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 Cancer at the Summer Solstice on June 20, 2020. Cancer represents family ties, safety, nurturance, inclusion, full expression, and the qualities associated with the universal Mother archetype.
The Moon is the Receiver. As the Sun energizes her, she receives and moves through her angular relationship with him over the course of the month. She delights in shape-shifting. She 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 June New Moon occurred just prior to an Annular Solar Eclipse at the World Axis of 0 + Cancer on June 21, 2020. The Sabian Symbol for this powerful event reads as follows: A sailor is ready to hoist a new flag to replace the old one. Visually, this New Moon lies just beyond the bowl formed by the Lunar Nodes, containing all the other planets except for Mercury.
HIGHLIGHTS 2020-2023
Saturn and Pluto joined with the Sun on Jan. 13, 2020 at 22 degrees Capricorn on the node of Saturn, with Jupiter not far behind. 2020 took off. On a mundane level, the pressure being applied to the US Pluto position of 27 + Capricorn is bringing forth an immediate need to build transcendent structures socio-politically. On a natal level, the same principle applies. It feels as if we are at an evolutionary precipice, built on the Jupiter-Neptune square of 2019 and the Saturn-Pluto conjunction of 2020. Enduring confinement, facing the elephant in the room in the now, we are being called to action to move beyond the past to create the future. The most recent and upcoming eclipses are intensifying the flow.
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 2020, we have three 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. The dates for 2020 are listed below:
- December 26, 2019 Annular Solar 4 CP 07 Impact felt after: March 22, 2020.
- January 10, 2020 Appulse Lunar 20 CN 00 Impact felt before: May 4-5, 2019
- June 5, 2020 Appulse Lunar 15 SG 34 Impact felt after: March 1, 2021
- June 21, 2020 Annular Solar 00 CN 22 Impact felt before: April 25-26, 2020
- July 5, 2020 Appulse Lunar 13 CP 38 Impact felt before: Sept. 30-Oct. 1, 2019
- November 30, 2020 Appulse Lunar 8 GE 38 Impact felt after: August 6, 2021
- December 14, 2020 Total Solar 23 SG 08 Impact felt before: Sept. 30-Oct. 1, 2020
PLANETARY LOCATIONS
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. On June 17, Mercury turned Rx at 14+ Cancer. At this New Moon, Mercury is moving backwards until July 11, 2020. Thoughts and conversations revolve around family matters. Mercury's remaining Rx period for 2020 is October 13 (11 + Scorpio)-November 3.
The 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. It allows Venus to recalibrate her 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 began her new cycle on May 13, 2020, with a turn Rx at 21 + Gemini. This Rx period gives her an opportunity to recalibrate her relationship with the Sun. The Rx degree is near her heliocentric planetary node position (16 Gemini/Sagittarius), which is also close to that of Uranus (13 Gemini/Sagittarius). Communication, neighborhoods, diversity, and truth are some of the related focal points. Perigrine in Gemini, she will find her outlets through Mercury during this cycle. Communication is key, particularly with both planets Rx between June 17 and June 24. Rx, Venus had her heliacal rising on June 9, has shifted to a Morning Star, and is rising ahead of the Sun. Her brilliance is no longer obscured. She will station Direct on June 24.
Mars will also have a Rx cycle this year, while at 28 + Aries, during the months of September-November. At this New Moon, Mars is at 25 + Pisces, perigrine and working through Neptune, close by and about to turn Rx at 20 + Pisces. Mars, a bit confused, is NOT happy, and is growing impatient. He will be glad to move into Aries on June 27, where he is the great and powerful warrior.
Jupiter, Rx since May 15, is currently at 25+ Capricorn, "besieged" by the clustered energy of Pluto and Saturn. Having aligned with Pluto on April 4, Jupiter will make another contact on June 30, and again on November 2, before joining Saturn in Aquarius at the Winter Solstice, 2020. In Capricorn, Jupiter is in its fall, and working through Saturn. This means hard work, discipline, restriction, but because Rx Jupiter will be Rx all summer, there is opportunity for internal spiritual renewal. Jupiter will turn Direct on September 12.
Saturn entered the sign of Aquarius on March 21, 2020, just after the Equinox. This significant ingress at the significant degree seeds the developments we can expect in the upcoming 3 years. Saturn turned Rx on May 11, 2020, will move back into Capricorn, and will finish up the work of putting necessary controls in place. Saturn will join with Jupiter at the Winter Solstice, 2020. Currently, Saturn is Rx at 0 + Aquarius.
URANUS, NEPTUNE, PLUTO, and the NORTH NODE: Twists and Turns
The outer planets push us toward the transpersonal realm of consciousness. The twists and turns of these bodies facilitate our evolution, sometimes disturbing the peace of mind. Uranus, the Awakener, is currently Direct at 9 +Taurus. Uranus will remain in the sign of Taurus for the next 7 years, pointing to practicalities and resources. Active players in the shift in consciousness, Uranus and Saturn in their 7 degree fixed square (Taurus-Aquarius) in early 2021 will break traditions, control revolutionary ideas, and emerge with new solutions. This is a time of potential brilliance. A saying from the Upanishads comes to mind: "Lead me from the unreal to the real, from darkness to light, from death to immortality." Bring in the Light! Uranus turns Rx on August 15 at 10 + Taurus.
Nebulous Neptune, bringing the vicissitudes of the tides forward, is stationing Rx on June 23, 2020, happily in its own sign of Pisces. Neptune is diving further into the oceanic fog of chaos and confusion, prompting the question: Where is the truth? With germs, hospitalizations, compassion, service, and suffering a focal point, Neptune's ethereal nature continues to deliver the surreal dreamlike kaleidoscope of the shifting reality.
Unequivocal Pluto turned Rx on April 25. Transcendent structures are being formulated in the perspective shift from "before" to "after". Still clustered with Jupiter and Saturn, Pluto currently stands at 24 + Capricorn, and will remain Rx until October 4.
Rudhyar described the nodal line as a fateful space. The transiting Nodal Axis has begun its Rx travel through the polarity of Gemini-Sagittarius. The various plays of the outer planets have been driving home the need to review the past, release enmeshed patterns, and to approach structural revision. This is seeping in on the intrapersonal, interpersonal, and transpersonal levels. Working to generate awareness of social and global impact, the Nodal Axis is currently at 29 Gemini-Sagittarius.
SEDNA lies beyond Saturn's Chaldean boundary, and beyond Pluto's transpersonal boundary. Considered by some to be the new outermost planet in our solar system, Sedna represents a new boundary, one related to a spiritual evolutionary consciousness. Sedna is moving Rx at 28+ Taurus, at the Pleiades/Seven Weeping Sisters Fixed Star Cluster (29 degrees of Taurus). The Seven Sisters have something to cry about--the way we live, our use of resources, our vulnerability despite the bluster. Slow moving, Sedna moves into Gemini in 2024.
