The Lunar Theme for the
November 6, 2010 New Moon
Fulfillment or Entrapment
The Power of Pure Intent
The Lunar Month of
November 6, 2010 - December 5, 2010
Nick Anthony Fiorenza
Copyright © 2010 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 of November 6, 2010 (GMT) occurs in sidereal Libra and conjoins the asteroid Vesta. The New Moon stars are Acrux and The Jewel Box star cluster of the Southern Cross; Alphecca of the Northern Crown; and Zubenelgenubi of Libra, one of the scales of the balance, which is also the southern claw of the Scorpion. The New Moon lies just in front of the Scorpion's clutches, between the claws and the feet of the Virgin. This is a point of opportunity in sidereal Libra--to choose a path from a greater clarity within, from the power of pure intent and an unadulterated sense of purpose, which leads to our greater fulfillment, or to step forth into the same ole' patterns of the past--entrapped. Vesta, the astroid of focus dedication and commitment, invites us to get clear and focused within self.
Venus and Jupiter both complete their retrogrades on the Gibbous Moon of this lunar cycle. Venus now fully engages its new Earth-Venus 584-day synodic cycle, which began in the previous lunar month. Jupiter returning direct engages the new Earth-Jupiter-Uranus Synodic Synchronization that began on the September equinox. Both events should bring a welcomed sense of movement in our lives. Venus retrogrades and the key trigger points surrounding it cause key shifts in the financial world--such as the Venus stations and two-week 3° orb following Venus's direct station; often tied in with and triggered by Mercury's nearby retrograde. Venus' financial influence is well known in astrological market forcasting.
Mars, a key player in this lunar cycle (along with Mercury), moves through sidereal Scorpio, conjoining Pallas, the Centaur Phoulus, Ixion and Quaoar (two recently discovered planets). Mars will also begin a new 694-day synodic cycle with Pluto.
These are just a few of many events occurring in this lunar cycle. The Monthly Lunar Planner explores the details of these events and more, the underlying cycles upon which we evolve and which guide our daily lives--based in star-level astronomical astrology and synodic astrology.
"The stars would not be in the heavens if we were meant to walk in darkness."
About Synodic Cycles
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 Lunar Theme
Our November 6, 2010 (GMT) (Nov 5 MST) New Moon occurs in sidereal Libra and conjoins Vesta, asteroid of focus, dedication, and commitment. The New Moon conjoins and lies just a degree prior to Zubenelgenubi, Alpha Libra. Zubenelgenubi and Zubeneschamali (Beta Libra) in modern illustrations are shown as the scales or balance of Libra. In a much older imaging however, these stars are the claws of the Scorpion--an image revealing a far greater understanding about our incarnational experience and purpose on Earth. Exploring the embracing mythical picture of this part of the heavens (extending through Virgo-Libra-Scorpio) provides greater context and a deeper understanding of Libra's balance.
Although the constellation of Virgo begins at the Leo / Virgo cusp, it extends well into the first half of the sidereal sign of Libra. The Virgin lies supine with her head at the beginning of Virgo, which lies under the Halo of the Virgin marked by our Super Galactic Centre--the spiritual center in which our galaxy nests). 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 (of sidereal Libra.
The two primary stars of Libra, Zubenelgenubi and Zubeneschamali, lie just past the feet of the Virgin, respectively at about 20° and 24° sidereal Libra. However, in our older mythical image the chelae of Scorpion extend from the east, from the head of the Scorpion in early sidereal Scorpio, back into sidereal Libra, with Zubenelgenubi and Zubeneschamali marking the open claws of the Scorpion reaching toward the Virgin's feet. Zubenelgenubi is the southern claw (residing on the ecliptic) and Zubeneschamali is the northern claw, (residing a bit north of the ecliptic).
The over all image here is of the Virgin giving birth into the Chelae of the Scorpion, an image that articulates the reincarnational birthing of the soul into a process of soul growth gained through the balance of human experience while in the forces of duality. This mythical articulation was destroyed in recent (Chaldaean / Roman) times: The Scorpion's Chelae and the Virgin's legs were severed from our stellar mythos, and so too its profound significance. This is why our modern image of Libra is considered to be the scales of justice--implying the need to experience both sides (a balance) of human experience in order to gain self-mastery as an incarnating soul. It does not imply the guilt trip laden idea of paying for misdeeds deemed by a mediating and governing church-state that pretends to stand between an incarnate soul and God--a ploy used by the antiquated church-state puppet-masters to control and manipulate the masses. Nor does it refer to paying for past deeds done in a prior incarnation. Here, in the reincarnational clutches of the Scorpion, the incarnating soul learns self-responsibility and self-mastery, to claim the true freedom that the scales of Libra stand for, by choice, by choosing to move from the patterns and scenarios of the past (Zubenelgenubi) and to participate in a new way, to step into a new way of being, upon a new path of experience --in essence to complete one's destiny or incarnational purpose of soul growth.
Zubenelgenubi and Zubeneschamali are the karmic and dharmic seats for humanity, the former about our past experience and patterns of growth, and the latter about our future path of experience and growth, that which we have yet to do, our capacity, or duty in a sense, to do it differently--to grow and change.
Alignments with Zubenelgenubi, the southern claw, indicate a responsibility to address or complete any entrapping situations--unfinished business, or simply entrapping patterns and scenarios in this life. Zubenelgenubi also marks Saturn's exalted location in the ecliptic; and Pluto's perihelion--also giving us a clue to Saturn and Pluto's relationship. Saturn is often called the lord of karmic retribution. Amongst several things, Saturn demands we demonstrably face our fears, grow and mature.
Alignments with Zubeneschamali, the northern claw, indicate a responsibility to step forward from our past patterns of growth and life scenarios into our intended new experience, into our future destiny, by taking the responsibility to choose a new experience, to choose a new way, a new participation. It is through this balance of experience that we free ourselves from our past, or better to say, that fulfills our past.
Hence, as the scales of Libra, we can see how the two energetics work in balance for the growth of the soul. We must pursue new experience while completing or integrating our past experience. If we do not choose new experience we stay wallowing in our past patterns. If we remain in denial of our past experience and avoid accepting responsibility for it, our past patterns pull on us relentlessly, making it quite difficult to experience the lives we truely seek. Either way, we stay entrapped in the Scorpion's clutches. Thus, the "art of (Libra) living," living in balance, takes on an expounded meaning.
The Jewel Box in the Southern Cross
The initial view in this zoom shows the rich star field in which NGC 4755 nestles and then moves in to the detailed images of the Kappa Crucis Cluster, or Jewel Box, itself.
ESO VIDEOS
Music: John Dyson from the CD "Darklight."
Credit: ESO/Y. Beletsky/ESA/Hubble
Our Vesta New Moon also conjoins Alpha, Beta and the Jewel Box star cluster of the Southern Cross; and Menkent of the Centaur. It also conjoins Alphecca and Gamma of Corona Borealis, the Northern Crown.
Lying south of the chelae and the Virgin' feet are the stars of the Centaur, teacher of self-mastery in the physical world. The Centaur teaches the right way to live to attain our evolutionary freedom. The Centaur stands over and protects the Southern Cross, which embodies the pure unadulterated essence of our soul purpose in the world--the original cardinality of the soul; also the four cardinal virtues, seeming lost to most of humanity.
Further articulating this theme is the neck and head of the serpent, held in the hand of Ophiuchus, reaching for the Northern Crown, which lies north of the Scorpion's chelae and over the feet of the Virgin. Ophiuchus, standing upon the Scorpion, is demonstrable example of one who has achieved this equilibrium, this evolutionary freedom. He, holding the serpent reaching (or pointing) to the Northern Crown, indicates the ideal, the goal to ultimately free self from entrapment in the clutches of the Scorpion, which is learned in the balance, by stepping from the past (karmic) patterns into our (dharmic) future--in full demonstrable mastery over the forces governing life and death. The Northern Crown articulates the achievement of this freedom or fulfillment.
Our New Moon, not quite into the claws of the Scorpion (between the feet of the Virgin and claws), resides at a point of opportunity in sidereal Libra--to choose a path from a greater clarity within, from the power of pure intent and an unadulterated sense of purpose, which leads to our greater fulfillment, or to step forth into the same ole' patterns of the past--entrapped.
Vesta, quite fitting to our stellar theme, is the asteroid of focus, dedication and commitment; of physical, emotional, and mental clarity; and of self-respect. Vesta brings a capacity to be pure within self at all levels for the expression of our highest potential and true Essence. Vesta is of strength, purity, and perfection--of total dedication to purpose. Vesta brings attention to that which is of true importance and will ignite and burn away that which is not so we can become clear.
Potential Vesta issues are: scatteredness, with an inability to focus, commit or carry through; and avoidance of one's true purpose. Vesta can express as denials to address the mental, emotional and physical purification to support being a pure bio-logical vessel for the expression of Spirit--the requirements to express our true soul intent and purpose. This can manifest as fear of commitment, fear of sex and intimacy in all of its forms, and an invalidation of the emotional and physical aspects of self. More about Vesta.
Neptune & Chiron Direct
Neptune and Chiron complete their retrogrades on November 5 and 7. Neptune's direct movement engages the new Earth-Neptune synodic cycle that began in August of 2010--the first in early sidereal Aquarius. Thus we are beginning a series of new Earth-Neptune (and Chiron) cycles with an entirely new and expanded humanitarian future-oriented focus. Our dreams, visions and the inspiration we intuit will break the conforming bounds of the past--our bridge to the future. The theme of the Neptune / Chiron synodic cycle was presented in the August 10, 2010 Lunar Planner.
Mars, Mercury, Pallas, Pholus, Ixion & Quaoar
NGC 6334-Cat's Paw Nebula in Scorpio
Jan 20, 2010 -
This new portrait of NGC 6334 was created from images taken with the Wide Field Imager instrument at the 2.2-metre MPG/ESO telescope at the La Silla Observatory in Chile.
Image Credit: ESO (European Southern Observatory)
Mars and Mercury are passing through sidereal Scorpio in this lunar cycle, conjoining Pallas, Pholus, Ixion & Quaoar--through the Full Moon--adding for a bit of dynamic stimulus for creative action in logistics and communication. Mars, Pallas and Quaoar also begin a new compounded synodic cycle on November 5-7. This synod, near the sting of the Scorpion, conjoins Ras Alhague, the head of Ophiuchus. Ras Alhague embodies the wisdom of Ophiuchus, and invites us to embrace the sting of life as the elixir that transmutes the often harsh lessons of life into true experientially gained wisdom. Mars, planing a key role in this lunar cycle, also begins a new synodic cycle with Pluto on the Last Quarter Moon.
Mars is an initiating creative force, of sexuality, vitality, life force, and power. In its mature expression, Mars stimulates our capacity to respond in assertive action. It is of leadership, self reliance, and victorious. It is audacious, brave, instinctual, passionate and willful.
Pallas is invites us to express artful creative intelligence beyond any judgments of this-side-verses-that, from the equilibrium and wisdom gained from having been on both sides of the fence at one time or another during our incarnational sojourns. Immature Pallas will withdraw in spite; and with an immature Mars, may lash out in spiteful vengeance. More about Pallas.
Quaoar (pronounced kwah-whar) was discovered in 2002 in Ophiuchus. Quaoar is about one-tenth the diameter of Earth, about half the size of Pluto, but is larger than the four primary asteroids combined. Quaoar has an orbital period of 288 years. From it myth, we might relate Quaoar with what we might consider native people's perceptual abilities, those who live attuned to Earth and nature's cycles--with the natural world, the animal kingdom, and with shaman type perceptions. Quaoar, having a rather balanced circular orbit seems to support a "harmonious revolution," and helps us to release and surrender to the natural order of the creative forces governing life and death. Quaoar seems to inspire our return to the "sacredness of life"--to realize all of life is sacred and that it is our responsibility to have respect for natural order and to live in harmony it; without this we do not have respect for our selves. More about Quaoar.
An interesting combination of forces and star placement that suggest an opportunity for highly dynamic, intelligent, creative and passionate action attuned to the raw creative/destructive forces of nature--or perhaps deal with the consequences of ignoring nature's voice--fitting to our previous Corvus the Raven lunar theme.
For those who have the Planetary Bio-Harmonics Audio Meditations, the first half of this lunar cycle is an ideal time to work with the Mars audio meditation. See this Month's Lunar Calendar for exact aspect times; or the "Lunar Cycle Timing Chart" found under the "Resources" menu on the Planetary Bio-Harmonics web page.
Crescent Moon Phase Characteristics
The Crescent Moon
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.
The Crescent Moon of November 9 reside in early sidereal Sagittarius and conjoins Pluto and the North Lunar Node. The three conjoin The Solar Apex, Polaris Australis of Octans; the SGR 1806-20 Magnatar; also of influence is Al Nasl, the tip of the Zen Archer's arrow and Polis, also of Sagittarius. This is also the location of Uranus' exaltation.
The Pluto-North Node conjunction creates a strong magnetic force motivating us to move through any openings created by what may have been the dismantling or destruction of antiquated life scenarios.
The Solar Apex marks the unique location in the heavens toward which our Sun is "currently" traveling, which lies north in the heavens near the Vega star system. Vega is stargate to mansion universes of light where a multiplicity of opportunity exists for souls' evolutionary fulfillment. The Solar Apex is held open by the outstretched hand of the god–man, Hercules, who stands upside-down in the heavens with feet (soul purpose) in the realm of the Gods and hands (daily work) in the realm of incarnate souls. The Solar Apex embodies the unique and majestic path of the soul. At personal level, the Solar Apex asks us to honor that we each have a soul path that is totally unique to ourselves, a path which is beyond what others may see or even relate to. The Solar Apex invites us to honor and to walk our very unique sole/soul/solar path's in the world--daring us to take a stand for our personal truths--no matter what those paths may look like to others or how they may or may not fit in with mass-consensus.
The themes of the Solar Apex, The Gate of God, the tip of the Zen Archer's arrow, and the dazzling surrounding nebulas all amalgamate. Here we are asked to take aim and undauntingly pursue our ideals and dreams in total trust. To Believe! This amalgamate asks us to focus without hesitancy or doubt upon our soul purpose in life and to know that our unique paths, although often obscured, nest within the greater directive and in the spacetiming of the evolutionary cycle of the soul collective on Earth. Here we are asked to live true to our soul intent and to live and act in the now, in the moment-to-moment focus, undaunted and in the zeropoint power of Divine Love.
Thus far we have a lunar theme unfolding that first invites us to get clear of past patterns and entrapping scenarios, to get committed to our pure intent and purpose on Earth; and to act upon on unique path that serves that purpose with undaunted trust, focus and conviction--all happening in the first phase of this lunar cycle--a dynamic current is being set in motion.
Sun-Vesta
The exact alignment of Earth-Sun-Vesta occurs on the Crescent Moon as well. This alignment also marks the mid-point of vision and realization of our current Earth-Vesta synodic cycle, which began in February of 2010. The theme of this cycle was presented in the February 14, 2010 Lunar Planner. The realizations occurring as we start this lunar cycle regarding the Earth-Vesta synodic cycle augment our Crescent Moon and lunar month's theme.
First Quarter Moon Phase Characteristics
First Quarter Moon
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 November 13 in sidereal Capricorn. The later part of the sidereal sign of Capricorn is composed of the overlap of the constellations of Aquarius and Capricorn, creating a fusion of both energetics. A fortuitous placement, the Moon conjoins Nashira of Capricorn and Beta Gruis. Also of influence is Gamma of Delphinus; Sadalsuud of Aquarius; Kitalpha of Equuleus. This is also the zodiakal location of Mars' exaltation.
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. Nashira is the bringer of good news, especially regarding legalities, business dealings, and constitutional matters, as well as sanctioned matters of the soul. Beta Gruis inspires the verbal expression of related wisdom, that of business and politics. As the stork, Gruis is carrier of bodies of knowledge, information, and news associated with new life and new beginnings. Prominent alignments with Beta Gruis and Nashira are exemplary of carriers of good tidings associated with legalities and other business related matters.
Sadalsuud of Aquarius is the luckiest in the kingdom or worldly affairs, and is said to embody the Fortune of the Fortunate. Sadalsuud, along with Deneb Algedi, produce genuinely wise, articulate, unique, and beneficent leadership. Kitalpha is the alpha star of the little foal, Equuleus. According to R.H. Allen, some mythologists associate Equulei to Celeris, the brother of Pegasus, presented by Mercury to Castor; or Cyllarus, given to Pollux by Juno; or the creature struck by Neptune's trident when contesting with Minerva for superiority. Kitapha and the little foal bring a quality of lightness, swiftness and vigor to the communicative and fortuitous nature of the last few degrees of sidereal Capricorn. The north influence of Delphinus, the Dolphin Star System, is of a guiding nature, to trust and follow those forces offering aid.
Our stimulus to action may come in the form of news or tidings regarding agreements and negotiations, personal or business related, but generally those of a somewhat formal nature; or perhaps as stimulus to structure, concretize or formalize something.
The Sun moves into sidereal Scorpio on November 17, just before the Gibbous Moon.
Gibbous Moon Phase Characteristics
The Gibbous Moon
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.
Dark globule inside the emission nebula IC 1396 in Cepheus, The Elephant's Trunk Nebula, which lies slightly south of Herschel's blood-red Garnet Star. This composite image is a product of combining data from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope's multiband imaging photometer and the infrared array camera. The thermal emission at 24 microns measured by the photometer (red) is combined with near-infrared emission from the camera at 3.6/4.5 microns (blue) and from 5.8/8.0 microns (green). The colors of the diffuse emission and filaments vary, and are a combination of molecular hydrogen (which tends to be green) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (brown) emissions.
Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/W. Reach (SSC/Caltech)
The Gibbous Moon occurs on November 17 in mid-sidereal Pisces. The Moon conjoins Algenib of Pegaus, The Quasar 3C9 also of Pegasus; and the Garnet Star of Cepheus.
Algenib, Gamma Pegasus, is the tip of the horse's wing. It conjoins Quasar 3C9 in both ecliptical longitude and latitude. Algenib is one of the four stars of The Great Square of Pegasus, along with Markab, Scheat, and Alpheratz. The Great Square of Pegasus reveals the mysteries (wisdom) of refining self, the physical vehicle or vessel through which soul expresses--to become capable of expressing our true essence above and beyond the fear-instilling emotional dramatics of the world of human affairs.
Algenib, Gamma Pegasus, tip of this horse's wing, is a fortuitous star. Algenib and adjoining Quasar 3C9 articulate our need / capacity to lift ourselves above Cetus, the Kraken, the techno bureaucratic monster of collective human consciousness, that is, above the psychic-emotional fear-based realm of life. This does not mean in denial of it, but in the personal clarity to not be entangled or caught in it. Algenib asks us to refine our capacities and our physical bodies (with the themes of Markab and Scheat) so as to become light enough to work with refined energies, so as to be able to lift ourselves above the dramatics of human life.
Algenib brings attention to the subtleties of working with our personal energies and how fine tuning our psycho-emotional capacities, is essential to become able to fly beyond human limitation. Algenib asks us to adjust our density--to lighten up physically, emotionally, and mentally.
Algenib can indicate issues with air and issues pertaining to breath or the purity of what is brought into the lungs. Living in smog and smoke will keep a fog upon the aura maintaining self-delusion, the inability to see clearly. Oxygen deprivation to the cells will keep the nutrients within the cells of the body from igniting into the refined forces of light necessary to bring illumination into the structure of consciousness, the DNA. Algenib is of the breath, of the oxygenating the waters of life, that which is necessary for us to breathe in the thrashing waters around us.
Algenib can indicate the need to physically lift ourselves above our human experience to see the way clearly, to removed ourselves from the reaches of any entrapping human dramatics. Algenib may simply indicate the need to lift self up and out of a situation to gain a clearer view--what ever it takes to get above it all--to fly. Conjoining Quasar 3C9 brings impulses, images, or experiences into our lives to help lift our selves above the Earthian dramatics and out of its psycho-emotional entrapment, to help us attain our greater soul purpose and evolutionary freedom. The consequence of ignoring these experiences is to be left caught in the repercussions of the world of human affairs, entrenched in psychic and emotional battle.
Most people naturally tend to notice the bright stars of Cepheus when looking into the heavens, but the Garnet Star of Cepheus is often missed--a beauty, especially through binoculars. Similarly, we miss seeing the opportunity for attainment when only watching the obvious around us. The Super Giant Garnet Star, Erakis, lies at the head of King Cepheus, imparting a quality of royalty, prominence, largeness, passion, prosperity, abundance and wealth.
Our Gibbous Moon stars give us a clue--perhaps where the actions taken on First Quarter Moon will lead us.
Venus & Jupiter Direct
Venus & Jupiter both complete their retrogrades just after the Gibbous Moon on November 18, 2010. Venus' direct station engages the new Earth-Venus 584-day synodic cycle presented in the previous Lunar Planner. Jupiter returning direct engages the new Earth-Jupiter-Uranus Synodic synchronization that began on the September equinox, presented in the September 8, 2010 Lunar Planner. Both events should engage a welcomed sense of movement in our lives. Venus retrogrades and the key trigger points surrounding it cause key shifts in the financial world--such as the Venus stations and two-week 3° orb following Venus's direct station; often tied in with and triggered by Mercury's nearby retrograde--a well know phenomena seen in astrological market forcasting.
For those who have the Planetary Bio-Harmonics Audio Meditations, the days leading into Gibbous Moon through November 18 is an ideal time to work with the Venus and Jupiter audios. See this Month's Lunar Calendar for exact aspect times; or the "Lunar Cycle Timing Chart" found under the "Resources" menu on the Planetary Bio-Harmonics web page.
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
The Full Moon
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 day of realization will be extra significant as we not only have realization about the Lunar theme, but also about the emergence of the new 13.5-year Jupiter-Uranus cycle.
The Pleiades M45
The Seven Sisters, also known as the Pleiades star cluster, seem to float on a bed of feathers in a new infrared image from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope. Clouds of dust sweep around the stars, swaddling them in a cushiony veil.
The star cluster was born when dinosaurs still roamed the Earth, about 100 million years ago. It is significantly younger than our 5-billion-year-old sun. The brightest members of the cluster, also the highest-mass stars, are known in Greek mythology as two parents, Atlas and Pleione, and their seven daughters, Alcyone, Electra, Maia, Merope, Taygeta, Celaeno and Asterope. There are thousands of additional lower-mass members, including many stars like our sun.
The 19th-century poet Alfred Lord Tennyson described them as "glittering like a swarm of fireflies tangled in a silver braid." The new infrared image from Spitzer highlights the "tangled silver braid" mentioned in the poem by Tennyson. This spider-web-like network of filaments, colored yellow, green and red in this view, is made up of dust associated with the cloud through which the cluster is traveling. The densest portion of the cloud appears in yellow and red, and the more diffuse outskirts are shown in green hues. One of the parent stars, Atlas, can be seen at the bottom, while six of the sisters are visible at top. Additional stars in the cluster are sprinkled throughout the picture in blue.
This image is made up of data taken by Spitzer's multiband imaging photometer and its infrared array camera. Light with a wavelength of 4.5 microns is blue; light of 8 microns is green; and light of 24 microns is red.
Image & Caption Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/J. Stauffer (SSC/Caltech)
This Full Moon occurs on November 21, in early sidereal Taurus. The Moon conjoins the Pleiades; Miram of Perseus, the Perseus-A seyfert galaxy; and a recent and massive Super Nova.
The Pleiades impart an initiating quality, that of seeding, of getting things going, of initiating action in the physical and business world specifically to manifest the "Vision of Aldebaran"--the establishment of the administrative and physical logistics that support our personal lives. In classical astrology, certain alignments with the Pleiades can indicate catastrophic events or blunderings--a part of the nebulosity surrounding the Pleiades obscuring one's vision, and due to the nature of involvement in the Earthian world.
Also contributing to the first few degrees of sidereal Taurus is Miram, Eta Perseus, and the Per-A Seyfert Galaxy NGC1275 which resides in the Perseus Cluster of galaxies, and which lies just before the longitude of the Pleiades (~5°). Seyfert galaxies have a dense explosive core that emits a high level of radio waves and x-rays. Astrologically, seyferts express as an intensely focused inner purpose that is undaunted by external affairs of the human world. Seyfert NGC 1275 and Miram embody the undaunted focus and endurance of Perseus in his mission, and hence his ability to take the steps at hand in the physical world to overcome its obstacles, to overcome his fears (conquor Medusa), and manifest his purpose and to live his greater soul destiny. For the younger soul, this can be felt as a relentless drive without reason, for the mature soul, a sense of a mission behind the drive, although perhaps not entirely clear, there may be a need to discover it and lear to direct this force for accomplishment; and an old soul with clarity of purpose, will consciously direct this force in clear physical action.
Also conjoining Miram and Perseus-A is SN2006gy, a recent and massive stellar explosion in the galaxy NGC 1260 in Perseus. According to Nathan Smith of the University of California at Berkeley, SN 2006gy's explosion "...was truly monstrous, a hundred times more energetic than a typical supernova." When massive stars exhaust their energy (burn up), they typically collapse under their own gravity into a point of singularity, creating a black hole. In this case the explosion was so extreme, it appears that the star was obliterated as its matter blasted outward into space. Keep in mind that stellar explosions, like our sun's solar activity, create stimulus for the illumination of consciousness.
SN 2006gy is about 2° past Algol in sidereal Taurus, which is on the cusp. It is also at the same ecliptical latitude of Algol (22° north of the ecliptic), thus synthesizing with Algol's theme. Thus, Algol's theme is also of significance--in two ways, but ultimately good: perhaps the intensification of fear on the planet, and for those who are ready, aiding to eradicate fear's immobilizing effect, blasting it to smithereens. SN 2006gy conjunction with Miram and Perseus-A suggests a extra-strong and urgent message to take the physical action in our lives that perhaps we might not otherwise take due to our own fears to accomplish our greater life pursuits.
This is also the Moon's exalted location in the ecliptic. Early sidereal Taurus is the zodiakal area of "reflection." Like the Moon reflects the light of the sun, our experience reflects the energetic we project. Perseus could behead Medusa (slay his fear) only by looking at her as a refection in his own shield--the reflection of self.
Disseminating Moon Phase Characteristics
The Disseminating Moon
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 November 25 in sidereal Gemini. The Moon conjoins V838 in Monoceros the Unicorn, another stellar messenger; Delta Monoceros; Wasat and Castor of Gemini; and Muliphen (Mirza) of Canis Major.
V838 Monocerotis: In January 2002, a deceptively ordinary star suddenly flashed to at least 4,000 times its previous brightness. For several weeks, the red supergiant star was the most brilliant star in the Milky Way. Image & Caption Credit: NASA, ESA and H.E. Bond (STScI)
Castor is of partnerships in the daily world of human affairs, our colleagues and companions with whom we participate hand-in-hand to accomplish the activities in our lives. Castor inspires partnering and companionship to accomplish that which we could not accomplish alone.
Conjoining Castor is Wasat of Gemini. Wasat, the umbilical cord, embodies the essence of sidereal Gemini. Wasat is the link and liaison that unites and acts as a catalyst. Wasat brings the logistical pieces together. Wasat is of planning, coordination, assemblage of diversity into a workable functional model; the mechanics of creating the means in physical logistics. Castor / Wasat is the engineer, the technician, the artist, the constructor, and coordinator (whereas opposite Sagittarius is the architect, inspirationalist, and vision holder).
Conjoining Castor and Wasat from the south is Muliphen (Mirza) of Canis Major inspiring people, partners, and soul mates that have disappeared or withdrawn to re-emerge as a steady and dependable presence. Also conjoining is Delta Monoceris, a star of the Unicorn, inviting us to embrace the unique gifts and talents of all participants.
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.
V838 of Monoceros, producing a major flash of light, brings us another urgent message of our need to co-participate in mutual cooperation to address the issues we face and to provide solution. It may also suggest our need to seize opportunities seeming to magically appear out of nowhere.
Last Quarter Moon Phase Characteristics
Last Quarter Moon
Time for Change
The Last Quarter Moon creates our "inner need to initiate change" in the lunar cycle as we move into the cycle's last and transitional quarter. Our Last Quarter Moon occurs on November 28 in sidereal Leo and conjoins Thuban of Draco; the Vela X-1 Neutron Star in the sail of the Argo and Alpha Sextans.
The sextant is a navigational instrument used to determine the "vertical" position (angular distance) of the sun, moon or stars from the horizon. The sextant reveals the need to reorient self so we know our position so we can plot our course, and take a new tack on our journeys in life. On a greater scale, this can be in regard to changing allegiance of our energies from the outer world, self-sacrificing to diversionary forces or currents in the world around us, to the vertical integrity of our inner soul / source directive and truth. On a mundane level this can be in regard to changing our fundamental approach or path in life, to establish our position so we can plot or take a new tack toward our goals. Here is also the impetus to navigate through the diversionary and dramatic ego-driven world powers and re-align with the fundamental spiritual / galactic evolutionary currents embodied by our southern Argo--the path of our souls.
Thuban, in the far northern heavens, was Earth’s pole star circa 2600 BC near the "tear of the Bear," a point in Earth’s ~25,000-year "evolutionary cycle of the soul" at which a turning and fractioning occurred in the hierarchical powers governing Earth. This dramatized the separation between those choosing to fight for a greater evolutionary vision and those wanting to maintain totalitarian control of the Earth with their antics to do so. The 180° point in the "Cycle of the Holy Cross," which occurred about 4880 BC, marked the epitome of darkness in the last temporal 12,000-year period in the precessionally driven, evolutionary cycle of the soul. Dark manipulative forces were specifically dominant from around 4800 BC to 2600 BC in Earth's evolutionary cycle of the soul.
Alignments with Thuban indicate a responsibility for having altered the direction of evolutionary affairs for life on Earth in a negative way with repercussions incurred at soul level, and with responsibility to ensure evolutionary fulfillment now. Thuban is not about the punctual moment, but more about the backdrop, the durative time-stream in which we find ourselves. Thuban's eminence in our celestial sphere demands we take responsibility for our past-future experience throughout our sojourn on Earth, especially for the destructive or disrupting use of force.
Conjoining Thuban from the southern heavens is Vela X-1, a potent neutron star in the sail of the Argo. 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.
The Argo is divided into several sub-constellations. The stars of the sail of the Argo, Velorum, are of subtle evolutionary currents, forces, and portals transcendent to the stage of the temporal world.
Underlying the first half of sidereal Leo and the northern dynamics of Ursa Major and the world powers is the essence of the Sail of the Argo, Velorum. A trinity of galactic oriented x-ray sources reside here, the Vela Pulsar (Vela X), the Vela X-1 neutron star, and the Pup-A Super Nova Remnant. These entries lie between Suhail al Muhlif, Gamma Velorum and Suhail Lambda Velorum, all which lie upon the galactic equator. Although the arc distance between these stellar entries is only several degrees, because of their southern placement, their influence fans out through the entire first half of sidereal Leo contributing significantly to the early Leo theme. Of the Argo, and because these stars and x-ray sources lie upon the galactic equator, they are of soul's transcendent evolutionary purpose and mission.
The Arab Suhail articulates the nature of the Sail of the Argo--of the elegant and subtle evolutionary currents guiding the plane (ship) of the soul. "Suhail, among the Persians, is synonymous for wisdom; as in the Al Anwar i Suhaili, the Lights of Canopus. Also a personal title taken in Arabia as a symbol for what is brilliant, glorious, and beautiful--and even by the Arab nomads is still used when referring to a handsome person." (Allen). Hence the general attractiveness of the true Leo.
Vela X-1, on the sail, creates a relentless wind driving us to respond to life. It engages us to participate in creating our long-term evolutionary destiny. In typical black hole fashion, this is an all or nothing deal, as that which we set in course now affects the nature of our evolutionary future. If we take no stance we are merely destined to chance and blown in the forever changing winds.
Our Last Quarter Moon may bring to surface a need to get a new bearing, plot a new course due to changing winds, to energetically take responsibility to steer our evolutionary course.
The New Mars-Pluto Synodic Cycle
Mars and Pluto begin a new 694-day synodic cycle on November 29, 2010. The star alignments setting the theme of this cycle are Meridionalis, the hand of the Zen Archer; Kaus Aus. and Bor., the Archer's bow; M22 Facies; Alpha Telescopium; and SGR XR-4 Globular Cluster of Sag. Also at this location are the Eagle Nebula M16 and the Swan Nebula M17, which lie just north along the galactic equator. This synod is quite close to our Crescent Moon.
M16 The Eagle Nebula close-up, also known as the Star Queen Nebula in Serpens. Image Credit: The Hubble Heritage Team, (STScI/AURA), ESA, NASA
The last Mars-Pluto synodic cycle began on January 4, 2009 at the Gate of God in sidereal Sag, presented in the December 27, 2008 Lunar Planner.
A Mars-Pluto synthesis, in general, is about power applied in assertive action for achievement. It can express as a tremendous focused determination and commitment to achieve a specific goal, even to the point of obsession. It is of motive, stamina and active force applied, with an all or nothing attitude. It can also express as creative action motivated from something that had been taken apart or had been destroyed.
This synod is about our Zen stance, how to hit the target of our ideals, aspirations and dreams, which is an all or nothing deal. Athletes know the principle of the Zen archer's bow well. To achieve one's goals, whether a golfer, pole-vaulter, billiards player, skier, archer, or martial artist, the stance or form one holds is essential. Only if the archer is firmly grounded and holding the bow as if it is an integrated part of the body, and with undaunted focus, will the arrow hit the target. Only will the skier be able to take on the most challenging of slopes if the skies are felt as extensions of one's legs, firmly and gracefully moving in concert with the entire body, with the skier's awareness merged with the environment through which he skies. Simply this can be called our Zen stance, a whole body / environmental awareness expressed from the core of our being.
Facies, M22, is considered to be one of the finest globular cluster of stars in the heavens. It is elliptical in form and contains approximately 500,000 stars. It lies less than one degree north of the ecliptic, thus the planets frequently conjoin and synthesize with its essence. M22 marks the face of the Zen Archer and looks over the bow and hand of the Zen Archer. Facies brings undaunted conviction, stability and confidence to create and manifest our highest aspirations. The theme here is one of total honesty with self. Facies asks us to face our naked truth, focus our intent, and manifest it. To live in that honesty creates the strength and undaunted focus of the Zen Archer, and his ability live for and defend his truth, and to hit the target of his ideals and dreams.
Telescopium, underlying the centaur, reveals an additional facet of the Sagittarian theme, of having a Zen stance, and the stability and strength of the Zen Archer's bow. Telescopium articulates our long-range soul purpose seen with penetrating vision, which is common to the Zen Archer's approach in life. Alpha Telescopium suggests that we look past or through the distractions around us to focus in upon only the target of our highest ideals and dreams.
This new 694-day Mars-Pluto synodic cycle; invites us to see through the apparent destruction or disarray around us, and to act with powerful and undaunted conviction to achieve our greater longer-term goals. It supports radical, non-conventional and spontaneous action applied from from alternative and high-minded thinking.
Balsamic Moon Phase Characteristics
Balsamic Moon
Focus to the Future
The Balsamic Moon marks the time in lunar cycle when we coalesce the experience of the lunar cycle into its seed essence, which will then sprout through the theme of the following lunar cycle. It is when we turn our attention from this lunar cycle in anticipation of the next to come. The hours before the Balsamic Moon provide our time of coalescence while those after mark the time when we turn 180° from looking back over the past cycle and look forward toward the next cycle to come.
The Balsamic Moon occurs on December 1-2 on the cusp of sidereal Libra. It conjoins Spica of Virgo and Archturus of Bootes.
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. Bootes, Virgo's consort and protector, stands over the Virgin, over the cusp of Virgo-Libra, with Archturus of Bootes conjoining Spica of Virgo.
Archturus, Alpha Boötes, is the administrative seat responsible for the safe evolutionary unfoldment and ascension of Earth and humanity--supporting the pure birth and a healthy and harmonious incarnate life of the soul. Archturus embodies the essence or seed of Boötes, the provider for and protector of the Virgin principle. Archturus lies directly over, and conjoins Spica, the base chakra (Vesica Pisces) of the Virgin. This conjunction indicates a destined, sanctified, and perfect Divine Union. This ecliptical location and early Libra is also about creating a proper and harmonious environmental resonance for such a union and its eloquent creative manifestation and expression.
Boötes stands against the fallen corrupt (Benatnasch) totalitarian world powers that have demonstrated the inability over and again to ensure evolutionary fulfillment, with the continual destruction of the peoples of the Earth and typical catastrophic outcomes. The body of Boötes stands between the pure lucida of the Virgin (Spica) blocking the attempted manipulations by corrupt (Benatnasch) world powers. Boötes ensures the proper use of creative and reproductive energies and all that is involved in creating the proper environment for our harmonious evolutionary unfoldment.
Spica, Alpha Virgo is a rotating binary star with a period of 4.015 days. Spica is of "loyalty and fidelity"--to Boötes, her divine compliment, or in more embracing terms, to the Archturian directive--to see to the safe ascension of Earth and humanity. Spica also embodies knowledge about the use of body fluids, of herbs and elixirs, and of our sexual and reproductive energies; and their proper use. Spica reveals why and how to be pure within self.
Boötes and the Virgin, in simple terms, can exemplify a truly intended soul couple, the twin flamed soul made manifest, living in compatibility, in harmony and balance, and able to express, birth, and manifest creativity in its highest potential. This image also exemplifies the means to properly birth a soul into its own Christhood or Christos (soul awareness) so it can express its highest potential and attain its evolutionary freedom from the Scorpion's re-incarnational clutches--that is, to emerge from repetitive karmic patterns as a means of soul growth.
Archturus and Spica reveal the importance and inseparable nature between a compatible and harmonious personal relationship and a proper and harmonious external environment. Without a harmonious environmental resonance, life does not evolve in harmony, but in dissonance and disease. Cuspal Libra marks a point of equilibrium between the vertical and horizontal.
The few degree area of early sidereal Libra, just past Spica, lies within the upper thighs of the Virgin and reveals a synthesis of intimacy, support, compatibility, and environmental harmony. It is about creating and ensuring harmonious environments, mutually compatible relations, and about the processes and procedures in our personal lives that support our psychophysiological (mental-emotional-physical) wellbeing--a healthy incarnate experience of life that supports the illumination (ascension) of consciousness.
Environmental support is a key phrase here, this includes the environmental conditions of the Earth, of our personal living environments, and a harmonious environment (resonance) in our relations. Thus, art, intimacy and beauty are all of significance in creating a nurturing environmental resonance in our lives. Living at or traveling to the right locations at various times in our lives is also of importance--to be in proper (space-time) harmony.
The first few degrees of sidereal Libra, at the upper thighs of the Virgin, includes the psychophysiology (mental-emotional-physical correspondences) of the thighs: The back of our thighs (hamstrings) is of past / returning support, acquired support and personal ability; the outside of our thighs (abductors) is of external (non-intimate) support from friends, family and from our environment; the inside of our thighs (adductors) is of intimate support, including sexual intimacy; and the front of our thighs (Quadriceps) is of future support; support to move forward. There can be various fears associated with each of these muscles, but all have to do with fear of support / of weakness / of not having a foundation of strength.
Our Balsamic Moon brings attention to the required purity, harmony and balance in our lives, in our relations, and in the environments in which we participate--and also emphasizes being in a supportive environment for the next lunar cycle's emergence.
Thus, the seed coalesces for this lunar cycle, which will sprout anew in the following lunar cycle. Our next New Moon occurs on December 5, 2010 in sidereal Scorpio. It also conjoins the transmutational Centaur Pholus. More to come then.
Related Material
Everyone is welcome to comment about their experiences as they
relate to the Lunar Cycle in the Lunar Planner Forum.
To learn how one lunar phase shifts and changes into the next, and to learn how to live in attunement to the lunar cycles, in the experiential empowerment doing so offers, download the Lunar Planner Introduction and each monthly Lunar Calendar, and use them daily (PDF file links below)--its all a gift.
We need not live in endless struggle, overwhelmed by the surface turbulence of our growth and awakening process. We can establish an inner peace instead, with life becoming a graceful dance when we attune ourselves to the natural spiral of growth that is guiding our lives. Living in attunement to the natural Lunar Cycles is an effective and empowering way to do this. Living in attunement to the natural astronomical cycles of life is living in faith and trust in the Divine Creative Intelligence expressing throughout our lives.
The Lunar Planner is an experiential tool teaching us how to live in attunement to the natural lunar cycles. Astronomical Sidereal Astrology and Star Lore reveal each lunar month's theme, and the planetary themes unfolding throughout the year. Each lunar month's theme weaves a continuing story line of the patterns of growth unfolding in our lives.
Download this month's Lunar Calendar PDF File (journal version)
The Lunar Calendar reveals the dates and times of each lunar phase shift and their changing characteristics as well as key planetary alignments. Use this like a calendar or daily planner. The Lunar Calendar goes hand-in-hand with the introductory material. Use this daily to learn how to live attuned to the Lunar Cycles of Life.
Download the Lunar Planner Introduction PDF File
Step by step instructions on how to use the Lunar Calendar with a detailed description of the changing lunar phases. This will teach you how to live in attunement to the Lunar Cycle. The Introduction goes hand-in-hand with the Lunar Calendar.
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