. . . to laugh or cry . . .

I have just written the couple of pages that follow about Pisces and the coming month unfolding, but actually what I just saw again is how this human experience is so difficult spiritually: we are surrounded, we even ARE, the wonder, mystery, bliss, peace, of spirit all the time, everywhere - and we don’t realise, notice, acknowledge, appreciate this glory with every heart-beat. The opportunity is in every breath, constant; the window is never closed, but we turn our backs on it and suffer in our own particular ways - I don’t know if I feel this to be sad or funny - both, probably, but the truth of it makes me cry. And if this is not Pisces, I don’t know what is!

O Pisces, dream no more!

Dreams - the reality that seems to be so absolute when we are immersed in our thoughts - about life, people, chuntering worries, fears that ebb and flow, the tide of human reactions that are largely to do with survival; and the dreams of delight - the life we hanker for, the images of projects completed successfully, ourselves at our best and happy, surrounded by pleasure and love. Dreams, stories in the mind, an emotional cocktail of hormones we mix all day, and binge on in the early hours. Or not . . .

Stilling the mental activity with focus on what is here now enables another side of Pisces to rise - the sensitivity to energy in the body cells, the space containing the body, the heart’s pumping and lungs breathing, the quietness behind all the noise, and the sense of all humanity soaked in emotions and reactions to millions of thoughts and experiences. Too much . . .

This is a difficulty of having no boundaries, being too open. Pisces needs a way of staying within the boundaries necessary for human well-being. Perhaps we can do this by gently applying ourselves to one thing at a time and completing it, and clearing it out of mind before opening up to the next thing. Holding a focus could be the key.

Have patience with those nearest to you

This New Moon is focusing on healing family wounds, which of course first have to be revealed, so the experiences will not necessarily easy (Sun/Moon near Chiron who is sextiling Pluto, all trine Jupiter in Cancer). We could find ourselves sorting out old misunderstandings between people in our birth family, or nations caring for the people, or a global push to help devastated populations in war zones and weather conditions. This help may be sporadic rather than on-going and steady, and there could be conflicts in getting support to those who need it (Uranus at the point of a T-square in Aries). Patience is required!

Responding to truth, or reacting to triggers?

Difficulties in communication characterise the coming month (Mercury in Aquarius square Saturn in Scorpio), having to own up to emotions we hoped we didn’t have, battling against grim determination with observation and logic. We will need to be alert to our own stubbornness, and recognise that surrendering to truth is wisdom, not weakness. We could well feel ourselves getting clearer about whatever has been happening since 6 February (while Mercury was retrograde). By 20 March, those things will probably be better understood, so the future can unfold more smoothly (Mercury will be in Pisces again, and over the point where the retrograde started, by 20 March).

At this New Moon point, just as we re-engage with the present, there may be a quandary as to what action to take - second thoughts arise, ambivalence maybe, while we re-think the way to our goals (Mars begins to retrograde in Libra). This hesitation is the correct attitude, learning to accept the facts first before responding to them (as Mars is on North Node, and rules Aries where Uranus is). This pause to receive and consider before acting could forestall many losses, as we consider how and when to communicate our truth.

‘We are responsible for our experience, not that of others

The quiet moment of engagement with what is, could be very useful on the relationship front this month, because our sense of responsibility could be at odds with our desire for fairness, possibly showing up around the distribution of work, as in ‘who does the washing up if I cooked dinner?’ (Venus in Capricorn square Mars in Libra)! At this time, finding a balance will work better than working out who’s responsible (Mars on North Node). We need to find and fulfil the responsibility we truly have for our own state and the state of our world, rather than worrying about what others are responsile for. Even trying to ‘help’ or ‘be nice to’ another person is an effort to control their experience (from South Node in Aries to North Node in Libra).

We cannot create peace by fighting for it, but this time is right for peacefully carrying out supportive actions promoting peace, like signing petitions to world leaders, cleaning up our bit of street, helping a neighbour to do something they want to do. The outcomes are not our responsibility, but having integrity is, and fulfilling our role in our community is part of our integrity as inter-dependent human beings.

The courage to be honest supports good relationships

This month, the spiritual focus has shifted from digging deep for our emotional truth (North Node in Scorpio), to having the courage to be counted for our deeply held principles of peace, justice and harmony (North Node in Libra). Until November 2015 (when the Nodes change sign again), the background focus for humanity is learning how to relate with kindness and respect for others, while expressing ourselves honestly. We are being drawn from discovering the commonality of deep human needs (Saturn in Scorpio), towards accepting our unique gifts and using them to serve the needs of all (Uranus in Aries and Mars on North Node in Libra).

A human predicament

The Full Moon in Virgo, on 16 February, brings a greater facility for recognising where we need boundaries, and creating them. Being better able to define what we mean, able to guard our emotional expression (Moon sextile Saturn), and giving each other more space to be the individuals that we are (Venus in Aquarius), harmony becomes a possibility. A human predicament can be expressed as wanting to be happy, and finding that going for it doesn’t work. Perhaps what helps us most is bearing in mind that all humans face this predicament, and having compassion for the suffering it produces, rather than thinking that life shouldn’t be that way.

Which brings me back to the first paragraph of this letter: the window to the joy, peace, love, mystery of life is always open within us - may we at least face that way on a regular basis.