The Lunar Planner: This Month's Lunar Theme & Moon Calendar

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The Lunar Theme for the
October 21-22, 2006 New Moon

Mutual Support in Action

The Lunar Month of
October 21-22 2006 - Nov 20, 2006

Nick Anthony Fiorenza

Astronomical Myth is a "picture language," imagery that articulates the qualities of cosmic intelligence expressing throughout the greater heavens and through our lives. We are not separate from the greater heavens, from the stars and planets around us, or from our beloved Earth, but are intimate parts of this dynamic, continually unfolding heavenly symphony. This entirety is our cosmic consciousness, the totality of our being. To explore the greater heavens and the heavenly cycles is to explore that which we are--our embracing consciousness and our spiritual evolution.

The stars would not be in the heavens
if we were meant to walk in darkness.

Please remember that the purpose of the Lunar Planner is to learn to live in the experiential awareness of the present. Although the material below can provide philosophical context for your personal experience, the New Moon is the ideal time to experientially "tune in" to get your unique new lunar month theme. Then, consciously participate with the changing Lunar Phase Characteristics in the unfoldment of that theme in your daily life.

This Lunar Cycle

This Lunar Cycle is a powerhouse--packed with many dynamic astrological events--so I may be a bit long-winded on this one.

Our New Moon of Oct 21-22, 2006 resides in early sidereal Libra, but in the constellation of Virgo. The Virgin lies supine on the ecliptic giving birth into the clutches of the Scorpion. The Virgin's upper body composes the sidereal sign of Virgo. Her base chakra (Spika) marks the cusp of sidereal Virgo / Libra and her legs extend through the first half of sidereal Libra. The two primary stars of Libra (Zubenelgenubi and Zubeneschamalli, which lie in late sidereal Libra), in modern time are the scales of Libra. However, they are also the claws of the Scorpion (as depicted in Johann Keppler's Ophiuchus).

From Johannes Kepler 'De Stella Nova' (Prague, 1606).
Courtesy of the Archives, California Institute of Technology
In this image the Scorpion's claws are marked by
Zubenelgenubi and Zubeneschamalli--the scales of modern Libra.

In our modern imaging, the claws of the Scorpion and the legs of the Virgin had been severed from our stellar mythos and so too a profound revelation. Envision instead the Scorpion reaching back from the sign of Scorpio into Libra receiving the soul birthing from the legs Virgin into the reincarnational (clutches) cycle of growth through the balance of experience. I dub the first half of sidereal Libra "under the skirt of the Virgin"--to articulate the occulted revelation of his greater imaging--now obscured in modern time.

Bootes stands over the Virgin giving birth, which articulates the theme of protection, of creating and ensuring a proper and harmonious environment for the birth and evolutionary growth of the soul. Below the Virgin's feet and the claws of the Scorpion is the Centuar (and Southern Cross) who teaches the right way to live to achieve self-mastery and evolutionary freedom from the karmic/dharmic cycle of soul growth. Standing upon the Scorpion is Ophiuchus (the 13th ecliptical constellation, not sign). Ophiuchus holds the serpent reaching for the Northern Crown, which lies north above the Virgin's feet and Scorpion's claws, the emblem of such freedom, and which Ophiuchus exemplifies. Learn more in the "Astronomical Truth of the Virgin."

Our New Moon, in early sidereal Libra, nests in the upper thighs of the Virgin, a part of Libra articulating the theme of mutual support. The thighs, as a body part, correspond to the theme of support: The back of the thighs are past support, the front of the thighs are future support, the outer thighs are external support, and the inner thighs are of intimate support. The first part of Libra is about creating, finding, or ensuring a nurturing and harmonious supportive immediate environment.

Our New Moon also conjoins Mars, thus engaging the psychophysiological qualities of Mars into our lunar theme. Here the focus is about use of our creative power in the context of participating in mutual support with each other to birth something new in our lives.

Our Mars New Moon specifically conjoins the Theta Carina Open Star Cluster, which lies in the very southern constellation Argo Navis; and also Centaurus X-3, a potent neutron star / black hole.

The Centaurus X-3 black hole lies exactly on the galactic equator, just above the Theta Carina star cluster of Argo Navis. Both align closely with Miaplacidus, the Beta star of the Argo. Cen X-3 contributes significantly to the theme of early sidereal Libra--accessing galactic evolutionary currents which provide a greater evolutionary context for evolving souls that transcend this mere lifetime. The events occurring here extend far beyond the mere present moment--stretching through spacetime. Here we are involved with opening portals in our lives that can change our evolutionary course.

Cen X-3 provides us the capacity to function from an encompassing transcendent vision and perspective that straddles the present events of the visible world. Here perception embraces far more than the space of any given moment, thus providing us the opportunity to act in the moment with an almost certainty of how the timestream will unfold. It allows us the opportunity to walk away from the mundane, from what is established in our lives, from what seems to make sense to onlookers, and to leap into the void knowing there are subtle but greater currents supporting the move. Here we can gain access to soul-level currents and participate in harmony with those currents that can lead us to our greater fulfillment. Like with all black, holes, this requires and all or nothing act with no in-betweens. Such action, to delve deep, to jump into an abyss, to take that leap of faith, can yield a place of far greater beauty and fulfillment than we had known before.

Mars in Realization

Immediately after the New Moon, the Sun conjoins Mars, which marks the halfway point in the current Mars 780-day synodic cycle, which began last November. Our current Mars cycle is about freeing ourselves from the entrapping jaws of the fear-based technobureaucratic monster of collective human consciousness. The theme of this Mars synodic cycle was presented in the Nov 1, 2005 Lunar Cycle. This halfway point in the Mars cycle is much like the halfway (Full Moon) point in a lunar cycle. It is where we climax in enthusiasm and have realizations regarding how we are applying our creative power within the synodic cycle theme.

Mercury and Jupiter also conjoin on Oct 22. This is the first of three Mercury-Jupiter conjunctions, the next will occur during Mercury retrograde in this lunar cycle, and the third on Dec 10 after Mercury returns direct. The first trigger occurs in late sidereal Libra aligning with Unukalhai of Serpens, the neck of the serpent reaching toward the Northern Crown. Unukalhai embodies the principle of claiming our self-mastery, our self-empowerment. The entire Mercury retrograde-Jupiter period provides a wonderful energetic synthesis with opportunity to re-define and evolve expansive and mobilizing logistical plans that lead to a greater freedom of being for all parties. It is an ideal time for evolving financial and business logistics as well.

The few-day dynamics kicking off this New Moon set in motion a mobilizing and potent lunar cycle, one highlighting creative action in mutual support that can lead to our greater self-mastery and fulfillment in the world.

Venus and Mars also conjoin in early Libra on Oct 24 synthesizing the Mars and Venus principles--that of living true to heart while applying creative power in action.

Venus and Mars conjoin Miaplacidus, Beta Carina of Argo Navis. Miaplacidus is the second most important star of the Argo--the first being Canopus, Alpha Carina (the helmsman). Miaplacidus is of navigation and migration or pilgrimage to appropriate places and creating spaces of harmony for a new birth in life.

Miaplacidus also embodies the artscience of astronomical Earthgrid mapping work and cartography. "Mia" is of greater universal flowing waters of Source; and "Placidus" is of grid-navigational-mapping. Miaplacidus creates a significant part of the theme of Carina, the keel of the Argo. Miaplacidus involves spacetime navigational mapping of cosmic evolutionary currents (evolutionary intelligence) that naturally occur in the greater ocean of Unified Creative Substance, the ocean of Divine Love in which we live; or more simply put, the mapping of Earth's and our natural, and currently accelerating, evolutionary process. More succinctly, Miaplacidus inspires us to find and ensure a harmonious environment in space and time for the pursuit of our purpose and our greater fulfillment and wellbeing.

Allen (Star Names: Their Lore and Meaning) points out the name is possibly derived from Maïa-placidus, and that Higgins asserts it to be from Miyah, the plural of the Arabic Mâ, Water, but the original better described as Mi'ah. In either case the essence here is that of the navigation upon the waters, but meaning more than the waters of the Earth, but the galactic waters of light, which comprise the flowing essence from which manifestation comes. Also let us note that the Indian Sanskrit Maya is indicative of the illusory nature of the solidification of light, matter, which hides the flow of the waters of light, or the "creative power of God."

The Earthgrid is not a separate isolated geometry. Astronomical orientations and geometries provide the dynamic activation of the Earthgrid--making active specific places at specific times in one symbiotic process that supports the spiritual awakening of Earth and humanity. This same spacetime activation process occurs in our individual lives (like can be seen in the unfoldment of natal astrology chart). On a personal level, the Miaplacidus theme brings attention to traveling to or moving to appropriate locations on the Earth at different times in our lives that support our evolutionary fulfillment. Identifying the right place and the right time can be an intuitive process and / or one mapped at an individual level with the artsciences of Astronomical Earthgrid Mapping (or astro-cartography).

A few other significant aspects increase the potentcy of our Crerscent Moon and this lunar cycle. The Lunar Nodes create a potent "T-square" with Pluto. Pluto is now nesting in the significant first degree of sidereal Sag--catalyzing a major shift in the role of Pluto in our lives. See "Pluto's First Synod in Sidereal Sagittarius" and also "Pluto Demoted: Officially no longer a planet." Thus the nodes are cuspal as well, in their respective signs.

Shortly after, Jupiter then separates in square from Saturn on Oct 25, also in the crescendo to the Crescent Moon. This dynamic aspect is one of action and movement--mobilizing and expanding upon any constructs in our lives, especially structures (business, financial, etc) designed to break trail in new areas; and also any long standing stagnate situations requiring movement. This marks the primary first-quarter phase change in the Jupiter-Saturn ~20 year (cycle)--one that could be quite catalyzing. This cycle began in 2000.

It is not uncommon for strong geophysical resonances (seismicity) to occur during significant astrological aspects (harmonics) like these depending on how and where they orient through the Earthgrid. This will be the case throughout this lunar cycle.

Expanding on the Theme

The hours before the Crescent Moon provide a time when we relinquish patterns of the past that would limit our creative ability to expand on the theme now unfolding. The Crescent Moon is the time when the sprouting seedling sloughs off its protective coat of the past and emerges in its new expression. As the Crescent Moon unfolds, the growing phase of the lunar cycle begins as we start to amalgamate our personal creativity with the original lunar theme.

This Crescent Moon of Oct 25-26 resides in late sidereal Scorpio and conjoins Sabik of Ophiuchus; the Terzan 2 Globular Cluster X-Ray Burster in Scorpio; and V2107, the Nova of 1977, an x-Ray source also in Ophiuchus.

Sabik, Eta Ophiuchus stimulates discovery about the means for our bio-logical transmutation into an ascended bio-illumined form. This includes medical-based artsciences associated with genetic evolution--the techniques and technologies that support humankind's evolution from an incarnational modality of perpetuated degeneration, death and rebirth, to one where we express the higher-dimensional light codings of our souls--living as bio-illumined beings exemplified by Ophiuchus. This also includes the means to re-define the cellular patterns we hold so we can re-create our lives, to create a new experience rather than perpetuate those existing.

Terzan 2 in Scorpio is one of several Globular Clusters that embody an X-Ray Burster (XBR) at its center. Although there are hundreds of globulars (a spherical grouping of stars surrounding a dense galactic center), only a few exhibit the burster quality. The Burster itself is a neutron star binary system that emits persistent but irregular blasts of high-energy x-rays.(Philip Sedgwick first brought attention to the influence of globular bursters to the astrological community.) Astrologically, globular clusters exhibit a compacted inner core sense of strength and self-contained beliefs. Burster type globulars provide unexpected flashes of illumination, even brilliant revelations that can propel us on entirely new creative journeys or courses in our lives. It is up to us to draw upon the inner strength the globular offers and have the conviction to act upon the inspiration as the initial flash subsides. Terzan 2 in Scorpio may produce tremendous bursts of passion and sensual rapture that motivate us to access and live a path, a greater truth that lies beyond the established natural laws assumed to be governing our lives. The issue is trusting the flashes of inspiration.

It is by squelching and not living our heart's truth out of fear that shuts the heart chakra and immune system (thymus) down and that causes much of our illness and degeneration (especially cancer related). Terzan 2 may challenge us to fully open our hearts, to move through our fear, and to live in the rapture of love. Anything less is living a lie.

Sabik of Ophiuchus conjoining Terzan 2, the Nova of 1977 (V2107) in Ophiuchus, and the 3U1700-37 black hole, which lies just under the tail of the Scorpion along the galactic equator may stimulate new creative ideas about paths to take that lead to our greater bio-logical well-being and illumination--especially regarding transmutation of our experience and our human condition from a lower-order to a more refined state of being. This level of transmutation in our lives requires full unconditional acceptance and integration of our past experience, so the bio-energetic patterning we hold within can be inverted to re-express its compliment--thus allowing a new expression that subsequently draws new fulfilling experience. This process in physics is called time-reversal or phase-conjugation. In advanced healing and meditative techniques this is a means of producing the opposite but properly phased cellular pattern or signature within self that cancels (fulfills) the existing pattern we embody. In typical black hole fashion this is an all-or-nothing deal.

Venus in Realization

Venus conjoins the Sun on Oct 27, which marks the halfway point in the current Venus 584-day synodic cycle, which began on Jan 13, 2006. The theme of our current Venus cycle created by Pollux the ambassador was presented in the Dec 31, 2005 Lunar Cycle. Here we have realizations of the heart in the context of the Venus synodic cycle theme as well as the nature of any hesitancies to live true to the beauty of heart.

Mercury Retrograde

Mercury begins its retrograde on Oct 28 and Neptune returns direct on Oct 29 just before First Quarter Moon. Mercury will begin its new 116-day synodic cycle during its retrograde later in this lunar cycle--more on that later. The start of Mercury's retrograde at this time is when we start to disengage from Mercury's previous 116-day synodic cycle presented in the June 25, 2006 Lunar Cycle. The entire Mercury retrograde cycle also squares Saturn.

Neptune's direct movement stimulates inspiration to follow our dreams and visions, those that lead to our true nourishment. This marks full commencement of the Neptune synodic cycle, which began in August and was presented in the July 24, 2006 Lunar Cycle. This also contributes to the external stimulus to initiate action in this lunar cycle.

Initiate Action

The First Quarter Moon of each lunar cycle draws an external stimulus to initiate action as we move from the inspirational quarter of the lunar cycle into the action quarter.

Our First Quarter Moon of Sept 30 resides in early to mid-sidereal Capricorn. It conjoins Chiron, Alpha Microscopium, The 1987A Super Nova Remnant in the Large Magellanic Cloud (Dorado), and Gamma Sagita, the tip of the missile of Zeus.

On February 23, 1987, a star called Sanduleak suddenly blew to bits in a spectacular supernova, now labeled SN1987A. We normally see a neutron star in the midst of a Super Nova Remnant. A neutron star is the dead remains of the original star made of neutrons compressed into an extraordinary density. In this case there should have been a neutron star in place of Sanduleak, but perplexingly it was non-existent. Perhaps a warning of the potential ramifications of the war-heads in existence today.

However, Alpha Microscopium and Gamma Sagitta are indicative of the need to focus upon and pay attention to detail so we may apply our strategic tools accurately and effectively. Our arsenal of tools is composed of the creative gifts each of us have. How we apply them is up to us.

Mercury and Jupiter conjoin for their second trigger on Oct 30, now while Mercury is retrograde. This conjunction occurs on the cusp of sidereal Libra/Scorpio.

Marking cuspal Scorpio we have the Irregular Galaxy NGC 2915, the shapeshifter in the Chameleon; and Beta Lupus, the contortionist, which is sometimes associated with avoidance due to fear to relinquish a lesser part of self--the beast within does not go willingly into the Centaur's transmutational pyre--resulting in a bit of squirming or hiding.

The opportunity here at cuspal Scorpio centers upon the theme of sacrifice and offerings, but sacrifice does not mean self-sacrifice, in the true sense of the word it means to give up a lower office for a higher office. When offering up the lesser, we are also faced with taking on a greater responsibility, moving from victim consciousness, where we acquiesce to the conditions of life in which we find ourselves--caught in the clutches of the Scorpion--to taking responsibility for creating our life scenarios and choosing a new path that supports our experiential growth and spiritual maturity.

This retrograde Mercury-Jupiter conjunction provides a wonderful opportunity to release and expand. Mercury and Jupiter continue to make their opportunistic synthesis, which will fully unfold at the third trigger occurring on December 10.

Attraction & Involvement

The 24-hour period just before the Gibbous Moon is a time of perseverance, of pushing through in the midst of the action quarter of the lunar cycle. The Gibbous Moon is when the pressure releases and we enter the Pollinating Phase of the lunar cycle, which begins a social and communicative time of magnetic attraction. Our Gibbous Moon occurs on Nov 2 in the last degree of sidereal Aquarius while squaring Pluto and conjoining the Lunar North Node. This creates an open door to move forward with abandon from the past and into the future.

The Moon and North Node conjoin several stars that mark the end of sidereal Aquarius and the cusp of Pisces: Markab of Pegasus; the Zetas of Reticuli (plural because there are two zeta stars); the Nuclear Galaxy BL Lacerta; and Matar of Pegasus. Here, like its polar opposite location in the ecliptic (the Leo / Virgo cusp), we have a diversity of energetics--those empowering and fortuitous, and those manipulative and diverting.

In essence this is about the clarity within the genetic physical vehicle through which soul expresses. When we express the full radiant truth of who we are we are not susceptible to manipulative psychic forces that otherwise can divert us from living our truth and expressing our highest potential. This cuspal location opens the theme of Perseus and Pegasus, claiming the inner prowess to rise above the entrapping dramatics of the fear-instilling Kraken.

Our North Node Gibbous Moon supports our movement through any psycho-emotional diversions to connect with or achieve what might be called our intended destiny or higher potential .

The Moon conjoins Eris in late sidereal Pisces on Nov 3. Eris is the new "dwaf planet" recently discovered that catalyzed the reclassification of Pluto. Eris is currently south of the Ecliptic in Cetus but conjoins Revati of Pisces. Learn more about Eris on the asteroids web page.

Vision, Enthusiasm, & Realization of the Theme

The Full Moon marks the culmination point in the lunar cycle, the climax, the point of excitement and celebration. The hours leading up to the Full Moon provide a time of "vision and enthusiasm." The time just after Full Moon is a one of "realization of the lunar month's theme," a time to kick back and relax, to allow our realizations to surface in consciousness.

The Full Moon occurs on Nov 5 in the midst of sidereal Aries. It lies between the ecliptical longitudes of Beta and Gamma Triangulum and conjoins Tycho’s Super Nova Remnant of 1572 A.D., an x-ray source in Cassiopeia.

Triangulum teaches us to see beyond the judgments of fear-based dualistic mind and the dramatics it produces. Here is the statement "let thine eye become single"--to see from unity consciousness, which in turn makes it possible to rise above and beyond the "controlling verses being controlled" mentality and subsequent entrapping experience.

Tycho’s Super Nova Remnant was discovered by Tycho Brache in 1572 AD in Denmark. Supernovas play a significant role in the awakening of human consciousness. Brache revealed the nova was located beyond the moon and was also the first to produce a modern star guide, inspiring the movement from personality-egoic centered reality, one separate from Source (purported by the dark-age church to control the masses) to that of the durative soul consciousness which transcends the sphere of incarnate self (Earth). It certainly was a time requiring external catalyst to help awaken humanity from a dark period. For example: On August 23 and 24, 1572, 50,000 Huguenonts (French Protestants considered "heretics" by the Roman Catholic Church) in Paris and surrounding provinces were killed by Catholics in France. The massacre was called for by the queen mother Catherine de Medici and was applauded by Pope Gregory XIII--dubbed "St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre." This was during the time of the Renaissance, just after Copernicus published his heliocentric theory of the solar system in Poland (1543 AD), and just before Pope Gregory XIII introduced the Gregorian calendar in Italy (1582). It was within one year of when Johannes Kepler was born (1571). Kepler later revealed the sacred geometry (Phi progression) natural to the organization of our solar system--the music of the spheres.

Prior to the dark ages, planetary measurement was always referenced to the fixed stars (sidereal) as was the astrology of the ancients. Astronomy and astrology were always one and the same until the dark-age church-state astronomers began to record planetary ephemerides referenced to the moving vernal point rather than to the fixed stars, while maintaining that all other heavenly bodies rotated around the Earth--a statement certainly affirming true egoic consciousness. (This was due in particular to Claudius Ptolemaeus who was employed by the church. Ptolemaeus was a mathematician, not an astronomer. Some assert he never even looked into the heavens as an astronomer would look (Allen).) To say otherwise was heresy, so only those willing to sell out to the manipulative ploys of the church-state, and perpetuate the asserted geocentric dogma of western Christendom, stayed on the pay-role and kept their heads (Actually, if you believed anything other than Earth was center, you were burned at the stake!). Here was planted the bastardization of true soul level astronomical astrology, and here began the Hellenistic, Ptolemaic, tropical astrology of the dark ages which is still in vogue today. This manipulation also affirmed that people had a finite life at the end of which they would either be saved or punished depending if they followed the dictums of the controlling political-religious faction thus squelching any desire for individuals to spiritually aspire and awaken to the greater truth that they were durative, continually evolving souls; part of, not separate from a greater unified intelligence. The true and greater art-sciences including astronomical astrology, Pythagorean sacred geometry, harmonic math, and other such art-sciences, were forced underground until the later time of Nicolaus Copernicus in the 1500’s who finally triumphed in eradicating the perpetuated dogma that Earth was the center around which all other heavenly bodies rotated--the egoic head-trip of the church. From here, others would follow: Tycho Brahe (1546-1601), Johann Bayer, and later yet, Johann Kepler (December 27, 1571 - November 15, 1630), who, in the early 1600’s, brought forth the truth of the occulted astronomical and mathematical wisdom based in harmonic measure that had been long lost. Kepler's most famous book is "Harmonia Mundi" (Harmony of the Worlds). Kepler was a mathematician, astronomer AND astrologer (responsible for revealing the affect of many astrological aspects / harmonics). Kepler is sometimes referred to as "the first theoretical astrophysicist." Among many prominent positions, Kepler was assistant to Tycho Brahe.

Alignments with Tycho's supernova support the expansion from egoic / victim consciousness, where we believe we are victims of other beings, ones that are responsible for our condition and ones that must come to save us from it (or devour us as food as some people believe), to realizing that we are not separate from all that is, that we are intimate and inseparable parts of this great symphonic expression we call God, Divine Intelligence, etc. Here in the "Initiatory Gate of sidereal Aries," we are inspired to realize we co-create our reality and to become responsible for our human condition as well as to claim our freedom from its apparent bondage.

Mercury's New Synodic Cycle

Venus and retrograde Mercury conjoin in sidereal Libra on Nov 7 providing opportunity to redefine how we communicate--from the heart.

Mercury then conjoins and transits the Sun on Nov 8 as it shifts into its new 116-day synodic cycle just 40 minutes before the Disseminating Moon. The time of the new Mercury synod (occurring at the mid-point of its retrograde) can bring Mercurial related issues we hold within to a crisis point, which is common to a Sun-Mercury conjunction (looking from Earth's perspective). This is a natural experience while shifting from the previous synodic cycle into the next. However, the Mercury synod occurring on the phase shift of the Moon can dramatically intensify this. The crisis point offers opportunity to surrender a mode of being common to the last Mercury cycle so we may shift into a new neurological resonance and subsequently a new level of experience.

Mercury's synodic theme is set by the LMC X-3 x-ray binary / black hole in Dorado and Alpha Horologium, the star alignments looking from the Sun toward the Mercury-Earth conjunction, which occurs in late sidereal Aries.

Far below the entire scene of the Royal Family and Aries, deep in southern sky, lies Dorado, the gold fish--embodiment of the illumined soul. Dorado "refers not to our little exotic cyprinoid, but to the large coryphaena of the tropical seas, of changing colors at death" (Allen). The head of the goldfish marks the southern pole of the ecliptic--the foundational seat of the soul--the pot of gold protected by the dragon (which encircles the north ecliptic pole). This is why the royal family is adorned in gold and gems / riches--representing the illumination and wealth of the soul--not the illusory wealth of the mortal world. Hence, the confusion about our true riches--why we fight over the mineral gold, or even try to ingests it, rather than delve deep within for the golden light of the soul. Upon Dorado's head lies the LMC X-3 black hole in the " Large Magellanic Cloud."

The Small and Large Magellanic Clouds (SMC and LMC) are small galaxies that orbit our Milky Way galaxy. We might think of them as our galaxy's young, although not necessarily birthed from the Milky Way. It is more like they are being cared for and reared by our galaxy.

The LMC X-3 x-ray binary / black hole provides the opportunity to relinquish our arrogant attitudes about our rightful places in world (or heaven) and that keep us entrapped. It asks us to realize the freedom we seek is found only through the initiations of the maturing soul, not in the blessings or curses we think we receive at personality level.

"X-ray binaries contain a collapsed, compact star at the end of its evolution (a neutron star or black hole), accreting material from a more normal star as the two orbit around their common center of mass. Often, this material forms a disk around the compact object. We see a wide range of dramatic phenomena from such systems, including: pulsations from rapidly-spinning neutron stars, intense bursts from thermonuclear burning, eclipses, and dips due to occulting material on the disk edge. X-ray Spectroscopy and fast timing studies reveal a wealth of information about the physical processes taking place in these complex systems." Quote from: http://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/xrays/research.html

Adding to our new Mercurial theme are also the qualities of Alpha Horologium of the pendulum clock. Alpha Horologium embodies the characteristic of "impending time." Here there is a relentless and underlying sense that there is a finite period with time ticking away, and that more than is humanly possible must be done with need to go back (to do something) before going forward. Seemingly, a miracle is required, and often time, at the last minute, one arrives--usually provided by another party. But here, we must be willing to release the pressure we are applying in attempt to free ourselves, as it really creates the tension that keeps us entrapped. Only then can we make our passage.

This Aries-Mercurial theme reveals that we clear any righteous attitudes or arrogance about our rightful places in our communications and in the logistics we create in our involvements; that we realize our spiritual growth as well as our physical well being supercedes our apparent position in life. It suggests we must release any such attitudes before the fulfillment we seek can manifest, and it suggests we should think in terms of caring for each other rather than what we can get from another.

Mercury's new theme will fully engage as Mercury returns direct later in this lunar cycle on Nov 17-18.

Manifestation & Demonstration

The hours leading up to the Disseminating Moon generally is an accelerated and busy time of last minute preparation that leads into the birth point in the lunar cycle, the time of bearing the fruit in the cycle. Our Disseminating Moon of Nov 8 occurs in early sidereal Gemini, just past the "Gate of Man" of the Holy Cross.

The principle stars articulating the foundational aspect (feet) of the twins and the theme of the Gate of Man are Menkalinan, Beta Auriga the Charioteer and Betelgeuse of Orion the impious one.

Menkalinan is associate to Capella, Auriga's lucida the Starseed Messenger of Light. Menkalinan, the shoulder of the Charioteer, implies a responsibility to assist our soul colleagues through the exchange of information. Menkalinan is also a polarizer that will show indecision by bringing experience of the opposite side of an issue to make clear the choices and to reveal one's hesitancy to respond to life in the moment. Menkalinan will dramatize and create graphic illustration to elucidate one's hesitancies for those not abiding to the more subtle messages within. Menkalinan's purpose is to cut through the crap, to make things plain and clear. Menkalinan also implies a responsibility to aid our soul colleagues.

Betelgeuse the Orion male warrior, is of a kingly nature, authoritative, resourceful and brings incredible action, strength and response in the moment to whatever is occurring, living quite in the present--but being so headstrong can often make one oblivious to changes in directives! Betelgeuse, marking Orion's right hand holding the upraised sword just under the gate of Man, indicates the ability to act upon and carry through the immediate steps at hand; of getting to the truth of a matter by challenging existing systems or authorities, to challenge or cut through whatever is in the way. Physical constructive action is the hallmark of Betelgeuse.

Menkalinan and Betelgeuse conjoining the Gate of Man articulates the essence of sidereal Gemini, the role of responding to aid to our colleagues and fellow humans' needs--serving their greater evolutionary fulfillment. The NCP making its passage here marks the time of the erect Holy Cross and the transition point for humanity to unite and link together to support and aid each other.

Also conjoining our Disseminating Moon is Tejat of Gemini, the foot of Castor. Tejat will make visible that which has been suppressed, oppressed, hidden in the closet, but destined to be seen. Alignments with the foot of Castor indicate that it is time to come out of hiding, to become visible, to stand forth in the limelight, and to make self visible, available, and approachable. This can also indicate the need to emerge from our own mental obscurations and illusions. Tejat may indicate it is time to claim one's role in the physical world, and to take the steps at hand that are required for the physical unfoldment of what we want and for our participation in the world. It is time to do what is required.

Mercury's synode and our Disseminating Moon catalyze dynamic communication and active participation.

Retrograde Mercury and Mars conjoin in sidereal Libra on Nov 11 and Ceres and Neptune conjoin a few hours later in sidereal Capricorn.

Mercury and Mars align with NGC 4475 the Kappa Crucis Star Cluster called The Jewel Box in the Southern Cross. We also have the infuence of Acrux of the Southern Cross and Alphecca of the Northern Crown. This is the zodiacal point of pure intent. Here we are inspired to reconnect with our original intent in order to move through any entrapping scenarios that we may have encountered and to take the actions to do so.

Ceres and Neptune are in a synchronous several month synodic cycle. Their themes are synthesized together. They now reside under the auspices of the Dolphin Star System and conjoin Sualocin of Delphinus, the principal star of this constellation. This conjunction reinforces the original theme: Trusting in the synchronistic, in a higher guiding intelligence expressing in our lives, is the way that leads to making our dreams and visions real, those that result in our fundamental nourishment.

Time for Change

The Circinus Galaxy
The Circinus Spiral Galaxy
Credit: Hubble Space Telescope

The Last Quarter Moon creates our "inner need to initiate change" in the lunar cycle as we move into the cycle's last quarter. Our Last Quarter Moon of Nov 12 occurs in late sidereal Cancer just before conjoining sobering Saturn. The Moon conjoins Merak of the Great Bear; Tania Bor and Aus, which create the hind foot of the bear; and Algenubi, eye of the Lion, which looks just over the cusp from Leo back into Cancer.

Algenubi, Eye of the Lion, best embodies the theme of this few degree band of the ecliptic. Algenubi is of "breaking trail." These are the explorers and adventurers with interest beyond mere egoic importance to fit in with those performing on the worldly stage.

Simply: It time to get on with it, to make a long a waited change, to break new trail, to go where we have not gone before.

Venus separates in square from Saturn hours after Last Quarter Moon, and just as the Moon is about to conjoin Saturn--situations that are not of heart may change.

November 15 brings us a wonderful Venus-Jupiter conjunction, this time in sidereal Scorpio. Both lie just in front of the Scorpion's head and conjoin the Circinus Spiral Galaxy / black hole and several minor stars including Zubenhakrabi of Libra, Delta Lupus, Eta Hercules and Alpha Chameleon. Here a question or decision arises: what path and what shall it look like, as there may be no turning back. Whichever the choice, choose from a wide-open and expansive heart--and enjoy a festive Balsamic eve.

Focus to the Future

The Balsamic Moon marks the time in lunar cycle when we coalesce the experience of the lunar cycle into its seed essence, which will then sprout through the theme of the following lunar cycle. It is when we turn our attention from this lunar cycle in anticipation of the next to come. The hours before the Balsamic Moon provide our time of coalescence while those after mark the time when we turn from looking back over the past cycle and look toward the future cycle to come.

This Balsamic Moon of Nov 16 conjoins Juno, asteroid of covenant relations and partnerships, in mid-sidereal Virgo conjoining Diadem, Alpha Coma Berenices, Vindemiatrix and Porrima, both of Virgo.

Diadem is the jeweled crown in the Virgin's hair. Ornate Crowns in antiquity were designed with specific metals, jewels, and geometries to accentuate the wearer's telepathic and clairvoyant capacities, and for their communion with transcendent spiritual realms. Diadem accentuates our capacity to attune to our spirit guidance which communicates through the magnetic forces of nature, through the world around us, as articulated by the stars of southern Corvus the messenger bird.

Vindemiatrix and Porrima mark the centre of sidereal Virgo and embody the essence of sidereal Virgo. They indicate that winds of change are at hand and they bring us the capacity to have forevision so we may act accordingly on the signs being presented in the natural world around us. This is also the exalted seat of our winged messenger Mercury, significantly adding perspective and understanding to the nature of the stars at this ecliptical longitude. Mercury is the vessel by which these stars function in their highest expression, that is, through the neurology of communication and logistics, and all that Mercury characterizes.

The seed forming now and which will sprout in the following lunar cycle is one involving partnerships and guiding messages expressing in the world around us.

The Sun squares Saturn as the Sun moves into sidereal Scorpio and Saturn moves into sidereal Leo; and Mercury returns direct--all on Nov 16-17. And the last event in this lunar cycle is when Uranus returns direct on Nov 19-20 supporting our break from the conformity of the past. Our next New Moon occurs on Nov 20 in early sidereal Scorpio, right where the Venus-Jupiter conjunction occurred--more to come then.

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To learn how one lunar phase shifts and changes into the next, and to learn how to live in attunement to the lunar cycles, in the experiential empowerment doing so offers, please download the Lunar Planner Introduction and each monthly Lunar Calendar, and use them daily (PDF file links below)--its all a gift.

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We need not live in endless struggle, overwhelmed by the surface turbulence of our growth and awakening process. We can establish an inner peace instead, with life becoming a graceful dance when we attune ourselves to the natural spiral of growth that is guiding our lives. Living in attunement to the natural Lunar Cycles is an effective and empowering way to do this. Living in attunement to the natural astronomical cycles of life is living in faith and trust in the Divine Creative Intelligence expressing throughout our lives.

The Lunar Planner is an experiential tool teaching us how to live in attunement to the natural lunar cycles. Astronomical Sidereal Astrology and Star Lore reveal each lunar month's theme, and the planetary themes unfolding throughout the year. Each lunar month's theme weaves a continuing story line of the patterns of growth unfolding in our lives.

The Lunar Calendar reveals the dates and times of each lunar phase shift and their changing characteristics as well as key planetary alignments. Use this like a calendar or daily planner. The Lunar Calendar goes hand-in-hand with the introductory material. Use this daily to learn how to live attuned to the Lunar Cycles of Life.

Step by step instructions on how to use the Lunar Calendar with a detailed description of the changing lunar phases. This will teach you how to live in attunement to the Lunar Cycle. The Introduction goes hand-in-hand with the Lunar Calendar.

The Lunar Theme for the October 21-22, 2006 New Moon