Daily Astrology for Sunday, July 27 by Eric Francis
The Leo New Moon happened yesterday at 6:41 pm EDT (22:41 UTC) — the alignment of the Moon, Sun and Jupiter with asteroid Amor, all of it square Mars, newly in Scorpio. Other asteroids right there in Leo include centaur Rhiphonos (which has not been mentioned on Planet Waves to my knowledge) and Panacea.
Of the first, Philip Sedgwick rights, “The name Rhiphonos means ‘throwing’ or ‘casting’. Rhiphonos was one of twelve sprites dispatched by Zeus to protect the infant Dionysus from Hera. When Hera found out, she was naturally enraged her and she changed the twelve into centaurs. These centaurs later pulled the chariot of Dionysus. I did not know that Dionysus had a chariot, but given his relationship with the sacred wine, it is good that he had a dozen designated drivers.”
I have a thick folder of charts from this summer. The weeks and the projects seem to be going by quickly — weekly and monthly horoscopes, birthday readings, Daily Astrology pieces, news events, and charts cast for aspects to investigate specific meetings of planets more closely.
I have two annotated charts for the Leo New Moon, the coming Mars square Leo aspect, the Aquarius Full Moon and Mars conjunct Saturn in late August; and going back, Sun conjunct Jupiter, Jupiter ingressing Leo, the Capricorn Full Moon, The Cancer New Moon, the Sun ingressing Cancer and many others.
When I cast a chart, I print out the base chart using a commercial program, and then annotate in many other points, planets, asteroids, centaurs, Pluto-like bodies, hypotheticals and others. They all tell stories. It is these stories that I reflect back to you in my horoscope columns. Often the same chart tells many different stories and can be used to write different columns and articles. They all describe what you might think of as psychic or emotional developments, encounters and events associated with themes (which I cast as themes of growth and moments of budding awareness).
One thing is consistent — they all describe progress. If they describe problems, they also describe solutions. If they describe conflict, they describe resolution. Perhaps this is just how I’ve trained myself to read charts; it would seem pointless any other way.
Some describe larger developments, things that seem to sweep through the conscousness of many people; where there seems to be an opening for humanity to take some much larger step than it might otherwise. Yesterday’s Leo New Moon was just such a chart. It opened a wide door in one of the most significant signs of the zodiac, for in some ways Leo is the backbone of the horoscope.
I spent the day out on the Grandmother Land with my friends Beth and Jonah, and met up with the people who live there; the New Moon passed while I was out by a waterfall in a forest. Later that night, I toggled between BBC and Aljazeera to see what was happening — and it was nonstop war: horrid scenes of the destruction and humanitarian disaster in Gaza; people burying bodies, including a family of 19 killed in one of the attacks; the temporary (unilateral Israeli) ceasefire ending overnight; bodies still strewn in a wheat field in the Ukraine, amidst a badly-tampered-with crime scene; the escalation of that war; chaos in Iraq and Syria; recovering bodies from the Aigerian plane crash; ebola in Africa; and on and on.
These events don’t involve us all directly, but they are reaching many of us through out extended sensory system. Many people avoiding the news know what they are avoiding.
This leaves me wondering — where is all this progress? If the charts describe the stories of our personal lives, what about the wider world around us? I can see how the Leo New Moon square Mars might reflect a pumped up, me-at-all-costs state of affairs; how the message of passion and vitality could be taken in a loving or creative rather than violent way.
Clearly, that choice of what to do with the cosmic fire that comes our way is up to every individual — though it’s worth noting how we are swayed by culture and influenced by our environments. It may seem more difficult to avoid the environment of a war zone than it is to avoid garden variety social pressure.
It may seem more appealing to live your life purpose in a bold way, to really be yourself and not who other people make you out to be, or who you think they want you to be. You might think that all of the growth and progress might add up to something resembling social conscience, and the desire to act in ways to make the world better.
It may seem easier to be less afraid in an American city or town where nothing is especially going wrong.
However, I am not sure.
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A gift? ME? Thanks for the complement. That optimism must be my Sag moon speaking. As far as Leo goes, I do have Venus there. Hence my desire for happiness in my life, and on this planet. My deepest goal is to be of use to somebody, anybody. If people see that I did a good and thorough job, and appeciate that, I would be proud. This is the Virgo side talking ;). This is why I feel so down when it comes to finding a job. My family tried the BRS route. They put me on a 40 hour work plan. Both in Groton and in Avon. I liked what I did, I never complained once. This took place in retail settings btw. I was totaly expected to at least get a feedback. All turned me down the minute my time with them was over. I worked in the backroom of various retail stores and my station was always the first one done. I never wanted to make a mistake. Too slow was the reason, they said. They never said exactly that my disability was a reason, but I can take a hint. That betrayal hurt, what did I do wrong? I felt at the time like I was no use to anyone. Outside of babysitting my siblings and walking the dog. I was so down. Until I discovered astrology, I always felt alone in the outside world. I feel even my family doesn’t understand what I am going through. I literally made it through high school with no real friends. The only people that got me through the last 5-6 years was a boy band that I never met. They are called the Jonas Brothers, if you have even heard of them. I am to this day so enraptured by their story, so connected at the hip that there must be some past life connection thing with them. They felt like a second family to me, a virtual family even though they are real. I didn’t take astrology seriously at first, how the heck does a planet influence a human being? I was gladly wrong, I found a community filled with wacky, wonderful and gifted people. People like me, even though I am not psychic. It was astrology that set me on my course with college. So, do you accept the friendship of this downtrodden autistic girl? I will give my all at no hesitation. Thank you.
Holly, I will maintain this discussion of your transits as time permits this week.
Scott, I am not asking rhetorically. And I am asking for some evidence of more than the progress of any one individual. I think that if such exists, we might be able to witness it, to describe it, to model something else after it.
I am also asking in the face of the current round of aspects, though with the perspective of having been a close observer going back many cycles. For example, much of the chaos we are now facing involves what was stirred up in the Saturn-Pluto era of 2001-2002, in particular, the instability in the Middle East and western Asia.
@ Holly: I have loved these exchanges between you, Eric et al on here…timing, perfect. A Jupiter in Leo gift I think. And I am so heartened by your optimism and curiosity, and know you are part of a greater contribution. It is going to be OK.
One of those magic moments on Planet Waves, *hums along to Perry Como*…
All is not lost, It’s all in timing. Technology, though flawed, is slowly changing the world for the better. If people take a look at the attitudes of people, say, 35 and under. Yes apathy is a major problem in my age group. However, understand that we came of age under GWB. We saw what incompentant in power looked like. I was in 6th grade when we to Iraq. It was in my senior year when the economy nosedived. Around my birthday no less. There was a sense of uneasiness about job oppotunities once we graduated. Mention the word GOP, Tea Party or any similar phrases around a millennial and watch their facial expression. I would almost guarantee you a frown. Millennials overwelmingly choose organic stuff if they are presented with a choice. We would love to see the US back in the top 10 when it comes to education, health, freedom of expression. And we will do just that. We are edging out baby boomers when it comes to demographics. We are the most tolerant, technologically adapt, the most eco-friendly generation by far. The next group after us will help along in that regard. We are just waiting for the current crop to vanish or straighten themselves up. We are just waiting like the good janitors that we are, mop at the ready. All is not lost.
Eric, re your closing line regarding fear: I live in a small village where there is very little crime, & one can feel safe both at home & out & about. Nonetheless, I know people who live in constant fear of what they imagine “could happen”. I have come to believe that fear of that sort is almost invariably an “inside job”, much as happiness is, & a matter of how one sees the world. This is not to say there are not truly terrifying places, where every day could bring disaster or death. There are so tragically many of those.
Chief, I agree that “the madness will continue until it stops.” The madness I see at my local level includes the killing off of most of the birds, butterflies, bees, small mammals, & the health of the farmland & watersheds, streams & ponds, because of vast swaths of land seeded to GMO canola (because it’s still profitable) & laced several times each season with glyphosate (Roundup). Most are oblivious to the absence of the diversity of life which not twenty years ago made this area a vibrant, beautiful, singing landscape. Forests & shelterbelts are being bulldozed & burned to make still larger fields.
I have concluded that madness will not end until canola ceases to be desireable (& with its usefulness in bio-fuels, that could take a long time) – or farmers can no longer afford the deal with Monsanto & friends – or the land simply refuses to produce, no matter what “inputs” they pour onto it. I doubt very much that awareness & subsequent conscience are likely to arise anytime soon. Forty years ago, when I read Rachel Carson’s “Silent Spring”, I never dreamed I would live in such a world. But I do.
There is grief, but there is hope – hope that here & there, Life will hold on, adapt, one day to thrive again.
I do speak up, & often. I know I am often referred to as a silly tree-hugger, but that’s okay. I have survived being called much worse!
Bette
“This leaves me wondering — where is all this progress?”
What does progress look like? How quickly did your expect it to manifest? Your rhetorical question leaves me wanting details, wanting to know how you thought it would show up. We are still in the middle of Pluto and Uranus’ dance, the madness will continue until it stops.
Thank you all for responding to little me. Exspecially Mr. Francis and bkoehler. Do you two know that you have a latent sense of humor? To Mr Francis, the season we left for Arizona was in the summer of 2003. My mom drove us 5 kids in a suburban. It took us about 5-6 days to drive cross country. I was spellbound once we got to New Mexico. Regarding my first time at college, the first day of classes was the day after my birthday, September 15th.
Bkoehler, sir, the dates you wrote corrolate to me getting my associates degree. The area I am focusing is medical billing and coding. Nothing major happened to me during March-April. Though I did have a burst of energy that got me out of the house. At 0+ Aquarius is my natal Saturn (retrograde),interesting. MY FIRST SATURN RETURN! 2020 is definitly a year to look out for. As a Aquarius rising,this will be interesting. Hopefully, I will be well into a job then. Thank you.
. . . . as well, the south node in December 2020 – at the time of the Jupiter-Saturn conjunction, will be in Sagittarius, NOT Virgo as I wrote below. (Virgo opposes – not squares – the sign Pisces [where transiting Neptune will be] and there are no major planets in Virgo at that time.)
However, I DID see that transiting Mercury will conjunct the South Node at 19+ SAGITTARIUS at the time the nodes square Neptune at 18+ Pisces (12/14/20), and Neptune will be in the north bending, clearly picking up transmissions from the Universe.
Might it be that transiting Mercury will release (south node) old gathered information that no longer serves the purposes of the Universal Plan…a suggestion that his recent conjunction with the Great Attractor (12/11/20) might have given him? Might that in turn affect how humanity perceives Neptune’s vibes? I like to think that fear, illusion and deception would be discarded in favor of loving kindness and healing through this astrological pattern. Let The Sun Shine.
be
Another apoplectic moment to apologize for. . . the January 21 lunar eclipse is at 0+ Leo , NOT 0+ Aquarius as I wrote below./be
Maybe 0+ Scorpio Mars is initiating the “progress” not only by squaring Jupiter/Mercury-Sun/Moon at this time but also the future Jupiter/Saturn conjunction at 0+ Aquarius in 2020.
These pinpoints of light (individuals) will be coming together in an Aquarian setting several times before then, such as January 20, 2015 at the 0+ Aquarius New Moon, or the 0+ Aquarius Lunar Eclipse on January 21, 2019. When the 2020 conjunction between Saturn and Jupiter takes place, transiting Neptune (18-19 Pisces) will be in a long T-square with the nodes (north and south at 19-18 Gemini-Virgo).
This will be preceded by a total solar eclipse at 23+ Sagittarius (12/14/20), which Mars will trine from Aries at the same time he will square Pluto in Capricorn (exact at the time of the Saturn-Jupiter conjunction, Dec 21-23, 2020). I’m guessing that his participation within the Cardinal Cross from the pacifying sign of Libra (for months!) has tempered (reducing intensity through intermingling with other energies) Mars, as has the feminine influence (Venus, Ceres, Vesta).
Perhaps checking the whereabouts of Vulcanus and Hephaistos (who in myth tempered hot metal to forge “new” and beautiful things) at the New Moon or other important times might substantiate or further illuminate that in some way.
be
“One thing is consistent — they all describe progress. If they describe problems, they also describe solutions. If they describe conflict, they describe resolution. Perhaps this is just how I’ve trained myself to read charts; it would seem pointless any other way.”
I really appreciate this. Sometimes I see a different, more personal solution, but only regarding how it mixes with my own chart, and you have certainly helped make that possible through continuous education. You are awesome.
“most of them have kept their humanity and sweetness and chosen not to live in fear”. But of course – there are also many of these people who are deeply traumatized by their experiences – whom I have not had much contact with as yet.
Yes I’ll post that chart soon, Len…
Eric, this also happened yesterday – and did not make front page news:
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/07/egypt-says-fighters-killed-sinai-clashes-201472775643852646.html
Just came back from that part of the world, except I was staying in south east Sinai, with a friend who lives and works in Cairo and has a hut on the beach there. Most of Egypt’s Bedouin population live in the Sinai. Many of them work in the south where there are tourists (but fewer and fewer since unrest hit the country again) and they send money home to their families in the north. As with the Somali refugees I have made friends with and have mentioned before here, I found the Bedouins extremely gentle, wise, kind and hospitable, delighted to share their wonderful land with strangers. Observing their behaviour – I realise that even if they come from war torn and/or terrible realities, most of them have kept their humanity and sweetness and chosen not to live in fear. I never stop learning from their example.
Len wrote of Rhiphonus (sp?) just yesterday … or I just read it yesterday. For me, I would wish for you, Eric, such a nice long TV holiday. So good for the soul, though I know you are a reporter and all. I love your report from the grandmother land.
Any chance you’ll share your chart(s) of the Aquarius full moon?
mm.