Solar Eclipse at 9 Degrees 12 Minutes of Cancer

July 1, 2011
3:54 AM EST
8:55 AM GMT

This is going to be a short (for me) post as I have to toodle on down the highway to celebrate the July 4 holiday with family and friends, but I just had to comment on this eclipse!

The Sabian Symbol for this eclipse says all you need to know:

“A large diamond in the first stages of the cutting process; the arduous training for perfection in order to fully manifest an ideal.”

One of my favorite places to visit in New York City, the American Museum of Natural History (do be sure to visit if you find yourself in New York with a free afternoon), has a web page on how diamonds become diamonds. Particularly note how diamonds are formed under high-pressure situations and essentially “blow out” onto the earth via volcanic eruptions. The rough material is shaped and formed deep in the earth, subjected to intense natural forces and emerges from a “trial by fire”. Later, to enhance its natural beauty, a skilled technician cuts and polishes it to emphasize its internal structure, which is inherent in the body of the diamond from its beginnings. This makes the stone more beautiful and more valuable in the eyes of the beholder.

And that is exactly what’s going on during this eclipse period. We’ve been in the pressure-cooker with 3 eclipses in the space of a month, so we’ve been in the stew, strengthening under the force, and we’re getting ready to blast out and be transformed into a shape that most enhances our innate internal qualities.

This eclipse features the Sun/Moon pair in Cancer, sign of home, family, and the primordial essence of our being. (In astrology, Cancer rules the fourth house of beginnings and endings, family history and karma, all things ancient, and where we feel comfortable and secure). We all start from somewhere! The Sun and Moon, during this eclipse period, are part of a larger pattern that’s been ongoing for the past year or so (everybody remember last summer and how intense the energies were then?). Uranus, Saturn and Pluto are interacting with the Sun and Moon right now so the pressure is indeed on! The outer planets (from the planet Jupiter through Pluto, which astrologers still consider a planet even though it’s been “demoted” recently), when involved this way, signal vast changes in the “big picture”. They’re like the Major Arcana in Tarot: often the movement begins internally from the voice of wisdom in our heads and spreads outward to our daily lives.

Some of the aspects are a bit “past their prime” but they still have an effect. And as Uranus moves to exactly square Pluto, we’ll begin to see an acceleration of the societal transformation many have been talking about for the past year or two. People are going to be calling for massive changes on all levels and this combo can provide the impetus to drive these changes. It’s a similar aspect to what occurred during mid-1960s, and if you know your history, you know that was an extremely interesting time to be on this planet! On some levels, there’s nowhere else to go …all that “stuff” that’s not working is devolving and becoming corrupted, so something new has to appear to change the direction. With Saturn in the mix, there may be resistance from established powers-that-be, and since Saturn is in Libra, it’s reminding us that we have to be fair and balanced in our actions and our decision-making. We may see a fair amount of chaos, but we still need some “order in the Court”.

So—how do we become that diamond mentioned in the Sabian Symbol for this eclipse? What needs to be cut away and polished so we shine in our own unique way? The pressure to change and let go may become almost unbearable (especially if we hang on to outdated ways of thinking and being). It’s always a little sad to leave things (or people) behind, but on some level, very deep down–think about those diamonds buried inside the earth waiting to pop up to the surface–we know it’s time.

The emphasis on Cancer says we need to come from a healing or nurturing place. Start at home, wherever “home” is for you. The earth is also our home, our rock, and we need to look at new ways to live here. As we’ve seen in the past few months, the earth is changing rapidly and we need to adapt. Maybe it’s not such a good idea to build nuclear reactors in earthquake and tsunami zones or pump for oil in ways that destabilizes the surrounding ecosystem. Maybe it’s time to use the energy of the outer planets to try something revolutionary, something we haven’t done before. Security (another Cancerian word) comes from within, from feeling at home in the world. If we have no foundation, whatever we build will be unsafe and insecure—we’ll have no sure footing.

Who’s Affected by This Eclipse

Anyone with planets at approximately 8-10 degrees of Cancer will really be feeling this one; as will those of you with Cardinal sign emphasis (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn), so if your Sun or Ascendant (Rising Sign) is in a cardinal sign at around 8-10 degrees you will feel the heat on this one. Remember, eclipse periods are good times to remove those karmic shackles that you’ve been lugging around. Some of you may feel an incredible relief and release as the burden is lifted. I’ve already noticed that I have to be more careful with what I say and do as there seems to be an almost immediate reaction from the universe (sending emissaries in the form of other people!) in response, and it’s quite marked. So just a word of warning here! And don’t forget that the effects may last at least six months, so we’re “in” this eclipse at least until the end of 2011.

The Crystal Oversouls

Since I’ve been discussing diamonds here, I thought I’d choose a card from The Crystal Oversouls deck by Michael Eastwood. This is an oracle and meditation deck that features stones and crystals and the artwork is gorgeous.

The card I selected for this eclipse is: Ruby

Eastwood’s companion book says that ruby has warming qualities and related to the base chakra. It’s associated with leadership and power and the ability to take action and “cut through inertia and depression forging the way ahead into possibilities”. He also notes it’s overseen by the Lords of Karma and so can help us move through our “karmic entanglements”. And finally, he says it makes us “cultivate a consciousness of service”.

Tarot Cards for This Eclipse

The Sun – The Moon – The Chariot

This combo is all about integrating the heart and soul, merging the two so we can ride in tandem and pursue our proper path with energy and focus. The Sun is the essence of who we are, and it’s a healing card. The Moon relates to our soul, to the cosmic unconscious, to the ebb and flow of life in all its eternal mystery. With conscious guidance (the Chariot) the vision of our proper path becomes clear and the journey begins.

Shine on, all you crazy diamonds! (With big thanks to Pink Floyd).

Valerie

Lately my life’s been full of delays and detours that have proven to be very interesting—after the fact, of course. While engulfed in the process itself, I bitch and stomp my feet, impatient that things aren’t moving faster! (Some of us have to be born Aries. Just remember, if you’re driving around the New York City area and cut off the car I’m traveling in, I WILL make hand gestures and swear at you. Repeatedly. I’m the Designated Curser.)

The other day, as I was musing about Uranus’ entrance into Aries and what that might signify and what I might focus on in a post on such a vast subject, news of the horrific 9.0 earthquake in Japan, with accompanying tsunami, exploding or semi-exploding nuclear plants, and a volcanic explosion hit the computer and television screens with startling ferocity.

While the earthquake/tsunami actually occurred when Uranus was located at 29 degrees of Pisces (March 11, 2:46 PM), it most likely will be remembered in future years as the “shot across the bow” that announced the Uranus in Aries era. One thing that has been made abundantly clear recently is that a planet at 29 degrees packs a giant wallop and seems to be inherently unstable. This includes that run of Full Moons at 29 degrees we’ve seen over the last few months. They’re ‘officially’ at the closing degrees of a sign, yet the energy seems to waffle between the sign they’re in and the sign they’re moving towards. Take this wobbly energy and pair it with Uranus, the planet with an extremely tilted orbit, and anything can happen. The one thing you can predict about Uranus is that you can’t predict what will happen when Uranus lands on you.

Uranus can signify anything that’s extreme, unusual and life-changing that can makes your old life go bye-bye in a flash. Uranus in Pisces/almost Aries didn’t cause the earthquake; it’s part of a pattern that can indicate dramatic earth changes that we will see activate and accelerate over the next few months as Uranus moves to a square (a challenge aspect) to the planet Pluto, which is currently in Capricorn (think of the earth and those with dominion over it, the forces of conservatism and business or corporations, and anything that is seemingly solid). I think the only comment that can be made is “you ain’t seen nothin’ yet. “

So who is our pal Uranus?

If you’re an Aquarian (Uranus is one of Aquarius’ ruling planets) or have a prominent Uranus you may already be well acquainted with this energy, but for those who haven’t had the pleasure, here’s a few key words: Uranus is the waker-upper, the higher octave of Mercury (meaning the higher mind that receives illumination through intuition or flashes of insight), the Enlightener, the lightning bolt flashing through the sky, the disturber of the peace, the revolutionary, the astrologer, the futurist, the space traveler, the liberator, the one who whisks away the old in a split second, the dispassionate, emotionless force for change and progress, the humanitarian impulse for progress…and those are just a few key terms.

Uranus has a cycle of 84 years, which means most of us are experiencing Uranus in Aries for the very first time. The last time around was 1927-1935. This was the period when the party was ending for the flappers due to the stock market crash and the world financial situation in general. It also marked the rise of the Nazis and other fascist groups which influenced the course of history, leading to the Second World War. At the same time there were many breakthroughs and discoveries in science, medicine and aviation occurring simultaneously. I remember reading about the discovery of penicillin and sulfa drugs and what a huge boon they were to society. “The Talkies” made their debut during this time, too—a real revolution for movie goers. Lindbergh flew across the Atlantic in 1927, another milestone.

In our time, Uranus made a trial run through Aries from May to August 2010 before it retrograded back into Pisces. Some of you may remember what last summer was like-it felt like a bit of a pressure cooker with energies wanting to bust out full speed but being thwarted and frustrated by opposing forces.

Uranus in Aries as the Designated Curser

Uranus in Aries can be the guy with the Molotov cocktail…it’s the rebel yell, or the brave person who defies oppressive norms or doesn’t put up with nasty behavior. We’ve seen eruptions of this energy already, in the Middle East. It’s about Just Saying No, but also saying Yes to something better. It’s the primal scream from the movie Network “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore”. Aries can be a brave sign and Uranus won’t stop ‘til something drops…and that combination can transform society. Of course the down side of this is that the passion of Aries, combined with the dispassionate intensity of Uranus, can lead to the type of revolutionary fervor that rumbled through society after the French Revolution…the zigzag from Liberty to Terror didn’t take very long. Uranian people can often believe that their way is the ONLY way and others have to adhere to their principles “for their own good”.

The rebound effect may be particularly marked this time around, since the challenge aspect that Uranus forms with Pluto in Capricorn means that the dictators, economic systems, and assorted despoilers, oppressors, planetary polluters and their pals are not going down without a fight; the next few years may be a bit of a rough ride or a dance with anarchy. One problem on the horizon can be the growth of mob rule, with people ignited into a frenzy by the excitement of a demagogue. We might also see episodes of mass hysteria in certain settings.

That’s why I’m calling this aspect Unstable Isotopes. Uranus can destabilize whatever it touches and it rules Uranium, and Pluto rules Plutonium; put the two together and you can have quite an explosion. What the half-life is, nobody really knows, but these two powerhouses have lasting effect on society when they aspect each other this way. Like nuclear power, humanity hasn’t quite evolved enough yet to know how to handle these outer planets, but we need to make a giant liberating step forward and sometimes the only way is through extreme circumstances.

This dynamic also acts on an internal level. Uranus square Pluto can liberate you from the muck and mire (the La Brea Tar pits of the soul) that you’ve been stuck in. As the Fifth Dimension sang back in the Age of Aquarius:

“Golden living dreams of visions,
Mystic crystal revelation,
And the mind’s true liberation”

It might be time to finally say “see ya later” to the negative archetypes we’ve allowed to run our lives (or acquiesced to) over the years, the voices inside us that tell us who we should be or who others want us to be rather than who we really are. This gives us a chance to set ourselves free…since this only comes once every 84 years, unless you intend to live to 400, grab it and run, it might be the best chance you have to reinvent yourself!

Those of you with planets or house cusps (particularly the angles: Ascendant/1st house, Descendant/7th house, Midheaven/10th house and Nadir/4th house) in the early degrees of Aries or the other three cardinal signs (Cancer, Libra, Capricorn) will hear the clarion call of freedom the most intensely during this time. Most of you will be motivated to try something new in some area of your life. Aries people are going to feel like their brain’s on fire; Libras may stop being so polite; Capricorns get a double dose: with Uranus in Aries and Pluto right on the Sun in Capricorn, BIG changes are on the agenda for them. Cancers may find their world rattled quite a bit too (Pluto is in opposition to their Sun).

Finding where Uranus is in your chart

Here’s some basic information about Uranus in the houses of the astrological chart—remember, with Uranus in Aries, key words are NEW, DIFFERENT, & LIBERATING.

Uranus in the first house

Zap! You’re a new person. The way you look or present yourself , how others respond to you, and your image, the gateway to your personality, will be invigorated. Change to a futuristic style, dye your hair electric blue, wear your underwear over your clothes, give yourself a makeover a change and see if it doesn’t motivate you to make other major changes in your life. Don’t forget to start from the inside out. Be who you are.

Uranus in the 2nd house

Financial affairs may be singing “easy come, easy go”. Windfalls can occur, so can sudden losses. Stock market drops can affect your bottom line and your security. It’s time to figure out what you really value, where you truly are at home and what you’re attached to—and whether you really need it anymore. A change in your value system accommodating your new values and goals, and a willingness to leave the comfort zone may occur almost overnight.

Uranus in the 3rd house

The way you speak or communicate may change. Your mind may feel like it’s on fire, and you can have amazing ideas and inspirations. Be sure and write or record these. You may just “high-tech” your life. Be careful you’re not too abrupt when speaking with neighbors or those you see on a day-to-day basis. Nervous energy can abound, so remember to take rest and relaxation breaks. Be careful in your meanderings around the neighborhood via car (or any other mechanical means—some of you may have space ships!). Don’t get distracted, especially by your cell phone/texting habits, as it can lead to accidents.

Uranus in the 4th house

Changes in the home environment or the way you relate to it. You or someone in your home may move out. Things may break down, or you may decide to clear out old furniture and decorations in favor of a new, streamlined design. Someone close to you can behave in an erratic fashion. This can mean unexpected or surprising endings to particular chapters in your life–it’s the end of an era. Job changes can affect the home environment. It can also indicate changes occurring in your relationship with your parents.

Uranus in the 5th house

This often relates to sudden new love interests (or you meet someone really unusual). It might not last forever, but it sure as hell will be interesting while it lasts! Creativity is given a jolt, but it’s likely to be expressed in nontraditional forms. If you have kids they’ll be clamoring for more independence, for sure. Probably not be a good time to start gambling–you might like it too much!

Uranus in the 6th house

Your daily routines can be interrupted (sometimes leading to something new and interesting), co-workers can behave erratically (or maybe they’re just brilliant; sometimes there’s a fine line). Pets can be easily irritated or have behavior problems; take them to the vet if necessary. Nervous energy can increase: you may be more stressed than most by these sudden changes.

Uranus in the 7th house

the old-school line on this was divorce, but it can also mean a fresh infusion of energy into your relationship, or meeting someone new who inspires you. The 7th covers all kinds of partnerships so you may meet someone different but totally compelling. This can be open enemies, too, so watch out for people in your environment acting strangely.

Uranus in the 8th house

This may manifest as an increase in unconscious memories rising to the surface, or hunches and flashes becoming more common (you might even get some news from Aunt Shirley who’s been dead for 20 years!) In the house of “shared resources” it could mean a partner or spouse is having financial difficulties or is behaving erratically around money. Or the IRS could be hiding behind a tree ready to jump in front and scare the crap out of you, so pay your taxes.

Uranus in the 9th house

Unexpected opportunities related to higher education, travel and the higher mind. With Uranus here, it’s a good time to take classes, especially in philosophy or astrology or the occult subject of your choice. Interesting foreigners could show up temporarily in your life…or maybe your plane flight is diverted somewhere odd but intriguing and you decide to move there for a while!

Uranus in the 10th

This one can mean starting your own business, being your own boss, freelance work, or else getting downsized and having to invent yourself and your career over again. Irregular work or working conditions, unusual bosses are common here. Or you’re just so weird you have to work on your own for a while because no one else wants to work with you. Try to work in an area that allows you a lot of freedom. You could also get the chance to go nationwide—sudden fame and notoriety can be indicated with Uranus here. If you write or work in the communications industry, be sure to get yourself “out there”.

Uranus in the 11th house

Groups and friendships may undergo sudden changes. You may decide to drop out of groups or organizations you’ve belonged to for years or you stop talking to old friends because you need a change of scenery and/or are sick of their yammering. Joining a group working towards the betterment of humanity may be high on your list, one that seeks justice for all. Emphasize your highest dreams and look for ways to manifest them in your life. It might happen sooner than you think!

Uranus in the 12th house

Who knows what will emerge from the murk…maybe the Creature from the Black Lagoon? More likely you have an angel looking over your shoulder. Telepathic messages, increased psychic ability, strange people haunting your dreams (write them down, they’d make great films! Excellent time for psychotherapy or any work that gets to the underpinnings of who you are. A new freedom in releasing old hurts, dumping ancient “scripts” that no longer matter. Good time for past-life work.

For a very concise description of unstable isotopes:

Valerie

New Moon in Pisces

by Valerie Sylvester

March 4, 2011
3:46 PM EST
8:47 PM GMT

I was trying to get this post out in time for the New Moon but got distracted along the way. (A pet emergency here, unbreakable obligations there & just plain free-floating craziness all over the place delayed me a bit.) All of this was somewhat annoying for me, but excellent as an object lesson for what to expect during this New Moon in Pisces period.

Since Moon in Pisces means we’re totally open to an infusion of “I don’t know what the hell that was, it was kind of blurry—but I got a good vibe from it” energy at this time and often expressing itself with a whoosh of undifferentiated feeling oozing through our pores, let’s approach this New Moon less academically & more symbolically. With so many planets in Pisces during a New Moon, there’s a sense both of ending (Pisces is the 12th sign), things that are hidden or floating under the surface, combined with the “new start” idea of the New Moon, so it’s a bit of an internal contradiction!

Just take a look at the New Moon chart that’s paired with this post. The first thing you notice, even if you don’t know gobs about astrology, is that there’s a giant collection of symbols in one part of the chart, with one opposite them all. Looks like a bowl or a basket with a handle, doesn’t it? This configuration is generally referred to as a “bucket” with the single planet being the handle and all the others functioning as the bucket itself.

As you can imagine, this set-up concentrates a great deal of energy in one area. The “bucket” end contains not only the Moon in Pisces, but the Sun (it’s a New Moon), Mercury, Uranus, Mars and Chiron in Pisces, and within 10 degrees of this grouping we see Jupiter in Aries, and on the other side, Neptune and Ceres in Aquarius. Most of the remaining planets that are not included in the bucket are located in the 2nd half of the zodiac (from Libra to Pisces). Only Jupiter in Aries and the South Node section of the North Node/South Node axis in Gemini and Sagittarius) are located in the first half of the zodiac (Aries to Virgo).

So, we have quite a few planets clustered in one area, all in the more “universal” signs, with special emphasis on Saturn in Libra, the “handle” for the bucket. And the planets in the bucket area are all “corralled” between the dynamic square aspect between Jupiter in Aries and Pluto in Capricorn. What does all this mean? With all the planets in Pisces, it might seem as though we just slide into the dreamtime, but given the Jupiter/Pluto square and Saturn in Libra as the focal point of this collective grouping, it’s really pointing to an upwelling in the collective soul in a direction towards freedom and change, and away from the constrictions of the past.

Charlie Sheen, Poster Boy

The asteroid Chiron (at 1 degree Pisces) connecting with Mars and the Sun indicates that old wounds may be opening up as a prerequisite for healing, which is why you may see people “acting out” during this period. I was thinking about the media maelstrom over Charlie Sheen recently and saw some of his television appearances. Without going into too many details or trying to psychoanalyze the lad, he’s the perfect poster boy for the times. He’s a Virgo with Gemini rising and Sagittarius Moon, all mutable signs, so he’s being hit by this collection of planets in Pisces and by the switch of the Nodes into Gemini and Sagittarius. Uranus passing through Pisces should have provided him with the wake-up call he needed to make some important changes in his life, but he seems to think it’s the 1980s and he’s still living out his role in the “Wall Street” movie, with his constant talk of excess, money, big houses, drugs, and his ever-changing array of “goddesses”. With Neptune going into Pisces, he may dissolve further into delusion and addiction, or maybe he’ll have some sort of spiritual awakening. He’s clearly smart, talented, and funny, but there’s obviously something else fermenting under there (including, but not limited to, father issues and a penchant for prostitutes), but that’s a subject for another blog.

The point is that he’s out there, adrift (w-a-y out there) illustrating the point that there’s a huge psychic wound in the way things currently “are” that needs to be mended…a big hole in the zeitgeist that’s in need of shifting. And the shift starts with changing the “group think”, which is symbolized by all those planets in the later signs of the zodiac. Saturn in Libra tells us that we need laws and structure and Jupiter in Aries square Pluto in Capricorn remind us that initiative is required to tear down that which no longer serves the needs of the greater population. This can be a very explosive combination as people act on their hidden (all that Pisces) hopes and wishes and attempt to manifest them, and larger forces such as governments and dictators attempt to maintain control. With Uranus ready to move from Pisces to Aries, this can lead to sudden revolts, such as we’ve seen in the Middle Eastern countries. I spoke with someone who had traveled to Egypt back in the fall, and he said the thing he noticed most was the anxiety of the people he met over being able to afford basic necessities such as food (Ceres is conjuncting Neptune in Aquarius in this chart, showing underlying, rumbling concerns with the general public over food stocks). This is only one (but a powerful motivator) of the issues that is directing many of the people who are now demanding freedom. In Libya, Colonel Gadhafi (with multiple planets in Gemini being squared by that lineup in Pisces) is attempting to retain power using coercive methods and accusing protestors of having drugs dumped in their food or drink by Al Qaeda. Note that Charlie Sheen has also made the news in relation to his drug consumption…a common Pisces/Neptune thread here, along with projection and a refusal to face the facts!

Another thing to note is that Uranus enters Aries on March 11 (through early March 2019). The last time Uranus was in Aries was from 1927 through 1935, right smack in the middle of the Great Depression. Uranus in Aries will be squaring Pluto in Capricorn exactly several times during the next few years, signaling the need for a shift to a totally new understanding of how to build from the ground up, both symbolically and quite literally. Think of the Tower card and the Judgment card in tarot. Things are being torn down around us, but if we look back, we can see the part we played in setting up the structure and learn to let go of our attachment to it in the hopes that something new and better will arise from the ashes. Both cards emphasize letting go, which is also a key theme of this collection of planets in Pisces during this New Moon period.

Indeed, I’d say the key words here are just “Let it go, let it go, let it go”. (Say it three times like a mantra!) The Nodes in Gemini/Sagittarius ask us to open our minds to new vistas and let go of all the old stories we’ve been telling ourselves about the “way things are”—they’re just not relevant anymore.

Sabian Symbol

The Sabian Symbol for the New Moon at 14 degrees Pisces is “A lady wrapped in fox fur”.

I saw a car commercial on TV the other day that spoofs the type of people who drive “old-fashioned” luxury cars and one of the vignettes showed a woman in an old-fashioned house full of “wealth” signifiers. She wore a fox fur (one of those with the entire fox head attached…ugh). The fox head was animated but went to sleep when the lights were turned off. The woman in fur was, and to some extent still is, a sign of wealth and “class” and of the people who direct society and politics. The fur keeps her warm, but also shows others her social standing, her station in the world. The commercial makes fun of this fustiness and suggests a different alternative (buying a different car, of course! It’s a commercial, after all) Despite the obvious buy-buy-buy message, it’s interesting how this commercial also reflects the current drive for something new and different, a different kind of wealth; and makes light of the old ideas of what’s really important.

For individuals, people with planets around 14 degrees Pisces will be absorbing the effects of this New Moon the most; those with sun signs or chart angles at around 14 Gemini, Virgo, and Sagittarius will be feeling this as well. For the rest of us, the area in our charts that contains late Aquarius and all of Pisces will be most affected by this mega-grouping. People with planets in early Aries are going to be bouncing out of their gourds, too (just thought I’d throw in a message to my fellow Aries –be prepared for liftoff!) This is a great time for ridding yourself of any “psychic baggage” you’ve collected over the years and giving thought to how you want the future to manifest. It can seem a little overwhelming as we’re bombarded with free-floating anxiety, but it’s also an excellent time for creative activity and visualization. If it’s all too much, go to the movies, watch a dance troupe, immerse yourself in something beautiful and graceful.

Valerie Sylvester