The Lunar Theme for the
June 1, 2011 New Moon

Pioneering Pursuits
supporting Self, Home, Family and Friends

The Lunar Month of
June 1, 2011 - July 1, 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 (a Partial Solar Eclipse) of June 1, 2011 occurs in mid-sidereal Taurus and conjoins Aldebaran, Eye of the Bull, the primary star of Taurus; and the Shield of Orion. Aldebaran lies directly opposite Antares of Scorpio, both marking the center of their respective signs in the sidereal zodiak. The Aldebaran-Antares axis was the primary fiducial (reference point) for the Babylonian zodiak. Our Full Moon will produce a Total Lunar Eclipse conjoining Lesath, the sting of the Scorpion; with the following New Moon of July 1, producing another Partial Solar Eclipse in sidereal Gemini.

Our attention turns toward earthy matters, business, home and family in this lunar cycle. Sidereal Taurus is the primogeniture of the zodiak, the Earth sign from which life springs. Aldebaran holds the vision for global leaders and world servers inspiring the administrative planning of world affairs, specifically for physical logistics and a global infrastructure designed to support humanity through evolutionary growth and change.

Aldebaran is a star of pioneering leadership. At a personal level, Aldebaran is of business and the home. It impels initiative to take action for our physical wellbeing. Aldebaran inspires involvement with physical places, business and projects supportive of our modalities of living for self, family and friends.

Jupiter and recently discovered Eris, the great disruptor and reorganizer, begin their new 12-year synodic cycle in this Lunar Cycle, conjoining Revati of Pisces and Baten Kaitos of Cetus (in sidereal Pisces). This new synodic cycle marks another significant shift in our evolutionary process.

Earth and Pluto begin their new annual synodic cycle later in this lunar cycle in sidereal Sagittarius; and Vesta and Pallas begin a new 15-year synodic cycle under the auspices of Altair, Eye of the Eagle.

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.

Just past Aldebaran in ecliptical longitude and also conjoining is Tabit of Orion and several other minor stars forming the Shield of Orion. Both Aldebaran and the Shield bring attention to the physical infrastructures supporting our lives. The theme of the Shield is one of providing protection in the world of human affairs, especially of establishing a protective environment when starting new ventures or projects. Associated with the essence of Aldebaran, this is in regard to our physical abodes and daily sustenance, of taking care for self and others. The stars of the Shield impel endurance and victory in this pursuit.

This lunar cycle stimulates us to step forth as leaders and pioneers while standing in the midst of chaos and the diversionary conditions of human life. It impels us to create the physical infrastructures in our lives to support our fundamental physical needs; to create nurturing and protective environments; and to take the action to manifest the visions we hold for our lives. One of the most common things forgotten of Taurus is the need to take action, without it, our visions do not manifest and we remain entrapped in the chaos and confusion of stormy Hyades. Physical action is essential.

Neptune Retrograde

Neptune begins its retrograde on June 2 (June 3 GMT) in early sidereal Aquarius. Neptune’s retrograde continues through November 9, 2011, during which time a new Earth-Neptune synodic cycle will begin, on August 22. Chiron a few degrees past Neptune will begin its retrograde on June 8. Neptune and Chiron began a new 85-year synodic cycle conjoining Sadr, the Heart of the Swan, on the cusp of sidereal Aquarius in February of 2010, inspiring us to create entirely new revolutionary visionary humanitarian-focused alternatives to cross the vast abyss we currently face in our lives. We are just beginning this new cycle with Chiron and Neptune’s passage through the humanitarian water-bearer. The two retrograde periods starting now engage us in further exploration of potential visionary alternative bridges into the future.

The New Jupiter-Eris 12-year Synodic Cycle

Jupiter and Eris begin a new12-year synodic cycle on June 3 (June 4 GMT). The last Jupiter-Eris synod occurred on June 27, 1999 in sidereal Pisces. Eris has moved 2° 47’ in ecliptical longitude since that time. The 1999 synod exactly conjoined Revati of Pisces. The Synod now conjoins Baten Kaitos of Cetus. Of course the two stars conjoin, being just 2° apart. This is also the exalted location for Venus in the sidereal zodiak.

Jupiter

Jupiter imparts a mobilizing and expansive force. It stimulates fluidity in movement, vitality and enthusiasm. It is of reciprocity--how we receive and re-express that which we have gained as gifts to the world. Jupiter expresses in openness and willingness to touch, palpate and embrace life, people and experience. It imparts a kinesthetic and magnetic quality; and reveals our physical fitness, strength and coordination.

Jupiter motivates us to aspire for something larger in our lives, beyond our current bounds. Jupiter will tend to magnify and expand the qualities of any other planet that it conjoins. Jupiter is often associated with money, but not as much as Venus. This is because Jupiter is a mobilizing force and money is a mobilizing agent.

Jupiter is of higher or natural law, as compared to man’s laws. It is of Spiritual Truth and stimulates action upon our greater truth. Jupiter is serendipitous, opportunistic, fortunate and lucky; with taste for and appreciation of elegance end beauty (along with Venus). It is fun loving, good natured, free and independent. Jupiter provides the ability to participate freely in the material world and in universal flow.

Debilitated Jupiter can express as a fear of travel, movement or expansion. It can express a fear of loss or lack, thus hoarding in nature. It can be spiritually shallow. In its acute expression, Jupiter can be gluttonous, zealous, exaggerated, showy, and hypocritical.

Jupiter governs muscle coordination and motor skills; the muscles, ligaments, the lymph, buttocks and the legs, which are the pump for the lymphatic system. Associated brain centers are: Animation / Life--cortex, psyche, soma energy centre, and hypothalamus. Sensory Locomotion--mid-cortex, the kinesthetic and sensory motor area. More about Jupiter.

Eris

Eris, the Great Disruptor, has a radical and interceding nature, overturning our current perception, but with purpose, so we may expand and redefine our perceptual view of the reality in which we live. Eris, discovered in 2005 in Cetus, was responsible for the formation of the new “Dwarf Planet” classification and the reclassification of Pluto to Dwarf Planet status, the family to which Eris, Pluto and the asteroid Ceres now belong. This caused quite a commotion in both the astronomical and astrological communities. However, this proved to be appropriate as additional new Dwarf Planets were discovered shortly afterward.

Mythologically, Eris is the Greek god of strife. Eris’ daughter, Dysnomia, is the name given to the moon of Eris. Dysnomia is said to be the “spirit of lawlessness”--disruptor of civil order. Eris, however, had two daughters, Dysnomia and the opposite and peaceable one, Eunomia, who ends strife. Dysnomia is also the name given to a nominal recall (dys) disorder--a memory problem associated with naming (nouns); the inability to retrieve names when needed--”its on the tip of my tongue.”

Eris demonstrated, right from the start, her no-nonsense astrological role as the great disruptor. Although the discovery of Eris created discord at first, a new order followed with the new classification of Dwarf Planets (fitting to the theme of her daughter Eunomia). This is significant when considering Eris’ astrological character.

Discordant Eris provokes change by upsetting the status quo, by upsetting the apple cart. Although Eris can create a disrupting commotion, upsetting our existing, limiting and antiquated structures of consciousness. She opens us to see beyond the finite bounds of our current perception, beyond the bounds we place upon ourselves by arousing and challenging our egoic defenses. 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.

Eris’ discovery in Cetus, the Technobureaucratic Monster of Collective Human Consciousness, indicates Eris is disrupting the fear-driven bureaucratic world of mass consensus to help our emergence from the belly of the ole’ whale into a new world paradigm. Being a very slow mover, Eris is still making its passage through the gut of Cetus--continuing to disrupt fear-based collective human consciousness and the technobureaucratic monster driving it. Eris’ influence has been working, for the most part, at sub-conscious emotional level--perhaps continuing to increase the unrest with the status quo in the human populous. Eris extreme elliptical orbit causes Eris to change speed rather drastically over long periods of time. Eris moves rather slowly through sidereal Pisces, a fraction of a degree per year. More about Eris.

Revati, Zeta Pisces, literally means riches, money, wealth, and financial resources. Prominent alignments with Revati can indicate material wealth gained from participating in the dramatic psycho-emotional world of human affairs--where the bucks are. This zodiakal longitude is a couple of degrees to that of Baten Kaitos, the belly of ole Cetus, where the transformative process occurs while in the whale of human emotional experience. Revati and Baten Kaitos also mark the exalted seat of Venus--bringing attention to the relation of the flow of abundance, emotional clarity, and living from the heart. Venus rules money and assets; and Venus (especially its retrogrades) dramatically influences the stock market, as is well know in astrological market forecasting.

Cetus, the techno-bureaucratic monster of collective human consciousness, is the whale of human emotional experience. Baten Kaitos is the belly of ole' Cetus. Further south is Fornax, the furnace and Phi Fornax, which provides the perpetual fire (digestive juices) for our transmutation while participating in the belly of ole' Cetus--in the wet, sensual, and emotional world of human affairs. Alignments with Baten Kaitos can indicate delays or setbacks, but a time needed to make an inner transformation, before rescue, emergence, or rewards can be gained. Baten can indicate the need to embrace the emotional aspects of mortal life and to emerge in transmuted form. The value here is to be able to participate from the wisdom of having been there, and to claim the abundance that life has to offer in all of its forms (Venus-Revati).

North of and conjoining Revati and Baten Kaitos are the outstretched arms of the entrapped princess Andromeda, chained to the rocks. Andromeda's northern arm is lashed high over her head upon the crag, pulled back toward the Lizard. Her southern arm, pulled southward toward the riches of the mortal world and also toward the shores where Cetus, the techno-bureaucratic monster of collective human consciousness, approaches. Andromeda is stretched in turmoil in this natural sepulchre carved into the rocky cliff, caught in forces not of her own making, an environment and genetic lineage she was born into.

Andromeda is forced to face the sea (her emotions) and Cetus, the sea-monster (the fear-based monster of collective consciousness), which is buried deep beneath the water (in the subconscious mind) only to reveal its menacing head and thrashing tail at the surface shore.

Note that Perseus slays his inner fears and claims his power, and the right to his future with Andomeda, by beheading Medusa. With that wisdom claimed, holding Medusa's head as he flies over Cetus, he in-turn freezes Cetus to stone, which shatters into the sea--destroying the techno- bureaucratic monstrous illusion fabricated from fear.

Buried deep in the subconscious, Upsilon Ceti (conjoining Revati and Baten) supports opportunity for emergence from the belly of ole’ Cetus, that is to emerge from the struggles and fear common to the 3-d bureaucratic realmspace of our current collective consciousness; which in essence produces the mirror image or inversion in consciousness, the revelation of freedom produced from the inside-out, into heartspace. Upsion Ceti reveals, for those that submerge deep enough within self, well beyond the turbulent psyho-drama of mind, the key to the chains of fear that bind.

Jupiter’s mobilizing and expansive force synthesizing with Eris and these stars can aid our emergence from the last many years of financial upheavals and restructuring. Mars began new synodic cycles with Jupiter and Eris in the previous lunar cycle stimulating assertive creative action in leadership to emerge from the ruins of the past, especially financially and regarding our economic paradigm. This new 12-year cycle brings our attention to the deconstruction of our past modality of living and to the construction of a new modality of living. This is specifically about emerging from being dependant upon and suppressed by the old bureaucratic patriarchal greed-based monster and living in its mentality, and how we feed it, to creating a new self-sustainable and wholesome modality of living.

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 June 5 occurs in early sidereal Cancer and conjoins Aludra of Canis Major; Samoth of Monoceros; Alsciaukat of the Lynx; and the northern Irregular Galaxy M82 in Ursa Major.

Aludra, Wezen, and Adhara lie under latter sidereal Gemini and early Cancer, and create the hindquarter of the Canis Major. Although of this Sirian constellation, Aludra and Wezen are a pair of their own class. They lie much further in distance than the other stars thus being of their own realm. Aludra served Hipparchus to make his famous astronomical reckoning about the precession of the equinoxes. Aludra is also the only star of the constellation that lies across the Gemini-Cancer cusp. Aludra is the singular of Al Adhara, the Virgins--hence, a pure one of the breed. This is the white stallion, the black sheep, the unique person who does not fit in. Aludra most often time manifests a person who appears through unexpected space-time portals, with the magik provided by Alpha Monoceros. The Aludra individual seems strikingly unique in some way--out of the ordinary.

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

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

Alsciaukat specifically asks one to not be deluded by what is or is not happening at the apparent level or in what things look like on the surface, but to intimately trust while being in "forever alertness"--for it is a matter of spacetiming in which doorways coincide between the physical time dependent light realms and the non–physical realms governed by superluminal forces of nature.

Theses portals are where synchronistic and truly magikal opportunities spontaneously appear that allow us opportunity to transcend the separation of space and time and its logistical process to a higher order of experience. Living in the present, in forever alertness, is the key to shift our vibrational mode to experience an entirely new octave of reality, by-passing the lower order, time-consuming, logistical path of learning, instead to arrive instantaneously to the new awareness and subsequent corresponding experiential plane.

To be in forever alertness we must come to a place of unconditional openness, to be in unconditional acceptance of our current experience moment-by moment. This in turn allows us to participate fully in the present, naturally and in perfect harmony, so as to arrive at the right place at the right time, to meet these dimensional portals occurring in spacetime. Alsciaukat, the thorn in the Lynx, reminds us to stay in ever-present attentive alertness to see such opportunities and to seize the moment.

Irregular galaxies like M82 tend to express as some type of abnormality, distortion, or uncommon trait regarding the conjoining stellar themes--hence the unexpected nature of the thorn in the Lynx, of the unexpected portals presenting themselves (the conjoining Monoceros), and of the unique people native to this area of the zodiak. Fitting to the black hole model, M82 requires we release any prejudices and limiting perspectives about the differences and oddities found in the multiplicity of our individuality. It requires we pull forth the totality of our own oddity from our true soul essence into our incarnational expression to allow the gift of this uniqueness to manifest. In typical black hole fashion this is an all or nothing deal, there is either total acceptance or total rejection of the unique situation that is occurring, no in-betweens. M82 of the Great Bear also provides opportunity for the uniqueness of our individuality to have a role or place in the world, but self-acceptance must be realized and the unique opportunities presenting themselves seized.

At this zodiakal longitude we find the ideal ambassador between countries, races, species, and worlds--the morph. We also find opportunities to amalgamate our uniqueness in ways that can dissolve the barriers in front of us and that serve our mutual wellbeing or purpose. We must, however, relinquish any preconceived ideas, beliefs and hesitancies that would limit the expression and fulfillment of the uniqueness of our souls. It is common for very unique and unexpected encounters to occur with alignments here as well as for unique people to just show up in our lives with whom there is a special and mutual attraction.

Our Crescent Moon impels us to be attentive to unexpected opportunities or people showing up in our lives. Expanding upon our Aldebaran Lunar theme, this may indicate unique enterprising or business opportunities that support home and family.

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 June 8 (June 9 GMT) and conjoins the asteroid Juno in late sidereal Leo. The Moon and Juno conjoin Mizar of Ursa Major; Asterion of Canes Venatici; and Delta Velorum.

Juno

Juno, goddess of love, is the asteroid of covenant relationships, soul colleagues, and true lovers. In the astrological chart, Juno indicates the nature of the issues and opportunities in significant relations of all sorts: those that are of a personal nature to those of political leaders and nations of the world. Mature Juno is diplomatic, tactful, cooperative, and mutually trusting. Mature Juno expresses with a sense of equality within self that provides the ability to draw true partners and those of equality into one’s life. There is an acceptance of another’s truth or opinion without need to challenge or debate. There is an ability to honor and support others in their own choices and decisions. Mature Juno expresses in mutual support and unconditional love to allow each other to grow and change through whatever issues surface.

Potential Juno issues can manifest as superiority / inferiority complexes and inequality issues.
More about Juno.

This is a windy and fiery area of the zodiak, one that can stimulate dynamic creative expression. Mizar of the Great Bear, Zeta Ursa Major, is the overseeing and predominant star of this area of the zodiak. Mizar, and its companion Alcor, articulates raw fiery energy that must express one way or another. Mizar must have a creative outlet, but for its proper expression, we must apply it with creative vision. Mizar brings attention to use of our creative energies; creative and destructive tendencies, and the fear to create lest it may result in destruction. Here we learn the nature of such volatile forces. Mizar, with averted alignments is also known for catastrophic fires or massacres. Mizar can however express quite artistically--just as gunpowder can express as beautiful fireworks or devastating explosions. The expression of Mizar tends to express in a grand way, in character with showy and dramatic Leo. Mizar imparts a dynamic, action oriented creative artistic expression.

Asterion and the conjoining Seyfert Galaxy NGC4151, both of the barking hounds, Canes Venatici, conjoin Mizar. Seyfert galaxies are spiral galaxies that have very dense and bright cores (nuclei) that express a broad spectrum of emission lines, which suggests extremely hot gases in violent motion. In general, Seyfert galaxies tend to stimulate dynamic, powerful and directed action.

Although of a dynamic, outgoing, artistic creative character, Mizar, Asterion and Chort, on the hind of the Lion, can also produce a lot of dramatic racket and fiery commotion due to toxic conditions or an unrefined awareness. This can also be a part of the often diversionary tactics intended to distract the unsuspecting from the real issues or path at hand, a theme common to late Leo.

The conjoining Pulsar CP1133 in Leo provides impulses to act upon our intuition and upon the more subtle evolutionary and guiding currents articulated by the stars of Velorum, the sail of the Argo, in this case Delta Velorum, which lies below in the southern heavens.

Our First Quarter Juno Moon stimulates outgoing, dynamic and artistic creative expression in partnerships. It requires we are clear and focused in our actions and in our relationships.

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.

Our Gibbous Moon occurs on June 12 in mid-sidereal Libra and at the feet of the Virgin. The Moon conjoins Delta and Gamma of the Southern Cross and the Centaurus-A galaxy.

The Feet of the Virgin and stars of mid-sidereal Libra are of souls' original pure intent and purpose. South is Centaurus who stands on the galactic equator. The Centaur teaches the right use of will, the right way to live to attain self-mastery and evolutionary freedom. The Centaur teaches that it is essential to seek the original cardinality of the soul and live it. This is to claim that cardinality as our foundation as prerequisite to reach beyond the entrapments we find our selves in, the entrapments of duality-based experience.

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

South of Centaurus-A are the stars of the Southern Cross. The Centaur is protector of the Southern Cross and benevolent teacher of its principles. The four stars of the Southern Cross (Cruces) embody the original cardinal virtues seemly lost to most of humanity. This is the cardinality (pure intent) of the soul--embodied by the Kappa Crucis Cluster, the Jewel Box. The Southern Cross embodies the pure intent of the soul before the aberrations, confusions, attitudes, and beliefs incurred by the soul throughout its entire incarnational sojourn.

Centaurus-A invites us to create a contemplative or meditative harmonious space or environment from which to access our inner cardinal soul wisdom, our original and unique purpose and intent, which underlie the aberrations, false beliefs, and restricting concepts we may have placed upon ourselves; that which is embodied by the Southern Cross.

Centaurus-A invites us to enter a place of inner stillness, to relinquish the concepts of thought we associate with our existing lives. This inner excursion requires a willingness to go deep within and to allow a disintegration of the constructs of self we hold, our human mold, of what we think ourselves to be, and to emerge with a far deeper awareness of our true selves, the inner knowing of our true essence. We can then bring that pure essence, that intent, back into our life expression without the need to mold ourselves into mass consensus. The successful feat can result in an inversion or flip in consciousness--with a revelation of great magnitude, one that can change our lives forever.

Centaurus-A also conjoins the Beta star of the Northern Crown, and Quasar 3C 351 of northern Draco. This quasar inspires access to ancient time, when soul was pristine in its intent and purpose, and to pull this awareness into the present expression with passion, enthusiasm, art, and beauty to attain our evolutionary freedom and fulfillment.

Saturn Direct

The Sun and Mercury conjoin and Saturn completes its retrograde just after the Gibbous Moon on June 12. The current Earth-Saturn synodic cycle fully engages; presented in the April 3, 2011 Lunar Planner.

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 June 15. This is a Total Lunar Eclipse, the first lunar eclipse of 2011. The eclipse occurs on the Moon's North Node in Ophiuchus and in the last degree of sidereal Scorpio. This is a long eclipse lasting about 100 minutes. The eclipse will be visible from the eastern half of Africa, the Middle East, central Asia and western Australia. Observers throughout Europe will miss the early stages of the eclipse, which starts before moonrise, but totality will be seen throughout the continent except for northern Scotland and northern Scandinavia. Eastern Asia, eastern Australia, and New Zealand will witness totality but will miss the last stages of eclipse at moon set. Totality will also be seen in eastern Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina. None of the eclipse will be visible from North America.

Eclipse Info: http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/OH/OH2011.html#LE2011Jun15T

Generally, eclipse lunar cycles mark a time of shifting into a new octave in the lunar spiral of growth. They offer a time to resynchronize ourselves with the ever-changing cosmic currents supporting our evolutionary progression in consciousness.

Solar eclipses offer opportunity to redefine concepts of self and the roles we play, or how we articulate ourselves, in the world. They are about shifting octaves in the nature of our self-perception and self-expression. They often mark a new beginning, way of life, or new way of participating in life.

Lunar eclipses tend to be about releasing the emotional bonds within ourselves that reach out and glue us to involvements that are less than we truly want or deserve. They are about the emotional and experiential aspects of our relations with others and with the world--how we feel about and palpate life. Lunar eclipses provide opportunity for an emotional release, a fresh start.

Where eclipses occur in your natal chart reveal the area of your personal life in which they are working.

The Moon conjoins Lesath of Scorpio; Beta Ara; and the Terzan 2 X–Ray Burster and Globular Cluster. North is the right foot of Ophiuchus, which stands over cuspal Sagittiarius.

Ophiuchus, in the sidereal sign of Scorpio, lies above and on the ecliptic, standing over the Scorpion, which swings quite south of the ecliptic under Ophiuchus. Antares, heart of the Scorpion, defines the center of the sidereal sign of Scorpio, the Serpent Point, and embodies the essence of the Scorpio constellation. Antares lies below the ecliptic as well, in the body of the Scorpion. Because Ophiuchus actually crosses the ecliptic, it is the thirteenth ecliptical constellation lying in the sidereal sign of Scorpio.

Ophiuchus is knowledge holder of DNA Illumination and Ascension procedures--one who has attained the ascension from the lower-order forces that perpetuate re-incarnational entrapment. In Greek myth, Aesculapius, the mediciner of the ship Argo, is also imaged as Ophiuchus, knowledgeable of advanced healing processes beyond the cycle of life and death.

In our stellar image, Ophiuchus stands with the serpent (Serpentis) coiled around his body and held in his hands. The neck and head of the serpent reach toward the Northern Crown (Corona Borealis), which lies above the Chelae (claws) of the Scorpion. Ophiuchus is exemplar of mastery over the powers of life and death, master over the very raw creative forces of life. Ophiuchus embodies bringing this interplay of forces to a greater spiritual fulfillment. The astronomical symbol of Ophiuchus is the caduceus--the medical, entwined double serpent--the double helix of the DNA.

Ophiuchus and the sidereal sign of Scorpio are associated with the soul's education regarding the use of sexual creative forces and raw creative power. This entire image of Ophiuchus standing upon the scorpion with this magnificent snake reaching for the North Crown represents claiming our self-mastery to attain evolutionary fulfillment out of the karmic-based reincarnational process. This is to become ascended in vibration, an illumined being free from perpetuated reincarnational entrapment.

Theta Ophiuchus and the stars forming the leg and foot of Ophiuchus impart the capacity to act upon one’s inner wisdom and long-term soul purpose in the world in order to allow a lesser self to die for a greater to emerge. Standing over the Sting of the Scorpion and Ara, Altar of the Centaur, they articulate the capacity to confidently stand in the transmutational elixir created by the Scorpion’s sting; and to allow a metamorphosis into a higher office of self-mastery that occurs upon the Centaur’s altar.

The Scorpion’s tail, marked by Lesath and Shuala, lies south of the ecliptic in the last few degrees of sidereal Scorpio. Under the tail and the cusp of Sagittarius, is Ara, the Altar of the Centaur. On the low altar, which lies in later sidereal Scorpio, 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 (cuspal Sag) 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 Sag where Galactic Center resides.

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 Mu1 and Mu2, which lie a few degrees earlier, but also on the Scorpion's tail. They are a mere 8 minutes of the degree; 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)

Terzan 2 in Scorpio lies along a line drawn between Theta Ophiuchus and Lesath. Terzan 2 is one of several Globular Clusters which express in the infrared area of the light spectrum, discovered by French astronomer Agop Terzan and published in 1968. Terzan 2 embodies an X–Ray Burster (XBR) at its center. Although there are hundreds of globulars (a spherical grouping of stars surrounding a dense galactic center), only a few exhibit a Burster quality. The Burster itself is a neutron star binary system that emits persistent but irregular blasts of high-energy x-rays. Astrologically, globular clusters exhibit a compacted inner core sense of strength and self-contained beliefs. Burster type globulars provide unexpected flashes of illumination, even brilliant revelations that can propel us on entirely new creative journeys or courses in our lives. It is up to us to draw upon the inner strength the globular offers and have the conviction to act upon the inspiration as the initial flash subsides. Terzan 2 in Scorpio may produce tremendous bursts of passion, sensual rapture, or raw power that motivate us to access and live a path or greater truth in self-mastery that lies beyond the natural forces assumed to be governing our lives. Terzan two can ignite the flame at the base chakra that allows the transmutation of crystallize cellular patterns if we are willing to surrender lower order self for a refined vibrational resonance, and to live in the greater truth awaiting us.

Our Full Moon brings us the realization and opportunity to surrender the cellular patterns that keep us at a lesser vibrational resonance so we may participate at a more refined or higher-order resonance. Conscious deliberation is required to surrender lesser self so as to be able to step forth into a higher office awaiting us.

The Sun enters sidereal Gemini on June 16.

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 June 19 in sidereal Capricorn and conjoins Armus of Capricorn; Albali of Aquarius; the SMC X-1-Neutron Star. The Moon is 2° to the asteroid Pallas (which also conjoins Vesta). Pallas also conjoins Eta Cygnys and the Cygnus X-1 X-ray binary-star system.

Pallas

Mature Pallas expresses as the artful use of creative intelligence for solution beyond duality’s paradox. Mature Pallas expresses form the balance of the masculine and feminine principles, and from beyond the judgments of one side verses the other. Pallas invites the integration of our past experience in duality--from having been on both sides of the fence at one time or another--and to claim that experience as wisdom. It invites us to use that wisdom as a foundation to express nonjudgmental courageous solution beyond life’s paradoxes created by opposing forces.

Pallas is applier and defender of wisdom and truth; the expression of intellect in craft and inventiveness. Mature Pallas accepts personal responsibility for having co-created our experience; i.e. the resolution of victim consciousness. Pallas has the strategic capacity to link, unify and bring together; and has wonderful perceptual skills for planning and public relations. Pallas often has a prominent placement in the charts or artists. Pallas significantly effects emotional and physical equilibrium.

Pallas issues can express as spiteful withdrawal, which ultimately can manifest as self-sabotage due to judgments about use of power or awry creative / sexual energy. It can also express as righteousness, judgment and invalidation of opposite or alternative views, lashing out with a vengeance. Pallas issues can express as an imbalance in the masculine and feminine aspects of self; sexuality issues, dyslexia and perceptual problems. Pallas governs the Liver / Spleen balance (violet / red), which is reflexed to the equilibrium and dizziness centre of the brain. More about Pallas.

Vesta

Vesta is the asteroid of Focus, Dedication & 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 one’s 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.

Armus, Eta Capricorn, and Theta mark the body and back of the fish-goat. Armus brings awareness to our need to take personal responsibility for our material and physical wellbeing. Armus is about our responsibility in the world. Armus is also of legal agreements, partnerships in business, and negotiations. Conjoining Armus is Albali, Epsilon Aquarius, which marks the start of the Capricorn-Aquarius overlap--where the Aquarian humanitarian influence begins to be felt in mid-sidereal Capricorn. Albali of Aquarius extends Capricorn's zodiakal quality from personal level motive to a sense that our responsibility must extend beyond ourselves, to embrace the needs of those around us, and to our extended families. Armus, Theta and Albali also indicate a barrier to cross, or burden to surrender, yet this becomes easy when we embrace the mature awareness offered by conjoining SMC X-1 neutron star in the southern Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) and that of Cygnus X-1 in the neck of the Swan.

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 (or Lesser) Magellanic Cloud (SMC), a barred spiral galaxy, is elliptical in size at 280.0' x 160.0' and extends about 2.7° in ecliptical longitude (not including any orb). Its influence expresses through Armus and Albali of Capricorn, which it conjoins. The Small Magellanic Cloud resides at 64S35 in ecliptical latitude, and though considered to be in Toucan, it lies on the border of the more southern Hydrus (or Hydri, not to be confused with Hydra the Water Snake) separating Alpha and Beta Hydrus.

Within the Small Magellanic Cloud is SMC X-1, an eclipsing binary neutron star, with a visible magnitude of 13.3 that emits a high level of X-rays. SMC X-1 has an X-ray eclipsing period of 3.9 days with a pulse width 0.7 seconds long. SMC X-1 of Tucana 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 (Capricorn is domicile for Saturn).

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, near Eta Cygnus in the neck of the Swan. Cyg X-1's placement on the galactic equator provides opportunity to access and express from a mature soul-level awareness. Cyg X-1 inspires us to surrender the personality-based motives, facades, cloaked maneuvers, and religious fanaticism common to earlier Capricorn and access, participate from, and express the greater maturity and truth of a soul-aware awakened being cognizant that we are not victims at the mercy of forces outside of self but that we co-create the dramatics in our lives and must take responsibility for doing so.

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.

Our Demonstrable Moon, conjoining Pallas (retrograde) and Vesta, invites mature, responsible, clear and focused artistic expression of our creative intelligence. It may involve concretized participation in business or legalities, but is that which supports self, family and our extended families and friends.

The Solstice & Vesta Retrograde

Vesta begins its retrograde on the Solstice of June 21. The Solstice occurs at 13:30 GMT and the Sun will arrive to the Gate of Man of Earth’s Precessional Cross in sidereal Gemini a few hours later at 20:41 GMT. Vesta’s retrograde brings the previous Earth-Vesta synodic cycle to a close and the marks the transition into the new cycle to begin, which occurs in the midst of the retrograde on August 5, 2011. The previous Vesta synodic cycle (conjoined Regulus of Leo) was presented in the February 14, 2010 Lunar Planner.

Last Quarter Moon Phase Characteristics