The Lunar Theme for the
December 24, 2011 New Moon

Mobilizing Our Uniqueness: The Way to the Future

The Lunar Month of
December 24, 2011 - January 23, 2012

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

Our New Moon of December 24, 2011 occurs in sidereal Sagittarius, which begins the last lunar cycle of 2011. It conjoins the bow and arrow of the Zen Archer and a location in the northern heavens called the Solar Apex. The Solar Apex is not an object, but the direction toward which our Sun is currently moving in our local interstellar field. Our Sun, along with our entire local inter-stellar neighborhood, orbits the center of our galaxy at a speed roughly estimated to be about 217 kilometers per second (about 485,400 miles per hour). Thus, our solar system’s cosmic environment continually changes, which is one of many factors contributing not only to our Sun’s continually changing behavior and subsequent planetary changes, but also to our continually changing evolutionary experience.

The astrological qualities of this area of sidereal Sagittarius produce a heightened perceptual awareness, are of higher mind, and they impel radical and spontaneous action to pursue our unique paths in life, undaunted by the consensus of the status quo.

“Seeking Sameness leads to Separation. Honoring Uniqueness leads to Oneness.”

Jupiter completes its retrograde just after the New Moon, which restores our experience of movement and expansion. This fully commences the new 399-day Earth-Jupiter synodic cycle that began on October 29. The theme of this synodic cycle inspires us to get off the fence of indecision and to leave the small and middle-ground approaches in our lives. It invites us to move forward in our partnerships in an expansive and all embracing way; and it invites the expansion and expression of heart and art in a big way.

Venus makes several conjunctions in this lunar cycle and also begins new synodic cycles with Vesta, Uranus, Ceres and Eris. These events influence matters associated with heart, art, and financial resources. They also bring inspiration to cross new bridges, and to pursue our greater dreams and visions. Jupiter’s shift along with Venus’ prominent role in this lunar cycle also adds a social quality to this lunar cycle. All of this produces a progressive and heart-oriented lunar month.

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 cosmic currents 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.

Astronomical research also suggests that our Sun harmonically oscillates above and below the plane of our Galaxy during its galactic sojourn. Our Sun's oscillation (cycle) through the galactic plane has an amplitude of about 230 light-years, crossing the galactic plane every 27 to 33 million years. Some research suggests periodic mass extinctions correlate with the Sun's oscillation about the galactic plane--known as the Shiva Hypothesis.

Summary: http://abob.libs.uga.edu/bobk/ccc/cc020298.html
Update: http://www.springerlink.com/content/m14v3g37375u0n80/

In our stellar mythical imaging, 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 invites us to realize 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--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 Solar Apex's proximity to Vega of Lyra invites us to realize there is a multiplicity of opportunity for every soul's evolutionary fulfillment.

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 undauntedly 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 in the zeropoint power of Divine Love.

Our New Moon invites us to honor our unique paths in life, to go for the totality of our dreams and visions, and to live our higher truths with fiery veracity and undaunted spiritual love. It invites us to see the bigger picture and to focus our personal intent within our greater evolutionary context. It stimulates higher mind and an embracing perceptual awareness, and it impels revolutionary and spontaneous action.

Jupiter Direct

Jupiter completes its retrograde the day after the New Moon, which adds a mobilizing and expansive energetic to our lunar cycle. This fully commences the new 399-day Earth-Jupiter synodic cycle that began on October 29, presented in the October 26, 2011 Lunar Planner. It brings us a mobilizing force inspiring pioneering leadership that motivates us to reinvent our lives. More about Jupiter.

The Venus-Vesta Synodic Cycle

Venus and Vesta, which make a compatible resonance, begin a new 266-day synodic cycle in late sidereal Aquarius, also on December 25.

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 December 28 occurs in late sidereal Capricorn and conjoins the Centaur Nessus.

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 December 31-Jan 1 in mid-sidereal Pisces--New Years Eve in some parts of the world.

The Moon conjoins Algenib and the Quasar 3c9 of Pegasus; and the Garnet Star of Cepheus.

Algenib, Gamma Pegasus, tip of this horse's wing, is a fortuitous star and marks the center of sidereal Pisces. Algenib is one of the four stars creating the Great Square of Pegasus. Algenib articulates our need or capacity to lift ourselves above Cetus, 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 the entire spectrum of self, our mental, emotional and physical density, so as to become vibrationaly light enough to lift ourselves above the dramatics of human life.

Also conjoining Algenib and marking mid-sidereal Pisces is the Supergiant Garnet Star, Erakis. Most people naturally tend to notice the bright stars of Cepheus when looking into the heavens, but the blood-red Garnet Star of Cepheus is often missed--a beauty, especially through binoculars. Similarly, we miss seeing the opportunity for attainment or solution when only watching the obvious around us.

The Garnet Star lies at the head of King Cepheus forming a triangle with Alderamin and Zeta Cepheus. Erakis imparts a quality of royalty, prominence, largeness, passion, prosperity, abundance and wealth; and the appreciation of such. North of and conjoining Algenib, Erakis exemplifies the role or crown of the King--to govern without being lost in the drama of that which he may need to govern. As a supergiant star (about 1420 times our Sun's radius), Erakis imparts a significant astrological influence along with fortuitous Algenib, especially regarding financial affairs and opportunities.

Our stimulus to action Moon may bring motivation to take steps or participate in ways that lead to a greater personal freedom, above and beyond the any entrapments or limitations we may currently experience. Issues surrounding financial resources may surface as well. In general, this stimulus to action is of a serendipitous nature and can lead to a fortuitous situation.

The Venus-Uranus Synodic Cycle

Venus and Uranus begin a new 226-day synodic cycle in sidereal Pisces on January 1, 2012, just hours after First Quarter Moon. This synod conjoins Diphda of Cetus; Eta Cepheus; and Eta Horologium.

Moving further along into sidereal Pisces (east) is Diphda (Beta) (and Iota) of Cetus the sea monster, the thrashing tail of the techno-bureaucratic monster of collective human consciousness, the sea monster about to devour Andromeda 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 one’s self (fly) above (Algenib-wing of Pegasus) the dramatics of the intense psycho-emotional forces of the human world and its bureaucracies. The stars of Cetus comprise a principal part of the theme of sidereal Pisces.

Conjoining Diphda are Eta Cepheus and Eta Horologium. They articulate that there is impending time and the need for aid to slip by the dangers of the trashing tail. They can also indicate an emotional barrier to cross.

A Venus and Uranus synthesis impels a desire for freedom of the heart. It inspires universal and unconditional love. They also impel a desire to connect with that which is unique or eccentric. They can impel a desire to radically change our relationships or way of interrelating, and to have an open heart to allow change. With these star alignments, the alchemical mixing of the unique and different can be the required elixir to create alternative ways of co-participating that free us from the psychic-emotional turbulence generated by a fear-based collective consciousness and the techno-bureaucracies governing our world.

Venus also conjoins Pallas and Nessus on the Gibbous Moon. The Venus-Pallas synthesis inspires a highly artistic expression, teaching and education, and motivates people to take a stand for social reform and that which is socially just.

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 January 5 in early sidereal Taurus. The Moon conjoins Miram of Perseus and the Perseus-A Seyfert Galaxy; Beta Caelum; and the Pleiades asterism of stars.

Miram, Eta Perseus, and the Per-A Seyfert Galaxy NGC1275, which resides in the Perseus Cluster of galaxies, lies between the longitudes of Algol and the Pleiades. 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 wisdom, 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 (to conquer Medusa), to 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, there can be a sense of a mission behind the drive, and although perhaps not entirely clear, there may be a desire to discover it and learn to direct this force for accomplishment. For an old soul, it can express with clarity of purpose with an ability to consciously direct this force in dynamic 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.

The Pleiades impart an initiating quality, that of seeding, of getting things going, of initiating action in the physical and business world specifically to the administrative and physical logistics that support our personal lives. In classical astrology, poor alignments with the Pleiades can indicate catastrophic events or blunderings--a part of the nebulosity surrounding the Pleiades, obscuring one's vision. The asterisms in Taurus, the Pleiades and the Hyades, although in a solid Earth sign, can also impart a somewhat tempestuous quality. The Moon, however, is exalted in early sidereal Taurus, thus producing an empowering Gibbous Moon.

Caelum, the sculptor's chisel, contributes to the theme of early Taurus. Caelum articulates our need to forge through matter, the laborious methodical experiential process required in the physical world to overcome our trials and manifest our visions. Caelum articulates our need to sculpt our lives, chiseled away at a bit at a time just as the sculptor chisels rock to reveal the sculpture waiting to emerge.

The Venus-Ceres Synodic Cycle

Venus and Ceres begin a new 258-day synodic cycle on January 8, a day before the Full Moon.

This synod also occurs in sidereal Pisces. Venus and Ceres conjoin Alpheratz of Andromeda and Alderamin of Cepheus.

Alpheratz is also one of four stars of the Great Square of Pegasus and is part of Andromeda and Pegasus both. As Alpha Andromeda, it is the head (psyche) of the princess in chains. By its alternative name Sirrah, it is Delta Pegasus. Alpheratz, the head (psyche) of the princess, is unadulterated, innocent, naive, uncorrupted by evil, wrong-doing or malice; and holds a position of extraordinary honor and advantage--this star often portending success and riches through social popularity and achievement.

Although the stage setting in which Andromeda is trapped (chained to rocks about to be devoured by Cetus) seems complex, there is a prerequisite for her freedom--an inner metamorphosis, an emotional maturing into the readiness to receive aid. Often time, we are ready to change only when in the chains of the human struggle. And our inner readiness precedes receiving support to change. Forceful attempts to break free before we are ready only tighten the chain of bondage. Here lies our need to break free from the human mold, from the genetic, cultural, and personal pattering forming our lives. Andromeda represents the struggle for freedom from the collective and tormenting forces of the psycho-emotional human world, to claim our true galactic birthright and evolutionary destiny. Alpheratz's fortuitous position ultimately brings success and reward in this worthy pursuit.

Conjoining Alpheratz is the Irregular Galaxy IC 1613 in Cetus, also conjoining Theta Cetus and Epsilon of Pisces. Irregular galaxies can express as some abnormality or odd formation or experience, and in this case, as confusing psychic-emotional conditions or environments that can leave the naïve vulnerable to entrapping situations. It re-emphasizes the need for inner clearing, purification or emotional refinement so as to slip by what otherwise might be a devouring scenario in the bowels of ole' Cetus--adding to the theme of Alpheratz--not to sound too dramatic, but this is Cetus in Pisces.

Alderamin, the Alpha star of Cepheus, is the right shoulder of King Cepheus, father of the Royal Family and Princess Andromeda, often portraying one in an authoritative position, and it imparts a quality of authoritative responsibility. With afflicted alignments, Alderamin can expresses as denial, avoidance, or turning one's head from dealing with the manipulative power plays causing our or other people's entrapment, and a flippant attitude to do anything about them. Here we can live in submission to manipulative forces rather than to stand up for self and for those unjustly held in bondage, even when it is our responsibility to do so. Alderamin ultimately brings aid or solution, but often after an initial aloofness. Alpheratz and Alderamin amalgamate to form a fortunate outcome, but sometimes drawn out through the emotional Piscean waters, and a long period of unwillingness or simple naivete to look at and acknowledge how we are immersed in a pool of psycho-emotional denial, and that our growth and maturity is prerequisite to our greater freedom of being. Alderamin also conjoins Zeta Cepheus, which is ecliptically south of Alderamin, his other shoulder, and the two form a triangle to the Super Giant Garnet Star, Erakis, which lies a few degrees earlier in sidereal Pisces. The shoulders (responsibility of the King) dispense the wealth and fortuity common to Erakis (the Crown).

This is also the location Jupiter's perihelion (its closest distance to the sun in its orbit), and thus Jupiter influence is significant and influential here. Through these stars, from the Garnet Star of Cepheus, through Alpheratz and Alderamin, to Revati of Pisces, we can see the nature of Jupiter's expansive mobilizing force in our lives, suggesting Jupiter supports abundance, has authoritative social influence, is of honor and advantage, and serves to free that which is held in bondage for the manifestation of a greater potential, and it imparts this responsibility.

Venus and Ceres also create a harmonious and complimentary resonance. They bring inspiration to nurture and be nurtured, especially related to the earth (land, water and all life), and food and agriculture. Lying in sidereal Pisces and with theses star alignments they impel the artistic use and application of resources to support freedom from social, emotional and physical entrapments of the past.

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 & Sun-Haumea
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 of January 9 occurs in sidereal Gemini and conjoins Wasat of Gemini; Delta and V838 of Monoceros; with influence from Castor of Gemini and Muliphein of Canis Major.

"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 partnerships 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.

Castor, Alpha Gemini, is another individual star referred to as "the Horseman" --this one being of the Twins. Castor is also a binary star as is Pollux. Castor is the first double star recognized as a "binary star system" and is responsible for this terminology, coined by Sir William Herschel in 1802 --this bi-nature being the quality of Gemini in general. Of magnitudes 2.0 and 2.8 this binary system has a period of ~400 years, with a third and very faint 9.1 magnitude star with a period of ~10,000 years orbiting the pair.

Castor is of partnerships and colleagues in the daily world of human affairs, those with whom we participate to accomplish the activities in our lives. Castor inspires partnering and coordinates partnerships to accomplish that which we could not accomplish alone.

Wasat conjoins Castor and is the link that unites and acts a catalyst. Wasat embodies the essence of Gemini as the link and liaison. Wasat is of planning, coordination, assemblage of diversity and parts into a workable functional model. Castor / Wasat can express as the engineer, the technician, the artist, and the constructor (where opposite Sagittarius is the architect, inspirationalist, and vision holder). Castor / Wasat is of the mechanics of creating the means in physical logistics.

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.

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. V838 of the Unicorn brings us another urgent message of our need to participate in mutual cooperation to address the issues we face and to provide solution for the human populous.

Our Gemini Full Moon brings our Sagittarius lunar theme to is culminating point and it brings us the enthusiasm and realization of where, how and why to apply our unique pursuits and paths in life.

Eris Direct

Recently discovered Eris completes its retrograde just after the Full Moon, on our day of realization, and is square to the Sun and Moon. Eris and Earth began a new synodic cycle on October 15 in late sidereal Pisces, conjoining Revati and Baten Kaitos. Eris’ station adds to our Full Moon realizations, perhaps bringing additional insight into how previous disruptions in our lives are currently serving us.

See the related article: Eris, The Great Disrupter, Revati & the Global Economic Crisis

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 of January 12 occurs in sidereal Leo, just after conjoining recently discovered Orcus. The Moon conjoins Thuban of Draco; The Vela X-1 Neutron Star of Argo Navis; and Alula of the Great Bear. Also of influence are Alioth of the Great Bear; and Alpha and Beta Sextans.

Thuban of Draco, in the far northern heavens, just north of Alioth, 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 time 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.

Alignments with Thuban indicate a responsibility for the direction of evolutionary affairs for life on Earth, 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 is Alioth of Ursa Major, the star of personal will (and Beta Sextans). Alignments with Alioth teach us that our personal actions can alter the evolutionary currents that create our souls' evolutionary destiny. Alioth stimulates the use of personal will and our need to initiate personal action. Alioth is one of the classical seven rays of the Great Bear teaching incarnating souls the ramifications of the use of personal power. Alioth can express as forceful and manipulative use of power merely for personal gain, or when mastered, it can express as personal will attuned to Divine Will in phenomenal accomplishment that responsibly steers our evolutionary course.

The adjoining Seyfert Galaxy NGC4051 in Ursa Major adds a potent underlying force driving dynamic action. Thus, Alioth can express as forceful and manipulative use of power merely for personal gain, or when mastered, it can express as personal will attuned to Divine Will in phenomenal accomplishment that responsibly steers our evolutionary course.

Alula Borealis and Alula Australis, and Tania Borealis and Tania Australis form the hind feet of the Bear. Both extend from Al Kaphrah of Ursa Major, which in turn extends from Megrez and Phecda (Phad). Al Kaphrah and Alula impart a long-standing and established power, expressed as an assertive and powerful creative force applied to steer and protect. They are of stability, enduring strength and established authority. Al Kaphrah also impels the balanced distribution or delegation of power and authority. Alula synthesizes with the theme of Thuban of Northern Draco and the Vela X–1 Neutron Star in Velorum, the sail of the Argo.

South of the Lion is the Sextant. The primary stars are Alpha, Beta, and Gamma 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’s stars reveals our need to reassess our position or situation, to reorient ourselves, and to take a new tack toward our goals in life with conscious consideration for the changing evolutionary winds and currents upon which we must navigate.

On a mundane level this can be in regard to changing our fundamental approach or path 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.

Much like sailing, changing winds require the application of personal will to change the boat's tack to continue toward our longer-term destination. This requires the assessment of our current position and heading, and of the changing conditions around us--the weather, waves, winds and currents--to responsibly set a new tack along our journeys in life.

Further south is the potent Vela X-1 neutron star in the sail of the Argo. Conjoining Thuban in the northern heavens, Vela X-1creates a relentless wind driving us to respond to life. It engages us to participate in creating our long-term evolutionary destiny. 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 are blown in the forever changing winds.

Our Demonstrable Moon impels us to apply the fruits we produce in this lunar cycle to define and direct our evolutionary course. Defining nothing leaves us to blow in ever-changing winds or to continue in directions not to our benefit.

The Venus-Eris Synodic Cycle

Venus and Eris begin a new 225-day synodic cycle on January 12, about an hour after the Disseminating Moon. They conjoin Baten Kaitos of Cetus and Acamar of Eridanus. Also of influence is Revati of Pisces. This is also the exalted location in the sidereal zodiak for Venus.

Due to Eris’s very slow movement, Venus’ synods with Eris move only a fraction of degree from Venusian year to year. The Venus synods could be considered extra-significant do Venus’ exaltation at this sidereal longitude. Again the article about Eris and Global Economy is probably the most significant regarding the theme here. Eris is just starting to move from its conjunction with Revati (financial resources / money) to Baten Kaitos and Acamar of Eridanus, although Revati and Baten Kaitos are a mere 2° apart in ecliptical longitude.

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).

Acamar of Eridanus, conjoining Baten Kaitos, is one of many stopping points along the long and winding river of life. Acamar is like a dam, and indicates that emergence from the belly of Cetus requires a breakthrough that will lead us from the foul digestive juices of Cetus and into a greater freedom of being. Alignments here can fool us into thinking the forging we have just gone through marks the end of our journey, when in fact it indicates the need for physical and emotional clearing; to purge any toxins we may have accumulated through the last leg our journeys. Denial of the need for such clearing merely intensifies the struggle to move onward.

The stars forming the bound outstretched arms of the Princess Andromeda also reside at this ecliptical longitude. They include Eta, Zeta, Epsilon, Delta, Pi, Sigma and Lambda Andromeda. In the story of Andromeda and Royal Family, Andromeda was sentenced to her death by Poseidon and chained to the rocks by the sea to be devoured by Cetus the Sea Monster. This was due to Queen Cassiopeia's boastful and arrogant claim that her daughter was more beautiful than Poseidon's Neriads, the nymphs of the sea. Andromeda, although inheriting this unfortunate sentence, has a far greater fortuitous destiny as articulated by the beautiful Andromeda Galaxy, which emulates the ideal potential for our Galaxy. Perseus, her beloved, eventually saves and marries Andromeda. They go on to create a city and rule a kingdom that bores the Persian world. He and Andromeda bore a family as well. Hercules was descendent of Perseus and Andromeda through their son Electryon.

The stars forming Andromeda’s bound outstretched arms articulate the potential of humanity’s prosperous future bound in chains, which adds to articulate the theme of Baten Kaitos.

The Venus-Eris synodic cycles with Revati and Baten Kaitos may indeed be a part of that which has been catalyst for the upheaval of our global financial paradigm, a needed upheaval. Keep in mind however that Eris seems to upset the apple cart so a greater and more fitting re-organization can eventually occur.

Venus, Neptune and Chiron

Venus, from Earth’s view, concurrently conjoins Neptune and Chiron in early sidereal Aquarius leading into the Last Quarter Moon, impelling a highly artistic and creative expression to create new humanitarian-focused bridges into the future. More about Neptune and Chiron.

The Sun enters sidereal Capricorn on January 15, referred to as the Capsolar Ingress.

Last Quarter Moon Phase Characteristics