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2011 Moon Cycle 2: new Moon in Aquarius, full Moon in Leo
Here are the Moon charts for February:
- February 3rd: New Moon at 13° Aquarius 54′
- A new Moon/U.S.natal comparison chart
- February 18th: Full Moon at 29° Leo 20′
- A full Moon/U.S.natal comparison chart
- A page with background information
During this cycle we find the Sun and new Moon at 13° Aquarius and the full Moon balanced against the Sun on the Leo/Aquarius axis at 29° Leo. This is the second calendar cycle of the year and the eleventh in the astrological year. There is a very good description of the new Moon and the planets involved at Café Astrology.
Recently there's been much ado about sidereal vs. tropical astrology. Tropical is what you read about here. And here is part of a succinct and and clear article, "No, your zodiac sign hasn't changed," by CNN's Jason Hanna that explains it all --
"This story is born periodically as if someone has discovered some truth. It's not news," said Jeff Jawer, astrologer with Tarot.com.
The hubbub started with Sunday's Star Tribune article, which said the following: "The ancient Babylonians based zodiac signs on the constellation the sun was 'in' on the day a person was born. During the ensuing millenniums, the moon’s gravitational pull has made the Earth 'wobble' around its axis, creating about a one-month bump in the stars' alignment."
"When [astrologers] say that the sun is in Pisces, it’s really not in Pisces," Parke Kunkle, a board member of the Minnesota Planetarium Society, told the Star Tribune.
"Indeed," the article continued, "most horoscope readers who consider themselves Pisces are actually Aquarians." The article also asserts Scorpio's window lasts only seven days, and that a 13th constellation, Ophiuchus, used to be counted between Scorpio and Sagittarius but was discarded by the Babylonians because they wanted 12 signs per year.
True enough, Jawer says, the sun doesn't align with constellations at the same time of year that it did millennia ago. But that’s irrelevant for the tropical zodiac, codified for Western astrology by Ptolemy in the second century, he says.
In the tropical zodiac, the start of Aries is fixed to one equinox, and Libra the other.
"When we look at the astrology used in the Western world, the seasonally based astrology has not changed, was never oriented to the constellations, and stands as … has been stated for two millenniums," Jawer said.
People who put stock in astrology can ask whether they should adhere to the tropical zodiac or the sidereal zodiac. Jawer argues for the tropical.
"Astrology is geocentric. It relates life on Earth to the Earth’s environment, and seasons are the most dramatic effect, which is why we use the tropical zodiac," he said.
I'm also including an excerpt from Llewellyn George's A to Z Horoscope Maker and Delineator (29th edition, 1973). In it Mr. George is describing the sign Scorpio and the influence of the constellation Ophiuchus. To me this is fascinating stuff -- I hope you like it.
Changes in format (second notice):
- You may note that I'm using a new layout for new and full Moon charts, mainly because the aspect grid includes the asteroids. It may not be as pretty, but there's more information.
- Also, I will no longer be publishing the biwheel chart comparing the new and full Moons. I'm concerned that the format is misleading. If you found it useful, let me know and I'll begin posting it again.
Follow up:
The Moon in Aquarius is ruled by Uranus which is currently transiting the sign Pisces and has been since March, 2003 (This May Uranus will enter Aries). While the sign Aquarius indicates innovation and shared goals, Uranus being caught in the last few degrees of Pisces suggests being enmeshed in old habits still and just being restless for a change. Now is the time to look ahead and begin formulating what that change should be, how the finished product will look and, most importantly, how to get there. When all is quiet, it's time for planning.
Jeff Jawer at StarIQ has this to say about the new Moon:
This union of the Sun and Moon in innovative Aquarius inspires unconventional ideas and fires up an urge for freedom. Assertive Mars’ conjunction with the New Moon spurs provocative behavior that can lead to confrontations with authority figures and rebellions against rules and routines. Using these impulses to initiate new projects or develop original methods is a more desirable expression of their explosive power. A stressful 45-degree semisquare to the New Moon from electric Uranus, Aquarius’ ruling planet, intensifies restless feelings and the desire for immediate change. A dash of detachment provides a buffer from combustible emotions, reducing the likelihood of destructive behavior.
There are two stelliums at this new Moon -- in Aquarius and in Capricorn. Juno in Virgo is accentuated by aspecting nearly every body in the chart. She is closely sesquiquadrate Sun, Moon and Mars and in opposition to Uranus in Pisces, indicating some friction or unease between partners, especially those married. There may also be unexpected upsets. The sesquiquadrate aspect indicates a conscious need to take action, according to Michael R. Meyer in A Handbook for the Humanistic Astrologer.
This lunar cycle begins with the Sun-Moon dyad conjunct the 4th house cusp, but positioned in the 3rd. There are 6 bodies in the 3rd house -- P.Athena, Mercury, Ceres, Moon-Sun, and Mars, ranging from 17° Capricorn to 14° Aquarius. Near the midpoint of this semi-sextile is natal Pluto in Capricorn; in opposition to the midpoint is natal Venus in Cancer; and conjunct the midpoint is transiting Mercury. With all these influences there should be an abundance of social communication, perhaps mixed with propoganda. Be careful what you believe in the news and on the internet. Discussions about education, America's loss of manufacturing and spending continue.
The full Moon
The full Moon balances Sun against Moon on the Leo/Aquarius axis. The Moon's first aspect after leaving Leo is an opposition to Chiron in Pisces. The stelliums that marked the new Moon have followed through to the full, but diminished in number and rearranged a little.
The opposition between the Moon and Chiron seems important to me. Chiron in Pisces could denote old wounds being activated by a guilty mother. On a wider scale it could denote the wounded from previous wars being abandonned by the agency that should support them. Another way to see it is visionary idealists (Pisces) being challenged by detail-oriented pragmatists or facts(Virgo).
The full Moon this month is in the 10th house, leaving Leo and entering Virgo. Ruler of the 10th is Saturn, which still resides in Libra. Saturn is square the Sun in Aquarius, indicating difficulties for the common people trying to deal with the powers-that-be.
The stellium in Aquarius is clustered in the 4th house, aspecting the U.S.'s natal Moon and P. Athena. This suggests complex and difficult-to-sort-out influences with respect to home, family, and concerns of regular folk. That the Moon is elevated in the chart and in the 10th gives the common people and females leverage.
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