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

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The Lunar Theme for the
December 20, 2006 New Moon

New Beginnings

The Lunar Month of
Dec 20, 2006 - Jan 18, 2007

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.

Eye of the Dragon / Heart of the Galaxy

I entitled this lunar cycle New Beginnings for a few primary reasons. The New Moon occurs the day before the December Solstice, which marks the "new birth" (of the Sun-Son-Sol-Soul) in the annual solar cycle; there are also more than thirteen new planetary synodic cycles starting in this lunar cycle; and the New Moon occurs in early sidereal Sagittarius, marking a fresh start after the initiatory trials having recently occurred durring the previous Scorpio lunar cycle.

Our New Moon of Dec 20, 2006 resides in early sidereal Sag, between the longitudes of Galactic Center and the "Gate of God" of the Holy Cross (also the location of the sun on the solstice (5° Sag).

The principal star alignment is Etamin of the Dragon. Etamin (Gamma) and Restaban (Beta) 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, also the head of the Egyptian Hippopotamus, the primordial mother, expresses just into sidereal Sagittarius and oversees the heart center of our Galaxy (Galactic Center). See the "North Celestial Dome" on the Sidereal Heavens Star Map.

Etamin, the overseeing eye of the Dragon, looks upon the high altar of the Centaur upon which the Heart Center of our Galaxy resides. This is where reinstatement of the evolving soul occurs after having been through the initiations and completions occurring in Scorpio. Etamin opens the Galactic Center portal for those who have claimed the wisdom and empowerment by embracing the initiatory lessons of life (who drank the transmutational elixir provided by the sting of the scorpion), and who are now prepared for a greater mission to ensue. For those having relinquished that which was required in the last lunar cycle, and who have made this metamorphosis, a new beginning occurs.

And of course, Galactic Center is key in this lunar cycle as well. Galactic Center, the heart center of our galaxy, is the zeropoint spacetime reference for our evolutionary system--the center of the soul. Galactic Center embodies soul's greater incarnational mission, beyond any given lifetime. The term Galaxy is from galacto, se. milk--meaning that which is mothering and nourishing, hence being our "Milky Way." Our galaxy, specifically Galactic Center, and the galactic plane spinning outward from Galactic Center, provides the greater evolutionary context and nourishment for souls participating in this galaxy. Galactic Center lies just south of the Gate of God (GEN - Galactic Equatorial Node) along the galactic equator, entering sidereal Sag between the cusp of Sag and the GEN, at about 2° sidereal Sag.

"Black Hole" is the term use to describe the portal at the center of our galaxy. The phenomena astrophysicists call Black Holes can be thought of as very deep pools of consciousness, places we can enter if we dare, and return (or not) forever changed. Black Holes have an all or nothing nature to them and offer no in-between. To enter a black hole in consciousness requires relinquishment of lesser modes of being, of the attachments associated with our existing lives. This requires the willingness and personal integrity to go deep within our consciousness, to allow a disintegration of the constructs of self we hold, of what we think ourselves to be, and to emerge with a far deeper sense of our true selves, the truth of our souls. We must then bring that pure intent back into our life expression. The successful feat can result in an inversion or flip in consciousness--with an 'aha' of great magnitude, one that may change our lives forever.

Although there are many black holes, all with different and unique themes, alignments with the Galactic Center black hole is about the reinstatement of the soul. This means claiming of the pure wisdom of the soul after its entire re-incarnational sojourn. This wisdom is a fusion of two things: the pure unadulterated essence of soul existing before any aberrations and confusions were incurred throughout the incarnational sojourn that taint soul's pure cardinal expression, and the knowledge claimed after fully embracing (transmuting) soul's experience in duality. This integration process occurs at the center of our galaxy provided we have already transmuted (surrendered) the bardoic (psychic plane) buildup of baggage accumulated during our entire incarnational sojourn, the griefs, guilts, resentments, and judgments incurred by soul--a process that precedes re-instatement (a process articulated in late sidereal Scorpio). Here, entering Galactic Center, we are asked to graduate.

The Ceres-Uranus Synodic Cycle

Ceres and Uranus create a several-year synodic cycle that starts on Dec 19-20, about six hours before the New Moon. Although properly occurring in the previous lunar cycle, I mention it now because it expresses into this Dec 20, 2006 New Moon theme.

The Last Ceres-Uranus synod occurred on Jan 31, 2002 in the last degree of sidereal Capricorn. This one occurs in sidereal Aquarius, and the next will occur on Nov 5, 2011 in early sidereal Pisces.

The asteroid Ceres reveals how we are nurtured and how we nurture others. Its presence in sidereal Aquarius indicates involvement with people and friends is nourishing, that of a humanitarian nature, and relationships that are inclusive rather than exclusive. This specific Ceres-Uranus cycle is particularly empowered because it occurs in Aquarius, the home domain of Uranus. It also conjoins rather fortuitous stars.

This synodic theme is defined by Achernar of Eridanus and Ankaa of the Phoenix. Achernar marks the end of the river of life (Eridanus) and indicates that this several-year synodic cycle is about completion and fulfillment after having been on long winding journey (this journey may be of any nature and unique to each person). It indicates radical unexpected change or a departure from the conformity of a past life scenario, and is in regard to that which is fundamentally nourishing in our lives. This is also the exalted location for Neptune in the ecliptic. Neptune dissolves into universality--fitting to the Achernar theme--a place where the long winding river finally dissolves into the ocean of being.

Ankaa, Alpha Phoenix, is the lucida of the Thunderbird. Ankaa embodies the essence conveyed in the symbol of the phoenix rising from the ashes from the trials of the long and winding road in full illuminated glory. In another mythical imaging, Ankaa is the talisman upon the staff of the high priest-scientist Aaron, brother of Miriam and Moses. The Ankh / Ankaa is emblematic of the fulfillment of a journey, a mission begun long ago. It is Aaron's amulet of power--having claimed the wisdom and fulfillment from the journey. Ankaa is the emblem of Universal (Uranian) Love.

The Mercury-Mars-Jupiter Cycles

A grand conjunction occurred in the previous lunar cycle involving Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, and the Centaur Pholus. However, the new synodic cycles created by these planets are beginning early in this lunar cycle. The Mercury-Mars cycle and the Mercury-Jupiter cycles start just after this New Moon on Dec 20 and Dec 21 respectively--another stimulus for new beginings. (Any planetary cycle involving Mercury is less than one Earth year due to Mercury's rapid orbital period around the Sun.)

The principle underlying cycle is created by Mars and Jupiter, a few-year cycle which starts just after First Quarter Moon. We will delve into the theme of this one a bit later.

The Solstice

The December Solstice occurs on Dec 21-22 just after the New Moon and just after the a wonderful Moon-Venus conjunction in sidereal Sag.

The December solstice is the point in Earth's orbit around the sun when Earth's north pole is tilted directly away from the sun. Thus the sun is in line with Earth's most southern latitude creating the longest day in the southern hemisphere (summer) and the shortest day in the northern hemisphere (winter).

The December solstice (the summer solstice in the southern hemisphere) has the quality similar to a New Moon in the lunar cycle--independent of the hemisphere in which we live. It marks the beginning of the new annual cycle for the entire Earth.

The December solstice marks the New Birth of sun-son / sol-soul expression in our daily lives. It creates the true astronomical New Year. As Earth continues in her orbit, the Sun's "eye" (line of sight to Earth) begins to move northward, awakening Earthian life anew.

The solar fire continues to move upward (from south to north) over the Earth and then crosses Earth's equator on the March (spring) equinox. The March equinox is much like the First Quarter Moon in the lunar cycle (a time creating stimulus to action).

The Sun's "eye" arrives at the most northern latitude on the June solstice (summer in the northern hemisphere). This is like the Full Moon in the lunar cycle (a time of fulfillment, of vision and realization).

The Sun's "eye" crosses back over the equator (from north to south) on the September (autumnal) equinox, which is much like the Last Quarter Moon in the lunar cycle (a time creating a need to change).

The movement of the Eye of the Sun up and down over the Earth occurs because of Earth's 23.5° tilt in its orbit around the Sun. This undulating wave of solar fire of course creates Earth's seasons. It also creates a figure-8 pattern in the sky called the "analemma" when the sun is viewed at the same time each day from any specific place on the Earth over an entire year--as shown in this magnificent photo by astro-photographer Anthony Ayiomamitis. The analemma is a figure-8 rather than a straight line because Earth's orbit around the sun is not a perfect circle, but is a slightly offset ellipse that causes Earth to speed up when closer to the sun and to slow down when further away.

In addition, only at two times in Earth's ~25,000-year precessional cycle do the solstices occur on the fixed axis of the Holy Cross. One was about 12,000 years ago, at the time of the "Fall," when Earth's pole crossed the Gate of God and began to lean way from the plane of galactic light. This began the previous 12,000 years of temporal darkness (a time of divided consciousness). The second occurrs now (circa 2000 AD), at the point of the return, or reawakening of (soul-level) consciousness on Earth. This is when Earth's pole crosses over the "Gate of Man" and begins to tilt back toward the plane of galactic light (back into the field of unified awareness). To learn more of this, see the Holy Cross web page.

Mars and Ixion

In the last lunar cycle, Venus, the Sun, and Mercury conjoined Ixion--in that sequence. In this lunar cycle, Mars conjoins Ixion, and in the next lunar cycle, Jupiter will conjoin Ixion. For those of you attentive to this progression of planetary conjunctions may find a wonderful opportunity to gain far greater insight into Ixion's astrological influence in our lives.

Of course, Ixion moves quite slowly in its orbit, so the star alignments for each of theses conjunctions remains the same: the M12 Globular Cluster of stars in Ophiuchus; the Herculis Globular Cluster M92; and is moving under the auspices of Restaban, Eye of the Dragon, Draco. The themes of these stars were presented under the Mercury-Ixion conjunction in the previous lunar cycle.

Thus, we have four elements helping Ixion's revelation: that which we already know about Ixion derived from its original discovery; its mythological background (presented under Ixion on the Asteroids web page); the theme of its current star alignments; and lastly, the experrience gained from the dynamic sequence of unique planetary conjunctions, which brings insight into how Ixion synthesizes with each planet.

The Mars-Ixion conjunction occurring now, in the context of this lunar cycle theme, suggests personal creative action upon that which was gained from the Ixion conjunctions in the previous lunar cycle--the self-empowerment gained from any sense of loss or failure having occurred in our lives; the empowerment gained from relinquishment, the power of letting go. This Mars-Ixion conjunction suggests that demonstrable action is the next required step in this sequence to fully integrate the greater self-empowerment that was offerred in the previous lunar cycle.

Mars governs the base chakra (the seat of survival and the emotional state of unconsciousness) as well as our sexual capacity and function. Mars governs our creative force and our capacity to use our creative power to initiate action and response.

Mars in its clear expression is creativity assertively applied with power, strength, and confidence. Mars embodies abilities of leadership, is self-reliant, victorious, audacious, brave, instinctual, passionate, erotic, and willful.

Mars is generally associated with the male while Venus and the Moon with the female, but both males and females have hearts and base chakras. Both have the capacity for love and application of creative power and sexual force. In Atlantian lore, the female was the aggressor, the male the seduced. The Moon in many cultures is also thought of as male, though today generally its intuitive quality is considered a female trait. I suggest it is neither and both. Although we can associate Mars with the male and Venus with the female in today's world, it helps to think of Mercury, Venus, and Mars vertically aligned in both sexes rather than merely defining the sexes. Respectively they embody the three primary bio-energy centers: the intellect, communication; the heart, intuition; and sexuality, creative power.

Mercury alone is "logistical thinking"; the integration of Mercury with Venus results in "intuitive knowing"; and the integration of Mercury, Venus, and Mars results in "experiential wisdom" applied in creative manifestation.

Mars (base chakra / sexuality) is generally the facet of self that is held in most judgment due to this force having been used destructively and manipulatively in the history of the solar system. Because of this, total rejection and lack of love is often projected toward the Mars (male) energetic--alienating it even more. Mars is now dubbed the planet of war. Without love (heart - Venus - female), Mars expresses as a wayward and ballistic use of power in conflict.

Mars in its aberrant expression (base chakra issues): all survival issues; fear of not having enough, hoarding, and jealousy. There can be a need to control, manipulate, and exploit others or one's environment for personal gain and sustenance. There can be an inability to trust self, Earth, and to experience the connection between the two. Aberrant Mars feels unloved and unsupported, with the experience to affirm it, which can result in wayward or ballistic behavior, isolation, loneliness, hate, greed, brutality, or self-annihilation. Aberrant Mars can express as an inability to see or discern manipulative or dark forces; it can be over-bearing, argumentative, and intimidating, which hides a lack of self-confidence. Aberrant Mars can also expresses as judgment about use of other's creativity, use of power, and sexuality, as infertility or impotency, and as sexual frustrations and dysfunctional reproductive organs.

Primary associated bio-energy centres: Base chakra; all reproductive glands: prostate, testicles, ovaries; also the adrenals and kidneys, and the liver and blood. There are musculature tie-ins to the right arm, right knee, and the right calf (the ability and power to act on both short term and long term goals). Common secondary tie-ins occur to the thyroid and liver. Associated brain centers: Ego Pressure (sex regulation), cerebrum, pituitary, and hypothalamus--regulating blood pressure, stress response, sexual activity, Xi (Chi), and kundalini release.

The Jupiter-Ixion conjunction occurring in the following lunar cycle may serve to mobilize and expand that which we act upon (do with the Mars-Ixion conjunction) in this lunar cycle.

Note to Astrologers: Whenever we see two (or more) planets conjoining from Earth, the two planets are also conjoining from the Sun's perspective, however the (heliocentric) conjunction may be shifted backward or forward in time. The heliocentric conjunction marks the beginning of a new synodic cycle between the two planets. The synodic cycle can be considered a longer-term cycle of growth unfolding in our lives whereas the conjunction as seen from Earth is the here-and-now (punctual) expression of the new synodic theme. To learn why a time-shift occurs between the conjunction as seen from Earth and the actual start of the synodic cycle, see Synodic Cycles Between Other Planets. Although I generally present material on the primary and longer planetary synodic cycles, so far I have been discussing only the (geocentric) conjunctions occurring with Ixion. The Mercury-Ixion and Venus-Ixion synodic cycles are relatively quick, just a few months long due to the faster orbital periods of Mercury and Venus. The Mars-Ixion synodic cycle begins in mid-Jan and has a duration nearly of 2 years. So the Mars-Ixion theme discussed above, in addition to its punctual expression and motivation in this lunar cycle, will also unfold in our lives over this longer period.

The Jupiter-Ixion synodic cycle will start in early May of 2007 even though the geocentric conjunction occurs in mid-Jan. Its duration is about 12 years.

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 Dec 23-24 conjoins Sualocin, Alpha Delphinus, the Dolphin star system. Delphinus offers guidance for those willing to trust in greater forces than their personal efforts generate alone. The Dolphins, an expression of angelic dominion, are guides for the wayward, as old salts know. They reveal the way to make safe passage to our destination, provided we listen to and follow the serendipity of life.

To trust in the serendipity of life is merely to surrender our personal righteous reasoning mind that needs to define and control, and to allow our selves to move with the Divine Intelligence that permeates and fluidly guides our lives. Here is the art of getting out of our own way to allow a creative solution that leads us from the conforming bounds of limited mind.

The Crescent Moon also conjoins Neptune, bringing further motivation to allow reason to dissolve and to follow our dreams and visions instead.

Mercury & Pluto

Mercury and Pluto conjoin on Dec 25 in early sidereal Sag over Galactic Center, near the location where our New Moon occurred. Mercury and Pluto resonate well together--partly due to a near perfect resonance between Mercury's orbital period and Pluto's orbital period (producing the same note ten octaves apart); and which translates to the color turquoise in the visible light octave. In general this can create an opportunistic portal provided we relinquish lower-order mental patterns or beliefs.

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 Dec 27 occurs in early sidereal Pisces conjoining Alpha Lacerta and Alpha Reticuli.

Lying over the first half of sidereal Pisces is the Great Square of Pegasus. The Great Square holds the mystery of the metamorphosis of the physical body into light body. Above the Great Square in early sidereal Pisces is Lacerta, the primordial Lizard, gate-keeper protecting the entry-way to the realm of the gods, to Earth's precessional polar arc. This northern arc is called the Heptanomis. The Heptanomis is a natural harmonic division of Earth polar ark (the Covenant of God) into the upper seven heavens, mansions or stations--actually epochs in Earth's evolutionary precessional cycle of the soul. The entryway, protected by Lacerta, is the "Primordial Origin" of man, the beginning point in Earth's precessional cycle, the evolutionary cycle of the soul.

Conjoining Alpha Lacerta is Alpha Reticuli, which resides in the very southern heavens. Alpha Reticuli is the foci of the reticule, the sacred geometry of the DNA refined to crystal clarity, the underlying rhombus or diamond. To illuminate this human vessel, to make carbon into diamond, we must fully embrace the primordial aspects of life, to infuse the high spiritual awareness of soul in and through our entwined genetics of physicality to become the glistening diamonds we can become. The secret held here is that this is not a mere mind trip, something we do in the head, in just how we think, but requires a surrender of the emotional tension of resistance we hold within so spirit may manifest in its true perfection. This a transmutational process that occurs by being washed and polished by the experiential waves over a natural period of evolutionary time. The secret is to embrace all experience unconditionally, without resistance, with love and compassion, so we can relinquish the stored e-motion we hold and do not build up more. E-motion is merely the resistance to embrace the motion of experience, the resistance to love.

So our First Quarter Moon's stimulus to action may involve a challenge to embrace some powerful emotional forces stirring in the Piscean world.

The Mars-Jupiter Synodic Cycle

The Mars-Jupiter cycle starts on Dec 27, 2007 just after First Quarter Moon and continues through Mar 7, 2009. Mars and Jupiter create a wonderful and dynamic synthesis--one mobilizing expansive creative action. This few-year cycle's theme is set by stars in early Scorpio (the sidereal heliocentric location of Mars-Jupiter): specifically residing just in front of Dschuba, the head of the Scorpion, and conjoining Yed Prior of Ophiuchus; and Alpha Circini, the compass lying at the foot of the Centaur.

Dschuba requires a graduation in consciousness, moving from our repetitive karmic patterns perpetuating an experience of entrapment and a sense of victim consciousness (in the clutches of the Scorpion) to acknowledging our personal responsibility for co-creating our reality and to actively choose a path to evolve out of the patterns of the past.

Yed is the left hand of Ophiuchus holding the serpent, also called the hand of death. The hand is composed of two stars (Yed Prior and Yed Posterior), which lie over the head of the Scorpion. In the context of Dschuba's theme, Yed indicates something must die, generally a lesser level of self so a greater self-empowerment can result. Conjoining Yed is Alpha Circini in the southern heavens. Circini is the compass lying at the foot of the Centaur. Circini indicates there are continual choices to be made along our paths--the "Y"s encountered on the trail--to chose the convenient path of personality or the sometimes more arduous path of the soul. The motive here is to surrender, with conscious deliberation, the lower-order path of personality patterning and act from a more mature awareness that we create our reality (Dschuba), from the strength and responsibility articulated by shoulder of Hercules (Kornephoros), and to claim the empowerment and mastery articulated by Ophiuchus standing on the Scorpion and holding the Serpent whose head points to the Northern Crown.

Jupiter is of higher law and higher learning, a mobilizing expansive agent, and Mars is of action, power and creativity. Our Mars-Jupiter synodic theme is thus quite fortuitous and inspires responsible expansive action to create our reality from the level of awareness Dschuba inspires. It also suggests something lesser must die for a greater order and fulfillment to occur. This Mars-Jupiter theme starts now and continues through March 7, 2009.

Mars and Quaoar

Mars and Quaoar conjoin on Dec 28-29 in sidereal Scorpio. Just as there has been a sequence of planetary conjuntions with Ixion occuring over these last two months, so too is the same occurring with Quaoar. I have come to see Quaoar inspiring our return to the sacredness of life and to respect natural law--here in regard to how we apply our creative power.

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 30-31 in the last degree of sidereal Aries.

This part of the heavens lies under the auspices of the story of the Royal Family. This point is where Andromeda's fate is now out of the hands of King Cepheus and Queen Cassiopia and is being transferred to her beloved Perseus. Perseus is about to slay Medusa to claim his self-mastery prior to being able to step into his intended soul destiny to be capable of helping anyone else. Zaurak of Eridanus is a point along the initiatory river of life where we must hold our own light because the path is dark. Tension and anticipation mounts. Perseus must slay Medusa (his inner fears), lest he will turn to stone (become frozen in fear). Here we must trust our inner heart light and follow through despite any fear that the way is not entirely visible.

Note to Astrologers: Zaurak marks the last degree of sidereal Aries, summing up that which was learned through the initiations of Aries--the light is within. Algol, the slain head of Medusa, marks the first degree of sidereal Taurus--,the demonstrable action of Perseus slaying his fears in the physical world--now having claimed his inner light through the initiations of earlier Aries.

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 Jan 3 in sidereal Gemini conjoining Sirius of Canis Major. Sirius is the impetuous and blazing Great World Teacher, knowledge-holder of ancient hermetic wisdom. Significant alignments with Sirius can bring teachings, lessons, or events of a global or profound proportion, those that can catalyze tremendous evolutionary change. Although Sirius is not of a malevolent nature, such events or lessons can seemingly be imposed upon us without the compassion we might otherwise prefer. Sirius, due to its head strong and authoritarian nature, can also indicate the need to set things free so they can take their own evolutionary course rather than forcefully manipulating a scenario or the experience of others for some specific outcome based on a sense of righteousness or self-importance--thinking we know what is right for another or that we are responsible to define another's life experience--a miss-placed sense of responsibility. Here is need to learn about our own boundaries and to release our offspring, siblings, partners, or creations to their own destinies.

This is also the ecliptical longitude of where Earth's equatorial plane currently intersects the galactic plane (the anti-GE-CE Node), in Monocerus. (This node moves with Earth's precession.) Thus the nature of events or lessons catalyzed by Sirius may be quite unexpected and may affect our evolutionary direction.

Mercury in Realization

Mercury conjoins the Sun on Jan 6-7 just a few hours before the Disseminating Moon. This marks the halfway-point in the current 116-day Mercury-Earth synodic cycle that began on Nov 8, 2006. The theme of this cycle, provided primarily by the LMC X-3 x-ray binary / black hole and Alpha Horilogium, was presented in the Oct 21, 2006 lunar planner.

The halfway-point in a synodic cycle is much like the Full Moon point in a lunar cycle, it is a time of vision, enthusiasm and realization about the original cycle's theme. In the context of this synodic theme is where this revelatory Mercury-Sun conjunction nests. Mercury and the Sun now reside in late sidereal Sag and conjoin Vega of Lyra; Arkab, Beta Sag; and Alrami, Alpha Sag, all which embody the high ideals, vision, and optimism of the Zen Archer.

Vega of Lyra, Harp of the Angels, reveals a multiplicity of opportunity for fulfillment.

Arkab, Beta Sagittarius, inspires action on our greater vision and inner truth; and upon the myriad of opportunities provided by Vega that can lead to our greatest fulfillment.

Alrami, Alpha Sagittarius, knee of the Zen Archer, reveals the nature of how taking action creates support for our selves and for others, Alrami, embodying the essence of Sag (along with Arkab) reveals that the physical and spiritual transmutation that occurs by living our truth and stepping through the portals in our lives is the greatest give we receive.

Thus, the stars of this Mercury-Sun conjunction (Vega, Arka, Alrami) provides the ah-ha's about the original Mercurial synodic theme defined by LMC X-3 and Alpha Horilogium, which began on Nov 8, 2006.

Venus, Pallas and Nessus

At the same time as the Mercury-Sun conjunction, Venus, the asteroid Pallas, and Centaur Nessus also conjoin, although in Capricorn. This conjunction extends through the Disseminating Moon, with Venus and Nessus conjoining just after the Disseminating Moon. The actual Venus-Pallas synod, which began the new Venus-Pallas synodic cycle, actually occurred on Dec 25, a bit earlier in this lunar cycle.

In brief, Venus and Pallas motivate intelligent creative expression through art and beauty. This several-month Venus-Pallas cycle is defined by Gamma Sagitta, tip of the missile of Zeus, suggesting such artful creative expression can be a tool of strategy, one to accomplish that which we focus upon. Issues surrounding this theme that might arise over this period are: spiteful withdrawal of the heart due to judgments of this side-verses-that side, rather then seeing opportunity for intelligent creative expression that embraces both sides; and withdrawal based on fear of lack--that self will not be rewarded rather than expressing the art of the heart in trust that all parties will be fulfilled.

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. The Mercury-Sun conjunction and the Veuns-Pallas conjunction occurring hours before the Disseminating Moon both contribute to the dynamic of this lunar phase shift.

Our Disseminating Moon of Jan 7 occurs in sidereal Leo just past Regulus, the Heart of the Lion. The Moon conjoins the stars of the Sextant and the Vela Pulsar, the latter which resides in the sail of the vessel Argo Navis.

The sextant is a navigational instrument used to determine the "vertical" position (angular distance) of the sun, moon or stars from the horizon. The sextant reveals the need to plot our course, to take a new tack on our journeys in life, to reorient self so we know our position. On a greater scale, this can be in regard to changing allegiance of our energies from the outer world, self-sacrificing to diversionary forces or currents in the world around us, to the vertical integrity of our inner soul / source directive and truth. On a mundane level this can be in regard to changing our fundamental approach or path in life, to establish our position so we can plot or take a new tack toward our goals.

Here we find impetus to navigate through the diversionary and dramatic ego-driven world powers or re-align with the fundamental spiritual / galactic evolutionary currents embodied by our southern Argo--the path of our souls.

The Vela Pulsar, an extremely old Super Nova Remnant conjoining Alpha and Gamma Sextans and expressing through the Sextant's theme, has a fundamental frequency of 11.2084065685 Hz., which translates to a color harmonic of 3800Å--a high spiritual violet, bordering near UV. Pulsars in general are beacons for the soul, constantly providing an inner message or reminder for those attentive to such subtleties. Although the Vela Pulsar can create somewhat of a spiritual serenity, much like we might have while relaxing on a sailing ship in a light breeze, there demands the preparedness and alertness to leap into action as the increasing gales and changing currents require. The Vela Pulsar reminds us to remain serene but alert and preserving along our journey, to continually plot our position and adjust our course so we can arrive to the sanctum we seek. The Vela Pulsar reminds us to set our direction based on the underlying evolutionary currents rather than on the winds of the moment, the diversionary and transitory surface breezes, to plot the path on our long-term (soul's) direction. If there is any pulsar equated more to the maturity of the old soul (old salt), the Vela Pulsar is it.

Nessus

Venus and Nessus conjoin just after the Disseminating Moon on Jan 7-8, and then Pallas and Nessus conjoin on Jan 10. Venus and Nessus, it would seem, make a wonderful synthesis, supporting us to unlock our hearts, to be open to receive heart's true fulfilment. Pallas and Nessus helps us to get over any judgment we hold that perpetuates a closed heart and that keeps us from expressing heart without limits. To walk through life radiating a wide open heart is to allow the room for heart's fulfillment--its all about resonance, which starts within.

Venus & Chiron

Venus and Chiron also conjoin on Jan 10. However, the actual Venus-Chiron synod occurred on Dec 26, immediately after the Venus-Pallas synod. Thus we can consider a Venus-Pallas-Chiron synthesis unfolding over the months ahead. The Venus-Chiron part of this energetic adds the element of bridging and healing as a means for our Heart's expression.

The Venus-Chiron synod occurred exactly at mid-sidereal Carpricorn, introducing the element of trust, in essence, inspiring us to participate openly from soul awareness and in the greater interest of all rather than covertly for personal gain and from the deceiving personality facades inherent to the incarnate stage.

The synthesized Venus-Pallas and Venus-Chiron cycles continue through August of 2007.

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. Last Quarter occurs on Jan 10 and the Venus-Chiron theme contributes to the "inner need" aspect of our Last Quarter Moon because it occurs in the crescendo building up to this lunar phase shift.

Occurring in late sidereal Virgo, this Last Quarter Moon conjoins Eta Carina of Argo Navis and Alpha Volans (the flying fish).

Eta Carina is Lord of the Waters (Ea Enki / Eridhu), who reveales the potential of impending catastrophe, but also the way to avert such.

Alpha Volantis, the Flying Fish, lies quite south under the keel of the Argo in the area associated with navigational mapping and directing of evolutionary currents that guide our lives. Piscis Volantis is associated with the soular plane (not earth plane), specifically, the foundation for souls, the ability to support our souls' uninhibited true expression. The flying fish provides an extraordinary force and ability to leap into and spread its wings to glide through new or other dimensional realms, realms not common to itself.

Alpha Volantis' conjunction with Eta Carina, the thigh of Boötes, and the sacrum of the Virgin brings awareness about the subtle but powerful soul-directed primal / sexual / creative forces guiding our lives and the need to participate with powerfully directed intimate sensitivity of intent to pierce the limiting envelope of our existing perceptional bubble and birth a new life expression.

Thus, to heed our "inner need" to change is key on the Last Quarter Moon, as well as the essence of the Venus-Pallas-Chiron energetic discussed above. This month's need to change may require a leap of faith.

Mars and Pluto conjoin on Jan 12, a precursor to the actual start of the Mars-Pluto synodic cycle that will start on Feb 10 in the next lunar cycle. We will explore the Mars-Pluto synodic cycle theme then.

Earthquake 8.1 Magnitude (added Jan 20, 2007)

In the crescendo of the Mars-Pluto Conjunction (5.5 hrs before it), an 8.1 Earthquake occurred East of the Kuril Islands (46.272°N, 154.455°E) (Saturday, January 13, 2007 at 04:23:20 (UTC)). In my research using what I title "Astronomical Earthgrid Spacetime Mapping," a mapping system I have evolved over the years, I have found that significant Earth resonances occur (seismicity if at fault areas) when a hierarchy of spherical astronomical conditions are met: 1) The horizon plane (ASC-DSC) and/or the meridian plane (MC/IC) nest within a few degree window to the spherical astronomy of the Holy Cross (GEN / VP nodes) creating an "earthgrid activation window"--in this case the horizon plane (ASC-DSC) is 0° 30' to the fixed axis of the Holy Cross (the galactic equatorial nodes). 2) When there are significant planetary aspects to the angles (ASC-DSC / MC/IC) while an "activation window" is open, then this defines the next level of timing--in this case, very active Mars-Pluto (about to conjoin) was setting. 3) Certain lunar conditions then define the time to the minute--in this case the POF is 1/4 degree (within one minute in time) to a primary 30° aspect to the Lunar Nodes. Although I have entire section reporting this work in my yet to be published book, I have little on the web site about it (a bit here: Earthgrid Mapping). Perhaps I will add more in the future if time permits. Note: The POF is more than just an Arabic Part. The POF is a mathematical spacetime harmonic relating the phase of the Moon with the horizon plane of the event location: i.e., where we are in the experiential unfoldment of the Lunar Cycle (time) with the experiential plane of our experience (space). This is one of the several factors defining the exact timing of an event.

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 Jan 15, just as the Cap-solar ingress occurs (the Sun's movement into sidereal Capricorn). The Balsamic Moon conjoins mobilizing and expansive Jupiter. The two conjoin Antares, Heart of the Scorpion.

Marking the center of sidereal Scorpio is Antares, Alpha Scorpio, Heart of the Scorpion. Antares is one of the "Four Royal Architects" along with Aldebaran, Regulus, and Fomalhaut, each in their respective quadrants of the sky. Antares, the 15th brightest star, is about 700 times the size of our sun, and is one of the largest stars. It is quite elongated with a polar diameter about 63% of its equatorial diameter, red in color, said to rival Mars when they are seen together.

In classical astrology, Antares is the star of war and weaponry, and with expounded meaning, to challenge the established opposing politics (an arena common to the Antares / Aldebaran axis). Antares demands we take responsibility for our reality, for the lives we create, and to "take a stand" for our truth and live it; and especially to take a stand against the established conditions of our personal lives and against the established order or authority directing our lives when those conditions or that authority are no longer in our best interest nor supporting our evolutionary freedom and fulfillment.

Here sets the seed for the following lunar cycle, which will sprout in the early few degrees of sidereal Capricorn on the next New Moon.

The Venus-Uranus Synodic Cycle

Although Venus will not conjoin Uranus until the next lunar cycle, the Venus-Uranus synodic cycle begins now on Jan 17, in the seeding phase of this lunar cycle. It thus will also create and underlying current in the new lunar month to come. Its theme is defined by Achernar of Eridanus and Ankaa of the Phoenix. This the same stellar backdrop as the Ceres-Uranus synod which began on the New Moon of this lunar cycle, and which was discussed at the start of this month's material. (The stars creating the synodic themes for the Ceres-Uranus cycle and Venus-Uranus cycle are the same because Uranus moves very slowly compared to Ceres and especially Venus.)

The Ceres-Uranus Synodic Cycle is much long than the Venus cycle: The Ceres-Uranus cycle continues through Nov 5, 2011, whereas the Venus-Uranus cycle, only a few months long, continues through Aug 31, 2007.

But here again we have the Achernar theme--arriving to the end of the river, to the fulfillment after a long and winding journey. Here, Venus and Uranus synthesize to stimulate an unexpected change or departure from the conformity of a past life scenario, here in regard to sojourns of the Heart.

Mercury and Nessus

Mercury and Nessus conjoin on Jan 18 several hours before the next New Moon--supporting us to surrender all of our "reasons why not."

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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 theDecember 20, 2006 New Moon