Category Archives: current events in the sky

11 Jan 2010: The Receptive Dark

11 Monday Jan 2010

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We’re in the dark now, figuratively, on approach to the New Moon and a Solar eclipse. Effects remain much as they have been–and this will definitely be frustrating for some, as the Dark of the Moon calls for receptivity and a meditative approach that may contrast with natural inclinations. If possible, stay low key and make no commitments–Merc retro isn’t done with us yet, and this is a great time to sit back and let events and those more insistent determine things for a short while–what we miss out on will likely be mistakes, wrong turns, and choices that aren’t fully informed.

The one outstanding new influence will be the Moon’s trine to retro Mars evening PST. This brings our Martian ‘stuff’ out–aggression, anger, and energy to accomplish and to put forward the personal Will is abundant and should be taken advantage of. The emotions will carry the charge and it’s our job to give expression a positive form. Those who don’t embrace (and especially those who don’t acknowledge) Mars may find fits of temper surfacing out of nowhere and flashes of aggression and even violence that momentarily take the emotional upper hand. Acceptance (rather than a safer-feeling denial) of all tendencies possible means we’ll be able to see and handle the urges as they appear.

Let the Sag Moon have its way–be open to adventure, new horizons, and gaining knowledge we can use later. Next, what to expect with the eclipse! Have a great one–

Today’s Link: astrology and weather http://collaboratingwithfate.blogspot.com/2010/01/correlation-between-severe-weather-and.html

10 Jan 2010: Remote Control

10 Sunday Jan 2010

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We’ve been looking for the remote to the gas fireplace for five months now. We stowed it away, not liking the way, if someone pushed the wrong sequence of buttons, or sat on it! the flames would suddenly leap into a full burn hours later, often in the middle of the night, as if Satan had just stopped in to warm up. We stowed it good, we did; now we have no idea where we put it. So, after hours of searching, I drew up a horary, “Where is the fireplace remote?” Technically, the chart was unreadable, with a 00 Cancer Ascendant; I’d learned to read this as, ‘It’s too early to ask–the matter isn’t fully developed,’ but since that makes little sense in this case, I decided it meant I just wasn’t going to find it yet, and wasn’t to get any clues–no matter what. But I’ve got that dead-cat kind of curiosity, and poked around the chart a bit anyway. I used the 2nd to signify the remote, as the general House of possessions, which also had a Cancer cusp. The Moon was in Scorpio, located in the 5th–perhaps in an area used for recreation? Ruler of the remote was Pluto, posited in the 7th–my husband was definitely the one to decide where to stash it–or does Pluto suggest Satan may have pocketed it one chilly night when he stopped by? I’ll try to locate it again next week using astrology–for right now I’ll just wear a sweater 🙂

For the 10th, the Moon in Scorpio goes Void at 7:03 AM PST, so the day starts, at least for North American West Coasters, wide open. At that point it seems to me the biggest influence will be Venus conjunct the Sun and North Node, and opposed Earth and South Node, a picture that’s almost too heavy with promise. We may be expecting great good fortune, illumination of the best life direction, clear sailing and a huge dose of luck–but Sedna has muddied the waters, and after the Moon moves into Sagittarius (10:10 AM PST) we see it move on to sextile Saturn (6 PM hour PST). At this point Venus and the Sun will both be at 20 degrees, perfecting that trine to Sedna, and this suggests we’ll be very motivated to be constructive emotionally, to reach out and build circumstances that support the very epitomy of what we want in life–but Sedna makes us unable to see where our true reward, treasure, love, and fortune lie! What a bummer! But don’t despair–I think this situation is meant to point us in the direction of our ideals, to ask us to build those circumstances out of the most appropriate scenario we can envision, rather than in response to our earthly ties and desires. This is an opportunity to bring a little bit of the ideal to your reality, a kind of remote control that gives us a tremendous chance to improve our lot, if we’ll only give up the need to handle things first hand and with a focus on the material–faith must take its place.

10 PM-ish we see the Moon square Vesta, with emotions and intuition challenging what we find sacred, the home front, and/ or the sex life–if you respond to this it’s a good indication that you’re deep in the ‘looking at the ideals to potentially bring them to reality’ thing, and that’s good. By 2 AM PST the Moon conjuncts Ceres and trines Juno, and if we’ve been working our Moon energy well, we’ll be in the groove to empowerment, and shaping nature to our liking. We’ll be entering the Dark of the Moon, when we can, through active meditation, align with spirit, and re-center ourselves in the virtual, if not literal, silence that allows rest before New Moon renewal.

Today’s Post: Here’s some excellent material on Mars Retrograde by one of my favorite astrologers http://lunarreflections.blogspot.com/2009/12/mars-retrograde-in-leo-2009-2010.html

9 Jan 2010: Ride the Wave

09 Saturday Jan 2010

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The Scorpio Moon is on the move (as if the Moon ever lingers!) squaring Mars, then sextiling the Sun/ Venus meeting in Capricorn. The likely effect is one of needing to act but perhaps being too angry, frustrated, or unsure in choice of direction, and then being presented with a kind of opposite, a soothing, loving, or happy situation that makes you wonder why you were so bent on pushing forward in the first place! Accept the contradiction, accept that things are going to be stirred up, that you may get glimpses of both harsh feelings and joyful experience. Just do your best to ride the Scorpionic wave, with attention on the sensations and emotional reactions that come up.

Use a dolphin or a lovely shell to ride the Scorpio waves

By the time the Moon hits a sextile to the North Node (starting 6 PM hour PST), opposition to Sedna, and squares to Chiron, Neptune, and Jupiter, we may be worn out. Just as direction seems clear, we realize we have no idea where we’re going–and then we meet conflict with our own sense of woundedness, our ideals and fantasies, and through feedback from the social arena. It makes for a trying Saturday evening.

If we’re willing to tune in to routine, duty, rules, and roles (Sun/ Venus/NN in Cap) we get the most benefit. Though decidedly unglamorous, this can be highly beneficial, allowing us to find the enjoyment and reward available in taking care of business, and coloring inside the lines.

Today’s Link: Clarifying thoughts on the new year http://www.astroinquiry.com/2010/01/the-joy-of-simply-being-happy-two-thousand-zen/

8 Jan 2010: In the Valley of the Eclipse

08 Friday Jan 2010

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It seems all this tension, aggression, and general crazy-makin’ may be nothing more than the energy that gathers between eclipses, cradled between the Full and New Moons as if held in a valley. Though we’re caught in the trough, unable to climb up over the containing ridge, we know that in less than a week we’ll see the next eclipse, a Solar one that will, one way or another, flatten those mountains of energy that are holding us in and open the horizons to view. Retrograde Mars and Mercury are playing parts, too, trapping us in frustrating situations that offer no easy solutions through action or overt communication–so what else is there?

Venus. She unites now with the Sun and they travel together; this pair offers illumination and sensitivity through the actual senses, a virtual means of communication with the Universe that takes on textures, smells, tastes, and sounds. We must think in highly symbolic terms in order to receive the messages sent, but this is the best way to go through a Merc retro period anyway: touching, tasting, wading through, rolling in, smelling, caressing, and feeling the world around us. If we can let go of the words and embrace the images and sensations we can make considerable, and considerably startling, progress.

The Moon enters Scorpio at 2 AM PST, and this, too, helps us on our sensory quest, at least for today. Scorpio Moon lets us plunge below the surface and experience; Sedna is closely trine the North Node, and Venus quincunxes Mars, both of which provide instruction and distraction. Sedna/ NN tells us we can’t, at this time, discern the true consequences of the direction we’re headed, while Venus/ Mars says that the anima and animus, the male and female, the receptive and the aggressive, will of necessity adjust their own energies to accomodate the complement. Awareness of this will be to our benefit as it will prevent too much emphasis in any single direction.

The Moon’s sextile to Pluto (8 AM-ish PST) can be a relief, if we can let go, or may stir up upset and secrets. By 10 PM PST the Moon conjuncts Pallas, and we’re able to see the day in review, and know precisely which of our choices were really wise, and which may have allowed that Pluto ‘bump’ to run the day.

Today’s Link: here’s a great place to exercise your symbolic thinking muscles as you read aello’s dream interpretations, really the best around http://dreamorpheus.wordpress.com/

7 Jan 2010: Emotions at Play

07 Thursday Jan 2010

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We can expect major access emotionally and intuitively today to our most unique skills, the imagination and creative abilities, and to that which supports us socially (Libra Moon trines Chiron, Neptune, and Jupiter); getting the word out about how we feel will be easy (and that always carries an implied caveat to take extra care with what we put out there, especially with the Moon’s quincunx to Sedna, making it tough to see how and where we must adjust, and her quincunx to Uranus, bumping up the urge to spontaneity and to radical and possibly extreme behavior).

Just before we tear into the creative cake, we’ll have to deal with the Moon’s T-square formed with the transiting Nodes. This will likely require a bit of inventory-taking on ourselves, a glance at where we’re going and where we’ve been of late–and that’s all for the good, preparing us to make the most of the day ahead.

Yesterday, as the midpoint of transiting Jupiter/ Uranus was met by the local Midheaven (let’s call it ‘revolutionary beliefs’ in this instance), two lovely young people showed up at my door. They introduced themselves, said they were from the Blahblah Academy, and that they were doing a project–and, drumroll, they wanted to introduce to me a never-before thought of concept: Mother God. “As a female!” added the girl excitedly, in case I didn’t get it. I think she thought I wasn’t comprehending her meaning because I didn’t react as she expected; I smiled and said, “Oh yes.” Their faces fell; they didn’t understand why I wasn’t freaking out at the thought that God might not be a Patriarch in the sky. I said, “Thank you, bye!” waved, and they left, stunned. I wanted to say, “Now kids, let’s use that Google to discover that our spanky-new idea is really the oldest one on earth, before we go door-to-door with it!” but they’d already been disappointed enough.

Don’t you be disappointed today; get out there and socialize! The Void doesn’t begin until 10:08 PM PST. Moon in Libra is best when we’re relating–what comes up with that will be what we’re always carrying in relationships, sprinkled with a little good will.

Link of the Day: Here’s an amusing and accurate take on the Saturn/ Pluto conflict of the square: http://astrologymediapress.com/astrologyexplored/2009/12/30/saturn-in-libra-sympathy-for-two-devils/#more-503

Jan 6 2010: Nerve Escalation

06 Wednesday Jan 2010

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I don’t mean the situation with Uranus, though its current sesquiquadrate to Pallas and trine to the South Node do speak of some need to adjust the impulses to accomodate what we know to be smart, as well as what we’ve learned from past experience–no, that’s a helpful situation, if we’re responsive to it; I mean an escalation of social ‘nerve,’ the kind that relies on our conditioning toward civility and polite response to allow someone else to over run us. This, I think, is Jupiterian. Yesterday we saw a quincunx from the Moon light this up; now, as planet of latest degree, we see Jupiter come forward coupled with the ongoing effects of conjunction to Chiron and Neptune, showing in startling ways that require we step outside our conditioning (and sometimes our politeness boundaries) in order to deal with them effectively, and in a way that respects our personal individuality. Jupiter (behavior acceptable publicly) plus Neptune (those who would deceive or confuse) plus Chiron (let’s just say, it’s not gonna help you!) are the elements some pulled out of their bags of tricks.

The full pic from which the header comes

For me, this showed in several ways; remember that a**hat yesterday who asked for free chart work, then told me he was just doing me a favor? He added me to his spam list, attempting to sell me a raw foods seminar in Maui and lots of podcasts. I’m about ready to name this guy publicly; I’d just hate to promote his ‘business’ in any way. For most of his life he was a failed (as in working in towns so small I’d never heard of them) radio talk show host, who got an ND and jumped on the raw foods bandwagon (and no offense meant to those who are into this; my point is that he has used this like camouflage)–when you put his past and present together, what comes to consciousness is how everything he does is about promoting himself, first and foremost–though of course, he would have us think otherwise. And, he has counted on my socialization (1. that I’m a female, taught to want to please, and 2. the particular, popular misconception that those who work in ‘New Age’ related disciplines are just here to share their ‘gifts,’ they are driven to ‘help,’ never mind making a living, which means they’ll do anything for publicity, and are just waiting to demonstrate, kostenlos, what they can do) not only to make me provide free services, but for me not to broadcast what a crass Self-promoter this fool is, because I think he believes I should be humiliated that he let me know my services aren’t worth paying for. He has misjudged me; I have a fierce and fearless core that is not loathe to face down anything or anyone even, or perhaps especially, in public, where each party can show openly who they are, and let the chips fall where they may, including the judgments of others. Maybe it’s my Sun/ Mars/ Jupiter conjunction that makes me feel so jaunty and formidable 🙂

Just before the Moon quincunxed Jupiter yesterday, I looked out my window and saw a tall woman in an oversized trench coat. She held something close to her body, hidden under the coat, and moved quickly from the grass on one side of the house to a place toward the center of our large lot (it’s about a quarter of an acre, not easy to wander to the middle of), next to the garage and very close to the back door. I opened the door and told her to get out of my yard; she was clearly not in distress, and there’s no way she could’ve mistaken it for a park! She turned and started yelling at me that I should be nicer when kicking people out of my yard–and she didn’t move. I reiterated; she continued to yell. Her words were the words of a practiced manipulator or abuser, caught in the act–the first thing this kind of person will do when confronted is tell you how bad you are. Finally I said, “You’re trespassing–get out” and calling it what it was, an illegal act, did make her move–after I said it twice! I know this is a small incident, but unnerving; I live in a big city, but neighborhoods are very contained here–you get to know everyone who passes by on a regular basis, and I had never seen this woman before. She was a test of my Jupiterian mettle, daring me to call her what she was, taunting me to live up to my social conditioning–and instead treat her like someone to be catered to, rather than the Neptunian bullsh*tter that she was.

So enough about the past–what about today? That Libra Moon has yet to conjunct Zeus and square Merc, Venus, and the Sun–why all the conflict, during a time when the surface says all should be going smoothly? I think the biggest problem is a confusion of energies–major energies in a cluster (and we know what word goes along with that) can start to stumble over one another, and our emotional stance challenges each energy in turn–and they’re all wearing the same damn hat, pretending to be in harmony when it would be easier to understand them if we saw that each energy has its own agenda, and so demands an independent take. We have the energy and impetus to sort them out and address them one by one (Moon sextile Mars) and we’ll be glad if we do; otherwise we may feel the Juno/ Vesta exact quincunx acutely, and this could signal power and Self-assertion needs that upset the relationship, home, values, and yes, sex apple-carts (and please, send me pics of your sex apple-carts and I’ll share them here).

My header, by the by, is by one of my favorite artists, Marc Chagall. There’s some controversy about the actual name of this picture; he painted so many wedding pictures (you can see the top of the bride’s head on the right) that many of the designators have become jumbled over the years. It’s the gentleness of Chagall’s work, though, that has always called me–plus I love that he uses a lot of chickens!

Today’s link: Check out Dana’s work here http://mooncircles.com/blog/  Read both ‘The Wrath of the Feminine’ and ‘Slowing Down’ for a delicious exercise in perception and contrasts!

Have a great one!

Jan 5 2010: I Try Something New

05 Tuesday Jan 2010

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I’ve decided to try a daily diary-style format for a bit; seems like I’ve been out of contact a little too much of late, though I know it’s irrational to perceive writing to an audience as the kind of exchange one experiences speaking with others-–and yet I do. So, what do we have to look forward to over the coming 24? We’re starting things off with a Moon/ Uranus opposition, Moon quincunx Chiron, which is not only perfect symbology for spontaneous expression of emotion/intuition, and the potential for a demand made on the wound or the skills, it shows the ambush I just received by email: a guy “wanting some insight” on what he perceived to be a very profound moment coming up in his chart. Having absolutely no patience, I wrote quickly to say he should see the ‘Want More’ page; he wrote back, saying no thanks, he didn’t think my time was worth paying for, he thought I would want to do it because I would want to write an article about this upcoming config and, apparently, his breathtaking bad Self! I didn’t want to devote the energy to writing back to inform him that this transit configuration is of course happening to everyone (and I’m sure he’d have time to snap back that he knows this, as he doesn’t appear to have much going on–like all the people who write astrologers looking for free analysis–honestly, would you say to your doctor, I’d like some insight on these symptoms, but I shouldn’t have to pay you, because you can use this in a medical journal!?) The conjunction of Jupiter/ Uranus and their opp by Saturn later in the year will be stressful for some, challenging for others, and carry the spring-tension of a drawn bow, poised to send them hurtling forward, for still others, but it’s not, as Mr M put it, ‘a tipping point’ in any absolute sense; he threw in a square from Pluto for June, too, but let’s not get sloppy! It will be a rare human being for whom this doesn’t have some effect, as is typical when heavyweights form geometric shapes (in the flat chart) in the sky, but let’s not get our panties in a twist. It reminded me of those years when I thought I still wanted to focus on fiction; at parties or gatherings inevitably people would share what they do, and when I’d be feeling adventurous (as I’m more than aware of the pitfalls of declaring something like this in public) and admit that I’m a writer, there’d always be one or two people who would corner me at some point and insist on sharing elaborate (and typically unusually banal) story ideas or plots, and then would cheerfully declare, “You can use that, and I won’t even charge you for it!” I am continually amazed at the general lack of understanding of the creative/ generative processes displayed by the average yokel; a small, totally evil part of me always longed to thank them for sharing what a complete Tool they are–but you aren’t toolish, are you, dear reader? You’ll understand.

But you’re here to find out about your day. The Moon’s quincunx to Neptune brings confusion, a need to adjust fantasy to emotional reality, or a tiny punch to the emotions/ intuition from the ideals, reminding us what we’re really about. The Virgo Moon calls it a wrap with a quincunx to Jupiter; will the social arena demand adjustment, or will we broadcast what we feel, despite our better judgment? Or will we just follow the impetus to expand, that may promise us some emotional relief? Then we’ll see a Void, beginning 4:30-ish PM PST and lasting through 8:58 PM PST–suggesting we should sit back, relax, and not be too focused on controlling that which is clearly out of our reach.

Moon into Libra is not always as soothing as it sounds–sometimes we are put into the tension of a perpetual balancing act as we diplomatically try to please everyone. Don’t let this be you! The Moon will square Pluto by 2 AM PST of the 6th, conjunct Saturn by 4–we may be caught up in ‘iron fist in velvet glove’ syndrome, with a contest (or two) of Will v Will likely.

Anything else for today? Not really, though my attention is drawn to retro Mars as it forms a quincunx with the Sun; this may illuminate our wrong-headed actions, our missteps, and may give us a chance to course-correct before there’s any damage, or anyone else even knows. Gee, thanks, Mars!

Featured Post: http://astrologyexpressed.wordpress.com/2010/01/04/the-mighty-neptune/ I can attest to the link between Neptune and allergies–but Neeti just said nice things about my post, while describing herself as a “half-wit” due to allergy medication–should I be reading between the lines here? Just kidding! Please go check out her observations, if you haven’t already. I’m going to link to at least one outstanding post a day–so watch for this as a regular feature.

A Blue New Year’s Eve: Lunar Eclipse Dec 31st 2009

23 Wednesday Dec 2009

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There

We end the year with a Blue Moon, a second Full Moon in a single calendar month; fun, colorfully describes a rarity, but doesn’t mean a lot astrologically, as calendars aren’t strict reflections of the Cosmos, but man-made measuring conveniences. Now that I’ve stomped all the fun out of this concept, I’ll just keep going: New Year’s Eve is also arbitrary–shouldn’t it fall at the last degree of Pisces (if you’re an astrologer) or on the last day of winter (if you’re a Wicca or Druid or anyone who loves and feels the Earth) or last day of summer (whichever way your summer goes, depending on hemisphere, if you live in a really hot place–there’s a reason both Arab and Indian astrologers named a too-close to the Sun placement severely weakened)?

But, if you’re like me, you may like to believe that there’s a reason the Collective has chosen this day to designate the end of our trip around the Sun. I like to believe that our mass agreement invests some days with a wee bit of magic, and this is one of them. Plus the use of the word ‘eve’ to describe the day before something else-it holds a sense of anticipation, of something’s coming get ready: Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve, All Hallow’s Eve, Eve of Destruction–you see what I mean.

So, I approach this Blue Moon, New Year’s Eve Eclipse like a hopeful robin looking for a worm on the astroturf–it all may be artificial, but there’s got to be something good here, too! Such a pile-up of man-designated ‘events’ with one indisputably not (the eclipse) puts me in a mood to go looking for the magic–here’s what I see, for the eclipse at 10 Cancer 14 December 31st at 11:12 AM PST:

The Full Moon is in Cancer, conjunct (of course) the Earth, and when we see that our strict two degree aspect rule for eclipses gets us nothing, we realize just how soft and nurturing the reflected light of Moon in Cancer can be. It will bathe us in a glow, and the larger aspects it makes (a generous 3.5 degree max) are soft and diffuse, too, not bringing the usual clarity and psychic punch that an eclipse holds, but instead riding in on the atmosphere like a mist (or fumes, or poison gas!)  Cancer holding a meeting of the Moon and the Earth, and the power of the alignment (even though it’s partial from our viewpoint) suggests that emotional and intuitive matters will ‘announce’ themselves through material and physical circumstances, and all will be in the Cancer mode: caring and caretaking, concerned, sensitive, especially to the moods and motives of others, and not entirely from a caring point, but from a selfish one, as well, as Cancer is always prone to feel emotionally vulnerable, with the worry that they will be abandoned in some form, or not cared for, behind much of their own offers of care (“I’ll love you and care for you now, and you’ll return the feeling and favor, won’t you?’ It’s interesting that Cancer takes an active, Cardinal approach to getting what it wants–but with the Cardinals we must remember that a sense of proportion and balance comes into play–and with Cancer, the energy wants back what it gave out–in a Cancer approach to things, that’s only right). Cancer may assume obligation to care back by anybody or thing they nurture or love–and that can be the fly in the ointment for the immature (and by that I mean entity who has not grown into the full meaning of the sign) Cancer energy. So we’ll all be swimming in a soft murk of Cancer energy–we just needed to know the possible pitfalls (as the positives about genuine care and support are obvious).

Even with liberal orbs, we get very little, but it does serve to tell us what will be lurking in that nursing, nurturing, I-care-so-much-it-hurts Cancer vibe. We have a trine from the Moon/ Earth to Pallas=wisdom and skills are in harmony with the eclipse energy–but this is a reflective, Moon energy, and we would be smart to ask a few questions (and Pallas gives us the ability–it’s up to us to do so wisely): I feel it, it seems smart, but is that light coming from you or me? Am I accepting your assertion as intelligent, as my own, when maybe it’s neither? Do I have the skills and acumen to undertake or understand what’s before me? Am I using my own inner wisdom in assessing the situation before me?

The Moon/ Earth combo is also square Zeus=the asteroid Zeus is one I’ve been studying intently of late, and what it represents, in general terms, is a fitting counterpoint to the female Juno, a largely male designator (though it has meaning for a woman, as well) keyed to ambition, power, authority and the temptation to abuse it, and wilfullness (see my upcoming in-depth analysis of Zeus in the first issue of my magazine, due in January!) This aspect suggests to me that we may divide up, ever so casually, into those who are receptive (for the Moon’s light has been received–and for some, this may come with the role of victim) and those who would wield the power and control (and for some this could be as abusers, in some sense). The aspect sets up a dynamic of those who care (or who pretend to) in conflict with those who, under the guise of partnership or fairness (Zeus in Libra) will try to take the reins for themselves. This won’t necessarily be nasty; it’s simply a recognition of the motivations of each, and the way that they’re bound to conflict (square).

And the Sun in the eclipse receives a conjunction from Venus, both in Capricorn. Venus kisses the Sun, but it’s likely to be a dry, papery kiss with business on its mind, or maybe with the goal of building or solidifying something (like a relationship). The real Venus moment comes with the exact conjunction of Venus to the Sun and Moon at the Solar Eclipse to follow two weeks later–until then, romance (in the largest sense) may have to take a back seat to other, likely power related, concerns.

Did we find the magic? Not exactly-but if we tap the genuine, Moon related, Cancer oriented bits within ourselves (especially in terms of the natal House where the Moon/ Earth meeting occurs) we can work a little magic in the soft light of the eclipse all on our own.

Also see Dipali Desai’s excellent article here http://celestialspace.wordpress.com/2009/12/27/be-here-now-full-moonlunar-eclipse-in-cancer-dec-31st-2009/

The Fantasy New Moon-16 December 2009

14 Monday Dec 2009

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The Moon, in a false color image to show terrain contrasts. Photo courtesy of NASA

The Moon and Sun meet at 4:01 AM PST at 24 Sagittarius 39. When the Sun and Moon align (at least from our viewpoint on Earth) we see a strong pull of energy in the direction of the pairing. It’s a time for new starts; the impetus is all in one direction, offering an advantage if we’ll plan our activities to follow this flow. These new beginnings can be made in the matters of the natal House where the New Moon falls–we all know this–what we may not know is that there is a New Moon picture made by the bodies the Moon and Sun aspect closely, and that these energies, all together, tell us what to expect from the seed that’s planted over the coming month.

For the final New Moon of the year we have an interesting set of influences on our Sag seed energy: sextiles from Jupiter and Neptune (and from Chiron, if we give just a little in our usually strict two degree orb), all in the Fixed Air of Aquarius, and a square from Uranus in open, Cosmic Pisces. Sagittarius is an energy of outreach; we are naturally urged to ‘go forth,’ in some sense, to learn, to teach/ share, to discover, to expand: our world, our knowledge, our horizons. This time, the influence from the Jupiter/ Neptune/ Chiron combination is one that will hold a different emphasis, depending on the astrological chemistry of each individual. The primary potentials are for massive or exaggerated hurt, fantasy, or ideals fueling that Sag outreach. It’s a mental complex rooted in ideas that we’re very sure of (Aquarius, Jupiter, Sagittarius) and that means we may form sparks of thought (the seeds of the New Moon) that are in essence plans to somehow share or reach out (Sagittarius, waxing Moon energy), strongly influenced by the Aquarius energy to which we respond most prominently. These ideas of outreach are propelled by our primal wound (Chiron), our fantasies or delusions (Neptune), and/ or our ideals (also Neptune).

Belief (Jupiter/ Sagittarius) is behind what is planted; which energy we respond to (Jupiter=beliefs, Chiron=hurt, or Neptune=delusions, fantasies, or ideals) is largely dependent on our own natal charts. Do we have strongly developed philosophies of life, a knowledge orientation? Then Jupiter will lead the pack, and may provide exaggeration or put one’s personal beliefs foremost; do we easily see ourselves as victims, targets, or scapegoats? Chiron is the likely star, as our desire to make contact will be driven by the hope of alleviating pain; do we struggle with staying grounded, either because of difficulty connecting to reality, or because we are consistently imposing our ideals on reality? Neptune is probably in play, obscuring, inspiring, and misleading our efforts. Our responsiveness to these energies natally will strongly influence our experience of this New Moon, and the month to come.

There is another factor to consider: Uranus in dreamy Pisces. The energy of individuality, rebellion, and group-think forms a square to the New Moon, and the seed that’s born contains a germ of radicalism, creativity, and innovation, and introduces the possibility that our New Moon ideas will be vetted via the group–and yet the square promises that these facets will be added through conflict, and that this confrontation takes a Piscean form. This suggests that we could receive this influence subconsciously, through dreams and visions, through images, movies, or music, or through an experience of the Collective.

Considering all factors, this is a New Moon of potentials; the biggest challenge is to take the seed energies and sort usable energies, facts, knowledge, inspiration, images and visions, from delusions, fantasies, and responses seated in old hurts. One way to stay grounded (and thus make best use of these potentials) is to earth ourselves through the sign energy of Earth’s current position, in Gemini. This suggests we can bounce ideas off others, discuss, network, and fact-check, in order to see what’s truly feasible, and what may be a little too pie-in-the-sky.

If I Can’t See It, Why Does It Hurt?

23 Monday Nov 2009

Posted by in aspects and placements, astrology, current events in the sky

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The obvious answer to that is, Why must you see something in order for it to have an effect? That’s the situation we’re facing right now: we can feel it, but getting a handle on just where the energies are being generated is nearly impossible. The biggest problems, though, are twofold: we may attribute effects to the wrong sources, and we may insist on things that aren’t necessarily so (the most pronounced of which might be the mantra, ‘Venus square Jupiter means everything is great, dammit!’)

The dynamic in play is a Venus/ Ceres conjunction (strong women, or strong animas, or two values sets, with very different agendas, but both focused on having a power-effect on the situation–look to your values, finances, or relationships for the arena where this appears personally, or in the matters of the natal House where this conjunction is happening for you) opposed Sedna (the ‘blind spot’) all in a T-square with Jupiter/ Chiron (exaggerated hurt or PR, hurt from the social sphere, skills tested under duress–the square–in the social sphere, learning what wounds, or those wounds inflicted by religious, educational, or cultural differences).

This can have about a million different forms, but the essence of it is this: we’re bound to identify hurt coming from somewhere, and get both the nature of the upset and the origins wrong. Sedna makes us unable to see–it’s not a matter of being willing to see, or of making a special effort; the energy of this body removes our ability to accurately pinpoint the conflict (though some number of us will guess correctly in spite of ourselves! It’s just the odds). What, then, can we do about this? How to cope?

Even our coping mechanism comes with a caveat, as Neptune, the Great Obscurer, is involved. We can look to innate wisdom and common sense for guidance (Pallas), as this energy is accessible through feedback from the social realm and from our own attempts to reach out or expand (Jupiter), and through application of the unique Chirotic skills, and our ideals, creativity, and imagination (Neptune). The trine between Pallas and Jupiter/ Chiron/ Neptune allows a funneling of our ‘smarts’ and our most competent attributes so that, by observing the products of actions and thoughts based on our ideal and imaginings, and on the feedback we get from the social sphere, we can determine in what way our perceptual equation is imbalanced. We can pinpoint the relevant power, authority, values, relationship, and financial issues that are really in play at present, and discern whether they truly are injurious, as well as in what way they may serve to help us expand and ‘get the word out.’

Wish I didn’t have to be so vague, but with the involvement of both Sedna and Neptune, nebulousness is almost required! And a word about the Venus/ Jupiter square: don’t forget that a square is a conflict aspect, at least initially–there will be discord within attempts to expand in Venusian areas. If we accept this, we’ll be much more likely to stop insisting that this is a great influence, and start working with it, so that we can resolve the tension and actually make it work for us, likely with great success.