by Henry Seltzer, AstroGraph

The Astrology of November focuses on the Scorpio New Moon energy carried over from the 25th of last month, also Pluto, ruler of Scorpio, and the eclipses representing this month's lunations: the November 8th Lunar Eclipse and Star of David formation, that is also being called a Harmonic Concordance, followed by the New Moon Solar Eclipse of Sunday November 23rd, the Sunday before Thanksgiving. These extraordinary formations in the sky reflect the great transformations taking place here on planet Earth, following the alchemist maxim As Above So Below. The chart of the Harmonic Concordance and Lunar Eclipse is timed for about 5 PM on Saturday November 8th. In this major coming together of planetary energies, in which all the archetypes are in one way or another linked, the planets form two interlocking Grand Trines, one in Earth, one in Water, at approximately 13-16 degrees of every other sign. The Water Grand Trine involves Sun - Saturn - Mars while the Grand Trine in the Earth element involves the Moon, Jupiter and Chiron. Meanwhile, in the Fire element, as Venus in Sagittarius approaches Pluto and begins its two week period of conjunction with the deep transformational energy of that planetary archetype, the midpoint of Venus and Pluto at the time of the Full Moon is at 13 degrees of Sagittarius, square Jupiter and Mars, inconjunct Saturn and the Moon (forming respectively a T-square and a Yod or "Finger of God" configuration). Venus rules the Taurus Moon of this Full Moon Eclipse, while Pluto rules the Sun, representing the female and male archetypes, so their coming together calls for comment. It is obvious that a transformation needs to happen on this beleaguered world of ours, and the logical place to start is in terms of right relationship with ourselves and with each other. As the relationship energy represented by Venus comes together with the intensely transformative energy of Pluto in one focus of this incredible pattern, we move one step closer to healing the polarities between individuals and nations. Only when the polarities are balanced will we find the peace within our own hearts that translates out into a more peaceful world. And the polarities are currently raging, even escalating in scope, raging like the October wild fires in Southern California. The wave of violence and destruction in Baghdad that shows no sign of letting up is a direct consequence of the projection of polarity, the dividing up of the world into "good" and "evil" that has taken place over the course of this new century. Pluto in Sagittarius, which exactly conjuncted Chiron as this century began, brings out the ideological differences that separate the tribe of man, for purposes of transforming these into a more benevolent outlook. The raging fire of Pluto is necessary for eventual growth, just as in the natural forest. What must first be swept away are the old conceptions of differences that still haunt us, which form of God we worship, how we dress and make polite gestures of hospitality or the reverse. When we no longer see the evil as "out there" but rather as a reflection of a universal human condition that is just as much "in here," we will have come a long way toward the promised enlightened age to come after this sometimes violent transition period. It is through difficulty and conflict that we seem to evolve on this planet. And we must work to sustain the potential growth in the midst of the horror of the conflict, to take the high road in our dealings with each other, in both the level of our personal interactions and as well the relations between peoples on this evolving world. In this regard the recent station of Saturn is quite relevant, coming as it did almost exactly on the Sun of the U.S. chart, and just as Chiron opposed it. Saturn turned retrograde last October 25th, on the same day as the Scorpio New Moon, and events were predicted that would cause the self-image of the American people to suffer extreme damage that might lead to a bottoming out of arrogance and in the end be ultimately healing. Since Saturn is retrograde, and when it turned retrograde was just minutes away from actual contact with the U.S. Sun, it makes sense that these October events were likely to have the effect of a seeding of the idea of loss, rather than representing the direct outward manifestation of loss. We can look to a time period of 8 months or so, leading up to the final transit of Saturn across the U.S. Sun in June 2004, as to when that loss may be made manifest. Certainly we have seen the potential downfall of this administration begin to unfold. Taking a close look at what transpired over this important last weekend in October, most obvious was the renewed violence in Baghdad -- leading to queasy feelings on the part of the American people of Viet Nam quagmire, combined with an uneasy sense of deja vu from the duplicity of official administration reactions. The official position was that these are the last desperate acts of foreign terrorists on the run, a sign that the occupation of Iraq is in fact is going well, reminding us how closely George Orwell's concept of "doublespeak" from the novel 1984 parallels modern society. War is peace, freedom is slavery, ignorance is strength. Right. Similarly, during the Viet Nam war the administration declared that it wasn't really bombing Cambodia, while troop commanders on the ground routinely misreported combat kills. The deception that was so much a part of that conflict is also so much a part of this one, as embedded journalists are the only ones allowed to speak over media airwaves, relating also to the transits to Neptune in the U.S. charts we have discussed in previous months. The other event that might be seen as a seeding of future unfolding troubles for this increasingly unpopular administration, and that took place the same day as Saturn's station last month, on Saturday, October 25th represents an eerie reminder of the inquiries made by the independent counsel during the 1970s Watergate scandal that brought down the Nixon White House, at a time when Saturn was also conjuncting the Sun in the U.S. chart, thirty years ago. This would be the threat of subpoena of White House documents regarding the failed intelligence of potential terrorist attacks in the time period leading up to 9-11. So far the White House is stalling on handing over the documents the investigation is asking for. On that Saturday the chairman of the independent commission, Thomas H. Kean, stated in an interview that he would not take no for an answer, and would use the subpoena process if necessary, as these documents form the heart of his panelŐs investigation. Coincidently (or not) the panel's results are due by the end of May 2004, just prior to the June 10th final transit of Saturn across the U.S. Sun. As we see these potentially planet-changing events unfold, over this Winter and Spring period of time, we can become excited at being caught up in the process of history in the making. Just as in the Viet Nam war era, the eventual outcome will depend on the conscious and extended effort of each one of us. Only by increasing the frequency of our own individual vibration, thereby helping the collective vibration to hum a little bit higher, will the world move forward, a little closer to that paradise on Earth and vision of right relationship that is truly possible, seemingly only just beyond our grasp at the present time. The movement of our individual evolution is also reflected in the star patterns unfolding over us during this monthly period. Perhaps the most exciting configuration is this dynamic Scorpio-Taurus Full Moon and Lunar Eclipse, when Jupiter, Saturn, Chiron and Mars align with the Sun and Moon to form the Star of David, or Grand Sextile formation, that includes three oppositions as well as trines and sextiles between them. Eclipse degree can be a sensitive point far into the future, so in this case the 17th degree of both Scorpio and Taurus are affected. The Sabian Symbols for these degrees are quite significant and are as follows. Scorpio 17: A Woman is the father of her own child. Filled with her own Spirit, an illimitable self-potentiality with effective spiritual or ideal as well as practical and everyday orientations. And Taurus 17: A battle between the swords and the torches. The eternal struggle between practical necessities and transient competitions of life on the one hand and the motives and meanings which give them direction and order on the other. As opposed to the swords as weapons of destruction, the torches are the instruments that bring truth and light, according to the interpretation of Lynda Hill. And obviously in this world, and most particularly at this time, we have a choice. Looking at the balance of energies represented by this Star of David configuration, or Harmonic Concordance, we find the polarity of Sun and Moon reflected in the two other oppositions, between Jupiter and Mars, forming, and between Saturn and Chiron. The Jupiter-Mars opposition only lasts a couple of weeks, up to the Solar Eclipse New Moon on November 23rd. During the time it is active, it suggests a powerful opportunity for action in the world, especially since it forms a T-square to Pluto in Sagittarius. This may equally be a period of time when ideological warfare intensifies, and as well a time when new visions may be raised for more peaceful alternatives, as individuals and collectives seek to transform the nature of their differences, just as in the Sabian Symbols for this Full Moon configuration indicate. Saturn and Chiron travel near each other in the actual Solar system, and represent different stages of awareness of life possibility. On one level, Saturn typifies the status quo, the physical plane, consensus reality, while Chiron represents a chance to move beyond the ordinary conception into our deepest part of ourselves, through getting in touch with the Higher Self that resides inside us all, and also through getting in touch with the places where we are wounded. It is these places that hold us back from greater participation in the spiritual resurgence that is possible in the world. It is also significant that Jupiter moves into sextile with Saturn and trine with Chiron at this time, representing the opportunity to lift our vision to the higher nature of Saturn, no longer a burden but a guidance into the light. For Saturn, planet of limitation, is also our greatest teacher here in the earthly plane, when we fully tune in to our own internal understanding. The energy of the Solar Eclipse and New Moon in Sagittarius that takes place on Sunday November 23rd is also very powerful. This lunation squares Uranus, now direct and about to re-enter Pisces, so unexpected events and sudden enlightenment may be the hallmark of this Thanksgiving week that ends the month. Thanksgiving in America, the perfect Sagittarian holiday, reflects the principles of abundance and gratitude that are the basis for renewed spiritual commitment. This New Moon also features a T-square to Mercury and Pluto, from Jupiter and Mars, so a powerful change of consciousness is very much a possibility at this time as well. Only by inching our individual consciousness forward will the world as a whole be transformed. << nmazca/coeli