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The Lunar Theme for the
January 8, 2008 New Moon

The Action of Zen

The Lunar Month of
Jan 8, 2008 - Feb 6, 2008

Nick Anthony Fiorenza

Copyright © 2008 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

Our first New Moon of 2008 occurs on Jan 8 in sidereal Sagittarius. Our New Moon conjoins the two primary stars of Sagittarius: Alrami, Alpha Sag; and Arkab, Beta Sag; and also Albaldah, Pi Sag. Also conjoining are Delta Pavo, of the Peacock; and Alpha Octans, which lie in the southern heavens; and Vega, the Harp Star, Alpha Lyra; and Seliak, Beta Lyra; Epsilon and Lambda Aquila, of the Eagle, all of which lie north.

Sagittarius is stargate to Galactic Center, commonly referred to as the Zen Archer, or the First Horseman whose arrow points toward Galactic Center. From Allen (Star Names): "the Strong One, and Illuminator of the Great City (i.e., galactic center); Light of the White Face; and on the stones of Sippara (the Sepharvaim of the Old Testament)--a solar city Sagittarius, 'appears sculptured in full glory.'"

The First Horseman, our Sagittarian Centaur, is where the first and highest spiritual light is found, our Galactic City of Light, and is responsible for the higher spiritual education of all intelligent life on Earth. Overhead the bow of the archer is the constellation Scutum, Galactic shield of the Holy Cross, which is emblazoned with the symbol of the Holy Cross. Sagittarius is supreme defender of the High Truth of the Holy Cross--of the spiritual fulfillment of humankind--one who is willing to live, fight, and die for this Truth.

On a personal level, Sagittarius inspires demonstrable action to live our deeper inner truths, to express that truth through an undaunted Zen focus to hit our target, to achieve our highest ideals and dreams. The Sagittarian Archer is self-taught, of spiritual wisdom gained through raw experience. Sag is the sanguine inspirationalist, holder of vision and ideals.

Arkab and Alrami embody the foundation or essence of the Zen Archer. Arkab, on the calf muscle of leg, inspires action on our greater spiritual truth, a truth upheld and fought for by the Zen Archer. Arkab supports us to act energetically upon the myriad of opportunities leading to the fulfillment of our souls. Alrami, the knee of the archer, indicates the spiritual transmutation made possible by such demonstrable action; the ability to embrace transformation. Albaldah, the "bright one" on the back of the head embodies the wisdom of the Zen Archer.

South of Sag lies Pavo the Peacock a sacred symbol of immortality, of the durative soul, radiating the full multi-spectral color of life. Further south is the Octant, a more recent addition to our stellar imagery added by La Caille in 1752. The Octant is a navigational device preceding the sextant used to get a bearing of three-dimensional space, that is, where one is in space and time, certainly indicative of the Zen Archer's intimate awareness of his surroundings. The foundation of Earth's polar axis, the South Celestial Pole (SCP) resides in Octanis at this time in Earth's precessional cycle much lie the North Celestial Pole (NCP) resides in Ursa Minor conjoining Polaris. The SEP is directly south of the Gate of God in ecliptical longitude, much like Earth's North Celestial Pole is north, over the Gate of Man at this time in Earth's precessional cycle, facets of the spherical geometry creating the ecliptical Holy Cross. The Octant, as a mathematical term, is a division of a circle into eight 45 degree segments, also the natural harmonic division of the lunar cycle. It was said our stellar Octant would exert a healing power upon those who would attentively observe it (Allen).

Yet further south is Table Mountain (Mons Mensae / or Mensa) nesting over the South Ecliptical Pole (SEP). Although created with other reasoning, also by La Caille, I see Table Mountain as providing "soul level support" natural to the nature of the SEP; thus where the Zen archer stands when acting upon his soul level / heavenly truth.

North over this ecliptical location lies the tail (marked by Lambda Aquila) and outstretched wing of the Eagle (marked by Epsilon and Zeta Aquila)--articulating our capacity to navigate and soar to the heights of the heavens.

Further north lies the Lyre of the Angels, with our New Moon nesting between the longitudes of Vega and Sheliak of Lyra.

Multi-spectral Shelaik has the visible brilliance of 2000 of our suns, and is actually a dual star, one orbiting and eclipsing the other in a period of about 12.9 days. So massive and so close, the two stars transfer streams of matter from one to the other. Sheliak marks the strings of the Lyre, inspiring holographic visualization and attunement to heavenly realms of angelic light, and the transfer of that multi-dimensional awareness through multi-media and art-sciences incorporating light, sound, and geometry. Sheliak embodies the scientific knowledge of harmonics and music. The Lyre was used for divine communion and healing, and Sheliak is about our tuning and being attuned for that very reason. Sheliak inspires cosmic visualization and awareness that serves to educate, heal, and illuminate.

Vega, the principle star of Lyra, the Harp Star, provides a multiplicity of opportunity, offering many potential doorways for fulfillment. Vega is stargate to Mansion Universes of Light where all possibilities coexist. Vega is where the unifying harmonic spectral messages of the Elohim culminate--providing a new home of solace for some upon the completion of their galactic journeys. More about the Lyre.

This Lunar Cycle is of inspiration and action upon our inner truths based from a place of inner stillness, with a quiet mind, clarity, and undaunted focus of purpose--the Action of Zen. It is of optimism, vision, and opportunity. It is also of artistic expression through multi-media and its use for communication, attunement, and the harmonization and evolution of consciousness--all as we enter 2008, the year of "acceleration" and "new beginnings."

The Jan 8, 2008 Sagittarius New Moon

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.

Venus, Ixion and Juno conjoining on Jan 10-11 in the crescendo leading into the Crescent Moon--perhaps bringing a bit of heart, compassion, mutual respect, and diplomacy between the tyrannical and challenging forces in the world.

Our Crescent Moon of Jan 11-12 occurs in sidereal Aquarius and conjoins Deneb of Cygnus and Sadachbia of Aquarius. Flanking is Fomalhaut of the southern fish; Baham of Pegasus, and the Urn of the Waterman that nourishes humanity.

This is one of the purest points of resonance in the ecliptic and one of the most fortuitous. Fomalhaut, one the "Four Royal Architects" the administrative seat of the aquatic quadrant of the heavens. Fortuitous Fomalhaut embodies the essence of sidereal Aquarius--inspiring future vision for an evolved humanitarian-based society. Fomalhaut inspires new ideas and pursuits in the art-sciences and in social issues of the world. It is of the human populous and the flow of resources within that populous that creates a wholesome human condition.

The word 'social' is derived from the Old French or the Latin 'socialis', meaning 'allied', or from 'socius' meaning 'friend'--good words to describe the essence of Fomalhaut and Aquarius. Here all are recognized as allied friends, as one human family. Fomalhaut embodies the essence of philanthropy.

In the northern heavens lying upon the galactic equator we find Cygnus the Swan, also called the Northern Galactic Cross. Deneb, tail of the swan, is the principal star of Cygnus and marks and the top (head) of the northern cross. Like Sadr, heart of the swan, Deneb lies along the galactic plane, but is quite close to the most northern point along the galactic plane--the primordial origin--which marks the location of Earth's pole at the start of Earth's ~25,000-year precessional cycle. This is a point of unity consciousness in the "evolutionary cycle of the soul," which is created by Earth precessional cycle. This is where Earth's pole lies at rest, infused in the plane of galactic light. Deneb is the first primary star that Earth's pole encounters as Earth's pole lifts itself from its slumber in Earth's precessional cycle, it thus is the messianic head of the precessional Cycle of the Holy Cross--of the evolutionary cycle of the soul. Deneb governs the first of the seven heavens (evolutionary epochs) in the Earth's precessional cycle. Deneb embodies our God-essence; our unadulterated androgynous pure soul essence before fragmentation into race, sex, or creed. Deneb inspires us to stand in the awareness of our pure soul essence, in our God-self wholeness and to participate from the maturity of this awareness, unbiased, from beyond the segregations and categorizations common to modern-day mass-consciousness. Deneb of Cygnus embodies the principle of unity consciousness.

Sadachbia of Aquarius is the " lucky star of hidden things" and indicates a physical gift of extreme value can be discovered, revealed, or claimed.

Our Crescent Moon expands upon our Sagittarian theme of undaunted focus and action upon truth, here to an inclusive rather than exclusive pursuit for the betterment, wellbeing, and freedom of all.

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.

This Gibbous Moon resides in sidereal Taurus and conjoins the stars creating the Shield, a sub-constellation of Orion. The Shield is of providing protection, often for those starting new journeys in life exemplified by nearby Kursa of Eridanus, the start of the River. This band of the ecliptic has a quality of enterprising entrepreneurialism.

The magnetic quality of this Taurus Gibbous Moon draws interaction and communication regarding ventures and projects we may be initiating, with the next few days becoming an ideal time to mix and amalgamate that which we are involved with in these areas.

Retrograde Mars and Venus

Mars and Venus oppose each other as the Moon conjoins retrograde Mars on the cusp of sidereal Gemini on Jan 19-20; in the midst of the communicative pollinating phase of the lunar cycle. Venus resides on the cusp of sidereal Sag soon to pass over Galactic Center and to make its conjunction with Pluto and then Jupiter. This creates an opportunity for perspective, to explore the best use of our creative energy to achieve that which lies dear to heart. Mars is soon to return direct from its many week retrograde later in this lunar cycle.

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.

This Full Moon of Jan 22 occurs in sidereal Cancer at a rather peaceful and nurturing place in the ecliptic, conjoining Alpha Monoceris, Aludra of Canis Major, and the forefoot of the Great Bear, Talitha of Ursa Major. It is not uncommon to find people or events of extremely attractive and unique character with alignments here--simply showing up.

Alpha Monoceris, the Unicorn, is of a species not common to earth--one magikal 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 in denial 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.

Aludra, Wezen, and Adhara lie under latter sidereal Gemini and early Cancer, and create the hindquarter of the Canis Major. Although of this Sirian constellation, Aludra and Wezen are a pair of their own class. They lie much further in distance than the other stars thus being of their own realm. Aludra is also the only star of the constellation that lies across the Gemini-Cancer cusp. 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 magik provided by Alsciaukat (the thorn in the Lynx) and Alpha Monoceris. The Aludra individual seems strikingly unique in some way--out of the ordinary.

Conjoining Aludra and Alpha Monceris is the Irregular Galaxy M82 shown here. Irregular Galaxies tend to express as some type of abnormality, distortion, or uncommon trait regarding the conjoining stellar themes--hence the unexpected nature of the Unicorn and Aludra, and also of any unexpected portals presenting themselves. Also expressing as a black hole, M82 requires we release any prejudices and limiting perspectives about the differences and oddities found in the multiplicity of our individuality. It requires we pull forth the totality of our own oddity from our true soul essence into our incarnational expression to allow the gift of this uniqueness to manifest. In typical black hole fashion this is an all or nothing deal, there is either total acceptance or total rejection of the uniqueness that is being presented, no in-betweens. M82 of the Great Bear also provides opportunity for the uniqueness of our individuality to have a role or place in the world, but self-acceptance must be realized and the unique opportunities presenting themselves (Alpha Monoceris) seized in the moment.

At this zodiakal longitude we find the ideal ambassador between countries, races, species, and worlds--the morph. We also find opportunities to amalgamate our uniqueness in ways that can dissolve the barriers in front of us and that serve our mutual wellbeing or purpose. We must, however, relinquish any preconceived ideas or beliefs that would limit the expression and fulfillment of the uniqueness of our souls and paths on Earth.

Our Full Moon may being realizations about our uniqueness, that of ourselves and of our experience; and that there is a pathway for us in this world, no matter how unlikely it may seem at times. The oddity of the path and its arrival is often time in direct proportion to our own uniqueness.

The forefoot of the Great Bear is marked by Talitha (Iota) and Kappa of Ursa Major, which I dub as protectress, guardian, and nurturer of humanity. This duo is the Chinese "High Dignitary." Although minor stars they should not be taken lightly as these stars lie in principal stellar orientation within the Bear. Of the Great Bear they are associated with the global scene and world powers. They inspire us to become a caring and nurturing force for each other, a force that responsibility supports our emergence from darkness, dogma, and delusion, emergence from the limits and bounds created by our structured beliefs, a force that supports our reawakening to light, to live in freedom, in a greater fulfillment.

Also conjoining Talitha is a pulsar (APO 0823+26) in Cancer that provides a constant reminder to emerge from psycho-emotional issues common to the collective consciousness of the group of people with whom we associate. It inspires us to be independent and free thinkers rather than co-dependant followers of dogmatic belief structures that limit our ability to initiate creative action that supports the manifestation of our greater fulfillment - to pursue the greater visions we hold for our evolutionary freedom and our personal and collective fulfillment.

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 Jan 25-26 in the last decan (ten degrees) of sidereal Leo. The Moon lies under the auspices of the Barking Dogs and the tail of the Lion; but also Delta Velorum on the sail of the Argo lies below. Let not the dramatic commotion defer our paths for there are subtle underlying currents working in our lives that we can attune to during such distracting commotions created by the hot air emitted by some. This again reinforces the theme of this lunar cycle--to birth its gifts requires our Zen-like awareness in action from a place of belief and confidence in self, in the uniquw truths we hold within.

Mercury Retrograde

Mercury stations to begin its retrograde on Jan 28 in late sidereal Capricorn as we approach Last Quarter Moon. This is when Mercury begins to disengage from its previous 116-day synodic cycle. It will begin its new synodic cycle in the midst of its retrograde later in this lunar cycle, and will return direct in the following lunar cycle. Mars is also stationing, about to return direct. Both stations create an opening in mind and the expression of creative power.

Last Quarter Moon Phase Characteristics