The Lunar Theme for the
December 16, 2009 New Moon

Transmutation & the Sting of the Scorpion

The Lunar Month of
December 16, 2009 - January 15, 2010

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

This New Moon, the last of 2009, occurs at the sting of the Scorpion, which enters the zodiak at the sidereal Scorpio-Sagittarius cusp, and which lies over the Altar of the Centaur. Venom from the sting of the Scorpion--the often harsh but required lessons incurred while incarnate--dripping upon the Centaur's altar, serves as our required transmutational elixir. Here we have opportunity to unconditionally embrace our harsh lessons in life, and in doing so, transmute them into true wisdom integrated into our neurology, a prerequisite to graduate into a higher office, that is, into the next and more accelerated cycle of experience.

On the December Solstice, Jupiter and Neptune will make their third and final conjunction, with the Moon conjoining this event as well. This fully engages our new 12.7-year Jupiter-Neptune cycle. This third conjunction creates the motivation to mobilize and expand upon the visions and ideals we have been formulating over these last several months.

Also in this lunar cycle, and toward the end of 2009, we will experience a grand finale event in the recent several-month period of "restructuring of relationships"--a radical transition that has been occurring in relationships of all types, those of a personal nature, and those of business and political partnerships. The grand finale occurs due to a dynamic T-square created by the asteroid Juno and the already occurring Saturn-Pluto square, which recently began in November 2009. The T-square will be initially triggered on the First Quarter Moon as the Sun conjoins Pluto and the Moon conjoins Juno opposite Saturn. This will create a dynamic "external stimulus to action." The T-square will continue through the Gibbous Moon as Venus conjoins Pluto, and then through the Full Moon eclipse of December 31 and into the "day of realization," which occurs just after the Full Moon, on January 1, 2010. A "T-square" is like a cross-bow, one that must fire. In this case it is Pluto that is firing right through the already occurring "restructuring of relationships." This finale creates an opening, one that demands we let go and live true to heart. With this heart-driven momentum, relationships will then move into a new octave of experience. Some will end, while others, more appropriate for the future, will begin; and some may just transform into a new octave of experience.

This Full Moon will be extra dynamic, not only due to the coinciding planetary alignments and the lunar eclipse, but also because it occurs within hours of the Lunar Perigee (when the Moon is closest to the Earth during its orbit around the Earth). On every Full Moon, the Moon becomes extra charged because it passes through Earth's Magnetotail, which is formed by the solar wind blowing against Earth's magnetic sphere. This Full Moon will be even more submersed in Earth's magnetic force. It will also make for an extra-ordinarily large and beautiful Full Moon eclipse, especially as the Moon rises in the east at sunset. In addition, this Full Moon eclipse also occurs within a few days of Earth's perihelion (Jan 3) (when the Earth is closest to the Sun in its annual orbit)--a time when Earth is closest to the Solar Fire. Thus, the Moon is extra close to the Earth while the Earth is extra close to the Sun. Lunar eclipses, in general, offer an emotional and experiential fresh start, and this is certainly fitting for the Juno-Pluto-Saturn grand finale T-square effecting relationships.

Mercury and Earth begin an extra significant 116-day synodic cycle defined by the very principle stars, Sirius of Canis Major, and Canopus of Argo Navis. Sirius is the great world teacher and often portends events of a global proportion. Canopus, the helmsman of the Argo, directs such affairs and sets our evolutionary course.

The Dwarf Planet Eris, the great disruptor, and which is larger than Pluto, maintains a principle T-square with the Lunar Nodes throughout that latter part of this lunar cycle. Slow moving Eris resides in belly of ole Cetus, and conjoins Revati of Pisces and Baten Kaitos of Cetus--very much an active force in our global economic upheaval.

These are just a few of many events occurring in this lunar cycle, one that leads us into a dynamic and transformative new year.

Synodic Cycles

I often discuss longer-term Synodic Cycles in the Lunar Planner. 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 of Dec 16, 2009 occurs on the cusp of sidereal Scorpio-Sagittarius. It conjoins Lesath, Shaula and Sargas of Scorpio, which form the sting of the Scorpion; Alpha and Beta of Ara, of the Centaur's Altar; Cebalrai, Beta Ophiuchus; and Alpha Mensa.

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 upon 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 our movement across the cusp of Scorpio into Sagittarius where the heart of our galaxy resides.

"Ara, Altar of the Centaur, has also been imaged as the Altar of Dionysus, son of Zeus and Semele, god of wine and fertility, this was before the creation of Norma the square which is oddly placed between Lupus and Ara. Here was a censer in which perfumes were burned before the dead, also a brazier, both of which were associated with Vesta, goddess of the Hearth. Ara also represents the altars on the summits of temple towers, serving as lighthouses for the ancients, with the Alexandrian Pharos being the great example. The illustrations of Hyginus (1488-1535) show an altar from which flames ascended with demons on either side. Poetically it was described with flames rising northward through the Milky Way--along the starry stream and through galactic centre." (Richard Hinckley Allen) Dionysus, god of ecstasy and wine, a mystic and lover, is known, in part, for rescuing women (descending to Helle--mortality--to save his mother) and restoring their rightful office to Goddess--to their immortality. All of this refers to the purification process, the surrendering, or casting out that which is degenerative (the accumulations of judgments that bind us to mortality (judge ye not lest ye be judged) so we may attain our divine birthright, awakened to the illumined durative (immortal) souls that we are. In this light we have the principles underlying healing and the transmutation process, for which our northern illumined Ophiuchus stands.

Lesath requires we unconditionally embrace our lessons in life without judgment, a prerequisite to our transmutation--turning pain into wisdom. Ara demands we release of all guilt, grief, fear, anger, and pain associated with our incarnate experience--the self-important judgmental baggage we carry, and that we may hold even at soul level. Doing so allows us to integrate the wisdom gained from soul's entire incarnational experience into our neurology. If we do not relinquish our inner judgment (resistance to experience) we continue to burn from the Scorpion's sting in an alchemical process. Only from this mature and humble act can we step into our greater evolutionary fulfillment.

In Polynesian lore, the tail of the Scorpion is the fishhook of the god Maui, which he used to raise the island Tongareva (the largest atoll of the Cook Islands; a beautiful ring of coral encircling a lagoon partially filled with pearlshell). Also in Polynesian star lore, Lesath and Shaula are the mean parents of Piri-ere-ua, the Inseparable, and her smaller brother, marked by the nearby stars m1 and m2 (Mu1 Mu2), which lie a few degrees earlier, but also on the Scorpion's tail. They are a mere 8 minutes of a degree apart; hence the "inseparable ones." Piri-ere-ua and her brother ran from home after being mistreated by their mean parents, with their parents, Lesath and Shaula, still chasing after them. ("Na Inoa Hoku: Catalogue Of Hawaiian & Pacific Star Names" by Rubellite Kawena Johnson and John Mahelona. Ku Pa'a Publishing 1975)

Marking the Sagittarian cusp almost exactly, and in the tail of the Scorpion, is Sargas, the "seizer," "smiter," or "stinger." Sargas lies just south of Lesath and Shaula in the curve of stars leading up to Lesath. Sargas also articulates this point of capture, for those who have not embraced and transformed their initiations over Centaur's "low altar" before being allowed to proceed into "Galactic (soul-level) Reinstatement," as we move into the first couple of degrees of sidereal Sagittarius and over Galactic Center, which resides exalted over the "high altar" of the Centaur.

Also conjoining the sting of the Scorpion, but just into sidereal Sagittarius, is the northern Cebalrai, the Beta star of Ophiuchus, which marks his right shoulder, he who exemplifies having attained physical emotional, and spiritual mastery over the raw creative forces governing life and death. Cebalrai indicates that successful mastery past the Scorpion's sting articulates that a greater soul-level responsibility is at hand for one claiming such self-mastery.

Far in the southern heavens and also conjoining is Alpha Mensa (not shown). Mensa is a constellation primarily consisting of four stars, which lie over the South Ecliptic Pole. Mensa starts at the cusp of Sagittarius and extends to early sidereal Capricorn. Mensa articulates that from here, after this transmutational process of claiming one's self-mastery, one has soul-level support to live and apply the wisdom gained into the world.

Venus, Pholus, Ixion, Quaoar and Pluto

Venus plays an interesting role in this lunar cycle. On December 17, immediately after the New Moon, Venus conjoins Quaoar and at the same time Venus and the Centaur Pholus begin a new 226-day synodic cycle (the heliocentric alignment of Sun-Venus and Pholus). Venus will later create a synod with the tyrant Ixion, and then with Quaoar on the Solstice. Venus will then conjoin Pluto as part of the Juno-Pluto-Saturn T-square. Thus it is worth a look into these events. The Venus-Quaoar conjunction occurring just after our New Moon helps to set the stage of this lunar cycle.

Venus and Quaoar would seem to pair well. Quaoar, north of the ecliptic in Ophiuchus and just past the star Sabik, will soon make its conjunction with Ras Alhauge, the head of wise and masterful Ophiucus; and now conjoins the Ara Black Hole. Quaoar, although a newly recognized member of our solar system, and thus with an astrological character not yet fully understood, seems to support a "harmonious revolution" to help us release and surrender to the natural order of the creative forces governing life and death. In addition, Quaoar would inspire our return to the "sacredness of life"; to realize all things in life are sacred and that it is our responsibility to have respect for natural order and to live in harmony with nature. Without this, we do not have respect for our selves.

In this light, our Venus-Quaoar conjunction occurring just after our Full Moon may stimulate an inner revolution of the heart; adding motivation to carry and express this inner heart metamorphosis through the times ahead. More about Quaoar.

The Venus-Pholus synod, also in sidereal Scorpio, in the context of this lunar theme (transmutational elixir from the Scorpion's sting), is also of interest--indicating the start of a new 226-day transmutational process of the heart--one catalyzed by an introduced but shrouded or mysterious catalyst. Pholus, like all of the Centaurs, bridges or links one realm of consciousness to another, in this case bringing us from the realm of Saturn, through that of Uranus and Neptune, to the orbit of Orcus (Pluto's compliment)--to live the "oath of the soul." 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. This Venus-Pholus synod would seem to help us refine our sense of responsibility to live true to the metamorphosis occurring in our hearts--true to our soul purpose in the world. More about Pholus.

The Mars-Varuna Synodic Cycle

Occurring a day after the Venus-Pholus synod is the Mars-Varuna synod on December 18, 2009. This synod occurs in late sidereal Gemini conjoining Castor and Adhara of Canis Minor; and also the North Nodes of both Pluto and Saturn.

Varuna, another new planet, discovered in 2000, and so not with a verified astrological profile, may inspire our return to "nature's way," to living in accord with natural ecology. It may be of value to explore Varuna's astrological role in charts related to ecological-related events, natural disasters, and in the charts of those active in ecological-related affairs. Varuna, since its discovery in 2000, may have helped to create the conscious turning to address our ecological discord--although a study of this would help by those so inclined and with the time. More about Varuna. Mars is an initiating creative force. In its mature expression, Mars inspires self-reliant, audacious, brave and assertive creative action in leadership.

If this initial synopsis of Varuna holds true, this new Mars-Varuna synodic cycle conjoining Castor and Adhara may continue to motivate dynamic and bold action for cooperative ventures that help to establish humanity's shift to living in harmony with our environment, which starts in our personal lives but extends well beyond the Earth.

Castor of the Gemini Twins, is the liaison or manger in the world of daily human affairs and is of partnerships and cooperation. Castor brings resources and people together that serve to get logistics accomplished in the world of business and commerce; whereas Pollux is more of the ambassador and leader, bringing a greater awareness to the efforts of Castor, and uniting groups and factions with concern for the greater evolutionary fulfillment of all parties.

Also entering this band of the ecliptic is Adhara, a part of the hind quarter of Canis Major; and Gomeisa of Canis minor. Adhara conjoins Castor and Gomeisa conjoins Pollux. The Arabic Adhara means virgins (and should not be confused with Aludra, the pure one of the bread, which is nearby in longitude but not in distance). Adhara is the aid, assistant or manager, those in a liaison position in larger cooperative groups or organizations. Adhara inspires co-participation and the emergence of colleagues and friends to lend a hand to Castor's efforts.

Gomeisa is assistant to the principal star of Canis Minor, Procyon, which also conjoins Pollux and which marks the sidereal Gemini-Cancer cusp. Procyon is of larger groups and organizations working for the betterment humanity in business and commerce. Gomeisa can indicate those with special expertise in the area of negotiation and communication, sometimes those that assist such efforts behind the scenes.

Public Relations and liaison articulates the nature of the Twins--linking individuals together in larger groups or organizations that can serve a purpose far greater than the separate parties can accomplish alone. Here we find motivation for the coordination and exchange of resources and information between individuals and groups, and the planning of more encompassing joint ventures.

Mars Retrograde

Mars begins a very significant retrograde on December 20, about an hour before the Crescent Moon. This retrograde continues through early March. The entire retrograde period marks the time of disengaging from the previous Earth-Mars 780-day synodic cycle and engaging in the next. The new synodic cycle begins in the midst of its retrograde on the next lunar cycle's Full Moon, occurring on January 29, 2010 in mid-sidereal Cancer, which is also the exalted zodiacal location for Jupiter. It will initiate a cycle that will motivate action to emerge from the darkness and delusions of the past into a new light. More on that when the time comes. Our previous Earth-Mars synodic cycle began on December 24, 2007 in early sidereal Gemini, on the Foot of Castor. The theme of this cycle was presented in the December 9, 2007 Lunar Planner.

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 a 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.

Due to the Mars station, letting go of past ways of using our creative power (and judgments about it) is a part of how to expand upon this lunar month's theme.

The Crescent Moon of December 20 resides in latter sidereal Capricorn and conjoins the Centaur Nessus. Like all of the Centaurs, which are a bit rogue, rebellious or unconventional in their approaches and retreats, are also teachers, aids, or liaisons for those willing to awaken to a greater path of exploration in self-mastery. Nessus inspires our need to radically sever from the conformity of the past and pierce our veils of illusion, to relinquish our denials, and to enter new realms of vision and creativity. Considering its orbital crossing with its grandfather Ixion, we might have a theme associated with tyranny and sexual abuse, with suppression and denial issues (Ixion). However, since Nessus reaches out to the orbits of Neptune and Orcus (in the confluence of these orbits)--and synthesizes with these orbital resonances, Nessus would seem to aid in dissolving such issues into a greater universal awareness (Neptune) while at the same time inspiring a perspective from the incarnational purpose of the soul (Orcus)--thus helping to place such experience into the greater context of the soul's incarnational process of growth. More about Nessus.

Conjoining stars are Armus of Capricorn; Al Nair of Gruis; and Cygnus X-1. This location marks a significant shift in sidereal Capricorn. Cygnus X-1, an eclipsing X-ray binary-star system, with an X-ray eclipse period of 5.6 days, lies in the northern heavens on the galactic equator, almost equidistant between Albireo and Sadr, in the neck of the Swan. Cyg 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. This is an expressive and articulate area of the zodiak, with gregarious and loquacious qualities. It is of libraries, courts, congresses, publishing houses, literary agencies, or where any legalities are formulated, agreed upon and concretized. It can bring out both those wanna-be types with a lot of self-serving gibberish as well as the informed and intelligent voices interested in truth and real solution that serves the humanitarian whole.

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 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.

Gruis the crane enters the ecliptic from the south as an underling and eloquently supportive influence to the last decan of sidereal Capricorn. The stellar influence of Gruis brings brilliance in grammatical arts, is a contributor to the excellence in law and associated disciplines requiring articulation of the written word. Gruis as the stork, is carrier of bodies of knowledge, information, and news associated with new life and new beginnings. The southern Toucan’s loquacious and gregarious qualities also underlie Gruis contributing to the expressive and articulate nature of this area of the zodiak.

Another mythical image of Gruis that aptly articulates the qualities expressing here is that by astronomer Jullius Schiller who combined the Crane with the Phoenix as "Aaron" the high priest-scientist, brother of Miriam and Moses. In its entirety, this "alternative constellation" then encompasses the last decan of Capricorn, all of Aquarius, and the first decan of Pisces. Aaron thus stands under Fomalhaut (of Pisces Aus), with his amulet of the messianic mission (the Anka, Alpha Phoenix), in support of the people; and under Achernar (end of the river). Aaron, the articulate high priest, applying his wisdom, underwrites the essence of Fomalhaut (future vision of an evolved humanitarian based society) and stands for the humanitarian vision and quality of life that Aquarius expresses. Aaron (and sister Miriam) are instrumental in freeing the people to walk the river of life. Aaron, as spokesperson for the three, stood in defense of Divine Law as an equal to the best of the authorities of the time. He was capable of communicating in intellectual prowess and demonstrating his wisdom of Divine Law, challenging the highest councils of religious political law governing Egypt.

In this imaging, Alpha Gruis, the primary star of Gruis, is Aaron’s head, which embodies the pure wisdom (wise-dome) and knowledge of the high priest. Alpha Gruis is also called "the Bright One," and as Aaron’s head, marks the crown and third eye chakras. Alpha Gruis conjoins (synthesizes with) the way-showers of the northern Dolphin star system, Delphinus. Alpha Gruis brings a capacity "to know" the way through the labyrinth of law, a way from the past, from what has been established.

Rather than waiting around for more the Scorpion's sting, our Crescent Moon inspires intelligent responsible articulation of knowledge and applied action in leadership that leads to real solution rather than more propaganda from those with less mature manipulative agendas, propaganda that leaves those unwilling or unable to act stirring in venous conditions. This is a "grow-up" point in the ecliptic.

Jupiter, Neptune and Chiron on the Solstice

The Moon conjoins Chiron, Jupiter and Neptune just as Jupiter and Neptune make their third and final conjunction. This also occurs on the December 21, 2009 Solstice. Jupiter, Chiron and Neptune have been conjoining in the latter few degrees of sidereal Capricorn, at the cusp of sidereal Capricorn-Aquarius since May of 2009. This geocentric conjunction, which was spread out over several months, surrounds the Jupiter-Neptune-Chiron compounded synod that occurred in September of 2009. Jupiter and Neptune then began a new 12.7-year synodic cycle; the theme of which is presented in the 2008-2011 Timeline. The previous several month period, surrounding this synod, provided a mobilizing, expansive, optimistic and opportunistic force to create a way to cross what appears to be an expansive abyss in our lives. It may have also created grandiose illusions along the way regarding what we really need to do and thus requires keen discernment to see through the swirling and shifting nebulosity inherent in a Jupiter-Neptune synthesis. Either way, this third conjunction creates the motivation to mobilize and expand upon the dreams, visions and ideals that we may have been formulating over these last several months. Jupiter will now begin to move from its dance with Chiron and Neptune and make its way to conjoin Uranus, oppose Saturn (and Makemake), and square Pluto in mid-2010, where it will catalyze a primary turning in what until then will be dominated by the potent and transformative Saturn-Pluto square.

The Solstice

The December Solstice is the astronomical New Year. This is when Earth is at a location in its orbit around the Sun where Earth's north pole is tilted furthest from the Sun. At this time, the line of sight to the Sun is at its closest point in Earth's southern hemisphere (creating mid-summer for our southern friends). Although mid-year for those in the southern hemisphere, it is mid-winter in the northern hemisphere. Either way, for Earth, this is like a new breath beginning, when the solar fire begins to move upward through the polar backbone of Earth and her magnetic field, igniting Earth's kundalini, marking the start of another orbital cycle around the Sun.

The Venus-Quaoar Synod

Venus and Quaoar conjoined from Earth's perspective just after the New Moon, discussed above. Now a day after the Solstice (Dec 22), Venus has caught up to Quaoar in their orbits around the Sun, which marks the start of a new 226-day Venus-Quaoar synodic cycle.

First Quarter Moon Phase Characteristics

Initiate Action &
The Juno-Pluto-Saturn T-square

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 December 24 conjoining Juno, the asteroid of covenant relationships and mutual equality, in early sidereal Pisces, with the Moon-Juno conjunction opposite Saturn. At the same time, the Sun and Pluto conjoin; all of which kick off the Juno-Pluto-Saturn T-square. This dynamic First Quarter Moon begins the explosive grand finale in the recent several-month period of "restructuring of relationships." This T-square will continue through January 1, 2010. Venus will trigger the T-square on the Gibbous Moon as Venus conjoins Pluto on December 27-28. Juno will make its exact square to Pluto on December 28, just after the Gibbous Moon. Juno will then make its exact opposition to Saturn the day after the Full Moon eclipse of December 31, 2009. Saturn and Pluto maintain a very tight square from mid-November 2009 through the entire month of January 2010. The Saturn-Pluto square will continue well into August 2010. More about Juno.

A "T-square" is like a cross-bow, one that must fire. In this case it is Pluto that is firing right through the already occurring "restructuring of relationships." This finale creates an "opening," one that demands we let go and live true to heart. With this heart-driven momentum, relationships will then move into a new octave of experience. Some will end, while others, more appropriate for the future, will begin; and some existing relationships may just transform into a new octave of experience.

The Sun-Pluto conjunction also marks the mid-point of vision and realization in the current Earth-Pluto 367-day synodic cycle, which began on the Solstice New Moon of June 22-23, 2009. The theme of this cycle was defined by the Solar Apex in early sidereal Sagittarius and also involved the asteroid Vesta. The June 22, 2009 New Moon theme and the Earth-Pluto synodic theme is presented in the June 22, 2009 Lunar Planner.

In brief, the June 22 New Moon-Vesta theme occurring in sidereal Gemini (opposite Earth-Pluto) was about getting clear and focused in how we are participating in the world, to stand forth in cooperative action amongst colleagues and friends. The current Earth-Pluto cycle is one about relinquishing limiting beliefs and associated patterns of behavior that keep us from realizing and embracing the myriad of potential paths for our evolutionary fulfillment. Pluto addresses issues regarding our entrapment in the world and our responsibility to deal with the longer-term ramifications of our actions and life scenarios, our karma, extending beyond a mere lifetime. Pluto demands we address how we co-participate and cooperate with humankind in our daily lives. The Solar Apex embodies the unique and majestic path of the soul. At personal level, the Solar Apex invites us to realize that we each have a soul path that is totally unique to ourselves, a path that is beyond what others may see or even relate to. The Pluto-Solar Apex synodic cycle opens the way for those willing to relinquish paths that are less than those aligned with our true soul uniqueness.

Thus, we can see how the grand finale Juno-Pluto-Saturn T-square occurring now, fits well into the current Pluto synodic theme, and why this may catalyze drastic yet opportunistic movement for relationships and partnerships of all types; and why the finale, starting on this First Quarter stimulus-to-action Moon may catapult relationships into a myriad of new directions. Venus' arrival to conjoin Pluto on the Gibbous Moon with further inspire passionate action driven from heart. The Venus-Pluto part of this T-square invites us to live true to heart--anything less is to live a lie.

Juno's placement during this T-square lies in emotional and psychically sensitive sidereal Pisces. Juno conjoins Diphda of Cetus; Eta Horologium; and Eta of Cepheus. These placements suggest that we may feel like relationships are in massive emotional turbulence, and that there is finite time to step forth from that turbulence into a greater personal truth, and into mutually compatible relationships that truly serve us to go forward through the times ahead. If we do not make the changes we know are right for us (regarding our relations and how we interrelate), the thrashing emotional waters may just intensify, or we may be forced to change, despite ourselves, thanks to Pluto. This area of the zodiak is one about sculpting our lives from the very primal essence of life. It is of water, the lymph, and our life fluids--of our life force or Chi (Xi) and its application.

Saturn (opposite Juno) lies in early sidereal Virgo, and conjoins Beta Coma Berenicies; Zaniah of Virgo and Turais of Carina, Argo Navis.

Zaniah, Eta Virgo, is an ecliptical star, less than 2° north in ecliptical latitude. Zaniah inspires the "right use of will" directed by soul-level impulses (Beta Coma Berenicies) and unadulterated by personality or egoic-level influences. Zaniah is also the Chinese "Left-hand Maintainer of Law" (Allen). Zaniah is of Virgin purity--being a clear vessel to know right action--also a feminine quality.

In the southern heavens lies Turais Carina and Phi Velorum, both of Argo Navis, which lies along the galactic equator, and thus is more associated with our longer-term soul-level sojourn and our evolutionary course.

Turais (Aspidiske) of the Argo is a rather rare white supergiant star that shines with a luminosity of 4900 of our suns, with a radius estimated to be about 43 times that of our sun. "This Arabian name has led to some confusion regarding the nature of this star, even confused to be part of Puppis the stern of the Argo, but it lies along the gunwale in Carina, the hull of the Argo, under Velorum the sail." (Allen)

Phi Velorum and the adjoining Pulsar P 0950 reside exactly on the Galactic Equator in the Sail (Velorum) of the Argo. Pulsars in general are beacons for the soul, and in this case, inspiring our attunement to the evolutionary currents beyond our incarnational moment, those of the greater evolutionary process itself. P-0950 has a pulse rate of 1.436551 seconds, which is a frequency of 0.696111729 Hz. Raised a few octaves, this translates to an Alpha brain wave frequency of 11.1377...Hz; and this translates both to infrared and violet wavelengths in the light spectrum. Thus, P-0950 links energy currents occurring in the spiritual realm (crown chakra) with the very root / earth primordial response (Earth Chakra--about a foot below our feet). This pulsar reminds us that to receive our spiritual guidance we must be grounded--like any good antenna.

Galactic Turais and Phi Velorum puts ecliptical Zaniah's "right use of will" into a greater evolutionary context, one with cosmic ramifications that extend throughout spacetime. Our acts of will are not isolated, cut off and limited to the moment itself, but extend into the past-future time-stream of the soul influencing the continuous cosmic currents in soul's greater evolutionary journey in ways that are unseen in the action moment.

Turais asks us to extend our awareness into this time-stream, while Zaniah inspires clear action in the moment from soul's and nature's guiding influence. Thus each action moment is one punctual droplet of many composing a continuous time-stream that formulates the path or wave upon which soul travels. Turais invites us to recognize our actions extend into and influence not only the nature of our own lives, but also the lives of others, effecting the meandering currents in an ocean of being. They set up resonances in spacetime that define the nature of experiences yet to come for our selves and in the evolutionary journey of all involved.

This is not to be confused with attempting to be responsible for others or to define their experience--which is a miss-use of will. The responsibility is for our active and conscious participation from the clarity of our spiritual soul-level guidance expressed in action. Turais demands we act from the awareness of our greater evolutionary journey and adds a sense of "cosmic responsibility" for what is "put into motion" through Zaniah's "right use of will."

Saturn is a concretizing and solidifying force. It is of structure, conformation and of establishing dependable and stable foundations. Saturn's placement here in Virgo invites us to apply personal will, now, responsibly and with conscious consideration for the long-term ramifications. This Saturn dynamic lies opposite the Juno' energetic in Pisces, which emotionally drives our need to sculpt our relationships (those personal) and partnerships (those of business and politics) in a way that lifts us from the trashing emotional waters we may find ourselves in. These two dynamics create the tension of this Cross-Bow; with Pluto (Sun-Venus), inspiring and demanding the expression of a greater integrity and truth in our relations. It is forcing relationships to mature, and thus to either break apart; restructure; or form anew.

The Eris-Lunar Nodes T-square

Eris and the Lunar Nodes create a T-square, which continues throughout this lunar cycle and into the next. This T-square will be triggered in a variety of ways during this throughout this entire lunar cycle. The Moon first triggered this T-square on December 18, just after the New Moon, as the Moon conjoined the North Lunar Node, activating the theme of this Eris T-square. The Moon conjoins Eris on December 25-26, thus also squaring the Lunar Nodes. Mercury also conjoins the North Lunar Node, just as Mercury stations to begin its retrograde.

Eris (pronounced "ee-ris"), which is larger than Pluto, was responsible for the entire reclassification of planets and the formation of the new Dwarf Planet category to which Pluto now belongs. Its discovery upset the entire astronomical and astrological world; and dramatic Eris demonstrated, right from the start, its no-nonsense astrological role as the great disruptor.

Although Eris is the great disruptor, it clearly is not without purpose. Eris opens us to see beyond the finite bounds of our current perception, beyond the bounds we place upon ourselves. In doing so, we are left to redefine and reorganize our world view to embrace a far vaster reality--a view more fitting to our rapidly expanding awareness. More about Eris and her Moon Dysnomia.

This Eris-Lunar Nodes T-square tends to draw our attention onto Eris, thus it may be seen as the issue, that is, that any disruptions that may be occurring in our lives and in our world are what to focus upon. However, this is not what to focus upon for the solution. To focus on what has been taken apart is a diversion. The solution is revealed by the Lunar Nodes, the path of action--from the south to the north lunar node.

The South Lunar Node resides in late sidereal Gemini, nesting between Castor and Pollux. The North Lunar Node resides in late sidereal Sagittarius under the auspices of the stars of Lyra. As mentioned above (Mars-Varuna synod), Castor and Pollux, the Twins, work hand-in-hand in daily hustle and bustle of human activity for the betterment of human life. Castor is of partnerships and cooperation; the liaison bringing resources and people together that serve to get logistics accomplished in the world of business and commerce. Pollux is more of the ambassador and leader in public relations, bringing a greater awareness to the efforts of Castor, and uniting groups and factions with concern for the greater evolutionary fulfillment of all parties.

This South Lunar Node theme is to be applied toward the North Lunar Node theme, articulated by Lyra. The stars of Lyra embody various facets of the artsciences of harmonics in light, sound, color, and geometry--particularly the wisdom of the artsciences. They are of vision, creativity, and inspire all that is of multi-media, the arts, and higher education. Lyra offers a multiplicity of opportunity for fulfillment. More about Lyra. The Mercurial North Node station provides an opportunistic opening; and the Mercury retrograde cycle, now to ensue, provides a time to redefine logistics to be applied in this focus.

This T-square theme continues throughout this lunar cycle and into the next. It is significant due to its duration and because it occurs through the two upcoming eclipses. It sets a strong magnetic current (to apply the south node theme to the north node theme) in our lives. This productive-oriented focus is where to apply our energy in order for us to move through the existing and perhaps continuing dismantling occurring in our lives and in our world. All of the longer-term cycles that have been and are occurring are revealing that the focus is not on that which is being dismantled (which seems to be the media's focus), nor to fix that which has been taken apart. The underlying planetary cycles provide tremendous support to apply our creative wisdom in new ways, to construct a new and better bridge into the future. The antiquated infrastructures in our world (political, religious, business, economic, etc.) must continue to crumble for a new world to emerge, one with new infrastructures that serve an expanded consciousness and a more evolved society. Those willing to apply their creativity and resources to break new trail will lead humanity through this paradigm shift--the cultural creatives (to borrow a popularized phrase).

Mercury Retrograde

Mercury begins its retrograde on December 26 in late sidereal Sagittarius. Mercury's retrograde station marks the time when we start to disengage from Mercury's previous 116-day synodic cycle. Many people seem to think a Mercury retrograde is a bad thing. This could not be further from the truth. A Mercury retrograde period is merely a time to redefine logistics in our lives, to progress into the next Mecurial cycle. It is a great time for planning, formulating ideas and negotiating new strategies.

Mercury's previous synodic cycle began on September 20, 2009. This was a compounded synod with the asteroid Juno. The Mercury-Earth-Juno synod theme was is one about the logistics of relationships; i.e., a cycle stimulating a reorganization in all types of relationships--those of a personal nature as well as partnerships of business and politics, and allegiances between organizations and countries. The previous Earth-Mercury-Juno synodic theme was presented in the Sep 18, 2009 Lunar Planner.

A new and very significant Mercury synodic theme will be set in motion in the midst of Mercury's retrograde, on January 4, 2010 (presented below); and it will fully commence as Mercury stations to return direct on January 15, at the start of the following lunar cycle.

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 December 28 in late sidereal Aries. The Moon conjoins Botein of Aries, the hind foot of the Ram; Rana and Zuarak of Eridanus, a stopping point along the river of life.

Botein, although meaning the belly (of the Ram) actually marks the hind foot. Botein can indicate those either lost and stranded, or simply left behind (the lost or following sheep), and thus can create a sense of frustration; but this is also a place of an energetic potential about to erupt.

Rana of Eridanus, conjoining Botein, marks another stopping point along the river of life and articulates the theme of those lost or tired through their initiations stopping either in need of aid or for regeneration in preparation for what is yet to come.

This part of the heavens lies under the auspices of the story of the Royal Family. This is where Andromeda's fate is now out of the hands of King Cepheus and Queen Cassiopeia 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 with his beloved Andromeda. 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 the path may not be entirely visible.

Overall, this location in the ecliptic is of a regenerative nature--primal, sexual, erotic, creative and inventive. It can also be volatile, quickly eruptive or explosive like a volcano, penetrating, sharp-tongued, competitive, even somewhat hostile. Thus it requires a need to channel this energy. Either way, it asks us to fully trust instinct rather than reason.

The Time of Global Change is at Hand.
What is the end of the World for some is a New World for those who realize it is.

Full Moon Phase Characteristics

Vision, Enthusiasm, & Realization of the Theme
The Full Moon Lunar Eclipse

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 Dec 31, 2009, in mid-sidereal Gemini. It produces a partial lunar eclipse. As mention in the synopsis of this lunar cycle: This Full Moon is extra dynamic, not only due to the coinciding planetary alignments and the lunar eclipse, but also because it occurs within hours of the Lunar Perigee (when the Moon is closest to the Earth during its orbit around the Earth); and because it also occurs within a few days of Earth's perihelion (Jan 3) (when the Earth is closest to the Sun in its annual orbit). Lunar eclipses, in general, offer an emotional and experiential fresh start, and thus may provide a breath of fresh air and profound realization regarding this lunar cycle and our Juno-Pluto-Saturn grand finale T-square occurring for relationships.

This Full Moon will also make for an extra-ordinarily large and beautiful Full Moon eclipse, especially as the Moon rises in the east at sunset. It is visible primarily from the Eastern Hemisphere (Europe, Africa, India, Asia, Aus.). For information regarding the eclipse path and viewing locations see:

Fred Espenak (Mr. Eclipse): http://www.mreclipse.com/Special/LEnext.html
NASA: http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/OH/OH2009.html

The Full Moon in mid-sidereal Gemini conjoins the foot of Pollux, the ambassador of the Twins, which is formed by Alhena, Gamma Gemini and Alzirr, Xi Gemini. Also conjoining is Mebsuta, Epsilon Gemini, which is a part of Castor's foot, the link and liaison; and the Cone Nebula / star cluster NGC2264 of Monoceros the Unicorn.

Alhena is the brand, mark or seal, and along with Alzirr, marks the foot of Pollux the ambassador. Alhena represents "commencement" and inspires us to act on our greater truth and purpose. Alhena is a marking stone for the unfoldment of what lies ahead and indicates a milestone or a turning point has been reached. It reveals our need to get off of the fence of indecision, to drop any hesitation, as the "time is at hand" to go forth anew. As the brand, Alhena also indicates that the time, events, or relations are marked or destined. Alhena can also indicate the need to sign a document or legalize a project, involvement, or commitment. It is the consecration of our commitment through demonstrable action that anchors the etheric vision of our soul truth into the physical plane to become realized truth. This concretization prepares for a greater event yet to come. Alhena can also manifest simply as a unique sign, indicating an opportunity is at hand. As the dividing star of the sidereal sign of Gemini, Alhena indicates a separation, a leaving, a departure, even an exodus. Behaviorally, Alhena marks the leaving an older or less fulfilling way of participation or way of life, a time of transfiguration.

This is an ideal Full Moon to start off the New Year, certainly bringing revelation that we are engaging in an entirely new spiral of dynamic activity and change through 2010, which is certainly evident by the Saturn-Pluto square which starts this year and runs mid-way through; and then with voluminous and mobilizing Jupiter taking the helm through the second half of 2010. This eclipse is also a precursor to the following New Moon Annular Eclipse occurring in mid January. Personal revelations occurring on this Full Moon may be of extra-significance.

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, of living that which we have been learning.

The Disseminating Moon occurs on January 3-4 in early sidereal Leo. The Moon lies just before Regulus of Leo but lies under the mane of the Lion. It conjoins Adhafera, the crest of the Lion's mane of the Lion, Al Jabhah and Al Gieba of Leo, and Alphard of Hyda. The Moon lies a bit south of the ecliptic nesting between Subra and Regulus.

The Lion faces west, with its head looking over into sidereal Cancer with Algieba (the mane), Adhafera (on the crest of the mane), Rasalas (the crown), and Algenubi (the eye) all composing the Lion's head. This is a point of eloquence and beauty. These stars embody the wisdom of the Lion. They are of adventurism, breaking new trail, and living true to self; undaunted, with self-confidence and genuine pride.

Alphard, Alpha Hydra, is the "Solitary One." Alphard inspires us to step away from the comfort and security of the accepted and agreed upon consensus defining our known reality, to walk a lone path. It asks us to risk our reputations, our work, our lives, and our beliefs, driven by the passion within our hearts, to find new answers to the challenges that we face as we struggle to evolve. Alphard, in conjunction with the head of the Lion, is often of those who, for one reason or another, have self-exiled themselves from the norm, who stand alone, or are willing to, yet who create new ways that the masses would not otherwise pursue.

Our Alhena Full Moon and our Manifestation and Demonstrating Moon, in the progression of this lunar cycle, continue to inspire change in how we participate, that is, by taking action to break away from what has been and to create new ways of co-participating and alternative paths into the future.

Mercury's New Synodic Cycle

Mercury, in the midst of its retrograde, begins its new 116-day synodic cycle with Earth on January 4, 2010. This occurs when Mercury is at its inferior conjunction, which means it lies in front of the Sun, between the Sun and Earth. The synod however is defined looking from the Sun toward Mercury and Earth. This synod lies in sidereal Gemini and conjoins the very principle stars, Sirius of Canis Major, and Canopus of Argo Navis. Due to the nature and significance of these stars, I consider this to commence and extra significant synodic cycle.

Sirius, Alpha Canis Major, 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 lies need to learn about boundaries and to guide but release our offspring, siblings, partners, or creations to their own destinies. Expressing through sidereal Genini, Sirius' influence is often experienced in the world of commerce, high intensity intellectual communication, information, and the exchange of it.

Conjoining Sirius from the southern heavens is Canopus, Alpha Carina of Argo Navis, lying along the galactic plane. Argo Navis classically is the ship in the story of Jason and the Argonauts, a version of Gilgamesh and his fifty Sirian warriors. The Argo lies reverse in the heavens, stern to the east, bow to the west, along the galactic equator, thus associated with that which moves retrograde in the heavens, the greater precessional process on Earth, the evolutionary cycle of the soul. The stars of the Argo generally are associated with evolutionary matters for the entire planetary system, and for all souls evolutionary growth and fulfillment.

Canopus is the second brightest star in the heavens after Sirius. Sirius is relatively close to us at 8.6 light years. Canopus, of another galactic sector altogether, is over 312 light years distant. As a galactic equatorial star, and as director / navigator of the Argo (Jason and the Argonauts), of greater evolutionary matters for our solar system, Canopus sets the subtle cosmic currents that guide our lives and support us to change and grow, seeing to the greater evolutionary fulfillment of all souls and ensuring proper evolutionary outcomes. Canopus also brings awareness to the repercussions of global events and how they affect the greater surrounding cosmology. An older derivation of Canopus is the Egyptian Kahi Nub, meaning "Golden Earth"--representative of the vision held for our beloved Earth by this helmsman. Sirius and Canopus are both significantly associated with evolutionary affairs of Earth and humanity, and so can herald potent global experience.

From Allen (Star Names, Their Lore and Meaning): "Our name for it (Canopus) is that of the chief pilot of the fleet of Menelaos, who, on his return form the destruction of Troy, 1183 B.C., touched at Egypt, where, twelve miles to the northeastward from Alexandria, Canopus died and was honored, according to Scylax, by a monument raised by his grateful master, giving his name to the city and to this splendid star... Ancient Canopus (the city) is now in ruins ...it was here from the terraced walls of Serapeum, the temple of Serapis, that Ptolemy made his observations." Canopus is associated with Gilgamesh, Noah, and Jason. Canopus in older planispheres is generally illustrated on one of the rudders on the stern of the Argo.

From friend, colleague, and siderealist, Andrés Takra: "Since Canopus lies near Columba, the Dove, the Holy Spirit, the symbol of the Future, according to D.H. Lawrence, the great and visionary English writer and painter, I predict that in the next human era, which will be a Golden Age, Argo Navis--and especially Carina--will play a role of extraordinary relevance. Moreover, being close to Crux Australis and to the South Pole, Argo Navis is another allusion to the future rebirth of spirituality on our planet, the resurrection of sunken lands, the future development of the SOUTH, the changes in climate and environment in that part of the globe (Tierra del Fuego,--the southern most land of Chile--and the South Pole / Lake Vostok) and to the landing on Earth of interplanetary spaceships, as well as of intraoceanic and intraterrestrial flying saucers and their strange occupants!!!"

This new Earth-Mercury Sirian synodic cycle will fully engage when Mercury returns direct on the following New Moon of January 15, 2010. At a personal level, this synodic cycle is about navigation--defining the logistics in our lives that determine our evolutionary course into the future.

Last Quarter Moon Phase Characteristics