Tag: Celestial Equator

Equal Light & Equal Darkness

Autumn Comments & Graphics
Equal Light & Equal Darkness

“In late September, the sun crosses the celestial equator and there is a day where the length of the day and night are approximately equal. These days are called equinoxes, from the Latin meaning “equal night.” The autumnal equinox marks one of the lesser Sabbats, called Mabon, occurring around September twenty-second or twenty-third. Astrologically, this is when the sun moves into Libra. This holiday is the second harvest festival, falling during or at the end of the European grain harvest. It also known as the wine harvest, and often marks the beginning of hunting season. In one old Craft tradition, the fall equinox was named “the Night of the Hunter” and farmers would slaughter livestock too weak to survive the winter on this night. Druids know this celebration as “Mea’n Fo’mhair” and honor the Green Man, God of the Forest, and his trees with poured offerings of ciders and wine. Norse pagans celebrate this time as Winter Finding, a time period that runs from the Sabbat until October 15th. This night is known as Winter’s Night and is the Norse New Year. The Wiccan New Year is also approaching at October’s end. It is known the ancient Mayans observed this date as well. At the pyramid at Cihickén Itzá, seven triangles of light fall on the pyramid’s staircase on this date only. In Japan, there is a six-day celebration around the equinox. This holiday is to honor Higan-e, the “other shore” and is based on six “perfections”: giving, observance of the precepts, perseverance, effort, meditation and wisdom. By this time of the year, the days are visibly waning, the temperatures begin to cool and it is time to start preparing for winter. Many people like to refresh their altar(s) for this time, adding elements in autumn colors (orange, brown, gold, dark reds, rust) like acorns, pine cones, leaves, dried plants and herbs, apples, pomegranates, ivy and horns of plenty.”

– Rae Schwarz, Fall Equinox

Daily Cosmic Calenda for Novemer 22nd

The cosmic good news is that the Sun is just beginning its 30-day march through adventurous, enthusiastic and goal-oriented Sagittarius. The challenging news is that the lunar orb — while prominent in its natural abode of Cancer — is carrying the extra weight of being in void mode, pointing you more toward understanding past karma than in initiating bold, new actions.  Research and in-depth studies are recommended as the Sun forms a parallel to Pluto (6:48AM). Consider a parallel — where both celestial bodies are the same number of degrees north or south of the Celestial Equator — to be similar to a conjunction in the zodiac. Do your best to stay serene around the time-period this Sun-Pluto connection is influential as it does have a shadow component where extreme actions can boomerang with nasty results.  Once the Moon leaves void mode in Cancer by entering Leo (3:58PM), let your inner-child roam free for a change of pace. Be a creative whirlwind as the Moon forms a harmonious trine with the Sun in fire signs (5:50PM). Games of strategy are in play tonight when Pallas forms a 45-degree tie with fun-loving Jupiter (8:45PM). You can tweak this somewhat frictional aspect away from mental fatigue and toward enjoyment as a problem-solver and high-achiever. [Note to readers: All times are calculated for Pacific Standard Time. Be sure to adjust all times according to your own local time so the alignments noted above will be exact for your location.]

Daily Cosmic Calendar for Tuesday, July 23

The two days after a Full Moon represent a 48-hour time-span to disseminate the light, love and wisdom just received during the illuminating solar-lunar rapport. Venus forming a supportive, 60-degree liaison with Pallas (3:41AM PDT) can give you the right tools for a superb level of problem-solving, strategic thinking, and in-depth research. Brainstorms can also arrive as the Moon in Aquarius connects favorably with Uranus in Aries by a similar 60-degree tie (7:02AM PDT). However, this Moon-Uranus link also starts a 28+ hour void lunar uncertainty zone that lasts until 11:23AM PDT tomorrow when the Moon enters Pisces.  Steer clear of disagreements with dear ones as the Moon makes its monthly union with Juno today at 10:13AM PDT. Be more fashion-conscious and mull over ways to redecorate a favorite room of your residence. Style, beauty and elegance are highlighted.  The most challenging alignment of the day strikes at 1:42PM PDT when the Sun makes a contra-parallel to Pluto. When July began, the Sun and Pluto reached their annual polarity in the zodiac. Now the Sun is 20 degrees north of the Celestial Equator while Pluto is 20 degrees south. The bottom line is that you need a large dose of emotional calm and sensitivity to keep primary partnerships in a state of harmony. Browbeating anyone is a no-no. Praise the merits in significant others, and don’t magnify their faults.

Daily Cosmic Calendar for January 31st

The last day of January 2013 has a few tricks up its sleeve. What is supremely helpful is yesterday’s Jupiter turnaround in Gemini — giving hope and renewed confidence that big projects can eventually lead to handsome profits in the long run.  The main source of discord is a Mars-Saturn parallel (5:03AM PST) at 13 degrees south of the Celestial Equator. This Mars-Saturn connection behaves like a zodiacal conjunction and it may remain influential for a good portion of this 24-hour time-period. When the red planet and the ringed planet hook up like this, it’s easy to become your own worst enemy and create unnecessary problems. An abrasive, 45-degree tie from Mercury to Pallas (9:54AM PST) adds another layer of difficulty to the situation.  However, the cosmos begins changing its tune by orchestrating a Grand Triangle in air signs — composed of a Moon trine to Jupiter from Libra to Gemini (10:02AM PST) followed later on by a Moon trine to the Sun from Libra to Aquarius (9:05PM PST). On this creative, affirmative and mind-expanding note, the three air signs offer humanity gifts of the heart, mind and spirit by simultaneously connecting both lights with the just-recently enriched Jupiter — now a very dominant celestial force.

Your Daily Cosmic Calendar for January 2

Cleaning up your act may still be in the offing on the second day of 2013. Virgo Moon remains in force and that often translates as the need to get rid of non-essentials. Bring outgrown clothing to second-hand stores for resale. Make the kitchen and bath areas shine again. Stock up on vitamins, minerals, soaps, lotions, herbs, nuts, seeds, and seasonings. The little things of life can make or break your day.  Fortunately, the Moon in Virgo and the Sun in Capricorn form a harmonious trine (9:00AM PST) — providing much of the day with an optimistic sense that goodwill can prevail over worry and self-doubt. You want to bask in this aura of physical vitality, emotional fortitude, and mental exuberance for as long as possible because a Mars-Pluto parallel at 20 degrees south of the Celestial Equator clocks in at 7:47PM PST.  Parallels are calculated via north and south distances from the great circle around the Earth known as the Celestial Equator. Many professional astrologers see parallels as fairly equivalent to conjunctions of cosmic bodies in the zodiac or via the Ecliptic (the apparent Sun’s path in the sky).  This Mars-Pluto encounter indicates that the psychic atmosphere is filling up with assorted tensions. Pressing the anger button or barking out commands to dear ones is taboo. Strive for serenity and direct your passions into enjoying exercise routines or athletic contests.