I never knew there was such a thing, but I just discovered that today (October 13th)  is National Face your Fears Day.  This is rather appropriate astrologically because today the Moon is in Capricorn, the sign of pragmatism and doing what it takes to make things happen.  This morning (EDT) the Moon conjoins Pluto, the planet of fear and compulsions (as well as empowerment and transformation), and later today the Moon will align in a challenging square to Saturn, the planet that tests us and teaches us responsibility and discipline.

Throughout my life I have admired those who appear to courageously put aside their fears and go for what they want because I myself have not been so brave.  With Moon conjunct Pluto, I was born with a predisposition to feel that I was in danger, and my life experiences mirrored and reinforced those fears.

With such an intimate relationship with Pluto in my chart, I’ve learned a lot about fear.  I have always loved the quote “a coward lives a thousand deaths; the hero only one.”  I would like to say that I have mastered the art of facing my fears with courage and have found total empowerment in doing so, but I am still merely a student.

Facing your fears will take you only so far, and focusing on the fear as you face it can give it additional power.  Creating a vision of what your life will look like when you have moved beyond the fear can be a powerful motivator.  When we are focused on the positive changes that moving beyond fear will bring, the fear will begin to die away and the exhilaration of breaking through to a more authentic self will take its place.

So today, with the Capricorn Moon encouraging us to make a plan and apply a disciplined approach (square to Saturn) to creating transformation in our life (Pluto), let’s honor National Face your Fears Day by transmuting our fears into courage and passion! (Need help taking those next steps?  Try myVisioncrafting Self Guided Journal!!)