On Retrogrades ~ March 2014

On Retrogrades

(Boogah-Boogah)

March 2014

by Tim Rubald, C.A. NCGR-PAA, C.A.P. ISAR

Oh, no! Now MARS!

          A lot of astrologers, astrology writers, and speakers that I know of seem to love retrogrades because those provide a reason to pull out a box of clichés that help inject something different into their words about a particular planet. The idea is that a retrograde serves to take the wind out of the sails of the retrograde body, or to weaken, twist, or impede its message. We are in a period now when we can evaluate four planets’ retrogradation to see just how much the clichéd approach holds up.

          Mercury retrograde is famous for communications problems. My phone went on the fritz, and that’s interfered with my communications in very obvious ways. Demonstrably, some Mercury retrograde clichés are supported. But there’s a yang to that yin. In the same period, of my phone trouble, I’ve had some of the best and most inspired spurts of all sorts of communications that I’ve ever had; writing, consulting, speaking, and communicating with others in general. On the other hand, some of those “brilliant” bits have been completely misconstrued to the extent of me singing the classic, “Please Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood”* to more than one person during the retrograde.

* Writers: Sol Marcus, Ray Charles, Gloria Caldwell, and Bennie Benjamin by whom it is copyright.

          Much of what writers and speakers say about retrogrades holds up; but often for the wrong reasons. Fifty years of observation have taught me that a retrograde planet is not weakened, and it is certainly not going the “wrong” direction.

          An astrologers’ group of which I am a life member, the Organization for Professional Astrology (www.opaastrology.com), poses a question to the membership each month. This time, fittingly, the question was about retrogradation.

          The retrogrades referred to are (USA dates):

Mercury Rx         February    6                 03° 20’        Pisces

Mercury D           February    28               18° 10’        Aquarius

Mars Rx               March         1                 27° 32’        Libra

Mars D                May            19               09° 02’        Libra

Jupiter Rx            November 6/7, 2013    20° 31’        Cancer

Jupiter D              March         6                 10° 26’        Cancer

Saturn Rx            March         2                 23° 19’        Scorpio

Saturn D              July            20               16° 39’        Scorpio

“Since we have an incredibly packed retrograde period, with 4 stations [the body or point appears to stand still as it moves from direct to retrograde motion or vice versa] this week (Mercury and Jupiter go direct, Saturn and Mars go retro), and ... [we] are in the midst of a back to back retro season, (Venus retro in January, Mercury retro in February, and Mars going retro in March), well the question BEGS to be about Retrogrades!” --- Maurice Fernandez, OPA Community Outreach Director

Question: What in your view is the most important thing to consider or apply with retrograde cycles?

          There is a long, even traditional, misunderstanding of retrograde motion in the astrology kingdom. I say kingdom for metaphorical emphasis, not by accident. I’d say that some of what still holds with many astrologers, and even in recent books, may be correct, but for the wrong reasons, and some of what’s offered is just wrong. After more than fifty years of observing (observation is the best astrology teacher), I’ve learned to try and not fit astrology into the molds given historically. It’s a dance, without the historical track we’d have nothing, and since much offers a framework for understanding, I don’t for a moment suggest that we toss everything out and start over. I respect and am deeply grateful to my predecessors.

          You can get an idea of my approach by reading some of the articles I’ve put on my blog, http://astrology-startalk.blogspot.com/ There’s a search box under the name of the blog. For relevant articles, put “Mercury retrograde” in the box, and search. I’ve focused primarily on Mercury in my writing there, but retrograde misunderstanding applies to all of the planets’ retrogrades. While we generally assume that the Sun and Moon don’t retrograde; due to the Sun’s wobble about the barycenter (the center mass of the solar system), it does; not that often though (seven times in the last 3400 years).  There is much to say about retrogrades. When someone comes up with a challenge to long-held beliefs as I do, resistance is human. There’s a sort of fear factor, like “Oh, am I wrong? Is my teacher or the highly respected astrologer who wrote this book wrong?”

DOCTOR WHO

Just kidding, Nicolaus Copernicus (19 February 1473 – 24 May 1543) was a Renaissance mathematician and astronomer who formulated a heliocentric model of the universe which placed the Sun, rather than the Earth, at the center.

          The change I am proposing is subtle. What happens when perspective is shifted just a little? Why a body sometimes appears to retrograde has been known as long as a heliocentric solar system has been accepted. There are no retrogrades around the Sun at the center. It is the geocentric view that creates the phenomenon. Somehow a shading of “bad, backwards,” remains in astrologers’ retrograde delineations, even though most of them know that the Sun is the center (almost) and that the planets always move in one direction around it. A slight shift of viewpoint and I hope that we lose the problematic emphasis on retrogrades and increase our understanding. Then astrologers can impart a better refinement of life processes in work with clients (for those who do the interpersonal thing).

Nothing really goes backwards. Thanks, Nicky!

The basics: 

1) The planet is nearest Earth when retrograde (or the Earth is nearer the planet, Tweedledum/Tweedledee). 

2) There are 3-5 “hits” of a particular longitude (the Signs are measures of longitude) that retrograde motion allows. That means that a point in your chart may be aspected or “hit” by a retrograde planet three to five times due to retrogradation.

          Let's see what happens when we bring those two factors to greater attention, and give a little less attention to a planet’s “negative qualities” due to its apparent backward motion

2003 but you get the idea. The ECLIPTIC is a great circle the plane of which passes through the center of the Sun as well as through the center of the Earth.  The Ecliptic also corresponds closely to the plane of the orbits of the other major planets around the Sun. The Sun is always smack in the middle of the Ecliptic. The Sun is behind us as we look toward Mars from this starship observation deck. Another way to say that is the Sun is opposite Mars, or, the Earth is between the Sun and Mars, or, the Earth and Mars are on the same side of the Sun. All of those are equivalent. This example works for all of the planets outside of Earth's orbit. For how it works for the planets inside Earth's orbit, Mercury and Venus, see the illustration in this article http://astrology-startalk.blogspot.com/2014/02/how-to-cope-when-mercurys-retrograde.html

Question: Do you have anything to share about the coming Mars Retrograde cycle in Libra?

          As suggested, a retrograde planet may be (to me it is will be) in greater focus. While my mentor (one of several I’ve been blessed with), Zip Dobyns, would say, “There’s no such thing as a bad planet.” When you are talking about Mars, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto, I think you may notice, at least, experience out of our comfort zones.

          From the “handed down realm” here’s this from Devore’s Encyclopedia: “This proximity of Mars to the Earth . . . considerably augments the strength of its reception ... signal strength ... Wilson ... attributes it to a wave of robberies, vicious murders and calamities.” I don’t throw these notions out, but look to appreciate them in the entire range of Martian expression, that of the traditional malefic, as well as from Zip’s notion of no bad planets. [I hope to write more about Mars Rx soon.]

 Question: Do you pay attention to planets beyond Mars’ (from Jupiter and on) retrograde cycle?

          All planetary motion interests me.

Question: The Nodes natural motion is retrograde; do you find any different significance to the Nodes going DIRECT?

          Our Moon nodes’ mean motion is retrograde; their “true” motion includes a kind of stuttering that includes stations and bits of direct motion. While I’ve opted for True placement in chart work, as far as transits go, I find the changes or “effects” if you will, of the True Lunar Nodes, unremarkable. I may be missing something, but I’ve found no reason to delve more deeply there. All of the planets have a nodal axis but I’m assuming the question is about the lunar nodes. Planetary and lunar nodes have much to contribute, but one can’t focus on everything.

* See Tables of Planetary Phenomena, Neil F. Michelsen, page 6.

Copyright © Tim Rubald 2014

Tim Rubald, C.A. NCGR-PAA, C.A.P. ISAR

http://astrology-startalk.blogspot.com/

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STARTALK April 2013 eclipse & more

Full Moon Lunar Eclipse April 2013

April 25, 2013

I have more respect for Johannes de Sacrobosco's lunar eclipse illustration in his De sphaera, than I have for these 21st Century “Spread this message so people can enjoy” misleading Facebook posts. For one thing, the partial lunar eclipse appears not anything like what’s pictured in the posts but is pretty much a simple Full Moon. For another thing, at the time of this Full Moon the Western Hemisphere is mostly daylight putting the Moon on the other side of the planet, well out of sight. At a Full Moon, the Moon is on the other side of the Earth from the Sun. Sacrobosco's illustration, first appeared in 1220 and his book (borrowing heavily from Arab scholars) was used as an astronomy textbook at the University of Paris and throughout Europe for the next 450 years.

In an effort to ease the reading for those not interested in background details, you will find a few "endnotes," a number in parentheses. If you want the details right off, scroll down to the same number near the end of the blog post.

Let's look at current eclipses (well one anyway). Moon opposite the Sun means you'd view a lunar eclipse at night, or possibly at moon-rise-sunset. In north and Central America, the April eclipse happens in the day time! You can't see the eclipse because it's on the other side of the globe. In Madagascar you'd see as much eclipse as anywhere but it still would look not so different from an ordinary Full Moon because the Moon only gets the teeniest bit of Earth's penumbral (secondary, not the dark part) shadow; not so special or spectacular.

See the shaded area, NO ECLIPSE VISIBLE. So why share "so people can enjoy"? People believe stuff they find on the Internet. Watch out for silliness.

Misleading.

Quite misleading

Incredibly misleading

 








Astronomically the Full Moon/Eclipse is a very close alignment and the geophysical effects will be in evidence; very high tides, more severe quakes and volcanism, and probably some extreme weather events. Eclipse effects are not only at a particular moment but affect a window of time (say a week before to a couple of weeks after). It is already clear that geophysical effects have occurred and will likely be with us for a few more days.

How maximum eclipse really looked..

Compare the reality with the silly pictures.

Astrologically, eclipse effects are reflected at least as widely as the geophysical window, and since this time is so charged, so active, so riled up, it fits in and enhances the geophysical picture and the astrological version will be with us for weeks to come (longer than the geophysical).

This is what an Annular Eclipse looks like, IF you are on it's path under it near the time of totality. In Hawai'i (only US location that will see it) we'll get about 40% at maximum eclipse.

The April Full Moon is the first of a series of three eclipses that occur bing-bang-boom: May 10, there's an Annular (ring of fire) Solar Eclipse (also something not visible in North America; but Hawai'i will get a partial display); then another Penumbral Lunar Eclipse on May 25, and, like the April 25 eclipse very unspectacular in terms of a show. (1) 
 
Three eclipses followed by SuperMoons in June and July keep the Sun/Moon part of the astrological and geophysical picture hopping! That's of course in addition to the once in a lifetime wildness we have in the sky these days. (2)

Same eclipse. Different locations.

Looking at the April 25 chart, the Sun/Moon opposition is in Taurus/Scorpio. This is the Wesak Moon, the Full Moon in Scorpio is associated with Buddha, his birth, his enlightenment, and his mahasamadhi (his merging with the One). If you like connecting with millions of others in meditation, remember the Full Moon when the Sun's in Taurus, Wesak.

There's been a lot of hot Aries and Mars at play (Boston bombing, West, TX explosion, much more), that's tweaked the Uranus/Pluto square which characterizes this Age (transformation of the structure). The planet hasn't seen this stage of that cycle since 1876-1877. (3) This time, the same stage of the cycle occurs in 2012-2015 with even more focus on the cosmic renovation that's happening with an exuberant emancipation versus the conventional order which just happens to be in the process of restructuring; that sees both endings and beginnings ala the phoenix arising from it's own ashes. 

Even a relatively calm lunation would be a waft of ease in stormy seas, but this isn't one of those. The Sun had just passed Mars in Aries on the 17th of April, and at this Full Moon both the Sun and Mars are with the star, Sheratan (star not hotel chain) that has a Mars/Saturn nature associated with danger, violence, and recklessness. Mars is even closer to another Mars/Saturn nature star, Mesartha. The point is, even with the Buddha and "mellower" Taurus, the heat is on for this lunation period; at least a week in advance and until the next New Moon which is the Annular Solar Eclipse May 10. Appropriate clichés that I love; "No rest for the wicked," and, "It's not over 'til it's over." [Bad, bad, bad. Good writers don't use clichés. So spank me.]
One of the highlights of this Full Moon is the Sun in a productive relationship of sympathy with Pluto. This suggests a period for working with the inevitable makeover that's active in the social, political, and business order; the order that is in flux. It's an opportunity to help shape that order to a more humanitarian end, or at least to resolve not to be caught and carried along with currents that are unsupportive of what you know and feel is right. Speaking of feeling this is also a time we see Saturn (the structure) and Neptune (the dream) in harmony; another marker for participating in a beautiful change, in the creation of a more ideal social, business, and political order.

USA/WORLD
Let's look at the chart set for D.C. That gives some hints about how things are going in the seat of government that affects the world,  as did Rome in the days of Rome's Empire. There is the mix again of the huge challenges and heavy lifting that needs to happen but is being avoided in Washington. The clowns there just hope "it" (insert whatever) goes away. The ha-ha "Sequester" is an example. By not doing, however, they are doing. There really is no stopping Uranus/Pluto sorts of makeover (2012-2015 at least). The emphasis is as one would expect with two money Signs, Taurus and Scorpio, emphasized and reemphasized by House{*} (astrobabble, not Congress) position.

The economic picture continues to dominate, no matter the tragedy and circuses hyped by the dull and stupid mass media. There's hope, at the top of the chart set for the White House is the star, Rigel, and one of my notes for that says, "gentle peace." This is the part of the chart concerned with the leader, the President, the chief executive. So, it looks good for the White House and Obama. The astrologer Mollie Summer once offered that Rigel, with the nature of Jupiter/Mars, was conjunct Jack Kennedy's Sun. It's a 1st magnitude (bright) star too, and seems to have a positive influence. Mollie said of JFK that it made his Sun stronger. In terms of our system of government this may point to a time when the President's status exceeds that of the Congress and Judiciary.

* Houses are the way the "pie" of the round horoscope wheel is sliced.  The different systems reflect ideas about how to slice it.  Aside from "No Houses" there are two main systems:  Equal and Quadrant.  In the Equal systems the slices are all the same size.  In the Quadrant systems the chart is (usually) quartered by the Ascendant/Descendant and MC/IC axes.  Different quadrant systems have different ways of dividing the quarters.

HAWAI'I
There's a star associated with the Eclipse chart set in Hawai'i but not the same one or placement as that in D.C. In Hawai'i we have the star Dirah on the Ascendant. That placement has to do with the People, their attitudes and outlook on the world. Dirah is said to have an intrinsic theme like a combination of Mercury (mind, communication) and Venus (beauty, harmony). A translation out of astrobabble for that might be an active focus for the people of Hawai'i. Some possibilities include emphasis on agriculture and family. There may be creative optimism and energy directed toward solidifying cooperative efforts, like those from teams and legislative bodies. The chief executive (Governor) may seem a bit wishy-washy, idealistic, confused, or overly concerned with foreign nations and tourism. These are challenge areas anyway, powerful entities (corporate, military) have to be dealt with (or bowed to) for progress to happen. No surprise that finance is a concern in Hawai'i as it seems to be most everywhere. Things happen behind the scenes, creepy things get some sunlight (gambling), and legislative spending may be an issue. How much goes to "stimulating the economy" and how much to benefit youth, the poor, the homeless and the aging population?

EVERYONE
There's much detail to get lost in and nits to pick but the key is to maintain your cool when in a tough situation. Practice, practice, practice, stepping back when you feel challenged; take three deep breaths when you're feeling impatient; look to the magic and beauty in life at any and every chance you get. There is always something for which you can be grateful.


HOT SPOTS
The Stans continue to be in the event crosshairs in this period; Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and of course Afghanistan and Pakistan. They are in the spotlight as are Oman, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. The nuclear issue is a likely topic about Iran. 

Another nuclear problem child is in the Koreas. That continues as a hot spot too. Not only does it retain a tinder box quality, but we also see that Japan will most assuredly be "working things out" along the lines of all the eclipse themes discussed. Tokyo will be part of the current picture now and in the two or three weeks to come. I think they use nuclear for power down in South Africa too. I wouldn't be surprised to hear from there.

Looking at hot spots in the good "old" (48 State) USA, the West Coast gets eclipse emphasis: Washington, the Oregon, California, Idaho, and Nevada, with the first three being a bit more active (seismic?). Along the Mississippi River, we may hear of flooding. Easier news should come from the East Coast, including from our nation's capital.

Keep your cool. Look within for dealing with problems. Even if "the other" is the problem, it's up to you as to how much you're going to let it bother you. Much love and aloha.

END NOTES

(1) This time it will be better seen than the April 25 version since it will be night over a lot of the land mass that includes the western half of Africa and some of Europe (France, Spain, Portugal), all of South America, and most of North America (and Hawai'i) will see the (weak) eclipse. Sorry Alaska, you're in daylight for this one, you won't see the Moon while it's eclipsed.
 
(2) On Pluto in Capricorn (via this blog http://astrology-startalk.blogspot.com/) - risking (loss) is what Pluto in Capricorn is about. Capricorn is the order, social, governmental, business, religious, and is fundamental to how the world works. The World needs structure. It's the difference between explosive chaos, and harmony. It's a good thing, but as it becomes crystallized it needs to be broken up and restructured in order to grow, and for progress to happen. There are forces that will challenge the structure to that end. The planet will offer weather events, earthquakes, and volcanism. The human population will offer Arab Springs, Occupies, democracy, and human rights movements. The structure, that tends to resist change, includes businesses, corporations, and governments. If one looks at human history there are massive changes and developments through the ages. Are we to imagine that somehow this period will be the exception? That if we just hold on, that things will stay the same and work out?

On Uranus square Pluto and the 1960s: "now" is resonating with the same essential nature that was operative then, only more so. [The larger scale cycle for the planets Uranus and Pluto is approximately 127 years.]

Uranus and Pluto; now we are in a developmental crisis in their cycle, the force of which was birthed in the Nineteen Sixties. See this post in Gather, then scroll down to the "Dear Claudia" commentary for a continuation of the article. http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977413046 [link is currently down as Gather moves but if you're interested send me an email startalker@aol.com and I'll send an updated link when I have one].  

(3) 1876-1877: a very significant world-wide drought and starvation; the Colombian Civil War; the Standard Oil Trust; the most contentious, bitter, and protracted presidential election in American history; the Compromise of 1877; the Sioux War/Little Big Horn/the Apache War; the telephone; the phonograph; the End of Reconstruction; Mexican-Texas border incursions; the Great Railroad Strike of 1877; The Crimean War - 15,000 Bulgarians massacred, with the destruction of more than fifty villages and five monasteries; Russia declares war on Turkey; the Serbian insurrection of 1875 in Bosnia and Herzegovina and a series of wars involving also, Thracia, Montenegro, Turkey, and Bulgaria; Bismarck's Germany; Empire; riots in numerous cities; anti-Chinese attacks in San Francisco; "Boss" Tweed; and much more.

All Rights Reserved © Copyright 2013 Tim Rubald 

Silly Season: About the Void of Course Moon

Silly Season

About the Void of Course Moon

or De evacuatione cursus luna

[Cursus means course by the way, not curse.]

“ . . . when the Moon in transit makes the last major aspect it will make before it changes from one sign of the zodiac to the next. It ends when the Moon enters the next sign. The name of this period is Void of Course Moon. You may call it a silly season or vacation from normal living.”  -- Al H. Morrison

I began my study of the Void of Course Moon in the 1970s with the help of the little annual Void of Course Moon ephemerides prepared by the astrologer Al H. Morrison.  Since then, noting voids is as common to me as tracking the phases of the Moon and the Signs she transits.

The astrology is that the Moon "wanders aimlessly," after making that last aspect; that things just don't seem to connect or click into gear.

For example, on a shopping trip one may buy something that later you ask, “Now what was I thinking? What did I get that for?” I like the image of a child's power boat in a tub of water, bumping here and taking off there, but ultimately not going much of anywhere.

Far from impeding me from action or outings I am delighted with long VOC days. I stick to my shopping list as much as I can, always find a parking place, and sometimes enjoy whatever not-on-the-list oddity that I bring home.

"Every couple of days there comes a time which is best used for subjective, spiritual non-material concerns, like prayer, yoga, play, psychotherapy, or passive experience, sleep or meditation.

"This period may last a few seconds, or it may be three days and nights in a single session.”  [When we have many planets in the early degrees of Sign the likelihood of the Moon spending longer times Void of Course (VOC) increases.]

"It begins when the Moon in transit makes the last major aspect it will make before it changes from one sign of the zodiac to the next. It ends when the Moon enters the next sign. The name of this period is Void of Course Moon. You may call it a silly season or vacation from normal living.

"Decision making in such periods turns out later to be unrealistic. Creativity diverges into unpleasant directions, improvisations, false starts, error. Business moves fail to generate profits, or meet unexpected difficulties. If you buy any object it usually fails of its intended use.

"Human judgment is more fallible than usual during the time the Moon is Void of Course. This is the principle factor in all observed experience thus far.

"Routine proceeds readily, but often requires an adjustment later. Defects or shortages come to light. Delay and frustration are commonly experienced while the Moon is Void of Course.

"Neurotic tendencies, bad habits are more open to change. ESP experiments show odd results.

"Historic events during such periods have a wild, Pandora’s Box impact on cultural evolution. The first two dozen successful spaceshots were all launched with the Moon Void of Course, to open an all-new age in which old concepts and ideas are corrected or disproven.

"In every presidential election from 1900 through 1972 one of the two major party candidates was nominated with the Moon Void of Course. Every one of the candidates nominated with the Moon Void of Course lost.

"Jimmy Carter's 1980 nomination came in a Void of Course Moon."

From Al H. Morrison’s “Void of Course Moon Ephemeris.”

For more on Al see:  http://www.solsticepoint.com/astrologersmemorial/morrison.html

On her website Debbi Kempton-Smith notes that Al Gore’s 2000 nomination and John Kerry’s 2004 nomination both occurred with the Moon VOC.

     http://www.topquarkia.com/Docs/Stargazer/VOID2004and05.HTM

Astrology, the Cosmos, and Life, can all be pretty complex, and this technique of analyzing the flow of time is no exception.  For example, there is another range of astrological aspects that occurs in declination; the parallel and the contraparallel.

The PARALLEL is an aspect made in declination (angular distance North or South of the celestial equator ... like latitude on earth) when two planets share the same degree N or S.  In a CONTRAPARALLEL the aspect is made when one planet is the same degree N declination as another is S.

When we include these aspects (and/or Ptolemaic aspects to the Nodes of the Moon, which horary astrologers may also utilize) the period of VOC may be shortened.

I utilize both.  For my primary analysis I use the aspects in longitude but for fine tuning or detailed electional or horary work, I include the aspects in declination.

The VOC concept applies to the motion of all of the planets.  Robert Zoller notes in his translation of Guido Bonatti’s Liber astronomiae: Tractatus Tertius, Section II, Chapter X (written around 1277, was reputed "the most important astrological work produced in Latin in the 13th century").

“After one planet has been joined to another, and their conjunction has been completed, and after completion has been passed over, so that one of them is separated from the other and, after the separation, is joined to no other planet, it is called void of course until it is joined to another, or seeks its conjunction as was said elsewhere and this is a certain impediment to it.”

Here the only aspect considered is the conjunction but the idea of an “impediment” is clear.

Kaye Shinker writes:  “Early in my study of astrology I was a clerk for our Weight Watchers group. I did a short research project, if someone signed up for the program on a void of course moon would they stick with it or would they drop out. Results 60% stuck with the program.  My conclusion, start the program on a VOC moon. I did not consider the phase of the moon.”

-- Kaye Shinker, Instructor of Financial Astrology, www.astrocollege.org

Since I am writing this on April 27, 2011, with the Moon VOC, it is likely that I’ll revisit it for a tune-up somewhere along the line.  I also notice that “The Royal Wedding” of Prince William and Kate Middleton occurs with the Moon VOC.  Hmmm.  [Prince William & Kate Middleton wedding, Apr 29 2011, 11:00 AM, Westminster,

England]

Eclipse 2010 Part III

Eclipse Part III

(This was written in August/September 2010.  The eclipse chart notes for Greenwich, Washington D.C., and Hawai'i date from then and refer to the July 11 Total Solar Eclipse.)

In this, Part III, I am going to jump more deeply into astrology and bypass some of the softer stuff that was in previous blog entries about eclipses.  Here we spend time looking not at eclipse paths and sky shows but at horoscopes, horo = hour, scope = view.  What we call "charts", as in, "Let me look at your chart."

I distinguish mundane from political charting in that a mundane chart has an astronomical basis while a political chart links the astronomical with social and political life on the planet.  It can be a thin distinction; for example, a New Moon is a mundane event but when calculated for a specific location it may be used for a political chart.

When we look at a mundane chart such as an eclipse, lunation, ingress, season, conjunction, etc., it doesn't come with a specific location.  We might get coordinates for the place where an eclipse is maximum and use that, but a mundane chart is most often viewed astrologically as set for the place where we want to consider its effects.  If we want to know about life in the US we set it for Washington DC.  Some astrologers will set a mundane chart "for the world" at a location that appears quite Eurocentric, Greenwich, England.  That choice has a long tradition and some very experienced astrologers still abide by it.

We can set a mundane chart for any location that fits the information we might like from the chart.  In my practice I most often set one for the White House for political/national information and one for the town where I am living or for any place of interest.

I may also use an astro-mapping program to quickly identify locations where a particular factor suggests that a chart for a specific location might be revelatory.  You may have heard of Astro*Carto*Graphy® mapping and "lines".  The maps provide a shortcut to where a chart will put this or that factor on one of the up, down, rise or set points.  Lines show where the planet or factor will be near or on an angle at the location.  That's very handy but it's only one factor.  Some hucksters are offering to find you love, money, health, and happiness based on these lines alone.  Tsk.

What we learn from location charts is how the event's (ingress, lunation, eclipse, etc.) planetary configuration works out for the area, nation, or whatever.  In any chart we note "angularity", the placement of a factor near one four sensitive chart locations:  1) Ascending or Rising, 2) Descending or Setting, 3) Culminating, "up", at the Midheaven, MC (Medium Coeli) or, 4) Anti-culminating, "down" at the IC (Imum Coeli).  When we find a planet or point at or near those chart angles it is emphasized and the emphasis is tied to the location.  So Mars, god of war and planet of fire, might be in emphasis for one location and not for another. 

Viewing charts based on the Total Solar Eclipse of July 11, 2010, 7:40:27 PM GMT, 19:40:27 UT, at 19° 24' Cancer (Summer Time was in effect, please note this time is NOT Summer Time, but Standard Greenwich Mean Time).

The illustration shows the path of totality (the darker blue band).

For an eclipse you may see two different times, one based on the longitudinal alignment of Moon and Sun (New Moon or lunation) and another keyed to the moment of greatest eclipse.  Greatest eclipse occurs in the South Pacific at 19:33:31 UT.  There's usually not a great deal of difference, and I may look at charts for both times, but to keep it simple I usually chart for the lunation which is the time I use for all New Moons, eclipse or not. 

At the time of the eclipse in England, the Sun is getting ready to set.  That is a public/social part of the horoscope so we might surmise from a "world chart" that the eclipse effects will be felt world-wide and that ordinary people (not just presidents and kings) will receive the message of this eclipse.

The "karma" of personages of the old guard will have a strong effect on events to transpire and it is the new lawmakers and young persons who will breathe life into progress (North Lunar Node Rising, South Setting).  It is obvious that the leaders of the past have a great deal of responsibility for the mess the world is in even though much of the populace has such a lack of historical perspective that they place the blame for current ills on current leaders.  The other side of that is represented in the Greenwich chart in that the future direction is in the hands of younger people coming into view, creators of new technologies like Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook), or political gadfly Julian Assange (WikiLeaks).  

The eclipse in DC occurs in the part of the horoscope that has to do with international relations and that will be an area of additional focus for the period and in months to come.  With the Sun and Moon in that House it is likely that leaders will be traveling internationally.  No surprise in what we find at the bottom of the chart, "the homeland".  The planet Neptune of the sea is in emphasis.  That brings to mind the oil spill and indicates continuing confusion, illusion, and leaky-leaky in the Gulf.

Looking at the chart for my current home (Hawai'i), it has the eclipse in the legislative 11th.  There's a lot of attention given to the upcoming election and negative ads are in abundance.  Two planets traditionally referred to as "malefic", Mars of war and heat, and Saturn of lack and limitation are in the 1st House that has to do with the health of the community.  Hawai'i currently has the highest drought rating (by far, as high as the scale goes) of any of the fifty states.

Eclipse season comes again about the time of the Winter Solstice.  Part IV of this series will consider:

The Total Eclipse of the Moon, December 21, 2010, at 3:13 AM Eastern/12:13 AM Pacific.  It occurs on the Gemini/Sagittarius axis with Moon in Gemini, Sun in Sagittarius, 29° 21'.  Moon opposite Sun 8:13:27 AM GMT, Maximum Eclipse at 8:16:53 AM GMT.

The Partial Solar Eclipse, January 4, 2011, 9:02:36 AM GMT (Moon conjunct Sun), 8:50:33 AM GMT (Maximum Eclipse), occurs with Sun and Moon at Capricorn 13° 38'.


Thanks to Janus www.astrology-house.com for charts and to NASA for eclipse path map.  Questions?  Ask away.

Another Moon out of bounds October 25, 2010

Another Moon out of bounds for you and the post is too long for Facebook.

We've got another little blip of the Moon out of bounds, OOB, from the 25th until the 27th.

Due to the tilt of the earth in relation to the Sun we get seasons and the latitude markers of the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn that are 23° 28' north and south of the equator.  Imagine the equator and those north and south limits extended out into space.  Most of the time the planets stay within those limits set by the Sun.  But sometimes, some of the planets swing beyond the limits that the Sun sets.  The Sun, Saturn and Neptune never go OOB, but periodically the rest do.

When a planet is OOB it doesn't relate normally to other astrological factors.  For the time it is out of bounds it is a bit of a wild card, a bit eccentric, and independent. 

This OOB began today, October 25 at 637 PM UT, 237 PM Eastern, 137 PM Central, 1237 PM Mountain, 1137 AM Pacific, and 837 AM Hawaii.

The Moon returns to the fold 208 AM UT on the 28th, for US times it will be October 27 at 1008 PM Eastern, 908 PM Central, 808 PM Mountain, 708 PM Pacific, and 408 PM in Hawaii.

A Few Notes on October 2010 Astrology

October 11, 2010:  A lovely Crescent Moon in the early evening last night went out of bounds (OOB) a few minutes after her exact forty-five degree separation from the Sun.  She’ll remain OOB until

Wed 10/13/2010 1:35 PM UT, 9:35 AM Eastern, 8:35 AM Central, 7:35 AM Mountain, 6:35 AM Pacific, and 3:35 AM here in Hawai’i.

Additionally, a longer term aspect came to perfection last night.  The aspect, a parallel in declination, is not one that gets a lot of press.  It’s a measurement analogous to latitude on the surface of the planet.  Saturn and Uranus reached the same precise distance south of the celestial equator.  The aspect suggests some emphasis of the dynamic between the planet of order and structure, Saturn, and the planet of revolutionary change, Uranus.

This is an enhanced continuation of one of the big picture planetary alignments that’s been discussed quite a bit in terms of the opposition of those two.  Saturn opposed Uranus for the first of five times November 4, 2008 and then the opposition repeated (due to retrogrades) 5 February 2009, 15 September 2009, 26 April 2009, with a final exact opposition on 26 July 2010.

The expression represented by the aspect in opposition is far from over as the aspect in declination reminds us.  Saturn wants to put a straight jacket on the impulse for democratic advance as represented by Uranus that the writer Richard Tarnas has compared to the archetype of Prometheus.  Prometheus was the Titan who looked out for the well being of man and is famous for giving the gift of fire (a modern comparison might be technology and the democratizing Internet).

At this point in a global economic recession the forces of Saturn represent the conservative impulse to go with what is tried and known while the progressive impulse of Uranus is to protect and find benefit for the masses.  The obvious parallel (pun intended) is apparent to the astrologer as another of the connections to be found between the sky show and life on this miracle planet.

What a time!  SuperMoon-New Moon and Venus retrograde October 7, Jupiter retrograde in aspect to Neptune retrograde on the 8th for more on the “adjusting” going on about faith, religion, and beliefs, and a Mercury with the Sun “Superior Conjunction” on the 16th to suggest continued focus on relationship communication.  We need to listen to one another more than we need to talk to one another.

I thought to just post the OOB Moon information to Facebook but this grew a bit beyond the mild lunacy that the OOB suggests so I’m putting this on the blog instead.  Look for the day-to-day effect of the OOB to see a bit of jitter to life, the ball takes an odd bounce.