The New Moon taking place on January 27th is a unique and hopeful start to a new lunar month. The   Moon and Sun will be exactly conjunct in the sign of CAPRICORN at 7:00 pm Eastern Standard Time and is the moment that ends the last lunar month and starts the beginning of the next lunar month.

The New Moon is always a time best used for introspection and healing on the mental, emotional and energetic levels.  This particular New Moon is significant because the entire cycle is accompanied by two major planetary changes which take place within the New Moon cycle itself.  As many are aware, it is also the Chinese New Year!

We live in times of change within just about every aspect of society, and many individuals are also being pushed to change their viewpoint and consciousness.  Unless one is a person who relishes change, the average human ego resists change and that resistance can cause one to live in fear, anger, and even depression. I would never deny the severity of the problem in the White House, but I also don’t believe that we have to live in misery and fear because of it.  Fear was one of the tools used by those in power to stage their 2016 coup.  When we choose to view all of life through a negative lens,  we miss all kinds of opportunities to feel joy, forget to be grateful for what we do have that is good and, most of all, we become victims of life.

This New Moon is taking place along with Saturn leaving Scorpio (26th) and Venus entering Pisces (27th) which gives a positive power to the birth of this lunar month.  (In many ways, despite the battle we may have ahead of us, it astrologically marks the end of the dark time which gave us the current occupant of the White House.) This a truly good New Moon for cleansing, healing and walking into the future with courage and hope; we can and should participate!

Just as one doesn’t have to see the oxygen in order to utilize its properties, one does not have to see the energetics of the chakra system within each of us in order for their properties to affect us.  Scientists have learned to measure oxygen, and healers can also measure the dynamics of the chakra system along with all of the nadis and meridian points connected to the primary chakras.  Whenever one goes to a holistic healer, it is this energy that is used to help restore balance to the body.  Even though many of today’s yoga systems avoid teaching the principles of yoga, the postures and pranayamas are based on the effects they will have on the energetic system of the human body.

Planetary rays are connected to the chakras as well, and this New Moon is presenting us with an opportunity to balance out the chakras which are the invisible midwives to our physical existence. The Moon and the Sun share rulership of the Ajna Chakra which is also known as the Sixth Chakra or Third Eye. There are two petals associated with the Ajna Chakra and each is assigned to one of the petals.  The Moon represents the mind, and the Sun represents the soul.  When the Ajna is strongly balanced and an individual is not operating from the level of the ego, the intuition will work in conjunction with both the soul and universal mind.  Some people are born with this inherent ability, and some will come to it through meditation and the courage to be truly self-aware.

Saturn is assigned rulership over the Muladhara or 1st chakra located at the base of the spine. This chakra is concerned with security, longevity of the physical life, structure, and control.  If this chakra is not balanced it creates blocks which can manifest in deep fear resulting in a poverty, poor health, chaos, and lack of self-control.  A strong 1st chakra without any guiding principles can result in greed, lack of empathy, power-lust and, ultimately, bitter meanness.

Venus is the ruler of the Anahata or 4th chakra which is located in the center of the chest area.  This chakra is the balance point of the upper/spiritual chakras and the lower/mundane chakras.  We are all spiritual beings experiencing life in a physical body and can’t go through life operating via the energy of just the physically concerned chakras or the spiritually concerned chakras – a meeting of the chakras in the heart center results in a life well-lived. (A good visual representation of this principle can be found in the Star of David.) The Anahata is the seat of our capacity for love, compassion and expansion.

The beauty of this New Moon is the opportunity it affords us to work on strengthening and balancing these three planets and their energy centers.  Saturn in the sign of Sagittarius, as the planet of the people, will be working with us to push back against the powerful ruled by Sagittarius who have abused their power for so long – Saturn will be in Sagittarius for two and a half years. Venus, as the planet of love and compassion, is going to go retrograde which means he will be in Pisces, his sign of exaltation, for four months and he will give us the opportunity to heal and balance.  We can work with this New Moon energy to give a push to the energetics of these planets and chakras to heal, hope, and tune into the higher frequencies of the Ajna chakra.

Techniques for the New Moon

If possible try to be working with this energy around the time of the exact conjunction but, if that is not possible, this energy can be worked with throughout the weekend.

Eating lightly is always recommended for the New Moon.

The Moon is the mind, and contemplating the events of Saturn in Scorpio is worthwhile.  What has been learned through the denial of desires for the past two and half years?  What is needed to feel truly secure?  Have there been people who acted in betrayal?  Can they be forgiven? Has a person who passed on been truly mourned?  How have dreams and aspirations changed?  Has spirituality or consciousness changed?

Contemplate your writings and, if drawn to a ritual, the writings can be burned even over the kitchen sink.  Chant the seed sound for the 6th chakra – Om/Aum.

Energize the 1st chakra through some gentle exercise.  Picture a red tube of light going from the base of the spine into the earth and affirm that you do not need the fear and that it is only the ego which is threatened.  Start a journal of affirmations and positive plans. Chant the seed sound for the 1st chakra – Lam.(Lahm)

The 4th chakra can be energized by visualizing the Star of David or a deep green emerald or a lotus right in the center of the chest.  Focus on love for others and self along with a sense of compassion for others. Chant the seed sound for the 4th chakra – Yam (Yahm).

Chakras respond nicely to sound, visuals, and fragrance.  Bring flowers into the room for your New Moon ritual, burn some incense or other scent and choose uplifting music.  If you do not want to work with the chakras or other techniques, just sit quietly and breathe deeply along with the music and flowers, and enjoy some quiet time.

I would like to remind everyone that Vedic, Hindu, and Eastern Astrologers use sidereal placements or the “observable planetary placements,” and the placement will not match those of western astrologers or what is in magazines and newspapers.

There are many systems of chakra interpretation.  The one I use is based on the combination of Vedic Astrology and the ancient teachings of yoga.  This does not indicate that other systems are incorrect; it is simply what I choose according to my own education and practice.

*Thank you Atma Amita for editing this especially on such short notice. All of the commas thank you for including them in this.