New Supermoon in Pisces

New Supermoon in Pisces, Monday 20th February at 7.05 AM (GMT)

“A human being is a part of the whole called by us universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feeling as something separated from the rest, a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.” Albert Einstein, Pisces.

This new moon in Pisces is the second of two super new moons in 2023. The technical term for a supermoon is ‘perigee-syzygy of the Earth-Moon-Sun system’ and is used when the moon is less than 223,694 miles from the earth. The term ‘perigee’ describes the point in the moon’s orbit when it is closest to the earth and ‘syzygy’ is the straight-line configuration of three celestial bodies. Supermoons exert a greater gravitational pull on the earth, which causes higher tides. We also see the greatest variation between high and low tide at new and full moon time. Supermoons, whether new or full, affect the ebb and flow of our seas. They are explicitly watery.

Pisces is a mutable water sign; the most aqueous and fluid of the zodiac. Associated with the twelfth, and last, house of the zodiac, Pisces rules soul growth, karma and spirituality. At its core is an innate knowledge of oneness; of nonduality. The recognition that underlying the multiplicity and diversity of experience, there is a single, infinite and indivisible reality. As within a body of water, there ultimately is no separation. In his book Karma, Astrology and Transformation, Stephen Arroyo says: “Although the twelfth house alone has been called the house of “karmic liabilities” in traditional astrology, all karma is a liability which binds us to the material plane.” Karmic liabilities – an accumulation of negative energy - prevent us from experiencing our indivisible nature. “The cycle of the water houses [of which Pisces is the last and most mature] shows the process of gaining consciousness through assimilating the essence of the past and letting go of the residue which has outlived its usefulness.”

This new moon is Pisces is an ideal moment to notice and acknowledge the things you have let go, and the things that you continue to carry. There is the opportunity for purification here. An opportunity to wash away anything that constrains our soul and spirit and separates us from source. Pisces is co-ruled by Jupiter and Neptune. Jupiter is the planet of expansion and Neptune is the planet of mystery. This new moon invites us to connect to – to expand into – the mystical unknown. Our universe, which is ever-expanding, is largely unknown. It is a cosmic mystery. “More is unknown than is known. We know how much dark energy there is because we know how it affects the universe's expansion. Other than that, it is a complete mystery. But it is an important mystery. It turns out that roughly 68% of the universe is dark energy. Dark matter makes up about 27%. The rest - everything on Earth, everything ever observed with all of our instruments, all normal matter - adds up to less than 5% of the universe. Come to think of it, maybe it shouldn't be called "normal" matter at all, since it is such a small fraction of the universe.” More than any other sign, Pisces is at home with the unknown and the formless. It was the theories of Piscean Albert Einstein, which first allowed for the possible existence of dark energy: an unknown form of energy that affects the universe on the largest scales.

Along with the mystery, there is also a sense of sacred pause with this new moon. It is pre-quest. A time to tune in, so we may hear the hero’s call to action. A time to be rather than do. Piscean energy is open, receptive and sensitive. There is nothing to do here. No to do lists. No ‘shoulds’. We don’t need to initiate with this new moon, we just need to feel.

Some long energetic cycles are closing out, and new ones are beginning. On 23rd March, Pluto – which has a 248-year orbit around the sun – is moving from Capricorn, where it has been since 2008, into Aquarius, where it will stay until 2044. Pluto represents death and rebirth and historically, its transit through Aquarius has seen times of accelerated change. Revolution and rebellion. Upheaval and innovation. Saturn is also moving from Aquarius into Pisces on March 7th, where it will stay (with the exception of a few months) until 2026. Saturn is about structure, where Pisces is boundless. Saturn could either constrain or transform here.

What is the best way to work with this new supermoon in Pisces? Not to “work” at all. This moon is inviting us to slow it right down. To take a sacred pause and expand into ourselves. To tap into the mystery within and without. There is a beautiful simplicity to this moon. It is transcendental. If you do feel drawn to ritual, you could use water to create your own purification rite. Take a rebirthing bath or shower and visualise washing away all that you no longer need; washing away the karmic “residue” that Stephen Arroyo talks about.

Image credit: NASA

Quote from Astrology, Karma and Transformation by Stephen Arroyo (CRCS Publications, 1992) p. 14

NASA quote: What is dark energy?

Lynsey Allett17 February 2023