9 Jan 2010: Ride the Wave

09 Saturday Jan 2010

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The Scorpio Moon is on the move (as if the Moon ever lingers!) squaring Mars, then sextiling the Sun/ Venus meeting in Capricorn. The likely effect is one of needing to act but perhaps being too angry, frustrated, or unsure in choice of direction, and then being presented with a kind of opposite, a soothing, loving, or happy situation that makes you wonder why you were so bent on pushing forward in the first place! Accept the contradiction, accept that things are going to be stirred up, that you may get glimpses of both harsh feelings and joyful experience. Just do your best to ride the Scorpionic wave, with attention on the sensations and emotional reactions that come up.

Use a dolphin or a lovely shell to ride the Scorpio waves

By the time the Moon hits a sextile to the North Node (starting 6 PM hour PST), opposition to Sedna, and squares to Chiron, Neptune, and Jupiter, we may be worn out. Just as direction seems clear, we realize we have no idea where we’re going–and then we meet conflict with our own sense of woundedness, our ideals and fantasies, and through feedback from the social arena. It makes for a trying Saturday evening.

If we’re willing to tune in to routine, duty, rules, and roles (Sun/ Venus/NN in Cap) we get the most benefit. Though decidedly unglamorous, this can be highly beneficial, allowing us to find the enjoyment and reward available in taking care of business, and coloring inside the lines.

Today’s Link: Clarifying thoughts on the new year http://www.astroinquiry.com/2010/01/the-joy-of-simply-being-happy-two-thousand-zen/

8 Jan 2010: In the Valley of the Eclipse

08 Friday Jan 2010

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It seems all this tension, aggression, and general crazy-makin’ may be nothing more than the energy that gathers between eclipses, cradled between the Full and New Moons as if held in a valley. Though we’re caught in the trough, unable to climb up over the containing ridge, we know that in less than a week we’ll see the next eclipse, a Solar one that will, one way or another, flatten those mountains of energy that are holding us in and open the horizons to view. Retrograde Mars and Mercury are playing parts, too, trapping us in frustrating situations that offer no easy solutions through action or overt communication–so what else is there?

Venus. She unites now with the Sun and they travel together; this pair offers illumination and sensitivity through the actual senses, a virtual means of communication with the Universe that takes on textures, smells, tastes, and sounds. We must think in highly symbolic terms in order to receive the messages sent, but this is the best way to go through a Merc retro period anyway: touching, tasting, wading through, rolling in, smelling, caressing, and feeling the world around us. If we can let go of the words and embrace the images and sensations we can make considerable, and considerably startling, progress.

The Moon enters Scorpio at 2 AM PST, and this, too, helps us on our sensory quest, at least for today. Scorpio Moon lets us plunge below the surface and experience; Sedna is closely trine the North Node, and Venus quincunxes Mars, both of which provide instruction and distraction. Sedna/ NN tells us we can’t, at this time, discern the true consequences of the direction we’re headed, while Venus/ Mars says that the anima and animus, the male and female, the receptive and the aggressive, will of necessity adjust their own energies to accomodate the complement. Awareness of this will be to our benefit as it will prevent too much emphasis in any single direction.

The Moon’s sextile to Pluto (8 AM-ish PST) can be a relief, if we can let go, or may stir up upset and secrets. By 10 PM PST the Moon conjuncts Pallas, and we’re able to see the day in review, and know precisely which of our choices were really wise, and which may have allowed that Pluto ‘bump’ to run the day.

Today’s Link: here’s a great place to exercise your symbolic thinking muscles as you read aello’s dream interpretations, really the best around http://dreamorpheus.wordpress.com/

7 Jan 2010: Emotions at Play

07 Thursday Jan 2010

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We can expect major access emotionally and intuitively today to our most unique skills, the imagination and creative abilities, and to that which supports us socially (Libra Moon trines Chiron, Neptune, and Jupiter); getting the word out about how we feel will be easy (and that always carries an implied caveat to take extra care with what we put out there, especially with the Moon’s quincunx to Sedna, making it tough to see how and where we must adjust, and her quincunx to Uranus, bumping up the urge to spontaneity and to radical and possibly extreme behavior).

Just before we tear into the creative cake, we’ll have to deal with the Moon’s T-square formed with the transiting Nodes. This will likely require a bit of inventory-taking on ourselves, a glance at where we’re going and where we’ve been of late–and that’s all for the good, preparing us to make the most of the day ahead.

Yesterday, as the midpoint of transiting Jupiter/ Uranus was met by the local Midheaven (let’s call it ‘revolutionary beliefs’ in this instance), two lovely young people showed up at my door. They introduced themselves, said they were from the Blahblah Academy, and that they were doing a project–and, drumroll, they wanted to introduce to me a never-before thought of concept: Mother God. “As a female!” added the girl excitedly, in case I didn’t get it. I think she thought I wasn’t comprehending her meaning because I didn’t react as she expected; I smiled and said, “Oh yes.” Their faces fell; they didn’t understand why I wasn’t freaking out at the thought that God might not be a Patriarch in the sky. I said, “Thank you, bye!” waved, and they left, stunned. I wanted to say, “Now kids, let’s use that Google to discover that our spanky-new idea is really the oldest one on earth, before we go door-to-door with it!” but they’d already been disappointed enough.

Don’t you be disappointed today; get out there and socialize! The Void doesn’t begin until 10:08 PM PST. Moon in Libra is best when we’re relating–what comes up with that will be what we’re always carrying in relationships, sprinkled with a little good will.

Link of the Day: Here’s an amusing and accurate take on the Saturn/ Pluto conflict of the square: http://astrologymediapress.com/astrologyexplored/2009/12/30/saturn-in-libra-sympathy-for-two-devils/#more-503

Jan 6 2010: Nerve Escalation

06 Wednesday Jan 2010

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I don’t mean the situation with Uranus, though its current sesquiquadrate to Pallas and trine to the South Node do speak of some need to adjust the impulses to accomodate what we know to be smart, as well as what we’ve learned from past experience–no, that’s a helpful situation, if we’re responsive to it; I mean an escalation of social ‘nerve,’ the kind that relies on our conditioning toward civility and polite response to allow someone else to over run us. This, I think, is Jupiterian. Yesterday we saw a quincunx from the Moon light this up; now, as planet of latest degree, we see Jupiter come forward coupled with the ongoing effects of conjunction to Chiron and Neptune, showing in startling ways that require we step outside our conditioning (and sometimes our politeness boundaries) in order to deal with them effectively, and in a way that respects our personal individuality. Jupiter (behavior acceptable publicly) plus Neptune (those who would deceive or confuse) plus Chiron (let’s just say, it’s not gonna help you!) are the elements some pulled out of their bags of tricks.

The full pic from which the header comes

For me, this showed in several ways; remember that a**hat yesterday who asked for free chart work, then told me he was just doing me a favor? He added me to his spam list, attempting to sell me a raw foods seminar in Maui and lots of podcasts. I’m about ready to name this guy publicly; I’d just hate to promote his ‘business’ in any way. For most of his life he was a failed (as in working in towns so small I’d never heard of them) radio talk show host, who got an ND and jumped on the raw foods bandwagon (and no offense meant to those who are into this; my point is that he has used this like camouflage)–when you put his past and present together, what comes to consciousness is how everything he does is about promoting himself, first and foremost–though of course, he would have us think otherwise. And, he has counted on my socialization (1. that I’m a female, taught to want to please, and 2. the particular, popular misconception that those who work in ‘New Age’ related disciplines are just here to share their ‘gifts,’ they are driven to ‘help,’ never mind making a living, which means they’ll do anything for publicity, and are just waiting to demonstrate, kostenlos, what they can do) not only to make me provide free services, but for me not to broadcast what a crass Self-promoter this fool is, because I think he believes I should be humiliated that he let me know my services aren’t worth paying for. He has misjudged me; I have a fierce and fearless core that is not loathe to face down anything or anyone even, or perhaps especially, in public, where each party can show openly who they are, and let the chips fall where they may, including the judgments of others. Maybe it’s my Sun/ Mars/ Jupiter conjunction that makes me feel so jaunty and formidable 🙂

Just before the Moon quincunxed Jupiter yesterday, I looked out my window and saw a tall woman in an oversized trench coat. She held something close to her body, hidden under the coat, and moved quickly from the grass on one side of the house to a place toward the center of our large lot (it’s about a quarter of an acre, not easy to wander to the middle of), next to the garage and very close to the back door. I opened the door and told her to get out of my yard; she was clearly not in distress, and there’s no way she could’ve mistaken it for a park! She turned and started yelling at me that I should be nicer when kicking people out of my yard–and she didn’t move. I reiterated; she continued to yell. Her words were the words of a practiced manipulator or abuser, caught in the act–the first thing this kind of person will do when confronted is tell you how bad you are. Finally I said, “You’re trespassing–get out” and calling it what it was, an illegal act, did make her move–after I said it twice! I know this is a small incident, but unnerving; I live in a big city, but neighborhoods are very contained here–you get to know everyone who passes by on a regular basis, and I had never seen this woman before. She was a test of my Jupiterian mettle, daring me to call her what she was, taunting me to live up to my social conditioning–and instead treat her like someone to be catered to, rather than the Neptunian bullsh*tter that she was.

So enough about the past–what about today? That Libra Moon has yet to conjunct Zeus and square Merc, Venus, and the Sun–why all the conflict, during a time when the surface says all should be going smoothly? I think the biggest problem is a confusion of energies–major energies in a cluster (and we know what word goes along with that) can start to stumble over one another, and our emotional stance challenges each energy in turn–and they’re all wearing the same damn hat, pretending to be in harmony when it would be easier to understand them if we saw that each energy has its own agenda, and so demands an independent take. We have the energy and impetus to sort them out and address them one by one (Moon sextile Mars) and we’ll be glad if we do; otherwise we may feel the Juno/ Vesta exact quincunx acutely, and this could signal power and Self-assertion needs that upset the relationship, home, values, and yes, sex apple-carts (and please, send me pics of your sex apple-carts and I’ll share them here).

My header, by the by, is by one of my favorite artists, Marc Chagall. There’s some controversy about the actual name of this picture; he painted so many wedding pictures (you can see the top of the bride’s head on the right) that many of the designators have become jumbled over the years. It’s the gentleness of Chagall’s work, though, that has always called me–plus I love that he uses a lot of chickens!

Today’s link: Check out Dana’s work here http://mooncircles.com/blog/  Read both ‘The Wrath of the Feminine’ and ‘Slowing Down’ for a delicious exercise in perception and contrasts!

Have a great one!

Jan 5 2010: I Try Something New

05 Tuesday Jan 2010

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I’ve decided to try a daily diary-style format for a bit; seems like I’ve been out of contact a little too much of late, though I know it’s irrational to perceive writing to an audience as the kind of exchange one experiences speaking with others-–and yet I do. So, what do we have to look forward to over the coming 24? We’re starting things off with a Moon/ Uranus opposition, Moon quincunx Chiron, which is not only perfect symbology for spontaneous expression of emotion/intuition, and the potential for a demand made on the wound or the skills, it shows the ambush I just received by email: a guy “wanting some insight” on what he perceived to be a very profound moment coming up in his chart. Having absolutely no patience, I wrote quickly to say he should see the ‘Want More’ page; he wrote back, saying no thanks, he didn’t think my time was worth paying for, he thought I would want to do it because I would want to write an article about this upcoming config and, apparently, his breathtaking bad Self! I didn’t want to devote the energy to writing back to inform him that this transit configuration is of course happening to everyone (and I’m sure he’d have time to snap back that he knows this, as he doesn’t appear to have much going on–like all the people who write astrologers looking for free analysis–honestly, would you say to your doctor, I’d like some insight on these symptoms, but I shouldn’t have to pay you, because you can use this in a medical journal!?) The conjunction of Jupiter/ Uranus and their opp by Saturn later in the year will be stressful for some, challenging for others, and carry the spring-tension of a drawn bow, poised to send them hurtling forward, for still others, but it’s not, as Mr M put it, ‘a tipping point’ in any absolute sense; he threw in a square from Pluto for June, too, but let’s not get sloppy! It will be a rare human being for whom this doesn’t have some effect, as is typical when heavyweights form geometric shapes (in the flat chart) in the sky, but let’s not get our panties in a twist. It reminded me of those years when I thought I still wanted to focus on fiction; at parties or gatherings inevitably people would share what they do, and when I’d be feeling adventurous (as I’m more than aware of the pitfalls of declaring something like this in public) and admit that I’m a writer, there’d always be one or two people who would corner me at some point and insist on sharing elaborate (and typically unusually banal) story ideas or plots, and then would cheerfully declare, “You can use that, and I won’t even charge you for it!” I am continually amazed at the general lack of understanding of the creative/ generative processes displayed by the average yokel; a small, totally evil part of me always longed to thank them for sharing what a complete Tool they are–but you aren’t toolish, are you, dear reader? You’ll understand.

But you’re here to find out about your day. The Moon’s quincunx to Neptune brings confusion, a need to adjust fantasy to emotional reality, or a tiny punch to the emotions/ intuition from the ideals, reminding us what we’re really about. The Virgo Moon calls it a wrap with a quincunx to Jupiter; will the social arena demand adjustment, or will we broadcast what we feel, despite our better judgment? Or will we just follow the impetus to expand, that may promise us some emotional relief? Then we’ll see a Void, beginning 4:30-ish PM PST and lasting through 8:58 PM PST–suggesting we should sit back, relax, and not be too focused on controlling that which is clearly out of our reach.

Moon into Libra is not always as soothing as it sounds–sometimes we are put into the tension of a perpetual balancing act as we diplomatically try to please everyone. Don’t let this be you! The Moon will square Pluto by 2 AM PST of the 6th, conjunct Saturn by 4–we may be caught up in ‘iron fist in velvet glove’ syndrome, with a contest (or two) of Will v Will likely.

Anything else for today? Not really, though my attention is drawn to retro Mars as it forms a quincunx with the Sun; this may illuminate our wrong-headed actions, our missteps, and may give us a chance to course-correct before there’s any damage, or anyone else even knows. Gee, thanks, Mars!

Featured Post: http://astrologyexpressed.wordpress.com/2010/01/04/the-mighty-neptune/ I can attest to the link between Neptune and allergies–but Neeti just said nice things about my post, while describing herself as a “half-wit” due to allergy medication–should I be reading between the lines here? Just kidding! Please go check out her observations, if you haven’t already. I’m going to link to at least one outstanding post a day–so watch for this as a regular feature.

The Medium is the Message

04 Monday Jan 2010

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Marshall McLuhan posited this: that what delivers the information is a vital part of the message itself, inextricable from the content and meaning of the communique. (Communique–great word! Last time the Collective received one, I believe it was from the Symbionese Liberation Army–that was back when revolutionary spirit showed some panache–now it’s split between people willing to wear explosives in their underwear, and those waving teabags. I not only kid, I digress.)

So, the medium being an integral part of the message is what we may face today, on the meeting of Sun and retrograde Mercury at Inferior Conjunction. This occurs at 14 and change of Capricorn; the Sabian is ‘In a hospital, the children’s ward is full of toys’ This image suggests that, in an arena of life that is redolent of sadness, pain, and discomfort, we find the opportunity for lightheartedness, for play, and the release and renewal these bring. Notice, though, there is no mention of people within the hospital; it’s as if we are presented with the scene, and must populate it ourselves–and in this way we’ll be offered a ‘vessel’ for the message of the Inferior Conjunction, where the meaning is found as much in the way and means of the offering as in the actual content–and it will be up to us to ‘populate’ what’s brought forward with meaning particular to our own circumstances.

Vague enough for ya? Here’s an example: this morning the lawyer for the man who attempted to extort talk-show host David Letterman is now claiming what he calls ‘The Tiger Woods Defense,’ wherein we are supposed to believe this: that if it’s okay for Tiger’s paramours to ask for money from him, then it’s okay for his client to ask for money from Letterman. Quoi? you might reasonably ask; what is this guy thinking? Here’s where we must notice that he’s floating this theory (that the whole extortion attempt isn’t criminal, it’s capitalism at its finest!) on morning television–and he knows it has no validity. What’s our clue? He’s bringing this assertion to television, not court–and what is television but entertainment, in the final analysis, and a means of building public opinion. Dan Abrams put it best (and I paraphrase): “It’s like saying that getting a loan from a bank is the same as robbing one.”

You get my drift. The only aspects to the conjunction within two degrees are a square from Zeus, and a conjunction from Venus. These suggest that the message and its medium will be a power play, a Zeusian attempt to control or intimidate, and that this will bring something Venusian to the fore: reward, an awareness of love, relationship realities, a knowledge of the worth of something.

Have a great one! And check here for some relevant and inspiring material http://planetaryapothecary.com/2010/01/astrological-insights-january-4-10-2010/

A Blue New Year’s Eve: Lunar Eclipse Dec 31st 2009

23 Wednesday Dec 2009

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,

There

We end the year with a Blue Moon, a second Full Moon in a single calendar month; fun, colorfully describes a rarity, but doesn’t mean a lot astrologically, as calendars aren’t strict reflections of the Cosmos, but man-made measuring conveniences. Now that I’ve stomped all the fun out of this concept, I’ll just keep going: New Year’s Eve is also arbitrary–shouldn’t it fall at the last degree of Pisces (if you’re an astrologer) or on the last day of winter (if you’re a Wicca or Druid or anyone who loves and feels the Earth) or last day of summer (whichever way your summer goes, depending on hemisphere, if you live in a really hot place–there’s a reason both Arab and Indian astrologers named a too-close to the Sun placement severely weakened)?

But, if you’re like me, you may like to believe that there’s a reason the Collective has chosen this day to designate the end of our trip around the Sun. I like to believe that our mass agreement invests some days with a wee bit of magic, and this is one of them. Plus the use of the word ‘eve’ to describe the day before something else-it holds a sense of anticipation, of something’s coming get ready: Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve, All Hallow’s Eve, Eve of Destruction–you see what I mean.

So, I approach this Blue Moon, New Year’s Eve Eclipse like a hopeful robin looking for a worm on the astroturf–it all may be artificial, but there’s got to be something good here, too! Such a pile-up of man-designated ‘events’ with one indisputably not (the eclipse) puts me in a mood to go looking for the magic–here’s what I see, for the eclipse at 10 Cancer 14 December 31st at 11:12 AM PST:

The Full Moon is in Cancer, conjunct (of course) the Earth, and when we see that our strict two degree aspect rule for eclipses gets us nothing, we realize just how soft and nurturing the reflected light of Moon in Cancer can be. It will bathe us in a glow, and the larger aspects it makes (a generous 3.5 degree max) are soft and diffuse, too, not bringing the usual clarity and psychic punch that an eclipse holds, but instead riding in on the atmosphere like a mist (or fumes, or poison gas!)  Cancer holding a meeting of the Moon and the Earth, and the power of the alignment (even though it’s partial from our viewpoint) suggests that emotional and intuitive matters will ‘announce’ themselves through material and physical circumstances, and all will be in the Cancer mode: caring and caretaking, concerned, sensitive, especially to the moods and motives of others, and not entirely from a caring point, but from a selfish one, as well, as Cancer is always prone to feel emotionally vulnerable, with the worry that they will be abandoned in some form, or not cared for, behind much of their own offers of care (“I’ll love you and care for you now, and you’ll return the feeling and favor, won’t you?’ It’s interesting that Cancer takes an active, Cardinal approach to getting what it wants–but with the Cardinals we must remember that a sense of proportion and balance comes into play–and with Cancer, the energy wants back what it gave out–in a Cancer approach to things, that’s only right). Cancer may assume obligation to care back by anybody or thing they nurture or love–and that can be the fly in the ointment for the immature (and by that I mean entity who has not grown into the full meaning of the sign) Cancer energy. So we’ll all be swimming in a soft murk of Cancer energy–we just needed to know the possible pitfalls (as the positives about genuine care and support are obvious).

Even with liberal orbs, we get very little, but it does serve to tell us what will be lurking in that nursing, nurturing, I-care-so-much-it-hurts Cancer vibe. We have a trine from the Moon/ Earth to Pallas=wisdom and skills are in harmony with the eclipse energy–but this is a reflective, Moon energy, and we would be smart to ask a few questions (and Pallas gives us the ability–it’s up to us to do so wisely): I feel it, it seems smart, but is that light coming from you or me? Am I accepting your assertion as intelligent, as my own, when maybe it’s neither? Do I have the skills and acumen to undertake or understand what’s before me? Am I using my own inner wisdom in assessing the situation before me?

The Moon/ Earth combo is also square Zeus=the asteroid Zeus is one I’ve been studying intently of late, and what it represents, in general terms, is a fitting counterpoint to the female Juno, a largely male designator (though it has meaning for a woman, as well) keyed to ambition, power, authority and the temptation to abuse it, and wilfullness (see my upcoming in-depth analysis of Zeus in the first issue of my magazine, due in January!) This aspect suggests to me that we may divide up, ever so casually, into those who are receptive (for the Moon’s light has been received–and for some, this may come with the role of victim) and those who would wield the power and control (and for some this could be as abusers, in some sense). The aspect sets up a dynamic of those who care (or who pretend to) in conflict with those who, under the guise of partnership or fairness (Zeus in Libra) will try to take the reins for themselves. This won’t necessarily be nasty; it’s simply a recognition of the motivations of each, and the way that they’re bound to conflict (square).

And the Sun in the eclipse receives a conjunction from Venus, both in Capricorn. Venus kisses the Sun, but it’s likely to be a dry, papery kiss with business on its mind, or maybe with the goal of building or solidifying something (like a relationship). The real Venus moment comes with the exact conjunction of Venus to the Sun and Moon at the Solar Eclipse to follow two weeks later–until then, romance (in the largest sense) may have to take a back seat to other, likely power related, concerns.

Did we find the magic? Not exactly-but if we tap the genuine, Moon related, Cancer oriented bits within ourselves (especially in terms of the natal House where the Moon/ Earth meeting occurs) we can work a little magic in the soft light of the eclipse all on our own.

Also see Dipali Desai’s excellent article here http://celestialspace.wordpress.com/2009/12/27/be-here-now-full-moonlunar-eclipse-in-cancer-dec-31st-2009/

Grief, the Heart, and Brittany Murphy

21 Monday Dec 2009

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“It’s alright to keep your grief, long’s you make room for other things”   Bubbles, The Wire

We are so often told we must forgive, forget, move on, recover; we begin, in fact, to feel that if we aren’t complex-free and happy, we’re in some way defective. This just isn’t so; a natural part of the human condition is to grieve for what was, could’ve been, for our regrets, for the sadnesses that are woven through our days, including the impersonal ones that come to us through the news, the neighborhood, the internet, unbidden. Even without significant trauma, the passage of time will bring change, and that alone can bring us grief, as we look back and recall how things looked different in the past (including ourselves!) how we were more optimistic, or innocent, or energized–and so often in hindsight it seems what we faced was simpler, the choices more easily discerned. the opportunities missed; and yet, if we’re honest we realize that at the time, what was presented was the ultimate challenge, in terms of our ability to deal with the alternatives. We tend to think it was all easier, back when–but in truth our minds have smoothed over the edges–we’ve forgotten the depth of our fears, our goals in the moment, and all the influences we were under.

The natal horoscope gives some suggestion of where we might be vulnerable throughout life, and can point to the areas where we may store our grief. Our Moon is a prime repository, and the House with Cancer on the cusp can be the point where we pour that upset into the physical world;  Neptune may be involved, as we follow the natural impulse and hide from, mask, or misunderstand the affected areas; and Sedna may be the new kid on the block, but also one to watch, as her touch makes understanding (even perception!) impossible in the affected arenas; and hard contacts to the Sun can be debilitating, suggesting Soul vulnerabilities that affect the literal and figurative heart.

Actress Brittany Murphy (10 November 1977, Atlanta GA, no time available) died suddenly yesterday in her Los Angeles home, and my first thought on hearing this was that her heart may have stopped from an electrolyte imbalance; her extremely thin appearance of late points to this as a possibility, and she would not have been the first Hollywood actress to suffer this (Kellie Waymire had a similar cardiac disruption at a young age). With Brittany, no time of birth is available, so we can’t attribute signs to cusps, but transits and Solar Arcs tell us something of the possibilities.

Transiting Neptune and Jupiter are sextile natal Ceres, suggesting the possibility of an exaggerated and poorly chosen diet, perhaps an intensive fast; T Pluto is trine Chiron in Earth–could there have been a strong impetus for transformation (clearly gone too far) as the primal wound is stimulated? I heard a media individual say this morning that Brittany’s career had peaked five years ago; if this was her perception, too, then who knows what emotional damage this may have done, and what it might have spurred her to do to try to change the situation; Solar Arc Pluto was conjunct the Sun, symbol of the heart; and on the day of death, December 20th (and just prior to and concurrent with the time of discovery) the transiting Moon was square natal Uranus, bringing the emotional ‘light’ to bear on the nervous system, and the higher functions specifically. Could this in total show a grief that overcame this young woman? Of course, all this is purely speculative, as cause of death is still to be determined, but the loss of someone young always draws our attention, and gives us a fresh source of Collective, and even personal, grief, through our own empathetic nature.

Addendum: Reports now are stating that Murphy was vomiting severely prior to her collapse; this is a classic symptom of heart failure, whether from natural or induced causes. The chart and transits don’t suggest to me any drug involvement.

Mars Retrograde December 2009

17 Thursday Dec 2009

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Finally! Was able to find and turn off the snow. Hope that solves the difficulties some have experienced (including Grinchiness!)–jd

We experience the Red Planet retrograde about every two and a half years; on December 20th we see this during the 5 AM hour PST at 19 Leo 41. And how does an inherently Fiery planet respond to a retrograde in a Fire sign? Fire-ily, of course! In general there’s been a fairly free flow of energy lately; hang-ups have been largely internal, especially through difficulties with clear perception. Now we’ll see the reversal also taking a mostly internal form, though there will definitely be external effects, some of which will come from influences we’re hard pressed to put our finger on. The fiery facet of things will be experienced in the intensity with which we feel the need to look at all actions and our own part in them.

For everyone, the retrograde will bring forward issues of the ‘I am,’ particularly in terms of where we ‘shine’ in the life. We will examine our own personal effectiveness, especially in how our Beingness serves (or fails) to bring us attention and interaction in the world. We’ll be acutely aware that we’re on stage in our own lives; the retrograde will make us ask, ‘Who’s the star of the play?’

The Red Planet, blotchy with anger and topped by a little polar ice cap. Photo: NASA

Using our usual two degree orb, we have a handful of aspects that characterize the nature of the retrograde period. A semi-square to Saturn suggests reality, and material effects, will be of some consequence that requires accomodation, but that these won’t take center stage. A quincunx to Mercury in Capricorn speaks louder: the effects on reality of our communications will be prominent, as will the adjustments we’re being called to make in order to match our message to our reality; the reactions of our ‘audience’ will be key to understanding our effectiveness. This aspect says that words and thoughts will be grounded in the existing material rules, structures, and materials–we may be hard pressed to think past the status quo, try as we might. This is made doubly true when we additionally consider Mars’ retro square to Sedna in Taurus; harsh contact between a withdrawing energy and the asteroid that prevents us from even being aware of a particular matter or energy says that we’ll likely feel the energy tide going out, but won’t have a clue as to what’s actually being withdrawn–and the Taurus placement says there will be comparable material effects, as well. To continue our play analogy, the script will be scrutinized, as will our delivery, but we must look at offstage cues and changes to props, sets, and lighting in order to understand the actual, real-world effects; and, at the end of the retro period, we’ll be called upon to count the box office receipts, and to take a good look at the program–at this point we’ll be able to read the director’s name clearly.

Once again, we’ll need to watch surrounding material shifts in order to get some clue as to what energies are actually being withdrawn or lessened; this will be the only way to know how we must change our communications to suit our own needs and the requirements of reality. The kicker, though, is Mars’ sesquiquadrate to Pluto; this suggests that we will not have a choice. Change must happen, and the aspect says we may be put between a rock and a hard place in the process. Power, our own and others’, internal and external forms, will all be in play during the retrograde period; we will definitely come out the other side with changed ideas of who we are (Mars), how we can behave and act most effectively (Mars), and what this is communicating (Mercury), with commensurate changes to the balance of power (Pluto) in whatever arenas we occupy.

The natal House where the retrograde occurs, along with the House with Aries on the cusp, will be the initial areas where we will see shifts, but since this involves who we are, over the retro period the changes will permeate all areas. Other influences worth note at the time of Mars’ retrograde are a Venus sextile to Jupiter/ Neptune/ Chiron=we may see the value and/ or cost of how these have acted long term for us; or we’ll suddenly see our values aligned with an exaggerated sense of our ideals or our delusions, which calls forward either the primal wound or our own unique skills. Venus is also square Uranus=surprise! In money, love, values, relationships. Chiron semi-sextile Uranus=again, a surprise, this time about our innate skills, or about our deepest wounds. Zeus exact conjunct the Part of Fortune=ambition and power in relationship will be pivotal to the retro period. Jupiter/ Neptune exact conjunct=as if we haven’t had enough of these two; just read this as the propensity to exaggerate or project the ideals or the delusions/ fantasies, with consequent (probably unhelpful) results. And finally, Ceres will be at 29 degrees of Scorpio=stress for those in authority, a panicky feeling that we must negotiate what we need NOW, or a harsh or extreme reaction from Mother Nature.

Catch this excellent post on Mars retro and anger (or is it the projection of anger?) http://lucywatchthesky.com/2009/12/23/turn-that-mars-upside-down-mars-retrograde-and-some-thoughts-about-anger/

Next up: the New Year’s Eve Partial Lunar Eclipse. Personal analysis of the coming eclipse set is still available–please see the ‘Want More’ page for details. Thanks!

The Fantasy New Moon-16 December 2009

14 Monday Dec 2009

Posted by in astrology, current events in the sky, Moon

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The Moon, in a false color image to show terrain contrasts. Photo courtesy of NASA

The Moon and Sun meet at 4:01 AM PST at 24 Sagittarius 39. When the Sun and Moon align (at least from our viewpoint on Earth) we see a strong pull of energy in the direction of the pairing. It’s a time for new starts; the impetus is all in one direction, offering an advantage if we’ll plan our activities to follow this flow. These new beginnings can be made in the matters of the natal House where the New Moon falls–we all know this–what we may not know is that there is a New Moon picture made by the bodies the Moon and Sun aspect closely, and that these energies, all together, tell us what to expect from the seed that’s planted over the coming month.

For the final New Moon of the year we have an interesting set of influences on our Sag seed energy: sextiles from Jupiter and Neptune (and from Chiron, if we give just a little in our usually strict two degree orb), all in the Fixed Air of Aquarius, and a square from Uranus in open, Cosmic Pisces. Sagittarius is an energy of outreach; we are naturally urged to ‘go forth,’ in some sense, to learn, to teach/ share, to discover, to expand: our world, our knowledge, our horizons. This time, the influence from the Jupiter/ Neptune/ Chiron combination is one that will hold a different emphasis, depending on the astrological chemistry of each individual. The primary potentials are for massive or exaggerated hurt, fantasy, or ideals fueling that Sag outreach. It’s a mental complex rooted in ideas that we’re very sure of (Aquarius, Jupiter, Sagittarius) and that means we may form sparks of thought (the seeds of the New Moon) that are in essence plans to somehow share or reach out (Sagittarius, waxing Moon energy), strongly influenced by the Aquarius energy to which we respond most prominently. These ideas of outreach are propelled by our primal wound (Chiron), our fantasies or delusions (Neptune), and/ or our ideals (also Neptune).

Belief (Jupiter/ Sagittarius) is behind what is planted; which energy we respond to (Jupiter=beliefs, Chiron=hurt, or Neptune=delusions, fantasies, or ideals) is largely dependent on our own natal charts. Do we have strongly developed philosophies of life, a knowledge orientation? Then Jupiter will lead the pack, and may provide exaggeration or put one’s personal beliefs foremost; do we easily see ourselves as victims, targets, or scapegoats? Chiron is the likely star, as our desire to make contact will be driven by the hope of alleviating pain; do we struggle with staying grounded, either because of difficulty connecting to reality, or because we are consistently imposing our ideals on reality? Neptune is probably in play, obscuring, inspiring, and misleading our efforts. Our responsiveness to these energies natally will strongly influence our experience of this New Moon, and the month to come.

There is another factor to consider: Uranus in dreamy Pisces. The energy of individuality, rebellion, and group-think forms a square to the New Moon, and the seed that’s born contains a germ of radicalism, creativity, and innovation, and introduces the possibility that our New Moon ideas will be vetted via the group–and yet the square promises that these facets will be added through conflict, and that this confrontation takes a Piscean form. This suggests that we could receive this influence subconsciously, through dreams and visions, through images, movies, or music, or through an experience of the Collective.

Considering all factors, this is a New Moon of potentials; the biggest challenge is to take the seed energies and sort usable energies, facts, knowledge, inspiration, images and visions, from delusions, fantasies, and responses seated in old hurts. One way to stay grounded (and thus make best use of these potentials) is to earth ourselves through the sign energy of Earth’s current position, in Gemini. This suggests we can bounce ideas off others, discuss, network, and fact-check, in order to see what’s truly feasible, and what may be a little too pie-in-the-sky.

Julie Demboski's ASTROLOGY

Addressing the Individual Experience Within the Universal Truth

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