Rest and heal at the Pisces New Moon

The last New Moon of the solar year occurs in Pisces, the sign of the fishes, on the morning of March 17th, 2018. The twelfth sign of the zodiac symbolizes the ending of a cycle and the merging of the individual back into the ocean of consciousness, into the in-between space prior to rebirth. This symbolism of the fish repeats in many spiritual traditions, including Christianity.

Outside our windows, we see the returning of the light and life of spring, coming out of the seeming death of winter. The Sun is nearly halfway to its highest point in the sky, when it rises in the sign of Aries and begins the next solar cycle as well as tropical zodiac cycle.

In mutable water sign Pisces, we have passed from the airy mental realm of Aquarius and 11th house themes of higher perspective and detachment into the emotional depths of Pisces and the twelfth house. As a mutable sign, Pisces marks a seasonal transition. As a water sign, Pisces is linked to emotions and feelings. Whereas Aquarius was focused outward, Pisces draws us back in, reaching for higher consciousness through feeling our own deep places.

 

Pisces and the 12th house, plus their ruler, Neptune, offer us the opportunity to cleanse, purify, and renew in preparation for the the new life of Aries and spring.

This year’s Pisces New Moon is amplified with a stellium (a cluster of 3 or more planets) in the sign, including the Sun and Moon plus Neptune and Chiron. As the ‘ruler’ of Pisces, referring to its affinity with the sign, Neptune is especially powerful here. The God/Goddess of the Sea offers us the opportunity to develop faith and compassion through the knowledge of our true origins, of Oneness. Neptune also has a dissolving energy, helping us with the process of letting go of anything preventing us from feeling our connections to the rest of the world.

True compassion is the highest expression of Pisces. This is the compassion that comes with knowing each of us is part of the same whole, and there is no difference between the meanest and the greatest. This is a good time to use imagination to look for the ways in which we are the same as other people, or trees, or a nearby creek. It is also a good time to watch for ways in which we try to escape our day-to-day experience, especially the painful parts.

It can be easy to forget the truth of our unity and connectedness, whether with nature, the cosmos or other people. There are examples throughout the mainstream media of a preference, instead, of pointing out victims and perpetrators. Victimhood is one of the shadow expressions of Pisces, and it derives from a sense of powerlessness and lack of compassion. The way home is through grief and loss. Grief is the doorway to compassion: when we allow ourselves to fully feel not just our own grief, but also that of another, we come to understanding. When we come to understanding, we have access to compassion.  When we have access to compassion, we can see the pain that causes someone to inflict pain, and we can act to heal rather than blame. This is true whether we are finding compassion for our own meanness, or timidity, or inadequacy of some sort; or another’s.

Compassion and connection – for ourselves first –  lead to healing.

The healing theme of this New Moon is emphasized by the proximity of asteroid Chiron, representing the archetype of the wounded healer and wise mentor. Chiron, leader of the Centaurs in Greek mythology, was the gifted healer and teacher who could not heal his own painful wound. In the astrology chart, Chiron can point to where we feel the most pain. Just as Chiron’s pain led him to give the gift of his own immortality to Prometheus, our own greatest pain shows where we have the greatest gift to offer another as part of our healing process.

At this Pisces New Moon, take time for healing by offering yourself deep compassion:

Rest more;

Immerse yourself in water and remember the womb;

Watch for ways in which you allow yourself to feel like a victim;

Forgive yourself for ways you’ve fallen short of your intentions;

Let yourself feel.