The waning crescent Balsamic Moon is once again upon us. This phase covers about three-and-a-half days leading up to the New Moon, and belongs to the ancient “dark” goddess who takes us deep within ourselves for transformation and rejuvenation. Balsamic Moon is time for letting go, burning karma, and healing ourselves as we prepare for new beginnings at the culmination of New Moon, which occurs on Tuesday, November 29, 2016 at 7:18:09 AM Eastern Time. This is the last waning Moon of the Dakshinayana, the waning cycle of the Sun which will end on the Winter Solstice (N. Hemisphere).

The November 29 New Moon will have the Sun-Moon conjoined at ~14 degrees Scorpio close to the fixed star Antares in the heart of the Scorpion and near the degree of the Saturn-Mars conjunction of last August 24, which fell on the heartland point of the US chart. Please refer back to my previous blog about this conjunction for more information.

(Above is an image titled Red Antares, via Fred Espenak at AstroPixels)

Not only is this New Moon activating the Mars-Saturn-Antares conjunction of last August, but also the luminaries are in an exact T-square with the lunar nodes Rahu and Ketu (in the 4/10 axis of the USA chart); and the rising sign of the USA lunation chart is conjunct Antares and the Sun-Moon; and Saturn is the first planet to rise. Key expressions for all this now and through the next few weeks may include: intense emotional turmoil and trauma; political intrigue; cultural upheaval; war and terror; and other dangerous natural or man-made events.

In general, the New Moon in Scorpio tends to draw out shadow themes revolving around depression, fear, aggression, death, sexuality, rebirth, money, control and personal power. When not in harmony, Scorpio can be dogmatic, fundamentalist, rigid, stubborn, or narrow-minded. With Scorpio’s emphasis here, some will have a tendency to feel stuck, tight, or heavy in body and mind.  It may be helpful at this time to focus on spirit, move our bodies, keep with a positive message, enjoy nature, and most importantly, laugh, be kind and soften our hearts.

The external world is an unstable place, seemingly more than ever lately, so keeping ourselves at peace and in balance becomes the biggest challenge. Knowing and understanding something of the astral energies at play can actually be quite supportive during such times, not as a predictor of bad things happening, but more as a reminder of where to align our attention. For instance, the current waning Moon moving into Scorpio can assist us to stand in divine light and call out the darkness of the world; and also, to go quietly within and examine what we fear the most, let go, and actively cultivate more joy, love, forgiveness, and peace.

This is even more important now as this Balsamic and New Moon phase mirrors the current waning phase of the Sun, occurring as we move toward the darkest day of the year on December 21 (Winter Solstice-N. Hemisphere), when it is natural to slow down and be more contemplative than usual. Remember, the waning Moon is fast losing its light, and the Sun is also losing light. The Sun and Moon represent our higher brain and chakra centers and all psychological, metabolic and physiological processes. So, the Sun-Moon diminishing cycles can reflect in weariness and emotional vulnerability. Therefore, introspection, awareness, and repose are of utmost importance during this period.

Beannacht / Blessing by John O’Donohue

On the day when
the weight deadens
on your shoulders
and you stumble,
may the clay dance
to balance you.

And when your eyes
freeze behind
the grey window
and the ghost of loss
gets into you,
may a flock of colours,
indigo, red, green
and azure blue,
come to awaken in you
a meadow of delight.

When the canvas frays
in the currach of thought
and a stain of ocean
blackens beneath you,
may there come across the waters
a path of yellow moonlight
to bring you safely home.

May the nourishment of the earth be yours,
may the clarity of light be yours,
may the fluency of the ocean be yours,
may the protection of the ancestors be yours.

And so may a slow
wind work these words
of love around you,
an invisible cloak
to mind your life.