A New Year Begins
We have finally moved through the intensity of the last two Scorpionic eclipse lunar cycles. We are also through the solstice, which means that the new birth we have been awaiting can now begin to unfold in our lives.
The winter solstice (summer solstice in the southern hemisphere) has the quality similar to a New Moon, except it marks the beginning of the new annual cycle for Earth. This occurs at a point in Earth's orbit when the Sun's line of sight to Earth is at Earth's most southern latitude. The Sun's eye then begins to move northward, awakening Earthian life anew. The solar fire then crosses the equator on the spring equinox, is at the most northern latitude on the summer solstice, and crosses back over the equator (form north to south) on the autumnal equinox. The spring equinox is like the first quarter moon in the cycle, the summer solstice like the full moon, and the autumnal equinox like the last quarter moon. The winter solstice marks the New Birth of sun / sol / soul expression in our daily lives. It marks the astronomical New Year.
This New Moon begins the first lunar month after the solstice, thus bringing us the first lunar theme of this new solar year. It refreshingly lies in sidereal Sag, conjoining Al Nasl (the tip of the Zen Archer's arrow), The Gate of God, and the Solar Apex.
The growth gained from relinquishing our limiting belief structures and modes of living that have perpetuated our previous entrapments (the Oct-Nov lunar cycle), and the self-empowerment claimed by taking responsibility for our experiences (the Nov-Dec lunar cycle), can now be applied. This Lunar Cycle provides us the opportunity to demonstrate the awareness we have gained, to move forth with a new level of focus, dedication, and commitment to hit the target of our ideals and dreams.
The Gate of God
Our solar system (and the ecliptic--created by Earth's annual orbit around the sun) lies tilted at a 60-degree angle to the whirling disc of our galaxy. Because we have two planes intersecting, the ecliptic plane and the galactic plane create an intersecting axis. This axis crosses the ecliptic at 5° sidereal Sagittarius, a point in the ecliptic called the "Gate of God," and 5° sidereal Gemini, a point called the "Gate of Man." The Gate of God is the primary reference for the evolutionary cycle of the soul collective on Earth, and for the sidereal zodiak.
Much like our solar system lies tilted in the galaxy, so too is our Earth tilted as it orbits the sun. This causes Earth's equatorial plane to be tilted in the plane of the ecliptic. This creates another axis in the ecliptic called the vernal axis. This axis moves around the ecliptic with resect to the fixed galactic axis due to Earth's 25,000-year precessional wobble. The moving vernal axis is the reference for the tropical zodiak. The movement of vernal axis with respect to the fixed galactic axis creates Earth's precessional "Cycle of the Holy Cross." To learn more of this, please visit the Holy Cross WEB page (now with new illustrations depicting the formation of the cross). The RELATIONSHIP between the tropical axis and the sidereal axis reveals the nature and timing of the "evolutionary cycle of the soul."
About 12,000 years ago, Earth's north celestial pole (Earth's pole projected into the heavens) passed over the Gate of God, creating the first erect cross in Earth's precessional cycle of the Holy Cross. This was the time of the Great Flood. It was also when Earth's pole began to lean away from the plane of galactic Light. This was "the fall" in the evolutionary cycle of the soul, which began a 12,000-year period of temporal darkness in Earthian experience. It was a time when awareness of our durative souls was lost.
Rotating astrophysical spheres, like our galaxy, our sun, and our Earth, create a hierarchy of living consciousness that communicates through itself via the geometric relationship of those spheres. Universal Love expresses from the center of our galaxy as Evolutionary Intelligence through our Sun and to our Earth. Earth re-radiates that intelligence from her core outward, which we receive via our spinal columns and cranial structures--vertical antenna systems that convert gravitational waves to neurological information. This all occurs in the geometric time cycle of the Holy Cross, which governs the evolutionary unfoldment of the incarnating soul. When we realize each sphere embodies various planes of consciousness, we come to recognize how the Voice of God communicates through the angels / angles of light.
An Excerpt from Erection of the Holy Cross: The Sacred Geometry of Global Change
Evolutionary Intelligence
Cosmic energy is not merely a composition of simple vibrations or frequencies unrelated to human consciousness, but is a highly organized, intelligent body of information. Cosmic energy is, in fact, the intelligent instruction responsible for all of creation and for the evolutionary process itself. This Evolutionary Intelligence is not separate from the manifest world, creating the world as something aside from itself, but instead permeates all of reality. It is cosmic consciousness in organic creative expression. This is Divine Love--intelligent, guiding, and omniscient.
The universe is inherently and naturally intelligent. Evolutionary Intelligence communicates, or expresses through a naturally organized, harmonic fashion through a hierarchy of astronomical systems--whirling spheres of consciousness--and the interacting geometries they create. This includes floating galaxy clusters; the numerous and diverse galaxies within those clusters; the millions of stars and planetary systems within those galaxies; and even the molecules and spinning atoms that constitute all of matter. As evolving sentient beings, we too are an intimate part of the expression of this Evolutionary Intelligence, creatively participating in the evolutionary unfoldment of matter, energy and consciousness. The three spherical astronomical systems that interact to form the Cycle of the Holy Cross comprise layers of this Creative Intelligence. This hierarchy of consciousness provides the multi-dimensional environment that makes possible our evolutionary unfoldment as incarnating souls.
Earth is the experiential sphere for incarnate life, providing a plane of temporal materiality upon which the soul can participate. It provides the three-dimensional level of consciousness that we are most familiar with.
The ecliptic plane of the solar system is the plane of the soul (sun-sol-solar-soul), the fourth-dimensional (mediating) plane of consciousness that acts as liaison between Earth’s experiential plane and the galactic plane.
The galactic plane is the plane of our Godself, of the greater cosmic Evolutionary Intelligence that nourishes the soul, and provides the embracing energy context for the evolutionary fulfillment of the soul throughout its entire incarnational sojourn. The word galaxy is from galacto (milk), and we commonly refer to the starry stream in the heavens, the galactic plane, as the "Milky Way"--all referring to that which is of the Divine Mother, to that which is fundamentally nourishing and life forming.)
In mythical terminology, Earth's north celestial pole is called the "Godhead," the directing force governing the evolutionary unfoldment for the incarnating soul. The vernal point (of the moving vernal axis) is the point of the soul; classically called the Birthplace, Christ point, or Office of the Christ (a place of awareness held). The vernal point's placement in the Cycle of the Holy Cross not only governs the time cycle of the evolutionary unfoldment of the soul collective, but also the level of soul awareness (Christ consciousness) we experience.
Now (circa 2000 AD), Earth's pole is beginning to lean toward the plane of galactic light once again as it precesses over the Gate of Man at 5° sidereal Gemini, erecting the second cross in Earth's great cycle. This cross marks the return of illuminated awareness, Christ consciousness (soul awareness) on Earth.
The Doorway Opens
Occurring concurrently with the potent T-square is a Grand Trine portal (opportunity) created by Jupiter (stationing), Chiron, and the Lunar North Node. This portal begins to open just after the New Moon, on Dec 24, as the Moon triggers Chiron, making a "new bridge or opportunity" a significant part of this lunar theme. The primary opening of this star-gate occurs as the Moon triggers its North Node on January 2, 2004. To make this crossing, we must be willing to step from our old patterns (the South Node--which lies in the "Chelae of the Scorpion") of staying entrapped in our old scenarios or karmic situations only because we believe we are helpless victims of them. Here the growth gained from the previous lunar cycle must be applied (claiming our self-empowerment by taking personal responsibility for creating our reality). Although the portal is open to make a move, it may require stepping through a bit of "Initiatory Fire" to claim the opportunity this star-gate has to offer (the North Node lies in the initiatory fire of sidereal Aries). Jupiter, however (stationing to begin its retrograde), is holding a very powerful and beneficent influence during this process--supporting us to relinquish the old and live our higher truths.
Into the Light
Mercury begins a new 116-day synodic cycle in the midst of this menage just after the Crescent Moon of Dec 26. This means that, from the sun's perspective, Mercury and Earth are at the same point in their orbits around the sun. From the sun's point of view, Mercury and Earth conjoin the foot of Castor, of the Gemini twins, which lies close to the Gate of Man. The stars here set the theme of Mercury's new synodic cycle
The foot of Castor is composed of Tejat, Eta Gemini, IC 444--a bright refection nebula, and Dirah (Tejat Posterior) Mu Gemini. Tejat & IC 444 portend eminence and renown, and will make that which they align with stand out in a unique fashion. Tejat will make visible that which has been suppressed, oppressed, hidden, in the closet, but destined to be seen.
Alignments with the foot of Castor can also indicate the need to emerge from our own mental obscurations and illusions. Tejat indicates that it is time to come out of hiding, to become visible, to stand forth in the limelight, and to make self visible, available, and approachable. Tejat may indicate it is time to claim one’s role in the physical world, and to take the steps required for physical unfoldment and participation in the world. It is time to do what is required. Tejat can also indicate those who are physically marked in some way: including birth marks, genetic marks, or other unique features including tattoos, and especially jewels.
As Tejat brings to the surface that which has been suppressed, we may draw experiences that reflect parts of our selves that seem rather dark and opposing to our unfoldment. Forces of the mortal world may seem to be out for our demise, but they are our worthy opponents, for they reflect the fears, hesitancies, and blockages within our selves to step through into our paths of fulfillment in the world. Tejat asks that we be willing to walk through the shadows of self to claim our power and place in the physical world.
That which is Truly Nurturing
The Full Moon eve of Jan 6 may not be as festive and light hearted as Full Moon eves normally are because of the Moon's pre-engagement with Saturn, and the concurrent Mars-Pallas conjunction, but any heaviness should shift rapidly. Our Full Moon of Jan 7 lies between Saturn and the asteroid Ceres in the midst of sidereal Gemini.
Gemini. the "Extraterrestrial Twins," is marked by the two principal stars: Pollux the immortal, extraterrestrial one, and Castor the mortal, the terrestrial one, the extraterrestrial incarnate. These two stars mark the last few degrees of sidereal Gemini. The Twins stand upon the galactic equator at a 60° angle to the ecliptic plane, with the "Feet of the Twins" lying in earlier Gemini, upon the "galactic node" of the Holy Cross. Thus, Gemini is a galactic constellation, one common to our solar plane (ecliptic), and so with sole / soul purpose expressing in the daily activity of humankind. (Our feet are associated with our longer term / sole / soul purpose.)
The role of the Twins is one of linking and uniting the mission of the soul (galactic plane) into and through our incarnate daily affairs and mode of participating in the world. The Twins work hand-in-hand for the betterment and evolutionary fulfillment of humankind. And of course, Gemini is of communication and activity. The theme of the Twins was expressed by Romulus and Remus, founders and guardians of Rome; the immortal and mortal sons of Zeus in Greek mythology; and who along with Hercules, were of the crew of the Argo.
Friend, colleague, and siderealist KHM9 Andrés Takra on sidereal Gemini, quoting: The Solunar's Handbook by Cyril Fagan, states: " 'The Ruler of Gemini is Mercury, the winged messenger of the gods, and his statues represent him as a naked boy wearing the winged traveler's hat and winged sandals.... He was the god of roads, traveling and travelers, and their protector. Being the god of shrewdness and sagacity, he was the author of numerous inventions such as the alphabet, speech, eloquence, numbers, mathematics, astronomy, astrology, weights, measures, schooling, education, music, and lyre and syrinx. Being the least religious of the gods and void of moral principles, he was also the god of thieves, fraud, perjury, cunning, exchange, barter, and of commerce in general.... Gemini was par excellence the constellation of gaiety and the delight of boyhood and youth. It produces those who enchant everybody with their conversational ability, wit, music and song, and their ability in mathematics, astronomy and astrology.' " Takra continues: "Geminians are always busy, always moving, doing a million things at the same time! Ubiquity is a Geminian trait. They are the intellectuals of the Zodiac and the creators in the arts and sciences (whereas Sagittarians, opposite them, are the patrons of the arts). Geminians are young at heart, nervous and polyvalent (whereas Sagittarians are mature, imposing, sanguine and intuitive). The House (of Gemini / 9th) is the realm of education, schools, universities, higher thoughts, ideas, writings, publications, communications, publicity, teachers, teachings, guides, travels, moves, long and short journeys, and cool windy areas. ...where insight and perception are codified into a coherent and communicable form for the masses."
In the Physical
Saturn's strong Full Moon presence supports the concretization or grounding of our involvements--and of the action inspired in this lunar cycle. The asteroid Ceres brings to our awareness what is and what is not nurturing. It asks for acknowledgment of our true needs, to have self love and self worth. It is of concern and caring for others and for the Earth. (To learn more of Ceres see the Asteroids#Ceres) Ceres conjoins Wasat of Gemini influencing our Full Moon realizations.
Wasat, the umbilical cord, embodies the essence of sidereal Gemini. Wasat is the link and liaison that unites and acts as a catalyst. Wasat brings the logistical pieces together. Wasat is of planning, coordination, assemblage of diversity and parts into a workable functional model. Castor / Wasat is the engineer, the technician, the artist, and the constructor (where opposite Sagittarius is the architect, inspirationalist, and vision holder). Wasat embodies the mechanics of creating the bridge or means in physical logistics. Conjoining Wasat from the south is Muliphen (Mirza) of Canis Major inspiring people, partners, and soul mates that have disappeared or withdrawn to re-emerge as a steady and dependable presence. Also conjoining is Delta Monoceris, a star of the Unicorn, bringing its unexpected magic with the arrival of and union with the unexpected.
South of this planetary threesome, and also infusing into our Full Moon theme, lies Sirius of Canis Major and Canopus, the helmsman of the Argo. Sirius, Alpha Canis Major, is the impetuous and blazing world teacher, knowledge-holder of ancient hermetic wisdom. Sirius can bring lessons of a global proportion. Canopus, Alpha Carina of Argo Navis, is the second brightest star in the heavens after Sirius, and conjoins Sirius from the south. As a galactic equatorial star, Canopus is director / navigator of the Argo--director over the greater galactic mission of souls in our solar system. Canopus is concerned with repercussions of global events affecting the greater the surrounding cosmology. An older derivation of Canopus is the Egyptian Kahi Nub, "Golden Earth," representative of the vision held for Earth by our Cosmic Helmsman.
And again from KHM9 Andrés Takra: "Since Canopus lies near Columba, the Dove, the Holy Spirit, the symbol of the Future, according to D.H. Lawrence, the great and visionary English writer and painter, I predict that in the next human era, which will be a Golden Age, Argo Navis--and especially Carina--will play a role of extraordinary relevance. Moreover, being close to Crux Australis (the Southern Cross) and to the South Pole, Argo Navis is another allusion to the future rebirth of spirituality in our planet, the resurrection of sunken lands, the future development of the south, the changes in climate and environment in that part of the globe (Tierra del Fuego--the southern most land of Chile--and the South Pole / Lake Vostok) and to the landing on Earth of interplanetary spaceships, as well as of intraoceanic and intraterrestrial flying saucers and their strange occupants!!!"
Hearts Skip a Beat
Our last Quarter Moon bringing inner need to initiate change occurs on Jan 14/15 followed immediately with the Venus-Uranus conjunction in sidereal Aquarius. Unexpected Uranian love and support flies in the electrified air. Last Quarter Moon lies on the cusp of sidereal Virgo-Libra, conjoining Spica, the vesica-pisces of the Virgin, and Archturus, the genitals of Bootes, the Virgin's consort and protector, inspiring a perfect union. To Learn more on the sacred sex of Spica and Archturus please see the Astronomical Truth of the Virgin.
We turn our attention from this lunar cycle in anticipation of the next to come on the Balsamic Moon of Jan 18. The Balsamic Moon is the time when we coalesce the growth of this lunar cycle into its seed essence, which will then sprout through the theme of the next lunar cycle to come. To learn how one lunar phase shifts and changes into the next and how each lunar cycle creates a continuous spiral of experiential growth please download the Lunar Planner Introduction & each monthly calendar (pdf file links below)--its all a gift.
Our next New Moon occurs on Jan 21 in early sidereal Capricorn as we bring this lunar cycle's Sagittarian high vision and enthusiastic inspiration into the world of strategic facade and practical form--more to come then....
