Urania's Well: Astrology for Changing Times


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Ground, Center and Carry On

Posted by on in Culture Blogs

b2ap3_thumbnail_path-through-fall-trees.jpg“Volatile” would be a good word to describe the chart of this Full Moon, and because there is an eclipse, we should pay close attention, since eclipse charts are generally in effect for several months to a year. You need only read the news on any given day to see the dramatic changes and upheavals that have accompanied the square of Uranus and Pluto that has been in effect for a few years now. This eclipse activates that square, and lights a fire under it through a Fire grand trine. Find the chart here, if you want to follow along.

Creative Fire

The grand trine involves Jupiter in Leo, Moon and Uranus in Aries, and Mars in Sagittarius.  While trines can be beneficial, the trine=good/happy interpretation so often seen in astrological writings is terribly simplistic. Trines denote an easy flow of energy, and ease can be good or bad, depending on your perspective. For instance, the Ebola patient in TX traveled to the USA with great ease. Fire brings transformation, inspiration, fanaticism, combativeness and highly creative breakthroughs. We’ll see lots of standing up and fighting for strongly-held beliefs, as well as sudden conversions to another, different way of thinking. Panic and emotional over-reactions are also likely. (I’m speaking primarily of events on the world stage here, but these interpretations hold true to some degree for all of us.)

However, the energy of this eclipse also supports (r)evolutionary advances and creative, imaginative solutions to pressing problems. Where’s your personal energy flowing? What’s firing you up? This planetary alignment requires focus and skillful handling of energy — look at the vibes you give off, and the vibes you surround yourself with. You make numerous small decisions in the course of a day — stay very aware of whether or not those decisions, small though they may be, are in line with your personal values. Create consciously.

Ebola and Friends

As I’ve mentioned before, the 14-year trek of Neptune through Pisces, particularly during the upcoming transit of Saturn in Sagittarius, indicates multiple and possibly serious outbreaks of infectious disease worldwide, especially as Neptune is sparked by Mars every few months. We are seeing this now, of course, with the troubling Ebola outbreak. (You may recall that the Libra Ingress (Autumn Equinox) chart had a tight square between Mars and Neptune, with Mars in and ruling the sixth house of public health in the chart cast for the USA).  Looking at this Full Moon chart, I am b2ap3_thumbnail_170px-Keep-calm-and-carry-on-scan.jpgfrankly almost as concerned about panicked reactions as I am about the disease. We live in rapidly changing times and it’s important to learn to control our reactions as circumstances change around us, and carefully evaluate what actions we should take, how and where we can make a difference. Ground, center and carry on.

Taking positive, constructive action helps on both the physical and energetic levels. Now would be a really good time to focus on building health and strengthening your immune system. However far and fast Ebola spreads before we develop a vaccine and get it under control, it is not going away soon, and there are other diseases that no doubt will evolve to take advantage of our highly-connected society. I expect we may have an active flu season in the US, for instance, and would not be at all surprised to find quarantine measures and/or travel restrictions being implemented in some areas and situations. (I’m looking at the Capricorn Ingress chart here too, with 5 planets in the sixth, four of them in Capricorn, and also at the chart of the upcoming New Moon eclipse I will write about in a week or two.)

Forget worrying about your weight — concentrate on getting and staying healthy. Give up the processed junk for nutrient-dense food that truly nourishes, indulge in exercise and fresh air. Climate change, pollution and the realities of modern society are already challenging our collective health, and it will get worse before it gets better. Additionally, the medical system is coming under increasing strain from all quarters — economic, resource-related and biological. Take every bit of responsibility for your health that you can. Read, learn, and listen to your body.

I recommend a book called Nourishing Traditions as a good place to learn more about healthy eating. If you are into herbal healing, you also might want Stephen Harrod Buhner’s new book on Herbal Antivirals. Finally, learn about your energy body and how to work with it to improve your health. You can find more information in books by Barbara Brennan, Anodea Judith, Carolyn Myss or Cindy Dale.

Relationship and Money Matters

Venus, tightly conjunct the Ascendant and square Pluto, rules this chart from Libra’s throne, bringing finances, relationships and issues involving women and the feminine to the fore. She rises before the Sun, and leads us to look closely at how we treat each other, as well as how we treat ourselves. Not only Venus, but the Full Moon and the angles of this chart activate the Uranus-Pluto square. The Moon-Uranus conjunction is involved in the Fire grand trine, all of which makes for an intense, and intensely emotional chart. Money will be a very impassioned issue during the time frame covered by this eclipse, and art may become the victim of war or simple heedlessness. Watch for particularly intense clashes and conflicts between liberal and conservative viewpoints.

I’ve had a couple of people ask about working magic during an eclipse. You might want to just sit tight and…yep…ground and center during this one. Eclipses tend to be a wild, unpredictable influence on magic, and this one particularly so. The magic I’d recommend for this Full Moon is inner-directed magic that illuminates the inner landscape and mediates powerful shifts in one’s personal energy field.

This is, of course, just a brief overview of this chart — here are a few more points for astrologers to consider when interpreting it: Note Mercury Rx, tightly semi-square Mars, also the kite aspect formed with the grand trine by the Sun in opposition to the Moon. The Moon rules the Midheaven, and Mars, disposing the Moon, Uranus and Saturn is in devil-may-care Sagittarius — in the third house of communications and transportation (chart cast for Washington, DC). Jupiter is square Saturn — bringing a clash of principles vs practicality, openness vs. secrecy. Pluto on the Capricorn IC, with Saturn in the second in mutual reception suggests foundational, earth-shaking changes, quite possibly in the financial, real estate and/or agricultural arenas.

We have another eclipse coming up at the New Moon — I’ll be back with more news on that before it happens. Questions? As always, feel free to ask in the comments.

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Diotima Mantineia began studying astrology in 1968, taking classes from Zoltan Mason in New York City. For the next 22 years, she practiced astrology only for herself and her friends, continuing her studies while watching an increasingly humanistic, psychologically oriented, modern astrology blossom through the work of leading astrologers such as Noel Tyl, Liz Greene, Rob Hand, Marion March, Stephen Arroyo and Howard Sasportas. In 1986, Diotima began her study of Wicca and started reading Tarot, discovering that she is a gifted intuitive. In 1991, she began practicing both astrology and Tarot professionally. She majored in plant and soil science both in college and grad school, and grows much of her own food and "materia magica" on her land in the mountains of western North Carolina. Diotima’s personal spiritual path is rooted in the Western mystery traditions, the principles of Yoga, and a profound connection with the natural world. Wicca gives structure to her spiritual journey, and she utilizes shamanic practices for healing and to live in harmony with Nature. Over 15 years of studying Chinese martial arts has given her a deep appreciation of Taoist thought which has strongly influenced her magical and personal philosophy. You can find her at www.uraniaswell.com

Comments

  • Lady Pythia
    Lady Pythia Wednesday, 08 October 2014

    Excellent article, Diotima!
    You have covered so many relevant points, and am most mindful of the pan-national effect, especially as Uranus in Aries so promotes "Me-ness" as opposed to necessary universal need at this time for Aquarian existential connectiveness. Sagittarian energies tend to intensify abrupt expression, something really dangerous during Mercury Retrograde.

    Your advice for inner work is one I've found absolutely best for anyone doing Magicks under any Eclipse, let alone Mercury Retrogrades, when energy sent to projects already in the works will out over the suspension of outcomes now. Always practitioners must remember that Luna rules the Astral, even on the Trees, and when her energy is subsumed in syzygy, let alone under the kind of possible transits like those now, aetheric flux becomes more like crashing rapids rather than a gentle stream.
    Often, imho, this increases dream vividity even more than during most Full Moons.and emotional torrents in this case for fiery individuals who may be more used to non-reflective action.

    ...thanful for the Blessing influence of Jupiter, we are certainly experiencing the challenges brought by Saturn's square in Scorpio, with regenerative events occurring in so many governments and communities.
    May our individual self-regulation find the balance of Venus in relationship-ruling Libra!
    Blessed Be
    Pythia

  • Diotima
    Diotima Wednesday, 08 October 2014

    Thanks for your observations, Pythia! Interesting point about the dreams...

  • Lady Pythia
    Lady Pythia Friday, 10 October 2014

    Another point, which I'd interpret as individuals manifesting that looming panic, is also tied into the Eclipse being integral in the Grand Cross in the Midpoint of Cardinality. One hopes people will examine that Uranian fear of vulnerability in the wider world, as it's hitting home that, once again, we must be prepared...with the seeming sudden appearance of ISIL (I will not defame the name of our earliest most synergized Mother Goddess, Isis, who also brought the sovereignty of Law, Ma'at, into the lives of humanity); apprehension suddenly, subconsciously, connected (hemispherically) with the virulant Saturn in Scorpio dis-ease.

    Present also, I perceive, is awakened realizations that the vulnerability of governmental agencies will be an extensive, long challenge (Pluto's long transit for all interrelativeness, along with Neptune's emphasized Veil.)

    Your emphasis on taking stock of one's health is definitely right on, subtextually in the Cross, as well as Venus on the Ascendent in her Rulership.. Am stream-of-consciousness webbing here, as I remember the Moon's Nodes in the Eclipse chart being poised in th e 7th/1st polarity (tripling Cardinal Cross intensity).
    Hoping for positive energy re Venus conjunct combust Mercury on the 16th.

    Again, thank you for your insight, interpretation, and Wisdom, much needed for individual emergences from these Cosmic and/or chaotic realignments.
    May many read your offering!
    Blessings

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