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| Harvest by George Parker, Jr. |
November's New Moon
Slings, arrows, and fierce resistance
A New Moon begins a new cycle but the chart for November's New Moon in Washington (below) resembles the outbreak
of war.
Saturn is exalted in the house of adversaries and it squares Pluto in the presidential sector. Both are
in range of a square and opposition, respectively, to the asteroid Lucifer, lurking in the zone of the homeland.
New Moon Over Washington
In the cross-hairs of
The Hunters Moon
The Full Moon of November was first called the Hunters Moon because the trees were shedding leaves, making
it possible to track game by moonlight. This Full Moon is well named for we have met the prey, and it us.
The chart below is set for the Full Moon in Washington, DC, where Saturn, like the skunk at a picnic, shows up
in the Seventh House.
Allies, Enemies, and Mutations
In a national context, the Seventh House represents allies and enemies. Saturn has just entered Libra --
its first Libra ingress since 1980 when it conjoined Jupiter in the Great Mutation.
Jupiter-Saturn conjunctions occur at 20-year intervals; they are called "mutations" because they signal change.
This one was called "great" because it was the beginning of a new Jupiter-Saturn cycle: a succession of conjunctions in the
Air signs (Libra, Gemini, Aquarius) that would unfold over hundreds of years.
Previous conjunctions had taken place in the Earth signs (Capricorn, Virgo, Taurus), a cycle that began in the
19th century -- and which had unerringly predicted the death of a serving U.S. president. The
"curse" ended with the Great Mutation of 1980-1981 when Ronald Reagan survived an assassination attempt.
Do we know for sure that's the end of it? Yes, well, probably. The latest Mutation was in 2000, and
it was the last in an Earth sign for centuries. George W. Bush served two terms with nary a scratch, except to
his reputation.
Back to the Future
Presidential survival was not the only precedent set -- or shattered -- by the Great Mutation. There was
a worldwide wave of fundamentalist fervor that brought the Islamic Revolution in Iran and the rise of the Religious Right
in the United States.
Now, 29 years later, it is the Great Mutation's Saturn return and a time of testing for our shibboleths.
Saturn's presence -- in Libra -- at the Full Moon is its way of saying, "I'm ba-a-ack."
Saturn is exalted in Libra, meaning it operates at peak efficiency. Saturn is conservative; during
its previous sojourn here, politics turned right, the Iron Curtain turned to rust, and old time religion shaped public policy.
Saturn wasn't acting alone, however. It was forming a rare triple-conjunction with Jupiter. It is
not acting alone now, either.
Rulers and Upstarts
In the Full Moon chart, Saturn squares Pluto in the Tenth House, the domain of the Chief Executive. This
denotes a struggle with relentless adversaries. President Obama gives as good as he gets but be is making powerful enemies
and in danger of alienating his base.
The Full Moon itself is in the Second House, the economic sector, showing the focus of the masses, who are growing
increasingly restive.
Rebellious Uranus is in the First House, the "people's house." It, too, is in range of a square to Pluto,
a marker for declining presidential popularity.
By classical reckoning, Jupiter, not Neptune, rules the Pisces Ascendant. Neptune is the modern ruler but
classical rulerships work best in mundane charts like this. It's a moot point, anyway. Both rulers are sequestered
in the Twelfth House, where they fume under the radar, expecting better times -- or else.
The Twelfth House governs hospitals, which will do a land office business in the face of the Swine Flu emergency.
A triple conjunction of Jupiter, Chiron, and Neptune is taking shape; Jupiter coupled with Neptune shows rapidly spreading
contagion. (For more on this click Archives 2 and check "The Swine Flu Outbreak.")
Sympathy, Compassion, and Sweet Romance
There is a lovely silver lining, however -- Venus trines Neptune on the day of the Full Moon, and leaves a rosy
glow in its wake. This alignment is associated with sympathy, compassion, and sweet romance. It also enhances
creativity.
On a political level, this indicates government spending to help the less fortunate: an extension of unemployment
benefits and stimulus checks to retirees are an example.
On a personal level, the Venus-Neptune trine will register as budding romances, beautiful friendships, and smoother
sailing in relationships. In the Twelfth House, which governs the past, Neptune suggests reunions, reconciliations,
and rekindled flames. Venus trines Chiron, as well, a sign of a healing process.
The Autumn Equinox
Mercury is retrograde as the new season begins but that is the least of our worries. As with all seasonal
changes lately, the Sun makes a crunching contact to compelling Pluto. This time it is a square.
Hard contacts between the Sun and Pluto give us two choices -- evolve or go extinct. The Equinox Chart
below, set for Washington DC, has the Sun in the zone of debts, deficits, and taxes; and the news is not good.
The Mighty Midget Flexes Its Muscles
For the foreseeable future, Pluto is a force to be reckoned with and not just because it sets the tone for the
season. In the United States horoscope, it is transiting opposite Venus, accounting for the Great Recession. (It
conjoined Venus during the Great Depression.)
At the same time, Pluto opposes President Obama's natal Venus. He has already experienced this transit
twice. The first coincided with the death of his grandmother; the second with the death of Ted Kennedy. One was
a personal loss, the other was the loss of a mentor and ally. Kennedy's death resonated with the U.S. Venus, too.
Pluto governs transitions and the passing of torches but it also rules cartels, gangs, and terrorists.
And the Autumnal Equinox brings the enemy to the gates.
Outnumbered and Surrounded
The Equinox takes place during a grand alignment of celestial bodies in the Seventh House, the zone of allies
and enemies. The major players are Saturn and Mercury; Saturn calls the shots -- and they are across the bow of the
ship of state.
In classical astrology, which works best in charts like this, Saturn is the ruler of the Equinox because it rules
the Aquarian Ascendant. In modern astrology the ruler is Uranus. Either way, Saturn and Uranus are locked in an
on-going opposition, and both are in range of squares to Pluto. No good will come of this.
The ruler of the chart in the house of the enemy is often an omen of defeat. Since the ruler represents
the people, it indicates rampant defeatism.
The Equinox Ascendant is a near perfect match with the President's, also in Aquarius. He is in tune with
the national mood.
Close to Home
The Equinix influences our personal lives, as well. And that crowded Seventh House spotlights relationships.
Venus is in the Seventh House, which is helpful, and it trines Pluto; even better. At its best, Pluto brings
revival; Venus is romantic. This may rejuvenate our mating instincts. Autumn offers lifelong friendships or life-altering
encounters but it could be "out with the old, in with the new."
Red Flags and Advisories
Mercury turns direct September 29, bringing a painful readjustment to new realities. Mercury emerges from
its "retrograde shadow" October 14, when it crosses the point where it turned retrograde in the waning days of summer.
But before Mercury gets there, it has to run a gantlet.
Mercury opposes Uranus October 4, the day of the Harvest Moon. Expect shocks, surprises, and startling
news, along with disrupted schedules and travel snafus.
Three days later, Mercury conjoins Saturn and it is Venus' turn to tangle with Uranus. People will break
the news, say goodbye, and go their separate ways.
Mercury enters Libra October 9 and immediately squares Pluto, blowing the lid on a can of worms. Hidden
things will be exposed and culprits caught red-handed.
Unloved, Impoverished, and Out in the Cold
Depending on your time zone, Jupiter turns direct October 12 or 13. No matter how you cut it, it will take
the Jolly Green Giant awhile to get rolling. Vulnerable Venus and miserable Saturn are in conjunction, and raining
on the parade. We'll feel unloved, impoverished, and out in the cold.
On October 14, Venus enters Libra, the sign it rules; but "uneasy is the head that wears the crown." Venus
squares imposing Pluto, and it has to fend off barbarians.
Relationships will reach a new level or sink to a new low; many will come to an end. But there is an even
darker side to this alignment: it is linked to rape, stalking, and domestic violence, as well as crimes of passion.
Mind you, this is when Mercury steps out of its shadow and sees the light. Some will find this stimulating;
others will be unnerved. By now, however, it's out of our hands and we're at a point of no return.
The Eclipse Effect
Last July, the world experienced a total eclipse of the Sun -- the longest of the century. The regions
darkened by the shadow, Asia and the South Pacific, have already suffered typhoons, earthquakes, and tsunamis.
The effect of an eclipse lasts long after the event itself, lying dormant until it is triggered by
the transit of a planet, usually Mars.
Mars hits the eclipse position on October 15 and rekindles the energy but this influence has been building up
all month. It's a week of downfalls, upsets, and high drama, with Mars entering Leo on October 16.
October 18 is the date of the Super New Moon, the first New Moon of Autumn. It comes in Libra, the sign
of lovers, and it trines rose-colored Neptune and curative Chiron.
Some will kiss and make up while others begin anew. Either way, it is onward and upward. Except for
day-to-day lunar squabbles, the planetary alignments are mostly of the "soft" variety which, if nothing else, will cushion
the blow.
At the end of the month, Saturn enters Libra, the first step of a long march in this sign. After backtracking
briefly into Virgo, Saturn enters Libra for a stay that lasts two and a half years. Saturn is "exalted" in Libra, its
power peaks for better or worse. This often indicates a rise in the marriage rate.
Storm Tracks and Fault Lines
A planet's influence is strongest when it is "angular," that is, when it is rising, culminating, setting,
and anticulminating. To determine that, location is everything and the Astromap below shows where each planet's power
is at a peak.
East
Jupiter and Neptune are rising in the Northeast. This is the same combination that produced floods in Georgie
and Swine Flu outbreaks in the Seatheast. Jupiter and Neptune are only a technicality away from a conjunction
and they close ranks over the next few months.
The Northeast, particularly New England, experiences a rainy Autumn with above average preciptiation. Look
for coastal storms, an early snow, and a surge in Swine Flu cases.
Midwest and Gulf
Snow also comes early to the upper Midwest. Farther South, west Louisiana and east Texas (and points north),
Mars is setting, an omen of storms and emergencies.
West and Alaska
Pluto is rising in the Pacific Northwest: a portent of weather extremes and seismic activity. The extremism
of Pluto is not limited to weather alone, however. It is also linked to the underworld and usually warns of a spike
in the crime rate. Otherwise, expect eruptions, rumblings, and tremblors.
Storms are brewing in the North Pacific, including the Gulf of Alaska. Mercury, Uranus, Saturn, and the
Sun are powers in southern Alaska.
We are still in the shadow of the Saturn-Uranus opposition, which loomed large during the Indonesian earthquake
-- and that opposition is strongest in Alaska. An earthquake might jolt the region, a volcano
could erupt, or an early blizzard may strike. It might even rain kitchen sinks.
Looking Ahead
The Equinox portents set the tone for the season. The life span of this chart is about three months (it
expires with the Winter Solstice).
The chart for the total eclipse last summer, however -- the "Eclipse of the Century" -- is valid for six and
a half years and it, too, sets the tone for things to come for a much longer period. For more on the Eclipse Effect,
click the link below.
Click here and scroll down for "The Eclipse of the Century."
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