by Robert Wilkinson
This article covers significant aspects, degree symbols, and other important factors in the Capricorn New Moon chart. This one is concentrating, mobilizing, practical, and caps one chapter of purification while opening another!
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 97 degrees from its nearest neighbor, Saturn 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 last month's New Moon in Sagittarius began this combination of both "Locomotive" and "Bucket" influences.
In this New Moon, the span occupied by the inner planets (in this chart the Lunation in Capricorn through Mars in Aquarius) is 43+ degrees, and includes early Capricorn through mid-Aquarius, making it a very tightly occupied cluster. Within that band, we have an intense focus indicated by 5 planets in the 14 degrees between the Lunation 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 basically in a combination of a “Locomotive” pattern, defined by planets between Leo and Aries, with a void in the empty third between Aries and Leo, and a “Bucket” pattern, defined by all the planets between late Scorpio and mid-Aries, with only Jupiter in Leo well outside that span.
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 2 planets in Fire signs, 2 in Water, 5 in Earth, and 1 in Air. This indicates a huge emphasis on practicality, with not a lot of feelings and inspiration, and very little relatedness.
With so many Earth planets dominant, practicality and self-interest will prevail. At least there are 4 planets in Fire and Water, so feelings and inspiration continue to hold their own in the atmosphere. 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! Manage those elements with Earth practicality, and it should all go well, especially those who are adept at managing pressure.
Air and Earth are “cool” elements, while Fire and Water are “hot” elements. With this distribution, things are a good balance between hot and cold. Earth energy will be very strong for a few weeks, and then replaced by a preponderance of Air planets in January.
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-eighth New Moon of the Saturn in Scorpio era, though later this month it will enter Sagittarius, bringing an entirely new energy to our experiences!
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.
We’ve now had months of clearing out our emotional body through occasional intense purifications. While we may have felt very vulnerable from time to time, we’ve also been strengthened and become cleaner and cleaner over this period.
Of some crucial note is that 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 almost done with experiencing deeper relationships, within and in external affairs. We’ve cleaned out, let go, purified, focused, dealt with death and loss, restructured how we share with others, and all those other Scorpio keywords that usually terrify the lower ego.
As Saturn rules Pluto (and all the other inner planets) 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 Aquarius 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. Mars in Capricorn between late October and early December activated the Capricorn lessons we’re learning now. Now that Mars is in Aquarius, we can act within a greater group contribution, see a more ideal goal and ways to achieve it, and find shortcuts to accomplishment over the next 4 weeks.
So as you open to the thirteenth 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 relatively few aspects. In part 1 I explained that one of the dominant influences involves Mercury conjunct Pluto and square Uranus, putting that revolutionary gear grinding into play, and bringing new information and insights related to Mars triggering this square a few weeks ago in November, and the Venus trigger of this weekend. These squares occur every time a planet moves through mid-Aries, mid-Cancer, mid-Libra, and mid-Capricorn at this time in history.
The Sun’s entry into Capricorn will activate this energy for the next two weeks. And all the conjunctions to Pluto begin a new yearly cycle for each of the inner planets in their dance with that “Lord of the Underworld” energy. The next big shift will occur in early March and again in early April. Everything that comes down during these squares should be related to the Great Fracturing of January through June 2014 that affected everyone wherever these signs fall in the birth chart.
As I also noted, most of the aspects are concentrated in a very few signs. The squares from Capricorn to Aries continues to challenge us to demonstrate good Cancer and Libra energy. We’ve been learning this off and on for several years, and usually we learn balance, moderation, and a sense of proportion in the Summer, and learn care, self-gathering, protection, and forms of nurture in the Autumn.
Other than these, we have the Lunation sextile Neptune and quintile Chiron, Mercury novile Saturn, Venus biquintile Jupiter and semisquare Saturn, Mars opposed Jupiter, Saturn in an out of sign square to Neptune, and the ever present Uranus square Pluto. Since the latter three aspects are the outermost energies, it probably symbolizes major changes you’ve been confronting for a while now. It may be time to cut to the chase, accomplish what you will, see a bigger picture and get a tighter focus, and embrace your new identity revealed over the past 18 months.
Also remember that Venus waxing semisquare Saturn heralds the other inner planet semisquares to Saturn. This is a point of an inner crisis of some emergent pattern. The only difference between now and what’s to come is this semisquare falls from Capricorn to Scorpio, whereas the Mercury and Solar semisquares to Saturn will happen when Saturn is in Sagittarius, showing an new era is about to show itself!
Because we’re now at the first turning point square 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 Capricorn. While I've given you a sense of this degree up to now, this is where we go into depth.
The symbol for 1 Capricorn is “An Indian chief demanding recognition.” According to Rudhyar’s notes from the Marc Jones class, this degree is one of “Mastery of a situation through purposeful planning and venturing,” “Bold rising to opportunity,” and “extreme of self-confidence.”
In the Astrological Mandala he states this degree is one of “the power and responsibility implied in any claim for leadership.” He goes on to state this is a crystallized ideal of pure power, “the power to lead a community and to ensure its welfare,” where “the energies released through group cooperation (Libra), deepened and emotionally experienced as forces of great potency (Scorpio), and given meaning and conscious purpose (Sagittarius) are now stabilized and hierarchized.”
He then continues that this is about group capital, and states there are times in our lives where we can assume power, however that is needed, and at those times we need to ask ourselves if we are willing and able to do this “effectively and responsibly.” He states that this stage “refers to the capacity latent in every individual to claim and assume authority in a vital group-situation.” This symbol is said to be in the Span of Illusiveness, Act of Capitalization, and is the initial degree of the Actional level of the Scene of Crystallization.
Dr. Jones, creator of the Sabian Symbols, says this degree is one of our “extreme fidelity …. to the everyday or accepted values of life, and of (our) uncompromising inner integrity when it comes to meeting any situation of the moment.” Here we find “determination to maintain every advantage gained by birth or through experience, and to grasp every opportunity for genuine self-expression.”
He concludes that we are unhappy unless we can feel secure in whatever situation we’ve made for ourselves. He offers us the keyword of INFLEXIBILITY. He states that when this degree works positively, it is one of “an ever-effective authority following from a single eye of vision and a consistent dignity of character.”
Transpersonal Spiritual Influences
Pluto
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.
As Pluto moves forward, it spends time in various narrow zones that it hasn’t been in for about 250 years. In April 2014, Pluto 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!)
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. We continued to review our “science lab lessons” through November, and in this chart, find ourselves once more in the heart of these challenges of self-transcendence via the intensely purifying experiences of Pluto. This process will be intensified between August and October 2015, and be completed by February 2016.
Neptune
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 recently went stationary direct at 5 Pisces, showing that the collective field now has a platform of developing through “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." We then did a review and had opportunities to get 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 have now gone deeper into our dedication, and this month begins our final weaving of that dedication into our lives. The past few months 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.
We now know what life allegiances are worth defending and maintaining because they make our lives worthwhile, and those who have learned to listen to their inner voice have quickened their 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. The next few weeks will complete the vaster feeling-experience we all entered into May 2013 that intensified in February-March and September-October 2014.
Uranus
In 2013, our ability to embrace imagination, original thinking, and a self-generated individuality led us to an awakening of a new identity, as well as any impatience we may have had at the pace of transforming something within or something in our external existence. That led us to see how we had to learn to concentrate so we could see the whole picture of anything, which was one of the keys to our advancement in 2014.
The first half of 2014 was mainly about using concentration to understand old symbols in different ways, glimpse a new worldly order that could work for us as well as a new way of viewing our higher spiritual possibilities, move into a new way of self-expression, and understand a broader, higher, and truer way to view the dance of relationship from a more timeless perspective. It also provided opportunities to awaken to a new inspiration and potential while being forced to withdraw from unprofitable or frustrating interactions.
We reviewed these lessons between July and December 2014, and now that Uranus is direct at 13 Aries, have our new identity firmly set as a platform for future individual self-expression. This completes what was introduced in the Summer of 2014, and we now can follow through, showing what we know, while continuing to let go of impatience, abrasiveness, combativeness, and any fear connected to showing the world our new identity.
Thinking, then Feeling, then Deciding
We’ve now shifted the pattern of Feeling-Thinking-Deciding in each of the past 3 New Moons. In the month after the Scorpio Eclipse New Moon, we led with our thinking, and then moving through feelings to get to a decision or action. In last months’ Sagittarius New Moon, it shifted to leading with thinking, then deciding and acting, and finally getting to feelings. This changes the pattern yet again!
We’ve now shifted into a pattern of deciding, then thinking, and then feeling. Efficient, practical decisions and actions will lead the way, which will be followed by new information, new understanding, new vision, new communications, and new ways of interacting that helps us get clear about something. Following this thinking function, we will need to reference our feelings and what we’re experiencing as a result of those insights, memories, understanding, or vision. After we decide or act and then think, we then need to go deep within to feel the implications of those ideas and visions.
So get it in gear, act on the facts at hand, and then go get new information or new ways of seeing things. After that, feel your feelings and check in about how you’re experiencing those thoughts, or that information or vision. Make a decision, get the view you need, and then name how and what you’re feeling.
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. A lot ended for everyone between January and July 2014, with major sacrifices and adjustments all Summer. Now it’s time to find creative ways to release old pressures and find shortcuts to success in whatever we are striving to make real.
To sum up, this Capricorn New Moon is practical, efficient, mobilizing, dynamic, and show us how to get a lot done. It’s action oriented, great for planning and structuring things, though beware of exaggerated ideas or over-estimating something due to Mars opposed Jupiter. Still, it’s a major turning point in living the “new identity” we’ve had awakened these past 18 months, and now it’s time to claim the power in that new public form of effective power or authority.
We’re still finishing 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. Since Jupiter’s both the leader of the planetary parade AND the handle and nozzle for expressing the energies of the other planets, 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 Solstice New Moon in Capricorn Pt. 1 – What’s Happening in December 2014- January 2015
And because this New Moon is happening right at the Solstice, if you want to know more, please take a new look at
Happy Winter Solstice 2014 Pt. 1
Happy Winter Solstice 2014 Pt. 2
© Copyright 2014 Robert Wilkinson
Happy Solstice Robert and readers. I just wondered when you say that Spirit walks with us inside septile series which has been happening for some time now, if this has any connection to more people becoming aware of synchronicitous events in their lives. I would love to know your astrological views on this phenomena as it appears to be becoming more mainstream. Thank-you.
Posted by: Trinity | December 21, 2014 at 06:15 PM
Indeed we are at a crucial moment as individuals and as humanity. Good time to move forward and leaving the burdens of the past behind. A good stage to welcome and continue or act in 2015.
Blessings be to all
Posted by: Nic | December 22, 2014 at 01:25 PM
I am a natal bucket. Explains alot. Thanks. I can really get it in gear when necessary. And I definitely had to mature out of that negative expression and sometimes still have to monitor myself on that. My nozzle focus is mars so it's best expressed through actions not emotions and my mouth. :D
Posted by: caliban | December 27, 2014 at 08:26 AM