by Robert Wilkinson
This article covers significant aspects, degree symbols, and other important factors in the Sagittarius New Moon chart. This one is purifying, opening, frictional, releasing, and inspired. Prepare to meet or re-meet your comrades-in-arms over the next 4 weeks!
This Lunation, along with the inner planets, are now in the span between Jupiter in Leo and Uranus in Aries, creating what is called a “Locomotive” Jones pattern. An aside for astrologers: It could still be a “Bucket” with Jupiter as the handle, since Jupiter is about 89 degrees from its nearest neighbor, Mercury in Scorpio. This began in October, and will continue through next March. It’s because as the inner planets continue to move forward through the span from Sagittarius through Cap, Aquarius, Pisces, and Aries, Jupiter will increasingly be the solitary planet apart from the occupied cluster that will begin with Saturn in late Scorpio and early Sagittarius. So beginning with this month's New Moon in Sagittarius, we'll have a combination of both "Locomotive" and "Bucket" influences.
In this New Moon, the span occupied by the inner planets (in this chart Mercury in Scorpio through Mars in Capricorn) is 59+ degrees, and includes late Scorpio through late Capricorn, making it a very tightly occupied cluster. Within that band, we have an intense focus indicated by 5 planets in the 16 degrees between Mercury and Venus.
This month we have 10 planets occupying 6 signs, which 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. Jupiter can bring joy and enthusiasm when it's being its natural expansive self, and in Leo, it's giving us all the chance to open our hearts to the joyous song of life!
This is the power of focused dramatic expression that can rouse others to a greater feeling-state. With Jupiter leading the way, it’s important to remember the wise words of the great wit Wavy Gravy that if you don’t have a sense of humor, it’s not funny!
The more we work with the imbalances that can lead us to creative and joyous power, the easier it will be to use Jupiter's energies skillfully when it becomes the nozzle for the other planetary energies now that this New Moon sets it into play. This particular anomaly will be in force at each New Moon through next March, so get used to using Jupiter wisely!
The Bucket Pattern and how it works
Since it’ll be a factor through March, I figured I’d also give you what the "Bucket" Jones pattern is about, and how it works. The planets in this chart are clearly a Bucket Jones pattern. Since the “handle” of the Bucket involves the sign Leo, that energy helps us focus the energies of all the other planets.
A “Bucket Pattern” is a type of planetary spread with all the planets in about half the signs with one outside that span wide enough to be a handle. The energies of the occupied half are focused through the “handle,” or “nozzle,” in this case Jupiter, 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 23 Leo.
We also had this situation of having two different Jones Patterns in play at the same time a while back. Jupiter was the nozzle then as now, but was in Cancer at that time. It is now in Leo. Same handle, different expression.
So Jupiter’s been the nozzle for focusing the expression of the other planetary energies off and on for months at a time. As the Locomotive keeps things out of balance, Jupiter has been the front end to finding the way of initiating activity that must be accompanied by a compensatory “weight” to keep things moving forward rather than sideways.
Element Balance
Of the traditional 10 planets, there are 5 planets in Fire signs, 3 in Water, 2 in Earth, and none in Air. This indicates a huge emphasis on feelings and inspiration, with less practicality and almost no relatedness.
With Fire and Water dominant, restlessness will prevail, though with the powerful Fixed Water of Mercury conjunct Saturn, we'll continue to experience a bit of "fire and ice" simultaneously. Just keep in mind that Fire and Water make for a very volatile combination that creates steam power when focused or fogs and mists when uncontained. Keep the boiler hot, but don't let it explode!
Air and Earth are “cool” elements, while Fire and Water are “hot” elements. With this distribution, things are going to heat up, with inspiration being fed by feelings and feelings being fed by various types of Fire. As Water will be strong through late November, keep applying the emotional intelligence you’ve been cultivating since last Summer, and try to be as social as you can be, even though it’s not much in the atmosphere.
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-seventh New Moon of the Saturn in Scorpio era, and it continues to keep the focus on intense Water energy.
The August 2014 conjunction of Mars and Saturn that tredeciled Neptune began a two year period of serendipitous events related to where that conjunction fell in our charts, so many should 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 experiencing 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 walked with us during the times that configuration was in play, as it walks with us during times when other major septile series aspects between the planets occur. 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 has again conjuncted Saturn, we’re learning new Scorpio 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 Capricorn disposits Saturn in Scorpio. Mars in Libra between Dec 2013 and July 2014 helped us all learn qualities of moderation, grace, elegance, and refinement to blunt Saturn in Scorpio extremes. With Mars in Capricorn, Saturn’s energies should have naturally self-reorganized in practical ways that allow for maximum productivity.
So as you open to the twelfth New Moon of 2014, take a new look at what Saturn helped you let go of throughout 2013 and 2014, 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 earlier, this New Moon has quite a few frictional aspects that will force integration, reintegration, or dynamic release while dealing with some very annoying or agitating problems indicated by Saturn sesquisquare Uranus and semisquare Pluto with an extremely tight Uranus square Pluto. Since these are the outermost energies, it probably symbolizes major changes you’ve been confronting for a while now. It may be time to rouse yourself, plan a skillful release of energy on the social level, and put on the show!
Again, the lunation is a mixed bag of aspects, with none of the specializing aspects that have dominated many New and Full Moons up to now. I suppose that means it’s time to use those gifts and blessings with skill during this frictional and purifying New Moon!
This New Moon is conjunct Venus, square Neptune and novile Pluto, so it’s the fulfillment of an old ideal, and the end of the end of the old “Light of Transformation” that will bring forth a new intensity in relationships. There are also some 11th harmonic aspects made to Jupiter and Uranus, indicating that many will have to make leaps of faith to transform a duality into a form of mastery.
The square to Neptune challenges us to remember our humanitarianism and optimism, be clear about what roles we are and are not playing, and not be timid in moving into a wider future. A sense of humor or irony can help us master any tendencies we have to get discouraged, and with imagination, new worlds can be discovered, as well as what fits where in those new worlds.
Besides the aspects just mentioned, other prominent aspects in this Lunation feature Mercury square Jupiter, conjunct Saturn, and biseptile Neptune, making it a very important player since it creates a major square and triggers the Grand Irrationality! We see a favorable Venus conjunct the Sun and trine Uranus, anticipating the many Fire trines to come in the next few weeks.
Mars is quincunx Jupiter, forcing adjustments and corrections in both. Be more intuitive and compassionate, but also adaptable and open to multiple approaches to personality integration. Have faith, and you may experience things beyond your previous conception of things. Besides the frictional aspects made among the outermost planets, Jupiter is square Saturn through the translation of Mercury’s light.
As I told you last month, Saturn semisquare Pluto is crucial since it marks the death point to the Saturn-Pluto cycle that began with their last conjunction at 28 Libra (Nov 1982). This is it. We're now entering the end game of the old long wave cycle in play these past 32 years.
The next few weeks also prepares us for when Saturn will again semisquare Pluto between late April and mid-September 2015. Get ready for some things to become impossible frictional, where much is taken personally, and heavy handed maneuvers will be in play. (And yes, in response to popular demand, in the near future I will do an article or two about that 1982 conjunction and the various points of change in that long cycle.)
Because we’re now in the Mars conjunct Saturn in Scorpio period that began in late August, keep moving that which is stuck, or leave it be if necessary. That August conjunction fulfilled the old Mars/Saturn cycle that began in August 2012 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.
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 1 Sagittarius. While I've given you a sense of this degree up to now, this is where we go into depth.
The symbol for 1 Sagittarius is “Retired Army veterans gather to reawaken old memories.” According to Rudhyar’s notes from the Marc Jones class, this degree is one of “Cohesive power of social experience,” “comradeship, born of collective achievements, which quickens the self,” and “fervent reunion.”
In the Astrological Mandala he states this degree is one of “the will to reaffirm the value of the struggle upon which civilization and group-achievements are founded.” He goes on to tell us that this is a symbol of two important factors: the Army men, and the links they forged in their past. He then says that this is a “civilization building” type of energy, where “veterans” gather to “rekindle… the fire of well-fought battles,” specifically the Sagittarian type of fire, Fire By Friction.
He continues, “Sagittarius also implies a special kind of ‘fire.’ It is a fire that burns the ‘now’ of natural living in order to build a greater ‘tomorrow.’ It is future oriented.” He says it builds a greater, wider civilizing energy that cultivates fellowship and togetherness, and is behind “the perpetuation of the spirit of struggle for power.” This symbol is said to be in the Span of Receptiveness, Act of Group Integration, and is the initial degree of the Actional level of the Scene of Abstraction.
Dr. Jones, creator of the Sabian Symbols, says this degree is one of our “continuing appreciation of every phase of experience that ever has opened up for (us), and (our) desire to live worthily as a basis for every present or future well-being.” Here we find passive values as they become “inner strengths” through which we sustain ourselves at crucial points in life.”
He concludes that in our “periodic and symbolical return to center (we) regrasp each special potentiality of (our) being.” He offers us the keyword of REMINISCENCE. He states that when this degree works positively, it is one of “accomplishment through the cultivation and preservation of enduring ties with others."
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 in April 2014. 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!)
Since then we’ve been reviewing the lessons of 11-14 Capricorn. We learned to attune to invisible realms and get beyond fear in 2012 and 2013, during 2013 and 2014 we’ve been 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 Jan-Feb 2014 we moved into signs and signs of self-transcendence. These set the stage for another phase of self-transcendence in June and the first half of July 2014, with the completion of the process achieved by February 2016.
Neptune represents what is “in fashion” in the collective, where we get another glimpse through intuition and a greater feeling-connection of our positioning within a vaster field. Different cultures and subcultures interpret this global pulse in different ways. Neptune is now at 5 Pisces, the degree where it just went stationary direct. The Sabian Symbol for 5 Pisces shows the collective field is about “interchange of spirit and understanding on which groups are built,” “new self-development," and “discouragement mastered.”
This past Summer we were summoned to a form of rebirth through "hearing the call." Since then we've gotten a new feel for our place in the larger social or collective field, experienced new ways of feeling 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. We’ve been learning to withdraw from an old experience so we can regrasp reality in another realm, especially when the situation attempts to repudiate our 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.
Thinking, then Feeling, then Deciding
As with the New Moon Solar Eclipse in Scorpio last month, we’ve again shifted the pattern of Feeling-Thinking-Deciding with this New Moon. Lunations before that eclipse featured a pattern of feeling our way into decisions and actions, followed by the need to get new information and a new vision that could lead us into a new feeling-knowing that would yield more decisions and action. That changed at the last Scorpio Eclipse New Moon, and for the past month we’ve been leading with our thinking, and then moving through feelings to get to a decision or action.
However, in this New Moon the pattern has shifted again, where we will lead with our thinking, then follow that with deciding and acting, and then finish the process with our feelings. So lead with your vision, understanding, and what’s being communicated, and allow those ideas to lead you to decisions and actions. Then after the decision or action, sit with the feelings and experience them, bringing them to the surface of your consciousness and get clear about what you’re feeling and why.
That will lead you back to new information, new vision, new ideals, and new understanding upon which you can do your next set of decisions and actions. Then again name what you’re feeling. That way nothing will get bottled up through underuse, and you can move through experiences with power and clarity. Let your thinking follow your experience, and that will naturally show you what to do and the next set of feelings to process.
Because of the powerful cluster in late Scorpio and early Sagittarius, this Lunation will show us who we’re connected to as we embrace a larger view of what we’ve done and what is yet to do. As with last month, we’ll all be stirred deeply and inspiration will be sky high! Show your courage and resoluteness, and be patient as you demonstrate your skill, valor, and mastery. Use your fire power wisely, show what you’ve mastered, and put on the show!
A final reminder: With Saturn in Scorpio leading the Lunation, the more you understand how Life itself requires constant elimination of old forms and occasional major restructuring in any of the life areas ruled or occupied by Saturn, the easier this time will be. As I've given you in the past regarding Saturn in Scorpio, the more you grow in accepting appropriate 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.
This Lunation finishes our focus on experiencing feelings of deep connectedness with the life that’s all around us as we complete eliminating the last parts of our lives we no longer need so we can move into a new expression of our individuality and/or unique qualities. Because so much ended between January and July 2014, with major sacrifices and adjustments all Summer, we should be experiencing a sense of relief that things are moving forward away from the difficulties into Fire trines!
To sum up, this Sagittarius New Moon is both challenging and productive, inspired and action oriented. This one is great for planning and structuring things, though beware of exaggerated ideas or over-estimating something due to Mercury square Jupiter. Faith coupled with clarity will help a lot get resolved before it gets too weird, and those who can keep it simple, pleasant, stable, friendly, impersonal, and big picture will do very well.
We’re still in a season of flaming on via Jupiter in Leo while withdrawing from obnoxious and nasty people and situations, trusting our inner Truth, and seeing what’s culminated in a glorious transfiguration. As Mercury is in Scorpio biseptile Neptune in Pisces, 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 way of joining with others who share your fire and ideals, and find ways to exercise your planning skills to further group work. Since Jupiter’s the handle and nozzle, go for the creative, playful, natural forms of expression, see how to expand your love, and find the humor and/or irony in situations.
While some things may seem weird and under pressure, a lot can get done with the right plan and right execution of that plan. And of course, since God loves gratitude, practice appreciation for what is gone, what is, and what’s to come.
Previously in this series:
The New Moon in Sagittarius Pt. 1 – What’s Happening in November-December 2014
© Copyright 2014 Robert Wilkinson
A very full description of what is in the skies and the earth. Thanks Robert.
Posted by: Nic | November 24, 2014 at 10:51 AM
I think my sense of humor is extra low (compared to other people). Or it's childish humor, which only few understand; I like baby's laugh, to dance with my cat or eat flying snowflakes... (Maybe I don't want to remember all of my past?) I wish I can find right attitude to enjoy all those small things. At new moon time it is allowed to make a wish...?
Posted by: helina | November 24, 2014 at 12:28 PM
Thoroughly enjoyed this in depth analysis, Robert. I have been sailing in uncharted waters since last January, made a move and am now assessing and clarifying. Your insights are most helpful.
Namaste
Posted by: Elah | November 25, 2014 at 11:03 AM