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Category Archives: Parallel and Contraparallels

22 June 2019 Along Parallel Lines

21 Friday Jun 2019

Posted by in astrology, Born Today, current events in the sky, forecast, Parallel and Contraparallels

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‘Rythme, Joie de vivre’ By Robert Delaunay 1930 {{PD}}

Today’s influences are a little bit unusual as we have no bodies creating aspects today, just parallels and contra-parallels, which express relative declination, that is, how far north or south of the ecliptic each of these bodies or points is when compared to one another, from our viewpoint here on Earth. Parallels are alignments at the same declination on the same side (north or south) of the ecliptic, while contra-parallels note bodies or points at the same distance from the ecliptic but in opposing directions (one north, one south).

I think of the influences of parallels as more subtle than direct aspects between bodies. Where the Ptolemaic aspects are like planets holding hands (or punching at) each other, parallels and contraparallels are like planets whispering to each other; what passes between them may affect how they behave, but the influence is only apparent if you’re observant, if you’re able to see the way the mere existence of each, and the appreciation or denigration that passes between them, has made a quiet impact on both.

Right now it’s a matter of beauty and wisdom teaming up, or maybe it’s an indication that what’s rewarding is also smart or practical, and that responding to these markers will positively shape the way forward. What interests us in this beneficial direction may not be supported by the social sphere, or may seem to be contradicted by the facts, and so may stand as a bit of a test, a mind-over-matter situation, or one where we must defy what is in order to make something new, something more closely aligned with our values or ambitions.

(Pallas and Venus parallel each other and NN while contra-parallel Jupiter, Vesta contra-parallel Zeus, Mercury contra-parallel Saturn)

‘Cakes, 1963’ Photo By Pplachigo – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=28954794

For those born with the Sun at 01 Cancer. Check your natal chart for the correct Sun degree (you may want to read both the degree number and the one that follows, if you have minutes on your Sun position–together these offer a more complete picture of your year ahead). Dear Cancer, there’s big promise of emotional harmony for you this coming solar year, through to your next birthday, with the trick to enjoying it being your open support of (and living of) your highest ideals. If the emotional life, or life in general, disappoints, it will be a direct result of you not being clear about what your highest priorities, and what you honor in life, really are. Opportunities are numerous, and specifically come to allow you to modify your current Path–so don’t quibble with the details (a possible big distraction for you–instead, define what’s sacred to you in this world, and then fill your life with it. Good luck!

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17 January 2019 Listening

16 Wednesday Jan 2019

Posted by in astrology, current events in the sky, forecast, Parallel and Contraparallels

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‘The Guitar Player’ By Giovanni Boldini 1873 {{PD}}

A Mini-Lesson on Parallels and Contraparallels

We’ve got a lot of parallels and contra-parallels perfecting today, so maybe it’s time for a reminder of what these are: a parallel is when two or more bodies are on the same side (either north or south) of the celestial equator, also known as the ecliptic, and also at the same declination (distance) from it; a contra-parallel is when two or more bodies are at the same declination from the ecliptic, but on opposite sides, one north and one south. The effect of a parallel is similar to a conjunction, neither positive or negative but joined (though there can be the implication of harmony through enmeshment or lack of differentiation), with all the potentials that might bring, while a contra-parallel mimics an opposition in effect. I like to think of parallels and contra-parallels as being more subtle than the aspects they echo, with, for example, a conjunction of Mars and Uranus shouting, ‘Here we are, together, raising hell!’ and a parallel of the two being more like a whisper, ‘Psst, over here–are you mad, erratic, spontaneous, aggressive, have a can-do spirit? Go!’ The conjunction is there, in your face, and the parallel is subliminal, barely discernible–unless you’re looking for it.

Today we’re looking toward the arenas where we hold power and authority, toward Self-expression through familiar territory–somehow it feels important, like it’s the smart thing to do, and may pay off–but our actions and choices aren’t smart or practical–in fact, they’re downright unhealthy in some way. We might want to stop for just a moment and ask ourselves why it feels so important to us to have an impact right now–are we feeling invisible, rebellious, destructive, or deliberately ignored? None of those are a good basis on which to make decisions. Listen carefully; there’s inner knowing available, the kind that can tell you exactly which facet of things needs transforming in order to provide reward, profit, Love, or to honor relationships–and in the end, that’s what really matters, isn’t it?

(Pallas contra-parallel Hygeia, Mars parallel Hygeia and contra-parallel Pallas, as well as Mars semi-sq Sedna, Venus semi-sq Pallas and nov Pluto, Sun sxt Ceres)

4 October 2018 The Need For Balance

03 Wednesday Oct 2018

Posted by in astrology, current events in the sky, forecast, Parallel and Contraparallels

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

First, a quick refresher: parallels and contra-parallels occur when two or more bodies are at the same declination (distance) both on one side of the ecliptic (a parallel), or one north, the other south (contra-parallel), as observed from Earth. The parallel emphasizes a harmony between the bodies comparable to a conjunction, while the contra-parallel resembles an opposition. We have a number of these perfecting today; I imagine it as one of those laser set-ups the jewel thief has to stealthily navigate. Breaking the beam won’t set off any alarms, but may cause a wee internal panic, sending our attention off in less-than-productive directions–and who needs that?

We may find ourselves measuring our empowerment and our options to express ourselves in proportion to the current state of health; the best thing we can glean from this urge is to see the ways we may hobble ourselves, or the assumptions about ability we might make, based on our perceptions of our physical state. We are a bit haunted by our usual assumptions, even: we may see it as choosing to be courageous or practical and ignore our physical Beingness, or to honor the wound and so build efforts around not disturbing it. Neither is a winning course, but recognizing the need for balance, and finding and pairing complementary energies, is.

Seeing the worth of the Will while not necessarily bowing to it is important, as is valuing all that we can do (as opposed to mooning over what’s out of our reach at present). Our mantra today may be Beauty In Action; opportunity and ‘the facts’ both become clear and offer clever ways to claim our territory, exercise our Will, and prompt us to successfully negotiate rather than demand or struggle over.

(Perfecting today: Juno parallel Hygeia, both contra-parallel the Sun, Chiron contra-parallel Pallas, Venus parallel Mars, Jupiter nov Ceres)

26 June 2018 Ears to the Ground

25 Monday Jun 2018

Posted by in astrology, current events in the sky, forecast, Mars Retrograde, Parallel and Contraparallels, The Daily Word Image

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Vincent van Gogh – ‘Self-portrait with bandaged ear’ 1889 {{PD}}

Look, as I foresee it, we’re really going to see or feel Mars retrograde today, specifically because he does so parallel to Saturn; that introduces a material or tangible effect, possibly via a withdrawal of energy that has physical consequences. But, and this is really important: today is a day for listening, reasoning, planning, or signing (as long as that signature isn’t the go-ahead for a physical project, rather than a purchase or agreement–which purchase or agreement could, with a little adjustment, be a dream come true as Venus moves toward quincunx with Neptune). Intel comes to us, and matters ignored or denied don’t get in our way–just keep your ears to the ground, and highest values in mind, when going about your business. Watch out, though, for a little something in the moment that seems harmless, even celebratory, but that could be very hard on the health (Mercury contra-parallel Mars and Saturn, opp Black Moon Lilith, qnx Vesta, Sun sq Hygeia).

Today’s word image is a question: What condition from the past is back in your life, and is your current response in any way mirroring old conditions? If so, you’ll need to consciously work to let them go, to remind yourself, until it takes, that things are different, now.

There’s a new page on Lilith (ECLIPSE Readers may recognize it from a 2014 issue, with slight alterations).

Just a Little AstroEssence 31 August 2017 In the Waters

30 Wednesday Aug 2017

Posted by in astrology, current events in the sky, forecast, Horoscope, Parallel and Contraparallels, The Daily Word Image

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‘Tree of Life’ by Oscar Soteno on display at the Museum of Artes Populares in Mexico City. Photo By Alejandro Linares Garcia – Own work, GFDL, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8335002

There are a lot of swift-moving currents today, and we should expect to be tossed around a bit as we encounter them. The most telling and difficult to navigate may be the most pervasive pairing, that of a parallel between Jupiter and Neptune. A parallel, as we know, is when two bodies are the same distance from and on the same side of (that is, north or south of) the celestial equator. Parallels act like conjunctions, yes, but they’re more subtle than that; I think of the two energies as unique but diffuse, as if each permeates the other, creating a third vibe that runs below the conscious surface of things. It’s as if we got Jupiter in our Neptune, and Neptune all over our Jupiter! That suggests a handful of potentials: expanded creativity or imagination or hallucination/ delusion, possibly broadcast publicly; the social sphere gone daft, operating on a total fiction; misguided or misunderstood beliefs, teachings, or optimism; exaggerated misperceptions; an inability to get a handle on beliefs or ‘the facts’, with the many disasters or serendipities that may ripple out from that.

What else is in the waters? (Waters, with Ceres, Chiron, Neptune, and Earth in Water signs at present, guaranteeing we will see and feel transit effects, no matter how generated.) We may see a reality picture that has difficulty accepting Nature or the requirements of authorities, with those rebelling violating their own highest values and standards; they’re spurred on by unacknowledged anger or denial, or an inability to truly value what they actually have. In trying to avoid hurt they reject instinct, believing the mind is more accurate–but have they not heard Merc’s not only retro, he’s retreated into Leo and parallel the Sun, circumstances in which he may be overwhelmed with a reflexive Self-interest? Possibly a highly difficult day, made better if we muster creativity, look outward at least as much as we look within, and don’t fight the reality picture, but try to work within it; those measures will help us channel efforts most effectively, and prevent too much useless kicking and kvetching.

‘The Day Dream’ 1880 by Dante Gabriel Rossetti {{PD}}

Today’s word image is last night’s dream. Recently (not necessarily the night of the 30th to 31st) you have been presented with a dream image that was confounding and that really stuck with you. Watch for those elements that make up the image in your real life, and take your message from both literal and symbolic meanings that may come forward (for me this involves a move back in time and a mouse!)

If you enjoy the blog on a regular basis, please consider offering support through a donation or book purchase–and no matter what you do, have a wonderful day!

31 March 2016 Parallel Goals

30 Wednesday Mar 2016

Posted by in astrology, current events in the sky, Parallel and Contraparallels, The Daily Word Image

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'Harvest' Zinaida Serebryakova 1914 {{PD}}

‘Harvest’ Zinaida Serebryakova 1914 {{PD}}

We may find ourselves working alongside others, each with completely different goals, but somehow complementary in our actions, so that there is a kind of harmonious interlocking of purposes and aims. Others’ moves buoy ours, and we help them, without really taking any independent actions in support; it seems that in pursuing our own goals we aid others’ pursuit of theirs–at the most we may help by agreeing to something or doing something that costs us nothing, but makes a difference for them, and they may do the same for us.

It seems as if the world is one big coordinated mechanism and each of us a cog within it. Authorities aid us and we find we have just the right sliver of power to aid them; our uniqueness finds a smart form of expression, and this benefits more than just ourselves; relationships and financial positives offer personal empowerment and the ability to right a wrong or two (though beware of tackling anything you’re personally angry about–our magic touch deserts us under such conditions); and we find creative and harmonious ways to think about and speak for both ourselves and the group, with instincts vetting and supporting successful and unique Self-expression. Sounds like a pretty good day, doesn’t it? (Ceres sxt Sedna, Uranus parallel Pallas, conjoined and parallel Merc, both nov Neptune and Mercury parallel Sedna, Venus parallel Juno and qnx BML)

Photo by Julie Demboski All Rights Reserved

Photo by Julie Demboski All Rights Reserved

Today’s word image is a stubborn, deep-rooted, self-perpetuating daisy that grows so vigorously it smothers other plants. Sometimes despite something’s utility or easy beauty or aggressively ‘helpful’ stance we must rid ourselves of it; we must be the guardians of balance in the figurative garden of our minds, our lives.

Contra-Indicators: 8-12 October 2015

07 Wednesday Oct 2015

Posted by in astrology, current events in the sky, Parallel and Contraparallels

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Carrières de Lumières (English: Quarries of Lights), Les Baux-de-Provence. An old bauxite mine now a tourist attraction and art space in the Val d'Enfer. Taken 2013-09. Date 23 September 2013, by Rhododendrites Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported

Carrières de Lumières (English: Quarries of Lights), Les Baux-de-Provence. An old bauxite mine now a tourist attraction and art space in the Val d’Enfer. Taken 2013-09.
Date 23 September 2013, by Rhododendrites Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported

Contraparallels are the aspects of the week, it seems; this is when two bodies or points are at the same degree of declination with one north of the celestial equator, one south (see an excellent summary of the potential meaning of this here.) This aspect creates a kind of ‘force field’, but one that over time actually pushes the intent or action of the bodies in opposing directions. You’ve probably experienced this in reaction to someone else: the air is charged when the two of you are together, but not necessarily with a sense of attraction; in these instances we note that a repelling energy is as compelling as a more harmonious one. A contraparallel suggests a state of electrified awareness that grabs our attention and can be interpreted by the individual, and so acted on, in an endless number of ways.

With one exception, each of the coming days, through Monday the 12th, features one or more contraparallels that may describe real-world effects more accurately  than any of the perfecting aspects. We start with Thursday the 8th: we may act in contradiction to our ideals, values, and dreams, trashing what we care about, including relationships, and we might blame that on some seed planted by retro Mercury in Libra conjuncting the North Node, which almost guarantees that the problem is seated in some wrong-headed notion about the future of our relationships that we decide to embrace. Illusions can be heady things; we need to see that all ‘creative’ ideas aren’t necessarily equal. (Mars and Venus contraparallel both Vesta and Neptune, Mercury conjunct NN)

By Friday the 9th we may find ourselves in denial about some past hurt or, more perversely, in denial of some skill we’ve shown plenty of aptitude for in the past but now insist we don’t have. We do, however, find a good balance between outgoing energies and incoming ones, within male-female (or dominant-submissive, or animus-anima) relationships (hint: look to a combination of matters of the Houses ruled by Mars and Venus to see where harmony will prevail or cooperation will flourish, despite a rocky relationship or financial past). (Chiron contraparallel the South Node, Venus parallel Mars and quincunx the South Node)

Saturday the 10th comes pre-packaged shining a light on our ambitions and desires, and we can see how to make them happen–it’s just that reality, the material world/ circumstances, or actual physical circumstances encourage our rebellion–or is it our originality?–as a valid response. The test is this: if our response broadens our own or another’s understanding, then it’s the right one. (Sun conjunct and parallel Zeus, and semi-square, and  contraparallel Uranus, Earth in corresponding ‘reverse’ aspect to all the Sun’s contacts, and Mercury once again conjunct the NN)

Sunday the 11th is the exception. Though relationships and/ or the ego may still be smarting from choices that didn’t respect our own standards and values, we have the chance to recover, to heal, if we’re open to both opportunity and change–or maybe that’s opportunity that we can only take advantage of if we’ll allow or instigate change. Conceding that adjustments are needed, along with a respect for the needs of the group, may open the way for real transformation, on both a big (societal) and small (individual) scale. (Jupiter trine Pluto, Venus quincunx Vesta, Sun quincunx Chiron and opposed Uranus)

Monday the 12th, real-world opportunities present themselves, and we would be wise to take them; only rebelliousness in the relationship or financial realms, resistance to the social sphere, or an ego that resents what the instincts are telling us, can sink this chance for making positive, expansive changes to our world. (Pallas parallel Jupiter and Earth, contraparallel the Sun, Venus sesquiquadrate Uranus, Sun contraparallel Sedna)

I’ve got three books on asteroids available, and one on relationships; find out how each one works in your life–Thanks, and have a great week/end!