The new Moon

The Moon in Libra is ruled by Venus, which is currently in Scorpio and conjunct Mars. Libra is the first sign in the second half of the zodiac and denotes the interests of others as opposed to personal interests. Pat at Real Astrologers presents a good description of the factors present at this new Moon.

An astrologer from an earlier era -- Llewelyn George -- gives us this description (directed toward interpretation of a natal chart) of the Moon in Libra:

This location of the Moon, taken alone, favors or inclines to unions, partnerships and general popularity. Fond of pleasure, society and amusements and the company of young people. The native is affectionate, good-natured, agreeable, courteous, warm-hearted, affable, mirthful, inclined to love and marriage; kind in manner and makes friends easily. Liking for fine clothes, adornment, luxury, approbation and all refining and harmonious influences.

The life is considerably affected by other people and the Libran usually prefers to work in association with another.

Appreciation for music, painting, scenery and all the fine arts generally; considerable skill and ingenuity along these lines if Mercury is in good aspect. (A to Z Horoscope Maker and Delineator, 29th edition, 1973)

In this cycle the Sun-Moon dyad occupy the 11th house and are conjunct the cusp of the 12th. They are approaching an exact conjunct with natal Saturn, also in the llth.

Natal Saturn in the llth house emphasizes maintaining or keeping established means and procedures, especially with respect to the House of Representatives. With the new Moon conjunct, there may be some new attempts at negotiation -- especially in the light of the overwhelming partisanship currently so evident -- but little will come of it. Greed has been the soup du jour for too long. Some kind of revolution is needed, but the Tea Party offers little that is truly usable.

In my wanderings I rediscovered Neptune Cafe. There you can read a strong argument supporting the U.S. chart having a Scorpio ascendant. And there is a good reference page with political astrology keywords.

This full Moon balances on the Libra/Aries axis, as opposed to the Aries/Libra axis of last cycle. In a way it seems the Moon didn't quite make it into Taurus. At the new Moon all of the planets and lights were contained in the signs Libra through Pisces, all except Juno. This suggests a strong emphasis on the interests of others, excluding business and political partnerships. These partnerships are influenced by Juno in Virgo, and may be hamstrung by high expectations. At the full Moon, Luna has broken free and entered the personal half of the zodiac. Leaving Aries, she forms a trine with Juno, perhaps easing some of the tensions, but comes under sway of a retrograde Venus in Libra.

Cycle 10: the 26 Taurus 15 focal point at the new Moon

A total of 10 planets, asteroids and lights aspect the degree of 26 Taurus 15 at the new Moon on October 7, 2010. While no celestial body is positioned at this degree, we can look at its significance as presented by the Sabian symbols.

There are two sets of Sabian symbols: the original ones presented by Marc Edmund Jones in 1931 (mimeographed version, the book was published in 1953) and a set, based on Jones' symbols, that was published by Dane Rudhyar in 1973.

The two sets often vary widely. Jones' were written with an earlier American sensibility, that is to say, they are often blunt and have little political sensitivity (read "are often politically incorrect"). Rudhyar's are a more complex interpretation of the symbols presented by Jones.

Let's take a look at the symbol indicated by 26 Taurus 15. First of all, according to numerous references to the symbols, one must round up to the next whole degree when deciding which symbol to use. Thus, we will be looking at 27° Taurus.

27° Taurus

The symbol may be used in a number of ways:

• as an oracle to point the way to solution of a specific problem
• as a mandala to serve as a focus for meditation
• as an example of Jungian synchronicity
• as a point at which inner and outer personal worlds meet
• however you choose

In any case one must relate the image and elements of the symbol to her/his own reality and understanding to give them meaning and find the symbol's value.