Truth, Justice and Libra
September 30, 2005
http://cainer.com/ericfrancis/sept30.html
Dear Readers Around the World:
We're in the front entrance of an eclipse in Libra. It will
be visible at about 11 am Monday as a partial eclipse throughout much of Europe
and the
If I were to write a basic guide to survival on Earth that
applied astrology to life, Chapter One would be about eclipses. They are the
most tangible, and most frequent, most useful regular events that push our
lives forward.
But if I had to explain one sign of the zodiac first, it
just might be Libra. This is because Libra is the sign of relationships, and
life is made of nothing if not relationships.
Let's start with eclipses, which usually occur in pairs
(solar and lunar, separated by two weeks), which arrive about every five and a
half months. [But before I go down this road, I want to make a brief mention
that Mars stations retrograde motion on Oct. 1, a reasonably rare event. That
is not covered here -- please look on Planet Waves shortly for information
about that.]
As nearly everyone knows, the Moon goes round the Earth, and
once a month, there's a New Moon (Sun conjunct Moon), then two weeks later, a
Full Moon (Sun opposite Moon). But during eclipse phases (which occur twice
each year), there's a New Moon-Full Moon pair that's unusually exact; so,
rather than passing a little above or below the Sun, the New Moon crosses
exactly over the disk of the Sun. That is a solar eclipse. Then, in a
corresponding event, rather than passing a bit above or below the shadow of the
Earth (as it does in a normal month), the Full Moon passes right through the
shadow; that is a lunar eclipse. (Sometimes the lunar eclipse comes first;
sometimes the solar eclipse comes first.)
To mark approximately where these events are going to
happen, there are two signposts in every astrological chart called the lunar
nodes (well-covered in the archives of Astrology Secrets Revealed). The nodes
are always there, and they are a reminder that both the next and the most
recent eclipses are also always there. In other words, eclipses are not
one-time events. They are like broadcasting towers positioned in the past and
the future that talk to us NOW, all the time. And every once in a while, NOW
goes right past one of these broadcasting towers, and we get the signal at full
intensity -- during an eclipse.
But in reality eclipses are less like going past something
and a lot more like going directly through it. If you've ever taken a rafting
or canoe trip, they feel like going headlong into a standing wave. The wall of
water, created by a narrowing of the flow, looks solid, but when we push into
it, we change its shape for a moment, plunge through and come out on the other
side. And in the case of an eclipse, that's often a whole new reality.
Sometimes it's subtle; sometimes it's really obvious; but it's always true
enough.
Here are the basic energetic qualities of eclipses, most of
which apply most of the time.
The first is a concentration of experience. A lot happens in
a short time; time itself becomes distorted. This works on an individual level,
and on a collective level. In other words, time feels like it's moving more
briskly as an individual perception, and then at the same time, world events
arrive closer and closer together. This gives the feeling that "everything
is speeding up." (Get used to it. This only gets more intense between now
and 2012, which is like The Great Eclipse in the Sky.)
Events seem karmic or predestined. They may not be, but they
certainly seem that way. A lot of how that effect shapes up depends on just
what happens, and on your relationship to the ideas of karma and destiny.
However, this "fate effect" merely emphasizes the more valuable sense
that decisions are more important now. Smaller decisions mean more; larger
decisions can have a much more vivid, lasting and sweeping impact on life.
Add some discontinuity. The world always seems to plow
forward on its crazy way, and yet nothing ever seems to really change. Life is
genuinely different as eclipses approach, and then never quite returns to
normal. Instead, a new kind of normal takes over. In the process of the Soul
evolution of the planetary level, and in our individual lives, these events
represent critical transition points, simultaneously collective and individual,
without which there would be very little progress at all.
So, another characteristic is a distinct sense of sudden
transition. We move from one space of life into another. Personal
relationships, including marriages and lover-relationships, are particularly
susceptible to shifts, emotional movement or rearrangement. The change can
manifest as a deepening of stronger relationships, or shake-ups in weaker, less
stable relationships, many of which are likely to change dramatically. Anything
that's not working with the process of our personal and collective evolution is
subject to disruption, things that are working are subject to challenge, and
their strength can be put to good use.
In all, we need to do two things -- pay attention and work
with the process. This is good advice for life at any stage, but particularly
during an eclipse, these two little points can get you a long way from feeling
overwhelmed to a sense that you're actually making some progress. Of course,
with eclipses, it's best to not judge progress in the moment. Wait till you
have a longer view.
One thing that we always need to remember about eclipses is
that going back a very long way, and until recently, they were considered
exclusively negative omens. Thus, there is a level of superstition associated
with them, and this can verge on unconscious catastrophobia. Often, their
properties, outlined above, have indicated the "end" of things, or a
shadow falling on the light. And wee people don't really like too much change,
as necessary as it is. But as we become better at working with psychology (for
lack of a better word) and spirituality (for another lack of a better word) we
can see eclipses in a dual sense -- yes, on one level, something happens, and
on another level, we are involved in the experience of becoming. The more adept
we are at processing shadow material, the more we can work with the light, and
with the mysterious way eclipses help us see clear through reality -- or pass
through seemingly solid barriers.
This kind of advanced thinking shifts the energy away from
fate and in the direction of free will, a process with which astrology (i.e.,
humanity) has been involved for a long time, and will continue to be involved.
An Eclipse in Libra
We are fast approaching an eclipse of the Sun in Libra. We
know that Libra is the sign that has something to do with balance, but in truth
the symbol is the scale itself. Libra is about the act of careful evaluation;
but those scales weigh Quality, not quantity.
To have a clue about an eclipse in Libra, we need to know a
little about that sign first. Libra, in short, is the sign that reminds us that
the temperature on Venus is 900 degrees. Libra is one of the most intense signs
of the lot, every bit as potent as a fire sign, but politely presented as an
articulate yet aesthetically sensitive air sign.
Here is what Alice A. Bailey has to say about Libra in the
book Esoteric Astrology, published 1951:
"It is a sign of balancing, of careful weighing of
values, and of achieving the right equilibrium between the pairs of opposites.
It might be regarded as the sign in which the first real vision of the path
appears and of the goal toward which the disciple must ultimately direct his
steps. This Path is the narrow razor-edged Path which runs between the pairs of
opposites and which -- if it is to be safely trodden -- requires the
development of a sense of values and the power to utilize rightly the
balancing, analytical facility of the mind."
This sounds like a good description of what an honest judge
does. The scales of Libra are the symbol of the judiciary itself.
Aleister Crowley, an influential figure in American
astrology and himself a Libra Sun, said that a sense of justice "seems to
underlie every trait" of a Libra native. Librans by nature strive to be
fair. "In religion, for example, he will not confine himself to any one
system, but look for the best points in all and endeavor to strike a balance
between them."
He continues, "Sometimes the delicacy of mental adjustment
may be interpreted as indecision; in undeveloped types, it may really amount to
this weakness. It is certain that the native will not form snap judgments; he
may prefer to suffer acutely than risk injustice to others."
It is this quality of justice that is the thing to watch,
and to cultivate, with an eclipse in Libra. In a sense, there is a test of
justice, which is the name of the grand historical chapter at which we have
arrived.
In life, it is necessary to be discerning, if not actually
judgmental, and this is what we learn when there is Libra activity. And there
is plenty coming up -- four events, spanning through next week, set the cosmic
scene. First is the eclipse of the Sun, close enough to the first degree of
Libra to be considered early in that sign, and hence (because Libra is opposite
Aries) an Aries Point event. Next is an eclipse of Mercury by the Moon, on
Tuesday, called an occultation. Next is a conjunction of Mercury to Jupiter, a
meaningful aspect because such a conjunction brings together the ruling planets
of two pairs of signs, Gemini and Sagittarius, and Virgo and Pisces. It is a
kind of cosmic trigger; this will be a nig news day and for many individuals, a
potentially very positive personal news day. Fingers crossed there, but that's
what it looks like.
Finally on Thursday, Oct. 6, the Sun crosses the South Node,
reverberating the message of the eclipse. All of this occurs within four days.
There is definitely something big in the air.
As I am writing, a news event has been broadcast on CNN that
reveals something of the influence of these aspects and points. Tom DeLay, the
House of Representatives majority leader and (in theory) the second most
powerful Republican in Congress, was indicted for criminal conspiracy. According
to the rules of the House of Representatives, he must resign his leadership
position while the criminal charges are dealt with. (This has happened.)
After what amounts to five years of nonstop crime, this is
the first time a torpedo has actually hit the American political machine now in
power. It is difficult from a political standpoint to overstate what a crucial
turn of events this is, and DeLay is one of the best-connected people in all of
American politics -- and a Texan to boot. He is in the flow of big money and
has friends quite literally everywhere. So this is super weird.
As this was announced, Mercury in Libra was crossing the
South Node in Libra to within three arc minutes (1/20th of a degree). When you
think Mercury, think of the Bush administration, which is the Mercury
presidency. When you think South Node, think of something old. Old, like karma.
Mercury is revealing it, and bringing it to the surface. What is also
interesting is that the node itself, and consequently the position of Mercury,
are just one degree away from the ascendant of the Sept. 11, 2001 chart (8:46
am, Manhattan).
Indeed, much of the current activity, as well as Monday's
eclipse chart, make a LOT of aspects to the 9/11 chart, and the acting
president's chart, as well as the charts for
Here is how the eclipse looks, set for
Monday's Annular Solar Eclipse,
Now, this is a very fancy version of the chart, cast in
Solar Fire 5. It includes a number of additional nontraditional points, called
the Uranians -- eight "hypothetical planets" that are well worth
examining when historical times get super duper interesting, as they are about
to become. This chart counts for advanced astrology, but advanced and beginner
astrology are really not that different. It's good to get accustomed to
different chart formats.
I'd like to point out three things from this chart, and
leave it to you for study.
The first is the ascendant (which will be the same in any
chart). The ascendant is the horizontal arrow pointing to the left.
If we cast the eclipse chart for
It also puts the M87 galaxy, with its massive black hole,
right in the ascendant. The galaxy occupies the second degree of Libra. It is
RIGHT there in the ascendant. That galaxy has a huge flare shooting out of it
(see illustration here).
Next, look for the planet Jupiter. It looks like a navy blue
"4" toward the lower left side of the chart, in the 2nd house. Can
you see it? It's right next to a green, diamond shaped Venus (called Pallas
Athene).
Right near Jupiter is a very similar looking
"4"-shaped glyph, in black, with a double vertical line; this is
Apollon, a kind of super-Jupiter. It is one of those "hypothetical"
Uranian planets, meaning it doesn't have a body; it's a point in space that
conveys an idea, and that idea is: COMPREHENSIVE.
Commenting on this point, astrologer Blake Finley (new
discovery, Web address at bottom of article) writes, "When in balance,
Apollon gives us the understanding of the past, the future, and how they relate
to perceptions in the present." He continues, "Apollon is almost like
a 'lucky star' that seems to bring plenty to whatever it contacts. Whether we
organize Apollon's abundant perceptions into a system, or leave them scattered
and fragmented, depends on our personal wisdom and ability to truly see the
overall picture and frame of reference." Good advice, Blake.
Jupiter and Mercury are now making very close conjunction to
Apollon, exact Wednesday. Even by itself, this would be a major conjunction,
when combined with the eclipse. But add Apollon and you have a clue that
something very interesting indeed is going on.
One last bit from this mysterious Uranian chart. See if you
can find Mars. He is in light blue, on the upper right side, toward the middle.
He is accompanied by a weird looking little point -- Admetus. Another one of
those Uranian points, Admetus is about deep stuff. He is about focusing the
issues, digging deep into things (such as mines) and as such is a kind of
patron saint of investigative reporters.
Not good news for crooks. This is very good news for people
in the media who want to do their jobs, and there are a few.
Another one of his attributes is stuck things, or dealing
with them. Notice from this chart that Mars, which stations retrograde Saturday
(covered on Planet Waves) does so in an exact conjunction to Admetus. This
tells us a lot of information (about money and resources, particularly oil) is
going to come unstuck.
We are going to see some extraordinarily strange events
unfolding in the political arena over the next month or two (particularly
around Oct. 30), and on some level, they may be very entertaining and give us
some satisfaction that sometimes, bad things happen to bad people.
But the real question is this: what would Justice do?
What would the truly fair outcome be? Politics is not about
entertainment; it is not about revenge; it's about how our world is run; it's
about who eats and who starves and why; it's about who is dropping the bombs,
and who is under them -- and it's about working for the right outcome.
So get out your sense of fairness and of right and wrong,
dust it off, awaken your childhood ideals, and remember the old protest slogan,
because we're going to need it now: No justice, no peace.
I have time for two questions this week. Please keep them
coming, and look for near-daily updates and more coverage of the Libra eclipse
at Planet Waves and Planet Waves Weekly.
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