“The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking.”  – Albert Einstein

The New Moon is at 7 degrees of Sagittarius on November 29th. It forms an exact conjunction with asteroid Juno, and a square with Neptune and the Lunar Nodes. In Sagittarius, the combined influence of the luminaries with Juno highlights partnerships and unions based on higher values, nurturing of the intellect, respect for each other’s differences and a passionate search for truth. Its dark side, especially in stressful aspects involving Neptune entails self-righteousness, religious and/or political fanaticism, inappropriate or misguided self-sacrifice, deception and victimization.

Neptune has been a year-long influence due to a square by Saturn in Sagittarius since August 2015, now fading in effect. The Neptunian themes of delusion, confusion, psychic pain and past life review are not over however, as Saturn and Chiron, the Wounded Healer in Pisces move into a square to be fully activated in the new year of 2017. The wounds that were not healed, the debris that was not discarded, the lies that were only partially uncovered and the memories that were stirred this past year are drawn up yet again with this New Moon and in the weeks ahead.

Venus in Capricorn forms a square with Uranus and Ceres in Aries. This and along with the four planets (Sun, Moon, Saturn, Mercury) in Sagittarius calls for radical honesty and a heavy price to pay for deceit. Much of this has already been going down in the political arena and the dominoes will continue to fall over the next few months. Intense conflicts and opposing views can cause separations and loss on a grand scale.

Sagittarius favors culture and expanded education. Like all fire signs, this one does not shrink away from challenge but embraces it wholeheartedly. Whenever this sign is emphasized, more of us dare to think and do things that were previously not known or comfortable. What is something you have long wanted to do that you’ve been afraid of initiating?

Every now and then the words of one of my great-grandmothers resounds in my memory:

“Life is constant battle!” she would exclaim after telling a story, particularly in relation to surviving the Armenian genocide…

…but I remember her as a happy little lady, ever-so-loving and grateful for all that life had blessed her with. As I grew older, I began to truly understand her words more clearly and adopted them as a sort of mantra, especially in situations that seemed extremely bad or good. This mantra reminds me that things can always be a lot worse, not to rest on my laurels, never to settle for less than what I deem as worthy and just, and that if life’s not a “bitch” in some way, shape or form I must be overlooking or doing something wrong.

Contrary to New Age belief, people don’t automatically change their reality by ignoring what’s ugly and only reciting positive happy affirmations to themselves (as if they are trying super hard to drill them into their thick skulls). Believe me, I tried all that as a teen and it didn’t work. It began to feel like a form of denial and it eventually became evident that denial only leads to escapism, addiction and self-pity. What did work was accepting this life as battle, putting on my armor, picking up my spear and going forward full tilt.

I’m not sharing any of this as gospel, but just as my own personal philosophy and experience. It also seems relevant to the Times. When one acknowledges life’s battles for what they are, there is no more room for complaining. There is only choice in how to engage or give up. Accepting the reality of battle, of hardship and of hell on Earth was actually liberating for me. It meant that I no longer held onto false promises or waited for approval and rewards from others. I gave up hope for “lollipops”, pats on the back, gold stars and Nirvana. Suddenly, so much came into focus.

Whatever principles one adheres to ultimately shape life’s experiences for better or worse. These principles can be positive or negative, religious or not, inclusive or exclusive. What really matters is what results they produce both internally and externally. Do these results weigh on the side of healing or destruction? Enlightenment or ignorance? Dishonor or valour?

“Stand for something or you will fall for anything.”

Some more questions to ask during this Sagittarius New Moon (there are no Right or Wrong answers – just food for thought):

What are you seeking for and why?

What are you fighting for and why?

What are you holding on to and why?

Whose thoughts are you thinking? Why?