NATURAL RHYTHMS CONSULTING

The Sun, representing the fire of creativity, is the Invincible Spirit.  A piece of the Sun is held within each person, thereby interweaving vitality with purpose. So great is the universal wonder of the Sun that it must come in small doses, distributed in powerful increments as it travels over the course of a year.  While in actuality, all planetary bodies encircle the Sun, the Sun's apparent position, as seen from Earth, symbolizes the active presence of the Divine. At this New Moon, the Sun is aligned with the Moon at 9 Sagittarius 32.  This is a month aimed at restoring some of the joy and wonder of living, aided by the fire of creativity and the wide reach for Truth.

The Moon is the Receiver, reflecting the Sun's invincible spirit through her silver light.  She catches the  emotional attachments  and patterns developed  in response to the world. The Moon is paired with Saturn, as they rule opposite signs, and she is in an ever-changing relationship with the Sun over the course of the month. The Moon delights in shape-shifting, and does so through repetitive ebb and flow from night to day and from New to Full in predictable sequence.  In this monthly dance, Soul connects with Spirit, calling in the unique qualities that she will reflect through mind and emotions.  The current New Moon, standing with the Sun as described above, is also at 9 Sagittarius 32.   The Sabian Symbol for this degree reads as follows: A stage symbolization of the "Goddess of Opportunity".

THE NODAL AXIS
The transiting Lunar Nodes, represented by the dragon's head and tail, travel backwards through the Zodiac and function in polarity.  The Mean Node positions (vs. True Nodes) are viewed in Rx motion on the wheel.  Rudhyar described the nodal line as a fateful, destined space.  The North Node indicates that which one is challenged to achieve in life; the South Node suggests ancestral/inherited material available as resources.  Currently, the Nodal Axis is positioned in the Aries-Libra polarity:  self vs. other, assertion vs. compromise, war vs. peace are the themes to balance.  At this New Moon, the Nodal Axis is Rx at 3 degrees 07, with North Node Aries, South Node Libra.  Of special note is that the Nodal Axis is reaching its 18.6 year cyclic completion.  On January 11, 2025, the Nodes will be at the cardinal axis, beginning a new cycle. This is the time to attune to the truest and deepest Self, reaffirm purpose, and reset the vision with conscious intention. 

ECLIPSES occur due to the relationships between the Sun, the Moon, the Nodal Axis, and the Earth. They occur with regularity during Eclipse Seasons that last 6-8 weeks. They occur in pairs or trios.  Though the visual effect occurs on the day of, the influence can be felt before, during, and after, over a period of 3-6 months. The energies can be touched off by transits of key players to the "hot degree". 

Mercury, the messenger, brings in practical, clever, coordinated thinking. This planet symbolically gathers the details, processes and distributes information, and communicates solutions.  Mercury is  paired with Jupiter, as they rule opposite signs.  Mercury has 3-4 Retrograde (Rx) cycles every year. Each Rx period lasts approximately 3 weeks, and each offers a period of reflection, recalibration, revision, and resolution. Under this influence,  Mercury and the Sun exchange the message of a particular degree of the Zodiac. Mercury is restless, aiming to deliver the message and move on.  Clever, agile, and appreciative of humor,  Mercury will bring wisdom to the conversation with lightness and good will. At this New Moon,  Mercury is Rx for its final cycle of 2024 at 20 Sagittarius 20.  It will turn D on December 15 at 6 degrees Sagittarius. 

Venus is the social healer, representing peace, harmony, and beauty. The energy of this planet is about cultivating grace and refinement, and formulating aesthetics within relationships and resources.  Venus is paired with Mars, as they rule opposite signs.  The cycle of Venus cycle is complex and mysterious, beginning while Retrograde as an Evening Star, moving through conjunctions with the Sun, and shifting from Evening Star to Morning Star, and back again. Similar to Mercury, the Venus cycle recalibrates the relationship to the Sun. Venus reappeared as an Evening Star in the middle of the summer, and now she is rising after the Sun to shine  brilliantly for 7-8 months until her next Rx cycle in March, 2025.  At this New Moon, Venus stands at 23 Capricorn 01. Though she'd prefer Mars as a playmate, she is aligning with Pluto, a bit on guard.

Mars represents courage and the strength to meet challenges.  This warrior archetype works with action, drive and motivation, and can pierce and penetrate in swift motion.  At this New Moon, Mars is at slowing down at 5 Leo 57.  Mars will turn Rx on December 7, to underscore and process some of the emotional themes that have recently emerged. He will return to oppose Pluto on  January 3, 2025 and again on April 26-27, 2025.  Mars and Pluto together are extreme and excessive; the energies need to be channeled well. Venus perhaps will tone things down. 

Ceres (discovered January 1, 1801 at 23 Taurus 23 Rx), operates on the principle of nurturance.   Associated with the symbiotic child/mother relationship, Ceres represents creation, support, and sustenance for the physical body.  Ceres  has a 4.60 year orbital period, and is currently transiting at 27 Capricorn 52.

Pallas (discovered March 28, 1802 at 29 Virgo 57 Rx) is associated with the archetype of the daughter, envisioning and creating mental progeny and  nurturing  ideas that can be transformed into socially useful reality.  Pallas has a 4.62 year orbital period and is currently transiting at 0 Capricorn 07

Juno (discovered September 1, 1804 at 2 Aries 29 Rx) is associated with the archetype of the wife, who has made a commitment to a union with another, and who understands the cycles of  renewal and regeneration needed to keep the commitment.  Juno has a 4.36 year orbital period, and is currently  positioned at 9 Scorpio 29,  forming a T square with Mars-Pluto. 

Vesta (discovered March 29, 1807 at 29 Virgo 05 Rx), is associated with the archetype of sister.  She represents the self-contained woman, whole within herself, and fully committed to work or an ideal. Vesta has a 3.63 orbital period, and is currently transiting at 16 Libra 08  approaching an opposition to Chiron, and a trine to Jupiter, pointing to sisters who have a role in the healing journey.

The  Asteroid territory gives way to the social planet domain.   Jupiter represents wisdom-filled thinking.  As the archetype of the  wise guru, Jupiter encourages big picture growth that expands the world view. Functioning best as a problem solver, planner, or project manager, Jupiter has vision and enthusiastically takes the leap to create something big and wonderful. At this New Moon, Jupiter is Rx at 17 Gemini 09. Ideas abound and may have to be reigned in. 

The second social planet is Saturn, the Limit Setter.  Saturn operates on the principle of structure and form.  While setting limits and boundaries, Saturn provides karmic payback if necessary. Saturn relates to time, records, and solidity.  At this New Moon, Saturn is now Direct, at 12 Pisces 51.  In Pisces, Saturn emphasizes the advantages of building resilience and strength at all levels.  Saturn encourages personal  responsibility,  and acknowledges the hard work involved. Reminders of Saturn's presence can be found everywhere, sometimes  in the most unexpected places.  

Discovered on Nov. 1, 1977, at 3 Taurus 08 Rx, Chiron is a minor planet/comet/dwarf planet located between the orbits of Saturn and Uranus.  Sometimes referred to as the bridge, the key to the soul, or  the wounded healer, Chiron  represents the audacious attempts to push forward and to heal, despite the wounds.  It forms a bridge between the social limits of Saturn and the transpersonal realm of Uranus.  Chiron encourages alchemical transformation, processing and integration.  Rumi said: "The wound is the place where the Light enters you." Chiron has a 50 year orbit and is currently Rx at 19 Aries 22,\

Where the inner planets represent aspects of personality development, the outer planets push toward the transpersonal, providing a container for deeper development of consciousness.  The twists and turns of these bodies facilitate human evolution, sometimes disturbing peace of mind.  Uranus, the Awakener,  with its focus on intuitive consciousness, disrupts while aiming to awaken.  It is associated with quick, unexpected change that is freeing.  With its 84 year orbit, Uranus entered the sign of Taurus in March, 2019, and will remain there for 7 years, clarifying security, practicality, resources, and values.  Uranus, full of surprises, provides the energy to break tradition.  At this New Moon, Uranus is Rx at 24 Taurus 39.   This body will remain Rx until January 30, 2025.

Nebulous Neptune, with its focus on spiritual consciousness, embodies the archetype of the Magician.  This energy  can veil and it can push the veil away.  It deceives or dissolves the deceptive factors so that gems of spiritual truths can surface.  Spirituality involves the intrapersonal, the interpersonal, and the transpersonal, and Neptune excels at presenting the surreal dreamlike kaleidoscope of shifting reality to put us in touch with all three realms. Neptune is slow moving and reiterative, as it takes baby steps in 2-3 degree increments. Because Neptune uses compassion, imagination, and resonance to merge so subtly, Neptune's activation requires self-containment.  At this New Moon, Neptune stands Rx at 27 Pisces 08, squeezed between Saturn and the North Node. Neptune will conjoin the North Node on February 2, 2025 and Saturn on May 26, 2025. 

Unequivocal Pluto, with a focus on psychological consciousness, embodies the archetype of the Transformer.  Pluto aims to challenge Saturn's redundant patterns. Transformation begins at the center of deep emotional reactions.  Pluto brings to light things from the deepest recesses of the  unconscious. Small but mighty, Pluto has been  a major player since 2022.    At this New Moon, Pluto is Direct at 0 Aquarius 13.   The dance of opposition with Mars will continue through April, 2025.