Pisces, that mysterious sign that has so many connotations that a beginner of astrology, trying to put their finger on just what Pisces signifies, will find so many different descriptions that they become lost in the proverbial soup of metaphors.  That’s Pisces.  Ruled by Neptune, the great god of the seas, it represents the archetypal unconscious, that vast reservoir of powers and forces that stir deeply within us and within all things, the energies that create and destroy, and is the substance of Creation itself.  At this New Moon there are seven astrological bodies (some planets, some asteroids) in Pisces, making this a Moon cycle that heralds great dreaming, with the possibility of great inspiration, or great unconscious stirrings (positive or negative, or a mix of both). 

Neptune, Sun, Moon, Athena, Chiron, and Mercury are all in Pisces, as well as Vesta. Athena and Vesta are asteroids that many astrologers follow, as they represent aspects of the archetypal feminine, completing a pantheon of god-forces that have been predominantly masculine in description. Athena (or Pallas Athene) was second only to Jupiter in her importance in ancient Greece. She is the warrior queen, born out of the head of Zeus (Jupiter), she is a protectress, and deeply intelligent feminine force. Vesta (Hestia) is the keeper of the hearth, the eternal flame, and represents how we focus our energies, what we keep as central to our being that is sacred. 

This New Moon joins Neptune in its continuing trine to Saturn, marking a time of great faith and inspiration. This is the time to connect with whatever activity, source, place, power spot, teacher, healer that brings you to your Source place, to where your energy originates, prior to your personality, pre-verbal, the roots that plug you deeply into feeling tones that are responsible for moving you in great ways to realize your authentic self, moment to moment.  If not now, then when?  With all this Piscean emphasis and their trine to Saturn which brings structure and form to the formless, this Moon cycle is about birthing your soul, creating channels for its expression, or improving upon those channels that are already in place.  The sextiles to Pluto (transformation) and Jupiter (expansion) support this month’s emphasis even more. With the Sun coming into conjunction with Chiron (a once a year event) on February 24th, there is a golden opportunity to bring light into the darkest places that seem un-healable. This is a good time to say goodbye to the past and whatever associations, habits and beliefs generated by those experiences that need to be released.  This is also a time to open to new ideas and experiences, to allow that still, small voice within to speak to you, to inspire you, to guide you into the paths of your excitement.

Caveats: Mars in Virgo opposing Mercury in Pisces may be too critical of our dreams and inspirations, and may say, “oh no, that’s not possible” before we even find out if they are.  Let Mars serve to guide us to ask the necessary practical considerations of implementing our dreams, but not to hamper them in their nascent stages.

“Gather ye rosebuds while ye may” and let yourself be guided by this very inspirational energetic pattern now unfolding, as the rest of this year (and for the next 2 years) brings the harsh reality of Uranus square Pluto which strips away much of what we’ve become used to or dependent upon, the last vestiges of the 3rd dimensional reality that tells us we are powerless, or separated from the God-Source within.  We will need these avenues of inspiration that are now unfolding to guide us through the changes that the Year of the Dragon is bringing. Great flows of energy are upon us, and we will need strong connections to the guiding and healing energies that run deeply within our beings, protecting us and guiding us.  We must open the channels to the still, small inklings and voices within us, that are always there, if we can get off the line, hang up our mental chatter, and listen to their callings.