Category Archives: Sabian Symbols

New Moon in Virgo 17 September 2020 A Soul Critique

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Honestly, this doesn’t look too bad–which may just go to show that hell is a personal, internal creation. ‘A Soul in Hell’ By Evelyn De Morgan 1902 {{PD}}

The New Moon perfects at 4:00 AM PDT at 25 Virgo–those are some nice round numbers, aren’t they? (And as an aside, don’t read anything into that–numbers are a human-created system–there’s no mystical meaning in neither having minutes.) The NM noviles Vesta, right away telling us that what begins at this time is something that carries a spark of genius, in terms of the way it can instigate important commitments, can dedicate our energies to what really matters to us, and can bring the spiritual into interactions. What is birthed right now matters, to the Soul, to the psyche, and to the manifestations of these in the life, as they arise from our own accounting and critique (Virgo) of who we are (the Sun) and how we feel (the Moon).

The New Moon, which is of course conjoined the Sun and opposed the Earth, also happens to square the Nodal axis. The Nodes are not bodies but ‘markers’, in a sense, of the points at any one time when the Moon’s orbit crosses the ecliptic, and so can be thought of as energetic placeholders, adding depth to analysis of the Moon’s situation at any particular point, and indicating the direction of a general energy stream moving from South Node to North. Since this Grand Cross consists of the event bodies (New Moon-Sun), one that’s always linked to the Sun anyway (the ever-opposing Earth), and these extremity markers (the Nodes), no one could be faulted for thinking this isn’t truly relevant to the event–but it is, simply because this likely signals the kind of ongoing tension typical to a GC that is kicked off by the New Moon event. That is, what starts at the NM simultaneously brings forward questions of identity and role (the Sun), the past (South Node), and the direction we’re headed in life (North Node), and this happens as a logical matter of course, and again marking the depth of meaning behind the NM itself and giving events the sense that decisions and choices must be made.

The New Moon trines Pluto and is in close trine to Saturn, suggesting just how easily profound change may occur, particularly in ways that change the material reality or that create structure or limit restraints. Further, Sedna could be considered to fill in a loose Earth Grand Trine with Saturn, indicating that either our instincts and intuitive faculties, or those matters we carry in our ‘blind spot’, become instrumental in events. Do we have a choice here as to whether we get a leg up with accurate instinctual perceptions or suffer at the hands of matters we just aren’t conscious of? No, probably not, though we can do our best to stay open to change, and so to Truth–a willingness to see and know may be our most important asset.

The New Moon in Virgo forms quincunxes to the Black Moon Lilith point and to Mars, the latter of which is still stationary in Aries, poised to break backward in apparent motion. The light dawning with the New Moon may slowly begin to illuminate what we need to do about matters we’ve ignored or denied–but whether that comes as a flash of knowledge all at once, or seeps in over the coming days, can’t be known, and considering that Mars is technically already retrograde, may imply that we don’t do anything, but instead learn what must be done, and then reserve action for a later date.

The NM also makes a sesquiquadrate to Uranus. This points out to us the need to ‘make peace’ with our own uniqueness. Too often we seek to subdue, distort for acceptability’s sake, or otherwise hide what is most true to ourselves, partly out of fear: to be known and seen is to be vulnerable, and partly out of a desire to be accepted. But, this Moon event will help us see, even if it’s only in some small way, how embracing a unique part of ourselves will make us truer to who we are at a Soul level. Special note: if you have something 8 and 12 degrees Aquarius, then that natal placement fills in the base of a Fist of God with Uranus and New Moon as apex. The suggestion is that Moon events might come directly from a clash between your most unusual qualities and the natal energy as they try to ‘get along’. For you the ‘recipe’ for making the most of New Moon events very firmly rests in the need to accept something you up until now may have seen as too ‘out there’ to be incorporated as a part of the identity–but now you must find a way.

The Sabian symbol for the New Moon is, ‘A Flag At Half-Mast In Front Of A Public Building’. The editor in me wants to correct that to say ‘half-staff’ as half-mast is only shipboard–and then I wonder, is that ‘mistake’ part of the message itself? Is it meant to convey that the mourning of loss and show of respect shown by lowering a flag is actually, in some strange way, misplaced? Maybe it draws our attention to an area we have been mourning, something that brings us sadness, only to point out to us that we are sad either about the ‘wrong’ component of the situation, or that we are misunderstanding our own mourning, either the need to or the need not to (which in some circles could be seen as unacceptable and so punished). In any case, this sadness has a public component, a public ‘face’, so that we may be challenged to examine whether what we are told we should be mourning really matters to us, or whether we are mourning something else entirely in private, participating in group sadness as a way to find ‘cover’ for our real feelings. Whatever happens at the New Moon, it may involve the loss of a feeling state (real or pretend) that moves us by its subtraction closer to living a most genuine life.

Full Moon 1 September 2020 Suspension

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‘Dubrovnik bei Mondlicht’ By Eduard Kasparides 1915 {{PD}}

The first thing that draws my attention is the tidy sextile of the Full Moon in Pisces to Uranus, and the second thing is the loose Finger of God with base of Moon-Earth sextile Pallas and apex of Vesta; there’s also a close sesquiquadrate to Venus in Cancer. Though the FM makes no conjunctions among the bodies I use, it does sit in a kind of suspension between Neptune and Ceres; I’m aware this isn’t a true midpoint picture, but somehow the overwhelmingly watery nature of the Full Moon scenario seems to ask that we notice this, maybe even more than the precise sextile to Uranus in Taurean Earth or the quincunx to Fiery Vesta–or maybe that’s the point, that being cradled as it is between two strong indicators of Water/ Nature may suggest that these qualities are prominent in the relationships among the closer FM aspects. It does land at the midpoint of the current Saturn-Black Moon Lilith square, describing the Full Moon events as representing a point of tension in all that we ignore, deny, or are enraged by in the reality picture or in current restrictions, rules, or assertions of authority.

The deets: perfection occurs at 10:22 PM PDT of the 1st at 10 Pisces 12. The aspects suggest a resolution to stresses, especially emotional ones, triggered by fuller understanding (Uranus), which leads to greater wisdom (Pallas), resulting in a solidification of highest values and commitments to those values (Vesta). This will be very welcome, considering how we live in a kind of suspension at present, one consisting of the threats from a water-borne, communicable, difficult-to-contain virus (Neptune) and the reactions of Mother Nature Herself, via the effects of global warming, on-going food availability, production, affordability, and distribution issues, and the vagaries of Nature in terms of weather and planetary health, which have taken a decided uptick in extremity and impact on both the ecosystem itself and on humanity.

That Finger could also bring sudden accident or surprise to which we have to respond practically or wisely (the latter translating as ‘doing what we know we should, rather than what we want’), with the outcome a freshly realized dedication or new commitment (perhaps unexpected, and possibly arising from the way something else ends at this point courtesy of the closures that typically accompany the Full Moon)–or perhaps this need to respond smartly comes from our own or others’ rebellion–which may or may not successfully lead us to a clearer understanding of and dedication to our highest values.

The sesquiquadrate of the Full Moon to Venus in Cancer is troubling, though. It calls us to immerse ourselves in our relationships, to swim in our feeling, to relate to financial situations or assets emotionally–and yet when done through the Piscean lens of the Full Moon in difficult (sesquiquadrate) aspect we are likely to be overwhelmed or to find upset that we or others don’t care enough, or that material matters may swamp us and make it feel as if it’s impossible to recover. Our fears in these areas, our relationships and our finances, are apt to be exaggerated–know that your perspective is off, and don’t act in these areas at this time, as you’ll surely misjudge the severity of the situation.

The FM’s semi-square to each component of the square between Saturn and BML suggests that real-world events, endings, or restrictions/ delays we experience at this point arise directly from circumstances we’ve ignored or denied–and that says that Full Moon occurrences offer us the chance to respond to these things (maybe even require it). The FM event is ‘pressured’ by the unrecognized, unacknowledged, and reality itself–which may give FM events the feeling of being forced, to at least some degree.

The Sabian symbol for the Full Moon is, ‘Men Traveling A Narrow Path, Seeking Illumination’. In concert with this we look at the source of the Full Moon’s light, the Sun Sabian: ‘In Her Baby A Mother Sees Her Deep Longing For A Son Answered’. These together suggest that we may find ourselves dedicating energies to a relatively narrow or focused Path at this time; this has the qualities of Vesta, which just so happens to be at the apex of the Finger, and represents our most revered values, causes, and principles. Expect to discover what is truly precious to you, particularly via the emotions, and then allow events to unfold, waiting a bit for emotional extremes to recede: what you’re left with will be what’s most important, what you should serve, protect, and support.

 

Full Moon in Aquarius 3 August 2020 Movin’ On Up

01 Saturday Aug 2020

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S103-E-5037 (21 December 1999)— Astronauts aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery recorded this rarely seen phenomenon of the full Moon partially obscured by the atmosphere of Earth. The image was recorded with an electronic still camera at 15:15:15 GMT, Dec. 21, 1999 NASA – http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/shuttle/sts-103/html/s103e5037.html {{PD}}

For the forecast for 2 August, please click here–

The Full Moon perfects at 8:58 AM PDT on the 3rd at 11 Aquarius 45, loosely sextile Chiron and catching Ceres (which Saturn also happens to parallel) at the midpoint, square Uranus, and sesquiquadrate Venus in Gemini. A Full Moon in Aquarius brings culmination, conclusion, a finish or ending, and so at least to some extent understanding, as Higher Mind either orchestrates and delivers the realizations that come with ‘lessons’ or delivers innovative, inventive, or original ‘answers’, sometimes to questions we didn’t even know we had, and sometimes via surprises, accidents, or serendipities!

Contacts this time suggest healing through accepting some facet of our own authority–this is, in essence, the response we must give when the difficult Uranian situation occurs, and this situation in turn likely springs from the difficult Venusian one, centered in relationships, finances, or values. With Aquarius, Aries, and Gemini involved talk, especially assertions stating ‘I Am’ or ‘I Know’, comes to the fore, though the Uranian element of the equation sits firmly in Taurus, telling us that something physical may spark speeches, declarations, and attempts to define the Self and persuade others of the legitimacy of the designation.

The Sabian for the Full Moon is, ‘On A Vast Staircase Stand People Of Different Types, Graduated Upward’. Does this imply some sort of human hierarchy or Karmic ‘ranking’, does it represent different points of development or evolution for the individual, or does it simply illustrate how we’re all at a slightly different ‘place’ on the same ‘staircase’? When we weigh the aspects made by this Full Moon with this symbol, it may be that part of what we come to understand with FM events is that everyone has a slightly different perspective, depending on their spot on life’s staircase; that would suggest that the sense of understanding one person gets may be other than what someone at a different point, and so having a different perspective, concludes. This might warn us not to judge others using our own perspective; our conclusion is valid for us, for the position we hold, but may not be valid for anyone else.

‘Night Fete, International Fisheries Exhibition 1883 London, England’ By Frederick Whymper {{PD}}

We also look at the Sun’s Sabian for a Full Moon: ‘An Evening Party Of Adults On A Lawn Illumined By Fancy Lanterns’. The social circle we move in as individuals is illuminated by the glow of maturity (this is an adult party), and this again emphasizes, when combined with the Full Moon’s Sabian, that different perspectives depend on our personal viewpoint–or said another way, birds of a feather flock together. Our conclusion might be that there are good reasons for us to be where we are in life; acknowledging that our experiences are tailor-made for what we need to discover, learn, experience goes a long way toward seeing that accepting our circumstances is the first step in learning from them, and then moving on to an even more desirable situation. The Aquarius Full Moon delivers a chance to move up a step or two as we gain understanding; sticking to our misconceptions, refusing to learn, is literally the only thing standing in our way.

New Moon 20 July 2020 Past As Prologue

18 Saturday Jul 2020

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By Édouard Manet Probably c1860s {{PD}}

The New Moon perfects at 10:31 AM PDT at 28 Cancer 26, sesquiquadrate Ceres, opposed Saturn which is closely conjoined the Earth, and forming the base to a Finger of God by sextile to Sedna in Taurus with an apex of the South Node in Sagittarius. We’re offered a fresh emotional slate with this event, but the question is, is it a clean emotional slate? That is, is the viewpoint and agenda devoid of baggage, free of old aversions and biases, and so truly based in what we care about at this moment, at this point in time?

Well, we’re human, so gaining such a blank, unburdened emotional outlook as adults is unlikely. Instead, we are probably going to discover we care about one or more ‘new’ things or areas in life related to matters of the natal House that contains Cancer or that holds the natal Moon. What we care about, though, will be inextricably linked to the actual current reality picture and material situation (probably as it relates to those natal Cancer/ Moon placements). With the involvement of both Ceres and the Moon, the theme of mother or nurturing will likely be prominent, specifically through a lens of the kinds of power that accrue to someone who carries responsibilities, or who becomes responsible for someone or something else. Our interest may arise from or show us the difficulty of our own or someone in authority’s power position, and out of this, triggered by this Moon event, we’ll see our own instinctual responses and/ or our ‘blind spot’ material brought forward in such a way that we create a version of the past.

Often when we see something referring to the past being re-created in the present, we’re inclined to freak out. We don’t want to go ‘backward’, or at least don’t want to move toward something we think is regressive. This time, though, there’s no need. The past in this instance refers to something learned from experience, something that spurred the widening of our world or our viewpoint, that introduced us to something ‘foreign’ but exciting and expansive, something that helped us reach out and become a part of the wider world. The experience we had then can inform the experience we have now, and that’s a good thing, a refresher directly from the Universe that shows us how we’ve grown, and re-asserts the means by which we did–and in the process challenges us now to use a similar experience or method to foster growth once again.

The Temple of Zeus at Cuma. Photo By Bobbylamouche at French Wikipedia https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1643589

The Sabian for this Moon event features an odd cross between Libran and Gemini-themed symbology: ‘A Greek Muse Weighing Newborn Twins In Golden Scales’. What do those astro symbols relate back to? The Air element, Gemini the twins and Libra the scales, which is essentially missing from the active Cardinal energies of the current sky in the form of a relatively empty Libra. Major energies fill the other Cardinal signs, but Libra holds only Juno and Zeus–and though Juno is precisely opposed Mars in his own sign of Aries, formidable as she is, the Queen of Olympus is no match for the Warrior, at least as they represent major energies within the psychic pantheon for the individual. The Mars-Juno match-up shows us how our Will, Self-interest, choices, and actions (Mars in Aries) have put us into specific empowerment venues and roles, ones that involve cooperation or aesthetics (Juno in Libra), but these aren’t integrated into the New Moon picture, leaving the energies to ‘dangle’ without potential for resolution.

Too, the fact that those scales are described as “Golden” implies a certain purity or high value–that is, what’s missing is as important as what’s present and active, in reading this image.

There is also the matter of ‘A Greek Muse’. I’m inclined to see that in this instance (in the New Moon snapshot of the sky) as pointing us toward Libra once again–in this case, toward the only body I’m currently using that carries a Greek, as opposed to Roman, name: Zeus, which sits at 19 Libra 58, closely opposed the Black Moon Lilith point in Aries and square the midpoint and each of Pallas-Jupiter in Capricorn, and also square Vesta in Cancer–creating a completed Cardinal Cross (as opposed to the Cardinal opposition formed by the New Moon-Sun opposite Earth-Saturn).

The Cardinal opposition emphasized the material/ physical experience, especially the barriers we face or the issues that limit us (Earth-Saturn) that will be illuminated/ triggered/ will generate new attitudes of caring, nurture, and concern (NM in Cancer). The factor of Time (Saturn), and what we’ve learned in the past or from its passage, is also vital to the equation.

The Sabian, then, may provide information that the initial aspect picture only hinted at. A Cardinal Cross is an action plan, a dynamic roadmap of what is in play–and knowing what’s in play automatically offers us answers about how to handle it. Our ambition and desire picture, particularly as it’s expressed through cooperative arrangements, partnerships, and the Arts (Zeus in Libra) is triggered by the friction provided by all that we’ve ignored, denied, or that has enraged us about ourselves (Black Moon Lilith in Aries), and this in turn prompts application of our highest standards and values, an assessment of and re-affirmation of our commitments and what we honor (Vesta in Cancer), and what comes from this tension are smart and practical opportunities to make solid, concrete responses (Pallas-Jupiter in Capricorn) to the issues before us.

The New Moon picture turns out, after careful consideration, to be much more personal, and much more focused on the individual initiative and perceptions, than it seemed at first glance. The action, then, is largely on the inside, though certainly, how we feel (Cancer) about our surroundings and material circumstances (Earth-Saturn) and the ways they restrict, hedge us in, help us build, or restrain us (Capricorn) will be the trigger for it all.

Lunar Eclipse in Capricorn 4 July 2020 A Volatile Choice

02 Thursday Jul 2020

Posted by in astrology, Cardinal Activity, current events in the sky, forecast, Full Moon, Grand Cross/Grand Square, Lunar Aspects, Lunar Eclipse, Sabian Symbols

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See the forecast for the 3rd here–

The Full Moon perfects at 9:43 PM PDT of the 4th at 13 Capricorn 37–and just so happens to be a Lunar eclipse, the third and final eclipse of the recent set. We see an enormous concentration of energies in Capricorn right now, which contains the Moon, Earth, Pallas, Pluto, Jupiter, and Saturn, the latter at 29 tense degrees (with the Saturn situation suggesting real-world pressures from which we can’t escape). The thing about this is that the Sun, arbiter of where our attention goes, of what’s in the spotlight, is in Cancer, emphasizing our emotions, our connections to others, and matters of care and nurture; add to this that the Sun is only two minutes from perfection conjoining Vesta at the time of the eclipse, and we see that what occurs with this Full Moon will occur in the real-world (Capricorn, Saturn) even as our attention is on intangibles, feelings, and the ‘comfort and care’ picture (Cancer). We have emotion, then, on both ends of the eclipse axis, with the involvement of Cancer and of course the Moon. It also suggests that we will be striving to operate at the level of our highest values and commitments (Vesta)–and that may offer an added layer of stress as we try to meet our own high standards.

Illustration by John D Batten for “Indian Fairy Tales” edited by Joseph Jacobs, 1892 {{PD}}

We’ll set our orbs to ‘generous’, as that gives us a dynamic picture of eclipse events. There’s a sextile to Ceres, a trine to Uranus, and a sesquiquadrate to Sedna, which implies easy personal expression of authority or a ‘mothering’ attitude (which may include overstepping those personal bounds), an urge to spontaneity, originality, and inventiveness, and difficulty ‘hearing’ the instincts or in seeing our own blind spot. So, a great deal of progressive, get-to-it energy focused on those we care about or have dominion over, coupled with an inability to adequately hear our own inner dialogue.

And what sets all this off? A Cardinal Grand Cross formed by the eclipse Earth-Moon opposition to the Sun-Vesta, crossed by a very close opposition of Chiron to Juno, which, though it sits ‘behind’ the eclipse by degree, implies that a recent (and possibly ongoing) wound to the autonomy or empowerment situation ‘blossoms’ with the eclipse contact. This suggests the trigger to authority expression, boundary leaping, spontaneity, and lack of touch with instinct and our own weaknesses is seated in this recent hurt, and that it creates an unsolvable emotional dilemma: do we honor our feelings about the situation (especially its material aspects–Moon-Earth; that is, do we honor the wound?), or do we honor the call to be our ‘best Self’ via elevation of those highest and most refined facets of our identity and commitments (Sun-Vesta)?

‘Bergziegen (Mountain Goat)’ By Franz Marc 1913 {{PD}}

That’s the choice, and it won’t be an easy one in the moment, in spite of how it may appear an easy choice when laid out like this, pre-eclipse. The Sabian for the eclipse is, ‘An Ancient Bas-Relief Carved In Granite Remains A Witness To A Long-Forgotten Culture’. This may best be illuminated in light of the Sun and Vesta’s Sabian at this time as it ‘fills in’ the axis and provides the literal illumination of the eclipse scenario itself, ‘A Very Old Man Facing A Vast Dark Space To The Northeast’. In both images we are presented with ‘witnesses to history’, to what may have disappeared or been forgotten, lost in the darkness, and this may relate to the triggering wound set off by the eclipse, a hurt that we, or those who inflicted it, may have tried to consign to the shadows. Our blind spot also resides in our internal darkness, out of our sight, and may as well figure in to what occurs.

There’s an interesting aside in the way that a chart drawn for the Northern Hemisphere assigns the direction of northeast to the 3rd House (this is something we need to know in horary, for instance, when trying to locate an object using a chart). This House describes all kinds of communication, local interactions, our neighbors and siblings (and the oldest sibling, in particular), and the act of writing. This may hint that the eclipse involves one or more of these elements, and certainly suggests that our experience will be as much lived in interaction with the world as it is an internal event, seen only by us. Some situation that has caused us pain may be resolved–or may act to blow things up–but in either case, brings a kind of ending or denouement to an emotionally volatile scenario.

 

 

Solar Eclipse 20 June 2020 Healthy Emotion

18 Thursday Jun 2020

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By Asurnipal – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=38597398

The Solar eclipse begins at 11:41 PM PDT of the 20th at 00 Cancer 21, and even stretching our modest orbs only shows two closer contacts, a conjunction with asteroid Hygeia, and a to-the-degree quincunx with Saturn in Aquarius. We might also want to note a wide square with Mars in Pisces, important for several reasons: Mars is uncomfortable in a Water sign, and perhaps doubly so when there are no clear boundaries between ‘I’ and ‘the Universe’; because of this discomfort, the vast majority of us are aware (even if unconsciously) of the rub between Mars’ usual assertiveness and the nebulous atmosphere in which it’s trying to operate currently; and, by early September, Mars will retrograde (which happens every 2 1/2 years), this time in his own sign of Aries, which may add to disorientation: we reach ‘home’ in the ‘I Am’ and assertive energies, only to have the rug pulled from under us in future as all indicators are full steam ahead and yet we find ourselves thwarted, delayed, and prone to question ourselves once the retro begins–so an added disorientation ahead that may feel inexplicable and could hearken back, energy-wise, to the current Piscean state–all this making notation of the potential for Mars’ eclipse activation necessary.

The aspect picture suggests the eclipse births an individual awareness of the emotional impact of the state of ‘health’ to every facet of our lives. Problems in the functionality and health of any area now come forward, showing us where and in what form the dissonance disrupts our efforts, our ability to move forward, and our egos. It’s an event wherein the real-world scenario is presenting needed areas of adjustment, as well as pointing out where and why we may find externals holding us back. We may rebel at that, insisting modification isn’t necessary–the ego may be in direct conflict with what the eclipse reveals–but we’d be wise to note what we’re shown; the eclipse offers realistic, Higher Mind clarity–all we need do is be open to our own feeling nature as it supplies plenty of motivation and guidance for adjustment, alteration, and change.

The eclipse falls at one of the Cardinal ‘starting points’, emphasizing the ‘clean sweep’ nature of the event as well as the seminal quality of what occurs; more is birthed with this New Moon than we are able to grasp, or even that we’re immediately aware of. Add to this that the eclipse falls on the solstice (but here I have to say the meaning is symbolic, as the actual ‘longest day of the year’ can vary by up to a couple of days either side of the event as measured at the equator, depending on your location north, with this also marking the shortest day, with those same variations, for those in the Southern Hemisphere). So, we combine a New Moon eclipse at a 00 zodiacal degree with the symbolic extreme of a Solstice, and we get a strong sense of new, new, and new, especially the individual emotional interpretation of the landscape–and that suggests revelations around our genuine feelings. Even the most aware of us are likely to be unprepared for the impact of our discoveries, of the emotions we may not even have realized we have, of the feelings that have been unconscious and so underlying so much of our reactions and motivations.

It’s always a good thing to see how we actually feel, even when we’re not happy with the revelations. As humans we typically avoid knowing much of what we feel, because if our true emotional state were revealed to us, it would in many instances demand we do something about the circumstances that generate those feelings–and that may threaten much of what we have (often precariously) managed to find a balance point for in our lives.

The personal flag, an announcement of our allegiances, may change with this eclipse. By Claude Monet 1878 {{PD}}

The Sabian symbol for the eclipse is, ‘On A Ship The Sailors Lower An Old Flag And Raise A New One’. A flag is a symbol of allegiance; this symbol suggests ours will change. This may signal that eclipse events may move us to make public what has to now either been only known unconsciously or held as private. There is the chance that we simply replace old alignments with a new version of the same–but that’s not likely, considering the tone of the eclipse is one of revealed emotions. It’s most definitely a time to let our Freak Flags Fly–and to allow ourselves a freedom of expression that accepts our most unusual feelings and characteristics–and because we care (Cancer eclipse placement) this can be nothing but good.

I may be taking a few days off post-eclipse–it falls in my 6th, squares my Mercury, sextiles my Pluto, trines my Neptune, and so reaches into my 2nd, 5th, 8th, and 10th, so calls for some examination of the creative, earning, career, and cooperative energies currently in play. Orders will still get filled and I’ll still answer comments. Thanks for your patience, and have a wonderful and enlightening eclipse!

 

Lunar Eclipse 5 June 2020 A Crucible Moment

04 Thursday Jun 2020

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By Jeff Keyzer from San Francisco, CA, USA – Open House at the CrucibleUploaded by PDTillman, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7065256

I heard someone the other day refer to current times as a “crucible moment”, and immediately thought of all the big gun combinations we’ve been subjected to, the dance of Saturn-Pluto-Jupiter, Uranus in Taurus bringing sudden shifts in the material realm and in personal assets and personal responsibilities, Neptune in his own sign manufacturing a fog so thick it’s making it hard to navigate, hard to trust others and, it’s so hard to see, we don’t really trust ourselves, either. Now add an eclipse in Sagittarius that threatens the very facts that underpin our reality, threatens to wipe out accumulated knowledge or our faith, and even threatens to make us dismiss our shared humanity by making us think 1) people are animals (Sagittarius, where the Lunar eclipse will land, happens to be the sign of large animals), 2) animals are part of Nature, and 3) Nature is against us (Covid-19, an assault by a natural invisible, Mars–assault–at the midpoint of Ceres–Nature–and Neptune–toxins, poisons, infectious diseases), and so 4) others must be against us, too (the death of George Floyd, among many others, is entirely too real an example of the extension of this fear to the point others are seen as not human; think also of the gassing of peaceful protesters so that the President could have a photo op, treating them as less than). The thing is, bad as the disparate parts are, they don’t lead, one to the other; that’s a fallacy. Our minds want to connect the dots, but the dots don’t exist in relation to each other, in spite of the way a susceptible consciousness might see them as related.

A crucible is a vessel that allows something to be subjected to high temperatures. Let something burn in a crucible too long, it becomes ash or evaporates; you lose or render useless the contents if you subject it to high temps with no end point. And we as human Souls may feel as if we’ve been in a crucible for much much too long, a heated environment of fear and legitimate threat from many sources that makes it difficult to grasp the facts, and to think of others as truly human. This eclipse may help.

Saturn is the container, analogous to our bodies and our realities, in both instances, something that surrounds the spirit, that contains us. Pluto is the process, in this case a transformation through a journey to hell and back, one that long-term breaks down all that has made us feel secure (Capricorn). Jupiter is both the indisputable facts, and the social element. These sit within a 7 degree span in Capricorn, with Saturn in Aquarius but retrograde and slated to re-enter the sign of the Sea Goat. Add to this Pallas, symbol of wisdom, practicality, useful skills, at 29 tense degrees of Capricorn, and we see the stress that our intelligence is under (and this is magnified by Saturn suppressing the intellect in Cappy). The proximity of these bodies to one another may give us the impression that they’re working in concert, but they aren’t; we may even be prone to characterize them as having a kind of consciousness, as if they’re deliberately getting together and making chaos, aided by the Neptunian fog and Uranian erraticism. The reality is each body does its own thing, while we look for the connections and the reasons why, and come up empty (if we’re relatively rational) or clutching a handful of conspiracy theories (if we’re too Neptune susceptible). These energies collide but have no intent, make for some synergies that we may interpret as purposeful, and so are the background against which this Lunar eclipse forms.

The eclipse occurs at 12:12 PM PDT at 15 Sagittarius 34 of the 5th. It makes a close square to Mars, a trine to the Black Moon Lilith point, and opposes Venus which is still retro and moving away from her recent rendezvous with the Sun. Here’s our connection to those bigger, broader social energies: the eclipse is semi-square both Saturn and Pallas, and novile Jupiter. A Lunar eclipse is a Full Moon, with all the promise of conclusions, endings, and peaks that a FM carries, with the added eclipse propensity to sweep away, to cause a re-set, to re-align, to disturb, to upset the status quo.

The eclipse may trigger anger and aggression, and a big need to make ‘I Am’ statements (Mars square), but why? Because we easily funnel what we have been agreeing to ignore or deny into consciousness–it pesters us, won’t let us rest–along with all the rage over injustices we’ve tamped down (trine Black Moon Lilith). We’re feeling removed from caring about what we usually value, distant from a prevailing sense of Love and relationship (Venus opp and retro), and this sets the stage for personal anger looking for an outlet–and it finds it in the irritating and threatening circumstances surrounding the reality picture (Saturn) and a sense of outrage that what’s wise isn’t being done, and is now at a breaking point (29 degree Pallas). And who receives our anger? The larger social order (Jupiter)–but wait, it might not be all bad (the novile), because what we may see is expansion of the energy of the eclipse ruler, the facts and faith finally bringing some sense of justice, of right.

The Sabian for the eclipse is, ‘Sea Gulls Fly Around A Ship In Expectation Of Food’. The eclipse may spark anticipatory energy, the expectation of a better social order within a better world, shaped from all this pain and suffering and from the Love and wisdom we normally feel much more pure a connection to, that we naturally carry inside.

It’s our crucible moment only in the sense that we are at a point when we can take things from the heat, when we can use the contents of our experience to make something new, to forge something better, and offer this to the world. So, what have the months and years forged in you?

 

 

New Moon in Gemini 22 May 2020 Thoughts Take Shape

21 Thursday May 2020

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‘Le jardin des Tuileries en automne (The Tuileries in Autumn)’ By Paul de Castro 1921 {{PD}}

The New Moon perfects at 2 Gemini 04 at 10:37 AM PDT on the 22nd and makes just a few close aspects; if we stretch a little, what we get is an Air Grand Trine with arms of Juno in Libra and Saturn-Pallas Aquarius with the conjunction of Sun and Moon making this GT temporary but potent. What’s clear is that we have an opportunity to achieve mental balance, to find a harmonious relationship between how we intellectualize the real world, how we see our own power or lack within it, and the role our relationships play in the actual empowerment equation. What forms here tests our capacity for practicality and calls forth our skills, specifically requiring us to collaborate or otherwise draw on our network of contacts in order to achieve effective mental balance–that is, an effective way of processing and expressing ourselves in the world.

If this New Moon could talk, it might make these statements: cooperation facilitates getting what you want and opens avenues to Self-expression; what we think of the physical and material is as important as what those material circumstances actually are; what’s solid, real, and possibly seen as a barrier is in actuality offering you a receptacle that will give shape to your mental energy as it takes physical form. The sooner you see that Saturnian walls, restrictions, and rules don’t deny nearly as much as they show you practical parameters to enhance and define creative energy expressed through skills, the more quickly you’ll be able to make a reality of the new ways of thinking and networking the New Moon brings.

‘Music in the Tuileries’ By Édouard Manet 1862 {{PD}}

The Sabian for the New Moon is, ‘The Garden Of The Tuileries In Paris’. The Tuileries are an expression of the human Saturnian urge to order, contain, and capture as it applies to Nature herself. This image tells us that if we cooperate and collaborate, by recognizing the true inclinations of the energies we seek to mold, we can create something that has the best elements of humanity’s interventions and Nature’s spontaneous (but in its own way planned) growth, outreach, and expression. And how is this achieved? By finding the balance between control and growth. The Tuileries are an example of the longevity creations with this kind of balance can attain, and encourages the idea of peaceful co-habitation in any number of ways.

Combine this New Moon energy with the other energies of the 22nd to successfully shape and guide yourself over the coming two weeks.

 

Full Moon in Scorpio 7 May 2020

04 Monday May 2020

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‘The Path in the Wood’ By Hugo Darnaut 1884 {{PD}}

We have a Full Moon on 7 May at 3:45 AM PDT at 17 Scorpio 20. The Full Moon noviles Juno, opposes Mercury, trines Neptune, and quincunxes the combo of Vesta-Hygeia. A Full Moon brings conclusions, endings, big reveals, or makes it apparent that a situation will go no farther. We may see a definitive end or just a stall that makes us think things might go on–but they won’t, and we may not quite believe it at the time. Hope may spring eternal, but the Lunar cycle (usually) tells us what has matured and so we can turn our attention elsewhere; it also informs as to what’s just over, with or without our consent.

The most difficult thing about FM events is that it can be tough to see in the moment what is a true ending and what is merely a plateau, with this latter specifically making us think things will get rolling again, when they instead may refuse to develop any further, leaving us in a state of limbo that we may not immediately recognize as a prompt to turn to something else/ something new. This Moon’s placement in Scorpio points to at least some of the meaning of the event being hidden or obscured, from ourselves by ourselves (for our own safety, or so that we can stand to go forward with something we’d otherwise run away from) or by others, for any of the various reasons others keep things from us. And, there’s the potential for us to fail to recognize that current events may actually be prompting us to start something new, or to look elsewhere for what we have been getting from the present situation. So, we may mistake this for a pause, misreading it as a delay because of something we imagine or that we’re unable to see or understand via the ease with which a Neptune trine obscures, when it’s really time to move on and not look back, in no-nonsense Scorpionic Plutonian style.

Let’s look at each aspect, one at a time. The novile to Juno promises that the Lunar event will reveal clever, unique, and highly inventive ways to empower ourselves. Empowerment is a broad term, but we know it when we see it–or do we? Part of what a Scorpio Full Moon may offer is a new way of looking at the power situation, and this time we have the potential to see some truly genius ways of getting some for ourselves–that is, if we can cut through the Neptunian fog or distraction. The need to keep this in mind can’t be overstated: we must assume there’s something we’re not entirely aware of at the time of the Full Moon. Just knowing something is slipping outside the grasp of the conscious mind should be enough to help us navigate events–but of course, we’d all like to be completely conscious of conditions, wouldn’t we?

Three days before the Full Moon we have the Superior Conjunction of the Sun and Mercury, which is the meeting of the two bodies during Merc’s direct phase, and by the time of the Full Moon Mercury is still within orb of opposition to the Moon-Earth combination. This suggests that what was revealed or came to fruition at the SC by the FM stands separate from Lunar implications. It’s as if what was central on Monday (the day of the SC) has somehow become much less so by the Full Moon. Since Mercury is in Taurus, this could translate as thoughts, approaches, or ideas that seemed practical, grounded, comforting, that suddenly don’t seem to be enough, in some important sense. That kind of discovery can be a bit disorienting, and so leave us open to the Neptunian distraction–or to the Neptunian creative surge.

And speaking of that Neptune, in connection to the Lunar event, we could be inspired by a wave of feeling energy, spiritually or artistically, or have pointed out to us our weak spots, those places where we are addressing reality with fantasy or the impractical. The House Neptune is currently transiting is a prime spot delineating the possible subjects through which we experience Neptune’s effect, as is any natal energies and/ or the House(s) these rule in the natal chart that are currently aspected by Neptune.

The Full Moon also makes a quincunx to conjoined Vesta and Hygeia. This suggests adjustment, especially emotional adjustment, to the need to honor our own health. Quarantine fatigue is real, and as someone said, it seems as if we’re right around the 64th of March. This is the point when renewing our commitment to behave in healthy ways for both our own and others’ benefit is paramount–and this aspect may remind us just how much relies on our own responsible behavior.

The Sabian for the Moon-Earth meeting is, ‘A Path Through Woods Brilliant With Multicolored Splendor’. We can see the way ahead of us, see which direction we need to go–if we’re honest with ourselves their will be no confusion about moving forward. A more literal idea of getting out in Nature is beneficial; Scorpio is a sign of renewal, regeneration, and re-birth, so a connection to growing, living things shouldn’t be overlooked as a way to refresh and replenish. Too, our task may be to appreciate the variety that surrounds us, and the journey itself, now more than ever.

We also look at the Sun, source of the Moon’s illumination, for a Full Moon. ‘A Woman Airing An Old Bag Through The Open Window Of Her Room’. The only reason for someone to air an old bag is to be able to re-use it. This image perhaps points toward the need to be more conscious of our resources, of what we discard too easily, what we re-use again and again, and what we think we need new and shiny when we might not need it at all. We are humans, and therefore we consume, so there’s no shame in it, but greater awareness in what and how much we use can only be a good thing.

See notes on the 4th, 5th, and 6th here–

New Moon 22 April 2020 Eye of the Storm

19 Sunday Apr 2020

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‘The Large Poplar Tree II (The Coming Storm)’ BY Gustav Klimt {{PD}}

The New Moon perfects on the 22nd at 7:26 PM PDT at 3 Taurus 24, both bodies moving quickly to conjoin Uranus–first the Moon, of course, then the Sun. This may build-in to New Moon events a particular, high-strung energy that makes everyone hyper-vigilant, hyper-aware, hyper-anxious, and just plain hyper–and this despite the event taking place in normally placid, steady Taurus. We may be presented with a surrounding situation that is all calm vibes and low-key mellowness, only to find that it’s very difficult to sit still, with reality and real-world circumstances forcing awareness of (and maybe ceaseless rumination on) problems or restrictions and limitations, or stressful (and likely confining) circumstances. Or, we could be the calm eye of the storm, with everyone or every thing else swirling around us. In either instance, a contrast that can’t be readily explained.

The thing is, Neptune is loosely semi-square the New Moon; that almost certainly brings a bedeviling energy, with imagination on overdrive and each of us too quick to believe what may not hold up upon examination. Too, this aspect of the NM to Neptune could bring the birth of a new dream, ideal, or misbegotten goal–that latter having its origins in a misconception from which nothing truly sound or productive can come. It’s our job, right now, to know the difference, but don’t be hard on yourself if you fall for a Neptunian delusion, as even with what appears to be a misstep, the contact of the NM to Uranus tells us that whatever transpires at this time offers enlightenment in the form of Higher Mind understanding (Uranus). We may be inspired, or we may falter, caught up in a spontaneous illusion, but in either case we learn a greater Truth, or see our world through a higher and wider perspective.

The Sun-Moon blend noviles the pairing of Venus and Hygeia, suggesting new awareness of the costs in both relationships and material assets of maintaining health. This most certainly applies to quarantining and lockdowns around the world. The New Moon may offer ingenious ways to cope, to soothe, and to provide (Taurus), and will likely show us what we’ll lose if we move too quickly and ignore what’s required to overcome this expression of Nature. Important to note that Ceres, Mother Nature Herself, is currently trine both the Earth and the North Node=we must balance our needs with Nature’s, in order to have a future at all. Ceres is also at 29 tense degrees, and novile Black Moon Lilith=Nature is forcing us to confront what we’d rather ignore; she’s in distress Herself, and needs us to acknowledge certain realities, if we’re both to go on. Ceres at 29 Aquarius screams loud and clear: we can’t go on intellectualizing, justifying our position with ‘reasons’! If we stretch we add to this the way the New Moon is also novile Vesta, suggesting that honoring the ‘right’ things is required, that it’s the smart thing to do, and that we must start today.

The New Moon is also within trine of the South Node and in wide square to Saturn and even 29 degree Pallas. Right now we may be seeing all the difficulties, all the restrictions and issues that the real world presents, the results of past actions and choices. But again, we see that doing the smart thing, the right thing, the wise thing, is required; we’re at a crisis point, and we’re being called to ‘go to war’ in an Athenian way, that is, with consciousness and good intent, to make things right, and to solve real-world problems.

The Sabian symbol for the New Moon is, ‘The Pot Of Gold At The End Of The Rainbow’. Well that seems kind of obvious, doesn’t it? We can see how to win, what material surroundings and the environment require–now we just have to keep ourselves united in purpose long enough to do it.

Stay safe! If the astrology for this New Moon doesn’t convince you that we need to continue to Self-isolate, I don’t know what will. And if anyone reading this happens to be among those who are protesting the Stay at Home orders, I say with all the love in my heart, go fuck yourselves–you clearly don’t understand what’s going on, and you don’t have the right to endanger the rest of us.