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 entered the sign of Libra on September 22, 2022, transitioning from the moment of equal day and night to the glorious season of Autumn in New England, with its shifting beauty.
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, reflecting the Sun's invincible spirit through her silver light. The Moon delights in shape-shifting, and in the repetitive ebb and flow from night to day and from New to Full in predictable sequence. We see this dance every month, beginning at the New Moon, timed for the Moon's alignment with the Sun, where Soul is connected with Spirit. The Libra New Moon occurs with Sun and Moon aligned at 2+ Libra on September 25, 2022. The Sabian Symbol for this degree reads as follows: A new day dawns, revealing a world utterly transformed.
HIGHLIGHTS 2020-2023
Historic 2019, 20, and 21 are now over, and we are in the integration phase of key aspects of these years during 2022. The Jupiter-Neptune square aspect of 2019, the Saturn-Pluto conjunction of January 13, 2020 (at the node of Saturn) set the tone for the global pause, and the four-time Saturn-Uranus square of 2021-22 reverberated and penetrated the psyche due to aftershocks of the protracted pandemic. At so many levels, the energies are pushing and disrupting for change. In the United States, the pressure continues to be applied to the US Pluto position at 27 + Capricorn, with three direct contacts through 2022 (detailed below). The transcendent structures exposed as necessary since 2019 are still being tested, as we are called to create the future.
THE ECLIPSE SEASONS
Eclipses occur in pairs or trios. Though the visual effect occurs on the day of, the influence can be felt before, during, and after, covering an immediate period of 6-8 weeks (the eclipse season), and also up to 6 months. The energies can be touched off at various times, depending on the location of the Moon's nodal axis, the Sun, the Moon, or Mars. Solar eclipses occur at New Moons, when the Moon eclipses or blocks the Sun, so that there is an eerie shadow cast 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 eclipses involve the alignments of the Sun, the Moon, and the 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. Key trigger point dates for sensitivity of the degree is often before or after the exact date. We are entering the Autumn eclipse season. The 2022 eclipses are listed below.
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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 Retrograde at 27 + Virgo. Analysis and discernment are being polished up. The message of this Retrograde period is suggested in the following symbolism: A canoe leaving narrow rapids reaches calm waters. How do we reach calm? What skills are needed to negotiate the tricky areas? Mercury will turn Direct on October 2.
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 began her new cycle on December 19, 2021. She had her maximum elongation east in April; she sped up to have her heliacal setting east on September 12, and as a direct morning star, she moves into exterior conjunction with the Sun on October 21, 2022. Venus is currently Direct, at 25 + Virgo.
Mars is the warrior on a mission, with energy that can pierce and penetrate in swift motion. Mars will turn Retrograde on October 31, 2022 at 19 + Gemini. At this New Moon, Mars is located at 18 + Gemini. Mars is restless here, not as clear on right action. Saturn helps to bring some form, but Neptune acts like the tide on the sand castles. Mars will turn Retrograde on October 30 at 25+ Gemini, and will remain so until January 13, 2023 at 8 + Gemini.
Jupiter is the planet of expansion. Jupiter wants to jump right in and make a commitment to something big and wonderful, but there is the need to slow it down and rethink the approach through November during the Retrograde period. Revisit or clean up the residuals from the last year so that by December when Jupiter is back in Aries Direct, the slate is clean and and ready. At this New Moon, Jupiter is Retrograde at 3+ Aries and will keep backing up until Nov. 23, 2022 at 28+ Pisces.
Saturn is the planet that sets limitations and boundaries, while insisting on karmic payback. During 2021, Saturn squared off with Uranus three times to blend the old with the new, the human with the transpersonal; this energy is still reverberating, and will make it's final contact, with both planets Rx, on October 6, 2022 at 18+ fixed. Saturn turned Rx on June 4. The task-master Saturn offers a reminder that the wide humanitarian horizon requires a structured and ethical approach. At this New Moon Saturn is Retrograde at 19 + Aquarius, and will turn Direct on October 22 at 18 + Aquarius.
CHIRON, URANUS, NEPTUNE, PLUTO
Referred to as The Wounded Healer, Chiron is a minor planet/comet/dwarf planet located between the orbits of Saturn and Uranus. Sometimes representing audacious attempts, pushing forward despite the wounds, it forms a bridge between the Chaldean limits represented by Saturn and the transpersonal realm represented by Uranus. Chiron has a 50 year eccentric orbit and is currently located at 14+ Aries, Rx.
The outer planets push us toward the transpersonal and provide a collective container for the development of consciousness. The twists and turns of these bodies facilitate our evolution, sometimes disturbing 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, resources, and values. Uranus provides energy to break traditions and calibrate revolutionary ideas. Technology continues to amaze, and is becoming more practical, and therefore seen as necessary, as potential brilliance is being grounded and brought to Earth. Uranus turned Retrograde on August 24, 2022 and will remain so until January 22, 2023. It is a restless and disquieting time, as disruption continues to agitate the field. At this New Moon, Uranus is currently Retrograde at 18 + Taurus.
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 Rx on June 28, and will remain so until Dec. 3. This is a time when confusion can be expanded into a deeper intuition and spirituality, with compassion and profound healing. The symbols are all around to offer clues. At this New Moon, slow moving Neptune remains Retrograde at 23 + 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. At this New Moon, Pluto is Retrograde at 26+ Capricorn, and will remain so until October 8. Pluto is making three contacts with the US Pluto in 2022: February 20 (the situation: the Russian attack on Ukraine); July 11 (how it develops: economic stress); and Dec. 28, 2022 (how it is left).
THE LUNAR NODES
The transiting Lunar Nodes travel backwards through the Zodiac, and function in polarity. Rudhyar described the nodal line as a fateful, destined space. At this New Moon, the Nodal Axis is at 13+ Taurus (NNode)-Scorpio (SNode). The focus is now on practicality as well as elements of survival. What are the values? What are the traps? What is needed?
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+ Leo. 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, activating the sentiment of resistence to exclusion. Eris is currently at 24 + Aries. 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 29 + Taurus, in the vicinity of the Pleiades/Seven Weeping Sisters fixed star cluster. This position gives deep sadness and a feeling of betrayal as values are disrespected. Sedna moves into Gemini in 2024.
