The Lunar Planner

Serendipity

Our current New Moon lies in late sidereal Capricorn, in an area of the zodiak where the constellations of Capricorn and Aquarius overlap, thus creating a blend of the two qualities. Here, the zodiakal quality inspires us to surrender our focus upon our mundane needs and our need to control or define how things should be, and to open to a transcendent guidance that leads to our greater fulfillment and that is inclusive of our soul-level relations and extended soul families.

North of the Capricorn-Aquarius overlap lies Delphinus, the Dolphin star system. Delphinus offers guidance for those willing to trust in greater forces than their personal efforts generate alone. The Dolphins, an expression of the angelic dominion, are guides for the wayward, as old salts know. They reveal the way to make safe passage to our destination provided we listen to and follow the serendipity of life.

To trust in the serendipity of life is merely to surrender our personal righteous reasoning mind that needs to define and control and to allow our selves to move with the Divine Intelligence that permeates and fluidly guides our lives. Here is the art of getting out of our own way to allow a creative solution that leads us from the conforming bounds of limited mind.

The oracular angelic guides of Delphi merge and meander with the future-oriented visionary Aquarian influence through the rock-hard stoic past of Capricorn and spring from the ground as prophetic life carrying waters--a flow of guiding wisdom not otherwise available by mortal efforts alone, a flow that leads us from the crystallized past into the unbounded future to become.

Also adding to our New Moon theme is Nashira of Capricorn and Beta Gruis. Gruis the crane enters the ecliptic from the south as an underling and eloquently supportive influence especially to the last decan of sidereal Capricorn, between Alpha and Beta Gruis and extending through the Aquarius Capricorn overlap. The stellar influence of Gruis brings brilliance in grammatical arts, is a contributor to the excellence abilities in law and associated disciplines requiring articulation of the written word or law.

Nashira of Capricorn, which lies just south of the ecliptic and conjoins Beta Gruis, is a fortuitous star. Nashira is bringer of good news, especially regarding legal, business, and constitutional matters, as well as sanctioned matters of the soul.

Gruis as the stork, is carrier of bodies of knowledge, information, and news associated with new life and new beginnings. Prominent alignments with Beta Gruis and Nashira are exemplary of carriers of good tidings associated with legalities. 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 last decan of Capricorn is of libraries, courts, publishing houses, or literary agencies where any legalities are formulated or concretized. Al Nair, Alpha Gruis and the northern Delphinus constellation mark the beginning of the last decan of Capricorn, while Beta Gruis and Nashira of Capricorn lie in the midst of the last decan--the location of our Feb 8 New Moon. Al Nair embodies the wisdom and knowledge itself, where as Beta Gruis is the applicable expression of that wisdom.

Another mythical image that nicely articulates the qualities expressing here is by astronomer Jullius Schiller who combined the Crane with the Phoenix as “Aaron” the High Priest (revealed by Allen). In its entirety, this greater “constellation” then encompasses the last decan of Capricorn, all of Aquarius, and into the first decan of Pisces. Aaron thus stands under Fomalhaut (of Pisces Aus), with his amulet of the messianic mission (the Anka, Alpha Phoenix), in support of the people; and under Achernar (end of the river). Aaron, the articulate high priest, applying his wisdom, underwrites the essence of Fomalhaut (future vision of an evolved humanitarian based society) and stands for the humanitarian vision and quality of life that Aquarius expresses. Aaron is instrumental in freeing the people to walk the river of life.

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

Beta Gruis is Aaron's throat chakra, his voice--expressing through Nashira of Capricorn (bringer of good news)--which embody a masterful capacity to articulate the pure and extensive wisdom and knowledge (the divine truth and higher law of the priest-scientist) embodied by Alpha Gruis. Beta Gruis is intelligence in eloquent expression.

Beta Gruis (in keeping with astronomer Jullius Schiller's imaging, I dub as the throat chakra of Aaron. Here we find the quality of intelligent eloquence--the ability to articulate the extensive wisdom of the priest-scientist, the awareness of higher law. Beta Gruis conjoins Nashira, a fortuitous star, bringer of good news, especially regarding legal and constitutional matters, as well as sanctioned matters of the soul.

A Finger of God

Our New Moon also creates a "Finger of God" (an astrological Yod) with Pluto and retrograde Saturn. This means that our New Moon theme is working in cahoots with Pluto (conjoining the sting of the Scorpion) with the twosome demanding we deal with Saturn. The Pluto and the Scorpion's sting created the theme of the lunar month in which the megathrust earthquake of Dec 26, 2004 occurred on the India and Burma plate interface (near Sumatra) and which produced the resultant devastating tsunamis.

Let us say that this lunar month's theme and that which has been recently dismantled or taken apart in our lives (the transmutational elixir produced from the sting of our experiences) is working hand-in-hand and is demanding we address the current theme of Saturn. Saturn, still in its retrograde (shifting) period, began its new 378-day synodic cycle theme on Jan 13, in the previous lunar cycle. At the time Earth and Saturn (from the Sun's view) conjoined Pollux of Gemini and Procyon of Canis Minor, on the sidereal Gemini-Cancer cusp, which set the current 378-day Saturnian theme. Saturn will complete its retrograde around the upcoming equinox (Mar 21) at which time we will fully move forward with Saturn's new synodic theme.

The Gemini 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 mark the last few degrees of sidereal Gemini. The role of the Twins is one of linking and uniting the mission of the soul into and through our incarnate daily affairs and mode of participating in the world. The Twins work hand-in-hand for the betterment and evolutionary fulfillment of humankind. And of course, Gemini is of knowledge, information, and the exchange of it through commerce and daily activity. Pollux embodies the essence of the twins brought to fulfillment and maturity. Pollux is the ambassador, the orator, link, and liaison.

Procyon is the Babylonian "Kakkab Paldara," which means "Star of the Crossing." It is one of the five stars creating the "Egyptian X" with Betelgeuse of Orion, Naos of the Argo, Phaet of Columba the Dove, and with the center star Sirius--the Great World Teacher. In classic astrology, Procyon portends wealth, renown, and good fortune. Conjoining Pollux of Gemini (the ambassador), Procyon supports allegiance to a greater cause, purpose, or faction. Procyon inspires us to ally with others or with a group to achieve a greater purpose than we could achieve alone. The desert Arabs knew Sirius and Procyon as "Al Ahawat al Suhail"--the (radiant, glorious, and beautiful) sisters of Canopus: thus recognizing all three to be associated with the fulfillment of souls' greater evolutionary purpose.

Thus our new 378-day Saturn theme is supporting us to establish and concretize new relations, allegiances, bonds, and methods that make it possible for our greater well-being and future betterment, in ways we could not do in our old separate modes of being--to emerge from the ruins of the past and cohere in a new and nurturing way.

This Finger of God also aspects the lunar nodes, which lie square to Saturn, all of which create a significant geometric orientation that can catalyze profound gravitational and psychophysiological resonances--perhaps heralding significant events in our lives to catalyze this lunar month's theme.

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 theme now unfolding. The Crescent Moon is the time when the sprouting seedling sloughs off its protective coat of the past, and emerges in its 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.

Our Crescent Moon occurs on Feb 11 in the midst of wet and sensual sidereal Pisces, but conjoining fortuitous Algenib of the Great Square of Pegasus marking the tip of the horse's wing. Algenib articulates the 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 that drives our entrapments. This does not mean being in denial of the emotional drama, but in personal empowerment so we do not get perpetually caught in it and remain powerless to act.

Algenib may also indicate issues with air or those pertaining to breath or the purity of what we bring into our lungs. Smoke and smog will keep a fog upon the aura maintaining illusion, the inability to see. Oxygen deprivation to the cells will keep the nutrients within the cells of the body from igniting into the refined forces of light necessary to bring illumination into the structure of consciousness, the DNA. Algenib is of the breath, of oxygenating the waters of life, of the life giving air necessary for us to breathe while in the emotional waters of life.

The Sun refreshingly moves into sidereal Aquarius on Feb 13 in the midst of a wonderful stellium consisting of Venus, Neptune, Mercury, Juno, and Uranus, bringing a long awaited change in the air, one that lifts our spirits.

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 of Feb 15 lies just into the first few degrees of sidereal Taurus and just past Algol, the head of slain Medusa held in the hand of Perseus. Algol, Beta Persei, marks the cusp of sidereal Taurus. Of the Gorgons, Medusa, who is crowned with seven snakes for hair, represents the chaotic and aberated self-defeating forces within self, driven by fear. It is fear that freezes us in our tracks, the force that can turn us to stone. Perseus can not look at Medusa directly lest he turn to stone. He instead uses his shield to see her reflection. This mythically articulates the need to look at that which we hide behind to see the demon apparently outside of self--our own fear.

Alignments with Algol indicate an initiatory and experiential process is required or is at hand. This process begins by slaying our deepest fears to claim our true personal power, or be forever frozen in our tracks unable to complete our greater soul mission and purpose. Alignments with Algol can draw a relentless assault of experience that can block or divert us from our purpose until we realize the monster is but within--the fear based reflection of self. Algol forces us to look at self rather than at the apparent monsters in the outer world-to recognize they are of our own projection, to own and embrace the demon within.

Our First Quarter Moon also resides at its own exalted location in the zodiak. It is here where we must realize that our experience unfolds in time with the natural cycles (the lunar spiral) of life and that we must participate in time and in tune with the experiential process of life. This is also the zodiakal area of "reflection." Like the Moon reflects the light of the sun, our experience reflects the energetic we project. Perseus could behead Medusa (slay his fear) only by looking at her as a refection in his own shield--the reflection of self.

Our first quarter moon challenges us to slay the demon (fear) within in a demonstrably physical and experimental way. To learn more of the initiation of Perseus, please see: The Royal Family.

Attraction & Involvement

The 24-hour period just before the Gibbous Moon is a time of perseverance, of pushing through in the action quarter of the lunar cycle. The Gibbous Moon is when the pressure releases and we enter the magnetic pollinating phase of the lunar cycle, which begins a social and communicative time.

Our Gibbous Moon occurs on Feb 19-20 in latter sidereal Gemini conjoining Sirius, Alpha Canis Major, the impetuous and blazing Great World Teacher. Significant alignments with Sirius often bring teachings / lessons of a global proportion. In galactic myth, Sirians are responsible in part for the genetic engineering of the human race on Earth. As such, Sirians can carry a tremendous sense of responsibility to see to the evolutionary fulfillment of Earth. The Sirian type Geminis can be so head-strong in their need for accomplishment that they can ignore the rights of others and need for others to be self-responsible.

Being a knowledge-holder and teacher of ancient wisdom, the Sirian often thinks they know what is right for others, but a Sirian lesson is to release their siblings and their creations to their own destinies. This can be a paradox of grand proportion-freeing so things can take their own course rather than forcefully manipulating a scenario for some mentalized evolutionary outcome from a sense of righteousness or self-importance, which is a miss-placed sense of responsibility.

Our Sirian Gibbous Moon also occurs just in front of retrograde Saturn, now conjoining Castor of the Gemini Twins. Castor, although without the spiritual maturity of Pollux, the ambassador or leader, and being somewhat fractious and obstreperous, even boisterous at times, characterizes the colleague who gets things done in the mundane world, the masterful manager or tradesman.

Vision, Enthusiasm, and Realization

Our Full Moon occurs on Feb 23-24 in the midst of sidereal Leo but conjoining Alpha Sextans, Thuban Alpha Draco, and the Vela X-1 neutron star black hole of Argo Navis.

The sextant reveals the need to plot a new tack, to take a new course. On a greater scale, this is in regard to changing allegiance of our energies from the out world and global powers to the vertical integrity of our inner soul / source directive. On a mundane level this can be with regard to changing our fundamental approach or path in life, to take a new tack toward our goals.

Thuban lies in the far northern heavens. Thuban was Earth's pole star circa 2600 BC and marks the "tear of the Bear," a point in Earth's ~25,920-year precessional cycle at which a turning and fractioning occurred in the hierarchical powers. This severed those choosing to fight for a greater evolutionary vision from those wanting to maintain totalitarian control of the Earth and who provide the dramatics to do so.

Alignments with Thuban indicate a responsibility for having directed or having been involved with setting the direction of evolutionary affairs for life on Earth during that time period with repercussions incurred at soul level, and with responsibility to ensure evolutionary fulfillment now.

Conjoining Thuban from the southern heavens is Vela X-1, a potent neutron star that creates a relentless drive to use personal will to affect long-term evolutionary change and to become responsible for the ramifications of using it. In typical black hole fashion, this is an all or nothing act of will that changes things forever.

Our Full Moon brings the enthusiasm and realization that it is up to us to make it happen, to change our tack to achieve our desired outcome.

The Sun, at the time of the full moon, conjoins the asteroid Juno and Uranus--inspiring a radical and non-conforming change in our relationships. To learn more of the asteroid Juno, please see: The Asteroids#Juno.

Manifestation and Demonstration

The hours leading up to the Disseminating Moon, is an accelerated and busy time of last minute preparation leading into the birth point in the lunar cycle. Our Disseminating Moon occurs on Feb 27-28 on the cusp of sidereal Virgo-Libra conjoining Spica, the vesica pisces of the Virgin, and Archturus, the genitals of Bootes, a union made in heaven, the consummation point in the zodiak inspiring new bonds, allegiances, agreements, and engagements--a harmonious union. To learn more of Spica and Archturus please see: The Astronomical Truth of the Virgin.

Time for Change

March 2 provides our day and eve of inner need to initiate change, while our Last Quarter Moon occurs just past Antares, the heart of the Scorpion on March 3 but under the auspices of Restaban, an eye of the overseeing Dragon, also with the influence of Apus, the swift messenger Bird or Paradise.

Restaban (Beta) and Etamin (Gamma) of Draco are the eyes of the Dragon, the constellation that encircles and guards the northern pole of our ecliptic. Both stars are of a high administrative order overseeing the initiations of the incarnate soul. They lie north of and express through Hercules and Ophiuchus. Restaban expresses between the Head of Hercules (Ras Algethi) and the Heart of the Scorpion (Antares) into sidereal Scorpio. Etamin, also the head of the Egyptian Hippopotamus, the primordial mother, expresses just into sidereal Sagittarius and oversees the heart center of our Galaxy (Galactic Center).

Restaban opens portals and pathways in the physical world for those who have truly embraced and mastered their initiations in life, who have aligned with the path of soul rather than the convenient path of personality, for those who live true to self--as our Hercules exemplifies--portals that are otherwise blocked to those who have not claimed their self-mastery and self-responsibility.

Focus to the Future

The Balsamic Moon marks the time in lunar cycle when we coalesce the experience of the lunar cycle into its seed essence, which will then sprout through the theme of the following lunar cycle. It is when we turn our attention from this lunar cycle in anticipation of the next to come. The hours before the Balsamic Moon provide our time of coalescence while those after mark the time when we turn from looking back over the past cycle and look toward the future cycle to come.

The pre-Balsamic Moon conjoins Mars on March 5, which lies in opposition to Saturn and in square to the lunar nodes, Jupiter and Vesta. The Balsamic Moon then conjoins Chiron on March 6-7 in early sidereal Capricorn, all creating a potent gate from the past that requires a new focus and new level of dedication to cross this bridge. Venus and Juno conjoin in Aquarius--a reminder: trust in the bonds of the heart.

Our next New Moon occurs on March 10 in late sidereal Aquarius, at the mouth of the southern fish of Pisces--more to come then.