Solar Eclipse – Relationships, Like It or Not, You’re Going to Have to Deal With It.

The New Moon of May 20, 2012, as always, marks the beginning of the monthly cycle.  This cycle is a bit different because it begins with a solar eclipse. A solar eclipse that occurs just minutes into the tropical sign of Gemini. Eclipses in Gemini often bring windy days but the gusty winds often spring from mouths that are all talk and no action. 

There are a couple of real interesting configurations going on at this eclipse.

Venus in chatty Gemini is in an aspect of ease to Saturn in Libra. The eclipse chart set for Washington, DC puts Saturn, already strong in Libra, in the 11^th house which he naturally rules.  Saturn is the big dog here and he usually does not bring tidings of great joy. Saturn in Libra connected to Venus in Gemini speaks relationships, partnerships and negotiations. Saturn in Libra often tests relationships or brings them to a more serious level.  Venus in Gemini wants to flirt, is changeable and above all wants to talk about it.

Another powerful pattern has Pluto in Capricorn, Mars in Virgo and the asteroid Vesta in Taurus creating a Grand Trine.  Vesta rules the hearth and home; Mars makes war and Pluto, into power and control, plumbs the depths in order to bring about transformation.

The asteroid Juno in Scorpio opposing her lover, consort and cheating husband, Jupiter in Taurus further emphasizing relationship issues.  

The final little tidbit has Neptune in Pisces, mystical, magical and illusionary, in aspect to the eclipse and the moon’s nodes. This is like a blanket of fog spreading over all activities obscuring the truth while offering tantalizing glimpses of prophetic clarity.

We can expect legal issues involving money, marriage and partnerships.   Ongoing discussion and activism involving marriage equality and the so called war on women bring out the powerhouses on both sides of the issues. Powerful women step up and take part.  Mars in Virgo at the top of the Washington, DC chart digs into details. Involved with Pluto and Vesta those details expose financial, agricultural, military and labor issues.

Relationships on a grand scale, those that catch the public eye containing issues that trigger the collective psyche, stand out. Curiously the John Edwards trial goes to jury deliberation at this eclipse that has Juno, the long suffering wife opposing Jupiter, the philandering husband.  Perhaps not so curious, perhaps more in the nature of cycles, what goes around, comes around.

Taurus Ingress, New Moon in Taurus

Today, shortly after noon time here in the EDT time zone Sun moves into “feet on the ground” Taurus.  Taurus is a very sensuous, luxury loving, practical earth sign.  When a planet or “light” (Sun and Moon) enters a new sign astrologers cast a chart for that moment. This is called an Ingress chart.  The theory is that this chart will provide clues to what events and concerns will be prevalent while the planet or light moves through that sign.  The Sun’s transit through a sign and the corresponding Lunation cycle offer useful tools to use if you want to get in sync with the rhythms of the universe.  The Sun’s importance in the life cycle cannot be underestimated. We could not live without the Sun.  In astrology the Sun is the creative spark, the core self and everything else in the horoscope is filtered through the Sun’s position.  When the Sun travels through a particular house in the horoscope it literally lights up and activates the symbolism, ideas, people and events associated with that house.  A first house transit is very different from a twelfth house transit.  We shine and feel energetic and assertive while Sun travels through our first house, while a twelfth house transit often has us feeling fatigued and content to work behind the scenes.

This Ingress chart set for Washington, DC has some interesting planetary configurations that are in play for the New Moon in Taurus on Saturday, April 21^st.  The asteroid Juno conjoins the North Node in Sagittarius. These two form a favorable trine aspect to a Mercury/Uranus conjunction in Aries.  The asteroid Juno represents marriage, relationship, and the harmony and discord within relationships.  The Nodes of the Moon symbolize the past and the future.  Nodal contacts between people, IMHO, often means the two have to do “stuff” together. It may or may not be the be all and end all of relationships, but it often takes you out of your comfort zone forcing you to grow. At other times those relationships send you diving for cover back into your comfort zone triggering an awareness of repeating patterns.  Mercury and Uranus together jumps out and says be ready for some startling news.  Mix it all together and what do you get?  In Mythology, Juno is the Roman counterpart to Greek Hera, wife of philandering Zeus.  Juno/Hera was not of the “turn the other cheek” variety she was more the “hell hath no fury” type. Relationships are highlighted for good or ill.

Another important configuration involves a “grand square” with Mars in Virgo, opposing Neptune in Pisces, both squaring the nodal axis, North Node in Sagittarius conjunct the aforementioned Juno, with South Node in Gemini with Venus just out of the picture in Gemini as well. Mars is all about action, energy and how we assert ourselves. In Virgo the Martian energy is focused on analyzing, organizing, work, health, and diet. In Virgo it is important to express anger and not let it build up for it is sure to affect the health. While Mars in Virgo is all for the concrete and real across the Zodiac sits Neptune in Pisces wallowing in the mystical and magical at work dissolving walls and boundaries.  Whatever Neptune in Pisces is, it is not clear. If it is clear, it is clear to those who are highly evolved.  The Mother Theresa’s and Buddhist monk among us tune into Neptune in Pisces’ highest vibration in direct communication with the Goddess/God and walking the path of righteousness. Those less evolved don the rose colored glasses and often seek the divine in a bottle of booze.  

Last, but certainly not least, is the Grand Trine between the New Moon,  Sun/Moon in Taurus trine Mars in Virgo (Mars is busy in Virgo), and Pluto in Capricorn.  Now trines are considered aspects of ease and a Grand Trine can be a blessing in the natal chart as it indicates talents that come easily.  But just because it is easy does not mean that it is good. One must not forget that Mars’, in shy, retiring Virgo or not, first order of business is war and aggression.  Pluto brings transformation and issues of power and control to the fore.  Pluto rules debt, interest rates and the like. New Moon in Venus ruled Taurus is about love and money.  This is a Grand Trine in earth, nothing mystical here.  This Grand Trine will manifest in the real world.

Love, money and assorted relationships will top the list of concerns facing people this month.  Some relationships will end with a sparkling explosion while some of the more casual will deepen into a serious commitment. The issues of honesty, faithfulness and gaining trust will test many. By the Full Moon on May 5^th it’s all going to hit the fan. Money and the misuse of funds, love and betrayal, deception and truth create a mine field of intense emotion.  Many will shoot off their mouth without thinking.  While a lot may need to be said, think.  Are you done with this situation? Can anything be salvaged from this relationship? Or is it time to move on?  Last Quarter Moon, with Moon in Aquarius trining practical Saturn tones down the emotional roller coaster and brings some rationality into the picture.  Last Quarter Moon is a good time to end things. Ending or not different attitudes and feelings develop after the Sun moves into Gemini May 20^th and the next Lunation cycle begins.  This New Moon will be a Solar Eclipse in Gemini. A new cycle, new attitude and new ideas bring a fresh perspective.

Happy Birthday Barack Obama

I took a look at Barack Obama’s Solar Return chart for this upcoming birthday. The Solar Return chart is a forecasting tool astrologers use to predict what the upcoming year is going to be like for the individual or entity involved. Obama’s Solar Return has a Lunar Return this year as well. Both the Sun and the moon have returned to the place in the sky where they were when he was born. This is a somewhat rare occurrence. Moon represents, among other things, what you need. Obama’s moon is in Gemini, he needs to talk and he does it very well. Both his Natal moon and Solar Return moon are in the 3rd house of the Solar Return chart which further enhances the need to talk. This will be a yak, yak, yak year for him. The asteroid Juno figures prominently this year as well. Juno is the Goddess of marriage, the melding of the masculine and feminine and, the committed relationship. One of her major concerns is the equality of the sexes. In the Natal chart of Obama Juno is at 0 Aries and is getting a direct hit by Uranus and Jupiter. The symbolism is so apt, women and the law. Thus far he has nominated two women to the Supreme Court. His wife is an Aries type of woman independent, athletic and a trailblazer in her own right. Obama is and will continue to be a strong advocate for women’s rights. The sun in the Solar Return chart is in the 6th house, as is his natal sun. Issues of health care and the armed forces will be topics of discussion. The Uranus/Jupiter conjunction and the Great Cardinal Crescendo figure prominently in his Solar Return Chart, as it will/does in all the Leos this year. In Obama’s case the 1st (I) and 7th (you) houses figure prominently. He’s got Venus, Mars and Saturn in the 7th and Jupiter and Uranus in the 1st. Venus will be the diplomat, Mars brings the heated discussion, Saturn helps to hammer out the differences. The agreements will be literally hammered out. The 1st house represents Obama himself, his physical body, his persona and how people see him. With Uranus there he is still seen has the revolutionary First Black President. Jupiter gives him great confidence but also may have him biting off more than he can chew. Pluto in the 10th house of the Solar Return chart insures that the public will have no doubts as to who is in charge and in power. He is through playing games with the opposition and will not be looking for consensus. For all his talking he will still have a problem getting his message across. The inauguration chart for his presidency has a retrograde Mercury, very prominent thus very important. Most often he is misunderstood or opens his mouth inserting foot and has to go back and fix it. Think Gates, Sherrod etc. This will not be an easy year for him and probably not an easy year for the rest of us. So, Happy Birthday Barack Obama.