- Sabian Symbols, Evolutionary Configurations, and More -

This article covers significant aspects, degree symbols, and other important factors in this New Moon happening July 17/18.

This brings a blessing, or “mantle of power” wherever we have late Cancer in our charts. This is a dynamic period of standing for what we believe in and getting a look at the goods we’ll need to live our new life in the near future. Find peace by withdrawing from old dramas and use imagination to anticipate what’s coming. Be inspired and show heart at every turn!

The last decan of Cancer is about decisions which consolidate our personality by deepening our feelings, in this case in the realm of something social and spiritual. With the Moon ruling the Lunation and all the other planets except Neptune, this is a time to play it safe with what nurtures us while accepting the power to accomplish something inspired. This is an anticipatory time where rewards and treasures already await us.

The Planetary Spread

In this chart, because the inner planets are between late Cancer and early Virgo in a 39+ degree span, we’re still experiencing a widespread field of activity. We now have all the planets in about 2/3 of the zodiac in a Locomotive Jones pattern. At this time, we have planets in Capricorn, Pisces, Taurus, Cancer, Leo, and Virgo.

Depending on the position of the Moon and the inner planets relative to the outer planets, different months bring us different Jones Patterns. These patterns operate their own independent influence, regardless of which planet is in which sign.

Currently, as just noted the outer planet occupied span begins with Pluto in late Capricorn, and proceeds through Saturn in early Pisces, Neptune in late Pisces, Jupiter in mid Taurus, and ends with Uranus in late Taurus. (We don’t include TransPluto, since Jones didn’t use it in defining his patterns). Because we have 6 signs represented between Capricorn and Virgo, and the planets are spread out across a 215 degree span, this chart is a “Locomotive” Jones Pattern.

So What is a “Locomotive Pattern” and how does it work?

This type of spread, with all the planets occupying 2/3 of the signs with an empty third, creates an imbalance that leads to power if we can find the compensatory “weight” to make things move forward smoothly rather than rock side to side creating friction. Target what is needed, and provide compensatory energies accordingly.

As Marc Jones put it, “this type of horoscope reveals a balance of this sort in the life. A third part of things… consisting of a free span in experience, is set against a two-thirds part, embracing a related but limited span in experience…. The basis of the dynamic is found in the native’s resulting strong sense of a lack or a need, of a problem to be solved, a task to be achieved in the social and intellectual world around him.”

Dr. Jones states “The temperament reveals a self-driving individuality, an executive eccentricity that is not … unbalance but rather is power. It exhibits a dynamic and exceptionally practical capacity which is neither the broad universality of the Splash pattern, nor the special obsession with some particularly narrowed aspect of experience characteristic of the Bundle people.

He goes on to state “The Locomotive classification is … moved more by external factors in the environment than by aspects of its own character. The point of application for the powers of the self is shown … by the “leading planet,” or the one of the two in the empty trine which forms its aspect clockwise in the zodiac, irrespective of any distinction as “applying” or “separating.”

Pluto at 30 Capricorn is the leading planet on a degree of “a secret business conference,” showing the seeds of transformational joint collective power are leading us into experience. This entry to the Bowl tells us we are now finishing the organization or reorganization of group power we’ve been working with the past 2 years. With Mars in Virgo closing the Bowl, we’ll finish experience with a sense of efficiency in service which activates as our imagination is opened. So we open with the seeds of collective power and finish with actions which help refine the potential in situations.

As the Locomotive keeps things out of balance, Pluto in Capricorn is now the front end to finding the way of initiating activity that must be accompanied by a compensatory “weight” to keep things moving forward rather than sideways. The more we work with the imbalances by making efficient, energy saving reorganizations, seeing what’s core and what’s peripheral, the easier it will be to navigate the imbalances in this pattern and come to a different way of finding the assistance we need to keep things grounded.

What is needed is Libra, Scorpio and Sagittarius energies to complete the empty span. Accept the transfiguration of form and any “repair work” which needs to be done. Then focus, eliminate, open, and see a wider view. As we find the exact work which needs to be done at the end of the process through Mars in Virgo, move into healthy Libra, Scorpio and Sagittarius expression, we’ll naturally find ourselves at the next Plutonic entry into the next phase of experience.

This leads with individual and spiritual group performance, and closes with actional and material “characterization.” Because the leading edge is Capricorn Earth, approach experience with practicality and a willingness to make things happen or make necessary decisions to ensure the group work. With Virgo Earth closing, our experience should lead us to humility, practical discipleship, forms of service, and divine discernment. This also implies that after all is said and done, you’ll find ways of seeing how the parts relate to the whole in functional terms.

The Sabian Symbol for the New Moon

A New Moon sets the seed forms for what the following month will demonstrate. This Lunation falls at falls at 25 Cancer, and it is said that the third third (decan) of any sign deals with the individual, mental, and spiritual levels of life, and being the last decan of Cancer it has a sub-influence of Pisces with an added dose of the Moon. While I've given you a sense of this degree up to now, this is where we go into depth.

The symbol for the the 25th degree of Cancer is “A dark shadow or mantle thrown suddenly over the right shoulder.” In the original Jones notes published in The Astrology of Personality, Rudhyar says this is a degree of the “support of unconscious elements in every fearless and positive stand of the ego” and “restoration of strength; or self-discovery.”

We are told in the Astrological Mandala that this degree symbolizes “the response of spiritual forces to the integration of personality through positive will-full endeavors.” We are told that when we use “will and positive imagination” in facing our life issues, we are given “a pentecostal descent of power” in the form of grace or “Providential assistance” which can make us leaders of some sort in our society.

He states that this symbol shows us “a more transcendent expression of ‘success,’” which isn’t necessarily external success, “but a spiritual response, a sign of inner strength and uncommon endowment.” He says this degree falls in the Span of Ingenuousness in the Act of Stabilization, and is the ultimate degree in the Scene of Consolidation on the emotional, social, and cultural level.

Dr. Jones says this is a degree of “the irrevocability” of our obligation to our reality, with a focus on our “capacities of leadership as a revelation of racial stewardship” in a personal or spiritual way. He continues that “self-expression here is a release of (our) inner potentialities, and it becomes both an individual gratification and an expanding responsibility to all other individuals making up the social complex.”

He gives us the keyword DESTINY. He states that when operating in a positive manner, this degree is “some dramatic manifestation of genius vital to the general welfare of (everyone).”

From this symbol it seems the specific theme of the next month involves the destiny taking something away while presenting something important to us which we can use in a powerful and inspired way. Show humor as you leave old emotions behind and embrace your leadership capabilities by demonstrating inner skills and abilities. This is a degree of emotional, social, and cultural blessings so that our individual genius for leadership can come forth.

Important Aspects

Remember that in reading a Lunation chart (as well as a horary, inceptional, electional, or any event chart) the forming aspects show things to come, while separating aspects show things already past. Partile separating aspects show what’s been going on in the Now. This section covers only forming and partile separating aspects.

The Lunation is vigintile Mercury, elftile Venus, novile Mars, quintile Jupiter, trine Neptune, and opposition Pluto. Mercury is vigintile the Sun, quindecile Mars, square Jupiter, triseptile Saturn, binovile Uranus, and sesquisquare Neptune; Venus is tredecile Jupiter, quincunx Neptune, and quincunx Pluto; and Mars is trine Jupiter, opposition Saturn, biseptile Uranus, triseptile Neptune, and biquintile Pluto.

Outer planet aspects feature the powerful ongoing Jupiter bielftile Saturn, semisquare Neptune and biseptile Pluto; Saturn is decile Pluto, and Uranus is sextile Neptune.

Special Configurations in Evolutionary Astrology

This month we have SIX evolutionary configurations in play. Mars plays a part in three of them.

1) The Lunation is trine Neptune and opposed Pluto, generating a lot of power and a favorable void in the last five degrees of Virgo. This will be very beneficial for any planets or points we have in the last decan of the Earth and Water signs. Education, completion, focused will power, and an “escape from a narrow destiny” are all themes of this configuration.

2) Venus is the nozzle for a Yod, or Finger of God by its two quincunxes to Neptune and Pluto. This is a very powerful “expansion through sacrifice” energy, with many Venusian things about to be squeezed out of our lives these next few weeks. As we’ve already had Mars in this zone recently, we’ve already gotten our “dress rehearsal,” with new developments coming soon.

3) The first Mars configuration shows Mars opposed Saturn and biquintile Pluto, with Saturn decile Pluto. This creates 3 points of a “10 Pointed Star of Serendipity,” promising unique gifts, blessings, and circumstances for people with planets or points near 1 Aquarius/Leo, 3-7 Pisces/Virgo, 9-13 Aries/Libra, 15-19 Taurus/Scorpio, 21-25 Gemini/Sagittarius, and 27-30 Cancer/Capricorn. Just know when to stop pushing and come back off the limb.

4) Mars also makes a trine to Jupiter along with the opposition to Saturn, but Jupiter is not sextile Saturn. So Mars pulls the two together in a harmonious and intense relationship without the productivity of a sextile, but with the power to overcome some duality by making a leap of faith.

5) Mars biseptiles Uranus and triseptiles Neptune, also pulling the two of these together, but because Uranus is not septile Neptune, this is not activating the Grand Irrationality which ended just a few weeks ago. However, this still pulls together 3 of the 7 “hot zones” creating a septile-driven “7 Pointed Star of Destiny.” This promises major forks in the road for people with planets or points near 3-7 Virgo, 24-28 Libra, 15-19 Sagittarius, 6-10 Aquarius, 27 Pisces- 1 Aries, 19-23 Taurus, and 11-15 Cancer.

(Here’s the article about the Grand Irrationality, its 30 year run, and which zones of the zodiac have been most impacted and when. You can find all you need to know about this configuration associated with widespread irrationality and hard-edged “forks in the road of destiny” we’ve all confronted at various times by going to The Grand Irrationality is Over (1993-2023).

6) Mercury is square Jupiter and sesquisquare Neptune, with Jupiter semisquare Neptune. This yields 3 points of a Great Octile, with a lot of friction and a need for clarity. This challenges planets or points we have around 25-30 Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces, as well as 10-15 Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius. Choose wisely, don’t get bugged by the agitation, and show poise. Even when it’s frictional, see the beauty, power, and inspiration in things.

Here two more aspects deserve special mention; Mercury triseptile Saturn, and Jupiter biseptile Pluto. The first encourages creative cooperation, the second shows as the second major “fork in the road of destiny” in the Jupiter/Pluto cycle. As Jupiter will again biseptile Pluto between mid-October and early November and again in March-April 2024, pay attention to the choices and changes coming this next month.

Jupiter/Pluto activates major choices and changes for planets near 11-15 Taurus, 2-6 Cancer, 24-28 Leo, 15-19 Libra, 7-11 Sagittarius, 28 Capricorn-2 Aquarius, and 20-24 Pisces. Mercury/Saturn activates the same for planets near 5-9 Pisces, 27 Aries-1 Taurus, 19-23 Gemini, 11-15 Leo, 2-6 Libra, 23-27 Scorpio, and 14-18 Capricorn. As these two involve the rulers of Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces, occupying Taurus, Leo, Capricorn, and Pisces, you can see a lot of sectors will be activated!

Explaining Harmonics

This month we have a lot of aspects with a generous helping of those in the various spiritual series and eight frictional aspects. The friction is provided by the Lunation opposed Pluto, Mercury square Jupiter and sesquisquare Neptune, the two Venus quincunxes, Mars opposed Saturn, and Jupiter semisquare Neptune.

In the 7th harmonic aspect series of “destiny,” we have 2 biseptiles and 2 triseptiles. In the 5th, 10th, 15th and 24th harmonic specialization series, we have 2 vigintiles, 1 quindecile, 1 decile, 2 quintiles, 1 tredecile, and 1 biquintile. The 9th harmonic gives us 2 noviles and 1 binovile, and in the 11th harmonic faith series there is 2 elftiles and 1 bielftile.

The novile (9th harmonic), septile (7th harmonic) and elftile (11th harmonic) series all feature spiritual aspects. All novile series (9th harmonic) aspects indicate things which need to be put on the shelf for a while, or that which has been gestating can now move forward. They represent gestative energies that can lead to great spiritual realizations. Septile series aspects represent forks in the road of destiny, while the 11th harmonic elftile series indicate that faith is required to deal with transcending some dualities, issues and points of evolution where we confront the need to resolve some sort of duality by making a leap of faith to attain a form of mastery over that type of duality. This series tests our faith. Both the 7th and 11th series involve non-rational aspect values, bringing an element of irrationality in behavior and circumstances.

The quintile and biquintile (5th harmonic) and related 10th (decile and tredecile), 15th (quindecile), and 20th harmonic (vigintile) aspects are all specialization aspects. You can find more by going to Astrology Class on the Specializing Aspects Pt. 1 – The Quintile and Biquintile, and Astrology Class on the Specializing Aspects Part 2 – The Decile, Tredecile, Quindecile and the Vigintile.

You can find out more about the spiritual aspects (septile, novile, and elftile series) by referencing this brief overview of Astrological Aspects – the 7th, 9th, and 11th Harmonic Series Aspects and their Symbols.

Element Balance and Who’s Leading the Sun

This month indicates a major imbalance in the elements, with the 10 traditional planets occupying 6 signs. We have 2 planets in Fire (inspiration and warmth), 4 planets in Earth (practical grounding), none in Air (relatedness and communicating), and 4 in Water (feelings and experiencing). This month we have half the signs represented.

Air and Earth are “cool” elements, while Fire and Water are “hot” elements. With this distribution, it’s slightly more hot than cold. With the preponderance of Earth and Water, it should be good for for making bricks but avoid getting stuck in the mud of ambivalence or thinking what’s passing is viable in your future.

Uranus is the planet leading the Sun. This is the “gateway to the Light” showing uniqueness and our spiritual individuality are the means by which we come to illumination. Be original or innovative in your thinking, and allow your consciousness to experience high states as you open to the adventure of it being a new time, a new way, and a new day. As Uranus is very favorable, see how unusual or unexpected or sudden events are confirming your worth. The study of which planet leads the Sun is a crucial but overlooked part of understanding how the planets work in sequence.

The current sequence at present of Deciding, Feeling, and Thinking

We’ve been through several different sequences over the past few months. There are six patterns, and each has their strengths and weaknesses. For now, as a process of moving through events, the most effective “firing sequence” for approaching life and experience over the next two weeks involves leading with our decisions and actions, followed by thinking, communicating, envisioning and finding a new view of things, and then feeling what we’ve done and seen.

This pattern leads with their decisions. They assess what needs to be done and then do it. Efficient, practical decisions and actions lead the way, followed by new information, new understanding, new vision, new communications, and new ways of interacting that helps us get clear about something. This is a “get it done” pattern which acts decisively to get to a vision or understanding.

Following this thinking and envisioning function, we will need to reference our feelings and what we’re experiencing as a result of those insights, memories, understanding, or vision. After we decide or act and then think, we then need to go deep within to feel the implications of those ideas and visions. This is a highly effective pattern but tends to blow through experience without taking time to feel it.

So get it in gear, act on the facts at hand, and then go get new information or new ways of seeing things. After that, feel your feelings and check in about how you’re experiencing those thoughts, or that information or vision. Make a decision, get the view you need, and then name how and what you’re feeling. If you’re in doubt as to what to do, reference your feelings and not your ideas.

Summing Up

This New Moon gives us inspiration and power to turn a major corner and consolidate elements of our life into an integrated awareness, sensitive to the simultaneity of past, present, and future all existing in the NOW. This one turns corners to expand in a different, more secure direction while helping us integrate our feelings on a social level.

Saturn’s beckoning us to a life renewal as we stand for what we believe in, Neptune’s showing us the potential for future abundance, and Jupiter’s giving us a look at what we need to play our part in the next season. Uranus has already opened a new chapter of life for us, and the Lunation is offering us power. With Venus on its RX station, take a look at your expectations and get ready for reviews and returns. This is a time of inspiration and power, or seeing the beauty in people and situations as we retire from old dramas and find relative peace.

Remember the year’s theme involves understanding old answers can’t confirm the new conditions of existence, and old approaches won’t get the job done as we stand at the entrance to a new life and land, a new field and focus. Shed the ghosts of the past and enjoy the beauty of the maturity you are.

The Long View

In 2020 we entered a transition phase in human history. While we will be functioning within the Capricorn cycles we began then, we also have begun an era unknown to humanity since the 13th and 14th centuries. Even then, we were still in the depth of the Age of Pisces, so the awakening of new ideas then were relative to the old era, whereas what’s coming involves wave after wave of Aquarian energies, pushing us to the coming Great Age emerging in the second half of this century.

The long wave Aquarian pulses were initially set into motion by the Mars conjunct Saturn at 1 Aquarius on March 31, 2020, marking the initiation of archetypal Aquarian preliminary structures offered by Saturn. The promise and potential of the new Aquarian pulse then began to expand into a greater social and cultural vision beginning at the Jupiter conjunction with Saturn, the Grand Mutation of the Solstice also at 1 Aquarius. So we have 20 years of Aquarian energies set into motion by that conjunction!

When Venus and Mars conjuncted at 1 Aquarius in March 2022 it gave a new impetus and new expression to the Aquarian structures which took shape in 2021. The next time Mars transits Aquarius will be in February and March 2024, when it conjuncts Pluto at 1 Aquarius in February about 3 weeks after Pluto’s next ingress into Aquarius. That will strengthen the Pluto in Aquarius “generation” of the 21st century which lasts until 2043. As there will be a Jupiter conjunction with Pluto at 15 Aquarius in 2033, we’ll see the “expansion of the Angels of the Age of Aquarius” at that time.

2021 opened a new adventure for all of us, and the long term “metamorphosis” we went through showed us what the beginning of the coming Age of Aquarius is about. 2022 helped us remember we are Beings of Light, a Superstar shining the Light of our Eternal Love into our world. We’re now expanding our spiritual knowledge, understanding, and effective forms of service, and have entered a new phase with Jupiter in Taurus and Mars in Virgo.

New groups of Spiritual communities formed last year and will continue to form this year, and those which are Aquarian in nature were “lifted on the wings of angels” in 2021. Trust the process. We are learning not to play to the generic confusion, irrationality, and misleading notions. Revolution is in the air! And when you find things and people of eternal worth, value them with all your heart.

Saturn: Spiritual Master, Spiritual Friend

Saturn is now solidly in Pisces. This helps us to a deeper feeling of connection with others and Source. Because Saturn plays such a large part in our lives, if you haven’t gotten your copy already, please give yourself the timeless gift of my book, Saturn: Spiritual Master, Spiritual Friend. This book shows you the way to take command of your power to steer your life in a conscious way, using Saturn’s strengths and skills to master life on your own terms. It was written for both astrologers and non-astrologers, and will help you understand how your life experiences assisted your Soul growth and your power to change negative karma to positive karma. Each time you re-read any part of it you’re sure to find undiscovered gems of insight helping you throw off attitudes which frustrate your ability to live your higher Purpose on your own terms.

And now, on a related note….

Because Venus occupies 29 Leo in this Lunation chart and is making a tredecile with Jupiter, magic and serendipity are in the air! The Yod will bring sacrifices, but only to give us a powerful Leo focus which will be activated in a few weeks. As Venus is ruler of both Jupiter and Uranus, She will bring beauty, creativity, love, heart, and strength to these two planets. When Leo backs up Taurus, it’s a very strong alliance! This is a dynamic position for Venus, full of drama and play and natural extroversion.

Venus direct and retrograde in Leo promises us 4 months of learning to like all things Leo! This will bring beauty or something of value to wherever we have Leo in our charts, and people with significant Leo planets or points will love the fire they’re feeling in their interactions.

If you want to know more about how Venus works its magic to bring us the people and things we need to find spiritual understanding, you can get a deeper understanding of you power to shape your future by getting your copy of The Magic of Venus: Friendships, Soul Mates, and Twin Flames. It is the most comprehensive book on Venus ever written, and offers a multi-faceted view of why we attract the people we do, as well as how to re-shape our inner Venus to create more satisfying relationships in the future.

This work is an in-depth examination of the psychological dimension of Venus, the spiritual dimension of Venus, and the astrological dimension of Venus. It offers practical techniques for changing your image of what you want to attract your heart’s desire, and how to make your relationships more fulfilling because you are living a Soul-ful life. You’ll find out about why you like or don’t like people and things, why you’ve attracted who you have in the past and present, and how to make those attractions more aligned with your Soul purpose in the future. A major theme weaving the various dimensions together is understanding why Soul Mates come into our lives, and how to know the difference between a Soul Mate and our Twin Flame.

It has chapters on the qualities of each sign’s natural mate, the qualities of Venus in each sign, Venus retrograde, and when crucial choices and changes are made, affecting who we attract in the future. It was written for both astrologers and lay people, and as it has a thousand gems for better relationships, with self, others, and Source, please consider getting your copy by going to the link above! (And when you’re done, please leave a review on Amazon, since it helps the book and all other books on astrology as well!)

Reprinted on crystalwind.ca with written permission from Robert Wilkinson. Copying this article to other blogs is strictly prohibited. It is copyright protected. 

© Copyright 2023 Robert Wilkinson

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