Moon over Civilization; the Last Face of Pisces

The past day or so we’ve been experiencing the Full Moon. One interesting thing about that is that the whole world has one experience, a consequence of it being a celestial event; something beyond the Earth. We, as in all of us here, have also been awash in the remnants of a solar storm that took place overnight Tuesday to Wednesday, resulting from a mass coronal ejection from a sunspot, with the energy bursting out to many times the size of the Sun.

Vesta photographed from the Dawn probe in 2011.

And that energy rains all over us. As fast and as uncontrollably as our technology is moving, or the speed of our minds or activities, the Sun in all its passion and Moon in all its silence embrace the Earth between them and there is some collective awareness that something is happening, happening to all of us, in the background though it may be. A burst of energy comes from the Sun, and we’re reminded that our power grids can be taken down in a matter of moments.

Because the Sun is in Pisces — the last sign — this was the last Full Moon of the astrological year. The Sun is now moving through the last 10 degrees of Pisces, called a decanate or in older terms, the last face of the zodiac. The astrology to watch is how close Mercury is to stationing retrograde — in Aries. It’s in a bold part of the zodiac, the first few degrees, and Mercury is conjunct two other points — an asteroid called Vesta, named for the goddess of fire; and Uranus, representing a kind of fire of his own — the fire of the mind.

Think of Vesta as tending some sacred idea, or core expression of vitality. Her role is to keep the flame at all times and, we are told, to remain chaste. Yet those initiated into the mysteries know that the chastity of Vesta’s servants represents a preservation of youth and at the same time, conceals a deeper secret, known only to members of the order. Mercury is communing directly with Vesta now, and is about to turn retrograde, make a second conjunction, and then bring a message back to Pisces, the sign representing all of humanity.

Uranus has a role here: this secret may come in the form of an invention, such as an idea that can change the course of events, in a world that seems to be going madder every day. I could think of no better time to have a message from a central goddess, one whose servants were called upon to stand guard at all state functions. So deeply entwined were the Vestal Virgins with the state that Cicero revered them as central points of integrity for the empire, without whom he believed Rome would surely fail.

Now, let’s be on the lookout for some information that Mercury would be delivering. It may literally be coming through our news distribution systems, at least on one level. Certain elements in government and politics have lately revealed the true nature of their agenda, which is the control of women; which is to say, attempting to relegate women, through proposed laws and marginalization, to the role of birthing pods who bear fetuses that have more rights than they do. While this is wrapped in piety, self-righteousness and everyone’s distaste for abortion, the agenda is belied by the fact that so many, indeed, nearly all ‘pro life’ people are so casually in favor of the death penalty.

Martha Lang Wescott, one of our respected colleagues, cautioned last week that the flash and glamor aspect of Uranus in Aries might be a distraction from the real needs, and some other agenda, indicated by Pluto in Capricorn. We are, after all, in the time of the Uranus-Pluto square, and this interweaving of Mercury with Uranus and later (once Mercury is direct) with Pluto is worth mining for information.

The Sun moving through the last few degrees of the zodiac is in a kind of disseminating phase. The Grateful Dead have a song with an unusual line: “Different seasons, with their treasons,” meaning what the changing of the season betrays or reveals.

When the Sun and the Moon get together for the New Moon in less than two weeks, they do so on the heels of the vernal equinox, which means the Sun conjunct the Aries Point — the first degree of the zodiac that acts like an echo chamber. Uranus is in the aspect, meaning that something unexpected might emerge; Mercury is there, ensuring that there is a coherent message; and Vesta is there as well, bearing her secret amidst her hot coals and sacred flames tended only by women.

29 thoughts on “Moon over Civilization; the Last Face of Pisces”

  1. Thanks for the additional nourishment, PW commenters. Pam, if you happen to check back here and see this, would you happen to have the title of the book you mentioned: “spiritual masters book from Peru”? Thanks also for the valuable reminder of the simple yet powerful breathing practice of the Tibetan Buddhists, breathing in what is still heavy, and breathing out compassion. Imagine what we could do, regardless of religious affiliation, if we remembered, or realized our capacity to filter energy in this way, with no harm to ourselves, while bringing great healing to our little spinning rock. Imagine the collective impact. Thanks so much, again, for this reminder.

    Ok, back to dissolving my own “stones,” via breath and compassionate attention, and with increasing strength. Love you all.
    ~P. Hibou

  4. you betcha Kelly! It’s just with so many femmes on the line praps the guys feel unappreciated.

    ummm… guynae would be gynae?

  6. And it’s not about plights either (even when in a sorry plight – in a sorry plight you need to be clearer headed than ever and for long periods where necessary), I have been exceptionally grateful to an eye surgeon and a guynaecological surgeon in the last 10 years – both men. And the guy who has spent 50 years with the Irene is/was a psychiatrist. if ever a psychiatrist was qualified to go the distance through hell and high water surely it would be he?

    We’re all human beings. Let’s encourage and help ourselves.

    We can all be strong and gentle I think.

  7. thanks so much be

    Kelly I honestly think it is more than just orgasm, it’s about sentience and applied intuitive intelligence. Walking the road to Santiago I realised that it was possible to breathe (direct the breath) into my womb, which was super energising. Equally you can take that womb energy and ‘source’ intelligence and apply it to life.

    Otherwise. Housewives. Does it go something like, women have less possibility to avoid, trade, delegate the things they don’t like (or alternatively their love giving takes them in such multiplex directions they/we) pretty much have to become fully integrated to function. Men can more easily off load and not bother to have to be real (no offence – you can eqaully say society at this time promotes this possibility – just look at the corporate politics of the moment as an example).

    In the west it is often men (not necessarily integrated) who are in power, and they are often married to women. Men live with and hear their womenfolk. These ‘housewives’ wield alot of power!

  10. Our plight as women is that we are given these dynamic engines (bodies), and yet we wait for a man to tinker, make the repairs and even operate our controls.
    There is no doubt about who has last say or who has control. All human existence is from the ‘womb’! Women by the virtue of their nature give life and teach about is maintenance.

    Due to social pressure we have forgotten it. But, let’s all not forget that men don’t have one.

    So, instead of acting like victims the first task I think is basic – we have to recover the one thing that we have lost: the orgasm = the power of the womb. 😉

  11. Thanks PW.
    Thanks All
    Thanks, Be as always for your enlightening extras.

    Me R 12th house Uranus 3 degrees from AC (Leo; House of the Rising Sun, I suppose.)

    “There is a house down in New Orleans
    They call the Risin’ Sun.
    And it’s been the ruin of many a poor girl
    And me, oh god, I’m a-one.”

    That Uranus will be a-Trinin’ Merc/Vesta/Uranus as they transit natal Moon/Eris.
    Revolution in the Air? hm, no, it seems it would be (in the) Fire.
    xo

  12. I just noticed that Quaoar is conjunct the GC and I’ll take that position as being really positive energy right now for substantial change, that we can partake collectively in a recreation through, in the words of Philip Sedgewick: “singing and dancing the higher deity into existence.” He also said: “Now, with Quaoar in our mass consciousness, let us regroup and recreate priorities that speak to the magic of Creation.”

    With Jupiter as the ruler of my chart, I’m always inspired by the higher possibilities (can you tell?!!) and as I train myself to see what each moment is offering me, I’m all too ready to dance and sing and believe that we are moving to better times. If we all commit to believing that, training ourselves to pop those negative thought patterns that have drowned out past possibilities, our thoughts can shift things around and can ripple out and affect change in the wider world.

    tralalalala, boogie, boogie 😉

  14. pam,

    Some astrology might shed some light on the “western housewife’s” emphasis during these times when equality and balance is the Universal commandment. The solar return chart for the USA, presently in effect, when looked at from the perspective of women’s rights (writes?), starts with Venus on the midheaven of the chart at 1 Cancer 50, with the actual MH degree of 4 Cancer. The U.S. birthchart (Sibly version) has Venus at 3 Cancer 6. The midheaven of a chart is what will be achieved by the “entity” whose chart it is, and also represents the reputation of the chart holder. The solar return chart has Libra on the ascendant, making Venus the ruler of the chart. Already, we are getting a message about the feminine, values, money, love, balance, beauty, family, mother, security and needs as they relate to the entity (the USA), telling us what will be foremost in importance during the period between July 2011 and July 2012. All this from 1 planet and 2 signs on 2 important points found in any chart. I could stop there and it would be enough to understand the “why now? and why here?” of what the media and the blogs and the politicians have centered their focus on lately.

    But to learn the path and pattern of “achievement” we need to think about who rules the 10th house (midheaven) and in this U.S. solar return chart it is the Moon. She is located in Virgo at 9+ degrees and in the 12 house. Here is what Robert Hand says about the 12th house. . “Self-undoing, sacrifice, karma, Secrets, secret enemies, Hospitals, institutions of confinement or imprisonment.” This is the location of the symbol for U.S. women (and the “masses”), mothers, family, feelings, emotions and needs during this period of July 2011 to July 2012. He goes on. . “There are few traditional interpretations of the twelfth house that one could really look forward to experiencing. Not only does this house have a malefic reputation, it is also traditionally the weakest house, such that any planet placed in it is supposed to be of little or no use to the individual.” So that’s the traditional view, not the Aquarian Age view. A view held by some Americans still, due to their religions or their ignorance.

    But even the traditional thinking Hand says “. . . .it is clear from the difficulties that people have with twelth-house planets that it is not a weak house. Planets in this house often signify one’s most serious difficulties in a way they could not do if they were weak.” I’ll say! These quotes are from Robert Hand’s book Horoscope Symbols.

    The Moon and Venus have a sextile in this chart which means with a little effort on the part of the entity (USA), successful outcomes are assured when the two energies are applied to the same task. Venus and the Moon. Hmmmm. I see no reason why this faux attack on women will gain any traction, especially since the goddess Astraea is conjunct Venus. My fall-back message from the asteroid Astraea is “I will never leave you.” She was the last goddess, according to myth to leave the human race after all the other gods had given up on us. Also conjunct Venus is “Hades” which represents “that which we don’t want to look at or deal with”, such as disease, garbage or the hall closet.

    There is much more information available from this chart, however this should explain why the bizarre notions in this bizarre election period have arisen and help to understand the insanity of it all. Oh, one other note, the 12th house of asylums in this chart, with Virgo on the cusp is ruled, traditionally, by Mercury. In this chart Mercury is the focal point of a yod with Chiron the healer and Pluto the exposer. Think of this as a bow and arrow with Chiron on one end of the bow and Pluto on the other end, and Mercury being the arrow. Mercury is in Leo and Leo is about show business and desires attention, while Mercury is about talking and writing and (with any luck) thinking.
    be

  15. but Cpriestess, why the ‘western’ housewife specifically, why not all women – is it that we have a foot hold alos in the world of men? I’ve heard this comment before but don’t know the context in which HH said it. Do you or anyone else happen to know and be kind enough to tell me?

    thank you

  17. showed this in class this week in honor. it was an eye opener for most all, with insight into how they’ve been conditioned and socialized and an awareness of how to be more critically literate when it comes to media and power. perhaps you can catch it near you – http://www.missrepresentation.org/

  18. It is no surprise to me that these not so subtle efforts to squash women are happening in the dying days of the old ways. The patriarchal power structure is not going to give up its dominance without a fight despite so many people being able to observe the failure of that system in so many arenas.
    The new paradigm which is struggling for emergence is about the women’s way of power which if it is truly new and evolutionary is about cooperation and compassion, nurturing the best within us all as opposed to climbing up the backs of the rest of the pack so that you can be “top dog”.
    Authenticity is the new watchword and for those men and women who made it to the “top”in the old paradigm it is a skill they have not yet mastered.
    No less than the Dalai Lama has stated that if civilization is to be saved it will be the western housewife who does it. ASk yourself why that is. It is because she is the one who does it all, teaching, nurturing, nourishing, healing and fighting to protect her turf and her cubs.

  20. “I wish for society to be supportive towards the role of motherhood and acknowledge good mothering as an essential, valuable, rewarding and personally fulfilling contribution to the health of society as a whole and the well being of all human beings.”

    I would add that to cement that wish, the action that must go with it is implementation of a social safety net for these mothers. Mothers contribute to all the social capital there is but have no safety net for their old age. This is egregious. Just valuing mothers and the work they do is not enough; we must put actions with our words and make sure their contributions do not cost them their health, safety, and pursuit of happiness.

    That is what the Women’s Movement missed; they didn’t value what mothers do or institute any social safety nets for that. Instead, the Women’s Movement chose the male as default to aspire to and set into motion events to allow women to “become as men” while never addressing the default ideology in the first place. It is time to address that default ideology without male-bashing but rather with female elevation.

  21. Scattered thoughts before the second cup of coffee:

    I was intrigued by Cicero’s notion that the VV were so entwined with the state (government) that he revered them as central points of integrity, without whom the empire would fall. Oops, “fail.”

    Inerestingly enough, the first definition of “chaste” in MW online is “innocent of unlawful sexual intercourse.” The keyword is “unlawful” intercourse.

    If the current trend continues, the only sexual intercourse with women that would be legal would be missionary position, timed to the fertility cycle, for the sole purpose of reproduction. The unintended consequences would include no pleasure sex for men, or no chaste women to guard the flame, and the empire falls/fails.

    I’m reminded of the Abraham – Hicks quote that appeared here last year, that we keep making laws until we make criminals of everyone.

    I read the Wikipedia info on Vestal Virgins – definitely about duality and the role of women not integrated into the Roman culture and society.

    For those who are interested, yesterday I posted a link to John Shelby Spong’s essay for March 8 is “The Contraception Debate: Is Misogyny on the Rise?” It should be accessible at http://johnshelbyspong.com/ Spong is the retired Episcopal Bishop of Newark, and a “progressive Christian”, author of numerous books. Interesting commentary.

    I also notice that Ceres is leading the pack in Aries. Perhaps Ceres will pave the way and provide the opportunity for mothers to communicate with daughters, for all women to communicate our autonomy over our lives, our bodies, our selves.

    Now getting the second cup of coffee. Thanks for tolerating my morning ramblings. Thanks to PW (including the commentors) for continuing to make the astrology relevant, personal and political.

    JannKinz

  22. Reading the Zambian football article and the author who slated modern movies. But I found POTC3 one of the most amazing and creative films I’ve ever seen. incredibly rich in ideas, funny, Keira Knightly’s speech ‘It’s not over…’* can be applied in loads of directions, Tia Dalma’s scene before is electrifying. Davy Jone’s Locker and how they got out of it. ‘King!’ Absurdity. A lightness of touch. Of course you have to see the first two to fully ‘get’ the jokes and the second is a bridge to the third and ‘less interesting’ perhaps. You can’t make a religion out of it, but it isn’t ‘nothing’ either.

    And I don’t think that has to be ‘combative’: it is hoisting the colours. Lighting the lamp. Taking courage. Of course it is glamourised in films but the content can be there even so. If you think of Gandhi and walking to the sea to make salt, and the salt mine. It can be the same note as that I think: confrontation in a way that touches the humanity of the people before you: feeding respect all round rather than anger. If everyone pulls a weed, ties a string, in the end peace and calm have to come.

  24. In response to Kelly…

    …..’biological’ imperative

    I made a wish at the full moon and im sure many mothers can relate:

    I wish for all mothers to be recognised as contributing their true natures to the world in a valuable way.

    My wish is for all mothers to have the right and freedom and resources and support to be able to respond to their inner nature and take care of their own and their families needs for nurturing both physically and emotionally in a lovingly supportive and peaceful environment.

    I wish for society to be supportive towards the role of motherhood and acknowledge good mothering as an essential, valuable, rewarding and personally fulfilling contribution to the health of society as a whole and the well being of all human beings.

  25. There are also ‘vested interests’, surely the issue with women, (and anger against women unless they are stepford wives) and race and war and environment etc etc but the common theme is power and who has it, who protects it (and for whom) and who has a vested interest in keeping it. Who has more than enough and who doesn’t have enough. And eyes that are shut.

    How do we position ourselves. Buy a bit of land with water? Group together and buy land? A friend said the other day that he thought it best to vote for Mr Sarkozy. That the other options are still going down the slope, less fast, more palatably but he thought if we are going down the slope we might as well go there and know that’s where we are going and maybe that will stimulate creative ideas.

    I was thinking about Eric’s comment about the picnic on a rubbish heap. And I’m thinking there must be a way to compost that heap safely, stop making ‘plastics’ and ‘toxic waste’, leaving things to ‘rot’, there must be the political will somewhere. The wake up. Because again we are all asleep or with our eyes wide shut. I hear often, things like: no long term plan, or, short term vision because it is the next generation’s problem, or, caught between a rock and a hard place.

    And then it is getting out of the victim mentality (whether world corporation or individual in a corporation, or inidividual anywhere). Also about boundaries, not just taking because you can or because you want to, but seeing everything – really seeing it. It’s a mundane awareness that saves things, reties the string, pulls up the weed, closes the window, straightens the clothing, protects, liberates etc etc.

    And bottom lines. (circles of protection/guarding/conservation/wholeness? And isn’t everyone in the heart of everyone else if only you can connect with them? Or overlapping)

    And opening up. O God look at the beauty everywhere, even in the dirtiest poorest street, there can be a flower or a young vibrant mouse or a glossy bird, or a fresh air. Praps if we honour and protect these small things we can widen the circle, ripple by ripple. To tipping point.

    I read in that spiritual masters book from Peru that they believe there is nothing to fear. That fear is like a heavy rock in the garden, and a child cannot lift it. Often fears are a matter of growing strong enough and waiting, or applying intelligence or working together. They said, fears are always there like rocks in the garden, when you are strong enough you can go out and lift them. Fears are often projections of our own shadows in some way and then it is a question of opening a dialogue to see why and how they are there and often that is enough to solve things or see what is good to do. There is also the day to day work of ‘eating’ the heavy energy of others. And this you find in the Tibetan book of living and dying tho expressed differently – breathing in everything heavy and breathing out compassion.

    Love.

  27. Kelly:

    Really interesting. I brought in the blog and comments of the earlier Sandra Fluke thread and did a new monologue as an answer back to all the bullshit coming down over reproduction and contraception to our Medea Project rehearsal. Same age group as yours — 26–60.

    What ensued was a free for all, highly provocative, highly passionate and creative exchange over sex, propriety, the patriarchy and the ownership of our sexuality. It was electrifying, stimulating, sisterly and fun. Great full moon, Planet Waves!

  28. Great post. I await with abated breathe…

    Today has been a rewarding day among my female colleagues, we did little else except relate stories and share deeper personal secrets. We had a moment of deep introspection and honesty. We are all single women ranging from 25 years of age up to 58 years of age. One has been married twice and would never again consider it. Another raised a child on her own from it’s infancy. Two remaining (myself included) have not wed or raised children.
    The most talked about topics were around women openly seeking sex for pleasure and the other was ‘marriage’. We shared some hearty laughs at some of the shared sex stories and we were all in agreement about how we view marriage – a long term of service to children (perhaps for life) and to the partner.
    There is no question that a woman’s role is a social mandate.
    But I have my own theory.. I suspect a woman’s role is driven by a ‘biological’ imperative. And, that’s a whole lot of deeper..

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