IN 213 YEARS

IN 213 YEARS

Sun conjunct Galactic Center

12/18/2012 @ 27° 01' 52 Sagittarius
12/21/2225 29° 59' Sagittarius
12/21/2226 00° 00' Capricorn -- the location of the Galactic Center

It is cute and a reminder of our smallness in the scheme of things. In order to have a photograph of our Milky Way Galaxy though, you would need a vantage point from outside of the galaxy, and a good ways away in order to fit the whole thing in the viewfinder. So this picture is a gotcha from whoever started it. It is actually a photo of the Andromeda Galaxy.

The Milky Way Galaxy is organized into spiral arms of giant stars that illuminate interstellar gas and dust. Our Sun is in a finger called the Orion Spur. Some of the brightest stars and most famous celestial objects of this constellation (Betelgeuse, Rigel, the stars of Orion's Belt, the Orion Nebula) are neighbors of sorts to our sun, located within the Orion Arm. When we look at it, we're looking into our own local spiral arm. This is not a photograph, it is a portrait. To photograph our galaxy, you'd have to be outside of it, and that's a long, long way.
For more visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/sunearth/news/gallery/galaxy-location.html
http://earthsky.org/space/does-our-sun-reside-in-a-spiral-arm-of-the-milky-way-galaxy

Hello fans of Astrology in Astrophysics. Doing some cleanup on one of my computers I came upon these calculations that I'd made for the 2012 whoop-de-do. Then as now I prefer to stick to the astrology that I know, and not suddenly jump on a Mayan track and pretend that I know something about Mayan astrology. Not necessarily part of the Mayan thing was the notion, that at the time of the Winter Solstice, also known as the Winter Equinox, that the solstice Sun, viewed from Earth, would be exactly on the Galactic Center in that alignment looking toward the Sun from the Earth (GC then, behind the Sun). Imagine the center of our galaxy (we call the Milky Way, aka Via Lactea) at the moment of the Equinox, that our Sun would transit or eclipse that precise center point.

I came upon this by accident and thought to use it here because it depicts the baloney of the so-called alignment of the 2012 Winter Solstice Sun with the Galactic Center. I was gratified to find the word BULLSHIT in the caption with it. Yes folks, it will be 210 years until the event. Then, the marker "C" will have the year 2225 beneath it.

In this photo (probably composit since it is such a huge chunk of space) we look toward the Galactic Center from Earth. It's a rather unpreposing part of the Galaxy. When we zoom in, and we have now, but I'll leave those photos for another time, we find a bright globe. That globe is made of light being sucked into the Black Hole there. I continue to be gratified and amazed at what space exploration has given us in such a short span of time. I know that this will spread out over the page, but I just can't bring myself to smallerize it.

I pointed out that would not occur until the year 2225 and 2226.  I may have said something along the lines of the carnival barker's "Close, but no cigar." Which I suppose was the prize for whacking the base lever with a big sledge hammer to send a weight up to ring the bell at the top, "Close, but no cigar." In fact, at the solstice in 2012, the Sun was just a teeny bit less than three entire degrees away from the center.

Here's another view with other galaxies, stars, and objects identified. The letters are abbreviations for astronomical catalogues-published lists of known stars, nebulae, supernova remnants, galaxies, and other objects in space.

The New General Catalogue (NGC) was originally published in 1888 by the Royal Astronomical Society and lists 7,840 objects.

The Index Catalogue (IC) lists an additional 5,286 galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters discovered between 1888 and 1907.

Names with the letter M are Messier objects, named after Charles Messier, a French astronomer. In the 1760s and 70s, he hunted comets and made a list of the 103 objects he found that looked like, but were not comets. All Messier objects can be seen with binoculars or small telescopes under clear, dark skies.
From:
http://www.mnh.si.edu/exhibits/evolving-universe/science/kidcat.htm

These are undeniably exciting times, before and after 2012, but there are real astrological events that fit our reality quite well. We'll have to wait until 2225 for whatever is implied by the solstice Sun exactly conjunct the Galactic Center.

Aloha!


© Copyright 2015 Tim Rubald

Uranus with Pluto, December 2014 musing

Gee the time is whizzing by quickly. Soon it will be 2015. The Moon will begin her last Quarter December 14 and will cycle to New only two hours and thirty-three minutes after the exact point of the Winter Solstice (one of the chief markers upon which the Zodiac is hung).

Also on the 14th we reach the sixth of the seven development squares of Uranus to Pluto. As I've been writing for years, this is the pivotal development of these times. You recall maybe that I pooh-poohed the hoopla over the presumed Mayan Calendar whatsis. While that had social, religious, and astrological relevance to a Mayan world view, that is far from the prevailing world view that I am more comfortable in addressing. I like the astronomical basis of some calendars, like the Jewish one for example, but I'm a Westerner, pure and simple, and with the exception of astrology-lovers of other cultures who know and like my work, I relate my work to Western sensibilities. In technical terms I am a Western Tropical astrologer and am comfortable there.

So I've been communicating about this period of time we share now for many years. I am relatively confident that my comments made years ago are spot on, 100% on. That's nice and reassuring about my understanding and work with astrology, but where do we go from here (although I don't believe that we're finished with "here" until 2020 at the earliest)?

Where we go is continuation. We might think of a failed Egyptian revolution in 2011, but I hold that it is not a failed revolution, but a stirring of the world's body that will continue to stir for some time. [See Don’t be Fooled by Appearances, Liberal Values are Spreading in the Arab World, By Ahmed Benchems - Link at the bottom of this article.] The outcome, though unknown for certain, will see major socio-economical-structural changes planet-wide. Governments will change in terms of style of governance. How those change, how corporate and financial structures will change compares to the free will of an individual.

I know that free will is not some limitless human capacity. I know that astrology doesn't reveal the entire scope of a life. If you are born a man you will not bear children (at least at this juncture of time). There are limits to our freedom. We are born into certain bodies with the limitations of those, into particular families, cultures, locations, and nations. All of this may impinge on what you call "free will".

Likewise, Earth is subject to limitations, some, like the pollution caused by people, are not intrinsic to Earth, but they non-the-less define some of our earthly limitations. So while Uranus' current (precisely 2012-2015) dance with Pluto emphasizes the changes I've mentioned, the ultimate outcome depends on what we (humans) do with what we've got.

The revolutionary fervor (Uranus) of these times can indicate a planetary increase in democracy and the rights of individuals, or it can spark a constrictive backlash of enhanced control (Pluto) and the limitation of individual and social freedom. This is the palette we are given now, and how we have behaved and will behave will determine our outcome as a species. The next Uranus-Pluto period that will reprise the challenges we face now will have to wait until the 2246-2248 period. I'll leave it to brainy writers of science fiction to speculate on how the next stage of global challenges will affect us.

I've spent too much time with the wayback machine (web.archive.org/) trying to find and republish the old article. I have no idea why I don't have a copy on my computer. (Actually I do have an idea having to do with restoring a complete image to the hard disk.) Anyway, no more time to work on this but rather than leave it as a partial, like I do way too often, I'll put it up (at least on Facebook) today, December 13, 2014.


The last two images are of Prometheus, whom we see more often tied to a rock with an eagle picking at his liver. He was chained there to suffer because he stole fire from the gods to share with humankind. The first is Stonehenge showing the alignment of the stones to the Sun at sunrise on the 21st of December.
**********************************************************************************************
I am not quite sure about the best way to do this. I happened to find an article that supports the assumptions I presented about the process of change keyed by Uranus-Pluto as a reflection and enhancement of what global processes were in effect in the Sixties. Interestingly, Ahmed Benchems also proposes the expanded timing in which "Sixties" changes assimilate and merge with prevailing styles and attitudes (social and political). 

CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO SEE THE ARTICLE
Don’t be Fooled by Appearances, Liberal Values are Spreading in the Arab WorldBy Ahmed Benchems

Copyright © Tim Rubald 2014

Tim Rubald, C.A. NCGR-PAA, C.A.P. ISAR
startalker.tim@gmail.com

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

facebook.com/Tim.Rubalds.Astrology

tweeting @startalker

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/

facebook.com/Tim.Rubalds.Astrology

tweeting @startalker

Mercury ends the retrograde, November 10, 2013

The importance of thought about emotion continues through this Scorpio period. Scorpio is the most sensitive of Signs. That may surprise the uninitiated who've only encountered a cold shell. That shell, and that stinger, is in order to protect the soft places, and to prevent the Scorpio from dissolving into a puddle. If Scorpio lets you in, don't mess up, it's worth being careful.

On Sunday, November 10, 2013, 21:12 GMT, 4:12 PM EST, at 2° 29' SCORPIO, MERCURY appears to stop his/her apparent backward movement, as s/he rounds the (round) corner of the orbit that will take her from the nearest Earth to the farthest on the circle around the Sun. That trip really gets underway on November 18, when Mercury reaches greatest distance (19.5°) west of the Sun, called "Greatest Elongation." S/he'll continue on as a Morning Star until the orbit takes her into the brilliance of the Sun that s/he'll be right behind on December 28 (called Superior Conjunction).

Courtesy of Birth Chart Painting ~ Aysem Aksoy https://www.facebook.com/BirthChartPaintig

What's of interest to me is less an apparent (but not actual) change of direction, but that the station puts a focus on a particular place in the Zodiac where it occurs. This one at 2° 29' Scorpio forms an harmonious aspect with Neptune, suggesting that relief from inner stress, and perhaps the machinations of others, comes from "stopping" occasionally to tune into that peace, that is ongoing and ever-present, when we are able to take a minute, to appreciate the magic of life.

A bit of astro-babble for the fans of that, is that this station occurs on The Fiery Way, Via Combusta, a fiery star section between mid-Libra and mid-Scorpio. So, if Mercury is a key factor (significator) in the chart, who or what is signified is weakened.

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You’ll find much more right here. Simply put “Mercury retrograde” into the search box, the box right under Astrology STARTALK from Tim Rubald.

Copyright © 2013 Tim Rubald

STARTALK Beltane 2019

The Sun at 15° 00’ Taurus marks the cross-quarter day.

There is a distinction between the calendar accident of May Day, May 1, and Beltane,  a seasonally dated holy day. It occurs this year at the Spring/Summer midpoint at 8:43 AM UT/GMT May 5, 9:43 AM BST, 4:43 AM EDT, 3:43 AM CDT, 2:43 MDT, 1:43 AM PDT, all May 5; and May 4 in Hawai’i at10:43 PM HST.

Back in the day, all the hearth fires would be extinguished on Beltane eve. A new fire would be lighted made of four sacred woods. The fire would be started with oak wood, by friction. The Druid would then hand torches lighted in the sacred fire that were carried back down the hill (the fire would be lighted at the highest place) to restart the village hearth fires. A happy party would carry on all night at the sacred fire. The Druid would make sure this happened when it was supposed to, at the true cross-quarter. He'd scoff at a calendar determined date. "What is this calendar that is so inaccurate that a day must be added every four years? What? Do you think that Beltane is Thanksgiving or something?"

This time in the year has been celebrated for thousands of years with holidays, holy days, and festivals. I can remember in my toddler-hood walking around the Maypole holding a ribbon and not having a clue about what was going on, but enjoying the color and chaos.  May Day in this country became associated with workers rights and labor unions until, in the Fifties armies, tanks, and rockets, with red stars, came this way on TV, and in Life and Look magazines to show the Soviet “hijacking” of May Day.  May Day festivities fell off in the U.S.A. lest we be affiliated with the godless communists.

Doc Rowe writes in his MayDay: The Coming of Spring:  “Today, Mayday for many is associated with Anti-capitalist demonstrations; however, Mayday originated as a pagan festive holy day celebrating the first spring planting. The Celts and Saxons celebrated May 1st as Beltane, which means the day of fire (Bel was the Celtic god of the sun). [No, May 1st is a result of the calendar change; the true Beltane date is astronomically based. The 1st has become the popular date; it is not true to the season cycle roots of tradition.]

“Celebrations began on the eve of Mayday with feasts marking the end of winter and the return of the sun. These celebrations continued in Britain until the 1700's when they were outlawed by the church.”

For the ancient Gaelic holiday, Beltane, the astronomical day is usually May 5. On the night of May 4, the sacred fire of four holy woods is put together to be lit with a friction fire started with oak. The bonfire is assembled at the highest point in the area, and all hearth fires are extinguished. All fires are snuffed out. The people assemble and the Druid (priest) lights the fire. From the sacred fire torches are lit and the new fire is carried back to the homes. In some areas fires might be lighted and livestock walked between the fires to purify them that they bear healthy young. Then, there’s a bit of carrying on, dancing, partying and ... well, see the end of the quotation from the grumpy puritan, Philip Stubbes, that follows.

To Philip Stubbes in his Anatomie of Abuses (1583), holidays such as Beltane licensed immoral behavior. His is a puritan’s nightmare of revelry and debauchery.

“Against May, Whitsunday or other time, all the young men and maids, old men and wives run gadding overnight to the woods, groves, hills and mountains, where they spend all the night in pleasant pastimes, and in the morning they return, bringing with them birch and branches of trees, to deck their assemblies withal, and no marvel, for there is a great Lord present amongst them, as superintendent and Lord over their pastimes and sports, namely Satan prince of hell. But the chiefest jewel they bring from thence is their Maypole, which they bring home with great veneration, as thus: They have twenty of forty yoke of Oxen, every Ox having a sweet nosegay of flowers placed on the tip of his horns, and these

Oxen draw home this Maypole (this stinking Idol rather) which is covered all over with flowers, and herbs bound ’round about with strings from the top to the bottom, and sometime painted with variable colours, with two or three hundred men, women, and children following it with great devotion. And thus being reared up, with handkerchiefs and flags hovering on the top, they straw the ground ’round about, bind green boughs about it, set up summer halls, bowers and arbors hard by it. And then fall they to dance about it like as the heathen people did at the dedication of the Idols, whereof this is a perfect pattern, or rather the thing itself. I have heard it credibly reported . . . that of forty, threescore, or a hundred maids going to the wood overnight, there have scarcely the third part of them returned home again undefiled.”

 

A more friendly appreciation of the ancient rite was offered by the great Rudyard Kipling. This from his poem, A Tree Song.

Oh, do not tell the Priest our plight,
  Or he would call it a sin;
But--we have been out in the woods all night,
  A-conjuring Summer in!
And we bring you news by word of mouth-
  Good news for cattle and corn--
Now is the Sun come up from the South,
  With Oak, and Ash, and Thorn!

Today the Sun is in the center or the Fixed Earth Sign, Taurus.  In his book, The Pulse of Life, Dane Rudhyar writes:  “‘Production’ is a key-word with Taurus.  Everything which Taurus touches should be productive if it is at all to be considered as significant.  But production depends upon the control of the basic energies of human or earthly nature.  . . . Taurus insists on making energy productive. . . . Productive energy—energy which is controlled and formed—is power.  Thus Taurus is a power-Sign of the Zodiac. It is one of the four great moments of the year-cycle when life operates definitely and creatively in terms of power and purpose. [Taurus is one of the] gates through which power and purpose are released and experienced.”

Enjoy our path to Summer, friends. Remember, Tim is available for personal appointments. Just drop an email to STARTALKER@aol.com. Mahalo.

WHEEL OF THE YEAR

Copyright © 2006-2013 Tim Rubald. All rights reserved.

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.

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