The Lunar Theme for the
July 22, 2009 New Moon

Expect the Unexpected

The Lunar Month of
July 21-22, 2009 - August 20, 2009

Nick Anthony Fiorenza

Copyright © 2009 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.

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).

Lunar Cycle Overview

Our New Moon Total Solar Eclipse of July 21-22, 2009 occurs in early sidereal Cancer and conjoins the stars of the magical Unicorn; the Thorn in the Lynx; and Aludra, the pure one of the breed. Expect the unexpected. This lunar cycle can also bring our attention to our personal needs, home, family and friends; and to ensuring our personal environments are nourishing and support our physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing. This is the longest total solar eclipse of century.

The First Quarter Moon of July 28 conjoins the Syrma, star of Atlantis; and the Southern Cross. It stimulates action upon our deeper soul intent, beyond any crystallized patterns of thought or behavior that keep us bound to the past.

Ceres and the new Dwarf Planet Haumea begin a new ~4.6-year cycle in sidereal Virgo. Ceres (now classified as a Dwarf Planet) is the mother of the asteroids and Haumea, which lies north of the ecliptic at the foot of Bootes, the Virgin's consort, supports a new birth in consciousness. The two make a harmonious synergy and inspire the birth of a protective and nurturing environment--a cycle to unfold over the 4.6 years ahead.

Our very magnetic Gibbous Moon of August 1 conjoins the Sting of the Scorpion and invites us to embrace the often harsh lessons of the past as a transmutational elixir--requited to cross new thresholds in our lives.

The Full Moon of August 5-6, a Penumbral Lunar Eclipse, occurs in the overlap area Capricorn & Aquarius. It invites us to take personal responsibility for our material and physical well being, not just for our selves, but also for our immediate and extended families. It is a location in zodiak of legal agreements, partnerships in business, and negotiations. The day after the Full Moon, in our time of realization of the lunar theme, the Moon conjoins Jupiter Chiron and Neptune, bringing an expansive awareness and inspiration to mobilize our dreams and ideals.

Our Manifestation and Demonstration Moon of August 9-10 conjoins Juno, which stations to begin its retrograde in watery Pisces. Juno is the asteroid of covenant relationships and partnerships of all types. Juno invites us to look at issues of mutual compatibility and respect in our relations. Juno began a very significant conjunction with Uranus in mid-June 2009, which continues through November. This few month period catalyzes transition and opportunity for relationships, and the August 9 Disseminating Moon marks another key shift for relationships. Juno's very significant role during mid to late 2009 (and its ramifications for partnerships) will culminate with a potent Juno-Pluto-Saturn T-square occurring on Dec 28, 2009 through Jan 1, 2010.

Venus and Mars begin a new 317-day synodic cycle in sidereal Aries. The theme of this cycle is defined by the snagged foot of Andromeda; the whip of Queen Cassiopeia; and the snapping jaws of ole' Cetus, the technobureaucratic monster created by collective human consciousness.

Our Last Quarter Moon of August 13, which creates an "inner need to change" in lunar cycle conjoins distant Sedna, a minor planet the far reaches of our solar system. Sedna was the exiled female, but has now re-emerged.

Surrounding the August 16-17 Balsamic Moon, which closes this lunar cycle, Earth begins new synodic cycles with Jupiter, Chiron and Neptune. This compounded event marks a primary turning in the Jupiter-Neptune (Chiron) conjunction, which began on May 27 2009 and which continues through December 21, 2009. More importantly, this synodic cycle starting now and unfolding over the months ahead embraces the start of a new Jupiter-Neptune 12.7-year synodic cycle occurring on September 19, 2009, a cycle that continues into 2022. The September Jupiter-Neptune synod is a primary event occurring along with two other very significant events--the midpoint of the 44-year Saturn-Uranus synodic cycle and the Uranus-Earth-Sun-Saturn-Makemake alignment. The September 2009 events create "the transition" in the planetary cycles occurring from late 2008 through early 2011.

Synodic cycles are created when two (or more) planets align in their orbits around the Sun. The synodic cycle theme, defined by the planets involved and the star alignments at the time, will unfold until the two planets align again, marking the completion of the synodic cycle and the beginning of the next one.

There are many synodic cycles with unique astrological themes occurring simultaneously creating a harmonic symphony of creative unfoldment in consciousness. Synodic cycles can be thought of as longer-term underlying currents, much like the backdrop chorus of a symphony, providing the underlying astrological context guiding our evolution.

Learn the basics about Synodic Cycles & Synodic Astrology.

New Moon Phase Characteristics

The New Moon

Our New Moon Total Solar Eclipse of July 21-22, 2009 occurs in early sidereal Cancer and conjoins Samoth, Alpha Monoceris, the magical Unicorn; the Alsciaukat of the Lynx; and Aludra of Canis Major; and the Irregular Galaxy Black Hole M82 in the Great Bear. This is also the ecliptical location of the Centaur Pholus's North Node.

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 served Hipparchus to make his famous astronomical reckoning about the precession of the equinoxes. 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 and Alpha Monoceris. The Aludra individual seems strikingly unique in some way--out of the ordinary.

Samoht, Alpha Monoceris, is an Egyptian star name, actually older than the constellation Monoceris. Samoht means "one who has traveled far." Alpha Monoceris appears dimmer than Beta Monoceris, however Beta is a triplet star system, thus its brighter magnitude is due to the combined light from all three components. Alpha Monoceris is brighter than any of the three components of Beta, thus rightfully holds the Alpha designation.

Monoceris, the Unicorn, is of a species not common to earth--one magikal and mystical. Alpha Monoceris brings fortuitous situations, experiences or involvements quite out of the ordinary, which often appear unexpectedly. They may manifest while traveling or appear to come from another time or from a distant location. The spiral of the Unicorn's horn embodies its magic, but for it to manifest in our lives, we must live in the power of our uniqueness, not in denial of it. Alpha Monoceris invites us to be open to the unexpected and unique; and to relate to such experience without need to fit the experience into mass consensus or the norm. The synthesis of Samoht and Aludra can manifest as unexpected meetings with very unique people.

Irregular galaxies like the Starburst Galaxy M82 tend to express as some type of abnormality, distortion, or uncommon trait regarding the conjoining stellar themes--hence the unexpected nature of the thorn in the Lynx, of the unexpected portals presenting themselves (the conjoining Monoceris), and of the unique people native to this area of the zodiak. Fitting to the black hole model, 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 oddness 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 unique situation that is occurring, 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 seized.

The outstretched Lynx lies just north of sidereal Cancer. Alsciaukat is the proverbial thorn in our side. However this is a blessing that brings us into a place and time where a unique and unexpected portal of opportunity can present itself. The thorn is to remind us to stay in ever-present attentive alertness to see such opportunities and to seize the moment.

Pholus' North Node resides at this ecliptical location (where the orbits of Earth and Pholus cross), and thus Pholus adds its influence to our Lunar Theme. Just as the Centaur Chiron embraces the orbits of Saturn and Uranus and is consider a key or bridge between the two planets due to their harmonic orbital resonances, Pholus' aphelion also synchronizes with Saturn's orbit, but it extends beyond the orbit of Uranus, crosses that of Neptune, and harmonically resonates with Orcus' orbit--Pluto's compliment. Pholus thus links the realms of Saturn and Orcus while passing through the realms of Uranus and Neptune.

In this light, Pholus may help to lead us from the conforming bounds and limitations of our past, to make the radical changes in our lives, to pierce the veils obscuring our more transcendent soul purpose, and to awaken to that purpose and live it. Conversely, Pholus may also help us to then ground and concretize that purpose in the world. Pholus would seem to help us refine our sense of responsibility to one living true to the "oath of soul" (Orcus). Upon this journey, guided by mind-expanding Pholus, we may also confront the fear and loneliness encountered when leaving the apparent safety of our established patterns and choosing to live true to our souls' greater purpose in the world.

Our Total Solar Eclipse New Moon begins a new six-month period in our annual solar cycle. The duration of the eclipse itself is the longest occurring in this century. Generally, eclipse lunar cycles mark a time of shifting into a new octave in the lunar spiral of growth. They offer a time to resynchronize ourselves with the ever-changing cosmic currents supporting our evolutionary progression in consciousness. Solar eclipses offer opportunity to redefine concepts of self and the roles we play, or how we articulate ourselves, in the world. They are about shifting octaves in the nature of our self-perception and self-expression. They often mark a new beginning, way of life, or new way of participating in life. Expect the unexpected in this lunar cycle and be attentive to opportunities and people that may seem to appear out of no-where.

Solar Eclipse Information: MrEclipse Info & NASA Info

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 lunar 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 occurs on July 25 in sidereal Leo, just as the Moon approaches its conjunction with Saturn. Both visible in the western sky just after sunset. The Moon Saturn conjunction can create somewhat of a sobering, serious and somber tone. At the hind of the Loin, the Moon conjoins fiery Mizar of Ursa Major, while Saturn conjoins Asterion of Canes Venatici, the barking hounds. This is an area of grand spectacle and diversionary tactics, commotion, and some screens. Saturn's traverse through the hind of the Lion (and its opposition to Uranus is partly why we experience such dramatics (and challenge to change - Uranus) in the structural aspects of human society. More on this is presented in "The Five Saturn-Uranus Oppositions, Juno, Jupiter & Pluto: The Challenge, The Turning, & the Mobilization of Change 2008 - 2011."

Mizar embodies raw fiery energy that must express one way or another. Mizar must have a creative outlet, but for its proper expression, we must apply it with creative vision. Mizar brings attention to use of our creative energies; creative and destructive tendencies, and the fear to create lest it may result in destruction. Here we learn the nature of such volatile forces. Mizar, with averted alignments is also known for catastrophic fires or massacres. Mizar can however express quite artistically. Gunpowder can express as beautiful fireworks as well as devastating explosions. The expression of Mizar is always noticed in a grand way, in character with showy and dramatic Leo.

Conjoining Chort, the hind of the Lion, can taint this expression due to toxic conditions or an unrefined awareness. Conjoining Asterion and the seyfert galaxy NGC 4151 of Canes Venatici, the barking dogs, can manifest a dramatic and distracting racket; all providing a warning that foul winds could fuel a diversionary fire.

Our crescent Moon inspires us to peer beyond any diversionary racket we might experience to see hidden opportunities this lunar cycle may offer. It invites us to explore how we may concretize new opportunities in the physical and logistical structures of our lives.

First Quarter Moon Phase Characteristics

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 occurs on July 28 in sidereal Libra, but in the constellation of Virgo--under the skirt of the Virgin.

Although the constellation of Virgo begins at the Leo / Virgo cusp, it extends into the first 17 degrees of the sidereal sign of Libra. The Virgin lies supine with her head at the beginning of Virgo. The Virgin's base chakra (Spica, Alpha Virgo) marks the cusp of Virgo / Libra while the Virgin’s legs extend well into Libra, with her feet marking the center (15°) of sidereal Libra. The constellation of Virgo embraces ~46° of the zodiak. Bootes, Virgo's consort and protector, stands over the Virgin giving birth, over the cusp of Virgo-Libra with Archturus of Bootes conjoining Spica of Virgo.

The overall image is of the Virgin giving birth into the Chelae of the Scorpion. This image articulates the birthing of the soul into reincarnational process of soul growth through the balance of experience, which is what Libra's scales of justice imply--the balance of experience. This mythical articulation was destroyed in recent (Chaldean / Roman) times: The Scorpion’s Chelae and the Virgin's legs had both been severed from our stellar mythos, and so too its profound significance regarding the reincarnational process of the soul. Thus I dubbed the first half of the sidereal Libra "Under the Skirt of the Virgin" to mythically articulate the long obscured secrets hidden within this part of the zodiak.

The Moon lies just past Syrma, star of Atlantis, which marks the knee of the Virgin. The Moon lies over the stars of the Centaur and conjoins the Centaurus-A Black Hole near the stars forming the Southern Cross.

Syrma, Star of Atlantis, lies under the skirt of the Virgin and marks the knee of the Virgin. Syrma embodies issues relating to frozen genetic coding and the resultant crystallized emotional patterning incurred due to devastating or cataclysmic events of the past. Syrma provides inspiration for personal change and transformation, and articulates our need to unlock our frozen genetic coding and crystallized cellular makeup. Syrma alignments can bring emotional patterning, especially suppressed grief, to surface awareness so we may clear it. Syrma also inspires the application of art-sciences that can help in this process, freeing ourselves from biological conditions and behavioral patterns that keep us frozen in past time so we may step forth into our evolutionary fulfillment.

Centaurs-A is the "Temple of the Centaur," a place so unique that it seems oblivious to and undaunted by its surrounding cosmology. It nests within a very unusual galaxy (NGC 5128) not fitting into any galactic class, thus, unique as the Centaur is, it is unclassified. It is the closest active galaxy to Earth.

Centaurs-A invites us to create a contemplative meditative harmonious sacred space or environment from which to access our inner cardinal soul wisdom, our original and unique purpose and intent before the aberrations, false beliefs, and restricting concepts we have placed upon ourselves.

Centaurs-A fits into what some astrophysicists call the Black Hole model, which can be thought of as a very deep pool of consciousness, a place we can enter if we dare, and return (or not) forever changed. There is an all or nothing nature to this excursion that requires relinquishment of lesser modes of being, of the attachments associated with our existing lives. It requires the willingness and personal integrity to go deep within our consciousness and 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 inner knowing of our souls. We then must then bring that pure intent back into our life expression. The successful feat can result in an inversion or flip in consciousness--with a revelation of great magnitude, one that may change our lives forever. Centaurs-A offers and opportunity for capitulation of all that we think we are and to re-emerge with what we really want to be without needing to mold ourselves into mass consensus.

Centaurs-A is the essence of pure consciousness, it is of quality, beauty, harmony, and perfection. Centaurs-A along with conjoining Quasar OQ 172 of Bootes, which lies just over the feet of the Virgin, inspires unique artistic vision and imagination to create a portal of beauty and purity in art and architecture designed to facilitate our enlightenment.

Our First Quarter Moon's stimulus may inspire action to create a space or environment that serves our greater spiritual wellbeing, a harmonious space where we can access our soul's pure intent and live it. In this light, our stimulus to action fits well with our sidereal Cancer Lunar theme regarding our personal needs, home, family and friends; and to ensuring our personal environments are nourishing and that they support our physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing.

The Ceres-Haumea Synodic Cycle

On the day of initiating action in the lunar cycle, in the 24-hour period after First Quarter Moon, Ceres and Haumea begin a new 1700-day (~4.6 yr) synodic cycle in sidereal Virgo. Although synodic cycles are more transcendent compared to the more palpable aspects, the start of this new cycle on the day of action also nests well within our lunar theme.

Ceres, now appropriately categorized as a Dwarf Planet, takes her rightful place as mother of the asteroids (those between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter). Ceres, the mother of the main asteroids, brings awareness to how we nurture and to that which is truly nurturing to us. Ceres embodies mothering and agricultural qualities and brings attention to our relation with the Earth, the land, and the seasons. Due to Ceres association with the land, agriculture, the environment, and the seasons, Ceres is of particular interest in charts associated with environmental changes or events. Ceres reveals our ability to be in universal flow--the unification of giving and receiving as one flow of energy through ourselves. Ceres asks for acknowledgment of our inner needs, to have self love and self worth. Ceres is of concern and caring for others as well as for the Earth. Ceres is associated with fertility, the womb and stomach. More about Ceres.

Haumea was recently discovered in December of 2004, and her two moons (Hi'iaka and Namaka) were discovered shortly after in 2005. Haumea's formal name was approved on September 17, 2008.

Haumea seems to have a propensity to intercede with dynamic motion from a state of equilibrium and poise to support a new birth in consciousness with a greater spiritual awareness about the fundamental primordial forces of life. She appears to have a role in helping to reorient world powers' militaristic destructive use of power and resources into a nurturing force that supports and protects life, home and family; and that aids humanity's emergence into a spiritually and primordial aware state of being. At a personal level, Haumea inspires the application of our personal attributes and resources for the same principles. Extensive new material on Haumea.

Ceres and Haumea would seem to make a great pairing energetically. Haumea is currently about 27° north of the ecliptic and is just making its transition from Coma Berenices into Bootes, and resides at the foot of Bootes, the Virgin's consort and protector. Ceres resides in the Virgo constellation have recently conjoined Porrima, Vindemiatrix and Auva, which lie at the shoulders of the Virgin. The two planets also conjoin the stars of Corvus the Raven, which lies south of the Virgin.

The theme of this are of the zodiak and of this new 4.6-year synodic cycle inspires us to heed the signs of the times, those expressing through the natural world with foresight for the future to become. It inspires us to take personal responsibility for the environment and for our personal environments in which we reside; and to create the environmental conditions supportive for a new birth in consciousness. It may well be Haumea's arrival in to our awareness and her synchronistic naming occurring in September 2008, when the financial and house crisis swung into full gear, that has been and continues to bring attention to the needs of the people at a very basic level; and demanding world powers of all countries re-direct their attention from warring to helping create a healthy and nurturing environment.

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 occurs on August 1 on the cusp of sidereal Sagittarius as it make its passage over the sting of the Scorpion in into the domain of the Zen Archer's domain. The Moon also squares Uranus adding impetus for radical change. The Moon conjoins Lesath and Shaula of the sting of the Scorpion; Cebalrai, the shoulder of Ophiuchus; and Alpha Ara, of the Centaur's Altar. This is a graduation point in the ecliptic into a more mature spiritual prowess.

Ara is the Altar of the Centaur. On the low altar, the Centaur places Lupus the Beast (our lower-order personality-based patterns of self-importance, and associated emotional baggage) with conscious deliberation to be consumed in the Centaur's transmutational pyre. Venom from Lesath, the sting of the Scorpion--the often harsh but required lessons incurred while incarnate--dripping on the altar serves as the required transmutational elixir. Over the high altar lies Galactic Centre where reinstatement into our souls' destined fulfillment occurs. The sting (marking the end of Scorpio) precedes movement across the cusp of Scorpio into Sag where Galactic Center resides.

Lesath requires we unconditionally embrace the lessons of life without judgment, a prerequisite to being able to surrender them upon the altar for their / our transmutation. Ara demands we release of all guilt, grief, judgment, fear, anger, and pain associated with all incarnate experience--the self-important baggage we carry, and that we may hold even at soul level. Doing so allows us to claim the wisdom gained from soul's entire incarnational experience. If we do not, we continue to burn in the alchemical process. Only from this mature and humble act can we step into our greater evolutionary fulfillment.

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.

Our Full Moon occurs on August 5-6 in sidereal Capricorn in the overlap area of the Capricorn and Aquarius constellations. The Moon conjoins Armus of Capricorn and the Cygnus X-1 Black Hole. Also influencing are Albali of Aquarius; and the very southern SMC-X-1 Neutron star black hole.

The last decan of Capricorn is of libraries, courts, publishing houses, literary agencies, or where any legalities are formulated, agreed upon and concretized. Here lies the constructive character of Saturn, which is at home in Capricorn.

Armus, the shoulder of the fish-goat, Eta Capricorn, brings awareness to our need to take personal responsibility for our material and physical well being, but not just for our selves, but also for our immediate and extended families. Armus is about our responsibility in the world. Armus is also of legal agreements, partnerships in business, and negotiations. Conjoining Armus is Albali, Epsilon Aquarius, which marks the start of the Capricorn-Aquarius overlap--where the Aquarian humanitarian influence begins to be felt in mid-sidereal Capricorn. Albali of Aquarius extends Capricorn's zodiakal quality from personal level motive to a sense that our responsibilities must be mutual and embrace the needs of those around us, to our extended families.

Cygnus X-1's placement on the galactic equator provides opportunity to participate and express from the intelligent maturity and truth of a self-realized conscious being rather than following whatever mass-propaganda happens to be in vogue.

Armus and Albali also conjoin the SMC X-1 neutron star / black hole in the Small Magellanic Cloud. The Small and Large Magellanic Clouds (SMC and LMC) are small galaxies that orbit our Milky Way galaxy. We might think of them as our galaxy's young, although not necessarily birthed from the Milky Way, they are being cared for and raised by our galaxy. The Small Magellanic Cloud resides quite south in ecliptical latitude on the border of Toucan and the more southern Hydrus (not to be confused with Hydra the Water Snake). Julius Schiller (like others who "have sought to alter the sky figures") combined Hydrus, the Toucan, and the Small Cloud as his biblical constellation Raphael (Allen). Although I haven't a propensity for Schiller's bastardization of the heavens into religious figuring, this is a mythical articulation fitting here.

Raphael is "the Shining One who heals." In Hebrew, Raphael meant healer and guardian of the Tree of Life, which more appropriately can be taken as knowledge about natural law. Raphael, also considered to be the angel of the Sun--correspondingly the essence of the solar fire and solar plexus--brings life to the body through the administration of proper physical remedies. In this light, we have the "angel of science and historical knowledge." Raphael was said to have presented Noah with a book of medical knowledge). Knowledge of science and law is fitting to the later half of sidereal Capricorn--the Aquarius /Capricorn overlap.

Raphael is said to be quite gregarious, both the chummiest and funniest of all the angelic flock. He is often depicted chatting merrily (Rapp-ing) with some unsuspecting mortal"--this loquacious quality, also articulated by Tucana, is an aspect fitting to this part of Capricorn. ("Angels An Endangered Species" by Malcolm Goodwin, Simon and Schuster, 1990.)

Within the Small Magellanic Cloud is the neutron star / black hole SMC X-1 of Tucana, which conjoins Armus of Capricorn. It lies at the southern edge of the Lesser Cloud (at 66S29 ecliptical latitude) and actually lies south of an arc drawn from Alpha Hydri to Beta Hydri, as if it were in this constellation. SMC X-1 embodies the essence of both constellations. In this light, Schiller, in creating one constellation, Raphael, from both Toucan and Hydrus, although tainted with religious overtones of the times, is not such an odd envisioning at all.

SMC X-1 is an eclipsing binary neutron star, with a visible magnitude of 13.3 that emits a high level of X-rays. SMC X-1 has an X-ray eclipsing period of 3.9 days with a pulse width 0.7 seconds long. SMC X-1 of Tucana, in black hole fashion, creates a dimensional portal where diverse concepts and fragmented ideas can be assembled into a coherent expression. The ability to coalesce this fragmentation into a coherent expression can be the challenge here, and often leads to excessive mental chatter (the nature of the Tucan / and Raphael), but this coalescence does happen whence the chatter is surrendered, which can then be expressed as a theme that unifies what was once before seemingly unrelated pieces. The image of a lawyer in a courtroom amalgamating a set of fragment information over many days into a coherent closing statement also articulates this theme. (I acknowledge P. Sedgwick for aptly summing this one up, and only add an expounded statement.)

As a young galaxy being raised by a parent, the SMC and associated SMC X-1 black hole seem to adsorb and become witness to that which occurs for the incarnate soul, acting much like a karmic library or Hall of Records holding souls' personal history. Alignments with or meditation upon SMC X-1 (entering in this black hole) can yield access to this data or information, which can then be brought forth and formulated into a reportage about souls' accumulated experience gathered over time--a Saturn-Capricorn theme (Capricorn is domicile for Saturn, lord of karmic retribution).

Immediately following the Full Moon, on our day of realization, the Moon conjoins Jupiter, Chiron and Neptune inspiring expansive and visionary revelation about crossing how this lunar cycle supports s to continue to create and cross the bridges required in our lives.

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 of the cycle, of claiming its gift.

The Disseminating Moon occurs on August 9-10 in early sidereal Pisces and nests between Uranus and the Juno, asteroid of covenant partnerships, mutual equality and compatibility. The Moon conjoins Juno while Juno stations to begin its retrograde, a few month period during which Juno and Uranus will eventually make their very significant synod in September 2009--our month producing the primary transition point in the few year long Saturn-Uranus opposition, which began on November 4, 2008; and in the 44-year Saturn-Uranus synodic cycle that began 22 years ago.

This demonstrable Moon may catalyze many significant changes in relationships of all types as a re-sorting process begins. If you have pending changes to make in your relations, this lunar cycle is one that provides the impetus to do so.

The Disseminating Moon and Juno conjoins Diphda, the thrashing tail of Cetus, the technobureaucratic monster of collective human consciousness. This an emotionally turbulent area of watery Pisces, and one which brings our attention to the need to be physically, emotionally and mentally clear so as e able to participate above this turbulence, which undoubtedly many get pulled into.

Last Quarter Moon Phase Characteristics