The Aquarius New Moon is a partial Solar Eclipse. It happens Thursday, February 15 at 2:05 pm at 27 degrees Aquarius.
Here’s the chart: AquariusNewMoonSolarEclipse2018.
Aquarius is the third and final AIR sign in the zodiac. Since the air element symbolizes the intellect and mental plane, Aquarius represents ‘Cosmic Mind’ or the collective consciousness of mankind.
This sign’s wavy glyph reflects FREQUENCY WAVES, NOT WATER WAVES. Yes, the sign is depicted by a human pouring water from an urn so it’s easy to understand why most people would think Aquarius is a water sign. Those wavy lines actually represent energetic frequencies, or sine waves. The water symbolizes cosmic knowledge being poured out from the heavens to Earth.
Of course, we discovered long ago that information is indeed invisibly transmitted through the air energetically. Accordingly, Aquarius is the sign that rules radio, the internet, computers, satellites, space, mental telepathy, prayer, Reiki and WI-FI, as well as all the electronic devices we use to send and receive information from anywhere to anywhere.
Perhaps the most important Aquarius discovery in recent human history revealed that it is human consciousness that actually creates our reality, both individually, and collectively.
As we prepare to enter into the ‘Age of Aquarius’ our greatest evolutionary task may well be to take complete responsibility for the wise use of our minds as we fully realize the power our thoughts have to co-create and transform our realities.
Aquarius is ruled by two planets: Saturn and Uranus. Saturn rules the past; Uranus rules the future. This sign rules groups of all kinds, particularly groups within a society. On the most personal, mundane level, Aquarius rules our friends. Perhaps the greatest social groups are reflected in national and political parties. Indeed Aquarius also rules politics. Political struggles have always existed between those who wish to return to the bygone days of the past and those who want to move forward into the future.
Both Saturn and Uranus are currently connected to Pluto in Capricorn. The long-term square aspect (90 degrees apart) between Uranus in Aries and Pluto in Capricorn, has been reflected in all of the unexpected changes we’ve seen in recent years. This once-in-a-lifetime 127 year cycle between Uranus, the planet of revolution, and Pluto, the planet of evolution, symbolizes the rapid pace of global change we’ve witnessed for the last decade, and will likely continue to experience for several more years.
These extraordinary planet-wide changes began in 2008 with the Wall Street crash that triggered a world-wide economic downturn and the election of the first African American U.S. President, Barack Obama.
Change continued in 2011 with the Arab Spring and the Occupy Movements that brought the phrase “1% vs. 99%” into our everyday lexicon.
And change continues today with the legalization of gay marriage and the ongoing explosion of social media and technological advancements like virtual reality and self-driving cars.
Uranus in Aries square Pluto in Capricorn has been THE astrological ‘base note’ in the heavens since 2008 when Pluto first entered Capricorn, the sign that rules all structures, including social structures like nations and governments, as well as the very structural nature of human consciousness. While Uranus is currently finishing up its stay in Aries, Pluto will remain in Capricorn until 2024-2025, a few years beyond 2021-2022, the years in which the United States will experience its first ever ‘Pluto Return,’ an extraordinary astrological event that occurs only once every 248 years.
Of course Pluto represents the Soul and it’s Soul path, or evolutionary growth intentions. It also rules the very process of evolution itself. As America experiences its Pluto Return, we’ll face a crucially important collective choice. Will we renew our nation’s destiny and Soul path by reaffirming our democratic founding principles of liberty, freedom and justice for ALL, or go the way of so many other autocratic and tyrannical nations who have destroyed themselves by succumbing to greed, corruption and despotism?
In short, as the Uranus connection to Pluto continues to wield powerful influence over the coming years, we will see many, MANY more changes in our social realities and social structures. These changes will reflect the ongoing evolution of our individual and collective consciousness. The question is, what changes will we choose? What new realities will we co-create through the power of our collective consciousness?
Perhaps Saturn, the other planetary ruler of Aquarius can offer us some clues. Saturn moved into Capricorn last December. Saturn typically takes three years to move through any sign. It will be in Capricorn until December 2020. Saturn will catch up to Pluto in 2020, the year of our next U.S. Presidential election and the year preceding our nation’s Pluto Return.
One of the many important lessons Capricorn teaches is RESPONSIBILITY. This sign demands emotional maturity that is accountable for its actions. Through Capricorn, we all learn that in the end, we must each take complete responsibility for the consequences of ALL of our choices, actions and decisions. After all, it’s our own consciousness that is responsible for co-creating our reality!
As Saturn moves through Capricorn over the next three years, expect an increasing demand for personal responsibility and accountability, especially for those in positions of power and authority like business leaders, religious leaders, politicians and government officials. Avoidance of or resistance to this necessary evolutionary requirement will only fuel the energy of increasing grass roots movements, political activism and ultimately, the potential for social revolution.
Indeed, this Aquarius New Moon Solar Eclipse is a cosmic ‘shot over the bough’ for those in leadership positions who abuse their power in order to maintain their power.
President Trump’s former Staff Secretary Rob Porter, Chief of Staff John Kelly, and son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Porter, whose role was to handle the president’s most sensitive paperwork, resigned two weeks ago due to revelations that he beat up two of his previous wives. Kelly knew this, and kept him on the job, even though he could not get security clearance. Kushner has also been denied full security clearance. Photo by Alex Brandon.
Current headlines provide ample evidence to back up this timely heavenly imperative – from the increased scrutiny of denials of required security clearance for top White House aides, recently revealed in the botched dismissal of Rob Porter, Staff Secretary to Trump, who has been credibly accused of domestic violence by two former wives and a former girlfriend, to revelations that Chief of Staff and retired General John Kelly knew about Porter’s abuse months ago and failed to remove him from the White House.
In other headlines, South African President Jacob Zuma resigned this week, forced out of office by his own ANC (African National Congress) political party.
Yet another headline reports that Israeli police have just handed down a recommendation for criminal indictment of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on charges of bribery and corruption.
Solar and Lunar eclipses occur when the Sun, Earth and Moon line up precisely on the ‘plane of the ecliptic’ or the orbital path the Earth takes around the Sun. This occurs every five and a half months during New Moons and Full Moons. Because the Moon orbits the Earth at a tilt to the Earth’s own orbital path around the Sun, the Moon crosses over the Earth’s plane of ecliptic twice every month, usually above or below the Earth. When the Moon aligns precisely in front of or behind the Earth, eclipses occur.
The point at which the Moon crosses the Earth’s orbital path moving southward creates the Moon’s South Node. The point at which the Moon crosses this plane moving northward creates the Moon’s North Node. Since eclipses always occur when the Sun, Earth and Moon all line up precisely on this plane of the ecliptic that creates the Moon’s North and South Node, eclipses are themselves always associated with the Moon’s Nodes.
One of the ways eclipses are understood is related to whether they are a ‘South Node eclipse’ or a ‘North Node eclipse.’ This is determined by which Node the Sun is nearest. This Aquarius New Moon Solar Eclipse is a South Node eclipse since the South Node is in Aquarius now.
Since the South Node always symbolizes what needs to be released in order to move forward and continue evolving, this Solar Eclipse is indicating that we must let go of the past before we can move forward. Since Aquarius itself is about breaking free, this Solar Eclipse carries a ‘double dose’ of the energy of letting go – of the past and whatever else is preventing our ongoing growth.
Aquarius rules trauma. Leo rules love. The Moon’s Nodes always reflect the evolutionary pathway. The evolutionary trajectory for us now is to move FROM traumas (Aquarius South Node/past) TO love (Leo North Node/future). And because the energies of any eclipse last at least until the next set of eclipses, the energy and intention of this eclipse will continue to unfold until this Summer when the next set of eclipses occur in July and August.
Human history is full of traumas. Reviewing the past several thousand years, we find that nearly every chapter, in nearly every corner of the globe, includes devastating traumatic events like war, famine, genocide, disease and countless natural disasters like floods and earthquakes.
Just this week, the latest trauma occurred here in the U.S. as yet another mass shooting took place, this time in Parkland, Florida. A nineteen year old formerly expelled student opened fire on classmates in Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School killing seventeen and injuring over twenty more.
A majority of people alive today carry memories of past traumas in their individuated unconsciousness, as well as within their cells. This Solar Eclipse offers an opportunity to heal these traumas from the past. Indeed, they must be healed before we can move forward successfully.
As just mentioned, the universal antidote to trauma (Aquarius) is love (Leo). LOVE IS THE ULTIMATE HEALER OF ALL WOUNDS.
This Aquarius New Moon Solar Eclipse is saying, “Open your heart to greater love, for yourself, for others and for the planet.”
As luck (divine timing) would have it, Mercury, the planet of the mind, thoughts and communication, is also in Aquarius now. Mercury is also currently in a very favorable connection to Uranus, one of Aquarius’ ruling planets.
Mercury adds extraordinary mental power to this New Moon Solar Eclipse chart pattern. In Aquarius, Mercury’s intellectual capacity can think outside the box, breaking through old patterns of thought and old beliefs to create new ideas and innovative solutions to longstanding problems. Since Aquarius is also the sign that rules groups, its likely that many of these new ideas will both come from and be implemented by those who come together and work together to resolve crises and heal our social wounds.
And speaking of wounds…
Followers of my work know that I speak often about the destructive influence of Patriarchy. Patriarchal philosophy has underpinned human societies and cultures for thousands of years. This social organizing paradigm is founded upon four primary principles: HIERARCHY, DOMINANCE, EXCLUSION AND SELF-INTEREST.
Patriarchy has brought us man-made religions that teach male-dominance. They falsely preach that men are superior to women and humans are superior to the plant and animal kingdoms or what is essentially the natural world or nature. Of course nature is quintessentially feminine. We call her ‘Mother Nature’ for a reason. She nurtures us by providing all that’s needed to sustain life.
If we look closely, it’s easy to see that literally ALL of the problems humanity has experienced in the past, and still faces today, are the result of one or more of these fundamental patriarchal principles.
Here are just a few current examples.
So-called ‘Dreamers’ or DACA (Deferred Action Childhood Arrivals) recipients are currently in a state of crises here in the U.S. since the Trump administration’s Justice Department unilaterally rescinded protections last September for over 800,000 young immigrants who were brought to this country by their parents as young children. They are facing deportation on March 5th unless Congress or the courts act. This is a perfect example of a mindset that seeks to EXCLUDE. In truth, nearly ALL immigration policies are based upon a desire to exclude certain people from a country.
Another stark example of exclusion is easily seen in the current administration.
Trump’s cabinet and administration are staffed almost EXCLUSIVELY (pun intended) by white men. Few women and people of color are employed in this administration. Unfortunately, this imbalance is also evident in Congress where women hold only one in five seats in the Senate and minorities make up less than ten percent of members.
Male dominance and white dominance is also reflected in the relatively small number of women and people of color who hold top executive or leadership positions in industry, science, academia and government, in many nations across the planet, including here in the U.S.
And let’s not forget that women are utterly absent in senior positions in the world’s three major religions (Islam, Judaism and Christianity). This too is astonishing given the fact that over five billion of the more than seven billion people on our planet today claim affiliation with or membership in one of these three religions. All three of these patriarchal religions forbid women to hold positions of leadership within their institutions.
Woman represent a little over HALF of the entire global population, yet hold only a fraction of positions of power within society in most of the countries of our world!
How about self-interest? We need look no further than trans-national corporations and Wall Street to see the pervasive greed that is driven by self-interest, or to corrupt governments and their officials whose policies nearly universally benefit the rich and wealthy while ignoring and often exacerbating the plight of the poor and underprivileged.
Notably, the sole legislative achievement in the Trump administration’s first year was a tax bill that exploded the national debt by $1.5 trillion through tax cuts to corporations and the wealthiest individuals in our country. Now the Republican controlled Congress is cutting social programs in order to address the burgeoning budget deficit resulting from their tax bill. Indeed the 1% vs. 99% has been a human reality for millennia…
And of course what is war but an act of dominance that seeks to force the values, beliefs, ambitions or ideologies of one group onto another group?
Interestingly, most indigenous cultures live in accordance with natural laws or nature (Matriarchy). They’re organized around a philosophy that the success and well-being of the entire tribe or clan depends upon their ability to ensure that the needs of everyone are met, not just a few. These are the very tribes and cultures commonly referred to by ‘first-world’ nations as ‘primitive’ and ‘uncivilized.’
Whenever I hear such descriptions, I’m reminded of something Gandhi once said. When asked by a reporter what he thought about ‘Western civilization’ he replied, “I think that would be a great idea!”
Hierarchical thinking influences not just genders and races, but also extends to nations and hemispheres of our planet where North is perceived as superior to South and West is superior to East. Hierarchy and dominance go hand in hand.
All these realities point to perhaps the ONE thing we most need to let go of in order to move forward and achieve necessary evolutionary growth as a species – Patriarchy. Patriarchy has created many, many traumas.
I referenced ‘Matriarchy’ above. It’s worth noting that the philosophical principles of Matriarchy contrast completely in comparison with Patriarchy. And no, Matriarchy does NOT mean female-dominance. That is a false and distorted patriarchal projection. Matriarchy is founded upon the principles of GIVING, SHARING, INCLUSION AND GROUP-INTEREST.
Matriarchy is the social organizing paradigm that underpins the natural world. In nature, eco-systems are wholistic. Resources are shared. Each unique and different part of the whole plays a crucial role in the health and well-being of the entire system. Diversity reflects strength. All parts are necessary and contribute to the integrity of the whole.
In truth, everyone and everything IS connected. In truth, we are ALL ONE. Science has proven this as fact. When quantum scientist John Hagelin, PhD. (of ‘What the Bleep Do We Know’ documentary fame) was asked how many minds exist in this universe, his answer was “One.” Both science and nature validate matriarchal, not patriarchal values. Aquarius’ association with groups reflects that the ultimate group is the WHOLE OF HUMANITY.
This Aquarius New Moon Solar Eclipse chart contains another striking set of celestial symbols and patterns. This pattern is already manifesting in our current reality and will likely continue to be a focal point that will grow in intensity over the coming months. This focal point is women.
The New Moon chart has Venus (women) in favorable aspect to Saturn (responsibility). This reflects the likelihood that women will increasingly lead the way forward towards a new, healthier future. The chart also has the asteroid Juno, associated with the archetype of the ‘wife’ closely conjunct the Sun and Moon. And, Eris, a recently discovered trans-Plutonian planet has been traveling alongside Uranus, one of Aquarius’ rulers, for several years now. Let’s take a further look at these astrological signatures.
Juno, the Roman Goddess of Love and Marriage, symbolizes themes associated with partnership commitments and fidelity.
Juno was married to Jupiter. Interestingly, the planet Jupiter is currently in a challenging square aspect to this Aquarius New Moon.
The Romans stole their mythology from the Greeks, whose counterparts to Juno and Jupiter were Hera and her husband Zeus. Zeus, the God of Olympus, was notorious for his serial infidelities. Hera’s rage towards Zeus’ many lovers was well-known reflecting the archetype of the ‘woman scorned’ who seeks revenge and wreaks havoc.
Melania Trump and Rob Porter’s ex-wives and ex-girlfriend can surely relate to Juno’s plight. Of course, all the women of the #MeToo movement also reflect a current manifestation of Juno’s archetypal influence. Instead of rage and revenge however, women need to stand up, speak out and take responsibility. They also need to take back their power.
Eris too is reflecting the rage that women are finding the courage to express openly now. While astrologers are still in the early stages of discerning the archetypal meaning of this new member of our Solar system, the mythology of Eris provides early clues. Eris was called the Goddess of Discord. She was famous for creating trouble for others who excluded her or dismissed her. Women are just fed up with men abusing their power from positions of authority. Women are increasingly saying, “Enough is enough!”
But let’s go back to Jupiter for a moment. Jupiter’s current transit (October 10, 2017 to November 8, 2018) through Scorpio, the sign associated with sex, money, power and secrets, is the primary celestial energy being reflected in all of the allegations of sexual misconduct being exposed in many sectors of our society including the news and entertainment industries, as well as business and government.
It’s also associated with all the investigations underway including that of Special Counsel Robert Mueller, as well as the three Congressional oversight committee investigations into Russian meddling in the 2016 election and potential collusion and coordination with the Trump campaign. Since Scorpio (investigations) also rules money, it’s not surprising that these investigations are ‘following the money,’ ie., the $130k payment of hush money just days before the 2016 election to Stormy Daniels, who alleges she had an affair with Trump in 2007.
And as mentioned previously, since Scorpio also rules secrets, Jupiter is also manifesting in the growing scandal about White House officials who lack the security clearance required to see our nation’s top secrets.
Clearly, Jupiter is BUSY!
When Jupiter stations retrograde on March 8/9th, it will mark the end of an unusual nine week period of direct motion of all the major planets in the heavens, a phenomenon that typically lasts for a period of only a few days each year. This reversal will likely coincide with reviews and revisions to many legal issues. These may include lawsuits currently moving through the courts, like those challenging the Trump administration’s travel ban and those in support of DACA. And some of these important investigations may return to previous witnesses or testimonies. During Jupiter’s retrograde period (March 8/9th to July 10th) many of these Jupiter in Scorpio issues may need to go backward, to review or revisit prior work or efforts, in order to successfully move forward later.
Finally, the remaining significant astrological signature of the Aquarius New Moon Solar Eclipse chart is Mars in Sagittarius square Neptune in Pisces. This planetary combination represents the need to ‘walk your talk.’ Actions (Mars) must be in alignment with personal truth (Sagittarius) and integrity to succeed. Unevolved expression of this energy risks succumbing to the slippery slope of delusions, deceptions and fraud (Neptune and Pisces).
Mental health is also a potential issue with Neptune and Pisces. It’s highly likely that Nikolas Cruz, the suspected Parkland, Florida High School shooter suffers from mental illness. Of course with all the severe cuts to the social safety net in our country, including cuts in funding to local health clinics, it’s also quite likely that even if Nikolas did seek out professional medical help, the services he needed may not have been readily available or available at all. Traumas are a primary causal factor for mental illness. Changes in our mental health systems and services must occur if we are to succeed in healing, and preventing, further traumas.
Eclipses are powerful celestial harbingers of change. I often describe eclipses as ‘cosmic reboots’ of human consciousness. This is because when eclipses occur, they literally disrupt the continuous flow of the cosmic energies constantly streaming onto our planet for a brief time.
Using a simple analogy of human consciousness being similar to a computer, it’s easy to see how eclipses, which turn off our primary energy sources, and then turn them back on again, are associated with ‘cosmic reboots’ to human consciousness.
When you further consider that most computer reboots simultaneously download new program updates and delete or de-install or even overwrite old programs, it helps explain why eclipses are so powerful in our ongoing evolution. This Solar Eclipse delivered a collective consciousness upgrade!
Uranus rules the brain and Aquarius rules collective human consciousness. Uranus and Aquarius liberate us from whatever is preventing necessary evolutionary growth and progress. In short, Aquarius is THE SIGN OF CHANGE. Some changes occur slowly. Some changes happen in surprising and unexpected ways. Sometimes, when necessary change is resisted for too long, Uranus and Aquarius bring about change in ways that are radical and revolutionary, cataclysmic and irrevocable like an earthquake that forever changes the landscape.
The forces of evolution will always overcome the forces of resistance. Aquarius also rules groups. Yes, this New Moon is encouraging us all to be true to our unique individual selves. But it’s also reminding us that we are all part of the human family. Let’s use this cosmic reboot of our collective consciousness to break free of the past, to heal old traumas and embrace the necessary changes required to move us all forward into a healthier, happier, more sustainable future – TOGETHER.
This Aquarius New Moon Solar Eclipse is a HUGE cosmic opportunity to raise our consciousness and expand our awareness in ways that inspire and encourage us to co-create new realities! Don’t resist necessary evolutionary change. Embrace it. It’s time to heed the wisdom of that old saying about change:
The Pisces New Moon is on March 17th at 7:12 am MST.
Copyright 2018. Donna Lee Steele and Threshold Consulting. All rights reserved.
Threshold Consulting by Donna Lee Steele 