New Moon. Black Moon. Black Madonna.
Here’s the story.
When I saw the ‘black moon’ reference for the 18 February Aquarius New Moon at Earthsky.org, the Black Madonna arose in my awareness.
She’s been surfacing for me again anyway in recent months, not that she’s ever that far away.
But there’s always something very timely when the Black Madonna comes calling.
The Black Madonna, like Durga, arises when she’s most needed. Like now. So in that sense, regardless of current moon phase, these are powerful, ancient, timeless issues and energies arising.
How might the Black Moon Aquarius and the Black Madonna be related?
We can only open to inspiration and Divine guidance on that, since both are linked to Mystery and the ‘field of pure potentiality’ from which all manifest life is born.
Let’s look at a few of the symbolic and metaphorical clues and questions, and see what they might tell us, first about the New Moon, Black Moon and then about the Black Madonna.

About this unusual New Moon, Black Moon, Super Moon.
Where the last new moon was at the very entry-point of Aquarius at 0 degrees, this new moon is at the exit of Aquarius, at 29+ degrees … literally just at the cusp of Pisces, on February 18th at 6:48 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
So we’ve had new moons that shine an intense focus on the higher potentials, qualities, and invitations of Aquarius.
This Aquarius New Moon occurs at 29:59 Aquarius … literally moments from its dive into Piscean waters.
The Sabian symbol for that degree is A Butterfly Emerging From Its Chrysalis. How’s that for powerful symbolism?
Do you in any way feel like you’ve been ‘in cocoon’, in that in-between place of metamorphosis? We can likely see some of that out there in culture, too.

But there’s another Sabian symbol for 30 Aquarius, showing just what one emerges from the chrysalis into:
According to Dane Rudyar’s work, the esoteric meaning for the 30 Aquarius sabian is:
“Deeply rooted in the past of a very ancient culture, a spiritual sisterhood & brotherhood in which many individual minds are merged into the glowing Light of a unanimous consciousness is revealed to one who has emerged successfully from her metamorphosis. A unity of consciousness with the World Soul, or anima.”
Sabian symbolist Blain Bovee reads it as “The field of Ardath in bloom,” symbolizing “fruition and continuity” with the ancient spiritual lineage, our spiritual ancestors. Bovee says that it “refers to the culmination of the Aquarian journey. High spiritual sensibilities manifest here.”

So the New Moon heralds a new cycle in which the spiritual potential of bringing those Aquarian values of humaneness, humanity, quirky genius, lightning-bright insight and inspiration, and those ‘higher spiritual sensibities’ into the sensing, feeling realm of Pisces, which also is the home of the Big Love … actual spiritual Wisdom traditions and lineages.
There, in the waters of very sensitive, very spiritual Pisces — the last sign on the Journey of Life wheel — such values and potentials might be lived into as a form of engaged spirituality and/or mystic activism … which means walking the talk rather than just talking it or slapping a handy slogan somewhere, which is no-brainer easy but without any real effect.
“Your actions speak so loudly, I can’t hear what you say.”
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
A New Moon and new cycle asking the question, shining light on the invitations and the potentials of emerging from the chrysalis of initiation — whatever level or realm of initiation we’ve been living — into a higher caliber of spiritual practice and lived-action … or experimenting into, exploring into, living into the questions and intentions of these timeless values, virtues, or intentions.
We re-devote, recommit, rededicate, starting right where we are at this moment.
(Remember, too, that genuine spiritual practice is a form of lived spiritual action, as well as what we’re moved to be and do ‘in the world’.)
The Black Madonna Connection.

I’ve written a lot about the Black Madonna over the years, and will link to one or two of those posts here — they delve more deeply into the meaning, the history, and my own journey of introduction to her Mysteries.
In short, the Black Madonna is the Virgin and Child, Mother Mary and the Christ child. With a twist.
Her blackness is multi-level symbolic, but hints at the depths of the Mysteries … in this case, Christian, but connected by an ancient thread to pre-Christian traditions.
In most appearances, the Black Madonna has a different quality than the sweeter, more etheric Virgin Mary depictions do. The Black Madonna has a sense of deep groundedness, a greater fierceness, a fullness.
In the Salisbury Cathedral, the Dark Madonna presides over a chapel for prayer for ‘prisoners of conscience’, for the disappeared. There’s a clue. Lech Walesa of the Polish Solidarity Movement wore a Black Madonna pin on his lapel and dedicated his Nobel Prize to Her. There’s another clue.
The Black Madonna also came to symbolize that which was oppressed, repressed, abused, powered-over, turned-upon, negated, forgotten. But not lost, simply buried away, gestating, waiting for its time of re-emergence from the Chrysalis.
In this case, Wisdom is what got repressed, shunned, negated, and (it was hoped) erased (but she’s persistent, this one, and had her Keepers of the Flame all along the way).
But by virtue of the symbolism, the Black Madonna:
“… has no qualms with standing for humanity, for Wisdom or the Heart, for authentic being, or standing up to power that has been abused and become tyrannical, oppressive, and socio- and psychopathic. That means outside of us, as well as where we’ve internalized the ‘voice of tyranny’.” (Source: my Rilke and the Black Madonna post – link below.)
As within, so without.
So perhaps we begin to emerge from the hypnosis and ensorcelment of archontic tyranny, both external to us and as we’ve internalized it, maybe even over generations, as tyranny is the enemy of creativity, genius, and true spirituality? And, I’d say, tyranny really is the enemy of Life. Just as the Aquarian Prometheus defied the crusty, power-greedy old-guard and brought fire — Wisdom — to the people.

Here’s a good place to begin in acquainting with or stirring your ancient memory of the Black Madonna tradition (which was as vital in the true core of Christendom as otherwise, for those unfamiliar with the tradition):
You’ll find the Black Madonna (and more) in the audio programs of The Feminine Mojo Mystery School.
Rilke and the Black Madonna – you’ll find links here to other Black Madonna posts, too.
And another – Aqua Sulis & the Black Madonna of Salisbury – What does the Black Madonna stand for?
For others, follow this Black Madonna link or wander to my Dreaming Sophia post for more Sophia’s Children archive posts on the Black Madonna, Sophia, Lilith, Magdalene, Wisdom, and the Way (or Dark Night) initiation into Wisdom. They’re all related, and they’re all re-emerging Mysteries.
And if you really want to delve in and immerse — if you feel the twinge and know or suspect you’re in the initiation path now — send me an email to explore a more personalized curriculum into the Black Madonna, Deep-Feminine Mysteries.
A New Moon is a gateway, a moment, really. But it also — as does any gateway — offer an opportunity to take stock, assess where we are, and very heartfully open to soul-aligned intentions that can guide us forward with a refreshed devotion and dedication to living into those higher spiritual sensibilities in a very embodied (vs. transcendent, lofty, out-of-body) way.
These are times, and initiations accordingly, to bring us to our senses, into our bodies, and down to Earth … spirit in matter, or Mater, as it were.
Today’s Blessing:
May we open to deep Wisdom and our own deep, and shared, humaneness and humanity; may we come our of fear-spin and to our senses; may we have the eyes and ears of our hearts illuminated; and by Grace, may we find our unique ways of expressing that, bringing our genius, into the world.
To explore a Sophiastrology consultation, mentor-coaching, or inquiry into the Wise Guides Apprenticeship:
Current Featured Offerings – Guidance for Now
Big Love and Happy Black Moon,
Featured Image Credit: Dark new, crescent moon. Public domain photo from NASA.
February 17, 2015 at 5:34 pm
SO powerful Jamie!! Your writing is so fluid with a deep spiritual presence. This might sound a little funny but I wish you could see my legs right now – they are absolutely covered in goosebumps! I have been feeling the most intense pulls to shed almost every relationship in my life, I moved out completely on my own (no roommates) for the first time ever, I left my job, and cut off communication with a lot of family. How’s that for sun and Saturn in the third? The last dark moon was incredibly powerful and this one is sure to be another powerhouse of energy. Thanks for supporting your fellow cocooners.
February 17, 2015 at 5:41 pm
Hey there, Amanda. Congratulations on leaping out of the nest and the Great Shedding (and going ‘no contact’ with some familia!) that you’ve moved through. Epic change like that isn’t for the faint-of-heart, so nods to your courage. 🙂 And thank you for your kind words. I’m so glad the post spoke to you like that. The Black Madonna is like that for me … opening the goosebump territory! And you’re a Sun-Saturn woman, too? (Mine are snugged up in Aquarius together.). Sun-Saturn is definitely its own sort of initiation path! Here’s to our Cocoon (and Emergence) Metamorphosis Tribe. 🙂 Love, Jamie
February 17, 2015 at 6:19 pm
You’re SunSaturn too! Now I’ve got even more reasons to love you 🙂 Aquarius Sun Saturn makes a lot of sense for a revolutionary like yourself. Kudos for living up to the challenge. Please tell me it took some serious challenges and growth to get there, right?
As far as Saturn goes, one of my friends said, “Don’t worry about your Saturn Return, your whole life is a Saturn Return.” lol.
February 17, 2015 at 7:00 pm
Yes, indeed, sister, I’m a Sun-Saturn, too. And yeah, it’s been an initiation road more often than not, but there’s this strange thing that happens along the way … this sense of solidity starts to emerge. I like the word ‘gravitas’, and Saturn’s got a wicked-dry, dark wit, so there’s that.
I’m laughing out loud at your friend’s comment “your whole life is a Saturn Return.” Hilarious, and I gotta say, kind of true.
But there’s this rumor … that Saturn is a Master Magia teacher, and not an easy one, but the destination is Wisdom. Saturn rewards come later in life (so ‘they’ say). Let’s hope, eh?
🙂
Love,
Jamie
February 17, 2015 at 5:44 pm
At least I have a safe place to express my feelings, beliefs. At least I hope that is true.
Wendy
“The greatest need of our time is to clean out the enormous mass of mental and emotional rubbish that clutters our minds and makes of all political and social life a mass illness. Without this housecleaning, we cannot begin to see. Unless we see, we cannot think.”
~ Thomas Merton, American writer, mystic, and monk
February 17, 2015 at 5:53 pm
Greetings and welcome, Wendy. Thanks for sharing a bit of Thomas Merton’s wisdom (a synchronicity – I shared a post with that one recently!). This may well be a safe place to express your feelings and beliefs. 🙂 Blessings, Jamie
February 17, 2015 at 7:15 pm
I am delightfully excited about your forecast Jamie. While my Saturn is getting pummeled by both Pluto and Uranus as we speak, I am hardy and resilient and am totally cocooning until April. I am focusing on what is at play within and gently disempowering the obstacles to my awareness.
Also I am interpreting your message galactically as well! This quote really caught my third eye:
“So perhaps we begin to emerge from the hypnosis and ensorcelment of archontic tyranny, both external to us and as we’ve internalized it, as tyranny is the enemy of creativity, genius, and true spirituality? And, I’d say, tyranny really is the enemy of Life. Just as the Aquarian Prometheus defied the crusty, power-greedy old-guard and brought fire — Wisdom — to the people.”
Aquarius is about waking up by Uranus the great awakener and I see this as part of the ascension process that is spiraling through our physical world with its duality and density.
Thank you for illuminating my path a bit more brighter!
hugs,
Linda
February 17, 2015 at 7:26 pm
Hey there, Linda!
Wonderful, as always, to have you share you beautiful voice in the conversation.
And, ouch, yeah, Saturn being Ur-Pluto’d. No wonder that particular forecast-excerpt spoke to you! 🙂
It does take resilience for sure, as we know, and also times when the ‘battering’ simply brings us to our knees (I spent a lot of time there, I can tell you) and we just stay there for a bit, resting, gathering, integrating, before standing up again.
And a lot happens in those cocoons, too … a caterpillar goes to goo and then gets remade as a butterfly, but the design was in there all the time!
I’m glad you’re fortifying yourself … it’s important to gather energy back and fortify the Lifeforce during times like these … particularly in the midst of and following those initiation segments. Maybe I’ll write a bit more about this sometime soon, since it’s incubating.
Prayers and blessings to you! Love, Jamie
February 18, 2015 at 12:08 am
Reblogged this on Laura Bruno's Blog and commented:
A beautiful post by Jamie! I especially love this part:
“In this case, Wisdom is what got repressed, shunned, negated, and (it was hoped) erased (but she’s persistent, this one, and had her Keepers of the Flame all along the way).
“But by virtue of the symbolism, the Black Madonna:
“’… has no qualms with standing for humanity, for Wisdom or the Heart, for authentic being, or standing up to power that has been abused and become tyrannical, oppressive, and socio- and psychopathic. That means outside of us, as well as where we’ve internalized the ‘voice of tyranny’.’”
Much more when you click through….
February 18, 2015 at 3:54 pm
Thank you for the reblog, Laura! And happy Black Madonna new moon (and Year of the Wood Sheep). Love, Jamie
February 19, 2015 at 5:01 pm
Many thanks for this Post Jamie.. I needed to read your excellent post today.. And I hope I break out of this misty fog soon.. And flex my wings.. Talk about a roller coaster of emotions recently.. I know partly it can be planetary influences too..
Again thank you for your visits..
And I hope to explore your blog in more depth very soon once I am fully alert and energised.. 🙂
Blessings
Sue
February 19, 2015 at 5:06 pm
You’re most welcome, Sue. Believe it or not, the Black Madonna arises again for me when I need her as well, and I’m very happy to let that overflow into our shared sphere. I’m listening deeply to her again now and will have more to share, no doubt! It sounds like you’re in the Neptune zone, and yes, these ever-wild energy/planetary influences really do feel like a rollercoaster! Be well, Sue. Love, Jamie
February 19, 2015 at 8:11 pm
Jamie, I’m curious if you’ve had a lot of experiences with Our Lady of Guadalupe, who is often considered the Black Madonna of North America. She was a powerful figure in my life from 2001-2003. At the time, she seemed to bring more curses than blessings, almost like a bad luck charm, but in retrospect, I see that she protected me from things that those “blessings” or even just “mercy,” would have eventually summoned down on me. There’s definitely a timing element with the Black Madonna, and her values are often 180 from the world’s. I am grateful she made her presence so strongly known at that time, because now, 12-13 years later, I can fully appreciate her wisdom and true compassion.
Just curious if you’ve had any connection with Our Lady of Guadalupe and if so, did you find her a most inside out, upside down kind of Goddess to work with? She certainly made her presence known in magical ways –which is why at the time, the results of her presence seemed so bizarre, although I left room for alternate interpretation because of the weird signatures she’d always leave.
Love,
Laura
February 19, 2015 at 8:41 pm
Hey there, Laura. That’s a great question and exploration. I’ve not worked deeply with the Lady of Guadalupe, though she’s been in the background here and there (having lived as long as I did in San Francisco, where there were wee Guadalupe shrines in many favorite places).
But the Black Madonna in general? Most definitely “a most inside out, upside down kind of Goddess to work with? She certainly made her presence known in magical ways –which is why at the time, the results of her presence seemed so bizarre…” That’s a fine way to phrase it.
I’m sure the different manifestations and ‘faces’ of the Black Madonna have their unique essence, with a shared core-essence … that deep, earthy, rich, fecund, solid like onyx, feral … the list could go on. It’s interesting to see which facet/face/expression calls out to us …
One thing I do sense from my experience, is that She calls us, for better or (sometimes it seems) for worse, into her Mysteries and initiations. And those experiences and Mysteries are harder to articulate, though I’ve tried over the years and will continue to as it bubbles up. 🙂
And I do know that a few people found Her call frightening and backed away from it. As for me, I was already deep in it, so there wasn’t a question of stepping back … and I’m not sure if that works anyway.
But yes, “inside out and upside down” is a signature, among others, though it may be the particular time, too. Do you still sense or experience that when the Guadalupe comes a-visiting?
Love,
Jamie
February 19, 2015 at 9:36 pm
Well, at the time, She became associated in my mind and experience with losing vast, vast sums of money. Every time she showed up, in fact, I’d lose anywhere between tens of thousands to far more dollars — so that I came to think of her as such a jinx that anytime I saw her, I assumed I was on the wrong financial track. I did my best to avoid her for awhile, because I didn’t think I could afford to lose anymore money. It really was quite extreme. Either immediately before, during or immediately after (or all three) a major financial blow, I’d receive a card, photo, candle, book, email or message with her image or name on it. Like clockwork.
Many years later, I realized that she was protecting me from certain people who would *never* have let me go if I had remained a cash cow to them. At the time I kind of had that sense, but the fullness of its truth did not reveal itself until much, much later.
Truth be told, the Dark Goddess with whom I’ve most connected in recent years is the Morrigan, who has been very kind to me. She’s not a Black Madonna, but she does have that Mama Bear energy to protect her own. Through my experiences with the Morrigan and also reading Great Cosmic Mother, I’m tentatively flirting with the idea of reconnecting with the Guadalupe, but I may opt for a different Black Madonna just to have a more neutral experience. That feeling of the jinx is still a bit there.
Love,
Laura
February 19, 2015 at 9:53 pm
Mmm, yeah, that’d give a sense of jinx for sure. Thank you for sharing that from your experience; those losses and the little Guadalupe ‘calling cards’ would have been alarming. That said, I know I, too, got shaken loose, e.g. Big Losses, in areas that may have struck to the core of my biggest fears, layer by layer, or ‘who I thought I was’, if that makes sense. There may or may not be a similar facet in your experience; you’d have a better sense of that.
But I’ll share this from an older Sophia’s Children post … one of a series I’ll re-feature because this one seems to have struck a chord.
http://femininemojo.typepad.com/ssww/2007/05/scary_black_mad.html
I associate the Dark Goddess with the Dark/Black Madonna, so like you, I see the connections between them, and the Great She who is beneath them … maybe that’s a better phrasing!
I wonder too if maybe the Guadalupe surfaced at a certain time, or with that message about those who saw you as the ‘cash cow’ (boy do I recognize that one!), etc.?
Follow your instincts … it may well be that another expression of the Black Madonna may be more timely for you now. For me, to my surprise, it was the Montserrat Black Madonna, though she appeared to me a second time in a much more humble place, in the shadow of the great famous basilica of Montserrat (where I saw her ‘hoarded’). I’ll put that archived post in the re-feature queue as well.
One thing I like doing and have really found a practice in itself is to use google-images and search for black madonna dark madonna and just browse through the images. You’ll see several whose essence and energy draw you more than others.
And I’ve learned to pray ‘by the Grace of God’ constantly … to avert the calling of ‘Alakshmi’ every time I call ‘Lakshmi’ (that tradition says that any time Lakshmi shows up, her ‘opposite’ sister, Alakshmi sneaks in the back door. Note to self!).
It sounds like a gentler experience with Morrigan, and that Mama Bear energy is most welcome in these times, isn’t it?
Love,
Jamie
February 19, 2015 at 10:32 pm
Thanks for the link, Jamie. I think a lot of it had to do with where I was, both figuratively and literally, at that time in my life. I lived in many towns on the direct line of the Guadalupe “trail,” and it was also the time at which I was throwing off the patriarchy, while still trying to recover from a completely debilitating brain injury. Nonetheless, money would come in for me in big ways at the right time, but whenever it disappeared in vast sums, Guadalupe would leave her calling card.
What’s ironic, is that Guadalupe is seen by her devotees as completely compassionate and gentle, a patroness of the poor. In my life, she just made me poor, LOL! On the other hand, it was the “lack” of funds that eventually enabled me to wriggle out of some very restrictive relationships.
By contrast, the Morrigan is usually one of the scariest Goddesses. My theory is that’s because she’s a goddess of the Land and of Sovereignty. If you wanted to take over a culture and land, then you’d want to demonize Her for sure! I agree with your statement in your linked article: “If you were privy, you knew it was just a mask. If you were not privy, and perhaps there out of ‘parlor game’ curiosity or a desire to do harm, you would be scared away by what might seem to you a Demon.”
For me, the Morrigan has been most kind, and not just in terms of finances. In pretty much everything to do with Sovereignty and the Land in all the manifestations of these. The “gentle” Guadalupe, though? Ohhhhhhhh, shiver me timbers! LOL!! There’s been a huge resurgence of the Morrigan calling priestesses and followers in the past several years. I suspect the state of our world is a big reason why. I feel so encouraged that She’s rising. She’s not been this active since Avalon. 🙂
Thanks and Love,
Laura
February 19, 2015 at 10:41 pm
Thanks, Laura. I thought the same when I read what you shared of your experience with the Lady of Guadalupe … from what little I knew and from the beautiful images (usually surrounded with wee faery lights and candles; gorgeous!) … “she looks so kind and sweet.” Famous final words, eh? 😉
And yeah, maybe with some it’s timely for the initiation experience, or maybe also ‘out of sync’ energetically somehow.
But so cool about your experience with Morrigan. It’s funny, isn’t it? The ones who are supposed to be so ‘scary’ and end up being our true guides, initiatrixes, and protectresses! Have you posted about your experiences with Morrigan (other than what you’ve shared here, which is rich!)? It’d be great to read those as they’ve bubbled forth (and as they continue to do so).
It really is encouraging that the Great She is arising like that. You can probably remember this as well, even over the last ten years. When I immersed in the Black Madonna, there was almost nothing published or available about her. Seven years later, and onward, more and more. Just as you’ve noted with the priestesses and devotees of Morrigan over the last several years.
“She’s not been this active since Avalon.” 🙂 That’s pretty exciting. She emerges because she’s needed now more than ever (or at least from our perspective in this lifetime!).
Thanks for sharing!
Love,
Jamie
February 19, 2015 at 11:02 pm
Yes, I do remember, there was very little on the Black Madonna ten years ago. I started researching Her because of my experiences with the Guadalupe, which I personally found red — as in “in the red” — rather than Black, but then I just wound up with a different Dark Goddess, who seems a far better fit for me. I’ve written on the Dark Goddess, the Sacred Feminine and the Dark Mother many times, but not specifically on the Morrigan.
With the Morrigan, it’s generally wise to wait until the right timing. She’s up there with Hecate and Medusa as one of the Big Scaries to those without eyes or hearts to know Her, but She’s actually VERY sensitive. I only mention Her in contexts when I don’t think someone will accidentally (or purposely) insult Her. She’s got quite the live wire Faery temper. Best not to set people up to provoke Her.
I will post on Her specifically if I feel led. I do share about Her with many people –especially women who need Mama Bear protection — just selectively. Apparently, She can be very demanding, although I seem to have “prepaid” or pre-sacrificed. She’s just very loving and kind to me, but then, that’s how I’ve always been with Her. She’s very Fae. If you “get” Fae (the real Fae, not Disney), then you “get” Her, and She is ever so loyal and kind.
Love,
Laura
February 19, 2015 at 11:17 pm
Beautiful, Laura, and yes, I totally understand on the ‘right timing’ and the selective shares.
One can ‘write about’ them, and that’s a fine thing to plant the seeds for those who are looking, but when it comes to the deeper relationship, it’s experiential ‘for those who have the eyes to see and the ears to hear’ as it goes.
As with any of these mysteries, as we know, it’s unwise to dabble disingenuously or without ‘soberness’ or the proper respect, as they’re powerful energies and facets of consciousness.
As David Foster Wallace said, “The truth will set you free. But not until it is finished with you.” The same is the case with the Dark (Whole) Mother, in any of her expressions.
Thanks again for sharing from your experience, and being in conversation about the dark goddess ‘way’. 🙂 Always fun.
Love,
Jamie
February 20, 2015 at 6:14 am
Reblogged this on Forever Unlimited and commented:
I’m getting chills…
“The Black Madonna, like Durga, arises when she’s most needed. Like now. So in that sense, regardless of current moon phase, these are powerful, ancient, timeless issues and energies arising….”
February 20, 2015 at 1:11 pm
Thank you for reblogging this Black Madonna post, Phoenix Firebird! I do appreciate that. Blessings, Jamie
November 3, 2015 at 5:35 pm
Thank you for including the Sophia’s Children link in your post, Malcolm. Much appreciated. 🙂 ~ Jamie