Libra New Moon 2024/Eclipse: Minor Planet Report

Basic details and main features

Libra New Moon/Annular Solar Eclipse, Wednesday 2nd October 2024 at 18:49 UTC, 10+ Libra

With the equinox now several days behind us, we reach the second eclipse of the current pair, which takes place alongside a configuration involving nearby Mercury, plus Ceres and Uranus. If recent weeks have been characterised by delays and frustrations, this event may provide a much-needed dynamic boost. Even if we have to give the starting push, once the astrological momentum takes over, we could find ourselves covering a significant distance in a markedly short time. Be sure to keep both hands on the wheel.

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Some minor planets involved

Aspecting New Moon (conjunction or opposition)

• (5) Astraea – Large S-type bright main-belt asteroid, named for the virgin goddess of justice, innocence, purity and precision. Not to be confused with Asteria, the goddess of the stars, in myth she became the constellation Virgo, and her scales Libra; she was also the last of the gods to reside among humans, and may return some day, bringing with her a second Golden Age. Astrologically, this body might represent balance, justice, innocence, idealism, vision and what is seen^[1], fair trade^[2], persistence, renaissance^[3], difficulty letting go and blocked closure^[4].
• (57) Mnemosyne – S-type asteroid with orbital period close to a 2:1 commensurability with Jupiter. Greek Titan goddess of memory and mother of the nine Muses by Zeus. May signify recall^[5], remembrance^[6] and, perhaps, their roles in creative work and transcendence.
• (260) Huberta – Cybele group member and outer main belt asteroid rich in carbon; identified with St. Hubert of Liège (c.656-727), who established ethical rules on hunting that are still followed to this day. He is patron of archers, trappers, hunting, dogs and forest workers; mathematicians; metal workers and smelters. Correspondences are likely to signify conservation, ethics, longstanding changes and effects, gradual development and/or careful testing, and new beginnings.

Capricorn Full Moon July 2024: Minor Planet Report

Basic details and main features

Full Moon in Capricorn (Moon opposite Sun), 21st July 2024 at 10:17 UTC, 29+ Capricorn/Cancer

Here we are with the second of two Capricorn Full Moons, in the final (anaretic) degree of the respective signs, with the Moon also sextile Neptune at the end of Pisces. The energy in this area can feel unsettling and somewhat volatile, as we are in the process of shifting from one sign to the next. That said, it can be useful for tying up loose ends, and bringing matters to a satisfactory conclusion. If Neptune makes you feel rather off-balance or confused, take as much time as you need to find and/or ground yourself. The important things in life are rarely instantaneous.

One other configuration stands out in this chart: a Finger of the World (see this page for an in-depth discussion of this and other aspect patterns) between Mercury, Uranus and Ceres. This aspect pattern contrasts with the Finger of God, or Yod, in that the latter indicates a sense of fatedness or unavoidable events, whereas the former relates to what we can do for ourselves. Potentially, the combination of these planets is suggestive of how we can use our minds, intellect and/or inventive means to nourish and nurture our wellbeing.

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Through the Fire

We're in for quite the interesting April, astrologically speaking. Mercury is now retrograde, in which state it will remain for another three weeks from today. On Monday, we get the total solar edition of the latest eclipse cycle; while the early morning of 21st April (UT) will see the conjunction of Jupiter and Uranus in Taurus.

There's a lot to unpack in all of this, and a variety of angles from which one might examine the meaning. Monday's New Moon, to take one example, will be precisely (as in, to the arc minute) conjunct Chiron. This is unusual enough in itself to be worthy of extensive comment.*

Chiron is a relatively new discovery, spotted in 1977. Its approximately 50-year orbit is highly eccentric, unlike those of the major planets. It spends several years travelling through some signs, and zips through others within months. As an astrological phenomenon, it adds a whole layer of complexity to signification of human growth, representing a deeply psychological and emotional element of reaction to hurt, healing and transcendence.

A Jovial Full Moon

Firstly, I apologise for the brevity of this post and the absence of horoscopes. I hope the below will at least be of some utility.

Today's Full Moon has, as my good friend Amanda pointed out, proved something of a callback to 2023. It took place at 5+ degrees Leo and Aquarius, squaring Jupiter (currently at 6+ degrees Taurus) along with the 5+ Taurus degree, in which Mercury and Jupiter both stationed direct last year. The Full Moon of late October 2023 also occurred at 5+ Taurus-Scorpio. All this has invested that one small part of the zodiac with a lot of significance.

Horoscope for Sagittarius New Moon 2023

Hi folks. Having established myself (hopefully with some permanence) in new premises, I have finally been able to return to this blog. Apologies for the lengthened absence. It has been A Time. However, onward we go.

Tomorrow night's New Moon in Sagittarius is accompanied by two outstanding phenomena: firstly, Mars will be conjunct the Great Attractor: a point in deep space that is ostensibly exerting a pulling force on our galaxy and those surrounding it. Secondly, within a few hours of the lunation, Mercury will station retrograde in Capricorn.

The net result of these factors may be a sense of being drawn in various directions, unsure of which is the best course. You might feel tempted to move quickly on a matter that actually needs more thought and more extensive information before an appropriate decision can be made. As with any Mercury retrograde phase, additional details are likely to reveal themselves in time. It's almost always worth exercising a little patience.

You Are Holding the Thread

This Monday, 7th August, is another of the cross-quarter days among those pivotal moments in the turning of the seasonal wheel when profundities tend to make themselves more apparent, just for a whisper.

The one in question is known to some in the north of the world as Lammas or Lughnasadh, the first fruits harvest (its equivalent in the southern hemisphere being Imbolc). It's usually celebrated around the first of the month, but astrologically it occurs when the Sun reaches the midpoint of Leo - exactly halfway between the Cancer solstice* and the Libra equinox**.

In astrological symbolism, the solstices and equinoxes occur as the Sun enters each cardinal sign. Cardinal signs represent initiation, pioneering, leadership - the first to set foot in new territory. Thus at these moments a new season commences. At the cross-quarters, the Sun is in the middle of a fixed sign. This indicates continuation as well as manifestation: the culmination of the seasonal forces in action.

A Tale of Two Retrogrades

When working on a set of charts, one of the things astrologers look for is patterns. Patterns in divination usually tell a story of sorts, pointing the seeker in the direction of more precise knowledge. They are generally to be found somewhere; at times following a bit of digging out, archaeology-style.

At other times, they can be staring you right in the face.

Ocean Motion

 Whatever else can be said about Saturn, he definitely has ways of keeping us grounded. During the past five years, while the beautiful planet has travelled through his own domain of Capricorn and Aquarius, we've had a pretty solid dose of reality hit us on a variety of fronts. The effects of global warming are evident. Covid has provided a sharp reminder about the fragility of life. And despite the overabundance of misinformation online waiting to pounce on virtually every mouse click, the dark money machinations and tyrannical ambitions behind it are now much better understood. So it'll be interesting to see how matters shift once Saturn enters Pisces on 7th March.

It seems to me that, while we do not always use them to best effect, the gifts of the heavens unfailingly arrive in timely fashion. Certainly we needed that injection of realism following the chaos of 2016. I would suggest, however, that the ongoing journey of Saturn into new domains is also, at this moment, requisite.