Saturday, March 21, 2009

Mythic Times: It's a New World! Aquarian Equinox

Mythic Times: It's a New World! Aquarian Equinox



Change comes in waves or cycles often with dramatic new beginnings.

Each New Day, each New Moon and each New Year brings a new beginning.

Zodiacal New Year, the Solar Year, begins with the Spring Equinox on
March 20th.

This Spring Equinox is called the Aquarian Equinox because it is the
first Equinox

following the February 17th 2009 alignment of planets in Aquarius
signaling

the beginning of the Age of Aquarius. Spring Equinox is the basis for
timing the Ages.



That this year 2009 marks the beginning of a new era is confirmed by
an ordered

sequence of significant events and the convergence of several
important cycles.



The events in the transition to the Aquarian Age include:



1) The Feb 17th stellium in Aquarius, ‘Jupiter aligns with Mars’

2) Simultaneous Spring Equinox on Earth, Saturn and Uranus

3) New Venus Mar 27, ‘Morning Starshine’ beginning April 1st

4) The ‘most powerful solar eclipse of the century’ on July 22nd

5) The heliacal rising of Sirius, Venus and Orion in mid-August

6) The Saturn Ring Plane Crossing / Saturn Equinox on Sept 4

7) The appearance of the 7th Moon in the 7th House Sept 19 - 20



Wheels within Wheels, Cycles within Cycles


The converging cycles in this transition include the beginning of the
Aquarian Age according to the cycle of precession and the coincidental
cycles of Saturn and Uranus, the two planetary rulers of Aquarius.
Also significant is the North Node transit of Aquarius and its coming
to the exact Pisces / Aquarius juncture at the time of the July 22nd
total eclipse of the Sun. Additionally, there is a set of septenary
cycles to consider that will be the subject of a future newsletter.
Critical to these cycles are the Sun periods when renaissance flowers.
Suffice it to say that we are currently entering a Year of the Sun in
the 9th year of a Sun Millennium and we’re in the 28th year of a 36-
year Sun period that began in 1981. Global renaissance occurs every
500 years always in a Sun period, the current one being 1981-2016.
Finally, add to this the Mayan calendar cycle in which the 2009
‘tun’, the Year of Flowering, corresponds back in time to the 1960s
‘flower children’.



The World Wheel of Fortune / Year of the Dolphin



The ancient astrologers used a total of 48 constellations to map the
cosmos and to explain, by reflection, the workings of life on Earth.
12 of these star patterns make up our familiar zodiac. The other 36
constellations represent the decans (10-degree parts) of the zodiac.
There are three kinds of each zodiacal sign. Each decan is also
symbolized by a Tarot card (one of the 36 minor arcana) that tells a
related mythic story. Most interestingly, the 36 decans of the zodiac
represent the phases of a 36 year cycle that may aptly be called ‘the
world wheel of fortune.' Each year the wheel turns and another mythic
story comes to life. The 3/20/08 - 3/20/09 zodiacal year just ending
is 1st decan Capricorn / Cygnus the Swan / 2 of Pentacles and the
3/20/09 - 3/20/10 zodiacal year beginning is 2nd decan Capricorn /
Delphinus the Dolphin / 3 of Pentacles. Swan showed up this past year
in many ways I won't go into except to say that the circuit of the
bright star Sador marking the heart of Cygnus goes through Denver CO,
Springfield IL, Philadelphia and the Jersey shore area where black
swans have recently been proliferating. Dolphins are already appearing
prominently, we don't have to look far to find them. A recent evening
news clip showed dolphins blowing air bubble rings they tease about
and do acrobatic tricks with. Dolphins can dive deeply into the ocean
and they can fly into the sky. Dolphin is our guide in 2009.



More information about Delphinus the Dolphin can be found here

http://www.constellationsofwords.com/Constellations/Delphinus.html

"The constellation Delphinus is called 'Musicum signum, the sign of
the Muses' "



Tarot wise, the 2008 image shows a man standing before a turbulent sea
juggling pentacles: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Pents02.jpg

This card symbolizes turbulent times and speaks to the need for
juggling resources (pentacles are money).

The 2009 Tarot image http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Pents03.jpg
represents the beginning of a new creation with a good balance between
serious focus and lightness of being.



The Year of the Sun


Each zodiacal year (beginning at Spring Equinox) is ruled by one of 7
'planets' in the repeating sequence Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Sun, Venus,
Mercury, Moon.



Mars has been on our radars more this past year as Mars ruled the
3/20/2008-3/20/2009 zodiacal year. The Sun rules the zodiacal year
beginning at this Spring Equinox March 20th 2009. Mars years generally
bring more war and violence as Mars stirs the unconscious and brings
up repressed collective emotions. Mars years accentuate personal
motives, Sun years bring enlightened vision that is all inclusive. Sun
years bring new understanding supporting positive social change and
general well being. What Mars years bring to light Sun years set
right.



The Age of Aquarius song concludes with 'let the Sun shine in'
repeated 33 times. Coincidentally this year following the Aquarian
planetary alignment is ruled by the Sun. Like Sunday in the week, a
Sun Year is time to integrate what has come before.



The Sun, source of light, love and
power in the universe

Whose radiance illuminates the whole Earth,
illuminate also our hearts

That they, too may do your work.

~ Sanskrit prayer for peace



The Year of Flowering


In the Mayan calendar 2009 is governed by Yohualtictl, the Flower
Goddess. ‘Flowering’ is a keynote of this cycle, good times are
coming.

How good depends on how well we plowed our inner depths and did our
psychic purging during the winter phase of this cycle.



The 13 prophetic years of transition (1998-2011) in the Mayan calendar
reflect back in time as 13 20-year periods (Katuns) with similar
qualities. The Yohualticitl Katun 1952-1972, brought the beat
generation, the hippie movement and the ‘flower children’.

2009 focuses the energies of this period.


Spring on Earth, Saturn and Uranus


While we are experiencing Spring Equinox on Earth it is also Spring
Equinox on Saturn and Uranus! Cycles and seasons are far longer on
these outer planets. Spring Equinox occurs on Saturn only every 30
years and on Uranus only every 84 years.



Spring Equinox is more than a moment in time (12:44 pm gmt on March
20th 2009), it is a period of cosmic balance that extends for several
days after. Up until the early 1700s the New Year was celebrated on
March 25th the date believed when the energy of Spring Equinox reaches
its fullness. JRR Tolkien forecast this date (March 27th in the new
calendar) would again be celebrated as New Year in the new era.



Equinoxes are nodes of dynamic planetary balance seeding yin and yang
phases in the cycle of creation. The last Equinox on Uranus was the
Autumn Equinox period in effect from the end of 1965 through the
middle of 1969. This was the heyday of ‘the Hippie revolution’ when
the ‘flower children’ introduced the Age of Aquarius to the world. The
songs from ‘Hair’ the musical are prophetic and instructive for our
time because

many of their lyrics derive directly from the fount of Uranian
inspiration.



The last time Spring Equinox happened on Saturn and Uranus at the same
time was over 2500 years ago! This is particularly meaningful at this
time because Saturn and Uranus are the planetary rulers of Aquarius,
the New Age we are now entering. Also, awesomely, Saturn and Uranus
will be in an opposition tango all this year while their equatorial
planes align with each other, with the Sun and the Earth! This dynamic
opposition

alternately highlights and eliminates the rigid forms of the past
while building anew the forms of the future world.

The Aquarian Equinox continues while Saturn and Uranus align
throughout 2009.



Magic Hours and Magic Horae


One of the most useful traditions from the ancient world is the system
of canonical hours. These are optimal hours for prayer and meditation
and for beginning any new thing. Canonical hours are best for
beginning a meeting or party and these times are best for arriving at
any event. Equinox is a good time to key into these hours while they
are perfectly spaced beginning exactly every three hours. Where I live
in Charlotte, Sunrise at Spring Equinox is 7:30 am and the next magic
hour begins three hours later at 10:30 am and so on through the 24-
hour day.



In the cycle of the year, the magic ‘horae’ are the 15-day periods
that begin at the equinoxes, solstices and on cross-quarter days.

Events that occur under a waxing Moon during these horae always go
well. This is a key to astrological timing.



The Spring Equinox hora from March 20th to April 4th is a time of
opportunity to focus energy in a new way. (The energy of Spring
Equinox also connects with each Sunrise hour throughout the zodiacal
year.) On Saturn, the Spring Equinox hora lasts for more than a year
while

the similar period for Uranus extends for a three and a half year
period from December 2007 through June 2011.



South/North Poles, Yin/Yang Synthesis


The Year ebbs and flows like an ocean tide. The tide comes in at the
Spring Equinox and rises upward toward Summer Solstice.

Life energy is most outgoing at this peak of the year cycle and most
turned inward at Winter Solstice. Fall and Winter are Yin seasons,

Spring and Summer are Yang times more apt for outward action.



We are now emerging from a most difficult time on planet Earth. The
dark 7-year (northern hemisphere) winter just ending on Saturn began
in Sept 2001 and it has included five very troublesome years (June ’03
– Sept ’07) when Saturn was in its detriment signs Cancer and Leo.
Saturn in detriment is Saturn in shadow or ‘Sauron mode’. Astronomers
have noted that the South Pole vortex storm on Saturn looks like the
Eye of Sauron. This Pole has been turned toward us for the last 15
years.



Laboratory psychologists have found that when mice are exposed
exclusively to the south (yin) pole of a magnet they become more
obese, lazy and eratic in their behavior. Mice exposed to the north
(yang) pole become hyperactive, sleep little and develop neuroses. In
alchemy, yin is called 'solve' (sol-vay) and yang is ‘coagula.'
Natural cycles alternate between these dual forces, when one becomes
too much the other returns. Day follows night as Spring and Summer
follow Fall and Winter. Yin and Yang are in perfect dynamic balance at
the Equinoxes.



The yin (south) extreme is chaos, the yang (north) extreme is fascism.
The extremist mice experiment might encourage a more centrist
political approach. The ideal is that Yin and Yang achieve a dynamic
balance. An unhealthy stasis occurs when one or the other dominates
too much.

Yang and Yin are like Thesis and Antithesis. The hope is for a New
Synthesis.



The Sun/Moon and planets also come in yang/yin pairs that offer
opportunities for dynamic balance and synthesis. Venus is yin to Mars
yang, expansive Jupiter is yin relative to Saturn’s yang structuring,
contracting and focusing principle.



In Saturn’s long annual cycle, the winter season brings a dark yin
extreme. Winter began on Saturn in late 2001 and it ends officially on
Sept 4 2009. Astronomers are excited about this 'Saturn Equinox' or
'Saturn Ring Plane Crossing' because it allows a unique view of the
ringed giant and its moons while the usually bright rings are
invisible from Earth. Astrologers are excited because this is a year
of balance between Yin and Yang, this is a new beginning, a time to
discover a new Syntheis for a new era. Over the next 15 years
(beginning Sept 4 2009) the North Pole of Saturn will be oriented
toward Earth. The South Pole is catabolic, de-structuring old forms,
breaking down old world patterns. (We've had enough of this phase.)
The North Pole is anabolic, building new structures for a new time.



The Spring Equinox and the Spring New Moon just after are important
times in every year, more so this year because 2009 is special in the
grand scheme of things. One of 2009’s notable highlights is the New
Venus on Mar 27. This evening will be one of the most magical of the
year. Four days later on March 31st / April 1st , Venus appears as the
Morning Star, a sign of new life and love, a new creation.



Sunrise / Equinox Opportunity


As understood by the early Egyptians, the Sun god Ra (our soul)
battles the serpent god Sothis (our shadow) at each Sunrise and
Sunset.

According to how this struggle goes a greater or lesser measure of
primal energy is integrated in consciousness and made purposeful.

Every shamanic tradition teaches greeting the morning Sun to honor the
divine and garner prana for the new day. It's ideal to see the Sun
rise, otherwise face east or light a candle in the east at Sunrise.
The Cherokee shaman teach that every fire is a piece of the Sun and
this is true.

We gaze briefly into fire at Sunrise to clear the mind for positive
focus on the day. And, like the birds, we 'sing our early morning
singing song'

to modulate and embody the new day energy coming through. NASA keeps a
real time website with audio of the electrical sounds in the
atmosphere. At Sunrise these sound exactly like birds singing. There
is a measurable pulse of energy as the Sun approaches the horizon,
birds catch this pulse with their song and so can we. As we do so we
capture and channel a greater measure of the primal dragon energy that
arises before Sunrise each day (as in Carnival each year). The bigger
the dragon we awaken and channel to purpose the more creative power we
have for the day. Of the many ways to tame the dragon, the simplest
and most effective may be yogic breathing or rebirthing breath while
focusing attention on the higher chakras, the creative centers. Deep
breathing at Sunrise with focus claims creative power for the day. Ben
Franklin's old parable 'The early bird catches the worm' is given a
much deeper meaning through this understanding. In old England where
this saying comes from 'worm' symbolizes a baby dragon. We catch the
worm early while it is still small so we can train it. The opportunity
is to focus impulses toward more clear and effective purpose.

Dragon training lessons here ~ http://eilight.com/pages/lenteaster.htm



New Venus and the New Age


Every five hundred years the Phoenix dies in flames and is born anew
from its ashes. An old world passes away and a new world is born. The
return of Venus as Morning Star signals the flight of the Phoenix
according to the ancient Egyptians. The Mayans call Venus rising
Quetzalcoatl, the Egyptians know her as ‘Bennu.’



A New Venus cycle begins on March 27th just after the Spring Equinox.
For four days before and after this date Venus will be invisible.

During this time she is in the inner world being transformed before
she appears in new guise in the morning sky.

It is good to be quiet while Venus and our psyches are in for their
makeover.



In ancient Sumeria, the myth of Inanna (the Queen of Heaven and
Earth), describes the movements of Venus. As the Lady of the Evening,

she is the goddess of Love; as Morning Star, she is the Goddess of
Transformation who storms over the land.


A great renewal occurs as Venus rises fresh from the sea of our inner
world. Renaissance comes to Middle Earth. East coast dwellers will see
Venus rising from the sea before the Sunrise. Boticelli's ‘The Birth
of Venus’ illustrates the beginning of each cycle when an angelic
trinity (the Horae) come to clothe Venus as she rises fresh from the
waters. Venus is grace, beauty, love, and creative powers of the soul.


In the larger view there are cycles of thousands of years best known
of which are the zodiacal ages. Everybody has heard of the Aquarian
Age, we've been on the brink of it for more than a generation. When
does the Age of Aquarius begin?

The clues are in a 1960s song written for the musical 'Hair' :



"When the Moon is in the 7th house,
and Jupiter aligns with Mars,
then peace will guide the planets
and love will steer the stars.
This is the dawning of the Age of Aquarius
The Age of Aquarius
Aquarius!
Aquarius!"



"Harmony and understanding
Sympathy and trust abounding
No more falsehoods or derisions
Golden living dreams of visions
Mystic crystal revelation
And the mind's true liberation
Aquarius! Aquarius!"



the complete lyrics are here

http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/hair/aquarius.htm



The song ‘Age of Aquarius’ was inspired in part by a Nostradamus
prophecy:



'Mars and Jupiter will be in conjunction,
Soon after a new king anointed
Who for a long time will bring peace to the Earth.'

Nostradamus Prophecies C6 Quatrain 24


On February 17th 2009 the Moon appeared in the 7th House as Mars and
Jupiter were conjunct in Aquarius with the north node, a symbol of our
evolutionary direction. Five planets and the Sun gathered in Aquarius
for this new world beginning. In addition, Mercury in Aquarius was in
‘mutual reception’ with Saturn in Virgo while Neptune in Aquarius was
in mutual reception with Uranus in Pisces so the energies of the twin
rulers of Aquarius were drawn into the mix.



The February gathering of planets in Aquarius signaled the beginning
of a New Age that begins to flower as Venus rises before the Sun. It
is interesting how the song

Age of Aquarius was immediately followed by ‘Good Morning Starshine’

Good Morning Starshine
The earth says "hello"
You twinkle above us
We twinkle below.

Good Morning Starshine
The universe rings
With Milky Way music
Our blue planet sings.

Good Morning Starshine’ lyrics
http://janfox.com/sixties_live_lyrics.htm

~ Jarvis Rado and Gerome Ragni © 1966

The New Venus brings new love, new artistry, a new creation. Venus
also rules money. The economic order will be reformed properly
following this New Venus. Those in the good graces of Venus will be in
the right place at the right time to make the right connections to
receive what is needed. Yoga, tai chi and other forms of body culture
help release muscle tensions to allow more connection with the goddess
of abundance. Freeform dance can also help balance and anchor new
realizations. Another way to find favor with the love goddess is to
rise early and catch her rays.



The Tarot card for Aquarius is the Star with her twin pitchers pouring
out the Aquarian waters. A Phoenix is perched in a tree behind her.

After a fiery death the Phoenix is reborn from its ashes at the dawn
of the new time.



Many old world patterns have come up for releasing as the planets
moved toward their rendezvous. This grand alignment brings opportunity
for transformation of consciousness and world reformation. A new
creation unfolds as the planets fan out over the next three years.



Of course we don't expect the old age of Pisces to end and the new
age to begin in an instant, everything takes time and how soon we make
the shift depends on vibration. The New Dawn is here,‘the darkest
before the dawn’ is over yet there is an interlude before the Sun will
rise on this New Age.



In part, the Aquarian Age is about bringing the world together through
rhythm, the rhythm of the drum and the rhythm of dance, rhythmic yoga
breathing, the rhythm of ritual order in daily living, rhythm of the
Moon, the rhythm of feet on pavement.



How soon we shift into the new world depends on how we tune, how we
move to the beat of the heart of the mother,

how we answer the calling of our own heart song.



Celebration is key. Whatever we appreciate grows in influence whatever
we celebrate becomes reality.



'When an old time is over

and a new time is still dust

not yet a star . . .

everything is possible.'

~ Barbara Barg







Wishing you all the best of the new era,

Steve Nelson

Mythic Astrologer

Astrology in Jungian tradition
for understanding personal myths
and realizing natural abilities.

2625 Bucknell Ave, Charlotte NC 28207
SteveNelson@...
Phone 704-375-3759