Comfort Ye, Comfort Ye My People...

Mars in Aquarius conjunct the Full Lunar Eclipse tonight - the longest eclipse of the 21st Century. It will be fully visible from Israel.

The discovery of liquid water on #Mars was announced just as Mars in Aquarius (the "Water Bearer" in Western astrology, the "D'li" ( דְלִי ) or bucket of pouring water in Jewish astrology) stationed directly across from the illuminating Sun in Leo ("revealing" by its light previously unknown mysteries). 

Aquarius is NOT, however, one of the three signs of the Water element (those are Cardinal Water sign Cancer, Fixed Water sign Scorpio, and Mutable water sign Pisces). Aquarius is the Fixed Air sign, whose symbol (the bucket pouring water), according to the B'nai Yissachar's discourse on the month of Shvat (the Hebrew month associated with Aquarius) represents the outpouring of Torah. 

The three modalities in astrology (Cardinal, Fixed and Mutable) combined with the four elements (Fire, Air, Earth and Water) produce 12 energetic permutations of the Zodiac. Aquarius is Fixed (Establishing) Air (Thought). 

May our thoughts be fixed and established upon that which is good, and may the stars in their course always do the will of their Creator, Who has in times past commanded them to fight for Israel, and in times to come will do so as well.

Tonight: Shabbos Nachamu, Tu b'Av, Total Lunar Eclipse.
May we all be empowered to both give and receive the full measure of comfort and consolation needed by all right now.

New Moon in Aries - Rosh Chodesh Nissan - It's Superhero Time!

After swimming with the fishes for not just one but two Adars this year, now we're turning the Cardinal Corner as Rosh Chodesh Nissan rushes towards us this week.

Nissan is the 1st Month of the Astrological Calendar and corresponds to Aries, to the Tribe of Yehuda, to the Planet Mars. Aries is the Cardinal (Initiating) Fire Sign.

At this time the Sun, Moon and Uranus are all Conjunct in Aries - it's Superhero time! Don't forget your cape and your tights. You're going to need them. 

Any Planet that finds itself in a Conjunction (within 3 Degrees) of the Sun and Moon is super-super strong. Uranus/Sun in Aries is the liberation of the personality, Uranus/Moon in Aries is the liberation of the emotions - when they all happen together one can expect fireworks. This Conjunction demands recognition and affirmation of one's own individuation and should anyone negate that, sparks will fly - or maybe entire neighborhoods will be torched.

The Cardinal Signs are all in play - Cardinal is Initiating Energy, all four of the Cardinal Signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn) are about starting something.

Right now, all four Cardinal Signs are having a role to play here. Aries is Cardinal Fire - Initiating Inspiration. The Sun, Moon and Uranus are Conjunct in Aries. Squaring (at a 90 Degree Angle) this Triple Conjunction is volcanic, suppress-until-explosion Pluto in Cardinal Earth Capricorn - Initiating Manifestation.

Opposing Pluto (and thereby Squaring the Sun/Moon/Uranus Conjunction) is gigantic Jupiter (who has to blow up everything he touches, because after all, he's Jupiter!) in Cardinal Water Cancer (Initiating Security, or as I like to call this aspect, "The Office of Homeland Security in your chart").

Both Pluto AND Jupiter Square the Sun/Moon/Uranus Conjunction (and oppose each other). Squares are generally corners and you can't see around a corner, that's why Squares are considered difficult angles in Charts. Pluto in Capricorn wants to control resources, Jupiter in Cancer is afraid of shortages. These opposing energies make a "corner" (Square) around which the intense, bright light of the Sun/Moon/Uranus Conjunction in Aries wants to inform with raw courage. 

There's been way too much fear lately. This is the time to take a big leap forward in consciousness and understand that your material world, your resources, your sustenance, your security, everything you've been hoarding or saving is really NOT what keeps you safe and wards off thoughts of deprivation and darkness. No, not at all. Neither your control over others nor your valiant attempts at self-control is really working without the missing link - faith. It's faith in G*d and most of all in G*d's vision for YOU, that is going to get you to put on that cape and those tights and attempt to jump tall buildings in a single bound. 

Because right now, you CAN overcome the forces of doubt and darkness. Wear red, laugh a lot, let your Inner Child order your food and make your entertainment decisions. That dream you've been dreaming but not telling anyone about? Time to take it out of the closet and into the streets. Start the day by thanking your Creator for making you YOU. You're the only one who can live the story of the heroic journey of your soul during this lifetime - make it yours, and only yours, with all your strength. 

Chodesh Nissan Tov! Our Redemption is close at hand!

Rosh Chodesh Shvat Tov!

Chodesh Shvat Tov!

The Hebrew Month of Shvat begins at Sundown on January 1st. 

Shvat belongs to the Tribe of Asher, and is associated with the Mazal of "Dlee," the pitcher of water, otherwise known as Aquarius, the Water-Bearer.

Shvat's element is Fixed Air (even though Aquarius is the water-bearer!) and, appropriate to the Tribe of Asher (which is associated with delicious foods) the Sefer Yetzirah tells us that the stomach is the body organ associated with Shvat, and the Tikkun of Shvat has to do with eating.

The Bnei Yisachar ("Discourses on Shvat") says that according to Astrology, Dlee-Aquarius is the sign of the Jewish People. No other sign of the Zodiac is as concerned with issues of humanitarianism, universalism and the brotherhood of mankind as is Aquarius. The bucket of water is an appropriate sign for Israel, because water is a symbol for Torah, and it is Israel's job to be the water-bearer for this world.

Each of the Four Elements (Fire, Air, Earth and Water) operate in one of Three Modalities (Cardinal/Initiating, Fixed/Establishing or Mutable/Transforming). The Month of Shvat is the Fixed Air Sign of the Zodiac. 

All three Air Signs (Gemini/Sivan, Libra/Tishrei and Aquarius/Shvat) are associated with the Torah - which was given over by Moshe ("Mishna Torah") beginning on Rosh Chodesh Shvat (Aquarius, Fixed Air, Establishing Torah). The Torah was given to the Jewish Nation at Sinai during the Month of Sivan (Gemini, Mutable Air, Transforming Torah) and during Tishrei the Second Set of Tablets were given (Libra, Cardinal Air, Initiating Torah).

It is interesting to note the Planets associated with the Months and their Modalities in this example. The Planet Mercury (Kokhav) which has to do with communication, is associated with Gemini (Mutable/Transforming Air) and the Tribe of Zebulon, known for conducting commerce (via shipping) with foreign nations.

The Planet Venus (Noga) is associated with Libra (Cardinal/Initiating Air) and the Tribe of Ephraim. Venus is concerned with beauty, relationships, balance and justice/fairness, as well as the arts and romantic love.  The Second Set of Tablets that were given by Moshe during Tishrei were the sign of the RELATIONSHIP that HKBH could live with in regards to the Jewish People.

There are two Planets associated with Aquarius. One is Saturn (Shabtai) which co-rules Capricorn/Tevet, and the other is Uranus (Oron). There are good reasons for the co-rulership and the evolving of our consciousness about the Planets in general and their relationship to the Nations of this world. 

Saturn (Shabtai) is concerned with structure, order, organization, boundaries and restriction ("Tzimtzum").  The relationship between Tevet and Shvat is most interesting. They are the Months on this side of the year said by the Ari as "belonging to Esav" from Rosh Chodesh Tevet - which remember, is STILL within Chanukah! - until Tu b'Shvat). Tevet and Shvat are the two eyes (according to the Holy Ari who attributed facial organs to the Hebrew Months), Tevet is "Ayin" and associated with the right eye, and Shvat is "Tzadik" and associated with the left eye. One needs both the right and left eye to see properly and in perspective.

Uranus (Oron) is originality, individualism, humanitarianism, a visionary perspective. It's the energy associated with hiddushim, original insights. No other Sign of the Zodiac has more talent for originality, or is so intellectually curious, as Aquarius. It is interesting to recall that both Copernicus and Galileo were Aquarians. Shvat is the Month most conducive to original thought. 

Wishing everyone a Happy Solar/Gregorian New Year 2014, and a happy and holy Chodesh Shvat 5774!





 

Jupiter Moves Into Cancer

Jupiter - the big windy gas bag of our Planetary system, ruler of everything gigantic and over-the-top, has just moved from the Sign of Gemini (where it's been since June of 2012) and into the Sign of Cancer (where it will be until July 2014). This year we're "blowing up" Cancerian concepts of security: home, food, mother, money.

All the Planets are created by HaShem as energetic lenses through which specific attributes are filtered. These attributes reflect the corresponding conditions upon Creation - specifically, humankind.

Jupiter is the largest Planet, is associated with the Sign of Sagittarius (and traditionally, before the "discovery" of Neptune, with Pisces). It's also associated with the Month of Kislev, the Tribe of Benyamin, the tikkun of sleep and dreams. 

In mythology Jupiter is Zeus, the king of the Olympians, godfather to the mythological mafia line up, if you will. Jupiter has the attribute of extremism - although it is usually experienced in a positive and even beneficent manner, it can be excessive.

Beginning this week, Jupiter is making a transit (passing through) the Sign of Cancer for about the next year. Wherever Jupiter transits, that area of life gets expanded. During Jupiter's transit of Gemini everything having to do with communication (Gemini's forte) was expanded. Think of Wikileaks and all the security breaches of the last year!

Cancer is concerned with security and advancement. Cancerians are ruled by the Moon, which makes them emotional, yet they are Cardinal Signs so they always take the initiative although they travel Crab-like, scuttling in switchbacks and never making a direct approach, but never backing down.

Cancer's key words are: Food, Home, Mother, Money. These are triggers for them emotionally and in terms of motivation. Jupiter's transit of Cancer will see these key words / emotional triggers expanded.

Globally "Mother Earth" may be the Mother to whom we need to pay attention. To each of us individually those things that say "mother" to us, i.e. our literal mothers or those who provide nurturing energy to us in whatever form - those relationships will be highlighted and emphasized.

We have to ask ourselves: What are we growing in our lives? What are we nurturing, what is nurturing us? How are we providing for our own heritage and legacy?     

So friends - Welcome to Jupiter in Cancer, let's keep our eyes open for those things within ourselves and each other that need watering and care!