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 Leo, the Lion. Leo puts the focus on sovereignty. It is the sign of self assurance, confidence, rulership, and vitality.
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 Leo New Moon occurs with Sun and Moon aligned at 5+ Leo on July 28, 2022. The Sabian Symbol for this degree reads as follows: An old-fashioned belle and flapper admire each other.
HIGHLIGHTS 2020-23
Historic 2019, 2020, and 2021 are now over, and we remain in the integration phase of the key aspects of these years. The Jupiter-Neptune square aspect of 2019 and the Saturn-Pluto conjunction of January 13 at the node of Saturn set the tone for the global pause, and the three time Saturn-Uranus square of 2021 allowed the energies to reverberate and penetrate 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, making three direct contacts through 2022. The transcendent structures exposed as necessary will be tested, as we are called to create the future. Transformation is never easy; it takes time and focus to yield results.
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 eclipse season of 6-8 weeks, 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. Feb. 12-March 4, 2022 were weeks to watch, as two eclipses (the Nov. 19, 2021 and the May 16, 2022 eclipses) were touched off on the late Taurus-Scorpio polarity, along with the 1st pass of the US Pluto conjunction at 27 Capricorn (Feb. 20, July 11, Dec. 28, 2022), and the Venus-Mars conjunction at 14 + Capricorn, 4 degrees away from Jupiter's South Node. And we see it...the Russian attack on Ukraine on Feb. 24. Proximity to North Node at 25, and Sedna at 28, with Uranus not far behind at 11, suggests a mood of betrayal. And near the Pleiades, it is tragic, presenting the world with something to cry about. The 2022 eclipses are listed below. The Spring eclipse season concludes on Monday May 30, 2022.
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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 Direct, at 18+ Leo. Take the opportunity to think and talk about yourself and what gives you a sense of vitality. Think about it; own it; express it.
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. In April Venus had her maximum elongation east. She will speed up over the next 5 months before she has her Heliacal Setting East on September 12. Venus is currently Direct, at 12 + Cancer. She is casting a nurturing love in her interactions.
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 15+ Taurus. Mars is traveling with Uranus and the North Node, approaching a powerful conjunction on August 1. This is the time for work that needs the strength of the bull, but care can be taken to avoid sudden inflammation in neck, teeth, ears. This energy is good for getting things done--plowing the fields comes to mind. A project is good for Mars, but not too brutal in approach, please.
Jupiter, the planet of expansion. Turning Rx just hours after the New Moon's exactitude, Jupiter is located at 8+ Aries (Rx). In Aries, 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. 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 you are ready.
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 Rx, on October 6, 2022 at 18+ fixed. Saturn turned Rx on June 4, and will remain so until Oct 23. The task-master Saturn offers a reminder that the wide humanitarian horizon requires a structured and ethical approach. At this New Moon Saturn is at 23 + Aquarius Rx. NOTE: During September, six of the planets will be Rx (Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto).
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 referred to as 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 16+ 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. At this New Moon, Uranus is Direct at 16+ Taurus and coming to a dynamic conjunction with the North Node and Mars on August 1. It is a restless and disquieting time. Uranus will turn Rx on August 25. 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 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. Currently slow moving Neptune remains at 25 + Pisces Rx.
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 Rx at 27+ Capricorn, and will remain so until October. 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 Rx 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 now at 18+ Taurus (NNode)-Scorpio (SNode), coming up to the 15 year conjunction with Uranus on August 1. This time, they will be joined by Mars, as noted above. The fiery focus is now on practicality as well as elements of survival. What are the values? What are the traps?
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 1 + 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 25 + 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.
