The new Moon

This new Moon in Aries is the first new Moon of the astrological year. Aries is a cardinal fire sign, and denotes a time of year when new life is bursting forth and the weather is changeable, to say the least. Those born when the Sun or Moon is in Aries are in one way or another pioneers and often prefer to be ranging ahead of the pack.

Mars, the ruler of Aries, is in Leo. Because Mars rules Aries and the Sun rules Leo, there is a mutual reception between the two. Alan Oken talks about the effects of mutual reception at his website Soul Centered Astology. Mr. Oken also mentions that he and other astrologers consider Pluto the co-ruler of Aries.

Mostly this chart is balanced. I see some emphasis being placed on Saturn, which has just retrograded back into Virgo. It is the point of a Yod containing Sun-Moon in Aries, Saturn, and Neptune-Chiron in Aquarius. Saturn is also in opposition to Uranus. This speaks of conflict between new methods and old ways. There may be brief disruptions in services and discontent with restraints.

This new Moon is conjunct the cusp of the U.S.'s 6th house where natal Chiron resides. Mars is the ruler of the 6th and is transiting the 9th house, while Pluto, the co-ruler, can be found in the 2nd house.

The mutual reception between Sun and Mars draws a relationship between the 6th and 9th houses. The sixth house denotes health and the national services; the 9th denotes shipping, long distance traffic, international communications, and courts of law.

The Yod mentioned earlier places Saturn in the 11th house; and Mercury, ruler of the 11th in this chart, is conjunct Venus in Taurus and in the 7th house. Saturn speaks of delays, the 11th house indicates legislation, especially bills in the House of Representatives. According to Robert Wilkinson at Aquarius Papers, the Yod is:

... a configuration of multiple sacrifices and adjustments squeezing out whatever isn't in the nature of the productivity and whatever cannot be contained in or focused through the nozzle planet [Saturn].

The axis activated at this full Moon is Taurus/Scorpio. Venus rules Taurus; Mars/Pluto rule Scorpio. About the Taurus/Scorpio axis, Clare Martin at Astro.com (AstroDienst) says:

On the Taurus/Scorpio axis we meet Mars and Venus again, although this time in their fixed, earth-water manifestations. As a fixed axis, the confrontation between Taurus and Scorpio can be particularly entrenched and unyielding. Naturally associated with the 2nd/8th house axis, the inherent conflict on this axis revolves around issues of resources and ownership, values and possessions, both personal and shared. Taurus is a gentle, peace-loving and practical sign, which prefers to stay within its own sphere of comfort. However, if this axis becomes particularly polarised on the Taurus end of the spectrum, then the simple, biological drive towards stability can become inert and stagnant. This inevitably evokes and stimulates the kind of intense crises that are associated with the sign of Scorpio, which breaks down fixed structures in the interests of growth and new life.

Scorpio is a sign of willpower, and Scorpio natives tend to be strong willed, to see issues in terms of black and white, and to be emotional at times (or suppress all emotions and go for abstinence). The ancient ruler is Mars, but since its discovery Pluto, whether deemed planet or dwarf planet or moon, has been considered the ruler of Scorpio.

Cafe Astrology has this to say about the Moon in Scorpio:

Moon in Scorpio people radiate strength. Even in the absence of experience, they seem to "just know" things. It would be difficult to shock or scare away Lunar Scorpios in the face of emotional honesty and power. Some people instinctively want to lean on them, and other less brave folk run a little scared. Lunar Scorpios have exceptional "radar" that allows them to size up a situation--and a person--quickly and expertly. This ability to understand human motivation and nature can be too close for comfort for some, and enormously comforting for others.

Some astrologers say that Scorpio natives come in three types:

• the scorpion: least evolved of the three -- secretive, dark and sexual -- they to use their willpower for personal gain and/or gratification
• the eagle: the next step in evolution, these natives are proud, sharp-eyed, warrior-like and dedicated to their goals
• the dove: denotes one transformed by self-knowledge and able to let go of lesser passions. Note that astrologer Lynn Hayes considers this phase the phoenix, which fits with Scorpio's attributes of rebirth and regeneration.

The full Moon is part of another Yod, one with Venus conjunct Juno in Gemini as the pointer (or nozzle). The planets completing the Yod and sextile each other are Moon conjunct Pallas Athena in Scorpio and Ceres conjunct Pluto (retrograde) in Capricorn. Juno, P.Athena and Ceres are all asteroids, and closely related to Virgo. Their presence in this Yod speaks of women's issues and the feminine side of matters.