By Len Wallick
In most places, today dawns with the Sun having crossed the midpoint of Aquarius, the astrological cross-quarter. In the southern hemisphere, Sol is shining directly above a point halfway between the Tropic of Capricorn and the equator. Thus the energies of Candlemas, Groundhog Day and Imbolc are brought to culmination. Each day in the northern hemisphere, the Sun is tracing a longer arc, higher in the sky, setting further north each evening.
 |
As a point of background, we know that the year is divided into four seasons, which coincide with the equinoxes and solstices. What is less commonly known is that the seasons have astronomical midpoints, when the Sun is exactly halfway between an equinox and a solstice. There are always holidays clustered at these points as well: for example, Halloween at the midpoint of the autumnal equinox and winter solstice. Around the current holiday, Imbolc, we have Ground Hog Day, Candlemas, the Feast of the Purification of Mary (a Jewish tradition, six weeks after she purportedly gave birth to Jesus), as well as Valentine’s Day. It’s a turning point in the season and for the most part, winter is downhill from here.
As for today: Early morning finds the Moon void at the end of Libra, having formed a trine to the applying conjunction of Neptune and Chiron overnight. Before this day is over it will have ingressed Scorpio, where it will form a square aspect (90 degrees of separation, the last quarter Moon) to the Sun on Friday or Saturday, depending where you are.
If you want to have some fun, the last quarter provides an opportunity. Weather permitting, stand or sit astride a doghouse (if you live in Manhattan, you will have to improvise with an apartment house) and face the Moon as it rises in the east. Check your local newspaper for the time. Wearing goggles and a scarf is recommended. Now, imagine yourself on a motor bike, or a Pegasus or rocket ship going 67,000 miles an hour straight for the Moon. That’s exactly what is happening. At the last quarter the Moon is directly in our path. Fortunately it moves out of the way before we get there (curse you, red baron!).