New Moons in 2014 (1st Quarter)

This year started with a remarkably energizing New Moon in Capricorn on New Year's Day, activating the already potent Uranus/Pluto square - a transformational pivot point which is echoing many of the same global issues as the Pluto/Uranus conjunction which occurred during the 1960's. But there is a remarkable, four phase, personal transformation process underway as well this year, initiated by the New Year's Day New Moon and punctuated by the retrograding Venus, Mercury and Mars. This process directly integrates personal growth and transformation into the ongoing global transformation process that is already underway. The four phase process from January 1 - April 28 works through distinctly personal elements to assist our individual transformation as we move through a dramatic and significant global paradigm shift.

The three New Moons that follow the New Year's Day New Moon (January 30, 2014-Aquarius, February 28, 2014-Pisces, March 30, 2014-Aries) lay down a distinct trail of breadcrumbs to follow, leading directly to the extremely powerful April 15th Full Moon in Aries. During this time, it is more important than ever to stay in the moment and follow the process as it unfolds, rather than getting too far ahead of yourself or pushing too hard to achieve any particularly desired outcome. Change is occurring all around us but if we try to manipulate the outcome directly, we will most likely end up getting our hands stuck in the wheels of change as they turn.

PHASE 1 began New Year's Day and involved the retrograde Venus which brought relationship challenges to the surface through a series of crises driven (cardinal) events and challenges. Venus in Capricorn set the tone for the entire 4 phase process of personal transformation, emphasizing responsibility and determination and offering us a powerful opportunity to improve how we relate to others. The Retrograde Venus sparked a review of our relationships in order to begin to build a new foundation from which we can express ourselves more effectively in all of our relationships.

PHASE 2, the Aquarius New Moon that just occurred on January 30, brings us face to face with the challenge of staying on course as we make a turn around a blind corner. The facts on the ground right now don't seem to square with our intuitive understanding. Mercury is retrograde during this phase. We need to use our intuition to sort out the facts, and double check everything. Confidence is likely to wane during this phase. Moving back from Pisces to Aquarius, Mercury is engaging us in a process of stepping back from personal emotional sensitivity to a more detached insight involving broader understanding of the greater good.

PHASE 3 begins with the New Moon on February 28th, just as Mercury goes direct. This phase will offer us the opportunity to make use of the intuitive, compassionate and inspirational qualities of Pisces. During this phase, Mars stations to retrograde from March 1st until May 19th, holding back any assertive or aggressive activity. This phase should provide significant opportunities to mend fences in our relationships through understanding and compassion. However, sensitive emotions will most certainly be on display as well. The Pisces energy can help us to let go but we will need to be on guard for any tendency towards nihilism if it doesn't seem like things are going our way. Don't forget that change is happening very quickly and rely on a faith that says "you will get what you need."

While Mars is retrograde, direct action is likely to be hindered but it is certainly a good time to work on diplomatic cooperation. Mars usually energizes our effort to get what we want but retrograde in Libra, it is tempting to worry too much about what other people want, hoping that if we help others get what they want, we will get what we want. But we need to remember that cooperation is a two-way street - we have to stay honest about what we really want.

PHASE 4 begins with the Aries New Moon (March 30th). The final phase initiates the process of merging both facts and intuition into a new way of understanding and relating to those around us. This requires that we broaden our awareness as much as possible. We will have to demonstrate what we have learned. This is most likely to include a whole lot of trial and error but it is all part of an incredible learning process that we need to embrace in order to realign our personal life with the global changes. This New Moon will be even more energizing than January's New Moon but with Mars Retrograde, we will need to keep a very careful eye on our frustration level, which will most likely be building all through the month of April. Those who are most successful during this period will have mastered the art of listening.

The Full Moon on April 15th will focus our full attention back to the global implications of the Uranus/Pluto square. The fifth of seven exact square aspects between these two planets occurs on April 21st just after Pluto goes retrograde (April 14th - September 23). If we have followed the trail of breadcrumbs laid out by the previous lunar cycles of this year, we should be better prepared to deal with the dramatic changes that will play out throughout the rest of the year by more effectively relating to those around us. Pluto's retrograde motion will be like a final exam for this process, reviewing our personal transformation.

The New Moon in Taurus (April 28th) will solidify our personal progress (for better or worse) as we begin to prepare for the renewed forward motion of Mars on May 20th, 2014 when the energy that has been submerged during the retrograde period roars back into the atmosphere. Pent up frustrations can be rather dangerous if we have not found ways to accept and let go of situations and circumstances that are beyond our control. Those things that we can, in fact, get a handle on will finally begin to respond to our efforts after Mars turns direct.

Remember not to push to hard!