by Robert Wilkinson
This article covers significant aspects, degree symbols, and other important factors in the Virgo New Moon chart. This one is transcendent, with a major square from Leo to Scorpio, with Jupiter in Leo ramping up the Grand Irrationality!
Last month’s New Moon in Leo brought echoes of the Great Fracturing of March through June through Venus in Cancer making another Cardinal T-square. These are now done for awhile, at least until the inner planets move through Libra and oppose Uranus and square Pluto.
This means all we learned while Mars was in Libra between December 2013 and July 2014 will be of use in helping us to grace and wisdom in September and October. But for this month’s New Moon, that big news is Venus in Leo square Mars conjunct Saturn in Scorpio!
This Fixed square is behind the intensity of the gear grinding of our current time, with simplicity, calm, and a pleasant detached friendliness the antidotes to the general hard edge. And no, I’m not saying it’s easy! Just necessary…..
This Lunation, along with the inner planets, finishes the year span when the New Moons are between Uranus in Aries and Jupiter, which is now in Leo for 12 months. After this, the inner planet transits will happen in the Virgo through Scorpio span, creating a different Jones Pattern than we’ve known in recent months. So last month was the last Lunation where we get a “Splay” Jones pattern, and (depending on where the Moon is) we’re mainly into a “Locomotive” Jones pattern until the late October New Moon.
An aside for astrologers: It could still be a “See Saw,” but there are no planets forming strong axes of opposition other than the Lunation with Neptune. We shall encounter fewer and fewer oppositions in New Moon charts through the rest of the year. A quick look at the New Moons for September through December show no significant oppositions until the Winter Solstice New Moon, which features Mars in Aquarius opposed Jupiter in Leo.
However, as the inner planets get far enough away from Jupiter, then we’ll have a “Bucket” Jones pattern, with Jupiter the handle/nozzle. That will predominate in the October New Moon at 1 Scorpio, since Mercury in mid-Libra is 57 degrees away. More on that two months from now.
In this New Moon, the span occupied by the inner planets through Jupiter is 99 degrees, and includes early Leo through mid-Scorpio, making it an extremely intense cluster. Within that band, we have an even more intense focus, with 5 planets plus TransPluto in the 39 degrees between Mercury and Jupiter.
This month we continue the spread of last month, with 10 planets occupying 6 signs, and are not fairly spread out around the zodiacal wheel. As mentioned, we’re now in “Locomotive” pattern, defined by planets between Leo and Aries, with a void in the empty third between Aries and Leo.
So What is a “Locomotive Pattern” and how does it work?
This type of spread, with all the planets occupying 2/3 of the signs with an empty third, creates an imbalance that leads to power if we can find the compensatory “weight” to make things move forward smoothly rather than rock side to side creating friction. Target what is needed, and provide compensatory energies accordingly.
As Marc Jones put it, “this type of horoscope reveals a balance of this sort in the life. A third part of things… consisting of a free span in experience, is set against a two-thirds part, embracing a related but limited span in experience…. The basis of the dynamic is found in the native’s resulting strong sense of a lack or a need, of a problem to be solved, a task to be achieved in the social and intellectual world around him.”
Dr. Jones states “The temperament reveals a self-driving individuality, an executive eccentricity that is not … unbalance but rather is power. It exhibits a dynamic and exceptionally practical capacity which is neither the broad universality of the Splash pattern, nor the special obsession with some particularly narrowed aspect of experience characteristic of the Bundle people.
He goes on to state “The Locomotive classification is … moved more by external factors in the environment than by aspects of its own character. The point of application for the powers of the self is shown … by the “leading planet,” or the one of the two in the empty trine which forms its aspect clockwise in the zodiac, irrespective of any distinction as “applying” or “separating.”
Jupiter is the leading planet in the Locomotive. Show humor, vision, and go for the loving protection of the heart when called upon to express yourself. This is the power of controlled feelings expressed artistically, whether in an art form or some other way. To paraphrase the great wit Wavy Gravy, if you don’t have a sense of humor, it’s not funny!
Up to now, the water trines of the past 14 months have ensured a flowing, moving, stabilizing quality. Though the Grand Water Trine in the early degrees of each Water sign left many months ago, replaced with off and on trines between Jupiter and Saturn in the middle degrees of Cancer and Scorpio through April, we got a renewal last month With Mars in Scorpio trine Neptune at the New Moon in Leo. This New Moon in Virgo continues our ability to apply our emotional intelligence we’ve cultivated via the Mars conjunct Saturn, which will impact the next two years as well.
Those who learned well are now able to use their “emotional intelligence,” or “feeling-knowing,” to trust their deepest intuitions harmonized with a vast view of their personal and collective needs. The numerous conjunctions, squares, and oppositions all challenged us to integrate frictional energies in dynamic ways and express the understandings and gifts we’ve learned since June 2013.
Element Balance
Of the traditional 10 planets, there are 3 planets in Water signs, 3 in Fire, 4 in Earth, and none in Air. This indicates a good balance between feelings, inspiration, and practicality. However, last month and this month for the first time since last December, we have no planets in Air signs. That’s a huge shift in the atmosphere!
With so much Fire and Water in play, this is a very volatile combination that creates steam power when focused or fogs and mists when uncontained. It should be a wild ride energetically, but we now have a strong grounding practicality via the powerful Earth tines.
Air and Earth are “cool” elements, while Fire and Water are “hot” elements. With this distribution, things are going to heat up, with inspiration and feelings at the forefront. With the Water element continuing to be strong, keep applying the emotional intelligence you’ve been cultivating since last Summer.
Saturn's Influence
I include separate sections on Saturn in two articles in this Lunation series since Saturn continues to wax in importance in all celestial events of these times. This is the twenty-fourth New Moon of the Saturn in Scorpio era, and it continues to anchor strong Water energy. With the conjunction from Mars and the extraordinarily serendipitous dual tredeciles Mars and Saturn make with Neptune, it’s time to reap gifts and blessings from how we’ve learned to use emotional intelligence to navigate through the fogs and mists of the collective field.
Some backstory: In 2012 Saturn helped us cultivate a new strength, came to a philosophical completion, and finish repairing or reconstructing something so that some final dues were paid and old karmas left behind. We grew 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 got a more structured connection and a more powerful Spiritual linkage with others and ourselves.
We ended the first phase of Saturn in Scorpio set into motion when it went retrograde at 12 Scorpio in February 2013 when Saturn moved beyond that degree last October. However, the Solar Eclipse at 12 Scorpio in early November 2013 has been shutting down parts of our life related to those lessons that we couldn’t take with us into 2014 and beyond.
Our emotional body will continue to be cleared out for months to come, so get used to experience occasional intense purifications. While it may lead to feelings of being vulnerable, it will strengthen us and we’ll become cleaner and clearer over time. Slowly but surely we are being shown our integrity once we've been cleaned and scrubbed.
In 2012-2013, Saturn triseptile Uranus showed us how our individuality did or did not cooperate with our sense of purpose. We had opportunities to break free of fear through numerous irrational situations, and this helped us define our expression for years to come. We were shown how limitations could 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 that configuration was in play, as well as any other major septile series aspects between the planets. 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. The Eclipse in Scorpio again put the light on those Saturn lessons, and now that Mars is conjunct Saturn, we’re learning new ways of applying those truths of our direct experience
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.
Mars in Scorpio disposits Saturn in Scorpio. Mars in Libra since Dec 2013 helped us all learn qualities of moderation, grace, elegance, and refinement to blunt Saturn in Scorpio extremes. With Mars in Scorpio, Saturn’s energies have intensified, concentrated, and prepared us for a new expression at this time.
So as you open to the ninth New Moon of 2014, take a new look at what Saturn helped you let go of throughout 2013, as well as the long term regenerative self-discipline that’s also been there, if you saw limitations with a mature eye. We continue to let go 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. This section covers only forming aspects.
As noted in Part 1, this New Moon quintiles Mars conjunct Saturn which releases through the square from Venus in Leo, a very specializing and favorable configuration for those who use the tools I outlined in that article. With the opposition to Neptune and trine to Pluto, we’ll be able to get clear about who we are and who we aren’t, and many will find guardian angels and other invisible helpers and inner powers assisting them when it seems all else has failed.
As also noted in Part 1, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn are all triggering elements of the Grand Irrationality in this Lunation, showing major forks in the road of destiny for nations and individuals affected by this configuration. Sensitive degree zones were given in that article.
Besides the aspects just mentioned, prominent aspects in this Lunation feature Mercury novile Jupiter, Venus quadranovile Neptune and biquintile Pluto, Mars and Saturn tredecile Neptune, Jupiter trine Uranus, and Uranus square Pluto. While each of these is important, the most powerful frictional aspects that will release a lot of energy and show the turning of corners is found in the Venus square Mars and Saturn.
The Leo to Scorpio square will affect those with planets and angles between 14-20 degrees of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius. As noted previously, keep it simple, pleasant, detached and friendly. Stay focused on the big picture, and refuse to be bothered by that which disturbs your comfort zone.
Move that which is stuck, or leave it be if necessary. This is the fulfillment of the old Mars/Saturn cycle that began 2 years ago at 25 Libra. We’ve all come to a deeper wisdom when we’ve detached from the restlessness of the mind, and some have gone through “deaths” to come to understand vaster life processes. I sure have.
In Part 1, I discussed the various signs and degrees impacted by the tredeciles at work in this chart. These indicate serendipity for those affected, so open to unique or specialized gifts and circumstances. Some things and people must be left, and others accepted, to fulfill the spiritual potential of the next 4 weeks.
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 3 Virgo. While I've given you a sense of this degree up to now, this is where we go into depth.
The symbol for 3 Virgo is “Two angels bringing protection.” According to Rudhyar’s notes from the Marc Jones class, this degree is one of “Divine guarantee to man of supply of all his needs,” “Divine help when human efforts fail,” and “Unconscious sense of strength.”
In the Astrological Mandala he states this degree is one of “Invisible help and protection in times of crisis.” He goes on to tell us that we are as surrounded by life and love as a fish by water, and that there are many “entitized forms of Spirit” that are part of the “energy-distributing forms which sustain all life processes… as well as protective agencies attached to human beings.”
He states that in this symbol we can also contact latent powers in our unconscious (or subconscious) minds, and realized we are never separate from various forms of Life. We are told we can be reassured by this symbol, and though our “personal ego-centered feelings may be quartered and destroyed,” we will find in their place a sense of companionship with other consciousnesses that can show us our inner strength.This symbol is said to be in the Span of Idealiztion, Act of Stabilization, and is the synthesizing degree of the Actional level of the Scene of Characterization.
Dr. Jones, creator of the Sabian Symbols, says this degree is one of “the absolute certainty which any individual may develop in… conscious faith, and of the power in human character which becomes the hallmark of his spiritual orientation.” We are told there are “legions of heavenly forces which … sustain the soul in its outreaching to eternal values, facilitating the simple and consistent convergence of all good things toward their own kind.”
We are told “High-mindedness here pays very pleasant dividends.” He offers us the keyword of SECURITY. He states that when this degree works positively, it is one of “a sure conviction which enables (us) to proceed to an effective fulfillment of (our) dreams.”
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 and 2013 were 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.
Pluto is now in a zone in Capricorn it hasn’t been in for 250 years, and went retrograde at 14 Capricorn. 14 Capricorn is a technique for sorting out what’s valuable and what’s not in our past, so we can find a way to a greater assurance and “personal immortality” (as strange as that concept is!)
This is a threshold where we can see how the seeds of the future have been “gestating in the past,” or conversely, how the present transformational energy was set into motion in the past. Take on a graceful self-discipline, and you will know Divine Grace in operation.
Now that we’ve learned to attune to the invisible realms and to whatever degree gotten beyond fear, 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 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.”
In February we moved into signs and signs of self-transcendence. These set the stage for current and future new perspectives that has now led us to another phase of self-transcendence in June and the first half of July 2014, with the completion of the process achieved by February 2016.
As noted in Part 1, because Venus in Leo leads the Lunation, the Leo influence will be extraordinarily strong. This shows us valuable and elegant ways to reclaim whatever spontaneity, love, creativity, or natural expression that is truly our heart’s desire.
Because TransPluto is the closest to the Lunation, this invisible “Divine Mother” influence will be very strong for the next few weeks. Though we had New Moons in Virgo in 2012 and 2013 when TransPluto was at 1 Virgo, this is the first one where it leads the New Moon. That means Divine Protection and Redemption are primary spiritual qualities over the next few weeks.
Neptune represents what is “in fashion” in the collective. Different cultures and subcultures interpret this global pulse in different ways. The Sabian Symbol for 7 Pisces indicates we must stand for what we believe in, be assertive in expressing deep truth as well as compassion, and listen to the inner voice while being true to ourselves.
Since Summer 2013, we’ve found a new dedication to “collective values” we want to uphold and defend, and many have perceived higher goals through a process of “self-testing.” We now flow deeper into that dedication. This had an important impact on the collective atmosphere in August 2014. We’ve been learning to withdraw from an old experience so you can regrasp reality in another realm, especially when the situation attempts to repudiate your higher ideals.
Be active in defending and/or maintaining your allegiances “through which life has been made worthwhile,” and by listening to your inner voice, you’ll quicken your Soul’s expression. Follow your conscience into a great compassion for yourself and others, and be independent of spirit while courageously rejecting that which would compromise your highest spiritual principles.
Feeling, then Deciding, then Thinking
As a process of moving through events, over the next 4 weeks we’re all going to be inclined to feel our way into decisions and actions. After we decide and/or act, it will be important to get new information to come to a new vision or understanding. Once we get the right view or understanding, then a new feeling-experience will naturally arise that points the way to the next action.
over the next 4 weeks we’ll still be leading with our feelings, then making decisions on the basis of those feeling experiences, followed by new information, new ideas, new interpretations, and new views. We’ll be “feeling our way” into new experiences, then deciding and acting on the basis of those feelings. After a decision or action, then we’ll have to find newer, more up to date information, facts, and understanding so we can get a new vision.
So learn and teach through anecdotes, seeing how others handled things practically, or how you handed things practically in the past. Let your thinking and communicating and envisioning follow your actions, and let your feelings follow a new understanding, a new perception, or a new view.
This Lunation will show us our inner strengths as well as “angels” who help us when our human efforts seem to fail. With Jupiter leading everything, it’s time to express your heart in big ways that free you from old stuck circumstances. Be creative, and focus your feelings in inspired ways.
A final reminder: With Saturn in Scorpio being triggered in a huge way by Mars, the more you understand how Life itself requires constant elimination of old forms and occasional major restructuring regarding duties, obligations, and ultimate loyalties, the more you make Saturn your friend through embracing its virtues of self-discipline, patience, persistence, understanding, and long range vision. Keep growing into a reflected, illuminated transcendent wisdom that allows your maturity and authority to come forth in potent, focused ways.
Stay focused on experiencing feelings of deep connectedness with the life that’s all around you as you eliminate the next layers of what you no longer need and move into a new expression of your individuality and/or unique qualities. Now that much has ended, we should be experiencing a sense of relief that things are moving forward in a slow but measured pace. And take time to enjoy yourself by seeing how everything is playing the exact part it should!
To sum up, like last month, this is a specializing and challenging New Moon! This one helps us to continue to flame on! Keep withdrawing from obnoxious and nasty people and situations, trust your inner Truth, see what’s culminated in a glorious transfiguration, and if things get weird and magical, use your emotional intelligence to keep in the center of the river as you flow toward your destiny.
Embrace a new creative vitality, and remember to find the humor in situations. Things are not as weird and under pressure as it seems, even if these are present in some way. And it will fade from view fairly quickly.
Live the freedom of Jupiter in Leo trine Uranus in Aries! This feeds the inspiration that will bust loose in late September and early October when Mars in Sagittarius lights up a Grand Fire Trine in the sky! And of course, since God loves gratitude, practice appreciation for what is gone, what is, and what’s to come.
© Copyright 2014 Robert Wilkinson
Fantastic information. SO much is clear and meaningful for me. Like "Move that which is stuck, or leave it be if necessary. This is the fulfillment of the old Mars/Saturn cycle that began 2 years ago at 25 Libra. We’ve all come to a deeper wisdom when we’ve detached from the restlessness of the mind, and some have gone through “deaths” to come to understand vaster life processes. I sure have."
Blessings be to all,
Nic
Posted by: Nic | August 27, 2014 at 12:21 PM
I found this passage very interesting. Though, Uranus and Neptune move so slowly.
"The solar energy is active in nature and produces masculine forces while lunar energy is passive and therefore reproduces feminine forces. The solar-principle is every atom works as the creative principle above matter. The lunar-principle works as the reproductive principle which reflects the drama of creation in the plane of matter. These two forces form the first polarity as space and time. In every solar system the solar-principle works through the Sun and the lunar-principle works through the Moon. This is true only in the case of beings that live up to the personality-level. At the Soul-level, Jupiter works out the Solar-principle and Venus works out the lunar-principles. In the perfect spiritual stage of the individual, Uranus works as Sun and Neptune works as Moon."
"Spiritual Astrology" by
E. Krishnamaachaarya
Posted by: Tolly | September 01, 2014 at 08:03 AM
So rich, so deep Robert. I have been away for a while, and am so grateful for your Soul's work. omg. om namah shivaya. deva
Posted by: Deva | September 01, 2014 at 01:10 PM