 Malvin Artley has been a practising astrologer for more than 10 years. He is an
accredited member of the American Federation of Astrologers.
Malvin is the author of Bodies of Fire: An Exploration of the Lesser Chakra System. He has authored numerous articles and was a member of the faculty of the University of the Seven Rays, a non-profit organization dedicated to the teaching of the Trans-Himalayan tradition as expressed through the books of Alice Bailey, Helena Blavatsky and others.
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 are the human subtle energy system and all
the chakras, or energy centres, physics and technology, astronomy and all
aspects of Chinese occultism. He has done extensive work with Chinese
astrology and the cycles they use and seeks to synthesize the great
Western and Oriental systems on such matters.
Malvin lives in Adelaide, South Australia. He also works in the engineering trades and sends out periodic emails about astrological happenings and developments. Click here to subscribe to Malvin's periodic letters.
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Virgo's Moon [part two]:
The Eye of the Dragon
Subtle Meanings of the Full Moon in Pisces 2005
Malvin Artley concludes his article on the esoteric effects of the Full Moon in Pisces, 2005. He argues that this Moon and the associated aspects mark a renewal of the purpose of our development (the ideas and ideals that we are meant to express as a species and a planet) and a fresh impulse given to the spiritual life of our world, as our consciousness becomes increasingly spiritualised by the trials that are still to come.
The Souls of people everywhere are about to be transfixed in a profound way through the times to come. We are told of the coming New Age and 2012, of a new Dispensation in 2025, of the externalization of the spiritual Hierarchy on our world and of big shifts in our consciousness to come. How is that to happen if we continue on our present course, bound to the satisfaction of material pleasures and the next sound/video bites on the computer or television screen? As we well know, if a major catastrophe hits the US and markets are affected, the entire world will feel the weight of it. Of interest here is a little-known, yet significant fact: Venus and Jupiter are two planets that are very closely connected with the very Life that is the center of all being within our little cosmic system of some 40+ stars. Let us look at this planetary relationship a little more closely.
Venus, as we know, is the alter-ego of the Earth. It holds the same relationship to our planet as the higher Self does to the persona. Jupiter is called “the Word of the Sun”, in other words, the planet that is most closely connected with the purposes of our solar Lord, the Regent of our solar system. There is some suggestion that Jupiter holds a similar relationship to Venus as the Spirit (monad) does to the Soul. Therefore, there is a direct line of contact between our Sun, Jupiter, Venus and the Earth when the alignment is in full operation.
Initiate Consciousness
From that alignment we also have an alignment with the great star of our local cosmic system, Sirius. Jupiter is the highest ruler of Virgo and it governs the stage of Virgoan expression wherein the highest possible human attainment through that sign is achieved – initiate consciousness. Perhaps we can see, then, that there was an initiatory impulse that was sent through to our planet during the recent Venus/Jupiter conjunction with Spica. It was the magnetic interaction between Venus and Jupiter that drew the life from the Moon (our cosmic Mother) when Her time had passed and placed it on this planet. At that time the alignment and relationship between the Earth, Venus and Jupiter was put in place and life on Earth began. That the conjunction occurred in Virgo (as it does every 12 years) is of no small moment, for every time it happens there is a renewal of the purpose of our development (the ideas and ideals that we are meant to express as a species and a planet) and a fresh impulse given to the spiritual life of our world. Nowadays that happens when the conjunction occurs in the sign Libra, although two thousand years ago the signs and the constellations were coincident.
As was previously stated, Virgo has a special connection with the appearance of world Teachers. This is said to happen with the conjunctions of Jupiter and Saturn in Pisces. Virgo (the polar opposite of Pisces) is said to be the mother of the Christ-child – the emanator of the energies that foster the growth of Soul-consciousness. Pisces is the sign equated with the World Savior – the fully developed Christ Light. In the pairing of Virgo and Pisces (as we have with the Virgo and Pisces full moons) we have the two poles of the World Teacher, i.e., the vehicle for the expression of the great Being and the enlightened Being himself. It will be of interest to note that the Soul is also known as a Serpent of Wisdom, and it is through the life of the Soul that we grow in wisdom. The Soul has always been equated with Light – the Light of Knowledge, the Light of Revelation, the Light of Wisdom, etc. In that sense, then, we are all born of a Virgin (Virgoan) birth. And, we should note, any Teacher simply stands for the relationship we should all have with our own higher Self anyway. With the recent Venus/Jupiter conjunction we had a sort of wake-up call or a reminder of what that relationship with our higher Self should be. The fact that most people did not experience the beautiful celestial event in the warm, fuzzy tones most people associate with Venus and Jupiter together points to the lack of relatedness we have with the higher realms and the need we have to re-connect with the same.
Paradox of Spiritual Life
It is said that we are all cells in the great Life that is the Regent of our globe. It is our highest essence that makes up the cellular structure of that Life. Such is the paradox of spiritual life that we only ensoul the lowest essence of that great Life, yet we are omniscient and omnipresent at that level (at least from our perspective) – initiates of all degrees. We also know the design of the world at that level because we are integral with it and it is our task to fully manifest the design of our planetary Lord. It is our work to fully manifest the Temple of God on Earth, and it is that work that Virgo imparts to us. Hence, we can see why Virgo is always associated with intensity of focus in work, with meticulousness in detail, with unwavering dedication to the task at hand and with attention to the purity of the materials used in the building-for only the finest materials are suitable for such a noble and sacred task. With that, let us have a look at the full moon of Virgo for 2005.
The full moon took place at 2:01 AM GMT on the 18th of September. A quick look at the planetary aspects shows that this is not a particularly easy full moon. It also shows that much will be dragged to the surface for reckoning over the next month. To begin with, we have a t-square with Pluto at the apex, involving the Sun/Moon opposition in the figure. This in and of itself is a difficult placement and points to a planetary phase of clearing. Pluto works primarily on the lesser mind and removes hardened and outmoded thoughts. With the Sun in Virgo, no stone will be left un-turned in the process. People's nerves are likely to get frayed in the days to follow and there is likely to be upheaval in the fabric of society as people move to rid themselves of obstructions to their higher Selves. There is also a square between Venus and Saturn. This aspect, along with the t-square, points to the difficulty of the full moon. Venus in the square to Saturn is a curious sort of dynamic. On the one hand it brings pain as people feel restricted in the natural outpouring of their sentiments. But, in the fulfilling of responsibilities out of a sense of “duty for the sake of love”, people are brought closer together. This is one of those charts that is brilliant for spiritual work and growth, but hard on personal relations as adjustments are made in order for the Light of the Soul to come through.
The symbol for the solar degree, representing the essential psyche of the figure, reads thus:
“A boy with a censer serves near the priest” – 26° Virgo
This symbol highlights the need for appropriate rituals in living and the realization that we are all apprentices on the Path and in the sight of the divine. We are all in a process of learning as well as giving and teaching. The symbol of the censer is of interest, too, and goes along with the energies of the t-square just outlined. Incense is used both to release the mind through its perfume so that it can ascend to the higher realms and to cleanse the atmosphere of the room so that nothing negative interferes with the process of withdrawal to the inner realms. Pluto does much the same thing with respect to end results, but on a planetary scale. Once again, we have the concept of purity in all things emphasized here. In all things, especially now, we need to keep a clear head and a pure attitude toward what needs to be done in life. We should also be willing to accept what comes to us in terms of teaching (if it is appropriate to the need at hand) and to move with the great rituals of the weather, the seasons and the season of the Soul in one's own life.
There is a Grand Trine in earth involving the Sun, Mars and Chiron. This will engender an energetic process of healing, the
release point for which is the Moon, the symbol for the degree reading thus:
“A new Moon that divides its influences [abbreviated version].” – 26° Pisces
What is indicated here is the need for people to get about their business and to appreciate the unique contributions of others. In the original symbol, there is a crowd of people watching a setting crescent moon. In this figure the Moon is full, but the symbolism remains the same. Healing comes when we realize that, though we are different, we can honor the individual paths of others and be enriched in the process. Differences should lead to expansion of social capacities, not open hostilities between people. In order for the collective to progress, the new must come through, and this happens most often in the form of people moving against the grain of the status quo. If this can be done in a manner that helps the social fabric instead of harming it, then profound good can come from people's differences. In nature, the strength of a species comes from diversity in breeding stock, for example, not through in-breeding.
Mars Retrograde
The preceding point leads into the next aspect pattern, which is a standard yod with Mars at the apex. The base sextile is formed by Jupiter and Pluto. That yod will be with us until the 5th of October, due to Mars going retrograde in a few days. Mars makes a station on this yod, and much has been made of this in certain astrological forums, especially since it contacts certain key points in the US horoscope. The symbol for the degree of the Mars station should be carefully borne in mind, for that yod will be in the nature of a magnifying glass focused upon an anthill in terms of its effect upon our planet and the US as a nation. That symbol reads thus:
“An indian warrior riding fiercely, human scalps hanging from his belt.” – 24° Taurus
Differences between groups and individuals will be highlighted – which goes against the indications of the lunar degree – and basic instinctual reactions and social prejudices will be brought to the fore under the influence of this yod. This is made all the more potent due to the fact that Mars is in a very close approach to us by virtue of the ovality of its orbit. The effects of the yod will manifest themselves most potently after Mars turns direct on the 11th of December this year. The warning in this yod and the symbol is clear – not to give ourselves over to reactionism, violence in the pursuit of goals, to take a wide view with people and with circumstances and to de-personalize our outlook on things and our neighbors. Everyone has their cross to bear in these times. There is a basic dichotomy in this chart, then. As with a recent full moon, we can either focus upon antagonisms between groups and people, in which case the outcomes can be dire indeed, or we can celebrate the uniqueness of people and welcome the diversity that brings, thus bringing healing to ourselves and our nations – unity in diversity, in other words.
Saturn still opposes Neptune in this figure, which is retrograde. Our visions still feel blocked and the tendency is for people to feel earth-bound. This opposition will be with us essentially through December of this year. Under its influence we find it difficult to see why things are happening to us, from what direction things are coming at us and what the best course of action is in the face of things. In addition, the ambition to work in the outer world tends to go to sleep on people and the feeling is that we just could not be bothered with the mundane affairs of living. It is as if we have to light a bonfire under us to get anything done. Well, life will do its share of that for us, but things will get better when Neptune turns direct at the end of October.
Tempestuous Aspects
Uranus receives many aspects, most notably a quintile from Mars which has been in effect since the first of the month. It will separate on the 19th, to come back again at the end of October. This further emphasizes the symbol for the degree of the Mars station. In Magi Astrology, quintiles are seen as tempestuous aspects, and this would be especially so when the two planets involved are Mars and Uranus. This particular aspect can bring through a great deal of original thinking, though, so we will have to see what eventuates when Mars goes direct next month. Uranus also receives a trine from Venus, bringing helpful, but unusual alliances, a sesquisquare from Jupiter which gives a tendency to jump into new territory before things are thought through properly and a quincunx from Saturn, giving frustrations in moving toward better conditions-explosive force for change.
Finally, the Chinese tetragram for this figure is telling. For GMT, it reads thus:
Tetragram 61: Embellishment: Yin is white while Yang is black. They each perform their separate tasks alone. Together, they complement each other.
18 Sep (Nighttime): Form is not substance. Without quality, all things are empty.
These tetragrams are meant to be used as meditative seed-thoughts. This particular one applies for the entirety of the Americas and most of Europe. For Asia and Australia, the commentary (Daytime) is as follows:
18 Sep (Daytime): In silence, all things are said. Words are not truth.
The preceding are the main indicators for the full moon of Virgo this year. In summary, this full moon will test the hearts of
many and the purity of one's motives in things. The responsibilities for one's actions will be strongly emphasized and of
giving for duty instead of sentiment. This full moon especially (since it falls in the lunar month that most closely resonates with the year) is a call to let go of antagonisms, to renew one's dedication to the main work of one's life, to honor the work of others as well as our own and to find and adhere more strongly to the essence of the rituals that lead us to the Light.
I have spent many mornings recently observing Anjou in her quest after the Light People. Really, when it comes down to it, we are all “Light People” in our highest essence. I ran across a sign in my travels outside a church in Victoria, BC not too long ago that read “Lord, help me be the kind of man my dog thinks I am.” Good advice. Yet, even though we are all brilliant, Lighted beings in our own right-privy to the words of the Gods and equal to the Masters on those exalted planes of existence – we still stumble in the dark and are ever-vigilant to find our own “Light People” here on this earthly realm, little realizing what we are in truth. Virgo is like that, too, and most every Virgo type who has ever lived has set themselves at the task of building “a temple for the Lord”, little-knowing that the One for whom they build and wait is, in reality, them. We are told that before too very long, the true Light People (the Masters and great enlightened beings) will walk again among us, but they will do so only to show us what we really are, not because they have any great need to do so for themselves. Someday – yes, someday – Anjou will catch her “Light Person”. I have no idea what she will do with it when she does, but it will be a happy day for her, and the long wait will be over. As we enter into the Month of the Sleeping Dog at the Libra new moon on the 3rd of next month, may the lessons of this full moon bring rest to your minds and greater Light to your being. And, may the Light Person that you are shine in effulgence upon all whom you encounter, human or otherwise. We are the Light. We are the Temple.
Peace be with you in these days,
Malvin.
18 Sep 2005
This concludes the article
Return to the start of The Eye of the Dragon
 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.
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