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Category Archives: New Moon

4 February 2019 New Moon in Aquarius/ Lunar New Year: Dark And Light

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Dr Neil Clifton / ‘Witches Galore’ at Newchurch 1978 / CC BY-SA 2.0

I’m really not into that whole binary, opposites, yay or nay way of seeing the world, but today may present us with a gentle mixing of two theoretically opposing influences, and normally I would counsel, “Sort them out,” but not this time. We’ll feel the urges toward both power expression and submission to a greater force, the urge to destroy and the urge to transform, we’ll dwell on injustices large and small, on what’s been forgotten or ignored, on hurts and their elimination, and all of it will come in the course of just going after what we want–and the most advantageous thing we can do is open to it all, allow it to wash over us, and most important, refuse to pass judgment on any of it. Let go of the negative/ positive designations, don’t put yourself under pressure to define, pronounce, or critique, accept it all as worthy of both existing and receiving your attention, and the way forward will be laid out for you, crystal clear–and you may be amazed that you didn’t see it that way, before. If you insist on dividing the world and your perceptions into light and dark, up and down, black and white, expect to be confronted by nothing but one solid shade of gray.

The New Moon occurs at 1:04 PM PST of the 4th at 15 Aquarius 45, and tells its story quietly, largely through midpoint pictures, as it falls midway in a sextile between Saturn and Neptune, and midway between a square of Venus and Chiron–but if we think for a moment, we realize that means Earth is apex to both a Finger of God (with the sextiling planets as base) and a Fist of God (or Thor’s Hammer, with the square planets as base). Right away this tells us something interesting: that though we’re used to New and Full Moons having largely emotional impacts, this time the brunt of the event shows up materially, in the physical world or in the nature of what surrounds us, tangible or intangible (the intangible in this case meaning the circumstances around us, the mental and emotional lay of the land).

The material situation will change or see a new direction, then, that may come from physical events, or that is the result of emotional ones. Since a New Moon is a start, a birth, a new direction by its very nature, we can expect change, and in Aquarius the event may be something startlingly new, a catching-up-with-the-times thing, or an imposition of the modern, or could show us what happens when the intellectual is applied to the environment. Too, this could suggest some will feel alienated from their own emotions, as the NM events play out, bringing a delayed reaction, an ‘I just didn’t know how to stop it’ reflection later, or a situation where an individual can’t yet react, because they don’t yet know how they feel.

The New Moon’s also widely conjoined Mercury (but really, only the Moon will care to catch up anytime soon, making Mercury in relation to the NM event more an idea that you already had, that shows up at the New Moon); our attention, then, will go the the sextile and the square, and what they promise. The sextile/ base of the Finger of God that catches the New Moon at its midpoint suggests dreams, visions, imaginings, hallucinations, nightmares (Neptune) made real (Saturn); the square/ base of the Fist of God that puts the New Moon at its midpoint suggests something that has the urgency of an emergency surrounding either skill deployment or the wounded nature (Chiron at 29 degrees), with this expressing through Art, relationships, or financial choices (Venus), possibly ones that locks us into obligations, contracts, or a system or framework within which we must work (Capricorn). For both cases, the apex planet Earth sits in Leo, implying that this will bring forward personal, individual situations that may challenge the Self-image, identity, ego, or the unique greater purpose the individual serves.

The Sabian for the New Moon is, ‘A Big Businessman At His Desk’. Again, the theme of worldly involvement and material results, with the individual as the driving force. In this particular case, we need also to look at the Earth’s Sabian: ‘The Storm Ended, All Nature Rejoices In Brilliant Sunshine’. At the very least, this promises that New Moon outcomes will clear up the environment/ atmosphere, very likely offering positive prospects ahead, the promise of ‘smooth sailing’ under clear skies.

(Along with the New Moon, we see Vesta parallel Ceres, Pluto nov Vesta, Mercury conj and parallel Black Moon Lilith, nov Chiron, and trine Zeus)

Though we don’t usually, we have a word image that I think will apply through to the next New Moon: the phrase ‘Juno therapeutics’. Ever since I saw it on the side of a building I’ve been thinking about what therapies the goddess might recommend. I toyed with things like Juno seeing revenge as therapeutic, or maybe owning your very own peacock! I think the broadest ideas are most applicable, those surrounding owning one’s own power, exercising prerogatives to the fullest, being keenly aware of from whom or what one’s power derives, and perhaps most important of all, don’t give commands or require things from others you have no power to enforce–that only drains the power you do have and acts as a breeding ground for resentment and vengeful circumstances.

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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!

 

7 November 2018 New Moon in Scorpio: A Mandate to Create

06 Tuesday Nov 2018

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

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‘Studio in the Rue Archimède’ By Felix Nussbaum 1940 {{PD}}

The New Moon occurs at 8:02 AM Pacific standard time at 15 Scorpio 11. If we keep orbs trim (as we must–this isn’t a natal chart) we see Luna forming only two aspects, a trine to Neptune and a quindecile (165 degrees) to Uranus, this latter posited at the crisis point of 29 degrees. It’s a New Moon that has us creating from the emotional ashes (Scorpio Moon) under intense stress or pressure, but this time around we must look to the other aspects in effect to know the background against which the New Moon new starts rise.

The trine to Neptune, sitting in its own sign of Pisces, speaks of a deep Cosmic connection, inspiration and creative energy easily channeled, accessed, or dreamed (two of Pisces favored methods). The quindecile to Uranus says that the New Moon beginning may present personal difficulties, or make for a hard time as the individual tries to integrate into the group. Sudden events, surprises, shocks, impulsivity are all likely in service to Higher Mind goals–so accept and deal with what comes forward as if it’s to your benefit, no matter how it appears in the moment. For a scant few, this New Moon brings circumstances of complete deception, a scenario where fantasy is accepted wholeheartedly as fact–but surrounding dissonance, and the resonance of the current Grand Sextile, will offer plenty of clues that the fantastical scenario is illusion, rather than reality, if those individuals will only listen.

There’s also a conjunction of Pluto and Vesta, suggesting that the energy for regeneration, transformation, or re-birth arises from what we honor; we dedicate our energy, and thereby tap into the breadth of power we can, at optimum operating moments, find is ours. Chiron quincunxes Ceres=again, questions of effective power manifestation, this time with our own wounds as the biggest obstacle. Jupiter quincunxes Uranus, once more highlighting the relationship between the individual and the social order, and requiring adjustment, like it or not. And Mercury noviles Ceres, suggesting that mental acuity is reached by attuning to our most ‘natural’ Self, to those roles where we hold and exercise power. This last is a ‘glove to hand’ aspect, most usable in those areas where we rightly embrace our own authority (and useless should we try to claim authority we don’t actually hold!)

The Grand Sextile, normally a configuration of grace and a smooth interlocking of energies, is this time signalling a kind of maximum point, a set of related energy flows that for a brief time form a kind of net expressing what must be dealt with, worked through, what can no longer hold its present shape. This is shown by the very late or very early degree of the placements, suggesting huge stresses that have pushed this potential into being. Jupiter and the Nodal axis are at 29 degrees, telling us that the facts and/ or the social order, in terms of the direction it’s headed, are at a breaking point (but we didn’t need astrology to tell us that, did we?) Chiron and Juno are at 28 and 27 respectively; hurt and power expression could go farther, be more extreme, but they are certainly ripe to be handled. Pallas is at 1 Libra, and may, as latest figure in the config, tell us where this is all ultimately going: toward something wise, more practical, that is cooperative in the sense of considering all parties–so not such a bad outcome, after all that tension.

‘Smiling Girl’ By Abram Arkhipov 1920s {{PD}}

The Sabian for this New Moon needs no explanation, ‘A Girl’s Face Breaking Into A Smile’ This New Moon brings relief, of one kind or another, and vast new creative potentials, if we can get out of our own way and bring them forward.

Happy New Moon!

 

New Moon in Libra 8 October 2018 Make It So

07 Sunday Oct 2018

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Michelangelo’s ‘Cleopatra’ {{PD}}

The New Moon forms at 8:47 PM PDT of the 8th at 15 Libra 48; it’s notable that both Sun and most recently the Moon have swept over Ceres and remain at the New Moon point still conjoined, though swiftly moving away. This suggests relationship power balances have recently been vetted or made themselves quite clear–so at least part of what you consider at this New Moon is whether you’re happy with that, and what new practices you might want to begin, especially related to the partnership, cooperative, aesthetic, or mate situation (Libra)–though keep in mind that with Venus retrograde, your tastes will be other than usual–and that suggests precipitous change, especially that which can’t be undone, is to be avoided.

The New Moon is also loosely conjoined, both bodies in this case heading toward conjunction, asteroid Zeus, implying that New Moon new starts may be driven by deep desire, ambition fulfillment, or lust. We want something voraciously–if we admit to our appetites, it will be much easier for us to get it.

The NM squares Pluto, in effect creating a T-square if we count the Earth, which always always opposes the Sun. This suggests that conundrum: are the new beginnings at this point born of changes we must respond to and can’t help, that are outside us, or do we make the changes ourselves proactively, wishing to create the new start? Some of us will make our move, but others will need that external circumstance to push them forward. Know that if something occurs or comes at you at this time that seems harsh, final, driven by powers outside yourself, that it’s really working in concert with an inner wish, or at least, is appearing in order to allow you to act or to rid yourself of something you wouldn’t have been able to facilitate or shed on your own. Bonus: if you have a natal point at 15-19 Cancer, you’ll have a Cardinal Grand Cross filled in, making that natal energy very active and probably bringing some kind of ‘power showdown’ surrounding it or matters of the House where it sits or that it rules.

Neptune is quincunxed by the New Moon, and Juno is sesquiquadrate. The Neptune contact suggests that New Moon activity may be an adjustment in response to what we imagined but which has proven not exactly as we anticipated, or as a modification to a creative effort, seen in light of new beginnings or a new aesthetic perception (again, remember the Venus retro). Bonus: if you have a placement at 14-16.5 of Taurus, this forms a Finger of God with apex the NM, promising that some creative matter or deceptions affecting circumstances related to the natal planet or the subjects/ Houses it rules may come to a head at the NM, likely revealing, if not what to do about it, then certainly how to feel about it.

The NM sesquiquadrate to Juno says that, as we already know, our power and empowerment options will be affected–but it points toward some difficulty or awkwardness around our current status. Do we want to do something but fear we don’t hold the authority to make it happen? Is Zeusian passion pushing us in a direction we fear others might not find acceptable? Or is it a matter of the position we hold, and how it constrains us? In any case, the New Moon presents a need to re-work our aims, in light of what we truly deeply want. Bonus: A natal placement at 29 Aquarius-1 Pisces means a Fist of God is completed, implying that the natal energy in conflict with your personal empowerment situation or sense of authority may bring about the New Moon new beginning.

The Sabian symbol for the New Moon is, ‘After A Storm A Boat Landing Stands In Need Of Reconstruction’. This tells us that destruction, much of it caused by prior circumstances or events, prompts even further destruction, in order to re-build. Expect a little clearing out to occur, even as a new ‘power position’, and maybe a new emotional outlook on a Libran subject, finds its footing and makes changes in your world, giving you a new and improved space from which to launch new projects or new life directions.

New Moon 9 September 2018 Virgin Sacrifice

07 Friday Sep 2018

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By John Fowler from Placitas, NM, USA – Temples and Towers of the VirginUploaded by PDTillman, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=29614020

The New Moon occurs at 11:01 AM PDT at precisely 17 Virgo, opposed Neptune, sextile Jupiter, trine Pluto, and is apex to a Fist of God (Thor’s Hammer, for Nordic purists) with base of Black Moon Lilith square Uranus. The Sabian for the New Moon is, ‘A Volcanic Eruption’ (and here’s why we read the Sabian for 17 Virgo, rather than reading 18 Virgo as we would if the event occurred even one minute later). Taken all together, we have to ask ourselves, What is it we need to sacrifice, let go of, or otherwise release, in order to honor humanity’s primal urge to appease forces mightier than we?

Contacts to the New Moon suggest we are already as far from illusion as we can get (opp Neptune–though this doesn’t take into account the individual capacity to fool oneself–so, if you’re firmly committed to a delusion, this won’t change things, but if you’re still in touch with reality, you stand on relatively firm ground); that the social sphere or ‘the facts’ (Jupiter) require/ facilitate change, destruction, removal, or transformation (Pluto); and that this need for change may spring from those matters we’ve ignored or denied (BML) clashing (the square) with our need to individuate, to proclaim our place within the group, or to upset through rebellion, revolution, invention, innovation, or original (Uranus) ideas or concepts introduced via our ‘shaking’ of the social apple cart.

A New Moon happening in Virgo automatically asks for a new start that makes us accountable, and calls for the paring away of what is extraneous, once we’ve critiqued the life. The Virgin of the sign paired with the symbol of the erupting volcano says that crisis forces action, or at least a response we hope will alleviate the pressure. That may be an illusion, a superstition–and yet, the ‘giving away’ (that is, sacrifice) of something we find precious, useful, productive, that holds potentials, is a true sacrifice; typically we only let go of what we no longer need, no longer find of value, and that means, no matter how generous, it’s not a sacrifice at all. With this New Moon, we may be asked to acknowledge what we’ve avoided, to change what needs transforming, and to embrace something unique within ourselves and put that center stage in the life, perhaps for a time allowing it to define us, in service to, and response to, something greater than we. What we give up, contribute, or let go in the hope of bettering things may be something we value–in fact, it has to be, or our efforts to satisfy the emotional call of the New Moon will go unanswered.

Bonus: a natal placement at 16 Taurus 30 to 19 Taurus 30 fills in an Earth Grand Trine with Pluto and the New Moon–your sacrifice may be larger, more definitive, or more final than most, and may carry the essence of the natal planet or point contacted.

Also, a natal placement at 16-19 Aries is apex to a Finger of God with base of the New Moon and Jupiter. This suggests that New Moon efforts on the social scene, or based on what you learn at this time, may prompt a ‘new start’ in terms of the contacted planet or point.

Have a wonderful and safe New Moon!

 

Solar Eclipse In Leo 11 August 2018 Resolution

09 Thursday Aug 2018

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‘Kibara’ By Goyō Hashiguchi 1912 {{PD}}

The Partial Solar eclipse in Leo falls at 18 degrees, 41 minutes on August 11th at 2:57 AM PDT. This event is conjoined Pallas—ah! ‘new wisdom’ is the result of the past two events—with the aspects offering a subtle picture of what it is we’ve gained. A new start in Leo is about ourselves and our identity, and those facets of the individuality that allow us to ‘shine’; the aspects made by the eclipse describe the nature of our attributes, the ways in which we can make our uniqueness known. What begins at this time also has an air of the practical about it, or a sense of skills possessed—but no matter what, a situation that allows us to be our Best Self.

The eclipse-Pallas sextiles Zeus and catches Ceres at the midpoint, even as it semi-squares Venus. This suggests that it’s in the act of reaching for ambition or desire fulfillment that we both gain authority and power and learn what needs to change in relationships or finances in order to make ‘it’ happen. Should we count this as base to a Finger of God, with a loose Neptune apex? Maybe, if we consider that what we likely need to do to fine-tune the ambition picture is rid ourselves of delusions, or utilize our creativity—that’s what can make the whole thing work together.

The eclipse is also apex to a loose Fist of God with base of Saturn and Chiron, and quincunxes Pluto. As apex, the eclipse promises that resolution of conflicts between the reality picture or reasonable restraints applied to our effort, and our own skill set or wounded nature (the latter possibly referring to unreasonable restraints that need removal), offers a ‘New You’, a  fresh expression of identity or purpose, and that this is also an expression of our own wisdom and gifts (Pallas). The contact to Pluto simply tells us adjustment is needed, whether we want to gather power, make a change, eliminate, or transform.

There’s also an Earth Grand Trine that hooks into the eclipse by degree: Ceres (semi-sextile), Pluto (quincunx), and Juno (square). This implies the eclipse may be a spark of sorts, putting into motion material matters that, one and all, are concerned with power and power expression. No matter what else is in play at this time, this Grand Trine reminds us that there are some very real material stakes here, and that even the most innocent of moves holds an ultimate goal of gaining or solidifying the ability to make the individual Will felt and impactful.

If we really want to get loose with things, we can also see that the T-square formed by Juno’s hard angle to the axis  becomes a Grand Cross if we pull Jupiter into the equation. This may remind us that individual development doesn’t happen in a vacuum; others to whom we reach out, look for reactions and interactions, and to get a measure of our own empowerment are part of the picture, and must be taken into account, especially when we think about how beliefs, knowledge, and the capacity to reach out and to accept what we consider ‘foreign’ all shape not just our potentials for success, but our view of our own adequacy, as well.

The Sabian symbol for this New Moon eclipse in Leo is, ‘A Houseboat Party’. That promises a celebration, once we’ve dealt with anything that’s not working on our path forward to Self-expression—but we should also note the party of the image is afloat—that is, hovering on the surface of the water, the symbol of feeling. That tells us that beneath the joy engendered by successful realization of our gifts, skills, and most unique qualities lies a body of emotion, one that it’s entirely possible to sink into, even to lose our joy to. That implies that after this sequence of eclipses we might have a whole new set of emotions to explore—and maybe entirely new feelings related to how we see ourselves (Leo).

The Solar Eclipse of 12 July 2018 Through Deep Water

11 Wednesday Jul 2018

Posted by in astrology, current events in the sky, eclipse, forecast, New Moon, Sabian Symbols, Solar Eclipse

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Anders Zorn 1885 {{PD}}

The Partial Solar eclipse of 12 July 2018 (7:48 PM PDT) falls at 20 Cancer 41 as the Moon, Earth, and Sun align on the same plane, allowing the Moon to ‘eclipse’ the normally dominant Sun at their New Moon meeting. This event also sees Earth, which of course is always opposed the Sun, conjoined Pluto, making its opposition to the New Moon eclipse the centerpiece of the aspect picture; asteroid Zeus forms a T-square with the Sun-Moon-Earth-Pluto axis, and Ceres is semi-square the New Moon. A Solar eclipse, this one in Water, is a new beginning, and that can come gently, like a tide lapping at the shore, or fiercely, like a wave crashing on the beach—but in either case, it brings change, which may slowly pull the sand from beneath your feet, can knock those feet out from under you, and/ or could even wipe the landscape clean in a tsunami, leaving you in an entirely new place. Change, then, is expected, and with Pluto opposed the event and conjoined the Earth, the very ground on which we walk, we may want to be highly attentive to the mix of Water and Earth, emotion and the material, flow and static states, in our world.

This event in a Water sign also emphasizes the emotional component eclipses already carry, as they are mainly Lunar events, with the Moon playing the pivotal role, either in blocking the Sun’s light from us (a Solar eclipse) or acting as the screen on which we observe the blocking of the light (by the Earth, as it moves between Moon and Sun) in a Lunar eclipse. This Solar eclipse event doubles down on the emotional, psychological, and intuitive potentials, making us all naturally hyper-sensitive to the atmosphere around the New Moon. Symbolically this speaks of, in the case of a Solar eclipse, emotions themselves causing a blockage between the material world (Earth) and ‘What Is’, including purpose and intent (the Sun). The block is meant as a disruptor, a point at which the usual view just can’t be adopted, as the light in which we view things is suddenly radically different. We keep this in mind as we look at the particulars of any eclipse event, as consciousness about the larger scenario illuminates the smaller details of the single occurrence.

Here we have the sheer power of Pluto aligned with Earth—and of course this kind of aspect always makes me think of earthquakes or volcanoes—most likely of a personal, symbolic nature, and this directly opposes the meeting of Sun and Moon on the ecliptic, so that we have Earth-Pluto, a material or physical power situation, that is receiving no light, as the Moon prevents it. That suggests that at or following the eclipse we face a real-world challenge that we’re prevented from understanding by our own emotional response.

Too, the challenge puts us in a spot: not only is our authority to respond at issue (Ceres), but we see conflicts with our goals, ambitions, and/ or desires (Zeus). The Sabian symbol for the eclipse is, ‘A Famous Singer Is Proving Her Virtuosity During An Operatic Performance’. This not only speaks of the individual need to express ourselves in a way most characteristic of us as unique individuals—to ‘sing out’—with the eclipse challenge one of performance: show us your stuff! In the context of the eclipse, what we see is that the ability to convey who we are, our strongest and most authoritative identity (Ceres) expressed in an earthly venue (Earth-Pluto) is endangered by our extreme emotional response (the eclipse), which blocks an objective assessment of the situation.

The Earth moves, and we react—and that stops a clear understanding of what’s actually happening, and so of knowing what’s actually affected. The change that happens here is serious, but not necessarily permanent; we may do best to see it more as inevitable reform, events or revelations that present us with personal power and ‘territory’ issues we hadn’t yet faced, and conflicts with ambition fulfillment we hadn’t yet acknowledged. Taking that tack tells us that what elicits our emotional reaction at the eclipse could’ve been anticipated, if we’d realized the extent to which these matters, goal achievement and our power reach, needed our attention to begin with.

Forecast for the 11th is here–

The Eclipses of July-August 2018

02 Monday Jul 2018

Posted by in astrology, eclipse, forecast, Full Moon, future events in the sky, Lunar Aspects, Lunar Eclipse, New Moon, Sabian Symbols, Solar Eclipse

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Photo By Naposaurus 2013 Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported

Here are the general forecasts for the eclipse set coming late this summer. Notice that the first two seem strongly connected; I fully expect events around the initial Solar one to lead directly to the events of the Full Lunar one that follows at the end of July.

The Partial Solar eclipse of 12 July 2018 (7:48 PM PDT) falls at 20 Cancer 41 as the Moon, Earth, and Sun align on the same plane, allowing the Moon to ‘eclipse’ the normally dominant Sun at their New Moon meeting. This event also sees Earth, which of course is always opposed the Sun, conjoined Pluto, making its opposition to the New Moon eclipse the centerpiece of the aspect picture; asteroid Zeus forms a T-square with the Sun-Moon-Earth-Pluto axis, and Ceres is semi-square the New Moon. A Solar eclipse, this one in Water, is a new beginning, and that can come gently, like a tide lapping at the shore, or fiercely, like a wave crashing on the beach—but in either case, it brings change, which may slowly pull the sand from beneath your feet, can knock those feet out from under you, and/ or could even wipe the landscape clean in a tsunami, leaving you in an entirely new place. Change, then, is expected, and with Pluto opposed the event and conjoined the Earth, the very ground on which we walk, we may want to be highly attentive to the mix of Water and Earth, emotion and the material, flow and static states, in our world.

This event in a Water sign also emphasizes the emotional component eclipses already carry, as they are mainly Lunar events, with the Moon playing the pivotal role, either in blocking the Sun’s light from us (a Solar eclipse) or acting as the screen on which we observe the blocking of the light (by the Earth, as it moves between Moon and Sun) in a Lunar eclipse. This Solar eclipse event doubles down on the emotional, psychological, and intuitive potentials, making us all naturally hyper-sensitive to the atmosphere around the New Moon. Symbolically this speaks of, in the case of a Solar eclipse, emotions themselves causing a blockage between the material world (Earth) and ‘What Is’, including purpose and intent (the Sun). The block is meant as a disruptor, a point at which the usual view just can’t be adopted, as the light in which we view things is suddenly radically different. We keep this in mind as we look at the particulars of any eclipse event, as consciousness about the larger scenario illuminates the smaller details of the single occurrence.

Here we have the sheer power of Pluto aligned with Earth—and of course this kind of aspect always makes me think of earthquakes or volcanoes—most likely of a personal, symbolic nature, and this directly opposes the meeting of Sun and Moon on the ecliptic, so that we have Earth-Pluto, a material or physical power situation, that is receiving no light, as the Moon prevents it. That suggests that at or following the eclipse we face a real-world challenge that we’re prevented from understanding by our own emotional response.

Too, the challenge puts us in a spot: not only is our authority to respond at issue (Ceres), but we see conflicts with our goals, ambitions, and/ or desires (Zeus). The Sabian symbol for the eclipse is, ‘A Famous Singer Is Proving Her Virtuosity During An Operatic Performance’. This not only speaks of the individual need to express ourselves in a way most characteristic of us as unique individuals—to ‘sing out’—with the eclipse challenge one of performance: show us your stuff! In the context of the eclipse, what we see is that the ability to convey who we are, our strongest and most authoritative identity (Ceres) expressed in an earthly venue (Earth-Pluto) is endangered by our extreme emotional response (the eclipse), which blocks an objective assessment of the situation.

The Earth moves, and we react—and that stops a clear understanding of what’s actually happening, and so of knowing what’s actually affected. The change that happens here is serious, but not necessarily permanent; we may do best to see it more as inevitable reform, events or revelations that present us with personal power and ‘territory’ issues we hadn’t yet faced, and conflicts with ambition fulfillment we hadn’t yet acknowledged. Taking that tack tells us that what elicits our emotional reaction at the eclipse could’ve been anticipated, if we’d realized the extent to which these matters, goal achievement and our power reach, needed our attention to begin with.

The Total Lunar eclipse of 27 July 2018 (1:19 PM PDT) falls at 4 Aquarius 44, forming just after contact to, and still within orb of, a retrograde Mars; the Full Moon is also in wide sextile to Chiron and wide square to Uranus, with the latter, ruler of the eclipse itself, forming a T-square with the Sun-Earth-Moon-Mars axis. The only other aspect made is a sesquiquadrate to Venus in Virgo. A Lunar eclipse is a Full Moon, and this one occurs in the crisp, intellectually-oriented, forward-thinking sign of Aquarius, suggesting the event delivers revelation or understanding. Since it’s conjoined Mars, what appears could be the consequences of our own choices or actions, as instituted at the inception point of the previous Solar eclipse/ New Moon, or it could be that what we come to understand drives a current choice or action, with consequences still to be seen. That preceding Moon opposed Pluto, suggesting a power situation revealed, and this Full Moon may be the personal response to it, something driven by our intellectualization of the events that we then act on or choose according to, as we see the outcome of the New Moon start.

The results as manifested at this Lunar eclipse point have the potential for wounding or for calling forth skills (Chiron), but in either instance they show the need to express the individuality, or to accede to the group (Uranus), and all of this is likely spurred by difficulties surrounding relationships, finances, or Self-worth (Venus).

The Full Moon Sabian is, ‘A Council Of Ancestors Is Seen Implementing The Efforts Of A Young Leader’. This suggests that the authority and experience of those who came before plays a vital role in showing us which direction to take; that is, we learn from the past, especially from the experiences of others, appropriate considering eclipses always fall near the Nodal axes, with this Lunar one conjoined the South Node.

Since this eclipse seems so directly connected to the one preceding it, we’ll forgo our usual inspection of the Sun’s Sabian for a Full Moon, since in this case our ‘source’ is the New Moon that came two weeks before. Instead we move on to the next and final component of this eclipse set, the Solar eclipse in Leo.

The Partial Solar eclipse in Leo falls at 18 degrees, 41 minutes on August 11th at 2:57 AM PDT. This event is conjoined Pallas—ah! ‘new wisdom’ is the result of the past two events—with the aspects offering a subtle picture of what it is we’ve gained. A new start in Leo is about ourselves and our identity, and those facets of the individuality that allow us to ‘shine’; the aspects made by the eclipse describe the nature of our attributes, the ways in which we can make our uniqueness known. What begins at this time also has an air of the practical about it, or a sense of skills possessed—but no matter what, a situation that allows us to be our Best Self.

The eclipse-Pallas sextiles Zeus and catches Ceres at the midpoint, even as it semi-squares Venus. This suggests that it’s in the act of reaching for ambition or desire fulfillment that we both gain authority and power and learn what needs to change in relationships or finances in order to make ‘it’ happen. Should we count this as base to a Finger of God, with a loose Neptune apex? Maybe, if we consider that what we likely need to do to fine-tune the ambition picture is rid ourselves of delusions, or utilize our creativity—that’s what can make the whole thing work together.

The eclipse is also apex to a loose Fist of God with base of Saturn and Chiron, and quincunxes Pluto. As apex, the eclipse promises that resolution of conflicts between the reality picture or reasonable restraints applied to our effort, and our own skill set or wounded nature (the latter possibly referring to unreasonable restraints that need removal), offers a ‘New You’, a  fresh expression of identity or purpose, and that this is also an expression of our own wisdom and gifts (Pallas). The contact to Pluto simply tells us adjustment is needed, whether we want to gather power, make a change, eliminate, or transform.

There’s also an Earth Grand Trine that hooks into the eclipse by degree: Ceres (semi-sextile), Pluto (quincunx), and Juno (square). This implies the eclipse may be a spark of sorts, putting into motion material matters that, one and all, are concerned with power and power expression. No matter what else is in play at this time, this Grand Trine reminds us that there are some very real material stakes here, and that even the most innocent of moves holds an ultimate goal of gaining or solidifying the ability to make the individual Will felt and impactful.

If we really want to get loose with things, we can also see that the T-square formed by Juno’s hard angle to the axis  becomes a Grand Cross if we pull Jupiter into the equation. This may remind us that individual development doesn’t happen in a vacuum; others to whom we reach out, look for reactions and interactions, and to get a measure of our own empowerment are part of the picture, and must be taken into account, especially when we think about how beliefs, knowledge, and the capacity to reach out and to accept what we consider ‘foreign’ all shape not just our potentials for success, but our view of our own adequacy, as well.

The Sabian symbol for this New Moon eclipse in Leo is, ‘A Houseboat Party’. That promises a celebration, once we’ve dealt with anything that’s not working on our path forward to Self-expression—but we should also note the party of the image is afloat—that is, hovering on the surface of the water, the symbol of feeling. That tells us that beneath the joy engendered by successful realization of our gifts, skills, and most unique qualities lies a body of emotion, one that it’s entirely possible to sink into, even to lose our joy to. That implies that after this sequence of eclipses we might have a whole new set of emotions to explore—and maybe entirely new feelings related to how we see ourselves (Leo).

New Moon 13 June 2018 Reaching for More

11 Monday Jun 2018

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

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No matter how humble our aspirations, this New Moon will have us reaching for more (or better). By Jules Bastien-Lepage 1876 {{PD}}

The New Moon occurs in Gemini on the 13th at 22 Gemini 44, at 12:43 PM Pacific time. The event, with Ceres, forms the base of a loose Finger of God, apex Black Moon Lilith, which of course is an empty point in space–so, symbolically, the New Moon helps point to what isn’t there, at least not yet, but can be felt, like a shift in the tone of a room, in an attitude. We might be tempted to see Pluto as co-apex, but don’t–it’s too wide for the quincunx to Ceres to count, though the NM perfects close enough to its quincunx to be counted, drawing in the power and danger Pluto’s presence can signal through the NM itself–so indicating timing, most likely, a Plutonian element at or near the NM moment. This configuration suggests that Nature, a maternal or authority figure, or ourselves, in the position of exerting our Will/ authority within a situation/ or exerting our position and its prerogatives, may act at the time of the New Moon and set in motion something powerful but invisible–something that stirs Black Moon Lilith’s depths of hidden, ignored, or denied matters, or of rage or injustice.

The only other aspects within reasonable orb are a sextile to Juno and a sesquiquadrate to Mars. These suggest that whatever our current position of empowerment or status (Juno) we easily (and probably immediately) reach for what power that gives us; perhaps this is the fuel to the Finger’s fire, where we step into ‘greater than’ territory (Ceres), potentially stepping on a few toes, promoting ourselves, and/ or taking as our own a more potent role. This action, and/ or our choices (Mars) may be awkward, in terms of fitting with our current position, but that’s the point: this New Moon fosters a Will or an opportunity to take a larger role, to be more than we have been, and though this stirs buried upsets, it also gives us a chance to grow, and to grow our influence.

The Sabian symbol for the New Moon is, ‘Three Fledglings In A Nest High In A Tree’. The fledglings are the ideas we’ll test, the power assertions we’ll try, and possibly the upsets or buried material we’ll bring out into the open–at this point we’ll see if our new role, efforts, or assertions ‘fly’, or plummet to a quick end–and that will tell us where to put our energies in the immediate future.

I’m offering a seasonal special, here—

New Moon in Taurus May 2018 Earthly Upset

14 Monday May 2018

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

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For ‘Our Fathers’ Godsaga’ by Viktor Rydberg, drawn by John Bauer 1910 {{PD}}

The New Moon perfects at 4:48 AM PDT of the 15th at 24 Taurus 36, within range of conjunction to Sedna, and, despite a relatively large aspect orb, we’ll count the trine of the New Moon to Mars in Capricorn, as the Warrior’s 29 degree placement suggests an assertiveness that can’t be ignored (with its’ current square to Uranus bringing in an element of suddenness or surprise). This may drive the entire NM dynamic, as a must-be-satisfied Mars forces action or decision-making that just so happens to also carry along a deep, denied, and possibly destructive undertone (slightly closer trines to Pluto and Black Moon Lilith, together in Capricorn)–and all this will be happening somewhere deep inside, whispering in the psyche sotto voce, and these may prompt responses from the instincts or those places where we ‘know but don’t know’, leading us in a way most true to our inner angels and demons, rather than in the guise of our conscious choices and intentions.

We add to this a loose semi-square to Juno in Aries, a sextile to Hygeia, and a semi-sextile to Venus; these are likely to be subtle but conflicting influences: one tide in the direction of healthy and loving action, effective moves that promote well-being and that may soothe relationships or finances, with an opposite impulse to have one’s way (originating from a sense of previously having been disrespected), taking that out in small ways in relationships or minor financial indiscretions or petty withholding in either arena.

Scenery of the pond at Shitennō-ji Honbō Park in Osaka, November 2015 Photo by Laitche CC BY-SA 4.0

The Sabian symbol for the New Moon is, ‘A Vast Public Park’. This suggests openness in material matters; Nature shared, resources mutually held, a new state related to these begins. What we hold in common, under a civilized agreement preserving something in a natural state for the benefit of all, takes a new turn. We might ask: how long will that ‘park’ remain a public resource, an environment to share? Replace the word ‘park’ with the appropriate subject related to the NM placement in the natal chart for clues as to where the ‘new start’ may show itself.

It all makes for a kind of earthly upset; could we draw connection to the way Kilauea is splitting open, discharging what’s been below the surface, re-shaping ‘what is’ and the very Earth itself, hot, ‘angry’ (though it’s a bit of a crime to personify Nature that way), spilling forth the destructive and transformative, what ’til now has been hidden, or even denied (as some built their houses amongst the old lava paths)? Sure, we can make the correlation, but for the vast majority of us, we’ll experience this New Moon on a smaller scale and in much more personal ways. The earth may move beneath our feet, opening up to reveal some fairly heady, dangerous stuff, but most likely we’ll experience the New Moon as we experience all extreme points in the Lunar cycle, as an emotional shift, a feeling revelation, a small but vital chance to start over.

And on Uranus’ same-day move into Taurus—

You might want to try this, over at ‘Been There, Done That’