 Malvin Artley has been a practising astrologer for more than 10 years. He is an
accredited member of the American Federation of Astrologers.
Malvin is the author of Bodies of Fire: An Exploration of the Lesser Chakra System. He has authored numerous articles and was a member of the faculty of the University of the Seven Rays, a non-profit organization dedicated to the teaching of the Trans-Himalayan tradition as expressed through the books of Alice Bailey, Helena Blavatsky and others.
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 are the human subtle energy system and all
the chakras, or energy centres, physics and technology, astronomy and all
aspects of Chinese occultism. He has done extensive work with Chinese
astrology and the cycles they use and seeks to synthesize the great
Western and Oriental systems on such matters.
Malvin lives in Adelaide, South Australia. He also works in the engineering trades and sends out periodic emails about astrological happenings and developments. Click here to subscribe to Malvin's periodic letters.
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Scorpio New Moon:
November New Moon 2006
A New Moon in the Month of the Earth [Yellow] Pig
The New Moon in Scorpio happens in 2006 on November 20, at 22:19 hours GMT. Malvin Artley, our regular esoteric commentator, has always taken a deep interest in Chinese Astrology and you can now obtain his Chinese Astrology Computer Program, published by Esoteric Technologies, the makers of Solar Fire. Malvin gives a beautiful insight into the nature of this lunation, the month of the Yellow Pig.
Chart Name: NEW MOON 20/21 NOV 2006
Date/Time: 21 Nov 2006, 9:19 am (AEDT -11:00) (20 Nov. 10:19 PM GMT)
Solar Period (Fortnightly Festival Period): 19 Winter commences (N); Summer commences (S)Success is not the final act.
The Yellow Pig awoke with a song in her heart the morning after her victory party. She was quite pleased with herself as she lounged with her family in her new and comfortable trappings near the monastery. She had secured a new life for herself and her family and had left the restricting conditions of her past in the wild behind, having wished for some time to be free of the crush and competition of the drove of pigs that was her old group. The monks of the monastery had taken a liking to her early on when the drove happened upon the monastery, especially when they saw that she had a special ability – but more on that in a minute. She instinctively knew that she would be safe with the monks because she saw they were harmless toward her and that she would never be their dinner. They also ran the other pigs away whenever she showed up, a fact that gave her no end of relief. The monks did not like the other pigs because they were rough and interfered with the work of the Yellow Pig. Because of the favor they showed to her, her heart had longed for the quiet life of the monastic grounds. Food was plentiful around there and the life was peaceful-more conducive to raising her growing litter. Life had been difficult in the last months for her because she had lost her great love – the sire of her litter of rapidly growing piglets – to a dominant male within the drove who had run him off into the wilderness. The usurper had been making advances upon her since, but she had managed to avoid him through the intercession of allies she had made within the drove by doing little strategic favors for others. The Yellow Pig was a good strategist. Once she had made up her mind what she wanted, she had maneuvered her way out of the drove with great skill and her negotiations with the other pigs had been a resounding success. Now she basked in the afterglow of her triumph.
Did we mention the Yellow Pig had a special gift? Why, yes – she just happened to be a truffling pig extraordinaire! The region of France where she lived was renowned for its truffles and the ability of this little pig to find the very profitable black fungus was not lost on the monks of the monastery, who could raise good money for the work of the order through the sale of the delicacy. They also knew that if she had the ability, then her little female piglets were likely to have the gift as well, so they were very happy when the Yellow Pig appeared literally upon the steps of the monastery and began to show her craft. Yes, she could be proud. She had always been a quiet student of nature – coolheaded and centered, especially in the face of difficulty. She knew how to look after herself and always played a careful hand in her dealings, which produced stability and many things stored away for hard times. The Yellow Pig had used her abilities to great effect over the years and they had enabled her to make many friends.
For instance, there was the time when the old sow of the group had grown ill and had lost her will to live. The sow had always been influential in the group and the Yellow Pig saw an opportunity. She knew the old sow had to have a certain root to help her get better so, snout down in the leaf litter, the Yellow pig sniffed and snorted her way through the forest floor until she found the elusive root. The old sow was most grateful and soon grew strong again with the help of the Yellow Pig. The old sow turned out to be a powerful friend for her after that and she would eventually help the Yellow Pig to secure her freedom. The Yellow Pig had also been very good for the drove, for her extraordinary sense of smell had helped them all to find food even in the hardest of times – everything from roots to the occasional carcass or body of some unfortunate soul – a delicacy for the more adventurous pigs within the drove. It was her ability and her charm that won over the heart of her beloved, too-a love that was short-lived but full of passion, and a love for which she would always yearn after his ousting from the group. Life was good for the Yellow Pig, but it could be so much better and she was angry at the males for taking away the love of her life. That is why she wanted to leave the drove, and the monks and her allies eventually gave her the way out.
So, the Yellow Pig hatched her plan and called upon others for certain favors. One day when they were at the monastery grounds a huge fight was instigated between certain males within the group by the Yellow Pig's friends. In the commotion the Yellow Pig gathered her brood and hid among the undergrowth at the forest's edge. The fracas attracted the attention of the monks who came out running and banging pots and pans to scare off the drove that was in sight. After they were driven off the Yellow Pig appeared from the bushes with her litter, much to the delight of the monks, who had been busy preparing her new quarters over the preceding month. The Yellow Pig could not be happier when shown to her new home. It was a dream-come-true. Only one thing could make her happier – to share it with her lost beloved. For the moment, though, there was triumph and freedom from the past.
Soon enough, though, her triumph gave way to more earthly concerns as the pigs who had been asked for favors came around and started asking for their due. Success comes at a cost and there are always things to be settled after victory is achieved. It had taken more resources than Yellow Pig had to bring her plans to fruit and she had promised to mark the areas where there was abundant food (but no truffles, for those belonged to the monks!) to the more dominant pigs of her old group in order to secure her new life. After all, she was much sought after within the drove. Still, debts have to be paid, not that it was a problem for such a successful little pig. Then there was the mess from the victory party that had to be cleaned up. Pigs are not known for their tidiness. It had been a grand celebration with the monks and her family when she had finally secured her objective. Eventually it was all done, however, and the Yellow Pig was able to enjoy her new and well-earned life. She had started with little, but paid attention to all the small things that lead to great success. It was all the little details that had won her what she wanted-gifts and favors here and there and at the right place and time. She knew very well that great changes can be made by gathering small things and by the cumulative effect of small things done over time. What of her lost love, though? Well, the monks could see that she had a broken heart and they wanted to help her, but they also knew of a lone boar that lived secretly in the woods nearby. They had a hunch – and they had a plan.......................
A conclusion to a cycle that has run its course.
As we enter the final lunar month for the Year of the Sleeping Dog, we are reminded that a successful outcome to any situation is never the end of the story. It is a pinnacle, true, but there is always work to be done afterward before we can settle in and enjoy the fruits of our labors. Before we get into the dynamics of the month, however, there is a little technical matter to discuss. Some readers may have noted that the Chinese New Year always starts at the new moon of Aquarius. So, if this is the last month of the year, wouldn't the next month mark the commencement of the New Year? Well, no. It may be of interest to note that the Chinese New Year always starts on the third lunar month of the series of twelve. In other words, every Chinese New Year starts on a Tiger month. Next year will be the Year of the Red [Fire] Pig – the Pig Traversing the Mountain – and it will commence on the 18th of February 2007. It may also be of interest to note that there will be two Ox months (2nd month) this year, due to fact that an extra (intercalary) month has to be inserted every few years in order to keep the match between the lunar and solar calendars. If it is all too much to keep up with, don't worry. We will eventually get a handle on the strange system that is Chinese astrology as we go along with these letters. For the moment, however, let us have a look at what the Month of the Monastic Pig will have in store for us.
There is still a marked tendency toward circumspection in the Month of the Yellow Pig this year. Still with a surfeit of Earth, this month shows an emphasis upon practical and foundational matters. The Month of the Yellow Dog just-passed has already given us a taste of what that will be like-people holding stubbornly or cautiously to their various points of view, a feeling that something needs to happen but we know not what, a desire for a quiet and domestic life and a generally indecisive tone-but that latter point is due to change in a week or two. 'Pig' Pillars always signal a conclusion to a cycle that has run its course – depending upon what the Pillar represents – and we can expect to see many situations winding up over the next four weeks. People will have to make decisions about things and either renew their efforts or move on to new endeavors. This will be a month in stark contrast to the one just passed in one area, however: There is a very creative and potent force that is making itself felt in the lives of everyone this month and it will bring its share of 'interesting' times with it. I refer to the fact that there is a slight excess of Wood in the Four Pillars as well, and that Element is found largely in the areas of selfhood, partnerships and familial/ashramic groups. Look for the seeds of the new to begin to sprout from the psychic dustbin that has characterized much of the Year of the Sleeping Dog – and it has been a very difficult year for many readers.
The best way to handle the energies of this month is by seizing the day when the light of opportunities presented. After all, Earth in Chinese astrology is ruled by Saturn, and it is meant to show and bring us the sweetness of life. The fruits of nature (human or otherwise), borne of the toil of circumstance and an attentive care, are always the sweetest, especially when we can grasp the essence of what we experience. There is hope and light at the end of what has seemed to be a long tunnel this year. We need to be like Tigers Standing Firm in the face of whatever is being presented. In other words, we need to be creative, to bring our managerial skills to the fore and to exercise a steadfast resolve. The onus is upon us to do away with that which has been unserviceable or untenable in our lives with a firm decisiveness, even though that goes against the prevailing lack of Metal within the figure. (Metal produces strength and resolve.) That being done, we need to replace what has been removed with something new, for new growth is what is strongly indicated in this figure. Lastly, there is a heads-up here to be forthright with our communications and to especially do so in a timely manner. Delays in important communications will bring a lot of problems, and likely sooner instead of later. In all, though, this is a month in which to tend our new gardens well, to take care with our loved ones and to see the opportunities for new growth – and to take a leap of faith. We have all the tools we need. We just need to will to bring about what we know needs to be. In this lead-up to the holiday season, take joy from the fact that decisions made with a clear heart now and carried through will bring true the hopes for the future we so dearly desire. A little bit of truffle with your eggs in the mornings might go down a treat, too!
Enjoy,
Malvin.
14 Nov 2006
1 Daytime=if the eclipse occurs between sunrise and sunset
2 Nighttime=if the eclipse occurs between sunset and sunrise (your time)
Quotes and text are taken from the software The Imperial Astrologer, courtesy of Esoteric Technologies. www.esotech.com.au Graphics and koans courtesy of the same. All text in the program is by this author.
Now read Malvin's explanation of why he has chosen the Chinese interpretation for the New Moon this month.
Go to The Scorpio Solar Festival, 2006.
 Â 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.
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