New Moon in Leo

Although this latest New Moon, which occurs on July 30, 2011 at 2:40 PM EDT at 7+ degrees of Leo, is not nearly as energetic as the last two New Moons, June 1st NM in Gemini & July 1st NM in Cancer (both solar eclipses); this New Moon is no slouch. As I’ve stated in previous articles New Moons are about beginnings, a time to plant seeds for a new cycle of manifestation. Leo is the sign of creative self-expression & so here we have an opportunity to start a new cycle of creativity.

There is great support for innovation during this NM as the planet Uranus in Aries is in a flowing trine to the Leo Sun/Moon. Uranus is the super conscious mind, aka the Cosmic Mind. Aries is the sign of initiation by Fire/Spirit, so the energy is ripe to connect with your higher self to access spirit as to the direction and creation of whatever it is you choose to manifest in this latest cycle of manifestation. This is yet another reminder that we co-create our world. Where our attention goes, is where consciousness flows. It is of paramount importance that we focus on what we want to create, instead of what we don’t. If we put our energy into problems, we manifest problems. If we put our energy into solutions then it is solutions we harvest. We must become conscious of what we create.

As always there are also challenges in this chart, as well as help from higher realms. There is a last quarter square to the NM by Jupiter in Taurus. All squares are crisis points, and this last ¼ square is a crisis in consciousness. We are being challenged to examine society’s values when it comes to resources & money (Taurus). Jupiter is the expansion principle and is often overreaching and unduly optimistic, it can also be arrogant. In Taurus the sign of money, we may be questioning the arrogance of those who own or control most of our resources. An inconjunct aspect from Pluto in Capricorn to the NM further stresses this theme. This type of inconjunct requires an adjustment of our thinking patterns when it comes to our relationship with power. Leo is the center of it’s own universe, and yet societal structures must be taken into consideration when Capricorn is in the picture. What mental adjustments must be made so that we can create with a sense of responsibility (Capricorn) to society without loosing the joy (Leo) of creating? One way, is to create for the good of all from a heart centered place of joy. Leo rules the heart and so it must feel good in that place in order to survive & thrive despite the onslaught of the challenges that this period of time in the evolution of humanity will certainly present to us.

The energies unleashed during this NM cycle do not only affect individuals but countries as well. All countries have birth charts, the US was born on July 4, 1776. There are a number of charts that astrologer’s use as the natal chart of the US, I use the Sibley chart with a birth time of 5:13 PM in Philadelphia, PA.

This NM is conjunct the North Node of the chart of the US. The North Node in a chart is the point of destiny, the way forward. Leo is the sign of leadership as well as creativity on the positive pole and arrogance and narcissism on the negative side of the pole. Throughout it’s history, America has visited both poles! When we look at the North Node in a chart as the direction for the future we look to the more positive expression of the sign as the way forward, so creativity & leadership are what is being asked of this country by the fates. This leadership must be heart centered, because Leo rules the heart. What complicates the picture is that the North Node is in the 8th house of the US natal chart. The eighth house is traditionally called the house of sex, death & taxes naturally ruled by Scorpio. The issue of taxation is always a hot button issue for Americans, in fact our independence was stimulated by the sentiment that we were being taxed, but were not represented, Taxation without Representation was the key phrase we all learned in History class. Yet there is a sense of that brewing now as well, how many people feel burdened by taxes and feel as if they have no voice?

Yet it’s not all about Money, although it is certainly an important part of the scenario. The Eighth House is about sharing & issues of power & trust. There is certainly a lot of power out there, but very little trust or sharing. And the Eighth House is about Transformation and Healing. America’s Destiny lies in it’s ability to work together to find a sense of Emotional Security through the healing of our collective wounds from a heart centered (Leo)place. Only then can America move towards it’s higher destiny.

Another interesting connection of the New Moon to the chart of the US is that the South Node of the New Moon chart is conjunct the US’s Mars in Gemini. The South Node of a chart is the release point, it is what must be let go of so that we can move toward the promise of the North Node. The South Node also points to our talents and abilities. Mars in Gemini is the sign of the energetic thinker that jumps into action quickly if the fire of inspiration strikes. Mars in Gemini, talks the good talk but lacks follow through. It easily scatters it’s energy and can foster divisions because it is more interested in facts than testing those facts to create a cohesive point of view. So the South Node on the US Mars asks us to keep the positive aspects of Mars in Gemini but to let go of the negative tendencies.

Mars also symbolizes the military, and with the South Node of the NM chart conjoined the US’s Mars there is a need to let go of the old ways our military has operated.

The North Node of the NM chart, falls into the Second House of the US, our values and resources. The NM North Node is in the sign of Sagittarius. Sagittarius is about having a cohesive point of view based on experience. It is also the sign of Natural Law, and natural law is about fairness & sharing of resources. Coming to terms with how we are living and whether it is in harmony with natural law is the evolutionary imperative of this New Moon & of this time in history.

The divisiveness that is fostered by the power brokers and media keeps us from looking at the solutions to our problems from a heart centered place, and that is exactly what we need to do individually, as a country and as a race that shares this planet.

And lastly, Saturn, the Taskmaster, the Lord of Karma, in this New Moon chart is within 2 ½ degrees of the Natal Saturn in the US chart. The US has been going through it’s latest Saturn Return (the 8th one in it’s history) which began on December 3, 2010. Saturn returns are reaping times, we are coming to the end of a 30 year cycle that began on the country’s last Saturn return in1981, the Reagan Era. Deregulation has left us in quite a pickle.

Cycles of Saturn ask us to ’grow up’ and teach us how to most efficiently & productively work on the physical plane. We are being commanded (Saturn) to work within our resources. This country is on the verge of bankruptcy because we did not do so. And so this New Moon, with all it’s creative potential gives us an opportunity as individuals and as a country to ford a new path, connect with the Cosmic Mind, to lead from the heart, to pay attention to natural law & to come to terms with our resources & stimulate our resourcefulness.