by Robert Wilkinson
This article covers significant aspects, degree symbols, and other important factors in the Scorpio Eclipse chart which will show us new forms of finding delight as we shed old skins, find ways to reverse magnetism, and take a new look at stuck situations as we find ourselves “sliding on the ice through the death zone.”
This Lunation, along with the inner planets, begins to put the spotlight back on the "anchoring" span occupied by slow moving outer planets from Saturn in Scorpio through Pluto in Capricorn, Neptune in Pisces, to Uranus in Aries. Jupiter was the first to put the focus outside of the Scorpio to Aries span when it moved into Gemini and put some distance between it and Uranus. Of course it is now in Cancer, making that span “hemispheric” through the Cancer-Capricorn axis.
The major planet outside that span is Saturn. However, now that the inner planets are conjuncting Saturn, they’re on track to make conjunctions with Pluto, Neptune, and Uranus over the next 5 months. In other words, we’ve begun a whole new series of year cycles in terms of what the outer planets are teaching us, and how we’re affected in larger, “invisible” spiritual ways.
In this New Moon, the span occupied by the inner planets includes mid-Virgo through late Sagittarius, with a huge cluster in Scorpio. Wherever we have Scorpio through early Capricorn is going to be highly active, due to the presence of 6 planets in that 62 degree span. 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.
We’ve now left the “Bucket Pattern” we lived with for many months, and for the time being, we’re in what is terms a “Splay” Jones pattern. In other words, the planets are all over the map! We have one or more planets in 7 of the signs, all built around the now separated Grand Water trine of Jupiter in Cancer, Saturn in Scorpio, and Neptune in Pisces. That said, there are still plenty of Water trines going on!
So What is a “Splay Pattern” and how does it work?
This type of spread, with all the planets in odd angles to each other with differing distributions among the signs, creates a “Splay” Jones Pattern. As Marc Jones put it, “the arrangement is neither even nor symmetrical,” revealing “strong and sharp aggregations of the planets at irregular points.”
Dr. Jones states “This suggests highly individual or purposeful emphases in the life, where the temperament juts out into experiences according to its own very special tastes.” This pattern “makes its own anchorage in existence,” and has a quality of “rugged resistance to pigeonholing, either in the near conventional compartments of nature, or in the idea-pockets of associates.”
He goes on to state this pattern gives a “persistent emphasis on individuality,” and the “spokelike emphases of the planetary groupings” are random, but have a “tripod” footing and approach to life circumstances. He says this pattern “reveals a very intensive personality who cannot be limited to any single steady point of application.” This temperament is “particular and impersonal in its interests,” rather than “universal-impersonal” or “particular-personal.”
This implies that affairs will be diversely spread out, some will not mesh well with others, and there will be a “hub and spoke" quality to what happens these next 4 weeks. This spread shows a wide diversity of things going on that promotes individuality.
Up to now, the water trines have ensured a flowing, moving, stabilizing quality. Though the Grand Water Trine early in each sign is now past, we are still in a heavy water period, given the Mercury trine Neptune and the Eclipse trine Jupiter, which as I noted, should give us all some significant protection, abundance, truths, blessings, delightful experiences, and openings that we may safely and enthusiastically embrace.
These Water trines show that if we have learned how to navigate the feeling-flow over past months, we’ll be able to practice our nearly-learned “emotional intelligence,” or “feeling-knowing,” as we learn to trust our deepest intuitions harmonized with a vast view of our needs, whether personal or collective. Given the number of tredeciles in this chart, over the next 4 weeks (and 40 months) we’ll get more than a few unique circumstances and gifts perfect for what we need to see a vision or truth clearly, as well as how to get new energy and vitality through going deeper.
Of the traditional 10 planets, there are 6 planets in Water signs, 2 in Fire, 2 in Earth, and none in Air. This indicates a heavy emphasis on feelings, experiencing, caring, vulnerability, and self-gathering while flowing through a larger feeling field.
This indicates a balance between inspiration and efficiency, practicality, and organizing things so they are in our “enlightened self-interest.,” As this Eclipse/Lunation has no planets in air signs, it’s not particularly relationship oriented, nor very idealistic or associative. You will have to find these within over the next few weeks.
Mars in Virgo is powerful through the septile to Jupiter, triseptile to Uranus, and trine to Pluto combined with the sextiles to Saturn and the Eclipse via collection of light. With no afflictions and a host of productive aspects, just find a plan, follow the plan, make minor adjustments as needed, and strip away the veil to see more clearly the true from the false, the greater from the lesser, the core and the peripheral. We should find this Eclipse to be extremely productive in many ways, with the payoff at the end of this process complete freedom from fear in expressing our practical sense of things.
Air and Earth are cool, Fire and Water are hot. With the distribution, expect this to continue this period of heightened feelings and emotional challenges. With no Air, try not to become too much of a hermit or refusenik, and go out of your way to try to relate to people with a sense of balanced perspective, even if many interactions get delayed or simply go thud.
The very powerful Grand Water Trines of June and July helped us all to experience a vaster time frame and a sense of finality as we turned various corners in our lives, with feelings of being connected on deep and vast levels. We’ve now flowed downstream, navigating the plunges of the subsequent powerful Cardinal T-squares forcing us to find balance, perspective, a sense of proportion, and new ideals to pursue.
We’ve all had chances to become more emotionally intelligent in 2013, and have set long range future patterns to be fulfilled over time. Stay practical as you navigate new “feeling-knowing,” be humble and adaptable, and do what you must in conformity to the new life order already presenting itself. Finding a joyous “lightness of being” is something to keep in mind about what’s up these next few weeks. While I know things will be incredibly intense and heavy, find a way to build and use lines of communication wisely, and keep the mind still when it most wants to spin into worry, criticism, and nit-picking.
Saturn's Influence
I include separate sections on Saturn in two articles in this Eclipse series since Saturn continues to wax in importance in all celestial events of these times. This is the fourteenth New Moon of the Saturn in Scorpio era, and for several months it was one of the legs of the “Splay” Jones pattern during the Grand Water Trines, stabilizing the Jupiter in Cancer and Neptune in Pisces energies while in productive mutual reception sextile to Pluto.
We have ended one phase of what we’ve been learning since Saturn went retrograde at 12 Scorpio in February since Saturn has now moved beyond that degree. However, since this Solar Eclipse New Moon is at 12 Scorpio, it will shut down whatever is left of structures related to those lessons that we cannot take with us into the next phase of life. This Scorpio Solar Eclipse will continue to clean out our emotional body for months to come, so get used to occasionally intense purifications that may leave us feeling vulnerable for a time, but cleaner and clearer over time.
Over past months, due to Saturn triseptile Uranus, how our individuality did or did not cooperate with our sense of purpose and breaking free of fear was put through numerous tests within irrational conditions, and which helped us define our expression for years to come. We’ve all been shown how our tradition can transmute and accept our individuality, and how our limitations can be renovated to express our unique qualities. Some had to confront fear of loss with a willingness to be a pioneer in some realm where they could express their genius or unique qualities.
Spirit has walked with us during the times this configuration was in play, as well as any other major septile series aspects between the planets, such as are triggered dozens of times a year when The Grand Irrationality is in play. The choices we make as a result of these non-rational aspects show us our “direction of destiny,” and determines 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.
Saturn taught us a lot about how to conduct ourselves at a higher, more elegant and/or formal way of relating to others in 2013. This New Moon Eclipse in Scorpio again puts the light on those Saturn lessons, and perhaps can help us see how we can find new ways of applying those truths of our direct experience when Mars next enters Scorpio in late July 2014, with major focus on the third week of August when Mars crosses the Moon, Sun, and Saturn degrees of this Eclipse.
Generally, when Saturn was in Virgo we learned lessons of Divine Discernment, practical functioning, and attention to detail as we were educated through learning to see life as a series of experiments. In Libra, we all went through a transfiguration in our ideals and relationships, and many started living elements of their Divine Archetype. That required some ability to do forms of repair and reconstruction work in the last half of 2011 and most of 2012 to pay some karmic dues and come to a philosophical completion. Now we’re experiencing deeper relationships, within and in external affairs. We’re cleaning out, letting go, purifying, focusing, dealing with death and loss, restructuring how we share with others, and all those other Scorpio keywords that usually terrify the lower ego.
As Saturn rules Pluto in this chart in worldly affairs, it shows that when we are confronted with the need to deal with something or someone in an organized, efficient manner, reference Saturn in Scorpio and the lessons of focusing intensity. Feel what needs to be eliminated to achieve emotional stability or movement, and being efficient and truthful in getting to the core of any matter.
Naturally, the usual Saturn keywords will be crucial to effective behavior - patience, discipline, organization, patience, structure, maturity, patience, understanding, wisdom, patience, authority, responsibility, and of course, patience.
So as you open to the eleventh New Moon of 2013, take a new look at what Saturn has helped you let go of this year, as well as the long term regenerative self-discipline that’s also been there, if you saw limitations with a mature eye. This Eclipse is leading all of us to let go yet again, and go even deeper in a connection with our regenerative life magnetism, or a deeper communion with some inner or outer element of our Being.
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. As noted yesterday, this New Moon makes some absolutely delightful aspects, showing high productivity, unique gifts and circumstances, and extremely fortuitous meetings and interactions.
The prominent aspects in this Eclipse include the Eclipse New Moon trine Jupiter, conjunct Saturn, and tredecile Neptune, the Moon semisquare Venus, Mercury septile Venus and trine Neptune, Venus tredecile Mars and semisquare Saturn, Mars septile Jupiter, sextile Saturn, and triseptile Uranus, Jupiter biseptile Uranus, and Saturn biquintile Uranus and tredecile Neptune. As noted, there are extremely few frictional aspects forming, with lots of specializing element that should turn out favorably as long as you stay reasonable, follow the flow, and remember what you’ve learned about a greater emotional intelligence and stability. And show patience.....
Tredeciles represent “serendipity,” so wherever they fall in your chart, expect unique interactive conditions that should be extraordinarily favorable, given the Lunation conjunct Saturn splits the Mars trine Pluto into a double sextile. These very favorable aspect to/from planets in Scorpio will allow us to get clear about a lot, while dumping that which we no longer need.
Serendipity will be in evidence for those with a planet or angle in one or both of the following zones. For the tredeciles formed by Moon, Sun, and Saturn with Neptune: 6-9 Libra-Aries, 12-15 Taurus-Scorpio, 18-21 Gemini-Sagittarius, 24-27 Cancer-Capricorn, and 30 Leo- 3 Virgo/ 30 Aquarius- 3 Pisces.
For the tredecile formed by Venus to Mars: 17-18 Aries-Libra, 23-24 Taurus-Scorpio, 29-30 Gemini-Sagittarius, 5-6 Leo-Aquarius, and 11-12 Virgo-Pisces. Anyone with a planet or angle in one of these 20 zones will be affected through the planets involved and what house they are in, whether natal, progressed, or transit.. Expect unique or specialized situations perfect for where you’re at or what you’re dealing with.
The Eclipse conjunct Saturn shows a fusion of the energies of Life/Form with the planet indicating our higher purpose or Dharma. This will bring a harmony of understanding through Scorpio that will affect the houses and planets where we have Cancer, Leo, Capricorn, and Aquarius. Also, we can expect a new level of activity around these major themes once Mercury goes direct and again transits all the degrees made important through it’s retrograde, conjunctions, and this Lunation, as well as the future conjunctions to come.
Due to the extremely favorable Eclipse conjunct Saturn with all sextile Mars in Virgo, this Eclipse will be great for getting to the bottom of things, or the innermost truth of things. These aspects offer penetrating insights, so if applicable, be a good detective and be unafraid to ask the hard questions.
As I noted in other articles in this series, we have two major septile-series configurations in play. The most important is Mars septile Jupiter and triseptile Uranus with Jupiter biseptile Uranus. This throws us into major forks in the road and decisions affecting the houses where we have Aries, Cancer, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces.
These 7 “hot zones” are 19-23 Cancer, 11-15 Virgo, 2-6 Scorpio (Mercury stationary direct point!), 24-28 Sagittarius, 15-19 Aquarius, 7-11 Aries, and 28 Taurus-2 Gemini. If you have a planet or angle in any of these zones, your life will be changing radically in the future, especially in your social-cultural functioning.
These zones are very close to those made by Mercury septile Venus in the chart. These hot zones fall just after those made by Mars, Jupiter, and Uranus. They include 24-26 Cancer, 15-17 Virgo, 7-9 Scorpio, 28-30 Sagittarius, 20-22 Aquarius, 11-13 Aries, and 3-5 Gemini. So the first configuration will be triggered, followed immediately by the second configuration, affecting the Taurus, Gemini, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, and Sagittarius sectors.
A lot can get done through the Mars’ symbol moving us toward using imagination in precise ways to engineer new life manifestations. Be a good “imagineer,” and you can see the incarnation of something that you can take with you into the future.
As already noted, the Grand Irrationality is not triggered in this Lunation. However, it was set into motion when Mercury went stationary retrograde, and will be triggered between now and the next New Moon by the Sun, Mercury, Venus, and Mars. That makes it fairly important, if not specifically related to these Eclipse effects.
I gave you the 7 current “hot zones” where the Grand Irrationality is most active in the recent article Astrology in September 2013 - Mars Triggering the Grand Irrationality Beginning the Square to Saturn. There are other articles in the archives that explain what this irrational, obsessive-compulsive, hard-edged, and weird energy field is all about, so if you’re inclined, explore to your heart’s content. This can help you understand what’s up and how to navigate the next time this configuration is front and center beginning the second week of November.
The Sabian Symbols for the New Moon
A New Moon sets the seed forms for what the following month will demonstrate. This Lunation falls at 12 Scorpio. While I've given you a sense of this degree up to now, this is where we go into depth.
The symbol for 12 Scorpio is “An embassy ball.” According to Rudhyar’s notes from the Marc Jones class, this degree is one of “social recognition of accomplishment as the substance of a ritual of human association,” “certification of rank,” and “ambition.”
In the Astrological Mandala he states this degree is one of “Group-consciousness, as it flowers at the highest level in cultural interchanges between representatives of the elite of the ruling class.” He says this degree requires that we meet other people “at the highest possible level of cultural interplay… rather than with an everyday type of consciousness and behavior.”
Given this was the degree where Saturn went stationary retrograde, I interpret this to mean that we’ve had opportunities to become “ambassadors” or “diplomats” in our world, and that for the next month as well as 40 months this theme will be front and center.
As I told you at the time, this involves being our best in social situations, and meeting others at a higher level of cultural interaction. In short, we’ve learned how to come out of commonplace, “too familiar” and “everyday” ways of relating to others while conducting ourselves at the highest level of dignity and respect, both for self and others.
In 2013 we’ve learned not to be stiff nor casual in certain situations, and this will be put in the spotlight over the next month and 40 months. Apparently there are times when a certain type of classy “formality” is the best way to be when we’re in public situations.
Dr. Jones says this degree is about imagination as a great “effective corrective” to get ourselves on track, where we can examine our loyalties to see if they are bringing us “the self-fulfillment to which (we) aspire.” He says this deals with the “practical values of life,” and involves “the political organization of society as either a consummation or exploitation of personal potentialities.”
He offers the keyword of DISPLAY. He states that when this degree works positively, it is “an absolute stability of self as a contribution to group integrity.” This degree involves faith, magnetism, deeper connectedness, spiritual sensitivity, universality, and sustaining ideals.
So we enter a time of figuring out whether our loyalties need adjusting or not based in practical necessities while following through on practical plans that enable us to strip away whatever is veiling our understanding and/or ability to get things accomplished. And because of the Mercury in Scorpio mutual reception with Mars in Virgo already discussed in other articles, keep the mind still and do not allow it to worry about things that cannot be solved by worrying.
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 our own, another's, or Nature Herself.
We’re still reviewing Pluto’s path showing us core lessons that we first experienced between January and early July 2012. We were exposed to these themes again from late November 2012 through mid-January 2013, after which we entered an unknown zone of Plutonic experience. Since March 2013 we’ve been learning how to see life as a science experiment as we find hints of a new dedication within the collective field. From mid-July through late November we’re finishing our lessons around attuning to the realm of Devas and angels, as well as overcoming fear and receiving rewards for cultivating harmlessness.
In 2013 and 2014 we are in a time of opening 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 month we move through our final lessons in overcoming fear and learning the art of harmlessness in our interactions, even with wild things.
Through Jupiter, we can now see how we’re challenged to fulfill certain life ambitions through “putting on the show.” Some may question the nature of success, what it would look like, what it would feel like, while others will experience “the emotional reward accompanying cultural excellence.” For some, retreat into what is known and safe, while others will experience a “supreme realization of the life ambition.”
Because Mercury and the North Node lead the Lunation, it’s a “back to the future” type of growth pattern that leads the Light to come. Just remember that the influence works in an indirect, roundabout, or “looking backward” type of way, so we’ll all get insights from the past that will help us feel the focused line of greatest growth.
On a future note, once Mercury goes stationary direct at 3 Scorpio on Nov 10-11 (which of course I'll write about), it will again traverse conjunctions with the North Node, all Scorpio Eclipse degrees, as well as Saturn and the Sun down the road. That will bring this Eclipse front and center again, so expect this entire month to be one big intense Eclipse experience!
This Lunation is the fourteenth 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.
This Full Moon is intensely measured and structured, and puts reviews, rehearsals, research, and a new understanding of things front and center! As a process of moving through events, take a new look at information you’re working from, or which comes your way, and be willing not to take it at face value. Still, once you get a clear vision or understanding, then make a decision based on fundamental facts and act! Once you decide and/or act, then rather than going back into thinking, communicating, reviewing and so forth, then go to your “sacred space” and get clear about how and what you’re feeling.
Once you know what you’re feeling, it will naturally lead to a new understanding through a new way of viewing or reflecting on things, which will naturally move into a new set of decisions and actions. Then once you’ve done those activities, go deep within to feel new ways of experiencing how those decisions and actions shifts your view, understanding, or interacting.
We are now firmly launched into a great Life Mystery that beckons to each and all of us. Search for it. We are in the heart of the passage. Allow the revelation to present itself so your mind may be illuminated by the feeling-wisdom of your Soul.
We are offered new ways to make our spiritual values real in our life and our world. This one shows us ways of self-expression so that we can bring forth what we desire, or what will fill the voids we’ve created over many years of eliminating old ghosts from our past.
The more you understand how Life itself requires constant review, reassessment, and restructuring, the more you make Saturn your friend through embracing its virtues of self-discipline, patience, persistence, understanding, and long range vision, the more you will use a reflected, illuminated transcendent wisdom that will allow your maturity and authority to come forth in potent, focused ways. Keep it simple as you eliminate the next layers of what you no longer need. Unveil what needs unveiling, and get to work!
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If you want to know more about this Eclipse, please go to yesterday's article. At the bottom of that you will find links to all previous articles about this Eclipse, as well as a link to a recent Mercury retrograde article that will offer even more insights into this Eclipse.
On a final note about Eclipses past and present, we all had to let go of the ghosts of the past as we went through many months of Grand Irrationality “forks in the road of destiny” due to the June 2011 Gemini Solar Eclipse. However, though we’ve finished the effects of that very powerful Eclipse, we’ve also had several other Solar Eclipses since then that continue to affect all of us. One thing is for sure - we'll be feeling the effects of this 2013 Solar Eclipse in Scorpio far more than we felt the 2012 Solar Eclipse in Scorpio!!
Here are the articles explaining the Solar Eclipses of late 2011, 2012 and 2013 still playing out on the world stage and in our lives in major ways! They are listed from newest to oldest.
2013
The Annular Solar Eclipse at 20 Taurus May 9-10, 2013 Pt. 1 - Who Does It Affect and for How Long?
The May 2013 Solar Eclipse in Taurus Pt. 3 – How Will This Lunation Affect Us?
The May New Moon Solar Eclipse in Taurus Pt. 4 - Signs, Sabian Symbols, and What It All Means
2012
The Total Solar Eclipse at 22 Scorpio Nov 13-14, 2012 Pt. 1 - Who Does It Affect and for How Long?
The Solar Eclipse at 22 Scorpio Nov 13-14, 2012 Pt. 2 - How Will It Manifest?
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
2011
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
Dear Robert,
Thank you again for all this good information. I had a ritual with friends for the duration of the eclipse. Among other things, I got some insight into the energetics of the process. What I felt is that the planets, when they are at a certain degree of the zodiac as experienced from Earth, receive that energy and then, combined with the planet's own energy, it is resent to Earth. (As I understand, that is a fairly normal astrological explanation, what I experienced.) And during an eclipse, that energy is blocked from its normal path to the Earth, giving space/time for the release/rebirth/re-creation you write about.
This brings up a question for me, which I wonder if you have an opinion about. The positions of the zodiac are named for the constellations that were located there (in the time of the Greeks? I am not sure), but that aren't there now. What does this mean for what is generating the energy of a certain degree of the zodiac that comes from the universe to the Earth? Any ideas/insights? I'd appreciate hearing them. Thanks for everything.
Posted by: Maria | November 06, 2013 at 06:46 AM