Astral Weeks September 16-22: "Days of Awe" and the Autumnal Equinox

Astral Weeks

September 16-22

Last week’s huge energetic change kicked off with Rosh HaShanah 5779, followed by Venus entering Scorpio and Mars’ ingress into Aquarius. As this new week begins, the Moon in independent Sagittarius makes her First Quarter square to the Sun, still in analytic Virgo even though we’ve been in Chodesh Tishrei since Rosh HaShanah, on Sunday, September 16. Communicative Mercury in precise Virgo sextiles giganticising Jupiter in secretive Scorpio invites confidences or finds ways to unravel the truth being withheld. 

Moon in Capricorn on Monday September 17th conjuncts Saturn, taking a turn for the serious, which isn’t altogether an inappropriate energetic condition during the “Days of Awe.” Mars in Aquarius squares Uranus, the modern ruler of Aquarius, in his transit through Taurus on Tuesday September 18^th.  Abrupt changes in the status quo and escalations in revolutionary zeal are possible, along with sudden arrivals and departures, just in time for Yom Kippur, which falls on Wednesday, September 19^th. The Moon moves into Aquarius that evening, making a conjunction to Mars which adds an emotional emphasis to the idealistic resolutions made during and after the fast of Yom Kippur, the climax of the “Days of Awe.” 

The Sun in the final degrees of Virgo conjuncts Mercury on Thursday September 20^th, amplifying the volume and illuminating multiple modes of communication on every level. Mercury enters diplomatic Libra on Friday September 21^st, initiating compromise which finds cooperation Saturday, September 22^nd as the Moon enters peaceful Pisces and the Sun crosses the Autumnal Equinox into the constellation of Libra. Parshat Ha’azinu is read, which includes the Song of Moses, sung to the Israelites during the last day of his life. It is the great climax to the life of Moses, who after finishing his song of hope, admonition, and faith, prepares to leave his earthy body. The transition from summer to autumn reminds us of the cycles of life, and that all of us from the smallest to the greatest share a common fate.

Passover 5775 Lunar Eclipse - Blood Moon Tetrad Calling Your Name!

Passover 5775's Lunar Eclipse - Saturday, April 4th, beginning at 4:58am Pacific, 7:58am Eastern and 2:58pm Israel time.

The Sun at 14 Aries and the Moon at 14 Libra oppose each other (as with every Full Moon) but this Full Moon is also a "Blood Moon" and the shortest Lunar Eclipse of the Century.

This is the third in a series of four Lunar Eclipses called a "Tetrad". Passover 5774, Sukkot 5775, Passover 5775 and Sukkot 5776 are all Lunar Eclipses.

This is a relatively rare event astronomically, and as far as the doubling of Lunar Eclipses on the two most prominent "Full Moon" Jewish holidays, that is even more rare.

The Torah teaches a concept which I call "Doubling". It's when something happens twice in order to signify that it is a message from G*d.

When Joseph interpreted Pharaoh's dreams, he told Pharaoh that his two dreams were "one" (the dream of the fat and thin cows, and the dream of the fat and thin stalks of wheat). Joseph tells Pharaoh that G*d has doubled his dream to indicate that it is true, prophetic, and divine in origin.

Several times in scripture a name is called twice to prove it is a direct call from G*d. "Avraham, Avraham", "Yacov, Yacov", "Moses, Moses", "Shmuel, Shmuel" - these are all "doubled" to ensure nobody mistakes the caller for anyone else but G*d.

The "doubling" of the Lunar Eclipses (twice on Pesach and twice on Sukkot, 2014-2015) is, in my humble opinion, no less than G*d calling to the Jewish People.

The Talmud (Sukkah 29:a) teaches that Lunar Eclipses are indicative of negative judgement towards Am Yisrael. Specific sins are mentioned which bring about this particular judgement: "On account of those who perpetrate forgeries, on account of those who give false witness; on account of those who rear small cattle in the land of Israel; and on account of those who cut down good trees."

Regarding the eclipse of the Blood Moon, the Talmud states: "If its face is red as blood, [i a sign that] the sword is coming to the world".

Aries, the Zodiac Sign in which the Sun is during this Eclipse, is ruled by Mars (Maadin), "god" of War. The Moon in Libra is ruled by Venus (Noga), "goddess" of love, balance, beauty and peace. In the Jewish Zodiac, Aries is Yehuda and Libra is Ephraim.

Both Yehuda and Ephraim are the "supernatural firstborn" of their fathers. Yehuda, although the fourth son of Jacob (Yacov) and Leah, became the leader and "supernatural" firstborn by appointment of his father, Yacov, after the moral failings of his three older brothers (Reuven, Shimon and Levi). Ephraim, the younger of Yosef's two sons, was appointed the "supernatural" firstborn by Yacov, who consciously switched his hands while blessing Menashe and Ephraim, giving the younger son (Ephraim) the blessing of the first-born.

Is G*d is sending a message to the Jewish People by "doubling" the Lunar Eclipses - Pesach, Sukkot, Pesach, Sukkot - and not just on "any" Full Moon, but on the most significant Full Moons of the Jewish Year. Yehuda/Ephraim (Aries-Libra), Ephraim/Yehuda (Libra-Aries), Yehuda/Ephraim (Aries-Libra), Ephraim/Yehuda (Libra-Aries)?

What is G*d trying to say to us?

The answer is a very serious warning about Jewish unity. Ezekiel 37:16-17 unfolds the answer here:

"And you, son of man, take for yourself one stick and write on it, 'For Judah and for the sons of Israel, his companions'; then take another stick and write on it, 'For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim and all the house of Israel, his companions.' "Then join them for yourself one to another into one stick, that they may become one in your hand."

• Perhaps HaShem is telling us by doubling the Lunar Eclipses that our lack of care for one another and for the Land (and the Earth herself which we have been given) as detailed in Tractate Sukkah is bringing Divine Judgement on us.
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  Perhaps HaShem is telling us that unity between Yehuda and Ephraim, the two sticks becoming one, is the key to sweetening judgement and avoiding catastrophe.
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  Perhaps we are being called to remember that Tiferet ("Beauty and Balance") associated with Jacob (Yacov) in the Sefirot and demonstrated by his appointment of Yehuda and Ephraim as "supernatural" first-born is symbolic of the balance between Mars (war) and Venus (peace). Perhaps the divisions between members of Claal Yisrael have their roots in too much imbalance. 

We clearly see that some of us lean too heavily on the "Yehuda" side without considering the claims of "Ephraim", while others default to the "Ephraim" side while discounting or ignoring "Yehuda"'s validity. The lack of balance - in other words, the presence of EXTREMISM on both sides - is destructive to not only the Jewish People, but the world at large.

Ezekiel 37:16-17 is part of the Haftarah we read on Shabbos Vayigash, typically right after Chanukkah. In this Parsha, Yehuda and Yosef (father of Ephraim) enact the drama of revealing the concealed truth. Identities long hidden come to light. Truth is outed, tears are wept, hearts which have been broken are mended, regrets long held are dissolved in forgiveness, long-lost loved ones are reunited.

Maybe - as individuals, as communities, as a global and spiritual Claal - maybe we need to internalize the Yehuda/Ephraim paradigm, maybe we need to find beauty and balance in the opposites, maybe we need to hold space for the full spectrum of each other, maybe we can listen to what G*d is saying and find a way to hear the voice of the Divine as if our own name is being called, twice.

G*d's Perfect Timing - Mars/Yehuda Meets Libra/Ephraim

MARS IN LIBRA - HOW TO TURN CONFLICT WITH OTHERS INTO UNITY AND HARMONY!

Do you know your Ascendent ("Rising Sign") - If so, Mars will be transiting anywhere from ONE to THREE of your Houses (depending on the Degree of your Rising Sign and the latitude/longitude of where you were born) during the upcoming 8-month long Transit of the Sign of Libra.

Each House has a relationship to specific areas of your life. When Mars transits Libra, you may experience as follows:

• Aries Rising: Conflicts with others over issues of partnerships and relationships.
• Taurus Rising: Conflicts with others over issues of shared resources.
• Gemini Rising: Conflicts with others over philosophy, religion and world-view.
• Cancer Rising: Conflicts with others over business matters.
• Leo Rising: Conflicts with others over group, community and global issues.
• Virgo Rising: Conflicts with others over secrets, hidden agendas and perceived deceptions.
• Libra Rising: Conflicts with others over ego issues.
• Scorpio Rising: Conflicts with others over personal resources and scarcity/abundance issues.
• Sagittarius Rising: Conflicts with others over information and communication issues.
• Capricorn Rising: Conflicts with others over issues involving family and home.
• Aquarius Rising: Conflicts with others over creativity issues.
• Pisces Rising: Conflicts with others over issues of health, service, and personal care,

Of course, any Planets (Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto) as well as Asteroids, Lunar Nodes, etc. that are in the Sign of Libra will also be impacted by this Transit.

For instance, those with Mercury in Libra will have Mars pass over the Degree where their Mercury is placed several times during the 8-Month transit. Mars/Mercury conjunction makes for both fast thinking and fast talking, as well as aggressive communication and rash words. Depending on the House this drama unfolds in, and other Planets in that House, and the Angles of the other Planets to those Planets - well, you get the picture.

You can't know SPECIFICALLY about your own personal configuration unless you have your Natal Chart read and analyzed. That's what I do. Be in touch.

Now, what about all this conflict?  What does the TORAH tell us about these Archetypes?

MARS is associated with the TRIBE OF YEHUDA, and the Month of Nissan. It's noteworthy that during the week we read about Yehuda's brave face-off with the Prime Minister of Egypt, second in command only to Pharaoh himself  (who turns out to be none other than his long-lost brother Yosef). Here we have a detailed ARCHETYPE of the Mars/Yehuda energy as it plays out in the Parsha.

Yehuda, although fearful of the as-yet-unrevealed Yosef, faces his fears by illustrating COURAGEOUS CONFLICT, his willingness to go the distance with the most powerful man in the world, in order to right a great wrong, is a model of what Mars Transiting Libra is all about in it's spiritual potential. Mars/Yehuda at its best is a warrior for truth and righteousness, justice and fairness - even more so to protect and defend those weaker than itself. 

The "Yehuda Energy" of Mars as it Transits through LIBRA, the Sign associated with the Tribe of Ephraim, challenges aggression to become assertiveness, temper to become tempered, chaos to become self-control. It's an opportunity to grow - specifically in the particular area of your life where Libra/Ephraim falls in your personal Natal Chart.

In fact it's interesting to note that there is evolving prophecy regarding Yehuda and Ephraim in TaNaCH.

Zechariah 2:6 -    

"And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph (Ephraim), and I will bring them back; for I have mercy upon them; and they shall be as though I had not cast them off: for I am HaShem their God, and I will hear them."

In fact, in the HAFTARA for the Parsha Vayigash THIS WEEK, the very week that Mars/Yehuda enters Libra/Ephraim, we read  Ezekiel 36:15-19, and it is written:

"The word of HaShem came to me, saying: Now you, son of man, take for yourself one piece of wood and write upon it, "for Judah," and for the Children of Israel, his comrades, and take one piece of wood and write upon it, "For Joseph, the wood of Ephraim and all the House of Israel, his comrades. Then bring them close to yourself, one to another, like one piece of wood, and they will become united in your hand. Now when the children of your people say to you, saying, "Will you not tell us what these things are to you," say to them: Thus said the LORD/HaShem/Elohim: Behold! I am taking the wood of Joeph which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the Tribes of Israel, his comrades, and I am placing them and him together with the wood of Judah, and I will make them into one piece of wood, and they will become one in My hand."

 What does that mean in regards to this Transit of Mars/Yehuda through Libra/Ephraim? 

IN WHATEVER AREA OF YOUR LIFE THIS TRANSIT TAKES PLACE - the House where it occurs, and whichever of the Planets (if any) are in this House - is your opportunity to apply CREATIVE CONFLICT positively to the particular situation in order to bring about UNITY AND HARMONY.

It's about becoming ONE.
It's about becoming WHOLE.
It's about integrating the disparate parts of yourself into each other.
It's about welcoming the "other" as yourself.

Discover how the 8-Month Transit of Mars through Libra plays out in your personalized Natal Chart, and where your opportunities for TURNING CONFLICT INTO UNITY and HARMONY are taking place!

Contact me at:
Lorelai Kude
lorelaikude@yahoo.com

MARS IN LIBRA - "CONFLICT WITH OTHERS" - AN 8-MONTH TRANSIT!

ALERT - The Planet Mars will be transiting through the Sign of Libra for 8 months! 

December 8th, 2013 - July 27, 2014, Mars (the Planet associated with the Tribe of Yehuda and the Hebrew Month of Nissan) will be in the Sign of it's "Detriment," Libra (Associated with the Planet Venus/Noga and the Tribe of Ephraim). Mars will be traveling back and forth (Direct and Retrograde) in the Sign of Libra for the longest time in recent history (the last 15 Mars cycles have lasted anywhere from two months to three weeks in duration). This is going to be a long transit!

"CONFLICTS (Mars) WITH OTHERS (Libra)" ... Yes it's obvious that Mars is aggressive, but did you know Libra, the Cardinal (Initiating) Air Sign is known as "the iron hand in the velvet glove" and that Libra is intensively interested in having its own way - nicely, of course, politely if possible, but emphatically so.

Aries/Mars is about the individual, Libra/Venus is about the relationship of the individual with others. Conflicts with others are unavoidable, but how to handle them in the most enlightened way - that gets tricky. Especially for Libra, who hates confrontation and uses diplomacy - or if that fails, outright manipulation - to fight.

Is it any wonder Libra is known as the Sign of the "Detriment" of the Planet Mars? Mars is forced to "play nice," while Libra is forced to deal with uncomfortable feelings of anger and conflict. It can be a confusing time.

Sun-Sign Libras, and especially those with their Natal Mars in Libra, and those with multiple Planets in Libra would be well-advised to order my "MARS IN LIBRA 2013-2014 REPORT," personalized for YOUR individual natal chart.

Note to my current and former clients (you know who you are) - Chanukah Discount as I've already got your Natal Chart in my database. Your report is only $50.

New clients - this product is $100 and includes a half-hour phone or Skpye consultation with me regarding your personal natal chart and how the 8 month long Transit of Mars through Libra will be reflected in your life.

Email lorelaikude@yahoo.com - Happy Chanukah!

Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan - Sharing is Caring

It's Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan and the New Moon in Libra (Sun and Moon Conjunct at 11 Degrees Libra). It's that "overlap" time between Zodiac Signs that happens when the Hebrew calendar and the English Calendar fluctuate in their cycles. Cheshvan is associated with Scorpio, with the Tribe of Menashe, and the energy of Fixed (Establishing) Water.

Libra, of course, is associated with the Month of Tishrei, the Tribe of Ephraim and the energy of Cardinal (Initiating) Air. These next 13 days between when Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan begins (today) and when the Sun actually goes into Scorpio (October 23) is what I call "Libra/Scorpio," meaning the Sun is still in Libra but the energy is already very much pulling towards Scorpio.

It's a time of intense passions, intense longings, and the impetus to protect what you believe belongs to you (Scorpio) while at the same time attempting to be "fair" to others (Libra). In a big way it's about SHARING - sharing love, sharing ideas (Libra), sharing resources, sharing intimacy (Scorpio).

What do we do with children who won't learn to share? We send them to their room to be alone and think about how they're hurting themselves and others. Thus the Universe will do to those who resist the impetus to share, until they grow up and learn that not everything is all about them.

It's important to remember Libra/Scorpio is Ephraim/Menashe. The brothers, the sons of Yosef haTzadik, the grand-sons of Yacov and Rachel. When Yacov went to bless his grandsons and reversed his hands to give the Eldest's blessing to the Youngest, the danger was jealousy (as had been played out in the generation before via the story of Yosef and his brothers). Ephraim and Menashe stand out in Jewish history as the first time our family (B'nai Yisrael) ever demonstrated that they had learned HOW TO SHARE.

Ironically I see this played out on a large scale in the conflict between women and other women at the Kotel this morning during Rosh Chodesh services - they don't want to share space, power, privilege, and they sure as heck don't want to share in who is "right."

Erratic, individualistic Uranus in aggressive Aries makes an exact Opposition to this New Moon, making everybody even more entrenched in their sense of self-righteousness and sure that their position is the one and only true and legitimate one. Squaring the New Moon is passionate, possessive, smoldering Pluto in materialist Capricorn, reflecting the blind spot (a Square is after all, a corner - and who can see around a corner without a mirror???) that keeps each group embedded in only their own reality and blinds them to the fact that other realities exist which are not their own. Expansive Jupiter in security-conscious, nurturing Cancer also makes a hard Square to the New Moon, thus completing the "Cardinal Grand Cross" of Planets that takes place today. Jupiter could reflect either the urge to expand one's consciousness (let's hope so) OR it could simply blow up Cancer's already possessive nature, making everyone guard their turf even more.

It's said that "Israel is 'above the zodiac.' This is true of our NATIONAL destiny, but as individuals it's true only as far as each member of Claal Yisrael takes personal responsibility to develop their own midot (personal characteristics such as kindness, patience, etc.). For those who choose to forgo personal growth and self-awareness, you're just stuck inside of Mobile with the Memphis blues again.

It's time to take a page from Ephraim and Menashe's playbook. SHARING IS CARING.