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.

Mars in Retrograde Aquarius: Say, You Want a Revolution?

Remember May 12-14th? That's the WHIPLASH POINT Mars will take us to, and back again, during the impending Mars in Aquarius Retrograde, which begins Tuesday, June 26. 

Here's the Celestial Schedule for Mars:
Retrograde begins on June 26 at 9 degrees Aquarius. Retrograde ends on August 27th at 28/29 Capricorn (the position Mars was in May 12th-14th).
Mars then stations Direct on August 27th and proceeds to retrace his steps through the shadow of its own Retrograde motion ("whiplash"), until it arrives back at 9 Aquarius on October 7th.

This is a tougher-than-usual time for people with Aquarius Rising. Aquarius Rising has it worst of all because Saturn (your Classical Ruling Planet until Uranus was discovered) is in Capricorn, your 12th House. 12th House transits of Saturn are never fun, but for Aquarius Rising people they are especially challenging (Saturn being the ruler of Capricorn). Why? Because 12th House is the a place of dissolving boundaries and structures, and Saturn / Capricorn is about structures, borders, building, and manifesting. The need to individuate must fight against the urge to dissolve into undifferentiated One-ness.

Aquarius Sun or Aquarius Moon also won't find this Mars Retrograde a picnic. Retrograde Mars on Aquarius Sun brings out the combative, stubborn (remember Aquarius is a FIXED Sign), rebellion for the sake of rebellion, and self-righteous side of Aquarius Sun-Signs. Retrograde Mars on Aquarius Moon is emotional revolution.

The other Fixed Signs (Leo, Taurus, and Scorpio) will be Squared by Mars in Aquarius Retrograde. Enhanced threat perception, defensiveness, passive-aggressive or just plain aggressiveness can appear, disguised as Aquarian-themed manifestations: "Humanitarianism" and "Universality", "friendship" and "community," "future" and "unique individualism." Soylent Green is a cinematic example of a Retrograde Mars in Aquarius solution to the problem of food shortages and overpopulation. Aquarius, Leo, Taurus and Scorpio need to resist internal pressure to seek extreme solutions. 

As for the rest of us: In whichever of the 12 Houses of your personal natal chart the area between 28/29 Capricorn and 9 Aquarius falls, that's where all the action happens between now and when we get "back to" now on October 7th.

Mars in Retrograde Aquarius asks: "Say, you want a revolution?" Don't answer back unless you know what you're revolting against and where you want that revolution to lead. Best place to start a revolution is inside yourself. 

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!