by Robert Wilkinson
This article covers significant aspects, degree symbols, and other important factors in this month's Aries New Moon chart which will show us a new life order and challenge us to get it in gear, following through on carrying something to completion. It’s time for action in new directions!
This Lunation, along with the inner planets, continues sign concentrations within the usual "anchoring" span occupied by slow moving planets. Due to the shift toward Jupiter and away from Saturn, the occupied span runs from Pluto in Capricorn and Neptune in Pisces to Uranus in Aries and completes with Jupiter in Gemini. In this New Moon, there is a huge cluster of planets in Aries, showing that area of our charts will be very intense and active for the next few weeks.
We’ve now returned to having only one nozzle planet for this “Bucket” Jones Pattern. Jupiter in Gemini was the primary nozzle for quite some time, since it’s been outside the occupied span. However, due to the cluster of planets in Aries, Saturn is now the nozzle for the rest of the energies. So in this chart, Saturn is the nozzle for, and focuses the occupied span from Capricorn through Gemini.
So What is a “Bucket Pattern” and how does it work?
This type of spread, with all the planets in about half the signs with one outside that span wide enough to be a handle, creates a “Bucket” Jones Pattern. The energies of the occupied half are focused through the “handle,” or “nozzle,” in this case Saturn, which is termed the “focal determinator,” and represents the way to greater effectiveness, the cause to be embraced, the lack to be filled, or the way to use the total energies of this time in a focused manner.
Dr. Jones states “the bucket type indicates a particular and rather uncompromising direction in the life effort.” This pattern gives “interest in a cause,” with executive tendencies that will adapt allegiances to maximize results of the effort. He says “the bucket type at its best reveals the real instructor and inspirer of others, and at its worst the agitator and malcontent.” This is the larger planetary pattern within which we’re all trying to do what we do.
We are also told this pattern is more about finding an effective release for energy within social settings, but also about the self imposing its pattern on society rather than adapting to what is there. It’s about focused intention. So all of us can expect some sort of focused attention on the house where we have early Scorpio.
Of the traditional 10 planets, there are 5 planets in Fire signs, 3 in Water, 1 in Air, and 1 planet in Earth. That shows a heavy emphasis on Spirit, inspiration, feelings and direct experience while flowing through a larger feeling-field, with relatively little focus on interacting, gathering information, getting things done, being efficient and practical, and organizing things so they are in our “enlightened self-interest.”
Air and Earth are cool, Fire and Water are hot. With so many planets in Fire and Water, it will be a time when emotions run high. It could bring a sense of a direct connection to Spirit, or our own divine inspiration. We will continue to experience a vaster time frame and a sense of finality at the threshold of a new “law of life,” with feelings of being connected on deep and vast levels. This is a time to recognize what you feel, and move that deeper and vaster feeling into action in conformity to the new life order already presenting itself.
Wherever we have Pisces and Aries is going to be highly active, due to the presence of 8 planets in that 50 degree span between Neptune in early Pisces and Venus in late Aries. If you have a planet anywhere in that area of the zodiac, you’re going to go through major changes in the part of your psyche represented by the planet and the part of your external affairs symbolized by the house it’s in.
The general theme is that we are moving into a greater group awareness and function, and can now “master discouragement” while clearing out the last “psychic impurities” in our consciousness. Here we can see things differently, and begin to generate power while following through on whatever has begun. This will lead all of us to “concentrated doses of spiritual energy” that will ultimately teach us a “technique of transcendence.”
Through past understanding and practice, we have begun to demonstrate a higher level of social functioning. Ultimately, over the next few weeks we continue to let go, say goodbye, see what’s permanent, what’s temporary, and our connection with those in our Spiritual group, whether visible or invisible.
Since Saturn in Scorpio is one of the “handles” of the Bucket pattern, you may want to regard Saturn in that position as symbolizing a type of “bone regeneration,” or the elimination of all in our skin and bones that would block our ability to meet and greet others at a higher level of dignity, reserve, and “civilized” behavior. This shows us a long wave elimination and regeneration work each of us is doing in our own ways and times.
On a final note about Jones Patterns, Saturn will be the nozzle for the rest of the energies for quite a few weeks to come, since it’s a long time until the inner planets are in Leo, Virgo, or Libra. However, by May-June, the larger pattern will alternate between Bucket and Locomotive, but once Jupiter and Saturn are in trine, a lot of what we’ve been dealing with that seems unfocused and spread out will stabilize.
Important Aspects
Remember that in reading a Lunation chart (as well as a horary, inceptional, electional, or any event chart) the forming aspects show things to come, while separating aspects show things already past. This New Moon makes only two forming aspects, while the other planets (part of the Aries cluster) also make few, but EXTREMELY important.
The only forming aspects the Lunation makes are the conjunctions with Venus and Mars, with only the Lights septile to Jupiter. However, the front end of the Aries cluster, Venus, is triggering the Grand Irrationality through its septile to Neptune and biseptile to Pluto. Immediately after, Mars is biseptile Pluto and about to enter the Grand Irrationality, which has already happened as you read this article.
We have officially started a very important time of shifts in direction. Venus and Mars both septiled Jupiter just before the New Moon, and now the Lights are putting the focus of the next 4 weeks on that type of energy involving Aries, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Sagittarius, and Pisces. We’ve already seen changes in those areas of our lives in the days before now, and this Lunation puts the Light directly on those potential expansions, the techniques of transcendence, the alternative futures opening, and the realizations that have come at the end of a quest.
Now that Venus and Mars, leading the Sun, have both entered the Aries zone of the Grand Irrationality, we now enter a non-stop period where this “fork in the road of destiny” configuration the entire planet’s been dealing with for 20 years will be continually triggered for several days to come, as well as on numerous occasions over these next 4 weeks. It’s probably safe to say that EVERYONE is going through major shifts and making important choices that will affect their destinies for the rest of their lives.
Other than these aspects, the only other ones that are forming involve Jupiter biquintile Saturn and triseptile Pluto, and the ever grinding revolutionary energies of Uranus square Pluto. Mercury makes no forming aspects. That’s very unusual in itself.
Jupiter biquintile Saturn will bring “boomerangs” wherever these planets are transiting in our charts. Those things that were difficult and we took care of, will show as blessings and benefits. Those things that we avoided dealing with will come back to force us to deal with inconvenient truths and responsibilities. Expect gifts and unique interactivity if you have any planets or points near 13-18 Gemini, 25-30 Leo, 7-12 Scorpio, 19-24 Capricorn, and 1-6 Aries.
Of note is that Jupiter has now again entered the Gemini zone of the Grand Irrationality where it will stay through the end of the month. That means April as a whole will be one of the most important months in recent history, as far as both personal and global developments. Decisions have been made, are being made, and will be made that will throw us quickly into new directions, purifications, regenerations, alternative views and potentials, and many will receive important messages that will help them shift magnetism.
I just gave you the 7 current “hot zones” where the Grand Irrationality is most active in the recent article Astrology in April 2013 – Entering the Grand Irrationality and also gave you the times in April when the Moon and Mercury are activating this configuration. Since this Lunation is cranking up the energy to an unbelievable degree, if you’re directly affected by this irrational, obsessive-compulsive, hard-edged, and weird energy field, let go of believing it has to make sense, and see what choices you must make so your future trajectory is to your best benefit.
Spirit walks with this configuration, and what direction you choose will determine if the Spirit will grow stronger and closer with you, or if you will move in directions away from Spirit. Given that most of this community is intentionally trying to live in harmony with Life, Nature, and each other, chances are that whatever you – yes, YOU the reader – are confronting will show you a deeper, richer, more powerful Spiritual life. Which is a good thing.
The separating aspects show reality already experienced, or things already set into motion. Aspects of note are the Lunation conjunct Uranus and semisquare Neptune, Mercury binovile Jupiter, sesquisquare Saturn and quintile Pluto, and within the Aries stellium, Venus conjunct Sun and Mars, septile Jupiter and conjunct Uranus with the corresponding Mars septile Jupiter and conjunct Uranus.
The only other separating aspects include Saturn quincunx Uranus and sextile Pluto. Jupiter make no separating aspects. Taken together it shows we’ve come out of a revolutionary time where we had to turn the corner on an old ideal, an old confusion, and made some decisions that will lead us to light and nurture these next 4 weeks. We turned a huge corner, and now are just incorporating those changes in our lives.
The Sabian Symbols for the New Moon
A New Moon sets the seed forms for what the following 4 weeks will demonstrate. This Lunation falls at 21 Aries. While I've given you a sense of this degree up to now, this is where we go into depth.
The symbol is “A pugilist entering the ring.” According to Rudhyar’s notes from the Marc Jones class, this degree is one of “Complete immolation of self in things purely physical” and “intense self-assertiveness, physical and psychological.”
In the Astrological Mandala, he says this degree involves "the release and glorification of social aggressiveness.” He states this degree shows us “potency glorified as … strength and will-to-power,” and relates to “survival of the fittest” related to recognition or a form of wealth. He invokes the symbol of the Tao, where in rotation first one side is on top and then the other side is on top, reminding us that “Victory is always temporary in a dualistic world.”
He continues that this symbol “reveals (a person’s) deeply rooted feeling of admiration and envy for whoever can generate overwhelming power.” He says it falls in the span of Examination, and it’s the first degree of the emotional-cultural level of the scene of Potency in the Act of Differentiation. So for this month we’re being taught how to generate a new form of social or emotional power through self-assertion, and remember to be patient as the wheel turns between this direction and that. Time to “just do it” over the next 4 weeks.
According to Dr. Jones, creator of the Sabian Symbols, the degree is one of “a complete lack of personal sensitiveness,” where there are “raw elements of experience” that lead us to self-realization. He offers that we need to demonstrate “full confidence in (our) own powers,” as we find the appropriate audience for offering the world our “major fruits of achievement.”
He continues that this symbols shows us “a need to be up and about the business of life. He offers us the keyword of EXERTION. He states that when operating in a positive manner, this degree is “a mobilization of the self’s capacities in a concentrated attempt at self-establishment.”
So we enter a time of intense activity where we demonstrate our powers in raw situations. This is about a type of social or emotional potency expressed in some basic form of life activity. Concentrate your efforts and follow through on whatever you need to do, quickly, gracefully, patiently, with an eye to the spiritual reunions shown by this Lunation. The next 4 weeks are purifying, closing, proving, taking heart and finding courage, and accepting the concentrated doses of spiritual energy now blowing into the open windows of our minds.
Other Influences
Pluto, the Cosmic Purifier, will be in Capricorn for many years. It continues to teach us deep lessons about practical, organized economy of energy and efficiency in sprouting seed forms of the new "laws of our lives" we can relax into. 2012 was mainly about being organized in finding and demonstrating ways to get beyond fear and radiate harmlessness and mature fellowship with Nature, whether your own, another's, or Nature Herself.
We’ve now moved into unknown Pluto zones, and can see life as a science experiment as we master discouraging feelings in the collective field. We can now reinterpret “emotion arousing images from our past,” and get a broader perspective in what’s been awakened the past 3 years. This Aries stellium has again renewed the Uranian new beginnings that first launched in 2011.
The next 4 weeks continues to be a time to open to new ways of viewing how to claim our divine power and express it creatively and without fear as we explore the natural laws underlying manifestations, and see Nature Herself as a laboratory where we learn about how our system is constructed. We can “pierce through appearances” to see the magic at the core of things, and through a “keen vision” can find or demonstrate a “universal living touch.” This sets a threshold pattern for what will surface in August as a search for a Mystery.
As noted in previous articles in this series, due to the effect of the very strong Gemini eclipse of June 2011 being activated by Jupiter in the recent past through the early April, we have been liberated from the ghosts of the past and letting go of burdens we no longer need to bear since then. Having found what we've been looking for and opened to new ways of doing our Being, we can be more natural in our search for deeper insights into meaning and processes as we reach out to new and more complex vistas of potential interactions.
We’ll go through another layer of peeling off the ghosts of the past in May and June 2013. This is one of the final ones connected to the Gemini Solar Eclipse of 2012. Much in the Gemini area of our lives has been shut down since then, I’ve added links to those articles at the bottom of this one so you can check out how the specifics of the 2011 Gemini Solar Eclipse and understand what’s ended and continues to end and why in 2012, 2013, and 2014.
Jupiter in Gemini continues to invite us to open to new ideas, new perspectives, and new ways of seeing what’s fair and what isn’t. We have been learning how to take the patience and persistence we cultivated while Jupiter was in Taurus between June 2011 and June 2012, and since then have had opportunities to open to alternative ways of understanding new discoveries and new interactions that are now rapidly opening between January and June 2013.
Keep open to new ideas and perspectives, new ways to learn and see the higher truths all around you. Jupiter accelerating allows us to see various ways to discover and adapt to our expanding vision so we can become more versatile in becoming part of the "corrective force of Nature Herself."
In practicing our unique individuality we can become the answer to some collective need, whether large or small. The next 4 weeks show us “techniques of transcendence,” and those who have trained will see their telepathy become stronger and more accurate.
We can transcend certain physical limitations, and find “illimitable ties” that provide “the fabric for a fellowship of invisible sympathies or co-operations” that show us the way to self-fulfillment. Cultivate your “organic relationships” that are pertinent to your growth.
As Jupiter speeds up in motion, it will accelerate the remainder of our Jupiter in Gemini adventure that lasts through June. Everything happening has the stationary direct degree as the platform underneath all that we reach out toward during 2013. The degree is “An old fashioned well,” and we are told it’s a degree of “personal self-renewal and simple organic integrity.”
It’s where we take in and give out the substance of who we are, and are compensated for our efforts. It promises self-reliance and “uncompromising faithfulness,” inner assurance, poise, and holds the promise that if we can sense what is hidden that will nourish us, and then do the simple effort to bring it up to the surface of our lives, then we will find “a fundamental trust in and cooperation with life.” This will be the foundation for all that develops between now and late June.
As noted in a previous article, this Lunation is the seventh New Moon with Saturn in Scorpio. In 2012 we cultivated a new strength, came to a philosophical completion, and finished repairing or reconstructing something so that some final dues are now paid and old karmas left behind. We are growing into a new intensity, focus, emotional depth, and greater maturity relative to shared values, shared resources, deeper ability to commune with others as well as Nature and Spirit, and getting a more structured connection and a more powerful Spiritual linkage with others and ourselves.
We’ve now shifted into a pattern of thinking, then deciding and then feeling.This New Moon shows that over the next 4 weeks we lead with thinking infused by feelings, and then must make decisions on the basis of those thoughts, visions, information, and understanding. After that we need to sit with the decision or action and go as deep into our experiences of them as we can.
So find a new view, a new understanding, new information, and new interactions that can help you see clearly what must be done and how. Then do it, and feel what you must on the basis of that decision. Periods of solitude may be required after a critical decision or action. After that direct experience of feelings the results of your decision and action, a new understanding will arise, or a new way to communicate, or a new vision.
Though this may seem a peculiar time when past, present, and future all overlap and it can get disorienting (Mercury in Pisces in mutual reception to Jupiter in Gemini), the primary focus is on action. This is the time to do whatever we must do, following through on necessities while staying open to new spiritual energies.
Here we enter a new “first maturity” in a new phase of life experience, and we can have “good fortune attending upon the putting forth of effort.” This is a time to protect or be protected while cultivating a sense of value or delicacy. Here we get to anchor our Soul in private functioning, and get centered in our own genius.
We can realize the unimportance of superficial distinctions between things, and find “the enduring worth of any experience for which (we) accept a complete responsibility.” We enter a time when the bottom line to all experience is “the unimpeachable integrity of the (person) whose fullness of life becomes a practical contribution to the circumstances in which (they) dwell.”
We’ve now entered a time of very intense and compressed choice and change. As with last month, eliminate all that doesn’t serve your highest social and cultural expression, and be versatile as you learn to navigate the flow of the many tides swirling around as you concentrate your efforts.
Here are the other two New Moon articles for quick reference:
New Moon in Aries Pt. 1 - What’s Happening in April-May 2013
New Moon in Aries Pt. 2 – How Will This Lunation Affect Us?
Besides the 2011 Gemini Solar Eclipse that triggered the Grand Irrationality for years after, we’ve also had a couple of other Solar Eclipses since then that continue to affect all of us. Here are the articles explaining the "Ring of Fire" 2012 Solar Eclipse in Gemini still playing out on the world stage and in our lives in major ways!
Astrology in May 2012 - On The Threshold of an Annular Solar Eclipse at 1 Gemini
The Solar Eclipse at 1 Gemini May 20-21, 2012 Pt. 1 - Who Does It Affect and for How Long?
The Solar Eclipse at 1 Gemini May 20-21, 2012 Pt. 2 - How Will It Manifest?
The Solar Eclipse at 1 Gemini May 20-21, 2012 Pt. 3 - Signs, Sabian Symbols, and What It All Means
Since November and December 2012 brought inner planet transits very close to the degree of the November 2011 Solar Eclipse in Sagittarius (which is still in full force), and the Gemini Eclipses have opposed that Sagittarian Solar Eclipse, here are some links for you to compare and contrast how they are similar and different:
The Solar Eclipse at 3 Sagittarius November 24-25, 2011 Pt. 1 - Who Does It Affect and for How Long?
The Solar Eclipse at 3 Sagittarius November 24-25, 2011 Pt. 2 - How Will It Manifest?
© Copyright 2013 Robert Wilkinson
"Decisions have been made, are being made, and will be made that will throw us quickly into new directions, purifications, regenerations, alternative views and potentials, and many will receive important messages that will help them shift magnetism."
Very inspiring, thank you Robert.
Posted by: K | April 10, 2013 at 06:30 PM
Saturn is moving back towards and almost conjunct my 8Scorpio45 Neptune in 1st house and I am very grateful for how it is finally revealing me to others, many I give service to have seen and respected me for many year, not sadly the state for those in my personal life, however some in my personal relationships are now suddenly actually seeing me as I am for the first time ever, which of course indicates I am over my fear of being seen, as I am, because I was trained to believe that I was not acceptable or good to be me and have my self respect in place as I am finally seeing this reflecting back. I am feeling even more humble than usual just now.
Posted by: debbie | April 10, 2013 at 11:41 PM
PS, it has been strange and a happy part of me has wanted to laugh out loud, as those who have been determined to see me in a not good way suddenly change expression as does their energy, its like I actually see the lightbulb going on or the blindfold being removed, quite moving :)
Posted by: debbie | April 10, 2013 at 11:45 PM
PPS sorry Im just quite enthusiastic at the moment in case you hadnt guessed that hahaha! any way, this lunation is also trining my natal Uranus in leo in my 10th, so yep I am seeing the sudden revelations in their expressions :)
Posted by: debbie | April 10, 2013 at 11:50 PM
Dearest Robert--you are always coherent, but I see the brilliant and insightful Yuri Spirit on your shoulder in this one ... as we honor grandmother earth, our teachers and our elders, I call out to all of our great good animal helper friend/lovers with enormous thanks for how they hold the balance and teach us Love. Enormous Thanks, Gratitude and Love to Doggie, Puss, Cali, Tpsil aka Skiinkis La Roux, Mr Woog, Fast Paws, Checker Lunch, Wolfer, Dingwilda, Nickie, Taffy, Rosie Posie Macaroni Snow White Toesies Bella Panda Bear, Tobby Tubbers Bad Bitey Dog, Hermes Trismegistis and more ... teachers become Spirit Guides ... and to Boo Boo Buddha Blue, Trooper F. E, Heidi Frogdog and Odie Frogdog, still embodied and focal points for the ever-present, ever-informing, infinite matrix of Love. Blessings to you and Yuri.
Posted by: Virginia | April 11, 2013 at 06:40 AM