Archive for May, 2009

New Moon in Gemini — May 24, 2009, 12:11 UT

Monday, May 25th, 2009

The torch we know by its flame,
which brings illumination and light
wherever noble souls congregate.

— The Old English Rune Poem

Gemini is an air sign, and the element of air represents the intellect, mentality and ability to communicate. Mercury, the ruler of Gemini is retrograding in Taurus. When a planet is retrograde it tends to turn the energy of the planet inward.

This New Moon in Gemini can help us to get intuitively in contact with the light within, start off a special learning and teaching process and share it with our friends and community, or even in a wider concept, for the good of the humanity.

The current astrological climate has its parallel in the energies represented by the rune Kenaz.

The New Moon is square asteroid Hermes in Pisces. Mercury retrograde is squaring the triple conjunction of Jupiter, Chiron and Neptune in Aquarius, another air sign. Uranus, the ruler of Aquarius is sextiled by Mercury. In Greco-Roman mythology Hermes/Mercury, the messenger of the gods, was traveling the pathways between the worlds.

Jupiter conjoined Chiron the previous day. Jupiter, Chiron and Neptune are now in tight conjunction, all three sharing the same degree in Aquarius. This is an aspect of strong intuition and devotion, and it encourages us to teach and inspire our fellow humans. Aquarius is the humanitarian sign, where we as individuals are able to connect with the wider world.

Chiron’s elliptical orbit around the Sun links the realms of Saturn and Uranus. The Sabian symbol for the discovery degree of Chiron is Taurus 4: The rainbow’s pot of gold. Barbara Hand Clow called Chiron the rainbow bridge between the inner and outer planets.

In Norse mythology also we find the rainbow bridge, Bifröst. It is a bridge that links the worlds above and below, the earth and heaven. It is sometimes called a bridge of flame, and it also symbolizes the world within.

Norse god Heimdal is the guardian of the rainbow bridge. He is one of the solar gods, whose domain is between the worlds, on the threshold, just as Chiron has been sometimes described as a doorway between the worlds. Heimdal is said to have taught the runes to humankind.

Kenaz is one of the runes that are used to invoke Heimdal. Kenaz symbolizes the torch, the inner light, the torch of learning. It is associated with consciousness, creativity, wisdom and mental agility. Kenaz can stand for a burning dedication to an outside cause. It symbolizes a gathering of people sharing the light. It is a guiding torch which can be handed from one person to another. The torch is a fire which is controlled and made of service to the humankind.

Here we get a link to the Greek myth of Prometheus, who was known for his intelligence, and who stole fire from Zeus and gave it to mortals. Richard Tarnas has proposed that Prometheus is a more fitting figure for the astrological traits of the planet Uranus — the creative spark, technological breakthrough, sudden enlightenment, intellectual and spiritual awakening — than the sky god Ouranos.

Zeus punished Prometheus by having him bound to a rock while a great eagle ate his liver every day only to have it grow back to be eaten again the next day. Here we get a connection to Chiron, too. Chiron had been wounded by Hercules’ poisonous arrow. He was in great agony, but he was not able to heal himself, nor was he able to die, because he was an immortal. Prometheus could only be released if an immortal offered to take his place. Chiron agreed to take the place of Prometheus, and thus eventually was released from his pain.

In the chart Mercury retrograde is in conjunction with two asteroids, Apollo and Sphinx. They are emphasizing the theme of the acquisition of knowledge and passing the information forward. Asteroid Sphinx stands for mysteries and missing information, but usually when questions arise, the curiosity pushes us to seek the answers.

In mythology Apollo was a solar god. He was the patron god of music and poetry, and half brother of Hermes, who created the famous lyre for him. Asteroid Apollo is an Earth-crosser asteroid on a strange orbit around the Sun, different from the Sun itself which is the center of our solar system. This is why Eric Francis has proposed that astrologically Apollo might be a light-bringer in other ways than the Sun, perhaps representing something of the inner quality or talent of seeing the light where others might not see it.

Asteroid Pandora represents a point of curiosity, and now shares the same degree with the triple conjunction of Jupiter, Chiron and Neptune. We may be allured by new ideas, and by exploring them we may suddenly discover some hidden talent in us.

By trusting in one’s own intuition, and by determined effort, the torch can be handed over.

References:

Paul Rhys Mountfort, Nordic Runes, Destiny Books, 2003

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

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

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

Freya Aswynn, Northern Mysteries & Magick, Llewellyn Publications, 1998

Richard Tarnas, Prometheus the Awakener, Spring Publications, 2004

Martha Lang-Wescott, Mechanics of the Future: Asteroids, Treehouse Mountain, 1996

Eric Francis, The Spiral Door Almanac, 2007

Full Moon in Scorpio — May 09, 2009, 04:01 UT

Friday, May 8th, 2009

This month the Full Moon occurs in Scorpio, the sign famous for its attraction to deep secrets. Mercury in early Gemini has just stationed retrograde turning the focus inward. The Sun, Moon and some Centaur planets have formed a grand cross in fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius).

A grand cross is a challenging aspect pattern which calls for attention. This is a potent time to unveil, face and resolve hidden matters from the past.

A grand cross is formed by two oppositions and four squares. The Sun and Moon are opposing each other on the Taurus-Scorpio axis. Centaur planet Chariklo is in conjunction with the Moon. The other opposition is formed by two Centaurs, Nessus in Aquarius and Elatus in Leo.

From Tracy Delaney’s article on Chiron and Elatus you can learn interesting facts about Elatus. She writes:

“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. The struggle comes when you try to do it the other way round; the frustrating process of grasping for the right words which seem out of reach, struggling to express yourself, not making yourself understood etc. 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. It seems to me that all the Centaurs have this same basic lesson, taught through their very different paths. I think Elatus could relate to learning through the whole creative process in that way, and the phenomenon of affecting others by it in ways you’ll never know.”

In the excerpt above, Tracy is referring to Neptune in the discovery chart of Elatus. Currently the Jupiter-Chiron-Neptune conjunction in Aquarius is tightening, and I think this planetary composition is making her delineation very apt just now.

Nessus was the third centaur to be found (after Chiron and Pholus). He was discovered in 1993 by David L. Rabinowitz, the same guy who in recent years as a member of Mike Brown’s team has contributed to many notable minor planet discoveries.

Nessus is a Centaur planet that assists with identifying and healing of abuse patterns which sometimes are invisible. The themes of Nessus can stretch over generations, or be collective. The pattern indicated by Nessus can be psychological, physical or sexual in nature. The theme of responsibility and not passing the responsibility to any point further, or to anybody else is important. Here is an excellent article by Eric on Nessus.

Chariklo is the largest known Centaur planet. In mythology Chariklo was a nymph, the wife of Chiron.

Centaurs are in dynamically unstable orbits that will eventually lead either to ejection from the solar system, an impact with a planet or the Sun, or evolution into a short-period comet. The orbit of Chariklo is more stable than the orbit of Nessus and Chiron, for instance. Also, in the discovery chart of Chariklo the aspect pattern reflects balance and harmony.

There is a grand sextile – a six pointed star — in the discovery chart of Chariklo, formed by Chariklo herself in one of the points and main planets in the other five points. A grand sextile is a rare aspect figure consisting of 60 degree aspects. Sextiles are considered to be beneficial. Juno at 4+ degrees of Taurus – conjunct the discovery degree of Chiron — is a symbol of the celestial marriage between Chariklo and Chiron.

Astrologically, Chariklo is about compassion, devotion and emotional connection, among other themes. Eric has noted that Chariklo can represent the inability to leave, or difficulty with leaving an inappropriate or hurtful companion. In the Full Moon chart the square between Nessus and Chariklo brings subjects like codependency and dysfunctional relationships into my mind.

Centaurs are agents of transformation, pushing us toward consciousness and change. Learning the art of communication, maybe in Elatus’ style, could ease the process.

References:

Serennu, Chiron & Elatus

Wikipedia, 7066 Nessus

Wikipedia, David L. Rabinowitz

Eric Francis, Nessus, Small World Stories, 2008

Melanie Reinhart, Saturn, Chiron and the Centaurs, CPA Press, 2002

Wikipedia, Chariklo

Eric Francis, Chariklo, Small World Stories, 2008