February 17th ~ 24th
“Starry Night over the Rhone” by Vincent Van Gogh
I dream my painting and I paint my dream. ~ Vincent Van Gogh
Pisces speaks to us in dreams, imaginary wonder, and whispered fantasies. We wistfully long for a world of our own imaginings, where dreams are reality, and the reality is peopled with the stuff that dreams are made of. This year the New Moon at only 1º of Pisces, the Moon of which dreams are made of, is conjunct Saturn, the planet of reality, still in the last degrees of Aquarius. In just one month, Saturn will also be at this degree of Pisces.
Saturn is the planet of cold hard reality. So it could feel with this Moon like Saturn is waiting in the wings to do one of two things: either dash our dreams to smithereens, or just maybe, is preparing the way to make our dreams a closer and more practical reality. Most likely it will do both. We will be speaking more to this over the next few weeks, but you cannot speak of this New Moon without considering the impact that Saturn will have, as we idealistically launch our dreams into space.
The New Moon on February (19th or) 20th is a Super Moon, meaning that this New Moon occurs simultaneously when the Moon is also perigee, or at its closest point to the earth in its orbit. At 1º Pisces 22’ it falls at the very beginning of the sign, as all of the previous new moons, since September, have done as well. The next New Moon will fall just one day after the Equinox, and the astrological year is brand new. At 0º 50’ of Aries, this will be the last of this series of new moons in the very beginning of the signs. New Moons are about new beginnings, and never do we feel the sense of newness, than when they are also at these very early degrees. Combine that with all of the planets now being direct and it can feel like something is imminent.
Recently, I had the opportunity to re-read the section on Saturn in Steven Forrest’s wonderful primer “The Inner Sky” in which he speaks to Saturn’s relationship to faith. He said Jupiter, usually associated with the idea of faith, gives us faith by supporting us with a thousand crutches. By contrast, Steven tells us that Saturn takes all those crutches away. Saturn shows us impossibility and certain defeat, and then asks us if we still have faith. Steven tells us: “…only if those visions can stand alone, unassisted, in the face of absolute impossibility, can we say that we truly have faith.”
One of the first things Saturn will often do, is tell us what we cannot do, what is not achievable, what is impossible. But within those limits we become aware of what we can do, and what is achievable and possible. Saturn does not tell us not to dream. What Saturn wants us to do is to believe in the dream, commit to making the dream a closer reality, and then look for practical ways to do so. It may not be perfection. But it will be achievable.
In order to connect to that part of us that resonates with this sign, we will want to first connect with our own dreams and ideals. That subtle part of us that wistfully yearns for something more meaningful, more poetic and perhaps even divine. For this is a moon that speaks to that deific essence within each. That can be that spark of divinity, or that which we call intuition, or conscience. And within that center is also an understanding and feeling that there is so much more to life beyond what we can see, and hear and touch. There is something more.
You see the mountain, and hill following after hill, as wave on wave, you see the woods and orchard, the fields of ripe corn, and the meadows reaching to the reed beds by the river. You see me standing here beside you, and hear my voice, but I tell you that all these things ~ yes, from that star that has just shone out in the sky to the solid ground beneath our feet ~ I say that all these are but dreams and shadows: The shadows that hide the real world from our eyes. There is a real world, but it is beyond this glamour, and this vision, beyond them all as beyond a veil. You may think this all nonsense; it may be strange, but it is true, and the ancients knew what lifting the veil means. They called it seeing the god Pan. ~ Arthur Machen (The Great God Pan)
The New Moon in Pisces is when we are being asked to connect with our dreams. Connect with our own vision, and hold it near. It is when we are being asked to have more of the things of Pisces within our reach and grasp:
Feeding our dreams; dreaming our paintings; connecting to our intuition, or what some refer to as the Higher Self (spirit guides, divine guidance, conscience); performing acts of compassion and divine service; connecting to nature; and allowing your imagination and that divine spark to speak through you and what you do.
Then once you connect with your dreams, dare to cast them like a net out into the ocean of life. And there will be no telling what you might bring back. If you choose to do intentions with the New Moon, try to do so within the New Moon phase, which lasts from the New Moon on February 20th (2:05 am Eastern Time; 7:05 am Greenwich) or February 19th (11:05 pm Pacific time) through the Crescent Moon on February 23rd. Some positive affirmations/intentions for this New Moon might be:
May I have the courage and faith to allow (divine guidance, my guiding beliefs, my intuition, my higher Self, my conscience) to guide me along the path.
I am a spiritual being filled with light, and a love that knows no bounds. May I draw it forth as needed.
My heart is filled with compassion for all beings everywhere, where no one overshadows the other.
My imagination has no bounds. May I be open to allowing it to speak through me.
With a clear conscience and a noble heart, I can protect myself from negative influences.
Through a regular practice of peace and quietude, may I be confident that I will receive guidance and understanding when needed.
I have music, wonder, and possibility in my heart. May I reclaim it, and carry it with me wherever I go.
For the New Moon in Pisces for your sign or natal house (if you know it) see this week’s horoscopes below: