Mars in Aquarius

The exterior (and roof lines) of the Bilbao Guggenheim Museum

(photo credit: Dvdgmz, August 2005)

Mars enters Aquarius on December 26th and 50 minutes after midnight, UT/+0 time…and will be in Aquarius until the early hours of February 2, 2013.

Mars in Aquarius describes a time, an energy…impulses which are very gung ho. But unlike Mars in Capricorn (the sign Mars is just leaving) Mars in Aquarius doesn’t drive for the ‘thing’ – the tangible goal, the known deadline or the concrete gain. Aquarius being an air sign, Mars in Aquarius is more about the idea of the thing. So given the choice, Mars in Aquarius will be more about proving the point than signing the deal (unless of course, the point is signing the deal!) Known for it’s quirky sense of humor, Aquarius is a sign all which embraces both the heart of the mainstream and the truly unique – which if you think about it means ‘the all,’ the everything.

And thus since Aquarius is an air sign, universality.

Being also the sign of systems and what we get as a result of what we (Capricorn) do best in this world, Aquarius is also the sign of economics, economies and income. Thus Mars in Aquarius tells us that this is a period during which we will either be/become aware of the idea that the broader the market, the better the Aquarian result…or that we’ll get caught up in the individual-versus-universal concepts which are the challenges and pot holes one steps into any time they’re in the Aquarian realm.

The key to understanding how this Aquarian quandary works is probably easiest to understand if we think of the Aquarian-Leo polarity. Leo being the sign of whatever it is what we create (be that a child or a product or some personal ability) it is the degree to which we are able to find a place in the universal  (Aquarian) society and the value of what we put out there which determines what we get from that society, be that in the form of income, popularity, acceptance or self-identity as part of the ‘group,’ the world, your society, family, community – etcetera.

It’s really an old cry differently worded: what you give out determines what comes back to you. If all you’re aiming at is what you can get, then you’ll never feel accepted as that isn’t actually your aim. It sounds hokey to say ‘contribute to the world’ but that’s the idea behind this universal rule of realistic functionality. First you build the better mousetrap, then you offer your better mousetrap to the world, and if it truly is a better mousetrap, you become the big cheese in the world of mousetraps! People all over the world hail you for having solved a serious problem and your friend will ask you how you ever came up with the idea for that new-fangled hot shoe solution.

In other words, when you operate Mars in Aquarius properly, the idea is the thing. And when that idea woks – be that physically, emotionally, economically, systemically or any other way – you earn the brownie points, personal, professional, social and societal. But what you can do for (or offer to) others is the key here.

 The gears of a mechanical watch

(photo credit Michel Villeneuve, June 1999)

And that’s where we see a lot of people get lost in all things Aquarian (and 11th house, if you’re considering a horoscope).

Mars in Aquarius can be very thorough – attending to all which will create success and good results. Or it can be very fly-by-night or hurried. Or careless. Or haphazard. Where results – the thing – mattered while Mars was in Capricorn, the ethics, the proper application, the consideration of consequences matters with Mars in Aquarius.

And is where we can run ourselves right off the road!

To make this all a little more interesting (as if it needed to be), Mars is entering Aquarius as part of a somewhat subtle Yod.

Yods are funny things. The ‘Y’ described is composed of two 150-degree inconjuncts (or quincunxes, if you prefer) to a single point. In this case, the ‘point of adjustment’ implied by the double inconjunct is Byblis.
Byblis is all about that thing which you want, but which your shouldn’t want. Or that position you may be holding onto which, when you get right down to it, is downright indefensible.

With Byblis (at 1 Leo) inconjuncting Neptune in Pisces and Juno in Capricorn the normal Byblis tendency to want to hold onto what you want is either emphasized by its being in Leo, or this is a sign that you want to do something (or develop something) which you know you shouldn’t.

'Byblis' by William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1884)

From Byblis to Juno is six signs – and thus what we call a 6th harmonic. From Leo to Capricorn asks ‘is this useful? or is this merely something you want because you want it?’ Will it play well for your greater (Capricorn) efforts and long term stability to stay where you are, or put in the effort which it will undoubtedly take to effect any change?

Juno being on the ‘other end’ of this inconjunct refers to discipline, being disciplined or ‘managing’ something – which may be our own (Leo) desires, impulses, or focus on one thing and one thing only when a broader perspective is more useful. In Capricorn, Juno asks that we choose with an eye to greater responsibilities and stances which will pay off in the long run.

then we have the inconjunct which connects Byblis in Leo to Neptune in Pisces. In terms of Byblis (which we start with because Byblis is the joining point of the Yod) this is eight signs and thus an 8th house harmonic…a tricky wicket if there ever was one. Why? Because the 8th harmonic is all about knowing how to negotiate a path or make choices which take the needs and values of others into account. But with Neptune in this position…?

The Sutro tower in San Francisco casting a shadow in the fog which both reflects some

of the fascinating visuals in our national world, but which seems very much like a classic

Neptune 'what you think you see may or may not be real' effect.

 (photo credit: Brocken Inaglory, 2006)

Let’s just say that what we think is real is likely not to be and what we think can’t be true may well be the true and total answer. Moreover, what we think we want may end up being not anything we like once we get it.

Been there? We all have. Byblis/Neptune is one of those connections which asks if we’re kidding ourselves, or if we really think we can get away with “that” – whatever “that” may be. The one thing we do know here is that Neptune in Pisces is going to force us to face all those things which cause us to make decisions based on what we don’t want to face rather than we want to create…and that it’s going to backfire on us each and every time as life proves to us that reality is a fact and evasion of whatever type - verbal, emotional, religious or spiritual, sexual, monetary (etc) – only set us up for harder falls and deeper regrets.

And with all that now safely stowed in mind, now for the twist in the story!

What twist?

That twist would be the ‘solution to the Yod’ twist. Yods you see, come with a set of instructions on how to solve the inevitable dilemma which arise, however blatantly or subtly. That ‘solution’ is found by going to the point which is half-way between the ‘Y’ points of the Yod.

Which means that the solution to Mars in Aquarius is…Mars in Aquarius!

Surprise!

(See? I told you Aquarius is quirky!)

Seriously though…what this says is that at this point (and moving forward) paying more attention to traveling the straight Mars-in-Aquarius high road ticket is the solution to whatever “Byblis-type” problems we’ve all gotten ourselves into. So whether that means you don’t spend the money until you’ve earned it, or you earn the respect of others before you act as though everybody likes you…there’s a certain implication here that this next six weeks or so is truly about getting right with ourselves.

First with ourselves, then with everybody else by being a person we can respect and which they can respect, like and appreciate in whatever manner is appropriate to the moment.

Are whatever changes we need to make going to come about instantaneously? Probably not. We have an opportunity now to make a start. And many of us will get ourselves (re)established and on the road before Mars moves on into Pisces on February 2nd. But it’s worth understanding that Mars – a decidedly personal planet with a 1.86 year-long cycle – will hit it’s first quarter square to this Aquarian ingress in late April and May 2013, which will sync with a Scorpio lunar eclipse and Taurus solar eclipse.

Does that mean there’s a dotted line between this Mars ingress and next April and May’s eclipses?

Yes, sort of.

Let’s just say that once you get there you’ll see how it all adds up.

Mike Gogulski took this photo of a sign in New Cuyama (California)

which one could say shows an Aquarian sense of humor!

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Sun in Capricorn, Agamemnon About-Faces in Virgo

 
The Capricorn ingress – otherwise known as the Winter Solstice in the northern hemisphere and the Summer Solstice in the southern hemisphere – occurs at 11:13 a.m. (UT/+0) on Friday, December 21st.

This is also the first day of the new Mayan ‘world creation’ round and when asteroid Agamemnon goes retrograde at 7 Virgo.

Earth-wise, the Capricorn ingress is one of those moments of day/night extreme: in the south, the days now reach their longest and the nights are at their shortest – with things being exactly the other way around in the northern hemisphere. Traditionally (which is to say ‘in astrological tradition’) Capricorn is a ‘cool’ sign. It’s a sign of pragmatism and realism.

Some say ‘cold hearted’ realism, but I tend to think that’s all about where you’re coming from. Truth is truth and facts are facts – we just don’t happen to like some truths and some facts!

As an earth sign, Capricorn tends to promote and refer to things tangible and the ‘evidence’ which proves or disproves our theories or assertions. In being ruled by planet Saturn, Capricorn has a strong relationship to time and timeliness…and hence responsibility. Could’a, should’a, would’a’s don’t tend to work as well while the Sun is in Capricorn as they might at other times.

Oh…and maybe I should mention Mars is also in Capricorn? Yes, ‘tis true. And that combination of Sun and Mars is great if you’re trying to get something done and not so great if a problem has just reared its ugly head or you’re feeling down, alone, or guilty about something. (That goes double if you are guilty of something!)

Mars will be moving on into Aquarius early on December 26th…which could mean that Christmas Day is a stressful one for some folks (being that Mars will be at 29 Capricorn on that date).

With Mercury (and Venus) in Sagittarius at the time of the ingress and Mercury not shifting into Capricorn until New Years Eve, this means the ‘through Christmas’ period is Mars-in-Capricorn/Mercury(Venus)-in-Sagittarius, which creates a (Mercurial/Sagittarian) sense of expectations which are (Mars/Capricorn) most of all about what we expect from ourselves…or for some, as proof of how others think of us.

Or whether they think of us at all. Venus and Mercury in Sagittarius can create a vision in our heads that ‘everybody else is happy’ which is simply not true, even if it’s true for us. And once Mars and the Sun are both in Capricorn, many people will just get riveted on what needs to get done, forgetting that the holiday spirit is most of all about warmth, about kindness, about caring and giving of ourselves, not of gifts.

These last few days before Christmas may be particularly hard on people who are alone. If you can, reach out to someone. Share a smile. Wish someone the best of the season. Share a funny joke. Give them – if nothing else – a moment of quality attention.

Often times, that’s the greatest gift of all.

That the Sun is entering Capricorn in (a.) opposition to Ceres, (b.) in square to Uranus and (c.) sextile Neptune and (d.) conjunct Juno is a picture of all these things.

The closest aspect here is Sun-sextile-Neptune (from 0 Capricorn to 0 Pisces) which tells us that with the best of intentions, we may fail ourselves. Attentiveness and asking ourselves ‘why’ one thing is more important than the other thing really…(like, deep down inside?)…is the question being posed. Some will work this sextile as a way to forget the ‘big bad’ (Capricorn) world and retreat into the longed for comforts of Neptune in Pisces.

Unfortunately those dreams of storybook comforts don’t always exist.

Astrologically, the best thing we can do now is weigh things out…sorting between the ‘accepted’ thing to do and be and that we would really love ourselves for being on a human and mortal level. Sextiles always represent an opportunity, and here Neptune at 0 Pisces against the Sun at 0 Capricorn is an opportunity to let our guard down – most of all with ourselves. The Sun being in Capricorn will continue to remind us of our reality of the moment. But Neptune’s position at the beginning degree of Pisces – a sign it will be in for some years yet – gives us a sense, an ‘inner vision’ if you will, of what we can be, and what we want to be, going forward.

That as this applies the Sun is also conjunct Juno brings a question of quality or self-mastery (mastering?) into the mix. And then there’s the question of the opposition to Ceres – which is really Ceres, Betelgeuse and Polaris all clustered in late Gemini.

 A 2nd-3rd century (CE) statue of Juno in the Weisenburg (Bavaria) Roman Museum

(photo credit: Wolfgang Sauber, August 2011)

On the surface of it, this would evoke the ‘playing out of plans.’ But then…then we have to consider Uranus, which at 4 Aries and conjunct Child and Atlantis seems to be our holding ourselves up either because we’re acting like a child, or maybe because we haven’t gotten past the natural sort of egotism/self-centeredness which works when we’re young, but becomes increasingly unproductive as adult responsibilities become our daily fare.

Then again, maybe the Uranus in your personal universe is operating physically or being triggered through situations. If so, you can expect a lot of interruptions, changes, indecision, or ‘incapacity’ (of some type) to surface now…and probably on a periodic basis throughout the zodiacal month.

Representing all those many things and ways in which life, instinct or impulses forces our hand (mental or otherwise), Uranus is that part of the life process which when we’re the agent of it, brings the new into being. And when we refuse to change, change happens anyway.

In being connected with asteroids Child and Atlantis, there’s an implied ‘needing to let go’ (Atlantis) which once we do it allows us to find what we really want. But we just don’t like letting go!

The goal (represented in the t-square by Ceres, Polaris and Betelgeuse) may be some ‘childhood dream’ – an idea you’ve held onto for a very long time. Or it may be something you think will ‘fix everything’ (Betelgeuse) and you’re afraid of letting go of the idea that you (Polaris) need to do that.

Maybe the time is just wrong. Maybe you’re not the person who will accomplish that aim. Or maybe your approach is wrong. Perhaps your test is simply that of being or becoming willing to let go of some idea or image…or getting past some fear or instinctual aversion you learned or picked up on long ago.

Because Uranus is in Aries and Aries is ruled by Mars, this underscores the first few days of this solar passage of Capricorn in a very direct and personal way. Once Mars moves into Aquarius (on the 26th) the duration of Sun in Capricorn will ask that we (Mars) do what is needed to achieve our (Capricorn) aims in two parts or as the sum of two parts. That duality is dictated by Aquarius. It’s first ruler is Saturn (ruler of Capricorn) and its secondary or “outcome” ruler is Uranus…again pointing us back to Uranus as the ‘hurdle’ in the ingress t-square.

The Aquarius Saturn/Uranus is something akin to an astrological recipe. Saturn asks if you “know how” and if not, if you are willing to learn how or find the right way to get things done. Depending on how well you do that, Uranus then represents the ‘breaking through’ in your task or aim, the ‘earning the reward’ or the changing of a dynamic. Or not.

Those who don’t heed the Saturn rules, Saturn standards, Saturn messages about methods and such, they may succeed, but either not in the long run…or they’ll achieve their primary aim but then something they thought was perfectly okay goes totally kaput or utterly haywire. Example: let’s say you and your sweetie want to buy your first home. You scrimp and save and buy that first precious house. Then one of you gets transferred overseas. Or maybe the economy tanks out.

Aquarius, a sign known for quirky senses of humor, seems to have one. And it’s not always pleasant. Sometimes we cross all the ‘t’s and dot all the ‘i’s and life throws us a curve ball anyway.

Also worth remembering here is that until the 28th, we’re all in the first half of a ‘lunar month’ which starts in Sagittarius and comes to full in Cancer. So this is a natural time of adjusting and for feeling our feelings. It will be an emotional time when unbidden things and long forgotten moments suddenly pop to the surface. And when they do, don’t brush them off. Take a moment to think what they mean. Or perhaps how far you’ve come since some time in your past.

Or how far you have yet to go.

Once Venus moves into Capricorn on January 9th (joining Mercury, which will have moved into Capricorn on December 31st), we’re all going to feel more collected and directed.

And that pretty much fills the Sun in Capricorn bill….except for one thing. As the Sun enters Capricorn and the pendulum of light and dark hits one extreme and turns to move back in the other direction, Agamemnon is going retrograde at 7 Virgo, a degree which as I type it out reminds me of the Pluto/Facies conjunction which is just beginning to let go of us - or would be if the Sun wasn't going to set it off by running over the conjunction point come the 28th.

(More on that in a different post yet to come!)

But the trine between Agamemnon and Pluto/Facies? That seems highly emblematic of the difficulties and complications so many of us seems to be facing and be caught up with.

Anyone who’s familiar with the tale of Troy and Helen and Achilles knows the name of the Greek King Agamemnon. He’s not exactly a charming sort of fellow. Agamemnon was a classic power monger and power seeker. Stubborn to the nth degree, Agamemnon was a man bent on winning at almost any cost – and he paid some hefty prices.

From a Roman folio, this scene depicts opposing soldiers at Troy

As any symbol goes into retrograde, we tend to recognize associated matters internally. And during the time that it remains in retrograde, we mull and plan and sort through those issues.

Virgo can be simplified as what we do and how we do it (or don’t do it). Virgo stresses not quantity but quality. Associated with the military, health and health care and every sort of governmental or civic worker, it’s about all we do to keep things running and improve our lot…and (oh, incidentally) that of everybody else. Like all earth signs, Virgo tests our knowledge of and willingness to “follow the rules,” which in this sign tend to be those of duty, morality, ethics, priority, protocol and timeliness.

Together with Sun entering Capricorn, Agamemnon’s going retrograde suggests that we may ‘hit the wall’ in some way now…but not in any way which doesn’t allow us to move on.

In fact, what we recognize about what we're experiencing? That's probably a very important factor going forward. The good and bad here is all about our 'reality factor' - how realistic we are about what we need to do in this life, what life requires of us, how we're not immune to time or those pesky rules which may seem so annoying...

All that.

Yet even if life seems daunting, remember - the test is not about the 'thing,' it's about your journey to understanding who you are and what you're capable of, and willing to do. That reality is what determines what your reality becomes.

And that's entirely, completely, excruciatingly Sun in Capricorn!
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William and Kate: A Marriage Royal, A Human Relationship

 William placing the ring on Kate's finger

photo source: CNN

Anyone and everyone who cared about the grand affair which was the wedding of William and Kate got their chance to watch…once, twice...many times. The whole event was broadcast live, then re-broadcast over and over and over again.

Astrologically, the marriage is one chart – a chart timed for the moment when the vows are sealed.

 April 29, 2011 - 'Let No Man Put Asunder'

But the relationship which underlies that wedding? 

That’s a whole other thing. And when we talk about that 'whole other thing,' you'll even hear two versions talked about there.

One version is the astrological 'composite' chart. We take the Sun of one chart, the Sun of another, we translate the zodiacal positions into 360 (numerical) notation and divde that by two.

The composite chart is a great picture of what one person 'thinks' of the other.


What it isn't is the 'living' chart of the relationship...as in, "honey, we have to go away for the sake of the relationship." Instinctively we seem to recognize that when there are two people in the room there are three entities present: person one, person two, and the relationship which lies between them.


That relationship is a dynamic thing. A composite chart isn't. You can't look up its "date" in an ephemeris because it doesn't have one. Not even computer software will let you calculate with a composite chart because it's 'midpoint' construct does not reflect an actual point in time.

The 'actual point in relationship time' chart is called a "Davison chart." It's a chart erected for a midpoint in time, space and birth location between the two people involved.

I'll spare you the rest of this recitation...but trust me, I've done my homework here and Davison charts are for real.

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 William and Kate, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge

Davison Relationship/Aries Chart (No Time Known for Kate's Chart)

So we have one chart which is the chart for the sealing of the wedding vows. That's a regular, everyday  real-time chart which, given modern satellite technology and my watching the wedding in real time can only be mere seconds off the actual moment of sealing the marriage vows with the traditional ...let no man put asunder speech.

Against this we have the chart for William and Kate as a couple – the relationship chart. There we have a bit of a problem as there has as yet been no time confirmed for (as she’s now known) the Duchess of Cambridge’s birth. All we know is that Catherine was born on January 9, 1982 in Reading, UK.

For William, there's exact data – of course! But given that we don't have Kate's time, we do well to cast the Davison in Aries Wheel format.

The other thing we have an issue with because we don't have Kate's birth time is how we need to own that while the Moon of this relationship is more than likely in  Cancer, we can't swear to that.

But it is likely - and that's an interesting item to note seeing as we know William’s Moon is in Cancer and it's very highly mostly really likely Kate’s is too.

(And in case you're thinking that would be "automatic," it isn't. It's easy enough to have two people with Moon in Virgo and have the Davison Moon come out in any sign but!)

However! As we say this we do have a whole bunch of 'absolutes' and 'givens.' And that list starts with the lunar nodes of the Davison being positioned at 18 Cancer (North) and Capricorn (South)...which makes an  interesting statement.

How's that? Well, the North Node is what we should do. And this North Node being in Cancer speaks to how important it is for this relationship to be about family, heritage, one’s personal life and - since this is a royal couple - 'the people’: one’s native population and homeland.

Against this we have a South Node - the 'easy thing' - in Capricorn. Especially with Capricorn’s ruling Saturn strongly positioned in Libra, it's 'easy' for this couple of follow the rules. They will find things easier if they 'color inside the lines' - royal and otherwise.

This also suggests that when the day comes that William becomes King, his work will easily come first even though they know as a couple that in order to be figureheads for their nation they need to keep working on their relationship.

It's something of a dichotomy...and no, not at all easy.

Sitting at 19 Libra and the apex of a t-square with the lunar nodes, this Saturn is not quite conjunct Pluto at 25 Libra...and it's a couple of degrees out of strict Ptolemaic (5-degree) conjunction orb with Pallas at 12 Libra.

It's something of a picture of being between the rock and the hard place. And since in this picture the 'hard place' is pictured most immediately by the lunar nodes, the issue is social and societal obligation.

Then we add in Eris - aka Eris Discord. Conjunct Sabine (entrapment, slavery) in emotionally expressive degrees of Aries, Eris is in opposition to Saturn and square to the nodes, making this not a t-square but a grand square (also known as a grand cross).

Since all astrology is a two-way swinging door, this tells us that there will be times when the 'public call' is simply a pain in the low back and very frustrating. But there will also be times when discord strikes in the world and in response this couple of will react as a matter of course.

In other words, they're really very human.

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 Westminster Abbey witnesses yet another royal marriage

photo source: CNN

And this Eris/Saturn 'inconvenient timing’ issue doesn't end there. Though at 19 Libra Saturn isn't strictly conjunct a 12 Libra Pallas (wisdom) which is itself conjunct a 10 Libra Mars and Eros/passion, Eris IS positioned to be in opposition to Saturn and - SEPARATELY - opposition Eris...which is conjunct the couple's strong 10 Aries Sun.

Sun in Aries is very strong. Conjunct Eris and Sabine and in opposition to Pallas-Mars-Eros (and let's be reminded: Mars in Libra is hardly Mars at its most assertive!) this suggests that as a couple, William and Kate will defend their right to have a personal life.

It also suggests that the 'being apart' we saw in their dating life may yet happen again. That may be all about necessity, that may be because they need a bit of a break, that may be simply because William's work - whether in the military or elsewhere - that may take him away.


If this couple learns to handle the 'unevenness' of schedule to their advantage, they'll thrive. Is this likely? Well, Saturn's strength in Libra and the Sun's resilience in Aries says they have better than the average chance.


It also suggests this is a couple which knows how to disagree. And that life isn't all cupcakes and rose petals.

Another aspect of this is how the Mars-Eros-Pallas speaks to their understanding that they represent something to literally millions of people they will never meet. And how this couple is aware of the difference between the way they live and the lives of non-royals - which will like as not become far more evident and/or important William comes to the throne.

Even before that, one suspects.

Leaving that for a moment, let’s consider the Davison Juno at 7 Capricorn. This is Juno positioned as the apex of another t-square which might be a grand cross, though we can't know without having a birth time for Kate.

As it is, Juno sits at the half-way point between Sun in Aries and Mars-Pallas, which is clearly (among other things) the overhanging, omni-present fact that William is a member of "the Firm"...British royalty. Learning how to manage that? That's a huge piece in the relationship puzzle.

But without that Moon....?

The difference between t-squares (which are solvable) and grand squares (which are eternal challenges in one's life) is huge.

A grand square (or grand cross) is a figure of being pulled from all sides. In an individual’s natal chart, grand squares ask that we ‘pull all the corners together’ (symbolically) before we do any “heavy lifting” - or at least have any success with same. About the best image here I could give you is collecting everything off a table by pulling all four corners of the tablecloth together before you hoist; in a chart, the one ‘corner’ you miss will be the place where all sorts of havoc spills out, ruining your effort to get ahead.

Against this, the t-square is a hurdle. You have to understand where you're coming from, where you're headed and what about yourself (the 't' is part of your chart, right?) you have to get past or "over" in order to reach your goal.

In pragmatic terms, the difference between the t-square and grand square is one of degree of complexity…the number of details one must ‘pull together,’ as it were. In real world terms however...t-squares are often found in the charts of great achievers where grand squares are found more often in those who rise and fall at least a few times before figuring life out.

Still....whether or not the Moon is in aspect to Juno or anything else in this chart, by sign the Moon and Sun are in square. This is a classic indication of problems with timing. We saw some of this (or at least thought we did) with Kate’s having appeared to ‘decide’ William was her guy before he decided she was the woman he wanted to marry. Another form will like as not be a clashing of schedules we will never see – and perhaps never even hear about.

That Pluto (symbol of emotionally transformative experiences) had gone on station and retrograde at 7 Capricorn – the degree of Juno – is exactly what we would expect to see in the chart of a royal couple about to get married. Capricorn is traditionally the sign of ‘head of government’ and Juno a symbol of domestic leadership. With the wedding having happened with the Sun moving across first Sedna at 6 Taurus (the maturation process) on April 26 before ‘triggering’ Pluto’s 7 Capricorn station (and the Davison chart Juno) on the 27th…we get a real picture of this couple recognizing the enormity of the event their wedding would be.

Conversely, this also signals the wedding as an enormous public moment.

 Crowds lining the street, enjoying the moment

outside Westminster Abbey, London

photo source: CNN

For those who are dedicated royal watchers, there’s also the contemplation that in having gone into retrograde, Pluto will return to 7 Capricorn 39 on January 9th with the Sun doing a ‘lesser' trigger to this Pluto cycle on December 28/29 – which will be an interesting moment to watch. Will we be hearing more news from the Duke and Duchess as either of these dates roll by?

Yes or no, this is something interesting to watch for and very much how astrological research is done.

Meanwhile, the marriage chart…with it’s regal 15 Leo rising…it’s a lovely picture of a public royal wedding. Leo has always been known as a sign of royalty even though governance is a Capricorn attribute. The difference…rulership versus governance is one of perspective. But here we have the Sun which rules that 15 degrees Leo rising intercepted in the 10th house – a signal which on one hand speaks to the marriage being a matter of duty (interception) to the not just the (10th house/MC) nation.

And with 28 Aries on the MC/Midheaven of this wedding chart, with the Mars which rules that 10th house cusp in a triple conjunction (Jupiter, Mars, Eris all at 21 Aries) …all four of these points in degrees between 20 and 29 degrees (that being the 3rd decanate of the sign) we know…for absolute sure that everything which comes of and from this marriage will be reacted to by the public and ultimately ruled and regulated by that same public – and the world.

So much for a private union between two people, right?

As for 15 degrees of Leo, like 15 degrees of any fixed sign (there being for fixed signs: Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius) we are speaking of a ‘moving into the next phase’ or ‘taking a step’ in life – which marriage truly is.

 A lovely photograph of Queen Elizabeth II being greeted by

the Dean of Westminster as she arrives at Westminster Abbey

to attend her grandson's wedding.

photo source: CNN

The Ascendant being conjunct Photographica at 11 Leo puts the marriage in the public eye and tells us that it was carried out with an eye to (and on) the public.

But then things get…a bit less candid. That intercepted Sun is positioned in a difficult degree: 8 Taurus is known for sensitivity to teasing – which we know will come from the tabloids, never mind the public and possibly (?) the royal court. This degree is known for ‘fighting shadows’ and a general defensiveness which suggests an internal frailty which develops as demand outstrips ability to comfortably comply.

Added to this is fixed star Hamal plus Byblis, a more than difficult commentary. Hamal equals  independence and is known to take on the coloring of whatever else is present. Considering that the Sun itself is often an image of males and that Sun in Taurus is security and/or privilege of wealth, this can well speak to William’s already-demonstrated ability to eschew the trappings of royalty.

Then we add in Byblis. Byblis is an asteroid which is all about defending the indefensible. And thus we ask: will this couple run afoul of their very caring for common people and/or a ‘regular’ way of life? Will they prove sufficiently ‘independent’ as to offend those still ‘married’ to an older and more traditional role for royalty?

Phaeton/Hera speaks to the 'impulsiveness’ and ‘headstrong’ quality of ‘the mate’ – Hera usually being the wife. Does this mean that William will ultimately decide he chose a bride too early? Or will we end up seeing yet another example of a couple which in becoming entrenched in the duties of royalties rebels against it?

With Bali (paradise) and Deucalion (finding the moral path) in direct opposition to the Sun of this chart (and thus intercepted in the chart’s 4th house) we do understand that the marriage will always be understood to be of import to the public. Positioned at 9 Scorpio the underlying dynamic is emotional commonalty or agreement – that being the Scorpio part. With 9 Scorpio being a 1st decan degree (between 0 and 9) we know what this pair does is ‘the proof of the pudding.’

That this Bali/Deucalion is intercepted in the 4th says a lot about this marriage being founded in a (Scorpio) inheritance of native…and yes royal…tradition. And for those who wonder whether this royal couple will continue in what is seen by some as ‘a life of excess’ which has so typified so many royal households, that answer is ‘maybe not.’

Why not? Because fixed star Arcturus is exactly conjunct Spica as the objects closest to the 4th house cusp with Saturn (retrograde) at 12 Libra farther back in the 3rd house and in opposition to Venus at 10 Aries, Pelion at 11 Aries and Mercury at 14 Aries in the 9th.

Saturn retrograde in the 3rd either makes one pessimistic or says you think before you choose to do or what you do. In Libra, there’s a built in concern about what others think or how they’ll react.

Meanwhile, that Aries Venus-Pelion-Mercury in the 9th is something we already have heard about – the British Royal Family’s concern about how to hold a royal wedding during a period of financial struggle. Pelion is the ‘great mountain’…it can either be something you climb or that thing you’re sitting atop looking down at everyone else from. Add in Venus in Aries (the appearance) and Mercury in Aries (what I say, what people think of me) and you have a royal couple who is “saddled” with being emotionally aware of others.

Yes…its just William and Kate in this marriage. Plus the rest of the royal family. Plus the press. Plus the citizens of the UK and anyone else who cares to watch.

Neptune – pictured at 0 Pisces in this chart - is at this moment about to go station/retrograde. Come next June (2012) it will go retrograde at 3 Pisces, right atop the 8th house cusp of this chart. Since this 3 Pisces is also the position of Damocles (the dangers we don’t recognize until we take the job on) in the Davison relationship spot, it’s very likely this is a moment when a soft spot in the royal relationship is found, resulting in at least a bit of bruising.

 With festivities having begun inside Buckingham Palace,

people linger in the streets, still celebrating

photo source: CNN

Speaking of the Davison chart, June’s 24 Sagittarius Lunar Eclipse bisects the split between Black Moon Lilith/Ascendant at 21 Sagittarius (plus Ras Alhague at 22 Sagittarius) and Neptune at 27 Sagittarius conjunct fixed star Acumen at 28.

Acumen being ‘all we’ve learned’ in conjunction with Neptune is likely to be what some call ‘fuzzy math.’ With Black Moon Lilith (what you don’t want to admit about the world and what the world doesn’t or shouldn’t know about you) conjunct Ras Alhague…?

Ras Alhague is the really iffy coin toss here. Sometimes it’s a healing force and sometimes it’s the ripper (or ripping) which creates the need for healing. Given that this is about the Ascendant, IF William and Kate determine at this point to do something for others (or even issue a delightingly sensitive statement of some kind) …then can could count this for a plus.

But with Black Moon Lilith on the Ascendant/Ras Alhague of this chart virtually guarantees some sort of ‘paparazzi war’ at some point…if not consistently.

And let’s remember: the 11 Gemini solar eclipse happens June 1st. Occurring in that emotionally challenging 12th house, it’s in trine to Pallas/Mars and sextile Sun/Eris/Sabine…so something’s going on which is of an evolving/evolutionary nature. Keep your royal ears tuned in and take whatever happens during June/July seriously – take it as the start of a  process.

 The happy couple...happy (probably among other reasons) for

having gotten through the ceremony without any giant faux pas!

photo source: CNN

This is underscored certainly by the July solar eclipse (at 9 Cancer) being in opposition to the Davison Juno and maybe conjunct the chart’s Moon, though without an exact birth time for Kate we can’t be sure. Certainly in square to the Sun/Eris and Mars/Pallas, this becomes a testing time for the relationship.

What’s it about? Call it this: now that they’re married, now what?