So the Moon is in Pisces and today will be calm, relaxed and imaginative waters…yes?

Yes and well…not necessarily.

The big aspect of today is Mercury opposing Saturn.

Given that Saturn is associated with being serious and hard working, and Mercury with communication and thoughts and all that, we can put the words together and come up with

Serious thinking

Or maybe even

Realistic thinking

Or perhaps

Negative thoughts

Yep, Saturn is often concerned with the half empty side of life, and, in Scorpio, the things that we’re scared of. Scorpio is also about depth, intensity and focus, so we can add those adjectives as well to the phrases above.

With Saturn retrograde, you might find that you’ve been over this stuff before- possibly many times before. We tend to do that- dwell on negative thoughts, or fears or concerns much more than we do the bright, sunny stuff.

Given that the Moon is in Pisces, you might find that you’re drifting into this pattern, possibly without even noticing it.

On the up side, this is a great day for identifying the real flaws (as opposed to the perceived) in a project or idea. I’ll be using that for a little careful editing later this afternoon.

It’s also a great time to be hitting the books if you have some serious studying to do- that’s the hard work part of this aspect.

In any case, Mercury is on the fly, so this is fairly short lived.

If you find yourself being grey and gloomy when logically there is no reason for you to be grey and gloomy, make an effort to drag yourself out of it- however it is that you usually do that. I have a happy playlist on my ipod for this reason- a little bopping and a little exercise usually drags me back into the sunshine relatively quickly.

Enjoy your Sunday…

The Moon is now in Pisces and nestled close to Neptune. I suspect sweet nothings are being whispered.

The Moon in Pisces has a couple of meanings this month.

Sure it’s the usual escape and daydream fest that it usually is. I’ll give the usual warnings about the effects of Neptunitis on the brain (and on productivity). I’ll give the usual warnings about escapology (yes, it is a word- Robbie Williams named an album after it, so that makes it real).

Given that it’s the last sign before a New Moon, I’ll even send the usual comments around finishing up and banishing crap that you don’t want to bring with you into the next cycle.

But I wouldn’t be doing any of you a favour if I didn’t say that this is probably the most important balsamic phase of the year. Balsamic- dark and thick and viscous- just like the vinegar.

On Wednesday we have the first New Moon of the astrological year.

That’s such an important statement that it gets its own paragraph. I’ll write more about it later.

This means that over the next few days the crap you should be banishing is the crap that you don’t want to be moving into the next 12 months with. This is New Beginnings stuff…with capital letters.

I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling it.

It could be that with the Sun, Venus and Mars all hovering on my natal Venus (I wrote about that yesterday and here) I’m feeling that I’m at the starting blocks and the gun is in the air and I’m thinking hurry up already.

It is, however, important that we do slow, just a little, over the next few days and take the time to release the old and imagine the new. All the creative power in Aries is there at your disposal. Dream your vision into life, so to speak, and start the new year with a mighty bang.

I’m loving all of this Piscean energy at the moment.

I suspect, though, that I’m in the minority.

Today it’s even more so with the Moon floating through.

So far today La Luna has sidled up to Neptune. Wistfulness, imaginings and alcohol were involved.

Next is a hook-up with Mars. This is one man who’s in touch with his sentimental side, and a tad on the passive aggressive side. Poetry could be involved…especially since the next visit is with Mercury.

In between all of this is a rather difficult encounter with Jupiter (it was how big?).

Playing out in the background has been a tense square between Venus and Saturn. Venus in Aquarius is forward thinking and detached. Saturn in Scorpio tends to attach- especially to the way things are…and that includes any fears- real or perceived.

The thing about all of these aspects is the role the Moon is playing- that of translator, of light, of energy…from one planet to the next and the next and the next. All of this apparently inconceivable Piscean energy melded first with Air (Jupiter and Gemini) to more Pisces and then to Pluto, before finishing off with a stabilising trine to Saturn.

All I can say is don’t underestimate any of this.

Pisces may not seem to you to have the presence of mind or of body to make a difference, but that is one of her strengths…sort of like an underwater stealth bomber.

Pisces does that- she uses the energy and resources provided by others in order to succeed. In this case, the Moon is performing the role of enabler. It’s all rather smart really.

That act of helplessness? It’s an illusion…overlook it at your peril.

Snowy River October 2008

I’m going camping this weekend.

Ok, It’s not strictly camping per se- there are no tents or toilet rolls on a spade. There is, however, outdoor fires, a cabin in the middle of not a lot, wild animals (sure kangaroos and wombats), sleeping bags and an outside toilet involved. As such, it qualifies as camping.

There will be marshmallows at 10 paces and the rule is unless it can be cooked outside on the fire, we won’t be eating it. Should be interesting. Oh, did I mention that all of this is taking place above the snowline in forecast maximum temperatures of minus 2 degrees C?

So in the tradition of the Pisces Moon I will pretend that I’m really roughing it. I’ll take it one step further, I’m also taking all my camera kit so I’ll pretend that I’m a wildlife photographer waiting around for the perfect shot of the wombat stealing the potatoes…or something like that.

last time we didn’t “camp”…Lake Crackenback October 2008

After all, anything is possible under a Pisces Moon.

Anyways, I am pressed for time & have to pack what looks like the whole pantry, so here is one I prepared earlier on Neptunitis…

Moon and Neptune sitting in a tree K.I.S.S.I.N.G (I’m keeping it g rated).

Feeling unusually prepared to touch nothing that may be remotely work related? Feeling unusually drawn to the open bottle of vino on the kitchen cabinet even though this week absolutely you are not touching the stuff between Monday & Friday? Already constructing highly plausible and justifiable excuses as to how you can blow off Monday night training and still lose your targeted 5kgs this week? Actually believe you can lose 5kgs this week and keep all your limbs and not change your training or eating patterns?

If that is you, you are under the spell of Neptunitis.

Neptunitis (or Lunas Pisces as it is becoming known) is an affliction that attacks the central emotional systems of anyone with the underlying condition of a Moon-Neptune contact or a water Moon. People most at risk of this debilitating condition are those with Pisces Moons or those with their Moon in the 12^th house. Some unlucky individuals may have a combination of all risk factors, making them particularly likely to be infected.

Not to be confused with cyber-chondria (the condition which has you typing medical symptoms into google or previous episodes of House or Greys Anatomy and them all resulting in a diagnosis of cancer- commonly borne by those prone to Lunas Virgoas), Neptunitis has some worrying, but thankfully short lived symptoms. These include, but are not limited to:

• The tendency to find anything and everything distracting
• The ability to construct creative excuses and have them seem plausible
• An increased tendency towards procrastination
• An increased tendency towards daydreaming
• The ability to believe that fantasy actually is reality
• An increased tendency to trust the world
• Complete failure of all internal warning and radar systems
• A feeling of compassion for the person who last knifed you in the back because they must have been having a bad day
• A feeling of compassion towards the last person who broke your heart because he really didn’t mean it
• The need to cry at cute puppies in toilet paper ads
• The increased ability to actually forget that you are supposed to be dieting
• The increased ability to believe that wine really does contain no calories at all when consumed under a Pisces Moon

If you or someone you love is experiencing any of these symptoms, administer tissues, but do not allow the afflicted person to consume copious amounts of anything as persons prone to Neptunitis do not process alcohol or prescription medicines well under the best of circumstances.

Time and hard exercise may be the only cure.

Also, while under the influence of Neptunitis, take care not to gaze into the eyes of anyone you slightly fancy as you may fall under their spell even more. I can’t stress this one enough.  And if it does happen, take care not to weave the entire relationship into the fantasy land that is your head if at all possible.

Try hard to avoid movies with a sad ending, a happy ending, anything where the dog is lost or harmed and where people get together or split up. Likewise stay clear of books where any of these events may result in copious amounts of tears. Keep songs which you know will trigger memories and tears off your playlist and if, like me, you tear up at particular scenes in particular movies don’t watch them.

Do not commit to anything you may regret in 2 days time or make declarations without substance. If possible stay clear of anyone who will not understand the depth and breadth of the emotional impact you are under for these 2 ½ days each month- namely anyone with heaps of Saturn or Earth. Aries and Sagittarians should also be avoided if possible- the former will tell you to just flipping do it and the latter will make you cry with some off hand remark that they have already forgotten but which you will remember for ever. Accept that your flight control tower is faulty and simply do not take the risk.

As for me? With a Pisces Moon aspecting Neptune natally, I have already forgotten and ignored my own advice… be careful out there!

taken last time I was in the Snowy Mountains October 2008

Pic by me...somewhere in New Caledonia.

I don’t want a lot for Christmas- there is just one thing I need. I don’t care about the presents underneath the Christmas tree. I don’t need to hang my stocking there upon the fireplace. Santa Claus won’t make me happy with a toy on Christmas Day… Make my wish come true, all I want for Christmas is….

All I want for Xmas is… That would be telling!

Seriously though, I don’t want a lot- I have Venus in Aries & buy as I go! I’m not a bling girl & get sick of important jewellery (a good cop out for my husband)…although having said that, there is a gorgeous gold necklace with a bird on a twig in Husk that I spied last time I was in Melbourne. Despite this, I still have managed to compile a pretty comprehensive list. At the very top of it? For my dreams to come true (cue harps, sighing & dolphins leaping).

But it got me thinking what sort of non material things each sign would be looking for…some suggestions for the girl/guy in your life that has everything. I’ll do each sign by the Moon, so check out your Sun sign, Moon sign and Venus sign. I was thinking of titling this the 12 Moons of Xmas, but being an Aussie that sort of had a few other connotations more in line with Xmas parties and photocopiers or open bus windows.

And, seeing as how it is my blog and the Moon is in Pisces…first up are the fishies.

Pisces

What to buy the fish in your life? Focus would be nice, so would common sense & some boundaries- although these are things they tell us that we need, & not necessarily want. Love, romance & unbridled passion, of course, and spare lenses for our rose coloured glasses. A star to wish on, an island to escape to, a bottomless glass for our wine of choice, happy endings & a flying carpet to take us where ever we want to go. If you can’t buy these, books (both traditional & electronic) with stories we can escape into (no real life stuff please), jewellery (hand-made arty one off pieces) & shoes- beautiful, toe killing, glorious shoes. Oh, and some pedicure vouchers to repair our feet afterwards!

Suggested NY Resolutions:

This year I am going to set a goal with a real physical beginning & end- I am not going to change mid-stream or be distracted along the way. This year I am going to finish something that I start. This year I will limit my forgiveness meter to just 3 separate hurts per person before I stop feeling sorry for them. This year I am going to try for moderation and this year I am going to follow my heart and my dreams.