posted August 05, 2010 01:34 PM         

Crossing the T
By Len Wallick

Friday the Moon will roll into the sign Cancer, which it rules. Shortly before midnight in the same time zone Venus will ingress Libra, where it is the ruling planet.
This dual homecoming, significant enough by itself, will function to convert our long-term cardinal T-square into yet another grand cardinal cross. We are going to consider this new one in comparison to the first big one, just six weeks ago.

We have asked you to draw some diagrams lately. Today that practice will begin to pay off for you. Please get out two pieces of paper and your writing instrument.
Remember this past June 26? It was a Saturday (at least in the Western Hemisphere) and there was a partial lunar eclipse that morning. All eclipses are special but this one was extra special: it was conjunct Pluto. To help you remember take the first piece of paper and draw our old familiar diagram of the circle divided into four equal parts by a cross. The four parts are the seasons. The four lines that make up the cross are where the seasons begin.

By definition those four lines are also where the four cardinal signs begin. The normal motion of a planet around the circle is counterclockwise, unless it is retrograde. It takes the Sun one year to move around the circle. This first diagram will help us remember the lunar eclipse on June 26.

At the top of the cross write “Uranus” and “Jupiter.” On June 26, both were direct and functionally conjunct in very nearly the same position where they are now retrograde. On the right hand side of the cross write “Moon” and “Pluto.” The full eclipsed Moon was conjunct Pluto in early Capricorn. On the left end of the cross write “Sun” and “Mercury.” A lunar eclipse takes place at a Full Moon. Because a Full Moon is an opposition to the Sun, it is no surprise the Sun is in early Cancer. To have Mercury in the same sign about two degrees behind and functionally conjunct was a bonus.

Finally, at the bottom of the cross, a smidgen to the left, write “Saturn,” which at that time was direct in the second to last degree of Virgo.

Please put your writing instrument down and take a look at your homemade chart for June 26. Retrograde Pluto had been in Capricorn for about two years. Saturn entered Libra in late 2009, stationed retrograde back to Virgo and was direct again on its way back to Libra. Uranus and Jupiter had recently made ingress to Aries and were both in direct motion. That was the cardinal T-square at the time.

The Sun, conjunct Mercury, turned the T-square into a cross by opposing Pluto and the Moon. See the four 90 degree angles? Those are the squares. Sun, Mercury, Moon and Pluto each squaring Uranus, Jupiter and Saturn. Three times four is twelve. A dozen squares. Remember that squares imply tension, usually internal. Action is the key to resolving the tension. Then, of course there were the oppositions, planets directly across the circle from each other. Those imply tension too, more of the external variety. The implied protocol to resolve those is negotiation.

Both action and negotiation start with awareness: awareness of how you feel, what you can live with and what your limits and boundaries are. Possession of such knowledge gives you a pretty good idea of what you can do and what you should ask for. Then of course, there is that cardinal point theme to keep in mind, “all of us together, all at the same time.”

Now, take a moment to remember what you did and what you remember of June 26. Also take some time to think about what has happened since. Now set that piece of paper aside and pick up the other one. We are going to draw out a diagram of tomorrow.

Please start with the cross in the circle. The label at the top is familiar, Jupiter and Uranus. The difference this time is that both are in retrograde motion. On the right side, the member of longest tenure, Pluto, still retrograde as before. On the left, this time it’s the Moon, in the sign it rules for the fist time since the total solar eclipse on July 11. Finally, at the bottom of the cross, all in Libra, all direct and all within five degrees of each other are Saturn, Mars and Venus. Set your paper scratcher down and look at that one. Quite the deal, eh?

Now, your faithful reporter is very aware that there may well be some fatigue setting in. The last few months have been a ride and a half. If we never see a right angle again, it will be too soon. And the tension, holy cow. If it’s not the end of the world one day, it’s the end of unemployment benefits the next. Believe you me, your faithful servant has given thought towards avoidance strategies. But if there was ever a time to engage with events, it’s now. It’s in our self interest to be a part of it all. We each may also make a big difference to those we encounter. So let’s look at the two diagrams we just drew, make some comparisons and figure up some strategy.

Besides the obvious continuum of aspects and signs, the main similarity is that Pluto and the Moon are opposed on the same axis where they were conjunct six weeks ago. To the degree. That’s huge. Remember, eclipses have legs. The effects go on and on and on. Tomorrow night’s opposition between crescent Luna and retrograde Pluto should have some sort of re-collective synchronicity if we are willing to keep our eyes open.

What, besides the direction of Uranus and Jupiter, are the differences? Venus and Mars come to mind. Venus has been in pursuit of Mars for months. It is two weeks yet before their conjunction (concurrent with the Mercury retrograde station), but they are close. Having Saturn in between them may seem like a chaperon is in the house, but that won’t last long.

It’s not so much the near conjunction that makes one catch breath, however. It’s that midnight opposition in the first degree. Quite literally bringing the personal to the political, Venus’ opposition to Uranus in particular would seem to indicate that even the most cynical and jaded still have a few surprises coming. Be aware of what you might be calling up if you should utter “What’s next?”

The aspects are tight this time too. Tighter than a Japanese condom. All the players are actually in cardinal signs and in the first five degrees. No almost, no functional, no virtual; this is the thing itself. The genuine article. With ten squares and seven oppositions, there seems to have been a shift away from the introspective.

Doing something. Doing it with others with whom we have established relationship was the theme of the lunar eclipse. This grand cross may well be challenging us to break ground in new relationships. And a challenge it will be. Never has it been more difficult to reach out to someone unfamiliar. Never has it been more important. If you can reduce the number of strangers by one this weekend, you may well have turned the key.
And the Sun? Remember that it was the other half of the eclipse? Well that’s where we wrap it up. Old Sol is applying to the middle of Leo, a fixed fire sign. The middle degree of a fixed sign is known as a cross quarter, the halfway point between seasons. It is a point that resonates with the cardinal points.

The Sun occupies the middle degree of a fixed sign but four times a year. To do so concurrent with the grandest of grand crosses places the astrological symbol of our highest expression in a very auspicious place at a very special time. It is a threshold placement. It is asking us to open the door, and there’s a square-resolving action if ever there was one.

http://planetwaves.net/pagetwo/2010/08/05/crossing-the-t-again/#more-27386