The New Moon in Gemini is also a solar eclipse. The eclipse takes place in the first degree of Gemini, square Neptune in early Pisces.

A solar eclipse can only happen at the time of a New Moon, when the Sun and Moon are in conjunction. If the Sun, Moon and Earth are in line, and they also lie in the same plane, the eclipse can occur. The Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, obscuring the disc of the Sun either totally or partially. The type of the current eclipse is called an annular solar eclipse, because the Moon covers only the center of the Sun, letting a bright ring burn around the dark Moon.

The Sun and the Moon, the luminaries, are the two most important factors of any astrological chart. The Sun represents the self, the ego, the purpose, and it is concerned with the future. The Moon is our memory, it gathers our past experiences. An eclipse of the Sun by the Moon can thus feel like a halting moment. It can offer a moment to pause and reflect, and then to make a conscious adjustment of the direction one is heading towards.

While the Sun represents one’s individuality, Neptune and Pisces represent the collective. The square aspect between the two planets brings tension between them. Neptune tends to cause confusion. It tends to dissolve anything it touches, and the blurring of one’s boundaries can feel frightening. Bringing the energies of the Sun, Moon and Neptune together, becomes the challenge. Squares can be highly productive aspects though. They make us act and take the challenge.

The eclipsing Moon can actually help you to focus yourself. In case you feel confused or lost, use the image of the burning solar ring around the Moon to put you back on the tracks.

Lunar Eclipse / Full Moon in Gemini – December 21, 2010, 08:13 UT
Winter Solstice – December 22, 2010, 23:38 UT

This special Full Moon in the last degree of Gemini was a total lunar eclipse at the South node of the Moon. The eclipse took place on the Winter Solstice.

The Sun-Moon opposition was squared by the Jupiter-Uranus conjunction in Pisces. A pile of minor planets and asteroids including Logos, Juno, Makemake and Typhon on the cusp of Virgo and Libra, completed a mutable grand cross. The Sun in the last degree of Sagittarius was accompanied by a large diversity of planets and asteroids including Mercury retrograde, Pallas, Crantor, and Pluto. The Moon conjoined the Centaur planet Cyllarus in early Cancer. The rich symbolism contained in the prominent heavenly bodies parallels the news and events unfolding in the world.

In the Northern Hemisphere the Winter Solstice marks the shortest day of the year. After the Solstice the days get gradually longer and the light starts to increase. In the current charts asteroid Balder, named after the shining god of the Vikings, is squaring asteroid Hoder, the namesake of the twin brother of Balder. Asteroid Saga is in conjunction with Balder. Balder gets additional sparks from Vesta. This is the time to be reminded of the story of Balder.

Balder was the most beautiful and beloved of the old Norse gods. Because of Loki’s trickery, the blind brother Hoder threw a mistletoe at Balder and thus caused Balder’s death. The gods were weeping for him. He was ceremonially burnt upon his own ship at Summer Solstice, symbolized by the Midsummer’s bonfires. Balder is said to return to life after Ragnarök. The Earth will appear again from the sea, it will be fertile, green, and cleansed of all its sufferings.

The myth clearly has its origins in the change of seasons. The joy of people is present in the sunlight, in the presence of the radiant god Balder. The gloom of the winter months is symbolized by the death of Balder, carried out by the twin brother. The god of light is reborn at the Winter Solstice and greeted with the burning of the yule log and also with the lights in contemporary Christmas trees.

Happy Winter Solstice!

The New Moon in Cancer is a total solar eclipse, the second of the eclipses of this season. Two weeks ago we experienced a lunar eclipse conjunct Pluto. The intense cross alignment formed by the slow-moving planets Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Pluto, gives extraordinary potentiality to these two eclipses.

The Moon in Cancer has a tendency to play safe. The eclipse takes place at the South node of the Moon. The South node represents the past, the familiar territory of life, and the things which we may want to cling to. This creates some amount of resistance to change. Nonetheless, the current sky urges to try something new.

Eclipses are powerful transition points which offer us a chance to move stuck energy and take a new approach in life. The sextile between the New Moon and Mars helps the start-up. The eclipse falls in conjunction with Juno and Varuna indicating a revaluation of our relationships. Profound honesty is required for a functional outcome.

In mythology, Juno was the patroness of marriage. She was the loyal and jealous wife of Jupiter and the mother of Mars. Asteroid Juno represents committed and meaningful relationships. It can symbolize the rewards and fulfilment that they offer, but it can be an indicator of possessiveness, jealousy and power struggles as well.

Varuna, a potential dwarf planet in the Kuiper belt, was discovered nearly ten years ago. The object was named after an important Hindu god, who was believed to be present at every gathering and know all thoughts of all humans. As a sky god Varuna could be associated with Uranus. As the god of oceans and rivers he can be identified with Neptune. Varuna judged the actions of humans and punished those who did not keep their word. He was riding a sea monster Makara and catching the liars with his noose. In other words, Varuna loves truth. In the eclipse chart he encourages us to look at ourselves and our relationships honestly and act righteously.

The Venus-Neptune opposition shows proneness for romantic idealism. The energy of Neptune can be delusory. It can blur the reality and give illusions about love. Chiron in conjunction with Neptune helps in facing the truth. Chiron works through raising awareness.

Each eclipse belongs to a larger pattern and is a member of a particular eclipse family, which has certain characteristics. These series of eclipses are called the Saros series. They were first discovered by the ancient Babylonians. Each Saros series will run for well over a thousand years and produce a solar eclipse every 18 years when the Sun, Moon, Earth and nodes of the Moon have returned to the same positions relative to each other.

Each Saros series has a beginning, a middle and an end. The series starts as a tiny partial eclipse at either the North or South Pole and will finish at the opposite Pole to where the series started. At any given time, there are about 42 Saros series active, half running from North Pole to South Pole and the other half running from South Pole to North Pole, all at different stages of their lives. As one series finishes another will be starting, and taking its place. There is an overlapping period when the two series are both producing eclipses within a month of each other. This will be the case next year, when we will experience two solar eclipses during the summer season.

We can study the characteristics of a particular Saros series by delineating its birth chart. Also, we can look back and find similarities between events that have occurred 18 years apart at the time of the eclipses. The current Cancer solar eclipse is a member of a Saros series number 12 South. The first eclipse in this series in 1541 occurred in Libra, the sign concerned with relationships and justice. Based on the aspects and planetary patterns of the chart, Bernadette Brady suggests that a long-term worry “at first seem worse and then clear, with successful outcomes.�

References:

Wikipedia, Juno (mythology)

Encyclopedia Mythica, Varuna

Wikipedia, Saros cycle

Mary Dowton and Steve Cahill, The Astrologer’s Textbook Of Astronomy, 2002

Bernadette Brady, The Eagle and the Lark, Samuel Weiser, 1999

Summer Solstice – June 21, 2010, 11:28 UT

The Summer Solstice is the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere and marks the beginning of the summer. Last Monday the Sun reached the first point of Cancer and added the fourth cusp to the cosmic cross in the sky. An impressive grand cross was formed.

In a grand cross pattern at least four planets in two oppositions are at square angles to each other, forming a cross shaped pattern. In the current cross Saturn in the late degrees of Virgo is opposing the Jupiter-Uranus conjunction on the Aries Point; the Cancer Sun is opposing Pluto in the early degrees of Capricorn and Ceres in late Sagittarius. Ceres was right at the Galactic Core on the solstice day.

In pre-Christian times in Scandinavia the time of Midsummer was sacred to the Norse sun god Balder. Midsummer was known to be the anniversary of his death. His body was burned on a funeral pyre, and bonfires are still lit in Northern Europe for Midsummer eve celebrations. After the solstice the days soon begin to shorten and darkness will reign for a period of time. Balder descends into the underworld, but he will be reborn.

Balder was the son of Odin and Frigg. He was the most beautiful and beloved of the gods. He was radiantly handsome, wise and fair, and all praised him. His home in the heaven was a hall called Breidablick — the wide-shining — possibly a reference to the Milky Way. Balder had a twin brother called Hoder, a blind god of darkness (representing the winter months.)

Balder and his mother Frigg had ominous dreams of Balder’s death. Frigg made all things on earth vow never to harm her son. All objects made this vow except one little plant, the mistletoe, since Frigg had thought it too young to threaten Balder, she allowed the exception. After this the gods amused themselves by flinging darts and hurling objects at Balder, knowing that that they could not hurt him. But the trickster Loki had found out that the mistletoe had not taken the oath. Loki gave a twig of mistletoe to Hoder and persuaded him to throw it at Balder, secretly guiding Hoder’s hand. Balder fell dead to the ground, pierced by the twig.

The gods were weeping for Balder. He was ceremonially burnt upon his own ship. His horse was also burned on the pyre. Balder’s wife Nanna was heartbroken and threw herself on the funeral fire. Then the burning ship was set to sea.

Balder is said to return to life after Ragnarök. The Earth will appear again from the sea, it will be fertile, green, and cleansed of all its sufferings.

The Norse myth of Baldur’s death reminds me of Greek Centaur Cyllarus. Even though the Centaurs were not gods but a bunch of troublemakers — except Chiron and Pholus, the two civilized centaurs — these two stories from two different cultures share some mutual characteristics.

In Metamorphoses Ovid describes Cyllarus as a young, handsome Centaur with a golden mane. He was loved by many, but Cyllarus loved only Hylonome. They were inseparable in life and they died together, too. They were present at a wedding party, where fighting broke out and Cyllarus was hit by a javelin. Cyllarus died in the arms of his beloved. In her despair Hylonome killed herself by throwing herself onto the same spear that had pierced her partner.

At the solstice, the Centaur planet Cyllarus was conjunct the Sun. Commitment, self-sacrifice, or feeling of falling the victim of someone or something are themes that may suddenly arise. Things may seem to happen to us for no reason. We need to be conscious of the decisions we make, because our actions always have consequences, not just for ourselves but for the people close to us. They may also affect on a larger scale the world around us. At present Chiron and Neptune are in trine to the Sun, and can offer us awareness, healing and compassion on the personal and collective level.

Full Moon in Capricorn / Partial Lunar Eclipse — June 26, 2010, 11:30

The Full Moon takes place on Saturday. The Moon aligns opposite the Sun and takes part in the spectacular cardinal grand cross. We get to experience a partial lunar eclipse in conjunction with Pluto. We enter a transitional zone, where a shift from an old state to a new one takes place.

By the time of the lunar eclipse, the Sun has passed Centaur planet Cyllarus. Mercury has just ingressed Cancer and now conjoins Cyllarus. We may feel the pressure, but please remember that the light will be eclipsed only for a brief moment. We are part of eternal cycle of the planets. There is always a new dawn after the dark hours.

I want to wish you all a happy Midsummer Full Moon!

References:

H. R. Ellis Davidson, Gods and Myths of Northern Europe, Penguin Books, 1990

Eric Francis, Small World Stories, Cyllarus

The New Moon in the last degree of Cancer is a total solar eclipse, the second of the three eclipses of the summer. This is the longest solar eclipse of the 21st century, lasting as long as 6 minutes and 39 seconds in some places. This is possible because Earth happens to be near its farthest point from the Sun. At the same time, the Moon will be near its closest point to Earth.

A solar eclipse can occur only on a New Moon and when the luminaries are in conjunction at or near either of the lunar nodes. The Moon is aligned between the Sun and Earth and blocks the Sun’s rays.

In Norse mythology, Sol is the goddess of the Sun, who rides through the sky on her chariot, pulled by two horses. She is chased during the daytime by the wolf Skoll, who tries to devour her, just like her brother Mani is chased at night by the wolf Hati. It was believed that during solar eclipses the Sun was in danger of being eaten by Skoll.

At Ragnarök, “the final destiny of the gods”, Sol will be swallowed by the wolf, but her daughter, no less lovely than herself, will follow the same path as her mother. The light appears again after the dark. The Norse believed firmly that a new world will emerge even after the greatest of destruction.

Eclipses are intense. “They tend to speed up the process of life, shake the tree of fate, and propel us from one reality into the next,” has Eric said. We can use eclipses as times to make necessary changes.

Dagaz/Dag is a rune of change and unlimited possibilities. Nigel Pennick writes:

“It is the sort of change studied in catastrophe theory, where one apparently stable state ‘flips over’ suddenly into another, quite different, yet steady, state. …The physical form of the Dag rune mirrors the balance between the polarities, especially light and darkness.”

References:

NASA Science News, Longest Solar Eclipse of the 21st Century

Encyclopedia Mythica, Sol

Eric Francis, Eclipses

Nigel Pennick, Runic Astrology, Capall Bann Publishing, 1995

Wikipedia, Dagaz

The lunar eclipse in the middle of the sign of Capricorn squares Haumea in Libra.

The dwarf planet Haumea and its moon Namaka are currently undergoing a series of mutual events. Observation of these transits, eclipses and occultations will provide important information on the size and shape of Haumea and its moons.

In honor of Haumea I am republishing an edited piece from last September. The original article was cowritten with Eric Francis.

Haumea, one of the strangest objects in the Solar System

On Sept. 17, 2008, a trans-Neptunian minor planet previously known as 2003 EL61 was classified as the fifth dwarf planet in our solar system and named Haumea, after the goddess of childbirth and fertility in Hawaiian mythology.

The discussion about the planet definition and about Pluto’s status continues. The official definitions can be obscure, so let’s briefly recall the astronomical facts.

In August 2006 the International Astronomical Union (IAU), which approves names and categories of celestial bodies, gathered in Prague and approved the first-ever definition of a planet. As a result, Pluto’s designation was changed from planet to a new category, dwarf planet. The first members of this category were Ceres, Pluto and Eris. At the time, Eris had not yet received a proper name and was known as 2003 UB313. That left eight “official� planets in our solar system: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn (the classical planets of antiquity), plus Uranus and Neptune (two of the modern planets).

The Prague meeting recognized the dwarf planet Pluto as an important prototype of a new class of trans-Neptunian objects. The IAU would set up a process to name them.

In June 2008 the IAU chose the name “plutoid� as name for Solar System objects like Pluto, i.e. dwarf planets that orbit beyond Neptune. Only the brightest of the dwarf planets fit in this category though. The two known and named plutoids at the time were Pluto and Eris. The two other objects discovered by this point that qualified as a plutoid were 2003 EL61 (which became Haumea) and 2005 FY9 (which became Makemake). The dwarf planet Ceres, located in the main asteroid belt, is the only object of its kind, so a separate category of Ceres-like dwarf planets was not proposed. Ceres is unusual because it accounts for one-third of the mass of the entire inner asteroid belt.

In July 2008 the IAU gave the name Makemake to the object formerly known as 2005 FY9 and officially made it the newest member of the plutoid family and also classified it as the fourth dwarf planet in our Solar System.

On September 17, 2008, the IAU announced that the object previously known as 2003 EL61 was classified as the fifth dwarf planet and named Haumea. The two moons of Haumea were named Hi’iaka and Namaka.

Haumea is one of the three bright objects whose existence was announced in July 2005. The two other bodies were Eris and Makemake. Mike Brown’s team — the discoverers of Haumea — nicknamed it “Santa,� because they were observing it around Christmas in 2004.

Haumea was discovered on December 28, 2004 — two days after the Asian tsunami. In the discovery chart of Haumea it is located in a tight conjunction with asteroid 8543 Tsunemi. Of course, the name Tsunemi originally has nothing to do with tsunamis. The JPL Small-Body Database tells me that asteroid Tsunemi was named after Hiroshi Tsunemi from Osaka University, a scientist who has worked in X-ray astronomy.

Astrologer Jacob Schwartz has noticed that sometimes the names of asteroids work very well, although they are chosen seemingly whimsically to honor colleagues, family members, familiar places, etc. “The sounds of names ascribed by these astronomers carry a cycle of meaning relating to events and experiences far beyond the meaning intended by the scientists who named them,� he writes.

In the New Moon chart of Sept. 29, 2008, Haumea was together with asteroid 916 America at 14+ Libra. The focus of the whole world was on the economic crisis and the presidential election in the USA. Note that 14+ Libra was the ascendant of the chart of the Sept. 11 false flag attacks. The planet Mercury was rising at the time, also located precisely in that degree.

Haumea is named after the goddess of childbirth and fertility in Hawaiian mythology. The Sabian Symbol for the discovery degree for 12+ Libra is beautiful and aptly speaks about children: Libra 13. Children blowing soap bubbles.

“This is a symbol of man’s reassurance through the presence of the beautiful and the good in every least promising form of human relationship,� Marc Edmund Jones writes in his book of Sabian symbols. “People are disposed kindly toward their fellows, but there is no growth in the mere rhythm of everyday routine, and human individuality knows it must be up and at the business of selfhood whether constructively or otherwise. Implicit in the symbolism is the challenge to rise above childish things while yet clinging to childlike ways. The keyword is enchantment. When positive, the degree is a consistent simplicity of character which enables anyone to maintain his touch with a transcendental magic of being, and when negative, a constant and idle daydreaming.�

Haumea is one of the strangest objects in the Solar System. It is the third largest Kuiper Belt object after Eris and Pluto. In the very distant past another object probably slammed into Haumea at high speed, and this giant impact led to all of its odd properties.

Haumea is the fastest rotating body and also the most bizarrely shaped body of its size class. The rotation period is only about four hours. The shape of Haumea is therefore stretched out and resembles an American football. The rotation time is near the point where body of this size starts to break down.

Haumea has two tiny moons. In mythology Hi’iaka and Namaka are two of Haumea’s children. Hi’iaka was born from the mouth of Haumea and carried by her sister Pele in egg form from their distant home to Hawaii. She danced the first Hula on the shores of Puna and is the patron goddess of the island of Hawaii and of hula dancers. Namaka is a water spirit, who was born from the body of Haumea. When Pele sends her burning lava into the sea, Namaka cools the lava to become new land.

Haumea’s many children sprang from different parts of her body. She takes many different forms and has experienced many different rebirths. the Kuiper Belt object Haumea is followed in its orbit around the Sun by a swarm of icy bodies that were originally ejected from the surface of Haumea during the giant impact. According to Mike Brown the goal is to name also these members of the family specifically after other mythical children of Haumea.

The goddess Haumea represents the element stone. Observations of the dwarf planet Haumea hint that, unusually, it is almost entirely composed of rock. Most things out in the Kuiper Belt (the band of space that Pluto occupies) are about equal portions of rock and of ice, but, apparently, Haumea has only a thin icy outer shell and the interior is rock.

Haumea is on an unstable orbit and possibly becomes a comet one day in the future, in perhaps a billion years. According to its discoverer, Mike Brown, it will probably be 10,000 times brighter than the spectacular comet Hale-Bopp, making it something like the brightness of the Full Moon and easily visible in the daytime sky.

Astrologers never demoted Pluto. Many of them are now working to establish also the astrological meaning of Haumea. This is a long process. Eric Francis has summed up the process of understanding a new planet excellently in his answer to a curious reader a couple of years ago: How Can Astrologers Already Interpret Xena’s Meaning?

References:

Mike Brown, Mutual events of Haumea and Namaka

Wikipedia, Haumea

The Haumean New Moon

Lunar eclipses can only occur on the Full Moon, when the Sun and the Moon are opposing each other. The Earth is between the Sun and Moon, and the Moon is passing through the Earth’s shadow. This unique lunar eclipse in Leo is saturated with the healing energy of the Centaurs; Chiron, Chariklo, Elatus and Thereus (with Sedna) are in a grand cross configuration with the Luminaries. Venus is conjunct Bienor in Aries.

Mars has ingressed Aquarius and joined other planets (Jupiter, Juno, Nessus, the Sun, Chiron and Neptune) in the alignment. Chiron is in an exact conjunction with the Sun, while the eclipsed Moon in Leo is in close conjunction with Elatus, another Centaur planet.

The ruling planets of Aquarius, Saturn (ancient) and Uranus (modern) are opposing each other. This is the second opposition in the current series of five. Chiron and Elatus have been in a long ongoing opposition since 2003 and the aspect will continue until 2015.

Chiron is in the same degree with the Sun in Aquarius. This is a powerful conjunction, which on the positive side can help us to recognize our purpose and individual place in the world. On the other hand, the aspect can give us a sense of wound in our indivduality. Astrologer Melanie Reinhart has written:

“The Sun is the only heavenly body that casts a direct shadow on the earth; the full moon casts shadows but its more diffuse light is reflected from the Sun. This ‘dark side of the sun’ is relevant when Chiron aspects the Sun.”

Interesting synchronicity occurs: Just recently I received a newsletter announcing: “NASA Sees the Dark Side of the Sun.”

On Feb. 6, 2011, two spacecraft will be 180 degrees apart and will provide a complete view of all sides of the Sun for the first time in history. This is a perspective we’ve never had before; it will transform our view of the star. (There is no actual dark side of the Sun though, rather the side of it which we are not able to see at any given time.) At the moment the satellites are about 90 degrees apart, which allows a picture of about 270 degrees of the Sun.

In recent years, names proposed by astrologers for Centaur planets have in some cases been approved by the astronomical community. Elatus is one of those Centaurs. It was discovered in 1999. The naming took place in 2003.

In Greek mythology, Elatus is killed in a battle by the same poisoned arrow which wounds Chiron, shot by Heracles. The arrow first passed through Elatus’s arm and then pierced Chiron’s knee. Elatus died, but Chiron had to go on living in agony because he was immortal.

Tracy Delaney has an interesting article on Chiron and Elatus, studying in depth the myth, the discovery chart and the astrology of Elatus. Looking at the discovery chart she writes:

“Working with Elatus in charts, the art of communication is a theme commonly picked up by astrologers for this object, and that anaretic Scorpio Mercury, sextile Neptune, seems to sum up the challenges involved. Centaurs tend to be about deep transformative processes of learning, evolution and integration, usually involving challenges. In its highest form I think Elatus is about communicating that which is deeply felt and comes through you, echoing the arrow passing straight through him in the myth, changing him as it does so. This is really all you can do with anything that comes from Neptune, where words are inadequate. – – – You could look at it as a lesson about getting your ego out of the way, in this case to allow inspiration to come, for which you can take no credit.”

In the eclipse chart also Neptune is conjunct the Sun and Chiron, and opposing Elatus, thus emphasizing the themes which Tracy is discussing.

All Centaur planets have elliptical orbits, in most cases crossing the orbits of the outer planets. Chiron and Elatus are the two Centaurs travelling in space between Saturn and Uranus and linking the realms of these giant planets together. Both Centaurs on their elliptical orbit, cross the orbit of Saturn and come very near that of Uranus. You can study these orbits on Robert von Heeren’s website, The Centaur Research Project.

Symbolically Chiron and Elatus are bridging the conflicting meaning which Saturn and Uranus represent. Saturn is associated with limitations, structure and respect of tradition. Uranus symbolizes freedom, revolution and breaking down of old structures. Finding the balance between Saturn and Uranus is a challenge. At this eclipse Chiron and Elatus, now aligned with the Sun-Moon opposition, are helping us to find that balance.

To quote Juan Revilla: “Then came the Centaurs – – – that give us ecstasy and wound us at the same time. Like life and death together, which means more and more life by embracing death and developing compassion.” In the eclipse chart we can find compassion and strength required in the symbolism of the following Centaur planets:

Chariklo (compassion and emotional connection) in Scorpio is squaring the opposition formed by the Sun, Moon, Chiron and Elatus. Opposite Chariklo in Taurus we find Thereus (who caught angry bears and carried them home alive) in conjuntion with Sedna (keeping our heart open in hell) in Taurus. Venus in Aries is in conjunction with Bienor (whether to put our strength to work for us, or against us), the Centaur which I keep on noticing in charts of unique events that have happened for the first time in the history of mankind.

At this lunar eclipse we are on a threshold of a new experience, and the Centaurs are the door-openers.

References:

Melanie Reinhart, Chiron and the Healing Journey, 1998, Penguin Books

NASA Sees the Dark Side of the Sun

Serennu, Chiron & Elatus

Robert von Heeren, The Centaur Research Project

Juan Revilla, Pluto is Changing its Skin

Eric Francis, Love As Anarchy

Eric Francis, Small World Stories, Chariklo

Melanie Reinhart, Sedna: Goddess of the Frozen Waters

The New Moon in Aquarius is a solar eclipse, the first of six eclipses coming this year. The New Moon, which is a conjunction of the Sun and Moon, always marks the beginning of a new cycle. Eclipses are transition points that give us a chance to build new patterns and push ourselves in a new direction. Usually there are four eclipses in a year. Having six of them within one year promises an exceptionally interesting time ahead.

There is a powerful alignment in Aquarius, the sign of friendship, social functions and reformation. Although it is innovative and future-orientated, it’s also one of the fixed signs, which all can be reluctant to change. The planets in the alignment are Juno, Jupiter, the Sun, the Moon, the North Node, Nessus, Chiron and Neptune.

The Sun and Moon, a pair of masculine and feminine symbols in the chart, are in close conjunction with Juno and Jupiter, the celestial married couple, whose expectations towards their relationship didn’t quite meet one another. Juno in Aquarius may want to have an open marriage, while Jupiter wants to focus on mental pursuits.

The eclipse is exactly square to the minor planet Ceto in Scorpio. A square produces action, based on the ongoing tension between the planets aspecting each other. We may find ourselves pondering the following questions: Should we remodel our relationships? Are we going to adopt new roles in the community? Would we rather keep building on traditional values? Are these the values that we want to pass onto our children?

The Sabian symbol for the eclipse degree, Aquarius 7, is “a child born of an eggshell.” To quote Dr. Marc Edmund Jones:

“This is a symbol of the infinite regression in all personal reality, not as a fact of some mysterious loss of self either in source or in final dissolution but as a demonstration of the illimitable potentialities to be found in each immediate moment of self-realization. For his own enlightenment a man may project himself indefinitely into what has been or what may be but his assurance is in the ever-present sustainment of the auric egg or self-matrix in which existence continues to create itself in its own image.”

Ceto is a scattered disk object discovered in 2003 by Chad Trujillo and Mike Brown. It travels on a long, Centaur-like, elliptical orbit around the Sun. The orbital period is over 1000 years. Ceto has a binary companion, Phorcys. They have approximately similar sizes, they form a close binary system, and their mutual orbit is nearly circular.

The names come from Greek mythology. The naming took place in November 2006 according to a new policy. The Committee on Small Body Nomenclature of the International Astronomical Union has adopted a naming convention for objects on unstable, non-resonant, giant-planet-crossing orbits with semi-major axes greater than Neptune’s. Befitting their Centaur-like transitional orbits between TNOs and comets, they are to be named for other hybrid and shape-shifting mythical creatures.

The primary body is named for Ceto, a marine goddess of whales, sea-monsters and dangers of the deep, born of Gaia. In Greek art, Ceto was depicted as a serpentine fish. Sea god Phorcys was her brother and husband. Together they produced a brood of awful monsters.

Mythical sea monsters can take many forms, including dragons, serpents or multi-armed beasts. The word ceto can refer to any sea monster. Often they are pictured threatening ships. Water symbolizes unconscious, and the terrible monster can be seen representing our fears for the unknown future.

Stories about marine monsters are told in myths from different cultures around the world. In Norse mythology the sea serpent Jörmungandr grew so large that it could encircle the world and grasp its tail in its teeth. Jörmungandr represents the Ouroboros, a thousands-of-years-old universal symbol, depicting a serpent swallowing its own tail, constantly creating itself and forming a circle. The Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung saw the Ouroboros as a psychological archetype. The Ouroboros represents cyclicality (especially in the sense of something constantly re-creating itself), self-sufficiency, intergration of the opposite, wholeness, continuity and eternity.

The minor planet Ceto/Phorcys was discovered in Libra, the sign of relationships and the sign where we seek balance and aim at harmonizing polarities. “A Jewish rabbi” is the Sabian Symbol for Libra 20, the discovery degree.

“This is a symbol of man’s self-assurance as gained by bringing a deeper understanding to his fellows. The social nature of the inner being is stressed here by an interest in eternal values such as is characteristic of years and masculinity, and by a feminine receptivity of soul which has its expression in the warmer contacts of a ministration to everyday human needs. Here is the potential of high dedication by which an individual or a group may become a special channel for the aspirations of all. The keyword is heritage. When positive, the degree is the extraordinary insight which comes to those who are able to stand on the shoulders of the giants who have gone before, and when negative, an unhealthy sense of self-superiority.” writes M. E. Jones.

Two examples from the people in the theater field, born with the Sun-Ceto conjunction at the Aries Point are Marcel Marceau (March 22, 1923 – Sept. 22, 2007) and Dario Fo (born March 24, 1926). Both are geniuses whom have constantly been able to re-create themselves and inspire people all over the world.

Marcel Marceau was a French mime artist. The performance of pantomime originates from ancient Greece. In the film First Class, Marcel Marceau played 17 different roles. Marceau established his own mime school in Paris.

Dario Fo is an Italian theater director and actor, who uses methods of the ancient Italian commedia dell’arte. He owns a theater company. His plays have been translated to 30 languages and when they are performed outside Italy, they are often modified to reflect local political issues.

References:

Demetra George & Douglas Bloch, Asteroid Goddesses, 2003, Ibis Press

The Sabian Symbols in Astrology by Dr. Marc Edmund Jones, Aurora Press, 1993

The orbit, mass, size, albedo, and density of (65489) Ceto/Phorcys: A tidally-evolved binary Centaur, Icarus, Retrieved Aug. 31, 2008

Johnston’s Archive

Wikipedia

Theoi Greek Mythology

Hellenica, Michael Lahanas

Eclipses come in pairs. Two weeks ago we experienced a solar eclipse, and now it is time for a lunar eclipse in turn. The Sun and Moon are aligning opposite each other, the Earth is between them, and the Moon is passing through the Earth’s shadow. The Full Moon of the month is a partial lunar eclipse in Aquarius. This eclipse occurs on the North node of the Moon. Neptune, Chiron and the node have been in conjunction all summer, and now the eclipsed Moon conjoins them.

Eclipses offer us a chance to create new patterns and take a new approach, but we ourselves need to make the decisions, to choose the direction and to make some effort in order to make it all happen. The Centaur planet Thereus is squaring the Sun and Moon as an indication of the inner resistance we may encounter in this. In mythology, Thereus was a centaur who used to catch bears and carry them into his cave angry and alive.

The Sun-Moon-Neptune combination can be idealistic, intuitive, imaginative, artistic and sensuous, but also unstable and altruistic. Chiron, the wounded healer can make us painfully aware of things that are coming to an end, or require change. On the other hand, Aquarius is an easy-going mental sign, emotionally detached and rational, which ought to give some easement to these planetary energies.

Mars in Virgo is almost exactly square to Pluto in Sagittarius. Mars square Pluto is not usually described as an easy aspect, but no doubt there is drive in it. It can help us to avoid passivity that is possibly ensuing from the Neptune aspects.

Passivity is depicted in the chart also by a Grand trine; a grand trine can be harmonious, flowing and rewarding, but it can create cyclical patterns that are difficult to get out of. The notably accurate Grand trine in this chart beautifully combines the energies of two benefics, Venus and Jupiter, and Vesta, the asteroid of burning fire.

Mercury, Venus and Saturn are in triple conjunction in Virgo. Venus in Virgo helps us to sort out what matters most and what can be thrown overboard. Saturn’s presence adds consideration and practicality to this equation.

The trine between the Leo Sun and Pluto at the Galactic Core shows desire for profound transformation. Asteroid Icarus conjunct the Sun and opposite Neptune advises not to take any irresponsible escape from reality. Icarus can represent a desire to break free, or take a risk, but it can also point to matters where we possibly want to have a broad perspective.

Also in conjunction with the Sun is asteroid Freia as a protective image. This asteroid is named after the Norse goddess of sex, love and divination. Goddess Freya is equivalent for the Roman goddess Venus and the Greek goddess Aphrodite. She was a gentle protectress, “the giver of all joys, delights, and pleasures.” Full Moon is one of her symbols.

References:

Metamorphoses by Ovid

Planet Waves, Astrology Secrets Reveald, On the subject of Pluto and Icarus

Jean Lang, Myths from around the World, Senate Press Limited, 1996

By Kirsti Melto

Eclipses offer us a chance to have a break in continuity and establish new patterns. “The more consciously eclipses are handled, the less they are inclined to do damage and the more they are inclined to give us a push in the right direction,” Eric wrote in his blog earlier this week.

Choosing a new direction in life, or moving stuck energy, may not be easy: this is true when planets are gathered in fixed signs, or when the eclipse takes place on the South Node of the Moon, which tends to keep us tied to the past, or even when a Venus-Neptune opposition bedims reality. Luckily, this somewhat paradoxical eclipse chart also contains aspects that have the potential to bring us safely to a new space.

Leo, Aquarius, Taurus and Scorpio are the four fixed signs of the zodiac. The eclipse, which is a conjunction of the Sun and Moon, occurs in Leo conjunct Mercury. Also Venus is in Leo. In the opposite sign, Aquarius, are Neptune and Chiron. Two important asteroids, Vesta and Pallas Athene are in Taurus. So we are dealing with a lot of fixed energy, which tends to keep us stuck in the prevailing ideas and conditions; a change is not alluring. But the fixed signs can be persistent, and Mars-Uranus opposition strives for a reform.

Each eclipse is a member of a larger eclipse family, which is called the Saros Series. Each series spans over a thousand years, produces an eclipse every 18 years, and has certain characteristics, revealed by the aspects in its birth chart. You may be able to recognize some similarities between events that occurred 18 years ago and those unfolding now. This particular eclipse belongs to a Saros Series number 10 South. Bernadette Brady’s delineation encourages us in the attempt to let go of the past:

“This Saros Series concerns itself with breaking out of a very negative situation where no hope can be seen to a more positive space containing many options. A worry that may have been affecting a person will suddenly clear. The solution is shown by the Cosmos and needs to be taken up without too much delay.”

Traditionally, astrologers would appoint the Lord of the Eclipse, the planet that was most prominent in the chart, supposedly coloring the future events. This could be the planet closest to the eclipse degree, a planet at an angle, or the one that is most heavily aspected. By the rule, the Sun and Moon cannot be used. There are two things that emphasize Mercury as the Lord of the Eclipse: Mercury is in conjunction with the eclipse, and Mercury being occulted by the Moon just some hours after the solar eclipse.

Hermes, the Greek equivalent for Roman Mercury, an expert in transformations, was a swiftly moving deity, a messenger of gods who was able to travel through three worlds; just as the metal mercury — also known as quicksilver — can be seen in the three states of matter: solid, liquid and vapor.

In the eclipse chart, Mercury (as well as the Sun and Moon) is squaring Vesta in Taurus. In Scorpio, asteroid Hermes is opposite Vesta and square to Mercury. Hestia, meanwhile, is the Greek equivalent for Vesta.

Hermes and Hestia are two complementary archetypes. In ancient Greece, a warm hearth dedicated to Hestia was central to every home, and at the front door was a pillar in honor of Hermes. Hestia represents focus and integrity, and Hermes represents motion and changeability. Together this couple expresses tension, as do the aspects between them in the chart. But Hermes is also the archetype unifying the opposites, and he is also capable of enlarging our possibilities.

Centaur planet Asbolus is in conjunction with Vesta in Taurus. Eric has delineated Asbolus as: “Survival and the recognition of having survived. Deep contact with something organic and essential — the ability to endure and even thrive ‘despite it all’. Asbolus arrives with intense circumstances but also protection from victimhood, and protection even when it seems like none is there, such as in the story ‘Footsteps’.”

The Sabian Symbol for the eclipse degree is Leo 10 Early morning dew. “This is a symbol of the eternal refreshment which comes to the individual with every recurrent cycle of his experience, and of nature’s continual endorsement of his aims or benediction on his efforts. There are unexpected resources which man can find at hand when life otherwise may seem to have defeated him, and these are often revealed to him despite his lack of expectation. He reaps real fruits as he develops a genuine alertness to the unexpected, and denies all personal limitation. The keyword is rejuvenation. When positive, the degree is a special talent for finding the better in every situation where a worse may threaten disaster, and when negative, procrastination and total insensibility to the real powers of selfhood.”

References:

Bernadette Brady, The Eagle and the Lark, Samuel Weiser, 1999

Derek Appleby and Maurice McCann, Eclipses: the power points of astrology, The Aquarian Press, 1989

Nick Kollerstrom, The Metal-Planet Relationship, Borderland Sciences Research Foundation, 1993

Marja-Liisa Niemi-Mattila, Ajattomat arkkityypit, WSOY, 1998

Planet Wiki, Asbolus

Marc Edmund Jones, The Sabian Symbols in Astrology, Aurora Press, 1993