by Robert Wilkinson
This article covers significant aspects, degree symbols, and other important factors in this Aquarius New Moon chart. This Lunation opens the door to vision, spontaneity, new identities, and the ability to “pick up and deliver spiritual power.” While many things will be shut down in the house where you have 28 Aquarius, if you’re alert it will naturally yield a “well-equipped future.” As Saturn is again THE prominent player, expect any number of Saturn manifestations, so be efficient, mature, and responsible as you accept a mandate to live a more important life role in the future.
As you understand by now, different months bring us 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 outer planet occupied span begins with Jupiter in Scorpio, and proceeds through planets in Capricorn, Pisces, and Aries. This is a hemispheric distribution, with all the outer planets in about half the signs (excluding TransPluto, since Jones didn’t use it in defining his patterns). That means the pattern du jour is primarily influenced by the position of the inner planets, shifting the pattern every so often.
At this time all the inner planets are moving through the span defined by Scorpio through Aries. That means we’re in the heart of a constant Bowl Pattern, except when the Moon is in late Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo or early Libra. The Virgo New Moon was the last to feature a Locomotive Pattern until June 2018, though we had a Locomotive at the late January Total Lunar Eclipse Full Moon in Leo, with the open trine between the Moon and Uranus in Aries.
Long term, as Jupiter closes in on its conjunction with Saturn during the next few years, there will be times when most of the planets will be compressed into very narrow spans centered around Sagittarius and Capricorn. Though the outer planets have been expanding out to a wide spread these past 20 years since the last Saturn conjunct Uranus, the outers are now compressing, with Jupiter and Saturn headed to a karmic rendezvous with Pluto and Neptune over the coming years. Due to the compression, by early 2020 we will see the first “Bundle” in many years, since the planets will all be within a 120 degree span.
The Bowl is now close to an ideal pattern, since all of the planets are in half the zodiac, with the other half unoccupied. This is important, since it will dominate the next 4 weeks (and be an influence the next 3+ years).
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 in Scorpio leading this Bowl pattern, it shows us to need to take an expansive view of how to concentrate, eliminate all that is unnecessary or obstructive, shed skins we no longer need, and be aware of the magnetism around what we want and why we want it. If you’re unhappy or discontent, ask yourself why, and if you really need to go there. Learn to detach, and flow with what attracts you and what you see could lead to a form of liberation or opportunity.
Last month we were given opportunities to move into the unknown, and eliminate fear, egocentricity, and all that would hold us back from acting with perfect faith. We were being offered chances to open the Gates of Gold, holding nothing back in a selfish way, so that we may move into a greater courage and strength of conviction.
This month Jupiter shows us the way to reveal unsuspected qualities as we transform the animal to the supernatural. There are great creative potentials, so allow spontaneity to open doors to deeper experiences, some of which may show you how to maintenance your life more effectively.
In this New Moon, the most intense occupied span (in this chart Mercury, the Lunation, Venus and Neptune) is 5 planets in 17+ degrees, making that the major focus. Adding Uranus at the back end expands the span to 60 degrees, distinct from the other occupied span involving Jupiter, Mars, Saturn and Pluto all within 57+ degrees. So we have a group of 4, then a span of 35+ degrees, followed by the second group with the inner planets spanning 60 degrees. This involves ALL the planets in 152+ degrees, showing a LOT of activity wherever this span falls in our chart.
This month we have the 10 traditional planets occupying 6 signs, showing a complete hemispheric distribution with an intense cluster noted above. This month we have Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, 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 28 Aquarius. It is said that the last third (decan) of any sign deals with the individual, mental, and spiritual levels of life, and being the third decan of Aquarius it has a sub-influence of Libra. While I've given you a sense of this degree up to now, this is where we go into depth.
The symbol for the 28th degree of Aquarius is "A tree felled and sawed.” In the original notes from the Marc Jones class on the symbols, Rudhyar says this degree symbolizes “Rich contribution of nature to all who work with foresight,” “intelligent preparation,” and “Calm yet potent faith in Providence.”
In the Astrological Mandala he goes on to say this is a degree of “knowledge and skill used in its natural surroundings for the satisfaction of vital basic needs.” This combines “natural living” with our ability to prepare for the future, using power and ingenuity, as well as efficiency and intelligence, in a harmonic beauty of acting.
He states it’s about “the efficient use of natural resources for insuring (our) well-being,” using “intelligent foresight.” This degree falls in the Span of Perspective, and is the third, or synthesizing degree, of the Act of Capitalization in the Scene of Management on the individual-mental level.
Dr. Marc E Jones, creator of the Sabian Symbols, says this is a degree of employing “a lesser reality for the development and sustainment of a greater,” and our ability “in a crisis to center (our) attention on the pressing functions and necessities” of our best interests. He states this is about “the human spirit’s joy in energy expended and satisfaction in the efficient use of skills and materials, with its experience poised in the fluidity of its self-expression.”
We are told the keyword is IMMEDIACY. He states that when operating in a positive manner, this degree is our “uninhibited and enthusiastic desire to be at work or to mobilize everything around (us) in (our) own interests.”
So the theme of this New Moon shows the Light for the next 4 weeks is illuminating our path as we prepare for the future, and see all we must do as part of a sacred ritual showing our dance with Nature. Here we can find a foresight that shows us how to anticipate the future in both idea and action. This sets seeds into motion that will help us see what needs to be managed to anticipate a future condition.
Ultimately, we’re being led to a bigger picture, a vaster ideal, a great group work or service, or higher aims that motivate our inner angel. This should be a very productive time if we work with foresight and a sense of the sacredness of what we’re doing.
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 part 2, the Lunation chart has a mixed bag of aspects. We have five significant forming or partile separating frictional aspects at work, those being Venus square Mars and semisquare Pluto, Mars square Neptune, Jupiter semisquare Saturn, and Uranus semisquare Neptune. The rest of the aspects are favorable.
The 3 semisquares are of two qualities; The partile separating Jupiter semisquare Saturn is a waning semisquare, showing a crucial point in the end phase of their long cycle as described in an earlier article; Venus waxing semisquare Pluto and Uranus waxing semisquare Neptune show crucial points of shift in the opening of each of their respective cycles.
Uranus semisquare Neptune is an indicator of our unsettled times, and specifically impacts those with planets near the late degrees of the Cardinal signs and any of the middle degrees of the Mutable signs. This very frictional energy has been with us a while and will continue to be with us a LONG time! That aspect anchors a very frictional configuration that is kicked into play whenever planets pass through late Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn, as well as mid-Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces. It is especially powerful when a planet transits mid-Virgo and late Libra.
As the planets make various octile aspects to these Uranus and Neptune, those phase shifts generate a LOT of tension and friction in the atmosphere, creating a grind for us wherever we have mid-Mutable and late Cardinal sectors. I believe this semisquare is entirely behind the inner hard choices all of us are considering right now in how our individuality fits into the collective atmosphere, and why there is so much friction between the transpersonal Uranian forces and the transpersonal Neptunian forces at this time.
During the Autumn transits of the mid-Virgo and late Libra zones, a “Rhombus Diamond” octile was created. This created a “cutting, grinding, and polishing” type of energy that is frictional and can lead to awareness and the ability to act productively even in impossible conditions.
As I told you in the Rhombus Diamond articles, we can expect solar flares and plasma eruptions, warping in the electromagnetic field, breakaway impulses, sideways explosions, and all equivalent human behavior symbolized by these octile aspects testing our clarity. It has presented all of us with certain questions. What is your role as you would define it? Reject timidity and uncertainty, and find your place in the larger scheme of things.
Besides the semisquares listed above, the only other hard aspects are Venus square Mars and Mars square Neptune. This challenges us to use the right means to achieve our ends, and not get pulled off focus by passing distractions. Mars in Sag can jump at a whim in several directions at once, and squares to and from Pisces do NOT yield a lot of clarity!
The best use of these squares is to get inspired, believe in yourself and your values, and allow a new identity to come forth once you find the right way to protect yourself from aggressive social elements. Some will feel empty having fulfilled their quest, while others will feel fulfilled by showing others their skill at something. Some will begin to develop telepathy, while others will have to find ways to be productive as they wait for the contact with their root power that will be the basis of future growth.
Besides the aspects listed above, inner planet favorable forming (and partile separating) aspects include the Lunation conjunct Mercury (via collection of light), septile Saturn, and decile Pluto; Mercury quintile Mars, septile Saturn, sextile Uranus and decile Pluto; and Venus biseptile Jupiter, sextile Saturn, and conjunct Neptune.
Outer planet favorable aspects include Mars quindecile Saturn, quadraelftile Uranus, and decile Pluto; Jupiter is triseptile Uranus and sextile Pluto, and Saturn is tredecile Uranus and bielftile Neptune. Again, partile separating aspects are still powerful, since they indicate the period immediately past which led to the NOW.
The Lunation conjunct Mercury with all of them septile Saturn is a really big deal, since it puts the rulers of 6 houses in our charts at an emergent fork in the road of destiny relative to the current Saturn in Capricorn lessons. This is the emergence of a future vision of some need that will arise, and the need to work with foresight in a partnership with Nature. Zones most affected include 5-9 Capricorn, 26-30 Aquarius, 18-22 Aries, 9-13 Gemini, 1-5 Leo, 23-27 Virgo, and 14-18 Scorpio.
Though barely separating, Jupiter triseptile Uranus is huge! This aspect indicates cooperative-collective “forks in the road of destiny” involving the planet of expansion and the planet of revolution, the planet of protection and truth in a crucial phase with the individualizer! As Venus is also involved in this configuration via its partile separating biseptile to Jupiter, this configuration is in play for this eclipse.
Though the first triseptile is just past, since Jupiter is slowing down and Uranus is speeding up, the aspect is still in constant play. Pay attention to crucial choices and changes in your trajectory in February, since they’ll give clues what you can expect during the second forming triseptile during Jupiter RX in the second half of March. The third and final one will be in mid-October when Uranus is in Taurus. For now, hot zones include 21-25 Scorpio, 12-16 Capricorn, 3-7 Pisces, 24-28 Aries, 16-20 Gemini, 8-12 Leo, and 29 Virgo-3 Libra. If you have a planet or point in these zones, you’re sailing a spiritual tide into your destiny!
Saturn tredecile Uranus is an aspect of serendipity, so the understanding you got between these principles of bondage/liberation and responsibility/individuality during their trine last year should bring unique circumstances perfect for your gifts, and blessings perfect for your circumstances. Be cautious as you move into a more electric individuality and a new life order. Zones most affected include 1-3 Gemini/Sagittarius, 5-9 Capricorn/Cancer, 11-15 Aquarius/Leo, 17-21 Pisces/Virgo, 23-27 Aries/Libra, and 29-30 Taurus/Scorpio.
Taken together, the harmonious aspects outweigh the frictional. We also have a very high number of specializing and spiritual harmonic aspects. Of the specializing aspects, we have 1 quindecile, 4 deciles, 1 quintile, and 1 tredecile. Of the spiritual aspects, we have 3 septiles, 1 biseptile, 1 triseptile, 1 bielftile, and 1 quadraelftile.
The novile (9th harmonic), septile (7th harmonic) and elftile (11th harmonic) series all feature spiritual aspects. All novile series aspects represent gestative energies that can lead to great spiritual realizations. Septile series aspects in this New Moon, they represent forks in the road of destiny, while 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 and biquintile (5th harmonic) and related 10th (decile and tredecile), 15th (quindecile), and 20th harmonic (vigintile) 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.
Element Balance
This month we move into a more balanced element distribution and no particularly heavy emphasis, even with some prominent signs representation. Of the traditional 10 planets, in this chart there are 2 planets in Fire signs, 3 in Water, 2 in Earth, and 3 in Air. This element spread is very well balanced, since the two slightly deficient elements each have a very strong planet in them. So we have relatedness/communication element (Air) and feeling/experiencing (Water) slightly in emphasis, with a slight deficiency of inspiration and warmth (Fire) and practical grounding (Earth).
Air and Earth are “cool” elements, while Fire and Water are “hot” elements. With this distribution, things should feel perfectly balanced, with a slight emphasis on deep feelings and noble ideals. Air and water make for great sailing, but when in extreme conditions, makes for waterspouts and hurricanes. Still, there’s not much that’s extreme in this eclipse, so all should be well.
Because Mercury in Aquarius leads the Lunation, the Light is being led by a master synthesizer of ideas into vision. This ushers in Illumination through our ability to check up on the energies at our disposal, and use spiritual power to manage what needs managing.. Mercury in Aquarius has an ability to keep many different pieces related to an integrated understanding.
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. As a process of moving through events, this New Moon is similar to the last one, showing that over the next 4 weeks the most effective “firing sequence” for approaching life and experience involves leading with our vision, understanding, and thinking, and follow what’s being communicated into decisions and actions. Then after the decision or action, sit with the feelings and experience them, bringing them to the surface of your consciousness and get clear about what you’re feeling and why.
This time you feel and experience will lead you back to new information, new vision, new ideals, and new understanding, upon which you can do your next set of decisions and actions. Then again go deep, and name what you’re feeling. That way nothing will get bottled up through underuse, and you can move through experiences with power and clarity. Allow your feelings to follow your actions, and allow your mind to follow your experience, and all will be in proper sequence.
Summing Up
Now that we’ve been through 2017’s Saturn in Sagittarius trine Uranus in Aries, we’ve stabilized our unique forms of heart expression, love, or creativity, and learned how to move out of the old into the new with calm confidence. We now have had opportunities to structure “the future in the making” into our life evolutionary process while “escaping from a narrow destiny.” That trine is done, but as Spring approaches the trine will form anew, this time from Saturn in Earthy Cap to Uranus in Earthy Taurus.
Much has been quickened since last Spring, and we have been eliminating all that would prevent our spiritual Self from demonstrating itself with ease. This is the second New Moon of the Saturn in Capricorn era, showing us “promises to keep, and miles to go before (we) sleep,” to quote the legendary Frost. We trained in 2017, and each will reap a promised blessing in 2018.
This is the fifth New Moon with Jupiter in Scorpio, and you can bet that as Jupiter transits the various Scorpio eclipses, Lunations, and planetary stations over the next 8 months, many things promised by those events will become blessings, opportunities, and liberating factors in life. With Jupiter in Scorpio leading the Bowl for many months to come, it’s clear our approach to life will have to become laser focused and as efficient as we can be!
Because of the Bowl, things may seem very “divided” in many ways, but keep referencing your passion to “break on through to the other side” to find your way to embrace the adventure into a deeper Soul connection, faith in action, and courage as a magnetic force in your life. This Lunation moves that powerful magnetic “pulse” into a larger vision which prepares us for the future and allows us a deeper connection with Nature.
This New Moon allows us spontaneity, adventure, transformation, and deep compassion for ourselves and others. Make sure of yourself, your tools, your task, and your timeline, and work with foresight. See the gifts you’re endowed with, and open to “the inexhaustibility of your life resources.” It’s time to put on the show by demonstrating your happiness and blessings!
This one continues to take us deeper into the magnetism of our Mystery, our “hero’s journey” and Quest for Self-Realization thanks to Jupiter. This will be great for seeing how eliminating past patterns clears the space for future patterns to emerge, and with both Mars and Jupiter in mutual reception amping up both Scorpio and Sagittarius energies, let a new identity come forth and allow the karmas of the past to flow down the time stream.
Saturn: Spiritual Master, Spiritual Friend
Saturn is extremely important during these Lunations, as well as the ruler of many other planetary energies now and pretty much most of the next 10 months (except late Feb and early March). It also is now in the very favorable tredecile with Uranus to be followed by another trine from Earth signs in the Spring, indicating we are still in a time when we can see how to blend past and future together and craft our future destiny.
In 2017, we stabilized Electric Fire, harmonized with Distributive Fire by Friction, and learned to express it in loving, creative forms of Solar Fire between July and September during the Grand Fire trines, as well as every month when the Moon was in Leo. 2017 was the next step in understanding the movement of Fire in our lives, which will yield to Earth understanding in a few months!
You can learn more about mastering the Saturn and Uranus part of generating your future destiny by taking a look at my book Saturn: Spiritual Master, Spiritual Friend. Saturn helps us give form and structure to our quest for Self-realization, and in Sag, brings an “expansive structure” to the Uranian energies infused with concentrated doses of spiritual energy that is making our spiritual life come alive.
Our inner Saturn gives us the power to take command of our lives and destiny. Saturn shows us those things we must master to 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, shows why some things happened when they did. Even those with little or no understanding of astrology will benefit from understanding why they had to make certain choices at crucial times that shaped their lives in profound ways.
Each time you read any section of this book you will find new insights about your power to steer your personal evolution. You will understand how to throw off all the attitudes and memories which have held you back from finding and living the life and purpose. Through your journey of self-discovery, you can find ways to live your life on your own terms, and fulfill your purpose 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 on Amazon and this should be all you need to order your copy. The ebook is available through Kindle. Also, I’ve been told people who live overseas 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 2018 Robert Wilkinson
Thank you Robert, much appreciated!
Posted by: Clemencia | February 15, 2018 at 05:40 AM