by Robert Wilkinson
The next two weeks will give us opportunities to use the power of inspiration to launch a new life adventure, or at least withdraw from an old one to get ready to launch a new one. This one helps us express our heart and figure out what we’re really dedicated to.
This Full Moon fulfills the Cancer New Moon themes, which means we’ve received some sort of blessing which can enable us to take the lead in our world in some way in the future. With Jupiter in Taurus there’s lots of expansive Taurus growth helping us see how to “return to simpler joys for pleasure and revitalization” while we become surer of ourselves. With Uranus so strong, genius and original thinking is in the air, with interesting signals confirming our worth in some way.
Evolutionary Configurations
This month we have FIVE evolutionary configurations, 2 involving the Lunation, 1 with the Moon but not Sun, 3 involving Jupiter, and 2 involving Mercury. This Lunation involves high friction, major realizations, and several “forks in the road of destiny” for us all. We’re in a time of review, returns, relief and renewal. This month the configurations are (in no particular order of importance):
1) The Lunation is extremely powerful due to the opposition being cut into a semisquare and sesquisquare by Neptune, leaving a void around 25-28 Virgo. This will be a major spur to “right action” involving being educated in forms of spiritual service, being led out into “a world of transcendent activity,” being refined, and demonstrating the power of our spiritual will. This will be a major spur to action, with friction and pressure on any planets or angles we may have near 8-15 degrees of Taurus, Scorpio, and Aquarius as well as 23-30 degrees Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces.
2) For the second configuration, we add to this that the Lunation makes a T-square with Jupiter, which is semisquare to Neptune, adding another planetary factor to the first configuration. This generates an integrative void between 9-15 Scorpio, with a secondary influence in the Mutable spans listed above. If you have a planet or angle near these spans, then you definitely have a simultaneous conjunction, semisquare, square, sesquisquare, and/or opposition happening! This is an extraordinary spiritual stimulation to “right action.”
These are all phases of the 8th harmonic angles, aka “Octile” series. These “hard angles” spur us to action, whether we want to or not. Semisquares deal with personal inner crises, both public and private, while sesquisquares create friction, agitation, and irritation in our world that involves others. In my experience sesquisquares are not necessarily associated with times of crisis, but they do seem to be times of no rest and spurs to act that may be inconvenient and aggravating. They definitely aren’t calm!
3) The third configuration is made by Mercury and Mars both trine Jupiter and opposed to Saturn. (Even though Mars is separating from Saturn, Mercury collects the light and brings the Virgo/Pisces opposition back into play.) With Jupiter forming a quintile to Saturn, this is a somewhat mutated configuration, since it generates very positive energy around 12-16 Capricorn, as well as 5-15 Scorpio. Even though Mercury is opposed Saturn, it will still be favorable for any planets or points we have near 4-8 of the Earth and Water signs.
4) The fourth configuration is made by the Moon triseptile Mercury and biseptile Uranus, with Mercury biseptile Uranus. This fills in three points of this “7 Pointed Star of Destiny.”
It’s called that because any 7th harmonic aspect brings us to “forks in the road of destiny,” and when three or more are active, it creates a vast field of void points which are triggered. This one will primarily affect planets or points we have near 8-12 Aquarius, 30 Pisces-4 Aries, 21-25 Taurus, 13-17 Cancer, 4-8 Virgo, 26-30 Libra, and 17-21 Sagittarius.
5) The fifth configuration also involves a 7th harmonic configuration, this one created by Venus biseptile Jupiter and triseptile Pluto, with Jupiter biseptile Pluto. This is powerful, and echoes the same configuration made in early July with Venus direct. This primarily affects planets or points we have near 28 Capricorn – 2 Aquarius, 20-24 Pisces, 12-16 Taurus, 3-7 Cancer, 25-29 Leo, 16-20 Libra, and 7-11 Sagittarius.
As you can see, there are huge parts of these signs which are at a fork in the road, so remember if things don’t make sense they don’t have to; we just have to respond as productively as we can. The Earth trines should make this easier.
Major Aspects
Besides the various aspects I gave you related to the evolutionary configurations, forming (or partile separating) inner planet aspects include the Moon pentelftile Venus and biquintile Mars; Mercury is quindecile the Sun, conjunct Mars, quadranovile Neptune and biquintile Pluto; Venus is vigintile the Sun, vigintile Mars, square Uranus, and quincunx Neptune; and the Sun is triseptile Saturn.
Outer planet aspects include Mars widely trine Uranus and sesquisquare Pluto; Jupiter is quintile Saturn; Saturn is decile Pluto; Uranus is sextile Neptune, and Neptune is finally back in sextile to Pluto.
Friction comes from 3 oppositions, 2 semi-squares, 3 squares, 2 sesquisquares, and 1 quincunx. Use the friction to eliminate or withdraw from the old and redefine who you are and how to keep the initiative in your own hands. Respond creatively to the unexpected, see the transmutation going on, and see it all as a training exercise which will help you wield spiritual power down the road. There are definitely major changes ahead!
This month features many spiritual aspects. In the series related to destiny and “fate,” we find 4 biseptiles and 3 triseptiles. In the 9th harmonic series related to spiritual realizations, we have only 1 quadranovile. In the 11th harmonic series related to spiritual realizations, we have only 1 pentelftile. The specializing aspect series also provides a number of aspects, including 2 vigintile, 1 quindecile, 1 decile, 1 quintile, and 2 biquintiles.
For those new to the craft, quintiles and biquintiles are 5th harmonic aspects, septiles and triseptiles are 7th harmonic aspects, noviles are 9th harmonic aspects, deciles (semi-quintiles) and tredeciles are 10th harmonic aspects. The elftile series are 11th harmonic aspects, the quindecile is a 15th harmonic aspect, and the vigintile is a 20th harmonic aspect. Each of these has a unique function in the phase relationship of the two planets in aspect.
The 5th, 10th, 15th, and 20th harmonic aspects are specializing and bring forth partially or fully developed quintessential elements of the planets involved. The novile (9th harmonic), septile (7th harmonic) and elftile (11th harmonic) series all feature spiritual aspects. All novile series (9th harmonic) aspects represent entry or exit points of periods of gestation which can bring forth possible spiritual developments. These aspects indicate things which need to be put on the shelf for a while, or that which has been gestating can now move forward. They represent gestative energies that can lead to great spiritual realizations.
Septile series aspects represent forks in the road of destiny, where we make choices determining karmic future developments. This series is ruled by Saturn, where we create and fulfill karma by our choices during those phase shifts. The 11th harmonic elftile series aspects involve situations where there is a need to transcend and master some form of duality by making a leap of faith. In transcending those dualistic situations, dilemmas, challenges, and thinking, we resolve the problem and learn techniques of mastering those sorts of dualities in the future. This series tests our faith. Both the 7th and 11th series involve non-rational aspect values, bringing an element of irrationality in behavior and circumstances.
The various aspects in all these different harmonic series indicate points where the theme of the Whole Cycle becomes clear, whether through major developments or minor refinements in the process. Each aspect shows a phase relationship, specific to the special and unique circumstances of that particular Whole Cycle. It's how we can know when to work, when to play, when to create, when to imagine, when to have faith, and when to mobilize!
If you want to know more about these aspects, when you’re done here please go to The Specializing Aspects Pt. 1 – Quintile, Tredecile, Decile, and Biquintile, The Specializing Aspects Pt. 2 – The Quindecile and Vigintile, and The Spiritual Aspect Series – The Novile, Septile, and Elftile Harmonic Aspects where you’ll find more about the meaning of these aspects and the glyphs associated with them. Also, remember that all of these set up harmonic resonance void points all over our charts.
The Eclipse Factor
We’ve had a long run of eclipses which continue to affect us. In 2020 we had an abnormal year of 6 eclipses. We had a January Lunar eclipse at 20 Cancer, a June Lunar eclipse at 16 Sagittarius, a Solstice Solar eclipse at 1 Cancer, a July Lunar eclipse at 14 Capricorn, a November Lunar eclipse at 9 Gemini, and a December Solar eclipse at 24 Sagittarius. As all the Lunar eclipses have a duration of a few months, all of these took away parts of our Lunar expression in 2020 and early 2021.
In 2021 we had the usual 4 eclipses. The May Lunar eclipse was at 6 Sagittarius, the June Solar eclipse was at 20 Gemini, the November Full Moon was a Lunar eclipse at 28 Taurus, and the December New Moon was a Solar eclipse at 13 Sagittarius.
In 2022, we had 4 eclipses. We had an April Solar eclipse at 11 Taurus and the May Wesak Festival Lunar eclipse at 26 Scorpio. We then had the October Partial Solar eclipse at 2 Scorpio and then the November Total Lunar eclipse at 17 Taurus. Again, all the Lunar eclipses work over just a few months, while Solar eclipse effects last for years.
As you know, I see all eclipses as “cosmic recyclers” removing what we no longer need in the houses where they occurred. The June 2020 Solstice Solar eclipse in Cancer marked a change of allegiance for everyone, with hard adjustments and sacrifices for all, while the December 2020 Solar eclipse in Sagittarius has been removing all which would block our happiness. The June 2021 Gemini eclipse is removing old ideas, while the Dec 2021 Sag eclipse is removing blocks to our seeing a new identity.
We’re also still experiencing past Solar eclipse “cosmic recycling” wherever we have 16 Capricorn, 21 Cancer and 19 Leo, due to eclipses on these degrees. The endings of 2018 and 2019 helped us get organized, explore what success really means to us, and find techniques to let go of prior fixed social roles.
All these Solar eclipses, along with others, have allowed us to “shed skins” wherever we have 9, 19, and 30 Pisces, 28 Aquarius, 29 Leo, 10 Virgo, and 21 Virgo, as well as the degrees of the recent eclipses at 1 Cancer, 24 Sagittarius, 20 Gemini and 13 Sagittarius. As you can see, that involves a large part of our charts! You can find out which Solar eclipses are still showing effects by referring to Astrology in May 2023 - On The Threshold of a Penumbral Lunar Eclipse at 15 Taurus-Scorpio which lists which eclipses are done and which are still in play. And of course, there are numerous articles on the 30 Aries Solar eclipse and the 15 Taurus/Scorpio Lunar eclipse which happened just a few weeks ago.
A good meditation would be to take a look back at how something related to those points in your chart ended after those eclipses, and examine how new events, new people, and new life experiences came in those chart areas. All our losses of the past few years associated with these signs have left voids which have attracted, are attracting, or will attract life contents more appropriate to who we are now. Alternately, you may be feeling a void because someone else really isn’t there. Now it’s time to turn to what will nourish you.
Element Balance
This Full Moon eclipse features a very imbalanced element distribution. At this time, of the traditional 10 planets, there are 2 planets in Water signs, 2 in Fire, 5 in Earth, and 1 in Air. This makes Earth (Practicality and Grounding) preponderant, with a balanced between Water (Feelings and Experiencing Life on Deep Levels) and Fire (Inspiration and Light), with Air (Relatedness and Communications) represented only by the Moon.
Air and Earth are “cool” elements, while Fire and Water are “hot” elements. With this distribution, it’s slightly more cool than hot. However, with so much Earth and Water, it’s great for making bricks but avoid getting stuck in the mud of ambivalence or thinking what’s passing is viable in your future.
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. This Lunation shifts the pattern from the previous Lunation and begins a new one. As a process of moving through events, the most effective “firing sequence” for approaching life and experience in the near future involves leading with our decisions, then feeling what we need to about those actions and decisions, and then finally thinking, coming to a new vision or understanding.
This Lunation shows we’ll enter experience with a sense of something to be done. This pattern is very strong, and leads with deciding and acting, followed by feeling and experiencing what those decisions and actions mean on deep levels. Ideally, those deep feelings then can lead us to a new vision, a new understanding, or a communication that can lead us to a different view.
So make a decision and act as needed, and 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. After you’re clear about what you’re feeling, then go get new information and update your perceptual files and what you think you know, or what’s being communicated. That will lead naturally to a new set of decisions and actions.
This pattern knows how to get things done! Another strength of the pattern is learning and teaching through anecdote, so frame things in terms of something which needs to be decided or done, and once you’ve set it into motion, then update your perceptions and understanding. If you don’t know what to do, let your thinking and envisioning follow your feelings, since getting a new view or understanding will naturally show you what to do and how to do it.
Because of Venus retrograde, it could also manifest as decisions which take us “back to the future,” or into a memory of things past. Especially if some Venus retrograde insights come up from the subconscious mind, use them to get a new understanding, a new vision, or a new way to frame whatever it was that is triggering what is.
Saturn: Spiritual Master, Spiritual Friend
Saturn’s extraordinarily important in this Full Moon due to its exact opposition to Mercury and the Solar triseptile, showing the Light will illuminate the cooperative, collective elements of whatever new dedication we’re feeling. This will put our limits or duties at a fork in the road of some sort, especially for those with a planet or point near 4-8 Pisces, 26-30 Aries, 17-21 Gemini, 9-13 Leo, 1-5 Libra, 22-26 Scorpio, and 13-17 Capricorn.
Saturn is still giving us a review of many things in play since May, calling us to forms of renewal between now and November. This helps us see a vaster dedication and community, with high specialization coming over the next few months. Hear “the call to renewal,” and be open to forgiving much and allowing it to flow down the timestream. The “Buddha Wisdom” eclipse of May is already cutting us loose from people and dramas we no longer need while continuing to offer the Pluto in Aquarius seeds which will sprout over the next decades.
Saturn, our “spiritual teacher and spiritual friend” in Pisces brings more water and less air in how we express our Capricorn and Aquarius sectors and any natal or progressed planets we have in those signs. Though Saturn can feel heavy and bring heavy life lessons, it also in the part of us which can take charge of our lives and destiny by using Saturn’s virtues in the right way and time. Our ability to steer our “ship of personality” into its rightful “role of destiny” has brought us to the threshold of new parts to play on the stage of Life.
We’re still in a long wave period of crystallizing a deeper feel for the roles we are to play in the emergent Aquarian era. Uranus has awakened us to new roles to play, while Saturn has “lightened up” and structured our Aquarius sector. Having brought us an accelerated evolution and tests of “picking up and delivering spiritual power” we now get to master the fogs and illusions of Pisces, finding understanding and spiritual power in forgiveness and steering the process of closing out old ways as they present themselves.
I explain how Saturn and Uranus work together so we can take command of our destiny in my book Saturn: Spiritual Master, Spiritual Friend. Saturn helps us give form and structure to our quest for Self-realization; in Capricorn, it teaches us how to use personal power within a socially responsible context, while in Aquarius it teaches us how to make a greater contribution to our civilization and come together with others in a great effort “ensouled by a great vision.” Coupled with Uranus having awakened us to the fact that the old answers aren’t enough along with the need to accept spiritual power to shape our world, we are collectively “breaking on through to the other side” into an unfolding Higher awareness.
The book was written for both astrologers and non-astrologers. Even those with little or no understanding of astrology will benefit from understanding why you had to make certain choices at crucial times that shaped your life in profound ways.
Each time you read any section of this book you will find new insights about your power to throw off all the attitudes and memories which hold you back from finding and living the life and purpose. If you’ve haven’t already gotten your copy, you can go to the Saturn: Spiritual Master, Spiritual Friend page on Amazon and this should be all you need to order your copy. It’s also available on Amazon and as an ebook on Kindle, so if that’s more to your liking, go for it! If you would, whether you’ve gotten the ebook or the paperback, please write a review on the Amazon site, since the more reviews, the more of a boost they give it.
And now, on a related note….
Venus is a key player due to being part of the specializing serendipitous evolutionary configuration, as well as the ruler of Jupiter and Uranus. The biseptile to Jupiter from Venus retrograde gives us a second point to see that our relationships are at a huge turning point relative to our new life already on the way. Areas most affected include 28 Capricorn – 2 Aquarius, 20-24 Pisces, 12-16 Taurus, 3-7 Cancer, 25-29 Leo, 16-20 Libra, and 7-11 Sagittarius. If you have a planet or point in any of these zones, many things related to your Taurus, Leo, Libra, Sagittarius, and Pisces areas are at a turning point in your life!
As Venus is now giving us a review of people and values past, learn all you can from those who helped you play or be creative, or opened your heart. We now can get a different take on Venus’ power to create better relationships in the future, where we’re attracting friends with whom we can have fun and a sense of genuine fellowship.
If you want to know more about your Venusian power to shape your relationships into enjoyable interactions and friendships, and know why you have attracted the friends and Soul Mates throughout your life, as well as learn why some of them had to move on, please consider getting a copy of my newest book, The Magic of Venus: Friendships, Soul Mates, and Twin Flames. It is the most comprehensive book on Venus ever written, and explains why we attract who we do and how to create more satisfying relationships in the future. You will understand the foundations of long term healthy relationships and friendships, why Soul Mates come into our lives, and how to dance with your inner Beloved and mirror that to your world.
It has chapters on the qualities of each sign’s natural mate, the qualities of Venus in each sign, and when crucial choices and changes are made, affecting who we attract in the future. It was written for both astrologers and lay people, and as it has a thousand gems for better relationships, with self, others, and Source, please consider getting your copy by going to the link above! (And when you’re done, please leave a review on Amazon, since it helps the book and all other books on astrology as well!)
Summing it Up
We are in the middle of many months of endings, shifts in field and focus, transitions, and saying goodbye to many old things, people, and ways of living while embracing the rapidly developing forward movement requiring clear vision, dual actions, and deeper communion with our spiritual Brothers and Sisters. We’re now taking a look back at many things, and hopefully can see the abundance of various types of resources available to us.
It’s a new time, a new way, and a new day is dawning! Be enthusiastic in demonstrating your heart power, your discipline, your ability to “put on the show,” and breathe into seeing a whole different sense of purpose. The old answers and old ways may not work, but as we embrace the dance, we’ll find those who speak our language as we renew our vision and freedom.
Because of where Mars went stationary direct, use your “zen archer” skills to take aim at whatever social or emotional target you want to connect with. This is a time for optimism, openness, and enthusiasm at what’s being born and the beauty of your life. This is a time to reflect that we have “made it through the night,” and now can experience joy and enthusiasm in a new adventure using the power of inspiration to reorient toward a new day dawning soon. This is an excellent time for practical achievements, so enjoy finding your place in “the Cosmic Choir” as you’re pulled toward a greater “living civilization.”
We’re still riding the new wave created by Mars conjunct Jupiter at 4 Aries in late May 2022, learning ways to have fun naturally, spontaneously, and enthusiastically as we eliminate negative energy and stuck feelings which leave us discontent. We found a new level of focused spiritual expression during Jupiter in Aries and now get to enjoy Jupiter’s steady and smooth cruise through Taurus from now till early 2024. Remember to have fun as you learn to dance into your future rather than be bogged down by the past.
We’re now past the first “fork in the road” of the cycle which began when Jupiter and Saturn conjuncted in Aquarius. We are now in a long term period of maximum productivity which will last all year. With each coming year, we’ll see definite movement away from the ideas which dominated the old 200 year Earth Era and see more of the emergent 200 year Air Era launched at the December 2020 Solstice.
This transitional period requires that we ask ourselves certain questions related to our spiritual purpose, fearless as we are One with the World Soul and walk through the world but are not “of” the world. We have been navigating the final season of humanity’s “liberating ordeal” while learning to find new inner strengths and powers the past three years, as well as assistance from Devas and Angels who bring “divine help when human efforts seem to fail.”
In the past 2 years, we’ve all reached some level on the “mountaintop” where we’ve found a “fellowship of spiritual Sisters and Brothers” we’re a part of. Demonstrate your skill, and remember that attaining the mountaintop only requires a) that we enjoy the view and accomplishment, and b) the awareness of when to begin the careful descent, since we don’t want to get caught on a mountaintop when lighting clouds are blowing in!
Forgiving much with compassion for the generic human condition, we are being released from all which doesn’t serve our momentum into our greater purpose. This is the heart of a global acceleration in transforming those who are part of a greater service and group work. Embrace a new identity, a new love, a new spiritual awareness, and a new spiritual expression in grounded ways, so keep your mind and heart open and keep coordinating your body, feelings, and mind to demonstrate a stable and harmonized Soul energy. That's a great part to play as we dance through life's changes!
A Meditation on Light and Shadow
Because life seems to be a never-ending experience of out-breathing elements of the past and in-breathing elements of the new, it is useful to remember that when we are moving through major changes, and something new is introduced into our lives, it means that something else must leave, or has already left, to provide space for the new to be embraced. And lesser wisdom must give way to greater wisdom, and old forms give way to newer realities. As I’ve offered before “enlightenment” is a verb more than it is a noun.
While sometimes having to say goodbye to older, lesser ways of life can be a drag, it is important to remember that even though life can occasionally be painful, we do not have to suffer. And as we learn to break the link between pain and suffering, we heal our part of humanity and the world.
For your contemplation, a final meditation I offer each month at the end of our Full Moon journey of exploration.
We are Light. All things are composed of Light in various frequencies that express as limitless forms. Some light frequencies are of greater density than others.
All shadows result from light hitting a dense object. Psychological shadows too. Therefore, it’s good to become as translucent and translucid as possible to dispel lurking shadows.
If you must look at and/or deal with shadows, whether your own or another’s, then refocus your Light on the object being illuminated, since that form is the source of the shadow.
Find the correct 4 angles of illuminating whatever you want to focus on, and all shadows will be dispelled. Then you’re seeing things with an illuminated mind, and can act accordingly.
© Copyright 2023 Robert Wilkinson
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