 The Accolade, by Edmund Blair Leighton
Leo's Moon:
The Leo Solar Festival
Festival of Sirius at the Full Moon in Aquarius 2010
Malvin Artley, our regular esoteric commentator, presents the Leo Solar Festival, 2010, at the Full Moon in Aquarius. This is Leo's Full Moon, as the Moon is full in the sign opposing the Sun. It is also known as the Festival of Sirius. The Full Moon of Leo (the Full Moon at Aquarius 3º 00') takes place on the 26th of July 2010 at around 01:38 UT (GMT).
Hi Everyone!
I have been looking at the evening sky of late with more than the usual interest. Venus is approaching the height of its Hesperus phase, to be at its fullest at the start of September. It appears in the western sky just after sunset at an elevation of about 40° or so. I have always had a particular fondness for and connection with Venus. When I was born it was at its fullest Lucifer phase (the morning star) and it always seems to draw the eye, whether in the morning or the evening. 'Venus Hesperus' is about the garnering of wisdom, which is the reflective phase of the planet, and there is much to be learned from past actions in the world today, both at a personal and a mundane level.
We have to wonder at the wisdom of our collective actions in the past in light of the current state of world affairs. The leaders of companies and nations alike are under the spotlight, and everyone 'from commoner to king' is being held to account in some way. As Saturn enters Libra finally for its sojourn over the next couple of years we will be shown the wisdom or folly of our choices, for Saturn is the ultimate ruler of the sign from the collective perspective, and Libra is well-known as the sign where choice is most pronounced. Aries and Libra types will be faced with the tally sheet of their past decision-making over the course of the last fourteen to twenty-eight years, and as I look at the astrology of the nations I am struck by the thought that there are even bigger events than the ones we face now on the horizon. What does all this have to do with Leo, though?
Spirit and Backbone
Leo is the king/queen-maker of the signs. It rules the heart and the spine in medical astrology and there is a direct correlation of that with one's 'spirit' and 'backbone' respectively in the sense of character. Leo marks a phase in the soul's journey wherein self-mastery and self-discipline are most strongly marked and called for, whether the sign is the sun-sign or rising. It is a phase of evolution wherein one must excel and lead by example as a result of one's own self-mastery. It is also the one sign wherein hubris about one's achievements must give way to tolerance and humility—tolerance of the foibles of others and humility as to one's own abilities.
Leo is a fire sign and is closely associated with the 'Divine Flames' or 'Lords of the Fire Mist' esoterically, those beings who are most closely associated with manifestation in this local universe. Hence, Leo is intimately associated with the manifestation of the ideal, the best within a person, and thus Leo must always produce excellence in a person (or event) where it is strongly placed in a chart. There is no sadder or more poignant statement to the heart of a Leo than to say that they do not measure up or have failed to make their mark or produce their share. To the Leo who has yet to exhibit self-mastery, there can also be no greater motivation for them than to be told they do not measure up. It spurs them to action.
Trials, or Choices
Leo is ruled by the Sun in all three of its rulership stations, and if you want to see how Leo can make or break people, just have a look at eclipses and their activations. Eclipses always involve the Sun (higher nature) and the Moon (lower nature), as well as the instinctive drives (the Moon's nodes) and they thus represent certain trials or choices between our lower and higher natures. The Sun is often used as an analogy for one's higher Self.
We recently had an example in Australian politics of how eclipses work. Kevin Rudd had the 22 Sep 06 eclipse (the one I have mentioned so many times now) on his natal Sun/Mars conjunction. He was elected to office when transiting Jupiter and Pluto activated the solar arc of Venus to his Sun on 3 Dec 07. However, his tenure was to be short-lived. The September 06 eclipse was a south node eclipse and when Saturn first came within orb of his Sun and the eclipse point in October 09 the troublous times of the Rudd administration began in earnest—the failed housing insulation scheme, the roll-back on climate change, the Resource Super Profits Tax and Labour finally losing its lead in the polls, which is what finally led to Rudd's deposition as PM. And, as it turns out, he was not very well liked by many staffers, being known for a nasty temper and an inability to delegate power (typical of Sun/Mars aspects).
Date With Destiny
On the other hand, Julia Gillard had the Jun 2010 lunar eclipse on her Vertex, which also happens to be opposite Australia's Saturn, marking a date with destiny for her and Australia. So, Saturn and eclipses giveth and taketh away. Gillard definitely has a destiny with Australia. How long-lived that will be is anyone's guess, but the election on the 21st of August will tell the tale. I do not have a birth time for Abbott, so I am not willing to speculate on the outcome of the election. However, if one uses the Melbourne chart for Australia I see major changes of direction coming for our fair land and Gillard's chart seems to factor in with that somehow. Solar arc Uranus squares the Melbourne chart meridian at the moment, with Saturn about to oppose it, which is emblematic of having to pull in the belt buckle a bit and the curbing of any erratic tendencies in the country. Gillard's Sun is on the Melbourne chart ascendant, with her Vertex on the MC, so I think things will begin to get a little peculiar down-under come September. Keep your eye on the news. Look for belt-tightening measures and a move a bit to the right in politics, no matter who gets elected. We could also see some falls from grace with that setup. It would not surprise me in the least if we hear from Kevin Rudd or get leaked documents about his deposition.
I have digressed a bit from Leo, but if we keep in mind that Leo is about leadership, rulers and self-mastery then the preceding perhaps keeps the thread of the subject in our minds. What do we see in the world and in our own lives regarding leadership at the moment? Where do we fall from the ideal and where do we need more self-discipline? These are the questions we have in mind with any Leo event and especially at the Sirius Festival. It matters not that the event is passed. Its tone resonates throughout the year. President ObamaPresident Obama is a Leo, and he has an appointment with destiny looming, as Saturn is on his antivertex by solar arc and Pluto squares his Saturn by solar arc. His approval ratings have been sliding steadily and mid-term elections are looming in a few months. We'll see what happens there. In Obama, though, we see the considerable charisma that Leo types can exude and the natural leadership style, whether one likes the man or not. He is, however, up against the worst oil spill in US history, the longest war in US history (two wars, as a matter of fact), the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression and a considerable conservative backlash with regard to his policies. We are seeing the dying gasps of the major sixth Ray energy as it goes out of incarnation and thus we are seeing sectarian political and religious intolerance intensified at the moment. We can only hope that this does not equate with another major war in the Middle East, which would be disastrous.
Here is the thing with Leo: If one is a Leo type then the taking on of self-discipline and self-mastery should come from a compelling inner sense that life as it is represents restricting and insufficient means to take the needed steps ahead in one's own evolution. There is often a deep sense of dissatisfaction that drives any Leo native in the earlier part of life and that same dissatisfaction acts as a springboard to achievement along any given line. People with strong Leo in their nature usually excel along their chosen line, mostly because they want to achieve a personal best. In a less self-aware person this will likely get projected onto those close to the Leo person from time to time in a way that belittles the other person somehow. Their way is the best and only way in their eyes. There is usually a lot of saber-rattling and arrogance on the part of such people. One even sees it in nations. France and Russia are both said to be strong exponents of Leo as a national persona. Yet, both countries have achieved much in terms of their national heritage, too. As always, though, there is a great sensitivity that underlies the Leo type and they are all-too-aware of their own failings, what they need to do about them and where they would like to be.
Once the Leo has mastered their chosen task, which always means some control over certain of the lower aspects of their nature, then they can and do shine like the Sun. They lead then because of who they have become and are, not because of any sense that they have to or because they want to feel self-important. Any Leo who goes on about their own self-importance or has to make displays as to their worthiness has not truly achieved. In the accomplished Leo one can always note their mastery in the eyes—they sparkle and there is a sense that, well, “This person really does know their stuff!” The gaze of the Leo of attainment is unmistakable. It is at once disarming and empowering. It warms you and it frightens you at the same time, but always it is enthralling.
In part two of this article, Malvin Artley continues his exploration of the esoteric implications of the Full Moon in Aquarius, the Leo Solar Festival for 2010. He examines the aspects and the degrees with a view to their political, personal and spiritual significance. Read part two of The 2010 Leo Solar Festival at the Full Moon in Aquarius. 
|  Malvin Artley is an accredited member of the American Federation of Astrologers. His primary focus over the past 25 years has been on the sciences as they express occultism and with bridging work between the two. His special interests in those fields are the human subtle energy system and all the chakras, or energy centres, physics and technology, astronomy and all aspects of Chinese occultism.
He sends out periodic emails about astrological happenings and developments. These letters are sent out as a gift and a service. If you wish to be added to or deleted from the mailing list please let me know. If you feel inspired to pass them on please do so, but do so without alteration or charge. They are sent to people of many persuasions, not just astrologers. Blessings. Click here to subscribe to Malvin's periodic letters.
|
| Forum | Postcards | Glossary | Links | Site Map
