This year has been an intense ride of retrogrades and heavy planets moving through big energy. The sky is pretty dark these days, and this New Moon in Sagittarius cast a bit of a shadow on the big energy of both the Sun and Jupiter (planet of expansion, excess, and hope, also Sag’s ruler). The New Moon is always a great time to begin new projects and look to the future and to set goals for the cycle. This particular transit reminded me of Disney’s Hercules, specifically the plot point that when all the planets line up, Hades will be able to unleash the Titans and get revenge on Zeus. Some challenging vibes were stacked up over the last few weeks, with Venus then Mercury retrograde hitting close to home for many. In the movie, though the power of the planets alignment causes chaos to ensue, their transit also enabled Hercules’ coming-of-age, the challenge that would ultimately transform him from mortal to God. The intensity of the moment, if embraced, can lead to transformation, new opportunities, and a better understanding of the self. If you opened one more door into your own mind this month, consider it victory.