Venus in Pisces, Vesta in Aquarius

(background) Polyphony

by Paul Klee (1932, tempera on linen)

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Our world will heave a collective and universal sigh once Venus moves into Pisces - an event which will happen on January 27th at 15:01 ... or 3:01 p.m. for those not into global timekeeping.

Mind you, some will be sighing with relief and some with regret as Venus enters Pisces - there are those who truly enjoy the multi-faceted (if sometimes fractious) pace of information and opportunities which tend to create consequences (serious and sincerely, even riotously otherwise) under Venus in Aquarius.

All that now fades away as Venus enters a sign of astrological exaltation, bringing out the ‘softer’ side in many a conversation, relationship and thought.

 Venus in Pisces (text chart)

January 27, 2015 - 15:01 (3:01 p.m.) UT/+0 - Aries Wheel (Location Not Specific)

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Venus in Pisces (glyph chart)

January 27, 2015 - 15:01 (3:01 p.m.) UT/+0 - Aries Wheel (Location Not Specific)

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But at the moment, though we want (and need) to continue dealing with whatever is on the table, in progress or our responsibility, one of the meanings of the t-square Venus fills in/creates by arriving in Aquarius, most of us could do without anything new being tossed into life’s ring when mentally, physically, financially or otherwise its already a bit of a 3-D circus.

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Make that t-squares with Saturn at the apex of the ‘t’ in both cases.

Saturn at the apex of the t-square represents all which is on one side a governor on something ... and which on the other speaks to a need and/or ability to persevere, learning as you go. The Saturn-Black Moon Lilith part of this formula having timed a slow but sure increasing need to ‘physician, heal thyself’ (as is uttered in the world of old sayings) since the latter part of last June  - a need which is (and/or has been) diligently responded to with denial as we determined a course of action which by now has proven very successful in some of its ‘doing’ phases and somewhat more questionably in its results.

For most of us, the issue is simply what we didn’t do (or what didn’t get done) because of that highly focused focus ... though there are those who simply refused to work on anything. Either way, this isn’t just Saturn-at-the-‘t’-of-the-t-square ...

(As if that would amount to being ‘just’ anything with Saturn, emblem of our need to try growth or be-and-become summarily ever-more-limited involved?)

... no, this is Saturn-Charybdis, which is all the Saturn with a definite ‘getting swallowed, then spit out whole’ sucked into the mix. Whatever Charybdis is, it isn’t a menial influence. Referred to as a ‘monster’ (which metaphysically translates either to an ogre or some force or influence which is ‘monstrously large’) Charybdis is the daughter of Poseidon (read: the feeling world) and Gaia, our tangible reality and all that we rely on to initially survive ... and to ultimately thrive.

The term ‘daughter’ here isn’t sexual - it’s more akin to the term ‘yin’ meaning responsive, recipient, container or respondent - which when combined with Saturn strongly suggests an attempt to limit something, whether that something is coming from without or something we’ve been doing up until now which (as we now recognize) we need to stop doing.

And because Saturn is now in Sagittarius, chances are we’re aware that we’re learning something from a substantially new perspective. (That would be the Sagittarian way.) And given that, we are also likely to want to tell others - or convince them of our having learned something new.

But back to that Poseidon thing for a moment ... the other name for Poseidon being Neptune, it’s interesting and (one would expect) informative that as Venus enters Pisces, Neptune is just out of reach - meaning, given the standard 5-degree orb of conjunction, though Venus (at 0 Pisces) is conjunct fixed and royal star Fomalhaut at 4 Pisces, and though Fomalhaut itself is conjunct Neptune, Venus isn’t.

So we really have two conjunctions (in the Pisces quadrant - Pisces being the “goal” or “answer” to this particular t-square. The Neptune conjunct Fomalhaut combines the need for purity (Fomalhaut) with that of (Neptune) inspiration-versus-illusion/self-delusion while Venus-Fomalhaut stands on a question mark between the result of something done for the right reason (or in the correct way) and that done for the wrong reason (or the wrong way) ... in spite of whether good or bad (Venus) comes from each or any of it.

Plus there are also a couple of interesting notices posted by Lilith being conjunct Orcus (equaling a denial of consequences) and Venus, in being at 0 Pisces at the ingress, setting off a ripple of conscience-meets-consequence arising from Venus at 0 Pisces being in opposition to Regulus at 0 Virgo, the net of which would seem to be signaling that some things (or at least the emotions and feelings we have vested in them) will end or be let go of so as we confront what (Regulus) course of action is based in fact, on pragmatic functionality and supported by well-rounded planning ... not on emotionalism.

Apart from this, there’s also a kite in the ingress chart...

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... and though Venus isn’t involved in this configuration, because the top of the kite is something in Libra tells us that whatever this kite represents in your world and life, the shift of Venusian influence or emphasis is going to be reflected - and reflected (interestingly enough) in how some current goal manifests (or could manifest), what we would have to do (or be) to achieve our aims ... or what we really want - at this particular Venus-in-Pisces point in time - out of what we’re doing.

We’re leaving a (January 3rd through 27th) Venus in Aquarius period behind. When we do that, the idea stops being enough. Aquarius is an air sign - the concept, the notion, the idea of alliance and ‘special-ness’ sounds and seems very appealing, so much so that under Venus in Aquarius we tend to think of the ‘idea of the thing’ in its entirety.

But then comes Pisces - the sign which shows us that beyond the idea is the instinctual understanding that everyone is special, and that in the end no alliance is any better than the heart and soul and spirit of those involved.

Pisces, like Aquarius, is a universal and universalist’s sign which manifests either as emotions we hold very much in common with every existent thing ... and as anything which will push us to stop thinking only in terms of Self not so we can be ‘drowned’ by being one among an uncountable many, but so we can feel connected - first and last with what we are ... the reality of who we are and how we feel about what we believe and don’t believe in.

Through that we arrive at what we can best offer and who we have the capacity to be in the world, and to others.

There’s just one catch. Pisces is a sign someone once described to me as ‘the distance by which we fail our own expectations.’ We all dream big - and big dreams are wonderful venues for possibilities. They’re the stuff of conviction and faith and trust which gets us past the hard parts and dark days and all that would have us give up on our Self. But when that dream becomes a substitute for reality, no matter how wonderful the intent or instinct, we’re bound to be or become disappointed.

And it wasn’t life which did it - it was our willingness to delude our Self by turning that which was supposed to be inspiration into expectation.

Hope is okay under Pisces. Expectation gets us into trouble - an aspect of which may be found on the subtle shift of perception with which we view our goals ... and our relationship to those goals as Venus exits Aquarius and enters Pisces.   

As to that kite I mentioned, like all kites it’s about a focused interest, intent or effort which in (grand trine) part rests on something which can be relied upon to be what it is (at least for the moment) and which makes a concerted effort (represented by the two sextiles at the top of the figure) to achieve our given aim.

The ‘focus’ is the opposition - in this case North Node (plus) Medusa at 12 Libra in opposition to the South Node at 12 Aries conjunct Uranus at 13 Aries. This is a bit of a quirk (which isn’t surprising, what with Uranus in the mix) as usually it’s the North Node which is the “should do this” point and the South Node (the easy or at least easier way to do things) which we’re not supposed to rely upon. But with a kite, it’s the bottom point (the kite’s “tail”) which is the point to operate from ... or which people are going to be operating from.

The ‘support’ points here come from Pallas (the coolly dispassionate, logical and well-informed perspective) and Juno - the ability to manage our (Leo) abilities and/or self-concern (read: ego) in order to support our interactive aim(s).

And when you combine that with Venus ... well, apparently it’s easy to think, discuss or debate about things and its going to take a lot to get us to the real goal of the moment - the feeling part (or the part which pertains to our real feelings or the reality of our feelings).

Can we be human - or is that too much of a human thing to do at the moment?

Fortunately, Venus in Pisces is a passage which can allow us to let go of certain fears. And because of that, we often make connections (to others, to ideas, to opportunities, etc.) under Venus in Pisces which we wouldn’t quite get to during Venus’ more analytical passages.

Whatever happens now, because this Venus-Pisces ingress comes with a side order of Typhon going retrograde at 22 Libra, things around us (that coming from the degree, which is social and not personal) seem pointed at the basic, the primal, the necessary-to-maintain, lest all else fall in a heap. In Libra, there are two sides to the question - both of which (despite the sign’s reference to others) are about who we are in relationship to others ... which 22 Libra adds to by adding a necessity to define and/or be definite.

In other words, no tap dancing, no wiffle-waffling, no joining the Gilbert & Sullivan chorus (where you take the side of whoever last spoke) ... and because 22 Libra seems to turn dalliances and indulgences of the ego into invitations to passing karmic sharks, especially considering how this is the second thing of the moment which oozes a ‘no-no on the e-go’ aura, it might be best to turn the wattage of our personal Klieg lights down.

For how long?

No one knows that for sure. But we do have a hint - that coming from the (Lachesis) duration of what would seem to be the (Vesta) cost we pay to uphold that we hold as our (Aquarius) system of thinking or that which supports our life and lifestyle - all of which begins as Vesta moves into Aquarius at 19:41 (7:41 p.m.) on the 28th - the day after Venus enters Pisces).

'Les Parques' (the Greek Fates)

by Alfred Agache (c.1885)

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As one of the Greek Fates (of which there are three), Lachesis refers to how things simply are. It’s ‘fate’ ... this is the way it is. If this was Klotho (beginnings), we would know something was going to start. If this was Atropos (the cut-off) we would know something was about to end or come to its conclusion.

But no... this is Lachesis - a reference to how long something lasts: Its duration.

In going retrograde at 3 Libra, Lachesis not only adds another vote for the ‘how I relate to others or things’ department work we’re about to undertake over the next couple of months as we experience whatever it is we need to feel to get us ‘down to basics’ (Typhon) ... for however (Lachesis) long a time - and that would be ‘down to basics’ with our Self.

According to writings on this degree, 3 Libra is degree which underscores (and perhaps promotes) difficult insights in spiritual people ... and a treacherous tendency to refuse to see in those who are of a more earthy and/or ‘prove it to me’ nature.

Lachesis direct is going through a process or working towards some aim. Give or take how Lachesis is placed in your natal chart (which can always change things towards a plus or minus), transiting Lachesis in retrograde is akin to how long it takes to... (finish sentence with your desire-de-jour) ... and what it takes to get me through that period, or what happens along the way.

As such, obviously not all such desires are going to get taken care of during Lachesis’ several months of retrograde. But during that time we are surely going to deal with what it means to have something for a certain amount of time, whether that’s a positive or negative.

In other words, in terms of the Vesta cost (to retrograde us) of doing what we need to do - a notion which is somewhat different than lasting through the cost - which is also valid here.

The last note to add to this muddle of mid-week motion is asteroid Terpsichore - the ‘dancer’ of all types - going direct at 21 Gemini, a position which is exactly conjunct fixed star Bellatrix (the thing difficult to put across - or - the difficulty/effort it takes to put the idea across) ... and one degree off fixed star Capella (‘singing the song’) - both of which are often associated with communication, oratory, writing (any form), even plain old everyday texting, conversing, philosophizing, daydreaming or even out-and-out arguing - or a lack of same.

Terpsichore is an asteroid which in referencing ‘dance’ speaks either to a deft and gifted (often well-practiced) ability which may be genius or something which just be a flash in the pan - or even a fabulous farce which we now get to display ... as opposed to embodying it, as we would have over the past couple of months of Terpsichore retrograde. With all that’s going on - and let’s not forget that eclipse effects began just last week ... is it small wonder that we’re under Mercury retrograde, asking us to think/check/ask twice (or even thirty-three times) before doing?

What could this possibly be about?

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Every situation and life is individual, of course. But the degree 21 Gemini being considered as 'being about' a 'coming back into balance' goes with Bellatrix rather seamlessly seeing as Bellatrix has an assertive (Mars-like) reputation which tends to come out in or through  Gemini or Mercury modalities - through how we think or what we want to think about ... and though such expressions may be well formed or formulated, they aren’t necessarily known for grace.

Emotional grace, that is. Bellatrix-Capella is Gemini at its airy and driest mode. Wit, you get. Deftness goes well. But caring about the Other - or even beyond the thought? Not always.

This doesn’t mean that wonderful things can’t come out of what we do in this moment. But with Mercury in retrograde and Venus entering a sign of exaltation, reconsidering who we are to be doing anything ... and why it matters (beyond the need of the moment, that is) ...that would all seem to be up for thinking about this week.

Which only leaves one question: are we willing to do the thinking?
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Lachesis Direct

 Les Parques (the Greek Fates) by Alfred Agache, c. 1885

Without having spend a lot of time reading Greek myth (which I did as a kid, having some sort of fascination for the stuff), I’m not sure how anyone would know to draw a dotted line between asteroids Klotho, Lachesis, and Atropos. They’re the ‘Fates’ of Greek myth who represented the processes of life.

Klotho spins fleece into yarn and thus is associated with creating, beginnings, initiations and birth.

Lachesis measures out the length of the thread (the length of a life) and thus asteroid Lachesis is astrologically associated with duration, length and what gets ‘done’ during the time something goes on, be it a life or a process.

Atropos cuts the thread, which metaphysically causes us to think of asteroid Atropos as endings or finalities or the ‘death’ of some idea, a relationship, a job, even (yes,) physical death.

But a note on this last statement: Atropos in the chart is NOT to be seen as an astrological marker for someone’s death. There are methods by which astrologers know to predict the death of a person. They are never (NEVER, mind you!) marked by one single factor.

Also: if you find an astrologer who says they are willing to predict a person’s death, you should be thinking twice. It is considered one of the great and true no-no’s in astrology (as in medicine) to “predict” death, which is why doctors speak in probabilities and likelihoods when it comes to this subject.

So saying, back to Lachesis. Asteroid Lachesis is going to go direct at 17 Aries on Saturday, December 8th, which is one day after Pluto’s conjunction of nebula Facies (in Capricorn) hits the ‘exact point.’

Link to November 22nd's post on Pluto/Facies

Obviously this means that Pluto/Facies is reaching its maximal point of ‘exactitude’ during Lachesis’ station window – that ‘two days before, two days after’ allowance we give to celestial objects going in or out of retrograde motion. But let’s also remember, it isn’t the asteroid which is changing directions – it’s our perspective on that asteroid (or planet, or whatever) as seen from here on Earth.

So here we have Pluto/Facies providing us with the image of something very complicated which we might what to change in spite of how it seems to be controlling us (or maybe even bringing the worst out in us) in ways which are (Capricorn) visible to others and which pertain to the structure of our life. And as Lachesis goes on station, the internal (retrograde) debate about all this becomes more…what, obvious? Externally prompted?

Maybe both.

That Lachesis is making this turn in Aries says this is happening to us, or it’s a matter which is very personal or intrinsic to our life. Prepare to take things personally!

Or here’s another way to think about it…maybe Lachesis (as “duration’) is your realizing that whatever is going on will only last ‘so long.’ Or that you can only put up with it for so long?

 Bernard Gitton's Time-Flow 'water clock' 

(photo credit: Luna04, July 2006)

Duration, duration, duration! How long will it last? How do deal with it in the meantime? Or what must you do while something lasts?

To all of this gets added the 17 Aries part. And 17 Aries, besides being an emotional (and possibly emotionally evocative) degree, speaks more specifically to the idea of pushing something more towards its extreme. So whatever that attribute is… a tendency to splurge, a habit of lying, the tendency to think of everything in an optimistic light…at this point that Pluto/Facies conjunction is probably pushing many of us to “exaggerated” displays of our native tendencies.

Or…if we’re lucky…a moment when we get in touch, when we gain perspective ON our tendency to be greedy or overly optimistic or whatever else.

There is a note in the writings on 17 Aries which talk about ‘awareness.’ This awareness is curiously what apparently drives people to be more exaggerated about what they do. They’re aware of the issue and they think they can change the direction of things by pushing.

That, when we think of it in tandem with Lachesis’ station is why we may now be seeing we can’t go on doing things as we have been doing them. Pluto-Facies complexities or no, this turn of Lachesis to direct motion may have us realizing that we can’t keep doing what we have been doing – at least not the way we’ve been doing it.

That Lachesis is going direct with Pelion (a mountain to climb) at 14 Aries and Eris (ouch!) at 21 Aries says we may well feel very uncomfortable with the situation we’re in. And that we should…or maybe that we need to feel sufficiently uncomfortable in order to get into gear with whatever needs doing.

At least for a time. Or because we only have so much time.

The tightest (closest) planetary aspect to Lachesis’ station is the Sun at 16 Sagittarius, drawing our attention to ‘how we’re going about doing things.’ With the Sun conjunct Tantalus at 14 Sag, Hidalgo at 17 Sag and Ixion/Pholus at 19 Sag, we need to be careful about how (Hidalgo) we do things and the degree of ‘wanting to do what we want to do simply because we want to do it’ (Tantalus) which is in the daily mix as plainly Ixion/Pholus is telling us that we can bring our own efforts to naught with just a little off-handed carelessness.

This sounds like we need to be careful about grandstanding or anything which smacks even remotely of hubris.

One other aspect which seems particularly worthy of note here: in going direct at 17 Aries, Lachesis is taking station in square to Mars at 15 Capricorn. This puts Mars (mercifully!) out of range of Pluto-Facies, but Mars is exactly conjunct Vega (charisma), and mighty closely allied in this moment with Nemesis (at 14 Capricorn) and Eros at (17 Capricorn)…which would seem to be an amalgamation about ‘public charm’ and a passion for that which we know may not be popular, but is actually true.

An alternative here would be that public charm (appearances, call it…) in spite of knowing something isn’t right, or isn’t going to stand the test of Capricorn time.

 Back in Roman times, the toga (shown here on a statue restored with the head of Nerva),

was what Roman male citizens wore to be seen as men of Rome. Considering people and how

competitive Roman society was, togas were probably 'the thing' to be seen in, and not just a few

probably tried to get away with wearing them even if they weren't proper "citizens of Rome."

Oh, how times don't seem to change all that much, right? 

(photo credit: Sailko)

The good news here is that this is just a period of time – a duration. The tough news is that in being connected to Pluto-Facies, there’s a smidge, a note, a whiff of this which is going to be with us at least through September, 2013.

And that’s the spin of the yarn for today!

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Lachesis, Kalypso, Eurydike: The Measure, the Motivation, the Cost

Orpheus and Eurydike

by Christian Gottlieb Kratzenstein (1806) 

The tale of Orpheus and Eurydike is as old as love itself. Boy meets girl, boy and girl fall in love, boy gets in trouble, girl volunteers to give her all for him…

(No, not that! We’re talking about her life - these were more innocent if dastardly times!)

….and he doesn’t quite manage to save her.

(Yeah, well…)

Anywho, so if you’re in Eurydike mode, you’d better be sure that the guy you’re sacrificing everything for is darn well worth it…and that you’re really and truly-o prepared to pay the ultimate price for that undying love of yours which is going to cause you to die.

Taking this out of the strictly romantic mode and sending it through the metaphysical looking-glass, Eurydike the asteroid stands for a sacrifice we make or a cost we pay…and how we had best be aware of said cost and the reality of our sacrifice when we sign on the proverbial dotted line.

And why is this important? This would be important because March 13th would be a date when Eurydike is playing celestial footsie with Scheat, the fixed star which stands for rejection of one’s ideas.

That would be REJECTION, full stop, full scale, full in your face. Rejection. 

And no, it doesn’t even matter if you’re right. Galileo had Jupiter (knowledge) conjunct Scheat and look what happened to him! He DARED say that the Earth orbits around the Sun (not the Sun around the Earth) and for this utter heresy ended up living his life out scorned by his society and under well-guarded house arrest.

So Eurydike/Scheat? That sounds like a really truly bad time of the ‘you’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t’ sort of kind.

And if that’s not enough to get your muser musing, let’s remember that this takes place in the latest of late degrees of Pisces. That means whatever happens now is not anything you control and that beyond the actuality of the moment or event, there are your feelings about it all to be contended with!

Not to ring any ill-sounding doorbells on unwanted reminders or anything, but this would also be the date when at 1:02 in the afternoon (UT/+0) Kalypso goes retrograde at 21 Scorpio – as if we needed any other indications that emotional situations might be half-past funky?

Scorpio being representative of emotions which arise out of interactive situations or choices already made, this too happens at a 3rd decanate degree…meaning the thing you wanted to control which is out of your control is causing you to feel really ugly about not being in control – which in this case means someone else will seem to be getting their way without your getting sufficient warm fuzzies to make you feel even vaguely good about it.

It all sounds like enough to make anyone feel less than tip top, right?

And yet…this doesn’t have to be all bad. Okay…since Lachesis (duration) is also at the moment toodling through Aquarius and conjunct Kassandra (disbelief) it may feel like nothing will ever, ever be good ever, ever again!

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 'Les Parques' (the Greek Fates): Klotho (beginnings),

Lachesis (duration) and Atropos (endings)

painting by Alfred Agache (c. 1885)

 

On the other hand, you could just come to this moment with your newly minted Aries Uranian energy in your back pocket (or wherever you keep such things) and be totally willing to do what it takes (Eurydike) and take however long it takes (Lachesis) to do that thing nobody thought you would ever really actually do (Kalypso) and no matter what they said (Kassandra) prove them ALL wrong and win out at that thing you really totally know in your heart is not just possible, but entirely the right thing for you, yourself and you to get done in your life (Uranus in Aries)!

Yet with all this said, it’s still all about how you deal with the moment. Eurydike is not only conjunct Scheat but also Black Moon Lilith. So if you're on the rejected end of the stick ask yourself - what about society (or 'my group') are you failing to take into account (otherwise known as 'in denial of')?

Okay...so Nemesis is in opposition here, so if you're trying to call someone out on what they're trying to ignore, it's natural they would reject your notion. And yes, this would be a time when if someone comes and admits to you that yes, yes, yes...you were actually right... you're going to find it harder than hard to resist a big fat I TOLD YOU SO!

(insert: sound of voice echoing through the hallway of the ages...)

And not only is Lachesis hanging out with Kassandra at the moment (it's actually not a bad pairing but I don't expect anyone to believe me on that!) but this little ol' meeting of Greek Fate (Lachesis) and Greek prophetess (Kassandra, aka Cassandra) is happening in the presence of Pallas - the front end of Pallas Athena, aka un-impassioned, totally collected Wisdom.

With Neptune at 29 Aquarius, how many of us do you think are going to be totally out of the passion market and totally collected at the moment?

(I don't think so...!)

So sometimes what we should do is really, really hard to do. Then again, sometimes knowing what we should do (rather Pallas, that 'knowing' thing)...sometimes just bearing something in mind and doing what we can to hold to the straight and narrow is all it takes.

Okay, so maybe perfection this is not. But effort counts! Even the legal system considers one's intent!

And then there's Kalypso. Oh, what a story is that! She loves and loves and then has to give up Odysseus because he loves his wife and kids at home.

 Calypso (aka Kalypso) - a detail from an 18th century painting

At the moment of this moment Kalypso is sitting in complete and utter opposition to Sedna. And Sedna is conjunct Industria (industriousness) and Sabine (held captive as a slave).

Hmmm...sounds like work (or responsibilities) may be holding some of us captive. For others, they'll play the Sedna card as being spoiled, wanting what they want because they want it...and never mind what the standards of others are!

Yes, well...some of us are good at balancing our needs with those of others. Some of us...? Not so much!

This all seems to come down to a series of questions. Will you be distracted and defeated? Will you get to doing what you need to because should? Will you humor yourself because nothing matters except your own desires?

Will you hold yourself to doing those things which contribute to who you have always known and felt you should be?

Are you prepared to make sacrifices - or do you think you can get away with something, anything, everything?

(Note: this blog will not self-destruct

in 30 seconds. Not even 60 seconds.

Maybe not even 60 years...!)

Lunar Eclipse at 29 Gemini

 A lunar eclipse as photographed by NASA from Merrill Island, Florida

The holidays are always an emotional time. And since this year we get a Lunar Eclipse tossed in on top of the whole deal just as the Sun is about to mark a major yearly transition by arriving at the Capricorn solstice…?

Solar eclipses are associated with the rise and falls of nations. And major personal life transformations. But it’s a safe bet that if we took a poll, almost everyone would remember events marked by Lunar Eclipses.

It’s that kind of mundane astrological event. (And don’t get me started on why something global is called ‘mundane’! Technically it may be correct, but why anything truly GLOBAL is referred to as mundane…? That just seems wrong!)

Getting back to the subject…unlike the Solar Eclipse process which evolves and unfolds over three long years, Lunar Eclipses are prompt.

Seriously prompt!

So when I tell you that this season’s Lunar Eclipse is going to happen on December 21st at 8:15 in the morning UT/+0 time, if you know your chart would be aspected by an event at 29 Gemini, set your clock and buckle up!

(About that aspecting thing? We’ll get to that in a few minutes, too.)

So what do we know about this eclipse?

Well, we know it’s going to take place at 29 Gemini.

Twenty-nine degrees of any sign is referred to as ‘critical’…meaning ‘high intensity.’ So this is where all the Gemini precepts of making choices and learning how things work/don’t work, or how they go together (or don’t) come to a high water mark. Particularly if this eclipse aspects your chart.

If it doesn’t? Well, it’ll probably just be a bit of a red letter day anyway. Too much of this, too many 'that's.. …people calling, strange driving, odd news…you know, one odd duck of a day even though nothing specific goes on you would point a finger at!

Lunar Eclipses being one particular version of a Full Moon, the basic image is Moon opposition Sun: the Moon faces the Sun in full aspect and thus the ‘full face’ of the Moon reflects the Sun’s light.

Always a ‘high water mark’ (think: high tide) and always a marker of increased emotionalism, the Lunar Eclipse brings in a quality of grounding issues by involving Earth (symbolizing a big dose of reality) and the Lunar Nodes (society and/or ‘how life goes along’).

In this particular eclipse, it’s the Moon which is at 29 Gemini – the Sun is at 29 Sagittarius, straight across the zodiac. But 29 Gemini has a reputation. And what is that reputation? That rep is all about ‘difficult transitions.’ It’s said that the more difficult the problem you confront, the greater rewards can be.

But first you have to deal with the challenge, slay the dragon, climb the mountain – and all that stuff.

The ‘challenge’ is personal and emotional – the lunar part. And its intense – the 29 part. And it involves making choices, organizing yourself, dealing with what your priorities in life should be (never mind what you’d like them to be) and learning how to do something either from the ground up, or better than you know how to do it going into this moment.

As for what ‘that thing’ is, that’s represented by the other side of the Lunar Eclipse coin: the Sun and Lachesis sitting cozied up together at 29 Sagittarius.

 'A Golden Thread' (the Greek Fates) by Strudwick

Again, this is an intense degree. So whatever the issue is, its in your face, in your gut, in your way.

Second, Sagittarius (never mind the 29 part) is part of the zodiac’s interactive quadrant. So this isn’t about how you feel about yourself (exactly)…it’s how you interact with life. Sagittarius being a fire sign, the issue is either about what you have imagined will work and whether it does…or your feeling like there’s nothing out there for you – the proverbial ‘life is empty, I can’t imagine anything good can come of anything.’

There are certainly shades between these extremes, but especially with the Earthy/reality and societal eclipse note thrown in, the question of the moment is basically about feasibility, workability and functionality.

This last comes particularly into focus as we consider Lachesis, one of the Greek fates. Her job was to ‘measure out’ how long a life (or something) would last.

And that goes rather well with Lachesis the asteroid, an object which has a rather notably stable orbit and apparently stable speed. So the combination brings us to ‘duration’ and ‘consistency’…or how long a particular situation or status quo will last. Or maybe can last.

The lore for 29 Sagittarius speaks to physical fitness and in a more general sense, our ‘fitness’ for anything and how extreme stress at/on/through this degree can produce a physical or mental-emotional breakdown. As an interesting sidebar, there are also commentaries in the text about lacks of self-confidence, self worth and/or maturity.

So that’s what we’re getting ‘past.’ Providing this eclipse tests your chart, this could be a grand moment of petulance, or a complete break down. With the Moon of this chart just one degree past fixed star Betelgeuse, either that we thought would be easy isn't - or we sure wish it was. And with this pair (Moon/Betelgeuse) being ruled by a Mercury which, still in retrograde, is at this moment atop the Galactic Center gives us the clue that whatever it at hand, it's the result of choices past.

And since Mercury in Sagittarius is so often an indicator of imperfect/incorrect positions or choices made in haste, there could be some 'oops' in the mix.

No matter what happens, there is a choice of how to deal with it and ultimately, the need to sort out what we do choose in our life versus what we simply have to deal with.

And how we react to either? In most cases, that’s a choice too. Not all obviously – but most.

For those with planets, axis points or nodal positions between 25 Gemini and 4 Cancer, this eclipse has your name written all over it. Just remember – lunar eclipses are events, not life changing epics….unless of course, your chart is also aspected by 13 Capricorn (the January Solar Eclipse)? If so, then this is likely to be a situation which is part of an extended life upheaval. Your job is to sort out what your choices are and to deal with them realistically.

For those with planets, axis points or nodal positions between 25 Sagittarius and 4 Capricorn, you’re facing a need to assess a situation clearly and rationally. Wishing and hoping isn’t going to fix things – decisions are in order.

For those with planets, axis points or nodal positions between 25 Pisces and 4 Aries (OR) 25 Virgo and 4 Libra, you are being challenged. On the Pisces/Aries side the question is can you deal with the choices which need making. On the Virgo/Libra side, the challenge is to make the choice with some degree of clarity as to what the aim is and what you need to take into account along the way.

For those with planets, axis points or nodal positions between 26 Libra and 4 Scorpio (OR) 26 Aquarius and 4 Pisces: this is an opportunity to express yourself more fully. On the Libra/Scorpio side, this is about gaining access to answers and possible new options. On the Aquarius/Pisces side the options are social and societal. Will you choose to go out there now and build on past efforts?

For those with planets, axis points or nodal positions between 27 Capricorn and 1 Aquarius (OR) 27 Scorpio and 1 Sagittarius, this is a strenuous moment – specifically one which calls upon you to make changes. The Capricorn/Aquarius vibe is all about recognizing that ‘your way or the highway’ doesn’t work and the Scorpio/Sag side needs to pick up the personal slack. There is a marked tendency to try to evade responsibility here which won’t work – you can make the changes or face the emotional bruises which will result from clamming up, resisting and in general, refusing to get your ego out of the way.

For all involved…whoever you may be…the good news is that Lunar Eclipses go off like an exploding firework, then they’re over. By the time three months has passed, we generally are already moving on.

The sole exception here is as stated: IF you are someone whose chart is also aspected by the incoming January Solar Eclipse at 13 Capricorn, then this is just the beginning of a three year evolutionary shift described by the point about to be (solar) eclipsed.

And you probably already know what that’s about.

Meanwhile, here’s to a good Lunar Eclipse! May all your choices bring you happiness, health and the joy of personal prosperity!

 

      

 

This Week in Astrology: Getting the Point

 From the Duc de Barry's private collection,

a calendar page depicting December

This is a really busy astrological week. Seriously! And first things first: ALL TIMES ARE UT/+0. So if you want to know when something specific happens in your local world, adjust to your local time zone.

The week starts with Sunday the 19th and Byblis conjuncting Scheat at 5:48am. Byblis being a point specifically about the attempt to justify something you know is unacceptable and Scheat being the essence of public disapproval, it’s not too hard to guess that there’s a whole lot of condemnation (and self defense) going on.

Monday the 20th starts with Venus exiting the shadow of its recent retrograde. Venus being a planet, this is a mode of life or part of our life which is now feeling ‘freed’ of constraints first encountered back in early September. Does this mean everything is peaches and cream? Heck no! But it does mean that the sticky-icky drama, the lack of clarity and all the indecision which has been in the mix since then is finally over. And yes, either out in the open or out with the trash!

Tuesday also has Photographica going retrograde in Leo early in the morning - at 2:52pm plus Kleopatra entering Scorpio later in the day (at 6:26 pm).

Photographica is the ‘how others see us’ point – otherwise known as our “image” or ‘putting on the social/societal mask.’

Kleopatra is a point of ‘intelligence exhibited through charming gestures’ and ‘charm revealed through intelligence.’ Either way, with Kleopatra entering Scorpio, gains are made through knowing enough about whoever you’re dealing with.

 Currently housed in the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum,

a statue of Cleopatra - known astronomically as 'Kleopatra' 

photo credit E. Michael Smith (2007)

Since this is Scorpio however…a caution: if all you do is exploit others to get what you want without regard for who they are or what they value, you WILL pay – big time! It may not be today, but beware – karma is a bitch!

Put these factors together and it seems likely there are social/societal connections to be made today – or that events will reveal how you have operated in society or with regards to social/societal contacts. Whatever happens, this is a moment when each of us can learn a lot about what works for us and where we need to re-balance the ‘me/them’  priorities.

Tuesday the 21st starts with Atlantis entering Libra at 4:26am. This is a signal all about letting go of what has been in order to find that which is truly fitting. But boy…is that hard, or what!

Not making anything any less good or bad is the fact that then comes a Lunar Eclipse at 8:18. (And yes, there will be a special post on the eclipse as of tomorrow, giving us all time to sort things out. So check back for that!)

With Byblis enters Aries at 10:49pm (mere minutes before the Capricorn Solstice at 11:49pm) our errors and those of others – and the world around us – seem to hang in the air for most of the afternoon or evening, depending on where you are. Given that we’re moving into Capricorn and the zodiac’s most worldly (non-personal quadrant) realism and letting go of  personal designs in favor of workable solutions seems apt.

Wednesday the 22nd has Medusa going direct at 12 Taurus early in the morning (at 6:40am – which would still be late on the evening of the 21st in some parts of the world). By general definition, 12 Taurus would be a degree about emotional values, the difference between ‘things of worth’ and ‘self worth’ and how we feel about ourselves. More specifically, lore has this degree imbued with a sweetness which assists with negotiating who does what without some of the irritation of feeling ‘put upon’ which can be present at other times.

With Medusa going direct here, the Medusa ‘fearful truth’ is softened as we realize that honesty honestly expressed is calming and reassuring. We may not like it all, but at least we can proceed knowing where we stand!

Oh…and in case you’ve never read it…an ARTICLE ON MEDUSA.

Thursday the 23rd is the busiest day of all. With Child entering Sag at 3:20am, against Lachesis (duration) entering Capricorn at 5:15am, there’s an awareness that not all things last forever…otherwise known as ‘time waits for no man!’ (or woman, either!) While this stresses what needs to be done (and for some may indicate a busy mental day) it’s also a call to enjoy what we have.

How well you deal with this dichotomy should tell you something about yourself. (Sorry, can’t help you there!)

But when we add in Industria going direct at 6:46am at 4 Taurus…?

Industria is an obvious one: it’s “industriousness.” And in direct mode, it’s life coming towards us, asking us to be industrious and get a lot done. Yet the Taurus part asks ‘is this really worth it’?

And yes, this is the continuing 'flash' of the early morning transition.

Especially in the lee of the Lunar Eclipse, whether said eclipse smacked us personally or not we are all likely to be a little more discerning in and about our choices. And with Charybdis – a symbol of having to continuously ‘do’ or ‘put something out there’ entering Aquarius at 11:21 am, we may find ourselves cutting down our lists in what may be sort of a ‘who’s been naughty or nice?’ sort of way, to use the phrase of the season.

 Britannia between Scylla and Charybdis

by James Gillray (1793)

And no, that's not just about gifts - except in the most personal sense! Yes, this is about the gift of our effort, time and attention...most of all to who we are, who we want to be, and what we are capable of (i.e., our gifts!).

Those who deal with all realistically (the Sun is in Capricorn, remember?) will arrive at Bali entering Scorpio at 5:17pm looking forward to pleasant times.

Those who arrive there merely figuring on having things be the way they want them to be (or that all their work is done) will be…well, less than delighted.

The point now is togetherness. That which works should work for all, and that’s the basis upon which choices should have been made…and upon which they need to be made going forward, especially over the next days and several weeks.

A last note here: remembering that all this is happening – still – under Mercury retrograde should remind us that all these shifts are about our recognition of who we are and why we do what we do the way we do it. 

Against this, if you’ve been following the Asteroid Factor posts, you’ll also remember how there’s been a lot of energy going into the yang ‘what I want/need to do’ category. This week doesn’t change that balance, but with the Sun having moved out of theoretical Sagittarius into realistic Capricorn, this is where the rubber begins hitting road.

Those who enjoy the ride instead of speeding through things will by definition, enjoy more. Those who take risks will like as not experience real ramifications. The days between eclipses are a built-in period of flux.

Feel life – don’t try to mastermind it!