18 September 2006 – 24 September 2006
The Week beginning September 18th, 2006
Week as a Whole:
The Solstices and Equinoxes are considered snapshots of the quarter year that they begin. Astrologers create horoscopes for various global locations to assess their meaning as focused in say Paris or Tel Aviv or Washington, D.C. Of course, during the ensuing three months the planets move and form new relationships, but these quarterly snapshots describe long-term background conditions. Eclipses, which typically come in pairs of Solar and Lunar, come every six months at locations that slowly move backward through the zodiac. Since the Earth, Sun, and Moon fall into “straight-line” alignment at eclipses, the life energies are flowing at maximal levels. The bright spotlight of the Full Moon Lunar eclipse can be blinding and its pressure to fulfill or fail excruciating for those directly touched. People are often distracted, self-absorbed, and contemplate major life change during the New Moon Solar eclipse. Such an eclipse comes this week on Thursday, followed, less than fifteen hours later, by the Fall Equinox.
The Earth, Sun, and Moon align in this Friday’s Solar Eclipse on the very last degree of Virgo. That in itself suggests an intense effort to bring matters to completion. The symbolism associated with this last degree of Virgo is that of a man “totally intent upon completing an immediate task is deaf to any allurement.” And that task is “the conquest of illusion.” And we have plenty of illusion to conquer.
Jupiter is moving to perfect his historic square with Neptune on Sunday. This has been in effect off and on for months; this is their last square. Both Jupiter and Neptune are operating from signs (Scorpio and Aquarius respectively) that express their energies unconsciously. Both planets inform our religious and spiritual life. People find themselves with conflicts of commitments and goals. Consider the struggle U.S. Republicans have, committed to Bush, yet needing to distance themselves from an unpopular war and policies. There’s background confusion in our ethical sense of being comfortable in our cultures. Our ideals and our actions are seen to be inconsistent.
A task has been set before us for this fall season. We’ve been struggling with Jupiter – Neptune and Saturn – Neptune illusions and confusions for many months. The Fall Equinox occurring later on the same day spreads Jupiter – Neptune and the eclipse’s intensity over the coming months. We can use the obsessive focus of the Eclipse and its “conquest of illusion” to bring clarity and conclusions into our lives. And when Jupiter leaves Scorpio and enters his home sign, Sagittarius, in late November some fire and light will return to us.
For the U.S. the Equinox, as you can see from the chart, focuses at the bottom, on home issues, issues of security. This is a place where the Moon is strong and here the Moon is aligned with Mars. It suggests a new feeling about ourselves as citizens, a new vision beginning to form as seen by Mercury connecting with Neptune. The coming Venus – Pluto square has the potential for cleansing out that which we’ve finally outgrown. Our leadership may surprise us with sudden changes of position. The issue of secrets and spying remains with Saturn affecting communications and still opposing Neptune in our secret spaces. While not aggressive with a Libra Moon and Mars, we will react strongly and decisively to any threat or perceived misinformation.
Earlier this week, on Tuesday, Venus forms a two sign practical and potentially financial cooperative link to Jupiter and faces a choice of futures from a 5 sign link to Neptune. The Jupiter – Neptune square impinges upon our personal lives. We have choices to make that will have lasting impact on our life’s direction. Nonetheless there are also helpful working arrangements possible stemming from the Venus in Virgo linked to Jupiter in Scorpio. Next week Venus moves on to square Pluto and the hard choices will be made. By the time this Venus – Pluto square is made, we will have worked our way out of this week’s confusion.
Daily Forecasts:
Monday 18 September 2006
The Leo Moon moves into the historic T-square pattern by making a right angle with Jupiter, then opposing Neptune, and finally aligning with Saturn. Major fixed energy rules the day. So expect to go slow and steady. Some of us may move through molasses.
Tuesday 19 September 2006
We may awaken with a solution to yesterday’s slowdown. With Venus getting help from Jupiter, we can find resources to support our plans with full knowledge that a change of direction is being made. Problem is the Moon is Void from 5:16am/8:16am until she enters Virgo at 5:07pm/8:07pm. So gather information all day, but don’t commit until after the Moon “unvoids,” in fact wait until the last possible minute as important information may appear late.
Wednesday 20 September 2006
Those choices should be deferred until Friday, after the New Moon. Today expect to get new information and have second thoughts since the only action is the Moon opposing Uranus in the late afternoon.
Thursday 21 September 2006
Feelings and conditions may shift or reveal themselves further when the Moon connects Jupiter, Venus, and Pluto in an echo of Tuesday’s activity.
Friday 22 September 2006
The Solar Eclipse occurs at 29 Virgo 20 at 4:45am/7:45am and the Moon goes briefly Void. She enters Libra at 6:06am/9:06am. This is the time for last minute adjustments and communications. And this is a time to get to a quiet place and look inside. The Equinox occurs at 9:04pm/12:04am and a new cycle begins.
Saturday 23 September 2006
We can see through the haze today with Mercury connecting well with Neptune. Re-evaluate your feelings now.
Sunday 24 September 2006
Jupiter squares Neptune today at 1:33pm/4:33pm. The Moon is Void from 7:11am/10:11am until 6:54pm/9:54pm. Despite the confusion in the “big world”, we have surprising clarity about what makes us happy in our personal world. And we’re ready to do something about what makes us unhappy with Venus moving into square with Pluto. Tomorrow is the day to commit to your choices.
Long Range Forecast:
September 22nd – A Solar Eclipse on the Fall Equinox extends the eclipse’s intensity over the autumn season. Politics and religion driven by unthinking emotion return with Jupiter square to Neptune again and Saturn still opposite Neptune. This forms the tense T-square pattern that indicates power struggles and extreme political hard ball. Sun, Moon, and Mars all in Libra may demonstrate that combat and competition are also forms of relationships.
November 8 – In the middle of Mercury retrograde (10/29 through 11/18) Mercury aligns exactly with the Sun in an “eclipse of Mercury”. The last time this happened was May 2003. Remember “Mission Accomplished?” I’m concerned about major Mercury aspects occurring near Election Day in the U.S. The 2000 election occurred on the day Mercury changed direction. The anticipated widespread use of electronic voting machines and validity of their results may be an issue. (Thanks to reader John Dawson for alerting me to this event.)
Long-Long Range Forecast:
April 14, 2009 – September 21, 2010 - Saturn makes a series of squares to Pluto newly in Capricorn. The end of business-as-usual politics. The nationalistic dinosaurs will enter their twilight times. The transition to organic regional government will not be smooth…the result may be some corporate feudal mixture.
June 24, 2012 – April 17, 2015 - Uranus in Aries forms his first major hard aspect to Pluto, a square angle, since they were aligned in the second half of the 1960’s. Hippie dreams may come true when the ecology and/or petroleum-based economies fail. Plan to live where there is food and water and you don’t need a car. Plan to live where you’ll know your neighbors…maybe even love them. What a thought! We may have to choose between eating grain on a commune or growing very thin in the city.
Notices for Los Angeles area readers:
Ongoing Classes in Santa Monica:
10:30am - Intermediate Class in Predictions - Heroes and Villains. Using the charts of well-known people, good guys and bad guys, the effects of progressions, transits, and solar returns will be taught and explored. The class is open to people who know the basics of astrology. Call the New Age Bible and Philosophy Center, 1139 Lincoln Boulevard, 310-395-4346 or me, 818-316-0702, for details.
1:00pm – Beginner’s Class. All are welcome. There are no prerequisites except an open mind and curiosity. This class will begin with the signs, planets, aspects, and houses and explore the basics of reading a horoscope. Every effort will be made to teach the class in plain English. Call the New Age Bible and Philosophy Center, 1139 Lincoln Boulevard, 310-395-4346 or me, 818-316-0702, for details.
Visit the Celestial Weather Web Site at http://www.celestialweather.com
Copyright 2006 Rich Humbert