Archive for August, 2008

New Moon in Virgo — August 30, 2008, 19:58 UT

Friday, August 29th, 2008

The second New Moon of the month takes place in Virgo conjunct Saturn. Criticism can be strong in Virgo, and Saturn in conjunction with the Sun and Moon can add to this, increasing our self-criticism and feelings of inadequacy. We may be exceptionally defensive and reserved.

There is also a strong emphasis in the neighboring sign Libra, the sign of relationships. Mercury, Venus and Mars — which all are personal planets — are there, so it is natural that much of the self-doubt will emerge in the area of relationships. Now we need to be especially aware of our projections, and not estrange our closest family members or friends because of unnecessary, ill-founded self-criticism. Trust yourself, and avoid exaggerating your emotions. Also, try not to over-analyze your relationships.

Every New Moon is a conjunction of the Sun and Moon. Any planet conjunct or opposite the New Moon gives a strong flavor to it. This time, in opposition to the Sun and Moon is Borasisi, a relatively recently-named minor planet in the Kuiper Belt region.

Borasisi was discovered in 1999 at 25+ degrees of Aquarius, where we had the Lunar eclipse just two weeks ago (at 24+ Aquarius). Borasisi is a binary planet, a pair of objects orbiting around their common center of mass, the barycenter. The components have relatively similar size. The companion’s name is Pabu and it was identified in 2003. The naming took place about a year ago. The astrological meaning of this trans-Neptunian binary is not well established yet, but something about the name and the symbolism can be said.

According to Philip Sedgwick, among his positive interpretive keywords for Borasisi are “sense of authority, dominion, mandates, confidence to declare personal power, open-minded, captain-like attitude, quick orders and delegation.”

Minor planets in Borasisi’s class (cubewanos) are usually given mythological names associated with creation. Borasisi makes an interesting exception, for the name comes from Kurt Vonnegut’s novel Cat’s Cradle, meaning the Sun in a fictional cosmogony of Bokononism:

“…wherein Borasisi, the sun, held Pabu, the moon, in his arms, and hoped that Pabu would bear him a fiery child.

But poor Pabu gave birth to children that were cold, that did not burn; and Borasisi threw them away in disgust. These were the planets, who circled their terrible father at a safe distance.

Then poor Pabu herself was cast away, and she went to live with her favorite child, which was Earth. Earth was Pabu’s favorite because it had people on it; and the people looked up at her and loved her and sympathized.”

On a symbolic level, Borasisi is now offering us a peculiar and unique chance to experience both the New Moon and the Full Moon at the same time; in Virgo we have the conjunction of the Sun and Moon, and directly opposite in Pisces is Borasisi-Pabu, symbolically also representing the Sun and Moon. (On the Full Moon, the Sun and Moon are opposite each other.)

An opposition aspect symbolizes polarity and projection, which manifests in relationships. This can mean confrontation, but it also provides a great deal of awareness.

In Vonnegut’s novel, the foundation of the fictional religion of Bokononism is based on living by the untruths that make one happy; people tend to see what they want to. Currently with three planets in Libra, the urge for peace and harmony is very strong. We may be tempted try maintaining peace and balance at any cost. Closing one’s eyes from an unpleasant truth, or telling white lies is not the best solution in the long haul.

Don’t automatically believe everything you are told now. Though it is not always easy to distinguish the truth from a lie, Virgo is famous for its common sense and analytical ability to sort out the wheat from the chaff.

Full Moon in Aquarius / Partial Lunar Eclipse — August 16, 2008, 21:16 UT

Thursday, August 14th, 2008

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