by Robert Wilkinson
This article covers significant aspects, degree symbols, and other important factors in the recent Taurus New Moon chart. This one is stabilizing, adaptive, innovative, healing, and will lead to a more peaceful way of offering our wisdom to our world, and valuable insights into the Mystery of our existence.
This Lunation, along with the inner planets, have been in the span that begins with Saturn in Sagittarius, runs through Uranus in Aries, and ends at Jupiter in Leo. The empty span between Leo and Sagittarius creates what is called a “Locomotive” Jones pattern.
We’re now done with the long run of some combination of “Locomotive” and “Bucket” Jones patterns. Now that the inner planets are moving to fill the gap between Uranus in Aries and Jupiter in Leo, we are leaving the previous combination of patterns, and will confront several dramatic changes in future months as the planets move between Locomotive,” “Splay” and “Splash” chart patterns
In this New Moon, the span occupied by the inner planets (in this chart Sun and Moon in Taurus through Venus in Cancer) is 44+ degrees, and includes late Taurus through mid-Cancer, making it a very tightly occupied cluster. If we look at the span between Neptune and Venus, we find 7 planets occupying 121+ degrees, which is not as tightly compressed a cluster as we’ve had for many months.
This month we have 10 planets occupying 8 signs, which are not fairly spread out around the zodiacal wheel. As mentioned, we’re now back in a “Locomotive” pattern, defined by planets between Saturn in Sagittarius and Jupiter in Leo, with a void in the empty third between Leo and Sagittarius.
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.”
Saturn is the leading planet in the Locomotive. Take the humor, vision, and heart strengths you cultivated when Jupiter was the leading planet, and find more mature and structured ways of expressing these virtues. We can use the Jupiterian joy and enthusiasm we’ve experienced and now express that in forms of Sagittarian wisdom and understanding. Because the leading and closing edge of the Locomotive are both in Fire signs, keep opening your hearts to the joyous song of life! Be light, see light, live light, express light!
As the Locomotive keeps things out of balance, Saturn is now 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. The more we work with the imbalances that can lead us to visions of truth, “response-ability,” and “structured adventure,” the easier it will be to use Saturn’s energies skillfully.
As we open the span of experience with Saturn in Sagittarius, and close the span with Jupiter in Leo, it represents a structured openness to higher truths and mature humor that closes with the power of focused dramatic expression that can rouse others to a greater feeling-state. With Sagittarius opening the span, and Jupiter closing the span, we can lead with a sense of humor and end with honesty of genuine natural expression. Just keep in mind the wise words of the great wit Wavy Gravy that if you don’t have a sense of humor, it’s not funny!
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 27 Taurus. While I've given you a sense of this degree up to now, this is where we go into depth.
The symbol for the 27th degree of Taurus is "A squaw selling beads." Rudhyar says this is a degree of "Dignified offering of fruits of wisdom" to those who are younger or immature, and "Patient understanding of destiny" though he also attributes "meddlesomeness" to this degree.
He goes on to say this is a degree of "peaceful adaptation to collective needs" where we offer "products of our culture" to others. This can help us understand what has been sustaining us and brought us "personal peace and inner contentment."
Here we "peacefully reintegrate" our mind into the group/culture, and adjust to the needs of the whole of which we are a part. He says this degree falls in the Span of Enjoyment, Act of Differentiation, and Scene of Confirmation on the Individual-Mental level.
Dr. Jones, creator of the Sabian Symbols, says this is a degree of "the soul's fundamental disinterest in everyday superficialities" due to it being anchored "in an inner reality." Here we can find "a great satiety of experience," letting go of petty and inconsequential attitudes.
He goes on to say that "individual existence is justified in a fidelity to the recognized tokens of the cultural heritage." He offers the keyword DETACHMENT, and states that when operating positively, the degree is "creative aplomb or the ability of humankind to dramatize itself effectively in even the least of situations."
So this is a degree of individual-mental activity in a stabilizing focus of confirming something related to our Soul and how our cultural whole has been sustaining us. Here we can find healing and peace through seeing the power of letting go of superficial relationships and thinking, detaching to find a more effective self-demonstration.
Of some relevance is that this New Moon falls on the exact degree of the Sun at the 2011 Wesak Festival Full Moon. That “Buddha Birthday” poured a new “Buddha Wisdom” into the world that profoundly influenced the rest of 2011 until the Taurus-Scorpio Full Moon of 2012. This may bring some echoes, or a look back in some way, thanks to the Mercury retrograde influence.
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 I outlined in part 1, and elaborated on in the Mercury retrograde article, this time has some heavy aspect patterns. Major inner planet aspects include Moon semisquare Venus, conjunct Mars and opposed Saturn (out of sign), novile Uranus and binovile Neptune. We also have Mercury going stationary retrograde making a Mutable T-square opposed Saturn square Neptune and also septile Uranus, Venus semisquare the Sun and forming a Cardinal T-square with Uranus and Pluto, and the Sun out of sign conjunct Mars and opposed Saturn, novile Uranus and binovile Neptune.
So we have a Mutable T-square affecting the span from 4-11 Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces, and a Cardinal T-square affecting the span from 11-20 Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn! These will challenge, release, and/or integrate powerful changes where they fall in our charts. Add the Lunation being out of sign, and the late degrees of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius get pulled into the Mutable T.
Of note is the Moon and Sun novile Uranus and binovile Neptune with Uranus novile Neptune. This creates a highly spiritualizing atmosphere wherever these fall in our charts, and tremendous realizations can be found, whether after a period of gestation up to now, or a period of gestation over the next few weeks. these sorts of "spiritual gestations" can lead us to healing our personalities and their relationship to our Soul.
This primarily impacts 7-11 Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces, 17-21 Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius, 27-30 Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn, and 1 Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius. Any planet or point you have in these zones will come to a greater realization after a time of waiting.
Besides the stressors of the T-squares, there’s also Mars square Neptune, Jupiter quincunx Pluto, and Saturn semisquare Pluto. The one great thing is that Uranus is very harmonious, strong, and a spiritualizing influence due to its noviles and trine.
The novile is the most stable long wave influence, which I discuss more about in my class “2015 Year Ahead.” Noviles are highly spiritualizing aspects, and this one indicates the emergence of a new vast spiritual awakening across the planets.
Element Balance
Of the traditional 10 planets, there are 3 planets in Fire signs, 2 in Water, 3 in Earth, and 2 in Air. This indicates an emphasis on inspiration and practicality, with feelings and relatedness there but in a lesser role.
With the Lunation in Earth but Fire both the leading and closing edge of the Locomotive, it’s time to flame on in grounded ways that are sustainable! The Lunation is stable and practical, and its ruler Venus is in Water, showing if we can find the right way of “tending things,” allowing things to develop organically and naturally, everything should proceed despite the disruptions indicated by the T-square.
Air and Earth are “cool” elements, while Fire and Water are “hot” elements. With this distribution, the balance is close enough between hot and cold that things shouldn’t get too elementally extreme. That said, enjoy the Air influence that will last a few more weeks, since by mid-Summer Water and Fire will again preponderate, bringing much more volatility!
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!)
From April 2014 through January 2015, we reviewed lessons of seeing Nature Herself as a laboratory where we learn about how our system is constructed. We could “pierce through appearances” to see the magic at the core of things, and through a “keen vision” could find or demonstrate a “universal living touch.”
2014 mainly involved self-transcendence. We’ve now moved from showing care for our new dreams and recognizing life’s kindness in providing us with safe opportunities for growth into a new era of “group performance.” In this chart, Pluto is on the degree where it went stationary retrograde, and shows we need exercise and “a robust enthusiasm in approaching life’s contests.”
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 went stationary direct last November 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.”
Last Northern Hemisphere Summer/Southern Hemisphere Winter 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 shows us how we’ve attained a mastery of some aspect of our dedication, and are now released from old duties and responsibilities we’ve outgrown. Many will know they’ve transcended their old problems, and have gained more spiritual responsibility. Of importance is that this is the degree where Neptune will go stationary retrograde in June, so this theme will be directly important through early August, as well as into 2016.
Uranus
In 2013, our ability to embrace imagination, original thinking, and a self-generated individuality led us to an awakening of a new identity. We also may have had to confront any impatience we may have had at the pace of transformation. In 2013 and 2014, we learned to concentrate 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.
The Summer of 2014 began a period of withdrawing from unprofitable or frustrating interactions so we could understand the dance of relationship from a more timeless angle. We’ve been in full individualization mode since January, so continue to let go of impatience, abrasiveness, combativeness, and any fear connected to showing the world our new identity.
This month we get to learn how to find a “strife transcending and unattached outlook on life,” and rise above the outer ugliness to find a transcendent view. Be creative in interpreting the significance of things, and get beyond the brutality of modern existence.
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 fifth New Moon of the Saturn in Sagittarius era, which should continue to bring an entirely new energy to our Saturn experiences than what we dealt with between late 2012 and the end of 2014!
Of continuing importance was the August 2014 conjunction of Mars and Saturn. That began a two year period of serendipitous events related to where that conjunction fell in our charts.
Many have reaped gifts and blessings from their ability to use emotional intelligence to navigate through the fogs and mists of the collective field. We are seeing either what has been done well that transfigured us, or going through finishing something in grand style which will transfigure us in the future.
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 October 2013. 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 many 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.
Saturn – Past and Present Forks in the Road of Destiny
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 New Moon at 1 Aquarius in late January was important because of Jupiter biseptile Saturn, another non-rational aspect that put our vision at a fork in the road relative to our duties or limitations. This will happen again between the end of May and mid-June. Big changes have been and continue to be in the air, leading to a gigantic collision when Jupiter squares Saturn in July and early August!
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.
As I told you in part 1, there are no favorable aspects to Saturn in this chart, but there is a strange off-set T-square through the opposition of the Lunation doing a “translation of Light” and re-activating the Mars opposition Saturn. This puts Saturn “full phase” with the Moon, Sun, Mercury, and Mars, showing some realizations we’ve had will be reconsidered and some opposing trends that need reconciliation.
An Overview of Saturn’s Influence the Past 5 Years
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.
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 since the Mars-Saturn conjunction of August 2014, we’re learning new Scorpio ways of applying those truths of our direct experience
We’re now almost done with the Saturn in Scorpio era, and we’ve all experienced deeper feelings about relationships. 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 co-rules 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 Sagittarius and the fire of Jupiter as Saturn’s dispositor. This can bring stability to the light and warmth Saturn is bringing us over time.
This brings short and long term pressure to bear on bringing forth a broader view of what we honestly believe can bring us to a more loving or heart-oriented future. Saturn in Scorpio taught us what we had to eliminate some things to find the emotional stability we now have. Now we can open to a greater view of why we had to let go of whatever or whoever to see where we want to go from here.
Naturally, the usual Saturn keywords will be crucial to effective behavior - patience, discipline, organization, patience, structure, maturity, patience, understanding, wisdom, patience, authority, responsibility, and of course, patience.
So as you open to the fifth New Moon of 2015, 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 deepened our regenerative life magnetism, or a deeper communion with some inner or outer element of our Being. Now it’s time to fly free!
Thinking, then Feeling, then Deciding
We’ve been shifting between patterns for several months now. Last month’s New Moon Total Solar Eclipse actually continued the pattern from the previous month, providing us some small measure of continuity. But no longer, since the pattern changes yet again at this New Moon!
The past two months we’ve been leading with ideas, understanding, and vision, and following that mental process with decisions and actions. We then had to learn to sit with our feelings and bring them to the surface, getting clear about what we were feeling and why, before going back to the mind to find yet another vision or understanding.
This month the pattern from last month shifts, so we will be leading with deciding, then thinking, then feeling. This will help us all to get it in gear, make decisions, and act on those decisions. Once we do our decision or action, these will lead us to a new understanding or vision on the basis of the action.
Once we get the understanding, communication, or vision, then we must learn to sit with the feelings and experience them, and get clear about what we’re feeling and why. So lead with deciding and acting, then move into a vision or understanding, and then name what you’re feeling. That way nothing will get bottled up through underuse, and you can move through experiences with power and clarity.
One caveat: because Mercury is about to go retrograde, there may be a tendency to “over think” things, or want to gather more and more information, or want ways to “rehearse” what you imagine might be. Don’t let the eternally returning mind to disrupt the process! Feel your way to which ideas work and can be acted on, either as an interim step in a larger process, or as a preparatory step for the future.
We’re still finishing a period since last Summer 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 Saturn in Sagittarius leads the expression of all the other planets in the Locomotive pattern, ride the waves of intensification and see the humor or irony in situations. And as Jupiter is Saturn’s dispositor and closes what Saturn opens, use Jupiter’s creative, playful, natural forms of expression, see how to expand your love, put on the show!
The next 4 weeks will offer us a measure of peace and patience as we go deeper into the Mystery of our Self-realization. Many will experience “God Consciousness” in multiple ways on multiple levels and planes of existence. This can lead us to a more profound and timeless experience of ourselves within a vast field of consciousness. This one can bring stability and an ability to rest and relax as we explore what needs to be reformed. Keep it simple, keep it pleasant, keep it efficient, find and maintain the balance, and remember much that was fractured the first half of 2014 can now be a line of growth and development.
Mercury Retrograde!
Because Mercury is about to go stationary retrograde, it is a powerful force in this New Moon. If you haven’t already, you can find out a lot more about these very important 3 week periods by getting a copy of the new expanded 2nd edition of my pioneering book A New Look At Mercury Retrograde. The first major work on Mercury retrograde ever written, it offers in-depth information about Mercury retrograde people, Mercury retrograde in the various signs and houses, and what the entire Mercury Retrograde phenomenon is about. If you want to know what we can expect from Mercury retrograde in Gemini, as well as all the other signs and houses, it’s all in there.
The great news is that it is again available as a paperback! Yes, we managed to get it published in time for this retrograde. The paperback is available through Createspace.com, so if you want the newest edition go there and order your copy. Of course, it’s also available as an ebook through Amazon Kindle or Barnes and Noble Nook. I've included links to both sites.
As I’ve mentioned before, it is written for both astrologers and laypeople. I have just about everything you could want to know about Mercury retrograde, including how it works, what it means, celebrities who have it in their charts, historic events that happened during Mercury retrograde, and what signs are involved in future Mercury retrograde periods.
By knowing more about 2014's Mercury retrograde periods in Pisces/Aquarius, Cancer/Gemini, and Scorpio/Libra, as well as 2015’s Mercury retrograde periods in Aquarius, Gemini, and Libra, you may see patterns in what was going on in your life, what you were taking a new look at and why, and how this "looking back" influenced your choices as you moved through past events.
Here's the link to where you can order your copy of the new edition of my ebook, A New Look at Mercury Retrograde to check out possible ways this Mercury retrograde effect could play out over the next 4 months. And here’s the Createspace link to the page where you can purchase a paperback edition of A New Look at Mercury Retrograde.
© Copyright 2015 Robert Wilkinson
Thank you again for all this amazing information.
Posted by: dcu | May 19, 2015 at 08:17 PM
Be blessed. Thank you for your guidance, thank you that it is here to show us that when we live truth, we are living love, the greatest God character.
Posted by: Phiwa | June 04, 2015 at 06:08 AM