Last night we had a new moon in Cancer, 11 degrees to be exact. I try to use the new moon to set my intentions for the month, sort of like planting seeds that sprout and grow up by the full moon. I read a great book by Jan Spiller on setting your intentions with the new moon each month. If you can put it down on paper, you can make it happen. Some things may take a bit longer than a month to fulfill it’s purpose, but the seeds are planted. It’s pretty cool.

This month with the moon and sun in cancer, and with venus close by, we might be setting our intentions toward home, family, what makes us feel secure…snuggly. Cancer is a water sign, like the mother, and very protective and intuitive about who it chooses to be close to. So, set your intentions in those areas. With venus close by, maybe social activity, love interests, and even money can be included…those are all venus related things, as well as the arts. Have fun with it!

I admit that most months I forget to write down my goals for the month with the new moon, but I think I got an intuitive push to write them down for this one. I pulled up astro.com just to check the energy weather and noticed it was a few minutes to a new moon…and realized I hadn’t written anything down in a couple of months. So I decided to do it for this one. We shall see what sprouts….my 7th house is in Cancer and I have the sun, venus and mars placed in there. I actually had the new moon conjuct my natal mars. Interesting…will my intentions involve lots of activity and a push with mars being involved?

Here is a link to the cool book I read a few years ago, about the new moon and reaching your goals…

New Moon Astrology

Do you know how useful it is to know the best time to begin a new activity, or even to pull back and just chill? It’s all about aligning your intentions with the astro weather.Electional astrology is figuring out the best time to begin a new activity, whether it be starting a new business, applying for a loan, incorporating your business, launching a website, or even sending out an email newsletter…. Everything has a birth, so doesn’t it make sense to birth your event to maximize the benefits?

The Void Moon is a time when “nothing will come of the matter”. Technically, it means the moon has passed into a point where it makes no major aspects to the other planets, so nothing to worry about and nothing will come of the matter in this period. The void moon is best for self reflection, meditation, and chilling out with no agenda.

I use the void moon for timing in many areas of my life. I never schedule a business meeting or phone call during the time because who wants to spend time on something where nothing will come of it?

The timing doesn’t need to be perfect and you can’t always wait for the perfect time. But, a good rule is to not do something important during the void moon. If you have an astrology datebook or calender, this is easy to look up and will save you some time and wasted energy.

I am offering an electional time using astrology to begin your event. If I am designing your website, why not have me calculate the most positive time to launch it online for whole world to see? Or how about that email newsletter we worked on? Why not put your message out for the best time when people will be more inclined to read it, and even better, make a purchase for your services?

Tell me your intentions and I can find the best time to start the activity. It’s all good.

by Heather LaCroix

What is Mars Retrograde?

This is a cycle of mars where it appears Mars is transiting backwards in relationship to the earth. The planets don’t really move backwards in the solar system, but due to the current orbits, it appears so. This effects us all energetically. We all know about mercury retrograde, the planet of communication going backwards and messing up our transportation and communication. Well, mars does the same thing about once every 2 years but it rules our action, our will, and how we project ourselves in the world…not to mention our sexuality. So when mars transits backwards in accordance to the earth, we feel a backwards or inward reflection of these areas.

When is Mars Retrograde happening?

Mars began to slow down the week of November 15th as it hits 12 degrees Cancer and move backwards. Mars goes direct at 24 degrees Gemini on January 30th and returns to 12 Cancer on April 4th. Things start moving ahead at the direct period but really, the issues we went through come to resolution at the direct period come April.

How does Mars Retrograde in 2007 effect us?

Mars is transiting in the sign of Cancer. Cancer is a water sign which rules your home and family, what
makes you feel secure, your emotions, and the ocean. With mars going backwards in Cancer, I can see many people feeling low energy, or ineffective and diffused energy. It could be difficult to get things done. Cancer is symbolized by the crab, so as we see the crab walking sideways to get what it wants, imagine it walking backwards and sideways…resulting in confusion and wasted energy.

People may feel touchier than usual. Cancer is an especially sensitive sign…slights get blown out of proportion…people may feel protective or defensive about what makes them feel secure. What makes you feel secure? Money, your home, food, shelter, family and mate? Arguments, strife, and ineffective action is bound to occur.

What about Gemini? Mars will step back into Gemini come December 31, 2007. Gemini is an air sign and rules communication, transportation, intellectual pursuits, and curiosity. With mars traveling backwards in Gemini we may see intellectual conflicts…differing of opinions and confused communications. Be aware of more accidents during short trips…possibly arguments with neighbors or brothers and sisters as things get construed and people are more critical.

How will mars retrograde effect you on a personal level? Well, it depends on what house, or area of life it will be going through and the aspects it makes to the other planets in your birth chart. If you are a moon ruled person with your sun, moon, or rising sign in Cancer, you will be effected more than usual. Be conscious of your tendency to be touchier and more introspective at this time. When mars passes through the sign of Gemini, the same goes for you mercury people with sun, moon, or rising in this sign. Beware of mental strifes and impasses. The mars retrograde survival guide calls for awareness and patience.

As a Cancer person myself with my sun, venus, and mars in this sign…I can say I am feeling mars retrograde right now. Mars is passing through my 7th house of other people and will slide back into my 6th house of daily work and my environment. What has happened so far? After a few weeks of having no recyle bins at my apartment complex, I called our town sanitation department to get more of them and was told they were removed because we were putting stuff in there that was not supposed to be in there. This was in response to a not so nice conflict with a neighbor about the bins. I still haven’t seen any bins and am holding tight to my paper and plastic containers. Mars rules my 3rd house of communication, siblings, and neighbors, so this backwards motion is effecting this area…and I had a conflict with another person in my area of home and neighborhood which resulted in some ineffective communication and action – the bins haven’t arrived and my neighbor hasn’t spoken to me since….sigh…

How will mars retrograde effect you? Look at the house mars will be going through and what house mars rules in your chart…then take the possible outcomes and apply them to that area. My advice is to be patient and realize this is a time for planning for future action, not acting on them. Hasty action and touchiness is bound to occur but awareness can make it easier. If you have Gemini and Cancer strong in your chart…take heed. Any retrograde cycle is a time of fated events which we have no control over. This may not necessarily mean bad events, but fated events.