by Robert Wilkinson
This article covers significant aspects, degree symbols, and other important factors in this Pisces New Moon Eclipse chart. This Lunation can help us drop hesitancy and embrace a new way with enthusiasm, direct action, and unique personal style.
For much of 2016 the planetary layout moved between many different Jones Patterns, depending on the position of the Moon and the inner planets relative to the outer planets. These patterns operate their own independent influence, regardless of which planet is in which sign.
Currently, the occupied span begins with Jupiter in Libra, and proceeds through planets in Sagittarius, Capricorn, Pisces, and Aries. This is an almost ideal spread, with all the planets in almost half the signs. This is the last New Moon which will show as an ideal Bowl, since by the New Moon in Aries, Mars will be at 13 Taurus, outside the 180 degrees defining an ideal Bowl. That Lunation will be a modified Bowl, and by the time of the New Moon in Taurus, Mars will be in early Gemini and be the closing end of the Air trine of a Locomotive Pattern.
The Bowl Pattern and how it works
This type of spread, with all the planets occupying approximately half of the signs with an empty half opposite the occupies half, creates a “special type of conscious selfhood,” which Dr. Jones says “marks the Bowl type of temperament. He goes on to state “Fundamentally it is an extreme self-containment,” which “holds things, and a Bowl individual is one who always has something to bear.”
He goes on to state that with the Bowl, “the whole dynamic of man, his total power of achievement, arises in his instinctive realization that he is set off against a definite part of the world, that there is a complete segment of experience from which he is excluded in some subtle fashion. The Bowl not only holds something, but also places whatever it holds into relationship with a larger consideration.”
Dr. Jones continues that “the occupied segment of the Bowl horoscope reveals the activity and organization of the self, since planets are significant according to their place by sign and house, and the unoccupied segment becomes a challenge to existence, or the need and emptiness to which the native must direct his attention. The outstanding characteristic of the Bowl temperament is its marked sense of what is self-contained in contrast with what the self cannot hold, and this take an everyday form in an advocacy of some cause, the furtherance of a mission, an introspective concern over the purpose of experience.”
He concludes his explanation of how the pattern works with “The Bowl native always has something to give to his fellows, whether literally or psychologically, whether constructively or vindictively, because his orientation to the world arises from division; that is, frustration and uncertainty. The leading planets, determined in exactly the same way as for the Locomotive pattern, give a point of application, and shows where and how the native seeks to carry out his mission or gain his everyday justification for existence.”
He brings up another important point of analysis, as he states “the leading planet is of secondary importance in the Bowl pattern, unless it is found in a strong opposition or cosmic cross. The fundamental attack on the problems of life by the Bowl individual is indicated more significantly by the tilt or house-position of the Bowl-segment.”
He concludes this section by stating “the Bowl character is definitely more self-expending, or self-seeking, and more practically interested in what things mean and what they are. It continually throws the emphasis from the signs into the houses. It a general way the Bowl tends to ‘scoop up’ things and initiate experience when the position of the leading planet ranges from the fourth cusp, up and over the ascendant, to the Midheaven cusp, and then inclines to “capture” things or consummate various phases of life when the leading planet is placed similarly from the tenth angle down over the descendant to the nadir.”
With Jupiter leading this Bowl pattern, it shows us the need to use “expansive balance,” “balanced truth and view,” and “abundant well-roundedness” to open our planetary experience. Libra is a very creative sign, and offers us forms of creative renewal for a day that’s just now dawning. Take a large and generous view of the many ways a thing can be approached or understood in its larger picture. As Jupiter is in Air, understanding and a sense of how things are related in a balanced overview will open doors to experience.
In this Eclipse New Moon, the most intense occupied span (in this chart Mercury in Pisces through Mars and Uranus at 22 Aries) is 7 planets in 50+ degrees, making that the major focus. This is a very intense cluster, guaranteed to set a lot into motion wherever it falls in our chart.
This month we have the 10 traditional planets occupying 5 signs, showing a widespread distribution with an intense cluster noted above. This month we have Libra, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Pisces, and Aries represented, with no planet in the other signs.
The Sabian Symbol for the New Moon
A New Moon sets the seed forms for what the following month will demonstrate. This Lunation falls at 9 Pisces. It is said that the first third (decan) of any sign deals with the actional, physical, material levels of life, and being the first decan of Pisces it has a sub-influence of Pisces. While I've given you a sense of this degree up to now, this is where we go into depth.
The symbol for the 9th degree of Pisces is “A jockey.” In the original notes from the Marc Jones class on the symbols, Rudhyar says this degree is one of “the capacity of man to throw himself fully into any type of activity,” “self-quickening,” and “premature expenditure of energy.”
In the Astrological Mandala, he offers that this degree is about “intense mobilization of energy and skill in the drive for success in any social performance affected by the competitive spirit.” Here we steer and spur the release of energy by practice and technical skill, in order to speedily attain whatever goals we may have.
He states “every superfluous ‘weight,’ every unnecessary consideration is to be dismissed in the one-pointed attempt to reach one’s social goal. Self-quickening may be the keyword.” He says this degree falls in the Span of Innocence, Act of Capitalization, and Scene of Federation on the Emotional-Cultural level.
Dr. Jones offers that this is a degree of “the eagerness for life an individual must show in any true revelation of himself, and of the concern he must have for the struggles and competitions of everyday experience.” He goes on to say “only through thoroughly consistent performance of (our) skills and talents” that we establish ourselves in our world, and as we become excellent at what we do then we must demonstrate that to our world.
He states that there are penalties for not pushing our capacities to the limit, and offers us the keyword PRACTICE. He states that when operating in a positive manner, this degree “is a spectacular gift for rising to any occasion.”
From these symbols it seems we can see the theme of this Solar Eclipse involves forms of techniques of self-quickening, and our ability to spur ourselves toward our goals without letting obsolete things get in our way. Here we get to throw ourselves into some kind of activity in order to demonstrate and sharpen our skills and talents, and this practice will lead us to “a spectacular gift for rising to any occasion.” Whether this occurs because something has shut down, or will shut down as we do this, or both, is of course a function of individual experience.
For now, enjoy seeing how to embrace what you expect with enthusiasm, and drop unnecessary considerations. Hear the “rooster’s crow” announcing a new day, and as you show your qualifications in a new realm, you’ll begin to become your Spiritual Office within a vast field of compassionate understanding about what’s done, how to let go, how to forgive, and how to move into unfamiliar but promising realms of life.
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 mentioned in an earlier part, the Lunation makes several important aspects, featuring a quintile to Saturn, conjunction to Neptune, and septile to Pluto. The quintile is highly specializing, and shows a fluid uniqueness related to the areas these occupy and rule in our charts. This is the emergence of some aspect of our “sculptor self,” expressing our unique vision by shaping materials available to us. This will most influence those with planets or angles near 1-5 Aquarius/Leo, 7-11 Pisces/Virgo, 13-17 Aries/Libra, 19-23 Taurus/Scorpio, and 25-29 Gemini/Sagittarius.
The septile to Pluto, as noted in the previous article, triggers the Grand Irrationality, and therefore forces of larger choice and change that will determine the future destiny of all those impacted by the current 7 “hot zones” of the configuration. I’ve already given you the degrees in those zones, so if you’re one who is affected, don’t be surprised if non-rational events propel you into a radically different future in key areas of your life.
Other forming inner planet aspects include Mercury novile Venus, bielftile Saturn, conjunct Neptune, and semisquare Pluto. Venus makes no other aspects in this chart, mainly due to being very close to its retrograde station at 14 Aries.
Outer planet aspects include Mars opposed Jupiter, trine Saturn, and conjunct Uranus, Jupiter bielftile Saturn, opposed Uranus, and square Pluto, and Saturn trine Uranus via Mars’ collection of light. So this Lunation again features prominent specializing and spiritual aspects, including 2 quintiles, 2 septiles, 2 bielftiles and 1 novile.
The novile, septile and bielftile are spiritual aspects. All novile series aspects represent gestative energies that can lead to great spiritual realizations. Septile series aspects represent forks in the road of destiny, and the elftile series aspects represent issues requiring we resolve some sort of duality by making a leap of faith to attain a form of mastery over that type of duality.
The quintile (5th harmonic) and related 10th, 15th, and 20th harmonic aspects are all specialization aspects. You can find more by going to Astrology Class on the Specializing Aspects Pt. 1 – Quintile, Tredecile, Decile, and Biquintile, and Astrology Class on the Specializing Aspects Part 2 – The Quindecile and the Vigintile.
You can find out more about the spiritual aspects (septile, novile, and elftile series) by referencing this brief overview of the Spiritual aspects, complete with glyphs for all of them, or purchasing the much more extensive in-depth class on the spiritual aspects, including the septile (7th harmonic) series, novile (9th harmonic) series, and elftile (11th harmonic) series aspects. If you want the class with powerpoint graphics and accompanying recorded tracks, email me.
Element Balance
Of the traditional 10 planets, there are 4 planets in Fire signs, 4 in Water, 1 in Earth, and 1 in Air. This indicates we have a preponderance of Inspiration and Spirit (Fire) and Feeling-Experiential (Water) in play, with a lesser balance between Air (Relatedness, Ideas) and Earth (Practicality, Grounding). The larger pattern shows we are in a fluid dissolving period, with inspired feelings and “sensations of Spirit” present at all times. While the Earth element will become stronger once Mars enters Taurus on March 9, Air will be in short supply until it enters Gemini on Aril 21.
Air and Earth are “cool” elements, while Fire and Water are “hot” elements. With this distribution, things will be heated up with feelings and inspiration at the forefront. With the emphasis on Fire and Water, we have a very volatile combination that creates steam power when focused or fogs and mists when uncontained.
It should be a wild ride energetically, with the Air of Jupiter feeding the Fire trines. The Water element will continue to be strong for several weeks, so keep feeling and applying the emotional intelligence you’ve been cultivating up to now. While there isn’t much practicality right now, things should begin getting grounded in a few weeks. And with so much Pisces energy, be willing to forgive, say goodbye, and flow down the time stream into your new life.
The current sequence at present of Deciding, Feeling, and Thinking
We’ve been through several different sequences over the past few months. There are six patterns, and each has their strengths and weaknesses. We’ve now shifted pattern again. As a process of moving through events, this New Moon (like the last two) shows us that over the next 4 weeks the most effective “firing sequence” for approaching life and experience involves leading with our thinking, then deciding, then feeling.
This pattern leads with a vision, or an understanding, or a communication, and then makes decisions and actions based in those things. While it is tempting to move back into more thinking, communicating, and envisioning, it is more important to move from deciding or acting into feeling what we’re experiencing as a result of those actions and decisions, and bring those feelings to the surface of your consciousness and get clear about what you’re feeling and why.
By naming the feeling or experience, it will naturally lead us 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.
Saturn: Spiritual Master, Spiritual Friend
Given Saturn is important in resolving the “tension of opposites” formed by the oppositions between Aries and Libra, you will be assisted in navigating these strong tides of destiny by taking a look at the material I present in my new book Saturn: Spiritual Master, Spiritual Friend. Saturn helps us give form and structure to our quest for Self-realization, and in Sag, will help bring an openness to the Plutonic Capricorn energies being set into motion by this Eclipse.
This book takes an entirely new look at our inner Saturn and the power it gives us to take command of our lives and destiny. If Saturn represents all that limits us and holds us back, it’s only because we must master those lessons so we may become spiritual adults and fulfill our purpose for being alive on Earth. By knowing our Saturnian strengths, we can overcome fear and any sense of victimization or powerlessness.
It was written for both astrologers and non-astrologers, and gives the reader the power to understand why some things happened when they did. Throughout the book, it offers ways for us to “make friends” with this part of our existence and take command of our destiny. As you read each chapter, you’ll become more aware of all the factors assisting Soul growth through understanding how our Saturn lessons relate to Dharma (our Highest Spiritual Function) and various types of karma, both those we cause and those which are "Sacred Wounds" leading us to a greater compassion and understanding.
And as you've just sampled, we explore the concept of Saturn representing our Ring-Pass-Not, or that part of us which is limited while we learn certain lessons related to our understanding of who we are and why we can or cannot do certain things. As our Saturn expands its understanding and wisdom, then our Ring-Pass-Not expands so we can find purpose and meaning in each chapter of life. It is the secret to our power to guide our own evolution as we become conscious of the meaning of why we are on Earth.
The second part of the book examines how Saturn cycles mark major points of choice and change throughout life, and what we can expect when Saturn makes conjunctions, squares, and oppositions to our planets and Ascendant. There are tables assisting the reader to know when Saturn was in each sign, so even those with little or no understanding of astrology can track the timing on their major life changes. There is an entire chapter dedicated to the Saturn Return, perhaps the most important times in life when our decisions profoundly shape our future.
Part two closes with a chapter on one of the most crucial factors in our personal unfoldment: how the progressed Moon and transiting Saturn cycles track each other throughout life and relate to our emotional growth, and a chapter on a global phenomenon happening since 2003 impacting everyone on Earth. The Epilogue offers a few insights about living “the spiritual life,” and opens dimensions of higher and broader possibilities of personal evolution, regardless of which path to Truth we may be on.
This is a book you will reference many times for many reasons, and each time you pick it up you’re sure to find undiscovered gems of insight on each page. This book can help you throw off all the attitudes and memories which have held you back from finding and living the life and purpose you’ve been searching for since you were young. Welcome to the journey of self-discovery, and finding your power to live your life on your own terms, fulfilling your reason for being alive as an Eternal having human experiences!
Please order your copy today! You can go to the Saturn: Spiritual Master, Spiritual Friend page and order your copy of either the paperback or the ebook. It's also available as an ebook on B&N's Nook. I’ve been told that people who live overseas can get their copy much faster by going through Amazon. And if you would, please write a review on the Amazon site, since the more reviews, the bigger the boost on their site.
© Copyright 2017 Robert Wilkinson
Thanks Robert for the clear and plentiful information.
Blessings be to all.
Posted by: Nic | February 24, 2017 at 03:52 AM
Hello Robert,
Can you shed some light on this for me; Asc leo 1st house 4 degrees moon pisces 3 degree, mars sag 5th house 28 degrees. This is my true astrology.I found my true birth time. all those readings we did was done with wrong birth time!! BUT, only by 2 hours. now I have sun, ASC, mercury, and pluto in the first house. Thank you Catherine aka Cathy
Posted by: Catherine | February 24, 2017 at 10:09 AM
Hi Nic - You're most welcome!
Hi Cathy - And that's exactly why 90+% of my readings have little or nothing to do with the houses. You will recall I mainly focus on your planetary sign positions and the various natal, progressed, and transiting aspects your planets make with each other. Those don't change even if your rising sign does. Even your progressed Sabian symbols won't change, unless your Moon changed degrees which is probable but not an absolute.
You're learning a lot through children or creativity after a time in 2014-2016 of restructuring how you do what you do and your sense of how to engineer your future. An old way of life will shut down in the coming years, since you will no longer be motivated by the same things as you were before now. Be adaptable in your thinking, as well as precise. Get an order of a plan and trust unique flashes of taking command of ways and means. And when it's time to move, don't procrastinate!
Posted by: Robert | February 24, 2017 at 11:32 AM
Thanks Robert, I get the idea of your comment on not having anything to do with houses. See,that's why your the astrologer and I'm not!! Sounds right. Definitely need to take the advise about trusting unique flashes, as I have be experiencing this the last few days.
Peace, Catherine
Posted by: Catherine | February 24, 2017 at 01:06 PM
Dear Sir,
I am Rujuta from India. I am very worried about my Australian Student Visa. I am waiting for it since month. My DOB is : 19/03/1991 and Time : 13:25
Can you please tell me if this solar eclipse will help me? :/
Thank you.
Posted by: Rujuta | February 24, 2017 at 10:14 PM
Hi Rujuta - Without thoroughly analyzing your chart, I cannot answer your question. I have no idea where you were born, so cannot draw up a chart. Plus urgent demands on my time for the next few days make it impossible for me to do much of anything right now.
I will say that with Venus about to go retrograde, and then Mercury going retrograde in early April, there will be many delays in all Venus related matters in March, and many delays in all Mercury related matters in April. Then all moves forward in normal time in May. The biggest problem now and in the next few weeks is a tendency toward pessimism rather than optimism. That means you must cultivate positive actions, feelings, and thoughts rather than drift between random anxiety and becoming emotionally disoriented.
The Solar Eclipse will certain end many things, quickening lives, and create space for a new life to present itself. The last Lunar Eclipse will be very beneficial. Banish anxiety.
Posted by: Robert | February 26, 2017 at 06:27 AM