Celestial Notebook Overview February 2008

Each sign of the zodiac constitutes a developmental stage in our life: each sign evolves out of the one that precedes it. For example, Aries () symbolises birth, whereas Taurus (), the next sign, grounds and stabilises the new entity, idea or project. Each sign signifies a specific drive and capacity; all the signs together represent the psyche as a whole: the Self.

In Capricorn we create the structures that are functional and able to withstand the test of time; we build the life forms to contain spirit. Now, in Aquarius, we can let that light of spirit shine through everything we do. We go beyond an egocentric perspective, surrender the mind to the whole and become much more concerned with the ideals and aspirations that characterise humanity as an entirety.

This month the heavens are dominated by two eclipses: a solar eclipse on 7 February at 17° 44’ Aquarius () and a lunar eclipse at 1° 53’ Virgo () on 21 February. Most years we experience two sets of eclipses: a solar eclipse, a powerful new moon followed 14 days later by a lunar eclipse, a powerful full moon.

At a solar eclipse the light of the Sun, the light of consciousness, is blocked by the Moon, symbol of our deepest emotional nature. In the two weeks preceding the eclipse and up to six months afterwards we create unexpected events that open Pandora’s Box: any psychic or emotional facets of our self that we have ignored will explode into consciousness and demand our attention.

Where 17° Aquarius is in your chart will be an indication of which area of your life may be affected. On 5 February 2000 the solar eclipse was at 16° Aquarius – what started for you then, what ended, how were you compelled to rid yourself of past attitudes, behaviours and people that seemed so important then? The more awareness you bring to what you were experiencing then, the easier the next few months will be.

In the chart set for the eclipse there are no less than five planets plus the north node and the asteroid Vesta in Aquarius. The Aquarian endpoint is to rebel against tradition, to be absolutely loyal to our own truth and to become able to choose our own path – regardless of the consequences - and to allow others to do the same.

The Aquarius vision is to see all people as brothers and sisters who, if allowed to be, will naturally do what is required for the good of society. Its wide-angled lens sees how all the parts make up the whole. The message is to transcend the need to see our self as important and distinct from others, to rather be concerned with the ideals and aspirations that characterise the whole of humanity. We will most certainly be honing our skills of objectivity, detachment and connection.

Solar eclipses tend to affect our vitality whereas lunar eclipses have more to do with our internal conflicts and the irrational forces within us. The lunar eclipse in Virgo will illuminate our processes so that we may progress from judgement to discernment, from humiliation and shame to humility and from servitude to service.

Saturn (), Master of Cause and Effect, will be reversing through the first few degrees of Virgo until 3 May when it turns direct exactly on the degree of this lunar eclipse (1° Virgo). Perhaps it will only then become clear how we may build the bridge between our spirituality and our physical reality to express our compassion and idealism concretely in our everyday tasks and interactions.

Mars (), after turning direct on 30 January, slowly gets underway again and we can lay the ground work for the future: reflect, prioritise and act. Go with the flow; the process will only be completed on 4 August when Mars reaches the degree (12° Cancer) where it previously turned on its heel. By then we will have a completely different view regarding the area of life which has been the focus of this transit.

Mercury (), representing our perceptions and the way we communicate, is retrograde (seemingly reversing) in Aquarius until 19 February. Till then we will be re-viewing how we fit into the greater whole, what our purpose might be and what the world is coming to. Mercury in Aquarius, especially when it is retrograde and burrowing deeply into our inner world, displays a particularly unique perspective and we may throw all our concern for external acceptance overboard. We may thus be liberated from our straight-jacket of normalcy, free to be anyone or anything – enjoy the ride!

Two days before Mars (motivation) turns direct in Gemini, Mercury (communication) turns retrograde in Aquarius. During this time Mercury makes a productive trine to Mars, making it possible for us to express our true motivations to others; this process is deepened in February as Mercury conjuncts Neptune À (illumination or illusion), the Sun and Chiron (health and healing). Watch this space!

Pluto (), The Cosmic Bulldozer, freshly into Capricorn, semi-squares Chiron (), an important key to our healing as the glyph indicates. The kind of consciousness Chiron represents is to go beyond a dualistic, materialistic view of the universe and to apply what we believe in a practical way. Chiron insists that we anchor our new perceptions in our bodies and supports us to create new forms and learn new procedures where the old Saturnian rules have been discredited.

Instead of being isolated in our own world or committing our self to a community in which we sacrifice much of our individuality, we could define clear boundaries so that both our own needs and that of the group be satisfied. What are the needs and desires of the community? What are our personal desires? Where do the two intersect? As we discover these points of intersection we are able to experience personal fulfilment while actively contributing to the community.

‘Finding the centre of strength within ourselves is in the long run the best contribution we can make to our fellow man.’ Rollo May