Category Archives: Configurations

This ‘n That, On The Way to the Lunar Eclipse of 30 November 2020

24 Tuesday Nov 2020

Posted by in astrology, Configurations, current events in the sky, eclipse, Full Moon, Lunar Eclipse, Retrogrades + Directions, Sabian Symbols

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By Étienne Léopold Trouvelot 1882 Buy prints of his extraordinary work at https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/the-trouvelot-astronomical-drawings-1882

The upcoming eclipse is a Full Moon at 8 Gemini 38 at 1:26 AM PST of the 30th, and as with every Full Moon, we’re likely already feeling a building tension, attached to some matter either in the natal House where the eclipse occurs, or in some Lunar-related area of our lives (and that can be something involving your Lunar placement, something ruled by the Moon in the natal chart, or a Lunar topic in general, such as mothering, intuition, or nurture). This one, though, being an eclipse, brings a wipe-out to some kind of thinking that has become outmoded, shakes up ideas or perceptions, likely through difficult, unusual, shocking events, because of assertions by ‘the group’, or through accidents, serendipities, or sudden insights provided by Higher Mind (the Sun, which is of course opposed the eclipse and the illuminator of the Moon, quincunx to Uranus). With Full Moon events we alter our thinking or perceptions because of emotional or intuitive ‘enlightenment’ of one kind or another.

The eclipse is apex to a loose Fist of God with base of Pluto-Zeus, suggesting that eclipse revelations (another Uranian concept!) may bring resolution to conflicts between ambitions and desires (Zeus) and matters of Power (Pluto), now held, recently lost, or currently sought. It’s an equation arising from clashes, upset as catalyst to an answer that doesn’t just allow emotional satisfaction or relief, but that changes how we think, how we process ideas of Power and our own wants, as well.

If we really want to be loose with our numbers (and who doesn’t, once in a while, in the name of recognizing the flow of energy?) we can find the eclipse as part of the base of a Finger of God with a wide sextile to Chiron, apex a Venus that’s not really quincunx Chiron, but is linked via the Lunar event. The Finger implies if we can heal something about our own ego, our expression of Will, our actions and choices (which might mean forgiving ourselves for something we’ve done), or heal some concept we have around our own aloneness, whether literal or existential (all Aries, linked to Chiron’s current location), and do this in tandem with or prompted by eclipse events, then we can harmonize some schism, unite in relationship or via aesthetics, or discover some vital Truth (Venus in Scorpio).

Our Sabian for the Full Moon is, ‘A Quiver Filled With Arrows‘. The events of this eclipse arm us, give us plenty of chances to ‘hit the target’; whatever occurs, then, offers a kind of resource, something that facilitates our own activity. The Sun, light-giver and reason for the apparent eclipse phenomenon in the first place, has the Sabian, ‘A Mother Leads Her Small Child Step By Step Up A Steep Stairway’. Are we the mother, or the small child? I see this as the Universe being the mother, showing us the way, assisting us as we try to do better, as we try to climb. That means, then, that if you are knocked back a bit by eclipse events, that the larger flow is telling you that whatever you were trying or after isn’t for you–at least not right now. Taking a warning is always better than ignoring one, wouldn’t you agree?

For a little something on possible effects of eclipse contact to your natal chart, you can take a look here–

Before the Eclipse

The 25th-29th brings hurtful thinking (or possibly thinking that works at solving the kinks inherent to utilizing our skills), but also circumstances that firmly support our personal authority and expression, and this sets a success dynamic in place through the eclipse. If we dwell on slights we short-circuit the positive impetus, but if we examine hurt in light of how to heal, how to prevent further damage, and/ or for the part we played in its creation, we empower ourselves significantly, and open the door to both skill utilization and surrounding conditions that facilitate our intents.

Look at it like this: there’s a lot of good mojo available to those who 1) aren’t afraid of their own power, and at the same time willingly embrace genuine responsibility (and that latter is as opposed to saying one is responsible but not actually dealing with a matter); 2) those who actively value the most original and unique parts of themselves (and by extension, who accept those things in others); 3) who wield power in areas that are specifically appropriate to who and what they are (in the largest, Universal sense, not in the worldly ‘labels and qualifications’ kind); and 4) those who are both honest with themselves AND able to listen to instincts (being honest means the instincts are indeed instincts–not wishful thinking or personal propaganda–and so can be trusted). Center efforts on something meaningful to you at a Soul level, and you just might make significant progress at this time.

During this period we also see Neptune turn around in his home sign of Pisces (late afternoon PST of the 28th)–and he does so poised to make his first contact (excluding Lunar ones) by square to the Nodal axis. That suggests we all might get a dose of reality through our efforts to either move forward (NN), resolve the past (SN), or in trying to maintain continuity of past circumstances into the future (SN/NN axis). Generally, this direction should ‘lift the fog’, or otherwise allow more access to the creative (but also, make the pitfalls of the deceptive or deceitful more prominent, and so more difficult to recognize, as well).

Have yourself a merry little Thanksgiving!

Let’s Discuss: Chiron Pt. 2 Self-Expression

05 Thursday Nov 2020

Posted by in astrology, Astrology of Careers Vocations and Callings, Chiron, Configurations, Consciousness Explored

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By Fritz Overbeck c1905 {{PD}}

Hi Julie,
We’ve talked about this a little (this is from a client), but I’d like to know more about my Venus conjunct the south node in my 2nd (Chiron there as well). How this affects my friendships, love and money. How can I work with these energies better. Also maybe more about the south node/north node in general. Thank you!

Hello! First we need to note how your Chiron in Aries in the 2nd sits in the 29th degree; this may be the most important thing about it, as it invests the sense of Self-worth, talent expression, and earning ability (2nd), and the sense of autonomy and agency, and the ability to act, choose, and do (Aries) with a perpetual dual aura of woundedness and of giftedness, which is under continual and enormous pressure, on the one hand to simply survive, and on the other hand to prove itself, once and for all.

The result of this influence of extremes may be confidence that periodically collapses into Self-questioning; a sureness in the possession of unique talents that fluctuates with a feeling that either those talents will never be appreciated, or that you will never be able to adequately express them; and possibly a too-strong idea that you are responsible for everything that does and ever has happened to you, that alternates with a belief that your circumstances would be different, if not for the influence (and sometimes persecution) of others.

Chiron here is a very tender spot, a wound always open to injury as well as a belief in unusual giftedness that is one’s greatest asset, and being conjoined the very close South Node-Venus conjunction, it draws the varied facets of the Chirotic nature directly into the values, the sense of yourself as a woman, into your ideas of Love and Money and relationships as a whole, into matters of the 3rd (thought processes, communication, agreements and contracts, sibling relationships, the early and local environments) and 8th (other people’s resources, cooperative ventures, particularly those where you are subordinate to or dependent on someone else, what you share with others and they with you, and some matters of human nature that may be secret or ‘hidden’) Houses ruled by Venus, and imbues it all with a sense of knowing or experience drawn from the past (SN).

One of the issues may be a perpetual mix-up in your own perceptions: is it me, or is it them? you may ask yourself–and essentially, it’s both! though of course, your own perceptual nature drives how you react to both your own thoughts and outside Chirotic influences.

So this may be a heavy, always-on-your-mind influence that presses you to act, to show what you can do–and we see this pressure principally channeled in Chiron as apex to a Fist of God with the very close Neptune/Midheaven-Zeus square as its base. Zeus is in Virgo in the 7th=fastidious attention to goals and ambitions, controlled expression through the Arts, the desire for a discerning audience, a vulnerability to criticism and critique that could separate you from your most inspired plans; and Neptune/ MC are only one minute apart in Sagittarius in the 10th=you want to share your factual knowledge and your inner ‘knowing’, to reach out, to bring disparate elements of the world together, to teach, to impart, with an awareness of the width of human experience, and you want to be known for this, you want it to be seen as your vocation/ career in the forms your ambitions dictate, to be seen as manifesting pure creativity–and yet the square says that they’re conflicts here.

My guess is those contrasts are seated in the friction between what you’ve been taught and what you believe, and the ways those have been contradicted by feedback and personal experience, all as it has formed your Self-concepts, especially as they refer to talent expression (2nd House)–and those shape both the experience of the wound, and the expression of the gift (both Chiron). But, since belief is the underpinning of both the Chirotic perceptions (via the lens they impose) and as they figure in to the creative energy, the public role, and the sense of empowerment (all through locating 10th House Neptune, the MC, and Juno in Sagittarius, ruled by Jupiter), we see that a look at Jupiter, as both belief and ‘the facts of the matter’, is in order.

Jupiter is late in Taurus in the 3rd, conjoined Black Moon Lilith (the mathematical point representing what we ignore or deny, or matters that enrage us at the way they violate our rights). This suggests that what you believe is strongly influenced by the mind, which we’ve seen is inextricably linked with both the Chiron wounds and the asset, talent, and Self-assessment picture. It also implies that those matters you’d rather not deal with, or that make you so angry you might explode, are thoroughly ignored, tucked away in a dark vault of the mind–probably so that they don’t spoil a perceptual picture that relies heavily on taking a positive tack to keep you both active, moving forward, and productive, without forcing the processing of the ways you’ve been hurt or feel put down–so overall, a likely healthy mechanism, and for the most part it probably allows you to exclude what could otherwise become obsessive or debilitating and overly critical Self-assessments.

The most striking thing about your Jupiter is that it sits sextile your Mercury-Sun in Pisces in the 1st, forming the base of a Finger of God with apex the Libra North Node. Aha! Suppression that would in other situations cause dysfunction in this case allows you to move forward in ways that are true to who you are and that allows cooperation and collaboration. So, what we can see around your Chiron is that it’s a kind of pivot point, connecting the sense of vulnerability and fear of being overwhelmed by others (your Aries Chiron–the last thing it wants is to lose autonomy!) reaching/ connected to other vital dynamics that allow you to balance influences in such a way that they optimize function. That is, you’ve got a well-oiled machine there–so digging at various parts or functions will only disturb what is already carefully balanced. Trust yourself, and the Universe, which will pipe up when you need to attend to something, and know that it’s not really necessary for you to excavate certain energies–just allow them to work as they naturally do.

Real-Life Symbols of Chiron: LeBron James

So I was contemplating Chiron (as we all do, in idle moments) and a commercial came on TV with LeBron James, whose bottom half was a motorcycle–and suddenly that clicked as a kind of modern-day Chiron figure! Though Chiron was a centaur, his parentage made him special; as the offspring of the Titan Cronus, who had taken equine form, and the nymph Philyra, Chiron was a Being beyond human and yet intimately familiar with many of humanity’s most painful experiences. He was abandoned by his mother, and it’s this part of the myth that likely led to him being representative of the primal wound, one so deep within the psyche that it figures in absolutely everything one does and is.

Chiron was unusual in that, unlike his fellow centaurs, he cultivated a life of the mind, beyond the lusts of the inherent animal nature, fostered by and tutored by the god Apollo. This represents that other major facet of astrological Chiron, its designation of one’s unique and very particular talent or gift, an area or process in which you’re innately educated and wise. And that leads us to how a basketball star (one who is unusually beloved, with little criticism or censure coming his way) may in some small way vibe to the Chiron essence.

LeBron James’s Chiron sits in Gemini in the Whole Sign 1st, but above the horizon, which in the Placidus system would place it in the 12th (birth data: 30 December 1984, 4:04 PM Akron, Ohio, USA). Right away we see someone with the facility to communicate through his own Beingness (the Chirotic gift)–he is the message, in a certain way–and this can carry a spiritual or ‘Cosmic’ knowing–and, we might surmise that his ability is rooted at least in part in an awareness of how much words can mean, of the impact they can have, with the significator of ‘the Wound’ in Gemini.

Ruler Mercury sits in the 7th, conjoined Uranus, ruler of the 9th, both in Sagittarius but not positioned in opposition to Chiron=communicating Higher Mind to all others, to an ‘audience’, through one’s Art (in this case, athletics, well signified by Sagittarius). Merc rules the 1st and 4th=there’s a harmony here between identity (1st) and the deepest inner Self (4th)–not to mention that James was raised to be what he shows to the world.

Most interesting in the Chiron-themed picture, though, may be the way, if we’re generous with our orbs (as we often need to be in natal work, in order to get a truly complete picture), we see Chiron as apex to a loose Finger of God with base of Pluto in Scorpio in the 6th and Neptune (which is widely conjoined the Sun, symbol of the Self/ Soul) in Capricorn in the 8th. So, the Chirotic skills are perfect for supporting change (this may even be seen as a duty) in service to the ideal (Neptune) that benefits everyone (8th).

Did I say most interesting? Maybe this is even more compelling: Chiron is apex to a tight Fist of God with base of a Cardinal square (and those demand action) between Vesta in Libra in the 5th and Jupiter in Capricorn in the 8th=tension between the sense that one must honor others even as one observes the restrictions and disparities in the social order can be reconciled via the Chiron energies; that is, through communication that heals, and expression of the gift for communing and networking.

LeBron has recently been involved in promoting voting and educating others not just on right and need to vote, but on how to go about it to insure one’s voice is heard. That’s the ultimate communication, the ultimate Geminian networking, that lifts the Chirotic energy to a Transpersonal level: I use my gift to make sure you are heard.

A final thing of note is that transiting Saturn, Pluto, Pallas, and Jupiter are all for various spans of time conjoining LeBron’s natal Jupiter, encouraging him to share what he knows in the name of making permanent meaningful change to the reality picture, to transform with wisdom and ‘the facts’ so that things are closer to those principles of freedom and enlightenment through knowledge (both Jupiter) that we all believe in.

See my book, Chiron in the Natal Chart here. And to follow next week, a third installment on Chiron–plus, a little something for this weekend later today. Stay safe and healthy!

Full Moon in Pisces 13 September 2019: Tilting At Windmills

13 Friday Sep 2019

Posted by in astrology, Configurations, current events in the sky, Full Moon, Sabian Symbols

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‘La nuit au léger brouillard’ By Félix Vallotton, 1913 {{PD}}

The Full Moon perfects at 9:31 PM Pacific time at 21 Pisces 04. The Earth and Moon have recently conjoined Neptune, and are still within orb of the planet; the FM also occurs sextile Pluto, widely opposed Mars and with large orbs square Jupiter (and so forming a T-square with the latter two bodies). A Full Moon promises endings, conclusions, or the cessation of something, and in this instance, the sextile to Pluto suggests that what occurs either fosters change or arises from it, likely referring to a dream, an ideal, a deception, a misunderstanding, an inspiration, or some other Neptunian factor that comes to an end. The ending may come from conflict with the larger social circle, from facing hard facts, or possibly the ending is necessitated by the intractability of our own beliefs (square Jupiter). Efforts to reach out, publish, broadcast, expand may have met problems, turning our attention in another direction–in this instance, causing us to either shed a dream, or cut through the fog of delusion or deception, seeing at last the hard facts of the matter.

Then again, with Neptune conjoined the Full Moon, what occurs may be hidden, obscured such that we may be forced to act (Mars) without understanding what we’re doing or why we’re doing it (opposition Neptune)–or will we choose to remain frozen, not comprehending what’s happening? The Mars opposition Neptune-FM suggests this inability to know what to do is only compounded by the proximity of Mars to the Sun, the implication being that something else gets the lion’s share of attention, obscuring our choices or actions, or even blocking awareness of our own wants–and so we act or choose unsure of what’s finished or what it means, unsure of our part in it, or our choices going forward. That explanation’s a little confusing on its own, and probably not very reassuring, either, though it is important to know that it all comes down to knowing that we can’t know, we can only try to pick out the shape of things by looking at areas other than those actually creating the impact (the Full Moon). It’s like watching shadows and trying to guess what’s making the shapes; we can be right on, or totally mislead.

One thing of note that may offer some clarity is the Mystic Rectangle in effect, which includes ruler of the FM and the nearly exact Mars-Neptune opposition. Currently this consists of South Node-Saturn, Neptune-Black Moon Lilith, Mars, North Node. The implication is that this synergy blends realities or restrictions of the past with those dreams, creative goals, or ideals we’ve rejected or ignored (likely as too difficult for us to achieve on our own, considering the other elements of the Rectangle are Mars and the NN). This suggests that at this Full Moon time we should be looking at discarded dreams, reassessing them for viability, especially since the social sphere or the facts will show us the hard reality at this time (FM sq Jupiter)–and that means, we might be able to put them to bed once and for all, or go after them once again, if we recognize that it’s not only not too late, but that we really are equipped to go after what we dream of.

That Sabian for the Full Moon is, ‘A Prophet Carrying Tablets Of The New Law Is Walking Down The Slopes Of Mount Sinai’. Spiritual conviction takes many shapes; this Full Moon may clarify something about the ways we should or shouldn’t put those convictions to use, with the FM promised resolution bringing fresh insight to what’s most deeply meaningful to us at a spiritual level. This could involve a new dedication of our energy, a new intent or ‘law’ put into practice. We also look at the Sun symbol for a Full Moon: ‘A Royal Coat Of Arms Enriched With Precious Stones’. The source of the FM enlightenment may be our own striving to ‘rise above’, to attain a kind of nobility, or to simply become ‘cream of the crop’ in some area (likely related to the House in which the FM falls in the natal chart).

By Honoré Daumier c1868 {{PD}}

What occurs at this Full Moon eliminates something, reveals the Truth of a matter, and allows us to re-connect to an old dream or spiritual intent–and all while we at best wander a bit, and at worst tilt at the wrong windmill.

 

Total Lunar Eclipse January 2019 Wizard, Goddess, Magician

19 Saturday Jan 2019

Posted by in astrology, Configurations, current events in the sky, eclipse, forecast, Lunar Aspects, Lunar Eclipse, Sabian Symbols

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Rembrandt c1654 {{PD}}

First thing to note about the chart for the Total Lunar Eclipse occurring on the 20th at 9:15:57 PM PST at 00 Leo 51 is that it’s apex to a Fist of God with base of Venus-Jupiter in Sagittarius and Neptune in his own sign of Pisces. Eclipses are always some form of wipe-out or wipe clean, but this one brings a conclusion, ending, or change that carries an emotional punch, and possibly a material one, that spurs action (Moon conjoined Earth, Fire placement). It resolves some serious issues around enough/ plenty, social expenditure or investment, the realities of Love or Money, and how these are addressed through creative energies.

We know that when creativity is channeled it offers tremendous power, but at the other end of the scale when we absolve ourselves of all responsibility for that creative energy (in essence crying, ‘I’m helpless!’) Neptune invites chaos into our lives. In the case of this eclipse, what the event presents may challenge us to choose our response: will it be wizardly, where we do our damnedest (that is, approach efforts with a sense of confidence and a willingness to muster all our assets) to enhance the good, to expand Love or Money or some benefit to the social order, or do we throw up our hands, say we’ve been mislead or deceived, claim we don’t know, claim confusion, abdicate our own power and particularly our ability to create the reality, especially the emotional reality, we say we want?

We also see a loose Grand Cross with Pallas, the Sun, and Uranus. The Fire-Air combo in this configuration suggests dynamic action spurred by ideas, thoughts, or revelations. Like a magician’s trick, it balances the Lunar event with what we know to be wise or practical, with our conscious attention applied, and with a possibly sudden reveal, innovation, accident, or invention that now must be carried out/ made manifest–indeed, that may go well beyond a plan and instead be set in motion at this point.

A Water Grand Trine with Chiron and Ceres brings the Lunar event into harmony by utilizing our most unique skills and our natural place in the Universe/ or within Nature itself. In this we respond as goddess (or god), drawing on a deep and inherent level of skill and knowledge in cooperation with Nature and the place it gives us in the Universe. Sound too vague? Not if you picture yourself as a unique element in the vast expanse of existence, one that has a specific and original part to play, with this eclipse offering the ending of one emotional role (particularly one related to actions taken), and sowing the seeds of another via our own expression of skills, personal authority, negotiative ability, or in maternal expression of one form or another.

The Lunar eclipse Sabian is, ‘Blood Rushes To A Man’s Head As His Vital Energies Are Mobilized Under The Spur Of Ambition’. This suggests that what culminates with the Lunar event urges us to take action–not exactly surprising as the eclipse falls in a Fire sign. This may also relate to those base factors holding the eclipse as apex to a Fist: Venus-Jupiter is its own statement of ambition, of wanting more/ better, and Neptune relates to ideals–so may require both those to bring about the action the Fist implies, and this may translate as formation of a new and intense ambition or desire-aim.

We also look at the Sun Sabian since this is the source of all light in our system, which is, ‘An Old Adobe Mission In California’. The missions are beautiful, tranquil gardens now, spots for meditation or contemplation situated in the middle of crowded city blocks, so it’s easy to forget how they came to be. They were instruments of conversion, built by enslaved Native Americans the Church hoped to make their own and enfold into the imported European social order. It may be that whatever sparks the Lunar event may have a calm and appealing surface that hides an ugly past, or came about by means we wouldn’t even consider today. This is likely very particular for each individual, as unique as each experience of this eclipse is likely to be.

See the forecast for the 19th here–

22 December 2018 Full Moon in Cancer: Beacon in the Dark

21 Friday Dec 2018

Posted by in astrology, Configurations, current events in the sky, Fist of God, forecast, Full Moon, Lunar Aspects, Sabian Symbols, T-Square

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‘Vuurtoren in de branding’ By Hendrik Willem Mesdag c1885 {{PD}}

This Full Moon in Cancer (22 December 9:48 AM PST at 00 Cancer 49) follows on the heels of the solstice (21 December 2:23 PM Pacific time–winter in the Northern hemisphere/ summer in the Southern hemisphere). For we northerners, the closeness of the two events makes the revelations and conclusions of the Full Moon a kind of beacon in the dark, both literally and figuratively, as Luna lights the way out of the longest night of the year, at least here in North America.

The Full Moon is apex to a Fist of God with base of Venus-Ceres square Black Moon Lilith, out-of-element sextile Uranus, T-square with close Chiron-Hygeia conjunction, novile to Juno. Always, a Full Moon brings an ending, a culmination, a conclusion, and this can signal a definite end or can usher in a new stage, or an entirely new beginning. In Cancer these endings carry a heavier-than-usual emotional component, a sensitivity to the import of what’s concluding, and intimations through the feeling nature as to what’s beginning. Emotional conclusions are reached and intuitive information received; that is, we realize with surety how our feelings resolve on some subject related to the House (or across the axis) in the natal chart in which the FM occurs. This resolution may come consciously (more likely if the FM falls above the horizon in the natal chart) or through the unconscious ‘assembly’ of information learned and intuited, presented to the conscious mind as it coheres into a relevant picture under the Full Moon’s light. It’s a ‘just dawning on us’ event, so to speak, represented by the very early sign degree in which the culmination occurs.

The aspects for this Lunar event suggest that what arises is conflict, stress, or tension that once expressed creates a more healthy atmosphere, leading to a new, unanticipated level of empowerment or a rise in or change of status. The challenge will be to stay true to our best Self even as we deal with what may be a messy situation; with Black Moon Lilith involved we may have to face what we’d rather ignore or suppress, what we may feel ashamed of or guilty about (though as we know, those are distortions, re-directions of anger as we avoid sending it to the appropriate target), and we may be required to deal with matters that enrage us, making things even more difficult.

There is also a matter of conflict among authorities, with authorities, or over who holds authority and so who holds the reins to assets. We may only observe this authority-centered upset, or we may find it angers us in the way it threatens to wrest agency from us or those we love. Know that misdirection of energy is a real possibility, and that inappropriate anger and overstepping of boundaries are the avenues of least resistance–and knowing that you can take a step back from the fray, receiving or causing no harm.

But, there’s a promise of healing, once we’ve located what or whom we care about, what needs our nurture, or what may offer nurture to us (Cancer), and caring mobilizes skills, especially the ones that only we can wield in just that particular, individual way we have. The key is twofold: pinpoint our feelings, and see where they can and should be ‘applied’, and be fearless in meeting, dealing with, and then letting go of whatever conflict transpires. Take care not to confuse the order of this–it doesn’t do anyone any good to fight first, then figure out what they want! This scenario probably won’t unfold in an easily palatable way, but will serve the cause of necessary emotional processing that supports both our health and our unique expression and empowerment.

The Sabian Symbol for this Full Moon is, ‘On A Ship The Sailors Lower An Old Flag And Raise A New One’. This may be a change of signal flag–letting others know changes in our intents or destination–or a complete change of authority, the new flag showing who is now ‘running the ship’. In any case, it’s a symbol of communicating identity, which is something we do quite naturally when we set priorities (identify what we care about) and then speak up in defense of or in dealing with what comes before us (with our Self-image shaping the forms and character of our assertions).

We also look at the Sun’s Sabian, as it’s the source of the light play that gives us the Full Moon event in the first place: ‘An Indian Chief Claims Power From The Assembled Tribe’. In this Full Moon’s aspects we have seen a recurring thread concerning individual authority; this symbol suggests that what generates the conflict, the expression, and the eventual healing, all stem from issues surrounding who holds the reins, who should hold the reins, and these may be best determined by who is supported by the group–but then again, the upheaval may come from the fact that this is tribal thinking–and if there’s anything we know at this point, it’s that blind tribalism is positively the most destructive way of organizing our priorities and our lives.

This Full Moon offers a beacon in the darkness of tribalism, help in sorting out the competition for authority, and shines a light on both our duty to use our skills and the ways in which we can access healing and enhance overall health.

23 August 2018 Healthy Assertion

22 Wednesday Aug 2018

Posted by in astrology, Configurations, current events in the sky, forecast, Full Moon, Lunar Aspects, Saturn in Capricorn, The Daily Word Image

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Actors in a confrontation on a verandah. Colour woodcut by Kunikazu, early 1860s CC BY 4.0

What does healthy Self-assertion look like to you? We may think it has something to do with flexing our muscles, declaring our power, or marking our territory, because it kind of feels like we need to do that–but we should know that, at least today, we would be doing that only for ourselves, and possibly putting others off in the process. It may feel as if we’re required to make choices that compromise us and that threaten our personal power, status, or reach. In reality, the issues will center in being willing to bend enough to honor our own values and commitments–so you see, it’s an internal issue, at essence, one where the unbending ego insists it’s being wronged, when what you’re really called to do is live up to your own obligations and ideals–walking your talk, if you will (Juno semi-sq Hygeia, Vesta sq Ceres)

Over the next few days, we have an Earth Grand Trine with the Sun, Saturn, and Uranus. Our attention goes to sudden, instantaneous changes to our reality picture, to obstacles, barriers, restraints, rules, and perhaps most importantly, to results of the passage of time and past efforts–and with the Moon approaching Full (perfecting AM PDT of the 26th)  those results, coupled with the signature endings of a Full Moon, are likely to feel too restrictive, like a dead-end, like something has closed in on us. This is specifically because of the Sun’s current approach in trine to Saturn–as if possibilities and alternatives simply slip away–and we see it, spotlighted, before us, our awareness likely exaggerating the importance or the effect itself. ‘I’ve got no choice’ may become the refrain for those operating unconsciously. For the rest of us, however, there’s hope. If you’re not happy with what you see developing around you, you may want to gather energies and intent to be dedicated at the time of the Full Moon; these should focus on what you want to create for the future (Pisces Full Moon quincunx the North Node). Just something to think about in the run up to the Lunar event.

Sometimes the old man (Saturn) and the radical (Uranus) can really get into it. Jar depicting combat-ETHAM 036790-P8190744-gradient
By Rama and one more author CC BY-SA 3.0 fr

Today’s word image is an astrological aspect: Saturn trine Uranus–let’s make that any natal relationship between the two. In the birth chart they offer a small recipe for stasis, balance, and energy flow and expenditure in the life; they can also delineate the internal individual relationship between the spirit of radicalism, modernism, and chaos and ‘What Is’, as well as one’s likely relationship to ‘the Group’ and response to authority. I have the trine natally, with Uranus ruling my Ascendant and Saturn my 12th (Whole Sign)–and certainly, I’ve seen the flow of unconscious (and sometimes Cosmic) material into my interface with the rest of the world–and it’s here we may note that Saturn is ancient ruler of Aquarius, drawing the two, no matter how disparate they seem, as much more alike than we may realize–for what happens to the revolutionary, once the revolution is over? If you’ve got a connection between Saturn and Uranus, and you’d like my comment on it, please place your comment on this post, tell me what signs they’re in and Houses they rule, and what the aspect is between them; I’ll offer a few words or more on the relationship. Comments will be answered publicly only. Please use the comment function, not my email, and don’t send birth data–this is only the shallowest dip into potentials in honor of the current configuration, nothing more.

The Lunar Eclipse February 2017 Daring To Be Ourselves

07 Tuesday Feb 2017

Posted by in Configurations, Finger of God, Full Moon, Kite, Lunar Aspects, Lunar Eclipse, Sabian Symbols

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'The Circus' George Bellows 1912 {{PD}}

‘The Circus’ George Bellows 1912 {{PD}}

Lunar Eclipse (Full Moon) 10 February 2017 4:32 PM PST at 22 Leo 28

This eclipse occurs concurrent with and involved in several configurations: a Finger of God with base of Lunar eclipse-Jupiter, apex Chiron; a Kite involving the eclipse axis and Saturn-Hygeia and Uranus; and a Fire Grand Trine of Luna-Earth, Uranus, and Saturn-Hygeia; a Finger with base of Sun and Saturn-Hygeia, apex Vesta, with this latter body only 5 minutes off exact semi-sextile to the Lunar eclipse; a loose Fixed Grand Cross with the Sun-Earth-Lunar axis squaring an opposition of Sedna and a 29 degree Black Moon Lilith —and unrelated to the eclipse, a Finger with base of Sedna-Chiron, apex Jupiter, and a loose Cardinal Grand Cross with Vesta, Uranus, Pluto, and Zeus-Jupiter.

But if we keep a reasonable orb of roughly 3 degrees + or –, we don’t have any aspects to the eclipse that aren’t wrapped up in a config, though it’s arguable that Venus and Mars, roughly 5 degrees apart in Aries, both form sesquiquadrates to the eclipse outside of any configuration—they’re the exception. These contacts suggest issues may masquerade as male-female, animus-anima, or complementary opposites in conflict, or requiring adjustment—when the real issues lie in the energy patterns of the configurations—the Mars-Venus energy may just represent the delivery system, a clash between disparate elements that demands adjustment.

lunar-eclipse-february-2017

Eclipse inclusion in multiple patterns implies a highly dynamic set of circumstances that may appear to be independent of one another, but that are almost certainly linked through the Lunar energy (the exceptions being the Finger apex Jupiter and the Cardinal Grand Cross)—and that Lunar link grounds these dynamics in time—that is, it allows the eclipse itself to represent a locus where all these energies converge. Will each individual experience all the dynamic energy patterns of the eclipse? No, but each will experience some of them, largely depending on how (and how intensely) the eclipse fits in to the personal natal chart picture.

The event occurs in Leo, suggesting our attention is on ourselves, our role, our effectiveness, how well we ‘shine’, on issues of generosity and purpose, on identity and focus, and on the concept of ‘heart’ defined as the enthusiasm and commitment with which we meet a subject, and we add to this matters represented by the natal House in which the eclipse occurs. We definitely get feedback in these areas, but it will spread out in many different situations or life areas, so that events may appear distinctly unrelated. This is part of why the eclipse energy will be so confusing: the mix of internal and external information coming at us will be both interdependent (the many contacts) and carry a scent of revelation (Sedna, Uranus), Self-discovery (Leo), and crisis (Black Moon Lilith at 29 degrees, Saturn-Hygeia, Chiron), so that we may easily be distracted by any number of issues, our attention drawn in any number of directions.

Let’s start with the Finger of God with base of Lunar eclipse-Jupiter, apex Chiron; this implies that feelings about, or intuitions centered on, the actual material situation as it applies to ‘the facts’, education, anything ‘foreign’, anything at a distance, or to our social position or the general milieu that surrounds us, creates hurt or demands utilization of our most unique skills. We can answer the intuitive knowing, the emotional reaction, and the social ‘stress’ with either a hurt reaction or one that mobilizes our talents—our choice.

Carl Spitzweg c1885 {{PD}}

Carl Spitzweg c1885 {{PD}}

Next we have the Kite involving the eclipse axis and Saturn-Hygeia and Uranus. We may see sudden events or revelations concerning or affecting the ‘health’ of real-world matters or material situations, possibly through rules or restrictions imposed by ‘the group’—or, we see sudden, easy suppression of the health (or what was an otherwise healthy situation), with the result showing at the Lunar eclipse, and revealing something important about identity or purpose (Sun in opposition). This could suggest sudden shifts in what’s considered ‘healthy’, the normalizing of the abnormal, the pressures of revolution on tradition, the past, and current authorities, the prospect of revolution, and all of it under inspection for whether these are healthy options, in the largest sense, or not. This can be a messy scenario that either makes the eclipse event have emotional impact, or creates the emotional impact from which the eclipse events arise.

The Fire Grand Trine of Luna-Earth, Uranus, and Saturn-Hygeia carries much the same message as the Kite, but offers the option of creating balance (the Trine) through action/ ‘doing’  (Fire). Considering the eclipse occurs in Leo, a Fire sign, it’s likely that taking action will be our natural response—how comfortable we are with that, though, can only be determined by how and in what House the eclipse hooks into the natal chart.

The other eclipse-involved Finger consists of a base of Sun and Saturn-Hygeia, apex Vesta, with this latter body only 5 minutes off exact semi-sextile to the Lunar eclipse; here the Finger dynamic may masquerade as either an offshoot of or a distraction from the eclipse itself. Issues of identity, purpose, and Self-expression are tested via the reality picture, forcing you to ask the question, ‘How well am I actualizing myself and my potentials?’—and the answer is found in your commitments, your highest values and your ability to live them, and in those matters and individuals to which you dedicate your life energy. Those are big subjects, writ on a big canvas, and so we may feel we are unable to answer adequately or meaningfully, at least in terms of being able to translate big causes and trends to the spiritual and concrete energy dedications of the individual life. This is one question that needs to be answered, and answered specifically at this time—don’t brush it off.

There is a Fixed Grand Cross with the Sun-Earth-Lunar axis squaring an opposition between Sedna and a 29 degree Black Moon Lilith, suggesting a crisis with matters too long ignored, denied, or unjust, prompted by our own denial of our instincts or weaknesses, and triggered by the eclipse event. This has ‘dilemma’ written all over it—and as a Fixed matter, may seem intractable. One thing to keep in mind is that, despite all the influences at work (and sometimes at cross-purposes) the essence of things is still a Full Moon, an ending that may have the nature of a wipe-out in the House where the eclipse falls—and that means that no matter what is happening, some circumstances are drawing to a close, even if in the moment they still appear viable.

Overall, what we may need to do, as the impressions and issues layer, one upon another, is focus our choices and actions through those positive expressions available to us, thereby minimizing the distractions and possible destruction inherent in concentrating our energy and attention on the negative situations and circumstances presented. We see outlets in assessing our effective actualization, in the choice to approach things from a healed rather than a hurt perspective (and so emphasize health in all our choices), and most especially in the promised potential of creating balance by taking action. It seems confidence in our ability to handle what comes along, a positive focus on what’s healthy, a willingness to deal with real-world realities and the facts, a determination to make the most of who we are as individuals, are all key to meeting and accepting these energies, using them to their utmost, rather than being overwhelmed by them.

The Finger and Cardinal Grand Cross that don’t directly figure in to the eclipse offer their own possibly distracting (or aiding) input, which we may easily mistake for eclipse energy. The Finger of Sedna-Chiron, apex Jupiter, implies the potential for taking our injured instincts public, or trying to base ‘facts’ on our own wounds (shades of ‘alternative facts!’); a better use would be application of instincts and skills (especially those honed through hurt and experience) to expansion of our knowledge and our world. The Cross consists of Vesta, Uranus, Pluto, and Zeus-Jupiter, and seems most likely to act as support for the idea of creating balance through action (Cardinal energy), particularly action that is original, fearless, based on highest values, and takes an optimistic view of our goals.

The Sabian for the Lunar eclipse is, ‘In A Circus The Bareback Rider Displays Her Dangerous Skill’. This smacks of the courage (a very Leo thing!), daring, and confidence that the eclipse will call forth if we respond with our ‘best Self’. The situations presented may be dicey, uncomfortable, out of our element, or downright dangerous, but in any case will be handled best with a combination of bravery and skill.

Niko Pirosmani 'Black Bear' {{PD||

Niko Pirosmani ‘Black Bear’ {{PD||

We also look at the Sun for a Full Moon event: ‘A Big Bear Sitting Down And Waving All Its Paws’. This is an odd position for a bear, simply because the action doesn’t serve any purpose, and in fact may make the animal more vulnerable than it would otherwise be. We may see a lot of emotional ‘paw waving’, lots of motion and drama that leads nowhere and may even distract from what we need to see. This eclipse is definitely a kind of test: of nerve, of concentration, on seriousness of purpose, and of the skills, abilities, and learning we have so far accumulated—but remember, the test isn’t coming from the outside, observed and measured by some authority; its sole purpose is so that we can see our own abilities, measure our own skills, and sharpen our own focus and clarity of intent.

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Very clear explanations of the eclipse phenomenon

23 December 2016 In the Balance

22 Thursday Dec 2016

Posted by in astrology, Born Today, Configurations, current events in the sky, Finger of God, forecast, Horoscope, The Daily Word Image

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Well I'd be safe--and you? "De Heksenwaag (Witches' scales) at Oudewater, Netherlands. In medieval times, women suspected of witchcraft were weighed on the scale. Should they weigh more than a specified amount, they were deemed unable to fly and therefore not witches. At that time, a certificate from Oudewater saved many women who were at danger of stoning or being burnt at the stake after a rigged trial. Today such certificates are a tourists attraction." Martinvl - Own work CC BY-SA 4.0

Well I’d be safe–and you? “De Heksenwaag (Witches’ scales) at Oudewater, Netherlands. In medieval times, women suspected of witchcraft were weighed on the scale. Should they weigh more than a specified amount, they were deemed unable to fly and therefore not witches. At that time, a certificate from Oudewater saved many women who were at danger of stoning or being burnt at the stake after a rigged trial. Today such certificates are a tourists attraction.” Martinvl – Own work CC BY-SA 4.0

The AstroEssence: Our attention is on health, our own and that of systems and organizations with which we are involved. That balance among the ins and outs, consumption and elimination of what’s not needed, utilization of energy and resources, a re-thinking of restrictions and constraints, is underway. We must face realities; some of those deal with endings, others with exploitation (in a positive way) of our talents and assets, and we look at ‘what is’ with an eye to reform–that’s a very good way to spend the day, sussing out just what needs to change, and how we can achieve a reasonable balance among elements. See the forecast for those born with the Sun at 2 Capricorn, below, for info on the current Finger of God (Hygeia sq the Nodes, Venus trine Zeus, Mercury parallel Saturn, Sun parallel Hygeia)

Library Walk New York City Photo by Lesekreis CC0

Library Walk New York City Photo by Lesekreis CC0

Today’s word image is a pencil. What’s the big advantage of using a pencil? It’s easily erased. Figuratively speaking, don’t write anything in ink at this time–things will change too much in the near future for us to anticipate successfully where we’ll be and what we’ll want later.

For those born with the Sun at 2 Capricorn: There’s a lot of fight and energy in you this year, for good reason: your Solar Return features a Finger of God with base of Sun-Mars and apex of Vesta. This describes the entire year, ‘Big Picture’ style: through the course of the year, through to your next birthday, you will learn and then fine-tune what you must do to honor what’s important to you, including your mate, your home circumstances, and those causes to which you want to dedicate your life, taking all those interactions and commitments to the next level. This is the preliminary step in living your values in an unprecedented (not unpresidented!) way, and so attracting into being your next dream. Good luck, Cappy, and Happy Birthday!

 

What You’re Asking–Mermaids, Mercury’s Birth, and Peacocks–Delicious!

13 Friday Mar 2015

Posted by in Aspect Delineation, aspects and placements, Configurations, What You're Asking

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John William Waterhouse - 'Mermaid' {{PD}}

John William Waterhouse – ‘Mermaid’ {{PD}}

This is a re-print I thought you might find interesting, as it talks about both the Fist of God, a config involved in the upcoming Solar eclipse, and about the effects of an eclipse that conjuncts the natal South Node. ‘What You’re Asking’ is taken from search terms (shown in italics) used to bring seekers to this site, and I’ve modified the Full Moon answer below to reflect the next one that we’ll see, a Lunar eclipse.

mermaids and full moon

Let’s answer this one first, as an excuse to use that beautiful Waterhouse portrait of a mermaid: of course they exist, and if you’re lucky enough to see one, it’ll probably be under a Full Moon–just seems right. The next one comes at 5 April, 5:06 AM Pacific time, and falls at 14 Libra 24. Find the perfect beach, then when the day comes stake it out (you’ll be ‘up with the fishes’!) preferably with a picnic and someone you love to keep you company, and wait for the magic to happen.

astrology fist of god

A configuration where the base is two or more bodies square each other, with all base components sesquiquadrate (135 degrees) from the apex body. Typically this presents as an initial conflict between the base energies that, once resolved (or at least is brought to some kind of equilibrium) then results in another hurdle, described by the conflict between the disparate points of view of the base bodies and the apex body–so we officially have three viewpoints to juggle, and possibly to blend/ resolve. Often this generates both intense internal tension and stressful outward situations, and just as with a ‘regular’ square, we can’t ignore that initial clash of the base energies–they demand attention, and once they’ve gotten some, the apex energy makes demands, and this is so whether we’ve successfully resolved the base energies or not. We can really feel it’s being piled on when a Fist of God (some prefer Thor’s Hammer) is activated, but the thing to remember is this: don’t let the stress run the show; nine times out of ten, a Fist presents issues that are in some essential way unresolvable (at least, if formed or activated by transit, unresolvable in the moment and solely by you), and you’ll gain a great deal by taking a step back and recognizing that this may be a riddle that, right now, has no totally satisfying answer.

Saturn square Pluto

As a natal aspect, this is weighty; it pits the darkest and most powerful personal elements of the Self against the personal elements most slavish to custom, fearful of authority, locked into rules, hidebound, and conventional. The alchemical nature of Pluto requires almost constant change, either through destruction and resurrection or replacement, or through transformation, while Saturn is all about keeping things just as they’ve always been. So, we’re likely to see this clash as a recurring theme in the life of someone who has this in the horoscope, and this is likely to express with the individual balancing the two awkwardly (gently committing a little more to one or the other) until something forces an impossible choice or requires the two factors to work together–and the energies can be reconciled, if the individual knows both her or his own power (Pluto) and is firmly in touch with reality (Saturn) and as well has mastered at least a modicum of Self-discipline (also Saturn). We can’t overlook the fact that this unites two or more Houses of the natal chart, the ones with Scorpio and Capricorn (and possibly Aquarius, as Saturn was its ancient ruler) on the cusp; the nature of this connection will be one where some of the matters of the Houses will face this same status quo vs. regeneration challenge, possibly repeatedly, until the individual reaches a final, working relationship between the two energies, giving neither one short-shrift in the life.

pallas in scorpio

As a natal placement, this promises that one’s internalized wisdom is deep; there may be a sense of intuitive ‘knowing’ from an early age. Guidance may spring from getting to know darkness (one’s own or the workings of darkness within the world), and from a strong sense of curiosity, the kind that will research fearlessly for the answer. The person with this placement may understand emotion and the wisdom behind its expression, or may glean knowledge from emotional experience, and Pallas in Scorpio may have a kind of x-ray vision, seeing to the Truth of any matter. Positive manifestations show wisdom based in a thorough understanding and acceptance of the life-death-life scenario, while a negative expression could come in the form of the Evil Queen who offers others a poisoned apple (tainted guidance), out of malice, jealousy, or the desire to destroy.

peacock to eat

I just had to Google this myself; Juno prefers these majestic birds pulling her chariot, and would flip out if she saw a mortal eating the bird that represents her (which is, I think, why this query showed up at my site, due to some mention of Juno and her mascot). I was curious: do people eat peacock? There’s this, which describes preparation of peacock in medieval Europe. Of course, about half the answers that Google gave reversed the scenario, as if I’d asked what peacocks eat; the most entertaining (and somehow unnerving–who is this person?) was on Yahoo Answers: and I quote, ” i used to raise peacocks and lemme tell you they are some good eatin.” And end scene.

south node solar eclipse

This seems a very compelling event, with the power and intense energy of a Solar eclipse meeting the point in the natal chart that designates ‘the past’ (one’s memories, experiences, all that is residue of what was for the Soul). The result could be a breaking-free from old habits, obligations, or restrictions, especially those that are imposed through outdated roles or occurrences that no longer have resonance; residue of memory and the interference of others could fall away in a single instant. One could even have one’s memory wiped clean, through something as soap opera-y as amnesia or as life-changing as a stroke, or where a version of the past is removed from the life quite literally, as when a tornado destroys everything one owns. It could be much simpler, and entirely internal, as when the eclipse illuminates something from the past that has been unavailable or hidden; one finds out about one’s own adoption, perhaps, or learns of a family secret that lifts the veil on some important mental viewpoint or emotional response to their own origins or experience. There’s also the potential for actualizing all accumulated knowledge in some form that allows it to flow into the future and manifest in some wise and divine creation, as if lightning has struck all that was for the individual and crystallized it into a single, shimmering idea that one is destined to deliver to the world. Just remember to keep the orbs very tight; for this aspect I would prefer 1.5 degrees or less in variation from exact.

Juno’s response to Mercury’s birth

“It’s a bay-bee!”

(Possibly as spoken by Julia Sweeney’s ‘Saturday Night Live’ character, ‘Pat’)

Have a wonderful weekend!

The Mystic Rectangle of the Autumnal Equinox 22 September 2013

21 Saturday Sep 2013

Posted by in Configurations, current events in the sky, ECLIPSE magazine, Equinox, Mystic Rectangle

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By Horacio Cardozo, released into the public domain {{PD}} See his extraordinary work here http://www.flickr.com/photos/horacio_cardozo/

By Horacio Cardozo, releasedinto the public domain {{PD}} See his extraordinary work here http://www.flickr.com/photos/horacio_cardozo/

Tomorrow we experience the Autumnal Equinox (Spring Equinox for our Southern hemisphere friends), which features both a Mystic Rectangle and a Kite. Below I talk a little about the Mystic Rectangle, from an article in ECLIPSE.

The Mystic Rectangle is formed by Ceres, NN-Saturn-Venus, Chiron, and SN with, at the equinox moment, the Taurus Moon. The Mystic Rectangle itself suggests that the involved energies can be utilized especially effectively, working in concert in a way that provides an almost magical amplification of potentials. In this case, we are given a formula for effective use of power to manifest a pleasant reality, reward, Love, or all three, and our use of this formula is Path-determining. What’s the key to unlock this fantastic result? The willingness to allow healing. It sounds so easy, and I’m sure some people would answer with, ‘Who wouldn’t allow healing?’ Quite a few of us, it seems.

Think of all the situations, the little things, the lingering resentments, the occasions big and small that aggrieve us; think of how they become a part of the interior wallpaper, of defining who we are through experience. The point is these are parts of ourselves, grumblings and judgments and injustices, that aren’t really parts of ourselves at all; they are negative feedback, thought patterns, and interactions that we are carrying around in the psyche as if they have worth, as if they say something to us or about us worth preserving–and they don’t.

At the Equinox we are offered the chance to connect with our natural Power and natural role (Ceres) in such a way that we can heal (by ‘dissolving’, a Chiron in Pisces remedy) those things that needn’t cast shadows on the spirit, and that do so now only because we allow it.

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