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June 11, 2010 | Leave a Comment

These Summertime Blues
June 12, 2010

“…nothing is good or bad, but thinking makes it so…” Hamlet, Act II, Sc. II

This New Moon in Gemini certainly casts an intellectual shadow over the coming moonth. How we think about the circumstances that will arise over the next four weeks will be key to seeing our way through them. Here’s what that chart for the Southland looks like:

Governed by Mercury, this Gemini New Moon gets a strong dose of the “Messenger of the Gods” at his best as these weeks (June 17 – July mark one of his tri-annual Peak Week periods that are sandwiched between each of his retrogrades. Further emphasizing the Mercurial qualities of this NM is the fact that Mercury, as the Final Dispositor of each of the other planets, holds great influence over the chart. The intellectual component of each planet’s nature is thereby stimulated. In short, this means that all of the other planets, in as much as they all represent a specifically intellectual quality of energy, will be imbued with something to think about also.

As Dipali asks on her interesting Celestial Space Astrology Blog, “What new information is buzzing in on the airwaves? Does it expand your Consciousness? Stimulate new ideas?” Yes, this is a new moonth and with it comes a new set of circumstances, with new promises of hope, if we can think through the various situations that will come bubbling to the surface.

The New Moon: Two Takes
Well, what did you expect, with a Gemini Moon? But, seriously, with any New Moon one can look at how the event impacts the world or how it affects us personally. Of course what affects the one affects the other, but in this case we are looking at two different astrological systems: personal and mundane.
Let’s look at the personal side of this first. As I’ve said many times, it would be most helpful if you were to obtain a copy of your own chart so that you can see how and where the New Moon falls in it and, subsequently, how it can affect your life. Nevertheless, there are some things that can be pointed out that may help you navigate the troubled waters of the coming weeks.

Let’s start with Lynda Hill‘s positive, forward looking version of the Sabian for this New Moon at 21° Gemini 21’:

The Image: This Symbol shows the need to regularly celebrate life and its bounty and harvest. When the work’s been done, achievements have been made and there is a sense of security and ‘Harvest’ in the air, it is time to celebrate with one another. Gathering people together, there is a need to get back to a simple, conservative level of enjoyment. There’s a sense of being in tune with seasonal rhythms and taking some time out to enjoy and de-stress. The feeling of a healthy heart and a healthy mind, while taking a break from the struggles of providing, can bring joy to everyone. See if you can take time out to celebrate and to enjoy your environment.

Keywords: Celebrating the warmth and providence of the Earth. The joy of nature’s harvest. Joining others to celebrate. Rhythmical or seasonal adjustments. Dancing. Barns and dance halls.

The Cautions: Being the wallflower, not participating. Waiting for a special invitation rather than volunteering to be involved. Resentment. Isolation. Anti-social behavior

So we see here that the symbol wants us to be social animals during these weeks, to reach out to others in a collective “coming together” of sorts. And of course, the Gemini proclivity to converse (some would say non-stop) with others is one way to make this happen, to develop a mental rapport with others and to take care of the hum-drum details of life with aplomb and good humor.

As suggested above, Gemini is nothing if not a communicative sign, representing something essential about your manner of communicating your ideas, thoughts, and opinions. The Twins are also insatiably curious, with a thirst for knowledge, learning, and new experience. As has been said elsewhere, the New Moon is an ideal time to turn this intelligence, curiosity and thirst for new experience in on itself. And this is a good thing as we are enjoined, by the Delphic Oracle, first and foremost, to “know thyself.”

But Gemini is about more than yackety-yak. If you will recall, in my NM column for May I encouraged you to dig into your “soil,” to root out all the unnecessary and growth-stunting dross so that you might better plant a new crop of seed during the moonth of May. Literally, digging into the rich Earth of your heart is the only way to get to the fresh furrows of your subconscious where the new seed can take root.

Now, at the Gemini New Moon, it’s time to take charge of your thoughts. So many of you are aware of the productive influence of “Affirmations,” or as Shakti Gawain calls them, “Creative Visualizations.” These are spoken about in such old nuggets as “The Power of Positive Thinking,” and in recent best-sellers such as “The Secret” and “The Law of Attraction.” Indeed, Jan Spiller, has subtitled her New Moon Astrology, “The Secret of Astrological Timing to Make All Your Dreams Come True.” Each of these writers and thinkers, and many others, speak about methods of using one’s MIND to project the mental images of the people, places, things and circumstances that we would call into our lives. And there is perhaps no other Moon which so strongly encourages us to use our power of positive thinking to project, especially in ceremony, the specific and detailed image(s) that we would draw to ourselves.

In terms of those details of our daily routine it’s a good time to take tests, fill out forms, start a new course, write letters, make phone calls, and to energetically take care of routine tasks. Remember, Mercury, the guy all the other planets are answering to this moonth, is working under optimal conditions. Be still and listen so that you might learn and then be ready to share your newly acquired knowledge in the classroom of life. As mentioned above, Gemini is nothing if not a communicative sign, representing something essential about your manner of communicating your ideas, thoughts, and opinions. Likewise, the Twins are also an insatiably curious sign, with a thirst for knowledge, learning, and new experience. As has been said elsewhere, the New Moon is an ideal time to turn this intelligence, curiosity and thirst for new experience in on itself. And this is a good thing as we are enjoined, by the Delphic Oracle, first and foremost, to “know thyself.”

The Southland’s Second House New Moon

There is a heightened sensitivity to the world of the five senses, to your physical environment, and to the security you gain from the solid ground you have built for yourself. At this New Moon you may start fresh in terms of how you arrange your life in order to feel a sense of value and worthiness. Financial issues come into focus. Setting realistic financial goals, as well as formulating such things as budgets and other sensible financial planning projects, will be favored during this time. Exploring new ways to increase your income is also featured. And it’s also a wonderful time for taking moments to pleasure yourself through earthy, tactile, and comforting endeavors. As for using the power of positive thought, attunement to, and appreciation of, the physical world of the senses would be an appropriate direction in which to turn your energies.

As Beth Koch suggests, in her terrific little book, Equal Houses, with the Twins on the second house cusp, the Gemini drive towards making logical connections would best be employed by exploring all of our options in the material world that pertain to our individuality and emotional nature. In this case, the second house issue of possessions would be best thought of in regards to “self-possession.” As the New Moon always implies a turning inwards, this moonth offers a time to make a mental inventory of that one and only person we truly “possess.” An honest self-examination now can not only tell us about the quality of our inner values and how we pursue them in the world, but also will shed the light of the New Moon on how that pursuit affects our emotions.

Two New Moon Aspects

This New Moon is affected by two significant aspects, an applying Square to Saturn and a partile (exact by degree) Quintile to Mars. The success or failure of this Gemini Moon in fine tuning our communicative skills and intellectual understanding will depend on the quality of its communication with these two otherwise contentious astrological archetypes.

Mars adds a charge of vitality and high energy encouraging us, as does the Sabian Symbol, to reach out in friendship and community. The impulse to act on and to communicate who we are is strong. This is just the kind of circumstance in which, during a gathering or perhaps as part of a group ceremony, it would be most appropriate to share what it is that we have come to know about ourselves and the ways in which we have arrived at this understanding.

The Square to Saturn is more problematical as it inevitably produces a tendency towards self-doubt and defensiveness. However, given a supportive group environment, this reticence can be overcome, encouraging the emergence of the inner teacher. It is also a good chance to develop trust in others and to break through barriers of self-doubt.

And Now for Something Completely Different

And here is where we come back to the mysterious Dane. The comment Hamlet makes to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, that nothing is good or bad but the thinking makes it so, refers to Denmark, which for his two friends is a paradise, but to him it is a prison. Here is where we turn our attention to mundane, worldly events.

There are several other astrological factors other than the New Moon that will project themselves onto the landscape of the Gemini moonth. In my last blog here, I made mention of the Out Of Bounds Venus and suggested that it might bring Israel, a nation whose Libra rising chart is ruled by that planet, into high focus. Well, can you say “Flotilla?” So for this moonth, how about an Out of Bounds Moon?

The Gemini Moon OOB emphasizes that there is something outstanding to be learned with the Moon “popping up” as though to be seen and distinguished apart from the Sun, and asking for attention to feminine issues. These include nurturance, maternal love, the home, family, empathy and the awareness of one’s needs.

On the other hand, as Stephen Forrest points out in his outstanding essay appearing in the June/July 2010 issue of The Mountain Astrologer, “The Out-of-Bounds Moon:”

The out-of bound Moon, like everything else in astrology, has an unpleasant, dangerous side as well as a divine purpose. Its dark side is sociopathic, even criminal – or merely selfish and insensitive to others. It can be cold, even inhuman.

And speaking about the feminine issues that this Out Of Bounds Moon brings up, we can add into the mix two other feminine archetypes who are also OOB at this New Moon, Ceres and Pallas. I have already discussed the attitudes of an OOB Ceres. Much like an OOB Moon can be very “out of sorts” an OOB Ceres indicates her unnatural detachment from the protective, nurturing role which she usually would assume. Throw in a disassociated Pallas, the “Warrior Queen” also associated with the Serpent of Wisdom, and we have a lot of pissed off feminine energy afoot. Additionally, even the aspects between these three feminine energies are divisive. Not a good thing in troubled times such as these.

Considering the “flotilla event,” might we see the Middle East once again come to the fore of the world’s attention? Perhaps. Turkey has a Moon ruled, Cancer Ascendant, and it has been in the recent headlines right alongside of Israel. Then there’s Michael Baigent who advocates the Cancer ruled chart of what he calls the Middle East Mandate of the League of Nations as a “master chart” and central reference point when examining events centering in that region. Looks to me as though that whole region is in for yet more stormy weather during this moonth. Other Moon ruled countries that might step into the spotlight include Scotland, Holland, Paraguay and New Zealand.

Are there other indications that the coming weeks will see additional tensions rise to the surface? Wish I could say no. But there are two other warning beacons that grab my attention. One is the configuration between Mars, Mercury and Chiron, that in astrological parlance is called a “T-Square”

which is formed when there are two planets in opposition and one planet square (at a 90° angle) to the opposition. Here we have a Mutable signs configuration that usually indicates a situation in which people are at odds in their opinions, ideas and ideals. In short, it is a pattern which indicates extremes of opinions, and being quick in verbal reactions to others while at the same time, having a great compassion for the oppressed and being moved to fight injustices.

The second is what we call a “Yod” taking in the energies of Venus, Saturn and Neptune and, because of what is called a “reaction point,” Mars is also involved by its opposition to Neptune. It is another stressful pattern. Look at Neptune, the “focal” planet in the Yod. Al H. Morrison maintained that Neptune ruled petroleum, oil, energy liquids of all kinds and pharmaceutical products. Saturn, of course, wants to teach us lessons, and usually mild-mannered Venus, in a closing Sextile (60°) aspect to Saturn, does imply a degree of emotional stamina. However, the relative ease of this combination can lead to taking things for granted and thereby overlooking the details that make things run smoothly. With Neptune on the point of this “true” Yod, issues related to the above mentioned commodities are bound to be of a continuing interest. And with the active, angry Mars at the reaction point opposite Neptune, we might assume that we haven’t heard the last of the BP drilling disaster.

Our Southland Sabians

Each location has different Ascending and Midheaven degrees With this in mind, here are Lynda’s comments on each for the Southland:

THE ASCENDANT:
13TH DEGREE OF TAURUS

A PORTER CARRYING A MOUNTAIN OF HEAVY BAGGAGE

Commentary: This Symbol implies someone who tends to carry the load for others. They often feel responsible for everyone and everything. The ‘porter’ will usually spring to attention when asked to help or to shoulder the burden of others luggage or baggage. In fact, you may be doing a lot to help others, but not getting much appreciation or thanks. Be wary that you are not just helping people to hang on to their extra ‘baggage’, through your desire to be useful and helpful. This can weigh them down when you are no longer available. Grinning and bearing the weight only works for so long before one tires of it.

Keywords: Self-reliance. Being reliable, responsible and helpful. Owning people’s ‘garbage’. Shouldering people’s baggage. Being weighed-down. Bad backs, knees or posture.

The Caution: Being busy with peoples’ problems, not working on your own. Not knowing when to say “no”. Bearing family guilt. Not knowing when to say ‘no’.

THE MIDHEAVEN:
28TH DEGREE OF CAPRICORN

A LARGE AVIARY

Commentary: This Symbol shows the ability, or the need, to be able to take in a lot of information, to be social, yet have some time alone. The “Large Aviary” has a lot of citizens, all buzzing around, all interacting and full of life. There is a lot of chattering and flitting from one thing to another going on and while there is no harm being done, perhaps, sometimes, there’s nothing much really being achieved. Is this because there is a level of mental confusion happening? At the least there is likely to be a feeling of brotherhood and not being alone. Finding time alone can be difficult.

Keywords: Clairaudience. Many inner voices. Lots to say – little true content. Communicating only in the immediate environment. The Internet. Bird songs. Confined spaces. Psychic.

The Caution: Mental confusion bringing a lack of discernment. Chattering, not doing. Gossip and intrigue. False sense of freedom. Abandoned living spaces. Caged birds.

A Brief Summing Up

The outstanding issues in global affairs do not seem to be going away, and the outlook on the horizon does not offer much encouragement. Things will, with a fair amount of certainty, get a good deal worse before they get better out there. Which is why I urge you so strongly to build you thoughts and inner landscape on controlling your own intellectual and emotional responses. Project serenity, be peace and live in the comfort of loving kindness and compassion. In so doing, and one by one, we each contribute to a healed and whole multiverse.

Johnny Mirehiel is a 40-year student of spiritual, metaphysical and astrological ideas. Internationally known as the discoverer of the astrological chart of the Harmonic Concordance, he is a member of the San Diego chapter of NCGR and he has been accredited by The International College of Astrology as both an astrological practitioner and teacher. He now plies his trade in the high desert of Southern California.

Jun

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