Asteroid Basics: A Quick Guide to Reading Them in the Chart

19 Friday Jan 2024

Posted by in Asteroids, astrology, Ceres, Chiron, Juno, Pallas, Vesta

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‘Jupiter and Juno on Mount Ida (detail)’ By James Barry 1790 {{PD}}

This article first appeared in a 2015 edition of Eclipse; the current version has been added to and modified.

Juno: the Consort, the Mate, the Woman in Charge by virtue of her position and status, a figure who should be listened to and respected, but who is repeatedly disrespected by her philandering spouse and ignored by others–hence her reputation for anger and vindictive displays. Who can blame her? No one likes being frustrated, which is why Juno’s magic comes from learning Self-empowerment, a condition where one doesn’t rely on others to feel effective in the world. Juno for a woman shows where and how she gains empowerment (through sign and aspects), with the sign opposite the one in which Juno sits giving hints about the kind of person with whom she’d like to mate (combine this with 7th House indicators for a more complete picture on the potential acceptable spouse–the 5th is for purely romantic considerations, and may not figure into mate selection at all). For women Juno’s front and center in terms of feeling one has an impact on one’s world and in how thoroughly one is in charge of one’s own Fate, and until she is determining her own Path, Juno may also show where a woman is being held back from that kind of Self-determination. For men it’s much more subtle, riding just below consciousness, and awareness of empowerment potentials. For both men and women Juno shows empowerment gained by personal effort and by status through association with other powerful entities; for men it further describes the kind of person seen as appropriate ‘mate’ material, especially in terms of the behaviors characteristic of the sign in which Juno sits. Typically men notice Juno most when they are seeking a spouse (and this is so no matter the sexual preference). Someone is assessed by the Juno standards, usually without too much conscious thought—they either strike him as appropriate to partner with or not. The keyword for reading Juno in the chart is ‘empowerment’, keeping in mind that this designates by aspect and transit where that struggle is occurring, or where we are trying to implement it, rather than guaranteeing the empowerment needs will be fulfilled there.

‘Ceres’ By Osmar Schindler c1902 {{PD}}

Ceres: she’s Mother Nature, but also every maternal figure (like the Moon), especially the ones who think they know best (not like the Moon), and she represents all growing things (though agriculture technically falls under Pallas–Ceres is instead Nature, with a capital ‘N’). Ceres is also all manner of negotiations, and generally every authority you’ve ever known who came by that authority as a given, a natural authority. Ceres has the life force itself behind her, giving her a source of power that drives all life on Earth–but such extreme power can also mean she fails to recognize the autonomy of others or their boundaries, overestimating both the reach of her authority and her rightful territory. The keywords for reading Ceres in the chart are ‘personal authority/ power’, though keeping in mind that the entity represented feels they have authority no matter what their actual position; also remember the potentials for the maternal influence (though it may only be a feeling or a ‘superior/ inferior’ relationship attitude), negotiation, and the over-stepping of boundaries, as well as health concerns centered on the body’s interaction with Nature (for instance, allergies).

‘Pallas Athene Visits Invidia’ By Karel Dujardin 1652 {{PD}}

Pallas: the child of Metis and Zeus, Metis being a Titan and representing ‘magical cunning’ (the original connotation of her name) and wisdom. She’s equal parts shrewdness and smarts, with a little dazzle thrown in (via the ‘Trickster’ label). It was foretold that Metis would have extremely powerful children, so as soon as Zeus and Metis got together, he began to worry. Zeus’ answer to all this was to trick Metis into turning into a fly, then swallowing her—what a guy! She was already pregnant with Pallas Athena, and began to create her child’s armor while still imprisoned inside Zeus. This gave him a massive headache—which he hoped to alleviate by having Hephaestus (Vulcan) open his forehead (great idea!) with an axe or a hammer (this sounds far too much like the description for an episode of ‘Jackass’). Of course, we know what popped out of Zeus’ skull with that rupture: a fully grown, fully armored, Warrior goddess, Pallas Athena. In terms of the asteroid, we need to be aware that Pallas’ history caused her to be created knowing a great deal already, and to be strong enough and smart enough to implement it.  Though her keywords are ‘wisdom and practicality’, she also signifies the productive and lucrative outcome of organized labor (such as agriculture) and represents skills of all kinds, but especially those of a practical nature (like weaving), and she can do the Warrior thing in a controlled and intelligent way that is often more effective than the full-tilt of Mars/ Ares. Pallas shows us where we may carry natural, internal wisdom–if only we’ll access it.  

‘In the Temple of Vesta’ By Constantin Hölscher 1902 {{PD}}

Vesta: is what we care about to the point of reverence. She represents those core things in life we find sacred, that we feel compelled to honor with our life energy. Though for each individual that involves a different set of concepts and material matters, they all hold in common the reverential attitude that means we will organize our lives around paying homage to these subjects and life areas—so, we will defend, put our energy into, even worship, Vestal things. She also describes (along with the Moon) the character of our need for emotional fulfillment and nurture according to the sign in which Vesta sits, and describes what feels like ‘home’ to us, the conditions we need, whether they are internal or external, in order to rest, relax, and thrive. Vesta can apply to the mate relationship within the ideal of dedication to the partner (and so apply as well to the sex life, which can carry the aura of a spiritual ritual), and of course to any matter, idea, or physical effort we see as appropriate to dedicate our life energy to. Keywords are ‘sacred’ and ‘commitment’, but keep in mind that aspects will elaborate on all potentials, including defending what shouldn’t be defended because of misplaced reverence, and an inability to respect (at least initially) some contacted energies (in hard aspect).

‘The Education of Achilles’ By Auguste-Clément Chrétien 1861 {{PD}}

Chiron: is the primal wound, one gained pre-verbally and so often not consciously recognized. Theoretically, within that wound lies a unique gift that with personal evolution is offered to others, then may move on to expression at a transpersonal level. You have a unique experience of your Chirotic injury, and that makes you specifically qualified to offer that particular kind of healing to others, once you’ve dealt with it yourself. My contention is that the big blow-out of 2012 that some assumed would be the end of the world was in fact a situation of shifts in many extant energies—Chiron being one. I think that Chiron’s gift, which previously could only be used to aid others, not oneself, became available to the individual for the first time at this point. We are now able to use our own Chirotic strength to heal ourselves, since the wound is always directly related to the gift; that means we hold the answer to our own healing. Keywords for Chiron are ‘wound’, ‘gift’, and ‘healing’; you’ve got to hold all three in your mind at once.

Dear Readers, Have a wonderful weekend!

New Moon 11 January 2024: The Devil’s In The Details

08 Monday Jan 2024

Posted by in astrology, Lunar Aspects, New Moon, Sabian Symbols

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‘The Devil’ by Photographer Jus De Citron 2013
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

Two things immediately stand out with the New Moon in Capricorn (3:57 AM PST at 20 CAP 44): the way it and the opposing Earth form a crisp Cardinal Grand Cross with the Nodal axis (and as well with Zeus conjoined the South Node, and Eris conjoined the North, and these opposed each other at 24 degrees), and the Earth Grand Trine the New Moon forms with Uranus in Taurus and Juno in Virgo. These are dynamic energy patterns, promising action (Cardinals) and material impact (Earth signs), with the New Moon acting as trigger to both. So what does the New Moon itself promise?

A New Moon in Capricorn implies new beginnings in matters of status, social structure, constraints and rules, limits and requirements for achievement, so may feel a little like punishment; in reality, the form Capricorn imposes is for our benefit. The sign lets us know the limits, lets us know what we must do to get what we want and how to go about climbing the ladder, making an impact, building a place for ourselves in the wider world. We should welcome knowing the rules of the game–the alternative is a formless world where nothing can be built upon, everything dissolves in a mist, all is chaos, and as Gertrude Stein famously said, there’s no ‘there there’–and even worse, in a world without rules, there’s no way to instigate change. Without a system in place, we can’t create a better one. Essentially, all becomes meaningless.

So, Capricorn ‘gifts’ us with form, limits, and conditions for achievement, and expects us to follow the rules–and in this instance, the Cardinal Grand Cross tells us that taking heed of the new conditions and requirements, new forms and limits, will be instrumental in shaping our future, in the direction our lives take (the Nodes). The repercussions that ripple out like rings in the water are what we need to be as aware of as possible–and yet, it’s not possible to know all the consequences of our current choices and actions–and that’s where the Earth Grand Trine comes in.

We have Juno in Virgo (empowerment through discretion and critical assessment, and through productive labor that insures each harvests according to that invested labor) and Uranus in Taurus (impulses toward rebellion, innovation, and chaos in the material realm that can be channeled into unique creativity and choices that honor Higher Mind), and these potentials come within reach with the spark of the New Moon. Luna will show us how to balance empowerment generated by our efforts and discriminative faculties as they are applied taking smart creative risks and making smart, spiritually mature choices. The New Moon recruits the feeling nature and intuitive sensibilities as guides in shaping our choices and our path forward–and all while sorting the wheat from the chaff, so to speak, the relevant from the distracting and the confusing.

The presence with the Nodes of Eris opposed Zeus is a hint as to what’s at stake: our ambitions and desires must be measured in direct relation to those matters and individuals that harbor destructive or chaotic energy in response to our efforts. If it undermines your path it will show itself now–it can’t help it–and the New Moon in Capricorn will offer the conditions under which you will or won’t accept what’s in play. It’s useful in a thousand ways–the only danger is that sentiment (the Moon) may cloud our vision, may undermine us acting in our own best interests.

Less compelling but no less revealing aspects the New Moon makes include a semi-sextile to Ceres and a semi-square to Saturn. These suggest that our sense of personal power, and/ or our health, will figure in, and that the reality picture or our own internalized sense of ‘dos and don’ts’ may perpetuate emotional resistance. For best results, we must set these preconceived (and often Self-imposed and Self-generated) ‘limits’ aside, and go with the new, revised vision offered by the New Moon. There’s also a sextile to Pallas, which should set our minds at ease. Inner wisdom and practicality are available–all we have to do is call on them.

Within hours (for the Moon) and days (for the Sun) both will meet Pluto at 29 tense degrees of Capricorn. In fact, the Sun will meet and then travel into Aquarius with Pluto, so it’s really worth mentioning these upcoming encounters. The New Moon occurs in anticipation of its conjunction with the lord of the Underworld; that is, emotional revelations delivered by events of the New Moon lay the emotional groundwork for radical change, elimination, resurrection, or transformation (Moon conj Pluto), which is followed by our attention on that change (Sun conj Pluto), which will take us from spotlighting the re-making of the established systems/ reality (Capricorn) to innovations in replacement systems/ approaches that are keyed to Higher Mind (Aquarius).

Sabian for the new Moon is, ‘A Relay Race’. This may refer to the New Moon’s preparation of the way forward for the Sun/ Moon encounters with Pluto. A relay race features the passing of a baton from one participant to the next. The original runner doesn’t cross the finish line, nor do those that follow. It’s only the final runner, who benefits from the actions of all who came before, that actually engages in the end of the race. The big and often irrevocable changes Pluto represents are built on many small moments that lead up to that change; we’re in one of those periods now. This also hints at the importance of the past (SN) in creating the future (NN), with the contact to Saturn suggesting current reality isn’t necessarily easy to alter or deal with (semi-square), at least not directly or even consciously.

I’ve heard the phrase, ‘The devil’s in the details’ more times than I can count in the past week (call it our Weekly Word Image, if you like)–and I think it’s exactly what applies to the energies stirred by this New Moon. While we’re dealing with it all, our attention is taken for the most part by the minutiae of living, but it’s these small, sometimes barely noticed choices that shape and drive what’s to come–these are what occur all around, and connected to, this New Moon in Capricorn point.

Also of note: a very close trine between Venus in Sagittarius and Chiron in Aries. Be aware of the ease with which we may injure ourselves or others in trying to apply ‘the facts’ within relationships (or, in the way realities about money may affect relationships). We may try to reduce an interaction to a practical level, or to a handful of hard truths; don’t forget that it exists first and foremost because of feeling, and those need no justification or explanation.

Full Moon in Cancer 26 December 2023: Ripe With Feeling

22 Friday Dec 2023

Posted by in astrology, Full Moon, Sabian Symbols

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‘Still Life with Ripe Fruits’ By Josef Lauer 1870 {{PD}}

The Full Moon perfects at 4:33 PM PST of the 26th at 4 Cancer 58. A Moon-ruled Full Moon promises that a feeling state ripens and reaches its most complete point; it can also bring feeling states to a head, and so expose the depths of our caring, our complex emotions, and our wounds. Intuition may be fulsome, and also irrelevant, as everything we would otherwise sense is on display–we don’t have to parse the vibes, everything is right in front of us. There are almost 7 degrees between the Full Moon and Vesta, with the Moon and Earth having left Vesta long ago enough that this may describe the past that brought us to this present Full Moon moment: we’ve just been considering what really matters to us, what we’re dedicated to, whether our life investments of time and energy truly reflect our priorities, et voilà, the Full Moon delivers the emotional impact of these musings, and then some.

When it perfects the Full Moon is still within trine of Saturn in Pisces, suggesting the reality picture puts its two cents into the feeling formula; expect to see the results of emotional decisions in real-world circumstances, but also be aware of the potential for suppression of that awareness, especially if we are either in the midst of reaching for a dream, or if we’re unwilling to see what is without our rose-colored glasses. That means there’s the chance for internal clashes, as feelings try to surface, try to make themselves known, and we resist or deny–and of course, that’s possible for those with whom we must deal, as well.

‘Ripe Wheat’ c1353–1336 B.C. New Kingdom, Amarna Period
Dynasty 18, Reign of Akhenaten

The Full Moon is also sextile Jupiter and semi-square Uranus, both in Taurus, implying that emotions are easily exaggerated, and that optimism is easy to come by, especially when it’s focused on our material state and surroundings, but even these good feelings can wield a sharp edge: we may be shocked or surprised by the actual state of our comfort or prosperity, if the Full Moon reveals it to be other than we believe (and this could be a positive thing–or could plunge us into Uranian chaos). Too, we may become aware of how much the group and our place within it affects our standing and our sense of positivity. A steep learning curve for some, but an important re-orientation to real-world circumstances. Expect to see an even bigger reveal around the 31st, when Jupiter leaves stationary retrograde status and resumes direct motion once again; that promises that either ‘the facts’, or our beliefs, will be undeniable.

The Sabian for the Full Moon is, ‘At A Railroad Crossing, An Automobile is Wrecked By A Train’. This image may be emphasizing the Uranian shock or surprise factor, and suggests that the impact of Lunar events is bigger than we anticipate, shown by Jupiter. It’s easy to write off emotions as something we don’t have to pay attention to, or that is something only happening inside of us, but in this case, it doesn’t seem we’ll have a choice: Emotions will hit big, jarringly, and will translate directly into our surroundings and our world, probably through actions or decisions that are prompted by those feelings. Whatever it is, it ‘wrecks’ a particular way we’ve been moving forward, and this happens specifically because we’re stalled at just the point where other, larger forces move through.

I suspect those larger forces will be explained by the Sun’s Sabian: ‘Indians On The Warpath. While Some Men Row A Well-Filled Canoe, Others In It Perform A War Dance’. This is an image of like individuals working together, prepared and ready to strike or otherwise aggress, in order to get what they want. Any situation like that for you? If you are one of the aggressors, you’ll be making your move–and if not–makes me think of the old joke: Just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean people aren’t out to get you! It seems any blow to our forward motion is perpetrated very deliberately, by those with an agenda. I imagine the Full Moon energy simply offers the emotional impetus for them to act, and like it or not, we’ll receive the impact.

The good part of all this is that we will definitively know where we stand–and that means with post-Lunar events we’ll be equipped to move forward wiser and more aware, especially in our knowledge of who to trust, who and what to care about.

Winter Solstice 2023

20 Wednesday Dec 2023

Posted by in astrology, Winter Solstice

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‘The Spirit of Winter’ By Pierre-Louis-Marius Poujol 1883 {{PD}}

In the Northern hemisphere, Winter Solstice is when the Earth is tilted as far away from the Sun as possible–and in the Southern hemisphere, this is the same moment the Summer Solstice occurs, as that half of the globe is tilted as far toward the Sun as it will get. This year it happens at 7:27 PM PST of the 21st. Let’s get a gander at the chart and what it might promise for the next three months, until the Northern hemisphere Spring/ Southern hemisphere Fall Equinox, of 2024.

The most striking thing may be that the Sun and Moon will be out-of-sign trine, Sun at 29 stressful degrees of Sagittarius, the Moon just entered a new sign, at 00 Taurus. At the same moment, the Sun will be closely opposed Vesta-Earth in Gemini, quincunx Sedna, and semi-sextile Pluto, with all these at 29 degrees of their respective signs. Could the tension run any higher, or for that matter, be more dangerous? Stressed energies are energies that can express unpredictably, specifically because perceptions may tell those affected that there’s no other choice–but we need to remember there is, there always is.

Our attention may be on what we find sacred, on what we revere, and so feel we must protect (Sun opp Vesta-Earth), with feelings ‘new’, in the sense that we didn’t know we felt this way (Moon at 00). Our instincts and those things we ‘know’ but aren’t conscious of may make us uncomfortable, bedeviling us with things that we just can’t quite put our finger on (qnx Sedna)–in fact, we may feel it’s dangerous if we don’t figure it out (semi-sxt Pluto)–but those are emotional perceptions discerned through the mind (Gemini Moon), and so being interpreted with all the pitfalls that occur when the mentality tries to define the heart.

Venus and Mars are semi-sextile, suggesting that relationships, sex, love, and aggression may act as outlets for all this tension, as may a pair of quincunxes: Pallas-Chiron (every time we try to be practical or act wisely, we open a wound) and Mars-Uranus (spontaneity or chaos accompanies action), with Uranus also trine Juno (acting freely and off-the-cuff is empowering), which itself is sextile Venus (but declaring our freedom will affect relationships or earning power) and square Mars (and maybe start a fight).

And Zeus is quincunx Neptune and opposed Eris, which may cause the most kerfuffle or draw our attention most strongly. Moving toward what we desire won’t quite bring what we imagine it will (and that begs the question: are we clear on what we’re headed for?), and may stir up the ire of those who’d like us to stay put. Being as aware as possible of stressful energies that will be abundant (and realizing we don’t have to react to them), while remembering discrepancies between our thinking and our feelings, will help us navigate–and too, knowing that pursuing what we want may cause some upset, we can weigh whether that upset is justified, or just someone not respecting our boundaries.

Spotlight: An Earth Grand Trine–And What About Ceres?

14 Thursday Dec 2023

Posted by in astrology, Ceres, current events in the sky, Grand Trine, Jupiter retrograde, Mercury retrograde, Retrogrades + Directions

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‘Venus, Cupid and Ceres’ By Cornelis van Haarlem 1604 {{PD}} It’s such a drag to have to wear a shirt, isn’t it, ladies? Ceres is the one with wheat in her hair.

Freshly retro Merc in Capricorn connects with retro Jupiter in Taurus and the Black Moon Lilith point to form an Earth Grand Trine. One, BML, is just a mathematical point, you may argue–and yet by its very contact with these other two we see this point in Virgo bring a little intellectual heft, a little airiness via ruler Mercury, to what might otherwise be a formidably dense formula–and that’s only exaggerated by the way both bodies are in apparent retrograde motion. Have you ever seen a child who doesn’t yet grasp the concepts around concealing their entire body play hide-and-seek? Invariably, they will scrunch into a corner or behind something and cover their eyes–with so much of the rest of them visible to all! That’s what we’ve got here: Jupiter and Mercury behaving as if they aren’t really noticeable, and Black Moon Lilith mustering constructive criticism in order to make both planets deal with their current energy states head on.

Jupiter in Taurus retrograde would tell you money and things aren’t important, that what you know or believe doesn’t really affect what surrounds you or what comes to you, and Mercury in Capricorn retrograde may have warring assumptions all at once: thoughts that embrace the status quo and current power structure as if they’re solid and will last forever, and at the same time thinking repeatedly of the ways the present framework and rules can be skirted, undermined, or exploited through a loophole.

Then along comes the Black Moon Lilith point–which critiques and creates lists for the other two, asking: what about the social sphere and the place it offers you is unsatisfactory? Is what you have and the environment you create nurture and comfort you, or is it designed to impress others? Does your thinking support the power elites, or your own interests? And are you confused about what really benefits you, and what works against you?

Black Moon Lilith insists you face/ deal with what you have been ignoring, denying, or with things that enrage you but are suppressed; in the case of Jupiter, this hinges on social roles and interaction, and with Mercury this is about the mentality you exercise. With both bodies retrograde, the examination of these areas can seem that much more difficult, as the energies feel less accessible, more hidden, and somehow contrary, even when you come at them as consciously as possible. So, right now we have an ongoing examination of social roles, thinking, and the material reality they create for each one of us. Tips to handle this? At present letting things flow around you, with less insistence on control and less deliberate expression of the Will, is probably a good idea; if you can keep things low key, watch the symbolism inherent in every day life, and practice acceptance, you’ll get to the end of the Merc retro period (early AM PST of January 2nd) and Jupiter retro period (early AM PST of December 31st) with a much more fact-based and realistic understanding of both your material situation and the social sphere and your role in it. After both are direct, you can move forward both more confidently and more effectively.

And what about Ceres? It’s at 8 degrees Sagittarius, same degree as Merc and BML–and it’s square BML, and so semi-sextile Mercury. This suggests that much of what we find out at this time will be seated in Nature, both in our place within it, and in our relationship to it. We’re going to find out things, learn facts, experience the validity (or ineffectiveness) of our beliefs, and this will shape our sense of personal authority, our ability to genuinely nurture, our health, and again, our command of our environment, going forward. The retros offer us chances to reconsider–and the other related bodies help us discover what it is we need to know.

New Moon in Sagittarius 12 December 2023: Carousel of Uncertainty

12 Tuesday Dec 2023

Posted by in New Moon, Sabian Symbols

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‘Carousel at Night at the Fair’ By Ferdinand du Puigaudeau {{PD}}

From now on I’ll be highlighting the ‘message’ portions of my posts for those who aren’t versed in or interested in the technical aspects of the astrology, and just want to know what the general trends are. Thanks to my friend C.M. for the inspiration!

The New Moon for December occurs at 3:32 PM PST of the 12th at 20 Sagittarius 40, forming a very loose Grand Cross with a wide opposition of Juno and Neptune, with Earth as always opposed the Sun and at this time, the Moon. A New Moon in Sag speaks of new beliefs, new ideas rooted in exposure to other cultures or ways of Being, and introduces the possibility of new facts being learned or coming to light; the Juno-Neptune opposition suggests creative or deceptive or muddied acts meant to empower. That says we act, we do, based on energies either imbued with the creative spirit or hopelessly misleading in their implications–and either way, we experience tension (the multiple squares of the Cross) that likely arises from that Sagittarius-themed new info/ belief. It’s a carousel of confusion, a merry-go-round that disorients because the facts may appear to be unreliable—and that isn’t an unreasonable perception, because of the influence of Neptune, which will obscure or mislead and so inspire uncertainty, hesitancy, and an overall sense that the world, or even our own minds, are untrustworthy.

The Sag (that’s pronounced ‘Sadge’) New Moon trines the North Node and Eris in Aries, suggesting that forward-moving actions and choices, and future-anticipating efforts, will bring out any enmity that lies beneath the surface of things; the NM also widely sextiles South Node-Zeus in Libra (so that these oppose NN-Eris), laying the casual base for a loose Finger of God, apex Uranus in Taurus. The Finger implies that New Moon energies join with the past and our own ambitions and desires, especially those around aesthetic creations, finances, and partnerships (Libra), and what it creates is either modern and new, or chaotic, manifesting in our surroundings, environment, or material circumstances (Uranus in Taurus). Either way, the results of New Moon influences as they combine with other forces are a surprise.

One other thing of note: Venus and Pallas are closely conjoined at the time of the New Moon, only 17 minutes apart in Scorpio–and these two just so happen to be novile (40 degrees, + or – 1 degree) from the New Moon. I think this offers a kind of intuitive ability to read the feelings coursing deep within ourselves and beneath relevant circumstances and to then see the wisdom these feelings offer–but this is only available if we are viewing the issues with Love. If our lens is clouded with anger, vengeful thoughts, jealousy, or greed (the negative Venusian qualities), we won’t have access to this practical guidance.

The Sabian for the New Moon is, ‘A Child And A Dog Wearing Borrowed Eyeglasses’. We were just talking about lenses, and here they are again! The image, though, is of borrowed lenses, something specifically meant to help someone else see–not just inappropriate in practical terms, but even ludicrous, when we think of specs on a dog. This may be a warning, that we need to be careful not to adopt viewpoints that are meant for others, when looking for helpful ways to regard and interact with the world. It can be tempting to think that someone else’s way of seeing things can work for us, too, but the reality is we are unique, and so our viewpoint, and the lenses we use to understand life, need be, as well.

Highlights of the Current Picture 4-12 December 2023: Emotional Grounding

04 Monday Dec 2023

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‘A Storm in the Rocky Mountains, Mt. Rosalie’ By Albert Bierstadt 1866 {{PD}}

We’re at the midway point with the Moon between Full and New, currently in Virgo, aspiring to organize, account for, and produce (good goals all, though we carry inhumanly high expectations for ourselves and our output in this sign). This is the point where we start to feel our energy wane, a little more tired each day, a little slower to recover, until we hit the Dark of the Moon and go into mini-hibernation (as we should! That lasts midday the 9th through New Moon on the 12th).

What I really want to talk about, though, is a Water Grand Trine formed by Venus, new in Scorpio, Saturn in Pisces, and Vesta in Cancer. This may feel like ‘new’ emotional territory, feelings from the depths, from and about things you never imagined and that reach into your core and into whatever you call ‘home’. In that way, what comes up may be a little scary–but also revelatory, giving us a way to ground ourselves through the experience of feeling. Usually we’re disoriented by such a wash of emotion; this time it brings a kind of stability, simply through giving us clarity about our feelings, and by showing us how strongly we actually feel, and in that way can act as invaluable guidance to matters facing us right now.

Pallas and Black Moon Lilith are sextile, with BML trine/ Pallas opposed Jupiter in Taurus=our wisdom and our desire to banish certain factors from our lives are both exceptionally strong at present; what we need to know is that we tend to exaggerate both our smarts in handling things and our need to rid ourselves of certain elements, and that can lead to, say it with me, overdoing our response. It doesn’t help that Sedna hovers at 29 Taurus trine Pluto in Capricorn=this feels like a crisis in the reliability of our own instincts and inner knowledge, with the fear that destruction of what we rely on for support may ensue, if we can ever see clearly what’s happening! We may be far more vehement at this time than is necessary, which can lead to burning bridges we may someday want to cross again. Realize that everything is heightened currently, both our perceptions and our reactions, and tone down responses–it may seem fireworks are called for in our answers, when being mild may actually go a lot farther.

What current conditions really call for is an ability to live with uncertainty. This will feel contradictory to all those intense feelings will have, but the reality we might want to aim for is this: feel the feelings, but don’t think you have to do something about them right away. Blame it on Mars in Sagittarius squaring the Black Moon Lilith point, and then see that, by definition, Mars in Sag encourages actions and choices based on facts and knowledge, or based in faith. Just be careful that we don’t confuse what we want to be true with what is–if you believe it, make sure the facts back it up.

The 7th through 12th Mercury in Capricorn gives us an Earth Grand Trine with the Black Moon Lilith point and Jupiter. That’s the period that promises we’ll understand the real-world impact of what we’ve been feeling, and also when we’ll understand what we think of things, and what of those thoughts need to be shared with the wider world, what needs to be ignored, for now. By the 12th Mercury will have stationed in preparation for its retrograde, which occurs just before midnight PST of the 12th. A retro in Earth suggests we will re-think our material position, our surroundings, what we are materially creating in our world, and how and whether this truly suits us. The retro beginning just hours after the New Moon implies that what new feelings are born or direction taken will require this re-think–so proceed over the next week-and-a-half knowing that fresh positions and fresh attitudes will come about, can’t be hurried, and knowing that, at least some of the pressure to act on feelings may be relieved, as we see that responses may all be a little premature.

Full Moon in Gemini 27 November 2023: Until We Perfect Time Travel . . .

25 Saturday Nov 2023

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

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‘Time Traveler’ Raku ceramic piece, first shown at Artsight Gallery, Coral Gables 2013. Provenance: Private collector, Miami, Florida

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The Full Moon perfects at 1:16 AM PST of the 27th at 4 Gemini 51, and we’re still seeing the influence of the Sagittarian Sun, Ceres, and Mars combined, now in opposition to the Lunar event–which means, all that identity and ego assertiveness, all that testing of one’s authority and right to do and be, creates an emotional reaction, with the Full Moon bringing it from the unconscious to conscious awareness. And what is that emotional response? It’s cerebral, but in that surface way that works things out by talking about it, chatting with others, sharing information, and just generally connecting with the minds and thinking that surround us. At the same time, it’s tempered by a wide conjunction of the Moon-Earth to Sedna, which is poised at the critical 29th degree of Taurus. That adds instinct, even what we might term ‘animal instinct’, to the mix, brings forward what we ‘know but don’t know we know’, and, probably suddenly, makes available ‘blind spot’ material that we’ve likely been struggling to access (especially so if we’ve sensed something there, just on, to mangle a phrase, the tip of our minds).

So, it’s a Lunar event of revelation, if we define revelation as gleaning knowledge from intense interaction with our environment that manages to shake loose and make accessible information both inner and outer in form. The Sun-Moon axis forms a loose Grand Cross with squares to Saturn, spanky new in Pisces, and Black Moon Lilith in Virgo, suggesting that, when the emotional reaction to the identity and ego efforts occurs, a simultaneous cross-current will form pitting an illusive or spiritually-tinged or creative reality picture against matters we’ve been ignoring, denying, or that have enraged us. The result is Self-recrimination, for all that we (theoretically) could’ve done in the past to get us closer now to where we’ve been wanting to go. We may berate ourselves for not having known better, or worked harder, earlier–but let me just say, that’s water under the bridge. Know that you had your reasons, that you handled things the best you could’ve at the time; we can’t expect ourselves to have performed in the past with the knowledge or mentality we have in the present. It’ll be a different situation when we perfect time travel–until then, understand we’re all operating at maximum (even when it doesn’t appear so to others!)

The Full Moon also forms a sesquiquadrate to Venus in Libra. This may make some relationships on which we rely feel uncomfortable; the Love may be hard to see, the value of the interaction so indiscernible we may feel alienated from what’s usually a steady source of partner support, emotionally and/ or financially. Don’t fret–it’s temporary, with the function of throwing our attention back on what we really can control: ourselves. That’s where the action is, right now, though that carries its own problems, namely some uncertainty as to whether we are smart enough, wise enough, or practical enough to handle what’s before us (quincunx to Pallas). Never fear; we are equipped, and here’s how we handle it. Use as guides two things: the chosen life direction, the way you have been intending to move forward, regarding that plan as not just legitimate but inspired (and this should include any modifications you now want to make that spring from newly-learned material), and second, accept that difficult reactions that come from others in answer to your actions and choices are only revealing feelings that were always there, just kept out of sight, usually because the other got some kind of advantage as long as your choices complemented their wants. See this as something you needed to know, and move on–dwelling on it won’t take away the somewhat sour taste of discovering a particular friend is only conditionally supportive, after all (novile NN and Eris).

The Sabian fits, and really needs no elaboration: ‘A Revolutionary Magazine Asking For Action’. In this case, the revolution is likely an internal one, aligning us more closely with our own newly discovered desires and direction, as has been stirred by the Sun, et al, with the Full Moon our emotional response to it. For the Full Moon we always look at the Sun’s Sabian, as well: ‘An Old Owl Sits Alone On The Branch Of A Large Tree’. This echoes the Pallas contact, since the owl is Pallas Athena’s symbol. We’ll feel alone, we may worry that we are inadequate to the task, especially when it comes to making smart choices–but this symbol hints that it’s in the space when we are alone that we can come to know our own mind, and what’s wise for us, most easily.

I plan on bringing back the Word Image–not today, because we have these Sabians to ponder–but with my next post. Have a wonderful Full Moon week!

November 20-23 2023: Grinding Gears

20 Monday Nov 2023

Posted by in astrology, current events in the sky

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Photo By Jim Kuhn Creative Commons Attribution 2.0

Scipione Del Campo’s Goddess with Gears panel from the 1932 Ogden Avenue Bridge House (Chicago, IL)

Here’s a dynamic I think worth talking about, where the Sun, Mars, and Ceres all conjoin, very late in Scorpio/ early in Sag, with all three sextile Pluto, square Saturn, and opposed Sedna as this latter moves from early Gemini back to the crisis degree (29) of Taurus. These combos make for a feeling of simultaneous push and pull, where we grind gears every time we try to move forward, even as retreat is made impossible by problems and barriers we can’t ignore. Our actions and choices, our sense of personal authority and responsibility, the very essence of who we are, is pressured to perform, to accomplish what we intend, and yet to do so threatens to strip us bare of protection. The consolation is that we’ll learn something new–but what a way to learn!

It doesn’t help that our instincts are in panic mode, restrictions seem insurmountable, and change to the point of obliteration is a constant ‘promise’–but here’s where we need to pause and ask, are our perceptions accurate? And the answer to that is: yes and no.

I think maybe bullet-pointing the way to approach this period is the best way to go; that way you get some direct ideas of how to respond, without worrying too much about the why of it all (because, of course, there is no why! It’s just life–no explanation needed).

–Keep in mind that at present the identity, the concepts of who we are that run Soul-deep, are feeling intense pressure to assert, to put the Self forward, to shout I Am from the rooftops–but included in this is too much push, a sense that something important is at stake if we don’t make an impact, and it’s this overemphasis on having our own way (or on doing something our own way) that causes us to lose perspective. We simply can’t see ourselves with much clarity, right now, and our instincts are, one way or another, unavailable for consult.

–It seems like reality exists mostly to give us a hard time. No, we’re just taking things too personally, and in doing so failing to recognize that some of what’s stopping us, or burdening us, is actually beneficial. Our ability to gauge how reasonable circumstances are is flawed, at this point–accept that, and you’ll avoid 99% of possible quagmires, simply by holding back instead of shouldering forward.

–Now here’s the good part: if we can bring ourselves to see and acknowledge the naked Truth, the genuine reality of any situation and our place in it (no sugar coating, no excuse-making masquerading as being reasonable), what we learn from this can give us the power to make needed changes, to transform areas that have recently felt stagnant, and to bring to an end those things that are truly beyond their ‘best by’ date. It’s an opportunity to control the changes to your world–and that’s priceless, considering that change will occur, like it or not–so better to shape things as we like, rather than to feel helpless in the process.

A few other points:

Zeus conj South Node, qnx Neptune=our ambitions and desires from the past hold some info or key to going forward–give those old aims a once over, and adjust the imagination/ creative energies to fold in some forgotten, but now valuable, ambition from yesterday.

Eris conj North Node=if in moving forward enmity arises, you can be sure the bad feeling was already there–it’s not coming from your choices or actions, it was just hidden. Deal with it not as if your goals are the issue, but instead look for the buried trigger beneath surface matters.

Black Moon Lilith sxt Vesta=a happy home doesn’t come without dealing with what’s been ignored, denied, or that has enraged. Clear the air, but keep in the forefront how important others are to you–gentle confrontation, rather than slash-and-burn, is the way to bring harmony and fulfillment to the home front.

New Moon in Scorpio 13 November 2023: Opposites Compel

11 Saturday Nov 2023

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

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Architechtural opposites By Paul Balfe Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic

The New Moon perfects at 1:27 AM PST at 20 Scorpio 43 on the 13th, shortly to conjoin both Mars and Ceres, and to oppose Uranus. The Sun, Moon, Mars, and Ceres in Scorpio together shine a light on emotional depths, on personal power issues, on what action to take or choice to make, while this energy faces the Earth and Uranus in Taurus, a pairing that promises surprises or the unexpected in the material realm. Though Scorpio seems action-keyed with rulers Pluto and, secondarily, Mars, it’s actually a Water sign, and that’s what we need to remember: any shift, action, or change prompted by this New Moon will be fueled by feeling, even compulsion–and that means our most important efforts should be around understanding our own emotional reactions, and where they might lead–not easy to do, when Luna is New Moon fresh, with clear perceptions made even more difficult by Ceres, who quite naturally sees herself as an authority (even THE authority!) That can mean the new Moon atmosphere is infused with a sense of both urgency and willfulness, a push forward that at its heart remains mysterious–but only if we fail to examine our own motivations. It’s a situation where opposites compel–if by compel we mean the inner urges respond to the emotions as prompted by sudden and surprising material conditions, which call forward an emotional need to take action–but to do what?

There’s only one other aspect made by the New Moon: a semi-square to Venus. That’s about the farthest Venus ever gets from the Sun; it reflects the way consciousness (the Sun) can’t completely separate itself from the concept of Love (Venus)–but it does imply that the individual consciousness can be at war with Love, probably when it doesn’t recognize the form in which Love arrives–or fails to understand the need to reform its own ideas of Love and relationship. This may signal that the current environment calls for extra care in our approach, and perhaps calls for awareness that it’s all too easy to believe we’re acting out of Love, when our idea of what that entails differs drastically from our own forgotten or neglected ideal.

To sum it up, whatever shocks, surprises, radicalizes, innovates, or modernizes right in front of us is the thing we must approach with as much emotional intelligence and genuine Love as possible. If it pops out of the woodwork, you need to respond, with as much care, consistency, and awareness of your own feelings as is humanly available to you.

The Sabian says it perfectly: ‘Obeying His Conscience, A Soldier Resists Orders’. It’s in acute Self-awareness, coupled with a strong moral compass, that we make the right decisions in any situation. To do as we have always done won’t cut it; as necessary as it is to work in harmony with others within a larger framework (in this example, in the army and with one’s fellow soldiers), it’s important to recognize the circumstances under which it’s not just desirable, but necessary, to respond in accord with our own conscience, with what we know is right.

Julie Demboski's ASTROLOGY

Addressing the Individual Experience Within the Universal Truth

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