Autumn Equinox
Autumn Equinox
23rd September 2022 – 01:03 UT/GMT - 02:03 BST (GB) – 03:03 CEDT (W. Europe)
22nd September 21:03 EDT - 18:03 PDT (USA)
Two quite intense patterns dominate the astrology chart for the Equinox – a (red and green) “Sensitivity Rectangle” and a (red, green and blue) “Striving Figure”; both patterns are full of tension, challenging us to be alert and wake up to what is really going on. The red (180°) oppositions in combination with the long green (150°) quincunxes and the short green (30°) semi-sextiles, create a highly charged energy that may cause us to feel constantly on edge, on alert. It may seem as though we are on awareness overload, rapidly perceiving, gaining insight and then quickly having to react to what we are perceiving, with little or no time for assimilation or integration, creating a repetitive pattern of perception – reaction, perception – reaction and so on. On the plus side, this can be a highly motivational time, bringing clear insight into what needs to change, together with the physical, emotional and nervous energy to make those changes rapid, significant and meaningful.
The phrase to sum this up is “enough is enough”!
The red and green Sensitivity Rectangle has the Sun, exactly conjunct retrograde Mercury in Libra and widely conjunct Venus in Virgo, all in (180°) opposition to retrograde Neptune in Pisces. The other axis of the Rectangle has Moon conjunct Ceres in Leo, in opposition to retrograde Saturn conjunct retrograde Vesta in Aquarius. There are two (30°) semi-sextiles, between Sun - Mercury and Moon – Ceres, and between Saturn – Vesta and Neptune; there are also two (150°) quincunxes, between Venus and Saturn – Vesta, and between Moon – Ceres and Neptune.
The Sun conjunct retrograde Mercury and widely conjunct Venus are about making conscious our past attitudes towards and treatment of the feminine, particularly the ways in which the feminine has been ignored, diminished, dishonoured or abused. The opposition from Sun – Mercury to Neptune offers the opportunity to release these patterns that have prevailed for thousands of years, in order to bring about forgiveness. Moon – Ceres in opposition to retrogrades Saturn and Vesta are concerned with understanding that in order to truly honour and respect Mother Earth (Ceres), we must first honour our own and others’ heart-essence, the spiritual spark within; how well we do is a reflection of our attitudes towards the feminine, which in turn reflects our attitudes towards Mother Earth and vice versa. This inter-relationship and inter-dependence between self, other and the Earth, between the personal and the universal and between the human and the planetary expressions of the feminine will keep demanding our attention, until we wake up to it fully and embrace it.
The Striving Figure has the Moon’s North Node conjunct retrograde Uranus in Taurus, with (30°) semi-sextiles to Mars and retrograde Chiron, which both have (150°) quincunxes to the Moon’s South Node in Scorpio, at the apex of the Striving Figure. There is also a (60°) sextile between Chiron and Mars.
The Striving Figure is pointing towards the South Node in Scorpio; this is about striving to release our emotional attachments to the past, our past attitudes, ways of being and behaviours towards others. Retrograde Uranus conjunct the Moon’s North Node can help us to break free of these past attachments and wake us up to infinite new possibilities that we cannot even conceive of, whilst we remain attached to those old past ways of being. The blue (60°) sextile between retrograde Chiron in Aries and Mars in Gemini is showing us that in order to heal our relationship with the feminine, we first need to address the attitudes and expectations of the masculine; in particular, we need to use our discernment to distinguish between what is of lasting value and significance, and what is merely transient, fleeting, or the result of passing desires or whims. Mars is conjunct the star Rigel (beta Orionis), at the left foot of the constellation of Orion. Mars conjunct Rigel are about stepping forward with spiritual purpose and with clear intention, in order to bring the energies of the heavens into manifestation here on Earth.
A Small Learning Figure connects the Sensitivity rectangle with the Striving Figure: there is a red (90°) square from Saturn to Uranus, a green (30°) semi-sextile from Uranus and the Moon’s Node to Mars and a blue (120°) trine from Mars, back to Saturn.
The discomfort, challenges and restrictions that we are feeling in our bodies (retrograde Saturn) and in our day-to-day lives is causing us also to feel squeezed in our hearts (retro Vesta) causing us to question the status quo, and to find creative and constructive ways to break free (retrograde Uranus) from the old patterns. Mars conjunct Rigel, manifesting as right spiritual action, holds the answer to bring about positive, meaningful, lasting change and finally enable us to move beyond the old Piscean Age paradigms of the last 2,000 years, once and for all.
For all our Relations