Here in Portland, Oregon the trees lining the streets and gardens are filled with blossoms. As hard as life can get, when I see all those flowers, the sense of renewal and magic is real. Flowers are a particularly potent part of a plant. Their energy has emotional and energetic healing properties. We use many flowers in our smoking blends: rose, lavender, hibiscus, linden, and violet, to name a few.  

Plus, a rare hybrid solar eclipse in Aries. This one will have long lasting affects for many, it does depend on your natal astrology (birth chart).

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Many people are feeling intense emotions and big shifts in their lives.* 

If this is coming up it is important to resource in your community, and share your feelings, rather than run and hide or resort to substance use. It can be so hard to hold space for yourself and be vulnerable in this way but, you must do it so that you can see the strength your friends can provide.

The astrology around this new moon is a pretty monumental. March 20th is the vernal equinox, shifting the energy to the light days of the year. March 21st is a dynamic new moon in Aries. And, on March 22nd, Pluto moves into Aquarius. Pluto has a 248-year orbit. Here are some projections for this new beginning.

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The sign Capricorn is related to the physical body and the discipline necessary to get business taken care of. It is no surprise that it is during Capricorn season that people focus on personal goals and make New Year's resolutions. Scroll down for the full New Moon in Capricorn report.

To support you making 2023 tobacco free, we are offering a buy 3 get one free on smokes. Use code: PreSale2023 and see the discount in checkout. Sale goes through 12/25/22.

Missed this sale? Scroll to the bottom of the page and sign up for our newsletters. Get notifications on Instagram, @brownbearherbs. Or check out our discount page.

*Does not apply to Astral in Body or My New Ciggies.

New Moon in Capricorn

The new moon in Capricorn will be exact at 2:15 am PST, 5:15 am ET, on Friday, December 23, 2022.

This new moon is super and happening so close to the winter solstice, adding extra potency. It is the darkest time of the year, which means that everything is getting brighter. What (metaphorical) seed will you plant, nourish and watch grow… How do you envision it in 6 months, when its flourishing under the brightest light? It is actually best to wait til just after the new moon to do your intentions...when there is a touch of light to see.

Since Capricorn rules the body and the discipline needed to make practical long-term changes, it is not surprising that New Year's resolutions happen during Capricorn season. What is important to you right now with your body, work, or spiritual life that requires some physical discipline? Don't wait for the first to start resolutions in these areas, do it now for better results.

This new moon is squared by Jupiter in Aries. This has the potential to give you the energy needed (there is a lot there with this placement) to move through stress and make big changes. Don't let opposition stall you. Keep things moving.

Also of note: 

Mars, retrograde in Gemini, is sextile Chiron in Aries. Old wounds may surface. It's a favorable time to talk through problems that may have resulted from hasty statements or flighty behavior. It can be a time to heal. Maybe nothing major, but any healing is good.

Uranus in Taurus is trine Venus in Capricorn...check out your work or day-to-day environment, there is potential for unexpected romance. Maybe you'll see a different side of someone as the wacky energy of Uranus harmonizes with the typically underappreciated Venus, (she's not too happy in Capricorn). Open your eyes tand let that weird thought out. Who knows? If not romance, at least some pleasing moments of enjoying life on planet Earth. If your day is disrupted, observe and appreciate gold linings.

 

Up ahead:

If your 2023 goals are more about following through on unique ideas or inspiration (air and fire goals), you will do better to wait for the Aquarian New Moon on January 21st, 2023, at which point Saturn and Venus will be conjunct in Aquarius as well, making it a great time to start long term plans or alliances related to art, money, aesthetics, or partnerships. Unconventionality is encouraged.

 

Bid adieu to 2022...big changes are coming in 2023. I am ready. 

Arati

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The new moon will be exact at 9 degrees of Gemini on Monday, May 30th at 4:31 am PST and 7:31 am ET. 

Gemini is an air sign that is associated with quick-wittedness, social butterflying, communication (social media), gossip (:/), arms and lungs. This is a good time to set intentions around these areas of your life. If you are too shy to talk, consider doing some wild arm-waving dance moves (either way, The Social). No gossiping to reduce? Lighten the load on your lungs and quit tobacco with our help ;). Try to get out in the fresh air and enjoy the freedom that the outside brings us as we deal with the seemingly never-ending battle with COVID. 

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Total Lunar Eclipse in Scorpio

The moon is at its fullest and is totally eclipsed on May 15th at 9:14 pm PST, 12:14 am ET on May 16th, at 25 degrees of Scorpio. Scroll down for the astrological chart from astro.com.

This is a fascinating eclipse. The tension is extremely high, it is not just a full moon, it is a super moon. It is not just an eclipse, it is a total eclipse. The polarity between the moon in Scorpio and the sun in Taurus is squared by Saturn in Aquarius. The Scorpio/Taurus axis is the axis of possession. In a T-square, the squaring planet (Saturn in this case) offers guidance and insight as to how the tension will likely be managed. Eclipses happen along the nodal axis. This means the collective desires (symbolized by the north and south nodes) are further amplified. The potential reversal of Roe v. Wade epitomizes this eclipse. I shall explain and you can see if similar dynamics of control and wounding/undermining women are happening in the microcosm of your life. 

The Scorpio Eclipse and the nodes in Scorpio and Taurus deal with possession. The dark side of Taurus is relating to the aesthetically pleasing and the physical world through ownership without honoring. Think of Nazi Germany, stealing art and human labor.  The dark side of Scorpio often relates to sexual control, manipulation, and power struggles. Think of the many stories of sexual abuse by people in power coming into the media. It is not pretty. The rulers of the sun and moon during an eclipse are important. In this case, these planets are Venus (ruler of Taurus) and Mars and Pluto (night and day rulers of Scorpio respectively). I will look at all three as they play significant roles at this potentially pivotal time. 

At the time of this eclipse, Venus and Chiron are closely conjunct in Aries.  Chiron represents a wound but, also the healing that we are better at offering others than ourselves. Venus represents the feminine and refining. Removing a woman's right to choose injures (Chiron) the woman and also forces her life to be more about her ability to birth (Aries) and, ideally, nurture, (also Chiron, having one's life wounded but supporting another's). It also hinders her ability to refine --choosing what is best to grow at what time. Chiron in Aries brings up issues around self-worth. When abortion rights are restricted, women are legally considered worth less as individuals (Chiron in Aries) than as baby-producing units. 

Pluto in Capricorn is in harmonious aspect to the eclipse. I see Pluto in this as represented by SCOTUS and generally the politicians who are working to overturn Roe v. Wade against the wishes of the majority of the US citizens. Pluto in Capricorn shows us corruption in the government and it is working harmoniously with the themes of possessing (Scorpio/Taurus nodes and eclipse) and the wounded woman (Chiron Venus conjunction in Aries).

Mars is in conjunction with Neptune in Pisces. Mars is not at home in Pisces and the addition of Neptune makes for a bit of a wild card. Mars represents the male, assertive energy and Pisces is a very passive sign. Together with Neptune in Pisces this could lead to a sense of romanticism (feeling the desire to rescue women) in men collectively or swing to an extreme of paranoia (feeling the need to save the 'baby'). At best Mars in Pisces and Neptune is extremely compassionate and loves unconditionally. The insistently (Mars) compassionate (Neptune and Pisces) male (Mars) voice is very much needed in this battle about the rights of women over their bodies. This conjunction is also working harmoniously with the eclipse. This can be supportive of women's rights in this astrological interpretation. The Mars/Neptune angle can speak to the various concerns with compassion towards the ugliness that is being brought up by the Scorpio South Node transit. The higher vibration can also teach how to support and nurture (positive qualities of Taurus) the feminine. 

With Saturn in Aquarius, squaring the eclipse, we can expect a very strong effort to restructure things around this issue in a progressive way, which would maintain or expand abortion rights. Saturn in Aquarius relates to the government (Saturn) being the people (Aquarius)--as a democracy the people have the power in this situation. Make your voice heard. IT IS ESSENTIAL that men raise their voices too. There will not be the interpretation of a majority without your strong presence. The call is clear: the people of the US, the actual majority, must seize their power. Now one will do it for us. Not even our elected officials. We must show them that we intend to enforce the intent behind our democracy and not allow manipulation of the law for the benefit of the minority. 

Jupiter just moved into Aries (the sign of the warrior) from Pisces. The energy is here now to fight. If this issue is not managed now I believe it will erupt when Pluto finally exits Capricorn to enter Aquarius briefly in March 2023. Around this time, Jupiter visits the exact placement of Venus and Chiron at the current eclipse. Additionally, the sun, Mercury and Neptune will be at approximately the same point where Mars and Neptune are this weekend.  It seems likely that the law at this time will either support or magnify this wound. It is up to us, and especially the voice of compassionate males, to push this in the direction we desire. The direction of autonomy for women (Venus in Aries). 

The impact of an eclipse is typically felt up to a month beforehand and up to siz months after. Observe how these events are playing out over this time period. 

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This new moon is also a solar eclipse. It happens in the Earth sign Taurus, close to the planet Uranus. Uranus has a more objective handle on things and is not afraid to disrupt everything to offer fresh alternatives. Keep an open mind...if something unfortunate or unexpected happens, shout "plot twist" and observe for silver linings or unearthed gold. 

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Today, 4/13, Jupiter is conjunct Neptune in Pisces at 24 degrees. These are the two rulers of Pisces joined together. It is a very auspicious celestial moment. Are you feeling the dreamy energy? I find it hard to ignore! This rare and beautiful aspect hasn't happened since 1856. To add to the magic, Venus is also in Pisces, which is its sign of exaltation. 

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The new moon will be exact on Monday, January 31st, 2022 at 9:46 pm PST at 12 degrees 20 minutes of Aquarius. Sabian symbol: A barometer. This new moon is conjunct Saturn making it an ideal time to make resolutions for our physical health and responsibilities. It doesn't have to be such a serious thing--make it fun :)

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