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The Lunar Theme for the
October 10, 2007 New Moon

Gestation
A Space in Time

The Lunar Month of
Oct 10, 2007 - Nov 9, 2007

Nick Anthony Fiorenza

Copyright © 2007 Nick Anthony Fiorenza, All Rights Reserved

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 personalized lunar month's theme. Then, consciously participate with the changing Lunar Phase Characteristics in the unfoldment of that theme in your daily life using the Lunar Calendar and Lunar Planner Introduction (links at the bottom).

New Moon Phase Characteristics

The New Moon

This New Moon of Oct 10-11, 2007 occurs in sidereal Virgo, in the body of the Virgin, who lies supine in the heavens as she prepares to birth a soul into the world.

North of the Sun and Moon stands Bootes, the consort and protector of the Virgin, while conjoining Seginus, the left shoulder of Bootes, and Muphrid, his left foot. South is Kraz, the Beta star of Corvus the Raven; and deep in the southern heavens is, Alpha and Beta of Volans, the flying fish, which lie at the Argo's stern.

The theme here is one of gestation, nurturing, protection and gentleness but also of the labour to harvest. It is a time of preparation, of creating the proper environment or foundation for a new birth. It is a time of gathering the momentum to leap into a new realm of experience. Hidden forces are at work within, creating a metamorphosis that will allow us a new level of expression and participation, a breakthrough, a breath of fresh air.

Corvus the Raven is the keeper of secrets, a knowledge holder, but is also a reveler, the messenger bird to those who are spiritually intented and who ask and listen. Corvus reminds us to pay attention to the signs or messages naturally expressing through the world around us moment-by-moment. The signs found in the simplest of life experience have meaning if we are willing to be attentive to them. In fact, we can even ask to receive guidance through prayer or simply by briefly holding the intent to inquire and then letting it go. It is the sincere projection of clear intent that vibrationally invokes a response from the world around us. Corvus is a protector as well, of both the animal and human worlds, and will forewarn of approaching danger as well as affirm fortuitous opportunities or events so we may prepare and participate accordingly.

"The ESO Very Large Telescope (VLT), the largest and most advanced optical instrument in the world, consists of four 8.2-meter telescopes that can work independently or in combination, and four auxilliary 1.8-m telescopes which can also be used in interferometric mode providing high angular resolution imaging. With just one 8.2m diameter telescope, images of celestial objects as faint as magnitude 30 can be obtained in a one-hour exposure. This corresponds to seeing objects that are four billion times fainter than what can be seen with the unaided eye.

The Paranal Observatory is located on Cerro Paranal in the Atacama Desert, northern Chile." http://www.eso.org/public/astronomy/teles-instr/paranal.html

The four names given to the primary telescopes, ANTU (The Sun); KUEYEN (The Moon); MELIPAL (The Southern Cross) and YEPUN (Venus in the evening) are from the Mapuche language--an indigenous people of southern Chile.

Muphrid, on the thigh of Boötes, is the facilitator to the transmutational process involved in the new birth from the Virgin. Muphrid provides personal and intimate support by making possible and ensuring proper energetic environments are created so the spiritual (conceptual) to physical transmutation for the new birth can occur.

Conjoining is Seginus, the left shoulder of Boötes. Seginus reveals our responsibility to ensure proper environments are maintained and not interfered with by meddling forces or ill-intended powers that would like to see otherwise and that attempt to manipulate our evolutionary fulfillment.

Boötes functions not by outward force but by spiritual awareness and intellectual prowess in the application of the knowledge about such environmental issues and transcendent subtle forces. Boötes' action is based from a place of receptivity and sensitivity to the situation at hand, action associated with planning, preparation, and strategy. Muphrid and Seginus lie over the lower spinal sacrum (sanctum) of the Virgin and the Virgin's womb--protecting these principles and those of sacred sex, its purity, and the secrets behind gestation, birth, and life itself.

Volans (Piscis Volantis), the unique flying fish, generally found in warmer tropical oceans, is known for its winglike pectoral fins that allow it to glide through the air. Volans resides quite south in the heavens, under the stern and keel of the Argo, which is associated with navigational mapping and transcendent forces and evolutionary currents that direct our lives. Volans is associated with our soul-ar plane (not earth plane), specifically, laying the foundation that supports our souls' uninhibited true expression.

The flying fish mythically articulates an extraordinary force, the ability to gather the momentum and build up the speed to make the leap into and glide through a new realm of experience, one not common to itself. Generally the flying fish is leaping into the air to avoid its predators, adding the element of strategically creating an alternative environment for a safe passage. Primarily however, I tend to take Volans to articulate the soul in its submerged transcendent environment about to birth into visible form--a theme of the Virgin. Volans conjunction with 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.

A Space in Time

Several additional events occur as we start this lunar cycle: Vesta and Pluto conjoin in early Sag over Galactic center just a few hours after New Moon; Mercury begins its retrograde in another few hours in sidereal Libra while conjoining Juno, asteroid of partnerships; Jupiter and Quaoar conjoin in sidereal Scorpio; and Venus and Saturn conjoin on the South Lunar Node in sidereal Leo.

Vesta and Pluto invite us to step through a door, one that began to open in the last lunar cycle. It requires we leave behind the initiations and diversions of the past and have the clarity of purpose and focus of intent embodied by Vesta.

Mercury's entire three week retrograde period occurs in this lunar cycle. Its station occurring on the New Moon provides a wonderful opportunity, a space in time, an opening in consciousness to attune to this month's lunar theme. The entire retrograde period, occurring in the context of our Virgo lunar theme provides an ideal time for negotiations, planning, re-writing, re-organizing, re-defining, and clarifying the logistical aspects of birthing into a new realm of experience.

Mercury's station while conjoining Juno, asteroid of covenant partnerships and mutual equality, also invites communication regarding logistical aspects within significant partnerships in our lives. Relationships, the redefinition of existing ones, and the establishment of new ones, become a significant facet in this lunar cycle.

The first half of the Mercury retrograde period, and thus the beginning of the lunar cycle has an undercurrent of "disengagement" from the old, while the latter half has an undercurrent of "engaging" in the new. This is because a planetary retrograde provides the time when we disengage from the planet's previous synodic cycle theme and engage in the new one. See "Synodic Cycle and Planetary Retrogrades."

Jupiter and Quaoar began a new 12-year synodic cycle in late June of 2007, the second of three significant Jupiter cycles starting this year that mark 2007 as the year of Expansive Mobilization. The Jupiter-Quaoar cycle creates a mobilizing force to return to natural order, a return to the sacredness of life. The Jupiter-Quaoar cycle's theme is presented in detail in " The Synodic Cycles of Pluto, Ixion & Quaoar - with Jupiter, Saturn, and Nessus."

The Jupiter-Quaoar conjunction occurring now, on Oct 11-12, allows us to palpate the commencement of this Jupiter-Quaoar theme in our lives. It brings the underlying synodic theme into the forefront of consciousness. It also provides opportunity to gain a better appreciation for the astrological essence of Quaoar.

Venus and Saturn conjoin on Oct 13-14 in sidereal Leo. This is the third conjunction of Venus and Saturn due to the recent Venus retrograde cycle occurring with Saturn and Orcus. The Saturn-Orcus synthesis, catalized by retrograde Venus, redefining heart, set in motion the new and very significant 32-year Saturn-Orcus synodic cycle.

The Saturn-Orcus theme is one that is working at a very deep subconscious and foundational level in our lives. It engages our responsibility to live from the individual truth and purpose of our souls--attuned to our soul oaths. It invites us to live beyond motivations driven by any personality-based righteous beliefs we may hold, and instead to live true to heart, in the art, rapture and beauty that life has to offer.

A person does not necessarily need to consciously know their "soul oath" to live it. It is more important to set our intent to do so and to get out of our own way and act upon the spirit directive expressing through and guiding our lives. When we do so, the synchronicities and serendipity of life abound.

The Saturn-Orcus 32-year cycle, along with the role of Venus is presented in "The New 32-year Saturn-Orcus Synodic Cycle."

Venus and Saturn's third conjunction occurring on the Lunar South Node in sidereal Leo motivates us to now apply this theme in and through the opposite (North Node) lunar pole residing in sidereal Aquarius. Sidereal Leo is of self, of aligning vertically in the integrity of our individual truths. Now, embodying this theme within self, we are asked to apply it in our participation with others, into a humanitarian expression. Pallas also conjoins the North Lunar Node inviting us to express our heart's truth with artistic creative intelligence that supercedes or transcends any righteous judgments we may hold about life.

Crescent Moon Phase Characteristics

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.

The Crescent Moon of Oct 15 resides in sidereal Scorpio, just past the scorpion's head and at the left foot of Ophiuchus, which stands over the Scorpion. The Mon conjoins two potent black holes: Scorpio X-1 and Hercules X-1, and also the Pulsar PSR 1451-68 in Circini.

All Black Holes are X-ray emitting and this is how they are detected. Scorpio X-1 is one of the most powerful of all measured X-ray emitting deep space objects, and this potency, as well as its amalgamation with two others, Circini X-1 from the south (~37° s. lat.) and Hercules X-1 from the north (~57° n. lat.), creates a potent transmutative quality. Here, at the foot of Ophiuchus standing upon the head of the Scorpion, is the initiatory point of personal empowerment. This image articulates the theme of claiming self-mastery over the primal, carnal and raw creative forces of life, and this is the opportunity Sco-X1 provides.

Hercules X-1 is not only an X-ray source exhibiting the black hole model, but is also a neutron star, a star that has collapsed to such a magnitude that highly energized particles are forced outward. This provides a relentless and intense drive. In addition, Herc X-1 is an X-ray eclipsing binary star, one rotating around the other creating an additional set of mobilizing dynamics. The result is a very potent, incredibly unique, multi-faceted, and very complex stellar entity.

Herc X-1 invites us to become aware of our personal power, and to manifest this awareness through human physical form in a demonstrable and dynamic expression. This is characteristic of our Hercules, who's feet (sole / soul origin and long term purpose) lie in the realm of the gods, and who's hands (short term immediate work at hand) lie in the realm of incarnate man. Hercules' mission is educating and aiding others in proper use of power and in claiming their own evolutionary freedom.

These two stellar entities amalgamate to form an initiatory challenge--to demonstrate our self-mastery when presented with these fundamental forces of life.

Our crescent Moon's placement here may raise a question regarding how we would have responded to such forces in the past and how we may now respond differently to such a challenge--assuming we have been growing emotionally and maturing spiritually; and in the context of our lunar theme.

The Pulsar in Circini, provides a reminder that we have a choice to respond from a reactive personality level, or from a consciously active mature soul-aware level.

The Sun moves into sidereal Libra on Oct 18, just before First Quarter Moon.

First Quarter Moon Phase Characteristics

Gibbous Moon Phase Characteristics

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 Oct 22 in sidereal Aquarius conjoining retrograde Uranus, creating motivation for the unexpected and spontaneous that may help to free us from the conformity of the past. The Moon and Uranus conjoin Achernar, the end of the River Eridanus; and Ankka of the Phoenix--hallmarking the completions and rewards after a long and arduous road. (There is more on Achernar and Ankka below in the Pallas-Uranus Synodic Cycle.)

Mercury's New Synodic Cycle

In the midst of Mercury retrograde, Mercury conjoins the Sun in early sidereal Libra on Oct 23, 2007, nesting in the legs of the Virgin. This brings to conscious awareness questions and realizations about intimate support in our in our lives and the nurturing quality of our environments.

Earth and Mercury also align looking from the Sun's view, which defines the start of a new Mercury 116-day synodic cycle in early sidereal Aries.

Mercury's previous sysnodic cycle was presented in the June 14, 2007 lunar cycle, "Tenacity of the Heart."

The theme of this Mercurial cycle is set by Alrisha of Pisces and Mirach of Andromeda.

Alrisha is the knot of emotional attachment in the mortal world. Mirach, the belt, sash, or chord of Andromeda the Princess is a bond of strength. Mirach indicates betrothal of those destined to be together, and specifically is the declaration of commitment uniting them. Mirach is of the bonds in partnership that make it possible to live our highest potential and divine destiny. Mirach and Alrisha can literally imply tying the knot in matrimony, but more specifically, is of bonds of the soul, commitments to each other that make it possible for two to be or do something greater than either can be or do alone. Mirach is the star of union and of soul mates, of making it possible, through committed union, to live the exquisite radiance our souls desire.

Although Mirach conjoins Alrisha (Kaitain) the knot based on emotional attachment, Mirach, being a bond of strength, does not imply emotional entanglement in any negative sense, although the energies of Alrisha and Mirach conjoin--sometimes confusingly they can express as a sticky entanglement.

Our new Mecurial theme is one engaging us to communicate and explore the logistics of our significant relations, our marriages, or any committed affiliations or engagements with others, and their emotional entanglements if such exist; and sorting out which is which. It also suggests a time of creating new bonds, those of strength. The Mercury retrograde period, occurring throughout this lunar cycle is one of disengaging from the previous Mercury cycle theme and reengaging in this new cycle.

We may see many changes in partnerships occurring over this new Mercurial synodic cycle, as Mercury's retrograde over Mirach and Alrisha indicate a disengagement and subsequent re-engagement in partnerships.

Full Moon Phase Characteristics

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 in sidereal Aries on Oct 25, just past the location of the Earth-Mercury synod. This Full Moon is the brightest and largest this year. This occurs because the Moon happens to be near the point in its orbit when it is closest to Earth (at the Moon's perigee). Be sure to see it when it is rising on your horizon (around sunset the night before). It is especially beautiful and magical at that time. (even looking bigger at its rising due to the refraction of luna's light through the atmosphere).

For you sailors and boaters, this Full Aries Moon will produce extra high tides and winds--perhaps extra high emotional and passionate tides for us all as well--catalyzing winds of change.

The Full Moon conjoins Mira of Cetus; Tyl of Draco; the Fornax-A galaxy NGC 1316; and Mesartim, the mouth of the Ram.

Mira (Omicron) Cetus is the breathing neck of Cetus, sometimes said to falsely emulate the royal Aldebaran because its period of brilliancy is highly undependable, but at times it can approach even the true magnificence of Aldebaran. Mira expounds upon the theme of (Kaitain and Mirach). Mira entices the appreciation for what could be the magnificent and attractive glitter, the beauty in the dramatics of the human world. Mira can also indicate a celebration, party, reception, the glitter and fanfare of a union. One can also be deceived by Mira, blinded by emotional and psychic ambiguity. In this case, it may just be an expression of hot air, all show but no true substance or enduring power. Either way, Mira is a favorite variable star of astronomers due to what can be a spectacular show indeed.

Tyl of Draco lies in the far northern Heavens. Tyl is one of many stars composing Draco the Dragon which lies coiled around and guarding the North Celestial Pole. Tyl (along with Nodus Secundus-Delta Draco) makes the convolution in the Dragon's neck, here concerning primordial transformation of the soul through the experience of human life. Tyl is the human cry for fulfillment at a very fundamental human level. Tyl is the cry of desire for one's physical needs to be met, for one's truth to be heard, and for one's dreams to be realized. Tyl is the burning cry in the initiatory fires of life.

Tyl asks us to honor that life's fire can hurts like Hell sometimes; to hear the cry; to not deny, squelch or pretend all is well in either denial or uppity arrogance. Tyl asks us to be real, to honor the pain we feel, to honor our humanness, and to have compassion for the struggle of others. Only unconditional acceptance of all emotion--especially pain--not the suppression of it, opens the transmutative process within to allow the searing, burning, digestive juices of Cetus to truly transform our lives and to set us free. It is not with denial or arrogance that Perseus flies above Cetus for his beloved Andromeda, it is by claiming his mastery while immersed in the initiatory fires of life.

South of the ecliptic lies Fornax the Furnace that provides the transmutational fire while in the whale (Cetus) of human experience creating the alchemical process of turning mortal to god. Fornax A, a magnificent spiral galaxy of the Fornax Galaxy Cluster provides the intense heat under initiatory Aries.

Conjoining Fornax is Mesartim, mouth of the ram and Sharatan the Beta star of the Ram, one of the horns. Sharatan is two marks or signs (actually referring to it and Mesartim suggesting it takes two to Tango. Mesartim and Sharatan can provide a warning that headstrong pursuits from arrogant righteousness or adamant denial can perpetuate the human cry in the transmutational fires of life. Conjoining Mesartim and Sharatan is the M33 Pinwheel Galaxy in Triangulum shown above.

Pallas Uranus Synodic Cycle

Pallas and Uranus start a new several year synodic cycle in late sidereal Aquarius on Oct 27, 2007 conjoining Homam, Zeta Pegasus, a fortuitous star. Homan lies just past the longitude of Achernar, the end of the River; and Ankaa of the Phoenix, the lucida of the Thunderbird--both are also of influence here.

Achernar, Alpha Eridanus indicates fulfillment, completion, integration, and rewards from what has been gained from the long and winding incarnational journey of life. Achernar reveals we have paid our dues, we have arrived from the winding tumultuous river of life to the ocean of being.

Ankaa embodies the essence conveyed in the symbol of the phoenix rising from the ashes of 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.

Homan is "lucky star of the hero." Homam embodies the essence of the Pegasus theme--refining self to rise in vibrational resonance above the dramatics of the human psycho-emotional world.

This synodic cycle provides the impetus to rise above any righteous judgmental attitudes we may have and to make a radical break from the conformity of the past with artistic creative intelligence, sanctioned by the fortuitous support these stars have to offer.

Just for reference: The last Pallas-Uranus synod occurred in early sidereal Aquarius on Oct 12, 2002; the next will occur in sidereal Pisces on Sept 23, 2012.

Disseminating Moon Phase Characteristics

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, of claiming its gift.

The Disseminating Moon occurs on Oct 29 in late sidereal Taurus and conjoins Bellatrix of Orion; Alpha and Beta of the Camel; Alpha and Beta of Lepus, the hare; and AE Auriga in the Flaming Star Nebula.

Bellatrix, Gamma Orion is the Female Amazon Warrior, the conqueror, star of the Amazon. Bellatrix holds excellent capacities in “strategic planning,” (in contrast to Betelgeuse, the male warrior, whose capacity is response in the moment). Classically, Bellatrix is lucky in administrative accomplishment--in civil, political, and military office. Bellatrix is especially favorable for women, and brings a loquacious quality. This star announces the rising of the more brilliant enterprising star Rigel, the left foot of Orion.

The northern Camel (Alpha and Beta conjoining Bellatrix) articulates the nature of this zodiakal band in Taurus well. The Camel spreads wealth around the world through commerce and business, is a resilient hard working intelligent beast of burden with the ability to go for days (without water) before becoming distressed, one suited for long and arduous journeys. This also articulates an enduring, hard working, and administrative nature.

South of Orion is Lepus, the hare, with Arneb, Alpha Lepus, and Nihal, Beta Lepus, conjoining Bellatrix. Lepus, muscular and larger than the rabbit, and with much larger feet, is considered a female totem. The hare, like the rabbit mythically articulates creativity, except this is one who is boldly pro-creative, and often is silently and perceptively scheming to outsmart and outrun its competition for the multiplication of abundance---another facet of the nature of Bellatrix and this few degree band of sidereal Taurus--a making for the managerial, administrative, and business-minded quality common to Bellatrix. The rabbit and the hare are both associated with the moon, the feminine and fertility, and let us note the Moon is exalted in sidereal Taurus.

North of Taurus is Auriga, the charioteer and the energetic star AE Auriga in the Flaming Star Nebula. An interesting observation about this star is that it came from the same location as Mu of Columba, from the Great Orion Nebula. It appears as if the two stars had a very close encounter only to be expelled from the Orion Nebula, and now reside in different parts of the heavens. This suggests a renegade or outcast quality, one who lives outside the beliefs and conventions of its group, a free thinker moving on its own, even with its own agenda, which is quite fitting to this longitude of Taurus, and typical to impious Orion, its place of origin.

Thus, our Demonstrable Moon indicates enterprising formation and execution of plans and strategies, those that can propel us into new realms of experience, especially regarding business and commerce.

Last Quarter Moon Phase Characteristics