Category Archives: current events in the sky

Destined Directions and the New Moon

15 Sunday Nov 2009

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earth and moonNew Moon arrives the 16th of November at 11:13 AM PST at 24 Scorpio 34; there’s a trine of Earth to the North Node and the Sun/ Moon combination trines the South Node (using a two degree max orb) and we also have the Sun/ Moon trine the exact Uranus/ Juno conjunction in Pisces (creating a Grand Trine with the South Node) and square Neptune in Aquarius. There is always a birth of the new in the House of the natal chart where the Sun/ Moon conjunction falls, and this time it will bring easy expression of the uniqueness and empowerment circumstances of the Self, which in itself will be a precise test of how well we’ve learned the lessons of the past. The Grand Trine formation in Water suggests that the greatest revelation and payoff will be emotional; the trine made by Earth to the North Node says that whatever progress there is to our destined development will have a marked effect on the material circumstances of our lives.

We are given a clue as to the nature of this birth of the new (or perhaps in this case a re-birth or resurrection, considering the sign is Scorpio) by the Sabian degree symbol, ‘An X-Ray Photograph.’ Putting all our clues together, this says that the renaissance involves a depth of perception, especially emotionally (the Water Grand Trine) in some matter related to the House where this occurs for us in the natal chart. Expect to see something, in fact, to see through something, so that the bare bones of the matter are exposed–nothing is hidden, in the particular area affected. However, to take the symbol a little farther, an x-ray doesn’t show us the nature of the surface of the object or individual–and that suggests that though we may have very sharp and detailed insight into the matter, we may not see the thing, person, or situation as it’s actually presented, a ‘miss the forest for the trees’ kind of focus. We will express our individuality, uniqueness, and empowerment and, depending on the thoroughness of our ability to process what we’ve learned from the past, we can literally see the very structure of things, and yet there may be a problem as we dehumanize what’s before us–and we’re reminded of this by the Earth trine to the North Node in the Earth element, which asks us to see how the material surroundings, the way things look, the tangible, those surfaces and externals mentioned earlier, are giving information about the direction we’re headed, about our future.Moon in shadow

Under oddities and influences we have Vesta at 29 degrees and the Part of Fortune for the moment of the New Moon exact quincunx Mars and sextile the asteroid Zeus (about which I’m preparing an article right now, which is why I noticed! The article will be included in an electronic quarterly in Pdf form that will be available for purchase soon–I’ll also include–and pay–other contributing astrologers for future issues, and hope you’ll give this pub a try!) This combination suggests that we are in some way stressed about those subjects we find sacred, circumstances in the home, or with the sex life, perhaps feeling a contradiction between the actions we would take (Mars), that energy most characteristic of ‘luck’ or a sort of adept touch (Part of Fortune), and the Zeusian attitude of do what we want when we want. This may form a surface current that crosses and mingles with the New Moon energies, distracting and confusing us. The way to keep them separate is to recognize that what creates an emotional impact (and/ or empowerment or sharp perceptions) will relate to the New Moon, while what creates stress will relate to the Mars complex–this requires us mostly to recognize boundaries and what actions typically benefit us, and stick with these, rather than following those impulses to ‘go rogue.’

Haven’t had a lot of chance to look around, but you shouldn’t miss Jude Cowell’s take on the New Moon http://www.starsoverwashington.com/2009/11/scorpio-new-moon-nov-16-2009-secret.html and Dipali Desai’s thoughts here http://celestialspace.wordpress.com/2009/11/14/new-moon-in-scorpio-on-november-16th-2009/ and Verena Donath’s here http://verenadonath.wordpress.com/2009/11/16/november-16-2009-scorpio-new-moon-2009/

And don’t forget the Leonids, visible the next few nights http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33891078/ns/technology_and_science-space/?GT1=43001

See my latest post here http://askjulie.wordpress.com/2009/11/17/being-in-love-ladies-are-you-an-annie-oakley-or-a-calamity-jane/

Both images courtesy of NASA

The Saturn-Pluto Square

02 Monday Nov 2009

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

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A conflict aspect between two serious heavyweights such as these, not surprisingly, has stirred a great deal of concern, but really shouldn’t. It’s a clash of the titans, a rough meeting of forces with ancient origins–and as such, it will affect most of us as significant background, rather than up front pressure or confrontation. It brings to bear on the life general energies that require discipline and effort (and if we don’t discipline ourselves, circumstances come along and do it for us! Such is the influence of Saturn) and that will require the utmost seriousness and honesty–as Pluto will rile the depths until truth be told.

No wonder many people are worried about this! But, not to fear–it’s an excellent long-term opportunity to make significant, down-to-the-roots changes that can immensely better your world. Will it take work? Yes, Saturn’s involved; Will it be dramatic and messy? Yup, Pluto can bring forward the secrets and question the theatrics that have been protecting them like no other. Is this bad? Only if you don’t want to do the hard work–but this doesn’t have to be especially hard, with the difference between difficult and relatively smooth being one’s willingness to address what comes forward. It’s that simple.

Parsing out the effects of this square over time is best done in two ways: an inspection of the ways it contacts the natal chart, naturally, and in watching what through transit touches the square. This latter will give a tenor to the square, giving the energy clash a certain flavor–and right now, that happens to be provided by a sesquiquadrate formed by Jupiter in Aquarius. This stimulates a strong desire to understand the square intellectually (but the majority of its energies are more primal than that–sensing them works better), and it makes us prone to project the effects outward, into our social sphere or society at large. Tensions generated by needed change will find expression in one’s role or interaction in the group arena–which could be unsettling, as everyone changes partners and shifts position, drawing lines in the sand, demanding the bare-knuckles truth, and overall looking to reflect inner changes in significant change to the surroundings.

See my latest post here http://askjulie.wordpress.com/2009/11/17/being-in-love-ladies-are-you-an-annie-oakley-or-a-calamity-jane/

The Slingshot Full Moon

02 Monday Nov 2009

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Earth-Moon NASAThe Full Moon today at 11:14 AM PST acts like a cosmic slingshot, loading two tense configurations that we’ll be hard pressed to escape: a T-square with the Sun (10 Scorpio 30) conjunct Ceres and Mercury at one end, the Earth/ Moon conjunction (10 Taurus 30) at the other, with an arm formed by Mars in Leo; and a Fist of God with the same Sun/ Mars square, both sides sesquiquadrate the Juno/ Uranus conjunction.

Perhaps the most effective way to look at this is by defining each energy cluster; when we do this, and examine the Sabians related to the Full Moon degree, we find something unusual: that these tense aspects will bring a sense of relief and productive serenity. What a surprise! The Sun/ Ceres/ Mercury group in Scorpio brings a blending of the identity with a sense of authority and a natural ease of communication; in Scorpio this promises depth and intensity, the possible involvement of secrets, the desire to clear the air (and we’ve been seeing this for some time; we can assume this is, logically, the culmination, at least of this phase of development). The Sabian for this degree (courtesy of cafe astrology http://www.cafeastrology.com/sabiansymbols_degreemeanings.html) is, ‘A drowning man is being rescued.’ This promises the process has already begun; the conjunction of energies adds that our own capacity to embrace who we are, to believe in ourselves, and to communicate this is instrumental to the realization of the ‘rescue.’ This presents a challenge of its own: if we don’t, in some fundamental way, know ourselves and our identity, we will be at a disadvantage; the rescue may not be a success, our message may be garbled, our identity unclear.

The Moon/ Earth conjunction is at 10 Taurus 30, the Sabian for which is, ‘A woman watering flowers in her garden.’ This image is in radical juxtaposition to the one for the Sun, and suggests the serenity found both in the process of drowning (at a crucial stage the mind takes one elsewhere, to the memory of something calming and earth-bound) and evokes the flashes coming to the rescued: I will stay home in the garden from now on! It represents the natural reaching toward the polar opposite (water to land) that is the logical result of a land creature (humans) overwhelmed by an element where he or she is only temporarily comfortable (water)—and that brings us to the idea that what we may be rescued from by our sure knowledge of ourselves is the emotional, intuitive, and subconscious influences that have seemed to be overcoming us of late (Moon, manifested–Earth).

The Leonine Mars arm of the T-square suggests that the tension inherent in exercising the ego’s prerogatives (and these are keyed to the Soul’s needs, Leo) will bring about the rescue and resolution, which puts us in a position to tend and enjoy our metaphorical garden, the results of all we’ve been nurturing–in other words, we’ll get what we deserve by our actions that resolve this tension-need.

The other configuration, the Fist, takes the Sun-Mars square, bringing forward the productive tension of the ego/ identity energy mix, and puts both parts into a situation calling for adjustment to empowerment needs and the need to express the uniqueness (or, for some, the need to show themselves within a group). Though tense, this too allows us to resolve a pressing need, and to access some of our most vital Self-expression energies; these are certainly, as well, some of our most original.

Creative types should benefit enormously from this Moon, as will anyone dealing with boundary and empowerment issues, and so will those who have been stuck, in some sense, within the process of creating the life–they will be rescued by the coalescence of their own most typical energies and impulses, and placed in the ‘garden’ of their own creation.

Look to the House of the natal chart where the Sun influence is present (Leo cusp, natal Sun placement, transiting Sun) for ideas as to what areas might offer you the reflection your identity needs to recognize itself, and to the Full Moon House for the life area where the need to resolve the tension has been manifest (and accept that this is where the relevant tension shows–this elaborates on what we’re being rescued from). The dynamic across the House axis where the Full Moon falls is one of material renewal and spiritual resurrection. Where Mars in Leo falls in the natal chart is where the ego can act to end the crisis–but don’t expect this to go forward without some upset and conflict, particularly internally–that’s just the nature of all those squares and sesqui-s!

The Juno/ Uranus conjunction draws on the entire cosmos (Pisces) for empowerment and creative ideas–so even the sky isn’t the limit, in terms of what you can access! The slingshot quality of all these components is that tension, movement, and release will propel us toward the goal–just aim as carefully as you can!

Fun Fact: have any of your heard of this before? The built-in dictionary that comes with Works says:

na·tal [náyt’l]
adj
 of buttocks: relating to the buttocks 
[Late 19th century. < Latin natis “buttock”]
Encarta ® World English Dictionary © & (P) 1998-2005 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

What??

Dark of the Moon Practice, New Moon Expectations

14 Wednesday Oct 2009

Posted by in current events in the sky, Dark of the Moon, Grand Cross/Grand Square, Moon

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sliver moonDark of the Moon begins late evening of the 14th, Pacific time (approx. 10:30 PM). A passive meditation on relationships (New Moon in Libra) may be in order over the days preceding the Sun/ Moon conjunction. Though a meditation in motion is recommended (this is a practice of being, with the meditation an attitude carried throughout the day) it may not be easy, as the Dark period likely keeps us thinking about relationships almost obsessively; for some, the obsession may concern one’s Art or one’s efforts at diplomacy, judgment, or fairness of issues. Even as we look to other subjects, those interactions that need attention or resolution continue to intrude. Putting attention on these subjects is very appropriate, but don’t pressure yourself to come to some decision or resolution. The period preceding the New Moon is a time for contemplation and passive consideration of what the relationship or issue needs–it’s not a time to leap into action, come to conclusions, or make pronouncements.

The New Moon of the 17th occurs at 24 Libra 58 at 10:31 PM Pacific, and the only aspect within one degree is a Grand Cross created with the Earth and Nodes. This suggests a dynamic start-point, a birth, a decisive energizing that affects the life direction. The Sabian symbol for this degree (courtesy of http://www.cafeastrology.com/sabiansymbols_degreemeanings.html) is “The Sight Of An Autumn Leaf Brings To A Pilgrim The Sudden Revelation Of The Mystery Of Life And Death” The image, too, suggests the importance of the moment in terms of a new understanding that affects the life destiny in major ways. Now, this doesn’t mean we should each expect our own personal lightning bolt–instead we may do better to approach the New Moon with the idea that we cannot know ‘the big moments,’ the turning points in our lives, in all cases, as sometimes they are quiet instants of reflection that quicken the intelligence and open our spiritual eye to some vital truth never before seen. This is what the degree promises: that the faithful seeker (the Pilgrim) will be given the spark of knowledge and comprehension that applies to key life energies, forces, or experiences. Not a bad promise, at all, and likely to be lived out over the time between this New Moon and the next.

It’s of note that the New Moon will occur exactly conjunct Fixed Star Arcturus (24 Libra 22), which long-time readers will know I use as Psyche, per Michael Munkasey’s persuasive suggestion. This may bring the issues Psyche dealt with (love of one she doesn’t completely know, curiousity that wounds the relationship, the jealousy and vindictiveness of other women, the opportunity to listen to the spirit and accomplish ‘impossible’ tasks, the awakening or resurrection to a ‘new,’ more powerful Self) to the forefront, especially for women.

Intriguing Aspects At Large

05 Monday Oct 2009

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

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I look and at first see the same old same old, starring that Mystic Rectangle involving the Nodes, that just won’t go away–and I’m looking for it to dissolve as it doesn’t seem to be making life any better for us–at least, not in any new, obvious way–I think it set its effect some time ago, so it feels like a running ‘good luck’ thing for some and a ‘bad luck’ thing for others (if the elements of the Rectangle are in significant hard contact to important parts of your natal chart), and a mixture for those with both hard and easy contact. So, it hasn’t recently offered us much that’s new, until right about now, as Mercury moves into proximity to conjunction with Saturn, and Mars sneaks up on the South Node; suddenly our outlook changes just a bit–we’re primed to actually move on some of what’s been presented as possible (or possibly presented as outside our reach, depending on the aforementioned contact), and we have a strong urge to make our thoughts manifest. The impetus to make ‘it’ happen comes forward–but is it wise to act?

Mars is still quincunx Neptune, and the Juno/ Uranus combo is trine the Arian strongman–this suggests that implementing plans (specifically those plans you’ve been itching to get off the ground, but have so far been either totally in the planning stages or have somehow been thwarted when you did try to go forward) would be difficult–we can’t really tell what action’s needed, and underlying it all there may be too much ‘I’ll show you!’ energy, too much neediness to feel empowered, which makes it just too tempting to do anything in order to meet your goals. Better in my view to hold off until about the 8th; then Vesta is firmly entrenched opposed Jupiter, and the Sun is sextile our saucy, sacred tart, and together this signals we’ll see very clearly our own values vis a vis society and our personal social sphere–and that makes it easy to know what we want to do. As well, we’ll have the energy to do what we intend, as opposed to the current situation, where the energy seems to flow on and off as if controlled by a giant, invisible switch.

In fact, the 8th has a lot of big selling points in terms of what positive aid may be available to us. The Moon will be trine the Sun (that energy bounce), Mercury will be exact semi-sextile Ceres at 28 Virgo/ Libra, respectively(a glib tongue, the power, authority, and charisma to negotiate successfully, and very possibly a ‘right time, right place’ aspect, especially if either makes soft contact to the natal chart), and Venus moves to within conjunction of Saturn, opposition of Uranus/ Juno, and quincunx of Chiron/ Neptune. The first two sets of aspects put in place a dynamic of what we value, relationships, and assets being either ‘nailed down’ in some way, of being featured center stage as we want (demand?) their materialization, and we muster what education and skills, and sense of empowerment, we own in service of this. The latter aspect, Venus quincunx Chiron/ Neptune, may with care serve to make us sensitive in a highly positive way, possibly divinely inspired, and if we’re flexible, in touch with our ideals. And that is the key, remaining flexible to both take advantage of the influences and to avoid, in over zealousness to create precisely what we believe we want, shutting out the love that is there, available, being offered.

And catch this list of recommended blogs I’m very happy to have been included on: http://mountainastrologer.com/tma/some-of-the-current-best-astrology-blogs

On Purpose

06 Sunday Sep 2009

Posted by in astrology, Consciousness Explored, current events in the sky

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I was listening to Dr. Wayne Dyer (http://www.drwaynedyer.com/) speak this morning on Purpose; how we as individuals are prone to continually ask, ‘What is my Purpose?’ (at least, those who have reached the stage of considering such things–though I tend to think even those who are totally unconscious in their Beingness are ‘working the Universe’ the same as everyone else, with the same goals and intentions, though their true goals are much more likely to remain unknown to them!) and Dr. Dyer says that the asking of the question is our Purpose trying to re-connect with us; and in tandem with this, he quoted a teacher of his (the name escapes me– apologies to this individual) who, when queried on how he could experience peace when others suffered all around the globe, replied, in essence, that nothing in his life was an accident. Together, these two ideas, that our Purpose is at every moment trying to connect to us, and that nothing is unintentional, combine to suggest that, even in our darkest, most misguided, or confused moments we are seeking to make contact with our Purpose, and that nothing we do is without point, without an opportunity to express who we are and why we’re here.

So, we can approach the idea of Purpose in a very simple, straightforward way: the Purpose for each and every one of us is this: to add to the World. That’s all. The term ‘Purpose’ is almost useless when we look at it this way, as the inclination is to believe that purpose itself comes from the outside, like being cast in a role in a movie, or as if it’s something with almost magical properties for happiness (possibly that we chose pre-birth) and that now, if we can just discover it, all elements of our life will fall into place–no more problems, serenity NOW!–while if we see it as ‘what we add to the World,’ we see that it consists of literally every thought, word, and deed, and that all of these are a matter of personal choice, with total control and responsibility (the ability to respond) falling squarely to ourselves.

And now, a bevy of excellent contributions to the World:

Enlightened discourse on the state of our union  http://starsoverwashington.blogspot.com/2009/09/falling-romes-and-americas-us-sec-full.html

The joy of Saturn/ Uranus in action http://lucywatchthesky.com/2009/09/02/hands-up-who-wants-to-die-a-cardinal-t-square-a-saturn-uranus-opposition-and-one-exhausted-lucy/

Fun with maps http://questionofmindfulness.wordpress.com/2009/09/06/relocation-charts/#more-1730 

Lessons in love http://laurenlesko.com/7939 

And a few notes on upcoming influences:

Jupiter, Chiron, and Neptune are all paddling in reverse right now as fast as they (figuratively) can, which I anticipate means it’s a form of ‘every energy for itself’! Expect these to seemingly pop up on the grassy knoll of your life like a lone assassin (though of course we know they really aren’t working alone), with each bringing to matters of the House transited and/ or the natal energy contacted the following: Jupiter bringing the tendency to exaggerate or overdo (or perhaps broadcast indiscriminately), Chiron struggling to control the sense or possibility of wounding, and Neptune making it at least as tough for you to see clearly as it was for Michael Jackson’s kids when they were still veiled, masked, or, like the little one, wearing a blanket, translated as your own private sense-muffling Idaho, which of course only confuses us all the more with the onset of Merc retro. Just take it easy, would be my admonition.

Venus is sextile Ceres (love, relationships, finances, or values must be negotiated, and/ or nature takes a gentle, season-changing swing at our assets or what we love); Venus then sesquiquadrates Juno the 7th and 8th (this demands adjustment of assets, relationships, or values to accommodate the needed empowerment position); and then Venus quincunxes Earth, and they travel in aspect together now through the 15th (we can’t avoid rearranging or modifying Venusian subjects as required either by our current material circumstances or by what we must seek in order to create a more copacetic material environment).

Thanks, everyone–you’ve all been incredibly supportive and encouraging as I ease off online engagement–though as you can see, I’ll still be back plenty–have a great week!

Just in case you’re wondering, I used hitchhiker’s screen name in the tags only because, though I know her actual name, it’s not even hinted at on her site–so I thought discretion was in order.

Lunar Eclipse August 5th 2009

04 Tuesday Aug 2009

Posted by in aspects and placements, astrology, current events in the sky, eclipse, Fist of God

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The eclipse occurs at 5:55 PM August 5th PDT, with the Moon and Earth conjunct at 13 AQ 43; technically, the eclipse itself starts a few minutes after exactitude, but I think it’s reasonable to look at the moment of first contact, so here we are. And what do we see? No contact, using our strict two degree orb rule, except for a puzzling semi-square to the Ascendant (a ‘So what?’ position), and a sesquiquadrate to the Part of Fortune. But, if we stretch our rule just a hair (and what are rules for, if not to stretch hairs over), we finda Fist of God, with sesquiquadrates to the Part of Fortune and Ceres (aka Mother Nature).  Ah! Now a picture is forming.

Am I reaching, using the Part of Fortune? Depends on how you feel about the use of the Arabic Parts in general, I guess, but for an ‘occasion’ (or an event, as I’m guessing this will be) it seems appropriate. Using it allows us to have some fun (or to frighten the bejezus out of ourselves, depending!)

So, the chart I’ve drawn is for Seattle, my current hometown, and eclipse time puts Pluto at 00 Cap–what’s built is destroyed, disruption to the status quo–just inside the 1st at a late Sagittarius Ascendant, which makes a tight quincunx to the South Node–what’s happened before will happen again? or is it what’s been destroyed before, etc?–with Part of Fortune exact on the Descendant. Hmmm. Add the Nodes in crisis at 29 degrees, the aforementioned Fist of God, with component Ceres spanking new in Libra–nature, balance, out of balance, at 00–and Ceres square to Pluto–stability lost, Mother Nature disrupted–are we looking at an earthquake chart?

Now, I don’t like to make predictions, because I believe that nothing, absolutely nothing, is set in stone, nor do I want to whip my readers into a frenzy, or earn the epithet ‘Crazy Julie’; but this is an intriguing pattern, worth noting–and if nothing happens, all the better, or the earthquakes are personal or symbolic–I’d be glad to be wrong.

I don’t want to expect a disaster, but with these measurements I might anticipate one, and my own research has matched contact to the angles with earthquake activity–but of course, there are zillions of contacts to the angles all day long–it just seems that when an earthquake does occur, there’s significant, precise contact–so stay safe, West Coasters! And no matter how flamingly wrong I am about this, the post will stay up–just so we can all laugh about it on the 6th. (Typically, I feel eclipse possibilities last through to the following set of eclipses–so perhaps we’ll just have more activity than usual, through New Year’s Eve/January 2010)
Also see Jude Cowell’s excellent take here http://2hrsyulnvrgetbck.blogspot.com/2009/08/mystic-rectangle-lunar-eclipse-in-aq.html

Earthquake activity http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/Quakes/quakes_all.html

Lucy knows what this means (see comments)

(see comments)

Solar Eclipse July 2009

18 Saturday Jul 2009

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

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Of the two Lunar eclipses and one Solar eclipse occurring in this set, the upcoming Solar one is the one to watch. Not literally, of course, as that will burn your eyes out (no wonder people were frightened of eclipses–there must have been plenty of village idiots who did just that–and who wouldn’t think it was God, or gods, or Baal, or Apollo, or Ra punishing those hubristic enough to stare into what in many cultures amounts to the face of God?) No, watch this Solar eclipse, promised in the Pacific time zone of North America at 7:33 PM the 21st of July, for the figurative burn it may bring.partial solar eclipse

The transiting Sun and Moon meet at 29 Cancer 26, an anaretic degree, and that signals the energies involved are both in a state of high stress. Why? Placement of any energy at an anaretic degree (the very earliest and latest of a sign) suggests that the body has traveled through the experience cycle of all preceding degrees of the sign–now the body is pressured to symbolically ‘finish up’ with the energy spectrum of the sign.  This means that any facets of the sign not experienced during the course of the transit now come forward, needing to be expressed in order to complete the experience cycle. In this case, the energies are Cancerian: of nurture, care, involved with others, nourishing, intrusive, emotional, intuitive, maternal, enveloping, sensitive, changeable or monthly. For all of us, the place in the natal chart where 29 degrees of Cancer falls (if this does not fall on a natal placement) will designate by House where we may be facing a crisis energy that blends the Cancer experience spectrum with the matters of the House.

Solar eclipseFor those with a natal placement at this degree (or within 2 degrees of it, either side), the crisis energy is much stronger, and specific to the manifestation of the natal body or point. By ‘crisis,’ however, I mean ‘need to face’ as it applies to the matters brought forward. If one is willing to be responsible, literally willing to respond, one need not suffer crisis or upset of any kind–in fact the impetus offered by the Solar eclipse energy can bring great leaps forward, particularly at the personal level, in illuminating all facets of a matter or issue, and endowing one with the energy and ‘sight’ to resolve it.

Other natal placements to which the eclipse is in hard aspect may share in the crisis energy (though to a lesser intensity or extent), with the aspect itself suggesting the way toward resolution. For instance, a square says that the eclipse will present an energy situation (related to both the 29 Cancer placement and the House in which this occurs) that is in conflict with the natal energy as it exists, and requires one to weigh, consider, and negotiate as one would with any square. Again, keep the aspect orb to 2 degrees or less, and as with the conjunction, a willingness to face the energy and deal with it can minimize or eliminate problems, and even turn them to your advantage.

Soft contacts to natal placements (sextiles, trines) offer to bolster the manifestation of the natal energy with the eclipse energy. We musn’t assume that this is uniformly positive, however, as ease in blending the two energies can bring forward a ‘path of least resistance’ manifestation that may effectively undermine our best interests. Control is the key with soft aspects, channeling them productively into assisting expression of the natal energy while remaining attentive to implications and ramifications of the interaction.

The eclipse itself makes a few aspects: a quincunx to Pluto, and a conjunction to the South Node in Leo (with complementary opposition to the North Node). Whenever we have an eclipse, it’s important to look at the pattern it forms with other transiting bodies, as this tells us something about the effects we can expect; the contacts the eclipse makes are essentially part and parcel of the ‘eclipse package’ we experience. A quincunx to Pluto suggests that the crisis energy of the eclipse will run deep, be intense, transformative, and perhaps a little dangerous or disturbing, unearthing secrets or things we’d rather leave buried. This aspect may make us feel that the eclipse itself is dangerous or disruptive, but this is the energy of the eclipse feeding through and adjusting (the quincunx) to the active energy of transiting Pluto, and to our senses there may be no distinction.orbital view solar eclipse

The Solar eclipse conjunct the South Node in Leo brings in elements of the past and our place in it. Identity issues are ‘lit up’ by the eclipse, and the South Node itself is at an anaretic degree (but this time in the opposite situation to the eclipse–here the South Node is back at the seminal moment of our past that helped form our identity, our creative sense of Self–00 Leo).

We can expect matters of the Self, our origins in the past, and secrets or change, to be the eclipse effect for all of us, with reference to the House where the eclipse occurs; those with a natal hook must figure in the natal effect, as well, using common sense and positioning oneself mentally to make the most of available energies. And remember, Dark of the Moon precedes the eclipse, meaning that we may all be feeling a little more ‘in the dark’ than we’d like beginning about evening PDT of the 18th, with illumination coming on the New Moon, as it always does.

lightningAn  eclipse is really an opportunity to put lightning in a bottle; let’s do our best to use the energy wisely.

And I love you all, but please, no questions about personal eclipse situations in the comments section–I’m available for single question assessments for only $25, and full eclipse reports for $50, email me at juliedemboski@hotmail.com  Thanks!

Sorry–can’t seem to get the post to capture the chart any bigger without cutting some off–will continue to try to remedy. You can blow it up through your browser, a little fuzzy but readable.

Solar Eclipse July 2009

A Few Thoughts on the Eclipse, Sarah Palin, the Magic Number 50, and Sweeney Todd

06 Monday Jul 2009

Posted by in current events in the sky, eclipse

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One thing it would be good to keep in mind about the eclipse is that it’s just a Full Moon, the alignment of which creates an extraordinary view of the line up from here on Earth–so it’s the same event we get on a monthly basis, it’s only our perspective that makes it special. Full Moons are traditionally periods of culmination, so I think it’s only natural, maybe found in our DNA, or our Collective memory, or perhaps a result of the Moon’s pull on the sea elements of the bloodstream, that causes us to be alert, to be looking for, if not danger, then unanticipated change and effect. It’s a primal call we’re feeling right now, on the eve of the event; we must honor the need to be attentive, to be ready to respond, while still remembering that we’ve lived through a lot of eclipses, and chances are we’ll live through quite a few more. eclipse

When on Friday Alaska governor Sarah Palin announced she was stepping down from the post later this month, I had to take a look at her chart, because with someone who likes (and abuses, see ‘Troopergate’) power as much as this woman does, resigning an influential and visible position doesn’t make sense. I used data from Astrodatabank, which rates her info as ‘DD’ dirty data, unreliable for one or more reasons, in this case conflicting possible times (11 February 1964  9:43 PM  Sandpoint Idaho USA). I’ll make just a few notes here: first thing that jumped out is that she’s been long-term experiencing transiting Chiron/ Neptune/ Jupiter on her natal gathering of the Sun, Mars, and Saturn in Aquarius, certainly suggesting the possibility of painful times, and circumstances that make it very difficult to know who she is with any certainty (irony alert: and yet, one of her major talking points both during the campaign and now is that she does know precisely who she is–perhaps the lady doth protest too much). Transiting Saturn is quincunx Jupiter, transiting Pluto is square Venus–both offer scenarios of the need to change, one through modification of public image/ contact to suit reality or goals, the other through change (perhaps drastic) to what she values, to relationships, to finances.

You didn't really want to see another picture of Sarah Palin, did you?

You didn't really want to see another picture of Sarah Palin, did you?

All well and good, certainly supporting the move; but then I looked to Solar Arcs, and a different picture emerged. She’s 45 years old, and that puts everything in the natal chart by Solar Arc (with some variation dependent on time of year of birth) semi-square its natal position, and in the process filled in some interesting blanks, a few of which I’ll note here. The admittedly unreliable Ascendant comes to conjunction with the natal Pallas/ Juno conjunction–this suggests a personal need to connect with circumstances of Self-empowerment and that allow the exercise of the Self’s wisdom and skills. How does this mesh with the idea of giving up a governorship? It doesn’t, unless one sees empowerment in going back to school, perhaps, or if one sees the potential for greater empowerment elsewhere–ah-ha, perhaps we’re on to something!

Solar Arc movement also brings natal Venus from sesquiquadrate with natal Neptune to a full opposition; I don’t think there’s a transit that exists that’s more likely than hard contact between Venus and Neptune to lead the individual down the primrose path (for you youngsters, we’ll call it ‘fantasy lane’!) And we should note that natally Ms. Palin has a Mystic Rectangle involving the Nodes, Chiron, and her Pluto/ Uranus conjunction, suggesting, perhaps, a compulsion to act from hurt, to see one’s Chirotic endowments and individuality as having a ‘destined’ quality, and giving a remarkable ability to rise Phoenix-like from the ashes. Clearly, we haven’t seen the last of her.

The number of prominent deaths recently has been nearly overwhelming, but one thing that drew my attention was that both Michael Jackson and pitchman Billy Mays were 50 years old. It would’ve just seemed an oddity if not for astrology, as death at or near the 50 year mark suggests Chiron involvement, with its cycle around the individual chart of approximately 51.5 years (but this varies quite a bit depending on placement). Barabara Hand Clow puts forward in her seminal book on Chiron that the hard contacts of Chiron to itself are potential exit points in the life, and the more I see the more I agree that these points are indeed times when we may choose to move on. Something to ponder on: “What dreams may come, when we have shuffled off this mortal coil, must give us pause.” William Shakespeare’s HAMLET

I saw Tim Burton’s ‘Sweeney Todd’ again recently, the first and only time previous having been in the theatre when it Sweeney Toddwas released. I remembered the movie more clearly and vividly than is typical for me, except for the ending, which took me completely by surprise. I was stunned, depressed, and moved, and though the tragic nature of the circumstances of vengeance, unrequited love, and the murder of what one was seeking all along is on it’s own sad, I think it had an effect on me because it was, really, a lot like life; nobody got out of that pie shoppe unscathed, and nobody gets out of here alive! A morbid note to end on, I know, but I recall the first time the idea that ‘nobody gets out of here alive’ clicked for me with life itself; it made me laugh, and also pointed up our tendency to behave as if, indeed, it’s a desperate situation–and it led me to, every day, re-dedicating my energy to behaving as if it’s not.

Have a great Monday, everyone!

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Lunar Eclipse July 7th 2009

04 Saturday Jul 2009

Posted by in astrology, current events in the sky, eclipse

≈ 30 Comments

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This may be a hangin’ offense, but I’m not only not seeing the upcoming eclipses as linked, I’m looking at them as separate events–and the first one, on the 7th at 2:21 AM PDT (point of the Full Moon, with eclipse beginning slightly after) at 15 Capricorn 24, helps me make my point, as the eclipse bodies make no exact contact to any other body. That doesn’t mean that nothing’s going on; there’s a lot of action, it’s just not related to the eclipse! When an eclipse makes no contact to other bodies, it seems to me to make an isolated energy statement that in effect locates all the eclipse energy and influence within natal contact; in other words, if it doesn’t make close connection to something in the natal chart, it probably won’t be felt at all.

Now, I know that view will be a disappointment to some, heresy to others, and seen as just plain wrong by a few (or many!) but all I can do is go with what I see–so here it is. I believe that other action occurring at the same time as the eclipse could easily be seen as being generated by or triggered by the eclipse–and certainly the extreme energy of an eclipse may influence the atmosphere at least as much as any Moon in hard aspect to the Sun does. That said, I see the significant energy elsewhere, though there are plenty of others who are taking the eclipse in a specific way (such as comparing it to the US chart)  or are seeing it in a broad-pattern of eclipse activity that gives a different and valuable perspective.

Maybe I’m not able to connect to the meaning of this eclipse because it will semi-sextile my Ascendant–maybe the personal effect is that I try to intellectualize (Aquarius) what should be felt–and certainly the effect for me will be to illuminate something about my own personality (Sun quincunx Ascendant). But I digress; here’s where I think the action will be:

Mercury and Vesta will be exactly conjunct on the day of the eclipse, at 7 Cancer. This suggests communication difficulties with many possibilities–and I say difficulties because, even though a conjunction isn’t inherently negative or positive, a union of communication matters with the energy of the sacred implies a likelihood of strong defensiveness concerning one’s message, thoughts, or ideas. We may allow no criticism or disagreement, and may see our pronouncements as inviolate–what we think seems to us to be not just ;the Truth,’ but to represent a concept that may not be challenged–and this is shown further by the Mars exact square to Jupiter/ Neptune and semi-sextile to Uranus, suggesting a hair-triggered (and perhaps intellectually based) readiness to defend our beliefs/ fantasies/ ideals, and also by a Finger of God with Pluto apex and quincunxes to Venus and the South Node that implies it may be values or relationships from the past that bring forward an urge to destruction or change, perhaps aimed at others, who are of course defending those sacred ideas–a roundabout that could become frenetic with the energy of a Full Moon polarity charging the atmosphere.

Also exact at this time is a semi-sextile from Pallas to Saturn that could urge us in the direction of trying to give wisdom or skills a physical manifestation, and a Fist of God with Pallas as apex and sesquiquadrates from Pluto and Juno–here the wisdom or skills we own may require both Self-empowerment and the flexibility to change or transform ourselves or our circumstances in order to effectively come forward.

Overall, I’m expecting a burst of righteous opinion-assertive and defensive energy that plays like the accidental setting-off of leftover 4th of July fireworks–and the odd thing may be that most of us will feel we’re being reasonable, simply standing up for what’s truly important to us. A Cancer/ Capricorn eclipse dichotomy suggests to me the image of water flowing around a rock–no matter how insistent or forceful the flow, the rock is not immediately changed (though it may be lifted and carried to a new place). The Sabian symbol for the lunar eclipse degree (Dane Rudhyar) is ‘School grounds filled with boys and girls in gymnasium suits’ suggesting the need for an organized outlet for physical energy–and perhaps hinting at a way to channel what otherwise might cause strife and discord (possibly of an adolescent variety, as referenced by the image) if left on its own.

The Sabian for the Sun at the eclipse point is ‘A man studying a mandala in front of him, with the help of a very ancient book’  To my mind this points to Pallas’ active role at the moment of eclipse, implying that accessing wisdom (no matter the source) is what’s needed to fathom the meaning of the Universal pattern worked out before us, the mandala of the image.

As I look around and find material on the eclipse I’ll add links; start with this one by Jude Cowell http://judecowell.wordpress.com/2009s-two-solar-eclipses-11-north11-south-jan-july/ and for another view, try Beth Turnage’s site http://www.astrologyexplored.com/july-monthly-forecast-the-eclipse-is-coming-the-eclipse-is-coming/ and here from Lauren Lesko http://laurenlesko.com/6573  Stats on the eclipse here http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/LEplot/LEplot2001/LE2009Jul07N.pdf  and see Neith and Pat’s take here http://realastrologers.com/?p=816 View April Kent Elliot’s take on things here http://bigskyastrology.com/bloggish/2009/07/06/full-moonlunar-eclipse-in-capricorn-live-and-learn/