NEW MOON - DECEMBER 7, 2018

The New Moon is December 7, 2018, 1:20 a.m. in 15° Sagittarius

Does it feel like you've been slogging through a swamp or not quite feeling awake all day for the past few weeks? Neptune has been the prominent outer planet in terms of astrological aspects lately. When Mercury went retrograde on November 16, it was squared to Neptune. In this way, it picked up the "flavor" of Neptune carrying with it in its backward journey. Then Neptune went direct on November 24th, still in square to Mercury (the mind). 
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Now Mercury finally goes direct on December 6 at 27 ° Scorpio but it will take a few days for us to feel like we're going forward again. In the meantime this New Moon is square to a an exact conjunction of Mars and Neptune at 13° Pisces. So more Neptune. At least for several days past the New Moon.

As a said in my last blog post, Neptune rules feeling foggy, nebulous or spacey. It's hard to see people and their motivations clearly. A Mars/Neptune conjunction is dangerous. One symbol is drunk drivers or driving under the influence of drugs. Another is driving while sleep-deprived.  (Mars is driving, Neptune is drugs or spaciness of any sort).  Another symbol is a salesman (Mars) giving you misinformation (Neptune) on a product or service. One more symbol to keep in mind is getting scalded (Mars) by boiling water or steam (Neptune is water and with Mars is steam).  Stay awake and aware whether driving, shopping or cooking at this New Moon.

A benefit to Neptune is being more suggestible, so affirmations can be very powerful at this time. Some tips for creating affirmations:

• Use positive phrasing. For example, don't say "I will not eat sweets." Say something like, "I choose the healthiest foods for my body."
• Using "I am" works well along with "ing" words. A phrase like "Every day I am healing more and more deeply."
• Repeat often to yourself or write down on a sticky note and post where you'll look at it frequently.

Here's a healing one I like:
I am healing deeply as pure Divine energy fills and permeates every level of my body and mind.

If you want ideas for affirmations try these: https://www.louisehay.com/affirmations/

Or just Google "Affirmations for ___________" and fill in the blank.

​Another way to use this New Moon energy is to totally tune into the most spiritual and uplifting aspects of the holiday season. Find the music that makes your soul soar and play that often. Light candles. Give to charity. Watch the holiday movies that make you laugh or open your heart. 

In the future:

The Winter Solstice takes place on December 21. I wrote a little bit about that for Yoga Chicago Magazine.

I will be giving a talk on "Kriya Yoga and Astrology: Planetary Patterns for 2019" at the Winter Solstice Festival at the Temple of Kriya Yoga: Sunday, December 16, 11:30 a.m., 2414 N. Kedzie, Chicago, IL

There will also be talks, meditation, a ritual and refreshments. The program is described here:
https://www.yogakriya.org/winter-solstice