Astro-Notes on September 27, 2017 – First Quarter Moon in Capricorn

Daily Aspects:
– Eris Rx in Aries trine NN in Leo/sextile SN in Aquarius
– Sun conjunct Vesta in Libra
– Jupiter in Libra sesqui-quadrate Neptune Rx in Pisces and opposite Uranus Rx in Aries
– Moon ingress to Capricorn at 9:23 am PDT
– Mercury in Virgo opposite Chiron Rx in Pisces
– First Quarter Moon at 5:10 Capricorn/Libra at 7:53 pm PDT

With Jupiter activating the Uranus-Neptune semi-square with harsh aspects currently, confrontations are inevitable and coming to a head. We’re facing lots of controversy and upset over differing viewpoints and opinions that are contrary to our ideals and higher values. There is such a big divide in perspectives, and personal truths for that matter, that we seem not to be able to find common ground or come to an understanding, but antagonize each other even farther. Everything is polarizing and offensive and almost everyone is participating in the hyperbole or rage (Eris in Aries is trine the North Node in Leo – Discord is the name of the game).

It is a difficult situation, in which things tend to get blown out of proportion or protested to the extreme and people seem to inhabit alternate universes or realities, refusing to budge an inch in regard to their beliefs, sense of justice or interpretation of the issue. Therefore, it is critical that we become aware of the larger picture and the many layers of truth or different angles in a given situation and also of our own projections and expectations. Mercury’s opposition to Chiron reminds us of the human condition as a factor in our analysis; a mind that is biased, prejudiced and preconditioned cannot bridge issues or resolve problems.

The Sun’s conjunction with Vesta in Libra highlights our social causes and those we’ve partnered or teamed up with. As this is leading directly into the First Quarter Moon and square to Juno in Capricorn, the ‘crisis in action’ that accompanies this phase in the lunation cycle, challenges us to evaluate if these relationships or rules of engagement we’ve dedicated us toward are constructive and deserve our commitment or if we have to break up with them. Consequently, the ‘bald-headed man who has seized power’ (Sabian Symbol for the Libra New Moon) is struggling with relationship obstacles that prevent him from manifesting his vision and this necessitates serious decision-making on his part.

Tarot card of the day is the “2 of Swords”, representing a delicate balance. We may feel as though we have reached an impasse or even a stalemate. What is needed is a truce so that the problems we’re dealing with can be resolved using logic and the intellect, especially if we don’t know how to proceed. It’s a card of choice that could require from us to make a split decision. There is a sense of being caught between a rock and a hard place, which could make decision-making difficult or, on the other hand, could have us torn by indecision or opposing choices. Awareness of the consequences of our decisions is therefore imperative. However, resolutions will be found and a new beginning is arising out of this.

Astro-Notes on September 19, 2017 – Virgo New Moon

Daily Aspects:
– Uranus Rx in Aries semi-square Neptune Rx in Pisces
– Sun in Virgo opposite Chiron Rx in Pisces
– Venus ingress to Virgo at 6:15 pm PDT (until Oct 14)
– Mercury in Virgo opposite Neptune Rx in Pisces and sesqui-quadrate Uranus Rx in Aries
– New Moon at 27:27 Virgo at 10:29 pm PDT

New Moons are times of new beginnings, because they start a new lunation cycle and allow us to plant new seeds. A New Moon in Virgo is a good time to set intentions toward self-improvement, job training and perfecting our skills, having healthy and practical routines, toward functionality, problem-solving and damage control as well as toward being efficient, meticulous, conscientious and pragmatic in everything we do.

With the New Moon opposite Chiron and quincunx Uranus and its ruler Mercury opposite Neptune and sesqui-quadrate Uranus, we’re painfully aware of a long-standing and as yet unresolved issue we need to bridge to be able to move forward with our life. Yet, we don’t know how to proceed, because no matter how we look at it, things aren’t simple, but rather uncertain and unclear.

Therefore, it is critical at this time to get into a different mindset and think outside the box. We need to stop overanalyzing and worrying and instead open us to inspiration so that we can make the necessary adjustments in a changing situation and also anticipate what we can expect under these conditions. Now that Mercury is leaving his shadow zone, new information is coming in we can use to figure out a more effective approach.

Mercury’s next aspects are a semi-square to Ceres and a trine to Pallas, putting emphasis on the nurturing principle and the strategies we’re employing. Scrutinizing our familiar environment and the ways we seek support, to bond and take care of our affairs will help us to make decisions about whether these are working for us or not and which matters require more effort and better planning.

Prior to the New Moon did Vesta make ingress to Libra, Venus’ sign, and Venus to Virgo after she transited the eclipse point. This means, a matter related to self-worth and self-validation triggered the theme that was ushered in by the eclipse and shifted the energy, bringing focus and dedication to social causes or projects, which need to be balanced and evaluated based on priorities and values that revolve around service, usefulness and profitability. With the fall equinox only a couple of days away, we’re approaching a turning point in the wheel of the year that refers to restoring equilibrium in our life, especially in regard to relationships and rules of engagement where we need to find consensus, come to an agreement and reason things out.

The Sabian Symbol for the New Moon at 27:27 Virgo states: 

“A bald-headed man who has seized power. Keynote: The sheer power of personality in times that call for decision – THE POWER OF THE WILL.”

(Dane Rudhyar, “An Astrological Mandala: The Cycle of Transformations and its 360 Symbolical Phases”, Page 168)

During this cycle will we show strong self-determination and the necessary motivation to advance our agenda. As the Jupiter-Uranus opposition is tightening, our options need to be assessed from a different angle so that we don’t contradict ourselves anymore and can make progress.

Tarot card of the day is the “Wheel of Fortune” indicating that the wheel has turned and we’ve entered a new phase of the cycle. We must accept that things can always turn around; that what goes around comes around. However, in every crisis lies opportunity. It’s not a time to be complacent; instead we have to actively follow this path now and go with the flow.

Astro-Notes on September 12, 2017 – Third Quarter Moon in Gemini

Daily Aspects:
– Mercury in Virgo sesqui-quadrate Pluto Rx in Capricorn
– Venus in Leo trine Saturn in Sagittarius
– Third Quarter Moon at 20:39 Gemini/Virgo at 11:24 pm PDT
– Eris Rx in Aries trine NN in Leo/sextile SN in Aquarius

At this Final Quarter stage in the lunation cycle, Mercury in Virgo, who rules both – the Sun and the Moon, leaves a sesqui-quadrate to Pluto and moves into a trine to Juno. Another trine is formed by Venus and Saturn, whereas Vesta opposes Chiron and quincunxes Uranus and Saturn squares the Moon and the Sun. Moreover, Pallas, symbol of our mental strategy, just stationed retrograde in Taurus. She will be retracing her steps to a degree she first visited on June 11.

Thus, for the next 3 months we’ll be reviewing our approach since then together with the strategies or politics we’ve been using to find out where we got stuck or have to be more consistent and persistent. Confronted by an unresolved issue into which we poured lots of energy, we’re left with a ‘hole’ that has become a drain for us and therefore adjustments have to be made so that we can turn this situation around, which requires an awareness of our shortcomings and the flaws in these projects or causes that haven’t worked out so far.

Consequently, it is critical at this point that we probe our mind and get to the bottom of this. We might already have realized that our inner dialogue is not effective or even sabotaging our efforts. ‘The crisis in consciousness or perception’ that accompanies this phase in the lunation cycle challenges us to overcome a state of ‘scattered-ness’ by applying focus and objectivity to the task at hand, which will allow us to make the right decisions and also feel more at ease. This will moreover provide us with a sense of personal accomplishment or at least with greater structure and as a result, we’ll master a relationship situation prepared, collected and competently.

Tarot card of the day is “The Emperor”, symbolizing the masculine principle, the animus within us and the patriarchy. This card is representative of structure and stability and thus implies that we’re creating order out of chaos by mapping out what needs to be done, sticking with the plan and seeing it through to its completion. We have to be highly organized and coordinated in our approach and must maintain our concentration and focus. Moreover, we need to become or bring forth our own authority and know that we can master our world.

Astro-Notes on September 6, 2017 – Pisces Full Moon

Daily Aspects:
– Full Moon at 13:53 Pisces/Virgo at 0:02 am PDT
– Sun in Virgo trine Pallas in Taurus
– Vesta in Virgo quincunx Eris Rx in Aries and semi-sextile NN in Leo/quincunx SN in Aquarius
– Venus in Leo square Pallas in Taurus
– Ceres in Cancer square Eris Rx in Aries

The Pisces Full Moon highlights the axis of service and sacrifice, where matters concerning duties, routines, health, criticism, details and problem-solving versus charity, oneness, compassion, deception, escapism, suffering and self-undoing are coming to a head now.

We’re having a pretty complex and dynamic aspect pattern going on. Neptune, the ruler of the Pisces Full Moon, is in conjunction to it, whereas Pallas forms flowing aspects to the Full Moon pairing and Neptune, but squares Venus, who is engaged in adjusting aspects to the Full Moon pairing and Neptune. More adjusting aspects are cast by Vesta – to Eris and the nodal axis, while another square is connecting Ceres with Eris. Moreover, the Full Moon pairing and Neptune are involved in tense octile aspects with Uranus. In addition to that, Mars made ingress to Virgo and Mercury has stationed direct.

Thus, we’re dealing with a very strong Neptunian influence under the illuminating light of the Full Moon that is bringing a confrontation with an unacknowledged or hidden part of ourselves -sort of a watershed moment – and could feel potentially overwhelming, especially when it seems we’re losing in this situation. Have we been self-delusional, self-deceiving, self-denying, self-diminishing, self-sacrificing or selfless? Do we really serve our highest purpose in life or have we been led astray and lost sight of it, while chasing some lofty ideal?

There’s no need to freak out now; things are never just black and white, they come in many shades and colors and they change all the time. So, we can’t give up hope now, even though we might be at our most vulnerable point, but would still benefit from having a scrutinizing look at ourselves and our life’s situation so that we can shake some of this confusion and gain clarity or get inspired as to how to proceed.

Some issues are shifting and others are intensifying in tandem with this climax. For instance, the way we seek to assert ourselves has changed from dramatic, creative and grand acts (Mars in Leo) to a simple, methodical and functional modus operanti (Mars in Virgo) that is informed by the data and connections we’ve reviewed over the last 3 weeks. We figured out a pattern we’ve been repeating that has become second nature to us, but is at cross purpose with our personal values and needs.

Therefore, we have to become aware of those occasions when we stand in our own way and set priorities or give in to preferences that divert our energies from the causes we need to dedicate ourselves to and keep working on if we want to be successful. It would serve us well to realize when we fall into those traps and become a victim of our own self-undoing. In order to turn things around for us, we have to break the spell and catch ourselves in the moment. Taking charge of our mind, being thoughtful and attentive will help us to control our attitude and our effort. It would also be wise to make amends where we erred.

As the second Leo lunation cycle culminates, the impulse that sounded forth at the time of the Pisces New Moon at the end of February also comes to fruition. Using the images of the Sabian Symbols, we get this story:

“The mermaid that emerged from the ocean waves” (Sabian Symbol for the Leo NM/SE) is replaced by “a Lady, who is wrapped in a large stole of fox fur” (Sabian Symbol for the Pisces FM) – the image or vision we have been seeking to bring into form is now ‘dressed up’ by the intellect – we realize that we need to smarten up and also train and clear or purify the mind. This requires from “the hockey, who spurned his horse to outdistance his rivals” (Sabian Symbol for the Pisces NM) to “rely upon his aristocratic family tree” (Sabian Symbol for the Virgo Sun) – the mobilization of our energy and skills has resulted in us using our root power – we distinguish ourselves by the virtues we inherited or which are inbuilt in our character. This is what sets us apart from others.

So, winning is a matter of being smart and prepared and ready to jump on our horse like a knight in shining armor to save the day and make a lasting impression.

The Sabian Symbol for the Full Moon at 13:53 Pisces states:

“A Lady wrapped in a large stole of fox fur. Keynote: The use of intelligence and mental subtlety as a protection against storms and trials – need for PROTECTIVE SHIELDING.”

The Sabian Symbol for the Sun at 13:53 Virgo states:

“An aristocratic family tree. Keynote: A deep reliance upon the ancestral roots of individual character – ROOT POWER.”

(Dane Rudhyar, “An Astrological Mandala: The Cycle of Transformations and its 360 Symbolical Phases”, Pages 276-277 and 159, respectively)

These symbols ring particularly true for all the people who had to flee or get evacuated because of the raging storms and wildfires (Ceres square Eris and FM conjunct Neptune in octile aspects with Uranus). The devastation and the loss of land, property and possessions is immense, but everyday heroes have come to the rescue and saved countless human and animal lives, provided shelter and food, while others donated or used their own means to help out (Venus square Pallas and semi-sextile FM, Pallas sextile FM and trine Sun). In these examples we could see for ourselves, who are the ones of ‘noble character’ (an aristocratic family tree) and who are not (Vesta quincunx Eris).

Since the Full Moon happened for us here on the West Coast almost exactly at midnight I’m posting the Tarot cards for both days. They both refer to the situation and need to be read and applied together.

Tarot card for September 5th is the “7 of Pentacles”, suggesting slow growth. The seeds have been sown, but there is no sign yet that they have germinated. Some things are moving along well and we feel hopeful about the future, while others seem to be pointless. Consequently, we are applying a long-term view and focus on sustainability of results. It’s time now to assess which of our energy investments are worth it and where we might have to change direction. Thus, we are taking stock, reflecting on our progress, questioning our choices and find out where we stand.

Tarot card for September 6th is the “Knight of Swords”, indicating that we’re embarking on a new project or idea and there’s no stopping us. We’re headstrong and outspoken as we know what we are talking about and let others know where we or they stand, thereby going straight to the point. Certain things can no longer be avoided – the confrontation will come and commence. Yet, there is great ambition, determination and strength as our physical, emotional and spiritual energy is at a peak. Group discussions with like-minded people are best suited to inspire and motivate one another.