When light is broken into colors by a prism it reveals our Sun’s chemistry that goes beyond heating and lighting our world. The colors that appear in the spectrum are evidence of the physical properties that make up white light. Ancient astrologers and meta-physicians connected these basic elements of light and life with the energies found within our own personal auras. These auras are related to energy centers, also known as Chakras, located at points throughout the head and torso of the human body.

If we compare our Sun to the nucleus of an atom, we can see that the planets play the part of the protons and electrons that circle its central-intelligence core. The instructions passed through the interaction of these three components are entangled in our cellular structure as well. The solar macrocosm and our earthly microcosm share the same intelligent impulses and work together as a unit; “As above so below.”

The mystery of the universe is that we can observe its phenomena without knowing the true nature of its source. We observe the physical laws that are immutable and at the same time recognize the quantum fact of free will. We live in a realm of fixed natural laws with an ever accompanying desire to be free of outer limitation and influence. Dualism is realism, and we are locked into, yet can rebel against the interplay of the Solar System’s natural mechanics. We are a part of, and at the same time apart from rule and order. We are the conscious animated creature, designed to awaken through a process devised by the multi-leveled universe, starting for us, by the astrological dictates of the visible Solar System.

The intelligence and instruction of the Solar System is translated into our lives through the powers of cosmic osmosis. The electromagnetic fields of each celestial body meld into a synergistic expression that our minds and bodies absorb and translate into thoughts and feelings on our level. The process is gradual and relates to the planet’s variable speed in its moving in and out of interrelationships. These geometric relationships are called Aspects and they effect the planetary configurations in our natal horoscopes in specific ways. They are promptings for growth and call out awareness on our part. Then we ourselves in turn become an influence in our own field of activity to encourage others to reach their specific potentials.

The planets, although orbiting within a 30 degree declination to the Sun, form 3 dimensional electromagnetic sphere patterns that affect their neighboring counterparts. These planetary Gestalt forms are mapped in the private complex of our 2 dimensional birth charts. When real-time Transiting planets interact with natal configurations, and/or when internal promptings occur through Progressed planetary movements, their time-release promptings, though sometimes painful, are felt in the human mind, body and soul levels of experience.

The purpose of the study of astrology is to reveal and activate our potentials for successful living, and ultimately for self-realization. The method of planetary influences described above is the core of how astrological science works. The natal chart acts as our personal script, with the Transiting and Progressed planets acting as the catalysts for the manifestation of our inner potentials on the outer stage of life.

 

A question from a German-speaking client:

Dear Sarah,

Two little questions:
My moon k/m (Ascending Node Northnode-symbol.svg Lunar node ) (what shows the destiny if i remember renee correctly) is in my birth horoscope not in 6th house but in 7th (relationships ect)? next year temporarily it should move there also. In about 10 years my moon (now in 11th house) should be in the 12th
house, right?

Hello, (Clients name omitted)

I hope I can answer your questions about the Moon’s Nodes although part of your question is not very clear.

The Moon’s North Node (NN) in your chart, shown within the purple circle is on the door (cusp) of your 7th house throughout your lifetime. It is the path you need to initiate which takes an effort on your part as opposed to an indication of a destiny that awaits you with no effort required. The NN in astrology shows what you lack and need to experience, and the SN is what has already been established and functioning on a subconscious level as programmed patterns of behavior.

The nodes cannot be taken on their own, separate from the whole theme of your life’s purpose. In your particular chart, there is a prominent pull between two strong tendencies. There is the urge to withdraw from society (12th house Moon in blue circle), and on the other side, there is an impulse to seek out ever-new opportunities for growth (NN 7th house). The placement of the Nodes in your chart supports that theme. The SN on the Ascendant (1st house) shows that there is already a developed set of skills in place from birth with its resulting reliance on your own personal, innate talents and abilities (1st house). The NN on the Descendant (7th house cusp/door) reveals the need to join forces with others to learn more about yourself and to seek out opportunities to work together along the lines of your life purpose.

If you would rephrase your question about the movement of the Nodes through the houses over the years, I will attempt to give a more adequate answer to that part of your question.

Sarah

 

Uranus doesn’t rule astrology, it rules anything out of the ordinary. Since astrology is out of the ordinary at this time in the history of the subject, it falls under the influence of Uranus. Stepping out the range of Saturn we come to the planet Uranus, whose rotation is very different than all the other planets. It rolls on its side in its rotation around the Sun, making it the nonconformist of the Solar System. Whatever we identify as eccentricities of Uranus, we mirror that definition with what we see in ourselves that stands out from the rest of society. If there is a new trend to have purple hair among young people, with thoroughly tattooed bodies, we can definitely say that those individuals are acting out against the norms of society. And that certainly puts Uranus as identifying with that trend. However, if enough people color their hair purple, it becomes commonplace and no longer is identified with the planet Uranus. If we all become programmed to think this is a unique idea to have purple hair we are actually deluding ourselves. The one person who leaves their hair a normal color is truly the one who stands out in the crowd and is rebelling against the commonplace popular purple hair color. Eccentricity is dependent on being different, even if it appears that normal behavior is the one that is out of fashion.

The industrial revolution is synchronous with the time of Uranus’ discovery. That’s how we determine what a planet means, by the events on earth that occur at the time of their discovery. It isn’t that Uranus rules revolution per se, what it actually identifies is the idea of breaking away from past patterns, into the realm of the unknown and perhaps better possibilities. That marks the difference between drawing within the lines and limitations of Saturn’s accepted guidelines, and going outside the lines to break from tradition to enter Uranus’ new and unique realm. Freedom from bogged down responsibilities is what Uranus ushered in during the 1800s. But it didn’t do this for everyone and for all times. There has to be a continuing impulse in that direction to keep Uranus on its toes in forever opening new doors for the innovative to take hold. Keeping unique and odd things in a pattern returns that repetition to the realm of Saturn.

 

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Saturn’s position in the solar system is at the threshold where the outer planets begin their journeys around the Sun. Saturn stands between the common experiences of man ruled by the inner planets between Earth and Sun and the potentials of transformative enlightenment ruled by Jupiter outwards. If one passes the tests that Saturn requires, one can go on to be challenged to higher states of consciousness ruled by the planets of Significance, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto.

Saturn’s tests occur in 7-year cycles, but the significant lesson of maturity is at the time that Saturn returns to its location in the horoscope at each person’s age of 29 and a half years, 59 and a half years, and 84 years. The story of Buddha is archetypal and points to the first Saturn return when the Buddha encounters suffering and struggle for the first time. He was 29 years old when he left his cloistered palace and entered the real world with its harsh realities.

Buddha’s first encounter with experience outside the palace gates was with old age. His attendant told him that it was only change. His next encounter was when he came in contact with a sick man and asked his attendant what that was. Then the third encounter was when he came in contact with death through seeing a corpse. Impermanence, suffering, and death are inevitable and they are brought to our attention through the teachings of Saturn through its 7-year cycles. We experience losing baby teeth and gaining adult teeth about the age of 7 when Transit Saturn is squaring its natal position. We attain puberty at about age 14 when Transit Saturn is opposite its natal position and at 21 years when we are considered an adult. Then Saturn returns to its natal position and a review of the first third of our life takes place. Here is when we encounter our present conscious state of awareness and acquired knowledge and resolve to live within the dictates of a more sensitive and mature conscience. It is a coming out of the innocence of early life, to take the first steps on the threshold of the second cycle of social responsibility and the beginning of wisdom. Here is the transition from youth to adulthood in the completion of the first Saturn return.

How does Saturn test the soul and character in these sensitive aspects? In our youth, we believe we have the freedom to do and act as we like. We learn about life by stepping beyond boundaries set by those in authority over us and by the arbitrary standards set by society. We test the waters and experiment with life. It is only later on when we reach the time of Saturn’s Return in our late twenties that we are confronted with the results of the choices we have made in our youth.

Saturn is like a mirror set before us. That mirror is our own conscience. In the privacy of our minds we can view our mistakes by the pain we feel known as anxiety. A feeling of discomfort sets in when transgressions accumulate. We may not understand what is happening to us, and so we look for causes of anxiety in many ways that are not real. We think there is something wrong with us and that we alone, and a handful of other unfortunate beings, are suffering something unknown and mysterious. As society is not centered on a true understanding of right and wrong, and the consequences of proper and improper behavior, we have no easy way of understanding the process of accountability we are compelled to experience. This ignorance results in a guilty conscience and causes pain of mind, heart, and soul. Since we do not understand the process of catharsis; the elimination of our faults by viewing them, we end up seeking countless ways of distracting ourselves from problems and suppressing the uncomfortable feelings we have in private.

If we are not encouraged by those who have spiritual knowledge to face the pain of wrongdoing directly, we will seek ways of assuaging our guilt and anxiety through drinking alcohol, drug abuse, and involvement with co-dependency with those as lost as ourselves. All these ways are a distraction from the nudge of self-consciousness. Brave souls that seek Truth may be fortunate enough to find that there are many ways to confront ourselves and thus resolve the issues of a bad conscience. A state of being in need of correction does indeed have a way to lessen the pain of conscience, but it entails facing the truth of the ways that we have indulged in that have caused the unconscious mind to be disturbed with memories buried and awaiting review.

One method of enhancing self-awareness is to sit in the stillness we call meditation. Meditation is a tool that assists Saturn to do its job of reviewing past unacceptable behavioral patterns. The conscious mind is like a sentry blocking the entrance of unconscious content to the conscious mind. Meditation puts the conscious mind “at ease” so that the contents of the unconscious can slip onto the screen of conscious awareness. It does this by degrees. One can recall emotional responses backward in time, even as far back as the birth process and beyond.

By going through this process willingly, one stands firm in the face of truth about oneself. It may be a painful process as we may see that we do not measure up to our better conscious ideals. This enlightening process is a direct self-encounter that may cause a high degree of emotional pain for a time. Seeing the truth is painful to the ego who always wants to think it is right. Those who are not ready to see themselves as they really are may contemplate even more escape from reality, and even thoughts of suicide can enter the mind. It would be easier to go through this Saturn process if society were more familiar and supportive of the need for self-renewal. There are techniques that one can find that allow the process to proceed toward success and a clearer conscience.

Saturn is self-conscious awareness. With aspects of Saturn, we find we are in the times of self-analysis and we reflect on our own behavior. Right and wrong become important. Wrongdoing promotes a guilty conscience and when we follow our conscience we simply have an absence of painful conscience. The more fear we have, the greater the buildup of guilt. We don’t know where the uncomfortable feelings of anxiety come from, so we blame all kinds of outer circumstances for our anxiety rather than acknowledge that it is a direct result of accumulated wrongdoing. Mistakes and bad decisions create a guilty conscience and a guilty conscience produces feelings of fear. Fear is the way our higher selves can get our attention. When we do pay attention and acknowledge wrongdoing we go through a period of sadness and sorrow for having fallen away from a better path. When we know the truth about ourselves, that truth sets us free of guilt and fear.

Saturn marks the boundaries that are imposed on us from our own conscience, as well as with established societal conscience in the form of rules of behavior and laws of conduct. The cycles of Saturn point to the times when we have the opportunity to become more than what we were before.

 

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The Hubble telescope was launched into space on April 24, 1990. Little did astronomers know that the first images that would be transmitted to Earth by the reflective mirror would be blurred. That flaw in the mirror’s curvature was caused by a faulty instrument that had initially fashioned its surface. Astrologically, tools are ruled by the 3rd house of taken-for-granted utilities. The tool or instrument that fashioned the mirror left a small amount of paint missing from its surface, and this missing segment was just enough to create a problem of over-flattening its surface area. That oversight would cost NASA millions and was a great embarrassment. It needed several years of research to fix the billion dollar space telescope.

Looking at an ephemeris for the date of the Hubble’s launch, one can see that Transiting Mercury was Stationary going retrograde at that time. The public is getting used to hearing, “Mercury is Retrograde, stop the presses!” But why is it that Mercury Retrograde is a time of difficulties? Why is Mercury known for all things flawed, and a time to refrain from important purchases and new undertakings? It is because of two basic factors. One, because Mercury rules the mind, and planetary retrogrades turn the focus of attention inward, leaving the outer world of activity on “back burner” for a time. It’s a period of either mindlessness or a time for extra mindfulness.  And second, Mercury is the natural ruler of the 3rd house of CONVENIENCE. The 3rd house rules everything taken-for-granted in the function of daily living. Tools, appliances and anything that makes life easy to navigate is under the rulership of the 3rd house of routine conveniences of the environment. That means that when you walk out your door to get into your car, the car is there for your convenience. And when you start up the engine, it turns over and you are on your way without a hitch. Unless there is a part about to malfunction, which can often be detected on a Mercury Retrograde. Issues in need of repair surface at these times, or items with high ticket prices can have hidden problems that will reveal themselves in the future. A myriad of daily activities that are relegated to doing things without obstacles to successful fulfillment are a 3rd house Mercury ruled circumstance. We may never be in a situation to invest billions or even millions of dollars in our projects, but it is wise to watch for potential malfunctions when the ephemeris shows a Retrograde on the way.

When Mercury is Retrograde, expect that if there is a problem that you are unaware of, under the radar of your conscious knowledge, you most likely will be confronted with it at the Station of Mercury and into the time of its apparent backward motion. Retrogrades are times of opportunity to fix problems of inconvenience, including health issues, and anything that indicates that we are not ready for smooth and unencumbered activity.

What actually happens when Mercury appears to have a backward movement from the earth’s point of view is virtually unknown. We cannot say that there is a change in the electro-magnetic field or gravitational pull emanating from the planet, because we know that Mercury is not actually stopping for a time to move in a backward direction. It only looks like it is standing still, which is called Stationing, and it is only an illusion caused by the relative speeds of the earth and planets we see that effects our visual perception. This gives us the clue that the source of the issue of Retrograde planets lies in the mind itself, and normally subconscious factors and flaws in the actually world of people and things become apparent during this time. Direct motion of the planets focus our attention on the outside world in a manner of getting things done without unnecessary concerns or blocks in expected accomplishments. That is convenience of the 3rd house in the horoscopic wheel.

It is important to note that discovery is part of the Mercury Retrograde phenomena. Retrogrades are a perfect time to uncover causes and cures for illnesses. If you are suffering from some bodily concern, try researching the symptoms you are experiencing at the start of the retrograde. By the time Mercury begins to Station to turn Direct once again, you may find that elusive solution to the problem you have longed to know and acquire.

If you are moving to a new location or abode on a Mercury Retrograde, it is likely that you will be staying in that place a shorter time than you expect. Remember that Mercury is ruled by the 3rd house of location, convenience and immediate environment. There will be something in the rental contract or deed that may need to be followed without neglect, or there may be several internal malfunctions in the building itself that need to be addressed at some point in the future.

It is important to keep living a normal life during Retrograde periods, but always be aware of the tendency to be seeing only a portion of what is going on before your eyes. Observe and be ready for unexpected changes, and bend to them as there is no way to avoid the message and lessons of Mercury; that it is important to correct problems that inevitably present themselves during these unavoidable shifting times.

 

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Venus and Jupiter have been in an intimate relationship in the skies lately. What a beautiful sight to behold at sundown. They are trailing the Sun in the Western sky. You will see the pair twinkling brightly, offering their benefic influence on all who are fortunate enough to have natal planets intersecting their path.

Oh, and isn’t it even more illustrious with the crescent Moon near by.

Photo shot at Working Artists Ventura by Sarah Kalvin

 

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