In the city the other day it was raining.

The skies were grey, the streets were wet, the suits wore those miserable here we go again, hi ho hi ho looks on their faces. As well they might.

And then, on the corner of Martin Place and Castlereagh Sts arrived a man. A man different to the other suits. With a coffee in his hand and ear plugs in his ears he looked the same as the others, but different somehow.

His work attire had a buoyancy that made him stand out from the rest of the grey blending into the street. He was humming and smiling. His step had a spring in it. He was the same as the others but different.

As we waited for the lights to change, he held his umbrella over me. I thanked him and told him not to worry, it didn’t matter if my hair got wet- the worst that could happen would be that it would go curly. I told him that I was enjoying the rain. He agreed and said that the rain made him feel alive.

When the lights changed I wished him a good day. He replied that he believed that today would be a great day.

Despite the rain, maybe because of the rain, maybe just because he got lucky last night, he believed it would be a great day. And this coming from a man whose next stop was most probably an open soulless partition on the upper floors of one of the financial giants who have their home near the top of Martin Place. I used to work in one of those partitions, so know first hand just how challenging it is to maintain a spring in your step and a hum in your voice when you’re working in that environment. And before you ask or make judgements, he wasn’t a young guy- probably early 40′s but his attitude made him feel younger, and I’m pretty sure he wasn’t under the influence of anything other than life. Maybe he did get lucky…

Anyways, that man on Martin Place the other day was bounding into his office building as if he was going on an adventure, as if what was going to happen that day would blow his mind in some way, expand his horizons and more.

Martin Place Man had an attitude that Sagittarius would be proud of- a belief, a faith, that everything will be ok. The world will keep turning, the rain will fall and the sun will come out. In between will be rainbows and dark stormy clouds, but ultimately, somehow, it will all be ok.

The Sagittarius Full Moon is a time where we balance what we know versus what we know. Example? I know that Martin Place Man would walk into his partition, open emails containing more edicts from above and reprioritising the previous days reprioritised KPIs. I know that because I’ve been there.

I know that he’ll deal with that. I also know that rather than count the minutes and bitch and complain about the day and the rain, he’ll be looking forward to a surf in the evening…or something. I know this because, well, I just do.

With all of the activity currently in Gemini, there are plenty of questions being asked, plenty of information being gathered and plenty of data being analysed. This is the stuff we know.

At the other end of the scale is the stuff we know because we just do. It’s our faith, our belief, our optimism that at the end of a rainy day will be a glass of red wine, a surf and the knowledge that tomorrow will be better.

At this Full Moon, Sagittarius (the Moon) is associated with truth, faith, optimism and belief…what we know in our heart whereas Gemini (the Sun) is associated with information and data…what we know in our head. What truth do we know but haven’t yet acknowledged? There is no hiding from it under this Full Moon.

Neptune is forming a hazy little T square off to the side, challenging all of this, dissolving it, adding a little magic, dolloping on a little confusion, possibly even allowing you to see rainbows where there is rain. But you know what? Sometimes you can’t know everything, sometimes the wonder is in the not knowing, in the dream, in the faith.

As Crush, the Sea Turtle on Finding Nemo said, “You never really know. But when they know, you’ll know. You know?”

Anyways, that’s what this Full Moon is about.

Oh, it’s also an eclipse. I thought I’d drop that in right at the end because to me eclipses tend to bring fear and OMG this is hitting my whatever and it’s going to be a doozy.

Normally I’d agree with you, but this time I intend to face this eclipse like a Sagittarius- with optimism, faith in the future, and a thrill in your heart.

First, you were like, whoa! And then we were like, WHOA! And then you were like, whoa.

Crush, Finding Nemo. In case you didn’t know, the sea turtle is the image of the journeyman…#funfact…I have no idea where I heard that, but I love it.

magic carpet ride…

The Moon is in Sagittarius. This means that in less than 24 hours we will have a New Moon.

The New Moon is Sagittarius is always about hope, spontaneity and adventure- so even though this one squares and challenges all of my Pisces planets, this is one of my favourite New Moons of the year. At 21 Sagittarius, this one falls almost exactly square my Pisces Sun.

Sagittarius is a sign that doesn’t mind a flutter and taking a risk or two to follow your dreams- whatever they happen to be. Add in independence seeking Uranus turning direct just a couple of hours after and your dream might very well be that of freedom, or at the very least, the freedom to follow your own path- however wide that may be. Perhaps even the freedom to be the person that somewhere along the line you forgot to be.

The other thing with the New Moon in Sagittarius is that you aren’t afraid to look up and out, to take that leap. Maybe you feel you have outgrown your present situation? Maybe it’s time to take the reins into your hands and gallop off into the sunset? Maybe it’s time to be honest with yourself and those around you? Maybe it’s time to reach for the Moon? Take a magic carpet ride? There is no limit to the possibilities.

I spoke about wings
- You just flew


I wondered, I guessed and I tried-
You just knew


I sighed-
And you swooned


I saw the crescent
-You saw the whole of the moon

This time last year I was contemplating change- great big scary, hairy arsed change. I’d chosen it, so I thought that I could control it. The thing about change is that it can’t be controlled- not completely. How hard can it be?

The other thing about change is that it doesn’t necessarily have to be bad- even though it may often seem to be so. It’s the perspective that counts. Glass half full, glass half empty. To be honest, I don’t care- as long as the glass is filled back up!

This is the opportunists’ New Moon.

I was grounded-
While you filled the skies


I was dumbfounded by truth- You cut through lies


I saw the rain dirty valley- You saw “Brigadoon”


I saw the crescent- You saw the whole of the moon

How has it all turned out? Not as I expected- so far this year has had a lot of ups and a few seriously upsetting downs, but it’s been one amazing rollercoaster…and I’ve never been able to resist the adrenaline rush of the rollercoaster.

What about you? Do you have planets or chart points between 19-23 degrees of Sagittarius, Gemini, Virgo or Pisces? In particular personal planets or the Ascendant/Descendant or Midheaven/IC? Naturally, the tighter the orb, the more likely you will feel this one.

If you haven’t done so already, the New Moon energy will be with us for about 12 hours after the New Moon itself. Use it wisely to set your intentions or wishes.

Oh, and a song…it has to be Waterboys Whole of the Moon- shows the absolute wonderous promise of Sagittarius. The lyrics are amazing. As always, all copyright to the artists. It reminds me of a balcony…and a man… in Darling Point on New Years Eve back in about 1986. I can’t remember his name, but I remember the song…and I still have no idea how my shoe ended up in the bowl of prawns.

New Moon at 21’ Sagittarius 45’

New Zealand 9.42pm Thursday 13/12

Sydney 7.42pm Thursday 13/12

Western Australia & SE Asia 4.42pm Thursday 13/12

USA EST 3.42am Thursday 13/12

USA PST 0.42am Thursday 13/12

Everywhere else? Some time in the middle!

‘You’re swearing a lot lately,’ says Mr T.

I shrug. Whatever. I admit it- I do have a potty mouth. I know I was brought up better than that and I know it’s not ladylike- but I’ve never pretended to be a lady. Having said that, I pick my audience and descend into the gutter only when I can get away with it. The rest of the time I can fake a pretty convincing professional exterior.

‘But it was nice that you dressed up last night,’ he said.

Mr T has Venus in Libra and, along with all the other wonderful Venus in Libra traits he has, one is that men with this placement tend to like their partners to be quite Venusian, quite Libran in manner and maintenance.

The sort of woman who won’t scream obscenities at the football, or yell at the plonker who took her parking space, or who stands with her hands on her hips and chin stuck out and argue until a resolution is reached- even when avoidance of conflict would mean a more peaceful existence.

The sort of woman who always looks well put together and makes an effort with her appearance.

Boy, did he luck out! I’ve even been known to throw the occasional shoe- but only when it was really warranted. Hello? Mars in Scorpio in he 8th and Venus in Aries- my temper is quick and lethal when roused.

With Venus in Aries, I am the absolute opposite to his ideal woman, yet somehow he’s managed to put up with me and my occasional deviations into fishwife territory, my peeling nail polish, frizzy hair, track pants and ugg boots (or flip flops- depending on the season), for over 20 years.

In any case, the concept of “ideal” is over rated.

With his Mars in Scorpio and Gemini Moon, I suspect he’d be bored witless with “ideal”- as would I.

Anyways, if you want to know more about Venus in Libra, here’s the link to a piece I wrote a couple of years ago.

Why am I prattling on about this? Because Venus will be home in Libra in the next few hours.

Also about to change signs is Mercury who will soon join Mars in Sagittarius. This means that Mercury in Jupiter will be in what we call mutual reception, ie they are each in the others sign. Mercury rules Gemini, the sign that Jupiter currently is in and Jupiter rules Sagittarius.

It’s just a brief visit this time- Mercury is slowing down and will turn retrograde in a little over a week, before dipping back into Scorpio soon after.

In any case, Mercury in Sagittarius is a loud mouth- a loud mouth with Big Ideas, a good sense of humour, and who isn’t afraid to tell it like it is.

Want to know more? Here’s one I prepared earlier.

What else is happening?

We’ll have the just flipping do it energy of the Aries Moon for another 24 hours (or thereabouts) before La Luna moves into Taurus and prepares for Tuesday mornings (Sydney time) Full Moon…more on that one tomorrow.

For now, I have an ironing basket that’s going to require a super human effort (and possibly blue and red lycra) to jump over.

Until next time…

© Alyasandra | Dreamstime.com

We are not far away from the Sagittarius New Moon, and a partial Solar Eclipse.

Eclipses, as we know, are extremely potent New Moons and usually herald change of some type. And the thing about change is that we can’t control it. The other thing about change is that it doesn’t necessarily have to be bad- even though it may often seem to be so- it just has to be different. It is the perspective that counts. Glass half full, glass half empty.

I was grounded
While you filled the skies
I was dumbfounded by truth
You cut through lies
I saw the rain dirty valley
You saw “Brigadoon”
I saw the crescent
You saw the whole of the moon

The change that occurs with eclipse is often the type that you feel building, like a pressure cooker, so that when it blows, it is sort of expected in an entirely unexpected way…if that makes any sort of weird Mercury retrograded sense.

The New Moon is Sagittarius is always about hope, spontaneity and adventure. Sagittarius is a sign that doesn’t mind a flutter and taking a risk or two to follow your dreams- whatever they happen to be. Add in an independence seeking trine from Uranus and your dream might very well be that of freedom, or at the very least, the freedom to follow your own path- however wide that may be.

The other thing with the New Moon in Sagittarius is that you aren’t afraid to look up and out, to take that leap. Maybe you feel you have outgrown your present situation? Maybe it’s time to take the reins into your hands and gallop off into the sunset. Maybe it’s time to be honest with yourself and those around you. Maybe it’s time to reach for the Moon. There is no limit to the possibilities.

I spoke about wings
You just flew
I wondered, I guessed and I tried
You just knew
I sighed
And you swooned
I saw the crescent
You saw the whole of the moon

At the risk of sounding like an infomercial site, if you haven’t invested in this already, April Elliott Kent offers a great 3 year guide to eclipses against your natal chart. Check it out at her website. I refer to mine each time one of these comes around- actually that reminds me to contact her for a refresh.

As an example, this one falls in my 9^th house square Mercury and represents a crisis of consciousness. Her words:

Having made decisions about your life’s purpose (and having made the break with the past necessary to move forward) while eclipses were in the tenth and fourth houses, it’s now time to embark upon your quest. Probably, you won’t feel up to the challenge; you’ll doubt that you have the skills, intellect, or preparation to move forward on your journey.

Being square Mercury, it also represents a crisis of identity:

Eclipses aspecting Mercury describe a time of being “between identities.” Often you’ve taken on a new title –”wife,” “doctor of philosophy,” “chairman of the board”– but don’t know how to reconcile this title with your own ideas about who you are. Or, you may have relinquished an old identity (a corporate executive, for instance, retires from his job of thirty years), leaving you unsure about what to call yourself.

This is a time to tell yourself new stories about what you want to be and how you’ve gotten to the place where you are. It is a cycle for mastering new skills and language for coping with your new path. It is a time when you might reach crisis in your relationships with siblings, neighbors, and coworkers – the people against which you most often evaluate and define yourself.

Given the endings that are presently occurring in the partition job and the beginnings that are around the corner, this eclipse (and the next) will be defining indeed. The change is hard and has (lately) involved a few too many tears, with more yet to come (hey, I’m a triple Pisces- what do you expect), but ultimately what is ahead is pure possibility and dissolving boundaries. And to someone influenced as much by Jupiter and Neptune as I am, there is nothing that is more exciting (or flipping petrifying) than that.

What about you? Do you have planets or chart points between 0-7 degrees of Sagittarius, Gemini, Virgo or Pisces? In particular personal planets or the Ascendant/Descendant or Midheaven/IC? Naturally, the tighter the orb, the more likely you will feel this one.

If you haven’t done so already, the New Moon energy will be with us for about 12 hours after the New Moon itself. Use it wisely to set your intentions or wishes.

The golden rule with New Moon wishing, or indeed any type of intention setting, is to dream of anything as long as:

• It doesn’t impede any one else’s free will
• It doesn’t hurt anyone else

Hmmm….that certainly takes at least two things off my list! Bugger, back to the drawing board…

Oh, and a song…it has to be Waterboys Whole of the Moon- shows the absolute wonderous promise of Sagittarius. The lyrics are amazing. As always, all copyright to the artists.

Photo credit: redhumv for istock

Today’s a busy day astrologically- a New Moon, an Eclipse and, in case you haven’t already been impacted by delayed flights, lost baggage, traffic snarls and missed meetings, Mercury turns retrograde.

The usual Mercury retrograde rules apply, but in Sagittarius, add a couple of extra:

• Pay extra attention to travel and travel related issues
• Ideas may be over-inflated, over-exaggerated and over-elaborated
• Questions of faith and spirituality may be raised
• Watch that Mercury in Sagittarian tendency to shoot your mouth off without thinking… especially at this time of the year as we approach the holiday season, office Xmas parties and family gatherings.

Speaking of which, did you know that the most common reason for photocopier technician issues over the Xmas season is, shall we say, office Xmas party related? Apparently the glass is not as strong as it looks and the heat bulbs inside are hotter than you would think…go figure.

Mercury in Sagittarius has a habit of ignoring the conventions of polite society. What is that old adage about not speaking about sex, religion or politics? What about political correctness? A little Sagittarian blunt speaking and honesty may be seriously what you have wanted to say for ages, but just haven’t? Maybe it could make life a little more interesting? On the other hand, it could cause pain to someone who really doesn’t deserve to be hurt.

The Australian press is full of it at the moment with so called “Shock Jocks” mouthing off in directions that are proving to be offensive to many, prompting calls for radio to come under the same rules as press journalists and raising the whole question of free speech. How very Mercury in Sagittarius.

Thanks to the retrograde, Mercury is in Sagittarius for much longer than it usual would be. As long as you keep your sense of humour (and perspective), this means we have double the time to let go of the beliefs that no longer serve us and think big- in fact as large and as widely as you want.

The key to this period is to keep your mind open. Read widely, listen widely and think widely- outside of your usual audience and viewpoints. Encourage the discussion, the debate and turn it all upside down.

Remember the theory behind the retrograde phase- all the “re” words? When Mercury turns retrograde, it is like your thought patterns all need to be re-orientated. One of my favourite “re” words for this particular retrograde phase is recalibration. Check out this post by Sarah Wilson the other day. The whole concept of stopping, recalibrating and “being” the message rather than preaching it is what this retrograde is about.

So, who is most affected?

The usual suspects, of course- anyone with strong Mercury, Gemini or Virgo charts. This time around look also for planets or chart points between 4-20 Sagittarius. Where does this fall in your chart? Do you have a Sagittarian Sun, Moon or Ascendant? What about a heavy Jupiter signature to your chart or a packed 9^th house? If so, you may feel this retrograde more than usual.

It may be difficult to achieve, but scheduling some alone time is often a good idea during a Mercury retrograde- part of the slowing down that this phase requires. Failure to do this is often when the trouble strikes.

If you do find yourself with a severe case of foot in mouth disease or blurt something completely inappropriate? Hey, it happens. Have a laugh, keep it all in proportion, blame the holiday cheer if you must, but bear in mind it may have been the most honest comment that has come from your lips all year…a bit like the Penang cabbie who announced that my BMF post marathon was “a very very smelly man”…a Mastercard moment if ever I heard one.

Mercury is retrograde now (at 20 Sagittarius) through to 13 December (at just before 4 Sagittarius). It doesn’t clear the “shadow” until 1 January, 2012… or thereabouts.

For more info on Mercury retrogrades, check out this post and the Rx tab at the top of this site.