 Today is the Lunar Eclipse at 15° Scorpio. The full moon in Scorpio happens once a year. It’s always a more emotionally sensitive lunation than others because it brings to light things most of us would generally like to keep hidden, whether consciously or unconsciously. A Lunar Eclipse intensifies this in more fated ways summoning up from the underworld even more evolutionary and transitional types of life cycles.
This lunation has to be read, like all astrology, in combination with other planetary action. The potent station of Pluto, dark lord of the underworld, is making his presence known by setting an even more seething and powerful tone as it sits practically motionless at 0°21’ Aquarius. This Scorpio eclipse is ruled by the planet Mars in Cancer, not a sign the warrior god favors, so it already thrusts feelings into a rather crabby and cantankerous modality. These powerful water signs stir up deep feelings from the past and unconscious desires, wants and needs that may have lain dormant for quite a while as they suddenly rear their ugly side once again. Stuff from the past is being excavated. Whether or not you have control over the issues at hand is personal to each individual. Yet, we all must be alert to old habit patterns manifesting right now and learn to deal with them in healthy ways. Scorpio things such as secrets, jealousies, lies, betrayal, murderous feelings can be revealed. Conversely the deep buried treasure of passion, love, trust and intimacy can also be strengthened and exalted. Even though both the Moon and Mars are in the signs of their fall which make them harder to work with they are mitigated by being in mutual reception. That is a hidden blessing. That provides a wonderful opportunity to psychologically deal with eclipse issues in a much more mature way. You can gain awareness, understanding, empathy and deep connection with any difficult challenges and complexes. The answers will be there for you if you do some detective work and are willing to probe more deeply into what motivates the heart. Even in difficult situations that may be out of your control like death, health or acts of nature you’ll be able to find help, guidance and resolution. Be kind to yourself and others if there are painful setbacks and you’re stuck in the mire and muck. There might be past aspects of our behavior, and that of others, erupting that we find repulsive and unacceptable. The kind of murky stuff that re-emerges just when you thought it was dead and vanquished. It’s good to look in the mirror. The Taurus/Scorpio polarity has much to do with one’s relationship with money. Patterns around wealth and the lack thereof can come to light. It might be time to reinvent the financial wheel. Also be aware of sexual and emotional patterns and how you negotiate what goes on behind closed doors with all intimate relationships. There may be a storm brewing but there is a light shining through. Allow Uranus to provide enlightenment on seeking new ways to achieve material and emotional security and retrograde Mercury to do some deep mental introspection around what you value.  I have an interesting Eclipse/Mercury retrograde story. I noticed on Thursday, April 20th, the day of the Solar Eclipse at 29°50’ Aries that the battery on my laptop wasn't charging properly. It was at 50% and I didn't think much of it. I plugged it in to another outlet, but nothing seemed to change. I still did not worry because I felt if the battery wasn't recharging it wouldn't be that big a deal since I use my laptop exclusively on power source and rarely take it off. I thought of opening the computer and reinstalling the battery but after looking at some YouTube instructions it felt too much like rocket science. This isn’t one of the older batteries that you slip in and out from the rear. You must take off the bottom panel of the computer by unscrewing 10 screws and then locate the battery, lift it out and make sure it’s aligned properly. That’s just too much for me to handle before falling into the depths of depression. I slowly saw the power diminish even further over the next few days.
Ignoring my own astrological advice, I just let it ride thinking I could just use the laptop on power source because it was operating fine. When I mentioned this in a Facebook post all computer geeks advised it was urgent that I had the battery replaced for any number of reasons that could destroy the integrity of the computer not the least of which the battery could possibly explode. A friend suggested contacting a place in Manhattan called IFIX-NY. I bought it in on Tuesday, April 25, now several days into the Mercury retrograde. Oh, I forgot to mention that the eclipse at 29°50’ Aries is within a 2° conjunction to my natal Mercury so there’s a double whammy regarding the chances of this Mercury retrograde being more potent. When I bought it up to IFIX they were very helpful but of course they didn’t have the battery in stock and it had to be ordered. I couldn’t leave my computer because I needed it for work so I ordered the part, left a deposit, went home to wait for the piece to be shipped. The battery arrived on Monday, May 1st the day of Pluto stationing retrograde and a Mercury Cazimi. I headed up to IFIX around 4:00 pm and within the hour they replaced the battery, and my computer was once again made whole. The astrology lesson here is enlightening so let me outline it very clearly.
I love Astrology!  Sunday, April 23. Let’s talk a little about Mercury and Jupiter. Mercury turned retrograde at 15° 36’ Taurus on Friday, April 21 just one day after the Solar Eclipse at 29° 50’ of Aries. Remember how I said this season has a double edged sword around endings and beginnings? Solar Eclipses are about planting seeds for new beginnings and the sign of Aries is the first sign of the zodiac indicating speed, birth and initiation. Yet, the degree of the eclipse is 29° 50 Aries indicates something coming to an end and now Mercury retrograde added to the picture doubles down on the review process of what is being ended from the past before moving forward and making that new beginning. In essence it’s all happening at once. It’s like selling an old house while buying a new one or the death of an elderly relative at the same time a baby is born into the family. These are the evolution cycles of life and time.
Mercury is quicksilver and light on its feet while the sign of Taurus is slow and languid. Mercury retrograde in Taurus is slow down your thinking. Everyone’s motto right now should be: Think before you speak. Absorb the information and digest it before you express a reply or give an answer. Choose words that carry more weight and value and have a bigger bang for the buck. It’s important to consider appropriate language and pick fewer words that carry more substance. A diatribe is not needed with this placement like Mercury in Sagittarius. Rethink old habit patterns, routines and the daily structure of life. Let the review process aid in making changes during the next three weeks to break out of a rut. Walk more slowly and observantly through the local neighborhood and environment and appreciate your surroundings more carefully. Ponder nature walks through the mountains, forests, trees, beaches or anywhere that Mother Nature is in full bloom. Breathe in the scent and beauty of the Earth and feel it rush through the lungs, body and all the senses. Let your thoughts be inspired by the physical word as the brain becomes an electrical transmitter of thought stimulating and illuminating all the physical senses. There’s a reason why Taurus is the most sensual sign of the zodiac. It experiences life physically and activates all the chakras. Taurus is visceral, raw and primal. Leave yourself space for rumination and contemplation. Hone the ability to deeply listen because you’re slowing down the thought process and lingering more carefully over the information. Think about how you feel in the body so that instinct mingles with logic. Think about the things that bring you peace and add beauty to your life. The beauty of words, language and grammar. How does the sound of your voice make others feel through the tone and words you choose? Rediscover how to improve an existing talent and gift that adds worth, value, self-esteem into your soul and money into your pocket. Mercury retrograde in Taurus is a good time to rethink old bad habits such as diet, weight, overindulgence and overspending. Reflect and review those poor habits and revitalize a physical regiment. Rethink your financial plans for the future (more on that below). There will probably be more tax extensions and larger payouts to the government. Mercury retrograde in Taurus is very interesting and has longer ramifications this time around because it happens just before the Jupiter ingress into Taurus. Mercury retrogrades on April 21 at 15.36 Taurus and turns direct on May 15 at 5.54 Taurus. The following day on May 16 Jupiter enters Taurus where it will remain until June of 2024. That’s very interesting. Mercury is setting us up for Jupiter. Both are communication planets. Mercury likes to collect facts and information while Jupiter likes to synthesize, broaden and disseminate those facts and information through opinions, philosophies and spouting its beliefs. Mercury is lower education and Jupiter is higher education. It’s as if Mercury is giving us a preparatory step to relearn some ABCs before Jupiter comes in to allow us to see the bigger picture. As I said, Mercury retrograde will cover between 5-16 degrees of Taurus. That’s a very important three weeks that will have ramifications throughout the rest of the year. Pay attention to what issues come to light around this very important time because Jupiter immediately will cross those same degrees as a review and growth process from May 16 through September 4th on its direct motion. Jupiter will then retrograde over those exact degrees a second time from September 4 through December 30 and a third time on its direct motion from December 31 through March 26 2024. That’s almost a year long period where the degrees between 5-16 degrees of Taurus being activated now by Mercury, are reactivated by Jupiter over and over. Jupiter will synthesize and adapt all the information that Mercury collects from the past and present as the King of the Gods goes over the same ground. Jupiter will till the soil and gather the seeds that were planted by Mercury. I recently had a client asking me about investment plans and told him Mercury retrograde was a good time to rethink financial plan for the future and when Jupiter enters Taurus make those new investments. Mercury retrograde is an ideal time to rethink, investigate and re-plan a financial course for the future. Those three weeks from April 21 through May 15 are optimum to study financial trends and review strategies and then when Jupiter enters Taurus on May 16 will be the time to carry out the new strategy and make the financial investments based upon the research done on Mercury retrograde. Mercury likes to collect facts and information and Jupiter likes to disseminate and spread it around so that it grows. This March, April, May and June is a precursor of greater things to come. Watch carefully what is percolating in the world and your own personal life because it will intensify during for first quarter of 2024. It’s of great importance to pay attention to what is happening now:
All these astrological phenomena have set up an appetizer course of major events. The main entrée will be served during the first three months of 2024 when everything that is popping up now will intensify.  Wednesday, April 19. Today is the years first Solar Eclipse at 29° 50’ Aries that takes place at 9:13 pm PT, 12:13 am ET (on the 20th). It’s a Hybrid eclipse which is unusual but it’s interesting because it’s the 2nd New Moon in Aries and that’s not a frequent occurrence. There was a new moon at 0° 50’ Aries on March 21.
A Solar Eclipse is about planting seeds for new beginnings. This one is rather unusual in that it is at the Anaretic degree of 29.50 Aries. The very, very, last degree and minutes of the sign. When planets or eclipses travel at an anaretic degree it usually represents an ending and a finishing up. That feels rather contradictory since by definition a Solar Eclipse is about new beginnings and Aries is the first sign of the zodiac which only emphasizes births, launchings and beginnings. The language I would use in this case is that it is a time of endings in order to make new beginnings. At this time of life something is being wrapped up in order make way for new horizons. A slate is being wiped clean. It also has a more urgent and extreme nature in the last degree because it’s on the precipice of being in the next sign, so the Aries nature is more extreme and loud in its announcement of the end of something and the start of something else. For many they are linked, so for example, it can be the end of the way a job has existed for many years and the new beginning is a fresh start in the old job moving forward. Or maybe it literally is the ending of one job as another begins. For others the subjects may be different. This is also the first eclipse we will have in the Aries/Libra polarity for the next 19 months so it’s hitting the relationship signs. We often think of relationships with people and that is usually first and foremost with Aries/Libra, but do not forget about a relationship with ideas, places, things and situations. The house position of the eclipse gives meaning to “where” the eclipse is happening, planets supply information on “what” is being changed and the signs represent the “style” of change. The Aries new moon at 0.50 on March 21 was Astrology’s way of announcing a new beginning with the energy associated with the planet Mars. The warrior God had been traveling in Gemini for the past 8 months having been retrograde a good 2 ½ months during that time. He ended his travels in Gemini on March 15. The vernal equinox in conjunction with the new moon announced the rebirth of Mars. It’s time for Mars to assert itself once again after 8 months of rehabilitation during its retrograde period. The retrograde in Gemini was like a car going into a body shop for a complete overhaul and upgrade. That 0° new moon in particular was Mars’ way of saying I’m back and ready for action. Bigger, bolder, braver and stronger than ever. The major aspect in this eclipse is the tight square to Pluto. That planet is traveling over the 0 degree point of Aquarius and back into late Capricorn over the course of the next two years so this eclipse is very representative of a gateway into destruction of the old to make way for the new. Things that are rotting and decaying in society and your personal lives are coming up for continued review, to purge, transform and let go in order to make way for a new beginning. If you read me on a regular basis you’re aware that I’ve been talking about this Plutonian energy for a long time. Pluto triggering the eclipse degree and traveling back and forth between Aquarius/Capricorn has the energy of a new world order. The Aries vision of the eclipse is ending and destroying things which have reached their expiration date to make way for evolutionary progress as represented by Pluto in Aquarius. That kind of energy is painful, uprooting, and rather volcanic in nature. It’s like a plumber sucking out the sludge from the toilet because things have gotten way too clogged over years and years of mire, muck and build-up. We see major upheavals in the political sphere, with wars, with forms of government including democracy, socialism, communism, fascism and autocracies. Polarities become even more polarized as the old guard represented by Capricorn digs its heels in even stronger to hold on to traditions that the new guard wants to change. The new guard will equally dig in their heels for what they believe is progress for the future. We will see how the infrastructure of society is changed via technology, economy, ecology, government, social values and social security. Is it a period of enlightenment or a blood bath? Revolutions leading to evolution are always a combination of the two. Pluto in Capricorn has been uncovering the flaws in old, stalwart, standard institutions and destroying the ossified. Aquarius will try to democratize everything for better and worse. The new and radical can be scary because in some cases there is the fear that the abuse of technology at its most extreme is akin to Dr. Frankenstein playing God with creating life in his own image. Artificial Intelligence technology comes to mind here. One can see the positive side but also imagine the tremendously creepy monster-like energy that can be created if abused. Here we have the forces of nature as represented by Capricorn coming in conflict with the alien and new in terms of artificial intelligence and new technology as represented by Aquarius. Pluto is the struggle between how much do we accept of the new before it corrupts us with misuse. Aquarius is the sign of infrastructure and we are destroying the old systems because we need a new power grid that rewires our electrical infrastructure. Are you doing everything you can to get ready for the new electrical currency or will it short-circuit your body and mind. Sometimes major events happen around the day of the eclipse, sometimes they don’t. Often seeds are planted that are triggered and opened up at a later date. In some cases the eclipse is foreshadowed by a month if a planet triggers the degree before. Here are planetary triggers to be aware of: Pluto at 29° 50’ Capricorn – 3/15/2023 Jupiter at 29°50’ Aries – 5/15/2023 Mars at 29° 50 Cancer – 5/20/2023 Pluto again at 29° 50’ Capricorn – 6/21/23 North Node of the Moon at 29° 50 Aries – 7/15-19/2023 Sun at 29° 50 Cancer – 7/23/2023
Don’t forget that Mercury turns retrograde at 15° 36’ Taurus the day after the eclipse on April 21 so that colors a lot of what is being reviewed during eclipse season. More on Mercury retrograde in Taurus, Jupiter entering Taurus on May 16 and Taurus season in general in another posting to come soon!  It’s the vernal equinox and this year the new moon falls on the same day. That only happens every 19 years making it a fairly rare occurrence. In addition, within a day of the new moon, Pluto enters the sign of Aquarius for the first time since 1777. That’s extremely noteworthy and a major turning point.
This spring has a fated and destined feel due to many astrological phenomena happening in close proximity: the New Moon on the vernal equinox, Pluto leaving Capricorn and entering Aquarius through June 12, Saturn entering Pisces, and a solar eclipse on 4/20/23 at 29°50’ Aries the very last degree of the sign. It buttresses today’s new moon offering more metaphors pertaining to death, re-births, endings and beginnings. It also figures prominently in events happening on the world stage because the 0° Aries point is being triggered. This culminates at the Mid Heaven in the chart cast for Washington DC, a place of action and public visibility. It’s important to observe in the coming weeks what comes to light in more evolutionary ways in the country and the world as well as our personal lives. Pay attention to what or who is leaving your life right now and how those events forge new beginnings: some which you’ll welcome and others maybe not so much. Aries is the first sign of the zodiac and therefore it is about birth, new beginnings, energy, fire, vision and directness, often to the point of bluntness. There is an innocence and honesty about the sign because it tells it like it is even if you don’t like what is said or how the message is delivered. The Aries tone can often be loud and bombastic. Sensitive types don’t often deal well with the in-your-face directness especially if it comes across as confrontational. Aries likes to present things at face value unstripped of unnecessary excess. It is raw and often unformed. At its worst Aries is a bully, loud, obnoxious, warmongering, angry and abrupt. It needs to be tamed. These negative traits usually come to a head if Aries feels it is not being received by others in an honest and open way or if the planets in Aries have challenging aspects causing the native to learn many lessons in life on how to tame the energy and work with it in more sophisticated and consciously elevated ways. The best Aries has to offer is courage, bravery, honor, competition and positive uses of aggression and assertiveness. It has a maverick and pioneering disposition. Pluto leaving Capricorn is making us aware of patriarchal traditions and structures that have not stood the test of time. Some need to be destroyed and others transformed into new diversified forms. Entering Aquarius is going to bring up more issues around the infrastructure of society surrounding social causes, social media, financial institutions, politics, technology, artificial intelligence, the internet and humanitarianism. Look back to the seeds that were planted on the Jupiter/Saturn conjunction at 0° Aquarius on 12/21/20. Pluto is triggering that degree with a more intense, passionate, disruptive and transformative power. Saturn/Jupiter set off a 20-year cycle on the economy as both planets parry in a game of checks and balances. Pluto pushes everything to extremes. It goes deep into the subterranean bowels of our collective psyche to uncover, purge and reveal the dark, rotting, dead and decayed. Pluto unearths the shadow side of our democracy and other social institutions that must be elevated to a new level since the birth of our nation in 1776. We are fully ensconced in the Age of Aquarius if you haven’t already noticed. Pluto puts us under surveillance in all areas of society. One prime example out of many is the use of facial recognition technology and artificial intelligence. Big brother is monitoring and watching every single movement through surveillance thanks to the quantum leaps in scientific and technological advances. Another is the recent bankruptcy of the Silicon Valley Bank and Credit Suisse. This is a hint of things to come in greater waves in 2024 when Pluto returns to Aquarius. We are in unchartered territory of enormous pulsating power. Things from the occult and hidden spheres will start to erupt from the bowels. As mentioned above, Saturn/Jupiter set the stage and imprinted the coming cycle back on 12/21/20 and Pluto now sets it into evolution in unstoppable ways. Amidst the dark will be hope for the new future and an excitement of the good that can be done with this unleashed power. Yet, the sword cuts both ways. We all know that humanity often abuses power and new technology and there is no way around the dark, mafia-driven mentality of mankind through manipulation, war, autocracy and mind control. We are in a “New World Order” whatever that phrase means to you. In the tarot deck this is where the World card meets up with the Fool. There is the completion of one journey and its integration combined with a new beginning into unchartered territory. Throw in the Tower card to add some roller-coaster excitement via break-ups, break-throughs and break-downs along with enlightenment and awakenings. Those that want to play Dr. Frankenstein and re-animate the dead may be playing God in blasphemous ways. Do you want to control humanity or liberate it? What is in your heart? We are shedding a dying cycle like a snake sheds its skin and butterfly emerges from its cocoon. It’s terrifying standing on a precipice but also extremely regenerative. The energy of many will be short circuited by this new wave. We will be made acutely aware of the cycles of life through the deaths of those souls whose time has arrived to transition. Honor their journey. Helping others in their transition says a lot about one’s empathy for the plight of humanity. Pluto in Aquarius can be described as power to the people. There will be a battle between controlling fascist autocrats vs. a more democratic diversity. The concept of leadership will change over the coming years. Let’s see what happens with space travels and the growth of new ideas defining community, family and friends. There is so much more that can be said but I hope by reading this post and several of mine from the recent past that you get the idea. The birth of spring this year has the power of an atom bomb and nuclear explosion.   The traditional Hallmark version of Valentine’s Day always conjures up beautiful images of Cupid, flowers, chocolates, music, candlelit dinners and romantic love. One always wants to write an upbeat article about this holiday that celebrates Venus and Eros. It’s always possible to put a positive spin on astrological interpretation especially when Venus travels through the sign of its exaltation, but don’t let that fool you. The imminent ingress of Saturn into Pisces on March 7 and Pluto into Aquarius on March 23 conjures up post-holiday images of a St. Valentine’s Day massacre rather than Botticelli’s Birth of Venus. I speak in hyperbole of course and it’s not all doom and gloom, but as Bob Dylan famously coined, “The Times They Are A-Changin’.”
The planetary energy this Valentine’s Day says by all means enjoy the romantic, Hallmark traditions of the holiday, but the deeper meaning lies in the transits approaching just a month later. The vernal equinox is full of deaths, transformations and endings combined with births, rebirths and new beginnings. The chart for the day places Venus in a rather beautiful position. She’s exalted in Pisces, the sign of unconditional love, conjunct Neptune the planet of transcendental beauty, seeing beyond the material world into the soul of ethereal spirituality and divine magic. It’s as if Venus is bathing luxuriously in the Land of Oz or Shangri-La: a world of rainbows, unicorns, magic, fantasy, glamour and illusion! We should enjoy it! But the question after the fact will be—is it real or an illusion? The Piscean/Neptunian conundrum and riddle is that the fishes swim in two directions, so the answer is both! Enjoy the fantasy while you can because Saturn in Pisces will place a limit on those dreams, reveries, pleasures and imaginative flights of fancy. It’s as if Venus and Neptune conspire to pull the wool over your eyes before Saturn enters the picture to spoil the fun. From Saturn’s point of view he’s not spoiling the fun but he does want you to earn it. The Lord of Karma will supply a healthy dose of reality to ensure you’re not fooling yourself with pipe dreams, castles in the air and unrealistic expectations. Saturn wants you to ground dreams and bring them down to earth. He’s not against them, but he demands taking responsibility and working for them. Only then are they worth having. Achieving dreams is 1 percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration. A yeoman effort must be exerted to concretize the ideas in the creative imagination. Everyone is approaching a reckoning between whether they have the discipline to manifest dreams or face the disappointment of possibly sacrificing, surrendering, letting go and giving up. For some Saturn will provide the ecstasy of fulfillment and for others the agony of despair. Venus rules pleasure, therefore another question to face this spring will be about putting the brakes on indulgences and escapist tendencies that have eroded our productivity. It’s time to take a long, hard look at bad habits such as drugs, alcohol and indolence before they run amok and break you beyond repair. Saturn in Pisces is like getting a new pair of glasses to see things more clearly. It’s a cautionary warning to stop viewing life through rose-colored glasses. This will be a very sobering time for many. Uplifting Piscean endeavors such as spirituality, medicine, music, art, poetry, meditation, yoga, photography and movies can gain traction. Let’s not forget that Valentine’s Day falls during the Aquarius time of year, which as a youngster baffled me. It’s drummed into the zeitgeist to celebrate and exalt romantic intimacy, sexuality and sensuality between partners. Aquarius says to open up that view of love to a broader definition. The airy water-bearer is the sign of friendship and love amongst equals. It has a very generous and humanitarian bent at its core. Brotherhood, sisterhood and a utopian love that celebrates all humanity is an Aquarian trope. Enter Pluto into the picture: How is that utopian interpretation going to sit with everyone when the Dark Lord of Hades oozes into Aquarius on March 23? The symbolism in February is to enjoy things while they last because there is evolutionary change in the air as we continue to transition from the past into the future. Giving birth is always painful. Pluto in Aquarius will challenge us to choose our friends more scrupulously and question the infrastructure of our friendships, communities and group alliances. Who stays and who goes? Who stands the test of time? Which friendships are deepening with passion, love and uplifting power vs. which are rotting, decaying and need to be purged? On a political level, the polarization of special interest groups will deepen. Aquarius may be the sign of democracy but it’s also the sign of communism and socialism. Pluto in Aquarius will bring up issues of transparency in government and large civic groups, such as the police and military as well as social services. What might happen to Social Security in the upcoming years? Will the British Monarchy survive in its present form? Pluto can reveal the icy, cold underbelly of Aquarius in a way reminiscent of the French Revolution. The guillotine, an invention that beheaded thousands who disagreed with the political concepts of the new regime, ushered in the Reign of Terror. Counterbalancing the negativity will be the concepts of enlightenment and humanitarianism. There is a massive amount that can be written about the upcoming transits of Pluto and Saturn. We are at a crossroads in the world as these two titans enter the last two signs of the zodiac. Before that happens in March, use the beautiful aspects on Valentine’s Day to celebrate love with cherished family and friends that have proven their worth and value through thick and thin, and stood the test of time. They will be the loyal ones in the upcoming years. Of course, there will be new people entering with whom to trust, merge and forge new emotional bonds. They will appear when the time is right, according to the rules and regulations of the Saturnian clock. Just don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. Heaven or Hell can be a place on Earth. Watch for extreme manifestations of both in the next few years. Remember: Pluto’s lesson is learning where to maintain control vs. where to give it up. Saturn’s lesson is to face your fears, otherwise they become your limitations. It’s time to clear out the ghosts in your closet. Joseph Addeo is a Level IV NCGR-PAA Certified Astrologer. He can be reached via his website at www.josephaddeo.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/josephaddeoastrologer.  Friday, December 23. We’ve just past the winter solstice. The winter solstice, also called the hibernal solstice, occurs when either of Earth's poles reaches its maximum tilt away from the Sun. It is the day with the shortest period of daylight and longest night of the year, when the Sun is at its lowest daily maximum elevation in the sky. The word solstice is derived from the Latin sol ("sun") and sistere ("to stand still"), because at the solstices, the Sun's declination appears to "stand still"; that is, the seasonal movement of the Sun's daily path (as seen from Earth) pauses at a northern or southern limit before reversing direction.
Because the winter solstice is the reversal of the sun's ebbing in the sky, in ancient times it was seen as the symbolic death and rebirth of the sun or of a sun god. In cultures which used cyclic calendars based on the winter solstice, the "year as reborn" was celebrated with reference to life-death-rebirth deities or "new beginnings". It’s a time of year that’s dark so we celebrate the rebirth of the sun with many holidays that feature abundant symbols of light such as Christmas, Chanukah and Yalda. We celebrate abundance at this time because we know the sun will be growing in light once again. Most cattle were slaughtered so they would not have to be fed during the winter, so it was almost the only time of year when a plentiful supply of fresh meat was available. I’d like to reflect on the chart for the moment of the Sun’s Capricorn Ingress. This is an important chart that gives an overview for the next 3 months of what’s going on in the United States and our place in the world. It’s also a chart that gives insight into what we may expect from the weather. It highlights those astrological significators that may take precedence and be more noticeable in the zeitgeist. The chart is set for Wednesday, December 21, 2022 at 4:48:02 pm, EST, Washington, DC. The nation’s capital is chosen because that is the center of power and the heart of the government. The first thing to notice is the angles on the world axis with 0° Cancer Rising. The angles on the world axis denote that things are set for the next three months to play out on the world stage. Angularity is the most important things and the two main angular planets, both of which are on the world axis are the Sun at 0° Capricorn and Jupiter at 0° Aries. They are in a tight square joining the 7th and 10th houses. The 7th house is the house of our allies and open enemies and the 10th house the house of the president, the countries destiny and our reputation in the world. This signifies that our leadership will be feeling rather confident and perhaps hubristic. But this would be true of our allies as well with Jupiter square the Sun, and it will also be true of our hidden enemies because Mars, the ruler of Jupiter in Aries, lies in the 12th house of what goes on behind our back and is retrograde. This means everyone throughout the fall has been planning a military course of action behind the scenes that may come to fruition in the first quarter of 2023 after Mars turns direct on January 12th and Mercury turns direct on January 18. J Jupiter at the highest point in the chart signifies weather patterns that are grandiose, large and more expansive than usual. This is already playing out as we approach Christmas day and Winter Storm Eliot is blanketing the country with snow, rain, flooding, blizzard conditions and incredibly high winds. The effects of this storm are so tremendous as to cover the entire continental United States. Part of huge magnitude of this storm is Jupiter on the world point ruled by a retrograde Mars in the travel sign of Gemini. Mars in turn is ruled by Mercury about to turn retrograde in Capricorn the sign of family traditions, structures and systems. I think we can expect an above average serious winter storm season. Jupiter, together with a Chiron stationing direct, both ruled by that retrograde Mars in the 12th house symbolizes some kind of expansion and visionary thinking in healing areas of life such as guns, violence, anger, military action, education, health and medical industries. There will probably continue to be a great deal more talk and conversation about the patriarchy and toxic aggressive yang energy. Our leadership requires new philosophies on dealing with old traditions and structures and the hope of this aspect is the ability to cross bridges and introduce new, more progressive philosophies on how the country should move forward. We must continue to heal the past in order to evolve into the future. Jupiter at the top of the will have much to say about the Supreme Court and the direction of lawmaking as well as what influence does religion have when passing laws and forming the beliefs of the country? The chart has much military symbolism as well and that energy can go in many different directions. We do have a war raging in the Ukraine and there will be more questioning of what our role is as the war escalates and evolves. Hidden strategies are continuing with retrograde Mars in the 12th and Mercury in the 7th and I don’t think we’ve seen everyone’s full motives in action quite yet. Along with the 6th house representing the military it also represents the national health. The Moon in the 6th house opposing Mars in the 12th is a continued battle with many airborne health diseases. The public (Moon) fighting the inner, unseen enemy that is Mars in the 12th house. A Sagittarius Moon can be a spread of more foreign strains of flues, covid, Monkey pox and other easily spread communicable diseases. One word about the upcoming Mercury retrograde that starts off the New Year. Mercury retrograde in Capricorn is a review of where we are too rigid in our thinking. There’s a needed review of communication. It’s a continued questioning of rules, regulations, rigidity, and bossy behavior. How do people in positions of power, and each and every one of us personally, find more appropriate ways to dictate our influence and communicate with a more authentic voice of authority? Mercury retrograde in Capricorn wants to master skills and find ways to improve the workplace. There should be a searching for more practical results. Where is curiosity limited and how can we break through those limits? We have all had an appetizer course of Jupiter in Aries from May 11 through October 28 having had a sneak preview of its meaning. This time around will feel more like the main course. As I said earlier the biggest aspect in this chart is the angular Sun square Jupiter on the world axis in houses 7 and 10. While astrologers like to think the benefic Jupiter acting in more noble ways on his downside he can often pile on more shit and add fuel to a fire. Let’s see what continued new discoveries are brought to our awareness in the first quarter of 2023. There are new roads, paths and adventures and we must have the ability to face life anew. The country and the world need a facelift and Sun square Jupiter is just the energy required.  Tuesday, December 20th. Jupiter enters Aries. The greater benefic leaves Pisces, the last sign of the zodiac, where he’s been on a more internal, spiritual journey. In Pisces there’s been a quest for deeper meaning and compassion for the more introspective side of life and what steers our spiritual sojourn. We may have arrived at a new philosophy around our belief systems and what guides our higher will and purpose.
Jupiter in Aries is burning with new fire, zeal and energy. Aries is the sign of new beginnings, new adventures, new births, new outlook, new life and Jupiter just inflames all the above. Opportunities abound with this placement and there is so much to look forward to as Aries seeks new horizons in its visionary quest to conquer. There is hope and great expectations to seek a new outlook on life and have faith in the future. In whatever house Jupiter is entering there will be expanded confidence to take risks and seek creative expansion and new knowledge. The greater benefic will generally bestow blessings in this area of life. If Pisces is the most selfless sign of the zodiac then Aries is the most selfish. I don’t mean that negatively, although everything has a polarity. Jupiter will bring out the Aries desire for self-assertion and self- interest in more noble ways. If one is focused positively on oneself for self-improvement then it is far easier to help others in selfless ways. We have all had an appetizer course of Jupiter in Aries from May 11 through October 28 having had a sneak preview of its meaning. This time around will feel more like the main course. Here’s a quick rundown of the houses. The house that Jupiter travels through while in Aries now through May 15, 2023 will be the area of life that receives a boost of confidence, hope, optimism and sense of wonder. It will be where a fire is lit under your butt to take action in generally more positive and lucrative ways: House I – Your overall personality, physical appearance and outlook on life. How you put yourself out in the world publicly. This is your approach to life. Jupiter in this house seeks a new more open-minded identity. You have the opportunity to be more popular House II – Money, values, possessions and innate talent. You may care more about the earth and environment. A blessed feeling around abundance and being provided for. Jupiter in this house seeks material security. House III – Sibling, cousins, aunts, uncles, short distance travel, communication, education, writing, teaching, learning, the neighborhood, women of stature. Jupiter in this house seeks learning on the social and intellectual level. House IV – Home and family (physically and psychologically), history, the past, the parents, real estate, private comfort zone, ability to bond and form umbilical ties. Jupiter in this house seeks action on the emotional and soul level. House V – Children, fun, games, entertainment, recreation, hobbies, joy, dating, romance, sex, creative self-expression, sports. Jupiter in this house seeks identity security by a rebirth of vitality in that which brings us pleasure. House VI – work, health, pets, employees, servants, the daily routine, craftsmanship, skills, mentoring, learning, service. Jupiter in this house seeks new learning on the material level. House VII – social engagement, marriage, partnership, public noticeability and taste, artistic enterprises, joint enterprises, lower courts. Jupiter in this house seeks action on the social and intellectual level. House VIII – death, joint finances, taxes, sex, support from others, inheritance, taboos, hidden things, secrets, passions, the occult. Jupiter in this house seeks emotional and soul security. House IX – foreign travel, religion, university education, law and higher courts, philosophy, philanthropy, the higher mind. Jupiter in this house seeks learning on the level of identity. House X – status, career, reputation, recognition, public standing, authority figures, destiny, worldly achievement. Jupiter in this house seeks action on the material level. House XI – giving back to society, group endeavors, friends, public recognition of humanitarianism and charitable work, goals, good fortune, political affiliations, clubs, teams, future goals. Jupiter in this house seeks social and intellectual security. House XII – escape, imagination, institutions, imprisonment, second sight, hidden things, karma, spirituality, caught between two worlds, fantasy, cloistered places, healing, health, selfless humanitarianism and charity. Jupiter in this house seeks learning on the emotional and soul level.  Today is the Full Moon in Gemini, made more powerful since it occurs simultaneously with the occultation of Mars. Mars is perigee which means it’s furthest away from the Sun, yet closer to Earth. If you’re fortunate to have clear skies, you’ll be able to see Mars brightly rising in the East in direct opposition to the Sun as it sets in the West once the full moon wanes and passes. This will continue to be visible for most of December but is at its brightest now.
A lunar occultation occurs when the Moon passes in front of Mars and hides it from our view. It makes for an eclipse like feeling as Mars is blocked, acting in a roguish way that might feel out of control, invisible or behaving in unexpected and bombastic ways. Things and situations can be more intense. Expect the unexpected and watch what comes to light that you didn’t see coming. Mars has the ability to behave loudly, brashly and do harm if it’s acting out in unconscious ways. In world news we’ve seen this full moon occultation of Mars play out in the Ukrainian drone attacks against Russian military bases and the competitive race for the Georgia Senate seat between Raphael Warnock and Herschel Walker. The Moon represents your feelings, memories, unconscious habits, moods, reactions, mother, caregiving, nurturing, home, security needs, and the past. Mars is associated with confidence, self-assertion, aggression, violence, bravery, courage, sexuality, high energy levels, strength, ambition, competition and impulsiveness. It governs war, guns, sports, competitions, and physical activities in general. On a positive note, Moon conjuncts Mars provides the courage, confidence and initiative to act on passionate desires. There’s an urge to stand up for family, friends and loved ones. Fight for a cause you care about deeply. There can be an increase in personal charisma and sexual relations. The ability to act quickly on your feet and speak improvisatorially can come to your aid in situations requiring courage and bravery. On the negative side rash impulsiveness and impatience can make for powerful emotional outbursts and subconscious reactions that bubble to the surface in angry and inappropriate ways. There can be fights for control. The sign of Gemini suggests the air can be full of angry words and misguided communication. Anyone may quickly become angry, agitated, bossy, mean, rude or even violent. Irrationality, irritability combined with hot headedness and aggressive instincts can lead to unnecessary danger from risk-taking. Acting rashly can lead to accidents. The occultation of Mars dampens its fire which is why some of the more negative energies can manifest as Mars fights for a way to express itself. He’s not a planet that understands subtlety and finesse. Hidden knowledge and information is revealed leading to newly gained wisdom but this might not occur for several weeks or until after the retrograde ends on January 12. This is the time when we learn and discover how to integrate our Martian warrior energy in healthier ways. Where can you improve your personal power and leadership abilities? It’s time to review old, worn-out themes and bad habit patterns in order to build new mental muscle patterns. Find appropriate and healthy ways to release the over-abundance of testosterone through strenuous physical activity such as sports, exercise, and sex. Clean your house and help your Mother!! The retrograde of Mars is ideal for re-planning a new course of action towards reading, writing, teaching, education and learning. It’s time to press the reset button!  Saturday, November 12. We are several days past the lunar eclipse so certain things will slowly start to calm down as the week progresses. Election results will be decided, and there will be more answers or at least awareness of issues in our personal lives as well. I think the influence of Uranus being so close to the eclipse degree on Election Day had to do with many reversals in certain races. Mid-term elections are notorious for not going in favor of the incumbent president's party. This is the first mid-terms in a very, very long time that that didn't happen. It was assumed the democrats would lose many more races, thus leading to losing the house and senate, and that doesn't necessarily seem to be the trend. Uranus in this case was a reversal of the usual trend that we see in mid-term elections. Where in your personal life did you see a reversal in the usual playing out of events, behaviors and results?
Election results are still being tabulated so let’s see in the coming days if there is something out of the blue yet to come that takes us off guard. There could be more upsets, reversals and turnarounds. It isn’t over yet. We have also seen the liberation of Kherson City in Ukraine as the Russian army has retreated. Let's see if these victories continue over the coming months with a retrograde Mars while Uranus triggers the eclipse degree in late November, early December. The energy today and through the weekend is much more pleasant. The Cancer Moon makes flowing aspects to Uranus, Sol, Neptune and Mercury. Its opposition to Pluto will lend some balance to incorporating issues that have come to light that must be incorporated into the fabric of daily life. Venus in sextile to Pluto uncovers motivations and passions in relationships. There is an opportunity to take intimate relationships whether for pleasure or business to a more trusting and deeper level. |