Full Moon in Scorpio- Skeletons

Day of the Dead San Francisco 2012 by Brian B. Sorensen

This Transit takes effect on April 21, 2016.

“Way far back in the beginning of the world was the whirlwind warning that we could all be blown away like chips and cry- Men with tired eyes realize it now, and wait to deform and decay- with maybe they have the power of love yet in their hearts just the same, I just don't know what that word means anymore- All I want is an ice cream cone” -Jack Kerouac

Helios Says:  *Sigh* Life.... What is the point to it all? Does any of it matter? Why do we bother? We stumble blindly through time, cocking up everything we touch, experiencing a few fleeting moments of joy to break the monotony of the stinging misery that otherwise encircles us. None of us asked to be born, we just had all this merde thrust upon us. Sure, the grand traditions are there to try and offer us solace, a reason for being, some bullshit about learning lessons or whatnot- but the truth is no one truly knows what the point is, or what happens when we die. Our future is unclear, and our past depends on the perspective- All we know is the present, and that is suffering. 

It's not getting any better. Take each moment as it is the best on you will have to look forward to, because it gets increasingly likely that will be the case.

Artemis Says:

“With my ninth mind I resurrect my first
and dance slow to the music of my soul made new.” 
― Aberjhani, Visions of a Skylark Dressed in Black

Oh gods, here comes the Scorpio full moon.  Can you think of anything more dreadful right now?  I hope you figured out how to contain that Aries fire, because you're really going to need it now.  With Saturn in retrograde, this Scorpion full moon is going to dig all of the skeletons out of our closets.  I know with some of you those things should never see the light of day, so that's kinda scary, not gunna lie.  Motherfucking GHOSTS.  They will come in the form of nightmares.  They will come in the form of anxiety.  They will come in the physical form knocking at your door.  What does Casper say?  Ghosts can't move on if they have unfinished business.  You're either going to give up and live with them in your haunted house, or you're going to become a motherfuckin' exorcist.  Your choice.  Can you dance with the devil and finish your unfinished business?

Helios Says:  The Sun and Moon- Huh. Nothing else? That's new and different. Well, what isn't different is that we are going into this one exhausted. You are questioning your life, what matters, and what doesn't. I've been telling you for some time now that you need to make choices along those lines and cut away what doesn't serve you anymore, but have you been listening? Noooooooo, you thought you could just keep stalling, didn't you? Well now you don't have any more time, and you have to make those cuts NOW or they will be made for you. You are running out of time to hide. Everything will come to light, sooner rather than later. However, you still have a few precious moments left to choose a new way forward and throw yourself down it. I heartily recommend that you do so before it is too late.

Artemis Says: The Sun in Taurus:  For the sun, I pulled the card 4 of Wands.  Back from the dead.  The Taurus sun will start shining on the sacred holiday of 4/20 *puff puff pass*.  This means that this new sun will be hit with a full moon quite fresh off the runway.  Scorpio and Taurus are opposites on the Zodiac wheel, meaning that they share a good amount of traits and then differ quite drastically in others.  They have the same sort of feel to them; like super hero and arch-villain.  They couldn't exist without each other.  Where the Scorpio moon may be haunting us about our poverty right now, the young Taurus sun is enthusiastically reminding us of our goal.  Your sun sign in astrology is the archetype you are STRIVING to become (as opposed to your moon sign, which is how you react to the world and more of your personality - it is your instinctual reactions).  We are striving toward this celebratory 4 of wands; getting exactly what we want.  Don't take your eye off the prize.  Charge at it like a bull.

The Moon in Scorpio:  For the moon, I pulled the card 5 of pentacles.  This card is all about poverty and what we learn about ourselves when we finally hit rock bottom.  When we are in desperation, we are only kept alive by the most gnawing of needs.  Dive deep, babies, clean your closets once and for all.  These things that are living here, creating weights for your wings, they must be removed before you can live a full life.  I know you're tired.  Trust me, we all are.  We have had unfinished business coming at us since Saturn started his retrograde a few weeks ago, so we should be getting our bearings right now.  You've got this, punks.  You've fought these mini bosses before, and you're still here today.  Now finish them!

Helios Says:  Mercury, Venus, Uranus and Chiron- Now this is more like it. Here, we see the real heart of the issue- You have lost your way, and have no idea where to go from here. You are afraid, and feeling nothing is much easier than facing that fear. You have been hurt, and instead of licking your wounds and stepping back out into the world, you have retreated further inside yourself, hiding from any potential to be hurt again. I tell you that you are wasting your life by allowing this to continue. Fear has you paralyzed, and it is killing you one day at a time. Your despondency has become inertia, and your ennui a crutch- Get off the couch and back into the game! You only have so many moments here, make them count. Schluff off your baggage and step lively.

Artemis Says:  Mercury in Taurus:  For Mercury, I pulled the card Temperance.   I know you're all planning, darlings.  I know, because you are listening.  I know, because I scared you enough.  What's the plan, punks?  Take your time.  Measure it out.  Get a white board and start learning alchemy.  Put the pieces together slowly.  Mercury in Taurus will help you.  Be clear with your communication.  Say things plainly.  People will be easily confused (which may work to your advantage, I don't know your life).  Things set into motion right now will take some time to manifest, but I assure you they will be stronger, more sturdy plans than anything made back in Aries.  Your Aries plans were the beta version.  It's time to solidify the real deal.

Venus in Aries:  For Venus in Aries, I pulled the card Ace of Cups.  Oh I'm so sorry, punks, this is going to be a rough one.  It's a big wave, this ace of cups, a huge huge wave of emotion.  Now we can ride this thing a few ways.  Yes, ride like a bucking ram, because that is what this thing will be!  So a lot of overwhelming emotion is rupturing the enforcement we thought were sturdy enough  It's fine, really.  All those damn skeletons coming out of the closet and all of this stress from attempting so desperately to plan for the future...  I get it, I get it, but really there are two ways to ride this experience; accept things for what they are and use this powerful emotional energy to fuel things that make you feel good, or succumb to it all and drown in your sorrows.  The cup is full.  Will you drink from it, or will you shove your face in it and drown?  Like seriously, don't be dumb.  It's always your choice.  And who drowns in a cup?

Uranus in Aries:  For Uranus in Aries, I pulled the King of Wands.  So, a challenge!  Uranus is not giving up on us.  He is warning us of what's to come and what we need to become in order to fight it.  We need to become an unashamed version of ourselves.  Eris and Uranus conjunct is coming (June 1), and it's going to be an eruption.  Uranus is also pelting our public sphere with more chaos.  What's going to happen with all of this new information coming in?  The political sphere is going to get hotter and hotter still into the summer.

Helios Says:  Mars and Neptune- And here's where that ennui is coming from. You are burying yourself, probably under work or something, distracting yourself from the real problems in your life so that you don't have to deal with them. Well, burying your head in the sand isn't going to change the fact that you are in serious trouble. You are going to need to take action, and you are going to need to do it ASAP. You will need to break free of the stagnancy you find yourself in. You will lose something you once deemed important, and may yet still, but its time has come. Cut it away from you before it drags you down into the depths. You cannot see how much damage it is doing to you, and it would do significantly less if you moved on from it. Quit trying to fix what is broken, before it breaks you too.

Artemis Says: Mars in Sagg Retrograde:  For Mars in Sagg Retrograde, I pulled 9 of Swords.  Ok, so 9 of Swords traditionally means "nightmares."  Which makes sense right now, doesn't it?  All of our energy is being drained by these nightmares.  People's fears are surfacing in the public sphere as well as privately.  There is a quite desperation going on and a lack of energy in general.  We may have had a plan and it is failing us.  That's okay.  We learned what doesn't work.  Time to get back up on that horse.  The nightmares, the unresolved business, is coming right at us.  Don't let being knocked off your horse a few times get to you.  You're still alive, aren't you?  Please don't tell me you are the type who gives up in the middle of a fight...

Neptune in Pisces:  For Neptune in Pisces, I pulled the Queen of Swords.  Well, darlings, at least we will be cutting through some of this illusion bullshit.  The world is going to seem a bit... cold right now.  Don't fret.  Keep your eye on the prize, like an oasis in the distance.  We are going to all cross this desert together.  And no matter how tired we get, we need to continue to be decisive and always choose to cut through the bullshit or it will swallow us whole.  Neptune is getting close to going into Retrograde again (June 13), so the bullshit will get easier and easier to see.  This is good news, punks!

Helios Says:  Jupiter, Saturn and Pluto- As you can see, the Super Saiyan energy has been lessened somewhat, due to Uranus separating from the pack in preparation for his date with Eris. That doesn't mean you should discount its influence, however. Right now, it is serving to isolate and insulate you, putting you in a corner by yourself, so that you can prove what you are capable of. Take advantage of your isolation, get your house in order while no one is looking. This is the time to take the steps that others would discourage you from, but the downfall is that you don't have anyone to turn to for good advice and feedback. Sure, you want to wallow in self-pity and do nothing but binge Netflix, since no one is calling you to go out to the best parties and you see the hoes hooking up and professing their love, but its far better to put the headphones on, go to the gym and get that summer body ready now while you have fewer distractions. One good habit will lead to another, and then change will follow. For the better.  

Artemis Says: Jupiter in Virgo Retrograde:  For Jupiter in Virgo Retrograde, I pulled 7 of Swords.  More bad news, babies.  This card is downright insecurity.  What do people do when they are insecure?  They start hurting themselves and those around them.  You are nitpicking at yourself.  Seriously, stop that shit!  If you look suuuper closely, you will see that your plans are actually starting to take form.  This card tells us that those little things we have been doing - the sneaking around for information or the tip toeing around our enemies - is paying off.  You're going to need to continue to have your wits about you.  It's going to take every ounce of our craftiness to get ahead right now.  We have to use the magnifying glass that is Virgo and find the little details that are going to help our big picture.  You need to believe in yourself and your intuition more than ever now. You're going to need to be clever.


Saturn in Sagg Retrograde:  For Saturn in Sagg Retrograde, I pulled the Hangman.  Saturn is reminding us that he is fucking with time right now.  Ghosts from the past are coming at us.  Reverberations from the future are smacking us in the face.  Our present is showing us how it has effected both the future and the past.  How the hell is this even happening?  Stay still.  Stay centered.  Breathe.  We can do this.  Slay one ghost at a time.

Pluto in Capricorn Retrograde:  For Pluto in in Capricorn Retrograde, I pulled the Ace of Wands.  Pluto is murdering things behind the scenes.  He is like the Freddy of our past right now.  If you so choose to let something go, Pluto will make sure you are transformed.  You have an ally right now.  The Planet of death and rebirth will work behind the scenes and pinpoint exactly what needs to die via your level of desire for the thing.  You're going to KNOW what needs to die, and subconsciously you are taking the steps to kill this thing.  Have you  noticed?  Only the things that matter most can survive right now.  It's time to transform.  It's time to choose to become a higher version of yourself so you can face what's ahead.  What are you going to choose to kill?  What's keeping you from moving forward?

One more thing on Pluto and Jupiter - the combination of the 7 of Swords and Ace of Wands tends to mean that this is the perfect time to get ahead in business.

Full Moon in Leo- Alarums and Excursions

Drama for your nerves, baby!! That has been the theme of this Full Moon, and it sure as hell made an entrance! Celebrities dropping like flies, political and economic drama, fights and flashpoints popping up all over the place- It’s enough to make anyone want to call it quits and schlump in the corner until it’s over! You’re not just anyone though. You have made it through worse than this, and you have greater challenges ahead. This is mundane by comparison and well within your ability to handle!

Morrigan: I title this reading "The Fox vs the Wolf:  Full moon in drama, 2016."  

SUN  Queen of Disks

MOON  Prince of Wands

MERCURY  6 of Disks

VENUS  Judgement (the Aeon)

MARS  Knight of Wands

JUPITER  Ace of Wands

SATURN  2 of Cups

URANUS  Ace of Cups

NEPTUNE  The Chariot

PLUTO  Queen of Cups

They call the full moon in January the "Wolf Moon", which is just perfect because we are definitely being circled by viscous, ego-maniac wolves right now. Get your spears out. We're going to need to keep these crazies at a distance using super sly, prince of wands Fox magic.

Let’s get to it, shall we?
The Sun, Moon and Venus- YAAAASS finally some of that good LEO energy, henny! After that (not quite as bad as you think it was) Saggo/Cap season, we are in AQUA, baby! Now we are fixing to turn the party! Before we can do that however, we need to contend with Venus, in Cap. The little issues and slights that were building in the last New Moon have come to a head in full force, and you can clearly see what needs to go in your life, plain as day. There is no compromise here, not anymore; you HAVE to overcome this before you can progress. The change can be made slowly, but you cannot allow your momentum to falter. Even if you only make small steps every day, these steps must be made. Some days you will do better than others. Accept this. Celebrate your victories and do not allow your defeats to stop you. You can wallow later; right now there is work to be done.

Morrigan: Oh boy, oh boy, my favorite time of year! What a friggin relief. We NEED the chilly, detached Aquarius sun to get us through all of this bombastic drama and emotional water works.  Here comes the weird, estranged loner. He is going to channel all of this energy and focus it around community and social change. This is a perfect time for activists to raise inspiration and emotional support for their cause. For the Aquarius sun I got the Queen of Disks. This will be our stabilizing force. She is water/earth energy, so she is earth mother. Gaia herself. We need to remember how to care for ourselves (and those we love), and the only way we can do this is by detaching from all of the lunacy around us. Pay attention to what matters. The Queen of Disks, and Aquarius, both remind us how important our independence is. In order to participate in the collective, you must be able to stand on your own two feet first. You need to learn the healthy dance between caring for yourself and caring for your community (back to that Mercury 6 of disks energy). This queen reminds us to be caring and compassionate (which Aquarius truly is), but to also tend to our own kingdom and possessions (be they physical things, ideas, or feelings). Leo moons are supposed to be fun.They are generally festive and jovial, but this one is like showing up to a party and running into your ex and their gaggle of loud, drunk friends. What I pulled for the moon is Prince of Wands. That's some showy shit. When I look at this card in this position, I am getting the mental image of a lot of people running around displaying their "talents" openly and demanding respect and attention for it.  Yeah.  It's going to be fucking annoying. You're going to see a lot of soap boxes, but remember what I told you about boxes on the Capricorn new moon- BURN THEM TO THE GROUND. There IS a real message that is trying to come through, but you're going to have to wade through a lot of "false prophets" first. *But once you see it, you will know it.* The people who are channeling the inspiration you will need to guide your evolution - who are speaking the information that is going to help you breathe some real life into this emotional hell of a time - are going to glow like fire. This card can be associated with the fox spirit. There is a playful trickery going on, but if you are worthy - if strategy is your game - you are going to navigate your way through this storm and into some truly inspirational stuff. Leo is the eternal flame of the heart. The light at the end of the tunnel. The defibrillator. And we really need some of this shit because that last Capricorn new moon sucked the life out of us. We are worn out, bleeding from the gut on the battle field, taking our last breath when finally *AAAHHHH* a hot as hell medic comes running our way flipping their hair like fucking Baywatch. In this card, the Prince is being pulled by a lion, Leo himself it seems. This lion is going to carry us out of here, and he is going FAST so catch him while you can and keep your eyes open at all times for his presence. This is a time for light bulb moments. This is the time for connecting the dots and finally seeing the whole picture - everything come full circle. So, put on your diamond encrusted stilettos (the obvious weapon choice for this full moon) and fight your way through the dramatic, viscous shit while looking fabulous. Realize that everyone is playing their "role" on crack right now. Like full on cartoon depictions of their personalities, so this is also the perfect time to learn the ways of the cunning fox (the Prince of Wands is Fire/Air energy, so think witty, quick, poetic, on the go inspiration). I have officially warned you about the drama, you most definitely see/feel it, so use it to learn a valuable lesson about human social interactions. This is the sharpening of your weapons, this is where you learn cunning so you can do battle with the emotional siege from the Uranus-Pluto square. We got Judgement for Venus. I don't particularly like the sound of that, but we really did need some sort of restraint. She will be in Capricorn at the time of the full moon and will probably try as hard as possible to get the party out the door before bed time. She is reminding us of our values. She is telling us to keep Karma in mind and not to slip into some sort of drunken coma from our Leo influenced escapades. She is the designated driver, the responsible friend who is going to hold our hair as we throw up (all the while complaining loudly about how we should have stayed home in the first place). She's probably going to be a horrible, bleating wing man, so forget about her amping up Leo's romantic qualities. She's here to remind us of everything we have going on - remember your values - remember your goals - remember where the fuck we are going because we can't go all Party Monster and end up making a mistake we can't go back on. Remember, Venus is victory, so she is really looking out for our win in the end. Take her lesson to heart. Venus is giving us some reigns on the situation so use them for everyone's sake (especially your own).
Mercury, Saturn, Uranus, Pluto- Okay, yes; at first glance this is some scary Astro. It is certainly cold, calculating Astro that suffers no fools! It’s also exactly what you need right now. It’s time to make big moves and tough calls, and nothing says mega-transformative like this Astro.  Whatever you are trying to beat, can be overcome RIGHT NOW, if you are willing to make it happen. It will be easier than ever, but you must put in the work. Sure you will have distractions, and shit that tries to trip you up, but stay focused and you will be able to beat anything. All it takes is the effort. Prioritize your goals and ignore all else.

Morrigan: PLEASE GODS MAKE IT END, PLEASE MAKE IT END. Mercury is 6 of Disks in this reading, which is associated with moon in Taurus energy. 6 of disks is all about knowing how much to give, knowing what to give, and knowing how to give it (yum hehehe). There are a lot of people vocally demanding a piece of you right now, left and right, with viscous words in tow. They think they DESERVE something of yours, and you're stuck in a crap situation because you gave too much. You just fed the stray animals and they are coming back, night after night, demanding food when you don't even have enough scraps to put on your own table. There has been a wave of exploitation and depression that has hit the collective unconscious (I hope you all rode that Capricorn wave well and ended up getting some good foot holds), but at least we're actually talking about it now. You need to know when enough is enough, and you have to put that remaining energy of yours into the relationships that are truly symbiotic. The God Mercury [Astrogeek starts twitching uncontrollably] carried the caduceus which heals the sick and brings the dead to life. The caduceus can also kill the living if Mercury pleases, so, in other words, we're at this fucker's mercy. As much as it has sucked, the lessons of this retrograde were probably needed. There was something that we really had to hear that we heard; some truth exposed that will allow us to better trade our ideas with others. We learned some sort of strange, emotional economic system. This entire explosive display of ego really humbled us, and now we are ready to go back to truly sharing. Saturn is square Neptune, which is challenging us with self defeatist energy. For Saturn I got the 2 of cups, or Cancer in Venus energy. You're going to need a lot of love right now. Structure some time with people you care about in your life, because things are heavy and emotional as hell at the moment. Build love into your life as a routine, and by that I mean actually set time aside to be with people who give you warmth.  You're going to need all the self love and friend love that you can get. Surround yourself with Cancer type people who will hide under the covers with you and make you hot cocoa. Honestly, it will make a world of difference. Hang out with your tribe (remember, the people you are in symbiotic relationships with). They are your life blood and emotional support you will need. You will get through this. The self doubt is crippling, but everything you need is right at your fingertips.  Love yourself. Build that love. Build yourself up with love. Make love the bones - the structure - that holds you up. Hearts all around, love is the law. Ace of cups for Uranus in Aries while it squares the hell out of Mercury. Ugh I'm so sorry- This is just adding to the emotional, verbal outbursts people are having. Crazy emotional cups overflowing in the planet of crazy. But this could also be a positive time for inspiration. With all of these overwhelming emotions + Aries energy, we could really start communicating things that really need to be communicated. Don't sacrifice the self. Stop letting everyone steal your thunder. You are the thunder! This is a time of emotional transformation. It's better to drink from the cup and get drunk on the inspiration around us than drown in it. So start swimming. The wolves are going to nip at your tender heart strings, but use the sun in Aquarius to chilly detach, and then pounce like the cunning fox. You desire change, especially emotional change, so act on it. The potential for transformation is there. For Pluto I pulled the Queen of Cups (water/water energy), and she is squaring Uranus in Ace of Cups. There is GREAT emotional transformation happening, and there is a lot of fire stoking it. Essentially, we are boiling. This Queen of Cups is reminding me that all of this squaring off between Uranus and Pluto is making us far more emotionally evolved. We are going to become the rock in the stream, not bothered by it's passage over us. We are learning all of our emotional lessons, and even though all of this fire and water is making us crazy, a lot of light will be shed on what has been held and repressed inside of us. We are getting rid of our emotional weaknesses. We may be in the dark underworld of emotions at this moment in time, but, as Carl Jung stated, the tree that grows to heaven must have it's roots deep in hell. Cry. Let it out. Tell people how you really feel. It will transform you for the better.  
Mars and Neptune- Weird energy here. In one way, it works to insulate you from the outer bullshit that threatens to drag you down- In another way it drowns your enthusiasm and puts you into a sort of dream state, where your cognitive dissonance allows you to be completely unbothered by everything on an emotional level. The way to use this is to fully embrace the Flazedah nature and sleepwalk through the hell around you, but not to stop moving. It’s like sleepwalking on Ambien, and it’s the pro strat here.

Morrigan: Mars is playing off of Knight (King) of Wands energy. Holy shit. With Mars trine Neptune, we are in a time of illusions. No one is who they seem, and sexual energy has run rampant (and sexier than ever). It's magic time, and we are getting a great re-charge of spiritual inspiration.  There is a clear warning here. With the "glamouring" coming from the Leo moon coupled with the "glamouring" radiating off of Mars and Neptune, we have to really be able to separate the fakers from the real deal. Stay cunning. Remember your advice this moon is to "be the fox among wolves." Mars square the Moon will clash Prince with Knight, so I can guarantee there will be some intense drama.  People are guaranteed to get explosive, and fast, and you have to be wily to get your way out of it. The moon is how we protect ourselves, and knowing how to perform the appropriate role at the right time is going to be what saves you this moon. Don't forget to learn your lines or to follow the fox spirit. The Mars trine Neptune is giving us a lot of courage right now (probably delusional courage, but whatever), so USE IT. Also, I see sexy times. A lot of sexy times. Hell yes, the Chariot! The chariot is all about conquest and overcoming oppression. We need to get the reigns on this Neptune and ride it like a charioteer. Pisces in Neptune may bring a lot of illusion into the world, but it also brings a lot of spirituality and insight. There is magic everywhere, truly, and we have to battle our way through this drama and hold on to the little bubble of hope we have found. You may be getting some intense messages through your dreams right now, so pay attention. You might just get the code/plans/instructions you are looking for. The Chariot is represented by Cancer, and the charioteer must be able to flow around the battle like a raging river in order to gain their victory. Pisces being in Neptune gives us this much needed slippery quality (again, a need to be slippery like the fox).  
      
Jupiter- Saving the best for last! Even though Jupiter is retrograde, this is SUPER amazing Astro. He is conjunct the North Node and making all sort of fun aspects to the minor planets. So, this is where these super bold plans for your future are coming from. Roll with them, write them down, fully realize them as much as possible before you act on them. This is not the time for action, but you are too full of ideas and plots to not explore them. Just refrain from jumping off too quickly- Plot before you jump, but you most certainly are going to make a flying leap, and soon! The goal right now, with this Astro, is to know where you are going first.

Morrigan: Don't sleep on Jupiter. He has been telling me he is up to more than we think he is, even if he is in restrained Virgo. The Virgo just means he's planning. The Virgo means he has been plotting something obsessively (philosophically as well, so lots of logical diagrams), and has finally had a eureka moment. He's ace of wands in this reading, so we have a lot of empowerment of the self (which plays well with the Leo energy). Don't forget who you are, and don't forget your highest ideals. They really are the fire that is lighting your way - your literal torch. This is a good time to formulate a creative way for self expression, and with Virrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgo being a Mercurial sign, you have all of the potential in the world to communicate your ideals in a very inspirational, creative way right now.  Jesus, can I say inspirational enough in this reading [Astrogeek: Probably not as many times as you made a fox pun!]? Anyway, hold on to hope. It's there, I promise. You're about to find a way to express your highest ideals into your daily life, it's just at it's budding process (aces are beginnings) so don't snuff out the flame on accident. Believe in it and stoke it. This is the time to meld the big picture with the details - which brings on the eureka moment. So, in summation, my advice is this:  "Be the Fox" is your mantra. They may be surrounding us, but we're smarter, hotter, and master illusionists.

New Moon in Capricorn- The Trouble With Dreams

Ninja by Ivan Otero, CCL

Astrogeek: OKAY SO! This is one of my famous shotgun posts, as this shit snuck up on me somehow, and now you get me writing my balls off, half-drunk at 2:41 in the morning- Full disclosure. *sips bourbon*Great start to 2016, Astrogeek, classy as shit like always…

This sure as shit doesn’t feel like a new moon, no siree… This is halfway between a full moon and an eclipse. This is a test. You have to prove your mettle on this one y’all. So, again I ask you: WHAT IS IT THAT YOU WANT? You have the power to make anything come to fruition that you want, but only that which you put work into. Your effort and willpower will define this stage. Sure, you may DESIRE certain things like a new relationship or a bigger bank balance, or peace on earth; but you cannot get the first one if you're going out every night and trolling hookup apps, and that is doubtful for the second, but its entirely possible that you have invested in a company like Lockheed Martin, and therefore are a war profiteer, and probably have a decent bank balance! See how my clumsy metaphor barely makes any sense? That’s the Astro talking, I think. Either that or I need to stop doing bodyshots off of strippers….

And we all know THAT’S not going to happen!!

Anyways, wherever you focus your efforts, you will see growth and change, BUT anything that you are not willing to actively work toward, you might as well ignore. Because there is no cavalry coming- It’s just you, standing alone against the horde. Your strikes will count, but you have to swing your swords for that to matter! You have to show up to the battle, you have to be in the trenches! Most of 2016 will follow these rules- You’ve been skating by far too long, now you actually need to nut up and put your money where your mouth is!

Morrigan Dervishi: Oh boy oh boy, this year is already starting out... fun.  It's 2016, folks.  Let's break this down:
New Moon in Capricorn Tarot Spread

Sun - 9 of Cups
Moon - 4 of Cups
Mercury - 8 of Swords
Venus - 9 of Pentacles
Mars - Ace of Pentacles
Jupiter -  Queen of Swords
Saturn - 8 of Cups
Uranus - 8 of Wands
Neptune - 8 of Pentacles
Pluto - The Emperor

The 20th card of the tarot is called JUDGEMENT and the 16th card in the Tarot is THE TOWER. That sets the tone for this year.  Our world structures are about to EXPLODE and the Capricorn new moon is making us completely jittery about it.  What?  Structures?  Exploding?  Nightmare words for Capricorn, and Capi's nightmares are surely on our mind.  We have Mercury, the Sun, the Moon, and Pluto are all in the sign of the devil goat.  We want to build.  We want to make something out of all of this, but it looks like we are getting a lot of interference from Uranus, Mars, and Neptune right now.  Uranus is 8 of Wands in my reading, meaning he wants us to know he is back in full swing and plowing through everything.  Do not forget where he is coming from.  Who's pointing the Uranus laser beam gun right at all of our Capricorn dreams right now?  Aries.  Blood god energy.  But he's got a formidable opponent. 

The Sun, Moon, Chiron, Uranus, Pluto- UGHHHH NO. More self-reflection, more old pain drawn up, and more bullshit flashpoints and losses that are completely beyond your control, but eventually seek to move you to a new era/arena of life. Beware of zombie romances. Old news. NEXT!!!!

Morrigan Says: For this beautiful vortex of a new moon in the sea goat, I pulled the card 4 of cups.  The 4 of cups is all about moping around, and that's exactly what this new moon energy is dragging us to do.  Woe is me!  I don't have any of my shit together right now!  Shit is exploding around me and I don't know what to do!  Yeah, it's screwed up, but this card also reminds us that everything isn't futile.  Stop crying over spilled milk and look into your heart.  You're disillusioned by everything around you because it's all going to burn soon.  It's cardboard houses, so light your flame already.  Deep down, at your core, you have always known what it's really about, so stop giving your energy to the powers that be and rise to your own power.The sun in this reading is in the 9 of cups, which is also called the wish card.  It looks like Capricorn is really what we want right now, so we need to stop fighting it.  Don't let the delusions get in the way.  Remember, ground that Neptune.  Pluto is represented by the Emperor in this reading (which is associated with the sign Aries itself), wielding his transformational power over everything right now.  Pluto is larger than life AND IN CHARGE!  He is powering us up.  Telling us where to go.  There is a lot of power right now in taping into his energy, and he is rallying everything around him.  You might not THINK you have the power (Mercury IS in retrograde after all), but you've definitely got the power.  You're in charge.  Stop building what they want you to build and start building for YOURSELF. Capricorn is challenging us to start climbing the mountain, baby, but we have a lot of shit just holding us down.  We can't even get over the foothills because we are in such a panic.  What a troubling feeling.  I know, I know, just end it already, jeez.  4 of Cups is traditionally associated with moon in cancer energy, so it looks like we're being a little sensitive right now.  Get up.  Get out.  Let's go.  This is your queue not to get buried in all the bad energy going around.  Stop thinking that some white knight is going to come and rescue, because they are not.  Uranus will shoot them out of the sky before that friggin happens.  Power up that goat devil energy we have in our weapons kit right now, and slice through this shit!

Mercury Retrograde, Pallas Athene- Second verse, same as the first…. NEXT!!!

Morrigan Says: Poor little Mercury doesn't seem to be doing so well.  I pulled 8 of swords for him, which is literally interference.  Traditionally, this card is depicted as a woman standing in a circle of swords wearing a blindfold.  She thinks she is surrounded, but there is an open path in front of her if she either A. removes her own blindfold or B. makes the leap of faith and just moves forward already.  Makes a lot of sense for Mercury retro, doesn't it?  We're scattered and we have no idea that the opening is literally in front of us.  Mercury is literally sitting on whatever the answer to our question is right now, and it seems to all have to do with Capricorn. 

Venus, Saturn, Black Moon Lilith- Oh for fucks sake…  All of your old tricks will suddenly reappear and then promptly kidnap you, expecting a lifelong commitment right off the bat. DO NOT ACCEPT, they’re the same old crazy bitch that they have always been. Also- save yourself, the damsel in distress trope looks bad on all of us. NEXT!!!

Morrigan Says: Venus is in 9 of Pentacles, meaning more grounding.  We need to nourish our relationships before they rot and kill our anxieties and kill our blindfolded Mercury right now.  Stop taking things out on those around you.  Nourish them.  9 of Pentacles is Venus in Virgo energy, so we need to really pay service to our relationships right now.  Help build for them.  Saturn is 8 of cups, meaning we need to leave behind all the things that aren't benefiting us and those we love right now.  This card can also mean some profound realizations our coming our way.  He is reminding us that yes, we quite literally are walking away from the delusion right now and striding into the things that truly matter.

Mars, Neptune, Juno and Vesta- Finally, something that I can use; Unfortunately, I covered this in the intro. You will need to make decisions, right here and now as to how you want your future to take shape. You will need to make sacrifices. It will hurt, and nothing is a sure bet. Make your choice NOW, and stick to your guns. You CAN DO THIS. *takes drink break*

Morrigan Says: The TOWER (card 16) is ruled by Mars, who seems to be playing an important role this year.  I pulled Ace of Pentacles for him, meaning he is the root of all of our trouble right now.  There is no way we are getting around him, and we have to deal with his is "my way or the highway" attitude.  He's in Scorpio right now, his ancient ruler, so he's essentially a blood soaked barbarian coming out of a battle terrifying poor Mercury. For Neptune I got the 8 of Pentacles.  Prudence.  We need to ground right now and take daddy Capricorn's lessons seriously.  He is using Pluto to blast away these Neptunian delusions, and I think, by golly, it might just work out for us.  The cards are urging us to really earth our ideas right now.  They are saying root into something that's real so you can come down from the clouds, come down from all of the anxious energy around us, and start building your kingdom.  8 of Pentacles is all about grounding and working and building your dream from the literal earth.  Get serious.  So, let's bring all of those daydreams we have been stuck in to the light and take advantage of our super charged Capricorn abilities right now.

Jupiter, All the remaining minor planets including ERIS and some such nonsense- Look, Jupiter is retrograde in his most hated sign, Virrrrrrrrrrrgo. This doesn’t bode well for anything. Shit sucks, not just for you. We all have dreams and goals. Do what you can, when you can; and when you can’t, bide your time. Plot. Coil up to strike. You will get your chance but you may have to take a leap when the ground is falling out from under you and the only place you can jump is on fire. These things happen. Jump anyway.

Morrigan Says: Jupiter is Queen of Swords.  Slice through, baby, luck is on our side.  This is like pulling the sword of time out of the stone.  We've got the power!  Our abilities are inflated, and we can get to the heart of the matter.  She is the dragon woman, ready to use her emotions and her intellect as combined weapons.  Like a motherfucking vortex.  Jupiter's storm is going to pummel anything that comes in our way.  Go, little goats, go!  If this world is going to burn down around us, we are surely going to build a new empire on the rubble.  One that is true and from the heart.  The planet of philosophy and higher thinking is urging us to find truth and justice and use it as a weapon.  The Queen of Swords is associated with Libra.  This is our charge. So go, go go!  We can do this.  We've got devil goat energy and we are really sitting on the throne.  Let's just take these blindfolds off and fight some real battles instead of battles with ourselves and those who love us.

Full Moon in Libra- The Fight in the Dog

Welcome back to the Asylum, Hell-raisers! That's right, its Cardinal Crisis time all over again! And what do we say when I say say that, kids?

BRING IT, BITCHES!!! Y'ALL AINT GOT SHIT!!

Ahhh, Aries... Refreshing, isnt it? That raw passion, the pure energy... Its intoxicating. This go around, the stage is pure Cardinal Crisis- The Cyprus banking crisis and the oligarchs of the EU who engineered it, problems with the drones and the implications of war, The fight over Equality in America, A new pope that breaks with tradition wherever you look, Climate change finally starting to get out of control, posion food, an incarcerated population, obesity, the war on terror/ drugs, It can make this life seem like a circus, and not the good kind. This is the nightmare circus, the one that drags you in, makes you lower your guard, then gets you alone, overwhelms your senses, and you wind up in a gutter realizing that there really was no zebra there at all (raising serious questions about your mental state...)

So what do you do? Well ladies and gentlemen, I tell you what you do- You dig deep and master yourself. You do this because its the only way to outlast the craziness- And I'm going to show you how to do it, so that you can outlast the crazy.

Muhfuggin Aries.... Alright, so this is borderline ridiculous. We have five planets within orb of a major stellium, all centering on Uranus, sextile Jupiter, inconjunct Saturn, and squaring Pluto? Gods help us. If there was any one thing to take away, its this- You don't get the luxury of being ignorant anymore. It is ON, and you better be prepared, starting 3 weeks ago- To the Hustler go the spoils! Anything that doesn't serve you anymore, release it. Search out your limiting beliefs (I'm not good enough, I don't have enough, I'm too ugly, I'm too broken....) and ANNIHILATE THEM. Do not hesitate, or they will continue to have you. Do not do battle with them, because if you do, then you play into their game and you lose right then. Instead, laugh at them. Affix your feet in the security of your soul and move with the gravity of your entire being against this thought that is so small, it has to hide in the darkest corners of your mind- Step into your glory: How can anything, much less something like that, stand against YOU? Wear a rubber band, and any time you feel yourself slipping back into those thought patterns, snap yourself out of it, literally! This is the time to create your new patterns, because they will gain momentum in Taurus.

The Sun, Moon, Venus, Mars and Uranus- So, aside from all that, other influences- Cyllarus shows that you need to get behind something. Find a cause and live for it so that you dont die for nothing down the road. A square to Kronos demands that you need to take a longer view. Look to your future. A sextile to Iris tells you to watch out for a sign or message coming your way. Listen to your gut, you'll recognize it when you see it. A conjunction to Hygeia implores that you listen to your body's needs and prioritize your health and fitness- A warrior needs to be in peak condition! An opposition to Typhon shows that you must not allow your emotions to carry you away- Stay in control of your words and actions. An opposition to Urania confirms this- Keep a diamond mind, and avoid tipping your hand. A trine to my favorite new centaur, Orius, shows that if you don't fight this, but instead work with it and make room for the changes that are occurring, then you will discover new wellsprings of passion and a lust for your life that you thought was long gone! Don't cling to what holds you back! Go wild! A sextile to Atropos confirms this, but tells you that you will need to cut yourself away from what you are trying to lean up against. I ask you this- Why lean and struggle to stand, when you could use your wings and fly free? A square to Narcissus lends a final warning however- You must conquer your ego before all else can take place. This isnt some airy-fairy crap, if you try to do any of this without subduing your own ego and making it work for you instead of the other way around, then it will just trip you up every step along the way. This can only be achieved by taking a hard look at yourself and where you are along your path. Do not flinch from the brutal truth- No, embrace it, because there's nothing else in this world that can set you free from the chains you bought for yourself. Let it burn away the guano that's caked onto your skin and expose the raw, clean skin underneath.

Mercury and Chiron- Yeah, I know I dont normally include Chiron in my Lunation list, but strange times call for furious dancing... Both of these guys are currently in Pisces and direct. So what happens when the Quicksilver Magician meets the Wounded Healer? Pure dead magic, as it turns out! A trine to Helio shows that this time right now is one for you to show yourself off and put yourself out there to the world. A square to Jupiter confirms this. Perfect timing, too- We could really use you in here. Another trine, to Saturn, confirms this, and warns you of the consequences of not stepping up to your personal best, and using this opportunity for the greatest good, with maturity and intention. Don't tempt the Grim Reaper. While we're on the subject, a sextile to the King of Hell gives you a rare chance to invoke some personal alchemy. When Pluto chooses to show you a weakness in yourself (as indicated above) use it to gain some awareness and transform it into a new strength by giving it up and allowing Pluto to show you a new way forward. This can only be done if you are willing to open up to the awareness of your weakness, rather than live in a delusion of invulnerability. A square to Orius helps you here, enabling you to access new paths once you step outside of your comfort zone and acknowledge that you don't have all of the answers just yet.

Jupiter, Saturn and Pluto- No, I haven't lost it, I promise. I told you this one was special! These guys are in a tight Yod (two planets quincunxing a third, while sextiling each other) so I'm taking them together. In fact, if you consider Mars, then all of a sudden you have a double Yod! A trine to Typhon ramps up the emotional turmoil, letting everything hit you all at once. Remember, this too shall pass- But not just yet. A conjunction to Poseidon  confirms this, rocking you to your very core and challenging the structures that you have built your life upon. An opposition to Hebe demands to know why you are still serving anyone else? Don't you realize you still have a life of your own to live? Don't fly into slavery just to avoid being pushed into the same. A trine to Urania confirms this, but she demands you do something big, and do it now. A square to Diana scares you into giving up your short term wants for your long term freedom (albeit under duress!). Own it and make it your choice- Its not like you can really do anything else, might as well use it! An opposition to Phaethon shows that you really need to be careful of who you trust- you may find yourself crashing and burning instead of having that person to protect you when they said they would. A square to Hermes should help you to talk and think your way out of any trouble you may find yourself in though!

Neptune- Last, but not least, the Guardian of the Edges, the Watcher of the Waters: Neptune. Our soggy, seaweed-brained storm god is rather quiet (which is always worrying... still waters run very deep with him, and you never know whats hiding down there), other than the opposition to Orcus that I have nothing left to write on at the moment, and a rather curious conjunction to Nemesis. You are challenged not to allow the changes of an inconstant and fickle Fortune to turn you bitter and angry. No, you must let your grudges wash over you instead, dropping the hot coal in your hand without finding a target to throw it at. Do this and succeed- Lash out in prideful anger and it is you who will be struck. You choose.

This is where I leave you, guys. This is once in a lifetime Astro, and it has major gifts for those who tap into it and use it for what it is- a personal Renaissance. No matter what you choose to do, make sure it is a path that YOU choose, and one that you commit to 100%. This is not the Astro for half-assing anything!

Let me leave you with this- it sums up the Astro pretty damn perfectly

Hang on tight and ride it for all its worth, Hell-raisers!

-The AstroGeek

Also we're now into Starzina's birthday season, so go over and pay the gal a visit, wont you? Its hard on her, gearing up to turn the big 2-7! I know it would mean the world if you go over and check out the page, share the videos with everyone you know, and maybe put in a word over with your cousin who's a producer out in L.A. (and actually, do your pal Astro a solid on that one too!)

For reasons that defy both Astro and Starzina's imagination, Starzina's newest video is not playing nice (trust an Aries...) but we have a handy link to it, here. Apologies for subjecting you to an extra click, Hell-raisers http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saxvaR85vYUhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saxvaR85vYU