New Moon in Sagittarius / Total Solar Eclipse – Dec. 04, 2021, 07:43 UT
The New Moon in Sagittarius was a total solar eclipse at the south node of the Moon. The south node is oriented in the past. Ancestral themes can arise. The Sun and the Moon were in conjunction with Mercury and Vesta. Mercury symbolizes our intellectual activities. Vesta is a Main belt asteroid. It is brightest of the asteroids and even visible to the naked eye. It is the symbol of the eternal flame, or the sacred flame. Vesta indicates the focusing principle, and now in Sagittarius in conjunction with the Sun, the motivation for finding one’s purpose can be strong.
A solar eclipse is a powerful New Moon, and the New Moon always starts a new cycle. Sagittarius is a freedom-loving and future-oriented sign. Growth, optimism and joy can be attached to it by its sign ruler Jupiter. However, there are also some dark shadows in the chart, represented by some Kuiper belt minor planets. The eclipse was square to Aphidas and Orcus in Virgo, and Okyrhoe and Nessus in Pisces.
The Sabian symbol for the solar eclipse degree is Sagittarius 13 A widow’s past brought to light. The keynote by Dane Rudhyar is: “The karma of past actions as it affects opportunities presented by a new cycle.”
Each solar eclipse is a member of a particular Saros Series. The characteristics of the series can be delineated on the grounds of the chart of the initial eclipse in the series. According to Bernadette Brady, “This is a very joyful, happy family of eclipses. There is a sense of good news, falling in love, a peak experience that is joyful in some way.” There is a Neptunian influence in this 5 New South series. Rose Lineman says that it “heightens sensitivity and reinforces psychic tendencies.”
Neptune retrogrades every year for about five to six months. Neptune has just turned direct on Dec. 1, which emphasizes the Neptunian influence of the eclipse. So does possibly the fact that the eclipse was squaring centaur Okyrhoe in Pisces. Okyrhoe is named after a prophetic nymph daughter of Chiron and Chariklo.
Centaur Nessus offers healing on issues to do with the abuse of power, and it has ancestral implications. Quoting Melanie Reinhart and Sue Tompkins: “Nessus activations correspond with times when things really do end, finish and transcend to another level, when release occurs and when the turning point is reached.”
In Greek mythology, during the battle between the Centaurs and Lapiths, the centaur Aphidas remained in a drunken sleep. One of the Lapiths killed Aphidas with a thrown spear while he slept. Withdrawal is not always the best policy, at least not if you want your inner light shine.
Orcus is a plutino and named after the Etruscan god of the underworld and punisher of broken oaths. Orcus is a transformative energy, like Pluto. According to Jeremy Neal, “rather than a metamorphosis of control needs, Orcus requires a metamorphosis of integrity.”
Asteroid Euphrosyne is conjunct Saturn in Aquarius. Euphrosyne is a large Main belt asteroid which has a small moon. It is the third-roundest known asteroid. It was named after one of the three Graces, a goddess of joy, mirth and merriment. The solar eclipse sextile Euphrosyne is suggesting that grace of joy is coming into your life, although it may first require some work and serious commitment.