April's Libra Full Moon

 An Aries Wheel chart for the Full Moon of April 18, 2011

(2:45am UT/+0) - location not specific

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Amphitrite slides into Aries at 1:20am (UT/+0) on April 18th…not all that long before the Moon reaches its full phase at 2:45am (UT/+0) on that same day…

Should we think of this as a water nymph (a symbol of instinct) leaving a sign it would work very naturally in (Pisces) for a world of what could be – the fiery world of the Aries imagination which envisions all but which doesn’t always invest in the emotional repercussions until they happen?

Should we think of this as Amphitrite as a symbol of instinct having now passed over fixed star Scheat at 29 Pisces, meaning the knee-jerk instinct to reject things may be giving way to a period of possible reception and (you just never know!) positive opportunities?

Should we think of this as Amphitrite having – yes – gotten past Scheat but in position now to conjunct and ‘instinctual-ize’ a traveling conjunction of Black Moon Lilith and Uranus, which are currently at 2 Aries?

That would seem to be adding instinct to the already somewhat outrageous seeing that 2 Aries is known for lacking the perseverance to carry through on things.

And yet….often enough this degree evidences a sly sense of humor which is just enough to not simply make light of one’s own foibles, but actually use one’s apparent “ineptness” to crowbar out of people what you really want from them. Or want them to do. Or want them to think of you…and possibly themselves.

Considering this is Uranus/Black Moon Lilith we’re talking about, there’s a little bit of revelation in the air. A ‘bit of a charge’ is gotten here both from spilling the beans and from attempting to distract folks from what you don’t want them to know – or see – or focus on….

…Especially if that isn’t you. Yes, this is an ego-based moment, particularly considering the Full Moon Aries/Libra emphasis. Sun at 27 Aries would seem to be all about dedicating one’s self to getting the job done. Yet considering 27 Aries is all about the promise and not always about the accomplishment, the combination of this degree being involved in a Full Moon (where the 27 Libra/lunar side might well be those one is trying to reach, convince or please) – when we toss in that Amphitrite/Aries ingress plus Uranus/Lilith there well may be a lot of posturing simply for attention’s sake.

You know – if any attention is good, bad attention is better than no attention is all?

Considering Mars and Saturn (Saturn in retrograde) are in now in direct/exact opposition in emotional degrees (with Mars strongly placed in Aries) we can  expect this to be a particularly emotional Full Moon. And a contentious one too. If that will work for someone’s goal (or they think it will work for them) count on drum beating and sky is falling and drama talk galore.

Not that there aren’t things to be concerned about, mind you. There are. That’s the flip side of Mars and Saturn being in direct opposition in this moment. There are real difficulties (even hostilities) going on now and they aren’t to be ignored. With Mars at 12 Aries and Mercury (retrograde) currently at 14 Aries there’s an implication that we’re a couple of days away from real news, real understanding.

But what that understanding is going to be? Pro or con, that isn’t guaranteed – except that we can count on the idea that it will include “more needing to be done"…that would be the Mercury retrograde part of the impending notice.

Real answers – particularly as to the ‘cost’ of whatever is being dealt with are not likely to surface until around the 28th - after Mercury comes out of retrograde, for sure. That moment (on the 28th) being when Jupiter conjuncts Eris at a moment when asteroid Lust brings maximal focus to the matter and the Sun has moved on to 7 Taurus where it will be sitting with Byblis (an attempt to justify) and fixed star Hamal.

Ah yes, Hamal. It’s an interesting star, this one. One might even think of it as something of the tofu of fixed stars as Hamal is known for taking its flavor  from that which it’s combined with.

 Would you like a side order of tofu fixed star?

In this case…all things considered…we should expect to hear ‘but that would have cost’ and ‘we were just trying to…’ in connection with things which now cost much more and which will in the end, undermine enormous efforts and investments of time, energy and human capital.

(In other words, this is Hamal with a lot of empty – and possibly bad tasting calories!)

But that’s yet to come. Right now we will get the high water mark of the month – a moment when various things will be being ‘highlighted’ by different factions. And you shouldn’t be surprised if your instinct is simply to shut it all out and take a moment for yourself.

Just don’t be an escapist. Mars rules the Aries/Sun end of this Full Moon but Venus rules the Libra/Moon (and retrograde Saturn) end of this configuration. And at the moment, Venus is sitting in Pisces conjunct Sappho and Circe – a temptation to reject or abandon reality for something more comforting. That could be doing a bit of gardening, reading a book or taking a bubble bath. Then again, it could be wholesale campaigning against reason, either publicly…(this Full Moon absolutely supports amazingly unsupported public statements!)…or privately – even through the use of ‘escapist activities’ or intoxicating substances.

In the end, maybe the best thing to remember is that this is only a Full Moon. Take it with a grain of salt. Let the moment pass and think over what you’ve been told. There may be a kernel of truth or wisdom in either the cotton candy or the blurted cries of danger, danger Will Robinson! 

Time will tell. Listen, learn, if possible enjoy – then move on. This is a step in a process, but especially with Mercury in retrograde, you haven’t heard the last word on anything yet. Even on your own personal opinion!

Uranus/Black Moon Lilith: A Celebration of the (Maybe?) Possible

The Moon as it appears to us on Earth when at it's perigee

(closest/largest) and apogee (farthest/smaller), all of which has

to do with a natural orbital cycle. The difference - which is about 12%, and

that closest point - the perigee - as it shifts through the zodiac

is what we know as Black Moon Lilith, or everything about society

or our need to interact with/cooperate with/contribute to that society

which we'd each of us really rather not deal with

photo credit: NASA/JPL 

Our modern world seems increasingly tolerant of bad behavior, acting out and mud slinging – at least when it’s your friends slinging the mud or doing the name calling.

And has anyone noticed that amidst the uproar and lack of civility there’s a whole lot of lying going on?

Come April 18th, all such is likely to reach a new high (or low, depending on how you feel about it) as Uranus and Black Moon Lilith (the calculated form of Lilith having to do with the Moon’s orbit around Earth) meet up at 2 Aries, a degree known for a lack of continuity or follow-through…which seems right in line with all the pretense and posturing we’ve seen of late.

Lest you think otherwise, even astrologers quibble amongst themselves…one of my most memorable (and least liked) fractious moments was when an astrologer I know got all bent by the fact there’s a Black Moon Lilith (a calculated point) and an asteroid Lilith. Personally, I think it makes perfect sense – hence my having no issue with sorting out the matter in a blog of some time back (LINK). If the point behaves in a ‘Lilith manner’ (meaning it coordinates with our ability to deny something ‘equally valid’ which has/should have its own ‘equally valid’ worth, or say in life)…then I don’t mind using the same name twice.

This person did. Big time. And no, I won’t be surprised if I get a miffed email that I would dare state, recount or (gasp!) defend my point of view.

Some people have a problem with other people not sharing their perspectives. And that’s what we’re likely to see – and experience – now.

Uranus being a planet which incites, explodes, reveals and signals ‘breakthroughs,’ there is some chance that some who have devotedly avoided the facts will suddenly get a clue. But let’s be real – this is Uranus plus the Black Moon so there’s a much, much greater likelihood that those supervising the space race of the 1960s’ would gawk in amazed astonishment at some of the soaring flights of fancy which go off now.

You’ve probably heard me chatting about Black Moon Lilith and Uranus separately for some time now…truth is, these two have been playing catch-up (not katsup!) with each other since January 11th. And yes, that was a scant week-plus after the infamous Solar Eclipse (conjunct Vega) at 13 Capricorn which signaled so much Capricorn fracas which has become so problematic ever since.

As they came into transiting orb of each other, Uranus and Lilith were both in the last ten degrees (the last decanate) of Pisces. And since the last ten degrees of any sign indicates an area or arena in which we are respondents and not instigators, with Pisces being (among other things) a sign of ‘the truth of something against some fantasy you might have wanted/want to believe about it’….so we have had everything from national rebellions to political bodies attempting to wipe out personal/collective rights to people far and wide getting big-time lessons on exactly what we do and don’t know about natural forces (tectonics and tsunamis) along with nuclear power. (It’s not nice to try and fool Mother Nature, remember?)

Meeting up briefly on April 7, 8 and 9 (a period the United States tastefully enshrined by threatening to ‘shut the government down’ over passing a much-delayed budget, not to mention like dramas going on around the world)…for the intervening days Uranus and its Black Moon cohort have again been separated. By only a degree, ‘tis true – but astrologically, this counts. It’s like taking something off the high boil flame and setting it on a simmer. Yes, you will still scorch your hand if you stick it in the water (it’s still hot, in other words) but at least no more fuel is being added at the moment – the stoking of the fire, the raising of pressure (blood pressure, emotional pressure, pipe pressure – name your pressure!) isn’t continuing to press and/or rise. 

But now Uranus and calculated (societal) Lilith once again unite. And they will remain united, manifesting in all our least liked ways, from April 16th through 19th.

After that, the Black Moon moves on, meeting up with Venus on April 23rd, which will probably not be the word’s favorite date, especially considering that April 23rd is also the date when Mercury turns direct.

Set your calendar clocks…let’s see what happens.

So how long will it take for this unlovable if highly dynamic duo to part company and get out of each other’s orb of influence?

Would you believe June 22nd?

Uh…yeah. And that means that this whole fractious Uranus-Black Moon Lilith vibe will still be in force when the June 1st Solar Eclipse goes off.

Oh frabjous day, right?

NOT!

Maybe even more interesting (not to mention to the point) is that when that date of June 22nd rolls around, Black Moon Lilith will be at 10 Aries. Does that ring a bell? Well it will if you’re a devotee of Saturn, since as June 13th, Saturn will be going direct at 10 Libra – directly across the zodiac from Black Moon Lilith at 10 Aries. This either marks a moment of ‘stoppage’ or ‘limit' or ‘limitation’ or ‘the defining of a boundary.’ And let’s remember, when we talk about Black Moon Lilith, we are talking about a societal force (of whatever kind) which is equally valid and which, whether we like it or not, has a voice equal to our own.

Oh – and before I forget…Saturn will retrograde into 10 Libra as of May 17/18th (depending where you are). And given the mechanics of retrogrades-turning-direct (plus relatively ‘slower’ movement of planets as we move farther and farther out through the solar system), it’s also probably worth bearing in mind that Saturn isn’t going to leave 10 Libra until July 8th.

More on that in some other blog.

So…is there something good which can come of this whole mish-mash? Sure! Any of us can stop pretending and start getting more real about life, the fact that facts really are facts…we can get realistic about relationships or money or the fact that rules are often there for reasons and are not just something dreamed up to annoy us…we can figure out what’s not working in our life and begin to take on the job of working with and in our world so as to become a viable and valued member of society – or at least our local group or clan….

There are LOTS of good things which can come of this time. They just require (Uranian) change. And since Uranus and Black Moon Lilith are both transiting Aries, the crux of the whole thing – and thus many of our problems is that we do all think that whatever our issues are that ‘they’ need to change. Or that ‘they’ are supposed to solve our problems. Or that ‘they’ are/were entirely and totally wrong and therefore 100% responsible for all the problems.

WRONG!

(insert: sound of game show buzzer...)

Remember that old saying ‘it takes two to tango’? That’s the hint here. What we put out comes back to us: resistance begets counter-resistance, attempts to dominate stir up rebellion, having less than sterling (or even functional boundaries) delivers us in the hands of a life or a situation where we feel like we have no say and no options and no ability to draw any limits.

The ‘magical’ quality here is that we can ‘disempower’ Black Moon Lilith. And if we do, in doing so, if we undertake this task between now and June 22nd, to the extent that we deal with our denials and accept our part in things and change our means, methods or attitudes (and rules for ourselves, considering Saturn lies at the other end of this discussion!)…but doing so we will automatically covert all that Uranian energy. Having been disruptive and dismantling, it will as if struck by a magic wand convert into a discovery force which innovates and opens doors to the new, bold and exciting.

And we certainly have a good while to get to this, don’t we? Of course, considering how deep denial runs, we’ll probably need every moment of every day for a while just to get hold of the problem.

But hey – when you’re sick and tired of living in a contentious pit you’ll take on the lion…and probably find out that in the end, it’s just a little puddy tat...the You that you haven't really wanted to deal with but which You've in actually been hindered by not having as an asset - your asset.

And who doesn't need more personal assets, right?