Category Archives: Retrogrades + Directions

This ‘n That, On The Way to the Lunar Eclipse of 30 November 2020

Featured

Posted by in astrology, Configurations, current events in the sky, eclipse, Full Moon, Lunar Eclipse, Retrogrades + Directions, Sabian Symbols

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , , , , , ,

By Étienne Léopold Trouvelot 1882 Buy prints of his extraordinary work at https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/the-trouvelot-astronomical-drawings-1882

The upcoming eclipse is a Full Moon at 8 Gemini 38 at 1:26 AM PST of the 30th, and as with every Full Moon, we’re likely already feeling a building tension, attached to some matter either in the natal House where the eclipse occurs, or in some Lunar-related area of our lives (and that can be something involving your Lunar placement, something ruled by the Moon in the natal chart, or a Lunar topic in general, such as mothering, intuition, or nurture). This one, though, being an eclipse, brings a wipe-out to some kind of thinking that has become outmoded, shakes up ideas or perceptions, likely through difficult, unusual, shocking events, because of assertions by ‘the group’, or through accidents, serendipities, or sudden insights provided by Higher Mind (the Sun, which is of course opposed the eclipse and the illuminator of the Moon, quincunx to Uranus). With Full Moon events we alter our thinking or perceptions because of emotional or intuitive ‘enlightenment’ of one kind or another.

The eclipse is apex to a loose Fist of God with base of Pluto-Zeus, suggesting that eclipse revelations (another Uranian concept!) may bring resolution to conflicts between ambitions and desires (Zeus) and matters of Power (Pluto), now held, recently lost, or currently sought. It’s an equation arising from clashes, upset as catalyst to an answer that doesn’t just allow emotional satisfaction or relief, but that changes how we think, how we process ideas of Power and our own wants, as well.

If we really want to be loose with our numbers (and who doesn’t, once in a while, in the name of recognizing the flow of energy?) we can find the eclipse as part of the base of a Finger of God with a wide sextile to Chiron, apex a Venus that’s not really quincunx Chiron, but is linked via the Lunar event. The Finger implies if we can heal something about our own ego, our expression of Will, our actions and choices (which might mean forgiving ourselves for something we’ve done), or heal some concept we have around our own aloneness, whether literal or existential (all Aries, linked to Chiron’s current location), and do this in tandem with or prompted by eclipse events, then we can harmonize some schism, unite in relationship or via aesthetics, or discover some vital Truth (Venus in Scorpio).

Our Sabian for the Full Moon is, ‘A Quiver Filled With Arrows‘. The events of this eclipse arm us, give us plenty of chances to ‘hit the target’; whatever occurs, then, offers a kind of resource, something that facilitates our own activity. The Sun, light-giver and reason for the apparent eclipse phenomenon in the first place, has the Sabian, ‘A Mother Leads Her Small Child Step By Step Up A Steep Stairway’. Are we the mother, or the small child? I see this as the Universe being the mother, showing us the way, assisting us as we try to do better, as we try to climb. That means, then, that if you are knocked back a bit by eclipse events, that the larger flow is telling you that whatever you were trying or after isn’t for you–at least not right now. Taking a warning is always better than ignoring one, wouldn’t you agree?

For a little something on possible effects of eclipse contact to your natal chart, you can take a look here–

Before the Eclipse

The 25th-29th brings hurtful thinking (or possibly thinking that works at solving the kinks inherent to utilizing our skills), but also circumstances that firmly support our personal authority and expression, and this sets a success dynamic in place through the eclipse. If we dwell on slights we short-circuit the positive impetus, but if we examine hurt in light of how to heal, how to prevent further damage, and/ or for the part we played in its creation, we empower ourselves significantly, and open the door to both skill utilization and surrounding conditions that facilitate our intents.

Look at it like this: there’s a lot of good mojo available to those who 1) aren’t afraid of their own power, and at the same time willingly embrace genuine responsibility (and that latter is as opposed to saying one is responsible but not actually dealing with a matter); 2) those who actively value the most original and unique parts of themselves (and by extension, who accept those things in others); 3) who wield power in areas that are specifically appropriate to who and what they are (in the largest, Universal sense, not in the worldly ‘labels and qualifications’ kind); and 4) those who are both honest with themselves AND able to listen to instincts (being honest means the instincts are indeed instincts–not wishful thinking or personal propaganda–and so can be trusted). Center efforts on something meaningful to you at a Soul level, and you just might make significant progress at this time.

During this period we also see Neptune turn around in his home sign of Pisces (late afternoon PST of the 28th)–and he does so poised to make his first contact (excluding Lunar ones) by square to the Nodal axis. That suggests we all might get a dose of reality through our efforts to either move forward (NN), resolve the past (SN), or in trying to maintain continuity of past circumstances into the future (SN/NN axis). Generally, this direction should ‘lift the fog’, or otherwise allow more access to the creative (but also, make the pitfalls of the deceptive or deceitful more prominent, and so more difficult to recognize, as well).

Have yourself a merry little Thanksgiving!

This Weekend 13-16 November 2020 Invest

Featured

Posted by in astrology, current events in the sky, forecast, Retrogrades + Directions, Weekend Astrology

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

,

‘Le Bal des Marins‘ By
Eugène Jansson 1912 {{PD}}

It’s Friday the 13th and Mars stations direct! At long last, the Warrior resumes apparent forward motion. Direction happens without any direct contact to other bodies–and so may feel disconnected from surrounding events. That is, we may feel a ‘loosening up’ of energy and a resumption of forward motion, especially in matters of the House in the natal chart where Mars is currently transiting and in matters of the natal House Mars rules, but otherwise these may not connect to current happenings in our lives. At this point it may be a ‘So what? That doesn’t help!’ feeling, or one where the potentials for gaining momentum remain theoretical, for now.

And what does this mean, happening on Friday the 13th? Absolutely nothing! Our numbering of the days isn’t related to anything, other than the whole ‘365 in a year, and a leap day once every 4 years’, marking the actual movement of the planet around the Sun. Other than that, the numbering of days, as well as the naming of days of the week, are simply human constructs, and hold no meaning. The reality is, if you look for negative events, anticipating something because of an arbitrary negative designation, you will surely find them–but that in no way suggests that the designation is the cause of the negative event.

The 13th also promises rewards, if we play it right, and offers one pitfall. The pitfall first: rigidity in values expression and/ or in thinking can be misleading and cause unwise decisions (Mercury sesq Neptune, Vesta sesq Pallas). And the rewards? Those are obtained by valuing the future (acting with the idea that you’re building what’s to come–Venus trine NN), exercising creative agency (Neptune trine Juno), and by adding the unique voice and viewpoint in those areas where your commitment is solid (Uranus trine Vesta). Overall for today, take a positive attitude, one where you’re willing to invest in what really matters–and let everything else go.

On the 14th the rubber meets the road, as they say, and that promises that, if we remain focused on positive and productive change that centers on ambition fulfillment, we get very good results (Sun sxt Pluto and Jupiter, Venus conj Zeus). Those ambitions you’ve put genuine and legitimate work into will pay off–if you don’t get the expected benefit, you can be sure it’s because you only thought what you were doing was an adequate investment–let this be your warning that something in your thinking, assessment capability, or method must change (Mercury sesq NN).

Too, what has changed of late will be glaringly apparent–the Sun spotlights things so they can’t be missed (unless all our energy goes into not seeing)–so be invested in responding to this ‘new’ reality, rather than trying to cling to the past.

The 15th brings conflict in relationships or over finances (Venus sq Pluto and Jupiter). We may find transformed circumstances that call for our sensitive and responsive-to realities adjustment. Our choices are: face the need for changes, or set up a stand-off. Be aware of a couple of things: thinking is off right now, influenced by hurt and so alienated from our highest values–meaning judgment at this time is off, as well; and what’s smart will be highlighted, pointed out to us, or otherwise be prominent–so take the hint (Mercury qnx Chiron and contra-parallel Vesta, Sun sxt Pallas).

By the 16th we have to face it: some facet of our financial stance or in our attitude in one or more relationships has to change; allow values to guide, in spite of the way they may point out how we’ve been at fault (Venus sq Pallas and semi-sq Vesta).

Post on the New Moon of the 14th to follow tomorrow.

Mercury Retrograde 13 October 2020 Feeling It

Featured

Posted by in astrology, Consciousness Explored, current events in the sky, forecast, future events in the sky, Mercury, Mercury Direction, Mercury retrograde, Retrogrades + Directions, Sun/Mercury Inferior Conjunction, Transits and Cycles

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

,

The Messenger (and Trickster) enters apparent retrograde motion at 6:05 PM PDT of the 13th at 11 Scorpio 40–and his first move will be to reapply by opposition to Uranus, which is also retrograde. That aspect last perfected on the 7th, and perhaps offers a glimpse into this Water (Scorpio) into Air (Libra) cycle.

‘Mercury Sent to Admonish Aeneas’ By JMW Turner http://www.artuk.org/artworks/mercury-sent-to-admonish-aeneas-202360 {{PD}}

Mercury always means review: re-visiting, re-considering, reflecting, and perhaps going over plans or making plans to ‘try again’. We start that period in emotional, intuitive Water, and will initially be asking ourselves, “What am I feeling, and what do I think about that?”

In Scorpio this kind of review involves digging, getting to or acknowledging secrets, assessing our feelings about change and determining what further change we might want. It also encompasses those situations where Power is in play, and any relationships or situations where passions have been stirred, or betrayals have occurred (and remember, the concept of betrayal is seldom objective, when it comes to personal interactions–often it can be a matter of perspective, and this retrograde may bring consciousness of this to the fore).

With the re-visit to the Uranus opposition the first aspect, we may find that something we ‘knew’ (especially something Higher Mind or academically. i.e. fact-oriented) is overturned. We are likely to be surprised by some discovery we make, or shocked at something we witness, perpetrated by others in our direction or by ourselves unexpectedly, that latter as we ‘explode’ from accumulated pressures or act erratically in a bid for freedom. It could be that we wrap our minds around some spiritual concept for the first time (something we may have sensed or ‘known’ but been unable to put into mental forms like words), or we may find that accident illuminates our feelings about something–and so changes our perceptions.

House matters that come forward for this retrograde always have the chance of involving the subjects and energies of the natal Houses Mercury rules, and we must typically add to this the House where Mercury is currently transiting. That gives you some idea of where to be on the lookout for change, research, and re-thinking, as well as the potential ‘surprise’ factor of this particular retrograde, and can offer a head start if you know present circumstances in one or more of these realms are dicey.

The Inferior Conjunction of the Sun and Mercury (‘Inferior’ referring to Mercury’s retrograde status) occurs around the 25th-26th of October, marks a point I would characterize as a ‘birth’ point, where some attitude or mental choice takes form and perhaps is decided upon or simply becomes conscious, and this is based on what’s been revealed so far during the retro. Just remember not to act, yet.

Fountain with head of Mercury on Mercury Street in Pompeii watercolor by Luigi Bazzani from the book “Pompeii”, by Amedeo Maiuri (Pompeii superintendent from 1924-1961) {{PD}}

We re-align our passions, explore what we’ve been hesitant to think about or to really know what we feel about it, and then Mercury retros into Libra–and all the focus moves to our relationships, or, less probably, to financial or aesthetic matters. This occurs in the final few days of October, and is characterized by a back-and-forth square of Mercury to Saturn, which happens one more time after Mercury turns direct (on November 3rd, with the final square very close the 4th-7th).

This back-end bookends the retro period with a hard reality check for each of us, concerning all that we’ve reviewed and concluded over the cycle. Our present realities, as well as any boundaries, limitations, and requirements of duty or obligation come into direct conflict with at least some facet of our thinking–and this is a good thing, meant to show us where we might have slipped into thinking that doesn’t take into account where we really are or what we’re actually surrounded by or must deal with.

Use this retro period to see where you can transform the thinking or perceptions about those things you feel passionate about, have an overwhelming curiosity over, or need to investigate for what’s been hidden from you, and how this can constructively be applied to relationships with those you care about–and be ready for revelation, that can spin the whole game in another direction. The usual admonitions apply, with no signing or buying of major items, unless you’ve already pre-retro thoroughly inspected conditions and agree to them, and with the expectation that any agreements reached or conclusions drawn will likely need review or revision after Mercury goes direct.

Pluto Grinds Into Gear

Featured

Posted by in astrology, Cardinal Activity, current events in the sky, Finger of God, Retrogrades + Directions, T-Square

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , ,

Pluto spends so much time retrograde each and every year (roughly six months) that it tends, in whatever direction it’s exhibiting apparent movement, to become like background noise, a steady, grating grind, often convincing us that the conditions it offers are unavoidable, inevitable, ‘just the way it is’, simply because they take shape and then, because of Pluto’s snail-quick movement, stay that way. This is especially true at points of retrograde and direction; the circumstances around both Power and Change seem cemented in place, even as deep and scary changes well beyond our control appear unavoidable. So, simultaneous feelings of being stuck, accompanied by a sense that all will soon be flung into chaos from massive change.

At this point in time, ‘America’s Laxative’ might be exactly what Pluto is! Antique bottle of “Pluto Water” from French Lick Springs. From a display of memorabilia and antiques at the West Baden Springs hotel, French Lick Indiana.
Photo by Geoffrey A. Landis CC BY-SA 3.0

This time, the first aspect it makes after direction will almost be inadvertent; as Pluto shifts its apparent direction (while still at the same 22 Capricorn 29 position), Mars in retrograde motion in its own sign of Aries slips toward a square, perfecting on the 9th of October–and what do we get from Cardinal squares? Action! Change! And no small amount of conflict, fiery pushes to express, and temper. It’s almost as if these two don’t mean to meet, as neither is in actual forward motion–and that can imply that the conflicts engendered aren’t ones we look for, but stem instead from more compartmentalized energies that happen to find themselves at odds. BUT, Mars will be moving retro, and Pluto will still be at the station position–and that could signal regressive upsets (that is, ones springing up, re-ignited, from the past), old territory of resentments, grievances, and Will thwarted, clashing with an entrenched power position or entity that is both immovable and seemingly permanent–yet here is the lesson of a square: that the particulars, the specific circumstances of each body, speak of the actual situation from which the conflict will arise–so that the anger may have a difficult time knowing where to go, that actions may be timid or find us ‘holding back’, and that the stock-still and apparently impenetrable nature of power matters at present is not at all the reality–things are on the brink of changing.

We may get some of the story, of both the square repercussions and the overall disposition of energies, if we examine a few other contacts on and around the 9th. At that point we actually see Zeus in Libra step in opposed Mars, forming a tight T-square with our heroes just as their contact reaches perfection. That implies that what we see aflame will be fueled by frustrations or denials around ambitions and desires. We also see that Pluto will be quincunx, Mars sextile, and Zeus trine the North Node=creation of our future comes directly from pursuing those ambitions, with success dependent on how well we adjust to and are able to modify the power situation, or to create change or even to change ourselves.

But perhaps most telling about the atmosphere may be a Finger of God with base of Venus-Juno, apex Chiron. This suggests that for each of us the power situation may feel very personal, but that with some effort, we can actually heal some significant facet of things (and this is so no matter the frustrations of the square/ T-square, though we should note, these matters aren’t necessarily the same–they could exist in two completely separate situations). We use our talents, our assets, what we care about, our relationships, or our values, applying them to the power we currently hold, even if that power seems inadequate to address a larger situation. (This is one of those times when doing what we can ends up multiplying its effect, being far more potent than we imagine possible). Putting into action what we have, doing what we can, opens the door to healing a personal wound (Chiron in Aries) around the Self, the identity, the ability to act as an individual, and around expression of the Will. Sound familiar? This may be a further expression of what occurred at the recent Full Moon, building (Pluto in Capricorn) on new, different, necessary changes to the power landscape, ones that will in time reveal Truth, and in doing so offer transformation of one kind or another to each individual.

Good Day To . . . 28 September 2020 Out of Love

Featured

Posted by in astrology, current events in the sky, forecast, Retrogrades + Directions, Saturn

≈ Comments Off on Good Day To . . . 28 September 2020 Out of Love

Tags

, , ,

‘The Triumphs of Caesar, 5. The Elephants’ By Andrea Mantegna c1490 {{PD}}

The 28th Is A Good Day To . . . adjust our surroundings so that the figurative elephant sitting on our figurative chest doesn’t drain us of creativity or make us so tired and distracted that we do something rash. That elephant is Saturn stationing direct, and it may seem that the state we find ourselves in will last forever, but it won’t, so know that anything uncomfortable, that restricts or binds us, or that appears to block or deny us something, will pass, and so will in some way a situation that seems secure or a state that seems permanent. In these latter circumstances, it becomes about awareness that time itself is change, and that we must appreciate what we have even as we know it will become something else someday, just like we will.

The one thing working really, really well today is a female-male kind of dynamic, anything where complementary energies can cooperate or work together, thanks to Venus trine Mars. This can translate in many ways, including taking the right actions in Love or Money, making a move to gain, profiting from our choice, or doing out of Love. Strangely enough, we might also see aggression stirred in competition for Love or Money, or a ‘Me First’ grab for assets or rewards, with Mars in Aries. But, we also have Venus in Leo, suggesting that any move toward absconding with assets or taking ‘too much’ could muster a fiery defense of the need to share, or the right of the original owner to keep their fair share–so don’t worry, Venus will defend herself! Moving in the positive ways that we can and doing what we’re empowered to right now will take our focus off the places where we may be temporarily stuck, and help us relax in that area that, just for now, is refusing to budge from the current status quo (Thanks, Saturn!)

A Good Day To . . . is based on the aspects perfecting on each day, Pacific time.

Good Day To . . . 12 September 2020 Big Opportunity–Jupiter Direct

Featured

Posted by in astrology, current events in the sky, forecast, Jupiter, Retrogrades + Directions

≈ Comments Off on Good Day To . . . 12 September 2020 Big Opportunity–Jupiter Direct

Tags

, , ,

‘Jupiter’ By Hans Thoma {{PD}}

The 12th Is A Good Day To . . . see that the powers-that-be are offering you something good–it might take a little effort, a little hard work, but you’re being dealt into the game–and to refuse to play, for whatever reason, will be like shooting yourself in the foot–you can blame it on someone else, but you picked up the gun and pulled the trigger. It’s a day when you really don’t want any of the typical excuses we as individuals use to avoid engagement with others, that stop us uncritically applying ourselves, or that make us feel righteous in withdrawing from the social expectations or larger public arena, from ruining what could be a genuine and highly fruitful opportunity. We have to be ready to accept new ideas into our thought-bubble, to adapt to fresh information or surprises, to proactively shape the aftermath of an accident or revelation to make the most of it–but doing so will benefit us in large and largely unanticipated ways.

So much of this is connected to Jupiter’s turnaround in Capricorn, freeing up the generous impulses of those empowered by the status quo, benefiting those who follow the rules (or those who previously balked at them, and now find the rules are changing in their favor). The first aspect Jupiter will move forward to form is a sextile to Neptune, signaling that it’s the season for creative endeavor, especially when that’s centered in hard work and serious effort, but also that it may be easy to succumb to the fabled ‘alternative facts’ if we aren’t committed to reality in an unbiased way.

A Good Day To . . . is based on the aspects perfecting on each day, Pacific time.

See discussion of the recent Mars retrograde here–

Good Day To . . . 9 September 2020 Mars Retrograde: Inside the Vehicle

Featured

Posted by in astrology, current events in the sky, forecast, Mars Retrograde, Retrogrades + Directions, T-Square, Voids

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

, , , ,

Alexandre Louis – Album de photo de Marcel Louis 1910 {{PD}}

The 9th Is A Good Day To . . . keep your limbs and head inside the car! Were you ever driving along on a road trip that seemed to last forever, driving, driving, and idly put your hand out the window to watch it caught and buffeted by the wind, and had an adult (for you were only a child, just trying to stay occupied) yell at you, ‘Get your arms inside this car! Do you want them cut off as we pass that truck?!’ That’s this Mars retro in a nutshell: the perpetual threat of sudden limb (or is it head?) loss, over re-visiting recent issues surrounding temper, aggression, assertion, recent choices or actions, or Will. The vehicle is ourselves, and Mars is the fuel, deploying it the issue. And of course, losing your Aries-ruled noggin can have two forms: one is if others come at us and ‘take our heads off’ over something, and the other is if we lose control of ourselves. Both are distinct possibilities.

I like to look at the point when a body officially turns retrograde, as it seems to give us a snapshot of what the course of the retro promises (particularly what the early part holds in store). This happens at 3:23 PM PDT of the 9th at 28 Aries 08, but we’ve probably already gotten a preview as Mars slowed to a crawl then standstill in recent days. Late in Aries, his own sign, Mars is likely already beginning to chafe without the anticipated retro; the stress of reaching the end of the window for perfect personal expression, the kind that recognizes no boundaries and no need for cooperation or thought of others, and having that window shut (sending Mars into Taurus, a realm where Will matters not nearly so much as material reality and security) would have in any case have been causing excessive unrest, especially if one is feeling that the ‘I Am’ statements or expression of the Will hasn’t been as complete or successful as hoped. So, there would be a bit of an issue anyway, and along comes apparent retro status to offer the dissatisfied and over-anxious a chance to re-visit choices and efforts–which situation inevitably adds its own stress, as individuals feel the pressure of just one more chance to get ‘it’ right.

Mars is itself Void at this point, as it would make no other aspects (though we do observe that the Moon would soon sextile it, it matters not, as the Moon, too, would be Void by then). Void status adds a huge amount of stress as it signals energy in stasis, a status doubly difficult for a Self-starter like Mars. The implication is that while traversing the sign a Void body did all it could in that sign–and now must wait for a new ‘style’ (the next sign) to once again find expression. Mars, then, begins his retro highly frustrated–and looking for outlets.

The first aspect made by the retrograde body seems to ‘set the tone’ for the retro period. Here it’s an opposition to Juno in Libra that suggests empowerment within partnership or cooperative arrangements will face a climax or crisis point, when who has the ‘right’ (a very Aries word!) to do what within the situation is sorted out. Straightforward enough, yes? Then we see a quincunx to the Sun on the 19th, suggesting what’s been revealed so far during the retro requires adjustment to what we pay attention to, matters of identity, or both. Right after the Sun moves into Libra (relationships are great! isn’t everything pretty? don’t we all get along wonderfully!?) and less than a week after the quincunx Mars conjoins the Black Moon Lilith point, suggesting that our optimism about working it all out with others may have been overly rosy, premature, or just plain wishful thinking.

But it’s the next thing, a Cardinal T-square with Mars-BML opposed Mercury and all square Saturn in Capricorn, that brings it all home. Those things about our choices or actions that we’ve ignored, been in denial about, or that have been perpetrated out of suppressed rage (or that have stirred rage in others) is communicated from without (probably directly from others with whom we are in relationships or cooperative arrangements–Merc in Libra), and it makes for real-world conflict (especially with authorities or established entities that are seen as ‘legitimate’ or supported by the status quo), crises over boundaries, restrictions, or rules, or bottom-line practicalities we can’t get around that may generate ‘next steps’ and/ or arise from our actions and others’ reactions to them.

By Nasjonalbiblioteket from Norway – Livet paa Mars / Life on Mars, No restrictions, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=60741535

So, hands, arms, and especially heads inside the car; know that your ‘drive’, whether literal or figurative, needs special care and attention, particularly when it comes to interaction and responsibilities shared with others. Being honest with ourselves about our own and others’ prerogatives, territory, and motivations will go a long way toward keeping us safely on the road, avoiding any fiery, temper-induced upsets.

If it’s any consolation, on the 9th the Sun also trines Jupiter=reach out, take opportunities, be optimistic, learn from what comes at you, and enjoy the day. We’ll have plenty of others that will be not-so-smooth, so rest and celebrate while and what you can.

A Good Day To . . . is based on the aspects perfecting on each day, Pacific time.

A Good Day To . . . 12 July 2020 Dare to Be Wise

11 Saturday Jul 2020

Posted by in astrology, current events in the sky, forecast, Mercury Direction, Retrogrades + Directions

≈ Comments Off on A Good Day To . . . 12 July 2020 Dare to Be Wise

Tags

, , ,

Man with a full back tattoo, ‘Michael and the Dragon’, adapted from Die Bibel in Bildern (Revelation) engraving. Enlightenment motto “Sapere aude” is tattooed in the upper back, meaning ‘Dare to know’ or ‘Dare to be wise’. Tatoo: Anton Ivkin, Photograph: Alexander Kuzovlev CC BY-SA 4.0

The 12th Is A Good Day To . . . make important plans, and to get very clear on what you want. Mercury goes direct in Cancer, and the Sun trines Neptune, freeing the mind so that suddenly it all falls into place. By ‘all’ I mean what you care about, and with the Sun’s spotlight on our ideals, our dreams, and our creative goals, we’ll be able to picture exactly where we want to go, and probably how to get there, as well. But, there are a couple of cautions: don’t share with the social order–they won’t offer support; the facts may not seem to support your aims right now, but don’t worry, they will eventually; and don’t think that somehow what we might refer to as ‘The Laws of Wisdom’ are suspended at this point–what you know to be wise or smart still needs to be taken into consideration with your planning and prepping. But otherwise, dream, love, create, and visualize away!

A Good Day To . . . is based on the aspects perfecting on each day, Pacific time.

A Bit of This Week: 22-25 June 2020

23 Tuesday Jun 2020

Posted by in astrology, current events in the sky, forecast, Neptune Retrograde, Retrogrades + Directions, Venus Direction

≈ Comments Off on A Bit of This Week: 22-25 June 2020

Tags

, , , ,

‘Le Palais Contarini’ By Claude Monet 1908 {{PD}}

In the Near Future It’s Good To . . . be ready to adjust and re-adjust our stances on just about everything. The big news on the 22nd was Neptune stationing retrograde and likely removing at least a couple layers of fog, misperception, misdirection, and/ or deception. This switch will point out over the course of the retrograde what dreams we can realistically move toward, which we must nix, and which need more attention, modification, or creative input in order to be viable, and may also offer a reality check on an ideal or two. This is longer-term, and so likely to be delivered by moving aspects to the chart related to natal Neptune or the transiting body to other natal points, which can help pinpoint when the influence may come forward in the life, and can indicate which life areas might see the clearing skies.

As with all the ‘heavier’ bodies, Neptune moves very slowly at direction and regression points, and so may leave the impression that this is the state of Neptune-tinged areas permanently, but there’s one thing to remember: the Neptune influence is like standing knee-deep in a muddy lake. We can’t see the bottom, even though we know it’s there, and we can’t see what else may be floating around us in the water. It can be unnerving if we focus too much on defining what we can’t see; still, we must keep in mind there are things we can’t see, and though imagination can serve to ‘fill out’ what’s invisible it’s not really advisable, as it’s too easy to let the fears drive the imagination. This period also includes a Neptune contra-parallel to Juno, suggesting a ‘big reveal’ (or at least a new idea about) the roles where you call the shots or cooperate with the mate; where you’ve been fooling yourself about your own power and reach may become apparent. Be glad you’re finding out this way, and not in some more stressful or demanding scenario.

On the 24th Venus stations direct, ending our long national nightmare of aesthetics gone wrong and the sampling of relationships outside our usual territory. Hopefully it brought some successful experimentation and revealed a new love or revenue stream, and maybe kicked off some fast friendships. Venus does her turnaround in Gemini, and that may give us a break; what we think of things may coalesce quickly and be unusually clear for a concurrent Merc retro period–and that can only act to bolster confidence.

There are two noteworthy minor contacts (but those can be major under the right circumstances, can’t they?) on the 25th: Uranus sextiles Vesta, and the Sun conjoins Hygeia. With the first we may see surprises or sudden developments delivered through the home scene and those life areas to which we dedicate our efforts. This is highly individual for each person, and could also suggest we see some intimate relationship, home situation, or cause we’re committed to through a Higher Mind lens, which could offer revelations concerning where and to what we should dedicate our efforts. The second just puts a big spotlight on health; stay aware that health is a state of being that can apply to almost anything–in this case, with the pairing in Cancer, we are likely to focus on the health of what and who we care about, or the health of anything related to the matters of the House where Cancer is located in the natal chart.

A Good Day To . . . , as well as any weekly versions, are based on the aspects perfecting on each day, Pacific time.

Lunar Eclipse January 2020

08 Wednesday Jan 2020

Posted by in astrology, current events in the sky, Full Moon, Lunar Eclipse, Retrogrades + Directions, Sabian Symbols, Sun/Mercury Superior Conjunction, Uranus

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

, , , , , ,

Lunar Eclipse, from ‘Kitab al-Tafhim’ By Al-Biruni c1000 {{PD}}

The Lunar eclipse begins at 11:21 AM PST January 10th at 20 Cancer 00. An eclipse, Solar or Lunar, is an energy disruptor, with the Lunar being oriented toward endings, conclusions, denouement, resolutions, outcomes, final denials, or the finishing of one period so that a new one can begin. That’s what can be confusing about eclipses: the endings hold the seeds of beginnings, and the beginnings contain some finality. We couldn’t have one without the other, and sometimes its nearly impossible to tell in the moment whether what’s happening is the end to something, or the beginning to something else–but in some way, it’s likely both.

This Lunar eclipse in Cancer suggests we may stop caring about something or someone that had been important to us, or may withdraw nurturing from someone or something we have previously sustained, or one or both of these may happen to us, as someone else turns their concern in another direction. This sounds negative, but is really about finding the ending inherent in any relationship, which allows psychic ‘room’ for a new start. It may be felt more as a shift than an ending/ beginning, a movement of intention, especially supportive attention, to a different subject, and may show the end point of an old attention goal, the start of a new attention goal, or both.

The eclipse is involved in three major energy ‘clusters’: a T-square involving a loose conjunction of Juno and Zeus as the arm of the T, with Sun et al. as the balance; the opposition as its own dynamic, enhanced beyond the usual Full Moon opposition to the Sun by inclusion of Ceres, Saturn, Mercury, and Pluto; and the final a grab bag with a pair of individual contacts, possibly less strident in expression but no less significant, a wide, separating trine to Neptune in Pisces, and a very close but separating sesquiquadrate to Mars in Sagittarius.

This eclipse coincides with the Superior Conjunction of Sun and Mercury, with both semi-square Mars and mirroring the complementary aspect to the ones made by the eclipse–and of course, opposed the Full Moon itself. The Sun and Mercury are also conjoined by Ceres, Pluto, and Saturn, making for an intense grouping gathered within a less than three degrees span. In the context of the eclipse, this may suggest powerful forces that combine to create the eclipse effect–but this may not be an accurate perception. It may instead be a seminal perception, one that causes some mildly difficult actions and choices that bring forward another ending, this one initially planted at the Inferior Conjunction and now coming to fruition.

L’éclipse, acquaforta, by Félix Bracquemond, in Sonnets et eaux-fortes, Paris, 1869 {{PD}}

Here’s the thing: amidst the cacophony of endings and beginnings, the Saturn-Pluto meeting likely already will have set in motion a serious and permanent change dynamic keyed to Capricornian institutions, structures, rules, authority figures, power figures, the status quo, and generally pushing strongly and persistently toward breaking down the old order, the old construct, the old power balance, with ‘old’ simply suggesting ‘established’, and it should take both a personal version (related to natal contacts and/ or the House subjects where the eclipse falls in the natal chart) and a larger societal one that you personally become aware of and observe. There may be no telling one change from another.

Too, don’t expect total destruction; this could instead resurrect things, especially things surrounding what we believed already dead, as new life in a new form is breathed into them, supplanting the old order, but not with anything new. In so many ways, that’s a horrifying thought. There’s even the chance that current power situations are cemented in place, with change only in the surface appearance, if at all, the prevailing power structure firmly fixed.

The presence of Ceres suggests Nature has her say, or that our connection to the natural world undergoes a time in the Underworld and is then brought into our reality, our Beingness forever altered by the experience (an illness or near-death event, mourning, an experience of grief, an encounter with the unseen, a spiritual event, a birth, an encounter with a ‘ghost’, any real-world happening that plunges us into awareness of the unseen and the pattern of life-death-life). Or it could be that we see real-world authority change right before our eyes, transforming into something Other. No matter what, we’ll find out something about our own place in things, and about the reach and extent of our power to make change, and this in many ways could be a double-edged sword.

The difficult thing is that all this change, upheaval, transformation, and re-birth acts as a full throttle background to the eclipse; that’s where we may get the idea that the eclipse is the source, but the eclipse is only our emotional response, and so contains any changes prompted by that response. We react to the power situations, personal and in the wider sphere, and either communicate or receive messages that have been some time in the making.

The T-square suggests that in the course of all this power examination and potential upheaval we see conflicts or hard choices related to our empowerment, specifically how much ability we enjoy to pursue ambitions and desires. The separating trine to Neptune implies we’ve already approached ‘the Dream’ or are clear on our ideals (or thoroughly immersed in our delusion), with the sesquiquadrate to Mars telling us we’re actually in the midst of some uncomfortable or tough to implement choices or actions, know it or not.

Uranus is at this point stationary but still not direct, offering the tension of imminent chaos, but not breaking in that direction just yet. Uranus’ direction may free the rebel, unleash mayhem, strike a note of individuality or originality, or release the energies of Higher Mind, the latter prompting a possible ‘hand of God’ scenario carried out through groups or movements, or our own conviction about what’s needed and ‘right’.

Partial eclipse of the moon. Observed October 24, 1874. (Plate VII of The Trouvelot Astronomical Drawings 1881) By Étienne Léopold Trouvelot {{PD}}

Normally I don’t address other current aspects at a New or Full Moon, but Pallas quincunx and Venus square Sedna suggest a threat to what we care about via unwise or ill-advised Self-messaging. The instincts need modification, flawed as they are at present by one or more consuming fears or bits of misinformation/ void of useful information. Those fears are the kind we carry inside but don’t make conscious–and yet they leak out into our choices and what we do, often surprising us with their intensity and seeming irrationality as they bring forward startling emotional responses in ourselves. These energies work in concert with the Cancerian eclipse promise of closure to caring or nurture, and the hard-edged real-world power issues or changes in progress now.

The Sabian symbol for this eclipse is, ‘Venetian Gondoliers Giving A Serenade’. Of note is the way there are no minutes attached to this eclipse degree, meaning we take the Sabian symbol that leads up to and includes 20 degrees. This symbol points to people not necessarily in the same ‘boat’ but ‘singing’ together. It’s their shared status or function (gondoliers), their shared interest in entertaining or attracting ‘business’ (which could be acceptance, attention, or some other benefit), and possibly sheer delight in life, coupled with the acting out of ‘traditional’ roles, that causes their singing. But further, a serenade actually implies a chosen and present audience, and the desire to bring pleasure or persuade–and that may be related to both the power situation and the Superior Conjunction, with most ready to state their fully-formed argument for what they see, what they believe, in the hope they may bring others to their way of seeing. Others will sing, and we’ll decide how we feel about that, and make changes or take action as a result.

I don’t anticipate understanding this eclipse period until well after it passes. The best we can do, then, is be aware of the feeling dynamic, the sentiment, beneath what we see transpire. That may be our touchstone to meaning; feelings will connect us in ways the mind cannot, as it’s already reached a maximum point within the cycle (Superior Conjunction), and may not accommodate the ‘stretch’ needed for illumination. The Sabian for the Sun only reinforces this: ‘A Hidden Choir Is Singing During A Religious Service‘. It’s the unseen source of ‘song’ reflecting our core Beingness, our faith, and our viewpoint of established institutions and organizations we ‘believe’ in, and our emotional response to and interpretation of these, that can give us the most reliable information, right now.

More on eclipses here. For some this may be too elementary, and some of what’s presented is just a wee bit fanciful (I don’t think it’s provable that romance is enhanced during a Full Moon!), but still full of interesting facts.