Tag Archives: Moon in Capricorn

Let’s Discuss: Natal Moon Square the Ascendant

28 Tuesday Jul 2020

Posted by in Aspect Delineation, aspects and placements, astrology, Astrology and Identity, Astrology of Careers Vocations and Callings, Consciousness Explored, What You're Asking

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The natal Moon in contact with the natal Ascendant can feel very much as if the individual is constantly interacting with and displaying the emotional nature.’Reaching for the Moon’ By Edward Mason Eggleston 1933 {{PD}}

The 29th is a day when no new aspects perfect, so maybe we should take some time to look at one of those topics I previously asked readers to submit.

“Thank you for your offer. If you choose so, I’d like to hear about my Moon square Asc aspect (birth data redacted for privacy). For the last few years, I’ve been trying to align questions about responsibilities (work, family, relationships, community) with what I consider my free will, independence, identity (I work in artistic field). Maybe it’s a never-ending process. Wish I could feel more decisive/confident with my choices/path.”

I can tell you with confidence that reconciling a natal square is a never-ending process; no matter how well we do at resolving the conflict and expressing the energies, we can always lift the expression of those energies to ever-higher forms–and that translates to a life-long fine-tuning process. So, the individual describes a pull between the Will and identity and those larger responsibilities that involve others–and the first thing we see in the chart is that the Moon rules the 4th of family of origin, which immediately emphasizes the perhaps perpetual conflict between the individual emotional experience and familial expectations. The personality of the individual, and the way that individual interacts with the world, is in some way at odds with the role or expectations within the family, in conflict with the concept of ‘home’ as they understand it, and/ or in basic discord with one or both parental figures. Ironically, though, the Moon is in the Capricorn 10th, suggesting that duty and a close link to one or both parents is actually what makes this Moon comfortable–so it may be that phrasing this square as an identity vs. obligations challenge is a bit of a distraction, at least in terms of emotional expression–it may really be that it’s the manner of reaching out to the world (the Ascendant) that makes this person emotionally uncomfortable.

What we see with the 10th House Moon ruling the 4th House suggests a kind of ‘tag team’ of authority and nurture from the parents, with the individual’s Moon in Capricorn in the 10th ruling the 4th, and Ceres, mother and authority, posited in the 4th in Cancer. These parents work together, and may see imposing rules and boundaries, expectations and goals, as a form of nurture–and a Capricorn Moon clearly sees it that way, too.

But the Ascendant, the way the individual interacts with and presents the Self to the world on first meeting, the persona and personality, is keyed to the energies of Aries–and that’s an energy that says, ‘I can do it myself, I want to do it my way, follow me!’ The Ascendant, in fact, is apex to a Finger of God with a base of Neptune, an almost Cazimi Sun-Mercury, and Venus, all in Scorpio in the 8th, and Uranus in Virgo in the 6th (and we note a close-but-no-cigar Finger combo of Mars and Pluto in Virgo, just outside comfortable quincunx range). This may be why it feels as if the emotions aren’t being served: an enormous amount of creative, identity/ Soul, communication, and relationship energy is interacting with the most original and unique impulses and then funneled out to the world through the personality, with the base placements in 6th and 8th suggesting a reliance on input/ feedback/ cooperation and understanding from others, especially through the course of work and discharge of duties–this individual can’t express things they find meaningful without others–and the individual feels they must be at the head of the line, leading, guiding, doing (Aries apex)–and yet we must remember that the outlet of the Ascendant carries a fundamental discord with the emotional nature via the square, which we might sum up as ‘duty (to parents, career, or convention-Capricorn, on which the feelings depend for a sense of well-being) vs. ‘a need to trail-blaze, express the individual Will, to have one’s say and way as an outlet to so many of the basic energies, including the Soul’s reasons for being here (Sun in aspect to the Aries Ascendant).

Add to this that the Capricorn Moon, which naturally aspects all that the Ascendant aspects, also happens to lie at the rough midpoint of the Sun grouping and the 12th House Chiron-Saturn-Black Moon Lilith in Pisces–which does not aspect the Ascendant. What! What? And now we see/ feel what is pestering the feeling nature that is on its own essentially at ease with the Soul/ communication/ love and creative nature and with the Uranian need for original expression, and with the Martian-Plutonian need to act and feel of consequence within the world. What the Moon is not at ease with is the way all these energies are expressed through the Ascendant–that’s where the conflict lies.

Too, that Uranus-Mars-Pluto grouping, such a dynamic and urgent mixture, requiring action, spontaneity, and a certain amount of power, directly conflicts (opposition) with Chiron-Saturn-Black Moon Lilith. It may be that action, especially spontaneous or unusual action, or action that seeks to create power and impact for the Self, stirs unconscious (12th) anger, resentment, and guilt–and so creates a feedback loop that hides the hurt, even as the emotional nature is highly aware of it (Saturn ruling the Moon)–and these angers and hurts are possibly brought into real-world circumstances periodically, as the unconscious ‘reaches out’ and orchestrates physical reality (Saturn).

The Moon contact to Chiron-Saturn-Black Moon Lilith implies that what’s really, really hidden, ignored, denied, or that enrages has also wounded, and the individual senses this (12th House) through the Moon’s emotional and intuitive faculties. Saturn of this grouping rules the Moon–and though the Soul’s expression is muy simpatico with what’s hurt and hidden (Sun group trine Saturn group), as is the feeling nature (Moon), we see the personality, the part that wants to meet the world head-on, the Martian-ruled Ascendant and the ‘I Am’ energies of Mars-Pluto and respect for uniqueness that is Uranus, is not simpatico.

The conflict, then, is a knotty one, and not easily (or possibly ever) resolvable. There are several things you might try to help make the energies more at ease with one another, with a focus on honoring the choices and career path, which you mention not having as much confidence in as you’d like. First, know that the emotions and emotional feedback will, for you, be much more reliable an indicator of right choice and right career than anything else. You are definitely meant to express your creative nature, to emphasize what you see of beauty and worth; your feelings will also be an excellent guide in responding to responsibilities and obligations, especially those involving the family. Most of your Water placements are in ‘soft’ aspect to the Earth Moon, and they find a great deal of emotional sustenance and nurture through real-world expression of what the emotions and the Soul both need and perceive.

It’s the ego or individual Will that cooks up problems; despite the way Mars-Pluto has found to cooperate with the Soul, it takes constant adjustments (the quincunxes of the Finger) for the creative, Soul, emotional, and action energies to express through the Arian personality–and that automatically means that the Martian ‘doing’ energies and the sheer Will have too big a say in choices and actions. The ego-power-individuality is also ‘against’ conscious awareness of hurt, vulnerabilities, and deep anger, especially when they’re observed in the real world–and that kind of denial can cripple creativity and relationships, as the ego insists on not looking at the negative, on powering through. So, honor the feeling nature more, and give it more trust–it’s best placed to handle, negotiate among, and facilitate the other charts energies, and can guide you in a much more perceptive way than the Will or ego can do.

I hope this helps, dear Seeker! Back to ‘Good Day To . . . ‘ tomorrow!

And, in case you missed the first installment

Lunar Eclipse in Capricorn 4 July 2020 A Volatile Choice

02 Thursday Jul 2020

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

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See the forecast for the 3rd here–

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

 

Solar Eclipse in Capricorn December 2019: Expansion Valve

20 Friday Dec 2019

Posted by in astrology, current events in the sky, eclipse, forecast, New Moon, Sabian Symbols, Solar Eclipse

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The Solar eclipse perfects initial contact at 9:12 PM PST on the 25th at 4 Capricorn 06, with both Sun and Moon just over one degree from conjoining Jupiter. A meeting of Sun, Moon, and Jupiter in Capricorn speaks of everything (the attention, the emotional nature, the intuition, the fears, ‘the facts’, the public, the nations of the world) all focused intently on the material state of things, the surroundings, and the rules, restrictions, and structures, governmental, societal, familial, that give it all form and make it all tick. We may be intent on making all this bigger, in some way, in constructing (or possibly deconstructing) something greater than ourselves, fueled by our beliefs or philosophy, or by the inspiration we get from what’s unusual, new, foreign. In any case, the inception point marked by the eclipse event is one of generosity, abundance, of largesse and, possibly quite literally, of more; whether that is desirable or simply exaggerates our fears (especially our fears of restriction, suppression, or of governmental or other authorities controlling us), giving us more of what we don’t want, is an individual matter, probably concentrated in the subjects of the Houses across the Capricorn-Cancer axis of the natal chart.

The eclipse forms a Cardinal T-square with Chiron, but one that is separating, the Sun-Earth axis well into the process of moving beyond orb. That suggests that what precedes the event is a dynamic and difficult circumstance that creates tension and maybe outright conflict, the source of which is one or more of our own wounds or ‘weak points’. Eclipse events may come from this, as a consequence of previous choices, or the eclipse may disrupt this, possibly implying that the problem we thought we had is losing validity in light of (or more literally, in the shadow of) eclipse events.

The Sun-Moon-Jupiter also noviles Mars in Scorpio, implying that, despite any trauma or upsets that occur, our choices and actions will aim at getting to the Truth, to the facts, and that what we choose to do about things at this time holds a touch of genius, inspired in the creative way we go about it, in the moves we make.

The eclipse also trines Uranus in Taurus, but again, this aspect is separating; the implication is that, after taking an original or inspired approach we are onto the next thing with the eclipse; that is, eclipse events, like those associated with Chiron, may be springing from this Uranian effort. We may have asserted our uniqueness, used ‘modern’ methods, rebelled, been unreliable or erratic, may have been surprised or ambushed in some way, and our relationship to ‘the group’ may, through our choices or theirs, have caused the Solar eclipse new start.

An eclipse in Earth creates an abrupt shift, one that ripples out like an earthquake; sometimes those are deep and barely perceptible, while other times the moving and crashing together of the tectonic plates shakes and rolls everything in its energy path. The size of the effect generated in the individual life is difficult to judge ahead of time, but we do know that at the very least an eclipse changes the backdrop against we operate, specifically, in the case of an event in Earth, the material conditions, resources, and physical matters surrounding us, and can temporarily put a specific other set of conditions into play (designated by the aspects the eclipse forms), from the event itself through to the next Solar eclipse in six months.

The Sabian symbol for the eclipse is, ‘Indians On The Warpath. While Some Men Row A Well-Filled Canoe, Others In It Perform A War Dance’. Yes, some of the Sabians are dated, and at times clearly and condescendingly taking the predominant-at-the-time white, male viewpoint. And yes, I know that these were channeled by the gifted Elsie Wheeler, a woman–but that doesn’t mean she, like so many of us, wasn’t subject to seeing things through the dominant lens of the culture of which she was a part.

Okay, now that that’s out of the way, we can get to dissecting the symbol. First, nobody dances in a canoe. Ever. Or at least, they don’t dance for long in a canoe–so right away, we know this image is emblematic, rather than realistic. Too, ‘Indians on the warpath’ is an old stereotype that has entered the language as a phrase meaning, ‘Somebody’s angry and looking for someone to take it out on.’ There’s an implication not just of aggression, but of unreasonable aggression, of a wish to wipe out an enemy.

There’s also irony within this symbol: the Indigenous Peoples of North America were very nearly themselves wiped out, and certainly remain disempowered to this day. The image suggests a people at their apex, and with hindsight applied we know this will not last forever, crumbling beneath the relentless onslaught of the Europeans, of what’s foreign–the epitome of the world-expanding Jupiter for both natives and intruders.

The symbol may suggest a warning. Individually and/ or Collectively, we may be at an apex; new things will be introduced, things will change, and it may be important to realize that a change in attitude, tactics, approach, and interactions may all be necessary to survive, and hopefully thrive.

There is an opening up, a state of expansion, that occurs with this eclipse within the confines of those Capricorn elements of the life–and this eclipse and its events may act as a safety valve, keeping the whole thing from blowing up, and so keeping us from a wipe-out, even as it’s clear we need to adapt to all the changes over which we have little or no power.

Potentially of note is the fact that on the West coast of the US the perfection chart has a 00 Virgo Ascendant. Even though this isn’t a Horary or Electional chart, where that would have definite meaning, we might surmise that the new beginning promised by any New Moon, and the powerful one augured by a Solar eclipse, would be amplified in an atmosphere where the ‘birth’ of the event bursts on us as a new ‘moment in time’ (and so connection to the world, as symbolized by an Ascendant) occurs. This describes a brand new attitude that accompanies the new beginning; Virgo suggests our initial approach may be critical, believing assessment is the way to get a grasp on things, and as well, believing that making a critical ‘statement’ about things will bring a kind of ascendancy. Friends on the West Coast, keep an eye out for this–for me it brings to mind a Washington state legislator who’s been charged with domestic terrorism–certainly those kind of actions constitute a critical statement about the current structure (Capricorn), with both eclipse and Pacific time Ascendant in Earth, suggesting something materially affecting ‘what is’ may be on the agenda. Or is it an earthquake, with Ceres (Mother Nature) in perfect sesquiquadrate to the eclipse chart Ascendant? Time will tell.

‘Solar Eclipse In Fedosia’ By Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky {{PD}}

Here’s an interesting link to a list of the Saros solar eclipses to which the upcoming eclipse belongs. The most recent in this series was in December 2001, and I went looking to see if there was any suggestion within events the last time that could be harbingers for this time–but that’s a true rabbit hole, with events that month including the Battle of Tora Bora and the shoe bomber incident that caused us to forever after have to take off our shoes at the airport. The Saros cycles aren’t something I spend a lot of time investigating, but there are astrologers who make it a regular part of their work, such as the groundbreaking Bernadette Brady–so you might want to start there, if you want to know more.

16 July 2019 Lunar Eclipse in a Venus Sky

14 Sunday Jul 2019

Posted by in astrology, Born Today, current events in the sky, forecast, Lunar Aspects, Lunar Eclipse, Sabian Symbols

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The Milky Way arches across this 360-degree panorama of the night sky above the Paranal Observatory, home of ESO’s Very Large Telescope. The Moon is just rising and the zodiacal light shines above it, while the Milky Way stretches across the sky opposite the observatory. To the right in the image and below the arc of the Milky Way, two of our galactic neighbours, the Small and Large Magellanic Clouds, can be seen. The open telescope domes of the world’s most advanced ground-based astronomical observatory are all visible in the image: the four smaller 1.8-metre Aŭiliary Telescopes that can be used together in the interferometric mode, and the four giant 8.2-metre Unit Telescopes. The image was made from 37 individual frames with a total exposure time of about 30 minutes, taken in the early morning hours. ESO/H.H. Heyer CC BY 4.0

The Partial Lunar Eclipse is at 2:38 PM PDT of the 16th at 24 Capricorn 04, and perfects against a Venus-heavy sky, with Venus sesquiquadrate Ceres, quincunx Jupiter, and opposed Saturn. Since Venus is just inside combustion range of the Sun, we would expect its contacts to be less prominent–but in this case, we may see them as backdrop to emotion, passage-of-time, or feeling-based (Lunar) eclipse events, subtle ones that may either operate below consciousness or that we may be aware of but unable to give time or attention to.

Relationships and/ or assets, then, may be the underpinnings for eclipse impact, and may involve a situation where we are wrestling with who holds power in a relationship, or who holds spending power within a relationship, or in a situation where we can’t reconcile Love’s presence with the need to take responsibility and to set boundaries. The social sphere or some fact we’ve learned is calling for us to adjust our interactions or our finances, and we may have a hard time wrapping our heads around that (eclipse novile Jupiter). And then there’s the way we may be tempted to ignore the rules, boundaries, obstacles, or reality itself, when it comes to relationships or finances. All this makes for a disconcerting undercurrent–and then we have the Lunar event itself.

Falling in Capricorn, a Lunar eclipse suggests an ending to some sort of restriction, sense of discipline, support structure, or material reality, and it’s likely an ending where we are aware of its finality, even in some cases of the way we can do nothing about it. Restraints may reach a peak or disappear entirely, depending on your personal situation, but in either case the ending is clearly defined and makes an emotional impact.

The most startling thing may be the Lunar eclipse conjunction to Pluto, which implies the eclipse is a powerful moment, shot through with meaning in the form of Truth, and may incite transformation or obliteration at a core level. That’s a scary thought, but consider: there have been any number of life-changing moments you’ve already gone through, and nine times out of ten you probably didn’t know that was a transformational moment, or a course-changing event, until later, maybe much later.

Pause on this: that a Lunar event, one focused on feeling, and on bringing that feeling into a tangible or material sphere (Moon conjoined Earth in Capricorn) will occur, and it’s meant to bring completion to some matter related to the House where it falls or the matters this House represents in the natal chart, or possibly those represented by a natal body or point that is affected. Impact is inevitable, but the sense of catastrophe or loss is not. ‘Getting right’ with our own destructive impulses or urges toward power is the way to sail through this and even make the most of it.

The widest allowable aspect the event makes is a trine to Sedna (just under 4 degrees), which implies we know the meaning and impact of the eclipse at an instinctual level. It also implies information about the event is most accessible through the natural instincts, through being open to ‘what we know but don’t know’, which requires we trust ourselves–often easier said than done.

But there’s also a semi-square to the Black Moon Lilith point, suggesting that what stirs our instincts may be the rough edges around things we’re ignoring or denying, or that enrage. And then there is the novile to Jupiter, promising that whatever occurs at the eclipse, it will open up our world, will offer new or clearly perceived facts, will show those beliefs that are ‘right’, offer a religious experience, and/ or allow us to face emotionally-charged real-world events philosophically, easily seeing a way to process and accept what occurs.

The Sabian for the Lunar eclipse is, ‘A Store Filled With Precious Oriental Rugs’. These, even when the patterns are the same, are unique, one-of-a-kind creations–just like individuals. The eclipse, in pointing up our beauty as creations, also shows us the loneliness inherent to our form. Being one-of-a-kind carries with it the knowledge that we are separate, and the symbol also suggests that we are filled with things of worth (the store) and all we have to do to live that purpose is to be.

For a Lunar eclipse we also look at the Sabian for the Sun, since she is the light-giver that makes the whole show possible. The Sun’s is in Cancer: ‘A Willful Man Is Overshadowed By A Descent Of Superior Power’. This suggests that what casts the eclipse shadow in the first place is an instance of noticing our actual power in the larger scheme of things, and this is driven home by awareness of those who hold power superior to our own, and is so despite our very Arian inclination to Willfulness–which seems to point to the only item in Aries right now, Chiron. Is this a hint that it’s our own hurt at not having our way that re-aligns us with our effective place in the Universe, with a proportional understanding of each of us as an individual? Perhaps, though when we hark back to the Lunar eclipse Sabian, we might conclude that we are works of Art, and that we are unable to adequately express as long as we are wrapped up in our own heads, our own want, our own Willfulness.

Scroll down for the forecast and birthday look ahead for the 15th. Thank you, and Happy Eclipse!

For those born with the Sun at 24 Cancer. Check your natal chart for the correct Sun degree (you may want to read both the degree number and the one that follows, if you have minutes on your Sun position–together these offer a more complete picture of your year ahead). Dear Cancer, the emotional impact of this year, especially what happened just a smidge before your birthday/ Solar Return, can’t be understated–and yet, know that you must deal with ‘the facts’ honestly in order to move forward and embrace the Truth, and through it the Power, that is slated to be yours. If you don’t already have a form that this power can take and express through, you may want to spend your birthday considering what you ‘know but don’t know’, as well as facing what you’d rather ignore, and so finding out exactly what you should be doing, as you take your place in the vanguard of your social sphere, peer group, or profession. Good luck!

The table’s all set for a Happy Birthday. ‘Open Door on a Garden’ By Konstantin Somov 1934 {{PD}}

 

25 April 2019 Anti-Matter

24 Wednesday Apr 2019

Posted by in astrology, Born Today, current events in the sky, forecast

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Picture of the Westinghouse Atom Smasher on the grounds of the old Westinghouse Research Laboratories at Avenue A, Service Road No. 1, and West Street in Forest Hills, Pennsylvania, on May 9, 2010. Built in 1937, the “atom smasher” is more accurately termed a Van de Graaff particle accelerator. Though decommissioned, it is preserved as a local piece of history. Photo by Leepaxton at en.wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

According to general physics theory, the collision of any particle and its anti-particle leads to total annihilation of both; we can expect a kind of antimatter to result today, this time from the subtle contact of Pluto and Pallas. This brings into anti-alignment (or should we say contradiction?) concepts around power and destruction and juxtaposes this with wisdom and the practical, essentially framing the relationship as both mutually exclusive and, when combined, mutually destructive. If we reach for power, reach out to crush or obliterate another, or seek to transform something or someone, our attempt may be snuffed out by something or someone wise, or by a practical necessity, and vice versa, trying to access wisdom, skills, or to opt for the practical choice could create devastation or change the power landscape. Utilizing any Plutonian factor attracts a Pallas-related one, and together they create an anti-result, removing both factors without a trace. It doesn’t help that our instincts and ability to mentally process are at odds; again, the answer may be in using neither. I recommend facing things in your best squishy-feely mode. Use your natal Moon, or look to the future and toward your personal areas of empowerment (North Node and Juno in Cancer), or use the material surroundings (Earth in Scorpio) as a way in to the overall intuitive nature (Moon in Capricorn) which will ‘speak’ through the world of things (Saturn in Capricorn, conjoined by the transiting Moon).

(Pluto contra-parallel Pallas, Mercury semi-sq Sedna)

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

For those born with the Sun at 5 Taurus. Check your natal chart for the correct Sun degree (you may want to read both the degree number and the one that follows, if you have minutes on your Sun position–that offers a more complete picture of your year ahead). Dear Taurus, Does it feel as if Love is a long way away? Is the object of your affections seemingly too headstrong or independent, refusing to cuddle up with you or sit still for that massage? Or is it money that seems to have a mind of its own, fleeing your slightest need, leaving you feast-less or cold? This will all work itself out this year, through a surprising agent: You. Your current best course is to think it out, and then act. It’s in the willingness to do something about everything you’re unhappy with that you will deal effectively with problems, and it’s in dealing with issues that you soon become pro-active in a way that means you don’t just eliminate problems, you create positives, and attract that Love and/ or Money that seems so recalcitrant now. Good luck!

Solar Eclipse in Capricorn January 2019 Sideswiped

02 Wednesday Jan 2019

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‘The Accident’ By Willem Geets c1899 {{PD}}

Cupped between ruler Saturn and Pluto, the New Moon partial solar eclipse occurs at 15 Capricorn 24, Sun and Moon first coming to the same degree and minute just before 5:27 PM Pacific time. The eclipse forms only two aspects other than those wide conjunctions to Saturn and Pluto, a sextile to Neptune and semi-square to Venus, making both the atmosphere brought forward by other aspects, and those lonely contacts to the Old Man, the Creative, and the King of the Underworld (plus a sideswipe from Love and/ or Money), much more important than they might otherwise be, especially since Saturn is ruler of the solar event itself. A New Moon is an inception point, a beginning, even when we can’t see it as such; an eclipse is a wipe-out, a clean slate in some form. Here the event falls in Capricorn, signaling that there’s something new about the Establishment or brewing in established methods, ways, or rituals, some authority altered, rule changed, restriction broken, or safety net removed. On large, societal terms this might apply to the new congress in the United States, where an unprecedented turnover sees more women and individuals of color, not to mention many young and more Progressive members, taking their seats than ever before.

In personal terms this event speaks of serious transformation that either frees up the creative energy or leads one to accept a delusion or misconception as the Truth. Whichever direction one goes, it will be because there’s some payoff, benefit, or promise of reward, or even of affection, that is driving the acceptance of illusion or the re-making of what’s established into something closer to the ideal. The need for Love or Money will shape our response to the solar eclipse, probably quite subtly, but it’s in channeling the creative and holding to the ideal that we gain some agency over what changes, and so make the best of things, rather than succumbing to moments of confusion or chaos.

One interesting thing is that we may meet the effects of Time at this point; its passage figures in to potentials not just for change but for destruction. If the eclipse removes something from the life at this time, you can be sure not just that its time is over, but that there’s a need for something new to take its place.

Side currents may be generated by the passing through of Vesta in Aquarius conjoined the Black Moon Lilith point, Venus trine Chiron and quincunx Uranus, and Mercury square Hygeia. These may describe surface matters that overlay (and sometimes obscure) the more intense and likely permanent changes prompted by the solar event that will be happening mostly below consciousness, or possibly out of sight altogether. Anger, especially at injustices, may commandeer the attention and so make us look away from the deeper changes in progress. To some extent, we’ll see events test the viability of our highest values, and if there’s anything wounding in our relationships, we’ll be more than aware of it. Thinking will likely run contrary to what we know to be healthy–and this may be the strongest sign of all that the solar eclipse will be forcing change and challenging assumptions–so do your best to work with the prevailing energies, rather than fighting them.

The Sabian symbol for the eclipse is, ‘School Grounds Filled With Boys And Girls In Gymnasium Suits’. This may emphasize the ‘learning’ nature of the eclipse events, and we see this echoed in the activity of Mercury, Uranus, Aquarius (ancient ruler of which is Saturn), but, in the case of Physical Education class, a learning about or through physical experience–so perhaps pointing us in the direction of the material manifestations of Capricorn and the physical systems that provide security, support, and restriction. Too, this image is one of individuals organized into a single entity, a class–and that could suggest that what changes for one individual may change for many others who hold similar positions.

Do we have command of what will change, with this eclipse? Not really–the best we can do is find creative outlets and use them, knowing that not all changes will be in our hands, nor will shifts in responsibility, restrictions, or requirements in venues where we play a part be totally under control, ours or anyone else’s. Roll with it, and allow this first New Moon of the New Year to reveal itself as it will, without too much resistance on our part.

See the pre-eclipse forecast here–

Full Moon 27 June 2018 Holding Back, Holding Court

26 Tuesday Jun 2018

Posted by in astrology, current events in the sky, forecast, Full Moon, Lunar Aspects, Sabian Symbols, T-Square

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By Ronnie Robertson – Compass Head moon, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=56612161

The Full Moon perfects at 9:53 PM PDT of the 27th at 6 Capricorn 28, just after both Earth and then Luna have swept past retrograde Saturn, which should be considered conjoined the event. The energy for this FM is withdrawn, passive, spurring reticence and uncertainty, as it falls directly after Mars’ stationary retrograde pause and in cautious Capricorn. The atmosphere is charged with suppressed, misdirected, short-circuited, stunted, repressed, rule-bound influences, and yet we are invited to survey our handiwork, to examine what we’ve built, and to assess how we need to modify our approach to create what we want in the future, and specifically, how we might want to ‘hold court’ , positioning ourselves to make the most of our individuality, to ‘shine’ (quincunx North Node in Leo).

We may meet the results of our own, Self-imposed discipline, our hard work, or conversely, we see where we should have applied effort. The Full Moon puts the reality picture under a spotlight, one that tells us, quite literally in some cases, the lay of the land. The event axis also forms a T-square with asteroid Hygeia; this dynamic promises either/ or choices presented by the Lunar culmination, neither of which will be truly supportive of us! (the squares–I’m defining health in its broadest context.) So where does that leave us? Knowing where we stand, which is invaluable, with the ability to assess how effective we’ve been, and to see how to modify our efforts for future success (that ‘place’ where we can ‘shine’). Not glamorous, but plenty useful.

The Sabian for the Full Moon is, ‘A Veiled Prophet Speaks, Seized By The Power Of A God’. Wow! We might not expect such an elevated meaning from these modest Full Moon aspects, but that’s the essence of a veil, isn’t it? We have to make an effort, however slight, to see what’s behind it, and to be willing to reveal our own prophetic nature (that is, pure intuitive nature).

Saturn is ‘the Old Man’, certainly a stand-in for a serious, old world kind of god, and the image itself casts us, the individuals basking in the Full Moon glow, as channels for revelation. Do we see that in the chart? We do, if we look at the conjunction of Earth, Moon, and Saturn. That suggests that both material matters, the actual physical surroundings as well as the reality picture overall, will speak to us of divine (that is, spiritual) information, and we’ll have another channel for this via the emotions and intuition (the Moon).

For a Full Moon we also look at the Sabian symbol for the Sun: ‘ Two Nature Spirits Dancing Under the Moonlight’. This suggests that our own celebration of the natural world is what instigates the emotional culmination of the Full Moon. We connect to the Cosmos (consciously or not) and receive our message (the information channeled through us in the Full Moon symbol).

So, listen to your feelings, listen to those interior whispers, and look around you; the world will surround you with symbols, with messages, with meaning, and your own inner wisdom and feeling can translate that into language that makes your situation and state apparent, and the potentials for your future crystal clear.

See the general outlook for the day here, and the chart for the Full Moon, below.

 

Just a Little AstroEssence 16 January 2018 New Moon in Capricorn ‘Uncertainty Principle’

15 Monday Jan 2018

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

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Though this is considerably more moonlight than we get with a New Moon, this picture seems to capture the spirit of this NM well. ‘Dubrovnik bei Mondlicht’ (Dubrovnik by Moonlight) 1914 By Eduard Kasparides {{PD}}

We have a handful of interesting pair-ups, aside from the New Moon today. Ceres conjoins the North Node point, creating a conscious awareness of how our current power position is forming our future–and perhaps generating some confusion, fear, or delusion, or an insistence on idealism, because of it (Neptune parallel Zeus)–add to this Mercury conjoined Black Moon Lilith, for a touch of paranoid thinking or obsessive anger or worry, and you set the New Moon stage as one where we may be very concerned over what’s to come. Being anxious, even potentially acting or lashing out, almost becomes a given, as that energy must go somewhere, discharge somehow–and that’s how we make a little explosive casing for New Moon events.

The New Moon is 6:17 PM Pacific time at 26 Capricorn 54, conjoined an already separating Venus, but not close enough to be considered conjoined Pluto, over which Sun and Moon have both recently passed. This scenario suggests that the New Moon event is born as a reaction to recent trauma or change and the risk/ reward potentials it has presented. Now, we are thinking, we must stabilize things, figure out the ‘rules’ as they currently stand, set parameters, contain the matter, or choose a shape and structure for developments, trying to control them. What we may not see is that they have already been given a Capricornian shape, and that the New Moon is actually our reaction to that. Difficulty knowing this may be the function of the semi-square of the Moon to Neptune; we’ll almost certainly struggle, to see our own ideals clearly as we grope for a guideline, or just to make it through what will likely feel like an entirely arbitrary fog. Why are we having such a hard time? we may wonder; it’s Neptune, inciting its own kind of uncertainty principle (though the ‘real’ one is Heisenberg’s, that is an apt analogy for this effect, as well).

The New Moon falls at the rough midpoint of a Mars-Chiron trine, suggesting NM events have some origin in or connection to both our own choices/ actions and our wounded nature, perhaps even that the NM event is our effort at finding a balance between the two influences. The NM is also in rough square to both Uranus and Pallas, both in Aries; it may feel like the NM is our reaction to the unpredictability, erratic nature, and/ or wisdom (or lack of it) of others. Our Willful attempt (Cappy NM) to contain or put up barriers or arrest the Will of others (the Aries placements) finds expression in conflict (the square), but doesn’t require open warfare. The trine of the NM to Sedna says we either access instinct, and so respond adeptly to the ‘threat’, or we respond out of the depths of our own ‘blind spot’, setting other, new physical consequences (Sedna in Taurus) in motion.

Caspar David Friedrich ‘Wanderer above the Sea of Fog’ 1817 {{PD}}

The Sabian symbol for the New Moon is, ‘Pilgrims Climbing The Steep Steps Leading To A Mountain Shrine’. This suggests a building of effort, toward eventual attainment, that is very much in tune with Capricorn, as are both the symbol of the mountain and the humble pilgrim. No matter what shape New Moon events take, and no matter what they are in response to, we embody the sincerity of the pilgrim, who acknowledges there is something bigger, ‘more than’, ‘out there’, and that the only way to understand things in this uncertain world is to take steps, one at a time, that lead us to the sacred place (the shrine of the symbol). And that journey, whether we are conscious of the sacred nature of those steps or not, is life, isn’t it?

Hint for personal New Moon interpretation: Look for the configurations; there’s potential for two Fingers of God (base of NM-Chiron or base of NM-Mars, apex a natal body, also Grand Trine with NM and Sedna, third component a natal body). Remember, for a Finger the apex must be quincunx (150 degrees) from each base element, with an orb of no more than two degrees from both base elements. A Grand Trine can be a little looser–give it 3 degrees orb.

Just a Little AstroEssence 19 December 2017 Saturn Into Capricorn

18 Monday Dec 2017

Posted by in astrology, current events in the sky, Saturn in Capricorn, The Daily Word Image

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Saturn in Capricorn will give us the determination and iron constitution necessary to climb that mountain. Plate from ‘The Fables of Aesop’, “The Wolf and the Goat” 1909 By Edward Julius Detmold {{PD}}

With no other aspects perfecting or changes happening today, all the focus is on Saturn and the sign of Capricorn–even the Moon is there! So here’s a re-look at my previously published post, with the good news that the tension suffered (starting around the 10th) while Saturn lingered at 29 Sagittarius will dissipate. The sense of a ‘fresh start’ is bound to be evident–make the most of it!

19 December 2017 8:49 PM Pacific time, though that precise measure isn’t really necessary–Saturn moves slowly enough that its changes can sneak up on us–but when it changes signs, we do feel it, as the world seems to change ‘flavor’ around us. Saturn is the planet of reality, of the material world and all the accomplishments and barriers, both literal and figurative, within it. That’s why we are likely aware of the sign change right away; even if we aren’t conscious of astrology, we may be conscious of a shift, something like when you turn a kaleidoscope just a quarter turn. Things are rearranged, the light behind them may seem different, but they’re (usually) not unrecognizable (that’s more likely when transiting Saturn contacts transiting Uranus or Pluto, giving the kaleidoscope a full turn or two, or even shaking it upside down, and that shake-up may happen personally when transiting Uranus or Pluto contacts natal Saturn).

See? Capricorn energies can be your friend. ‘Heidi and a Goat’ By Jessie Willcox Smith 1921 {{PD}}

What we see as Saturn enters Capricorn is a perfect blend of effort and time, with the new sign shaping these into real-world results. We see what we have created over a long period, one that required Self-discipline and a persistent application of energy–or, we see circumstances resulting from a lack of application and discipline. We reap results of sustained and serious endeavors, or the long-term neglect of what we should’ve attended to; we see how our use of time affects us. If we thought things would take care of themselves, this may be the point when we find out they have not.

We can’t really talk about Saturn entering Capricorn without discussing Pluto’s journey through the sign. Pluto plowed through and continues to disrupt, destroying, wreaking havoc to what was secure, solid, established, bringing the possibilities of freedom from old constraints, transformation of institutions and barriers, and also ushering in a long-term falling away of obstructions to our perception of Truth and Reality. That doesn’t mean everyone sees the real world for what it is; it’s still an individual choice where we must be willing to see things as they are—otherwise we can observe certain contingents who seem to be so completely oblivious to reality and ‘the facts’ that it defies logic. This is the Pluto effect: a stripping away of barriers that either shows you the real deal (if you accept that your world is changing) or that prompts a complete turning away from real world circumstances (if you don’t), substituting a Plutonian-centered non reality that promises nothing is changing, and that in fact you will be restored to some previous (unrealistic) level of all-powerful beingness. And now Saturn enters the sign, carrying a bucket of high-grade cement, ready to apply agents of constraint and form to all that Pluto has disrupted.

What we will see is this: that Saturn entering its own sign may result in Saturn cutting off, ending, or constraining transformations created by Pluto in Capricorn, whether those transformations are complete or not. Saturn may require those changes slow down, or it may insist on them taking solid form, or creating a new system within which to work, or it could deny their potential all together–but in any case it begins to solidify what had previously been fluid–or I should say, molten, as Pluto melted down without regard for status or standing. We add time to change, and we get a New Reality–and at the entry of Saturn into Capricorn, we get a glimpse of where things are headed, a peek at what’s beginning to emerge from the shadows.

As Saturn enters Capricorn we look at what aspects it makes immediately; this offers some idea of the initial impact of the sign change. Saturn will semi-square the South Node and Jupiter, which means Saturn is caught at the midpoint of the two; our first view of Saturn’s effects may involve the past and the public sector, or our beliefs and how they mesh with ‘the facts’, or we could see how work or effort made previously may offer opportunity in the present. Saturn will also sesquiquadrate the North Node (of course–in aspect to one Node is to be in aspect to both) and the Sun catches up to conjoin Saturn quickly, suggesting we see the situation when it is still new, raw, fresh–and we see the difficulties of where it will lead. And, the transiting Moon is also in Capricorn when Saturn enters, passing over Pluto. This suggests that what we see may give us a scare, may make us want to ‘reform’ from what we see or intuit, or may show us how we really feel about changes that have happened–and so what we are likely to want to establish, as Saturn makes his way through the sign.

Today’s word image is a dream where you were directly provided with ‘the answers’–that you can’t remember upon awakening! Be reassured–those keys are in your mind somewhere–and will come to you at the right time.

Read more of my work here, or search for your favorite topic here at the blog. And here’s a little something discussing tensions associated with the 29th degree, as well as a few other topics–and have a great rest-of-the-year!

Just a Little AstroEssence for July 7th & 8th + The Full Moon in Capricorn: Power Position

05 Wednesday Jul 2017

Posted by in astrology, current events in the sky, Fist of God, forecast, Full Moon, Horoscope, Sabian Symbols, The Daily Word Image

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Since a Daily post is currently winning in the polls, I’m going to go for a two-fer to cover the 7th and 8th, which includes the Full Moon in Capricorn. Voting will end Friday, and I’ll go from there based on the final outcome.

Those are some nice gloves. The Workshop of Rembrandt {{PD}}

The 7th may feel like a gentle, velvet-gloved Punch in the Face, as Venus sets herself up as apex to a Fist of God with base of Zeus-Pluto. Change or conflict surrounding the goals or ambition picture may be rewarding but also tough in some regard; it’s as if we can’t receive the Love or Money without seeing the down side, or struggling with the power situation as it allows (or prevents) realization of our wants. No matter what form this Fist takes, it will hurt, particularly as it reveals our own role in making things the way they are.

No recriminations, though, especially if you’re aiming them at yourself; right now we’re too resistant to wisdom, and too influenced by what we’ve refused to acknowledge, to make good choices or sound judgments. Do your best to release, release, and release. Couple this with a policy of non-resistance (rather than outright acceptance) for best results.

Today’s word image is a red envelope. In some Asian cultures this is the form of a gift, filled with money, the dynamic energy of red a wish for good luck and prosperity for the recipient. This is a two-part question: who has recently gifted you with positive energy–mentally or otherwise send them thanks–and to whom would you like to gift a similar asset, in appreciation of what they’ve shared with you?

Gustav Klimt 1916 {{PD}}

The 8th sees no new aspects form, though it does bring us this year’s Capricorn Full Moon at 17 CAP 09 at 9:06 PM PDT. This Full Moon perfects exactly 1 degree before perfection of a conjunction with retrograde Pluto. Most of the other potential aspects are a little wide for the event, as well as being past perfection; the only other aspects meriting mention are a square to Zeus, and in proximity we see the FM also square to Jupiter. This offers clarity in terms of what the Full Moon energy reveals: we see the power picture (Pluto) as it stands, including who holds authority and why (Capricorn, Jupiter as the social sphere), as well as the ways in which that power structure restricts, curtails, or otherwise prevents us fulfilling our goals or meeting our ambitions (the square to Zeus). The facts (Jupiter) related to our ambitions and goals (Zeus) will create tension with the mandate of the Full Moon, which asks us to establish a ‘power position’ once and for all (the permanence of Capricorn). We are highly aware of the ways in which what we desire may force change, transformation, or even destruction, in the process of getting what we want, as our viewpoint may be exaggerated, making the issues seem bigger or more urgent than they really are (Jupiter). For many this may create a conundrum that offers no easy answer, though breaking a few eggs will likely be required before we can make this omelet (imagery courtesy of the Cancer Sun, with Sabian ‘A Hen Scratching The Ground To Find Nourishment For Her Progeny’).

The Sabian symbol for the Full Moon is, ‘The Union Jack Flag Flies From A British Warship’. This symbol speaks of identification attached to a defensive resource. This may imply we should be ready to defend what we can clearly identify as ours; establishing a power base is certainly indicative of the Full Moon-Pluto conjunction in Capricorn, and is vital to being able to deal with those issues that become apparent in the Full Moon’s light. There is also the potential implication, at least for those of us in the U.S., of this being the warship of ‘the mother country’, the one on which our system of laws is based and whose oversight fostered a revolution in order to form ‘a more perfect union’ of our own. That could suggest something bequeathed by the ancestors, a defensive outlook or ability passed down or learned through the family behaviors or even in the DNA, that will be an asset now, should we need it to ‘go to war’ or defend ourselves.

Read, donate, and enjoy a wonderful and enlightening Full Moon!