by Robert Wilkinson
New experiences of course, since it's the beginning of Spring in the Northern Hemisphere, and the days will be longer than the nights for 6 months to come. The Sun is now entering Aries, promising renewal of energy and activity, even as we find opportunity and protection in bringing other things to their natural end.
Of course, it’s also the Autumnal Equinox down under!! The Northern Hemisphere Vernal Equinox and Southern Hemisphere Autumnal Equinox occur March 20, 2014, at 9:57 am PDT, 12:57 pm EDT, 4:57 pm Greenwich. It is said that a chart done for this point in time offers a snapshot of the cosmic and literal weather for the next 3 months.
There is an old tradition that offers us two times when "the year begins," one at the Vernal Equinox, the other at the Autumnal. Perhaps that tradition came from explorers who saw the seasons flip between the Northern and Southern, going from the beginning of warm to the beginning of cold as they moved up and down the latitudes.
So today is the last day of Winter in the Northern Hemisphere, the last day of Summer in the Southern. If you’re wondering how I reconcile the seemingly opposing energies between the hemispheres, when you’re done here please take a look at The Mirroring of the Northern and Southern Hemisphere Year Cycles in Astrology. It may help readers “down under” see how the important points of seasonal change, though opposite in physical manifestation, actually have similar challenges at each point of shift.
This is an excellent time for looking at what has ended, what is emerging, and step out of the ocean on to dry land. Just keep following through on the future you have dreamed of while the Sun has been in Pisces, since every day is good for making a better future real. We up North have done our Winter preparation, and are beginning to plant the seeds that will grow over the next 180 days. In the Southern latitudes, they’re beginning to reap the harvest of what they've done and not done.
Whether North or South, keep following through on the new roles, new initiatives, new feelings, new flow, and new ways of relating to others on more refined levels you’ve already begun to experience in the recent past, since the season to come is the time to transfigure our future into more perfect forms. Regardless of where we live, what follows explores elements we all can expect to experience over the next 13 weeks.
The nights will now begin to be longer than the days for 6 months to come in the Southern Hemisphere, with lengthening days in the Northern. The Sun is now in Aries, promising new ways of acting on our own initiative, as well as new ways of relating to others. Both Aries and Libra represent new ways of acting on ideals, new ways of overcoming inertia to find new rhythms of action and new perspectives.
The charts for the Solstices and Equinoxes provide guideposts for what we can expect the following 90 days in the way of weather, both actual and symbolic. The Vernal Equinox chart shows a majority of planets in the second and third decans of their signs, with 2 in the first, 5 in the second, and 3 in the third decan of their signs. This indicates a three month period of activity involving a lot of emotional, social, and cultural focus, as well as some individual-mental focus, with a lesser amount of actional, physical, and material focus.
After many years of being an important factor in the Solstice and Equinox charts, both Uranus and Pluto have receded in importance since they no longer make close aspects to the Sun in these charts. This marks one of the final “seasonal” charts where Uranus is considered conjunct the Sun.
When Pluto transited very early Capricorn 2008-2011, it was squared by the Sun at the Spring and Autumn Equinoctial points, opposed by the Sun at the Summer Solstice point, and conjunct the Sun at the Galactic Center, which I wrote extensively about at the time. These were very dynamic aspects that released a lot of energy, either blocking or propelling events.
Pluto is the ultimate transformer. It figured prominently in Equinox and Solstice charts in 2007, 2008, and 2009 due to it going back and forth over 29-30 Sag and 1-3 Capricorn when Pluto was conjunct the Galactic Center. You can find more by going to the articles in the archives written at that time concerning Pluto conjunct the Galactic Center, including those that explored past Galactic Center conjunctions.
2011 continued the pattern, though that Vernal Equinox chart saw the widest orb between the Sun, Uranus, and Pluto except for the 2011 Winter Solstice chart impacting December 2011 through March 2012. The 2012 Vernal Equinox chart began many years of Equinox and Solstice charts where Uranus is in close square to Pluto (except for the 2012 Winter Solstice), even if they’re not directly afflicting the Sun in these seasonal charts. Get ready for a very wild ride!!!
Still, we’re done with the era when the Sun was in conjunction, square, or opposition to Pluto during these changes of season. In June 2010 Uranus entered Aries and became a major player in these seasonal charts, beginning with the 2010 Summer Solstice. Even though it went back to late Pisces for the 2010 Autumnal Equinox and Winter Solstice, it was still close enough to be a factor in those charts.
It was back in Aries for the Vernal Equinox of 2011, and very important through the 2012 Winter Solstice, since it was conjunct, square, or opposed to the Sun to a greater or lesser degree. I mark the beginning of this period of intense transformation at the 2010 Summer Solstice, since Uranus square Pluto was really strong then and making close squares and opposition to the Sun at that time. I believe that the events that followed in July, August, and September 2010 cut loose the seeds of transformation and revolution, and are directly related to the constant tensions set into motion during 2011 and 2012.
This Equinox chart features the very power Cardinal T-square being set by Jupiter in Cancer square Uranus and opposed Pluto. That continues this very volatile configuration influence for the next 90 days. And of course, the Great Fracturing of late April is clearly happening within the realm of this Equinox chart.
Squares tend to put the brakes on some things, while indicating a "turning of a corner" in other things. Squares to Pluto often show things going out of control or something extreme happening that results in either a favorable purification or a grinding toxicity. Given that Pluto is one of the anchors of The Grand Irrationality, when squared it releases a lot of energy precipitating situations that move people to make choices that propel them into their destiny.
This chart, like those of most celestial events at present, shows the planets lined up in a “Bucket” Jones pattern. The Bucket shows all the planets but one lined up between Mars in Libra and Uranus in Aries. Jupiter in Cancer is the planet that is outside the occupied span, making it the “handle,” or focus for whatever lack or need is indicated by this Bucket.
So What is a “Bucket Pattern” and how does it work?
As I told you in the recent Full Moon articles, 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, termed the “focal determinator.” The handle, or focal determinator, 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 individual imposing their patterns 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 11 Cancer.
What Rules the Sun, and What Are the Main Aspects in Play?
On this Equinox, worldly ruler of the Sun in Aries is Mars, which is retrograde in its “exile” sign of Libra, while its spiritual ruler, Pluto, is in Capricorn. That should make for a very energetic and practical Spring, since Mars is tredecile Venus, triseptile the Sun, biseptile Jupiter, and binovile Pluto!
This puts the two rulers of the Sun in a spiritual binovile, showing that we can use the time wisely to learn how to alternate between soft and hard power. Mars will teach us to see when to use mind, and when to use heart, when to use will, and when to use love, as Pluto shows us a new perspective that will help us let go of nonessentials.
Given the septile series aspects in play between Sun, Mars, and Jupiter, expect some huge turning points in the world destiny, as well as situations where people are more than a bit irrational, as well as dedicated to forcing an outcome. The approximate “hot zones” are 28 Pisces – 2 Aries, 19-23 Taurus, 10-14 Cancer, 2-6 Virgo, 24-28 Libra, 15-19 Sagittarius, and 7-11 Aquarius. If you have a planet or angle in any of these zones, you will definitely be confronting major choices that will forge your future!
At the Equinox the Moon is at 18 Scorpio conjunct Saturn and in a tight biquintile to Uranus and tredecile to Neptune. These are both extremely favorable aspects promising serendipity and highly unique circumstances that will benefit those with planets or angles near 6 Pisces-Virgo, 12 Aries-Libra, 18 Taurus-Scorpio, 24 Gemini-Sagittarius, and 30 Cancer-Capricorn.
The Moon on the transfiguration degree conjunct Saturn shows that those who can allow inspiring teachings to transform their everyday life will be blessed beyond what they imagine. There are some very beneficial aspects at work in this chart that will accelerate the evolutionary process, and those who find “the way within” will find they have taken a shortcut to higher awareness.
While we can all learn how to flow over the next 3 months into very sane, well-thought out ways of moving out of the old into the new, Dr. Jones tells us we will need to make sure not to get distracted nto secret agreements or opportunities that are not as they seem, and not take risks that are counterproductive to our ultimate vision. We must be clear and above board in making demands on situations so they are to our best advantage, and beware of extreme or dangerous people or circumstances that may not be as they seem.
This Spring chart shows 5 planets in Water signs, 2 in Fire, 1 in Earth, and 2 in Air. All in all, it should be a season where feelings run high and inspiration is in the air! Fire and Water are “hot” elements, while Earth and Air are “cool” elements. There won’t be a ton of practicality during this season, though with Jupiter in Cancer we’ll continue the adventure of discovery we’ve been on since June 2012.
The Moon is at 18 Scorpio in the chart, indicating a Disseminating Moon phase, making the next 90 days very (inter)active. This is a phase where we assimilate, evaluate, innovate, renovate, and synthesize what we know or have experienced and offer it to others. It’s said to be great for weaving things together in ways that “inspire others and release new ideas.”
So with Moon conjunct Saturn, this will be a “serious season,” with a focus on eliminating stagnant or destructive feelings while finding the right balance or perspective as we navigate the Cardinal T-square about to become a Grand Cross. There are unique and harmonious aspects in play as well, so take an unusual view and navigate the psychic traffic jams in collective consciousness as you feel your way to the higher dedication you began to experience in the Summer of 2013.
Because of the Cardinal T, stay balanced in the face of unfairness, and keep a sense of perspective and proportion, especially when things are out of balance or the perception is skewed. Just don’t get aggravated by too much going on, and learn how to extricate yourself from conflicts that involve overloaded people and situations.
This Spring stay alert to growth opportunities by tuning in to a greater sense of humor, a great sense of what needs nurturing, and how you’ve “done the right thing” and now can be at peace letting go of the old and accepting a transfiguration at the end of an old life chapter. Remember that with the Sun, Mars, and Jupiter all in a septile-driven configuration, there’s a lot that won’t make sense as we move into a more effective service and a more personally relevant set of cares while repairing or reconstructing what we need to using a combination of will and love, mind and heart.
With the Moon in Scorpio conjunct Saturn, this is a time to go deeper and accept a more mature discipline of your magnetism and/or desire nature. By understanding the appropriate limitations of a higher expression of who you are within the formal social context you experienced in 2013, you can focus your potency and find a transfigured sense of self.
There is a mix in the chart between harmonic specializing aspects along with aspects showing dynamic releases, so while it won’t be entirely harmonious, it will be reorienting, active, fluid, and karmically balancing. With 5 planets between mid-Aquarius and mid-Aries, we will see endings and beginnings, some of which will accelerate the process of fracturing and repair we confront over the next few months.
These energies will be in play through the Summer Solstice on June 21, 3:51 am PDT, 6:51 am EDT and 11:51 am BST. That chart will have more Earth energy than this one, marking a return to a more practical season in contrast to what we can expect this Spring.
The next 13 weeks will continue our review of how to incorporate inspiring spiritual teachings into our lives, and show us how we’ve finished a major life chapter and can now move forward into new realms of feeling and doing. There will be unique circumstances and gifts, and many will find their spiritual evolution highly accelerated! This period will be volatile, but a lot can get done and a lot more understood in terms of our emerging emotional intelligence.
The next few weeks will continue to bring us rewards to the degree we've let go of obsolete things in our life, or what we will let go of in the near future. Continue to demonstrate deep compassion and/or understanding, and blend the heart and mind before making a decision or choosing to act. At the same time, don’t allow procrastination or ambivalence to dominate decision making when it’s time to act quickly!
For many, this will be a time of abundance at a time when the end of the end has already appeared as the beginning of the beginning. While much was promised before now, this is the season to act, so when it’s time, seize the day! This will be a season of turning corners, so finish up letting go of obsolete ghosts from your past, seeing why you must make decisions to embrace a new vision or a new life understanding.
Soon we will enter a period of extreme fragmentation, followed by a period when we will receive gifts and begin a new stability as the planets transit Taurus helping us secure our new conditions. This will be accompanied by Mars going direct on a degree that promises us relief after our “whitewater rafting adventure” of April. By the time of the Summer Solstice, we’ll be moving into a whole new way of life and a whole new way of securing our needs. So say goodbye, since it’s time to flame on!
Aum and blessings as we stand on the threshold of a new season of life!
© Copyright 2014 Robert Wilkinson
Hi all - Over at FB someone asked "But how can we start anything new when Mars is retrograde?" I answered that sometimes we prepare the ground before the next phase can be done. Other times we have to do preliminary work before we can do other work. Sometimes we have to go back to the past to move forward. Sometimes we have to slow some things down before we can do any of these. And sometimes we have to undo some things that need to be undone before we "do it right."
Posted by: Robert | March 20, 2014 at 09:22 AM
It has been interesting down here as up until the equinox, as one who pays attention to nature, other creatures/insects have been behaving as if it is spring, quite mysterious. Feeling good about the harvest this year, even if its not yet looking good lol!
Happy equinox everyone, regardless of whether you are seeing the new shoots of spring, or sizing up the harvest for the picking, may your lives be blessed with bounty for all to share, regardless of whether tangible or intangible, seen or unseen.
Posted by: debbie | March 20, 2014 at 05:04 PM
I have been paying attention to what I am sensing as transit Venus is building withing a degree of squaring my natal Venus, to try and gauge what my natal Venus binovile MC is about (using the extra Venus influence), the result seems to be a strong sense of the "joy of being" as a result of now living in accordance with my personal values, I hope that makes sense?
Posted by: debbie | March 20, 2014 at 10:43 PM
I've posted that question on FB Robert and thank you for answering :)
There are so much things I want to start, brand new interests, but from late December until early summer it seems I have to have patience and wait... and have patience, as you would said it :)
Posted by: Yzse | March 21, 2014 at 03:15 AM
"At the Equinox the Moon is at 18 Scorpio conjunct Saturn and in a tight biquintile to Uranus and tredecile to Neptune. These are both extremely favorable aspects promising serendipity and highly unique circumstances that will benefit those with planets or angles near 6 Pisces-Virgo, 12 Aries-Libra, 18 Taurus-Scorpio, 24 Gemini-Sagittarius, and 30 Cancer-Capricorn"
How many degrees orb would you normally use for the above please? And would you count progressed planets as well to be affected?
Posted by: Realist Idealist | March 21, 2014 at 09:48 AM