Sabian Symbols, Evolutionary Configurations, and More.

This article covers significant aspects, degree symbols, and other important factors in this New Moon Eclipse chart happening on October 25. This marks the beginning of the release of many things from the past which once evoked strong emotions, many of which have been a block to our happiness.

Accept the transformational process, rise to anything which calls you to a broader service, and prepare for a slowed pace in coming weeks. We’re still stabilizing what will resume next near after the Mars retrograde period in November-December. This is the heart of the final phase of Saturn square Uranus.

The first decan of Scorpio is where we begin a form of deeper communion with magnetic energy which will lead us to new freedom, adventures, and truth in Sagittarius. Having launched into a new sub-era and a new way of Being at the Mars-Jupiter conjunction at 4 Aries in late May, this eclipse will remove many things which would block our happiness or the promise of that conjunction which will take off in a big way in January!

Because of the ability to get things in motion at this time thanks to Mercury trine Mars in Gemini, make as much progress in these new directions as possible while keeping things integrated, creative, and as heartfelt as possible during the square between Saturn and Uranus. While not very strong, this eclipse is definitely a “let go let god” type of prompt. Having used the “Peace Sign” frictional configuration to bring order out of chaos this past month. Saturn square Uranus is bringing us our final exams on releasing all which is not pertinent to our greater work. Add Mars slowing to go retrograde in a few days, and this becomes the final Lunation before we begin to navigate the cross currents of that retrograde.

This Lunation helps us release a lot which will transform our sense of truth and happiness. This one helps us see “the bare trees” behind appearances and heralds a life renewal if we can anticipate opportunity by “thinking in the future” while letting go of any feelings which keep us stuck in the past. We’re now in a transitional period through March 2023, since the Mars RX and shadow zone transit will slow things down until then. At that point, Mars’ transit over this eclipse degree will activate many eclipse effects which will accelerate in mid-October when Mars transits 2 Scorpio.

Long Term Effects of the Capricorn and Aquarius Compressions

Everything that’s going on has to be referenced within the larger Capricorn and Aquarius cycles set into motion in early 2020. These long wave Capricorn cycles and even more important long wave Aquarian cycles begun in March 2020 and amplified in December 2020 are the juxtaposed energies of the next 30 years. This period was the heart of a series of Great Compressions which have been a feature of the early months of 2020, 2021, 2022, with the last one in 2024.

This explains the four year sequence of The Great Compressions of Early 2020, 2021, and 2022. The first was in early 2019 when all the planets were bundled in about one third of the sky, called a Bundle pattern, which is the rarest of all. While the inner planets transited through all the other signs after that, we again hit maximum compression again in March 2020, and then expanded through the rest of the year.

This clustering happened again in 2021 in the last half of January into early February, with maximum compression was around January 19-21 when all of the planets were within a 101 degree span, creating a very intense zone of activity wherever we have late Capricorn through early Taurus. Four planets in Aquarius and two in Taurus made for a very crowded house, with 10 distinct energies occupying less than 1/3 of the total space.

The Planetary Spread

This year we hit maximum compression in early March, with all planets between 28 Capricorn and 12 Taurus, only 104 degrees. In June we left the Bundle, and at this time the inner planets are all in wide angles to the outer planet occupied span between late Capricorn and mid-Taurus. In this chart, we have two wide spans; 117+ degrees between the Mercury and Mars, and on the other side, a 83+ degree span between Venus and Pluto. At this time the inner planets are between late Libra and early Scorpio, making that area most active in our charts at present. Though there will not be a compression in early 2023, there will be one more in early 2024.

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, the outer planet occupied span begins with Pluto in late Capricorn, and proceeds through Saturn in Aquarius, Neptune in Pisces, Jupiter in Aries, and ends with Uranus in Taurus. (We don’t include TransPluto, since Jones didn’t use it in defining his patterns). In this chart, the inner planets are all compressed in a very short span of 10 degrees. Because we have 8 signs represented between Capricorn and Gemini plus Libra and Scorpio, because the span between Mercury and Mars is almost a perfect trine, that alone makes this chart qualify as a “Locomotive” Jones Pattern, continuing the pattern from the September New Moon.

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.”

At this time, Mercury is the leading planet and Mars is the closing planet of the Locomotive. Approach experience through the balanced approach of “the Guide of Souls” heralding the dawning of a new day. Be fair, just, and balanced as you release and advance, release and advance moving deeper into the transformational process. With Mars on its SRX degree closing the pattern, see all experience as leading you toward the truth, or essential form, of whatever moves your perception.

Because the leading edge is Libra Air, approach experience with a realization that we’re a) paying dues, b) balancing accounts, c) finding a more moderate view of things, and/or d) finding a new perspective or sense of proportion about the process of perfection. Because the closing planet is Gemini Air, it implies that after all is said and done, you’ll recognize the many perspectives which come from seeing to the core of things, and/or the need to pierce through superficial appearances and see things as they really are.

As the Locomotive keeps things out of balance, Mercury in Libra 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 finding the way to make small adjustments in the moment while anticipating the dawn yet to come, the more we’ll experience a quick adaptability and fluidity as we move into the Mars retrograde process.

What is needed is Cancer, Leo, and Virgo energies to complete the empty span. Be caring, cautious, creative, courageous, and stay focused as you work the plan. We begin with the balancing perspective of Mercury in Libra, go through the other signs experiences, and are naturally led to the Mars completion. We then learn more “counterweight” energies in Cancer, Leo, and Virgo, which naturally leads to the Mercurial entry into the next phase of experience.

The Sabian Symbol for the New Moon

A New Moon sets the seed forms for what the following month will demonstrate. This Partial Solar Eclipse falls at 2 Scorpio, and it is said that the first third (decan) of any sign deals with the actional, physical, and material levels of life, and being the first decan of Scorpio it has a sub-influence of Scorpio with an added dose of Mars. While I've given you a sense of this degree up to now, this is where we go into depth.

The Sabian Symbol we’ve been given for the 2nd degree of Scorpio is “A Broken Bottle and Spilled Perfume.” In the Astrology of Personality, where Rudhyar uses the original Dr. Jones' class notes on the symbols, 2 Scorpio is said to be a phase of “the fine scent of deeds well done as it persists in the memory of men,” “stimulating recollection,” and “spiritual immortality.”

We are told in the Astrological Mandala that this degree symbolizes “the accidental nature of opportunities that impel one to break away from a past, the remembrance of which is still poignant and cherished.” He states “a new and greater realizations usually demands the sacrifice of something which has brought loveliness and fragrance to a lesser form of living and feeling. Old feelings are poignantly remembered, even as one moves into a new and wider sphere of experience. Old relationships may be left behind, but the memory of their essential moments lingers on, perhaps strong and nostalgic.”

He offers this stage “reveals the difficulty of dealing with the past as one enters into a new realm of feelings. To the excitement of novelty answers the memory of the graciousness of the past one has surrendered.” He states this symbol is in the Span of Retention, Act of Group Integration, and is the counterpoint degree of the Actional level of the Scene of Communion.

Dr. Jones, creator of the Sabian Symbols, says this degree is one of our “real power in making (our) permanent impact on others,” by how we flow in and out of “every last ramification of the given experience.” He states this is “an irrevocability of self-expression” which marks our “divine determination to be significant at all costs,” and “The chrysalis of being is burst open in what may well be tragedy for anything short of a supreme self-dedication.”

He offers us the keyword of PERMEATION. He states that when this degree works positively, it is one of “persistence in creative effort and utter fidelity to the inner essence of selfhood.”

So the specific theme of the next month (and the next 4 years related to this eclipse) involves the Light of spiritual flow into and out of experience, feeling a lot as we move from a lesser life and interactions to a greater one. This is the light of a deeper communion with life itself and all activity, where we can be true to ourselves and find immense creativity in the process. We just have to release our attachment to the past and the feelings associated with that past so we can move forward unencumbered by stagnant or frustrating emotions.

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.

We now have one planet in each sign between Capricorn and Gemini, with the only cluster the inner planets in late Libra and early Scorpio. While we don’t have the usual quantity of aspects, and the ones we have are most separating or won’t come to fruition in the near future. That implies this eclipse will have important effects related to the past but not necessarily the future, except through what is removed.

The Lunation is conjunct Venus, quincunx Jupiter, tredecile Saturn, and an extremely wide mundane opposition to Uranus which is out of orb. Mercury is conjunct the Sun, trine Mars, triseptile Uranus, quincunx Neptune, and square Pluto; Venus is conjunct the Lunation and takes part in the out of orb opposition between early Scorpio and mid-Taurus; and Mars makes only a separating decile to Uranus, square to Neptune, and quincunx to Pluto.

Outer planet aspects feature the powerful ongoing Jupiter novile Saturn; Saturn is exactly square Uranus and decile Neptune, and Uranus makes no other aspects except the ones listed.

As you can see, the friction is provided by the separating Saturn square Uranus and the four quincunxes, indicating adjustments and sacrifices. The Eclipse tredecile Saturn will provide serendipity for those who rise to some occasion which requires their strength and resilience, while Mercury trine Mars facilitates mental movement toward securing balanced conditions which will be revisited when Mars goes retrograde.

Special Configurations in Evolutionary Astrology

Interestingly, we have only 1 evolutionary configuration in play, and even that is a partial configuration. This month we have no 3-planet configurations, which is the first time that’s happened in all the Lunation articles I’ve written.

The partial configuration is set into play by Mercury triseptile Uranus. That puts a piece of the Grand Irrationality in play related to the offset “Kite” configuration created when the Sun and Venus made triseptiles to both Uranus and Neptune within a few days of each other. Mercury was in that zone 2 days before the eclipse, and is now making a quincunx to Neptune. Though they are not in septile at this time, the evolutionary configuration known as the Grand Irrationality is anchored by Uranus septile Neptune, and is a long wave configuration affecting all of us for the past 30 years. At the present time, choices and changes are triggered for those who have planets or points near any of the 7 affected “hot zones” around 2-6 Aquarius, 24-28 Pisces, 16-20 Taurus, 7-11 Cancer, 28 Leo- 2 Virgo, 20-24 Libra, and 11-15 Sagittarius.

Explaining Harmonics

This month we have relatively few aspects in the various harmonic series with a light concentration of frictional aspects. The frictional aspects are confined to 4 quincunxes and 2 squares, though Mars’ square to Neptune won’t happen for a few weeks.

In the 7th harmonic aspect series of “destiny,” we have only 1 triseptile. In the 5th, 10th and 15th harmonic specialization series, we have 2 deciles and 2 tredeciles. The 9th harmonic gives us 1 novile, and this month we have no elftile aspects in the 11th harmonic faith series.

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 wide spread in the elements, with the 10 traditional planets occupying 8 signs and a balance between cold than hot. We have 1 planet in Fire (inspiration and warmth), 2 planets in Earth (practical grounding), 3 in Air (relatedness and communicating), and 4 in Water (feelings and experiencing). This month we have all signs represented except for Cancer, Leo, Virgo, and Sagittarius.

Air and Earth are “cool” elements, while Fire and Water are “hot” elements. With this distribution, it’s a great balance which should be good for sensitive ideas and caring interactions, as well as deeply felt understanding. While there isn’t much fire, we now have a concentration of Scorpio to harmonize with Neptune as it hangs out in the background, providing vast and vague feelings related to the collective feeling field.

Because the New Moon falls in early Scorpio, Mercury in Libra is the “Gateway to the Light.” Mercury shows we will come to the Light by the weighing, judging, and incremental changes indicated by Libra. As Mercury is ruled by Venus conjunct the eclipse, Venus will also play a huge part in Mercury’s approaches., bringing its cooperative building energies to the party.

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. This Lunation shifts the pattern from the previous Lunation and begins a new one. As a process of moving through events, the most effective “firing sequence” for approaching life and experience over the next 4 weeks involves leading with our thinking, then deciding, then feeling.

This pattern leads with a vision, or an understanding, or a communication, and then makes decisions and actions based in those things. While it is tempting to move back into more thinking, communicating, and envisioning, it is more important to move from deciding or acting into feeling what we’re experiencing as a result of those actions and decisions, and bring those feelings to the surface of your consciousness and get clear about what you’re feeling and why.

By naming the feeling or experience, it will naturally lead us back to new information, new vision, new ideals, and new understanding upon which you can do your next set of decisions and actions. Then again name what you’re feeling. That way nothing will get bottled up through underuse, and you can move through experiences with power and clarity.

So lead with your vision, understanding, and what’s being communicated into decisions and actions. Then after the decision or action, sit with the feelings and experience them, bringing them to the surface of your consciousness and get clear about what you’re feeling and why. Just be careful not to get caught in a loop between thinking and doing while ignoring your feelings!

Summing Up

This New Moon Solar Eclipse in Scorpio is going to take us deeper into feeling what we’ve left behind, and what we need to leave behind. Many things will become easier to understand in the light of the spiritual power we’ve been dealing with since May. While many will herald a new dawn, just remember that dawn probably won’t show up until January at earliest and most likely February.

This eclipse will have a cleansing effect, a peeling of layers of old material we don’t need any more. As Mars is the ruler and on its SRX degree, it’s clear we’re going deep into core images, core psychological material, archetypal forms, and whatever we release will lead us to transformation. Mercury trine Mars promises stability and understanding for all planets we have near 21-28 degrees of the Fire and Air signs.

This brings a new light and a goodbye to old relationships and ways of relating to others in the house where we have 2 Scorpio. Look to the aspects the eclipse makes to see which parts of your chart will be harmonized by what you let go of, and what parts of you may feel conflicted about the losses, past and present. The numerous quincunxes show a lot of sacrifice and adjustment, so adapt your methods of getting things done, adapt your view of what you like and what you no longer need to be attached to, and regard it all as a liberating ordeal which is showing you the larger life adventure coming your way in January.

We’re now on the threshold of a period of re-working, undoing, re-doing, or reevaluating our ways of getting something done. This could bring reversals or slowdowns as a result of what’s being surrendered, so please remember you cannot lose what’s really yours, even if you have to set it free or let it go in some way. You’ll find that as you release what you no longer need to hold on to, you’ll feel emotionally lighter in many ways.

Prepare for a slowed pace and a need to stay focused on truth. This is a time of rapid progress for those who can return to “simple joys for pleasure and revitalization” as a means to clean out stagnant ideas and take a new look at the unexamined recesses of our minds. If there’s discontent, follow it to its source, purify your mind and perceptions, and let some fresh air and light into your view of things. We’re now in a time to remember our interrelatedness, but also our need to “build our world” in a way that allows us autonomy but also a feeling of connectedness to our community. If communications get tough, take a “live and let live” attitude, and find the “source ideas” from which a new view might come forth.

We’re still in a period which is testing our ability to utilize spiritual power effectively, so continue to purify your ego so that your light can shine bright and strong in 2023. There is much to teach and be taught if can just find “the right point of view.” During the coming few months those who have trained will be able to “know at a distance” and send constructive thoughts to those who need it.

We are in revolutionary conditions with Uranus conjunct the North Node, recently activated by Mars, which is pulling us into greater spontaneity after cleaning out our mind and its perceptions and interpretations. Let in new ideas and spiritual sunshine. Rise to any occasion that calls your heart and strength, hear the inner voice, let go of old “social rigidities,” and find pleasure and revitalization with your true friends and spiritual Brothers and Sisters. Show heart strength and focused magnetism as you release what you no longer need. Especially let go of dishonest people and circumstances. You deserve better.

In 2020 we entered a transition phase in human history. While we still have to function within the Capricorn cycles we began in 2020, we also have crossed the threshold of 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 first ingress into Aquarius. That begins 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. Last year helped us remember we are Beings of Light, a Superstar shining the Light of our Eternal Love into our world. We’re now expanding that promise and we’ll see developments related to this evolutionary leap beginning this month.

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 continues its long term occupancy in its home sign of Aquarius. While we’ll still be focused on the group work set into motion last year, we are now experiencing Saturn’s late Aquarius qualities. It was a major influence in the 2018, 2019, and 2020 Eclipses, continuing its years-long power behind events.

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 is conjunct the eclipse and part of the “chain of dispositors” ruling all the other planets except Saturn, Neptune, and Pluto, she is important to know how to bring grace, beauty, and balance to people and situations. By learning how to use our inner Venus skillfully and gracefully we can move out of unhealthy toxic relationships and attract far better ones in the future. If you want to know more about the power of our Venus to attract more ideal interactions and happier friendships and loving relationships, I’ll recommend my newest book, The Magic of Venus: Friendships, Soul Mates, and Twin Flames. This book explains how Venus shows us why we like or don’t like the people and things we do, why we attract who we do, and how to create better relationships in the future. You will understand the foundations of long term healthy relationships and friendships, 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, 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 2022 Robert Wilkinson

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