“Addiction is not about placating the bad dog – it’s about feeding the good dog. You still have to feed the bad dog, but only enough so that the ASPCA doesn’t bring you up on charges.” -Robert Downey Jr.
Astrology is a beautifully symbolic language, reflecting back to us the magical cycles of life that surround and sustain us. In agrarian cultures, springtime (Aries) is when the ground is plowed and new seeds are sown. It’s the beginning: a time of hope, planning, and planting. Late June heralds the end of the first quarter of our journey through the seasons and marks a time of growth, activity, and action.
As summer begins and the Sun moves into the sign of Cancer, the seeds of spring have developed into lush plants that will eventually bear fruit. The first quarter phase is marked by lots of activity- watering the plants, keeping the bugs away, pulling the weeds, and fertilizing the soil. The farmer needs to feed and nurture his crops in order for the crops to feed and nourish him.
Astrology of the New Moon
The new moon occurs on June 22, 2009 at 3:35 PM (EDT) at 1 degree of Cancer. This new moon falls the day after the summer solstice- a time when the Sun is at its most northern declination and the longest day of the year. The sign of Cancer, ruled by the Moon, is maternal, domestic, and sensitive. As an archetype of Mother, the sign of Cancer represents the breast, the home, and our emotional security. It’s that which feeds, nourishes, and protects us. Where the Moon is in our individual natal charts will describe what each of us needs in order to feel safe and secure.
Looking at the energy mix (which planets are in what elements) for the month we find the majority in earth signs and fixed signs, meaning that the general vibe for the month will be very Taurean: productive, steady, and definitely focused on security.
Looking at the chart we see the new moon (the Sun & Moon) making an opposition to Pluto in Capricorn. Oppositions show us where we may be unbalanced and usually require some kind of integration between competing energies. Pluto represents intensity; and linked to the new moon may describe a certain compulsion or addiction that we’re feeding.
In addition to the opposition we see the new moon and Pluto both making a square aspect (90 degrees) to Uranus in Pisces. This configuration is called a “T-square” because of the three points involved. Like a chair with only three legs it’s out of balance and creates a lot of tension. Reading all three planets together this combination shows that we may believe we need the particular thing that we’re obsessing over in order to be free from something else (see Robert Downey Jr’s quote again).
In our farming example above we see the healthy expression of this energy- the farmer does give lots of attention to his crops, because he knows he needs them for food and survival. It’s not a maladaptive expression of his needs, but a worthwhile, fulfilling, and productive use of his time and energy.
This brings me back to the question in the title of this posting- what are you feeding? What are you pouring your time and energy into? What are you watering and fertilizing in your life? Is it something nourishing (the Moon) or is it something that will eventually swallow you up (Pluto)?
The key to dealing with any T-square is to look for what would be the fourth (and missing) leg to bring balance and stability. In this case that point would be found in Virgo (the place opposite Uranus in Pisces). Virgo is about discernment, discrimination, and the healthy application of routines. To make this month as productive as it can be, we all may want to examine how we can use our discernment in order to ensure we’re feeding the right things in our lives. Otherwise we may be left with a field full of weeds.
