As with the past month, Mars in Taurus is the nozzle of a Yod, or "Finger of God," forcing all of us to give up some things so we can expand our effectiveness in other areas. October should feel much like September, but with the quality that everything is slowed down due to Mars going retrograde over its September points. Rework some things, redo the plan, build in some lag time, slow down to figure out how or if you want to secure or confirm something. Mars retrograde, like our friend Mercury retrograde, brings back things from the past but with the focus on Mars' issues, like what aggravates us, what spurs us to action, or what was/is a hassle. We will be forced to defend our mission, see the broader context of our mission, and/or administer expertise, whether our own or someone else's.
Well, he is. If you doubt that, please go to these links over at Political Physics and read the backstory of this heavy handed manipulator and money launderer who has perfected the "politics of personal destruction" throughout his career. In any case, he is a born warrior. Sun in Aries, Moon in Scorpio often yields someone who is known for being pugnacious, determined, impulsive, and a "take no prisoners" type of guy. He's a pioneer of a different type of scorched earth politics, a man who does not forget or forgive easily. The Moon conjunct Jupiter in Scorpio indicates that he has a tendency to push too far, without concern for the backlash, as he's very expansive, intense, and thrives on conflict. He loves to get at the hidden side of things, and is willing to go down and dirty to achieve his ends. Still, the big story I hinted at yesterday is that he, like Dubya, is having his second Saturn return, where the chickens are coming home to roost big time.
As some of you know, Tom DeLay has just been indicted on conspiracy charges. He's an Aries with a Moon in Scorpio from 1947, and what we are seeing is a perfect example of the second Saturn return coupled with other difficult aspects. I'll post more tomorrow.
As I've mentioned in this article about the Basics of Astrology, there are really only four factors involved in the craft. There are planets, signs, houses, and aspects. The planets are our "lights" symbolizing the different parts of our personality makeup, and each planet has a duality of function. The planets all occupy a sign. The 12 signs are the filters through which the lights shine, whether in healthy or dysfunctional ways. Thus a Sun in Aries is illuminated by Aries experiences and people, whereas a Sun in Virgo is illuminated through Virgo experiences and people. Venus is what we like, both in art, people, and life. Venus in Taurus likes Taurus types of art and people, whereas a Venus in Sagittarius likes Sag types of art and people. Saturn is what we fear, and our bottom line regarding boundaries and responsibility. Saturn in Virgo finds its limit through Virgo experiences, Saturn in Aquarius finds its limit through Aquarian experiences.
Today we'll discuss short term focus for all signs. This week we have favorable aspects, and since it is the "old Moon," or the period just before the New Moon Solar Eclipse on October 3 at 11 Libra, this is a week to harvest, to capture, to bring in whatever is needed to prepare for the next period of activity which takes off at the New Moon. Mercury is just coming off a favorable aspect with Saturn and is trine Neptune the whole week, showing that we've got excellent opportunities to read subtle signals and see what's coming down the road. Mercury is the conscious mind, Neptune is the collective unconscious, and when these two are in harmony, we can clearly understand which way the wind is blowing, so to speak. This will harmonize our Gemini and Virgo affairs and planets, and we can finally get clear about some things enabling us to plan with confidence. Even though it is more a time of endings than beginnings, take a look at the new, pioneering developments arising at present, and prepare to make them more real after the eclipse next week.
From the remarkable Magic of Space, something to ponder for the weekend. We really can and do create thought-forms, from which spring future realities. From Chapter 1, Creative Space:
We find that Divine Mind is precisely analogous to a sensitive plate, and that each human thought makes a picture on that plate. By thought you make the exposure, and the thing pictured will in time become your own, for you are attached to your creations, and time develops the picture for you. If you hold the image you have made long enough, you will get a perfect picture -- if you think idly, then you have made what the photographers would call an under-exposure, and the picture is not full, clear and perfect, many details being left out. By holding the picture firmly and strongly you make it a permanency, and then it is yours -- for thoughts become "things."
The Autumn Equinox chart done for Sag Harbor EDT shows 23 Pisces rising, 26 Sagittarius for the Midheaven, and the Moon at 3 Gemini in the third house. Mercury is at 4 Libra, reinforcing the compression effect of the multiple conjunctions of this time last year that rebalanced all our emphases, in terms of time, energy, and money. This past year all were freed from old routines and moved into a larger "destiny" as a result of a narrowing of our concentration. We have all had multiple opportunities to glimpse "perfect forms" and reach an ideal. The trick was not to get or stay annoyed or aggravated, or in a state of being "all worked up with nowhere to go." We are now at the first "return point" to those conjunctions, and can do a check-in to see how the ideal has unfolded these past 8760 hours. In other words, these next thirteen weeks of Autumn will help us see how things have changed since the last phase started, and offer opportunities to meet others who share the fire and ideal.
Today and tomorrow we have Sun septile to Saturn, with Neptune still septile Pluto and Mars in an exact Yod, or Finger of God, with Jupiter in close sextile to Pluto. The Neptune septile Pluto is the basis of the Grand Irrationality, and is triggered by planets in early Scorpio, so get ready for major developments a few weeks down the road. The Sun septile Saturn shows that our lives have hit a fork in the road relative to Saturn in Leo, an important development where rationality will not be as important as choice, root knowledge, and willingness to step up to the plate in the near future. Sometimes when things seem to be breaking down, the best thing we can do is move boldly into a new archetypal role. This influence will pass quickly, but will yield tremendous results in November, another major fork in the road of this particular form of unfolding "destiny."
Before we get into some astrology, I want to say I had the privilege of hearing the great stride pianist Judy Carmichael play recently in Sag Harbor after her successful tour of Brazil. She is an amazing performer, master of the style, and if you want a fantastic interpretation of Fats Waller's genre, she's the best. (I hear she's been invited to host her own evening at the Kennedy Center!) If you ever get the chance to catch her act, or even pick up one of her cds, do so - you won't be disappointed. She's a true American talent of the first degree!
Continuing yesterday's theme, remembering what Autumn weather feels like here in "Southern New England" is an amazing experience, especially after so many years in palmy Lalaland. I've always loved Autumn, probably due to my personal chart factors as well as the feeling that life is both retracting and interacting, becoming in some way more beautiful even as the outer forms change colors we see in the plants as well as the colors we show to our world. The ancient Chinese considered it a time of "cutting and destroying," where the light force is in retreat preparing for Winter. And big changes are in the air, challenging our love and adaptability.
Today is a first of sorts. I'm composing an Aquarius Papers post from Sag Harbor, a never-done-before thing. It's only possible because I'm using some great new software. Anyway, I am still jetlagged and so today will reflect on some things. Coming in from JFK airport, I got to see the Harvest Full Moon in all its golden beauty against the moving clouds over the east end of Long Island. This Full Moon ushers in two weeks of closure and fulfillment as we are all educated to be led out into a world of activity we may not initially comprehend. It is a benediction to do one's own thing in one's own way, and not expect others to react as you would. It's also a time of goodbyes, since we must part company with obsolete people and behaviors to make psychic space before entering into an unknown future.
It's been a while since I offered a one stop shop for articles with important information during these times. I suppose I should start with the effect Jupiter in Libra is having on all of us for 2005. Here's an article on the very powerful Saturn in Leo influence and what it means for different generations, as well how it's affecting each sign. Creating some revolutionary conditions in our own and others' subconsciousness and renovating some lives forever, Uranus in Pisces is reawakening some Martian echoes from a while ago.
In yesterday's article, I outlined some effects we can expect from the coming Full Moon period and how it relates to the New Moon energy of early September. Today I want to introduce some techniques for astrologers who may be interested in a remarkable set of interlocking angles evident in the coming Full Moon chart. This may sound like gobbligook to those who do not know astrology, but these configurations bear pointing out for students of astrology, since those who know some of the craft will no doubt see some very interesting correlations with what's going on these next few weeks.
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