Sabian Symbols, Evolutionary Configurations, and More.

This article covers significant aspects, degree symbols, and other important factors in this New Moon chart happening on September 25.

This marks a month of “the dawning of a new day,” with a new sense of the roles we are and aren’t playing. Be willing to balance whatever needs balancing, adjusting whatever needs adjusting, and show humor as you obey the divine prompts. 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, and we have a Hammer of Thor active in this chart!

The first decan of Libra is where we begin a form of active transfiguration which will lead us to new magnetism in Scorpio. 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 month Jupiter revisits that degree, opening new freedom, new humor, new enjoyment, and greater roles.

Because of the ability to get things in motion at this time, 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 now made into a Hammer of Thor by the Lunation sesquisquare both of those planets! Add Jupiter at the opposite point to the New Moon and we have a Peace Sign, enabling us to move forward and bring order out of the chaos of the friction. Saturn square Uranus is now culminating, requiring us to focus on what’s pertinent while eliminating all the rest. Add Mars slowing to retrograde in late September, and this becomes the final Lunation before we begin to navigate the cross currents of that retrograde.

This Lunation helps us open to new ways of seeing that an ideal made manifest through the stages of the creative process in facts transforms our lives. Keep taking a look back at when this happened in the past, with an eye to using it in the future in a new forms. We’re now in a transitional period through March 2023, since the Mars RX and shadow zone transit will hold up the Virgo energy from manifesting until next July.

Long Term Effects of the Capricorn and Aquarius Compressions

We all had important long wave Capricorn cycles set into motion in early 2020, and even more important long wave Aquarian cycles between March and December 2020. If you want to know more about the four year sequence of The Great Compressions of Early 2020, 2021, and 2022, that article explains that in January through March 2020 we experienced the second of four consecutive compressions of planets. 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; 113+ degrees between the Lunation and Pluto, and on the other side, a 97+ degree span between Venus and Mars. At this time the inner planets are between late Virgo and early Libra, 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 7+ degrees. Because we have 8 signs represented between Capricorn and Libra, but because the span between the planets in late Virgo in a trine to Pluto, this would qualify as a “Locomotive” Jones Pattern, continuing the pattern from the previous 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, Pluto is the leading planet and the Lunation are the closing planets of the Locomotive. Approach experience through seeing seed forms in the ongoing transformation of humanity and embracing the power of your spiritual group allies. With the Lunation closing, see all experience as giving you a new beginning. Because the leading edge is Earth, approach experience with practicality. Because the closing planet is in Air, it implies that after all is said and done, you’ll find a new perspective or sense of proportion about the process of perfection. Open to experience using Capricorn spiritual power, and come out of experience with a blended Solar and Lunar Libra vision.

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 Scorpio and Sagittarius energies to complete the empty span. Focus, eliminate, open, a see a wider view. As we find the balanced perspective at the end of the process through Mercury in Libra, move into healthy Scorpio and Sagittarius expression which will naturally lead to the next Plutonic 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 Lunation falls at 3 Libra, 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 Libra it has a sub-influence of Libra 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 Sabian Symbol we’ve been given for the 3rd degree of Libra is “The dawn of a new day, everything changed.” In the original Jones class notes Dane Rudhyar published in The Astrology of Personality, he states this degree symbolizes “transforming power of periods of silence and darkness, which lead to stirring revelations” and “real touch with the cosmic process.”

In The Astrological Mandala,, Rudhyar offers this degree refers to “the ever-present possibility of beginning again on a new foundation of values.” He states it relates to the first two phases of this part of the process, which is “the process of true Initiation: 1. The experience of the undying Form of perfection; 2. The release of the energy incorporated in the Form in order to reach “That which is beyond form and name;” 3.The reembodiment of energy in a new creative Act.”

He continues this phase “leads us to a vision of the fulfilled purpose of the first half of the cycle,” where what originally emerged at 1 Aries “now faces a totally new world in a truly individualized form of existence,” which has prepared us to act in the social sphere where we as individuals, “aware of (our) archetypal essence and planetary function, can play our true role (dharma.)” He speaks of this role being one of being an innovator. This degree falls in the Span of Expectation, and is the synthesizing degree on the action-physical level of the Scene of Transfiguration in the Act of Group Integration.

Dr. Marc E Jones, creator of the Sabian Symbols, says this is a degree of our “illimitable potential” as we participate in everyday affairs, “and of the thoroughness with which each individual remains the recurrent expression” of our “self-consistencies.” He states “there is here the necessity for an ultimate self-dependence, and the consequent need to blaze a path of special recognition for each particular characteristic of selfhood.”

He offers us the keyword INNOVATION. He states that when operating in a positive manner, this degree is our “insatiable appetite for experiment and continuing self-discovery in every possible area of human experience.”

So the specific theme of the next month involves “stirring revelations,” awareness of the creative process, beginning anew on a renewed foundation of values, and our need to examine how much we are depending on our own creative gifts and skills and express those which we’re called to demonstrate. This is a time to see the broad sweep of the stages of creation, past and present, to know where we’re at in our larger work of fulfilling our Dharma.

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 Virgo and early Libra. While we don’t have the usual quantity of aspects, the ones we have are very powerful!

The Lunation is biseptile Mars, opposed Jupiter, and sesquisquare both Saturn and Uranus. Mercury is conjunct Venus, trielftile Mars, biquintile Saturn, and trine Pluto; Venus is conjunct the Sun, trielftile Mars, biquintile Saturn, opposed Neptune, and trine Pluto; and Mars is trine Saturn, square Neptune, and biquintile Pluto.

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

As you can see, there are some very productive and specializing aspects with the powerful integrative mechanism of the T-square, which serves to release the positive aspect relationships to Venus, Saturn, and Uranus. Despite being squared by the Lunation, Mars is extraordinarily favorably aspected in this chart, so use Virgo to express positive Mars in Gemini, and use Gemini to express positive Virgo. Saturn is still fairly stressed, but with Uranus so favorable, this month promises to be an extraordinarily spiritually beneficial.

Special Configurations in Evolutionary Astrology

Interestingly, we have two evolutionary configurations in play. In no particular order of significance, they are:

1) Venus is opposition Neptune and trine Pluto, generating powerful awareness in a transformational setting. This creates a very favorable void around 23-28 Cancer, and will prove to be a powerful stabilizing energy for any planets or points we have in the last decan of Taurus, Cancer, Virgo, Scorpio, Capricorn, and Pisces.

2) As mentioned, the Lunation is sesquisquare both Saturn and Uranus, generating a powerful “Hammer of Thor” with the Lunation as the nozzle for the expression of this dynamic friction. This promises the hard edge of choice and change for any planets we have near 17-22 Scorpio, Leo, Taurus, or Aquarius, as well as 2-7 Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn. When we add Jupiter to the mix, we see it semisquares both Saturn and Uranus, and acts as an anchoring force to express the power of the configuration through the nozzle, which is the Lunation.

Enjoy the transformations going on, since there are rewards from Spirit to be claimed for listening to the inner voice, showing courage in entering the unknown, getting free of old social rigidities, and reconnecting with Source. This configuration requires “right action,” both external and internal, but as it marks a transfiguration in our lives which is the result of the creative process working itself out up to now, be obedient to the divine lessons, and be of good humor to counter the aggravations of the aspects in this configuration.

3) While it’s not specifically active in this chart, the Grand Irrationality is still in play, though in the background at this time due to no planets making 7th harmonic aspects to Uranus or Neptune. 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 heavy concentration of frictional and specializing aspects. The frictional aspects were described in the configuration section, with 2 semisquares, 2 sesquisquares, and a square, along with one more square to Neptune.

In the 7th harmonic aspect series of “destiny,” we have only 2 biseptiles. In the 5th, 10th and 15th harmonic specialization series, we have 1 decile and 3 biquintiles. The 9th harmonic gives us no aspects, while this month we have 1 bielftile and 2 trielftiles, 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 continues a dramatically shifting imbalance in the elements, with the 10 traditional planets occupying 8 signs and a major imbalance between cold than hot. We have 1 planet in Fire (inspiration and warmth), 4 planets in Earth (practical grounding), 4 in Air (relatedness and communicating), and 1 in Water (feelings and experiencing). This month we have all signs represented except for Cancer, Leo, Scorpio, and Sagittarius.

Air and Earth are “cool” elements, while Fire and Water are “hot” elements. With this distribution, it’s as chilly as a mountaintop in Winter! This should be good for practical ideas, visions of productive structuring. The Fire is provided by Jupiter, while as usual, Neptune hangs out in the background, providing vast and vague feelings related to the collective feeling field.

Because the New Moon falls in early Libra, Mercury retrograde in Virgo is the “Gateway to the Light” though this will change within a day, when Venus will become the Gateway to the Light. Mercury retrograde shows we will come to the Light by reflection, rehearsal, and linking past, present, and future in our awareness of crucial choices we made and are making which show the power of our personality. When Venus leads the Light, we’ll move from Mercurial Mind revealing the Light to pleasing forms leading us to the Light. And once Venus enters Libra, it will rule the Sun, becoming the “power behind the throne.”

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 four weeks involves leading with our feelings, then finding a new way of communicating, understanding, or coming to a new vision of what is or what could be, and then making a decision and/or acting on the basis of that new vision or understanding.

This pattern leads with feelings, and then searches for information to confirm or deny those hunches. With Mercury stationary direct in Taurus, see the core of what you’re trying to understand, with an eye to how it fits into your spiritual understanding and service. After you’ve allowed your feelings to move you into a search for meaning, information, or a vision, then reduce everything to a simple fact based on which you can make a clear and simple decision you can act on.

Those with deciding/doing at the end of their pattern always need to remember they are on a journey of ten thousand decisions which allow them to take it one step at a time. During this time period, open to a deeper feeling-knowing, but strive for objectivity and a new view or understanding of whatever presents itself. Then when you’ve considered the information or vision from enough angles, make your decision and take the single step to move everything forward that one step.

So when you are moved by a feeling or experience, it will naturally lead to a quest for new information or a new vision or understanding. Once we get the view or understanding we need, then make your decision and act accordingly. You will find a new feeling-experience naturally arises after the decision and/or action, which will naturally lead to a quest for even more information or understanding.

Just remember to move out of the retrograde thinking process into actions; don’t stay hung up on the need for more information, or more evaluation before making that decision. Also keep in mind that though this is the pattern for this Lunation chart, as soon as Venus conjuncts Mercury, then we’ll begin to lead with our understanding which can result in better relationships, feeling, and values.

Summing Up

This New Moon in Libra is very practical and should bring us unique interactive experiences. Do the tough work up front and the gifts and blessings will show up at the back end. The Hammer of Thor will “hammer many things into shape,” so be of good humor and see what must be done and then do it gladly. The good thing is that Saturn is extraordinarily harmonized by the Mars trine, promising us stability for all planets we have near 17-22 degrees of the Fire and Air signs.

This brings a new light and a new day to our relationships, or ideals, in the house where we have 3 Libra. Be clear about the roles you’re playing, and see how to keep the momentum and initiative in your own hands. A lot of progress can be made despite the friction, or perhaps because of the friction which is putting pressure on us to know what matters and what doesn’t.

Because of the continued emphasis on Virgo, the coming weeks will probably seem like it’s the extension of what we went through in September, but from a different angle of approach or understanding. As Mercury is conjunct Venus, and Venus rules the New Moon, it makes Virgo a powerful backdrop to events. And because Mercury rules Venus, focus your will power, demonstrate the power of your personality in times which call for decision, and display your self-discipline as you move into a greater realm of service.

We’re witnessing the dawn of a new day, so take a new look at how to achieve your sense of purpose as a function of the beauty of your unfolding Self. With Jupiter the mediator between Saturn and Uranus, see the humor in things, and “think in the future,” with visions of a greater life adventure leading you to know what to do and when to do it. We now know how to access our wisdom, both of mind and of feelings, of our personal sense of service as well as our world of relationships. Keep purifying your mind and ideas, as well as your relationships, and you’ll find yourself enjoying your life a lot more in the future.

This is a time of rapid progress for those who can return to source, as well as “simple joys for pleasure and revitalization,” as a means to access our spontaneity. 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.

Continue to get things in place these next few weeks, since things will begin to slow down in October. 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 both 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. There are spiritual rewards to be claimed out of recent disappointments, so 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 the ruler of the New Moon and soon will be the entryway to the Sun, she is important to know how to bring grace, beauty, and balance to people and situations. Soon she’ll enter her home sign of Libra and be on center stage as a main player. 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!)

Part 1 on this New Moon

The September New Moon at 3 Libra Part 1 – What is Happening in October

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

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