Cardinal Grand Cross of 2010

While many of us are busy anchoring down on earth during what appears to be a very stressful summer on so many levels – the economy is still shaky, natural disasters seem to pop up like mushrooms on a wet field, relationships are strained and people feel ‘stuck’ – astrologers around the globe are keeping their eyes firmly on the sky, as a very unusual configuration of planets is lining up in the heavens.

Personally, I am at a loss when it comes to technical information associated to planetary patterns, so I would not be of much help trying to explain what’s happening, but upon close observation of what professional astrologers have described, in relation to what’s been happening on earth, I have become quite fascinated by the Cardinal Grand Cross of 2010.

According to experts in the field, we are facing, this week, a culmination of sorts, and since several planets will be opposing each other as they align to form the cross, explosive events are likely to be triggered imminently. The forecast is not good – financial crashes, tempers clashing, social unrest and conflicts – but it is general consent that things will begin to improve in the next three weeks, after some of the new energy has had a chance to settle and be assimilated.

So, what does this mean on a personal level? This new energy has prompted many to end old relationships and arrangements that no longer work; we are nudged to let go of the old to make room for the new, to clean house and accept new patterns in place of old, ill-fitting ones. Old jobs are lost, governments are questioned, awareness of personal responsibility is raised, relationships with others are regrouped, and all around us humanity is rebelling to an old system of authority that no longer fits our current needs.

As is with everything, things are bound to appear worse before they get better, and the upcoming week truly appears to embody the doom and gloom associated with change and transition. With such new, explosive energy pouring in, many are bound to feel restless and emotional this week, and even prone to arguments which have the power to escalate rapidly. So, if you feel moody or fearful, or you suddenly feel more confrontational than usual, you are not going crazy, but only getting on with the scheduled program of a global shift of consciousness. The key phrase of this week – and of the next two, though events will not manifest as brutally after this week – is to ride the wave and float with it, rather than swimming against it. Be happy about the small things, tell your loved ones you love them, even those – especially those – you haven’t talked to in a while, and most of all, let go of what no longer serves you; you will be a much happier person once you finally understand it’s easier to walk without carrying so much baggage.

Embracing the Age of Aquarius

The past few years, we have heard a lot of bits and pieces of information about shifting from the Age of Pisces to the Age of Aquarius. Although most of us are familiar with the zodiac signs and their basic characteristics, the majority of us are not erudite enough in astrological matters to really understand what it means.

Not too long ago I decided to consult with a very reputable local astrologer about this, and we went over different aspects of celestial patterns. He explained that the age we are living into right now is the Age of Pisces, a window of about 2000 years which started about a century before the birth of Christ.

The Age of Pisces was the age of religions and patriarchal structures, which took over to balance the feminine energy which had been dominating the scene during pre-Christian times. Within those 2000 years, the world’s three leading prophets, Jesus, Mohammed and Buddha, were born, and in that same time period the energy shifted from fluid Goddess energy to linear masculine energy. Rational thinking took over instinct, and judgment shifted from the heart to the conscious mind. Gradually, patriarchal structures were created and infused with power, both socially and spiritually. Corporations were created, global thinking shifted toward material solidity, and control became the name of the game.

The two-thousand-year time span of the Age of Pisces is now drawing to an end, and even though many have associated the start of the new age with the year 2012, it is in reality hard to predict accurately when it will occur. With the end of the Age of Pisces and all that it represents, we can expect a breakdown of patriarchal structures on all levels, and if we pay attention, we’ll see that this is already happening: the fall of our economy is one of the symptoms of the crumbling, while the growing interest in soul-searching and philanthropic efforts indicate a shift back toward the heart center.

It is quite interesting that the sign of Aquarius is represented by Ganymede, a Trojan prince who in Greek myth was kidnapped and granted immortal life to be the bearer of the cups for the gods. However, Ganymede poured the nectar of the gods upon earth, and the divine drink was evenly sprinkled on the mortals below. This image embodies the concept of divine knowledge no longer being kept secret, but flowing gradually to empower everyone. Another very interesting symbol for Aquarius is the set of two parallel wavy lines which appear to be water but are in fact two snakes. Snake energy was revered in pre-Christian times as healing energy, and the image of two snakes coiled around a cross is still used today to represent medicine.

So, what does this all mean? We are moving through the motions of a shift which will bring profound changes, and although most periods of transition are unsettling, balance is always reached in the end. It’s a time to say good-bye to fear tactics and rigid thinking, especially now that the remnants of the old energy are desperately trying to cling tight as the foundations are falling in. We can either ride the wave toward the heart center or remain stuck to a mindset that’s destined to fail. The choice is up to us.

Once in a Blue Moon

In recent times, we have come to identify a blue moon as the second moon in a month, but according to earlier definitions, including one from The Farmers’ Almanac released 150 years ago, a blue moon is the third moon in a season of four moons. Some years count 13 full moons instead of 12, but since the identity of the moons was important in the ecclesiastical calendar (the Paschal Moon, to cite one, used to be crucial for determining the date of Easter), a year with a thirteenth moon upset the calendar, since there were names for only 12 moons. By identifying the thirteenth moon as a blue moon, the ecclesiastical calendar remained the same.

The idea of a "calendar month" is a relatively recent concept, as months were originally measured by the period between lunar cycles, creating a Lunar Calendar of some 13 months per year (the word "month" comes from "moon"). A cultural revolution took place in the Classical Period, when the ancient rule of the lunar goddesses was replaced by the rule of the sun gods, with 12 months connected to the 12 signs of the Zodiac. In the ancient Lunar Calendars, including the now frequently discussed Mayan Calendar, time was measured according to moon cycles, change of seasons and the period between equinoxes and solstices.

Our current Gregorian calendar system dates from the time of Pope Gregory in the 16th century. The pre-Gregorian calendar was the Julian calendar (the Roman Emperor, Julius Caesar, came up with the idea of standardizing the chaotic Roman calendar in 47 BC). Many cultures, including the Protestant and the Orthodox, were suspicious of such popery and did not adopt this new system until later (even now the Julian calendar is still in use in parts of the Orthodox Church). However, it was in 1582 that the Gregorian calendar was adopted in Rome, Spain, Portugal, France, the Netherlands and Scandinavia. And it wasn't until 1752 that England adopted the new Gregorian calendar.

There are two interesting facts connected to this particular blue moon; for one, the moon will be in the constellation of Cancer - the sign of the Mother, home and family, symbolizing a shift of energy toward the feminine heart center; the second fact is that a partial eclipse will also take place, although it will not be visible in the US since it will occur at approximately 2:13pm EST. Traditionally, moon eclipses are considered a time of rest, during which we release what we no longer need. We might consider releasing feelings and habits that no longer serve us, old perceptions of security and illusions of power.

The New Year is ringing in with a pretty powerful celestial cocktail, just in time to make a special wish when we click champagne flutes at the stroke of midnight.

Happy New Year!


Some of the information on this post was found at: http://www.astrologycom.com/bluemoon.html