From BBC News:
"Earthquakes, explosions and observations of Earth's ever-changing magnetic field are helping scientists open up a new window on the heart of our planet.
When Jules Verne wrote A Journey to the Centre of the Earth over 100 years ago, he imagined a place of glowing crystals and a turbulent sea, complete with prehistoric animals and giant mushrooms.
What was actually beneath our feet was a complete enigma. Even to this day scientists astonishingly know more about the rings of Saturn than they do about the core of our own planet.
But that is beginning to change. "We're at a golden age in terms of the real discovery of the bulk of the deep Earth," says seismologist Professor Rick Aster.
And remarkably, not everything Verne imagined was wrong.
But scientists are also fascinated by the Earth's core because it is responsible for creating our planet's magnetic field which is vital to life.
As a tool for navigation, it helps honey bees find their hive, while sea turtles, birds and butterflies use it to migrate over long distances.
The magnetic field also acts as a protective barrier between us and some of the dangers of space, shielding us from radiation in the solar wind."
Read More
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Friday, August 26, 2011
Mercury & Virgo New Moon
Mercury finally stops and changes direction(stationary-direct at 19 Leo) today, after being retrograde since Aug. 2. But it will take a few days for the mercurial energy to pick up some speed. In fact, if one considers the so-called shadow period to be valid, then the flow of information and communication will not resume normality until Sept. 9. Either way, the trickster morphs back into the messenger planet as it shifts into forward motion, and the frustration that many of us felt should begin to dissipate.
Ideally, we reviewed and revised whatever needed to be gone over, so we can move ahead now. And Sunday night's New Moon in discerning Virgo give us the green light to seed new productive endeavors- especially, as this lunation forms a grand trine in the earth element with Venus, Jupiter, and Pluto. If there's a personal or business project you wish to kick off, this New Moon is an excellent timing factor under which to get the ball rolling.
"Apparently there is nothing that cannot happen today." ~Mark Twain
Ideally, we reviewed and revised whatever needed to be gone over, so we can move ahead now. And Sunday night's New Moon in discerning Virgo give us the green light to seed new productive endeavors- especially, as this lunation forms a grand trine in the earth element with Venus, Jupiter, and Pluto. If there's a personal or business project you wish to kick off, this New Moon is an excellent timing factor under which to get the ball rolling.
"Apparently there is nothing that cannot happen today." ~Mark Twain
Diamond Planet Discovered
(Reuters)- "Astronomers have spotted an exotic planet that seems to be made of diamond racing around a tiny star in our galactic backyard.
The new planet is far denser than any other known so far and consists largely of carbon. Because it is so dense, scientists calculate the carbon must be crystalline, so a large part of this strange world will effectively be diamond.
"The evolutionary history and amazing density of the planet all suggest it is comprised of carbon- i.e. a massive diamond orbiting a neutron star every two hours in an orbit so tight it would fit inside our own Sun," said Matthew Bailes of Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne.
Lying 4,000 light years away, or around an eighth of the way toward the center of the Milky Way from the Earth, the planet is probably the remnant of a once-massive star that has lost its outer layers to the so-called pulsar star it orbits.
Pulsars are tiny, dead neutron stars that are only around 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) in diameter and spin hundreds of times a second, emitting beams of radiation.
In the case of pulsar J1719-1438, the beams regularly sweep the Earth and have been monitored by telescopes in Australia, Britain and Hawaii, allowing astronomers to detect modulations due to the gravitational pull of its unseen companion planet.
The measurements suggest the planet, which orbits its star every two hours and 10 minutes, has slightly more mass than Jupiter but is 20 times as dense, Bailes and colleagues reported in the journal Science on Thursday.
In addition to carbon, the new planet is also likely to contain oxygen, which may be more prevalent at the surface and is probably increasingly rare toward the carbon-rich center.
Its high density suggests the lighter elements of hydrogen and helium, which are the main constituents of gas giants like Jupiter, are not present.
Just what this weird diamond world is actually like close up, however, is a mystery.
"In terms of what it would look like, I don't know I could even speculate," said Ben Stappers of the University of Manchester. "I don't imagine that a picture of a very shiny object is what we're looking at here."
The new planet is far denser than any other known so far and consists largely of carbon. Because it is so dense, scientists calculate the carbon must be crystalline, so a large part of this strange world will effectively be diamond.
"The evolutionary history and amazing density of the planet all suggest it is comprised of carbon- i.e. a massive diamond orbiting a neutron star every two hours in an orbit so tight it would fit inside our own Sun," said Matthew Bailes of Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne.
Lying 4,000 light years away, or around an eighth of the way toward the center of the Milky Way from the Earth, the planet is probably the remnant of a once-massive star that has lost its outer layers to the so-called pulsar star it orbits.
Pulsars are tiny, dead neutron stars that are only around 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) in diameter and spin hundreds of times a second, emitting beams of radiation.
In the case of pulsar J1719-1438, the beams regularly sweep the Earth and have been monitored by telescopes in Australia, Britain and Hawaii, allowing astronomers to detect modulations due to the gravitational pull of its unseen companion planet.
The measurements suggest the planet, which orbits its star every two hours and 10 minutes, has slightly more mass than Jupiter but is 20 times as dense, Bailes and colleagues reported in the journal Science on Thursday.
In addition to carbon, the new planet is also likely to contain oxygen, which may be more prevalent at the surface and is probably increasingly rare toward the carbon-rich center.
Its high density suggests the lighter elements of hydrogen and helium, which are the main constituents of gas giants like Jupiter, are not present.
Just what this weird diamond world is actually like close up, however, is a mystery.
"In terms of what it would look like, I don't know I could even speculate," said Ben Stappers of the University of Manchester. "I don't imagine that a picture of a very shiny object is what we're looking at here."
Monday, August 22, 2011
Gaddafi and Libya
Colonel Muammar Gaddafi's 42 year reign in Libya has finally run it's course. 42 is half of 84, and thus half a Uranus cycle. Besides the horoscope for Libya or Gaddafi himself, the one for Mars entering Cancer, sign of it's fall, seems best reflective of current events in Libya. This Cancer Mars ingress was mentioned before in connection with London's August riots, where Mars was culminating as it entered Cancer, and part of an angular(powerful) grand cross with the Moon, Uranus, and Pluto.
In Tripoli, Libya's capital, Saturn ('checks and balances') was exactly rising, as Mars moved into Cancer. And on Aug. 25, an exact Mars-Saturn square is being triggered by the Moon in Cancer. Hard Mars-Saturn aspects often indicate harmful, violent, or destructive energies. Moreover, it seems this harsh square has particular significance for climactic events in Libya.
Gaddafi's pre-coup eclipse
Colonel Gaddafi seized power in a bloodless coup d'etat on Sept. 1, 1969- only 5 days after an eclipse. Gaddafi's pre-coup lunar eclipse(4 Pisces) of Aug. 27, 1969 remains sensitive to transits- and the Sun opposes 4 Pisces at the Aug. 27/28 New Moon at 4 Virgo.
The Cancer Mars ingress chart suggests that Gaddafi may fall on Aug. 25, while his pre-coup eclipse gets activated Aug. 27 and Aug. 28.
 |
| From Mundane Charts |
In Tripoli, Libya's capital, Saturn ('checks and balances') was exactly rising, as Mars moved into Cancer. And on Aug. 25, an exact Mars-Saturn square is being triggered by the Moon in Cancer. Hard Mars-Saturn aspects often indicate harmful, violent, or destructive energies. Moreover, it seems this harsh square has particular significance for climactic events in Libya.
Gaddafi's pre-coup eclipse
Colonel Gaddafi seized power in a bloodless coup d'etat on Sept. 1, 1969- only 5 days after an eclipse. Gaddafi's pre-coup lunar eclipse(4 Pisces) of Aug. 27, 1969 remains sensitive to transits- and the Sun opposes 4 Pisces at the Aug. 27/28 New Moon at 4 Virgo.
 |
| From Mundane Charts |
The Cancer Mars ingress chart suggests that Gaddafi may fall on Aug. 25, while his pre-coup eclipse gets activated Aug. 27 and Aug. 28.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
India Faces it's own Arab Spring
(Reuters)- "An anti-corruption movement led by a feisty 74-year-old social activist is snowballing into one of the biggest challenges in decades for the ruling Congress party and if not contained risks sparking India's own version of an Arab Spring revolt.
While no one is expecting an Egypt-like overthrow in the world's biggest democracy, a galvanized and frustrated middle class and the mushrooming of social networking sites combined with an aggressive private media may be transforming India's political landscape.
Anna Hazare has quickly become a 21st century Mahatma Gandhi inspiration for millions of Indians fed up with rampant corruption, red tape and inadequate services provided by the state despite the country posting near-double digit economic growth for almost a decade.
"Democracy means no voice, however small, must go unheard. The anti-corruption sentiment is not a whisper-it's a scream. Grave error to ignore it," Anand Mahindra, one of India's leading businessmen and managing director of conglomerate Mahindra Group, wrote on Twitter.
Hazare's arrest on Tuesday, only hours ahead of a planned fast until death against graft was the last straw and sparked spontaneous protest across the country of 1.2 billion people.
The young and old, rich and poor, without apparent political affiliations, took to the streets in a rare voice of solidarity- a potential lethal cocktail for any party in power in India.
Politicians are increasingly being judged on governance rather than old caste and regional ties- as has already happened in states like Bihar- and the new social shift will push national parties to be more responsive to voters' needs.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the Congress party of the Gandhi-Nehru dynasty and the police stood isolated over the decision to arrest a man for planning a peaceful fast.
The Congress has for the past year reeled from mounting corruption scandals, including allegations of millions of dollars in kickbacks in the sale of mobile phone licenses in what is emerging as India's biggest-ever graft."
Data for the proclamation of the Republic of India:
Jan. 26, 1950
10.15 AM INT (-05.30)
New Delhi
077E13'00"; 28N36'00"
Asc: 04 Ai 48; Mc: 03 Cp 05
Source: "A second horoscope for India is set for the proclamation of the republic at a time which was very likely elected astrologically [...] 26 January was chosen as the twentieth anniversary of the call for independence by the Congress in 1930." Nicholas Campion, "Book of World Horoscopes," p. 201.
This is the national horoscope of India that best reflects current events. Transiting Mars just triggered the July 1 solar eclipse (9 Cancer) that squared the potentially angry/violent Mars-Node conjunction. Uranus and Pluto that inform the profound changes of our times, are aspecting the important angles of this national chart. And the citizens are fed up with government corruption (Pluto in Capricorn)- seeking to actively reform the state and their circumstances (Tr. Uranus -0- Ascendant and -90- Midheaven). Looking ahead, the Sept. 27 New Moon that powerfully activates the national chart is a flashpoint for major events in India- with Mars (anger-violence) opposing the radix Sun (leadership).
While no one is expecting an Egypt-like overthrow in the world's biggest democracy, a galvanized and frustrated middle class and the mushrooming of social networking sites combined with an aggressive private media may be transforming India's political landscape.
Anna Hazare has quickly become a 21st century Mahatma Gandhi inspiration for millions of Indians fed up with rampant corruption, red tape and inadequate services provided by the state despite the country posting near-double digit economic growth for almost a decade.
"Democracy means no voice, however small, must go unheard. The anti-corruption sentiment is not a whisper-it's a scream. Grave error to ignore it," Anand Mahindra, one of India's leading businessmen and managing director of conglomerate Mahindra Group, wrote on Twitter.
Hazare's arrest on Tuesday, only hours ahead of a planned fast until death against graft was the last straw and sparked spontaneous protest across the country of 1.2 billion people.
The young and old, rich and poor, without apparent political affiliations, took to the streets in a rare voice of solidarity- a potential lethal cocktail for any party in power in India.
Politicians are increasingly being judged on governance rather than old caste and regional ties- as has already happened in states like Bihar- and the new social shift will push national parties to be more responsive to voters' needs.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the Congress party of the Gandhi-Nehru dynasty and the police stood isolated over the decision to arrest a man for planning a peaceful fast.
The Congress has for the past year reeled from mounting corruption scandals, including allegations of millions of dollars in kickbacks in the sale of mobile phone licenses in what is emerging as India's biggest-ever graft."
Data for the proclamation of the Republic of India:
Jan. 26, 1950
10.15 AM INT (-05.30)
New Delhi
077E13'00"; 28N36'00"
Asc: 04 Ai 48; Mc: 03 Cp 05
Source: "A second horoscope for India is set for the proclamation of the republic at a time which was very likely elected astrologically [...] 26 January was chosen as the twentieth anniversary of the call for independence by the Congress in 1930." Nicholas Campion, "Book of World Horoscopes," p. 201.
 |
| From Asia & Mideast |
This is the national horoscope of India that best reflects current events. Transiting Mars just triggered the July 1 solar eclipse (9 Cancer) that squared the potentially angry/violent Mars-Node conjunction. Uranus and Pluto that inform the profound changes of our times, are aspecting the important angles of this national chart. And the citizens are fed up with government corruption (Pluto in Capricorn)- seeking to actively reform the state and their circumstances (Tr. Uranus -0- Ascendant and -90- Midheaven). Looking ahead, the Sept. 27 New Moon that powerfully activates the national chart is a flashpoint for major events in India- with Mars (anger-violence) opposing the radix Sun (leadership).
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Firdaria- Map of your Destiny
Firdaria are a systerm of planetary periods similar to the Dasha system of Vedic or Indian astrology(Jyotish- science of light), that was introduced around 750 CE by the great Persian astrologer Abu Ma'shar. The basis of this predictive method is that a particular planet becomes sensitized in one's birth chart for a number of years. Transits to or from the planet ruling the major period takes on more significance during the period in question. If you were born with the Sun above the horizon(day), you begin your life in a Sun period. And if you were born at night you start life in a Moon ruled period. Although there's some disagreement among astrologers regarding the order of the firdar periods for a night birth, the order employed by this Firdar calculator seems to work best according to my experience.
The Firdar, by Steven Birchfield
The Firdar, by Steven Birchfield
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Did space storms drive us mad?
(Reuters) - Rollercoaster financial markets and the worst riots Britain has seen in decades have made it quite a week for a time of year that is usually so dead the newspapers are filled with "silly season" tales of amusing pet antics.
Everyone is pointing fingers- at blundering politicians, hooded thugs, disaffected youths, bumbling police and greedy bankers- but could the cause for all the madness really be the star at the center of our solar system?
There isn't a lot of evidence pointing to little green men involving themselves in Earthly affairs, but the sun has been throwing bursts of highly charged particles into space in a phenomenon known as coronal mass ejections or CMEs.
Three large CMEs prompted U.S. government scientists to warn of solar storms that can cause power blackouts and the aurora borealis, or northern lights, caused by disturbances in the Earth's atmosphere, have been spotted as far south as England and Colorado, NASA said.
"Earth's magnetic field is still reverberating from a CME strike on August 5th that sparked one of the strongest geomagnetic storms in years", website SpaceWeather said.
Everyone is pointing fingers- at blundering politicians, hooded thugs, disaffected youths, bumbling police and greedy bankers- but could the cause for all the madness really be the star at the center of our solar system?
There isn't a lot of evidence pointing to little green men involving themselves in Earthly affairs, but the sun has been throwing bursts of highly charged particles into space in a phenomenon known as coronal mass ejections or CMEs.
Three large CMEs prompted U.S. government scientists to warn of solar storms that can cause power blackouts and the aurora borealis, or northern lights, caused by disturbances in the Earth's atmosphere, have been spotted as far south as England and Colorado, NASA said.
"Earth's magnetic field is still reverberating from a CME strike on August 5th that sparked one of the strongest geomagnetic storms in years", website SpaceWeather said.
Venus in Superior Conjunction
Venus is in superior conjunction to the Sun tomorrow.
By Michael Meyers:
"The Evening Star hemicycle of Venus begins at the superior conjunction of Venus and the Sun, while Venus is moving at or near its maximum velocity. In the Venus cycle, the superior conjunction corresponds to the opposition and the Full Moon. It is a moment of fulfillment of Venusian values and goals - or the beginning of a realization of failure to integrate new Venusian qualities into the fabric of personality. In the first instance, the second half of the Venus cycle symbolizes the distillation of meaning and purpose from prior experience. In the latter instance, the cycle tends to become a closed circuit of devolution, repeating past failures and shortcomings. But inevitably there is both partial success and partial failure, a blend of the two."
CyberWorld Khaldea
From an earlier post:
Venus makes her superior conjunction with the Sun on Aug. 15, when she's at her greatest distance from Earth and passing behind the Sun. During this period, Venus is invisible for almost 60 days, and then reappears from darkness as an evening star in the west. Ancient sky-watchers considered the periods of darkness when Venus disappeared as a time when the goddess traveled to the the underworld. The ancient Babylonians called Venus the double-phased Ishtar- the morning star of war and the evening star of love. As morning star Venus was often represented as a warrior bearing weapons. However, as an evening star the archetype shifts and becomes more attuned to reconciliation, treaties, communication and cooperation. Interestingly, the time it takes for Venus to shift from it's morning star phase(war) to evening star phase(love) is longer than it's shift from evening star to morning star.
Some of the earliest references to Venus are found on 5000 year old clay tablets from the Sumerian city of Uruk. In ancient Sumer the goddess Inanna was associated with Venus, and the Uruk tablets identifcy her celestial persona as the planet Venus, symbolized by an eight-pointed star. And mythological Inanna's descent into the underworld corresponds with Venus setting in the West and then rising again in the East. After passing through a series of seven gates where at each one she removes an item of clothing and is thereby stripped to her core- Inanna/Venus emerges from the dark realm of the underworld with a renewed sense of her true, authentic self. (The Assyrian and Babylonian name for Inanna is "Ishtar" and reflects the Sumerian origins of "Easter" and the theme of resurrection.)
By Michael Meyers:
"The Evening Star hemicycle of Venus begins at the superior conjunction of Venus and the Sun, while Venus is moving at or near its maximum velocity. In the Venus cycle, the superior conjunction corresponds to the opposition and the Full Moon. It is a moment of fulfillment of Venusian values and goals - or the beginning of a realization of failure to integrate new Venusian qualities into the fabric of personality. In the first instance, the second half of the Venus cycle symbolizes the distillation of meaning and purpose from prior experience. In the latter instance, the cycle tends to become a closed circuit of devolution, repeating past failures and shortcomings. But inevitably there is both partial success and partial failure, a blend of the two."
CyberWorld Khaldea
From an earlier post:
Venus makes her superior conjunction with the Sun on Aug. 15, when she's at her greatest distance from Earth and passing behind the Sun. During this period, Venus is invisible for almost 60 days, and then reappears from darkness as an evening star in the west. Ancient sky-watchers considered the periods of darkness when Venus disappeared as a time when the goddess traveled to the the underworld. The ancient Babylonians called Venus the double-phased Ishtar- the morning star of war and the evening star of love. As morning star Venus was often represented as a warrior bearing weapons. However, as an evening star the archetype shifts and becomes more attuned to reconciliation, treaties, communication and cooperation. Interestingly, the time it takes for Venus to shift from it's morning star phase(war) to evening star phase(love) is longer than it's shift from evening star to morning star.
Some of the earliest references to Venus are found on 5000 year old clay tablets from the Sumerian city of Uruk. In ancient Sumer the goddess Inanna was associated with Venus, and the Uruk tablets identifcy her celestial persona as the planet Venus, symbolized by an eight-pointed star. And mythological Inanna's descent into the underworld corresponds with Venus setting in the West and then rising again in the East. After passing through a series of seven gates where at each one she removes an item of clothing and is thereby stripped to her core- Inanna/Venus emerges from the dark realm of the underworld with a renewed sense of her true, authentic self. (The Assyrian and Babylonian name for Inanna is "Ishtar" and reflects the Sumerian origins of "Easter" and the theme of resurrection.)
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Full Moon, Venus, and the Great Conjunction
The Aug. 13 Aquarius Full Moon axis conjoins Venus, and triggers the midpoint of the waxing Uranus-Pluto square that informs the spirit of our times. The transiting Uranus/Pluto(midpoint) has in turn, been hitting natal Uranus(20.49 Aquarius) in the Great Conjunction(Jupiter-0-Saturn) chart of May 2000- a default world chart(Great Conjunction) that reflects the ebb and flow of empires/economies for a 20 year period. At the US capital, the GC(Great Conjunction) Uranus fell in the 6th house of employment, jobs, and public health, square the GC itself(23 Taurus) on the Midheaven in D.C.. Thus, the US is playing the leading role(GC conjunct Midheaven) in this basically unstable economic cycle, prone to sudden and shocking changes(Uranus). Moreover, Neptune's antiscion(mirror or shadow point at 23 Scorpio) is spot on the IC-4th house cusp at D.C., where it might undermine(Neptune) US financial prospects and confidence, starting with the housing market(4th house); i.e. the sub-prime mortgage scandal(NE). Interestingly- the 4th house also pertains to the party out of power, and the Repub Tea Party is getting most of the blame for S&P's recent downgrade of the nation's credit rating.
G.W.Bush's 2 disastrous terms as President set the stage for the unravelling of the US and world economy, as the great chroncrators('rulers of time') Jupiter and Saturn moved from the conjunction(2000) to their Full Moon opposition phase(2010-11)- following the stressful Saturn-180-Uranus and Saturn-90-Pluto. (There was no deficit until President Bush gave nearly $2 trillion in tax breaks largely to the wealthiest Americans and squandered $1 trillion in two wars.) The waning period of the Jupiter-Saturn cycle tends to correspond historically with economic downturns. While the current transit of Pluto through Capricorn suggests structural breakdown and upheaval- and Uranus in Aries signifies the awakening of rebellious energies seeking change, revolution, and freedom.
Transiting Uranus conjunct the Great Conjunction Moon(3 Aries 16) on-and-off until mid March 2012, reflects the trend of civil unrest and rebellious ourbursts by those most affected by the economic crisis, who perceive their governments as oppressive. (The mundane Moon signifies the common people.) As this Moon falls in the 8th house at D.C., it's directly linked with the US debt(8th) problem, that's casting a shadow across the global financial markets.
The Aug. 13 Full Moon = 20.41 Aquarius = Great Conjunction Uranus 20.49 Aquarius = 19.38 transting Uranus/Pluto. In other words, this Full Moon is hitting the big world transit midpoint, that in turn has been triggering the Great Conjunction Uranus- significator of volatility and instability. The Uranus/Pluto(midpoint) in itself, relates to the process of revolution, regenerative transformation, and buliding on the ruins of the old(Ebertin). But the first stage in such a process is facing the harsh reality of decay and breakdown, as established structures that are unsustainable in their current form are swept away. Most people are still in denial about the depth and scale of the changes that will unfold over the next 5 or so years as Uranus and Pluto move in and out of aspect. If the world were a snake, it's now shedding it's skin. (As mentioned before, Japan's Tohuku earthquake Ascendant was aligned with the transiting Uranus/Pluto midpoint.)
The Ascendant of the Great Conjunction chart at D.C. is 28 Leo 27. Neptune began opposing this Ascendant by transit in March 2010, and will retrograde back into alignment from late Aug. 2011 until Jan. 2012. The sense of uncertainty and disillusionment that Neptune often brings, is primarily relevant to the United States, as the Ascendant signifies the state of the state and it's citizens.
Of further interest to the mundane astrologer, is the correlation between the so-called POTUS chart(G.Washington's Inauguration- Apr. 30, 1789, 12:45 pm, New York, NY), and the Great Conjunction of 2000. As these mundane charts have similar angles, US President's and world economic trends are more inextricably linked then perhaps ever before. And if so, this connection will remain in effect until the next Great Conjunction of Dec. 21, 2020 at 1 Aquarius.
Full Moon in Aquarius
The major midpoint pictures in effect at the Aug. 13 Full Moon are:
Sun = Uranus/Pluto, "The urge for independence and freedom, untiring creative work, the tendency to make the highest demands on one's physical energy, strong emotional tensions. Over-excitement of the nerves, a breakdown, a catastrophe." (Ebertin)
Moon = Uranus/Pluto, "Intuition, restlessness, daring and audaciousness, ambition, determination. Bringing about chnages by force." (Ebertin)
Venus = Uranus/Pluto, "Creative power, the desire to bring the new in art, a constant longing for the new. The conquest of love." (Ebertin)
Venus
Venus makes her superior conjunction with the Sun on Aug. 15, when she's at her greatest distance from Earth and passing behind the Sun. During this period, Venus is invisible for almost 60 days, and then reappears from darkness as an evening star in the west. Ancient sky-watchers considered the periods of darkness when Venus disappeared as a time when the goddess traveled to the the underworld. The ancient Babylonians called Venus the double-phased Ishtar- the morning star of war and the evening star of love. As morning star Venus was often represented as a warrior bearing weapons. However, as an evening star the archetype shifts and becomes more attuned to reconciliation, treaties, communication and cooperation. Interestingly, the time it takes for Venus to shift from it's morning star phase(war) to evening star phase(love) is longer than it's shift from evening star to morning star.
Some of the earliest references to Venus are found on 5000 year old clay tablets from the Sumerian city of Uruk. In ancient Sumer the goddess Inanna was associated with Venus, and the Uruk tablets identify her celestial persona as the planet Venus, symbolized by an eight-pointed star. And mythological Inanna's descent into the underworld corresponds with Venus setting in the West and then rising again in the East. After passing through a series of seven gates where at each she removes an item of clothing at each one and is thereby stripped to her core- Inanna/Venus emerges from the dark realm of the underworld night with a renewed sense of her true, authentic self. (The Assyrian and Babylonian name for Inanna is "Ishtar" and reflects the Sumerian origins of "Easter" and the theme of resurrection.)
The Aug. 15 Sun-Venus conjunction in Leo, only two days after the Full Moon, suggests warm and dramatic expressions of love and creativity. (The Sun and Leo 'rule' gold.) And Saturn's exalatation in Libra, the sign of fair and balanced relationships, is relevant to the Aquarius Full Moon that's ruled by Saturn. Thus, the altruistic and humanitarian impulses of the Waterbearer(Aquarius) have some support now, even as the epic Uranus-Pluto square of profound change has it's midpoint activated by the Full Moon.
Transiting Mars will trigger the July 1 solar eclipse degree(9 Cancer) on Aug. 15-16.
This eclipse fell exactly on the natal Midheaven(status & reputation; government) of the United Kingdom's horoscope. And the violent riots in London began soon after Mars entered Cancer.
"Contrary to popular misconception, karma has nothing to do with punishment and reward. It exists as part of our holographic universe’s binary or dualistic operating system only to teach us responsibility for our creations—and all things we experience are our creations." ~Sol Luckman
 |
| From Mundane Charts |
G.W.Bush's 2 disastrous terms as President set the stage for the unravelling of the US and world economy, as the great chroncrators('rulers of time') Jupiter and Saturn moved from the conjunction(2000) to their Full Moon opposition phase(2010-11)- following the stressful Saturn-180-Uranus and Saturn-90-Pluto. (There was no deficit until President Bush gave nearly $2 trillion in tax breaks largely to the wealthiest Americans and squandered $1 trillion in two wars.) The waning period of the Jupiter-Saturn cycle tends to correspond historically with economic downturns. While the current transit of Pluto through Capricorn suggests structural breakdown and upheaval- and Uranus in Aries signifies the awakening of rebellious energies seeking change, revolution, and freedom.
Transiting Uranus conjunct the Great Conjunction Moon(3 Aries 16) on-and-off until mid March 2012, reflects the trend of civil unrest and rebellious ourbursts by those most affected by the economic crisis, who perceive their governments as oppressive. (The mundane Moon signifies the common people.) As this Moon falls in the 8th house at D.C., it's directly linked with the US debt(8th) problem, that's casting a shadow across the global financial markets.
The Aug. 13 Full Moon = 20.41 Aquarius = Great Conjunction Uranus 20.49 Aquarius = 19.38 transting Uranus/Pluto. In other words, this Full Moon is hitting the big world transit midpoint, that in turn has been triggering the Great Conjunction Uranus- significator of volatility and instability. The Uranus/Pluto(midpoint) in itself, relates to the process of revolution, regenerative transformation, and buliding on the ruins of the old(Ebertin). But the first stage in such a process is facing the harsh reality of decay and breakdown, as established structures that are unsustainable in their current form are swept away. Most people are still in denial about the depth and scale of the changes that will unfold over the next 5 or so years as Uranus and Pluto move in and out of aspect. If the world were a snake, it's now shedding it's skin. (As mentioned before, Japan's Tohuku earthquake Ascendant was aligned with the transiting Uranus/Pluto midpoint.)
The Ascendant of the Great Conjunction chart at D.C. is 28 Leo 27. Neptune began opposing this Ascendant by transit in March 2010, and will retrograde back into alignment from late Aug. 2011 until Jan. 2012. The sense of uncertainty and disillusionment that Neptune often brings, is primarily relevant to the United States, as the Ascendant signifies the state of the state and it's citizens.
Of further interest to the mundane astrologer, is the correlation between the so-called POTUS chart(G.Washington's Inauguration- Apr. 30, 1789, 12:45 pm, New York, NY), and the Great Conjunction of 2000. As these mundane charts have similar angles, US President's and world economic trends are more inextricably linked then perhaps ever before. And if so, this connection will remain in effect until the next Great Conjunction of Dec. 21, 2020 at 1 Aquarius.
Full Moon in Aquarius
The major midpoint pictures in effect at the Aug. 13 Full Moon are:
Sun = Uranus/Pluto, "The urge for independence and freedom, untiring creative work, the tendency to make the highest demands on one's physical energy, strong emotional tensions. Over-excitement of the nerves, a breakdown, a catastrophe." (Ebertin)
Moon = Uranus/Pluto, "Intuition, restlessness, daring and audaciousness, ambition, determination. Bringing about chnages by force." (Ebertin)
Venus = Uranus/Pluto, "Creative power, the desire to bring the new in art, a constant longing for the new. The conquest of love." (Ebertin)
Venus
Venus makes her superior conjunction with the Sun on Aug. 15, when she's at her greatest distance from Earth and passing behind the Sun. During this period, Venus is invisible for almost 60 days, and then reappears from darkness as an evening star in the west. Ancient sky-watchers considered the periods of darkness when Venus disappeared as a time when the goddess traveled to the the underworld. The ancient Babylonians called Venus the double-phased Ishtar- the morning star of war and the evening star of love. As morning star Venus was often represented as a warrior bearing weapons. However, as an evening star the archetype shifts and becomes more attuned to reconciliation, treaties, communication and cooperation. Interestingly, the time it takes for Venus to shift from it's morning star phase(war) to evening star phase(love) is longer than it's shift from evening star to morning star.
Some of the earliest references to Venus are found on 5000 year old clay tablets from the Sumerian city of Uruk. In ancient Sumer the goddess Inanna was associated with Venus, and the Uruk tablets identify her celestial persona as the planet Venus, symbolized by an eight-pointed star. And mythological Inanna's descent into the underworld corresponds with Venus setting in the West and then rising again in the East. After passing through a series of seven gates where at each she removes an item of clothing at each one and is thereby stripped to her core- Inanna/Venus emerges from the dark realm of the underworld night with a renewed sense of her true, authentic self. (The Assyrian and Babylonian name for Inanna is "Ishtar" and reflects the Sumerian origins of "Easter" and the theme of resurrection.)
The Aug. 15 Sun-Venus conjunction in Leo, only two days after the Full Moon, suggests warm and dramatic expressions of love and creativity. (The Sun and Leo 'rule' gold.) And Saturn's exalatation in Libra, the sign of fair and balanced relationships, is relevant to the Aquarius Full Moon that's ruled by Saturn. Thus, the altruistic and humanitarian impulses of the Waterbearer(Aquarius) have some support now, even as the epic Uranus-Pluto square of profound change has it's midpoint activated by the Full Moon.
Transiting Mars will trigger the July 1 solar eclipse degree(9 Cancer) on Aug. 15-16.
This eclipse fell exactly on the natal Midheaven(status & reputation; government) of the United Kingdom's horoscope. And the violent riots in London began soon after Mars entered Cancer.
"Contrary to popular misconception, karma has nothing to do with punishment and reward. It exists as part of our holographic universe’s binary or dualistic operating system only to teach us responsibility for our creations—and all things we experience are our creations." ~Sol Luckman
Monday, August 08, 2011
Violent London Riots
Violence has broken out for a third consecutive day in London, with riot police deployed and firefighters tackling blazes across the capital. Shops were looted and buildings, among them a furniture store in Croydon, set alight as police clashed with youths. Trouble first flared on Saturday after a peaceful protest in Tottenham over the fatal shooting of a man by police.
The chart for Mars entering Cancer tells the story without resorting to any other methods. Mars tends to be at it's worst in Taurus, Libra, and Cancer- where it's considered fallen, as the red planet is exalted in Capricorn, the sign opposite Cancer.
This Mars->Cancer ingress shows Mars culminating over London, and forming an angular grand cross with the rising Moon, setting Uranus, and Pluto on the Nadir. A more volatile picture would be hard to find.
The chart for Mars entering Cancer tells the story without resorting to any other methods. Mars tends to be at it's worst in Taurus, Libra, and Cancer- where it's considered fallen, as the red planet is exalted in Capricorn, the sign opposite Cancer.
 |
| From Mundane Charts |
This Mars->Cancer ingress shows Mars culminating over London, and forming an angular grand cross with the rising Moon, setting Uranus, and Pluto on the Nadir. A more volatile picture would be hard to find.
Saturday, August 06, 2011
Top US Headlines
Yesterday, Standard & Poors downgraded the US credti rating from AAA to AA+, and today the resurgent Taliban shot down a Chinook helicpoter in Afghanistan with 31 soldiers aboard- the biggest single loss of life for US forces since the war began in 2001. And now China is scolding the US over its "addiction to debt"- adding that unless the US cuts it's massive military spending and bloated welfare costs, another dowgrade is inevitable.
The downgrade ended a week of growing uncertainty for the world economy, and is a major embarrassment for the administration of President Barack Obama and could raise the cost of US government borrowing. This in turn could trickle down to higher interest rates for local governments and individuals.
Perhaps it's a twist of fate that 20 Navy SEALs from the unit that killed Osama bin Laden were among those lost in today's helicopter crash.
Looking at the astrology rather simply- we see transiting Mars(newly in Cancer) is exactly square the US Sibly Midheaven(status & reputation) now, and approaching the radix Venus, Jupiter, Sun, and Saturn. (The North Node of manifest destiny in the US-Afghan war chart is 0 Cancer.) The nation's 8th Saturn return that's in effect until mid Sept., is clearly a time of checks and balances regarding US financial status, as Saturn in the public 10th house rules the radix 2nd house of money. And as transiting Saturn squares the radix Sun, President Obama(Sun) is under the pressure of Saturn as well.
Mars, lord of today's first quarter Scorpio Moon, is out-of-bounds(OOB) by declination(measured from the equator), and thus prone to wild or extreme expressions of conflict or violence. The red planet of war went OOB only hours after the terrorist attacks in Norway, and will remain so until Aug. 22. Furthermore, Mars translating the epic Uranus-Pluto square from Aug. 8 to the 11th, suggests a collective period of shocking and extreme events/upheavals- probably of a financial nature. However it manifests, the will to act(Mars) on the mass trend of revolution, and building on the ruins of the old, is energized now.
This out-of-bounds Mars triggering the sensitized July 1 solar eclipse degree(9 Cancer) around Aug. 16, is a probable flash-point for important personal or mundane developments, depending on how that eclipse catalyized natal/national factors. As the July 1 eclipse fell near the Sibly 8th house cusp, it's linked with foreign relations(7th), and US investments, debt, and losses(8th).
The downgrade ended a week of growing uncertainty for the world economy, and is a major embarrassment for the administration of President Barack Obama and could raise the cost of US government borrowing. This in turn could trickle down to higher interest rates for local governments and individuals.
Perhaps it's a twist of fate that 20 Navy SEALs from the unit that killed Osama bin Laden were among those lost in today's helicopter crash.
Looking at the astrology rather simply- we see transiting Mars(newly in Cancer) is exactly square the US Sibly Midheaven(status & reputation) now, and approaching the radix Venus, Jupiter, Sun, and Saturn. (The North Node of manifest destiny in the US-Afghan war chart is 0 Cancer.) The nation's 8th Saturn return that's in effect until mid Sept., is clearly a time of checks and balances regarding US financial status, as Saturn in the public 10th house rules the radix 2nd house of money. And as transiting Saturn squares the radix Sun, President Obama(Sun) is under the pressure of Saturn as well.
Mars, lord of today's first quarter Scorpio Moon, is out-of-bounds(OOB) by declination(measured from the equator), and thus prone to wild or extreme expressions of conflict or violence. The red planet of war went OOB only hours after the terrorist attacks in Norway, and will remain so until Aug. 22. Furthermore, Mars translating the epic Uranus-Pluto square from Aug. 8 to the 11th, suggests a collective period of shocking and extreme events/upheavals- probably of a financial nature. However it manifests, the will to act(Mars) on the mass trend of revolution, and building on the ruins of the old, is energized now.
This out-of-bounds Mars triggering the sensitized July 1 solar eclipse degree(9 Cancer) around Aug. 16, is a probable flash-point for important personal or mundane developments, depending on how that eclipse catalyized natal/national factors. As the July 1 eclipse fell near the Sibly 8th house cusp, it's linked with foreign relations(7th), and US investments, debt, and losses(8th).
Wednesday, August 03, 2011
Aug. 6 First Quarter Moon
The Aug. 6 first quarter Moon follows the Gaelic holiday Lughnasadh celebrated on 1 August, that's akin to the English harvest festival Lammas- and comes just before the Sun reaches the 15th degree of Leo, halfway between the solstice and equinox. With the Sun(Leo) and Moon(Scorpio) in fixed signs this lunar phase highlights the focused effort to establish stability despite apparent challenges.
Mars, lord of the Scorpio Moon, is out-of-bounds(OOB) by declination(measured north and south from the equator), and thus prone to wild or extreme expressions of conflict or violence. The red planet of war went OOB only hours after the terrorist attacks in Norway, and will remain so until Aug. 22. Moreover, Mars translating/activating the epic Uranus-Pluto square from Aug. 8 to the 11th, suggests a collective period of shocking and extreme events/upheavals. The will to act(Mars) on the current trend of revolution, regeneration, and building on the ruins of the old, is energized now. In a spiritual sense, society is dealing with the law of impermanence for the next 5 years- but we each have a choice in how we respond to systemic breakdown, and the hopeful possibility for breakthroughs.
This out-of-bounds Mars then triggers the sensitized July 1 solar eclipse degree(9 Cancer) around Aug. 16, and is another possible flashpoint for important personal or mundane developments, depending on how that eclipse catalyized natal/national factors.
Mercury's still in the 1st degree of Virgo where it went stationary retrograde on Aug. 2 opposite shape-shifter Neptune, which will certainly have some influence- although Mercury in it's own sign should keep mental chaos mostly in check. Moreover, the creative or spiritual inspiration that Neptune can stimulate, may actually complement the analytical discrimination of Mercury(in Virgo) which is quite sharp. If you need to communicate, connect, or make revisions, let the mercurial force be with you now. The next three weeks are a sort of in-breath, and a time of going back over things.
The Aquarius Full Moon of Aug. 13 appears unusually significant, but more about that in another post.
"Thanks to impermanence, everything is possible." ~Thich Nhat Han
Mars, lord of the Scorpio Moon, is out-of-bounds(OOB) by declination(measured north and south from the equator), and thus prone to wild or extreme expressions of conflict or violence. The red planet of war went OOB only hours after the terrorist attacks in Norway, and will remain so until Aug. 22. Moreover, Mars translating/activating the epic Uranus-Pluto square from Aug. 8 to the 11th, suggests a collective period of shocking and extreme events/upheavals. The will to act(Mars) on the current trend of revolution, regeneration, and building on the ruins of the old, is energized now. In a spiritual sense, society is dealing with the law of impermanence for the next 5 years- but we each have a choice in how we respond to systemic breakdown, and the hopeful possibility for breakthroughs.
This out-of-bounds Mars then triggers the sensitized July 1 solar eclipse degree(9 Cancer) around Aug. 16, and is another possible flashpoint for important personal or mundane developments, depending on how that eclipse catalyized natal/national factors.
Mercury's still in the 1st degree of Virgo where it went stationary retrograde on Aug. 2 opposite shape-shifter Neptune, which will certainly have some influence- although Mercury in it's own sign should keep mental chaos mostly in check. Moreover, the creative or spiritual inspiration that Neptune can stimulate, may actually complement the analytical discrimination of Mercury(in Virgo) which is quite sharp. If you need to communicate, connect, or make revisions, let the mercurial force be with you now. The next three weeks are a sort of in-breath, and a time of going back over things.
The Aquarius Full Moon of Aug. 13 appears unusually significant, but more about that in another post.
"Thanks to impermanence, everything is possible." ~Thich Nhat Han
Monday, August 01, 2011
Lughnasadh and Lammas
Overview by Christina Aubin - August 1st. 2001:
"At Lughnasadh, the Wheel of the Year begins to shift from growing time to harvest time. The subtle changes of the waning sun that occurred at Summer Solstice becomes more evident as the balance of day and night seem to shift more dramatically. The slight seasonal changes in weather, and the declining arc of the sun, the southern movement of it rising and setting are other indicators of this shift. "After Lammas, corn ripens as much by night as by day."
Although temperatures can still be high, the mood and sensation of the year most decidedly changes. We enter the harvest time. It is the point in time when the first grains are collected and ritualistically sacrificed to ensure the continuance of the cycle of life both physically and spiritually.
In times past, fertility magic at Lughnasadh guaranteed the continued ripening of crops and bountiful harvest season. Festivities typically centered on the assurance of a plentiful harvest season and the celebration of the beginning of the harvest cycle. A bountiful harvest insured the safe passage of the tribe through the upcoming winter months. The gathering of bilberries is an ancient ritual symbolizing the success of the Lughnasadh rituals. If the bilberries were bountiful the crops would be also.
Lughnasadh celebration is associated with John Barleycorn, an anthropomorphized image of the barley grain that goes into making malt beverages that heeds us to the larger life mysteries that play out each year on the stage of the agricultural cycle from which we spin our Wheel of the Year. Although the life mysteries are deep and contemplative, John Barleycorn also reminds us that levity, joy and festivity are as much a part of the Wheel and our lives as Death and Rebirth. It is what makes life worth living and allows us to touch the Joy that is creation.
Lughnasadh is a time of personal reflection and harvest, of our actions and deeds, events and experiences, our gains and losses. A time when we begin the cycle of reflection of that which is our life. A period for personal fertility magic to ensure the bountiful harvest of life's gifts and experiences, that which we have reaped though trial, tribulation, enjoyment, joy, love and loss. As my Elder once said to me, "We can not know what we have not experienced." Such is the truth of life ö we become not by chance but by experience. Each experience opens a window into ourselves, into who we were, who we are, and whom we are choosing to become.
The festival of Lughnasadh is named in honor of Lugh, by his Irish name. He is also know as and associated with: Lug (Continental) , Llew, Lugos (Gallic) , Lleu Llaw Gyffes ("The Lion of the Sure/Long Hand" Welsh) , Ild‡nach and Lugh Lamfada ("Lugh of the Long Arm/Hand") . He is also associated with the Roman God Mercury, there are many names through many cultures. Lugh is "The God of Light", "God of All Skills", the "Bright or Shining One"; He is associated with both the Sun and agricultural fertility.
Lugh led the Tuatha DŽ Danann to victory in the second Battle of Magh Tuireadh. His name was left throughout the Celtic lands on various places, Lug-dunum (present day Lyon, France) , Luguvallum (Roman Britain) , indicating the impact Lugh has had on all the Celtic peoples.
Stories of his conception, birth, naming, exploits, victories and descendents fill pages of Celtic myth. Lugh is indeed a tremendous personality with considerable influence in Celtic lore. Through lore and myth we can journey aside Lugh, delving deeper to his life and journeys and our own.
The origins of the games of Lughnasadh, often referred to as: the Assembly of Lugh; Games of Lug; Games of Sovereignty, are, however, more closely associated with Lugh's foster-mother/nurse, Tailtiu.
Tailtiu is said to be daughter of the King of Spain, wife of Eochaid of the Tuatha de Danaan and is recognized as a Celtic Earth Goddess. She cleared the field at Coill Chuan in Ireland for agricultural use and died from the intensity of this labor. The area carries her name in memory; Teltown Kells, Co. Meath. The games of Lughnasadh were originally played in honor of Tailtiu, these games begun by Lugh and played by the kings who followed, as funerary tribute to his foster mother.
Lughnasadh is more popularly referred to as Lammas in many areas of the British Isles. Lammas comes from the Middle English Lammasse, and from Old English hlfm¾sse : hlf, loaf + m¾sse. This illustrates the incorporation of Lughnasadh by the Church into its seasonal calendar, as many other Old Celtic and agricultural holidays were. The harvest of the early grain was baked into loaves and offered at mass. It also became a feast that the Church celebrated in commemoration of Saint Peter's deliverance from prison.
At Lughnasadh many grains, seeds, herbs and fruits can be harvested and dried for later use through the remaining year. Corn is one of the vital crops harvested at this time. Corn dollies are fashioned in the shape of Goddess and God. In some areas the sacrifice of the corn king (corn dolly) is performed. Death and rebirth are a vital part of the cycle Lugh journeys in his mating with the Earth Goddess, during the waning year.
The Goddess oversees the festival in her Triple guise as Macha. She presides in her warrior aspect, the crow that sits on the battlefields awaiting the dead. She is the Crone, Maiden and Mother, Anu, Banbha, and Macha; she conveys the dead into the realm of the deceased. For Lughnasadh, is a festival of not only life and bounty, but of harvest and death, the complete cycle of life.
In myth, Macha is forced, while heavy with child, to race against the King of Ulster's horses. She wins the race and gives birth to twins, and cursed the men of Ulster with the pains of labor when they most need their strength. She becomes the Queen of Ulster through battle for seven years. Her fortress in Ulster is known as the Emain Macha and its otherworldly form known as Emania, the moon Goddess' realm of death.
Without successes and a thriving personal harvest we will not have the fundamentals we need to continue our work on all levels. Our path is one of service, as a religious rite, as an active devotion to the Goddess & God, from which we receive as well as give. Our actions and deeds are the magic by which we cast the circle of our lives ö we give and we receive, which allows us to give again. This is the cycle of the Sacred Life, which we celebrate and honor at Lughnasadh. We dance and contemplate, reap and distribute, rejoice and reflect upon on this the first harvest in the Wheel of the Year.
We, as members of the Universe and children of the Mother, trust in sharing in the benevolence of Her Love. For ours is the Mother, who nurtures and loves Her children, sharing her bounty and joy. Prosperity is not amassing and hoarding a great profusion of assets. Prosperity is having more than what is essential and never having less than we need. We, through the celebration of the Wheel, understand the abundance and magnanimity of the Universe and celebrate, recognize, and honor this."
Blessed Lughnasadh!
Popular Pagan Holidays
"At Lughnasadh, the Wheel of the Year begins to shift from growing time to harvest time. The subtle changes of the waning sun that occurred at Summer Solstice becomes more evident as the balance of day and night seem to shift more dramatically. The slight seasonal changes in weather, and the declining arc of the sun, the southern movement of it rising and setting are other indicators of this shift. "After Lammas, corn ripens as much by night as by day."
Although temperatures can still be high, the mood and sensation of the year most decidedly changes. We enter the harvest time. It is the point in time when the first grains are collected and ritualistically sacrificed to ensure the continuance of the cycle of life both physically and spiritually.
In times past, fertility magic at Lughnasadh guaranteed the continued ripening of crops and bountiful harvest season. Festivities typically centered on the assurance of a plentiful harvest season and the celebration of the beginning of the harvest cycle. A bountiful harvest insured the safe passage of the tribe through the upcoming winter months. The gathering of bilberries is an ancient ritual symbolizing the success of the Lughnasadh rituals. If the bilberries were bountiful the crops would be also.
Lughnasadh celebration is associated with John Barleycorn, an anthropomorphized image of the barley grain that goes into making malt beverages that heeds us to the larger life mysteries that play out each year on the stage of the agricultural cycle from which we spin our Wheel of the Year. Although the life mysteries are deep and contemplative, John Barleycorn also reminds us that levity, joy and festivity are as much a part of the Wheel and our lives as Death and Rebirth. It is what makes life worth living and allows us to touch the Joy that is creation.
Lughnasadh is a time of personal reflection and harvest, of our actions and deeds, events and experiences, our gains and losses. A time when we begin the cycle of reflection of that which is our life. A period for personal fertility magic to ensure the bountiful harvest of life's gifts and experiences, that which we have reaped though trial, tribulation, enjoyment, joy, love and loss. As my Elder once said to me, "We can not know what we have not experienced." Such is the truth of life ö we become not by chance but by experience. Each experience opens a window into ourselves, into who we were, who we are, and whom we are choosing to become.
The festival of Lughnasadh is named in honor of Lugh, by his Irish name. He is also know as and associated with: Lug (Continental) , Llew, Lugos (Gallic) , Lleu Llaw Gyffes ("The Lion of the Sure/Long Hand" Welsh) , Ild‡nach and Lugh Lamfada ("Lugh of the Long Arm/Hand") . He is also associated with the Roman God Mercury, there are many names through many cultures. Lugh is "The God of Light", "God of All Skills", the "Bright or Shining One"; He is associated with both the Sun and agricultural fertility.
Lugh led the Tuatha DŽ Danann to victory in the second Battle of Magh Tuireadh. His name was left throughout the Celtic lands on various places, Lug-dunum (present day Lyon, France) , Luguvallum (Roman Britain) , indicating the impact Lugh has had on all the Celtic peoples.
Stories of his conception, birth, naming, exploits, victories and descendents fill pages of Celtic myth. Lugh is indeed a tremendous personality with considerable influence in Celtic lore. Through lore and myth we can journey aside Lugh, delving deeper to his life and journeys and our own.
The origins of the games of Lughnasadh, often referred to as: the Assembly of Lugh; Games of Lug; Games of Sovereignty, are, however, more closely associated with Lugh's foster-mother/nurse, Tailtiu.
Tailtiu is said to be daughter of the King of Spain, wife of Eochaid of the Tuatha de Danaan and is recognized as a Celtic Earth Goddess. She cleared the field at Coill Chuan in Ireland for agricultural use and died from the intensity of this labor. The area carries her name in memory; Teltown Kells, Co. Meath. The games of Lughnasadh were originally played in honor of Tailtiu, these games begun by Lugh and played by the kings who followed, as funerary tribute to his foster mother.
Lughnasadh is more popularly referred to as Lammas in many areas of the British Isles. Lammas comes from the Middle English Lammasse, and from Old English hlfm¾sse : hlf, loaf + m¾sse. This illustrates the incorporation of Lughnasadh by the Church into its seasonal calendar, as many other Old Celtic and agricultural holidays were. The harvest of the early grain was baked into loaves and offered at mass. It also became a feast that the Church celebrated in commemoration of Saint Peter's deliverance from prison.
At Lughnasadh many grains, seeds, herbs and fruits can be harvested and dried for later use through the remaining year. Corn is one of the vital crops harvested at this time. Corn dollies are fashioned in the shape of Goddess and God. In some areas the sacrifice of the corn king (corn dolly) is performed. Death and rebirth are a vital part of the cycle Lugh journeys in his mating with the Earth Goddess, during the waning year.
The Goddess oversees the festival in her Triple guise as Macha. She presides in her warrior aspect, the crow that sits on the battlefields awaiting the dead. She is the Crone, Maiden and Mother, Anu, Banbha, and Macha; she conveys the dead into the realm of the deceased. For Lughnasadh, is a festival of not only life and bounty, but of harvest and death, the complete cycle of life.
In myth, Macha is forced, while heavy with child, to race against the King of Ulster's horses. She wins the race and gives birth to twins, and cursed the men of Ulster with the pains of labor when they most need their strength. She becomes the Queen of Ulster through battle for seven years. Her fortress in Ulster is known as the Emain Macha and its otherworldly form known as Emania, the moon Goddess' realm of death.
Without successes and a thriving personal harvest we will not have the fundamentals we need to continue our work on all levels. Our path is one of service, as a religious rite, as an active devotion to the Goddess & God, from which we receive as well as give. Our actions and deeds are the magic by which we cast the circle of our lives ö we give and we receive, which allows us to give again. This is the cycle of the Sacred Life, which we celebrate and honor at Lughnasadh. We dance and contemplate, reap and distribute, rejoice and reflect upon on this the first harvest in the Wheel of the Year.
We, as members of the Universe and children of the Mother, trust in sharing in the benevolence of Her Love. For ours is the Mother, who nurtures and loves Her children, sharing her bounty and joy. Prosperity is not amassing and hoarding a great profusion of assets. Prosperity is having more than what is essential and never having less than we need. We, through the celebration of the Wheel, understand the abundance and magnanimity of the Universe and celebrate, recognize, and honor this."
Blessed Lughnasadh!
Popular Pagan Holidays
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)