The Lunar Planner

The Lunar Theme for the
December 14, 2001 New Moon

The Lunar Month of
December 14, 2001 - January 13, 2002

The Sting of Life

Nick Anthony Fiorenza

Our last New Moon of Nov 14 occurred upon the cusp of sidereal Libra-Scorpio, nesting within the Chelae (claws) of the Scorpion--revealing the nature of our entrapping patterns in need of surrendering. This lunar cycle begins with the Sun and Moon (an annular eclipse) lying upon the right leg of Ophiuchus, just over the star Lesath, the sting of the Scorpion, which marks the last degree of sidereal Scorpio. The Sting of Life provides the transmutational elixir to allow the death of our behavioral patterns and rebirth of our truer selves so we may rise to the demands of the times ahead--all being a part of the initiatory growth provided by the Scorpion's tenacious challenge.

Just south of the Scorpion lies Ara, the Altar of the Centaur. On the low altar, the Centaur places Lupus the Beast (our lower emotional baggage and carnal attachments to materiality), with conscious deliberation upon Ara's pyre to be consumed in the transmutational fire--the theme of our last lunar cycle.

The Centaur, placing Lupus upon the altar, indicates the choice and deliberate action to surrender lower-order ways of participating in the world--those associated with personality interest alone--to allow our higher-order self to manifest.

The Ara Initiation demands the release of all guilt, grief, judgment, anger, and pain associated with all incarnate experience--the self-important baggage we carry that is held even at soul level. Doing so allows us to claim the wisdom gained from soul's entire incarnational experience. If we do not, we continue to burn in the alchemical process. Only from this mature, humble and evolved self-awareness can we participate in the fulfillment of our soul's true mission on Earth.

Venom from Lesath, the sting of the Scorpion, dripping onto the altar, provides the required transmutational elixir--the often harsh but required lessons incurred while incarnate. Over the high altar (and just into sidereal Sagittarius) lies Galactic Centre where we can then claim our true enlightened essence, purpose and mission on Earth.

THE ANNULAR ECLIPSE

As an annular eclipse (visible from Costa Rica), this New Moon provides opportunity for us to sever from our past roles, and to commence anew from the alchemical transformation that we have attained throughout the last few lunar months.

CHIRON-PALLAS

This lunar cycle begins and ends with the Moon aligning with Chiron and Pallas, making the Chiron-Pallas theme a significant facet of this lunar month's theme.

Back in late October, Pallas and Chiron conjoined over Galactic Centre in sidereal Sagittarius, opening a way for the reemergence of the Divine Feminine in the world. This also began a healing cycle for the goddess. It began a new, several-year cycle that allows and asks the feminine to co-participate in a new creative way beyond the judgements of, and oppressions by, the old patriarchal force in the world. This upcoming several-year phase--setting this ideal--will continue to evolve through the next Pallas-Chiron conjunction occurring in 2007. This begins a spiritual healing period for the feminine--to come to participate from the evolved character of Pallas--from the all-embracing nature of the feminine principle in application of creative wisdom beyond the judgments of this side against that.

We can see the re-emergence of the matriarchal principle on the global stage being exemplified by the unveiling of the Afgan Women.

Most importantly, this cycle asks us all to evolve new ways of participating from beyond the judgments and choices of this side verses that--to honor that we all have been on both sides of the fence at one time or another, to claim our experience in duality as a foundation of wisdom, and to break new trail in applying our creative intelligence for solution to the paradoxes inherent in the dualities of incarnate life.

To learn of the psychophysiological qualities of Pallas, the other asteroids, and Chiron, please visit:

HUMANITARIAN CO-CREATIVE ACTION

In the last lunar cycle, Juno began its opposition cycle with Uranus, while Uranus moves into sidereal Aquarius (truly commencing the era of Humanitarianism). Juno's retrograde cycle began on October 21, when Juno (in sidereal Cancer) aligned with the star Dubhe, of Ursa Major. Juno is the asteroid of covenant partnerships, mutual equality and diplomatic relations. Dubhe asks us to be willing to fight for a greater vision (in our significant relations) in a way that serves the greater wellbeing of all parties and of all humanity. This expresses in our interpersonal relations as well as in relations between countries. The Juno-Uranus theme asks us to evolve from exclusive, covert relations to inclusive, open relations.

To learn more of the Juno-Uranus theme, and the Juno-Dubhe theme see the snippet:

The Time Line

Juno opposite Uranus Cycle
(as Uranus moves into sidereal Aquarius)
and the Juno Retrograde Cycle

Uranus fully enters sidereal Aquarius Feb, 2002	Uranus Retrograde Begins June 2, 2002

--------------------------------- Juno-Uranus Cycle ---------------------------------
Juno-Uranus 1st trigger Nov 6, 2001	Juno Ret Station Dec 25, 2001 Regulus	Juno-Uranus 2nd trigger Feb 2, 2002	Juno Direct Station Mar 27, 2002 Dubhe	Juno-Uranus 3rd Trigger June 9, 2002
--------- Juno Retrograde Period ---------
----------------------------------- Juno Retrograde Cycle -----------------------------------

Juno Ret Cycle begins
Oct 21, 2001 / Dubhe

Juno Ret Cycle completes
June 13, 2002 / Regulus

Juno beings its retrograde period in this lunar cycle just after the First Quarter (action) Moon of Dec 25. Juno also aspects the Sun and First Quarter Moon, bringing attention to the nature of our stimulus to action in this cycle, and to the essence of Juno's retrograde period that will continue through March 27, 2002. This alignment provides the impetus to act from mutual respect, equality, and humanitarianism. The Juno cycle of growth will complete on June 13, 2002.

Within the Juno-Dubhe theme (defined in the above mentioned snippet), Juno begins its retrograde period as it aligns with Regulus of Leo, Heart of the Lion--beginning a re-defining period for relationships. From Dec 25 through Feb 2, 2002, we are exploring the old way, From Feb2 through Mar 27, we identify a new way.

Regulus, Alpha Leo, is "Chief or King of the Four Royal Stars," governing Fomalhaut, Aldebaran, and Antares. Throughout antiquity, Regulus was associated with royalty and kings. Its name is given as "the Regulus" or "the Rex," meaning "Law Giver." Regulus (at 5° sidereal Leo) is the only one of the four stars aspecting the Holy Cross. Regulus is the administrative seat insuring that "local councils of light" maintain integrity to "Universal Directives of Source"--to the precessional forces directing the "Evolutionary Cycle of the Soul." As an example, Regulus oversees younger stellar administrative seats, such as the Pleiades' Alcyone, ensuring local efforts do not wander to far along their typical evolutionary tangents. Regulus demands integrity to Source.

On the personal level, Regulus is of integrity to, and completeness with self aligned with source / soul directives--thus ensuring we do not wander away from our Truth upheld by and found only in the Heart. Regulus demands a vertical attunement in Source–Soul–spiritual–mental–emotional–physical–Earth allegiance. This vertical attunement, or personal integrity must precede any horizontal, humanitarian participation in the world--embodied by Leo's opposite, Aquarian pole). Without this inner integrity, its opposite pole, "the Water Bearer," is self sacrificing, entrapped in a sympathetic resonance, giving self away at the cost of one's heart truth.

The unevolved Regulus personality is confused about this inner integrity / outer involvement paradox, desiring to be the glittering one on stage, but for the wrong reason, confused that brilliance is something to step into rather than to express from within self. They idolize and envy the true and integrous celebrities or leaders. The awakened Regulus personality knows the fusion–process of carbon into diamond, and that the diamond is complete in its beauty, seeking not more, as it already has become. Awakened Regulus is incapable of corruption, self-sacrifice, avarice, and alluring, as nothing can lure what is already complete. The unevolved still seeks to conquer the outer world, leaving one with the lesson to learn it is self that must transform--being both cause and effect. This is to become self-integrous, in this vertical attunement.

Regulus embodies the secret teachings of the Lion Path. To enter this "Place of the Lion," one requires undaunted purity, seeking only perfection for perfection's sake. Regulus is the inner sanctuary of the heart. On the Earth, Regulus is of all places of "de Leon."

The Juno-Regulus retrograde period (Dec 25, 2001--Mar 27, 2002) occurring within the Juno-Dubhe retrograde cycle (Oct 21, 2001--June 13, 2002) (opposite Uranus) asks us to co-participate with a greater humanitarian vision from mutual equality and respect, not from dominion over another or from self-sacrifice, but in our personal integrity to our soul's / heart's truth.

The solstice occurs on Fri Dec 21, 19:22 GMT, (Fri Dec 21, 12:22 PM MST)., immediately prior to the First Quarter Moon--thus making the above Juno theme our "solar theme," extending throughout the forthcoming year--with a "stimulus to action."

Saturn and Vesta, both retrograde, respectively align with Aldebaran and the Pleiades. The Saturn-Aldebaran theme is touched upon in the snippet: Saturn,

In the imagery of galactic myth, Alcyone of the Pleiades, at ~5° sidereal Taurus, is the administrative seat for a group of younger soul emissary starseeds incarnate on Earth who, in order to graduate into the "Office of the Christ," are responsible for the seeding of the Vision of Aldebaran: to demonstrate responsible non-interfering aid to support Earthian souls though a monumental evolutionary transition. Pleiades indicates the need to initiate or seed physical action. In classical astrology, afflicted alignments with the Pleiades can indicate catastrophic events or blunderings--although this is not the suggested by our current Vesta alignment--due to the nebulosity around the these younger stars.

The fall of the starseeds from the awareness of the vision upon which they were sanctioned to Earth is articulated by the journey through the first half of sidereal Taurus. Lying between the Pleiades and Aldebaran, not only in ecliptical longitude, but also in distance, is the Hyades asterism. (Alcyone is ~450 light years from Earth, the Hyades ~150, & Aldebaran ~68 light years.) As the journey goes from Alcyone to Aldebaran, Hyades embodies the diversionary fall of the starseeds in the physical world, into Hell; i.e., the gods and goddesses having become lost in the carnal lure and incarnational dilemma itself--all leading to a genetic mess, resulting in their degeneration, death, and rebirth into the human evolutionary stream.

In this process the emissaries lost the vision of that which they were to manifest, were faced instead with a sobering realization of having become lost and stuck in the mud, and must now find their way out, let alone remember their original covenant with their soul families to accomplish their greater soul mission.

In this stellar mythos, alignments to Hyades are indicative of those who forgot their greater soul heritage and purpose, who carry issues of having been lured and lost in primal human sexual involvement through inappropriate intermingling of creative energies, and resultantly are confused about their true soul identity. In Hyades, one can be extremely slow to change, sometimes not until it is too late, or when the door of opportunity literally has passed.

Perseus, overseeing the first half of sidereal Taurus, is a heroic emissary who has maintained full cognitive awareness of his soul mission to ensure evolutionary freedom and fulfillment from the entrapment of Human collective consciousness. The Perseus theme embodies the initiative process of claiming one's self-mastery to act in such heroic capacity. To learn of Perseus, see the snippet:

A key part of the Vesta-Saturn retrograde theme is of getting clear, committed, and focused on our responsibility to get out of our diversional confusions in life, and initiate action to ensure the manifestation of our true purpose on Earth.

The Full Moon (penumbra) eclipse of Dec 30 is visible in much of the Western Hemisphere: in the US; Canada; Mexico; and Hawaii. Conjoining retrograde Jupiter a few hours after, it creates a festive and expansive Full Moon atmosphere (especially Dec 29). Also occurring is Mars squaring Pluto--perhaps making for a potent year's finale.

The Full Moon eclipse lies in the midst of the Twins (Sidereal Gemini) aligning with Alhena, the left foot of Pollux. Alhena is the brand, or mark. Alhena represents "commencement" and asks us to act on our greater soul truth and purpose. Alhena is a marking stone for the unfoldment of what is ahead. It indicates a milestone or a turning point has been reached and indicates the need to get off of the fence of indecision, to drop any hesitation, as the "time is at hand" to go forth anew. As the brand, Alhena can indicate that one is marked in some way.

Although Mercury does not begin its retrograde period until Jan 18, in the following lunar cycle, the Mercury retrograde cycle begins on Jan 2 (on the Disseminating Moon) setting the theme of the cycle as it resides in the first decan of sidereal Capricorn. This precedes a very potent trigger on Jan 9 and 10 (on the Balsamic Moon) with Neptune, Saturn and Jupiter--making for a very volatile day as the Moon aligns with Pluto.

The stars of early Capricorn are those of war, covert maneuvers, and self-interest, but also of secret places, sacred sites, and mystical orders. To learn of these stars and their themes see the snippet:

Our Mercury cycle will be one of redefining logistics of a personal nature--our strategies in our personal and professional lives. We will look more at Mercury's retrograde theme in the following, "potent" Lunar Month (beginning January 13, 2002).

This Lunar Month ends with Moon conjoining Venus just before the New Moon of Jan 13, 2002. The 24 hour period preceding the New Moon (Jan 12) is a time of total surrender--here, into Heart.