We don't learn love,
which is already etched on our hearts;
we do, however, begin to unlearn fear. And with every change we make from blame
to blessing, we pierce the veil of illusion
that separates us from the world we want. Marianne Williamson
Feelings and desires surge to the surface during the The Scorpio New Moon on November 15
Our emotional nature is accentuated for this Super Moon, as the Moon comes as close to the earth as it can within its orbit There is a concentration of astrological dynamics that intensifies the influence of the New Moon, but before we look at these, it is worth contemplating the Scorpion nature.
Scorpio brings intensity, passion, and the drive to quench our deepest yearnings. Desire and feelings surge to the surface with the New Moon. We may feel compelled to engage them, avoid them, our act from them. We are invited to engage our depths and gaze on hidden motivations. What has been lurking just beyond our conscious awareness is now surging to the surface. What has been secreted away is exposed, and truths about ourselves and life meet the light of day.
If we welcome the intensity and not seek to diminish or avoid it, we have access to Scorpio’s inherent transformative power. Scorpio stirs issues of power and powerlessness. From the place of feeling powerless to move as we wish to move, we may try to compensate for the feeling of insecurity by asserting our power through acts of manipulation, control, self-protection or domination. Or, we can turn our attention to addressing the root cause of our impotency. .
We can ask ourselves:
am I looking to change a situation so that I feel better,
or am I looking to change something within myself
so that I can better navigate the situation at hand?
The Three Expressions of the Scorpio Nature:
The Scorpio, The Eagle and the Phoenix
The desire that compels or repels us from situations or people is the rudder for how we make the decisions we do. Desire is often an unconscious impulse. When strong enough it leads to obsessive and compulsive behaviors.The opportunity is to turn and gaze into the mysterious depths from where a desire emerges, whether it is for a pizza, a trip to a foreign land, a person, financial security or appreciation for our efforts.
Rather than simply acting out the desire, we can feel the longing, the ache, the wanting, and the acute vulnerability inherent in this. Rather than allowing our desire sit in the driver's seat, we can go through a process where we look at where and how to best direct the intensity of the yearning.
Scorpio has three levels of expression. In the coming weeks, we can be aware of when we are acting as the Scorpio, the Eagle or the Phoenix. Chances are we can see ourselves in all three expressions. As the sign of transformation, the heavy Scorpio influence of this New Moon gives us the opportunity to initiate a powerful change within ourselves and how we approach life.
When you plant lettuce
And the lettuce doesn’t grow
You don’t blame the lettuce
Thich Nhat Hanh
The Scorpio: Instinct
A narcissistic person. There is a lack of conscious awareness of one's desire nature with a compulsive need to satisfy each need that surfaces. Unmet desires catalyze great agitation, feelings of powerlessness and fear. Manipulation, controlling behavior, and deviousness are justifiable means to achieve a desired result. The experience of powerlessness attributed to a perceived outer threat that causes the Scorpio to ‘sting’ the cause of their misery. Power moves, vengeful acts and violence are means to reduce threat and to secure and sustain a feeling of being powerful. Vulnerability is to be avoided. There is little awareness or consideration for what lies beyond one's own desire nature. Addictions develop that result in the Scorpio person being a victim of their own desire with the tendency to sting themselves in self-destructive behaviors.
The Eagle: Purpose
An ambitious person. Their is an intellectual understanding of one's desire nature that has produced enough wisdom where the Scorpio person can put themselves in the driver's seat. Rather than being unconsciously compelled by desire, The Eagle harnesses and directs their desire towards achieving goals. There is a willingness to delay satisfaction, to avoid drama or succumb to self-destructive behaviors. Through observation, understanding and awareness, The Eagle has learned to control and direct the desire nature to achieve an outcome where they feel more powerful and satisfied.
The Phoenix: Empowerment
An altruistic person. Becoming intimate with one's desire nature fosters compassion, understanding, and fearlessness. The roots of desire are discovered. Desire for safety, for love, for recognition are embraced. Vulnerability is seen as a strength. Rather than looking for the outside world to satisfy a desire, a transformational journey is taken for the desire to be quenched through the attention and love the Phoenix towards it. The Phoenix has plumbed to his or her own depths to discover the true power that lies waiting and available within. The Phoenix has engaged, often multiple times, in a complete breakdown in competency to uncover their darkest secrets to release shame, fear, and victim consciousness They have let themselves become a crucible where the heat of the desire do its transformative work. Loss and rebirth are experienced and they rise from the ashes, with a true feeling of their own power. Having discovered their own empowerment, the Phoenix naturally empowers others and the situations surrounding them.
Unalkalhai and the Constellation Serpens: The Poison
The only question is:
Does this path have heart?
If it does, then it is a good path.
If it doesn't, then it is of no use.
Carlos Castanada.
The transformative power of Scorpio is further emphasized by the New Moon’s alignment with Unalkahai, the Neck of the Serpent. The venom of the serpent, or snake, can is known to wound or kill. Simultaneously, it is used in rituals where an initiate welcomes the snake bite and embarks on a near death journey to awaken them to their own nature and to the mysteries of life and death.
We can elect to see the building pressure, anxiety and fear happening on the world stage, and in our personal lives, as an intentional, even beneficial poisoning. This will feel illogical to the Scorpionic Scorpio. But the Scorpionic Phoenix will readily see it is the very medicine, the remedy that can stimulate the transformation, the change that we have been waiting for.
We can easily, and even inadvertently, be poisoned if we view the venom as unwelcome. It will take a stronger foothold in our lives and consciousness if we give into railing against circumstance or enact retribution in reaction to what is causing us discomfort. Impulsive, ill thought actions to relieve the internal pressure or letting ourselves vent will not relieve the intensity. It may only serve to give the venom permission to take a stronger foothold within us.
Agena and the Constellation of The Centaur: The Sacrifice
The New Moon is aligned with a second fixed star that provides additional direction and support for how to move through the treacherous waters of feelings so the venom doesn't poison us but carries us on an initiatory journey.
The fixed star Agena is located in the Foot of the Centaur. The Centaur is walking towards an altar. He is readying to kneel and make a sacrifice at the altar. The star Agena promises success and the sacrifice is rewarded.
The key is knowing the nature of the altar we kneel in front of. The Scorpionic Scorpio altar may be to money, sex or pleasure. The Scorpionic Eagle Scorpio’s altar may be to his or her career, financial standing or in maintaining reputation. The Scorpionic Phoenix builds an altar to something larger the self. When we know what we are dedicated to, a sacrifice is naturally given up. It is up to each of us to discern the altar we walk towards so the sacrifice we are prepared to make has the best chance to satisfy the soul’s desire.
Let yourself become that space that welcomes
any experience without judgement
Tsoknyi Rinpoche
Mars and Pluto – Rulers of Scorpio: A Whale of a Desire
The two planets which claim rulership of the sign Scorpio are both prominently featured at the Full Moon, further emphasizing the intensity and the susceptibility for rash and reactive response. Equally, if we foster the Eagle and the Phoenix within us, this same volatile and demanding energy can be transmuted and directed into transformational acts that can change our lives and the lives of those around us.
Mars – We are primed for decisive, bold action.
Mars is in its own sign Aries from the end of June until January. Typically, Mars spends six weeks in a sign but due to its retrograde phase, it is spending an extended period in the fiery and courage sign of Aries. The sign of the hero, the pioneer and the warrior, we are being stirred to boldly go where we have never gone before.
The rub is that Mars has been retrograde since September 9. Our impulse to take initiative has been thwarted in some fundamental way. We have been subject to delays, detours and perhaps a need to revisit plans and conversations we thought were done and over. Forward movement has elusive and life has not been moving forward at the pace or way we had thought it would.
Mars stations direct on the day of the New Moon. I am reminded of a bull at the gate of the bull pen just waiting for the gate to open. The pent up frustration can explode forth as Mars goes direct and the gate swings opens. There is potential for great energy to be released in a disruptive, volatile way. However, if we are able to harness the power and incredible force of the Aries Mars and direct it with laser sharp focus, we can make substantive strides and accomplish much. For a successful outcome, it is prudent to take the high road, even if someone else is taking the low one.
Pluto conjunct Jupiter: We are primed to act with laser sharp precision.
Pluto is in exact sextile to Scorpio New Moon, a highly beneficial aspect that focuses our attention and emboldens us to take bold and strong steps towards what will result in an increase of our personal power. The intensification of the desire helps sharpen our ability to discern the right course of action. The propensity to take decisive strides forward is further accentuated as Jupiter is conjunct Pluto for its third and last time.
Move to the Pace of your Heart,
No Matter the Speed.
Princess Sassy Pants
Other Astrological Influences Flavoring the New Moon
Venus square Pluto –
Venus is the planet of love and relationship. When in a hard aspect with Pluto, the planet of power and Transformation, there is a strong desire for intimacy, for merging with another. We want to remove the obstacles in our path to having this. It is prudent to be mindful of whether we are being a Scorpion (willing to possess or get our way at any cost), an Eagle (trying to control the relationship) or a Phoenix (open to valuing and considering the needs of the other as we navigate our own). If we can direct our desire, rather than be directed by it, we can feel and move well with the profound desire to love and be loved.
Both these planets are associated with Money. Intense feelings can be stirred around challenges with finance. Big decisions can be made at this time, but not one's that are fueled by reaction or fear.
Neptune squares the Nodal Axis
Our beliefs are being shaken during the 18-month period when the nodes inhabit Sagittarius and Gemini. New information is compelling us to question and altar beliefs we have held as fact. During the New Moon, truth is rather foggy. There is a propensity for becoming disillusioned. We can more readily be duped or deceive ourselves. Our imagination is running high. Creativity is heightened. Being connected to our heart, to taking slow but sure steps is favored over the impulse to drive an agenda forward fueled by the strong desires unleashed at the New Moon. The questions we are asking may be more beneficial than hanging our hat on answers previously found.
Mercury opposing Uranus – Revelation
Mercury began its journey in Scorpio the end of September has now returned to the place it stationed and went retrograde last month. .
Mercury is our mind, how we think, perceive and communicate. In Scorpio, our mind is wanting to penetrate the surface, to get to the root of what is going on. We are wanting the truth. This can be a time of flashes of enlightened insight and revelatory awakenings to new ideas, thoughts and truths. It is also a time where secrets are disclosed and more information comes to light that has been kept in the shadows. Mercury's placement at this New Moon accentuates the potential for an awakening, a dawning of new light within our consciousness.
All New Moons have a Scorpionic Energy
The window of a New Moon lasts around 24 hours until the Moon appears one again in the night sky as a young crescent light. The New Moon is naturally a Scorpionic time, where we enter the Dark Time in order to quicken something deep within us. It is the optimal time to be quiet, to go within, to identify the seed desire and planet an intention that for how that seed will germinate and grow over the coming weeks. The New Moon energetic is enhanced during a Scorpio New Moon as what lurks in the darkness of our hearts and souls makes itself known in some unmistakeable way.
So, this newsletter ends with a quote from a rabbi who wrote about the phenomenon of a New Moon,