JANUARY 31 - FEBRUARY 2: GOOD ARIES MOON

MOON IN ARIES: After being VOID OF COURSE all afternoon from 12:36pm on Tuesday, the Moon enters Mars-ruled Aries at 4:47pm EST and remains until 11:50am on Thursday, February 2. LAST ASPECT OF MOON: Moon Trine Saturn in Sagittarius. This Cardinal Fire sign combined with this Last Aspect would ignite any warrior/adventurer into action. Qualities of courage, leadership. aggression and continuous forward movement describe this astrological moment. Athletics and long-distance journeys are also highlighted. Sag brings even more fire power to this time so spirits are high and passionate projects prevail. Be aware of Aries' impulsive nature and make sure you slow down enough to really think your situation through. Also make sure you have a safe practical container and support system in place before you leap - Saturn should support you. All Fire signs reflect a strong Will which, if allowed to run wild, can be pretty arrogant. Make sure you''re listening to what others need. Actions initiated along these themes will tend to have GOOD resolutions. Find your courage now and do what it takes (with a higher-than-Trump moral standard, that is...) to produce the results! You don't have to be a guy to have chutzpah - we all know by now this is the time for Wild Women Warriors!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PytwFpIcy3E

 SCENE FOR THE DAY:  The Finest Hours, 2016; Director: Craig Gillespie. Chris Pine and Casey Affleck are Aries warriors to the max in this completely compelling film! Based on the true story from Chatham, Cape Cod, Massachusettes, Pine's character - the meek and indomitable Coast Guard petty officer Bernie Webber - is ordered to take a small craft out on a stormy night to rescue crew from a distressed tanker. Just about everyone agrees it's a no-win situation but Bernie follows orders and goes for it. The Last Aspect indicator should tell you how the story ends, but the narrative, the acting and the visuals - the details of how film unfolds - are what drama is all about. Bernie's character, is particularly strong. He is an unlikely hero, transforming from a conservative, rule-following, really nice guy to a 'not-on-my-watch', courageous leader who refuses to give up and turn back. Bernie may be a guy but he's got a really big compassionate and inclusive feminine side!

JANUARY 29-31: EXCELLENT PISCES MOON!

MOON IN PISCES from 11:10am EST on Sunday, January 29 until Tuesday, January 31 at 12:36pm. The Moon is VOID OF COURSE all morning before it enters Pisces. Important practical actions initiated during the V/C Moon period tend not to work out as planned. It's better to use this time for inner/creative work and imagining future actions. LAST ASPECT OF MOON: Moon Conjunct Venus in Pisces. The Mutable Water sign Pisces, ruled by Neptune, reflects the principle of The Urge to Merge, The Cosmic Sea of the Collective Unconsciousness. Boundaries and clear definitions dissolve. The up-side is a sense of Unity and Collective Compassionate Love. The Imagination reigns in its myriad forms including Music, Art, Poetry and Dance. The not-so-up-side can be experienced as confusion, deception, illusion, intrusion and victim consciousness - boundary issues. If you consciously invoke the former, you're less likely to encounter the latter. Your choice. The Last Aspect gives us the two symbolic Feminine light bodies - the Moon and Venus - in alignment now, in a potential state of sublime Collective Love. Remember, Neptune is considered the higher octave of Venus. Use this sacred time to tap into your creative stream of consciousness and begin a project in service to the cause of Humanity. It's a powerfully receptive time to transcend boundaries of logic and reason to access transcendent meaning through dreams, meditation and Art. Action initiated during this Moon period will tend to have EXCELLENT resolutions!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SR7WbmwhEFE

SCENE FOR THE DAY: Seraphine, 2008, French/Belgium; Director: Martin Provost. This cinematic treasure recounts the true story of  Seraphine de Senlis who, while her profession is a cleaning woman, is nocturnally driven by Mother Mary to paint her visions. While her spiritual life is rich and united with the Divine, her only real relationships in the human and material world are with the German art critic who discovers her and Mother Nature, which often provides the natural pigments for her paint. This is the story of the wounded Feminine who, though an outcast and victim in her daily life, finds transcendence through her work. Here's a link for the film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygIMIOFxfdQ

JANUARY 28: THE CHINESE NEW YEAR OF THE ROOSTER

YEAR OF THE ROOSTER: While traditionally, it reflects the qualities of Courage, Responsibility and Punctuality, another name for Rooster, often used in fairytales, is THE CHANTICLEER: Clear Voice or Clear Song. I became aware of this word through reading Dane Rudyar's book on Sabian Symbols, channeled images for each degree of the zodiac.* Rudyar's interpretation of this image for 23 Libra is, "The Chanticleer's Voice Heralds Sunrise: A creative and joyous response to life processes. The Cock that crow's as the first coloring of dawn appears at the eastern horizon is a beautiful symbol of the ability, demonstrated by all pioneers and cosmically attuned individuals, to give voice to what is as yet unmanifested, but is on the way to manifestation. At the ego level, chanticleer may feel that he makes the sun rise; but someday he will learn through painful experiences that to create is only to reveal what essentially is. It is the vivid recognition of the as-yet-unknown in the known. We might also use the expression 'The Wake-Up Call' for the Chanticleer."

The synchronicity of symbols is evident when we consider the events of this New Year of 2017. We are being called to task in response to the last gasp of the fading patriarchal paradigm in which we have been living. And we are responding with an resounding resurgence of passionate self and collective assertion: We Are Here and We Won't Take It Anymore! The Double-Speak, The Loss of Appreciation for Soul and Beauty, The Immunity to Compassion and Equality. We have been Woken Up and we are remembering our Voice. Symbols are powerful: A Cock is waking us up!

I was thinking that in the 60's our collective voice was constellated by the War in Viet Nam. Fifty years later we are seemingly moved to action by the absurdity of a cartoon character president (or as Jane Fonda called him Predator-In-Chief), identifying this singular person as the source of our problems. Yet, he is merely the mouthpiece of the force that elected him. [He may not have won the popular vote but we can't deny that our Collective Will also created the Electoral College, not yet caught up to the frailties of that system.] His voice is the voice of small values: they appear to stem from a severely subjective, defensive and outmoded perspective. These values are based on survival of the fittest, when the fittest allows a blatant disregard for fairness, honesty and integrity. It is the ideology of Empire. It is the repressed Fear of the Bully. It is the drive to build a wall of protection against the flooding tide of evolution which is unfolding towards The Feminine Archetype of inclusiveness, diversity, compassion and equality. This is The New FITTEST. Persephone Unbound.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CxcnB16Tyk

SCENE FOR THE ROOSTER NEW YEAR: Black Orpheus, 1959, Brazil, France, Italy; Director: Marcel Camus. Just as the Rooster awakens us to the new day, these children believe that when Orpheus plays his guitar he makes the sun rise. When he's gone, these beautiful Brazilian babes dutifully take up the task. Someone's gotta do it! If you've never seen this classic cinematic re-telling of the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, set in Rio de Janeiro during Carnival, you're in for a real treat! Here'as a link to the film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWIwTOtvbSk&list=PLiDyexyP_xje_5qizltx14R9s1G7fA2sP

GREAT NEW AQUARIUS MOON!

NEW MOON IN AQUARIUS, The Water Bearer, from 3:37am EST on Friday, January 27 until Sunday, January 29 at  0:52am. LAST ASPECT OF MOON: Moon Sextile Saturn in Sagittarius. This New Moon, exact at 7:07pm today at 8 Aquarius, is a GREAT time to begin a new, forward thinking, unusual project. When the Sun Conjuncts the Moon, a new cycle begins and the metaphor reflects outward to the theme of New Beginnings. The Full Moon two weeks before symbolized the culmination of projects, especially ones begun at the previous New Moon. These are the endless waxing and waning rhythms of Light and Life forces. Follow them in your daily life and you are in sync with the Nature and the universe.  As Neo-Platonic philosoher Plotinus writes in the Aeneids: "...Everything breathes together." The fields of Science and Technology and Higher Consciousness activities are highlighted with this Moon period. While Uranus is Aquarias' 'modern' ruler, Saturn is considered its traditional ruler (before Uranus was discovered in 1781) and is still symbolically relevant. Indeed, if you have a strong Aquarian presence in your chart (Sun, Moon or Ascendant) your nature may be described as either a Uranian or Saturnian type of Aquarian - or a combination of both. The opportunity now is to marry what still works from the traditional old forms (Saturn) with new perspectives and technology (Uranus). Saturn's archetype of grounding and practicality is available to the new ventures initiated at this time. Wise elders may bring some Saturnian gravitas to your inventive ideas which affords them even more credibility. Using computers and other electronic devices should benefit your work now. Actions initiated during this period will tend to have GREAT results! Remember, the most optimum expression of the Fixed Mental Air sign Aquarius is an Enlightenment or Eureka! moment. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vIyfzbPCqY&index=1&list=RD_vIyfzbPCqY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFdJza0AbeA

SCENES FOR THE DAY: My Cousin Vinny, 1992; Director: Jonathan Lynn. Adding some great humor to serious times, we have this classic Eureka moment: Joe Pesci's character, lawyer Vinny Gambini, while unqualified and unprepared, realizes in the first clip that he's found the evidence to acquit his nephew, played by Ralph Macchio, of serious charges. In the second clip Vinny puts his heretofore unappreciated and disgruntled girlfriend, Mona Lisa Vito, played by the brilliant Marisa Tomei, on the stand to offer her expert automotive opinion. Here, knowledge and use of technology - both automotive and photographic - is the key to success! Vinny may not have the legal experience but the Aquarian mind is highly inventive, intuitive and imaginative - and that he has in Spades!

JANUARY 24-27: GOOD CAPRICORN MOON

MOON IN SAGITTARIUS until 12:33pm EST on Tuesday, January 24 (see January 22) when it goes VOID OF COURSE until 5:45pm. Important practical actions tend not to work out as planned during V/C period. Inner Creative work and imagining future action is best for this time. MOON ENTERS CAPRICORN at 5:45pm and remains until Friday, January 27 at 2:18am.  LAST ASPECT OF MOON: Moon Sextile Mars in Pisces. Ruled by Saturn, the ambitious grounded quality of this time is enriched by Mars' creative visionary force in Pisces. We are likely to pay attention to others' needs more than the usual Capricorn Moon because of Pisces' compassionate nature. This is a GOOD time to focus and act on the business of Artistic projects, or enter into any transactions/agreements. Relationships with business partners will tend to benefit from this time of mutual understanding. Actions initiated during this time will tend to have GOOD results. Notice that the alternative Capricorn image of the Sea Goat is chosen for this month. It is distinguished from the classic Mountain Goat by its fish-tail. With the Pisces Mars in mind, this image combines the climb out of the depths of the unconscious original waters with the ambitious goal orientation of the earthy Mountain Goat. This expanded sense of Capricorn does not experience the resistance to emotional expression that is often associated with cool Saturn. It acknowledges the entire axis of Capricorn and its opposite, Cancer - Earth and life-giving Water together. We have the opportunity this month to experience this fuller expression, as symbolized by the Last Aspect.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuNlQzK0a90

SCENE FOR THE DAY: Woman in Gold, 2015; Director: Simon Curtis. Helen Mirren plays Maria Altmann, a Jewish Holocaust survivor who's goal is the return of artwork taken from her family by the Nazis during WWII. With support from lawyer Randy Schoenberg played by Ryan Reynolds - who in this scene evokes an empathetic smile from even the Supreme Court Chief Justice - a Capricornian uphill battle ensues. The Klimt painting, Woman in Gold, is indeed returned to its rightful owner, a relatively small gesture of understanding and compassion to a single family as well as acknowledgment of horrible wrongs perpetrated on an entire culture.

JANUARY 22-24: CHALLENGING SAGITTARIUS MOON

MOON IN SAGITTARIUS from 5:45am EST on Sunday, January 22 to Tuesday, January 24 at 12:33pm. LAST ASPECT OF MOON: Moon Square Mars in Pisces. While the Sag Moon is driven to action and adventure, the Square to Mars Last Aspect is likely to get us into trouble now. Circumstances will tend to provoke anger and emotional upset even with the most broadminded Jupiter-ruled Sag Moon. Perhaps our grand philosophical ideals are met with undermining doubt or not enough energy to carry them through, and our balloon is popped. We are likely to need grounding with these Mutable signs, more practical containers to hold our imaginings. The individual spirit is met with resistance from the collective will. Perhaps its best to keep our ideas to ourselves for awhile until the energy clears! Actions initiated during this period tend to eventually have CHALLENGING results. 

SCENE FOR THE DAY: The Man Who Knew Infinity, 2015; Director: Matt Brown. Based on the true story of Srinivasa Ramanujan, the brilliant Indian mathematician, we see here that ideas which elude logical proof aren't necessarily wrong. They just don't fit the paradigm in which they are attempting to exist. Doubt from the Cambridge University collective undermines Ramanujan's intuitive work, his life force and soon his will to survive. Dev Patel and Jeremy Irons star as student and mentor. While it's hard to tell who plays which role, it's easy to say both are excellent performances.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NP0lUqNAw3k&list=PLDB8hi2DWp3OkHbVgprMKodDUsMvIFsr-&index=2

JANUARY 19-21: GOOD SCORPIO MOON

MOON IS VOID OF COURSE Thursday, January 19 until 5:09pm EST. Use this V/C day for inner work and creative endeavors or imagining future actions. Important practical actions/projects initiated now tend not to work out as planned or desired. At 5:09pm MOON ENTERS SCORPIO until Saturday, January 21 at 8:42pm. LAST ASPECT OF MOON: Moon Trine Mars in Pisces. Ruled by Pluto, this Fixed Water sign reflects a GOOD time for deep sea diving into psyche's sea. We have energy and Will which is fluid enough to 'feel into' our unconsciousness bringing forth new perspectives and healing for ourselves and others. Mars is the traditional ruler of Scorpio (before Pluto was discovered in 1930) so the Last Aspect is strong. Therefore, we're more likely to experience the serpent's wisdom as well as the transformative and re-birthing power of the phoenix than the sting of the scorpion at this time. Resources and personal power should be available for projects - particularly artistic endeavors and healing -  that are initiated at this time. Remember that, whatever it is, it is not yours to control and to come up for air! Actions in general initiated at this time will tend to have GOOD results. NOTE: SUN ENTERS AQUARIUS at 4:24pm on Thursday, January 19.
 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYs0C3li3Zk

SCENE FOR THE DAY: Resurrection, 1980; Director: Daniel Petrie. This remarkable scene reflects the transformational healing power of Scorpio, especially given the support of a Trine to Mars. Ellen Burstyn is Edna, a hands-on healer who with her will and receptivity, works with a woman to release her from a crippling affliction. Powerful cinema.

JANUARY 17-19: GOOD LIBRA DAYS

MOON IN LIBRA from 6:19am EST on Tuesday January 17 until Thursday January 19 at 3:55am. LAST ASPECT OF MOON: Moon Sextile Saturn in Sagittarius. Ruled by Venus, this Cardinal Air sign reflects, among other things, Relationships, Equality, Justice, Balance and Beauty. With the Last Aspect sextile Saturn we are likely to notice a grounding, seriousness, practicality or structure to our relationships at this time. We may embark on a relationship with an older person. We may find a Master whose life experience guides us. Whatever form this partnership or artistic endeavor takes there will tend to be opportunities available to us as a result of it. Given that we are working with Saturn's archetype, there may be some testing involved. Even so, actions initiated along this theme are likely to have GOOD resolutions. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RNI9o06vqo

SCENE FOR THE DAY: Lion, 2016; Director: Garth Davis. Based on a true story, we are entranced by Saroo, a five year old Indian boy, who waits for his brother on a train platform - but his brother never returns. Saroo, played by precious Sunny Pawar, gets on an empty train in the station, falls asleep and finds himself in a new world when he awakens. This is an amazing story of beautiful relationships, particularly between the two brothers. These bonds are all tested yet wonderful opportunities arise from these trials. Dev Patel from Slumdog Millionaire and The Newsroom stars as the older Saroo.