The Lunar Theme for the
April 25, 2009 New Moon

Beneficence
The Crossing Begins

The Lunar Month of
April 25, 2009 - May 24, 2009

Nick Anthony Fiorenza

Copyright © 2009 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 April 25, 2009 (GMT) (April 24 MST) occurs in sidereal Aries. It invites us to see beyond the raging dramatics occurring around us and beyond our judgments of them, to instead see opportunities for change, new beginnings, adventure, transmutation and its rewards. In this lunar month, several new longer-term planetary cycles begin. The "crossing for relationships" opens as a new 4.5-year Juno-Chiron cycle and a new Juno-Neptune cycle begin. These cycles inspire relationships (Juno) of a personal nature and partnerships of professional or political nature to begin to make their crossings upon the new bridges emerging out of an obscuring midst that lead us from the conforming bounds of the past into new opportunities of the future. A Mercury retrograde cycle begins near the time of the Full Moon, along with the start of a new Earth-Mercury 116-day cycle. The retrograde itself, a few week period, provides opportunity to re-define the logistical aspects of our lives, and the ensuing cycle motivates us to take personal responsibility for our entrapments and for the lives we want. Venus and Pluto begin a new cycle, which continues through the end of 2009. This Venus-Pluto cycle, defined by the Solar Apex in Sagittarius, brings opportunity and motivation to live the unique paths of our hearts, true to our hearts' desire, and in the zeropoint of heart's power. Mars and Uranus begin a new cycle in this lunar month as well, on the cusp of sidereal Aquarius-Pisces, a two-year cycle that inspires passionate, radical and dynamic creative action that leads to new frontiers in consciousness. Our Last Quarter Moon conjoins Chiron, Juno and Neptune, and marks a key turning point of change for relationships--the dissolution of some, and the forming of others more ideal. By lunar cycle's end, we come to the first of the Jupiter-Chiron-Neptune conjunctions, which continue over the several months ahead. Starting at this time, Jupiter's expansive and mobilizing force brings tremendous support and optimism to cross what may appear as a massive abyss. What seemed to be in stasis, will now begin to move.

New Moon Phase Characteristics

The New Moon

Our New Moon in sidereal Aries conjoins Caph, the beneficent hand of Queen Cassiopeia; Alphirk of King Cepheus; and Alpha Fornax, the fiery but honing furnace of initiation. Also influencing are Sharatan of Aries and Apin of Triangulum.

Sharatan and conjoining Mesartim of Aries, the head of the ram, create portents of strength, applied force to change, new beginnings, adventure, transmutation and great rewards; but they are of opportunities that may quickly open and close, and thus require our immediate response to grasp them without hesitation when they occur. Sharatan provides a sign that it is a time to initiate change along the river of life (Eridanus).

South of the ecliptic lies Fornax, the Furnace, which provides the transmutational fire while in the initiatory experiences along our journeys in life. Fornax provides the fire driving the alchemical process of turning lead to gold, mortal to god. Alpha Fornax is the lucida (brightest star) of this southern constellation. Nearby is Fornax A, a spiral galaxy of the Fornax Galaxy Cluster that provides the intense heat under initiatory Aries.

In the northern heavens is Caph, the palm of Queen Cassiopeia’s hand. Caph expresses a gentle and tender ability to be a true guiding and stabilizing force. Caph provides an in-between or holding place, and indicates the need for arbitration, meeting, and compromise in the midst of our conflicts and struggles in life. Caph offers a truce, even honoring what appear to be irreconcilable differences. Caph provides a calming force, bringing the composure, level-headedness, and emotional balance that are required to come to this place in-between. Most always, some type of conflict is a necessary prerequisite to come to this receptive place of the Heart. Caph is sometimes indicative of a female in an authoritative position offering beneficent aid.

Conjoining Caph is Alphirk, Beta Cepheus. Alphirk brings empathetic support to help open a door in the physical world, but only manifesting after a long and arduous journey through the initiatory fires of life. Alphirk is a demonstrable force working though the world that actually lifts us from the struggles of life, or alters conditions in a way that otherwise would be impossible through our own power alone. Alphirk is sometimes indicative of a male in an authoritative position offering aid.

The key here is Apin of Triangulum. Triangulum, sometimes called the Holy Trinity, is a golden triangular channel that embodies the essence of seeing unity beyond duality. To free Andromeda from human bondage, gallant Perseus, while flying over Cetus on Pegasus, holds his sight upon Triangulum so as to not be pulled into the dramatics of the fear-based drama of human world. Triangulum is the gate of ascension through the initiation of the fire of sidereal Aries. Beta Triangulum teaches the way and Apin, Alpha Triangulum, the channel, reveals the way to ascend above the dilemma of duality--to be pure light free from the bounds of fear-based primitive mind. Apin's message is "Let Thine Eye be Single," and asks us to see that the one and only issue to overcome is our judgment of right and wrong, of white and black. As long as we carry judgment of this over that, we are lured into the dramatics of the affairs at hand. Only by surrendering our judgment can we see solution beyond the apparently impossible and act beyond the entrapment of the fear instilling, opposing, and tormenting forces comprising collective human consciousness (Cetus). Apin inspires unbiased action from unity consciousness. To live in unity consciousness is to live beyond the judgments that create separation. Conflict exists in the double-banded DNA that makes us bio-logical beings. Bio-logical refers to the limited capacity of reason, of comparing opposites, the shadows of life. We must let our bio-logic stop, to get out of judgmental mind to see an illumined way. This is to open the third eye that sees only unity, the oneness of all things, to see the world as the undulating ocean of light that it is and through which we can move without resistance. The relinquishment of judgmental mind establishes the resonance that opens a higher vibrational portal beyond the limited choices that duality holds.

Crescent Moon Phase Characteristics

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 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.

The Crescent Moon occurs on April 28, 2009 in late sidereal Taurus and conjoins El Nath, the north Horn of the Bull; and Beta Pictoris. Also conjoining are Mintaka and Alnilam of the Belt of Orion; the Great Ensis Nebula and Trapezium of Orion; and Capella, the messenger of light of Auriga, the charioteer.

El Nath and Al Hecka, the latter on the cusp of sidereal Taurus / Gemini, lie over the head and belt of Orion, and south of Auriga, the charioteer. The Horns embody the pursuit, struggle, and engagement in the physical world.

El Nath, Beta Taurus (also shared with Auriga as Gamma Auriga), is the north horn the Bull. El Nath brings the capacity for tenacious perseverance for accomplishment, and inspires the drive to continue to persevere to achieve a breakthrough. El Nath is of worthy pursuit for our future freedom.

Al Hecka, Zeta Taurus, the south horn, is of stalemates, standoffs, and brick walls--fighting old and antiquated crusades--particularly of a religious-political nature--and blindly or automatically continuing the fight out of habitual pattern even though the original purpose behind what we were fighting for is long gone. Al Hecka is of beating one’s head against the wall, a relentless and futile pursuit. Al Hecka brings attention to when the accomplishment pursued is of a time no longer applicable--the time to surrender the physical struggle and move into the theme of Gemini.

Alignments with the Horns ask us to discern the difference between causes of worthy pursuit verses those driven from antiquated motive. They can produce either type of experience depending on the exactness of the alignments to one horn or the other, as well as a blend of both qualities--thus the need to discern whether tenacious perseverance is required or if is time to simply let the struggle go. This is the true bullhead few degrees of Taurus, which can produce one who is driven, insistent, contentious, even forceful--for either the North Horn or South Horn theme.

Beta Pictoris reveals that a new picture is emerging from the ethers but that there is a physical process requiring perseverance and patience for it to manifest.

The Pulsar NP 0525 also conjoins the North Horn. Pulsars are navigational beacons for the soul, constant and dependable reminders. This pulsar (with a period of 3.745490800 seconds) cross-resonates with Earth's sidereal period harmonic (Earth's year) and Uranus' rotation harmonic, thus reminding us that the point here is to break from the conformity of the past through persistent action that radically alters our physical Earthian experience. Its period also translates to a green-turquoise color. This pulsar also reminds us to maintain self-awareness and focus of purpose, and to take dynamic, spontaneous and unconventional action to achieve a breakthrough without falling into blind bull-minded action and allegiances that merely perpetuate a monotonous battle or that lead us to become mere followers in a collective crusade or slaves to our own righteous purposes.

Beneath the Bull's Horns resides Orion, the Hunter or Impious Wanderer; the belt of Orion; and Ensis, the Great Orion Nebula M42 along with Trapezium, a quadruple star nesting within Ensis. Orions are industrious and architectural, often of grandiose extravagant projects. They are also known for going off on their own crusades without consideration of Divine Directive--hence the name "impious wanderer," and often battle to the death for their diversionary causes.

The belt stars of Orion are: Mintaka, Alnilam, and Alnitak. Mintaka, Delta Orion, conjoins Phaet of the Dove, Capella of Auriga, and El Nath, the North Horn of the Bull.

Alnilam, Epsilon Orion is the eye of the belt, longitudinally entering the ecliptic between the El Nath and Al Hecka--marking the middle ground for the theme of the horns--and thus is arbitrator to split or opposing forces--typical of the diversionary Orions themselves. Here also lies the famous (to astronomers) Ensis, M42 the Great Orion Nebula (another of many star nurseries) and Trapezium (a Quadruple star in Ensis). This longitude is characteristic of the many and continuous diversions, births, fracturing, and fighting between the various factions with their divergent causes.

Alnitak, Zeta Orion is the third belt star which aligns more so with Al Hecka, the south horn. Here at the south horn also lies the Bright Crab Nebula M1 of Taurus--the famous Super Nova Remnant of July 4, 1054 AD and the Crab Pulsar 3C144. 1054 AD marked the start of the High Middle Ages with the East-West Schism, the separation of Church and State--a dramatization for the continual bickering and side taking common between the religious and political factions--what in later time had become and still continues today as a war without a cause.

Supernovas are part of that which create a renaissance in consciousness. The massive supernova occurring on July 4, 1054, now the Crab Nebula, documented by Chinese and Arabian observers, was visible for 23 days in broad daylight. It was six times brighter than Venus and was only outshone by the sun and moon, taking a year to become invisible. 1054 AD is the year of what is known as the Great Schism between the Eastern and Western (Orthodox and Catholic; Greek and Latin; Byzantine and Roman); when a decisive split occurred between the Roman and Orthodox Churches with the Orthodox Church rejecting the papal authority from Rome.

Since our Crescent Moon primarily conjoins El Nath more so than Al Hecka, tenacious perseverance for accomplishment is the primary motive here. In the context of our New Moon theme, we are however inspired to apply our energies with beneficent understanding and from the unified perception emphasized by Triangulum rather than fighting within the forces common to the dualistic world, battling against one side or the other. Struggles subside and doorways open only by coming to this unified field perception. The Crescent Moon is also trine Jupiter, inspiring expansive mobilization for a greater freedom of being.

First Quarter Moon Phase Characteristics

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 May 1 in mid-sidereal Cancer and lies of the head of Hydra. Also conjoining are Gianfar of Draco; Alpha Lyncis; and Acubens of Cancer.

Cancer, commonly the crab today, is also the Egyptian Scarabaeus, an image that articulates the theme of humanity's emergence from darkness, dogma, and delusion and its reawakening back to light. The Scarab is an appropriate mythical figure, as no one knows the exact time of the emergence of the beetle from its snuggle in its own dung, because it does not seem to follow any natural cycle in nature. This theme also applies to our individual emergence from the family nest or from the collective consciousness that we co-create. The Scarab is a symbol of regeneration, transformation and re-birth, of being self-created, or self-made, to rise from itself--hence humanity's association with the beetle emerging from its own dung.

Delta through Zeta Hydra and Pulsar CP0834 create Hydra's head. Hydra's head indicates a multifarious undermining source of destruction (every time Hercules took off one the Hydra's heads, it immediately grew another).

Pulsar CP0834, in the head of Hyrda, does not lie along the galactic plane as most pulsars, and so may influence our biological personality workings and primordial response more so than being a guiding beacon for the soul. It may reinforce our repetitive, monotonous, subconscious patterns that perpetuate stasis--that part of ourselves that undermines our ability to change, but it can also make visible those patterns that we need to change, a constant reminder that the repetitive undermining experiences in our lives are manifest from our own tenacious belief structures.

CP0834 has a fundamental frequency of 0.785075095881 Hz which translates to 6781.8Å Red / 3390.9Å Near UV in the light spectrum. This resonance engages physical behavioral and musculature patterns--literally our capacity to act in the physical as well as our brain's frontal lobe--which in part, governs our capacity to see alternative paths and to move forward from the neurologically engrained patterns of the past. This pulsar's harmonic also cross-resonates with Saturn's circumference harmonic, which can manifest as long standing behavioral patterns that perpetuate stasis or rigidity--hence our need to become consciously aware of our repetitive behavioral patterns and have the conscious deliberation to change.

Conjoining Hydra's head is northern Gianfar, Lambda Draco, on the tail of the Dragon. Gianfar, the poisoned place, is of neurological currents, specifically those emanating from "poisons of the heart" that manifest cellular patterns within ourselves that relentlessly destroy all we touch through endless battering of our courage, optimism, and strength--destroying us through sheer exhaustion. Here we are asked to realize how unresolved bitterness of the heart can perpetually avert us from the fulfillment we seek.

Conjoining Gianfar is the Quasar 1133+704 of Draco. The objects astronomers call Quasars are high-potency point-sources of energy found at extreme distances from our own galaxy. They radiate a power level greater than our galaxy and are believed to be the oldest and most distant objects ever detected. Generally, we can associate Quasars with an ancient and initiating creative power, one that is mysterious, elusive, but that inspires our exploration of alternatives not in our current realm of experience.

Quasar 1133+704 of Draco also inspires us to create the space to explore the inner fears that tie us to the past and that keep us from living our heart's truth in the present, so we can emerge from antiquated and engrained neural-net patterns and establish new and alternative pathways.

Jupiter is exalted at mid-sidereal Cancer and indicates our requirement to mobilize greater spiritual principles and to engage in expansive physical activity to address such poisonous conditions--otherwise a mere combative approach simply antagonizes the onslaught. This Cancerian centre (cancer) can be indicative of excessive lymphatic and circulatory congestion / toxicity. Jupiter governs the lymphatic system, and the legs are the lymphatic pump, that which gets our lymph (our living intercellular fluid) moving, again indicating the requirement for physical activity.

Our First Quarter Moon's stimulus to action can be provided by our own undermining patterns or by a reflection of them. First, we must relinquish our antiquated beliefs that things can't be different, beliefs held onto due to our own bitterness, in order to overcome the multifarious forces that keep us from emerging into a greater light of being. Secondly, our stimulus is one of emergence and physical action--to get physically moving.

Gibbous Moon Phase Characteristics

Full Moon Phase Characteristics

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.

Our Full Moon occurs on May 8-9 in late sidereal Libra and conjoins Zubeneschamali of Libra. Zubenelgenubi and Zubeneschamali in modern illustrations are shown as the scales or balance of Libra. In a much older imaging however, these stars were the claws of the Scorpion--an image revealing a far greater understanding about our incarnational experience and purpose on Earth. Exploring the embracing mythical picture of this part of the heavens (extending through Virgo-Libra-Scorpio) provides greater context and a deeper understanding of Libra's balance.

Although the constellation of Virgo begins at the Leo / Virgo cusp, it extends well into the first half of the sidereal sign of Libra. The Virgin lies supine with her head at the beginning of Virgo, which lies under the Halo of the Virgin marked by our Super Galactic Centre--the spiritual center in which our galaxy nests). The Virgin's base chakra (Spica, Alpha Virgo) marks the cusp of Virgo / Libra, while the Virgin's legs extend well into Libra, with her feet marking the center (15°) of sidereal Libra. The constellation of Virgo embraces about 46 degrees of the zodiak--the longest of the zodiakal constellations.

The two primary stars of Libra, Zubenelgenubi and Zubeneschamali, respectively lie just past the feet of the Virgin, at about 20° and 24° sidereal Libra. However, in our older mythical image the chelae of Scorpion extend from the east, from the head of the Scorpion in early sidereal Scorpio, back into sidereal Libra, with Zubenelgenubi and Zubeneschamali marking the open claws of the Scorpion. Zubenelgenubi is the southern claw (residing on the ecliptic) and Zubeneschamali is the northern claw, (residing a bit north of the ecliptic).

The over all image here is of the Virgin giving birth into the Chelae of the Scorpion, an image that articulates the reincarnational birthing of the soul into a process of soul growth gained through the balance of human experience while in the forces of duality. This mythical articulation was destroyed in recent (Chaldaean / Roman) times: The Scorpion's Chelae and the Virgin's legs were severed from our stellar mythos, and so too its profound significance. This is why our modern image of Libra is considered to be the scales of justice--implying the need to experience both sides (a balance) of human experience in order to gain self-mastery as an incarnating soul. It does not imply the guilt trip laden idea of paying for misdeeds deemed by a mediating and governing church-state that pretends to stand between an incarnate soul and God--a ploy used by the church-state puppet-masters to control and manipulate the masses. Nor does it refer to paying for past deeds done in a prior incarnation. Here, in the reincarnational clutches of the Scorpion, the incarnating soul learns self-responsibility and self-mastery, to claim the true freedom that the scales of Libra stand for, by choice, by choosing to move from the patterns and scenarios of the past (Zubenelgenubi) and to participate in a new way, to step into a new way of being, upon a new path of experience --in essence to complete one's destiny or incarnational purpose of soul growth.

Zubenelgenubi and Zubeneschamali are the karmic and dharmic seats for humanity, the former about our past experience and patterns of growth, and the latter about our future path of experience and growth, that which we have yet to do, our capacity, or duty in a sense, to do it differently--to grow and change.

Alignments with Zubenelgenubi, the southern claw, indicate a responsibility to address or complete any entrapping situations created in a previous incarnation--unfinished business, or simply entrapping patterns and scenarios in this life. Zubenelgenubi also marks Saturn's exalted location in the ecliptic.

Alignments with Zubeneschamali, the northern claw, indicate a responsibility to step forward from our past patterns of growth and life scenarios into our intended new experience, into our future destiny, by taking the responsibility to choose a new experience, to choose a new way, a new participation. It is through this balance of experience that we free ourselves from, or better to say, that fulfills our past, that fulfills our lives. Thus, our Full Moon brings realizations about our responsibility to step forth from our past life scenarios and patterns and into a new future.

Disseminating Moon Phase Characteristics

The Juno Chiron Synodic Cycle
Relationships: The Bridge Emerges

The asteroid Juno and the Centaur Chiron begin a new 4.6-year synodic cycle on May 9-10, 2009. Juno and Neptune begin a new 4.5-year synodic cycle a bit later in this lunar cycle on May 19. These two cycles thus synchronize, a rare phenomena that occurs as we approach the Chiron-Neptune synod, which occurs in February 2010. Chiron is currently approaching its heliocentric conjunction with Neptune and is within a 3° orb in January 2009; and will be within a 1° orb in October 2009. The Chiron-Neptune synod of February 2010 begins a new 85-year cycle.

Synodic cycles begin when two (or more) planets align in their orbits around the Sun, which is called a planetary synod. Synod means place of meeting. 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.

Juno is the asteroid of covenant relationships and soul colleagues. 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 self-confidence in humbleness and without defense. More about Juno and Juno related issues.

Chiron's orbit is highly eccentric. At its perihelion (closest point to the Sun), it lies just inside the orbit of Saturn. At its aphelion (farthest point from the Sun), it lies close to the orbit of Uranus. Thus, two significant "orbital harmonic resonances" occur, linking Chiron with Saturn and Uranus. For this reason, Chiron creates a bridge, way, or link between the realms of Saturn and Uranus--from the old, established, concretized, stoic realm of Saturn to the new, unconventional radical, electrical, spontaneous realm of Uranus. As we move outward in our solar (system's) consciousness, we move from Saturn to Uranus. Uranus breaks us from the conformity of the past, opening us to new realms of possibility. Thus Chiron escorts us in this process, often helping to create the way across the Saturn-Uranus abyss. Chiron can indicate where personal healing or transmutation is required. More about Chiron.

The Juno-Chiron synodic cycle starting now on May 9-10 occurs in late sidereal Capricorn and conjoins Nashira of Capricorn and Beta Gruis. This is also the exalted location for Mars. This is the same ecliptical location of the recent Mars-Chiron synod that began the 700-day Mars-Chiron synodic cycle in the previous lunar month, a cycle inspiring creative action to cross a bridge as well as motivation for healing surrounding use of power, sexuality, and issues regarding our fundamental survival.

Nashira and Beta Gruis have fortuitous and mature stellar qualities. This is an expressive and articulate area of the zodiak, with gregarious and loquacious qualities. It is of libraries, courts, congresses, publishing houses, literary agencies, or where any legalities are formulated, agreed upon and concretized. Nashira is of good news, especially regarding legalities, business dealings, and constitutional matters, as well as sanctioned matters of the soul. Beta Gruis inspires the verbal expression of related wisdom, that of business and politics. As the stork, Gruis is carrier of bodies of knowledge, information, and news associated with new life and new beginnings. Prominent alignments with Beta Gruis and Nashira are exemplary of carriers of good tidings associated with legalities.

This 4-6 year Juno-Chiron cycle is thus one inspiring cooperative works and formal agreements amongst partners and within relationships, those of a personal nature and those of a business / political nature. It offers the opportunity for fortuitous projects embarked upon by such unions. It also invites healing and resolution regarding Juno related issues--those like superiority-inferiority complexes, inequalities, and incompatibilities. Nesting within the recent Mars-Chiron cycle, this Juno-Chiron cycle motivates partnerships to initiate creative action to cross new bridges in cooperation, ones that heretofore were not available, especially those of a formal or legal nature, or involving the articulation of information and the exchange of it.

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.

Our Manifesting Moon of May 12-13 lies just a few degrees past Pluto in sidereal Sagittarius. The Moon conjoins the bow of the Zen Archer, the stars of Scutum, which lies just north of Sag along the galactic equator; and Faces, the eminent globular cluster M22 in Sagittarius.

Facies, M22, is considered to be one of the finest globular cluster of stars in the heavens. It is elliptical in form and contains approximately 10 million stars. It lies on the northern edge of the Great Sagittarius Star Cloud. M22 marks the face of the Zen Archer and looks over the bow and hand of the Zen Archer. Facies brings undaunted conviction, stability and confidence to create and manifest our highest aspirations. The theme here is one of total honesty with self. Facies asks us to face our naked truth, focus our intent, and manifest it. To live in that honesty creates the strength and undaunted focus of the Zen Archer, and his ability live for and defend his truth, and to hit the target of his ideals and dreams.

The theme at this ecliptical location invites us to refine our form, to get into a proper stance in life, to reorganize and prioritize so we become one with our purpose in all aspects of our lives. There is no helter-skelter approach here, only undaunted clarity within and the execution of our purpose and intent to manifest our highest aspirations--lest we will merely blow in the increasing and accelerating winds of change.

Sun Taurus

The Sun moves into sidereal Taurus on May 15.

Saturn Direct

Saturn returns direct on May 16-17, which fully commences the new Earth-Saturn that began on March 8, 2009. The theme of this cycle is presented in The Five Saturn-Uranus Oppositions - 2008-2011.

Last Quarter Moon Phase Characteristics