The Lunar Theme for the
February 3, 2011 New Moon

Responsible Expansive & Mobilizing
Creative Leadership

The Lunar Month of
February 3, 2011 - March 4, 2011

Nick Anthony Fiorenza

Copyright © 2011 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

The New Moon of February 3 GMT (Feb 2 MST) conjoins Mars in sidereal Capricorn. The primary conjoining stars are Armus of Capricorn; Al Nair of Gruis; and Cygnus X-1, a potent x-ray source lying along the galactic equator. The stars in this area of the zodiak inspire us to participate and express from the intelligent maturity and truth of self-realized conscious beings rather than following whatever mass-propaganda happens to be in vogue. It is an articulate, loquacious and expressive area of the zodiak associated with the grammatical arts, law and associated disciplines requiring articulation of the written word. It is of libraries, courts, publishing houses, literary agencies, or where any legalities are formulated, agreed upon and concretized. This articulates the constructive character of Saturn, which is at home in sidereal Capricorn.

Mars is often associated with the forceful or awry use of power. However, in its mature expression, Mars is an initiating force. Mars is of creativity, sexuality, vitality, life force, power and self-expression. Mars stimulates our ability to respond to life with creative assertive action. Mature Mars is of leadership, is self-reliant, and is of victory in our pursuits. Mature Mars is audacious, brave, instinctual, passionate and willful.

The Sun-Mars alignment also marks the mid-point of vision and realization in the 780-day Earth-Mars cycle that began on the Full Moon of January 29, 2010 during the last Mars retrograde. Thus, realizations regarding that cycle's theme express into this lunar cycle. Issues surrounding how we using our creative power to emerge from antiquated patterns, behavior, and ways of participating in the world arise in this lunar cycle.

Mars is exalted in sidereal Capricorn, stimulating a mature, pro-active, and independent creative expression in leadership. This can be a volatile lunar cycle, but one stimulating new leadership driven from the laws governing the natural world and that are supportive of all people rather than laws designed to serve special interest groups or a select few.

Mars and Neptune begin a new 1.9-year synodic cycle in early sidereal Aquarius (with Chiron) in this lunar cycle. Prior to this time, from 1995 through 2009 the Mars-Neptune synods occurred in sidereal Capricorn. The Mars-Neptune cycles starting now shift from being driven by personal interest to an inclusive humanitarian expression.

Our stimulus to action First Quarter Moon conjoins newly discovered Sedna, supporting the re-emergence of and action upon the long-suppressed feminine force in the wold. Sedna articulates the “return of the exiled feminine principle.” Sedna’s message is that humanity must recognize the truth about the suppression, persecution, abduction and exploitation of the feminine force in the world; and the mentality perpetuating such must be addressed and changed. Although it is quite obvious of our need for female’s re-emergence and balanced reintegration with the overly dominant patriarchal world, there is still dire hesitancy for such participation due to the often awry, deceptive and exploitative use of creative power by the masculine force in the world. Our Sedna First Quarter Moon adds an interesting dynamic to this lunar month considering our masculine-based (Mars) lunar theme.

The Lunar Nodes align with the Galactic Equatorial Nodes (the Gate of God / Gate of Man of Earth's 25,000-year precessional cross), in this lunar cycle; with the North Lunar Node on the Gate of God at 5° sidereal Sagittarius. This is an 18.6-year occurrence, with the last occurring in mid-1992. Building into and adding to this energetic is Uranus, on the vernal Point at 5° sidereal Pisces, which is square this nodal alignment. Also participant are Venus Juno, the asteroid of covenant partnerships, and newly discovered Makemake, all stimulating action to change in partnerships. A challenge for change also occurs in the administration of resources as well. This lunar-galactic alignment is another significant contributer to the strong acceleration and need to expand that many people are currently feeling in their lives; and it produces a very palpable transition in our experience, both emotionally and physically.

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.

This is the ecliptical band of hard knocks, of law, courts, psychiatry, and all that is of mental justification in jurisdiction of the offenses and defenses of human experience. It is where we must get to the whole truth and nothing but the truth, to learn how both parties co-create incarnational experience in the world of dualism from a deep resonance within, even when one appears to be victim of the other. It takes two to tango--the theme of the neck and beak of the Swan--in mutual agreement at soul level, although this may not be apparent at the incarnational personality level, leaving us to think we are victims of non-consenting and forced participation.

Here at mid–Capricorn, Cyg X-1 demands we look behind the human facade and graduate from the who did what to who, the sue me sue you blues, from this side verses that, and to take mutual responsibility for the games we play and lives we choose. Here we can learn to own our experience and to seek a mutually benefiting solution. Cyg X-1 demands we look at our transcendent issues underlying our life experience--any judgment, grief, or anger carried that perpetuates our experience and that averts our attempts to responsibly create our lives the way we want them to be.

The Small and Large Magellanic Clouds (SMC and LMC) are small galaxies that orbit our Milky Way galaxy. We might think of them as our galaxy's young, although not necessarily birthed from the Milky Way, they are being cared for and raised by our galaxy. The Small Magellanic Cloud resides quite south in ecliptical latitude on the border of Toucan and the more southern Hydrus (not to be confused with Hydra the Water Snake). Julius Schiller (1627) combined Hydrus, the Toucan, and the Small Cloud as his biblical constellation Raphael (Allen). Although I and others haven't a propensity for Schiller's bastardization of the heavens into religious figuring, this is a mythical articulation fitting here.

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

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

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

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

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

Gruis the stork, is carrier of bodies of knowledge, information, and news associated with new life and new beginnings. Prominent alignments with Alpha and Beta Gruis and nearby Nashira are exemplary of carriers of good tidings associated with legalities. The Toucan’s loquacious and gregarious qualities also underlie Gruis as well, contributing to the expressive and articulate nature of this area of the zodiak. The Toucan also articulates the sounds and colors of Earth--the voice of the Earth.

Al Nair, Alpha Gruis and northern Delphinus mark the beginning of the last decan of Capricorn. The Dolphins are angelic guides who safely make passage for the wayward. Alignments with Delphinus (also influenced by southern Toucan), can indicate the need to allow ourselves to be guided by the natural law and the intelligence embodied by Earth herself , and / or expressing this guiding nature for others. Delphinus embodies the essence of a purer intelligence attuned to the the natural world, beyond the egoic-based laws designed from personal motive fabrications. Al Nair of Gruis embodies the intellect of this guiding knowledge and is a star imparting mental brilliance, and grammatical expression, especially in the areas of law and natural history.

The exaltation of Mars in sidereal Capricorn stimulates a mature expression of Mars, one that is pro-active and independent; to respond to life with creative assertive action in leadership.

Our Mars New Moon creates a lunar theme stimulating mature, responsible and no-nonsense creative action in leadership that is based from the wisdom the natural world provides and that is supportive of all people--beyond the no-longer applicable laws designed to benefit special interest groups and select parties. It invites us to use our personal creative power to create pathways in our own lives that lead to our greater fulfillment beyond the manipulations and suppressive laws common to our old-world paradigm.

The Sun-Mars alignment also marks the mid-point of vision and realization in our current 780-day Earth-Mars synodic cycle. That cycle began on the Full Moon of January 29, 2010, during the last Mars retrograde. Realizations regarding that cycle's theme emerge on this New Moon and throughout this lunar cycle, synthesizing with this lunar cycle's theme. The theme of that synodic cycle stimulates the use of our creative power to emerge from antiquated patterns, behavior, and ways of participating in the world that were based on personal and collective dogma, and limiting beliefs and concepts of self. The Mars synodic cycle was presented in the January 15, 2010 Lunar Cycle.

The asteroid Ceres is also of influence on our New Moon; bringing attention to the Earth, the environment and that which is nourishing to all life. The Mars New Moon along with Ceres' influence can create a volatile lunar cycle, especially regarding ecological matters. It may also demand we listen to the expressive voice of Earth, to co-participate respectfully with Earth as a conscious living being.

Venus and Juno

Venus, on the Gate of God (the galactic equatorial node (GEN) at 5° sidereal Sagittarius) squares retrograde Juno, the asteroid of covenant partnerships, in Virgo, which lies opposite Uranus in Pisces--thus forming T-square on Earth's Precessional Cross. This T-square is triggered on February 3, just after the New Moon, as the Moon conjoins Neptune and Chiron in early sidereal Aquarius, which also aspects this T-square. This motivates action for change in partnerships of all types drivin by the need to live truer to heart and to ideals supportive of our greater inner truths. This impetus also amalgamates with our new lunar cycle's theme for dynamic creative action in leadership.

Crescent Moon Phase Characteristics

The Crescent Moon
Expanding on the Theme

The Crescent Moon of February 6-7 reside in early sidereal Pisces conjoining Jupiter (which lies just past Uranus). The Moon and Jupiter conjoin Diphda of Cetus; Eta Horologium and Eta Cepheus. The Moon and Jupiter are also square to Venus--again stimulating action from the heart--perhaps also driven from financial related matters.

Jupiter, Uranus, Makemake, Neptune and Chiron, as of the start of 2011, are now all beginning to diverge from their long held tight set of aspects. (See the 2011 Graphic Ephemeris.) This is creating an opening, like being shot from a river delta into a vast ocean of being. With it comes a vast acceleration and expansion of radical change. Accelerating currents invite us to make changes in our lives that heretofore we were only starting to feel, now to engage at an entirely new speed of expansion.

Diphda, Beta Cetus, marks the the thrashing tail of the technobureaucratic monster of collective human consciousness, Cetus the sea monster in the story of Andromeda and the Royal family. Diphda creates a strong emotional turbulence, bringing the potential to get knocked down and thrashed around due to the inability to lift ourselves above the dramatics of the intense psycho-emotional forces of the human world. Eta Horologium of the pendulum clock brings attention to impending time and to the fact that prompt action is required to avert what might be a crisis. Eta Cepheus indicates there are greater forces that can provide assistance, sometimes arriving just at the critical moment.

Our Jupiter Crescent Moon may express in a couple of ways: Jupiter may overly accentuate and dramatize emotional dramatics and turbulence in the world and in our lives. At the same time, it inspires movement and expansion from situations that may have been relentlessly tormenting, or that may swallow us whole if we were to remain passive to the increasing turbulence. The Moon-Jupiter's square from Venus motivates the application of our resources for solution.

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 February 11 in late sidereal Aries conjoining Sedna.

Although in sidereal Aries in ecliptical longitude. Sedna is south of the ecliptic and is now moving from the constellation of Cetus into Taurus; a long awaited transition that supports the feminine's emergence from submersion and suppression by collective consciousness to active and solid participation to create a new world.

Sedna

A planet-like object, or planetoid, orbiting the Sun at an extreme distance, in the coldest known region of our solar system was discovered in November of 2003. The planetoid (2003 VB12), was named Sedna for an Inuit goddess who lives at the bottom of the frigid Arctic Ocean. Sedna is about one-quarter to three-eighths the size of the planet Pluto; and has an extreme elliptical orbit. Cold and removed, Sedna, approaches the Sun only briefly during her ~10,800-year solar orbit. Sedna curiously has a peculiar reddish color, like that of Mars.

Mythically, their are several versions of Sedna’s story. Basically, Inuit Sedna is a beautiful but vain maiden who is quite content living at home with her parents. She refuses several potential husbands but is finally coerced to marry by her father. She ends up marring an evil bird disguised as a man and is wisped away to a distant island for a life of misery. Her father comes to rescue Sedna, but on their way back in her father’s kayak the birdman attacks the kayak. In a vicious struggle and in fear of his life, Sedna’s father either inadvertently or deliberately pushes Sedna overboard into the frigid Arctic waters while severing her frozen fingers from clutching the boat. Sedna eventually drowns in dramatic scenario of deceit, betrayal and abandonment. Sedna becomes the goddess of the sea watching over the mammals of the oceans. Sedna has the head and torso of a woman and the tail of a fish--our mermaiden.

Sedna’s astrological influence is exploratory. Based upon an initial exploration of Sedna’s astrophysical parameters, discovery, and myth, Sedna articulates the “return of the exiled feminine principle.” Sedna’s message is that humanity must recognize the truth about the suppression, persecution, abduction and exploitation of the feminine force in the world; and the mentality perpetuating such must be addressed and changed. Although it is quite obvious of our need for female’s re-emergence and balanced reintegration with the overly dominant patriarchal world, there is still dire hesitancy for such participation due to the often awry, deceptive and exploitative use of creative power by the masculine force in the world.

Sedna’s re-emergence suggests her purpose is to bring forth that which has been hidden or latent; supporting the emergence of the long-suppressed feminine principle in the world; and the participation of females equally with males in all walks of life; prominently, openly and without fear, abuse, prejudice or exploitation.

Sedna appears to motivate action from a mature social platform, from an open, honest and inclusive humanitarian focus, into an active focus in leadership in the world; to break trail along a new path of discovery by demonstrating that a more feminine humanitarian type of leadership can provide the answers to the challenges our wold faces.

Potential Sedna issues may include: a refusal or hesitancy to participate in fear of being hurt, or from resentment of being hurt; abduction or abandonment issues (self-exile or forced exile); or fear of commitment.

The First Quarter Moon and Sedna conjoin Botein of Aries; Rana and Zurak of Eridanus; and Omicron and Xi of Taurus.

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. Nearby Zaurak on river requires we hold our own inner light as the path ahead is not entirely clear.

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 get grounded and to trust instinct rather than reason.

Our Sedna First Quarter Moon may bring stimulus from the feminine world, to trust in and take action from the intuitive aspect of self, and to emerge and participate in ways that we may have been suppressing within self. It requires we relinquish any fear of being persecuted, rejected, betrayed or abused.

The Sun moves from sidereal Pisces into sidereal Aquarius on February 13-14, 2011.

Juno & Makemake

Retrograde Juno conjoins Makemake (pronounced MAH-keh MAH-keh) in sidereal Virgo hours before the Gibbous Moon. Both lie opposite to Uranus, perhaps bringing attention to needed for changes regarding the administration of resources in partnerships.

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.

The Gibbous Moon occurs on February 14-15 in mid-sidereal Gemini and conjoins the feet 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 the administrator, link and liaison; Urodelus of Ursa Minor; and the Cone Nebula / star cluster NGC2264 of Monoceros the Unicorn.

"The Twins" are marked by the two principal stars: Pollux, the immortal extraterrestrial one, and Castor the mortal terrestrial one, the extraterrestrial incarnate. These two stars, which mark the Twins' heads, lie in the last few degrees of sidereal Gemini. The Twins stand upon the galactic equator at a 60° angle to the ecliptic plane, with the "Feet of the Twins" lying in earlier Gemini, upon the "Gate of Man". Thus, Gemini is a galactic constellation and an ecliptical constellation, which inspires the expression of soul purpose through the daily activity of humankind--the theme of the Gate of Man. Sidereal Gemini is of high intensity intellectual communication, information, commerce, goods and services, and of their exchange. The Twins are of partnership in mutual cooperation participating in the human world, one of linking and uniting through our daily affairs in the world. The Twins work hand-in-hand for the betterment and evolutionary fulfillment of humankind.

Alhena is the brand, mark or seal, a marking stone for the unfoldment of what lies ahead. Alhena indicates a milestone or a turning point has been reached or is to be acknowledged. As the brand, Alhena also indicates that the time, events, or relations are marked or may be destined. Alhena can also manifest simply as a unique sign, indicating an opportunity at hand. Alhena indicates the need to get off the fence of indecision, to drop any hesitation, as the "time is at hand" to go forth anew. It marks a time of commencement. Alhena can indicate a separation, a leaving or departure, even an exodus. Behaviorally, Alhena marks leaving an older or less fulfilling way of participation or way of life--to move on and engage in a new level of participation. Alhena can also indicate the need to sign a document or legalize a project, involvement, or commitment, which makes it possible to engage in a subsequent level of involvement.

Conjoining Alhena is Quasar OH471 of Auriga. It, along with Beta Monoceros and Urodelous, can manifest as opportunity marked in a unique eye-catching or unmistakable way, opportunity that can bring fragmented pieces into a unified effort.

Our Gibbous Moon impels high intensity communication, perhaps in areas involving business and commerce; and it may stimulate chance or unique encounters or meetings. It initiates a few day period supportive of brain-storming and the exchange of ideas and may stimulate the formation of partnerships or joint ventures.

Sun-Neptune

The Sun and Neptune conjoin on February 17 (just before Full Moon) and then Chiron two days later (just after Full Moon) in early sidereal Aquarius, which marks the midpoint of vision and realization in the current Earth-Neptune synodic cycle and current Earth-Chiron synodic cycle, presented in the August 10, 2010 Lunar Planner. Chiron and Neptune had been conjoining in 2009-2010, during which time (September 2009) a new Jupiter-Neptune 12.7-year synodic cycle with Chiron began on the cusp of sidereal Aquarius conjoining Sadr, the heart of the swan. The Jupiter-Neptune-Chiron synthesis supports mobilization and expansion of our dreams, visions and ideals that bridge us from the bounds of the past into a radically new future. Occurring on the Aquarian cusp conjoining Sadr, it inspires creative pursuits, especially in the arts and sciences, with an inclusive humanitarian focus. This new 12.7-year cycle theme was significantly different than the previous Jupiter-Neptune cycle (which began in Dec-1996, and without Chiron), which had more of a militaristic, dominating and personal special interest type focus.

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.

The Full Moon occurs on February 18 in early sidereal Leo, with the Sun conjoining Neptune and Chiron. Thus, realizations regarding Neptune-Chiron (our dreams and visions that bridge us into the future) synthesize with our Full Moon realizations. Dreams may also be extra lucid and significant surrounding this Full Moon.

The Full Moon prominently conjoins Regulus of Leo. Also conjoining are Algieba, on the mane of the Lion; Praecipus of Leo Minor, cub of the Lion; and Phecda and Megrerz of the Great Bear.

Regulus, Alpha Leo, completes the articulation of the first five degrees of sidereal Leo. Regulus is "Chief or King of the Four Royal Stars" (Regulus Fomalhaut, Aldebaran, and Antares). Throughout antiquity Regulus was associated with royalty and kings (the colors royal blue and gold). Its name is given as "the Regulus" or "the Rex," meaning the "Law Giver." Regulus is considered the governing king of the four royals for several reasons. It lies almost exactly upon the ecliptic, thus, once a year around Aug 22-23, during Earth's orbit around the sun, the sun occults Regulus. Residing at 5° sidereal Leo, Regulus is the only one of the four royal stars prominently aspecting Earth's Precessional Holy Cross (the Gate of God at 5° Sag and the Gate of Man at 5° Gemini), both in longitude and in latitude. The Rex is therefore an administrative seat, a foundational star insuring integrity and order.

On the personal level, Regulus is about our inner "vertical integrity," that is, living true to self; openly on world stage. This means walking in confidence and with self-respect, aligned with the truth in our hearts, in thought, word, and deed. Our personal integrity, our inner vertical attunement, must precede any horizontal, humanitarian participation in the world (Leo's opposite Aquarian pole). Without this inner integrity we become self-sacrificing, entrapped in a sympathetic resonance of dance, giving self away at the cost of our hearts' truth. This perpetuates discord and dysfunction for self and for others because we are simply living a lie. Only by living our hearts' truths do we provide opportunity for others to also stand in integrity and live theirs.  Significant alignments with Regulus often indicate those with a prominent role in the global arena or on stage.

Regulus is of prominence, eminence, nobility, royalty, pride, courage, pioneering pursuits, self-reliance, independence, and influential leadership. Regulus impels the desire to create order, and a dynamic pursuit to win, to be on top, or in the limelight.

Praecipua of Leo Minor, the lessor Lion, which lies just north of Leo, means leader or chief (in Latin); and like the stars forming the head of the Lion, we have a theme of leadership, nobility, generosity, and of those in prominent positions in the world. All of these stars are of those who make things happen in the world, of leaders as well as of those behind the scenes-- those who set the stage and make productions occur.

Megrez and Phecda of the Great Bear inspire us to look at things from a different, alternative, or askew perspective to see what is otherwise not seen--to see that which is behind the scene or creating the appearance. It teaches us discernment, to not be naïve, accepting things from their surface appearance alone. Megrez and Phecda also invite us to look at our selves from an askew perspective to re-examine what drives our persona and the image we project into the world, if it is truly an expression of who we really are, or a mere egoic facade.

Our Full Moon inspires and brings realizations regarding our Mars-New Moon lunar cycle; emphasizing new leadership, using our creative power in new ground-breaking ways; and to move forward in our lives with a new level of confidence and self-reliance. Realizations may also be about a re-centering, realignment or activation occurring in the spine, sacrum or base chakra.

Mercury, Mars, Neptune & Chiron

Mercury, Mars, Neptune and Chiron all conjoin, starting on February 20, just before the Disseminating Moon and continuing through the Last Quarter Moon of February 24. This synthesis stimulates logistically-based creative action and / or the development of plans that support dreams and visions that may have been forming in this lunar cycle, especially regarding any realizations emerging around the Full Moon.

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 February 21 conjoining retrograde Saturn in sidereal Virgo. The Moon and Saturn conjoin Kraz of Corvus and Seginus of Bootes and the nearby Gamma Ray Burst of 2008.

Corvus is the Raven messenger and Kraz is the outstretched claw of the Raven. Corvus is of high intelligence, ingenuity, imagination, insight and adaptability. The brains of Ravens are among the largest of any bird species. They are problem solvers, inventors and are highly opportunistic. Corvus is the keeper of secrets and a knowledge holder, but is also a prophetic revealer--the "raven messenger bird" to those who are spiritually and physically attuned, and who ask and listen. Corvus reminds us to pay attention to the signs or messages naturally expressing through the world around us moment-by-moment. The signs found in the simplest of life experience can have meaning if we are willing to be attentive to them. In fact, we can even ask to receive guidance simply by briefly holding the intent to inquire and then letting it go. It is the sincere projection of clear intent that vibrationally invokes a response from the world around us. Corvus is a protector as well, of both the animal and human worlds, and will forewarn of approaching danger to avert unnecessary mishaps, as well as to affirm fortuitous opportunities, meetings or events so we may act accordingly. Corvus invites us to maintain acute attentiveness to everything occurring around us; to read the signs in the moment occurring in our everyday lives; and to adapt accordingly.

North of Kraz of Corvus, is Seginus, the left shoulder of Bootes. Seginus is of strength and responsibility, and it conjoins Muphrid, the left foot of Bootes. Seginus and Muphrid inspire responsible action to provide personal and intimate support by making possible and ensuring proper energetic environments and physical conditions are created, maintained and not interfered with by meddling forces. Seginus will not hesitate to rebel against manipulative authority; yet this is to ensure an unadulterated and pure birth can occur form the Virgin, that is, so that souls have the opportunity to express their highest potential and can achieve evolutionary fulfillment.

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

One of the brightest stellar explosions ever seen occurred in March of 2008--called a gamma-ray burst (GRB 080319B). It conjoined Seginus and Muphrid in Bootes, and was just south of Seginus.

"Gamma-ray bursts are the Universe's most luminous explosions. Most occur when massive stars run out of fuel. As a star collapses, it creates a black hole or neutron star that, through processes not fully understood, drives powerful gas jets outward. As the jets shoot into space, they strike gas previously shed by the star and heat it, thereby generating bright afterglows. The jets of this gamma-ray burst (GRB) were aimed almost directly at the Earth, at almost the speed of light. This burst was so intense that, despite happening halfway across the Universe, it could have been seen briefly with the unaided eye." (ESO 08/08).

This explosion energized and emphasized the theme of Seginus of Bootes for humanity in 2008. Its is also interesting to note that this is ecliptical longitude of Makemake’s aphelion; and its was slightly later that year that began the avalanche of events catalyzing the restructuring of financial banking arena and exposure of massive fraudulent activity in that arena that began with the Uranus opposition to Makemake and Saturn starting in the latter half of 2008, with the Uranus-Makemake opposition continuing into early 2011.

Our Saturn-Dissemanting Moon invites personal attunement and astute attentiveness to messages expressing through the natural world around us; and to heed those messages and to demonstrate that which we have gained in this lunar cycle in concretized form. It may provide new opportunities to involve in established structures or systems, or to demonstrate active creative leadership in concretized ways that help restructure our lives and our world.

Last Quarter Moon Phase Characteristics