Moon entered high-flying Sagittarius at 1:31AM ET, offering the opportunity to lighten up as it joins the  equally high-flying Sagittarius Sun. Did you note your dreams upon waking? I know I was somewhere quite fantastic, no doubt courtesy of a rose-colored challenge to the Moon from (dreamy) Neptune at 5:54AM ET. That aspect, and a tech and people-friendly connection between Moon and innovative Uranus (Happy Cyber Monday!) are driving this dead-Moon day, until finally….the moment we’ve all been waiting for…the New Moon and a new cycle early this evening. Until then, use this work day to wrap up projects from the old lunar cycle.

The New Moon in  Sagittarius officially begins tonight at  7:22PM ET, offering us an opportunity to re-set  intentions and goals for the next lunar cycle.  Around the 9th, on the First Quarter Moon, we can expect a challenge to those goals, with appropriate adjustments made. At the time of the Full Moon on the 17th, we can expect illumination on the success or failure of our goals for the cycle. If we succeeded, we can consciously release our success into our reality; if we failed, we let go of whatever did not work. After the Third Quarter Moon on the 25th, we can review our achievements, tie up loose ends and get ready to begin another New Moon on January 1st.

Sagittarius refers to collective belief systems —  e.g. law, religion and the philosophical foundations of political inclinations, as well as “big picture” avenues of communicating these beliefs, e.g., publishing, broadcasting and academia. Belief systems are not always factual, yet they’re used to create all sorts of constructs that control how we live in the “real world.” Ooh, deep thought. I had to share it. And needing to share deep thoughts and opinions is very Sagittarian indeed. You don’t have to ask a Sagittarius for input on anything; they’re sure to tell you — bluntly and righteously.  So there.

OK, so. This New Moon. With Sagittarius, the sky’s the limit. Patterns in this New Moon chart are quite optimistic. Mental Mercury (mindset, communication) is under a rose-colored spell cast by nebulous Neptune and in a cooperative alignment with action hero Mars, suggesting an inclination to walk that idealistic talk. You can brainstorm away, and even take a few wobbly steps. Expansive Jupiter is not quite as expansive now, given that it is retrograde, but it is in a harmonious alignment with disciplined Saturn and that’s good for business. Is that good for everyone else?  Well, that’s a matter of opinion, isn’t it?

If you’re one who thrives on disruptions of the status quo, you won’t be disappointed by the headlines as this month progresses. On December 7th, Mars, planet of action, enters Libra, and assertive actions are sure to be noticed. Libra is a partnership-oriented energy, concerned with harmony and balance. Mars is an ego-oriented energy, concerned with exerting will. It’s a challenging placement, unless you’re a warrior for peace. I’ll write more about this later in the week.

On December 17th, we’ll have a Full Moon in Gemini and rebel Uranus turning direct, suggesting more shake-ups as actual facts are revealed. On the 21st, we’ll have the Winter Solstice (a turning point), and Venus (social expression, women, money, beauty) going retrograde in status-conscious Capricorn thru January. That will add to the relationship challenges suggested by Mars in Libra, which will become more prominent through these last days of December. How so? Because Mars — and also the Sun — will make contact with the never-ending Uranus-Pluto square (exact 12/25, 12/30 & 1/1/14),  suggesting news from underground, technological breakthroughs, accidents and acts of aggression/rebellion that demand our focus. Stay tuned to this channel for further details.

You will be more personally affected by the intensity of that Mars-Uranus-Pluto challenge if you have a planet or angle between 8-11 degrees of Aries, Libra, Cancer or Capricorn…or if you were born around the 1st of April, July, October or January. You would benefit strongly from a personal astro-logical consultation at this time.

The Sabian Symbol for this New Moon is “the lamp of physical enlightenment in the left temple,” and thank goodness Sabian Symbol guru Blain Bovee has some helpful thoughts on this cryptic image.

An image of being guided by an illumination, an ideal sense of physical reality. Imagine getting up in the night and walking into an object in the darkness. In that moment, a flash of enlightenment blazes through the experience, turns on the ‘lamp,’ so to speak…

Sounds like a wake-up call to me. Nothing like getting smacked in the head to effect a change of course — or perhaps get real about a dream. How interesting that this one Symbol captures the start and finish of this lunar cycle, yes?

But why the “left temple?” Bovee writes: “the left temple of the head may refer to the rational, analytical function of the brain, although the left side ever refers to the feminine, creative, receptive capacities of the mind and body.” So fascinating! I can’t quote all five paragraphs of Bovee musing here — just get his book already, won’t you? Bottom line, heed Bovee and  be on the watch for physical experiences that “evoke empathy and insight,” including new ways of understanding physical reality. We may be hearing a lot more from “the left” during this cycle, too — and it will likely be more than talk.

You will be more personally affected by the New Moon if you have a planet or angle around 10-11 degrees of Sagittarius, Gemini, Pisces or Virgo…or if you were born around the 1st of December, June, March or September.

And now, the news.

An initial report cites speed as a possible cause of the commuter rail crash that killed four people in the Bronx on Sunday. Yeah, no kidding: the chart for the crash around 7:20AM 12/1/13 has Mars on an angle. Same thing for the 65-car pile-up that happened about 20 minutes earlier in Western Massachusetts. Coincidence or conspiracy?

Following up on the themes suggested by tonight’s New Moon, here’s an intriguing article that argues that America is not one nation united but actually eleven nations thrown together, each with decidedly different belief systems that define decidedly different realities. How the heck does our federal government get anything done, indeed. Here’s the NYT’s Gail Collins with a fabulously entertaining quiz about some things that have been recently accomplished. Here’s a little test that can tell you if you are left-brained or right-brained. And here’s a little song from The Book of Mormon about the amazing things that people can believe — and how they are inspired to take action.

Oh — Moon voids this week — not many. Tuesday 10:45PM ET – Wednesday 1:49AM ET; Friday 12:31AM ET – 1:53AM ET. Get to work!