COSMIC WEATHER
The beginning of something has significance, and what happens in the sky relates to what happens on Earth. The process of individuation involves working with the personal planets, moving through the asteroid belt, then on to the trends of the social planets, with Saturn as the first level of boundary. Balancing the benefits of these key ingredients, and moving through the acculturated limitations allows the crossing of the Centaur bridge where Chiron leads to the transpersonal planets; here, Pluto as the second level boundary. The transpersonal planets are challenging bodies, requiring awakening, flow, and presence before integration and groundedness push out to the new level boundary, Sedna. Understanding these dynamic energies, as demonstrated through the ever-changing cosmic weather, allows a greater ability to live connected to purpose and meaning.
The Sun is the Invincible Spirit. So great is this universal wonder that it must come in small doses, distributed as it travels around the Zodiac over the course of a year. The Sun's position symbolizes the active presence of the Divine. The Sun is currently in the sign of Capricorn. Having spent the last few weeks in South Declination, moving fast and creating very short days to rest and reflect, the Sun will begin its ascent and the days grow longer.
The Moon is the Receiver, catching emotional attachments, hooks, and patterns. The Moon receives and moves through her angular relationship with the Sun over the course of the month. The Moon delights in shape-shifting, and delights in the repetitive ebb and flow from night to day, from New to Full in predictable sequence. She reflects the Sun's invincible spirit through her silver light. We see this dance every month, beginning at the New Moon, timed for the Moon's alignment with the Sun. The alignment connects Soul with Spirit. The second December New Moon occurs with Sun and Moon aligned at 12 + Capricorn. With the fire, started by a spark in 100 mile winds blasting the news out of Boulder, Colorado, the bone-chilling Sabian Symbol at this degree reads as follows: Beneath snow clad peaks, a fire worshipper meditates.
HIGHLIGHTS 2020-23
THE ECLIPSE SEASONS
Eclipses occur in pairs or trios, and the effect can be felt two weeks prior to the first one as things heat up, the weeks between, and two weeks after the last one. This is called the Eclipse Season. In 2021, there are two Eclipse Seasons. The energies can be touched off at various times before or after the actual event, by transit of the Moon's nodal axis, or by the Sun, Moon, or Mars. Solar eclipses occur at New Moons, when the Moon covers or blocks the Sun, and casts a shadow on the Earth's surface. Lunar eclipses occur at Full Moons, when the Earth passes between the opposing Sun and the Moon creating a shadow across the Full Moon. The exactitude of the alignment defines the type (total, annular, partial, appulse). Eclipses resonate at different levels of consciousness. Solar eclipses suggest beginnings; Lunar eclipses suggest endings. Because the Sol-Lunar alignment involve the Moon's nodal axis, eclipses have a "destiny" quality to them. While there is a personal impact, with the position in the zodiac determining focus, the mundane impact is obvious in the making of history. Eclipses are also considered "active" for 6 months. Listed below are the still active 2021 eclipses, as well as the upcoming eclipses for 2022.
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November 19, 2021 Partial Lunar 27 TA 14 After: Feb. 15-16, 2022
- December 4, 2021 Total Solar 12 SA 22 Before: April 7-8, 2021
- April 30, 2022 Partial Solar 10 TA 28 After: Jan. 10-11 2023
- May 16, 2022 Total Lunar 25 SC 18 Before: March 3-4, 2022
- Oct. 25, 2022 Partial Solar 2 SC 00 After: June 23, 2023
- Nov. 8, 2022 Total Lunar 16 TA 00 Before: Aug. 22, 2022
PLANETARY LOCATIONS
Mercury is the communicator. Mercury has 3-4 Retrograde (Rx) cycles every year, each lasting approximately 3 weeks, and each offering a period of reflection, recalibration, revision, and resolution, as Mercury and the Sun exchange the message of a particular degree of the Zodiac. At this New Moon, Mercury is Direct at 0 + Aquarius, having entered the shadow arc (24+ CP - 10 AQ). Mercury turns Rx on January 14 at 10+ AQ. Free thinking, lofty ideas necessitate a measure of responsibility.
Venus refines, evaluates, and strives to make ideals real. Her 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. This cycle recalibrates Venus' relationship to the Sun. When an Evening Star--calm, mature, settled, and knowing her brilliance (as Venus is best seen outside the clutch of the Sun) she begins her new cycle. Venus turned entered the shadow arc (11 + CP-26 +CP) on November 18, 2021, and turned Rx at 26+ Capricorn on December 19, 2021. She has been pairing up with Pluto, and is currently at 22 + Capricorn, Rx. With Venus Rx, it is a time of evaluation and consideration of values. She will turn Direct on January 29, 2022, to rush into love and life for 9 months, restored and clear, epitomizing the feminine as the container of gestation.
Mars is the warrior on a mission, with energy that can pierce and penetrate in swift motion. At this New Moon, Mars is located at 14 + Sagittarius, Mars continues to assert his status as an internal warrior. What is the mission? Truth!
Jupiter, the planet of expansion, has moved, Direct, into 0+ Pisces at this New Moon. Jupiter is heading towards a conjunction with co-ruler Neptune in April.
Saturn is the planet that sets limitations and boundaries, while insisting on karmic payback. During 2021, Saturn squared off with Uranus three times. The first contact was Feb. 17 at 7 + Aquarius/Taurus. The second contact was June 14 at 13 + Aquarius/Taurus, and the third was on December 24th at 11+ Aquarius/Taurus. Blending the old with the new, integrating, and retrieving/reclaiming what is important is the theme. Saturn is Direct at 12 + Aquarius, on Neptune's heliocentric planetary node. Deepest dreams, ideals, and spirituality will be put to the test for grounding.
URANUS, NEPTUNE, PLUTO
The outer planets push us toward the transpersonal and provide a collective container for consciousness development. The twists and turns of these bodies facilitate our evolution, sometimes disturbing the peace of mind. Uranus, the Awakener, transforms. Uranus entered the sign of Taurus in March, 2019, and will remain there for the next 7 years, pointing to practicalities and resources. 2021 highlights two active players in the shift in consciousness, Uranus and Saturn. They made a square three times in 2021, as mentioned above. This is energy that breaks traditions, calibrates revolutionary ideas, and emerges with new and practical solutions, as the old is integrated with the new. This is a time when potential brilliance can be grounded and brought to Earth. Uranus is at 10+ Taurus, Rx until January 19. Disruption remains in the field.
Nebulous Neptune transcends, bringing the vicissitudes of the tides forward to be dissolved. Neptune is diving further into the oceanic fog where the gems of spiritual truths can surface. Neptune's ethereal nature continues to deliver the surreal dreamlike kaleidoscope of the shifting reality. Neptune turned Direct on December 2 and will meet up with co-ruler, Jupiter, on April 9-17, 2022 at 23-24 Pisces. This is a time when confusion can be expanded into a deeper spirituality, with compassion and profound healing. Jupiter is now at 0 + Pisces.
Unequivocal Pluto aligns with the principle of metamorphosis. Small but mighty, this Dwarf Planet has been steamrolling the reality we once knew, ensuring with the added strength of Saturn and Jupiter that transcendent structures have been formed to create a "before and after" awareness. Pluto is inching closer to the 27 + Capricorn position of the US Pluto, which will connect for three contacts: February 20, July 11, and Dec. 28, 2022. Pluto is currently Direct at 25+ Capricorn, with Venus approaching to soften the brutality we've been enduring.
THE LUNAR NODES
The transiting Lunar Nodes travel Rx through the Zodiac, and function in polarity. Rudhyar described the nodal line as a fateful, destined space. Working to generate awareness of social and global impact, the Nodal Axis is currently at 1+ Gemini/Sagittarius. We continue gathering data; we continue the quest for truth. The nodal axis moves into Taurus/Scorpio, shifting the focus to stability and depth, on January 18, 2022.
OTHER DWARF PLANETS
Ceres, associated with fertility and agriculture, is located in the Asteroid Belt between Mars and Jupiter. With an orbit of 4.6 years, Ceres is currently at 28 + Taurus, Rx. Lying in the Kuiper Belt as a TransNeptunian Object, Eris, with her 559 year orbit around the Sun, is associated with the strife and discord that emerges in the quest for justice. Eris is currently at 23 + Aries, Rx, squaring Pluto. Eris will move into Taurus in 2044. Another TransNeptunian Object, Sedna orbits the Sun in 11,408 years, and is associated with evolutionary consciousness. Sedna is currently situated at 28 + Taurus Rx, in the vicinity of the Pleiades/Seven Weeping Sisters fixed star cluster. Sedna moves into Gemini in 2024.
