Malvin Artley has been a practising astrologer for more than a decade. 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.

The Wesak Festival [part three]
subtle meanings of the Full Moon in Scorpio 2005

Malvin Artley concludes his discussion of the subtle meanings inherent in the Full Moon in Scorpio, which is also the Wesak Festival, the most important festival in the Buddhist calendar. He argues that this important eclipse marks a clear call to lay the past to rest, to wish those departed on divergent paths well and to get down to the business of the future.

This brings us to a discussion of the dynamics of the 2005 Wesak Moon. This year's Wesak Moon occurs at 8:07 PM AEST (10:07 AM GMT) on the 24th of April. If we remember, last year's Wesak Moon was an eclipse, as is this one, and it was quite a strong one. In fact, the full moons for the past three Wesak letters I have written have all been eclipses. But, this one stands out from the rest for a variety of reasons and it presents a rare opportunity to gain insight into the next steps ahead for the world and for divining aspects of our own natures that have remained hidden for some time. The reasons for this will be laid out as the discussion proceeds. I know I must sound like a broken record at times with my assertions that there are so many magical events going on in the heavens, but the plain fact of the matter is that there are many unusual things afoot in the world at this time and the heavens simply indicate what is going on at subjective levels. We are all extremely fortunate to live in these times and to have the opportunity to serve and to grow in this sea of amazing energies that are impinging upon us in this transition period between the great astrological Ages of Pisces and Aquarius.

This Wesak figure is special for several reasons:

The spiritual Hierarchy is meeting in conclave as we speak, and it does so every year at the time of the 3 main spiritual festivals. But, this one is even more eventful because this is also a 9th-yearly conclave to decide the next steps ahead for the unfolding of the divine Plan for Earth. Esotericists will note that this particular cycle is an esoteric cycle of Saturn, and it carries the theme of planning, of adjusting planetary karma, of adjusting group relations and of ending that which is no longer needed. The last such conclave was in 1996, and the seeds for the Shamballa impact in 2001 were put in place. The world now is quite different in many ways to what it was during the 2nd Clinton administration and many of us have felt ourselves to be “under the hammer”, as it were, since that time. The effect of this conclave is thus intensified, because it is only those Masters of the rank of Chohan and higher who can sense what the great Plan is in any detail. The power invoked can be stupendous, if need be. There were such conclaves in 1915, 1942, 1951, 1960, and so on, and history shows clearly enough what happened just after those meetings. Thus, we are about to receive new “marching orders”, if you will, and a new order is about to be instilled for the next 9-year period. It is therefore vitally important that we attune ourselves to the opportunities presented during this period.
As mentioned, this Wesak moon is an eclipse. It is what is known as a series 7 North eclipse in the Saros Series of eclipses. It is said to be very much an “in-your-face” sort of eclipse which can bring up a great deal of hidden sensuality that has lain dormant for years. It is, in short, a confronting eclipse wherein one's lower nature stands revealed, and in full living color. So, if there are things around one's personal passions that need redressing and which are holding one back from a fuller expression of a more selfless kind of love, expect them to be brought up for at least a thorough examination. With this eclipse and with the Hierarchical conclave in meeting at the moment (and I am not talking about the papal conclave), we thus have a very interesting dynamic-and I am certain that it will indeed make the lives of many people most interesting. In true Taurean fashion, we have the pull of the higher and of the lower in direct contrast at this full moon. Choices will have to be made by many. For those whose path is already chosen, certain testings will come up that will have the feeling of finality about them. There will be a parting of the ways in many life situations for people under the influence of this eclipse, but also many amazing opportunities for expanded consciousness as a result as well-which brings us to the next point.
There is another of the “benchmark triangles” that I described in the last letter in this full moon figure as well. But, there is much more. In addition to the benchmark triangle, we find two interlaced 7th-harmonic trapezoids in the chart, all on planetary points, and including the benchmark triangle. This is a rare configuration. One trapezoid is formed by the Moon, Pluto, Mercury and Saturn, while the other one is formed by Mercury, Neptune, the Moon and Saturn. The points common to both trapezoids are the Moon, Mercury and Saturn. To the esoteric astrologer it will be immediately apparent that the trio of planets just mentioned carries with it the implication of some sort of initiatory influence, since Mercury and Saturn govern the path of discipleship and the initiation known as the Crucifixion. These two planets bring tremendous illumination and opportunity with them when they act in concert, and since they are biseptile to each other, the possibilities for illumination through this Wesak experience are magnified. I will not have space here to cover what is indicated in such a septile configuration. I explained a lot of that in the Aries letter. Suffice it to say that-especially considering the planets involved-the effects for one whose chart is activated by this pattern could be nothing short of revelatory provided the proper alignment is maintained throughout this period.

There is one point that does need to be reiterated about septile-based (7th-harmonic) patterns, though. Along with the possibilities for penetrating “beyond the veil” that they represent, septiles also indicate that a new order will be put in place by such a strong 7th-harmonic pattern. Given that we have a Wesak Moon, an eclipse, a special conclave and such a series of septiles, one would expect to see changes to be wrought in the world and especially in the human psyche. Be assured that there will be new paradigms of thought introduced into the minds of people everywhere. It would be an amazing thing to be able to see the world of thought in a few years and to be able to trace it back to this eclipse period to see which lines of thought were seeded here. Our minds will be changed in some way by this Wesak period.
Speaking of change, there is also a standard yod in this figure formed by a base sextile between Venus and Uranus with Jupiter at the apex. Quincunxes bring change, but this particular yod speaks more of a “beneficent reorganization” than it does of catastrophic change. It is of interest to note that this yod is linked to the septile trapezoids by two quintiles-one between Venus and Saturn and the other between Jupiter and Pluto. These aspect patterns are an extraordinarily creative and dynamic linking and interplay between almost every planet in the chart. The only ones left out are Mars and the Sun, but even they figure in. The Sun rules the chart (since it is a full moon figure and the greatest of the solar Festivals) and Mars is in a wide conjunction with Neptune. There is so much here that I cannot even begin to go into it all. I will simply have to leave you with the implications and hope that we can all avail ourselves of the fantastic opportunity being presented to us.
Finally, the Sun is conjoined to Venus, which rules the chart by dignity and we have the two rulers of Taurus, orthodox and esoteric, conjunct the Sun. Additionally, Mars is sextile to Pluto, adding a very energetic dynamic to the figure and there is a T-square with Chiron at the apex squaring the Sun/Moon oppositional axis, indicating that close, personal relationships will come under fire during this period. In all, it is just another day in the life of one on the Path, but a truly memorable one, nonetheless.

I would be remiss if I didn't address the degree of the Sun in this figure, though. The symbol for that degree reads thus:

“A widow at an open grave.” — 5° Taurus

This is a clear call to lay the past to rest, to wish those departed on divergent paths well and to get down to the business of the future. This symbol harkens back to the quote by John Paul II, that human-kind does not find happiness in the things of this world. Affairs of the flesh eventually only leave one with an empty void to fill and a longing for something else to make life worth living. Despite the profound grief that this symbol can engender, though, we should also be mindful that death-whether of a loved one or of a situation-in not always a sad thing. It can be a joyous occasion and a celebration of life lived well. It is the quality of the life or the situation that must be remembered, and if we truly love, then there is no real need for sadness because we know that “the separation of the flesh” is but illusion and that we are all always together and linked on the inner planes. Endings bring freedom, both for the departed and for those left behind, and liberation is what Taurus ultimately brings, along with the recognition of the quality of life. Far from being a sad symbol, it is simply an indicator of the natural order of things and a recognition that all things on the outer planes are in a state of ceaseless change. The lesson of non-attachment is very poignantly borne out for us in this symbol, and the teaching about detachment was one of the great revelations of Guatama, the Buddha.

On the other side of the chart we have the degree of the Moon, which reads thus:

“A massive rocky shore resists the pounding of the sea.” —5°Scorpio

This symbol speaks to the other side of Taurus-persistence, the permanence of the spiritual worlds, the strength of the will, the ability of a well-formed structure to withstand the ravages of time and the ceaseless cycles of nature as they unfold around us. The works wrought by Taurus endure, and they leave a legacy of beauty and stability for all who follow afterward. All we have to do is to take what is given to us in this period and, as much as possible, simply be ourselves while all around us goes through its usual permutations and gyrations. In the stillness of nature (with which Taurus strongly resonates) we find our repast and our rejuvenation. We also find there an example of how to reconnect with the heart of all things-through steadiness, steadfastness and silent communion with the forces that act through and around us.

I was blessed to have such an experience in nature just prior to my leaving the States a few days ago. On the last day in San Francisco two of my friends from the conference took me on a visit to the Muir Woods National Monument. I had no idea what was in store for me, but I thought a trip out in nature would be just the ticket given the heightened activity of the past two weeks. If you have not been and ever get the chance to, go. It is not to be missed. The place is a California redwood forest, with some of the tallest and oldest trees on earth. The area has never been logged, so all the nature spirits and the ecosystem is still intact, save for the intrusion of tourists like myself. I remember another friend of mine admonishing me to be very open to everything that came my way on my journey before I left. Her words rang in my head as I walked into the hushed darkness of the forest. I was immediately struck by the ancientness of the scene, the extraordinary beauty, the massiveness of the trees, the abundance of nature spirits (I could feel them all around.) and reverence for the majesty of nature. More than anything else, though, the one thing that washed over me that I shall never forget is a profound feeling of silence. The longer I was there, the more I wished to walk in silence. I found myself speaking in hushed tones, as if I was in a sacred space (which I was) and I was increasingly disinclined to speak at all. The noisy chattering and careless laughter of the other tourists felt as if it was a blasphemy to the space. I longed for them to be quiet. I had to be content with my own inner silence.

I recalled the words of a mentor while I was there. He told me once that if one wanted to experience what it is like to enter into the silence of the meditative state, that one should, as much as is possible, enter into the consciousness of a tree. I did that once with another redwood in Australia and it was like nothing I had ever felt. The thing is that the tree has to be an old-growth tree and fully matured. Silence is the nature of trees and it is what they impart to their surroundings. They beckon one to turn inward and reflect in one's own silence. They simply are. Yet, in that state, they give so much. It is the same with us. We give so much more through our centered sense of being than we do through our mad rushing about. It is the old Chinese idea of “by learning to do nothing, all things get done.” True will is only known in silence. The forest gave a gift to me that day. I stayed in the reflective state that I experienced with my silent sentinels of the woods throughout my trip back, and I can always go back to that state easily now by simply tuning in to the ancient ones. So, to my two friends, I want to thank you again. You gave me a gift that day that will stay with me for the rest of my life. Please return there yourselves as often as you can.

I had been looking for something to spark this article in my travels, but nothing had been coming. Something is always given when it is time. Over the years I have come increasingly to know the power of symbols and the symbolic life of the Soul as we contact it through our day-to-day experiences. By reading the signs and portents we can read the language of experience-soul-filled experience. I knew there was something new on the way. The whole of my trip indicated it. I heard it in people's talking. I saw it in their eyes. I felt it everywhere I went. The air is pregnant with something new. I felt that the Aries full moon had set a new tone. Now, with the Taurus moon, the quality of the tone will manifest and be fixed into place. Be watchful. The signs are all there. As you move through this most exalted state of the year, be silent within as much as possible. We cannot hear the inner voice if we chatter away in careless abandon. The Soul seeks alignment so the next dispensation can be given. Silence. Watchfulness. Expectancy. All things will come to those who make the necessary space.

It had been a long flight and sleep had been fitful. The last movie had played, breakfast had been served and everyone was ready to be off that plane. As I sat there and we neared my second homeland I could still feel the silence of the woods. The contacts made in the previous days filled my heart with joy and I knew that my own life in particular had been stepped up a notch. Light slowly began to chase away the darkness as the plane neared land and my mind began to turn to what was to be done over the next week. As we flew over the shore of Australia I saw the Sun rise at the rear of the plane. It was a glorious sight with the pinks and oranges suffusing the deep violet of the receding night sky. The clouds looked like mountain ranges and rocky shores on a silent, glassy sea. Then, as we got close to Sydney, almost with a sense of humor, nature provided me with the symbol for which I had been waiting. There before me was a massive bank of cloud with the Sun rising behind it. The rays of the Sun splayed out from behind the cloud bank and painted the sky with the most glorious shades if sunlight. No photograph could have captured it better. No computer could have generated a better sunrise. And as we were about to land, the Sun peeked out over the top of the clouds and welcomed the new day. There was my answer-my symbol for this letter. I had traveled far and met with kindred Souls. I had communed with nature and with the inner groups with whom my Soul associates. I had learned much and I had given much. Now I had to leave my old and new-found friends and go back to my life as it was before I left. But things will not be quite the same. A new era is dawning in my life, though the old life still goes on. And now it is time to share anew.

May it be the same for you as well.

Let the blessings of the Buddha enrich and empower you all.
Malvin.
19 April 2005

Here ends this article. Click to return to the start of The Wesak Festival

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.

The Wesak Festival [part three]subtle meanings of the Full Moon in Scorpio 2005

The Wesak Festival [part three]
subtle meanings of the Full Moon in Scorpio 2005