Equinox is right around the corner, but first...

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What the heck is going on? 

A lot

A lot around the world and a lot astrologically. Of course the two are the same. That is the point. Especially when you focus on the Cardinal Axis - also known as the solstice points - the cardinal axis is the world's stage.

So what is up?

Uranus makes its ingress into Aries tomorrow. Which means it is very directly on the cardinal axis now. Recently the nodes and Mercury have been involved---causing stormy weather most likely, and a lot of excitement in the news and communication generally. The Sun and Jupiter are involved today (so things kinda feel ok, good even, under the circumstances). But Jupiter is also good at expanding and enlarging things, making things bigger.  From now through the weekend the energy will be Mars and Saturn, aligning on the axis and pointed at Uranus---which might not feel so good. In fact, Mars Saturn can be quite a tough combo to deal with, as it is sometimes associated with harmful or destructive energy. However, it can also give endurance. If we stay in reality, and do the hard work, Mars Saturn can pay off in spades.  

It is typical, as the days go by, that things come into and go out of alignment on the cardinal axis, world's stage, and we witness and experience their effects. But it isn't everyday that Uranus is sitting right there too---in fact, that only happens roughly every 20 years (when it moves from the end of a mutable sign into the beginning of a cardinal sign). And it takes Uranus 84 years to move through all of the signs---which means it hasn't made an entrance into Aries since the late 1920's!

So with Uranus on the Aries point, it also becomes the midpoint of each of these energies as they align on the world's stage. Sorry if I sound repetitive here, but having Uranus as the midpoint of all these changing energies tends to make everything a little (or a lot) more exciting. Uranus rules innovation, surprises, sudden events, accidents, wildness, wierdness, non-conformity, breakthroughs (or breakdowns), and a lot more...  

It's kind of like everything has been plugged into a live outlet. 

Lets hope the "extraordinariness and unusualness" of this time equates to our having amazing fortitude under whatever stressful circumstances we come to face.

Use the time as wisely as you do wildly.  

And, Please be safe.

A Regal Full Moon?

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Regal, because this full moon is conjunct the fixed star Regulus situated in the heart of the lion in the constellation of Leo. But beware, with this 'prince' or 'little king' energy, the edge is fine and sharp between pride and fall and jealousy and revenge and that of healthy self-esteem and success.

Bernadette Brady says this star relates to "the need to avoid revenge." It is one of the Royal Stars of Perisa. And, like the other three Royal Stars, Aldebaran, Antares, and Fomalhaut, "great success can be gained but only by facing a particular nemesis. For Regulus, this nemesis is revenge. You may gain a great deal of success in your chosen field but if you ever stoop to take revenge, then you lose power, position and standing in the community."  

Since Regulus is with the Moon, we can imagine (or hope) the potential and power of this time may relate to leadership that is more 'humanitarian' in flavor; leading with love and devotion versus authoritarianism. Ebertin-Hoffman wrote that this royal star "may convey royal properties, noble mind, frankness, courage." And that its effect is like Jupiter + Mars. Courageous, heart-centered leadership? I hope so.

Regulus with the Moon according to Vivian E. Robson, gives "occult interests, powerful friends, danger from enemies and false friends, gain by speculation, public prominence, great power, honour, wealth, benefits [which] seldom last, violence, trouble and sickness." This must be due to the shiftiness of the Moon, it's changeability and inherent instability. The Moon often reflects or absorbs what it's near, as it is highly impressionable.  

This full Moon occurs early Friday morning, 12:36 am (Pacific Time), at 29 degrees 20 minutes of Leo.

In addition to the conjunction with Regulus, you might like to consider some of these other symbols -- especially if 29 Leo is prominent in your own chart: 

30º Leo

A ship's steward carrying a bowl of enchanting white lilies.   1

Denotes a changeable person, loving to journey about. He gains much benefit from ships, shipping, means of transit, and the public. While on a journey he meets his greatest happiness. He is generally fortunate with his friends and in all his affairs of life. It is a symbol of Voyaging. 

 An Unsealed Letter.   2

The realization by the individual that all thoughts and all messages are inevitably to be shared with all men. (Communication and Sharing must always prevail over the will to glorify oneself by claiming sole possession of ideas and information.) 

Noontide: a little girl sets out to deliver an unsealed letter bearing the embossed insignia of the king.   3

Serving the laws of one's divine nature as one's highest duty; cheerfully and humbly accepting one's childlike role in the larger scheme; faith that one has been given all that one needs in order to do what one was put here to do (sense of divine protection)..

An old sage, sitting by his midnight lamp, studying some grand problem.   4

This denotes one who has a profound intellect; a gigantic will; a mature judgment. One who is a true magician. 

1  Isidore Zozminsky symbols

2  Sabian Symbols 

3  Zodiac by Degrees - Martin Goldsmith

4  Charubel

 

Winter Solstice

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The Sun moves into Capricorn today.

Return of the light.  Rebirth?  

Hades on the sea floor while the Sun sets over the mountains. 

Change, sudden separations, or connections - sudden insights, quickening, reform.

Developments, big ideas, travel, commerce, mass communication - secrets want out.

People who control important information or the news.

Plans for modernization.

Greater need for power by religious leaders.

Space exploration.

Revolutionary alliances made or broken.

Popularization of occult, hidden, and ancient knowledge.

Old fashions, secondhand junk, using what is broken or worn out, making do.

Flooding decay.  Experiencing or insights into grief, sickness, death. 

Slavery in cinema continues.  Pitiful pornography still in vogue. 

Want. 

Lack.

Recognizing the darkness.  Great cruelty exposed. 

Catastrophe, or the end of a large scale drama played out on the earth's stage... tsunami tidal wave earthquake volcano flood cataclysmic change...   a nightmare, or the conclusion of our earthbound existence in a classical tragedy?  

Hades on the sea floor as the Sun sets over the mountains. 

 

 

 

When the Moon is Void

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When is the Moon really void-of-course? 

Many Western tropical astrologers consider the Moon to be void when it will not make another Ptolemic aspect (conjunction, sextile, square, trine, opposition) to any planet from the sign it currently resides in. And most modern tropical astrologers extend this to include the outer planets, those not visible to the naked eye: Uranus, Neptune, Pluto. 

Traditional astrologers however do not consider the Moon void if it is in an applying aspect to a planet within 13 degrees (when the body is in orb to the Moon). And the Hellenistic doctrine has us extend this to 30 degrees! Traditional astrologers, and some modern astrologers, also do not take the outer planets into consideration when examining a void of course Moon (though many use outer planets connecting to the Moon in character delineation in a natal chart or for other purposes).  

If you're a modern tropical astrologer, I encourage you to experiment with your practice. Utilize the traditional rules. Try using only the seven visible 'planets' for a while - Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, and add the outer bodies as an afterthought. You might find working this way enhances and simplifies your interpretations and conclusions, cutting through to the heart of matter! 

When the Moon is void, or "running in the emptiness", 'running through a vacuum', 'feral', 'desart', 'wild' or 'isolated' (Skyscript), a pretty rare thing by Hellenistic standards, it is best not to initiate new projects. It is however a great time to meditate, sit in silence, or go for walk. Take in the spaciousness and emptiness of a void-of-course Moon - it is an optimal time for retreat and contemplation. 

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The Unbearable Lightness of Being + POSEIDON

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I have always loved the title of Milan Kundera's book: The Unbearable Lightness of Being, and I like to think about meanings behind such a phrase. 

Today it brings to mind Poseidon...

In light of the current position of Poseidon: it currently sits antiscia to Mercury, ruling news and communication. Antiscia refers to the symmetrical arrangement of planets and points around the cardinal axis (aka the solstice/equinox points) - the cardinal axis is "the world's stage". And in light of the Sun Poseidon conjunction yesterday, it feels like a good time to talk about the TNP (TransNeptunian) Poseidon.

I am personally in the midst of a long period of Poseidon-time, as it transits my Node, Midheaven, and Moon for the next couple of years. As I understand it, this should be a time of grasping or comprehending things with greater clarity. (I hope so.) Certainly I am literally seeing things more clearly now, as I'm resigned to the fact that I must wear glasses...

Poseidon, to Uranian astrologers, is like another kind of Neptune. It rules light and so enlightenment. It signifies interest in spiritual matters, spiritual people and places. It has to do with seeking truth, clarity, perception and understanding. It is like turning on a light bulb. It can also represent odd or unusual matters, or people. More mundanely, it has to do with propaganda, advertising, television and media. It rules religion; and rules psychic vibrations and mediumistic tendencies. It reflects and refracts light as a mirror or window does.  

Lately these things seem to be increasing all around me. 

I have more frequent premonitions. I've connected (or maybe I should say: re-connected, as the transit involves my Node and the Node signifies our connections, karmic, fated, or otherwise) with people who could be described as odd, enlightening, psychic, or spiritual. Propaganda abounds. And the light seems to be making its way into many creaks and crevices of my mind; some of which I may have preferred to leave in the dark a while longer.

This time is meant to be enlightening, I'm sure. But as healing goes, being made more aware of things, it doesn't always feel so good.

Does it make sense that being uplifted  could make one feel ungrounded, sometimes disoriented?  

Coming out of the dark into the light does make you squint, it makes your eyes hurt. So as I continue to work with this sometimes tiring time of Poseidon, I've come to accept the fact that I must have faith and trust it will all work out. Poseidon rules faith and wisdom. Wisdom = Insight = the Light.

Faith + Wisdom - Truth = Poseidon

Capricorn Moon in the Facies

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The Moon may be in the zodiac sign of Capricorn today and tomorrow, but she is actually making her way through the constellation of the centaur and great archer Sagittarius.  In fact, later today she'll pass right through a cluster of stars (a nebula) named the Facies.  This cluster is located right in the archer's face and is thought to correlate with penetrating vision. 

Facies has been viewed as one of the most difficult and possibly more violent bodies in the heavens, however it can be a source of great focus and achievement if used correctly.  

The Facies is located at about 7-9 degrees Capricorn.

 

Venus Rx

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A prescription for Venus? Sort of... Venus turned retrograde today and will remain so until the 18th of November. Retrograde means a planet appears to move backward; and symbolically it is a time for us to re-evaluate and reconsider what we love, need, and value (Venus). 

Venus rules relationships, pleasure, beauty, and art. Venus is the poet, the sage, the counselor, the friend.

It is a time to re-think what these things mean in our lives. Are we truly getting what we need? Are we giving what we could? What do we value most? What or whom do we appreciate, should we tell them more often?

A retrograde period is not necessarily a time to act, it's a time for re-evaluating. For instance with relationships making adjustments or improvements in an existing one is great, but hold off on making any major decisions (like breaking up or getting married). Instead use the time to assess - what needs are being met; what areas could use improvement?  

It's also a good idea to avoid major financial transactions if you can, though if things go on sale (as they often do during Venus Rx) it might be a good time to make smaller purchases. And though it may sound silly, you probably want to hold off doing anything dramatic to your appearance, as you may regret it later on. 

Re-work a painting. Rearrange furniture. Re-mortgage your house. Remind your partner you love them. ;-)

 

Venus and Mars

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Conjunction at 12 degrees 52 minutes in tropical Scorpio. 

Sabian Symbol: An inventor performs a laboratory experiment

...stresses the value of individual initiative, perseverance and caution in any attempt to understand how everything is related to everything else. What is most needed is the Ability to relate seemingly unrelated facts. 

...speaking of relating facts

This conjunction occurs in the Egyptian bounds of Mercury.