Harsh Realities and Shock Waves Morph into Collective Ideals by Art Gianfermo, who is actively engaged in AstroJournalism Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power. -- Tao Te Ching Capricorn Realities are All Too Real with Sun-Mars-Pluto Together Nerves and pocketbooks were in shambles as 2008, the year of the economic meltdown came to a crashing end. Unquestionably 2008 was a year of unprecedented shocks to the financial systems around the world. The 45-year opposition of Saturn and Uranus with the first round exact on November 4th had brought elements of panic and crisis to our seemingly strong foundation, and integrity of structure. Now that Pluto had entered Capricorn per Nov. 26th, things were all too real as the great transformer and lord of the underworld began uncovering corruption from the Gov. Rod Blagojevich scandal to the biggest ponzi scheme of the century. The economic meltdown of 2008 added insult to injury by the Gemini Full Moon when Mercury and Pluto met in the sign of the mountain goat. Mass media was emblazoned with details of this pyramid scheme on December 12th after FBI agents arrested Bernard L. Madoff the day before, on a tip-off from his sons. Madoff, the former chairman of the NASDAQ Stock Market's crime epitomized the bubbles of the previous Pluto in Sagittarius era of irrational speculation. . At the time Madoff's alleged fraud was valued at a loss of up to a US$50 billion in cash and securities but soon international banks announced that there maybe billions of dollars more in losses. On the last day of the year with Saturn turning retrograde and a chance to internalize many of the lessons of 2008 more illusions will be shattered. In fact one of the sacred myths was dealt a blow from Capricorn reality: World, temperatures have been dropping in a way wholly unpredicted by all those computer models which have been used as the main drivers of the scare. Last winter, as temperatures plummeted, many parts of the world had snowfalls on a scale not seen for decades. 2008 was the year when any pretence that there was a "scientific consensus" in favor of man-made global warming collapsed. As we look forward to a fresh start in January 2009, the shockwaves of December seem to reverberate on all levels. By December 21st and 22nd - the Winter Solstice hosted a Sun-Pluto conjunction in frigid Capricorn. Cold rain and snow along with breakdowns of all kinds were happening. ice storms had blown from the Northeastern US to Northern Indiana and millions of citizens were without power and heat. Disruptions of all kinds happened across the US from passengers escaping a burning jet in Denver; leaving 38 hurt to a dramatic rescue of car passengers just outside of Washington DC from a severe water main burst. On the New Moon (Dec. 27th), Mars joined the Sun in Capricorn, setting up a dangerous Mars-Pluto conjunction, the next day the Israeli air strikes began on Gaza. Over 375 people have died including over 30 children in occupied Gaza due to a classical case of Mars-Pluto adding devastation to vengeance. Retribution by Israel on Gaza was in response to small rocket and mortar fire that intensified after Hamas ended the six-month ceasefire. The Israeli reaction has sparked outrage throughout the world not just in Arab countries. With Saturn stationing retrograde in analytical Virgo is a time for reflection not rage, a time for review not attack. As the planets began to stack up in the collective signs of Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces in direct motion only Saturn stationing retrograde in Virgo demanding accountability and serious diplomacy. A Time of New Beginnings: Mercury and Jupiter in Aquarius Just as like it's namesake Janus (the god of gates and doors), January will be the month of beginnings and endings. In Roman mythology Janus, was usually depicted with two heads looking in opposite directions. According to a legend, Janus had received the gift to see both future and past from the God Saturn, in reward for his hospitality. On New Years Day Mercury the messenger enters the futuristic sign of Aquarius to stimulate pronominal thinking. Then on January 11th Mercury stations retrograde at 8 degrees Aquarius and turns direct on January 31st at 22 Capricorn. This retrograde cycle adds an extra dimension to this transit with Mercury meeting Jupiter on February 23rd. The expansiveness of Jupiter meeting Mercury in Aquarius will augment a time of innovation, exploration and learning, a time of magical openings, improvements, and generosity. It should be noted that the Jupiter in Aquarius will have already begin when February 17, 2009 arrives as the last day for full-power television stations to broadcast in analog. Television along with the internet are Aquarian ruled media and news regarding both will be over the top in 2009. In the midst of travail and calamity at the end of 2008 we are on the cusp of new hopeful trends in 2009 as Jupiter moves into Aquarius on January 5th. Jupiter's ingress into the sign of the water bearer adds to the existing mutual reception of Neptune to Uranus now direct in Pisces. It will seem that luck and optimism will change direction unexpectedly. Aquarius is the sign of revolution, freedom so that social reform should be in line with humanitarian and moral principles. Just as the personal became political and the political became personal with Capricorn last year we may all be swept up into humanitarian causes on a collective level. As opposed to just the mundane business level per Capricorn finally we will get more astrology, metaphysics and occult wisdom for the masses. Other manifestation of Jupiter-Neptune-Uranus all working together will undoubtedly be centered around Barack Obama as an archetype of this celestial drama. Jupiter is the principle of exaggeration so that Osama's planned stimulus packages and new programs may also result in the Federal deficit rapidly expanding. The economy will not be out of the woods by a long shot since monetary inflation could be followed by price inflation as Jupiter-Neptune meet in May and December 2009. Cancer Full Moon on January 10th By the time we reach the Full Wolf Moon on January 10th amid the cold and deep snows of midwinter, many of the issues arising from the previous New Moon on December 27th will need to be resolved. One of the cores aspects of the Cancer Full Moon is a Yod formed between the Moon-Saturn and pointing directly at Neptune in Aquarius. Since Neptune is the planet of illusion, dreams and ideals we could either see a powerful conduit of energy or as a profound and deeply-felt block to future progress. The Sabian symbol for the previous new moon at 7 degrees Capricorn was:,i> "A veiled prophet of power" (per Marc Edmund Jones) symbolizing an interchange between nature's unlimed power and man's mastery One of the primary themes of both lunations is how renewable energy sources like sunlight, wind and geothermal can reach the population of the US. Aquarius is connected to networking and with Jupiter and Mercury. Many of the places best suited for solar plants or wind farms are often far away from America's population centers. The Sabian symbol for the Cancer Moon at 22 degrees: "A woman awaiting a sailboat." This symbol deals with one's own vision or the creative poise and quiet perspective which is exalting one's destiny. Renewable-power advocates are hoping that President-elect Barack Obama will make expanding and upgrading the nation's power grid part of his economic stimulus package. Powerful Sirius and the Watcher of the West on the January Full Moon In the Full Moon chart set for Washington DC on Jan. 10th, Mercury is ready to station retrograde in Aquarius while Sirius is rising just as the winged messenger is setting with an orb 01 mins 57 sec. Sirius the dog star is known as the scorcher due to its brilliancy. With this Mercury/Sirius combo perhaps bringing: "great business success, help through influential people, worries unnecessarily, associated with the Church, physical defect through accident." per Vivian E. Robson p.209 of Fixed Stars and Constellations. Sirius is also on the Nadir as Mars is culminating with an orb of 01 mins 52 secs which indicates an intense dedication leading to brilliance; very strong focus indeed! This lunation also features one of the archangel stars: Gabriel (Fomalhaut) watcher of the South. Fomalhaut is rising as Mars is Culminating with an orb 00 mins 14 secs - Fomalhaut, is a reddish star in the mouth of the Southern Fish, Piscis Austrinus and does not always have a benign influence with Mars. since it refers to A idealistic warrior, mystical hero, or blind fanatic. Robson on page 166 of Fixed Stars and Constellations says that Fomalhaut with Mars could indicate: "Malevolent, passionate, revengeful, many secret enemies, liable to disgrace and ruin, danger of bites from venomous creatures." The Full Moon chart set for Washington, DC has Pluto and Mars intercepted in the 4th house which deals with real estate, agriculture, housing and weather conditions. Some of those difficulties that formed during the Capricorn New Moon could have a destructive climax. Solar Eclipse at New Moon on January 26th The Aquarius New Moon is capped off by an Annular Solar Eclipse part of the Saros Series 11 North.. B. Brady in Predictive Astrology (page 323) describes this eclipse family as: "Under the influence of this family of eclipses, individuals may suddenly change the group of which they have been mixing, either thru travel or ideas. However the separation implied by the Venus/Saturn would produce very positive outcomes. This whole eclipse series could also talk of making greater commitment in relationships Either way the eclipse is gentle and individuals can trust the situations that arise and allow themselves to be led along by their own momentum. " With Venus entering pioneering Aries on Feb. 2nd and Mars entering humanitarian Aquarius - the group oriented sign on Feb. 4th, the preceding description of this eclipse could be quite accurate. As large groups of people began to break off from hierarchical control the fulfillment of the Mayan Sixth Day could emerge as a major influence to world policy and decisions. This lunation has Sun/Moon in TSQ toVesta in Taurus and the South Node in Leo to encourage strong focus and commitment and bringing abilities from past lives to play. In the chart set for Washington DC (@ 2:55 AM) one prominent aspect is a Thors Hammer with the apex of this Arrowhead, or a quadriform pointing at Saturn at the MidHeaven which is 135 degrees from both Vesta in Taurus and Sun-Moon-Jupiter in Aquarius with the fixed signs 90 degrees away. The energy of this aspect pattern is a little like a T-square, since it has stressful, dynamic energy. By February 2009, we should have a revolutionary wave forming making next year a time of unexpected change. This Site is Hosted by Site Action Web Hosting for the Real World