“And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.” -Marianne Williamson
In the movie “Life is Beautiful” actor Roberto Benigni convinces his young son that their experiences in a Nazi concentration camp are only part of an eleborate game in order to shield him from the grim truth. It’s an amazing movie and won three Academy Awards in 1999. This is a rather extreme example of the energy I sense beginning at this new moon, and yet it perfectly describes the attitude we can take when facing any challenge.
The Astrology of the New Moon
The new moon occurs on Monday August 9, 2010 at 17° Leo. In astrology every sign is ruled (or influenced) by a planet and Leo is ruled by the sun. Thus Leo is a fire sign and exudes warmth, generosity, and creative expression. The sun is the center of our solar system and is orbited by the planets. Leo also likes to be at the center and is energized when surrounded by an audience.
But Leo isn’t all flash. In astrology the sun represents purpose; it’s about radiating from your center, infusing the evironment with your unique being. Leo rules the heart and when we act from our heart we become more authentic, truer to ourselves, and in touch with the divine.
Leo is also about our inner child and the playfulness that naturally comes from experiencing life with a sense of wonder.
August New Moon
The chart for the August new moon shows the sun and moon making no aspects to other planets (it does make what are considered minor aspects, but let’s keep it simple) and this spoke to me. The major planetary aspect in the sky right now is what is being called by astrologers as the “Cardinal T-Square.” The main players in this configuration are Pluto at 3° Capricorn, Uranus at 0° Aries with Jupiter close by, and Saturn at 1° Libra. And to top if off, these next few weeks we have Venus and Mars joining Saturn.
This T-Square is significant because its so rare- the outer planets (like Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto) move so slowly that it can take decades or centuries for specific astrological alignments to occur. Major configurations like this generally denote a shift or change in culture, governments, and economies. In a nutshell the world is radically changing. I know I feel it. Our ideas about goverment and financial systems are being radically challenged. It won’t be until the late 20-teens that we’ll be able to look back with any sense of perspective since the Uranus-Pluto square will be in effect for the next few years.
Pluto is one of the major energies at work in this configuration. And when Pluto is involved you can expect deep transformations. In astrology Pluto will expose in order to heal and where we find the sign of Capricorn in our chart is where we can experience deep, personal growth. Pluto is in the sign of Capricorn, which is the sign of business, government and the management of natural resources. The nightly news reports on financial scandals (think Madoff), natural disasters (think BP), and consitutional conflicts (think immigration) with such regularity that the phrase “blowing the lid” off is happening literally (Deepwater Horizon) as well as figuratively (citizen journalism exposing corruption). The list goes on.
So here we have this major evolutionary shift in energy sending ripples out into the collective, the very fabic society and there, off to the side, are the sun and moon in Leo. I feel the message of this month will be to remain true to yourself, approach life playfully, and continue to think, act, and live from your heart- your true self- regardless of the insanity that may be unfolding around you.
The end of “Life is Beautiful” is hopeful. The young boy wins the game. Will you ride out on your own tank?
“Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow. -Helen Keller
If you’re a Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius, or Taurus this new moon may affect you more personally. If you’d like to schedule a reading to better understand what this means then please contact me.
More Information
The Mountain Astrologer is a fantastic astrological magazine. Here is a more indepth article at the Mountain Astrologer about the Cardinal T-Square.
