Recognizing the Absurd

Tags

, , , , ,

Alexandra Day's 'Good Dog, Carl'

Alexandra Day’s ‘Good Dog, Carl’

When my girls were little we discovered a series of books that featured a babysitter named Carl and his adventures with the children he was tasked with watching. That’s cool, right? Except that Carl was a Rottweiler, and the children’s parents repeatedly put them in the most absurd, precarious, and dangerous situations without a care–as Carl would make sure it all worked out.

I loved these books; I have a keen sense of and fondness for the absurd, and I delighted in introducing my children to something so unreal. I still indulge in this, often asking kids of 6 or 7 if they’re married or have their driver’s license. They are old enough to recognize I’m saying a nutty thing, and it’s always fun to watch their reaction–ends up about half will laugh and say something like, ‘No!’ while the rest actually get a little angry, as if to say, ‘Why is this grown-up not playing the social game right?’

So is it just me, or are many individuals, and even larger entities, going to great lengths to convince others to accept the absurd? I’m looking at what’s going on in the sky right now, and we have one of the most solidly realist aspects imaginable at present, the square between Mars and Saturn, that brooks no nonsense and will nail all facts to the table–and perhaps I’m sensitive to the absurd v. the real right now with Mars and Saturn forming the base of a Fist of God with my natal Moon–ouch!–so what’s behind this for everyone else?

Maybe it’s the Ceres-Neptune opposition (Authority faces off against Idealism), or maybe it’s the approaching Finger of God with base of Pluto-Chiron and apex Mars–that’s like a Universal shout out for a Band-Aid® applied with a nail gun! It’s like saying, ‘We’ll heal through destruction, by wiping out the injuries (or maybe the injured!), and we’ll bring about that healing through martial means!’ Oh sure you will.

Usually I deal with the personal, so I think that’s how I’ll approach this question, too. With Vesta as current body of latest degree, we may find people are defending what they see as sacred, whether it makes sense or not, and whether it’s truly worth defending or not. The very idea that this is possibly what’s motivating us should give us pause–and spurred by the quincunx between Ceres and Juno, we might want to adjust our thinking about our own empowerment, and how much we do or don’t need the co-operation of authorities to achieve it. Jupiter and the Sun are in sextile, and Jupiter and Zeus are square; this shines a bright light on the social order, and through conflict on the ambitions and desires of those involved. This should give anyone willing to look a clear enough picture to determine whether we must go along with the absurd, or whether we can free ourselves, with a minimum of hurt (Uranus semi-sextile Chiron).

Become a subscriber now, before prices go up October 1st! The new subscription (beginning the 1st) includes the Weekly, the Daily, and various FREE mini-lessons/ readings and reduced cost services, all for one low price–$25 now, and for as long as you remain a subscriber, you’ll get the current rate!

September 5, 2013 New Moon in Virgo: ‘All In The Family’

Tags

, , , , ,

The Campbell of Glenorchy Family Tree by George Jamesone 1635 {{PD}}

The Campbell of Glenorchy Family Tree by George Jamesone 1635 {{PD}}

New Moon in Virgo  4:36 AM PDT of September 5th  13 Virgo o4:

‘All In The Family’

The New Moon in Virgo aspects Chiron by opposition, Uranus by quincunx, and Jupiter by sextile. This suggests that the fresh beginnings of a NM are involved with healing, or that they spring from healing which has already occurred; the idea with the latter is that now that we’re healed, we can go on to something brand new. The problem is that either the group or our own urges toward uniqueness or rebellion push us away from this new start, or align us with it in such a way that we sabotage ourselves. We can receive help from the social sphere, through knowledge shared, through publications that say just the right thing, or through prayer or counsel of a spiritual leader. But what is the new start, exactly? It may, in some way, have derived at least part of its meaning from that Moon-Pluto aspect of a few hours before; in stirring up the darkness, or the past, we have put the final piece of the current ‘new start’ into place.

The Sabian for the New Moon is, ‘An Aristocratic Family Tree’. So, if there’s a group involved in our NM beginning, it almost certainly will be one’s family. With that in mind, it seems to me that we should look forward to some aspect of ourselves, harmed by family dynamics or the early environment, now healed, that is the basis or starting point for our own new and unique expression of ourselves in the social circle. A family tree makes us aware of connections, of the ways individuals are entwined, sometimes without much contact or awareness of one another. The point of a NM with this as a symbol may just be that all families carry the romance, the rise and fall of fortunes, the exotic or adventurous members, the successes and failures, that aristocratic families do. It may be our business to regard our own family this way, to find the nobility in it, to re-acquaint ourselves with the things that are quite special in our lineage. Surely these will figure in to our NM new start; something we’ve learned from them, that has been passed down, that is encoded in our DNA, will be an important part of what we begin at this time. Look to the natal House with Virgo on the cusp, and/ or the House where the NM actually falls, for hints as to the areas where your NM new start might occur.

Chart for the New Moon is here

This is a pared-down version of the New Moon material in ECLIPSE; for more, please subscribe!

. . . And For Your Weekend 30 August-2 September 2013: ‘Still Waters’

Tags

, , , , , ,

'Tranquil Pond' Gustav Klimt 1899 {{PD-Art}}

‘Tranquil Pond’ Gustav Klimt 1899 {{PD-Art}}

A Lunar thought for today, the 30th, considering situations all over:

6:30 PM PDT Saturn, Earth, and the Moon create a Water Grand Trine. This can be a period when we feel personally security and at peace, as well as sensing that we have all we need. A lovely time of balance and serenity, if we do not exchange placidity for drama. Jupiter, the North Node, and Chiron also form a Grand Trine, this one too in Water; this suggests that a healing attitude on the social scene can affect destiny–that sounds like the perfect time to pray for peace.

And one for today and the next couple days:

At this time we’re also seeing a loose Grand Square with the Nodes, Saturn, Mars, and Juno. This is a conflict centered in who will get and retain authority, the kind of influence that will determine the paths of many. Though there may be contingents starring the assertive upstart, the established authority, and the individual or group who hold authority in name only and struggle to gain it for real, betting money should, in this instance, go on the established hierarchy, ‘boss’, or current power-holders–at least for now, they will prevail.

It’s all from ECLIPSE–support the blog, and get it all delivered to you!

Just a Little AstroEssence 30 August 2013: ‘The Cold and the Tender’

Tags

, , , , ,

This weekend it may be the strongest, most powerful people who will weep the most. 'The Lament for Icarus' HJ Draper 1898 {{PD-Art}}

This weekend it may be the strongest, most powerful people who will weep the most. ‘The Lament for Icarus’ HJ Draper 1898 {{PD-Art}}

From the just-out issue of ECLIPSE:

30 August Mercury in Virgo sextiles Jupiter in Cancer–and despite the flow of a sextile what we find is some aggravation and overly critical interaction, as a too-sensitive social sphere or power-figure overreacts to communications that are bald facts stripped of niceties. If this were a bad science fiction movie, it might be Robot Accountants vs. the Crybaby-gods (or maybe those are dueling gangs involved in a dance-off, à la West Side Story). In any scenario, individuals and groups may split off into cold, calculating (and maybe just a little sadistic) truth-tellers (or perhaps fact-flingers) on one side and powerful but totally playing the tender feelings/ vulnerable ego card on the other. Just be aware, both are attempts to run the show–winners wait for the Moon to shift from Gemini into Cancer (4:33 AM PDT), then use Luna’s sextile to Ceres in Virgo, which also captures Mars at the midpoint, to act from a secure position of appropriate power expression–no need to try to wring blood from a stone, as those identifying with Jupiter will do, or to punish with the unvarnished reality of ‘What Is’, as those identifying with Mercury will.

Just a Little AstroEssence 29 August 2013: ‘Go Build’

Tags

, , , , ,

Panchanadisvara Temple India Photo by Jayaseerlourdhurai http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Jayaseerlourdhuraj Shared under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported

Panchanadisvara Temple India Photo by Jayaseerlourdhurai http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Jayaseerlourdhuraj Shared under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported

29 August we may be up to our necks in earthly matters, and yet trying very hard to look the other way, in some sense, or to avoid stepping on figurative toes. It’s an odd day; there’s so much to attend to of physical importance, but we will be shy of others, overly sensitive, anticipating they will be sensitive–and even taking great care we may set someone off, anyway. Communications are doomed and originality will only bring criticism, but anything that requires you to build, that takes structure and hard work, will do very well–put your attentions there. (Venus semi-square Ceres, Mercury opposed Chiron, quincunx Uranus, Sun quincunx Juno, sextile Saturn, Earth trine Saturn)

The Moon’s Void begins 6:07 PM PDT; the Moon enters Cancer at 4:33 AM PDT August 30th

This is from ECLIPSE; order now, a new issue arrives tonight–and lock in your current, low price for 2014!

Just a Little AstroEssence 26 August 2013: ‘Ponies, and Growing Up’

Tags

, , ,

Well, someone got a pony! by Friedrich von Amerling 1845 {{PD-Art}}

Well, someone got a pony! by Friedrich von Amerling 1845 {{PD-Art}}

26 August the material world may, in some way, dazzle us, and yet this may be costly, we could misunderstand what’s communicated, and we may find ourselves rebelling, probably needlessly, against what’s presented. It’s a matter of perceiving that there’s a great big wonderful glittery world out there and believing we’re not getting our share of rainbows and ponies. Once we come back to Earth (or grow up), we may find that we’ve been seriously mislead concerning something important about money, relationships, empowerment, reality, or what’s truly smart or original. Allow for this immaturity break and don’t be too hard on yourself–we all need to regress, on occasion, if it means we can see the world sparkling new again for a while. (Saturn square Juno, Venus quincunx Chiron, opposed Uranus, Mercury semi-square Pallas, Earth conjunct Neptune)

To get the full forecast delivered to you daily, subscribe! Lock what you pay in now, before prices go up October 1st!

A Cardinal T-Square Kind of Day

Tags

, , , ,

'The Gathering of the Manna' Tissot c1898 {{PD-Art}}

‘The Gathering of the Manna’ Tissot c1898 {{PD-Art}}

I saw Venus square Pluto, perfecting today, in action, as part of the long-term Uranus-Pluto square, with Venus making a T-square and only promising to get worse, as our Lady of Love heads toward conjunction with Zeus (ambition, lust, desire). The way I saw it play out was this: the group (or I should say, individuals appointing themselves as speaking for the group–Uranus is in Aries, after all) asks for discussion of ideas/ exercise of the intellect, but doesn’t like anyone they label as rebellious (others might call them original, thinking for themselves, or loners)–there is a right stance to take, and you must take it, and want to be part of our group, and if you don’t, you’re intellectually inadequate–because you couldn’t be as modern, learned, or smart as we are, otherwise you would conform! The group offers obliteration (via Pluto–of the intellect, the ego, or anything that indicates separateness) to those who don’t see the group’s standards as holding ultimate value–which says that the minute a Uranian entity like a group forms, it loses it’s Uranian qualities if it chooses to reject anything that differs from it–it in effect becomes Saturnian, authoritarian, intolerant.

Have you had an experience like this, have you watched the group reject anyone not willing to bow down? This is not the first time I’ve seen this, but I think the willingness to judge others so harshly can only be based on fear: of being left out themselves, of not being seen as worthy of high status, of having wasted their time, energy, money pursuing something someone else doesn’t seem to value or want. For some people there’s nothing worse than doing, buying, being something that others aren’t impressed by–I think I ran into them today.

What I saw followed the old idea that what comes out of someone else’s mouth says far more about them than it does about the person they’re speaking of–when I remembered that, I realized how little anything that was said, particularly that was said to me, had to do with me–and I went back and looked at my own assertions, because those are the ones I must own. I’d simply said that I didn’t think ‘x’ necessarily indicated ‘y’, nor did I believe it was necessary to follow a particular learning trajectory to end up at ‘y’–no more, no less. I just don’t hold a lot of ‘shoulds’ in assessing others–I believe the proof is in the work, and nowhere else, and I think that’s true in all areas of life: I don’t need to judge someone else as fit or not in some area, their life experiences will do that for them.

We enjoyed the Superior Conjunction today (the meeting of the Sun and Mercury with Mercury direct) which is typically a culmination point of its own. I’ve been watching for some time now as people show who they really are under the pressure of Uranus-Pluto, and like everyone I’ve been dealing with these same pressures myself. What I discovered was that I am not fearful enough, or insecure enough, and that I am not working to prove myself to others (the only person I need to impress is me), and so there are some people who will judge me and see me as inferior, because I won’t struggle with them (they think I should care what they think), or because I’m just not like them (they see their own way is superior, and if I don’t support that view, I’m wrong)–and that’s okay.

Stories–feel free to share ’em if you’ve got ’em! And have a great weekend (the Lunar portion of the forecast for tomorrow is below) Thank you!

A Little Lunar Something for 25 August 2013: ‘Music, or Deception, Behind the Words’

Tags

, , , , , ,

Richard Bergh 1884 {{PD-Art}}

Richard Bergh 1884 {{PD-Art}}

2 AM PDT of the 25th the Aries Moon squares Mars and trines Ceres. A pinnacle for power that does not allow for easy or straightforward action. Use your power in an intangible way, through prayer, thought, good wishes, or in the setting of positive intentions. Void begins at 3:42 AM PDT; the Moon enters Taurus at 6:14 AM Pacific time. 10 AM PDT the Moon trines the Sun. Sets a harmonious, positive tone for the Moon’s passage through Taurus. Noon the Moon trines Mercury and sextiles Neptune. It’s easy to spin a tale, or should I say, take a creative tack when communicating. We should stick to what we’re sure of at this time, and we need to listen carefully to what we’re told–we might hear music, or deception, behind the words. Starting about 4 PM PDT we see a Mystic Rectangle made up of Saturn, Mercury, Neptune, and the Moon. This is brief but can lend a magical-feeling ‘lift’ to efforts we make at this time–some will succeed with surprising ease. 5 PM PDT the Moon creates a T-square with Saturn and Juno. This puts us in an emotional quandary, possibly caught in the struggle between Mom and Dad (think symbolically). It may seem to be a choice between empowerment and handing that power over to an authority figure–my advice is to go for your own empowerment, should you feel the urge. 11 PM PDT the Moon trines Pluto. We may want to bare our Soul to another–or could feel it’s the time to get something toxic off our chest. Weigh carefully the impact this may have on others, before going forward.

This is from ECLIPSE; see it all by subscription!

Just a Little AstroEssence 23 August 2013: ‘Spinning Off Course’

Tags

, , ,

 

Not the kind of spinning I'm talking about, but still, the details! Gerard ter Borch 1650s {{PD-Art}}

Not the kind of spinning I’m talking about, but still, the details! Gerard ter Borch 1650s {{PD-Art}}

A little something from ECLIPSE; get everything here–new issue just out!

23 August Judgment and correct action suffer today, mostly at the hands of over-active imaginations, fantasy perceptions, misinformation, and misperception, with choices made and Wills expressed too prone to act out of old hurt. Maybe the action is rooted in wounds but covered up with an illusion of current righteousness, or we try to do something creative and end up doing something not-so-smart. In any case communication suffers as some try to promote their own ambitions or wants while others are counting pennies and still others are ultra-critical, likely out of misguided beliefs. We can combat some of this by vowing to stick to the facts, to avoid pressure-filled situations, including competitive ones, that could make us spin off course, and by actively employing the creative urge in some form that challenges us in a forum we’re already familiar with or in a methodology already known–it’s in trying to strike out into new territories or new forms that can cause us to roll the dice, to our own detriment.

Thank You to everyone who so generously supports the blog and my work through subscriptions–you make it happen!

Full Moon 20 August 2013 at 6:44 PM PDT at 28 Aquarius 10: ‘Emergence’

Tags

, , , , , ,

'Beauty and the Butterfly' VM Corcos pre-1933 {{PD-Art}}

‘Beauty and the Butterfly’ VM Corcos pre-1933 {{PD-Art}}

Though I’m usually all about strict orbs, for this Full Moon I have the feeling I should be including both the opposition to Mercury and the wide conjunction to Neptune–throw in the square to Sedna–add these to the opposition to Ceres and a very wide quincunx to Mars. It just seems the light of this Moon will be extra powerful, falling on aspects it wouldn’t typically touch–or perhaps I should say, it feels as if it will spread farther, making contacts and beaming light into places that would normally remain in shadow.

We see the Full Moon in Aquarius conjunct Neptune out-of-sign, suggesting this brings a culmination of delusion or inspiration, likely related to the matters of the House in the natal chart with Pisces on the cusp. The aspect to Sedna reinforces the extreme difficulty of communicating and even of understanding our own thoughts–it’ll be worse than Merc retro, a blank instead of a fog–and I can’t overemphasize how we will not recognize this mental and communication disparity. Aquarius will try to persuade us that the mind can translate the inspiration, can handle it all–it can’t, in fact, it’s likely not to even recognize it, at this time.

The Sabian for the Full Moon is, ‘A Butterfly Emerging From A Chrysalis’  This suggests that we are in process–we are receiving the inspiration, the creative urge, manifesting the ideal–but we are not beginning, we are not at the end, we are in the midst of receiving the Neptunian element, while consciously addressing our nature or power position–and neither will be at a point of conclusion.

To see much more about this Full Moon, please subscribe to ECLIPSE.

Julie Demboski's ASTROLOGY

Addressing the Individual Experience Within the Universal Truth

Skip to content ↓