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 20, 2018, at 9:16 am PDT, 4:16 pm 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 good balance of planets in the decans of the signs, with 4 in the first, 3 in the second, and 3 in the third decan in their respective signs.
This indicates a three month period of activity involving a slight preponderance of actional, physical, and material focus, and a balance of emotional, social, and cultural focus with individual-mental and spiritual focus. If we add Chiron in the third decan of Pisces leading the Sun, then we have an even greater preponderance of that individual-mental and spiritual focus.
Uranus and Pluto Are No Longer Frictional To The Sun
After many years of being an important factor in the Solstice and Equinox charts that kicked off the last 8 year era, both Uranus and Pluto have receded in importance since they no longer make dynamic hard 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. By 2013 we finished the era when the Sun was in conjunction, square, or opposition to Pluto during these changes of season.
Uranus entered Aries in June 2010 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.
Neither the 2015 nor 2016 Equinox chart had a planet making a Cardinal T-square involving Uranus square Pluto. Because that square is now no longer partile, it is only activated when another planet makes conjunctions, squares, or oppositions to one of them.
Last year Mercury made a square with Pluto and an opposition to Jupiter, bringing that T-square of energy back into play last Spring. This Spring, Mercury goes retrograde before it makes its square, but Venus is the actor this year, as it makes a forming square to Pluto. That will help us see things and people that need eliminating in our lives, though with other planets making some VERY favorable aspects to both Venus and Pluto, the square this year could very well release some great events!
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. This season Pluto is teaching us that sometimes surrendering with dignity leads us to a real spiritual victory.
Jones Pattern
We are now in a period of shifting Jones patterns, depending on where the Moon is. This chart maintains the “Bowl” that’s been active for several months whenever the Moon is between late Virgo and early Gemini. The rest of the time it’s a “Bucket,” with the Moon as the handle and focal significator. I’ve given you a lot of information about the Bowl in the recent New Moon article, so please consult that if you want to know more about what it means and how it works.
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 in its sign of “exaltation” in Capricorn, while its spiritual ruler, Pluto, is also in Capricorn. With both in Earth signs, it should make for a very grounded and practical Spring. There are interactive gifts to be had, and serendipity is in the air in some simple, enjoyable circumstances.
Forming aspects show what is coming, and closely partile forming and separating aspects indicate things going on in the now. In this chart, the Lunar aspects are outstanding! We see the Moon novile the Sun, making this a season of realizations. It’s also in quindecile with Mercury, a close trine to Saturn, sextile to Neptune, and in close tredecile to Pluto. This will bring highly specialized conditions and blessings to those with points near 1-6 Libra/Aries, 7-12 Scorpio/Taurus, 13-18 Sag/Gemini, 19-24 Capricorn/Cancer, and 25-30 Aquarius/Leo.
Mercury is conjunct Venus, showing “beautiful minds and speech” even if a bit abrupt. Both are on the degree of Mercury’s impending station, which I’ll write about in the next few days. It’s a huge emergent point for both these planets, with magic in the air via their biquintiles to Jupiter! Add Mercury biseptile Mars, and Venus tredecile Mars, and we have magical twists and turns at a crossroad of destiny for all with points near 1-5 Capricorn, 23-27 Aquarius, 15-19 Aries, 6-10 Gemini, 27 Cancer-1 Leo, 18-22 Virgo, and 9-13 Scorpio.
The Sun exalted makes a powerful square to Mars also exalted, showing that disciplined skill at using energy in responsible ways will light up life! Use favorable Cancer and Libra energy to balance, integrate, and release tensions and friction. Be moderate and caring as you embrace a more perfect archetype and/or life, see the rhythm of the creative process, figure out what is needed, and get a larger, wider view of things.
The Sun is also excellently quintile Pluto, so even an apparent defeat can and will spell spiritual victory after the emergence from unique underworld or purification experiences. Mars is novile Jupiter, conjunct Saturn, and quintile Uranus, bringing yet another layer of specialization and spiritual realization to its part of the mix.
The outer planet aspects were discussed at length in part 2 of the recent New Moon article series. To note, the overarching outer influences involve Jupiter triseptile Uranus, biquintile Neptune, and sextile Pluto; Saturn is tredecile Uranus, and Uranus is semisquare Neptune. Collectively it’s a fairly productive time if we can open to cooperative collective enterprises and unique gifts and opportunities to become our genius in order to fulfill our greater purposes for being on Earth. You can find a lot more about the various specialization aspects by going to The Specializing Aspects Pt 1 – Quintile, Tredecile, Decile, and Biquintile. (Part 2 covers the Vigintile and Quindecile aspects).
The Moon, The Elements, and more
At the Equinox the Moon is at 9 Taurus, and in a New Moon phase, showing this season will be very organic and grounded, giving us all techniques for bringing light, hope, and/or happiness to others in dark hours. If you find yourself in a barren landscape, turn inward, and celebrate the Yule Log that burns at the core of your radiant heart. This is the simple, stable, enjoyable power of celebration to sound a joyous call regardless of outer conditions.
The Moon is exalted in Taurus, showing the energy to give form and focus to things is natural, secure in its own “self-establishment,” and moves at its own pace. As it’s exactly trine Saturn, it opens the void at 9 Virgo, making it easy to express our creative uniqueness and genius. Practical discrimination and stable enjoyable service are the hallmarks of this trine.
The next three months will bring hard-edged turning points in both outer and inner space, requiring that we get a firm grip on our energies that will seem to want to express in multiple ways not in harmony with each other. Again, dignified withdrawals and even “surrenders” will spell true spiritual victory, and if someone is preventing you from getting the results you want, or getting you lost in loose ends, find ways to put space between you and them.
This Spring chart shows 4 planets in Fire signs, 3 in Earth, none in Air, and 2 in Water. All in all, it should be a season of high and very bright inspiration, warmth, and light, both personally and interpersonally, grounded by the excellent Earth energy, with these supporting our adventure into the deepest and widest waters of the “feeling field.”
Fire and Water are “hot” elements, while Earth and Air are “cool” elements. This spread shows feelings will be strong, with much that will leap forward and outward these next 13 weeks. Find the right “inspired groundedness” and “practical inspiration” and by withdrawing from involvement in one world you’ll find you can reclaim an opportunity you thought had slipped away.
Because of the preponderance of Capricorn and Aries energy, it’s going to be a season that is pragmatically future oriented. It’s very definitely going to cut loose new individual initiatives that can be executed slowly, steadily, and enjoyably via the Moon in Taurus! As almost all the planets are in Cardinal (initiating) or Fixed (stabilizing) signs, there’s a LOT of activity that should move forward at a fast but steady pace. That’s why it’s great to have Mars, worldly ruler of all the Aries planets, in its exaltation sign of Taurus, keeping everything disciplined, organized, and within our own command.
Looking Forward
We currently stand on a threshold of Saturn, Mercury, and Pluto about to go retrograde. This marks a threshold state, where we begin to review many things from the past to consolidate those functions in our life. Use this time to review, research, rehearse, and plan with an eye to the future, knowing that we can secure many things in late April through May before Mars begins to slow down in June, preparing for a several month “tag team” of retrogrades involving Mars, Mercury, and then Venus and Mercury again.
That means except for a brief period between late April and mid-June, as well as September, we’ll have retrogrades going on between now and mid-December. Expect a lot of things to reverse course, or be reconsidered, or reworked, or the need to plan anew at a future point during the Summer and Autumn.
For now, consider this the front end of this season to use the retrograde energy to “look back to look forward,” letting go as things fall apart while stabilizing all that is enjoyable and natural in your life. Remember that the recent New Moon had the theme of using imagination to dominate circumstances. Be creative at this threshold of a new season, and if called, accept the power and seize the day!
These energies will be in play through the Northern Hemisphere Summer Solstice on 3:07 am PDT, 6:07 am EDT, 11:07 am BST June 21. That Solstice chart will be VERY polarizing, with “the tension of opposites” bringing forth powerful realizations and challenges due to Mercury opposed Pluto, Sun opposed Saturn, and Venus EXACTLY opposed Mars! We also see Mercury exactly trine Neptune, throwing a favorable void into mid-Virgo, and the Sun biseptile Neptune on its station, promising a Summer of rebirth and realization as we pull back from our own and others’ projections.
The next 13 weeks will show us how to begin specialized new initiatives and projects, and find ways of withdrawing from people and situations that don’t work for us. Remember that since Nature abhors a vacuum, as you withdraw from one area of attachment and externalization, go as deep as you need to, since as you begin to move into the next chapter, you need concentration to achieve the momentum you need in the new world.
This Spring can bring a vaster compassion, understanding, and connectedness with life, relationships, and Self, so let go of being hung up on appearances, and do what you must based in what’s right in front of you. Be the Light in the darkness, and you’ll find a joyous way to be regardless of outer conditions.
Look at the life structures you’ve built that are absolutely dependable, and come to a greater appreciation about how they fit into your life story. See how you share needs and patterns with others in a universal dance of spirit and matter. And if memories of old relationships come up, bless and release the hurt or misunderstanding of the past to find more power in understanding you are not that now.
So we now enter a time of turning toward new directions, and will find stability as we learn to enjoy ourselves and the pace of the process. Take responsibility, and take note of how to use power in the most responsible way. If you find yourself involved with people who don’t know how to use power in the right way, avoid being damaged by their erroneous approaches.
Attune to your invisible helpers, and you will find the technique you need to demonstrate personal power on an emotional or social level. Everything is opening, transmutations of the Natural to that which is “beyond human” is going on, and those who can allow “their Soul to speak” will find they’re on a shortcut to deeper and higher realizations that can help them be a contributor to humanity’s better future.
Aum and blessings as we stand on the threshold of a new season of life!
© Copyright 2018 Robert Wilkinson
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