NEW MOON IN AQUARIUS ON 15th FEBRUARY AND PARTIAL SOLAR ECLIPSE

…time to try something new

There will be a New Moon and a partial Solar Eclipse at 27°08’ of Aquarius, a fixed, Air sign on the 15^th of February.

This New Moon/Solar Eclipse is sextile Uranus in Aries, the modern ruler of Aquarius and the visionary of the zodiac, and this Cardinal quality adds acceleration to the innovative character of Aquarius. Saturn, in Capricorn, the traditional ruler of Aquarius, is in sextile to a dreamy Venus in Pisces thus adding responsibility and managerial flair to love and finances. The Solar Eclipse is also very near to the Lunar South Node inviting us to let go of old patterns and habits and expand into the new and yet unknown as our feelings go deep thanks to the square formed by Jupiter in Scorpio to the Eclipse point.

New Moons are excellent moments to do a reality check, asking ourselves where we are at the present moment in time and where we would like to go, particularly regarding the matters of the house where the New Moon falls in your chart and thus set our relative intentions for the month ahead.

The New Moon falls on the 11th-5th house axis in traditional astrology; participating in groups vs individual creations, democrats vs autocrats, scientists vs artists etc. This lunation/eclipse gives us the opportunity to really consider the house axis where they fall in our chart as well as any of the personal planets or angles between 25-29° of the fixed signs of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio or Aquarius that they may touched in our natal chart.

A lunation along this house axis might be used to release emotional attachments that restrict our freedom in some way and it also reminds us that we are not alone and that by involving ourselves with others we can change our world. Another point to consider during this Moon phase might be how to strengthen your network of friends (11th house) as you reflect on your own unique talents (5th house).

This is the second of five Eclipses this year. Eclipses take place when the Sun, Moon and Earth find themselves closely aligned.

The effects of eclipses can be quite unpredictable (a “what-the-heck effect”), sometimes stressing emotions or bringing unexpected events into our lives, at other times they can go seemingly unnoticed. Some astrologers say that the effects of the eclipses manifest for as long as the duration of the eclipse itself, transmuting the minutes of the duration into days. Although of different Saros series, eclipses occur at similar degrees of the same sign in 19-year cycles as they move in a retrograde motion through the zodiac. Thus they have effect on the same house polarity in your natal chart (or on any personal planets or angles that fall in a 2°30’ orb for conjunctions, 2° for oppositions, allowing 5° if Sun or Moon is involved).

The last Solar Eclipse at  27° Aquarius took place on the 16^th of February 1999 (of a different Saros series)  – what was going on in your life then? You may also want to think back to the 21^st August 2017 when a Solar Eclipse took place at 29° Leo…again on the same house axis as the present one and in almost exact opposition to it. Also relevant was the New Moon which took place on 18^th November 2017 at 26° Scorpio almost exactly square the August eclipse and now squared itself by this upcoming February one. Did anything relevant occur in your life at those times?

Events connected to an eclipse can manifest up to two months before or after the event or when a following New Moon squares the eclipse degree. This will happen on the 15^th of May, when the New Moon will be at 25° Taurus squaring the 27° Aquarius eclipse degree. Occurrences related to the eclipse can occur around then as well as manifesting when a planet transits 26-28° of the fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius). In fact, Mercury will conjunct the eclipse degree the day following the event!

Raven Kaldera in his book “Moon Phase Astrology” calls this the

Father’s Son Moon

He suggests that all New Moon archetypes are children and youths and, as such, that there is a youthful quality to their emotional natures. Thus the Father’s Son represents the Golden Boy, being the father’s heir and hope. On this New Moon, Kaldera suggests that we examine our feelings about our own personal father (or mother if she was career-minded or externally-orientated instead of concentrating on the home). Or, we could look at our attitudes concerning the “Fathers of Society” and how “their” rules and regulations have or have not any value for us at this present time. However, if we are at unease with these guidelines, we might ask ourselves whether we have had or have the courage to openly disclaim them or if it pays us in some way (and which way) to follow them blindly.

The Sabian symbol for 28° Aquarius: “A tree felled and sawed to ensure a supply if wood for the winter.” Indicating the knowledge and skill used in its natural surroundings for the satisfaction of vital basic needs.

And for its antiscion point at 3° Scorpio: “A house-raising party in a small village enlists the neighbours’ cooperation.” Indicating the feeling of community demonstrated in a basic joint effort.

A good motto for this New Moon/Solar Eclipse might be:

“Well, why the hell not?”

 What are your intentions for this New Moon?

Bibliography

Brady B (1999) “Predictive Astrology, The Eagle and The Lark”, chapter 5 Eclipses and Saros Cycle, pp 207-236 and pp 307-352, Red Wheel/Weiser LLC, San Francisco CA USA

Kaldera R. (2011) “Moon Phase Astrology” pp. 55-58, Destiny Books, Rochester, Vermont. USA

Rudhyar D. (1974) “An Astrological Mandala: the cycles of transformations and its 360 symbolic phases”. pp 193-266, Vintage Books Edition, Random House Inc., New York, USA

Image: cartoon image  artist unknown