The 01 Virgo-Pisces Lunar eclipse of February 20, 2008
From the February issue of Tools of the Trade
The
Lunar Eclipse: 01 Virgo‑Pisces 53
Although this eclipse doesn't occur until
the 20th of February, if it's touching your chart in important ways, you're
already feeling it (and have been, probably since the transiting Sun squared it
by approach.) Run the chart for your
location, plug in those angles, and then pencil in radix and directed points
that fall within the axis of the eclipse.
Note that sometimes an eclipse to a directed point is shown to you through
others. Give some thought too to the
Virgo‑Pisces polarity—and how these Virgo‑Pisces eclipses are
working to perfect your ability to
appropriately be analytical or accepting and trusting. The eclipse asks (among other things,) what
in yourself and your life should you be working to improve...and what is it
that you should accept (with grace, compassion and charity)? You'll find that the midpoints spotlight a
number of the themes you'd expect from these signs.
An eclipse is like an intense transit to
the natal factors in its path; it demands review and change. Attention needs to go to the natal houses in which this Full Moon
Lunar Eclipse falls too. What's been
goin' on in your life that's typical of the matters or people represented by
the natal houses?
To repeat a reminder from the last issue
(on the solar Eclipse in early February:) often the tests of eclipses are more
obvious around the times of other
lunations.
Transits in aspect to the eclipse degree also set it off. For example,
on March 3, 1783 (the year of the Laki volcano shown on page 1,) there was a
solar eclipse in 12 Pisces 40; on March 18, 1783, the lunar eclipse was in 28
Virgo, and on April 1st of that year, there was again a solar eclipse; this
time in 12 Aries 00. Enter those
eclipse degrees on the chart for the eruption to get a taste of how an eclipse
creates a charged degree (that
can await and react when a transit comes along to spur it into action.) For the volcano, Mars was in 12 Pisces! The eminent Uranian astrologer, Charles
Emerson, believed that an eclipse degree stayed sensitive for up to two years.
We
start with seeing both Odysseus and Vesta conjunct the Moon, so we're thinking
that the eclipse is asking for a review of issues around travelling to or for
work—as well as the way that distance or estrangement allows (or causes)
emotional detachment. (So much for Absence makes the Heart Grow Stronger!) For some, “getting away for a while” (and
having emotional distance also,) will be crucial to the changes requested by
the eclipse. Since Hippokrates (a
medical asteroid) is in the eclipse axis, likely there are medical issues
associated with travel, with estrangement or with distance (in that one is far
away from someone who's ill— or that one is ill when they're away from home,)
and with learning the balance between fulfillment through work and in more
personal relationships.
So let's do our usual technique of grabbing
a bunch of the midpoints to the eclipse
to see if we can fill in some of the details of the type of events it will use
to impact our natal and directed factors (and push them to change.)
I've indicated the eclipse axis degrees on the
chart (not shown above, but those degrees are: 01 M 53, 24 M 23, 16 C
53, and 09 F 23) so you can evaluate the differences in the ways the midpoints
(to any axis degree) manifest, and I'll list the midpoints that are clustered
around each point in the axis. As you
review each, remember that some eclipse events will use the plot of several of
the midpoints, and consider whether those conjunct the Moon in Virgo are part
of the past and whether those in Pisces present steps to the future.
00 Vi 37
Tantalus/Pluto: There may be “tests”—to see if you can or will “stand
tall” and Be yourSelf without being dragged into a struggle; some teasing is
apt to feel like an attempt to “get one's goat” (and push those sensitive
buttons!) There may also be psych kinds
of tests or instances where ingratitude
is an attempt to get more
from/out of another. The presence of a
sense that this is or was almost
final, almost irrevocable, can also come through these factors.
01 Vi 16
Pluto/Panacea: Improve that debt
load (or find that a “cure”/improvement throws you into debt!) Taking control of what you can affect and
surrendering to what you can't will be an improvement. Pay attention when an improvement is more
than you can afford or gives control to another.
01 Vi 27
Asclepius/Urania: There can be
interest in medical astrology, but it's a time to realize the extent to which
an illness affects a person's thinking.
Someone may question a doctor's smarts, but you'll find that the
presence of a medical condition really changes the perspective.
01 Vi 28
Kronos, Rx/Atlantis, Rx: As well as the surfacing of private details
about famous people, there can be negative expectations connected to a legal case, a father or leader (and concern
about prior instances of government snooping.)
And this is a reminder that a number of famous individuals will be
showing us the meaning of this eclipse... and we do thank them for that! So expect some Admissions or Confessions
from the infamous and reaction to governmental attitude towards the environment.
01 Vi 28
Mars/Sisyphus, Rx: Often when
Sisyphus is retrograde, a person doesn't
want to try again; maybe here they're angry because they're expected to (so
there's an anger that refuses to “try again.”)
01 Sa 47
Jupiter/House, Rx: If you can't
enlarge your house or do home improvements, notice of large or fancy houses may
strike your fancy. There can be
attention to places such as college dormitories or to where one stays during
travels. The asteroid, House, also
refers to Location, so would things be better if you went There (where the grass is probably greener)?
01 Ge 50:
What is learned about not depending on friends (or not finding them dependable)? What do you need to review about an unexpected
change in a friendship?
01Pi 53
Icarus/Askalaphus: Attention to health or treatment risks and dangers;
need for rapid medical attention; life flights possible.
01 Vi 53
Ceres/Cupido: If not attention
to your kitchen or greenhouse, there can be stuff about your Mother's or kids'
home or housing. There's a suggestion
here of “caring for family” and interest in the family dynamic as it affected
how “nurtured” people felt.
01 Vi 56 Sphinx/Sappho: Not only can there be questions about
friends, but enigmas can exist if things seem
“the same” or “like” something else. “Is this (situation) JUST LIKE the one in
the past?”
01 Pi 58
Orpheus/Ophelia: In reacting to a loss, a person can go so far overboard
that they actually hurt themselves.
There can be extended depression.
Some tears may seem excessive.
01 Vi 59 Hippokrates/Pythia, Rx: The
reminder here is that symptoms and prognoses may not be correctly interpreted. Remember, it’s okay to accept the diagnosis
but reject an externally imposed prognosis.
02 Pi 01 Lilith/Child: Decisions concern a
child; there can be interest in the choices a child (of any age) makes, or
instances of rejection or favoritism with a child. (Thus, for instance, a favorite child can bring the eclipse
agenda into sharp focus.)
02 Vi 02
Hybris/Juno: It'd be good to articulate expectations one has of a
partner or partnership (and to have a firm grasp on the expected costs of any
undertaking or purchase. What do/did
you expect to pay for that?) It’s a
time to acknowledge the ways in which one’s “Fate” is shaped by their
relationships and partners.
02 Sa 07
Sphinx/Requiem: It can be really tough to come to a place of peace about
something when you still feel you don't have full understanding, and unanswered
questions remain. The statement will
be, “Why can't I accept that?” Or, “If
I understood or had the answers, THEN I’d be able to quit struggling about
this.”
02 Pi 08
Icarus/Phaaethon: This gentle reminder: Thy car is not intended to
hurtle through space at speeds far beyond the limit! If it seems dangerous to drive, don't! Slow down. You'll get
there when you do, and life is about the Journey not the destination.
02 Pi 08
Eros/Venus: Love and sex make a great combination; there is some mention
here of estrogen and feminine sexuality, but also of veins. The image? A loving heart.
02 Pi 10
Eros/Siva: Implied is something about the effect of rage on the cardiac
system, but there is the potential here for a form of destruction (with,
hopefully, subsequent epiphanies) through the sexuality, reproductive system or
heart.
02 Vi 10
Hades, Rx/Poseidon : As well as
hearing of fundamentalist religions (or those that disdain modern life,) you
may react to vulgarity on television; watch crime investigation programs,
notice problems with education, or see how religion can be twisted to
evil. There's mention here of media or film by the common man, so
YouTube videos and cell phone cameras come into play.
02 Pi 22
Uranus/Chiron: If exceptions (to rules or standards) are allowed, of
course things can get squirrely and unpredictable...and there can be more
stress. Note that someone may act
“wild” or erratic in the attempt to subvert the system or not be held to
expectations. You may be in touch with
one who maintains tension by always being outside the rules or insisting on
their unique view.
02 Pi 26
Eros/(asteroid) Poseidon: As well as noticing the use of sex in
advertising and in film and television, you can have a passion for metaphysics
and ideas or hear stuff about morality
or religion and sex. (I'm too
much of a lady to even mention the
Poseidon‑A as “a mirror” here....)
02 Vi 35 Mars/Poseidon: Strong advocacy of
an idea or belief; awareness, then, of zealots; the need to act on principle; to argue about ideas or
beliefs.
Axis Midpoints:
16 Aries 27 Kassandra/Panacea: Can what is said to be “a cure” be
trusted? Is there any point in advising
others on how to improve?
16 Ar 37
Amor/Hephaistos: How far does “love” go when partners have important
differences? What are you learning
about Acceptance through people who are so unlike you? Are boundaries held in incompatible
interactions?
16 Cp 47 Jupiter/Nemesis: The nemesis can
be encountered when trying to do a good thing or when one tries to do too
much. There can be problems with
grandparents, grandchildren, travel, and the desire to excel.
16 Li 49 Apollo/Nemesis, Rx: The problem
(and possible undoing) is that one allows themselves to be provoked or is slow
to figure out a dynamic that is all too familiar. Some are apt to realize now that the source of a difficulty is
that they had (again) acted or reacted from their own particular blind spot
(and now the eclipse is graciously pointing that out.)
17 Cancer 01 Isis, Rx/Hephaistos: Do
partners have very different ideas about their sibling relationships? Are you seeing that siblings are quite
different as people? There may be
relationships in which some harmonies exist, but there are still those fairly
significant sticking points.
17 Li 02
Astraea/Requeim: Although someone hasn't gotten over something or just
hasn't fully recovered, they hide the fact that they aren't at peace. In some cases, it's the memory of what one
has seen that continues to
disturb.
17 Cp 05
Child/Pandora: If not crises
that involve a child, you may see examples of a young person dealing with
surprising consequences. Use this
midpoint to consider all the unexpected things that happened to you as a child
(and what memories and defenses you formed to deal with them. Have some of those defenses outlived their
usefulness? Can you release them now?)
17 Cp 07
Neptune/Persephone: Not only can dreams, illness, ideals, a great
loneliness, or meditation set you apart from family and others, the longing for
The Other World can magnify your discontent in this one.
17 Li 08
Industria, Rx/Demeter, Rx: There
may be a review of “working mothers,” interest in the food‑service
industry, or reluctance to deal with all the work of food shopping and meal
preparation. Who might be working too
hard to eat or take care of themselves properly? How much work is encountered in trying to take care of someone
else?
17 Li 08
Daedalus, Rx/Apollon, Rx: There
is some lingering effect about businesses that deal in design or metals. When people are busy, they can feel like
slaves or try to pass on consequences that belong to them.
17 Li 11
Hades, Rx/Mercury: Thinking about the past is natural with an eclipse,
but watch negative thoughts or the tendency to keep important thoughts to
yourself. It is possible for someone to
be “talking behind your back”!
17 Ca 12
Mars/Hera, Rx: If you don't stand up for yourself, won't the
relationship be knocked off balance? Is
there already an imbalance in anger? Is
there anger at a past partner? Might
selfishness or independence be creating relationship strife?
17 Cp 20
Niobe/Psyche: It is something neurological or psychological that is the
cause of sorrow in a parent‑child relationship or that is “humbling” for
a person. Good old fashioned hurt
pride can be a source of anguish here; some emotional hurts point to
insufficient ego strength.
17 Cp 29
Venus/Pluto: We can hope that
Witte's interpretation of this midpoint as “a pleasant change” will manifest so
that there won't be civilities with complex motives. I vote for Love to be seen as Power, and as the vehicle for
transformation and honesty. You may
encounter envy or greed in terms of $$$ or issues with inherited money. Certainly Relationships are a challenge to
one's authenticity and have much to teach about respect for the values and fate of another. There can be evidence of the fear that Love
gives another power Over one.
17 Li 36
Mercury/Mars: Definitely exercise your brain (okay—and mouth!)
Watch for those who are verbally defensive and argumentative or tend to have
navel or tunnel vision with their ideas and perceptions. Do you have to fight to be heard?
17 Ca 57
Hybris/Hippokrates: There's focus on what can be expected given the
medical problem, and there may be an acknowledgement of the limits of doctors
or medical science.
09 Sc 06
Venus/Hebe, Rx: Even though you really care about someone, you don't have
to be a doormat and put up with everything.
In what ways are finances connected to untoward support?
09 Aq 12
Uranus/Pluto: Important changes and events can be happening to friends
or in a friendship; some things that happen quite suddenly have the aura of
finality; it may take something extraordinary to get a person to see the light—
it's the bomb that's an ultimatum.
09 Sc 16
Mercury/Pythia, Rx: Expect that
words have been misinterpreted and talk about the future proves wrong (but not
entirely.)
09 Sc 29
Demeter, Rx/Pandora: Mothers and/or children are the source of surprise,
crisis and unanticipated results. Some
will find that, in a crisis, they lose their appetite. Some will find that there are sudden events
that require caregiving.
09 Sc 32
Industria, Rx/Persephone: Because of how hard another is working,
someone feels alone or abandoned; too, it may be one's work that illuminates
more of the ways and reasons one doesn't fit, doesn't belong, and is left “on
their own.”
09 Sc 32
Mars/Phaethon: Yeah, sure, kick your tires (but do not take a baseball
bat to your windshield!) Note the ways
that someone “gets out of control” with anger or activities, and remember: when
you're angry, do not do the “pedal to the metal” thing.
09 Sc 42
Jupiter/Saturn: The reminder to balance your Stop and your Go buttons is
here; it's time for cautious optimism and taking time for joy even when buried
by responsibilities. Notice which
responsibilities are really a joy and give you a good feeling about yourself. Are there reminders about “Good Daddies”?
09Leo 53
Hades, Rx/Hippokrates: You could
hear of wasting or dreadful diseases; illness can cause melancholia; there can
be attention to chronic ailments or those that cause decline, nausea, or bowel
problems.
09Sc 56
Toro/Askalaphus: As well as medical issues that affect the muscles or
strength, there may be times when an illness (your's or another's) requires you
to be strong (emotionally or physically.)
24 Sag 11
Neptune/Apollon, Rx: Some will be unable to handle so many demands—they’ll
feel overwhelmed; others will find that their sensitivities require that they
have less on their plate; you can hear mention of chemicals or of people who
aren't totally honest about their business or the demands on their time.
24 Sag 16
Demeter, Rx/Lilith: Who is choosing to eat foods that aren't good for
them? There may be decisions now about
a mother or child or regarding another who requires Care. Issues of rejection or favoritism can occur
in the parent-child relationship.
24 Vi 23
Kassandra/Uranus: Get or give advice about astrology, computers, or
technology; hope for astrological discussions and advice between friends;
advice about changes that you or others should make are less likely to be well‑received.
24 Vi 24
Mars/Juno: Discord in relationship may be necessary to get people to
make the changes the eclipse requests now; is there a current of anger that is
affecting interaction with others (including the partner)?
24 Vi 25
Chiron/Panacea: The prompt here is to seek unusual or unconventional
solutions or treatments. Note though
that there can be the perception that what would work (as an improvement) for
others won't work here. Still, perhaps
you can make things better by not adhering to the party line.
24 Sa 29
Ophelia/Requiem: Even though a person seems okay, they are over‑reacting exactly because they can't accept what has
happened (or is still happening on some level.)
24 Ge 32
Isis, Rx/Memoria, Rx: So, okay, you only remember part of the
past; expect events to bring up memories of siblings.
24 Sa 49
Zeus, Rx/Ophelia: There can be strong anxiety so that a person is really
acting against themselves; over‑reactions are, here, a sign of anger,
anxiety and difficulty controlling strong emotions.
Okay, that's it. Which of the midpoints do you find to be playing a role in
important events (that push you and others to see yourself and to make changes? Can you be satisfied with just the midpoints
to 01 Virgo and Pisces, or do you need the others to detail what’s goin’ on in
your life? Oh, and just because you’re
an astrologer and know that an eclipse is asking for Change, are you able to be
kind to yourself and give time and compassion for how tough it is to actually change on a level that matters?
Click below to email me:
The US Chart
Shown below: the 12 Sag Rising Sibly chart for the United
States with a selection of radix midpoints given around the inner rim of the 90
degree dial.
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