The Daily Astro for April 25, 2013

Partial Lunar Eclipse at 6 Degrees Scorpio

Wolf-At-The-Door Moon

 

by Valerie Sylvester

 

TODAY’S ASPECTS: 

The big news today is that we’re operating under a) a Full Moon and b) a Partial Lunar Eclipse. This is the first of three eclipses occurring over the next month (there’s an “eclipse sandwich” going on with this Lunar eclipse, as it’s followed by a Solar Eclipse, then another Lunar Eclipse. So it helps set the stage for our foray into the year’s “eclipse season”.  This eclipse is relatively short and covers only a small slab of the Moon, but that doesn’t mean it’s minor in terms of effect. It occurs at 3:58 PM EDT, energizing 6 degrees of Scorpio and Taurus. Those of you with planets or chart angles at around 6 degrees of the fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius) will get the biggest charge out of this eclipse. If you are familiar with your birth chart, take a look at where 6 degrees of Scorpio falls. That’s the area of life energized by this eclipse. Since it’s a Full Moon eclipse in Scorpio, that’s the part of your life where you may find the themes of transformation and endings are playing themselves out dramatically, sometimes explosively. Eclipses by their nature are always “wild cards” that bring in that joker energy—like the Fool card in tarot.

I’m finding that this eclipse seems to have a bit of a “reach”: I have Neptune in Scorpio at around 1 degree, in my first house, which is a few degrees away from the exact “hit”, but that doesn’t mitigate things: I’ve been feeling submerged all day.  And completely exhausted.  It’s interesting to take note of what happens prior to an eclipse, as they often “show their cards” in advance and then spin out for the next few months. One thing I’ve noticed very clearly is that people are reevaluating their relationships and the types of connections they’ve made. This applies across the board, whether it’s work relationships, friendships, romantic connects—they’re all coming up for review. Some will pass the test, others will fall by the wayside. That’s why I’m calling this eclipse the “Wolf-At-The-Door Eclipse”.  In a crisis situation, who can you count on? Will they be there for you when you need them?  Who slammed the door in your face or only thought of stockpiling for themselves and wouldn’t share? What is your “spidey sense” telling you right now?

This eclipse has a karmic/fated and “testing” feel to it. The Full Moon is conjunct Saturn in Scorpio and opposes the Sun. The Sun is conjunct Mars in Taurus. The North Node is in Scorpio and the South Node is in Taurus, reiterating the hold on/let go theme of this eclipse. As someone who has a Moon-Saturn aspect, a Mars-Saturn aspect and the North Node in Scorpio/South Node in Taurus, I can tell you: it ain’t easy to deal with.  The Moon/Saturn in Scorpio combo is very primal and can throw us into survival (everything feels like life or death) mode. Moon = mother, nurturing, Saturn = father, boundaries.  It’s about the karmic set-up that was in effect when you came into the world. Moon/Saturn can indicate problems with expression due to fear or repression; it can also teach us how to set proper emotional boundaries. In Scorpio, it can take us to some very deep, dark places. Opposing the Sun and Mars in Taurus, we’re being asked to be our authentic selves, yet there are problems with timing and doing the right thing at the right time. Venus is also conjunct the South Node in Taurus, so we’re inclined to hang on to what we’ve got, no matter what.  We may be operating in “eternal déjà vu”, doing the same thing over and over and over again because it comforts us. The opposing force of the Scorpio planets and North Node tells us we have to venture outside our safety zone. Venus conjunct the South Node can also indicate where we’ve been a bit lazy and taken the easy way out in terms of our relationships, staying with something that’s no longer fulfilling because it’s safe. Or so we think.  Or we feel other people “own” us and we don’t have the right to demand anything.

What I’ve noticed has been happening on the ramp up to this eclipse is that many people have passed the point of no return in relationships. We all know the deal—the friends who only call you went they want something but aren’t there for you when you really need assistance; bosses and fellow employees who demand “team spirit” but then dump all their work on you (and then take the credit for it); abusive or abrasive partners who feel entitled to everything yet contribute nothing.  Here’s where Pluto in Capricorn comes in. Pluto trines the Sun and sextiles the Moon in today’s chart, and offers an “escape route”. When two planets oppose one another and a third forms flowing aspects to both, it makes it easier to deal with the opposition. This is why we may see quite a few “surprising” endings and releases. Tenuous relationships or situations that have been dragging on forever may suddenly end—that’s Pluto doing That Thing It Does So Well. Change is never easy and most people have to be dragged kicking and screaming (Taurus)!

Pluto in Capricorn is like the marshal who rides into a frontier town and methodically sets out to observe what’s going on. Later he proceeds to nab the bad guys and restore order.  It’s a good time to take a look and see where the desperadoes need to be run out of town in your own life. Who (or what) has been holding you hostage? Sometimes drastic action is necessary to avert catastrophe. Blockages and impediments must be removed—we’re seeking freedom now.  Just because we’re predisposed to hold on to something doesn’t mean it’s healthy for us to keep clinging to it. We need to de-fixate, to give up our ideas of “the perfect   ______”.  There’s no such thing (and that will be made abundantly clear).

This eclipse is also about taking responsibility and being ruthlessly honest with ourselves about our motivations, obsessions, addictions and all the things that drive us. Don’t be surprised if you feel off-balance or become ragingly obsessive-compulsive. This is the energy working its way to the surface. What probably will happen is that we’ll try to hide from or block the energy first, so people may overdo eating, drinking, substance abuse, shopping/collecting things in order to dull the pain or take the edge off what’s being stirred up.

 Things to do now:  Clean up messes, clean out your closets/dispose of unwanted items, begin a diet, eliminate bad habits, cut up credit cards if you’re overextended, begin an exercise routine, balance your accounts or start saving for the future, take stock of your associations and detach from toxic people, anything that helps us transform ourselves or some area of our lives.

A good thing about all this muck-stirring is that we start to realize what’s been holding us back. The reason many of our relationships come to a screeching halt is that they’re not worthy of us anymore. Self-worth and knowing your own value is another key issue related to this eclipse. The realization hits–we may have had something in common with these people in the past, but there’s nothing left or we’re  now only getting the dregs of their attention. And we want more than that.

Things that have gone unsaid or that have been bubbling away in the background may move front and center now. Things go boom in a big way. We may find that we’re more willing to “start up with” people, to fight or argue (usually because we’ve been pissed off for some time but have been holding it in). Sometimes these arguments may lead to the end of the relationship. Which maybe was what you wanted anyway, it’s just been accelerated rather than dying a slow and painful death because you can’t quite bring yourself  to put the final nail in the coffin.  Asteroid Juno is also squaring the eclipse Nodes, placing more emphasis on balance and fairness in relationships. Also note that for relationships that need reinvigoration, this eclipse period can provide a punch of energy and honesty, provided both parties take responsibility for the part they have played and are willing to start over and leave blame and spiteful behavior behind. The relationship can continue, but must change its dynamic. d.

With Pluto retrograde in Scorpio, we’ll get to the bottom of the any and all mysteries. Secrets will be revealed, you can count on that. Pluto/Scorpio hates bullshit and the detectors are now on “high”. And by the way, I’m not just talking about OTHER people’s secrets. I mean everybody’s. You may feel as though you’re calling the wolf to the door, but it’s time to reconnect with your wild side now and do some serious howling at the Moon!

Finally, Mars and the Sun are in Taurus sextile Neptune  and the Moon in Scorpio trines Neptune in Pisces—tap into these aspects for some healing mojo. This combination seems to indicate some kind of healing ritual or practice. Direct any excess energy towards creating prosperity and healing in order to transform the lives of others.

 

THE SYMBOLS:

Sabian Symbol for today’s SUN: “ A bridge being built across a gorge.”

Sabian Symbol for today’s MOON:” “A gold rush.”

Kozminsky Symbol for today’s SUN: “A judge in his robes of office handing a book to a student, who is stretching out his hands to receive it.”

Kozminsky Symbol for today’s MOON: “An eagle with a snake in its beak.”

The Keyword for the Sabian Symbol of the SUN is: “CHANNELSHIP. ”

The Keyword for the Sabian Symbol of the MOON is: “AMBITION.”

The Keyword for the Kozminsky Symbol of the SUN is: “ILLUMINATION.”

The Keyword for the Kozminsky Symbol of the MOON is: “WATCHFULNESS.”

 

I’m not going to go into crazy detail about the Symbols, but I’ll point out a few things. Kozminsky says, in his delineation of the Sun Symbol, that the judge’s “acts will reflect his own glory as the Moon reflects the brightness of the Sun”, which clicks in nicely with today’s Lunar eclipse (Sun opposite Moon). The image of the Judge also calls in Saturn in Scorpio as wise teacher, someone who, because of his experience, is able to pass on valuable wisdom to others.

The Kozminsky Symbol for the Moon is also quite appropriate, as if relates to one who “silences deception by crushing the deceiver” and who is always alert and watchful. This relates to the Plutonian themes of today’s eclipse, of rooting out negativity and learning to soar above the fray. Scorpio is always aware of disturbances in the field, and sees what lies beneath the surface.  The Sabian Symbol for today’s Sun is almost an illustration of an opposition aspect (again, the Sun in Taurus opposes the Moon in Scorpio).  It relates to bridging gaps and finding a way to reconcile two sides. It’s about  that Mars in Taurus opposite Saturn in Scorpio power –the power to build something solid and overcome obstacles, no matter how difficult they seem.  The Sabian Symbol for the Moon relates to opportunities. It requires hope and the ability to trust, that what you begin will produce rewards later on. It relates to seeing an opportunity and taking advantage of it. On the down side it relates to the South Node of the Moon (in Taurus)– greed, wanting something for nothing, or misunderstanding  what’s truly valuable and what is  just “fool’s gold”.

 

—April 25, 2013