Sabian Symbols, Evolutionary Configurations, and More

This article covers significant aspects, degree symbols, and other important factors in this New Moon happening September 14/15.

This brings the Light of healthy values wherever we have late Virgo in our charts. After our time of review, we now can incorporate a more dynamic practicality in our lives. Do your service in your own way, gladly!

The last decan of Virgo is about enjoyable or a simple grounded precise education, and this part of Virgo is about emotional and social education. We now can take advantage of the extraordinary practicality and Earth harmony due to the Grand Earth Trine involving the Lunation, Uranus, and Pluto with Mercury also trine Jupiter!

The Planetary Spread

In this chart, because the inner planets are between mid-Leo and mid-Libra in a 57+ degree span, we’re still experiencing a widespread field of activity. We now have all the planets in odd groupings across the entire zodiac, held together as a whole by the Grand Earth Trine. This “tripod” emphasis indicates we are now in a Splay Jones pattern. At this time, we have planets in Capricorn, Pisces, Taurus, Leo, Virgo and Libra.

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 in a 114+ degree span and another 81+ span, linked by the Grand Earth Trine, this chart is a “Splay” Jones Pattern.

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

Due to the way the planets are irregularly spread out among the signs, this type of spread which features all the planets in odd angles to each other with differing distributions among the signs, creates a “Splay” Jones Pattern. As Marc Jones put it, “the arrangement is neither even nor symmetrical,” revealing “strong and sharp aggregations of the planets at irregular points.”

Dr. Jones states “This suggests highly individual or purposeful emphases in the life, where the temperament juts out into experiences according to its own very special tastes.” This pattern “makes its own anchorage in existence,” and has a quality of “rugged resistance to pigeonholing, either in the near conventional compartments of nature, or in the idea-pockets of associates.”

He goes on to state this pattern gives a “persistent emphasis on individuality,” and the “spokelike emphases of the planetary groupings” are random, but have a “tripod” footing and approach to life circumstances. He says this pattern “reveals a very intensive personality who cannot be limited to any single steady point of application.” This temperament is “particular and impersonal in its interests,” rather than “universal-impersonal” or “particular-personal.”

This implies that affairs will be diversely spread out, some will not mesh well with others, and there will be a “hub and spoke" quality to what happens these next 4 weeks. This spread shows a wide diversity of things going on that promotes individuality.

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 22 Virgo, 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 Virgo it has a sub-influence of Taurus with an added dose of Mercury. While I've given you a sense of this degree up to now, this is where we go into depth.

The Sabian Symbol for the 22nd degree of Virgo is “A royal coat of arms.” In the Astrology of Personality, where Rudhyar uses the original Dr. Jones' class notes on the symbols, he states this degree is about “preservation of ancient race values for healthy veneration by youthful individuals,” “certification of merit,” and “aristocracy.”

In "The Astrological Mandala he states this degree is about “the certification of aristocratic status, at whatever level ‘nobility’ expresses itself in cultural eminence.” He offers that this is a “reference to ancestral achievements” in an “exalted character, for ‘royalty’ is spoken of.” He says “the king is the spiritual symbol of unity of an integrated nation; as a coat of arms is visualized, we are dealing with a status that is not merely personally acquired but has its roots in a notable past.”

He continues that “every great Adept has come out of a line of human beings who have made their marks upon human evolution,” and that “spiritual attainment is the result of a series of long, repeated efforts; it is the end of the ‘royal road’” all spiritual teachers have trod. He says this symbol is one of heredity, where “the Buddha was known occultly as ‘He who comes after his predecessors,” with the “coat of arms” representing a “spiritual office.”

He finishes by offering that “whoever wears it assumes the responsibility of an Office,” and that “Nobility confers upon (a person) exacting responsibility.” He asks the question “Are you willing, able and ready to assume a ‘royal’ office, at whatever level it may be?” He states this degree falls in the Span of Experimentation, and is the second degree on the emotional and social level of the Scene of Education in the Act of Stabilization.

Dr. Marc E Jones, creator of the Sabian Symbols, says this is a degree of “the eternal authority implicit in the very fact of existence, and of the consequent dignification of experience through the laws and customs” by which we organize our affairs. He says “the elders of the tribe were long the custodians of this common-sense regulation of life, and an aristocracy of blood or of the inherited stewardship of social function has continued to re-enact these values and to enforce their observance.”

He offers that “Right is dramatized as a privilege worthy of sustainment, and offers us the keyword PREROGATIVE. He states that when operating in a positive manner, this degree is “a gift for bringing all (people) together in common purpose and unified stability.”

From this symbol it seems the specific theme of the next month is about seeing how we may have accepted some sort of spiritual work or service in the past which now shows us our “spiritual office” or responsibility. We may have opportunities to reorganize our affairs based in our custodianship of spiritual values, or see the value in how we brought people together in the past as a rehearsal for doing it again in the near future. Again, take a new look at finding new ways, new ideas, new methods of communicating wisdom or knowledge.

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.

Compared to most months, we have fewer aspects than usual. The Moon is novile Venus, quadranovile Saturn, trine Uranus, opposed Neptune, and trine Pluto. Mercury is quindecile Venus, elftile Mars, trine Jupiter, and tredecile Uranus; Venus is decile the Sun, square Jupiter, quadranovile Saturn, and binovile Uranus; the Sun is quadranovile Saturn, trine Uranus, opposed Neptune, and trine Pluto; and Mars makes no aspects to the outer planets.

Outer planet aspects feature the powerful ongoing Jupiter quintile Saturn, semisquare Neptune, and tredecile Pluto; Saturn is binovile Uranus, quindecile Neptune, and decile Pluto, Uranus makes no other aspects, and Neptune is sextile Pluto (finally!)

Special Configurations in Evolutionary Astrology

This month we have only two evolutionary configurations in play, with the Lunation playing a part in both of them.

1) The Lunation is in a Grand Earth Trine with Uranus and Pluto, made into a “Peace Sign” configuration by the Lunation opposing Neptune which makes sextiles with both Uranus and Pluto. That generates four points of a “Great Sextile Star of Productive Harmony” with favorable voids in the last decan of Cancer and Scorpio. This is an extremely powerful and harmonizing configuration, and this one will prove VERY beneficial to planets we may have in the last decan of Taurus, Cancer, Virgo, Scorpio, Capricorn, and Pisces.

When we’re lucky enough to have a Grand Trine with an opposition, it makes a “Peace Sign” configuration, since it looks exactly like a Peace Sign. The awareness is fed to the harmonizing planets creating favorable stability of understanding wherever the Grand Trine falls. This configuration will help us to find an abundant view as we launch a new adventure.

2) The Lunation trine to Uranus also pulls Saturn and Venus into a 9th harmonic configuration, generating 4 points of a “9 Pointed Star of Revelation,” promising the birth of higher awareness for people with planets or points near 1-6 Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces, 11-16 Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius, and 21-26 Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn. Whether coming forth or gestating for a while, this will bring powerful realizations to any planet or point we have in any of the 9 affected sign areas.

Explaining Harmonics

This month we have relatively few aspects of any series. The friction is provided by Venus square Jupiter and Jupiter semisquare Neptune. So what builds through the harmonious aspects to Jupiter releases through the square to Venus requiring “right action.” Pursue your heart’s desire, don’t procrastinate, get things done methodically, hang in there, don’t settle for less than you can get, and always put your best self forward, even it means getting intense or detached, depending.

In the 7th harmonic aspect series of “destiny,” this is the first month in forever when we have no aspects in this series. In the 5th, 10th, 15th and 24th harmonic specialization series, we have 2 quindeciles, 2 deciles, 1 quintile, and 2 tredeciles. The 9th harmonic gives us 1 novile, 2 binoviles, and 2 quadranoviles, and in the 11th harmonic faith series there is 1 elftile.

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 waiting 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 must make 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 1 planet in Fire (inspiration and warmth), 6 planets in Earth (practical grounding), 1 in Air (relatedness and communicating), and 2 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 extraordinarily out of balance, with more Earth than all the other elements put together. With so much Earth and Water, it should be good for making bricks but avoid getting stuck in the mud of ambivalence or thinking what’s passing is viable in your future.

Mercury stationary direct is the planet leading the Sun. This is the “gateway to the Light” showing our ability to express our uniqueness in the social and emotional realms are the means by which we come to illumination. As Mercury is reasonably favorable in this chart, find a way to attune to your invisible helpers, seeing it as an exercise in grounded spiritual power. 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. This begins a new pattern. For now, as a process of moving through events, the most effective “firing sequence” for approaching life and experience over the next four weeks involves feeling, then thinking and communicating, and then making a decision.

So initiate activity by feeling your way into ideas, perceptions, and information. Let your hunches lead to new knowledge. Then, after a new idea, vision, or understanding, then make a decision and act on it! Try not to overplan too far into the future. Take your feeling-knowing one step at a time, and keep things in balanced motion, even if they go all over the place at times.

Once we’ve made a decision and acted on it, then a new feeling will naturally arise showing the next thing to learn about, communicate, or understand. So feel, flow, and experience, since these will lead you to ideas and views that will in turn lead to the next decision.

This pattern is sensitive to others’ feelings, and when healthy usually offers a positive and encouraging take on things. It is said this pattern has the best “bedside manner,” and can be a good sounding board to bounce all kinds of things off of until everything’s been discussed and processed so that a clear decision can be made. This pattern offers us that the journey of a thousand miles is truly one step at a time.

Summing Up

This New Moon gives us grounded strength, understanding, power, and the ability to purify our lives in significant ways. See what must be done and do it, but be flexible and clear about what roles you are and are not playing. This should yield harmonious and favorable transformations, rewards which confirm our worth, and new creative expression.

Because the axis of power is in the oppositional awareness between Virgo and Pisces, demonstrate practical compassion as you live at a higher level than you thought of living before now. We now turn a huge corner, with releases of heart power helping us see “the world of the 5 senses and the mind as the playground of God and Soul.” There are very high states of Being available these next 4 weeks, so see it all as a challenge to measure the spiritual power available in situations while acting on behalf of a greater good.

We can now express our integrated awareness, sensitive to the simultaneity of past, present, and future all existing in the NOW. This one is another lunation where we turn corners to expand in a different, more secure direction while helping us express our divine discernment 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 helping us expand the foundations we created in April and May. We’ve now finished many months of “tag team retrogrades” which have given us a look back to get a new understanding of values, relationships, work past and present, and what standards we want to uphold. This Lunation offers practical stability as we adjust to new conditions.

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. 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 15 Leo in this chart, it’s time to put on the show with style and enthusiasm! We’ve now processed a lot of subconscious material about past and present relationships, and can be freer and happier in the future. Having remembered what made us feel loved and happy in the past, we can now embrace new forms of these appropriate to our evolved state.

As Venus is ruler of Mars, Jupiter and Uranus, She will bring beauty, creativity, love, heart, and strength to these 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 brings 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 involves 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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