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

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The Lunar Theme for the
November 20, 2006 New Moon

Relinquishment & Empowerment

The Lunar Month of
Nov 20, 2006 - Dec 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.

The Power of Letting Go

Our New Moon of Nov 20, 2006 resides in early sidereal Scorpio, just in font of the Scorpion's Head. The first few degrees of Scorpio embody 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, physical fulfillment, and spiritual maturity.

The New Moon conjoins the Draco Dwarf Elliptical Galaxy; the Circini Spiral Galaxy; Zuban Hakrabi of Libra, part of the claw of the Scorpion; Delta Lupus; Eta Herculis; Alpha Chamaeleon; the Quasar 3C345 of Hercules; and the principal star Alpha Centauri.

This is an empowering place in the ecliptic. It however asks us to choose (Circini) either a lower-order path of personality-level convenience or a higher order path serving our greater long-term soul-level fulfillment. In choosing a higher path, we often must relinquish something that no longer is serving us. As with all lunar themes, the area in our lives where this occurs is unique to each.

The area of our lives in which a lunar theme unfolds is a function
of where the New Moon occurs in our personal charts.

Alpha Centauri embodies the essence of the master teacher, the wise counselor. This is the benevolent Centaur, the way shower, counselor and teacher to Hercules. The Centaur teaches how to focus soul's amalgamated wisdom as personal intent and how important clarity of purpose focused as intent is the power that manifests our higher path and greater fulfillment in the world. The Centaur teaches how to surrender the lower self (Lupus) to attain self-mastery and this greater fulfillment. As purported by the Egyptians: knowledge comes from the heart not the head. Since knowledge originates in the heart, knowledge may be perceived as love. The power of knowing is the power (or capacity) to love. This pure intent, radiated from the wide-open heart, unencumbered by any mental doubt, is the power that opens the way for the manifestation we seek.

Quasar 3C345 lies just above of the Hercules Great Cluster--the power of Hercules. The astronomical harmonics of Quasar 3C345 reveals a radio-frequency variblilty of about 80 days, which is close to the period of Mercury (87.97 days). This close Quasar-Mecurial resonance helps to mobilize our clarity of purpose and focused intent through communication and logistics. Now, since Mercury completed its retrograde late in the last lunar cycle, this expression lies within the context of the last lunar cycle theme (Mutual Support in Action) AND within the new Mercury 116-day synodic cycle theme, which began in that lunar cycle--presented in the Oct 21, 2006 Lunar Cycle.

Jupiter in Realization

Jupiter also conjoins our New Moon and contributes significantly to this Lunar Cycle theme.

Jupiter is of wealth and reciprocity: Jupiter embodies the totality of the wealth that the soul has gained throughout soul's entire incarnational journey; and the reciprocation of that wealth / gift back to the world. Jupiter's force is mobilizing and expansive, freeing us from the past. Jupiter is sociable, governing travel and finance, is of fulfillment, and is future oriented. Jupiter is the Spiritual Law Giver (beyond the laws of man), supporting us to mobilize and live our greater Truth. Jupiter expresses as fluidity in movement, vitality, and enthusiasm. Jupiter expresses openness and willingness to palpate and embrace life, people, and experience. Jupiter holds a kinesthetic and magnetic quality; is of physical fitness, strength, and coordination. Jupiter is serendipitous, opportunistic, fortunate, and lucky; with taste for an appreciation of elegance and beauty (along with Venus). Fun loving, good natured, free, and independent, Jupiter provides the ability to participate freely in the world and to live in universal flow.

Immediately after the New Moon, on Nov 21, the Sun conjoins Jupiter. This marks the halfway point in Jupiter's current 399-day synodic cycle, which began on May 4, 2006. This halfway point in the Jupiter cycle is much like the halfway (Full Moon) point in a lunar cycle. It is where we climax in enthusiasm and have realizations regarding the current Jupiter synodic theme. Our current Jupiter cycle offers us the opportunity to mobilize and expand above and beyond our past entrapping life scenarios, those of a karmic nature, and to live a higher truth. The theme of the Jupiter synodic cycle was presented in the April 27, 2006 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 Nov 24 resides in late sidereal Sag and conjoins Arkab, Beta Sag; and Alrami, Alpha Sag, which marks knee of the Zen Archer. These two stars embody the essence of sidereal Sag--the spiritual transmutation (Alrami) that occurs by living and acting upon (Arkab) our greater truths-- undaunted, no matter what.

Also conjoining the asteroid Pallas, the crescent Moon may reveal past patterns of withdraw due to our own judgments of right or wrong, this verses that, and the opportunity to act from a creative wisdom gained only from having embraced the duality of choices in life.

Pholus in Realization

The Sun conjoins Pholus on Nov 25, one of several principal asteroids known as the Centaurs, which lie in an orbit between Uranus and Saturn. This conjunction marks the halfway point in the current yearly synodic cycle of Pholus. Issues and realizations surfacing on Nov 24-25 may yield insight in to the astrological influence of Pholus in our lives.

Pholus was discovered in 1992. After this time a number of other asteroids were discover in this area of our solar system--bringing the realization that Chiron was just one. Pholus is second most important of the Centuars after Chiron, hence the name given to this asteroid.

Just as Chiron crosses the orbits of Saturn and Uranus and is consider a key or bridge between the two planets, Pholus' path extends to include the orbit of Neptune, thus suggesting it provides a link between Saturn and Neptune.

In myth, Pholus guards the centaurs' vineyards, and like Chiron, was mortally wounded by an unexpected coincidence. It is suggested by some astrological research, that Pholus brings an unusual ability, or an unexpected experience or gift catalyzing profound or radical change (Robert v. Heeren und Dieter Koch, Pholus -in German). Pholus' Saturn-Neptune orbital relation may also suggest seemingly fated events, but those obscured until they occur, one's that may yield a greater revelation, ideal, dream or vision.

Venus and Ixion

Less than a day after the Sun-Pholus conjunction, Venus and Ixion conjoin (Nov 26) in sidereal Scorpio. Ixion is one of the Kuiper Belt Objects, in the family with Pluto and our new member Eris. The Kuiper Belt and Ixion are presented in more detail on the asteroids web page.

Ixion, larger than Ceres, was discovered on July 2, 2001 by a group of astronomers at the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona. In Greek myth, Ixion was a descendent of Ares and was king of the Lapiths of Thessaly. He is known as the first human to shed kindred blood.

Now, on Nov 25-26, another opportunity arises as to the astrological influence of Ixion, but now in the context of its conjunction with Venus. Ixion's discovery in sidereal Scorpio, on the left foot of Ophiuchus and over the head of the Scorpion while conjoining Dschuba suggests matters of life and death and the need to take responsibility for such matters--here relating to matters of the heart (Venus).

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 Nov 27-28 resides in early sidereal Aquarius and conjoins Deneb of Cygnus and Sadachbia of Aquarius.

In the northern heavens lying upon the galactic equator is Cygnus the swan, also called the "Galactic Cross" because of its placement along the galactic equator. Deneb, the tail of the swan is the principal star of Cygnus and marks and the top (head) of the galactic cross. Deneb is a galactic plane star lying quite close to the most northern point along the galactic plane. Deneb is the first primary star that Earth's pole encounters in Earth's ~24,000-year precessional cycle, it thus is the messianic head of the precessional Cycle of the Holy Cross--of the messianic mission of the soul. Deneb governs the first of the seven heavens (evolutionary epochs) in the Earth's precessional cycle. Deneb embodies the God-Essence in the "Evolutionary Cycle of the Soul"--our unadulterated androgynous pure soul essence.

This First Quarter Moon challenges us to act from the awareness of our pure soul essence and inner truth, in our God-self wholeness and to participate from the maturity of this awareness, from beyond the segregations and categorizations of race, sex, and creed. Conjoining Deneb is Sadachbia of Aquarius, the "lucky star of hidden things," and indicates a gift of extreme value may be discovered, revealed, or claimed by doing so.

Venus and Quaoar

On Nov 29, Venus and Quaoar (pronounced kwah-whar) conjoin in sidereal Scorpio. Being the first primary discovery after Pluto, discovered in 2002,Quaoar is another Kuiper Belt Object. It is also presented in more detail on the asteroids web page.

Much like Ixion was discovered conjoining Dschuba, the head of the Scorpio, Quaoar was discovered a bit north of the ecliptic in Ophiuchus, but conjoining Antares, the heart of the Scorpion. These are very slow movers like Pluto, thus they are still in Scorpio. Its positioning in Ophiuchus suggests its appearance may be motivating the willingness to challenge existing structural belief systems, those especially of the drug-company driven medical system and to re-align with the laws governing the natural world. It may bring experience challenging us to take a stand for natural law and our evolutionary freedom--here again pertaining to matters of the heart (Venus). I tend to think of Quaoar as a force inspiring us to return to the laws natural to the creation process, those governing life and death.

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 Dec 1 in the last degrees of sidereal Pisces. The pre-Gibbous Moon conjoins Eris, the new "dwarf planet" recently discovered that catalyzed the reclassification of Pluto.

Although the discovery of Eris created strife and conflict at first, seeming to be an upturning force, a refined order eventually followed, one more suited to the times at hand. You can learn more about Eris on the asteroids web page.

Ixion in Realization

The Sun and Ixion conjoin on Dec 3, which marks the halfway point in Ixion's current yearly synodic cycle. Issues and realizations surfacing on Dec 3 may yield more insight in to the astrological influence of Ixion in our lives.

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 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 Dec 4 in sidereal Taurus conjoining Tabit (Pi 3) and the other Pi stars composing the Shield, a sub constellation of Orion. The theme of the Shield is one of providing protection. The Shield supports endurance and victory in this pursuit.

Saturn begins its retrograde just after the Full Moon on Dec 5-6, on the day of realization in the lunar cycle, exactly on the cusp of sidereal Leo. This begins the completion period of Saturn's previous 378-day synodic cycle, which began in Jan 2006. The theme of this cycle (emergence out of darkness, dogma, and delusion, out of the entrapments we may have been living in) was presented in the Dec 31, 2005 Lunar Cycle. Saturn's new synodic theme will begin in the midst of its retrograde in Feb 2007.

Quaoar in Realization

The Sun and Quaoar conjoin in sidereal Scorpion on Dec 7. This marks the halfway point in Quaoar's current yearly synodic cycle. Issues and realizations surfacing on Dec 7 may yield more insight in to the astrological influence of Quaoar in our lives--regarding natural creative forces.

A few hours later, Venus and Pluto conjoin in the first degree of sidereal Sag on Dec 7-8. Pluto and Venus generally produce a wonderful synthesis, creating a wide-open heart. Although the geocentric conjunction (as seen from Earth) occurs on this date, the actual Venus-Pluto synodic cycle began earlier in this lunar cycle, on Nov 29. To learn about synodic cycles occurring with planets other than Earth see the updated section on the Synodic Cycle web page.

For history buffs: The last Venus-Pluto conjunction transpiring as Pluto first entered sidereal Sag occurred on Dec 20, 1758. The actual Venus-Pluto synod occured on Dec 24, 1758.

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 Dec 8 occurs in early sidereal Cancer and conjoins Aludra of Canis Major and Alpha Monoceris of the Unicorn.

Aludra is the singular of Al Adhara, the Virgins--hence, a pure one of the breed. This is the white stallion, the black sheep, the unique person who does not fit in. Aludra most often time manifests a person who appears through unexpected space-time portals, with the magic provided by Alsciaukat (the thorn in the lynx) and Alpha Monoceris. The Aludra type individual seems strikingly unique in some way--out of the ordinary.

Alpha Monoceris, the Unicorn, is of a species not common to earth--one magical and mystical. Alpha Monoceris brings fortuitous situations or involvements quite out of the ordinary. Accepting and honoring our special or odd uniqueness is a must. The spiral of the Unicorn's horn creates magic, but for it to manifest we must be in the power of our unique essence or nature, not afraid of it. We must draw forth the totality of it and relate beyond seeking commonalty, without need to fit in with the masses or to the norm, from principles that embrace and express our individuality and uniqueness.

This Disseminating Moon indicates the need to be attentive to the unexpected, the unique and magical appearing in our lives in order to claim the fruit of this lunar cycle.

A Grand Conjunction

Immediately following the Disseminating Moon, on Dec 9 through Dec 10, Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, and the Centaur Pholus (discussed above) conjoin in sidereal Scorpio over Dschuba, the head of the Scorpion. Here again we have a dynamic of forces producing the unexpected, perhaps those that serve to fulfill our greater dreams and visions, providing we are willing to claim the responsibility for "co-creating" our experience and to do so.

This is the third of three Mercury-Jupiter conjunctions due to Mercury's retrograde occurring in the previous lunar cycle. " This conjunction serves to mobilize" any plans formulated in the previous lunar cycle.

This energetic will also serve to create the impetus for change to ensue after the Last Quarter Moon of Dec 12 and to unfold in the following lunar cycle starting on Dec 20 and which runs through Jan of 2007.

The Mercury-Mars-Jupiter triangle can be seen in eastern sky just before sunrise. Pholus is there too but you can't see him.

Although the conjunctions (as seen form Earth) occur now, the actual start of the new planetary synodic cycles created by these planets will begin in the following lunar cycle. See the updated section on the Synodic Cycle web page to learn about planetary cycles occurring with planets other than Earth.

Time for Change

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 Dec 12 on the South Lunar Node in late sidereal Leo. This means that Sun is square the lunar nodes, an alignment known as a Moon Wobble, coined by Payne Toby in the 1930s because of the observation that people seem to get emotionally off balance or unsettled.

The South Node Moon in late Leo indicates winds of change, however, there can also be diversionary winds attempting to keep us from change, thus the issue of discernment arises. The South Node Moon also indicates the need to relinquish antiquated patterns of the past that may also divert our power to change. The key here is to move through and with the wild winds.

Mercury and Ixion

Mercury, the faster mover, conjoins Ixion in mid-Scorpio on Dec 14-15--the day of "coalescence" in the lunar cycle (the day before the Balsamic Moon). Ixion is a bit north of the ecliptic in Ophiuchus, and both are a couple of degrees past Antares, heart of the Scorpion. They conjoin the M12 Globular Cluster of stars in Ophiuchus; the Herculis Globular Cluster M92; and are moving under the auspices of Restaban, Eye of the Dragon, Draco. Ixion is not yet perfectly conjoined Restaban, but has entered this star's orb of influence . In essence the Globulars indicate a gathering of power, which precedes passing the Dragon's first gate.

Restaban (Beta) and Etamin (Gamma) of Draco create the eyes of the Dragon. Draco is the constellation that encircles and guards the northern pole of our ecliptic. Both stars are of a high administrative order overseeing the initiations of the incarnate soul. They lie north of and express through Hercules and Ophiuchus. Restaban expresses between the Head of Hercules (Ras Algethi) and the Heart of the Scorpion (Antares) into sidereal Scorpio. Etamin expresses just into sidereal Sagittarius and oversees the heart center of our Galaxy (Galactic Center).

Restaban opens portals and pathways in the physical world for those who have truly embraced and mastered their initiations in life, who have aligned with the path of soul rather than the convenient path of personality, for those who live true to self--as our Hercules exemplifies--portals that are otherwise blocked to those who have not claimed their self-mastery and demonstrated their self-responsibility in applying that mastery.

Again, although too new to understand its astrological effect fully, this Mercury-Ixion conjunction "may" involve the arrival of news regarding something failing or the exchange of information about logistics regarding such failures or deaths. This would involve those kindred; i.e., in the family or extended family. However, The Mercury-Ixion-Hercules alignment indicates this apparent failure motivates one to gather up a greater strength or inner power. The Mercury-Ixion-Restaban star alignment indicates an opportunity or opening can result from the apparent fatality--one; that leads to a greater self-empowerment--the theme of this lunar cycle: "relinquishment and empowerment.

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 occurs on Dec 16. Just prior to this lunar phase shift, the Moon conjoins Vesta--asking us to get clear, centered and focused as the Moon itself moves to the feet of the Virgin, the point of innocence and pure, intent in sidereal Libra. after what may have been another intense lunar cycle.

A half-day later (Dec 16-17), the Sun completes is passage through sidereal Scorpio, and moves across the cusp into sidereal Sag.

Pluto makes the closing statement for this lunar cycle. The Sun and Pluto conjoin on Dec 18, which marks the mid-way point in Pluto's 367-day synodic cycle that began on June 16, 2006--the first Pluto cycle in sidereal Sag. This day brings revelation about Pluto's role in our lives, in the context of this specific Synodic Cycle theme. Pluto's significant movement into sidereal Sag is presented in the snippet: Pluto's First Synod in Sidereal Sagittarius.

Mercury and Quaoar

Mercury and Quaoar also conjoin on Dec 18-19, perhaps inspiring communication about how the theme of "relinquishment & empowerment" (the theme of this lunar cycle) also inspires a more natural approach in life, one in harmony and that flows with the natural world.

The seed forming now and which will sprout in the following lunar cycle will birth in the early few degrees of sidereal Sagittaris on the New Moon of Dec 20--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.

* * *

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 theNovember 20, 2006 New Moon