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

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.

2 Responses to “New Moon in Virgo — August 30, 2008, 19:58 UT”

  1. Kim Says:

    Kirsti thanks so much for Lunations. I really enjoy it and get so much from your in depth look at the issues in each entry.

    Just wanted to add that in the Human Design transits, Mars is in the Gate of Critisism right now, and it will continue to be strong in the chart in September as Venus and Mercury join in.

    This Gate has a potential to be a very positive force. It’s not just about critisism. It’s a very nurturing corrective energy that is designed to bring us closer to a sense of joy – by seeing what’s not working for us and changing our lives to accommodate that. It’s not often used that way and most of us have very strong family wounds around the issue of critisism that keep us locked into a fast reactive response.

    It would be great for people to be alert to when they feel critisised and see what it is that they’re feeling protective of. That will show the truth hiding under the armour, feeling too vulnerable to come out in the world, usually because of early childhood critisism. It’s especially valid around father issues right now.

    Great story about Borasisi – given that he found his children unacceptable, critisised them for being cold and cast them out. Fits perfectly. On the New Moon, Borasisi is in the gate that says the father’s behaviour can be either exemplary or insensitive (because he believes he’s the boss and that’s that).

    xx
    Kim

  2. Mysti Easterwood Says:

    Hi Kirsti,

    Thank you again! Pointing out the opposition to Borasisi in Aquarius 24 confirms my sense that this New is a flourish of the Leo/Aquarius eclipses. I’ve been scouring my notes to see what’s gotten done, what’s still in-process from those transitions, and with your help, I’m looking for where the uh… let’s call it ‘meticulous’ qualities of Virgo/Saturn turn up.

    I’m still a bit cloudy about how Borasisi actually functions in this set-up, but I’ll bet it comes clear during the New itself (in about an hour). “Ask and ye shall perceive…”

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