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This Month

Sagittarius New Moon:
Cracking the Façade
by Simone Butler

Several hundred years ago, as the Burmese army was about to invade Bangkok, temple monks covered their precious, solid gold Buddha with an eight-inch layer of clay to hide its value. Slaughtered to a man, they took their secret to the grave. The Buddha's golden essence wasn't discovered until 1957. During its relocation, the 2.5 ton statue cracked, as rain began to fall. When the head monk inspected the statue that night, his flashlight revealed its true nature shining through.

The trauma of an injury followed by battering rain showed what this statue was really made of. And so it is for us fragile humans. In the last month, Uranus (cracks) opposing Saturn (clay), coupled with the Scorpio energy of death and rebirth, put many of us through a time of great change. Some of us had devastating losses; others welcomed fresh starts. Like the alchemists of old, we've been transmuting lead into gold--and now stand ready to be revealed.

Banishing Scorpionic shadows, the Sun and Mercury just broke into Sagittarius on the weekend of November 22nd. Did you feel the energy shift from deep, dark water to free-wheeling fire? And none too soon, as far as I'm concerned. The November 27 Sagittarius New Moon, falling only three hours after change-agent Uranus turns direct after five months of retrograde motion, is the bolt of lightning that cracks the façade, revealing our true value. Wherever Uranus stations in your chart, prepare to get a move on. Stay flexible, heed your instincts and surf the waves to new shores.

It's appropriate that this New Moon falls on Thanksgiving Day, because we have much to be grateful for. We've entered the Sixth Day of the Mayan Calendar, a one-year influx of light in which we can finally manifest the visions we've been harboring until "the time is right." That time is now! This visionary theme is amplified by the grand conjunction next year of Jupiter (positive energy) and Neptune (dreams) in progressive Aquarius (more on this euphoric aspect later). Led by our new Aquarius-rising president, we are encouraged to band together to create a sustainable future--even as the past falls away. As practical Saturn continues to oppose innovative Uranus, many "fringe" ideas will go mainstream--from alcohol-based fueling stations and solar panels on car roofs to straw-bale homes and natural bamboo flooring. The rapid technological innovations indicated by these planetary aspects will revolutionize everything from health care to communications.

The Full Moon squaring unstable Uranus on December 12, much like the September 15 Full Moon that rocked the stock market, continues to crack the clay on financial facades. Go with only that which is solid gold. No planets are retrograde in December, therefore much progress can be made. Yet, Saturn is slowing down as it prepares to turn backward on Dec. 31 until mid-May. Saturn says, Don't jump off the deep end, especially at that wild Full Moon--take your time, and make sure you've laid strong foundations before moving ahead. If possible, plan a low-key New Year's celebration close to home, rather than struggling against frenetic crowds or flight schedules.

At the Sagittarius New Moon (8:54 am Pacific time on Nov. 27), say a prayer of thanks for your cracks and wounds--they let your golden essence shine through. Ask that any facades hiding the "real you," from excess weight to false bravado, fall away. Then, bask in the bliss of your true, golden nature. With the aid of the Sagittarian archer, take aim toward a lofty goal, and know that all of nature supports you in hitting your target. Let divine love and inspiration flow through you, and shape your world anew.

© 2008 Simone Butler
All rights reserved

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