In the previous article, we talked about the last Lunar Eclipse in Taurus. We saw how the feminine archetypes, through the forces of the Moon and Venus, are trying to hinder the conflict represented by the Saturn-Uranus Square. On the contrary, the masculine archetypes don’t seem to want to stop. Especially because the perfection of the Square is expected for late December—right on Christmas’ Eve.
How is this second and last eclipse of the season going to affect the overall situation? What’s the specific impulse brought by it? In this article we are going to tackle the phenomenon by looking at the planets involved. In particular we are going to focus on Jupiter, lord of the Eclipse, and its relationship with Mars.
This is going to be a Total Solar Eclipse, taking place at 12° 22′ Sagittarius on December 4. As always we are going to analyze it by looking at all its different aspects. Is it a South or North Node Eclipse? What’s the relationship between the planets? What’s the meaning of a Solar Eclipse from a spiritual perspective?
I consider myself a free researcher in western spiritual disciplines, in particular Rudolf Steiner’s Anthroposophy and the Neoplatonic Hermetic tradition. I have a three-year training in Astrology at the CIDA delegation of Trieste, the Italian Center for Astrological Disciplines. I graduated in Computer Engineering from the University of Trieste.
“I don’t envision a single thing that, when unguarded, leads to such great harm as the mind. The mind, when unguarded leads to great harm.” — Gautama Buddha (Anguttara Nikaya 1.33)
The silver disc of the Full Moon hovers huge in the silent sky. And during a warm spring night its pale light suddenly turns blood red, as it relentlessly crosses Cauda Draconis—the Dragon’s Tail. As the world celebrates the birth and enlightenment of Gautama Buddha, the coils of the Dragon wrap up all around it. And here’s the night of Vesak 2021, starting the first season of this year’s eclipses.
The next Full Moon on May 26 is going to be a Total Lunar Eclipse, taking place at 5° 25′ Sagittarius. And not only the Moon is going to completely tinge with red, turning in a so called Blood Moon. But the event is also going to happen during a Supermoon. Meaning that the luminary is going to appear particularly big due to its proximity to the Earth (perigee).
So what are the implications of this event on Earth? What can Astrosophy tell us in regard to Lunar Eclipses? And what does the figure of Buddha have to do with all this? In this article we are going to answer to these questions, focusing in particular on the recent entrance of Jupiter in Pisces.
I consider myself a free researcher in western spiritual disciplines, in particular Rudolf Steiner’s Anthroposophy and the Neoplatonic Hermetic tradition. I have a three-year training in Astrology at the CIDA delegation of Trieste, the Italian Center for Astrological Disciplines. I graduated in Computer Engineering from the University of Trieste.
We are living a weird kind of summer here in Italy. It’s called “Estate di San Martino”, Saint Martin’s Summer. This because it’s not unusual to have a mild weather for a couple of weeks in November. But for some reason this year it’s lasting way more than expected, creating a weird time-shift effect.
And it gets even worse. Days are getting shorter and shorter. It gets dark so early that I literally find myself cooking dinner half an hour earlier. And of course lockdowns are back. It’s confusing. We are all confused. And in my opinion we’re going to be even more.
Why is that? Because we are approaching Christmas. The time of the year when we usually start feeling a sort of nostalgia. Darkness grows deeper all around us and we feel the need of connecting with other people. Our need of belonging gets stronger. How are we going to be able to hangout with others during the second wave of the pandemic?
As we’ve said in a previous article, last month we expected to deal with the shadow parts of our soul. As you might know, this process of recognizing, processing and integrating back those aspects of us is called Shadow Work, a term inspired by Jungian psychology.
I consider myself a free researcher in western spiritual disciplines, in particular Rudolf Steiner’s Anthroposophy and the Neoplatonic Hermetic tradition. I have a three-year training in Astrology at the CIDA delegation of Trieste, the Italian Center for Astrological Disciplines. I graduated in Computer Engineering from the University of Trieste.
Reading Time : 3minutesSometimes the Universe wants us to be aware. And to do that we can’t rely too much on the outside world; we have to count on ourselves. The following weeks are going to be demanding, since today Saturn is joining the Retrograde Club.
When Jupiter, Venus, Mercury and Saturn are all retrograde things are not easy. This because usually awareness comes with struggle: it is the impact with reality that makes us open our eyes. But it is also true that we can’t learn the lesson always the hard way. And maybe, this time there is too much to handle.
I know it’s wrong to generalize. We all have our own battles to fight, and the meaning of each planet strongly depends on the individual. But despite any particular interpretation, the level of emotional processing that we are asked this time is very high. We are challenged at the same time on our beliefs (Jupiter), relationships (Venus), sense of security (Mercury) and now also on our moral sense.
Let’s see together what this Saturn Retrograde is all about.
Saturn Retrograde in Sagittarius
Saturn is a very slow planet. In fact, it is going to be retrograde for almost 5 months: from April 7 to August 26. This means that its effects are not necessarily going to manifest right away. Nevertheless, they will inevitably be felt. This is after all how Saturn usually works: it gives you all the time to get ready, but you’d better be when it hits.
Saturn Retrograde in Sagittarius is about ethics and morality. We could say that it’s a sort of moralizing energy that easily turns into bigotry. Do you usually feel morally superior to other people? If that’s the case, this long lasting transit could be very important for you—as an opportunity.
When a planet turns retrograde, it mainly affects us inwardly. In that sense, Saturn acts like the super-ego: it constantly reminds us our moral flaws, making us feel guilty for everything. The more you resonate with this behaviour (if you are a person who tends to blame other people, for example), the more this inner voice is going to torture you. It literally turns on you.
The lesson to learn here is to be just. You shouldn’t judge other people on the basis of your moral standards without trying to put yourself in their shoes. Also remember that the way you treat other people is going to reflect on the way you treat yourself. I don’t usually quote the Gospels, but this verse makes the point quite nicely:
“For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Matthew 7:2).
When will all this end?
Usually, I don’t like this question. But in this case I think it’s totally understandable. So, here’s the list of the end dates for the retrograde planets I mentioned above:
I consider myself a free researcher in western spiritual disciplines, in particular Rudolf Steiner’s Anthroposophy and the Neoplatonic Hermetic tradition. I have a three-year training in Astrology at the CIDA delegation of Trieste, the Italian Center for Astrological Disciplines. I graduated in Computer Engineering from the University of Trieste.
Delays, late public transport, undelivered packages, mobile phone betrayals, messy forgetfulness, last minute hysteria, unsent messages, misunderstandings, scheduling complications, planning drama. Mercury Retrograde is the biggest stereotype among astrology followers.
Let’s face it: Christmas time is going to be like that anyway—either Mercury is retrograde or not. So, is Christmas chaos going to be boosted by this struggling transit? Generally speaking, yes. Also because on the same day Mars—ruler of action—is entering Pisces: the most chaotic sign of the zodiac. Even technology won’t help you since its lord Uranus is retrograde, too.
I can already imagine people going crazy, rushing around aimlessly like a bunch of beheaded chickens. But can we say this is going to be the case for everyone? Of course not. You should—as always—check at least in which specific house of your Natal Chart is going to fall Mercury Retrograde (from 16° Capricorn to 29° Sagittarius). For example, the list above is a typical third house Mercury retrograde general trend.
Well, now that we have decreed that this Christmas is going to be a messy-mess we can move forward and see what we can do about it.
Planning Drama and Self-Control
When direct, Mercury in Capricorn is the mind who analyzes external events in order to control them. It is a business oriented mindset who uses data and statistics for market forecasts and risk management.
But when such energy goes retrograde you can expect external things not to go exactly as planned. The mind turns inwardly and it is asked to better understand the inner life of the soul instead of focusing on the outside world.
At first, this can easily turn into an attempt to self-control. After all, when you suddenly lose your grip over external events the first reaction is usually to freak out, right? In this case self-control could indeed be useful. But there’s more than that.
When you step into your psyche you learn pretty soon that there are few things you can control. Actually, the only element you are allowed to control directly is your thought process. I don’t know if you ever tried to control your thoughts (it is a meditative practice) but let me tell you it is something very difficult to master. And please don’t ever try to control your emotions: it’s going to end up badly.
So, here are some questions to deal with the first part of the transit consciously:
What did not go as planned? How did that make me feel?
How do I react to unexpected events?
Am I able to control myself when the situation requires it?
How disciplined is my mind?
You can give this questions a specific context by checking in which house falls 16° Capricorn in your Natal Chart. For example, if it falls in your eleventh house this transit is mainly going to concern your friendships and personal projects.
Allowing the Inspiration
I like the way this transit evolves, fading slowly from Capricorn to Sagittarius. The second part of the transit (second stationary point of Mercury) is about letting go to open yourself to inspiration.
Mercury in Sagittarius is in its detriment. The mind is overconfident, so it refuses to analyze a situation since it believes to have it all figured out. This by the way usually becomes that annoying tendency some people have to teach others everything. They speak more than listen, because they love the sound of their “truthful” voice.
But when Mercury turns retrograde, all this comes to an end. The outside world proves you wrong, again and again, showing you that in the end you don’t know anything. When you are challenged this way, you are ready to open yourself to inspiration: the direct flow of knowledge and intuition that fuels endlessly creatives and artists all over the world.
But why is that? Whether you want to control something, or you think you already know how things are, you are closed. But when you let go and simply accept the fact you don’t know—you become receptive. In other words you allow yourself to be guided and to attune with your inner voice or—as someone call it—your internal guiding system.
I consider myself a free researcher in western spiritual disciplines, in particular Rudolf Steiner’s Anthroposophy and the Neoplatonic Hermetic tradition. I have a three-year training in Astrology at the CIDA delegation of Trieste, the Italian Center for Astrological Disciplines. I graduated in Computer Engineering from the University of Trieste.
