April’s 8 Taurus Solar Eclipse (Pt. 2: Sun in Taurus / Eta Aquarids)

Taurus (1907) by Mikalojus Konstantinas Ciurlionis

It’s about now in the lengthy March 1-May 20 Mars retrograde that things begin feeling really questionable. Mars retrogrades are always long and by nature tend to drag or slow us down. We are now about two-thirds through the retrograde and things are ‘coming out’ which are not one’s finest moments. About now there’s a ‘gap’ - or inability to achieve what we want…and the maintaining of  connections or activities we’re grown used to is likely to raise a couple of question. Are we willing to keep pushing ourselves? Will we continue to believe in what we’re doing should we find we’re alone in our belief?

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Mars and Saturn Retrograde

Eclipse Effects in Libra

And that’s not all. Even while slogging through mental Mars quicksand, there are all the intricate convolutions so very typical of the ongoing Ixion/Ras-Alhague conjunction which began back on February 22nd.

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Ixion/Ras Alhague

Amidst all that, the Sun enters Taurus – an act which on a metaphysical level sets many a thing in motion.

The date: April 20th.

The time: 3:57 in the morning, UT/+0.

Elementally, this moves us from the fiery world of Aries visions and personal conviction-insight-consciousness into the more ‘giving’ and ‘earthy’ Sun in Taurus zone – a time which is about whatever sort of stability, security, nourishment we need in life. Information, food, respect, abilities, money – whatever the basic need is in life, what that need tests is Taurean, as it tests our internal and intrinsic ability to deal with being confronted by the realities (not the ‘vision’) of what will support life…ours and that life in which we live (the world around us, in other words).

Normally this entrance would be one colored by fixed star Mirach at 0 Taurus, supporting a reigniting of the desire to interact in a more-or-less supportive manner because under Sun in Taurus the concept of give-and-take is brought into a basic, almost simplistically easy form. Yet with our 2014 Sun-Taurus ingress also comes a South Node at 28 Aries – just to begin with, and that’s something of a notice about internal-versus-external influences or opinions or ‘directives’ which are raising questions for you, me – and everyone else, too.

Our questions don’t sound the same, but they are: they’re about security – starting with how secure we feel about life, moving from there to how stable or secure we feel with our Self and who we’re being…and moving on from there to others reflecting what we’re feeling, which just may be why so much about life is likely to get us focused on our values.

And specifically, where we are out of kilter with our values. Or where we say we value one thing and do something which demonstrates some dichotomy in our personal character as well as the inaccuracy of stated or ‘vouched for’ standards.

The additional modifiers here are Tantalus at 3 Taurus (conjunct the Sun from ‘ahead’) and Juno at 26 Aries, conjuncting the Sun from ‘behind.’ Sometimes this ‘ahead-behind’ dynamic manifests as things we’ve done or experienced against things which are yet to be done – or even situations which are yet to arise, people we will yet meet, opportunities we will yet choose to avail ourselves or not.

Seeing as I posted on Tantalus just recently, if you would like to read up on Tantalus details here is that link.

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Tantalus, Station-Retrograde

Otherwise, with a brief nod to Tantalus as an indicator of our ability (or choice to/not to) weigh decisions correctly for both short-and-long term purposes, this solar ingress looks like exactly what we might expect at a point in time when Earth is rotating towards begin eclipsed from an area of the zodiac where the sense of survival is vital even if the necessity of physical survival isn’t.

And the way metaphysics works, to teach us that…to get us through our ego walls and to the point that we separate those two standards…we are going to come to the solar eclipse having perceived various forms of both. We may see that clearly. Then again, we may not want to see anything.

It’s a question of honesty – not with others (which is yes, what they may think), but with our Self.

This incoming eclipse is about values. Not ‘theirs,’ ours. It isn’t about ‘them’ – it’s about whether our values are what they should be…need to be…can be…and all the falsehoods we may be living, all the  structures we’ve built in the name of defense which really amount to fear. More specifically, ego fears – those threats (real or imagined) that we may not live up to who others think we are – or to the measure of the person we have long told ourselves we’re being.

And once we get that far? Then we have an option to change or not change, depending on the status of that self respect which underlies our self worth – and thus our personal and individual values….and the response that raises in us to whatever others are doing, prioritizing, opting for or investing the strength of their values, their resources, their abilities in.

Also – it’s unlikely that anything which is coming to a head has been ‘of the moment’ or swift coming on. Most of what is at stake now or up for consideration (or lack thereof…) has its origins in the past, separate from the fact that this April’s solar eclipse is a ‘recalling’ of situations and cycles either set off, avoided, initiated, instigated or ‘bought into’ back in April 1995.

Yes, in case you didn’t know eclipse degrees repeat – as do all lunar phases. Known as the Metonic cycle (so named for a fellow named Meton who lived long, long ago) the 19-year eclipse cycle continues to raise questions and issues in our life over and over again, asking us if we’ve ‘settled’ for something which seems comfortable enough…or good enough…or whether we’re living a life which is true to who we are (really) at our core.

Obviously anyone younger than 19 years old has not met up with this particular eclipse degree as yet, and there’s nothing to say that your experience…no matter how old or young you are…is going to be positive or negative when it comes to solar eclipse effects.

The key is your chart. So if you’ve run into any sort of quagmire over the past several months which challenges either how you feel about yourself or those values which you extend into the world or use in managing or operating in your world… this eclipse may well have your name on it. If so, you are not only currently in a state of unresolved flux (a feeling common during the last few weeks before any solar eclipse) but you are feeling challenged in a way which right or wrong, real or imagined has everything to do with how you’re going to feel about yourself.

You know…how you feel when at night you close your eyes and wait for sleep to come.

We are all mortal. That’s one note very much on point here. No matter who we are, no matter where or how we live, there are things we all need like sleep, like food, like the oxygen we breath. We all have feelings, longings, vulnerabilities and dreams. Some will happen, some will not. Some we hold onto as balm and motivation while we struggle towards some goal even if deep inside we know the dream will never be real.

At least we tried.

Yes, at some level, that’s the question now: will we try…or will we simply be trying – or even tried?

That last version could lead to a whole ‘other’ kind of ‘conviction’ – as opposed to being convinced - to be sure…but no matter who we are, no matter what the issue or outcome of some issue currently is, why we care (or don’t care) about Self or others remains the central question.

At least for now. After all, solar eclipses – particularly those which we find difficult, disruptive or destructive – are only in part about the issue of the moment, though that will have to be dealt with one way or another to be sure. And that we don’t (or haven’t) dealt with? That will deal with us through mechanisms set in motion at this time.

All of which brings up another point about Taurus. Though Taurus is the testing ground for inner security, it’s tests most often have some external or externalized factor which must be negotiated in connection with others or your world. Why?

Because it is only through tests and negotiations that we prove our inner security.

No, not to them – to our Self, which is why the truly secure person is immune to what others say…not in the uncaring sense, but in a manner which acknowledges differences without judgment in an accepting and caring manner.

With Taurus, manners count. They don’t have to be perfect, they don’t even have to be polite. They simply need to acknowledge realities – whether we like those realities (or want to admit them) or not. The importance of this may not seem immediately apparent until you consider Taurus as the sign before Gemini – the signature of mentality and communication. That makes Taurus the “12th derivative sign” to Gemini, making it not all that unlikely that a smattering of glitches which test our notions of security and/or what we think is (or isn’t) secure(d) in our opinion…or in reality.

A couple of other items on the menu, at least one of which I suspect will bring great cheer:

ITEM ONE: The Eta Aquarid meteor shower begins on April 19th and lasts through May 28th. As the Lyrids will continue dappling our night skies until April 25th, this means Earth is currently enjoying a double helping of what we might call “meteoric influences.”

Meteor showers are said to bring us ‘sprinkles of inspiration’ and the Eta Aquarids tend to be big scale, large scope and greatly ‘universal’ (if you think of the term ‘Aquarids’ as being akin to ‘Aquarius,’ you’ll be rather close). And perhaps – given the solar eclipse in Taurus – this indicates a time when new ideas are ‘sparked’ which help us see what isn’t working in our lives and what to do about it…or where our actual talents may prove useful.

Perseid meteor shower by John Walker (July 2011)

Then there are the Lyrids, a shower which has its in constellation Lyra – where Pluto is currently applying several-years worth of transit pressure to fixed star Vega, a process which will ultimately result in ‘transformations of charismatic forces,’ whether that means some source comes on line, disappears entirely or is transformed in essence or effect. We’re in “year two” of this 2013-2017 evolution of our time and lives and as astrological symbols go, Pluto isn’t known for manifesting as the ‘situation genteel.’

The bottom line here is this is yet another indication of our changing times…and changing minds. Whatever it is we’re supposed to be learning, as we move through the next week (through the end of the Lyrids on April 25th) things are still in revelation mode. We’re seeing what to do…we may even know how we want to do it…

And yet it’s not time. Something isn’t established or doesn’t yet exist.

So…what has to change before it does?

Well…probably several things. (After all, the eclipse doesn’t take place until the 29th.) But among all of those, astrologically the one thing I think you’re going to care about most is as follows: do you remember that t-square we keep discussing?

You know, that Pluto-Uranus-Jupiter t-square? The one which started rattling our personal ‘change is in the wind’ chains back in late July 2013?

Yes…that one. Well, it’s over.

(insert: sounds of cheering)

Not so fast...it's only the t-square which is over. But in that regard, all you have to deal with there is another few days - and the slackening of the t-square effect after that (call it the better part of next week).

So here’s the schedule of the t-square break-up (which to paraphrase the famous song may or may not be hard to do):

1. Jupiter squares Uranus on July 20th at 7:26 in the morning (UT/+0)

2. Jupiter perfects its opposition to Pluto (conjunct Vega) on Sunday, April 10th at 11:06 in the evening, UT/+0.

HOWEVER…with this comes the fact that Uranus (see above) will square Pluto (conjunct Vega) on Monday the 21st (at 6:39 in the evening UT/+0 time).

And that means yes, the t-square is ending. But that only removes the Jupiter goal.

So we’re ending the need to get past some need to break out of limitations or change priorities or recognize our greater potential through greater perspectives.

On the other hand, we’re also ending some opportunities – namely the one which says we could break out of limitations or change priorities through recognition of greater potentials and personal perspectives.

Whichever ‘end’ of this you’re on, your challenges are likely to become more simple and direct as we move through this time, but the shift to get there will require harnessing both ability and willingness to connect to others not through aims, but through whatever Taurus issues are now becoming apparent. Seeing as the 'remnants' of this t-square will become a Uranus/Pluto square lasting through 2015 into early 2016, we are being told that our lives are going to change - in some cases, radically and that those among us who are willing to grow, innovate and remain flexible will do best.

Also...whether you know it or not, the specific and terribly human values which underlie those dimly defined yet all-prevalent mortal forces being felt...? Within that...within whatever vulnerability you feel as you recognize your humanity or that of others, there lie your keys to greater benefits.
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Jupiter opposition Pluto

A drop of water

(photo credit: Michael Melgar, March 2007)

One of the interesting things to be observed when you think things through astrologically is the difference between the effects of personal or inner planets (Sun, Moon, Venus, Mercury, Mars) against what happens when generational planets Jupiter and Saturn - or an outer planet like Uranus or Neptune move through aspects over time. As an example here, nobody (at least that I know of) has any fun at all with the ongoing Venus retrograde. Whoever we are, whatever we’re aimed at doing or being…accomplishing or figuring out, Venus retrograde seems to have found our weak point.

Not that it’s mysterious, no. That quality is exactly what astrologers mean by ‘personal’ planets – they affect us personally, and at a personal level. When personal planets go retrograde very few of us think wonderfully… maybe even rationally…about ‘our person’ or self.

And thus things happen – personally and on the personal level.

Now it isn’t that Saturn and Jupiter or the outer planets (or all that lies beyond Neptune) doesn’t affect our personal life. Our life is our life and we feel all of it. (Hopefully, that is. To be deprived of knowing your Self is after all, a form of losing your life.)

But when we’re talking about Jupiter, we’re talking about something akin to an interface. Known as the planet of ‘expansion’ and ‘increase’ the astrological Jupiter embodies the process of going beyond where you are now, whatever that involves.

Yet Jupiter is not a personal planet. So when Jupiter is in retrograde, the question is more about what we don’t know about where we are now (and how are we going to learn all that?) and all we need to do in life. We’re growing and expanding inside – within the realm of our mind or soul or psyche. We’re realizing that the world is bigger than we suspected. That things can happen we never imagined would happen in life or to us – whichever.

Jupiter's Auroras photographed in UV

(photo credit: NASA,JPL)

Currently, Jupiter’s retrograde in Cancer is coinciding with Venus’ retrograde in Capricorn – which is the astrological ‘reason’ (or indication) that the current Venus retrograde is…well…about as little like the Venus we know and want to love as apparently possible.

I did tell you I’ve been getting complaints about this, didn’t I? Yes. I’ve even been getting protests from people who don’t like astrology – and let me tell you, that’s a sure sign that something is amiss.

Theory would suggest that considering the belief that since everything happens when (and as) it should, this Jupiter-impounding-Venus-retrograde effect which is forcing all of us in some way to take a good look at what it is we need to do or be in order to function cohesively in a world which seems ever more complicated and structurally amiss.

There are no simple answers here. But we do have a bunch of astrological facts to think through – the first of which is the obvious one. We already know that Venus is retrograding back through Capricorn about to go direct at 13 Capricorn. Those gut wringing effects have been with us for a while now asking us to re-prioritize so that the whole Venusian concept of ‘cause-effect’ works correctly – which is to say, what you puts out comes back to you…meaning we can’t be aiming for the effect and trying to ‘back into’ whatever will cause that.

That won’t work. And that’s one of the big points of this time – we don’t just get to do things the ‘pretty way.’

And frankly, if you haven’t gotten that message by now, stand by. Yes, there are a few of us who for whatever astrological reason have had the right rock to hide under to avoid this Venusian chaos, but as an astrologer I’ve never seen a chart which would be theoretically “immune” to everything which is going to occur over the next four or so months. It has struck me of late that it’s some sort of cosmic dirty trick that Venus and Mars tend to go retrograde in a 1-2 fashion as both planets are personal astrological indicators pertaining to our sense of being appreciated in this life and world.

So yes, there is an important point there: how we feel about whether we’re appreciated or not may have nothing to do with how others truly regard us. But it’s a feeling…and that feeling is real. Vitally real.

An artist's conception of Pluto and its moon-and-binary-partner, Charon

(courtesy of Pat Rawlings, NASA - October 1992)

Evidently life doesn’t want us resting on our laurels collecting huzzahs and accolades…which brings us back to Jupiter. Life wants us to keep growing – that would be the Jupiterian view. So as Jupiter moves from 13 Cancer into 12 Cancer and ‘locks in’ this face-off against the forces of transformation and our need to change something in order to move on…ahead…or even just to stay in one place, so we move from the more theoretical realm of 13 Cancer (an unusual Cancer degree which functions through the intuitive mind) into 12 Cancer, a degree which through exposing us to whatever is habitual, mundane and seemingly inescapable tends to drown dreams in false promises we may well think are safer.

This issue is purely Cancer: Jupiter in Cancer. There is in essence, no safety in yesterday’s solutions. We can try to avoid the inevitable, but if we do, inevitability will find us – eventually and inevitably. A lot is breaking down and a lot is coming out. Jupiter’s being positioned in this image at 13 Cancer brings in dog star Sirius, which questions our use of brilliance and our willingness to be simply…dazzled.

And when we do, and of through that we end up with nothing – or with something we know is utterly wrong for who we are…is the lie theirs? Or is it the lie that we told ourselves when we truly knew better?

Asteroid Hel and Child are sitting right beside Jupiter at 11 and 10 Cancer respectively bringing in the emotional aura of wanting things to be good and to go well. But are they? Given the opposition from Pluto (i.e., Pluto/Venus retrograde) this would seem to be some form of personal naiveté being brought to our own mental table for a bit of carving.

At least trimming of the fat. We’re better than all of the wishing and hoping, the placating, putting off and ‘going along to get along’ we’ve been doing - it’s time to get down to work. Across the zodiacal gulf, Pluto is just sitting there alongside asteroid Psyche (our mind) in Capricorn, asking us to use what we know in a manner which can change our direction – and maybe that of a few others or something else out there too.

Pluto conjunct Psyche is the sign of a changing mind. Those who resist Plutonic energetics generally get crushed, stripped or unjustly taxed – even punished. Those who stop trying to define today and tomorrow by yesterday inherit Pluto’s power.

These months are not just about us. To think so is likely to be one of our big and bigger mistakes – as indicted in the above t-square. With Jupiter in the ‘goal’ position here we are asked to get ‘over’ our Uranian ‘I don’t want to’ selves…or to embrace the unique and Uranian in our Self and to use that universally so that we can achieve our Jupiter (expanded) goals.

T-squares always, always, always ask us to think more globally. To therefore have an Aries Uranus at the ‘hurdle’ of this t-square asks us to ‘use our Self’ in a universal way or in a universal cause – or merely to understand that what we’re going through is something everyone can relate to, or everyone is going through in their own uniquely Uranian way.

That process starts with our moving ‘off’ our Venus/Pluto position – which could well be some sort of personal ‘power base’ into something new or unknown. Against that, Uranus in Aries (pretty much by nature) represents the nerve-wracking which  generally requires at least some ingenuity and maybe a bit of risk. Then again, Uranus in Aries can make us think we’re risking when we’re not – we’re just stepping outside of some ‘known’ or ‘comfort zone.’

Into all this comes the idea of 9 Aries, a degree which concerns the need to make corrections, often of the “course correction” type. Realizing that such things are universal may help us now as we admit – even just to ourselves – that how we have been going about something isn’t optimal.

9 Aries also supports learning about the pros, cons and variable values concerning just doing ahead and doing things as opposed to stopping to consider the ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ and/or ‘popularity’ of something among friends, associates and others. Considering this is an early Aries degree and Aries is (if nothing else) the heart and soul of ‘I am me’ it’s curious to think of any Aries degree as being ‘group-oriented.’ But maybe that’s the point – Uranus in 9 Aries will be, if nothing else a test of our willingness to own our opinions and gain perspective on who we are in any given situation.

Not that this t-square stops there.

Yes, that is a complicated diagram – and thus an indication to us that things will be complicated. So let’s just go through it one item at a time…

The bulk of the additions here end up centering in Pallas (dispassionate perspective) retrograde – indicating a perspective on ourselves. That Pallas is in Virgo increases our ability to carefully ‘inspect’ what we’re doing – a positive in anything complicated, technical or task-oriented. Against this, Pallas in Virgo can be a negative where feelings are concerned. Pallas is hardly a cuddly symbol and when we add in the Virgo tendency to opt for the earthy and practical, this combination could be wonderful or disappointing, depending on how earthy your personal natal chart is. (Or isn’t.)

That Atropos and Sphinx are united with Pallas at 11 Virgo speaks either to a good will which is for some reason being held/caged in or the definitive (Pallas) understanding that the (Sphinx) time for waiting is (Atropos) over. In sextile (denoting an opportunity) to Jupiter, there is no requirement per se that we do anything, but we could. With the Pallas-Atropos-Sphinx grouping solidly trined to Pluto/Venus, we have the standard trine notification that the status quo isn’t going to change until we do – which in this case comes in part from the Uranian t-square hurdle we talked about plus this Pluto/Venus-Pallas group-Jupiter ‘workaround.’

We’re working around our situation…and around ourselves. (Yes, it’s come to that.)

However…with all of the above (this is beginning to sound like a murder mystery), the Pallas triad is also inconjunct Uranus. This astrologer isn’t going to make any call on which end of this 150 degree inconjunct is going to give, but either the Pallas end or the Uranian end is likely to give between now and…oh, call it mid/late May.

Did I mention that mid/late May is when Mars goes direct after going retrograde on March 1st? And how there’s going to be a solar eclipse in Venus-ruled Taurus while Mars is transiting Venus-ruled Libra?

I’m just guessing here…but in reading through an ephemeris it looks like we’re all in for some seriously trying growth over the next couple of months. How you and those around you choose to handle this time will without question raise issues of helplessness and the need or call for those types of self-discipline we would all much rather exert through exercise than personal vulnerabilities of self or to others. And yet, courtesy of Juno, Chiron and Dionysus at 11 Pisces in opposition to Pallas, Atropos and Sphinx in Virgo, we will all face, hear or experience such moments, with the sorriest part of it all being our own lacks and a resulting feeling of regretted failure to live up to our own standards of belief about ourselves.

(Ouch.)

Another thing to consider: everything here and about this time is not only what it is in the moment, but also part of a greater Jupiter/Pluto synodic cycle. Such cycles roll through about every thirteen years with the last one having begun in December 2007 at 28 Sagittarius – a degree which one one hand requires patience and endless dedication...and which on the other is often slow to mature, coalesce or succeed. The Sabian Symbol for this degree reads as follows: “A FAT BOY MOWING THE LAWN OF HIS HOUSE ON AN ELEGANT SUBURBAN STREET.” The original keynote from astrologer Marc Edmund Jones speaks of ‘The need to attend to everyday tasks which both ensure social worth or respectability, and benefit one’s constitution,’ which Dane Rudhyar brings down to pithy succinctness by citing SOCIAL RESPECTABILITY.

With Jupiter and Pluto having begun their synodic cycle at this degree, in some senses the joke is on us – and it’s no joke. Wherever these two start their cycle is the crux of a thirteen-year-long odyssey which will bring most of us to our knees through lessons which teach us the fallacies of ego and the illusions built into our most mortal, human desires.

Then again, life does have to get us to do something somehow.

This month’s Jupiter-Pluto opposition perfects on January 31st, the same date as Mercury’s Pisces ingress and Venus’ turn to direct.

I repeat: this is NOT a genteel time. We can get over life not being what we would like it to be and not working the way we thought it would - or not.

After January 31st, Jupiter will continue in retrograde as Pluto moves into achievement-oriented 13 Capricorn.

 From Solar Fire's Graphic Ephemeris generator, a screen shot of a partial page

showing activity patterns for the early months of 2014. The symbols at the left

being (from the top down) Saturn, Uranus, Pluto, Jupiter and Neptune, if you

follow the green Jupiter line you will see where it aspects Pluto's position at

the end of January and rather late on in April.

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Then we get April. With Mars retrograde in Libra (can we say ‘relating and relationship issues’?) Jupiter turns direct on the 6th, we take a breath and then pass through a lunar eclipse in Libra (more interactivity) and Pluto’s station/retrograde on April 14th.

Another week passes, Jupiter (now direct) opposes Pluto for the third and final time and we arrive at the solar eclipse at 8 Taurus, a degree known for its ability to test how well what we think the world is matches the world’s seriously worldly realities. 

Do or be done in by that we choose to leave undone would seem to be the message here. The learning isn’t easy and our failure to learn becomes our mortal hindrance.

That’s all I can really tell you.

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Dateblog: January 2014

The new year starts off with a lot of emphasis on pragmatism and realistic planning – plus a healthy helping of those January chores so many of us put on our calendar now because we’ve put them off so many times up until now.
 

More to the astrological point, with Sun-Mercury-Venus in earth and Mars in airy Libra the overall (earthy) Capricorn drive to achieve and accomplish is in the foreground for January’s first week-and-a-half.


But then (on the 11^th), Mercury moves into Aquarius – a shift which begins sliding our entire ‘modality’ from the ‘what it is’ and ‘tackling the actual problem’ more into a thoughtful and/or discussion mode.


All of this is (let’s remember) with Venus in retrograde. So the ‘why’ of our moving from ‘doing’ into ‘talking about it’ mode may be about disagreements. Or differences of importance or priority. There’s much afoot but a measure of caution in the works as well; either we don’t know quite how to be with or get to ‘them’ (or possibly ‘that’) or you’re having a couple of weeks of ‘gulf’ or ‘gap’ (or lack) which involves someone else’s less than solid dealing with/ lack of response.


And that’s making for some feelings of ineptness which you may be feeling ‘in particular’ towards one or a couple of people…or which you’re just feeling about life and this world in no-holds-barred general.


But there may be a whole other side of this, so don’t get too bogged down in anything – good or bad. Since theory tells us that any retrograde is about discovering something in our Self or immediate surroundings which we need to know about or take care of in short(er) order, the current retrogrades of Venus and Jupiter suggest financial issues of either the very basic (or) truly luxury class. Another form of Venus and Jupiter retrograde would concern anything having to do with design or bringing something into being is likely to be going through a painstaking time.
 

It’s not bad, mind you…just not wonderful. Life is asking us to invest in understanding our Self and why we have the pluses and minuses we have so that we can comprehend and thus become empowered down the line and do a whole lot better with our lives. And yes, a bunch of us are going to ignore that nudge and tell life that we’re busy.


Oh, we so often think we know better than the world, don’t we? We humans are such a bunch!
 

But back to Jupiter and Venus…because the Moon is associated with money, the fact that January will also have two New Moons (on the 1^st and 30^th (UT/+0 time) says that good or bad, ‘money matters’ will seem very apparent now. It’s the combination which counts, but is it real? Is anything that anyone may be arf-bark-woofing about be any more dastardly (in reality) than it has been “ever before”?


Not so much during early January, but probably during the 2^nd half of the month we’re likely to be in for a deal of ‘gas-lighting’ – that unpleasant thing which gets done when the ‘if all else fails’ alarm goes off and whoever wants something done starts using fear (and sometimes greed) as a true and blatant tactic.

Jupiter and Pluto will also be in opposition for the whole of the month. With Jupiter in retrograde, this would seem to be a representation of ‘shrinking,’ through that obviously can happen in any of a zillion ways. Whatever it is in life (and it may be multiple issues), seeing that the exact day of this opposition is January 30^th …which is the same day that Venus goes direct (in Capricorn) and when Mercury enters Pisces…?

That speaks to January ending in a flurry of letting go (on one hand) and (on the other) some coming to a basis of reality not with Reality itself but with our reality, however that may be being manifested.

Throughout this month we cannot look to others to provide the applause and appreciation which – yes – we all will want. It’s a time for patience and for perseverance to be shown with regards to that which we know is good and right and valid. January is likely to be testing, but mostly to our ability to be fair – most of all with ourselves.
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A New Moon in Leo

 

 Moonrise at Sunset (Jessie Eastland January 2012)

Every New Moon represents the beginning of a new cycle. During each lunar cycle we will see – and experience – events which fit into the ‘theme’ of the sign of that New Moon, with the sign of the Full Moon (which is generally the New Moon’s polarity sign) as the ‘thematic’ indicator of the nature of the fulfillment which we will meet up with.

On the mundane level of life in the Big World around us, that’s pretty much it. But when we get down to our lives as individuals…or even the ‘life’ of a nation or a company or a product – or anything else in specific, where those signs of the New and Full Moon fall in that chart further ‘color’ the nature of the monthly experience.

Still, that’s really what lunar cycles are about. Yes, they may contribute or even represent high points or low points in our yearly cycle…or in our life (as may be indicated by transits and eclipses to your personal chart). But on a purely theoretical level, the New Moon is simply life chiming the newest hour of the yearly day in the life of our solar system – which is itself but one small cell in the incredible vastness which is the universe of life, time and Existence.

This month’s New Moon is in Leo, a sign all about the idea of bringing things into being, what it is we want to bring into our world, our hopes for whatever it is we attempt or create and all those new moments of experiencing along the way.

The obvious strength of Leo is its dynamic power to create. The equally evident pitfall with Leo is its tendency to be blind to external elements – be those the people around you whose opinions are going to matter to you at some point, the realistic feasibility of our goals, dreams and ideas, or the effort it’s going to take to bring our dream into reality.

Leo is an intrinsic sign of vision. Pisces may dream and Scorpio may intuit, Sagittarius may comprehend strengths and weaknesses and Aries may sense capacity. But nothing sees what could be like Leo does.

And because of that very thing, the greatest Leo defeats are often not defeats in reality, but in the mind. Leo energies are defeated not by the impractical and not by the impossible, but rather by the difference between the expectation seeded by vision and the reality – be that what it will take to get the idea off the ground or the fact that not everybody is as delighted with our Leo vision. Or a Leo’s vision, in the case of a Sun sign Leo.

Many a Leo (and person with a Leo idea) has felt that cold douse of water being thrown in their face and, after a bit of roaring and snarling, said ‘I’ll show you!’ and gone on to be successful in spite of the wet blankets.

And therein lies the essential Leo lesson: while it’s important to have a dream, learning to require of yourself that you recognize the realistic parameters of that dream is your best Leo armor.

Thus we come to this year’s Leo New Moon, a New Moon which will occur on August 6th at 9:52 p.m., UT/+0 time at 14 Leo, a degree which by definition is ‘emotional’ – which in the case of fiery Leo is more akin to fervency. Or excitability. Or conviction.

But remember…our lion Leo as a zodiac sign has delicate paws. You remember that story about the thorn in the lion’s paw, right? That’s an interesting reference on the zodiacal level, seeing as feet (and therefore paws!) are Piscean in nature – which may be why foot rubs are so soothing (come to think of it). Pisces is the 8th sign from Leo – that we call in astrological terms ‘the 8th harmonic’ – which means that it is in, and through the Pisces challenge to be willing to accept feeling one’s feelings that Leo finds its power personal and worldly.

Perhaps that helps you understand the Leo challenge. We all have them, obviously – and whatever sign is the 8th harmonic from your Sun or Moon sign is where you (personally) are likely to find your sticking points.

You know, those thorns in your paw.

So we’re starting with a New Moon loaded with vibrant, evocative energy which is ‘seeding’ 14 Leo, a degree which is strong on spirit and the spiritual, but less integrated with life’s realities than other Leo degrees.

Which, considering we are talking about Leo, may say a good deal.

Looking at this more abstractly, 14 Leo is about isolation versus integration with pluses and minuses on both sides. There is a need to focus (isolate)… and a definite challenge in the area of integrating – whether that’s you integrating yourself into a group, getting your schedule prioritized (an integrating of theoretical goals, realities of necessity and real world time) or any other combination of disparate, differentiated factors.

And as soon as we say that, there is the fact that this particular New Moon comes to us as part of a grandly designed grand square.

There are several basic ‘conflicts’ described in this figure as a construct. The first is that grand squares (whatever they may be composed of) are sort of like a tablecloth you optimally want to pick up by all four corners so that everything is “contained.” That suggests that this month is going to be full of things which have many sides which need to be considered…and contended with.

The next idea is that this grand square is being presented to us in fixed signs. Fixed signs always present us with a challenge. We tend to see fixed sign challenges in terms of others or the world around us, but the real challenge is to our willingness to take on a new phase of growth or effort which goes beyond our current norm.

The other thing about fixed signs is that they’re each and every one of them about the road to personal satisfaction and that yearned for sense of personal security with one’s Self.

So to have a New Moon poised as a grand square in fixed signs suggests that for some, this ‘lunar month’ is going to be crucial. Or filled with critical moments. It is to be expected that we’re going to hear the word ‘no’ several times this month, and that we’re not going to love hearing it.

Will you be defeated? Or will you admit (at least to yourself) that you’ve stubbed your ego’s toe and move on to try, try, trying again?

That would be one of the very good questions to ask ourselves this month, replete with the obvious corollary of why is it sometimes so hard to get past our own ego?

Oh yeah…that would be that Leo ‘vision versus reality’ thing again.

(Sigh.)

There’s another basic challenge implied by the grand square which comes with this lunation, namely that the Moon (as part of the Sun/Moon conjunction which is the New Moon) is in square to the Moon’s own Lunar Nodes.

What are those node things, you ask?

The Nodes are where the orbit of the Moon around Earth intersects the orbit of the Earth around the Sun. They’re the ‘intersection’ of the whole of life (the Sun) with our daily doings (the Moon) – which in common terms would be our relationship to the world around us or society at large. They’re also the image of our personal ‘encounter (intersecting) with people in our personal world – relationships, in other words.

One of the nodes (the North Node) is the ‘uphill’ climb – it’s all effort with great reward to be had. The other node (the South Node) is like coasting downhill on a bike – all ease and fun, with an implied ‘expenditure’ of resources, which could be emotional, monetary, physical, relational or just simply involving time.

Everybody likes their South Node ‘stuff,’ nobody likes their North Node ‘stuff.’ That’s just the way it goes. And since the South Node is conjunct Menkar and Amor, the diagram of this New Moon strongly indicates that we will be tempted to take the easy way out.

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Menkar: Soul, Searching

Or at least the way through which is easiest (which is to say, best known or most comfortable) for us. With Amor in this mix this isn’t about animosity or drive, this is simply about the known, the non-risky-feeling, the thing or person which seems “friendly” or who is already a friend.

Beneath this, with Menkar in the mix, we would have to think that there is some measure of not wanting to face emotional challenges – which fits with Leo’s emotional outlook, but apparently not with this month’s drive to get things done or achieve some aim.

On the other side of this coin we have the North Node conjunct House, which might be best read as needing to become comfortable with…or the effort required to become facile with, familiar with, willing to reconcile with – any means, method or dynamic which is about opening yourself to ‘other’ possibilities, and/or those who embody that which isn’t ‘native’ to you. With Deucalion involved, there is an implication that something needs to be let go of and something new brought into being – which is the second ‘creationist’ notice we’re getting with this New Moon. (Yes, we keep score in astrology – most repeated theme gets top billing.)

In the most esoteric sense, Scorpio is about the opportunity to grow ourselves at a deep seated, experiential level. With Scorpio however, we always have to be prepared to risk. We may be risking our feelings of stability, we may be risking our money, we may simply be risking being wrong…particularly in that Leo sense of ‘my vision isn’t reality – REALITY is reality. Drat!’.

Wherever Scorpio resides in your chart (look for the house with Scorpio on the cusp) that will be the arena and dynamic through you will experience All Things Scorpio throughout your life – for better and for worse (and with Scorpio, both apply!). Scorpio tends to magnify our sense of things, as in the physical intimacy we associate with Scorpio-as-sex being the magnification of encounters of others. 

The reason to bring this up is because with Psyche in this stellium of Scorpio objects we are particularly mentally apt this month – and apt to be mentally challenged. Psyche always represents some mental challenge. Or a challenge met on a mental level. So whether the issue is getting something through your head or ‘learning to mind’ (ahem!) or even how to teach someone else something (helping them be more comfortable in their mind or even in a relationship) it’s all there to do – and it’s both part of our New Moon cycle this month…and defined as being a bit in our way.

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Eros and Psyche: Falling in Love

With our Minds

In the way of what? That’s probably best defined by the New Moon itself and its opposition. That first part is Moon-Vesta-Sun with a dash of Charybdis (the need to keep trying) and Pappos (the shape of the situation you’re in).

Vesta is alternately a protector symbol and an emblem of ‘what something could cost’ …which could be seen as protecting ourselves against loss….or accepting the cost of getting something done safely, securely and to our greatest benefit - often with a 'group (or societal) benefit'  implied.

Whatever it is and however this ‘Vesta Vibe’ shows up during your lunar month (which will vary), being aware that at some level you’re starting from zero and you’re supposed to be starting from zero (or “starting anew”) is key. Yes, you can build on what you know, what you have, with what you’ve learned and through those relationships you have already established in this world.

But you’re also – at some level – at square one. And that’s where Leo’s powerful ‘vision’ is a gigantic plus. There’s nothing like Leo to serve as motivation, so we’re likely to see all sorts of people launching new whatevers over the next few weeks.

That’s not to say they’ll all be good, mind you. But the effort is likely to be there….and we’ll just hope that the arrogance sometimes associated with Leo gets left at home.

Then we get to the oppostion: Vaticana and Juno retrograde, an indication that at some level we’re either looking to build a power base (or base of power) OR we’re having to contend with someone or something which already has a base of power. Coming from Aquarius, this opposition asks that we integrate ourselves and not ‘explode’ or ‘implode’ in some way. Juno in retrograde is a symbol of management, sometimes of resources but often of information or methods which have already been proven successful.

Put simply, you can go up against it, or ally yourself with it – take your pick.

One other figure which goes with this New Moon is this one…

Yes, it’s a t-square. (I know you’ll be happy to see that.) The idea that Uranus is the ‘t’ in this t-square is likely to make a few folks nervous. And yes, this is all about change – and not necessarily the kind of change, or change at the pace or in the area of life you’d necessarily like to change, but what’s the choice?

Are you in charge of this universe?

In a sense, that’s the underlying question. With this 12 Aries Uranus in trine to the New Moon’s 14 Leo there is an ongoing process of change which is under way. The only real question is whether you’re on board with that change or not. Those who will embrace ‘the new’ which is entering their life stand to gain much – represented here by Jupiter (growth), Pallas (knowing wisdom), Alhena (understanding the/your purpose or purposeful understanding) and Phaethon (headstrong self confidence). This totality images conviction. And maybe more to the point, the desire to manifest that which will be good for your life – and for the rest of the world as well.

With Facies/Pluto in this mix as our ‘starting’ or ‘continuing challenge’ point, nothing is simple. We’re all likely to trip over a stumbling block (or two). That Uranus is still at the degree it went retrograde at in mid-July has us ‘hovering’ on some point – and lest we miss the point, this is an energy which can manifest emotionally as rebellion or a fear-of-self which forces us to act because we don’t know quite how to react constructively. Such actions are likely to be in some ‘old mold’ which may or may not serve you well – and where things don’t go well, they’re likely to be destructive.

But remember…this is a Leo New Moon. So while things may indeed get damaged in real world terms, the most ‘danger’ is the destruction which may now occur to some dream, some ideal, some vision – or your investment in that vision, idea or image.

The issue here is change. So that which you are invested in which comes from your past is more likely to be problematic than what you are attempting to build, learn or master in present time. And both may now be operative, giving us an implication that at the very least, ‘updating’ is needed.

By the time this New Moon reaches its Full phase it will be in Aquarius. And since Aquarius is the polarity sign to Leo the question becomes whether we have ‘found our way’ or ‘our place’ our the way that our efforts, our being, our sensibilities can be appreciated by others.

To the extent that they have, we’ll feel gratified – and like as not have built ourselves a springboard, a platform, at least a temporary ‘safe haven’ from which to plan our next step.

For those who fail to take their surroundings and the needs, priorities or preferences of others into account, the measure becomes whether you’ve been so innovative that you inspire others to follow you, or if you’re so out-of-touch that efforts fall flat and ideas melt away into deflation and dejection from which yes, we can learn better.

But will we want to?

One other smidge-of-a-note to add on here is that this Leo lunation we’re just embarking on will carry us into the eight week ‘break down’ period which precedes the November Solar Eclipse. Because any eclipse is also a matter of Sun, Moon and lunar nodes, the fact that these cycles overlap may well indicate what will be afoot (or on the table) during the incoming eclipse period, which makes taking note of what happens now not merely sensible, but educational.

November’s eclipse will be in Scorpio. In other words, the eclipse is beginning to form up…slowly but ever so surely…right now.

So…! What do you want to bring into being in your life or this world? What do you want – or need to change? Undertaking those challenges now is a good way to harness the natural inclination towards evolution and revolutions personal and societal which in turn and in time will lead to transformations whether we like it or not.

Our only question is whether we are willing to create or re-create without falling into the Uranus t-square ‘trap’ which would have us be irresponsible, unresponsive and ultimately so self indulgent or self protective that we undermine our own ability to flex, adapt and thrive.
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Eris Retrograde

An artist's rendition of Eris and its moon with the sun far, far away in the distance

(image credit: A Schaller, STSci, April 2006)

Sometimes discord is something which goes wrong. Sometimes discord is an interruption which gets us to think things through. Or to see things as part of a bigger picture and because of that, to make a more powerful choice.

Eris is a dwarf planet. That puts it on par with Pluto – another dwarf planet and an astrological symbol which is thought of as the energy of transformations which come upon us, which change lives, which in being harnessed can change or destroy our world.

Both Eris and Pluto orbit out beyond Neptune. And as such, they both represent energies we can’t quite predict, which are definitely ‘bigger than we are.’ That said, Pluto differs markedly from Eris in two vital ways. The first is the difference between Pluto being an object ‘controlled’ by the spellbinding (and evidently planetoid binding) energy of Neptune where Eris goes its own way.

The other is in size. Eris is roughly three times the size of Pluto…which says a lot for that Neptunian juju which gets Pluto all that hot human PR.

But Eris Effects are nothing to fool with. We of the astrological ilk are nowhere as near familiar with Eris (which was only discovered in 2003) as we are with Pluto, but for those of us who are avid (or habitual) chart watchers, wherever we see Eris natally…or by transit…those points represent areas or dynamics which we either use purposefully for positive benefit, or which tend to rattle our chains or otherwise bite us in the metaphorical nether parts.

So the name Eris – which in Greek mythic reality would be Eris Discordia is really about the discord which comes upon us, or our willingness or efforts or determination to go out there and shake things up. And it would seem that when our efforts are altruistic (as opposed to purely selfish) Eris seems to enhance not just the effort, but our lives as a whole.

I’ve written long-form about Eris, and here’s the link to to that page…

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ERIS DISCORDANT:

MASTERING OUR OWN WEAKEST MOMENTS

I’ve also written some about the pattern of Eris’ movements. In short and glib terms we can sum it all up by saying that Eris’ zodiacal progress is pretty much ‘slow and unsteady.’

Yes, that’s a joke. Eris moves slowly and it’s our lives – when Eris is affecting us in some focused way – which seem unsteady. Or maybe destabilized is a better word. But then, sometimes life has to destabilize the norm in order to get us into gear. My best astrological guess is that Eris energetics are part of that metaphysical machinery.

For now what we want to know is what degree is Eris going retrograde at, and what is it affecting?

Considering our these past few days with Mars entering Cancer, the deepening of the major water trine and Uranus going retrograde, Eris going retrograde represents a fairly serious challenge, one which comes from beyond our personal norm. The issues being presented are very real, and considering what with Uranus turning to retrograde on July 17th, for some it will be difficult to separate Uranus effects from those of Eris.

Uranus…change, breakthroughs, sudden shifts of circumstance, shocks, flights, insights, eruptions, explosions, discoveries…against Eris, the unsettling of the norm, the disrupting of our status quo, those forces which cause us to consider something totally unexpected not when we want to, but right now.

These two concepts sound rather like different levels of the same thing. And if we believe that unbeknownst to us, the universe is unfolding as it should, this mélange, this fusion, this confluence of effects – which is occurring during a highly emotional grand-trine-in-water period – has its purpose.

Obviously those whose charts answer to both 12 Aries (Uranus’ station degree) and 22 Aries (Eris’ station point) are going to feel the greatest shifts as we go into and emerge from the period defined by Uranus’ station on July 17 and Eris’ station on the 19th. For those whose charts are only aspected directly by one or the other, the energies of the object which aspects your chart will feel more ‘directed’ at you (or personal) while the symbolism of the other will be felt or recognized in the world around you.

With that said, Eris and Uranus are both going retrograde in Aries, the sign of consciousness, conscious awareness, physical existence, physicality, personal assertion and assertiveness… the whole panoply of variations on “I Am,” however you conjugate it.

But there are differences. Uranus (as we talked about in the last post) is going retrograde at 12 Aries. And 12 Aries is by definition emotional degree, which is to say where Uranian energies (the discovery, the interruption, the startling fact) is being manifested emotionally. That suggests anything from excitement to terror, from awe to fervency. Being that Uranus is the secondary of societal/’mass concept’ Aquarius, with Eris serving in a sense to ‘set off’ Uranian energetics it wouldn’t be unlikely to have people step outside of or depart from their societal roles…or societies rules during this time.   

As it goes retrograde on July 19th at 11:08 a.m. the shift of relative motion (perceived or otherwise) between Eris and Earth will no doubt manifest in many ways typified by 22 Aries, a degree which involves luck which can either be very rewarding or  undercut by frittering away time or opportunities through fudging, vacillation, indecision or that sort of simple confusion which invites us to ‘forget it’ and hope that things will sort themselves out.

It sounds like fertile Eris ground.

Being in that Eris is going retrograde in a third decanate degree (between 20 and 29 of some sign), it may do us well to think of this as a time when what we do to change, improve or benefit the ‘greater situation’ or status quo and thus utilize these energies for betterment (rather than sitting around waiting for them to thwack us in the face) may well be the most positive way to go.

But no, not necessarily all that popular. The mere idea that so much disrupting Uranus/Eris energy is being brought to bear on and in our world and our lives during an ongoing emotional period delineated by major planets Saturn, Jupiter and Neptune all in grand trine formation will without question have many people’s mindsets set to ‘stubborn’ simply because they aren’t prepared to experience something different.

Or what it feels like to have to cope with change.

Or what it feels like to go through changing.

Or what it feels like to simply have control wrested from their hands by forces – or even plain good sense – which apparently is beyond their control. 

By definition, Eris station/retrograde moments wouldn’t be thought of as effortless. The Eris energy is now turning inward and for the next few months will ‘reside’ inside, promoting and provoking any and all processes which get us to see life from a different point of view.

And that…or the process of getting there…may not be all that pretty.

After all, thinking back to the Eris myth, Paris (You remember him…the guy who started the whole Trojan War by stealing Helen from her duly wedded husband?)…Paris is given an ‘apple of Discord’ by Eris and asked to give it to the goddess of his choice: Venus (appeal), Hera (protective nurturance) or Athena (wisdom). And much like humans have done throughout the ages, Paris chose Venus…which leads to trouble for Paris, Troy, Helen, and a lot of other folks, with the implication being that to choose beauty – the ‘pretty thing’ – to favor that over other (Hera or Athena) qualities not only isn’t such a great idea, it actually opens the way for Discordia (Eris).

There’s another thing to consider here as well – that being how Eris is going retrograde (in the company of Pelion and trine Venus-in-Leo) just as Jupiter enters the orb to oppose Pluto.

This opposition doesn’t become exact until August 8th. So we evidently have a while to wrestle with the difference between our wants and desires (Pluto), that which will build a better future (Jupiter in Cancer), our willingness or ability to change things as they currently are structured (Pluto in Capricorn) and our ability to keep everything in perspective (Jupiter)…especially emotional (Cancerian) perspective.

Moreover, when Jupiter does reach the moment of exactitude with regards to its opposition to Pluto, Jupiter will be conjunct Alhena - the fixed star which speaks of Purpose – and (surprise!) Pallas.

Those who recognize Pallas as the first name of Athena will probably be going ‘ohhhhhh….’ about now. (Or maybe that was just me.) In any case, it would be reasonable to suspect that the Uranian cracks and Eris upheavals we get into now will lead to a gaining of dispassionate (Pallas Athena) sorts of lessons.

Call it wisdom, call it perspective – to have Athena (Pallas) brought into this Jupiter-Pluto face off with our Self, our life or maybe our concept of how life really works says there are lessons to be learned over the next few weeks.

And how those who learn them will become more wise. Whether this is our moment to swallow our nerves (our ‘emotional discord’) in the process of be or becoming the person we can be, in coming to the recognition of our Purpose and that said Purpose may not be ‘shaped’ the way we thought it was…that may not be easy. Or convenient.

A Hubble Telescope's view of Jupiter

(photo credit: NASA, ESA H. Hammel/Boulder Colorado's Space Science

Institute, Jupiter Comet Impact Team, July 2009)

But it is what it is. And whether we greet that fact with sulky dismay or with an eye to this being an opportunity – that’s up to us.

In going retrograde on July 19th, Eris ‘official’ station window opens on the 17th (Uranus’ station date) and ends on July 21st – a day after Mercury goes direct in Cancer (more Cancer energy, anyone?) and a day before the Sun enters Leo, Venus moves into Virgo and the occurrence of a Full Moon in Aquarius.

The fact that the Sun and Venus will both be moving through ‘critical’ degrees of respective signs just before the Full Moon suggests that a lot of us are going to be pressing and pushing to get something done. Things are becoming ‘cumulative’ in our world or in our psyches. There will undoubtedly be those who don’t handle the intensity of these feelings all that well, and ‘feelings’ or emotionality would seem to be a vital part of this discussion as any time we see a planet pass through 29 degrees of any sign we see it ‘setting off’ the energies of any other object or astrological symbol in that sign – which in this case would be Mercury, Pallas Jupiter, Mars and Black Moon Lilith (which adds a bit of ‘counter-cultural’ or ‘against the grain of tradition’ to this mix).

This last day of Eris’ ‘official’ station window will also see Mars entering the orb of opposition to Pluto. Considering that the theory on stations tells us that events which happen in the wake of the actual moment of stationing have something to do with the playing out of ‘things already done’ (or committed to, etc.) this well may be a moment when those who have been working or struggling to break through some set of restrictions or to get something ‘going’ will find ways to overcome inertia.

For those who have been ‘hiding’ from change however, this period may be particularly chaotic – particularly emotionally, however your emotionality is triggered.

Eris Discordant is not our solar system’s most genteel symbol. But Eris does serve to get us thinking in ways we hadn’t considered before. Whether that’s recognizing that you can make a difference…or that you aren’t bound by some arcane rule or tradition…or that you need to be more realistic about something or someone or life itself…that’s about you. That’s about your chart.

The Butterfly Nebula (NGC 6302) is really beautiful, but considering temperatures at its heart are

somewhere in the area of 250,000 C, it would seem to fall in the realm of 'look, but don't touch'!

(photo credit: Hubble Space Telescope, NASA, JPL)

As tough and trying and for many tumultuous as this month has been, it has purpose. Sometimes life tells us that it’s time to stop being caterpillars and time to transform ourselves into butterflies. Only by doing that can we not just fulfill the beauty of our potential, but do that which is necessary to leave something of ourselves…be that in our work, in how we effect others or maybe through having a family…for generations and eons to come.
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