEW YEAR
January 31st/February 1st depending where you are in the world
This is a strong new moon where you are invited to ask yourself how do you move forward from here? And, what is it you most need right now to build your best possible future? Aquarius is focused on the future and new paradigms and the Aquarius new moon each year is a time to vision big and dream up a greater and innovative future for yourself.
Wise elder planet Saturn is conjunct this new moon. This adds a more serious energy and you may find yourself focusing on setting goals, making commitments and seeding in intentions that are focused on the long game and longterm outcomes.
Saturn rewards dedication, discipline and intentions that will go the distance that we need to work hard to manifest. When we embrace Saturn he rewards us with strength, confidence and structure that sustain our lives. He also rewards us with material results that are tangible and empowering!
The key themes for this new moon:
Playing the long game.
Focusing on intentions that you are prepared to work for.
Making commitments that don't necessarily have an instant result.
Setting goals that require dedication and devotion.
Putting systems and structures in place that will hold you through anything.
Focus on what you are willing to invest time and energy into.
This new moon is inviting you to reflect on what you know you need to do in order to build new structures in your life. Reflecting on what you are willing to show up to may even support a process of new insights, new support and innovative ways of achieving your goals coming through!
Embrace the contraction, embrace hard work, embrace discipline! Take on something that you have been putting off! Remember, this is also Lunar New Year and is a moment celebrated by millions of people across the planet as a time of beginnings and renewal.
If you embrace the energy, you may just find you are beginning new approaches to life that will sustain you for many years to come and with this also being Lunar New Year, your goals, intentions and commitments may receive a huge energising boost!
(ii) FULL MOON IN LEO
February 16th/17th depending where you are in the world
This full moon in Leo feels like it will be quite dramatic and in true Leo style, there will be a potential for creative action and on the negative side emotional rashness and impulsivity! People may be super activated at this time so be prepared.
This full moon has three key themes:
1. Destiny - This full moon is square the nodes of the moon. The nodes are karmic points that bring factors of destiny and fated events into play. The energy of this lunation is heightened and dramatic and could bring in some very interesting and unexpected destiny shifts! You could work with letting go of whatever stands in the way of your highest evolution at this time.
2. Expand and create - Leo is all about the heart, creativity, drama, expression and creation! This full moon has a feeling of expansion and you may find yourself feeling as though you can be creative in a way you haven't for a long time. This is a lunation to embrace expansion and creativity!
3. Healing with self love - Leo full moons are a time to release any wounding that stops you from loving yourself unconditionally. This is a powerful lunation to release what is blocking your heart and your ability to lead and shine and realise your greater destiny (remember, the karmic nodes of the moon square this full moon).
Keep in mind that all of the planets are direct at the time of this full moon and Mars and Venus are still conjunct and in a magical trine aspect to Uranus. You may find this full moon super activating especially compared to what we have been journeying with over recent months. Work with this energy but try to stay centred and grounded too.
I recommend having a healthy outlet for the energy and not being tempted to get into the drama that may be ramping up in the collective at this full moon. Channel the energy into creative activities or anything that requires creative power to grow and evolve! After setting strong intentions at the new moon, this is a time to really start pouring energy into creating and developing out your goals.
Also, take a moment to work with your heart and practice compassion for yourself, for each other and for the world. We have all been going through a rough time and this lunation is a magical time to practice kindness, generosity and compassion and to remember we are all in this together.
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