Climb mountains to see lowlands. Chinese Proverb

The man who removes a mountain begins by carrying away small stones. Anon

Success is not counted by how high you have climbed but by how many people you brought with you. Wil Rose

It is the ultimate wisdom of the mountains that a man is never more a man than when he is striving for what is beyond his grasp. James Ramsey Ullman

Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. Seek what they sought. Basho

If you wish to know the road up the mountain, ask the man who goes back and forth on it. Zenrin

First there is a mountain, then there is no mountain, then there is.  Zen Aphorism

Life at the top is financially rewarding, spiritually draining, physically exhausting, and short. Peter C. Newman

Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there. John Wooden

Occuring on January 16 in the US and January 17 in Australia, the first new Moon of 2018 is quite an archetypal one for Capricorn. It speaks of ambition, whatever kind of ambition that might be - it might be social, physical, spiritual, the attainment of a particular goal. The Symbol is Capricorn 27: A MOUNTAIN PILGRIMAGE - it could barely be more archetypal. Of course, there's all kinds of ambition, and, we're not all mountain goats able to traverse rocky outcrops and high altitudes and the refined air that we can find ourselves having to negotiate. This kind of ambition can point us in many different possible trajectories, but, one thing is for sure, we may be feeling the need to scale some heights we might not have even considered before. We may, of course, become more and more sure footed, more sure of where we're going, what we need and what we want.

And, talk about letting go of the past and embracing the new; Uranus is squaring the Sun and the Moon and Venus, and, it's quincunxing (150 degree aspect - I call the quincunx the 'the itch that's difficult to scratch' aspect) Mars... This (all of these Uranus transits) can have us champing at the bit to get going, to do something new, to break through old barriers, to let go of old habits, people, possessions, attitudes, mind-sets, etc. We may feel like this is finally a chance at a new beginning - a new way to take on the world. We may be quite firm in our decisions, and, this could surprise some around us who may have expected us to merely continue on as before.

Mars may be quincunx Uranus, but, at least it's sextiling (60 degree aspect) the Sun and the Moon and Venus, and, the sextile goes on for a few days after the new Moon, bringing added impetus to get things going.

Jupiter is squaring the nodes, but, it is trining Neptune, so, this can be a time where we assess how and what we owe our allegiances to. We may find ourselves short on patience with those who are on the 'other side of the fence', or, who continually stir up trouble. We might feel a need to move away from those who bring us down, those who concentrate on (or only see) the negative.

Jupiter is on a very interesting degree that often brings up women's issues - Scorpio 20: A WOMAN DRAWING
ASIDE TWO DARK CURTAINS THAT CLOSED THE ENTRANCE TO A SACRED PATHWAY - we see the 'curtains drawn aside' so we can see down that dark pathway, that sacred path. Certainly, it can be seen as a 'rabbit hole' - where it leads to, nobody knows, but, we often have to venture down new pathways or we stay stuck in situations, events, relationships, places, or whatever, long after we're supposed to. This Symbol, especially as Mars recently traversed it, is very much about the women's movements going on, the MeToo movement, etc. Jupiter is illuminating that pathway for all of us. That feminine pathway that can be dark and mysterious, but, certainly can be very rewarding.

It's very interesting to note that the next degree (the Quest Degree) of Jupiter is Scorpio 21: OBEYING HIS CONSCIENCE, A SOLDIER RESISTS ORDERS. This is a very interesting degree, and Jupiter goes onto this degree a week or so after this new Moon. It often speaks of people 'leaving their posts', resigning, not doing the job they signed up for, leaving, deserting, saying no when society expects them to say yes, etc. It is a degree that can speak of defiance, but, it can also signal the need to follow your conscience, to not go against the dictates of your mind and heart. If something feels 'wrong' or bad or ill-advised, this degree can speak about moving past it or away from it. Of course, it can also speak of someone not doing what they are meant to do. This degree can be freeing or frustrating; it all depends on how it's manifesting in your life. Certainly, it seems, someone, and this could be someone in your life, or in the political life or your nation, in business or whatever, is likely to be dropping out in some way. This can also, of course, show people doing the wrong thing, deserting their post in times of need, up and running off if things get a little hard or dicey.

Mars is on a Symbol that speaks about the desire, or the need, to see what's really going on, what's the truth and what might be revealed if have the ability to really 'see' into those dark spaces that might not be so easy to peer down. Mars is on Scorpio 25: AN X-RAY PHOTOGRAPH THAT HELPS WITH THE DIAGNOSIS - quite the archetypal Scorpio degree. Mars on this degree can have us wanting to look down that path, to see what's been hidden from truth, to find an accurate picture of our lives. And, of course, as always, this manifest on a personal, spiritual, physical and/or political level. What can you discern is really happening?

There's always more to say, but, you can find some added information by looking at the Sabian Symbol placements below.

Help by donating to this newsletter, the website, this work continuing...

To donate, through Paypal, use this link Support The Symbols.

Or, if you don't use Paypal, use this link Support The Symbols. 

The new Moon each month marks a time of new beginnings and realisations. It's like a birth after a time of gestation or being 'in the womb'. Here, the light begins to return and we can see new beginnings and possibilities. A new Moon means that the Sun and the Moon are both together - bringing a synergy of their energies together. The new Moon is a perfect time to set your intentions for the future. This period is wonderful for planting seeds of whatever kind. What do you want to manifest in your future? Whether you write it down, sing about it or just hold the thought forms in your mind, doing this at the new Moon can realise some fabulous results around the things that you want to draw into your life.

---

 The new Moon is on Capricorn 27: A MOUNTAIN PILGRIMAGE - the following is from my book The Sabian Oracle: 360 Degrees Of Wisdom - 

Commentary: ‘A Mountain Pilgrimage’ shows the human need to strive further, to go places that few people go and to take risks in the hope of reaching a somewhat “exalted” place. Taken literally, a ‘Mountain Pilgrimage’ can be difficult, risky and even downright life threatening, especially to those who are old, frail, in ill health or simply unfit. However, the ‘Pilgrimage’ can manifest on many levels, from wanting to reach and attain the “highest office” in a company or a country, all the way to desiring and striving for ascension to higher levels of other-worldly or spiritual attainment.

Oracle: In the situation facing you, there may be a need to strive and to learn more on your path to understanding and fulfillment. You may feel the desire to follow those who have gone before you in order to achieve a true sense of inner fulfillment and achievement. The effort that you have to expend is sometimes great, but, then, so can be the rewards. A keen sense of ambition that knows few limitations or boundaries, can lead to the top, even though it might be a steep climb. This ‘Pilgrimage’ can signal the need to get back to the purer elements of life and finding one’s spiritual grounding. The effort involved in the ‘Mountain Pilgrimage’ can take you away from friends and family, and those things that have been familiar and comforting to you. However, you may be surrounded, sometimes above and sometimes below, by people who share the same hopes and visions. These aren’t necessarily the friends and family that you are used to sharing your life with, but people you meet up with on the journey. Still, this may be a lonely journey, whether you are with others or not. Regardless, keep striving – it may be well worth the time and effort as you work to reach your own ‘Mountain’ top.

Keywords: Ascent in consciousness. Spiritual, material, corporate or political striving. Having an entourage of people (or wanting one). Aloneness and separation. Setting off to somewhere else. Going on a mission. Finding one’s spiritual grounding. Getting back to the purer elements of life. Ambitions to get to the top. Wanting the highest office in the land.

The Caution: High moral stands with no depth of feeling. Feeling “high above” others. Feelings of being, or acting like, an ascended being. Haughtiness. Intellectual snobbery. People scrambling for the top. The “tall poppy” syndrome. Ambitions that know no bounds. People ridiculing others for their lesser position. Spiritual or corporate struggling for position.

To continue reading this new Moon newsletter, click here. 

---