By Kirsti Melto and Deirdre Tanton

Taurus is an earthy and fertile sign. It is the warm soil, where seeds sprout and grow in the spring. The Moon is exalted in Taurus. A planet in its exaltation is usually able to express its nature to the best advantage.

The New Moon at 15+ degrees of Taurus occurs on Beltane. Beltane is a cross-quarter day falling halfway between the vernal equinox and the summer solstice. Cross-quarter days originated as pagan holidays in Northern Europe and the British Isles. On Beltane the traditional summer begins. It is a time to celebrate life and renewal and a time of hope.

Walpurgis Night is a holiday celebrated on April 30 or May 1, in large parts of Central and Northern Europe. The festival is named after Saint Walpurga (born in Wessex in 710), who was declared a saint on May 1. In the Finnish and Swedish calendars the first of May is named after Saint Walpurga. Viking fertility celebrations took place around April 30. Because Walburga worship was similar to Viking spring celebration, the two dates became mixed together into one — the Walpurgis Night celebration.

In the Norse tradition, Walpurgis Night is considered the time when Odin, the chief god of the Norse pantheon, symbolically died to retrieve the knowledge of the runes. Odin hanged from Yggdrasil, the great cosmic ash tree, for nine days and nine nights as a sacrifice to master the runes. Odin’s death lasted until midnight, and then light returned to the world. The night was celebrated with large bonfires lighted around the countryside. It is said to be a time of weakness between the living and the dead, as on Samhain, a festival dedicated to the harvest and the dead. The living invited deceased friends and relatives to warm themselves by the Beltane fires. One of the bonfire’s purposes was purification. Cattle, the source of wealth in those days, were often led through the purifying smoke.

Maypoles remain common in Scandinavian countries today. The May Pole is a symbol of fertility and it also relates to Yggdrasil. The tree of life has its roots deep in the earth and its branches reaching toward heaven. Yggdrasil is linking the underworld, the world of the living, the heavens and numerous other realms.

The New Moon of May semisquares (45 degrees) the Aries Point and forms a sesquiquadrate (135 degrees) to Pluto. Both of these aspects resemble a square and they can be challenging. The New Moon is in quincunx to the Great Attractor, a powerful point outside our galaxy. The Great Attractor has a polarizing effect on people and situations.

In the New Moon chart asteroid Amor is in a delicious conjunction with Venus and the Centaur planet Asbolus. Venus is the ruler of Taurus. Amor is in the discovery degree of Chiron at 3 degrees of Taurus. Asbolus is the archetype of the survivor. According to Martha Lang-Wescott asteroid Amor tells about conditions that one places on unconditional love. Amor being conjunct Venus and Asbolus in Taurus, the conditions involve utmost loyalty as well as steadfast sensuality.

The Sun and Moon are conjunct asteroid Hephaistos. Amor is an alternate name for Cupid, son of Venus. In mythology Roman Vulcan, or Greek Hephaistos was god of fire who among other things manufactured Cupid’s arrows. Hephaistos was the artist god who worked in a smoky forge underneath a volcano. He became a patron of blacksmiths and artisans. He was also regarded as one who aided the spread of vegetation, because volcanic soil was generous especially for grapevine. The British occultist Alice A. Bailey proposes in her book, Esoteric Astrology, that the esoteric ruler of Taurus is Vulcan, “the one who goes down into the depths to find the material upon which to expend his innate art and to fashion that which is beautiful and useful.”

The Sun and Moon are opposite asteroid Pandora. In Greek mythology, Pandora was the first mortal woman. She was fashioned from clay by Hephaistos. According to the myth, Pandora had been forbidden to open a jar which contained all the evils of mankind. The gods had concealed among the evil spirits one kindly creature, Hope, whose mission was to heal the wounds inflicted by the evils. Pandora was curious and could not resist opening the jar, and so the evils got loose; only hope was left inside. Astrologically Pandora represents curiosity, unexpected consequences, and hope. She can suddenly throw you on an entirely new path.

Myths are alive and can change over time. The story of Pandora was repeated on Greek ceramics. On a fifth century amphora Pandora is depicted emerging from the earth; she is the Earth, a divine giver. Over time this life-bringing goddess devolved into a human who released misery into the world. This may reflect a shift from matriarchy to patriarchy in Greek culture.

Planting a seed in the warm Taurean soil on this New Moon may yield a stable new sprout, perhaps leading to an abundant harvest. Let us rejoice and enjoy the generous gifts of the Earth.

By Kirsti Melto and Eric Francis

The Full Moon occurs in the first degree of Scorpio, the sign of mysteries of life and death. The Sun ingresses Taurus, the opposite sign, on the day before the Full Moon. Any planet in the first degree of a sign is effective, and a lunation happening here is a significant one. This is emphasized by the fact that we are going to experience two Scorpio Full Moons in consecutive months, this one being the first of them. The other one occurs in May in the last degree of Scorpio.

This is a passionate Full Moon. Scorpio is a sign of great recourses and strength. It is the sex sign of the zodiac. Besides creativeness and other positive manifestations which this sign is capable to produce, the Moon located in it can also yield to power struggles, obsessions, jealousy and control dramas over money, sex and other issues which usually stay hidden deep down in the unconscious. These kinds of emotions need to be directed in a constructive way. The Scorpio Moon herself acts as a helpful guide in this.

There are two very accurate aspect patterns in the chart. Firstly, the Sun and Moon are involved in a kite configuration. Secondly, Mars, Jupiter and Eris form a T-square in cardinal signs.

A grand trine occurs when three planets are in the same element, with close degree numbers to one another. Trine is harmonious and flowing, and the planets in question work in an agreement. It represents cyclical motion, and a cycle that tends to hold its focus, for good or for ill. When a grand trine is present, it’s important to watch the patterns we are creating in our lives. The Sun in Taurus, Saturn in Virgo and Pluto in Capricorn form a grand trine in Earth. The earth signs are physical in nature and deal with affairs of the material world. A grand trine in Earth is about maintaining security and stability.

A kite aspect pattern is a grand trine, but in addition there is a planet at the midpoint of any two planets. This point of the kite — the Moon — is the place where you can go for information about how to get out of an endless loop of the grand trine. The Sun-Moon opposition is the backbone of the configuration. The Moon forms a harmonious sextile to Pluto, the great transformer, the modern ruler of Scorpio.

We have some portents of feminine progress or change. Juno, the queen of heaven in the last degree of Sagittarius, is in conjuction with Pluto, the lord of the underworld. Juno represents values around marriage and legal relationship, partnership dynamics, commitment and the ways we keep score in relationships. The Juno-Pluto conjunction gives a notion as if marriage itself would be in transformation. Our partners may be going through irreversible changes.

The Roman goddess Juno was queen of the gods and the loyal wife of Jupiter. Juno protected the finances of the Roman Empire as Juno Moneta. Lucina was an epithet for Juno as “she who brings children into the light”. Juno, in the form of the Greek Hera, is also present in the myth of Eris and the Apple of Discord.

Eris was the goddess of discord, who indirectly caused the Trojan War; one of the greatest wars in Greek mythology. Because of her troublemaking tendencies, she had not been invited at a big wedding party to which all the other gods and goddesses, including Hera, Athena and Aphrodite attended. In her anger, Eris tossed into the party the Apple of Discord, a golden apple addressed “To the Fairest One”, provoking thus a quarrel about the appropriate recipient. Eris’ act and the pride of the other goddesses resulted in the Trojan War.

The dwarf planet Eris in Aries is squared by Mars in Cancer and Jupiter in Capricorn. Mars, the ancient ruler of Scorpio, is in applying opposition with Jupiter. The opposition will be exact on April 24. These planets form a T-square in cardinal signs. The challenge of the T-square is the missing leg of the cross in Libra. Seek for the balance from diplomacy, compromising and other Libran traits.

Interestingly, two other rivals of Juno aspiring the golden apple in the myth: Venus (the goddess of love) and Pallas Athene (the goddess of protection), are approaching in conjunction with Eris (the goddess of strife).

Chiron in Aquarius is applying a sextile to Eris. By the second Scorpio Full Moon in May this aspect has become very accurate. The most important keyword for Chiron is awareness. Chiron presents opportunities to become curious, conscious and aware. Chiron is dedicated to healing and service. We can use the Scorpionic power of this Full Moon to heal our relationships with others.

By Kirsti Melto and Eric Francis

The first New Moon of the new astrological year is a great time for new beginnings.

The New Moon in Aries tightly opposes the asteroid Astraea in Libra, indicating that we need to meet our conscience face to face and weigh our actions on the scales of justice. In mythology, Astraea was a personification of justice. She was the last of the immortals to live with humans during the Golden Age. As mankind became wicked, she was the last to stay on Earth. Zeus then placed her amongst the stars as the constellation Virgo. The scales of justice she carried became the constellation of Libra.

Venus is in the last degree of Pisces about to enter the Aries Point — a point which is the intersection of personal responsibility and collective movement — within a couple of hours after the New Moon. Venus squares the now retrograding Pluto in early Capricorn.

The Sun and Moon form a sesquisquare aspect to Saturn. Icarus, an asteroid from the Apollo group, opposes Saturn. At its perihelion Icarus gets closer to the Sun than Mercury. It is named after Icarus of Greek mythology, who flew too close to the Sun. Astrologically Icarus can represent a desire to break free, or take a risk, so the current opposition to Saturn in the Mercury-ruled Virgo may increase willingness to break some customary behavioral or mental patterns. Mythological Icarus flew high, so asteroid Icarus can also point to matters where we possibly want to have a broad perspective.

The Moon and Mars are occupying one another’s signs. They are in mutual reception which means that they can, in a way, switch places or roles, thus leaving them bound with a kind of shared role or obligation. Mars is in conjunction with asteroid Apollo, the namesake of the earlier mentioned Apollo asteroids. Apollo’s orbital period is 1.8 years. Its rotation period is slightly over three hours and the speed is slowly but steadily increasing because of the solar radiation from Apollo’s surface, amounting to one extra rotation cycle in just 40 years.

In mythology Apollo is a Sun god. He represents harmony, order and reason, while Dionysus, god of wine, represents ecstasy and disorder. The Greeks considered the two gods like brothers, and while Apollo spent his winter months in Hyperborea, a mythical land in the distant north, he left the oracle at Delphi to Dionysus in the meanwhile. Apollo was said to return at the beginning of spring.

Astrologically asteroid Apollo is a light-bringer in other ways than the Sun, the centre of our solar system. It may represent something of the inner quality or talent of seeing the light where others might not see it, in the strangest of places if you look for it right. Martha Lang-Wescott has proposed that it may symbolize provocation or going against the odds. It can be very useful in allowing one to tackle situations where the odds of success are small.

In Aries we find also Mercury and Pallas Athene. Pallas, one of the first asteroids, is about protection, strategy, law and government. Pallas Athene was a warrior goddess and the goddess of wisdom.

Asteroid Photographica in the first degree of Libra is in connection with the Aries Point and Pluto. Photographica deals with visual imagery, often literally with all things photographic. We saw a startling symbol of these aspects last week in the photo taken from the Icarus perspective showing the massive ice shelf in Antarctica on the verge of breaking up due to global warming.

Climate change is now officially a human rights issue, as the UN Human Rights Council has passed a resolution on the subject, recognizing that the world’s poor are particularly vulnerable. The human rights of millions of people may be threatened. The council describes climate change as a “global problem that requires a global solution.”

The Oort cloud object Sedna at 20+ degrees Taurus is currently receiving several aspects. She forms a Grand Trine in Earth with Jupiter in Capricorn and Logos in Virgo. Sedna squares Chiron in Aquarius, sextiles Uranus in Pisces and semisextiles Eris in Aries.

Sedna was discovered in 2003 and named in honor of the Inuit goddess of the sea. Sedna is something very unusual in our solar system with her extremely long orbital period of more than 10,000 years. Interesting that it was conjunct Chiron in early Taurus at the time of Chiron’s discovery, and as such can be counted as part of the “rainbow bridge” reality that Chiron represents.

Sedna reminds us about the warming of the climate. Astrologer Karen Hamaker-Zondag has noted that Sedna wants to be known. She gives us subtle warnings. If we don’t pay attention to her, we may have to deal with her strength.

Asteroid Karma at 20+ degrees Gemini makes a quincunx to Jupiter, trines Chiron, squares Uranus and Logos, sextiles Eris and semisextiles Sedna. Karma is a main-belt asteroid discovered in 1953 by Finnish astronomer Liisi Oterma. If talking spiritually “karma” is the law of cause and effect under which every action we take has consequences. Also the lack of action, or lack of awareness where we should have it, counts. The concept of “wyrd” in the Northern tradition corresponds roughly to the principle of karma. Wyrd is a concept according to which past actions continually affect and condition the future. The web of wyrd is not fixed, it is flexible, and by conscious intervention we can affect the outcome.

On March 29 cities all over the world went dark for 60 minutes to mark Earth Hour, a worldwide campaign to highlight the waste of electricity and the threat of climate change. “What’s amazing is that it’s transcending political boundaries — it really seems to have resonated with anybody and everybody,” said Andy Ridley, Executive Director of Earth Hour.

Small gestures and decisions can make a big difference. With the assistance of the light of Apollo we can go against the odds.

by Eric Francis

Today’s Full Moon forms an exact square to Pluto, which arrived in Capricorn in late January. Till now it has managed to stay out of the spotlight; it is now very much in the glow. Today the Moon opposes the Sun (also called the Full Moon), and both the Sun and Moon are square Pluto. All three points meet one another at opposing or right angles. In addition Mars in Cancer is still opposite Pluto, so the Sun and Moon will square Mars as well. This is dramatic, and it can be shocking. Full Moons tend to precipitate events; square aspects tend to do the same thing. There is nothing like a Full Moon to set off a knock effect and make the positions of other planets reveal their full strength and implicit themes, and this is what we are seeing.

Sign changes of Pluto always throw society into a new gear, and since we’re all on the bus, we all come along. However, exceedingly few people feel like their lives are part of something larger. We tend to take everything directly, personally, and forget that there is a greater scheme out there; that personal and global events are inseparably joined.

Pluto does not change signs often: in the current era, it occurs about every 12 to 15 years. When Pluto makes a move, we typically find ourselves in one of those “everything is changing at once” moments. This is what’s happening right now. But this is having some very specific expressions, all of them relating to Pluto and Capricorn joining forces — the rearrangement of structure.

The setup involves something called the Aries Point. Simply, this is the first degree of Aries — where the Sun arrived Thursday as it entered Aries. This first degree of Aries is always active. Any time a planet arrives in that degree, or makes a square or opposition to that degree, we can notice the effect. After watching the point for years, I gave it the key phrase “the personal is political.” (This phrase was coined in the Sixties by the radical feminist group Red Stockings; I have adapted it to astrology.)

When astrologers say that a planet or event is “on the Aries Point,” they typically mean that it’s in the first few degrees of Aries, Cancer, Libra or Capricorn — one of the four cardinal signs or cardinal points, also called the four directions. And because Pluto is sitting right in the beginning of Capricorn, it qualifies, and in reality so does Mars in early Cancer. The combined effect of Sun + Moon + Pluto + Mars + Aries Point is what we are witnessing now. Other factors that have been lurking in the background are making themselves known as well.

Pluto is the tiny anti-planet that so many people love to hate. Despite the recent discovery and naming of Eris, Pluto remains the final arbiter in the current scheme of the cosmic psyche, the bottom line relating to sex, death, money and power. When we break through this rather congested, tumultuous dimension of reality, we can can come out somewhere known as The Self.

Eris points us to how confused we are about that little detail. She is the patron saint of the postmodern identity crisis; when we feel clueless about our sense of self, sense of mission or inner orientation, this is Eris speaking. When we take advantage of this chaos and turn it to the fertile void, this is a journey we can allow Eris to guide us through.

Eris liberates us into a sense of life. The problem is, we choose death again and again; that is, we choose the dark side of Pluto.

Pluto is the cleanup man, or maybe the wrecking ball; he has the solution, or maybe the dissolution; he represents the inevitable; he has the power to drop the World Trade Center like a couple of marionettes (that was a particularly potent Pluto + Aries Point event).

Capricorn is the sign that represents the structure of society; it represents history and tradition and old institutions; it represents our relationship to the material world. Pluto entering this sign is promising deep, sweeping changes to the fragile material world that we have known for most of our lives, a world we have long wondered whether it could continue for much more time

During the Pluto in Sagittarius era, we witnessed nearly nonstop expansion, globalism and a prevailing philosophy of optimism, despite another prevailing philosophy of terrorism. (Sagittarius is the sign of “isms.”) Now that Pluto is in Capricorn, we are seeing contraction, pessimism, restructuring and a serious wake-up call to the more grounded realities of an earth sign.

By Kirsti Melto and Eric Francis

New Moon in Pisces — March 7, 2008, 17:14 UT.

MAKE ROOM for divine madness and get ready for the Bacchanalia, held in a “gigantic tent.” The stars are now inviting you to a wild party. The Bacchanalia were wild and mystic festivals held in March in honor of the Roman and Greek god Bacchus.

The Sabian Symbol for this New Moon is Pisces 18 A gigantic tent. (The Sabian Symbols are a degree-by-degree symbolic reference system that helps illustrate and demonstrate the level of astrology that is symbolic). This is what Dr. Marc Edmund Jones says about this symbol:

“This is a symbol of the completeness with which man is able to see his experience both steadily and whole, dramatized here by the circus as representing an utterly naive intensification of self-consciousness. The totality of life is brought to some single center in every moment of true excitement or total sharing of skills and risks, and each individual at such times has a renewed insight into his capacity for putting his world in order for his ultimate on-going as well as for his immediate entertainment. The keyword is apportionment.”

On this New Moon of March, planets and asteroids have gathered in a razzle stellium in Pisces — like the colorful crowd accompanying Bacchus on his travels. Pisces is the last sign of the zodiac; winter is soon turning to spring in the Northern Hemisphere, and a new cycle of life is about to begin. Worship of Bacchus was related to the cycle of seasons and to the renewal of nature. Bacchus was also the patron deity of the theatre, which is one of the more Piscean activities.

The Sun and Moon are closely conjunct the rebellious and experimenting Uranus. In the same degree with Uranus there are two asteroids, Child and Bacchus. Also Vesta and asteroid Orpheus are in Pisces.

Asteroid Child can relate to one’s experiences as a child, but it also can indicate childish reactions, or stir up the childlike spirit within.

Asteroid Bacchus is named after the Roman god of wine, fertility and inspired madness. It was discovered in April 1977 by Charles T. Kowal (the same guy who later on the same year discovered Chiron). The god Bacchus was known by various names. He was also called Dionysus or Liber (also Liber Pater). He is the liberator who frees one from one’s normal self by madness, ecstasy, or wine. In Roman mythology, Liber was originally associated with husbandry and crops, but then was assimilated with Dionysus.

In art, Dionysus is usually depicted as a young, attractive and feminine man, wearing a crown made of vine leaves and grapes and holding a staff. He traveled from land to land, taught people farming and the art of making wine, and he spread drunken ecstasy and disorder everywhere he went. He was followed by singing, noisy, unruly revelers, many of them women. Peak experiences, pushing things past the limits, divine inspiration, wildness, excess, altered states, intoxication, alcohol, drugs, and escapism are attributes that can be associated with Bacchus/Dionysus. The archetype has a strong Neptunian association but the energetic intensity involved is similar to Pluto and Chiron.

Bacchus was the consort of Ceres and the father of the fertility goddess Libera, who is associated with Persephone of Greek mythology. At the moment asteroid Libera is also in Pisces in close conjunction with the Sun, Moon and Bacchus. In Taurus we find asteroids Ceres and Dionysus in conjunction. They are opposing Pandora and Psyche also in conjunction in the corresponding degrees of Scorpio. These aspects are echoing the unpredictable nature of this chart.

Pandora relates to curiosity. “Pandora’s box” is a familiar concept — we may face unexpected consequences for our actions or be getting something else than what we asked for.

Psyche points to psychological wounds and traumas and talks about the sense of oneself as having a wound that cannot be healed. It can be healed, of course, and Psyche can represent the key to finding how to resolve the negative thought pattern.

Vesta is the brightest of asteroids, and is now in Pisces as well. She is the goddess of the hearth. Vesta represents the core creative and erotic human fire. She is about tending a flame as part of a collective responsibility, and there is something impersonal about Vesta’s energy. She brings in the Piscean themes of sex and service.

Asteroid Orpheus in Pisces is opposing Saturn in Virgo. In mythology Orpheus was a magical musician and poet. His lyre and sweet voice could charm even wild animals and make rocks and trees dance. He was one of the Argonauts, and it was his music which prevented the crew of the ship Argo from being lured to destruction by the Sirens. Orpheus is also said to be the founder of the Orphic religious cult. The Orphic Mysteries were comparable to and linked with the Dionysian Mysteries. Orphics also revered Persephone and Dionysus or Bacchus.

When Orpheus’ wife Eurydice died of a snake bite, Orpheus descended to the underworld. His songs were so beautiful that Hades agreed to allow Eurydice to return to the world with Orpheus. There was one condition: he must not look back on their way back to the surface. Nonetheless Orpheus looked back and lost Eurydice again. In astrology Orpheus is often associated with sorrow, loss and grief, but also with power of music and lyrics. When we allow a change and move into a new phase, we may feel sadness because we know that at the same time we have to leave something behind us. Pisces is the sign of art, music and poetry, and Orpheus in Pisces can simply symbolize an exceptional art experience.

In Aquarius we have another impressive stellium. Chiron, Mercury, Neptune and Venus are in conjunction in vicinity of the North Node. Asteroid Lilith is close to the Node and asteroid Icarus occupies the same degree with Chiron. The Sun, Moon and Uranus are semisextile to the Chiron-Icarus conjunction.

Asteroid Lilith tells about the original woman inside the woman. It is her deeper idea of herself and, in the chart of a man, his deeper idea of what a woman is, and how he relates to her. Lilith can also represent the crisis that “being the real me” brings into the lives of both women and men.

Asteroid Icarus speaks about peak experiences, desire to break free or take a risk. Icarus can point to matters where you possibly want to have a lot of perspective. A broad perspective available is also one of the distinct qualities available in Pisces. In the Greek myth Daedalus and his son Icarus were imprisoned. They were able to escape with wings that Daedalus prepared for them. Daedalus warned Icarus not to fly too high or the Sun would melt the wax he had used on the wings. Icarus forgot the warning, the wax melted, and Icarus fell down into the sea.

Pay attention to the tight Mars-Pluto opposition aligned with the cardinal points, an aspect which adds some more explosive energy to this lunation. The cardinal points are the first degrees of the cardinal signs — hot spots related to the Aries Point. The cardinal points join individuals with the collective. At the Aries Point we are having a strong protective image though, Pallas Athene together with Bienor. Pallas is the archetype of strategy, law, protection and wisdom.

Jupiter-Varuna opposition offers another protective image in the chart. Jupiter, the traditional ruler of Pisces forms a harmonious sextile to the New Moon cluster. Varuna — an energy which is too large to comprehend, but which somehow touches us personally — forms a flowing trine to it. Varuna can be thought as a force that we invoke personally; we can ask for the help of this seemingly invisible energy, and it responds.

By Kirsti Melto and Eric Francis

Full Moon in Virgo — February 21, 2008, 03:31 UT

ALL ECLIPSES give us a chance to enter into a new territory. A potent total lunar eclipse on Feb. 20 (in the States) 21 (in the UK and Europe) occurs in the second degree of Virgo. It takes place in a region called the Sphinx Point on the Leo-Virgo cusp, one of the most fertile places of the zodiac. It is a place where passion meets mind.

The Moon here adds extra feminine energy into the blend, though the Sun plays an important counterpoint, balancing out the lunar energy. The part-imaginary, part-real zones where two astrological signs meet are always interesting because the transition between two different energies releases a lot of potential for originality. Leo to Virgo is helpful because it emphasizes the discipline necessary to sustain creativity.

Virgo is one of the signs associated with Chiron, and Chiron heals through raising awareness. In the eclipse chart Chiron at 17+ degrees Aquarius makes precise aspects to several planets: a semisextile (30-degree meeting, or one sigh away) Uranus in Pisces, burning with curiosity; it makes a square to the nurturing Ceres in Taurus, challenging us to meet our body’s needs; and a quincunx to Varuna, the great equalizer, in Cancer.

Planets are still grouped in Aquarius, one of the signs of technology. Besides Chiron there are Mercury (now direct), Nessus, Neptune and the North Node. Venus entered Aquarius on Feb. 17 putting the emphasis on companionship and independence in relationships.

The eclipse chart’s Sun is still in a wide conjunction with imaginative Neptune in Aquarius, the ruler of Pisces. The Sun is exactly conjunct sparkling Vesta, the brightest of asteroids. Retrograding Saturn in Virgo in opposition to these planets and conjunct the Full Moon gives the necessary grounding.

The Moon is conjunct Saturn and both are trine Pluto in early Capricorn. This is a gentle invitation to deal with reality.

Pluto is square Bienor at the Aries Point, an aspect which will be in place for a long time because both Pluto and Bienor move so slowly. Bienor carries the idea of whether we put our strength to work for us, or against us.

Mars in Gemini, which recently stationed direct, is very close to its last opposition to the Galactic Core for this cycle. Here, the energy of the warrior and of desire is trying to decide what it wants. Gemini often represents a decision; the Galactic Core, looking back at Mars, is a question of how we conceive of desire as part of a self-image. We tend to think of it as “unspiritual,” without recognizing that without the engine of desire deep in the human psyche, little would happen on our planet.

Soon, Mars opposes Pluto in Capricorn for the third time. This represents the long working out of some kind of confrontation. Situations that seem highly polarized now will seem less so after these two important oppositions — Moon to Sun and Mars to Pluto — work themselves out.

Mars in late Gemini is square Pallas in Pisces, the asteroid of mind. Pallas is the archetype of strategy, law, wisdom and protection. So this is a question of whether what we want goes along with out strategy for how to get it. For sure, the question will arise.

Asteroid Atlantis, one of the minor planets representing technology, is retrograde in the late degrees of Libra, hovering over the cusp of Scorpio — the sign ruled by Pluto and Mars. Atlantis carries a theme of “whether we are all doomed” or something imminent that may be in our imagination, or lurking in our DNA from ancient history. Still, it often seems that our current world leaders bear some resemblance to the Atlantians who did not know better than to ease off on their greed and do something productive with all the technological power they had in their hands.

We till have a chance to learn. We might ask — do we use our technology for beauty? Or do we merely use it for power and profit? Beauty seems the way to go, and the cosmos will surely be offering something unusual, passionate and aesthetically beautiful in the form of tonight’s total eclipse of the Moon.

By Kirsti Melto and Eric Francis

New Moon in Aquarius — February 7, 2008, 03:44:27 UT

WE ARE in the middle of a transition to a new area of space, time and history. Pluto, the planet of transcendence and evolution, is newly arrived in Capricorn, one of the cardinal signs. Pluto’s movements mark the long eras in astrology, and Pluto will shuttle back into Sagittarius for one more stay midyear, before returning to Capricorn for good in the autumn. Mercury has recently stationed retrograde, and earlier this week, Mars stationed direct in Gemini.

Pluto, for its part, is currently tightly square the Aries Point, the first degree of Aries. Whenever the Aries Point is involved in an astrological setup, the news tends to have a personal feel to it, and events tend to affect a lot of people. For evidence of this, we need look no further than the primary elections in the United States, all of which are coming to a head in the next week or so. The Capricorn connection is that governments, corporations and anything that hangs onto tradition (such as large institutions like the Church of Rome) are subject to profound changes, restructuring and other forms of transformation in the coming years, in an era that has its roots in the current moment.

Highlighting this transition is the Aquarius New Moon of Thursday, Feb. 7, which is a potent annular solar eclipse. Potent means that the eclipse is conjunct many planets. Chiron, Nessus, Mercury retrograde, Neptune and asteroids Lilith, Bacchus and Vesta, have all accumulated in Aquarius and are in direct alignment with this event, which brings in many themes, all of which are bound by the signs Aquarius. Of note, the solar eclipse takes place at the peak of Mercury retrograde, the interior conjunction of the Sun and Mercury which is exactly less than ten hours before the eclipse.

Eclipses occur twice a year, when the Sun is near one of the lunar nodes. They usually come in pairs, solar and lunar. The corresponding lunar eclipse occurs in Virgo on Feb. 20. The current eclipse takes place on the North Node of the Moon, pushing its way into the future. The North Node, like the eclipse itself, is in Aquarius, the sign associated with social patterns and technology. It is interesting that so many of our social patterns are now integrated with the digital world. Many people have many things to say about this. Does digital technology bring us closer together, or does it alienate us? Does it enhance communication, or does it give us the cop-out of the “delete” button and the constantly changing online profile?

Whatever may be the answer to these questions — questions which deserve asking — we need to recognize that we are indeed immersed in the digital world. That the members of our species with the most active minds are integrated with the technosphere, and that this is developing faster than we can currently control. More to the point, the leaders of the world are rapidly amassing technological power, ranging from unprecedented surveillance ability to nanotechnology capable of being injected as serum into our bodies. We are simply NOT seriously considering the effects of these things; we are, for the most part, unknowingly swallowing the red pill and diving straight into the Matrix.

In this discussion of technology, we need to look at two planets distinctly associated with the topic. One is a distant trans-Neptunian named Logos. Another is an asteroid called Atlantis. Logos is situated in Virgo, where it will be for a long time. It is currently square the centaur Cyllarus (”out of nowhere”) and opposite Pallas (politics, strategy). Needless to say, we must be aware of the rising tide of technological strategy of large entities like the government and the corporations it employs.

Then there is Atlantis, which addresses the use and misuse of technology, and the feeling of imminent doom. Atlantis would include distortions of science. Atlantis is in late Libra, about to change signs into Scorpio, where it will make a series of squares to the Aquarius stellium. This will likely call to light certain less savory aspects of our technology situation.

The Canadian professor and media philosopher Marshall McLuhan (1911-1980) explained that any environment tends to be invisible. A media environment is so pervasive that we don’t see it. He devised many methods of sensing and making sense out of our media environment, one of which was a series of four questions that he called the “tetrad.” We can apply them to the digital world, which is a kind of conducting medium for thought, images and ideas:

* What does the medium enhance?
* What does the medium make obsolete?
* What does the medium retrieve that had been obsolesced earlier?
* What does the medium flip into when pushed to extremes?

We could add, what is the mediums effect on our perception of time and our sense of identity? This, we need to ask as the Aquarius eclipse blows through the neighborhood, whisking us into a new phase of history. Aquarius always directs us to ask how we fit into groups that surround us. Are we more or less able to be ourselves? Are we free to think, feel and be? These are the things to ask yourself.

Here are some additional technical notes.

Later in the day of the eclipse, the Moon conjoins Neptune. This specific conjunction is also a kind of eclipse, called an occultation — so we have a double eclipse. The Moon will pass directly over the face of Neptune, rather than slightly above or below. In 2008 there is an occultation of Neptune by the Moon in every month except December — it’s a lot of eclipse energy in Aquarius! And a lot of Neptune.

Chiron and Mercury in the middle of Aquarius are forming a semisquare — a trigger aspect — to the Aries Point and thus raising our awareness of the choices and opportunities.

Bienor, a small Uranus-crosser discovered in 2000 in Chiron’s class is at the Aries Point, and ingresses Aries the day following the eclipse. Its name means “strong one.” It will remain in a square to Pluto for years.

There is not much told about Bienor in mythology. Bienor was one of the Centaurs that attended the Lapith king Pirithous’ wedding. Centaurs and the Lapiths started to fight and many of the Centaurs died in this battle. Ovid describes in Metamorphoses how Pirithous’ friend Theseus leaps upon the back of Bienor, and how Bienor gets killed by Theseus. “…He leaps upon the back of tall Bienor, never trained to carry riders…” There is something unique in his death, because Bienor is the only Centaur who dies in this way, somebody jumping upon the back of a Centaur. Centaurs were wild creatures, and this image painted before our eyes resembles a bit taming of a wild horse — in a way an insulting act, which at the same time represents something positive.

Perhaps the myth points us to look for the meaning of Centaur planet Bienor in connection of events that have been unique and happened for the first time in the history of mankind.

In the chart of the first lunar landing in July 1969, when the lunar module Eagle landed on the Sea of Tranquility, the Moon was in early degrees of Libra with Bienor (opposing the Aries Point), mirroring two things: the strong men who bravely set out for the Moon; and the strong feelings involved in this event, not just in the USA but worldwide. More than 700 million people saw the event on television (a new record at the time), including Buzz Aldrin testing methods for moving around, going back and forth in front of the camera the way a horse gallops. Jupiter and Uranus were in conjunction in Libra, exactly opposite the Aries Point. The experience was not just historical for the mankind, but also highly personal for the men who walked on the Moon. They were personal to us, like members of our families.

The following could be more recent examples of the news now that Bienor has been conjuncting the Aries Point:

In January 2008 solar physicists announced the beginning of a new solar cycle. The Sun’s poles may be crucial to studies of the solar cycle. On Jan. 14, the Ulysses spacecraft was flying over a key region of solar activity, the Sun’s North Pole, something never done before at the onset of a new solar cycle.

Also in January 2008, an image taken by NASA’s Messenger probe revealed something we had never seen before: a first look at the previously unseen side of the planet Mercury after a Jan. 14, 2008 flyby.

Bienor may be associated with the strength of mankind expressed through technology, and when we combine it with the Aries Point, it affects “everyman.” Let’s not only hope and pray, but take concrete action to create technological justice.

By Kirsti Melto and Eric Francis

THE MOON AND SUN will soon oppose each other in the early degrees of Leo and Aquarius, respectively. This is the Full Moon. It always happens with the two lights, or luminaries, in opposing signs, activating a full polarity. Leo and Aquarius deal with self-consciousness and group-consciousness. The Moon in Leo can have a dramatizing feeling in it.

This is the last Full Moon before Pluto ingresses Capricorn, the sign that represents corporations, government and the structure of society. It is also the last Full Moon before a series of eclipses. Pluto then aligns with the position of the winter solstice Sun, which brings in something called the Aries Point. In other words, we are about to experience a Full Moon on the brink of both eclipses and Aries Point events, and the total result may be dramatic or precipitous.

In the Full Moon chart, Pluto is in the challenging last degree of Sagittarius (the last degree of any sign is transitional, and humans tend to have difficulty adapting to change). But this degree has an interesting Sabian symbol, apropos of Sagittarius: The Pope blessing the faithful. It’s as if we made it this far on this seemingly endless Sagittarian journey, we get to experience some reward or blessing for our sustained faith and conscious effort.

Venus, meanwhile, is conjunct the Galactic Core — take it as you will, the planet of love, abundance and eroticism conjunct the Source at the core of our galaxy. It forms an exact conjunction to Pluto close to the eve of Pluto’s transit into Capricorn.

So this chart contains the energy of that combined transit — Venus plus Pluto plus the Galactic Core. The three are square the Aries Point (the potent first degree of Aries). This suggests some kind of cultural struggle where love, lust, sex and our notion of spirituality (the conjunction) challenge that of the prevailing culture (the Aries Point).

Remember that Pluto is a binary planet. Its binary nature reminds us that there are two sides to the story. One of the earliest works on Pluto, called Pluto or Minerva: The Choice is Yours by Isabel M. Hickey (published in 1973) proposed that there are two sides to Pluto. One what we normally think of as the Plutonian aspect of Pluto (intense, dark, shadowy, irresistible), and then the wisdom aspect, which she described as Minerva, or wisdom. “In unevolved souls,” she wrote, “Venus-Pluto contacts are often indicative of those who tie sex and money together.”

However, she adds, “There is a potentiality for universal love when the Minerva aspect is in operation. This is the love principle that is able to transcend ethnic, racial, cultural and social barriers.”

Notably, Mars retrograde is opposing Venus, Pluto and the Galactic Core. The Mars-Pluto opposition can be forceful and needs to be handled carefully. The opposition emphasizes the diametrically opposed viewpoints we think of men and women as having. Given that the “female” side of the equation is conjunct God, Lust and Wisdom, and the “male” side is in Gemini, we need to remember that these two supposedly distinct viewpoints are not as simplistic as they may seem.

Mars conjuncts Centaur planet Cyllarus, who reminds us to be conscious of the choices we are making in our lives — particularly the choice to fight, or walk away from one. Cyllarus says that the decisions we make directly affect our relationships, and we need to be conscious of our choices in this context.

Mercury, which is already in its echo phase preparing for a retrograde, is in exact conjunction with Neptune in Aquarius. This can be an excellent aspect for artistic work, but also be associated with idealizing things or telling lies. Focus your creative on that which calls for it, and ride that Mercury conjunct Neptune to stations retrograde on Jan. 28.

Jupiter in Capricorn is in close trine to Saturn. This suggests that the two biggest planets — one representing structure (Saturn) and the other representing expansion (Jupiter) are working together. With a trine, we get the feeling of a door or energy pathway opening, and the planets can be mutually supportive.

All in all, we are in a doorway with this Full Moon represented by Pluto about to enter Capricorn, and being on the verge of two eclipses. Pay attention and transition gently. You have gained momentum, and now you can let the cosmic movement carry you through the opening.

By Kirsti Melto and Eric Francis

WE ARE currently in an extended phase of Aries Point events. The first New Moon of the New Year falls at 17+ degrees of Capricorn, in one of the cardinal signs, and qualifies for an Aries Point event. The news is reflecting the astrological Aries Point theme “personal is political”, telling about global events that can have profoundly personal implications and lasting effects through time. Some asteroid positions in the chart are subtly reminding us to be vigilant about what we read and see.

Most of the major planets and also many important minor planets are concentrated in the last four signs of the chart wheel, from Sagittarius to Pisces.

The New Moon sextiles Uranus, asteroid Kassandra in Pisces, and asteroid Hidalgo in Scorpio. Thus the Sun and the Moon are in the midpoint of those planets. A midpoint is the point located halfway between two planets, the point that integrates the energies of the planets in question. Transits to the midpoint can be important.

Asteroid 114 Kassandra is a large and dark main belt asteroid, named after Cassandra, the prophetess in the tales of the Trojan War. Kassandra is the syndrome wherein nobody believes you if you tell the truth but everyone believes you if you make up stories. People often believe stories more than they believe the truth. Kassandra asks you to be cautious about what others say.

Asteroid 944 Hidalgo has the longest orbital period (13.8 years) of any asteroid in the traditional asteroid belt. It is named for the father of the Mexican Revolution, Miguel Hidalgo, and a priest and rebel leader. Hidalgo, one of the most complex asteroids, works on a large scale and has a Sagittarian flavor. Hidalgo is dealing with themes of rebelling against hypocrisy and saying what’s on your mind. Hidalgo speaks to the perplexing hypocrisies presented to us by culture, the ones we have to swallow every day and are often humiliated in doing so. Hidalgo is about our response to absurd social hypocrisies, whether or not we revolt against them, and how we do it.

The New Moon opposes Varuna, a cubewano discovered in 2000 and named after a supreme pre-Vedic deity. He has influence in the levels of seas, streams and rivers, and most meaningfully, the failure to be responsible for our actions. He deals with the punishment of liars and is responsible for punishing those who don’t honor contracts. Varuna is “the great equalizer”, calling us to take both personal and collective responsibility for our world.

The New Moon squares Eris, which just has stationed direct in Aries.

Pluto, the prime mover of human progress, is in the last degree of Sagittarius and Jupiter with its expansive tendencies in early Capricorn are square the Aries Point. Two main belt asteroids, 896 Sphinx and 128 Nemesis are also in the same grouping. Sphinx can represent great mysteries, but also missing information. In mythology Nemesis was the goddess of rightful indignation. She was daughter of Nyx, Queen of Night, as was Eris. Nemesis is said to have directed human affairs in such a way as to maintain equilibrium and she made sure that humans respected the natural laws. The position of the asteroid in the birth chart is said to symbolize our conscience and guide us towards right action. If we don’t pay attention to her, then we have to deal with the consequences.

Retrograding Mars in Cancer opposes the above-mentioned planets square the Aries Point. The Mars-Pluto opposition can be forceful, even fatal, and needs to be handled carefully.

Mercury has entered Aquarius just before the New Moon. Mercury in Aquarius can be objective, sincere and truthful, but also prone to extremism. Mercury semi-squares Uranus and is in septile aspect to Pholus, a Centaur planet discovered in 1992. Pholus has the energy of release; Pholus opens the container and lets something out. These Mercury aspects remind us to be mindful also about our own communication and what we say.

Mercury opposes asteroid Apollo in the first degree of Leo. 1862 Apollo is the namesake of the Apollo asteroids, a group of Earth-crosser asteroids, which can get very close to the Earth. Apollo’s orbital period is 1.8 years, it spins every three hours, and it has a tiny satellite orbiting it closely. In 2007 scientists found out that Apollo gets an extra kick from solar radiation. Its rotation speed steadily increases due to the re-radiation of solar energy from its surface. This affects it as if there were small propulsion engines on Apollo’s surface. The effect is tiny, but the study shows that sunlight can make an asteroid spin so fast it eventually breaks up and splits into a binary all by itself. The results of this study are important for understanding binary asteroids.

In mythology Apollo was a Sun god. He was the god of light and truth, medicine and healing, poetry and music. He was also the god of divination. Apollo was the leader of the nine Muses and he played on a lyre, which Hermes/Mercury had made and given him. The Apollonian and Dionysian is a philosophical and literary concept, a dichotomy or contrast. Apollo represents harmony, order and reason, while Dionysus represents ecstasy and disorder. The Greeks did not consider the qualities that Apollo and Dionysus represented as rivaling, but complementary.

Astrologically asteroid Apollo is a light-bringer in other ways than the Sun, the center of our solar system. It may represent something of the inner quality or talent of seeing the light where others might not see it, in the strangest of places if you look for it right. Martha Lang-Wescott has proposed that it may symbolize provocation and going against the odds. It can be very useful allowing one to tackle situations where the odds of success are small.

Asteroid 3671 Dionysus at 14+ degrees of Taurus is semi-square the Aries Point. There is possibly a small moon orbiting also Dionysus. Peak experiences and pushing things past the limits are astrological attributes of Dionysus, and in spite of the strong Neptunian association it can be rather associated with evolutionary Pluto.

Mercury and Saturn are in mutual reception (Mercury is the ruler of Virgo and Saturn the traditional ruler of Aquarius). When two planets are occupying one another’s signs, the planets in question can, in a way, switch places or roles; thus leaving them bound with a kind of shared role or obligation.

Saturn in Virgo is in exact conjunction with the Centaur planet Okyrhoe, named for the daughter of Chiron and Chariklo. It has shorter orbital period than any other Centaur planet (about 24 years) and thus makes an excellent representative for the “daughter of the centaurs.” Mark Andrew Holmes writes, “A prophet, she was changed into a mare by the gods as punishment for revealing their plans to humankind. Astrologically, Okyrhoe seems to indicate being criticized or attacked, being able to cope with attacks or unpopularity, ability to stand up for one’s beliefs or principles.”

Saturn, Pholus and Chaos are still forming a precise T-square pattern in the early mutable signs.

Venus in Sagittarius is in the same degree with asteroid Juno, and both are in conjunction with plutino Ixion, discovered in 2001 and having an orbital period of 250 years. Ixion was named for the first murderer recorded in Greek mythology (a former king and friend of Zeus), who unsuccessfully tried to attack Hera/Juno. Ixion speaks to that which we are all capable of and expresses itself more often negatively than not. However, Ixion at its essence is about pure potential and suggests that we all can access the same potential if we want to or need to. Nobody is incapable of anything; but not all potential is expressed. Venus and Juno are squaring Saturn.

The first four asteroids (Ceres, Pallas, Juno and Vesta) are all in the degrees 9-12 of the signs that they are occupying currently and thus aspecting each other, perhaps offering us safe passage through this moment in time.

By Kirsti Melto and Eric Francis

Capricorn solstice — December 22, 2007, 06:08 UT

SOLSTICES ARE TIMES when the Sun in its apparent annual motion along the ecliptic reaches its northern and southern extremes. Astrology at the time of a solstice or equinox (the midpoints between the solstices) are often used as predictive tools by astrologers.

The Sun reaches its most southern point around Dec. 22 each year. This is when the Sun “stands still” at the first degree of Capricorn, hence the term sol (Sun) stice (still, as in stasis). The Sun is crossing one of the cardinal points (also known as the four directions, which are the first degrees of Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn). The cardinal points are highly sensitive, all directly related to one another. They tend to arrive with the message that the personal is political. Planetary events near these points tend to connect us to the larger events and movements in society around us.

The current solstice chart looks noteworthy, accented by many points collecting around the first degree of Capricorn. There is not just the Sun there, but also Jupiter in the same degree, and Mercury and Pluto very close by, too. Pluto is still near the Galactic Core and the Sun and Mercury passed the point only some days earlier. Jupiter entered Capricorn Wed. night, Dec. 18. Mercury entered Capricorn on Dec. 20, and the exact Sun-Pluto conjunction occurs on Fri., Dec. 21. The quadruple conjunction of these planets suggests that something we will all notice is about to happen, a total rebirth or transformation.

True, this is happening all the time, but some times we notice more than others. The involvement of so many planets in a cardinal sign suggests that some pioneering work is going to arise, something that we all are going to notice; the involvement of Capricorn points to government or a large corporation, and the movement in Pluto into Capricorn talks about a restructuring of some kind in any event. When Chiron reached this point in late 2001, we saw massive corporate restructuring and many scandals were revealed.

Sun-Mercury-Jupiter conjunction also squares the Centaur planet Bienor, “the Strong One,” currently in the late degrees of Pisces. Bienor will be arriving in Aries soon enough and will be in a square aspect to Pluto through 2008.

Retrograding Mars in Cancer is also in the aspect structure. It will soon make exact oppositions to Mercury and Jupiter, and then the Sun and finally Pluto. Mars is acting both as a counter-balance in this equation and as a kind of protagonist. But Mars is retrograde in a receptive, emotional sign: it’s not likely making its presence known unless provoked, which would not be that difficult.

The Moon in early Gemini squares Saturn, which stationed retrograde in Virgo on Dec. 19. The Moon opposes asteroid Juno, the queen of the gods who was known for her jealousy, and the Centaur planet Hylonome, which has associations with grief, healing of unnecessary grief, and mass appeal.

Mercury, the planet of all communication, forms a very close novile (40 degrees, division of the circle by 9) to Chiron, who in mythology was a great teacher. The novile series of aspects are related to trines and sextiles, and they are said to be related to the Nine Muses, who offer their inspiration in the arts and sciences.

Venus in Scorpio squares Neptune and opposes Sedna, the goddess of the frozen waters. In this T-square we have two watery planets, Neptune and Sedna, and two goddesses of abundance, Venus and Sedna, aspecting each other. Venus is reminding us to keep our hearts open and to be compassionate, and in Scorpio on any theme associated with Venus: love, eroticism, or materialism. Square Neptune, we have the potential for unrealistic feelings and wishy-washy values slipping in. Those would be the presence of values we don’t really hold, or some form of self-deception.

The theme of universal love is repeated in the conjunction of asteroid Amor and Uranus in Pisces. The North Node of the Moon has recently entered Aquarius, the sign of universal brotherhood. Venus is also trining Varuna, “the great equalizer,” another water god.

In one of the cardinal points in the early degrees of Libra we have asteroid Photographica, which deals with all things photographic and photogenic, often manifesting in a literal way.

In Aries asteroid Hephaistos is in tight conjunction with Eris and 1992 QB1. In Greek mythology Hephaistos was the god of technology, blacksmiths, craftsmen, artisans, sculptors, metals and metallurgy, and fire. His Roman equivalent was Vulcan, husband of Venus.

What exactly this chart is heralding remains to be seen.

Full Moon in Cancer — December 24, 2007, 01:16 UT

The Full Moon in Cancer occurs in the early hours of Christmas Eve. Now also the Moon is occupying one of the cardinal points. The chart is having a strong Aries Point flavor.

The Moon has entered Cancer a couple of hours before midnight (UT) and is conjunct Mars. Not much else has changed in the two days since the solstice. In Virgo two binary Kuiper belt objects have stationed retrograde meanwhile, Typhon and Logos.