Shiva (Destroyer of Universes) in Large Hadron Collider

Sagittarius's Moon:
Sagittarius Solar Festival
at the Full Moon in Gemini, closing off 2008

Malvin Artley, our regular esoteric commentator returns with an End of Year Commentary, including the subtle meaning of the Full Moon in Gemini for 2008. This is Sagittarius's Full Moon, as the Moon is full in the sign opposing the Sun. The full moon of Sagittarius (the full moon at Gemini 21º02') took place on the 12th of December at 16:38 UT.

Happy Holidays, Friends!

I wanted to send out a final letter for 2008 before we start a new cycle of letters in 2009. It is true I have been incognito lately and for those who have written in enquiring, I have had to take a bit of time off to attend to a few matters. Many of us are going through major adjustments at this time. We are all a part of the world dynamic, are we not?

Since my last writing to you so much has happened. We have a new president in the US. The world economy is shaky to say the least. There has been some major violence in the world and many of the world's larger economies are sliding into a period of recession – the worst in many decades.

For many people I know these holidays will not be the happiest of times. Financial matters weigh heavily and there is no end to the economic slide in the near-future. We saw it coming. We knew it was upon us, but we did not quite expect it to happen this soon or with such force – or perhaps we did. There is cause for hope, however. President-elect Obama appears to be building a good and vigorous cabinet around him, one with some bright and forward-looking people in it, and the public seems hopeful that a new executive will help us to turn the corner quickly from our present doldrums, at least in the US. Let us have no illusions, though. The new executive branch has inherited some big problems brought on by almost three decades of overly-materialistic fiscal policy and almost six years of war. The past few years have been particularly draining on the world psyche, and if we think things are bad in western countries, spare a thought for the souls in places like Zimbabwe and other parts of Africa or in the war-torn regions of the world.

Signs and Portents

I do believe that Nature gives us signs and portents, though, when we need answers. Those of us living in Australia were graced at the first of this month with the 'smile in the sky' – the triple conjunction of the Moon, Venus and Jupiter on 1 Dec 2008. It was a beautiful sight, and it is one we will not see again until around 2035, if memory serves. People had asked me what my 'take' on it was. I believe it does relate to the financial situation facing us. The conjunction was in Capricorn at the 23rd degree of the sign (the symbol for which reads “A soldier receiving two awards for bravery in combat.”). The symbol just related speaks of compensation for performance above and beyond the call of duty. Added to the preceding is the fact that the conjunction was in trine aspect to Saturn at 21º of Virgo (the symbol for which reads, “A girl's basketball team.”). To me, that planetary configuration was about business, trust, transparency and cooperation. It was a platonic alignment, and all the planets involved are about business and finance when in combination. It was not a romantic one as some may have assumed, since Saturn was involved.

So, here is my 'bottom line' with regards to that 'big emoticon in the sky': There is a huge need for us now to look squarely at what is before us, to work together, to build trust and transparency, especially in relation to international relations and fiscal policy, and to face the coming few years with courage. If we can do that, then fortune will indeed smile on our efforts. If we try to hold the old line or the status quo, we can look forward to more of the same. It is time for bold and courageous effort. If this conjunction occurred within three degrees of a major planetary or angular placement in your chart, then you have been blessed in some way if you will avail yourself of the opportunities presented. Jupiter and Saturn in aspect build slowly, for the future and in a big way. Let us hope that is the case.

Barack Obama

What Were They Thinking..?

With regard to the US elections, I recall writing some time ago that people would opt for security when it came time for the elections. I did say at that time that I felt the Republicans were favored. At the time of that writing the economy was fairly stable according to appearances, even though the housing crisis was on. The Republicans seemed to be on a firmer footing then than they did closer to the election. Neither candidate had settled on a running mate. People were fairly shaky about Obama then, thinking him to be too inexperienced for the job. Events do have a way of throwing things into a new light, however. As we now well know, Obama chose a very sound running mate in Biden. McCain made a rather cynical choice for a running mate in Palin, in my humble opinion. I mean, what was the Republican leadership thinking? The Republicans tried to win the election on psychological grounds as they did in past elections, thinking Palin would appeal to the 'average Joe/Jane'. The Democrats, however, stuck to the issues, and when people's livelihoods and pockets are threatened they will look to whoever offers the soundest advice and keeps the coolest head, rather than who feels the 'homiest'. As I thought, people chose security over personas.

The financial collapse put Obama in the White House. Obama won out in the contest of familiarity over issues. Of course, there were other reasons for his success besides that, such as his motivation of voters, but I do feel deeply that people were fed up with the old administration and they fear for their future. His acceptance speech was an inspiration. His words spoke in resonance to the 'smile in the sky' – “Yes, we can!” I am not one to get gushy about things. However, I make no secret of the fact that I am happy with the outcome of the election. I shudder to think of what would have transpired with Palin as VP. I think many voters felt the same way. She was, as we say in these parts, 'a bit of a worry'. McCain is not a young man, either, and the prognosis for his melanoma is not the best, from what I understand. In fact, the astrological leaning and tendency for the coming administration is for a possible death in office. I will speak more of the election in the first of the year, but the inaugural chart for the Obama presidency looks very sound and hopeful – a far cry from the chart for the last four years of Bush. The pendulum had to swing the other way. People demanded it. Obama won by a comfortable margin in the popular vote – about 6 %. It was not a landslide, but it was a good, solid result. And, it was transparent. There was hardly a sniff of voting rigging this time.

Pluto in Capricorn

As for the rest of the world, Pluto has made its final ingress into Capricorn, doing so at the end of November of this year (2008). It will retrograde back to its present position in mid-September of next year (2009). Hence, it has just entered its 'shadow area' and whatever remains unresolved now will follow us like a shadow until that time. Basically, I see the next few years, especially, as a sort of 'spring clean' for the collective and individual subconscious-a readjustment of what people really desire deeply in life.

Shiva (Destroyer of Universes) in Large Hadron Collider

Saturnian matters – both orthodox and spiritual – come under assault by Pluto when it goes through Capricorn, since Saturn is both the orthodox and esoteric ruler of the sign. What it comes down to at a deep level is that we are going to have to make some fundamentally different choices about how we live and what is important to us. Such choices will be forced upon us in many ways, and already we see that with the present economic instability. There will be an upsurge in violence in some parts of the world.

Saturn represents the status quo and resists change vociferously at times. I would look for a big readjustment in world affairs around September and October next year when Saturn squares Pluto and 'finishes' the 22 Sep 06 eclipse then and through 2010. As Pluto transited square to that eclipse point beginning in mid-October, we saw the initialization of the Large Hadron Collider in Europe (a very Plutonian event, though positive), the US elections (big change there), the Santa Catarina floods in Brazil, a school collapse in Haiti (killing close to a hundred), riots in Nigeria, the political crisis in Thailand, riots in Greece, and the terrorist attacks in Mumbai – which occurred almost to the day of the exact square of the eclipse point by Pluto. We just had a very bloody day in the Gaza strip (Mars is squaring the eclipse point with Pluto now.) There is indeed violence in that eclipse, as we saw in a previous letter. Wait until Saturn gets there.

Endings and Separations

Pluto is the planet that rules major endings and separations. It fosters the seeds of discontent that get us moving. It is a positive force for change, even though its effects can seem quite cathartic while they are happening. If you have planets or angles within a few degrees of an Aries point (0º of Aries, Cancer, Libra or Capricorn) or the 15th degree of fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio or Aquarius), you will be strongly affected in some way by Saturn and Pluto off and on over the next year and a half or so. It will act as a kind of background energy most of the time, with points of 'emphasis' coming up from time to time throughout that period. The world psyche, and our individual psyches as a result, is going to have this background stress – this urge to break free of old conditions – extant throughout 2009-2010.

This could be a really good, productive period in world history. It can also be a disaster waiting to happen, depending upon how things are handled. We will probably see both polarities, for those two planets in juxtaposition can produce a very strong sense of polarization. Well, we wanted change. We wanted to be free of the past. Let's enjoy what unfolds, shall we – if we can? Over the next few years we will see big changes in political and financial circles. This is a global event, too. Let us keep that in mind as things transpire and not get too caught up in it personally, if we can dissociate ourselves from events going on around us. The next few years are going to present many opportunities to learn detachment and letting go of expectations of outcomes, and that is a good thing to finally 'get'.

In part two of this article, Malvin Artley continues his exploration of the esoteric meanings of the Full Moon in Gemini and the cosmic influences at the end of 2008.

Read part two of The Sagittarius Solar Festival

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Malvin Artley is an accredited member of the American Federation of Astrologers. His primary focus over the past 25 years has been on the sciences as they express occultism and with bridging work between the two. His special interests in those fields are the human subtle energy system and all the chakras, or energy centres, physics and technology, astronomy and all aspects of Chinese occultism.
He sends out periodic emails about astrological happenings and developments. These letters are sent out as a gift and a service. If you wish to be added to or deleted from the mailing list please let me know. If you feel inspired to pass them on please do so, but do so without alteration or charge. They are sent to people of many persuasions, not just astrologers. Blessings. Click here to subscribe to Malvin's periodic letters.