Category Archives: current events in the sky

Full Moon 13 January 2025: On Our Own

11 Saturday Jan 2025

Posted by in astrology, Cardinal Activity, current events in the sky, Full Moon, Lunar Aspects, Sabian Symbols

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , ,

‘A Nun’ By Ragnhild Beichmann 1878 {{PD}}

The Full Moon perfects at 2:26 PM PST at 23 Cancer 59 on the 13th, conjoined a retrograde Mars. This points to an effect that will only grow as the Moon and Mars move toward each other over the hour+ after Lunar phase perfection: frustration. Mars is in its fall in Cancer, where it struggles to exert its Will, to express the ‘I Am’ fully, to act in a straight line (that is, consciously, cleanly, moving from point A to point B); add to this its retrograde status, with the recognition that the Lunar energies/ event rules Mars at this point, and we have fuel for action that is anything but Self-aware, aboveboard, and accomplishing what we think it’s accomplishing. That certainly sounds like a red flag, doesn’t it? But let’s not be hasty; with the right approach, we can take this emotion-soaked, contorted energy of caring, concern, and doing what needs to be (and we want to be) done, which likely creates results we don’t want and can’t anticipate, and turn it into a very positive thing.

Let’s put this Full Moon-Mars contact in context: the Moon moving ever closer to perfecting its conjunction with Mars also means it’s moving toward perfecting a trine with Neptune in its own sign of Pisces. This suggests delusion or deception easily drives our choices and actions–so how do we save ourselves? By vetting those choices and actions against our highest standards, ideals, and dreams (the positive side of Neptune). Ask yourself, What’s the most perfect thing that could happen here, that I could wish to have happen? That will keep our actions from carrying us way out into (a possibly hostile) left field.

Then there’s the way the Moon and Mars act as the arm to a loose T-square to the opposition of Chiron in Aries opposed Black Moon Lilith in Libra–and if we include the Sun, we can see this as a Cardinal Grand Cross. This describes the Lunar event as: 1) anticipatible–we can see it coming, if we’ll only open our eyes, and as 2) arising from a need to answer the stand-off occurring between our own hurt, especially as it pertains to our Will being thwarted, and those things within our relationships that we have denied, ignored, or that have been hidden from us–and that potentially enrage us, even as we must recognize them. In this case, Mars, as hobbled as it is, will benefit from the Moon’s intuition and focus on caring, nurture, and emotional comfort; being honest about our feelings and those things we sense as true will go a long way toward helping guide our actions, and will help keep the results within the range we intended.

Uranus in Taurus sextiles the Full Moon, emphasizing a surprise or shock factor and letting us know that even if we can parse things ahead of time we’ll still need to deal with sudden developments or previously unknown material.

We also find some other interesting influences clustered around the various points, and though the orbs may be a little loose, the configuration reinforces the need to recognize them. Chiron in Aries is accompanied by Eris=our choices and actions will stir up any buried enmity others may carry–just know that’s possible. Juno in Scorpio forms a loose Grand Trine with the Moon-Mars and Neptune=a not entirely conscious need for empowerment may be behind what we’re terming our ideals; it will serve us to weed out what are actually power plays from the genuine ideals picture. Nemesis and Zeus are conjoined Black Moon Lilith in Libra=this suggests there’s a lot more to what we’re ignoring about our relationships than we think (or may admit. Treating our partner/ relationships as enemies is really verboten, if we want them to be successful, or even peaceful), and unacknowledged ambitions and desires can blow the whole thing up, unless we are honest about our real wants and feelings. And lastly, Persephone is conjoined the Sun, implying that all of this is surfacing by way of a (probably premature) journey we’re already on, to discover our own personal Underworld, what it’s made of, what it conceals, and how we can integrate it for the strengths it can provide.

The Sabian for the Full Moon is, ‘A Woman And Two Men Castaways On A Small Island Of The South Seas’. Two things strike me about this image: the idea of involuntary isolation, and the fact that the animus (doing) energy is twice that of the anima (receptive or being) energy. This describes to me a certain pressure we’re under to find an active ‘solution’ to what’s before us, as well as a status that makes us feel essentially alone in our decision-making, despite the strong role our partnerships will play in the action and choice process.

The Sun’s Sabian is, ‘A Woman Entering A Convent’. Since the Sun is the light-giver, and so the light source for the Moon, we need to look at its Sabian in order to see what might be behind the Lunar event. In this instance it’s the idea that, though we feel involuntarily isolated at present, we initially instigated that solitary way of being quite willingly. I think this speaks to the way we tend to say, ‘Oh wow, I can’t believe where I am, I can’t believe what’s happening to me,’ and yet the reality is that every single decision we’ve ever made brought us to these circumstances. It’s the need to recognize we have indeed chosen where we are–rather than seeing ourselves as victims of forces beyond us, or of happenstance–and that even though there are indeed many things that are outside our control, we have placed ourselves here after using all our best decision-making processes. It’s a humbling energy, and one we can fully benefit from only when we acknowledge we are our own ultimate decision-maker–no one else can pull us from our (largely Self-created) situation.

New Moon 30 December 2024 A New Year Takes Shape

29 Sunday Dec 2024

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

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, , , ,

Credit: NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio – Paul Morris, Aaron E. Lepsch, Hubble Telescope {{PD}}

The New Moon perfects at 2:26 PM PST of the 30th at 9 Capricorn 43. New Moons are fresh beginnings, and in Capricorn the implication is that a new structure, new rules or boundaries, or a new container for life energies is forming–the question becomes, how conscious are we of this construct, how deliberately are we controlling its shape, and how can we make this serve us, rather than restrain us? Too, we’ll either likely see some previous (and probably no longer functioning) system removed, with the Capricorn New Moon system proposed in its place, or we see a lack in or even an ’empty’ life area suddenly alive with the promise of both order and meaning. That’s really the thing with Capricorn: it brings order to things and in so doing provides meaning that’s in great part due to the shape those things have been given–a matter of the medium both containing and itself being the message.

If we’re aware that the meaning is in many ways contained within the structure, we’ll see a much more accurate and nuanced picture of the situation. Too often we’re inclined to ignore the shape in which something arrives, and focus on the words or ideas or images themselves, but with Capricorn that’s not a good idea; even the most seemingly blatant message (‘you’re getting a million dollars!’) will contain further meaning when the goat is the messenger (‘And it’s all in pennies!’)

The New Moon coming on the eve of New Year’s Eve is its own message: we’re on the cusp of something brand new, never before lived, on territory that, at least symbolically, allows us to renew ourselves and our approach to life. A Capricorn New Moon at this point offers a kind of prelude: choose a new shape, form, or structure by which to organize your life, and the New Year will bring fresh energies, opportunities, and problems with which to fill that structure. So, choose the shape you give things with care; when in the midst of humans a cage is more appropriate for a tiger than is cradling it in your arms, no matter how soft that pretty fur is.

Considering the possible aspects made by the New Moon, the orbs are just too great to ‘click’ with the New Moon moment. That suggests the freedom with which we can approach this organizing Capricorn force, allowing us to tailor our methods to fit our goals (or our madness!) Here on the West coast of the United States, Jupiter, though retro, will be rising, suggesting an atmosphere of opportunity, good fortune, ‘luck’, and the potential to exaggerate or overdo–sounds like the spirit of the New Year to me!

Also of note is the way the New Moon perfects conjoined two notable bodies: Pallas and the asteroid Lilith (not to be confused with the Black Moon Lilith point, also known as the mean apogee). This says wisdom and practicality are available to those who are Self-possessed, independent, not afraid of what others might say about their choices. It’s a ‘go your own way’ energy; also one that requires we trust ourselves and what we know to be right and true. This may feel a bit lonely to those of us who’re more socially inclined, but this is necessary ‘alone time’, so that the shape things take truly reflects your own needs, attitude, and situation.

The New Moon Sabian is, ‘An Albatross Feeding From The Hand Of A Sailor’. This symbol is interesting in that there’s a poem (Coleridge’s ‘Rime of the Ancient Mariner’) that talks about the psychological burden created when a sailor kills an albatross. His regret and sorrow is a kind of Self-punishment, and an albatross has more generally come to mean a burden one can’t rid oneself of. The thing is, the albatross has long been a symbol of both good and bad luck to sailors–so perhaps the fact that one is feeding the bird in this image implies a sort of mutual respect, a truce, if you will, wherein a sailor that once might’ve harmed the bird is now nurturing it. What in your life has been a burden that you now have a chance to see in an entirely new way, a way that will allow a ‘re-set’ and a lifting of guilt or the expiration of a long, old rivalry or antagonism?

For further illumination, examine Saturn in your natal chart, both by placement and situation at birth and as the energy transits your chart right now (what House is it moving through? That probably describes life areas where you’re feeling some restriction, shortage, or stress right now); include any contacts being made by transiting bodies to your Saturn; these will modify your perceptions of what’s holding you back, what offers you support, and what in your own mind the realities of the world consist of. This should give you some idea what shape those Capricornian influences will take and where they will likely be felt. Even if it doesn’t create a cohesive picture, it will give you the basic building blocks you’re likely to have access to/ be presented with in sorting out your New Moon, real-world scenario.

Dear Readers, Here’s wishing you all the best for a happy, safe, and adventurous New Year! Many thanks for all the kind support you’ve offered over the years. I’m looking forward to finishing my Moon book soon, and hope you’ll continue to visit here in 2025!

Full Moon in Gemini 15 December 2024 Confusion Or Inspiration?

12 Thursday Dec 2024

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

≈ Comments Off on Full Moon in Gemini 15 December 2024 Confusion Or Inspiration?

Tags

, , ,

‘Hoar-Frost on Ice at Thielska’ By Gustaf Fjæstad 1901 {{PD}}

That’s the question this Full Moon poses: is that energy that’s surging through the social sphere, through our relationships and minds and hearts, tingling our nerves, robbing us of sleep or giving us dreams intense and random and full of emotion–is that rush a flood of inspiration, a happy confluence of all we know and are exposed to, birthing ideas that seem in their own way to be miraculous, moving us to manifest the ideal? Or is that surge really mania, imagination run amok masquerading as a motivating thunderbolt from the gods, chaos whispering to us that this way lies ‘The Answer’, or at least momentary, gratifying relief? The presence of confusion, and the vague enticements of gratification, should be our clues that what’s in the air, though carrying a sense of renewal and so promise, rides on a dark, ill-defined current that urges us to leap before we look, insisting we shouldn’t worry about the consequences–but we should be aware that ‘later’ will come, when we’ll judge things in a much more sober, but ‘too late to change outcomes’, light.

Since a Full Moon delivers a message of completion, of results and final pictures, and Gemini promises knowledge, information, or relevant messages and connections, then we shouldn’t be surprised that the Lunar event carries so much meaning–and yet, when we’re dealing with mentalities, decisions, information, details, sorting what’s relevant and what’s not, the presence of these two influences looms large: Neptune (forming the arm of a T-square with the Sun opposed Moon/ Earth axis) and the current state of Mercury (in apparent retrograde motion in Sagittarius until just before culmination of the Full Moon, when Merc will be stationary direct). Both suggest the possibility of illusion, incomprehension, misunderstanding or misinterpretation, a lack of clear or complete information, and that garden-variety confusion that seems to be everywhere, right now. So how, if this is the state of things, can the Full Moon actually deliver a comprehensive picture of the current Zeitgeist?

Let’s look at the other contacts made by the Moon at 1:01 AM PST of the 15th, with the Moon and Earth situated at 23 Gemini 52, Sun precisely opposed this point at 23 Sagittarius. Besides the T-square formed with Neptune in Pisces (presenting a fundamental question of ‘What is reality?’), we have the Moon sesquiquadrate Venus in Aquarius (the emotions and intuitive perceptions are impacted–and strained–by the current cool, intellectual approach being taken in both relationships and financial matters), Chiron in Aries sextile Luna (our independence, our individuality, is so easily wounded–and it feels lonely, out here!), and the Black Moon Lilith point in Libra receiving a trine (reiterating the prominence of relationship matters and warning about things too easily–the trine–buried, denied, ignored, or allowed to fuel rage).

One interesting thing here is that the Sun, which we must acknowledge as source of the Moon’s light in the first place, in some cases forms stronger aspects at the Full Moon than does the Moon (though both contact the same bodies, whether that contact is major or minor in strength figures in to interpretation–for instance, a trine is stronger than a sextile, and so commands a greater orb and more emphasis in the equation); the Sun also forms at least one significant aspect that the Moon barely notices: a quincunx to Uranus, which only semi-sextiles the Moon. Stay with me, here; this suggests that the current chaos, anarchy, ‘modernization’, erraticism, in short, ‘the crazy’ we’re seeing, is a direct part of the atmosphere that draws our attention, but that we have difficulty processing/ perceiving emotionally (the weak link to the Moon). We’ll be seeing things once removed, as if we’re looking in a mirror, and that mirror is, through no fault of our own, distorted to some degree. Uranus may be a strong element of our perceptions, the quincunx implying irritation, important since this can trigger knee-jerk responses that can be especially destabilizing at this time.

Is Jupiter in Gemini part of this Full Moon formula? Maybe. Consider: the Moon is almost 9 degrees past conjunction with Jupiter, which is retrograde, and the Moon moves so quickly, the implication is the influence, if it still exists at the time of the Full Moon at all, is almost totally dissipated, as both bodies continue to widen the gap. But, Jupiter could be considered still opposed the Sun, in part because the Sun commands a greater orb than the Moon, and also moves more slowly than the Moon. Let’s then allow for the Sun opposed Jupiter in Gemini. Again we have the mentality, expansion of it or exposure to what’s foreign, and this is pointed not at the individual but at the social order in general. Remember too that Jupiter is itself still square Saturn in Pisces, echoing a confusing reality, magnified by propaganda and our own unreliable thoughts. So, Jupiter essentially just amplifies what we already see elsewhere, again with a sense of a mirror, reflections that confuse us as to where, exactly, some idea is originating.

The Full Moon Sabian is, ‘Children Skating Over A Frozen Village Pond’. This brings to mind two children in New York who fell through the ice and drowned just this week; a middle school boy fell through, and his friend, a girl, tried to help him and also perished. It’s a tragedy of good intentions and poor (or rather, inexperienced) judgment; those are the ingredients of all the most heart-rending events. Keep the tenuousness of current structures and supports in mind during this Full Moon; seasons change, global warming is real, and it’s easy to miscalculate what will hold our weight, or always be there when we need it. We also look at the Sun, for a Full Moon: ‘A Bluebird Perched On The Gate Of A Cottage’. A bluebird is a symbol of happiness. Perhaps the suggestion is that if we can hold fast to who we are, to our own identity (the Sun), in these turbulent times, we can find a state of equilibrium, if not joy. Centering within ourselves is the best way to meet confusion, mixed messages, and uncertain others. I wish this for each and every one of us.

Wishing you a wonderful end-of-year, and a happy holiday season, no matter what you celebrate, or if you even celebrate at all. From the darkest point of our year in the northern hemisphere, the Winter Solstice, it only gets lighter from there–so no matter who you are, you have something to look forward to, and a new year to move toward.

Mars Opposed Pluto: The Martial Arts Aspect

06 Friday Dec 2024

Posted by in Aspect Delineation, astrology, current events in the sky

≈ Comments Off on Mars Opposed Pluto: The Martial Arts Aspect

Tags

, , ,

Direct confrontation is just not the way to go. ‘Stag at Sharkey’s’ By George Bellows 1909 {{PD}}

Mars and Pluto opposed each other in early November, at 29 degrees of Cancer (Mars) and Capricorn (Pluto). Think back; what kind of stressful, end-of-your rope feelings and events came forward? What was on your mind–or maybe I should say, what were you obsessed with? What called you to potentially initiate transformative action? What structures were lost, what crises in caring did you face? It wasn’t fun, but we were shown what was leaving our lives, and what actions we could take, all measured by what really mattered to us–and now we face more of these oppositions, as Mars retrogrades in Leo and repeatedly comes within orb of opposing Pluto, now firmly ensconced in Aquarius.

The apparent retrograde of Mars begins the 6th; it’s been stationary for about four days and will continue so (to the degree, but not the minute) for another week. Think about someone aggressively confident, suddenly being forced to retrace her steps or reconsider her choices and actions; that seems to me like a recipe for a short-temper, a reluctance to admit maybe another option would’ve suited better, or regret that there’s no way this individual wants to admit–that is the basic energy we face upon Mars’ first days stationary and then retro. We’re going to be reluctant to examine what we’ve done, and if we do, we may feel a rising panic: if our best judgment wasn’t good enough in the past, how the hell are we going to do better now?

Take a deep breath; this is not a crisis, especially as Neptune will go direct the 7th, offering renewed imaginative power, a clear set of ideals, and the creative energy to move forward. So, we have resources, we just need to be certain which ones are at our disposal, which are temporarily in storage. With Mars in Leo our attention will definitely be on ourselves: on what we’ve done (or failed to do, or turned away from doing), and we may make a seriously harsh assessment of what our contribution has really been. Did we ever really shine? we may be asking ourselves–and the closer Mars moves to perfecting its opposition to Pluto, the more serious, and devastating, that assessment may become.

First of all, we need to remember that both Mars and Pluto are very active energies; they have weight and they don’t hesitate to throw that around (and so easily knock us off balance). How then do we deal with them? Only a fool would believe they could manhandle either one of these into submission; we must judo them. That is, we must use the weight of these aggressive heavy-hitters to control them, move them where we want them to go, mustering their power for our benefit. For example, we might be feeling we must do something to enhance our presence, add to our contribution–in short, we may be feeling we have to prove ourselves, thanks to Leo–but we will almost certainly sense Pluto in opposition, threatening–what? Destruction, perhaps, or a dire outcome, the obliteration of our very ego; notice, though, that Pluto is in Aquarius. It’s a mind game. Destruction is possible, yes, but is unlikely if we are able to use Higher Mind (Aquarius) to vet the choices before us. We consider options, then step aside, and let the transformative energy of Pluto, via the intellect, assess what we want to do–and then, trusting ourselves, believe what is revealed. Aquarius offers understanding, an essential element to making the right moves. With this simple formula, we can abandon the struggle, and let all that spare momentum work for us.

I’ll write a bit more on this later. Have a wonderful weekend, my friends!

Full Moon 17 October 2024 Potent Healing

16 Wednesday Oct 2024

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

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , ,

‘The Love Potion’ By Evelyn de Morgan 1903 {{PD}}

The Full Moon perfects at 4:27 AM PDT of the 17th at 24 Aries 35, with the Moon conjoined Chiron and a loose Cardinal Grand Cross formed with the Sun/ Earth-Moon axis by Mars in Cancer and tense 29 degree Pluto in Capricorn. This suggests action, perhaps extreme action, motivated by emotional hurt, or at least a tenderness around the feeling or intuitive nature that pushes one to choose, to take the ‘next step’, possibly out of fear or a deep desire for change. The energy around the event is precipitous, even dangerous, due to the amount of unconscious material that may push us to act. We can only hope that what we want to change or eliminate (Pluto) is something established, that we’ve already considered changing for a long time (Capricorn), and it will definitely be something we personally care about and see as our responsibility (Mars in Cancer, Aries Moon). Best case scenario is that this Lunar culmination offers potent healing, a chance at permanent change that rebalances personal power across the ‘I Am’/ ‘We Are’ axis (Aries/ Libra).

Remember, all arms of a Grand Cross are activated at once; that means we must recognize that, no matter what form these Cardinal energies take, they are connected, with action in one area affecting all the others. So, that scary Plutonian ultimatum may seem isolated from our beef with our partner (Libra Sun), and both those may seem unconnected to hurt arising from something we ourselves have done (Chiron conj Moon in Aries), but the reality is that each situation feeds off the others–and that means that sources of hurt, change, and actions may all become confused. We may think it’s our partner’s fault something is ending, when our own wounded nature has actually set up the hurtful circumstances so they’re aimed straight at us; or we may in some way feel ‘we have no choice’, and so fail to see that, even in the most dire circumstances, we actually do–it’s just that in our minds, we lack acceptable options, not genuine alternatives.

Consider that what we demand from the landscape, our surroundings, from others, from our lives, only spans a very particular range; perhaps we need to acknowledge that the unacceptable or undesired must become so, in order to open those possible options, and so radically change our viewpoint. Remember, too, that healing doesn’t necessarily mean we will go back to an old state of what we see as ‘whole’; it may instead mean a new state, with the interim period time spent in our very own chrysalis, the Full Moon a new step forward in regeneration, in being remade.

The Jupiter sextile to the Moon-Earth-Chiron is exact by degree to Chiron, suggesting what hurts is exaggerated, overdone, or presents big new opportunity, or may even represent optimistic thinking (Gemini) around the potential for healing or expression of one’s unique, natal Chiron gift. Also of note is Venus sextile Pluto, both at 29 degrees, of Scorpio and Capricorn, respectively. This is not just a potential, it’s a demand from the Universe: Love your Transformation, because this change is here to stay. If you carry a natal planet or point at 21-24 Scorpio that puts that natal entity at the apex of a Finger of God, with your natal point describing some facet of the outcome of learning to love what’s changing in or around us.

The Full Moon Sabian symbol is, ‘The Possibility For Man To Gain Experience At Two Levels Of Being’. That doesn’t call for much explanation, does it? At this Full Moon point we’ll have one foot in our current state, one in the ‘new’ state just reaching readiness–and that’s a unique spot, one that allows us to see our present with a previously unavailable clarity and understanding that we can now carry forward, into our developing circumstances and state of Being.

We also look at the Sun’s Sabian for a Full Moon: ‘The Sight Of An Autumn Leaf Brings To A Pilgrim The Sudden Revelation Of The Mystery Of Life And Death’. We are the Pilgrim, obvs, a person in search of something that has a distinctly spiritual flavor–and the time is right now (Autumn), when we are slated to receive some of the most important information we’ll ever get (the ‘Life And Death’ nature of that info). The word ‘revelation’ points us, in my mind, directly toward the energies of Uranus, and when we look we see that body is a busy bee: it works into the Full Moon Lunar picture obliquely, by quincunx to the Sun, semi-sextile to the Moon-Earth (but not Chiron), sextile Neptune and wide sextile to Mars, trine Pluto, and opposing that stressed Venus (I’d mention Pluto’s ongoing stress, but we’ve lived with it so long, it’s starting to fade into background noise–but just imagine the relief when it finally leaves Capricorn for good!) This revelation, then, is not about that potent healing available to us if we are open to current energies (Chiron is ‘missing’), but something ‘other’, namely, Love, the state of Being we discover when we see the whole picture and vibrationally (that is, in attitude) rise above it. It’s a creative energy, one that calls for adjustment of our idea of who we are, even what we are, as well as requiring our acceptance that there are things beyond our control that in the same breath, the same moment, will deliver us to a perfect state of Love. Not bad, getting a glimpse of the eternal, and of the most potent healing force in the Universe–now just open your arms, and take it in.

Bonus: if you have a natal placement between 25 Cancer and 2 Leo, that body fills in a Water Grand Trine with Neptune and Venus, implying you have the chance to experience an ideal Love, in some form, whether that’s finding the love of your life, falling into it with a puppy, utilizing a talent, or discovering a new depth of feeling and understanding with someone who up to now may have been a problematic relationship or matter you’re dedicated to. The nature of and state of the natal body will describe what you can expect, what style this ideal Love may arrive in. Lucky you–savor it.

To all my Readers: have a wonderful weekend!

October 2024: Zombie Issues

08 Tuesday Oct 2024

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

≈ Comments Off on October 2024: Zombie Issues

Tags

,

1943 {{PD}}

There are a number of current aspects, most waning, that occupy us right now, but my thought is these are largely distractions, influences that feel vital, in need of handling, and yet in a week or a month what was sorted will be no more than a faded blip on our radar. This is chiefly due to the separating Water trine of Venus and Mars. What could draw our attention more completely? Venus is in Scorpio, carrying a much more serious demeanor than she usually does, endowing her energies with a life-or-death aura, and Mars in Cancer is, well, a bit whiny for a Warrior. He wants his sensitivity to be seen (and perhaps celebrated), but everyone knows this is atypical, and he’ll be back to his old aggressive Self (rather than this passive-aggressive Self) in no time. And aspecting each other in Water only serves to make it all feel so compelling, so emotionally important–and yet the urgency here is temporary, even artificial–though by tomorrow Venus becomes apex to a Finger of God with base of Jupiter-Chiron–and boy will we hear some howls of pain, hear of the cost to us of our wounds. Examine them, yes–glory in them, exaggerate them, or try to use them as social currency, no. If we do wear them like a Self-serving sackcloth and ash, the only lasting result will be a reputation as too sensitive (which really translates as ‘aware, and asking for the rest of us to be so, too’) that will gain us an undeserved ostracism from those matters we most want to affect.

Mercury will move along quickly from its opposition to Chiron and trine to exaggerator Jupiter–again, an indicator that our thoughts about our own wounds will lack staying power and so lack genuine, lasting impact–so if you’re plagued by worry at present, especially about the consequences of your own injuries, emotional or physical, or about those dysfunctions so easily observed in the social order, know that the concerns are at the very least overblown, and may in fact not end up being a problem at all.

A Fist of God is formed by a square between Uranus and Neptune with apex of the Black Moon Lilith point (and just a few days ago the apex was filled by the transiting Sun). This may explain more of the underlying feeling that is so pervasive right now. The unexpected seems to be everywhere, things unanticipated or shocking jumping out of the woodwork very suddenly, and we’re unable to discern whether there’s real danger there, or real potential, and that confusion may even be internal, a case of us not even feeling we can reliably trust ourselves (or, worse) trust our perceptions. What resolves this upset is a willingness to admit what we may be in denial of, what we may have tried to bury. ‘Tis the season for issues that just won’t die, zombie matters we just wish would go away–and seeing that these issues won’t may enrage us. A clear-eyed look at those things we’ve been dodging is the talisman we need to ward off so much of our confusion and upset–so do it.

And finally, Jupiter, which has been stationary like an elephant sitting on our chests in matters of the House in the natal chart where this falls, and as well in the compulsive nature of our thoughts and communications of late (Gemini), will officially go retro tomorrow. Very slowly it will appear to move backward, with its first encounter a semi-sextile with Mars in Cancer the 13th-14th. Think of this as a premature trigger, and don’t let it push you into impulsive action fueled by the discomfort that the blind Will can feel when it realizes it must care (Cancer). Better to let the impulse pass. There’s a point, well off, when we are going to need to find a balance between optimism and pessimism, hope and reality, abundance and conservatism: roughly, the period of December 21-New Year’s, when Jupiter and Saturn share a languid square. Not acting impulsively now will put us in a much better place end-of-year. Just a thought.

Have a wonderful week, my friends!

Current Snapshot: 13-16 August 2024 Mad Mad World

13 Tuesday Aug 2024

Posted by in astrology, current events in the sky, Mars-Jupiter Conjunction

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

,

Earthrise Over Compton Crater NASA {{PD}}

The Mars-Jupiter conjunction in Gemini is the headliner–but it may not bring the impact we anticipate, since it could consist of Big Talk about action, rather than actions themselves. Is that a bad thing? No–it may be a useful exercise in floating options and measuring reaction to them in ourselves and others. Action is less likely than talk simply because ruler of Gemini, Mercury, is currently retrograde at 0 Virgo, suggesting that the inner consciousness is busy trying to organize, trying to account for our own methodology and internal logic. Pluto in Aquarius is quincunx that Mercury, stirring up the depths; it’s why we keep obsessively going back to mull over certain thoughts, certain situations, and it may be the engine that keeps us trying new solutions that we think will solve old problems; our success rate will directly reflect how accurately we perceive the issue in the first place (Uranus sextile Neptune, the latter at 29 tortured degrees, reaching the limits of both imagination and illusion/ delusion).

There’s a willingness to trot things (especially things we see as facts) out in public, making it easier than usual to see and consider the potential impact of what people think if they try to make these things a reality; too, this period can act as a compass, pointing each individual toward what matters to them, and making that clear to those around them. Our communications are useful sources of information, beyond the words: what we focus on, what we accept as real, factual, logical, will shape how we see the world, and so respond to it.

The Mars-Jupiter duo is square Saturn in Pisces, which offers two possible effects, one suppressing Mars-Jupiter (so probably keeping matters in the talk-speculation arena), or making an almost magical effect that manifests almost as soon as something is expressed, a ‘speak (or think it) and it becomes so’ formula. Saturn in Pisces can put a glamorous sheen on reality, and suggests creative responses to the ideas put forth by Mars-Jupiter. Making the ideal real, though, carries a possibility that we get what we want, but that it has effects we either didn’t consider or didn’t believe might come to pass. Ask for what you want, but think it through, as you just might get it.

By the 14th the most notable change is that the Leo Sun is close to perfecting trine to Chiron in Aries. It’s like both our pain and our most unique skills are put under a spotlight. If you can do something about what causes you pain, then do it, but don’t waste what could be a glorious expression of your abilities by staring too much at your wounds.

The 15th sees that retro Mercury move back into 29 degrees of Leo–and the caterwauling of the individual who believes they haven’t received due attention may be deafening. For the rest of us, this may bring a moment or three of displacement, of feeling like we’re not who we think we are. It’s all part of the Mercury retro cycle’s gift of returning our attention to what we should be reconsidering, namely, ourselves, this time around.

By the 16th Mars is starting to pull away from Jupiter, giving us more realistic perspective on our own actions and choices, and Mercury retro moves out of the 29th degree, de-stressing Self-reflection, taking it from our stressful imaginings (quincunx Neptune) to the realm of genuine surprises, not all of which will be positive (square Uranus in Taurus) but at least some of which will answer our questions about the availability of resources, our own comfort with current circumstances, and what we can do to feel more secure in this mad mad world.

New Moon 4 August 2024 I Am, I Said

01 Thursday Aug 2024

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

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , ,

‘The Tight-Rope Walker’ By Jean-Louis Forain c1885 {{PD}}

If you read this title and automatically heard the words that follow this line from an old Neil Diamond song (‘I am I said/ to no one there’) then you’ve just grasped the essence of this Leo New Moon: we may end up feeling like we’re shouting into the Void, or at the crowd, or we may simply realize we are speaking, putting out info, sharing ourselves, to an empty room. The New Moon forms on the 4th at 4:12 AM PDT at 12 Leo 33. It doesn’t make a lot of aspects; that emphasizes the sense of Leo as a singular energy, one that sees the Self as spreading out into the Universe, with the Universe reflecting the Self, rather than the individual reflecting the Universe. The Leo energy glories in expression of the unique sensibilities, aware that its opposite (Aquarius) signifies the groups to which one belongs and one’s place in those groups, making for a kind of ‘othering’ of the individual’s obligations to everyone else, freeing Leo New Moon energy to be concerned only with the Self.

It’s important to note that between now and the New Moon, we’re in the Dark period, which calls for its own variation on low-key energy and a more contemplative-than-usual mindset. Rest and relax–not as easily done as it is said, but a good thing to aim for, anyway.

The New Moon prompts us to communicate assertively, to lay out the facts, to broadcast our ideas to the world (NM in wide sextile to Mars and Jupiter, widely conjoined in Gemini) and potentially to act on them–but there are some crisis energies in play right now that could distract, to the point where pronouncements are made but not effectively received by the intended audience—and yet what happens still shapes the future, whether we mean it to or not (NM trine NN/ sextile SN). Mars and Jupiter together in a Mercury-ruled sign could make for a racing mind, exaggerated Will, anger, or appetites, and may inflate our perceptions of the aggression or transgressions of others–we see a bullet coming toward us, propelled by angry words, rather than the tossed pebble it actually is.

What’s worse, our intuitive perceptions, and our experience of our own emotions (Lunar energies), may suffer as the mind (Gemini) insists on inserting itself–and we can’t get away from the ‘me’ focus of the the Leo Moon, which only encourages us to see ourselves as right, even perfect, despite any feedback to the contrary.

The energies in crisis are creative and relationship ones, ones where we are unsure of the value of things, ones where we are either worried that what exists will be destroyed, or that what exists isn’t what we think it is—both valid worries with Venus at 29 degrees of Leo, quincunx Pluto at 00 Aquarius, and quincunx Neptune at 29 Pisces. This draws a Finger of God in the sky; the apex (Venus) centers the effects on interaction, assets, and what we care about, while the base of Neptune sextile Pluto speaks of the power inherent in new knowledge, innovation, invention, or radical events (Pluto in Aquarius) combined with crises in the creative, inventive, spiritual, or in manifestation of the Universe itself (Neptune in Pisces–with this latter, think climate change, experiments or power generation that alters fundamental atomic structure, a shift in the magnetic poles, mutations, changes to the rotation of liquid layers near the Earth’s core, asteroids, comets, and space junk on a collision course with us–you get my drift). I have a totally irrational fear that gravity will stop working, right as I’m climbing a steep tower, counting on that downward pull to center me and keep me in place; this weekend would be just the kind of instance when that fear could come true. We must accept the stressful and inconclusive status of both creative and relationship matters at this time–walking a tightrope is tricky, but if we remain aware that the only way to resolve things is to get to the other side–that’s the beauty of not resolving these matters, right now.

One other thing I’d like to mention that’s not relevant to the Moon picture but will, for some of us, be distinctively, aggressively in the air: Eris and Chiron, conjoined in the latter third of Aries. Irritations and upsets we normally quash, ignore, bury, or otherwise have the Self-control to overlook come popping up, making for a kind of ‘instant anger’, and offering a fiery potential to hurt or be hurt. Try not to let anyone press your buttons if you can.

The Sabian for the New Moon is, ‘An Old Sea Captain Rocking Himself On The Porch Of His Cottage’. This is an image of someone who’s been through the storm, who knows the (sea=emotional) score, and now has retired his full interaction with the world in favor of enjoying a quieter existence. This suggests to me that a peaceful situation would be a smart one to surround ourselves with at this time. It’s not out of defeat, but out of care for our Souls and our own peace of mind, that we can embrace a calmer situation and participate in less assertive engagement–FOMO may try to panic you, or your own ego (Leo) may see a calmer demeanor as uncool, but remember, rest and a lower profile are only temporary, a necessary Self-nurturing that the Leo New Moon can be very good at delivering, once we can accept that gift.

Full Moon 21 July 2024 Landslide

19 Friday Jul 2024

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

≈ Comments Off on Full Moon 21 July 2024 Landslide

Tags

, , , ,

Landslide Rock, Blue Mountains National Park, Photo By PrimenumbertheorCreative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0

The Full Moon in Capricorn perfects at 3:16 AM PDT of the 21st at 29 Cap 08, poised to conjoin retro Pluto at its place at 00 Aquarius. Any body at 29 degrees is under stress, tense in its last moments in a sign, imparting a feeling that matters of that energy expression related to the sign must be wrapped up or otherwise attended to; with Luna under this stress, then fleeing directly into the arms of the god of the Underworld, we’re likely to see emotions that we’ve been struggling with, ones we’ve restrained, shored up ’til now, that we’ve found boundaries and containers for (Capricorn), suddenly break free, a landslide of feeling we just can’t hold back anymore, and most important, we’ll have to choose to shape these feelings as either expressions of power, or expressions of destruction. Some will see no difference between those two phrases; I offer that expressions of power can be uplifting, making the world a better place, and that even destructive acts can be good: in removing what must go, what has been detrimental, what has claimed our power as its own, which we must now re-claim. The form our Plutonian energy takes will be an intellectual choice, and can be a revolutionary one (Aquarius)–but the key to effectiveness is found in our intent: are we transforming something, resurrecting something missed, or using our strength and influence to build-up and create? or are our efforts driven by one thing, and one thing only: rage?–that’s the question.

Note as with all Full Moons, the Sun is directly opposite in the flat chart, to the minute, in the opposing sign, and so suffers its own stress at 29 Cancer. Where to put my attention and effort? Where to shine the light? we ask ourselves. In this instance the Sun is in Cancer, telling us that what we care about, nurture, call home, consume, or are sensitive to, requires our focus. The Sun’s demands will feel like a distraction from the important emotional work the Moon and Pluto are setting in front of us–but what we choose to spotlight will have an enormous effect on our emotional and power expressions–and can act as a conduit for those feelings, as well. Where, among those Cancerian subjects, do you spot the landslide? That’s the middle-of-the-night question that keeps you up, especially if you dwell in the Americas–everywhere else, it may seem slightly less stressful, as it’ll receive the bright light of day.

The Full Moon forms a trine to Mars and Uranus, though the first is in Gemini and the second is in Taurus. The effect may be we think assertively or aggressively, putting ourselves first in the equation, communicating our ‘I Am’ to others, but we shouldn’t underestimate how spontaneous, highly original, or even revolutionary matters around security, stability, prosperity, and comfort (Taurus) can massively influence those fledgling (Mars at 00 Gemini) thoughts and assertions about the Self. If we’re open, the feedback we receive on those ‘I Am’ and ‘I want’ statements can be a valuable orientation for us to the reality picture.

The Full Moon also sextiles a 29 degree Neptune; well that’s discouraging. We may struggle to understand or even get a clear picture of what we’re dealing with–that’s where faith in the Collective to help steer us (Pisces, and our own Neptunian ideals) comes in. Jupiter in Gemini is roughly sesquiquadrate the Full Moon, again asking what we have faith in, and offering illumination of where our faith should be placed, through difficult emotional reactions and circumstances triggered by this Full Moon event. Pay attention to what sets you off–that will tell you where you need the support, company, and spiritual sustenance of others.

Some notable contacts to other bodies include a wide square made by the Full Moon to Eris in Aries (which, when we include the Sun, forms a Cardinal T-square)=let’s put it this way: don’t let anyone push your buttons. Though the irritating matter that surfaces may have long needed airing, it’s not the time–addressing it will only be a distraction–and the ‘fix’ probably won’t stick. Quincunx the Full Moon is a convention of Orpheus, Dionysus, and Karma at 28/29 Gemini=that’s quite a ‘party’, involving a trip to the Underworld (one where the goal is lost through lack of restraint), indulgence of the appetites, and delivery of some earned situation or factors, good or ill, stemming from the past. This screams ‘Proceed With Caution!’ What may seem a chance to blow off steam, to ‘live a little’, could bring loss and a comeuppance (for some reason, that seems like the right term!) We may think we can get away with overdoing it (Jupiter in Gemini)–we can’t, and the results are served up immediately–so beware.

Sisyphus is square the Full Moon from Libra=it may seem a pointless exercise, trying to make headway with others/ partners; put the focus back on yourself, and bypass a lot of frustration and wasted effort. Only those who are good and ready will help you push that boulder up the mountain–and you trying to make it happen won’t speed it along at all. And Kassandra sits conjoined the Full Moon–oh no! Do you remember this story? Apollo took a shine to Kassandra, a beautiful mortal, and gave her the gift of prophecy. She didn’t succumb to his attentions, though, and the god was furious. What a god gives, they can’t take away, so instead Apollo made it so that Kassandra would indeed prognosticate truthfully–and not be believed. This suggests that the emotional landslide we experience will show us some truths, particularly the kind that tell us what our future will be, without change or intervention–and we will be unable to believe the message–not surprising when we remember that 29 degree Neptune is essentially exerting the same influence, but also providing ameliorating advice: faith in the Universe, to steer us correctly. We just have to be willing to be stripped of our illusions. Look back to the emotions of the Full Moon–connect with them, and you’ll connect with Truth, via acceptance of one’s power (Pluto)–and we’re back to where we began, in trying to get Luna and Pluto to work together.

The Sabian symbol for the Sun, giver of life and source of the reflected light of the Full Moon, is, ‘A Daughter Of The American Revolution’. This suggests both a newness, a freshness of purpose within one’s Being, at this time, and that our lives have been shaped by trying to break free, form a better way to govern ourselves and to engage with others, to create a better atmosphere, full of opportunity. No one’s saying the methodology or the resulting nation/ person is flawless, but this image says that the environment that formed us gave us a certain energy and good intent with which to pursue our lives, an ideal of equality and justice–just appreciate that, and give yourself credit for both positive intentions and genuinely kind efforts to make the world a better place.

The Sabian for the Full Moon is, ‘A Secret Meeting Of Men Responsible For Executive Decisions In World Affairs’. This is the kind of image that we may picture when we’re thinking about events and their impact, that only people already holding a great deal of power can make a dent in things–that is, we think our smaller actions made in smaller arenas don’t really matter. The reality is, they not only matter, they can have a far greater impact than we know. Quit falling for the appearance of power–connect with the immense potentials you carry, and know you are as powerful as anyone else on the planet.

What We Should Fear

14 Sunday Jul 2024

Posted by in astrology, Conjunctions, current events in the sky, Mars-Uranus Conjunction

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, , ,

‘Third of May 1808’ By Francisco Goya {{PD}}

Should we be afraid of the Mars-Uranus conjunction in Taurus, perfecting tomorrow and lasting roughly through the 23rd? No, of course not–these energies are your friends, one fueling the engine of accomplishment and action, the other connecting us to Higher Mind, spontaneity, invention, and an appreciation for the unique. True, when they come together we may find a crackling electricity in the air, an inclination to impulsivity driven by ego, rather than reason–but the key to not succumbing to a chaotic, Self-aggrandizing thrust of the I AM out into the world is to give both these energies a say in expression, but not allow either to drive it, dominate it, or use Self-expression as a channel for anger, spite, or the urge to spoil things for the group. If we give in to their baser forms, we run the risk of havng them attack each other, making the outer expression match a battle within (likely between expressing anger and maintaining control–because we literally can’t show genuine anger without showing passion–and everyone knows, passion does not color within the lines.

We must acknowledge ourselves, our Will, and the need to feel respected and heard (Oh! does Aries need to be heard–the ears and mouth are, after all, located on the head, which Aries energy describes and Mars rules). Each of us deserves validation as a unique and inventive individual, vis a vis the group, which can swallow identity in favor of tribal labels; when Mars and Uranus meet we need to find and act on our individuality, our absolute distinctness, even as we refuse to go to war with the wider world–for that, too, is a Martian impulse, and Uranus’ leanings to chaos-as-expression can seem quite appropriate, until we see that using our energy to foster discord and disorder, while it may temporarily blow off steam, serves nothing and no one, as eventually we find we still need to do something about ‘it’, and also need to clean up the mess we’ve made, as well.

Much has been made of this conjunction’s place on fixed star Algol. One thing we need to remember about the Fixed Stars is that their meanings stem from a time when the only people who had their horoscopes drawn were Kings, and at the time, the King was effectively representative of the country; his fate was the nation’s. Algol is shown as a severed head, the name derived from the Arabic ‘Al Ghoul’, demon or evil entity (from the same root as ‘alcohol’, apparently), and the general meaning has been one of indicating circumstances under which one may ‘lose one’s head’–so the impulsivity and Self-serving nature of giving in to one’s ego or to chaos as a means of expression that is suggested by Mars-Uranus could find specific meaning here–that is, if one indulges in Mars-Uranus blindly, one may indeed lose one’s head, meaning going massively, destructively, overboard.

Algol’s inclusion in the conjunction is fortuitous, I think, as it calls our attention to how dangerous indulging in anger, vengeance, and erratic behavior really can be; losing one’s head doesn’t just mean losing control, but losing reason, perspective, and even dignity. It doesn’t help that this conjunction occurs sextile 29 degree Neptune, suggesting great difficulty seeing matters that enrage or cause chaos clearly. In a week we have a Full Moon at 29 tense degrees of Capricorn, trine the still, at that point, extant contact. The implication is that we’ll try mightily to put something ‘to bed’, under wraps, secured with Capricornian boundaries and limits–and that it probably won’t work.

So what should we be afraid of? Our own desire to lash out, for vengeance, to indulge any thought that cloaks itself in righteous indignation or in revolutionary garb–for though the revolution won’t be televised, it won’t bring anything good if the only impulse is one that’s out for blood, rather than to enact true, Higher Mind ideals.