Astrological Musings: Astrology that expands the mind

Transformational astrology with a smattering of politics and people-watching

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Name::Lynn Hayes
From::Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States
Visit me at www.lynnhayes.com for lots of useful information about the Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Chatham County area of North Carolina.
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Friday, September 29, 2006

Saturday links!

I'm taking a break Saturday so I can write the October Skywatch. Meanwhile here are some links for your reading pleasure:

Philip Brown takes a look at Senator George "Macaca" Allen, something I've been meaning to do myself.

Jeffrey reviews the film Hollywoodland and the Saturn/Neptune opposition.

Jill links to and discusses Keith Olbermann's perfect piece of journalism on the what Clinton did vs. what Bush did argument.

Nancy skewers President Bush on his own torturous petard.

April's Thursday Thirteen includes thirteen upcoming astro-events.

Susan delves into the effect of Saturn and Neptune, with a separate article on the addition of Jupiter to the playground.

JM goes for a walk, and also reveals the ascendant as portal to our lives' experiences.)

Neith, my fellow Libran, relishes in the beauty of autumn.

Have a great weekend, I'll be back Sunday.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 4:44 PM :: |

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Thursday, September 28, 2006

More about the Pluto Triad

Two astrobloggers whom I hold in high esteem have quoted my ponderings on the "tripartite nature of Pluto" including Eris and Ceres. Their comments are really wonderful and help to expand this concept.

From Jeffrey comes this beautifully written story of the Pluto drama:

At the beginning of a Pluto transit, there is a sense of "discord and strife" as our ego fights against its own destruction. It is then dragged down into the underworld, where we encounter the Shadow elements of our psyche. Ceres mourns the loss of our virgin self (Persephone, untarnished until she is abducted by Hades). We then re-emerge, newly aware of that which we had hidden from ourselves, having undergone a shamanic initiation into our own deepest parts. The final product is then a sense of empowerment and authenticity, as we have integrated previously dis-owned parts of ourselves, aspects of our being that we had to hide (because society or our parents did not approve of them) or aspects that were just so biological or instinctual that we just did not feel safe acknowledging them in the light of day.

Dharma Ruci, my new blogfriend in the UK, expands the Ceres/Proserpine myth:

Through Proserpina’s abduction, both mother and daughter are forced to move on to the next stage of their lives: Proserpina loses her childish innocence and becomes a wife, while Ceres has to let go of her child and re-encounter her as an adult. And this is part of Pluto’s function. Often we don’t want to move on to the next stage, we’re quite happy as we are, we’re often not even aware that it’s time to move on. But it is in the nature of life to move on to the next stage – animals do this naturally, they don’t have a problem about how to live, unlike ourselves. Pluto is the agent of that Necessity to move on and to transform.

Through her daughter, Ceres becomes a bridge between this world and the underworld. She has earned the right, as Lynn Hayes puts it, to ‘preside over our emergence from the underworld and the regeneration of our lives.’ As a goddess who also presides over the growth of nature and crops, she embodies that new life, and that fullness of life, which takes place at the other end of the transformational process. But it is a life that has lost its innocence, a life that is aware that winter, which has a beauty of its own, is necessary so that life can be renewed. Death and a letting go of the old are needed for re-birth.

Dharma has more to say about Ceres which I'll post later once she starts really talking to me. If you have some time, read through his previous article about Eris in the charts of famous people, it's really fascinating.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 8:03 PM :: |

---------------oOo--------------- Owen Wilson and Commitment Conflicts

You can tell Owen Wilson is unusual the first time you see him in a film. Shaggy hair, crooked nose: he doesn't look like your everyday film star. And even though the parts he plays are typically the sophomoric doofus, his presence lingers and suggests a deeper and more complex character lies beneath. His chart suggests that the same is true for Wilson himself. Recent gossip reports have suggested that Kate Hudson has left her husband for a romance with Owen Wilson, so I looked into their charts for the National Ledger entertainment column.

Owen Wilson has the Sun in Scorpio, along with three other planets (Neptune, Mercury and the Moon), giving him an exceptionally strong intensity and passion in everything he does. Scorpio is a fiery water sign that is anchored in the realm of the emotional underworld; the dark and deep underbelly of our feelings that others may fear to witness. There is a great deal of courage in the Scorpio personality, since they are the ones willing to face their inner demons and become transformed by them. This doesn't sound like the Owen Wilson that we see in films, but this is due to the fact that it is actually the sign that is rising in the chart, the ascendant or rising sign, that describes the outward personality. The rising sign is determined by the time of birth, and this is rarely available for celebrities so all we can do is make a guess, and in Wilson's case I would guess his rising sign to be something fiery such as Leo or Sagittarius. Wilson himself has said that he is surprised he ended up in comedy, because he was so serious in high school.However, the inner Owen Wilson is strongly Scorpio.

Scorpios have a reputation for being sexy, and it's true that there is a strongly sexual component to their nature, but they are much more. They can be intensely secretive with a strong need to be in control of their relationships, and typically become consumed by their relationships and everything else they do because of their intensity. They dislike the superficial and probe beneath the surface in order to discover what lies beneath. Even under Owen Wilson's silliest characters there is a depth that surprises you.

Wilson's chart is made more complex with the addition of three planets in Libra, the sign of relationships (Mars, Uranus and Jupiter). Partnerships are very important to him with this strong Libra emphasis, but the combination of Mars and Uranus can be problematic. Mars is our aggressive urge and Uranus shows where we are rebellious and dislike convention, and this is a combination that is exciting and energetic but also dislikes restrictions. Wilson enjoys living alone and when in a relationship with a woman he fears the restrictions that a commitment will require. When Wilson broke up with singer Sheryl Crow, his last serious relationship, he said that his lack of "focus" (read commitment) was the cause of the failure of all of his relationships. His most recent publicized relationship was with a Hollywood stripper which ended with Wilson feeling trapped. This need for freedom and autonomy conflicts with Wilson's intensely passionate nature, and creates within him a conflict over commitment.

Kate Hudson is an Aries, the sign of initiation and will. Aries people tend to be headstrong and courageous, and typically see the best in people. Kate's Mercury (communication) and Mars (desire) is also in Aries, intensifying her fiery and independent nature. However, she is also a romantic with with Venus (relationships) in sensitive Pisces. The planet Neptune, the planet of dreams and illusion, makes a challenging aspect (square) to Kate's Venus. This combination often shows someone to whom the fantasy of love may be more real than the actual experience, and with her strong Aries nature she prefers to see the best in the situation rather than what might be under the surface.

Kate and Owen met in the romanticized world of a film set and in the thrill of an illicit relationship. Both of them thrive on excitement, so this is no doubt an intoxicated time for them. But do they have what it takes to go the distance? Mars shows sexual compatibility, and Owen's Venus connects with Kate's Venus, showing a strong love connection as well. These are all very positive for a loving relationship. They could have difficulties in communication, however; Kate's Mercury is in headstrong and willful Aries which tends to be combative and needs to win; Owen's Mercury is in Scorpio, which needs to be in control and holds a grudge. They will need to make a special effort to understand each other and listen to what is said below the surface.

The relationship the planets make from one person's chart to other tells us how each person perceives the other, and overall the planets of these two work well together. However, like all relationships (even the most successful ones) there are some potential difficulties here. Pluto in Kate's chart makes a square to Venus in Owen's chart showing a powerful (Pluto) connection (Venus), but one where Owen may feel overpowered by Kate. Saturn (commitment) in Owen's chart is opposite Uranus (freedom) in Kate's chart, showing that Owen is likely to be the one here that wants the commitment, which Kate may run from.

Many of us have conflicts over commitment that are shown in the birthchart when there is both a need for connection, such as the strong Scorpio nature, with a craving for autonomy such as the Mars/Uranus/Jupiter combination. When these urges collide, we tend to swing from one extreme to another until we achieve the balance of integrating both within ourselves. It's not unusual for an individual with this sort of conflict to be the pursuer in one relationship and the one who flees in the next.

A relationship like the one between Owen and Kate can succeed as long as both partners recognize their inner need for autonomy within the relationship. Owen's Scorpio nature is more likely than Kate to crave a passionate love affair; Kate is romantic and craves excitement but with her strong Aries nature she isn't wired for the kind of intensity that Owen is likely to offer and in time she may become easily overwhelmed by his emotions. It's also possible that once the newness of the love affair has worn off and the day-to-day reality begins that Kate will no longer find what she is looking for here. But the astrology for these two is positive overall, and only time will tell if they can work through their internal issues and achieve happiness together.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 7:38 AM :: |

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Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Astrological financial news

The opposition from Saturn to Neptune was expected to decrease the supply of oil (Saturn is "dry" and Neptune is "wet") causing oil prices to rise, but the addition of Jupiter's expansive properties (in a square to Neptune) has boosted confidence in the world's oil supply and prices have dropped. There has been some speculation that the Bush administration has been complicit in the lowering of gas prices in advance of the election, but most analysts believe that the combination of a quiet hurricane season, the end of the war in Lebanon and a softening of rhetoric on Iran has led to increased oil supplies and softening prices.

In September and October we are seeing the conclusion of two planetary cycles involving Jupiter. Jupiter's influence is expansive: it increases confidence and optimism but can be unrealistic and reckless. Jupiter's square to Neptune which began in January can bring a powerful "irrational exuberance" as it taps into Neptune's more reckless qualities: illusion, delusion and fantasy. A Jupiter/Neptune square led us into the dot-com boom in 2000 as the "new economy" sold businesses that had no money and didn't even really exist except as a concept.

The square from Jupiter to Saturn which began last December has served to apply limits (Saturn) to that "irrational exuberance" which was fostered by Neptune, but many financial analysts feel that the current upward trend in the stock markets is once again fueled more by consumer confidence (that Jupiter influence) rather than real strength in the underlying economics. Consumer confidence in Germany is at its highest level since 2001. In New Zealand, Asia, Latin America and virtually everywhere, stocks are rising in response to increased optimism in the United States.

The basing of financial markets strictly on optimism without any basis in fundamental value is not a recipe for long-term financial health. This may be a good time for short-term trading, but the final hit of the Jupiter/Saturn square in mid-October is likely to bring a dose of reality into the mix. However, the transition into a more realistic market should be facilitated by the introduction of Pluto in a harmonious aspect to Saturn, blending the transformative qualities of Pluto with the discipline and leadership of Saturn.

Any time Jupiter is in a challenging aspect (a square of opposition) it's useful to try to avoid reckless behavior and the current financial market situation is no exception.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 5:22 AM :: |

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Tuesday, September 26, 2006

Andrew Harvey's Dark Night of the Soul

Art by Larian

While I was on vacation I happened on a radio interview with Andrew Harvey, a mystic and Shakespearean scholar who believes as many do that the earth is heading for some troubled times. I was very impressed by the depth of his commitment to the spiritual life and his eloquence in describing the twists and turns that are required on the path to becoming one with the divine.

Harvey's recent book is entitled The Sun at Midnight, written about his long journey through the dark night of the soul. In the opposition from Saturn to Neptune, many of us are experiencing such a "dark night" in the form of the ending (Saturn) of our illusions (Neptune). Although Pluto is now associated with death and the principle of rebirth, before Pluto was discovered Saturn ruled over death's domain. Death under Saturn is a cold hard ending as we come face to face with the fragility of our spiritual connections under Neptune. Although Saturn is a stern teacher, the rewards are great and when we face the hard lessons that Saturn brings we are given great rewards. In its opposition to Neptune, adopting or deepening the discipline (Saturn) of a spiritual practice (Neptune) will help to facilitate the progression of our cosmic education.

But there is a deeper death in Harvey's writings: the death and regeneration that we associate with Pluto. The reclassification of Pluto into a new category along with Ceres and now Eris adds a new complexity to our concept of this transformation that we may not yet have the capacity to understand. Perhaps there is a clue in Harvey's words from an interview he gave in San Francisco last year:

[Regarding St. John's "night of the senses" and "night of the soul"] This first dark night purifies all of the senses so that they can become the vehicle of the inner divine self. This first dark night is extreme, but it's not as extreme as the second dark night. It's a purification that enables the ordinary senses to start registering the divine world. Through devotion, through meditation, through intense mystical practice, you start to see the divine light. At first it just flashes, and then when the process is complete, you have an overwhelming experience in which you see the entire creation as a manifestation of the light, and your consciousness is one with that. This is not enlightenment. This begins what is called the state of illumination. Although the senses are purified, and although they're able now to register the divinity of the world, the ego is still subtly present. So there has to be a second death on the path, which is the death of the personal identity. . . .

The entire world is now going through a massive crucifixion on all levels. It's going through an environmental crucifixion -- hundreds of species are vanishing every month. It's going through a personal crucifixion. There are two billion people living on less than a dollar a day. It's going through a crucifixion of all the patriarchal systems -- look at Enron and what it has shown us about Corporate America. Look at the Catholic Churches' scandals of pedophilia and what it shows us about authority. Look at the growing disillusionment of politicians of all kinds. All of the systems are being exposed as illusory and as fantasy ridden -- as deeply corrupt and exploitative.

There's another kind of crucifixion going on -- crucifixion of purpose and hope. Everybody is totally bewildered. They know that the world is potentially on the brink of total apocalypse. There's a tremendous danger that as people wake up to the horror of what is going on, they will run into political extremism or into fundamentalism of one kind or another. So it's extremely important that the wisdom of the dark night gets across because if people understand the necessity for this crucifixion, and understand that it's preparing the resurrection and the birth and an empowerment, then they will be prepared to go through it without fear -- or without too much fear -- trusting in the logic of the divine transformation.

See, the power that is doing this to us is coming towards us simultaneously with terrifying destruction and extreme grace and prosperity [emphasis added]. The destruction is, in fact, a form of that extreme grace. It's quite clear that humanity is now terminally ill, and can only be transfigured by a totally shocking revelation of its shadow side. And this is what we're living through, these shadow sides exploding in every direction because we have done nothing but betray the sacred in us.

We have lacerated the sacred in others. We have betrayed the sacred in an orgy of fundamentalism. We have brutalized the sacred in nature. We are now terminally destructive. . . .

You can lose hope. But if you know the wisdom of the dark night, then you are looking out for protection. You're aware that through this terror, protection will be given. This is the universal testimony. They mystics have gone through this process. It's the testimony of Rumi. It's the testimony of the great shamans. It's the testimony of St. John of the Cross, and it's the testimony that I gave in this book. And it's, of course, the testimony of Bede Griffiths. You are given tremendous divine protection, because as the human is being destroyed, the divine consciousness comes up. So one side of you is being annihilated, but the other side is stronger than ever in the ashes. So great dreams will come and light will become more and more vibrant. The divinity of life will become more and more naked to you. Miracles will take place to protect you. To anybody who comes to this path, the divine is both extremely ferocious and extremely tender. Ferocious to destroy the illusions, but tender to give the human being the courage to hang in there and do the work.

It's becoming more and more clear to me that the newly tripartite nature of Pluto embodies the symbolism of this process: Eris creates the discord and strife that begins the death of the ego under Pluto, and Ceres presides over our emergence from the underworld and the regeneration of our lives.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 7:11 AM :: |

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Monday, September 25, 2006

Keith Olberman tells it like it is

Keith Olbermann, our generation's Edward R. Murrow, lets Bush have it with a scathing comment in tonight's newcast.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 9:51 PM :: |

---------------oOo--------------- The Sharks are Circling

As noted here a few days ago, President Bush is having a major planetary crisis in terms of his relationships. Saturn with its tests and challenges is affecting Venus in his chart, creating limitations and restrictions in his relationships with others as demonstrated by Venus. But that's not all: Chiron with its tendency to wound as well as heal is transiting his descendant, the cusp of his seventh house. The seventh house is known as the marriage house, but it is much more than that; it deals with all kinds of one-on-one relationships. Not just marriage or love relationships, the seventh house also relates to "open enemies," another kind of partnership.

Suddenly it seems Bush is being attacked from all sides. Two of his sworn enemies, Hugo Chavez of Venezuela and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran last week signed more than 20 trade and investment deals and both spoke openly against Bush at the United Nations where Bush received little respect despite his attempt to reach out to the people of Iran.

Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan, a tenuous ally in the "war on terror" yesterday accused the Bush White House on the television program "60 Minutes" of threatening to bomb Pakistan "back to the stone age" after September 11. Today he revealed that the CIA has paid millions of dollars in payment for AlQaeda prisoners creating additional embarrasment for the administration.

Colin Powell, Bush's loyal soldier who took the case for the Iraq War to the UN and betrayed the trust of the American people (for which he later apologized) came out publicly against Bush's anti-terrorism proposal to permit torture of detainees.

Meanwhile President Bush's only ally, Tony Blair, has been forced to resign amidst growing anger in the UK over the deteriorating situation in Iraq.

Now a National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) has been leaked to the press, revealing what most of us have known since 2003: that the war in Iraq is worsening the terrorist situation by breeding more terrorists.

All of this is good news for those of us hoping for change in the mid-term elections if Americans will only open their eyes to the politics of deceit and greed that have been the rule of the day over the past six years.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 8:06 PM :: |

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Sunday, September 24, 2006

Planetary news this week

Venus in Virgo squares off with Pluto over the next few days, creating potential crises in relationships (Venus) as issues that may have been buried are dredged up by Pluto. However, the sextile (60 degrees) between Saturn and Mercury will encourage a commitment (Saturn) to communicate (Mercury) and resolve any dissonance that arises. Neptune has been trine Mercury as well which adds a creative influence and perhaps more compassion (from Neptune). Of course we are still in the throes of the opposition of Saturn to Neptune, even though the two planets are about three degrees apart. It will be early October before they leave each other's orbit and meanwhile the confusion remains.

Jupiter is square Neptune now, expanding (Jupiter) the danger of illusion (Neptune), and perhaps bringing us into conflict between our belief systems (Jupiter) and our experience of truth (Neptune). Mercury joined this system over the past few days, bringing us a step closer to divine intelligence and conscious awareness of the more subtle influences that surrou

nd us. Mercury is moving towards a sextile to Pluto (on the 27th) that will help us to process the Jupiter/Neptune expansion through the mental realm where it can be converted to understanding and wisdom.

Meanwhile, Spaceweather.com reports that a "solar wind stream hit Earth last night, sparking geomagnetic storms over Canada and some northern US states." Joseph Shaw of Bozeman submitted this incredible photo of an aurora against the backdrop of the Milky Way.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 5:45 PM :: |

---------------oOo--------------- Happy Birthday Libra!

Art by Thomas Hamann

The Sun entered Libra yesterday (see yesterday's article for the connection between Libra and the Autumn Equinox). The sign of the Scales, Libra is the sign that seeks balance, harmony, truth and beauty above all else. Libra is a sign representing the air element, and therefore operates in the realm of ideas. For Libra, everything is balanced against its opposite. Libra can usually see both sides of an argument, making the Libra person well suited for a career in the legal field where the truth is multi-dimensional. Although Libra is often accused of intellectual relativism, this multi-dimensional approach to Truth makes for a good diplomat or negotiator. However, Libra is famously known for difficulty in making decisions since all options are seen as having advantages and disadvantages.

Venus rules Libra, and generally bestows an attractive look to individuals with a strong Libra or Venus influence; a mechanism for ensuring that these Venusians participate in relationships which are Libra's testing ground. Libra is known for their charm which can be used to manipulate as well as to soothe: "the iron fist in the velvet glove." From the Libran point of view, the manipulation of the outside world in order to achieve balance and harmony is not hypocritical but instead is just the right way to be. The pursuit of a life of beauty and serenity is paramount for Libra, and like the other Cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer and Capricorn) the ends justify the means.

The principle of balance often gives Libra a blurring of the gender identity. Libran women take up traditionally masculine interests, and Libran men may display an artistic sensitivity. Libra is acutely aware of the principal of balance, and is sensitive to situations where emotions are out of balance. The Libra person will typically find it within himself to create the balance where balance does not exist. This can be destabilizing and create a situation where the Libran can lose his own sense of self in an effort to balance the world around him. Libra dislikes conflict and tends to be sensitive to any discord around him; consequently, he often stifles his own needs in order to maintain a pleasant environment. Libra craves beauty and can wither away when stuck in a situation where a sense of beauty cannot be found.

The danger for Libra is becoming lost in the inner drive to create balance wherever dissonance is found. The Libran longing for relationship can become a need for a mirror to reflect the self back to them rather than become anchored in their own self. There is a great deal of strength within the Libra personality, but the ability to please others can become a compulsion rather than a trait. One of the most challenging evolutionary lessons is understanding the personal identify relative to our identity in relationship with others, and this is the lesson of Libra.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 9:41 AM :: |

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Saturday, September 23, 2006

Autumn Equinox and the Tropical/Sidereal Zodiacs

(I'll write more on Libra later or tomorrow).

The Sun entered Libra just before midnight EST last night, marking the Autumnal Equinox. As written in my earlier post, the Equinox this year follows just hours after the New Moon Eclipse, the second New Moon in Virgo. In the tropical zodiac system, Libra is the cardinal turning point for the fall season, and zero degrees Libra corresponds to the Autumnal Equinox.

The tropical system which is used in Western astrology is based on the zero point of Aries being at the vernal equinox and the zero point of Libra at the autumnal equinox, an event which occurred during the Age of Aries which was approximately 1700 BC to 310 AD, the birth of Western astrology. According to the Astrologisk Museum, it was Pharoah Rameses II that first fixed the cardinal points of the zodiac to the turning points of the seasons. In 700 BC Babylonian priests divided the four cardinal sections into the twelve houses that we know today. In 420 BC the zodiac signs received the Greek names that we use today. In 330 BC, Alexander the Great helped to spread astrological knowledge from Egypt and Babylon throughout the middle east and established the famed Alexandrian Library in Egypt which became the center of astrological study.

Although astronomers had understood the Precession concept for generations, early astrologers used the sidereal zodiac which defines the zero point of Aries as the point where the Sun actually enters the sign of Aries. However, because of the Precession of the Equinoxes the Sun is not actually at zero degrees Aries at the time of the Equinox. The ancient Greek astronomers Hipparchus and Ptolemy, being aware of the fact that over time the Sun's entry into Aries would no longer mark the cardinal point of the Equinox, advised the use of the tropical system which connected zero Aries to the Equinox.

The question of whether to use an astrological system that is based on the cardinal points of Aries and Libra corresponding to the Equinoxes, which we call "Tropical," or a system based upon the cardinal points corresponding to their actual placement in the sky, which we call "Sidereal," is a thorny one. In my early career I experimented with the sidereal zodiac and found it to be very ineffective in revealing psychological complexes in the personality, and this is the likely reason that the sidereal zodiac is not commonly used in Western astrology.

Vedic astrology from India does use the sidereal zodiac, but the signs of the zodiac are secondary to the dasa systems that are used for prediction. I confess to knowing very little about Vedic astrology, having found it quite complicated enough, thank you, to learn the Western form. But it does appear that the use of the sidereal zodiac rather than the tropical in Vedic astrology is a minor point compared to some of the other major differences.

So in our Tropical system, today is the first day of Libra AND the autumnal equinox, when the day and night are of equal lengths. Perhaps this is the reason Libra is known as the scales - the sign of balance between dark and light.

Next: Happy Birthday Libra!

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 8:08 AM :: |

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Friday, September 22, 2006

The Astrology of Grey's Anatomy

The twelve astrological signs represent twelve archetypes of personality, and representations of these archetypes can be found virtually everywhere. The television show Grey's Anatomy, which I'm embarrassed to say I watch religiously each week and which premiered its second season last night, is no exception. Remember that the outward persona is really the ascendant, so the signs described here are more likely to be the ascendant, or rising sign, of the characters.

Aries - The Aries archetype is represented by Dr. Callie Torres, the strong female orthopedic surgeon who knows what she wants and isn't afraid to get it. Like the Aries archetype, Callie is courageous, independent, and doesn't really care about creature comforts. She relishes a challenge and isn't afraid of losing. Typically the Aries woman craves a relationship with that rare man who is stronger and more powerful than she is, helping her to bring out her more feminine side. This leads me to suspect that Callie's passion for George O'Malley is driven more because she sees that feminine aspect within him and she feels that she can be safe with him. This relationship is doomed to failure because it is not based on a true compatibility but instead on a desire to become something which one is not.

Taurus - Dr. Richard Webber is the Taurus at Seattle Grace. Taureans tend to be solid and reliable, patient and persistent. They don't like change, and despite a torrid affair with Ellis Gray Dr. Webber remained with his wife Adele. Like most Taureans, Dr. Webber can be counted on to be calm and unruffled in the midst of the most terrible crisis and is slow to anger, but once his limit is reached is not easy to placate. He is stubborn like the bull he represents, and once he has made up his mind he cannot be cajoled to change it. He is a recovering alcoholic which is unusual for the Taurus nature which is not naturally addictive, leading me to speculate that there is a strong fire element in his chart with which he struggles daily. Fire seeks change and excitement, which Taurus tends to suppress and this can lead to psychological distress. We know that Dr. Webber is unwilling to really engage in his marriage, and has made the hospital his life and perhaps this is why.

Gemini - Dr. Derek Shepherd embodies the dual nature of the Gemini twins. He can be the twinkliest guy on the floor one day, and cold as ice the next. Gemini loves conversation and gossip, and Derek is always curious to know who is sleeping with whom, particularly where Meredith is concerned. After his wife (Addison) slept with his best friend, Derek left New York to join his friend Dr. Webber on the surgical team. Gemini is an adaptable sign and Derek adapted to his new life in Seattle without apparent difficulty. Immediately upon his arrival Derek pursued a relationship with Meredith, then when Addison came to find him in Seattle he agreed to try to work things out, but found himself in a typical Geminian quandary playing dual roles: husband by night and flirt by day.

Cancer - Those born under the sign of Cancer are ultra-sensitive and vulnerable, so they build a hard exterior shell to protect themselves. Dr. Miranda Bailey is our Cancer: she embodies the nurturing archetype of Cancer, putting the care of the patients before everything. She feels their pain deeply, which is why she will put up with no BS from her interns. The Cancer individual protects their loved ones with a power that can be frightening (they call her the "Nazi"), and Dr. Bailey uses that power to intimidate and inspire respect for the needs of the patients. Her passion for the patients is so strong that the birth of her own child during a hospital crisis created a desperate conflict between care of that child and care of the patients.

Leo - The mission for the Leo individual is to build confidence and celebrate one's place in the world, and Izzie Stevens represents this archetype. A former model, she has worked very hard to become a surgeon and is still affected by the stigma of her trailer park background. However, she expresses the Leonine funloving nature - she is loyal like most Leos and given to dramatic displays of affection. Leos like to live in a way that is larger than life, and Izzie's dramatic relationship with the dying Denny Duquette was certainly no exception. Her efforts to build up her sense of her self that Leo requires have so far been based on external situations; she needs now to learn to love herself for her own essential worth rather than what she can accomplish or who loves her.

Virgo - Dr. Addison Montgomery Shepherd is our Virgo, one of the most misunderstood signs of the zodiac. Although she is gorgeous, like most Virgo individuals she presents herself modestly and without affectation. She is brilliant with the analytical Virgo mind that is excellent with details. She seeks no accolades from the other doctors, preferring simply to do her job and do it well. She expresses the perfectionist Virgo traits in her training of the interns, with no patience for those who do sloppy work. She is pragmatic and works hard to improve her situation - including her marriage to Dr. Shepherd which she threatened by sleeping with his best friend. This is not something one would typically associate with the sign that is called "The Virgin," but we all have moments where we do things out of character. Probably she was hit by a Uranus transit which caused her to do something reckless for a change.

Libra - Dr. Meredith Grey is the Libra, weighing and balancing every issue that comes her way; seeking relationships with others in order to stabilize herself. Libras find in relationships a mirror through which to learn more about themselves, and if they fail to understand this and continue seeking themselves through the mirror, they will never find themselves. Although she seems soft, she has the Libran "iron fist in the velvet glove" and like most Libras has an innate understanding of how to charm others to do what she wants them to. Because of their ability to see both sides of an issue, Meredith is the peacekeeper among the interns and sometimes with the patients as well. This skill, however, makes decision making difficult and now she is faced with a very difficult one.

Scorpio - Preston Burke has the passionate nature of the Scorpio. He does nothing halfway: from playing the saxaphone, to being the best cardiothorac surgeon in the country. Scorpios don't like pussyfooting around emotional issues, and Burke is no exception. Scorpio is an emotional water sign, but it has a fiery component making the Scorpio individual an emotional warrior. Burke fearlessly walks into conflict and immediately senses the underlying issue that no one else wants to talk about, demonstrating the Scorpio ability to tap into the group subconscious. Scorpios want all or nothing, and Burke is not interested in casual relationships.

Sagittarius - Joe the bartender is surely the Sagittarian of the show. Typically philosophical, optimistic, with a desire to learn more about the world around him, Joe balances the other characters. Sagittarians tend towards an easy optimism, and even when Joe himself went in for surgery he was unfailingly positive about the situation.

Capricorn - Of course, Cristina Yang is our Capricorn, ambitious and striving to be free from emotion that could cloud her ability to achieve her goals. Capricorn is practical, disciplined and achievement-oriented, able to focus with great intensity on one's goals. For Capricorn, success is not enough and there is always another mountain to climb and this is certainly true for Cristina. At their worst, Capricorns lack humor and can tend towards a pessimistic view of the world since their relentless ambition leaves them with little desire to have fun. Cristina's intensity matches well with Burke's, and his connection to his emotional world is helping her to unlock her heart and find the person that lies within.

Aquarius - Alex Kareve is the Aquarius of the surgical team. Aquarians march to their own drummer and like Alex, have little respect for rules that they don't understand. Aquarians tend to be rather detached emotionally and can be insensitive to the sensitivities of others and Alex has demonstrated this numerous times. However, he has the Aquarian gift of inventiveness and innate knowledge that enabled him to perform a radically new surgical procedure (transplanting a bovine heart), although characteristically he did not seek permission first. His career goals include plastic surgery which will help him to achieve the idealistic Aquarian goals of beauty and perfection. Alex is a true Aquarian radical, and he will either become the most brilliant surgeon ever or he will be fired.

Pisces - George O'Malley, sensitive and sweet, with a gentle heart as big as all of Washington State - he is our Pisces. Pisces are adaptable and deeply romantic; they long for romantic connection but are not always very realistic. Pisces have such a deep sense of compassion and a desire to rescue that they often fall for lovers who are damaged in some way. George's passion for Meredith Grey is based on this desire to rescue - he is painfully aware that she is in pain and longs to save her. His Pisces sensitivity means he is easily overwhelmed by those with a more aggressive nature, and though he is flattered by Callie's attentions he is also afraid of the intensity. However, he feels a great affection for her, and if she can back off a bit he might be able to express the affection for her that she desires.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 6:25 AM :: |

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Thursday, September 21, 2006

Another great new astrology blog

Astrotalk is a really interesting new blog from the UK. Here's a tidbit:

Since 1993 we have been in a rare period in which all three outer planet pairs – Uranus-Neptune, Uranus-Pluto and Neptune-Pluto – have been in the waxing phase of their cycles with each other, and will remain so until the year 2047, when Uranus will oppose Pluto and begin the waning phase of its cycle.

The outer planet cycles govern the longer-term patterns and developments of humanity. The waxing phase of a cycle is a creative, constructive phase, which reaches its culmination at the Opposition; after that comes the waning phase, when the fruits of the waxing phase may be lived out, but which also results in the decay of the old pattern and the planting of the seed of the next cycle.

The last time that all 3 outer planet pairs were waxing was during the years 1455-1538 AD, when the Renaissance was spreading through Europe; and the time before that was during the years 965-1029 AD, the period when most of Europe finally came under Christian influence. These were both periods of cultural re-birth, shaping the character of the western world for centuries afterwards. (1)

The earlier period gave rise to the Middle Ages, when the orthodox Christian Church reigned unchallenged as the presiding cultural and spiritual force in Europe. And the period of the Renaissance saw a re-birth of classical learning and knowledge, and an artistic and scientific flourishing, all of which led to a breakdown of the cultural hegemony of the Catholic Church and the birth of the modern world.

So the outer planet pairs are telling us that we too are living in a rare time of cultural re-birth, and that what is happening now will fundamentally shape the character of our culture for centuries to come, presumably until the next time all 3 outer planet pairs are waxing, from 2508-2553 AD. Because it is a time of cultural re-birth, it is also a time of a death of the old culture, just as paganism pretty much died out when Christianity gained ascendancy, and just as the Catholic Church as a unifying cultural force began to die at the time of the Renaissance.

It is hard, if not impossible, for us to know very clearly what it is that is being born and what it is that is dying, because we are living through it, we ARE it. But astrology does at least give us the insight that such a tectonic shift is occurring.

The nature of the cultural change that we are passing through is a whole subject in itself, but it is worth suggesting for now that much of it may be based in the gradual death of an Age in which the solar principle has reigned supreme at the expense of the lunar principle, in which man has been elevated above woman, rationality above feeling, spirituality above nature. This split has clearly characterised – even vitiated - our western culture for many centuries, and yet at the same time it has clearly begun to break down. What will replace it has only just begun to be born.

Like any major cultural change, it has been a long time in the making, and the current astrological configuration needs to be seen as the intensification or fruition of a pre-existing trend. The Renaissance, for example, began not in 1455 but in 13th Century Italy. In the same way, Freud’s work, which displaced man as a rational animal and gave power to an irrational ‘unconscious’, began to be published at the end of the 19th Century, 100 years before the present cultural re-birth.

read more here.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 8:11 AM :: |

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Wednesday, September 20, 2006

Solar eclipse, New Moon and Autumnal Equinox

photo by Tony Howell

We are currently in the dark phase of the Moon just before the New Moon cycle begins at the conjunction of the Sun and Moon on September 22. This New Moon has some exceptional characteristics: Besides being an annular (partial) eclipse of the Sun by the Moon, it is also the second New Moon in Virgo which gives us a second opportunity to develop the skills that Virgo teaches: discrimination, caution and appreciation of the small things in life.

Last month's New Moon was at 0 degrees Virgo, beginning the Virgo cycle, and this month's New Moon is at 29 degrees Virgo. There is quite a bit of disagreement among astrologers as to what the last degree of a sign represents with some respected astrologers being firmly in the camp that there is no cusp: you are either one sign or the other. I have not found this to be the case, however; in my practice it has been clear that in the last 2 or 3 degrees of a sign we are completing the issues of that sign and preparing for the dynamics of the next. With this month's New Moon at 29 degrees Virgo we take up the skills that Virgo teaches and apply them to matters of Libra: learning to achieve balance, relating to others while maintaining our own sense of self. Seeking beauty in a world that is often filled with ugliness.

The New Moon Eclipse comes just before the Autumnal Equinox on September 23, when the Sun enters Libra and day and night are of equal length. We are leaving the season of light and entering the season of darkness, where there is greater access to the subconscious realms. We are also moving towards a square of Jupiter (expansion, ideology, philosophy) to Neptune (pure consciousness) which will be exact on September 24. Jupiter is now a part of the dance of the Saturn/Neptune opposition (see other articles in this column below) which introduces some ideological (Jupiter) battles to the struggle between form (Saturn) and transcendence (Neptune). We have also discussed earlier the square of Jupiter to Saturn, which makes its final connection in October and has tested (Saturn) the limits of our optimism and faith (Jupiter).

The New Moon (Sun/Moon conjunction) forms a square (90 degree) aspect to Pluto, introducing a dark element of power and transformation. This is a peculiar set of symbols: it's a New Moon marking the beginning of a new cycle, yet it's at the tail end of Virgo, marking the end of a cycle and locked in a battle with Pluto, the Lord of Endings and New Beginnings. It seems clear that this New Moon, particularly because it is an eclipse which brings a major transition, holds in it the power to burn through the difficulties of the past year and facilitate a shift of consciousness.

This is a time of letting go, of releasing old thought patterns as we move into a new state of awareness. The next few months will give us a respite from the major aspects, and we will have a Scorpio fiesta in October that will help facilitate releasing the past.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 5:07 PM :: |

---------------oOo--------------- Rumi on Saturn/Neptune

If the opposition from Saturn to Neptune at 17 degrees Leo/Aquarius is affecting a sensitive point in your birthchart you may find yourself feeling destabilized as the pressure to contract and give form (Saturn) conflicts with Neptune's pull to dissolve our reality. The exercise of a regular spiritual practice (such as daily meditation or yoga) has been helpful during this time since it harnesses the discipline required by Saturn with the pull of Neptune to go beyond ordinary reality. This wonderful quote from Rumi describes this process and gives a hint to the transcendence required here.

Define and narrow me, you starve yourself of yourself.
Nail me down in a box of cold words, that box is your coffin.
I do not know who I am,
I am in astounding lucid confusion.
I am not a Christian, I am not a Jew, I am not a Zoroastrian,
And I am not even a Muslim.
I do not belong to the land, or to any known or unknown sea.
Nature cannot own or claim me, nor can heaven,
Nor can India, China, Bulgaria,
My birthplace is placelessness,
My sign to have and give no sign.
You say you see my mouth, ears, yes, nose---they are not mine.
I am the life of life.
I am that cat, this stone, no one.
I have thrown duality away like an old dishrag,
I see and know all times and worlds,
As one, one, always one.
So what do I have to do to get you to admit who is speaking?
Admit it and change everything!
This is your own voice echoing off the walls of God.

- Rumi

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 6:30 AM :: |

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Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Headline: Lies Provoke Riot in Hungary

Why does this not happen in the US? I guess the difference is that in Hungary they admitted the lies. And the fact that as long as Americans are leading comfortable lives they are less willing to risk that comfort to speak out.

"His country engulfed in the biggest crisis since the fall of Communism, Hungary's Prime Minister, Ferenc Gyurcsany, was still clinging to his job last night, despite committing one of the cardinal sins of politics.

"All leaders are sometimes economical with the truth but very few admit it, let alone say that they "lied morning, noon and night" to win an election.

"In Budapest, riot police were preparing for a second night of protests aimed at forcing the 45-year-old millionaire out of office.

"Mr Gyurcsany's centre-left government knew that telling the truth about the state of the economy would lose them the April election. Yet having lied to the voters, the party faced a problem when it won.

"At a meeting of colleagues soon after the election, the premier made his now infamous 25-minute speech. "We screwed up, big time," said the Prime Minister. "No country in Europe has been so blatant. We obviously lied throughout the last one and a half to two years. And meanwhile, we didn't do a thing for four years. Nothing."

It's hard to imagine President Bush admit to such a thing. The more untrue Bush's statements, the more vehemently he argues them. Bush is in the middle of a series of Saturn transits and Saturn is getting ready to hit his Venus at the end of September/early October, forcing him to face (Saturn) issues in all of his relationships (Venus). In addition, Chiron (creating new wounds and possibly healing old ones) is in the process of crossing his descendant which is also affecting his relationships (the descendant is the cusp of the seventh house of partnerships).

This will continue the challenges he has faced in his relationships (Venus) as one by one his political alliances fall away one by one. Tony Blair has already bit the dust, and now rumors have surfaced that Bush's work wife Condoleeza Rice may have a new romance with Canadian foreign minister Peter MacKay(or perhaps this is a planted story to deflect rumors of a romance in the White House). Bush has been somewhat more conciliatory in his speech at the UN, but with Mars getting ready to hit Bush's Libra planets (Neptune, Chiron, Moon and Jupiter) over the next few weeks watch for him to become even more belligerent. (Watch what Keith Olbermann has to say about Bush's recent statement that "it's unacceptable to think the US is wrong."

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 8:11 PM :: |

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Monday, September 18, 2006

Links

There's some good stuff out there for your reading pleasure:

Elsa is running a series of articles on the Saturn/Neptune opposition. I particularly like this: "You will see your fears dissolve, but before that happens you’re going to have to know what your fears are. So just prepare to be inundated with hologram fears only to have them roll out before they have a chance to materialize."

Daimones is back with an interesting article on the politics of Eris as a right-wing blogger rants that politics should not be used in naming planet.

Jeffrey has a great in-depth analysis of the film "Death of a President" and the Jupiter/Saturn cycle.

Nancy rants about President Bush and says, "Don't Cry for Me Condoleeza."

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 11:28 PM :: |

---------------oOo--------------- Spinach: The New Flu

The unfolding drama of our lives is a magical mystery tour, which is why we can't predict the future. Astrologers were pretty much in agreement that the Saturn/Neptune opposition (where the trials and tribulations of Saturn are confused by the mysterious delusions of Neptune) would bring a new flu outbreak. With challenging aspects of Neptune (such as the square and opposition, 90 and 180 degree angles) to other planets we tend to see the more negative attributes of those planets. Saturn: Hardships and disappointments. Neptune: That which is confused or hidden. End result: mysterious illnesses, among other things. However, instead of the Bird Flu we have a new hidden enemy: Spinach! With over 100 confirmed cases of e coli poisoning, the FDA is now recommending that all consumption of spinach be stopped.

There is some historical evidence associating Saturn and Neptune (see this earlier article about various historical connections with this planetary dynamics) with flu and other epidemics. Still, there have been lots of Saturn/Neptune periods that did not bring epidemics, and other planetary events that brought new viruses (such as Ebola which came in when Uranus traveled through Scorpio (blood is associated with Scorpio and Uranus brings sudden change and eruptions).

As astrologers, when we peer into the future we get a glimpse of the energy climate that will take place. We like to make predictions based on what we see in terms of energy patterns, but the actual forms that populate the climate remain a mystery to all of us. Life continues to bring constant surprise and new challenges, expanding our awareness and our understanding. We expect birds, we get spinach! It's always something new and different.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 4:09 PM :: |

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Sunday, September 17, 2006

Current placement of Eris

Several people have asked where Eris is now: Retrograde at 21 degrees Aries 5 minutes. Just to give you an idea how slowly it moves, Eris will won't advance from 21 degrees Aries into 22 degrees until 2013.

One way to get a better idea of Eris's meaning is to watch transits of Mars to these points. I'll start doing this as time allows.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 5:12 PM :: |

---------------oOo--------------- from the advice column - a difficult transit of Pluto

From time to time I'll post a Q&A that might have relevance to others. Because Pluto has been making a square to the Uranus/Pluto conjunction of those born between 1963 and 1967 I thought this might be helpful for them and anyone going through a major Pluto cycle.

Q: I have been going through a tough time, lots of changes and adversity since March 2004. Loss of my job, having to go back to college in mid-life, being stalked. Things seem to be going better
since the beginning of July (new job). Am I going to be alright now, or is this just a quiet time before it hits again?

A:

In order to understand what the past few years have been about we need to take a look at the makeup of your astrological chart which describes the issues that you carry with you so that they can be resolved during your lifetime. You were born in the height of the cultural revolution of the 1960s, and you carry that imprint within you in the form of the conjunction of Uranus (radical change) to Pluto (transformation) that took place the year that you were born. This is a generational thing - everyone born between 1963 and 1968 has this dynamic in their chart.

What makes yours more unique is that the conjunction of Uranus and Pluto also conjuncts your Moon which is in Virgo, This combination normally creates a fair amount of disturbance in the psyche, and often a tendency to draw a certain amount of violence into your life. I don't mean to say that you choose to attract violence, but simply that you may magnetize it into your life in order to face your own darker instincts (as represented by Pluto). This is not comfortable with your Virgo Moon which prefers to categorize your emotions into nicely manageable compartments but ultimately, the combination of Pluto with your Moon will bring you great emotional strength once you have faced and conquered your fears.

The difficulties you have been going through are mainly due to a long cycle of Pluto hitting sensitive points in your chart. You are not yet out of that cycle, but understanding the nature of Pluto will help you to navigate this period more successfully. Pluto is drawing out of you all of that which you keep hidden from yourself in order to fully integrate all aspects of your personality so that you can become more whole. Pluto cycles are very good times for psychotherapy, since they often dredge up old secrets that one would have thought were long gone. During a major Pluto transit such as the one you are going through it's very useful to cultivate a relationship with your inner guidance or deity. I view Pluto as being the will of the higher self, and it will be essential to cultivate a deep faith that what is happening is truly for your highest good.

The Uranus/Pluto/Moon complex forms an opposition (180 degrees) to another conjunction of Saturn to Chiron right on your Midheaven. In English, this means that the principle of discipline, hard work and disappointment (Saturn) combines with the principle of healing our old wounds (Chiron) which keeps you from being able to hide from yourself and any painful places that remain in your psyche. The combination of Saturn and Chiron usually indicates a person who is on a healing journey, and as you face your pain and your fears you are able to re-integrate them back into your being in order to become more whole. The fact that this Saturn/Chiron dynamic falls on your Midheaven, the cusp of the 10th house of career and public life, tells us that this dynamic is likely to be prominent in your life and perhaps affect your life's work. This is an excellent placement for someone who does healing work, but usually not until you have done quite a bit of this work yourself.

These dynamics have been deeply affected by transiting Pluto since 2002 when Pluto in the sky made a square to the Uranus/Pluto conjunction in your chart. This is a generational dynamic but it began the wheels turning in this whole complex in your chart. Pluto transits bring us face to face with our fears and usually bring actual events that force us to realize that in some matters we have little control. The good news is that when we look back on Pluto events we find that they brought tremendous transformation and positive changes. This process would have become much more personal back in January 2004 when Pluto squared your Moon, your emotional security point. The Pluto/Moon cycle ended back in September 2005 but this was just the first part of the process.

Pluto hit Chiron in your chart back in January which began the cycle of transformation to the psychic wounds (Chiron) in your nature. This cycle will conclude at the end of this year, and then Pluto will hit Saturn and your midheaven. This can be a time of great empowerment as you shed your old skins and the butterfly emerges strong and true from the chrysalis. Pluto transits to the Midheaven often bring tremendous transformation but in order to become truly activated we must let go of many old ideas of ourselves and how we want our lives to be.

You are also going through your "Uranus opposition" which is one of the midlife crisis transits. This is a time when we embrace change - in fact we seek it out. This will help you to break free of any entrenched patterns that are keeping you stuck. All of this will be uncomfortable for your Virgo Moon which is cautious and does not like change so it will be important to maintain the daily rituals that keep you grounded (Virgo loves these rituals of every day life). Throughout all of this Pluto is making a trine to your Aries Venus, showing that your friends and community (Venus is in the 11th house of friendships and shared ideals) will be a great support to you during this time.

I know this is a difficult time, but recognizing the power of transformation that is available to you know will help to make it easier to navigate.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 2:36 PM :: |

---------------oOo--------------- Rambling thoughts on Eris

Jill posted some interesting links on Discordianism which is evidently a quasi-pagan pseudo religion or a quasi-pseudo pagan religion, I can't tell which. It may in fact be little more than a joke. Although this religion evidently began in the late 1950s, its first bible was published, not surprisingly, during the conjunction of Uranus/Pluto in 1965 that brought about a radical change (Uranus) in cultural norms that destroyed the status quo (Pluto) and brought new ways of thinking into the public arena. Religion was in flux and this time period also coincided with the birth of Anton LaVey's "Church of Satan" in 1966. However, the Eris that is discussed in Discordianism lacks the truly dark face that is one side of the goddess Eris of Greek mythology. It is she, I believe, who will give us clues to Eris in the birthchart.

Eris may embody the principle that a small gesture can instigate a big chaos (she is after all referred to as the goddess of discord AND chaos. One tiny golden apple thrown into a wedding party began the biggest war in Greek history. Another interesting aspect to Eris is that her children (also known as the Plagues of Mankind) were born without fathers. Carlos Parada writes:

And when Eris and her children have made themselves at home, Lawlessness [these are the names of the children of Eris] takes over, and simple Quarrel ends in Murders, and Disputes feed in Lies, and Oath comes to trouble the forsworn, and Battles and Fightings ensue, leading the whole community to Ruin and filling it with Sorrows, Toil and Famine.

Pretty grim stuff. Somewhere in here though is the light of transformation.

Zane Stein is a noted astrologer who was in the forefront of the work on Chiron after its discovery. He has a page devoted to Eris which includes dates of conjunctions to other planets and events that occurred near those dates so that we can begin to put some of this information to see how Eris will work in the birthchart.

One thing that strikes me is that the whole golden apple thing (where Eris throws a golden apple marked "to the fairest" into a circle of goddesses and they duke it out to see who IS the fairest) is about there being just one who is the fairest. The principle of scarcity is what causes competition: if there is more than enough of everything to go around, as the principle of abundance teaches, then competition isn't necessary. There can be more than one true religion, more than one best athlete, more than one beautiful goddess. So perhaps the light in this dark tunnel of strife and discord is in expanding our sense of trust in the Universe even when we feel it is collapsing in on us. This has historically been Pluto's realm, and perhaps as we become more attuned to the transformational process the process itself is becoming more specific as it divides between Eris (the strife and discord that creates the endings), Pluto (going into the underworld of endings and grief), and Ceres (the process of regeneration).

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 10:50 AM :: |

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Friday, September 15, 2006

Mars and Mercury in Libra bring all kinds of dialogue

There are some interesting events in the news that seem to tie in with the conjunction of Mars (aggression) and Mercury (communication) which are both in the sign of Libra where they seem to be opening new lines of communication. Venus, the ruler of Libra and the goddess of relationships, is in an exact opposition with Uranus, the planet of surprising developments. A few days ago I posted on the possibility of this Mars in Libra to forge new alliances and the addition of the Venus/Uranus influence brings surprises such as what we have in today's news:

The 118 state Non-Aligned Movement, which includes some of the most virulent opponents of the US government, met today in Cuba for two days of talks including of course the brother of Fidel Castro of Cuba and the leaders of avowed enemies of the US such as Iran and Venezuela. Other countries represented there include tepid allies of the US such as Columbia and Saudi Arabia but the topic of the talk so far is the battle against American world domination.
Bob Ney forged a new alliance with the federal court system as he became the first congressman to plead guilty to accepting tens of thousands of dollars worth of bribes in the Abramoff scandal.
A new alliance between Democrats and Republicans is being forged over President Bush's attempt to legalize conduct that can easily be described as torture.

The Mars/Mercury combination heats up (Mars) any discussion (Mercury), and we are seeing that also in the case of the Pope's medieval comments about "historical Muslim violence" and the heated reaction to those comments. The Sun is approaching a square to Pluto over the next couple of days and I would expect things to heat up a little more before they settle down. Chiron is in a trine to the Mars/Mercury combination which lends hope to the possibility that out of the conflict will come some sort of resolution.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 7:28 PM :: |

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Thursday, September 14, 2006

The astrology of Eris, the newest planet

Along with the elevation to Planethood of 2003 UB313 (formerly known as Xena) now comes an official name: Eris, named after the Greek goddess that set off the Trojan war by throwing the golden apple into the circle of goddesses that would ultimately be for the fairest of them all. The goddesses (Athena, Aphrodite and Hera) competed for the apple, and the Trojan war was the famous result. Eris is a troublemaker: the goddess of strife and discord, and her Roman name was Discordia.

The tenth planet is aptly named, because her discovery led to a great deal of discord and turned the world of astronomy on its ears and led to the declassification of Pluto. Now Eris, Pluto and Ceres all rule jointly in their new classification as "dwarf planets." This site has a great assortment of stories from the myths about the nature of Eris from which the stories below have been taken.

Eris is a sister of Ares, the god of war, and as a nurse to dying soldiers she has been known to fill their hearts with hate and the desire for revenge. Aeschylus says, "discord is the last of the gods to close an argument." Eris is likely to rule over the domain of revenge which has previously fallen under Pluto's realm. The role of Eris in the Trojan War did not begin from spite but from wounded feelings since Eris was not invited to the wedding of Peleus and Thetis. So Eris is concerned with wounds to the ego that result in a disturbed psyche.

Hesiod saw a more positive side to Eris:

She pushes the shiftless man to work, for all his laziness. A man looks at his neighbour, who is rich: then he too wants work; for the rich man presses on with his ploughing and planting and ordering of his estate. So the neighbour envies the neighbour who presses on toward wealth. Such Eris (Strife) is a good friend to mortals."

Perhaps this is the lesson that Eris comes to teach:

"Herakles was making his way through a narrow pass. He saw something that looked like an apple lying on the ground and he tried to smash it with his club. After having been struck by the club, the thing swelled up to twice its size. Herakles struck it again with his club, even harder than before, and the thing then expanded to such a size that it blocked Herakles's way. Herakles let go of his club and stood there, amazed. Athena saw him and said, 'O Herakles, don't be so surprised! This thing that has brought about your confusion is Aporia (Contentiousness) and Eris (Strife). If you just leave it alone, it stays small; but if you decide to fight it, then it swells from its small size and grows large." - Aesop, Fables 534 (from Chambry 129)

Eris is a very slow moving planet (it entered Aries back in 1928 and as of the latest date in the Swiss Ephemeris of 2036 is will still be at 27 degrees Aries) and will be important to astrologers only for its placement in the birthchart rather than its effect by transit or current planetary cycles of the birthchart. However, other planets will aspect it and it will be interesting to see what effect in any those cycles will have. You can be sure that astrologers everywhere will be keeping a close eye on it!

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 9:31 PM :: |

---------------oOo--------------- Greetings from Mount Olympus!!

(Washington, that is.) I can totally see why the Greek gods chose to live in the highest mountains - the stark majesty of these places are just incredible. We have seen things of such a tremendous scale over the past few days on our journeys through Olympic National Park. We went up to the top of Hurricane Ridge and viewed the panorama of the mountain range from the top of the ridge. These mountains are ONLY 55 million years old, much younger than, say, the Rockies at 500 million years. The scope of time that this landscape suggests is just mind boggling.

The Hoh rainforest was another incredible place - magical ferns cover virtually everyth

ing, including the ancient spruces and cedars that are over 200 feet tall and some over 500 years old. The principle of death and regeneration is so obvious here - old trees die and fall to the ground where they often provide sustenance for new trees which actually grow out of the old log. The trees to the right have grown out of this kind of "nurse log" as it's called, and four huge spruce trees have sprung from one fallen log. It's really amazing and gives you a glimpse into the wonder and magic of the process of life.

We couldn't believe our luck when driving down the main road in the rainforest we saw a herd of the Roosevelt Elk that make the Olympic Penninsula their home. We have our own herd of deer that make a home near Rich's garden so we aren't easily impressed, but these majestic elk were so regal and unafraid of humans. Although they aren't tame (you can't pet them), they're not spooked by cars and the big male elk of the herd posed for about 20 minutes for the crowd of shutterbugs that gathered.

JM and I have been having a small discussion in the comments section and I have to post here her beautiful statement with respect to the optimism that Pluto in Sagittarius teaches: "The optimism isn't based on events turning out well. It's based on trust in the fact that it's right the way it is." Being a witness to nature's majesty and its timeless process, my faith and trust has reached a new point of wonder.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 8:57 PM :: |

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Wednesday, September 13, 2006

More on September 11 conspiracy

From Tim Boucher comes this gem. First Tim quotes the White House website as saying that the terrorism we face today springs from several different sources, one of which is "subcultures of conspiracy and misinformation." Tim responds:

Mark my words: they are hoping to goad us into a position of greater and greater alienation, confusion and anger. And from what I have seen in my years surfing these conspiracy and “alternative” communities, they are doing a damned good job. Alienation is at an all-time high. Conspiracy theorists’ whole game is blaming shit on other people. Hacking away at the truth day after day makes you realize that maybe nothing’s true and everything’s permitted. This in turn erodes your morality little by little (as does creating apocalypse after apocalypse inside of you). The only thing they are really waiting on is for those groups (ie, us) to catch fire and to finally bridge the gap into making up moral justifications for murder. And I believe that there are numerous groups who could quite easily be groomed of goaded into taking on that role. We are being managed. We are being manipulated. What is it they want us to do? What options do they hope to leave us?

One of the keywords for Saturn in Leo opposite Neptune in Aquarius is who's in charge?? Saturn in Leo has challenged (Saturn) our existing ideas of leadership (Leo), and Neptune in Aquarius is dissolving (Neptune) our ideals for the collective (Aquarius). Identifying the players in the global political game is becoming more and more difficult. We need to keep our eyes open for misinformation as well as deception during these difficult times. Neptune is famous for inducing delusions of all kinds in the name of encouraging us to go beyond our notions of reality. How to do this? Saturn is the key - Saturn is the reality check and requires patience for taking action until the way is clear.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 11:11 PM :: |

---------------oOo--------------- A detailed look at fall astrological events

Dan Ciubotaru has an interesting astrology blog from Romania, and he has taken an extremely detailed look at the planetary configurations for September 24 as a significant date to watch. September 24 is within the shadow of the New Moon in Libra and Solar Eclipse so that could very well be a date that has impact. Dan writes:

If we are looking on the chart for that day we can observe some interesting aspects…
Sun, Moon, Mercury and Mars are in Libra sign which implies the need for a decision to be made, the importance of reaching an equilibrium between forces that are in conflict. But more important I think there is the energy distribution on midpoints.
The midpoint is the place on the chart found on equal distance between 2 planets. A midpoint is the place where both planets energies are meeting with equal forces and are creating a new type of energy. We can say that the energy is transfered to that point - by energy meaning also influences and actions.

In our case , on 24th September, Mars will be positioned on the Sun-Mercury midpoint and on the Moon-venus midpoint. This means that Sun,Moon,Mercury and Venus energies are directed to Mars. But more important, Mars-PLuto midpoint (a very strong and powerfull combination of energies) it will be on exact place of Jupiter - our focus point on the T-square. This means that Jupiter is the place where the energies of most of the planets at that moment is blending and combining. This will amplify the effects of this T-square found on his maximum point.

In conclusion…the period around 24th of September it will be an important time where decisions will be made. I’m reffering to global politics. The effects of these actions will be on long term and with positive results for the next year.
It will be interesting to apply this T-square influences on the particular events that are now in the world.

Transiting Pluto has been making a square to Mars in the US (Sibley) chart over the past year, and the US progressed Mars turned retrograde this summer. The square of Pluto's dominance to the individual will as expressed through Mars shows a difficulty in getting one's way. This can easily be seen on a national level here in the US and has marked a definite turn of events. I hope that Dan is right and the eclipse period that coincides with the "maximum point" (Dan's term) of the T-square brings about a deepening of the wisdom that is required to move forward in a positive direction.

Thanks as always to Dermod's bonhom.ie site for links.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 11:07 AM :: |

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Tuesday, September 12, 2006

Edgar Cayce on Planetary Reincarnation

"Ascension" by Juan Carlos Garcia

I found this article about Edgar Cayce and astrology linked to the Astrology Weekly forum. I am particularly interested in the comments about the afterlife realms:

Reality is multi-dimensional. We are multi-dimensional beings who exist simultaneously in a multi-dimensional reality. Long ago, our bodies evolved from primates. Even longer ago, our minds evolved from the stars. But before the universe was even created, our spirits have always existed as part of the divine in even higher dimensions. At the conscious (physical) level, our bodies are like a miniature replica of the solar system. Our hearts perform the function of the sun - the center of the system. Other organs within our body are also used by our souls to find a means of expression. The planets exert astrological vibrations upon our bodies that influence our personalities and soul patterns. At the subconscious (soul) level, the solar system is our larger body. We are connected to the planets, the stars, spiritual realms and entities. On the superconscious (spirit) level, we are one with the Whole. At this level, we are on a conscious level with all there is - the divine.

... Cayce revealed that our life experience involves more than just the earth. It involves our entire solar system. Through the principles of astrology, each solar system in the universe is like a "university" - a place for higher learning. Our solar system has nine planets and each planet is a physical representation of a particular afterlife realm (or dimension). Our universe is only one realm out of many afterlife realms. Our universe (including the earth) is the third realm in the afterlife hierarchy and represents three-dimensional life.>Because Cayce associated each planet as a physical (three-dimensional) representation of a particular afterlife realm, Cayce referred to these afterlife realms using the name of the planet associated with it. For example, when Cayce uses the name Venus, he is referring to the afterlife realm that are associated astrologically with the planet named Venus. When Cayce mentions that souls inhabit Venus, he does not mean that souls live on the surface of the planet Venus, he means that souls inhabit the afterlife realm named Venus which is associated astrologically with the planet Venus.For example, the planet earth is a physical representation (three-dimensional) of the third afterlife realm (i.e., our universe).

The planet Mercury is a physical representation (three-dimensional) associated with the second afterlife realm, also named Mercury, in the afterlife hierarchy. The afterlife realms are dimensions which souls can experience when not active in the physical body on earth. These non-active states include death, deep sleep, or other altered states that free the subconscious from its normal physical constraints. The planets exert an astrological influence on us.

These astrological planetary influences originate from the afterlife realms that our souls have sojourned before our current earth experience and in between earth lives. The purpose of these astrological influences is to provide certain life lessons we must learn and for which we are tested on earth. Cayce described how we are connected in mind, body and spirit, to various afterlife realms and astrological bodies such as the moon, sun, planets, and stars. In fact, Cayce affirmed that everything is connected together as one. Our solar system is our larger body and our bodies act as a miniature solar system.While on earth, we are influenced in strong ways by desires that originate from our bodies. These desires not only affect our bodies but our soul as well and how we deal with these influences can determine our level of spiritual development. Through meditation and prayer, one can unlock the doors to the many dimensions, the many mansions, of God's kingdom. But the door must first be unlocked here on this earth realm.

The idea of traveling to interplanetary realms after death is hinted at in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs which show the journey of the soul through the Duat, the "river of stars" that led to the star Sirius. The old Pharoahs and even ancient Greeks believed that they would become gods after death. Even today Mormon adherents believe that after death they will be given their own planet to rule over (one explanation for the necessity of polygamy).

Cayce says about the Saturn realm:

The Saturn afterlife realm is not a pleasant place according to Cayce. Cayce said this is the realm where all inadequate flesh goes to be redone. A soul may banishes itself to the Saturn realm to begin anew. This place is also known as the Great Changer, the great force for starting over. Sometimes when Cayce would begin a reading for someone, he would identify what the last afterlife realm that soul experienced before entering the earth realm. He would not limit himself to a person's past lives on earth, but would include their lives in the cosmos as well. During a reading, Cayce told a person he identified as having previously experienced an incarnation in the Saturn realm that "God loves those who are willing to start over."

That does describe the need under Saturn's influence to have patience and apply discipline.

Cayce stated that souls reincarnate, not only to the earth realm, but souls also reincarnate to other realms between earth incarnations as well. If a soul incarnates into an earth life from one of these afterlife realms, the soul will manifest the influence of the realm from which it recently came. These influences, which are defined by astrology, are related to the spirit realm associated with the astrological influence of the associated planet.

Of Cayce's own experiences:

As an example of how a soul sojourns to various afterlife realms, Cayce described his most recent sojourns throughout the cosmos. Cayce's soul sojourned in the Uranus afterlife realm, the realm of the psychic, and just before incarnating into the physical realm, had a brief experience in the Venus afterlife realm. He incarnated to earth with these most recent experiences ingrained in his soul. Such a combination would make a person psychic having a heart for helping others.

The question of what life is all about can only be answered by an understanding of what happens after death. Much of the ancient wisdom on this subject was eradicated when the monotheistic religions took over during the Age of Pisces. All of this information and theory is so interesting to me, and well worth considering.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 9:48 AM :: |

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Monday, September 11, 2006

9-11 Conspiracy Theories and the Saturn/Neptune Opposition

Five years ago today, America witnessed the greatest attack ever experienced on its own soils. Five years ago a seed of conspiracy and distrust was planted that is now bearing fruit as Saturn begins its first of a series of oppositions to Neptune.

As we've seen in earlier articles here, the cycle of Saturn's hard angle (90 degree and 180 degree) aspects to Neptune have a tendency to break down established governmental structures. (Refer to this earlier article for more history details.) The hard angle aspects bring out the more negative influences of the planets, and with the Saturn/Neptune opposition we have the potential for repression in the name of security (Saturn) along with deception and paranoia (Neptune). As previously noted, the Saturn Neptune cycle often brings conflicts that arise from the misguided attempts to impose an ideal (Neptune) against the established order and patterns of behavior (Saturn). This cycle can also bring about the exposure of illusory and deceptive practices (Neptune) by the governmental entities that support us (Saturn).

The whole concept of governmental conspiracy is very Saturn/Neptunian - shadowy figures behind the government act in ways that are hidden and create an illusion where one thing occurs when really it is another. The FBI conducted over 2000 programs to "neutralize" public dissidence in the COINTELPRO program before it was exposed in 1971 as Saturn made its first opposition to Neptune during the previous cycle. The final phase of that cycle famously brought the Nixon government to its knees during the Watergate scandal.

Hours after the first planes hit the tower on September 11, 2001 as the shock of what had just occurred was sinking in, internet sites were buzzing with questions about the day's events and what had occurred beginning with the simplest of questions: Why did Bush continue reading to a group of students after our nation was attacked? Why were fighter jets not scrambled to pursue the hijacked planes? Why did Building 7 of the Trade Center collapse completely when it was not hit by any planes? Why did John Ashcroft stop flying commercial flights beginning in August 2001? These questions burgeoned into a mushroom cloud that has not gone away and in fact, the lone voices in the wilderness of conspiracy theorists have now been joined by respected scientists in the group Scholars for 9-11 Truth.

Additionally, conspiracy theories are gaining momentum. A nationwide poll by the Scripps Research Center at Ohio University found that 36 percent of those polled think the federal government either assisted in the attacks or allowed them to happen as a pretext to start a war in the middle east. A Zogby poll of New Yorkers found that over half believe that the Bush administration knew the attacks were coming and "consciously failed to act." The fact that Osama bin Laden was never caught and in fact that the department of the CIA dedicated to his capture was closed down only adds fuel to the fire.

One of the earliest scientists to support what was then considered a bunch of kooks was Steven Jones of Brigham Young University, a respected physics professor whose tenure with the Mormon university made him unique in the 9-11 conspiracy world. In September 2005 he presented a paper to his department that presented his theory that the WTC building collapsed as a result of controlled demolition. Shortly thereafter the paper was published on the website of the physics department. Jones's work was of course embraced by the 9-11 conspiracy movement and a few days ago he was put on paid leave by the Brigham Young University physics department. He has since been joined by over 300 academicians in the group Scholars for 9-11 Truth.

Only time will tell whether the truth will be exposed or if like the Kennedy assassination the questions will continue to simmer below the surface. Perhaps there is a shadowy Neptunian Deep Throat character out there that will expose the truth. In any event, the political fissure that has been the result of Bush's handling of the September 11 attacks will continue to divide the country and that could prove to be its downfall during this particular Saturn/Neptune opposition. The fall of Tony Blair could be only the first of many to come.

Resources:
Complete 9-11 Timeline complete with sources and links
Scholars for 9-11 Truth

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 10:31 AM :: |

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Sunday, September 10, 2006

Mt. St. Helens: the Pluto/Ceres connection?

Rich and I are riding back from a visit to the Mt. St. Helens volcano, giving me a chance to catch up on my blogging. It was a powerful experience to witness firsthand the devastation imposed by nature, and still more powerful to see how nature has bounced back with the creation of new lakes and an even greater variety of flora and fauna. After the eruption of the volcano in 1980, every living thing around it was destroyed in ten minutes. Old growth forests of trees over 120 feet tall were decimated and the hillsides were barren as the result of the smoking lava ash. Today, 26 years later, there are new lakes, new species of birds and frogs that could not have surived in the old ecosystem. The entire area has been reborn.

As Rich peered endlessly into the smoking crater I found myself pondering the symbolism of Pluto's destruction and regeneration and Ceres, the goddess of vegetation that fills the earth with the bounty of living organisms to nurture and nourish the planet. Since Pluto's reclassification and the introduction of Ceres I have felt that there was some symbolism around the pairing of Pluto and Ceres. Pluto's reign in Planethood marked the most violent century in human history. In mythology, Pluto ruthlessly ruled over the underworld, judging the dead and sending them to their post-life destiny. Pluto's astrological influence over death and rebirth does not respond to our pleas for mercy; the cycle of life goes on uninterrupted by human desire. Perhaps it's the influence of Ceres that instigates the regeneration that follows Pluto's destruction and keeps the lifecycle flowing and fresh with hope.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 8:51 PM :: |

---------------oOo--------------- The End of Tony Blair

With Gemini rising (an appearance of flexibility and adaptability) and a twelfth house Sun (showing an individual who prefers his real agenda to remain hidden), it's no wonder that Tony Blair has been under criticism throughout his career for dishonesty, excessive "spin" and a lack of integrity in his lifestyle choices. The appellation "Tony Blur" that has often been given to him expresses the confusion and delusion that often results when the Sun finds itself in the twelfth house of that which is hidden. (See Astrodatabank for birthchart.)

In Blair's college days he modeled himself after Mick Jagger, and his first career was as a would-be rock promoter. Giving that up for law studies at Oxford, he played guitar in a rock band. However, soon after beginning his law studies he announced to friends his desire to become prime minister.

Blair joined the Labour party soon after graduation from Oxford. He tried unsuccessfully for a couple of seats in local elections but he was able to gain a footing in the Labour party. At this time he described himself as a Socialist, yet he sent his children to a private school that was criticized for its elitist policies. There has been a disconnect between many of Tony Blair's professed ideals and the programs which he has worked to implement in Britain. Still, he was one of the most popular prime ministers in the history of Britain, winning an unprecedented third term. His government has overseen a period of economic growth and lowered unemployment as well as a higher standard of living. Yet his unholy alliance with George W. Bush in the pursuit of war in Iraq has cost him his political career.

Tony Blair's birthchart shows that he has a Taurus Sun in the twelfth house: stubborn and unyielding, he holds strongly to his beliefs (Taurus in the twelfth) and prefers to keep his cards hidden (planets in the twelfth house tend to operate in a secretive manner). The square of Pluto to his Sun shows that he has real issues with power (Pluto) as well as a compulsive need to be right (Pluto square to the stubborn Taurus Sun). This makes him a formidable enemy and gives him a strength of personality that is not easily seen behind the affable and chatty Gemini exterior. The Gemini ascendant gives him an ability to shapeshift and slip in and out of roles that suit his particular need of the moment.

Mars, the planet of drive and desire, falls right on his ascendant where it drives him with a fire that would not be possible otherwise with a watery and stubborn twelfth house Taurus Sun. Jupiter conjoins Mars as well, a combination which can bring a passionate righteousness to the mix.

His idealistic Aquarian Moon falls in the Tenth House of power and career, and gives him an intensely emotional need to play a public role. Aquarius is humanitarian and concerned with the greater good of the collective and many of Blair's reforms have helped to equalize the social standings of Britons. However, an opposition of Pluto to Blair's Moon intensifies this need for power and gives it a life or death quality. The combination of Blair's Sun/Moon and Pluto in a T-square formation shows that his very identity (Sun) and emotional security (Moon) are wrapped up in his ability to achieve a sense of power (Pluto), and that this struggle is likely to play out in the Tenth House of career and public life (Moon in the Tenth) where his Moon joins the North Node of the Moon which identifies his evolutionary direction.

This is a powerhouse, and it has been stressed since late last year when Saturn in Leo began cycling through an opposition to the Sun, then a square to the Moon, and finally a conjunction to Pluto currently (also affected by the transits of Neptune to this same system). The combination of Saturn and Neptune have forced him to confront his own failures (Saturn) and illusions (Neptune) and announce his resignation within the year. Blair has Saturn and Neptune conjunct in his own chart and both are retrograde, showing that the combination of discipline and hard work with an idealistic pursuit of a higher reality are strong within him.

One can see how Tony Blair's alliance with the US began under Clinton's watch, where Clinton and Blair shared an ideal of moving progressive policies towards a more centrist approach. Some pundits have said that Blair embraced an alliance with Bush in order to show his political foes back home that he could wotk in tandem with conservative leaders abroad. After September 11, however, he appeared to become caught up in the wide-reaching fervor of Bush's war against terror, the kind of conceptual battle that the combination of Mars (war) and Jupiter (ideals) is all too comfortable with. Perhaps there was a sense that allying oneself with the most powerful nation in the world would bring a reflected power to Blair himself, but that error has led to his downfall.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 10:19 AM :: |

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Saturday, September 09, 2006

Martian news this week

Mars entered Libra yesterday as I began my vacation. You would think that Mars ( the god of war and aggression), would become the diplomat when in the sign of the scales, but you would be wrong. The fullest expression of Mars requires an ability to directly manifest its force without equivocation or debate, and in Libra it can become confused and unable to accomplish anything. That is why Mars is classically said to be in its "detriment" when in Libra. According to classical astrological rules, a planet is weaker when in the sign that opposes the sign which it rules, and because Mars is the ruler of Aries, the opposite sign is Libra.

In Libra, Mars has a tendency towards prevarication and indecision, both of which weaken the ability to get things done which is the essence of Martian energy. However, with the War God's attention turned towards alliances and the finer things in life as desired by Libra, there could be a renewed effort to forge alliances rather than achieve dominance through October 23. Fortunately, Mars won't be getting into any conflicts with other planets during its trip through Libra which may help to bring out his best qualities rather than his worst. Over the past few months when Mars went through Leo and then Virgo we saw Mars conflicts with Jupiter, Saturn, Chiron, Neptune and most recently Uranus and Pluto and we can certainly use a break!! However, Mars WILL be a player in the New Moon and solar eclipse of September 22 when it conjuncts the Sun and Moon which will all be in Libra, adding a strong energetic component to the eclipse cycle.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 6:57 PM :: |

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Thursday, September 07, 2006

Steve Irwin and Suri Cruise

One of the coolest things about the astrology blog world is the fact that we are all so different - each one with our own point of view and own voice. I've just found Gryphon Astrology from Nina Gryphon, which seems to use a more classic perspective. Nina has some fascinating articles that I just had a chance to breeze through, but check out her site for several detailed articles about Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter, and a profile of Suri Cruise.

I'm going on vacation and may be posting less frequently. I'll still be checking in, but meanwhile if you need a fix visit some of my friends in the links section.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 6:35 PM :: |

---------------oOo--------------- Jung's Quaternity and Alchemical Transformation

I've just found a great site called the Book of Thoth thanks to a link from Astrococktail. (Thoth is the Egyptian god of wisdom, and many believe that Thoth was actually an Atlantean priest who brought the secrets of magic to the Egyptian kingdom.) On this site I found this fascinating article by C. Clogston about Jung and his mandalas which came out of his own exploration of the drawings that erupted from his subconscious. "Mandalas are defined by Jung as magic circles, containing certain design motifs that he found to have a universal nature, across cultures and across time, whether they are the transiently created mandalas from Tibet, sand paintings from the American southwest, or illustrations from ancient, medieval, and Renaissance alchemical works. "

Clogston's article discusses Jung's use of the mandala in the alchemical/psychological process of individuation, and this is the process that transformational astrology examines as well.

Adding a fourth to an already established thee has a transformational effect. In geometry, a fourth point transforms the two-dimensional triad or triangle into a figure with depth, the cube and the tetrahedron.... Often it is a matter of completing a triadic figure with a fourth term, thus making it into a quaternity” [citations omitted]. Jung searches for the quaternity when a trinity is encountered, “Jung over and over again in his writings returns to the alchemical question: “Three are here but where is the fourth?” The completion of the quaternity is seen frequently in alchemical works, even whimsically, “All things do live in the three/ But in the four they merry be."

Astrological symbolism also deals with triplicities and quaternities. There are four elements (air, earth, fire and water) and three qualities (cardinal, fixed, mutable). The concept of "squaring the circle" becomes even more complex here because planets that fall in the same element, of which there are four, "trine" each other (forming a 120 degree angle to each other), and planets that fall in the same quality, of which there are three, "square" or "oppose" each other (forming a 90 degree or 180 degree angle). In the triangle aspect, or trine, energy flows easily and is unobstructed; in the square or opposition the energies are blocked but ultimately through crisis are transformed. Another expression of the "three" and the "four" is the spatial division of the horoscope into twelve houses: four quadrants, each with three houses.

When the points of a triangle are connected they form a circle, and circles have long been associated with the heavens, the infinite and the creative spark of divine consciousness. The square is associated with the manifest earth - finite and able to be grasped with the human mind. The alchemical process seeks to transmute that which is finite and earthbound (lead) into something divine (gold), and in alchemical psychology and transformation astrology we seek to transmute the challenges and burdens that keep us locked into an existence of habit and compulsion into divine gifts that open the doors to greater self-awareness and higher levels of understanding.

The circumnambulation Jung describes, the process of “squaring the circle” or “circling the square” has an uncertainty built into the journey: do we ever achieve individuation or is it a goal that is ever just out of reach? It is important to take the path that the mandala represents, to revolve around the center, to rotate near and around the center, and hopefully, move towards the self.. As Jung remarks “… the self is our life’s goal, for it is the completest expression of that fateful combination we call individuality…”

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 6:33 AM :: |

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Wednesday, September 06, 2006

Life is a Rhythmic Dance

Art by Nicole Mizoguchi

Robert Wilkinson has a beautiful article up today on mastering the changes that life brings on the road to personal evolution. Here's an excerpt:

Each of the parts of our lives, inner and outer, has a rhythm of its own. Our bodies, feelings, mind and higher Self all have their rhythms of appearance and disappearance, increasing and decreasing, ebbing and flowing. Our relationships have their own rhythms of coming and going, merging and doing one's own thing. There is no part of our lives that doesn't have fluxuation, except for our Inner Flame. Astrology is the art and science of examining these changes, and noting what is happening and when, one is able to estimate the next time we will be in major change and what factors are involved. This helps us evolve our response-abilities, and lead to a more natural and perfect self-expression.

Every major change we confront in our life is showing us what is ending, and what is beginning. Even in the middle of a larger process, every significant change in any area of our life affects other areas. These changes show us how we must change to restore harmony in our life. Ultimately every part of our being is seeking to be in harmony with every other part of our life. That's what we call "happiness." When everything works in harmony in our lives, when our inner self is in harmony with our world and our relationships, we feel that harmony and want it to continue. Our heart's deaire for our lower self is for it to have abundance, love, and perfect self-expression. Major changes show us the way to these things, but our lower self has habits and opinions and fears that often obstruct our heppiness. Then the points of change are more difficult, but we can still learn a lot from it all.

::snipped here::

We may not be able to end the eternal changes in our world, but we can become more adept at mastering the changes, and find relative peace, harmony, and effectiveness in the midst of the changes we and others are going through. Our higher life is always a demonstration of our capacity to learn and give forms of love to ourselves and others. We each have a personality that is in eternal process of change. The point of the entire exercise of having a higher consciousness occupying a human form is the perfection of function of that form. There are lots of ways to become your higher Self, and our life changes give opportunities to fulfill old karmas while embracing higher possibilities of self-expression. As we practice these positive responses to life’s challenges, we transmute our future karmas into opportunities of service to self and others promoting a greater “altruistic intention,” or goodwill. We no longer fear the changes, and become our greater potential.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 7:01 PM :: |

---------------oOo--------------- Beyonce and the Yod: Destiny's Child

National Ledger has my profile of Beyonce Knowles up on their site (turn on your popup blocker!

I've snipped part of the article here, you can read it there if you're interested. But her chart has some fascinating configurations which may help to explain her starpower.

Venus in Beyonce's chart is part of the Libra stellium, a placement that with Venus in its own sign virtually always confers exceptional beauty. However, her Venus is conjunct Pluto, the god of the underworld with its compulsions and fears. The Venus/Pluto combination indicates an insecurity at a deep level about her own value and her tendency to choose relationship partners that may be dangerous or have an edge in some way. However, Neptune makes a favorable aspect to this combination which adds inspiration and creativity (Neptune/Venus) and a strong sense of social justice (Neptune/Pluto).

On a deeply personal level, Beyonce's Moon is in Scorpio, showing that she is intensely emotional and private about her emotional life. The Moon shows our emotional nature, and in Scorpio there is a depth of feeling not found in other signs as well as a need for privacy and even secrecy. Her Moon conjuncts Uranus, the planet of rebellion and radical ideas which identifies her as someone who needs a great deal of independence and autonomy. The Moon/Uranus combination can create resistance to establishing a deep emotional connection with another person as there is always an urge to flee with Uranus. It is probably not likely that Beyonce will marry until she is older, despite the strong Libran pull towards relationships and partnership.

Chiron opposes the Moon/Uranus conjunction, normally a stressful pattern that can indicate a painful history in the relationship with the mother. Certainly Beyonce's mother was a relentless facilitator of her career, and there may be more to that story than has been made public. Chiron also quincunxes (150 degrees) Neptune and the Venus/Pluto combination, forming a Yod (finger of fate). The Yod aspect is considered to indicate a special gift or talent as shown by the apex planet, which in this case would be Chiron. Typically the Yod lacks the means for activation, because the 150 degree aspect is irritating and requires adjustment but typically doesn't in itself generate a crisis leading to change like the square or opposition do. But the addition of the opposition of the Moon/Uranus to Chiron here adds the stimulation required to activate the Yod and create the energy that can bring Beyonce to realize the potentiality of those gifts. It's an interesting synchronicity that Beyonce's first group was called Destiny's Child. (Geeky note to astrologers: Joan McEvers has termed the Yod with an opposition the Boomerang.)

Despite Beyonce's stated desire to be recognized for her talent rather than her looks, she has been criticized for packaging herself as a sex goddess in order to sell records. In today's world of visual media that is a smart and savvy move, but only time will tell if her stardom will fade with her looks or continue to grow with her talent.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 5:31 AM :: |

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Tuesday, September 05, 2006

Lunar eclipses, dragons, and the Nodes of the Moon

Lunar eclipses occur when the Full Moon (Moon opposing the Sun) occurs close to the nodes of the moon (the point at which the sun's path and moon's path meet). Molly at North Node.com has a lovely animated graphic that shows how an eclipse works.

The nodes of the moon describe our evolutionary journey, with the North Node (also called the Dragon's head by the Chinese and other ancients) demonstrating the direction in which we are heading and the South Node (the Dragon's tail) identifying the karmic past and issues best left behind. The involvement in the eclipse phenomenon perhaps gives a clue to the effect of an eclipse, where the Sun and Moon are aligned in tandem with the evolutionary lunar nodes but the earth blocks their light. The symbolism to me is clear: The eclipse marks a turning point, but the significance may not be obvious as both the solar conscious principle and the lunar instincts are obscured and we journey in darkness.

Some individuals experience lunations (moon events) more than others - the more "lunar" types (watery signs, conjunctions of the Sun or Moon to Neptune, or Moon near the ascendant or midheaven) will experience the New and Full Moons more intensely than others and be more affected by the eclipses as well. In addition, if the eclipse (the one on September 7 occurs at 14 degrees Pisces/Virgo) aspects a sensitive point in your chart you will be more affected than otherwise.

The symbolism of the legends from China and other ancient cultures of the Dragon (North Node) eating the Moon in a lunar eclipse would seem to tell us that eclipses are times when our instincts (lunar light) and conscious mind (solar light) are temporarily sacrificed (obscured by earth) in order that the transformational journey (lunar nodes) can become realigned and any course deviations corrected. With the world in flux, Pluto's turn direct and Saturn opposing Neptune, perhaps this is a good time to look for new signposts for our own journeys.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 7:47 AM :: |

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Sunday, September 03, 2006

Eclipse!!

We're heading into the shadow of the Full Moon which will be a partial lunar eclipse. (Although the Full Moon doesn't occur until September 7, its effects will begin to make themselves known in the next day or two.) There is a lot of energy here the Moon making a tight conjunction to Uranus as the earth slips between the Sun in Virgo and Moon in Pisces, obscuring the Moon's light. During the Full Moon emotions are often at peak intensity and the eclipse generally tends to bring unsettled issues to a crisis point where they can be activated and transformed. Often this occurs when subconscious elements break through to the conscious mind and force a resolution.

Pluto, having traveled retrograde for the past 5 months turns direct September 4, and change is inevitable. The Plutonian intensity will begin to effect changes in a way that requires surrender.

During this Pisces/Virgo Full Moon the details of everyday life (Virgo) are overcome by a magnified sense of the majesty of life and the experience of cosmic consciousness (Pisces). The eclipse will tend to obscure our awareness and bring confusion, and the tight conjunction of the Moon to Uranus will stimulate our nervous system and keep us from sleeping well. Uranus demands that we break free of patterns that are holding us back, and the emotional need for change (Uranus/Moon) will be stronger than the Virgo Sun will be comfortable with. Expect some emotional dissonance during this eclipse period, and prepare to be awakened!!

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 11:30 PM :: |

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Saturday, September 02, 2006

Saturn/Neptune, William Lilly and the Great Fire of London

340 years ago today, the Great Fire of London burned down two-thirds of that great city. (Details and anecdotes of the fire itself can be found at this fantastic site.) The renowned Renaissance astrologer William Lilly had predicted this fire fourteen years before in a series of drawings that were part of a book called Monarchy or No Monarchy. He was later suspected of having set the fire himself in order to prove his predictions correct and in order to depose the monarchy. (For more information on Lilly's predictions see Maurice McCann's definitive article on the subject.)

Lilly was not the only one to predict that London would be destroyed by fire: many believed that in 1666 tragedy would befall the city as the result of the year being the number of the beast in Revelations. The city was just recovering from the Great Plague and for many it seemed as though the end of the world had come.

The square within a square on the left side of the drawing represents the format for the blank horoscope used in medieval and renaissance times. This was a secret clue for Lilly's fellow astrologers, or "sons of arte," that the drawing was a horoscope in disguise.

The two babies suspended above the fire represent Gemini, traditionally associated with London. McCann writes, "by suspending the two babies upside down Lilly showed that the drawing, or rightly the horoscope, should be inverted, which would time it for the early hours of the morning. By inverting the horoscope the 14th degree of Gemini appears at the all important Midheaven. We may therefore infer that Lilly predicted that the time of the blaze would be about 5.26 am on the 2nd September 1666."

Without having access to the chart of the City of London at that time, which I was not able to locate, I don't see in this planetary configuration any strong indicators for fire (stressful Mars aspects or prevalence of fire signs), and Lilly left no clue as to how he deduced that the Great Fire would occur on September 2, 1666. However, I did notice that Saturn was conjunct Neptune in Capricorn (although Lilly would have no way of knowing this since Neptune wasn't discovered yet). Capricorn of course rules the structures upon which society is based such as governmental and business entities, and the Saturn/Neptune conjunction in Capricorn would alternatively build (Saturn) and collapse (Neptune) those structures. Saturn and Neptune danced within a couple degrees of each other throughout 1965- 1666, witnessing the battle between the Dutch and the English over commecial interests (Capricorn) as well as the Great Plague of London that killed up to a fifth of London's population (Neptune in Capricorn, dissolving our perception of material reality). The Fire eventually led to a rebuilding of the City (Saturn in Capricorn - building the structures that sustain us) by King Charles II and a change in the building codes to eliminate thatched roofs and other building practices that were conducive to the spread of fire.

One English writer, John Dryden, wrote that the year 1666 was an "annus miribilis" or "miraculous year," because London would arise from the fire with even greater majesty than before. One could say that this prophecy came true as well.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 8:36 AM :: |

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Friday, September 01, 2006

Pentagon Moves Toward Monitoring Media

I may be wrong, but "monitoring media" to me sounds like a lot like censorship. Is this the kind of free democracy we're trying to spread to the middle east?

WASHINGTON (AP) - The U.S. command in Baghdad is seeking bidders for a two-year, $20 million public relations contract that calls for monitoring the tone of Iraq news stories filed by U.S. and foreign media.

Proposals, due Sept. 6, ask companies to show how they'll "provide continuous monitoring and near-real time reporting of Iraqi, pan-Arabic, international, and U.S. media," according to the solicitation issued last week.

Contractors also will be evaluated on how they will provide analytical reports and customized briefings to the military, "including, but not limited to tone (positive, neutral, negative) and scope of media coverage."

What a way to kick off the Saturn/Neptune opposition, with the Pentagon, a governmental body representing Saturn in Leo, engaging in deceptive practices to create a Neptunian illusion of good news about the war. This could backfire on them, since previous Saturn/Neptune oppositions have served to expose government deception rather than help to conceal it.

The next few months will be VERY interesting!

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 8:55 AM :: |

---------------oOo--------------- Skywatch posted & new links added

Skywatch for September is now posted here, including information on the upcoming eclipses. More details on the eclipses will be posted here of course as they unfold.

I've also had a chance to visit the sites of my frequent visitors and commenters and have linked their VERY cool sites in the links section here. Visit them and be amazed!

I also want to give a shout out to Jeffrey Kishner for tirelessly promoting and linking all of the astrology bloggers. I've just discovered that Jeffrey (whose excellent blog Astrology at the Movies offers just the right combination of gossip and psychology) has a second blog called Lunar Tunes. Thanks to Jeffrey I've found some other great astrology blogs and I've added a few to the list here as well.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 7:15 AM :: |

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