New moon in Aquarius: The promise of a better tomorrow
This New Moon, I hope you remember that you are not powerless, and you are not alone. What keeps us going is the promise of a better tomorrow. Nobody knows that better than Aquarius.
What is a New Moon?
Luna takes approximately 29.5 days to complete its cycle. This is where the concept of a month comes from! During a New Moon, the Sun and Moon are at the same ecliptic longitude. At this point, Luna is between the Sun and Earth. As such, those of us on Earth cannot see the light the Sun sheds on Luna. This is why it’s often called a Dark Moon.
New Moons are the first phase of the Lunar cycle. In agriculture, historically, this is a time for planting. Gardening according to the Lunar cycle has been a practice for as long as humans have been planting crops and growing food. The Farmers’ Almanac has a section dedicated solely to sowing, planting, and weeding according to Luna, and US Department of Agriculture scientists have observed the possible effects of Luna’s cycle on plants.
As Above, So Below
“As above, so below” is a common refrain in witchcraft and folkcraft. Try as we may to separate ourselves from Earth’s cycles, we are intrinsically tied to them. (I wrote about this last year when Mars went into retrograde.) As such, what happens at the spiritual or cosmic level, is reflected here, on our Earthly plane. This is why New Moons are said to be a time for intention-setting. Taking that one step further, it also means you don’t need to go out of your way during a New Moon. If you pause and listen, the Cosmos are showing you what seeds are being laid for germination. During this week, pay attention to the synchronicities of your daily life. Like the seeds farmers and gardeners plant, oftentimes we can’t see them just yet. The seeds in our life are also deep underground, waiting to unfurl. It’s too soon to decide or act on anything just yet. Instead, cultivate curiosity and patience for the next week.
New Moon in Aquarius
Aquarius is a fixed air sign, ruled by Saturn, the God of agriculture, structures, limitations, deterioration, and decay — Saturn, the ultimate timekeeper.
The myth of Aquarius tells the story of a beautiful shepherd boy (or a Trojan prince in other versions) Ganymede. Ganymede is abducted by Zeus due to his beauty. Zeus brings Ganymede to Mt Olympus as his lover and to act as a cupbearer to the Gods, where he is to fill and refill their cups with ambrosia to ensure they stay drunk and happy. Eventually, Ganymede, fed up with the revelry of the Gods and being a servant to Zeus, decides to pour the Gods’ ambrosia down the side of Mt Olympus. This is the legend of how water fell to the Earth, of rains and floods.
The myth of Aquarius tells the story of a sign associated with revolutions - it is revolutionary to defy the Gods, most of all Zeus. In pouring the nectar of the Gods down Mt Olympus, Aquarius gave humans water, and by extension, life and food. Aquarius as such, is associated with idealism and innovation - a true visionary. Like all Air signs, Aquarius is concerned with ideas, connections, and communications. And, Aquarius prefers the group over the individual.
As such, when Pluto, Lord of the Underworld, moved into Aquarius on November 19th, most astrologers expected a societal shattering: a rupture in humanity, upheaval in power structures, and new definitions of what it means to be in community.
Luna is currently separating from a conjunction to Pluto. As such, she might feel tired, beaten, and bruised. But she is concerned about the needs of society and her community. Luna is also separating from a conjunction to Mercury, the God of Communication. There is a larger message here for all us about power and control, about the role of mass communication tools, data and technology, as well as the impact of these on society, our communities, and our land management and resources. Finally, Luna is trining Jupiter, the God of abundance, luck, and opportunity. Thought it might seem bleak, there still exists the hope and the possibility of a greater vision for all of us.
This New Moon, I hope you remember that you are not powerless, and you are not alone. What keeps us going is the promise of a better tomorrow. Nobody knows that better than Aquarius.
Happy Dark Moon.
