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.

Get Ready to Rock and Roll With This New Moon

The New Moon occurs at 7:09 AM EDT on September 27^th here on the eastern seaboard of the United States.  Begin, begin, begin cries the New Moon. The New Moon marks the beginning of the new cycle and simply put, it is the time to start something new. Inspiration and intuition flow into consciousness, and the wise do not ignore these spontaneous ideas that pop up, seemingly from nowhere. It pays to watch how they develop as the Moon waxes into the Crescent and First Quarter phases.  Often new ideas meet resistance or face obstacles at these points in the cycle.  If the idea or project has merit and is important to the individual, these impediments can be overcome. As the Moon reaches the Full Moon phase on October 11, 2011, seeds planted at the New Moon flourish and reach fruition. 

This particular New Moon falls in the sign of Libra. The Sun and Moon together in the sky square off with Pluto in Capricorn and oppose Uranus in Aries. This is a volatile, explosive combination. The indications point to strikes:  lightning, labor, sit ins, and protests involving youth in particular but also the public in general against the corporate, political and financial power structure. Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions grab the headlines. The quakes and eruptions are not limited to the physical earth. As the public agitates, the power structures respond. As the Uranus/Pluto conjunction that occurred in the 1960’s approaches its First Quarter phase echoes from that era reverberate today. This New Moon period offers a glimpse of what may happen over the course of the series of Uranus/Pluto squares beginning in June 2012 and continuing through March of 2015.

Calculating the chart for Washington, DC puts the Sun and Moon conjunct the Ascendant. The Ascendant is an important position in any horoscope as it designates the point of entry into the world for the individual or entity. The Sun represents the father, head of state, CEO’s etc. The Moon represents the mother, females, the public and public opinion.  The Sun, Moon, Mercury cluster in Libra opposing Uranus in Aries straddles the Ascendant/Descendant axis. The Ascendant represents the self, while the Descendant symbolizes the other.  The Descendant or cusp of the 7^th house is the house of the “significant other” as well as open enemies.  The Sun opposing Uranus along this axis suggests that authority figures will meet the opposition, the rebellious and the revolutionaries head on. Here in the United States, President Obama will also meet his opponents head on.  He will confront those who contest his policies to the delight of his supporters and the dismay of his opponents.  The public is very much involved here.  The use of social media, the trend and tool of the modern grassroots organizer, continues to grow with novel twists and innovations along the way as Uranus in Aries shakes up the status quo for most of this decade.

As the Moon waxes moving into the First Quarter phase on October 3, 2011, the discontent with existing conditions in the political, commercial and personal arena reach a point where some action needs to be taken. Land values, real estate and agricultural themes focus around money, interest rates and the cost of goods and how these issues impact the work force. The general public is in a serious and somber mood.  At the Full Moon the money problems continue as political opponents, the public, parents, youth, management and labor threaten to leave the bargaining table behind with diplomacy forgotten. 

The Last Quarter Moon on October 19^th brings a change in public opinion as a new determination takes hold. Social unrest resonates with young and old alike.  The buzz circles the globe. Here again, this is the button that will get pushed time and again over the next few years.  For the immediate future, now is the time to assimilate all that has been learned and experienced during this current Lunation cycle.  This cycle holds the Libra theme of partnership, negotiation and social awareness. Libra needs to relate.  People need people now and despite political differences, are more than willing to try and work it out. The next Lunation Cycle begins with the New Moon in Scorpio on October 26, 2011.  Try and resolve any relationship issues while the Libra influence is in play as the Scorpio New Moon promises to take no prisoners.

Mars Squaring Uranus Kicks Off the December to Remember

I write this as Mars squares Uranus. When Mars and Uranus are in hard aspect like this I am tempted to head for the bunker and hunker down until the smoke clears. The word explosive comes to mind. With Moon in Scorpio in the deepest, darkest waning phase of the Lunar Cycle and Uranus poised and ready to move into direct motion after Sunday’s New Moon in Sagittarius it is hard to say when or where the next shocker will come from. This December will be the December to remember. Between the New Moon and First Quarter Moon Uranus goes direct, Mars moves into Capricorn and on Friday, December 10, 2010 Mercury goes retrograde. At the First Quarter Moon on Monday, December 13th Mars and Pluto join forces. Going from a square with Uranus to a conjunction with Pluto, Mars is the igniter. Uranus is Mr. Surprise, the unexpected, the unusual, often bringing a shocking jolt out of the blue. Pluto is that deep rumble below the surface that erupts and brings about powerful transformations. The Full Moon occurring hours before the Winter Solstice is a Lunar Eclipse at 29 degrees Gemini/Sagittarius. This is the Galactic Center that plays such an important part in the Mayan Calendar and the hullaballoo about 2012. Venus having retraced her steps will be at the point where she went retrograde back in October. In Scorpio, the sign of sex, death and taxes, she is through playing games. Diplomatic secrets will continue to be revealed. Venus has a sharp tongue here and walks a razor’s edge. At the Last Quarter Moon on December 27th busy Mars once again enters the picture with a hard aspect to Saturn. Mars in Capricorn works well, likes to work toward concrete results. Who better to deal with than Saturn, the Lord of the Material World? A hard aspect, the square, says it “don’t come easy”. On the 30th Mercury stations and begins to move in direct motion. All the false rumors and misinformation will begin to sort itself out. As the planets change signs and directions the dynamic changes as well. With the direction changes the energies and symbolism of the particular planet is enhanced and emphasized. The fallout from the latest Wikileak will impact international relationships as well as the public’s perception of government. We’re talking worldwide here. The financial situation here at home and across the world will serve to educate the people to the amount of manipulation of public opinion and political figures going on behind the scenes. More secrets will be revealed. Unusual weather patterns unfold and earthquake and/or volcanic action literally and figuratively shake things up.