Category Archives: Sun/Mercury Superior Conjunction

Total Lunar Eclipse 8 November 2022 No Mercy

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It won’t be this dramatic. ‘The Execution of Lady Jane Grey’ By Paul Delaroche 1834 {{PD}}

The total Lunar eclipse begins just after 3:02 AM PST as Moon aligns with Earth and Sun at precisely 16 degrees of Taurus. The dynamic is very much one of oppositional energies, as Moon-Earth conjoins Uranus and the Sun is poised for Superior Conjunction with Mercury (as you know, that’s when Mercury and the Sun meet with Merc in direct apparent motion), this latter bringing to fruition something planted around the Inferior Conjunction of 23rd-24th of September, though there are three additions to the picture that add their own twists to the sense of denouement that may arise: a trine of the eclipse to Ceres in Virgo, a novile to just-retrograded Mars in Gemini, and a square to Saturn in Aquarius.

Being Total we should expect no mercy with this eclipse. Falling in Taurus, we’ll experience the wipe-out of circumstances related to some aspect of our own comfort, security, resources, assets, or even talents, or to matters of the House in the natal chart where Taurus falls, and this will bring certain emotions and conclusions about our own feelings to consciousness. The Sun in Scorpio is the light-giver, but in this situation it’s temporarily and completely blocked, implying that our view must change: the Scorpionic light currently cast on things (a light that looks to illuminate the need for change, to ferret out the Truth, to destroy what’s unnecessary or detrimental, to x-ray what surrounds us and reveal what’s hidden) is suddenly removed, with the suddenness of the alteration only emphasized by the eclipse’s conjunction to Uranus. What we see when that critical light of dissection and Truth-delving is gone will not be what we expect. It may in fact be something so new, so unanticipated, that we are shocked, by what happens, or by our own reaction to it, or by the message/ information contained in events (Sun conj Mercury).

Did I say no mercy? That’s not quite right; we find extenuating influences in those other aspects the eclipse makes. The change wrought by the eclipse may easily come about through Mother Nature (trine to Ceres in Virgo) in her critical response to current conditions–and those may be global, like climate change, or personal, like diet or responses to Nature via allergens or disease–so that we may quite abruptly be facing a situation that is the perfect storm of what’s natural combined with our own choices. This could also imply we’ll be faced with the results of our own exercise of personal authority, or our nurture (or failure to nurture) those for whom we’re responsible. Nature will try to re-direct us, and in most cases this won’t be traumatic; it’s up to us to take the hint.

There’s also that novile to retro Mars.You may have wondered why I haven’t made any specific comment on Mars going retro–and I don’t know why, either. Maybe it’s that it’s happening in Gemini, giving me the impression that so much that is aggressive, threatened, imposed, or potentially violent will actually turn out to be ‘all talk, no action’. Maybe it’s the way Chiron and Eris are the only bodies in Aries at the moment, suggesting we could all use a little relief, possibly offered via retro ruler status, from our wounds and from those major sources of aggravation I like to call sh*t-stirrers. But, in terms of the eclipse, Mars’ novile implies a little bit of genius implicit in eclipse events, the kind that may see our hesitation, reluctance, or changed choice or action as a good thing, keeping us from stepping in it.

If you’re concerned this is all too nebulous, don’t be: the eclipse square to Saturn in Aquarius promises real-life effects, solidly grounded, but that must be viewed through the lens of Higher Mind. Is, say, the loss of an asset at this time really about the circumstances surrounding that loss, or is it more about what that loss says, about what we find reward or profit in, about how we spend our energy, about the role of possessions (or possibly the impermanence of these)? If it is about the circumstances of the loss, then it may be that we need to look at our own vulnerabilities, or to the ways our ideas do (or don’t) transfer to reality. For some it may be a bit of the opposite, a question of whether we are playing an intellectual game with reality that keeps us from connecting the dots; in this case, we may be so mired in our own reasoning or tortuous mental justifications that we don’t register how these are seriously at odds with the real-world picture. The ancient ruler of Aquarius traveling through the sign and squared by an eclipse definitely says the brakes will be put on somewhere, that we’re going to come slamming up against something of the real world–the good news is, we can use the mind to de-code what happens.

So, a little thought experiment with the Sabians: I’d been taught that a placement at, as our eclipse is, 16 degrees, no minutes, of a sign meant it actually was part of the preceding degree picture; it hadn’t yet proceeded into the 16th degree because there are no minutes. That’s the way I’ve always read them, but today I questioned that interpretation, so I’ve decided to take a look at both possibilities. I’m not beyond learning a better (more correct?) way, so here goes:

The eclipse Sabian is, ‘An Old Teacher Fails To Interest His Pupils In Traditional Knowledge’–or is it, ‘A Symbolical Battle Between “Swords” And “Torches”’? The old teacher could be Aquarian Saturn in hard aspect to the event indicators, suggesting we won’t learn from what’s come before–that argues for the way I was taught to read them, as this is the preceding symbol. The ‘battle’ is of course between a Water placement (the Scorpio Sun) and an Earth placement (Moon-Earth)–not exactly symbolic of swords or torches, but we could see it as torches being the fire of feeling (Scorpio Water) and swords being something physically effecting (Taurus Earth), though a bit contradictory to the retro Mars aspect–but let’s look at the possibilities for the Sun–maybe that will sort it out. The Sun is, ‘A Girl’s Face Breaking Into A Smile’, and ‘A Woman, Fecundated By Her Own Spirit, Is “Great With Child”’. Hmmm. No help there, in my view. This may be my signal to step back from the Sabians for a while–just not feeling them–I’ll return to them when I do.

But I can offer you this unusual dream Word Image: at an open air market there are steps down which water begins to flow. Someone has placed several small children, no bigger than the palm of your hand, along the steps, and the water is knocking them over, sometimes face down, and the person responsible for them is nowhere in sight. I go and lift each one out of the water, make sure they are breathing, and as I work anticipate that whoever is in charge of them will be rushing up any second, angry that I am handling these delicate creatures. What ‘other person’s baby’ are you in a position to in some way ‘rescue’? If you step in somewhere to help, who will be angry, and why? Or maybe that’s the point: we need to show mercy, in the face of dangerous times, no matter the personal cost. Just a little something to think about–have a great weekend (don’t forget to take that hour back), and an enlightening eclipse!

New Moon 31 March 2022 The Wounded Mind

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‘Four Dancers’ By Edgar Degas 1899 {{PD}}

The New Moon in Aries falls at 11:24 PM PDT on the 31st, at 11 Aries 30, both Sun and Moon poised to conjoin Chiron in just hours, Mercury trailing and in less than a day slated to form Superior Conjunction (the meeting that occurs with the Sun when Mercury is direct–with Mercury gliding over Chiron to meet the Sun just as the Moon goes Void in Aries–with all of it suggesting the beautiful orchestration of the celestial bodies, and so implying meaning because their movement is so balletic–the Superior Conjunction in Aries bringing a fresh take on how we think about ourselves and our actions/ choices–but I digress). The ‘I Am’ is front and center, and we are particularly aware of either our wounds, or our Chirotic talents–and either way, we want everyone to know about them–there’s a kind of urgency, even a sense of purpose informed by the Higher Mind, behind getting our words out (semi-sextile of Uranus).

We may mistakenly think that what we’re communicating about is relationship material, giving our viewpoint, about the hurt caused by the Other (Venus semi-square NM), but we’re really talking about the repercussions of our own actions and choices, their costs and benefits, and slo-mo vetting what we want to do about them (Aries). It’s a way of using talk/ exposition/ thought/ conceptualization/ expression as a kind of mirror in which we can view, review, and gain perspective on wounded aspects of the mind, and the conclusions we’ve already drawn (which are reflected in our actions and choices), but that we’re not entirely consciously aware of, yet.

The New Moon is at the rough midpoint of the Vesta-Ceres trine, with Uranus at the Ceres-New Moon midpoint, promising revelation about how genuinely effective we are, power-wise, and how honoring our own values and principles limits or expands our personal empowerment. For those so susceptible, this may also warn of sudden reactions to environmental factors, especially in the home, in the vein of allergies, asthma, food reactions, accidents, and even power struggles, especially when symbolic (as in, asserted through demands or practices that will provoke)–and these, too, will carry messages, specifically about what may be intruding on our well-being.

New Moon energy is inception energy; things begin here, are seeded (with or without our knowledge), but even more often the Lunar event brings a dawning, a realization that feels a bit like an awakening. Emotional revelation is a predictable potential at this time each month, and we should tune our perceptions to that possibility at New Moon time. Here we see that expressed through Ceres sextile Moon-Sun-Chiron as base to a Finger of God with, of all things, Hygeia as apex. What dawns on us now is about our health or is vital to it, derived from some confluence of identity, power expression, Soul intent, emotional and intuitive perception, and hurt and/or talent (of the Chirotic gift variety).

The Sabian for the New Moon is, ‘A Triangularly Shaped Flight Of Wild Geese’. This prompted me to go looking for a Grand Trine that might add to the New Moon picture, but what I found just reiterated what’s already clear in the aspects: Vesta-Earth-Ceres in an Air Grand Trine that simply states the need to find balance (especially mental balance) in what we honor, our material needs and purpose (the environmental factors we require in order to realize our Soul–Sun–purpose), and effective expression of personal power–in real-world terms, being in command of our world and all that resides in it. Too, we may see something wild (or that just feels wild) take some orderly and balanced shape, allowing the concept to ‘take flight’, and so begin a journey toward success.

A few other things to note: the Nodal axis across Taurus-Scorpio creates a tight T-square with the conjunction of Saturn and Juno=our intended life direction gets a real-world reality check, as does our ability to feel empowered in our own lives; and if you have a natal placement 27 Leo to 00 Virgo, that energy is part of the base of a Finger with the current Black Moon Lilith point, apex Pluto=much depends on what natal energy is affected, but generally speaking, what’s hidden or denied is revealed, purged, destroyed, or transformed. Look to the function of the energy (for instance, if it’s Mars, we look to the Will, the sex drive, the aggressive or assertive nature, or the need to take action), as well as looking at the subjects of the House Mars rules (with Aries in, or on the cusp) for areas where this change might show.

Mystic Rectangle: Where It Leads 28 July-3 August 2021

27 Tuesday Jul 2021

Posted by in astrology, current events in the sky, forecast, Mystic Rectangle, Sun/Mercury Superior Conjunction, The Weekly Word Image

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‘The Hilly Path, Ville d’Avray’ By Alfred Sisley 1879 {{PD}}

There’s a Mystic Rectangle forming that will be in play through the 2nd of August; let’s walk through the situation, and see where it leads.

A Mystic Rectangle is a configuration made up of a pair of sextiles, with each pair opposing the other; that is, point A sextiles B, and point C sextiles D, with A opposed D, and B opposed C. This generates a certain synergy among the energies, a positive dynamic that otherwise would allow the oppositions to have a greater, and decidedly more negative, say.

Now that you’re thoroughly alphabet-confused, we’ll describe what’s actually in the sky, as the Sun in Leo moves into place to complete the pattern. The Sun sextiles the North Node, forming one end of the rectangle; the other end is the South Node closely conjoined by Juno sextile Earth, the latter approaching conjunction to Saturn. It’s not unusual for the Nodes to act as ‘anchor points’ in the forming of this configuration, and as well for the Sun-Earth axis to move into position, almost as if our energy, attention, and surroundings develop until we reach a point to make choices (relatively easy ones–the sextiles) that have, one way or another, life-direction changing impact.

This config suggests illumination (Sun) of the future (NN) we are currently generating via our thoughts and ideas (Gemini), especially as they make statements about who we are and the role(s) we wish to play (Leo), and the way these notions confront (oppositions) our status, roles, and empowerment circumstances of the past (Juno-SN), specifically as these attempted to expand our horizons, help us learn, or exposed the facts (Sagittarius) and created current material surroundings (Earth) and, subsequently, our reality (Saturn). So, it’s a period of assessment and evaluation focused on ourselves and our methods, and where those ideas and efforts have taken us.

We might initially think immediate action is the answer, as the first two days of the Rectangle coincide with Mars at 29 tense degrees of Leo. The issue is that actions at this point may be purely motivated by ego or a need to put the Self forward, to ‘shine’, because our ‘I Am’, our action urge, is under stress, even panic, wanting to redress and make corrections to our previous conduct, because we see quite clearly where that led, and where it did and didn’t bring success. The ‘I Am’ is roaring during this period, so be prepared for some chest-thumping and a few pirouettes, from ourselves or others, and see them more as blowing off steam than as serious assertions of who we are–and this may happen publicly, is definitely exaggerated, but could generate opportunities or some balloon-ready-to-burst optimism (Jupiter in Aquarius, also at 29 degrees and opp Mars).

Too, we see Ceres-Sedna closely conjoined at 29 Taurus. Though not part of the config, those 29 degree bodies fill the air with tension and encourage rash (and sometimes disastrous) action. In this case this pairing adds a dash of desperate-to-be-seen-as-autonomous (Ceres) to the inner landscape (Sedna), stimulating our ‘blind spot’ material (Sedna) and making us sitting ducks to act out, rather innocently believing we’re following instinct when we’re really riding on a subtle current of info we ‘know but don’t know’ (Sedna).

By the 30th we’re not as prone to act (Mars enters Virgo, and gets a lot more inclined to demand to know the odds, the details, and the stats before doing), and Mercury flies close to the Sun in Leo, adding a prompt to think. Are we, Icarus-like, prone to be blinded by consideration of ourselves and our purpose and intentions, so much so that we flame out and plunge back to earth? Maybe, but the real message here could be that we pull back from being dazzled by our own potentials and intentions, and start to apply our smarts in service of getting closer to our goals.

Superior Conjunction of Mercury and the Sun on August 1st says we’re successful at drawing useful conclusions and making effective plans, and the ability to bring our ideas into solid reality only increases, peaking on the 2nd as Earth and Saturn finally perfect their meeting. Plan accordingly, and expect by the 3rd to get a good emotional reading on life direction and modification of efforts as the Gemini Moon passes over the North Node.

‘Sitting Quietly’ By Li Mei-Shu 1959 Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0

Today’s Word Image is a woman, seated in a pool of lamplight, in the middle of the night. What, literally or figuratively, is ‘keeping you up at night’? The image suggests awareness at a point when rest would be more appropriate, and could speak of overwork, hyper-vigilance, or an emphasis on being overly responsible, probably for things outside one’s control, as well as a state of worry. Since the woman in the image isn’t doing anything, it may suggest that anxiety without action is just wasted energy, and that it may be keeping us from getting what we genuinely need (in this case, sleep!)

Difficult Awareness

17 Saturday Apr 2021

Posted by in Cardinal Activity, current events in the sky, Sun/Mercury Superior Conjunction, Weekend Astrology

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‘Seascape with Sailors Sheltering from a Rainstorm’ By Bonaventura Peeters the Elder 1640 {{PD}}

That difficult awareness delivered to us by the recently perfected, current, and future lingering Sun-Pluto Cardinal square will be brought to consciousness by the Sun-Mercury Superior Conjunction of the 18th, which also promised some revelations in line with the recent New Moon. What we’ve seen, become aware of, or seen eliminated, destroyed, or transformed has presented us with a dilemma, as the Sun in Aries asks, ‘What do I do about this?’

We’re likely to see a way forward on the 18th that’s informed by whatever was born at the New Moon. The can-do-ness of that Aries event will finally be able to act on a problem that has called into play the sense of personal authority, responsibility, and that even when we had no clue how to proceed, cried out for action! There is so much ‘doing’ energy in all this that we may be tempted to pick the first action outlet we see, so intense is our desire (no, our need!) to address the Plutonian breakdown; instead we should relax (at least a little): with Jupiter sextile the Sun-Merc and semi-sextile Pluto, Sedna semi-sextile Sun-Merc, square Jupiter, and trine Pluto, and Mars, bless his aggressive little heart, down in Gemini making the mind churn out ‘get going’ talk (and as well aspecting things, with a sextile to Sun-Merc catching Sedna at the midpoint, a trine to Jupiter, and a quincunx to Pluto), all this suggests that facts and/ or beliefs will inform our thinking (so it will be at worst characteristic of who we are, at best thinking firmly planted in the real world and its circumstances), and will permeate our plans and where our attention goes, as will what we ‘know but don’t know’ (information sensed but not seated in the conscious mind–Sedna), and that this will propel us in the right direction, as the social order or our own beliefs about the Universe construct the perfect confluence of issues, events, and occurrences to get us to an important new point in our development–because that’s what’s happening right now, we’re all having things transformed, carved away, removed, or otherwise we’re seeing the power situation take on new shapes and hues, all in the name of moving us around the Universal chess board so we’re in the right place, right time, for the next phase of life. Now more than ever, we are responsible for how we respond–do your best.

Just thought I’d weigh in on that. Also, it’s a great time to address your health, particularly through diet or with environmental factors–you have a lot of juice to re-shape your well-being right now. ‘Til next time, and have a wonderful weekend!

Thoughts On Jupiter and Saturn, Together Again (Or Still?) + Your Weekend 19-21 December 2020 Expect A Blossoming

17 Thursday Dec 2020

Posted by in astrology, current events in the sky, forecast, Jupiter-Saturn conjunction, Saturn in Aquarius, Sun/Mercury Superior Conjunction, Weekend Astrology, Winter Solstice

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Cherry Blossoms in the Evening, by Matsubayashi Keigetsu, Kabuki-za, Tokyo, Japan 1951 {{PD}}

If you’re an astrology aficionado, you’ve likely been focused for some time on the potentials of this current (as Jupiter and Saturn started out within orb of each other in Capricorn early December-ish, with Saturn going into Aquarius first) and future connection (perfecting at 8:14 AM of the 21st at 00 Aquarius 28 as Jupiter catches up). There’s a lot of material out there, so I won’t try to be definitive; I’ll just offer a few observations. One thing we should note right away is that this is an aspect happening now, and that means it’s happening to everyone–and that makes where it falls in the individual natal chart of prime importance, in terms of sorting out the meaning for each one of us.

What effect we can expect in the natal House where this conjunction occurs? We might want to look at Jupiter in Capricorn as previous beliefs about rules, or maybe freedom provided by structure or an intact system, the scaffolding beneath the social order, or beliefs in institutions, authorities, or elders, and Saturn in Capricorn as the hammer coming down, suggesting areas where we have become completely hemmed in, if possible even more so than ever before, and these applying to one or more subjects of the natal House(s) holding Capricorn. With Saturn’s move into Aquarius, we take a Higher Mind perspective: I see why this is as it is, I understand the human need for boundaries, for understanding the nature of things–and I see where I should (and can most effectively) rebel, and gain true independence. We can flag which barriers need to come down, which authorities to support, and with Jupiter’s Aquarius debut, we start sorting our place in the social order, asking ourselves, to which groups do I genuinely belong, and where should I strike out on my own?

There are so many possible permutations of this, so many potential manifestations, but we can sum up at least one related idea as ‘More Or Less’. We may see a marked expansion of one thing even as we see a diminishing of another. These may be complementary (happening in tandem–more water in the glass means less air) or they may not relate to each other at all (a glass of air, and a glass of water, and ne’er the twain shall meet), or loss and gain, the modernizing of beliefs and life structures (to include those institutions and others we support and regard as holding authority), beliefs coming up against reality (and vice versa), more rules, greater restrictions, real-world opportunities that could lead to positions of authority, an elevation in status, or that might age us in place!

Also consider the way the conjunction could unite matters of the two Houses ruled by these planets. It’ll be a pairing with the Saturn-ruled House following the Jupiter-ruled one, meaning that the larger idea of the consequences of learning from and dealing with matters of one House lead to development of our attitudes toward matters of the following one. For instance, if you have Sagittarius on the 1st and so Capricorn on the 2nd, you may see how your personal efforts to expand, reach out to the world, go adventurin’, to teach or learn, or the famous, bachelor-esque, ‘can’t pin me down’ attitude has brought about some sort of Capricornian development affecting personal assets, earning capabilities, talent expression, or the way you feel about and see yourself. Maybe one’s cavalier attitude in dating the boss’ daughter has made her father consider you unsuited for promotion–or maybe your sunny optimism has created reward, a chance at talent expression, or a promotion you might not have otherwise been offered.

Embrace the Real, or Fail to Heal: For the 19th, we’re offered a crisp, clear view of reality–will we take it in? We see precisely where we are able to exercise our power and prerogatives in the real world (Saturn sxt Juno), and are offered a chance to not only adjust our thinking accordingly, aided by fine-tuned instincts, but find we’re at a point where past efforts coalesce into perceptible results (Superior Conjunction of the Sun and Mercury, Mercury qnx Sedna). There’s only one issue, really, but it’s a major one: we may also become aware of how much we gain by keeping alive our wounds (Venus trine Chiron). Love can heal, but for some of us, it will be a struggle to let go of something we’ve seen pay off so handsomely.

The Devil Made Me Do It: Our challenge for the 20th is to sort fact from fancy, as what’s at stake is much more important than we realize in the moment. We may be tempted to violate our highest values, do what’s unhealthy, spill secrets, harm relationships (this either because we can’t keep what we know to ourselves or because of our own desire to be disruptive), all possibly driven by a deeply held belief that we’re being held back or held down. That’s not true; if we go with unfettered fantasy today, we cause our own downfall (Neptune opp Vesta, Venus qnx Black Moon Lilith and Uranus, and parallel Saturn, Mercury sesq Hygeia).

Be Optimistic: The 21st sees both the Saturn-Jupiter conjunction and the Solstice, the longest night of the year in the Northern hemisphere, the shortest in the Southern. Personal effects may be momentarily overshadowed by larger matters, societal or even global ones–and that’s okay, though in all arenas there will be intimations, at the very least, of shifts in power (Pluto semi-sq Ceres). We’ll have plenty of time going forward to consider the conjunction’s effects; right now enjoy that tinge of optimism in the air (Venus parallel Jupiter). Until then, stay safe, and enjoy this point of extremes in our yearly trip around the Sun!

Good Day To . . . 17 August 2020 Absorb the Truth

16 Sunday Aug 2020

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‘Parti fra Vejle’ By Constantin Hansen 1853 {{PD}}

The 17th Is A Good Day To . . . accept change, accept expansion, accept the facts, accept the original thought, accept ‘the message’ at the center of everything. The ‘real deal’, a knowing about the Truth of things, is available to us today; receiving it only requires a mind quieted enough to lack resistance to reality–not necessarily easily done, but an admirable goal nonetheless. We may, courtesy of the Superior Conjunction of the Sun and Mercury and the Dark of the Moon, be able to simply absorb that Truth. Succeed at getting out of your own way, and you’ll have a better understanding of authority, power, and privilege, and a vision of how You, as a part of the Universe, fit in. Hints for success: don’t reject authority, power, the status quo, or current circumstances without having a clear and particularized vision of what can and should replace it–this is a warning that to be a rebel has two parts, getting rid of the old and creating anew–it can’t just be tearing down, which is the part most of us seize upon and never move past–and both creativity and deception lurk in the areas of ambition and desire fulfillment, and it’s important to sort the false from the true as we reach for our goals; otherwise we can be led seriously astray, and so lose today’s chance to accumulate a little mojo.

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

Here’s tomorrow’s New Moon–

The Week Ahead 1-6 May 2020 Good Ideas and Bad Moves

30 Thursday Apr 2020

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‘The Artist’s Niece, Kathleen – Portrait of a Musician’ By Grace Joel 1920 {{PD}}

Just a few notes on general trends, on the way to the Saturn, Venus, and Jupiter retrogrades later in the month:

The days spark innovative ideas on health and ‘new’ and inventive approaches to things (Uranus novile Hygeia and Vesta, Mercury parallel Uranus and nov NN–which is good news for those researchers looking at Covid-19) but not necessarily a great time to change reality based on them (Saturn sesquiquadrate Hygeia, Chiron opp Juno, Mercury contraparallel Mars). That is, opening up will take us into negative territory; our hubris will be our downfall, if we insist (Mars semi-sq Chiron and sesq Juno, Merc contra-parallel Ceres, Uranus qnx Juno).

What we need to devote ourselves to, especially on the day of the Superior Conjunction of the Sun and Mercury, the 4th, is a determination to think before we leap, to do the smart or practical thing, and to fully accept what is revealed about obstacles in our way. We can see our own hurt clearly, and that affords us options as to how to go forward; ignoring our hurt only keeps us stuck. Don’t succumb to the temptation to use wounds as weapons (that will end up being as if you pointed a loaded gun at your own face!), and don’t allow yourself to use them as ways to explain your less successful or flattering choices–we’ve got to own ‘it’ to improve ‘it’ (aspects include Mercury and conj Sun sesq SN, nov Chiron, and qnx Juno).

Ambitions get a big boost, and exercising creativity and looking at events through a spiritual lens can be highly beneficial, as long as you’re willing to address issues, particularly in finances and relationships, rather than bury them, or pretend not to know the problem (Venus sq Neptune and trine Zeus).

Have a great one!

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

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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.

A Good Day To . . . 3 September 2019

02 Monday Sep 2019

Posted by in astrology, current events in the sky, forecast, Sun/Mercury Superior Conjunction

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‘The Waterfall’ By Henri Rousseau 1910 {{PD}}

The 3rd is a Good Day To . . . stay alert to our own tendency to slide into hurt mode, and/ or to communicate aggressively, the latter probably unconsciously. It’s a day when little bits of ourselves that are wounded, upset, or sad may float up and out before we know it, and those bits are inclined to do damage today, so stay vigilant.

Today is also the Superior Conjunction of the Sun and Mercury, which is the point where they conjoin during Mercury’s direct movement. This typically brings the conclusion of a matter seeded at the Inferior Conjunction, the last of which occurred 21 July. Happening in concert with other influences suggests that those aggressive or wounded bits may be dislodged from the psyche by what reaches its apex today. The only antidote for any of this is unflagging Self-awareness.

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

21 May 2019 Freedom or Fantasy?

20 Monday May 2019

Posted by in astrology, Born Today, current events in the sky, forecast, Sun/Mercury Superior Conjunction

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‘Fantasy’ By Pierre Puvis de Chavannes 1866 {{PD}}

The Sun and Mercury both enter Gemini today and form the Superior Conjunction; though they share space in the 29th degree of Taurus, they don’t perfect their meeting until 00 Gemini–thus suggesting that the conclusions typical to a Superior Conjunction will spark a whole new way of thinking or relating, and that these might be preceded by a crisis or other tense scenario.

When they perfect, both the Sun and Mercury are semi-square Juno, signalling some sort of upset over personal empowerment, or the authority or status one holds–and this may come as precursor to, or follow-up to, the Superior Conjunction.

All this tension/ crisis may open the way to opportunity, to freedom, and this gives us the chance to truly act on or expand the reach of what we consider important, what we value or are dedicated to. Not all of us will respond to this, though; some will immerse themselves in escapism or take a fantasy-based tack. In either case, we need to be aware that what happens today will shape the future, for some time to come.

(Jupiter trine Vesta, Neptune trine NN)

Setting the table for your year ahead. Art by Peter Ilsted {{PD}}

For those born with the Sun at 00 Gemini. Check your natal chart for the correct Sun degree (you may want to read both the degree number and the one that follows, if you have minutes on your Sun position–together these offer a more complete picture of your year ahead). Dear Gemini, What will you learn on your birthday? What will end, what new beginnings show themselves? The sky’s the limit for you, this solar year, through to your next birthday, IF you’re willing to pull back and make sure that in pursuing ambition or desire fulfillment you remain both smart and practical. A willingness to apply skills, or to learn new ones, would serve you well, as is openness to change that is optimistic or that brings the life in line with the facts. Good luck!