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Sun
enters Sagittarius November 22nd, 2003 at 9:43 PST and exits at the Winter
Solstice which takes place December 21st at 23:04 PST.
Yule is approaching - yes we now call it Christmas. The Yule tide marked the time of turning the wheel. Wheel is the setup of the astrological chart. As the wheel turns so are the days of our lives. The symbolism of the cross permeates our world. We split our world into two hemispheres, and distinct East and West - the rising and setting of the life giving Sun. In the astrological chart the East represents birth and our physical body and its vitality - together with the Sun, of course. East is drawn to the left in the wheel, not like in our compass, which puts East to the right. South is at the top of the astrological wheel unlike in the compass directions where south is toward the bottom. The symbolism of the cross precedes Christianity and can be found in all of the various cultures. This month I picked the image of a piece of jewellery from Finland. These types of pieces are part of Kalevala, which is the compilation of Finnish Folklore in the Finnish Epic bearing the same name. Like the mythologies around the World these stories talk about the creation of the world, the battle of good and evil, and the journeys into the Underworld. Underworld in mythology equates to our inner journeys. The Mercury retrograde periods are inner journeys that repeat with regularity over each year, and the bigger cycles connect us with an element in our lives. The 2003-04 series is in the element of Earth. Earth in the broadest of terms is where we live and eke out our livelihood. As the period approaches we need finish some of those tasks and implement some of our promises from last January. We need to sort out our mundane obligations.
The image also features snakes intertwined looping around the cross that could be seen to represent the cross in the astrological chart. In the astrological chart this cross (each chart is unique) represents points where action occurs in our lives. The first angle is our physical being, the northern angle at the bottom of the chart represents family and our roots. The Western angle due to the right defines our relationships with others and the top of the chart is a symbolic representation of our career and our contribution to the World. Snakes naturally represent not only our inner demons but wisdom that we gain from looking within our own psyche. They also represent Kundalini energy of the spirit, as well as rebirth as Snake is the creature that sheds its skin (body) and grows a new one. As the year draws to a close we need to shed the old to make room for the new. While our calendar is somewhat arbitrary and the year starts at an odd point, we have adhered to this time table for many centuries and it does resonate within us. The pagan religions celebrate(d) new year on November 1st and Halloween was the New Year's Eve. In the astrological order Aries marks the start of the cycle, and Spring the beginning of the Year. In personal terms our birthday marks the beginning of our personal year. Then we could further venture in calendars still in use in other cultures and find different dates... But we came in at specific junctures of a world in progress and we can only relate to the things we know.
Our collective memory encompasses stories, folklore and mythology that resonates at deep levels of our psyche despite the fact that we may have been born into the Indian, American, European, Australian or Asian cultures. Some of the stories are similar and others unique. Astrology is one of the symbolical languages that is used the world over. At this time of year taking time out to reflect on the deeper issues in life makes more sense to me. When we look deeper we also learn to appreciate what is more rather than focusing too much on what cannot be.
The first full day of Sun in Sagittarius (November 23) features a solar eclipse at 1° Sagittarius. Eclipses of the Sun were feared in ancient times. If you have ever witnessed a solar eclipse during the day, you will recall that you had to view it through smoked glass. In nature all went silent the birds stopped chirping and the day became darker. The lights were something people depended upon to see prior to electricity. The feeling in our homes changes when the power goes out, and we light the few candles or find the flashlight. Many of the things we do today rely on having electricity. Can't watch TV, listen to the radio, work on the computer or even read when it is dark. If we take this feeling and apply it to our entire experience as it would have been in earlier times we begin to understand the fear of eclipses.
People born November 21-24 will have this eclipse point close to or on their natal Sun positions. The Sun represents our vitality and a continuous growth toward our potential. The Sun is akin to the engine in the car, and physically speaking represents the heart. Solar eclipses happen with the New Moon. New Moons are associated with new beginnings, cycles and fresh starts. The eclipse cycle is 19 years, thus on November 22, 1986 we had an eclipse at the same point (within 30' of orb this one). Prior to that November 23, 1965 featured a solar eclipse at that first degree of Sagittarius as well. Eclipses are powerful lunations and work as timers astrologically speaking. To understand associated events for individuals we need to look at the whole chart and examine past patterns in light what happened back then. We find things like moving to another country, starting a new job, beginning important studies or leaving home to begin life on one's own around these time frames. Typically not on the day.
Britney Spears is a Sagittarius Sun (her 22nd birthday is on Dec. 2. To view her chart go to www.astrodatabank.com) In her chart planet Uranus is under the eclipse and connected to her personal planets. She became the youngest entertainer to receive her Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (or whatever it is called). Not a bad thing right? The other famous people born around the eclipse have not been in the news. Well, Robert Downey Jr. has but ...
Out in the World the terrorist acts are escalating, and I expect that in the US there will be more conspiracy theories revealed. It is interesting to watch the social commentary regarding the Iraqi situation in the TV shows such as the Simpsons and Law and Order. Sagittarius is the sign we associate with Law and with what is just.
In response to e-mails regarding last month's column. This Star of David pattern is associated with uniting the feminine and masculine. The kabbalah unites the element of Air and Fire. The lunar eclipse pattern was formed between the elements of Earth and Water. Two grand trines that also bring in three oppositions and six sextile aspects. I had a fair few queries about the inevitable yod patterns (two aspects in sextile that are quincunx one apex planet - as in a planet 18° Cancer sextile another planet at 18°Taurus both quincunx a planet at 18°Sagittarius). There were a couple of yods in the eclipse chart for November 8, but these are not inevitable as the quincunx aspects formed from water and earth signs connect with the air or fire elements. Because Pluto was at 18° Sagittarius, Neptune at 10°Aquarius two yods were formed. The quincunx is not considered a major aspect, not recognized by classical astrology and thus often ignored.
The yod is also referred to as the finger of god aspect. I don't know the source for the statement. However, this aspect pattern is often pronounced in the charts of people who have health issues. I have charts on my files where the person has 5 or more yod patterns, where the leg of one yod is the apex of another and so on. Definitions for the quincunx aspect are ‘an itch you can't reach to scratch', adjustment and compromise. The aspect occurs between signs where one is feminine and the other masculine, they do not share a modality (fixed - mutable - cardinal) nor do they represent harmonious elements (air, water, fire, earth). In a flat chart the aspects are linked from Aries to Virgo or the person to illness, and Aries to Scorpio, the person to surgery, death. This aspect is linked to health issues and surgery. Sextile aspect joins complementary signs which share the positive or negative charge (feminine/masculine) and occur within elements that share receptive or active qualities. I refer to this aspect as a telephone line, pick it up and you have a connection and it is easier to communicate what you need or desire.
In a yod two planets that form the leg are in harmony with each other and in conflict with the apex planet. The solution to the dilemma presented by the planets involved through sign, aspect and house can be resolved through adjustment, communication and while the configuration holds the adjustment becomes constant. This one of the reasons astrologers don't find that Gemini and Scorpio are suited together. The combo is one of several possible, where constant compromise and adjustment is required to make things work. I think that all relationships take a lot of this as is, and perhaps some of us are less equipment to deal with constant compromise.
In a natal chart the patterns definitely represent challenges and the need to discover hidden aspects within our psyche. The finger of god simply states that you really don't have a choice about working things out at the apex point - through sign, house and aspects. Let's say you have a classical yod where the apex point falls into your 6th house of health and illness where we also encounter our co-workers. In order for this aspect to be in force on of the legs would have to be in the 11th house of aspirations and friends and the second planet in the 1st house of self and vitality. You would then be forced to learn to look after your own health, and friends and colleagues would be helpful. Your health might fair well as long as you exert effort and energy toward being of service to others and willingly helping friends and colleagues out. As life progresses the tasks and requirements get harder, thus it is a life long process. Then we'd have to start looking at what these planets rule and represent to decipher the story of your life in more detail. I wrote about the yod in my column in November 2001 - take a look.
Through December 13, 2003 Venus is beyond the declination that Sun can reach (23°S 28). Declinations are an additional tool of astrology to determine connections between planets. When a planet wonders beyond the maximum declination for the Sun it is deemed to be out of bounds. This is when the essence of the planet has more room to roam freely. In the instance of Venus our desires, love and values can become excessive. We may do things that we normally would not. Venus is the shopping planet for example, so we might buy a luxury item that we don't really need but desire with all our five senses.
"I am worth it, he is worth it and they are worth it" can be our chant as we choose Xmas gifts and whip out our credit cards. Quality rather than quantity is the second theme. Venus, the planet, that rules jewelry, flowers, lingerie, and all kinds of luxurious items, is in the sign of Capricorn. Capricorn can be about keeping up with the Joneses and wanting champagne on a beer budget. Venus is currently roaming the skies quite free of hindrances from the other planetary energies. This can mean that we feel her allure, charms strongly making us more prone to buy on impulse simply because we want it, have wanted it for so long and opt to feed our deepest desires with beautiful baubles. Traditions and conventions are held in high regard at present.
Mercury moves backward once every three months, and this starts again December 17th. Until then Mercury also is out of bounds. Mercury governs communications, expression of opinions, travel, education and vehicles for example. Mercury is in Sagittarius until December 3rd and in Capricorn until December 30th when it moves back into Sagittarius during its retrograde motion, which concludes in January.
While Mercury is out of bounds in Sagittarius we will bear witness to people forming judgements and conclusions without proper facts. Case in point, as one of the examples, Michael Jackson's indictment. Public opinion will quickly form to groups for and against based on nothing other than feelings or perceptions of his public persona. One group will have him guilty without any evidence. The other will have events to show support once again quite impervious of any facts. I am not even going to comment on what I might perceive the outcome to be. The relevant point here is simply that when the planet of communication is behaving this way people collectively jump to conclusions without waiting for facts. Mercury is known as the trickster of the Zodiac and at present tricking us to ignore facts or to leap ahead without taking the necessary steps.
I have written a lengthy article on Mercury retrograde for this year and next review this for additional details. The 2004 cycles differ from the ones in 2003 in that the next three (including the one this month) backtrack into fire. Fire is the element that represents ideas, idealism, inspiration and thus we have the opportunity to look at our inner motivation through inspired thought to deal with the little irritating obstacles on our path associated with Mercury.
Hundreds of people read this column every month. The responses I had made me think about the reasons I started to write this column in the first place. It was a delight to hear that you make a point of reading my ramblings and appreciate the unique way I address the planetary alignments. Thus like the ever turning wheel this column is changing to something different. The horoscope columns will only appear weekly. This column will address the issues of the cycles and I will share information that I write for students of astrology. Next month I will post my predictions and delineations for 2004. I would love to hear from you - Send E-mail.
If you'd like a more detailed horoscope for the year, check out the Order Reports on line section. You can get a birthday report that covers your personal year in great detail. All the prices quoted are in US dollars. Mary Shea's solar return report is USD 9.95. Other reports include a Child Report (a manual for parents) and Relationship reports.
© Anne Massey 2003
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