The full moon with a partial lunar eclipse will occur tomorrow, October 28th, at 1:24 PM in California or 14:24 hours in Mexico City, and in the sixth degree of the Taurus–Scorpio axis, at 5⁰09′. I will be saying a few words about that polarity, powerfully represented in this eclipse, but I want to utilize a more holistic approach this time, consistent with Wholeness. So, let me first say a few words about such approach and then apply it to the eclipse’s horoscope.
From a reductionist point of view, an astrological chart is a pictorial representation of the celestial position of planets and other bodies or computed points as they are viewed from a particular place at a given moment on Earth. Each position must be computed with respect to the two major Earth cycles affecting its relationship with the sun as source of all energy, namely the rotation cycle by which all places (meridians) receive the solar power every day, and the translation cycle by which all moments in a year are visited by the sun in its apparent orbit around our planet. The latter gives rise to the twelve astrological signs, each having 30 degrees, measured from the spring equinox (Aries 0⁰), while the former does the same for the twelve astrological houses, measured from the zodiacal degree rising on the East (Ascendant). The angles between the different bodies are also reported as astrological aspects when their value is sufficiently close to some numerically-significant divisions of a circle, the most important being 0°, 60°, 90°, 120° and 180°.
This information is purely astronomical and could be given in a simple table. In a way, the old rectangular birth charts were barely more than information tables. The astrology based on this approach suffers from considering every datum as an independent component of the chart, say Jupiter at Leo 30⁰ in the House IV, and being analyzed as such. Even the aspects, like a 60⁰ sextile between Jupiter and Neptune, is considered in isolation and not as a phase in their relationship. The astrologer is asked to memorize the meanings of a multitude of individual components and synthesize an overall meaning by focusing on those being energized and ignoring the rest.
Chart as Mandala
The circular horoscope allows astrologers to organize the information as a mandala symbolizing the wholeness of the event. One of the definitions of a mandala is: “a graphic and often symbolic pattern usually in the form of a circle divided into four separate sections or …” (emphasis mine), and a horoscope certainly fits this geometrical definition. To appreciate the symbolic power of a mandala, one must realize that the two-dimensional circle doesn’t exist without a dimensionless center from which its circumference may be drawn. Symbolically speaking, everything in the space bounded by that circumference must refer to such center. In numerology, the center corresponds to the abstract number zero, which the number four of matter concretes. When the circle symbolizes an orbit, we must keep in mind that its center is the sun whereas the center of a horoscope is a specific place on Earth for an event or, in the case of a birth chart, the “I” concept of the person, either the Ego or the Self.
When the horoscope is seen this way, every object in it must be referred to the center of the chart, where the event is experienced as a holistic moment or the individual is seen as a personality. In this way, a holistic relationship of encompassment is established between the horoscope and its encompassed symbols, forming what Rudhyar called a holarchy that gives meaning to the event or personality. It should be noted that the symbols refer to wholes that only acquire meaning when seen as members of their holarchy. The position of a planet, for example, is a marker of where it is in its orbit much like the hour hand of a clock points at one place in its twelve-hour “orbit”. Also, the orbit’s placement in the solar system, counted from the sun as its center, is what determines the meaning, not the characteristics of the marker. Thus, the symbolism of Jupiter has little to do with it being the largest planet, other than its effects in orbital speed, and everything with having the fifth orbit from the sun; sixth if one counts the asteroid belt.
When we say that a chart has Jupiter at Leo 30°, we mean that the marker of the fifth orbit forms a conjunction with the last degree of Leo, which is the fifth sign after Aries (it all goes back to numerology), where we find the Regulus star and which has a specific Sabian symbol. Every aspect is a functional relationship between two astrological entities, the function of which depends on where they are in their relationship cycle, what the lunation cycle is for the relationship between Sun and Moon. Every relationship cycle begins at the 0° conjunction whose functional keyword is: Activity. This is how the Jupiter and the Leo 30° archetypes combine holistically to act as one, and explains why Mars at Leo 30° has a different meaning even while sharing the Leo 30° archetype.
Moreover, when the chart is erected for the beginning of a cycle, like a new moon or, more importantly, a human birth, it is not only a holistic symbol for the energies of the moment but of the entire cycle that begins at that moment, taken as a whole. It represents all the potentialities inherent in the cycle which may or may not be actualized in its duration. Astrology has devised various techniques, broadly called progressions and transits, to visualize how Nature will respond with challenges and opportunities to the growth processes needed so as to actualize the chart’s potential.
Patterns and Configurations
Given that we consider the horoscope as a whole, the initial approach is to observe the chart’s form, which is the outward manifestation of its internal structure. For example, a quick glance at the chart of the eclipse notices an imbalance between the right and the left semicircles, with the left having most of the symbols, eight out of twelve. Remember that this is an Aries chart which defines a moment in time without reference to a place in space, so there are no houses, only signs. The two main lines dividing the chart in four correspond to the equinoctial (horizontal) and solstitial (vertical) axes, so the left semicircle is composed of the signs when the Day Force grows and integrates a person’s individuality, from Capricorn at the top to Gemini at the bottom. These signs represent the subjective phases of our growth.
For completeness, the signs of the right semicircle, when the Night Force grows from Cancer at the bottom to Sagittarius at the top, integrate our relatedness, forcing a more objective viewpoint. However, in a birth chart the dividing lines correspond to the horizon and the meridian, and the left and right semicircles symbolize fields (astrological houses) related to destiny making and destiny fulfilling experiences, respectively.
So, this lunar eclipse will be felt very subjectively, and it is worth noting that the subjective energies, so to speak (the planets on the left), involve every non-personal planet, with all but Pluto moving retrograde, plus Moon, which will increase the feeling of emotional subjectivity. A lunar eclipse happens during a full moon that energizes the polarity of its signs. In any relationship cycle, the 180° opposition occurs when the two bodies are farthest from each other, bringing at least awareness, if not full consciousness, of their differences; those are functional keywords for every opposition. The polarity may be integrated by focusing on how those differences complement each other, relying on Spirit to attract them towards the Self at the mandala’s center, or dispersed toward the circumference by Nature, accentuating its polar differences. Yes, another fundamental polarity is that of Self versus Nature.
Taurus and Scorpio
Going back to the chart, notice how the two semicircles are crisscrossed by a good number of red oppositions, all but one involving the Taurus-Scorpio axis. In fact, the right semicircle shows two distinct features: a stellium of Sun, Mercury and Mars in Scorpio, forming conjunctions with each other and thus acting as one, plus Venus alone in Virgo. As you can see, the stellium opposes the conjunction of Moon and Jupiter in Taurus, forming two exact oppositions (same degree): Sun–Moon, as on every full moon, and Mars–Jupiter. The Yang–Yin polarity experienced in every full moon (Sun–Moon opposition) is further enhanced on the Yang side by Mars and Mercury forming conjunctions with Sun, and on the Yin side by a retrograde Jupiter conjunct with Moon. Moreover, this will be the last eclipse occurring in Taurus–Scorpio until November 2031, so it all points to a very strong lunar eclipse, which are the eclipses of consciousness.
Taurus and Scorpio are fixed signs which concentrate the power generated by the preceding cardinal sign so it can be distributed by the subsequent mutable sign. Taurus gives substance and depth to the individualizing impulses of Aries while Scorpio sustains and deepens the collectivizing urge of Libra. Writes Rudhyar: “In Taurus, the process operates mainly at the biological and instinctual level. In Scorpio what is implied is identification with forces which aim at the interpenetration of individual units for the purpose of building a larger social or ‘occult’ organism; an interpenetration which must reach the very roots of the being in order to be effective”.
The last statement explains the connection of Scorpio with sex, even though it is Taurus which symbolizes the natural and biologically compulsive sexual function. Rudhyar goes on: “In Scorpio, sex meets human needs and answers individual yearnings” (his emphasis). The compulsions in Scorpio are psychological rather than glandular and instinctual. Thus, a Scorpio type is possessive in a personal sense, subject to all kinds of perversions but also to transmutation. For Taurus, sex is simply a procreation instinct aimed at either creating progeny or a release of biological and psychic energies.
Aided Sun–Moon Opposition
We have talked about how, at the culmination of the waxing phases of activity, the full moon reveals the meaning of the lunation and marks the beginning of the waning phases of consciousness. This realization is much more intense when a lunar eclipse accentuates the polarity, even when the Nodal axis is in a different sign polarity, as it is now. Moreover, as we saw earlier, the exact Sun–Moon opposition of the full moon is in reality between two conjunctions: the triple Sun–Mercury–Mars in Scorpio and Moon–Jupiter in Taurus. Incidentally, the Taurus–Scorpio axis is often called the financial axis, with Taurus representing the assets, what we own or possess to maintain wealth, and Scorpio the liabilities, what we owe or liquidate to generate wealth.
We say that Mars in Scorpio acts like Pluto, deep and methodical, but with a personal intensity, acting like a skilled surgeon’s scalpel. Mercury in Scorpio is keen observation and deep thinking, the sleuth chasing clues. Together with Sun, those two will channel energy to finding secrets, going deep into our finances, especially debt (Scorpio). On a global scale, we could find secrets about big money, criminal money, and other personal information to uncover what is really going on. Mars was the ruler of Scorpio for up to fewer than a hundred years ago, so it is very comfortable in that sign, astrologers sometimes assign a joint rulership of Scorpio by Mars and Pluto. With the latter barely at Capricorn 28° (27°58′), the degree it has in the United States chart and in the sign of governments and large institutions, it is probable that all of this “digging” for information, and exposing it, will involve many US-related sources and activities.
At a personal level, the triple conjunction of Sun, Mercury and Mars in Scorpio may bring up angry or vengeful communications, but their opposition to Jupiter could make us conscious of big visions for which to fight. Yet another important characteristic of Scorpio and Taurus is that the former loves the deep complexity of human relationships while the latter prefers the simplicity of relating to nature. Moon conjunct Jupiter will expand and even blow up our emotions towards the simplicity of Taurus, from the complexity of Scorpio, especially having Mercury there. All of this will be felt more strongly if your chart contains planets or angles in the early degrees (3°–9°) of any fixed sign: Taurus, Leo, Scorpio or Aquarius.
Sabian Symbols
The symbol for Scorpio 6⁰ (Sun) has the image: “The gold rush tears men away from their native soil”, further explained as the passionate search for new values which, at any level, promise a more abundant life. Its keyword is: Avidity. Meanwhile, the image of Taurus 6⁰ (Moon) is: “A cantilever bridge across a deep gorge”, expanded as the conquest of separativeness through group cooperation. It is energy to Conquer Obstacles, its keynote. The avid search for clues to uncover what is going on or for what to fight is pointless if attempted alone. At this stage of the game, we will only succeed by cooperating with others, building bridges that allow group cross-pollination, so to speak.
As always, the full moon symbols should be referred to the previous new moon one: a child giving birds a drink at a fountain, which we took to symbolize the spontaneous and naïve rapport that fosters a spiritual connection. Looking at the full moon symbols, a cantilever bridge has a support in the center of the span from which two horizontal structures connect it to both ends. Indeed, there is a real pot of gold for which to avidly rush and it’s waiting at the center of the chart, within our Selves. We are capable of obtaining power from the true understanding of the value of relationships, where understanding implies at least some identification with what is being understood, which we can utilize to give substance to our individual impulses. They, our impulses to assert our existence as individuals, need not be at odds with our existence as social beings immersed in a multitude of relationships. And they won’t if we approach relatedness as the child related to the birds, we must avidly dare ourselves to relate and “meet in the middle” in a childlike manner.
Saturn, Venus and Neptune
Sarurn is still moving retrograde at Pisces 1° (0°33′), the degee where it has been and will be through the current lunation and beyond, about 50 consecutive days on that degree! At the time of the lunar eclipse, Saturn is about to go stationary before changing direction without returning to Aquarius. A stationary planet does not let the energy flow through it and therefore becomes extremely focused on its conjunction with the degree. The Sabian symbol for Pisces 1° has the image of a marketplace with a large variety of products. Says Rudhyar: “In a practical sense, the symbol, whenever it is found, emphasizes that the time has come to take full advantage of the social opportunities to bargain and to trade”. In a real sense, it refers to all that can be gained from social interplay, which is why its keyword is: Commerce, used in its broadest sense, as the interchange of ideas, opinions and sentiments. Saturn in that degree makes reference to building structures that will foment the social interactions mentioned. Note that Saturn is at the vertex of a Mystic Triangle with the Sun–Moon opposition, providing an alternative path to the awareness or consciousness called-for by the opposition discussed above, a path based on social interplay.
Social interplay implies relationships and that takes us to Venus. Earlier, when observing the general shape of the eclipse chart, we noticed that Venus is alone at Virgo 19° (18°49′) and yet it shows several aspects—alone yes, but well connected. First of all, it is at the vertex of another triangle with the Sun–Moon opposition, forming a 45° semi-square with Sun and a 135° sesquiquadrate with Moon; the functional keyword for both is: Awareness, which is the same as the opposition. However, in these aspects the awareness is related to a crisis, giving it a sense of urgency. Like the mystic triangle, this triangle (I don’t think it has been named) provides an alternative path to the opposition. However, while the path offered by the mystic triangle is through creative and productive aspects with the vertex planet, this one adds a more urgent need to become aware of the differences and complementarity with the vertex planet.
In addition to possibly bringing more awareness to the aforementioned eclipse tension, Venus sits at the leader position of the wide Kite we have mentioned a few times before. The Kite is not evident in the chart due to my personal orbs or tolerances; for example, the Minor Grand Trine is not complete because the angle between Uranus and Pluto is 113°44′, which is 6°16′ fewer than a 120° trine and I only allow 6° of tolerance. The point is that for all intends and purposes, it is Venus’ turn to be across the room, figuratively speaking, facing Neptune flanked by the other two big boys, Uranus and Pluto. That placement of Venus says it is time to become aware of how much our value system is based on real universal love and compassion, and not on illusions and fantasies. More importantly, Venus in Virgo is a very practical Venus so, after gaining such awareness, there is energy to do something about it and readjust our value system accordingly.
A Worldly Note
The mundane astrologer José Millán analyzed the conflict in Israel. The solar eclipse of the last new moon featured prominently in both the charts of Israel and Palestine, which is not that surprising given that the two countries were formed hours apart in 1948. He reminded us that the transition to the Age of Pisces originated in that area in the form of Christianity, when the New Testament of compassion supplanted the Old Testament and its eye-for-an-eye mentality, which was perfectly suitable for the Age of Aries when it was written. Moreover, as we saw with the myth of Innana, it was in the same general area where the transition from the Age of Taurus to the Age of Aries happened, specifically when the Sumerian people was conquered by the Akkadians in modern Iraq. Perhaps the transition from the Age of Pisces to that of Aquarius must be made concrete in that area of the globe as well?
Wrapping Up…
Let’s go back to the chart as a mandala, that is, a holistic symbol. Undoubtedly, everything revolves around the Scorpio–Taurus polarity presented in a strong Yang–Yin fashion and accentuated by the lunar eclipse with the Nodal axis in Aries–Libra, urging us to be new individuals and leaving behind relationships that impede our growth and should belong to the past. The Sabian symbols tell us to pursue the riches of having an integrated relatedness that gives us substance as individuals, and that the secret is to meet in the middle. There are two more features that bear relevance: the Mystic Triangle with Saturn in the first degree of Pisces and the other triangle with Venus in Virgo opposing Neptune.
And Pluto is still forming a square with the Nodal axis, shaking the collective consciousness for a few more weeks. I will repeat myself, there is an enormous Spiritual force impeling, nay, compeling humanity to raise its collective level of consciousness. The chasm between the chaos of the world in which we live and the future we are co-creating is wider than ever and the gap continues to grow. All of that brings anxiety and stress; what we least need! There is, however, a community of like-minded people if we just open our minds and listen with our heart. Tune out the chaos, only listen to the news but don’t dwell on it, walk barefoot on the grass (leave the phone charging), feel your breathing caress your nostrils when your mind begins to raise its voice.
There are others, yes, there are new relationships to be formed, deep and meaningful relationships (Scorpio) that may be formed simply (Taurus) by engaging in a new type of social interplay, a commerce of ideas and feelings. Venus says it is critical for us to adjust our value system such that new relationships for such commerce may be formed.
Always Love. 🌹🙏💖
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