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For my Astrology A to Z series we have reached the Letter I [ i ] The Imum Coeli is often simply referred to as the IC, it is one of the four Angles of the chart (the other three being the Ascendant [AC], the Descendant [DC] and the Mid Heaven [Medium Coeli or MC] ) The IC is located in the bottom part of your chart, near the middle, and it is exactly opposite from your MC at the top of your chart. The MC (Mid Heaven) represents a very public part of you - the part that is seen collectively by others and involves your participation with the public such as your career and social status. The IC (Imum Coeli) therefore represents the opposite; it is the part of you that is most private and hidden - it is how you behave when no one is watching. The Imum Coeli represents the subconscious drives, it is a foundational part of our personality - often unseen or unknown even to us because it is a part of your core. I think of it like the internal organs . . . we SEE the outer part of our body so this is what we recognize and identify as "self", but we cannot SEE the internal organs, so we don't often identify ourselves with those. Nonetheless, they are a part of us and crucial to our daily functioning. Yet the IC is less about this hidden part of our physical bodies and more related to the hidden parts of the psyche. The IC is therefore the most vulnerable part of ourselves, and the place where we are alone. Hellenistic astrologers considered the IC to be The Underworld, or Hades. It is the deepest hour of Night - if the sun is located near the IC you were born close to Midnight or in the middle of the night, hours before sunrise. Using a quadrant-based House system such as Placidus or Porphyry, the IC will be the line that divides the 3rd house from the 4th House - it is the place where the 4th House begins. Therefore, the sign of your IC will also be the Ruler of your 4th House. The 4th House relates to our home life - therefore we see how the IC can represent who we are when we are alone. The MC is how we are perceived publicly - the faces we put on when we are outside the home. The IC is how we are when no one is around to see us. Yet we often don't give much conscious thought to this part of us! The Imum Coeli can be a powerful tool for helping you do some Shadow Work*. By "Shadow Work" I mean the modern psychology practice described by Carl Jung; the process of seeing and integrating the hidden or unseen parts of yourself. It can be difficult to Identify with the traits of the IC - this is a part of our psyche we often hide from ourselves. It is also deeply connected to the Inner Child and our forgotten past; therefore, a wound or trauma that we do not wish to look at can be hidden here. The true function of Shadow Work as described by Carl Jung is to simply SEE these rejected parts of the self and accept them without judgement. Examining the SIGN in which your IC resides is a great step in beginning the process of Shadow Work - which many people hear about but do not know where to start. If you have planets near the IC these may also hold clues to the Hidden parts of yourself, your Inner Child, and your subconscious. The Imum Coeli - as ruler of the 4th House, can also teach us a great deal about what kind of nurturing we need, the type of home life we crave, and the basic structure of our innermost emotional world. It relates to our upbringing, our relationship with our parents, and even hold keys to how we can connect with our ancestral roots. As the point that is related to the Undwerworld and therefore our connection with our Ancestors, I believe that the IC can show us which of our ancestors we should work with in this lifetime - or what our Ancestors hope to teach us in this lifetime. As a suggestion if you have a practice that involves Ancestral work - study the meaning of the sign of your IC and have a conversation with your Ancestors about it - see how they respond! Additional reading on the Imum Coeli: https://themagichoroscope.com/astrology/imum-coeli https://askastrology.com/the-imum-coeli/ https://www.wellandgood.com/imum-coeli-astrology/ *A note on Shadow Work: The point of Shadow Work is to acknowledge a part of your subconscious that may be suppressed or rejected. We all have parts of ourselves that are "shadow" - a desire or instinct that we hide away from ourselves or the people around us. In Shadow work you acknowledge this part of yourself and accept it. This doesn't mean you have to behave in the manner of your shadow self, but it is simply bringing this part of yourself into your conscious awareness so that acting or not acting in this way is a conscious choice rather than a subconscious action. Some behaviors we suppress for good reason – maybe acting a certain way is destructive or harmful. But we should acknowledge that the urge to act in that way exists – therefore giving us more conscious control over that part of ourselves. There are other parts of our shadow that we were conditioned to suppress – perhaps we were told this part of us was bad or shameful as a child by our parents or a religious institution. In this case the suppression of the shadow might not be healthy, and we can decide as an autonomous adult whether to free that part of ourselves or not

H is for Houses, a part of my Astrology A to Z series. Houses are an important part of chart interpretation. When looking to a planet in a chart, you will generally interpret its temperament and lessons based primarily on what Sign it is in and what House it is in. What are the Houses and where are they? Simply put, the Houses are "areas of the sky". These Areas of the Sky have been assigned different meanings, and as planets and stars move through these areas of the sky, our relationship with them and interaction with them also changes. The Houses are always located in the same part of the Chart. As the earth spins on its daily axis, we observe the sun and stars "moving" through the different houses. It is like how in your home, at different times of day the sun will shine through different windows. Since you generally spend a day on the same basic location on the planet, your point of view of what is above you vs what is on the horizon only changes as much as the Earth spins on its axis. This is why you need to know time of birth and location of birth in order to accurately cast a Natal Chart... because the earth spins and therefore the signs & planets that are near the horizon will change throughout the day. However, the houses will remain in the same place, in the same way that the windows in your home stay in the same place throughout the day. Below is a diagram of the Houses and their positions. Look at this wheel and think of yourself on earth in the middle. The upper half of the wheel is what is above you in the sky. On the left side where it says AC is the Eastern Horizon, where the sun rises. At the top of the wheel where it says MC is the highest point in the sky above you, where the sun will be at noon. And on the right side of the wheel where it says DC, is the western horizon, where the sun will set in the evening. You can see the numbers in the middle of this wheel, showing the house numbers. These are the divisions of the parts of the sky. Houses 7 through 12 are what we can see above the horizon. Houses 1 through 6 are below the horizon. Notice that as the sun rises at the AC, it will move "backwards" through the houses throughout the day (12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7) Then during the night after the sun sets, it will move through houses 6 to 1, rising again into the 12th house the next morning. The AC means "Ascendant" and this is also known as your "Rising Sign". It relates to what Sign is "Rising" on the Eastern horizon at the time of your birth and your location of birth. So as you can see, the SIGNS move through all the houses each 24 hours, as the Earth (in the middle) spins on its axis. The planets move through the signs, and the signs move through the houses. Now, because of the Houses always being in the same place, you can look at your birth chart and see what planets were above the horizon at your time of birth. Were they near the Western horizon - houses 7 or 8? Were they near the Eastern horizon - houses 12 or 11? Or were they higher above you in the sky - houses 9 and 10? If planets in your chart are in houses 1 through 6, you know they were below the horizon - on the other side of the Earth. Neat, huh? Why do some charts show houses bigger or smaller? Depending on the House system you use (placidus or porphyry) and the location on the planet, some houses might be smaller or bigger. This relates to the tilt of the earth's axis which can result in the sun appearing to remain in one part of the sky longer than other parts of the sky, depending on the season. The farther away from the equator you are and the closer to winter or summer solstices, the sun will appear to move through certain sections of the sky more quickly or more slowly. A very large house shows that the sun took a longer amount of time to move through that portion of the sky. A very small house shows that the sun appeared to move through that section of the sky very quickly. What do each of the Houses represent? The Houses in a chart relate to different Areas of Life. Think again of the image of a large house. There is a kitchen, a living room, an office, an art studio, a play room or music room, a library or study, and a bathroom. You do different things in each room, right? In the kitchen you prepare meals for your family, in the library you study and learn new things. In the bedroom you sleep or make love. In the bathroom you tend to your hygiene and appearance. There are also different times of day that you are more likely to use certain areas of the house depending on your schedule and lifestyle. Some members of the household might use the Art Studio often, while other members of the household hardly use the art studio at all. The children in the household might use the playroom far more often than they use other areas of the house. The Living room might be the favorable place for gatherings with guests and friends, but it would be a little awkward if you tried to host a dinner party in the bedroom or the bathroom! Think of the Houses of the chart as "Areas of Life" that are common to the human experience. Some people are more focused on different areas of life than you are; perhaps you know someone who is more focused on career, while you are more focused on education and learning. And yet another person is focused on family and their home, while someone else is more focused on Art and Music. However, everyone has different levels of access to all these areas of life, and together they make up the complete human experience. In a birth chart, you can see a person's general aptitude towards a certain area of life depending on what planets they have in certain houses. The Sun or Venus in certain houses will give clues to what areas of life a person generally enjoys. You can also see the areas of life in which a person might experience harsher lessons, hardships, or restrictions - usually related to what houses Saturn or Pluto reside in. The Sign that rules a House will "flavor" and influence the experience of that area of life as well. The Sign of the house will influence the energy and aesthetic of those experiences. For example think of the Library or Study room of that big house again. This room might be like the 9th House in the chart - it is the House of Higher Education and Philosophy. However, how might this library be different if it was decorated and stocked by an Aries vs if it was decorated and stocked by a Virgo? This is an example of how the House is influenced by the Sign, even if there are no planets in that sign or house! The planets bring yet another layer of influence if present, but you still have this room in your house even if you don't have planets in it! However, without planets in the house, it might be a room that you're not frequently called to use, or you just don't have major life changing events occur when you are in that room. Also, there is great significance in the Houses related to transits. Transits are the current movement of planets compared to a birth chart. For example; Saturn is currently moving through the sign of Aquarius. You can find Aquarius in your birth chart - what house (or houses) are in Aquarius? This can show you the "area of life" that Saturn is influencing for YOU as he moves through the sign of Aquarius. I am not going to include the meanings of all the houses in this post, but I do plan to start including a series on the Houses on my Blog in 2022. Otherwise, the internet is full of great resources for understanding the individual meanings of each house! I do hope that this post has helped you understand Houses a bit better! Happy Learning!

Continuing with my Astrology A-Z series, we are now at letter F. F is for Fixed "Fixed Signs" relates to Modality - there are three class divisions of signs known as "modes" or "modality" (also sometimes referred to as "Qualities"); they are Cardinal, Fixed or Mutable. For a greater understanding of this, please also read my previous post - C IS FOR CARDINAL When the Wheel is divided into four equal quarters, and you apply one season to each quarter - the Cardinal signs mark the beginning of the season, the Fixed signs mark the middle of the season, and the Mutable signs mark the end of the season. Acknowledging that where you are on the globe along with climate change; the weather patterns might not line up exactly with these seasons - but these are the "Astrological Seasons". However, understanding the nature of "Beginning, Middle, and Ending" will help you understand the nature of the Modalities. Taurus - Fixed Earth - Middle of Spring Leo - Fixed Fire - Middle of Summer Scorpio - Fixed Water - Middle of Fall Aquarius - Fixed Air - Middle of Winter With the Fixed Signs representing the Middle of a Season - we find that Season is stabilized and "fully rooted". The middle of Summer (in the Northern Hemisphere) is Leo Season - with the Sun as Leo's ruler this time of year is ruled by the Sun - it is commonly a Hot and Dry time of the year. The Middle of Fall is related to Scorpio - a Water Sign - and commonly a time when the rains begin, and we witness the cycle of decomposition as the leaves fall from trees and begin to decompose into the earth. One could say that the Fixed signs are the best at expressing their Element, since they express this element in the most solid, concentrated, and focused way. Thus the Fixed signs are associated with personality traits or expressions of stubbornness and determination - but each expressed through it's own Element. Stubbornness of Earth energy may express quite differently than stubbornness of Fire energy etc. The Fixed Signs are accumulative by nature, collecting and containing energy and stabilizing it or solidifying it. If a person has planets in Fixed signs in their Birth Chart, those planets will often express themselves in a very solid, concentrated matter. Fixed Squares & Oppositions Square Aspects occur when two planets 90° away from each other. If the wheel (360° ) is divided into four quadrants, each quadrant has 90° in it, so the Fixed signs all form either Squares or Oppositions to each other. (Oppositions are aspects of planets that are 180° apart - opposite sides of the wheel) Squares are traditionally seen as "hard" or challenging aspects - the planets involved have some kind of tension or friction between them that creates discomfort. However, this discomfort is what urges us to take action to make change or improve our life situations. Fixed Sign Squares involve two planets that are operating from very solid, stubborn, resolute points in the chart, so it can be difficult for these parts of the self to integrate or find compromise. Taurus squares Leo and Aquarius Leo squares Taurus and Scorpio Scorpio squares Leo and Aquarius Aquarius squares Taurus and Scorpio Opposition aspects can be challenging as well - but they also bring an opportunity for balance and integration. The Fixed Oppositions are Taurus & Scorpio and Leo & Aquarius. The Fixed Axis of Taurus and Scorpio is the Axis of Power and Value - hashing out the different types of Power that come from different sets of Values. The Fixed Axis of Leo and Aquarius is the Axis of Creativity and Expression - here we learn to balance between Individual expression vs Group Expression and find Creativity important on both sides. Succedent Houses Fixed energy is also found in the Succedent Houses. These are Houses 2, 5, 8 and 11. The Succedent Houses deal with Stability found in a variety of different resources, and planets in these houses will be more stubborn and resistant to change - similar to planets in fixed signs. Personal Chart Exploration: What planets do you have in Fixed Signs? Do you have planets in Fixed signs that are Squaring or in Opposition to each other? What planets do you have in Succedent Houses? Can you feel how those planets carry some Fixed energy influence even if the sign is not Fixed? ----------------------------------- If you enjoy my posts, consider signing up for my Patreon! For a small monthly donation you can help support my writing & Astrology updates here on my Patreon blog and on social media! There are also higher tiers for exclusive content & Astrology lessons. Your support helps me continue to bring you posts like this one!

A thru Z Astrology Series; E is for Equinoxes "Equinox" means "Equal Night" and refers to the time of year when the length of Day and Night are equal. We have two equinoxes each year - one in the spring and one in the fall. These are related to the earth's tilt of axis, which gives us our seasons. When the Northern Hemisphere is tilted towards the sun, we have longer days and shorter nights - our summer. And when the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the sun, we have longer nights and shorter days - our winter. At the time of the equinox, Day and Night are equal and we are directly in between summer and winter. A note on the Solstices The tilt of the earth's axis has the Northern Hemisphere tilted farthest away from the sun at the time of the year when the sun enters Capricorn. In 6 months time, the tilt of the earth's axis will have the Northern Hemisphere tilted closest to the sun - this is the Summer Solstice and the beginning of Cancer season. We even have named certain parts of the Earth's circumference lines after these points; the Tropic of Capricorn and the Tropic of Cancer. The Equator is between the two - and it is the point tilted closest to the sun during the Spring and Fall equinoxes. As we annually orbit around the sun, the moments of these seasonal shifts of the solstices and equinoxes make up the key points in our Astrological Calendar using Tropical Astrology. (Also known as Western Astrology) This is why the signs might have slightly different starting/ending dates each year - as the points of the solstices and equinoxes do not fall on the exact same calendar day every year. Understanding this concept will also help you understand why Tropical Astrology does not align with the placement of constellations. The Astrological Year of Tropical Astrology is designed to line up with seasonal points of time in our orbit around the sun - not with the alignment of the sun with certain constellations. Sidereal Astrology sets the timing of the astrological seasons with the constellations - but not Tropical Astrology. I think both forms of astrology are valid and useful, but generally people will choose one or the other to study and practice. (I work with Tropical Astrology) Tropical Astrology (in the Northern Hemisphere) 0° Aries - The Spring Equinox - The sun's ecliptic path is aligned with the Equator 0° Cancer - Summer Solstice - the sun's ecliptic path is aligned with the Tropic of Cancer 0° Libra - Fall Equinox - the sun's ecliptic path is aligned with the Equator 0° Capricorn - Winter Solstice - the sun's ecliptic path is aligned with the Tropic of Capricorn From these points, each sign is divided into 30 degrees, making a 360° wheel equally divided among 12 signs. These points of the Equinoxes and Solstices all fall in the Cardinal Signs. Cardinal Signs are related to Leadership and Initiation - so it makes sense that these four signs "lead" the change or initiation into each seasonal shift of the year. As a side note - once you understand that Tropical Astrology (Western Astrology) is designed based on the division of 12 signs through the alignment of the sun's elliptical path with the equinox and solstice points - you understand why the "13th Sign" Ophiuchus is just not a thing. The basis for the 13th Sign of Ophiuchus is rooted in placement of a constellation along the elliptical path of the sun. The signs were named after nearby constellations, but the system of Tropical Astrology is not based only on constellations; it is much more based on the seasonal points of the year on earth. I don't know exactly why the ancient astrologers chose to name the season of Scorpio after the smaller constellation of the Scorpion rather than the larger constellation of Ophiuchus, but the existence of this constellation does not change the 12-sign system. Previous A - Z Astrology Series posts: A is for Astrology B is for Birth Chart C is for Cardinal D is for Decan ---------------------------------------- If you enjoy these posts, please consider supporting me so I can continue to bring you more content. You can join my Patreon with tiers between $5 and $50 a month. You can also support me by scheduling a private astrology reading by emailing me at hestiasmuse@gmail.com or contacting me on Facebook

D is for Decan Today I will continue with my Astrology A to Z series. The other posts in this series can be seen here: A is for Astrology B is for Birth Chart C is for Cardinal D is for Decan (or Decante) Each Astrological sign takes up 30 degrees of the wheel: 30 degrees x 12 signs = 360 degrees - a full circle Additionally, each sign is divided into 3 sub-divisions, a 10 degree segment of each sign. These are the decans. There is a first, second, and third Decan of each sign, giving more insight into the operation of that sign's energy depending on if it is the beginning, middle, or end of that sign. The First Decan, 0 - 9 degrees As a planet moves through a sign, it enters at the first decan (0 to 9 degrees) and the "beginning" or start-up energy of that sign. The first Decan of a sign is very "Cardinal" in nature - it is bold, innovative, "excited" to start the new journey in this sign's energy. It is like when you first move into a new house or start a new job - you want to "show off" a bit and so you might exaggerate the expression of this "new self" that you have discovered. If you wish to relate the three divisions of decans to the moon cycle, you can think of the first Decan of a sign as the New Moon and Crescent Waxing phase - or the "Maiden/Child" energy of that sign. The Second Decan, 10 -19 degrees. As a planet moves through the second decan of a sign (10 to 19 degrees), it is more settled in the energy of that sign. It has found a sense of how it operates here, and it begins to exude a more "Fixed" energy. I think of this as similar to after the newness of the new job or home has passed . . . you are comfortable with what you are doing, secure; not trying as hard to prove yourself to others because you know you belong here and have a stable confidence in how you go about your expression. In a moon cycle, this Second Decan could be related to the middle of the moon phase - Waxing Gibbous, Full Moon, and Waning Gibbous - or the "Mother/Provider" energy of that sign. The Third Decan, 20 - 29 degrees As a planet moves through the third decan of a sign, it is carrying with it the lessons of the first and second decan, and begins preparation to move into the next sign. It carries the wisdom of all it has learned to express as it journeyed through a sign, but begins to have a more "Mutable" view in thinking about how it will carry these lessons forward into the next sign. This is like a period of time when you know your time in your home or job is coming to an end. You are training your underlings, wrapping up your affairs, or beginning to make preparations to move to whatever is calling you next. In a moon cycle comparison, you could compare this third decan to the Balsamic Waning and Dark Moon Phases - or the "Crone/Teacher" energy of that sign. A Note on Cusps People who are born near the final degrees of a sign or the first few degrees of a sign might say they were "born on the cusp" of two signs. This is true, and there is a different energy signature at the very beginning or very end of a sign. But it does not mean that your Sun is "in both signs" or "has the energy of both signs". Someone born on the Cusp may feel like they don't fully relate to descriptions of their Sun sign... but look and see the energy signature of the First and Third Decan to understand why you might feel this way. Your sun has either "just arrived" in this sign, or it is wrapping up and preparing to leave this sign. You likely have other planets in one sign or another that are adding to your identification with one sign or another, or aspects to other planets in other signs that are influencing your energy expression. I just say this to clarify that if you are born with your sun on a Cusp, it does not mean your "sun is in both signs", but to take the Decan of the Sun into account as well as other planets in your chart. Decan Planetary Rulerships Beyond understanding the Decans as "beginning, middle, and end" of each sign, each Decan is also assigned a Ruling Planet. These planets are seen as Sub-Rulers of each sign, and help further deepen our understanding of each sign and decan. When we can layer in the meaning of each decan's ruling planet, we can get a fuller picture of the energy of each sign and the progression of energy within it. For each sign you have the Ruling Planet, and then three Sub-Rulers or Secondary Rulers related to the decans. For the rulers of the Decans there are two main schools of thought - the Chaldean Order or Modern Decans. I think both of these have value for different reasons. Mostly I use the Chaldean Order, but I also find value in the Modern Decan rulers as well. (There is also another system of decan rulership - the Ptolemy Table, which I am less familiar with so I am not showing it here today) The Chaldean Order This is the system created by ancient Babylonians and seen as the "original" Western Astrological System of Decan Rulership. It follows an order of planets that repeats through the signs, related to the movement of planets from slowest to fastest. The Chaldean Order is Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Sun, Venus, Mercury, Moon and this order repeats with every seven decans. The Tarot Card system of relating minor arcana cards to planets and signs is based on the Chaldean Order. SIGN RULING PLANET 1st Decan 2nd Decan 3rd Decan Aries Mars Mars Sun Venus Taurus Venus Mercury Moon Saturn Gemini Mercury Jupiter Mars Sun Cancer Moon Venus Mercury Moon Leo Sun Saturn Jupiter Mars Virgo Mercury Sun Venus Mercury Libra Venus Moon Saturn Jupiter Scorpio Mars Mars Sun Venus Sagittarius Jupiter Mercury Moon Saturn Capricorn Saturn Jupiter Mars Sun Aquarius Saturn Venus Mercury Moon Pisces Jupiter Saturn Jupiter Mars Image: The Chaldean Decans with associated Minor Arcana Tarot cards - Modern Decans This is a reformulated modern system which assigns Planetary rulership based on the elements, and includes Modern planets such as Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. This system has the first decan of each sign sharing the same planet as the Sign's major rulership, and the other two decans assigned planets by relation to the element of Fire, Air, Earth or Water. There is no repeating pattern or order of the planets by Decan. SIGN MODERN RULER 1st Decan 2nd Decan 3rd Decan Aries Mars Mars Sun Jupiter Taurus Venus Venus Mercury Saturn Gemini Mercury Mercury Venus Uranus Cancer Moon Moon Pluto Neptune Leo Sun Sun Jupiter Mars Virgo Mercury Mercury Saturn Venus Libra Venus Venus Uranus Mercury Scorpio Pluto Pluto Neptune Moon Sag. Jupiter Jupiter Mars Sun Capri. Saturn Saturn Venus Mercury Aqua. Uranus Uranus Mercury Venus Pisces Neptune Neptune Moon Pluto Astrology Students: Look at the planets in your birth chart by degree and apply the understanding of the Decan as well as the influence of the planetary ruler of the decan. How does this inform your understanding of that planet in the sign? Do you prefer the Chaldean Decan ruler system, or the Modern Decan Ruler system? Can you incorporate wisdom of both or do you wish to use only one or the other? There are no "wrong" answers here, develop your own relationship with astrology! Visitors - do you enjoy my public content? 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Continuing with my weekly "Astrology A -Z" public posts, this week is the letter C. C is for Cardinal All 12 signs of the zodiac are divided up into different sign types, by element and quality. The Qualities (also known as Quadruplicities) are Cardinal, Fixed, and Mutable. When the wheel is divided into four segments (quarters); each quarter represents a season of the year. The Cardinal signs mark the beginning of each season. Aries - Cardinal Fire - beginning of Spring (Fall in Southern hemisphere) Cancer - Cardinal Water - beginning of Summer (Winter in Southern hemisphere) Libra - Cardinal Air - beginning of Fall (Spring in Southern hemisphere) Capricorn - Cardinal Earth - beginning of Winter (Summer in Southern hemisphere) You'll notice there is one Cardinal sign for each of the four elements (Fire, water, air, earth) Signifying the beginning of each season, the Cardinal signs carry the energy of being leaders and initiators. Each of these signs are influencers with strong leadership qualities - they are passionate, competitive, determined and visionary; often with bold ideas and unique fierceness. These signs tend to be proactive, leaning into each challenge they face and pushing for the next new experience or period of growth. Despite all being leaders - each Cardinal sign does so in it's own way, combining the Cardinal energy with the Element of that sign. Aries leads with action, taking a direct approach. Cancer leads with feeling, guided by sentiment and intuition. Libra leads with vision, weighing the pros and cons of each situation. And Capricorn leads with strategy, holding high standards for structured progress. If a person has planets in the Cardinal Signs in their birth chart, those planets will express their energy strongly and naturally "lead" the other planets in the birth chart. Cardinal Squares & Oppositions Square Aspects occur when two planets are 90° away from each other. If the wheel (360° ) is divided into four quadrants, each quadrant has 90° in it, so the Cardinal signs all form either Squares or Oppositions to each other. (Oppositions are aspects of planets that are 180° apart - opposite sides of the wheel) Squares are traditionally seen as "hard" or challenging aspects - the planets involved have some kind of tension or friction between them that creates discomfort. However, this discomfort is what urges us to take action to make change or improve our life situations. Squares have a natural expression of a very Saturn-like energy, as well as Uranus - they cause us to notice our boundaries and restrictions and then we decide whether to push back or find compromise. When it comes to the Cardinal Sign Squares - it is a feeling like there are too many leaders fighting for control of the situation. While an Aries planet may be pushing to lead with Fire (direct action), a Capricorn planet is pushing to lead with Earth (stability and slow progress) The individual with Cardinal Squaring planets in their birth chart will need to learn to balance these inner conflicting drives - knowing when to apply fire or earth, or when to compromise. Cardinal Squares teach us about boundaries, limitations, and rules; and then when to step forward as leaders to either enforce boundaries or break free from them. Opposition aspects can be challenging as well - but they also bring an opportunity for balance and integration. The Cardinal Oppositions are the axis of Aries/Libra or Cancer/Capricorn. The Aries/Libra axis pushes for balance of Cardinal energy of Fire and Air - and the integration of leading for the Self vs leading for Others. The Cancer/Capricorn axis pushes for balance of Cardinal Water and Earth - and the integration of leading for Inner Comfort vs leading for Outer Success. Angular Houses Cardinal energy can also be found in the Angular Houses - houses 1, 4, 7, and 10. These are the houses naturally ruled by the Cardinal Signs, beginning at the important angular points of the chart. The 1st house begins at the Ascendant (Ac), the 4th House begins at the Imum Coeli (the IC). The 7th House begins at the Descendant (Dc), and the 10th House begins at the MidHeaven (Mc). These houses are considered the "strongest" houses; carrying a forceful and ardent energy and having a very strong influence on the natal chart. These houses are the "influencers" and "leading houses" of the birth chart - even if they do not hold Cardinal signs they will have a natural Cardinal influence on whatever sign they hold. Personal Chart Exploration: How many planets do you have in Cardinal signs in your Natal Chart? What about the Angular Houses? Do you have Cardinal Squares or Oppositions? What about Angular House squares or oppositions? As of 9/22/2020 we are about to begin Libra Season; and the lunar cycle will bring us significant phases of the moon occurring in Cardinal signs, so there will be an emphasis on Cardinal energies through this next month. ----------------------- If you enjoy my posts, consider signing up for my Patreon! My Blog is moving to my Patreon page and you can find this and other Public posts there. I have a $5/month tip jar to help support my writing & Astrology updates here on my Patreon blog and on Social Media! There are also higher tiers for exclusive content & Astrology lessons. Your support helps me continue to bring you posts like this one!

Part of what I enjoy about Astrology is the simple, structured division of time it gives us. Our planet is so unique in that it exists right in the perfect zone for life to have formed and be maintained, but the planet also has a tilt that gives us the seasons. This tilt is so close to a 25 degree angle that we can nearly perfectly divide a year into four quarters. And in Astrology, that's what we do. We measure a year based on those four seasonal points of the earth tilting on it's axis, giving each quarter an astrological season. I think that understanding these Astrological Seasons as different from the Cultural and Weather-related seasons of different regions will help people understand The Wheel of The Year - which is an Astrological Calendar of Solar Holidays that mark the beginning and middle of the seasons. For example, in the United States, we tend to think of "Summer" as June, July and August. Astrological Summer, however, starts at the end of June and lasts until nearly the end of September. In some regions it is certainly "hot like summer" before the end of June, and perhaps Early September already feels like Autumn in some places. So, it can be confusing to some to celebrate "the beginning of Summer" on June 21st. Therefore, we need to understand that the Solar Holidays are Astrological Calendar points rather than weather-related or culture specific. I have made this diagram to help break down the four Astrological Seasons; ASTROLOGICAL SEASONS The Astrological Wheel is divided into Four Seasons Each Seasonal Quadrant is ruled by an Element. The Element is determined by the Sign in the MIDDLE of that Season (The Fixed Sign) SPRING - Approx. March 21 - June 20 Aries / Taurus / Gemini Ostara (Spring Equinox - beginning of Spring) March 21 Beltane (Middle of Spring) May 1 SUMMER - Approx. June 21 - September 20 Cancer / Leo / Virgo Litha (Summer Solstice - beginning of Summer) June 21 Lammas (Middle of Summer) Aug 1 FALL - Approx. Sept 21 - December 20 Libra / Scorpio / Sagittarius Mabon (Fall Equinox - beginning of Fall) Sept 21 Samhain (Middle of Fall) November 1 WINTER - Approx. December 21 - March 20 Capricorn / Aquarius / Pisces Yule (Winter Solstice - beginning of Winter) December 21 Imbolc (Middle of Winter) Feb 1 The Year can be divided into "Light Half and Dark Half" or times when the Sun and Day are the Dominant energy - vs times when the Moon and Night are dominant forces. Many modern Pagans see this as the natural balance - there is an equally divided year. I share this as just a Primer and some Basic information about the Astrological Wheel of the Year. If you are drawn to honor or recognize the solar seasons Spiritually, or just as calendar points to mark progress through an Astrological Year, I invite you to subscribe to the blog or sign up for my website membership (free) so we can explore and experience The Wheel of The Year Together ** please note - I am using Tropical Astrology and I am speaking of the seasons for people in the Northern Hemisphere.

Continuing with the Astrology A-Z series, we are now at Letter G! Galactic Center: The center of our Galaxy, the Milky Way, currently located at Sag 27°00'. This point, predicted in 1918 and discovered in 1932, is a gigantic radio source (called Sagittarius A) surrounding what is thought to be a supermassive black hole (Sagittarius A*) with the mass of some four million times that of our own Sun. It has a significant effect when aspected by personal planets in the birth chart, inclining people to take a central role in life and to have a sense of cosmic destiny. Since we all have the Galactic Center in the same sign and degree in our charts, it is usually interpreted based on what house it is in an any aspects it makes to other planets. Most astrologers look at the Galactic Center as an indication of how you align with Cosmic Forces and what relation you have with a Universal search for Truth, Justice, and Wisdom. Since the Galactic Center is center of our Galaxy - it is akin to "the source of all matter" and probably the central point of The Big Bang. So this point can be seen as "The Source", some might even call it God (or the Home of The Gods). Sagittarius is related to Wisdom, Understanding, and Justice - ruled by Jupiter who is named after the Roman counterpart of the Greek god Zeus - King of the Gods. Personally, I sometimes imagine the Galactic Center as Olympus - home of the Gods from where Zeus rules and sends out his judgements. A Harmonious aspect to The Galactic Center (Trines and Conjunctions) will thus show a planet that is connected to Cosmic Source or "the will of the Gods". A Challenging aspect (Oppositions and squares) will show a planet that is at odds with the Cosmic Source, or struggles in some way with feeling aligned with Cosmic Forces. Aspected Points to the Galactic Center: I would personally allow no more than a 5 degree orb for an aspect to the Galactic Center to have much influence. (So, the area of 22° Sagittarius to 2° Capricorn) Generally I would look to the Inner planets to have the most profound effect. Outer planets still have relevance but this will be a generational impact and have personal relevance related to the Houses of the planets involved. Conjunction - a planet within 5 degrees of 27° Sagittarius Opposition - a planet within 5 degrees of 27° Gemini Square - a planet within 5 degrees of 27° Virgo or Pisces Trine - a planet within 5 degrees of 27° Aries or Leo Do you have any planets in your chart that aspect The Galactic Center?

"I am open to the notion that emotion is devotion and everything I feel in every moment is Divine. And in the sanctuary of this moment I am safe and held, in the sanctuary of this body I am home." ~ Ari Moshe Wolf, "Emotion is Devotion" ( from the album Freedom Is My Holy Name, available on BandCamp - https://arimoshe.bandcamp.com/track/emotion-is-devotion ) As I was meditating on the asteroid Vesta moving through the sign of Cancer, I remembered this song by my friend and astrology mentor, Ari. What a perfect song to express the energy of Vesta - asteroid of Devotion, moving through the sign of Cancer! The asteroid Vesta is named for the Roman Goddess of the Home and Hearth Fire. The asteroid represents a place of devotion and dedication in the chart - it is where we are tending an inner Sacred Fire. Fire needs tending, care, and mindfulness so that it doesn't burn out; or burn too hot and get out of control. When it is well tended, the Sacred Hearth Fire provides warmth, light, comfort, and and a place to make offerings to the gods as well as to cook the nourishing foods we need to survive. Vesta has been in the sign of Cancer since June 3, 2020 and will finish her journey through the sign of Home, Mothering, and Nurturing on August 11 when she moves into Leo. She is currently reaching the mid-point of her journey through Cancer, and was in harmonious conjunction with the Sun at the time of the lunar eclipse on July 4th. The sign of Cancer is the sign of emotions and a desire to be nurtured, cared for, and appreciated. Cancer also brings empathy and compassion for others, but as a sign of emotions and the Heart Chakra, we also know that deep love can be potentially very rewarding, OR very painful if it is not tended to properly. Asteroid Vesta represents a sense of Sacred Devotion to a cause, she is the Keeper of The Sacred Fire; a Goddess who sacrificed her own personal needs or desires to be the Keeper of the Flame and maintain the fire that brings comfort, purity, and order to the world. Vesta's placement in our birth chart can show us a great deal about what we are devoted to, how we sacrifice ourselves for this devotion, and what energy we bring to the Sacred Fires of community and home. There can also be a great deal of inspiration and direction gleaned from watching the transits of Vesta; what influence does the Goddess of The Hearth Fire bring into our lives as she moves around the zodiac? As Vesta has moved through Cancer, there has been a call for us to tend the sacred fire of our emotions. I have been reminded of the importance of self-care practices for my physical and mental health, and I have seen lots of references to this on social media as well. With Vesta's Sacred Fire in the sign of Cancer it is a good time to examine how we tend to our emotional needs and responses. There is a need for balance (as with all things) because emotions can run hot or cold, and adults need to properly manage their emotional states and responses. Currently, our world is in a state of ongoing crisis - from the pandemic, to civil unrest and political upheaval worldwide - it is easy to feel emotionally overwhelmed with day to day life. A lot of us don't know the tools or methods to help us deal with ongoing emotional crisis, and that has made this year incredibly difficult for so many people. Without balance, it seems like the only choices are; to be in a constant state of emotional distress, or to disconnect from the feelings altogether. Vesta in Cancer offers a different way. She says that your emotions - your heart - are Sacred and Divine. All the emotions, not just the tender sweet ones - but the anger and frustration too - are Sacred. All these feelings just need acknowledgement and tending to, in the same way that a fire can be a source of comfort or a source of destruction - Vesta asks you to simply mindfully watch over that fire. Be aware of what you are feeding the fire. When does it need more wood because it is dying down and cooling? These are times the fire might need coaxing - a little poke here and there and some energy & fuel sent to enliven it and stoke the coals. When it is burning too hot, there's not much to do but wait and let it burn down, attempting to safely control it and not add more fuel until it has settled. Vesta's advice: Tend to your home - creating a sanctuary for yourself to feel all the beautiful feelings that arise. Give yourself permission to feel those emotions. Identify them, acknowledge them, observe the type of "fire" that they create. Find ways to increase your feelings of safety and comfort, and outlets for the times you do not feel safe and comforted. Find ways to do small acts of service for others - even just reaching out with loving words to a friend can be a powerful act of service. You are learning and growing, becoming more resilient AND more tender, and ALL your emotions are sacred. "I am open to the notion that emotion is devotion and everything I feel in every moment is Divine. And in the sanctuary of this moment I am safe and held, in the sanctuary of this body I am home." > > > More about the Greek Goddess Hestia and her Roman counterpart Vesta HERE +++ Hestia and Vesta Devotion Course information HERE >>> This is a SNEAK PEEK of content that will be available on my Patreon for subscribers of the Hestia Devotion tier. You will have access to exclusive posts about the asteroids Vesta and Hestia, and monthly devotionals to Hestia. Subscribe before August 1st to receive a FREE Tarot or Oracle Card reading! www.patreon.com/hestiasmuse

We are preparing for the Full Moon in Capricorn on July 4th, 2020. The Full Moon will be at 8:46 pm PST, with a prenumbral lunar eclipse that peaks at 9:29 pm PST. This is the final eclipse of the Summer 2020 Eclipse Season and this full moon carries some very potent energy. Full Moons are always about balancing opposing energies and areas of life. The full moon takes place in the opposite sign of the sun, highlighting and reflecting from the polarity point of the current sun season. To me, the Full Moon is a powerful time to deeply reflect and work on the inner self in relation to the axis of the opposing signs that are in play. Each sign has an opposite sign that reflects to polar opposite energy.... but these signs are deeply connected as pairs. They are like two sides of the same coin, and a balanced life will have the energies of these two opposite signs working in harmony and well integrated. The Full Moon is an excellent time to check in and review these two opposing energies, to explore whether they need to be better balanced and more fully integrated in your life. You could say that one cannot really enjoy the benefits of one sign's energy and lessons if you are out of touch with the opposing sign's energies. The Full Moon reflects back to us the light of the sun shining from the opposite side of the zodiac, illuminating far side of the wheel and reminding us that both sides have beauty and value. The Cancer/Capricorn axis highlights the relationship between the deeply personal and the broadly public aspects of our lives. Cancer is the sign of the deeply personal life - our emotional selves, our home life, our desire for nurturing, comfort, safety, and unconditional love. Capricorn is the sign of the deeply public life - our career, social status, our legacy, and our desire to be recognized and acknowledged for our work and achievements. One can easily see how it is important to have these two areas of life harmonized and balanced. If you are overly focused on your work life and social status but lacking in a comfortable, safe, and nurturing home life, you will probably feel great imbalance and discomfort in your life. On the other side of the spectrum, you can have a safe and nurtured home life; but without the stimulation of satisfying work and external creation, you may feel unfulfilled. The energy of the Cancer/Capricorn axis can be understood through the archetypes of the traditional Mother-Father dynamic. (This is not to say that I encourage or promote these somewhat archaic traditional gender roles, but simply they are given as examples of archetypes that most people are familiar with). The Mother archetype (Cancer and the Moon) is the nurturer who cares for the home - cooking the nourishing foods and providing for the emotional needs of the child. The Mother archetype encourages the connection to emotions, teaching care for others through empathy. The Father archetype (Capricorn and Saturn) is the provider of external needs, working outside the home to provide income. The Father archetype is also the one who encourages the child to eventually take responsibility for their own care (enforcing rules and restrictions) - and setting expectations for the child to go out in the world and succeed at their own path and create their own legacy. The Cancer/Capricorn axis holds within it the age old conflict between Matriarchy and Patriarchy - and the opposing forces of Liberal Socialism and Nationalist Authoritarianism. On a global, impersonal scale we are seeing these archetypes in conflict (seeking balance) in terms of a strong public outcry for nurturing and empathy while governments seem to be doubling down on restrictive and authoritarian policy. This theme has been predominant for the past year; related to the transits of Pluto, Saturn, and Jupiter through the sign of Capricorn. For the United States, this is particularly potent as the country experiences its Pluto Return (Pluto returning to the place it was at the "Birth" of the country - in Capricorn) and this Full Moon falling on America's day of Independence - this country has a natal Cancer sun, after all! the Chart for the Full Moon on Saturday night could almost double as a Solar Return chart for the 2020 "birthday" of the United States, and as such - this particular Full Moon will influence the energy of the United States for the rest of the solar year until next July! Returning to the personal, let's look at how you can use this Full Moon for some powerful self-reflection and self awareness. There is a potent opportunity here to allow yourself to work on balancing and integrating the Cancer-Capricorn energies within your own life. Is there balance between your home life and your work life? Are you feeling worthy of both unconditional love, and for recognition for the things you work hard at? Below I am breaking down some ways to explore these energies - you can write in a journal, meditate, or use these as discussion topics with partners or friends. Cancer Energy Exploration How is your home life? Are you feeling safe, nurtured, and secure in your home environment? Is there anything you can do to increase the level of comforting and nurturing you have at home? What kind of self-care practices do you have? Are you open to receiving unconditional love? Love that is not dependent on external factors like what you do or how you act - but simply to be loved for who you are? Are you willing to give yourself this kind of love? Meditate on the tarot cards The Chariot (Cancer) and the Three of Cups (13 degrees Cancer). What do these cards mean to you? How can you embrace and embody the energy of these cards? If you read tarot, you can give yourself a reading with these cards as significators and ask for further advice in accessing the lessons of Cancer. Look to your birth chart to find your moon sign. If the moon is your inner Mother Archetype, how can you access this energy for mothering yourself? Your moon sign shows you the type of nurturing and emotional support you seek - and also the type of nurturing and emotional support you give to others. Look at your birth chart to find what House the 13th degree of Cancer is contained within. This will show you the "area of life" in which the sun in Cancer is occupying during the Full Moon and lunar eclipse. This can hold clues as to what area of life you may need to channel more nurturing, comfort, and unconditional love. Look at your birth chart to find your Fourth House. What sign rules this 4th house and are there any planets there? This can show you the type of home life you desire, and how you best express your own nurturing comforting energy. Capricorn Energy Exploration How is your Work life? Are you feeling acknowledged and appreciated for the work you do? Are there ways you can create a better work environment for yourself? What other projects and goals are you working on that give you a sense of satisfaction and purpose? Are these efforts acknowledged and appreciated by your peers? Where are you feeling restricted or facing boundaries or limitations in your life? How do you respond to rules and restrictions that are enforced by society or family? Are there any boundaries that you feel you need to actively fight against or overcome? In what ways do you need to enforce or uphold your own boundaries in order to succeed? Meditate on the tarot cards The Devil (Capricorn) and the Three of Pentacles (13 degrees Capricorn). What do these cards mean to you? How can you embrace and embody the energy of these cards? If you read tarot, you can give yourself a reading with these cards as significators and ask for further advice in accessing the lessons of Capricorn. Look at your birth chart to find your Saturn. Saturn is sometimes seen as the stern father archetype of the planets; here you will find the types of boundaries and restrictions you face in life. Your Saturn can show you how you respond to rules, restrictions, and limitations, as well as areas of life that you need to hold boundaries or create order. Look to your birth chart to find what house the 13th degree of Capricorn is held within. This will show you the "Area of life" that the moon will occupy during this full moon and eclipse, and can show you where you might need to focus on balancing your work, social status, or personal boundaries. Look at your birth chart for the 10th House. What sign rules this house, and are there any planets there? This house can show you what kind of career you desire, or where you wish to be publicly recognized for your projects and effort. Some further Astrology to be aware of for this Full Moon (see chart below) Pluto, Jupiter, and Saturn all in Retrograde in the sign of Capricorn. This is bringing a lot of change and introspection to the Capricorn energy, and some frustration as the retrogrades cause feelings of blockages or that efforts are not moving forward. There is progress and change happening here, but most of it is currently unseen or beneath the surface. Trust that there is change happening, though the results may not be seen until after the retrogrades are over. The Full Moon and eclipse (13 degrees) is happening just 10 degrees away from the Pluto-Jupiter conjunction at 23 degrees. After the eclipse the moon will move closer to these planets, and pass over all of them on it's way out of Capricorn on July 5th. Mercury retrograde in Cancer at 9 degrees, just 4 degrees away from the Sun at the time of the Full Moon and the eclipse. Be aware of the possibility of miscommunication, travel delays, and mistakes in monetary transactions. The asteroid Vesta in conjunction with the sun, both at 13 degrees Cancer. Vesta is the Roman Goddess of the Hearth Fire, related to her Greek counterpart Hestia- Goddess of Home and Hearth. The asteroid Vesta brings a strong sense of devotion to a personal cause (what fires are you tending?) and a willingness to make personal sacrifices for the greater good. Vesta joining in with the sun during this eclipse will strengthen the desire to care for the home environment while also activating a sense of duty related to whatever it is that you are dedicated to nurturing. Earlier in the day, before the eclipse the moon will square Mars in Aries, followed by a square to Chiron. As emotions run high there is a chance of feeling angry or reacting to situations out of anger, especially if you feel disrespected or encounter triggers related to past traumas. Be aware of this and be gentle with yourself. Your anger and pain are likely justified, but a measure of control in how you respond to those feelings will go a long way. Moon in Capricorn trine Uranus in Taurus - there may be a desire to indulge in some material comforts. This is fine but watch out for overspending, and keep an eye on your bank account in case of mistakes. Wishing you many blessings for this Full Moon! I hope that this post has brought you clarity, guidance, and a focus for your journey through this powerful full moon and eclipse. Blessed Be, friends!! ANNOUNCEMENT! This post is a FREE SNEAK PEEK at some of what will be offered on my Patreon. At the "Apollo and Artemis" Tier ($25 per month) you will have access to posts like this one through the month. Designed to be a full Astrology course you will learn about each astrological sign, ruling planets, houses and more. There will be guidance like in this post to help you make the most of each Full Moon and New moon, along with other content, discounted readings and special offers. Please check out my Patreon and the available tiers to learn more about ways you can access these teachings and help support me in doing this work. Beginning August 1st, posts like this one will be available for Patreon subscribers only. Everyone who subscribes to the Apollo and Artemis tier before August first will receive a FREE tarot or oracle card reading.

Continuing my A to Z Astrology basics, today's post is about the Birth Chart - also known as a Natal Chart. Astrologers study the placements of planets and asteroids for a variety of reasons, as explored in the previous post, "A is for Astrology". A Birth Chart is an event chart calculated from your date, place, and time of birth. It allows the astrologer to look at the planetary influences and energies that were present at the moment of your birth. Through examining a person's Birth Chart, we see a sort of map of that person's inherent or predisposed personality traits, life lessons, and even their soul's purpose in this lifetime. This is not to say that your birth chart defines who you are and every experience that you will have; but rather it serves as a guide for understanding the energies that motivate and influence your behaviors, thoughts, and ideals. A Birth Chart, like any event chart, can help us examine what was happening in the cosmos at a specific time and then interpret how that energy plays out in events of that day - or in the lifetime of a person born at that moment. Astrology works on the principle of "As Above, So Below" - or what happens in the Macrocosm is also reflected in the microcosm. Therefore, the study of a Natal Chart is the study of the Macrocosm (The Galaxy), applied to the microcosm of an individual's experiences and traits. Another way I have heard a Birth Chart described is as of your "Soul Contract". If you believe in Reincarnation with the soul's ultimate goal being to experience many different points of view and experiences over multiple lifetimes, you can see your Birth Chart as the Soul Contract that you created for this incarnation. Your soul desired to learn specific things in this lifetime in order to evolve and balance any past karmic debts, so you chose to be born at a specific time to bring in the lessons and energies of the planets in certain signs. This is a very simplified explanation, but I would recommend the book "Evolutionary Astrology" by Deva Green for a deeper exploration of this concept. In modern Western Astrology, the Birth Chart is primarily used for Spiritual and Psychological examination, but it is also used by some astrologers to help predict events in a person's life. From the Birth Chart, other chart casting methods are derived for specific purposes. A Transit reading applies the current placement of planets to one's birth chart to interpret influence of current energies on the individual. A Progressed Chart will examine the specific ways a person changes or matures based on their Birth Chart. Synastry Charts and Composite charts use two individual birth charts to examine relationship compatibility, including parent-child relationships and business partnerships. Depending on what kind of chart analysis you want, you might seek out an astrologer that specializes in a specific type of chart analysis. My personal recommendation for those who are just beginning to learn astrology, is that you develop a good understanding of Birth Chart analysis before adding in more complex layers of other types of chart readings. The same can be said for a client receiving a chart reading - it may be confusing to understand an analysis of your Progressed Chart or a Synastry chart if you have not yet understood your Birth Chart. ~~ Lilliana Blackstar of Hestia's Muse ~~ Hestia's Muse on facebook Email me or send a message on Facebook to schedule your Birth Chart analysis or transit reading hestiasmuse@gmail.com Follow Seattle Psychic's Association for our Monthly Virtual Events!

An astrological look at the #BlackLivesMatter movement and current events. Let me start by saying that I fully support #BlackLivesMatter and the protests that are currently happening as a response to continued police brutality and inequality that BIPOC face on a daily basis in the United States. I am not Black or a POC, and I recognize that my White Privilege has me looking in at all these events from the outside; and my perspective here is not in any way meant to talk over or overshadow the voices of BIPOC at this time. I am constantly challenging myself and my fellow white friends and family to Listen and Learn; to become better allies and help overthrow the systemic racism that is present in our culture and government. It is my intention here to outline the astrological influences of the movement as a means of encouragement, support, and understanding of what is happening. This content will be copyright free for anyone to share, with or without credit to me. Links to places you can donate to help the cause and support #BLM will be included; if you enjoy this content or find it helpful please make a donation to one of the organizations linked at the bottom of this page. The Birth of #BlackLivesMatter July 13, 2013, 10 pm In July 2013, millions had called out for justice related to the death of Trayvon Martin, a 17 year old fatally shot by George Zimmerman in February of that year. On the night of July 13th, a Grand Jury acquitted George Zimmerman. The collective grief and outrage was palpable, and very visible on social media as activists cried out; yet ANOTHER Black death without justice. A vocal Black Activist, Alicia Garza, wrote a post on facebook after the acquittal was announced in which she said; "Our lives matter. Black lives matter". Garza's friend and fellow activist, Patrisse Cullers replied with #BlackLivesMatter and the phrase soon became the slogan for a movement that spread across the world. Analyzing the Event Chart for the moment #BlackLivesMatter was born offers a lot of insight into the energetics behind this movement - how it operates and why it has had lasting power. The "Big Three" - Cancer Sun, Virgo Moon and Aquarius Rising. Sun in Cancer, 5th House. Cancer energy is about support and nurturing. It is the "mother" energy of the Zodiac, and it aligns with this movements deep desire to help people - and to shelter others from harm. Trayvon Martin was only 17 years old when he was killed... the Cancerian energy of a mother's desire to protect a child is highly relevant here.In the 5th house, this energy has a very public face that thrives in the spotlight; indeed it desires that spotlight because this sheltering and nourishing needs to be supported by the public in order for the message and goal to be achieved. Garza's original Facebook post began with "A Love Note To Black People" and the carried the voice of a mother reaching out to comfort a whole group of people hurt by tragedy. Moon in Virgo, 8th House. Virgo is the sign of Service, Devotion, and Health. A Virgo moon can inspire the desire for Sacred Service to a cause greater than one individual's needs. There is a strong need for both Discernment and Purification. The 8th House relates to Death and deep transformative experiences, as well as Secrets. A Virgo moon in the 8th House will push to reveal secrets and the hidden nature of structures that are obscuring concerning the cause that one is devoted to. Aquarius Rising. (Note* I don't have the exact time of Garza's original Facebook post, but her post and the resulting hashtag of Black Lives Matter was "born" after the announcement of Zimmerman's acquittal, which happened around 10 pm.) Aquarius is the sign of the Rebel and of Revolution - of thinking outside the box and breaking down thoughts and ideologies that are not serving the greater good of all. Aquarius' main function is to ask, "Does this work for the greater good of humanity? If not, it must be dismantled so we may move forward" The energy of Aquarius rising over the horizon at the time of the acquittal surely amplified the desire for Revolution and continues to contribute a strong influence to this movement's purpose. It is also interesting to note that Trayvon Martin was an Aquarius Sun. Interpersonal Planets - Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn Mercury Retrograde in Cancer, conjunct with the Sun. Mercury is the planet of communication, thoughts, ideas, and travel. In the sign of Cancer, Mercury is concerned with expression of emotions and a desire to communicate needs for nurturing, comfort, and safety. In retrograde, this planet is pushing for Shadow Work; or the need to confront uncomfortable emotions. The retrograde of Mercury can also create difficulties in expressing these needs - such as miscommunication and barriers to communication. The #BlackLivesMatter movement has been marked by a massive misunderstanding, not the least of which is seen in people misinterpreting the slogan as if it is saying other lives do not matter or that Black Lives matter more. The resistance to #BLM is often seen by counter-protesters saying "all lives matter". If you still struggle with understanding why it is inappropriate and dismissive to say "All Lives Matter" please take a couple minutes to read this article; Why You Should Stop Saying 'All Lives Matter', Explained in 9 Different Ways. Mercury's close conjunction with the Sun makes this movement highly related to communication, while the 5th House again amplifies that public view and spotlight. Venus in Leo, 7th House, Conjunct the Descendant. Venus relates to desires and attraction. Venus in Leo brings a strong desire to be seen, heard and acknowledged. A primary goal of Black Lives Matter is to bring public awareness to the injustice present in the lives of Black people, a desire for these injustices to be acknowledged and given fair attention. These injustices are nothing new, and #BLM is a continuation of the Civil Rights Movement that has been ongoing for decades in America. Venus in Leo demands to be heard and seen. the 7th House is about partnerships and Venus here also indicates a strong desire for collaboration with a strong need for support from other groups and individuals in order to spread the message - and for it to reach its aim. What gets referred to as “the Black Lives Matter movement” is, in actuality, the collective labor of a wide range of Black liberation organizations, each holding their own distinct histories. These organizations include groups like the Black Youth Project 100, the Dream Defenders, Assata’s Daughters, the St. Louis Action Council, Millennial Activists United, and the Organization for Black Struggle, to name just a few. Mars in Cancer, 5th House. Conjunct Jupiter and Black Moon Lilith. Mars is the planet of War and Aggression, it signifies what someone is willing to fight for; where they will stand their ground and say, "this is what I am going to stand up for". In the case of Mars in Cancer, there is an additional push of anger and feelings of injustice related to emotions, nurturing, mothering, and safety. Mars had just entered Cancer within a day or two of this event chart. Cancer energy has a reputation of tightly clinging to its ideals and feelings, and Mars arriving here at this time brings the courage to speak up about and fight for these feelings and ideals. Also noting here the presence of Black Moon Lilith - a mathematical point in astrology that relates to rebellion against oppression, feminism, wrath, and spitefulness. Lilith's presence in tight conjunction with Mars and Jupiter in Cancer should be mentioned - especially since #BlackLivesMatter has had strong female leadership from the very beginning. This is another placement indicating the anger and grief of a mother attempting to protect her children and their freedom. Jupiter in Cancer, 5th House. Conjunct Mars and Lilith. Jupiter brings expansive awareness to whatever sign he is transiting, often forcing a sense of awakening and broadening of horizons or an expanded point of view. Jupiter also brings the energy of Luck, Justice, and Wisdom. This quote seems to highlight the nature of Jupiter in relation to #BLM - "Moreover, the broader cultural impact of BLM as a movement has been immeasurably expansive. BLM will forever be remembered as the movement responsible for popularizing what has now become an indispensable tool in 21st-century organizing efforts: the phenomenon that scholars refer to as “mediated mobilization.” By using the tools of social media, BLM was the first U.S. social movement in history to successfully use the internet as a mass mobilization device." From "How Black Lives Matter Changed The Way Americans Fight For Freedom" Saturn in Scorpio, 9th House. Saturn relates to Structures, Boundaries, Responsibility, Limitations, and Conditioning. The presence of Saturn in a Chart operates both to show what kind of structures or boundaries are being created, and what types of structures and boundaries are being challenged. In this respect, Saturn in Scorpio is building structures and boundaries related to deep emotional needs while also challenging structures and boundaries that inhibit deep change. The Saturn in Scorpio influence on the BLM movement is asking people to challenge and break down social conditioning (systemic racism that has been too long accepted in our society) while also asking individuals to take responsibility for their own roles in this conditioning, and the work they need to do to move beyond it. Discussions on White Privilege and White Ally-ship have been a prevalent part of the BLM movement as all people are asked to examine their roles within the structure that allows racism to continue; and take ownership of our need to challenge those structures. Saturn at 4 degrees Scorpio is in an exact trine with Jupiter at 4 degrees Cancer, showing these two planets working in harmony to bring deep, lasting change. For further exploration of the concept of White Privilege I encourage you to read "Explaining White Privilege To a Broke White Person" Outer Planets - the Generational Influence of Chiron, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto Chiron in Pisces, 1st House. Chiron is "The Wounded Healer" and shows us the nature of a deep wounding that might not ever fully heal. However it is through the Chiron wound that healing manifests - sometimes for a purpose beyond the healing itself - often it gives a deep sense of empathy that allows healing to be brought to others or the world through this point of suffering. The wound itself creates a kind of medicine forged by the painful experience and influences the type of healing that can then be brought forth for having had this experience. Chiron in Pisces relates to a collective wound; a pain suffered by many and experienced at a deep spiritual level. The event chart having Pisces in the first House brings this wound to the forefront of the movement - it is after all ultimately about acknowledging, respecting, tending to, and healing a deep collective wound of the spirit. Chiron in Pisces brings forth a type of medicine that tries to support a spiritual and emotional pain - such as the healing of a deeply embedded trauma from ongoing emotional abuse and gaslighting. Chiron is particularly powerful in this chart because of its powerful trine to Mercury. Both Mercury and Chiron are retrograde in the event chart, amplifying the need forself-reflection, shadow work and deep personal reflection in order to push the movement forward. Uranus in Aries, 2nd House. Uranus relates to the Collective Higher Consciousness, and the Collective drive for Revolution. Uranus is this event's "Chart Ruler", as the natural ruler of the Rising Sign Aquarius, so its placement is highly relevant to the movement. Uranus in Aries influenced a collective consciousness focused on revolution and change - primarily surrounding Identity Politics. Uranus in Aries brings justification to a sense of pride in one's personal identity, as well as a desire to push for and fight for justice related to that sense of identity. The collective voice of #BlackLivesMatter echoes the cries of an oppressed people who have experienced harm simply for existing with a certain color of skin - a voice that says it will not continue living this way! The resistance that BLM has met has also been influenced by Uranus in Aries, as we saw a large group of people expressing that they felt their identity was under attack as well - primarily white people in the deep south identifying with the confederate flag as a "symbol of their heritage" after Black people repeatedly asked them to stop displaying it. Uranus in Aries' influence means that this revolution feels personal to all parties. However, Uranus cares less about Personal Freedom than it does for what is better for the Good of Humankind, and Uranus' main function of revolution is always Humanitarian, not personal, by nature. Also interesting to note is the presence of the Asteroid Eris, at a 10 degree orb of Uranus. Eris represents Chaos and battle, often stemming from hurt feelings or a sense of one's pride being stepped on. Neptune in Pisces, 1st House. Neptune is in Dominion in the sign of Pisces. It relates to the Collective Subconscious - our collective Spiritual Identity. Neptune is the ruler of dreams as well as delusions and in Pisces it has brought both spiritual awakening and mass disillusionment. We can no longer pretend that everything is fine, as Neptune in Pisces has helped lift some of the veils of delusion. However, it has also brought a strong desire to disconnect from reality, and a collective need for escapism to avoid the heaviness of a reality that is an extremely harsh place for the personal ego. As this movement continues, spiritual and emotional burnout have been prevalent, and spiritual and emotional self care continue to be vital for everyone who is fighting for the cause. Neptune at 5 degrees Pisces forms a powerful Grand Water Trine with Saturn at 4 degrees Scorpio and Jupiter at 4 degrees Cancer, also bound with Mars and Black Moon Lilith. This is a strong collaboration between all the planets in Water signs that very strongly influences the mood of the Black Lives Matter movement. Neptune is still in Pisces today. Pluto in Capricorn, 11th House. Pluto moves slowly but brings deep change. The last time Pluto was in Capricorn we had the American Revolution and eventually wrote and signed our Declaration of Independence. Capricorn relates to government structures, social structures, the status quo, financial institutions, and rules or boundaries such as Authority figures. Pluto moving through Capricorn has slowly been revealing flaws in the system so that we can do the work to tear out the structures and groups no longer serving us and our current needs; to then build something better and stronger. There is a lot going on with Pluto in Capricorn worldwide, but this event chart really highlights Pluto's push for change in profound ways. First, Pluto is found in this event chart's 11th House. The 11th House is the realm of Aquarius and Uranus so any planet here is highly influential to this entire chart given its Aquarius Rising sign. Secondly, Capricorn is opposition to Cancer, so planets here oppose the Cancer planets (Sun, Mercury, Jupiter) Oppositions create tension and discomfort - but Pluto operates better under pressure; pressure and tension are what really bring change. This has an effect of pulling that 5th House Cancer activity to a "Higher Calling" of deep structural change within the 11th house Capricorn. Third, we have a powerful Pluto-Uranus Square in this event chart, highlighting yet another point of tension and pressure in the chart. Pluto is saying "Let's change this power structure" and Uranus is saying, "Yes, lets do that, but make it a REVOLUTION for HUMANITY" Capricorn energy can tend to feel impersonal but this Uranus square makes it personal and brings some fire to the Pluto's purpose. Another thing to note is that Pluto was retrograde in this event chart; Pluto is still in Capricorn today and just began his yearly retrograde period on April 24, a month before the 2020 George Floyd protests began. I am working on Part 2 of this post, which will examine this Event Chart in relation to current transits. Stay tuned and please share if you feel called to do so, and see below for Donation Links! Let me know in a comment what if you have questions about any of the placements discussed. DONATE NOW * 10 Black Lives Matter Organizations You can Donate To Right Now - a list of organizations recommended by Patrisse Cullors * Bail Funds for Protesters Across the Country * Split a Donation between 70 Different Bail Funds