Total Lunar Eclipse – 12/21/2010

Its eclipse season again! This next round starts off with the TOTAL full moon lunar eclipse that peaks at approximately 12:15am EST on Tuesday, December 21. This total lunar eclipse is also occurring on the winter solstice and in alignment with the galactic center making this a truly RARE event! There’s actually more in terms of a planetary ‘alignment’ going on for this winter solstice than there will be for the fabled December 21, 2012 winter solstice. Exciting! AND it will actually be visible (weather permitting) across most of the US!!

Eclipses usually occur two weeks apart from each other twice per year. Each series typically includes a lunar eclipse followed by a solar eclipse or vice versa. A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth is partially blocking the moon from the sun during a full moon. A solar eclipse occurs when the moon blocks the sun from the Earth during a new moon. Full moons and new moons represent astrologically potent time periods anyway, but the eclipses just add some amplification and usually a little dose of the unexpected!

Astrologically speaking, new moons are generally a time of sowing seeds while full moons are a time of reaping what we sow. Where a new moon falls in our personal natal chart represents a time of new beginnings and laying new foundations in the parts of our lives represented by the astrological house that is highlighted. Where a full moon falls in our personal natal chart represents a time of sudden awareness, revelation, culmination and completion in the parts of our lives represented by the astrological house that is highlighted. Eclipses just add some spice and surprise to these time periods.

Ancient astrologers saw eclipse seasons as especially potent time periods with regards to wars and the fate of nations. I personally prefer to look at eclipses relative to the lives and relationships of individuals. In this regard, eclipse seasons are often potent times for unexpected change in terms of surprise new beginnings and to final culminations of things which have been building for some time.

This current total lunar eclipse will peak at approximately 29° Gemini and it will be in conjunction with the south node of the moon. This represents a time of culmination, release, and filtering of energy. When we are open and flexible in the face of change, this can be a rewarding time where we experience the culmination of past efforts. If we have been creating against our best interests or if we have been keeping things under the surface, this may mark a stressful time of culmination with regards to the release of our secrets or the results of our less than stellar creations. The experiences of this nature would be felt within the domain of the astrological house that encompasses the location of this eclipse at 29° Gemini. You would need to consult your own natal chart to find out where this position falls for you.

For example, this point falls in my natal 10^th house which is the house covering career, reputation, achievement, and recognition. For me (and everyone else who has 29° Gemini in their 10^th house) this could mark a culmination and release related to career aims and my place in the world. This eclipse includes challenging aspects to Jupiter and Uranus in my 7^th house of partnership, cooperation, clients and marriage as well as challenging aspects to Pluto and Mercury in my 4^th house of home, security, emotions, and family. This may mark a time for me where I release some old ideas ingrained into me from childhood with regards to the career path I should take and in terms of what constitutes a worthy job. It’s fitting that I have a potential new business partnership venture that may ignite this week! This opportunity would also be well outside of my typical comfort zone for earning money. We will see!

In general, this eclipse falls within an opposition to Pluto and Mercury in Capricorn so this will intensify its effects. Also, for this particular eclipse, Jupiter and Uranus in Pisces are in challenging aspects so this will add some sense of surprise and change with any culmination that occurs allowing for new conditions to form quickly. Whatever this leads to for you, it may feel like a massive release and lightening of a load on your shoulders but only if you are willing to open to surprise adjustments. This may include a contract that rearranges your typical mode of operation.

The combination of the house location of the eclipse, its aspects to other current planets, and its aspects to the personal natal planets yields a very unique interpretation for each individual. For the best results in this case, find out where this lunar eclipse and the other planets involved fall in your natal chart. Then find any planets or personal points in your natal chart that are also aspected by these configurations.

Location of Current Total Lunar Eclipse Configurations

Lunar Eclipse - Moon @ 29° Gemini, Sun @ 29° Sagittarius

Uranus - 27° Pisces

Neptune - 26° Aquarius

Mercury - 26° Sagittarius

Jupiter - 25° Pisces

Pluto - 4° Capricorn

The effects of this eclipse could have been felt as early as mid-December 2010 and may be felt through the upcoming spring of 2011!

For information regarding how the effects of this and the next eclipse (Jan 4, 2011) may manifest in your life email me at: readings@myastrochris.com!

Happy Eclipse Season!!!

Saturn Return: Time For The United States To "Get Real"

For centuries, the planet Saturn was thought to be the outermost planet in our solar system. But actually, this planet is just the outermost planet that we can observe with the naked eye. Astrologically, Saturn represents our perceived 'limits' and boundaries. It's symbolic of 'reality', structure, and of slow but steady development. It is perhaps the most sobering of the planetary archetypes. However, just as the process of sobering up can be an uncomfortable experience, it is ultimately a slow but steady transition to a more productive and useful state of being. In short, through the use of the school of hard knocks, Saturn is associated with getting 'real'.

This stern, parental figure of a planet takes approximately 29-1/2 Earth years to complete one trip around the Sun and through the 12 signs of the zodiac. After this long trip is complete, Saturn 'returns' to the location that it occupied at the start of its journey. In an individual's Natal Chart, this time of the 'Saturn Return' is a defining moment that reveals whether we are on the proper path for our intended journey. It is a wake up call that reveals to us the shortcomings of following a path that is not our own.

On the positive side, it is a time of ratcheting up to a new level of mastery. The degree to which we are diverted from our intended path is inversely correlated to the ease of which this mastery can reveal itself. In other words, the more conscious we are of our intended path, the more these periods will enhance our mastery on some level as depicted through the Natal Chart.

The significance of these Saturn Return periods applies to both individuals as well as to larger entities such as nations. Currently, Saturn is traveling through the sign of Libra which is where Saturn was transiting when the United States of America was formulated (See US Natal Chart below).

United States of America Natal Chart (Sibley)
(click to enlarge)

The period from around Thanksgiving 2010 through around Labor Day 2011 marks the eighth (8th) Saturn Return for the United States of America. The exact dates for when transiting Saturn crosses the point where Saturn resides in the chart of the US (~14 degrees Libra) are shown below:

December 3, 2010
March 22, 2011
August 27, 2011

This whole 9-month period is a time of readjustment within the scope of the house in which Saturn resides (the 10th house in this case). In the chart of a nation, the 10th house represents the reputation and public standing of the entity with regards to entities outside of itself (i.e. other nations). As a nation, it is a 'make or break' time for setting clear boundaries and readjusting our level of openness and /or resistance in regards to other nations. Over the previous seven (7) Saturn Returns (most recent ~early 1980's) for the US, there have traditionally been key decisions made with regards to immigration policy. In the current time, we are again faced with immigration policy issues that need attention one way or another. See below for a brief historical summation of immigration decision activities that occurred through the previous US Saturn Returns:

1st Saturn Return (1804-1805)

The Louisiana Purchase vastly expands the young nation's boundaries which precipitated the Lewis & Clark expedition to seed the ideas of a 'manifest destiny' in the long term game-plan of the United States. President Jefferson also attempted to block trade with Europe through the "Peaceable Coercion" policy. Finally, in 1804, the widows and children of aliens who died prior to filing final papers were granted citizenship (i.e. "anchor babies").

2nd Saturn Return (1834)

A narrative of the Life of David Crockett was published. The book contained tales, tall stories, and yarns which augmented the myth of the great hunter, Indian fighter, and congressman. The Texas Revolution took place and led to its succession from Mexico which readjusted the US borders again. Also, the first assassination attempt on a US president occurred against Andrew Jackson.

3rd Saturn Return (1863-1864)

The Civil War was the dominant theme of this time which included Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. This time also marked the beginning of the end of slavery and the first successful assassination of a US president. Finally, a policy that encouraged immigration into the US for economic stimulus purposes was enacted in July 1864.

4th Saturn Return (1893)

Chinese legally in the United States were required to apply to collectors of internal revenue for certificates of residence or be removed. Also, the Immigration Act of 1893 created Boards of Special Inquiry to examine excluded immigrants at ports of entry, and provided for appeals of the Board decisions.

5th Saturn Return (1922-1923)

Through the Cable Act of 1922, women's citizenship was made independent of marriage and alien wives of U.S. citizens were allowed to file for citizenship after one year of residency. Also, a strong anti-immigrant movement spearheaded by the Ku Klux Klan reached peak strength. Finally, alien land laws prevented property ownership for Asian immigrants.

6th Saturn Return (1951-1952)

The Immigration and Naturalization Act brought into one comprehensive statute the multiple laws which governed immigration and naturalization to date: reaffirmed the national origins quota system; limited immigration from the Eastern Hemisphere while leaving the Western Hemisphere unrestricted; established preferences for skilled workers and relatives of U.S. citizens and permanent resident aliens; tightened security and screening standards and procedures; and lowered the age requirement for naturalization to eighteen years. Also, the McCarran-Walter Immigration and Naturalization Act extended token immigration quotas to Asian countries. Finally, this was the era of McCarthyism hunts for suspected communists.

7th Saturn Return (1981-1982)

Plyler vs. Doe struck down a state statute denying funding for education to children who were illegal immigrants and simultaneously struck down a municipal school district's attempt to charge illegal immigrants an annual $1,000 tuition fee for each undocumented student to compensate for the lost state funding. There was also a failed attempted assassination on then President Ronald Reagan.

8th Saturn Return (2010-2011)

The current period sees immigration into the US through countries like Mexico as a perceived threat to national security in the eyes of some political leaders. The TSA X-ray and 'groping' controversy is also at the top of the list of national security issues. Is it really a time to put up fences around our borders and inappropriately grope people in the name of national security? Or is it a time to get real about immigration and take more practical but productive steps to address national security threats?

Conclusion

With Saturn in its natal 10th house, one of the potential higher expressions of the United States is to serve as a solid example to the rest of the world with regards to how it regulates its borders and how it acts as an authority in the greater world. In the eyes of the rest of the world, the US has the paradoxical and conflicting images for being both a welcoming beacon of hope as well as being harsh and overprotective with its immigration policies. And every time Saturn comes back around it has apparently represented a time to readjust this global image in some way. The current time appears to be consistent with this theme. But for the first time in almost 30 years, the US has a chance to consciously redirect its attitudes and policies toward enlightened ends in these regards.

But just how will the United States readjust its attitudes and policies this time around? I guess we will have to wait and see...

And so it is...

To find out where these energies will be working in your own life contact me for a consultation! -

www.myastrochris.com

The Importance of 'Exact' Birth Time in Astrology

Finding your exact birth time can be an onerous process. But for most people born within the last few decades in developed countries, the birth time is often included on the official birth certificate. However, this is not always the case. Further, just how accurate is the birth time that is listed on the birth certificate? And what defines the moment of 'birth'?

These questions are difficult to answer. But in general, it is believed among many meta-physicians that the moment of birth is predicated upon when the child takes its first breath. Before this moment, the child's nutrients are delivered exclusively through the mother. Taking ownership of one's life through a 'first breath' is like signing a contract. The astrological chart represented by that moment in time then acts a coded language for that soul contract. Since most doctors record the time of birth fairly close to this moment of 'first breath', the birth time listed on the birth certificate is typically close enough to allow for the derivation of an accurate birth chart.

But how exact does a birth time need to be in order to be useful for astrology? And can an astrology consultation still yield useful information without a birth time at all?

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What the Birth Time Tells Us

When a horoscope is cast, the point on that chart that represents the eastern horizon (far left of the chart) is known as the 'Ascendant' or AC. The sign in which this point falls is referred to as the 'Rising Sign'. For an individual, the rising sign is highly significant in terms of interpretation of the outward personality or mask that the person wears. This AC point within the rising sign is also essentially the starting point of the chart and the rest of the chart house system is set relative to this starting point.

While the speed of change of this AC varies based on things like latitude and time of year, on average, each sign ticks through the AC point approximately once every 2 hours. With 30 degrees of arc for each sign, that means that each degree moves through the AC point approximately once every 4 minutes. Considering that the house system of the chart is based on this starting point and that this starting point is in constant and somewhat rapid motion, it isn't difficult to see how important having an exact birth time can be for deriving an accurate horoscope.

For example, when I had my first astrological chart created over a decade ago I used the approximate birth time that my mother had told me which was 6:00pm (See Chart #1). However, when I saw my birth certificate a few years later I noticed that I was actually born at 5:44PM and NOT 6:00PM. If you compare Chart #1 (6:00PM) to Chart #2 (5:44PM) below, you can see that this 16 minute gap made a significant difference.

Chart #1 - 6:00PM (click to enlarge)

Chart #2 - 5:44PM (click to enlarge)

In both charts, the rising sign is Virgo and there is only a 3 degree difference in terms of the two AC points (25 degrees versus 22 degrees Virgo). However, my Sun/Moon opposition crosses over the horizon line (very significant zone) between one chart and the other. Also, planets like Pluto and Uranus fall in different houses between the two charts. These differences alter the interpretation of my chart with some significance and this is only a 16 minute discrepancy!

Chart #3 - 7:26AM (click to enlarge)

With larger discrepancies, the alterations can lead to complete inaccuracy relative to the location of the planets in the houses. In Chart #3 above, for example, the birth time is listed as 7:26AM just to show how drastically different a chart can look if we have a birth time that is far from accurate. This chart has the AC at 26 degrees Aries and my Sun/Moon opposition and the other planets in very different houses which would yield a very different interpretation. Despite the fact that all three charts represent the same day and place of birth, when you compare Chart #3 to either Chart #1 or Chart #2 (actual birth time) it is plain to see how different these interpretations would be in this case.

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Useful Information Regardless of Birth Time

Sometimes an accurate birth time just isn't available. In these case, there is still useful information present but there is just much less information. So a reading can still be conducted without a birth time but the depth of that reading, while still accurate, will be far less than one conducted with an accurate birth time. While the house positions of the planets vary widely throughout the day, the positions of the planets within the signs does not change much over a given day, in most cases.

For example, in all three charts above the Moon is in Virgo and it would have been in Virgo no matter what time I was born on that day in that place. Also, all of the other planets were in the same signs all day and the aspects between the planets did not change throughout the day either (i.e. the opposition between the Sun and the Moon). However note that the Moon travels approximately 12-14 degrees per day so on some days the Moon DOES change signs and without an accurate birth time it would be more difficult to assess the person's Moon sign if they were born on a day when the Moon changed signs. The same is true when other planets change signs on the day of a person's birth.

So even without an accurate birth time, the placement of the planets in certain signs and the aspects between the planets yield plenty of useful information with which to work. With this kind of information, a client can be informed of the energies that they have brought into this life. However, without a sense of where these planets fall into the house system of the chart, the clients soul intentions and lessons cannot be revealed with accuracy for the most part. Since most people who obtain astrological readings are interested in their life purpose and direction in this current life, an accurate birth time becomes very important.

For those who do not have access to their accurate birth time but who are interested in trying to derive their birth time, there is a process known as chart rectification. This process involves using a diary of events and experiences from a person's past to piece together a map of their journey which can then be used to attempt to create a chart and its derived birth time. There are several astrological practitioners who specialize in this process but the results need to be taken with a grain of salt.

In general, it is more valuable to have an accurate birth time for a complete astrological reading but that does not mean that useful information cannot be derived from a chart of a person without an accurate birth time.

Solar Eclipse - 7/11/2010

Its eclipse season again! This most recent round started off with the full moon lunar eclipse that peaked at approximately 7:30am EST on Saturday, June 26. Now the follow up to this initial eclipse is the new moon solar eclipse which peaks at approximately 3:39pm EST on Sunday, July 11.

Eclipses usually occur two weeks apart from each other twice per year. Each series typically includes a lunar eclipse followed by a solar eclipse or vice versa. A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth is partially blocking the moon from the sun during a full moon. A solar eclipse occurs when the moon blocks the sun from the Earth during a new moon. Full moons and new moons represent astrologically potent time periods anyway, but the eclipses just add some amplification and usually a little dose of the unexpected!

Astrologically speaking, new moons are generally a time of sowing seeds while full moons are a time of reaping what we sow. Where a new moon falls in our personal natal chart represents a time of new beginnings and laying new foundations in the parts of our lives represented by the astrological house that is highlighted. Where a full moon falls in our personal natal chart represents a time of sudden awareness, revelation, culmination and completion in the parts of our lives represented by the astrological house that is highlighted. Eclipses just add some spice and surprise to these time periods.

Ancient astrologers saw eclipse seasons as especially potent time periods with regards to wars and the fate of nations. I personally prefer to look at eclipses relative to the lives and relationships of individuals. In this regard, eclipse seasons are often potent times for unexpected change in terms of surprise new beginnings and to final culminations of things which have been building for some time.

This particular solar eclipse occurs at 19° Cancer and will be in a smooth sextile aspect to Mars at 19° Virgo. It will also be in a conjunction with the lunar south node. Depending on where this lands in your own personal natal chart, this eclipse is likely to lead to some type of release that is necessary to allow for new beginnings. This is one of those ‘addition by subtraction’ influences. We have an urge for new beginnings in some area of our lives but cannot move forward without relinquishing some baggage first. We become blatantly aware of how we have allowed the past to paralyze us and we feel a strong need to purge before we can follow our new urge.

With Jupiter in a square to Pluto, this purging and release may happen much more rapidly than we may anticipate. Also, with Mercury in a trine aspect to Jupiter and Venus in a trine aspect to Pluto during this eclipse, the transition between releasing and moving forward may be surprisingly smooth.

The experiences of this nature would be felt within the domain of the astrological house that encompasses the location of this eclipse at 19° Cancer. You would need to consult your own natal chart to find out where this position falls for you. For example, this point falls in my natal 10^th house which is the house covering career, reputation, and recognition. For me (and everyone else who has 19° Cancer in their 10^th house) this could mark a new beginning related to a new career move, for example. But this new move may require releasing some existing career goals and intentions.

My natal Sun, Moon, Uranus, Pluto, and Ascendant all lay within a few degrees of exact aspects with this eclipse. This may suggest some potentially important decisions that will have to be made about my direction in life. This may mark a time when taking a risk could be beneficial for me. But balancing intuition and logic would be the key to a more harmonious outcome regarding any decisions I may make.

Generally speaking, this eclipse falls within a smooth sextile to Mars in Virgo. The urge to take concrete action toward any new ideas/goals may be sufficiently strong enough to allow for this kind of rapid release. Don’t be afraid to go for it!

The combination of the house location of the eclipse, its aspects to other current planets, and its aspects to the personal natal planets yields a very unique interpretation for each individual. For the best results in this case, find out where this solar eclipse and the other planets involved fall in your natal chart. Then find any planets or personal points in your natal chart that are also aspected by these configurations.

Location of Current Annular Solar Eclipse Configurations

Solar Eclipse – Sun/Moon @ 19° Cancer

Mars – 19° Virgo

The effects of this eclipse may ripple out as long as a few months with initial conditions starting at or near the eclipse date (July 11, 2010).

General Advice:

Make room for new developments that may benefit you in the long run and don’t be afraid to take a new direction. If it feels right, release what has been holding you back, and then go for it! Good luck!

To find out where all of this is happening in your own personal natal chart and for a look at other configurations currently showing up in your chart schedule a personal consultation with me today!

Eclipse Report Sample!

Happy Eclipse Season!

Jupiter Square Pluto: “Rapid Growth and Transformation”

From July 2010 through March 2011, the outer planets Jupiter and Pluto are forming a waxing square (90°) with one another for the first time since March 1998. This pits the planet representing expansion, optimism, philosophy, and growth (Jupiter) at odds with the planet representing transformation, secrets, power, regeneration, and deep healing (Pluto).

Just like with the Moon’s phases, the other planetary bodies go through their own phases relative to the Earth. Like a New Moon, the start of any coupled planetary cycle begins with their conjunction (same location in the sky). As the faster planet moves away from the slower planet, eventually it comes to a 90° angle (waxing square) to it, followed by the 180° opposition (like a Full Moon), the second 90° angle (waning square), and then the cycle finishes when a new cycle between the planets is born at the next conjunction. See below for the basic outline of the process including the associated energy of each of these important climax points in the planetary cycles:

Conjunction (0°) – Birth and creation.

Waxing Square (90°) – Tension due to growth.

Oppostion (180°) – Culmination and results.

Waning Square (270°) – Tension due to decay.

The Jupiter/Pluto cycle takes approximately 12-13 years to complete and represents a political, material, and spiritual cycle as the expansive energies of Jupiter reform the powerful energy of Pluto. This cycle represents things like rapid growth, zealotry, and revelations for example. Usually, at the start of these cycles, new philosophies are hatched. As time moves on, there is usually some tension related to those decisions that come up for review around 3-4 years later when Jupiter and Pluto make their first (waxing) square to each other. Then another 3-4 years goes later Jupiter makes an opposition to Pluto. This opposition is the time where the culmination or results of those ideas and of the decision making that started at the conjunction bear their fruit. Then the second (waning) square represents a time of decay and last minute decisions related to the same energies birthed at the start of the cycle (like this current part of the cycle).

Below is a look at the current Jupiter/Pluto cycle followed by a look at where we are in the current Jupiter/Pluto cycle. I also include a few tidbits of information regarding those periods in terms of the US.

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Jupiter/Pluto Cycle (December 2007 – 2020)

Jupiter conjunct Pluto (December 2007)

According to most economists, December 2007 is considered to be the last economic peak in the US. The current recession is said to have started right after this period. The Bali UN Climate Change Conference also took place during this conjunction. In addition, Russia began a freeze on a Cold War arms treaty and Bush initiated a letter for discussion to South Korea regarding the details of their nuclear program.

**Jupiter waxing square to Pluto (July 2010 - March 2011)**

The economy, world power, and climate change are certainly big topics during the current period and they are now up for some serious review. The only questions are, what will we nurture and allow to grow and what will we recognize and correct? The urge now is to expand rapidly in some ways so it is imperative that we do not let things get out of control. The danger here is rapid growth that could have unforeseen consequences a few years later during the opposition phase.

Jupiter opposite Pluto (August 2013 - April 2014)

This period represents the culmination of whatever started in December 2007 and was not sufficiently dealt with during the waxing square phase. The current waxing square is our time to ensure that we are not taken by surprise during the opposition phase.

Jupiter waning square to Pluto (November 2016 - August 2017)

This period is a little too far off and is highly dependent on what we allow to grow during this current waxing square phase. Whatever we do allow to grow will then have a chance to be harvested, digested, and unraveled during this time.

Regardless of what actually occurs during this current waxing square time period, the Jupiter/Pluto square of which we are currently in the midst is about the tension and growth between power (Pluto) and expansion (Jupiter) (i.e. businesses and power) that originated in December 2007. Watch the time periods closest to the following dates for the highest activity.

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Jupiter/Pluto EXACT Waxing Squares

July 24, 2010

February 25, 2011

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Advice

When Jupiter and Pluto are in a waxing square it is time to direct the expansion (Jupiter) of power (Pluto). Transformation and rapid growth are eminent during these times and the level of tension due to the growth and change are directly related to the level of acceptance of that change versus the level of resistance to that change. There is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ approach but just a beneficial approach or a harmful approach.

The beneficial way to approach this time period is to direct the growth in beneficial directions and to create new opportunities (Jupiter) related to enlightened power and resource distribution (Pluto). If we recognize that change and growth are necessary and then engage in the solution process to expand (Jupiter) a plan that incorporates much needed transformation (Pluto), then this time period would be utilized to its optimal potential.

How might this be reflected in someone’s personal life?

From July 2010 through March 2011 expect to feel this rapid growth and transformation in your own life as well. Where this finds its way into your life depends on what part of your natal birth chart that this conjunction falls.



In my own chart, Jupiter and Pluto are squaring off in my 7th house of relationships, partners, and clients and my 4^th house of foundation, emotions, home, and family, respectively. This period will likely see me dealing with quickly developing partnerships that require me to transform the way that I have habitually dealt with relationships in the past. This will apply to both business and potentially romantic partners.

What part of life may you experience this rapid growth and transformation?

And so it is…

To find out where these energies will be working in your own life contact me for a consultation! - www.myastrochris.com