by Robert Wilkinson
New experiences of course, since it's the beginning of Spring in the Northern Hemisphere, and the days will be longer than the nights for 6 months to come. The Sun is now entering Aries, promising renewal of energy and activity, even as we find opportunity and protection in bringing other things to their natural end.
Here we celebrate that it’s also the Autumnal Equinox down under!! The Northern Hemisphere Vernal Equinox and Southern Hemisphere Autumnal Equinox occur March 19, 2016, at 9:31 pm PDT, March 20, 2015 at 4:31 GMT. It is said that a chart done for this point in time offers a snapshot of the cosmic and literal weather for the next 3 months.
There is an old tradition that offers us two times when "the year begins," one at the Vernal Equinox, the other at the Autumnal. Perhaps that tradition came from explorers who saw the seasons flip between the Northern and Southern, going from the beginning of warm to the beginning of cold as they moved up and down the latitudes.
So today is the last day of Winter in the Northern Hemisphere, the last day of Summer in the Southern. If you’re wondering how I reconcile the seemingly opposing energies between the hemispheres, when you’re done here please take a look at The Mirroring of the Northern and Southern Hemisphere Year Cycles in Astrology. It may help readers “down under” see how the important points of seasonal change, though opposite in physical manifestation, actually have similar challenges at each point of shift.
This is an excellent time for looking at what has ended, what is emerging, and step out of the ocean on to dry land. Just keep following through on the future you have dreamed of while the Sun has been in Pisces, since every day is good for making a better future real. We up North have done our Winter preparation, and are beginning to plant the seeds that will grow over the next 180 days. In the Southern latitudes, they’re beginning to reap the harvest of what they've done and not done.
Whether North or South, keep following through on the new roles, new initiatives, new feelings, new flow, and new ways of relating to others on more refined levels you’ve already begun to experience in the recent past, since the season to come is the time to transfigure our future into more perfect forms. Regardless of where we live, what follows explores elements we all can expect to experience over the next 13 weeks.
The nights will now begin to be longer than the days for 6 months to come in the Southern Hemisphere, with lengthening days in the Northern. The Sun is now in Aries, promising new ways of acting on our own initiative, as well as new ways of relating to others. Both Aries and Libra represent new ways of acting on ideals, new ways of overcoming inertia to find new rhythms of action and new perspectives.
The charts for the Solstices and Equinoxes provide guideposts for what we can expect the following 90 days in the way of weather, both actual and symbolic. The Vernal Equinox chart shows a majority of planets in the first and second decans of their signs, with 3 in the first, 5 in the second, and 2 in the third decan of their signs.
This indicates a three month period of activity involving a preponderance of emotional, social, and cultural focus, with a lot of actional, physical, and material focus, and relatively little individual-mental focus. However, keep in mind that though the third decan is underrepresented, it will still be strong since the Moon is in the last decan of Leo and Mercury in the last decan of Pisces leads the Sun.
Uranus and Pluto Are No Longer Frictional To The Sun
After many years of being an important factor in the Solstice and Equinox charts, both Uranus and Pluto have receded in importance since they no longer make dynamic aspects to the Sun in these charts. When Pluto transited very early Capricorn 2008-2011, it was squared by the Sun at the Spring and Autumn Equinoctial points, opposed by the Sun at the Summer Solstice point, and conjunct the Sun at the Galactic Center, which I wrote extensively about at the time. These were very dynamic aspects that released a lot of energy, either blocking or propelling events.
Pluto is the ultimate transformer. It figured prominently in Equinox and Solstice charts in 2007, 2008, and 2009 due to it going back and forth over 29-30 Sag and 1-3 Capricorn when Pluto was conjunct the Galactic Center. You can find more by going to the articles in the archives written at that time concerning Pluto conjunct the Galactic Center, including those that explored past Galactic Center conjunctions.
2011 continued the pattern, though that Vernal Equinox chart saw the widest orb between the Sun, Uranus, and Pluto except for the 2011 Winter Solstice chart impacting December 2011 through March 2012. The 2012 Vernal Equinox chart began many years of Equinox and Solstice charts where Uranus was in close square to Pluto (except for the 2012 Winter Solstice), even if they were not directly afflicting the Sun in those seasonal charts.
We’re now done with the era when the Sun was in conjunction, square, or opposition to Pluto during these changes of season. In June 2010 Uranus entered Aries and became a major player in these seasonal charts, beginning with the 2010 Summer Solstice. Even though it went back to late Pisces for the 2010 Autumnal Equinox and Winter Solstice, it was still close enough to be a factor in those charts.
It was back in Aries for the Vernal Equinox of 2011, and very important through the 2012 Winter Solstice, since it was conjunct, square, or opposed to the Sun to a greater or lesser degree. I mark the beginning of this period of intense transformation at the 2010 Summer Solstice, since Uranus square Pluto was really strong then and making close squares and opposition to the Sun at that time. I believe that the events that followed in July, August, and September 2010 cut loose the seeds of transformation and revolution, and are directly related to the constant tensions set into motion during 2011 and 2012.
Last year’s Equinox chart was the first in a long time not to have a Cardinal T-square involving Uranus square Pluto. That square is active in this chart, but at least there’s nothing making a T!
As I’ve told you before, squares tend to put the brakes on some things, while indicating a "turning of a corner" in other things. Squares to Pluto often show things going out of control or something extreme happening that results in either a favorable purification or a grinding toxicity. Given that Pluto is one of the anchors of The Grand Irrationality, when squared it releases a lot of energy precipitating situations that move people to make choices that propel them into their destiny.
Jones Pattern
This chart has again shifted the Jones patterns from the usual “Bucket” to a “Splay” pattern. This is a variance on our usual planetary emphasis.
At this time, all the other planets but one are lined up between Mars and Saturn in Sagittarius and Uranus in Aries. When the Moon is between Scorpio and Cancer, the sole planet outside the occupied span is Jupiter in Virgo, which makes it the “handle,” or focus for whatever lack or need is indicated by the Bucket.
In this chart the Moon in Leo is outside the occupied span, but makes no supporting oppositions that would create a “See Saw” pattern. Even though the Moon in Leo is separating trine to both Saturn and Uranus, it still creates a Fire tripod effect, which makes this a “Splay.” I’ll explain in the coming Lunar Eclipse article.
What Rules the Sun, and What Are the Main Aspects in Play?
On this Equinox, worldly ruler of the Sun in Aries is Mars, which is very powerful in Sagittarius, while its spiritual ruler, Pluto, is in Capricorn, the sign of Mars’ exaltation. That should make for a very energetic and practical Spring. The Sun is trine Mars, providing “lift and light” to any planets we may have in early Aries, Gemini, Leo, Libra, Sagittarius, and Aquarius. This includes those born in late Jan, late Mar, late May, late Jul, late Sept, and late Nov.
Pluto plays a major role in the season to come! It is one of three legs of a Great Quintile, the Five pointed Star pattern showing gifts and high specialization for those fortunate enough to have a planet or angle within its influence. The other two planets in this configuration are the Moon biquintile Sun and Pluto, and the Sun quintile Pluto. Though just separating, they are brought back into quintile via the Moon by aspect and Mercury by “translation of light.”
The five major zones include 17-21 Capricorn, 29 Pisces-3 Aries, 11-15 Gemini, 23-27 Leo, and 5-9 Scorpio. Those with planets or angles in the same degree spans opposite these signs (Cancer, late Virgo-early Libra, Sagittarius, Aquarius, and Taurus) will also be affected.
We have many powerful aspects in this Equinox chart. We find Mercury quintile Pluto, and Venus opposed Jupiter and square Saturn while conjunct Neptune. Because Jupiter and Saturn are in an exact square, with Venus triggering Neptune, this foreshadows the Mutable T-squares and Grand Mutable Crosses coming between late May and late June. That means the coming season will help us all integrate Mutable energies in our charts so we may ride out the “Great Fracturing” of June 2016!
This “Great Fracturing” is worthy of note, since it involves Virgo opposition Pisces energy, creating an axis of “tension of opposites” that is at odds with Saturn in Sagittarius. This tension will prevail for many months to come. As with all squares, Saturn is bringing a braking action to the awareness of opportunity and greater sensitivity to larger things shown by the Jupiter opposition to Neptune.
However, it is also true that Jupiter’s dance with Neptune is putting the brakes on Saturn, forcing us to see how our values are supporting our ambitions within the larger collective field. It challenges us not to get discouraged by delays and forced adjustments, and ultimately will help our diligence when it’s time to move forward in August when Mars re-enters Sagittarius after its coming retrograde period.
This Mutable gear-grinding integration, fracturing, and re-integration will play out in life areas where this T-square falls in your chart. It primarily affects 9-18 degrees of Pisces, Gemini, Virgo, and Sagittarius, and those born in early Mar, early June, early Sept, and early Dec.
Of note is the Mars binovile Jupiter and novile Pluto, also engineering a “collection of light” that brings Jupiter back into trine with Pluto. However, since Mars retrogrades before it conjuncts Saturn or trines Uranus, and Saturn retrogrades before trining Uranus, we have an anticipatory energy that will be frustrated of accomplishment until Mars moves through middle Sagittarius in late Summer and activates the trine.
Of the outer planet aspects, besides Jupiter square Saturn it is also biquintile Uranus, Saturn is square Neptune due to Venus also squaring Saturn, and Uranus is novile Neptune. At this point the Grand Irrationality septile between Neptune and Pluto is getting wider and weaker, as is the separating square between Uranus and Pluto. We have finally made it to the other side of the center of the storms those two aspects have created for many years!
Minor aspects of note are Moon pentelftile (11th harmonic) Neptune, and Mercury vigintile (20th harmonic) both Venus and Neptune. Aspects in these harmonic series, as well as the 5th, 7th, 9th, 10th, and 15th harmonic series, all are different elements of the spiritual aspect series, showing pulses of specialization, realization, and choices that impact our destiny down the road. You can learn more about the quintiles and biquintiles by checking out the recent article The Specializing Aspects Pt 1 – Quintile, Tredecile, Decile, and Biquintile. (Part 2 covers the Vigintile and Quindecile aspects).
Since there are so many spiritual aspects in this Lunation, if you want to know more about the septile (7th harmonic), novile (9th harmonic), and elftile (11th harmonic) series aspects, when you’re done here you can check out The Spiritual Aspects – Novile, Septile, and Elftile Series. I also have a recorded class for those who want more on these important aspects.
The Moon, The Elements, and more
At the Equinox the Moon is at 24 Leo, and key to the Great Quintile mentioned earlier. It is in a Gibbous phase, showing this season will feature quests for us, where we will search for some way of growth and creative self-expression. The Sabian symbols shows a need to concentrate on the inner, even if it is at the expense of the outer.The next three months will bring tremendous realizations and inspiration for those who can juggle the diverse information and experiences resulting from the Mutable T-square. This is a time of rebirth and renewal, explosions of long-repressed material, and a release of all that would hinder our forward movement. Much will culminate in the coming season, and creative imagination will be a dominant energy.
This Spring chart shows 3 planets in Water signs, 5 in Fire, 2 in Earth, and none in Air. All in all, it should be a season where inspiration, warmth, and light run high, supported by a balance of practicality and feeling. Fire and Water are “hot” elements, while Earth and Air are “cool” elements. This spread shows feelings will be at the forefront, with much that will come to a threshold, slow down, and be re-structured before leaping forward this Summer.
Because of the preponderance of planets in Pisces and Aries, it’s going to be a season of transition. We will be highly receptive to ancient thought forms that are part of the collective unconscious, and many will find their courage tested as they move forward into new “sanctuaries” where the Soul may come forth. This is a time when many will graduate into new realms of collective awareness and effectiveness.
These energies will be in play through the Northern Hemisphere Summer Solstice on June 20, 3:34 pm PDT, 6:34 pm EDT and 11:34 pm BST. That Solstice chart will follow just 11 hours after the Full Moon at 30 Gemini-Sagittarius featuring the Mutable Grand Cross mentioned earlier. The next 90 days will help us develop skills we’ll need to navigate that “Great Fracturing.”
The next 13 weeks will show us how to begin specialized new initiatives and projects, and be more optimistic as we see what’s leaving and what is to come. Join with others to benefit the whole, releasing old frustrations and feelings of separation from others and the inner Self. Here we walk on, finding compassion for all that has been, all that hasn’t been, and all that will not be.
As with last year’s Equinox chart, with such a strong Leo energy in play, this season allows us to express our hearts authentically, naturally, and spontaneously. Love and admiration will be in the air, as well as subtle and deep healing.
We now enter a season of stabilizing heart fire and practical compassion. While we continue to see how we’ve grown toward venerable standards these past 7 years, we can also enter into unknown Soul realms where we can find collective wisdom as we walk on. Concentrate, focus on the inner Soul power that will be available due to prior training, and let aside appearances to release heart power.
So we now enter a time of turning toward new directions, and will find stability as we learn how to let go. Everything is opening, intuitive flashes are powerful, and healing is in the air. By the time of the Summer Solstice, we’ll be moving into a whole new way of life and a whole new way of securing our needs. So say goodbye, since it’s time to flame on!
Aum and blessings as we stand on the threshold of a new season of life!
© Copyright 2016 Robert Wilkinson
Thank you Robert. I feel heartened by what you've written.
Posted by: Ann | March 19, 2016 at 09:43 PM
Robert, I had quite an eventful time beginning late 2009, and then June 2010 when there was that big Uranus-Jupiter conjunction at 0 degrees Aries. Also, September 2010.
Would it be possible for events from back then to resurface to some extent in the coming months?
Posted by: steve | March 20, 2016 at 12:44 AM
Beautiful. Thank you.
Posted by: Luci | March 20, 2016 at 12:50 AM
Thank you for the beautiful article, Robert. As an Aries Sun (plus Mercury, Mood, and Venus :) ) I feel great excitement with the beginning of spring. And I love new beginnings, paraticualarly in a spiritual atmosphere. I am on such a life turn myself, I admit.
Posted by: Kate Minogianni | March 20, 2016 at 05:13 AM
As always, very useful information and spot on insights. Great chart to travel the coming cycle. Thanks Robert.
Blessings be to all.
Posted by: Nic | March 20, 2016 at 12:16 PM
Thank you Robert for sharing your deep wisdom. This article made me chuckle in a few places as it resonates profoundly with my journey at this moment.
Posted by: Dafna | March 20, 2016 at 11:25 PM
Dear Robert, I am fascinated by the 60 year chinese luni-solar agricultural calendar - and wondering in the year of the fire monkey portends heat.....the equinox was so early this year....do you have any insight? Thank you
Posted by: Patricia | March 27, 2016 at 04:36 PM