Shevat: Tag-Team Titans Test Tectonic Tensions

Chodesh Shevat 5779 (January 7 – February 4, 2019 )

The Hebrew month of Shevat, which runs from January 7 – February 4 of this year, is associated with the Fixed Air sign of Aquarius (D’li, the water bucket) and the Tribe of Asher. 

 

Aquarius / D'li from Sefer Evronot, Frankfurt-am-Main, 1624

Aquarius is one of the few Mazzalot which has two planetary rulers. In classical astrology, “Shabbtai” (Saturn) ruled both Capricorn and Aquarius. After Uranus (Oron) was discovered in the late 18th century, modern astrology assigned Uranus to the rulership of Aquarius. Yet Aquarius retains vestiges of Saturnian energy to this day and should be considered in the individual’s natal chart equally with Uranus in terms of chart rulership, if the individual has Aquarius on the Ascendant.

 

Aquarius from 4th Century mosaic floor, Hammat Tiberias Synagogue

Asher, the Tribal ruler of Aquarius, comes to teach an important lesson about how sometimes material blessings obscure our self-perception, impeding our ability to do the hard work of self-scrutiny which leads to self-improvement. 

Both Jacob and Moses blessed Asher (which means “Happy”) with abundance and prosperity, from which he would support his brethren. Yet Asher’s riches created enough of a comfort zone for him that he didn’t prioritize conquest of his Tribal portion and failed to drive out the Canaanites altogether from his lands. Although he joined his brethren in war against “foreigners” (Midianites, Amaekites and others), he wasn’t punctilious about ridding his own inheritance of the Canaanites. 

Aquarius, from the Amsterdam Mahzor, 1240

These external examples come to teach an internal reality. Aquarius is a loyal friend and humanitarian, but sometimes indifferent to his own vulnerabilities. Although the most idealistic of all zodiac signs in terms of his perception of others, if protected by prosperous circumstances, he won’t strive hard for self-perfection. Asher finds redemption through humility, as illustrated by when his Tribe accepted Hezekiah’s invitation to the Tribes of the Northern Kingdom to celebrate Passover in Jerusalem (2 Chron. 30:11). The part of our own personal natal chart where we find Aquarius is where we find our highest expression of friendship, brother/sisterhood, loyalty to community, and humanitarianism. 

This year Chodesh Shevat begins smack in the middle of Solar Capricorn and is kicked off with the Solar Eclipse / New Moon conjunct transiting Saturn. Less than a day later, Uranus stations Direct at 29 degrees (the “ultimate” or “critical” degree of any sign) of Aries after his latest Retrograde period, which began last August. 

Both Uranus and Saturn are exerting pressure in the effort to bring about change – Saturn in his slow and steady way, Uranus in his abrupt, sudden, and surprising way. These Titans are tag-teaming in the Cardinal (initiating) signs of Capricorn and Aries (aided by Mars’ recent ingress into his home sign) to overcome the tectonic pressure generated by fear-based resistance to what we all know in our heart is inevitable change. 

Comfort zones will be shaken, concepts about security upended, definitions of both “ally” and “enemy” will be reconsidered, ideals will be challenged. The universe is sending a memo: did you receive it yet? The times, they are a-changin’.

Astral Weeks September 2-8: Speeding Towards Rosh HaShanah!

Astral Weeks

September 2 – 8

August seemed to linger forever, but as soon as September comes, the speedy Mercury-ruled signs of Virgo and Gemini kick things into high gear. On Sunday the Sun in Mercury’s Mutable Earth sign of Virgo and the Moon mark the Last Quarter of the lunar month in Mercury’s Mutable Air sign of Gemini. Speedy communication is in the air as Virgo and Gemini chatter, rattle and hum their way through the long Labor Day Weekend. Monday’s sextile between Mercury in Leo and Venus in Libra fuels dramatic declarations of love, warm words of diplomacy, and fiery indignation towards perceived injustice. 

The Moon enters her watery home sign of Cancer on Tuesday, refocusing the emotional lens towards hearth and home. Domestic matters are highlighted, and feelings are either expressed or repressed around issues of food, home, mother, and money. Mercury enters his home sign of Virgo on Wednesday evening, where he’ll linger for only the shortest time (September 5^th – 21^st), so make the best of this transit of the Planet of Communication’s journey through the Mutable Earth sign by upgrading your own communication skills. 

Saturn stations Direct on Thursday after having been retrograde since mid-April in the first decan of Capricorn. The relief will be palpable as all the hard work which has felt like slogging through mud begins to pay off between now and mid-December. The Moon enters Leo Thursday evening, heightening drama as Mercury (“The Sun’s Scribe”) in Virgo trines first Uranus in Retrograde Taurus and then Saturn in Capricorn on Friday morning, shortly before the Virgo Sun’s opposition to Neptune in Pisces. Earth signs don’t traffic in fantasy, nor do they give “fake news” any quarter. We may look for unexpected news which challenges our perceptions about what is real and what isn’t. 

Saturday bring the last Shabbat of the year, as we read Parshat Nitzavim and remember that the truth isn’t in far-off heaven or hidden beneath the sea, but is very near to us, even “in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can fulfill it." Venus and Mars in the final degrees of Cardinal signs Libra and Capricorn make a hard square, challenging us to take the initiative in both thought and deed, as we prepare to greet the Jewish New Year 5779. May we be strengthened in our faith, in truth, and in love!

Astral Weeks for August 26 - September 1: Full Pisces Moon & Mars Direct Bring Opportunities For Heart-Healing

Astral Weeks

August 26 – September 1^st

Sunday begins with a big, bright, full moon in Pisces, Big, wet, maybe a tad weepy. Full Pisces Moon sextiles Uranus in Taurus and Saturn in Capricorn, softening both Earth signs (mud is what happens when water meets earth). Good chance of unexpected opportunities for healing via surprising glimpses of the Divine disguised as the mundane. As the Grateful Dead sing: "Once in a while you get shown the light / In the strangest of places if you look at it right." 

Because our bodies are mostly water, full moons in water signs can be – moist. Sensitivities are enhanced, and energies take a turn for the forward on Monday when Mars, after an entire summer of Retrograde zig-zagging through the early degrees of Aquarius, finally stations Direct at 28 Capricorn, where it will linger until September 9^th before beginning his inexorable march back through Aquarius. Mars conditions are what they were mid-May of this year – it’s like you get to time-travel without all the mess and expense – make it count this time! Tuesday the Moon enters go-getter Aries, making a conjunction to the asteroid Chiron and uncovering feelings of vulnerability – but wait, don’t allow yourself to go into automatic defense / shut-down mode, those feelings are valuable indicators of places within yourself which need further nurturing and love. 

The Aries Moon squares Pluto in Capricorn on Wednesday night, revealing the roots of emotional power struggles and professional rivalries, followed by the Moon’s opposition to Venus, in her home sign of Libra, on Thursday morning. When asked if she would rather make love and not war, Venus in this case may opt for war if she’s feeling overlooked or underappreciated. When the Moon enters Taurus Thursday evening, she makes a conjunction to unpredictable Uranus, which, depending on whether you’ve gone to war or opted for peace earlier in the day, may invite either innovation in lovemaking or doubling-down on stubborn pride using emotionally extreme measures (advice: don’t do it!). 

Friday’s Moon-Sun trine in Earth signs Taurus and Virgo respectively may bring the grounded emotional harmony you’ve been seeking all week. The Moon’s sextile to dreamy Neptune Friday evening may be the very thing to reintroduce feelings of one-ness, smoothing the rough edges and ruffled feathers and restoring peace. Saturday is Shabbat, Parshat KiTavo, the beginning of a long Labor Day weekend in the United States, and the first day of September. Moon in Taurus opposes Jupiter in Scorpio in the wee small hours of the morning, arousing issues of possession both emotional and material. If you’re fighting over the blankets, best to roll over and seek body heat rather than battle it out over who gets the covers. If you’ve played your cards right all day, the Moon-Mars trine late Saturday night might reward you with a deeper and more grounded emotional energy and a more profound sense of partnership.