Category Archives: Grand Trine

Full Moon in Libra 28 March 2021 The Balance

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‘Tightrope’ By Paul Klee 1880 CC0

Love is central–or is that a money, asset, or credit situation that takes center stage right now? Either relationships are in focus, or our currency status is, at this Full Moon, which perfects at 11:48 AM PDT on the 28th at 8 Libra 18. All the strongest flow for this lunar event is across the Libra-Aries axis, imbuing the episode with an ‘I/ Other’ dynamic. With Venus so closely opposed the Full Moon, we are likely to frame the Full Moon in terms of what we have versus what others have, and this may be about intangibles like Love or tangibles like property or resources, but in any case brings examination of the balance between the ‘I Am/ I Have’ and ‘They Are/ They Have’. Chiron, also opposed, brings in the consciousness of what we don’t have, or makes it clear what unique skills we possess that can help us get what we want. We may get a new, mature perspective on a number of issues or relationships, and a new attitude born of Full Moon conclusions or culminations, especially in reference to the way injuries, past and current, may be at play in either our emotional or asset situations.

Some things that may be answered: Do we feel unity with others, or are our thoughts focused on the solitary nature of our existence? Do we allow others to hurt us, and then hold those injuries tight for our own reasons? Or do we reject the one who hurt us, and is doing so healthy, or filled with rage (and so taking up our energy when it shouldn’t)? Do we actually believe that others have it easier than we do for no reason? Are we feeling less than rewarded for being who we are? Do we avoid cooperation or forming relationships (especially those centered on romantic love) because we believe it will ‘cost’ us? Have we been withholding use of our skills due to past injury? Do we like cheese? Well, maybe not that last one.

The Full Moon is apex to a Finger of God, with base of Pallas sextile Uranus. This suggests that Full Moon events or revelations (something the Full Moon is known for, bringing complete enlightenment, particularly in matters of the House in the natal chart where this occurs) come about either through a meeting of the practical or skills and the unique viewpoint, or via wisdom applied to the spontaneous or chaotic. What is original to us as individuals combines with either what we can do, or what we know (in the form of a profound Truth), and delivers to us the outcome of an event at this time, or a realization that can illuminate our immediate way forward.

A semi-sextile to Vesta and a sesquiquadrate to Jupiter tells us that hopes to get ‘more’ of what we value, or attempts to honor our beliefs, especially beliefs about what’s sacred, what’s important, will have a rough go of it; it’s likely we’ll have to face certain beliefs, facts, or ways in which we dedicate our energies that are causing problems or are difficult to implement, with the Full Moon requiring us to adjust those beliefs, or modify what we dedicate our time and energy to.

There’s also a loose Air Grand Trine involving the Full Moon, Saturn, and the North Node-Mars (we’re stretching, here). It’s worth noting, though, as in the next hours and days both Earth and the Moon will be perfecting that Trine–and this implies recognition of the energies as working together even at the time of the event gives us a little glimpse into the future. We’re talking about emotional understanding or intuitive perceptions that balance out the mental perceptions and then act as foundation for forward moving actions and choices that will have an effect on the reality picture.

The Sabian for this Full Moon is, ‘Three “Old Masters” Hanging On The Wall Of A Special Room In An Art Gallery’. I think this is a clear reference to Venus; the suggestion may be that we must acknowledge what we treasure, what talents we possess, what we hold dear, our assets, but the issue may be this: if this asset or talent is segregated, off in its own room in a special construct (the gallery), does that mean we are treating it as rarefied, not using it or appreciating what it can do for us? Are we viewing our talents or assets as precious museum pieces, as passive, rather than incorporating their potentials (for earning, for sharing beauty, for generosity, for what they can bring us) into our daily life? Do we keep them in special circumstances because we are in some way saving or ‘hoarding’ them, or does keeping them separate allow us to believe there’s more value in them than we might find should we employ them in the real world? These are Old Masters, after all, possibly a salute to the Chirotic skill each individual possesses that is extraordinary in its uniqueness–so, something we shouldn’t hesitate to share or test, as no one can do ‘it’ quite like we can.

The Sun, Chiron, and Venus, this last ruler of the Full Moon-Earth combo, all share a Sabian: ‘A Crystal Gazer’. The future is written in who we are at core, who we are as a Soul (the Sun), how we respond to our wounds (and you’ll notice the kinds of wounds aren’t important–those are irrelevant, in this context–Chiron), and who, how, and what we love and value (Venus)–and at least symbolically, these matters ‘rule’ (via Venus) and contain the Full Moon ’cause’ (via the light generation of the Sun), so are instrumental to, and in fact inseparable from, the Lunar event.

Magic Under the Full Moon

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By Strobridge Litho. Co., Cincinnati & New YorkRestoration by trialsanderrors and Morn – This file was derived from: Zan Zig performing with rabbit and roses, magician poster, 1899.jpg:, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=19060350

Such an odd little thing lately, this presence of magic within a larger scenario. It shows up in forms familiar from traditional stage magic acts, but that’s not where the real magic lies; instead the presence of, say, a handkerchief ‘turned into’ a dove by the tap of a ‘magic wand’ on a box is only an indicator of the presence of genuine magic. I know! What’s ‘real magic’ anyway? As far as I can see from recent events, it’s the existence of a force that quite literally can’t be attributed to any known physical action, and that can’t be explained. The top hat, the assistant in spangly dress, the draped table, the disappearing and re-appearing items, the box and saw, the chains and locks on the man placed in the container of water, all are saying: this is pretend magic, now look for the real stuff.

Or are those elements, just as the flourish and the spectacle serve in a magic show, simply announcing that they are distractions, meant to keep us from noticing the behind-the-scenes moves that create the illusion in the first place? Because the stage show and the ‘real’ magic are about illusion, in the sense that we can’t follow one thing to another in a clear fashion–and yet the results are undeniable, as the playing card moves from magician’s hand to the vest pocket of a man across the room, and the thing you never thought would happen, quite magically, does.

Think of real magic as the thrust of energy and intention into the quantum field; just as with stage magic, it’s a kind of sleight of hand, where many of the ‘energy steps’ are unseen, at least from our personal vantage point. With so many bodies and points in Aquarius (Sun, Saturn, Jupiter, Pallas, Mercury) and Taurus (Uranus, Mars, Black Moon Lilith, Sedna) we may be straining to understand (Aquarius) the material world around us (Taurus)–but those signs, one Fixed Air, one Fixed Earth, naturally square each other, with the Fixed modality creating inherent tension in the discord between thought and the material reality. Essentially, we create our own, personal version of sleight of hand as we fail to reconcile the physical with the mental, as some link our minds tell us should be there isn’t.

But, the persistent theme of magic I’ve been experiencing suggests we needn’t strain. All we need to do is take note when something playful comes forward that promises (or at least implies) it will astonish or otherwise amuse–and then we know there’s something working behind the scenes, something making real magic in our lives, and that we should be on the lookout for it. It’s much more easy to both recognize and accept the presence in our lives of the unanticipated benefit, the synchronicity, the fortuitous meeting, if we don’t insist on explaining it.

One of the recent events for me involved a button. I had sewn it to the paper cover of a hand-bound book I’d made years ago, and I just ran across it again after not seeing it for a long time, and reading what I’d written about the incident, it echoed this ‘magic’ very neatly. The button didn’t fall off my clothes (it wasn’t familiar–nothing any of us owned had this precise kind of button), there was nowhere nearby it could’ve come from, I’m sure, as it landed on the open dishwasher door. It seemed as if it were generated from, as the saying goes, thin air, and though I marveled at it, I couldn’t find an explanation for where it came from. I didn’t think about it beyond that until I was standing in the exact same spot a few days later and the lights over the sink started blinking on and off, not like a surge in the power line, but in a very deliberate, turned off then on way, as if someone were at the switch–but they weren’t.

I wondered if someone (let’s just say spirit, in a general way) was trying to let me know they were there. So, presumptuous as I am, I asked a favor: in my mind I pictured a lost earring, one I had been looking for that meant a great deal to me, and I thought about how I wanted to find it; the jewelry was one of those things that feels like you, so when you lose or destroy or misplace it it’s almost like you mourn a little, like a part of you has been misplaced.

Just a moment later I had the urge to walk out to the mailbox, even though I knew it was too early for the mail. I reached the mailbox, looked down, and there was my earring.

Now you could say that some part of my consciousness had registered it when the earring had fallen, and that this was just my unconscious mind prompting me to go back to where I knew it was. But then what about the lights, and the button? I called it spooky, back then, but now think it was just a little magic, making itself known.

Should you be looking for a taste of virtual magic, you might want to check out ‘Derek DelGaudio’s In & Of Itself’ on Hulu, or a series from a few years ago called ‘Shut Eye’, about a con man who finds he’s not the person he thinks he is, also on Hulu.

The Full Moon falls in Leo on the 28th at 11:16 AM PST at 9 Leo 05, closely opposed Jupiter, which the Sun will perfect conjunction to less than 6 hours later, while the Moon will perfect opposition to Jupiter in less than an hour. The Full Moon is also in very close conjunction to Hygeia (only one minute off exact) and a loose novile to Vesta, forms squares to Mars, the Black Moon Lilith point, and Uranus, and a sesquiquadrate to Venus-Pluto, which two are in very close conjunction themselves. There’s also a loose Fire Grand Trine with Chiron and Juno, and if we include the Sun-Jupiter opposition point, we end up with a Kite.

A Full Moon in Leo brings something about ourselves, about our identity, about our passions and reason for Being, into focus, and maybe brings that form of identity or purpose to an end, or readies it for the ‘next step’, but in this instance it almost registers as an afterthought, with the ‘pull’ from Jupiter-Sun balanced between Chiron and Juno giving a dynamism that suggests either facts around the identity, or the Soul in interface with the social sphere, finds a perfect point of empowerment balanced between expression of the unique skills (or capitalization on the wounds) and the level of personal empowerment, and that this is delivered via the Lunar event.

This is healthy (conj to Hygeia) as, no matter what occurs, it will be an expression of the highest values, of what we want at a Soul level (nov to Vesta). Events may arise from conflict, chaos, or the discovery of what’s been hidden or denied (sq Mars-Uranus) and difficult, even threatening, circumstances around Love, relationships, or money, that we may want to classify as ‘moments of Truth’ (sesq Venus-Pluto). So, beneficial things that spring from contention or upset–so look for what good will come from the troubling, the uncomfortable, the needed purge or change, from the ‘Big Reveal’.

New Moon 12 January 2021 A Fissure Filled With Light

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Kilauea’s Fissure 8 cone erupting in the early morning of June 28, 2018, in the Lower East Rift Zone. {{PD}}
Courtesy of the United States Geological Survey

Usually we get that ‘wipe out’ feeling/ energy from an eclipse, when the old patterns are disrupted by new ones; this time, we get the same experience from a New Moon as it meets the god of the Underworld. The Lunar event of the 12th falls at 23 Capricorn 13 at 9 PM PST, closely conjoined Pluto–in just over two hours the Moon will perfect contact, while the Sun will take a tad longer, a little more than twenty-four. This suggests the dawning of new emotions or intuitive perceptions that transform our Beingness, or that change what we pay attention to; we are plunged down, to the depths, perhaps in the birth pangs of a new world order arising from the institutions, rules, and constraints of the old order a la Capricorn, and we’re given a clear insight into what this change means for us as individuals.

A New Moon in Capricorn promises two things: new rules, and efforts at ‘building’, whether that’s something intangible, within the psyche, or an actual, literal structure or figurative framework within the social order, but when the Sun-Moon meeting is on the way to conjoin Pluto, we are effectively stunned by the energy–hence the similarity to the eclipse ‘wipe out’. In this particular case, the new feelings, followed by a new sense of ‘I Am’ or ‘I See’, then gets the Plutonian treatment. We can’t be sure if the emotions and changed efforts are undertaken in anticipation of serious, inevitable, even extreme change that is before us, or if they’re the result of such thorough, deep, and irrevocable developments–all we can know is that this New Moon is the first glimpse of an ever-growing light shining at the bottom of the bottomless fissure that opens up beneath us: the New Moon shows us a way out, a new way of structuring or processing, or the resurrection of something, as it delivers an inspiring and instructional glimmer of not only what’s to come, but what we can build from it, that will culminate with the Full Moon two weeks from now.

How much this New Moon will bring change to the individual is dependent on the contacts the event makes to the natal chart. This is precisely why general forecasts aren’t ‘one size fits all’. That said, see below for a brief lesson on reading a configuration filled in by the New Moon event. What all of us will be influenced by: the New Moon semi-square Juno=we see our own relationship to pure Power, and see just where out limits are (but that also means we’ll get some idea of what we’re missing, and so how to go about getting more); New Moon square Zeus=we see where our ambitions, relationships, or desires are making it difficult to start anew, or to make the changes we really want to, or what we learn at the New Moon creates tension or conflict with those ambitions currently on our agenda; and lastly, the New Moon forms an Earth Grand Trine with Vesta and Sedna=I’m counting this despite Vesta being more than six degrees from perfection to Sedna 1) because Sedna is in apparent retrograde right now, so moving back toward Vesta, and 2) because trines are major aspects, and 3) because this configuration is in Earth, same element as the New Moon, and 4) because the presence of Pluto and the Sun together gives a big energy ‘punch’ that I see as carrying farther than I normally would accept. Ties of the placement together make up for the looseness of the orbs, particularly the way the NM and Pluto ‘bridge’ the degrees between Vesta and Sedna. The Grand Trine suggests that what changes/ evolves/ is forced/ transforms/ resurrects at the New Moon is in harmony with our actual highest values, and with our instincts and what we ‘know but don’t consciously know’. We may not see the benefits of the GT energies right away, because they have a good chance of emerging from our own ‘blind spot’, and so carry the feeling that they’re coming from external events, rather than that they’ve been orchestrated by our own intents, even though they have.

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

The New Moon Sabian is, ‘A Woman Entering A Convent’. This implies that though what occurs seems excessively restrictive or that it requires an inordinate degree of discipline or supplication, it’s actually based on what we’ve chosen to dedicate our life energies to (Vesta). A look at your Vesta will help tell you the intent behind what manifests, and may give you a greater understanding of the nature of what you genuinely care about in life.

A Little Something on Configurations, as Demonstrated with the New Moon

When judging whether a configuration is formed, we need to keep in mind the various strengths of the aspects. The loose Grand Trine I describe above is allowable at least in part because a trine is a major aspect, and that allows for a greater orb; in the Fist I describe below, we have a square between NM and Zeus, which is a major aspect and so can take a greater orb, but in order to form the Fist, we need both bodies to sesquiquadrate (135 degrees) a third body, and since this is a more minor contact, we need a closer orb, something around no more than two degrees from exact in either direction, which in the following example would be 8 Gemini. In this case, anyone with a natal placement 6-10 Gemini will find their natal energy at the apex of a Fist of God with base of New Moon-Pluto square Zeus. This suggests the New Moon will bring change that arises from conflict over or forces change to the ambitions or desires, particularly as this applies to relationships (Zeus is in Libra). What happens or is revealed by the light of the New Moon shows how the current ambition picture contrasts, and requires modification of, what you’re aiming for, and this is because of what you learn now–and this will affect the natal apex planet, either through expression of its characteristic energies or through something it rules, House or other bodies, in the natal chart. (And just a reminder: please don’t write and ask if the aspect, for instance, applies to your Ascendant at 12 degrees Gemini, or your Sun at 5–I’ve told you the range of things already: anything between 6 and up to but not past 10). Keeping in mind what aspects any configuration contains, and then keeping orbs crisp, will insure you not only get a clear picture, but also that you don’t lead yourself astray or distract with an inaccurate or exaggerated picture, though there are exceptions, as I describe using the example of the Grand Trine aspect, above. Thus endeth the lesson!

Forecast for the 10th is here–

Tomorrow the Weekly will go up. Have a great rest-of-the-weekend!

Your Weekend 26-28 December 2020 The Winds of Change

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‘West Wind’ By
Winslow Homer 1891 {{PD}}

For the 26th I want to talk about a loose Earth Grand Trine; it’s been in the neighborhood, but overshadowed by other factors, and will likely exert an emotional impact or offer intuitive guidance as the Taurus Moon glides into orb–and that will last for a good chunk of the day. This is made up of Pluto-Jupiter-Saturn (I said it was loose!) trining Vesta in Virgo and Sedna, and for a time the Moon, in Taurus. It suggests our first big feeling revelations related to the meeting of Jupiter-Saturn and how that new, higher mind understanding tells us what structures and strictures we can safely eliminate (or that we must eliminate, for our own well-being). This is all in service to two things: commitments, home in all its guises, and those things we find sacred in this life (Vesta, in Virgo prime to be assessed, trimmed, and our commitment renewed), and those matters, especially material ones, that we are continually striving to become aware of in their entirety, to make conscious what we ‘know but don’t know’, and to remedy ‘blind spots’ and so enlarge both our concept of who we are and our knowledge of our place in the world (Sedna in Taurus). The Moon temporarily inserted into this means we can feel what we need to address, what we need to be aware of, and can process how we genuinely feel about both our roles in life and the changes this awareness requires. This information won’t necessarily be easy to accept, but the steely maturity and ability to face what’s required that comes from that Pluto-Jupiter-Saturn trio, balanced by ‘the facts’ (Jupiter) and the clear understanding of what really matters (Sedna and Vesta), makes this the perfect time to make change, to birth a New You that knows, accepts, and validates where you came from while bringing a wider and more advanced understanding of who you are now into being.

Dare I classify the 26th as a nearly ideal day, rife with the chance for serious gain and the ‘right’ kind of change? Well, I will, as, besides that gangling Grand Trine above, we see Venus novile Pluto and trine Hygeia, making for a super-healthy and profitable (in all senses) dynamic. This flows on in to the 27th, where we find direct access to our most original and inventive personal nature, along with a clear and accessible way to manifest that in the life (Mercury sxt Ceres, Sun trine Uranus). For best results, guard against the temptation of erraticism and rebellion for rebellion’s sake, and concentrate on the more-than-adequate personal power you have at your fingertips right now.

The 28th may bring us up short, make us feel that the past few bucolic days were just a mirage. They were not–they were more like what we can enjoy every day if we’ll only believe we can–the issues generally boiling down to this: if we can face what we may have been resisting, ignoring, or denying, if we can bring ourselves to think about these matters rationally, and if we can be aware of the way these things may be (probably negatively) impacting our Self-concept/ identity/ idea of our purpose, we can make the most of influences by recognizing where and how we are cheating ourselves–and we’ll see how this hurts our confidence, and makes us think we’re inadequate to meet issues that we are really more than ready to deal with (aspect standouts are Uranus sq Pallas, Merc sesq Sedna, Sun trine Black Moon Lilith).

New Moon in Sagittarius 6 December 2018 What Will You Learn?

04 Tuesday Dec 2018

Posted by in astrology, current events in the sky, Finger of God, Fist of God, forecast, Grand Trine, Mercury Direction, New Moon

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The New Moon occurs at 11:20 PM Pacific Standard time of the 6th at 15 Sagittarius 07. This New Moon falls square to the close conjunction of Mars and Neptune in Pisces, which adds an active ‘punch’ to discovered facts, new journeys, new beliefs, new horizons, fresh starts, to knowledge exchanged and the exotic or foreign revealed. The NM beginning may arise from an action, choice, or assertion that carries ideals, creativity, or delusion, or may be the cause of such; in either instance, the event of the New Moon brings conflict or tension to a head: action or a choice based on a dream (Mars-Neptune), for example, could bring upset for what facts it uncovers or beliefs it reveals (Sagittarius).

By Johannes Hevelius 1689 {{PD}}

The New Moon also sextiles both Black Moon Lilith and Pallas, though it doesn’t fall at their midpoint, suggesting the interactions with the NM are unrelated to each other. The New Moon carries the aura of wisdom or practicality, or may call on you to use skills, and its new starts may also be driven by material that’s been denied, that’s enraging, or that’s perceived as unjust–and though we each may respond to both sextiles, my sense is one or the other sextile will predominate for the individual. Too, if you have a natal placement at 13-15 Taurus your natal body is apex to a Finger of God with NM and Pallas as its base, steering you in the direction of a smart beginning or revelation that inspires expression of the natal energy–or if you have a natal placement at 13-15 Cancer, you have apex to another Finger with base of NM and Black Moon Lilith, which points to the New Moon stirring up or making undeniable what’s been shunted aside until now, forcing you to deal with the situation using the natal energy.

We also have a loose configuration, a Fist of God, with base of Uranus square the North Node, apex the New Moon. Here the individual clashes with her or his own life direction, possibly rebelling from a long-planned route. Is this a good rebellion, freeing the individual from unfair restraints? Or is it a rebellion led by the insistence on seeing the Self as independent, or as ‘special’, trying to prove uniqueness via erraticism or an uncooperative attitude? This likely plays in tune with the Merc direction, described below.

The New Moon also rests at the (very rough) midpoint of the Venus-Vesta square, suggesting that the NM event may carry the essence of the clash between highest values and wants. With Venus in Scorpio and Vesta in Aquarius, the primal nature of both what’s revered and what’s desired may be displaced digging for a ‘Truth’ that may or may not differ from the surface, and in intellectualizing what’s better felt through New Moon experience.

All the aspects suggest at least some effort (the sextiles), or friction (all the rest of the aspects) occurs, and that may be the place to focus: on the ways in which we are causing or using the available energy. Don’t think of it as energy going out, so much as an undifferentiated flow, ebbing and surging all at once, so that we are receptive (Lunar energy) as much as we are active and choosing (square to Mars, all hard aspects).

The Sabian symbol for the New Moon is, ‘Sea Gulls Fly Around A Ship In Expectation Of Food’. The birds are looking for sustenance, but what does the presence of sea gulls say to the sailors? That they are near land. This is an image of promise, beyond the survival needs, to arrival at a ‘new destination’. This suggests that the land we find ourselves in post-New Moon will be solid, whether it’s familiar or unexplored, verdant and populated or a deserted wasteland, welcoming or forbidding.

Mercury also goes direct today, ready to perfect a Water Grand Trine with Chiron and the North Node. That suggests that wounds and/ or the opportunity to employ skills figure strongly in thinking, and so in shaping the life direction. We find emotional balance in this regard, probably surrounding the mentality finding a ‘groove’ and falling into it. Sometimes a subdued rhythm to life is the most desirable thing imaginable.

Outlook for the 5th is here–scroll down for previous days. Have a wonderful New Moon, and please consider making a book purchase, rating my books on Goodreads, or rating my astrology on Facebook–thank you for your participation and feedback–it’s all very much appreciated!

 

Odds & Ends: Mars Retro, Sacred Fires, & The Neptune Shuffle

12 Tuesday Jun 2018

Posted by in astrology, Grand Trine, Mars, Mars Retrograde, Neptune, Neptune Retrograde, Retrogrades

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Attributes of Kubera ‘Lord of the Horses’ Detail of the offering cake from the Attributes of Kubera ‘Lord of the Horses’ in a Tibetan “rgyan tshogs” banner. http://catalogue.wellcomelibrary.org/record=b1465547 Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International

Neptune retrogrades on the 18th, and as a molasses-slow mover, apparent motion for this big fella around changes of direction is almost standing still; it’s as if we’re observing something in another dimension, where we appear speeded-up while we see elements there as barely inching along. That implies a certain subtlety to the effect, the notorious fogginess turned up to 11. With it reversing short of perfecting a trine to Pallas, and on its way to completing a trine to Jupiter (in effect, participating in a Grand Water Trine with these two), what we may expect is an opportunity for emotional balance that slips away, something that almost achieved wisdom or practicality, that slips into exaggeration, deception, opportunism, or gives way to beliefs, which may or may not support a healthy feeling scenario. The suggestion is that at least part of the retro period will be spent trying to retrieve that nearly-reached state of emotional equilibrium–so see emo ups and downs as part of a larger balancing process, rather than as isolated experiences.

Fire Grand Trine forms roughly on the 18th of June and burns through about the 28th, with Ceres, Vesta, and Juno all late in Fire signs. This presses us to find action equilibrium, that is, expressions of our authority, personal power and reach (of which negotiations are one facet), our status (especially those roles that concern our relationships to others, and how that confers the ability to make the Will felt), and expressions of what we honor or find sacred. It’s a matter of seeking out, probably repeatedly, things that make us feel we’re imprinting our values on others and the environment. This can be exceptionally fulfilling if we succeed. The configuration offers us an unusually large window for Self-realization and the creation of satisfying circumstances, one where our actions and ideals can blend almost seamlessly, and where inspiration lights a fire under action that is right in line with what we care about most.

Mars retrogrades on the 26th in Aquarius–goes direct again on 28 August. This happens every 2.5 years and for most of us will describe a period of looking inward, or at least hesitating where earlier we would’ve charged ahead. We may be thrown back on ourselves when we try to act and fail, or we may have introspection forced on us if we hope to go forward. We examine our own (and often everyone else’s) intentions, and we look closely at the result actions bring–good, bad, or neutral. Review of our choices occurs, and motivations should be faced, if we want our own actions to be effective in the future–this is no time to dodge Self-responsibility. ‘Pulled Punches’ may be a theme, as may ‘Sexual Frustration’, ‘Thwarted Will’, and sudden losses of drive, initiative, aggression, or appetite. Ego may take over, in a panic at the disorienting feeling of drifting, or the ‘I Am’ may shrink to nothing, gaining awareness of the Cosmos as a whole and forgetting the individual needs.

A great deal of your response will depend upon your current and natal relationship with Martian energy, especially your confidence level, your sense of personal authority (the kind that grants you permission to apply your Will to the environment), the vulnerability of your ego, and your usual ability to get your Martian needs met: to be taken seriously, to receive gratification from your world, and to act as you wish. The measure of successful Mars expression will vary wildly from person to person, so the experience of retro energy may also vary significantly, and there’s always the individual who has Mars retro in the natal chart. This person may feel a little more ‘at home’ suddenly, as the world is somehow a bit more in tune with them than usual. Mars retro natally can make for a misfit or a renegade, a pirate or a pioneer, and the retro cycle may offer them some relief from their usual outsider role.

The House in the natal chart ruled by Mars may also see action, likely a pull-back from something that was going forward with no hitch–and you may see the same thing in matters of the House Mars is currently transiting and turning around in. The question becomes, ‘Is there a precipice there that this withdrawal of energy allowed you to avoid, or are you being intimidated or over cautious?’ If we’re in tune with ourselves, Mars retro can offer us information we might’ve overlooked when Mars was direct; we could avoid conflict, ego-blunders, precipitous acts, and impulsivity driven by primal demands, as either our own engine sputters or the world makes us back down, our confidence shaken by externals or the withdrawal of ‘muscle’, in one form or another.

Receptive Mars is not a term we normally employ, but which we might consider trying to manifest in some form during this period. Conflict with our own Martian urges can create real dissonance and delay or otherwise confuse our efforts, if we’re typically more straightforward. With this Mars retrograde the turnaround occurs on the same day that Earth conjoins and Sun opposes Saturn, with Hygeia forming a Cardinal T-square that suggests until we find optimum channels for the shifted energy we may suffer headaches, clumsiness, eye strain, palpitations, and unusual bone and muscle weakness–so especially at the point of retrograde, take care to avoid unnecessary stress and strain, or those injuries you find yourself suffering when Mars energy can’t find a way out may pop up and sideline you unexpectedly, making it even tougher to sort out forward momentum in a retro atmosphere.

And in case you missed it, here’s the New Moon of the 13th.

Your Weekend 12-13 August 2017 Rearranged

11 Friday Aug 2017

Posted by in astrology, current events in the sky, forecast, Grand Trine, Horoscope, Lunar Aspects, Mercury retrograde, Retrogrades, The Daily Word Image

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Photo by Lewis Carroll ‘Smith Sisters, Summer 1859’ {{PD}}

Remember that trine between the Sun and Black Moon Lilith we talked about yesterday? For a few hours on the 12th it becomes a Fire Grand Trine as the Moon moves into the last decan of Aries (later AM Pacific)–and this happens just after the Moon forms a T-square by opposition to Jupiter and square to Pluto. The energy is big, sweeping, serious, though it doesn’t feel heavy, except in the way we see (or perhaps I should say ‘perceive’, as not everything will be on the surface or immediately identifiable) it shuffling the chess pieces on our board. We get to the end of the day with things considerably different, arranged in a way we didn’t anticipate, as at least some of what happens involves having to attend to (and so acknowledge feelings about) those things we’d rather ignore or deny. Know that there’s liberation to be found in dealing with things, and be aware that, particularly right now, we must be willing to allow others the autonomy to make their own decisions, no matter what we believe.

Mercury also begins apparent retrograde in Virgo, needing to backtrack only 7 minutes to perfect a trine to Pallas. This suggests that at least part of the meaning of this retro period will involve critical discernment (Virgo) of what’s wise, what’s practical, what skills are needed (Pallas). This sets the tone for the entire period; make sure that what you review and re-do brings answers that address those Pallas questions.

Today’s word image is a bowling ball floating on the water. Impossible, right? We may encounter something just as unlikely today–but in this case, accept what you see, but verify how it’s done, even though that takes the ‘magic’ out of it, as you’ll be much better off knowing the ‘why and how’ behind it.

Anticipation may be the theme on the 13th. We see the Sun trining a retrograde Saturn, Vesta and Neptune moving toward opposition, Mars heading toward a quincunx to Pluto and sextiles to Zeus and Jupiter, and there are a coupe of close semi-sextiles that link energies through a mild tension: Mars-Venus, and Chiron-Uranus, which we can read as, ‘man-woman/ animus/ anima’ and ‘sudden hurt or healing, wounding accident, spontaneous display of unique skills’. We may spend the day in a state akin to waiting, but not knowing just what we’re waiting for. The Moon in Taurus counsels us to relax and enjoy creature comforts–that’ll be my goal, and should be yours, too.

Today’s word image is: a sea serpent pokes his head up out of a choppy lake. Hmmm. Again with an image that may or may not be a reality. And again, accept that you saw it, but don’t accept anyone else’s definition of what it actually is.

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The March 2017 Full Moon in Virgo: Trusting the Self

11 Saturday Mar 2017

Posted by in astrology, current events in the sky, forecast, Full Moon, Grand Trine, Horoscope, Sabian Symbols, Virgo

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Annie Louisa Swynnerton (née Robinson) – ‘The Sense of Sight’ 1894 {{PD}}

The Full Moon in Virgo falls on the 12th at 22 Virgo 13 at 7:54 AM PDT; it fills in a loose Earth Grand Trine with Sedna and Pluto, opposes Pallas and Chiron, quincunxes Uranus, and sextiles Vesta. The Grand Trine promises that whatever is fulfilled, concludes, ends, or reaches its apex with this Full Moon will bring a state of stability (meaning remain as it is, or as it coalesces at this point) through (get ready for the paradox!) acceptance of change and instinctive responses to it. I know! Seems contradictory to say that circumstances of transition and embrace of instincts (including instinctive understanding and knowledge) can bring about a sense of security, ease with circumstances, and a stable picture of and relationship to the environment/ material situation, but it does–and this endows us with a sense of surety, of ‘knowing’ deep within, that allows us to handle challenges related to practicality, what we would typically think of as wise or smart options, and allow us to navigate potential hurt. We may be faced with wounding circumstances or those who oppose us out of a sheer sense of superiority, who try to control us through our wounds, and we may be told we aren’t wise enough to make our own choices–and this would be oh-so-wrong. Being willing to follow our own lead is important; so is holding fast to what we honor and find sacred. We must make our choices, original or rebellious as they may be, in alignment with our values, with what we care about–and then we go forward from there.

Original caption: 1897-Lady lion tamer caged with lion. — Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS

The Sabian for the Full Moon is, ‘A Lion Tamer Displays His Skill And Character’. I associate this symbol strongly with the FM’s quincunx to Uranus in Aries; that is the closest major aspect the Full Moon makes. We as individuals are the Lion Tamer in our own lives; we control the whip (our Will) and chair (how we ‘furnish’ our lives), taking the lead (Aries), acting (Aries) in ways that spring from and also reveal our skills and character (Uranus). Awareness that we are the source of our own situation is vital; Self-responsibility and the roles we have taken on, willingly or not, must be (and likely will be) magnified within our own perceptions at this time, so that we can truly and completely understand and accept our part in our own creation–that is, our formulation of ourselves, and our world.

We may be overloaded on Pisces energy right now, looking for the concrete, the actionable, the thing we can hold in our hand; this Moon in Virgo delivers it to us, and your first hint that you’re dealing with the current Lunar energy may come through a criticism, a demand for accountability, a health or dietary matter, or enmeshment in the details of some issue. That’s your clue that, going forward, it’s all about You.

12 January 2017 Come Together

11 Wednesday Jan 2017

Posted by in astrology, Born Today, Cardinal Activity, current events in the sky, forecast, Full Moon, Grand Cross/Grand Square, Grand Trine, Horoscope, Moon

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John William Waterhouse - 'The Decameron' c1915 {{PD}}

One thing I’m not crazy about with this picture is the way the women all seemed to be enthralled with the lone man–a discarded instrument even sits next to one, suggesting they’re all taking a passive approach to things, putting aside their interests–let’s not let this be the reality, ladies! John William Waterhouse – ‘The Decameron’ c1915 {{PD}}

The AstroEssence: We have the resources to make dreams and ideals a reality–the question is, are we really willing to ‘spend’ them on our supposed dreams? This may bring a reality check of the kind that forces us to vet what we have been proclaiming we want–a ‘put our money where our mouth is’ moment–and should we discover we are unwilling to part with assets to back up our words or announced goals, we should celebrate it as a moment of true clarity, a chance to course-correct, to align our internal image with our actual manifestation of identity. We are likely to see that some of our priorities and commitments are actually unhealthy, and we begin thinking in concrete, practical, even hard-headed terms. It may be a rough ride for those who want to keep pretending they will become something they have no intention of actually investing in, but the rest of us can be free of old labels, and of the internal distortions created when we fool ourselves in an attempt to fool others. PS Chances of being fooled as to the actual state of relationships or finances is high, but so is the chance to profit from the creative or to spin an image of ourselves as Love or Money manifest (whether this is accurate or not) (Vesta sesq Hygeia, Venus conj Neptune, Mercury enters Capricorn)

full-moon-in-cancer-january-2017The Full Moon occurs at 3:34 AM of the 12th Pacific time at 22 Cancer 27, where it fills in as the arm of a Cardinal Grand Cross, with Jupiter-Zeus on one end and Uranus-Ceres on the other, with the opposition of the Sun filling in and inviting Pluto (despite the fact that the lord of the Underworld sees the Sun separating from contact). In other aspects we’ll keep our orbs crisp, with a quincunx to Saturn-Juno and a trine to Chiron. The config is dynamic, tense, but fueled by spontaneity, optimism, desire, an awareness of the fulsome presence of Nature (and Her unpredictability), and a consciousness that sees the need for change, destruction, and in some cases, transformation, in the name of renewal, and especially in terms of those who hold the Power. The Full Moon event should bring a culmination of energies that most likely sees a conclusion reached, spurred by changes in the reality picture and our awareness of it, and all of it based in what we care about, what we’re sensitive to (Moon in Cancer) and how this can mesh with real-world conditions and circumstances (Sun in Capricorn).

This brings healing (the Chiron trine) and forces us to adjust to the real-world state of our empowerment (quincunx Saturn-Juno)–fantasies will no longer do, echoing the other aspects for the day unrelated to the Full Moon. The Cross itself brings opportunity for ambition fulfillment and the need to balance this with our own unique needs within the power structure/ Nature, with what we care about, and with the conscious knowledge that certain facets of the reality picture (and possibly the emotional one) must change, in some stark and significant way.

Just maybe we may also want to consider a loose Water Grand Trine involving the Moon-Earth meeting reaching out to Chiron in Pisces and Black Moon Lilith in Scorpio. This hints at healing through balance that allows emotional acknowledgment of matters previously hidden, denied, or that enraged. The essence of many of the aspects for today and for the Full moon seems to hinge on successfully allowing two at least somewhat contradictory or unalike forces to meet, and from that meeting finding equilibrium; just something to keep in mind going forward.

The Sabian for the Full Moon is, ‘The Meeting Of A Literary Society’. This symbol speaks of the coming together of minds, to consider ideas expressed in a concrete form, in this case, in writing–and in a twist, this could specifically apply to contracts, as a meeting of the minds is the primary condition for the formation of such agreements. This suggests the Full Moon events express a material or manifest form of one or more ideas, allowing them to be vetted in the real world. Though the environment for inspection is a civilized one, what results may not be quite so, as the inclusion of Pluto, Zeus, and Uranus in the Full Moon picture suggests some extreme passions and unpredictable alternatives may suddenly be on the table, pushing the feeling nature (Moon in Cancer) to extremes and/ or draw conclusions.

Edgar Degas - 'Achille De Gas in the Uniform of a Cadet' c1856 {{PD}}

Edgar Degas – ‘Achille De Gas in the Uniform of a Cadet’ c1856 {{PD}}

The Sabian for the Sun, instigator of the Full Moon phenomenon, is, ‘A Soldier Receiving Two Awards For Bravery In Combat’. The figure of ‘a soldier’ suggests one of many, who is responsible for and in control of only him or herself–but all awards a soldier can receive on the battlefield are tied directly to her or his actions that specifically benefit both his cause and his fellow soldiers. So, this could imply that what culminates at the Full Moon started with actions that went ‘above and beyond’–and this is the result.

Bonus: those with natal placements at 20-23 of Leo may be in for major emotional healing or wounding, likely as Full Moon events reveal something about their origins that was previously unrealized.

Bonus bonus: Full Moon work with Auntie Moon

For those born with the Sun at 22 Capricorn: You’re at or very near the summit, right about now, and you reach the crest of your goal only to find–another big climb ahead of you. Don’t despair; you can rest for a brief while and gather in the benefits of the level you’ve already achieved–and if you look around you’ll see that you’ve got the resources, the support, and the personal authority to begin the journey up that next mountain–and it’s more than likely that you’ll reach the summit for this Solar year’s goal much sooner than you expect–so get ready to celebrate–after that climb, of course. Good luck, Cappy, and Happy Birthday!

Donate! Read! And have a wonderful Full Moon!

1 August 2016 A Tangle of Impulses

31 Sunday Jul 2016

Posted by in astrology, Born Today, current events in the sky, forecast, Grand Trine, Horoscope, Moon Void-of-Course, The Daily Word Image

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By Karl Wilhelm Diefenbach - 'Der Rettung Entgegen' 1913 {{PD}}

By Karl Wilhelm Diefenbach – ‘Der Rettung Entgegen’ 1913 {{PD}}

The AstroEssence: We’re well into Dark of the Moon, that three day period prior to the New Moon when the Lunar light is absent, effectively removing our symbolic connection to the passing of time–and it’s this sense of timelessness that we should be mindful of right now. Particularly in that final 24 hours before the New Moon, we may find turning inward more natural than turning outward, and aligning our inner life with our outer one especially difficult, as they seem to be so disconnected. That means that meditation, contemplation, revery, creativity, and seeking the vision are all especially effective now, while activities with a purely external focus don’t get the attention they need, and so don’t go as well as they could. Add to this Mars at 29 Scorpio, and we have the potential for a lot of compulsive or poorly thought out actions and choices, prior to the Mars entry into Sagittarius (and Mars moves into Sagittarius only about two hours before perfection of the New Moon, suggesting that the impulse to act may come forward before the intention, the ‘why’, becomes clear). Perhaps a note to the Self reminding us that though the inner life and viewpoint seem to be of ultimate importance, even more ‘real’, during this period, we are still physical beings in a material world, so measured activity and some caution is advised.

'Le Bec de Gaz - Nuit bleue' Henri Le Sidaner 1905 {{PD}}

‘Le Bec de Gaz – Nuit bleue’ Henri Le Sidaner 1905 {{PD}}

It’s the perfect time to reach emotional balance, specifically by getting clear within our own minds on what we are dedicated to, where we are empowered to act effectively, and by following the wisdom that exists internally and that is externally offered. It’s in being sure within ourselves of where we want to spend our energy and time, and how we can best exercise our prerogatives, that we find guidance toward the smart choice, or the practical one, and so insure we have the desired impact.

If we align our mentality too closely to material matters, we may find ourselves hurting, particularly through relationships or financial matters, and it’s almost guaranteed we won’t understand why–the tendency will be to blame others or circumstances, rather than see that our own viewpoint needs adjustment (Water Grand Trine of Vesta-Juno-Pallas, Mercury at the midpoint of Vesta-Juno and opp Pallas, Merc trine Ceres, Venus qnx Chiron, Sun sesq Chiron and trine Saturn)

Mihail Simonidi (1870 - 1933) - Reverie pe malul lacului {{PD}}

Mihail Simonidi (1870 – 1933) – Reverie pe malul lacului {{PD}}

Today’s word image is a swan. Distilling the many meanings and associations of a swan, we see them as symbols of purity, associated with Venus, and linked to music. Look for the ‘swan element’ within your life, those things that represent beauty, purity, and the pure sensory enjoyment that comes from the Venusian aesthetic, especially through music–or just watch for swans, alerting you to synchronicities ahead.

For those born with the Sun at 10 Leo: early in your ‘new year’ you may feel emotionally confused, cut off from the feeling nature by real or imagined barriers, but soon enough you adjust, chiefly by realizing that it’s your own creative energy that’s distorting your perceptions–and that energy needs a solid outlet for expression. This may be your quest this year: to find the ‘perfect’ expressive mode for either your artistic or spiritual Beingness–everything else may take a back seat, until such expression is found. Good luck, Leo, and Happy Birthday!

Have a great start to your week!