Pallas, Edisona, Hidalgo: The Manner of Fact

 
As outlined above, the next week or so is filled with what some might call ‘shifting influences.’ And since this is the week leading into a (Full Moon) Lunar Eclipse – which is to say because it’s a time we would expect to be a time when like it or not, when depending on our nature life becomes either more feeling and vital…or simply more emotional.

And let us not be coy here: “emotional” in astrological terms refers not just to the process of being emotional or exhibiting emotions, but to whatever evokes or provokes emotions – in our Self and in others.

One of the reasons to have posted the outpouring on Saturn is, in fact, all about the grid above. Saturn always represents the precepts of time, responsibility, maturation, loss, dedication, achievement, structure, and the slow, enduring effort which over a period of time leads to stable, enduring constructs – and that applies whether we’re talking about personal achievement, societal structures (including but not limited to corporations and nations). Saturn timings are also associated with patterns of income and economics, from the business of business to those social, societal and ‘mass movement’ ideas or theorems which in time become the common norm or the isolated (or elite).

Figuring out how to use Saturn in your own life is a process – one you may choose to use or not use. In a world which seems very much about building walls of late with everyone complaining about everyone else’s defensiveness and bristling however, choosing the periods of time in which to act or not act may be useful to you.

Hence the post on Saturn – specifically at the start of a week which seems filled with possibilities and opportunities for seeing things more for what they are, which would be our ticket for planning ahead.

You know…for figuring out how to make those Saturn gains without engendering equally gigantic losses or stirring up that most ugly of universal forces, negative karma?

Representative of all which promotes our understanding of dispassionate, unbiased wisdom of such clarity to cleave through all our assorted mental distractions, avoidances and nonsense, Pallas is going direct at a degree (24 Leo) which while representative of the generative power of Leo to create or ‘envision’ is focused on some simple and natural quality which itself is capable of becoming a sustaining force.

Coming into its April 7- 11 station-direct moment, Pallas has represented our clarification of Self and everything going on in our ‘inner’ world, be that personal at the individual level or having to do with our everyday world and collection of personal connections.

Once Pallas goes into direct motion, the process of clarification will shift to more external terms: we will be more aware of things around us and going on in the world and life of others AND all such things and people (and what we learn through interacting and/or witnessing their choices, actions and so on…) all that will continue ‘building’ our understanding of where we stand not so much in our (retrograde) personal world, but the (Pallas direct) world in which we live.

You know…the world which defines what we would have any opportunity to do in our personal life (or not)?

Next step: we add Edisona to our day-by-day picture.

Asteroid Edisona represents the simple quality of ‘spotlighting.’ Sometimes referred to as ‘the bright idea,’ sometimes that which we focus on in an ‘Edisona moment’ is “brilliant” and sometimes it’s simply that thing which is standing out (or outstanding) to us, whether it is to anyone else or not.

Edisona is going retrograde at 17 Sagittarius, giving us reason…or perhaps sufficient motivation to get (Pallas) clear about something having to do with whatever comes from Edisona’s station being in a degree typified by the Sabian symbol 'CHILDREN PLAYING ON THE BEACH, THEIR HEADS PROTECTED BY SUNBONNET.' The Sagittarian influence denotes something to be learned, and while what that is will be entirely individual, across the board this degree (17 Sagittarius) appears to speak to the protection of that which is immature (as children are) or which is not yet ready to stand or operate on its own, as might be true (just as an example here) with a business plan or other ‘pre-designed’ process which has not yet ‘come to maturity’ or which needs critical support.

With Hidalgo going retrograde on April 11th, something having to do with ‘protocol’ and/or ‘manners’ (read: ‘the manner of,’ ‘mannerisms’ and/or quality of presentation) comes into play as Pallas goes direct on the 9th, suggesting some sort of fact or set of facts being (Edisona) ‘spotlighted’ at a level which references a (9 Capricorn) quality typified by the Sabian 'AN ALBATROSS FEEDING FROM THE HAND OF A SAILOR' with the associated commentaries by noted astrologers speaking to ‘the overcoming of fear and its rewards’ (Marc Edmund Jones) and the culture of TRUST Dane Rudhyar points out as being the true and radiant power resident in any human being sufficiently willing to own their own harmlessness, that being the power which can (as he puts it) ‘…call the wildest creatures to him’ – an eloquent sort of way of saying what we put out comes back to us.

What we are experiencing is plainly a reflection of what we have put out there and it is not our denial of others which is the lie here, it’s our unwillingness to see ourselves as part of the universal (Aquarian Age) process.

And since Aquarius ruled first by Saturn and only then by Uranus, that would be why posting a mammoth scrawl on the subject of Saturn degrees seemed so apt.

- link to -

Saturn by Degrees

Saturn is responsibility and requirement as solar systemic clockwork. No one gets dessert without first eating their veggies.

And even when we get dessert, that only means we get to get to work working up a new sort of (Saturn) appetite.

It’s all eternal..ongoing...self-feeding. And maybe that’s the most important thing to remember…as soon as we learn one thing we’re merely acquiring the knowledge which will move us on to our next opportunity to learn.

Sphinx going direct on the same day (April 12th) that Kassandra goes direct – with both objects in late Leo degrees – combines ‘pause’ with ‘hard to believe’ (or ‘disbelief’) in the sort of mix which manifests as astonishment…or even delighted horror or taking grim pleasure in seeing something done (and well, if painfully done). With both points going direct in an area of the zodiac known for friends as well as family connections, anything from fun at the amusement park to relieved delight at greeting supposedly long-lost loved ones is possible.

As is a hearty inhalation (and reason to stop to think a minute) as we perhaps recognize just how blind we’ve been about…something.

Thus we move forward with some portion of our essence, spirit or mentality overwhelmed, enchanted, dazzled and…as would be expected where Circe the enchantress connects with a celestial event like the April 15th Libra Lunar Eclipse…spellbound. Reduced to our lower denominators by an entirely human willingness to succumb to inner weakness as a means of celebrating mortal strength we give in, allowing ourselves to be rewarded with that we have missed out on through a lack of clarity based on inner vulnerabilities.

You know…those vulnerabilities we all so want to deny?

Yes, them. They're ours...they're us. Somehow we need to understand and accept ourselves for all those things too, for without the whole of what we are, we will never be whole in our own lives, never mind that of anyone else.

And since what we put out comes back...because how we regard others generates how they regard us in reactive turn, that's an important issue - one we would seem to have an opportunity to get additional clarity on now, which seems a rather nice thing indeed.
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Dateblog: November 2012

 November 2012

As you can see from all the hot red Scorpio and warmly fervent russet-orange denotation of Sagittarius above, this is 2012 in full interactive format. During the first part of the month Mercury and Mars in Sagittarius gives us an indicator of verbal and activity-oriented fervency.

 Maybe urgency. 

Mercury in Sagittarius being famous for discussions, debates, enlightening ideas and oratory, we can count on much being said. Maybe too much being said. Both soulful allegiance and heated opposition go along with this pairing, which with Sun and Saturn in Scorpio points to things of emotional (and quite possibly financial) importance. 

In short, this is a time which feels important – maybe even fateful. Is it really that? Maybe. But then again, maybe we just need to feel we’re being heard and considered. 

The United States presidential election falls on November 6th – the date that Mercury goes retrograde. With Nessus (lingering ill will) having gone direct on the 4th, Damocles (unsuspected difficulties) going direct on the 8th we have both their two-day station allowances overlapping on the 6th, along with the 6th being the date that Charybdis (the need to keep trying) goes retrograde in Cancer, the sign of the people and a national populace.

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 Marine One prepares to land on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C.

(photo credit US Department of Defense, PHC C.M. Fitzpatrick, July 1987)

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Plainly the US people will have their say. Whatever the outcome is, that will not fix worldwide economic problems. In fact, as Neptune goes direct on November 11th barely in advance of a Solar Eclipse at 21 Scorpio on the 13th, nations and individuals around our world are likely to realize just how difficult things really are, and – hopefully – how their clinging to personal perspectives and drives has damaged many a goal. 

Yes, their goal. And as Chiron goes direct on November 15th, just what ‘living by our own rules’ instead of universal humanistic rules means is going to become a wee bit clearer. 

We are moving into the Age of Aquarius, folks. This is an Age where commerce is king, but where the marketplace must be open. Playing fields long bounded by idea of ‘us and them’ or ‘have and have not,’ the ‘insiders and outsiders’ are all giving way. Rich and poor shouldn’t matter: survival should. Cultural heritages and religious affiliations can no longer be our definition of worthy and unworthy as they have been throughout the Age of Pisces. I raise the issue now as it is metaphysically clear, merely by the congruence of the changing of the astrological ages coinciding with the ending-and-renewing of the ancient Mayan ‘creationist’ count (which is not the same as their calendar, by the by)...things are changing. 

And that means they need to change. WE need to change. 

It’s just not a gentle process. Not one change of Age, not one round of the Mayan creationist count (which they called ‘one world’) not any of this shifts from one cycle to the next without a deal of fracas. There’s always upheaval. There’s always trials and warfare.

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 From the famous Mayan murals of Bonampak in Belize, this scene from

Room 1 depicts the torture of the captives. How things don't change when

it comes to human beings, right?

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Why? Because human beings don’t like change. People yell and scream that they want things to change, but tell them that the time to change is ‘now’ and they’ll shovel out the excuses. 

Change feels like a threat to our security. So sometimes life has to actually threaten our security to get us to change.

 Once Mars enters Capricorn on the 17th, the determined among us will get to work while the rest of us are treading water. With the Sun’s shift into Sagittarius (on the 21st) falling just a day before Venus moves into Scorpio as Pallas (dispassionate, realistic wisdom) goes direct in Pisces we are challenged to get ‘real’ with ourselves. Importance now falls on the proverbial ‘proof in the pudding.’ Yes, we may bluster and fluster about long-held positions and convictions, but on the inside a lot of us are going to be admitting to our all-important Self that we were wrong: what we were doing or how we were doing it or the company in which we have been doing it...that’s wrong. 

But what to do about such problems? The Neptune bet is that most of us will put a game face on and go about like all is cheerful and status quo. But considering how people react to knowing they’re doing the wrong thing, the only question is whether we are going to make an active move to change (which with Mars in Capricorn is not only possible, but may well earn brownie-respect-points from others) ...or whether we are going to just wait until we ‘out’ ourselves through some compulsive moment. 

For card carrying members of Club Compulsive, Mercury’s going direct (in Scorpio) on the 26th combined with a Lunar Eclipse on the 28th (at 6 Gemini) may mark your blowout. Then again, if you’re a member of Club Compulsive who has reached Gold Card Denial ranking, you may just dig yourself in deeper with this Mercury turnabout and Lunar Eclipse. 

The Lunar Eclipse is in Gemini. That makes it about choices in the moment...or choices already made. Considering that Mercury in Scorpio can either be transformative or incredibly dug in, stick-in-the-mud stubborn, what may come of all seems pretty obvious.

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A lunar eclipse in progress

(photo credit: Juan Iacruz, February 2012)

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No matter which course you choose, experience or get emotionally shepherded into, the whole of the last week or so of November IS ‘emotional territory.’ Those whose charts are closely aspected by this Lunar Eclipse (read: with positions between 1 and 11 Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Aquarius...OR chart contacts between 4 and 8 degrees of Taurus, Cancer, Scorpio or Capricorn) will be most effected.

But this is a time of intensity pretty much all around. 

Still, it’s worth remembering: Solar Eclipses mark events which change your life. Lunar Eclipses are emotional, yes. But very seldom do they indicate a major life change unless your chart is ALSO being transited by the solar side of the eclipse pair.

In which case, buckle your seatbelt and grab a fire extinguisher – it’s going to be a bumpy and hot, hot, hot (maybe even flammable) ride!

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My Christmas Sock

 Earthrise on the Moon - a shot taken by Bill Anders

of the Apollo 8 crew on December 24, 1968

photo credit: NASA

I don’t get a stocking, I get a sock. Why? Because Christmas to me is a holiday, but not all that religious. My regard for religions – all of them – have changed over the years.

Most of all I think of religion as a repository for the customs and lessons humans have accumulated. That’s why they all seem to have encoded in them similar lessons about death and grieving. Not the rites or rituals…I mean the fact that people seem to go through such metamorphic changes in the year after someone important to them passes on. At a year, something shifts. Nearly every religion has something about this cycle in its teachings.

It’s there because whether or not you believe in God, religion reflects – at least in part – what we have learned about human life.

Last year, my holiday sock came all unraveled. I was done a dirty deed by someone and wept all the way to early spring – just in time to hear that my mother was going to die of cancer, which she did about three weeks later.

Two months after that, while sitting at a red light in beastly hot weather, I became involved in a car accident. It was my (recently) late mother’s birthday – which as I put it to my brother suggested that even though she had passed, she still had the capacity to be a pain in the neck. And the very (very) low back.

He laughed. He said it was the first time he had laughed since she had been diagnosed. Ours is an odd family – much drama, little closeness. I learned astrology to teach me what my family didn’t …or maybe couldn’t…be bothered to impart.

All this comes back to me now in these few days after at Lunar Eclipse at the “critical” degree 29 of Gemini.

In this past week, I could cite some really interesting examples of this eclipse at work, which is really what I meant to blog about.

Two members of my family – my brother and my cousin – both had epiphanies about how to communicate better. As we talked about it, I could feel the light growing in their hearts as they recognized not only how to be better understood by others, but how to feel heard, and how to be heard in a way which would lead to being better appreciated by the important people in their lives.

That’s very Gemini. Gemini is thought and choice – thus how we choose to express ourselves so that we not only convey our thoughts well, but are thought of well enough that we get where we thought we were originally choosing to go!

Eclipses are universal things. So it stands to reason that the lessons they teach are global – how my brother speaks. How my cousin regards her sense of priority and what her responsibilities are. And aren’t! No one is in charge of everything. We all only have to do our part as well as we can.

Then came the more personal moments. I had a conversation this past Monday night – as the eclipse was starting to occur – with a friend I trust enough to explore uncomfortable ideas with.

It all turned out fine. He even texted me on Tuesday to express his happiness that we had shared on a subject he knew was hard for me.

Sometimes all we need to know is that someone really is safe. That we really can talk about something. That it may not just turn out fine, but things could be better because we went over that line not with someone else, but with ourselves.

Then I put up my post on Senator Mitch McConnell. It promptly drew critique not on the astrology as presented, but on the civics side (my having used an incorrect title for Senator McConnell) and apparently just for good measure, the astrology I could have done which this particular astrologer would have done.

For those of you who think I’m some sort of chiseled-out-of-granite kind of girl, I sometimes am, but mostly am not. It also bugs the holy tar out of me when those who can’t be bothered to run a blog themselves complain. (Like, grrrrr.)

Yes, he wrote me later when he realized I had resented getting hit with an email cattle prod. He said he is sorry, but that had already brought out the notice...a version of which is now sitting in the blog sidebar...about how I’m pretty darn sure I really need to be taking the bulk of my limited functional time and devoting it to something which can actually pay the bills. That’s Gemini as ‘thinking it over’ and ‘making decisions’ and – important to all Gemini processes – priorities. 

I’ve heard from a couple of people since the announcement went up. But in the end I’m not sure but that I may have been right in what I said….for a lot of reasons.

I spend a lot of time exhorting all of you to be who you have the capacity to be. I believe in that, and I believe in that.

Being an astrologer is an interest of mine, but it’s not my life-long passion. My life passion has been to become a fantasy writer. No, my model was not JK Rowlings – it was JRR Tolkien. Actually, I knew what I wanted to be when I was 7 (a quarter of a Saturn cycle old)…and Lord of the Rings wasn’t even out yet. So my inspiration? I think it was Disney’s Fantasia – the original one. That and all the Oz books by L. Frank Baum (there are a whole bunch of them in case you don’t know).

Tolkien came along when I was in my teens. For the record, I had a hard time getting into Lord of the Rings…that Chapter Three filled with history put me to sleep. Since everyone said the book was so good though, I decided to skip that and go on reading. By 200 pages later I understood why you needed to know all that history and went back to read it.

Those of you who have had Peter Jackson to help you out here with the films – you’re lucky. Actually, my dad almost made Lord of the Rings as a film…he was approached by director Ralph Bakshi, who had a demo reel I remember watching with utter awe and amazement. It was mostly in Rotoscope, a process Hollywood doesn’t use any more…and no, it’s not what finally got released. What I saw was very eerie and very wonderful - and I was horrified when Ralph and my father snarled at each other like two lions on the veldt and went their separate ways. (No, I’m not going to tell you what got said. It’s Christmas, after all!)

In the end however…that’s all okay. I think Peter Jackson came to the project just as the technology of motion pictures had gotten to the right place to make the film.

Those films, by the by, were each released at Mercury stations. Look at the box office – it’s an interesting commentary on astrological timing.

Anyway…I’m still iffy about what’s going to happen next. Your closing week of December and January are already blogged and busy – not to worry about that. And maybe once the book is published I’ll have more time to blog – who knows.

Bottom line, I really want to have a chance to be the person I want to be in this life too. Preferably before it’s all over. I don’t want to be one of those authors who is only known after they die. It’s not the fame – it’s the fun. And it’s not the money, though I want to be able to take care of myself, eat properly and sleep at night, sure.

There’s a lot of that going around, yes. But it’s because this is a time for a lot of us to change. I’m not unique – I’m one of you.

If I make a lot of money, you may be assured I will use a goodly portion of same to help others. In my 56-plus years I’ve seen more than a few gaps which need filling and whole groups of people who deserve help. That’s what I’d focus on.

Okay, and maybe a sequel to the fantasy.

But we’ll have to see what happens. Rest assured, those of you who have written me – we will be in touch. Those of you who want to write me, the email is in the sidebar – be in touch.

And for those of you who don’t care one way or another, that’s okay too.

So! Now I’m going to stuff a sock (my Christmas sock) in it and move on, wishing you all a very peaceful and happy Christmas, Kwanza…or even a belated Hanukkah. I hope the wax came off the menorah without a hassle.

Jingle bells all around, I say!

Boots Hart, CAP