The Rat is first in the order of all the Chinese zodiac animals. According to one folktale, the Jade Emperor decided that the order of the animals would be determined according to the order by which they arrived at his party. Rat cleverly convinced the Ox to give him a ride.

This month’s lunation in Capricorn is also a solar eclipse, which occurs when the new moon is in close proximity to the Nodes of the Moon.  In this case, the Sun and Moon join the South Node and Jupiter in Capricorn, with a wide conjunction to the ongoing transits of Saturn and Pluto. 

Of all the planetary forces in Astrology, the influence of the Moon is the most personal and prominent in our everyday lives. Coupled with the Sun, She was the first heavenly body to capture the imagination of our most primitive ancestors. 

Along with “working the phases” of the Moon, I encourage you to consider creating a Lunar Altar each month.  Your lunar altar is a place to help you focus your intentions, seek spiritual clarity and support to achieve your goals (the lunar work of that month), and demonstrate your value and respect for this work. 

During the Capricorn Lunation we become more sensitive to resources, their conservation and how efficiently we use them.   We may experience the need to expand our understanding of resources beyond the physical realm to include less tangible things of value, like energy and time, innate talents, or love of family and friends. 

The New Moon of Scorpio begins a yearly month-long process of emotional cleansing and release in order to clear away the emotional debris remaining from unfinished emotional business (like shame, resentment, sadness, fear) that limits us and keeps us from being the divine children of God/Goddess that we truly are.