Astro-Atlas*
1:41 am: Moon (Leo) sextile Sun (Gemini)
5:44 am: Moon (Leo) trine Uranus (Aries)

* all times are PDT

Astro-Atlas*
2:44 am: Moon (Cancer) square Saturn (Libra)
7:34 am: Moon (Cancer) sextile Jupiter (Taurus)
7:34 am: Moon void-of-course
2:38 pm: Mercury (Gemini) square Neptune (Pisces)
3:11 pm: Moon enters Leo
10:32 pm: Moon (Leo) sextile Mercury (Gemini)

* all times are PDT

The focus on thinking and information-transferring is very strong over the next few weeks. That’s because Mercury will make lots of connections to other planets. It will square Neptune (May 25) and Mars (June 30), unite with the Sun (May 27) and Venus (June 1), and trine Saturn (June 3).

I just realized that even the way I just wrote the last paragraph reflects Gemini. This sign is about data not necessarily about synthesis. It’s about the bandying about facts and figures (like I did above with the Mercury aspects, noting them by type and not even in date order) rather than drawing conclusions and weaving understanding.

So during this time you may find yourself exposed to packets of info, here/there/and/everywhere. As you may assume, this scattershot of data dots requires mental attention that can follow there/there/and/everywhere, which can be taxing to the nervous system and may inspire mental stress. So do what you can to keep your mind calm and not be pulled off into a whirl of energy. If you find yourself feeling mentally miffed, remember that exercise and meditation are great for reinstating peace. Rescue Remedy and lavender essential oil are also good things to have on hand when strong Gemini energy is on hand.

Astro-Atlas*
3:59 am: Moon (Cancer) sextile Mars (Virgo)
4:12 am: Mercury enters Gemini

* all times are PDT

And with the Sun squaring Neptune, there’s tides of unitive compassion that wave through the day. We can feel a deeper sense of others’ joys as well as their pain. There’s a thinner veil between us and others, as we experience how connected we all really are. Neptune washes away boundaries. This can be an asset for inspiring creativity and artistry but a challenge for those who are dealing with co-dependent patterns. Neptune reflects an opening of awareness, allowing us to pierce through to access often-shrouded truth. That said, it’s important to not fall into this planet’s diffusive pull on our conscious that can result in spacing out and/or not taking personal responsibility.

Astro-Atlas*
4:31 am: Moon enters Cancer
10:43 am: Moon (Cancer) trine Neptune (Pisces)
1:57 pm: Sun (Gemini) square Neptune (Pisces)
7:30 pm: Moon (Cancer) square Uranus (Aries)
10:34 pm: Moon (Cancer) opposite Pluto (Capricorn)

* all times are PDT

Astro-Atlas*
2:24 pm: Moon (Gemini) conjunct Venus (Gemini)
3:51 pm: Moon (Gemini) trine Saturn (Libra)
3:51 pm: Moon void-of-course

* all times are PDT

Since yesterday’s Solar Eclipse what’s opening up in your life? What are you seeing is starting to take root on its way to blossoming? Did any life-changing events or realizations occur that have shifted your path in unexpected ways?

No need to write your answers in the Comments section–although that would be great too. I just wanted to ask these questions for you to use as reflection points.

Astro-Atlas*
7:13 am: Moon (Gemini) sextile Uranus (Aries)
2:17 pm: Moon (Gemini) square Mars (Virgo)
10:58 pm: Mercury (Taurus) conjunct Jupiter (Taurus)

* all times are PDT

Astro-Atlas*
5:35 am: Moon (Taurus) conjunct Jupiter (Taurus)
5:35 am: Moon void-of-course
8:16 am: Sun enters Gemini
4:05 pm: Moon enters Gemini
4:47 pm: Solar Eclipse: Moon (Gemini) conjunct Sun (Gemini)
10:23 pm: Moon (Gemini) square Neptune (Pisces)

* all times are PDT

After all, not only is the Moon in steadfast and hold-tight Taurus but the Sun spends its last full day in this sign that would rather amass than release. Therefore, you could feel pushed and pulled by contrasting notions. On the one hand, there’s an urge to give away what you know is holding you back from new beginnings. And yet, a clinging based upon scarcity fear — “will I ever experience something like this again?” — may put doubts in your mind and brakes upon your actions.

Yet, the overarching direction is towards the new. So how can we use the Taurus energies constructively to this aim rather than have them stop us in our tracks and cause more potential tension? Practice Taurean practicality – and go slow. Instead of thinking of EVERYTHING that may need changing now, just pick one thing and focus on that, being pragmatic about your approach.

Once you get into this groove, the idea of letting things go to make space for what you truly desire will become a rhythm that you can flow with. And since Taurus definitely grooves on being in a rhythm and a routine, this energy can than transform to being your support rather than your restriction.

Astro-Atlas*
9:37 pm: Moon (Taurus) conjunct Mercury (Taurus)

* all times are PDT

Astro-Atlas*
3:03 am: Moon enters Taurus
9:18 am: Moon (Taurus) sextile Neptune (Pisces)
9:46 am: Moon (Taurus) trine Pluto (Capricorn)
11:32 pm: Moon (Taurus) trine Mars (Virgo)

* all times are PDT

May 20, 2012: Gemini Solar Eclipse (exact at 4:47 pm PDT)

Today’s New Moon is also a Solar Eclipse, the first of this season (with June 4 marking the other one, which will be a Lunar Eclipse). Even if we can’t see an eclipse in the sky where we live, these celestial events are renowned for being very powerful in the way in which they can impact our lives.

A New Moon Solar Eclipse signifies a time for beginnings. As such it usually brings with it endings. That’s because in order for something to firmly root so that it can flourish, space needs to be made. Therefore, while there is great focus on the initiation of the new, one usually can’t get away from the fact that something(s) may be inherently coming to a close at this point as well.

The Gemini New Moon is often a day of education and learning. Curiosity and wonder fill the air and it may seem as if your attention is pulled in a spectrum of directions as we gravitate to the facts, figures, and other pinpoints of information that seem especially intriguing today.

The mercurial and seemingly fickle energy of Gemini is often on display during this period, amping up agitation and nervous energy. Be patient with yourself if you find it more difficult to make decisions while also making space for others if they seem to be more capricious than normal. If you’re finding yourself indecisive, consider whether it’s because you are more clearly seeing the two sides of the proverbial coin and the fact that both of them have grace and value. Reflect upon whether it really is even necessary to choose between them; potentially you can create a structure where you are able to enjoy both paths.

Like Lunar Eclipses, a Solar Eclipse is often accompanied by identifiable life-changing events that manifest around the time of this celestial happening. It’s a very auspicious time to plant the seeds for that which you want to manifest over the coming months.

Doing ritual is always of benefit during an Eclipse and for this one may be even more so. That’s because the Sun and Moon are square Neptune, the planet that breaks down boundaries, connecting us to the invisible and the mystical. Tune into your intuition to discover what feeds your soul and what you want to create in your life moving forward. Be creative in capturing and expressing your intention—write it, paint it, dance it, sculpt it, make it into a song, or some other artistic way that best connects to your personal heart strings.

By tuning into the inspirational energies of Neptune we may help to assuage its potential to pull us off center through casting us into confusion, illusion, or delusion. The reason for this is that Neptune unifies and dissolves the separation. If you start tuning into others thoughts and feelings without a sense of clarity of the source, or find yourself yielding toward inappropriate boundaries, it can often be disconcerting. Remember when Neptune is prominent, like it currently is, we are called to find a higher sense of being, one where we come from love and compassion, not just for others, but also for ourselves.

We often feel the shake-up rumblings of an Eclipse beginning weeks before. Yet, often we don’t understand its full impact even the day it occurs. That is because something is eclipsed, obscured. Yet as time proceeds, its life-shifting impact becomes more apparent. Eclipses set trajectories in motion that unfold over the subsequent six-month period.

This month’s New Moon falls at 1 degree of Gemini (Sun and Moon). While everyone experiences the energies of the New Moon, if you have planets or pivotal points (i.e., Ascendant/Descendant or Nadir/Midheaven) around this degree in Gemini or the other mutable signs—Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces—it may impact you more intensely. Additionally, like with other planetary alignments, the house of your natal chart that this Eclipse falls in sheds light on how it may be influencing your unfolding.

New Moon Apothecary Suggestions

Gemini rules the shoulders, arms, hands, lungs, and nervous system. Pay extra attention to these parts of the body around the time of this New Moon.

Nadi Sodhana (Alternate Nostril Breathing): With Gemini ruling the lungs and the nervous system, doing some pranayama breathing exercises like Nadi Sodhana can be beneficial if you need to calm a flurry of nervous energy. Sit in a comfortable position either on the floor or on a chair. Rest your left hand on your lap. Raise your right hand towards your nose, closing your right nostril by gently pushing your thumb against it. Inhale through your left nostril for four counts. Then release your thumb while closing your left nostril with your ring finger. Exhale through your right nostril for four counts and then inhale for four counts. Release hold on left nostril while closing right nostril with your thumb. Exhale through left nostril for four counts. Continue for twelve rounds or more.

Cerato flower essence: When Gemini energy is strong, there is a concentrated emphasis on information dissemination. And with that, it becomes tempting to seek advice and input from lots of people who are generally more than willing to share their thoughts and ideas. While this can be helpful, if you are unclear as to where you stand on an issue (which may be even more pronounced with the strong Neptune energy during this Eclipse), it can cause any decision you need to make even more confusing. If you are looking for a natural remedy that can help inspire your confidence that intuitive knowingness truly resides within you, consider Cerato flower essence. (Flower essences are made from flower-infused water and work energetically to restore emotional and mental balance. You can find them in natural food stores or holistic pharmacies.)